same new beginning

i wonder which will get you killed faster - your loyalty

Taking care of his duties for the day, the Sword held no hesitation in snagging at skyport boats and sailing towards Torchline – for it’d been a long while since he’d seen his adopted daughter. Always willing to give her the space she needed and required, and presuming she’d been all right (he hadn’t heard otherwise until now), the world had persisted, continued onward, while the Harpy found her place back in the world.

Deciding via letter when and where to meet one another, once he disembarked from the port, his narrowed eyes scanned the horizon – looking for one of the most familiar individuals to him amidst the bustling crowd of beach-going citizens.

or your stubbornness?

DEIMOS

do not fear the dark, wolf cub, for when the sun leaves the world,

Torchline this time of year has been a boon amongst her mood — and having just satisfied the blood lust within, she’s in high and good spirits as she waits for the skyboat to unload its passengers, looking for a tall and broody Halovian amongst them (which is hard when there’s a surprising amount of them all around and she realizes maybe there’s a ship that goes between the two).

It doesn’t take her too long, though, slinking through the crowds to find him, blocking his steps as she peers up at him with a bright grin and arms that wrap around her adoptive father, horns sparkling with their veins of red and her tail flicking back and forth similarly to a wag. “Hi.” She says gently in greeting, letting him go so that they can get out of the middle of the crowd.

the world fears you

KIADA

i wonder which will get you killed faster - your loyalty

He wouldn’t have been surprised if she blended and swiveled her way through the crowd with her stature and demeanor, but his scanning eyes take notice of citizen upon citizen, until there was one very familiar being upon him. With a boisterous, roaring laugh and a thousand other emotions segmenting through his form, his large arms scooped her up, immediately bringing her to his chest. “Hello,” he uttered, the deep rumble exuding. “Glad to see you.” An understatement, with everything they’d been through over the years. Contentment exuded simply for having her near and there – tangible, bits and pieces of crimson.

Placing her down so they could maneuver out of the crowd and away from any onlookers, his massive form managed to part quite a few before feet could hit the sands and beach. With half a grin interloping along his features, and a semblance of ease flickering through his shoulders, he exhaled a long, unfurling breath; relieved, that she was whole and well. “What have you been up to?”

or your stubbornness?

DEIMOS

do not fear the dark, wolf cub, for when the sun leaves the world,

“Pshh, I’m always glad to see you—” She says with a slight squeak as he lifts her and crushes her into the hug against his chest, brightened even more by his laughter and his smiles, finding relief there too that he’s okay. When she’s set down, she uses him to get the space to move toward the edge of the crowd, his larger stature making it easier to cut through the throngs of people.

And when they’re finally on their own, she flashes him a brighter smile, hair dancing around her shoulders with the seaside wind. “Just wandering, mostly. I spent some time in Queen’s Gambit, then bouncing around the Climb and Torchline.” She shrugs a shoulder, as casual as can be. “What about you, Warden?” She teases him, knowing how much he hates it.

the world fears you

KIADA

i wonder which will get you killed faster - your loyalty

Taking the opportunity to maneuver his long hair back into a makeshift bun and roll his sleeves, he listened to her whereabouts with the same boyish grin contorted into his features. Kiada had always been the type to do things on her own accord, so her answer didn’t leave him with any surprises – wandering amidst the realms of King’s End, Torchline, and the Climb, likely content wherever the summer sun flickered and beamed. “Anything of note there?” It measured into his notions of ideas and items, but kept it within the frame of his mind for the moment.

Her inquiry prompted a loud snort and an eyeroll at the title. “Busy enough. The hot springs are done, and we are nearly complete with ensuring they have healing measures to them.” His thoughts meandered to everything else since the last time they’d spoken. “Guild hunts. Maintaining Halo. Some breaks,” he added, in case there was going to be an incoming lecture. Pondering over any other gossip she might find intriguing, his gaze maneuvered back to her. “Noah and Cordelia had their twins.”

or your stubbornness?

DEIMOS

do not fear the dark, wolf cub, for when the sun leaves the world,

She hums contently, slowing her steps so that he can meander easier beside him. “Nothing really. Lots of animals, new strange things I don’t remember since the war ended. Like a new island here in Torchline?” She points off in the direction of it, before spinning back to him to listen, smirking at the eye roll.

“Healing hot springs sound incredible.” She drawls, already making a plan to seek out the Frey’s Breath ones, before she nods to his mention of breaks because she was just about to comment on them. It sparks that chimed laugh from her, nodding regardless. As for Noah and Cordelia, she doesn’t know the woman, and Noah tends to be a slightly sore spot for the Harpy. “Healthy, I hope?” She asks, because while she might still have hesitations toward their father, she knows first hand that does not always have to translate to their children.

the world fears you

KIADA

i wonder which will get you killed faster - your loyalty

The sea breeze spun around them, and he inhaled another breath of it, the contentment and ease, waves of calm, embarking over his shoulders. He could imagine she likely hunted said animals, but offered nothing more than the slight glint of his teeth in another smile. “I have heard of it,” but only from Sohalia’s maps – an outstretch of hands and fingers from the other isles. “Something about it being laden with bones?” Rumors and speculation only – but enough cause for him to avoid for the moment, despite the primordial curiosities.

The hot springs in general were remarkable, and given towards his inclinations of past memories, all the more encompassing because of it. Echoes of the Basin, of auroras, of mountains different but still sovereign and otherworldly, granting and giving aspects to Halo in return. “I did have a possibility in mind for you, should you ever want to return home.” No matter if she were nomadic or spending her time in another kingdom, the stretch of summits, peaks, and valleys would always be woven within.

