Clemente
The sudden question doesn't phase the boy, trustingly placing his hand in hers immediately, no greater faith in the world than what he has in her in that moment. Knowing she will lead him safely into the night, wherever she deigns to take him. And there aren't words to describe the sensation of teleporting, which still seems far too much like a comic book power to him. But the instinctive shut of his eyes is only soothed by the immediate knowledge from his other senses that they are somewhere different. And when he opens them again, starlight shines through broken boards, the night sky peeking out in an uneven swathe of ruin. She has brought him to a small hideaway, a secret place just as she says, and he stares around the room with wonderment more befitting great palaces instead of derelict attics. To Clem, this is far better. More meaningful.
"I love it," he vows solemnly, though he can't fully rid his voice of the thread of childlike wonder that infuses it. Teleportation and secret hiding spots? Literally the coolest thing that has happened to him since...well...falling through realms of existence into an entirely new world, new body free of charge.
But the time for childishness is over, and he sits crosslegged in front of her like an attentive pupil, face serious. He had taken his job seriously, had practically memorized every word during the meeting - easier than reading will likely ever be for him - and he recites it as carefully as he can. "I dunno all the names, but I can point them out if I see them. The first guy, they called him a Launcelyn, he said you were too violent getting the portal open and blamed you for not tracking down a girl - his cousin - who came here and lockin' her up. Then he offered himself up t' rule. But then Phoebe -" a name he only knows due to the luck of being in the Temple during LongNight and having to know who sheltered them during those long sunless days "- shot him down. Said that being a Launcelyn was too strong a point against him, and that we needed a leader who cared more about makin' the Grounds stable than carin' about opening the Greatwood again. She didn't really take sides, just wanted someone who wasn't tied to other people." He curses his own speech mannerisms, wishing he had the vocabulary to better describe what he'd seen and heard to the matriarch of their little family. There had been many voices raised that evening, and he tries to cut out the fluff and get to the core of each point that had been brought up, otherwise they risk being out until the sun rises and Clem turns to dust.
"Rexanna wanted a council, one that didn't make the Naturals angry fer bein' ignored, and Oliver did too but he said he didn't trust ya to be unbiased, thought you'd be the one to make it. They all said they wanted it to be even and fair though, with lotsa different people and races on it at least." Small mercies really that they had all managed to agree on that one democratic stance, considering the verbal barrage that had happened next. Clemente's brow crinkles as he mulls over the memory of it, wanting to ensure that each representation is precise without talking her ear off in imitation of every sentence. "The white haired dude was an asshole. Didn't even really talk 'bout anything that had meaning, just wanted to talk shit, said you were a murderer and tried t' twist yer words that you didn't let 'em choose the council option 'fore you left. But then he suggested a few people by name that he recommended for the council and voted." His recommendations mean little to Clemente, considering that it was likely something to be voted on beneath Rexanna's power now, but if Wessex inquires he will do his best to drudge up their names and reasonings to lay before her. Any kind of knowledge is power after all, and this dude seems like public enemy number one to Clem.
"Redhead girl went next, said it was stupid that Launcelyn blamed you for not getting his cousin when you can't be everywhere, and said we were all dumb for not asking for a meetin' earlier. She wanted a council, but also like voting people int'a positions and bootin' them out if they didn't deliver. Then said to pick a new leader who would allow a council like that." She had certainly spoken a lot, and there had been no voices to rise beneath the swell of hers in the aftermath. He can't help but like her for that - or perhaps because of the protectiveness of her stance near Dante, who he cares for so deeply. "Nobody else said anything after that." Clem looks to her, hoping he hasn't been too vague, too childish in his retelling of the event.
"I love it," he vows solemnly, though he can't fully rid his voice of the thread of childlike wonder that infuses it. Teleportation and secret hiding spots? Literally the coolest thing that has happened to him since...well...falling through realms of existence into an entirely new world, new body free of charge.
But the time for childishness is over, and he sits crosslegged in front of her like an attentive pupil, face serious. He had taken his job seriously, had practically memorized every word during the meeting - easier than reading will likely ever be for him - and he recites it as carefully as he can. "I dunno all the names, but I can point them out if I see them. The first guy, they called him a Launcelyn, he said you were too violent getting the portal open and blamed you for not tracking down a girl - his cousin - who came here and lockin' her up. Then he offered himself up t' rule. But then Phoebe -" a name he only knows due to the luck of being in the Temple during LongNight and having to know who sheltered them during those long sunless days "- shot him down. Said that being a Launcelyn was too strong a point against him, and that we needed a leader who cared more about makin' the Grounds stable than carin' about opening the Greatwood again. She didn't really take sides, just wanted someone who wasn't tied to other people." He curses his own speech mannerisms, wishing he had the vocabulary to better describe what he'd seen and heard to the matriarch of their little family. There had been many voices raised that evening, and he tries to cut out the fluff and get to the core of each point that had been brought up, otherwise they risk being out until the sun rises and Clem turns to dust.
"Rexanna wanted a council, one that didn't make the Naturals angry fer bein' ignored, and Oliver did too but he said he didn't trust ya to be unbiased, thought you'd be the one to make it. They all said they wanted it to be even and fair though, with lotsa different people and races on it at least." Small mercies really that they had all managed to agree on that one democratic stance, considering the verbal barrage that had happened next. Clemente's brow crinkles as he mulls over the memory of it, wanting to ensure that each representation is precise without talking her ear off in imitation of every sentence. "The white haired dude was an asshole. Didn't even really talk 'bout anything that had meaning, just wanted to talk shit, said you were a murderer and tried t' twist yer words that you didn't let 'em choose the council option 'fore you left. But then he suggested a few people by name that he recommended for the council and voted." His recommendations mean little to Clemente, considering that it was likely something to be voted on beneath Rexanna's power now, but if Wessex inquires he will do his best to drudge up their names and reasonings to lay before her. Any kind of knowledge is power after all, and this dude seems like public enemy number one to Clem.
"Redhead girl went next, said it was stupid that Launcelyn blamed you for not getting his cousin when you can't be everywhere, and said we were all dumb for not asking for a meetin' earlier. She wanted a council, but also like voting people int'a positions and bootin' them out if they didn't deliver. Then said to pick a new leader who would allow a council like that." She had certainly spoken a lot, and there had been no voices to rise beneath the swell of hers in the aftermath. He can't help but like her for that - or perhaps because of the protectiveness of her stance near Dante, who he cares for so deeply. "Nobody else said anything after that." Clem looks to her, hoping he hasn't been too vague, too childish in his retelling of the event.
i felt so much so often
that i started to feel nothing
that i started to feel nothing
