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one thing right - Zavien - 06-15-2025
He'd just finished telling her about the battle in Hak Etme, the one in which Ronin and Hadama had saved the day. There was a proud smile on his face, a new sense of determination and peace that hadn't been present for months. It wasn't like his death had been erased, but some of his confidence had returned, a belief that he could make a difference without losing his life or those around him. And despite their status as refugees, he felt a renewed sense of purpose coursing through him, one that he hoped to share with Lena as they searched the Greatwood for the thousandth time.
Glancing around at the unfamiliar twisting of branches, Zavien let out a low chuckle. [say]"I think we're lost..."[/say] He'd lost sight of the village awhile back, but figured Sol would be able to lead the way. It didn't help that the dragon had decided that will-o-wisps were more interesting than their drab conversation The companion had flown off instead, figuring they'd call if there was trouble - although Zavien didn't think getting lost was enough to interrupt the dragon's fun. It wasn't like he minded, he intwined his fingers with Lena's, enjoying the relief from blistering heat in the shaded canopy of the trees.
His smile turned to her, content and bright despite the shadows. [say]"Are you feeling settled in New Haven?"[/say] It'd only been a few weeks, but it was long enough to start making it theirs.
RE: one thing right - Lena - 06-16-2025
The relief had been on her face and in her heart the moment Zavien had arrived back home – safe and secure – from the desert outing. It’d been an entirely new experience since the last horrific Halo venture, and while she risked wringing her hands constantly out of apprehension, and then reassurance, consolation, the breath held in her lungs wasn’t out of trepidation or anguish.
Enough that she could spare a joke, a merry little song of laughter following through, as she shook her lead, taking hold of his elbow once more, then his hand. [say]“Perhaps you are,”[/say] but she paid attention – had known these woods from wandering amidst them time and time again on the same directive and mission. While they might have turned and twisted around, as the glades tended to do, the confidence in her own directional capabilities remained. Mittens rolled its eyes and grumbled, head twisting all the way around as if to ascertain they were fine – or that it knew the way perfectly well. [say]“I’m glad everything went well in the desert.” [/say]
The bright smile thrown in her direction caused a flutter of her heart, and then a deep sigh to follow at the question. [say]“I guess – I think I’m always just waiting for the next thing to drop.”[/say] A reoccurring amount of chaos, until they were all displaced again. [say]“Hard to be comfortable that way.”[/say] Her head tilted upward, watching, patient.[say] "Are you?"[/say]
RE: one thing right - Zavien - 06-17-2025
Chuckling, he squeezed her hand, a playful gleam in his eyes. [say]"Fine, I'm lost[/i]."[/say] Zavien leaned close, his smile very much devoid of worry. [say]"But I'd happily be lost with you any time."[/say] And then he kissed her on the cheek with a wink, letting his gaze linger before turning back to the surrounding woods.
[say]"Me too."[/say] It was almost too easy, but Zavien wasn't one to question why the sun was shining. He just chose to bask in the sunlight.
Getting situated in their new environment was another issue though, and he nodded along to Lena's sentiment, understanding her meaning; that feeling of being on edge, wondering if the Family would target King's End next or if Stormbreak would be too far gone by the time they rallied a response or that some other special form of chaos would reveal itself. Regardless, he was still doing his best to make the most of it, and the recent battle renewed that desire.
Shrugging his shoulders, Zavien gave her a nonchalant smile. [say]"Comfortable? No. Settled? Well enough."[/say] The house was coming along and he was finding odd jobs around town.
[say]"Still doesn't feel like 'home' but I don't think I'm quite ready for that anyways."[/say] Because if it felt like a home, he was scared he might lose the drive to get back to Stormbreak. It didn't seem possible, but the apprehension remained, and he found himself holding back from fully embracing King's End.
Not liking that the mood was getting somber, Zavien gave her a teasing grin. [say]"At least we're not living on two pairs of clothes anymore."[/say]
RE: one thing right - Lena - 06-17-2025
Lena laughed at his comment, shaking her head until his kiss lingered on her cheek, and returned the favor, slightly underneath along jawlines. [say]“That’s very sweet. I’d make sure to rescue you.”[/say] Then she winked again, too sensible and pragmatic to permit them to be lost – save for with one another, she supposed.
