[ i'm scared that you won't be waiting on the other side ]

- Board -
JOIN: Noname has entered.
feec6, *Valen: That's--well, I'm glad it worked but does that mean you had no plan all along? Because this seems like kind of a long shot. *he said with a sort of half-laugh, looking nervously at the door and shaking his head* I thought they all died with the Gods or left the world to the demons. I never dreamed I'd have one a few feet from me in some sense.
7da12, *Sayri: It wasn't a demon. **She said as she settled onto the couch, grateful to lay down for a moment because that was quite taxing. It felt like being in both the Fade and the human world at the same time, a feeling very similar to nausea at the moment.** It was something pure. A spirit that is the white to a demons black. They are very rare, but they exist. **She said, laying on her back so that she could look up at him.** I've never tried or thought I could contact one before.
feec6, *Valen: What do you mean it wasn't a demon? *he said, taking her hands and pulling her gently to her feet and over to the couch, sitting on the edge of it while he let her lay down. he was wholly unfamiliar with this territory, he hardly believed the spirits were real. most thought they'd vanished along with the gods, though he supposed it wasn't that unreasonable.*
7da12, *Sayri: **She shook her head when he asked that, looking around the cabin for a moment and lifting a hand to run through her hair as she grew accustomed to the real world.** I don't know, exactly. It wasn't a demon. I've never done that before. **She said almost quietly as she leaned back on one of her palms, suddenly feeling exhausted and a little weak.** I think it worked, though. I don't feel as if we're caged.
feec6, *Valen: *he stopped in his tracks when she mentioned not wanting to leave her wards, crouching down in front of her* Sayri, what's going on? *he said, not understanding the fade. he got no response but suddenly the knocking stopped and she seemed to wake up. he searched her expression, his own confused* What happened? What just happened? *he said, hating the feeling of their being a presence he couldn't fight by any obvious means*
7da12, *Sayri: **Sayri heard the knocks like an echo, lifting her hands to cover her ears and realizing in that moment that she had somehow slipped into the Fade without realizing it, a habit she had that was frowned upon back home. Which means that her eyes are closed in Valen world!** You can hear it, can't you? That's just one of them. I'm afraid to step outside my wards. **She said to the good spirit and not being able to see Valen in his world right now, the spirit concealing itself from him, just a bit of good luck she mentioned not going anywhere.** ::Some might say that he knew this could happen, Coya. Many of gotten lost this way.:: **It replied someone glibly, but Sayri pressed onward.** He's good, I know that he is good. He's made bad decisions, but he isn't a bad man. He deserves a fighting chance. Just give him that. **She pleaded, still not knowing that Valen was awake and moving. The spirit stayed for a few moments as if considering Sayri's plea before disappearing, causing Sayri to at first despair before she was popped out of the fade and she opened her eyes without remembering closing them. The knocking stopped suddenly and she was looking up at Valen, breathing a little heavily and looking a bit dazed.**
feec6, *Valen: *just then the demon started knocking on the door, slowly and persistently in a sort of rhythm. this woke valen, and he sat straight up in bed. he heard her speaking and got out of bed quickly, not bothering to change out of sleep close as he stumbled into the room of the cabin that she was in.* What's going on? *he said, there within a few seconds of the knocks starting. he began to move toward the sound of the of the knocking, which was probably a bad idea, with typical male instinct of "confront it!"*
7da12, *Sayri: **Sayri wasn't planning on getting any sleep tonight. She didn't want to deal with more demons, the rip in the Fade was too dangerous and even a lesser demon could overpower her if she wasn't careful. She felt like she needed help from a more pure spirit, but they were notoriously hard to call and even more difficult to be persuaded into helping. They tried not to interfere in human affairs and their benevolence made them uninterested in bartering. Sayri was determined to figure something out and before her perimeter was broken down, so she sat on the floor and burned strong smelling leaves over a small flame as she spoke Axaya words to try and call the spirit to her. After what felt like hours of concentrating on nothing else, finally the world seemed to fade back as a dove that seemed to be made of pure white light flew into the cabin (i'm thinking kind of like a patronus.) and landed in front of Sayri on the floor.** ::You have been quite persistent, Sayri. What is it that makes you call so fiercely for help?:: **The spirit asked her as Sayri sat stunned before laughing with delight, saying a prayer to the gods under her breath before speaking.** I beg of you to protect Valen Quartius. Demons are coming for him and I can't fight them off. He's meant for greatness, I know that it's true. If things don't change, I'm afraid he will lose himself and never achieve his destiny. **She said out loud, although lets say that Valen is seeing like nothing of what she is seeing! if he was awake, that is. To all appearances she's just in the cabin speaking to herself! Which is creepy and weird.**
feec6, *Valen: *he found a way to force himself to go to sleep, mostly at sayri's urging. he knew the demon would be coming for him that night, but he saw no point in being exhausted when it got there. the demon was waiting outside, knowing it would eventually break down sayri's defenses, becoming more and more agitated as it got closer to being able to break free. valen still couldn't feel any of these disturbances and stayed asleep, but no doubt it would be keeping sayri up.*
JOIN: Valen has entered.
