[color=lightgray][center][h1][color=red]FLASHBACK[/color][/h1] [h2][color=slategray]Lucian[/color] & [color=7D7FDB]Marina[/color][/h2][/center] [color=slategray]Time:[/color] Ignis 2 evening [color=7D7FDB]Location:[/color] Guest house [hr] Lucian had just finished his bath and had dressed in his pajamas. After the day he’d had, he was more than happy to settle in for the night. While he was happy he was doing something to better the world for his loved ones, he couldn’t get the image of that woman out of his head. She was a witch. Someone he should hate with every fiber of his being. She was one of those that had taken his wife from him. In the moment, he’d just seen red but after coming back to his room and saying goodnight to Marnie, he couldn’t help the small pangs of guilt. She was just a girl. [color=slategray]”No.”[/color] He mumbled, shaking his head. [color=slategray]”She might look like just a normal, innocent girl, but Kilian wouldn’t have her in chains if she weren’t dangerous.”[/color] He told himself aloud, as if doing so would make it feel more true. Marina didn’t knock, as per usual. The door swung open and she strode in like she owned the place, in her night dress and her curls a mess. She kicked the door shut behind her with a bare foot, then marched right up to him and jabbed a finger into his chest. [color=#7D7FDB]“I am not going to sleep until you tell me what’s going on.”[/color] Her violet-blue eyes narrowed like she was daring him to try dismissing her. [color=#7D7FDB]“You promised. So talk. Now.”[/color] Marina folded her arms, but it didn’t read like sulking… It was more like she was [i]holding herself together.[/i] Her gaze was locked on him with that same determination she carried into every fight… and yet there was something raw swimming underneath it. Her foot started tapping against the floor in a fast, impatient rhythm, betraying the nervous energy she refused to admit to. Lucian blinked, surprise on his features despite himself. He’d… completely forgotten that he’d promised her a chat. He took in a deep breath, letting her talk. She had every right to be mad, but all the same, he wasn’t planning on changing his course of action. He just needed to convince her… Lucian grabbed Marina’s shoulder gently and guided her towards his bed, sitting her down. [color=slategray]”At least make yourself comfortable.”[/color] He sighed, reaching a hand up to pat at the top of her head. He couldn’t blame her for caring, he welcomed it, [i]needed[/i] it. [color=slategray]”What do you want to know?”[/color] He asked, sitting next to her, the bed frame creaking under his weight. He didn’t want to reveal everything so, asking her where to start felt simpler. Marina tucked her legs up beneath her in a pretzel, shifting until she could look him dead in the eye. She then held up one finger. [color=#7D7FDB]“Who were they?”[/color] Another finger. [color=#7D7FDB]“Why did they have a woman on a chain?”[/color] Then the final finger. [color=#7D7FDB]“And what, exactly, were you meeting with them to discuss?”[/color] Lucian let out another soft sigh. [color=slategray]”They are witch hunters.”[/color] His tone flat, almost cynical, [color=slategray]”That [i]woman[/i] is a witch that Kilian caught and was transporting.”[/color] He drew in a deep breath and turned his head to look at Marina. [color=slategray]”I was there to get debriefed on the current state of Caesonia.”[/color] Lucian continued. He lifted a hand to rub the bridge of his nose. [color=slategray]”And [i]you[/i]...”[/color] He paused, reaching over to tap her nose lightly, [color=slategray]”...weren’t supposed to be there.”[/color] Marina’s expression remained as it was, unchanging, unlike the storm in those violet eyes. At the word witch, her gaze went distant, as if she were staring through Lucian instead of at him. A flash filled her vision, the brutal visage of Sophia’s body. She could still see the wrongness of it, could feel that certainty again that no ordinary hands could have done what had been done to her. Her throat tightened and her fingers curled into her own skirt hard enough to wrinkle the fabric. Lucian’s tap to her nose snapped her back. She blinked, her lashes fluttering. Her nostrils flared, and she wrinkled her nose like a disturbed cat. [color=#7D7FDB]“I was [i]exactly[/i] where I was supposed to be,”[/color] she snapped without hesitation, her voice low and stubborn. Her chin lifted, but in that not bratty way of hers, but with the kind of hard resolve she wore in training when she refused to yield, when she decided even the world didn’t get to move her. [i][color=#7D7FDB]“With you.”