#|ic|serval

[protectivemuses]

👀 + Serval, do you still have any genuine concerns about your brother being romantically involved with Sampo?

Serval finds herself quiet for a moment. She knows she has to answer this honestly, but she wasn't sure about the answer. It wasn't something she tried much to ever think about. "If you would have asked me at the start of their relationship, then I would have said yes. Because the truth is, I was.. I was scared, at first." It's not something she likes to admit, and in a way, there's guilt behind it.

"I've never been the best sister, and.. I wasn't the best friend, either. What happened between Sampo and I is in the past. Gepard told me what he did about him back then because he wanted to keep me out of trouble, and I respect that. I don't condone Sampo's behavior or actions in any way, really, but I know that just as much wrong as he does, I've seen the side of him that means well. The side of him that wants to help people. Even if his name is tarnished by all the wrongs he does."

Rubbing at her temple, she was sure she could feel a headache starting. Or perhaps it was just habit during a stressful moment for her. After a moment, she sighs and crosses her arms almost fondly. "I know Geppie has his duty to uphold, so I know in public it will always seem like cat and mouse between them. But, Sampo.. means well for my brother. I know that now. It's taken me a long time to earn the trust back for my brother from when we were young, so I know if Sampo didn't mean a lot to him genuinely, he wouldn't talk to me about him. Likewise, I don't think Sampo would have dared to come back around me for anything to do with Geppie if my brother didn't mean something to him."

"So.. as long as Sampo doesn't do anything to hurt my brother or ruin his name, then I suppose I don't have any concerns for them. They're both old enough that they can live their lives the way they feel will keep them happy, and if my baby brother is happy.. then I can be happy for him all the same."

[protectivemusesmoving]

[Landau siblings | Continued with @fortifice]

Hearing a voice speak up has her jumping lightly, realizing Gepard has stopped by. Turning to face him, she gives a small smile that's fond as per usual when interacting with one of the most important people in her life. Though while fond, there's a hidden layer of uneasiness. More so, in hope that he didn't hear most of it, at least. "No, no! Not interrupting me at all, Geppie." The guitar in her lap is set aside in a stable position before she turns her attention back to the younger.

"Sorry, didn't realize you would be free this early or I would've been out there to greet you." There's no mention of the acknowledgment of the song, hoping that she can save that conversation for another time. A time when she can handle the guilt of leaving him behind to bear everything she decided against, the guilt of no longer being there at any second to soothe any fears that ran through his blood. She's proud of the man he's become, there's no doubt in that, at least to her. But she can never tell if he's truly happy with his life.

"Anyways. Come on. I can make some tea if you want, you can catch me up about your day. Not too often you get relax, after all, right? Or would you rather waste some time with a distraction of helping on a project while we talk?"

[protectivemuses]

TO BE A LANDAU WAS TO SACRIFICE. this was an immutable truth that all scions of the noble family whereby their lives were not their own, but an eternal offering to the city of everwinter. sacrifices at this ALTAR of hopeㅤ──ㅤbut gepard and his forefathers gladly bore this sisyphean burden if it meant that others could find PEACE &. SAFETY in the normalcy of their lives.

ㅤ──ㅤ❪ tragedy was in their blood. from the first landau to now. a repetition of a familiar story. sorry sisters, sorry mother, sorry father, sorry he couldn't be better. ❫

treading into serval's workshop was a welcome change from the frontlines, the acrid scent of oil, the buzz of a welder, and the dulcet croon of a guitar replacing gunfire and the eldritch shrieks of the endless fragmentum that STILL encroaches at belobog's borders.

almost immediately, this atlas - boy feels the crushing weight of his world slip from his shoulders, tied up neatly and set aside for the meantime, allowing for gepard to reassume the role of the younger brother rather than a beacon of hope for the innumerable residing within belobog. at least with his older sister, he could be the one doted upon rather than the converseㅤ──ㅤnot that taking care of others was a problem, but it was nice to be taken care of once in a while.

releasing a sigh, he steps further into her workshop before calling out softly, ❝ [ ... ] sis .ᐣ you there .ᐣ ❞

Serval was never a perfect sibling. She always wanted to be there for her younger siblings, but through the years, she couldn't handle the family rules or expectations ruling her life. It prevented her from being her own person if she did, and that wasn't the kind of life she wanted. So, when it came time, she had left. Never left her siblings, though. She never would. There was never a day that she wouldn't have come running at a single call of her name from either of the two.

An older sibling had to protect the younger ones, no matter what. So she told herself.

The opening of the door of the workshop goes unnoticed, drowned in the sound of the noise from the current project- a small tune up of her guitar. But once she pauses and happens to hear a familiar voice, she's smiling, and the project goes paused. "Geppie!" She calls as she makes her way to greet him, reaching over and ruffling his hair. "What brings my little brother by today?"

Not that a visit was uncommon, but it never hurt to ask. She assumes he comes by when he wants to simply be her little brother, but she knows sometimes that can't always be the case. "Here on business or for some sibling time? I can make ya' some tea if you want."

[protectivemusesmoving]

That's something she didn't need to think about or have confirmed.. Excuse her as she goes to drink herself to sleep.