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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 April 8, 2018 at 14:22

The last few months had held so much change and been so intense and busy that they all seemed to blur into a matter of weeks almost tricking him in the amount of time which had passed. Thinking more on it, it had been over two years since he came to Evermore City seeking sanctuary and a place to pull himself and his family back together. Yet despite his best effort, much like the Greek empire, the myths of which had supplied his name, it had call crumbled into ruin. No, he had crumbled into ruin being unable to deal and just a few weeks after their exodus of Nevada and entrance into Evermore, his son Arwyn had left with nothing more than a note. At the time it had cut deep since he had already lost so much and his son seemed so eager to leave as soon as possible but Orion also understood. Everyone had to go through the stages of grief in their own way and due to Arwyn leaving he had to force himself to become stronger again, to be there for his daughter and for himself and then shortly after, be there as an Alpha to his pack and then an Ambassador.

Within his time in Evermore he had grown and evolved more than he had ever expected to. Being an Ambassador meant he had to work with the other factions of the city whether he liked them or not and he began to find a small amount of respect for how the vampire species was truly supposed to be after meeting a few who held their humanity above all else. It still hurt to remember what had happened to his brothers and to his late wife but holding on to that pain would only do himself a disservice since though they were dead, he was alive and he knew they would want him to live.

Sitting on the couch with a glass of iced whiskey he had two stacks of files before him, one for his station of Ambassador and the other for the security company he owned and ran. Both were equally important since even though being an Ambassador was a great honor it wasn’t one that paid. When you were supporting yourself, your family and a faction you needed that income in case something happened or others needed it. Plus it gave him a quick way to employ those who might be between jobs for a short time. It only seemed fair to return the favor Ivory had had once given him when she brought him to Evermore and helped him back on his feet. Being an Ambassador meant you helped your faction in whatever way that you could which was something Orion strived to do every day.

Hearing the knock on the door he closed the sensitive file about a VIP charity event coming up in Evermore City that he was going to be running security for. The file had blueprints, access codes and sensitive information that would be very dangerous in the wrong hands. He was trusted to be discreet and protect sensitive and secure information which at times could be a heavy burden but over all he loved the job. Standing he headed towards the front door catching a familiar scent which seemed to softly seep between the difference of the door and doorframe. For just a few seconds he hesitated in his movements giving himself time to mentally adjust. Reaching out he unlocked and opened the door smelling the nerves and apprehension which were coming off his son in waves. “Welcome home Arwyn.” Orion moved out of the way of the doorway and motioning him in not needing the neighbors to be as nosy as he knew they could be.

ValkyrPermalink Reply by ✓ Yeonseok Lee on April 8, 2018 at 23:38

Well the door hadn't been instantly slammed in his face so he decided that was a good sign as he ducked his head and followed his father inside the house hearing the door click shut behind them. Without much of a thought he reached forward to wrap his arms around his father in a tight hug, he closed his eyes for a moments, it had been his choice to leave but he had missed his family dearly the whole time, the hug was brief but it said a lot before the dark haired therian stepped back to let him go. Arwyn took a few moments to readjust himself, he had only spent a few weeks in this house before he left and so it didn't really feel familiar to him but it smelled familiar, the earthy scents of his family that he had almost forgotten until now. Shaking his hands out a little to try and shake the nerves away he wandered into the lounge area and his eyes fell on the closed file on the table, perking his interest in what his father had been up to since he left.

When Arwyn had written letters home he had sent them with no return address and with him traveling often it was almost impossible for his father to be able to reach him. Arwyn had needed space and he knew hearing from his family would only distract him from his purpose or at least that's what he had thought once before, now he saw things in a different light and part of him felt bad for the way he had handled his grief and for leaving his family when he was sure they wanted him to stay. It was too late to change that now however so all he could do was make it up to them.

