i fell in love with a war
Deimos's smile is, as always, just slightly unknowable even through its friendliness, and for Icarus' own preservation in this particular lovely moment, he chooses not to try and dissect whatever depths are under it. For once, he tries to just let himself exist, feeling the warm press of the green house air against his often so-cold skin and the crown under his fingers. Idalia lets out a squealing, charming giggle when Deimos tussles her hair, and all thoughts of scrutiny fly out his head.
"No, never," He admits lightly, without embarrassment. These past few years of soldiering and duty had utterly subsumed him, burying grief and pain in commitment and pride and discipline. Though sometimes other soldiers would try to cajole or convince him, he was too quiet, too stubbornly distant, too young. This year, though, they had insisted with the excuses of tradition and drinking, telling him he wasn't really a soldier if he didn't get wasted, and certainly not one from Halo. The Flowerbirth festival was the perfect place to welcome the new year with one's first drink. At least that's what they said.
He drifted back over to Deimos and Idalia, waving a pointer finger in a mesmerizing pattern before booping the baby's nose lightly. Would it be appropriate to ask Deimos if he needed a babysitter? Probably not. But this baby had him so enamored it may be worth a try.
“I’m assuming you’ve been to at least a few?” He would never dare to call the storied commander old, but the slight tease is there if one were to squint for it.
"No, never," He admits lightly, without embarrassment. These past few years of soldiering and duty had utterly subsumed him, burying grief and pain in commitment and pride and discipline. Though sometimes other soldiers would try to cajole or convince him, he was too quiet, too stubbornly distant, too young. This year, though, they had insisted with the excuses of tradition and drinking, telling him he wasn't really a soldier if he didn't get wasted, and certainly not one from Halo. The Flowerbirth festival was the perfect place to welcome the new year with one's first drink. At least that's what they said.
He drifted back over to Deimos and Idalia, waving a pointer finger in a mesmerizing pattern before booping the baby's nose lightly. Would it be appropriate to ask Deimos if he needed a babysitter? Probably not. But this baby had him so enamored it may be worth a try.
“I’m assuming you’ve been to at least a few?” He would never dare to call the storied commander old, but the slight tease is there if one were to squint for it.
Icarus
and nobody told me it ended
