![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[ it's sunday now!! yay.
strohl's been relatively absent even among their new spaces today, though he can eventually be found looking out at the void darkness from the windows of the gates, with his sword over his lap, absently running one hand down the scabbard, phone open on his lap.
his expression is best described as stormy - even stormier than you'd really expect for the situation at hand, but not necessarily attempting to scare off company, either. approach? ]
strohl's been relatively absent even among their new spaces today, though he can eventually be found looking out at the void darkness from the windows of the gates, with his sword over his lap, absently running one hand down the scabbard, phone open on his lap.
his expression is best described as stormy - even stormier than you'd really expect for the situation at hand, but not necessarily attempting to scare off company, either. approach? ]
[ oh... he snaps out of his thoughts hwne addressed, glancing up - it takes a beat, before he manages a small, half smile. ]
... Just realised the date, is all. Old memories. [ though he doesn't talk about it right away beyond that. ] ...Rupert, right?
... Just realised the date, is all. Old memories. [ though he doesn't talk about it right away beyond that. ] ...Rupert, right?
Ah - got it. I'm sorry to hear that.
[he doesn't pry more than that, but it doesn't seem like he's averse to hearing more, either. he gives a little nod.]
Yeah, that's right. [...] Probably silly if I ask how you're holding up after that explanation, huh?
[he doesn't pry more than that, but it doesn't seem like he's averse to hearing more, either. he gives a little nod.]
Yeah, that's right. [...] Probably silly if I ask how you're holding up after that explanation, huh?
[ he exhales out - almost a laugh, sort of helplessly. ]
... Honestly, is it odd to say I'm not sure how I feel? Every year, this day rolls around, and home is all I think of. And now, I find myself as far from home as possible, staring down the barrel of some - strange game.
Things move so fast. Time marches on, in the end.
... Honestly, is it odd to say I'm not sure how I feel? Every year, this day rolls around, and home is all I think of. And now, I find myself as far from home as possible, staring down the barrel of some - strange game.
Things move so fast. Time marches on, in the end.
[he shakes his head.]
No, I don't think that's odd at all. Time marches on, sure, but... Some things linger for a while. I think it makes sense that it'd feel strange for it to fall on a day where something like this is happening.
When you say think of home - do you think trying to focus on that would help, even now?
No, I don't think that's odd at all. Time marches on, sure, but... Some things linger for a while. I think it makes sense that it'd feel strange for it to fall on a day where something like this is happening.
When you say think of home - do you think trying to focus on that would help, even now?
[ ... ]
Sure. [ it might, yeah. it's always with him, anyway - he reaches up absently, sets a hand against his heart. ] I think that's what I was trying to do, but.... well. Harder than you'd think to gather your thoughts, in the face of all this madness.
Sure. [ it might, yeah. it's always with him, anyway - he reaches up absently, sets a hand against his heart. ] I think that's what I was trying to do, but.... well. Harder than you'd think to gather your thoughts, in the face of all this madness.
[ there's a beat - he glances at rupert out of the corner of his eye, and then looks down at the phone again. the first flamesday of june.
strohl's voice is a little rough, when he starts, but he opens up relatively easy to the gentle suggestion. ]
... Halia, was the name. A little country village - tiny, in the grand scheme of things, nestled in the mountains to the east of the capitol. It was beautiful, though, I don't think I saw that at the time.
strohl's voice is a little rough, when he starts, but he opens up relatively easy to the gentle suggestion. ]
... Halia, was the name. A little country village - tiny, in the grand scheme of things, nestled in the mountains to the east of the capitol. It was beautiful, though, I don't think I saw that at the time.
[ yeah. they would, wouldn't they? his expression shifts, a little, mouth pulling taut. ]
... Yeah. That was the point, in the end. [ there's guilt, there, written all over his face - strohl's an open book. he's given a lot of non-answers or partial ones, up to this point, and it's now finally that he glances over at rupert. ]
... My parents were the lords of Halia. [ thus his title - da haliaetus. ] And I, their lone son. When the village was attacked, they sent me away while they stayed behind to try to save Halia and her people, no matter the cost.
