[SE] threads with knots

DEIMOS

what tried to destroy you
didn't have the strength

That inherent feeling of trepidation had never truly left the Sword since Starfall’s descent. Sometimes maddening, sometimes nagging, sometimes a distant haze and hum beneath his ichor; a forbearing notion not unlike the many times he’d been to war. And this one was just another battle, of some kind of impending and unsettling doom, that crossed over his soul and flickered there, in between his ribcage.

Not for himself; but for everything else he’d built and cherished, for the lives he’d sworn to protect, for things loved and adored.

He didn’t make any promises before he left – because he and Evie both knew better – except that they’d all try their best. Goodbyes were bitter and tragic and he swallowed them down with all the stoicism in the world until he flew over great heights and was alone with his barbarity and sorrow.

And by the time he’d landed in Torchline, staring at that great asinine mass across the sea, he’d chiseled it all away and let it languish in his chest. Then he was turning towards people and asking about one particular houseboat, directions pinpointed towards the Ahi Coast, and began walking towards in the distance.

Treading upon the sand seemed to have done him some good, as he felt simply resigned as he knocked on the door – expected, given notes about their future upheavals, and laden with supplies.

still you stand
sturdy and smelling of smoke

REMI

the alchemist

Walk me home in the dead of night,
'Cause I can't be alone with all that's on my mind

Having mentioned that Deimos was going to arrive sometime that morning, Ronin had helped Remi nudge their houseboat properly against the docks so that the Sword wouldn't have to fly, shift, or swim his way to their door. No doubt he could have managed it with hardly any effort, but with what they all planned to face that afternoon, the Taliesins couldn't think of a single reason for any of them to expend more effort than was necessary.

Opening the door with a sigh and a weary smile, Remi waves a hand for the Sword to enter. The houseboat had no magical charms to make it larger on the inside, and while everything had its place, the interior was certainly cozy. "Make yourself at home." Gesturing to the couch with its many mismatched cousins and blankets and then to the small table just off of the kitchenette, Remi ruffles a hand through his curls. "Coffee? Tea? Something stronger?"

So say you'll stay with me tonight.
'Cause there is so much wrong going on outside

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

DEIMOS

what tried to destroy you
didn't have the strength

The same weariness reflected upon Remi’s face, and the Sword’s features prospered a tightened smile. “Thank you,” and his glance upon the initial periphery was one of comfort and ease – content that both Taliesins had found measures of sanctity for themselves. Slightly amused by the colorful cushions and assemblage of pillows and blankets, he found a section in between the masses. “As tempting as that last one is, tea would be fine.” And while he’d be able to hold his liquor for a great while, he didn’t want anything to potentially curb or spurn his senses while they explored and battled.

Immediately restless despite the attempts at repose within the sanction had him glancing down at the floor, then his hands. “How are you both?” Pausing, because he felt the need for something to do, he added with his residual rumble. “Did we need anything else made before we go?”

still you stand
sturdy and smelling of smoke

REMI

the alchemist

Walk me home in the dead of night,
'Cause I can't be alone with all that's on my mind

"That's probably wise." Remi chuckles of having tea rather than whiskey, before leaving Deimos to find himself a place to sit as he sorts out the kettle. "Oh, you know." The Bastion calls over his shoulder as he adds water to a pot and sets it upon their little stove. "Trying to balance the fact that we're likely going to be at war again soon with not trying to be so stressed out all the time." It's a line he's sure that Deimos can sympathize trying to walk; it's a wonder that they aren't all walking around with ulcers just waiting to burst.

Turning to lean against the counter, his arms comfortably folded across his chest, Remi sighs. "I don't think so. I thought about trying to drum up as many invisibility items as we could but...' Biting at the inside of his lip as he glances out one of their little plant-crowded windows, he give his head a shake. "Not only do I not want to risk any friendly fire, but I seriously doubt if they'd work anyway."

So say you'll stay with me tonight.
'Cause there is so much wrong going on outside

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

DEIMOS

what tried to destroy you
didn't have the strength

Oh, the Sword understood maintaining the balance – he hadn’t quite found an equilibrium between leading an entire region, training citizens, tending to his own family and friends, and still dealing with Starfall fallouts and conundrums yet. “Always a work in progress,” he rumbled back, shrugging his shoulders as if he’d accepted it was nearly a lost cause and he’d be living with apprehension for eternities. “Your family has been well?” He’d seen Ronin and Flora enough to ensure those facts; at least, outwardly.

