a coward's way out

They walked with a hum and a pep in their step. Hunting, how hungry they are. Carlisle felt it, too. There's something about starving and craving that made people move.

Each step walked with a sway of their head, as though dancing as their mind wandered.

The west had nothing for the group so, to the east where many lingered and hunted as well- But, in a different sense. Like sitting ducks with resources.

In several manners.

Across the bridge and not a soul until...

Jianyu stopped dead in their tracks, icy hues on a certain short young man. Their gaze chills. Even without the ability to wield and move ice and snows, there's an undeniable cold in the way they stare at him.

The way they stared at Yuri.

But, no words. They refused to come out.
(Jianyu Xi)

"..?"

The serpentine eyes stare towards Yuri. In such sudden encounter, it seems almost like a perfect line-up for what could be; but while he observes him, there seems to be not a hint of friendliness. Not a hint of anything that could be considered good.

They're full of disdain.
Of disgust.

"The little boy who sought it fitting to harass me in my immature, imperfect days..."

"Now comes right to me."

The floating presence of the perfected being, the Archon, nears closer to Yuri. These serpentine eyes hold not even a hint of rage, despite making such statement. Is it petty for him to remember such, all the way from the younger days?

To remember everyone who abused him?

No. Humanity deserves justice for creating their own monster. Besides, among them all, he isn't even a cruel one... for he does not intendto merely rupture and sunder them all apart. He had better plans..

But for this one? Doubtful.

"A little pup."

"Rumored to never come out, afraid for his life - and for his love."

What does the Serpent knows exactly? It's difficult to discern, but.. when he nears closer to Yuri, this presence becomes almost suffocating.

"Tell me, little boy."

"What brings a coward all the way out here?"
(Morok)

Click, click, click.

"Honestly. . .I was wondering when this would happen." One hand is placed upon her hip, the other one carefully drifting within Yuri's direction. There seems to be no smile upon her features, but instead, a narrowing gaze upon his person. "For quite some time, have you been problematic." she says in response, dipping her head slightly with a mild hum.

"You've never known when to stop...Until you've went off the deep-end." she adds in response. "I wonder how my sister would feel...If I were to tell her of the letter you sent. If I were to show her how you claimed that you would kill yourself if you couldn't have Jianyu. How you would kill her too...Which only proves that you're just as desperate, obsessive, and sick as I thought you were."

Both hands move carefully, drifting behind her back. There seems to be a smile now. The presence of clouds looming above...A sweep chill permeating through the area. "...What do you have to say for yourself?"
(Carlisle ras Petrakis)

A patrol in hopes to edge the frontline of the war further away from Nysea - from Myllenoris. One last proper one before greater means had to be employed. Alone. A bit too bold; he'd likely hear from Lillia and Anastasia for going off on his own. Those were the first thoughts that ran through his mind as eyes spotted three figures across the bridge.

Though all of those worries, those fears vanished when a certain someone was recognized. A green gaze laid upon those icy hues, fighting right back against the cold. For someone who's gaze never quite met those around them to be stuck staring at another was significant.

No words were exchanged, but his thoughts were potent - obvious. Delirium etched onto paper, scrapped, and etched again for one to read, to understand. His could feel his heart beat against the scar on his chest. His body expressing the overwhelming speed of his crashing mind. A tingle across his forearms, like lightning bolts had struck them.A sharp breath. A refusal to let that gaze... wander.

It was all there, right before him.

Words meld into this hot, boiling pot that his mindscape had turned into, being processed as a secondary task to never lose sight of the one before him. The one who may have turned a sick man sicker.

Or maybe they had nothing to do with it.

What brings a coward all the way out here?
What do you have to say for yourself?

Lips parted, yet those emerald hues never shifted away from this horrendously cold... familiar warmth.

"Those words were.. true. Maybe it makes me sick, problematic, crazy, or mad. But-.. But that pain I spilled - that I spelled - was all just that.

The truth."

The threats of showing his mess to Aeliana did bring fear in his heart, the subtle details and shift in his expression showed as much, but avoided addressing it. Maybe Carlisle would forget it was possible, too.

"I was just... on patrol." He answered the archon.

Yet eyes managed not to leave Jianyu.
(Yuri)

Why does he stare at them?

Even with Carlisle and the presence of an Archon, his eyes remain solely on them. That letter was expressed to be true, not a word of it a lie.

Their body stiffened. Time passed and they allowed themself to heal. Various methods made to mend and forget but it's quite hard to whenever they stare at themself and see just have ingrained into them this Knight is.

