❪ event ❫ khalo? can you hear me?

[natha]

In normal circumstances, this would have been near the time in which you're called upon to greet the newly awakened. Unfortunately, I speak to you to inform that we must postpone that — there is trouble on your horizon. What, I cannot see for sure. We shall continue to monitor the situation, however — we - ... we — [feed cuts off.] OLYMPIAN PRESERVATION     The city of Olympia is preparing the send-off of its most prized artifact: the heart of the ancient dragon, Ysverai. In doing this, they've transformed the palace court into an exhibition detailing the centuries-old war between Wyver and Olympia. Sculptures of Nithor the Exalted and his men and women in clean, white marble, while their armors are polished in perfect gold. Among Nithor are the sculptures of stallions in all shapes and sizes that also aided in the great war. Further in the exhibition, one may also find other artifacts of much older weaponry, rusted by its time in the earth, and items found from a time when humans feared the dragons. The Royal Guard has increased its numbers in wake of such a public event, particularly because the heart will be in display also. The heart is not what one might expect it to be: about the size of an average human, the heart's core is surrounded in stone, a red glow emitting from its still beating core. If that were not unsettling enough, one might also find that lingering around this particular exhibit will have undue affects on one's inhibitions. You'll notice your heart has fallen into sync with the organ, and your more selfish desires will come forth. Things that have long been buried will rise up and place you in a state of unease, encouraging paranoia about your companions intentions. Allow it to fester, and one will carry this feeling with them long after you've left the scene. It's probably a good thing this is leaving Olympia — perhaps it's a source of so much conflict you've endured. It's easy to become mesmerized by all the historical artifacts that are present in Olympia's exhibition. Some even seem mystical or, like Ysverai’s heart, to hold unspeakable powers. Others are just a little eerie. Either way, Olympia prides itself in its generosity and their grand displays, and so refugees are urged to learn more about their artifacts by spending the night in Palace Court. Though, someone should probably mention that there are rumors of strange, almost occult things happening around these relics at night. People speak of armored soldiers casting shadows that have the ability to walk on their own, or gemstones that catch the moonlight in a certain way and show you visions. But those are just silly ghost stories, right? TALL TALES OF KHALO VILLAGE     Because of Khalo's proximity to Wyver, it's no surprise that they would catch wind of the peace talks between Wyver and Olympia. In response, for the first time in centuries, Khalo Village has willingly granted passage to outsiders — but visitors will immediately find out that one cannot just simply walk into the village. Visitors will need to inhale the smoke of a fyrra herb in order to enter the premises without falling into slumber. Khalo is notably different than what refugees are used to. Visitors, specifically refugees, will find that they are exceedingly accommodating. The Khali are very intrigued by the outsiders, thus they're treated with much respect and given instant access to some of the best lounges and fyrra the village has to offer. In exchange, the village is interested in hearing about your journey thus far. Whether it be through a conversation with another individual or the Khali themselves, they'll very likely to have been eavesdropping and recording the tales of their exploits. Why, exactly? Perhaps it will not be immediately clear, but if you happened upon a venasou, a tamed Khali creature, it may have guided you to their Enchanted Library. Upon entering the library, visitors will notice that it is quite the happening place — but not because it's occupied by the Khali, but because there seems to be an assembly of magical quills seemingly writing on their own. The quills are mostly undisturbed by the intrusion and will not stop writing even if parchment is taken from it; it will simply produce another piece of paper and continue its tales. If you happen to read the parchment, you may notice that there is a daunting similarity between your story and the ones being written here. Tales of Thesa birthing new races and sending them from the sky, for example, are very popular in Khalo Village. They mark July 15th as the day in which the Moon Goddess, Thesa, created more people in her image and brought them to El Nysa as saviors. The coincidences don't end there: