Come On, Come On Now

[unheiring]

Who: Polaris the Renovan Hawk (and Luca too, kinda)
What: She is lonely.
When: The week after Luca's death
Where: Wherever you are. You cannot escape her.
Warnings: The bird has a knife.

[Whether you know it or not, there’s been a shift in the Grove. With a single bite, Luca’s life had been snuffed out. Several of your fellow comrades have found themselves affected deeply by the loss — perhaps you stumbled upon the trail of their stony carnage?

The lives of your fellow villagers are not the only ones to have been affected, though. High in the sky you might spot a familiar bird, feathers showing a deep red in the light of the sun, and a russet brown when perched at the Watchtower Bar. Her tail feathers, not unlike that of a Phoenix herself, trail behind her as she searches the skies fruitlessly. Polaris, the Renovan Hawk, is a familiar sight to any regulars. But she’s never seemed as listless as this.

For days, she shifts about the town. Friends of Luca might find her perched on a nearby branch nearby, her sharp eyes watching them in hopes that they might reveal a clue to his whereabouts. Here and there, she might alight on a shoulder or two, preening hungrily at hair, before fluttering away once more.

And then, one day, she takes to the sky in a rush.

For those that happen to be near the Bar, it should be obvious why. In one moment, it’s a still, spring evening. In the next, a burst of heat washes through the building. Those outside might briefly see flame lick at the windows of the top-most floor, there in one second and then gone.

Polaris is at the window in the ever open window in a second. She disappears for only a moment, then reappears. This time when she opens her wings and takes to the sky, it’s with purpose. Though they’ve been frequent recipients to her efforts thus far, Clive and Kiera (or their windows, should they be inside) will find themselves under a renewed assault by the hawk.

She will not relent until they’re following her back to the bar.]

Comments

LEEEEROYYYYYY JENKIIIINS!!!!! cw kiera being an alcoholic

[cryopathy]

[oh. kiera has been progressively more depressed since they returned to the grove following their rampage, and has yet again fallen deep into their cups about it. the clatter at their window gets their attention after a few seconds, and they have to squint for a few more before they recognize the reddish brown shape.

at least a bird can't go around telling people how embarrassing it is for kiera to stumble so hard they actually eat shit on their kitchen floor before scrambling up the windowsill to open it.]

Polaris -- ? Are you alright, girl? [definitely checking behind her to make sure no monster or larger predator is after her.]

[unheiring]

[Unfortunately, there are no snakes. She doesn't really like the snakes. She can't eat them, therefore they suck.

Anyway. The second the window opens, Polaris promptly tilts her head forward and bites Kiera's finger. Then she's flying off again.]

[cryopathy]

[real shit, polaris.

... listen, kiera is so goddamn drunk it actually takes a solid few seconds for them to register that they just got fucking can opener'd. like, polaris is already ten feet away. they don't have the self-control to contain a yelp, but at least the lil cronch did its job. it motivates kiera to stumble out the front door as well, as unsteady on their feet as they are.

now where did that little bitch get off to??]

[unheiring]

[Polaris alights on a nearby roof, waiting for Kiera to exit their home. Once they do, they let out a squawk, before divebombing their head. Sober up, bitch, you've got a brother to go get.

From there, Polaris flies up to her perch at the top of the watchtower. There's another noise, this one slightly more agitated than the first.]

[cryopathy]

[polaris, my dear, sobering up doesn't work like that!! they're definitely making an effort to be more alert as they make their way over to the bar, though. hold your horses, bird, she's going inside. even if she has to break the door in.

she hopes she doesn't have to break the door in.]

[unheiring]

[Thankfully, the door (and the bar) are open. Despite Luca (and presumably Kiera's) absence at the helm, the specter of Cyrus continues on. Said spirit glances up as Kiera bursts in, concerned but ever unable to do anything.

Polaris, thankfully, doesn't attempt to follow Kiera inside. She's content up on her perch, thank you.]

[cryopathy]

[of course, kiera is aware that the spirit occupies this place. still, she hasn't seen it since luca perished, and meeting its eyes is a sobering slap in the face if there ever was one.

rather than continue looking at it, they make their unsteady way up the stairs. if polaris is perched high, clearly they ought to follow.]

