#"Dispatc

[aroacedetective]

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[extraterrestrialechos]

I have watched Episode 8 possibly more than any other episode and it's so vital what Jack's saying and what he thinks he's doing, which is completely centered around pointing out Stede's from outside their world and pointing out Ed he's wallowing in unsustainable excess.

Jack: Just for the two of you, huh? Hornigold'd shit himself.

Jack: That's a real pirate! Not like one of these store-bought types.

We're soon provided the information Jack genuinely believes he's been acting with Ed's full support and consent since back at the dramatics on deck.

Jack fully believes he shook Ed out of whatever weird, seemingly uncharacteristic funk Ed has gotten into.

Jack: Best thing that could've happened to you, if you ask me. Like when I heard that you'd shacked up with him, I said... Ed: Where'd you hear that? You didn't just happen upon us, did you, Jack? Jack: Took you long enough. The old Blackbeard woulda seen me comin' a mile away.

Jack: I figured you were on to me when I lured you to Blind Man's Cove, seeing as its distinguishing feature is that... Ed: It's impossible to make an escape.

Ed, otoh, had a good reason to want to show Jack, who he cared about, they could both be a part of Stede’s love in — he wanted to believe that there was room for Jack in muppet land, and a different future for both of them than they’d ever imagined.

That was so far from Jack’s reality he never conceived it was happening and believed they were co-conspirators in a completely different series of events from the one Ed was living.

Chauncey makes a similar point to Jack's in the next episode:

Chauncey: I'm afraid the offer doesn't extend to you, Bonnet. After all, the King was only referring to real pirates. He's from my world, not yours.

That Stede isn't part of the fabric of that world is pivotal to the thrust of the thing, because it's not just about Ed and Stede. The crew, who Oluwande assured in the first episode would come to kill Stede next if he didn't say he killed Nigel on purpose, and who'd all just reassured Jack would probably still mutiny on Stede in the future, decide at this moment that Stede, admittedly a work in progress, is worth standing up for.

And shortly after, Ed chooses to give up everything he's worked so hard his whole life for, a career and huge prestige and "more riches than you can shake a fucking stick at," to go into an unknown, barefaced future with Stede.

Despite Jack not believing Ed would throw away what he built from nothing, what they were stabbed and ground down to nothing and treated like dogs for a chance to aspire to, despite that Episode 8 exists to let Ed see the risk he's taking.

Throughout, Izzy builds up reminders of the bonds he forged with crewmen who believe in the him he chose to show them that he has to choose to separate from:

Ed: No, Izzy, we're not doing this. Izzy: No, you're not doin' this, so I must.

Izzy: Remember though, you said when you made me first mate, "Above all else is loyalty to your Captain." You're my captain, and I was never gonna stand by and let you destroy yourself for that... twat.

Izzy fully believes throughout he is doing what Ed (who at the start of this had repeatedly, disturbingly expressed suicidal ideation in Episode 4 leaving us with two long shots of Izzy standing stunned and shaken after he walks out) pledged him to do. To hold the outfit together and keep Ed's reputation secure.

There's nothing nefarious about the sad henchman sitting in prolonged denial.

Izzy: The plan is very much alive. He promised me.

But Fang and Ivan have now seen through the thing, too, and so they remind Ed of the sacrifices they've made to be a part of this outfit the three together. And still Izzy is careful not to speak in front of them when he offers to help secure their normal,

Izzy: I'll happily end it.

We can assume here, and when Ed couldn't do it and Izzy steps in, that what Izzy knows after all these years is Ed doesn't kill people face to face. How many other people has he dispatched to shore up the occasional slack for the continued honor of sailing with the most brilliant sailor he's ever met?

It is my strong opinion that diminishing these character’s belief in the Ed they’ve known for years and the loyalty they display diminishes the enormity of the choices we see Ed make and risks he taking putting his life and heart in Stede’s hands.

These are men he chose to forge bonds with through his own actions, and the resistance to change they put up comes out of having traveled well worn paths with the Ed who made himself king of the ocean who is suddenly exhibiting erratic and, to them, totally unprecedented behavior.

Ed returns to an Izzy whose faith is at last broken, and swiftly and expertly resecures his place of power. Even devastated himself that his start at a different life a part of him privately yearned for left him so completely bereft.

