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+---- Thread: well, if devotion is a river (/showthread.php?tid=11230)
well, if devotion is a river - Flora - 05-01-2025
Halo’s LongHeat felt like Torchline’s cold snap: merciful by local standards, brutal by anyone else’s. Wind skimmed the tundra in glittering sheets, and sunlight off the endless white was bright enough to slice.
Flora squinted behind oversized mirrored sunglasses, their rose-gold lenses flashing each time she turned her head. A shearling-lined bomber jacket, cropped and cinched at the waist, hugged over fleecy leggings and knee-high snow boots—a look equal parts safari chic and please don’t freeze my ass off.
Somewhere out here was the patch of Memory Snow Ludo wanted—flakes that shimmered faintly with prismatic colour and could show fragments of the past when melted. Which sounded poetic until you realized the entire tundra was basically a monochrome carpet of ice. Flora knelt, scooping a handful of powder and letting it trickle through her fingers. Nothing but dry, starch-white cold. She tried another drift—same result.
[say]"How do you tell enchanted snow from the regular kind?"[/say] she complained, straightening and surveying the horizon.
RE: well, if devotion is a river - Deimos - 05-01-2025
Tracking amidst the outskirts of the Citadel was a frequent occurrence – though today he came with Erebos, who toddled far slower than his soldiers or the hunters familiar with the Tundra’s long, unwinding expanse. Belial screeched alongside, and the pair was an outfitted venture duo comprised of a snowsuit laden infant and his peryton counterpart, to which Deimos could only snort but stay tucked beside, staring across the horizon.
To which he spotted Flora, nestled nearby, and his brows furrowed, head tilted, confusion evident along the usual stoic mask. It’d been quite some time since they’d last spoken, when he’d been concerned about her safety and she’d been determined to ward off to Stormbreak with Dahlia anyway, and the aftermath that followed.
He still didn’t harbor any ill will towards the Doubletake, despite the frustrations. Pondering over why she was here in Halo though, as most tended to avoid his region, caused him to shuffle Erebos and Belial along, until they were near, and he could hear her words muffled into the area. Figuring she’d be able to see them coming from some distance away, given Erebos’ penchant for squealing and the deer’s answering echo. [say]“If it can maintain its form,”[/say] he answered forthrightly. [say]“We get many leftover snowmen.” [/say]And a variety of other sculptures.
RE: well, if devotion is a river - Flora - 05-01-2025
Flora turned at the sound of infant squeals and wingbeats, lowering her sunglasses just enough to peer over the lenses. The sight of Deimos—stoic as always, somehow even more so when flanked by his peryton and what appeared to be the world’s smallest snow explorer—was unexpected enough to crack a grin across her wind-chapped lips.
[say]"Snowmen?"[/say] she echoed, brushing her gloved hands off on her thighs. [say]"Great. So I’m out here pawing through the snow and really I should just be looking for Frosty?"[/say] She stepped closer, eyeing Erebos with an affectionate little smile and Belial with the cautious respect.
[say]"Hi, by the way,"[/say] she added, softer now that they were within arm’s reach. Her gaze flicked briefly across Deimos’s face, searching for frostier signs—emotional, not seasonal—but finding none. [say]"Promise I'm not here to rearrange your landscape again. I have a quest from Ludo."[/say]
RE: well, if devotion is a river - Deimos - 05-01-2025
Deimos obliged Flora with his nonchalant shrug, but the ghost of a smile appeared at the faint traces of humor slung about the frigid landscape. [say]“Perhaps. There are probably some still around from last season.”[/say] And he doubted anyone who’d ventured out into the Tundra to draw upon remnants of Frosty would mind if it disappeared – there was always more to be had. [say]“We had some come in as snow dinosaurs one year,”[/say] to give her a viable flavor of the potential.
Erebos extended his welcoming wave with both mittened hands, giving his own enthusiastic [say]Hi![/say] before the Sword could even respond to the greetings. [say]“Hello. And that is good to hear.”[/say] He’d prefer any arranging to be done by Halovians – and with some more scruples than diminishing their cave system into the sea. [say]“We can see if there are any this way,”[/say] to which he jutted his jawline along the eastern portions – anything prominent would stand out amidst the mostly flattened, treeless portion of their region. [say]“If you do not mind a toddler’s pace,”[/say] at which the infant giggled with glee, toddling in his full snow gear. Pausing, he tilted his head again. [say]“How are you?”[/say]
RE: well, if devotion is a river - Flora - 05-01-2025
Flora’s grin curled sheepishly as Deimos acknowledged what had transpired between them when they'd last properly chatted. [say]"I don’t mind,"[/say] she replied with a shrug, voice warm despite the chill. As for how she was doing ?
