#d. riandur

[faelortianyou]

closed starter for @riandur location: lórien'dal note: reunited and it feels so good

After that entire expedition, Tianyou felt like he needed a hundred year nap. Maybe he needed to just head back to Avalon so that he could be with his father in his last moments. No. That wasn't why he was here. He didn't want his father to have his last moments. Not yet. Not before his time. So he would need to stay in Lysara for as long as necessary. He would have made his way back to the Stumble Inn to sleep for at least a few days, but he instead made his way to Lórien'dal. That was where he had felt that all too familiar presence. His main reason for going was to make sure Areina got a nice spa day for herself while he went off to do whatever he needed to do.

Which happened to be heading in the direction his Radar was bringing him towards to find Riandur. He hadn't felt the other's presence in that regard in a long time. All he really knew was that the silver elvhen was alive and that felt like enough then. Now? Well, things were falling apart so much that he felt like the only person he wanted to see was the one person he didn't think he would see again. When he finally happened upon the silver elvhen, he let out a sigh of relief before clearing his throat. "I would say I'm surprised to see you here, but you would know I already knew you were here."

[emissaradia]

closed starter for @riandur location: caer glas keep note: put ur tiddies away riandur

If there was one thing to know about Aradia, it was that she understood positions of power. As much as she would have loved to not have to take orders from a man, Riandur was indeed the Field Commander. He also had a little sweetness to him and that made up for it all. She didn’t mind taking orders from him because he hadn’t disrespected her once since she had joined. Plus, she was a soldier. She had worked under people that didn’t give her the same luxury. All of these people that she had sort of met in the Legion so far had been decent. Aradia wasn’t the best at socialization, but she also wasn’t bad at it. She was bad at making jokes though. Really just horrible at it. She wondered if that would cause a rift with the people here. Maybe it wouldn’t. Maybe the rift would come from the fact that they all had so much experience working together and she was the new girl. Thank goodness she had her sister here with her.

As she wandered the halls of Caer Glas Keep, she finally stopped where she knew she would find that very gay and very big-tittied man. She was sure those things were bigger than hers. Nevertheless, she knocked on the doorframe to get his attention before speaking. “So how long have you all known each other?” She clarified. “You. Alucard. Vicoya. Haelim. Isak.” Aradia had made a point to at least know all of their names.

[faelortianyou]

It was a joke. He knew that. He even wanted to laugh at it, but he just couldn't. Tianyou had never really felt like he'd been in such a situation before. Every single day, as he had grown up, he'd been told he would take the reins once his father was gone. He'd never really thought of himself as a leader type. He wasn't really a follower either though. He was just somewhere in the middle. He didn't particularly want to lead, but he didn't want to be behind anyone either. It was a very tangled web yet it was one he had to navigate with a gentle touch. Anyway, the point of it all was that he couldn't say much to the words that had left Riandur's mouth. His head only tilted up and down in a nod, thumb brushing over the ring that was on the silver elvhen's finger.

"Yeah. Someone will." Maybe. Or his father would just be gone. He wasn't sure if he preferred it now or later, but now just seemed far too soon for his liking. Letting out a sigh, he let his eyes meet Riandur's own. "Ar lath ma, vhenan. You should distract me. That would definitely help." A smile graced his lips as he spoke. A distraction was absolutely what they both needed right now.

END.

"I know what you're thinking. But I don't want my first attempt to be on your father. Imagine –" he was going to make a morbid joke, and while he thought about it for a second, it was too good to pass up. "If I burn away your father's soul and not the blight? I think that would ruin our relationship again." Riandur didn't want that blood on his hands; even a sick High Elvhen, one that Tianyou cared about so much, Rian didn't want to attempt it until he had a grasp on what it was exactly he could do.

"Alucard is looking into it. Half the Legionnaires here are dead focused on the Blight. One of them will figure it out. Whether it's now or long after I'm gone, vhenan. You'll be here and so will he, and someone will figure it out." Normally, Riandur would have been more negative about the entire ordeal. But he'd tried that once already, telling Tian that perhaps his father had lived long enough. No one else got the chance for centuries upon centuries like the Elvhen did within Avalon.

