Surprises and Revelations ['Eitan']

[Stefan Dornkirk]

The day was lovely, of the kind Stefan had allowed himself to imagine in the early days of his marriage. It was the sort of future he would fight for, for all his people, but especially for his family.

Request or not, as soon as two stockinged feet landed upon his lap he took the dominant one in the hand he wasn't using to hold his glass of good bourbon and began to work at the muscles. He let his concentration drift for a moment, idly listing off the muscles, bones and tendons he was feeling through the thin cloth in his mind.

"Hm?" He said a tick too late, then, replaying what Eitan had said he answered, "Indeed, as often as possible."

Raising his glass to his lips to complete the toast he added his now free second hand to the task of relaxing the tension from his brother-in-law, now as close as his blood brother had been. A yawn split Stefan out of his thoughts eventually, and he said,

"I don't know if you got a chance to read the final report. Probably not much in there that you'll need, a lot of it is aetheric theory. I spent most of last night adjusting the 'Net."

The Net, was what they were calling the complex structure of dragonshards, Scrivening, Artificing, Negation and engineering he had put together with the help of Eitan and a Minder who was particularly well-studied in both theory and Scrivening. Now that it was put together Stefan could adjust the exact structure to the creature they intended to capture. Hence the name; it was a net, to catch one that they now believe to be Eldritch in nature. He had started work on the design even before they'd found the lair in the warrens; the concept had been sound, but at the time he'd believed her to be only a very powerful witch. With the specifics they'd been able to gather, the chances of success were significantly higher.

Now, all they could really do was wait until the scouts they had keeping an eye on the lair informed them of movement. No one involved currently believed the site to be wholly abandoned, too much work had gone into it and whatever its final purpose, it had not yet been fulfilled.

The thing was, he didn't really want to talk about it, as there wasn't really much more to say. Eitan had come up with ideas on how they might protect the Order members who would be needed to accompany them, and the shields on the armor suits the two of them would be wearing were already as strong as Eitan could make them. So, instead, he said, with no particular inflection,

"Delia wants another child."

[Eitan Angevin]

A barely audible moan escaped his lips when strong hands began to release the tension that he had long ago become accustomed to. There were different kinds of comfort to be found here in his home: with wife, with sister, with brother-in-law. Even the servants who worked in the home were familiar now, hand-picked by him or his family. The grounds were more public; at least, Kindred and those with green thumbs made the rounds using what arable land they had to supply all the hungry mouths with fresh and diverse foods. Even they had become a part of a steady rhythm, a cycle, that was comfortable - if not as comfortable as a warming drink, a comfortable couch, and warm hands kneading where he needed it.

There was a comfort too in knowing from how he was touched that Stefan was cataloguing all the minute parts of his anatomy; it was a strange way to feel seen, to feel real, and to feel accepted and cherished. This was what family was always supposed to be. He felt a pang of guilt that it had required the sacrifice of so many to achieve.

"I did," he managed, when the rhythmic pressure wasn't lulling him toward sleep. Eitan had a habit of reviewing the packets of information that went to his brother-in-law, not because he was curating that information, but because he wanted to know what Stefan knew, what new-breaking changes or details he might want to bring to his attention in between work days.

Eitan nodded. He trusted Stefan to create the thing, test it, and perfect it. The Seeker had provided his mastery of wards, aided by examples of eldritch energy that he could use to fine tune his work. He had even begun to learn scrivening in the creation of this Net, and hoped to learn more as time allowed. He could be more efficient if he knew how to use the skill to enhance it. He took comfort in the fact that it was not another corrupting Rune, but an academic pursuit. It made him feel closer to Stefan somehow, and how Stefan was able to work actual magic to serve their people without having to sacrifice his personal aether pattern.

I did. Two syllables contained the entirety of his immense confidence in his brother-in-law's genius. The Lyra creature would be contained, and Eitan would see to it that no Zaichaeri citizens were harmed in the endeavor. His eyes had gone half-lidded with bliss. His tongue moved over his lips, savoring the smoky sweetness of the bourbon.

Dark eyes opened, cut to Stefan's thoughtful profile. He considered.

