[ P ] nowhere to run

W

ell, the festivities of the day had been a shit show to say the least for Riften and all of those involved. But of everything he had been through, it was not over yet. He was just glad that his parents stayed far from this area. He was unsure if they were still considered criminals or not, but he did not want anything happening to them. And he really did not want any drama getting back to them. When he had told them about Rayne, he could see the story broke his mother's heart for him. He did not want to give her that pain again. Never again. If he found true love again, he would share that - but not anymore negative things. What he would choose for a peaceful life of his mother would be to see her children happy. He could lie about his relationship with Lenora, claim they patched things. Atlas was at least a brother who would always love him. It was a shame that Lenora allowed others to get in the way, allowed them to get between family.

Riften was angered by the conversation he had with Rayne. The black wolf with a lump of coal for a heart hurt her in ways that she could not even completely tell Riften all about. She may not have been his to protect and guard her heart - but he could help make himself feel a little better int eh situation. He recalled the black wolf, the piercing eyes. He scanned the crowd, looking for him. How could he not be here? Riften found a place that was higher off the ground, one to give him a better look at the surrounding area. It seemed like he was looking forever. "Where are you?" he said to himself just under his breath. Then, he saw a shifty looking male wandering around the outskirts of the parade. It seemed he was looking for someone. It better not be Rayne he was trying to find and hurt even more. He moved down from his high ground and towards the male in question.

It was like a bee-line. His paws were determined to take the right step swiftly to the potential threat. Stomping towards him, Riften's fur was standing on end. His tail held a dominant position aligned with his spine. It was much different than the usual way it swung gently behind his back. "Hey you!" he shouted at Reuben, even though others around them turned to look at the yelling wolf. "Reuben!" he let out with a snarl.

@Reuben

code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

reuben serein

The parade had taken the land by storm and suddenly sworn enemies were expected to clash mugs together instead of fangs. Reuben volunteered to patrol instead of enjoying the party off duty like most of his comrades to gain more credibility for his false identity, Reuben Serein, model Imperial Soldier. The more they trusted him the less they suspected him. It was his ticket into the dungeon where Sulliven had been falsely imprisoned for his crime for over a year. He watched wary gazes and bared teeth follow Saoran’s that had drifted over the border to celebrate in Melrose. If there was any trouble he was prepared to break it up.

What he didn't expect was that trouble would find him. A masked wolf approached him with a purpose, aggression shooting off of him like sparks. The bewildered fake Imperial cocked his head, green eyes scanning the crowd for the man he was charging towards until his sights locked back on him when his name was snarled unexpectedly. “Do I know you?” he asked, a little taken aback by a stranger who obviously knew who he was. He couldn't remember the face of the boy who had witnessed his kiss with Rayne because Reuben typically didn't take an interest in anyone who wasn't his twin. Rayne had been the exception.

T

he dirty male turned to look at him and acted as though he did not know who Riften was. One of three things ran through his mind: one - this male was just pretending not to know who he was and Rayne had actually told him about who he was; two - he had no idea because Rayne never told him; or three - he had a terrible memory. "Do you know me?" Riften scoffed. A rage building within his chest, ripping at his heart, as though his mind was replaying the image over and over on a life-shattering loop. "She didn't tell you who I was? She didn't tell you who I am?" He stared at the black demon before him. His veridian eyes made him feel sick to his stomach, the same eyes that probably smiled when the saw his heart break into a million pieces. He had always thought the pair laughed about the incident. Riften was not a fighter, had never paid attention to lessons from father, always found other things to occupy himself with until Argent gave up. Riften fumed inside, rage slowly climbing until words escaped from his lips.

"You don't deserve her. You never did." He stared at the man for a moment, allowing the words to sink in. Surely this buffoon would know he was talking about now - unless, he was some sort of player that played with the hearts of multiple females, barely able to keep them all on track. How could anyone do that to Rayne? The more that he thought about her, his heart ached on her behalf, not for his own. "You are a fool. The biggest fool here, even bigger than the jester himself." He gave a soft snarl, as not wanting to raise the attention of those who had turned away from them when a fight did not break out. "Rayne deserves more than anything you could have given her. She would have followed you to the ends of the earth and you threw her away like a discarded carcass. What did you do, have your way with her and then grow tired of her?" He snarled a little louder as he took a step closer to Reuben. "You are the scum of the earth!"

