The words didn’t come as a surprise. Of course there were murmurs of Marcus Meyers even in the midst of Morpheus’ awakened presence in the city. But the fact that it should worry Dimitri all the more so on behalf of his companions was even less of a shock, particularly when he knew that some of them belonged to the very seethes under direct threat. That sort of depth of feeling was one of things that Elijah admired most in Dimitri—that even despite his past, or the true depravity of afterlife as a vampire, he could still be so pure in his heart. He brought his hand up to rest atop his, gently tracing his thumb across the skin there. “The timing of my arrival was by chance. But you would know as well as I that Kol keeps himself apprised of these things and rather seeks them out to be a captive audience,” he began, shifting Dimitri’s hand to rest it in the crook of his elbow now as he guided him further into the gallery. It wasn’t completely vacant, of course, but it would allow for more privacy as they spoke.
“I will not dismiss your concerns, Dimitri. They are far from baseless, after all. And if you should seek to flee with your friends now, I will provide for you all to do so… but I’m afraid I must remain. Niklaus is…” Elijah paused, unable to find the precise word he was picturing. He didn’t quite like to be discourteous to his brother’s judgements, especially prematurely. He was a complicated man at the best of times. “I need to stay to safeguard my family in whatever may come next, but I do not expect any of you to feel obligated to remain or do the same.” He brought his gaze to meet Dimitri’s then, stopping in their previous slow pace. “I cannot guarantee anyone’s safety. But if you give me the names of these loved ones of yours, I will do my best to protect them, as I will you. You have my word in that.”
"Master Kol is...unpredictable." Dimitri relented. "But...it is worrisome how unperturbed Master Klaus appears in the midst of all of this." He quietly admitted. But then offered Elijah a small but genuine smile. "But...forgive me for speaking so frank...but I am relieved you've come home. Not only for all of this...but for my own peace. I worry for you...despite my sensibilities."
"No!" He recoiled back a bit, but kept his hand where it was, cocooned beneath Elijah's. "I would never, could never leave your side. Even should the world turn to dust. I would be dust beside you." It was painfully poetic but none the less true. "I only worry for them. Of Natalie, Emilia, Luciana....Genevieve...all of my dear friends in the Uccello and Bernardi seethes. They are holding on by a thread and a prayer. But a prayer to whom...is anyone's guess." He wanted to merely fall into Elijah's arms and take whatever comfort that brought to him. But this was not merely about him. Or his dear friends either. "I fear the end of the world is upon us...Elijah."
Elijah couldn’t help but smile a bit as Dimitri spoke. His words were calculated but still charitable—he’d have made a perfect diplomat in another life. “You have earned a right to speak as frankly as you’d like, I rather think, at least where I’m concerned. And I have had much more choice wording in my assessments of my brothers over the years, so yours bear little harm.” He raised a brow at the latter statement. “You worry for me? Why, particularly?”
Words had grown into a rather complicated matter in Elijah’s respects over the years. His own, he felt, bore a weight to them, a sincerity and honour that he would maintain even now. But those of others had spurned him so many times that he found it hard to believe many things told to him—especially in matters of loyalty or fondness, heaven knew. But to hear Dimitri now actually silenced him, left him momentarily speechless with his true belief of the sentiments being expressed. Even so, he couldn’t quite bring himself to comment upon them directly, and focused instead on his worries. “Ah… I had wondered if the Mariano girls were some of your clearest motivations. They do seem to have that effect on everyone in their company,” he remarked with a slightly knowing look. “But their seethes are indeed the focus of much turmoil, I concede… I won’t ask you not to allow it to trouble you further, but I will look into things further. You have my word, Dimitri.” He sighed a bit at the final assessment. “I’ve lived through several of those thus far. I’m never quite sure it’s possible to truly end everything.”