7da12, *Sayri: **She smirked and rolled her eyes at his first comment, giving him a slight look because this really was quite serious. Plus. it's not as if she was famously good looking. She wasn't really famously anything in Axaya, other than perhaps famously weird and demon oriented.** Not exactly, but we can deal with our first assailant fairly easily. It's a lesser demon that was in the right time and the right place. How we're going to handle the bigger picture, I've yet to decide. For now, eat. The ward will last while we gather strength. **She said as she picked up her fork again, feeling better now that she at least had control over the situation, even if she didn't know what to do. She had faith that she could figure something out.**
feec6, *Valen: Your good looks. *he said with a slight smirk, because they both knew the truth. he nodded when she said that, lifting a hand to run over his hair* Alright. Do you have any kind of plan? *he said, glancing at the door as if expecting to see the demon peeking in the windows at him.*
7da12, *Sayri: I'm good at dealing with demons, Valen. Just because I don't have any of them following me around doesn't mean they haven't tried to do so. Why did you pick me out of all the mages in Axaya, hm? **She said with raised brows, looking over his expression. She felt like their personal relationship was making him lose touch with the original idea of her as a weapon he had stolen and brought to the north. Her magic was strong and she felt she could at least lessen the blow to him personally.**
feec6, *Valen: You shouldn't have to help me with this, I bought this. *he said quietly, obviously feeling some immense guilt. even if he didn't know this would happen, it was a glorious victory for his side. he couldn't have asked for anything better to regain favour he'd lost after his brother's death. this would make him seem strong, capable. the rumours about him would not let many people dismiss it as an accident of fate and demons, people would feel that he was behind this.*
7da12, *Sayri: No, Valen, please let me handle this. **She said in a slightly pleading tone, unable to get past the idea of him dealing with more demons every day. He had his fair share of them always around him and Sayri in her short years on the planet had sacrificed negligible amounts of herself to the fade. Plus, she had been taught by some of the best in the world how to be dealing with demons.** You've admitted that you need my help before and granted I don't know exactly what I'm intending to do, but let me try first.
feec6, *Valen: *he nodded when she said that, considering the options of what it could mean.* I'll have to cut a deal. *he said, knowing this was one of the fundamental ways people had to deal with demons. demons always wanted something from a person, and though valen was already giving some away in terms of soul points, each new demon that came across him was going to want something else.* I've done some research into this. I'll handle it. *he said, confident because it was the only real way he knew how to deal with his life*
7da12, *Sayri: **She looked over his expression, obviously struggling with something inside of herself before she sighed and set down her fork, pausing to think of the best way to say this.** If, and this is a big if, but if the demons did this because of some loyalty to you, I fear they will look to you for some reward. **She said with concern, but she did do her best to conceal any panic that might she might be feeling. She felt out of her league and unsure of what to do, but knowing she would have to think of something and possibly fast.**
feec6, *Valen: What aren't you telling me? I can see on your face how worried you are for me. *he said, watching her evenly. he was now moving into a sort of calm before the storm feeling, he felt his pulse returning to normal instead of pounding in his head, and the urge to decapitate everything he saw or that made noise eased away, leaving him feeling like a real person again* I guess I know you too well. *he smirked a little bit when he said the last, though he knew this was extremely serious stuff. if she was worried it was no doubt something dark.*
7da12, *Sayri: No, neither have I. **She said with a shake of her head, going quiet as the attendants brought them their food, soup and bread because many people were feeling a little sick after what they saw, and some kind of alcoholic beverage.** I set up a ward around the cabin, but I don't know how long it will last. **She said with a glance over at him as she started to push around her food, knowing that she should eat. The demons would want their reward and if Valen was their reason for doing this, it would be through him most likely.**
feec6, *Valen: Cheerful. *he drawled slightly, exhaling a long breath and shaking his head* I know it's all for a purpose, but by any of the Gods I have never seen any thing like that in my life. *he said, unable to cope with how much of the situation he was responsible for*
7da12, *Sayri: It's a demon that acts similarly to a tick. It chooses a host and relentlessly tries to burrow it's way into that person. **She said as she moved to reclaim her seat next to him, shaking her head as she leaned back in her chair.** I've never seen one cause physical weight in a person before, all though I've heard it can happen. **She said a little quietly, worried not really covering how she felt about it.**
