Another story I commissioned from  JordilianVector

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“Look, I’m not exactly an expert on this, so you’re going to have to bear with me.”

A set tools beside him, Skully stood next to Alexander – his warrior jar friend – trying to size up the extent of the damage to the huge, cracked vessel that housed and contained the big lad and his innards.

“And I don’t even know exactly how your body works, so…”

“Ah, fret not my brave warrior!~” The jar man exclaimed, pumping his chest as his form rocked just a little. He was eager to turn around to face the young man who was helping him, but knew he had to keep steady. “I’m certain you can figure this out if you put your mind to it! And even then, I doubt anything you do in good faith could seriously damage me! I am, after all…” He paused, giving his ceramic form a couple of firm knocks with one hand. “…made to be quite sturdy! Hah hah hah!” His form rocked some more, rumbling with his deep, bellowing laughter. “Besides, I trust you implicitly, you have proven yourself quite capable in matters of war and wit alike.”

Hearing such things did feel genuinely flattering but Skully couldn’t help but roll his eyes a little before responding with a slight chuckle. “Alright, alright…” He sighed. “Just don’t say, I didn’t warn you, Alexander.” Grabbing a brush from the assortment of tools he had prepared, Skully began gingerly swiping away at the living jar before him, whisking away dust and tiny broken pieces that would otherwise complicate the entire process.

Alexander’s form would rock slightly as the jar began to giggle at the sensation; wriggling a little bit at every stroke of the young man’s hand as the bushy end of the brush tickled against the more delicate spots on his form. “Hah, hahah!” He laughed, despite his best efforts to suppress the urge.

“Hold still, now.” Skully warned.

The warrior jar held a hand up to his front, making a sound as if clearing his own throat. “A-apologies, hah, I can’t quite help myself, I’m afraid. Hahah!”

Skully sighed. Thankfully this part of the process wasn’t reliant on any particular precision. Slowly the swipes of his brush did away with the splintered shards and detritus – the young man took a good ten minutes to properly dust the rest of Alexander’s form, ensuring that every crack on his large body was good and ready for repairs.

He did try to be extra gentle around the open ‘wound’ – a spot where a piece of Alexander has broken clean off, revealing a small hole, large enough to offer a peek inside.

“Hey uhh, you still have that piece on you, right?”

“But of course, my brave warrior! You did tell me to hold onto it.” Alexander confirmed, reaching out and offering the large curved shard to Skully, who carefully took it in his hands and cautiously began dusting it off as well.

“And uhh…” Skully trailed off, gazing towards the open hole on the living jar’s frame.

“Hmm? What is it, my friend?” Alexander asked.

“I was just thinking…” The young man said, inviting himself into Alexander’s field of vision. “Would you mind if I…” His eyes darted to the side. “Took a quick glance inside?” He asked. In truth he had been wondering about that since the beginning. Even though he knew the sight would be rather grotesque, he couldn’t help his innate curiosity. Still he wasn’t just about to go peeping without Alexander’s permission.

“Oh! Of course, if you like!” The large lad graciously agreed, reaching over and giving his nosy human a couple of pats on the head. “I should warn you though. Some would find my innards… most unsightly, but if you are quite prepared for the scene within, I see no reason to deny your request.”

“Deal!” Skully exclaimed, dashing right back around and quickly standing on the tips of his toes. He moved himself closer, bringing his eye to the small opening and cursing slightly as he realized his own head was blocking what little light could get in from the outside. It took a few moments but eventually he found an angle that allow him a decent look.

A gasp escaped him at the sight within – true enough to Alexander’s description, the remains of former great warriors lay within the jar – piles of meat in various states of decomposition, though none in particularly bad shape, not compared to the horrors of Caelid, at the very least. “Huh…” A quiet gasp escaped the young man. “Doesn’t look that bad, actually.” He asserted. “Doesn’t look that bad at all.”

“Hah! I thank you, Skully. I am glad that you it didn't give you pause… like some of the others.” There was a brief pause between the two.

“Were there people who uhh… took it badly?” Skully cocked a brow.

“A couple, yes.” He nodded, a little more sullen at the memory than he would normally allow himself to be. “Some think poorly of the fact that I sustain myself on the bodies of the fallen.”

Skully shook his head, slotting the missing shard over the small opening to make sure would fit. “You’re more than just the sum of your parts, Alexander. It may be a little gruesome but… if that’s the thing that allows us to spend time together, I don’t think I mind it all that much regardless.”

The slight air of doubt that that had become evident in Alexander’s body language quickly dissipated at those words. “Well said, my brave warrior! Well said!” He harrumphed. “Now, I assume I should remain perfectly still, yes?”

“Oh, uh, yeah! Yup!~” Skully nodded, quickly reaching over and grabbing the jar of glue he had prepared beforehand. “Just sit still and… well… hope I don’t mess this up at all, hahah! I’m not really an expert at repairing pottery, like I said.”

“I have utmost faith in you, Skully. Moreover, any slight deviation in design would be nothing more than a mark of your personal touch! One that I shall wear with pride and reverence.”

