ORIGIN

The presence of Sprig by their side was a comfort as Cadenza recounted the story of how and why they had once killed a gembound, despite their extremely pacifist nature. He leaned against them and it was grounding for Cadenza.

Cadenza wanted to soothe Alek again as he spoke his fear. But it was important that they let Alek speak his story fully. And they listened.

It was hard for them to understand, at first, in a way. To spare a life was no sin. But to comfort the killer of one’s kin… Was that wrong? It made Cadenza’s heart hurt, made them feel confused and understanding all at once. Alek had always been mischievous, but Cadenza had known their son had a compassionate side to him.

They had not realized the depth of Alek’s compassion until this tale, however, hidden beneath other layers as it was. Compassion was no sin, they decided. No matter who it was directed towards, how could compassion be a sin?

And love was wonderful, they knew. ”Alek, you are so very brave,” Cadenza spoke, musical voice gentle. ”Your friend is right. Your compassion is not a crime, my son. We love you. You have grown up so well,” their voice was tearful, but they were proud even if they were sad too. It was bittersweet.

Cadenza hesitantly regarded Erasmus yet again, a new light to their understanding of them. But Sprig spoke true. Death was not a solution to death. Which brought a fear to their mind, but they did not voice it yet. ”Sprig speaks true, Erasmus. You are resilient and strong as few are. And you are family now.” Their orange gaze flitted between the three. ”All of you are welcome. I hope to meet your children, one day, as well.”

There was one more thing they must say, though. ”…I will have to speak to my dad. My dragon-dad, though deer-dad may know as well… To determine the identity of the Raspite’s origin and name,” Cadenza mentioned, softly. They knew Alek would volunteer to go, perhaps even strong Erasmus, perhaps all three, but… ”I will do this on my own. It is best,” they proclaimed with all the authority they could muster.

It was a resolute tone that Cadenza rarely had, served for protecting their own kin. And these were their kin just as much Alek, from the way Alek spoke of the two.

Only they would speak to Dread. It was for the best. But not yet. After Alek had registered all their words.

@Erasmus

The shift for their mind from 'expecting to be boiled alive' to 'getting kind words from Alek's family' was disorienting. They glanced from both of Alek's parents with uncertainty. But... perhaps it should not surprise them. Alek was uncommonly kind, they thought. He had to get that trait from somewhere.

Erasmus did not know what to say. They bowed their head, their hair drifting over their face even more than usual. They knew Alek had revealed a subtle manipulation of them through his words, yet... They did not regret the children, and nothing Alek had said was untrue. Alek simply wanted to keep them alive, because he loved them, as they loved him.

Cadenza spoke with a shocking firmness with regards to the matter of telling their own dad of Erasmus's crime. They searched that orange gaze. "Cadenza is certain?" they double-checked despite the firmness in the voice, because they knew this was their crime. They were willing to face repercussions.

Yet, perhaps, they had to also face a willingness to live with their guilt. It was a shock to their system, really. They were glad to have Onyx-Three here.

@Alek

He is brave to help Erasmus. Brave to speak to you both, Onyx-Three told his parents.
To selflessly give so much of yourself to care for another is something I am very proud of, his dad told him.
Your compassion is not a crime, my son, his parent told him.

And... Alek felt tears welling up in his five functional eyes. His parents were kind souls, but he knew this situation was not good, for all that they were so warm to him. He did not deserve this warmth, did he? Not when he was letting his parent talk to their dad alone.

Yet the firm tone had Alek hesitating, for Cadenza never spoke in such a way. Erasmus was the one who spoke first, checking in.

He could not speak. For the first time in his life, perhaps, he did not know what to say. He had done something awful yet kind and brave all at once. His parents were proud of his choices, even it might cause conflict within their family overall.

Alek bowed his head and cried, silent sobs shaking his body. He was not sure if it was joyful relief or devastating grief that plagued him. Perhaps, in a way, it was both.

@V-Onyx-Three

Welcome? Here? The words came unexpectedly, and he did not understand how this could be possible when the lion did not know him all that well. Was Alek's words deeming them to be his friend enough to earn the acceptance of his family? Onyx-Three had not seen such open hospitality, the willingness to accept out of the only words. It was easy for them to trust. Sometimes, he wondered if such a trusting nature was a good thing, if it gave way to kindness. Other times, he wondered if it could be a flaw. It was important to be careful, especially in the Forge, where Order was an ever-pressing issue.

And now Alek was... crying. It was a strange sight. Onyx-Three had never seen anyone cry before. And Alek was not someone who they expected to see in such a way. Not in the sense that crying was wrong, but in the sense that they never thought they would be able to see this side of him. And it felt wrong that their friend was in so much pain. Or at least he thought it was pain. That was the reason gembounds cry, right?

