we are the sword, we tame the fire, the flame

[scythegun]

[It's wonderful to be home.

Oh, sure, it hasn't been an easy transition into this particular version of Terca Lumireis. After all, that involved tracking down and killing this version of himself, which was far harder than it needed to be. Waiting for the proper moment to ambush himself while Gauche and Droite were nowhere nearby was the most difficult part. His original plan had been to actually fight, he took the more merciful option and simply sniped his other self. In some ways it was sort of traumatizing, in others it was completely liberating.

(But as long as he doesn't think about it for too long, things are fine, as usual.)

Regardless, he disposed of the body and slipped right back into his old life without missing a beat.

Of course, some things had to be handled immediately - namely, that whole mess with Altosk, the Don's grandson, and Belias - but somehow things had managed to work themselves out. Well, somewhat, Yeager's banned from Dahngrest again, but it's not like that's anything new, and it certainly won't keep him out of the city.

(Given that this was the Don's punishment for his guild's incredibly stupid and dangerous actions, Raven really did work hard to get him out of trouble.)

And so they return to their lives. For the time being, Leviathan's Claw is keeping a lower profile and taking on far fewer jobs, which is mostly to make Raven's life easier, not that Yeager will admit that. He's met with the other two several times since returning home - Raven more than Alexei, for obvious reasons - and while it's always nice to see them, it's almost always been exclusively about business.

Not that he minds that, truly. There's something wonderful about picking up right where he left off, without the consequences of his actions in his world to actually feel marginally guilty over. The Don is alive and well (and pissed at him) here, after all. Zaude hasn't been raised from the ocean floor, and the guilds and the Empire seem to be handling each other decently well... for now.

...But.

It's hard to pretend that his time away hasn't changed him. Droite and Gauche have noticed it too - they stare at him when they think he won't notice and whisper amongst themselves, and there's always the feeling there, whenever he talks to them, that something is off. With their behavior, with his, it isn't entirely clear. Maybe both. They don't know, of course - he took care of his other self's body so that it would never be found, after all - but they recognize that he's changed, they just haven't figured out how.

And really, he wouldn't know how to begin addressing any of that with them, so he simply doesn't.

Oh, he'll get around to it someday, probably. They are his daughters and he does want to treat them as such - but for now he wants things to be normal. He wants the normalcy he so desperately craved while in that horrid place, so maybe he can have this for a little bit. As a treat.

Still, he always leaves those meetings - particularly the ones with Alexei - feeling like talking about business (and strictly business) is sort of... frustrating.

(If only he could drag the Commandant out to set something on fire again.)

It's one of those meetings that's brought him into Empire territory today - he had business here anyway, so it's not like it was just to see Alexei - and he shows up to the appointed meeting place on time, dressed as always in the usual suit, with the usual briefcase at his side. Were it not for the (slightly) more genuine expression, it would be easy to assume that everything was just as it once had been, without a single difference whatsoever.

It's nice, in some ways. In others, it's maddening.]

Comments

[scythegun]

That won't be a problem at all one way or another. Any preference either way?

[Do you want to blame this on the guilds or just leave it as an unsolved murder or missing persons case...?]

[ideismo]

[YEAGER.]

I would prefer not to go to war with the guilds, if that's what you're asking.

[scythegun]

No fun today either, I see...

[But he waves that off with a laugh, that's more or less what he was expecting!!]

You'll have it taken care of, then; leave me the name and any relevant details and I'll have it taken care of as soon as possible.

[ideismo]

Of course.

[So...that's it, then. Outside of the details, there really isn't much else to do here, is there?]

Compensation will be given upon completion; you'll find it more than fair, I'll make sure of that much.

[scythegun]

Of course, and I've no doubts you'll deliver it promptly.

[Business as usual, all wrapped up nice and neatly. He has no further questions, Alexei has no further instructions, so that's that.

...

He doesn't really want to leave it at that. It'll probably be awhile before they have a reason to meet up again. And it'll probably be the exact same thing next time, too. Business, some mild pleasantries, and then simply moving on their way.

For some reason, he doesn't like that.

He could ask about Alexei's decision to go after a member of the Council. It doesn't really matter, ultimately, and he's not sure Alexei will find it safe to tell him here anyway. Yeager's not paid to ask questions, he's paid to get a job done.

...So.]

Have you had time to set anything on fire yet, by the way?

[..........listen maybe he can at least make alexei do something with his face before he goes, let him have this okay—]

[ideismo]

[Oh my god, Yeager, why...]

Of course not. Why would I- ...You know why I can't.

[scythegun]

[That is in fact something with your face!! Victory! ☆]

Oh, I know, you're quite literally forbidden from having anything even resembling fun now that you're back home.

[It's teasing though; lighter than it used to be, just as comfortable as it was at the end of their little stay away from home.]

But you've definitely thought about it, ja?

[ideismo]

...I'm fairly sure most people don't think about that.

[He shifts a bit, pinching at the bridge of his nose before making himself settle again, lowering his hand back to his side.]

Why do you ask.

[scythegun]

[He'll take it! A reaction from Alexei is always a win.]

I thought you might miss having fun every once in awhile.

[it was not "every once in awhile"........]

[ideismo]

...I don't know.

[It was absolutely not "every once in awhile", but he can't bring himself to make the correction.]

I don't think it would matter much even if I did, so there's little point in thinking about it.

[scythegun]

Hmm.

