These Violent Delights – 5 & 14.03.2024 – Delilah
Mar 14, 2024 14:34:27 GMT
Jaezred Vandree, Velania Kalugina, and 2 more like this
Post by Delilah Daybreaker on Mar 14, 2024 14:34:27 GMT
In all the long dark nights, through the In all the long dark nights, through the years of blood, pain, and betrayal, never in her wildest dreams could she have pictured this moment.
“I will never swear an oath or bind myself to another…”
Her dark angel, commanding and imposing, holds her gaze unflinchingly. There is a growing intensity in the air, like a storm, as sillness creeps across the balcony. Then Oziah Daybreaker, her love, commander of the Daybreaker Legion, defier of Torm, holder of her heart, gets down on one knee.
“…but if there is anything I can do to prove to you that there will be no other…”
She produces a ring, gold of band and darkened stone. It is beautiful but it pales in comparison next to the woman who kneels before her – the true treasure of her life. The most precious thing that she has ever or will ever possess.
“…that I will love no other, name it.”
The whole world holds its breath. Even the shadows do not move once Oziah finishes her proposal. Everything falls away. It is just them in the growing dark.
Delilah kneels down in front of Oziah, taking the hand that holds the ring. There is a shower of kisses to the hands that have known every inch of her skin, that have held her as she became a spectre in her own body, and that helped her forge the new one she now wears. These same hands that healed the mark left by a mother who knew only cruelty, who’s very touch was malignant and destructive. These hands… these hands…
“You are all I want, Oziah. I would defy death to come back to you, have said as much to Death himself. The only one who has my soul as I have yours.” Delilah looks at the ring then up to Oziah. “I would drown the world in darkness and blood for you. I am yours until the end of all things.”
Then she leans in and captures her lady’s lips with her own. The ring is slipped onto her finger and then…
Let’s just say their friends had to wait a little longer for their hostesses to properly greet them.
“Hope you don’t mind me asking, professional courtesy and all,” Jaezred starts, acting in his best, most casual manor as they quietly move through the Temple of Night. “How are you and the Queen doing?”
It did not surprise her that it was he who thought to ask such a question. Out of all those who were here with her, none probably had even thought to ask about this so openly. She knew Oziah would rather her be free of the tie but did not push it because there were other, more important thinks to deal with — like killing a clingy ex-girlfriend who did not understand that “no” meant no. Her father never spoke about his time in the Twilight Court because it would mean talking about Demona, and considering how well the two of them talk about anything remotely like feelings that was not going to happen. What is dead is dead, it is best to move on. Carnàn and Wren probably did not know about her ties to the Court until Queen Miandra spoke to them just before entering the Temple. They do now but on the scale of priorities right now, they did not need to know. Lord Jaezred on the other hand…
“She was once my mentor and believed in me when no one else did,” Delilah says simply. “I was also partially responsible for helping her get her throne, in my own way. For that alone I think we are okay.” She shrugs, glancing around.
It has been a long time since the Temple was her refuge. Still, part of her cannot help but feel a pang at what once was. She was not the praying type, but hope is as much of a prayer as anything — and she hoped Castle Daybreaker never ended up like this.
“It is as I have been freeing others of their chains, their burdens and their ties that I have thought about what that could be for me,” she says, turning back to Jaezred.
“Ah. I see,” he says. “Do you think she’ll be receptive to a resignation letter?”
“When we successfully finding Aanka and take care of this whole problem,” she gestures with her draconic hand at the Temple, “then… perhaps. My life is not in these halls anymore.”
“Yes, we certainly hope Queen Miandra handles rejection better than Ankaa and Lolth.” Jaezred rubs the back of his neck. “Listen. You have helped me out a lot… and lost a lot in the process.” He glances at the arm she had just gestured with “I promise, I shall be with you the whole way to see this through to the end.”
“I know you will, Jaezred.” Then she gives him a look with a raised eyebrow. “One of these days, I hope you will stop carrying the guilt of what happened.”
He levels his own look at her. “Could I really? I almost got you killed twice.”
“You did not. The servants of Lolth or the Spider herself nearly did. And they met their end, or knew when to quit.” She grins and it’s sharp.
His lips twitch into a crooked smile back. “Well, it matters not. What matters is Ankaa’s end.”
“And what a violent end it will be,” Delilah says. The shadows ripple.
“Oh, yes, more violence than she has ever dreamt of.”
