pulled back together

DEIMOS

Heave the silver hollow sliver

Onto more pleasant things, perhaps – even if it the apprehension behind it built and stewed, brimming under and over the surface – the Sword intended to make the most of the time they had. No more lingering in the catacombs of waiting, waiting, waiting, borrowing and burrowing into hours of scrupulous intentions, wondering if something were to alter. The present, instead of the burdensome past, instead of the ominous future. In this world, they couldn’t stand idle. They couldn’t hold fast.

His apartments had seldom seen anyone else, save for Zuriel. Still Spartan in design, each surface was purposeful – not much altered from his previous home, where one could find suitable weapons their disposal within a moment’s notice. There were some ornamentations – mementos and artifacts – like Rexanna’s portrait, with her lantern hanging underneath. The one he’d created for Kiada hung beside it, if only to keep the Penumbra company. The hearth was a blazing fire, warming and heating the stone walls and floors, the rug massive beside its wares – Zuriel situated nearby, content, pleased, perhaps, that Deimos now had others to extend invitations to.

That family was still there, still close, still a piece of his life.

He’d already long since prepared the food, even if Kiada wouldn’t be able to taste it – portions of one of the ursurs they’d felled from along the tundra (he figured serving Chulane ningos would’ve been poor manners, despite the flicker of amusement solidified in his mind). Drinks could be managed and manifested upon request, and he left the desserts, sides, and particulars to them – notes sent along on a previous day, when he could clear his plans.

For this was a time not meant to be wiling away hours in the council halls, or mauling another guard in the training grounds. This had been designated for kin and brethren, and he was no longer permitting these instances to go to waste.

Unite and spread the heart apart

her wild feral stare, her dark hair

her winter lips

An invite is received, and truth be told Kiada almost finds it as though it were a trap. An idea that had floated around her mind since the last dinner they’d all had together – the probing questions in regards to Chulane. But she finds it might be different from that, the idea that Deimos and Chulane had grown closer in her absence, brought together by the shared trauma of losing her. So while part of her is still on edge, awaiting what sort of hilarious terror will show, she can’t help but to also bound with excitement.

She doesn’t need to eat, but she plans on it regardless, letting Deimos cook whatever he wanted, to share whatever he wanted, to not turn it down even if she got nothing out of it. It was the thought, after all. So she dresses nicely, sharply, ensuring that Chulane looks just about the same even if he’s bundled up with that partial shift of his that she wishes she could feel the softness of.

So rather than bring food for them all to share, Kiada brings a bottle of something nice for Deimos, snow apples brought to feed Zuriel (a bribe perhaps, it was hard to say). And then they stand at his door, her bag in hand, a playful grin sent toward Chulane as she reaches up to rub the bite scar on his neck, hoping that Deimos wouldn’t bring that up. And then she moves to knock on the door, announcing their presence.

as cold as stone

KIADA

when all the pretty birds have flown, take a chance on me

He is excited too. Happy, even if there is an undercurrent of worry and concern forever plaguing him, a sense of paranoia, as his anxiety rises and falls with threats, real or imagined, constantly hinting on the edge of his thoughts. But he focussed on his designated task this evening – dessert. He did the best he could with what supplies Halo had in the isolation of Deepfrost, and so arrived with a warm tray of a apple crumble, having borrowed some of the fruit that Kia had secured for Zuriel (or had she procured them from his stockpile?)

The touch was welcome, as it always would be. The fairly fresh scars from her bite was something he wore unashamedly, openly – Deimos was aware that he had supplied Kia with his shifts, at her disposal, for protection or whatever else she needed them for. The act of obtaining those shifts was hardly a secret, and their relationship even less a secret – if the Warden wanted to speak of it, they would speak of it (even if the ningo farmer blushed throughout the conversation).

With an arm around her waist, Auni at their heels, and his apple crumble steaming in his other hand, he waited happily beside her, ready with a pleased grin on his lips to greet the Sword, and commence another evening of family dinner.

CHULANE

DEIMOS

Heave the silver hollow sliver

Despite prior antics and intended irritation, meant to rankle, meant to provoke, the Sword had no such designs or forethought now. And though he was nowhere near innocent, the invitations had been prompted and extended on assurances of connections and bonds. Chulane would know exactly where he stood with Deimos anyway. The man had helped save his life.

