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A long Plush couch sits along the wall of a small, homely living room that is stocked to the brim with memorabilia on every surface and wall. Each item holds a story or memory waiting to be told or remembered, hardly leaving any space for more inevitable memories that will come in time.
Out of the two brothers, one of them was thin, much more nimble but very in shape. His messy and wild brown hair showed hints of a chestnut hue mixed in indiscriminately throughout. Bright green eyes contrasted the vibrant hair, his light skin was gilded from the days under the desert sun but yet that hadn't hidden the delicate and graceful markings of his golden etching of leaved vines that traced across the skin.
The second was the larger of the two, very strongly built, with wide shoulders under thick layers of solid muscle and much darker hair bordering black. His eyes were a duller shade of blue, hinting into tones of gray that were the clear opposite of the most vibrant blue geometric patterns that crossed him.
"I appreciate you having me over, I wasn't sure if you were going to be in town to have a word with me." The person asked with a grateful smile, pulling out two notepads and a pen. One notepad was already filled with notes and scratched out scribbles of questions to ask while the second was empty and ready to be filled with answers.
"It's no problem at all. I came back in town not too long ago and will be staying for a couple more weeks to spend time with the wife before I head out again." Ethan gave a beaming smile "But there's truly nothing like being out in the world, exploring the uncharted, and hearing everyone else's stories as well."
Dylan, Ethan's brother, gave a curt nod while folding over his arms and leaning back into the couch.
"Will your wife not be joining us this evening?" The interviewer asked, pretending not to notice a shy figure hiding back around the corridor to the upstairs. "No, unfortunately. She doesn't like interviews much for very specific reasons and we respect that." Ethan said with fondness before gesturing to a plate of freshly baked cookies and some warm tea. "But she did supply the snacks and refreshments to express her hospitality and welcome you to our home."
"That was very kind of her." they smiled while pouring a cup of refreshments and plating a couple of cookies. "Mind if I get to the questions then? I won't keep you for long." "Most certainly."
"To make this fair, I'll ask a question you each take turns answering." The interviewer began their writing, even though asking their own questions to make sure they got every answer.
Q: "Tell me, what are your names?"
"Dylan." The larger of the brothers said firmly with a small gesture to the other. "And of course you know my younger brother, Ethan. Our last name, Lupis."
Q: "If you could change your name, what would you change it to?"
Ethan chuckled a little bit before answering "Well, I supposed you could say we already changed our name." He earned a stern side-eyed glance from his brother but nothing more. "Do you care to explain what you mean by that?" the person with the notepad asked but Dylan waved off the question easily. "That isn't a question we're willing to talk about." They awkwardly nodded respecting their boundaries and moved on to the nest prepared question.
Q: "For each of you - In a stage performance, what kind of role do you think you would have?"
"I would love to try and be one of the lead actors" Ethan's eyes gleamed. "Not for the credit or attention but they're normally given the most expressive parts and have so much fun with all the costumes, stage direction, moving through the scenes, and all the coolest stunts with the rigging." This cracked a half smile on Dylan's lips while his brother rambled, letting him finish before he gave his own answer. "Probably a stagehand, moving some of the heavy set dressing or working with the electrical."
Q: "What is your normal morning routine while out on an expedition?"
"I usually set up a place to rest very simply and use as much of the environment as possible so it does make the mornings easier. A collection of soft moss, open grass fields, or comfortable wide branches to rest on to be ready to wake up and keep going. I do have camping supplies but they are only used when necessary."
Q: "Are you a coffee or tea person, Dylan?"
"Coffee. Usually have one but sometimes, two coffees on extra rough weekends. Black, no creme, no sugar."
Q: "What is a secret talent you have that no one expects?"
Both the brothers thought for a moment. Dylan only shrugged muttering, "I've taken some swordsmanship training. I rarely wield a sword these days so some find it surprising." Ethan continued thinking for a moment before jumping with a start. "It's not surprising to most people I work with since they have to know everything I'm capable of. But! I'm able to loop my tongue up through my nose and down the back to come back out the mouth-" As he spoke, he changed his lower jaw more akin to a reptile's and began sticking his tongue out but not before his brother clasped his mouth shut. "No one wants to see you pick your nose with your tongue. That's not why we're here." The interviewer nodded nervously
Q: " In any case Ethan, What is your go-to strategy in a fight?"
