[RQ] you reach for the light and it reaches back

DEIMOS

The aspects of home were all the more comforting after suffering in their latest bout within the Hollowed Grounds. Perhaps the Fangs couldn’t be considered the most tranquil portions of their region, but given everything lately, he found serenity in the way the caves twisted and turned, in the guiding warmth of the hot springs ahead, in knowing and understanding the pathways long since instilled – open cavern wakes or not.

Even if he and Noah hadn’t talked since the attempted and failed repairs at the rift in their friendship, it wasn’t going to cease and desist from the solace of the world around them. He had Evie, he had Erebos, he had the mountains as a backdrop and the reassurance of Halo – and that was more than enough currently.

The youth cooed from the sling on his chest, and he strived not to laugh, placing the little mittened hands along the fabric back into confinement, and easing his footsteps across the wake of the stone, until he crouched at its edges. Glancing from Noah to Evie, because the Sword’s ramparts would couldn't do much for this circumstance - he permitted Zuriel to take the charge, dipping her horn towards the brink.

He was something solid

to lean against

violent and fierce and unmoving

Noah couldn't really be anything but joyful in the presence of the newborn. Whenever Erebos cooed or made some other noise, Noah couldn't help but chuckle. It warmed his heart to be around the child, remembering his own days of the twins in their infancy. While it didn't last long -- a year, a blink, a sigh -- the time was still cherished and Noah knew that both the Sword and the Evergreen would hold on to this time as tightly as he did. Sidling up to the spring, the Forsaken didn't waste much time. He ignited the celestial dome that centered on him but spread itself wide. It covered the other three and the springs, engulfing them all in brilliant, sparkling light that delivered a hefty dose of healing. Even from their trained bodies, their muscles would feel relief from their travels from the Citadel to the springs. Noah Olson lost in the shadow of an endless grace

style inso by odd and skylark

Evie

Evie is staunchly not involving herself in the affairs of the two men out of a combination of respect and the happily selfish inclination to spare herself any further headaches after the hellish whirlwind the season has already lovingly gifted her. Erebos’ cooing and reaching, mittened hands remind her of the good this season has also brought as if trying to prove her wrong then and there, and the Evergreen capitulates easily with a warm smile and a quick kiss to his head before she takes up a spot along the rim of the springs. 

Folding down into a simple cross legged pose she leans over her legs and frees her hands from her mittens in order to push them into the warmth of the water. It’s far more pleasant than anything furs and leathers might attempt to provide, and Noah’s healing magic thereafter helps melt away the tensions and aches to allow her to focus on today’s goal. Idly flicking her fingers and churning the water with her palms, she lets her healing magic pour outward and into the waters in a controlled stream.

I'll be with you each and every night
Chasing that horizon in your eyes

DEIMOS

Deimos gave Evie a rather pitiful glance, perhaps in hopes that she’d do the talking, but when silence was the only thing rendered, he pouted in her direction. Thereafter though, he’d keep the threads of quiet; he could use it to focus and concentrate, or say it was merely that.

Besides, Erebos provided more than enough comic relief. As each magical motion swirled from the unicorn's horn (haughty and proud as she was), the youth flailed his arms and giggled, enthralled with the mystic incantations rumbling through – whether it be the healing measures brought to tangible threads, or the churning of the waves as his father drew out lines within the water. Were the infant older Deimos might have brought him out of the sling so he could dangle his feet within the warm springs, but instead, he merely shook his head and smiled as the babe laughed again.

Amused and incensed by the child’s antics, Deimos turned over larger portions of the elements. If it happened to splash the Evergreen, it could only have been by mistake, of course.

He was something solid

to lean against

violent and fierce and unmoving

Evie

Evie catches Deimos' expression from the corner of her eye and though she won't chance turning to him - again, not involving, she'd learned from the unbelievably huge nonsense that had followed making a single joke to Talyson once - her lips twitch in helpless humor and undeniable sympathy for her husband. If they weren't all seemingly content with the focused silence she would consider taking pity on him, but his suffering is moot if Noah does not break it.

Erebos' giggling warrants a turn of the head at least considering he's as innocent as can be. Evie grins over at him, pleased to see him so content, and as such when Deimos' control "slips" the water speckles her cheek instead of her face. Eyes narrowing and switching targets to the Sword she mouths, "Thin ice, honey." As if he'll be fooled when her eyes crinkle at the corners in the way they always do when she's amused, betraying her.

Rotating her hands idly she continues letting her magic out into the waters at a steady pace, though her eyes are riveted to Deimos and Erebos now.

I'll be with you each and every night
Chasing that horizon in your eyes

Noah broke the silence around them, just barely cracked by Evie's warning. "Does he sleep well?" His glacier eyes flicked between parents, genuinely interested and caring. Even if the relationship was strained between him and Deimos, Noah couldn't just let go of all the love he felt for the Sword and now for his family. "Margot was a nightmare to get to sleep, but once she was there she slept like a rock. Marcus, though, he was a fast sleeper. He has a hard time now, sometimes, though." The Forsaken was more than happy to keep the conversation on their children, on parental experiences.  It was civil. He let another pulse of the celestial dome ring overhead and spread across the spring. The pure, beautiful light twinkled like falling stars over the churning waters, pushed and pulled by Deimos' magic. Noah Olson lost in the shadow of an endless grace

style inso by odd and skylark

DEIMOS

Finding no assistance with Evie, the teasing was bound to continue, thin ice or not, and with another maneuvering and cleaning of the water, a giant wave surged. It turned the elements completely over, revolving and spinning, Erebos’ giggles echoing against them, until he lowered all the droplets and cascades again, swarming it to eventually unfurl near the Evergreen’s ankles and then back out once more. For her efforts, Zuriel snorted, tossing her head and allowing droplets to cascade back upon the Sword.

Noah broke through the silence though, and his brow furrowed slightly. With no comparison, save for his own abysmal sleep patterns and Evie’s matching light ones, he listened for a moment, making a large funnel of the liquid and then parting it into multiple waves. “Decently. Does not wake up too often.” And even then, it was only with a few idle cries.

Studying the components before them, he let out another notion, head tilting through the haze. “One more portion of healing,” from either of them, it didn’t matter, “and then we should be done.”

He was something solid

to lean against

violent and fierce and unmoving

Evie

Erebos is a great ice-breaker in general, of both demeanors and social tangles, so it's no surprise that common ground is temporarily found between the two men because of the happy boy. Evie is inclined to response for Deimos and spare him as he'd clearly hoped she would have at the start, but instead finds that Deimos must consider this topic neutral enough to engage in.

Holding her tongue, Evie only turns her head back to her husband at the comment he makes, humming her agreement over the observation. Plunging both hands deeper into the water, Evie lets her healing magic pour out. Not enough to fatigue her, but more than the easy flow she'd been keeping up in the interim. It's a measurement of heart more than science; withdrawing when it feels right, Evie nods down at the bubbling springs with decisive approval. "I think that will do it!"

The Evergreen stands and pokes one wet finger to Erebos' cheek, and another to Deimos'. "Well he's awake now, so how about we find him better entertainment now that we're done?" Peering past Deimos' shoulder to smile at Noah, Evie magics her hands dry and guides them back to the entrance of the cavern, blessedly releasing all four of them - or perhaps only two - from social convention.

- Fin!

I'll be with you each and every night
Chasing that horizon in your eyes