(This isn’t a recent occurrence. This would have been after Dest learning the truth between Leon and Alex.)
Destiney sighed softly. Once more wondering if she had made the right choice. If giving Alex his father’s name was a good idea. Leon’s father’s name. Twelve above… To consider the truth behind that single name.
Leon and Alex were half-brothers… How had she not realized it before? There was so much in common between the two that they could have been doppelgangers of each other. Almost but not quite.
Blue eyes looked towards the desk. There sitting that vibrant green stone with it’s craved symbol. Leon’s bard soulstone. His spirit had been bound to it when he died. Lingering beyond death to watch over her. Her own guardian angel. But his spirit had been absent for a time now.
They shared the same tawny skin. The same blond hair. The main difference between them both was their eyes. Leon’s had been a pale green where Alex’s were a sharp crimson. They even had a tattoo over the same eye though in different colors.
Personality wise? They were as different as night and day. Just from looking though it should have been easy to notice. Should have been yet she had completely missed it. Probably because her first meeting with Alex had been a rather violent one.
It was ironic how much they looked alike and she had never realized it till she knew the truth of the matter.
Destiney sat in the chair before her desk. Had not slept yet since Soren had brought her home. Too much on her mind to sleep. Restless thoughts running through her head at an endless pace.
Her fingers lightly caressed the lime green stone with it’s carved surface. “Leon…”
Blue eyes shimmered slightly as she looked up. Expecting to see the ghost of the man she had loved at one point in time. Before illness had claimed him from her too soon. See that bright smiling face. Hear the soft thrum of the strings on his harp. Yet nothing appeared to her now… No hint of the soul trapped.
Had he finally moved on at some point and she hadn’t noticed? Somehow she doubted it. Though she wasn’t sure what had changed either. Was it because of this name that he didn’t appear?
A heavy sigh as she sat back and looked up towards the ceiling.
Kidnapped again… Frankly she was tired of being a victim. Especially tired of being bait to get to Soren. However it hadn’t be Alexois to take her this time. No this time it had been Aeri. The woman had been gentle and promised not to hurt her. She just wanted a name Soren was holding from Alexois.
Alexois… Somehow he just kept popping back up into her life. She thought it was over and done with when her family drama was done. Apparently not. Now there was the dilemma of this name.
Yet she had agreed to help get the name from Soren. Aeri had insisted Alexois was trying to be better. If she had turned down Aeri’s words without even listening… Hypocrite. That’s what she would have been. She tried hard to prove that Leera wasn’t a monster. So if she insisted now that Alexois was nothing more then a monster just because of his actions taken for this name… Unacceptable. It was a hard truth to bear though. To think that someone like Alexois…
She still remembered that leer on his face when he had Lance at sword point in Coerthas. Aeri insisted here was much more to the story then Destiney knew. Truths hidden in shadows.
Her blue eyes drifted to the name she had written down. The one she had argued with Soren to get. Then to the stone her fingers lightly danced over.
Raitmeaux Chassebel… Chassebel… Leonceault Chassebel. Alexois and Leon had been half brothers according to Soren. Raitmeaux had fathered them both to different mothers.
Soren had thought he was protecting her by keeping this name from Alexois. Because this name was a connection to Leon.. He hadn’t thought it mattered so he hadn’t told her. Kept the truth from her. Hadn’t thought it would affect her. Honestly it shouldn’t have. Yet it did. Because of Leon…
So many things Soren kept from her. As if she needed to be protected from the dark truths. Hadn’t told her of his bargain with Alexois for this name. Didn’t tell her how he had tried to kill Alexois over this name. Aeri had told her. Told her the way Soren was killing Alexois slowly and painfully. Soren had assumed what was best for her instead of being honest. At least until last night when she confronted him and used guilt like a weapon. Just as Aeri had told her to.
Her hands rubbed over her face with a disgruntled sigh.
Her words had been heated and honest. But they were words that Soren needed to hear. She was tired of being protected from the truth just because it would be a hard truth. Because he wasn’t honorable. At the same time he also still seemed to refuse to hear her.
“For once it’s not about you. It’s not that I believe you can’t handle it or that you are fragile or pure. It’s not that I think you need to be sheltered damn it. It’s how I see myself through your eyes… And what I see… I don’t like it, but I can’t change it.”
Soren… She knew her last words after that had been harsh. Almost cruel. But they were honestly how she felt. Raw and honest.
“How I see you? You couldn’t care how I see you when you chose her over me! I never asked you to hide who you are. It shouldn’t matter. Not that my opinion seems to matter much though.”
She rubbed at her wet cheeks. Somewhere along the line she had begun to silently cry again. All she wanted now was her life back to the way things used to be.
Yet now she had the weight of that name. The decision was hers. Aeri had promised. Had kept to her promise though she had been there to get that name for Alexois. Now it was Destiney’s choice. To possibly condemn this man to an ill fate depending on what Alexois wanted his father’s name. Why he went to the lengths he did to get it. Working for the Aurifore just for the sake of this name. Could she do that to Leon’s father though he had never talked about the man before?
