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| Location: Orion's Home | Collaboration with @Qia |
Flynn strode through the dimly lit gravel streets of Dawnhaven, his thoughts churning with a list of concerns he needed to address with Orion. The events of the past night and this morning had brought more complications than he had anticipated, and he was keen to seek his advisor’s counsel. Orion’s wisdom had always been a guiding force, and Flynn was eager to hear his thoughts on everything that had transpired.
Reaching Orion’s door, Flynn knocked and took a deep breath, bracing himself for the conversation to come. There was much to discuss, and little time to waste.
The sound of Flynn’s knock echoed through the dimly lit room, each rap on the door resonating with a sense of urgency that gave pause to Orion’s actions. The faint glow of the moon filtered through the window, casting long shadows on the walls that seemed to dance with the flickering candlelight. Orion, seated at his desk, looked up from the documents he was reviewing, his eyes narrowing as he tried to gauge the gravity of the situation. The urgency in the knock was unmistakable, a clear signal that the prince- for who else could it be? Willis didn’t seem like a knocker-required immediate counsel. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever news Flynn might bring, his mind already racing through possible scenarios, all of them dealing with the fledgling blightborn in his temporary care.
Orion rose from his chair, his movements swift and purposeful as he made his way to the door, the wooden floor creaking softly under his weight. He opened it to reveal Flynn, whose expression was one of concern. Stress. It had to be that.
“Your Highness,” the blightborn greeted, his tone respectful yet familiar, a delicate balance he had perfected over his time of service to the crown.
“What troubles you this evening?” He gestured to a chair, inviting Flynn to sit and discuss the matters at hand, his own mind already preparing for the weighty conversation that was sure to follow.
Flynn stepped into Orion’s home, his expression grave as he met his blightborn advisor’s red eyes.
“I’m afraid that much troubles me, Orion,” he began, his voice low and measured.
“We have a town meeting to lead in an hour, and there’s much we need to discuss beforehand. I apologize for the short notice, but the urgency cannot be overstated.”Taking the offered seat, Flynn exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
“I’ve just received some terrible news—news that was revealed to me only yesterday.” He paused, the weight of the information heavy in the air.
“The Queen of Lunaris is dead, and she has been for quite some time. It appears the King has tightly controlled this information, deliberately keeping it from becoming widespread news.”Flynn leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he spoke.
“And if that wasn’t enough, the King is already married to another woman, one who is rumored to be with child.” He shook his head, the disbelief still fresh.
"This news is grim and could be a sign of the King's possible ulterior motives. According to Octavia, the late Queen was well-loved, and this will likely upset many. We must carefully decide how to present it to the town. We need to be cautious, but also transparent. The people deserve to know the truth, but we cannot afford to provoke the wrong response."His gaze hardened as he added,
“Orion, I must admit—I do not trust the King of Lunaris. There’s something about all of this that feels off, as if he has ulterior motives that we’re not yet privy to. I fear he may be using this secrecy to further some agenda, one that could put us all at risk.”Flynn’s grave expression and the weight of his words hung heavily in the air, each syllable sinking into the room like a stone dropped into a still pond. The dim light from the moon cast long shadows on the walls, adding to the somber atmosphere that seemed to wrap around them like a shroud. The news of the Queen’s death and the King’s secrecy was a bombshell, shattering the fragile peace that had barely held them together. Orion clenched his fists briefly, leaning against the nearby wall with crossed arms as his mind deliberated their options.
“This news is indeed troubling,” the blightborn finally spoke.
“The secrecy surrounding the Queen’s death and the King’s swift remarriage are highly suspicious. We must tread carefully there.” His eyes, sharp and calculating, scanned Flynn’s face for any additional clues, his mind already piecing together the potential ramifications. Nonetheless, he leaned forward slightly, his posture conveying his readiness to tackle the issue head-on.
“I can draft a statement for the town meeting, or read over what you have already. We should also consider reaching out to any allies you can trust to gauge their reactions and gather more information about the King’s actions. This will help us anticipate any further moves he might make.” Flynn nodded in agreement, leaning back in his chair as he took out the folded piece of parchment containing the speech he had written earlier that morning.
“I wrote this earlier today. And that’s another issue—our allies.” He sighed, unfolding the paper and placing it on the table for Orion to read over.
