A rogue at heart and in life, Jack has been dodging trouble and rewriting Torchline’s rules for as long as most can remember. Though his slight, rugged exterior might seem easy to overlook in the crowded alleys of Haulani, a sharper look reveals a man as dangerous as he is enigmatic. With an infamous reputation and razor-sharp wit, matched with eyes that see and say more than most can handle, Jack's real weapon lies not in his stance but in his piercing blue gaze—and a telepathic edge no one knows about. Recent endeavours—like romancing Torchline's queen and trading favours for children with Safrin—show that while Jack may lack a conventional moral compass, he’s bound only by his own ambitions.
Congratulations, Jack!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
Skinning and hosting by the epically talented Kaons, and functionality fanciness by the coding magic of Neowulf. If you ever see either of them around, make sure to show them some love!
There's going to come a day when you feel better You'll rise up free and easy on that day
Longheat comes on with its usual vibrancy, illuminating Stormbreak in shafts of sunlight that tear away lingering springtime clouds. Below and beyond the ocean glitters, refracting the sun in a symphony of light that's as blinding as it it beautiful.
But all of this is a prelude to the main event.
It is this event Koa now prepares for, with picnic blanket and two velvet cushions laid out on the Temple's floor. There's food, too: a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses, a selection of vegetables, a bottle of wine. Votive candles cover the shrine, lit by Pipsqueak's fire. Clutching a bouquet of preserved flowers, Koa surveys with anxious satisfaction. Nowhere in his history books does it say how to plan a date for a goddess, but all in all he's feeling good about it.
Only one thing left to do.
Kneeling before the figure of Safrin, Koa extends his bouquet. "Lady of the Stars, it would be my greatest pleasure if you would watch the sunset with me today," he declares into the ether, as the first blush of color begins to bloom across the sky.
Koa for Safrin! If he doesn't roll for it then I'd like to use my level 6 custom item quest reward
And float from branch to branch, lighter than the air Just when that day is coming, who can say?
The Celestine is perhaps the only example of Safrin and Frey having worked together successfully on anything, and yet its magnificence is nothing to be overlooked. A keen eye will have noticed the way an additional statue appears as Koa begins to set up his picnic, and as the boy makes his finishing touches and finally calls out, the statue shifts and straightens.
In a gown of lace and starlight, the goddess slips down from a nearby pedestal, moving toward the young dragoon with an adoring smile on her lips. "Koa," she purrs, sinking down onto her knees, her gown stretching and hugging the lunar curves of her body without a hint of resistance. "You didn't need to do all of this for me." Safrin murmurs almost admonishingly, though there's nothing but affection in her tone.
There's going to come a day when you feel better You'll rise up free and easy on that day
Safrin appears like the breeze: sudden without being startling, a most welcome addition to the space. Spinning round to face the goddess, Koa feels heat flush in his face, his smile blooming as surely as the baby's breath he holds. "My Lady," the young Dragoon intones, offering a hand as she strides to the blanket before settling down on his own cushion at her side. "It is the very least I could do. Everyone should have a chance to enjoy a Stormbreak sunset. It's one of the most glorious sights on Caido," the boy declares, pride in his homeland infusing unabashed confidence into his words.
Turning toward the dinner before them, Koa gestures at the food. "May I make you a plate, Lady?" Beneath the boyish smiles and adoration, anxiety nervously hums. He's trying not to think of his conversation with Deimos, of the things the Warden warned he might be asked to give. True love isn't transactional, that's what he'd told Safrin. All he can do is hope that declaration goes both ways.
So he swallows the fear beneath a smile, reminds himself that the Lady of Stars has given him nothing but light. "Thank you for the bracers. They have already served me well."
And float from branch to branch, lighter than the air Just when that day is coming, who can say?
Accepting his hand, Koa will feel a low hum of power emanating from the goddess. It's dampened down, of course, but every muscle in his body will awaken to the ultraviolet current that passes from her to him, his very soul seeming to awaken like a flower during a rainstorm.