Flora blew out a sigh that fogged in the cold, dramatic and drawn from somewhere deep in her boots. [say]"Wellllll,"[/say] she began, arms spreading slightly, [say]"I let myself get infected by Dahlia. Briefly. On purpose."[/say] She lifted a hand quickly, palm out, forestalling judgment that she knew likely wouldn’t come but felt compelled to preempt anyway. [say]"It was a trade. Dahlia gave me some of her blood to protect Torchline, and then said I couldn’t benefit from it. Soooo..."[/say] Her voice trailed off as she swept a hand in an exaggerated arc. [say]"I’m living on a boat now."[/say] Given that Deimos probably wasn't interested in the other fallout from her little bargain with Dahlia, Flora opted to skip over the Jack of it all.
[say]"It’s called the Sugar Tide. Very cute. Very mobile. Not exactly what I'm used to, but I'll make it work. At least until you heroes manage to blow up Starfall or whatever."[/say]
RE: well, if devotion is a river - Deimos - 05-01-2025
Erebos occasionally stopped to take a quick glance at something that caught his attention – a snowflake, a piece of snow different from the others, a string dangling from his mittens – so the walk was very slow indeed, but they clearly had enough to discuss to fill the time. While the infant giggled with his own glee, Deimos snorted, ushering him onward with a gentle rumble or a taking of the youth’s hand, listening to Flora all the while.
The Dahlia infection didn’t go without a reaction – the raising of his brows and then the quick narrowing of his eyes – though he’d known she was going to commit to the act regardless. Heeding warnings had never been the Doubletake’s thing, from what he’d experienced, and so he unearthed a very long breath from his lungs, watching as the warmth drifted into the cold air. [say]“And how was that experience?”[/say] Dealing with the Reaper, the bloodletting, the trade….because he knew, especially based on who he was, very few would have ever courted and chanced the same results. Some might have before; and they were likely still infected, given the vice by their courage or foolishness.
[say]“On a boat,”[/say] he repeated, nodding along, mouth twitching as if to forestall a grin, amused. [say]“Adding any speed to it?”[/say] As for heroes and Starfall, he managed a snort. [say]“We should have another group venturing shortly. And if not, back at it again, I suppose,”[/say] with all the resignation of the foreboding trepidation lined through his shoulders.
RE: well, if devotion is a river - Flora - 05-01-2025
Flora's mouth twitched at the tch of resignation in his voice, a familiar sort of exhale she knew too well—one she was probably guilty of making herself, just in a higher pitch and with more cursing. She walked alongside him, boots crunching over frost and her breath fogging the inside of her rose-tinted sunglasses. Erebos’s mitten-string investigation got a fond little grin; it helped to have something soft to look at when everything else lately had been so sharp.
[say]"How was it?"[/say] she echoed, the humour fading. Her teeth caught at the inside of her cheek for a second. [say]"Weird. Awful. Kind of transcendent, in a horrible way."[/say] She nudged a chunk of icy crust with the toe of her boot, sending it skittering. [say]"I mean, I got what I needed—Dahlia let me take what Torchline needed—but I didn’t come out of it unscathed."[/say] With a sigh, the queen gives her head a little shake. [say]"I already had a rose ready to go for Hadama to cure me with, but he wasn't pissed at me about it and my boyfriend broke up with me over it, so.."[/say]
She glanced his way, voice a little quieter now. [say]"But Torchline will be safe, or Haulani at least. And I can tell who's infected just by looking at them, so I guess that's a thing."[/say]
As for the boat, that got a soft huff of laughter. [say]"I named her The Sugar Tide,"[/say] she confessed, pulling her coat tighter around her. [say]"Literally everyone in my family lives on a boat now, so it actually kind of works out I guess. She’s a sky-sailboat—still learning to fly her properly, but I’m getting there."[/say]
The glint of colour in a nearby snowdrift caught her attention and she veered slightly toward it, crouching low to drag her glove through the flakes. Nothing. Just ice. [say]"If this memory snow stuff is supposed to shimmer, I’m starting to think I’m going to need a magnifying glass and a prayer if we don't see some snowmen soon."[/say]
RE: well, if devotion is a river - Deimos - 05-02-2025
The occasional slip and fall from the youth were inevitable; boots heavy, snow deep, but he remained thoroughly unbothered – done it already enough times to keep bobbing along or lifted quickly by Deimos’ hands. It helped to alleviate some attention and focus upon Erebos, rather than the potential horrors Flora had faced.