[unheiring]

[As Kiera proceeds through the building, she'll become aware of two things. 1) It is extremely hot in here. 2) Even the guests are unnerved by it. Maybe she'll hear whispers about the sudden increase in heat, or the strange, blazing light that appeared at the top of the stairs.

Should she choose to keep going, she'll discover why. Luca is currently collapsed on the ground. He's out cold, completely nude, but most certainly breathing. Polaris has made her way into the room, nipping at Luca's hand in an attempt to wake him. Eventually, he lifts a trembling hand to gingerly shove her way.]

[cryopathy]

[yeah, even in her haze, kiera knows this is not normal. their pace quickens as they ascend to luca's quarters and -- they stop the moment they see him, both because the residual heat actually hurts their face, and because he's there.

the shock is pushed aside quickly. as they approach, kiera unfastens their clasp so that they can lay their fur over him, careful of polaris. they debate whether to help him up immediately, or back off and simply wait... eventually deciding on the latter. they know luca's body can be a sensitive subject for him, and they don't want to mortify him the second he wakes.

as soon as he moves to fuss at polaris, though, they make their presence known, from where they hold on to the nearest furniture to keep from swaying.]

Luc. I'm here.

[unheiring]

[The presence of the fur manages to further rouse Luca. He blinks his eyes open, looking first to the bird, then up to his sibling. All at once, he becomes away both of the heat and how it settles against his body. It sends him shooting up at once, a terrible mistake judging by the way his head begins to spend.]

Kiera -

[The memories come rushing back. The cold chill of death actually settling into his bones, and followed by the absence of the Phoenix's flames actually chasing it away. The thought alone reminds him to search his mind, and finds the essence of its flames steadily returning.

He isn't sure if he's relieved or not.]

I - fucked up pretty bad, huh?

[cryopathy]

[they catch how wobbly he is, but still don't feel it's their place to get closer unless he says as much.]

Don't hurt yourself.

[at least he's awake, and alive. kiera looks down at the dresser they're pressed against and gets to pulling out a set of actual clothes for him.]

... We don't need to talk about it. You're here now. Nothing else matters.

it's dachie!

[eidxiety]

[Dachie understands what it's like to have your dad die, his dad died a while ago and he howled every night for a week! Hi Polaris how are you :)

He is owldog shrieking after her. Hi where going? What doing :O]

[unheiring]

[Okay, look. You can't be doing a shrieking. What are you, a fucking husky.

Polaris alights on the ground and stares daggers at Dachie. If only she had a real knife.]

[eidxiety]

[What doing!!!!

He gets down in play position, wagging his tailfeathers overhead. Hi. Play?? Play Dachie :)]

[unheiring]

[The last time these two dealt with each other, Polaris ripped apart a snake in front of Dachie. This time, eyes one and contemplates dropping it on Dachie's head. Unfortunately, the snake is too heavy, even for her.

Instead, she shakes her body out with an annoyed trill. She looks up toward the tower, then back to the man. Her person might like his person, but she hardly sees the appeal. She also doubts Dachie understands advanced concepts such as loss and death.

So rather than try to convey it, she settles for swooping over his head, talons snatching at some of his feathers. Give her a prize, thank you.]

[aneikonic]

[ Without Luca, the bar has stopped being his favorite place to visit, though he goes every day to dart a look to the ghostly keeper in question. And every day leaving in disappointment. And Polaris has become a fixture he's grown used to, feeding her treats at the room window or when he's tending to Ambrosia.

But this is different, as she dives him, clutches at his hair and takes off in a manner that's clearly meant to get his attention. He watches her for a moment before following before she yanks his hair out on her second attempt. ]

All right, girl, I'm going.

[ He's not letting hope warm him, but his heart does beat a bit faster as he trots in the direction of the bar, following the bird. ]

[unheiring]

[Polaris hops from rooftop to rooftop. Each time she settles, she looks back at Clive expectantly, only to take off once more when she's satisfied by her findings.

The final leap takes her to the uppermost window of the Watchtower itself. She lets out a noise, something a bit softer than her earlier alerts, before ultimately ducking in through the open glass.

Once inside, Clive will instantly feel just how unusually warm it is. Perhaps the other guests chatter about it, or even the strange flash of light and flame from the private stairwell on the second floor.