Hesitantly Arwyn perched himself on the arm of one of the chairs as he looked at his father, trying to gauge his feelings "I uh.." he didn't know how to say anything all of a sudden and there really was so much to say "I'm sorry I left the way I did" he might as well lead with the apology, he was sorry for the way he left, he could have told his father that he was leaving and he was sure he would have understood but Arwyn just needed to get out of there and he wasn't sure he could handle saying goodbye. "Starting over in a new city, one where I had to pretend I didn't want to rip every vampire apart" he was trying to explain as best he could "I couldn't take it" he nodded slightly as he met his father's eyes, hoping he understood. Arwyn knew that Orion had stopped hunting when he had moved to Evermore, for the safety of their family it was probably for the best, but the young therianthrope hadn't known how to control his rage and he was afraid he was going to make things so much worse.

Clearing his throat Arwyn went on "How's Sera?" he asked apprehensively knowing his sister would have taken their mother's death a lot harder at first, she had always been one to bottle away her emotions to keep the illusion of strength, even around her closest family.

InactivePermalink Reply by ✓ Orion Valkyrie ~Admin~ on April 9, 2018 at 0:26

Even after two years of absence Orion would always welcome his children back, they were all he had other than his nephews. Never would he intentionally drive them away and he wanted them to know they were always welcome back no matter what. As Arwyn hugged him tight a small chuckle left Orion’s lips as he hugged his son tight for a moment. Some might be under the impression men didn’t hug but after two years he was just glad his son was back. Never had he admitted it but his son’s leaving had hurt, he understood the why but he had needed his family after losing so much. That was not a weight or guilt that he was willing to place on his son’s shoulders though. “No matter the amount of time you’ve spent here, any home I have will always be yours Arwyn.” He said trying to alleviate some of the anxiety.

Orion would have told his son as much if he had ever been able to write back to him but he was sure his son had left off an address on purpose. It honestly hadn’t matter though because it let Orion know his son was still alive even if it was only one-way communication. Every time a new letter arrived it was like he could breath again and then he was holding his breath until the next. He had half a mind to blame Arwyn for the silver beginning to form at his temples but there were many reasons that was starting.

Gathering the files he moved them out of the way as he took a seat on the couch feeling like if he stood that was a more intimidating stance and that wasn’t what he was aiming for. Right now Arwyn needed to be reminded of the feeling of home and though Orion might be rather stern at times he understood how big of a step it was for his son to return to Evermore. He refrained from saying anything since he knew his son needed to get it all out without interruption. When there was a pause in the conversation he took the moment to speak, “In one night you lost your Mother and I had to pull us from the only home that you or Sera had ever known. I know it wasn’t what either of you wanted or needed but it was the only option I had and for that I’m sorry too.” It placed them in a city with rules that weren’t easy for a family like theirs’ to follow. In truth it was something Orion still struggled with somedays but he did what he had to hold the peace. “I understand needing to get away and I’m just glad that you’re back.”

When Arwyn asked about his sister Orion wasn’t sure how to answer, he knew but he also knew that it would make his son feel guilty. “Sera’s better than she was when we got here. For the first six months I don’t think she really mourned because she was trying to stay strong.” He didn’t say it but she had to be strong for him because he had finally broken. After losing his brother’s he had barely been holding on but watching Destiny die right in front of him had been the straw that broke the camel’s back. “Things seem to have leveled out now but you know how she is, it’s hard for me to really tell.”

ValkyrPermalink Reply by ✓ Yeonseok Lee on April 9, 2018 at 20:24

It didn’t feel like two years had passed and yet it had, he could see the little changes in the home, the birthday gifts, the attempt at moving forward, his father’s very aura seemed different than it had been when he left. Normally Arwyn wasn’t the hugging type but he argued that a full two years of not seeing or hearing from someone, albeit by his own choice, was enough of an excuse, at least for a brief moment. The young therian nodded his head in response to his father’s statement which helped to settle a little of the apprehension that was coursing through him, for a long time he had felt like he didn’t deserve to come home but eventually he had realized the only people he was really punishing were the people who he had let down in the first place. “Thanks” he had spoken it softly, almost at the tone of a whisper as he moved through the hall.

Most of Arwyn’s reason for not giving a return address was because he knew his father would worry even more so if he knew his son had turned around and walked right back to the place where they had just lost most of their family. Sure, he supposed his father had probably guessed it but it was probably better not knowing that constantly worrying. Arwyn knew his father had taken over the ambassadorship in Evermore city, even when you weren’t in the city the supernatural talked.

