(2021-09-20) Sevastyn/Elo - Light and Shadows

[Elohad]: Elohad brightens in surprise at the sight of Sev. This happens even if they had prearranged this meeting. Elo looks like he maybe hasn't been sleeping super great. But he is obviously happy to see Sev. "Hey. Come on in." He steps aside.
[Elohad]: "Don't you look official!"
[Elohad]: Elo looks down at himself ruefully.

[Sevastyn]: Sev smiles crookedly. "Do I? Weel, I suppose I'm semi-official tonight, aye. But also unofficial." He cants his head and studies Elo with shrewd sympathy.

[Elohad]: "Yes. Right." He smiles crookedly, then gestures to a chair. "I've got some wine, if you want. Aspenwood."

[Sevastyn]: "I s'pose a touch wouldnae go amiss. How're ye doin', brother?"

[Elohad]: Elo sits, then immediately stands again. He seems a bit adrift. "Oh, you know. I'm… it's…." He gives up and shrugs.
[Elohad]: "I don't have any right to complain, it's not me that's going through a thing here."
[Elohad]: He pours some wine.

[Sevastyn]: "Well, it en't not you, either. We go through a thing wi' the ones we love, aye? Et's part of lovin' 'em."

[Elohad]: "It's funny… every man likes to say, 'Oh, I'd do it for you if I could, sweetie….' But… I don't know if they're liars or I'm a coward. 'Cause I wouldn't. If it were up to me, I'd have no kids. Not my blood, anyway. I couldn't. Couldn't do that."
[Elohad]: The wine glass overflows a little; he quickly rights the bottle and tidies up.

[Sevastyn]: Sev nods somberly, watching Elo.

[Elohad]: Elo brings him the wine glass, then finally sits.

[Sevastyn]: Sev accepts the glass, still watching Elohad. "She's a stern lass, your missus. Aye? And ye'll be a rock for her, I've nae doubt."

[Elohad]: He nods. "I'm going to do everything I can. Which frankly is almost nothing unless she's about to bleed out, and that's not exactly what a man hopes for in this situation."

[Sevastyn]: Sev's smile is fleeting and grave. "Nae. But ye do enow for her now, I reckon, just by bein', aye? I'm sure ye're seein' tae all. Just havin' ye near tae hand does a world o' good, I expect."

[Elohad]: "Light, I hope so." He exhales heavily, then rakes a hand back through his thinning hair. "I'm sorry, I know you've got business. I'll try to focus."

[Sevastyn]: "We're friends and brothers, Elohad. I'm here tae see you as much as on business, and I'd nae want tae come here and be all business, not wi' you and the missus."

[Elohad]: Elo nods. Tears up. Nods more and faster, as though that will somehow hide the tearing up that's happening.

[Sevastyn]: Sev sets his untouched wine glass aside and rises to go over to Elo's chair.
[Sevastyn]: He offers a hug wordlessly. It is a plate-armored hug but it's a hug. Because Sev and Elo Get Each Other.

[Elohad]: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It's so stupid. I'm not the one — I need to be stronger than this." He does rise, though and clasp his friend fiercely for a moment.

[Sevastyn]: Sev hugs him back, less fiercely because: armor. "Ye only need tae be as strong as ye can, and there's plenty o' friends around ye can borrow from, man."
[Sevastyn]: "We're nae goin' through it, we've enow tae spare. Ye borrow from us sae ye can come home strong tae her."

[Elohad]: "Thanks. It's— good to have that reminder. Thank you. I know I can pay it back in time." He exhales again, a bit more calmly, nods, and takes his seat again.

[Sevastyn]: Sev settles again and picks up the glass. He does take a sip of wine now, but just one, before setting it aside again.
[Sevastyn]: "There's nae debt, now. People don't keep their feelin's like in banks. Et's a garden, things grow back." He smiles at Elo. "But — tae turn toward other ground, if I may?" He waits politely for Elohad to accept the change of subject.

[Elohad]: Elo notices a loose thread on his cuff, and prods it gently with a fingertip before looking up at Sev. "Of course."

[Sevastyn]: Sev studies him gently a moment longer. "Ef ye need me tae come back ano'er time wi' business, I can do that, Elohad. Ef ye just want company this evenin', or ef ye don't …."

[Elohad]: "No, no, let's talk. I should probably think about other things anyway."
[Elohad]: "This isn't a thing that thinking about it harder's gonna help."

[Sevastyn]: Sev nods once. "All right. Well, et's two matters I have tae discuss wi' ye, and one's personal and the other's business. I'll start wi' the personal, if I may? Tae … ease in, as it were." His smile is wry.

