knightsoflegend | andres ♔ but life is for living

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andres ♔ but life is for living

WHO || Everyone
WHAT || With Andres Isle reclaimed, the Knights deal with the aftermath of their battle to save its people
WHERE || Andres Isle, and various
WHEN || September 20th, 2014 - October 20th, 2014 [backdated]
HOW || Actionspam

When the sun rises on Andres Isle the next morning, and the smoke and rubble clears, it is impossible to call the battle anything less than a victory, in terms of freeing the people from Sarandis' hateful regime.

But all victories come with their costs.

Sir Zatara's team easily accomplished their goal, shutting down the power station that allowed Sir Trinall's team to wrest control of Isle communications, although Emma Swan was grievously injured in the process and Faye Chamberlain found herself facing an unexpected temptation when she got her hands on Jordan Reeves' genie bottle. Sir Wellington and Carpenter led an assault on the prison base, that succeeded in freeing all of the captured Shadowkind and putting a halt to the hideous experimentation going on there - at the cost of Sir Maxwell Briggard's life. (And Nathan Young's... but he got better. Twice.) Even Myrilandel's familiar, Amaranth, was found, but when Lan turned violent on a bank of computers in a fit of hatred for the machines and all they represented, a targeting system was activated that released all the mind-controlled Shadowkind hybrids from the facility, on a dread path of destruction for the castle, ready to kill anything in their path.

Meanwhile, Sir O'Rourke's team had managed to locate the love potion that Dimitris Sarandis was using to control Kat Samcelot's behavior, and made it impossible for the next dose to be administered on time. Sir Hathaway's team likewise made it into the castle, after following a set of clues that indicated Sir Elena Gilbert and the doppelganger Kyp had killed a guard and stolen their identity, heading into the palace proper. Eavesdropping within its walls, they learned that the Prime Minister had been shot, and that the woman responsible was being held in a tower. This, however, proved to be a cruel trick of Dimitris' ally, the powerful psion known as the Mind Master. Forcing Elena to shapeshift into Dimitris, she mentally dominated Elena, and made her sit outside the empty tower cell, where Rose, Will, and Dean found her. Having been approached by Kyp, who had been separated from Elena and feared for her life, a grudging alliance was formed, and the doppelganger approached "Dimitris" alone. Despite her attempt to drop hints to her real identity, the situation escalated - until the Mind Master made Elena wrest Kyp's gun from him, and shoot him right between the eyes.

In the meantime, Sir Yassin's team had blown an entrance for Prince Marcus Andres to lead his group into the castle through the tunnels below it. Dimitris had, however, expected something like this, and filled the tunnels with all manner of monster and creation designed to stop them. With exceptional teamwork, they bypassed all threats and made it within, where they were shocked to discover the real Chad Becksworth was in fact a prisoner here, and that Draken Crombe, leader of the Church of the Lord's Humanity had been impersonating him with the aid of the Mind Master, for access to NOVA Records' resources, for years. They also discovered the bones of former Dragon's Claw Sir Ellison, Tia's father, and helped lay his spirit to final rest.

Knights around the Island struggled to halt the hybrid creatures from charging into the palace and ruining the internal team's chance to save Kat and Thomas and stop Dimitris. Wynn led his own team to hold the line between the forest and the castle, but the brutal creatures they faced were overwhelming, and even with back-up arriving, creatures broke through. Wynn sent Sir La Krail and Francesca, whose team had secured the guardhouse, to stop several driders who had passed, while he chased down a chemical golem that crashed right through the palace doors.

Dimitris had already sprung his trap, however, sealing Marcus and friends in a room below the palace pumped with poisonous gas, while he asked Kat Samcelot for her hand in marriage on a screen for them to watch. At that moment, however, the love potion wore off, and she stabbed him in the dick, and helped free the others below. Myri teleported several of the Knights up to the main floor to save Kat, who faced the guards alone and weaponless, but the arrival of the chemical golem provided enough of a distraction for Dimitris to make a break for the throne room.