"If breaking a heart was a crime, I would wish you to rot behind bars for the rest of your days." The way that his tone got deeper, and his eyes locked onto the green ones standing before him. It was almost in a whisper with how lowly he spoke to Reuben. He did not fear him. He did not fear anything. He could go to jail again, it would not be a first.

@Reuben

code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

reuben serein

“Yes. Do I know you? As in have we ever met before?” Reuben added further clarity, tone dripping with defensive sarcasm because of the aggressive way the other had approached him. Green eyes watched his eyes for signs of inebriation, wondering if he was the unfortunate target of some riled up drunk. No name was offered, but he knew immediately who she was. Rayne. He never expected her to keep his betrayal to herself, but he couldn't help worrying if Rayne had told him anything would jeopardise Sulliven’s rescue. “Right… You're that kid, Riley, who had a crush on Rayne right?” he asked, recalling a vague wolf shaped blur in his memory that could have been the angry wolf in front of him.

He waited for him to finish his tirade, very uncomfortable to be made the centre of attention when he was trying to keep a low profile outside of the army. “What made you think this was a good idea? Did you think she would thank you for rushing to her rescue like a noble hero?” he hissed, angry at the boy for interjecting himself into their private business. “If this really was about Rayne you would respect her boundaries and privacy. This is all for you and your feelings for her,” he tried to keep his voice low, but there was still the occasional glance in their direction. “We’re done here. I have nothing more to say to you,” and with that Reuben began to walk away.

- attempted exit (feel free to stop him)

A

nger was bubbling in his chest, his eyes only saw red. It was a weird feeling, but more and more as this Reuben character seemed to not care about his actions, the worse it got for Riften. "My name is Riften!" he shouted at the other. Not Riley, not some other R name. Riften. He knew he would not be able to fight this wolf physically, but if he could just get him to understand that what he did was wrong, then maybe there was some sort of redemption for Rayne. He lost her, and he would never be able to get her back. He was fine with that. Mother told him that someday, somebody would love him the way that he had loved. He could hold out for that. "This isn't about me. This is about you. You threw away everything. You hurt her in the process. Do you not care about her feelings? Defending someone you care about is a noble deed. She might be mad about it, sure. But at least someone cares enough to try." When Reuben wanted to leave, to end this conversation, Riften raised his voice. "You need to make it right! And you know that! You are just a coward!" Riften had never had to act this way before and now he hoped that by doing this, something could be fixed for her sake. Maybe this male could realize how he messed up? His eyes glared at the male, and more eyes were on them now. If he thought he was going to be able to just walk away from all of this, he was wrong.

@Reuben

code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

reuben serein

A ridge of dark dyed fur began to bristle at the nape of his neck to the start of his shoulders. Reuben's last shred of patience imploded and the rage he felt towards himself found another target. The presumptuous boy who dared push into his private business and assumed he knew anything about what had happened between them. Riften succeeded in making him turn around again, but for all the wrong reasons “You are nothing to her, Riften. Maybe she feels pity for you, but that's it,” Reuben snapped back, hitting out in the nastiest way he knew possible. “And it’s not cute or endearing to force your way into someone's life like this. It's harassment. Now piss off and mind your own business,” he warned him off again, curling his lips to show his teeth.

For the sake of maintaining his professionalism and reputation in the army he held himself back causing a bigger scene, and for Rayne, he still cared about her despite his shitty way of showing it. He wasn't going to make a big declaration in front of the unrequited lover boy. He didn't owe him anything and it wasn't any of his business despite his insistence that caring about her somehow gave him the right to interfere.

He didn't have the luxury of time to earn Rayne's forgiveness. The dungeon was all that awaited him in the future and he didn't want her to be apart of that. Keeping his distance was for the best, at least, that way he wouldn't break her heart all over again when he took Sulliven's place in the dungeon.

