[It is, indeed, Soren. He felt compelled to come here, but he wasn't entirely sure why. To look for Claudia? For some item from home? It wasn't clear to him, it was just an impulse. He's not far from his own mirror and he feels a tug towards it. He was going to check, but...]
Dad? [A dragon stand in his way.] You looking for something?
[ viren's brief confusion is evident through his expression. he tucks one of his hands behind him at the small of his back, lifting his chin to peer at his son through narrowed eyes (it wouldn't be wrong to think the look as one of suspicion, even if he were to consider soren doing something similar -- he wouldn't have reason to look here, would he?). ]
I am.
[ the grip on his staff tightens. ]
Last year, the Mirrorbound received their items through the Looking-Glass House. I wanted to be certain that the same wouldn't also be true this year.
I felt drawn here. Wonder if that's why-? [Soren mutters, but off by a sharp sound down the hall. Towards where his mirror was... and where Viren's also hung nearby. A noise like metal falling onto the ground, rolling, clattering, then stopping flat.
He can only think of one thing that might be like that, arriving for his father to find.]
... that might be for you. [Soren is moving towards it, since it's also towards his mirror, feeling compelled by more than just the curiosity. He does stop in his tracks, when it comes into view what arrived. A twisted, mangled crown of Katolis, stained with blood. Soren holds his breath, he doesn't say anything.]
[ viren doesn't either have long to reflect on soren's inquiry, interrupted by a clang of metal as they are. he turns sharply in the noise's direction, almost alarmed that something should be speculated as for him, yet his son moving for it first (yet not realizing he's pulled more than anything). ]
[ soren comes within view of it, and viren had paused, expectantly for it to be withheld. but that soren stops has his brow furrowing with confusion, pushing past him with a sort of impatience. ]
What is-?
[ but he also comes to a halt, expression falling to one of shock. he looks to soren, this time genuinely imploring for an answer. ]
It's yours. [Soren says, simple and loud, not able to contain it. He walks forward, leans, picks the crown up too gingerly. His thumb rubs across the red, which is... not fresh, doesn't smear. It's a stain, now, cast into the metal. He can't imagine that will come off. He's also not sure if his father's own blood or someone else's.
It probably doesn't matter which. He offers it over, not at all reverent to what the crown of Katolis should command of him.]
[ viren's still stunned, now visibly at a loss of words. he lifts a hand forward, and doesn't so much as take it, but should soren place it atop his palms, his fingers will come to curl over the ruined metal. he doesn't know what to say - he doesn't bother to inspect the item, knowing from its weight alone of its genuineness. ]
You know this --
[ the state of it, that it symbolizes failure; it would be another thing entirely, if he'd died but had succeeded ]
[Soren lets the crown go and won't be touching it again. He'd rather it fall to the ground once more and get lost in some dusty, forgotten corner. It doesn't mean anything but death and failure]
You wanted to be King and that's where it leads.
[he feels that tug again, to his mirror. It's getting more difficult to ignore. Somehow, it's clear to him what that means.]
I'll miss you. Dad. I hope you can stay here, instead of... that. [because that crown is not worth anything but grief]
[ that catches viren off-guard, if his eyes widening is telling. despite how soren wishes him well, it's a sentiment that feels like pouring salt into an open sore. and it's mystifying, how he can say that so plainly despite everything; equally mystifying, but less of his focus, is what's prompting this. his expression pinches into something ambiguous, prying his gaze away from his son. his sigh is chilly, ]
I don't understand how you can say that.
[ he wishes he could agree, but he keeps that unspoken. ]
[ he has to reach inside himself for something genuine, something that also isn't darkened with bitterness. to say that it's difficult would be a grave understatement. ]
I'm going to try. [that's the best way he can put it. There's a lot of work ahead of them and he's not sure how that's going to go. More than anything, he hopes he can find Claudia someday. Make amends after... everything. That's the most important thing now.]
Don't really know how- I know. But. I think the mirror is taking me back. I feel it. [it's tugging at him, this is probably his last chance to say what he wants to his father. This version of his father and maybe the last version of him still around.]
I'm hoping you'll be okay. [that's about as eloquent as he's got]
[ viren doesn't know whether to believe that or not, the same vexation washing over him with the sentiment. so he regards him with carefully, a glitter of renewed interest sparking within his eyes as soren announces -- and they can more straightforwardly put their finger on as to why -- he's also here within the looking glass house. ]
[ expression cryptic, he looks around around at the various mirrors reflecting back at them both, and softly, ]
[Soren doesn't respond, growing increasingly glassy in the eyes by the moment and it wasn't from tears. He turns and heads to his mirror. To him, it's vibrantly decorated with dragons, elves, knights, and iconography of Katolis. To Viren, it's surely just any other mirror, with the exception that it's glowing at the very edges of the glass rim.
Soren steps to walk through it, but hesitates one more time. He looks back to his father, then to his sword. Grabbing the sheathed sword from his waist, he lifts it to hand to his father.
It is the sword he arrived with, the one of the Katolis Kingsguard, but it's been modified. The handle had been given a new pommel at the end, with a single pearl embedded.]
[ viren's eyes widen, both studious and uneasy, as he realizes the subtle change in soren's expression. his gaze flicks to the mirror's glow, exhaling a tense breath, his shoulders sagging with the fact that - once again - he can do nothing for this situation. the fingers loosen their curl around the crown, and he accepts the sword. the hold the sword receives is more uncertain ]
[ it's a curious action in itself, but the sight of the change within the sword's hilt has his tone to become more guarded, ]
The pearl glows when someone is lying. You will convince yourself you're right... even when you're wrong. I hope knowing better can help you. [Maybe that could help Viren not get caught up in ambition and his own righteousness. Just maybe.
