Dev logs #6

Niklaus was settled comfortably on the bench after running through the entirety of this land. Shifting and moving through, the outskirts of Huangzhou, he would soon come to a halt in front of the household of once-Regent Mei.

Home of Jhin Wvelven.

...And apparently Zen's father.

Settling on the bench, he'd draw a knee upwards, seeming to wait for whatever presence to finally come along.
(Niklaus Rowan)

It was a good day, to be honest! Jhin had found himself finishing up a small medical dilemma that he managed to fix on his own accord. The Wvelven had come to a halt before his house, only to observe a vaguely familiar face seated along his family bench! His eyebrows gently raise as he recognizes the masculine - if one could even call it that, form of Niklaus. "Niklaus..? What are you doing outside of my house? Did you decide to stay with us for a bit?" He inquires, mild concern etching itself into his features.

 Was something going awry with the Rowan once more? It was uncommon to see the lad in Huangzhou, especially when his presence here could cause many issues at hand.
(Jhin Wvelven)

His presence was non-issue, as he'd spent time with the Illuminated and made them trust him. They didn't know his family name, and they never would have.

It was as simplistic as that.

Draping one arm over his leg, he would glance over toward Jhin with a short squint.

"Hey, Coward."

Oof.

"How often do you see your dad?"
(Niklaus Rowan)

"Hey, Coward."

 Unfortunately, Jhin wasn't prideful enough to take it as an insult! He just wasn't stupid enough to get caught into a bad situation. Even so, his polite smile only broadens as he studies the Rowan as his hands neatly fold behind his back. "Hello, Nikki. I've spoken with my dad the other day, why do you ask? Your 'friend' isn't here, again, either. Are you guys having more issues? I thought that incident would've brought you both closer together." He muses, coming to sit beside the Rowan as his left arm drapes along the empty portion of the bench.
(Jhin Wvelven)

"The other day? So he's around still, got it."

Odd thing to start a conversation with, right? Even the nickname was disregarded, but it wasn't hard to control his emotional status when he wasn't pumped full of drugs that altered his body.

Tuh.

"Taro Wvelven, right?" A glance moves over to the other male there. "Just making sure I'm consistent, really."
(Niklaus Rowan)

"Get to the point, Niklaus. What is that you want from my father, of all people? He's retired and he doesn't do smith work, you realize? You're usually weird, but you're behaving out of the ordinary this time around." His words are slightly curt, but his patience was dwindling with the obscurity that Niklaus presented. His gaze drifts over to the lad beside him, squinting at them with a small frown that became prominent. And with the lad waiting outside of his house, no less...

"What do you want with my Father?"
(Jhin Wvelven)

"Sorry your customs and culture don't align with mine and that makes me weird."

A hand waves nonchalantly through the air, lips pressing together in a harsh, flat line. Hand moves, running through his dark strands of hair as he gave a short, annoyed sigh.

How'd he explain his motives here, anyways?

"Because if your father's anything like you, I don't want Zen getting hurt." He states it plain and clear as a sneer touches his features.

"Because I'm going to value your half brother's safety above anything else."
(Niklaus Rowan)

If Jhin was malicious, he could've easily said something along the lines of 'You've already hurt him', but the thought is buried beneath a realization. He never understood why Niklaus would go out of his way to make such rude facial expressions, or even direct mild bits of hostility towards him..But more importantly, the last bit of information given causes Jhin to stare at Niklaus with a surprisingly hard expression. He's silent for some time, trying to process what the young man was trying to get at.

"What are you talking about? My only sibling is..uh...My sister." He states quietly, his eyebrows gently furrowing.

 Did he have a sister? He forgot her name, but he was positive he didn't have any brothers.
(Jhin Wvelven)

He did hurt Zen, and he couldn't take that back.

He could only make amends for emotional damage, and even then it didn't feel like enough.

"Zen talked to his mother, and apparently..." He furrowed his eyebrows together, a bit of a sigh leaving his lips. "That's what she told him. Zen was pretty shaken after it all. I can't have him get hurt again, Jhin. I can't have people keep threatening him, because that's the most important person to me."

Mismatched eyes move to the ground as he glares at it for a few moments.

"But maybe it's all just rambling," he turns his head, a worried laugh leaving his lips. Maybe his mom was just crazy. She had to have been, right?

"But I don't know why she'd say that if it's not true."
(Niklaus Rowan)

Koume came at a weird revelatory time, so she just sort of slid outta there and let the youngins have their talk.
(Koume Bavmor)

Jhin was glad he was seated as it was, as he felt his legs giving out from under him. He collapses along the bench as he stares out into the distance, his eyes widening considerably as he tries to gather his thoughts. His hands come to rest along either side of his head, his eyes lowering to the ground as his lips gently purse together. Zen was his half-brother..? Why hadn't his father told him about this? Why was he only now hearing about all of this information? And why had Zen waited until now?

