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Home (Open to Arwyn and Orion)

There was a part of him that regretted his decision to leave, full of grief and feeling lost in the world he hadn't been able to look at the faces of his sister and father everyday and not be reminded of everything they had lost and that was why he had left. He'd done it the cowards way too, leaving a note and disappearing in the middle of the night with only one agenda on his mind, make them pay for what they did. For a while that was exactly what he did, picking them off one by one in the night, it didn't even matter to him whether they were involved or not, they were all responsible for their kind's mistakes.

But as the months passed, Arwyn began to realize that doing this every day in and out was worthless, his rage over his mother's death drove him at first but after a while it started to fade and he realized he was just doing things out of routine, sleep most of the day, eat a barely edible meal before shifting all night and working his way through the city. He couldn't see the point anymore, not with no one here to share it with, not when it was all for revenge and nothing about what it used to be.

It was after that he had traveled, mostly backpacking because he didn't have the kind of money that plane tickets required. At times he thought about calling home, he knew they would be glad to hear his voice but for the most part, letters were all he could bring himself to give. His family had needed him and he had left, he felt guilty enough that it kept him away for the most part, he missed them but he didn't know how to face up to the decision he'd made. And so he traveled, working all kinds of interesting jobs and figuring out who he was and what life he was supposed to make for himself.

Many setbacks, forward leaps, heartbreaks later and the young therianthrope found himself once more on the roads of Evermore city. Evermore city had never been his home, he had barely stayed a few weeks before he left but somehow the city felt welcoming, right even as he walked with his head high, a different and hopefully better person than the one he had been when he left. Arwyn didn't know how his father was going to react to his homecoming, he didn't even know what to hope for but it had been far too long and he was finally ready to face up to the decisions he had made.

Without hesitation the dark haired therian walked up to the door of the house knocking three times before holding his breath. Now that he was actually here he could feel the nerves rush through him like a wave but he remained still, waiting and hoping. When the door rattled and then eventually pulled open he stood with a apprehensive expression before he spoke "Hi Dad" his voice was just the smallest bit shaky as he waited for his father's reaction.

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InactivePermalink Reply by ✓ Orion Valkyrie ~Admin~ on May 1, 2018 at 18:40

Arwyn’s words caused a small smile to form on his lips, “Some mornings are harder to get out of bed than others but we don’t just stop. The world is a hard place, better to face it head on than to hide away from it. Though I will admit I have in the past.” Sometimes things did in fact hit too hard to want to get out of bed but he refused to allow that feeling to stick. There was too much good in the world to counter balance the bad and it was an insult to his fall family and friends to just stop living. “We all have our cross to bare the goal is just not to allow it to crush you and become stronger for it.”

That was what Destiny would want him to remind their children, they were her whole world and that was why he had been willing to trade his own life for hers. It had been a struggle to wake up in bed alone instead of tangle in her limbs with her scent soothing him. The nightmares had been intense for the first year and now they happened a little less but the night terrors that he did have stuck with him for days. The simple little memories which arose at the worst times still able to take his breath away. “Your Mother loved you and your sister and I don’t believe in much but I do believe she’s with us, especially the two of you.” Often times when talking to Sera or Arwyn he would consider what Destiny would want him to say.

A softer expression came over his face as his son spoke of understanding since that meant more to him than Arwyn might be aware of. As much as Orion wanted to do right by his children he had to do right by himself as well. “Honestly was more afraid of admitting to moving on to you and Sera than I have been to myself.” Though that had been no easy task either. “Sariah is something else and a rarity in this world. She’s strong not just for a human but in general allowing no one to make her question or change her morals including me.” He said thinking of her reaction to the challenge with Elijah.

Despite his words he knew Arwyn was the act first and question after sort. Taking his time not exactly something he was good at but Orion still wanted him to know not to rush things on his account. “Oh I know but figured that if you did need time I would let you know I have no problem with that. You’ve always been impulsive and never known a slow pace to thoughts or life, I wouldn’t expect that to change now.” Some might think going into such a challenge was a cocky move but he hadn’t been over confident or thinking of himself in the least. He went in knowing he might very well not make it out but it had been a risk he was willing to take that he shouldn’t have. “Mistakes happen we just have to find a way to sooth the damage and reestablish the bonds we’ve fractured. All things can be fixed if all parties involved are willing to put in the work and effort and if the person at fault is willing to shoulder than blame. There’s always hope and I don’t think I’ve caused any damage that can’t be repaired.” At least that was his hope but it would take Harper time to cool down and the two would likely need to speak one on one. “Those are my worries though Arwyn, not yours.” He said with a soft smile as he reached over to place a hand on his son’s shoulder.

