#atlantianfell [001]

[atlantianremained]

@atlantianfell

life had not been the kindest to him lately, or rather - it never had been, but at some point after a many years of wondering, viktor had accepted his fate on the side of the unlucky. blessed, born with a silverspoon in his mouth & yet, unlucky. bound in place by the shackles of worthlessness in the eyes of the many & trapped in the cage of being an omega. there was no escaping that trap, there was no fixing the issue, no solving the problem. his life was not his, not really.

not until everything he knew ... was no more.

but was it his life even then? lured in by hope to find what he'd been looking for all his life, charmed by the brightest smile & undying loyalty & admiration for a man who.. was so much more than that. viktor wouldn't claim he was a god - oh no, he'd not lower himself to that level of blasphemy, but ... was he worthy of the gods? surely, not even they could deny the likeness.

when their home fell apart, viktor thought that maybe he was finally free of the shackles of bad luck & that maybe he could finally ... be seen by the man he'd lay down his life for in a mere beat of his longing heart. but he was never meant to find out. after fleeing the downfall of atlantis, he .. lost him again only shortly after seemingly finding safety within the walls of willowshire.

& viktor was once again alone, though not quite. left behind with the son of a man who should've been his, but .. wasn't & likely never would be. was he dead? what other reason could there be for hector to leave his child behind? the one person on this world he loved - potentially more than his own life. there.. was none.

two years .. taking care of a lost boy who didn't deserve to feel viktor's darkest thoughts. it wasn't the boy's fault. he .. loved him like his own, even though the memory of the boy's true heritage would forever haunt him. he swore to protect him with his life & he did. up until the day that ... their life once again was turned upside down & they left for the market only to wake up... somewhere else entirely.

fast forward a few weeks.

[txt: hector] hey uh, think you can stop by the search party hq during break? it's urgent.

a group of riders had found the two & it was upon elias to fill in the blanks, but that posed a problem when neither seemed to understand him. the only person in town he knew spoke ancient languages was a certain merman elias had ...spent quite some hours with. all three of them were sat, both travelers in curious attire, some pieces almost torn to shreds, their faces dirty & hands bloody. meanwhile elias was dressed in his usual dark slacks & white button up combo, which ...hector knew all too well.

"he'll be here soon, i promise. i know you don't understand. uhhh..." hands up, palms flat & motioning like for a puppy to sit. "just wait."

when the door opened to present a man both travelers thought lost... it was safe to say surprise.. was a common companion.

[birdburned]

@atlantianfell

there had been no need to undress, not yet, because felix knew his place in this world & that was .. at the feet of an alpha - on his knees & giving as good as he got. fingers had curled into his hair - a safety measure he understood even though it was unnecessary. or maybe it was there simply for the display of power over him, which was alright with him, too. he truly didn't mind. it didn't affect his performance in the slightest. green .. always on blue, always keeping eye contact & it never wavered, not even when he ran out of breath for the time being. his hands remained in his lap. he'd taken the liberty to not fold them behind his back anymore. he was no longer trapped with ...him.

& yet, this new routine? not too different, if one was to look past details. he definitely preferred this now. although he'd lie if he claimed he missed knowing he was the one & only focus in life for someone. that they wanted him more than air. still, he was enjoying this newly-found freedom, too.

swallowing cock after lunch? beat a nap. swallowing cock after breakfast? beat a jog before work. swallowing cock after dinner? best dessert. it'd been way too easy falling back into old habits when felix found his boss not only to be handsome, but a potent & feel-good-kinda-guy ...if typical alpha, who really liked fucking his throat him. they couldn't always, though, cause they could never know when the alarm went off & it was by pure coincidence that felix really liked ...well, swallowing cock. what better way to show his appreciation for an alpha, right?

& when the alarm rang, well - there was no alpha in this world he couldn't finish off fast. if he chose to. but alas... they had all the time in the world right now & with how sparsely the station was staffed tonight, he doubted many others would be passing the corridor felix ran into hector at. if he didn't want felix to drop to his knees right there, he would've had to say so before he'd fished him out of his station pants. he didn't. they never did.

adjusting to hector's size had taken him a little while, but now? easy. he was hard in his own pants, one of his palms selfishly rubbing down against himself for minimal amounts of pleasure. eoghan would've had his ass for that.

[lionprotected]

@atlantianfell (you can't escape)

half the town was ... down & yet, someone had somehow managed to set another shed on fire? & ryan was sent to investigate, because a neighbor thought they saw something fishy? & then... he got here to find the entire shed fucking drenched..? what the fuck was he supposed to do here? did they really have to use that much water to fix this? or were they just incompetent?

he knew the fire station was ... not exactly the place with the highest required qualifications, but still. this was about town safety, right? with a soft sigh on his lips, he went to find the one responsible for this mess & was promptly sent all the way across the damn crime scene to meet none other but the fire captain. not that ... ryan was intimidated often, he .. wasn't this time, but he could smell that goddamn alpha miles against the wind. that posture, that scent of self-righteousness. gods, he hated alphas.

"of course you're here. you see the mess your guys made?" no, he was not in a good mood. maybe it was a worse mood than usual. he couldn't really tell himself. "the hell am i supposed to find out what happened if you flood the entire goddamn property...?"

[tigerhidden]

@atlantianfell

new haven. safe haven. the supposedly safest place on earth for people like him & yet, damian found himself struggling to get by even more. admittedly, the major change in his life might've been the reason damian found himself struggling in this new, safe world he'd fled to, but .. he had yet to reach that point of no return that would allow him to accept that.

because at the same time he would be accepting a lot of things about himself he wasn't ready to, yet. the most pressing matter being ... that he had absolutely zero qualifications to present in order to live life to the fullest in new haven (or at all). he was assigned a room upon arrival, but unlike these travelers he's been told about, damian's was only held for him for a limited duration - until he found a job & a way to pay his own rent, which ... was the struggle.

what could he do? what was he even good at?

lies, but those didn't .. get him far, did they? with his ex out of the way & her slimy, greedy fingers no longer pulling his strings, damian found himself at a loss. where to go? what to do? what did he even want to do? a week later, damian still asked himself the same questions & he was not an inch closer to finding the answer. so, simply because that was the one thing damian knew he was good at, he found himself back at the town's bar. one of them anyway.

with the music blaring, people dancing & enough stragglers sitting alone at the bar, damian knew he was in for a night. he thought he could leave that life outside these walls, but maybe... there was nothing left of him besides that. who knows. but a few hours into the night, he'd already found himself a couple suitors, although.. it might be the town offering intimacy at every corner, but damian felt like.. it wasn't as easy as he was used to.

soft sigh ensued, but the night was still young, so he let his eyes roam the bar again until.... hm. they settled on a new arrival - in the bar at least. not his usual prey, too handsome to be desperate, but he could at least try - right? white slim-fit shirt hugging his hips in all the right places, the shimmer of his nipples through the thin fabric surely a highlight & tight dark jeans hanging low on his hips - damian felt ready to conquer an alpha the world.

tongue peeking past his teeth with a little grin on his lips, damien leaned his elbow on the counter deliberately close to the alpha in question, letting his eyes roam the man not at all subtly - it was all pretense, make him feel wanted, although.. damian would lie if he claimed the guy wasn't handsome. "out here all alone, big guy? it's a dangerous world."