[faelortianyou]

closed starter for @riandur location: lórien’dal note: flashback baybee

It had been quite a long time since Tianyou had stepped foot into this realm. Lórien’dal had not changed though. He could remember seeing those silver elvhen just living their lives as he did. He had remembered the first thought he'd had once he stepped out of the Feywilds. After trekking through that, it felt like anything could be beautiful if you looked long enough. But something about Lórien’dal made him wonder if he was missing out on something. That thought had disappeared the longer he stayed though. Silver had always cost less than gold. What could he have in Lórien’dal that he couldn't have in Avalon? Maybe he should have made a pros and cons list back then to help. Instead, he'd just passed his judgment and went on his merry way back to his luxurious life as a noble in Avalon. Coming back to this place had been him giving it a second chance. His mother had hoped for him to not do the same thing she had when she had came to the mortal realm. He supposed he wouldn't have ended up back here if it weren't for her. Maybe he wouldn't have been souldbonded with someone that was dreadfully mortal if he had just stayed in Avalon his entire life.

Nevertheless, here he was. Tianyou had never really thought he would ever find something like love within a place like Northreach. Yet, again, here he was. How embarrassing for him truly. Even more embarrassing? Riandur was never up to any good. Not that he had ever been either, but the silver elvhen sure as hell drew danger towards him at any given moment. Perhaps it was the fact that Tianyou felt like he was Riandur's only friend other than a bunch of corpses. Again, pretty embarrassing for the both of them. Was he supposed to tell his parents he fell in love with a guy that could reanimate corpses and then called them friends? His father would wonder where both of their heads were and his mother would give him a fake smile that would never truly meet her eyes. Nevermind his siblings. Still, here he was. Here he probably always would be. Somehow, Riandur had him wondering if he should ever even think of going back to Avalon now.

"Hanging with the corpses again?" That was all he asked as said silver elvhen walked through the door.

[faelortianyou]

closed starter for @riandur location: caer glas keep note: ARARARARARARAARARARA

Legionnaires were always busy. That should have been obvious given how they had parted last time. And now Riandur was their lead. They looked to him for guidance and that meant that Tianyou was going to always see him less and less. Jealousy hadn't always been a trait that he possessed, but when it came to the person he was in love with, all of that shit was thrown out of the window. What was so wrong with wanting them to have time? It felt like they didn't have any and they had already lost quite a lot of it. Now it still felt like they didn't have a moment to themselves. Again, legionnaires were always busy. It skyrocketed Tianyou's concerns, of which he had many. He guessed all of it was to simply say that he was tired of worrying. Their connection made it so that it was easy not to, but he was still just worried.

Anyway, now here he was about to head out again. That was how it went. One of them would come back and the other would be gone. Around and around they went. Never quite seeing each other in the midst of all of this commotion. At least they saw each other though, he guessed. Tianyou probably shouldn't have been thinking about all of this during meditation, but here he was. An eye cracked open at that all too familiar presence that he could sense anywhere. He didn't look in Riandur's direction as he spoke, merely closing his eye again. "Come back with any new friends?" It was a joke considering Tianyou always seemed to want to mention the fact that the dead were Riandur's only friends. That was clearly not the case though given how close these legionnaires were.

[afshinxeldar]

Darkspawn in his bed? Scribblings on the walls? He was better off having slept where he was before. Nothing about this room seemed all that great, but he guessed he would have to thank the legionnaire for his assistance in finding something better. "Somehow I doubt interior design is actually your passion." He let out a breath and let his eyes focus on the scribblings that were on the wall. A hand brushed against them as if trying to decipher what they all meant. It didn't mean much to Afshin, but he'd probably end up trying to read it all out of boredom. His head tilted towards the hole in the corner that was now a toilet. Another breath left his mouth. "Great. Well, thanks for the tour. I'll take good care of the room." If there was anything to take care of in the first place.

END.

"It could just be dark, and dreary. And you could have a darkspawn in your bed. But the skylight? Adds value. I know these things. Interior design is my passion." Rian tilted his head, "Do you think scribblings will come out and get you or something? Come on now. The rantings and ravings of an old legionnaire shouldn't bother you." He waited until the other was done looking around, and while he wanted to scare the other, he wouldn't – his minimal self control was enough to do that for him. "If you're done looking around, that hole in the corner is your toilet. Enjoy."

[faelortianyou]

He wouldn't have let Riandur even if he tried. Elvhen only spoke in truth, that much was true. However, Tianyou was old enough to be able to twist his words in any way he would have liked to. It made his going about life much easier. Also made every single conversation he had with Riandur easier, too. He was sure that, if he just spoke truths around the other all the time, they'd end up breaking up too many times over. Then again, they were barely together now and still insulting each other so there was really no difference. Whatever, that had nothing to do with the current situation at hand.