ValkyrPermalink Reply by ✓ Yeonseok Lee on May 2, 2018 at 18:45

Arwyn couldn’t have put it better himself, if you just stopped while the world moved around you then time wasn’t going to wait for you. The world was so much bigger than any individual person and hiding away was simply wasting away a life which for most, was short. “Gone are the days where I thought strength was about who you could best in a fight” it was easy to win a fight it was much harder to mentally fight off everything that life threw at you. He was his father’s son however, and fighting was in the Valkryie blood.

Arwyn’s mother had always been the better talker of his parents, she always knew the right thing to say at the right time, she always taught him and Sera to be strong but that strength was far more than what you could physically do, he had been too young and naive to understand then, but now that advice resonated with him. “I think so too” he answered and turned his head to look out the window for a moment a sad smile on his expression, he missed his mother every day but he hoped to become a person she could be proud of.

But of course, the day would come when his father met someone new. Therianthropes at their core were a naturally social species, that was why they did so much better in groups than did alone, he could understand the need to find solace in others and Arwyn had done the exact same thing while he was away. Albeit he had screwed it up royally somehow but there was little he could do about that now. “You don’t have to be afraid to tell me anything” he echoed with a nod of his head “I’m not the emotionally fragile boy I was when I left, the things I’ve experienced since then… they’ve given me a lot of perspective” he liked to think he’d grown as a person since the beginning of his crusade. Hearing how he spoke about Sariah made Arwyn smile, not necessarily for the words he was saying but for how his father seemed to be happy “The human ambassador huh?” he responded coyly though he had already pieced it together from the media “Isn’t she about 10 years too young for you?” he teased with a tilt of his head.

Arwyn laughed when his father called him impulsive, he couldn’t argue it though, he had always been the kind of person who did and then thought of the consequences later, some might call that reckless but to him it was simply about living in the now, why waste time when there was so little of it. If his mother’s death had brought him anything good it was that harsh lesson, anything could happen and you wouldn’t want to look back on your life and realize you’d wasted it. “Well then thanks for the sentiment” he responded as the topic changed to the challenge. Arwyn didn’t care too much for the details of the squabble, after all, it was over now and his father was okay and that was the two most important details. Tilting his head he chuckled “I think that’s a convoluted way of telling me you’re optimistic” he laughed, his father did like his metaphoric thoughts on life. Arwyn simply smiled at his father in response to his prompt not to worry, Arwyn would always worry about his family, it was a natural feeling but he took is as a hint not to push on that topic any further.

InactivePermalink Reply by ✓ Orion Valkyrie ~Admin~ on May 4, 2018 at 19:41

A small smile curved his lips at his son’s words, it was a good thing to learn in life and it took some longer than others to figure that out. Orion had learned it at a young age and it was a painful and scary lesson to learn. Strength wasn’t about the physical it was about what a person was able to withstand and continue to survive and live. Surviving after all was about more that making it through something with your life, it meant being able to continue moving forward and having a life despite it all. For Orion that also meant that he needed to take the role of both parents which he wasn’t exactly great at. Destiny was far more than Orion could ever be and she had a way with their kids that could never be duplicated nor replaced. The elder Kitsune had no doubt that Sera and Arwyn would both always remember her words.

After spending the better part of his life with the same woman the ideas of moving on was not an easy one but he knew it was something that was necessary. Unless he wanted to spend the rest of his life alone which wasn’t necessarily what he had in mind even though he had considered it until Sariah made an appearance in his life. With Therian’s their lifespan was much longer than that of a human so by the time they were middle aged in years they were only a third of the way through their life maybe less. Given it had been filled with tragedy so far he just wanted some sunlight and a little happiness again. “Parents often times have a fear of telling their children things they might upset them, it’s an age old problem. I don’t see myself being able to change that anytime soon but I will try to be a bit more open minded.” Despite his son’s ability to be impulsive at times he knew that he spoke honestly of the situation at hand. A smile played across his lips at his son’s works of not being an emotionally fragile boy, “You were never emotionally fragile Arwyn, you just needed to find your inner strength, which you have.” Any Valkyrie had the heart and soul of the fiercest of predator, it just lay dormant until you discovered it yourself. “One in the same.” A small snort left him at Arwyn’s comment of age, “Perhaps, if I cared about age she might be. She has more life experience than most twice her age though you aren’t the first to make that comment at least yours was in jest.” Orion said with a chuckle since most were rather serious about it.

It was nice to be able to jokingly talk to his son again and ease his mind along with offering his son a place to stay. It was the least he could do if he were being honest and his children would always have a roof over their head where he was concerned. “I’d say I’m nothing if not sentimental but we both know that would be a lie.” There was a small smirk on his lips since Destiny had always been the sentimental one, though the photograph Arwyn had gifted him with did make him rather sentimental. Though the challenge was something he would rather forget since it had been a rough fight and the recovery had been even worse. That was something he’d rather not speak of though since he didn’t need Arwyn to worry over the past. “I’m an optimist is some aspects but rather pessimistic in others. The Council hasn’t had to work through anything like this since it was pulled together so it’s really a true test of what we can withstand and move through.” And Orion was optimistic that this would quickly be in the past.

