September & October Catch-All

[spiritwalks]

Who: Vyng spiritwalks and YOU
What: Catch-All for September + October. See comments for prompts!
When: Various
Where: Various

Note: Style veers wildly between prose and brackets. Just choose whatever style feels good when responding, and I'll match it ♥

Content Warnings: Listed in subject lines when applicable

Comments

[unsheathedfromreality]

[A flicker of surprise crosses Illarion's face as the questions--and more importantly, the tone, and what little of Vyng's body language he can sense--register. He wasn't expecting continued curiosity, clearly, in the face of that explanation. He nods mutely; the other man has the right of how they operated.

(This is something learned about himself, too, and his own motives and where they've gotten snarled up over the years. He can think about it, or he can shelve it with a promise to think about later and then never dig it up. Second one's far more appealing.)

He isn't left speechless for long, though, and gives a huffing little laugh at the appraisal of their name.]

We did not wish to lie to anyone, after all. It is much better if they cannot say we tricked them.

As for that... [As for the matter of turning jobs down... He tips his head down, as if he could stare at the sand beneath his toes, and rakes a hand through his braids in a universal gesture of discomfort.] There are many reasons. Pride is one, yes; a twisted kind, I think, to know we could do whatever we were called on to do.

Another is reputation--not so much that we cherished how we were thought of, [obviously not, given they'd taken on a role that basically guaranteed them animosity from every direction, however well they managed it,] as if we were seen as trustworthy in doing the worst jobs, then those wishing to commit greater horrors and thinking they could pay our prices, they would come to us. Sometimes, this meant we could avert a disaster, or blunt it. We were known best for war, but we had other methods. Often even the hateful were glad to be told they could have us for cheaper, if they followed our guidance to ending their wars.

[They had inserted themselves neatly into the entire engine of conflict for many nations under their jurisdiction, and they did have their triumphs. Sometimes.] Another is--we did want them to stop their wars, and find another way to live; we thought, if the consequences of war hit them all at once, and there were no spoils in it, they might be shocked to peace.

[Needless to say it hadn't worked.]

Even when it was clear that was not working, we could not change our course. It is not our oaths binding us by magic--it had been long and long since the Queen of Oaths yielded the Throne--as we became fixated. Somehow. I have not come up with an answer for how, only something trapped us. Something we had done to ourselves, that we could not even speak of.

[spiritwalks]

["Something we had done to ourselves, that we could not even speak of." Ah. Those words resonate with Vyng on a deep level. He thinks he understands, even if their circumstances were vastly different.]

Sometimes you break yourself because you think it's for the greater good. But then it turns out you fucked everything else along the way. [Siiiiigh.] ...Man. I hate it when that happens.

[Said in a tone that's probably more suitable for talking about locking your keys inside the house, or having your power shut off because you forgot to pay your bills. But hey. Sometimes that heavy shit is just your life.]

Thanks for sharing. [Vyng tries to meet Illarion's gaze.] You didn't have to. I mean, I did lash out because I was projecting my own baggage onto you, so...

[unsheathedfromreality]

[Sometimes that heavy shit is just your life.

The casual tone's a better cure for Illarion's momentary funk than anything else could be, old soldier that he is. No one could ever wax too serious for too long in a barracks without being brought back down to earth. The shrike snorts in a sound that's not-quite-a-laugh but damned close.]

You have been through that one a time or two yourself, hm? The worst is that it is a mistake so easy to repeat.

[It took a certain personality to sacrifice itself on the altar of the world's benefit, and what do you know, they were also great at convincing themselves this time would be different.]

So, I could have walked, rather than try to turn the blow. [He lifts his head, smiling brief and sharp. And...not quite able to meet Vyng's gaze, though he's got the direction nearly correct.

He is definitely blind.] But it is better to come to an understanding, in so small a world, where we are like to run into each other again.

Perhaps sometime you will even tell me about how fucking awful your elves are. Or, we go back to talking about my favorite mammalian features.

[spiritwalks]

[Vyng tilts his own head upward, and he gazes out into the gloomy sky above. You have been through that one a time or two yourself...]

Something like that, yeah.

[It's difficult enough unpacking that stuff alone. He's not going into details. Just like he doubts his companion wants to relive his own trauma. The lack of direct eye-contact isn't lost on Vyng. They both have their own battle scars, it seems.

Still, that last comment brings a sly smile to Vyng's lips. He shifts in the sand, so he can turn his full attention back to the other man.]

Mmm, I think you can guess which I'd prefer.

[A pause.]

...Would you like some tea, by the way?

[This guy seems dehydrated.]

[unsheathedfromreality]

[They did have far better things to talk about than old and ugly pasts.

Illarion echoes the other man's smile; he can't see it, but hearing it-- Ah, it's a heady thing to be desired. (As he remembers, anyway. The actual feeling is transient; slips through his grasp like fog. But maybe--)]

Yes, I think I can. Where did I leave off?

[Then he blinks, as in pleasant surprise.]

If you are offering, I would take a cup. It has been too long since last I had one.

[No one else in the Knights Pariah would bother and tea wasn't a solo drink.]