A/N: Graduate school is eating my free time. Story is not canceled or on hiatus, but updates will be slower than before. My apologies


The Fragile Human Mind

Voices, soft and uncaring, the unintelligible words buzzing about his head like wasps, stinging his ears and scoring his mind. Light, bright light that stabbed at his eyes like fire. Fire, like the burned city as the white room seemed to suffocate him more than the crowd of 'healers'. Not a one compared to the sight before him, not these healers, not their thrice damned white walls, and not the memory of the hamlet burning around him. As he took in the sight his eyes seemed to age more than his body and the fire that always burned within them died.

*/*/*

"Bird, I'm fine now, honestly," Vesli grumbled, trying to sound stern before sighing and allowing the proceeding of another of the Doctor's exams, how could he fault his partner for being concerned about him after fighting that behemoth. Even still, while Bird's treatment had been better than the Sanitarium at first, Vesli was starting to wonder if he should've joined Face in those horrid white halls.

"Inhaled large amounts of smoke. Had a concussion for days straight. How many fingers?" Bird was unrepentant as she chirped out her question in the usual scattered tone that he had come to understand as naturally as normal speaking.

"Three, just like the last four times you asked the question, at least have some variety," Vesli teased before going somber. "Those herbs in your mask, they… they really helped keep the damage from getting worse. I…" How could he even begin to actually thank her for what she had done? Bird was so intent on her privacy that he had never seen her without that mask on. Not to eat, not to drink,not to sleep, not even to replace a cracked lens. Yet, she had ripped it off without a second thought to help save his life. "…Thank you," Vesli surrendered to the impossibility of the situation and gave the best he could, wishing he knew how to say what he wished to.

Bird gave a wry huff of amusement at his snark before bringing a candle close to his face to ensure his pupils dilated properly. "Am surprised you are not hounding the others for my description."

"Oh, trust me, Aela has already held it over my head, expecting to bait me like a fish," the man shook his head, "Caillot's at least got the social grace to just give me a knowing smirk. And honestly, I'm not sure which one's more infuriating." Vesli blinked rapidly as she removed the candle, trying to force his vision to normal. "However, I know that no matter what you look like under that, you're still Bird. The eccentric mad genius who took a chance on a surly mercenary in a bar. The woman who became my friend and helped me find more. I just hope that one day you'll trust me enough to show me that face of your own accord." There was a pause of silence. Which was then broken by Bird whacking him upside the head. "Ow! What was that for?!"

"You are a flirt," the Doctor walked out of the room.

Vesli had no idea what she was talking about. Rir just howled with laughter.

*/*/*

Once finally released from Bird's care, Vesli intended to seek out Face. The old codger had been released from the Sanitarium that morning and Vesli intended to find him. He had questions and only Face had answers. He came to a startled halt when he reached the still under repair training ground and Face… Face wasn't there.

The veteran wasn't training anyone, nor anywhere to be seen making repairs. Strange, maybe the old man was at work elsewhere. Vesli turned, passing building after building being reconstructed. No Face. Vesli checked the Sanitarium in case he'd gotten his days confused. Face had indeed been set free that morning.

Alright. Now he was worried. But Vesli still had a few more buildings to check before he transformed into Rir and start letting the beast attempt to track Face like a bloodhound. Rir resented being compared to a four-legged pest. Vesli ignored the creature.

Eventually, there was only one building left to search. Man and beast walked into the Tavern, fully expecting to walk right back out and start having to search with Rir's nose. But, the familiar armor of the Man-at-Arms caught his eyes. "Face? By the Light, you're a hard man to find today," Vesli started towards the older man.

"Don' see why. Na like 'm goin' 'nywhere," Face didn't look up from his empty mug.

"What are you talking about?" Vesli was used to Face being gruff, but this? This was downright surly, and the veteran's tone had Rir bristling.

"This," Face gestures to the leg Vvulf injured with nothing but venom in his voice. Confused and on edge, Vesli looked at the indicated appendage. He noted that Face had forgone armor on that leg alone, leaving it in just slacks and a normal shoe. The leg was abnormally straight for the position Face sat in. But apparently, Vesli was taking too long in figuring things out, because Face picked up a fork from the table and proceeded to stab himself in the thigh without so much as a flinch. "'m lame, whelp," the word was no longer a friendly insult, "Don' feel a damn thin' in this blighted leg. 'm na more useful than a sack o' rot'n 'tatoes." Face yanked the fork out of himself, the bloodied metal clattering back on the table.