Physically, that is.

In the form of scars that soon prompted a deranged letter. What are they to do in this moment? What is the right way to react? Forced memories flooded in too quickly that their lips part, attempts to utter something that made a modicum of sense fall short.

Patrolling- In lands that weren't his own.
Or was he sending another sick letter?

Jianyu moved, first with a twitch of their digits then legs pushed forward, past Morok and straight to Yuri, hand rising high up before sending their palm against his cheek.

The force made his head turn, the force left a reddened mark across his cheek.

"Leaving that shit in front of my house. What the Hel is wrong with you? Coming to my house after you hurt me- The fact that you did and you show your face over here? Did getting dropped like the shit you are make you grow some balls?"

"I'm sure it did because you sure did steal from someone, too. Have you lost all sense, Yuri? Are you insane? Did fucking everything up and trying to blame me knowing you were the true problem mess with your head?"

Venomous words, vile yet stemming from a place of passion. How they wanted to tear this man limb from limb and leave nothing left.

"You have some nerve..."
(Jianyu Xi)

Repugnant.

To even look at Yuri, after all that the Serpent knows. The weightless figure shifts, the snake-eyes never taking off their figure, and while he comes dangerously close to Yuri, the chill of his presence could be easily felt.

He can feel it. A palpable, overwhelming force..
Of the Archon right behind him.

"These words were true?" The expression of the Serpent shifts. These humane features gave him an ability to express.. and they contort with visible disgust. A silent grumble of disbelief, and he comes close, closer..

Enough to whisper.


"Lies..? In the face of your judgment..?"


Despicable. The demons are often a punishment to humanity, but the Archon was often looking not to merely slaughter them- no, that would be too boring, too cliché.. and it would not prove a point. A point that he offers..

"I am a being born of the dark.. born of your nightmares.."
"But what you do? You disgust me."

To hear such from a demon. Does he not realize how far he strayed off his path? If the being of nightmares finds his actions despicable, just how low has he fallen?

"Your gods know. If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't exist.."
"Gods don't love us."
"But our existence? It's a proof.."
"That they don't love you either."

The fine digits of the Serpent carefully lay atop of Yuri's head. He inches closer, and escaping seems like an improbable option- it becomes difficult to resist the Archon's strength, even if no evident pain is exerted yet.

"Your life's work, your deeds.."
"They make the bile rise in their throats."

It's almost disappointing how such humans exist. How they claim righteousness, despite being so utterly terrible.

"But without you, we wouldn't be here."
"It's all your fault, isn't it?"
"No wonder you're abandoned.."

If he was not..

Could he find himself in a situation like this? Could the nightmare lay upon his head..

And his pain stand before him?
(Morok)

Morok's emits a maleficent aura of sweeping death that grows and twists throughout the surrounding area.

"The truth?" She stares towards him in an incredulous manner. Her lips carefully press into a smile, a scoff - a laugh spilling forth past her fingertips as she speaks. "You, speaking the truth, after all of the lies that you've been having for quite some time?" she questions. "Ranging from Jianyu's plight to the backwards-ass'd truths that you'd hand my sister...Thinking that she would believe in you. Thinking that she would choose you over Avlainn."

Her body shifts briefly, her head tilting- her smile beginning to falter ever so slightly. "What happened, Yuri?" she questions. "You were supposed to be of the light. You were supposed to be of truth and good...And yet, you've resorted to doing the most disgusting things that any knight could do." She murmurs.

"A love-starved puppy turning into a thief, stealing money from children- and then shifting into a crazed murderer? Your desperation has lead you far...I'll give you that." She adds, her chin lifting. "But while other people saw nothing but good in you- even Anastasia. Even aeliana...I've always called you out for what you've always been and what you will forever be."

Her gaze narrows considerably.


"You've always been a disappointment."


She adds, moving forward.

"Lay down your sword. And your life to Jianyu, now."

(Carlisle ras Petrakis)

That sting on his cheek. The burning, angry touch of a hand that had often laid in his. This anger towards him coming from many directions - yet only one of them mattered. His head shifted to the side with the contact of Jianyu's palm against his face. A mark as red as their wrath was imposed onto his skin, yet his body trembled not. His cheek pressed up against the digits for the moment that remained before physical contact was broken. His attention moved right back to where it had been the entire time. The most important place.