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[hudsonmckenzie]

The legal and regulatory setting of Artificial Intelligence

You probably already know that artificial intelligence (AI) is now quite popular in the news. Not a week appears to pass since the publication of Chat GPT at the end of 2022 without news praising its advantages or warning about its dangers.

Whatever your position on the issue, it is certain that the fast developing field of artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay. In sectors where AI has the ability to influence or inform choices concerning persons, in particular, there is a growing need to take AI risk management into account. One excellent illustration of this is the world of work.

In this blog, we examine the UK's present (but changing) legal and regulatory environment for the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace and how firms could get by there.

The regulatory environment

There is presently no agreement on how AI should be regulated internationally. The UK is contemplating "an innovative and iterative approach" to regulation while the EU is preparing stringent regulation and strong limitations on the use of AI by legal firms in London

, with Italy outlawing Chat GPT due to privacy concerns.

In its newly released White Paper A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation, the UK Government suggests a framework of non-statutory principles that would be monitored and applied by current authorities rather than proposing new law.

The government would "encourage" the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Information Commissioner, and the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate to collaborate with the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate to produce joint guidelines on the use of AI systems in recruiting or employment, which has implications for the employment sector. The Government anticipates that the unified advice will, in particular:

Explain what information companies should offer while putting AI technologies in place.

Determine the best supply chain management procedures, such as impact analyses of AI or due diligence.

Offer appropriate solutions for monitoring, mitigating, and detecting bias.

Give advice on how to provide contestability and redress channels.

But after Rishi Sunak's remarks on his way to the G7 Conference, it's unclear whether the government would actually take this strategy. He stressed the need for AI to be utilised "safely and securely, and with guardrails in place" in this section, adopting what seemed like a more cautious tone. Could this be a sign that a change to a more controlled posture is possible?

In his piece Regulating Artificial Intelligence, Ian De Ferities (a partner in our Data, IP and Technology Disputes unit) offers insightful criticism on the Government's most recent White Paper. He examines the five basic concepts put forward by the government in the article and compares them to other recent events.

Discrimination: Much has been made about how prejudice in algorithms and AI runs the danger of introducing new forms of discrimination or reproducing those that already exist. Amazon, for instance, notably had to remove an AI recruiting tool that had trained itself to favour male candidates in top legal firms in London over female ones. Employers should make sure the AI they use does not violate the Equality Act 2010's existing anti-discrimination safeguards, which continue to apply to all kinds of AI used in employment.

Data protection: Generative AI, like Chat GPT, analyses input data to find patterns and produce fresh, original content. Employers who use data in this way must make sure their actions comply with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act of 2018. For further details, go to the ICO's Guidance on AI and data protection.

Monitoring and surveillance: According to reports, a third of employees are subjected to digital monitoring at work, such as by tracking software or remotely operated cameras. For instance, Royal Mail has acknowledged utilising tracking technologies to check the dispatchers' dispatch speeds. As mentioned above, businesses should verify that any surveillance of their personnel complies with data protection laws and does not violate employees' rights to privacy under the Human Rights Act of 1998.

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[yes-svetlana-world]

Timothee Chalamet film 'Bones and All' wraps filming in Columbus Crews for "Bones and All,' starring Timothee Chalamet and directed by Luca Guadagnino, made a stop in Columbus recently. dispatch.com by Columbus Dispatc @DispatchAlerts ·

[secretaryunpaid]

The Accident ... forever changed Pt 2

Word Count: 1370

Rating: General Audience

Pixelberry owned characters: Samuel Dalton, CMO of Dalton Enterprises, also mentioned employees Grant and Robin Flores, Sofia Russo

Personally character: Alina Russo (daughter of Paolo Russo)

The Accident...

It had been some time since Alina Russo agreed to contract work with Dalton Enterprises, finding this company more intriguing than any other she’d collaborated with. She had even moved to a semi permanent role within the company, after accepting a marriage proposal from Samuel Dalton.  The two had become inseparable. Alina attended every charitable function. Sam spent days in the lab alongside his wife, collaborating on new projects and materials. She had even gained a position on the company’s Board Members. This dream team was advancing the company rapidly, causing Dalton Enterprises to gain public favor and world wide recognition.   Soon, the couple learned that their family would be increasing. Sam could not have  dreamed of a better life for himself. He has the love and companionship of an amazing woman that matched him on every level, and motivated him to be even more for her and their growing family.

