cryopathy | sticksandbones IC Inbox

["rock-licking friend" hits kiera in the chest like a blow. ignatius has weighed heavy on her mind lately, and while she's never doubted that their friendship is deeply meaningful to them, this only confirms it. luca is the most precious person to kiera, so of course helping him would be important to iggy as well.

they know luca's body language when he wants affection, and by this point they have no qualms in pulling him into a tight hug.]

Don't apologize. I would do anything for you. [she doesn't say that she already knew some part of him resented her. it would only be twisting the knife, and she doesn't hold it against him. if she was in his place, she would despise her.]

I'm... relieved that time has made it a little easier for you. But if you need anything from me, to help more...

[they let the offer hang in the air for a moment before releasing him so they can look him in the eye once more.]

... Did you mean what you said? You want to be -- the Sun Goddess's Priest? [surely he understands how strange it is for kiera to wrap her head around, especially after luca admits to having finally killed the god he has resented for so long.]

Edited 2025-04-22 16:53 (UTC)

I always know where to find you. [The smile he gives as he leans back is as warm as ever. A silent promise that he won't try to face things alone.] Trust me, there is much more for me to tell. A lot... happened.

[Including, hilariously enough, potentially finding someone new? He can't imagine that conversation is going to go well, though. He doesn't want to ruin this moment.

Instead, he nods in response to her question.]

I was considering it even before all of this. The guardians here all serve the goddesses, and they were so kind to me. [He holds his arm up, showing off the bracelet still there.] If they trust her, then I trust her. Especially since both Clive and Joshua were also willing to cast their lot behind her.

... and, maybe I want to see for myself, that there can be good deities out there.

[naturally, kiera is curious, but where they would press almost anyone else about it without mercy, they're content to let luca rest.]

You can tell me when you're ready.

[his explanation regarding beiwe, she takes in silently, brows furrowed and lips pulled into a straight line. even despite clive, the guardians, and everyone, it's difficult to believe entirely, but... kiera is with luca. she always has been, and always will be.]

We can see together, then. I want to help.

When I'm ready, then.

[For now, Luca takes their hand, leading them toward Arcadia. Maybe he moves just a little slower, lingering in the moment. He's grateful, so grateful for everything Kiera has done for him. He feels like he hasn't been able to tell them that enough.

He does pause midstep, though. He turns to look at her, then looks back down. If his eyes glimmer faintly with a sheen of tears, that's between him and himself, thank you.]

Only if you're sure. You have dealt with enough at the hands of other gods.

[kiera has no room to judge; they were brought nearly to tears only moments ago, and luca has always been better at expressing himself than they are.]

I'm sure. [to use his own words against him...] If you trust her, I do, too. With my life. [they don't say with his life, but that's part of the reason they're here. to support him, and still have his back should everything else go to shit.]

Well, then it's settled. I will have to meet with her soon. Let her know of everything that's happened. And... own up for the things I said to Zahliya, too.

[He grimaces at that.]

I don't suppose you'll stand by me through that will you.

[while kiera doesn't know exactly what was said, it can't have been good. they're just grateful that they don't have to deal with such things in their own personal life.]

If you want me there, I will.

I'll let you know. Later.

[After they've talked about so much more. For now he leads them into Arcadia and closes the door firmly behind him. Hopefully that'll discourage anyone from coming in and asking questions.]

[kiera can't help but chuckle at luca's attempt to keep others out. they might not actually be able to stop anyone, but the fact that he tries is... adorable, in a way.

rather than make fun of him for that, though, they quirk a brow in his direction.]

Back to work already?

Just making sure you were in your safe place.

[He winks, before reaching up to grab a bottle, then a small jar. He keeps his back to her as he mixes a sweet, bubbling rose with a pinch of edible glitter, then hands it over to her.]

Here. You're going to need it.

[He inhales, bracing his arms against the bar itself.]

An emissary followed me back to Renova. One that I... knew.

[their face lights up, assuming this is a thank-you, but... ah. it turns out to be a pacifier. oh, well. they're glad to have it anyway.

they very nearly choke on it at this revelation, though.]

An Emissary? [their mind gets away from them. they don't want to imagine why luca would "know" one.] Luca...

It... isn't so surprising. I caused plenty of trouble in Cataega, and it isn't as if my appearance is particularly subtle. It stood to reason that they would have wanted to know more.

[He winces before he continues, knowing that Kiera will likely try to wring his neck. Or at least check to see if his sanity was intact.]

He... is not as bad as you might think. He helped me, too.

[kiera isn't chiding him directly, at least not yet, but they don't entirely buy his story, either.]

I'm sure they would want to know more so that they could harm you. What did this Emissary do that was so helpful?