The words that crashed against him were ones that scolded him, that displayed anger towards what he'd done and what he'd become. Had Jianyu not held feelings for him they would not have told him to return to his more proper, peaceful life. One without them.

"I've made mistakes. I've.. lost a bit of myself, too. You were the only one who never asked me to be nothing more than me. Losing you hurt.

Losing more made it worse."

There was no skirting around before Jianyu's accusations, before their harsh words. A promise had been cast their way, and even if they'd rejected it, even if they turned it down he would uphold it. Obsessive. Sickening.

The weight of Morok's presence alone was nearly as horrible as Yuri's own obsession had turned out to be. A testament to the insanity bleeding from a crushed heart.

The hand that came atop his head would find itself eliciting a response that the Shengese before him had seen many, many times before. Ethereal energies swirled about his form and came to life - pushing back, fighting against that sinful, nightmarish presence. Attempting to burn it away as it roared with azure.

No wonder you're abandoned..

Morok was right. He'd been left by even the people who pushed for his promotion. By the friends who'd smile at him, recognizing his efforts yet wanting nothing to do with him. He'd lost grasp of friendship. Of mentorship. Of companionship. Everything in his life spelled but a single reality:

Yuri was alone.

You've always been a disappointment.

".. I have, haven't I? It... didn't matter how much I tried. He never promoted me, even after I took back Redwood. Even... even after I took care of every issue I came across. All he said was to keep on going..." A sad, bittersweet smile finally broke through his countenance, allowing expression beyond shock to seep through. His gaze never wavered, yet it was obvious that he was hearing both Carlisle and Morok.

"Out of pity. Out of necessity. That's... why I was promoted. She smiled, you know? When she heard me repeat my oath again, she smiled. It turned into a frown when Avlainn refused to accept his promotion. His... indifference was greater than even the promise I'd made. To her. To you."

Spilling his heart out towards someone who hated him, who had only begun hating him after his friendship with Aeliana had been solidified, not when they met. The sun's reflection in her glasses that day, had it been to warn him that her words would scorch one day?

To the Petrakis' demand did Yuri did respond.

"It's been Jianyu's for a long time. I... was ready to leave it all behind. To forget everything I'd built up to prove that these words- these feelings were real."

A break in tone, in expression. Sadness was what surged forth, oddly enough. Between a demand for his life and the looming nightmare that reminded him of his worthlessness did he shed sadness. Not for either of those, but for the words spoken to him that day.

"I gave it all to you, Jianyu, and you threw it away."

A slight, barely noticable shake of his head is given as the parallel between his mistake was drawn.

".. of course I'd lose my mind after that."
(Yuri)

A lot happens. Words from many directed at one. Funneled and forced down his throat. The situation is dire, one misstep and his life was forfeit, held in the hands of those who surrounded him.

Heated strikes to the cheek and a vile presence emitting from the Archon, demeaning words.

All Jianyu asked to be was simply his.

That's it. There is no Jianyu and- No. They're the only one and that was all they would ever ask of him. Something so simple couldn't be done.

Disgust presents itself from all present. Though Jianyu bears straight lips, relaxed brows as the now promoted Knight, the Radiant spoke.

Sharing woes and worries like he used to with them. Did he have anyone to speak to? Of course not. All of them were driven away.

Carlisle makes a good point.

"I've wanted you dead for a long time. But, a Radiant now? One made out of desperation. They never recognized nor saw you how I did, Yuri. Yet, when I was the only one who noted any worth in you, you still sought acknowledgement from others."

Morok taught them something. There are some people that had use. Killing was cliché.

"You've something to lose. Give yourself to me. Don't you miss me Yuri?" Their head tilts, narrow gaze lidding slightly. "There's nothing there for you aside from a title. You'll die in war meaning nothing to those you protect."

"Wouldn't you like to be given meaning once more?"

Of course, they still hate him. Jianyu finally scrapped and pulled themself together and here he is... Acting as though his loss rivaled their own.

As they stare, there's an added weight. A thin mist of occult lingered around their frame, gaze unwavering.

"If not, well..."

Hopefully he spoke to his loved ones before leaving.
(Jianyu Xi)

"Don't you think that it's comical, Yuri?" she questions, while shaking her head from left to right. "How I told you from the very beginning that you would be ground into nothing? That you would be disregarded...Only because of what you are?" She questions. "You pushed yourself so far. . .That people do not only disregard your presence entirely, but they would prefer for you to be dead." Her lips press together into a thin line...Her hands folding behind her back.

