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[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

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[massrez]

If you're hoping for an advantage, then I'm sorry to disappoint you.

[ With a smirk, Anduin instead reaches for the teapot. A much more customary refreshment for these games of theirs. A bit of the familiar, where they can have it. ]

The board should be on the table, if you want to set us up.

[ It's one of the few additions since he's come here, the few personal touches. Shalamayne has been cleaned, and now rests to one side, beneath what looks to be a new addition: a portrait that had to have come from Azeroth: one of the royal family when it had still been whole. ]

[deathstiny]

Oh? I am flattered.

[Or he would be, if he actually believed Anduin was preparing for a rematch. Surely not.]

As his majesty wishes.

[Wrathion steps sideways to set the board up, dropping his bag on the ground and plucking out a candy cane to stick between his teeth as he does so.]

[massrez]

[ A clinking of plates follows as he takes down a pair of tea cups. ]

You picked a good time. I think everyone who intended to stop by and check on me has already done so.

[ There have been many. More than he was expecting, really. But it's heartening to think that so many are ready to stand by their fellow captives in a moment of need. It speaks well of them.

Though of course, none of them were there for the direct aftermath. That dubious honor belongs to Wrathion alone. ]

[deathstiny]

[He'd imagined that he'd have had a handful of visitors to check in upon him. The incident had been quite public after all. In truth, he's still pretty upset about the whole thing -- but not upset enough to comment overtly.

Wrathion does, however, glance over his shoulder at the prompting.]

I imagine you had quite the entourage.

[By now, he is sure that Anduin is aware that much of his thrashing was also public. The smile is gone from his face, but his back is to the king in a small effort to avoid the open display of displeasure.]

[massrez]

Most the people I've met here are very kind. They wanted to help as best they could.

[ His eyes dart up to the back of Wrathion's head for a moment, before returning to the tea. ]

Ramir was among them.

[deathstiny]

[Wrathion takes a seat at the table, crossing his legs and shifting the candy cane in his mouth when Anduin mentions Ramir. There is a pause of silence as he processes. Anduin wouldn't have mentioned Ramir by name if he was not made aware of their contract.]

I was unaware the two of you were well acquainted.

[His tone is that of interest, though his expression does not mirror it.]

[massrez]

I could say the same.

[ Both eyebrows arch. Is he trying to play coy, now? He really should know better by now. ]

But in case it ever became relevant, I thought it best to mention it sooner, rather than later.

[ Unlike some people. ]

[deathstiny]

[He shrugs one shoulder, doing his best to look as nonchalant as possible. Anduin was and would never be fully aware of the extent of his contacts. That was for the better.]

Our arrangement is a formality. I have essentially waived as many of my obligations as I've legally been permitted to.

[In case Ramir did not make that clear, he intends to -- and he even takes the candy cane out of his mouth to do so.]

And that is the extent of relevance in our relationship that I wish to keep.

[massrez]

Well, we're friends. I didn't want that to come as a shock to you, if it ever came up.

[ This wasn't just a contact. Wrathion knew this wasn't just one of his contacts. But there's no point making a fuss about it now.

Instead, he calmly starts to pour out the tea. ]

You still take yours the same, yes?

[deathstiny]

I am sure you get along very well.

[Wrathion leaves it alone, though something in his expression softens a bit when Anduin does not press him. Dare he admit that he was grateful to avoid the subject? He has many complicated feelings surrounding her -- and he isn't looking to process or unpack them so much as keep them locked in the box where they belong.

No. He does not dare.

So he reaches to make his roll while Anduin is pouring, taking a bite off the end of his candy cane with a loud crunch.]

Yes.

[massrez]

I try to get along with everyone.

[ He circles around the kitchen counter, cups in hand. His movements definitely seem smoother now, less pained than they were a handful of nights ago. Between the healing, the potions, the rest, and the additional help from those concerned parties, he seems to have recovered fully from the incident.

Physically, anyway. ]

Here you are...

[deathstiny]

Don't I know it.

[He says it a bit dryly, the way he often remarks on things Anduin does that he does not agree with. He isn't quite so bold as to remark directly - after all, it had only been a few weeks prior that he had been given some measure of forgiveness by the king. He is not unaware of his own hypocrisy, in that regard.

