open catch-all + closed prompts for August

[fulgency]

Who: Ozymandias + You (plus some closed prompts)
When: August (will be adding more prompts as time goes on!)
Where: Around!
What: Leaving the Coven after a month-long illness, Lunasa, & likely more; hmu if you would like a closed starter or a different prompt
Warnings: None so far, but will update as needed!

Comments

[fulgency]

[What she describes...]

[It seems he was right in that what once awaited him was different from what she experienced. For him, it was to be a life without suffering, to be reunited with his beloved Nefertari, and to fight in a most glorious battle. What she describes sounds nothing short of hell. Even those deemed unworthy with hearts too heavy and burdened with sin did not suffer anything close to what she describes.]

[Ozymandias does not look away from her until she has finished speaking. He is not mulling over what she has said -- that's fairly straight forward -- but he is thinking of what to say instead. She does not strike him as the sort of person who cares much for anything that could be perceived as pity, but that kind of suffering... He cannot help but feel compassion for that.]

No one should have to suffer through something like that. [When he looks at her again, his smile is slight. Kind. The look in his eyes is equally gentle. Although he knows such a look runs the risk of potentially offending her, what she (and by the sounds of it, countless others) have been through should not be ignored simply because it is uncomfortable to hear.] I know after such a long time it is likely difficult, but I hope you have been able to find some peace. Or if not, that you might one day soon.

[What he says is both not out of pity nor a platitude, but a genuine wish. Even at the risk of her finding it unbelievable.]

[belligerentwarrior]

[Hm.]

[Fang's patient while he's silent, observing him churning the thought around in his head. It's not what she expected after his initial reaction, but more than that, she's distracted by the contents of his wish. He's right on target, realizing she wouldn't take well to pity.]

[Peace. It's a complicated notion, to her. Despite a life defined by tragedy and violence, Fang had been able to eek it out of small things, simple things, here and there. To find it in other people. To make peace with individual happenings in her life. She's been at peace, arguably in her long sleep in the pillar, but that perhaps was an oversimplification, looking back at that time in retrospect. And finding it...]

[She'd never truly be at peace until she found her way back to the Soulsong. Even then, that one unresolved event held the potential to rob it from her forever.]

[Her smile becomes wry as she lazily swirls the juice mixture in her cup.] Mm, it's a cute notion.

[Between Fang's temperamental heart and her lot in life, one of the two is always disturbing what peace she does find.]

Hate to say it, but it's not in the cards until I get back to where I'm from and take care of some unfinished business. 'sides, sometimes it's cathartic to raise a little hell.

[But peace was a lovely notion to dream about. As enduring as Fang was, as well as she bore her scars, physical and emotional both, she was not unbreakable. She was tired of being picked on by fate.]

[fulgency]

[Her answer doesn't really surprise him. In fact, if she had said anything that indicated she knew peace by now, that would have surprised him more. That assumption has very little to do with Fang herself relative to what she described.]

[The unfinished business part, however... That catches his attention. The general consensus among all the mirrorbound is that they would like to return to their homes, but from what Fang has spoken of, it doesn't sound as though there is particularly much waiting for Fang that she would want to go back to. But that is perhaps an unfair judgment for him to make with such limited information. Hearing of only the terrible she's experienced and witnessed is not the whole sum of Fang let along her world.]

[He sets his curiosity for her unfinished business aside for now. And asks,]

And what exactly constitutes as "raising a little hell" to you?

[He smiles into his cup as he takes another sip.]

[belligerentwarrior]

[Yeah, no, his assumptions are legit. Her world is 99% shitshow. She's just ornery and refuses to quit. ]

Things that aren't peaceful, that's for sure. [She chuckles.] Givin' ratbags what's comin' their way, undermining cults, breakin' a few rules, protectin' my own. The usual.

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias huffs a laugh. It seems that Fang is a little rough around the edges, but overall, her heart seems to be in the right place. And there is plenty of fight still in her. All things that Ozymandias can both appreciate and admire.]

Well then, [he says, raising his cup to her.] To raising a little hell.

[belligerentwarrior]

[Fang always had plenty of fight. According to most people that knew her, they'd probably say "too much fight." If he didn't change his opinion to that down the road, she'd be slacking on her game.]

[She smiles, the corner tilting up to dance the line between smile and smirk. Their cups clink.]

Cheers.

[And a drink. She finishes the rest of hers, settling the cup on the low wall and standing.]

Well, I ought to let you get back to dazzling the party goers. 'preciate the interesting little chat. Try not to steal the bride—or the groom, 'kay, sunshine?

[fulgency]

[He could do without being called 'sunshine,' but he will let it stand. Just this once. Ozymandias shrugs with a laugh.]

I will make no promises.

[He sends her off with a nod though, choosing to remain by the wall for a little while longer himself. He won't have much time alone even on the fringes, so he intends to enjoy the brief reprieve as he finishes his drink.]