[Elohad]: "Sure." He gives him a smiliar return smile. "Let's have it."

[Sevastyn]: "Well, I confess et's a funny bit o' business. The world's smaller than we e'er expect, I suppose. I know a woman come up tae Stormwind only recently, who decided tae search wi' the records hall for any o' her lost kin from the north. And who does she find en the records but a Fionette Crawford?" Sev watches Elohad mildly.

[Elohad]: Elo watches him with a furrowed brow and a rather intent, probing stare, like he's trying to put things together and just can't quite find the necessary pieces rattling around in his brain.

[Sevastyn]: More gently, Sev says, "I believe ye may have cause tae recall a Mirielle Donnach?"

[Elohad]: Elo sits bolt upright, eyes flying wide.

[Sevastyn]: "Or Mirielle Crawford, as was."

[Elohad]: "Of course I remember her! I was supposed to marry her! She's alive?"

[Sevastyn]: Sev nods. "Aye, and just come up tae Stormwind, as I say. She's — eh, this is where the world gets smaller and queerer, aye?" Sev shifts a little awkwardly, though his expression remains mild and warm.

[Elohad]: "That brute she married, he deserted during the Second War. When we were winning. And then they disappeared. I figured without the army's protection they must've been killed… but they… wait, it gets queerer?"

[Sevastyn]: "Nae, he brought them down south, tae Elwynn, and hid them away tae pretend there was nae wars nor outside world, et seems, for too long. But — aye." He clears his throat gently. "Et's Mirielle's daughter, Meriane, that's my lass, aye? We've been … ah, seein' one another, these last months."

[Elohad]: Elo gives him a long, blank stare. Not pointedly, coldly blank, just… literally blank, the 404 Error of facial expressions. "Er… the… little girl I was… considering adopting, back in the day? That Meriane." As if Mirielle might have another daughter Meriane.

[Sevastyn]: Sev shrugs wearily, his smile rueful and resigned. "Et would seem, aye. I met her when recruitin' from the Abbey, and she … took a shine. And then so ded I. She's been — et was a long, dark time since my Briony died at Andorhal, and Meri's been — a sunlight tae me."

[Elohad]: Elo still seems to be trying to just… understand the situation. He thinks. Blinks. "Faol's balls. How long has it been, man? That little Meri would be courting anyone?"
[Elohad]: He is obviously trying to do the math and just… in no place to do so.

[Sevastyn]: "Cannae say, since ye saw her last. She's twenty-three now."

[Elohad]: "Twenty—" This seems to bother him more than any of it. "Fuck." He gives a strange laugh.
[Elohad]: "Light, I turn around for five seconds and she's practically matronly."

[Sevastyn]: Sevastyn sits back, still resigned, a little wary now, and watches.

[Elohad]: "How old am I then, for fuck's sake? I don't even…" Another wild laugh.
[Elohad]: "No, no, I guess it makes sense, I was about her age when I went up there, old as I thought I was… she would be grown now. I just… fuck. Time… makes no sense to me sometimes. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm just… she froze in time, to me."
[Elohad]: "When you don't see someone, or you think they're gone… I thought of her as a little girl who died, and she'd just… always be a little girl. But she's all grown and in love… and better fucking taste than her mother at any rate… and I just…"
[Elohad]: He shakes his head. "I'm sorry. It's… it's a bit of a shock."

[Sevastyn]: "Ach, man, et does happen. The world carries us on whether we're ready or no'. I wouldnae call Meri — matronly, exactly. But she's a grown lass." He smiles wryly at Elohad. "And time brings us all more equal in the end. I'd've been a lad all knees an' elbows back in the same day, and here we are a pair o' old men taegither."

[Elohad]: "Well, she's older than the little lady I just recommended my son hitch himself to at any rate. I just… yeah. Time. What the fuck."
[Elohad]: "But yeah, no, she's… definitely old enough to be… doing all of that, and damn, I like the idea of her with someone who'll take care of her. What the fuck happened with her father and all that, do you know?"

[Sevastyn]: Sevastyn looks briefly, politely confused. "Your — ach, sorry. Ye've a son you're marryin' — ?" He is distracted from this train of thought by Elo's question. "Her father's still hangin' on by teeth. Bad heart, but stubborn as a mule wi' a burr. Meri ran away from him an' the farm, she did, because she's a bold lass, and bless her for et. The man isnae a bit of good. Mirielle saw sense after Meri left, I think — well. She saw she couldnae look after the farm and her sick man on her own, at least, and come up tae the city, as I say. We're workin' a plan tae shift him north tae the city as well, ef we can pry him out o' his little farm fortress."

