dextera has been reborn countless times, freed in a dream-like state from an artificial chrysalis not so different from the one they're all in now, but the automatic movement of his body from memory fails him now. trying to get away from the crystal means he only stumbles forward onto his bare knees. his dark hair is damp and sticking to his face; he breathes like it's the first time in his life and he's trying to remember how. ]
…
[ then he sighs, stands. there's a large twisted scar on his right hip, bared for all to see without his clothes. he does try to cover the scar with his hand, but anyone else nearby, he approaches on shaky legs and without too much modesty. ]
…!
[ a soft gasp of breath, like he's inhaled to say something but nothing comes out. he doesn't look surprised—he's genuinely trying to communicate. ]
II. camp, watching
[ now dressed in the robe given to them all, dextera waits. he causes no trouble and doesn’t look particularly capable of it anyway. he just sits, miserable, and occasionally stands miserably as well. the complete and utter compliance has afforded him a measure of freedom when he does start to feel restless. he’s able to explore the ruins a little—or he would.
unable to speak thanks to circumstances out of his control, dextera stares at whoever is nearby. he's not the type to discrimnate between who looks amenable to exploration and who looks like they might kick his ass. he just stares… and stares, from a distance that is a little too close for comfort. ]
…
[ eventually, surely he thinks, someone must ask him what he's doing. ]
III. camp, trying and failing
[ also during their tentative stay in the ruins, dextera seems compelled by the wildlife that is able to pass through the camp. most of what he sees are insects, but the occasional bird flies overhead or calls from the forest that they're not allowed to enter. it is the only time the deeply quiet captive seems to show any kind of reaction—at one particularly close-sounding cry, he does make an effort to push the borders of the camp they've made before a guard thwarts his efforts with one of those whips and sends him sprawling. ]
…
[ his single resistance failed, dextera just stays on the ground even after the guard scolds him and moves on. ]
IV. wildcard!
( surprise me! i’m also happy to work out anything specific or write custom starters. i haven’t completely chosen between two legacies yet, so have mercy, lmao. i went with martyr for the TDM since it seems a bit more accessible looking at the spread so far! if you need anything, PM me or contact me at pavaal! and—yes, dextera is mute. )
koriel xii (dextera) • baroque • the martyr
[ the sensation is not new.
dextera has been reborn countless times, freed in a dream-like state from an artificial chrysalis not so different from the one they're all in now, but the automatic movement of his body from memory fails him now. trying to get away from the crystal means he only stumbles forward onto his bare knees. his dark hair is damp and sticking to his face; he breathes like it's the first time in his life and he's trying to remember how. ]
…
[ then he sighs, stands. there's a large twisted scar on his right hip, bared for all to see without his clothes. he does try to cover the scar with his hand, but anyone else nearby, he approaches on shaky legs and without too much modesty. ]
…!
[ a soft gasp of breath, like he's inhaled to say something but nothing comes out. he doesn't look surprised—he's genuinely trying to communicate. ]
[ now dressed in the robe given to them all, dextera waits. he causes no trouble and doesn’t look particularly capable of it anyway. he just sits, miserable, and occasionally stands miserably as well. the complete and utter compliance has afforded him a measure of freedom when he does start to feel restless. he’s able to explore the ruins a little—or he would.
unable to speak thanks to circumstances out of his control, dextera stares at whoever is nearby. he's not the type to discrimnate between who looks amenable to exploration and who looks like they might kick his ass. he just stares… and stares, from a distance that is a little too close for comfort. ]
…
[ eventually, surely he thinks, someone must ask him what he's doing. ]
[ also during their tentative stay in the ruins, dextera seems compelled by the wildlife that is able to pass through the camp. most of what he sees are insects, but the occasional bird flies overhead or calls from the forest that they're not allowed to enter. it is the only time the deeply quiet captive seems to show any kind of reaction—at one particularly close-sounding cry, he does make an effort to push the borders of the camp they've made before a guard thwarts his efforts with one of those whips and sends him sprawling. ]
…
[ his single resistance failed, dextera just stays on the ground even after the guard scolds him and moves on. ]
( surprise me! i’m also happy to work out anything specific or write custom starters. i haven’t completely chosen between two legacies yet, so have mercy, lmao. i went with martyr for the TDM since it seems a bit more accessible looking at the spread so far! if you need anything, PM me or contact me at