[/color][/i]Her eyes burned with an intensity Lucian seldom saw, but he’d recognize it. It was clear from the look in her eyes, that she’d bleed for him, any time and anywhere. [color=#7D7FDB]“If you’re hunting witches…then so am I.”[/color] She concluded with certainty. [color=slategray]”No, Marina. You aren’t.”[/color] Lucian replied, shaking his head. The idea of it was enough to make his anxiety bloom. He knew they were going to talk in circles again, her stubbornness knew no limits, but he had to try. He couldn’t relent on this. [color=slategray]”If you consider Ambrose’s feelings for me now, imagine how he might look at me if I allow you to come with me on this venture.”[/color] His tone mellowed now, a softness to it that was trying its best to plead with her. [color=slategray]”What he might consider doing to me…”[/color] Lucian shuddered. Marina held his gaze for a long second with her jaw clenched. [color=#7D7FDB]“No,”[/color] she said finally, [color=#7D7FDB]“You don’t get to decide for me anymore.”[/color] She then leaned in. [color=#7D7FDB]“I’m twenty-three,”[/color] Marina continued, voice steady. [color=#7D7FDB]“You can’t control me. Ambrose can’t control me.”[/color] At his warning, her nostrils flared. She shook her head adamantly. [color=#7D7FDB]“And he won’t find out,”[/color] she said, sharp with certainty. [color=#7D7FDB]“I’ll make sure of it.”[/color] Lucian let out a long sigh, turning to match her gaze. [color=slategray]”If you do it, it won’t be with my graces.”[/color] He added, trying to match her stubbornness. [color=slategray]”You are twenty-three and should be doing what other twenty-three year olds are doing. Finding love, exploring the world, refining your skills and interests.”[/color] He watched her eyes, knowing full well he might as well be talking to a wall right now. [color=slategray]”Marnie… I know I can’t protect everyone. I know I can’t stop every bad thing from happening, but.. I cannot in good conscience agree to you following me on this.”[/color] Lucian shifted in his spot on the bed, turning to face her more fully. [color=slategray]”Give me one [i]good[/i] reason why I should let you join me.”[/color] Marina’s lip trembled and her gaze fell to the floor, her brows knitting. [color=#7D7FDB]“[i]Because you’re not the only one that lost Sophia.[/i][/color] The words left her mouth without much thought. She went still after, like she’d said too much. There was a long pause before she said, softer, [color=#7D7FDB]“The moment I saw her… I knew no human did that.”[/color] He felt his heart drop as she spoke. She wasn’t wrong. He wasn’t the only one who’d lost someone that day. Many viewed Sophia as family, as a loved one. Her death had sent the entire estate into mourning. Lucian knew that and still he was so caught up in his own grief, that he had scant room to even consider the walls outside his bedroom. Lucian stayed quiet for a moment, the weight of her words settling on him. It was quite a while before he found his voice again. [color=slategray]”Okay.”[/color] He offered quietly, his voice thick with sorrow. [color=slategray]”But I can’t control what others say. I can’t make Kilian allow you to join us and I’m not… I can’t be the one to help convince him. But I won’t stand in your way.”[/color] [color=slategray]”Can we promise each other something though?”[/color] [color=#7D7FDB] “ … Of course.” [/color] [color=slategray]”We watch each other’s backs. When things look bad, we don’t take chances and protect each other.”[/color] His gaze was set on her, unwavering. A sad smile stretched across her face; she couldn’t believe he thought he even needed to question the notion. [color=#7D7FDB] “ …I’m [i]always[/i] going to protect you, big brother.”[/color][/color] He watched her a moment before speaking again. [color=slategray]”You can protect me by also protecting yourself, understand? I’m not saying this because I want you to put yourself in harm's way for me. When things get bad, we [i]both[/i] get out of it.”[/color] He replied, trying to make sure she knew exactly what he meant. Marina digested the information for a moment then nodded firmly. [color=#7D7FDB] “Deal.”[/color]