This damn armor was in the way. Which was only going to continue to annoy him. Thankfully, Riandur handled the problem. Of course not without yapping the entire time. "Didn't I just say you should shut up?" He brought a hand up to the Legionnaire's shoulder and not-so-gently pushed him down. "Try to open your mouth without saying anything. I know that's difficult for you."

"Of course you do, how could I fuckin' forget?" It was said with a laugh, his fingers fisting in Tianyou's hair and pulling the other's head back. Riandur's teeth met the other's shoulder, the bend of his neck, biting and leaving a trail of chaos behind on the Elvhen's skin. There had been a lot of time apart, too much in Riandur's already shortened life. He had never expected to live long, and creating a soulbond was something that Rian had never considered. But they'd done it, tied themselves to one another, and then he'd gone off to become a Legionnaire. Almost a decade separated, and Riandur still felt like this was the chaos of when they'd parted.

He didn't flip easily, but he made it a challenge – stiff arming Tianyou until his back hit the wall hard. It made him grin, spurned by the aggression as long as it was the kind that was all consuming. Riandur could feel it through their bond, the push and promise of what would come next. He had always made it difficult for his love, but that's what it consisted of. He let his head tilt back, letting out a huff of breath as the heat spread up his chest, heart pounding against its cage as it finally felt more alive than it had in years. "You know how to do it," he muttered with a smirk, but he easily slid the pieces off, albeit with some amount of playful difficulty. "Or did you forget?"

[faelortianyou]

It was easy for Tianyou to believe his own words enough to say them out loud. Most of the time anyway. Especially when it came to the man before him. He always said exactly what was on his mind when he was speaking to the silver elvhen. This time would be no different. Of course he thought he was great with words. Riandur was horrible with them really. Sometimes he thought about how they had left things and he was reminded of exactly that. However, the other truth was that Riandur was also one of the most well-spoken people he knew. Tianyou just didn't ever want to admit that part out loud. "I only speak in truths. You know this," he stated as he deepened the kiss.

"I never back down from a challenge. You know that, too." He turned them around so that Riandur's back was facing the wall now. It was always blatantly obvious that neither of them liked giving over control. It was really a fifty percent chance of who would be in charge every single time. "Bold of you to assume I'm going to listen to you." He would, but he'd definitely be trying his best to tune the other out. As much as he had said Riandur was both a horrible and great speaker, he did speak far too much sometimes. "Now shut up, yeah?" His hand moved up to grip the legionnaire's hair to pull his head back, their lips parting only for him to move his down to the other's neck. "Take off your armor," he muttered against Riandur's throat.

Caer Glas certainly wasn't going to be as comfy and cozy as Avalon. In fact, it was probably half the place they were in now. Riandur was used to such hell. Nornwatch had been barren, falling apart. It had always been such, and now he had Tianyou in his arms. If the High Elvhen was certain about following him, then Rian wouldn't think twice just yet about it. "I don't know how you possibly think that." Tianyou had said it, so he clearly believed it – the other couldn't lie. Made for a fun relationship.

People followed Riandur, it was clear he had a decent hold on words. His truth was just far more brutal. He was pushed back now, but the Legionnaire was steadfast and difficult to move. There was no way he'd give Tianyou a win so easily, "Really? Prove it, then," he murmured against the other's mouth. Another biting kiss followed his now quiet voice, "Bold of you to assume I'd just let you."

[faelortianyou]

The idea of staying at a place that had been deserted like Caer Glas Keep certainly hadn’t been an exciting one. The only reason he’d even suggested it was because he was staying at an inn ever since he’d gotten to Lysara. If he didn’t have to pay for another night there, then that felt like a good thing. There was also the added bonus of having Riandur there. As much as he felt like he was an elvhen elitist, Tianyou wasn’t a horrible person. He could get along with people no matter who they were. Even all of those Legionnaires that were probably going to be there when he was hauled over. The only stop he’d have to make now was getting Areina so she didn’t think he was just leaving her. Which was something he would absolutely never do. Ever. They’d have to pry that pegasus from his cold dead hands.

