IC INBOX ( KENOS ).

[twohand]

█ To Commune with Drizzt Do'urden is to step out of extreme darkness, blindly scrabbling below a burning sun. To feel pain and hope filling the heart, amidst the bitterness of exceptional loss. It is the wind sweeping across permafrost, cascading down towering mountains rising like the arched spine of a great entity; the fumbling descent to a forested encampment, filled with hundreds of unique seats arranged around a warming fire. Every seat bears a core warmth, as if the person who had once inhabited it had only just clambered to their feet, and walked away into the darkness beyond the fires. It is a sweet loneliness, and a lingering terror of being alone. COMPATIBLE WITH: Stargazer, Harbinger REPELLED BY: Savant

♠

Comments

[bakedapple]

[ Drizzt's body feels solid in his arms, as if it were made of stone. Solid, unwavering. Link is of similar build and size, but his body is still riddled with the effects of resurrection sickness. When the cloak is pulled around him, he shivers and holds onto his friend tighter, but it isn't from the cold. ]

No. No, you didn't do anything wrong.

[ With his forehead pressed against Drizzt's shoulder, he shakes his head. ]

...I let you down. I let everyone down. I'm sorry, I... I'm so relieved... that you're alright...

[twohand]

Absolutely not, don't say that. You tried your best.

[ Adamantly, he refuses to let Link shoulder any blame — not from anyone, least of all from himself. The weather is awful, and with no Manor to turn to, Drizzt is quick to decide on a path that leads to one of the businesses in the Court's vicinity. Someplace where the interior is warm and he can take stock of Link's injuries and health. ]

She must have heard your warning. So many of us did. She just... I don't know if she did anything about it. So many people went back to the Manor, she let them just go back — oh, Link. This isn't your fault. You did everything right.

[ He squeezes the Hylian tight. ]

They killed you. And I was captured.

[bakedapple]

[ Still leaning into Drizzt's body, his bare feet move on his own as he starts to lead him towards someplace where they can escape the cold. Maybe it's because he's been running on pure determination for the past three days, or maybe he simply, finally feels safe enough to look inward for the briefest moment, but his total exhaustion is starting to hit him all at once. He swallows dryly, hoping that wherever they're going will have food and water, but he doesn't dare complain. There are more important things to worry about. ]

What happened? After I died... what did you do? How did you get captured?

[twohand]

[ The place that he takes Link to is a small rowhouse, the ancestral home of a family that has lived long in the shadow of Yima's Manor. They're offering their home up as temporary lodgings to Shard-Bearers and other displaced individuals, their household staff and soldiers bringing food and water and bedding to those in need; let it be known, that Highstorm does care for its own. That has been encouraging, to Drizzt. ]

After we parted, I heard the end of your warning. I knew you were in trouble... the sound of your voice —

[ He grimaces, obviously heartsick that Link had suffered. ]

I went back for you. When I did, I ran into Legionnaires. They outnumbered me, which is normally not an issue, but they mentioned bringing you back to Springstar. I didn't fight as hard as I would have, otherwise. All I could think of was finding you. I'm sorry, I didn't return to Highstorm until it was too late.

[ He carries Link into the house, reaching for a blanket and a warm drink to press into the Hylian's hands. To encourage him to settle on a bedroll while Drizzt fusses over him, sitting before him on his knees so that he can take his bare, pale feet into his hands and rub them. Trying to warm them and return blood flow to his toes. ]

Zenith stormed the city of Springstar and murdered Tribune Cyrus. Then, Meridian used the weapon we saw. They aimed it at the Manor — [ And it was awful. ] The Manor was destroyed. I think she's dead, too.

[ he's not sad about THAT though ]

[bakedapple]

[ It does not take much to convince Link to lay down. Where he normally would have objected to being fussed over, he is silent; Drizzt's calloused but warm hands on his feet feel like a blessing from the Goddesses themselves. Now that he's reclined, the extent of his exhaustion settles deeper and deeper into his mind, and he feels an overwhelming desire to sleep. But he can't. Not yet. ]

...I'm sorry.