He takes the cup as it is offered to him, shifting just a bit in his seat. If he had not seen Anduin recover from the bell, he might have been more bewildered by his recovery.]

You look better.

[A mild change of subject. He can feel something creeping up the back of his throat, thinking of Ramir and forgiveness in the same breath.]

[massrez]

Anders and Khadgar both had potions to help things along considerably, and simple bedrest took care of most of the rest.

[ All said very matter-of-fact. The shakiness from the night of the attack is nowhere to be seen, and he seems just as sturdy as ever, calmly sipping his own tea as he moves to sit across from the dragon. ]

[deathstiny]

[Wrathion studies Anduin's reaction, brows knitting at the mention of Khadgar in particular. He'd gotten quite practiced at lying -- or he was simply telling the truth. The dragon cannot decide, and so he takes a sip of his tea before making his first move.]

All that bedrest in between all of those visitors.

[He's not buying it. But a smooth smile that follows the comment suggests that whatever answer he was waiting for was given with that reply.]

How is our dear friend, the Archmage? I have not seen very much of him in recent weeks.

[massrez]

[ Time spent as king taught one a great deal about maintaining a poker face through unpleasant dealings. One lesson learned, at least. ]

He seemed well. We spoke at some length about what he's gone through here in the city as well.

[ One of the pieces clicks as it settles onto its space on the grid. ]

Time spent here is kind to no one. As we would all do well to remember.

[deathstiny]

Did you? Anything of particular interest?

[Another sip of tea. He ignores commenting specifically on the latter comment, though he does not bother to disguise the flat expression that comes over his face.

After all, he did not particularly have compassion for everyone in the city -- just a few. And what happened to them was more important than what happened to everyone else.]

[massrez]

The subject of death and it's impermanence here speaks to something sinister. But honestly, you'd have an easier time picking out things here that don't.

[ He sits back, waiting. Fingers tracing the edge of his tea cup. ]

Even if I had died during the attack, they would have likely found a way to bring me back. I doubt it's in any way I would care to experience first-hand.

[deathstiny]

[Wrathion leans forward to move his next piece, eyes dropping to the board. It is a good excuse not to reveal his feelings about the impermanence of death -- or Anduin's potential death at the hands of Hellboy in particular.

Unfortunately, he cannot quite keep his mouth shut, so much as he is able to school his expression.]

You could have fooled me.

[He sticks the candy cane back in his mouth.]

[massrez]

[ And so here they sit, two perfect masks watching to see who cracks first. ]

Being ready to die is not the same as wanting to.

[ But to someone who could live for millennia, potentially, he can accept that concept as a hard sell. ]

[deathstiny]

The difference, in your case -- [Said like he does not believe there is one.] -- may as well be negligible.

[Now Wrathion sits back and crosses his arms. Anduin was ready to die for so many people, things, and ideas. The concept is, indeed, a hard sell. Watching a human, particularly a human who was meant to be important to a great amount of people, casually throw his life around...

It's infuriating.]

[massrez]

So you are still angry with me.

[ His eyes lower to the board with a soft sigh, considering his movements, before adjusting one of his pieces towards the edge of the board.

Side-stepping the immediate confrontation. ]

[deathstiny]

[Wrathion does not even wait to make his next move -- there is no thought put into it. He simply reaches forward and makes the most obvious choice. The candy cane is pulled back out of his mouth.]

It is difficult not to be frustrated when you say things like that.

[It is a small correction.]

Particularly when alternative paths are open to you.

[massrez]

Believe me, I can appreciate being frustrated when someone makes a choice you would rather they have considered an alternative to.

[ Click.

He leans back again, taking a longer sip of his tea this time. ]

[deathstiny]

[Wrathion stays leaned back in his chair, fixing Anduin with the most unimpressed stare he can manage. Then, abruptly, he smiles. It is thin.]

There is no need to be coy, your majesty.

[Now he leans forward to slowly slide a piece across the board. It is almost daring, and he makes sure to use his already injured arm. No reason to incapacitate himself over something so petty.]

[massrez]

[ He's specifically mad because he doesn't want to see you get hurt, right?

Ramir's voice surfaces in the back of his mind, unbidden, and Anduin lets out a quiet sigh before moving one of his pieces to meet Wrathion's in the middle. ]

No. I understand your meaning. And my frustration is with the situation, and not you.

[ A faint wrinkle appears in his brow. ]