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]

[ She folds her wings into her back before edging into view. She's back to her scruffy self, favoring leathers and furs to satins and silk. Nymeria returns to her without her needing to call. Arya cards her fur. Needle is in her hand. She bites her lip as she looks him over. ]

How do you know my name?

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[His eyes move to her wings, involuntary, concern being the forefront emotion his expression betrays]

How...when did you get a keycrest?

[Then, confusion crosses his features]

You don't remember me?

[wolfchild]

A while ago. You still haven't answered me.

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

I knew you...before you were taken.

[Then, a lot more quietly] I was supposed to protect you.

[wolfchild]

I don't remember you.

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[His heart sinks in his chest. But she could see him, that had to mean something]

Oh. [His ears fall back, he'd waited for the chance to see her again (for as the bringer of hope, he could not quell it completely, as much as he wished he could sometimes) but now... now what]

Not even a little?

[wolfchild]

No.

[ He's…sad. Arya feels bad. ]

I'm sorry.

Are you- are you with the Resistance?

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[So not only had they toyed with the children, made them puppets, but taken their memory too. If only Tooth was here]

No. I work by myself. I don't want anything to do with any of them.

[wolfchild]

You're alone then?

[ Arya bites her lip. ]

Were you sworn to me?

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

I am. And it won't be the first time, either. [It was easier, really]

I'm sworn to all children. For all the good it did them.

[wolfchild]

[ She tries to think of what her father would do. Nymeria doesn't seem to mind him, which is the biggest point in his favor. Drawing herself up to her full (not very impressive) height, Arya speaks seriously. ]

You can renew your vows to me. You'll be my bannerman. I'll not ask you to do anything that would dishonor you and you will come to my aid when I call.

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[He's silent for a moment. He remembers, as he always remembers, her speaking of her bannermen. For these two years he's done everything he can possibly do to keep himself from this world of people.

...But once you became a Guardian, you couldn't get rid of it. It wasn't something you could walk away from. He glances up at the sky, at where he knows Paradisa's bright blue moon could be visible if it were night. Knowing HE isn't up there. Isn't watching, nor guiding... nor anything.

He realises he needs to do this, possibly far more than he really wants to right now. For fear of failing her again. But it's an intrinsic part of him, and has been since he was chosen. Possibly even before that]

I reckon I could do that.

[wolfchild]

[ She smiles. She hasn't yet been betrayed by those she believed sworn to her family. She hasn't yet been held against by her will by those who claimed to be acting righteously and only saw in her a gold squirrel to sell. She still believes honor and duty exist.

So she smiles.

Arya crosses toward him to take his paw in her hands. ]

Then you are sworn to me and I am to you. What shall I call you?

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[If only he knew, he wouldn't be sure to be happy or sad for her. To have such faith...at the cost of knowing what the future holds for her.

Still, for now, he starts to feel the never-truly-dead flicker of hope return to him, as she takes his paw]

The name's Bunnymund.

...You used to call me Rabbit.

[wolfchild]

You will be my Ser Rabbit. You come with me. Nymeria and I are hunting. We have to find food for Drogon.

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[That brings a faint smile to his face, the first he's had for a long time]

Who'd Drogon?

[wolfchild]

You cannot tell anyone. [ She looks around to ascertain they're alone. She cannot hear anyone either. Pleased, she drops her voice to a whisper. ] He's a dragon.

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[He raises a paw] Won't tell a soul, I promise.

[Then, a surprised look. Well, well] That's something I've never seen around here before.

[wolfchild]

He has to stay hidden. It'd be bad if he's found.

[ Magic-increasing dragons are something that cannot be allowed to fall into bad people's hands. ]

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

I can well imagine. Mithos would have a bloody field day with a dragon.

[wolfchild]

[ There are other things too, but those require several more trust points. ]

How did we meet?

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

You spoke to me over the journals, when I first arrived.

[wolfchild]

Were we friends?

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

We were. You meant a great deal to me...still do.

[wolfchild]

Why didn't you find me?