“I met with the Lady of Durnatell this morning—the one I summoned for assistance with supplies.”His gaze met Orion’s, his expression heavy with the weight of the revelation.
“She’s been turned into a blight-born,” he said, letting the words linger in the air, knowing Orion would grasp the full implications.
“The King must not know yet. If he does, he’ll surely have her head for it, and he’ll put someone else in charge of Durnatell.” Flynn shook his head, his frustration palpable.
“She’s offered to live here, as if it were a gift to us. Yet I know she needs to remain out of sight from the King. She needs protection.”Flynn’s expression hardened as he continued.
“But she’s resistant to questioning. Tried to deny the interview we conduct with all blight-born. We will have to deal with that at a later time, but… we need Durnatell’s supply trade. I can’t afford to push her too hard. We’re walking a fine line here.”“Hmm…this does complicate things significantly,” Orion said, walking over to pick up and skim over the parchment paper containing the prince’s speech.
“Her resistance to questioning is troubling, but we cannot afford to alienate her either.” He paused, giving his mind time to race through potential strategies and responses.
“Perhaps I could speak with this Lady directly,” Orion suggested, his tone thoughtful.
“As a fellow Blight-Born, I might be able to offer her a perspective that she can relate to. It could help build trust and encourage her to cooperate.”While Flynn reflected on this idea, Orion’s red eyes scanned the page in his hands as he took a seat, absorbing the prince’s carefully chosen words. The flickering candlelight on the table cast a warm glow on the parchment, illuminating the inked letters with a soft, golden hue that seemed to breathe life into the words. The blightborn’s mind continued to churn, considering the implications of each sentence, each phrase, as if they were pieces of a complex puzzle. He knew that their approach had to be both strategic and empathetic, a delicate dance of diplomacy and understanding that could not afford a single misstep. The room was silent except for the faint rustle of the parchment, the sound only coming to an end once he was finished with his reading, leaving a heavy stillness in its wake.
Flynn considered his advisor’s suggestion as Orion read over the speech, nodding in agreement.
“Yes, let’s arrange that. Given how the Lunarians have treated the blight-born, it’s understandable she might be distrustful of humans.”Orion found the prince’s words to be thoughtful and well-crafted, reflecting a growing maturity in his leadership that filled him with a quiet sense of pride. He glanced up at Flynn, a small smile playing on his lips, the kind that spoke volumes without uttering a single word. His eyes conveyed a sense of approval and respect, a silent acknowledgment of the prince’s progress.
“I must say, your writing has improved significantly. You’ve come a long way,” he remarked, his tone warm and encouraging.
Flynn’s lips curved into a genuine smile at Orion’s compliment, a brief but heartfelt moment of pride flashing in his eyes.
“I owe much of that to your guidance over the last two months. Thank you.” he said, his voice warm with appreciation and his gaze held Orion’s, a silent acknowledgment of the advisor’s significant role.
Flynn's smile lingered for a moment before becoming serious once more.
"Speaking of your guidance..." he began, his tone shifting slightly,
"how was it with Willis last night?" There was a hint of insinuation in his words, suggesting that he knew Orion had likely needed to guide Willis to behave.
"And where is he now?"Orion’s eyes met Flynn’s, a hint of a strained smile playing on his lips.
“Willis is… a handful, to say the least,” Orion replied, his tone light but honest.
“Last night was a test of patience, but we managed. We were together last at the blacksmith’s, getting his equipment repaired. But then we parted ways so he could take a look at the post office.” He shook his head, the hint of a smile from before making a full appearance, a rare moment of genuine amusement breaking through his usual stoicism.
“Considering it still stands, I assume that the errand went as well as it could have.” Flynn listened to Orion's account, nodding along at the mention of Willis’s antics. As Orion mentioned the post office, Flynn's expression shifted as realized he had nearly forgotten to mention what had happened with Pleiades.
"Actually, that’s another thing I need to tell you about.” Flynn said, his tone turning more serious.
“Willis won’t be working at the post office. There was an incident with Pleiades earlier." He paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing.
"I went to tell Pleiades that he would have a new employee, but Willis got there before I did and Pleiades refused to have him work there. He said Willis is a danger and he’s not wrong…” He sighed and shook his head in frustration.