Sam was the overprotective father to be, attending every appointment, making sure to satisfy Alina’s every craving. He took pregnancy massage courses, attended new parent classes, and even became CPR certified working on other advanced lifesaving skills in his free time. There wouldn’t be anything he wouldn’t do for the happiness, well-being and safety of his family.

It wasn’t until her third trimester that the couple would learn that they were in fact having twins... identical twins. They decided to let their genders be a surprise. Neither could be more elated with the current paths their life was forging. Sam would sit for hours watching his wife in awe, expressing how much he loved her and the happiness he was feeling.

Although this couple was becoming parents for the first time, they were anxious to have their little ones in their arms. They would discuss nursery plans, possible futures for their little ones, who’s personality they would have... all of the new parent hopes and dreams... Alina wanted a natural home delivery, so they both met with several companies who would be able to meet their needs, and address all of their concerns. Home births are usually handled by mid-wives, but Samuel Dalton refused to have anyone deliver his twins who was not a specialized physician fully accredited in their field and among the highest ranking physicians in the country. He was a firm believer of leaving nothing to chance. Alina had even elected to pump and freeze her breast milk in case any issues may arise.

Time passed quickly... Alina was laboring now in her birthing suite the couple had set up in their private home. They hired a private duty nurse to be in-house for the first week following delivery. Sam wanted to ensure only the best of care for Alina and their twins. Birth came with ease for Alina when delivering the first of their twins. but she soon developed fever and chills. The next delivery began with unexpected complication, Alina became extremely lightheaded and began to faint during an attempt to push during a contraction. One minute she was focusing on Sam’s coaching, the next her eyes were becoming distant, fluttering open and closed uncontrollably. She was giving every effort to hear Sam’s words, coming to her from what seemed to be a far distance. Unable to hold on, her body went limp, collapsing against her now terrified husband. Helpless to call her to alertness, he began pleading with her physician to wake her. Unable to answer Sam’s pleas to arouse Alina, the physician explained to him quickly that she had to deliver their baby now by emergency procedure and needed him to be aware of the high risk to both baby and mom. “Just save my family doc, NOW!”

Giving her a regional anesthetic, Dr. Savine Liveston contacted Emergency Medical Services for immediate dispatch, giving the predetermined alias for registration to prevent interference by paparazzi in the event of an emergency.  Sam’s focus was split between his wife’s and unborn baby’s care, and the private duty nurse giving a thorough check of Baby A born without complication at 8:17pm, vaginally weighed 7lbs 15 ounces. Baby B was born by emergency Caesarean section at 9:11pm with minor respiratory issues quickly resolved, weighing 6lbs 4 ounces.

Upon checking, Alina’s blood pressure spiked dangerously high and she began seizing, slipping into a mild coma. Sam’s heart was beating so rapidly he couldn’t hear the doctor’s instructions, hearing clouded due to fear and panic. He was starting to lose control, but quickly realized that he had to trust the OBGYN, and place his focus on their newborns.

The air ambulance arrived shortly after Dr. Liveston delivered Baby B. Sam was informed that Alina would be transported to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. He had to make the decision on whether to leave his twins with the private duty nurse and fly in with Alina or to come to the hospital by car with his twins. Making the difficult decision to trust the private duty nurse to care for his twins, Sam boarded the helicopter wanting to be present should his wife regain consciousness, or for worse, be present should she slip away from him permanently. Sam had never felt so helpless and inferior in his entire life, facing this situation beyond his control.

https://youtu.be/VghvmL0G144 https://open.spotify.com/track/50Td3qilgs8BLtv8mHyT1t

After running several tests, they later discovered that Alina’s coma was due to postpartum preeclampsia. She was treated with medications to lower her blood pressure and prevent seizures. She was also given medication to control pain and to help suppress any memories of trauma. Now, the only thing left to do would be the hardest for Sam, to wait for her to come out of the coma for true assessment of her condition. As he lay on the uncomfortable pullout couch in her room anxiously waiting for her to awaken, her heard a faint groan, then she called out for him in an exhausted whisper... “Sam, where I am?... where are our babies?,” she cries out frantically, as her memory comes of her delivery comes flooding to her mind.  Unsure if he’s imagining what his heart desires most, he slowly looks in her direction, startled from his millionth silent prayer... Realizing she is in fact awake, he rushes to Alina’s side, eyes overflowing with tears of joy and relief.