[wolftracked]

@atlantianfell

elias came around town quite a lot. it wasn't long, meaningful visits everywhere he went, but due to him being one of very few it specialists in new haven, it was safe to say he never quite not had another appointment coming up. nevertheless, he tended to focus on the big ones. the big fish, the important faculties - before the mortals. so to say. the infrastructure in new haven when it came to communication was rancid at best & elias was the one who had to deal with the consequences.

his tracking system for the travelers had given him an idea for a future set up for the town, but given that he needed magical assistance for that - he'd pushed that on the back burner for the time being & solely focused on getting everybody at least decently upgraded. he'd started with the police station a few months back, which - in hindsight he regretted, because now ... after patrick... he felt awkward setting foot in the place again. sure, they were friends.. still, but he couldn't help the pang in his heart whenever they met.

patrick at least had a chance to find what he desired in his fox, but elias? that ship sailed & crashed into an ice berg months ago. with trenton all over him most of the time, he had only little hope to find another alpha willing to put up with him them, too. maybe one day he'd see you for what you are. but elias doubted trenton could love. this mother nature the travelers so firmly believed in must've forgotten to connect trenton's heart with his brain - or else elias couldn't fathom why it would beat in his chest & yet be entirely useless the rest of the time.

regardless of his issues at home, another important location seemed to have found itself with a communicational error. elias had been over two days in a row to get them back on track, had met ...interesting personalities - especially a very handsome time traveler who had seemed rather interested in his ass him. he could've asked for his number, but he didn't. he could've left his private number with him, but he didn't. mistakes were made.

so ... a few days later, elias was .. back.. to linger around the fire station, an excuse on his lips for when he was discovered on the premises, which happened rather promptly. "hi, uh, yeah - yep. it's been a few days, figured i should uh, you know, check the system files again. see if there's any error messages hinting at another meltdown." & so he was taken back inside, in the company of two very handsome firefighters, only to be - once again, presented with the other firefighter that caught his gaze the first time around. "sooo, system's been running okay? thought i'd come check before it crashed again." his excuse? the firestation needed communications to be working. yep. was that the excuse he'd use if asked why he picked an exceptionally tight white button-up this morning to go with the usual dark suit slacks? probably.

[atlantianremained]

it  had  never  been  enough  time.

they'd  never  had  enough  time  together;  not  before  the  fall  &  not  after  it  all  burned  down.  he  often  dreamt  of  what  ifs  &  maybes,  but  at  the  end  of  the  day  viktor  always  knew  that  neither  of  them  could  defeat  fate.  if  they  weren't  meant  to  be  together,  no  matter  how  deeply  they  yearned  for  each  other,  fate  would  never  allow  it.  for  the  longest  time  that's  exactly  what...  happened.  viktor  ..remained.  locked  away  from  his  very  own  life;  let  out  only  to  partake  in  social  norms,  in  training  -  in  sieges  &  state  affairs,  but  never  once  to  live.

heavy  burden  to  carry,  knowing  you'd  forever  be  another  person's  plaything.  to  know  that  his  life  was  to  be  frozen  in  time  until  the  day  his  father  might  give  birth  to  an  alpha  -  an  heir  more  worthy  than  him,  meant  he  would  never  know  what  it's  like  to  live...  viktor  lived  it.  stuck  at  the  sidelines;  majority  too  afraid  to  even  look  at  him,  but  not  hector.  never  hector.

charming  smile  even  when  they  were  brothers  -  never  afraid  to  tumblr  &  toss  around,  never  afraid  to  spar  with  the  prince  of  atlantis.

&  yet  ...  neither  was  he.  doomed  to  watch  everybody  else  live  while  he  ....remained  idle,  waiting  for  the  day  his  father  announced  offspring  -  or  a  marriage  to  ensure  the  safety  of  the  crown.  because  viktor  couldn't  be  king.  he  was  born  omega  after  all.

but  the  worst  yet,  the  most  unimaginable  pain  viktor  suffered  was  being  forced  to  watch  hector  succeed.  battles  won,  territories  claimed,  victories  brought  home  (all  without  him  by  his  side  or  in  his  arms)  &  then  he  married.  they  both  knew  it  wasn't  .....true.  it  wasn't  meant  to  be,  it  wasn't  ...  it  didn't...  it  wasn't  fair.  viktor  had  to  watch  them  together  at  the  royal  festivities,  had  to  celebrate  their  marriage  &  their  first  born  offspring  when  deep  down,  he'd  rather  cut  off  his  tongue  than  wish  them  a  long,  healthy  life.

decades  of  anger,  of  spite,  of  envy  had  made  a  home  in  his  heart,  had  tainted  his  very  soul  &  nested  for  days  to  come.  when  he  was  younger,  he  always  prayed  to  the  gods  at  night,  begging  them  to  help  him  &  hector  escape,  but  neptune  never  answered.

up,  down...up  &  down.  the  whiplash  of  found  &  lost  hope  in  an  endless  river  of  repeated  mistakes  was  blinding,  but  now  it  felt  like  -  for  the  first  time  in  forever  ....  the  tides  were  on  their  side.  after  everything  they  went  through  -  together,  apart,  hopeless  &  free.  torn  apart  yet  again...  didn't  they  suffer  enough?  if  they  weren't  meant  to  be,  then  why  would  destiny  keep  reuniting  them?

the  ring  feels  like  hector  made  it  for  his  finger;  knowing  him  he  probably  did,  took  measures  while  viktor  slept  &  got  to  work.  the  alpha  was  the  type;  always  had  been  good  with  his  hands.  viktor  wondered  if  he  was  also  good  with  his  hands  when  it  came  to....  different  aspects  of  life.  maybe  ...one  day  he'd  find  out,  if  not  today.

when  else?

if  not  today,  then  ..  when  could  possibly  be  a  better  time?  what  was  it  that  kept  them  apart  this  time?  what  was  it  that  stood  between  them  &  their  happiness?  nobody  would,  not  when  he  was  done  unleashing  neptune's  wrath  on  those  who  dared.

arms  around  the  man  he  yearned  to  touch,  arms  around  his  waist  in  return  -  that  must  be  what  total  bliss  felt  like.  paradise  on  earth,  home  ...  in  their  hearts.  he's  prayed  for  those  hands  to  caress,  for  those  fingers  to  touch,  for  their  lips  to  meet.  he's  ...yearned  so  much  it  ate  him  up.  his  own  hands  remain  ..idle  for  the  time  being,  afraid  to  unlock  from  his  neck  -  afraid  to  lose  what  he  thinks  his.

eyes  dark  &  yet  so  full  of  hope  -  of  trust  &  pure,  unconditional  love.  the  same  way  he's  always  loved  hector.  from  the  bottom  of  his  heart  &  with  all  of  his  very  soul.  when  their  lips  meet,  for  the  first  time  in  all  this  time  -  except  that  one  time  that  ..  nobody  was  meant  to  even  know  about,  it's  over.  storm  unleashed,  floodgates  broken,  mission  accomplished.  viktor's  on  his  alpha,  arms  tight  around  his  neck  -  still  so  very  terrified  to  lose  him  again,  because  he  knew  that  ...  if  he  lost  him  again,  he'd  lose  himself.  clinging  to  him,  body  on  fire  with  all  but  a  simple  kiss,  he  pays  back  in  vigor.

surely  not  an  expert  at  a  dance  of  lips,  he  made  up  for  it  with  effort  &  persistence  -  or  maybe  the  reason  was  unnaturally  pretty  lips  to  aid  him  in  his  endeavors.  when  they  part,  much  to  viktor's  demise  -  the  same  dark,  sad  &  now  lustful  eyes  follow  bright  blue,  wondering  ....  wanting....  waiting.  wishing  he'd  come  back  to  kiss  him  again.  although  hector's  words  vibrate  in  viktor's  chest  -  as  if  to  confirm  he'd  right.  "yours."  always  had  been.  "always....  and  forever.  i  was  never  not  yours  in  heart  and  soul."  &  he  liked  to  think  hector�� knew  it  too.

little  smile  on  his  lips.  relief.  because  he  held  onto  his  feelings  for  the  majority  of  his  life,  through  lifetimes  &  different  centuries  -  across  worlds  &  time,  but  one  thing  never  changed.  his  love  for  hector.  "kiss  me  again,  please.  make  me  yours."  he  wanted  the  world  to  know,  wanted  to  scream  it  in  world  &  let  the  air  carry  it  to  all  his  foes.  but  did  he  even  have  foes  in  this  new  ....place  hector  called  home?  "please,  my  alpha."

