break your own bones

Deimos

Between the utter chaos of the morning, ensuring others were alive, well, healed, mended, and tended to, Deimos only had the barest moment of relief flooding through him. Thereafter, in the midst of more broadcasts, he’d gone to his office in the barracks, preparing, as always, for the inevitable.

With the Tundra cleansed, presently, there were hordes of other notions to accomplish. While he could mull and shake his head and contemplate the errors of the few, he had to be, at the very least, more than grateful for their audacity. Perhaps, given enough time and space from the gaping wounds and experiences, he could send some letters and necessary words.

For now though, with the fire roaring in the hearth and the parchment at his desk, he’d begun to draw a list of possibilities – because Halo was never meant to be complacent.

we exhume our enemy's bones
we are battling, hungry beasts

// now we are hanging out in the backyard //

Gods, it really has been chaotic hasn’t it?

Once he’d parted from bringing Zavien to the nearest infirmary he could find, he drifts through the streets of the Citadel until he stumbles across what he could only assume to be where the government was held, hoping that the Sword was within.

After all, it’s been years since Sunjata had been in the heart of Halo. He gets turned around and some pointers from some of those flitting in and out, and before he fully freezes does he find the barracks – and within it, the office where the quiet scraping of pen against parchment and the crackle of a fire signals that someone’s inside.

He’s likely the last person Deimos expects to see on these steps – especially with how seriously he’d taken the warning, but these circumstances were different. And so, equally just as ragged as he’d seemed after being dunked in the hot springs, the Flood reaches out a lightning scarred hand to knock on the door.

the flood

// looking at a new point of view //

Deimos

In another time and place, or an erasing of many years of pettiness, hurt, and rage, the Flood and the Sword might have been friends. Nowadays, this would’ve been a great undertaking for Deimos to even consider, but at the very least, he’d leave the notions as ‘tenuous allies.’ So when Sunjata knocked, his eyes narrowed – head going upright as he contemplated and calculated the measures. Seasons and seasons ago, he would’ve promptly snarled and presumed the demigod would leave of his own accord, and value of his life. Presently, he had no business in alienating one of the few amidst their stronger cohort. How moments shifted.

Snorting inwardly, he gave a brief “Come in,” before continuing to write, the charcoal flickering across the page, getting the thought down, and then turning his head towards the Flood. Presuming the man would walk in, and pick one of the seats in front of the desk, Deimos wasn’t certain how to address the many topics twisting and turning around his head. Eventually, he simply settled for the main component. “Rumor has it that you are capable of resurrection now.” His brow arched, any light trace of humor evident in one corner of his mouth and nothing else. His soldiers had, rather predictably, been construing many a story as of late, to explain several phenomenons and broadcasts across the Tundra.

we exhume our enemy's bones
we are battling, hungry beasts

// now we are hanging out in the backyard //

Allies, he supposes, change over time. And now that he isn’t infected, Sunjata’s willing to do what he can to help prevent this current disaster from getting worse. So, when Deimos obliges and lets him come in, the Flood steps in and does – in fact – take one of the seats in front of the well worn desk of the Warden, gaze glancing around briefly before they fall on Deimos when his voice reaches him.

The comment is enough to surprise him, first and foremost, and Sunjata can’t help the snort that leaves him and the flicker of light like lightning through his scars as he reaches up to rub at his temple. “It was kind of a one time thing. I used a revivify feather I’d held onto for a while, but it was my only one.” His jaw works for a moment before he focuses on the Sword with a little more seriousness. “I was with Remi when Zavien reached out to him. I had the feather on me and got here as quick as I could. He's at the infirmary now. Do you know happened? Or.. How?” He asks, wondering if Deimos had any say in it, or if he was even consulted before the shit show went down.

the flood

// looking at a new point of view //

Deimos

Eventually placing the parchment aside as Sunjata came in, and chose a chair, the Sword tilted his head, taking in the information. Revivify feathers certainly weren’t an ordinary thing to come by, and explained a multitude that none of his soldiers had been privy, nor even close to remarking upon. “I see. Do we know where to obtain more?” Or had it been a lucky provision? Ronin, after all, despite his many accolades and capabilities, couldn’t be everywhere all at once.

And given how things had been going recently, they needed all the opportunities they could snag.

The serendipitous, and far more fortunate, thresholds of Sunjata’s happenstance with Remi explained more, and Deimos leaned back further in his chair, unfurling a long sigh. “I do not. I have been trying to snag as much information as I can.” Finding Sohalia, bloody in the snow, hastening to the wall to peer with the rest of his citizens and constituents; striving to absolve her failure – Zavien, dead upon arrival. “We have been working out our own plans to cleanse the Tundra,” gesturing the papers, piled neatly on his desk, to note they hadn’t been idle. “And while their support has been appreciated,” and understandable (given how many times Halo citizens had helped), he grimaced, because it’d been the wrong time; Deepfrost the harshest season for their region. “I was not informed, nor sent anyone out there.” A venture taken upon themselves. “Had I known, I would have advised against it.” They'd sent out multitudes of warnings to their own citizens about the Tundra - not to cross, not to wander, not to think about meandering out there.