Truthfully, Skully had been a little worried about how the repair process might go; this wasn’t just some random planter pot, he was essentially ‘repairing’ another living being. But hearing such confidence in Alexander’s voice was inspiring. He couldn’t help but feel his heart tremble a little - his face awash with blush, he averted his gaze for a moment. “Y-you are such a hopeless romantic, you know that?” He mumbled, following it up with a chuckle, peeking out at the jar man through his fingers, smiling. “I kinda like that about you~”

Alexander seemed like he was about to respond but instead ceased all movement and froze stiff as he felt Skully’s hands on his form. He gasped softly as gentle, slightly shaky motions worked the new material in with a neat little chisel – lines of clay and glue quickly but carefully squeezed into the cracks on his form. The process took quite some time of course – bits and pieces pushed together and held in place as every single rift on the jar’s surface was dutifully filled in with new material and the substance needed to hold It together. The jar could help but moan slightly at the attention, it was as close to a relaxing massage as he was ever going to get, given his nature, and the fact that Skully was the one doing it…

“I’m pretty sure I am breaking at least some rule by using it here.” The young man said, pulling out a pouch of brightly glowing repair powder and sprinkling it over the results of his efforts. “But there’s nothing I would rather see it used for.”

“Wh-what was that?” Voice slightly trembling, the living jar composed himself enough to speak.

“Oh nothing… just a little bit of magic from a world not too different from this one.”

Alexander’s body began to lightly vibrate as the jar man braved himself, feeling tiny tickling sensation creasing all over his whole form, from within every crack. It was like an itch, a terrible, incessant each gnawing at him form inside his body. The warrior jar gave a soft, slightly pained moan at that but said nothing, his form leaning forward just a little.

“Everything alright?” Skully asked, leaning over with a look of concern upon his visage, gingerly laying a hand on Alexander’s side.

A slight wave of relief washed over the jar man at Skully’s touch, feeling those hands gently propping the pieces closer together, holding them in place so they wouldn’t wiggle about.

“Y-yes, quite! It’s just…” He grunted. “This itch, it’s incomprehensible! Oh, my stars… this is quite an insufferable feeling! Are you quite certain this is necessary?”

“Yis.” Skully said with a conclusive nod, pressing himself up against one of the less damaged sides of his jar companion and latching onto him in a hug. “We’re not taking any chances with your safety, big guy.” A firm squeeze followed, one that relieved the irritation from the setting pieces a bit more.

With a heavy, resounding sigh of relief, Alexander offered a nod before sitting still once again. “Very well, my brave warrior, if you insist. But… please do not let go of me, my brave warrior. I hate to trouble you like this, but your touch…” He reached a hand over, stroking along Skully’s shoulder as if to return the favor. “It feels rather… ahem… magical right now.”

Skully couldn’t help but giggle a bit. “That’s alright!~ You can just treat me to something nice as thanks later~”

“Oh dearie me, you are right of course. I am racking up quite a debt to you, yes? I do think it is about time I’ve repaid the favor, if you would…” A pause. “Trust me on this?”

“Of course! As long as it isn’t anything too shady.” Skully chuckled.

“Perish the thought!” Alexander assured, grabbing Skully’s hand firmly in one of his own. “I simply have an idea for a… locale you might enjoy.”

“Hah, then sure!” Skully nodded.

“Splendid! Then once we-” Alexander made to stand up, only for Skully to hold him down firmly to the ground.

“No.” The young man stated. “Sit. Dry.”

“Ah, of course. Pardon me, my brave warrior.” He laughed, gently caressing Skully’s chin, gently grazing his fingers against the young man’s cheek. “I got a little too caught up in the excitement, it seems.”

“You do a bit, but… I like that about you too~” Skully chuckled. “So where were you going to take me?”

“I was thinking I could take you down to the Eternal City of Nokron? The way is somewhat treacherous, but hardly a match for me! I could take you right on down!”

“Oh yeaaaah! I was actually looking for a way down there for a while! How’d you know?”

“Hmm hm hm~ I have my way, my brave warrior, I have my ways~”

---

It took quite a while for Alexander’s to dry up, of course. Skully had made a small campfire, sitting next to it alongside the jar man. The two of them conversed for a long while as night slowly drew closer, casting the land in a faint dark, lit only by the light of the stars and the looming Erdtree.

Grace, it seemed, was watching over them that night as the golden leaves began to rain over the landscape, scattering far and wide, everywhere across the Lands Between.

“It has been some time since I… witnessed a sight as gorgeous as this, my friend.” Aelxander spoke up, lacking eyes, yet still looking up in awe.

“It is pretty, isn’t it?” Skully nodded. Leaning closer to Alexander, he felt the jar carefully wrap an arm around him, holding him tight against the hardened surface. He happily leaned in, pressing his cheek up against the big lad. “How are you feeling though?”

