| Love and Thunder | ||
| Date Started: February 29, 2024 Date Finished: Ongoing Next Role-Play: Timeline: February 29, 1610 Setting: Characters Involved:
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| Participants | ||
| User:EmperorKamui • User:Wiredsmiles • User:Lemon Jacks • User:Rockett121 • User:Great Achlus• User:Tabor gorilla | ||
Rise of the Jotunn[]
The Kingdom of Elbaph was a sight to behold. A beauty of great beauty and size, a size needed to host its primary inhabitants" the Giant race. Tall and jagged mountains danced amongst the island, reaching towards the heavens with their height an protecting the sacred tree at the heart of the great island. Villages dotted the coast and along the great mountains, all useful in their own right. However, before the sacred tree rested the most important building of the island: the castle Jotunheim.
Inside the castle moved many servants, most of whom seemed happy with their day to day work. However, the primary residents of the castle were the royal family, each of whom found themselves occupied with something. Amongst them was the Crown Princess of the land, Heidrun Skadi. However, the young woman seemed to not be focused on any sort of royal duty and was instead packing away clothes and supplies.
The restless princess wanted more than just the walls of the castle of the castle and the expanse of their island. She wanted to she the world at large, a world she had only seen brief glimpses of when joining her father aboard the Ragnarok Pirates' fleet. However, these tours were always brief - King Heidrun Thrymr did not like being away from home longer than he had to be in any situation. It was part of his and his crew's survival of the great war - lack of interest in the affairs off of Elbaph and its territories.
Skadi grabbed the remainder of her things and began to leave her room and the palace. Her and her supporters were meant to meet at the Port of Bestla. All they had to do was board the ship and begin their voyage before the Dread King intercepted them.
Listening to the clatter and hurry, a lanky figure slumped through the hallways of the castle. Yawning with a bag slumped over their shoulder, Nott just couldn’t remember why they were going out. Until their ears were assaulted by a heavy thump to the ground, they turned their head to the door.
“Mmmhh..Sis..” They yawned out as they opened the door without warning. No matter what she was doing, Nott was too busy rubbing their face with one hand to try to shake out of the exhaustion that lingered. “What are you doing again? I mean..what are we doing?”
Shaking their mop of blonde hair, it took a few tries to get their heavy bangs out of their face. Eventually opting to take a deep breath, they shot a gust of air out to finally reveal their slightly darker yellow set of eyes. A subtle purple highlighted around both, making it impossible to mask how tired they were. “Oh right..leavin’..Wait-” They were cut off by another yawn, one that almost made them pass out where they stood.
Dipping to sit on the floor, Nott placed the meat of their palms under their chin. “Why would you wanna leave all this? We already have everything we could ever want and more. I bet even those people on Dressrosa would be jealous..” They held a finger out, pointing at Skadi. “You even got a fleet,” he pointed out another. “People who love you,” and then one more. “And the best beds ever. People kill for thread counts like these..”
While he wasn't some snitch, he had no intentions to tell the king of Nott and Skadi's leave. He wasn't about to let them leave on their own. So without even mentioning his presence, The guard was behind them, somehow having approached with little noise. He was only given away when a light sigh escaped the pet around his neck. So he continued to interrupt by saying, "Yo Nott, Sup Skadi, got room for two more?" He asked in the most nonchalant way he could muster.
"I don't want a fleet though, I just want to do my own adventure!" Skadi exclaimed, annoyed with her brother's remarks. She knew he was right though, the crown princess often could get her way on most issues. Maybe it was the luck of being the eldest, next in line for the throne, being the only girl, or just her similarities to Thrymr overall. "Maybe I could convince him, but he is over the top. He barely let me do anything as an Einherjar for his crew. I don't want him to send a Norn to follow us on everything we do as a body guard, what's the fun in that?"
As Tooro approached on with his request, the girl grinned. "Torro, you always show up at the right time. Of course we could bring you along!" Skadi did think well of the man, he was reliable and strong. Further, a Wotan like him could be very helpful in case of the royal siblings falling into the water - Devil Fruits cursed them both with the inability to swim. His assistance would be of great help.
Torro smiled at the acceptance. While he was a member of the kingdom's guard, and leaving wouldn't look the best on his record. He was, more specifically, a member of the royal guard with the task of aiding the two siblings. So technically, he's leaving now, but he'd still be fulfilling that task without issue. Or at least that was the justification he gave himself to make this decision less overwhelming. With a quick whistle, a small, ferret-looking creature emerged from a nearby doorway. Well, small compared to a giant. In reality, the animal was around 210 centimeters tall. To a human, it would be like a large horse.
The blue blur of a mammal scurried its way up his leg. Climbing up his back before eventually arriving at his shoulder, where it stopped. Letting out a high-pitched tweet like a bird. Torro quickly turned to face his furry companion before looking back. "I'm ready to go then."
Bestla smelled of many bountiful simple fragrances. The salt of the sea sprayed against the shale shorelines. The blood and pungent catches of the morning at the markets. The sweet smell of bread from the bakers. It was home to tradesfolk living off the land and caring for it. The village was named after the mother of Odin. Like a mother, it cared for its children and its amber fields and soft green shores it provided. It could be surprising to those ill-informed that this village of peaceful bounty once starved and cast sails to fight an enemy off friendly shores. But such events would be minor footnotes to any younger giants. But one of the most popular spots in the village was the Cracked Maw.
It was once a ship-building station, now converted into a pub. The walls were made of various colors of pine and oak. The whole pub had a bit of rot from the humidity of the sea. Still, it stood tool against the crashing waves defiantly. The group could hear the inviting cacophony of grave voices singing slurred lyrics inside the pub. Backed by the melody of a flute, lyre, and drum. The smell of sweet barely and dry whiskey lingered from the door, drawing in anyone to enter.
Said pub was host to a reddy already deep in her cups. Since she didn't know how long it would be until she had the "good stuff" again, Ruad wanted every last drop available. Always ready for a tussle, patrons had learned to leave her alone, even if she was cleaning out stock. Still, she hadn't expected to make it through this many.