Catching the files in his view for just a moment Arwyn wondered what they were all about, his father wasn’t usually the secretive type so he imagined it must be something very important if he needed to swipe them out view so quickly. Arwyn nodded thankful for his father’s understanding, he was sure they all handled the loss of his mother differently, though he hadn’t been around to witness it in person. Perhaps he was weak for running away but at the time it had been the only answer he could find to the aching that just wouldn’t subside. It never really went away, just dulled and became more like a memory than a living nightmare after some time “It’s not your fault” the young therian was sharp with his response, he knew exactly who was blame for his mother’s death and he had made many of them pay for that sin “You did what you had to do and so did I, right or wrong, it was the only option we saw” he nodded slightly to affirm his point

Arwyn fell quiet as he listened to Orion explain Sera’s process, he knew exactly what Sera needed to be strong for without him needing to explain it, he knew when he left that he was letting them both down but truth be told Sera had always been the strongest one of all of them, he had been able to walk away because he knew she’d be able to hold it together as selfish as that was. He knew she was angry with him, she had to be but he hoped he could make it up to her. “Way beyond our level of understanding I’m afraid dad, though I’m sure she’ll be ready to kick my ass for leaving without a goodbye” he played it off with humor because it seemed easier that way, easier than letting the guilt of the decision he had made crush him. Letting another long breath leave his lips he followed up the question with another “And you?” he added almost scared to hear the answer.

InactivePermalink Reply by ✓ Orion Valkyrie ~Admin~ on April 10, 2018 at 3:26

In the time Arwyn had been away Orion had made the house a home, one he was rather proud of even if it had to be pieced together without the feminine and homey touches he was sure Destiny would have added. It was their first home without the one person who had held them altogether and he had done his first at first. Now years later he had found himself once more and put his own personal touches to the home wishing that he had more of the family photos that had once filled the ways of their home in Nevada. “You’re welcome Arwyn, you should never be afraid to come home, there will always be a place for you, always.”

No matter how bad Orion wanted to ask where his son had been he had the sick feeling that he knew and knowing for sure might give him a delayed heart attack and he wasn’t that old, not by Therian standards anyway. Besides it was too late to be worried or stressed over the past and Arwyn was here now, alive and apparently well but time would tell.

Orion noticed how his son’s eyes fell to the flies which he relocated mostly to get them out of the way but the other part was because it as better not to have his son questioning things he couldn’t discuss. Some of it was Ambassador related and others were work related, but it wasn’t anything Arwyn need to worry about. The kid had enough on his plate with returning to Evermore, Orion didn’t intend to add more. When his son told him that it wasn’t his fault Orion closed his eyes and clenched his jaw for a moment. It took everything in him not to say that it should have been him. After more than two years he needed to let it go because he was where he was meant to be and doing what he was meant to do for his species. “All I could do was my best, for you and for Sera. I couldn’t face losing either of you that way, not so soon.” Which was why he had worried so much when Arwyn first left and when the time between letters increased.

How Sera had been so strong, Orion didn’t know but she took after her Mother in that regard. It had broken his heart that Sera had to be strong and take care of him when that should have been his job but he had failed at it. There were a lot of things he regretted about that time frame, it was the weight Sera had carried on her own. “Your sister is more like your Mother than she realizes, which means she’s stronger than either of us will ever be.” Arwyn might be a Lycan like his Mother and Sera a Kitsune like Orion but Sera’s personality was so much like Destiny’s that it was crazy. “I can think of a few who might not mind betting on your odds of losing against your sister, she’s been keeping up with training and I think she’s still faster than you.” Orion said with a teasing quirk of his lips before the question he knew was coming was asked.

Reaching up Orion rubbed at his jaw line, “I’m better than I was when you left. I’ve created a life here, a business and taken over as the Ambassador. I think the business and the Ambassador position I think have helped me out a lot the last few years and I’ve done my best to give back.” There was so much that had occurred and didn’t want to overwhelm Arwyn since he had just returned. Nor did he wanted to drive his son away with the fact that he was doing his best to move on from the past in all aspects including relationship wise which he had the feeling might be ill received.