“I’ll introduce you to Harper though which should be rather interesting. You’re used to strong women so I don’t foresee that being an issue and I don’t think she’ll take her frustration with me out on you.” Though currently that was just a hope since it was rather hard to tell exactly what would happen there. “You hungry? We can order something in or go out to eat. And then take everything from there.” He said knowing Arwyn would need a little time to settle in not only to the house but the city.

ValkyrPermalink Reply by ✓ Yeonseok Lee on May 6, 2018 at 21:13

Arwyn was glad that even though he had been away for so long, it was easy to fall back into the same comfort his father always gave him, he knew that no matter what he did and how many mistakes he made there would always be someone there fighting his corner and watching his back, it was comforting, even when he was away, keeping that in the back of his mind. His lips raised into a gentle smile “What’s important is telling the truth even when you’re scared of someone’s reaction” he smirked a little, he was of course quoting his father’s previous advice directly back to him, it was pretty good advice though, he had to admit. He agreed that he had become much stronger now than when he left but back then, something like this would have crippled him, even with time to process. He had changed a lot in the past 2 years and yet he still felt like he was the same self when he was with his father.

The fact remained there in the back of his mind, his father had managed to come the full circle and feel he was ready to move forward in that aspect of his life and while he couldn’t blame him for it, nor did he want to discourage him a small part of the younger therian couldn’t help the flashbacks in his mind of his father and mother laughing together, the picture of perfect bliss and wonder if this other woman would make him laugh like that. When he realized what he said might had been said before in a much more judgemental way he went quiet with a sad smile “If she makes you happy then fuck what other people think” he didn’t normally cuss around his father but it seemed appropriate in that moment, as strange as it made him feel, other people didn’t have the right to tell his father what he could or couldn’t do.

Sentimental certainly wouldn’t be the first he would use to describe his father, devoted yes, but his father had never been the kind of man that needed physical items to feel like he was home. Home for the Valkyrie family was found in each other, not in brick and mortar, home was that memory of the night at the BBQ or the little things family did for one another without questioning it. It had taken a long time to see that but Arwyn realized now. And even when they all go their separate ways as he was sure they would from time to time, that home wouldn’t just disappear, it was ever present.

Arwyn was glad for the help with finding a pack, because the other part of feeling like he was at home was feeling like he belonged in a pack. He had been an omega for far too long and he missed the community spirit which came from his pack dearly, ever if Harper was as standoffish as his father made her sound. “Then I shall look forward to meeting her” he responded, he was going to choose to be optimistic about this one and take a leaf from the positivity book. At the mention of food Arwyn smirked “Always” he chuckled softly “I could really use a shower but how about we order in some take out and watch pointless TV like we used to” he smiled softly, a beer and watching some TV sounded like just the dose of normality he needed.

InactivePermalink Reply by ✓ Orion Valkyrie ~Admin~ on May 6, 2018 at 23:08

A smirk began to form on the elder Kitsune’s lips due to his son’s words. “When did you get so smart? Smart enough to quote back my own advice.” He said with a chuckle to his tone knowing his son was right and of course his own words which he had spoken were correct. It was far easier to give advice than take your own at times and this was one of those times. After all the last thing he had wanted was for Arwyn not to understand and to leave again because this time Sera would blame him and that was just more than he needed in life right now. Orion had no doubt that even if that happened his son would have come back around in his own time but thankfully he didn’t have to worry about that currently.

There were only a handful of people in the world who actually had the ability to wound Orion with their opinions and his son was one of them so that fact that he was taking this all well was good. Orion had no doubt that it wouldn’t be easy but he was glad for his son’s willingness to be supportive since there weren’t too many being that way recently. A deep an unexpected chuckle left him at Arwyn’s word and the emotion behind them. “If only it were that easy. I don’t push much stock into the opinions of others but it can cause a strain especially with the media. All either of us wants at this point is to see if there’s truly anything there and I do think there is.” He said speaking honestly of himself and Sariah.

There was an odd sense of comfort which came to a parent when their child was home safe and sound. A weight that was off their chest and a grip that finally loosened on your heart. It wasn’t necessarily hard to breath the whole time they were away but you seemed to breath easier when they were here and he was grateful for Arwyn finally giving him that peace of mind. Family wasn’t about a name or blood and home wasn’t about a building. Many families squandered what they had in one another or turned on one another and that was something he never wanted from his family and to this day had never happened. Home, family, those two words held true meaning when he had both his children near.

A smile curved his lips as Arwyn said he would look forward to meeting Harper, “Oh I’m sure she’ll look forward to meeting you too.” He said with a chuckle as his son spoke of food and TV, it had been awhile since Orion had really just allowed himself a night to mindlessly watch pointless TV and enjoy. “Get cleaned up and I’ll put the order in.” He said with a smile as he stood from the couch and embraced his son. “I’m glad to have you home.”