feec6, *Valen: What did I bring in with me? *he said, his tone a bit husky, lifting a hand to rub his jaw. he hadn't wanted to ask this question, but with every moment that passed he still felt it's pressure on him. that demon wanted valen to feel its presence and so he did, and it was only going to get worse.*
7da12, *Sayri: I don't think it's usually like this. **She said in a comforting tone, reaching over to cover one of his hands with hers gently. After a moment she removed it and moved to open the door, notably not stepping outside it, and calling to a near by attendant to bring them food and drink, shutting the door afterward. I imagine these cabin's are like magically assembled, so they can have basically portable housing.**
feec6, *Valen: That's comforting. *he said, closing his eyes briefly because he knew it wasn't true and shaking his head* I've been away too long. Let myself forget what it was like out there. *he said, quickly rationalizing away. valen could get so lost in his own delusions of grandeur*
7da12, *Sayri: I don't know how it could be because of you. **She said with a shake of her head, not wanting to believe it, but some how knowing he was undoubtably linked to what had happened. Maybe it was because he wasn't made Quartius, maybe it was because of what he was pushing for in the north, she might never fully understand. All she knew was that he was the cause, at least in part, of what happened out there. At least, she didn't want to admit it.**
feec6, *Valen: *he nearly threw up again when she asked but shook his head and rinsed all the blood and dirt still left over off his body, the dark marks covering his body evidence of what he fought. he got out of the shower and got dressed, finally coming back out and moving to sit down, leaned over his knees in a tense posture* I did something awful. I think--I mean, I didn't do anything but it had to have been because of me. The demons turned on the Axaya.
7da12, *Sayri: You're welcome. **She said loud enough that he could hear her, but not any louder because she was a little incapable of speaking. She sat down on the floor, mostly because finding a chair seemed unimportant, and collected herself for a moment, closing her eyes and doing her own Sayri form of meditating, letting her magic and connection with the fade soothe her. After a moment she felt restored, moving to a chair and trying to process more logically what had just gone on.** What was that, Valen? I've never seen anything like that. **She asked finally, wondering if he even knew.**
feec6, *Valen: *his breath caught for a moment and then he started coughing, ran to the bathroom and vommitted, and stared at the ceiling praying for ten minutes before getting in the shower and running the water cold, getting in clothed but lazily removing clothing items as he did, calling out to her* Thank you. *he said, his tone dismal but still grateful. he had really felt something that time, a demon had been closer to him than most and who knows what would have happened if it got it's way*
7da12, *Sayri: **Sayri had returned to their richly furnished cabin when she had seen and heard the demons start tearing through the Axaya soldiers, hoping that Valen was there even though she knew already that he wasn't. She stepped inside the empty room and immediately went to pray to her many gods, basically asking them to protect Valen's soul. Afterward she cast a ward around their living area to try and make it at the very least difficult for demons to linger in this place. She didn't know how, but she could feel that this was tied to Valen. As he came in her worries were confirmed, clearly seeing the demon that was clinging onto him and physically his stature. She stood and said a few complicated phrases in Axaya that amounted to a decent vanquishing spell. That combined with the ward the demon was forced to retreat, but only to the edge of her perimeter so it could start trying to break it down. Afterward, the light seemed to change in the cabin, like a cloud lifting it's shadow as it passes over the sun, and she let out a small sigh of relief. She said nothing, but brought a hand up to her chest to feel her heart beat rapidly beneath her ribs, basically terrified over what just happened on the field.**
feec6, *Valen: *two weeks in the future, both valen and sayri were on the battle front. valen had to lead troops and he couldn't afford to leave sayri behind in the city, it was too dangerous for her without his protection. they had relatively comfortable living quarters that were in a safer area of the war camp, but the sights and sounds of the greater area were truly attrocious. soldiers screaming in the night, men dying in pain, men fighting an endless onslaught of demons brought on by the rending of the veil to the fade in the area. sayri and valen were well guarded, but it reminded them how high the stakes were. during a battle that was supposed to be tactical but relatively routine, at some point around valen's unit the demons stopped fighting the general populace and started decimating the axaya soldiers, swarming over them in what all agreed afterward was a truly grotesque sight. when valen returned it was with a certain hollow look, and he stepped inside the elaborate cabin with heavy steps, feeling horrifyingly like he was carrying something on his back.*
JOIN: Valen has entered.