"Just how long is twinkle toes going to take?" Ruad grumbled, downing another pilsner. Should she head outside to check? "Bleh." Rising from the mug laden table, she plunked some money down before reconsidering. "Maybe one more. And another for the road."
The pub door opened from the inside, making the typical creaking sound of dry wood. A new patron beckoned, greeting those present with the wave of her hand, and who was greeted in turn by a communal raising of mugs filled with beer and mead.
She sat on a bar a short distance away from Macha, the only brave one was didn’t look wary of the fiery looking redhead who was guzzling an amount of alcohol that would have knocked out an entire army, and who was perhaps stammered enough that she would have eagerly routed one if a sorry soul had dared to sip a mere drop from her ever-mounting stack of goblets. The newcomer beckoned to the bartender, giving Macha an amused and somewhat sly look in the meantime, the same look an elder sibling would give a slightly mischievous child.
"Hey Bertha, gimme a little taste of how you treated my 'kids.' I wouldn't want the red-haired canteen next to me to drain it all before I try my own recipes." Her request came out thundering and jovial, her index on display pointing at Macha, swinging back and forth dangerously close to the latter’s forearm.
"Eh?" It took Macha a moment to place the voice as she downed yet another mug. So much for one for the road.
It then clicked. "Daisy Duke, you fucker." As Yda undoubtedly expected, a "love tap" from the called out redhead followed her proclamation. Yet despite the coarse language and heavy hand, there was no doubt affection.
"You just wish you could down this much without consequences." Resettling in her seat, Macha signaled for another drink.
Killian sat behind the bar with amusement as Ruad downed more of her ale. Of course, the older giant knew she'd have to cut off the young redhead soon enough—for her customers and Ruad's own sake. Even if it was belli, Killian had to limit every giant who thought they could drink twice their weight in brew. "Lass, yar a bit too dwt to drink so much. Don't want ale floating up to your eyeballs. Brew hoo hoo hoo!" Letting out a hardy laugh, the bartender slides her another mug. "Last one for a couple hours, lass. I can serve yah something without alcohol, but I'm cutting yah off."
Turning to face the new patron, she gives a simple nod. "Alright, how are you today, miss? The Cracked Maw is happy to have yah. Whenever yer ready, I'll take yer order," She said enthusiastically as she quickly cleaned several returned mugs. The bovine giant caught the older one's eyes as she considered her order. "Don't worry, miss, the young lass hasn't drained me dry yet; she's put a fair dent in it, though. Fortunately, we're giants, so the kegs come big, and the beer is bold." Picking a fresh glass, Killian taps the keg with finesse as she gets the proper ratio of foamy head. Satisfied with her work, she brings the massive mug to the Half-Mink.
"Did I hear correctly? It sounds like you both have a history. Well, if this redhead reserve is yer pal, I welcome yah. I did cut her off, but I can admit she likely gave me a good run in a drinking contest. Of course, I drink to taste my product, not to down it. Except for a spirit I make for myself, that's a personal stash." She looked back to Ruad, who offered her a complimentary soda. "Sorry again, lass, but I'd rather not see you find those consequences."
“You think I can’t ingest this amount of alcohol down? Lady, when it comes to drinking any kind of liquid, I am endless well. Literally” Yda replied to the redhead's taunts with the most faux and playfully indignant tone possible. “You should know that. But unlike ya, I think good beverage you should be sipped with care, not guzzled in cans. Alcohol’s can be a form of art when mixed with the right amount of flavors…”
Speaking of the devil, the barwoman had brought her a foamy mug, filled with the liquid extracted from hops Yda had grown and manipulated with the help of her Devil Fruit and some sprinkle of careful genesplicing. Its color could not be mistaken: the spume frothing from the rims of mug was the color of rainbows, each bubble raising up and billowing for an passing instant capturing the hue of light passing through a prism of water.
“Feeling fantastic today, Bertha-san. Just like marvel you’ve just served me.” Yda greeted the old bartender, slighting nodding her head as a sign of respect. Bringing the mug close to her nose, she could feel the myriad fragrances caressing her nose until her taste buds salivated. Mindful of her own advice, she took a very light first sip, carefully balancing the foam with the liquid inside her mouth, sloshing it slowly, down her tongue, palate, throat.
“Arctic raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, strawberry, sour cherry... but also mango, papaya, lychee, passion fruit, pitaya, kiwano, guava and maracuja, lime…. Every flavor is balanced to near perfection. Not too sour, not too sweet, not to salty. The right amount of alcohol content not to kill the taste. Ya really outdid yourself, Bertha-san.”
“If you’re really facing this readhead canister in drinking contests, you should try pass her some proper drinking manners between an empty barrel and the next. Then again, as they say, "class ain't water" after all. Moooaaahhh.” Other hearted laughs at the fellow giantesses. Yda waived the mug upwards to cheer, sprinkling what remained of the foam above the bar counter. Then she drained it empty with a single gulp.
As Skadi and her entourage arrived, she quickly took note of the bar she told a few to meet at. Amongst them, the first she saw was Macha. Skadi grinned as she saw her. "Up for a drinking contest again? Loser pays the tab!" Skadi joked as she approached the fellow redheaded woman. The pair had been friends for much of their lives and she was always happy to see her - as well as bicker with her.
Killian nodded with satisfaction at Yda's spirited response. "Good ta hear, miss. I was pretty surprised by yer haul of fruit and grain, but notin' I couldn't use." She confidently said it had been a popular item after some testing and different batches. The older giant had found a good formula for experimentation, which required years of study. But even she couldn't have expected such a crisp and balanced result. It was pleasing to the bartender to be challenged with new tastes. It reminded her of youthful days filled with challenges and diverse drinks. "The first note has an aromatic melody, a mellow and deep middle, endin' with a crisp aftertaste. Truly an ale fit for the finest of Elbaph." Killian was happy to hear Yda's compliment.
