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Post by pallas on Nov 13, 2023 18:47:43 GMT
After Cleo had left the Medbay, Lucien had updated the supply inventory to make a note of what he’d used on Cleo and Lane respectively. He had also recorded down exactly what he’d done for each of the two ascendants so that the information was available should Pascal need to see what he’d done or if Lucien himself should need to refer back to his notes.
Lane was resting when he left; not quite asleep yet, probably still full of adrenaline. Once she fully realised she was safe he was sure she’d rest. Something had clearly shaken her.
With that housekeeping done in the Medbay, Lucien finally got to head to his room for a little while as he’d originally intended. He hadn’t gotten much of a rest, though, before the hour River had prescribed was up and it was time to meet and finally discuss what had happened in that room with the exiled. Cleo’s voice over the intercom was the summoning call.
Why had they made a trade with the exiled without first coming back to discuss such a major proposition? Hadn’t River said not to agree to anything straight away? There had to be a reason, because for all of Cleo’s faults they didn’t do things like that without thinking. They wouldn’t agree to something immediately, they’d want to think things over and make a plan. All he could think was that Cleo and Dillon had not felt they had a choice. The only way it made sense was if they’d had their backs against the wall.
Lucien wasn’t sure. What he was sure of was that there was a lot of explaining to do, and a plan to make. He needed to get to the bottom of what had happened with Theo, what on earth this Laurie and Ripley thing was about, and what the exiled had demanded.
When he arrived to the meeting room, he was not the first one there. Dillon was seated in one of the seven lonely seats obviously for the leaders. Some of which lay conspicuously empty, and he couldn’t help but think about how one of them was for Haleema. Haleema who would never make it home. Dillon had his phone at the ready to video call Irene, and Lucien noted how worn the other boy had looked. He’d looked tired like that for a while now, between the stress of leadership, the stress of not having any apparent powers, and his guilt over the Laurie and River breakup. But the heaviness in his expression had deepened, and Lucien knew the meeting had taken a toll. He had a feeling he wasn’t going to like this retelling of what had happened.
Chiara looked a little more collected than when he’d last seen her, by which he meant there were no tears. She just seemed…subdued, a little distant. Losing Theo had clearly been a blow, and if he had to guess Luka’s reaction to the news had probably not helped things much either. He had no doubt she’d be feeling more than a little alone at that moment. Her aloneness was only highlighted by the fact that she was currently the only occupant of the area designated for the Norse champions. A lone figure with a gap of seating around her.
Guinevere looked more upset than he thought he’d ever seen her, out in the Greek section of the hall with smudged makeup and heartbreak written over her expression.
What on earth had this meeting done to everyone?
The boy sat in one of the available leaders’ seats, and tried to prepare himself for the meeting to come. Dealing with Lane had distracted him from his anger enough that he’d been able to have what felt like a constructive conversation with Cleo. But that didn’t mean that a line had been drawn under everything for him, or that he was willing to see things go unanswered. It meant he’d reached out a hand, tried to start what he hoped would be a positive process to repair what was broken. He needed to see that Cleo - and Dillon - were willing to put the same work in that he was.
He needed to understand what had happened in the meeting that had resulted in the decisions that had been made. But mostly he needed this to be a turning point for the ascendants. The group had fallen apart completely and if they wanted to survive they were going to have to make some decisions to change moving forward.
If not, maybe he should take a leaf out of River’s book and step away for a while. But if he did that, it was certain that nothing would change. Not only that, but he’d be doing nothing to prove himself to River or anyone else. He’d promised River that he wanted to have his back, and he needed to show that now. If he stepped away rather than doing his part to fix the toxicity that could be the end of them if left unaddressed, he would not be fulfilling that promise and he would be doing everyone a disservice.
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by pallas on Nov 13, 2023 19:12:28 GMT
Alive.
Upon hearing the news, Laurie didn’t know whether to feel overjoyed that the man he’d never stopped caring for was alive or whether to feel utterly and completely betrayed at the lie.