7da12, *Sayri: **She grimaced slightly, but there was a grin behind it because dinner parties were also universal.** How awful would it be? **She asked with a sigh, taking the wine from the attendant who returned with a small pitcher of the spiced wine and then left again.** You're right, either way. Some support inside the magistrate will be essential. I can only be present if I know when things are happening.
feec6, *Valen: Speaking of our allies. *he said with a slight smirk, taking a drink and shaking his head* We have to go to one of those awful dinner parties. If we get on the good side of even a few of the people at this party, you'll have some support in the Magistrate as well which I'm sure you could use. *he spoke almost lazily, recounting the latest developments to her as he had so many times before*
7da12, *Sayri: At least we have a start. I'm sure it won't be long before some of our allies that have been on the shy side will start popping up soon. **She said in a hopeful tone, looking over his face as if looking for confirmation on this point. Sayri was still learning about the politics and culture in the Aldinnfold and Valen was still her main resource on decoding it. He told her that there were more who agreed with them and she had to believe him.**
feec6, *Valen: I imagine they will continue to seem frustrated. *he said with a slight smirk, sitting down as well across from her* This is only going to get harder. Sooner or later they will catch on. *he said, swirling the liquid in his glass consideringly. when that time came he could only hope he had enough allies at his back and that the axaya were still outside the city walls. he knew it was holding alot on faith to assume that he could talk a deal with the axaya, but he really believed that he could.*
7da12, *Sayri: Oh. **She said with a bit of surprise, but deciding she couldn't think on that just yet. Dealing with one of Valen's offspring was going to be interesting, especially if the two didn't get along. Sayri was obviously favored by him and she doubted the boy he called a son of a bitch was going to be grateful to work for someone who received his father's affection.** The meeting went well, by the way. They seemed frustrated. **She said as she sank into a seat, asking an attendant to bring her wine before he left as the servants usually did when they sat down to speak. Their conversations were obviously between just the two of them and they didn't need to be told twice.**
feec6, *Valen: *he glanced over his shoulder at her and nodded, gesturing to the door* My first of two bastards. He'll be under your command, if you will. He's a mage but the Magistrate doesn't know that. Though he isn't exactly thanking me for the opportunity. *he drawled slightly, stepping forward to pour himself a drink.*
7da12, *Sayri: **Sayri held eye contact with Valen's son as he left, but didn't say a thing as he left. She didn't know him, but she could tell from the way he looked at her that he knew exactly who she was. She went into the study as he called her, glancing over her shoulder at the doors that his son just exited from and then back at him.** Was that your son? **She asked curiously. Valen having sons didn't really surprise her or seem that weird, but bastards sons were basically universal.**
feec6, *Valen: *valen's bastard son exited fifteen minutes later. he was sayri's age and startlingly good looking, built exactly like his father. he gave her a long look as he left the room, shutting the big doors behind him. valen called out from his study, assuming the visitor was sayri* Come in, come in. Ungrateful son of a bitch was just leaving. *he said, muttering the last under his breath in an annoyed but not monstrous fashion. he didn't outright hate his son, even though most politician fathers of mage children living outside keeper control could not say the same. he'd spent alot of time and money keeping his firstborn out of the public eye, but his son always seemed resentful anyway.*
7da12, *Sayri: **Sayri and Valen considered what title to give Sayri for awhile and after getting a few outside opinions on some of their more trusted friends and allies in the mages community they decided on Conservator. It was going to be a small battle to see what exactly this was going to mean, but they were hoping they could bully way past anyones expectations. As it stood, her new title gave her certain privileges of oversight on the Magistrate, some bills pushed through with Valen's ties in politics. She could do little more than scare them at the moment, but she was confident that as they gained more supporters, the more she was going to be able to start enforcing rules on mages rights. She had just done her first tour of flexing her muscles, Valen saying they had to act immediately to show they were serious, so Sayri met with some head figures of the Magistrate. They asked her questions and she responded politely, but with relatively the results. She wouldn't be answering their questions because she didn't have to. She left the very short meeting and immediately rushed to see Valen's chambers, but a guard stopped her and said that Valen was seeing someone and couldn't meet with her right now. Puzzled, she said she'd wait and took a seat in one of the main rooms.**
JOIN: Sayri has entered.
JOIN: Valen has entered.
feec6, *Valen: I know what you mean. *he said, lifting a hand to rub his brow. he hadn't always had political aspirations, it was a change of heart spurred by a danger to his life* You'll find a way to adjust. I don't know how much Southern philosophy I hold with, but I'd wager you were probably always meant to do this. Put you in the right place at the right time. My plan to recover you wasn't exactly airtight, there were plenty of things that could have gone wrong. Nothing did.
