[Center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200208/11ab2a550904b962041573fbfc392a1d.png[/img] [Img]https://i.imgur.com/BQEagzF.png[/img] [Color=mediumpurple]Time:[/color] Sunset to Night [Color=mediumpurple]Location:[/color] Cemetery, River Port [Color=mediumpurple]Interaction:[/color] [@Dreamingflowers] Nur, [@Allivefalling] Vaeril, [@Helo] Leon, and [@Potter] Lucia [/center] [Center][img]https://i.imgur.com/O6vqgQo.png[/img][/center] Despite having to eventually split from Vaeril, Lucia, and Leon, Darius did have a good time with them while it lasted. Sharing drinks with good people, was a past time for Darius, but he couldn't help but feel uneasy about it. Something was troubling him more than he thought it should. At the bar he stared longingly in the distance a few times, though he attempted to mask it by explaining he "zones out" a lot. After drinks with the group, Darius and Nur took to shopping again before the sunset, all while a bit inebriated. He told her about his "travels" and how Roshmi and River Port were the furthest south he had been. A true claim. Where he had gone was somewhat true as well. He had been to Crescent Village, Moon Elf Village, Orc Landing "for trade", and also Malthemoor for "trade" as well. He made all his tales a lot more elaborate as he had done at the tavern the previous night to include surviving a dance with the Angel of Death and being one of the reasons many at the ball were able to make it out. [Color=mediumpurple]"That demon had no chance against me!"[/color] He exclaimed as they rounded a corner. [Color=mediumpurple]"A cemetery?"[/color] His tone was one of inquiry despite recognizing what he laid his eyes upon. Darius stared at the site from the path he and Nur walked, a melancholy expression now forming on his face. It took him a moment to realize why he was so affixed to the rows of headstones decorated with flowers and a combination of lit and unlit candles from loved ones. [Color=mediumpurple]"Hey Nur… do you mind if I have a moment…"[/color] It took a second to realize how odd his request sounded. He faced her with a smile, but his eyes held a tinge of sadness behind them. [Color=mediumpurple]"Just in there. I won't be long, promise."[/color] Darius assured before hurrying into a jog at first, but then slowed down to a walk as it just seemed more natural. He strode around the fencing to reach the cemetery entrance. Darius' pace slowed as he entered, as if not to disturb those who had passed on. Naturally, he felt like a stranger to these grounds, but this was as close as he was going to get. John wasn't here. Nowhere even close. A whole dimension away… and more. Darius sauntered past each headstone, the setting sun helping to display their names for him to read. A fairy grave keeper was making his rounds before the end of his shift, once the sun was absent from the sky. Darius gave him a nod as he passed and continued on to get some distance. He often visited the cemetery to speak to John. To update him on the goings on in his life. He wasn't quite religious, but he hoped his brother was somewhere nice at least. [Color=mediumpurple]"John... I know you're not here… Well you weren't really there either, but maybe you can hear me somehow…"[/color] He sighed, feeling stupid about what he was doing for a moment, and continued walking, reading the names he passed in his head. Might as well make something out of this, right? [Center][Color=mediumpurple][i]Emery Rosethorn Lucile Luminus Brand from the Flame Noland Marigold Trevan Siraea Albeda Lahkesh Vinca Alahart Plumeria Sprouten Nova Mercuria Cirrolio Petalus Benelium Haro Dinidi Frezelyn Chasm of the Deep Ophid Remora Wendy Amaryllis Wencel Vivran Mina Larkspur Eunice Zenith Dinah Tulipius Malin Skeever Lyra Telera Nathaniel Lee Worth?[/i][/color][/center] Darius stopped at the headstone that was situated at the end of the row. He looked back down the line, also noticing how this headstone had no trace of anything upon it, despite looking newer than the rest. Normally he wouldn't have given the name too much weight, but the other details began to pull at him. He had to know for sure, and so he looked over to the grave keeper who was adjusting a few flowers to make them look pleasant. [Color=mediumpurple]"Excuse me, sir, do you know who this is?"