She let out a subtle chuckle at Raud's expense. "Well, the lass is not that ill-mannered compared to the lot of us. She shald pace herself, but I appreciate er patronage." Killian would fall silent as the princess of Elbaph entered her humble bar. Her eyes hovered over an old painting at the far side of the bar. The painting was of a young king Heidrun Thrymr slaying a massive Sea King in one blow. She was not scared of the younger giantess, but her appearance surprised her. Then came the revelation of Raud's connection to Skadi. "A drinking contest?" Killian asked with trepidation, knowing she had just cut off the lass. As much as the bartender wanted to uphold her ruling, she knew she couldn't say no to royalty. "Well, yer majesty, I'm pleased to have yah in my bar. If you intend to start a contest, I recommend the brew our local farmer has requested. It's a nectar like no other. However, I ask yah to save her some; that and yah both respect the tab. I have to purchase supplies."
Like the rest of the patrons, Yda had stood in near-religious silence on catching sight of the Crown Princess in flesh, bone, and hammer making her entrance accompanied by a small cortege into a tavern that was indeed respectable, but also relatively humble. If, however, the mood of most was disbelief tempered with the devotional respect a subject owed to his Crown, the half-Mink had not lost her mischievous grimace, and curiosity was the preeminent emotion glimmering in her eyes.
In any case, she was the daughter of her own captain and ruler, so when Killian mentioned her and her drink to Skadi, she rose from her own stool and made a respectful bow with a hand resting on her heart.
"Good morning, your Majesty. I can assure you that this ale, brewed from the hops I have grown from my Devil Fruit, is as smashing as few beverages here in Elbaph." Yda said, to Skadi then turned her gaze toward Killian to reassure her of the fate of her own drink supply in anticipation of what was expected to be like an epic competition.
"Don't worry too much about the stocks of my nectar, Killian-san. I've got the recipe of each of my creations literally down to a science. I can grow as many hops as you ever need."
Skadi's smug grin grew wider and happier with the mention of a new brew. "Send the tab to the King and say it's from me, he'll take care of it," said the spoiled girl. She hated to admit her brother was correct, but she could get away with a great deal under their kingly father's watch. He could get annoyed sometimes, but it rarely lasted long.
"Get a round for all my friends and two for me!" declared the princess as she sat across from Macha. She looked at her, her brother, and Njord as they gathered. The princess was drawn in by Yda speaking. The idea of an infinite source of grains and fruits for alcohols of all sorts made the young alcoholic giddy. Elbaph had grown strong in the rule of the Heidrun family, including its citizenship finding exceptional fruits to bolster the island. Skadi only hoped to continue that as she took her two drinks.
"You are one of my favorite citizens, Yda. I'll make sure your brews grace the castle itself one day," said the princess as she began to drink of one. She looked at the gathering of giants. "I'll keep it simple. I want to sail around the Grand Line. Part of what made my dad strong was his journey through the world. I want to be as stronger as him, strong if I can... but more importantly I want to see the world beyond Elbaph!" declared the young princess.
The finished the first of her drinks, slamming the stein on the table as a satisfied ahh. "I can't do that with the Ragnarok Pirates. Between the King and his crew, they always stopped me from having any adventure beyond their protection. 'Too dangerous' or something like that. That's no way to have fun, right?"
As mentioned earlier, Njord took a seat. Remaining mostly secluded to himself. Exploring the island wasn't something he did often. Mostly being confined to the military areas or the castle, so traveling this far. It wasn't new at all, but it was unusual. Be it his obligation to his duties or just being too busy all of the time, when a drink was handed to him, he wasn't as quick as Skadi to drink. Moving his finger along the rim of the bottle. He mostly kept to himself, with all the others seeming to chat with each other.
Ruad let out a low growl at first. Cut off? As if. Her glower deepened, as did her grip on the already empty pilsner in her grasp. As she was about to give as good as she got, however, a voice she knew and loved added themselves to the mix. "About damn time you got here Ska," she huffed, though her grin undercut any bark in her words.
As soon as Skadi mentioned a drinking contest, her eyes lit up. So what she was several rounds in? "You're on," she started, before turning a smug expression at Killian, "so much for cutting me off eh?" She drank the new pilsner with undisguised glee, before nodding along as her best friend spoke further.
"Fuck the kiddie pool. It's time to go in the deep end."
Skadi threw her arm around Rudd when she said this, drinking her beer with a grin. "I know I could trust you Rudd!" What about you other fools? A ship can't just be two bad bitches drinking all day!" Skadi said as she slammed the empty glass down on the table. She looked at the gathered giants. Her brother was prissy, but strong and trustworthy. Rudd was as big a drunk as her, but their friendship was true. Njord was helpful with his Fish-Men biology: strong, fast, and could fish them out of the water if all else failed. She was sure she could grow the team more as they went about the sea.
Njord turned, standing up from his seat yet still one of the shortest in the room. "Well, you already know my answer." He spoke, he had already agreed to join earlier so reaffirming that wasn't necessary.
"Thank yah, miss Yda. I appreciate yer dedication to the craft. However, I want yah to experience having fun. After all, the brew still takes time to ferment all its parts." She explained, shifting closer to Skadi to respond to her tab request. "But, I have plenty of brews that should suffice fer yah all. As for the tab, I can open it. I know yer father will keep good on a debt. Let's hope yeh don't hafta explain it."
Killian had a sneaking suspicion that this was not the first tab the princess had opened with the expectation of a large sum. "Of course, yer majesty. I'll set fetch yer party and round and then some."
As the conversation progressed, Killian kept a keen ear. She had to juggle other orders, but thankfully, her patrons had a slower sense of pace than the newly arrived crew. Then came that mention of adventure and that restrictive rule that kept the princess landlocked. "Ah yeh, only naturally a father would keep a close eye on his children, perhaps too close. So, coming to this humble town means you seek a ship to start such ambitions. Well, shipbuilding isn't our main export, but I imagine there's a shipyard along the coast that will catch yer fancy. Unless yah already have a ship in mind?"
Killian decided to try her luck with the inquiry. It was not usually her place as a bartender. There was occasional heartbreak or story, but never an escape plan. Her mind was pulled away as Raud burst forth into the conversation. "Please temper yerself, lass, yah shouldn't bite the hand the feeds yah. But I can't turn down royalty, so I lift my decision. Please respect yer limits, though, I."
Killian rubs her forehead as Raud declares, "I don't want the fun to be spoiled by a blackout tosser, no matter how resilient we are as a people."
