Brother in His Light

Log Info

• Title: Brother in His Light

• Emitter: Skielstregar

• Characters: Andelena, Skielstregar

• Place: Temple of Daeus

• Summary: Andelena steps out to go feed her cats when she spots Skielstregar trying to reach a greater understanding with his weapon. With Deliverance recently awakened, the Sunguard discusses the matter of Malefic possibly awakening soon. The conversation turns to Skielstregar's standing with Daeus, which culminates in kind words and bearhugs.

The Temple of Daeus, Morning

Finally, the awful weather has abated, though ice and snow still blanket the ground, the sunlight dazzling and sparkling across the frozen scape. Though, on the Sun Lord's grounds, nothing except a gentle breeze and warmth suffices through the air.

Another figure there too is dazzling, though just from the sun hitting shiny silver scales. A massive makari in armor has their hand on their hips, squinting at a halberd that is standing upright all on its own. The flat of the axehead facing him, runes glimmering across its ominous profile. "Ok, Malefic. Let'sss try thisss again. Do a turn if you agree, pleassse. Erm, are you well?"

It doesn't move.

He rubs his face. "... can you hear thiss one?"

Statuesque.

"... hrm. Perhapsss thisss one iss a fool for doing it thisss way...."

It slowly turns around on, still upright.

"... h-hey!"

The runes glimmer a little brighter.

Andelena steps out into the grounds, cloak drawn around her body as she wears the more comfortable tunic and breeches that she's worn as of late. Curiously, the sword Deliverance is not strapped to her back, but worn on a sword belt that sits on her hips, and Andelena's hand is on the hilt as she walks. "It's fucking cold," she complains.

"Language," comes the voice of an older woman. "It is very cold."

Andelena rolls her eyes. "Alright. It's very fucking cold. How about that?"

"... You know, if you swear too much, they lose their potency, right? Similar to being dosed with a poison. The people who are around you become immune. Have you considered that?" The older female voice replies.

Any argument Andelena has against that dies as she looks at Skielstregar and... Well, what he's doing with Malefic. She stares for a moment, and then she has a look on her face like she's about to snicker.

"Don't say it," the older female voice sighs.

"Not gonna," Andelena replies. "Hey, Skiel!" she calls.

"Could you be straightforward with thisss one for once, pleassse?" Skiel attempts to diplomatize.

Malefic doesn't budge.

The makari is about to answer another question, but Andie is calling out to him. He spins around, tail armor clacking behind him. "Mrrh? Oh! Warrior Andelena! Peassse on your nessst and praise be Hisss Light upon-" >Clang!<

Malefic has fallen and knocks against his back. "Ack!" He scoops it up, frowning at it. "You are being rambunctious today."

Seeing the polearm fall down again, there's another look on Andelena's face like she's trying very hard to suppress the instinct to laugh. Another sigh comes from the older female voice. "Do not."

"Not gonna," Andelena replies again, before she sighs. "Sorry. My sword appears to have, uh. 'Awakened', as Seldan put it to me. So she talks now."

She peers at Malefic and then at Skielstregar himself. "Looks like you're trying to talk with yours, too, yeah?"

Skielstregar blinks, him looking about as the other voice comes about. But he stoops down, squinting at the blade on the Sunguard's hip. "... wuh..?" He snaps upright. "Ah! Oh! Uh, h-hello! Erm, thisss one iss Ssskielstregar, Warrior Cassste. You probably already know that," he rambles to the blade.

He glances to Malefic in hand, and he bobs his head slowly. "Ssshaman Zeke hass helped thisss one in getting ssssome answerssss from the Sssun Lord. Apprently, Malefic usssed to sssserve Him."

He pulls the halberd out to show it between them. "They sssometimesss reply, but they are being... cheeky? It isss hard to pin down their temperament."

The weapon rolls in his palm one revolution. "Like that. They are trying, but it isss... difficult."

"I am familiar with you, but unmet only on a technicality," Deliverance replies. "Regardless, it is a pleasure to meet you, noble Skielstregar." The sword's voice sounds distinctly... not like a noble, per se, in that she sounds like she was raised with a silver spoon, but she sounds like she holds herself to a higher standard, like a particularly high-ranking servant of the gods might.

Which is to say she makes an awkward pair with Andelena, who says, "Cheeky? Yeah, that can happen. This one likes to get onto me about cussing." She gives Deliverance a sort of a tap on the hilt, which elicits a sigh from the blade again. "I dunno. I got a similar feeling from Deliverance right before... you know, the talking happened."

Andelena smirks. "Maybe yours is on the cusp of 'awakening', too. Maybe spending time here in the Knight's temple grounds helps."