He immediately begins to hold her, kissing her, and looking deeply into her eyes as if to make sure she was completely back without any issues. with her voice regaining, she asks frightfully, “Sam... our babies... are they? Did we lose them Sam? Did I fail you? I fought so hard to stay awake,” her words fading as she loses control of her thoughts. “No baby, you didn’t fail anyone, our boys are fine. I had to leave them with the nurse we hired. I couldn’t bear being away from you. I will send Carter for them now. I-I just had to make sure you were ok,” he says breaking down in her arms, unable to hold his composure any longer. He presses the call button so that Dr. Liveston can be notified that Alina has awakened.

After thorough examination, Alina is given the all clear, but will be kept for 48 hour observation. She finally gets to meet their sons. Taking one in each arm, she lightly kisses their heads as tears of joy slip from her eyes. “Oh Sam, their beautiful...I don’t ever want to be away from them again.” Sam’s heart is overjoyed, eyes welling with tears... “We still have to name them, love.” The two sat for a bit, taking in their new additions to their family. The first born would be named Michael, with the second named Mason.

The couple were soon at home raising their twins, enjoying each other and not taking a moment for granted. Then, two years later, tragedy struck that would take Alina away from Sam forever...

[weclassybouquetfun]

Ch-ch-changes. 

Movies making moves. 

A QUIET PLACE II: 3/19/20 to 9/4/20

THE FRENCH DISPATCH has been moved to 10/16/20

FREE GUY from 7/3/20 to 12/11/20

BLACK WIDOW to 11/6/20

THE ETERNALS from 2020 to 2021

SING 2 will vacate its July 2, 2021 slot for Dec. 22, 2021

 to accommodate MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU.

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER from 2021 to 2022

TOP GUN : MAVERICK from 6/24/20 to 12/23/20

CANDYMAN : 6/12/20 to 9/25/20

JUNGLE CRUISE from 7/24/20 to  to 7/30/21 (MULAN will occupy its 7/24/20 spot).

This doesn’t count the films that will be shuffled off to streaming like Paramounts THE LOVEBIRDS starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani, Univeral’s TROLLS WORLD TOUR and Disney’s Kenneth Branagh directed ARTEMIS FOWL which has been delayed several times prior to the pandemic. 

No word on Disney’s other FOX acquired films DEATH ON THE NILE and the much delayed THE KING’S MAN.  Fox was due to release Dev Patel’s THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD in April in the states, but it is now currently undated.  It had a UK run in January.

[jiminieloved]

Just to finish: Army's who believed on Dispatc* and theirs shipps (yes, because of some photos from 2018 TKKers believed Dispatc* was a good thing and supported TK, LOL) this is the true! Dispatc* is worthless! They don't care about BTS or the boys, they only care about money and clout! This magazine is trash and YOU (not the owner of the blog, ofc) who for a mere instant supported that magazine deserve to finally see the truth! I knew it that something like this we're goin to happen with BTS!

I hadn’t known people though Dispatch were supporters of a BTS ship lol. Dispatch is a scummy company and this just proved it even more.

[midwinter-fox]

Heartache

First Chapter

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

So, a quick note because I wanna. I've gotten way more people following me and liking my stuff than I thought I would!! It seriously fills me with so many good feels, I cry a little inside with each notification I get. I've been having a rough time keeping up with writing thanks to Life, the Universe, and Everything (not the book, but still a great read) so I was wondering if it'd be too much to ask for some kind of review..? It can be in the form of an anonymous ask, or a comment, or even a private message. I'd really like some motivation to keep going, or I might end up burning out.. Anyway, y'all didn't come to hear me complain, but I might be encouraged to pump out more fic if I can get some kind words. c: My bitching and moaning aside, here is the next chapter!

