vampire nerd (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
aetherialslumber) wrote2019-12-11 05:47 pm
aetherialslumber) wrote2019-12-11 05:47 pm
twitter drabble - moenuri angst
Urianger had grown stronger and stronger travelling the rift, though he was still stuck. He was unable to fully leave - nor could he now. They needed their King. (For what?) He needed to return to the fair folk. (Which ones?) And those others who were stuck, or were born there.
But he had gained power. Power was all he could work on. Perhaps with this, he could...
...no. He had to ask. He was not cruel, he couldn't steal somebody away. Else he would be hated. He still saw how some looked at the Exarch with pain, with sadness. Though he had his reasons, it had fractured and broken so many.
So he approached, his gown dragging across the sandy floor. The dust had begun to settle - perhaps she hadn't been cleaning like he would? Something to discuss later. The door opened, and... there she was. Moenbryda, half-asleep with crystals nearby. Ones she was studying - ah. They seemed to be from the Far East. From The Burn - those drained of aether. Of course she had time to do this.
Ah, the Waking Sands... the world kept moving, but it remained here. Plants long-gone, any sign he'd begun to improve it gone since he'd been gone. His body would be in the Rising Stones, after all. Only Moenbryda lived here, and she likely didn't tend to much of the nature. Nor would she stay here, for she had Lyse to go to. And perhaps she even picked up the crystals in-person.
She moved a little, before her eyes snapped open. Uriangers' visits weren't too common, so of course Moenbryda shot up, moving to cuddle him. Hold him close, greet him.
It was not long until the tea set was out, and they were talking. Moenbryda fussing over her loves' antlers, curious. "So... th'land made you into a deer boy," she said, her lips curling into the warmest smile. "Y'know, deer symbolism is fascinatin'. Some say they're just gentle, but others call 'em messengers of the gods. Devoted, kind beyond belief and lovin', dedicated to their cause no matter what.
Just like a certain Elezen, hm?"
Urianger looked to his tea, silent as she continued, nibbling at some half-stale treats. "'course, just because you're some deer thing doesn't mean much. You're still Urianger - and I'd do anything for ya."
"--Then come with me." Urianger said, his voice raising. Desperate in its own way. "Come to the First, to Il Mheg. Stay with me."
Silence. From both of them, Urianger now staring at her. Until Moenbryda gently put her cup down. "...You know I love you, Urianger," Moenbryda began - and Urianger could already tell her answer. Still, he let her continue. "But look at me. I've got things going on here, and people I care for. I can't just uproot my life to... follow you. I couldn't do it when Louisoix asked us.
I can't do it now. But I'll still be here-- Urianger, are you crying?"
The Elezen shook his head, the frozen tears barely visible. Of course she said no. Of course she did - who would wish to do something so drastic? "...I respect your choice, Moenbryda," he said quietly. "I suppose I'll need to visit more." (For she would not be at his side, another queen.) "Besides, you do have a life here." (He had a life here. He has people who love him, both here and there. Then why must he be alone? It was best for them, wasn't it.) "Perhaps you can tell me about your current research...?"
Urianger didn't expect it to distract her. And it didn't. "Uri - you know I love you. So don't cry, okay? I'm one of the people working on bringing you home."
"...it cannot be my home anymore."
Moenbryda paused, looking to Urianger, as he continued. "I must return to Il Mheg. For I have been chosen, for the life of a King, a path unknown. I will still visit - and if my body is saved, I shall not be forced to leave." (But he will still be forced to stay there. Not for himself, but for others.) "Perhaps someday, I'll be able to show you its beauty."
A sigh, as Moenbryda stood and moved to hug him closely. To try and reassure him, to touch his aetherial form. "Paint me a picture, Urianger. With your words. You've gotta have a reason to stay, right? You're you. If you wanted to, you could do anything."
...He couldn't. But he oblieged her... beginning to tell her about everything. The fair folk, the beauty, the grace. The flowing springtime fields, the gentle snow settling. And the drowned cities, for the people there were gone - history he still couldn't explore, for he couldn't go under there. There might still be pockets of history, but it wasn't like he could ask anybody to get it for him - he already asked too much, it felt like. To be loved was enough.