"I don't disagree. It's all the more beautiful now that the city is in the clouds with nothing to disturb the view." Safrin agrees as she settles onto the pillow, eyeing the food the dragoon had brought and so painstakingly laid out. "How could I resist?" Beaming at him, the goddess leans comfortably back on one of her hands, and while she still emanates the sort of presence that utterly defies mortality, there is something wonderfully girlish about her just now. Perhaps it's the way she's near enough for small freckles to be seen banding across the bridge of her nose, or how Koa might notice her fingernails are a perfect blush shade of pink.
There's going to come a day when you feel better You'll rise up free and easy on that day
Obediently Koa sets about piling the plate with food, occasionally glancing back at Safrin for an opinion on his choices. It's not the most robust spread - there's only so far a soldier's income can stretch - but what he has is of high quality, painstakingly chosen over the last day. As he works he can feel all lingering tension steadily ebb away, replaced by the pulsing, boyish glow of pride and amazement that he gets to be here. By the time he hands the plate to Safrin, he can't remember why he was nervous to begin. He's far too preoccupied by the smell of lilac and honeysuckle that wafts from her like a summer breeze, or the way her eyes wrinkle when she smiles, or the heart-stopping jolt of electricity that passes through thim as their hands lightly brush.
"All I need now is a weapon worthy of them." Turning back to the spread before them, Koa quickly makes up his own plate. "I've a pair of boxing wraps made by Ludo, but they pale in comparison to your artistry." His plate full, Koa reaches for the wine bottle, pouring to pass to Safrin.
"I just... I dunno, I've never been one for weapons. Always preferred to be hands on," he grins with playful lilt and a lift of his eyebrow, slightly awed at his own idiocy cheek for daring to flirt with a goddess.
And float from branch to branch, lighter than the air Just when that day is coming, who can say?
Each time he looks toward her for confirmation, Koa will find Safrin smiling eagerly, nodding at each and every offering as if the entirety of the spread had been perfectly curated based on her favourite dishes. In a way it had; as a goddess, there was no reason for Safrin to have to taste anything that she didn't want to, such that regardless of what Koa put before her, it would taste exactly the way she wanted it to.
Not trying to hide the way her nose wrinkles at the mention of Ludo, the mere fact that Koa has come to her to upgrade their power has soothed any bitterness the herald's name might otherwise have inspired. "Is that so." Raising her eyebrows, Safrin fixes the dragoon with a silent stare before her lips part and laughter bubbles between them. It has been a long time indeed since she'd been spoken to in such a way, with most either coming to her with unfounded confidence or a shyness and respect she found a touch boring.
"And would you say that you're good at being hands on?" Safrin wonders, her head tilted ever so slightly as a breeze combed her dark curls back from her face and shoulders.
There's going to come a day when you feel better You'll rise up free and easy on that day
"Yes, well. I know better now." Koa flashes a sheepish grin in the goddess' direction, the golden light of sunset highlighting the adoring embers in his eyes. He's relieved to have what seems like forgiveness, something he very much doubts he'd get from Ludo. Clearly his choice of patron deities continues to be wise, never mind the whole history of baby trapping thing.
He's entering dangerous territory now, confident masculinity easily subduing the logical parts of his mind. "I can always use more practice," Koa replies, entranced by the way the warm sunset glow gives undertones of honey to Safrin's creamy skin. "Especially if I am to be hands-on for you. I don't think I could survive the shame of a mediocre performance."
And float from branch to branch, lighter than the air Just when that day is coming, who can say?
Koa's thoughts swirl with colours that the goddess finds far more enticing than the sunset that bathes the Celestine in a warm golden glow. "For me?" Safrin repeats innocently, as if she weren't keenly aware of precisely where Koa would prefer said hands on experience comes from if he had the choice. "Oh I'm not sure.." She hums, placing a single grape between her teeth and crushing it with a sly smile. "I think you're probably quite good at surviving."
Besides, he'd not be the first to bring her affection-clad mediocrity; she'd done much more with much less.
