within their own light

DEIMOS

the ocean does not apologize for its depth
and the mountains do not seek forgiveness

The result of the pool party, while disastrous for some, had been a significant boon for the Sword. It’d taken multitudes of risk for the reward, but he’d thought the artifact priceless, and necessary, for the days ahead.

His return to Halo was marked by little fanfare and multitudes of reflection, granting himself enough time to settle back into his house with his family, and arrive early the next morning towards the Citadel shrine, arms stuffed to the brim with offerings, and inclinations of angles present in his mind.

Protection had always been his goal – and while it wouldn’t ward off the entire Family, for there was always Vox to consider – Pierce’s blood would be enough to secure the rest of them away from the Citadel. So as he placed the gifts down upon the altar, arranging the crafted and created works of art of Safrin herself from a variety of citizens, from the most regal portraits to the humble fingerprinting of children, amidst bangles molded and colored to look like starlight, he bowed his head, quelling the rumble of his voice into his mind, rather than outward. Safrin, would you be willing to help protect the Citadel from the Family?

--

RQ request for Safrin to block the Family from the Citadel <3

for the space they take
and so, neither shall I

Safrin

Safrin appears not with a blinding blaze, but as if the starlight in the shrine had simply thickened—drawn inward like breath held too long. The wind quiets. The snow outside the Citadel stills. And then she is there, standing barefoot amidst the offerings, her eyes shining with all the light of the cosmos as she surveys what’s been laid before her.

"My, my," she says softly, fingertips drifting over a child’s fingerprint star, her voice like velvet and moonlight. "The party was quite the spectacle, wasn’t it?" She glances toward Deimos, something warm—if tired—tugging at her lips. "I saw what happened. I’m pleased that you and yours made it out relatively unharmed..." A pause, just enough for the weight to settle.

The concern in her expression lingers only a moment before it sharpens into something resolute. She straightens, drawing herself up to her full, radiant height. "Yes. Of course I will help protect the Citadel."

She extends one hand toward him, palm up. [sy]"But as with all things worth doing, there is a cost and a path. Pierce’s blood is potent, but it must be bound with intent." Her gaze flickers with starlight, and something ancient stirs behind it as she explains what it is that Halo must do to protect themselves.

---

Halo has been given a quest!

Tasks. There is no time limit. There are currently 11 active Halovians. This means 6 unique characters have to participate. Characters can participate more than once. Deimos must participate in at least 2 threads.

1. A thread of at least 3 Halovians gathering shiny stones from the Sea of Glass.

2. A PQ placing those stones all around the borders of the Citadel. Must have 8 rounds.

3. A thread with at least 1 Halovian capturing a physical piece of a member of the Family.

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

DEIMOS

the ocean does not apologize for its depth
and the mountains do not seek forgiveness

Her appearance wafted in light and luminescence, a stillness flowing, enough to make him glance up and maintain his full height again, a gentle bow to his head as she spoke. “Yes,” he remarked, a little warily; hardly what he and Flora had expected from their initial plans. The goal had never been anything more than two daggers’ worth of blood, and disappearance; the unfurling chaos, wounds, and infestations spread had been a chain reaction.

That weight lingered heavy on his shoulders again – her pause, his own distinctions, the rush of what was still to come – but he nodded just the same, catching the mark of concern on her features before they disappeared. “Of course,” he echoed with a rumble, and his hand extended to hers, gently placing one of the artifacts already required – the jar laden with Pierce’s ichor. “We will be committed to the task. Thank you again, for everything,” he murmured, already beginning to formulate the necessities – and a flurry of new motions amidst the multitudes of gratitude.

[FIN]

for the space they take
and so, neither shall I