"It makes sense," he opined. "She has recovered from Amy's birth. Amy is healthy. Delia is healthy. I think she wants to give you as many children as you want, and to do so before age complicates matters." He laughed softly. "We are still young by many accounts. It seems strange to think childbearing might soon be out of reach."

Eitan paused. With a tightening of his stomach, he sat up enough to run the back of his index finger along Stefan's jawline, across his cheekbone. Then his hand rested on that strong shoulder, one of the shoulders holding up the world.

"How does that make you feel?"

[Stefan Dornkirk]

Knowing that Eitan was up to speed on almost everything that went on on the Islands was a comfort. One that meant he could ask for assistance or explain a problem without having to explain all the background information. He also tried to keep up with at least the bones of what the Order, and other factions of the Council, so he also could be brought in to help in whatever ways he could when he was asked.

He didn't think any more assistance was needed on the Net. Figuring out how to get the aether lines to flow into the daemithillium had been the difficult part. He knew from a decade of experience how to get aether to flow between dragonshards to ensure his airships stayed in the air, getting the energy to flow into a container was an entirely different thing. The lesser shards acted as hooks, drawing in the specific eldritch energy of Lyra herself and...

No, he was done with that, he wanted to be present for however much of the day was left to share.

Sitting up a little straighter he gave a faint smile at the gentle touch and a slight nod at the assertion of a healthy mother and baby. When asked about his feelings he repeated what he said said to his wife that morning,

"Worried." The emotion was perfectly captured in his tone and the little bit of tension that even the comfort of their closeness could not keep from forming between his shoulder blades. Turning his head to meet Eitan's eyes he let the man see into him without any of his typical walls.

"Delia is healed, healthy, I can see that but she was healthy before her first labor. The pregnancy was text book and healthy as well. I know we're surrounded by the best doctors and healers, possibly in the world. I know it isn't logical."

The shoulder not being touched rose in a minute shrug.

"I do want more children, but not if it cost me..."

Releasing the foot with one hand he reached for his glass, wholly unwilling to voice the fear that would be obvious.

[Eitan Angevin]

Eitan nodded and, instead of complaining that his foot rub was over, scooted closer so his legs were draped over Stefan's knee and he could be close to him

"I am too," he admitted. "And I will be too when Luca inevitably announces she wants a daughter." He didn't bother repeating what Stefan already knew. With the coven healers, it was likely even better odds of a healthy delivery, but they both just feared as may husbands and fathers did. When danger came, they were largely incapable of fighting it in these instances. Worry and helplessness plagued them, and those were uncomfortable at best, debilitating at worst.

"For what it's worth, I will be here with you, too."

There were any number of other things he could have said, would have said, things he told himself in a litany when he was in such a helpless spot. First children were generally the most difficult, and both their wives had accomplished that feat.

"We will just have to support them in their wishes, and continue to do what we do to make the world they bring our children into is safe for them." Thankfully, they had responsibilities like that. While heavy they could distract from the parts of life they had no control over. "And we can take back Dornkirk Manor while our wives make more little feet to run down those long halls."

Eitan smiled, his hand pinching the tension in the nape of Stefan's neck, and then rubbing his short hair, alternating.

[Stefan Dornkirk]

The words were useful, reiterating and emphasizing his own logical arguments against his fears, but more than them, Eitan's presence was reassuring. It did more to begin relaxing Stefan out of the tension that had held him even as their day had been spent in play and happiness.

"Mmm," He hummed, leaning into the touch, telling himself he was responding to their conversation but knowing he was listening to the tone and comfortingly familiar cadence of the voice more than following the exact words.

"Eitan." He murmured, turning his head enough that, as the other man had scooted closer, Stefan could kiss him. It was chaste and grateful, and he laid their foreheads against one another when it was finished. As their eyes met his mind caught up to the last of what had been said and he said,

"You would come too though, wouldn't you? You and Luca and the baby? I don't think I could live there again if you weren't there too."

He didn't ever want to live anywhere without his whole family with him, not ever again. However rich he still technically was, however wealthy or powerful Angevins or Dornkirks became, if it meant separation, he didn't want it. It was the one thing that he had ever wanted enough to directly defy his parents, the only subject on which he had ever fought Brenner.