"Impossible. Why would he wait until now to say anything? Why would my father never tell me something so critical such as that? Are you messing with me, Niklaus? Even you ought to have limits." He states quietly, looking toward the Rowan with a skeptical expression.

 He'd have to hear this from Zen or Taro, surely. Despite their differences, Jhin felt that Niklaus nor himself would go out of his way to harm one another. Even they had limits and lines not to cross, and this was certainly one, if it proved to be false. His heart races in alarm, shakily coming to a stand as his fists gently ball.

"When did this come up? Who is his mother, then? And why didn't she say anything until now? My father is a honorable man, he wouldn't just sweep something like that under the rug. He'd own up to it."

Doubt creeps into his mind, bestowing anxiety into the back of his mind as flames slowly crawl around his legs. They rise along his body, fluctuating violently as the passion that resides within his chest seems to flare up.

 Was this an affair that even Jhin had been unaware of? How could this have happened? He felt floored with the information, and he felt a surprising amount of frustration and anger at it all. Hewasn't sure where to direct it all, and thus he shot it high into the air, a roaring spark that ignited into a large spear-head of flames. It illuminates the night, his composure lost as locks of his hair become unkempt.

Had his father betrayed his mother?!

"Answer me! At once, Niklaus! Is this real?!"
(Jhin Wvelven)

"Why would Zen wait? Because he just learned about it."

There's a confused look that touches his features as he moves his leg, planting both feet against the ground. "And this isn't something I'm messing around about. Do I look like I'm getting a good fucking laugh off of this, Jhin Wvelven?" No, all that he knew was that he had to protect what was inside of that Kitsune. All that he knew was that he didn't deserve to get hurt again.

"I've never met her. Her name's Adeline. She's some snake-fox hybrid." He states, watching as Jhin would move in front of him.

"You can REST ASSURED I don't give a shit enough about anything else to hurt your feelings with some shitty joke."

Upwards the Rowan would come, and tendrils of holy, blessed water began to trickle along his form.

"It's REAL."

The ferocity of the Drakanite's features would suddenly become apparent as his lips pulled back from his teeth, revealing the four sharp canines there in his sneer.

"Either you're going to make it hard on someone who isn't at fault, or you're not. So TELL me, which choice will you make?"

The threat lingered on the air.

If he had to put someone down because they were a threat to Zen, then he would have. No amount of frustration would make it okay to him.
(Niklaus Rowan)

A set of amber eyes fall upon the Rowan, staring him down without so much as flinching. While he certainly had escaped the last time, it was due to the threat of nonsensical potions that had inspired him to avoid the situation altogether. His anger festers within his chest as his flames only burn brighter, waves of heat searing along any prospect of grass that stood around him. He was naturally going to be upset to hear about this only until now, but Niklaus' words at least made some form of sense.

Zen hadn't known about it, and it wasn't as if he asked to be born. But why did his mother decide to tell him at all? And wait until now of all points to thrust it upon Taro's family now that he had settled in? Confusion had been written upon his face for a moment, though the threatening aura Niklaus gave off only aggravated him further.

"You're serious. But it isn't Zen's fault, you're right about that much. He was thrust into this mess just as much as I was. That still doesn't make it any better, and I -want- answers. Get out of my face, though. I'm really not in the mood." He states quietly, his raging flames beginning to steadily ebb away, despite the lingering heat he felt spreading along his body.

 He was upset, confused, and overall frustrated with his inability to do much of anything. Even so, it wasn't an excuse to lash out at others. That wasn't the right thing to do, and he was raised to treat others with respect, and to be kind to those everyone, unless they've proven themselves not to be given it.

 The flames fizzle out over time, and he grudgingly exhales as his hands ran through his hair to fix it.

 Shit.
(Jhin Wvelven)

The threatening aura did not die down.

Something about the water that hazed around his form seemed to be a bit too intense, a bit too ferocious with whatever necessity he might've felt. Dedication to a cause, a person, something-- it all made it hard to keep proper process of thought. "Of course I'm right." His fists held down by his sides as he glares in the direction of the other.

"And I'm not the one here throwing temper tantrums and blasting fire into the air, am I? Fuck your bad mood."

The growl comes and goes. He wasn't a sickly child anymore, and he wouldn't be threatened by anyone's magic, no matter what direction it had been blasted off into. If someone couldn't control themselves--

He'd control them.