Rubbing at his jaw, and shaking his head, he tapped his charcoal against the grains of wood, striving to abate the restlessness creeping up again. “Zuriel healed Sohalia, and I will pay a visit to Zavien. Do you know of anything else?” Given that the Flood had been far closer to the aftermath’s action.

we exhume our enemy's bones
we are battling, hungry beasts

// now we are hanging out in the backyard //

Sunjata’s frown tightens a little on his face as he shakes his head. “No, I was lucky to find it when I did.” He admits, which is why it had been so important to hold onto for however long he did – but at least, those he knew that were close enough to him to potentially need it would be ending up with immortality of their own, so the chances of needing it would be less likely. And anyone else close to him (Isla, for instance), had Remi and Ronin to help.

So it seemed like the right thing to do. One right amongst the wrongs.

At Deimos’ sigh, Sunjata slouches back in the chair as well, hand reaching up to run through his unkempt curls, nodding. “Yeah, makes sense.” Because he too would have stressed against it, would have chosen to send the A-Team which… as it turns out would be an impossibility. Something else that flickers in his mind and brings some form of exhaustion to the wrinkles on his face and likely even more greys to add to his already greying hair. “A companion was lost. Alys’ I think. I’m not sure where she is, but given she lives in my region I’ll reach out to her and see how she’s doing. And I can try to see what Melita was doing there, too.” Sunjata might not be a real father these days, but between these recent actions and Flora’s death and revival, he feels all the more worn for it.

Add the dash of too many eyes and teeth onto the plate and you have quite an exhausted man.

“There’s something else, too. Before Zavien reached out to Remi, he mentioned something about Ronin but didn't have a chance to finish it.” Something that was biting at him still for the whole not knowing. “He also said that Dahlia threatened his children if he interfered.. So, for now until we figure out what the fuck that’s all about, I guess it’s just us?” Which was perhaps the strangest comment to ever come from Sunjata to Deimos, amongst all the bullshit shared over the years. And that isn’t lost on him as he lets his steel gaze focus on the Warden’s own. “And now that I’m not infected, I’m going to start actively protecting portions of King’s End.”

the flood

// looking at a new point of view //

Deimos

The lack of somewhere openly hoarding revivify feathers was disappointing – but predictable. So he nodded, jotting the notes on the item down, just in case. Unaware of the other things stewing and brimming through the Flood’s mind, the Sword simply listened – a sigh going through his chest at the mention of Alys. Though she was Sunjata’s citizen now, Deimos still considered her a friend. “That is unfortunate. I will send something along to her as well.” Perhaps merely to check in, for his own sake.

Not expecting anything else to be added into the machinations, he paused, ceased, in his writing entirely. His eyes widened significantly – before narrowing, understanding the semblances even as the weight of so many other maelstroms drove across his shoulders. The habitual notions of clenching his jaw surfaced; perhaps, because, in so many years, he couldn’t remember a time when any of them refused. Or had to, given the circumstances. “And we have families too. Along with regions to lead.” Sunjata and Ru had already been tied into the Family simply due to infection, his niece was a newly named target, and the Sword had Evie, Erebos, and Amhran to constantly consider, along with all their citizens. “I understand why. It just makes it that much more difficult.” Because how could Remi and Ronin stand to lose another - again? "There are other ones that have become stronger. Hadama. Sah." Whether or not they'd be willing was another thing entirely.

A long, long sigh withered through him; the pressure driving past his skull and down the length of his spine. “We are planning to do the same – more of the blocking type, like Torchline.”

we exhume our enemy's bones
we are battling, hungry beasts

// now we are hanging out in the backyard //

Nodding – because Alys had come from Halo – it made sense that Deimos would consider her a friend as well. And he knows that when he’d lost Haai, it was important to know who else was around that cared, who would be there for him if he ever needed it.

But it’s a though that doesn’t linger, not wanting to ruin this tenuous peace he and Deimos have with his very presence in Halo and the cold (and reminded of just how much he hated snow). When it comes to Remi and Ronin, Sunjata nods, taking note of Hadama and Sah in terms of others that were strong that could also help if needed. “I can tell who’s infected, too.. So if there’s any questions about anyone, I can help with that.” It would be traumatic time and time again, but… The benefits outweighed the negatives.

There’d always be time to heal later, right? Right?