Elsewhere on the Isle, Sir Koraith's team had been gathering allies among the Shadow Village, to face an attack that they had been warned about, by soldiers seeking the location of Rocket, who had escaped the Shadow prison after attempting to assassinate the Prime Minister. Koraith led those who could not fight towards the boats, while the others remained to hold the line and take out not only the soldiers, but also the clockwork creations called nimblewrights, robots whose construction Failboat had learned was based on some kind of demonic creature held in Dimitris' basement. The battle was brutal, and Sir Riddick fell to the clockwork soldiers' assault. The fate of Sir Jaina Solo and a Shadowkind villager named Indra Crestrage remains unknown, as they were also grievously injured in the assault.

Sir Edain's team had secured various boats to transport villagers off the Isle, but also discovered a sinister shack where body parts were created up for export to Japan. In the battle that followed to hold the docks, Hook lost his entire arm, but managed to hold onto his life.

Back in the palace, several Knights joined Wynn in taking down the chemical golem, as Marcus and company moved to confront Dimitris and the Mind Master in the throne room. The Prime Minister was unrepentant for his crimes, and revealed that after capturing Kat, he had had the Dragon's Claw Thomas Bancroft killed, dumping his body off a balcony for them to see. Enraged, Kat ran to attack Dimitris, and was nearly killed by his bodyguard, Asha, but Fred Jr. intervened, sacrificing himself to save her. Des murdered Asha instantly, while the Mind Master teleported herself and Dimitris away, leaving the guards willing to surrender, and the Knights frustrated by the hollow victory.

A search of the Isle revealed no trace of where the two had gone, but it also meant that Andres was free of Sarandis' influence. Sir Banks' team had managed to gather all the wealthy human elite of the Island together inside a country club under the guise of a gas leak, and when Emma Frost appealed to the humanity of Sergeant Alastair Stone, a local police officer, he assisted them in routing out potential supporters of Dimitris, and separating them from the others, so that they might be shown the truth about what had been happening on the Island, right underneath their noses, in the form of a video of the prison laboratory provided by Logan and Nathan.

Most of the natives were shocked by what they saw, but had already been distrustful of Sarandis' true motives. Hearing that the true heir to the throne had returned has given the people of Andres a real sense of hope that things can change, but the road will not be an easy one.

Rather than pull out and head home the next day, Wynn has asked as many Knights as possible to remain and help with reconstruction. There are families to reunite, injured to tend to, homes to rebuild, a palace to remodel, and much more. This post is for things following directly in the aftermath of the Battle for Andres, especially for things happening on the Island itself. More posts will go up in the near future to backdate less immediate events. Characters are free to go back and forth to the castle as they please, but also have accommodations provided in the city or palace on Andres Isle.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Myri finds herself drawn to the roof of the palace, Amaranth padding along at her heels. Her familiar is thrilled about this particular decision, chirping happily as they enter the open air. The flywacket immediately takes flight, spreading large wings and making a large sweep of the sky.

Watching him, Myri smiles and closes her eyes, feeling just what her familiar is feeling for the moment. When she opens her eyes, she realizes that she isn't alone on the roof.]

Oh! I'm sorry... I didn't mean to intrude.

[Alainn doesn't see her at first, so caught up in her own musings that it isn't until Myri speaks that she even notices that she and Fede are no longer alone on the roof. Her head snaps up and around in the direction of the new voice, her free hand not holding the bottle coming up to wipe a stray tear from her cheek.

She recognizes Myri, of course, but it had been a long time since they had spoken, back before she had been sent off on the mission with the rest of Failboat. She didn't know much about the other woman's circumstances, obviously having heard about her capture and being held here on Andres by Dimitris, but that didn't seem to have affected her kindness or sincerity in the least.

She gives her a small, shaky smile, eyes going to the flywacket in the sky, then coming back to Myri.] 'Tis alright, love, ye weren't interrupting. This air is free now of the tyranny that once held this place, so who am I ter say who can and cannot be up here to breathe it?

[The words are gently said, all with a sad and weary look on her face. Fede, who had been sitting on a nearby peak in the roof, comes swooping to Alainn's shoulder, prawking softly as she tugs at a lock of her hair. She reaches up with a soft chuckle to stroke the bird beneath her beak.]

