Summer 9/Voyage 1.2 | A 'Chance' Encounter 4
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
[X] Plan Saying Hello
-[X] "My name is Halla Skyfire, and I think we're family. We seem to have both been named after Hallr Blackhand, my grandfather. Nice to meet you, kinsman."
-[X] Just ask about who he is, where he's from, his family, his life. Basic stuff. We'd potentially be willing to share the same kind of info, though we won't mention Halfdan or the fact that his son is right here and married to our sister (mentioning Jordan as our brother in law would be fine, we just won't mention his father's name).
-[X] Once we feel him out, if it seems like a reasonable option, ask via Eyetalking in veiled terms about Odr Cultivation (ie: 'We have both started on the same path'), specifically if he'd like to trade secrets. We do know a few. If he can't Eyetalk back we'd have a slight issue here, but we can have a private discussion if needed.
-[X] In terms of openness, we're being very open with everything but Odr secrets and Charred Soul, we're sort of feeling him out on that stuff via Eyetalking.
-[X] "My name is Halla Skyfire, and I think we're family. We seem to have both been named after Hallr Blackhand, my grandfather. Nice to meet you, kinsman."
-[X] Just ask about who he is, where he's from, his family, his life. Basic stuff. We'd potentially be willing to share the same kind of info, though we won't mention Halfdan or the fact that his son is right here and married to our sister (mentioning Jordan as our brother in law would be fine, we just won't mention his father's name).
-[X] Once we feel him out, if it seems like a reasonable option, ask via Eyetalking in veiled terms about Odr Cultivation (ie: 'We have both started on the same path'), specifically if he'd like to trade secrets. We do know a few. If he can't Eyetalk back we'd have a slight issue here, but we can have a private discussion if needed.
-[X] In terms of openness, we're being very open with everything but Odr secrets and Charred Soul, we're sort of feeling him out on that stuff via Eyetalking.
"My name is Halla Skyfire, and I think we're family." The last syllable barely manages to leave your mouth before Hal leaps upon it like a wolf hunting its prey. The entire semi-relaxed demeanor vanishes as his eyes sharpen and muscles tense. The scent of readying orthstirr fills the air as steel locks with steel. "Looks like we're both named after Hallr Blackhand, my grandfather."
Hal is silent for a long time, his unblinking eyes locked to yours. You can almost hear the oars of his mind's ship making waves in the ocean of thought as he considers what that means. He's tensed, ready for battle, but not hostile just yet.
"My great-grandfather," Hal's sudden words catch you off-guard, "Hallr Blackhand, had a damn good reason for not rescuing my mother. So, the only question—the question bouncing around my skull from sun up to sun down—" he taps his head meaningfully, "why didn't her family save her from Hake?"
You were not ready for this, not at all.
"I, uh," you blink, mentally reeling from the metaphorical blow-to-the-ear, "I don't know the timing of all this, but my father was far away from his extended family for a long time."
It feels more like you're covering your ass then actually offering an explanation, but Hal sighs and seemingly accepts it. His muscles slacken as his eyes lose that lethal edge, "Guess it was a bit much for me to assume you'd know." He pauses before adding a belated, "Sorry."
"It's whatever," you wave it off with a shrug, "But, uh, if you don't mind me asking, you said something about your mother...?"
"Stolen away from her home by a Berserk named Hake, who won her in a duel. She and a fellow victim were then stolen from Hake by a man of King Halfdan the Black's hird. The King married the man, my father, to my mother while taking Ragnhild for himself." As you open your mouth to ask another question, Hal cuts you off with a raised hand. "It's my turn to ask a question, cousin-aunt, and that question is where, exactly, does our family live? I have some questions to ask them, you see."
And if he doesn't like the answers... Well, it's pretty clear what his plan is.
However, keeping something like that from him would be undeniably nid.
[ ] Tell him
[ ] Don't tell him
0~0~0
AN: An interesting predicament you've ended up in
No moratorium, very short vote, you will continue asking and answering questions after this vote.