"Father would have never promoted you...You're right, because he knew from the very beginning that you were no good. You were blindly following Aeliana- lost to her...And then when she threw you away after you served your purposes, you sought to run back and forth thinking thatyou could regain all of that back. But you can't...Not anymore. We're adults now- and there are no more excuses. For now and ever, you will be nothing more than an afterthought, no matter what thought, no matter what title you have...It will not be enough."

She shakes her head, her chin lifting. "If you give it all to Jianyu, Yuri...Then give Jianyu what they really want." she murmurs. "Kneel down...Kiss Jianyu's palms and beg for forgiveness."
(Carlisle ras Petrakis)

Pitiful.

A lovesick pup that found himself unable to move on from the life of another, and no matter how much 'good' they could mean, all of their actions were leading up to an entirely different thing. Is this even about him as a demon anymore, who had to suffer at the hands of Yuri's abuse early on, much like many other humans?

No. Demons were natural enemy to humanity. This is expected. But when they commit such grave actions against one another? This only shows how far humanity is from their path of righteousness.. how far they are from being the light they envision themselves to be.


"Lies, lies... and even more lies."


Can't he see that this only makes it worse, that he digs his own grave with every word spoken? Even a demon, somebody who distanced himself from humanity, could understand..

Just how awful Yuri is.

"You betrayed Jianyu.. you put them in danger, with conscious effort. Even now, when you're made to confront all of your mistakes.."

"You say that this is out of pity? Out of necessity?"

The shadows slither across his body; the azure presence is steadily overshadowed by the Archon's might, and unless something were to be done by him, he could find himself swallowed by it all- the sheer ripple in the force of reality unveiling horrors unlike any other.

The faces, screaming in Helheim.
The windows caused by the ripple in the world.

This was no illusion. A skill that the Archon possessed.. one that is fed from Lady Erie's Greed; a crystal that was bearing the stolen essence from countless knights. Morok applies steady pressure onto such magical field, this grasp over his head inching his gaze just slightly..

Enough to see Jianyu.
And yet, so much more..

"Do you see these Damned, Yuri?"

"The damned of Helheim. This love you had for Jianyu… you threw it over there. You damned it, cursed it with your repugnant behaviour.."


The windows to Helheim show nothing but wickedness; the batches lost feelings, lost essences... of lost concepts - much like the concept of their shared love.


"But Jianyu fought for it."

"Even as you remained a selfish swine, seeking approval and acknowledgement from others, while they suffered..."

"At your own hands too. You caused it, Yuri."

"Their blood is on your hands."

The pressure becomes greater- the apparitions of Helheim turn their gazes to Yuri, awaiting how he would react; and the hands that remain atop of his head, the Archon's fine digits, begin to push him forth. Slowly...


"Grovel for forgiveness."

"Or you will follow to Helheim... right next to where you threw all of Jianyu's feelings for you."

(Morok)

Wouldn't you like to be given meaning once more?
Kneel down... Kiss Jianyu's palms and beg for forgiveness.
Grovel for forgiveness.

Convincing. Each and every word spilled out of the trio's lips was aimed to convince Yuri to take action, to make a move, to fall before those who sought something from him. Be it some use. Be it some satisfaction to be validated. Be it some way to make him suffer as much as they had. People often wanted so, so much. Greed blinded them, and kept them away from the truth before them, even when it was presented.

The screams of the damned were terrifying, heart-wrenching. He could feel himself wanted to run away when he was met with nothing more than the harsh reality of the underworld. It rose his heartbeat. It drew sweat down his back. It made his chest hurt; that wound from Misha had never truly healed. His lips trembled, and one thing kept him in line.

One thing above all.
One thing that stood before them.

He shed away his fears, his discomfort. He shed away this hesitation. Jianyu always hated it when he hesitated. Those azure flames that burned about his body spoke of this natural enemy found in that demonic - that occult influence. The more vile it ran, the further back down a line of many, many magi did he pull from.

It was not lowering himself to a knee that Yuri did first, even if it may have been the better decision.

Confrontation.
Truth.
Reality.

"I wouldn't have refused to let go of you if I didn't want to feel like I still had someone who cared for me. I wouldn't have stayed up for sleepless nights just to find those impossible-to-find ingredients just so that you could try sweets again, even though you're not a sweets person. I wouldn't have hoped for a smile if I didn't want to be given meaning, if I didn't want to feel like my life made sense.

I wanted to be happy.
I've made mistakes. A ton. But so have you.
The only time you refused to give me another chance was the one time I deserved it.
I've made mistakes, but so have you."