Killian did chuckle at Skadi's camaraderie. "Well, if yer all going to leave for the seas. Yah all deserve a special drink tah celebrate. A special whiskey, let me grab it from my stores." Killian said as she slipped behind the bar to her storehouse, leaving the group to their drinks.
"Hmmmm…. Hmmm"
Just as Killian left the counter to grab the celebration drink, the festive tittle-tattle was cut short by two coughs, sharp and loud as bullet blasts.
People started to look back at Yda, who had a deep shadow passing on her face, a dark aura making her eyes dangerously unreadable- and 180° degree turn from her personal mood. The half-Mink slowly rose from the stool, which made a crunching noise, and approached her own princess with grave, heavy steps. So heavy that the wooden floor of the tavern creaked loudly to the far corners, insomuch that it sounded like a living creature about to awaken from a long slumber.
"So ... about my brews gracing the castle, Your Majesty." Yda spoke up. "The royal court will be sipping them sooner than you think. In fact, the Pirates of Ragnarok are already sipping them. Your father, King Thrymr, has given me a position as an apothecary and botanist on its flagship. He has entrusted me with a position of great responsibility, and I cannot betray his trust in me by letting his beloved daughter flee the nest and meander about the world without him being none the wiser…"
She rose her eyes, unleashing a surge of fighting intent which that left no doubt to the process, making the counter next to Skadi and Ruad quiver to the point of nearly cracking and splinter. The gazes of the bystanders turned low and somewhat fearful.
"Your Majesty, if you want me to keep my mouth shut with the king, you must face me first and prove you've got the strength and guts to roam the seas on your own. Otherwise, you can bet we'll never let you leave Elbaph's shores. Not ever."
Skadi chugged her drink excitedly, slamming the cup down on the table as she did. "You want to fight Yda? I'm always ready to throw down!" Skadi declared and energy radiated from her eyes, seemingly matching the lightning of the sky on a downpour. Raising her mighty hammer, Thrud, Skadi stood opposite of Yda.
"I can't image Killian wants us to fuck up her bar, so we should take this outside. Just don't complain to my dad if you get hurt!" With that, Skadi walked outside to a nearby courtyard, leading Yda and any of her gathered crew that would follow.
The rumbling of the barn abruptly stopped; a grinning expression resurfaced on Yda's face, although her gaze bore the same level of intensity, an intensity at least matching the dazzling eyes of the princess.
"Showing eagerness to challenge me and prove your worth, despite my little show? Good." The half-Mink said to Skadi. "We'll see soon whether you've displayed mere confidence or arrogance."
"Meet me tomorrow at 6 p.m. on the highest ridge of Nidhogg's Teeth. You'll find me ready for battle."
Prove Your Worth[]
Nidhogg's Teeth, the place Yda chose for the duel, was a row of crags and cliffs a thousand to a mile long, shaped so sharply that in the distance it looked like the remains of the jawbone of a colossal dragon made of stone and basalt. The rock formation gave a sheer drop to the beach where Elbaph's main harbor could be clearly seen, so watchtowers had been built on the less inhospitable cusps to spot seafarers approaching the land of giants- for good or hill.
In the center of this series of crags was an irregularly shaped tooth whose view was obscured by much higher rocky spurs, but from which there was still a good view from the harbor. The ground there was all hard and dry rocks, in which only a few scattered and particularly hardy weeds were able to take root. Yda sat on a rounded boulder, wearing a war outfit after the fashion of Elbaph, but whose steel guards were replaced by a woody material, shiny and gray almost as if it were dark iron, caked by the ribbing and grooves that only a living log could possess. Her pose was firm, almost scuptural; by contrast, her eyes flickered from one spot to another, possessed by an electric frenzy in scouting for signs of the coming of the princess.
Just as the sun fully shone on her head, giving the impression that she was a wooden statue instead of a flesh-and-blood creature, that she saw the princess advancing, also in full panoply of combat, hammer and all. Her gaze turned as firm as her posture, penetrating the princess with the intensity of a sharp branch.
"Greetings, my princess," Yda said, polite as ever, yet fierce far more so. "for a moment I thought you would be too busy taking care of Ruadh's in her hangover state to arrive in time for our confrontation. I bet both of you had a fabulous drinking contest."
Skadi shook her head no. "I just made a bunch of loud noises to piss her off, it was pretty funny." Skadi raised Thrud, the gold hammer ready for combat. "So you wanna see how strong I am first? That's fair. Just don't cry if I win too hard, okay?" taunted the twin braided giantess.
Yda was a strong specimen: a Giant, a Mink, and a Logia user. However, Skadi had drive and will. If she could prove herself well here, it was a good promise for her own endeavors. She didn't really think she could win, but she would certainly try. Morphing her arm into booze with the power of the Sake Sake no Mi, Skadi fired multiple bullets. "Ullr Shot!"
Yda rose the shield to meet the incoming shots of liquor; branches as soft as wine trellis grew from her furred legs, going to form a wooden weave to strengthen Yda's defenses before impact.
Each projectile struck true onto the wooden shield. Many blows left a dent, some far bigger than others, to the point of ripping enough to make small holes from which Yda could peek through. None of the blows, however, were able to penetrate with enough force to harm the wielder behind.
“Good showing, princess.” Yda commented. As she spoke, the breach from her feet grew further and merged onto her weapon: wood mended wood, covering any aperture as if her shield was remade brand new.
During the end of the repairment process, a blush appeared on both Yda’s cheeks, her gaze acquiring a sparkling glimmer of glee .
“Moooaaahhh! Talk about some great shots! This is some of the best alcohol I’ve ever drunk, princess! Almost makes me want to get struck on purpose to sip some more of it!
Contrary to her words, however, Yda passed from defense to offense, use her Logia power to fuse her attacking arm with her axe and increase its size manifold. The weapon became long enough to reach Skadi without Yda having to advance, and its blade large enough it could cleave the young giantess in half with a mere swing.
“My turn. Erdu Cleave!” She shouted, drawing a deadly diagonal axe cut at the princess.
Skadi looked confused momentarily, as if the gears in her head weren't clicking. Wait, is she absorbing the alcohol with the plants? Skadi thought as it seemed to click together. This could help her if it was true, but for now, she had to focus on avoiding her blade.
