silver and soft

DEIMOS

the resurrected sword

Attention mired back and forth, he dissipated the images back into the ether, a shrug coursing through his shoulders. “Think we may go back just to see what we missed though.” Between curiosity and spite, perhaps, to say that they had made it down into the chambers and tunnels. “But thank you.” He just wished it didn’t always have to be that way – the world blood-soaked and desperate. He nudged her back, a very sibling-like gesture to the jab with his elbow. "It all ended anyway, once Dahlia was plucked with a Vi's Rose." Perhaps she'd find that amusing; to hear that one of the blooms they'd all used for prior illnesses still had a tremendous effect.

At the acceptance of her being willing to attend, he permitted another lengthy smile. In the end though, it wouldn’t be a decision laden at his feet – but solely for the bride and groom. “I will leave that up to the couple to decide,” he winked, “But I will put in a good word.” Planting that sort of sentiment into Ru’s mind wouldn’t take much either; if she could have multiple loved ones from Mort’s Realm attending, then so be it.

He rolled his eyes at her laughter, but was content to revel in it, hear it again for the first time in a long while. He hadn’t forgotten it; but to have it plainly, rather than concocted from the doldrums of his memories, was far finer. “True. She has earned that.” Sighing, reminded of his prior conversation with Amalia, and knowing full well the opportunity hadn’t been there before, he tilted his head down again, glancing down at the familiar hair, the lines where crowns once lingered. “Anything you want us to do for you?” Moments left or gone unfinished, squandered on that horrendous LongNight.

under the bludgeonings of chance
my head is bloody, but unbowed

in the right heaven-yellow light, anything could be

holy enough to save you

Her brows lift to hear the summary, the result of what the fight had been, and Roxanna lets the soft breathy laugh of disbelief escape her as she tilts her head toward Deimos. “That’s all it took?” She’d been expecting more — as she is positive the rest of them had thought, given how long they’d been fighting them. So it comes as a rather large surprise that they’d delved back into less complex measures and had results.

Either way, though, she beams her own smile back at him when it comes to attending weddings, and she glances around the party one more time before her gaze lands on Deimos again and she leans in to nudge him with her elbow. “I’m sure I’ll find out. But, if I don’t, please let her know that I’m happy for her. And I’ll haunt Sunjata if anything bad happens.” Waggling her brows for the threat that it wasn’t really, she laughs again.

It grows somber, especially when his question reaches her and she lets her sapphire gaze focus on him with the tilt of her head, uncertainty glittering in the vast pools. “No.. I think I have everything I could need or want. I’ve done everything unfinished with these chances to come back.. Just, make sure everyone knows how proud I am of them.” That was probably the easiest thing to do, though coming from Deimos might be a harder sell than not.

REXANNA

DEIMOS

the resurrected sword

“Yes,” he admitted on a sigh and a shrug; somewhat bothered and rankled by it still. Relieved, admittedly, to be done with the whole thing, and another jaded and blighted by what they’d missed out on. Spite, pettiness, the way they might’ve destroyed the whole Family. Or, less optimistically, been galvanized and defeated themselves. “Think we will have to keep it all in mind for future trials.” As Caido always claimed and had, regardless.

His nose still held its perpetual wrinkle as she looked around, then nudged him again. “Of course,” he nodded, agreeing to the notion, grin much more apparent when she voiced her thoughts on spiting the Flood. “Sounds like there would be many of us haunting him then,” came with a wink, and then another tilt of his head, listening to anything she might’ve craved to impart on them.

But it seemed there was naught else, the unfinished ties long since knotted and gnarled. The request might’ve been much less poignant coming from him, but he’d pass on the messages just the same, to those who should’ve heard them. His first thought was instantly to Kiada, and his eyes glanced her way, amidst all the other roaming ghosts and foils. “I will,” with all the convictions he’d always promised. Snagging at her again in a tight hug, because he knew the hours of visiting these halls would be ending soon, he tucked her underneath his jaw once more, heaving a great sigh and tucking it inward so it would barely echo. “Love you, Rex. It was good to see you.” And perhaps they’d have other opportunities, some other time, instead of the heartbreaking parting of ways.

[FIN]

under the bludgeonings of chance
my head is bloody, but unbowed