Eitan was the master of White Knight Hall, and though those lines were blurred now, if Eitan wanted them to be clear again Stefan wouldn't even bat an eye. Clearing his throat he tried to get himself to sit back up but couldn't quite manage it, instead saying,

"There are a great many more important things that rebuilding manor houses, so I doubt we'll have to make choices like that any time soon."

[Eitan Angevin]

Eitan smiled into the kiss. There was something important in all of this for him; growing up tolerated and eventually more comfortable in barracks or upon an airship, it was new to be wanted in the home as part of the family.

"I do believe the ancestral homes ought to be rebuilt, improved upon, but more for their symbolic value than anything else. I would rather always live with our family in one place. When we are dead and gone, our children can decide what they want to do with them. If nothing else, Perpetua and Friederike can fight over the Angevin Estate. At least, I assume that is what Delia will want... a bit of separation between her household and that of former generations."

She would likely maintain the household to provide hospitality to visiting dignitaries, but reside wherever her husband did. As they sought to parley with the other Zaichaeri forces, the more control they had over the ground, the better. It would be too easy for the ZDC generals to claim that they only ruled the skies. Already, Eitan was thinking up various points he might have to counter with Vonnegut and Reichart.

"I will look over the damage reports. I think Dornkirk Manor would be the easiest to rebuild, and the more important of the two. We will have to prioritize, though I intend to lock wards down on both of them to prevent any further damage. We still do regular patrols for refugees..." And there were instructions and supplies left behind and warded to inform refugees that help would be on the way if they stayed. It was just there were fewer and fewer refugees as time went by. They were either dead, gone, or had found some other safe spot to sequester themselves.

[Stefan Dornkirk]

Stefan agreed with the little nod and a hum that were normal for him when with his family. He often got caught up in thinking about what was being said to him and did not wish to interrupt but wanted to make his continued participation clear.

That the Angevin estate should be rebuilt had never really been in question, in his mind, nor that the Dornkirk one should. The home of his youth wasn't actually ancestral though, not in the sense of generations worth of history. Even if his daughter was counter, she had never lived there, and though his parents were deceased he did not think that two generations counted.

He came out of his thoughts at the mention of his mother, and grandmother, in law. The look on his face expressed distinctly what he thought about ever having to live under the same roof with either, let alone both. It had almost come to that, in the early days after they'd discovered that the two matrons had survived the 34th, but, thankfully, a place where they could be genuinely useful (and far away from him) had been found.

Stefan had not been able to bring himself to go through the damage reports of any of the estates, particularly not his own, as it hadn't seemed a priority. He could see that restoring them would likely cause those of the wealthier class who had fled or been out of the country at the time of the disaster to view the city as safe to return to, and that would go a long way in persuading others. Dornkirk Manor was a prime candidate, for it was possibly the newest such home, having been built by his own father with modern and easily available materials.

The hope of finding more refugees was slim, although there were pockets of people who did not seem interested, or so far had not seemed so, in being 'rescued'. Areas of The Knob were thus, and other nearby areas were simply too dangerous to venture into. That would have to be remedied, and the sooner the better. The longer it took to get some of the generals on their side enough to supply troops the better.

"There's so much to do." He sighed, but he did not sound hopeless, only tired. "Thank progress I have you."

A smile replaced the thoughtful frown and the hand not still occupied with his drink found its own occupation on Eitan's person that was at least as pleasant.

[Eitan Angevin]

"Hmm," Eitan hmm'd. It was easy to be thoughtful in Stefan's presence. They spent so much time solving problems together. "Need to see if we have an architect amongst us, or at least a spare engineer. I can... or one of the ladies can oversee the rebuilding of both estates. If we go with Dornkirk first, perhaps we can at least focus on major structural and exterior repairs to Angevin at the same time. More symbolic strength until we can make the latter livable."

The Seeker sought a win-win situation whenever possible. He wouldn't be terribly upset if Friederike remained at the hunting lodge with her rifles and her attitude, and perhaps Perpetua could run whatever operation the Angevin Estate housed going forward. She did like her space, her domain, and had always been a fervent advocate for the family she married into.

