silentsavant: (=27=)
Soren ([personal profile] silentsavant) wrote in [community profile] middaeg2021-03-01 11:13 am

February Fallout + March Catchall

Who: Soren & OTA
When: March (some late February)
Where: Your Heart's Desire (or wherever designated)
What: Various. Soren is suffering from difficulties with his memory and bouts of disorientation after being brainwashed.
Warnings: Mentions of past event (blood/violence; brainwashing)


i. nameless faces
Maybe you're passing by the dragon on the streets of the Haven, or down in the Harbor District, or perhaps the Coven grounds. Maybe you know him and decide to greet him. Maybe you don't and do it anyway. Or maybe you're not the type to exchange pleasantries and instead offer him a passing glance of acknowledgment.

Or maybe you did none of these things, and Soren should still be able to recognize you. Maybe he doesn't, but thinks he should anyway. For some reason, he's offering a blank, nonplussed stare, long and hard like you're wearing someone else's skin. Realizing this faux pas, Soren snaps out of his brief trance and mumbles an apology.

"Oh... Excuse me." The way he shifts, he looks like he might just be thinking about evacuating the unintended social situation.
ii. lunatic (foeuveur 28th)
The Looking-Glass House was once devoid of a single soul besides the Dragon. Moonlight streams through the windows, full and bright. It's the witching hour. He cannot sleep.

He holds his horned head pressed to the surface of one of the many mirrors lining the walls as if in deep contemplation or to nurse a migraine. The charged and eerie silence echoes in mantras on his soft voice. If one treads closer, they will begin to hear snippets of what he murmurs to himself:

"He is not here. He never was. Don't let this infernal world get to your head..."
iii. fall back
Navigating the crush and flow of traffic in the Shopping District today is no mean task. Bypassing the crowd by taking to the air should come naturally to any Monster equipped with wings, but for whatever reason, this simple, frequently employed solution appears to have eluded the tactician.

It may not even cross anyone else's mind to begin with, being as there are plenty of shops packed together and stalls set up for the purpose of meandering through to browse. Soren pushes though as if on a mission to get out, but in the bustle and confusion, someone wheels around and clumsily smacks Soren in the back of his head hard enough to rob him of his footing.

The Dragon takes a skidding tumble into the streets, dropping bags and books. He gets trampled and tripped over a couple of times before passersby begin to notice, then throng him in a cluster of concern and curiosity. Soren blinks up at them in a daze, but then he blanches with fear. The crowd murmurs and shouts various questions and remarks, mostly whether he hurt himself or why he won't say or do anything, but it's difficult to parse among the cacophonous backdrop. His mouth hangs open and he tries to make himself smaller. One person reaches out, but he withdraws even harder, flinching as though they mean to strike rather than lend a hand. This show forces some of the people to shake their heads at his refusal of help and move on with their day, while the few who remain offer each other questioning glances as if asking each other what to do if he's going to act like this.
[[ Will also create custom starters or plot something different! Hit me up via [plurk.com profile] wingything or discord (paingel#4140) or shoot me a PM if you want to hatch or discuss something! Please feel free to use script format in tags if that's what you prefer. ]]
ranyaulf: (e)

ii

[personal profile] ranyaulf 2021-03-03 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
"... he never was."

Those words, softly repeated, from somewhere over Soren's shoulder. The cat laguz had followed his partner away from their home. To see him return to the Looking-Glass House isn't surprising. Neither is him speaking to no one in particular, except for himself--- to try to remind himself that missing hole in their hearts is still quite whole and hadn't been truly filled.

"And if he does appear here one day, we'll be there for him. Like you were for me."

Ranulf doesn't reach out. He stays an arms length or two away, just in case. Just in case... well. He doesn't know. It's not fear that stays his desire to embrace Soren, but the common sense approach of not wanting to crowd the dragon whose emotions may still be volatile. Just like his own. Except, not with the fragmented and scrambled memories.
ranyaulf: (24)

[personal profile] ranyaulf 2021-03-06 10:12 pm (UTC)(link)
That he's been trying to work through it as hard as he can... with whatever strength he can draw from, is a testament to Soren's resilience. Whatever techniques that the cult employed on him had to have been powerful, and Ranulf isn't surprised that his Bonded is still feeling the effects to this day. But that's why he's here--- to ground him as best as possible, to keep him from losing himself again. Even if it means he has to act as some kind of sobering truth to what is happening and what has happened, and what might need to happen.

