sea dog

Monarch couldn’t even help himself from becoming brittle at the mention of Baelfire’s father, his earlier friendliness seeming to evaporate. He knew it was irrational and yet he couldn’t entirely tamp down the feelings as they bubbled forth. His companion was rightly confused, repeating his words, brows a frown, and denial just as strong. Baelfire said he wasn’t following his father blindly, continuing to describe the ways in which he had been introduced to the concept by his father… doing things together. Monarch couldn’t really relate, and his coldness was stubborn and would not be shaken. But he forced himself to keep his mouth shut, despite the snarky words that wanted to burst forth. He only shook his head, a dismissive tsk leaving his mouth as he looked away a moment, almost as if he were disappointed. Even doing things together, how would you know it was the thing you yourself liked? Monarch couldn’t understand wanting to follow in a father’s footsteps.

He snagged on another part of Baelfire’s words though. He no longer could stand beside him? Was his father gone too? ”What happened to him?” he asked, the question abrupt and gruff, but not antagonistic. Baelfire continued, saying he could leave if he wanted, and Monarch’s eyebrows quirked. ”But can you just leave? Army doesn’t seem like something that will let you just go,” he said in a low voice, ominous, though he knew little of it himself. He was going off of the general chatter he’d picked up in the bar, the consensus of the lowly population, which maybe wasn’t the best to base his opinions on.

Monarch shifted on his feet, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, even if it was only because of his own doing. Baelfire’s next question only increased the feeling, as his gaze twisted away from the stranger and faced the sea, body shuttered and closed. ”No, I’ve never wanted to be anything, never had that encouraged in me. Only wished to not be like someone in particular.” he said, his words nearly a snarl.

@Baelfire

baelfire

"what happened to him?"

he died a few years ago... but he made the world a better place before he did. he killed a very dangerous wolf that... hurt... someone in my family. he said, faltering over his expiation. he didn't want to reveal that the one who had been hurt was him, much less tell a stranger what had happened. nobody knew, not even his parents. the marks they had been able to see were enough to drive them to near insanity. he cleared his throat and looked away; the subject was clearly a touchy one. despite after all this time he still felt raw talking about it.

and i'm sure i can't. don't see why i couldn't. he murmured. he had never gotten the notion that the army was a prison, not from his father anyway.

his ears flicked as monarch mentioned that he didn't have any aspirations, only a desire to be unlike someone. his brow creased as his gaze found the other wolf again. who? he asked. he could take a guess; monarch had been perfectly fine until he started talking about his father and the army. he suspected that monarch's father had been like his at all and it made him wonder... what was he like? monarch didn't seem like that bad of a guy.

@Monarch

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Monarch asked the question despite the rawness he knew it could bring, the pain it might hold. It was almost mean, but he felt like he needed to know as well. Baelfire said his father was dead, years ago, but Monarch’s face was still hard, not softening with the knowledge. The other continued on to clarify, how he had made things better before he died, how he had defended them… but he was still gone. How good he have been when he left his son behind on his own? Monarch’s mouth opened and worked, itching to say something, but he saw how Baelfire looked away, obviously struggling to even talk about it. His frown was deep and his disapproval grating and obvious, but he said nothing this time. Sure, Baelfire was barely more than a stranger, but he had given Monarch no reason to antagonize the way he normally would. Also he was tired, and wanted to move on from this. It had been fun before, and now suddenly it wasn’t.

Baelfire seemed to disagree about the army bit, and Monarch just rolled his shoulder in a shrug. ”Just things I heard. They don’t like you leaving, even if they won’t stop you,” he said, his tone dismissive, finishing the conversation. ”Well all luck to you. Hopefully you like it,” he said, keeping his mouth shut again for more of the bitter things he’d wanna say.