"The best kind of tactic to have is that if there is an opportunity to run, then choose to run. You'll save yourself on a lot of medical bills if you know how to pick your dangers wisely."
Q: "Since you said you've had swordsmanship training before, Dylan. What's the most embarrassing or memorable thing that's happened to you in battle?"
Dylan's lips pressed together tense for a moment while he sought what words to use to answer this question. "My opponent had done something rather unexpected and it caught me off guard and had me flustered for a moment. Took me out of focus from the fight." He gave a nod but his brother turned sharply "You? Get distracted in a fight? Against who??" Ethan leaned in for his answers and Dylan simply pushed his face away. "I'm not answering that.
Q: "If you were a creature, monster, or cryptic, what kind would you be?"
"Just a bird" Ethan wandered. "Doesn't matter to me what kind. I just want to be able to soar the endless skies." "Maybe a gargoyle." Dylan considered. "No one really bothers them and they tend to rest their days away while making sure their only home is safe. Sounds nice to me."
Q: "Who is your best friend, Dylan?
Dylan didn't say much, only held out his hand towards his little brother. The latter of which placed his chin onto the open, upward-facing, palm. "My question here says I should ask why but I don't think there is any need to." The interviewer chuckled.
Q: "As someone experienced on their own, who would you trust with your life, Ethan?"
"There are many people I trust." Ethan started "But only very few people I would trust with my life. Dylan may not like my answer but I would trust my old teammate Alexander first. There have been many times in our old party days where I had to trust him with my life and he's never failed to see that we got out. The only other person though, of course, would be Dylan."
Q: "What is your love language? How do you express love and receive it?"
"I love performing acts of service for my wife and showering her with the most precious gifts. While she lets me know I am loved by the way she holds my hand, the soft sigh she lets out at the end of each day when she rests her head on my shoulder." Ethan smiled into his cup thinking about it. "Just telling me how they feel would be fine," Dylan spoke softly. "It's not much but just a few words would be enough and spend time together."
Q: "Final questions and you'll have me out of your hair. Dylan, What is your biggest fear?"
"Not being able to protect my family, friends, and loved ones. Worse if it's when they need me the most."
Q: "What's something you regret but would never take back, Ethan?"
Dylan gave the interviewer their own cautionary glance but said nothing. "I regret… things that have started to form in life for me. They weren't bad things, but I decided on impulse when it was too late to prevent anyone from getting hurt. So I know people had gotten hurt, but I wouldn't change it and lose the life I've built up for myself ever since."
Q: "Last one for the both of you before I disappear into the night with my notebook full of questions. How do you want to be remembered?"
"I only care to be remembered by those who are closest to me. And for them, I hope to be remembered as someone who was reliable and something that had been there for them always when they needed me." Dylan answered with some solemn. "I hope to be remembered as someone who could find anything. The lost and forgotten items to the inspiration one needs in order to forge themselves their own path in a life full of decisions to make confidently without looking back."
Silence hung in the air for a moment as the interviewer finished noting down their answers silently but with focus. Once finished, they gave the brothers a polite smile and a respectful nod in their directions. "Thank you again for having me over this evening. I bid you two gentlemen adieu."
Putting on their long coat and hat, they turned to head into the night before pausing with one final question upon their lips. "Oh yeah, I wanted to ask you. Have you ever heard of a spot called 'Datara'?"
Dylan let out a reluctant grunt before sighing. "Yeah. It's a non-existent pub down the road. I would suggest you don't go looking for it. You'll find nothing but a bunch a rowdy bunch and ruffians. Nothing more. And don't agree to anything you would ever feel like you could regret." He gave a stern warning to the stranger. Not out of worry but a local cautionary tale. "I see." a thin smile crept across the face under the hat's brim.
"Thanks for the information. I'll be seeing you then." The stranger said before slipping into the night.