[Amaranth, hearing that Myri has struck up a conversation, flies back down. He's more protective lately, worried about being separated from her once more. His wings remain out, not trying to mask them and appear as a cat just now. Recognition settles in his gaze at the same moment as Myri's when it all clicks together.]

Alainn? Oh Stargods, it's been ages... How have you been?

[Her smile is much more genuine now, a spark of happiness that the other woman remembers her as well. Her eyes land on Amaranth, a curious turn of her gaze as she takes in the fact that the "cat" has wings...making him actually a not!cat. She gestures to a spot next to her, waving the other woman over. Fede's gold eyes lock on Amaranth, head cocked to the side in obvious curiosity, an odd expression to see on a bird more for the sheer intelligence of her gaze.]

Oh, I've been here and there and pretty fair, I guess. [the levity of her words are at odds with the dulled pain in her eyes, but the smile remains on her face.] How are ye fairing, love?

[Not a cat at all, though his body is shaped like a large house cat, covered in dark fur that is black is most lights, but when the sun shines just right, there's a shade of purple in there as well. His paws are actually talons like that on a bird of prey. The wings are the same color as his fur, rest atop his shoulder blades but very visible, not tucked away into the flaps on his back.

The flywacket pads closer to Alainn and her familiar, peering up with that same odd amount of intelligence.]

Amaranth, be nice. [Myri gently coaxes before turning her attention back to the woman.]

I hardly know how to answer that question- though I think we're all the same there. I'm alive and here to see the a place I once feared to my core rebuilt to something to be celebrated. I suppose I could never be unhappy about that.

[she holds out a gentle hand towards Amaranth, talking softly to him as he approaches (Handle Animal??? 23...).] There's a handsome boy. Hello Amaranth.

[At Myri's words her eyes go to the other woman's face, her gaze a mixture of sympathy and oddly what looks like approval.] It takes a strong woman to face the thing she fears most head on, Myri. I envy you that strength. I don't know that there are many out there who could claim to have faced their demons with as much conviction as ye have.

[She blushes a little at the compliment, nodding her thanks. Amaranth also seems to like the kind things Alainn has said, heading over towards her and rubbing his cheek against her leg.]

Wynn gave me something I never thought I would find- a home. And now he's given me the chance to help give that very same thing back to all these people. I could never have denied such a request.

He's very good at that, isn't he? [Her tone is more her musing than expecting an actual answer, something faraway seeming to swim before her eyes. With a shake of her head her eyes focus on the other woman once more.] Yer a very good person Myri. [She trails off, eyes drifting off over the ramparts of the castle to the grounds below.

After a moment she sucks in a breath, talking with her eyes still averted, her words making it clear that her focus has changed track.] He's very lucky to have ye as such a good and loyal friend. I'm glad of that.

[At Amaranth's nudging, Alainn chuckles. She will take that as acceptance into your clan, Amaranth. Without preamble she reaches down to pick the flywacket up and deposits him into her lap, rubbing behind his ears with a fond smile on her face. Fede, on the other hand, seems to take offense at her doting on Amaranth, letting out an indignant squawk as she alights from her shoulder towards Myri. The swoosh of air her large wings bring stir the hair about Myri's neck as the hawk lands on her shoulder, feathers bristling in what can only be indignation. After a moment she cocks her head to the side, peering with bright gold eyes at the face so close to her beak. Letting out a soft prawk she pulls a few strands of Myr's hair through her beak, ruffling her feathers contentedly. Hope you don't mind a large scary bird all up in your biz, Myri. w h o o p s.]

Oi, don't be a prat to her Fede! I'm allowed to pet other familiars, ye know. I'm sorry about her, Myri. If ye don't want her up there just shake her off. I wouldn't blame you, with her acting so rude.

[Amaranth is pleased as can be to sit on Alainn's lap. He's larger than a normal house cat so people don't always like him on their lap, especially with those talons. Getting comfortable, he tucks his wings away, disappearing into the fur of his back. As she rubs his ears, the flywacket begins to purr. The low rumble has a calming effect, soothing.

Myri jumps a bit when Fede appears on her shoulder, but she soon laughs and leans to allow the bird access to groom her hair as she wishes.]

Oh, I don't mind. She's rather sweet.

