halfbloodhill | iris message

Entry tags:

iris message

[Alcuin's grateful for one of the powers he inherited from his mother, for once- at least he doesn't have to show the whole camp how hard he's been crying. He looks as pretty as ever, but his aura of calm and happiness has been replaced by one of intense purpose.]

I need to learn to fight better than I do. Sword, dagger, bow and arrow, hand to hand- I need to improve my skills. Would anyone be willing to tutor me? I'll owe you a big favour.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Jehan's face drops. He knows how important his uncle was to Alcuin, though he doesn't know the details]

Mon Dieu. Are you certain? Have you tried to contact him?

Yes, I tried and tried...

[After he'd stumbled out of the woods, just to be sure. He can feel the tears prickling his eyes again and he hits the ground hard with his clenched hand.]

He's really gone. They murdered him and buried his body in our backyard.

Oh, Alcuin.

[He promptly pulls the boy into a hug, trying not to cry himself. He can't imagine what Alcuin must be going through right now]

I am so, so sorry.

[Alcuin stiffens and then goes limp, burying his head in Jehan's shoulder. He cries quietly, but the other boy can probably feel the tears soaking his shirt.

He straightens up eventually, wiping his eyes and banishing any evidence that the tears ever happened- no red eyes or nose or tear tracks.]

I'm going to kill them. All of them.

That's an awful lot of people for one person to kill.

[Unlike Alcuin, Jehan cries openly. He kept it quiet, but his eyes are red]

I don't really care. I suppose I'll need help. But I'm not going to stop until he's avenged, until they're gone and they can never hurt anyone else.

[He bites his lip to stop the tears again.]

That's why I have to learn to fight. I promised him I'd think it through and I wouldn't do anything stupid.

[He knows he shouldn't, but Jehan hopes Alcuin won't hurt Zane. It's stupid and he's trying to get over the other boy, but Zane was his first love. He still dreams, sometimes, that he'll come back and tell him it was all a ruse to trick the Red Room.

He nods]

I'll help you, Alcuin. I don't want to lose more people to the Red Room.

[If Zane gets in his way... well, shedding family blood is a bad idea, but Alcuin might not let that stop him.

He reaches over to squeeze Jehan's hand.]

Thanks. It's horrible being stuck here at camp, knowing they're out there, beyond our reach.

[He squeezes back]

It is, a little. At the same time, though, I'm glad we're all here and able to train and come up with a plan rather than wandering around outside of camp confused.

[Alcuin can't help thinking about the demigods who are. Delaunay was a son of Athena, after all- other adult demigods are in danger, and those who haven't come to camp yet, and- he doesn't think he can breathe anymore. He pours himself some tea with a shaking hand.]

We have to stop them soon or more people will die.

We do.

[And Jehan wants to stop them right now. But he knows that they can't. They're not ready, not strong enough]

I'm not silly enough to think that last fight beat them, but maybe we crippled them. We haven't heard much from them since then, after all. Maybe that's why they went after your guardian--they're looking for recruits.

You could be right. But then they're still killing the ones who won't...

[He sighs and grits his teeth.]

I hate being helpless.

But you're not.

[He takes Alcuin's hand again, squeezing it]

A helpless person would have taken what happened to their guardian and given up. You want to fight and get back at them and do whatever it takes to make them pay.

[Alcuin nods.]

He wanted me to swear I wouldn't seek vengeance. I couldn't do it.

[And now he feels guilty for it, for denying the last thing Anafiel wanted.]

Maybe he just wanted you to promise not to do something stupid. Like, Star Wars level of revenge stupid.

I don't know what you mean, Jehan.

[He never saw Star Wars.]

I promised him I wouldn't be stupid, though.

...remind me to talk to Gabriel about a movie night.

[Seriously, when Jehan's seen a movie...]

And I think that's all he wanted. He wouldn't want you to die because of him.

That would never have been up to him.

[Alcuin would have died for him a thousand times if he could.]

Why wouldn't it be? He died for you, I bet. Why waste it?

I'm not going to waste it.

[He barely manages to rein in the fury in his voice. He isn't angry at Jehan, he's angry at the universe, at Gaea, at the Red Room- not at his friend.]

But it's my life and I would have gladly lost it for him.

I know, Alcuin. But don't go death-seeker on me, please?

[He shakes his head, running his fingers through the sand.]

If you had one chance to be together with Zane, wouldn't you want to take it?

[Jehan falls silent before hugging his knees to his chest]

I...I don't know. It would depend on the situation, I think. I wouldn't join the Red Room or die to be with him, I know that much.

I want to be with him. It's all I've ever wanted- I'd follow him anywhere.

[The passion in his voice is unmistakable. He's not exaggerating in the slightest.]

But I can't follow him into Hades. I know that, so- don't worry too much.

[He nods, relieved]

I just don't want to lose more people.

(no subject)

unstinting - 2013-10-20 23:22 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only