specifics about your home world might be found in the writings if you search deeply enough — but it's not without its exaggerations. These stories are given all sorts of poetic and literary forms, from short stories to limericks, biographies to something similar to haiku. If asked, the Khali will inform visitors that the enchanted library has access to vague parts of your memories, and thus it is duty-bound to record. The Khali have not seen stories as strange as the ones being made by refugees, which is largely why they are interested in them. NOTE: This is entirely optional! You may make up your own "stories" (fanfiction) and it could be as accurate or inaccurate, or as serious or silly as you'd like. While tales of the Thesa's descendants are still being written, visitors of the Enchanted Library might find intrigue in the more complete works — KING AND KIN. If one is willing to delve deep, they may also find parts of Wyver's past that have been removed from their own archives. These pages will recount the tales of Shanrian and Rasyc. Though a lot of the narrative seems to divide at certain points in the story, it becomes obvious with some quick reading that Rasyc is not only the son of Shanrian, but that he glorifies the Wyver of old, more bloodthirsty and brutal than it is today. Unlike his father, he does not take kindly to Olympia and the threat they will always pose for their people. He has not forgotten Olympia's past sins and he believes that, in his foolish quest for peace, the king has gone soft and no longer possesses the real will to fight. His present voice in affairs of state is not a loud one, as he chooses to speak in whispers and move in the dead of silence. In these quiet murmurings, he boasts of his unwavering belief in the power and dignity of his people. Of how they should all return to what they once were — the kingdom, its citizens, and naturally the father who he had once admired greatly. Though perhaps it can be argued that any estranged son would wish the same. It's difficult to pinpoint what becomes political and what is and always will be more personal for him. But, it hardly matters. It's clear that Rasyc will stop at nothing to achieve his objectives, even if it means never returning to place he calls home. Even if it means turning his back on his own father, Shanrian, King of Wyver... DRAGONFIRE. While tales of the Thesa's descendants are still being written, visitors to the Enchanted Library might find intrigue in the more complete works. In particular, tales of Ysverai, the last of Wyver's great high dragons. Ysverai is most commonly known for being slain by Olympia’s past king and legendary hero, Nithor, but here in Khalo he is depicted in another light. Ysverai is known to the Khali people as a wise being, old as the first inhabitants that walked El Nysa. The creature spoke in the common tongue to the early settlers, guiding them to refuge when his kin began to dominate the land at the cost of its own isolation. It ultimately becomes a tale of sacrifice, for its stand with Nithor became a testament against the Olympian Empire's long reaching influence. At the bottom, there is a quotation: Your hearts will fill with greed and malice the moment my own stops beating. Take care in the Eye of the Storm. Find strength in one another, before it is too late. It seems to end there. Refugees are naturally allowed to question the natives. However, keep in mind that many of their replies will seem more like speculation than fact. But maybe that can be fun too? If you have no interest in the library and the tales they've woven, feel free to explore any of the other areas of interest. Khalo Village is thrilled to be open for you all. THOSE THAT SEEK PEACE, AND THOSE THAT SEEK --     The morning of the 20th is marked by fairly dismal weather. The sky is overcast and a downpour seems imminent. Regardless of the poor forecast, those who signed up to assist in this mission will be required to come early in order to receive their briefing. Members of Group A: ▸ Jon Snow (song_of_ice) ▸ Daenerys Targaryen (dorzalta) ▸ Loras Tyrell (triplerose) ▸ Terra (earthy) ▸ Alisaie Leveilleur (adelphoi) ▸ Solider: 76 (personalwar) ▸ Ardyn Izunia (daemonized) ▸ Mai(maipokerface) ▸ Olivier Armstrong (wallsofbriggs) ▸ Atsushi Nakajima (gekkajuu) Members of Group B: ▸ Kale (kaleorbekaled) ▸ Diana Prince (wondie) ▸ Pheonix Wright (objectionattourney) ▸ Revolver Ocelot (shashka) ▸ Frederick (pebblestone) ▸ John Sheppard (impavid ▸ Ianto Jones (torchwoodteaboy) ▸ Lena Oxton (quevarly) ▸ Allura (quintessent) Due to the rain, members of Group A will have to immediately stop by the checkpoint at the East Watchtower. Additionally, the Royal Guard and Knightryders are