[She reaches to stroke the bird's feathers with a finger, making friends.]

[Oh, Fede likes you Myri. She continues to preen her hair, nuzzling with her beak when she want's more pats.

Alainn continues to stroke Amaranth, smiling contentedly as he begins to purr. She pats the roof next to her, gesturing for Myri to come join her.]

Come, have a seat love. I don't bite.

[With the bird on her shoulder, Myri carefully walks towards Alainn and has a seat.]

I never thought I would have the chance to see Andres like this. It's beautiful. [Even as it's being rebuilt, she can see the beauty in it. It's hard to take her trauma out of the equation completely, but she's getting there. It's easier when she thinks of it as Mark's childhood home, imagines him here as a boy, rather than her last memories here in Sarandis' prison.]

[Her eyes drift over the roof to the beautiful landscape below as she absently strokes Amaranth, quiet for a few beats. She raises the half-empty bottle to her lips, drinking deeply before seeming to remember her manners and...offers the bottle to Myri with raised eyebrows. Yeah lets...not forget the hot mess Alainn is at the moment, though if the alcohol is having any effect on her whatsoever it's hard to tell, aside from the red tint coloring her cheeks and the tips of her ears.]

Aye, 'tis gorgeous. Absolutely brilliant. There couldn't be a better place for...[for what? She falls quiet at that, eyes closing as a tremor moves across her lips.

Sorry Myri, she really is a hot mess rn. >.< ]

[I imagine a wis check of 17 is enough to at least catch on that something isn't right. Myri's expression grows concerned, turning towards the woman.]

Alainn? What's wrong?

[Apparently all it takes for Alainn's composure to crumble is for someone to show her some concern. That and the bottle of wine that she's doing her best to finish off.

Her face crumples, one hand coming up to cover her eyes in a half-assed attempt to hide the tears that are threatening to fall, shoulders slumping forward as she curls in on herself. Her head shakes a few times as if to negate her emotions, and she finally seems to just...give up the fight, a broken sob coming from between clenched teeth. Her other hand drops the bottle, fingers intertwining to rest on her brow.

I guess that's what you get with a crit-failed Will Save on someone who is...mostly drunk (Fort 9). Good lucK, Myri.]

Oh... [The one small syllable is laced with concern as Myri gently removes the bird from her shoulder so that she can better wrap an arm around Alainn's shoulders. As she tries to sort out just what might be wrong, she keeps thinking about how the few times she's seen Alainn with Mark, that it seemed like there was something...more there. (Also known as wis 20 total) But she's not sure just what might be the woman's concern exactly.]

You're worried for him, aren't you? I think he'll be a fine king.

[it wasn't a nat 20 so there's a bit of a missed mark (ha) here.]

[Her shoulders shake as her tears continue, leaning gratefully against Myri's comforting arm. A few moments pass before she answers, her tears finally slowing enough to make her wiping at them effective. When she finally brings her red-rimmed eyes up to Myri's face once more her face is splotchy, tear tracks tracing down her cheeks. Embarrassment is obvious on her features, the struggle plain whether or not to try and hide it from the other woman, but finally pride seems to win out.

Bright green eyes meet Myri's, made all the brighter from unshed tears, her voice still thick with emotion.] Aye, I'm worried for him. I'm always worried about him, the big louse. But I know he's going to make a great King. [The affection in her voice in unmistakable, as is the fierceness. Her eyes drop as a rueful look crosses her features, one hand coming up to wipe away a few stray tears. The next words are nearly a whisper, eyes falling closed.]

And I make a great fool.

[Myri has very little idea what this is really all about, but she's not at all pleased to see Alainn hurting as badly as she so clearly is.]

A fool? Alainn, you aren't anything close to a fool. Where is all of this coming from?

[A few moments pass as she tries to collect herself, taking a few deep breaths and using her sleeve to wipe her face clean. Unfortunately, while she is able to at least stop her blubbering, she isn't able to keep her thoughts to herself because... drunk ... Her voice is thick from crying and she swallows thickly, clearing her throat before trying again.] Trust me, darlin', yer gonna think I'm as stupid as they come. Unrequited feelings and all. Making me stupid.