IF HECTOR ALLOWED IT. Shh, careful now, sweetheart... you don't know how far that goes up a man's head. He could get used to this way of life again. In the many decades he used to be a ruler, before he lost it all, before he lost you, he'd become complacently accustomed to graciously and divinely allowing others to do things under his guidance. Then he'd lost it all, left wandering the frozen wastes wondering where it all went wrong, and maybe AUTHORITY was his hubris. He was close to perhaps learning the wrong lesson, when he instead began his life anew in distant land, found duty and purpose and authority in leading a disparate group of rowdy boys that call themselves firefighters. And it felt almost all right again in the world... except for the missing you. Or, missing me, from you. He understands he's the one who... disappeared out of their reality first. And, I don't know? Maybe he should've fought harder against space and time. Maybe love is not enough to swim against the current of destiny. I should've stayed. I could've been there for you, Your Highness. I would've married you sooner, burned the Kingdom down all by myself for you, whisked you away from the orichalcum tower you were locked behind your whole life. But he is here now. Not as Duke of Adria or Imperial General of Atlantis. That's who he was. Now, he's here as Hector... maybe just Hector. If you'll have him as is. As husband, father, and patriarch of our house. He'll have you, and,

"of course!" Oh, he'll allow this, sweetheart. VIKTOR'S ARMS AROUND HIS NECK, an all-encompassing warm embrace, ring around his neck and shoulders more eternal than any diamond ring. Lace and unfold, wrap and let go, done and undone, but it will always find itself wrapped around Hector's neck in the end of the day, from today until death them apart--because neither God nor war nor compression of time seems to be able to do the job, so maybe DEATH will think twice before trying anything.

Tilt of his head to the right, smooth little maneuver to align their lips, noses aside, rose colored dreams come to life, of finally tasting the princess' lips after rescuing her from the zealous dragon guarding the tower. Towering over Viktor ever so slightly, leaning into and over him, dipping Viktor backwards, SAFE from falling held in a fireman's robust arms, wrapped tightly around the narrowest part of Viktor's wait. Feeling his princes' skin on calloused war-fought hands, slithering around everywhere like he's always craved to know every part of him and cannot decide on where to start, now that he can. He may as well start everywhere.

"You are mine, then, Your Highness." He practically growls the declaration onto Viktor's lips for the brief second that they part. "And you have always been." He always knew this in his heart. He believes you always knew it too. But an entire dynasty feared this inevitable union. "Now that the veil that barred me from you has finally been swept away... you're mine. Hmrph... you're mine." You hear? Say it.

[foxcared]

it was the same thing over & over since he woke up in ...this place. town. since he woke up in this town. new... haven... safe haven. safe from who? he'd felt pretty safe in the forest, had ..he not been? he missed it. they showed him the park in town, the small forest at the edge of this mysterious barrier that kept them safe from ..something. or someone. it was a fine forest, but.. he missed the vastness of the place he'd called home for the longest time.

town was .. a lot. blinking lights, music & voices all around - he had no idea how the others who lived here managed. it was so loud. there was so much to do, to see, to experience. where was he supposed to start? half of the things he was old he should totally do .. he didn't understand. his human was ... abysmal at best, but he tried. he wanted to communicate. he wanted to express himself, let them know what he felt. the fox ... wanted to speak.

he also wanted to swim. well, he didn't want to. it... was scary. he wasn't afraid of water or getting wet, not at all, but this ... lake in town.. was horrifying. it looked so deep james couldn't even see the ground. who.. thought that was a good idea? what were they even good for? other than to sit there... all intimidating, all threatening. it wouldn't even budge. there was no escaping its vicinity. no way.

he was grateful the alpha offered help. he ... wasn't quite sure about the payment, his human didn't get him that far, but he assumed he would pay whatever he asked for & until then he'd take as much help as he got. although, this.. was horrifying, standing at the edge & just... pondering if he even wanted help.

"d-deep." he whined softly, his pants & shirt had been discarded so he didn't get everything wet if he did ... get in. did he want to? yes & no. he.. said sit, so.. james sat with his feet up in front of him, long limbs bent to keep them out of the cold wetness. one foot ...went... slowly, hesitantly - seemingly checking for danger. he could live with one foot, but without any feet? not really. it ..seemed safe, although he still glanced back & up at the other, waiting for ... praise confirmation that he was... doing well. it wasn't before that... that he lowered his second leg into it & eventually .... his body, at least... some of it, arms on the edge to hold himself up as far as possible.

"c-cold..."

@foxcared is going to drown.

"Well, sailor?" The merman said at the edge of large rainwater pool at Hector's humble ancient above--an impluvium system that he he had learned from Rome, then greatly scaled up for more depth. He did not need to... 'drink' water exactly in the way terrestrials understand it, he lives very well within in. The pool passively and effectively collected cold rainfall in rainy Connecticut, tilting and dripping it down into this large pool at the center of his courtyard. Salinity was adjusted at however much he could afford or was feeling luxurious that month, but rainwater cannot hurt, it only feels inferior to saltwater. For now, arms crossed on the stone edge, hair heavy and slicked back, piercing dark blue eyes staring up at this rehabilitated puppy who's afraid of a little water. As he should. It is a dangerous place. But today, he must learn to, in the very least, survive on his own by swimming... let alone deal with its cold residents who lurk in the dark. That is an entirely different battle. Puppy eyes of hesitation and fear humor him, but do not dissuade him. Fear is fragility, hesitation is weakness. Incompetence was death. The wild fox must learn to adapt to this modern world. There is no alternative. Hector... was not feral (much to the contrary) but he understood being out of place, and out of time. He conquered it. He continues to learn and adapt. You will too, then, sailor. "You may not stand there for all eternity, waiting for this well to evaporate and run dry. Enter. I will support you. Sit on the edge, place your feet within, then slide forward. The water does not bite. I do. However, that is not the objective for your first lesson."

[atlantianremained]

there was this whole new world right in front of him. it seemed vast & confusing, dark & bright at the same time, confusing & familiar all in one. viktor didn't know how to describe it, but everything he felt right at that moment was ... a lot. he had so many unanswered questions, so many concerns, so many worries & fears, but when his eyes met hector's once more... each & every single one of them are blown away. he's always been a storm for everybody else, had washed over lands & left a trail of destruction, but to him? to viktor, he was .. the calm. not before the storm, because when he was with hector no storm could beat them.

even now, when his world had spiraled out of control & viktor had no idea how to make it stop again, all he had to do was look at him & he knew deep down that everything was going to be okay. just like now. the fear of the unknown, gone. the only thoughts present right now... hector was back. with him. that was the one single thing that mattered to him. nothing else ever could rattle him more.

there was that unspoken trust between them that had apparently survived thousands of years, although viktor couldn't tell yet if ... it would be the same. he wasn't sure if hector was even aware that he would lay down his life without hesitation for the other. or for a chance to feel his warmth on his skin again. viktor would gladly give his life to be seen by the other ... with the same yearning he held for him. he would gladly lay down his life for a chance to ... rewrite history.

he didn't understand why life thought it right to be so cruel to him, putting hector in his life only to rip him from his fingers time & time again, but ... no more. not this time. he... had lost him enough times. no more. did hector feel the same? did he agree it was their turn to finally find happiness with each other? or ...had he found someone else?

it's that moment ... when viktor pours his heart out & their eyes meet ... that hector had to react. viktor never asked for more than he could, never took the risk of overstepping, but at this point in time, he ... felt like the world owed him. the gods owed them a reprieve. together. & when the alpha's arms wrap around him, he knew, once more ... that everything would be okay. he'd waited for this moment for years, if not longer. to feel the other's warmth against him, to have his scent fill his lungs to the brim, to know that he was safe in his arms - as he'd always been by his side.

viktor's wrapped around him with no intention of letting go any time soon. he's waited for this. he's waited ...for this. "i still can't believe it." even though he felt him, even though he smelled him, even though they were here. this felt like another dream. but viktor prayed it was real. he needed it to be real. he squeezed him tightly, clinging to him like viktor feared that if he let go... he'd wake up in his cot. just a little longer. he wanted to feel him. so that if he woke up from this, he'd have the strength to go on.

SWORN ENEMIES, your Highness, only go as far as a man swears to uphold it true. Promises unraveled, vows unsworn, history unmade. It's... not possible to explain everything that has changed upside-down, or even in a new direction, in the past two thousand years since their last frame of the world. Get this, omega rights. Ha. Right? An impossibility in our time, a dream in the interim, and a reality today. The sky is the limit is harder to conceptualize to deep-sea dwellers.