“Twelve forgive me…”
Aeri’s words about Alexois having never been given a chance before. Never having the chance to be anything but a monster. Being used and discarded like a mongrel. How was it fair if she didn’t give him a chance… Maybe he just wanted family. All she could do was pray that she wasn’t sentencing the man to death. Leon’s own father. Hands reaching for pen and paper. Writing to Aeri with her answer.
Aeri,
Soren gave me the name. It has been… A hard choice on whether or not to give this name to Alexois. Twelve forgive me if I am making the wrong choice and condemning a man to death. You walked away when you seen what the name Leon meant to me. There is a story behind that name though I’m not sure it matters to anyone but myself. His name was Leonceault Chassebel. Apparently he was Alexois’ half brother. The name Alexois wants… Is Raitmeaux Chassebel… Leon’s father. As well as Alexois’ father. I only hope and pray that I am making the right choice in handing over this information. In giving Alexois a chance to prove he is more then the monster I seen.
(This occurred Wednesday night mostly. With bits from last night. Was too tired/busy to get it written sooner. @ikara-esho and @jonahsage for mentions.)
It had been nearly a week since she had last gotten a full night’s sleep. Her mind was just so overburdened. Yet she kept pushing her body every night as hard as she could before exhausted sleep claimed her. Regardless of the worried looks Daisy would give her every night she entered the training room an called on her fairy companion.
Every night she fell asleep in that training room. Though only two of those nights did she wake up an find herself still asleep there. The house was safe. Or at least safer then her own home. An the training room provided an outlet for the pain and mental agony.
How she was still standing… Still functioning… It was hard to say exactly. She was only a shadow of her normal self. Yet she could still preform the duties expected of her.
Another night curled up asleep sitting against the far wall of the training room. Eyes too heavy to resist. Body too fatigued to continue practicing spells. She allowed another round of exhausted sleep claim her. Hoping for a dreamless rest.
The dreams were nightmares. However they had evolved. No longer did she see the sneering faces of Imperials moments before claiming her life. Now she saw the faces of the two from the Brume attack. The bodies of those she cared about laying unmoving on the cold hard ground as snow drifted from the sky. A bitter cold seeping into her bones as she hugged herself. Looking up she would find Nate approaching. No not Nate. It wore his face but that sneer was anything but Nate. In the distance was the cold face of an older Ishgardian man. Ordering her death. Behind her the long drop of the witchdrop. She would wake screaming and panicked after being pushed over that edge by the ghost that looked like her dear friend.
For a time she would sit there and cry. At least until she either fell back to sleep or got up an found something to keep her busy. Anything to keep her distracted from the nightmare. Yet there was something different about this night.
There was the soft sounds of another person in the room. The sounds of a man. A blade whistling through the air with speed. Destiney’s eyes drifted open half way. Her body felt heavier then normal. A blanket had been draped over her where she had fallen asleep. Weary eyes looked up through that half mask to see who was in the room with her.
She recognized him almost immediately despite his back being to her. Despite the fresh looking injuries that could only be a day or two old as he practiced shirtless. Sweat dampening his skin and hair as he moved fluidly with his sword. His movements precise and clearly practiced for years.
Her eyes widened slightly as she looked off to his left a bit. Surely she was hallucinating with as exhausted as she was. There stood another familiar form. One she had not seen for years. Not since his death. His eyes however were watching the moving form of her cousin as he practiced. Still clad in that flamboyant bard gear from the day he died. It was as if he knew eyes were upon him though. Pale green eyes found hers. A smirk tugging at the edges of his lips. Lips moving yet she couldn’t hear him. The smirk quickly changing to a frown. The vision of him slipping away from her like sand between her fingers.
Her eyes grew heavy again just as Lance stopped his motions with the sword. His face turned towards her. She could have sworn she heard him say her name as sleep claimed her again. Barely aware of her cousin coming over to pick her up off the floor, cradled in his arms like a child.
Lance’s hands reaching for her mask roused her for a few moments. She was in her bed of her room at the company house. She felt his hand brush over her head soothingly.
“Go back to sleep.” Lance spoke softly. Destiney reached up to grab his hand as she stared up at him with tired eyes.
“Stay with me? Just for a little?” Destiney pleaded softly. Her heart longed for Leon. The comfort his presence used to bring. Seeing him for just a few moments… Lance was not Leon. Yet he was still family. He had been there for her when she had needed someone to save her. Right now she needed her family. Both that of blood and those she had chosen to make her family.
“I’ll stay. Go to sleep.” Lance said as he sat down on the edge of the bed, still holding her hand. Destiney nodded an closed her eyes, knowing Lance was still there. Knowing she was safe. She allowed herself to drift off to sleep again. Thinking of Leon and his pale green eyes.
*~*
Lance had been gone when she had woken. She had gone about her day as she had been for this entire week. Keeping busy. Practicing. Eating at times. Barely stopping.
She had encountered Ikara when she had gone out of the training room to get something to eat. They had spoken for a bit and the younger mage had offered to give her a night of dreamless restful sleep. Others had come by as well. An then Nate came home… No not Nate. The monster that wore Nate like a second skin.
Destiney fled the room at a hurried walk. The mission the night before still left her hurting. Watching Nate behave the way he was. Watching him shamelessly behave like he was around Chloe. She knew Chloe was acting but it still hurt. She was jealous. Did not want to admit it though. It was hard to hold back. Hard to keep from ruining the careful planning to try an set Nate free of whatever was possessing him. She had had to leave the room.
She had never been more glad then that night for a dreamless sleep. To know Ikara said Leon was there with her. Watching over her. Her smile was tired but glad to know he was annoyed with her for the lack of sleep she had been getting. Typical Leon. He had never really coddled her. It was always gentle careful pushing.
She left that spell claim her tired mind and body easily. For the first time in nearly a week she slept peacefully. A slight smile still on her lips. The ghostly form of Leon sitting where Lance had been the night before. Watching over her like a guardian angel.
(There is only one kid I can answer this for. The others currently have no love interests. Not that they don’t want any. Lance had a potential one but it ended. Kari has never had any. So this is definitely a Dest answer.)
(Granted this is a dead love interest but he still qualifies. As Dest is married now she does still have the occasional crush but would never actually act upon it. So meet Leonceault Chassebel. Duskwight and Bard. He is often mentioned lately in either my writing or by Dest. He had a big role in her recovery after her attempt to kill herself. An he has come to play a role in the plot I have been developing for her in game. Yes his spirit does still linger. He is spirit bound to the soulstone he left with Destiney.
Leon was a playboy and total flirt when alive. But he knew his days were numbered. He had an incurable illness. So why not live life to the fullest? He was a very good bard. Both in battle and in song. For him fooling around with woman was a distraction. Something to keep him from thinking on darker thoughts. An then Dest came along. An they fell for each other an it was so hard for him to keep it from her. He was so protective of her and wouldn’t allow her to give in. A part of her still loves him.)
“Twelve hear me please… Give me strength…” The words were soft, barely above a whisper as she knelt on the cold stone before the steps leading towards the church. The pendant holding that half a shard of green stone clasped tightly in her hand as she prayed. Seeking the mental strength to endure.
Of all the places her feet could carry her in the Twelveswood… They had brought her to the church. She had never been overly religious. Of course she believed. Yet that never made her truly devout.
She fought back the urge to sob as she remained kneeling there. Nate had run off without a word to her. Only words to Rhisi over the linkpearl. So soon after he had promised her just the night before. Promised to let her know if he was going to do anything dangerous or rash. An it worried her sick. Especially with the way he had been messing with corrupted aether. She felt like she was losing him slowly. Like every day he messed more with that corrupted aether was driving a wedge between them. She didn’t know if her heart could stand it. To lose what she had with Nate… It would be like reopening the wounds of losing Leon and her father all over again.
“Please… Don’t take him from me… Not him too… Please… I’m begging you..”
There was a soft masculine growl from behind her. Not one that fell upon her ears. She never heard him. Could never see him. It had been that way since his death. In part… He preferred to keep it this way.
Sun-kissed skin and pale jade eyes. Draped in the attire of a bard with the hat slanted forward just a bit further then normal towards his face. The pale golden tattoo on his face barely standing out in the warm glow of the church and stars. Hair the color of straw peaking out from beneath the hat in spots. Still the same. Just as he had been when he had passed from this world to become trapped as a spirit. Leonceault Chassebel.
The tall duskwight took the few steps to close the gap between them. His brow furrowed as he heard the first sobs. He knelt down next to her an wrapped his arms around her shoulders from behind. He knew she wouldn’t truly feel his presence. Yet he wanted nothing more than to comfort her. Longed to try an ease her heart.
“Destiney… Everything will be okay…” Leon whispered softly. Though his words would fall on deaf ears. She did not have the ability to see the spirits of the dead, let alone hear them. Nate however did. He growled again softly. He was definitely going to let that boy have a piece of his mind the next time they met. “Just stay strong. An keep believing. I know you can.”
Destiney hiccuped softly as she moved to stand once more. Her cheeks glistened from the tears that had fallen down them. The half-mask on her face hiding any other signs of the pain in her heart right now. Leon remained where he knelt, looking up at her with mixed emotions.
“You have become so strong. Do not give up now.” His words were soft an meant towards her regardless of her inability to know they were said. He took his own chance to offer a prayer to Oschon as Destiney wiped her cheeks on the sleeves of her tunic.
Those pale eyes watched as she turned to leave the church grounds. A soft sigh escaped between his lips as he stood to follow after. Her invisible guardian.
So I realized I keep mentioning these people in Dest‘s backstory but I never remember to share pictures even though I totally created them all on varying servers.
Left to Right starting with the top row:
Leonceault (Leon) Chassebel, Ricard Starkweather (Uncle), Moon Dove
Spirit of the Warlock 