But nothing they knew prepared them for this, and Alek was not very hand-holdable. So they pulled on their magic. It came easily, stronger than they had felt so many times before. They felt the energy sapped from them as black frills sprouted from their body. This was not very helpful to Alek though, even if it did make them look a bit funny. "Do not be sad. You are loved." And the word felt strange on his tongue, the same word that slid so easily off of Alek's parents stuck to his in an unnatural manner. Then he reached out a hand to place on Alek as a source of comfort, but forgot that he did have mushroom on him and withdrew it.

Cadenza was strong to state that they would be going to find the origins of the stone on their own. Sprig was worried, wondering if he should offer to come along, but also understood it was something that they wanted to tackle alone. He already began to make plans in his mind for preparing some food for Cadenza for the journey. He would miss them.

Erasmus posed a question only Cadenza could answer. The while and gold gembound was not someone who Sprig could imagine as a murderer, much less someone who would murder on purpose. His forgiveness came easily, but it would be on Cadenza to confirm their feelings upon it.

Alek was crying, and Sprig tried to reach out to feel him with his magic. To determine which emotion it was. If it was sadness, or happiness, or relief, or something else. Nothing came, but magic was like that. Sprig walked over to Alek, and nudged his head against his wing. He said nothing, feeling his own emotions overcome him upon seeing his son in this state. "It's okay little one, we love you very much. Feel no pain in your tears; you have been very strong." So he was there. A warm presence. A comforting one, which is what it seemed Alek need right now.

"Exit Sprig"

@Cadenza

Alek was not just sad, and he wished he could find the words to explain this to Onyx-Three. He did not worry his friends. Yet the silent shaking of his body as tears fell continued, his head bowed with the sheer amount of emotions he felt.

He stilled abruptly, though, at the touch against his wing. It was familiar, though he had not been beside his dad in many cycles. He remembered curling up beside his dad when he was still such a small creature. And then... his dad spoke. That familiar title of 'little one', for all that Alek was no longer little at all, he would always be his parent's child.

An audible noise left him, half a sob, half a laugh. "I, I will be alright, I know I am loved. I know," he spoke, his voice in wonder and awe and devastation from this feeling. "I am simply... overwhelmed," he explained, voice shaky. "I am sorry for worrying you all."

For being missing from his family, for crying now, for whatever else he might have done to worry them all.

He made himself look up, gazing between all of them- (why did Onyx-Three had mushrooms on him?)- and he felt a sense of amazement, but also determination to see this through. "I will be alright," he reassured Cadenza especially. "You should tell... your dad," he agreed. "It has already been... some cycles," he softly spoke, not wishing the not-knowing or the grief upon their parent's dragon-dad, but knowing this was important.

@Erasmus

Alek was crying, and Cadenza felt paralyzed for a moment. Had they said something wrong, they worried, immensely concerned for their son. Sprig was the first to move close, but Cadenza moved to Alek's other side, so on both sides, he would be surrounded by his parents' love.

They did not know what to say, but Sprig did. And it provoked a response from Alek, much to their relief. Alek indeed sounded overwhelmed, and Cadenza understood with their gentle compassion.

"I will," Cadenza informed Alek and Erasmus both. "But for now, I think... It would not hurt to take a few moments here. Simply existing," their musical voice was soft, wishing to be there for their son.

It was important, Alek was right. But a few moments longer would not hurt, especially if they could help Alek.

Erasmus quietly tugged at Onyx-Three's hand, not sure why he sprouted mushrooms suddenly, but taking it in stride. They wished to sit by Alek, not as close as his parents, but close enough that Alek would would know they were there too.

And quietly, Erasmus thought they would have to discover it meant to live for themself, not for guilt. It would likely be hard. But... they were not alone, they thought, considering Alek, Onyx-Three, and Alek's parents.

No, they were not alone.

[Exit Erasmus (and Alek and Cadenza)]

"Do not be." If anything, maybe worry was a good thing. Worry meant there were those who cared, and they were sure everyone here cared very much about Alek. Onyx-Three wondered why Sprig called Alek a 'little one' when he was not little at all. Was it a nickname? He watched as the lion and dragon surrounded Alek, feeling strangely left out despite knowing it was not his family. But this wasn't about him.

Then Erasmus tugged at his hand, and Onyx-Three followed their lead, sitting some distance away from Alek yet in some ways, also close. They wondered if this is what it meant to be a family. They wondered, too, if they would experience something similar to this beyond their earlier days.

"Exit V-Onyx-Three"