“I’m great with words. You’re the one that’s bad with them.” As much as it seemed like a joke when Riandur said it, Tianyou definitely wasn’t joking. How many times had he talked about the silver elvhen’s only friends being of the undead variety? It was pretty funny when said out loud, but also kind of sad at the same time. He only hoped Riandur knew that he was his friend and he would always be there for him. That was super cheesy to say out loud though so he focused on the current situation of the other’s hand settling at the base of his throat. “You don’t always need to be in control, you know,” he stated with a grin as a hand settled at the back of Riandur’s neck. “I’ll take point this time.”

Had Tianyou been able to, Rian almost thought that had been a lie. They couldn't really live without each other, truly, could they? Twenty years in, twenty out, that's how so many of them did it. Otherwise, it was in for as many years as out. Whatever would be easiest, well, they'd have plenty of time to figure it out. And the reunions? It would probably be difficult to top this one. He had a lot of armor on, but Tianyou was dexterous – perhaps they could wait a little longer for him at Caer Glas Keep. Especially if he was going to be hauling a High Elvhen with him.

"You never were great with words," he was joking, mostly, the words dying out on his tongue as Tian finally closed the distance between them. He met the kiss with as much fervor, as a man who had been denied something for ten years. And he had been. Everything that had kept them apart, the many years that separated and changed Riandur, and perhaps they had changed Tian, too. The Legionnaire wasn't so sure, however, and his hand moved to the hollow of the other Elvhen's throat, holding on and pushing the other back without their mouths ever parting.

[faelortianyou]

The duty he had to Avalon and to Elgar'nan's Hearth was a big one, but he would have to shoulder it eventually. He did not have the right to find a place outside of the place he had called his home for so long. When he had come to this damn realm in the first place, it was because his parents had basically forced him to. They had wanted him to see outside of the golden towers of their branch of the Laurelin. His mother had never seen the appeal, but she had wanted more for her son. What mother wouldn't? But he had ended up the same the first time he had left Avalon. The second time though? Well, that included meeting Riandur and he almost had every intention of not going back. Not until...well, the obvious. But that didn't negate the feelings he had for Avalon and the man before him. It never would.

So he'd accept his duty, but he wouldn't give up on this either. He couldn't no matter how much he probably should've said he needed to. As a hand rested against the side of his neck, he leaned forward slightly. "I can live without you, Riandur. I just don't want to." He leaned even closer yet again. "We have about twenty years before we have to worry about that." Tianyou would have to start thinking about what he wanted to do well before that point, but he still had so much time. So much time that Riandur himself did not have. It seemed they both had a lot to think about right now. "Are we done talking?" He didn't wait for a response as he pressed their lips together. They had a lot of lost time to make up for.

It seemed like the truth, didn't it? Had to be. But the Elvhen were good at twisting words, at avoiding what they wished to say. Tianyou had done well, Riandur had picked up on it – there was acceptance of Rian's status, of his place in the Legion, of what he was sworn to do until the madness would begin to break his mind. Then he'd be forced to go forward, to die on his own terms. Fighting endless Darkspawn and creatures of the Blight and the Dark One – eventually that was Riandur's fate. Tianyou would do something stupid, like attempt to fight with him, or perhaps insist that he help until there was nothing left. Yet Tianyou's duty was to an entire branch of the Laurelin, Riandur would have to come second to that.

"For how many years, Tianyou?" How many years would the other have to spend going back and forth, ensuring the light never left him, yet also ensuring that they would still have to face these periods apart. "Can you accept that?" These were difficult questions, and perhaps Riandur was the only one that could force Tian to face such things. Six hundred years spent running from the nobility title, trying to keep his father alive so – what, he did not have to step in? Riandur finally reached forward, his calloused hand resting against the side of Tianyou's neck, "Can you accept the pain that this will bring?" The answer to the other's last question was obvious, there would always be a place for Tianyou – but their reality would always be grim.

[faelortianyou]

The fact that the question was being asked was a sign that Riandur already knew the answer to it. Tianyou was probably an optimistic pessimist. He wanted to think of the good, but then the bad would creep its way into his thoughts and then that was what would stay there. He was determined to find a cure for his father though. He was determined to keep Riandur around for as long as he possibly could. However, the answer to that question was probably not the one that the silver elvhen would have expected. Tianyou wasn't going to pretend to like it, but he also wasn't going to say he didn't understand. They all had duties. If Riandur's words did anything, it was remind him that he shouldn't have been fearing his own duty. To his family, to Elgar'nan's Hearth and to Avalon.

