The marking had been euphoric and Deus Aværys hardly coy. Finn felt off balance, but he could focus on Arvælyn and his desperate kisses. They had both been wiling to die for each other, had both come quite close to dying for the freedom of self-determination. His brow felt warm, and if he felt sweaty and burned all over, his bequest likely made him look like some impressive warrior who had conquered the very volcano upon which they stood. Few would notice the tremble in his knees.
His hands were firm as they held Arvælyn's face, blue eyes endarting deep to ensure his amatus was unharmed and entirely himself.
"I love you," he declared, nuances of meaning trickling into Arvælyn's mind. Perhaps he would understand Finn even better, though Finn did not yet know the gifts that came with his crown of gold that was already fading into fair skin.
The Solunarians were all accounted for, and if he was having trouble processing, he could at least nod at the suggestion they depart. Perhaps this had been the Twins' intention the whole time; he couldn't know. For all the burning, beating sunlight of Atraxia, Solunarium was shadowed by endless plots. He would certainly have questions for Phocion, who was unlike to answer, and Hilana, who was more like to answer. While he had no intention of turning Raithen against his mother, he wondered if his friend might shed some insight into everything that was going on around them. Deus Aværys had given him a crown; he didn't want to be a pawn any longer.
His arm went around Arvælyn's shoulders, protective, possessive. They began their descent. He kissed the half-elf's brow, and his fingers itched to trace his neck where Domina Varvara's collar had shone, but there would be time enough to explore their new status later and in private.
When Hilana fell into step and made her request, he nodded wearily. He was certain he could help her with that, though he was also certain that as soon as he was able, he was going to crash into a deep, deep sleep.
"Of course," he said, and offered a wan smile.
His hands were firm as they held Arvælyn's face, blue eyes endarting deep to ensure his amatus was unharmed and entirely himself.
"I love you," he declared, nuances of meaning trickling into Arvælyn's mind. Perhaps he would understand Finn even better, though Finn did not yet know the gifts that came with his crown of gold that was already fading into fair skin.
The Solunarians were all accounted for, and if he was having trouble processing, he could at least nod at the suggestion they depart. Perhaps this had been the Twins' intention the whole time; he couldn't know. For all the burning, beating sunlight of Atraxia, Solunarium was shadowed by endless plots. He would certainly have questions for Phocion, who was unlike to answer, and Hilana, who was more like to answer. While he had no intention of turning Raithen against his mother, he wondered if his friend might shed some insight into everything that was going on around them. Deus Aværys had given him a crown; he didn't want to be a pawn any longer.
His arm went around Arvælyn's shoulders, protective, possessive. They began their descent. He kissed the half-elf's brow, and his fingers itched to trace his neck where Domina Varvara's collar had shone, but there would be time enough to explore their new status later and in private.
When Hilana fell into step and made her request, he nodded wearily. He was certain he could help her with that, though he was also certain that as soon as he was able, he was going to crash into a deep, deep sleep.
"Of course," he said, and offered a wan smile.