And yet, despite all adversity, love and family found his way back to him, doomed fate spited, averted, warded. If Neptune meant to drive a man insane for his hubris, then the Lord of the Seas has been thwarted thus far. It's enough to make a General take up the spear and believe in conquest again. This may actually be dangerous and detrimental to the world stage in the end. Melancholy as restraints, Hercules yanking his chains right off their hinges, unbound. With both arms and spirit uninhibited, he understands--WE THOUGHT YOU DIED--perhaps for the first time, that it is time to start over. I, too, have been living like I died. Arms reach forth as decisively as the day he conquered you a whole nation, reaching past the sides of Viktor's triceps and fastening him tight around his back, leaving no doubt or space between hearts. Safe inside his arms towering. A long time coming, this feeling of safety; this knowing it's over--we made it. Hurricane tore every nail and board off the ship, but it's over. When the sky clears, and it's just you & I adrift. Whether the storm is God's punishment, or your survival his miracle, it matters not in your arms. Tucking Viktor's head over Hector's shoulders, hidden away from all the hurt and the terror of the modern world in Hector's neck, the tilt of his head into Viktor's, gently resting and pressing over his head. That unmistakable scent lets you know it's real, or at worst, purgatory is cruel in imitation. No, he's real, he's back.

"I did." is all a man that has traversed a thousand year voyage into the future can say. He died to them, in every way that mattered. As their General first, their Duke second, father third, patriarch fourth, and...

Yet, he's willing to try again. Rise and try again. Make it last this time. Make it last forever. "I'm here now."

[lionprotected]

ryan was driven by three things in this life; his son, his responsibility towards his job & the town & last, but definitely not the least ...his spite. when he had nothing, his spite kept him going, it kept him alive long enough to find reason to keep going again & it resumed its duty whenever he needed it. being an omega in this world might be easier than it was decades ago, but it was far from easy - it was far from being the beautiful & fulfilling experience alphas like sir hector made it out to be. he didn't think him evil, not at all, but he believed that little fantasy he'd been taught.

that sweet fairytale that made him & his kind feel better about treating him & his the way they did. quick lays, no feelings, no use other than to serve their needs. it wasn't hector's fault that he was born into that mindset, but it was his fault he remained in it & that was what ryan blamed him for. what he hated him for. him & all the others like him. ryan was not afraid to face them, one by one. he was not afraid to speak up about the error of their ways, always so sure they were in the right when in reality? they knew barely enough to pass as people. wild animals, the whole lot of them.

this one was a fine specimen to prove him right, really. the way he held himself, that little extra straightness to his stance when he let his little lecture roll - like ryan had been disobedient & needed to be shown how to improve his performance for the next time an alpha wanted to be entertained. like ryan couldn't give any less fucks about what it was the fishman thought important.

who was he to judge him? who was he to belittle him? to comment on what he assumed was ryan's life? who was he to present himself above him? other than his knot, what did he have that made him oh so special? nothing. the audacity to step up into his face in his town & put on a show like this. worthy of an alpha, he had to admit.

was he right? yes. who the fuck cared?

ryan remained calm through the whole flood of it, remained vigilant & steadfast in the alpha's face - invading his personal space like he'd been born to conquer. i dare you, little fish. i dare you. jaw set & yet it worked around words he wanted to let loose, but didn't. his gaze never faltering, steady & strong on the alpha's eyes - because his might not shine red when provoked, but they shined bright nonetheless. if not brighter than the other's, because ryan knew what he was fighting for. could those who have the world at their feet even understand that when they so readily dismissed everybody else's rights & choices?

when the other was done, ryan ... was silent. not quiet. silent. the bomb didn't tick tick tick, it didn't announce it's happening, it would be a surprise for all involved, because they were still at the crime scene & their conversation had been held far from privately. but the silence remained. ryan's fingers pulled together into tight fists to atop him from lashing out & knocking a few of his pretty-white hollywood-smile teeth out, locked as tightly as his jaw, which had worked overtime during the alpha's speech. long moment of silence later, deep breath before ryan even attempted to open his mouth.

"you done? good. listen up, cretin. you think you got me all figured out? want a cookie for gettin' the most obvious right? good job, little alpha, good job - you're doing great. guess you ain't just good at bein' alpha or firefighter - nah, you're an excellent cop, sherlock holmes reincarnated, surely a generous lover.." generous as in, sticking his dick into everything that moved & then he walked away - consequences? what consequences? alphas never had to worry about consequences. ryan was trying to change that. "hector nikephoros, what a man you are. what an alpha. smart, too. however could anybody withstand your charms, right? that little smile you've been shootin' my way?" two could play the guessing game, but the difference was that ryan didn't care about him. or his past.

"now if you're done proving what an impeccable not-catch you are, how 'bout you pack your shit'n get the fuck outta my crime scene so i investigate ... oh right, accept my failure at solving this case. maybe i'll cry a lil' in the car even, for added effect. now if you'll excuse me... i got children t'save an' lonely thrones to climb, can't be caught slackin' or i'm gonna be filing another cold, dead case in shame, right?" ready to watch him tuck his tail & run, he .. it wasn't enough. it just.. "you know what? no. fuck this. fuck you. who the fuck do you think you are? comin' in here an' judgin' me like you got any right to? like i'm yours to decipher, like my life is yours to taunt about when you not once had to worry about anything but how many lives you ruin a week by merely existing, let alone of those you fuck. oh wait, the likes of you don't care, do ya? stick it in, hope it sticks so you can fuck off an' never been seen again. my hero. you sleepin' better at night tellin' yourself anythin' you do helps anybody but yourself, does anythin' but boast your fragile little alpha ego? i'm sure you do. good, great. let me help. thanks, my big strong alpha. thanks for savin' my life. no idea where i'd be without your impressive prowess at everythin' you do, but mostly in the savin' department. thank you." did he have to end his own little (it wasn't) outburst with a bow? nah. yet he did.

Hector shook his head slowly, eyes out into the far horizon as the boys pack it up now that the risk of reignition has been cleared--as per protocol, mind you, Detective--and they will soon be leaving, off to another emergency, and there seem to be many tonight. Maybe it's the full moon. Maybe it's the barrier. Hence why he knows the townsfolk would become agitated and break down civility if something happened to their seemingly impenetrable shield, until now. It's funny; he's been there before. Revolt, unrest, and the death of the greatest civilization on Earth. Him and the books, all that's left. Which reminds him, he's seen it all. The detective's deflection cannot escape him, caught by the tail, the cat may shriek and curse, but none evade the General's eyes. Even without looking, he is detected and doomed.

"I don't believe you." Harsh words for your princess, he says, dark deep-ocean blue eyes turning to fix on Ryan, hands were behind his back, chest out, ah that Imperial perfect posture, Aurelian insight and philosophy that hurts but it's true. "I know you, Ryan. Know of you, in the least. He who would charge into inferno & pandemonium before admitting dependence, impractically stubborn. Dead, burnt alive before needing help from some monkeys you perceive beneath you. Conjuring flaw and incompetence in another to help you justify why you need no one, lonely little lion liege, king of your own destiny, master of your own life. You know as well I, the shed crumbled to cinders, any evidence of use to you & yours [department] was ashes in the wind, even before myself & mine extinguished it. No reason to surmise foul play, any more, any less likely than accident, electrical fire, spilled fuel, a knocked lantern..." Surprisingly, he's no longer looking smug, no, more... sorrowful in understanding. Undeniably in love with the sound of his voice, but words are heavy, not honey.

"No way to know. Destined to remain a mystery to you. Of course, your Inquisitor [police] Chief expected as much, this is but a rural shed fire, not murder at a Councilor's estate. No need to look deep. No harm, no foul, no victims... accident report for the homeowner at best. Insufficient to satisfy you, however. You must know the grand arsonist's scheme, knight errant in search of justice... you fail otherwise. You knew this on the way here, dreaded in silence in your vehicle. You wished the fire was still roaring, wished you could run right in, hear a black-lunged child cough and plead for help, thought you could carry them out in your arms, scarred skin and ashen limbs, but they would be safe, sheltered at your expense. Succumb to your wounds, die a hero, and not... file another cold, dead end case. Burnt shed. Minor property damage, no victims. No leads, mission failed. I robbed you, Detective, denied your escape from this shame. You will be alright. I ought to look after you after all. Even if you have been handling yourself just fine thus far. Even if someone's left you stranded in a bind before, hardship confounded reliance with weakness." Ah, incredibly long sigh after all that, flood of consciousness, staring into the horizon, lost sight of Ryan somewhere halfway through all that. It's evidently personal to him, too... this was coming from somewhere deeper, not just an analysis of the kitten at hand. "How am I doing, Detective?"

