I am a question to the world

@Rosencrantz <3

---

This place was unsettling. Perse didn't like it at all. Not even a little bit. She was actually quite certain that she'd like to get out of here as quick as could be; she heard things, scary things, things that literally went bump in the night, things that made the hair on the back of her neck and all along her spine raise. Ears low, long tail drooped against her hocks, Persephone slunk through the fog, terrified and very much on edge.

A loud, seemingly earth shattering crack of thunder and lightning made her scream as it struck a nearby tree, causing the sunshine dappled girl to bolt further into the fog, racing, speeding towards safety, even if there wasn't any to find.

She just wanted out. “Please please please” She was mumbling under her breath, breaths quick and shallow as she narrowly avoided another tree, and another rip of thunder, the rain beginning to drizzle over the Brim too, as if she wasn't tortured enough. Tears filled her eyes, mixing with the rain as they slipped down her cheeks, frantically trying to escape this hellish place.

the staff team luvs u

As the storm raged on, the rain was a welcomed change in comparison to the summer heat beating down on his thick winter-worm coat. Although he felt heavier with all the water stored in the pale coat, it was refreshing nonetheless.

Thunder roared and lightning cracked through the skies. Lighting up the half-faced man in brief flashes of light. Highlighting the marred and horror-show of a face as exposed teeth without the protective lip glistened with the water and light bouncing off of the ivories.

The mist reminded him of the place he and Guildenstern had woken up in. But the sea at its side and roaring waters shattered that semblance in an instant. There was another difference that caught his eye, both strange in these lands and familiar. The golden hues of the girl he had met a while ago caught his single eye through the mist and rain, glimmering in a golden streak when the skies lit up in a flash.

Her fear was palpable. Stopping for a moment to observe, he was an obelisk of peace in the raging storm. Touched but unbothered by it. For now, he pondered to wander away and leave her to figure lone survival on her own… they were trouble after all. She would take his protection and food and as soon as another came along, she would be gone like all the others.

But was he better than his anger? Than his desire to no longer participate in this tug-of-war for companionship for those who were undeserving? Was he kind? Or was the selfish-ness still burning bright within the goliath?

the staff team luvs u

She wouldn't notice him as she ran for her life, it felt like, sprinting through the dead land like she wouldn't see tomorrow if she didn't escape its clutches. Fear like this was not unknown to the sunshine girl; nightmares plagued her, as did memories. Something horrible loomed in her past that she could not quite remember even on her best days, and it haunted her like a demon latched securely to her soul. No, this palpable, terrible fear was no stranger to her, but that did not mean she handled it any better.

Her breath was fast, her heartbeat faster, and the cadence of her sprint faster than that it seemed. All until it came to a tumbling, crashing halt. A foot caught on a root, as if the tree had reached out to grab her and keep her here. Her heart leapt into her throat as she careened into the mud, golden pelt marred by darkness and grime, blotting out all that sunshine to leave a miserable, sobbing girl crying on the floor of the Behemoth's maw. Accepting her own defeat, Persephone curled in on herself, her shuddering form making itself small as she tried to tuck her head against her side, ears flattened under the mud-covered paws that shielded them from the thunder above.

the staff team luvs u

Her fear was palpable. Any predator could taste it in the air. A flick of the tongue and she was seen as easy prey. Cowering at the flashes of light from the heavens above, covered in muck - a stark contrast from the bright honeyed hues she first bounced up to him with on the celestial beaches. A single eye blinked apathetically at the sight - pathetic really. It would be more merciful to end her. This world was too cruel for one with such light in their eyes after all.

With a lumbering gait he wandered closer. Water dripping from the thick coat weighed down by the rain.

“Why do you cower?” Instead of ending it here and now, he speaks. A booming voice matching the roars from above as an ear and a half cocked themselves forward to catch what he was expecting to be a soft, piteous voice.

the staff team luvs u

The voice above her made the girl flinch, or perhaps that was the crack of thunder that so quickly followed his question. In the rain, her blonde head lifted, ears turned back as kunzite eyes rose to look up at him. Her knee-jerk response was to ask him why he even cared, but Persephone managed to stay her tongue, for that comment at least. “What does it matter to you?” She would retort instead, not much nicer than the response she might have given him. She had been spurned by the half-faced male, was having a horrifically bad time of it, and hated being alone.

