How do you think Lucanis processes Caterina's treatment of him when he was a child? How do you think her treatment differs now that he is an adult? Did he consider it necessary, maybe even good, since he survived and is an excellent assassin? Is it the sort of treatment he would carry over if he was to have an heir to raise?
These were fascinating questions, thank you! I really enjoyed thinking through the answers!
1. How do you think Lucanis processes Caterina's treatment of him when he was a child?
I believe Lucanis views Caterina’s upbringing and training as a "necessary evil." In his mind, it was the very thing that allowed him to survive despite all the hardships and adversities he faced.
2. How do you think her treatment differs now that he is an adult?
Unfortunately, I don’t think Caterina’s attitude toward Lucanis has changed much, even now. To her, he is primarily an investment in the future of House Dellamorte. I think she simply expects him to be a sharp and obedient weapon.
3. Did he consider it necessary, maybe even good, since he survived and is an excellent assassin?
Yes, I think he considers it to have been essential for his survival, though as an adult he now has a better understanding of how toxic that kind of "love" truly is. Nevertheless, Lucanis still seeks Caterina’s approval for his actions. Before the events of The Veilguard, it’s unlikely there was anyone else who could have given him that sense of validation.
4. Is it the sort of treatment he would carry over if he was to have an heir to raise?
This is where it gets much more complicated. I think the answer depends heavily on whether Treviso or Minrathous was saved. In my view, a more "hardened" Lucanis would likely grow to resemble Caterina in his later years, treating his loved ones and kin more like chess pieces on a battlefield.
Songbird - Chapter 25 - The Truth - Is now up on A03
Summary:
Caterina showing up had been the last thing Lucanis wanted to happen when meeting Lily's parents, especially when her father was the White Wolf, the man was very reserved and nothing like the stories Caterina used to tell Lucanis as a child, though he could certainly be intimidating. Thankfully, Caterina didnt derail things as much as Lucanis had feared, and the evening continued, with Lucanis learning more about what happened the night his parents were killed. It seemed ironic that Lily's Father had known Lucanis as a Child when he had no memory of the man, perhaps it really was fate that he met Lily.
READ CHAPTER 25 HERE
snippet under the cut
Snippet:
"So far so good," Lily smiles at Lucanis once they’re out of earshot.
"I could have done without my Grandmother showing up, but yes, so far so good." He chuckles, his hand going to the small of her back as he presses a kiss to her cheek, guiding her out into the back car park.
"You're still alive, I see, well done." Chance jokes as they exit the club.
"Very funny." Lucanis chuckles, placing a hand on his shoulder on the way past.
"Have fun." Chance calls after them as they get in the car.
"Hopefully dinner will go well. I’m sure it will." She smiles, getting comfortable.
"I hope I do the dish justice, and Spite behaves, we should feed him when we get home to keep him busy." He chuckles.
Then he starts the car and pulls out of the car park, circling around the Nest and slowing down when he spots her parents' SUV so they can follow.
Fenris pulls out of the space and follows after them.
"He’s well off, that’s good," Sapphire smiles.
"He’s a Crow, of course, he's well off. Crows are dangerous," he sighs
"Did you see the way he looks at her? I’m sure he will keep her safe," Sapphire replies quietly.
"It’ll all work out. I’m sure," Lily assures Lucanis.
"I hope you're right, but I have a feeling me being a crow is not going to sit well with your father." He sighs, driving carefully. He checks his mirror every so often to make sure they are still following.
"He’s been polite so far," She points out. "Maybe it’ll be less awkward without Caterina." She says, watching the city go by.
"He was probably being polite because he was in a bar full of crows. If he had become violent and attacked me, the whole bar would have defended me." He explains.
"I hope he is being polite because he likes me, but I'm really not so sure. Caterina certainly didnt help." He frowns, squeezing the Steering wheel and making the leather squeak.
"Also true, I suppose. But Dad has been out of the Crow’s for like forever. I’m not sure he’d even want to risk fighting you. Even one-on-one," She replies.
"I dont want to fight him. Lily." He sighs, taking their turning, the house coming into view.
He slows down opening the gate and leaves it open after he parks and gets out, opening Lily's door for her as her father parks next to him, and the gates close.
"I know. I didn’t mean- I know," Lily murmurs, holding his hand as her Mom and Dad approach.
"You have good security," Fenris says, his gaze flicking to their joined hands. "Smart." He comments.
"Good home security is important," Lucanis says, with a pained expression on his face, for a second.
"I have a cat, this is going to take a bit of manoeuvring, he's a bit of an escape artist, so we will need to step into the porch before I can open the inner door." He explains. heading towards it.
He squeezes Lily's hand as he walks, feeling incredibly nervous again.
"Oh? What’s his name?" Sapphire asks as they all bundle into the porch.
"Spite. He’s a real cutie," Lily smiles.
Lucanis opens the inner door, and Spite is at the end of the hall, watching.
Oh, Mary, full of grace, receive the bloodied
sufferer into your arms
I really wanted to show how I see what is happens to bloodymary right after the moment when Grace takes Simon from the bloody ocean
I feel like I want it to be creepy and disturbing.
oh no, who's that standing against the wall in the last frame? It seems like while Rocky sleeps, Grace will survive the real Ripley-trying-to-survive-on-the-ship-with-Alien experience
I'm one of those fanfiction writers who write something that never sees the light of day. But @trevisowillbefree tag me and i already written enough to think I can show off a little.
And maybe intrigue someone😅👀
🔹️🔷️🔹️
...The next second, Spite dropped heavily into the mud right beside them.
The demon fell to his knees behind Lucanis and, with an unexpected, greedy force, wrapped them both up. His claws gently settled on Rook’s shoulders. Spite pressed the two of them to him as if afraid they would dissolve back into the Fade. His purple flame no longer burned — it wrapped them in a hot, protective cocoon.
“Human tenderness,” Spite grunted hoarsely, right by Rook’s ear. “How touching… it makes me want to puke.”
Yet he buried his nose in Rook’s tangled hair near Lucanis face, sniffing like an animal, drawing breath to make sure they were real, that they were alive.
Rook smiled faintly, feeling his torn lips sting. He lifted a trembling hand and lightly covered Spite's clawed palm on his chest.
“You’re… very convincing when you shout. Thank you.”
“I wasn’t shouting, I was commanding,” Spite snorted indignantly, though his grip only tightened.
At last he reluctantly released the embrace and slid back half a step, but only to brusquely seize Rook by the chin. The demon’s bright eyes betrayed an unmistakable, heavy attachment of a predator to his pack.
“You are ours. Understand? We. We don’t give up what’s ours,” Spite said, enunciating every word. “Not to gods, not to the Blight, not to the old hags of Antiva. To no one!''
Lucanis did not pull the demon’s hand away. He leaned his temple wearily, with a slight smile, against Rook’s shoulder, feeling Spite's hot presence behind them. For once, in this strange triangle there reigned an absolute, unbreakable accord.
For one short, precious moment perfect silence fell around them. The illusion finally shattered, leaving them sitting in the flat, ash‑gray expanse of the Fade, pressed to one another. They had found each other at the very bottom.
And they endured.
But the Fade never forgives those who break its rules....
🔹️🔷️🔹️
I need to find a good beta to read this, otherwise I'll die like a venatori😅😭🗡🩸
Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), poem 85 from “The Gardener”, 1914
Translated by the author from the original Bengali. New York: The Macmillan Company.
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