[Crackplot] When the world ends...

[big_bad_melkor]

It has taken time for this to happen, for the Dark Lord to gather it all, his influence of that which is not Arda but close enough to it, that which he hates about all else for the light of it remains a beacon

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[ninja_niko]

He never sleeps very profoundly, Niko - old habits, they do die hard.

So when the house starts to crumble, and he wakes to find Jaenelle's side of the bed utterly cold, he's up in a jiffy and calling out for her.

He'll be in the corridor, careful not to get himself hurt, looking for his girlfriend - because if Witch herself is unaccounted for... then what hope can we muster?

Specifically looking to have a Saetan, please!

[blackjewelmale]

Saetan has just barely escape the ceiling collapsing in the library, when he enters the hallway: he's sensed a sudden emptiness, the threads linking his family together being severed, and he's come to find the cause. He's a bit worse for the wear himself, he's covered in plaster dust and his shirt and waistcoat have been torn half off his shoulders as he pulled himself free of the debris.

[ninja_niko]

When he finds Saetan, Niko is immediately relieved - here's one who will know.

"My lord," he says, ".... Jaenelle..."

Hm.

I don't know where she is.

[blackjewelmale]

His face is completely solemn as he replies. "She has gone: I cannot sense her in this place, as if she's gone back to the Realms." He sounds saddened, yet resigned to this fact. There is nothing he could do to detain her, if he had tried: the power of the Mansion is too great.

[ninja_niko]

"No."

The world may be falling apart around him, Niko feels like the quake is both inside and outside.

Yet he believes Saetan, he knows the powerful deamon dead would not lie about this.

"--- why?"

It's probably the most surreal conversation in the world, given the circumstances.

[blackjewelmale]

"It was her time to depart, to return to the Realms: the house may have chosen to let her and her court go," he says, as if he's come to this realization himself and accepted it as the best explanation for the situation. "And yet I remain. The house is not finished with me, it would seem."

[ninja_niko]

Niko just stares at Saetan a moment.

"No."

Yup, the Nile is a river in Egypt.

[blackjewelmale]

"You miss her, and letting go is not easy," he says, sympathetically. The burden of the landen: their lives are short and there is only so much time that they can spend with their loved ones. "I could help you to let go of the memories of her, if they are too much to bear."

[ninja_niko]

"No," Niko says again. "That is not the Roma way."

He looks back, proudly.

"I wish to remember her."

A pause, then, and more gently... "But thank you, sir. And I'm very sorry for your loss. But I'd rather remember her with you, if that's alright."

IC can be surprising, he seems to want to cope after all...

[blackjewelmale]

He bows his head, honoring the young landen's choice. "You've chosen the heavier burden, Niko," he says, solemnly. "May you have the strength to bear it. My offer stands, if you should change your mind."

Indeed: sometimes, you never know what to expect a character to do...

[ninja_niko]

Niko starts to say something in response - something kind and decorous about how he'd like to be a son to Saetan in Jaenelle's absence.

Alas his offer is only half-voiced, and the house now shakes in earnest.

"--- we need to evacuate," he says half-way. "Now."

God, Cal and the girls. Mourning will have to wait.

Yeah, it's odd that way O.o I'd like to do them in the aftermath, if possible? I think Nik and Saetan could be helpful to each other.

[blackjewelmale]

"Before the weight of the house takes us both," he says, and he'll follow Nik out into the snow, as quickly as his bad leg will allow.

Though Nik will find that their path is oddly clear, as Saetan uses a bit of Craft to keep the ceiling from falling on them...

Hee, they should meet again, in ye aftermath. Shall I open a thread for them??

[ninja_niko]

Niko nods, and he starts on his way along with Saetan, and then pauses.

".... I need to get back."

He's just realized - there's his brother in there, and he won't go without Cal.

That'd be great - after your next tag, he'll be off, and we'll join you in other post?

[blackjewelmale]

"Go to them, warrior," he says, bowing his head to the landen youth. "Go to your kindred and hurry them to safety."

And with that he makes his own departure...

Will toss him into the aftermath shortly!