He stepped back a little, registered he was unsure how he was even keeping his feet because his legs felt like they could at any moment give up on their task of holding him up.
River was alive. He hadn’t died alone in that factory, thinking Laurie hated him and his guide did not care enough to save him. That information eas a great relief, a great joy. But at the same time, Laurie had been completely lied to. He’d been utterly broken by the news of River’s apparent death, completely set adrift with nothing to hold onto. And all this time it hadn’t been true.
He’d only just begun to think that he might not be completely incapable of facing the fact that River was gone. And suddenly he didn’t have to.
But a world where River was alive made a lot more sense than one that allowed River to be dead while he got to survive. A world that could just continue on without River as if he’d never been there.
”Even at the meeting, the way the others were talking about him, it sounded like…” Laurie broke off. All that talk about what River would want. All of it had sounded like River was dead but of course he wasn’t. Cleo would have thrown that at him too if it were the case.
He was such an idiot. No wonder everybody found it so easy to lie to him.
Laurie’s guilt only got worse when Ares revealed two further pieces of information. First, River’s concern over Laurie. His fear that Laurie was dead while Laurie was all too alive and betraying everything River cared about or stood for.
I don’t deserve him, I never deserved him. I couldn’t deserve him if I spent forever trying to. Cleo was right about him being better without me.
Rubbing salt in the wound was the realisation that Ripley was the one who had hurt River. Laurie’s hand flew to his mouth, clamping there to stifle his anguish as true full understanding of what Ripley had done, what he had done, hit him.
Even worse, Ares’ words about the photograph only confirmed that Ripley had known River was alive, or at least could be alive. Laurie couldn’t check his phone because he wasn’t allowed access to it, but he didn’t need to. Ares was telling the truth.
He backed up further until the wall of the building hit his back, letting it take his weight. This hurt in more ways than he could ever say, even if in others it was the best news he could’ve hoped for to know that River was alive.
”I never meant to hurt him, or anyone.” Laurie finally said when he felt able to speak. ”I didn’t know that he’d never wanted to hurt me either.” He hadn’t until the meeting, anyway. When Cleo told him the truth in a moment of complete and total contempt for him. Laurie’s voice shook as he continued. ”I’m an idiot, I’m such a fucking idiot.”
Why had Ripley lied to him about it? Because he needed Laurie for his powers and couldn’t afford any lingering allegiances? Because he didn’t think he stood a chance with Laurie if he thought River was alive? Because he needed to break Laurie completely to build him up again in his image, to create a trust he could exploit?
”I’m so sick of being used.” Laurie whispered half to himself, taking a shaky breath. Used by the gods. Used by Cleo and the leaders, even lied to by River. Used by Ripley and the exiled.
He didn’t want to ask what Ripley did to River. He didn’t think he could bear the answer.
But Ares had obviously told him all this, raged at him like this for a reason. He had to understand what the god hoped to gain out of this conversation.
”I’m in something I can’t get out of now, Ares.” Laurie pointed out. ”I can’t take back what I’ve done. Dionysus could end this by Disgracing me but he won’t do that.”
Probably because if he did the exiled would probably kill Laurie. Without his guide, without any powers, he’d show himself to be of very little use very quickly. The exiled had gotten what they needed out of him in terms of the shock factor of revealing him at the meeting, so without his powers he could give them nothing.
Dionysus might not be talking to him, but he was doing him the service of not completely throwing him to the mercy of the exiled despite what he had done.
”We both know I don’t deserve River and Dionysus but I can’t fix what I’ve done.”
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew |
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Post by Nari on Nov 13, 2023 19:33:08 GMT
Irene was just about done with the city of Venice and Italy as a whole. Sure the place was beautiful and a lovely destination on any other occasion, but the amount of bullshit she was stuck dealing with while stuck there was enough to sour the mood of the whole place.
Enzo and Jason were doing their best, but the entire experience had left her drained leading up to this new meeting. Because Zeus is an asshole, she couldn’t even be there in person. She had to call in via some virtual meeting application and hope to gods she’s able to understand what people are talking about.
