#kldblodiige

      HE STIFFENS, A RABBIT AWARE ITS BEEN CAUGHT -- but if he feels fear, it does not bleed through to his expression. Instead, what lies there is anger, frustration, a misplaced feeling of pity. There was no betrayal, however -- how could you feel betrayed by a turn of events you saw a mile away? Even disappointment was hard to come by, feeling it only on Kuai's part.

      "You had so much potential, Frost." A pitying jab, meant to unnerve, for who was he to tell her what her potential was? "Why throw away everything Grandmaster Kuai Liang has worked for? For power? To do what with, exactly?"

      EVERY WORD SPOKEN IS SPENT SEARCHING FOR AN OPPENING -- he could kick her away, he could strike her, he could attempt to wrench her weapon away from her... as much use as that could be, when your opponent was a weapon, could construct new ones at will.

      No matter the option though, he was at a disadvantage -- for unlike either of their mentors, he was ultimately a mortal man. Skilled, but nothing other than flesh and bone put up against a cryogenic machine.

  “I don’t hold grudges. I am the flame that will extinguish them all together.”

To appreciate the mortal realm was to appreciate all that the jinsei provided, and to remember the reason they strove so hard to protect this realm. That included everything from the dirt upon which Fujin now sat to the rays of sunlight that graced his skin, warming him from head to toe. He breathed deep, his shoulders relaxed, and he felt a peace that matched the bounty of life around him.

Yet everything had a cycle. Just as life flourished around him, it also died. A fly caught in a spiderweb that stretched between thin branches, its webbing iridescent. A fox catching a rabbit, teeth stained scarlet. They were as much part of the circle as anything else, no more and no less, just as necessary. 

A ladybug came to rest on his hand and he watched with a smile as it crawled, bright red against his tawny skin. That was when he saw her passing nearby, her form easily distinguishable among nature’s greens and browns.

Send me a ⊕ for an aesthetic graphic for our muses.

Seeing her face brought calmness to her heart, her face was still freezing and her hands shaking from the nightmare she just experienced a few seconds ago, at least Skarlet was by her side, but couldn’t help her fingers from pressing her arms, reassuring herself that she was there with her. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, seriously, I haven’t had one of these in a long while.” There was sweat running down her forehead and cheeks, not tears at least, breathing heavily while doing her best to calm herself down.

          ❝ SHH. THERE’S NO NEED TO APOLOGIZE. ❞  Skarlet pulls herself closer and takes Frost’s hand, lacing their fingers together. Her other hand reaches for the woman’s face, wiping the sweat away from her brow and temples. Her voice is like soft velvet, steady and calm, as she tries to comfort her. She’s lived with nightmares and night terrors her entire life; she would never judge Frost for experiencing the same thing. There is only compassion within her softened features.  ❝ I get them, too. I know how horrible the experience can be. Take your time recovering from it, ❞  she whispers.  ❝ Can I get you anything? Hot chocolate? Ice cream? A glass of ice water? ❞

Trauma Starters || ACCEPTING!!

He was panting, curling himself into a ball, hands twisting into his hair. His voiced sounded choked, as if he were trying to hide his cries. Unable to calm down as Frost helped him onto his back, the touch of her cold across his warm skin made for a slow wake, finally relaxing with his cheek in her palm. Hazel eyes blinking hard once they finally saw her, her voice reaching out to him.

“Frost...”

His breathing steadies and he finally relaxes. Melting under her touch, an unwelcome tear sneaking from the corner of his eye.

The mask is removed from her face, pushed up into the messy confines of her hair not weaved into a braid. A breath is exhaled, forming in front of her like a cloud of smoke. 

Unseasonably cold for the time of year— fortunately it did not bother her in the least.