If Face had been himself, Vesli would have commented on how unsanitary that was. Probably would've gotten some amusement out of the older male, considering the already barely sanitary Tavern. Instead, Vesli sat across with the scowling man-at-arms. "Face," he started, wishing in vain that he was surer of what to say. Vesli met the other man's gaze, "Useless is not a word I'd use to describe you. You may be no longer able to go do the Heir's bidding out in the Estate, but that's not all there is to life, no matter what the Heir may claim."

Face snorted. "Soon as tha Heir finds out, 'm dismissed wit' tha next Stagecoach."

"So, you're just going to roll over and give up?" Vesli glared, trying to use some of the same 'motivational' tricks that Face liked to use on him, "You don't fit someone else's idea of useful so you're just going to lick your wounds and surrender?"

"I taught you that trick, whelp," Face swallowed a gulp of the refilled grog, "It ain't gonna work on me." Okay, in hindsight that had been a dumb idea.

"You know more about war than anyone else at this hellhole, Face," Vesli tried coming at this from a different tactic. Rir was being no help, his tenant openly confused about this 'strange weak prey-thing pretending to be Face'. "We need you here. Not only to tell us what you can about that bandit tribe, but to train us. Do you think the other 'whelps' and I will last all that long without you around?"

"You seemed to last fine enough on your own in that fight." Face's mood darkened, apparently taking that as further proof of his lack of being useful anymore.

"I attacked that bastard head-on and hit his shield hard enough to give myself a concussion," Vesli deadpanned as Face choked on his ale. It was the most emotion he'd seen that wasn't anger or self-pity but sadly it only lasted for a split second before Face resumed his brooding.

"Just go 'way whelp, ya'll do fine wit'out me. Everyone will do fine wit'out me."

Vesli sighed and stood. "Well, I will give you today."

"What ya talkin' 'bout, whelp?" Face looked up, scowl still marring his expression.

"Today, I will allow you to mourn your loss. Tomorrow, I will be on your ass. When I tried wallowing in self-pity, you refused to allow it. You beat me back into shape and didn't give me any other choice about it. You think I'm going to let you get away with doing it after the hell you put me through?" Vesli asked with a smirk "Oh no, you get one day. Then I'll drag the real Face back out, kicking and screaming if I have to." With that Vesli took Face's grog, poured it out, and left the tavern.

*/*/*

Vesli was itching to do something. The interaction with Face had left him restless, but he'd promised the old codger a day to mope about. So, instead, he put himself to work in the repairs. Heavy lifting jobs were much easier to accomplish when a beast lived under one's skin after all. Plus, it seemed this at least managed to have the Holy Assholes not be perpetually sneering in his direction. Well, the Vestal was. Raynauld had his mouth set in a grim line whenever Vesli came into view lugging this or that. Vesli admittedly had almost dropped the stone he'd been carrying on his foot on seeing the Crusader out of armor. The only reason Vesli recognized the bastard was due to the Holy Assholes' team being around him. Granted, this was hard and hot work, and armor would only make it that much worse. Well, a set line of the Crusader's mouth was progress. Guess 'this creature' was good for something, huh?

Rir snorted in the back of Vesli's mind. Bastard had taken away his defenses, leaving himself open to sharp teeth. "No," came the expected chide from the other side of the mind-space. Just one bite? Rir would make it fast. One swift blow to the neck… "NO." Weak-prey things were no fun.

Vesli made a mental note to let Rir go hunt some nearby Eldritch horrors or something to let off some blood-lust.

*/*/*

Omake – All Hallows Eve, Non-Cannon

"Well, how do I look?" Vesli made a grandiose self-mocking gesture to himself.

"We truly need to work on your self-esteem, my friend," Caillot answered. Gone were his normal Occultist robes. They instead replaced by slim robes made of a shimmering emerald silk designed to look like scales. Some clever tailoring made it look like the lower half of Caillot's body was one singular serpentine tail. The robes even had a fanned hood currently donned on Caillot's head, giving him a cobra-like appearance. "You look fine."