Skiel's wags subtly as he's been called noble, a deep yet faint satisfied rumble. "It isss a pleasssure. Um, thisss one apologizesss for Malefic tapping againssst you," he rumbles, swaying from side to side subtly.

At Andie's insight, his scaled brows shoot up. "Wuh? You... you think ssso?" he echoes, looking down at his polearm. "If... if Malefic ssstarts talking, then... they have many quessstions to ask. Thisss one thinksss they may be sssimliar to Deliverance. There are sssome thingsss they refuse to do, or get frustrated over."

He looks to Andie, the happy sound in his throat having not ceased. "Thisss one spoke with the Dragonfather through Zeke. The Sssun Lord ssstill watchesss thisss one, and sssays they are doing well in his Light. Thisss one thanksss you Warrior Andelena for helping thisss one feel better about sserving Him. For He hasss never took Hisss sight off thisss one."

That news puts a genuinely bright and warm smile on Andelena's face. She actually puts her hand to the amulet of Daeus around her neck and nods emphatically. "The Knight does not abandon any one of us who walks in His light, Skiel," she says reverently. "The only way we ever become lost is if we stumble off the path ourselves with a conscious intent to turn away from the light and into the embrace of the dark."

She lets the amulet fall back down back to underneath her tunic. "I'm also just genuinely pleased you talked to Sunguard Zeke. That man... needs more friends, honestly. I don't know all of what he's been through, because I'm not gonna pry the worst of things from people to satisfy my own damn curiosity, but he's been through it. So have you. And I'm sure as much as you don't mind being around us smoothskins, it's nice to talk to talk to other makari, right? Especially one who serves the Knight like he does."

Deliverance lets Andelena finish talking. Then she says, "I did not mind... 'touching tips' with Malefic. If I recall the terminology correctly--"

That gets Andelena to crack up laughing. Deliverance sighs. "I knew you would do that."

Skielstregar warmly sighs, him looking up to the sky. "Yesss. Thisss one wasss afraid that what hasss been done in the passsst would have sullied that, but for He isss forgiving. And even if thisss one cannot wield Hisss light no more, thisss one will still walk it."

His large head swivels down to Andie, it tilting to the side. "Yesss. Thisss one wisshesss to be friendsss with the Ssshaman. But he isss very busssy and needsss a break. Thisss one, erm, won't ssspeak of thingsss, but we have sssome mutual undersstandingsss of experiencesss."

His tail thuds against the ground. "Yesss. Softssskinsss are kind to thisss one. But it isss easier to converssse with kin on ssssome things."

Frost gathers on his face. "... thingssss like that, yess," he mumbles. "Good. Erm, thisss one isss unsssure if there wasss anything you wisssh to speak about that, Deliverance. You and Malefic acted strange."

Malefic rights themselves, standing upright with runes glimmering. The shiny flat reflecting Skiel's face as he glances to it.

Andelena eventually recovers from her hearty laugh, wiping a tear from her eye. "Ahhh, fuck. That was incredible. Sorry, Deliverance, you kind of walked into that one."

The sword gives a sigh. "I believe... Malefic and I are similar, yes. But I do not have the words for what I am, other than a guide for Andelena. She is my charge and I will mold her into a proper servant of the Knight. Perhaps like the Sunguard Zeke."

That gets another snicker from Andelena. "Yeah, I'll let you know when I can grow a tail like his or like Skiel's, Deliverance," she says, gesturing to the tail thud. "Really though, Skiel--I'm so happy for you. You've gone so long without answers. I'm sure the sun feels brighter now than ever."

Skielstregar weakly chuckles, rubbing his neck. "Thisss one did not realize there wasss ssso many double ssspeaksss for..." He rolls a hand before looking down at the sword. Head quirked to the other side, he looks at Malefic. Stares at himself in the reflection.

Back to Andelena, he softly laughs. "You should try and have a tail for time with sssome kind of magic, it isss very fun!" He taps his chin. "Thisss one thinksss you would be a bronze-scale, Warrior Andelena. But thisss one thinksss the Warrior isss a proper ssservant," he finishes with a sharp nod, a respect glimmering in his dead gaze.

His tail sways. "Ssshhha, thisss one wasss without anssswers for many sssseasonss, many yearss. It isss... relieving. Thisss one believesss they are stuck asss thisss, but that isss okay. The sssun isss very bright."

He releases Malefic, and it stays upright as he holds his arms out to bask in the light, eyes closed. He exhales slowly, rumbling.

His reflection too is turned to the sky. Though its eyes are open, a side glance given to Skiel, Andie, and Deliverance.