So there were no traps, no snares, no pitfalls laid out for either figure as he heard the knock and opened the door, a small smile tucked in the corner of his mouth – extending his hand in one grand show into the threshold. The apartments weren’t much, save for shelter and more places for armaments, or a collection of artifacts he held dear. “Come on in,” he declared, before shutting the aperture behind them, permitting them to access the kitchen or wherever they craved. If his glance noted bite marks, he said nothing. It’d been presumed long beforehand anyway. His hands were out, offering to take bottles and food.

Zuriel managed to provide her own form of greeting, rising from the hearth, nares widening, instantly attentive to both ningo farmer and Harpy. The former for all his efforts with the Sword, remembered, recalled treats, and the aroma of apples, and the Harpy for her bond with Deimos. So she ambled forward, noble and dignified, pressing her muzzle into Chulane’s arm, immediately insistent.

Unite and spread the heart apart

her wild feral stare, her dark hair

her winter lips

She leans into Chulane’s touch perhaps a smidge too much – finding it comforting among everything else that’s gone on. But the door is opening and she flashes a bright smile toward Deimos, a dip of her head in thanks as she tugs Chulane into the home with her and Auni, her gaze  glancing around again to spy all the weapons and armor that adorn the rooms. There’s a moment where she pauses and finds the table, a space where Chuy could set down the pie – pie she so badly wishes she could taste. But she can’t and she tries not to dwell on it.

She does spy Zuriel’s approach, however, the bag shifting in her hands as her gaze flickers toward Deimos as she steps over to wrap him in a hug. “Thank you for inviting us.” She murmurs softly, offering her thanks before she spots Zuriel essentially pressing her face into Chulane’s arm, seeking out the treats. Kiada clicks her tongue briefly, stepping out of Chulane’s space at his side to run her hands along the unicorn’s neck, flashing a playful grin her way. “Hey, I’ve got them.” Reaching into a bag she produces one apple, offering it to Zuriel before following it up with another, before she’s leaning in as if to tell her a secret. “Going to have to wait for the rest, you don’t want to spoil your dinner.” This is said loud enough for both Deimos and Chulane to hear as she ends it with a huff of laughter, tucking the bag away and sure that Zuriel would bug her the rest of the night for them.

But she immediately beelines for the table, where the snacks and drinks are laid out, taking a look at everything that’s offered, and once again dwells on being unable to fully indulge.

as cold as stone

KIADA

when all the pretty birds have flown, take a chance on me

The pie made it to the table with only a small threat of being knocked completely out of his hands by the rather insistent unicorn. Chulane could only chuckle warmly at the affectionate, if treat-driven, actions of the equid, moving to let Kia present the treats they had put aside specifically for her. “Zuriel,” he greeted warmly, having given Deimos a grin and a nod upon entering the building.

Auni bleated of course, pressing himself against everyone’s legs, begging in his own way for attention (shamelessly picking crumbs from treats from his bondmate’s pockets when no-one was focussing on him directly). “Smells great mate,” Chuy complimented of the acting warden, admiring the spread of food – before falling silent for a moment as he cast a glance at Kia.

“Sorry, I-“ he paused, a thoughtful half-frown furrowing his brow as he considered his words. He reached a hand out to hers, to give a strong squeeze, that she might feel him. “Tell me if I need to shut up,” he decided on with a slanted grin, trusting that she would indeed do so if their words or actions bothered her.

“Auni, get out of my pocket,” the little luxere huffed, having been caught in the act, before sauntering over to linger with Zuriel, as the humans in the room settled closer to the table. “Is this ursur?” the farmer questioned with some amazement as he inspected the dishes closer, almost drooling in anticipation of trying the perfectly cooked meat.

CHULANE

DEIMOS

Heave the silver hollow sliver

He didn’t want these moments strained and haunted, out of touch, out of place, discomforting. Opportunities to have, rather than reflection of what was gone and missing – for there was plenty – taking the idle moments for what they were worth, and pouring their compassion into them. A bizarre thing perhaps for the once-Reaper; but the slow, slow, slow erosion had caught and tethered him, and he’d learned somewhere along the way.

One hand reached for Auni, for scratches, for familiar nuances, taking Kiada’s embrace, sharing what he could. Zuriel snagged full advantage of what she was offered, beelining away from Chulane at the first opportunity to inveigle treats, nodding subtley as her teeth wrapped around the fruit, crunching down hard, and collecting the other in her maw. A snort followed suit on the notions of spoiling her dinner, and with a haughty huff, withdrew towards the hearth to munch on the second apple.