The reason should be come clear enough should Clive mount said stairs and enter Luca's quarters. The stone at the center most portion of the room is scorched, as if an explosion had gone off. In the center of it, Luca is half sprawled, half seated as he tries to take in his surroundings. He's managed to pull on a long shirt that covers most everything, but that's about it. Dude's clothes were burned off thanks to Kiera, so RIP to modesty.

Polaris is currently perched upon his shoulder, preening at his hair as Luca tries to take in his surroundings. He startles at the sound of someone approaching, then quickly tries to make the best of what little clothing he has. Even with his legs folded close to his body and obscuring anything more salacious, the final bite to his knee is obvious, now marked by the black sun as it is

Both of those efforts stop as Clive enters, though. Luca stares up at him, brow briefly furrowed, before collapsing into something guilty.]

Clive - [His voice is rough from lack of use, and small besides. He reaches up to rub at the front of his throat, ruffling his feathers in the process, before lowering his hand once more. He... doesn't know what else to say.]

[aneikonic]

[ He hesitates to climb the stairs, but the heat and Polaris' insistent attempts to get him there finally make him. And, ultimately, he's glad he does because there's Luca, and his gut clenches tight in relief. The sound of his name is what makes him begin to move, and he reaches up to unclasp his cape from around his shoulder as he approaches quickly, using it to cover Luca better before kneeling down beside him onto one knee.

Sorry, Polaris, he's upsetting your perch as he reaches out to gather Luca up into his arms and hug him tightly. Tucking him tight against his shoulder, being careful not to be too rough in case Luca can't handle it yet. His voice is rough itself but with emotion. ]

You came back.

[ He truly was wondering if Luca would... ]

[unheiring]

[The cape is more than a relief, all things considered. Luca still feels like he's freezing, and finds himself pulling it tightly around him. Polaris swiftly moves out of the way, both giving Luca room to bundle up, and Clive room to pull him in close. Instantly, Luca curls into him, chasing both warmth and comfort. Luca's head lolls heavily against the man's shoulder, before nosing in close to the crook of Clive's neck. His hands, meanwhile, loop around to grip near his shoulders, though the effort seems weakened. His body trembles faintly from the chill, though the tremors fade between both the man and his offered clothing.]

I didn't think -

[He trails off, unable to finish his sentence. Despite the warnings, he had believed the Blessing would overcome both distance and the venom itself. To know that such a buffer no longer existed makes him feel vulnerable. It's been years since he's feared death.

None of this he says out loud, not yet. He can tell that Clive has been worried. He wants nothing more than to assuage that concern. He presses his lips, light and innocent as he can muster, to Clive's pulse. They're both alive, and oh, what a relief that is.]

I came back.

[aneikonic]

[ The trembling makes him shift his hand, finding skin to begin rubbing against it, trying to help him generate heat. Then he pauses. What's the point of having fire at your command if you don't use it to warm someone you're falling in love with? Carefully he steadies his hand on Luca's and gifts him the blessing of Ifrit. It's a lot like the blessing of the Phoenix, but this is the first time Clive has tried to bless someone, so it's only a touch. Warmth that sinks in past skin, a knowledge that comes with it that Luca can call upon Ifrit's fire to do some things, much as he would be able to with the Phoenix.

But Clive is just using it, right now, to warm Luca back up. Fire shared.

The kiss to his pulse makes him smile a little, the tight expression on his face easing up some as he turns his head to hold Luca against him tightly in every aspect. To place a firm kiss on his ear where his lips can reach. ]

Rest. You'll be all right. Just rest.

[unheiring]

[The flow of alien energy flooding through him is enough to cause something within his mind to shift. In the same moment that Luca's feathers rise up at the touch of that foreign warmth, he feels the Phoenix brush against his consciousness. For better or for worse, the Beast was still there. Dimly, he realizes that he's been stripped of everything he'd been wearing, including the precious bracelet he'd been gifted. Panic grips his heart for a long moment, not for having lost the buffer against the Phoenix, but for the gift it had served as.

He forces himself to swallow the panic that rises up before it can fully take root. Surely, Kiera would have removed something so important from his person. It would turn up. For now, he'll have to avoid dwelling on the thought.

Thankfully, there are more important things to focus on. With the chill abated for the time being, Luca finds himself sinking all the further into Clive's arms. To him, his death had felt like little more than a night's rest. He can only imagine what the other man had felt.]