Brows still furrowed at the description; some portions familiar from the Flood’s admissions. The tradeoff seemed bleak though, and his nose wrinkled at the notions. He hadn’t been aware of Flora and Jack’s affiliation, save for Remi and Ronin’s stray comments from time to time, and given that the Captain was likely as old as her parents…he withheld the outward grimace. Carefully neutral, he glanced back at her, a shrug threatening through his shoulders to counter all the other reactions. [say]“Many end up making sacrifices for the greater good,”[/say] he ascertained, though some weren’t always counterparts and partners. Some were their lives. [say]“And at least yours could potentially be regained.”[/say] Hadama wasn’t likely to be cross for long. And if they could annihilate Starfall, then one would hope the circumstances would lend themselves to obliterating the Family. Jack was another thing altogether, which he wouldn't be promoting. [say]“I know I seemed cross and frustrated at the meeting, but I was aiming for alternatives – especially for your safety.”[/say] And she, much like her mother, had gone and accomplished things regardless.
So maybe he was too cautious, or maybe he’d just seen enough to issue the warnings. Was tired of seeing multitudes throw themselves into pathways that could’ve been avoided. [say]“But congratulations on your efforts just the same.”[/say] He gave a small smile, and then laughed at Erebos’ squealing, as the toddler gestured to exactly what they were looking for, further down a slight incline and slope. Belial also called out – leaving them ample opportunity to start downward to the cluster of snow people – likely curated from Halovian youths – because upon closer inspection one would see they were all misshapen and purposefully haggard.
Long strides smoothly went through snow, amidst years of practice, and he managed another brief bout of humor. [say]“Did not take you for a traditionalist.”[/say] Recalling Remi and Ronin’s ventures amidst the Draig, with their houseboat nestled amidst waterfalls, he snorted. [say]“Offers a bit more freedom though.”[/say]
RE: well, if devotion is a river - Flora - 05-02-2025
Flora clocked the neutrality in Deimos’s voice and expression—the even-keeled way he processed everything—and wasn’t surprised in the least. But she appreciated the way he tried to thread a silver lining through it, anyway, without sugar-coating the cost. That alone earned him a flicker of a smile, faint but sincere. [say]"Yeeeaaah,"[/say] she said softly, watching Erebos bounce along with enviable resilience. [say]"In the grand scheme of things, what’s one lost love compared to a whole region’s safety?"[/say] She exhaled, not quite bitter, just…tired. [say]"Still sucks, but. Perspective."[/say]
A few more steps and she glanced his way again, the corners of her mouth quirking ruefully. [say]"I probably came across like a brat in that meeting. I didn’t mean to. I just…"[/say] She shook her head, snow crunching beneath her boots. [say]"I’ve seen a lot of shit, but apparently I haven’t seen quite enough to count as experienced when it comes to ‘war with an alien race.’"[/say] Her voice twisted with dry humour on the last part. [say]"Learning curve’s been steep."[/say]
The childlike squeal from Erebos dragged her gaze forward just in time to catch sight of the slope and the snowmen beyond. The sight made her blink, then snort softly. [say]"Okay. Either we’ve found the memory snow,"[/say] she said, tipping her head at the ragtag collection of frosty horrors, [say]"or someone needs to teach Halo’s kids what symmetry is."[/say]
As she stepped after Deimos, careful in her footing, she hummed at his comment about tradition. [say]"It was a boat or a shack on the beach,"[/say] she admitted, brushing melting flakes from her thigh. [say]"And I didn’t want another house, not really. I want my house back one day."[/say] Then, more lightly, with a small smirk, [say]"Living on a boat takes some getting used to, but yeah. The freedom’s kind of addictive."[/say]
RE: well, if devotion is a river - Deimos - 05-02-2025
Truth be told, Deimos had to wonder if the man was worth all the angst and melancholy – but given how many of his melancholies had been cast because of the demise of either relationships or someone’s very existence, he gave her only half a grin, nodding in understanding. They weren’t the same bridges, but alternating paths and deviations – the results still ingrained in that age-old hurt. The Sword figured the Doubletake for one of resilience too though.
[say]“I did not doubt your lack of experience,”[/say] he noted, despite her youth. She’d certainly heard enough Remi and Ronin stories to last her entire lifetime – they’d all gotten up to multitudes of dangerous means in the past because that was all they thought they’d had. Even now, between angling for a Family member’s blood and trekking through horrific islands, they still stayed committed to the course. [say]“I just was not certain on the amount of risk. Though, you probably can say the same about our gardening trips.”[/say] Here he obliged her with a deep, rumbling laugh and a shake of his head; because they knew the paths were dangerous and did it anyway. For Caido. For their loved ones. For everyone else that simply couldn’t.