“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking about doing there, too. Oh, and uh, if you’re ever thinking about trade? We have unicorn shavings that can imbue items with healing, if that’s something you might be interested in at some point.” A belated thought, of course, but one that could benefit multiples if utilized correctly. Which meant he needed to get better about harvesting them.

the flood

// looking at a new point of view //

Deimos

Having some manner of void and infection detection made his brow arch; at least, some side effect that was beneficial, if not harrowing and terrifying. “That is good. There were not any other side effects?” He’d want to know for Ru’s state as well – hopeful, that maybe they hadn’t gained any in the loss of the infestation; similar to the other diseases once spread across Caido. Another inquiry launched soon after that though, since he hadn’t had the chance to talk to her since the day Remi carried the Valkyrie into the Fangs. “How has Ru been?”

To hear Sunjata was willing to trade did have him bewildered – enough for his eyes to widen in surprise, before snorting. “I think most would be interested in that.” Healing went a long way – and he could think of several without such enchantments that would snag at the opportunity. “Our ice does not tend to be very popular, but the offer is there.”

we exhume our enemy's bones
we are battling, hungry beasts

// now we are hanging out in the backyard //

“Not that I know of, yet.” Because there was still time to see what other kinds of things would affect him when it came to the family and their bags of tricks. For now, he’s stuck with the not knowing – the assumption that things are mostly fine when they likely aren’t going to be. It keeps him on edge, admittedly. “Ru’s been okay. Better now, but she’s taking it hard everything she did while she was infected.” Aka, the whole Flora thing.

He doesn’t blame her. But he also can’t help her get through those emotions and feelings more than he already is.

The offer of trading, though, while it takes Deimos by surprise, smooths over any of the ruffled feathers Sunjata is feeling on the subject of being infected and the repercussions of it. “I’m sure we can find a use for it.” A small smile tugs on the corner of his lips, before he exhales a soft sigh. “Oh, and uh, if it’s not too much trouble can I stay tonight at the Inn?” Asking up front seemed better than just pretending everything was fine. He hasn’t forgotten his banishment from before, but gods if he really needs a night to just relax. “I’ve been awake for too long and I shouldn’t fly home until I get at least a nap.” He admits with a smaller smile, his steel gaze focusing on Deimos as he tilts his head, sure that he's been awake for at least twenty-six hours.

the flood

// looking at a new point of view //

Deimos

Nodding at the indication of no other side effects, Deimos would’ve let the subject fade out and turned it away from Ru, save for the last statement. His brow arched quizzically, clearly confused, because as far as he knew, the Valkyrie had been quietly within King’s End. He had no idea when she’d been infected, let alone actions taking place. “What do you mean? What did she do?” The Warden knew the efforts she’d go to on a normal basis – so with everything else unfurling around, the possibilities were endless.

Lightly shaking his head but shrugging all the while, he nodded. “I can send it along with you before you return to King’s End.” The next inquiry startled him into a snort; figuring at some point the fixtures and warnings had become moot. Besides, he’d just saved one individual on the Tundra. “Yes. They nearly always have room this time of year.” Halo wasn’t a frequent tourist spot on many occasions, but certainly not in Deepfrost.

we exhume our enemy's bones
we are battling, hungry beasts

// now we are hanging out in the backyard //

Having expected Deimos to know, Sunjata’s gaze flits up to his face with a raise to his scarred eyebrow, head tilting slightly. “About trying to protect Flora.” He doesn’t elaborate too far, at least not initially, nose wrinkling slightly before he puffs out a soft sigh. “I don’t really know the details, but, Ronin said she kidnapped Flora.” The frown that tugs on his face is evident, even though he understands. He doesn’t know much more details than that, unfortunately.

As for the trade negotiation, Sunjata nods and flashes a small smile. “Thanks. When I get back I’ll send over what we’ve harvested.” Sunjata murmurs, before that smile broadens with a grateful twinge, nodding his head. He gets it – it’s certainly the last thing on his priority destinations. “Thanks, Deimos.” He murmurs, shifting a little in his seat, hesitating in case there was anything else he wanted to talk about.

the flood

// looking at a new point of view //

Deimos

Deimos, likely because he was uninvolved when it came to that portion of Ru’s family business, hadn’t been informed on any of these notions. To hear of the Valkyrie’s actions didn’t surprise him though, despite the slightly widened eyes, having known her for many years and across lifetimes. The Ru of Helovia would’ve done exactly that – if not worse, to protect her loved ones. Here though, where once Remi would’ve slaughter anyone for touching his children…perhaps the Sword was more bewildered to hear Ru had survived any of the potential repercussions. “Gods, what a mess,” he uttered instead, shaking his head, feeling another headache coming on.

He nodded though at the other implications, quick to adjourn the meeting when everything had transpired. “Thank you for taking care of Zavien,” he mentioned too – without the Flood, the man who certainly still be frozen and still and gone. “I will let you know if anything else occurs.” Between now and then – given how the circumstances were fleeting nowadays.

[FIN]

we exhume our enemy's bones
we are battling, hungry beasts