“I do believe the itch is gone for good. And I feel sturdier than before. Certainly more intact!” He assured. “I am fairly certain whatever otherworldly magic you sprinkled upon me did its job! Not that I would expect anything less from my brave warrior.” Alexander laughed, laying a palm over Skully’s head and giving it a few adoring pats.

It felt just a little patronizing to the young man, though he could hardly fault Alexander for his attitude. “Well, I’m glad it seems to be working, you really should be careful though. I can help put some pieces back into place but I’m not really sure I can do much if you completely fall apart.”

“Oh, don’t you worry! I have learned my lesson well after the Festival of Radahn!” The huge jar shuddered with a deep, bellowing laugh. “Earning a glorious death in battle is bound to be my fate eventually! And I’m not afraid of meeting my fate, if that means-“ Suddenly Alexander felt arms around him once more, Skully was squeezing him in a hug. “Wh-wha?”

“Don’t talk about it so casually.”

“But-“

“Please…” The young man’s face brushed back and forth along the ceramic, accompanied by a slight whimper. “I know neither of us can live forever but there’s no need to rush towards your death, right?”

“O-oh!” Alexander gasped, his own hands awkwardly wrapping around Skully, the round shape of his body making it just a little more difficult than it ought to be. “Of course, Skully!” He assured with a comforting pat on the back. “I don’t intend to blindly rush off to my demise! That would be utter foolishness.”

“Good.” Skully nodded, giving his large friend a few final nuzzles before slowly backing off. “That’s good.”

“Hah, I may yet surprise us both! And, Skully, should you ever fall in battle, I would be happy to give your corpse a home within myself! Hah hah hah!”

“That’s… kinda morbid.”

“Ah, dearie me, I suppose it is! I do apologize, my brave warrior. I merely want you to know that you are welcome in my company whenever, regardless of circumstance!”

“Heh, don’t worry about it.” The human nodded. “And hey, I’m glad I met you, Alexander.”

“I’m glad I met you too, Skully.” The jar affirmed with another pat. “Now… It is getting rather late so… how would my dear warrior like to get some rest while I watch over him, hmm?”

Skully gave an amused exhale. “As long as you promise not to move around too much while I’m out!”

“Very well.” Alexander nodded solemnly. “If that is your wish, I shall wake you, should anything come up.”

“Heh, you’d better!” With a gentle nudge against the big lad’s arm Skully lowered himself down by the fire, sighing and allowing himself to close his eyes. He had half the mind to cuddle up against Alexander, but that would be somewhat counter-productive to the whole drying thing, he decided.

That did not stop the living jar himself however, as, not a moment later, Skully felt a firm rounded surface press up against his back, helping support his weight a little as he leaned himself against it. A small smile spread across the young man’s features, grateful for Alexander’s company in this foreign, hostile world.

---

The night would pass peacefully enough, with the golden leaves of the Erdtree continuing to gracefully drift down all around them. Alexander – true to his word – would sit there, calm and still, stroking his hand through Skully’s hair and watching the slowly rising sun on the horizon.

But eventually Skully would stir a bit, stifling a moan as his arms stretched over his head, brushing past Alexander’s wrist and slowly, instinctively grabbing onto it.

The jar would chuckle softly as he felt the young man tugging his arm into a loving embrace, watching the little thing bury his face in it, squeezing hard as slowly, little by little, the young lad woke up.

“Mmmnnngh…” The moan sounded in the morning quiet as Skully gave a biiiiig yawn. “Did I miss anything?”

A series of heavy thumps sounded as Alexander picked himself up off the ground, standing in front of Skully, turning this way and that… “I believe the repair job is quite complete, my dear brave warrior!” He asserted, showing off the clay surface of his body that had become almost seamless following the application of repair powder. “And what a fantastic job it was, hah hah hah!” Without warning Alexander reached forward, scooping the young man up in his arms and spinning him around.

“Whoa! Hey!” Skully protested, giggling at Alexander’s touch despite himself. “Well, hah, you certainly look better!”

“All thanks to my brave little warrior!” Alexander hurrahed.

“And that means…” Skully wiggled his way out of the jar’s grip. Holding onto an arm, he began swinging back and forth with a huge, beaming smile. “I can do this!” Launching himself up, he pounced, grabbing hold of Alexander and scrambling up on top of him. “I’ve got you!~” He exclaimed, latching onto the big lad with both arms.

Continuing to spin, Alexander reached a hand up, caressing Skully as they slowly came to a stop. “I see my brave warrior eager to hitch a ride with the Great Warrior Jar Alexander himself!”

“Yes!” Skully exclaimed, kind of caught up in the excitement of the moment,

“Ah hah hah! Very well then, my dear companion! Let us be off!” And thus, scooping Skully’s backpack off the ground with one hand and without so much as another look back, Alexander rushed forth – his footfalls thumped against the ground as his long strides easily carried him across the landscape. “To Nokron!” He shouted, already halfway down the hill they spend the night on.

“To adventure!”

“Ahahaha! Spledid, my brave warrior! Splendid!” He laughed. “Then to adventure we go!”