5.2 Unholy Friends
- Location
- Earth
[] Dragul
[] Orux
[] Orux
For some reason, your first thought was to pay Dragul a visit. You actually have not seen him in a while, which might have played into it.
Now that you found him, there are two people watching a squad of other Demons exercise instead of one. His squad, that is. "Orux mentioned that you got a promotion. Congratulations?" It comes out as more of a question because you are still unsure what to make of Dragul, even after all those months.
"I see." The man himself casts a glance at you before grinning with a hint of sharp fangs. "He does speak of you as well. Did he mention that he himself was promoted, too?"
"He did." Technically, anyone who survived Valhalla got put in charge of a squad, with exception of Lu and yourself. "I don't think I like that staying alive is enough to rise through the ranks. Hell sucks."
Dragul just huffs and crosses his arms, a glare of his making a man and woman separate and go back to their exercises before any punches fly. "I believe I understand the sentiment, but it is how it is. Surviving separates you from the masses that are destroyed, be it through skill, strength, cunning, connections, or luck." If he sees your frown, he does not comment. "Now, what brought you here?"
"Nothing specific, just figured we could chat or something. I'm leaving soon."
"So I heard."
He stays quiet for a moment, then casts another glance your way. "In that case, I feel I should... thank you." You heard the pause he made, but stop yourself from commenting. He continues after a moment, carefully picking his words: "I learned a great deal under your tutelage, short as it was. Many of the lessons you taught me, be it in behaviour or advice, will take time to sink in properly, but I will put them to good use."
You are somewhat stumped; he is not even looking at you, still observing his troops, but there is no trace of that mocking tone he usually has. It is tempting to tease him about being embarassed, but you stop yourself. That works on Elisabeth, on Gabriel, sometimes even on Orux, but not on him. He might just take offense, so you decide not to ruin the moment. But it is difficult.
"It was nothing," is what you ultimately tell him. That is not even a lie, you barely did anything. "If it keeps you alive, that's good enough for me."
"I welcome it nonetheless." Dragul falls silent after that and eyes his underlings a little longer, then motions for them. "This group carries my blood. They welcomed the chance to be harder to kill and now belong to me, for the rest of their lives."
Great, there goes the mood. You do not dare ask if he actually explained the last part ahead of time, and he does not say. It is probably for the best, even if things are a little awkward right now.
Once it is clear you are not going to answer, he continues: "I offered Orux the same, but he refused. Said he wants his mind to be his own, even though you and I both know it is yours. He was always stubborn, but it only got worse ever since meeting you."
You can not help but snort, though the comment does worry you somewhat. Orux has five thousand years between this point and your time, and there are many dangers out there. This time it is you who glances at Dragul first. "Keep an eye on him anyway, please. I'd like him to make it."
You are interrupted as another pair starts shoving each other, but the man by your side simply clears his throat and both get back to their exercises. Another moment passes and Dragul huffs. "Under normal circumstances, I would simply accept without ever mentioning. Yet you did do more than was ever asked of you and I respect that, even if we are not particularly close."
Then he turns to you fully for the first time since you arrived, explaining the confusing statement. "I was meaning to offer you a favour, if at any point, in any time, you have need of something I can provide, I will." You blink at that. "Leaving debts unpaid is unbecoming, after all." You blink again, but it does make sense. Dragul continues before you can comment: "Were this anyone else, or any other situation, I would take watching over Orux as that favour and be done with it. But this is something I would have done anyway, with or without your prompting. So just this once, I shall be... accomodating."
There is that grin of his again. You can not help but sigh, but it is infectious. "Good to know. So I still have a favour open with you, no matter when?"
"Quite. I doubt I will remember you much off-hand, but...." He trails off with another huff and turns back to his soldiers. "I doubt I will ever forget you entirely. None of us will."
You can not help but huff in turn. "I'll take your word for it."
Silence descends with that while you mull over what you just heard. A Demon not taking advantage of the situation to get out of the favour he wanted to grant, that is unusual. But you think you understand what he wants to tell you, even if he does not say it. He appreciates you in his own way.
Now that you are back in your own head however, you can not help but wonder as you watch his squad. "How exactly does your blood make them 'yours', anyway? Does it outright control their minds to do as you want?"
The vampire by your side shrugs lightly. "From my own insight and what I saw so far, no. It is more of an adjustment of their minds, setting myself up as a figure of respect or worship or desire or whichever else will make them serve me. I believe it does also bend memories or beliefs, as long as it serves the same goal. They are technically still themselves and will refuse orders that blatantly disregard their own values, such as throwing themselves into certain death while I retreat, or to kill their comrades for no good reason."
That is a relief. It still strikes you as wrong, but there are degrees of wrongness and this is less so. "So they see you as whatever makes them loyal to you, but they can still refuse your orders."
"Correct."
"Huh."
You turn back to watching the bunch for a while longer. There really are all kinds of people; you do wonder where Dragul will be in five thousand years, considering that this kind of power can get one far if used right.
Chances are you will find out.
. . .
IDENTIFIED BREAK LINE
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IDENTIFIED BREAK LINE
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The time you spend with Orux afterward is decidedly different from your talk with Dragul. More quiet, and nice in general, from afternoon to evening.
Both of you are seated on top of the Keep's main spire to watch the sun set, with you in your boyfriend's lap. He has his arms wrapped around you snugly. His chest is warm and the steady thrum of his heart makes you sleepy. Actually staying awake to enjoy this is difficult, but you managed so far. Orux is just as quiet, has been for who knows how long, and enjoys you being there just as much.
Everything you could say has already been said. You know he hates having to let you go, but he will not stop you either. You hate having to leave, but that will not keep you here.
Nothing in life is ever easy. At least nothing that is worth the effort.
For you, assuming he survives until your time, it will be a few weeks or months at most. For him, it will be a time so long you can not even fathom it. To go this far just for you feels wrong; you do not have the right to demand this of him, and you honestly did not. But he seems willing to do it anyway.
"Orux?"
"Hm?"
He murmurs softly, apparently half-asleep himself. You can not help but smile and reach up to poke his cheek, even though what you just thought of gives you mixed feelings. "I was thinking, we won't see each other for a long time. I, I don't mind if you're with someone else in the meantime." That is a blatant lie, you do mind, and how you mind, but this does not matter. "It wouldn't be fair to-" "No."
He interrupts you quietly and you stop while he leans down to peck you on the lips. "I will never love anyone but you, for as long as I live."
You have no words.
He is being dumb and you know it, but it still makes your heart throb so painfully. Tears come and are wiped off gently, a kiss placed on your forehead.
He said he loves you. No one ever said that to you, not like this.
The only response you can give is to nestle back against him, and he lets you. Now you want to go even less, even though you know you must.
Maybe, you wonder idly before dozing off, it would be possible to take him to your time and have him live there. That would solve the entire problem. But you can not say if that is actually possible or if you should do it.
Over that contemplation, you fall asleep, staying that way until morning.
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Two days left until the party. Who do you spend today with? Pick three:
[] Lucifer
[] Maya
[] Paoras
[] Elisabeth
[] Gabriel