Thrusting her hammer up, the block of metal protected her from the blade of the axe. However, now she was in a struggle against the mink woman. Yda had the benefit of a downward strike, her strength and gravity propelling it towards Skadi as a deadly guillotine. Meanwhile, Skadi had upward thrust with a heavy weapon. The hammer wanted to fall despite her best efforts.
As such, Skadi let it. Dispersing her body into liquid, the sturdy hammer was driven into the earth by axe without a knick of damage, its handle becoming a troublesome root. Flowing into the earth, Skadi made the hammer shoot out with a geyser of alcohol as it shot towards Yda like an odd arrow. Skadi's body reformed from the streak that followed, her hand gripping back on to the weapon as it aimed to strike Yda's shield - just before her face. "Drink this up, cowgirl!"
Yda felt a tinge of satisfaction in overpowering her princess hammer guard with the might of her axe strike, but she also knew it was to soon to cry victory. Indeed, just as her struggle was about to get won, she sprout other soft branches from her back, ready for the next phase of the combat.
Her intuition was soon vindicated as she witnessed Skadi's dispersing into liquid instead of prolonging a futile contest of strength, the only effect being that her warhammer had been plunked onto the rock in the form of scary looking pole. Granite ground creaked and broke around the shaft, leaving crevices about: crevices from which "Skadi" had seep through only to emerge in the shape of a living geyser, propelling the very weapon and herself in a trust blow with force and speed far greater than the strength of her sheer muscle.
Yda was very pleased from the ingenuity of the move, and she smiled all the while Skadi's form returned human, a cusp from getting a gut blow that would break many stomachs and livers
"Nice move with your Devil Fruit!"" She congratulates. "You would have avoided some nasty damage had I struck you with Haki! Allow me to reply in kind!"
A couple of branches from her back shoot with breakneck pace, not strike Skadi, but to grab the closest nearby jut of granite. Well fastened onto the rock, she parried the blow with the shield but without opposing any force. Her body was thus propelled by attack, yet the damage was minimal. The accumulated momentum made Skadi spin around the rock as if she was swinging from some creeper, and with such a speed she had come almost full circle nigh-instantaneously, just behind Skadi’s back.
“Babylon’s Barrage”
The half-Mink opened her mouth: a hail of seeds barraged towards the princess. Those saplings were created with the ability to absorb enormous amounts of liquid and grow into vines in record times; so, Yda thought, the might be able to nullify Skadi’s power and ensnare the opponent with tight floral bindings.
As the seeds came about, Skadi felt as though part of her liquid body was being pulled away by the plants trying to consume her. Typically, alcohol would poison and kill plants, but she had no idea if Yda's could be made past the typical weaknesses of the flora. All she could do was cull the pesky weeds as best she could.
As such, her arm began to change. A sound filled the air, a combination of a torrent and the whirring of a drill almost. Her arm became a powerful blade, able to cut through stone like a hot knife through butter. Trimming the plants down in a 360 degree swipe, she chopped the plants down. "Gram Tipsy Blade!"
Kicking off from the ground, alcoholic torrents spray from Skadi's back - taking on the shape of wings. Riding the alcoholic vapors the produced, Skadi remained in the air, out of reach from the planets - for now at least. "With Freya Drunken Feather Mantle, I can stay above your plants!" shouted the girl as she flew past Yda's defenses, shooting her bladed arm out towards Yda. It began to darken with Busoshoku Haki as it raced towards her. "Gram Tipsy Harpoon!"
Yda finished her rondabout ride and landed back on the solid rock as all the momentum of Skadi's blow was spent. She saw her princess transforming her arm into a blade, literally cutting her way to freedom by moving her vines, and soar high on the fumes of her powers. She grinned with satisfaction all the way, and, not to be outdone, grew an aircrawft engine made of wood on her back to propel herself upwards and face her princess in a vicious struggle in the skies.
"Took you long enough to use Armament Haki, Princess?" The half-mink spit out, half teasing, having noticed the black glimmer of Skadi's bladed arm racing at her guts.
Again she opted to face force with force, imbued her still massive Haki with steady a dose of pitch dark will, and struck Skadi's harpoon with a slash that rang across the whole cliff's range, splitting the sea breeze with a massive ring of sheer air-pressure. Another part of her- the creepers sprouting at her legs, bits of flesh still transmogrified into floral lifeform, became black and heavy due to an heavy pouring of Busoshoku Haki; whilst Skadi was being all focused on her clash, they would belt at her to ensnare her legs first, then bind the arm wielding Thrud, and finally catch the tipsy blade in an iron grip.
As the plants threatened to ensnare her, Skadi swung her hammer to crush the seeds. She wasn't completely without intelligence and her Kenbunshoku Haki warned her of the danger. With her strength, I bet she could be a Aesir one day, thought Skadi in annoyance as she swatted the seedlings away. Skadi was getting annoyed though, the more experienced combatant seemingly was showing no mercy to the younger of the two.
With that, Skadi punched forward, releasing an invisible wave of Haki to blow away the remaining seeds. "You think my dad never taught me anything?" asked Skadi with a grin as she flew in rapidly, Thrud ready to be used. "Your powers are really damn annoying!" Skadi shouted as she swung her Haki imbued hammer at Yda - with the intent to send her crashing down.
Skadi’s foresight and reflexes were enough to alert her of the threat posed by Yda’s creepers- and dispose of them with a guts of Haki which would have struck the half-Mink substantial force. But the princess was not the only fighter in the ring able to utilize Observation Haki to her advantage, and Yda had thought of counter measures both to defend herself and press on with her offense.
Yda’s first move was to command the creeper to fall off from her skin, disengaging from her flesh like leaves do to trees in the autumn season, just as she was being struck. Moderate pangs of pain on her thighs was the most she suffered. Meanwhile, her defending arm turned into a creeper himself, slithering through Skadi’s arm to try and seize the hammer by force.
In such a close-quarter brawl, Yda was bound to receive a blow on her head- the distance between the fighters did not give her enough room to evade. And yet the face of Skadi’s hammer met tender skin to cut or brittle bones to break, but a cranium made of one of the strongest kinds of wood known to man, reinforced still by a powerful dose of Haki.
