sometimes you can't make it

[modforged]

Who: Alexstrasza, Krasus/Korialstrasz, and the Redsworn
What: Successful retreat into the Ruby Sanctum
Where: Ruby Sanctum
When: After a long, grueling battle near the borders of Suramar
Warnings: Please PM the mods if any warnings are needed

[The Ruby Sanctum is a flurry of activity. This becomes clear within two seconds of stepping through the portal. The wounded are guided over to a grassy clearing surrounded by saplings and adolescent trees, bade to lay down and receive healing from other dragonkin. Some of the trees are years old, while a few look to have shot up recently. If you watch, vines engulf one fallen warrior; the body sinks into the ground, and a tiny sapling appears in its place.

Despite the war going on outside, the sanctum is less of a cavern and more like a self-contained dimension. Ample sunlight drifts down through scarlet leaves, which are occasionally home to the crimson scales of a whelpling. There is life everywhere: insects on twigs, birds chirping overhead, flowers at your feet. Dragon eggs lay nestled in the nooks and crannies offered by the tranquil forest. There is a decently-sized spring filled with fresh, pure water, as well as some small rocky outcroppings to sleep in. It's warm and comfortable enough to rest out in the open, too.

The cloaked and ever-mysterious Krasus stands watching the dispersing redsworn, his back against the massive oak in the center of the sanctum.

Occasionally, one may glimpse a beautiful red-haired woman with copper skin winding through the copse.]

[ooc: Mingle log for redsworn!]

Comments

[wilder]

You didn't tell anyone?

[That seems... a little sad. Sure, the Initiative had made good on their promise to let them live (or rather, there weren't enough members to do anything else about it), but what if they hadn't? Would everyone who had known Luke be completely unaware to his fate?]

[Then again, he didn't tell several people about his death. So maybe he shouldn't judge]

A cousin, huh... [So quick to just say he could be family- it's almost touching, he barely knows what to make of it.]

[He's still pessimistic. And he knows that he needs to find his Sheena if he does manage to live through this. But...for right now, he'll at least entertain the thought to get his mind off things right now]

Heh, it would be nice to sleep in an actually proper bed again. [Not the shitty ones the Initiative gave them, or the ground like they're gonna do here]

[chosenfake]

[Yeah, you're not one to judge, Mr. Bad End...

Luke doesn't seem to notice it's kind of a huge thing to inflict on someone, even casually. At least, not until a couple seconds after he's said it. The gears turn in his head, and then he begins to turn pink.]

S-- Sorry, I should've asked if you had other ideas first! Family is kind of a big deal, and of course I'd have to ask Asch, too... I didn't mean to imply anything--

[Luke. Luke, SHUT UP.]

[wilder]

[And there's the catch. Asch would probably say no, same with whoever made up the Fon Fabre family. Even if he does look older, Luke is still just a kid it seems.]

[So Zelos does what Zelos does best, brush off emotions like they are nothing and detaching]

Ahaha, don't worry about it, Luke. [he gives a wave of his hand] I know you were just throwing out ideas.

There's I got someone I gotta find anyway after all this. I'm gonna be in hot water enough as it is for disappearing for this on her. Better not make it worse.

[chosenfake]

[Luke can't help but feel like he said the wrong thing. He frowns, a tiny bit petulant, and pulls his knees up to his chest.] ... It would be kind of neat if we were related, though.

[Anyway.]

Someone you have to find? [A pause.] Did you make a promise to come home, too?

[wilder]

Ha... [His grin is a bit more forced] I dunno, you might find me to be a pain like most of my relatives do.

[Understatement of the year. Even Seles, in the end he did nothing but make everything much worse for her. Just thinking about it makes his gut twist painfully.]

Nah...nothing like that. Just made a promise I wouldn't leave. Then I did leave, two days later. [He tilts his head and scratches his head] See why I'm in a bit of a bind?

[chosenfake]

All you've ever done is help me. I bet I'm more of a pain than you are.

[Especially considering his past. But he doesn't go into it right now.]

-- Oh. Yeah, I can see that. Maybe if you explain what happened...

[wilder]

You? [He snorts] Please. You're like a little puppy.

[HOW CAN YOU BE MAD AT A PUPPY???]

That I got kidnapped by dragons to fight against demons in a magical world? Yeah, that'll be believable.

[chosenfake]

It's about as believable as time traveling to fight a war against a crazy brainwashing--

[He's never been called a puppy before, and he halts mid-sentence as he begins to turn pink.]

I-I'm not a puppy! What the hell?!

[wilder]

[He laughs and reaches over to ruffle Luke's hair.]

Aw, of course! You're totally the biggest and fiercest swordsmen around! Yes you are!

[chosenfake]

[Luke sputters and flails, trying to shove the offending hand away. Not too hard. He's just... embarrassed. Having his hair ruffled reminds him of Guy, and of home, but mostly it just makes him really fucking flustered.]

S-shut up!!

[wilder]

[He'll pull his hand away and be snickering!]

Your face matches your hair now.

[chosenfake]

[It really does.]

Ha ha. If I give you a black eye, I bet it'll match your clothes.

[wilder]

Aw, you wouldn't really punch me in the face would you?

[chosenfake]

I'm thinking about it.

But you made dinner, so I guess punching the cook is off limits tonight.

[wilder]

How very gracious of you.

But I'll take what I can get. Cooking's probably gonna be my only contribution to everyone now that my healing's gone.

[Then a shrug] Well, cooking and my stunning good looks, of course.

[chosenfake]

[... lol.]

In that case, you can be on the front line. I'm sure your stunning good looks will stop a demon attack.

[wilder]

Ha ha. Harsh, lil cousin, harsh.

[chosenfake]

[It's strange, but that little nickname makes him kind of happy. A year ago he wouldn't have dreamt he'd be sharing dinner and stories with Kaneis by a fire.]

How old are you, anyway?

[wilder]

[Luke see it's cuteness like this that earns you the puppy comparison]

I'm twenty-three.

[chosenfake]

Wow, really? You act a lot older.

[Unlike Luke.]

[wilder]

Heh, really? [He's never heard that one before]

And just how old did you think I was?

[ANSWER CAREFULLY LUKE FON FABRE]

[chosenfake]

[Luke scritches his cheek.]

Twenty seven? Something like that. Not that you look like it.

[wilder]

[Twenty-seven.....okay, that age is young enough not to be offended by. So he instead chuckles. Lucky lucky Luke]

Ahaha....yeah. Most people tend to assume I'm younger than I am...

[chosenfake]

[He's lucky sometimes. Sometimes... ... okay, about never, but.]

Well, that's because you look nineteen.

[wilder]

Hey hey- I'd say I could pass for at least twenty-one!