"Honestly, I struggle to remember what he sounds like as well." The cat leans back on his heels, raising his head and closing his eyes. What can he remember, other than a face and body? Other than an expression that never really changed, though when it did--- it always delivered directly to his heart. "But those days, I don't think about that. I think about what he's said, what he's meant to others."

A scene in his head, in his heart: Ike asking the goddess Ashera for a final chance, to allow them to make amends. He remembers that day perfectly--- how couldn't he? A fight to save their world is hardly forgotten. But words that he said still rang true to that day, and to this day.

"'We’re not perfect. Sometimes our brains tell us one thing, while our emotions tell us another'. And you're not perfect, Soren. You're fighting to keep yourself whole. But don't forget I'm here, too. I won't lead you astray."

Then Ranulf smiles sheepishly, truly channeling his inner Ike.

"I'm not going to be able to replace your brain or your emotions, but... I promise your well-being has always been a priority to me."
ranyaulf: (e)

[personal profile] ranyaulf 2021-03-10 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
He loves Ike, but to cling onto those memories of him... sometimes it's a little much. Equally in his heart is Soren, and that yearning to have what they did prior to what he would consider a pretty traumatizing event is important. He misses Soren; it's like there's been a wall built and taking every brick down seems arduous. To help unscramble what those monsters did to Soren, but not necessarily rebuild: patchwork, mortar, and time. Time that he doesn't know if he has, and he is one impatient cat.

"I'll do my best."

Ranulf closes his eyes. What he remembers...

"... you weren't there for it, but we found the man who experimented on the laguz. Do you remember Gritnea Tower?"

The memory makes his chest burn. Even now, he'll never get over it. The sight and scent of bodies, the pain that Izuka inflicted? No amount of revenge would ever wipe away those memories. It only served to motivate Ranulf further, to ensure that nothing like that would ever happen again.

"We found him, and my claws found his throat."

A calming exhale, and Ranulf shudders.

"But we found our way to the Tower, just like you did. I remember seeing the Black Knight again a little ways up. I'll never forget him, either."

He watches Soren, wondering what's going on in his mind.
ranyaulf: (nyaaa)

[personal profile] ranyaulf 2021-03-13 06:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"I couldn't reach that man through his armor. I don't think I would've been able to." Ranulf lets out a mix between a huff and a sigh, folding his arms and rolling his eyes. "There are a lot of things that I can do, but... I'm not strong enough. I wasn't strong enough back then, either."

He could remember gliding off the armor, claws not catching, and his reaction thereafter: a numbing feeling that maybe, just maybe--- that was it. The sword of the knight would run him through, and he would be gone. No more. A part of a tale that would be written without him, and without getting to know any of the mercenaries. No Ike, no Soren. He wouldn't be here, of all things. And maybe that's... that's more than just sobering to Ranulf now.

"But Ike did. He won. Zelgius was Ike's final teacher. I remember watching him and wishing I could've stepped in. The Hawk King tried to as well. Tibarn... I hope he's doing well."

After all, he owes him.

"We fought Ashera. Ike did his best. Again. He tried to explain, but I guess it was inevitable that we'd have to show our convictions through battle. That's how it always is, isn't it Soren? We have to fight. Even when we don't want to."

He reaches out, grabs Soren's hands. Squeezes them tight, holds them between his own.
ranyaulf: (nyaaaaaaa)

[personal profile] ranyaulf 2021-03-18 04:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"You wouldn't have lost me."

There are multiple meanings. No matter what Soren did, Ranulf didn't lose hope. He didn't lose faith in that Soren would find himself again, even if he wasn't there to witness it. And he didn't think that he would die there, either. Ranulf would've held himself together as long as he could, with whatever magic he had to use, even if it meant trying to heal himself while simultaneously being hurt. It would have been risky and painful and dangerous but it would've been his only chance. If anything, he was fortunate... fortunate that Soren was strong enough to finally shake those illusions, even if it was painful.

And it's still painful. Still sore, still an open wound. It's mending, but it'll still take time. Closure, in a way, towards reality.

"So you don't have to think about it," he says with a smile. "I'm here."

Looking past Soren, he stares at the mirror. One that doesn't look like it's been taken care of in forever. His own is certainly in one of these halls. He can still remember the decorations, of little paw prints and weapons of various kinds. Of whiskers and pieces of fur that couldn't have come from a laguz, and of boat. A boat that they would've taken toward unknown lands.