At least she wasn’t the only one who wouldn’t be there in person. Jason and Enzo were still there with her instead of going there in person. At least if things got bad, they’d be just as lost as she was.
Irene’s only hope for the meeting was that it didn’t go as poorly as the last one, which was fleeting given the track record.
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Nov 13, 2023 19:36:32 GMT
With the new bandages and stitches done by Pascal on him, River found it harder to move around than when he had been fixing himself up. The wrappings were tighter and more restricting telling him just how lax he'd been at actually treating himself. How little he actually wanted to get better and to just push through the pain.
But, now he could feel every tug of the bandages as he put on a jacket. He grunted as he felt a small pain in his side and grimaced when he felt another one in his neck.
Once he'd managed to get the jacket on to cover his arms he looked around his room and felt a small amount of guilt at how it looked. The least he could do was take the weapons embedded in the wall and punching bag out. Put those and his clothes away. The room had been gifted to him, he didn't really have a right to destroy it even in his anger.
"Ares?" River whispered quietly. His voice still crackled with strain and exhaustion even when kept low. He wanted to talk with his patron before the meeting. Set up strategies or just help him calm his nerves.
But, his mind was uncharacteristically quiet. Usually he felt the god lingering in the back of his mind but now it felt empty. Like he was elsewhere.
He didn't get much time to question where the god had gone when Cleo's voice sounded over the speaker. River scowled, looking down at his feet before moving towards his door and exiting.
On his walk to the meeting room, he ran into Ariella whose arm was still in a sling but looking much better than before.
"Ready?" she asked cautiously. She gave him a reassuring smile as they turned down into a hall.
River scoffed and shrugged his shoulders. "Never."
He let Ariella enter first and find her seat next to Griffin who had went and sat next to the Aphrodite champion. He had an arm around Guinevere gently rubbing her shoulder and rest his head against hers. He smiled as his friend approached them and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as gently as he could. They smiled at each other but there was worry in both of their expressions. One more so than the other.
River went and took his seat. Sighing heavily into it, he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the back of his chair. He stayed like that, arms crossed over his chest not saying a word.
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Nov 13, 2023 20:45:48 GMT
Ripley grinned and moved the bag of chips behind his back as he leaned away from her. All while continuing to eat the last few remaining chips in his hand. "Atti is trying to spare your feelings, ant," he warned staring straight at Penny with that sickly sweet and evil smile.
He finished the last chip he hand wiped the dust off from his hand onto Penny's arm. "Doesn't want you to know you're next when we catch you," he continued vaguely as he tossed the open bag of chips up into the air in-between them and let them spill onto the ground.
He never broke eye contact as he folded his hands behind his back and narrowed his eyes. "But, i'm not so mean. I'm warning you first," he lowered his voice to a whisper. "Beware of the big bad wolf, Ant. He's really hungry."
He winked and then started heading towards the kitchen, humming happily to himself.
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Nov 13, 2023 20:47:34 GMT
 
Minutes passed of silence from Cleo as they watched people enter the room and sit. Griffin and Ariella sat by Guinevere, with Guinevere and Griffin leaning into each other.
"Thanks," Guinevere muttered to Griffin, allowing her eyes to close to block out all of the horrible things that had happened. Laurie's betrayal. Theo's sacrifice. The girl who died. Haleema.
Lucien and Dillon arrived, Dillon with his virtual meeting with Irene so the girl could attend. With Irene came Lorenzo and Jason.
Physically, Cleo, Guinevere, Ariella, Griffin, Lucien, Dillon, Chiara, and River were here. River surprised Cleo a bit, but they only nodded in his direction.
Their eyes were drawn to the door. Lane wasn't here, and wouldn't be due to her injuries. Pascal may not show up. Their throbbing nose reminded them of the other person who should be here.
Their eyes moved to Chiara, all alone in the Norse area. Strange. Luka should have been there. Where was she?