ValkyrPermalink Reply by ✓ Yeonseok Lee on April 15, 2018 at 10:16

Arwyn smiled gently at his father’s words, his eyes scanning over the home that would have been his if he had decided to stay, it was a nice place and while it wasn’t what he remembered from Nevada, there were things that reminded him of it, even though they had only been able to bring a few things with them when he left. Arwyn’s eyes went to one of the tables where there was a frame holding a picture of Sera and his father, he smiled reaching out to touch the frame gently with his fingertips as he seated himself “It feels ridiculous now that I ever was” he answered and shook his head a little “I hated letting you and Sera down” he admitted with a somewhat furrowed brow.

Despite him not sharing where he had been, he was sure his father already knew that Arwyn would have returned to Nevada at some point in his travels. The dark haired therian shrugged off his backpack from his shoulders which carried basically everything he owned, it was for the most part filled with clothes. Pulling open the zips he retrieved a framed picture taken only a few weeks before everything changed, it was his mother’s birthday and they had spent the night out in the yard, grilling food and drinking a little too much. Without a word Arwyn placed it down on the table between them in offering to his father. “I know dad” he responded to his father’s words with a look of acknowledgement “I could never blame you for wanting your family to be safe, sometimes preservation has to come before duty” he knew that fine line well, between doing the right thing and doing what you had to.

Arwyn smiled gently as Orion spoke of Sera, perhaps a younger and more competitive version of himself would be bothered by the idea that his baby sister was stronger than him, perhaps in more areas than just mental stability but now he only really saw it as truth. When his mother had died, he had not only lost the woman who raised him but also he had lost his alpha and that had felt like losing a limb. As a result of his choice, Arwyn had become an omega in the time he was away and the lack of a pack took more of a toll than he even imagined. “I think even I’d bet against myself in that match up” he answered truthfully. If he decided to stay in Evermore he knew that would mean he needed to make friendly with the alpha here which was something he wasn’t sure he was ready for.

As Arwyn listened to his father’s break down of the life he had left since he left the young therian was relieved to hear that he simply hadn’t stopped living, in fact he may argue that he had lived far more fully than Arwyn even had. “I’ve been keeping my eye on that” he responded with a half smirk before reacting to the questioning look his father gave “Evermore daily do have an online publishing now and you are quite the celebrity to them” he teased with raised brows hinting to his father that he knew everything that the press knew. Running his hand through his hair he laughed softly “I don’t even know where to start with returning back to normality” he admitted with a half smile.

InactivePermalink Reply by ✓ Orion Valkyrie ~Admin~ on April 16, 2018 at 1:18

If there was one thing which would never change in his life it would be the love he had for his children. Anything he had he would gladly give them or give for them including his life since they were his life, they were the biggest part of himself that he would leave with the world. As a father he could not be more proud at how each of his children turned out. Even with Arwyn having been away since the death of his mother, Orion knew he still had reason to be proud of his son, especially since he had the strength to return which wasn’t an easy thing. “Time changes things and makes you forget things that you once knew. I will always be here for you without judgement and with an open mind and an open door.” As his son spoke of letting him down he shook his head, “Arwyn you didn’t let anyone down, it was a hard time for us all and we all had to handle it the best way that we could. I’d say neither of us blame you but I can’t speak for Sera but I doubt she does, you’re still her big brother.” Watching Sera he could tell she missed her brother, she missed her mother and she seemed to miss the way things once were.

As the backpack was placed down Orion kept an eye on his son’s motions, not out of concern but out of curiosity. The moment the framed picture was set down Orion’s breath caught and he felt himself trying to swallow the building emotion. There was so much happiness in the photo and it was one he hadn’t seen in years but it had been one of his favorite photos in the house. Reaching out he picked it up and lead his index finger over the glass and the figures in the photo. It was one of the last days he had felt happiness in Nevada. The older Therian could nearly smell the charcoal and meat cooking on the grill, the memory vibrant and filled with warmth and happiness. “Arwyn…” He felt tears prickling in his eyes a mixture of sadness and happiness since it was a bittersweet memory to be sure. The portion of his heart that would forever belong to Destiny seemed to swell with love. Orion knew he would never be able to truly let Destiny go but he knew that he needed to move on and that Destiny would want him too. “Thank you.” He said as he placed the framed photograph back down unable to keep his eyes off of it as he wiped at the gathering tears.