He repeated himself, his gaze growing in intensity, certainly. His body felt like moving forward, like getting close enough to feel Jianyu's warmth directly, if only to make them understand the weight of his words. The blue of his spirit sparked and seeped into his gaze. Icy fields were met with a crashing sea.

"You wanted it all to be temporary. To be all about using and throwing away. And I understand that— these feelings a freaking... terrifying. You asked me if I wanted to be given meaning. I do. But I can't accept temporary. I can't accept a maybe.

Now and forever.

That was our promise. Etch it onmy heart if you need to-"

He finally shifted. His right hand reached up - reached out towards Jianyu. Offering.. demanding a grasp. It spoke on it's own.

"Let's do it the right way this time."

Surrounded by such vile energies it hardly was right, yet his heart had long descended to a Hel of its own. The screams of the Damned were terrifying, yet the millions of pieces he'd forced his own heart to be shattered into were far more terrifying when they all screamed for him to get back with the one person who made him happy. The one who understood him, who cared, who loved, who knew how he was.
And hopefully who could see who he'd become.

Obsessed. Towards the right person, at last.

"Let's be happy. This time.. for good." he spoke down low.

He was ready to cast away who he was back then for Jianyu's sake. Nothing had changed. All that he wanted was... simple. A simple, straightforward demand for the other to never let go, just as he would. To kill off those fears of betrayal, that idea of a temporary arrangement.

Yuri's greatest weakness was being exploited...

.. and he merely let it happen. That spirit-filled gaze of his spelled a few words of their own, spelled hope towards Jianyu.

Let me be happy.
(Yuri)

Bickering with the Ookami was put on hold.

Those who dared demand what their business entailed would feel exactly why they should merely watch and observe, like the peanut gallery they are.

For now, attention returned to Yuri as Helheim made its presence known. It's where he threw his love for them. Damned it for eternity. It belonged with the most vile of plagues and ferocious storms.

Kneel and beg.
Simple instructions.

He moved closer and so did they. Jianyu's leg cross, kicking at his calf as their hand pushed his head down. He's forced to kneel. The hand at his head slipped down, digits tracing along his cheek and jawline until he's gripped at his chin.

Forced to look up at them.

"There you go again, blaming me. I do want temporary and it's at the fault of you. I cannot find myself happy with another because of you. Because of you, it feels impossible to trust anyone else for anything permanent. Forever."

"Proposals and such. Beg. Now."

That's what they want. To be the only one. Even now, for him to cast aside the presence of Hel, the very idea of dying and look solely at them.

"Beg for me and for forgiveness."

Jianyu released his chin, two digits slipped down, short, claw-like nails dragged down his neck, over his collarbone before stopping at his chest.

Nails pressed into him, through fabric and pushing against his flesh.

"Then you can be at my side now and forever. There is no more Nysea, no more oaths to them, no more Avlainn, no more Aeliana. It will be me and only me."

Lips gently curl- A slight smile waiting, anticipating the weight of his pleas.
(Jianyu Xi)

How can one botch such simple instructions?

A single shadow raises. It takes against the back of Yuri- but the claws of such shadows do not extend out just yet, only a sheer reminder given to him as to just what situation was before him. These screams in Helheim, these Damned - to whom he threw the concept of all that they shared..

He could join them.
Sooner than he expects.


"Your selfishness.. even a demon would be surprised."

"You took away everything from Jianyu once. You have their blood on your hands. All that there was asked in return is that you do not think about yourself, just for once."

"Unless, you're incapable of that..."


The shadows slither up to match the base of Yuri's neck; an implication is drawn... that he would have to let go of this terrible selfishness that makes it difficult for him to admit his own flaws for once - that despite the things he's done to Jianyu are much, much more severe..

He still tries to blame them.

"Humanity has always showed itself to be incredibly terrible, Yuri."

"You only have two options today."

"Show me that you're no different and lose everything you could ever have - or step over your ego at least once in your life."

The Damned watch. The windows to Helheim do not close- the terrible, demonic presence of the underworld beyond does not leave. Instead..


All eyes are on him. The Helheim watches him. The Archon watches him - so does everybody else.

What will he choose?

(Morok)

Even as he reached out, he was pushed down. Even as he tried to have his words, his thoughts, his feelings understood they wanted... more. They wanted him to obey. To kneel. To beg. To demand forgiveness, and throw everything else away. If he wanted to be happy with Jianyu, it was the only way.