[Elohad]: "I'll have to go see Miri. And the girl. She won't remember me, but we should all be friends, right? I mean… when I can get away. Who knows when that'll be. Oh, and about my son… I guess I didn't write to you about that…" He smiles sheepishly.
[Elohad]: "It's Nir's nephew. He was alone in the world and she wanted to adopt him. And I'm crazy about him, so we did."
[Elohad]: "He's, I think, a little younger than Meriane? But already on the verge of getting hitched himself, as I said."

[Sevastyn]: Sev raises his eyebrows, surprised but pleased. "Ach, tha's good news for all o' ye, then. I saw the lad once, loiterin' about the Abbey, I believe. Tall young fellow, looks like her? Well, I'm glad for the lot of ye. And around Meri's age? Well, he'll be older than I was when I married my Bri. I wish him best. And you all, as well. A blessed family. Would ye like Mirielle tae — well, would ye like tae write tae her, I suppose? I can give ye the address."

[Elohad]: "Yes. That'd be nice actually. I like writing letters, and I… seem to be out of people to write to lately, heh. I'd appreciate that, thank you."

[Sevastyn]: Sev nods. "She'll be glad tae hear from ye, I know. Et's been … strange for her, her man kept her sae closed away from the world for sae long. She hadnae idea of the half of et. They're both strong enow girls, Meriane and her mother, but I reckon Mrs Donnach's the more … delicate o' the pair. Meri was powerfully glad tae learn o' her cousin Fionette. I hope she'll do Fi some good."

[Elohad]: "Light, me too. That girl…" He sighs, but then visibly shakes it off as Too Many, Right Now. "Yeah, I hope they'll be friends," he concludes. "I'd like to meet her too, when I can. Re-meet her; I'll be all new to her I'm sure."
[Elohad]: "Kids that little don't really hang onto their memories."

[Sevastyn]: Sev smiles. "Well, when you and the missus are up tae et, I know Meri will be pleased as anything tae meet ye both. She's heard much. And et'll be a great gladness tae Mrs Donnach tae hear from her old world, I expect."

[Elohad]: "Yeah, especially after all the news I'm sure she's already turned up about the rest." He sighs.
[Elohad]: "She was fond of Sebastien. Seeing Fi, so like him… that'll either comfort or hurt. Or both."

[Sevastyn]: Sevastyn nods somberly. "Et's my hope et'll be a comfort tae the both of 'em. But people will go the way they go, and we can only ask the Light tae see to 'em."

[Elohad]: He nods. "I'll say a few prayers that it all turns out to be healing for everyone involved."

[Sevastyn]: "Aye. For everyone." Sev watches Elohad a moment, steadily, and then picks up the wine glass again. "And now, speakin' o' somber news from the north — tae business, if I may?"

[Elohad]: Elo nods gravely.

[Sevastyn]: Sev has another sip of wine and sets the glass aside again. "When I took on the young paladins o' Cobalt, I said to ye that et might be that the Dawn would come seekin' a hand in turn, in time, aye?"
[Elohad]: "I remember, yes." He gives an encouraging, go-ahead sort of nod.

[Sevastyn]: "Well, et's that time, I'm afraid. We've a need in the north. The north has need. We're recruitin' all we can, but the Scourge is dug deep and et seems e'ery two o' us lost, they gain one. Aye?" He watches Elo grimly. "Ef et were that alone — but the Scarlet Crusade's got claws in half the Eastweald now. What esn't plagued is mad — or plagued and mad — and the Scarlets are just as happy tae see us burn as the Scourge."
[Sevastyn]: "We're holdin' a line, but we need tae do better than hold a line. We need tae be able tae strike."

[Elohad]: "I know Cobalt Company can help. We've done some astounding things so far."

[Sevastyn]: "I know ye have. I've told Max as much. He was ready tae believe but not yet a believer until the Monastery strike I asked ye for. Couldnae gone better, and he's won over. He's asked me tae get ye to us. And after that showin', we'd pit your blue against the red any day, aye?"

[Elohad]: Elo grins fiercely. "Just promoted two of the boys involved in that."

[Sevastyn]: "Did ye? Well, good. Tell 'em there's more work where et came from, sae I hope they kept their boots on."

[Elohad]: "Now, technically, you've got to go through Jo now. Jocoza Sparkwire. She's Captain while I deal with this whole… situation here. But it's kind of a grandfathered-in situation as it's you and I made the agreement. Consider us committed, but you'll need to give Jo the exact details as well."
[Elohad]: "Our two squads we'd be sending are led by Dane Atley and by my son, Ben Hazan."

