[she watches luca's face intently, observing all the emotions that run across it. kiera has always had their own suspicions about alazon, as biased as they probably are, but being the one to bring them up to luca has only ever resulted in arguments. let him come to the conclusion, himself.
a hollow chuckle leaves their throat as they swirl the bottle on the table, not taking another drink for now.]
... It's an odd thing. For as scared of it as I've always been, it was almost... compassionate. It seemed less angry that she impersonated it, and more that she used its image to hurt the Castillan people.
I should have known. My mother was nothing if not a manipulative liar.
[It's not a conclusion he wants to come to, thank you. He's had to deal with enough drama in his love life. To say nothing of the residual grief churned up by their experiences last month.
He'll deal with the doubt and shame later though. Right now... Right now he needs to focus on his sibling.]
It seems our understanding of any Beast is drastically misrepresented. [Who knows! Maybe the Leviathan wasn't a vicious destroyer after all. Then again, given what's happened with their "favorite" emissary, that legend is probably true.]
[a humorless laugh escapes her, juxtaposed to the scowl on her face.]
I never thought I would see the day I despised the Phoenix and appreciated the Butterfly.
[luca's curse brings a smile back to her face, finally. she lifts the bottle in cheers and takes a shorter drink from it. when she lowers it again, she works through the pain in her head to give her brother a genuine, fond smile.]
I would have died without you there, Luc. Even if you don't remember it yet... thank you.
Maybe I should have stayed gone. Me coming back seemed to fuck everything up, didn't it?
[He says it... mostly lightheartedly at least? He hasn't once regretted coming back. If anything, this is just another sign that he's made the right call. He was able to be there for them when they needed it. What more could he ask for as their brother?]
I know I went back on my word for some time there but... I will always be there for you. No matter where you go.
[he's so earnest... so much more open than he was even a year ago. kiera could mention that luca did, in fact, chase after alazon rather than stay in the castillan capital with kiera, but decides against it. there's no point in making him feel bad about something he hasn't even done yet. and really, if anyone could stop alazon or get what he's up to out of him, it will be luca.]
[One day that should... probably be brought up. Probably. For now, Luca can well and truly believe that he's put his past habit of abandoning Kiera when they need it most behind him. It's probably for the best, boy is upset enough right now.]
You have done plenty fine so far. [He reaches for their hand. Give him contact, pls.] I am still here because of you. I was able to bring down the Phoenix because of you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-09-17 06:51 pm (UTC)a hollow chuckle leaves their throat as they swirl the bottle on the table, not taking another drink for now.]
... It's an odd thing. For as scared of it as I've always been, it was almost... compassionate. It seemed less angry that she impersonated it, and more that she used its image to hurt the Castillan people.
I should have known. My mother was nothing if not a manipulative liar.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-17 10:07 pm (UTC)He'll deal with the doubt and shame later though. Right now... Right now he needs to focus on his sibling.]
It seems our understanding of any Beast is drastically misrepresented. [Who knows! Maybe the Leviathan wasn't a vicious destroyer after all. Then again, given what's happened with their "favorite" emissary, that legend is probably true.]
Well. May she burn in hell, where she belongs.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-17 10:37 pm (UTC)I never thought I would see the day I despised the Phoenix and appreciated the Butterfly.
[luca's curse brings a smile back to her face, finally. she lifts the bottle in cheers and takes a shorter drink from it. when she lowers it again, she works through the pain in her head to give her brother a genuine, fond smile.]
I would have died without you there, Luc. Even if you don't remember it yet... thank you.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-18 01:37 am (UTC)[He says it... mostly lightheartedly at least? He hasn't once regretted coming back. If anything, this is just another sign that he's made the right call. He was able to be there for them when they needed it. What more could he ask for as their brother?]
I know I went back on my word for some time there but... I will always be there for you. No matter where you go.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-18 03:49 am (UTC)I know. I hope I can do the same.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-18 03:55 am (UTC)You have done plenty fine so far. [He reaches for their hand. Give him contact, pls.] I am still here because of you. I was able to bring down the Phoenix because of you.