"Thank Progress we have each other," he amended with a fond smile. "And wives we love, and children to dote upon... For all the dark times and sacrifices, it makes me love what I have... who I have all the more fiercely." Of course, they both wished Brenner had remained, though he had to wonder whether the beloved friend and brother would have been the right leader for the situation. Stefan had stepped up and proven himself to Zaichaer and to himself; at least, Eitan hoped the man had faith in himself now. The rest of them did.

"We will not be the weak links in the chains that make up Angevin and Dornkirk," he murmured. History was watching them, even as the shades of family members lost. Dornkirk. Angevin. Eitan had even considered naming a secondary heir after his wife's family so that it wouldn't be extinguished. There was certainly room to spare for their bloodlines to flourish.

"And once we have the generals figured out, we really ought to see to the Knob..."

[Stefan Dornkirk]

It was a lot. Eitan, Delia, Luca, their children, the love they created in a continuous flow, pouring from one person into the others and back again in a refueling mechanism that, despite all mathematical conclusions to the contrary, seemed to not only perpetuate itself, but increase over time. This ability was what set the human connection apart from the rest of science. Stefan did not believe that it was outside the realms of logic, not at all, but it operated by different rules than the rest of energy exchange.

He nodded as he emptied his glass and set it aside, using his second, now empty hand to begin unfastening the buttons of Eitan's waistcoat without pausing their conversation.

"I believe the Angevin estate was significantly less damaged than the Dornkirk, considering the senior ladies as well as quite a few others were able to barricade themselves within and maintain until we were able to reach them. We should get an architectural engineer to survey both and make our choices once we're informed."

A sigh again accompanied the change of subject as his mind turned toward yet another difficulty to face.

"Agreed. I'll try and get scouts down so we have good intel by the time you return. The worst of everything is there but we need the factories, the mines, up and running if we hope to reestablish the city."

By this time Eitan's outer garment was fully open and Stefan's mind turned back to a thought he'd had before the topic had turned as he began on the shirt buttons.

"You know, when I was younger I thought our fathers were the epitomies of their kind, the progressive engineer, propelling our state onward, the height of military genius ensuring Zaichaer's legacy, and that we, as their sons would continue their legacy but never reach their lofty heights in the memories of the nation."

A small, almost teasing smile played across Stefan's mouth,

"And yet, here we find ourselves in a situation in which I wonder if our fathers will be recalled at all in generations to come."

If they failed in what they were attempting, their works would stand as testament to what they had tried to do, and if they succeeded, well, history books would be written under their own direction. It was a heady thought, perhaps more so for the man occupying his lap and the strong drink making its way through his system.

[Eitan Angevin]

"Mm," he agreed, settling back with his limbs lazily akimbo, welcoming Stefan's attention. "You know the logisticians better than I. I will be sure to remind you when we are at the Windworks, get the ball rolling with our estates and... those of any survivors who are currently in other camps than ours. It would be a bargaining chip with some of them."

Eitan took a sip of his drink and relaxed, though his mind kept working and his conversation kept apace.

"I can send Watchers with the scouts. We should focus on the strategic locations we have already identified, and we don't want to spread ourselves too thin. But if we have the intel waiting when Delia and I bring Zaichaeri armies to our side, the Knob will become more of a priority. Thankfully, your friend among the Kalzasern elite has been as good as her word with raw materials and other resources. But our own means would be preferable to charity."

When Stefan's mind turned toward posterity, he made eye contact, then looked down, watching his fingers unbutton his shirt. When it was loose to the navel, he looked up.

"For all their virtues, I do not think they would have been as successful as we have been. With your ties to scholars, industry, and military, mine with military and Order, and then our wives... we are particularly well-suited for this endeavor, and willing to step up, to share power and responsibility. I do not think our fathers were adaptable enough for this, not at their ages." He took another sip of his drink, then let his free thumb trail down the edge of his shirt, revealing a chiseled chest and a dark nipple. His eyes remained fixed on Stefan's.

"Adaptable... mmm... No, you and I, we are more flexible than they were. Is it inspection time, Minister Dornkirk?"