[atlantianremained]

this strange new world felt .. different than home. it felt ... full & suffocating, the people ...so many, all moving & rushing, talking in a language he couldn't decipher. laughter here, children crying over there, carriages .. that sounded & looked like the devil's work passed them as he waited for hector to explain. he seemed to have known the omega who tried & failed communicating with them. how did they know each other? who were they to each other? who was he?

how could it be that this man knew of a way to summon hector? he had so many questions, but he settled for a select ...few. for now. those that would give him enough peace to ...well, deal with whatever it is he was facing. hector's hands on his skin felt hot. unbearably hot, but it was the ever-same song playing. he was... a task. hector had always been a man of honor, loyal & dutiful to their kingdom & his father, triton. he'd never overstepped the bounds laid out for them & even though viktor's eyes pleaded, he would not find himself rewarded with those strong arms around him.

he never would be, would he now? they just weren't meant to be. he was brought here solemnly for the child, was it not? collateral... only that it was his heart that was put in danger, not his body. to hear that hector had been in this place for the past two years & he didn't come for him.. hurt. he truly thought he lost him. but hector just ...found a new life? was that it? away from the royal burden he swore to protect. but would he have abandoned his son? viktor... didn't think so, but what other explanation could there be?

"america?" the world felt weird on his lips, it didn't roll off his tongue as effortlessly as their own words. what did it mean? they had been transported to another country? was it magic? powerful magic no less, it seemed. but why? who would want them to be gone? they had just settled to live their lives in peace, they harmed nobody. "home... is gone? what happened to it?" he always thought the problems could be solved, that after some fighting, people would get along again & remember why they loved atlantis the way it was, but ... he had been wrong. "how .. how is this possible? a thousand years, i..." everybody they knew ...dead. his father, gone. everything gone. just like that.

he sighed softly, but nodded & while still squeezing julian's hand, he let hector lead them to this ...new place he called home. the walk held many wonders, many strange sights. he'd never seen so many different people in one place. he sat felines, canines, even fair folk, walking side by side with elves. weren't they sworn enemies? it was fascinating to see, but also raised more questions. "this town, new ..haven? why here? why not settle elsewhere? why did they bring us here?" they were making their way to hector's home as they spoke, hector's son following them closely.

the place he called home was .. different than the hut they lived in before. different than the small log cabin julian & him built when they woke up in the forest. it was .. it looked.. "this place. this is your home? tell me about it. what.. is all this?" looking around, he noticed a few similarities between home he knew & home he was about to learn about, but one thought would just not leave his mind. he thought he'd lost him again, once & for all. the thought alone still hurt him deeply & he brought a hand to rest above his heart. "i... we thought you died."

This changes everything, of course. All that talk about all that he'd fought, all that he'd conquered... it doesn't end in a moralistic cautionary tale. That perhaps there was an end in sight to all that he'd done. A reward for meritorious service. He'd won it all, lost it all, and in the end... he has you after all. He'd do it all over again. In a way that FATE can overrule a God's will if it shall be so, then it shall be. They were meant to be together, this they have always known. Even the forces of Olympus punishing Hector for his imperial hubris could not undo the threads of fate spun around them, tight and together. Neptune's reasons are his own, but a man's destiny is already written beyond any of us. And for that, he was thankful. Neptune's Wrath averted once more by the slightest sliver of chance. It's funny. That used to be me. Neptune's Wrath. The entire sea feared and revered his name. Perhaps he's lost more than he's won after all. But none of it matters if he has you again. It has 'only' been two years relative to his disappearance, but they both know... they have been stranded apart for nearly twent. Always close, yet so far. Apart by politics, power, loveless marriage, anticipation... seems so far away now, so foolish to have played along.

Out on the street level, down on a concrete path... not too dissimilar from Rome's concrete, but certainly lost to the ages for the longest time until rediscovered, they had not far from exited the Search Party office when Viktor began with the million dollar question. They had skipped the long orientation process for travelers on Hector's vouch to expedite his family through, liek Elias said, do this later. Ah, softy old wolfy. So here they are, out in the modern world for the first time, and how to even begin explaining where he's been. You already know as much as he does. Still. His family, his responsibility. Hands hold gently onto Viktor's arms around just below the shoulder, holding onto like he is real, needing him to be real. As if a blink and the mirage would be dispelled. Deceived once again by the Gods. Lose it all. "Viktor... I have been... here. Here. I know not of how, why I came to be. Presumably, the same force that drove you here, too. We are..." a groan and sigh of frustration, gentle grip intensifies around Viktor's arm just slightly. "There are no words to describe in our place, and our time." How would you would describe a siren's song to the deaf? Aphrodite to the blind?

"America." He says in English this time, just the word, which did not exist in Atlantean--and would not so for hundreds of years--before resuming their tongue. "We are across the ocean. Beyond the Great Expanse past the Atlas of Gibraltar... indescribably Westward. I... I require a map, I must show you. I've studied it, intensely, I have one at home." The grand scale of the Terra e Mare previously unknown to him was overwhelming, but it did remind him: home. A spark of focus and clarity behind the General's eyes when he regains his composure and goal. "The will of Atlantis is over, your Highness. I have witnessed the ruins myself. It's..." the where is not so hard to swallow as the why, but Viktor and Julian deserve to know. "Over a thousand years have passed in the instant. I awoke in the ice fields, at reaches of the Boreal Sea, 'till I found this land. New Haven. I rejected them at first... I sailed back home. Atlantis, nor the little quaint village we arrived in Europe, history has swallowed them whole. No trace of you survived the millennia. I was alone. So I returned to these American shores. I have a built a home here, come, we must settle you in."

[lionprotected]

if he'd touched him just a second longer, ryan might've broken it & he would've taken the unpaid vacation happily. if only to see the way that stupid-ass smile faltered & distorted in pain. he could watch that all day & never feel tired. but for now he .. held onto his comments - at least the ones that went further than ..this. someone had to be brave & step up, right? they were in the twenty-first century, there was no room for alphas playing mr. big dick. it was that stupid grin that enraged him even now. an endless source of it, too. because he knew that the alpha did it deliberately.

"typical? nothing about it's typical. i wasn't talkin' about the barrier, though. compared to ya, the barrier's capable of more than just one thing at a time it's also never been affected by an attack." they still didn't know what happened, but something definitely wasn't right. another case ryan was on that bore no fruit. nobody saw anything, nobody heard anything - nobody knows anything. in the midst of it, ryan .. stuck at this little good-for-nothing crime scene with an incompetent little shit of an alpha getting in-between him & his bed, too.

his little makeshift explanation of potential sudden combustion was .. ridiculous, but he really believed himself, didn't he? pffhht. "guess what, chief, i don't need you lookin' after me. i'm a big boy, i can take case of myself." he'd go up in flames if he had to, to prove a point. he would. would if be considered transgression if he punched that smile out of his face? yes, don't. "should've known you like hearin' yourself talk." just like all the others. he didn't say that part out loud, but .. his tone gave it away. "you done fucking with my case then, or do you wanna host square dance in the barn real quick before i check it out?" the faster & further he got away from him, the better. he was so damn distracting.

You want to fuck him so unbearably bad, Detective, it does make you look stupid. All this hostility, all this cattiness (literally), all this yapping... in this town, it can only mean one thing: you need your back blown out, stat. He can help you with that, no hard feelings. The Detective ought to be thankful the Captain is so--I wouldn't say forgiving, but rather, he just never took a little bitching & barking seriously. Case in point, he's hardly mad at the multiple hostilities being thrown out at him, and continues to smile through it out, crystal bright, adamantine. That unbreakable Alphaness that lets him not take it personally at all; the awws, and the you're cute when you're mad. He had long since taken his hand off the omega's back, standing there cross armed with a grin on his ashen streaked face, watching the boys pack the rest up. Mind you, a modern, inclusive mix of both Alphas and omegas amidst the crew, but the Detective overlooked that in his desperate need to be in denial. The grin on his face remains undefeated.

"Heard about that. Something poured out of that yet, or just typical structural damage? Townsfolk will be on edge if anything supernatural threatens their little way of life." He looks onto the steam subsiding as the torched wooden shed surrounded by dry winter's grass cools, and it is no longer at risk of reflash. "There." The Captain points out the minute he sees it. "It's out. Reignition, Estrada. Wooden shed, unknown-therefore-assume-flammable storage within shed, potentially an explosive fuel-powered tools like lawnmowers, explosive ammonium fertilizers, the dry grass... it's why we flood. For your safety." He elbows the Detective, still not convinced it isn't just three angry orange kittens stacked on top of each other in a trench coat. "Any drier and it may have reflashed, yourself within." You already know he's still looking smug. "Greatest dimwit of the year and still looking out for you, ah?"