Luckily for Chulane, Deimos didn’t catch the nuances and alterations of the words, arching a single brow in confusion, before pretending as if it didn’t happen. Instead, he tended to the plates, laying them out in favorable places, and lifting lids off of proportions of food. “Drinks?” Uncertain if there was a preference for the ningo farmer, and continued notions of the same in regards to Kiada – who wouldn’t be able to taste it. Perhaps if he made it strong enough?

The inquiry caused the lightest of smirks. “Yes. I needed a claw for a task.” The rest of the explanation didn’t seem necessary – no need to waste precious meat, the entire bear utilized for multiple purposes. He presumed Aisha had her new furs already sewn. “Help yourself,” by way of offering, again and again, placing a large carving knife beside the meat, before he tended to their other means.

Unite and spread the heart apart

her wild feral stare, her dark hair

her winter lips

“You’re fine, Chuy.” She offers easily, flashing him an easy smile. It was something she could dwell on later, but… If Chulane and Deimos described what it was like, perhaps that was close enough to her understanding and trying to place it in what she could remember taste being. It wouldn’t be as satisfying, but it was better than nothing in the end. And so her hug with Deimos is cut short as they depart and Kiada’s offering Zuriel apples. She can’t help the laugh that leaves her at the unicorn’s huff before she moves toward the hearth, and Kiada’s attention can fully land back on dinner.

“I’ll take one!” She chimes to Deimos, easing into the idea of it, pushing aside her fears and her worries, slipping into a seat as she inspects the meat and Chuy asks about it. “It certainly looks delicious.” She offers, reaching for the blade and the meat fork, slicing off a small slice only because she doesn’t need it but she still wants to try it. Just meant more for the rest of them, she supposes.

But she loads up on everything else, casting her gaze over toward Deimos and Chulane with an easier smile than earlier. “I actually… I don’t think I’d mind it if you both could describe what it’s like. I think it might help.” And only because Deimos is busy getting drinks, she carves off a healthy slice of it for him to plop on his plate, following suit with Chulane to place a slab on his as well.

as cold as stone

KIADA

when all the pretty birds have flown, take a chance on me

Relieved to know Kiada was okay with his fumbling, he remained focused on the matter before them - dinner. “Cider would be great,” he supplied to the question of drinks, letting his expression reveal how impressed he was by the idea that they were eating ursur tonight. He knew the hunters of Halo sometimes brought down a beast, but they were few and far between, and for good reason.

Quiet curiosity had him watching what Kia did then, serving herself a thin slice, and everything else, before making her request. He’d been worried, but also knew he’d been foolish to worry – they’d talk this out, as they always had done. “Easy done,” agreement came swiftly, as he gladly accepted the plate, and the drink, and took a place at the table to begin the feast.

“Should we toast? To… second chances?” tentatively, he raised his glass to the question, hoping they would join in on the simple act. Things were different, in so many ways, than the last time they’d had a family dinner, and yet it was good to be here – to have a reason to have a family dinner.

CHULANE

DEIMOS

Heave the silver hollow sliver

Family altered and changed; he’d learned that long ago, but it hadn’t truly sunk in. There’d been a loss of those blood ties for him ages and lifetimes before, and years where he didn’t bother trying or striving for anything new. Hidden, tucked away, without anything embedded in his nefarious, wicked, seditious heart. Because it hurt too much. Because he was tired of striving forward, and the rest of it disappearing around him. A rock, a monolith, in the sweeping tides and currents, in the avalanche of careening ice and rime. He stayed. He stood. He remained, chiseled and sculpted until he could no longer; when all the erosion suddenly gave way, and he toppled, crashed, and perished.

And then lived again.

There should’ve been others at the table, seated alongside, gathered and burrowed within, laughing and teasing, cackling and cajoling. But they could cherish what they had – for he was exhausted too at the thought of it being vanquished again – and friends were just as much kin and brethren.

He passed the glasses of cider over to proper places, as they all seemed to ponder the best strategy in navigating Kiada’s lack of senses. As he sat, his plate already filled with the meat courtesy of the Harpy, he started gathering the potatoes and vegetables too, serving whomever wanted to partake.

The toast caused him to pause – surely they were on more than their second chance by now – but he grinned instead, tilting his head again in the vague means of curiosity and intrigue, mind spinning. Instead of prompting further mischief, he raised his glass, clinking it against the others. He didn’t have the right words to express the moment anyway, so he gave into his silence.

Thereafter, cutting portions of the ursur, and placing it within his mouth encouraged speculation, contemplating experiences with other hunted game. “Bit sweeter than venison.”