“Indeed, your father has trained you well, princess.” Yda spoke respectfully. “And yet you must be ready to face the most “annoying” of opponents, if you seek to master the seas.”
The force of Skadi’s blow thundered again across the battlefield, shaking every rock and buttes in a couple of miles about the epicenters. Yda felt such strength and bit her lips; and so she was able to gain a significant prize, to have Skadi’s hammer full in her grasp, the latter most likely being unable to wrestle it away from the half-Mink’s grip.
That was for "seizing the means of fighting", so to speak; as for actually hurting the princess in the moment, Yda profited of the deadlock to hammer a knee strike right against Skadi’s solar plexus. Her striking leg, one of the only parts of her body that was endowed with the fur of the Mink tribe, sizzled for a sudden surge of electricity; sparks glowed brightly, mingled with the black luster of Armament Haki.
Skadi attempted to wresting Thrud away from Yda, but realized it was fruitless. She released her grasp on the hammer as the mighty knee of the Mink struck her. Even liquifying was useless with the power of Yda's Haki. All she could do was use her own Haki as a defense as she was hit, send her tumbling through the air. A wheeze escaped her mouth as the pain of the attack filled her body, making her breathing harder.
Looking up at Yda, her brow furrowed in anger. "Give. Thrud. BACK!" demanded Skadi as she began to recover. Several tendrils of alcohol formed from her body, sharpening into Gram Tipsy Blade in a storm of alcoholic cutting knives. Skadi's wrath led her forward, the tendrils offering her a defense from Yda as they darkened with her Haki. Yda could smash through them all she wanted, hurt Skadi all she wanted, but Skadi was getting Thrud back no matter what.
As her and the tendrils closed in, Skadi grunted in pain from the attack on her solar plexus as she had many of the tendrils attempt to slash Yda's arm. In the confusion of the maelstrom, Skadi grabbed it and wrestled for the hammer back to her control, with many hands grabbing on to to pull it from the possibly slashed arm.
Yda might have imagined that ripping Skadi's hammer from her hands would have angered her, but the level of fury the young woman conveyed over the theft was simply shocking. Skadi had thrown herself headlong at her in a desperate confrontation, turning into a tentacular, seething mass of pressurized alcohol, abandoning all forms of measure and composure in attacking Yda and taking back what had been taken from her.
About this, Yda had mixed feelings. On the one hand, it was absolutely glaring that that hammer meant something more to Skadi than a mere weapon, and she didn't like robbing people of something they valued so much. On the other hand, such an attachment was exactly the kind of weakness that an unscrupulous enemy would exploit should Skadi ever fight with an enemy seriously intent on fighting to the last blood. In the end, Yda concluded that she should not give in, and, for the sake of her own princess, impart her a lesson about the importance of not losing cool in the battlefield, no matter the pain it might cause.
By the time Skadi succeeded in grabbing the hammer and was reach of truncating Yda's arm with his own Tipsy Blade, the Behemoth had sprouted from her shoulder a cannon made of wood, from which she fired a volley of Haki-blackened bullets toward the princess's wrathful face. The bullets exploded, spraying a dark and extremely stinging cloud of pollen that would obscure Skadi's vision and force her to throw blows sloppily. Taking advantage of this, Yda swung wildly with her axe, pruning all the liquid arms grabbing at the hammers like dead branches from a tree and deflecting the attacks she could not outright stop.
During the whole tug-of-hammer, Yda was also increasing the currents of Haki and electricity running through her fur and throwing a flurry of fast kicks against Skadi's alcoholic whirlpool. Little force was put in each blow, also to avoid any recoil, yet every spark of electricity not nullified by Skadi's Haki would have set whole chunks of skin ablaze, potentially causing severe burns. As brutal as a tactic it was, the Behemoth felt it was the best tactic to teach Skadi the perils of acting so recklessly.
Skadi maintained her grip on the hammer, the electricity began to course through her. Instead of tensing up or reacting, she grimaced as if it had little effect on her, only splotches of fire that she put out with beer from her body just as quickly. "Come on Yda, ya gotta know, alcohol is a piss poor conductor!" shouted Skadi through the cloud of pollen. Despite being blinded by the pollen, the electricity actually helped her. This is because it provided a source to aim at with a Haki-infused fist to fully reclaim Thrud.
With the hammer hers again, it surged with dark energy as Skadi infused it with Haki. As the electricity provided a beacon, Skadi brought it down with full force on Yda. The Behemoth was strong and durable, she would not die to such an attack from a novice pirate. However, it should be enough to impress the woman and allow Skadi the freedom she sought.
"Using the same move, twice, eh Princess?"
The descent of the hammer stopped. The impact generated a shock wave that cleared the air of the pollen cloud, but no sound of broken bark or bones was heard, not even the dull thud of metal striking flesh. This was because this time Yda had blocked Thrud with two large hands made of Adam Treasure Tree, in actuality her cow horns transfigured into plant matter, clutching the handle in a closed fist.
"My defense rings of deja vu, too, actually," commented the Behemoth with a defiant smirk. "That means I'll have to go harder on the counterattack this time."
Yda's body hence became covered with blackish foliage, bearing the shape and size of dagger blades, and certainly just as sharp, acting as a dangerous makeshift armor. Some of the leaves covering Yda's horns were grafted into a creeper-like structure, which began to grow and twist on Thrud's handle, conveying the specific intent to trap Skadi's hands and weapon in a snare of plant barbed wire.
Concomitantly, Yda had fused the hand holding the shield and the protective equipment into a single, huge combat gauntlet, several times the original size of the limb, with which she unleashed a deadly fist enhanced by her own Armament Haki that would strike Skadi's chest, a blow that would strike worse than a cannonball impacting against the chest of a normal human being.
Skadi used her free hand to make a blade of alcohol, using it to shear away the creeper vines with her own Haki infused attacks. However, she had to cover her chest in Haki in the last moment as a defense. Thanks to her quick cutting, she was not ensnared but was sent flying from the attack. The strike knocked the air from Skadi, her chest ringing in pain. Pushing herself up, Skadi huffed and puffed as she generated a wave of alcohol by slamming her transformed fist into the ground.