He spoke until he faded, for he couldn't stay. Though, as he vanished, Moenbryda then noticed... a quiet familiar creature. Mhach had been brought back here, taken from the First...? Why...?
Oh, fuck.
But he had gained power. Power was all he could work on. Perhaps with this, he could...
...no. He had to ask. He was not cruel, he couldn't steal somebody away. Else he would be hated. He still saw how some looked at the Exarch with pain, with sadness. Though he had his reasons, it had fractured and broken so many.
So he approached, his gown dragging across the sandy floor. The dust had begun to settle - perhaps she hadn't been cleaning like he would? Something to discuss later. The door opened, and... there she was. Moenbryda, half-asleep with crystals nearby. Ones she was studying - ah. They seemed to be from the Far East. From The Burn - those drained of aether. Of course she had time to do this.
Ah, the Waking Sands... the world kept moving, but it remained here. Plants long-gone, any sign he'd begun to improve it gone since he'd been gone. His body would be in the Rising Stones, after all. Only Moenbryda lived here, and she likely didn't tend to much of the nature. Nor would she stay here, for she had Lyse to go to. And perhaps she even picked up the crystals in-person.
She moved a little, before her eyes snapped open. Uriangers' visits weren't too common, so of course Moenbryda shot up, moving to cuddle him. Hold him close, greet him.
It was not long until the tea set was out, and they were talking. Moenbryda fussing over her loves' antlers, curious. "So... th'land made you into a deer boy," she said, her lips curling into the warmest smile. "Y'know, deer symbolism is fascinatin'. Some say they're just gentle, but others call 'em messengers of the gods. Devoted, kind beyond belief and lovin', dedicated to their cause no matter what.
Just like a certain Elezen, hm?"
Urianger looked to his tea, silent as she continued, nibbling at some half-stale treats. "'course, just because you're some deer thing doesn't mean much. You're still Urianger - and I'd do anything for ya."
"--Then come with me." Urianger said, his voice raising. Desperate in its own way. "Come to the First, to Il Mheg. Stay with me."
Silence. From both of them, Urianger now staring at her. Until Moenbryda gently put her cup down. "...You know I love you, Urianger," Moenbryda began - and Urianger could already tell her answer. Still, he let her continue. "But look at me. I've got things going on here, and people I care for. I can't just uproot my life to... follow you. I couldn't do it when Louisoix asked us.
I can't do it now. But I'll still be here-- Urianger, are you crying?"
The Elezen shook his head, the frozen tears barely visible. Of course she said no. Of course she did - who would wish to do something so drastic? "...I respect your choice, Moenbryda," he said quietly. "I suppose I'll need to visit more." (For she would not be at his side, another queen.) "Besides, you do have a life here." (He had a life here. He has people who love him, both here and there. Then why must he be alone? It was best for them, wasn't it.) "Perhaps you can tell me about your current research...?"
Urianger didn't expect it to distract her. And it didn't. "Uri - you know I love you. So don't cry, okay? I'm one of the people working on bringing you home."
"...it cannot be my home anymore."
Moenbryda paused, looking to Urianger, as he continued. "I must return to Il Mheg. For I have been chosen, for the life of a King, a path unknown. I will still visit - and if my body is saved, I shall not be forced to leave." (But he will still be forced to stay there. Not for himself, but for others.) "Perhaps someday, I'll be able to show you its beauty."
A sigh, as Moenbryda stood and moved to hug him closely. To try and reassure him, to touch his aetherial form. "Paint me a picture, Urianger. With your words. You've gotta have a reason to stay, right? You're you. If you wanted to, you could do anything."
...He couldn't. But he oblieged her... beginning to tell her about everything. The fair folk, the beauty, the grace. The flowing springtime fields, the gentle snow settling. And the drowned cities, for the people there were gone - history he still couldn't explore, for he couldn't go under there. There might still be pockets of history, but it wasn't like he could ask anybody to get it for him - he already asked too much, it felt like. To be loved was enough.
He spoke until he faded, for he couldn't stay. Though, as he vanished, Moenbryda then noticed... a quiet familiar creature. Mhach had been brought back here, taken from the First...? Why...?
Oh, fuck.