"Riandur, I don't need you to join me wherever I go. Just like I wouldn't expect you to want me to do the same." He moved closer again. There was hardly any space between them, but enough to where they weren't breathing in each other's air. "You have your duty to the Legion. I know that. I can accept that, but I'm not going to pretend to like it. However..." He paused to let his eyes scan the other's face. They really hadn't seen each other in a very long time. There were times when he'd thought they never would see each other again. Tethered to each other, but always apart. "It still remains true that I would have followed you. And I still would. I still will." He let out a breath. "I just hope you have space for one more body at Caer Glas Keep."

Tianyou clearly believed that he would find a cure, and perhaps that kind of hope was something they all needed to hear. Riandur had watched his companions be cut down at Nornwatch, civilians that had nowhere to go die and be dragged off because of Darkspawn. Legionnaires that were recruited lest they face death and become a darkspawn themselves. The other approached him again, but Riandur didn't move. It was perhaps one of his worst traits, to be so steadfast in what he believed.

"I don't think you understand, Tian," he murmured, meeting the Elvhen's gaze. "I have a duty to this land, one that I...." he searched for the words, "I chose to have. Abandoning it would just mean that I should have chosen death. And before you think that's what I think you're asking, I know it's not. We are stationed at Caer Glas Keep. The Legionnaires there are my responsibility. The darkspawn are already fighting Aetheron or whatever the fuck they're called, and they're just as susceptible to infection as we are. I cannot leave. I can't always join you wherever you wish to go," he hoped his words got across what he meant, but it was difficult to process what he even wanted. It felt too late. Too late for the both of them to change anything. "I have always wanted you, Tianyou. That's not the problem here. Do you get that? I made my choice a long time ago. Do you accept that for what it is? Can you?" Tianyou could barely accept that his father, who had lived centuries, was infected with a blight. Perhaps Rian's was easier to understand with the three decades beneath his belt.

[faelortianyou]

"I'm not...you know." That was all he said in response. If he said anything else, then he would just merely give himself away and that was something he did not want to do right now. It felt like that was what Riandur wanted him to do though. He couldn't really tell because it just felt like they were going in circles right now. One step forward only to always take several steps back. That was how it would probably always be until Tianyou was left to deal with the other's loss on his own. He so desperately wished for that day to never come, but then he would just be naive to hope it wouldn't. "Oh, but you did, didn't you? I only care about myself and my friends, right? Or was that not what you just said?" A sigh left his mouth. "I will find what I'm looking for," he stated with finality. He would try, at least.

Instead of keeping the space between them that he had purposefully put there, he moved forward again. He could never really make up his mind when it came to Riandur. Fifty percent of the time, he was annoyed. The other fifty percent? He couldn't stand to be away from the guy. Right now, he wasn't sure which one it was leaning more towards. Clearly the latter with a hint of the former. "Riandur, I'm not going to keep saying I still want you around if you don't want the same." Tianyou didn't want to have Riandur thinking he had to stay here if he didn't want to be here. Not that he thought the other would've wanted to placate him anyway. "Like you said, we'll always have each other regardless because of me anyway."

"You're not what?" He prompted, though he was sure that whatever was about to leave Tianyou's lips, it had been a bold faced lie. The Elvhen always gave themselves away. Riandur simply had the luck of not being born within Avalon. His family had chosen the mortal realm a few generations prior, and so they remained. Whatever would happen to them – Rian had not bothered to check. His absence was perhaps the only blessing they'd get in their small woodland village in the Silverlands. "No one said you didn't care about those things. I just think there's more to it than what you actually believe. But if you find what you're looking for–" Well, it would just matter what Tianyou did with that information. He could heal his father, perhaps, or maybe he could heal something more than just that.

When the other took another step away from him, the Legionnaire did not pursue. It was always distance, forever a crack that was getting longer and longer. That was just the way of things, of fate and the weave and magic and death. "Because of you, you'll always have me." The words weren't meant as a knife, or even an accusation, just a statement. They were soulbonded. There was no life that either could live without the other. "And it will not change because of me."