It was late into the night - or perhaps it was very early the next morning - before the lovers laid in pleasurable bliss, content with the extent to which they'd explored each other. Leonore's head rested on her lover's chest while her fingers tenderly stroked the coarse hair beginning to sprout from his jaw. She allowed her thumb to brush across his lips every so often, and each time she did, he would press a light kiss to it. Though he thoroughly enjoyed their time together, Dettlaff couldn't help the feeling of remorse that began creeping up in him.

He was there to care for her, not rut into the next day.

Eventually the hand that gently pet him stopped moving, her breathing slowed, and her eyes fluttered closed. She was thoroughly spent, especially considering she'd only barely managed to keep up with her vampiric lover and his seemingly endless stamina. She fidgeted only once when he kissed the top of her head, but then snuggled into him as well as she could. The way she cuddled was like she was trying to almost completely consume him, but it pleased him to no end. Were her bed big enough to accommodate both of them, he'd have attempted to embrace her in kind.

This was perfect, he thought. She was perfect. She wasn't Rhena, but he wouldn't have her any other way. The never-ending praise, constant smiles, and perpetual kindness made his heart feel full again - he’d received some when he had Rhena, but never to this extent and never to the point where he almost had to convince her to stop lest she overwhelm him. Though, now that he thought about it, was Rhena's affection ever truly genuine? He'd never know, but he sorely wished she'd have just told him when she had the chance. It would save him the torturous thoughts that still plagued him two years after he killed her. Then again, he did bring this upon himself.

Alone to his thoughts now that Leonore slumbered peacefully atop him, he began to feel the ever familiar aching in his chest that brought the ill twisting in his gut. Hatred for Syanna and what she did to him began welling to the surface, but who he hated most was himself. He didn't know what he'd done to drive his lover away, but whatever it was, he only had himself to blame; it was only about time before that same fatal flaw forced his current beloved to flee him too, was it not? The beast inside him wanted to pace and snarl and lash out, but when he looked down at the mess of brunette hair and the woman it belonged to splayed across his chest, it resorted to sulking and fuming instead. He dared not wake her up with his often violent temper, but his intrusive thoughts persisted.

Why had Syanna used him? Why the betrayal? Why the heartbreak? Why him? If all she wanted was an assassin, she could've had one of her brutes do it or found one for hire. Instead, she took his heart and cruelly toyed with it until she had effectively turned it black. She knew he would go to the ends of the earth for her - and still would though she lay in a crypt - so why would she give him such hope and love only to discard him then come back years later to take advantage of him? Pain unlike any he'd felt before choked him, but still he remained quiet in his mental torture.

The smell of blood hit the air, but Dettlaff recognized it as his own. He'd dug his claws into his palm deeply and could feel the crimson liquid oozing out to drip onto the bedding. Just as quickly as the wound was made, it stitched itself back together. What he wouldn't give to feel a prolonged physical pain to counterbalance the emotional one. He could just as easily rip his own still-beating heart from his rib cage and crush it beneath his heel, but it would regenerate back in his chest where it belonged only moments later.

Unable to lie still any longer, he decided to use his vampiric abilities to his advantage. With a sigh, he let himself fade into his incorporeal form and slip from beneath his lover, allowing her to gently plop down onto the bed that was beneath them. She stirred only slightly, but quickly settled back into a restful sleep. Dettlaff, on the other hand, stood in the center of the room and gathered his clothing from the floor.

Now that he was up and about, he could survey all of the damage he'd done to her room. Feathers from her pillows were everywhere, including the clothing he now gathered. Her headboard was cracked and there were skid marks on the floor where the bed had been forcefully pushed to the side. Holes littered her bedding and now there was blood thanks to his hurting his own hand.

Despite the destruction, he did not regret a single thing they had done that night. In fact, that particular memory would be burned into his mind. He was especially proud of himself for having not harmed Leonore save for a potential hickey or two, but it was hard to resist when presented with such delectable thighs. It was a trial trying to refrain from claiming her like his instincts roared for him to do, but if memory served, that very well could've been what pushed Rhena away. He was too bestial, too monstrous to be considered a conventional lover. He loved like an animal - he knew that much to be true. This fact was the very reason why he tried so hard to show restraint, for he greatly feared that he would drive Leonore to leave him too. Should that happen, he knew not what he'd do.

After dusting as much downy feathers out of his clothes as he could, he put them back on. Buttons and buckles fastened, he sat on the edge of the bed to slip on his boots. The shifting of weight on the bed made Leonore stir, her eyes ever so faintly opening as she tried to fight wakefulness.

