make small fires with the broken hulls

Deimos

you can be a comet tearing open the sky if you want
never say of course; never let them drain the river of your soul

Discussions with Alys had been beneficial; it was good to see her well and whole, despite months of separation and seclusion. Deciding to journey a little further, now that he’d set aside some time, he tucked his notebook away into his bag of holding, and jostling Erebos a little in the sling (the youth cooed and flung his arms joyfully), they could take a little scenic tour. If he did so out of spite, curiosity, or a semblance of both, he wouldn’t say.

A turn out of the plaza had taken him swiftly towards a large needle-like proportion, with surrounding cells and other adjacent portions. At first glance he was reminded of the Spire itself, wondering if this behemoth had come first – figuring any Stormbreaker of old would never admit to basing any structure off of the Grounds. “What do you think?” He murmured to Erebos, who merely blinked as Deimos shook his head, pondering over asking someone passing by.

There didn’t seem to be too many walking beyond, most didn’t even glance its way, but there were some stopped by a nearby bench, and unfortunately, much like a tourist with a baby slung about his chest, he advanced, a quiet rumble beginning. “Excuse me. Do you know what this is?” pointing directly to the Needle itself.

Koa

Koa is working, which feels, frankly, amazing. Even with his relationship with Anju on a thread, even given his conflicted emotions about Stormbreak and the Dragoons and allegiances and family and Family - it feels good to be in uniform, helping people and keeping watch. It's a welcome, wonderful return to normalcy after so much tumult, and for the hours he spends alert and attentive he can almost pretend the world is okay.

After helping an elderly woman collect spilled groceries, Koa has just returned to his post when a voice sounds out behind him, familiar and deep. Spinning on his heel, the young Dragoon's face breaks into a pleasantly surprised grin at the sight of the Sword and his tiny passenger. "Warden Deimos, sir!" A smart salute accompanies the greeting, followed by an immediate softening as he shifts his attention to the infant in the sling. "Is this your son? He looks just like you. Hi, little soldier!" Unabashed and warm, Koa reaches out to gently shake an exposed shoe, his delight at the sight of the baby palpable.

But then there's the question, and Koa can't keep a grimace from his face as he glances at the glittering Needle. "That's the Judgment's Needle," he explains, wrinkling his nose dramatically at Erebos. The baby is much more interesting than an archaic torture chamber. "When the Order was in power, it was used to make examples of their enemies in very not nice ways." He raises his eyes pointedly, not wanting to say torture happened here in front of a baby. "Now days, though, it's more of a monument. Prisoners are still kept on the grounds, but there's no more inhumane treatment - public or private. Renovating it was one of my first projects as a Dragoon," he adds with pride, though the bitterness of Stormbreak's history still sits heavy on his tongue.

i can't decide if it's a choice, getting swept away

Deimos

you can be a comet tearing open the sky if you want
never say of course; never let them drain the river of your soul

Before the stranger could deign to answer, another voice resounded over the space, and his focus flickered immediately to Koa. He hadn’t seen the Dragoon in some time, given proximities, parameters, and plots happening, and the salute accompanying almost made him grin.

But then the attention was on Erebos, and he watched as Koa greeted his infant. In turn, the babe gave a hearty and enthusiastic wave and toothless grin, though the Warden very protectively arched a brow as Koa’s hand went to the child’s shoe. Erebos thought it was hilarious though, gleefully giggling away and kicking back, before the hybrid could finally concede to some words. “Koa. Yes. This is Erebos.”

The sudden inclusion of his inquiry didn’t go unnoticed though, and instead of lingering along the pathways of how incensed and infuriated he’d been on the Dragoon’s prior efforts, those seemed to have dimmed anyway, he concentrated on the explanations. The Order. Prisoner. Torture left unsaid and unchecked. His eyes narrowed at the Needle itself, nose wrinkling, wondering if it was a representation much like the Spire – something to remind. “I see,” he started. “No intentions of taking it down?”

Koa

"Hullo, Erebos!" Koa grins warmly, waggling his eyebrows at the child. Maybe it's his own boyishness, but the young man has always enjoyed the company of children - they're easier to understand than adults.

The foot-grabbing having been a success, Koa opts to keep at it, gently batting Erebos' shoes and letting the baby kick his hands in response. Again he glances at the Needle, picking up on the distaste in Deimos's question and frowning thoughtfully in response. "I suppose that's up to the people in charge," the Dragoon answers, a bitter quirk of his lips betraying what he thinks of said people in charge. "I thought about it, but... it feels wrong? Like we'd be erasing the past, instead of learning from it. That's why I wanted to change this place, y'know? Use it as a way for us to grow, instead of just... pretending it never happened."

Straightening back up to look at Deimos, he tries to keep the search for approval from shining in his face. He doesn't know if it's the right answer, but it's the only one he has.

i can't decide if it's a choice, getting swept away

Deimos

you can be a comet tearing open the sky if you want
never say of course; never let them drain the river of your soul

While Erebos wasn’t of the age to master speech yet, he certainly gave another gurgle in response, little feet swinging away as the Dragoon occupied the babe’s attention. The Sword kept a very careful watch on the proceedings, waiting for some interval where he’d have to interfere. Otherwise, his thoughts were reserved for Kia’s response upon the Needle itself.

An understandable answer; to not forgo and forget everything in the past. History often had intervals of repeating itself - one wouldn’t have to look very far into recent tomes, not with sickness and war becoming a prevalent factor since the Outlanders had been here. He gave a respectable nod, likely approval, before his attention turned upon the leadership of the realm itself. A rumble followed, meticulous considerations in his speech, talking around and amidst insinuations Koa could catch. ”Is she very active in her role?” Perhaps a way to weave around other inquiries: was she destroying Stormbreak? Was she maiming the region? Or did she simply remain there, untouchable?

Koa

Subtlety had never been a strong suit of Koa's,  but damn if he hasn't honed the skill over these past months. Picking up on Deimos's insinuation, the younger soldier feels his lips quirk into a wry half-smile that's utterly devoid of mirth. "The Reaper's style of leadership has been hands-off so far," he answers with a shrug, though he's unable to ease all the tension from his voice. "I hope we will soon know more about her plans for Stormbreak." For instance, is she going to throw ir back into the sea? Nuke it from orbit? Paint the streets purple?

All equally plausible, Koa thinks.

"Will you be staying long?" He tilts his head curiously to the left, smiling sidelong at Erebos as he does. "I'd be honored to show you more of Stormbreak, if you need a guide. I promise that the rest of the city is way less..." he glances at the Needle, wrinkling his nose. "Bleak."

i can't decide if it's a choice, getting swept away

Deimos

you can be a comet tearing open the sky if you want
never say of course; never let them drain the river of your soul

He nodded, understanding the unsaid components. She’d done nothing but sit atop the throne, knowing she was untouchable, and that no one could do anything about it. His thoughts wandered to days of Zariah and wishing that for no one; the dictator proportions, the league of unwanted orders. But if the Reaper wasn’t even doing that…perhaps some of these Stormbreakers had a chance of assisting in turning the tide. “There have been some plans and methods found for hopefully gaining some of the lost regions back,” and for that, he arched a brow towards Koa, mainly to see if he was intrigued and interested.

At the offer, he hid a sigh, glancing back at the Needle, and pondering over portions left unseen. “We have a little time,” referring to himself and Erebos, of course, before they had to return to Halo and the broader span of projects, places, and people. “If you want. Where do you suggest?” To which he'd permit the Dragoon to lead the way.

[FIN]