... Yeah. That was the point, in the end. [ there's guilt, there, written all over his face - strohl's an open book. he's given a lot of non-answers or partial ones, up to this point, and it's now finally that he glances over at rupert. ]
... My parents were the lords of Halia. [ thus his title - da haliaetus. ] And I, their lone son. When the village was attacked, they sent me away while they stayed behind to try to save Halia and her people, no matter the cost.
[ there's a beat - this surprises him a little, reminds him of someone familiar, and he huffs. ]
... Don't worry about that. [ murmured, at first - it's clear he's a little touched by the concern. if he's guilty, it's - okay, well, it's more obvious that he definitely still feels extremely guilty about it, but he glosses over it, instead, low voice sharpening a bit. ]
I know exactly whose fault it was. The whole bloody thing was orchestrated.
... Don't worry about that. [ murmured, at first - it's clear he's a little touched by the concern. if he's guilty, it's - okay, well, it's more obvious that he definitely still feels extremely guilty about it, but he glosses over it, instead, low voice sharpening a bit. ]
I know exactly whose fault it was. The whole bloody thing was orchestrated.
[ the sharpening continues - a low anger, now, as he scoffs, derisive. ]
-- To make an example. To prove to the government that the humans were a danger - to further his own agenda, more like. All these stories about the greater good, because their lives were just cannon fodder to him, like everyone else's.
-- To make an example. To prove to the government that the humans were a danger - to further his own agenda, more like. All these stories about the greater good, because their lives were just cannon fodder to him, like everyone else's.
[ strohl will now die for you.png
ok not really but kind of. the anger on his behalf is appreciated - he's still plenty mad on his own, and he answers the question bitterly: ] No.
[ a beat. ]
One of his lackeys did, one way or another. And, as for the spearhead - he's done plenty worth punishing. Not just Halia - our entire country is at risk because of him. Every day that goes on is a day that he wants our world annihilated.
...He'll face retribution and Halia will have justice, if it's the last thing I do.
ok not really but kind of. the anger on his behalf is appreciated - he's still plenty mad on his own, and he answers the question bitterly: ] No.
[ a beat. ]
One of his lackeys did, one way or another. And, as for the spearhead - he's done plenty worth punishing. Not just Halia - our entire country is at risk because of him. Every day that goes on is a day that he wants our world annihilated.
...He'll face retribution and Halia will have justice, if it's the last thing I do.
Some people are so dramatic...
[he says with a roll of his eyes about this person who wants to destroy the world. it's fine. either way, he gets a little more serious as he continues.]
Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you when you make it home... [definitely when, not if.] I really hope that goes well for you, Strohl.
[he says with a roll of his eyes about this person who wants to destroy the world. it's fine. either way, he gets a little more serious as he continues.]
Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you when you make it home... [definitely when, not if.] I really hope that goes well for you, Strohl.
[ fucking help this gets a smile and a snort of a laugh, actually, brief: ]
You have no idea. [ truly louis is the most dramatic bitch on the planet!!! THE MOST DRAMATIC!!!! ] We're nearly there, now. It's been a long road, but... I know His Highness will be successful in defeating him, and we'll do all we can to remain by his side until the end.
[ include survive whatever this place is.
... and though it's soft, the smile on strohl's face remains, and he dips his head in acknowledgement, quietly touched. ]
... Thanks, Rupert. [ genuine. ] For listening, and otherwise.
You have no idea. [ truly louis is the most dramatic bitch on the planet!!! THE MOST DRAMATIC!!!! ] We're nearly there, now. It's been a long road, but... I know His Highness will be successful in defeating him, and we'll do all we can to remain by his side until the end.
[ include survive whatever this place is.
... and though it's soft, the smile on strohl's face remains, and he dips his head in acknowledgement, quietly touched. ]
... Thanks, Rupert. [ genuine. ] For listening, and otherwise.
Edited 2025-06-01 17:55 (UTC)
You'll have to tell me how it goes once all this wraps up and you make it back to help stop him.
[there's a smile in response to the thanks, though, and a little shrug.]
Of course. All we've got while we're here is each other, right? So the least we can do is make sure we're here for each other.
[there's a smile in response to the thanks, though, and a little shrug.]
Of course. All we've got while we're here is each other, right? So the least we can do is make sure we're here for each other.
Page 1 of 14