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+---- Thread: The Birth of a Vendetta (/showthread.php?tid=10723)
The Birth of a Vendetta - Sah - 02-20-2025
Sah was exhausted but both of his pups were finally resting. His mind raced with plans and next steps. How did they move forward? Both Soleil and Luka were clearly traumatized. Sah was shaken that their very home had become unsafe. They'd need to move houses. Even if it didn't hide them from Dahlia, space was good. Space could help them heal.
The Wild Thunder would also need to step up the twins' training. He'd let them go at their own pace so far, apart from the basic proficiency. But now it was clear that their family was being targeted. Nodding at Pad, the hybrid sent the dark wolf on a crucial task. Frog remained, curled up with the pups while Lilly stayed at Sah's side. The Wild Thunder didn't like having Pad out of his line of sight right now, but it was a necessity.
Not long after his departure, Pad arrived at the Ignatius household. The companion scratched at the door, letting out a howl as he did so. Pad reached with his mind, trying to nudge the Sword's into motion. The message was clear, even if it was through the interpretation of a wolf. The Lovi family's den had been invaded, their pack attacked, and a pup was hurt. Deimos needed to follow him back, right now.
RE: The Birth of a Vendetta - Deimos - 02-20-2025
LongNight had a firm grasp on primordial trauma, and even if the horrors now only existed in memories, they were still a difficult knot to unravel. So Deimos kept himself occupied in and around the house or within the barracks; keeping up with training while they waited for the sun to rise again. This hour left him tending to letters by the fireplace in his home office, watching as Erebos pushed his new wooden cart back and forth (or Belial, as the peryton happened to like sitting in it) across the floor. Snorting amidst the delighted squeals, he might have let the entire world persist in nothingness just for a little while –
Save for the sudden nagging in his mind, or the rasping at the door.
The initial panic and trepidation flooded through his brain again, and he was nearly back there, within the Grounds and Temple or the guildhouse, smoldering at the seams. Were it not a wolf calling into the dark, he could’ve stayed there for ages, fingers tightly wound against the frame of his seat, frozen and haunted. Waiting for coaxing words to draw him, and so many others, from safety.
Instead, he pried himself away from parchment and hearths, correspondence and his son, picking up the infant, even as he giggled with glee, and went to hand him over to Evie with a quick intake of breath and whatever explanation he could muster. Another thing. Another assault. Another poignant surge of something in Halo. And unfortunately, not the end of it.
Grabbing his coat, a long exhale flooded through his lungs, and once he opened the door, staring into the dark, trying to find every stoic edge that didn’t already contour and contort over his spine, he looked down at the companion. [say]Lead the way[/say], long strides ready to sweep towards the Lovi household. Coaxing Zuriel alongside him, to which the unicorn proudly, and wisely, said nothing, he used her own calm demeanor to forge and strengthen his.
RE: The Birth of a Vendetta - Sah - 02-28-2025
Pad silently led Deimos to the Lovi household and after letting his bonded know that they were coming in. The Wild Thunder looked up as the duo entered, not moving from where he now stood. The younger hybrid was leaning against the corner of his wall, which allowed him to keep an eye on his pups sleeping in the living room, as well as be able to cyclically scan the front door and windows. It was the best spot for keeping watch downstairs.
When Deimos came in, Sah did his best to shove down his emotions so that they didn't overwhelm the bond. Still, his anger, grief, and guilt were present, even if subdued. Using telekinesis, he handed the Sword a letter even as he gestured for the man to sit at the kitchen table. The letter held the one copied from Dahlia.[say]The original was written on a piece of paper pinned to Luka's back. She stole him from his fucking bed when I was gone and dropped him nearly dead at the door not long after I got home. I've tended to his injuries but...fuck.[/say]
The Wild Thunder ran a hand through his hair, his eyes wild. [say]We're moving in the morning. At least temporarily to a new place in Halo. I want to kill her so badly, but I know I don't stand a chance.[/say] He gritted his teeth, furious at his own weakness. [say]I failed Luka. [/say] He'd thought he was doing the right thing, and he'd nearly lost his son for it.
RE: The Birth of a Vendetta - Deimos - 02-28-2025
The walk wasn’t long, but more than enough time for his mind to collect and conspire the possibilities occurring. A long list of probable causes and acts twisted and turned – but to hear the notions, to witness the trials, tribulations, and aftermath, contorted deeply into his ribcage and refused to loosen. Knotted, gnarled, and grasping for something other than the trepidation and own sudden anger, rage, cold and chilling, down into his bloodstream, he took hold of the letter – not yet sitting at the table. It was with a cool head that he read the words transcribed, listened to the response, but the molten dirges combined with prevailing nuances and news dragged the length of their claws into his spine. [say]Gods, I am sorry,[/say] first and foremost, as he continued to flick his eyes over the parchment; rereading time and time again.
