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 Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2022 9:14 am
He nodded, agreeing with the plan to get inside the cave, but he hadn’t expected the apology from Alastor. His instinct was to tell Alastor that he had nothing to be sorry for. He hadn’t done anything wrong.
But Sessrumnir had a feeling that it was more than just a catch all. He could tell that everything was bothering him. The Core itself was strong at the moment, and he could feel it more than what could have been interpreted as Devyn’s emotions in the necklace.
That didn’t matter. He might have only known Devyn for less than a year, but he knew he loved his World, and he loved Percy. He’d fought so hard to get to where he was for Percy. And for that, Michael was grateful. It meant he got to meet Devyn, after all.
“We’ll be okay,” he said instead. He knew Devyn, but he didn’t know what he was thinking. It didn’t help that Devyn was hard to read sometimes.
“Besides, I’ve got to give you your ring back once this is all over. Percy would be pretty upset with me if I didn’t,” he hummed. “We’ll talk about stuff later, if you want. Now’s… well, it might not be a good time.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2022 9:51 am
“No, it’s not a good time,” Alastor agreed, maybe for the first time admitting–at least in part–that he probably wasn’t doing as well as he postured. But, if anyone was going to know that already, it was going to be Michael.
Alastor didn’t drop the act, though; he still didn’t want Sessrumnir to worry. Or to doubt.
“But you’re right. Perce would be real upset if anything happened to that ring. I would, too. But I know it’s safe with you.”
Because, they would be okay.
Water was flowing in rivulets down the rocks, rushing past them. Alastor didn’t slow his pace, but he did take greater caution with each step, just to make sure they made it down the last few feet safely.
He shined the light around, partly grateful to see where they were going. A part of him still dreaded what else the light might show, but there were no pale, forlorn faces watching from the distance.
They were alone. For now.
He didn’t let go of Sessrumnir’s arm, though. “We’ll be at the cave in a minute. If we’re going into this, to the source of it all, it’s going to fight, Michael,” he said, quietly. He knew what he’d been through. He was running out of time to make sure Sessrumnir was prepared. “I don’t know what it’s going to do.” He wasn’t optimistic enough to think this was going to be easy.
“It’s not real. Just remember that. I’d say it can’t hurt you, but.” He shrugged, maybe with a bit of extra emphasis on his shoulder. It hurt a bit, but he tried not to let his face show it; he didn’t want Michael to fuss or chastise him for being a bit careless about it.
“You’re stronger than it is. And I am, too. But I’m glad you’re here with me for this.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2022 10:04 am
“It’s not real,” Sessrumnir agreed as he eased his way along the water-saturated ground, still letting Alastor hold onto him to help support him. But he also understood what Alastor was implying.
“I’ve revisited memories that have haunted me in nightmares for years,” he said after a moment, wanting to both reassure Alastor that he was prepared, but also maybe give him a bit of a warning. Just in case those images tried to manipulate him.
“I’ve played out the scenarios in my head over and over. I’m… not at peace with everything, but I know -- ultimately -- it wasn’t my fault.”
He didn’t know if he ever said something like that out loud. Why would he have ever needed to? It was his burden alone to bear. But he also knew that there were some things -- many things -- that Alastor also thought was his burden and no one else needed to be bothered by it.
They were supposed to be doing this -- everything -- together. So like tug-of-war against each other -- maybe if they slowly started relaxing the rope, ensuring the other wouldn’t fall in the process, they could eventually let the rope go completely. Being around Devyn, Michael could already feel the heaviness and tension in his life lessen. And he hoped it was the same for Devyn.
“And like hell I was going to let you go alone. You would have gotten lost already, or fell into the river,” Sessrumnir huffed after a few moments. They were close. They had no idea what they would be facing, but he hoped Alastor would trust him to help in every way possible.
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Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2022 10:15 am
“You’re not wrong,” Alastor admitted. “I tend to be a bit unlucky when you’re not around.”
Maybe he was just a bit more reckless when he wasn’t thinking about Michael. He could get away with a bit more when he wasn’t thinking about worrying him. But, he’d made promises. They both had.
“It might not be as easy to remind myself that it’s not real if you weren’t here. I’m not so good at revisiting those moments,” he admitted, but he was careful with what he said because now wasn’t a good time. He couldn’t dig too deep. He didn't know what it would do to him, and even if he did, it wasn’t fair to Michael.
“I’ve played them over in my head, but.”
He wasn’t sure he could say he was at peace with any of it.
He also wasn’t sure he could say he’d have done things differently.
But. There was too much to get into there, and they had to worry about the cave, now. The golden sparks were guiding them–around the corner. Into the darkness.
Dread settled over Alastor and he sighed audibly.
His flashlight caught a rock and reflected into–the cave.
Alastor’s heart was in his stomach, but it wasn’t enough to stop him. Even though they’d made their way down the slope, he didn’t release Sessrumnir’s arm. He wanted to borrow his strength, just for a minute more.
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