It took the Kitsune a few minutes to gather himself once more since he was never very open with his emotions even around his children. It was hard to get away from the Alpha mentality of emotion being weakness since his children would never see it as weakness or something to exploit. Destiny had been a part of Orion’s life since his teenage years and it was hard to let her go and losing her had nearly caused him to lose himself. So not allowing the emotions of it all to overwhelm him was still hard at times especially with the photo his son had gifted him which proved where he had been at least for a portion of his time away. “It would at least be an entertaining match up for sure.” He jested knowing both of children were strong and skilled when it came to fighting and sparring.

At the words of keeping an eye on him Orion’s brow rose and he did almost fear what was being printed since he never really took much stock in what the media had to say. “Should I worry about may have been published?” There were so many things they could write about that he wasn’t sure what was written let alone what was true. “Considering I do my best to stay out of the limelight I do shutter to think on what’s being published.” Which was something he hadn’t worried or even considered until this moment. “Normal has always been a matter of opinion and I doubt most would think of our normal as…well normal.” It was a hard thing to figure out though and it had been a struggle for Orion to find that balance and himself again so he understood. “I’d like to help if I can.”

ValkyrPermalink Reply by ✓ Yeonseok Lee on April 18, 2018 at 12:21

It felt nice to hear those words, to feel like he belonged somewhere in the world again, after all the travelling and constant moving, Arwyn had almost lost the very concept of home, trading it in for couch surfing and backpacking in hostels, it was an adventure but it was also a lonely life to lead. “Sometimes I wish time could make you forget entirely” he answered honestly, the pain in his mind had tormented him in the years after the fall of the Valkyrie pack, all he wanted to do was to be able to breathe easy for one moment. On the other side though, there were memories Arwyn held that he never wanted to let go off, the quiet moments of bliss between the wartorn story. “I did” he answered with a gentle shrug of his shoulders “Not blaming me doesn’t mean you didn’t want me to stay” he answered honestly and sighed “Most of all I feel like I let myself down, I wish I had been strong enough to hold it together” he nodded softly “But all I can do now is try and turn it around”.

Arwyn’s eyes trained on his father as he placed down the frame, the picture represented one of the happiest moments in Arwyn’s life and from the look his father gave to the photo, it was one of his too. Arwyn remembered how they had spent the entire evening chatting and drinking and devouring more meat than would be considered sane for any human family. For a brief moment in time they were able to forget they were in the midst of a war and just have fun. Sera had insisted they all take a selfie together and it had turned out better than they could have hoped for. Arwyn had kept it with him to remind him on days when things were hard and now that things were better for him, he felt it was time it returned home. Arwyn smiled gently as he nodded in response to his father’s thanks “It’s nice to be reminded not everything is lost” he responded glad he could bring a bit of happiness from Nevada back with him.

Giving Orion time to gather himself back together, Arwyn took the opportunity to look around the home he could have had once again. He could see the places where Sera had put her own spin on it, the ornaments on the fireplace which were no doubts Birthday gifts and the pictures hanging in frames of animals and landscapes. As the conversation shifted to the media Arwyn chuckled realizing his father didn’t even read what the tabloids wrote about him “Probably” he answered and winked “They seem to more interested about which of the female ambassadors you spend your time with than anything about the welfare of peace in the city” he chuckled shaking his head as his eyes dropped to his father’s ring finger and pressed his lips together. best. Orion’s definition of normal made the younger therianthrope laugh, he supposed he was right, normal was very relative for the Valkyrie family.