They swiveled their head to Lucien, as if imploring him for an answer. He and Luka seemed to have a second sense for one another. However, they chose not to vocalize it. They didn't want to bring awareness to the fact that an entire leader was missing from this meeting. Plus, Luka may just be running late.
"We will begin soon," Cleo said, raising their voice so they could be heard. Like the Norse section, they were alone in their section. Daniel was gone. Echo was gone. Jason was with Irene.
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Nov 13, 2023 20:47:40 GMT
Ares shouldn't have but he did take joy in Laurie's reaction to realizing River was alive. The shock and anguish in his face as he retained every word that the god was saying. It was satisfying seeing him realize the many ledges he had to keep River off of. How guilty he felt about losing Laurie.
He felt all of River's pain and had to console his brother just because of some mortal boy. Things kept getting worse and worse around him and one of the resaons was because of this fucking child in front of him.
”I’m so sick of being used.”
He stilled at the words. The rage he felt drained out of his body replaced only by a softer expression. He closed his eyes tightly and inhaled deeply, crossing his arms over his chest and turning away to look at the Horizon again.
He mentioned Dionysus getting him out of this situation and shook his head quietly. The exiles want his power, so they'll kill him if he doesn't have it. He's alive because Dio won't drop him.
"No you can't fix it. But, you can work to make up for it," he instructed. He kept his profile facing Laurie, glancing at him once and then going back to the horizon. "If you give up now like this. You are failing them."
Finally, he turned fully back towards Laurie. the fire in his eyes had dimmed down and he looked calmer perhaps even stoic. "I can't personally get involved anymore than I already have. We all made agreements and technically I'm breaking one right now," Ares was speaking quicker but clearer. He wanted to be understood before he left. "Stay strong a little bit longer. Don't do anything rash but get out of here as soon as you can. Here."
Ares reached a closed hand towards Laurie and opened it to show a crumpled piece of paper. He didn't say anything else about the situation or the paper and when it left his hand he was gone.
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Post by pallas on Nov 13, 2023 21:12:12 GMT
More people began to enter the meeting room. Lucien was glad to see River there, tried to acknowledge the other boy with a flash of a smile upon his arrival. Lucien had a lot to make up for with him, but aside from Luka he was probably the person Lucien trusted most at that moment. He was glad he was there.
Luka’s absence, however, was conspicuous. Chiara on her own in the Norse section and with no sign of Luka even as more people filed in the room. Lucien was concerned. Luka had been angry, but he’d never seen her this angry, and she’d never chosen not to show up for something this important.
Cleo met his eyes, and he could see the question there. Where is she? Lucien shook his head imperceptibly. I don’t know.
He did the only thing he could think of and grabbed his phone from his pocket to type out a message.
‘Lukes, where are you? Cleo five seconds from an aneurysm and counting, not to be missed.’
But the moment he sent the text he remembered that hours earlier she’d broken her phone in the chaos surrounding the text from Theo. Fuck. The boy sighed at the memory, pocketing his phone again defeatedly upon realising he had no contact with Luka.
Still, even if she had been able to apply he didn’t anticipate that she would have. He had a feeling she didn’t intend to come to the meeting. Or at least not on time, anyway.
Cleo was saying they’d start later, so he met their eyes once again.
”Might be best to just get started.” Lucien said, his way of telling Cleo there was a good chance Luka wasn’t coming.
Dillon looked more agitated knowing they’d be starting soon, which made Lucien wonder just how bad this update was going to be. But he focused on connecting with Irene via the phone.
”Irene,” he smiled when her face came up on the screen, ”Cleo says we’ll be starting shortly.”
He flipped the camera around so Irene could see everybody in the room. That was best for the following discussion. He also ensured that she was on speaker so everybody in the room would be able to hear her.
_____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by Nari on Nov 13, 2023 21:29:39 GMT
Penny stared at Ripley with much intensity, so much that her vitriol could be felt. She listened as he spoke his venom to her, visibly trying to stop herself from jumping to strangle him. As dusted himself off on her and tossed the now empty bag of chips into the air, the young exiled held firm where she was.