[Sevastyn]: Sev sits back and considers Elo's face. He nods. "Aye, Jocoza Sparkwire. I'll do that, then. Oh and — your boy, is et? Well. We're obliged to ye, Elohad. We will be, and the north will be." He hesitates.

[Elohad]: "Ben was there at the Monastery, led that group. Dane's led people in the Deadmines, Gnomeregan, Uldaman… you name it."
[Elohad]: "Whatever you need done, it'll get done."

[Sevastyn]: "Good. Good. I have e'ery faith. Elohad, listen, aye?" Sev leans toward him a little, intent.

[Elohad]: Elo furrows his brows and quiets, tuning in.

[Sevastyn]: "Et's not just because o' the Cobalts' record that Max and I want ye. There's — a particular task we'd like tae see done, and et's one too sensitive for the Dawn etself. At the moment, et's only between me and Max. But I told him your lot were the ones we need for the job, and he's ready tae see et done. There may be — there'll be work tae be done first, o' course. Necessary work, not — trials, or what-have-ye, ye're past all that. But — et's sensitive."

[Elohad]: "You can count on our discretion. I'd offer proof but… well. I can't. Heh. Suffice it to say, some very large stuff has gone down with our help that you know nothing about."

[Sevastyn]: Sev nods, satisfied. "Good. Good. I'm glad tae hear. Or — not tae hear, as it were."

[Elohad]: Elo actually laughs aloud.

[Sevastyn]: Sev smiles back at him.
[Sevastyn]: "I cannae tell ye now what et es, nor can I tell your Captain Sparkwire. But I know et'll be a thing ye'll be proud tae be part of, brother, when et's done. And ye'll know what et es going en. Eyes open. Just — we can't have et slipped too soon. E'en within the Dawn etself."

[Elohad]: "Understood. And… we've been doing jobs with only the tip of the iceberg revealed to us, for people I trust far less than I do the Argent Dawn. This shouldn't be a problem. Just point us and we'll do the job."

[Sevastyn]: Sev nods again. "Good. Good. All right." He hesitates. "I know ye prize your people, as well ye should. And I appreciate you're sendin' your own lad among 'em. I should warn you, Elohad, et'll be … dark work. There's horrors up there we'd ne'er have imagined, e'en then, taken root in the place. Your people will have tae be at their best."

[Elohad]: He nods grimly. "I trust both squads completely."
[Elohad]: "Jo can give you the full roster of who's on each squad, and what they can do, and some information on their backgrounds, if that helps you figure out how best to deploy them."

[Sevastyn]: "All right. Good, all right. And ye can trust in me and in Max as well. By the Light, we'll nae throw 'em intae anything wi'out full faith and support."

[Elohad]: "I trust you completely. And Tyrosus seems all right." He smiles crookedly.

[Sevastyn]: Sev laughs. "I'll tell him ye say so."

[Elohad]: Elo winks slyly at Sev.

[Sevastyn]: "Shall I let ye get back to your missus, then? I hate tae eat up your time, when I know you're eaten up yourself." He studies Elohad with kind concern.

[Elohad]: "Yeah, she'll probably be up soon, and I need to send word to Ben to come help me learn to cook a little for her. She'll be hungry. But I can't tell you how much I appreciate the chance to think about something else for a few."

[Sevastyn]: Sevastyn nods understanding. "Any time, brother, aye? Ye send word and I'll come by whene'er I can. For you or for her. Anything I can send tae either o' ye?"

[Elohad]: "Cheese. Just… honestly we cannot have enough cheese in the house."
[Elohad]: "If you find yourself thinking, 'There is no way they can eat this cheese before it starts to go bad,' that is about half as much cheese as we need."

[Sevastyn]: Sev blinks, startled, and then laughs. "Ach, aye? Well, that can be arranged. I'll see what Trias has on offer, aye? Send up a cartload." He winks at Elohad.

[Elohad]: "Brilliant."

[Sevastyn]: "Come here, man." Sev offers another hug.

[Elohad]: Elo hugs the crap out of him. Big bear hug. Practically dents his armor.

[Sevastyn]: Sev endures this, somehow. Probably the armor. Also he's hugging Elo back pretty firmly.
[Sevastyn]: "Ye give her my best, will ye? And your lad, too."

[Elohad]: "Will do."
[Elohad]: "Come by anytime."

[Sevastyn]: "All right. Good night to ye, then, brother. I'll see ye."

@@_completed elohad inkie log rated-t re:atley re:fionette re:meriane re:niris season-4 sevastyn