Noctisardor Bypass Karma Police

@glaukos if you have time

Suzu had little to no time to make a proper plan. What was she even supposed to say to the man who was basically keeping her brother as a captive? What had prompted him to resort to brute force rather than simply asking the medic to stay? 

Heda and Druid.

He cared for the women, obviously. Perhaps he had been driven by desperation. It would not excuse him from his sins, but she felt there might be some hope if his actions had been motivated by his need to take care of the women and their children. 

The day was eventful enough already- she had found Etienne, and now had accepted @Anselm at her side as her escort. She moved with purpose, her mind buzzing; she scented the area, noting the pungent scent of the man who led the pack. 

In her mind lingered two “worst case scenario” options. She could only hope that she would not need to resort to those; and she would keep them to herself, knowing that neither Etienne nor Anselm would approve. 

”Any advice?” She asked dryly of her companion.

Anselm was relieved Suzu accepted his offer -- but also, frankly terrified.

Glaukos had nearly wiped him from the map. While fighting was a number's game, he would not forget this man was a bear in wolf's fur -- capable of extraordinary power that made him look like a ragdoll in comparison.

Now, they made for the man -- and possible death. Any advice?  Suzu inquired of her companion. Anselm drew to his full height with a sigh, trying to keep his heart-rate from sending his blood exploding out of his brain.

Yes. Don't get hit.

Tremendously helpful, as always.

She sighed and rolled her eyes, gaze reaching up to the towering lodgepole pines that seemed to watch them as they passed. She wondered if Glaukos, too, towered so fiercely that both young men worried she would get herself killed.

She took some solace in knowing that Sapphique would sweep in to avenge her like an angry tsunami if any harm came to her- so long as word reached them, of course.

She tried to lighten the mood. ”I am better at dodging den you might t’ink,” She didn’t expect he would have much faith in her words- he likely thought she was too chubby to be able to dodge very well. She cleared her throat. In a hushed voice, she whispered, her lips lightly parted but not moving. Her eyes continued to study the trees, as if in awe.

”If anyt’ing ‘appens…Tell Sapphique.”

Word of their broken children would make them rise like an angry ocean.

One way to make certain that Bad Stuff Will Happen, for these two individuals in particular, was for one of them to already be on the bear-man's hit list. He had been lenient during the birth of his children (yes, Glaukos considered all of them to be his alone, and knew no better) and had looked the other way metaphorically as well as physically, when he had seen Anselm there at the time; but now that the children were present and both the mothers thrived, the situation again was shifting against his favor.

It did not bode well that Anselm now walked in Rivenwood with some bitch that Glaukos had never seen or smelled before; the only thing stopping him from confronting the two of them and skinning the boy for his hide, as promised, was the reiteration of Druid's voice in his head. He did not want to stress either of the mothers more than they'd already been, given the timing. Neither did Glaukos enjoy having his laws broken.

When he was certain the children were being watched-over by their mothers and Heda's girls, he extricated himself from the den area and began a slow patrol of Rivenwood's heart; that was when he spied the pair. He would arrive from behind them, choosing the tactical advantage of a flanking maneuver out of some misaligned need, and the shadow he cast would split between the pair.

Who are you? He rumbled pointedly at the back of the squat little girl's fat head.

If Anselm had ever been in high school, he might draw the allegory of dodgeball -- and how Suzu made a delightfully round target. He could imagine she was better than dodging than she let on, but as the pair walked through the towering lodgepole pines, Anselm's mood was far from cheery.

If anything happens, tell Sapphique, Suzu imparted. As was becoming a habit of his as of late, Anselm's lips twitched nervously. I von't let that happen. He grumbled, his voice trailing off as a muffled sound from behind caught his attention.

Anselm whirled in time to see Glaukos -- fucking hell, he was big. How had something so monstrous managed to get the jump-start on them? He balked, but held his ground alongside Suzu. While she was perfectly capable of introducing herself, a defiant streak in Anselm sparked -- mostly because his masculinity had been called into question by Glaukos' rough handling of him. This is Etienne's sister. You know, the healer you decided to hurt. She vould like a vord vith you.

Was that an ounce of faith she gained? It felt good, but heavy too. She didn’t particularly like him, but his blood wasn’t something she wanted on her hands, especially when she suspected he meant a lot to her brother.

A deep voice made her turn, and raised her gaze. The man who spoke was a boiling storm himself, and she felt dissected beneath the scalpel of his gaze. She moved with less vigour than Anselm, a grace to her movement that spoke of little fear.

She regretted not telling Anselm to keep his mouth shut. She’d contemplated lying about her ties to Etienne, but now that option was gone. 

She could only use it, for whatever advantage it gave her. 

”My name is Berceuse, but you may call me Suzu,” She assessed him, knowing they would have no chance in a physical debacle- still, she felt she shouldn’t show fear. She criticized him for what he’d done to Etienne, for his ethics. Would he harm others just to hide his shame?

”I am from Sapphique; I ‘ave sent word to dem about Etienne but I t’ought you an’ I should ‘ave a chat before dey show up.” A thorny olive branch, if nothing else.

She spoke to him as if her name meant something. As if the place she was born added an intrinsic value to her blood. There was a small threat there—small because of who spoke it, and small because to Glaukos it was meaningless—that involved some unknown entity that was Suzu's home turf. What did Glaukos care? She was on his land now and trying to assume some kind of power which wasn't her's.

The man watched her with his usual impassive stare.

After a beat of what might've been thought, Glaukos gave a small snort and turned to leave.

Go home, kid. He was dismissive rather than abrasive, although the tone was much the same. If she wanted his attention then she would have to earn it; if she was here to plead for her brother's freedom, there was little that would satisfy Glaukos in that regard. As for Anselm, he was wholly ignored, again.