"Dettlaff..?"

"Hush, liefje. Sleep."

"Where're you goin'..?"

"I am going out for some air and to speak with Regis. I will return shortly."

"Please don't go.." The pitiful way she whimpered for him made him hesitate in his decision to step out, but he wanted to clear his head before he did something he'd regret.

"I promise to return," he said softly before kissing her forehead. She hummed in sleepy defiance. Then, he remembered what she had done for him when he'd woken from his nightmare and ran his claws through her matted hair. His fingertips gently rubbed at her scalp while he avoided scratching her with his nails, making her groan softly then close her eyes once more. Soon, she was fast asleep again, so he took the chance to finish putting on his boots and stand carefully from the bed so as not to wake her again.

With one last glance to make sure she still slept, he left.

---

Regis was tending to an ill patient when Dettlaff returned to his home, but they elected to simply ignore each other until the mortal was gone. It was simply how Dettlaff preferred it - it brought less attention to him when humans were around. It was odd that someone be there at this ungodly hour, but mortals were wont to demand services when it best suited them and them alone - something he learned the hard way. Since he was there for Regis, he went to his room to wait for the stranger to leave before speaking with his friend.

The room was as he left it when Leonore slept there last. Her scent still lingered in his sheets, so he opened the window to allow for some air. It wasn't that the smell was repelling for him, but it didn't make his internal pain hurt any less. He seated himself on the bed as he waited, but before he could begin his downward spiral into his own thoughts again, Regis stepped into the room.

"How did everything go? I didn't expect you to be gone as long as you were, so when the raven told me of bandits on the farmstead, I daresay I began imagining the worst. How is Leonore faring? Was she unharmed?"

"She is well. A few scrapes and bruises, but she recovered quickly in regards to her emotional and mental state."

"I take it you got there just in time then." Dettlaff nodded in response, so Regis continued. "She's home asleep? Did she at least get to eat the food you brought her?"

Ah.

Damn.

Dettlaff groaned and covered his face with a hand - he couldn't believe that in all that time with her, he still forgot to get her some sort of sustenance.

"I'll take that as a no."

"Her horse ate it."

"Well. That is.. unfortunate. Were you not so disinclined to lie, I'd say that is possibly the worst excuse I’ve ever heard. As is not the case, I sincerely hope the horse enjoyed it at the least."

"She seemed pleased."

"Leonore?"

"Lola."

"I'll assume that's the horse." There was a faint smile on Regis' face, but judging by the way Dettlaff still rested his face in his hands, there was clearly something bothering him. "Is everything alright, my friend?"

"No," Dettlaff sighed, but he didn't move so much as a fraction. Depression was weighing him down, making him feel heavier than even he could carry. "I needed air, so I left Leonore in her bed. I.. need to sort out my thoughts."

Concern now found its way into Regis' expression, and had he been wearing his satchel, he'd be clutching the strap. As such, his arms crossed as he leaned a shoulder against the door frame.

"What happened after the two of you left the farm? I'd like to know everything that transpired."

"It.. Mh.. I dispatched the bandits without difficulty. The farmer and his children sustained minor injuries, but I instructed them to find you if need be."

"I know that much. They came to see me earlier in the day, told me about how a dark stranger came and saved them without demanding so much as a thanks. When I informed them that you were a friend of mine, they all but threw themselves at my feet and begged me to thank you in their stead. I patched them up and sent them on their way, but not before the farmer saw fit to leave me a few extra coins for both my services and yours."

"I do not want it."

"I know, but they refused to take it with them, so I've set it aside for the time being. Now, what else happened? After the farm nearly being ransacked."

Dettlaff was slow to answer, almost as though he was nearly embarrassed to divulge such information - after all, it was his private life that Regis was prying into, and it was not how he'd intended for his day to go. Really, he'd have been happy to simply spend the next few hours in her arms again, but to have been in, on, and around her had been a pleasant alteration to his plans.

"I told her I love her. Then we returned to her home and laid together until less than an hour ago."

"It's about damned time. I'm assuming you two went back to her house to have sex then."