"Bronze?" Andelena kind of gives... perhaps a little too much of a thoughtful look, and she nods. "I like that idea. And hey, Deliverance, you hear that? I'm already a proper servant."

"Yes, you are already a good servant, Andelena, but you do not behave entirely as one should," Deliverance responds. "For instance, the swearing. More importantly, your tendency to let your emotions get the best of you. But the swearing is a smaller symptom."

Andelena just pats Deliverance's hilt. "But do you agree with me that Skielstregar's doing well in his own way? Walking on his path in the light the best that he can?"

To this, Deliverance responds: "I do. Especially as I know you feel fond of him as a friend--and as a brother in the Knight's rays. That is my verdict."

"Ssshaa. Bronze. Helpful, warm. But brash and outspoken," Skiel rumbles, eyes still closed. He chuckles at Deliverance's observations. "Some raysss of light are more rash than othersss, no?"

The combined compliment gets the makari to blink rapidly, him glancing between sword and woman. "W-Wha..? A... brother in His..." his voice cracks.

Without notice, massive, ice cold, muscular arms swoop down and bear hug Andelena, lifting her off her feet. "Thisss one iss very happy to be ssseen a-asss one of your own!" he bawls, swaying from side to side.

Andelena didn't exactly expect to be swept off her feet today, but, well, it's happening. She reaches out and pats Skielstregar's scales with a small smile. "Well, it's true," Andelena says. "Although, argh--you're kind of crushing me, big guy."

A happy sort of hum leaves Deliverance. "There. Now you see the value of conveying your feelings more accurately, yes?" Apparently this was a Deliverance lesson in disguise.

"Yeah but--oww my ribs. Ooof." Andelena laughs a little.

Skielstregar rumbles warmly, a doofy (if terrifying) grin on his maw lasts for a few moments before it drops away to sudden concern. "Ack!" Carefully, he places Andie back down on her feet, and a few pinches of talons on armor gets a buckle here and there to set correctly on the woman. "Thisss one apologizesss...! They got a bit, ah, in the moment, they apologize."

If he easily picked up the Sunguard just like that, Sun Lord only knows what sort of havoc he can wreck with that ominous halberd behind him that's-

Skiel's reflection in Malefic is silently laughing. Eyes glimmering bright with life, maw fangless. It's mimicking Skiel's motions but not his concerned expression, which was fussing over hurting Andie.

Andelena laughs a little. "I get it, don't worry," she reassures him, patting his scales a little. "I'm just happy that you're happy. Everyone deserves that, you know?"

Her eyes do catch the reflection in Malefic. Andelena raises a brow, but she looks down to Deliverance... And she nods. "You know," she says. "I think you're probably going to see a connection soon with Malefic, beyond what you've already got. Right?"

The question is asked not only of Skielstregar, but of the polearm itself, too. Like she's expecting it to answer in its own way.

Skiel's visage turns back to a slight grin, tail swaying. "Yess. Everyone doesss. It jussst feels... validating isss all." Her pointing a potential between the silverscale and his enigma of a polearm makes him pause. "Thisss... one really hopesss ssso. Between thisss one and Malefic, it feelsss asss if we are... hrm. We are in the sssame tome, but not the sssame page? Perhapsss once we get on the sssame page..."

While Skiel is busy explaining his thoughts, behind him, Malefic's reflection ceases its laughter. The makari's image twitches, then smears as it breaks free. Brilliant scales rush past, and a single, reptilian slitted silver eye comes into focus. It nictitates, looking at Andelena with a firm stare. The reflection frosts over, clears, and- "... don't you think so, Malefic?"

The reflection is just Skielstregar. The polearm spins once.

"Finally! Thank you for being ssstraightforwa-"

It falls down and bops him with the flat of the axehead on the snout. "Ack!"

Andelena can't help it. She laughs. "Yeah, reminds me of when Deliverance would just buzz whenever I cuss," she says. "You'll get there, eventually."

Deliverance speaks up. "I hate to cut this short, Andelena," she replies. "But... it would be unjust to keep your cats waiting. They are very hungry, I am sure."

"Shit! Right, the girls." Andelena says with a sigh. "Yeah, I better get going to go feed them."

She offers Skielstregar a little wave as she begins to walk off. "Take care, alright, Skiel? And you too, Malefic."

Skiel rubs his snout, bobbing his head as the other hand cradles Malefic. "Yesss. Though thisss one would prefer buzzing."

He blinks. "Ah! Yess, bessst to not let predator animalsss alone for long, they will get rowdy. Pleassse do not lossse any fingersss!"

His idea of a cat and Andie's version of a cat are two different beasts.

"Peasse on your nessst! he grins.

Malefic's reflection simply winks.