The prospects of invisibility items began contorting through his frame at Remi’s brief mention, but at the initial notion it seemed squashed – and given recent issues…probably not safe either. “We have had more than enough of that,” he uttered with a light frown, indicative of Noah’s roaring capabilities both on these shorelines and at home. “I was hoping at some point we would have more lilies, and then perhaps we could split them between safe portions at Starfall, and restoring regions.” But so far that hadn’t come to fruition at all, despite efforts towards the cause.

still you stand
sturdy and smelling of smoke

REMI

the alchemist

Walk me home in the dead of night,
'Cause I can't be alone with all that's on my mind

"Yeah. It's strange with us being here and Mateo still being in Stormbreak, especially with everything going on, but..." The Bastion shrugs. "It's where he grew up, and he's set down his own roots there. For as easy as it is for Ronin and I to move around, I understand why he wants to stay." Proudly said, as Remi's mind turns to his daughter the expression sombres somewhat as he glances down with a sigh. "Flora's young to be ruling a region. Not to say she isn't doing a good job of it, but..." Turning around as the kettle began to whistle, Remi back to pour water into two mugs of strong black tea. "I think there's something going on with her lately that she won't talk to us about. Personal stuff, you know?" He glances over his shoulder, eyebrows raised. "I think she's at the sort of age where her love life feels about as important as everything else." It wasn't a criticism, merely a fact.

Sifting out the teabags with a spoon, Remi brings one over to Deimos before sitting down opposite him with a sigh. "I know what you mean. We've been looking and looking in Frey's Breath but so far, nothing. I had worried at first about some black market springing up and making us all pay dearly for a lily, and honestly now I'd welcome it."

So say you'll stay with me tonight.
'Cause there is so much wrong going on outside

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

DEIMOS

what tried to destroy you
didn't have the strength

Deimos understood the nature of roots – how often some were compelled to dig down into the earth and settle, and how some slipped on pieces of wind. “And you can likely always keep in close touch with him,” he added, considering Ronin and Remi’s capabilities – their son wasn’t terribly far away. He didn’t ask about fearing for the younger man’s life amidst Stormbreak and its current sovereign; figuring they’d already had a hand in managing any of those necessary aspects.

Notions of Flora caused him to arch a brow, having only recently seen her amidst her ‘pilgrimage’ along the shrines of Halo. “Ah,” he gave with a wrinkle of his nose, leaning further into the couch. She hadn’t given off those aspects to him, but given who the Sword was, he could comprehend why. He half-hoped Erebos, and by extension Amhran, wouldn’t hide things from himself and Evie, but the future stretched along those capacities was difficult for the moment. “She does not seem to let it distract her from taking care of Torchline,” from what he’d seen and heard anyway. “But I do not envy all of those pressures upon anyone.” Deimos had his own and knew them well – but he'd also manifested security and shelter amidst many relationships. Having something volatile and unknown, amidst the constant problems surfacing and brewing amongst Caido, could warrant any multitude of distractions.

Snagging at the mug offered to him, he bowed his head in gratitude. “Thank you,” and let the warm plumes rise over, listening as he stared into the cup. “At least then one would be secured,” he smirked in return. “If we keep rotating through, one is bound to show,” so he figured, by some fortune somewhere in the midst. “Though Flora mentioned asking the Big Gods for one.” And while the Warden hadn’t been very keen on the notion before, now he could grasp why.

still you stand
sturdy and smelling of smoke

REMI

the alchemist

Walk me home in the dead of night,
'Cause I can't be alone with all that's on my mind

"Mmm. We're trying to organize regular dinners, but it's proving to be much more difficult than we'd originally thought." Remi admits with a laugh, before running uneasy fingers through his curls. That Flora wasn't letting her personal life interrupt her leadership duties is partially what worried him; she was so young to be compartmentalizing so efficiently, and Remi couldn't help but think it was going to eventually catch up with her.