well-prepared with extra cloaks for those who may require it. They also will provide basic refreshments such as water and bread. People are encouraged to take what they need prior to their departure on this mission. The checkpoints are a bit far between, after all. Members of the envoy will also be encouraged to utilize this time to become familiar with one another. Maybe some introductions are in order? You never know who will end up having your back... For both groups, the paths will be relatively straightforward with evenly spaced checkpoints along the way. The only issue seems to be the downpour, really. The rain is unforgiving and the roads easily become unstable and increasingly difficult for the carriage to be drawn through. Hence, there may be more than one occasion where you will be expected to lend a hand in prying out its wheels from a particularly pesky (and muddy) pothole. Or perhaps you will be called upon by a fellow guard to assist in getting a particularly stubborn creature out of the path ahead of you. Seems like it may be a longer journey than you expected. Dirtier, too. While weathering the conditions may have been a bit tiring, this journey isn't too bad, right? Well, maybe not. GROUP A. Once the carriage gets through the worst of the terrain and finally manages to depart from the watchtower, it won't be long until the group is met with a physical roadblock. A large tree trunk will be set down the center of the road, acting as a blockade. But, before the group can react or begin crafting a plan around this obstruction, the carriage will be attacked without warning. At first, it's unclear where the attack comes from or from whom, but you don't have the leisure to deliberate this. You hear one of your fellow guards mention something about bandits frequenting these parts, but maybe there's more to it? Either way, your task is clear: protect the artifact, Nithor's skull, and fight the bandits off. You'll be encouraged to try and capture them so that they may later be turned and questioned by the authorities. GROUP B. With clear motives to restock and collect a few more materials for the carriage, it's evident that the envoy will appear restless to arrive at the second checkpoint. However, despite their unspoken delight at seeing the South Outpost from a distance, it's clear something has gone awry. There will be several hooded figures awaiting them right where the mud path meets the cobblestone of the Outpost's road. Soon, several more of these figures will come to flank them from both sides. While they seem like bandits, at least from their physical appearance, there is something far more polished in their movements. They will be attacking the envoy in concise, practiced formations. For those who are more perceptive, it becomes obvious that they are moving around and acting as decoy to one central figure. This member is likely the "leader" of their group, but no matter how one may try to close the distance between themselves and this mysterious leader, someone will constantly get in the way of that. The fighting also seems to act as a distraction since by the time everything is cleared up... only two things are missing. The leader of this group of bandits and more importantly — Ysverai's heart. NOTE: Those RNG'd to thread out the capture and questioning of the bandits will have starters below. For everyone else that signed up, you will still have the opportunity to capture the assailants even though they were not selected to thread the interrogation; you are free to make up your NPCs with the same basic guideline: they will not reveal their motive or their organization. You may turn them in to authorities (Wyver or Olympia or otherwise) or find creative ways to get rid of them. FINAL OOC NOTE     To reiterate: you may use this log as a general mingle for everything from the May Outline, including all Khalo Village activities. In other words, your top-levels don't necessarily have to be related to the prompts written here. An AC-eligible thread in which your character participates in anything mentioned in the May Outline and/or Khalo Village location page may be submitted for 2 REP POINT FOR EITHER OLYMPIA OR WYVER. SUBMIT THE THREAD FOR OLYMPIA OR WYVER HERE OR HERE RESPECTIVELY BY June 10th 11:59 PM EST. For those who participated in this month's plot-related portion, to receive IC recognition for it, a summary of the thread must be submitted HERE by June 8th 11:59 PM EST. Please direct all queries to the question thread below. Thank you, and have fun! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs ● bestiary taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp ● quest bulletin calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[steponme]