He wanted to get under her skin and make her mad, which he was frustratingly good at. Knew just where to poke to make her murderous. What she wouldn’t give to crush his smug face to bits, but she unfortunately knew better. Knew what he was capable of and how everyone else would feel.
“I’m not afraid of wolves,” she shot back, glaring at him as he made his way to the kitchen, the contempt in her voice echoed through the room, “or pigs like yourself. I know you’re lying! Bet you don’t even know anything because you spent the entire meeting window shopping for a new side piece! Why, wasn't one good enough for you!?”
How Ripley was with Atticus and his new pet wasn’t lost on her. It disgusted her to no end how he stalked around like an animal and called it ‘affection’. It was gross, and just thinking about it made her want to puke. Nasty he was, enough that she didn't stick around long, choosing to stomp off to her own room in anger.
She hated him. Hated him with every fiber of her being.
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Post by Nari on Nov 13, 2023 22:20:46 GMT
“Hopefully shortly is actually short,” Irene sighed, shaking her head as Dillon set things up on his end. With how much waiting she already had to do, and with the mounting pressure of everything that needed to get done, she was impatient to say the least.
When the camera soon shifted to the rest of the room, it dawned on her that this was the first glimpse she’d had of the pantheon in weeks. She always remembered it being so lively, but now it looked so barren. Less than half the people they had were present. It pained her to see what they were going through.
River and Ariella looked injured, many people who should have been there were absent. Lane wasn’t there, neither was Pascal who'd just got back. The biggest surprise was Luka not being there. She was the first person who spoke her mind on issues like these, so her absence was concerning.
“I think the best place to start,” Irene soon spoke into the phone, “would be a full fucking breakdown on what the fuck is happening cause not everyone is going to be super informed.”
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Nov 13, 2023 22:50:12 GMT
Jason was in sight of the camera but up against the wall. He was sitting with his legs against his chest, hands resting on his knees as he listened. He glanced between the back of Irene's head and the people he could see on the camera. River looked tired like usual in his posted position in the chair. Ariella's arm was in a sling. He'd heard she had gotten hurt when they went to the exile base. But, she looked relatively the same now besides the sling.
Guinevere was crying. Or had been, it was hard to tell but it was obvious her makeup had been smeared. Cleo was waiting patiently like usual, Lucien was on his phone most likely texting Luka to find out where she was, and Dillon was just barely visible next to the camera.
When had their numbers gotten so small?
River brought his head back to the upright position and looked around the room at everyone. "To start, we all know some of our members were kidnaped by the exiles," he spoke loudly. The strain and crackle in his voice was still clear but he was pushing through it like usual. "Now they're offering up a deal. The return of our people in exchange for someone to take their places. Theo offered himself up during the meeting which is why we have Pascal back," he explained.
Turning his attention to Cleo he let them take the next part of the information since he didn't know the extent of it.
"You mentioned a list of people they wanted?"
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Nov 13, 2023 23:05:36 GMT
Cleo stared at Lucien as he shook his head, their eyebrows screwing up. That was weird. He was Luka's best friend. How did he not know where she was? Cleo assumed the two had went off and talked. That Lucien would have found her after their talk in the medbay.
Apparently not.
When Lucien said it was best to get started, they nodded. Nothing could be done with Luka if she wasn't there. Lucien had texted her, it seemed.
Their eyes flickered to the camera where Irene was visible with Jason peeking behind her and just moment later, Lorenzo was visible too after a moment, his pale hair making an appearance around his pale, slightly sunburnt face. The three looked...okay, all things considered.
As River began speaking up about the current situation, Cleo's attention turned to the list in their hands. However, an annoying noise caught their attention. A soft one, like the tapping of nails along hollowed wood. It was a soft scratching noise, and they raised their head, glancing around to try and find what caused it. They first looked to Guinevere, as she had long manicured nails, but her hands were in her lap. Next Cleo glanced towards Chiara who had her own nervous habits.
Not her either.
Weird.