[Only it's not just the one thing. It's everything. The battle, the win, Thomas, Fred, Kat. Dimitris getting away. It's Mark.

Mark.

Her face crumples again, head falling, but she doesn't start crying. A few more deep breaths and her head comes back up slowly, looking at Myri with pain written plain across her features. Misery turns her eyes a deep, muddy green.] The heart is a miserable creature, to make ye love someone ye can never have. Don't you agree?

[As Alainn talks, a light bulb goes off in Myri's mind. She gets it. She doesn't know how she didn't see it before. (Wis 23).]

You love him. [she breathes the words with concern and sympathy all jumbled up in her tone.] Have you told him?

[Her eyes drop to the fingers in her lap, fiddling with the bottle for a moment before she answers.] Aye, I love him. For years now, I've loved him. But no, I haven't told him.

[The ache in her voice is unmistakable, matched by the look in her eyes as she brings them up once more.] And I never will.

But... [Perhaps it isn't her place. Actually, it definitely is not her place, but Myri just can't stand for that! She's all for people finding someone to love and definitely on team 'seeing mark happy.' And from what little she knows of Alainn, she knows he could be happy with her.

Shippin it, tbh.]

You have to tell him. I adore the man, but he'll never figure it out on his own.

[she's shaking her head before myri can finish speaking, one tear tracing down her cheek. She swpies at it, turning her face away as she speaks.]

I can't tell him, Myri. He's betrothed! To Lara! [the hopelessness in her tone is hard to miss as she says the name, her face crumpling once more.] How am I supposed to compete with her?? She's a bloody Countess, with her Countess hair and her Countess face. She's been raised to be a Queen, not me. And besides, why would Mark want some mage like me when he could have the person he's known his whole life? She's been waiting for him all these years... Maybe he's been waiting for her, too?

[Myri's a little torn on the whole thing. Lara saved her life, helped her return home. It isn't that she doesn't want Lara to have her happy ending, but there's more to all of this. And Alainn's happiness is just as important as anyone's.]

He's been gone for 10 years, Alainn. I don't know about you, but I'm hardly the same person I was three years ago, let alone ten. The person Lara knew may not be the man you and I know and care for. [It's just as likely that Mark and Lara will be deliriously happy together, but the point is, they don't know for sure.]

Love is...complicated. And you've not made it any simpler by falling for the lost prince of Andres, no. But that's not what happened, is it? You fell in love with a friend, a man you likely know better than most. When all of this came to light, he told me that he wanted to make certain that we wouldn't treat him differently. So try to remember who he's always been to you. Because that's who he wants to be. And that man? Could very well feel the same for you and not even know it.

[Her tears slow as Myri speaks, a tiny spark of hope warming her chest. She made a good point, logically she knew that. Mark was one of her oldest friends, one of the best people that she knew, even with all of his flaws and insecurities. If anything, those quirks had only served to endear him to her all the more.

But Alainn had been burned by love once already, falling for a man who had never really loved her, and she'd had to flee for his attempts on her life, for the safety of her adoptive family. She had been so guarded with her heart since then, careful of who she let in and how close, but Mark had still found his way in, deeper than she had imagined. And she had absolutely no proof that he felt anything for her but friendship. Hell, he had even told Lara that she was just "a really good friend".

It seemed too much of a risk, to put herself out there like that with nothing to go on.]

I can't do that to him, Myri. He sees me as nothing more than a friend. If I go off and start spouting love and forevers at him, and he doesn't feel the same? I'll have lost me dearest friend. I couldn't live with that.

[But no matter how much she tells herself she can't do it, she still can't shake the longing, the ache of wanting to come clean. It may not be a good idea, but she can't stop her heart from craving what it wants.]

[Reaching over, Myri takes Alainn's hand and squeezes it gently.]

I know you've known him longer than I have, but I think that fear has made you forget something very important. Mark isn't the type of person to let a friend slip away for something like this. I've never met anyone so kind and generous and... [What is the adjective to describe someone as a human version of a big doofy lab puppy?

She gives up on searching for right word and just switches gears a little.]

Even if he didn't feel the same... you wouldn't lose him. I would bet my life that he would do everything in his power to make sure that never happened.

andres ♔ but life is for living

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