[ There's no way to see any of this as a failure. On both their parts, technically... but it's difficult for Link not to feel like the blame lies with him. It was all his bright idea, after all; Drizzt had simply been kind enough to accompany him. And it was Link's carelessness that cost everyone a different outcome. The blame has to be on him, right? He could have warned Yima at any point prior to his death — days, weeks ahead of time... but he hadn't wanted to believe that his former allies would do something so grave.

Of course, he didn't think his new allies would do what they did either. ]

I'm sorry, Drizzt. I'm sorry. [ his voice starts to crack as he stares at the ceiling. ] I'm... I'm so thankful that you're alright...

[twohand]

Oh, Link... you have nothing to be sorry for.

[ He knows how it feels — to have worked so hard to make a difference, and for nothing to come of it. To try and save something ( someone ), only to see that those efforts changed little. Except, that it's not Link's fault. He could never believe that. ]

We're both shouldering the regrets on this one. You're not alone in this. Nor would you ever be — there are others who feel the way we do. Responsible. Guilty. Failed.

[ He wraps the blanket around him a little tighter, and returns to working his nimble, dark fingers into the arch of the Hylian's foot. Bloodflow needs to come back into those cold extremities; Drizzt survived the Spine of the World, and the extreme tundra beyond. Even now, he is filled with memories of permafrost and heavy furs, of layered clothing and roaring fires and fatty meals. ]

I'm so glad you're back. I'm sorry — I'm just so sorry you were hurt. You're safe again, I won't let anyone touch you.

[bakedapple]

[ He wants to sleep. After weeks of feeling unsafe, of needing to be on the alert for dangers in the Beyond, he feels safe. Drizzt is here with him, and he's saying things he wants to hear. Things he doesn't believe, but which feel so good to be told anyway. His limbs are heavy, his eyelids are heavy, and the grief in his heart is heavy.

Is this really okay? Is it justified, deserved, for him to accept Drizzt's kindness? The drow insists that none of this is his fault, but it's hard for Link not to take what he's saying as forgiveness anyway. Is it right for him to accept it?

He reaches down and carefully peels Drizzt's ashen fingers from his feet. He gathers his hands within his own, gently cradling them between his own asymmetrical hands. As he does, it becomes too burdensome to keep his eyes open. With his mind on the cusp of sleep, he brings Drizzt's knuckles to his face in his own wordless gesture of protection and gratitude. He failed to protect anyone this time, but... it's a small comfort to know that this one, trusted friend is still alive. ]

I'm sorry... [ Is he saying this because he didn't hear what Drizzt said, or because he's insisting that this is all his fault? It's hard to say. But a peaceful expression is descending on his face, his eyelashes glistening with held-back tears. ] Rest with me. Stay here...

[twohand]

[ Drizzt shifts, pulling himself across the floor to place his back to the wall and bracket Link's body with his hip. To be able to hold those unpaired hands in one of his own, and with the other, stroke a lock of blond hair from Link's brow. He keeps upright, vigilant even as he half-curves to shelter the Hylian's form. Protective, effortlessly so. Like there's no reason he shouldn't guard Link, like this is what Drizzt really stands for. ( Because he does, he always will. His friends would be happy and proud of him, he thinks. )

Softly, he brushes his knuckles along Link's face, as the young warrior tugs him there. It allows him to sag a little lower, keeping the heel of one foot tucked below his center of gravity in case he has to climb to his feet quickly and bring blades to bear. To some, it might look like a horribly uncomfortable position, but Drizzt has been in more uncomfortable positions and for far longer than it will take for Link to get some rest.

He reaches into his cloak and draws out the dark, onyx-gleaming figurine of his best friend and touches her to his brow. Her name, called softly, leads to a soft welling of dark fog touched with electric-blue lights, as Guenhwyvar manifests from within him and immediately knows his mind. Her warm, strong body slinks around Link's legs and drops to the ground behind him, bracketing his spine with her muscular body. Her head resting on his shoulder, the hearty sound of her throat working akin to a fond purr. ]

I'm here. I'm not going anywhere, Link.

[ Already, he is thinking about who he will need to go to to ask for help with the Discord Link will experience because of their closeness. He'll take care of it. It won't be hard. ]