I don't think we talked outside the kitchen all that much. I was hungry as soon as we got back, and we just stayed in there.

[Which means he heard all of it, save for perhaps Shell's tearful confession of what love means to him by the door.]

[He's silent for a moment or two, thinking about what was said that night, as well as what he heard Reign and Chuuya talking about in his room (and even now, he's not sure whether he regrets not eavesdropping, or else just pretending he didn't hear anything).]

I already told this to Chuuya, but... One wasn't the reason I stopped drinking human blood. I still don't know how much you know-- about me in general, I guess. So I don't know if you knew that or not.

[eaudevamp]

[ The main point that Reign had honed in that time was the fact that Shell had truly wanted One to hurt him, and not merely some sex play. It reminded Reign of the memory he saw of Shell that one time, and it kind of made sense.

But this was something else, and Reign blinked a bit. Might as well let Shell tell him and see if it was what he thought, then maybe he could include a few of his inputs. ]

Really? I thought it was because you... have feelings for him, and thus decided to stop drinking human blood. [ Or did that have to do with Shell finding out about the epidemic? Reign wouldn't have connected the epidemic to Shell's rejection of human blood. Maybe it was indeed something else entirely different. ] Then... why?

[steponme]

[He shakes his head, a sad sort of smile on his face.]

Actually, when One found out... when I saw him again after he'd gone missing, he was upset about it, too. He... even had me drink from him, because of how unwell I looked. Up until then, I'd never done that with him. Not even once.

[It's easy to read in his body language that what he's saying now is exceptionally personal -- but it's something he feels that Reign should know. It's something he wants Reign to know, because surely if he knew more about what his relationship with One was really like, maybe he wouldn't hate him.]

[He doesn't mind the jealousy. But the idea that the people closest to him here would villainize the man he loved back home just doesn't sit well with him.]

But the reason I stopped... is because I learned about what the Blood Lords were doing to humanity. [...] Do you know what I'm talking about?

[He's not sure what answer he's hoping to hear. If he doesn't know, that means he'll have to explain it. If he does... what would that mean for the future where Reign came from?]

[eaudevamp]

[ Reign listened attentively to Shell, eyes widening a bit as he realised just how different One was compared to the human he knew of. After all, he didn't meet One/Eric often, much less interact enough despite the three years in between. More so because the Banker had to "die" and "disappear".

Truth be told, Reign no longer hated the human. It was just that during that time, the pain Shell went through, the agony, watching Shell try to hold everything together despite crying alone. He had needed an outlet to channel his anger, and that was One.

But now, it wasn't so bad. Maybe he should let Shell know of his true thoughts concerning One. At least how he currently feel.

Now Shell brought that up, and it suddenly put into perspective the real reason why Shell was the way he was now in regards to human blood. It made his heart heavy, memories of the chaos coming back to him. ]

Yeah, I do. It was a pact made between the Blood Lords.

[steponme]

...so you know about it.

[It's a statement, not a question. As curious as he is, at least for right now, he doesn't want to know more. That's a conversation best saved for another day, maybe.]

That's not the only reason I don't like drinking it, but... that's what made me stop. I've actually never liked it. Even now... if I could live the rest of my life without ever needing to drink blood again, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

[Chuuya and Diva may have finally helped convince him to start drinking human blood again to live, but he did still try and make an effort to find some kind of animal blood he could drink without getting sick. It was getting easier, but the fact that he had to drink human blood at all still was so much harder.]

[eaudevamp]

[ Reign nodded to reconfirm it. There was so much that happened after that, but Reign knew it wasn't his right to tell Shell. It wouldn't be fair to any of them. Maybe he might tell Shell, later, bit by bit. If Shell wanted to know, he knew who to look for. ]

Is that the reason why you also don't want to be a vampire?

[ His voice was hesitant and soft, shifting just a tad closer, creating ripples in the pool's water. It had shocked Reign at that time upon watching the memory play out before them, but he wondered if that had also led to Shell's self-reject of what he was.

It kind of made Reign sad that Shell didn't want to be a vampire. He'd been kind of happy when Shell came out to him, glad to have more similarities between them. But if Shell was no longer a vampire, would he still accept his best friend? Reign was almost afraid to imagine if such a day would happen.

And yet, Shell was still Shell, right? No matter if Shell was a vampire or human, his core remained the same. He was still the Shell who had comforted him, went through teenage hormonal experimentation, etc. Shell will always be his Shell, vampire or not. ]

[steponme]

[There's a very slow and very tentative nod from Shell as he averts his eyes. He doesn't mind Reign shifting closer, but at least right now, he won't take well to any attempts to cling to him.]

I don't entirely feel the same as I did before. But it's a little strange to say I wouldn't mind being a vampire as long as I didn't have to drink blood.

[That's a pretty big part of what makes a vampire a vampire, after all.]

But the one who helped me accept myself... that was One. After I told him how I felt about myself, he stopped treating me like a vampire and instead just-- [Like his slave-- yeah, he's not saying that, the context only makes sense to Shell.] --just treated me like a person.

[eaudevamp]

[ Reign knew better than to throw himself at Shell, and besides he didn't think it would be appropriate at the moment. Maybe later, once they've talked this out. He dearly missed being close to Shell, to cling to him (and then be shoved aside), trailing after him like some sort of puppy.

He wanted to argue that being a vampire was what they were. Shell just didn't need to drink human blood. Or perhaps he didn't need to actually do the act of biting a human. But Reign knew his arguments wouldn't work, and likely will have them end up fighting. There was no way Reign could understand Shell's inner thoughts and reasoning, though he could still try to comprehend, put himself in Shell's shoes.

