──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿

❝RUNNINGㅤ⠀ THROUGH THE ㅤ⠀HALLSㅤ⠀ OF YOUR ㅤ⠀HAUNTED HOME.❞ ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ─── VERIN THELYSS, TASKHAND OF THE BRIGHT QUEEN.

[‍ ‍ ‍solitude.‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ @halfsovl]

⠀⠀“ home ” went from a sanctuary of warmth and light to a cold and lonely hall .

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

Those who did die within range- well. . . He tried not to think of that. He wasn't consecuted, after all.

ㅤ⠀One life. This life.

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

ㅤ⠀❝. . . Is there something we could do? I'm afraid I'm not quite familiar with - well, could we do a celebration of life in the courtyard? To remember them by?❞

ㅤ⠀His men, they would have funeral pyres and rites read upon their deaths, if they were not of the Beacon.

[ᅠ𖤓. • 𝓰𝑶𝑳𝑫𝑬𝑵 ᅠ☀️ * ᅠ ℋ𝐨𝐮𝐫 @greatsunpath]

ᅠ
he leaned like that in silence, his head nodding and body settling deeper into him.

it took a moment. but he spoke again.

"I miss them. this is the first year since their passing I've spent in this place. in this room."
ᅠ

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

with the Bright Queen. She is favorable to you, you would have our aid, at the very least. But that is still an *if, and not a *when.❞

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

ㅤ⠀Arm winding around his waist, he turns his head to press a kiss against the top of his head. War - that made his blood chill within his veins. No stranger to war, but the idea of Faris going through yet another one. . .

ㅤ⠀❝If* that time comes, I will speak

[ᅠ𖤓. • 𝓰𝑶𝑳𝑫𝑬𝑵 ᅠ☀️ * ᅠ ℋ𝐨𝐮𝐫 @greatsunpath]

⠀
the touch eases him a little. and it draws his body, dirty and sweaty as it is, back towards him. his head settling on his shoulder with a soft sigh

"I hope. but there's still whispers of war returning. there's so much to get done
⠀

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

@greatsunpath ☆\\

When twt never sends the response. . . . . .🫠

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

ㅤ⠀Plopping down beside the 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 with a sigh. Summer was truly well here, it seems. . . Gathering silver strands up into a fist before using his free hand to tie it up and off of his neck.

[Astropics @astropics]

The beauty of the Orion Nebula 🥹

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

ㅤ⠀His hand reached over, settling upon his partner's shoulder gently. ❝But you are back, and things are progressing relatively well. They would be proud of you for making it back, no?❞

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

ㅤ⠀A soft chuckle; yes, she *was trouble, but she was good trouble to have around. His gaze shifted, taking in the forge- the different works in progress strewn about, just waiting for Faris to return to them.

ㅤ⠀Oh. His eyes widen slightly as he follows the gesture.

[ᅠ𖤓. • 𝓰𝑶𝑳𝑫𝑬𝑵 ᅠ☀️ * ᅠ ℋ𝐨𝐮𝐫 @greatsunpath]

⠀
"she's trouble like that."

a familiar of all things. insisting - no, demanding - to be with him. he doesn't have the heart to dispell her.

his eyes look to Verin, and he adjusts the kerchief tied around his head.

"sorry. I just had
⠀

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

❝I'm sorry,❞ he murmured, brow furrowing.

ㅤ⠀He couldn't even pretend to imagine what that had been like; his own relationship with his mother and father had been tumultuous as best. But Faris- Faris had loved their's, and then had been forced to watch their execution.

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

ㅤ⠀He'd come to learn that when Faris busied himself with creating - his mind was often full to bursting. Something *wrong.

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

ㅤ⠀❝She's smart like that.❞ He hums, leaning his hip against the table gently, careful not to bump nor disrupt Faris' work. He reaches over, tucking a golden curling strand behind their ear. ❝I woke, and you were already gone this morning. . . Something on your mind?❞

[ᅠ𖤓. • 𝓰𝑶𝑳𝑫𝑬𝑵 ᅠ☀️ * ᅠ ℋ𝐨𝐮𝐫 @greatsunpath]

⠀
the room is very large. the balcony with bookshelves and a desk. the main room with the kindling and large anvils. another desk with tools, the one he's over.

"really. I kick you out so you go to Verin to get back in?" he mutters
⠀

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

ㅤ⠀❝Hush, you-❞ Verin huffed, watching the cat LAUNCH out of his arms to run up to Faris. He follows after, glancing around; he'd never been in *here, before.

ㅤ⠀❝Hello, love.❞ A soft greeting as he approaches, a brow raising. ❝Is this where you've been all day?❞

[ᅠ𖤓. • 𝓰𝑶𝑳𝑫𝑬𝑵 ᅠ☀️ * ᅠ ℋ𝐨𝐮𝐫 @greatsunpath]

⠀
Halwa let out a sound of complaint as she's picked up. but settles some as Verin knocks.

there isn't an answer from inside, but the doors respond. with a light mimicking Verins silhouette flashing from his feet to his height- the
⠀

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

hear if he knocked? Worth a shot. Knuckles rap against the stone before he calls out, ❝Faris, mon amor? Are you inside?❞

ㅤ⠀Looking for a way to *open the forge.

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

ㅤ⠀Verin nearly trips over his own feet in his haste to keep up with her, quietly murmuring 'pardon me's to servants as he tried to keep up with her. Up the stairs- to the forge. His brows furrow as he leans down, scooping her up in his arms.

ㅤ⠀. . . Would Faris even

[ᅠ𖤓. • 𝓰𝑶𝑳𝑫𝑬𝑵 ᅠ☀️ * ᅠ ℋ𝐨𝐮𝐫 @greatsunpath]

⠀
another loud meow, she slips out, and starts dashing through the halls. up the steps towards the forgery. the large stone doors closed, while she just sits there starting to cry at the door.
⠀

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

ㅤ⠀Blink. His head tilts, watching her before it clicks. Follow! ❝Okay, okay- show me the way, then.❞ He sighs, pulling on a pair slippers to follow her. No use for full plate armor at the moment, not here.

[ᅠ𖤓. • 𝓰𝑶𝑳𝑫𝑬𝑵 ᅠ☀️ * ᅠ ℋ𝐨𝐮𝐫 @greatsunpath]

⠀
a bsoft trill leaves her. her head pushing up into his hand along her back as the circles it a few times. before she trots towards the door and looks back at him.
⠀

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

ㅤ⠀A surprised sound from the closet; he'd been in the midst of hanging up his clothes. He turns, brow raising at the sight of Halwa. ❝Hello, you- why are you crying so much? What's wrong?❞ He coos, coming over to pet down her head.

[ᅠ𖤓. • 𝓰𝑶𝑳𝑫𝑬𝑵 ᅠ☀️ * ᅠ ℋ𝐨𝐮𝐫 @greatsunpath]

⠀
halwa slips between servants. her tail brushing their legs before she slips into @tskhnd 's room. sitting and meowing over and over.
⠀

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

ㅤ⠀Sitting upon the back of his horse, brows furrowed in the soft light of Bazzoxan. A soft click of his teeth and a push of his heels, he urges the white mare forward to the abnormaly short line.

ㅤ⠀Maybe it's the heat keeping travelers at bay. . .

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

ㅤ⠀What if I moved go Nur'thalas. What then.

[──𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿 @tskhnd]

ㅤ⠀I miss Faris.