To hear he was at least settled was something though, and she adjusted the angle of her shoulders, a long breath to follow, as if striving to billow the weight of it all away and into the ether, the wind, the eaves, the woods. [say]“I get that,”[/say] she surmised, gaze wandering over to the boughs and branches, then ambling downward, to see if there was some gold mingling amidst the pine and finery. [say]“That want and need to return to something familiar – and some of that can only be found in Stormbreak.”[/say] But that was the terrain of before - when the world hadn’t come crashing down around them. King’s End, as wonderful and warm and welcoming as it was, would never hold the Celestine. And they could remake the Dragoons as much as they’d like, but the stony portions and the backdrop and everything they’d ever chiseled –
Forging and forcing that away, her eyes swung to Mittens, brow arching as the snowball sniffed at a few roots, before moving on. [say]“That’s true,” [/say]and she permitted a soft laugh. [say]“And I’ve got some herbs growing.”[/say] So it was something; bulbs and petals, fronds and promises.
RE: one thing right - Zavien - 06-19-2025
Grinning at her returned kiss, Zavien's eyes gleamed green and gold and full of mischief as he asked, [say]"Who said anything about 'rescue?'"[/say] Being lost meant no one would find them. They could escape the world - their only worry being whether they made it out of the forest. And best of all, they'd be stuck together.
He didn't think it sounded like such a bad deal.
But eventually the world would catch up with them. Their responsibilities and innate loyalty to Stormbreak would summon them out from the quiet canopies that had given them a moment of ignorant reprieve. And they would be thrown back into the fray. But for a moment - just a moment - they might be able to pretend that they were just a couple lost in the woods.
Sadly, that day wasn't today, and Zavien nodded his head at the thought of all the things King's End couldn't give them. He missed Erica's nagging and the kids pummeling him in the Silk Houses and the dirty training grounds and the cacophony of the Celestine's residents and the lumpy feel of Lena's old couch and the dizzying heights over every corner of the city. It made his smile a little somber, quiet in the memories as he said, [say]"Yeah..."[/say]
At least some things would never change, and his laughter coiled between them, warm and content for what they do have. [say]"Herbs are good."[/say] Because amongst all the things, growth and budding life reminded him of hope and new beginnings. If they could do something as little as start a garden that cultivated healing during such a painful time, who was to say they couldn't eventually do the same for Stormbreak? Maybe they'd find themselves home sooner rather than later.
[say]"I know we still have to set up the new Dragoons Headquarters, and there's the matter of the Regional Quest, but other than those minor details,"[/say] he chuckled lightly, looking down to her again, [say]"what's next on the agenda?"[/say] Projects and goals and things to keep them centered, to keep them sane.
RE: one thing right - Lena - 06-19-2025
[say]“Oh, I see,”[/say] she grinned, fluttering her eyelashes back at him. [say]“You don’t want to escape.”[/say] And much like Zavien, she could be intrigued by the notions for a little while – wax patterns of imaginations beyond compare, delve further into forests and canopies and become lost in the greater parts of woods and glades. But reality would summon them eventually – it always seemed to – so perhaps the better lesson was to take what they had, then and now.
She didn’t want to even think about the things left behind – so she patted his arm and fluttered a few steps off, only to bend down and inspect a few wildflower petals, turning them over but leaving them to rest. [say]“I think it depends now on where we set things up for the regional quest…,”[/say] because if they had to move houses or shelter, that was going to be another multitude strung across and along. Her fingers went to another set of ferns, wondering if she should pick at those instead. [say]“I still need to talk to Frey…,”[/say] and she’d been dragging her feet on it, fully aware now. [say]“Was there any talk of the Oerwoud?”[/say] Especially after the desert?
RE: one thing right - Zavien - 06-21-2025
Chuckling from her playful return, Zavien gave another flirtatious wink and dipped his head like he was sharing a secret. [say]"Not as long as you're there."[/say] He'd follow her to the ends of the world and back, through every tangled wood and stranded desert, never caring that he didn't know where they were - only caring that she was there with him.
His eyes watched her fondly as she bound forward like a woodland fairy, admiring flowers on the forest floor. The smile on his face was distracted, even as he let her guide the conversation. [say]"I should probably talk to Frey too, maybe about getting my shield strengthened - or this new ring I got."[/say] He raised his hand to show the gold ring on his thumb, still finding the sensation odd; but he wanted to be prepared for whatever may come next, including more battles. [say]"We could go together if that would help?"[/say] His eyes found her, not certain whether it would be a benefit or an embarrassment to bring her boyfriend along.