“I’ve gotten used to living out of a suitcase so to speak” he clarified as he jerked his chin towards the backpack which contained everything he owned “The idea of living in a city like Evermore is a little daunting” he added, it wasn’t a light decision he had made to come home and it was going to take some adjustment “And then there’s the whole pack situation” added as he bit down on his lip “I was hoping you might be able to introduce me to the lycanthrope alpha” it felt like he was asking a lot of his father but he honestly wasn’t sure he wanted to stroll up to the alpha of Evermore on his own accord.

InactivePermalink Reply by ✓ Orion Valkyrie ~Admin~ on April 23, 2018 at 2:57

To some a home was just a building which you housed your belongings in. To Orion it held a specific feeling and that was a feeling which he always tried to impart on his children. It had nothing to do with a building but to have a home there did have to be some sort of foundation. With Arwyn back it was like a puzzle piece sliding back into place and gave Orion a sense of peace. The idea of forgetting was one which the elder Kitsune would have fully backed when he first came to Evermore but now he couldn’t imagine forgetting since it was a painful past he wanted to save others from living through. “Even the worst of events teach us a lesson and remind us that sometimes bad things happen to us so we can protect others from it.” Though if given the choice Orion wouldn’t want to live through so much loss and suffering.

Hearing his son’s words about being needed here he gave a bittersweet smile, “Arwyn no matter the situation I would have wanted you to stay. Your life is not about the things I want, it’s about the choices you make which should be mad for you and no one else. Your sister and I can always survive but I don’t want you to feel like you have to do things a certain way just for my benefit. Besides I can’t judge you on not keeping it together when I couldn’t do so myself.” Orion knew the Valkyrie family had always been stronger together than apart but there were times when they needed to go their own way for their own good and that was what Arwyn had done. “It takes more strength to acknowledge what you see see as mistakes and face them, than it does to have made a different decision in the first place. Regardless I’m glad to have you back home Arwyn.” And he really, truly was.

It was hard to look away from the smiling faces in the photograph which showcased his family at a happier time. Two photos had been taken one right after the other, one was full of smiles and happiness and the other had been a bit goofy Orion surprising them all by turning his head to kiss Destiny’s cheek causing a shocked expression on her face and laughter from his children. It was a moment now cemented in time in the form of photograph so no matter how the memory began to dim there was photographic evidence to remind him of another life which had it’s pros and cons as all lives did. “Not everything is lost and not all of the past was bad.” He had two amazing children and unlike many he had over thirty years of happiness with one woman and that was more than anyone could ask for. “Your Uncle’s, your Mother, they fought for what they believed in and they their deaths we’re in vein, we remember and we’ll never forget and their loss drives me every day.” It was an ever present reminded of what war could cause and that was why he now fought for peace instead.

His steely eyes followed his son’s as he looked around the living room which Sera had a heavy hand in decorating as she reminded him that he had very little sense of how to decorate. That of course was not something he could argue since he had never really had to consider those sort of things thanks to Sera and Destiny. The lack of photos and personal touches to the house had driven the young Kitsune crazy as she stated it felt cold and like no one lived here. Now it had a feeling of warmth and was far more inviting than it had once been. A few of the framed photos actually taken by photographs in Evermore since he had purchased a few from galleries he had setup security systems for or been the security for events. A small groan left his lips at Arwyn’s statement since the elder Valkyrie was well aware of exactly who they meant though he did his best to play dumb, “Given only two of the other Ambassadors in the city are male and one of them is the vampire Ambassador I don’t see it likely we’ll be going out to grab a beer.” He could tell the path his son’s eyes traveled and knew this was the first time his son had ever seen him without his wedding band on. It had take a good amount of time to get to the point of taking it off but he couldn’t continue living in the past, it would kill him. “There may be a truth or two to some of the rumors though I guess.” He said as he lead his left hand through his hair unsure of how to even begin to approach that subject.

