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| Details |
| Author: | Athena |
| Summary: | Colson returns from Blue Squad's work in Mt. Hyjal, where an offer of redemption was made, but not fulfilled. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Chain: Morson
In the inn in Telaar, after dinner.
Mordecai flips up a pillow against the headboard of their bed and takes a seat. "Come here?"
Colson, obedient to his husband's wishes at any time, but in this case following his own as well, moves to the side of the bed, and sits, settling in next to Mordecai with an offering of an open arm hug to scoot in closer against his side.
Mordecai immediately moves into his Mordecai spot. "Hi. How are you feeling?"
"A little tired," Colson confesses. "Philosophically more than the others. We were set the task of halting the inferno consuming Mt. Hyjal, and we were not unsuccessful in doing so, ultimately, for the moment at least." He exhales slowly, not quite a sigh. "In doing so, however, we may have unintentionally unleashed an evil upon the world." You know, like you do.
"Well, that makes two of us," Mordecai says, and quickly holds up a hand. "Not today, I didn't release any evils today. That was, um, back in the saronite mines, I meant." He clears his throat and reaches up to gently pet Colson's hair. "How powerful was it?"
"He is a powerful satyr, by the name of Tyrus Blackhorn. He was converted to the Burning Legion, and captured during the last battle of Mt. Hyjal, as part of Achimonde's forces. There was a possibility that the strength of his soul remained intact, somewhere within him, enough to aid his people of the kaldorei, and renounce the Legion in truth. We offered him the chance of redemption in working against the inferno with the knowledge he possessed, and while he did aid us, that is undeniable thus far, he ultimately used that aid to free himself of his bonds, and it seems he has returned to aiding the Burning Legion once more."
"Oh." Mordecai takes that in. "Did he hurt any of you? When he broke free?"
"No, not at all. He used the opportunity to escape, but he left us unharmed," Colson says. "He did say our time 'will come soon enough,' and while he did not cackle nefariously after, I believe it was implied."
Mordecai makes a quiet noise of almost-laughter and keeps running his fingers through Colson's shorter hair. "I wonder what 'soon enough' means to someone long-lived like an old satyr."
"Even to a kaldorei, that is not entirely clear at times. The Burning Legion's methods of being willing to lay a foundation and let that evil come to fruition over time is part of what makes them so dangerous," Colson says, not for the first time. "His presence out in the world could prove dangerous. We intend to track him down, and he has had his chance for true redemption, an offering of grace within the Light, to find his reward in paradise, as my faith bids me to try. Now, I must hold to my other vows, to vanquish evil wherever it be found."
Mordecai bites his lip and asks, "How did Velrin react?"
"She found it difficult to trust and believe in the possibility of redemption, but she did nothing to sabotage it, and she offered what she could of trust, not in Blackhorn, but in Dane. He made the decision to go ahead with the attempt, and we had no way of knowing that destroying the heart of Ragnaros' general, Vol'taro Thol'embaar, that close to Blackhorn, would give him a means to break his bonds. Velrin said that her partner, Nylarria, could attempt to track the demon, as Aze did for us in Outland."
Mordecai seems to relax a little against Colson. "Good. That's good. What was the philosophically difficult part?"
"Ah. Only that of the five of us, I was the only one who wished to offer the redemption sincerely, and without reservation, to believe truly in the possibility. I do not blame them for their wariness. It is not an easy or simple ask to offer true grace, and it comes with inherent risk. Yet we must offer it fully, for if a person believes that there is no true way back onto another path, if they will be shunned or disbelieved, untrusted, no matter what they choose, they will often choose the easier path into darkness, to be lost to that power, rather than endure the pain of their sins unforgiven. I don't believe it would have made the sole difference, had they been able to offer that second chance openly and without suspicion, but we will never know."
Mordecai kisses Colson's cheek. "I'm glad you were given the chance to say your piece, regardless, even if you couldn't sway them," he says softly. "Dane is a good leader."
"Yes, he is," Colson agrees, leaning in closer to Mordecai, following the pressure of the kiss to extend it a little more. "I did only as I must. I tried. It will need to have been enough."
"Mmhm." Mordecai nuzzles his cheek. "I'm proud of you, sweetheart."
There's that soft smile like the breaking of dawn on Colson's face. "Thank you. Your opinion of my actions and choices matters to me."
Mordecai smiles back. "I know. I'm very aware of that, and that you take what I say to heart. I worry about saying things that could be misinterpreted without me knowing, sometimes. But it hasn't happened in a while. That I'm aware of."
"Nor that I am aware, which may be either a good sign, or I have misinterpreted something without knowing," Colson says, moving his hand in a slow, soft wobbly heart along Mordecai's shoulder.
Mordecai keeps smiling. "You're wonderful," he says. "So you killed one of Ragnaros's generals today?"
"Yes, he was part of what was powering the cultist's efforts at sustaining the inferno, and Blackthorn was able to correctly untangle the method to obtain his true name and summon him."
"Do you know how many more Ragnaros has…?" Mordecai asks. "How close are we to, um, well."
Colson shakes his head. "No, I am afraid I do not know, and I do not know what it will take to end the Twilight's Hammer's grip on the mountain. They have dug in deeply, and we are putting out the fires as they appear, not the underlying power." He exhales slowly again. "One we may have made worse."
"But also better," Mordecai says firmly. "Aviana's back. You all did that."
Colson inclines his head in agreement. "I will not discount the good we have done. I believe we are making progress. It is only that it is difficult to see Twilight's Hammer destroy so much so quickly."
"Always." Mordecai smiles gently. "I understand. It's upsetting to me too." He strokes Colson's hair again. Maybe hair pets will make it better.
Hair pets always make everything better. It's an automatic moodlet buff of +10. Colson leans into it, the new growth of his hair shifting slightly with the movement. Soon, his hair will have made it out of the awkward growth stage, and look more like a short version of his usual. It's getting there, slowly but surely.
Mordecai hums quietly, a silly song from his childhood. He looks perfectly content to sit here and play with his husband's hair for the rest of eternity. Or at least half an hour.