Soren's eyes drift away at that, losing focus from everything. He looks back to his mirror, the light growing out from it, engulfing him and sweeping him away. The final words before he's gone are characteristically awkward in their tenderness]
[ it's a futile cry that comes too late - he doesn't know what he was to say, other than rehashing their same, tired arguments. some part of viren wants to only think good riddance; it felt his son had caused him nothing but trouble since his arrival, in between snatches of familial affection. his fangs grit, an unpleasantness twisting in his stomach with soren's final parting words. his eyes fall to the hilt of the sword, holding nothing but new contempt for it. it felt like soren had gotten the best of him, somehow, again. ]
[ yes, he'd be better off in katolis. ]
[ viren exhales, the room seeming to echo with it with its emptiness, and forces himself to turn on his heel and away from the mirror. with an unpleasant clang, the tip of the sword scratches against the ground, and his grip on its hilt trembles. ]
[ with one last, bitter glance to the mirror, viren sweeps from the room to depart. ]
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2020-11-29 09:20 pm (UTC)Dad? [A dragon stand in his way.] You looking for something?
no subject
Date: 2020-11-30 01:04 am (UTC)I am.
[ the grip on his staff tightens. ]
Last year, the Mirrorbound received their items through the Looking-Glass House. I wanted to be certain that the same wouldn't also be true this year.
no subject
Date: 2020-12-12 10:18 pm (UTC)He can only think of one thing that might be like that, arriving for his father to find.]
... that might be for you. [Soren is moving towards it, since it's also towards his mirror, feeling compelled by more than just the curiosity. He does stop in his tracks, when it comes into view what arrived. A twisted, mangled crown of Katolis, stained with blood. Soren holds his breath, he doesn't say anything.]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-13 02:16 am (UTC)[ soren comes within view of it, and viren had paused, expectantly for it to be withheld. but that soren stops has his brow furrowing with confusion, pushing past him with a sort of impatience. ]
What is-?
[ but he also comes to a halt, expression falling to one of shock. he looks to soren, this time genuinely imploring for an answer. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-13 11:29 pm (UTC)It probably doesn't matter which. He offers it over, not at all reverent to what the crown of Katolis should command of him.]
You still want it, right?
no subject
Date: 2020-12-18 02:31 am (UTC)You know this --
[ the state of it, that it symbolizes failure; it would be another thing entirely, if he'd died but had succeeded ]
is not what I wanted.
[ he allows his arm to fall back to his side. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-20 01:32 am (UTC)You wanted to be King and that's where it leads.
[he feels that tug again, to his mirror. It's getting more difficult to ignore. Somehow, it's clear to him what that means.]
I'll miss you. Dad. I hope you can stay here, instead of... that. [because that crown is not worth anything but grief]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-22 03:25 am (UTC)I don't understand how you can say that.
[ he wishes he could agree, but he keeps that unspoken. ]
[ he has to reach inside himself for something genuine, something that also isn't darkened with bitterness. to say that it's difficult would be a grave understatement. ]
You, I'm sure, will do much better at home.
no subject
Date: 2020-12-24 05:14 pm (UTC)Don't really know how- I know. But. I think the mirror is taking me back. I feel it. [it's tugging at him, this is probably his last chance to say what he wants to his father. This version of his father and maybe the last version of him still around.]
I'm hoping you'll be okay. [that's about as eloquent as he's got]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-31 07:14 pm (UTC)[ expression cryptic, he looks around around at the various mirrors reflecting back at them both, and softly, ]
Which one is yours?
no subject
Date: 2021-01-02 03:14 pm (UTC)Soren steps to walk through it, but hesitates one more time. He looks back to his father, then to his sword. Grabbing the sheathed sword from his waist, he lifts it to hand to his father.
It is the sword he arrived with, the one of the Katolis Kingsguard, but it's been modified. The handle had been given a new pommel at the end, with a single pearl embedded.]
You should keep this.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-05 03:33 am (UTC)[ it's a curious action in itself, but the sight of the change within the sword's hilt has his tone to become more guarded, ]
Why...?
no subject
Date: 2021-01-14 02:24 am (UTC)Soren's eyes drift away at that, losing focus from everything. He looks back to his mirror, the light growing out from it, engulfing him and sweeping him away. The final words before he's gone are characteristically awkward in their tenderness]
Bye dad.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-18 12:05 am (UTC)[ it's a futile cry that comes too late - he doesn't know what he was to say, other than rehashing their same, tired arguments. some part of viren wants to only think good riddance; it felt his son had caused him nothing but trouble since his arrival, in between snatches of familial affection. his fangs grit, an unpleasantness twisting in his stomach with soren's final parting words. his eyes fall to the hilt of the sword, holding nothing but new contempt for it. it felt like soren had gotten the best of him, somehow, again. ]
[ yes, he'd be better off in katolis. ]
[ viren exhales, the room seeming to echo with it with its emptiness, and forces himself to turn on his heel and away from the mirror. with an unpleasant clang, the tip of the sword scratches against the ground, and his grip on its hilt trembles. ]
[ with one last, bitter glance to the mirror, viren sweeps from the room to depart. ]