Noah might have been a stickier spot, so he relented on much further details, save for a nod of their health. “Yes.”

or your stubbornness?

DEIMOS

do not fear the dark, wolf cub, for when the sun leaves the world,

“Yes! That’s the one.” Kiada beams over at him. “And carnivorous plants. I just was there the other day.” She comments idly, flashing him an easier smile now that the conversation has shifted somewhat, and she tilts her head as he mentions a possibility of returning home, allowing her smile to soften.

She likely wouldn’t be able to manage it permanently, but for trips to be less of a stranger she nods her head automatically. “You mentioned coats?” Which she had spent the last day envisioning her perfect jacket. She waits for his agreement or clarification, humming a pleased sound as he mentions that Noah’s twins are healthy.

All good news.

the world fears you

KIADA

i wonder which will get you killed faster - your loyalty

“Wonderful,” came with a shake of his head and blatant sarcasm, making a mental note to not mention them to Evie again – gods only knew she’d race off to see the isle despite the warnings. “Did you bite them back?”

The situation regarding items, her Ancient status, and all the other hurdles faced contorted within his machinations, and had for a while, pondering over the circumstances. “I did,” with a wry grin, exhaling again before persisting. “It certainly would be nothing permanent or long term. That would probably have to be taken up with Dygra,” or any other god the Harpy would deign to visit; uncertain of the parameters. “But I think I can create a coat to keep you warm enough to go place to place…quickly.” Without her turning into stone, frozen, or whatever other risk she ran.

From there though, he’d wait, a brow arched – for he’d never create something she didn’t want or would be unwilling to use.

or your stubbornness?

DEIMOS

do not fear the dark, wolf cub, for when the sun leaves the world,

She can’t help the mischievous grin that splashes across her face at his question, lifting her chin slightly with all the haughtiness she feels. “Of course I did.” She can’t help the hum of a snicker that slips from her after, before it softens and settles around the idea of coats.

She perks up at his idea, however, head tilting curiously as she tries to figure it out. “Long enough to get from fire to fire?” She asks, because the last thing she wants to do is turn to stone amongst the snow and ice. “That sounds very intriguing.” She agrees, her acceptance of such a gift, offering some semblance of comfort in being able to visit.

the world fears you

KIADA

i wonder which will get you killed faster - your loyalty

The Sword could nearly picture plants and Kiada snapping at one another, back and forth, until one succumbed. She’d been barbaric enough to try well before she’d ever become an Ancient, so with a wry snort, he maneuvered into the next topic.

“I believe so.” She’d probably have to be running, or granting a brisk walk, but he could likely conjure enough incantations within the threshold of lined furs to get her from place to place, or in this case, fire to fire. Each home, or shelter, within Halo eternally had flames going; leaving less of a risk for her. She’d even be able to motion around the barracks, with the amount of braziers he had running. It wouldn’t be the same as living amidst the mountains, but until she found a way to salvage those efforts, it would be better than stranding herself away from all of them, and a place she’d cherished for so long.

Tilting his head and taking her notions as some sort of agreement, he created a fold of paper and charcoal within his hands. “Any design preferences?” came with a mischievous smile; for if none existed, the temptation of trapping her within the confines of a massive puffy jacket were enticing.

or your stubbornness?

DEIMOS

do not fear the dark, wolf cub, for when the sun leaves the world,

It wouldn’t be a permanent fix, not unless she went and asked Dygra she imagines, but for the moment it would be enough for the short spurts of visits, and for that it’s enough for her to nod, drift closer toward her fatherly figure, a bright playful grin on her face as she angles her horned head to watch as he conjures paper and charcoal and gets to work.

“Well, something with furs have always been my preference. And colorful. I wouldn’t mind standing out.” She’d stand out regardless, but she was never one for the pale cool colors she often found in Halo, trying to blend in amongst the snow. She wants dark and vibrant, a pinprick of color amongst the rest of everything to be seen easily – having no qualms of danger if she were to arrive.

the world fears you

KIADA

i wonder which will get you killed faster - your loyalty

Another bout of laughter rumbled through his chest, with a quick shake of his head. He could’ve predicted the nuances, even with so much time spent apart, and began to sketch and orchestrate the design across the paper. The charcoal’s black lines eventually began to take shape of a fur-lined coat, long, intending to embark past her knees, with a massive hood. Little nuances and details followed through – the curl, and then straight figments, of a collar along the outset of the cowl, hidden flames along buttons and sleeves.

Eventually though, they’d have to decide on other figments. “What about color?” He glanced at her, as if carefully perusing and studying, before pinpointing on a choice that would remain vivid against the outlines of snow – they’d always see her coming. “Red?” He then extended the parchment to her, for inspection and the final say.

or your stubbornness?

DEIMOS

do not fear the dark, wolf cub, for when the sun leaves the world,

She remains leaned over toward him, looking over his shoulder at what he sketches up, offering little hums and sounds of approval at the view of it going down past her knees – regal, as important as that makes her feel (she was born as a princess in some ways, though she’d never admit it, she does drift back to those regal tendencies when it comes to her outfits). As for color, though, she rolls back onto her heels, just about to mention what color she wished for, before he supplies it for her and she snickers.

A bright grin spreads across her face as she nods. “Red and gold are always my favorite colors.” Red with white or dark fur, perhaps, lined with edges of gold – not unlike the armor he’d made her before that shifted with her forms from what felt like years ago.

the world fears you

KIADA