Zavien shook his head at her question. [say]"I haven't heard of any, but it's a good point to bring up. It might be better to strike while they're not expecting it..."[/say] Although he also didn't want to push their luck. Hak Etme had been almost too easy, and he'd hate to invite opportunity for disaster. Shrugging his shoulders, he made his way back to her side. [say]"Maybe I'll talk with Koa about it, although I think it would have to wait until next season. My channeling was drained after the last fight."[/say] Which proved annoying when Vox decided to make an appearance in King's End.
RE: one thing right - Lena - 06-22-2025
She laughed in regards, but had no clever comeback save for another kiss upon his cheek. Floating back to her flowers and blooms though, she plucked several for her collection, listening. The problem wasn’t about physically going, but the likely conclusion of her inquiries. She probably already knew the answer, and to be torn between becoming infected simply to save her animals – was a difficult proposition. [say]“I’ll be okay,”[/say] she reassured. [say]“I think I just need to face the inevitable.”[/say] Maybe she’d be stripped of her title – and then what would she be –
Ending that thought abruptly, her hands gently procured a few more portions, then smoothed out the soil, as if none had been snagged. The Oerwoud sounded like another heated topic, and she hadn’t meant to bring too many semantics into play – hiding a sigh behind her chest. [say]“It doesn’t mean you have to do it all, nor Koa,”[/say] she grinned, glancing back at him from over her shoulder. [say]“I had just wondered if there were any thoughts about it. Might be nice to share the burdens with so many others.”[/say]
RE: one thing right - Zavien - 06-23-2025
Zavien turned so that her kiss landed on his lips, a wolfish grin following as he drew back, holding the kiss as a prize nestled against his heart - which she already owned anyways.
Maybe that's why it was hard to see Lena struggle about going to see Frey, knowing that there wasn't anything he could do about what the herald might say. However, he still offered her a reassuring smile and what he hoped were encouraging words. [say]"I think things will go better than you expect them to. Don't lose hope just yet."[/say] Safrin had even said they would return home eventually, so surely Frey would be of a similar mindset? And he doubted they would want to hurt Lena in such a way, not when she patted the forest floor like she was tucking it in after putting it to bed with a loving bedtime story.
He chuckled in return to her logical statements, knowing that there were plenty of other people in the world who could take his place, and probably do it better. Even Maea had sounded intent on getting involved with whatever 'cause' there might be, but that didn't mean they were willing to lay down their lives to do so. Not many people stood to lose as much as they did - as much as they had already lost. Losing loved ones and friends was terrible, but losing their home...
His eyes had lost their focus, staring into the canopy of trees where Stormbreak lay beyond. Even with his terrible directional capabilities, he always knew where it was, and his heart filled with a deep ache. [say]"We don't have to..."[/say] He let out a soft sigh, shrugging his shoulders before adding, [say]"But is it selfish to say I want to?"[/say] His green eyes looked to her, all playfulness gone as he searched for the answer to a question that he hadn't yet dared to ask. Was it bothering her that he continued to throw himself at danger? Did she think he was being foolish after having failed so terribly just a few months ago? Was he doing the right thing?
RE: one thing right - Lena - 06-24-2025
Had she lost hope? She liked to consider herself a faithful, dedicated, convicted person – even amidst all these shackles, tethers, and lines drawn. Except the answers had been clear before, and for all her commitments, duty, resolve, and resoluteness, this one was going to draw her right into the line of fire – of danger far beyond her capabilities and means. And she didn’t want her god to believe her feckless and pathetic, weak and unworthy, but Lena also had no intention of giving herself over to the Family. So betwixt and between, she nodded, trying not to dim everything else in the clutter and cluster of her thoughts.