Looking around made them realize some people were staring at them, expectantly. They looked at River, who seemed to just finish talking, eyes widening for a moment before clearing their throat, trying to cover up the distraction, "uh, yeah," they said, looking at him, and looking to Chiara, and back at the list they had. Chiara had left it in the portal room, so Cleo had grabbed it and made some notes already. "In exchange for Daniel and Echo...the Exiled are willing to accept certain people."
From the screen, a voice piped up, soft and sweet like syrup, "...what about Laurie?"
Cleo winced at that one, lowering their gaze, hands tightening on the note in their hands.
Distantly, they could hear it still, the scritch-scratch, scritch-scratch that softly sounded again before fading off once more.
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Post by pallas on Nov 13, 2023 23:45:32 GMT
Lucien also caught the strange noise, though very faint, but when he looked around the room he could see no indication of where it had come from. A tapping or a scratching. It had to be driving Chiara crazy with her enhanced senses.
But River was talking about a deal, and Lucien’s mouth immediately fell open at the suggestion.
”What?” Lucien began incredulously, looking between Cleo and Dillon. ”Tell me you didn’t just agree to this with no discussion.”
Dillon’s face indicated that was exactly what had happened. ”They didn’t leave us much choice.” That was all he said, and Lucien wasn’t sure if that was enough of an explanation for him, but for now he’d have to trust it. He didn’t know why they hadn’t had a choice, after all.
But then River mentioned a list, and Lucien felt even more horrified than before. Sick to his stomach that they’d discussed who the exiled might take.
”We’re just handing people over to them?”
Dillon offered another piece of information, this time enough to tell Lucien exactly why Cleo and Dillon might have felt pressured into this deal. ”If we don’t, they’ll start killing them.”
Lorenzo piped up asking about Laurie, and Dillon too winced. It wasn’t something that was enjoyable to talk about but it needed to be done. ”Laurie is off the table. He… he’s allied himself with the exiled.”
And with Ripley Gates was thought but left unsaid for now.
This was not a new revelation for Lucien, but might be for some. Why on earth would Laurie do something like that? What was going through the man’s head? But as much as he’d still like to know all of this, this was not the time to discuss Laurie’s allegiances. Right now there was a much more pressing question he wanted answered.
”Who exactly is on this list?” Lucien asked, looking at Cleo. Demanding answers.
For the first time since the meeting started, Chiara spoke up.
”I am.“ the blonde said. She paused for a long, fraught moment before she continued. ”And I would willingly go. My danger sense may be of enough use to them to protect me.“
Chiara had put herself into consideration immediately and it did not feel she like she had any hangups about doing so. Her tone sounded like she’d thought about this, and indeed she must have.
Lucien then turned to Dillon as the Champion of Hera’s voice rang out after Chiara’s.
”I am too.” Dillon put in. ”I would also go. The exiled expressed strong interest in having a leader, and in that case I’m the obvious choice given that I haven’t shown any powers.”
Or he’d be the worst choice, Lucien couldn’t help but reason. It might not be a good idea to offer the exiled the least valuable choices possible. If they saw whoever the ascendants handed over as worthless it may not end well.
But Dillon had said they wanted a leader, which made Lucien look at Cleo once again.
”Who else is on there?” Lucien asked this question but quickly followed it with another, spoken with a very deliberate calmness. ”Cleo, am I on that thing?”
Yet there was a challenge in his eyes as he waited for them to answer. Don’t you dare keep taking me off the table because I’m the healer. Don’t you dare count me out while everyone else has to be in consideration.
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by pallas on Nov 14, 2023 0:26:16 GMT
Ares seemed to soften a little toward Laurie, possibly because of something the young man said or did. He wasn’t sure. Either way the anger seemed to die, replaced by something less strikingly terrifying.
The god began to talk about how Laurie couldn’t fix what he’d done, but he could work to make up for it. Laurie wasn’t sure how one made up for that kind of betrayal, but it didn’t mean he thought it was beyond a try. Still, all that was if he was ever accepted back by the ascendants, something he did not consider likely.