It was best to allow Arwyn time to acclimate to the city before throwing the idea of his father dating again at him. There was no easy time or perfect time to deal with that situation but it was one which would have to be handled. “What you’ve gotten used to and what you need or have to do now are two different things. The room you picked is still yours if you want it, not much has been changed in and it’s been kept clean and dusted.” It was part of the cleaning he usually did once a week, often times on Sunday. It was easy to understand how this city could be daunting since it was the opposite to the lives the Valkyrie family had lead up until the last few years. Peace and living beside vampires was still not an easy thing for Orion to stomach but he did what he had to for his position and for his faction. As he son spoke of pack a bit of pain shot through him thinking of the pain Arwyn had endured when the Lycan’s last alpha had been killed. It was hard enough to loss a pack member, it was like a limb being severed in a brutal way but to have your alpha killed, it was something you could feel deep down into your soul as you took on a portion of the pain. It was something he had felt when his brother’s had been killed. “I can introduce you to Harper though I will warn you that she isn’t necessarily thrilled with me at the moment. Or any moment really since male alpha’s are not something she’s fond of.”

ValkyrPermalink Reply by ✓ Yeonseok Lee on April 25, 2018 at 22:15

Arwyn nodded softly, he knew that his family had wanted him to stay, perhaps they had even needed him but he had needed to feel like he could make a difference to something and he knew that Evermore city wasn’t going to be the place for him to do that. He was glad however that his father had welcomed him back with open arms, he wasn’t sure how he would handled him being angry at him, at least forwardly. “I’ve made a lot of them” he answered honestly with a shake of his head, leaving had been one of the many he made on his journey but making mistakes had also helped him to grow and to shape himself to the person he wanted to be. Some of those mistakes he didn’t think he’d ever get the chance to fix however.

Hearing Orion’s words Arwyn nodded in agreement, he was right, at first when he looked back on the life they had lead all he could see was negativity but as time passed he realized just how much they had before it had been taken from them. His family had always been there for one another, accepting and understanding constantly, a lot of people in the world never got to experience that. “I miss them” he answered as his eyes trailed back to the photo which framed the smiling face of his mother, it still hurt to think about her even 2 years down the line, to think about how she would never see Sera and him get married down the line or meet any grandchildren she might one day have. Realizing a tears were pooling in his eyes he reached up to wipe them away with a shake of his head and a gentle smile “But sometimes I feel like she’s still watching over” he added.

Arwyn heard his father speaking but all he could think about was the lack of ring on Orion’s finger. Of course he’d already suspected from what he’d read that his father was attempting to move on but seeing it for himself caused a whole different wave of feelings to wash over the younger therianthrope. When he lifted his hand away Arwyn made an effort not to follow with his gaze and tried to shake off the feelings that crept up reminding himself that it had been 2 years and Arwyn could only imagine how lonely it must have felt, especially considering that he left too. “I had the feeling there was” he answered with a half nod, some people might speculate but Arwyn knew his father way better than they did, he doubted removing his ring was just a whim he had one day.

Arwyn laughed at his father’s words, he really had no real plan for his life anymore, he had been travelling aimlessly for the past few months when he finally realized he’d lost his sense of purpose, his drive. It was in that moment that he knew he needed to go back to his roots, to go back home and figure out what it was he wanted from his life once again. And he supposed living under the same roof as his family once more was a good start “Thanks, that’d be great” he answered with a half nod “As soon as I get a job I’ll contribute to the rent” he responded again, a job, that was probably going to be a key starting point if he was going to make any longevity from this stay in Evermore City.

Arywn chuckled softly at his words about Harper “What did you do?” he asked with raised brows wondering what Orion could have done to piss off another alpha, though he supposed that could be a range of different things knowing that stubbornness and high tempers were common traits of the Valkryie family.

InactivePermalink Reply by ✓ Orion Valkyrie ~Admin~ on April 28, 2018 at 2:09

A small chuckle left him even though he knew that his son wasn’t trying to be funny, “I’ve made more, it tends to come with age. Mistakes and tragedy that is, I hope you never have to go through half of what I have in my life.” Since all you wanted for your children was a better life than the one you had. “Sometimes we run for our good and to try and out run the demons which follow us, they always catch up though.” That was a sad fact of life that Orion had learned throughout his life since things like that always followed you.