[/color] Darius pointed at the name on the headstone to which the fairy squinted before fluttering over and landing lightly. His attentive expression suddenly turned to one bearing sadness. [Color=khaki]"Yes… Well no. It's a wee bit complicated, lad. This person was… I guess it don't hurt to say it now. This lad here was human. A young man who ate a whole lot of deathberries from what I heard from those who brought him. Some locals found him about ten days ago, right off the road, a trail of vomit from where many know those berries grow…"[/color] He didn't notice Darius staring intensely at the headstone, but noticed he wasn't speaking. He even wondered why an elf would care anyway, but the thought seemed insensitive. He figured perhaps Darius felt guilty in some way for the arrival of humans, so he decided to fill the silence, to perhaps even comfort Darius if he was feeling guilty. [Color=khaki]"No one could have foreseen it. Not he, not I… not you. Sometimes things happen and it ain't fair, but it's life you know… and death. Working here, I've seen so many go… in a blink of an eye! Some of it inevitable and some of it, completely avoidable. For the latter, we just try to make sure it-"[/color] [Color=mediumpurple]"Make sure it doesn't happen again."[/color] Darius cut him off with a bitter tone to his voice. The grave keeper frowned, now noticing Darius' scowl. [Color=khaki]"Yes, lad… we try to make sure of that. I will… will leave you to yourself for now."[/color] The grave keeper fluttered off to where he was, trying to give Darius as much distance as quickly as possible. He returned to the last of his duties while also noting the humidity beginning to rise rather unnaturally. In seconds he felt water beginning to run down his face. In all his years he had never felt anything like it. Darius, over on the other end of the cemetery, still stood before the grave, the vegetation around him withered and dried up, while the excess moisture spread to the surrounding area. In the antithesis of an oasis he subtly created, Darius kept his thoughts on a memory to remind himself of why he was even in this very place. As if the reminder and the memory were his sanctuary. Sanctuary from the cruelty of the dimensional rift opening machines. [Hider=Flashback??? Or...] Even now as he stared at his brother's shut casket, disbelief tugged at Darius. John had been a model of what Darius thought a great man should be. He was supposed to be untouchable, but this… During the past few days leading up to the funeral, he pondered if all the accomplishments were worth it. Did they even amount to anything if he was taken from life this early and so suddenly at that? The answer came to him at the sight of those in attendance. Friends, family, colleagues, you name it. All of the lives John had touched and the positive impact he had on every single one of them. [Color=darkgray][i]And you could do the same.[/i][/color] Something his brother had said once… maybe twice. [Color=darkgray][i]Yeah what's keeping you, bro? You just have to have faith in yourself! Remember why you chose to stay. So many lives depend on you, Darius. You can do this! Just gotta take the first step forward. After that it's easy! Sacrifice just a little and you could save so much more. It's easy bro. Piece of cake. You are capable! You just need to accept it! You have so much potential bro, and you hold yourself back… Darius… Look at the end… just get there. Fuck everything else! Darius… Make sure, it doesn't happen again![/i][/color][/hider] John and Malgormuun's messages seemed to meld together in his head. Their voices blended and the flashback faded into the reality of him standing in a silent cemetery alone. Darius looked to the west, noticing the sun giving him only a few seconds of light before it sunk away into the sea along with its vibrant glow. [Color=mediumpurple]"John… I want to do the same. And I have a way. It's probably not the best way, but… It has to be done to prevent… This. I don't know who Nathaniel Worth was… I don't even care who he was… but someone does and they don't even know they're fucking dead… I realize it's not even the rebels or just Aklenroth. This whole place is… I just want to make sure no one can come here. If that means I have to stay fine. If that means the others here have to stay… then that's fine too. They've had more than enough time to figure out what they want. If they choose Avalia, then let it chew them up and spit them into the dirt. I choose Earth and those that still call it home. If I sacrifice myself by walking hand in hand with the devil to save countless. It's the least a waste-of-space guy like me can do. I'll get it done. Easy…"[/color] He rested his hand on Nathaniel's headstone and sighed. [Color=mediumpurple]"Rest in peace Nathaniel… you and many others."[/color] Darius walked from the headstone, making his way out of the cemetery to reunite with Nur. He held a pensive expression, before forcing a smile. It was beginning to become dark, but the streetlights and two moons kept Riverport dimly illuminated. But what of the man's path? [Color=mediumpurple]"Ready to hit the vineyard?"[/color]