Still, though, the Rowan would stand in austere manner, shoulders held tight as he watched in silent scrutiny.

"This is why I came to check before anything else."

because he can't trust anyone.
(Niklaus Rowan)

He couldn't trust anyone because he couldn't even depend upon himself to not dismantle what he's taken so long to build. How could one control someone else if they lacked self-control?

 That was the difference between Jhin and Niklaus, as the Wvelven manages to compose himself once more. Jhin's faith in his father had been shaken, but was not ruined. He would hear his father out first, above all else.

 Jhin turns to face Niklaus with a tired gaze, though the embers of aggravation were never too far off from flickering back to life. "Pointing fingers is what children do. Sometimes, even people like myself lose it. You're always like that, however. This isn't about you, however. I'll speak with my father when I see him. Bring Zen here, I would like to have my..half-brother here with me while we heed what my father has to say. I will send you a letter when my father awakens. Until then, try not to cause more problems." He states quietly, his right hand lightly stroking through his own mane of hair in order to soothe himself.

 He rarely felt such passionate emotions, even more-so to the point where he'd explode and feel the need to exhaust his mana. Even so, it felt somewhat relieving to uncork those bottled up emotions he held. He was always well-mannered and composed on the surface, but even he accumulated stress or anger.

 He just didn't allow it to surface as easily as it did for the Rowan before him. A hand extends outward, lightly planting itself upon Niklaus' shoulder as a means of settling the matter, and perhaps their current differences. "Regardless of how it happened, if Zen is truly related to me, I will protect him. He is family now, apparently. I'll see to it that he's acknowledged as such, if he ever decides to visit. Weird hybrid mother, or not." He mutters, withdrawing his hand as he proceeds to stride off unless halted.

 He needed a breather.
(Jhin Wvelven)

"I'll come when he's good and ready."

The statement is clear, concise, and that's all that Jhin was allotted from the Rowan. He'd aim to pull his armor back on over his shoulders shortly after, the brilliant appearance of sapphire and white meshing with the other items he wore.

"And I don't think he has to be there with you to meet someone." The hand upon his shoulder garners a short glance before he shrugs it off.

"And he doesn't need you to protect him."

…

"Only me."

The Wvelven wouldn't be stopped, and he didn't stop himself as he moved to head back toward the Eastern portion of the world.
(Niklaus Rowan)

"You've done such a great job thus far." He drawls out, a hand settling upon his waist as he watches the Rowan storm off. Possessiveness was one thing, but that was simply unhealthy to speak like that about someone. His frown deepens, but he leaves the matter be. He wasn't going to work up the interest to get involved in someone's romantic affairs, after all. "Safe travels, Niklaus. You should stop hopping back and forth between sides, however. I'm sure you won't be able to climb the ranks in your own home if you keep winding up over here. There's a reason I stopped hanging around Dawn. It's becoming a conflict of interests, and people are already asking questions. I don't do threats, but that is a heads-up. You're aggravating, but you're still my friend." He states quietly, his hands slipping into his pockets as he strides further into the city.

 Drama was not something he was interested in, frankly. Living quietly was a bit boring, but he was able to amass strength at an alarming rate due to such. The talk of protecting someone else struck Jhin as a folly of sorts, but who knows?

 Maybe Niklaus would manage to do just that.
(Jhin Wvelven)

"You'd know better if you didn't run away from your eventual ass kicking."

A heel digs against the ground for a moment, and the moisture of the plant life there would be drawn out, withering it with relative ease as the young man gave a glance toward the spot.

"I assure you, Jhin Wvelven, you think you know about my personal and professional affairs, but you'd be surprised, wouldn't you?" He drawls the words out as he finds his lips curling into a small smile.

"The reason you stopped hanging around Dawn is because you're afraid. Of what they would think, of what they'd do. Wasn't it you who dragged me here in the first place?"

The inquiry comes along the way as he closes his eyes.

"If people were asking questions, they'd ask it to my face, wouldn't they?"

Ahahah, hahaha. Just a homeless child, remember? Dirty, dingy, and more.

"Direct them to me if they have any inquiries and I'll be happy to address them.

Unless you just don't want me here.

I'd understand that if you had the balls to say it."
(Niklaus Rowan)

"Contrary to what you think, I have no qualms with fighting someone. I've taken Neo Invidia head-on, and even if that had me scared shitless, you're nothing in comparison. I don't enjoy the thought of harming someone I would consider a friend, but perhaps that's a problem you ought to consider. You take too much joy in harming others, and that's how you wound up harming Zen. You're too self-absorbed to protect someone, when you can't even control your own emotions. I'm not below you, either. When they have a problem, I'm sure they'll be more than happy to come to you.