At the joke, he arched his brow, and while Erebos teetered to one of the snow people who had three eyes, giggling and pointing at the misshapen head and face, the Sword could only shrug his shoulders and snort at the wild depictions. [say]“They could be better. But Halovians have always been unique. How much of this do you need?”[/say] Carefully prying the toddler away from the memory snow, as it was once again threatening to enter his mouth, he passed a cleaner portion, and lacking residual form, to the youth, who happily flung it around. [say]“Shacks do not seem your style,”[/say] he offered with another smile. [say]“And eventually, you can have both.”[/say] Boathouse and her own home, freedom and familiarity.
RE: well, if devotion is a river - Flora - 05-03-2025
Flora hummed her agreement, a low sound that vibrated behind her teeth as she watched Erebos enthusiastically assault a three-eyed snow creature. [say]"Yeah, but at least when you go on your terrifying gardening trips, you’ve got a bunch of immortals with you."[/say] She flicked a sideways glance toward Deimos, lips quirking. [say]"Feels like I’m halfway there though, given what Remi and Ronin can do."[/say] It was functional immortality at best, the kind that came with a lot of stress, but so did war.
[say]"I’ve thought about asking Safrin to make me Attuned,"[/say] she admitted, gaze returning to the snowmen. [say]"Not like I need feathers to match my daggers—but just so I could talk to you all silently the way I know you always are."[/say] A small shrug, curls bouncing over her shoulder. [say]"Seems like it would help. Especially now."[/say] It would mean giving up her biggest advantage, though, and presently Flora wasn't ready to do that.
She crouched beside one of the more symmetrical snow-things and pulled a small container from inside her coat, unscrewing the lid with gloved fingers. [say]"Ludo didn’t say how much it needed,"[/say] she said, brushing aside a lopsided snow-ear to scoop up a palmful of shimmering snow. It glittered faintly in the light, strange and ephemeral, almost reluctant to settle. [say]"But I figure if we’re gonna risk frostbite for it, might as well grab enough to make it count. Unless there's a Halovian limit when it comes to taking snow from the region?"[/say] she added, tilting the container his way with a teasing smile.
RE: well, if devotion is a river - Deimos - 05-03-2025
While Erebos pried his mitten hand into the feet of some memory snow cretin that might’ve been a dog, Deimos snorted. [say]“Fair, but it does not mean any of us want to meet our demise there.”[/say] It meant there was a lighter risk on their end – but still, any of their deaths would carry heavy circumstances. His gaze went to his son, and then upwards, over the ivory horizon once more.
As they gathered snow, her admittance drew his focus again, eyes widening only slightly in surprise. [say]“I doubt you would want to lose the ability to call for aid though,”[/say] and while there could be something created, potentially, to do the same, sacrificing a powerful capacity, especially with her relatives and many other gods at her disposal, seemed heavy and daunting, simply so she could listen in on other Attuned. [say]“Maybe something could be made to tap into Attuned bonds?”[/say] A suggestion in mulling and musing only, uncertain if the heralds would want to replicate the potential without the alteration in her entity. Perhaps a similar capacity then; picking and choosing individuals or something along those lines.
He placed some in her jar (Erebos was a lost cause in the assistance), and rolled his eyes at the tease. [say]“I doubt we will miss this much.”[/say]
RE: well, if devotion is a river - Flora - 05-03-2025
Flora laughed softly under her breath, the sound fogging in the chill. [say]"I mean, as someone who’s already died... it’s not that bad,"[/say] she said breezily, bending to scoop another handful of shimmering snow into her jar. [say]"Don’t recommend it, obviously,"[/say] she added with a flicker of dry humour, [say]"but if I survived being dead, I'm sure it'd be a walk in the park for you."[/say] Lies. Bold-faced ones. Dying had been the worst thing that had ever happened to her—but what else could she do but bluff about it now?
She straightened and let the lid snap shut on the container, cradling it to her chest. [say]"Yeah, not being able to call for help is the only thing that’s kept me from asking,"[/say] she admitted with a shrug. [say]"But gods, it would be so cool to shift into something massive like my dads can."[/say]
Flashing Deimos a grin, she turned toward the slope they’d come down. [say]"Well. Jar's full, and as charming as Halo is, I need to get back somewhere I don't need to wear all these layers."[/say] She wiggled her fingers at Erebos, calling, [say]"Bye, baby snow goblin! Try not to eat any more icicles with faces!"[/say]
Then to Deimos, her smile softened, warm despite the cold. [say]"I’m glad I ran into you. I always am."[/say] She stepped closer, offered a brief, impulsive squeeze to his arm—and then with a flick of her compass, vanished into the bright, biting snow.
~FIN