A somber expression over took him due to Arwyn’s honest words since he missed them too. Every day at least one of his brother’s ran across his mind as something triggered a memory of the life he did so miss. “I know Arwyn, trust me I know. In Nevada there was so much to remind me of all of them but sometimes it’s just a smell or noise or seeing a family walking down the street. We never forget the people we love Arwyn and they are with us always.” No matter how painful it might be at times and the clench of his heart in his chest he never wanted to forget the good times. “She’s always with us, in our times of need and sorrow.” Orion fully believed that because of the fact he dreamed of Destiny while the silver worked it’s way out of his system in a particular moment of vulnerability.

Moving on was heard when you had loved the same woman for as long as Orion had, never had his eyes or mind wondered because he had loved Destiny more than he loved even himself. For a child to see their parent moving on, it had to be hard and Orion didn’t blame his son for not knowing what to say. He didn’t expect Arwyn to understand at least not right away since it was a lot to take in. “I will always love your Mother Arwyn but it isn’t fair to her memory or to myself to stop living. It isn’t about not wanting to be alone, it’s about finding someone who for the first time in years sees through the façade I’ve worn for so long.” He said hoping that his son would one day be able to understand.

“Take your time on getting back on your feet and getting used to the city, it’s a lot to take in and there’s a lot to learn.” He may have pushed his children with training but he had never pushed them towards one path or another wanting them to make their own path in life. As Arwyn asked about Harper he grimaced slightly, “You may have missed a few things in your time away. Most recently, me not using the Alpha council I created and accepting the challenge of another Alpha from outside the city which nearly got me killed. So neither of the other two Alpha’s are necessarily happy with my lack of asking for permission and instead begging for forgiveness. It wasn’t my choice to make but it was one I couldn’t risk them disagreeing with me on.” He said well aware of the strain he had placed on the Alpha council.

ValkyrPermalink Reply by ✓ Yeonseok Lee on April 30, 2018 at 20:23

Arwyn somehow didn’t think life was quite done with mistakes for now, though he could hope that the tragedies would be kept to a minimum, he and Sera had been through a lot in their relatively short lives, more than most would go through in a lifetime. “And yet you still find a way to get up every morning” he commended, the average person would probably be crushed over the level of grief his father had endured and yet he had come through the other side an alpha. Sadly his father was right as usual, running from your problems worked for a while but eventually everything you tried to forget came rushing back, usually at the worst moment.

It was the little things, like coming down for breakfast in the morning and realizing that you were heading to the table alone, or when you brushed against someone in the hallway and the scent of their perfume felt familiar and you were back in that memory all over again. “I know” he answered, being supernatural gave you a certain amount of slack to believe there really was more to life after death and he knew if his mom could, she’d be watching every moment, even the terrible ones that anyone with a right mind would want to skip.

Hearing his father’s words he couldn’t help but agree, for the first few months had hadn’t known the first thing about moving on, part of him was stuck in a revenge fantasy which he thought would fill the void he was feeling. It had taken him a long time to realize it was doing nothing but hold him in a past he was never going to get back. After that he had travelled, met all sorts of interesting things, even had his heart broken. “I get it Dad, more than you even know” he responded with a half smile, it was going to take a long time for him to ever be truly okay with another woman being in his father’s life like that but he had grown enough to put someone else’s happiness before his own discomfort. Hearing the way Orion spoke made the younger therian smirk however, well his father hadn’t done well at all if he was trying to hide it “Sounds like she’s gotten right under your skin” he teased.

Take your time was a good sentiment but Arwyn was the last person to want to sit around and do nothing, he already felt restless knowing he was staying in one place, he was certainly not going to waste any more of his time wallowing “Ah, you know me, more of a jump feet first and figure the rest out on the fall kinda person” he laughed softly, that was one of the things about his personality he didn’t think would ever change. Arwyn knew his father, willing to die before he put anyone else at risk, brash and a little overprotective but with a heart big enough to carry more than a person should ever have to. His story didn’t surprise him, but he did frown when he spoke about almost getting killed. Arwyn didn’t know what he would have done if he’d gotten that call and he could only be thankful it hadn’t happened. “Seems like we both made some pretty drastic mistakes” he commented as he tilted his head a little “Do you think you can fix it?” he raised a brow wondering what these other two alphas were like.