They once had said that only someone who bled for them was someone they could trust. Were the drops of blood he spilled still valid?

The pain that had pressed down upon Jianyu's heart was something that was far heavier than any shadow, any damned who looked down upon him. For a moment it almost seemed like Carlisle was even on his side. She was one who could recognize dedication; an overzealous desire to do his duty had led him to capture one who toyed with her heart in the past. Surely, she could see that.

From the ground where he was forced to kneel, Yuri spoke.

"Flos Nivis."

His shoulder shifted a bit, allowing for his insignia, his sigil to shine under the sun.

"It means snow flower. It's the sigil that I've picked as part of the old tradition when being promoted to Radiant."

Perhaps those words would mean absolutely nothing to Carlisle and Morok. They were not words for them. They never had been. The blue spirited confrontation within his gaze had died out, leaving naught but forests for Jianyu to gaze upon.

"I wrote that letter because I couldn't bear the idea of another. Because I was hurt. Because I love you. You never left my mind so-

Please."

He could feel the façade he'd put for all crack. The true nature of this coward was unveiled bit by bit as he finally begged. As he finally demanded to be forgiven.

"Please never leave my side. Please never let me leave yours. I've hurt you. I've hurt you plenty, but I can-... I can fix it. So.. let me. I-"

These memories. These trips. These arguments. The sound of rocks skipping across the water's surface. The promises made. The smiles. The frowns. The worries. The tears. They all flashed into his mind as his lips cast his body to turn their back on them. To turn his back on those who needed it most.

He was sick.
Lovesick.

Hey Atlas.
Do you think occult madness can affect people around you?

Whether the influence on his mind was direct or not the answer made itself obvious. He'd gone crazy. He'd forced them to accept him, only to be angry when they pushed him away.

A love forced upon their heart. A mark that would never disappear.

And neither would his mistakes.

Tears came forth. Emotions were hitting a point that couldn't be contained. He was sad. He was happy. He was begging. He was hoping.

"I love you. I still do. And I think you... do, too. And I'm tired of feeling like I'm all alone - like I've got no one who'll always be there for me when... when I know I can count on you.

If I could have both my life out there and my life with you, I would. But I can't and-...

.. And that's.. fine with me. So long as.. S-.. So long as I can see you smile."

A hand slowly reached up to set itself atop the hand that pressed against his chest, that threatened everything he was. A grasp was made, decisive. Needy. Obsessed.

"So please. I beg of you-

Let me make you smile again. Today. Tomorrow. In a month. In a year.

When we're old.
When we'll die at eachother's side."

An oathbreaker.
One who could not follow this simple line of command:
Don't let love be the death of duty.

What had the world expected from a man who's love for one went beyond reason? From the man who was ready to be unhappy if only to make the person he loved happy? Well.. who used to. He was far more selfish nowadays.

He wanted to be happy too.
(Yuri)

Selfish to the very core, even now. Truly this display was beyond pitiful. Yet... to have another tear himself from his current livelihood for them.

He grovels for them.
Embarrasses himself.

It keeps their grin wide. The sight was amusing to say the least, but he complied in the end. From this day forward will he dedicate himself to Jianyu.

None else.

"Was that so hard?"

Was it really? Jianyu hid quite a bit of their inner thoughts in this moment, displaying only a smile.

"Does that suffice?" Their gaze turned from Yuri and to Morok as the screams of the damned fill the area, Helheim ever loud for all to hear, to witness.

"How much did you miss me? Have you eaten? Worry not. You'll come feast with us. Proving yourself alongside us. Come hunt."

Their hand rose.

"Then you can be happy. Come now."

He's urged to come to a stand. Are they being far too nice? Too forgiving? Behind an icy gaze rested a waking rage.

But, for later.
Not now and somewhere so public.

More than anything, they hated extra eyes and ears.
(Jianyu Xi)

Does it suffice?

To watch this display of him at last surrendering his will for another- at last giving up this selfishness that disallowed them to be with one another. Is it any wonder, then, that the Damned of Helheim watch until the very end?

That they watch until this deal is sealed?

Only eventually does it seem like they begin to fade. The apparitions disappearing, and a smile appearing upon the face of the Serpent. For now, he was satisfied with this.. but just how far would Yuri go with his claim like this?

How far would he reach to remain with them?

"It shall suffice... for now."

The Archon remains watchful, so ever looming over him; but with the grasp released, he's had what he wanted.

He had it all.
(Morok)