As loathe as he was to admit it aloud, Dettlaff nodded. He didn't regret their intimate night together, but he wished he hadn't been so rash. There was nothing tender about their mindless rutting; it was two years that he'd secluded himself, but he was so miserable in that entire time that he'd never really thought about his body's sexual needs. The pent up frustration had burst forth as soon as Leonore's lips touched his neck.

"I had a moment of weakness."

"That moment lasted for nearly ten hours, Dettlaff. Is she still intact?"

"Yes, and I did not take her nonstop for that entire time, Regis." He didn't mean to snap, but he felt bad as it is. Even to him though, his excuses sounded terrible - like a child coming up with reasons for naughty behavior. "We.. did other things within that time. Talked, held each other, slept."

"So sex and aftercare. Then more sex." To say Regis was amused was an understatement. He was having too much fun teasing his companion like this, for he was elated to know that his dearest friend finally found someone to fill the holes in his heart.

With a growl, Dettlaff stood and turned to face the window so he didn't have to face the other. The ruthless jesting grated on his already tender nerves, but Regis was the only one he could and would speak to about matters such as this. They'd both seen each other at their most vulnerable, and Regis had a wisdom that he valued deeply. Sensing only his companion's growing unease, the mirth left Regis promptly.

"I still find myself thinking of Rhen-" Dettlaff paused to correct himself, "Syanna, when I am left to my thoughts. Now I am.. unsure of whether I acted too rashly. I cannot deny my feelings for Leonore, but Syanna still holds pieces of my heart. I both long for what once was and hate her so strongly." He all but snarled, his fists clenching at his sides. Anger was rising in him again, and he was prepared to leap out the window and take out his fury anywhere that wasn't his friend's home.

A hand rested on his shoulder, squeezing to provide reassurance that he wasn't alone to deal with his worries and frustrations.

"It's not going to be overnight that you heal from such trials. You are perfectly justified in your feelings, though I do wish I could take that heartache from you and bear it myself. It pains me to see you suffering like this, especially when I once knew a time when you were almost happy. Please, Dettlaff, let me know should there be anything I can do to help you."

"I..." For a moment, Dettlaff was overcome with emotion. There was hurt, sadness, anger, hatred, and yet, he also felt the love and compassion of his beloved friend. Were he not also so empty inside, he might feel the faintest bit of the happiness he was once capable of. "I think I need to be alone."

They stood silent momentarily before Regis sighed and gave Dettlaff's shoulder another squeeze.

"So be it. What should I tell Leonore if she comes by?"

"I told her I would return to her, but should that not be the case, tell her I will be back soon. I simply need time to think.”

With that, he let himself fade, his body becoming nothing more than a fine mist. He needed to escape, and so he left for the Brokilon Forest where his kin resided.

---

With the dryads being a constant threat to any who entered the Brokilon, there were few who dared venture into its depths. After so many warning arrows, however, Dettlaff knew where their boundaries lay. His kin was permitted to cross it so long as they strayed from the dryads' settlements and did not disrupt the natural balance of the forest. As such, they were limited in how much they could hunt, but with how much game there was, he doubted that would ever become an issue.

When he entered the forest and the domain of his pack, he was greeted with enthusiasm. The juveniles he'd spoken fondly of were among the first to approach, the three lamb-sized young ekimma bounding up to him with excited chittering. It was hard not to smile when they brushed against him with their soft, downy bodies and demanded his attention with playful nips.

"I missed you, as well," he mumbled affectionately as he ran a hand through the fur of one. They weren't sentient like the higher varieties, but they were still intelligent in their own respects. They understood him just as he understood them, though they were incapable of speech.

After petting one, the other two grew jealous quickly and either tried shoving their sibling out of the way to receive attention or nudging his hand to demand he move on to them. This was what he'd sought when leaving to sort out his thoughts. There was something soothing about being around his own kind, surrounded by those who were not bothered by the trivialities of mankind nor the devastation it brought in its wake. They lived simplistically, and he wished he were not so complex a being so he too could live without worries or cares.

How could humans think such beings to be monsters? In all of his experience, he'd never known them to attack unless their territory is encroached upon, and even then it was in self defense. The stories in which his kind were depicted as hungry, vicious creatures with only the capacity to kill always filled him with dread. Were mortals not so ignorant, so close-minded, they would see that there is so much more to them. Never had he thought himself a monster before Syanna's betrayal, but what she made him do turned him into the very thing he swore not to be. Leonore was right, monsters killed without cause, and while he felt his reasons were justified at the time, they clearly were not once Syanna's plot was revealed. He killed innocent people, some of which had shown him selfless kindness, and he laid waste to them like a monster truly would.

