#but yeah they made it about Aurien

[mountainashfae]

💎💎💎 I know we've not talked about it much but I'm dying to hear Vio or Orion's opinions on Valerius

IMMEDIATE BRAINWORMS!! Of course for our little AU where Aurien is a companion.

"Why would you ask me about him? It's simple what I think about him: I cannot stand him. He's stolen Aurien from me for his own goddess. I... fine, I don't yet have the power to take them back. Were it anyone else I could go in and handle things immediately, but Urgathoans are much too protective. He has the favor of his rotting goddess as well."

For a moment, it looks as if Orion's hair shifts from its usual icy silver to a slightly warmer, more metallic silver. Their usual icy blue pupils flash red and back to white in a blink-and-you-miss-it moment.

"I cannot abide by this. He thinks so highly of himself. He wastes his devotion on his goddess and his lover. Though I will admit, his lover is a respectable woman. If that's where his tastes align, maybe I should try to steal more than Aurien...

"Surely he understands our special situation. He's investing in a lost cause. He can turn Aurien to Urgathoa all he wants, she will never acknowledge them and eventually they'll move on. Just as they always do."

[ 💎💎💎 ]

[ivanttakethis]

Before Round 27 - Tov’s Log

Jae (?) vs. Lang (?) -> ??? Win

————————————————————

Tov awoke the next morning to the phone ringing.

Nyx was gone, just as he said.

The only evidence of his presence left behind was rumpled sheets and a radio communicator so they could stay in contact.

They still had a lot to talk about.

All of the secrets Nyx spilled were still whirling around in her head.

“Vera is still alive.”

Good. Great. One less dead classmate.

“I never told you that I saw Aurien get taken away by Solei.”

They were even on that. Tov never told Nyx that she knew Solei was the one who rescued Aurien.

But that was before Round 7. Before she thought Tallis had died right in front of her eyes and lost her mind.

At least Tov returned the favor and spilled the secret about him too.

Now two people knew Tallis was out there somewhere.

Though what stuck in her mind the most, what left her with far more questions was—

“I never told you about my children.”

The thought of Nyx having just one child was enough to make Tov’s head spin. But he said children. Multiple.

He was so young. When the fuck did he have time to have multiple children?

Who were they? How long ago did he have them? Does he know their names? Are they still in contact? Where are they now? Please tell me they’re not in Anakt Garden—

The phone rang again.

Tov’s plot to tear that bastard Guardian Oryon’s wings off with her bare hands would have to wait for now.

She sat up in her bed and fumbled blindly for the answer button, hitting it with more force than necessary.

Wren started talking before she could greet her. “Hey! Where have you been? I’ve called you like three times already.”

“Late start.” She said around a yawn.

“Ah, so you haven’t read the news yet.”

Tov frowned, “What news?”

“Don’t worry about it. Just a bunch of gossip rags spewing bullshit about Round 26.” The distain in Wren’s voice was palpable. “‘Has the star of Season 39 fizzled out? Tov’s stellar fall from grace!’ Gag me.”

Ouch.

“That bad, huh?”

“It’s not bad, it’s tacky. They’re acting like you bombed on stage.” She said. “Akane was tough competition. Neither of you were going to win by a landslide. I don’t know why people are losing their fucking minds about it.”

Wren sounded pissed off enough for the both of them. Tov found herself smiling.

“Hey, I’m the one who almost died.”

“Yeah, but you didn't.” Wren said after a moment. “You beat death.”

“I just got lucky.”

“Then I guess that means my good luck charm worked.”

Oh, that’s right.

The new weight on Tov’s right ring finger came to the front of her mind.

She raised her hand up toward the window, letting the silver band catch the sunlight pouring in.

“Maybe...” Tov hummed softly, running her thumb over the sun and moon engraving.

“Something about your voice sounds different today,” Wren said. “You’re a lot more upbeat than I’d expect someone in your position to be.”

Is it really that obvious?

There was no way Tov was going to tell Wren anything about what happened last night.

She shook her head, “I think you're just hearing things.”

Wren laughs, “You're a terrible liar.”

“I'm a great liar.” Tov countered, affronted.

“Then l'm great at figuring out whether you're lying or not.”

“I don’t like the connotations of that.” She said flatly.

“You’re overthinking it.” Wren matched her tone.

Tov made a noncommittal noise, scrubbing the sleep from her eyes with her palms.

“I won't push you on where this new spark came from, as long as you put it to good use.”

“Put it to good use how?”

“For your next round!” She said. “You need a song that plays to your vocal strengths and uses that new spark you have. It should be something powerful, something that shows the audience that you’re still here and you’re still going to come out on top.”

“I still have to become the Sun.” Tov echoed.

“Exactly. It isn’t over yet.” Wren said. “You have a season to win, remember?”

————————————————————

This is a follow up to @imperfectnothing’s post of Tov and Nyx’s reunion after Round 26! Plus some sisterly bickering bonding!

Getting to see Nyx and being able to confirm that he’s okay has helped lift Tov’s spirits (even if she does want to put his owner in the dirt over what she’s learned).

She also has major survivor’s remorse over what happened with Akane, but Nyx and Wren’s encouragement makes her want to keep going. The power of siblings!!

While Nyx mentioned Solei to Tov, she still doesn’t know Solei is part bird 😅

[mountainashfae]

15 and 17 and 29 for Aurien please 👀

thanks Sphinx!

15. Which companion do they hate/really don't like?

Yeah I'll say it. Aurien really doesn't like Regill. He had a terrible first impression and never really made a better one. While sure, some of his ideas had merit, Aurien would like to think about the morale of the crusade. Wenduag also regularly made Aurien uncomfortable with the whole "master" thing, it felt too much like their child/young adulthood. Her turning on them really did not help, and if it weren't for the other neathers they would've kicked her out by now.

17. Which non-companion NPC do they really like?

They're close with Ramien even before the Fifth Crusade started, and buddy up with Fye pretty quickly. With Ramien, they have always had a soft spot for Desnans. So here's a Desnan priest with a group of adepts? Despite claiming to be a Caydenite they quickly acclimated to the group, hanging around the temple and taking Ramien out to drink. If things narratively don't end up working out with Ulbrig, Ramien is here. mostly I just need Aurien to not disappear alone like they're likely to do

With Fye, it's once again that Caydenite spirit. Even as Knight-Commander they took time to visit the tavern and relax. Sometimes in disguise. He makes a good friend to share stories with and is more than happy to put up with Aurien's infrequent Obediences.

29. What would their domains be after a potential ascension?

The most fun question here. A question that is answered even in their 'Legend' build, because they're still a pseudo-Eldest who for some godforsaken reason kept access to their domains. But those domains are:

Healing, Water (Ice), Trickery (Deception), and Liberation. Chaos too I guess.

[ WotR Knight-Commander Asks ]