7da12, *Sayri: **She looked out at the city again when he said that, sighing a little bit as she looked at the place she had called home.** I never thought I would be where I am today. Not just geographically, although that is quite the surprise, but politically and for my faith. I never imagined my actions would ever effect so many lives. **She said with a slight shake of her head, knowing that he couldn't necessarily relate to this, considering his own destiny, but he could at least know what it was to start out in this world feeling insignificant and then being skyrocketed into power.**
feec6, *Valen: I thought I could at least try and get close. *he said, watching her face as she took it all in. he couldn't lie, her brief encounter back at home had scared him a bit. he was worried that homesickness might spur her to leave, and it this point in time she was not only a key part of his plan, she was the only person who knew for sure his deep and terrible secret, and he was feeling very attached to her.*
7da12, *Sayri: **She went with him, through the intricate archways that were magically sealed to keep the biospheres in tact. As she stepped through the seal into the Axaya dome, I imagine it like stepping through a waterfall that doesn't get you wet, she laughed a little bit with glee at just the sight of it. She stepped out onto the observation deck, looking out at the city she had lived in her whole life with a bit of nostalgic longing.** It's almost like home. **She said fondly as she tore her eyes away from the scene to look at him, the climate making it feel like they were just outside the city.**
feec6, *Valen: We might. *he said with a slight grin at her, standing up and extending a hand* C'mon, I had something installed while you were gone. It's a bit of a walk, though. *he said, planning on taking her to an elaborate observatory-style orb building meant to mimic the axaya climate, and an observation deck that looked out on the enlarged vision of axaya they saw. he saw these domes and the fact that they could still create them, albeit not in their perfect and resilient form, was one of the greatest magics the fold possessed*
7da12, *Sayri: **She gave that sort of knowing slow nod that people do after he included himself in this, looking in between his eyes.** I came back to try and help the Aldinnfold out of what I see as a spiritual dark age. This new title seems like a good place to start. Or we will get each other killed, I suppose we'll see. **She said with a bit of a grin, knowing that was a really dark joke, but feeling times were dark enough to warrant such callous words.**
feec6, *Valen: But the problem is that anyone who does will be too scared to come forward unless they feel protected, watched over. By me and by you. *he said, proposing what felt like some sort of joint rulership agreement. in truth he loved the way his brain worked with hers, and he'd thought many times of making her his co-ruler and being done with it, but he always told himself he had to make that decision when he got there. marrying too early could be his undoing.*
7da12, *Sayri: I can try, but I don't know if giving me a new name is going to help your people forget what I am. **She said with a slight shrug of her shoulder, having some doubts about herself as a public figure in his society. She was an insecure teen and didn't really see people accepting her, especially not people who saw her as something of a heretic and infidel.**
feec6, *Valen: I'm not sure. But something to do there, somewhere you can influence things. Now we have some foreign support, as unusual as the situation is. Wwe can push them harder. *he said, wondering how hard they could be pushed though. not getting to advance to third in line had really screwed him up; it wasn't part of the plan, and his brother taking away sayri was even worse. he felt, for once, at a loss until sina dropped in like a damn miracle.*
7da12, *Sayri: What sort of title? **She asked with a slight raise of her brow when he said that, because at the very least she was used to getting new titles and thus new privileges and authority. She didn't really like the way he had so casually said she had turned her back on the Axaya people, but she decided to gloss right over it for now. At this point she knew that she had made her choices and while she could believe she hadn't turned on them, no one else in their world would see that.**
feec6, *Valen: Well, you've turned your back on the Axaya now, so they'd be hard pressed legally to let that happen. Besides, it won't. I'm not going to let that happen. *valen was obviously still furious that his brother had pulled that one on him, and now that she was back he was going to be unbelievably vigilant so that no one could come at him from that angle again.* Listen, I want to give you a title. Something in the Magistrate, something big. Can you handle it? *he asked, because he knew that would cement her position even more and begin the process of subtley changing how ideas and magic were taught in the fold*
7da12, *Sayri: She is a goddess, Valen. **She said with a bit of a smirk as she clinked her glasses with him, trying to keep a firm stand on her faith at least and continue to remind him that these were things people actually believed in, but she was in good spirits at the moment.** Yes, well. Lets see how long they'll let me stay, hm? **she said with a bit of a grin, glancing away in a slightly shy manner before looking back on him. Sayri was pretty sure it wasn't, but part of her feared she was reading a crush as spiritual signals.**
feec6, *Valen: She was very clear in her confidence that her side was going to win. Something about a prophecy, and she's a goddess. *he said with a slight smirk, shaking his head* I still see a dusty Lowtown brat, but I think she's serious about her commitment to the treatment of mages here. An unlikely ally, if you will. *he said, lifting his drink to clink it against hers, catching her eyes as he did* I'm glad you're here.
