Equinox lumbered through the entrance of draco, near-destroyed claws scraping the walls. some were snapped directly in half, jagged like thorns, some looked as if they were filed down, each one stained with a different smear of color, as was the scales and fur around his hands.
he was tired, to say the least. nothing much had changed since the last time equinox had been, well. awake. he had helped with the garden best he could but upon noticing its destruction one morning he decided maybe, just maybe, it would be a bad idea to risk the garden becoming more trampled than it already was, and so came here instead.
The chaotic, violent whispers in his head had been getting worse, as if every second spent in draco had increased their volume by 10 percent. every painting on a pegasus wall had since been destroyed in aggressive outbursts, and left equinox feeling empty, and tired, but atleast they were quiet. as of right now, with freshly destroyed claws and a heaving chest, they were clear minded enough to speak to his master.
he needed an outlet. he couldn't risk the garden being destroyed again. oh, what would poor zoisite think, if after the garden was so painstakingly repaired, it was destroyed again? because this hulking beast could not contain even the slightest bit of chaos?
he needed help. he needed a new job.
he cleared his throat, attempting to call out, voice raspy and breaking from misuse. he tried again.
@Vargas
At first, Vargas didn't recognize the voice. They were calling him by his title and his name, so it was likely one of the Forge, but-...
He left what he was doing and strode out to meet it, head tilting a little to one side. And upon catching sight of the smear of distant blue, memory ticked into place.
This was a creature Maximus had brought to the Forge, a little while before their own departure. A creature that had chosen to guard and work the farms. As he drew closer, he noted the shattered claws, the violent heaves of its chest.
He hadn't expected to feel a spike of fear at the idea that something might have happened to his grandchild-spawn, but here it was, and he choked it down before it could show.
@Equinox
Equinox was expecting anything, really, but definitely not the tone of voice vargas had used, asking of the farm.
the concern for zoisite was shared, but for different reasons. equinox has simply not seen it in a while, and the garden had been destroyed. had something happened to his friend...?
He truly hoped zoisite was alright, that if it was harmed it was healing. what could have done so much damage to the farm so quickly...?
@Vargas
Vargas relaxed, just a little, a faint heave of breath escaping in an exhale. Likely, Equinox meant the changes that had been wrought when the Orthoclase had... visited.
It had been awhile, and he could only hope that the blue beast had simply been unaware, but--that begged the question: where had it been? If it had been at the farm at any point in the last few cycles, this would not have been new to it. It mentioned, even, not having been here. And the shattered claws-...
That's why it was here.
Well-... Lesson learned.
He would let it report, and speak--and he added, simply to clarify:
@Equinox
Equinox thought that made sense. they were supposed to protect the farm (why didn't he?) and he comes in battered. of course that would raise alarm.
he shifted slightly, looking ashamed but not cowering.
he was quiet again, for a moment, almost surprised with himself at how much he was talking, even if he struggled. he gulped, hoping the drool would coat his aching throat and will him to talk again.
he finished, voice broken. unlike others in the forge, equinox did not have an aversion to emotion, or a fearful urge to hold it back, confusing and sudden as it often was, tears visibly forming in the corners of his eyes in horrible distress. he did best to stand tall, however, and not whimper. he needed help, and he would not get it by sobbing in front of his boss. if you asked equinox, he probably wouldn't even say he was sad. he was frustrated.
if it was worth anything, he was still trying to be useful, atleast.
so, with inky tears threatening to coat and stain the fur below his eyes, he waited for his master to speak.
@Vargas
Ahh, this poor bastard.
Some of them, Vargas knew, struggled with controlling Chaos. And for good reason! Chaos did not want to be controlled. It wasn't intended, it had never been intended, to submit itself beneath control.
And there was something particularly miserable about Equinox. The beast was a huge brute, powerful and shaggy, but its moroseness was obvious and its great size only lent it an even more miserable aspect.
Well, he could work with it; he'd see what he could do.
@Equinox
Equinox thought, with a rumbling sniffle, of the last time they stabilized.
@Vargas
Vargas started off that way at a slow and unhurried pace.
He'd see, first, if the blue beast had any requests. And if it didn't? Well, he'd have to think about it. Violence could be an outlet, yes; but it could also drive the chaotic urges higher, like feeding kindling to a flame.
Many Valkhounds, he knew--the Corrupted variety, at least--held such battles within themselves. As a creature born of Light, Vargas had no real firsthand experience--but plenty of observational.
Not to expect anything useful, no. Draconua didn't strike him as the sort who'd ever, once in her long life, tried to actually control her urges.
As an afterthought, Vargas glanced to Equinox, and asked:
@Equinox
Equinox nodded and followed, and if he was listening vargas might be able to hear several joints pop. ouch.
he coughed, readying to speak.
he coughed, hacking. his throat was so DRY.
@Vargas
Vargas listened, quiet.
It wasn't a bad idea, as far as ideas went. He wasn't sure if it would do much to stifle Equinox's chaotic urges, but they could see.
The mention of thirst had him wondering, and he paused, searching for a divot in the floor.
He stopped before the Black Spire.
Fire-...
@Equinox