"But if you'd like to improve your skills, I can think of a few ways..."
Koa has been given a quest! To upgrade his wraps he must
1. Complete two training threads where he utilizes both the healing and damage elements in each thread
2. Complete a thread showing someone else how the wraps work
3. Complete a thread washing the wraps in healing water.
There's going to come a day when you feel better You'll rise up free and easy on that day
"As your soldier," Koa clarifies, though of course Safrin will see through the thin attempt of professionalism. He watches the grape disappear between the goddess' teeth, licking dry lips unconsciously at the memory of her kiss. It isn't that he wants her to want him like that, but in this moment if she asked?
Well. Probably for the best she does not.
Blinking back to focus as the quest is given, Koa nods his understanding of the tasks at hand. "Thank you, Lady," the Dragoon smiles gratefully, nodding his head in acceptance. "I will make sure not to take so long time time."
The distant sun is now approaching the fullness of its grand display, and Koa turns his head towards it, shielding eyes that glow like embers beneath the crimson rays. "And thank you again for joining me, Safrin." He's keenly aware of her beside him; of how blessed he is to host a goddess tonight. "I couldn't think of anyone I would rather share this sunset with." And in this moment, on this day, the words are entirely true.
And float from branch to branch, lighter than the air Just when that day is coming, who can say?
Eyeing the dragoon for a silent moment, Safrin nods. 'As my soldier, then.' She agrees softly, her lips turning playfully upward. "For now." Is added almost under her breath as she turns her stare out toward where the sun is threatening to dip out of their field of vision. With a wave of her hand various vines and tree limbs part, offering them an entirely unencumbered view of one of Safrin's favourite pieces of her creation.
'Take as long as you like.' She hums breezily before leaning her chin against her shoulder and smiling softly across at him. "I'd never want to rush you, but I do so enjoy our time together." Reaching out a hand, Safrin smoothes her fingertips through the back of Koa's hair before tracing constellations not visible from Caido upon his back. He'll feel her touch like small puffs of starlight inside of his chest, expanding outwards; as with real stars, their light would continue far after their origin had gone away.
There's going to come a day when you feel better You'll rise up free and easy on that day
For now is a promise and a threat, spoken so softly Koa isn't sure if he's actually heard it at all. He decides not to dwell on it; there's too much beauty in the setting sun, now clearly visible thanks to Safrin's gifts, to worry about just how deep into trouble he might be getting himself.
The fingers in his hair and on his back are bursts of incandescent starlight, each point still warm even after Safrin moves on to the next. "Mmmm," Koa hums gently, his breath quickening in response to the ministrations along his spine. It sparks a memory deep within him: not that of a lover's touches, but rather his mother's caress.
Warmth and safety thrum within him, eliciting a dreamy, contented sigh, which he turns toward the herald of stars. "To sunsets," Koa offers, raising his wine glass to clink against the goddess's. "And summer nights. Perhaps you can teach me your favorite constellations, so I know where to look for you at night?" He smiles as winningly as he's able at Safrin, the waning light casting warmth and shadows across his angled, youthful face.
And float from branch to branch, lighter than the air Just when that day is coming, who can say?
Completed a thread 15 merit points have been granted for participating in a one-on-one thread with a God.
"There will be time for all of that and more." Safrin hums possibly in response to his thoughts, her fingertips still tapping out constellations against the broad muscles of his back, before lingering just above the collar of his shirt, her nails gliding across his tanned skin.
Smiling fondly, Safrin lets her hand fall and leans to the side, braced against her palm so that her arm pressed neatly against Koa's, her cheek nearly against his shoulder. "If we stay a while longer, I can show them to you." She offers; and so, they do.
As sunset bleeds to dusk and dusk to nightfall, Safrin welcomes the stars as they bloom through the darkness. Pointing out various constellations, telling the dragoon at her side their names and histories, she explains in as basic terms as she can how the galaxies were formed, how the stars came to be, how she birthed entire solar systems.