7da12, *Sayri: **Sayri had been waiting in one of his main rooms, sitting in a chair and drinking the now familiar warm spiced wine that was so popular in the north in front of the fire.** Yes, she seemed to be. **She said with a nod as she took a sip of her wine, looking over his expression and noting that he looked like he could use about a years worth of sleep.** I hope she didn't tell you anything too helpful, if you don't mind me saying so. **She said with a soft laugh, having magical assurance and her own faith in Sina, knowing at this point she wasn't going to destroy the culture that turned her into a goddess. XD**
feec6, *Valen: *sina was smuggled in the back of valen's estate under heavy secrecy. he absolutely could not be seen dealing with her, and yet she'd refused to speak with anyone else but him. they locked themselves in a study and she unloaded everything she knew; who he could get in touch with inside the underground, the support for a change of thought on magic with the public, and most importantly her willingness to act as an agent or a contact to do anything to get the fold liberated but left intact. they both agreed that ultimately a peace treaty was the goal, and then she disappeared back into the night. valen made himself a drink before going out to talk to sayri, sitting down heavily across from her. the times he'd been gone had not served him well and he looked a bit haggard, but he was maintaining. he'd been doing this for a long time, after all.* She was very helpful. *he drawled slightly, his head still spinning from all the information*
JOIN: Sayri has entered.
JOIN: Valen has entered.
JOIN: Valen has entered.
feec6, *Valen: Then they've told you. *he said, noticing her white dress and nodding, glancing at the attendants and waving them off* I don't want to be unclear, there's a tremendous amount of pressure on us both to keep our heads down with this. They're going to be watching us because mistakes in tradition mean, in this society, that you're flaunting a disregard for the dead, and I can't afford to do that this time. *he said, possibly indicating that he'd been flagrant about not giving a shit with one of the previous deaths*
7da12, *Sayri: **Sayri had slept with nightmares and restlessly after she left Valen's dream, the demon not liking the course their conversation had gone and taking it out on her energy levels. She had woken up early and was too shaken to go back to bed. She was told promptly by her keepers that Primus had died, one of them looking at her with great suspicion. She bathed and dressed, confused about the white garments that she was apparently supposed to wear. She slipped into the stark and very modest dress, looking slightly distastefully at the bright white, fearing it might not be her color.** Good morning, Valen. **She said as she walked out of her walk in closet and back into her main rooms, the handlers who helped her dress still fiddling with one or two details on the gown, decorative buttons and such. Sayri had decided yesterday that she wasn't going to bring it up if he didn't want to talk about it. Their conversation was a dark one and she understood wanting some space from that mess.**
feec6, *Valen: *valen's brother primus was dead by the next morning, and the capitol filled with tense people dressed in white to mourn the passing of the heir. valen himself had his first good night's sleep in weeks, and rose late. the news was read to him by his steward but he barely listened; he already knew primus was dead. he could feel it inside himself, like a tooth that had finally become loose enough to yank out. he dressed in white and headed to sayri's room, but he also sent for a culture expert that could brush him up on the finer points of northern mourning--it was important that he and sayri both adhere to these strictly, as all eyes were on them. he knocked on her door and then entered, calling out to her.* Sayri? *he remembered the dream but his mind was firmly pushing it aside. the demon taking his brothers always nearly killed him and then left him profoundly restored, and he wasn't comfortable with how vulnerable he could become before the process was over.*
JOIN: Sayri has entered.
JOIN: Valen has entered.