"At least you can see yourself," a chuckle sounded from Darcy. "Every time I look at my head, it's just shadows." The Hound Master had been working on counter the Stealthed monsters in more difficult areas of the Hamlet by learning the Eldritch Stealth for himself. So far, he was only able to manage parts of his body. Tonight, it was focused on his head, giving him a sort of shadowed empty look there. He'd borrowed some Highwayman's jacket and wore a pair of riding pants and boots. Alis at his side woofed her agreement. The hound's collar had temporarily been removed, replaced with a loose 'bridal' like contraption on her face that somehow was not muzzling her what-so-ever. Probably magic, considering Caillot's involvement. Alis carried a 'saddle' as well on her back, which was most just a modified pack for the dog. It was currently holding the Hound Master's cudgel in case a fight broke out.

"Do you any idea how hard it is to shift only one part of myself and not go the rest of the way? I'm going to end up with a headache after tonight," Vesli sulked.

"It'll be worth it," Caillot reassured.

*/*/*

The Hamlet was alive with festivities. Orange lanterns and pumpkins were dotted in almost every available space. The townsfolk had come together to make a bunch of food. An outsider would not have considered it a feast, but in the Hamlet this much food was something near unheard of. Adults and children alike were dressed as various spooks and creatures. Perhaps this dark place's attempt at mixing celebration of the harvest with frightening away the Eldritch horrors beyond the town's borders. Vesli doubted the creatures would be much scared of little children dressed as fairies and animals, but he'd put aside his skepticism and enjoy himself.

A Jester, dressed for a masquerade ball, filled the town square with lively music. Over there were the Holy Assholes. The Vestal was refusing to participate in the fun. Raynauld, while just wearing his normal armor, was at least acting like a knight on a quest to slay a dragon. Now where were the rest of Vesli's group in this chaos? There. That was definitely the top of Aela's head.

Vesli made his way over, Caillot, Darcy, and Alia in tow. Aela and Bird stood there discussing one thing or another. It was hard to hear them over the crowd. Aela had loosed and straightened her black hair so it fell down her back. The Hellion's leathers had been replaced with a simple night gown, one that was modest, Thank the Light. And she'd somehow either grown her nails to a ridiculous length and painted them black, or had something on her hands to make it appear she had long black nail/claws.

Then there was Bird. Bird's Doctor mask was replaced by a brown cat mask, her face still perfectly concealed. She now wore robes in the same shade of brown, and much like Caillot's these held a scale pattern, and even made her movements more fluid and serpentine the way they flowed.

"Hello, ladies," Caillot greeted. "You both look fantastic."

"Caillot! Vesli! Darcy!" Aela was exuberant as always. "We've been waiting forever!"

"Apologies," Vesli chuckled "Thank you for waiting." Bird said nothing, which put Vesli instantly on edge, as that was never a good sign. Bird just stared. At him. "Veci?" His voice lost a bit of confidence. To Vesli's knowledge, he'd done nothing wrong.

Stare. Vesli did his best not to squirm.

Suddenly, Aela laughed, "Doctor are you thinking thoughts?" Bird jumped, suddenly in motion and she hastily retreated into the festival crowd with Aela following after her, still laughing. The amused Darcy and Caillot trailed behind them.

Vesli considered his clothed. He'd procured a black suit. Though it wasn't made from a Lord's quality materials, he didn't need it to be. In his hand, Vesli carried an equally black cane, something carved with his own claws from a tree and painted earlier. The only other thing added were the horns on top of his head. Holding that partial shift was already making his brain start to throb. But apparently, Caillot had been right.

"I walk around essentially shirtless most days, and this is what flusters her."

It was worth it.

Vesli moved into the festival crowd to go catch up with the others.


A/N: Also, just a general question. How do you all feel about include some mods? Nothing world breaking. I happen to have Marvin Seo's class mods and was debating should include those characters. If not no big deal, they would've been minor/side characters at best. Maybe background extras. Let me know!

Bonus points to anyone who can name all the costumes