As the wave of liquor raced towards Yda, Skadi slammed Thrud into the ground and chased after the wave - dragging the hammer as she did. Swinging it up with great force, the metal struck stone and generate sparks that flew into the wave, igniting the liquid into an inferno. The intent was clear, Skadi intended to ignite Yda to hopefully end this test.
Having scored the blow, the Behemoth transformed her own horns into their original form and concentrated her efforts on the axe and gauntlet, growing super-hard around them while Skadi was busy catching her breath. Her gaze remained fixed on Skadi, maintaining the same slightly jaw-dropping intensity as always; but, reading her eyes, one could also discern a spark of genuine pride in the princess.
"Yes, Skadi, keep it up! Yar’going strong!" Yda encouraged her own sovereign heartily. "Don't give up now, show me that you can fight with all yar might and never give up! COME ON!"
Yda's two limbs had become genuine wooden monstrosities, a blade and fist so large that they had the same proportions compared to the Giants as their limbs and armaments would have had against the more minute races. Their shadow would have shrouded Skadi and much of the cliff, were there not a mass of incendiary alcohol to glow like a lava flow, hell-bent on burning her and her arboreal repertoire.
Yda drew in a profound breath; the two engines behind her back pumped oxygen into her lungs to give as much force as possible to the final blow. With her axe she swung a horizontal slash that cut the atmosphere in two along a line of incalculable length, which split and completely swept away the alcoholic wave, the two halves gushing towards the billows below.
"Inanna Smash!"
It was up to the fist, infused with Haki and covered with fireproof vegetation, to bash Skadi directly, advancing inexorably like the boulder of a mighty landslide, which from its size alone could have completely crushed the giantess.
Skadi filled her hammer with Busoshoku Haki to match Yda's strength as much as possible. The wooden structures, like Adam wood, met with Thrud and the two pressed against one another in a mighty dance. Skadi continued to press forth with the hammer, filled with determination. Her lower body turned into a spout of alcohol, attempting to give her more force and push as she sprayed forth like a rocket against Yda.
As she continued to push though, the might of Yda's body combined with her fruit and experience led to a strange occurrence. Hairline cracks began to form in Thrud, which began to rapidly spread and grow larger and larger. Finally, much to Skadi's shock and horror, the hammer burst apart - sprayed metal shrapnel from its head. The sudden destruction of the hammer and her distraction caused Skadi to lose focus. As such, she was struck into the ground below.
Skadi was dazed and confused, lying on the earth. She looked to her hammer, but it was no more. The head was mostly shattered. Pushing herself up, she continued to stare at it in grief and pain. Images of her mother flashed through her head, the woman who gave birth to her, loved her, and raised her - the woman who wielded Thrud before her. Tears fell down Skadi's face as she refocused on to Yda.
Through troubled breathing the bordered on hyperventilating, Skadi released a mighty scream. However, this was far from just a mere emotional outburst. Instead, the force of her will and spirit carried through the air - the power of Haoshoku Haki unleashed.
Yda found the daunting force and mass of her blows opposed with strenuous effort and iron-clad will- exactly what she hoped Skadi would do. She pressed her fist further and further, ever closer to break the guard of Skadi’s hammer with a tsunami of wood and blackened will. A stalemate was briefly reached when Skadi, again, had turned the lower half of her body in a frothing gush of alcohol; and yet all she needed to advance was to put a bit more of effort.
Yda’s slightly labored breath contrasted greatly with the princess haggard huffs and wheezes. She could tell that Skadi’s body was about give in, even if her spirit did not. Just a couple of seconds more, and she would land the blow that would finish the fight: Skadi would be tossed around and slammed like a ragdoll in a tornado, Yda would help her to get up, smile warmly and tell her she was ready to sail across the seal…
Few seconds passed: and Thrud’s broke first, with such violence that a brutal metallic cackle rang in Skadi's ears. Yda halted the inevitable crashing of Skadi: partly because she too was shocked for having smashed Skadi’s precious heirloom, and partly because she sensed something coming from within her, a surge of energy mighty and dark and electric, just on the cusp of exploding…
The hiss that can soon after almost pierced Yda’s ears. An expression of anguish so overwhelming had had hardly even witnessed. Skadi’s pain battered upon her in a bolt it almost scorched her very soul, shaking her composure further, having her massive oak of an arm quiver like a reed at the mercy of storm.
“Could it be… Conqueror’s Haki?”
The axe and the fist broke apart into irregularly shaped logs. Not a hair more had been wronged to the princess. Yda stood staring at Skadi completely awestruck, her lip slightly trembling with awe and guilt.
Skadi glared at Yda in anger. As her breath return, she began to sprint towards her, ready to bludgeon her with the remainder of her hammer. However, another flash on Haoshoku Haki stopped the women dead in their tracks. It hardly had to full power he was capable of, but enough to stun the two women into place. Suddenly between them was the mighty king of the nation, the Yonko Heidrun Thrymr.
"Skadi, do you truly think I was unaware of your plans to leave the kingdom? I'm not sure if you are think too highly of yourself or too lowly of me," spoke the Dread King. He walked over to her and grabs the destroyed hammer while placing a hand upon her.
"This was your mother's, and I know it hurts. It hurts me to see it in this state as well, but do not hold it against Yda. She was acting in good faith for you," Thrymr said as he glanced at the Behemoth and gave her a simple nod. "She can be repaired, it wouldn't be the first time for it either. I damaged it all those years ago when I claimed the throne. Do not hold it against her."
Looking at Yda, Thyrmr walked close to the bovine giantess. "Thank you for caring about my daughter, you are a noble citizen," spoke the Dread King as she looked at them both. Looking at the broken hammer, Thyrmr was upset in truth, but he knew it wasn't purposeful and it was repairable.
Skadi looked at her father, Yda, and the broken hammer. She wanted to shout it wasn't okay, that her greatest treasure was destroyed needlessly, but she believed her father when he said it was something that could be fixed. All Yda did was fight and test her, the way she said she would. As much as Skadi wanted to be angry, she couldn't paint her as being purposefully awful. "I just... want to see the world on my own. Without the safety of the Ragnarok crew always over me..."
