[ME] leave my fears behind me for a while

He listened to Alys, still reeling from the shock of the recent revelations, and squeezed her hand gratefully when she agreed with him. But he hadn't expected Thorn to support the New Haven side, and he glanced to his friend in surprise. A pang went through him at the courtesan's refusal to meet his eyes, but he thought he understood.

He was wrong, and he had completely misunderstood Thorn's reasoning behind his choice, but that wasn't unusual. Tal bit his lip and looked back towards the Archon and the Valkyrie, squeezing Alys's hand more tightly. In the end it was going to be three to two, and their home--

But Ru surprised them all and Tal drew in a sharp breath as he felt some of the twisting hurt of not knowing ease a little at her support. Whether it was for him or for the logic of his reasons or something else entirely he didn't know and couldn't parse in the moment, but he swallowed hard past the lump in his throat and raised his voice, proud of how it only shook a little bit. "Actually... I can see 'em, too. Infected folks, I mean." He grimaced and gave a slight shrug. "Only if they're really close, though, an' I've got my charm with me." It hadn't been very useful yet, but maybe he'd been too trusting of people he knew. "So I can help with pickin' out folks who need t'be dumped in th'Springs."

SUNJATA

clipped wings and you're the one holding the bone saw
now things are getting so out of control

Listening as he glances toward his fiancée, noting that she’s changed her decision, there’s a quiet pulse of relief and understanding that he sends over toward her through the Attuned bond. It’s with a decisive nod that he turns back to those gathered, with a plan in place, hesitating for a moment before he speaks only to hear Talyson’s voice reach the air.

Nodding, flashing a small smile that feels so much more muted with the daunting task ahead, Sunjata clears his throat. “That settles it. We’ll aim for protecting the Barrows first. In the meantime, we will need to try finding Vi’s Roses or Rae’s Lillies. I’m willing to help however we need.” His accented voice blooms out a little before he draws a bit quieter. “Given that it’s nearly LongNight, I’ll talk to the gods come Flowerbirth. Stay safe and vigilant. And my door is always open if you have questions.”

With the meeting adjourned, he turns toward Hotaru, winding an arm around her for comfort as much as stability. A plan is in place, and with it the hope that everything will last until at least then.

- FIN

the spiraling starts and we can't pull up, our hands are tied together so,
on the way down, we make every moment count