Huffing, sniffling, tears still brimming her eyes, the girl pulled her muddied frame up and slowly found her footing in the slick grime, careful to not slip again. Poorly, pathetically, she lifted her chin, attempting to look less miserable than she truly was, though she likely failed to do so. “What do you want?” She asked him with another sniffle, firing the last question he'd asked of her back at him, though with decidedly less disdain, less derision than he'd directed at her.

the staff team luvs u

Muck slipped from her chin as she shot a gaze back at him. This time, it was different than the last. Her eyes no longer swimming with childish joy, but instead fear and anger took over. This was a far prettier picture for the goliath. Not for that he enjoys this appearance on others, but at least he could say - in this moment, she was honest.

She stood to face him even in this sorry state of hers. Eyes defiantly glaring back, softer than his and in response, a shadow of a grin crawled onto the remainder of his lips.

“If you aren't my prey, you are prey to another like this.” He states firmly. Decision made easy with this unexpected shift of hers. “Come.” He turned, waiting only a moment for her to gather herself. He expected her to follow, but also, to stand there in defiance of his previous scorn.

the staff team luvs u

She expected anger, retaliation for her outburst, for her rude words; Mother had always raised her to be prim, proper, and respectful, her discipline an unwise thing to inter. Deviate from what was taught and face the consequences. But not here. Not now.

Instead, he suddenly offered help, and it left the little female confused, staring after him as he turned to walk away. What made him want to help now when he didn't before? The sun-child was half tempted to continue spurning him, and even lifted a hind paw to take a step backwards and go the opposite way. As if to tell her that was the wrong decision to make, the storm overhead crashed again and Persephone skittered forward, inadvertently following the man.

And once she was trailing behind him, she did not stop, quiet sniffles drowned in the sound of the rain.

the staff team luvs u

if one was to ask Rosencrantz why now; his answer would be bland. Tasteless. He didn't have an answer after all. As far as he knew, not helping her was the right answer for him. However... perhaps deep within the Beserkir was the heart of rebellious man still. Fighting against the oppressive thoughts and beliefs that his father had once taught him to believe. Perhaps still he clung to the belief that women were not all the same. That he had just been unlucky or too stubborn to turn away.

The crack of thunder forced her to move - following in his gait, prints left in the sands of the beached forest. He didn't stop regardless. His steps slow but long and ceased only at the sight of an uprooted tree. He had seen it earlier upon his passing. Perfect for her to find shelter in away from the flashing lights of the crying skies and safety from the boom that shook the air.

Stepping aside, he silently welcomed her to go in - while he, would remain at the mouth. Half in, and half still touched by the open heavens.

the staff team luvs u

While she was sullen and foul-tempered at the moment, Persephone could not deny the small wave of relief that washed through her at the sight of shelter. Gemstone eyes would watch him as he stepped away from the entrance, giving her room to scuttle in to the opening, unable to avoid brushing her side against his chest while she did so.

And just like that, the cacophony of this place was dampened, a mercy to frazzled girl as she pressed herself to one side of the small space, and waited for him to settle in beside her. When he did not, the golden girl shifted forward a bit to peek her muzzle out and look up at him. “Why are you still out here? Get inside.” Because why would he stay out in the storm when he could be dry as well?

the staff team luvs u

Call it his good deed for the day. Paying back for her dampened demeanour when they parted ways last time. Rosencrantz was spurned, not cruel. At least he hoped. Angry, but not blindly so (again, that's your opinion dude). She was on his blind side, needing to turn his head completely to catch those eyes peek out at him like jewels in the darkness. “I only need a little rest. I will be gone soon.” He thought he was reassuring. That the big scary man won't stay and be a burden for much longer.

Though the rain made him feel heavier, it wasn't an uncomfortable feeling. Not every storm had a shelter for him to wait it out in. There were plenty of nights where the only comfort for him was the cold touch of rain as it penetrated his coat. Such was life as a wanderer. A wanderer still even after spending short time with companions here and there, only to shatter those relations one way or another and wind up in the same position as before.

Only leaving him more bitter than the last.

Once more he placed the sopping chin of his onto large paws. Hoping to get at least a couple of winks before leaving the girl to wait out the storm in comfort.

the staff team luvs u

That little mouth turned into an unamused frown, watching as the man turned to settle on his stomach, stubbornly staying in the rain. Well joke’s on you, half-faced man; Persephone could be just as stubborn.

Snaking forward, she would pinch his haunch with those teeth of hers, glaring from inside the tree.

“Get.

In.

