IC Inbox

[massrez]

☙INBOX text ♔ audio ♙ video ♔ action Kindly leave your missives and they will be responded to with utmost haste. May you walk in the Light.

Done this day by my hand, King Anduin Llane Wrynn

code credit

Comments

[alwayskayaking]

[Tim swirls the drink in his bottle.] My best guess? That was you?

[massrez]

A good guess.

Perhaps you could also make a guess at what her lair happened to be.

[alwayskayaking]

[He takes a long sip of his beer.] I suppose a bit of what a I saw yesterday?

[massrez]

[ He nods again, brow furrowing slightly. ]

It wasn't...quite the same. Onyxia's lair was sweltering, lava and molten rock and smelling of sulphur and flame.

Eventually I'd gotten loose and tucked myself into a crevasse with a sharp rock to defend myself. The cavern was full of her whelps, and she'd given them free reign to eat me if they could catch me. So one after another their little snouts would shove into the crack, furiously snapping away.

All I could think was, if I killed enough of them, if I could hold out until my father arrived...everything would be alright.

[alwayskayaking]

You were very brave. I doubt I would have been that resolved if I had found myself in such a situation when I was that young.

[massrez]

[ He shakes his head, the corner of his mouth tugging upwards once more. ]

I think it was spite, more than bravery, to be honest.

[alwayskayaking]

It appears that your spite kept you alive that day.

[massrez]

Hardly the first time. [ He huffs, almost a laugh. But the expression grows solemn after a moment. ]

...I had nightmares of that cave for years after. The thought of ever being that close to a black dragon again was terrifying.

[alwayskayaking]

I shouldn't have left you there. I should have come back with more help. Made the cops believe me or something.

[massrez]

Tim, that's not...

[ Another sigh escapes him, this time more frustrated, one hand lifting to pinch at the bridge of his nose.

Maybe this was a mistake. ]

[alwayskayaking]

You shouldn't have had to go through that a second time. I'm sorry that it happened. [Yeaaaahhhhh, Tim is taking away the wrong lesson from this. Thinking that the only reason Anduin acted like he and that dragon were friends was to protect him. What a noble friend. Putting himself through such a horrible situation and memory just to keep Tim safe. That is the message Tim is taking away from this.]

[massrez]

I told you, he wasn't going to hurt me.

[alwayskayaking]

How can you be so sure? The last one wanted to kill you.

[massrez]

Yes, she did.

As I said, the memories of what happened clung to me for years. I was afraid of them. I certainly didn't trust them. I had good reason not to.

[ All this to lend weight to the next statement: ]

I trust Wrathion.

[alwayskayaking]

[Tim can only think of one question to follow that bold a statement.] Why?

[massrez]

Because as long as I've known him he has tried, with everything that he is, to be better than that.

Not for the sake of my approval. Light knows he's never needed it before.

[alwayskayaking]

Has he? [Tim sounds skeptical.] I'm sure it doesn't hurt to be a friend of a king in your world. [It's always something with monsters in Tim's mind.]

[massrez]

No, but even my word could not remove the tarnish his bloodline carries. Too many remember what the black dragons who came before him were like.

If you asked him what our friendship has earned him, I'm fairly certain 'a headache' would top the list, if anything.

[alwayskayaking]

[It is out of the greatest respect for Anduin and what he's recently been through that keeps Tim from snorting and rolling his eyes. Instead he takes a sip of his beer and counts slowly to five.]

I'm sure he would probably say that. [The prick. He thinks to himself.] I hope he at least apologized to you.

[massrez]

[ There's an unintentional snort of laughter, before Anduin shakes his head. ]

No. And I don't expect one.

[alwayskayaking]

What a great friend. [Said with classic dry British sarcasm.] Even if it was the city messing with his head he still kidnapped you. Regardless of if he was aware of the way it made you think of your past you would think he would still offer you some sort of apology.

[massrez]

Yes, reminding someone of a potentially traumatic event in their past should warrant an apology, shouldn't it.

[ Stare. Sip. ]

[alwayskayaking]

[Yeah. Tim knows what that stare is for. He coughs and shifts uncomfortably on the couch.] Ah... yes. [He takes a second to try and look Anduin in the eye.] I am sorry for what I said. [Kind of.] It's just-- when you said this was something the city had done-- [He wets his lips and shakes his head. No, excuses and his reasoning why is not what Anduin needs right now.] Doesn't matter anymore. I'm sorry. [Only kind of.]

[massrez]

You thought I was about to let the same thing happen again.

[ He lowers the bottle, straightening as he sits, and looking a little more composed than before. ]

[alwayskayaking]

I was concerned you hadn't considered that possibility before sending your only help away. If the city had changed the way a friend of mine acts I'm not sure I would be thinking about that. I would be too focused on them.