I

t didn't take very much for the black wolf to not only get annoyed with Riften, but to turn around as well. More eyes were on them. Riften saw his fur standing up, and quickly his body mimicked the reaction. He gave a soft snarl himself, as to show that he was not afraid of whatever Reuben was going to do. The next words that came out of the bastard's lips came as a shock to Riften. He stood there. The words repeated on a single loop in his head. He honestly did not hear anything else the male had said because Reuben's words were screaming in his head - he could hear nothing else. His heart was now racing faster and faster, the paws of his feet started to feel weird, and his stomach was rolling on itself. He wasn't sure he had anymore fish in his gut, but if he did, they would definitely come spewing out here soon if these feelings did not settle down. "You're lying..." at first his voice was soft, and eyes were turning away from them. He took one step forward, his legs shaking. He was enraged, furious, upset, devastated - all of these emotions whipping around his form like a swarm of angry bees defending their comb.

"You're a LIAR!" He shouted at the top of his lungs. "You don't know anything!" Riften wasn't sure if he knew this to be true or just ugly lies that Reuben wanted to smear in his face. He growled and snarled, baring his own teeth in response. He moved a step closer. "You are worse than a rotting corpse, you are worse than ten rotting corpses!" He didn't have any good insults because he really didn't know this other wolf, and he had never really needed them before. He felt woefully under prepared. He wanted to fight him, he really did, but all he had right now was his voice, and boy was it loud. Onlookers started to whisper in their direction to each other as their eyes stuck to them like glue. "Maybe you are just jealous!" He didn't really know what the other guy would be just jealous of, but Riften was trying his hardest to hurt the male in any way that compared to the dirt he had rubbed into his wounds.

@Reuben

code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

reuben serein

Their commotion was beginning to draw the attention of the festival goers, his darkened ear tips twitched as he felt the burning of eyes lingering upon them. If they could hear what was being said over the jolly laughter and festive music, Reuben hoped it wasn’t enough to cause rumours to stir. He wanted to spare her that much. It didn’t matter to him if Reuben Serein’s reputation was ruined by wagging tongues and speculative minds. He wouldn’t be around much longer for it to matter.

You’re a liar! The angry words were fierce enough to feel like a heated brand upon his flesh, leaving the words imprinted upon him. He knew he was a liar. A liar and a murderer. The Riften boy didn’t know the depth of his crimes, it seemed, for he would choose the greater sin to insult him with if he did. What he chose as his next verbal weapon was the implication that Reuben was jealous. He scoffed at that and shook his head in disbelief. “The only jealous one here is you. A sulky wee bairn who doesn’t know when to let go,” he countered, slowly losing interest in arguing with him. “Now this has been a complete waste of my time. I’m on duty and have better things to do,” his gaze lingered on Riften long enough to imply, unlike you. Once again he turned away intent on ignoring Riften and walked away.

Exit Reuben

N

erves rumbled through his skin, and he could feel that even though he was defending someone who could not defend themselves from this monster - he was worried about getting hurt. It was not common for Riften to curse. In fact, he had never said any word worse than "shit". But this male, his claims, his words they cut at Riften in ways that hurt him. He wanted to hurt the other, and it seemed this male was not going to care. He would not be kind to Rayne and accept that he was a shithead. Riften was not the best judge of character, but he knew a shithead when he saw one - just like Lenora. This army soldier was very much like Lenora. All their problems, things that were their fault - was almost unreal to them. Like it never truly mattered. He had heard the word before from his own father's lips, a time or two. Never directed at him, but Riften always happened to be within earshot of the foul words. Placing a paw over his mouth in those moments as he heard them, knowing they were wrong.

"Fuck you, Reuben!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. "Fuck your whole life entirely! I hope you fucking die!" He allowed his anger to consume him, saying such terrible things he had never wanted to say. He never dreamed they would come from his mouth. Before the other could act on what he had said, Riften fled, disappearing into the crowd. He did not want to get hurt by this meanie who easily broke Rayne's heart and now could probably break his neck if he truly wanted to.

[Exit Riften running away.]
@Reuben

code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck