hate the sin, love the sinner [p, edmund]

[cygnus]

[align=center][div style="width: 400px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px;"][font=calibri]endless emotions swirled all around wren. in her head, she was angry, confused, she felt betrayed, but in her heart, she felt sad and honestly, defeated. though she had been given most of the information that she had been searching for her whole life, this meeting with eddie was going to be intense, there was no way around that. he would be filling in the gaps that wren did not give her father the chance to fill. as far as she was concerned, he had nothing of importance left to say to her. nothing that was worth it, anyways.

wren paced the empty library erratically, flipping through a random book she had picked up to distract her mind. though it wasn't working, it didn't give her hands something to do while she waited anxiously for eddie's arrival. he had returned, not even sure he would ever see her again. she had no intentions of ever returning to flintlock. it was too painful, but she couldn't stay away. that's where her beloved brother was buried, of course. checking the time, wren huffed irritably. he was late. perhaps putting his children down for bed, but regardless, punctuality was important, and surely a captain would know that. putting the book back on its shelf, wren sat down and tried her focus on the dancing flames in front of her.

[EDMUND.]

[align=center][div style="width: 430px; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 6pt; letter-spacing: 2.5px; word-spacing: 0px; line-height: 12px; color: #000"]Who was he to act as the keeper of Victor Seaborne’s memories?

The thought of visiting his grave had been excruciating following Wren’s silent departure. As if the guilt that had already weighed heavily on his shoulders only amplified now that the secret was kept between not one, but two tumultuous souls. The horror that he’d forever recall at that look on Wren’s face when those bereaved words shakily passed his lips. Victor was gone, and it had been Edmund’s fault. Or that was what he’d tell himself at night anyways. It always was his fault; the man to pull the trigger, to drag scarlet red through the crispness of the winter snow, to dig and dig until his fingers blistered to lay a good man to rest. Ever since Wren’s departure, the thought of recalling those memories were suffocating. He would stand alone in the darkness of the night as he’d inhale a thick plume of smoke. He liked the way it burnt his lungs in the coldness of the mountains, as if his own self-destruction could indeed look that beautiful.

Soon, his fingers had twisted around the cigarette he’d been holding, snapping it in two.

Upon his arrival back to the lodge, he was confronted with the memories face on again. It was bound to have happened one day or another. Wren wished to speak to him privately, and Eddie wouldn’t shy away from his responsibilities when they’d approach him. After putting his children to bed, kissing the both of them lovingly on their foreheads as he thanked each day he could keep them safe, Eddie stepped into the library warily, slowly shutting the library door with a soft click. With the topic of conversation that was due to be discussed, Eddie was sure he wouldn’t appreciate any eavesdroppers. Swallowing hard, Eddie looked across at Wren expectantly. She’d turn to look at him with those calm blue eyes, and it wasn’t a scrutinising gaze whatsoever but he still could feel himself wanting to shrink away from it regardless.

❝ Wren… ❞ Eddie greeted with a soft breath, unsure where he should tread for a moment before approaching and taking a seat at a nearby armchair. He soaked in the warmth of the fireplace, just about the only comfort he felt in a conversation he was gravely aware would compel that same heavy heart he often felt at the memory of Victor. ❝ You wanted to talk. ❞

[cygnus]

[align=center][div style="width: 400px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px;"][font=calibri]the soft sound of movement attracted wren's attention, and she dragged her gaze from the fireplace to meet the dim silhouette of eddie entering the room. his discomfort seemed the change the energy in the rest of the room. rubbing her arms, she dipped her head when he began to speak.

"yes, there are some... things that i-we should discuss. family things," she raised an eyebrow knowingly, halfway curious to see his response to those specific words. the words that likely gave away the fact that she was at least semi-knowledgable about the pact between their families. "i know it might be difficult to consider now, but i do think of you as a family member. another older brother, if you will. it's been difficult, for everyone involved, but i'm ready to take the steps necessary to putting this behind us," wren began quietly, observing his slow motions. he sat in the armchair, near the fire.

clearing her throat, she began again. "i met my father. and i'm under the impression that you are close with him, because i'm also aware of the agreement my father has with you and your predecessors," she said quietly, leaning in so that he could hear her a bit better. "so first thing's first. i need you to tell me what the fuck is going on and why victor was even involved." and there it was. that bitter, sharp-as-a-knife tongue, ready to rip out the throat of those who crossed her. the presence of eddie was difficult, much more than wren had expected. she was prepared to tear into him, but the solemn energy he brought to the meeting was enough to change the whole trajectory wren had planned for their conversation. but she was going to give him the chance to explain himself and bring light to a pitch-black situation.