Blowing on his tea, Remi raises his brows in a silent acknowledgement before nodding. "Mmm. Rae gave her a quest, and I've never known Flora to be one to dawdle." He had known her to have the requirements fulfilled by others, though. "It's strange to think about going to Starfall again when we haven't even gone once." They weren't yet to know how easy their first trek was going to be, but they'd be fools to think it was always going to be so smooth.

"I wonder what it will be like, on Starfall." Tilting his head, Remi sips at his tea. "The farther in we go, I mean." He hadn't had one of the dreams, though he'd heard about them. Having seen only the shores of the island for himself, his mind could only extrapolate what it might be like as they adventured deeper in; the sorts of monsters they might uncover and encounter.

So say you'll stay with me tonight.
'Cause there is so much wrong going on outside

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

DEIMOS

what tried to destroy you
didn't have the strength

The mention of family dinners had him thinking to the last one the Ignatius lineage and outwards had officially concocted, and inwardly grimaced, considering it had been when he and Evie were newly engaged. The wedding had commenced some short time after, and then Ru had left, Kiada could only be around for certain lengths of time…he sighed, snorting into his cup for a moment. “That I can understand. Especially when everyone is spread out and has their own lives.” Not to mention the ongoing plights of the void over different lands. The ability to maneuver to one another was only one highlight – all kinds of other motions and notions had to align.

Content with the temperature of the beverage, he sipped at it lightly while Remi explained – nodding along at the Doubletake having gone and done exactly as she’d said. “As far as Starfall…how often do we plan to go?” Every time someone snagged another flower? If some motion was successful? Or not? Because if just one iteration was already settling into his trepidation and dread, he couldn’t quite imagine multiple rounds. Some of the lilies would have to be placed within the other tarnished lands… “There is the thought of alternating flowers too. The following one to go to an infected region, and then maybe the next to Starfall, and so on.” But he shrugged; for it all depended on the frequency of blossoms that had been difficult to obtain in the first place.

Remi’s wondering wouldn’t have to be that at all, if he was willing. “I can share the dream with you, if you want.” That way more than just him and Sunjata would have some knowledge of whereabouts – and then the Bastion could do the same for Ronin.

still you stand
sturdy and smelling of smoke

REMI

the alchemist

Walk me home in the dead of night,
'Cause I can't be alone with all that's on my mind

"Mmmmm." Frowning down into his tea, Remi can't help the rather blasphemous thought that he so often had at times like this, that for the hell they all went through when trapped beneath the barrier, at least they'd all gone through it together. Now here they were, worlds apart, having to schedule (and failing to do so) dinners just to see those they loved.

"As often as we can? Before the Family gets any stronger?" It's a hesitant answer at best, with the Bastion raising his eyebrows to encourage any further commentary from the Sword, which Deimos is quick to provide. Nodding, his tongue pressing against his teeth, Remi glanced toward the window as if able to see Starfall through the drawn shades. "Maybe we can better answer that once we've gone. If it's an impossible task, then perhaps cleansing is the better answer. But if it's doable.." Well, it likely came as no surprise that Remi was no master strategist, preferring to simply tuck his chin and fight his way forward. For all of his suggestions, he'd happily defer to the judgement of his betters in this.

"Oh." Lifting his eyebrows, Remi grins a touch boyishly. "I don't know why I didn't think of that. Yes, if you'd be willing."

So say you'll stay with me tonight.
'Cause there is so much wrong going on outside

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

DEIMOS

what tried to destroy you
didn't have the strength

Plans concocted always made him feel slightly better – comfortable in the aspect of calculations and machinations, where schemes could immerse and brew, take hold as potential tangible threads, rather than meandering through potentials with no end in sight. ‘As often as we can’ meant, at least to Deimos, whenever they could snag at the flowers – but he offered more nuances into the fold. “Though, with the regions infected being salvaged, there is a possibility of the Family growing weaker.” Which meant, should they be able to return to Starfall after some success of regaining those stretches of the Wilds…the potential for the situation to not be so dire was there. Hence why he’d pondered over the value of rotation. And gods, he didn’t want to have another meeting about it.

But he understood Remi’s sentiments too, and quickly nodded at the semblance. “Right.” And in between, maybe someone would’ve been able to find another flower – so that the debate would hold meaning over the hypothetical.