He kind of get it. He did. After all, Reign had seen how the humans were cruelly treated by his clan members when he was but a child. The whole plague pact between the Blood Lords likely had more of an effect on Shell than on him. ]

I can see how he made such an impact on you. [ And probably the reason why Shell began to fall in love with the human. It would be a lie if Reign wasn't jealous that it was a human who had succeeded in helping Shell accept himself. He swallowed that bitter pill, glancing away with his head down. That was in the past, not something Reign could do. ]

If you're given the chance, do you... want to be a human. Like him? [ Reign didn't know where that question came from, but his voice trembled slightly as he spoke, afraid to look Shell in the eye as he waited for his answer. ]

[steponme]

[He almost asks where a question like that is coming from. Why even bother thinking about something impossible? But... this world is inherently magical. Maybe something like that is possible.]

[He's quiet for a long moment, as if considering it. But really, he's just taking in the sight of the way Reign asks -- head bowed, turned away. He knew this conversation wouldn't be a pleasant one for either of them, but that didn't mean he wanted to make Reign upset.]

...no. I wouldn't make that choice. Even though it's hard... painful, even, to live as a vampire... I don't want to run away from what I am. Or from the life I've lived up until now.

[It's something that had come up before, when talking to Diva. About how envious he was of just how much she embraced being a chiropteran. About how he wished he could feel that way about himself someday.]

[To take the easy way out and irreversibly change himself... well, even that doesn't guarantee that he'd actually grow to love himself. His insecurities were far deeper than what he was on the surface.]

[eaudevamp]

[ Hey, certain mammals hatched from eggs. That had been something nearly impossible. Nysa was basically a magical land with dragons and pegasi. Oh my.

The silence drew out, and Reign began to regret asking that question. Part of him wanted to play it off, maybe be a coward and make another escape. But that would be awful and downright horrible of him to do so. He didn't want that. The truth may hurt, and yet he still needed to know. What were friends for if you couldn't accept them for who they are?

Reign finally lifted his head up to look at Shell, almost not daring to believe his words. He knew Shell wouldn't say it merely to placate him. A sort of weight seemed to have been lifted from Reign's chest, and his lips quirked in a small smile. ]

I'm... glad to hear that. One had taught you well. [ Taught Shell to accept himself for who he is, despite being a vampire. Speaking of the human, Reign decided to straighten up a few things in regards to One. ]

You know, I used to really hate him. The Banker. But... seeing how he cares for you, the things he did for you, I don't hate him now. Maybe a bit jealous, but not hate. [ He shrugged his shoulders, looking almost sheepish. ] I just thought you should know.

[steponme]

[Hearing Reign admit that does far more for Shell than he probably even realizes. What he intended to say only as a means to clear the air only further confirms it for Shell -- that clearly, in whatever future Reign is living in, Shell and One must be together.]

[He feels his heart swelling in his chest, flooded with so many conflicted emotions. Did he really just forget all of that? Why? Why would he forget a happy future with One, only to delude himself into thinking he's from the past? Or is he actually from the past-- from a "failed" timeline, in which the world ended and he never saw One again? Does that mean he'll never get to know about the happy ending he missed out on?]

[What will it mean when One wakes up? Which One is going to wake up-- the one he knows, or the one from the future?]

[And just what would he say if he saw Shell now, sitting almost naked in a pool together with Reign, covered in bite marks left by another man?]

[But that's not all he's feeling. Because above all else, despite everything else serving to make an already complicated situation even more complicated, he's happy to hear that Reign doesn't hate One.]

[Though with everything going through his mind, it'll probably be hard to explain why hearing that makes him start to cry.]

That's... a relief to hear. All this time, I was thinking you hated him, because of what I said...

I didn't want to think that the people I love hated each other.


[The jury is still out on how One feels about Reign, though.]

[eaudevamp]

[ Maybe that was just the Storm fucking with Shell's memories. Maybe Reign's as well. Perhaps there was a future before them that neither knew. The humans could suddenly revolt, Reign's father going back on his word in regards to the Human Policy, and so on and so forth.

When One wakes, he could have been from a much further future.