They probably should’ve predicted this, and had, in a way, that day both Elizabeth and Sah had come into his office. The Sword hadn’t wanted to negotiate at all – but the terms had been settled simply so they could have the bird returned without any turmoil. Now it simply seemed to have only mattered in the aspect that Luka still had his life. [say]No more deals[/say] he uttered, smoothing out any crinkles in the paper; intending to show it to others. [say]We have tried enough. [/say]
Letting out another long exhale of air to try and push aside so many embittered pieces, to be something calm in the midst of a storm, he shook his head. [say]And you know better – none of us have any means to be rid of them.[/say] Yet, anyway. While his emotions were completely understood, Deimos would feel much the same way, it wouldn’t do Luka, nor the Wild Thunder, any good by rushing out into Stormbreak and stomping through. In fact, it would make matters far worse. [say]You did not. He is still alive.[/say] But maybe it would be a very cruel lesson learned – for any of them – to not directly antagonize Dahlia. [say]I brought Zuriel too, if you wanted a break.[/say] If there were any more wounds to tend to. [say]I think after LongNight, we need to make a decision on the rest of our options for blocking the void.[/say] Because this couldn’t happen again.
RE: The Birth of a Vendetta - Serendipity - 02-28-2025
This does not count as a Random Event for levelling or MP. There will be no further admin/re intervention.
RE: The Birth of a Vendetta - Sah - 02-28-2025
Sah let out a heavy sigh, [say]I don't know how to help him.[/say] Gods, his son. His sometimes stoic but always loving son, had broken down completely. Shattered into fragile and tender shards. The younger hybrid would do his best to help him pick up the pieces and be there for him as he reshaped himself into something new. But gods, where did he even begin?
At Deimos' statement, the Wild Thunder nodded sharply, [say]I fully agree.[/say] It was clear now that not form of negotiation would have ever been successful. Not if this is what Dahlia saw as a fair response to a mere letter. The Wild Thunder hadn't even been truly disrespectful. Not intentionally. Yet somehow it had been enough for Dahlia to commit this heinous crime.
Anger suddenly sparked higher, volatile emotions already on the surface. [say]I do.[/say] Sah knew full well and it was with the last shred of his sanity that he held his tongue from lashing out at Deimos' reminder. He knew on a logical level that it was reasonable for the Sword to fear that the Wild Thunder would act rashly given the depth of his rage. Still, Sah had already come to the same conclusion that Deimos had on the impossibility of it, and the helplessness of the realization was hard to hear externally. Another reminder of his shortcomings. One day, though. When he was powerful enough, Sah would take the Reaper's life.
The Wild Thunder's shoulders sagged. He didn't believe Deimos, but he appreciated the sentiment. [say]He is. And I'd appreciate the help. I think I've fully healed him, but another pair of eyes would be appreciated.[/say] Just in case. Luka had been through enough pain already.
This entire situation had turned Sah into an abstract bundle of fraying threads and sharp, jagged edges. But just as he'd told Luka, they'd find a way through this. A way forward. [say]Yes. We do. [/say]
RE: The Birth of a Vendetta - Deimos - 03-01-2025
His eyes wandered from the paper, to the darkness of the evening outside. Just a few sparse, spare moments of parsing through the multitudes of emotions and actions running through his mind – uncertain how well his advice would be received. Not in these maelstroms, where the hurt was too immediate and blunt and focused. Not where abhorrence nearly ran thicker than the blood rushing through veins. [say]He is likely going to need time to recover, both mentally and physically.[/say] The trauma was probably bleak and harsh. [say]Maybe, when he is ready, you could have him talk to Elizabeth?[/say] As a mere suggestion and nothing more; but her profession was therapy.
He could feel Sah’s rise of anger again at the reminder, but he didn’t care. He meant it, every step of the day, to ignore the idiotic and foolish impulses– presently or in the near future. Lashing out only would’ve made things worse, either at himself or Dahlia, so he narrowed his eyes in warning, and uttered nothing more on the subject.
At his insistence, Zuriel came in – haughty just the same – and began to step lightly towards where Luka rested. While she tended, the notes of apprehension lingered again, rising through his spine like a vice. One day, maybe they wouldn’t feel like this any longer, but it felt like a long, long ways off. Peace and repose were distant relatives by now; glanced upon fondly and with bright memories, but so far away. [say]Do you need anything else?[/say] Deimos had another long night ahead of him – increased patrols, more guards at more hours, and ultimately letters going forth, more warnings for the rest of Caido’s masses.
RE: The Birth of a Vendetta - Sah - 03-03-2025
Sah nodded, taking the advice into consideration. [say]Maybe.[/say] It'd be up to Luka if he wished to speak with Elizabeth or someone else. Still, the younger hybrid would bring up the idea of seeing someone for professional help in the future. Even if he wished he had the ability, Sah knew he didn't have the expertise to guide Luka through processing what had happened to him. He could offer support and any assurance his son desired, and he fully intended to do so.
The Wild Thunder ignored Deimos' silent warning and simply let out a small sigh as he tried to reign in his emotions. Bowing his head to Zuriel as she passed, Sah shook his head. [say]Thank you. Nothing at the moment but I'll keep you posted if anything changes.[/say] The younger hybrid intentionally let his gratitude slip through the bond, [say]Thank you for coming so quickly.[/say] Even in his turbulent emotions, Sah was thankful for the Sword's support.
When Deimos and Zuriel left, Sah returned to his vigil, keeping watch on his sleeping children.
-[FIN]