Re: Svarik and the company II

[VisAnastasis]

" This is third layer. You should never try to come here without me. It's beautiful, but it can get dangerous for human alone, with who knows what all things lurking in the dark... And I can not impose us on my friend's hospitality, after taking something so precious from him. He needs his own space to grieve, too. " Tide replied, mindful and caring to feeling of the old turtle demon. " If it's okay, I think we should go... But you don't need to worry. I see you like it here. I will bring you here again some other time, then, deal? Right now, we just both need to get home where's warm and safe, and rest. "

[Mirach]

"It's not my home, and I don't think it's safe for me..." Senecio muttered, but then he sighed. "Let's go then..."

[VisAnastasis]

" It is my home, at least for now, and I'll be there, so that means it's automatically safe for you... " Tide smiled a bit. " Come on, let's go. " he said kindly, and he helped him up, and packed and carried their things, so they could leave.

[Mirach]

Senecio followed him into the boat and sat down there quietly.

[VisAnastasis]

Anew, Tide made sure that lad had his cloak to keep warm, and he put  on his mask shyly, before he dragged boat to water, and they set of to get back.

[Mirach]

During the journey, Senecio fell asleep. He did not want to, but he was too tired and exhausted by the day and injury, and with the rocking of the boat, he could not resist it any longer.

[VisAnastasis]

When they reached the city, Tide hid the boat, and when he noticed him sleep, he smiled. He just watched him for a moment with some fascination, and then he took him in his arms carefully and shyly, and carrying him, he sneaked into the house again through the window.

[Mirach]

Senecio stirred a bit, but didn't wake.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide carefully laid him to rest on his bed, making sure he's comfortable. After bit of thought, he left his cloak to him, deciding to trust him with that one, so he just wrapped him up more comfily in it, letting him use the cloak as a warm blanket. He sat down then and observed him quietly, as morning was coming and sun was rising, thinking about Carol's words and promise of a strange and unexpected, but loving relationship in it. Only then, he sighed,  took a doze of painkiller and left it on table for lad when he wakes up, and he ordered a meal and left it on a table, so Senecio would have food when he wakes up too.

Then, after some thought, he went to fetch a guard, that could keep watch over the actor while he is away. He himself, after wrapping the precious shell and putting it in his back pocket attentively, he left Senecio with the guard, and he himself went up to the attic.
He did not try to enter the king's room, he just sat down on the staircase quietly, waiting for king to wake up.

[Mirach]

After the commotion of the night, Svarik only woke a few hours after dawn, and aske Erdel, if he could bring them some breakfast, knowing there shouldn't be any danger now, but still feeling safer if Erdel brought their food, and not someone he didn't know.

[VisAnastasis]

Erdel nodded, and stood up to do so. When he opened the door hesitantly, though, king could see a person, silently waiting at the door... Not a stranger, this time, only Tide. It seemed demon didn't move from the spot for all the time, just simply and patiently waiting for king to wake up.

[Mirach]

"Tide? What's going on? He didn't flee, did he?" Svarik asked when he saw the demon, who was supposed to be with Senecio, sitting there alone.

[VisAnastasis]

" No, he did not. You need not to fret. He just did not really sleep or eat for two days. I fed him, and he fought against his own mind hard, but he fell asleep around dawn in the end. " Tide replied truthfully, standing up slowly. " Do not worry, please, little Nightingale. I would never endanger you. I left someone else to guard him, just in case... I just wished to talk with you, that's all. I hope I am not an inconvenience to you. "

[Mirach]

"It's alright then," Svarik said with relief. "Come in, please. Erdel will bring some breakfast soon."

[VisAnastasis]

Tide nodded, and he came in. Vampire measured him up slowly, before he nodded, and went to fetch breakfast, while the sea demon came in, and hesitantly gave himself freedom to sit down on the free place at the sofa.

[Mirach]

"I hope it didn't bother you too much that you had to guard him," Svarik said with concern. "How is your hand?"

[VisAnastasis]

" No, it was nice, actually. He is very confused lad, but he is talented. He was just so restless. " Tide allowed himself a little smile. " He recited me poetry, and showed me his favorite roles... My hand is fine. I did not strain it. Please don't worry for it.. " he looked down on his palm a little wonderingly. " It's just a little burn on the soul. It will pass. You needed that flute, and you are a good lad. I'd have done it again, with no regrets. "

[Mirach]

"I just wanted to know if it's healing. What did you want to talk about then?"

[VisAnastasis]

" To be honest... I guess I just have a feeling that I involved myself too much in Death's illness. I think I am quite certain my now that it will probably cost me my life, in the end. It's okay... I am not unhappy with the life I was leading. I think it's a good way to die, making sure world is good. " he said quietly and simply, to the point. " I only came to talk to you, because... I would like to leave a world a little better than I found it, not just save it. I would like to do one more good thing, before my demise. That is why I came to talk with you. "

[Mirach]

"And I promised you before that I will do all I can to make helping Death as safe for you as possible. He is our guest. There are some obligations for both sides in that relationship. He can't just go on killing my friends..." Svarik tried to reassure him.

[VisAnastasis]

" He is The Death, The Spirit King, purger of Demons. " Tide but whispered quietly. " It would be different, perhaps, if I lived in your household, and he knew it, and accepted it a fact, before he became your guest. " he shook his head. " This is whole another part of land, and my house, and my hospitality. Just being friend of the host does not protect you, anyhow. You may chose to deny him hospitality on that ground in the end, but if he wants my demise, he is Death - nothing could stop him. Maybe I could stand up to him in a fight for a little while, but he would overpower me... And I would not fight him back, anyway. " demon said simply. " If I am to die to help him, I figured, it makes no sense for me to try to just take two steps back and hurt him when our paths cross. I figured, it will be hard, but I won't fight back - straining may corrupt him further. And not fighting back, I think.." he smiled bit sadly. " My demise is certain, isn't it, little Nightingale? "

[Mirach]

"Only if he decides so," Svarik said. "I still hope I can influence that decision, with the help of lord Nameless."

[VisAnastasis]

" That is the difference of our opinions, perhaps. I accept that you rely on his kindness, and will be glad for any influence of mercy you think you can instill in him. I just bid you to understand that I, who had seen his cruelty, do not believe such kindness will prevail in the end. I do not believe kindness of someone like that. " Demon noted. " For the sake of discussion... Can we at least agree that, while I may die and I may not, that my life is definitely in danger? Because, in light of such, looking ahead at what I feel is my nearing demise.. I would like to do some more good, while I still have time. "

[Mirach]

"That's probably true," Svarik admitted. "Do you need my help in something you want to do?"

[VisAnastasis]

" There is only one thing I have in mind, right now, but your opinion in this, I fear, is vital. I can do my part in it, but only if you allow me. That said... I came to speak about the boy. " he said quietly, politely, on point straight, as always. " I spent time to try to get to know him and understand him better. He did an awful thing, yes, and I want him to pay for it in some way, too - but there is no malice, in his heart. Think about it. I told you what awful things emperors did, and he only acted out of his ancestor's hate of emperors, that was quite justified. You know what emperors were like. If you was anything like emperors were, hurting us, taking away our hard earned treasures freely, taking our children for bloody sacrifices, torturing my loved ones - I would not stand by your side last night. I would stand by his, and I would have desired your death as well. " Tide whispered quietly. " He was misguided, and he should repent... But not with death, sire. I am tired, of foolish deaths. I have seen so many, in Spirit war, and human lives are short enough. I came to plead with you, my dearest guest, for his life, and to make a deal for it, if it's necessary. "