“I don’t know what happened between them, but I… let my emotions get the better of me.” Flynn hesitated, his discomfort evident.
“Octavia told me she was…cuddling with Pleiades in her bed yesterday. And she fell asleep with him in her bed.” Flynn’s brows furrowed as he glared down at the table, conjuring up images of Pleiades in his wife's bed while Flynn himself had barely been allowed in her room.
“I suppose she felt guilty and wanted to tell me, and both her and Pleiades say nothing happened, but…” He looked directly at Orion, his unease clear in his eyes.
“Truth be told, it... made me extremely uncomfortable." Flynn's voice tightened slightly,
“I don’t know what to make of it… Maybe this is normal behavior for Lunarians?”Orion did his best to hide his surprise, feeling a surge of empathy and concern tug at his undead heart. The prince’s vulnerability and the personal nature of his concerns were clear; each word was a window into the struggles he was experiencing. Orion thought carefully about how to offer both support and practical advice. He knew that Flynn needed more than just a strategic plan at this moment—he needed reassurance. After all, his role was not just to advise but to be a pillar of strength for the prince in these trying times. Resolving to be the steadfast support Flynn needed, Orion prepared himself to help navigate through the challenges ahead.
“I understand your…discomfort,” Orion began, his voice steady and reassuring.
“As for Lunarian costumes, they can be quite different from ours, but that doesn’t mean we should dismiss your feelings.” He hesitated here, not out of insecurity but to really think over what he wanted to say to his charge before saying it.
“Regarding Willis, I think we need to find a suitable role for him that keeps him occupied and out of trouble. Give him…tasks that perhaps allow him to use his skills, not just in flying but other things,” Orion suggested.
“As for Pleiades and Octavia….” He looked away for a moment, the heaviness of his own memories pressing down on him before he met the prince’s eyes again.
“My wife and I….before our separation…well…” He sighs, the pain of his past still a fresh wound.
This was still difficult for him to mull over. His family, the memories of what once was and what could never be again, haunted him.
“Honesty and openness go a long way,” Orion began, his voice gentle yet firm, each word chosen with care,
“When you have a good time, you should express how you feel to the princess, without accusation. Seek to understand her perspective as well.” A smile, a sadder one this time, graced Orion’s lips, a fleeting glimpse into the sorrow that lingered in his own heart.
“This is no rejection on her part. I promise you.”Flynn listened intently to Orion’s words, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. He appreciated the guidance, but it didn’t erase the sting of Octavia’s earlier words. He looked away, frowning slightly as he recalled their last conversation.
“Octavia said she would have rather died than come to Dawnhaven,” Flynn admitted, his voice tinged with bitterness.
“Hearing that from her…it angered me. I know she’s struggling with all of this, but I’m trying to save our lives. I’m struggling too.” He sighed, trying to release the flash of anger that built up in his chest again.
“Maybe I was too harsh with her when we last spoke. I acted out of anger, not understanding.” He paused, his thoughts drifting to his father, a man who had never hesitated to punish harshly for even the slightest of grievances.
“Still, I know my father would have handled it far worse. He never had patience for anyone who questioned his decisions. At least I didn’t—” He stopped himself, shaking his head as if to dispel the thoughts of his father.
“I don’t want to become my father.”He turned back to Orion, his expression softening slightly.
“I’ll try to reach out to her again, to connect and see things from her perspective. I need to keep my emotions in check.” Flynn took a deep breath, feeling a flicker of resolve amidst his uncertainty. If anything, at least Orion had made him feel slightly better about the entire situation.
Reaching for the speech he had written earlier, Flynn folded it carefully and tucked it into his pocket.
“Thank you, Orion, for your assistance and your advice, as always. I need to see if Octavia is back at the house before our meeting.” He rose from his seat, giving Orion a grateful nod.
“I must take my leave, but please join me on stage for the town meeting. The guards are putting it together now.”“Anytime, of course,” Orion said, giving a sincere smile. He rose from his seat with the same fluid grace as the prince, walking to the door and opening it for his guest out of courtesy.
With that, Flynn made his way to the door, his mind already racing with thoughts of what he would say to Octavia, determined to approach the situation with more patience and understanding this time.
Mentions: Octavia, Pleiades @The Savant, Willis @BOOM, Olivia @amorphical
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