Reign wanted to tell Shell that he had a happy life with One/Eric, that despite what happened, they stood by each other. It was the "what ifs" that scared Reign when it revolved around Shell and One.

Nonetheless, at least he had made his feelings known to Shell when it came to One. Being careful with his movements, Reign shifted closer until he could press his shoulder against Shell's. ]

I'll admit, it took me a while to accept him. But his presence allows you to be yourself, without hiding behind a mask, and that's something I can't do. Don't worry, I don't hate him anymore.

[ Besides, it was more that Reign was jealous and disliked One rather than outright hating the human. One? Who cares about One? He can be jealous and possessive all he wants. Ahem. ]

So... You've been doing more than cuddling, huh?

[steponme]

[With things finally cleared up between them, the physical contact is more welcome than not. As soon as Reign is close enough, Shell even goes the extra mile and rests his head against Reign's shoulder, sniffling as he wipes the last of his tears.]

You can't really say it's something you can't do when you're doing it right now.

[There's really no need for Reign to compare himself to One. They each played different roles in Shell's life, and there's no denying that he loved both of them very much.]


[But love or not, that last bit has his face twisting into a pout, and he flicks a bit of water up at Reign.]

...and don't change the subject.

[eaudevamp]

[ It was nice, this closeness. The familiarity of it all. Shell's tears was making Reign's own eyes prickle, though he tried to hold them back. At least it wasn't tears of sadness. Not much. Just... emotions, that was all. But that didn't stop Reign from sniffling as well.

Gosh, these two. ]

Mn, we both helped you, then.

[ That was something else Reign had learned to accept: that Shell will have someone else in his life, not just Reign. But he knew they'll always be best of friends, always in each other's heart.

The water flick took Reign by surprise, sputtering as he wiped his face. ]

Not trying to. It's hard to ignore those bite marks though. Want me to count them for you? I bet there are more in harder to reach places.

[steponme]

[#crypires]

[But okay, that earns Reign another splash. The only visible marks right now are mostly around his neck, but they definitely go much lower than that.]

Come on, lay off... [HUFF]

[...]

...besides, doesn't it bother you? I mean, I figured you'd be-- you know... jealous.

[eaudevamp]

[ This time Reign just laughed as he moved away, shielding himself with one hand while using the other to splash back at Shell. When was it that they've ever played like this? Never, since they don't live near the sea. Or even a river/lake. ]

Uwahaha...! No way~

[ He stopped trying to escape and swam back to Shell's side, small smile on his lips as he shrugged a shoulder. ]

I don't know. I'm surprised I wasn't jealous. I thought I would be. But if it's with whom I think it is, then I've no problem. I mean... [ He twirled his index fingers, sliding a bit deeper into the waters. ] I've been with others before, so I shouldn't judge.

[steponme]

[So even Reign is surprised that he isn't... but that's a good thing, right? It's not like he wants Reign to be hung up on him forever. And with the time difference between them and just how long Reign was here without Shell at all, it makes sense...]

[It doesn't mean he can't pout about it though.]

But that's different, isn't it? I mean, you and I aren't... [...] You don't think... I'm a bad person for it, do you?

[Reign knows he's together with One back home, after all. Did it count as cheating when you were only together in the future?]

[And not to mention that kiss he shared with Reign back at Flona Cove... they never really talked about that either, did they?]

[eaudevamp]

If that makes you a bad person, then I'm just as guilty. I profess to loving you, and still do, yet I've done... things. With others.

[ It probably didn't feel as bad with Mephisto, considering he was a demon, despite being in the body of a human host. Or that time with Chuuya, mostly because he was in a lot of pain and wanted to forget it all. Reign could also delude himself that he and Chuuya hadn't gone "all the way". What would Shell think if he knew Reign had been with a human before? Possibly other humans too when he worked at Shades Darker. He could argue that it was a "job". ]

To be honest, I'm not sure either. Where we come from, we barely experience what it's like to love, or if it's all right to love more than one person at a time.

[ Maybe Reign was playing a dangerous game of "what-ifs", the possibility between himself and Shell, or at least giving each other more options and opportunities. ]

[steponme]

[Even though it's something he already knows, it's hard not to feel a slight twinge in his chest when Reign so casually says that he loves him.]

I wouldn't want you to stay single your whole life just because of how you feel about me. It's... not like you belong to me.