Ares was right, though, when he said that if Laurie gave up he’d be failing River, Dionysus, his friends. It would make everything that had happened so far worthless. The lies, the pain. All for nothing. He wasn’t willing to let this be for nothing.
He nodded at the god’s words and Ares went on to explain that he could interfere no further, which Laurie understood and in fact was glad for. He did not need anyone else at risk for him, sticking their necks out for him. No more agreements broken.
He had to stay strong a little longer, Ares told him. Laurie didn’t think he’d ever been considered a strong person, not once in his life. Strong perhaps in the sense that he’d been able to make a joke out of any situation. But maybe that was okay. He didn’t have the strength to fight back, but that wasn’t the kind of strength Ares was asking for. He was asking for him to have the strength to endure. That was a strength Laurie felt that he did possess.
Finally, Ares held out a hand with a piece of paper. The moment it passed from the divine hand into the mortal, Ares was gone. Laurie was left alone with the note in his hand. At first he didn’t want to open it for fear of what might be inside. However, eventually his curiosity to know what was written there won out over his hesitancy and he opened the thing.
He did so carefully, slowly, unfolding the paper and smoothing it out methodically. He knew this was to waste time and delay, because he felt he was not ready for whatever was written therein.
He recognised the handwriting instantly, letting out a choked sound at the sight of it. He let himself slide down the wall against which he was leaning until he was sitting on the ground. The hand was achingly familiar.
Laurie read the words slowly, not just because he wasn’t the best at reading English (particularly when it was handwritten), but also because each one hurt like a fresh wound. Tears were falling before he’d reached the end of the second sentence, quiet sobs pulling at his chest. Each line had him begging for it to be the last, for with each new word he became more sure he could not bear to read another one. His heart had been broken so many times recently that he didn’t know how many it could take.
The man let himself have himself time to do the the things he’d done so often of late. Let himself fall apart a little and then figure out how to put himself back together as best he could. Not forever, not a fix. Just for long enough. It was just like Ares said, just so he could keep going a little longer. He was far better at withstanding pain than he’d ever known.
But he could not allow himself too long, for he knew he couldn’t delay if he didn’t want the exiled to become suspicious. So he collected himself, wiped away the traces of tears. He also knew he’d have to hide the letter somewhere good because if Ripley found it he didn’t want to think what the consequences would be. So for now he folded it back down carefully, small and flat, and slipped it into the bottom of the box of cigarettes he’d been carrying. He didn’t want to risk a pocket just in case he ran into Ripley the moment he got inside or something.
Once he was inside he’d find a better hiding place. Somewhere more permanent and better hidden from Ripley.
Then he headed back inside, the words of Ares and of the note swirling on his mind. The new knowledge of River’s survival and Ripley’s lies was important but dangerous if not used properly.
He had to be so much more careful now, even more than he’d been before.
_____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by Nari on Nov 14, 2023 1:35:02 GMT
Irene leaned back as the topic of the trade got brought up, and how they had a list of people the exiled wanted in exchange for the prisoners. She let out a breath, “and I can assume Theo was one of those people listed if Pascal was able to come back. Did I fucking miss something in the past few weeks, why would they want him?”
Honestly that little nugget of info was surprising. Last time she saw him, the boy was crying on the floor after an encounter with Fenrir. She didn’t even remember if he showed any powers when she was around. If the exiled really wanted him for something and he was really willing to give himself up for the other boy, then damn she misjudged him.
Chiara piped up about being on the list, and eventually Dillon did as well. Irene just shook her head, “Just saying “I’m on the list” isn’t going to make this go by faster. If someone can give us the whole list to go by that would be fan-fucking-tastic.”
Right now it was better for everyone to get the full picture of what the enemy was asking for instead of just pieces here and there. Partly it was because she was impatient, another part was because she wasn’t in the same fucking room so she didn’t want to potentially miss anything if multiple people were talking.
“But besides that,” she started again, “we shouldn’t get on the topic of fucking sacrifice right now when we haven’t even considered alternatives.”
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