 As for Dawn, I've literally gotten sick just being in the presence of all that 'wrong', there. I've at least tried to see things from another perspective. It's unfortunate that your head is too far up your own ass to see anyone else's. I don't care whether you come here or not, I've given you what I've can." He states quietly, turning to face Niklaus as he stands along the cobblestone.

 Jhin's body remains surprisingly unaffected by much of anything, his facial expression neutral as he stares at the Rowan. His eyes, however, are blazing with aggravation, and an odd sense of compassion. "I could care less about your professional affairs. But I've gone out of my way to listen to your problems. Problems that more often than not, you wrought upon yourself. Your worst enemy is yourself, Niklaus. When you realize that, perhaps you'll be a happier person."
(Jhin Wvelven)
"Oh, yes. Neo Invidia. Depressed homebody now that he's lost his children. And you still lost. You had to be saved."

His heels grind against the ground there as he stares at the Wvelven, water twisting upwards with his form as he squints there. "It's not me who takes joy in harming others."

He pauses for a moment, and there's a momentary look of confusion to his features. It was, oddly, true. He didn't like to hurt people. Maybe it was the influence of his magic, but the last time someone felt pain in his presence, he just held onto them and let them cry. Tuh. Pathetic.

Instead, he took harm from others. A hand unconsciously came up to touch against the knife scars at his neck, the ones that had been wrought upon him.

Endured, for the sake of others.
Pained, because they needed to take it out on something.
Broken, to make sure that they wouldn't break themselves.

It was true that he was his own worst enemy, and it was because he cared a little bit too much. He aimed to make them better. He let people abuse him for the sheer ideal that they could get better off of having something that could simply just pressure through whatever horrors there might have been within them.

It was how he kept Zen.
How someone pledged to be his Knight.
How the people of Dawn slowly, and oddly, grew to love him.

Even if he hadn't been the best before, it showed to his personality and being that he didn't maim people like Cameron when they asked for it. His gaze drifts upwards toward the sky, and for a few thrums of a heartbeat, he's lost in some sort of quiet silence that probably shouldn't have lingered in a conversation such as this.

"You're right."

Wait, what?

"I am my own worst enemy."

Hands move down to brush his cloak back behind him as he turns once more. "I give them something to hurt because they need that, and that something is me."

His fingers move upwards toward the amulet hanging from his neck as he half lids his bicolored gaze.

"I am happy."

But why did it sound so hollow? Why did it feel so cold? If one could see his features, they could see a smile that didn't quite make it to his eyes as he stared toward the forestry before him.

As long as he lived, as long as he knew... He was happy.
(Niklaus Rowan)

"I absolutely had to be saved, but I at least fought for something I believed in. You do not have a right to judge me, when you haven't been out on that battlefield, yourself. I'm not here to compare our trauma, but I do not enjoy fighting. Call me what you wish, but as much as we butt heads, I wouldn't want to bring you harm. Maybe that does make me weak."

 There was something odd about Niklaus, and the manner in which he spoke was mildly concerning, at the least. His voice felt hollow to Jhin, and there was a hint of tiredness to it that he couldn't quite place. Even so, regardless of how much Jhin attempted to reach out to the Rowan, they never appeared able to truly see eye-to-eye. One of them always said the wrong thing, did the wrong thing, or just felt the need to verbally collide with one another. Gentle wreathes of golden flames occasionally shimmer along Jhin's body, but it wasn't a brilliant, angry tone it had taken earlier.

 They were embers, the last portions of his anger dissipating in a symbolic manner. Jhin had come far enough on his own accord, though he admittedly didn't have someone beside him, as those two had. People had come to acknowledge him, to even ask of him to assist them in some capacity. He was learning how to heal the damages done to the world, and yet he was still making wounds of his own.

 His eyes gently close as he struggles to make sense of his inner turmoil, but he remains silent. Niklaus claimed to be happy, and yet.. Jhin couldn't shake off the sensation that this may not be the case. Jhin's gaze lingers for some time, before slowly turning away and striding down the word.

 He didn't wish to cause more problems by simply talking. Perhaps he didn't trust himself, either.
(Jhin Wvelven)

"Maybe it does, future brother-in-law.

But my fights have not been few and far between. You haven't seen that, though."

Tired, distant, more. That's simply how it was whenever he had to interact with people who just didn't understand, wasn't it?

Who knew.

"When the time comes, give Zen the space and time he needs to interact with your father. That's all that's necessary right now."

And with that, he'd be on his way.
(Niklaus Rowan)