"If anything... I was more afraid of losing you. To a version of Ike that couldn't ever exist, one that would put the safety of others over himself. He'd never jeopardize another life, not after that. He'd find another way. That's what Ike would do."

His Ike. Their Ike. A paragon.

"Whoever used him deserves death. If I ever get the chance, I will show them what a laguz can do."
ranyaulf: (nyaaa)

[personal profile] ranyaulf 2021-03-20 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Anger. It burns, sears their bond. Ignites it with a heat that makes his tail curl and his ears fold. It's the kind of anger that Ranulf can embrace, the kind that he understands the best. Of being scorned, of mistrust, of being deceived--- naturally or otherwise. It makes his fur itch and he likes it. It makes his blood boil, bringing him back to something more comfortable and familiar. Just like Soren. He too doesn't remember that night very well, of where the scent of blood and death and decay still sits on his senses as a reminder to what must've happened when everything went dark.

What he does remember... is the warmth. The feeling of being held. Protected. He wouldn't have been able to rest if he wasn't absolutely sure that he was safe. The roars were softer, the sounds of walls being smashed and doors being broken down. But he knew... he knew in his heart that he wouldn't see any further injuries. No further pain.

That brought him sleep. Not good sleep, but sleep nonetheless.

Ranulf leans forward now, closes that distance again. Their hips bump as he reaches to place his hand over Soren's. How much he wants to continue that touch, continue to reinforce those feelings... to make sure they're still there. To make sure that they haven't gone anywhere and are still valid. Physical gestures that enable them both, to give them strength.

To feel that heartbeat beat with his own.

"... let's make sure we never forget what happened here. Let's come here... maybe once every couple of weeks. Not for long, but so that we can walk around and make sure... together."
ranyaulf: (myaa)

[personal profile] ranyaulf 2021-03-23 02:04 pm (UTC)(link)
He doesn't have to ask. This is why he's already so close. Healing... this is what healing is. For them right now, this is what they need. This is why he closed the distance just seconds ago; he's been missing Soren's touch. His Soren's touch. How his presence alone, despite one of the most painful experiences in his life still fresh and raw, provides the succor that he needs. That when he wraps his arms around him, tugs him close to his body, that the tears start to form. That his heart feels like it's alive and not fractured in multiple places.

Oh, how much Ranulf loves Soren. How that will never change. Wherever they go, they will be there together. He wakes up with that thought, sleeps with that thought. A prayer that will keep them close.

"This will be the worst of it. We'll make sure of it... nothing ever this bad will come to us."

And he will make sure that's the case.
ranyaulf: (e)

[personal profile] ranyaulf 2021-03-29 05:19 pm (UTC)(link)
His question might've sent Ranulf emotionally reeling at one point, but perhaps the time spent recovering has brought him the same scenarios? Curiosities turning into possible futures, ones where they may not remember these times or perhaps where one might and one might not. But in this case for some reason, Ranulf is prepared to answer. There's a smile on his face, a slight twinkle in his eye... perhaps there's a little sadness that lingers about him. Nothing that overwhelms him or makes him second guess the present, or...

"It'll be the same if it's the other way around," he says with a gentle snort. "I'll never shut up about what happened, nothing left unsaid... and I mean nothing."

If Ranulf has to, he'll repeat the same stories. Every last one until the day he takes his final breath, until he goes blue in the face (to match his hair).

"Because we'll still follow the same path. We'll get there in time, just like we did here."

He reaches down, gently raises Soren's head by the chin with one finger, then takes his lips with his own. Softly, gently. Not a farewell kiss, but a 'happy to see you' one. Always happy.
ranyaulf: (myaaaa)

[personal profile] ranyaulf 2021-04-10 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
He laughs, a bright sound that bounces off of each mirror, though he's quick to cover his mouth once he realizes how loud it is--- how somber the situation was, what it's like now. That it's felt like an eternity plus a day or two since he's had a reason to, and now that he's done it... he feels immense relief. The touch helps too, feeling the warmth of Soren's cheek in his hand, their bond bringing him the kind of peace he's been needing for some time.

"If and when you do, I give you permission to give me a few raps on the head. But not the ears."

With a toothy grin plastered on his face, the laguz gestures towards the exit of the house.

"I'm not sure if you're feeling hungry or not, but I was able to snag a dessert for us to share."

And it's not him! This time, at least.