[faelortianyou]

All words he didn't want to hear. It was always a true statement that Tianyou didn't care for much outside of Avalon. He thought little of most things within this realm. Lysara, Iskaldrik. None of these places mattered more to him than his home did. His father protected the home that they had. Maybe he hadn't died at twenty-eight like these people Riandur seemed to be so invested in, but he'd done enough in Tianyou's eyes. Then again, what little boy didn't look up to his father and think the man was incapable of any wrongdoing. So he didn't really have a response to Riandur's question before another was being thrown his way. Look out for someone other than himself and his friends. He wished he could say it wasn't a true statement, but when had he invested time in something that wasn't for his friends or family or even Riandur? "I care about Avalon. I care about my home. I'm not-" scared. But the words wouldn't pass his lips.

Leave it to Riandur to put those thoughts into his head. Tianyou was not scared. He just wasn't ready. He wasn't prepared for any of this. That was all that would ever go through his head. Maybe his family would tell him different, but...maybe he should've stayed within Lysara. As he looked at Riandur, he thought the idea didn't sound bad at all. Even now. Even with the fact that he was being told otherwise. "I don't need a great ending, Riandur." He backed up as the Legionnaire moved forward. "I just wanted you before you go. I'll be selfish about that."

"Who are you to decide who deserves more? I've seen young men and women die for a cause greater than just Avalon. Twenty eight years on this fuckin' continent, all to fight the Blight that would destroy this land and everything around it – that's all they got. And they sacrificed it for you. And your fucking tree. So in a thousand years, what greater sacrifice has been done to keep him around?" Riandur wished he could say that he was asking this out of spite – but he wasn't. It was a push. Tianyou could consider the real reason why, the selfish intent behind it all. "Or is it the fact that you'll have to be in charge of something for once in your...what, six hundred years, that you'll have to look out for someone other than yourself and your friends?"

He took another step closer, especially after the small shove. Rian was happy to goad the other into hitting him, into doing something other than just stand there with his self righteous Laurelin self. "Yes, yes it was." His voice dropped now, though he wore the armor of the Legion, the mark of the Field Officer, he was transported back to when he'd left. The rough kiss, the rough fuck – Riandur only had a single life to live, and Tianyou had many. "You and I don't get a great fucking ending, love. Wouldn't you rather live with it now and get used to the emptiness that follows?"

[faelortianyou]

The question had both of his brows raising. Was a thousand years not enough? No, it wasn't. Tianyou had been around his father for less than that and actually known the man for even less. If he could have more time, then they would have both made it to a thousand. But at least Tianyou would've had something. "No, it's not. He deserves more." More than even he did. His father was...good. Was it really just that though? Maybe he was just scared of what would happen when his father was gone. Then he would be head of the Faelorian family and have some awfully big shoes to fill. That was something he wanted to think about even less.

"Ran with my tail tucked between my legs?" He couldn't help the laugh that fell from his lips at that preposterous allegation. "I went back to Avalon after you quite literally walked away from me." His hand lifted to shove at the other's chest, not much force really behind it. Sometimes he wanted to just...fight Riandur. Other times, well, that was obvious, but right now, it was certainly more of the former. "You are really so invested in trying to keep me, hm? Stop putting words in my mouth. I've never been let down by you. I would've followed you anywhere. I just wanted you around. Or was that too much to ask for?"

"More time? Is a thousand years not enough?" Riandur was curious now, maybe too curious – but he'd never had a problem holding his tongue around Tianyou. That's how they worked. The Legionnaire was a criminal, always one that was biting and scathing. Rough and hands that were stained with blood, and he'd do it again. Perhaps his only regret was leaving behind the one he'd soulbonded to, and he was now faced with him anyway. It wouldn't have to be such a regret.

Rian's smirk was filled with disdain, but there was mirth in his brown eyes anyway. "What would you have done? I joined the Legion, told you to fuck off, and you ran with your tail between your legs, right?" The Silver Elvhen did not think of himself so worthy as to have Tianyou follow him, but he never did come, did he? "I left because I had to. I told you that. And now I live with the Blight, and I'll succumb to it eventually as well. So good luck on your journey, Tianyou. I'm sure you'll be let down by something other than me."

[faelortianyou]

Why was it such a bad thing for him to want his father to live? Maybe, after everything that had happened to Riandur, he wouldn't be able to see that. Or maybe it was a horrible truth that Hiro would die anyway. It was inevitable really. The old man had several hundred years left under his belt though. "I just want him to have more time." He guessed that was where the problem was though. Tianyou was being selfish in that regard. He pretended that he wasn't, but he was a noble elvhen that had never had to want for anything in his life. Now that he wanted his father to still be around and there was a very high chance that he wouldn't be able to accomplish such a goal? Well, that was a hard thing for him to cope with. "I don't even know if he wants more time," he muttered under his breath before deciding to just let it go. For now, at least.