With contributions from Oziah Daybreaker 🖤 & Jaezred Vandree 🕷️
“I will never swear an oath or bind myself to another…”
Her dark angel, commanding and imposing, holds her gaze unflinchingly. There is a growing intensity in the air, like a storm, as sillness creeps across the balcony. Then Oziah Daybreaker, her love, commander of the Daybreaker Legion, defier of Torm, holder of her heart, gets down on one knee.
“…but if there is anything I can do to prove to you that there will be no other…”
She produces a ring, gold of band and darkened stone. It is beautiful but it pales in comparison next to the woman who kneels before her – the true treasure of her life. The most precious thing that she has ever or will ever possess.
“…that I will love no other, name it.”
The whole world holds its breath. Even the shadows do not move once Oziah finishes her proposal. Everything falls away. It is just them in the growing dark.
Delilah kneels down in front of Oziah, taking the hand that holds the ring. There is a shower of kisses to the hands that have known every inch of her skin, that have held her as she became a spectre in her own body, and that helped her forge the new one she now wears. These same hands that healed the mark left by a mother who knew only cruelty, who’s very touch was malignant and destructive. These hands… these hands…
“You are all I want, Oziah. I would defy death to come back to you, have said as much to Death himself. The only one who has my soul as I have yours.” Delilah looks at the ring then up to Oziah. “I would drown the world in darkness and blood for you. I am yours until the end of all things.”
Then she leans in and captures her lady’s lips with her own. The ring is slipped onto her finger and then…
Let’s just say their friends had to wait a little longer for their hostesses to properly greet them.
Do thou but close our hands with holy words,
Then love-devouring death do what he dare;
It is enough I may but call her mine.
Then love-devouring death do what he dare;
It is enough I may but call her mine.
“Hope you don’t mind me asking, professional courtesy and all,” Jaezred starts, acting in his best, most casual manor as they quietly move through the Temple of Night. “How are you and the Queen doing?”
It did not surprise her that it was he who thought to ask such a question. Out of all those who were here with her, none probably had even thought to ask about this so openly. She knew Oziah would rather her be free of the tie but did not push it because there were other, more important thinks to deal with — like killing a clingy ex-girlfriend who did not understand that “no” meant no. Her father never spoke about his time in the Twilight Court because it would mean talking about Demona, and considering how well the two of them talk about anything remotely like feelings that was not going to happen. What is dead is dead, it is best to move on. Carnàn and Wren probably did not know about her ties to the Court until Queen Miandra spoke to them just before entering the Temple. They do now but on the scale of priorities right now, they did not need to know. Lord Jaezred on the other hand…
“She was once my mentor and believed in me when no one else did,” Delilah says simply. “I was also partially responsible for helping her get her throne, in my own way. For that alone I think we are okay.” She shrugs, glancing around.
It has been a long time since the Temple was her refuge. Still, part of her cannot help but feel a pang at what once was. She was not the praying type, but hope is as much of a prayer as anything — and she hoped Castle Daybreaker never ended up like this.
“It is as I have been freeing others of their chains, their burdens and their ties that I have thought about what that could be for me,” she says, turning back to Jaezred.
“Ah. I see,” he says. “Do you think she’ll be receptive to a resignation letter?”
“When we successfully finding Aanka and take care of this whole problem,” she gestures with her draconic hand at the Temple, “then… perhaps. My life is not in these halls anymore.”
“Yes, we certainly hope Queen Miandra handles rejection better than Ankaa and Lolth.” Jaezred rubs the back of his neck. “Listen. You have helped me out a lot… and lost a lot in the process.” He glances at the arm she had just gestured with “I promise, I shall be with you the whole way to see this through to the end.”
“I know you will, Jaezred.” Then she gives him a look with a raised eyebrow. “One of these days, I hope you will stop carrying the guilt of what happened.”
He levels his own look at her. “Could I really? I almost got you killed twice.”
“You did not. The servants of Lolth or the Spider herself nearly did. And they met their end, or knew when to quit.” She grins and it’s sharp.
His lips twitch into a crooked smile back. “Well, it matters not. What matters is Ankaa’s end.”
“And what a violent end it will be,” Delilah says. The shadows ripple.
“Oh, yes, more violence than she has ever dreamt of.”
These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume…
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume…
With contributions from Oziah Daybreaker 🖤 & Jaezred Vandree 🕷️