Side. ”

As if to make her point, Perse grasped on his tail and pulled, though she likely didn’t even move him an inch.
the staff team luvs u

Of course she wouldn’t leave him alone now and let them both rest. It seemed he had unintentionally, once again, opened up a can of worms. Hopefully, he could get out of this before it was only a repeat of the past yet again.

With an annoyed groan as she pulled on his tail, trying to pull it out and away from her mouth with little success - he simply flopped over on his side. Exhaling in defeat with a soft growl that was less aggressive and just more noise to express his annoyance and exhaustion.

“Now can we rest?”

the staff team luvs u

No. They couldn't. He didn't listen to her, instead just laying on his side. Frowning further, Persephone reached forward and gripped the fat and loose skin on his haunch and once more, pulled, grunting softly with her effort.

She maybe moved him all of an inch or two, if that.

the staff team luvs u

Granted, being half in even with his feet still sticking out of the shelter, it was more comfortable here than it was out there. The makeshift den already smelled like her, a scent he tried not to focus on for the sake of his own mental stability. Thinking he had satisfied her enough with the tugs on his tail ending, he only groaned even louder when the tugging moved to his ass instead.

Having enough of this, he stood up. Shaking her attempts off of him as well as any extra water and circled around further into the den. Behind her. Squishing himself into that space and finally collapsing with half his body over hers in a new attempt to get the little woman to cease pestering him. Half-heartedly draping an arm over her just to get himself comfortable in such a small space.

“Sleep.”

the staff team luvs u

His protests were ignored; Persephone continued to pull at him until the massive man finally rose and shook himself. She preened inwardly, pleased with herself all until he moved inward and behind her, not quite giving her the chance to move out of his way. A small sound of surprise left the girl, skin flushing with heat as a massive paw slung over her side. A tiny voice in her yelled to get away from him, that he would hurt her, but Persephone knew that was a ghost of her past traumas. He had had many chances to hurt her, and he hadn't yet.

Still, she could not quite quell the butterflies in her stomach, shifting herself about until his low voice rattled in the small hovel. More heat, his voice rumbling against her in such a way that Persephone could not easily ignore. Tilting her head back just slightly, saccharine eyes peered up at the half faced man from beneath long lashes, gaze innocent and shy. Her voice was hushed in the quiet, only just loud enough to hear above the storm that raged outside of them. “Do I get to know your name?” He knew hers. If he remembered, anyway.

the staff team luvs u

Now he should just close his eye and sleep.

She shifted. Their bodies uncomfortably close and now did he realize that the position he chose to try and tame her demanding tugs - had put him in a different predicament.

Opening a single honey eye, the hollow pupil contracted to focus on the face just inches away from his nose gazing into his face with an innocent question.

With a heavy exhale and a nonchalant blink, he rumbled in return. “Rosencrantz.” A simple answer for a question equally so. A pause. Silence lingering for a moment. A beat longer than usual for any typical conversation.

“... Persephone.” He starts. Voice low, groaning with stressed vocals trying to remain hushed despite the harshness of his baritone chords. “Why won't you rest?” One more stubborn attempt to get her to shut those blush-coloured eyes, and —

the staff team luvs u

Rosencrantz. She had never heard a name like that before. Their gazes held for a moment as she weighed his name in her head, finding that it fit him, far better than "half faced man" did. He said her name, and she refocused on him in time for him to ask his question. Why wouldn't she rest? Well that much was easy. Because she had to make sure that he was out of the storm too. She couldn't very well hide in the shelter he had brought her to and not give him room to use it as well.

“I will. I just wanted to make sure you weren't out in the storm. You could get sick you know.” And she didn't have a proper garden to grow the herbs and such that she would need to help him get better. “It was the least I could do.”

the staff team luvs u

Laying with his marred face toward the cool ground, it was easy to focus on her with his only good eye.

Her answer made the tip his tail thump a single note against the rock. A heavy wet slap like some aggravated feline with their overly affectionate owner. The answer was so kind that it had to be fake.

With another low rumble of a sigh escaping from his nose, the paladin rested his chin against the wet rock below. “Northerners don't get sick.” At least not in weather like this. It was nothing but a nonconsensual bath.

In the meantime she didn't move from his presence. Simply twisting and turning to face him in conversation even if it was just with one eye staring back. So he was able to relax. Let his weight fall as muscles loosen in the ritual of resting.

