[seasonal event] wasted faith

Deimos the Reaper master of nothing place, of recoil and grace Zuriel had noticed, heard, the man well before the slow, methodical approach (likely a wise decision on Adam’s part – a bizarre line to write), raising her head, her features beholding a certain nonchalant quality as well, despite the grass sticking out of her mouth. For Deimos’ part, only his eyes maneuvered, catching a glimpse of Adam before concentrating on his basket again. It wasn’t a surprise to hear some jocular novelty expressed, though it seemed to have less vitriol; maybe they were all still shattered from the festivities, and had given way to their other fundamentals. He couldn’t be bothered with any additional tension, irritation, or vexation, everything else clinging to the breadth of his chest and shoulders, to the spiraling notions of days before, to conflagrations that couldn’t be altered or fixed. Too little, too late. “Making a basket,” a deep rumble to his tones, as if explaining or gathering more within his throat would’ve chastened and thorned, as if it physically hurt to utter much else. His gaze flickered back down to his hands, furrowing his brows, focus maneuvering along the orchestrated cues. More than the outline emerged, woven reeds of silver, argent, like glacial walls, like icy worlds, like cycles and systems he understood, he once knew so well – naught like the voids and abysses here, where one could be caught in the nuances of diversions and amusements, and drowned the next. Perhaps he’d grown weak and foolish, perhaps he’d relied too much on the past and those intervals, and perhaps, perhaps, perhaps, the world enjoyed reminding them they had everything to lose. “For capturing the sun.” That sounded stupid too – and he didn’t look up again, expecting the ridicule, the jibes, the jeers. “Another festival during LongHeat.” He failed to wince, but the connotations were there – as if these preparations might not matter either, and it was just one more forbearing, ominous event hanging over them.

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