[It's more to fill space than anything else. It would be really easy to just leave it there as simple teasing, nothing more, and then never mention it again and slip back into their usual routine, but...]

Well, I miss it.

[For a moment, he almost leaves it there.

But it's far too honest, too open, so he shifts, shrugging and smiling as usual as if the pause was intentional.]

But I'm supposed to be behaving. I truly do suffer so much, ja?

[ideismo]

[...Oh.

For a moment it's clear that Alexei doesn't know what to do with that; it takes him a second to work out what to do with his face, and for a moment he's left clearly unguarded.

But then it's over, and they can move on from...that, whatever that was, and- ]

Clearly. I can't begin to imagine your agony.

[...There was an attempt.

That said, he finds himself taking a moment, feeling as though something else should be said if only to reward the honesty; he isn't sure when honesty of that sort became something to be rewarded.]

It will easier once the Council is taken down a few pegs. To consider things like that.

[scythegun]

[hey listen you have no idea how hard telling the truth is when your entire life has literally been a lie the last ten years!!!!!]

Ja, I can imagine so. But even then you'll still never agree to it!

[DRAMATIC SIGH]

Oh well. I suppose the King will simply have to live on in our memories!

[Alexei has sort of let him get away with it, so by god, he's going to do that and pretend he didn't just have half a feeling at Alexei, it's fine!!]

[ideismo]

[He's let you get away with it indeed.

He's content to let things go for now, and so things are as they should be for a while longer. A Council member dies; a more favorable one is nominated to the position. He isn't more favorable by much, granted, but he'll work for the time being; either way, Yeager receives his payment, and Alexei doesn't care much what he does with it.

It's enough that he's willing to let things be for the time being; he leaves things as they are until he has to return to Guild territory. The Don still being alive has presented unforeseen complications, in that it means peace negotiations are ongoing; Alexei has, thus far, completely failed to get anywhere near the man's good side. That doesn't mean he can't negotiate with the Don, because the Don is an amenable man, but at the same time he has...not figured out the key to earning the Don's respect, regardless of how much Schwann tries to coach him on the matter.

So it is that he's in the general vicinity of Dahngrest, and he's entirely aware that Yeager is not allowed within the city limits because of course he's not; that doesn't mean they can't meet outside of those limits, however, once Alexei has convinced the inevitable entourage he has with him that he'll be fine for a few hours on his own.]

[scythegun]

[It isn't a particularly difficult task, to have a member of the Council killed. While he may have lost his best assassin (Zagi hasn't returned to the Manor and Yeager isn't going to waste valuable time and resources trying to track that idiot down) he still has plenty others who can handle the job.

And so it's done, he's paid for the work, and life goes on.

Of course, a member of the Council dying suddenly didn't go unnoticed by the Don, and thus, Yeager is back to the usual status quo of being banned from Dahngrest again. This is just going to be a reoccurring theme, isn't it? Raven hasn't had any luck in getting the ban lifted so far, but there's no rush - better to let the Don cool his head for a bit before risking Raven's neck for such a thing, after all.

But that's neither here or there and not the point of this meeting today - it isn't as though it's been all that long, but it will be good to see Alexei again.

Yeager's already present when Alexei manages to free himself from his entourage; he's alone again today as well, though he has the massive scythe out and slung over his shoulder like he's been waiting for monsters to prowl close enough for the slaughter. He transforms the weapon back to its usual briefcase form before holding up a hand and approaching, of course.]

Good afternoon! To what do I owe the pleasure today, hmm~?

[Business, of course. It will always be business.]

[ideismo]

[Thank you for not just having the scythe out like an edgelord? Oh my god.

That said, his tone is as straightforward as usual; that's one of those things that he's not going to shake easily, if at all, but for now it's going to have to work. What he ends up saying, though...]

I had a meeting with Don Whitehorse earlier. I'm still not certain how the Guilds accomplish anything.

[So not...entirely business? Surprisingly. More like he was just sort of here and decided to arrange something.]

[scythegun]

[It takes him a moment - a blink-and-you'll-miss-it hesitation - but he laughs at that, shaking his head.]

To be honest with you, I'm not either. And I have had to sit in on quite a few of those meetings, you know!

[...as regaey...]

[ideismo]

I'm certain that you have.

[AS REGAEY...]

If anything, coming out here has been a fairly pleasant experience by comparison.

[Do you understand how much population control he's been doing on like. those little pig things, he's been destroying the living crap out of them, it's been very nice and they've been very dead.]

[scythegun]

Ja, I can imagine! Actually having time to travel must be nice. That's why I chose to live outside the city!

[.................it was really not a choice.]

[ideismo]

...Really now.

[It was absolutely not a choice...]

[scythegun]

I do have to keep my skills sharp, after all. And who doesn't like fighting monsters?

[ideismo]

Fair enough. I've been doing a decent amount of it myself.

Unfortunately, Dahngrest and the surrounding area's reputation ensured that it took longer than I would have liked to convince those that came with me that I can handle both the monsters and any immediate threat of assassination on my own.

[scythegun]

And yet here you are, meeting with the leader of the assassins.

[Listen, it's hilarious, okay.]

I do appreciate you checking up on me~ But I've been behaving; you'd know if I hadn't been!

[ideismo]

[Why this all the time- ]

Oh, I don't believe at all that you've actually been behaving. I suppose you expect me to thank you for not making some sort of unholy display of it?

[scythegun]

I'm not making your life difficult, ja? I'd say I might even be meeting your expectations for once.