[wolftracked]

it was maybe a feeble effort, but it truly was the best elias had to offer the alpha. it wasn't like trenton had taken much time in teaching him anything beyond how to not wear any pants ever & how to feel like you're not enough on a regular basis. so, elias was - in a way, still the naive, clueless little puppy that came to new haven about a year ago. it was like... nothing had changed, other than ... well, his body. the heats, the slick, the scents. he'd spent so many years pretending he wasn't this, only to be pressed down face-first into it.

elias hadn't realized how desperate for attention he was up until he got it. he could practically feel his chest swell & warmth took over his body in a storm. you're my guy. it was .. not a lot, but it was enough to give him an idea where this was going to go & gods, he was ready. he was so eager, he thought about tugging off his shirt, getting on his knees & begging him to have mercy on the omega. but he wouldn't. he didn't need another trenton, he .... wanted something different, something better. someone to cherish & appreciate his efforts with more than a grunt of - good on your for doing your duties.

throat suddenly dry, he was eyeing the other, watching him slide closer & closer in his chair up until they almost touched & he didn't realize he'd been holding his breath until the other spoke up again. he hadn't even said anything yet & elias knew... no, he felt how wet he was. he never denied being desperate. he was .. it was true. he craved another man's touch more than anything. to be held, hugged, kissed and loved. god.

hector had barely had time to finish his sentence before elias had slung his bag over his head & dropped it next to them & climbed into that lap. "y--you uh...think it can hold us both?" because elias knew he was heavy & while the idea of sitting on the other was quite entertaining... he didn't want to ruin this. & yet here he was, legs slung around the alpha's hip the best way they could, hands placed firmly against the man's chest, palms flat & hesitating, because he knew that the alpha decided when touching was okay - not him. his face spoke volumes if the alpha still found himself able to look all the way up there by now, because as he sat now, elias' inviting hips would be planted firmly on the other's & maybe being so close only intensified the sweet scent wafting off the puppy. "that... okay? you need anything? i'm uh, you sure you don't want me kneeling?" & there was that faint blush on his cheeks now, because he was very much used to having sex anywhere & at any point in time, but ... that didn't mean he didn't still shy away. especially when he was out of his element, as he was now. where was trenton when you needed him to push you down & lead the way?

Ah, old campfire romances. In a violent way. Not warm & toasty, cuddles under the stars and marshmallows... in a scarring, hot branding iron way. Searing, piercing strikes through the soul with a prod--TRENTON, this man he'd heard of. A fellow traveler of sorts. I HEARD YOU'RE ONE OF THE TRAVELERS, there's that suggestive remark to Elias' hopeful thoughts he does not air, but dresses for the part. I suppose that's what ancient men are good for: real Alpha men to crave your more barbarous fantasies of being taken, of being wanted, fought over, and owned. Hector smells it in the air, it's like... blood in the water equivalent for Mermen. He smells the Omega's slick, his expectations, the way he bent over, pushed his ass out, presenting it to him. The way he emphasized his bursting snug professional shirt over tits. It's a good thing Hector's a tits man over ass; it's a good thing he's one of the travelers.

He watches Elias' body language and subtle signs with great interest, leaning further back on his nice office chair, manspreading just a tad bit further--just so he sees it being done intentionally. "You're my guy." He repeats the offer made by the IT consultant, but with a twist in tone, a toothy shark grin exposed on the left of his lips. "Right. Well. Mr. Hawkins..." he says, arms uncrossing from across his chest and palms weighing down on the armrests of his chair, bracing to wheel himself closer to the desk where Elias was sitting conveniently there, legs wide, waiting to perfectly fit a man between them. "You didn't come here for a random inspection of my, ah, computer, on your day off, now." He's slid right between Elias' legs now, chair fitting into the desk, face practically close enough to touch Elias' chest, feeling the heat coming right off it. Head tilted up, those knowing, confident, already-won eyes look up at the Omega sat on his desk. "I want you, doll. Come down here on my lap."

[atlantianremained]

turned  out  life  in  new  haven  wasn't  so  much  different  from  the  life  he'd  led  for  the  past  few  years  after  hector  vanished.  he'd  been  taken  to  the  alpha's  home  -  which  almost  reminded  him  of  home  a  little  &  seemed  like  the  perfect  place  for  them  to  be,  at  least  compared  to  the  rest  of  what  he'd  seen  in  town.  one  thing  he  did  notice  though,  everything  moved  faster.  people,  vehicles  -  they  had  ...motorized  vehicles.  life  on  land  was  strange  to  him  still  despite  all  the  years  he'd  lived  this  way.  but  this  was  where  he  wanted  to  be.

or  rather,  where  he  was  meant  to  be.  he  truly  believed  in  neptune's  wrath,  but  at  the  same  time  ...  mercy.  they'd  been  loyal  all  their  lives,  had  fought  &  played  their  parts.  they  deserved  this,  did  they  not?  it  felt  good  to  be  by  hector's  side  again,  to  know  himsafe  &  sound.  he  couldn't  have  prayed  for  a  greater  miracle.  he  was  filled  with  hope  when  his  &  hector's  eyes  met  for  the  first  time,  thought  that  the  reason  he  took  him  in  &  shared  his  bed  was  ..  that  he  felt  the  same.

maybe  he  truly  didn't  see  viktor  this  way?

maybe  his  hope  had  been  in  vain  after  all.

maybe  he  truly  wasn't  mean  to  find  happiness.

wait,  no.  he  ...hector  made  him  happy,  even  if  he  was  just  by  his  side,  watching  him  live  his  life  while  his  own  stood  still.  he'd  watch  him  forever  if  that  was  his  destiny,  but  he  prayed  to  neptune  that  it  wasn't.  that,  after  having  to  watch  his  home  turn  on  itself,  after  a  lifetime  of  being  cast  aside,  held  back,  ignored.  it  was  his  time  now.  it  had  to  be.

he  deserved  it.

he  was  meant  to  adjust,  but  viktor  didn't  quite  know  what  to  adjust  to.  this  home?  it  was  small  for  two  or  even  three  people,  but  they  made  it  work,  he  got  to  curl  up  against  hector's  side  at  night,  bask  in  his  scent  &  watch  his  chest  lift  &  fall.  he  was  content  here.  everybody  seemed  nice,  although  he  still  didn't  really  understand  much.  a  few  words  here  &  there  of  this  foreign  languages  hector  seemed  to  fluent  in  stuck,  but  not  all.  when  he  wasn't  at  orientation,  he  was  at  their  home,  just  ..  waiting.  he  didn't  know  what  else  to  do,  where  to  go,  who  to  be.  he'd  always  just  ...  been  the  prince.  no  life  for  him,  no  friends  besides  hector  -  who  was  loved  by  his  father  more  than  himself,  but  viktor  wasn't  bitter.  he  adored  atlantis'  general  far  too  much  to  ever  feel  anything  less  than  that  for  him.

a  merman-sized  puppy  awaited  hector  upon  his  return  -  the  second  the  door  opened,  he  stood  from  the  bed,  dressed  in  ....shorts.  yes.  he  liked  those.  he  stood  there  in  all  his  royal  glory,  waiting  for  his  love  to  notice  him  &  the  greeting  was  ...good.  it  was  the  same  every  day.  "welcome  back."  he  was  looking  forward  to  the  hugs.  he'd  lie  if  he  claimed  he  didn't  hope  hector  would  take  the  next  step,  but  at  this  point  ...

&  he  was  trying  so  hard  not  to  think  about  it,  but  he  might  have  to  accept  that  they  were  ...friends.  only  friends.  brothers  in  arms.  god,  he  looked  so  good  in  his  work  clothes.  so  long  as  he  could  stay  by  his  side...  like  hector,  viktor's  arms  lingered,  they  held  onto  the  object  of  his  desire,  wishing  he  never  had  to  let  go  again,  but  the  time  always  came  again.

your  highness.

viktor  eyed  him  closely,  definitely  confused,  but  ...curious  &  just  content  to  be  the  alpha's  source  of  attention.  that  was  good,  right?  he  fully  expected  him  to  jole.  or  something.  soft  little  noise,  eyes  trailing  down  his  arms  when  hector's  hands  did,  lingering  on  entwined  hands  as  he  waitedto  be  enlightened.  he  saw  the  knee  fall,  his  eyes  on  the  man  he  loved  from  the  deepest  depths  of  his  heart  even  as  he  knelt  before  him.

oh.