But something told him this was still not over yet, and a single ear twisted forward to listen should she speak again as he suspected.

the staff team luvs u

“That can't be true,” She would retort with a tiny little scoff. “Everyone gets sick. It doesn't matter who you are.” Or where you came from, or how you got there. Everyone got sick. His head lowered to rest against the ground and Persephone shifted, inadvertently pushing herself closer to him so that she could do the same. This shifting would continue until the girl rested on her side beneath his arm, a yawn splitting her jaws for a moment before she continued looking up at him.

“Why would you want to stay out in the rain, anyway?”

the staff team luvs u

{q]It is.[/q] A quick retort from him hoping to shut this conversation down quickly before she got too comfortable hearing the sound of both their voices.

A lip quivered as she moved again. Obviously getting herself comfortable but perhaps a little too comfortable against him - so close. A low growl rumbled through him.

With a squeeze of his arm he was certain she could be crushed in an instant. As though about to do so, Rosencrantz's arm pull her closer. So small. He didn't doubt it would take more than a moment.

“Because I'm not a good man.” He rumbled again, deeper than before with that same eye rising to stare at the golden girl at his side. Pupil sharp, trained onto her as though deciding what was his next best - and worst - move.

the staff team luvs u

Because I’m not a good man.

Perhaps the sentence should have given the dappled sunshine girl pause. Perhaps she should have shrank away from him, even as he pulled her closer. Now that she thought about it, they were awful close to each other, but Persephone made no move to change that. Instead, the girl looked up at him, ears as relaxed as the rest of her body.

Finally, she spoke. A simple: “Well, I think you are. Maybe a little rough around the edges, but you helped me, so you can’t be that bad.” No one had ever said Persephone wasn’t naive. She knew she was, in some ways, but she also knew that she preferred to try and see the hood in others, rather than judge them by their worst moments.

the staff team luvs u

Even with that obvious threat he shot her way, she did not budge. Even with the admittance of his foul doings - she did not flinch.

“Giving you shelter doesn't make me good.” Behind every kind action that blossomed between strangers there was a selfish thorn.

And why did he take her trust as a dare to his ruthlessness.

Why the fuck did it matter?

None of it made sense. A war raged internally and out in the stormy skies lightning flashed with a sudden BOOM that shook the branches of tress and earth below their feet. It rattled his bones and electrified his veins.

As if he Gods themselves who forsook his kin voiced their displeasure of the turmoil within. “You know nothing of me.” The words rumbled like lingering thunder through the bubbling clouds.

the staff team luvs u

“And saying you're "not good" doesn't make you bad.” Persephone made a motion akin to shrugging, as best she could anyway as she lay on her side beneath him and the leg he still held her under. The closeness was rather nice, providing her warmth and a sense of security she had certainly been lacking for... a while now, and the girl couldn't help but give another yawn, this one trailed by a small, sleepy whine sound.

And just as she began to drift, the thunder cracked overhead and startled her, sending the little blonde scrambling closer with a small yelp. Well, as close as she'd been to sleep before, she certainly wasn't now. And yet his voice brought her back again. Huffing, Persephone now pressed closer than ever to him, displeased with this storm and how loud it raged above them. “That's fine,” She would say, not moving away as another crack of thunder broke the skies, making her flinch again though not nearly as violently. “I can learn.”

the staff team luvs u

“And saying you're "not good" doesn't make you bad.”

She was right - of course she was, he had no troubles wit that.

“Näiv flicka — French: "naive", Sweedish: "girl".” The boom brought her closer her and this time there was no holding back. It wasn't saying that he wasn't good that made him bad... it was what he did that made him awful.

Leaning into her, he pressed himself against her little figure. Breathing in her perfume. Tasting her skin with teeth poised to grab a mouthful of flesh.

It had been so long since he had the touch of a woman. It was like poison, coursing through his veins that fed the greedy, empty heart of his. He wanted to cage her. To pin her down as gently as a ruffian could in the heat of the moment as his heart neary lept out of his chest with excitement. “Indeed you will.” He breathed, ragged and sombre. A familiar song he had once sang seemed to be repeating.

And it was an understatement to say that he was not proud of himself in this moment.

the staff team luvs u

There was no fear when he pressed closer, as his teeth warm breath teased at the fur of her ears and nape, soft honey colored ears flickering rapidly in response. In fact, she laughed, soft and surprised as she shook her head. “Hey, that tick—”

Persephone could not help the way she gasped when he moved to where he was suddenly above her, front paws caging her in a way she’d not experienced before. Still, there was no fear, not even as she tilted her head up to blink up owlishly at him. “What are you doing, Rosencrantz?”

For she did not understand the urges and sins that a man could give himself over to.
the staff team luvs u