Anselm had a penchant for foot-in-mouth; this was not the first time flapping his trap added nothing positive to the situation.

He shut his jaws with a snap, having caught a glimpse of something in Suzu’s face that was not supportive. He stiffened, standing his full height — which still fell several inches short of the man who now stood in front of them.

Anselm had never wondered what it was to be a bug, but in that moment he felt like a tiny insect under the excruciating study of a giant — magnifying glass and all passing clinically through him, an impossibly large thumb rising from the sky to blot his inconsequential existence into the dirt.

They were told to leave. That was not what Anselm expected. Truthfully, he’d expected way worse — but he knew Suzu would not be happy with this dismissal.

For once, Anselm kept his mouth shut.

He dismissed her. ”I ‘eard dat you ‘ave one- no, is it two now? Litters ‘ere,” She said, waving aside his dismissal with the fact that was stated as if she was merely fishing for an invite to see the children. 

It was, instead, a reminder of how vulnerable Rivenwood was, with two women as new mothers, a wounded medic, and an Anselm who…Well, Suzu wasn’t sure why he’d been kept around, but she assumed it was because Étienne had insisted. 

”I would like to see Heda- she is much loved by de wolves of Sapphique,” After all, the woman had provided a safe harbour for Suzu and the other children when the bear had attacked. ”Dere be t’ings about women an’ childbirthin’ dat I-as a woman- know more den my brot’er. Secrets shared among women. I would like to check an’ see ‘ow she recovers,” She offered.

The girl did not stop. She orbited him like an unwanted moon around Planet Glaukos. The mention of the women made him stop moving (but it might have also been the annoyance to her presence) and she began making her requests to see his children. The man was bristling.

Clearly this girl thought she could manipulate her way to the children, or maybe to Druid and Heda. Either she did want to visit the children or she was trying to remind Glaukos of the current state of Rivenwood—trying to build upon her little threat from earlier.

He stared her down. You aren't needed here, nor are you welcome. Anselm, the den-father had not removed his gaze from the girl but he spoke the name of the boy now, which was steeped in malice. Make sure she finds her way home.

As resistant as the boy could be, Glaukos hoped he would see the value in obeying this time; given his gray-area status right now, dis he want the same for this friend of his? She would make a decent pillow for his children.

Suzu did a better job of handling herself than Anselm expected. He wasn’t sure what her angle was mentioning Heda — he was about to blurt ‘I thought we were here for Etienne’ when he caught on.

Oh.

He straightened as Glaukos said his name, the way it was spoken so distinctly malevolent it sent chills down his spine.

For several seconds, Anselm processed what was said — and the implications unsaid behind it if he did not comply.

Would anything change? Was Anselm too proud and stupid?

I vill not. Anselm snorted, prepared for violent rebuke. Take her yourself, you prick.

”If you really do not need ‘elp, why stoop so low as to maim an ‘armless medic in order to make ‘im stay?” She fired back. She felt the tension rise as Anselm denied the man’s order, and she felt the fur along the back of her neck prickle. 

She wished she had come alone. Perhaps Glaukos would not have been so bristly if she’d not been associated with someone whose reputation was already soured. 

”I will go on my own, if you insist.” She said quietly. It wasn’t worth risking Anselm’s well-being, at this moment.

Of course the fool would refuse. More ammunition for Glaukos, proving he should have followed through with his initial threat. His scowl became a grimace as he turned his head to stare down Anselm; but he did not strike him - yet.

Were all the men outside of Mereo so insubordinate?

The girl ribbed at him about help but gave up pretty quickly, saying she would go. Glaukos watched her next; but there was a clear tension building between the men.

The healer we have can go whenever he feels like it. Was everybody blind? Etienne had been bludgeoned a little but he could walk. He hadn't bled or gotten sick. He was a weakling according to Glaukos, and once he was done being useful he would not care what happened.

The children have been born. The mothers are recovering. If he stays now it is by choice; but his help is not needed and neither is yours. Although Glaukos did not know for certain if Heda or Druid might need further herbs or aid, he wanted this headache resolved.

Now get out of my home.

Anselm expected to be cleaved in half in the next second. He was surprised to still be among the upright and ventilating.

Sparing a glance to Suzu, Anselm wondered why she backed off so quickly. His blood was pumping with adrenaline and he was about to get stupid. Where was her spitfire, her mettle? Was she cowed so easily? When Anselm looked back to Glaukos, he saw the man's eyes boring right into him.

It was enough to make stone melt. Anselm swallowed back the last of his quailing. The strength of the volf is in his pack. His lips curled back as he broke gaze from Glaukos. He wanted the last word, but something about Glaukos suggested he may as well talk to a glacier.

Anselm kept an eye on the volcanic man lest he go full Pompeii on his ass in the next second. He motioned with his head to the side to Suzu: let's go.

While Etienne was apparently not being held as a captive, it did not excuse Glaukos from his actions. Suzu still raged within, even more so knowing that it would have been a fool’s errand had she tried to punish Glaukos herself. 

As much of a pain as Anselm was, he was right about one thing-

The strength of the wolf was in its pack; and Sapphique was strong.

She bid Glaukos farewell with a curt nod. She moved off with Anselm. 

Once out of earshot, she would finally sigh, and shudder. One thing was for sure- that man was terrifying.

The strength of the wolf was the pack? What kind of hippy-dippy bullshit were they on about now? Strength was strength; Glaukos had it, his children would grow in to it, and these strangers taking advantage of his land and his women's hormonal hospitality would one day leave, leaving him free of headaches.

The girl dismissed him.

She dismissed him.

These microaggressions stabbed deep in to the core of who Glaukos was. He left because he had other things to do, more important than their childish protests.