[He doesn't even need to be told, really. After hearing about Reign's time with Chuuya from the other man himself, it was easy to assume that indulging in things like that wasn't a one-time thing for Reign.]

[But as curious as he was, knowing that the lack of vampires left only one probable conclusion, it just didn't feel like his right to do so. Because Reign wasn't his.]

...but I belonged to One. So it feels different. He even told me once... that he wanted me to belong to only him.

[In a memory that's exceptionally unpleasant, for how much of a disaster that night ended up being.]

[But as much as that might sound like Shell rejecting that what-if... Reign knows how the story goes from there. Or at least, how it goes for this Shell. That despite loving him and wanting only him, One still decided to leave him. Looking at it logically, Shell had no reason to feel guilty for being with someone other than One.]

[But love was hardly logical.]

...I just wish I could talk to him. Maybe then... I wouldn't be so confused.

[eaudevamp]

[ Maybe it had grown to be a slightly different kind of love, after the three years since the event. It was a kind of affectionate fondness. Reign knew his love wouldn't be as deep as One's, though maybe it could be entirely difference once One wakes.

Shell's words were a stark reminder that neither did Shell belong to Reign either. He knew that, knew it for a long time now, but it didn't hurt any less. More of a dull throb, something Reign had come to accept. It wouldn't be fair to ask Shell to keep himself celibate for One, while he himself was off having fun and having affairs. Not that there was a lot people he'd slept with, but... ]

I think... I think he'll understand, the decisions you took, the things you do. He'll want you to be happy too.

[ Or would he? Especially if One were to wake and suddenly found out that Shell had formed relationships other than with him. Reign mentally shook his head, inwardly shuddering. If it was Reign, he may not like it either.

Suddenly unsure of what else to say, yet wanting to comfort Shell, Reign reached out under the water and took Shell's hand in his, giving it a squeeze. ]

[steponme]

[Happy, huh. Being with One had made him happy -- even when it hurt, when it was scary and painful, he knew deep down that he was happy.]

[But maybe that happiness just wasn't enough. One had said it himself -- he couldn't hurt Shell anymore. He loved him too much.]

[He wanted him to be healthy and happy. Even when he was gone.]

[...]

[Beneath the surface of the water, he gives Reign's hand a gentle squeeze in return.]

That's what I think too. I... I-I know I wouldn't want him to put his life on pause if he woke up and I was still asleep.

I just need to work on... accepting that it's okay for me to want things too.

[eaudevamp]

[ That was a relief to hear, and Reign relaxed a bit more, leaning into Shell. Depending on how deep Shell was submerged in the water, Reign may be laying his head on the other's shoulder or head. ]

Maybe that was what I'd felt too, you know, after I woke. Fearing I move too far ahead in my life, yet not wanting to stay stagnant. I don't think it's wrong to want things, to desire something.

[ There was a lull in Reign's words, before he continued in a curious voice. ]

At the Flona Cove... The kiss... [ And perhaps more. ] I don't regret it. I mean, I guess it's something special between us? Something different. Does it sound weird?

1/2

[steponme]

[He'll get his head -- Shell's shoulder probably has the worst bite of all on it, so that's definitely staying submerged if he can afford it.]

[But Reign's words bring him the comfort he was hoping for -- not an answer to his problems, per se, but a reassurance that at the very least, the people close to him aren't judging him for it. That they're here for him, and support his decisions. It's not quite self-acceptance, but hey, baby steps.]

[And speaking of--]

...I don't regret it either. [As if he could possibly regret kissing Reign.] I've actually been thinking about it a lot. And about you. What happened on the beach, and even what we're doing now... it doesn't really feel like something "just friends" do.

[...]

[steponme]

...or maybe I'm just overthinking it. Because I don't think "just friends" do what Chuuya and I did yesterday either.

[Just in case it wasn't completely obvious who gave Shell all these marks.]

But-- I don't know. You feel like so much more than a friend to me. I don't really know how to put it into words... maybe it is something special.

1/2

[eaudevamp]

[ Them soapiers had a lot of acceptance issue to work on, especially Shell. But hey, they were moving forward!

Reign nodded with a hum before he grinned, running his index finger along Shell's shoulder where he could feel a bit of marring on the skin. With their good eyesight, it wasn't hard to see them even through the water. ]

Heh, I've no doubt about that. Definitely did more than just cuddling.