[ P ] here we go again

“Sorcha!” he exclaimed once he finally found her cell. Baelfire hadn't even known she, or the kids, were there and now suddenly half his family was rotting in a jail cell. He couldn't believe this was happening. On top of that there was a draft now and once his family was freed, they'd likely be subject to it. He wanted them taking no place in the war and hoped to god he could get them out of here before they were enlisted. “Are you alright?” he asked as he looked her over. She didn't look terrible wounded, thank the heavens, but he still fretted over her. “There's a draft... oh god, Sorcha. I can't lose you and the kids. I have to get you out of here... I'll... I'll find someone and get together the funds... I...” he heaved, his breathing becoming uneven and frantic as he started to panic. He had to get them out. He had to get them back home, where they were safe. “my sin, my soul.”

MANIP & TABLE ➤TWISTY

She was still roughed up from the protest, body aching after being bodily subdued by the Imperial soldiers. Her heart thrummed in her chest; her youngest children where in here too, though she had not been able to see them after the court proceeding - nor had she been able to exchange words with them before they were taken to whichever dark cell they now occupied, and Sorcha could only hope that they were unharmed and together. Neither had she seen her husband or oldest son, who had no doubt been involved in the opposing end of the battle, and she was desperate to know that they were okay.

It was then, that Baelfire appeared at her cell door. “Baelfire!” she exclaimed, rushing to the bars of her cell to meet him, eyes scanning over his frame frantically for any sign of injury after the attacks. “I’m okay - are you? The protest, it shouldn’t- it wasn’t supposed to turn violent like that.”

Her eyes widened at the news of the draft, and instantly she was thinking of their children.

“Gwydion and Orlaith, focus on getting them out first. Please.” She pleaded with him. She had failed in protecting them from being imprisoned, but there was still a chance they could avoid being drafted into the war. “I’ll be fine, I promise. Just get them out.”

art & code by bean

His panic began to ebb once he saw that she was more or less alright... only to skyrocket again when he heard the kids were down here as well. Gwydion and Orlaith, what had they done to deserve this?! He bit his tongue as a growl rose in his throat-- what had any of them really done? He believed Sorcha was being truthful when she said it wasn't supposed to get like this. “I believe Jacob's men started the violence, we were... just trying to do our jobs and keep everyone safe.” he said. He'd heard of a death but had no idea who the protester had been. “It wasn't enough,” he murmured bitterly. What was his country becoming? What was his King becoming? The protests, the killing, the draft... it was all too much and he was wondering if this was what his father had been fighting for this whole time. Surely not, his father had been a noble man and he liked to think himself the same. “I will do what I can to get you all out of here, if nothing else I can sneak you extra rations and make sure you're alright.” he said sadly as he looked at her through the bars. She didn't belong in here but if he could find no guard to bribe or gather the funds to do so then she would have to wait out her time, along with the kids. At least nobody was on the chopping block and for that he was grateful. “my sin, my soul.”

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“I believe Jacob's men started the violence, we were... just trying to do our jobs and keep everyone safe. It wasn't enough,”

“They wanted another war, and now they’ve gotten their wish.” She didn’t voice who ‘they’ was, exactly. But she was certain that Baelfire could glean that she wasn’t referring just to Jacob’s men. It was all the powers above them, looking to regain control through violence. She was sure there were other soldiers like her husband, being used as the king’s puppets to fight a war that should never happen.

“I will do what I can to get you all out of here, if nothing else I can sneak you extra rations and make sure you're alright.”

She wished she could touch him through the bars. A soft sigh passed her lips, as she pressed her forehead to the cold metal. Her eyes drew back to Baelfire’s, soft emerald fire glowing within them. “I’ll be okay. Focus on the kids for now, please. We have to get them out of here. Away from here.”

art & code by bean

“They wanted another war, and now they’ve gotten their wish.” she said and Baelfire could only nod solemnly. 'They' were more than just Jacob's men, he knew, but he just couldn't believe this was how it had all ended. There had been so much bloodshed, and for what? His country had become a battlefield and he wondered if peace would ever be restored. As she sighed and pressed her face against the metal, he did the same. He could feel her warmth but couldn't quite reach her. It was agony. “I’ll be okay. Focus on the kids for now, please. We have to get them out of here. Away from here.” she urged. He admired her strength, but he refused to just focus on the children when she was in here again. He wouldn't be kept from her this time, he would do all he could to get her out and if he couldn't do that he would make her stay far more comfortable than he was probably allowed to. "I will, I promise." He would focus on the kids too, but they could wait a few more moments as he would linger upon her cage wishing he could set her free. If he did he would be labeled a traitor and charged with treason, he was sure of it. Then he'd end up right there beside her, but on the wrong side of the bars, or worse. He had to keep it together... "I have to go," he said sadly as he heard his name being called from up the stairs to the dungeon. He sighed, gave her one last look, then tore himself away so he could go see what the other guard wanted. It was always something. There was only one other time in his life he'd felt this powerless and he hated the feeling. [ exit baelfire ] “my sin, my soul.”

MANIP & TABLE ➤TWISTY