7da12, *Sayri: **Sayri watched him with a bit of studying expression as he stood up and then looked to the sky, her eyes narrowing slightly just before she was kicked out of his notadream without any further communication, transported back into her own reality. The situation with Valen was worse than she thought and she knew that she couldn't really help him, not with the resources she had now. Not with the Magistrate all around them. She would need Axaya help, but that seemed to be an impossibility.**
feec6, *Valen: Please try. But don't let this take you down with it. You don't deserve that. I paid my debt, you're no part of it. *he said, the last more to the demon than to her, and he looked around as the booming noise came again* He's coming. I'll see you soon. *he said, taking a step back toward the chair, glancing at the sky with a slightly nervous expression as though that was where the demon came from*
7da12, *Sayri: I can help. **She said a little more quietly, the candle flame dimming considerably and the mist growing more thick around them.** I am going to help you. **She said with more confidence than she actually felt, but she didn't think that he needed to hear her doubts right now. He was clearly on the razors edge with this thing, at least emotionally, and while lots of this was irreparable, some might be reversed with enough time. She was on guard now, knowing that conspiring with him was exactly what the demon didn't want, but she figured they had another minute so the demon could prove she didn't make it nervous.**
feec6, *Valen: I don't think anyone is safe with me. *he said, before the demon let out a booming warning, time was running out. he looked up and then back down at her, shaking his head* You were never supposed to be involved with this, but I think a part of me hoped you could help. *he said, because he was really immensely relieved to see her, it was like some kind of weight had been lifted off his chest. for the first time there when primus died, valen doubted his ability to be able to control the demon's influence, and if he was found out to have dealings with demons his family's repuation would never recover*
7da12, *Sayri: I'm not scared. **She said, thinking that she was scared, but not for herself. She was very scared for Valen, already aware he had done irreversible damage to his soul, basically.** I'm just visiting, anyway. I don't even know how long I can stay. **She said with a reassuring smile, putting her hand on his arm and gesturing for him to sit back down, hoping this would be a more relaxing visit than it was turning out to be.** I promise, we're both safe.
feec6, *Valen: You've been negotiating with demons? *he said, the information almost passing right over him because the demon made it so it wouldn't sink in, unable to give up it's influence on valen even now. he shook his head and waved a hand in a stern gesture* You don't need to follow me into this, Sayri. *he said, underestimating her experience with the fade*
7da12, *Sayri: **She frowned a little bit when he said that, glancing down briefly as the candle flame grew more dim before looking back up at his face.** I wish I had the time to make this easier for you, but this is one of the costs of what you bought from the demons you've been seeing. I've been negotiating with them so that I could visit you. **She said as gently as she possibly could, but this was terrible stuff to hear. Sayri did believe that knowing this could only benefit him in the long run, even if it was painful to put together.**
feec6, *Valen: *he looked bewildered for a moment when she said that before it clicked and he nodded a bit sharply* This is the Fade. *he said, recognizing it now from visions, memories of 'dreams' forgotten.* How did you find me here? *he asked, worried as ever about the security of her mind, looking around them* Why is it like this? *he said, sounding sad at the end, not understanding why this was the place he went when he went to sleep.*
7da12, *Sayri: This is real. **She said in a soothing voice, setting down the candle and taking a step closer to him, but refraining from touching him. It was surprising to her that he didn't know where he was because most of her people learn about the Fade at a very young age, but she felt capable of helping him through this.** Just as real as the world you know me from. **She said gently and somewhat regretfully, because this was a terrible place to actually exist.**
feec6, *Valen: *he blinked and looked up at her, staring for a minute* Where am I? *he said, confused by her presence. he instinctively knew she was 'real', an actual version of sayri's conciousness, but he knew this place, this stillness could not be real. he slowly stood, looking around him and shaking his head slightly* This isn't real.
7da12, *Sayri: **Sayri had been trying to convince the demon to let her have safe passage into Valen's dreams for some time now. Meddling in the fade has always been one of her weaknesses and while she tried to follow all the proper channels, she couldn't help not getting involved in the darker side of things. Eventually the demon had allowed her to see Valen, but she would be forced to leave when it decided. So, when he went to rest, she decided to use this pass she had been given, if only because he seemed like he could really use something similar to a dream while he napped. She stepped through the mist, the fog parting obediently around her with a candle in one of her hands.** Hello, Valen. **She said pleasantly with a slight grin, feeling like this was a pretty good surprise.**
feec6, *Valen: *valen's dreamworld was an expansive grey mist. at the center of it he was sitting in a chair, a cigarette smoking in an ashtray beside him. a faint noise of static played in the background, and valen was unmoving. his eyes glanced around his surroundings, bewildered, while his hands gripped the arms of the chair. he didn't know enough about the fade to sense anyone coming into his dreams, despite protections against mages. sayri probably had no problem getting past those, though.*
JOIN: Valen has entered.
JOIN: Sayri has entered.