OH.

after  another  two  weeks  of  suffering,  having  him  so  close  &  yet  not  had  hurt.

marry  me.

was  there  any  doubt  whatsoever  when  it  came  to  his  reply?  how  could  he  possibly  refuse  for  his  very  dream  to  become  reality.  smile  taking  over  his  features.  hand  extended,  ready  for  it  to  be  official.  he  had  so  many  questions.  "of  course!"  part  of  him  thought  he  may  never  ask.  when  hector  gets  up  from  his  crouched  position after slipping the ring onto his finger,  viktor's  there,  arms  around  his  neck,  holding  on  tight as he squeezed their bodies together. if hector allowed, of course...

It'd been just two weeks since the fateful (I shan't call it 'miraculous', for it seems the Gods worked hard against us for so long), and the generous General had been welcoming of an old friend, providing him with a place to stay in his humble Roman abode while he got his land-legs stretched out and oriented his bearings. A thousand fucking years and several thousand miles is a tremendous distortion of space and time to suffer in a single instant. He knows. He's been there. The transition was admittedly a little easier for Hector; the world has never ceased the need for more leaders and vicious warlords, but the number of princes has notably dwindled since the Medieval Era. He knew first-hand through experience that Viktor would need some time to settle in, adjust, live the world, breathe easy in the Connecticut countryside within New Haven. So he kept his regal, respectful distance and courtesy, but, you know.

Walking home for another night at sunset to a peaceful, breezy march from the town to the country, he makes the familiar sound of his keys jingling the lock of the white-painted wooden gate on stucco walls, announcing the man of the castle has returned from his days of labor at the fire station, and would be staying home for a few days. Passing by the central impluvium of his property, and heading straight for his bedroom to stand before the large full body mirror and try to wipe the sweat of his working man's brow, adjust his hair; still in his tight fireman's navy blue shirt and light pants. Instead, he fights Viktor already in his bedroom--their bedroom, you could even say. Hector built this place with one man in mind, thinking he'd be lost to time forever and longer, therefore Viktor shared the bedroom. Slept together on the days Hector was home from the fire station, even if respectfully, at least for the time being. New Haven's system implied that Viktor would learn and acclimate to the world, he'd be assigned his own place, find his own career, unless...

They greeted with a hug standing by the foot of his bed near the open window bringing in the last of the natural light for today (largely immaterial for a species of the depths and well sighted in the dark), Hector holding onto Lascaris for a little longer than usual, head past his shoulder, thinking, pondering, strategizing. The lingering scent of a working man, ashen and smoky, ought to help Viktor decide, when Hector pulls his head back to look into his eyes, endearing, wanting, arms still largely enveloping and embracing, grip of his calloused hands on Viktor's elbows, holding him closed in tight and small. "Your Highness." He begins, addressing with that bygone title that he uses whenever he's up to not good, which should tell you lots, in case the toothy grin and flashing canines were not sufficiently revealing. "I had a revelation today. It was tragic and wasteful and bitter, and I shall not burden you with the loss I witnessed, but, it did illuminate me of this..." strong hands begin to slide down Viktor's forearms, then wrists, and smoothly fit upon his hands, holding them. "Prince Viktor Lascaris, Imperial heir of Atlantis, first of Triton." With the regal dexterity he still possessed even after all this time, a single knee knightly bent before him on the terracotta tiles, one hand escapes Viktor's palms gently, reaching beside him on those deep fireman's pockets, producing a faintly glowing orichalcum-green crystalline ring with a single blue-rose pearl centered; the design is entirely simple, it's the material wealth that's largely extinct, invaluable to find, if not for the secrets of the trade of a bygone civilization. You know what it is, he needn't say it, but he does so anyways: "Marry me."

@atlantianremained

[atlantianremained]

nothing made sense anymore.

after they were dragged out of willowshire, viktor tried to find his way back, but the forest they had been stranded in looked nothing alike the home they'd come to feel was their own ...away from their true home, of course. no place could ever truly replace atlantis... he felt. no matter how unhappy he'd been there & no matter how lucky he'd felt to start a new life away from crowns & wars. atlantis had been his home.

neptune had punished him upon birth & punished his audacity when they left home together - like hector, julian & him were a family of three & honestly, for the longest time part of him felt like he deserved it. because he'd believed in a second chance. he'd believed in a life with hector by his side. he shouldn't have. it wasn't allowed. neptune made his lesson quite clear when he let the world swallow julian's father right in front of his eyes.

but now they were ... brought back together? why? for how long this time? what was the meaning of this? was this .. more punishment? viktor sat in silence as he watched father & son reunite, a happenstance he truly didn't think possible anymore after all this time. hector would've found his way back to his son if he was alive, right? it was .. heart-warming & wrenching at the same time, to see them like this, because he knew hector loved his son. truly.

& yet, he.. would wait for long, it seemed, if he expected the same amount of care for himself. don't go there. you knew this. running away together meant no more than.. friends escaping death. friends were replaceable, but children? were not. averting his eyes when blue came up to roam, worried his darkness would show if their eyes met, but .. his name was enough to drag dark eyes up to meet blue.

"of course, brother." replied in calmness, followed by a shallow nod. it was .. nothing. he wasn't going to abandon a child, least of all hector's. he'd lie if he claimed julian didn't matter to him like he was his own now, but gratitude was... unnecessary in this case.

"what is this place? where are we? what are you wearing?" if not for the scent & the face viktor could never forget, he almost wouldn't have recognized the man in front of him. he wore strange garments & then there was the language people around them spoke that didn't resonate with their own at all. were they in a different country?

elias was watching & sniffling quietly from his side of the desk. he may not understand the words, but he understood a reunion when he saw one. he'd never bothered finding out more about the alpha, though now he couldn't help curiosity from spiking. "hector, am i right to assume they'll be staying with you? we can do all this later if you vouch for them. i trust you." because ... he didn't want to be in the way of ...love. ever. even if it meant that he - once again, found himself without hope for his own.

hector sounded like them when they spoke & he was curious what it all meant. he led them back outside, down .. stairs & onto a path made from solid rock it seemed. fascinating. so many people all around them. the second they left through the door, he had one of his hands in julian's, making sure he stayed close. if they lost him in this place, they'd never find him again, he feared.

"what's going on? where have you been?"

ON THE CONTRARY, the General was a very religious man, of course, being out of place and out of time, but never out of touch. He believed very well in this 'miracles' that modern men clung to; to him, it was known was divine favor. He believed very well, just as he believed to ran out of it WHOM THE GODS WOULD DESTROY, THEY FIRST [...]

Chaos. It always comes back to him. The mutiny within the ranks, the infighting, order broken down into partisanship, sides & tenuous alliances between the men of different origins within the Grand Atlantean army, shake hands with one arm and stab the back with the other. The few 'Atlantean proper' men, too, banding together amidst Civil War to force march back to the Capital, such as they were. His first and only defeat in twenty years' career, ATLANTIS I LOVED THEE I CONQUERED & BROADENED & MADE THEE, all that I killed, all that I fought and what have I wrought? It fell apart down the middle within, not without. Hubris, as the dramaturges described. He searched and pondered many years, why he fell out of Neptune's favor--have I stained your seas too red, my Lord? I'll drink every last drop of blood. He never found an answer, if you're wondering. He wonders if everyone goes through this experience with their gods, too. Perhaps being ignored is the basis of faith.

