OPEN POST: THE ANNIVERSARY

[gentleidealist]

THE ANNIVERSARY

[It's been exactly two years since Mithos took over Paradisa. That's two years of delightful massacres, scaring people into the Dead Zone, and manipulating former friends with the ageless face of a Kharlan hero. Two years of your character struggling to hold onto life as they know it while under the shadow of a fearsome ruler from another world. Two years of scraping to get by, cowering in the Dead Zone, waiting for a chance to go home or a death that Paradisa can't-- won't-- give.

There is nothing planned for today, though there are a few whimsical sort of changes that Mithos called for. The angels are on security detail as usual, policing the grounds; however, Mithos and his closest subordinates may be stepping outside. There is a grand feast set up in the ballroom... but angels don't eat, so it's really just for show. The place has the air of a graveyard party where even the dead decide not to attend.

There is an undercurrent of anxiety tonight, a breath held in anticipation. Something is about to happen, and even the insects are quiet.]

CASTLE GROUNDS
INSIDE THE WALLS
THRONE ROOM
BASEMENT
THE OUTSKIRTS
TOWN
DANY'S CAVE
DEAD ZONE SETTLEMENT
THE FOREST

[ooc: HUGE OPEN MINGLING POST for characters who either reside in the castle as angelic little zombies, or people who are returning for whatever reason. Please don't threadjack something without notifying the muns in advance!

You are free to make your own sections if you'd like and I'll add them to this post :)]

Comments

[wolfchild]

[ Arya hovers by the cave entrance. Her fingers card Nymeria's fur. ]

Magic is stronger here. He makes it.

[draca]

[ The voice is so familiar she feels as if her heart will burst, for a moment her eyes are far away and she remembers the children along the road. She remembers every single one. ]

Arya. [ Her own voice trembles as she sprints to the entrance, from deep within Drogon makes a noise almost like a whine.

There is more age to her as she steps out, she is taller, her hair a little longer, the flames of a dragon in her eyes. ]

Yes, he has grown fierce and wild and unruly. He misses the freedom of the skies, he misses fighting with his brothers above the pyramids of Meereen.

He has missed you, fierce wolf, as I have.

[wolfchild]

[ She does not smile. Her smiles are so rare these days. Daenerys is still here and all she can do is bite her lip. ]

You left. [ Her tone is vaguely accusatory. ]

[draca]

Not by choice. [ She cannot fault her for her tone, Daenerys herself felt guilt grip her heart upon her return with Drogon by her side. ]

Had I the power to stop it, I would have.

[wolfchild]

[ Arya ducks her head. She feels bad for bringing it up now. It's not Dany's fault really. ]

Where are Viserion and Rhaegal?

[draca]

In Meereen, my city, with my army and people.

[wolfchild]

You stayed across the sea.

[ She says nothing else. ]

[draca]

I had to. [ It was not a choice she made easily. ] When I conquered the Slavers Bay, the cities I left behind fell to chaos. If I could not hold them what hope did I have of ruling Westeros.

[wolfchild]

You have no hope as long as you remain there. Even dragons don't reach that far.

[ She would say more, but she stops. Shakes her head. ]

It doesn't matter. Come, Nymeria.

[ Let's not have her far from flameproof direwolf near a grumpy dragon. ]

[draca]

I know. [ It angers her, though she knows her city will not crumble to ruin without her, she still wants to be free of this place's clutches. ]

You are leaving?

[wolfchild]

Drogon will need meat. It's too dangerous to let him fly. If he's spotted, we'll be found.

[draca]

[ She lets go of the breath she did not realize she was holding. ]

Words cannot begin to express my gratitude Arya, please be safe and I shall try to keep him from flying.

[wolfchild]

[ Again, she hesitates. Words tumble senselessly in her head, crowd her throat. In the end, she leaves without a word. Her wings blink into being before she drifts down the mountainside. Nymeria follows her at a brisk pace. ]

[draca]

[ Daenerys does not like it, again she thinks of the one hundred and sixty three children nailed along the road to Meereen, and she wants to call Arya back. To hold her close and keep her safe. But Arya can take care of herself, a voice says, Arya is as strong as her wolf.

I am the blood of the dragon.

Swallowing the lump in her throat she turns and heads deeper into the cave, past the stone doorway melted open by dragonfire and into the nest of her wild child.

There she will wait, while Drogon's mood allows it, beside Balerion reborn for the girl and her wolf. ]

[wolfchild]

[ Arya returns several hours later, alone, hauling a deer with her. She brings it inside the cave. Her wings cast a dim shimmering light on the walls. ]

Daenerys.

[draca]

[ Drogon smells the kill before the girl reaches him and stirs, stretching wings and jaw as she comes into eye shot. A command from Daenerys stills him from snatching it off her, but it is clear the dragon is not pleased. ]

You have returned.

[ She blinks, a puzzled look falling onto her features. ]

Where is Nymeria?

[wolfchild]

Still climbing. I want you to meet someone.

[ She heads back a ways and grabs Bunny's elbow. ]

This is Ser Rabbit. He's my sworn sword. [ Sworn Boomerang if you want to get technical.

And she has no idea only she and the animals can see him. w h o o p s ]

[wilder]

[At this point he was sitting nearby, sharpening his sword.]

[When she starts talking to air...he'll side eye at Dany]

[He swears this isn't a side effect of being an angel okay]

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[Yeah he probably should have mentioned that, oops. He'll waves a paw, but when that gets no response, he'll clear his throat]

There's something about me you need to know. People? They can only see me when they believe in me. Otherwise, I'm invisible.

[draca]

[ With his meal free to be devored, Drogon takes it between his teeth and retreats further into his nest. For a brief moment the entire cave is filled with the hot air of his flames.

Daenerys is unbothered, eyes narrowed in confusion as Arya presents her sworn sword. There is no one there. ]

Arya... [ How do you tell a child who has suffered so much that her mind may have fractured.

Her mouth opens to speak, only to be silence by the rumble from Drogon midst his meal. If he could speak he would certainly be asking what that unfamiliar smell is.

And if he could eat it. ]

1/2

[wolfchild]

[ You don't. That's how.

Arya looks from Zelos and Dany's confused faces to Bunny. ]

Is this a jape?

[ But it couldn't be because it's not funny and he wouldn't have been able to tell them anything anyway. ]

[wolfchild]

[ Angry, she rounds on Bunny. ]

You couldn't have told me that before I looked like mad?!

[wilder]

[Yep, this is just getting weirder and weirder]

...Everything okay, my little wolf?

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

Streuth! I didn't know you'd just announce me like that.

[He frowns, before pulling out an old paintbrush from his bandoleer, the fibres of the brush stiff from disuse. Still, it would serve its purpose.

Very carefully, he starts to draw a rabbit on the floor of the cave]

[draca]

[ The dragon rumbles again from his nest, before letting out a short roar. Oh, he knows that there is something there which is more than enough to convince Daenerys.

Well, the rabbit drawn on the floor by air also helps. ]

This Ser Rabbit, he is there? [ What a funny name for a knight. ] Why can I not see him?