feec6, *Valen: *he told himself that he could handle this, the look on her face making him want to leave the room or possibly the country. her level of pity was scaring him--that was really the emotion that valen felt at the passing of his brother, unadultered fear. he was being haunted, and even though knowing in his heart that he was strong enough to contain it, to use it, the process was extremely difficult on him. he literally had to take some of these demons into himself and they were never going away, he knew that too.* Maybe I will. *he said, lurching to his feet and running a hand through his dishevelled hair*
7da12, *Sayri: **She frowned slightly when he said that, looking over him with concern. The demons that followed Valen were persistent and as the death of his brothers was part of the deal, she did not doubt that as one of them was on death's door that the demons were plaguing Valen incessantly.** You need to rest. **She said softly, but they both knew that he didn't dream anymore. These were tough emotions for Sayri to process. She was so torn on how she felt about Valen and what she was doing here. It didn't help that he was her only real source of emotional support, which is weird because he kidnapped her.**
feec6, *Valen: *he lifted a hand to rub the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, squinting his eyes shut briefly* I'm so damn tired. *he said, resolve flagging very quickly. this was not his first trip down this murderous path, many brothers had died for valen's goal, and each time it got worse. it was like something had been taken from him, and it reminded him every day that the demon was getting more out of this bargain than he did.*
7da12, *Sayri: **She raised her brows just slightly when he said that, looking over his expression and forcing herself to suppress a slightly bitter laugh. Sayri was an emotional person and she had never seen anyone lie like Valen does in her life, or at the very least she never knew without a doubt they were lying.** If you say so. **She said with a slight sigh and shaking her head, taking a sip of her tea.** Well, I'm sorry for your loss. **She said with only the barest hint of a drawl, giving him a bit of a look to show she didn't believe him for a second. She didn't even believe that he believed that.**
feec6, *Valen: Whatever killed Primus, it certainly wasn't me. *he said steadily, convincingly, in fact with such a demonstration of character that it was almost identical to the denial he'd later give the inspectors, the press, and the other nobles. he knew this to be an absolute lie. he knew what the deal with the demon entailed--the deaths of his brothers, his ascension to the throne that he was meant to have. he could never in a million years have refused.*
7da12, *Sayri: Do you think you did it? **She asked a little more quietly, looking him in the eyes if only because they were speaking of demons and she handled these matters with absolutely seriousness. The room seemed to darken, like a shadow passing over the sun, but she pretended not to notice as she always did. Letting demons see your fear makes them more persistent. Sayri believed that Valen was indirectly the cause of his brothers death, but she wondered what he thought.**
feec6, *Valen: Basically to find out whether or not I did it. *he drawled, moving to sit down and let out a long sigh like it was the first time he'd sat down the whole day, sinking back into the chair a bit and then looking down at her* They won't find anything. *he said, as if that made the danger any less real or present. he hadn't thought through her involvement in this as much as he could have, though he always tried to make sure she was protected from what he was doing as much as he could*
7da12, *Sayri: Please, sit. **She said with a slight gesture to the seat across from her little tea table, sitting down in her chair again.** What sort of inquiry? **She asked as she poured him a cup of tea, taking a sip of her own and raising her brows. She was trying to not be completely self centered, but there were some nut jobs who were blaming her for the death of the Primus and she wasn't interested in being investigated at the moment.**
feec6, *Valen: *he glanced up at her when she asked him how he felt with a puzzled expression for a brief moment before shaking his head dismissively* I'm impatient for this to wrap up. There will almost certainly be an inquiry like last time, though, so that isn't going to come any time soon. *he drawled slightly, referring to the inquiries about his possible involvement in his brother's deaths. it wasn't as though people didn't notice what was going on, and most of them suspected valen, which was in part why he'd found a way to kill them all without getting his hands even the slightest bit dirty. unless you call turning to demons getting your hands dirty.*
7da12, *Sayri: **Sayri looked up at Valen with slight surprise because she definitely wasn't expecting to see him until after Primus was dead. She stood up from the chair she was sitting in and drinking her imported and ridiculously expensive Axaya tea.** Are you all right? **She asked with a bit of hesitation, unsure of how he was reacting to the death of his brother. She was wearing a dark blue gown with long, cersei-like sleeves that showed the silver inner lining of the dress and a v-waisted. The handlers who were monitoring her left the room when Valen entered, understanding at this point that their meetings were private and possibly even strictly confidential if they discussed the war.**
feec6, *Valen: *valen was not allowed to see his brother, legitimate fears that he could kill him before his time prevented that. instead he had waited in the outer chambers with the rest of the heirs and family members, waiting for the news. when it became clear that primus was going to linger on but that he wasn't coming back to life, valen got up and strode out of the chambers despite the fact that this was considered speaking ill of the heir, assuming he was going to die. valen was, however, confident of this, and he headed straight to sayri's chambers. he moved through the collection of people waiting in the outer chambers, people eager to show her support or eager to have her support, speaking to none of them despite their questions about the heir, stepping into the room she was in and pulling a tin out of his pocket to light a cigarette* He's not dead yet. *he said flatly, clearly pissed off and coming off a very sleepless night*
JOIN: Sayri has entered.
feec6, *Valen: (teeeeeeest)
JOIN: Valen has entered.

Last Post:7:38am, March 21 (UTC) (1)

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