Feel like I've rested enough for the both of us. [And not just because he's been out of existence for the last handful of days. He doubts Clive has done much in the way of sleeping.] Maybe I should be the one telling you as much.

[His voice, though hoarse from disuse and his own flurry of emotions, manages to tilt on the edge of amusement. He raises a hand, carding gingerly through Clive's hair. He does his best to commit the feeling of each strand to memory all over again.]

I - can't apologize enough. I don't know what you saw, but whatever it was... I'm sorry.

[aneikonic]

[ Clive can't feel the Phoenix rising up as he loans a little of Ifrits heat to Luca, but he doesn't doubt the bird is still there. Lucas bracelet is wrapped around his wrist yet, after all. Which he is actually going to begin to undo, as Luca sinks in against him.

He's very careful not to move his arms from around Luca, or jostle him too much as he undoes the clasp.

The soft return scold to rest makes him huff a soft laugh, shaking his head gently. ]

I'll rest now that you're back, promise. Here, hold out your arm.

[ The touch to his hair makes him pause and tilt his head into Luca's hand, his smile soft as he stares down at him with a tender intensity. ]

There's no need. What happened wasn't your fault. [ Stepping in the was to save a sibling does not count. ] I'm sorry I wasn't there to help, that I couldn't be by your side. But I'll make sure I am now. That it won't happen again.

[ Once Luca holds up his arm, Clive will carefully drape the bracelet back around his wrist, holding the end with pinched fingers and carefully tilting it to catch the clasp so it locks. Then raises Luca's hand to kiss his knuckles gently. ]

[unheiring]

[Now is decidedly not the time for Luca's pulse to pick up, for the faint warmth of a blush to creep up the span of his neck, but it happens anyway. The look in Clive's eyes cuts right down into Luca's heart, and he finds his head dipping down and away before it melts him in entirety.

Thankfully, he does get the memo to hold out his hand, but it hardly helps matters. His heart rabbits within his chest all the more. It hardly seems fair, to be deserving of all this gentle affection after everything. Especially when he wants to argue that it is his fault.

He doesn't.

Instead, when he finally pulls his hand back (and spends far too long gazing affectionately at the bracelet), he begins to shift to stand. Unfortunately, he promptly remembers his state of dress, and settles back down.]

Well. If we are both meant to rest, then I suggest you get comfortable. I'll join you once I've properly clothed myself.

[You know, before they embarrass themselves further.]

[aneikonic]

[ For a brief moment Clive moves as if to help Luca up, before his eyes widen at the same time as Luca sinks back down. Ah, right, clothes. It makes him chuckle and he moves to cup Lucas face, allowed to tease he feels. Flirt a little. ]

I'd say I'm resting just fine like this.

[ And he presses a small kiss in against his lips. Just a gentle one, light and as tender as his gaze had been. His thumb brushes against the curve of Lucas cheek, and he pulls his mouth back after a moment, fingers lingering. ]

I'll give you some privacy to change.

[ He carefully pulls himself back from Luca so he can stand, leaving him with his cape as he does. Then hesitates because as much as he'd love to be proper and give him privacy, he loathes the idea of leaving. ]

[unheiring]

[Luca barely has the chance to let out a huff before Clive's mouth is against his. All is forgotten, at least for the brief moment in which they share a kiss. Luca presses back into the kiss while he can, before breaking it as his head leans into that touch.

The loss he feels as Clive pulls away is vivid, and he briefly finds himself pleadingly staring upward. Dying had become normal for Luca over time, but never for so long. It's a bit overwhelming if he thinks about it too hard for too long. Tending to Clive was a welcome distraction from the doubt clouding his mind.

Which is why, as Clive takes a step back, Luca is quick — almost desperate — to say:]

Don't go. [It leaves him feeling faintly embarrassed, but at least it's out in the open.] I would... rather not be alone right now.

[Not that it solves their particular predicament. He glances around, searching for a better option, before landing on the washroom. He pulls himself to his feet, carefully wrapping the cape around at least his front side. Sorry, Polaris, you might see his bare ass.]

If you would like to, ah... Get comfortable, feel free to use the washroom. Or just turn away. I promise I will be quick.

[Regardless of where Clive goes, once he's going, Luca makes his way to his wardrobe and sets to quickly pulling... something out.]