PROVIDENCE, it's moments like this that bring the fire of faith back into an old man's heart and glint in eyes--he's quick to believe, having barged into the room and seeing. It's believing. The General is only so briefly stunned and paralyzed by shock, not disbelief, before bolting right in and across the room to the ragged men sat in one of the Search Party offices. Julian. It's so much more than he could have imagined when Elias contacted him for help. He's quick to fall to his knees before the young man, glint was but tears welling in his eyes, shiny even when he cries. Looking up at his son, the young man's bright innocence joyful to see him again, contrasted to Hector's fear & awe--it's a good thing, to be young and living in the moment, not drowned in loss and sorrow of all the time he's lost. Memories and hypotheticals that slow old men down, his son does not share such inhibitions, quick to snap off surprise and bring his father's head in for a hug onto his abdomen, arms squeezing around Hector's shoulders, unafraid of God or passing of time; what you don't fear can't possess you. He'll have to teach his old man that one. They stayed like this for a long time, it's powerful and long overdue, pardon to the gentlemen present, but Hector's quietened sobs and stifled sniffles are loud for this much tense silence in the room.

Ah, but he has to let go some day. It's long and drawn, but when Hector surfaces his unproud warrior's face, he's at least a little more composed. Deep breath, just staring at each other in silence, it's... harder to find words to describe than to feel and understand. There is no description nor justification for being torn across space and time, two years apart with no sign of life. It's just something you move on from. Rapidly blinking glinting eyes turn to his peripheral vision for the first time in what feels like hours, head following suit, for there lies Crown Prince Viktor of Atlantis, in rags, now, with some dirt and blood on his hands, but still "Beautiful as the day I lost you." It's said quiet like a prayer, almost whispered to himself only in his private thoughts, fearing it may be heard, but it's true. "Viktor. I..." It's a hard swallow, so much they must catch up on. So much unsaid, unresolved, tensions and flames kept alight for all those years they could never express or act upon. He still does not know why Neptune tortures and exiles him so, but they're here now, and he knows deep in his heart Viktor loved the boy like his own, too, even after all these years. He knows Viktor brought him home to me. Deep breath, hard swallow. "... thank you."

[tigerhidden]

"i'm sure you are." one thing he learned in the many years as a hooker con artist was .. always say yes. confirm their wildest theories, smile & laugh. nobody took well to criticism & nobody was looking for mr. smartypants at bars or clubs, they were looking for confirmation - they were looking to get their egos stroked, their sorrows drowned, their weaknesses ignored. they came to these places to feel good & if he failed to provide that, he'd go home empty-handed.

"sailor? well, that's a first." was he playing, or had he found himself one of those travelers? when he came here, they thought he was one of them at first. like the cavemen would stroll in through the gate wearing versace briefs. pfffht. that hand on his arm was a good sign, he took that as step one completed, which was good - really. it ..helped when the alphas were nice on the eyes. this one was. almost a little too pretty. but the fact he wasn't from here would work in his favor no less. new to his ruse, surely. he doubted grifters existed in ... well, whatever time these guys came from.

"saw you sittin' here, all alone. thought that could only mean two things. one, you smell, which - clearly you don't. and second, you were waiting for me, which - we can fix." & at the mention of me, he shot him the widest, nose-scrunching grin he could. it was .. an honest one. for once. he was doing quite well, he felt.

"what's your name, stranger?" he leaned in close, closer, closest - so that his ears touched the merman's ear. "so i know what to scream later."

That's right, nothing wrong with trying. Unless your infiltration deployment fails and you are captured by enemy forces. Then there are consequences to stealth and deception, mirrors that will not fog, smoke cover that is blown away. Don't want to wake up bound at another man's mercy, now. Or maybe you do, princess. Shh, no judgement, he likes doing that to you pretty girls, too.

Hector had just arrived to his usual taphouse to... try something new, break the ale habit, explore what marvels or horrors the modern world has concocted. He prefers counter seat to booth, it feels more... direct, less shady. He hadn't even ordered yet (busy night) when the cat dragged in a little surprise over to him, elbow suddenly emerging into field of view, and there lies all low & spread a sultry little kitty, eyeing and sizing him up and down. Hector's immediate reaction is to back his head away, fixated & ready eyes firm on the man that pulled up on him out of nowhere. He lets him explain himself. Dangerous world, he says.

"It is. I am its spring of danger and sorrow often." A... medieval, cryptic response. Instinctive hands place a hand on Damian's shoulder, seeing him leaning over so far over into the counter like that, helping him stabilize. Attraction and sense of intimacy at every corner adjusting slowly, relaxing his on-guard reaction. Hand slides down from shoulder to arm, innocent mapping of what he's got, before retracting back to himself. "You wish to consult me, sailor?" A sort of how-can-I-help of his time, accent evident. Eyebrows furrow with knowing but curiosity... that man is Alpha, he can perceive. The scent is telling, but the posture, the wanting eyes, the cattiness of you, doll, confounds the senses. It does not make sense to the General, for an Alpha to make efforts to entice him, so evidently and not subtly, but you have his attention now. He's new to New Haven, too, and this world.

[lionprotected]

he should've known the merman was here. it was always the fucking same with him. he & his band of apes would flood the town for a campfire if they had enough water for it in store. they didn't, thank fuck. ryan was left in front of that sad, dripping mess of a shed & wondered if he shouldn't have tried for the position of chief so he didn't have to deal with this anymore. but then again, was he happy just sitting at his desk & doing calls all day? pffhhht, nah. he didn't even have to think about that to be honest.

& yet that guy... as per usual, knew no fuckin' remorse. he came at him - all 15 feet of alpha douche-ness & shot him that 20 grand smile like it would distract ryan from the issue at hand. his attitude. well, that, too. the shed was his main issue though. the shed. well, the attitude was just as big of an issue, because for the longest of minute & when his grubby alpha paw settled on his shoulder, ryan thought about pulling his gun & stuffing the fire captain's face. he wouldn't be shooting him that cocky little shit smile with a faceful of iron, would he?

but alas... he took a few deep breaths, which made him huff in annoyance because the damn alpha was stinking up his proximity & ryan had to breathe it in. "how about - just once, you use your little alpha brain before giving commands? so that maybe you don't end up flooding all of new haven next time there's a barbecue on fire." was there a need for hostility? yes. maybe not, but he'd asked for it nonetheless. the audacity. he was just touching him. & ryan fought the urge once again to pull out his gun & just ... blast. it would be so easy, so satisfying to wipe that grin off his face.

"there's a crack in the old wall around town, looks like an asshole t'me, so.. there you got your statue. pretty sure the title o' greatest dimwit of the year's still open, so you just keep on doin' what you're doin'." he wasn't sure why he was still staring at him, maybe it was because he'd held him or maybe ryan forgot that he was no longer holding him, but when he did notice, he quickly slid a few inches away & wiped a hand across his shoulder, like he'd soiled his trenchcoat with ash when he had the audacity to touch him.

yes, he was tall & okay maybe he was handsome - for an alpha. good for him. ryan didn't need to be tall to get the job done. nor did he need to be an alpha. "just... like talking to a damn monkey."

Hell yeah, the entire fucking shed is drenched, as opposed to what? Let it all burn down? Spread to the nearby buildings, let it run wild like the fire burning up between your cheeks, detective? That, the firemen can actually put out as well. Our boys in red, real multipurpose heroes.

With smoke & steam aplenty, it's good to know that Ryan could smell the alphaness in the wind. That's a good boy. They fetch the fire captain when the detective comes in looking like a grumpy grey cloud, not wanting to be chewed out themselves, so bring it up to the head to deal with intradepartment affairs. Still sweaty and ashen, with the self-righteous spring to his step and posture that you like, Hector comes right up. Hand on his hips, golden age Hollywood smile. He looks back at the drenched out shed when prompted to see the 'mess you guys made' then turns head back to Ryan, still confidently convinced. "Mess, Detective? No, no, look again." Shifting on the back of his heel real smooth to stand right next to Ryan--and I would say shoulder-to-shoulder, but that's just rubbing it in, sorry, detective--and puts his heavy firefighter's gloved hand on the back of Ryan's neck, prompting Ryan to look at the... yes, drenched shed. "See, it's not on fire anymore. Where you see mess, I see... thank you for putting out the fire and preventing widespread collapse, Captain, I'll take it from here." He pats Ryan on the back, where he had been holding on to, just teasing him, from department head to another. Teasing of respect. That impossibly handsome smile, glistening sweat in the red-and-blue emergency lights in the night. "I also accept gratitude in the form blood sacrifices, ducal titles, marble statues of my likeness in town, or blowjobs." He holds real serious eye contact for a minute before letting the detective go, having busted enough of his balls. "Just not credit; I've not yet come to trust that yet."