There was that stupid thing called Fate again though. Fate was the reason all of this was happening. Fate was the reason his father was dying, why his mother would probably be gone soon after, his siblings, too. Fate was why Riandur was still here now, why he wasn't dead. But it was also why Tianyou would have to worry about the silver elvhen as well. Especially when Riandur said things like the words that had left his mouth now. Where he was meant to go? It seemed Fate liked to play cruel jokes far more often than he would've liked for it to. "And is that why you left? Because you didn't want this for me?" He shook his head, hands running down his face and a hint of a smile gracing his lips. "Your noble efforts doesn't grant you any bigger piece of this fuckin' pie than anyone else, love."

"Why?" Riandur posed the question now, and perhaps it was cruel. He wasn't always like this, but the brutal truth was perhaps something that no one had given Tianyou. Sure, the High Elvhen couldn't lie, and he was sure that plenty considered the quest to be a dutiful one, a brave one, even. Rian didn't wish to feel the other's disappointment when his father inevitably died. Now, in a few hundred years – what was the difference if the Elvhen was infected with the Blight? "Your noble efforts doesn't grant you any bigger piece of this fuckin' pie than anyone else, love." His words were harsh, but his tone was...not as sharp as he wanted it to be.

Tianyou had always been his love, that hadn't changed. Time and distance had created a rift, but what had seemed like a massive canyon was perhaps just a crack in the foundation. Rian wished it was further apart now. "Fate decided a long time ago what I was made to do, and where I was meant to go." Death, clearly. It was at his fingertips, it was reflected in the unearthly green that shone when his power was activated. "That distance is the only thing that kept you away from the Blight. What I thought would keep you away. But it's found you anyway. I didn't want this for you."

[faelortianyou]

In theory, Tianyou should have kept this information to himself and the lovely scholar that had given him said information. However, it felt like somehow Riandur would have found out about it at some point. They were clearly going to be in the same place now, or around the same place, so they were sure to run into each other more often than not. Who knew what kind of conversations the two of them would have in that time before he made his way back to Avalon. "He's not still there. He died. But that was where he was brought to find a cure." A sigh left his mouth the silver elvhen's question. He didn't really have time to be explaining this, but it wasn't like getting to the Deadlands in any sort of urgency would help anything anyway. "I'll march anywhere to save my father, Riandur." But he was sure the other knew that well enough by now. There was nothing he cared more for than his family and that meant that he would do damn near anything for them. No matter the consequence.

Riandur wasn't his family, but the man fell into that same category regardless. It was a mistake to fall in love with someone whose time was finite. Still, he had and still, he had to deal with the other's his annoying little comments all the time. He supposed he had always been drawn towards toxic men. This one just so happened to also be a murderer. What a choice he had made. Would he decide differently if given another chance though? Probably not. Unfortunately for them both, they were stuck with each other. Or maybe they were fortunate. Whatever. Riandur had moved closer with his rant and Tianyou just stood there. "I think little of anything that could take you away from me." He had never said he wasn't selfish when he wanted to be.

The Legion must've heard about this man, but it was most likely reserved for those that remained at Amon Sǔl. "What makes you think he is still there? Surely if the Library in – where, Avalon? Eterna? Has this information, the Legion has it as well." Commander Silas would have dragged that man kicking and screaming back to the last stronghold. "Is that your grand idea? Marching into the Deadlands by yourself, and demanding to know what this person has done?" This was typical of a High Elvhen, wasn't it? They had all the time in the world to walk through life, looking for answers. In Riandur's mind, Tian's father had probably lived long enough – but he cared for the other, so he didn't say that thought out loud.

"Bullshit." He laughed now, like the fact that Tian's words could be anything but a wish. The other couldn't lie, but Rian could. "Are you that ignorant that you forgot already? Right, sorry, I get that this lifetime is just a few minutes for you, but it's the only one I fucking have." He was closer to Tian now, in his space, "I didn't decide, but I'm glad that you think so little of it." It was his sentencing, his eternal punishment to avoid death. He supposed he could've just taken a sword to the neck, that would've been more painful for Tian – looks like the other owed him his gratitude.