Unite and spread the heart apart

her wild feral stare, her dark hair

her winter lips

Cider is offered, poured into glasses for all of them, and Kiada settles into her seat easily, shifting her plate over so Deimos could place some of the potatoes and vegetables on there, telling him when enough was enough, so she wouldn’t take too much – knowing how tough it was in Halo to keep the ingredients for as long as possible during this treacherous season. And so she pauses before she sips from the cider, gaze drifting toward Chulane with a playful smile on her face. “To second chances.” She chimes, her glass clinking against both Deimos’ and Chulane’s, before she takes a sip.

It doesn’t taste like much, maybe a brief dull hint of what the flavors were, but she tries to pretend. Tries to pretend she can feel the sparkle of apple and spices on her tongue, on the sharpness of it all. It works for a time, before the glass is sat down and she digs into the meat – her knife easily slicing through it – well versed in weapons of the sort and it shows – before she’s taking a bite.

Deimos’ explanation has Kiada chewing a bit slower, figuring out the limits of the senses she has, trying to imagine what it’s like in comparison to the venison she used to eat. “It tastes great, Deimos. How did you make it?” She offers, spearing a potato now to try that out. There’s a hint of taste from the meat on her tongue, gone in a flash, and she hopes her compliment is well received despite all of them knowing that she couldn’t accurately taste it.

as cold as stone

KIADA

when all the pretty birds have flown, take a chance on me

It was all a mystery, a learning curve that they would all trek, as they lived and loved the new Kia that sat with them. But they all clinked glasses together, the toast perhaps entirely inadequate in that it hardly encompassed everything they had to toast, and yet celebrated nonetheless. The farmer grinned as he took his sip, letting the flavour sit on his tongue for a long moment, considering it in all its depth that he might give its description accurately, per her request. “Cider’s fresh. Sweet, hint of bubbles. Bit like you,” he stuck his tongue out at Kia in jest at the last comment.

Then he cut into the ursur meat, leaning over to devour the smell of steam that rose from the roasted meat. And as he took a healthy bite of it and considered it, he nodded along to Deimos’ assessment. “It has a texture similar to pork,” he added after swallowing, loading his fork up with the roast vegetables next. “Ahh, the veggies are perfect,” he commented to Deimos in a moment of genuine pleasure before relaying a more detailed assessment to Kia. “Just the right amount of burnt crisp on the outside, and exquisitely seasoned.”

It felt odd, but the fact that none of them were alone in feeling this way made it all the better – made it almost normal, their new normal, that they would all get used to.

For however long they had, at least.

CHULANE

DEIMOS

Heave the silver hollow sliver

Deimos narrowed his eyes at the obvious flirtation, arching his brow at the indication of Kiada being sweet and hint of bubbles. He withheld a grimace, barely, finally sitting down and hastening towards the other topics of conversation. “You cook it much like pork,” nodding in Chulane’s direction at the indication – though, he clearly had used his own fire incantations, permitted the flames to roast and scorch the meat with avid control. Comments and compliments towards his ability to cook vegetables caused him to snort, a low rumble of laughter following through.

Helping himself to more food, content for the moment, he pondered over possibilities and topics – something not stretched in the nearing doom and gloom. Presuming either of them had managed to find other subject matters to involve themselves in, he threw the inquiry out into the midst. “What else have you been up to?” While he was walled off along his office, biding time until he could fling himself out the door, and roam straight back to the barracks?

Unite and spread the heart apart

her wild feral stare, her dark hair

her winter lips

Despite whatever internal war Kiada’s dealing with, she’s pulled out of it by Chulane’s explanation of the cider, of the sweet and bubbles just like her that have her surprisingly barking a laugh and shooting him a look with a raised brow that seems to say, “Are you sure?” before she’s settling with a quieter hum of amusement, diving into her meal and listening for what the description of the food is like. Something like pork is easy for her to understand as she bites into the bite of meat again, nodding along with it.

“Pork was probably my favorite, if I’m being honest.” She offers with an easier smile, taking a sip from the cider after swallowing down her bite again. As for what they’ve been up to, her gaze drifts from Chulane to Deimos with a bit of excitement. “I’ve been helping Chuy with the Ningo Farm.” She says softly, with a bit of ease. “Not having to sleep so much, sometimes I like to go and see what I can do to improve things here and there or… Just basic repairs sometimes.” A shoulder shrugs as she spears another bite of meat with veggies, but the smile on her face is content.

as cold as stone

KIADA