As for Zavien, part of her wanted to protect him – but remained fully aware that she simply wasn’t strong enough to do so. All she could do was plant seeds and sow them into security and shelter, bound them by time and fragments as the rest yielded off into treacherous circumstances for the greater good. But his question made her turn back again, rising from the soil and sighing. [say]“No, I don’t think so.”[/say] Was it selfish to care? To help? To bombard and save? [say]“I just meant it doesn’t have to be the same people throwing themselves into danger every time.”[/say] She might’ve said the same for their stalwart Starfall fighters. [say]“People need breaks. Otherwise, how else do you try again?”[/say] She grinned that time, before shuffling forward, grabbing hold of some other roots nearby and tugging. [say]“I don’t want to see any of you exhausted and burnt out after…well, everything.”[/say]
As the soil yielded to her provocations again, she hummed under her breath, trying to steel away a multitude of resolve and resources once more. [say]"It'd be nice if there was a rotation, you know?"[/say]
RE: one thing right - Zavien - 06-24-2025
There was an ounce of reassurance to know he wasn't being selfish, but the unspoken question wasn't answered with anything but logic that had his head hanging in thought. He wondered if Lena proposed the ideas out of her usual proclivity for reasoning and fairness, or if there were any more personal notes that she wasn't speaking of.
Not lingering on those ideas, Zavien looked up to meet her eyes again. [say]"No, but there aren't very many people stepping up to take our places in between."[/say] Despite how many people claimed their desire to help, he hadn't seen nearly as many take the initiative to fight against the Void in a large, meaningful way. [say]"A rotation would be nice, but I think it just depends on what the battle calls for and who would best fit the situation."[/say] His shoulders shrugged again, fully aware that he was still amongst the weaker fighters, and that his strengths and items wouldn't be helpful in many settings - and much to his annoyance, that included Starfall.
Zavien gave her a smile, one laced with honesty and what he hoped was reassurance. [say]"As unfortunate as it is, some people are more willing and capable to step up than others."[/say] Which meant they found themselves back on the front lines each and every time, fighting to protect the rest. He chuckled like they weren't talking about deadly battles, glancing back at the woods around them. [say]"But it has to end eventually, right?"[/say]
RE: one thing right - Lena - 06-26-2025
Personal and pragmatic, Lena wouldn’t want everything to be mettled and melded into the former. But she also knew she wasn’t wholly capable – not after those initial disasters – and her only benefit was healing those after fights, and searching for flowers. The latter hadn’t yet proven to be of any substantial use, as her luck and fortune had been quite scarce, but the determination ran rampant and deep, and she’d try again.
She only gave a small smile at his admittance, nodding, hiding and tucking away a small sigh. [say]“Sure, but it’s difficult to know sometimes what you’ll face.”[/say] Other than the all-encompassing void, but the particulars could always be something different. The monsters that lurked. The demons that sprawled. At least they had the knowledge and information gathered about what worked and didn’t most of the time –
Snagging at a few more herbs, her head tilting, listening all the while as she worked. [say]“I hope so. We have the resolve behind us.”[/say] And the means, the power – and perhaps the persistence. [say]“Maybe we only need a couple more flowers,”[/say] and she winked, somewhat amused at the benefits the specific plants had.
RE: one thing right - Zavien - 06-26-2025
Tapping a foot against a root sticking up from the ground, Zavien nodded his head. [say]"You're right - as usual."[/say] He gave her a teasing smile before shrugging his shoulders. [say]"We just have to do our best to predict and assume."[/say] Based on environments, past experiences, and other various intel. One undeniable fact was that it would almost always be Void, and they knew what was effective against that.
At least he couldn't argue about their motivation. Both he and Lena had proven throughout the years that they were dedicated to the cause and willing to do what it took to protect the people from the Family and the Void. And although it may not always seem like it, diligence and slowly whittling away was still a form of resistance, weakening and making opportunities for the larger battles to be won.
Sol peeked around a corner as Lena brought up flowers again, one of the safest - and most effective - ways to contribute to the cause. [say]"That's true. Do you want to go look in a different section? Maybe we'll spot one."[/say] The little dragon seemed to be encouraging as much, zipping in an out of visibility like he was beckoning them forward with his excited chirps and fluttering wings.
RE: one thing right - Lena - 06-27-2025
Doing their best was all she’d ever ask or expect anyway – so she nodded, standing back up and away from the soil and loam.[say] “We’ll be prepared as much as we can,”[/say] she offered with another wink, before snagging at Mittens, making sure the snowball followed them instead of rampaging off into the distance.
Her eyes went to Sol, smiling as the dragon went off on his own business, encouraging nonetheless. [say]“Sure. And maybe our luck will change.”[/say] Which would be nice, for once, after the series of disasters and mishaps as of late. Grabbing hold of his hand, she inclined them back down the trail, clearly not lost in those regards.
[FIN]