#criticalstories

[sirdavinos]

@criticalstories said: "I'm so sorry for your loss..." (From Aranessa)

There is nothing Julien wants more than to enter a blissful state of unconsciousness. Yet like some cruel icing on the horrific cake that was this day, even that escapes him. The vision of his father's last moments replaying in his mind whenever he tries to close his eyes. He has now given up on sleep. Opted instead to keep watch. Secretly hoping Primus Tachonis would show up again so Julien can finish what he started.

He had seen Lady Aranessa approach before she spoke up. Out of everyone, her company is the only welcome one. He drops his gaze to the floor at her words. She is the only person left in this world he would allow to see him vulnerable. " You as well. " He says softly as he meets her eyes again. He can't quite help the tears starting to form in them. " My father... He wanted to tell me something, before... " His voice breaks, he can't even say it. " I keep thinking what it could've been. It's driving me crazy. "

[realmsae]

from the other multi

@criticalstories said: [ patch ] sender carefully patches one of receiver's wounds (Pike for Grog)

he tries to stay as still as he can but it hurts ! each touch as she moves her fingers over the wound on his stomach aches and it almost makes him want to vomit. instead, he grits his teeth, jaw tense as she once more presses against the wound.

' pikey, do you think you can just do your magic thing ? i don't like the poking. '

because each prod feels like a hot iron being shoved against his skin and if he had to endure much more of it, he isn't sure what he would do.

[themightyzwei]

@criticalstories sent from Caleb for Nott...

"Do you honestly think that now is the right time for this conversation?"

"Well, it's not like we're doing anything else..." Nott mused, looking at their surroundings. There's wasn't much to help out with freeing themselves from the iron chains and shackles they had found themselves in. Nott wondered if this was an Iron Shepard situation, but knew Caleb was probably thinking the same thing... But that wasn't what she really wanted to talk about.

She was fairly certain, if that's what this was... she wasn't going to make it out alive.

"All the same, Caleb, if I don't make it out of here alive... well, there's something important I need to tell you..."

[sirdavinos]

@criticalstories said: "How could you hate Thjazi so much when you love Lady Aranessa so dearly?" (from Thimble)

Julien scoffs and shakes his head. It is questions like that that really show him just how little this little faerie knows about the man she swore her life to. " What he did to Lady Aranessa is one of the many reasons why I hated him. " He responds, his voice harsh and unrelenting. " He broke her heart, wormed his way to my father's side and dragged my family's name to the mud. Leaving it up to me to crawl back out of it. " He doesn't care to explain the details, not to her. His role in the Falconer's rebellion is well known. Even if she and his own father disagree with them.

As another thought creeps into his mind, a cruel smirk grows on his face. " You know, I used to regret not finishing him off on the battlefield. Now I'm glad- " He moves just a bit closer, just to rub it in her face. " That execution felt so good to watch. "

[sirdavinos]

@criticalstories said: you told me it was a scratch , this is not a fucking scratch!

Julien rolls his eyes at her concern. " It's nothing. You're safe, that's what matters. " He says. He had already had a bad feeling about today. It's this vigilance that had allowed him to spot and tackle Lady Aranessa's would be assassin before they had been able to strike.

In the struggle, Julien hadn't shown mercy and swiftly taken their life. But not before the sword meant to kill Lady Aranessa had pierced his thigh. He has been taught better than to pull such an object out before finding a way to stop the blood flow, but he hadn't wanted Lady Aranessa to worry. He proved to be unsuccessful when she had started to question the sudden limp in his step. The wound not going undiscovered for long after that.

" I mean- you should see the other guy. " He jokes with a smirk. Then awkwardly coughs when she doesn't seem quite as amused with his antics. " I've had much worse, let's not let this random loser ruin a perfectly good afternoon. "

[4zune]

"Azune, how did you end up in Dol-Makjar?" (from Bolaire)

HIS SUNSET GAZE LIFTS FROM THE BOTTOM OF HIS CUP BACK UP TO BOLAIRE AT THE SOUND OF HIS NAME. he might need something besides alcohol is he is to remain awake until the end of the night. he’s sitting across from him at the seven stars, while murray and hal are busy downstairs. “ thjazi brought me along, ” azune says and momentarily winces because he knows this is a sore subject for bolaire. “ after the falconer’s rebellion ended, and the torn banner dismantled… i had nowhere to go. ” there’s a pause to finish the last of his drink, before he settles his gaze back on bolaire. “ he found me an in with the revolutionary guard, and had ways to make my past... go away. ” the position was useful, he was useful. it gave him a job, roof over his head, the means to support himself as a barely adult. he thought it'd allow him to protect his closest people but thjazi still hung from the rope. “ and i've been in the city ever since. ”

[4zune]

"i  don't  think  less  of  you." (from Bolaire)

THERE HADN'T BEEN ANY TIME TO REVISIT THEIR CONVERSATION deep in the secret part of the archives until now. between the attack on house royce, occtis' resurrection and their respective work responsibilities some things had to be delayed. but his position could easily explain a trip to the archanade, just as it often did to murray at the penteveral. he just needed to be careful about when those meetings occurred.

there could have been many reasons for bolaire to distrust or take ill intent with azune. he'd spent years on thjazi's side during the falconer's rebellion and a little after. but he was relieved bolaire did not seem to take it that way. “ there wasn't enough time to explain before but i did not want to see you, bolaire. ” he had no intention to remove him from the body to understand what he was, only to understand who he was.

“ i know how to heal a body, ” he says in a low voice. he's learned how since he was a teenager watching teor pour light into wounds. “ but if something were to happen to you... ” he trails, because the city is turning more hostile every day and their allies inside it had dwindled in numbers. “ will you let me try again? ” asks the man who begs to be of use to the mask who fought for his own agency.

[4zune]

@criticalstories, continued from here

HIS ARM STILLS THE MOMENT THIMBLE SETTLES ON HIM, careful not to make any sudden movement and disrupt both their fragile state. his mind still replays the moment they found thimble in the safe house and her raw grief after. but he can be steady for her to lean on in more ways than one. even when she reads him like an open book. it makes sense he figures, after knowing him for many years despite the distance thjazi kept in the later years. he understands the reason behind it now more than ever. every interaction he has sits at the back of his head wondering if danger will come to them in case his part of the rescue plan is found out.

he’s not okay, but he’s been able to keep himself distracted in a way thimble can’t. “ they’ll answer for what they did, thimble. ” not only casimir, but the sundered houses as well. finishing what they couldn’t during the falconer’s rebellion. “ and we’ll make sure to honor his memory. ” he adds gently. that’s how he’s been able to move on for all these years. keep those he’s lost close to his heart and try to keep the precious things protected.

he reaches a finger towards her carefully touching her shoulder in hopes of providing some comfort. “ it’s not your fault,” he shakes his head, sunset eyes meeting her light green ones. azune understands it. he has been spending these past nights wondering if mentioning thimble to thjazi would have led to a different outcome. “ and i'm relieved we got to you in time, ” he doesn't want to imagine saying goodbye to another one of his friends.