He continue to look away and at the horizon in the distance, squinting in the light a little, his breath stilted in some way. Baelfire asked him who, and Monarch had to laugh, the sound harsh and abrupt in the cold morning air. ”I’m sure you guessed,” he said, his voice quiet, but wry. He looked back to Baelfire, his ice-blue stare intense. ”My father,” he said, his admission somewhat quieter, but still just as intense. He wasn’t afraid to admit it, but he didn’t really want to talk about it… but he felt he owed it to Baelfire for his reaction, to give a little honesty.

@Baelfire

baelfire

it seemed monarch didn't have much else (or he simply decided not to) after baelfire's protesting. the only comment he made towards the army was them not liking it when you left. baelfire considered this for a moment, guessing he really didn't know... but he knew that he would find out. he wouldn't let anyone dissuade him from his goals. he had set them long ago and one day, he would achieve them. he would deal with whatever after the fact. it was something in his head that had him fixating on just getting to where he felt he was meant to be. but obviously monarch was not the man to talk to about this, and so baelfire let it go as he had.

conversation then shifted slowly towards their father's one more as monarch said he did not want to be like his own father. baelfire had to ask why? what had his father done so wrong that monarch wanted nothing to do with him? he couldn't even begin to guess because his own father had been the best in his eyes. you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, he added, knowing that perhaps monarch would not want to tell his life story to someone who was as good as a stranger. he wondered if there was a way he could help the other man, but he was uncertain if he could or if monarch would even want his help.

@Monarch

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The tension that came between them stilted the conversation, leading to long silences as neither wanted to broach them. Monarch could feel the stiffness in his muscles and the pounding in his head had not lessened but increased. But instead of egging each other on, they both stopped and held back from anything else more incriminating, so that must be something.

Monarch admitted to the source of his tension, begrudgingly, and the confusion on Baelfire’s façade was obvious. And why not, when he so admired his father, despite his being gone. He even asked outright, which surprised Monarch. He blinked for a moment, at the intrusion, but also… how to answer? His blue eyes were intense on Baelfire, the frown between his brows deep. A moment, a heartbeat later, Baelfire rescinds the ask and says he does not have to tell. A big gust of air leaves Monarch’s lungs as he shakes his head.

”It’s complicated but… my father was different from yours,” he said, simply, his frown still deep as he shook his head again. ”Maybe another time,” he finished a wave of tiredness washing over him. He glanced over his shoulder towards the tavern, and took a step or two. Before pausing before Baelfire. He tried to wash away his grimace, but his face was seemed set in it’s stern pattern.

”It was good to meet you Baelfire. Even under the circumstances," he said, his lips lifting a little ruefully. ”Come by the tavern sometime. Give drinking a try, don’t take my example," he said, dipping his head before turning and walking slowly up the beach. “And good luck! With that army thing!" he shouted over his shoulder, giving Baelfire one more glance, before turning and trudging his way back to the bar. But this time, to work.

-Exit Monarch-

@Baelfire

baelfire

the only thing monarch would tell him was that their fathers were different—that much he could easily assume himself. he simply nodded in understanding; unable to think of anything to say in that regard. things had quickly gotten tense between then and baelfire was regretful for it. he hadn’t realized any of these topics would be touchy ones. his ears flicked as monarch suddenly dismissed himself and baelfire could understand why. still, he seemed to perk up a little upon his exit and bae offered him a kind smile for that.

”sure! see you around!” he said as monarch wished him well and then returned to the tavern. maybe he would try a drink or two sometime. he generally never partook but everyone he asked claimed it was fun. it just didn’t seem so fun the morning after, he thought with amusement.

well, he wasn’t sure if he’d made a friend exactly or if he’d pissed the other man off enough to get him to leave. baelfire turned and headed back north, back home. he wondered if he would ever see monarch again and figured ‘yeah, probably’ especially if he revisited the tavern again. he wondered idly what sorcha might think of him as he walked. eventually his mind shifted to his rumbling stomach and he began to run, heading for the hills of his home so that he could fill his belly with a hunt.

exit

@Monarch

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