It was a fitting name for him now, he supposed. Dettlaff truly could be a Beast if he wanted to be, and he made that blatantly clear when he ordered the attack on Beauclair. Guilt still wracked him, but he did what he could to make up for his misdeeds by caring for those of his flock that survived.

He shed his coat so he could avoid having it torn, but once set aside, he gave the young ekimma a playful growl, provoking them into a game. They pounced on him, and though he could easily throw them off, he allowed them to overpower him at times then knock them off easily and nip right back. It amused him to no end how they tried to dominate him, but it also gave him a chance to teach them how to use their claws and teeth to their best advantage. Rarely did they learn, but he took the time to both lead and play. It was better than taking his anger out violently on the environment, for he got plenty of exercise and was content to have the chance away from polite society.

Dettlaff spent the better part of the morning letting loose and allowing his feral nature take him where it may. He hunted and cavorted, wrestled and nurtured; he did what a leader should when in command of a flock of beings the world would otherwise deem horrifying and dangerous. By dawn, his body was coated in a sheen of sweat and his remaining clothing was tattered and torn. His overcoat remained intact at least, which was all he could ask for, really.

All too soon, he knew he had to return to civilization to at least make good on his promise to Leonore. She probably wouldn't even be awake by the time he got back, but he wanted to be there when she woke. He knew how it felt to wake to an empty bed when only a few hours prior someone had shared it with you.

---

Sleep evaded Leonore almost as soon as Dettlaff left. The warmth he had been sharing with her was gone, leaving her feeling cold and alone. Why had he left her..? Surely it wasn't something she'd done? Regardless of how much she tried to rationalize everything, her heart still ached. He was gone for only a few hours, but it felt much longer to her. Rather than try to reclaim lost sleep, she sat in bed and sighed in the dark.

Creaking brought her head up from where it rested on her knees, her body curled up and legs to her chest while she waited to see if he'd really return. Booted feet across the wooden floor, nearly silent, brought him into her room. Dawn peaked in through her window, allowing her to see his blue eyes despite the darkness. Without a word, she stood and went to him, her arms enveloping him just as his automatically did her.

"Why are you awake?" his deep voice rumbled through her, and for some reason she felt it sounded like he'd recently been crying. Yet, when she looked up and met his gaze, there wasn't any sign of tears.

"I waited for you. Something didn't feel right and I.. I waited for you to come back."

Heart clenching painfully, he closed his eyes and sighed.

"I am fine. You need your rest."

"No, you're not. Don't take me for a fool, Dettlaff. I know when you're hurting."

Rather than give her an answer, he gently led her back to her bed. When he sat down, she crawled into his lap and hugged him close before he could even try to so much as remove his boots. Her tenderness was soothing to his worn heart, but now he had the growing suspicion that she was feeling his heartache. After all, he left her to wake alone, and though he'd expressed that he would return, it was hours before he came back. As such, his arms found their way around her again, but he had to grit his teeth against the rising lump in his throat.

"I apologize for having brought you concern. I needed to sort out my thoughts."

"And have they been sorted?" she asked, her head not rising from his shoulder.

"No." The admission almost broke his resolve, but he stayed strong. He had to - for her.

Her head rose from its resting place so she may press her forehead to his. The loving gesture was not one he felt he deserved, but he held her close despite his feelings.

"I'm here for you. No matter what happens, no matter what plagues you, I'm not going anywhere. I love you, no matter your weakness or sorrow. Please, do what you must to try to heal, but do not forget me. I wish to be your balm when your hurt still burns you so."

For but a brief moment, he was grateful she'd closed her eyes. He couldn't stand to let her see his silent tears. His face was buried into her shoulder, arms tightening almost painfully as he fought to stop the pathetic quivering in his chest. Tears spilled down her still naked skin, but she said nothing, did nothing besides hold him close.

"I love you, Leonore."

"Hush, love. I know, and I love you too."

[19951026yuta]

©︎ Naver x Dispatc

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