[Luca is quiet. There was much that River had done for him. To point any of it out, however, was liable to invite jealousy within Kiera. To make them feel as if they had failed.

He rolls a few words on his tongue, before offering...]

The Phoenix possessed me. Tried to drag me to Castilla. You chased me tirelessly and freed me from its grasp, but we were too weak to get back. You sent Polaris for help. He came to save us.

[That was the story he had been told.]

[all the tension in their body from earlier in the evening returns at the mention of their birthplace. the rest of the story only serves to frustrate and confuse kiera. trusting luca comes mostly naturally, at this point in their life, despite the phoenix being the butterfly's bitter enemy. the leviathan, however, has threatened to swallow all throughout history.

kiera is silent for a long time, swallowing damn near all of their glass in one go. when they finish and finally speak, they're not looking at him. it isn't that they don't believe and trust him, they don't understand their own choices.]

Why would I ever trust an Emissary when we were both vulnerable?

[Luca inhales, deep and heavy. His hands stich together, mind going elsewhere. It's a place with cold hands, sharp teeth, and eyes that never seem to catch the light. It's a place that he should, by all means, be afraid of.

And yet he'd already begun to carve out a home there with him. With the emissary.

Kiera wouldn't accept it, had already railed against it back home. He carefully hedges around it, hoping the second glass he pours her is enough of a distraction.]

Because - he and I are close. Because I trusted him. And because... you didn't really have a choice. You sent Polaris for help. She has a terrible sense of humor.

[well, the second glass at least gives her processing time. gives luca time to fucking run, too, if he so chooses. they take their time with this one, but still finish he whole thing right away.

then they turn their head up to look luca directly in the eye.]

"Close." You're telling me half-truths, Luc.

[He bows his head, cheeks beginning to outright burn. He opens his mouth. Closes it. Opens it again.

He can't make the words form. He tries something else instead.]

He's a dhampir, you know. I accused him of working with - with her. Nearly got my teeth kicked in for it. Damn near had another emissary on our doorstep as a result.

[Right. There's also that, too.]

There's... a lot you've missed, Ki.

[oh. kiera doesn't even realize she's stood up violently from her chair until it hits the ground and her hands are clutching the bar near tight enough to crack it.]

What the fuck do you mean he's a dhampir? How could he not be working for her?!

Other beasts — or maybe just the Leviathan itself — can override other Blessings. He was not the only one.

[He looks to their hands, then reaches out. He lays his own over theirs, warmer than ever. He knows it isn't enough assurance. Hell, he's certain this fact alone will terrify them when they learn as much. But he offers it all the same.]

The other emissary. Her name was Laurentia, once. Laurentia Aurelius. My ancestor.

[it's a good thing luca reaches out to ground her; kiera is obviously very upset by these revelations, but she also isn't the type to just... throw or break things, so they weren't sure what their body was going to do next.

and just as he suspects, ice runs up kiera's spine as they listen, and struggle to wrap their head around what another living aurelius serving the leviathan could possibly mean. what this person spurning the phoenix centuries ago, and surviving to this day, as a high-ranking cataegan officer, could mean.

for once, their lips are parted in utter silence and their eyes wide with shock.]

[He draws in a breath, regret surging through him. His gaze drops, almost helpless. One hand folds inward, an embrace for himself. The other remains on their hand, grounding as always. He won't leave her, won't turn away.]

I dreamed about her, a few months ago. Here, I mean. It was one of the Phoenix's memories. I saw her attack it. I think - [He swallows, throat bobbing.] She's the reason the Phoenix became so weak. Why the Aurelius family shrank so terribly. Even now, with all its power, it's nothing compared to what I have seen from other Blessed.

[if this laurentia attacking the phoenix is what made its blessing so scarce, its power so weak, and she's been serving cataega since, and luca has finished the job and finally killed the great beast...]

Luca... this makes you their tool at best. Their target at worst. Please tell me you don't actually trust them.

I don't trust her. Not one bit.

[He doesn't know, can't say for certain, but he has a terrible feeling about her. He won't vocalize as much to Kiera, though he wouldn't be surprised if she figured it out on her own.]

Him, though... [He tries to offer a smile. It wobbles at the edges.]

He has had plenty of opportunities to kill me. To do worse. And aside from when I was trying to prove a point, he never did.

Edited 2025-04-23 04:36 (UTC)

[ugh. things would be less fucking complicated if the continent was in all-out war. it's infuriating.

and it only gets worse, apparently! kiera is the one to break contact, pulling her hand away from him to ball both of hers into fists at her side.]

What do you mean, "when you were trying to prove a point?!"

Edited 2025-04-23 04:39 (UTC)

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