At the acceptance of the dream, however, he loosened a modest chuckle from his chest, and then nodded. It would be a warning of what was to come – for as he calmly sipped his tea, he unfurled the images of the dream that had disturbed his slumber some seasons ago. From the journey over the aspects of Starfall, to the shorelines themselves, purple and crag and incubation with all its foreboding unease. A stretch into plummeting motions, and then seemingly, into the core – amidst the center of the cavern, amongst the towering shard of Void Crystal – and figures within. Humanoid at best, still and confined for now. And then a ball of condensed matter, pulsing and considering and learning. Something similar to Vi, Mort, and Rae.

He gave Remi more than a few moments to digest it all, before a tilt of his head. “What do you think?”

still you stand
sturdy and smelling of smoke

REMI

the alchemist

Walk me home in the dead of night,
'Cause I can't be alone with all that's on my mind

"I suppose it will all depend on how this first trip goes." Remi concedes, shrugging softly. And how quickly Flora came up with another flower; perhaps by the time she did they'd have other things to worry about.

As for the group dream, the Bastion leans back in his chair, closing his eyes and doing his best to try and imagine the world the Sword was narrating. His thoughts were constantly interrupted by preconceived notions that spawned either from nightmares he'd allowed to fester or from the things he'd seen first hand when he first went to Starfall. Eventually something violet and uneasy takes place in his mind, though when Deimos finishes the Bastion doesn't feel as though he's learned anything helpful. Not that such a limitation has anything to do with the Sword.

"Well..." Opening his eyes and running a hand through his curls, Remi sighs and lets his chin rest in his palm. "I think there is probably a lot more than meets the eye and I wish that we had a better way to prepare for it."

So say you'll stay with me tonight.
'Cause there is so much wrong going on outside

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

DEIMOS

what tried to destroy you
didn't have the strength

Being unable to thoroughly plan anything until their initial journey towards Starfall subdued the layers of his machinations – putting them to a stilted halt for the time being. With a swift nod, he merely waited for the other motions and thoughts – having never been, his only occurrence with the isle had been glaring at it from a distance, and the dream. Remi’s experiences, even in their short interim, were the only other ones he’d heard, and so he surveyed the Bastion from the couch, brow arching at the response.

Which didn’t give much, or perhaps not as much as Deimos had been hoping – but he understood, granting only the slightest inkling of a smile and adjusting his hold on the mug of tea. “Same. Or a better understanding of what lurks there.” With the whole ‘incubating’ thing. “Hopefully we will gain some more insight and scheme after.” After sounded as though it was going to be far easier than all the dread and apprehension curling around his ribs, so he opted to change the subject again – perhaps to pick Remi’s mind about something else entirely.

“Sunjata told me he was going to propose to Ru during a birthday party.” He couldn’t quite help the involuntary and inherent wrinkle to his nose; still disapproving of the Valkyrie’s choices after everything, and fighting over the support he’d promised.

still you stand
sturdy and smelling of smoke

REMI

the alchemist

Walk me home in the dead of night,
'Cause I can't be alone with all that's on my mind

"Mmmmmmm." The Bastion agrees, though there's something woefully ominous about the way the word after wrang through his thoughts as if some small insidious part of him doubted that there even would be such a thing.

Surprised at the change of topic but not at all minding it, Remi hides his own smirk behind the lip of his teacup, the raise of his eyebrows perhaps betraying the innocence he might otherwise have affected. "Mmmm, I did hear about that." He admits, though he hadn't been aware that it was supposed to line up with the Valkyrie's birthday. "I was tangentially invited.' Remi explains, shrugging. "It's the only way for Enzo to be able to attend, so...I expect I'll be asked to sit somewhere in the back and not cause a fuss."

Though he and Ronin seemed to have smoothed things out with Sunjata, surely it was an odd thing to watch a man you'd dream-murdered proposing to the mother of your children with said children around. Sighing, Remi can only shrug again, not quite sure how he was meant to feel about the whole thing. "Ronin and I were going to have dinner with the two of them, but...I'm still not sure Ronin is as up to it as he thinks he is."

So say you'll stay with me tonight.
'Cause there is so much wrong going on outside

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!