Thrymr turned to her. "I truly understand, and I believe you are ready for it at this point. You've gathered a trustworthy bunch and have shown what you are capable of. All I ask is for you to be careful and to one day return home," spoke the Dread King. He reached out his hand, with another hammer flying into it. From the hammer, Modi flew out. "This is Mjolnir, a sacred treasure to our people Skadi. I am entrusting it to you in Thrud's place. Modi's power will be a guide for you."
When Thrymr himself arrived on the battlefield, Yda bent down, rested his fist on the limestone ground, and stood listening to what he had to say with his head down and in almost religious silence. The sense of fear and shame that gripped her stomach was greatly relieved when the king, instead of showing anger and disappointment at what had happened, showed wisdom and understanding in the behemoth's intentions.
"My liege, I thank you sincerely for understanding the reasons behind the destructive fury of my attacks," said the Behemoth. "Even so, I do not feel that I deserve any gesture of gratitude from you. However much I acted with the intention of testing your daughter's strength and respecting her honor as a warrior, I still failed in my duty as a subject by not immediately revealing to you her intention to leave Elbaph."
Yda stared Skadi in the eyes again; the sadness in her gaze hurt her worse than all the blows she had suffered during their clash.
"Good intentions or not, I still destroyed something that was very dear to you, and I deeply regret it. I feel thus that I owe you a great debt, which I will endeavor to repay by fulfilling any of your wishes, within the bounds of what my strength and duties to your father and the kingdom allow."
"Besides, for what can matter now," the smile returned to the Behemoth's face, albeit veiled with melancholy. " I would still have given you my blessing to leave. You have fought fiercely and valiantly, my Princess. I am sure that ballads about your deeds will be sung in many tavers across all Seas."
Thrymr shook his head. "You didn't need to. You were loyal to her desires, as one of your sovereigns too. Nothing of punishment will befall you, regardless of not reporting her or destroy Thrud."
Skadi looked at her new hammer, the dark Mjolnir. It felt different than Thrud, stronger. Her finger traced the symboled on the side of the mighty weapon. As Yda spoke though, Skadi did look up. At first, she didn't look Yda directly in the eyes - still reeling from Thrud being destroyed. However, as her words flowed, Skadi did connect with her. "Thank you Yda... like father said, Thrud can be repaired. I just wanted to prove myself, lead myself..."
Thrymr shook his head. "As I did so long ago. I approve of you and your crew venturing forth Skadi. All I ask is for you to be careful and to return home eventually," the king said as warmly as he could. He was doing it from selfishness, he couldn't bear to lose Skadi or Nott after already losing Embla.
"As a captain, you are to keep your crew safe and them you. I will remain here and allow your adventure, as well as keep Surtr safe until he is grown like you. I do have one command for you though, your final command from me as your captain, but one of many as your father and king. Do not go to Dressrosa. It is an island that poses to many risks," Thrymr said solemnly.
Skadi nodded, know her father's views of the Blacklight that ruled the nation. Even she knew better than to venture into the enemy's main territory. She reached out to hug her father. After so long, she was finally a captain of her own.
An Order to the Guilt Filled[]
Like any other day, Killian stood at the bar serving customers. However, there was some tense anticipation for a princess's future ambitions and the trouble they would bring to her bar. She respected the Heidrun name and fought and lived with them as a young lady. However, the retired pirate knew the dangers of the ocean and was uncertain Skadi's ambitions were sound of mind. When Yda and Skadi left to test the princess's dreams, she continued to serve what was likely to be Skadi's new crew. That was until they had left for the night. Standing in her bar now, she felt the shades of their joy and dreams of tomorrow.
More than that, she froze for a second, seeing an empty table in the corner of her bar that caused her left to twitch as she felt the presence of her found family. She could hear them now, the singing and laughter. Whispers and form shapeless but familiar. Her eyes were wet with conflicting worry for a young crew and nostalgia for a promising past.
Killian's head felt light, and her shoulders felt heavy. She served a few patrons with concerned looks before excusing herself to the store room. Once she was hidden from the crowd, she sunk into the wall. Her breathing was choppy as she let a pain fill her heart, a familiar pain that never dulled. The pain was followed by unending tears and the ragged cries of a broken spirit. "Ancestors, what will become of the youth who know nothing of fear and caution. What will become of them?!"
As she cried out, a presence entered her bar. With a flash, all gathered there were knocked out - except Killian herself. "I'm sorry, my people, but I need a private audience," said the figure - King Thrymr himself. He approached the woman behind the bar and saw her tears. Taking a seat, he kept his eye trained on her.
"I apologize for the intrusion, consider their tabs paid on my account," stated the king in a flat voice. Removing his helmet, he placed it besides himself. His long gray hair remained slicked back, no longer the unruly red mass of his youth. His golden eye changed to, less jovial and now stoic and alone. It was no longer in a pair, it lost its partner - a pain Thrymr was all too familiar with.
"I may as well grab an ale for my time here. I have come to speak with you on a certain matter, and I feel you tears only give me confidence in my decisions."
Killian's sulk broke with a shakey gasp as she heard a familiar voice through the storeroom doors. The voice was hollowed from the younger man she remembered from her youth. Tears had irritated her eyes as she pulled herself off the floor and swiped her watery eyes with her forearm.
"Ha, first a princess, now the king of Elbaph? I must run one hell of the bar." She said, opening the storeroom door with enthusiasm as she put on a mask of confidence, unaware of how audible her tears were. However, before she could reach the tap, she noticed the unconscious bodies strewn about the pub. "My brew packs a punch, huh? Brew... Hoohoo..." Killian's voice wavered as she fell silent and grabbed an ale for the king. Its bubbling head jostled when the glass was slid to Thrymr.
"Don't worry about it, my king. I can handle a couple of free rounds if it's so important. After all, it's been some time since I saw your face." Killian said with a slight nerve as she considered the last time she had visited the royalty. The last time she had seen any of the Heidruns was at her funeral... Had the giantess hidden away for that long? A pang of guilt started to twist her lips as she wondered if she could even look Thrymr in the face.
"So what brought you to my pub, and what's this decision you talk of, my king." Killian asked ignoring the comment on her tears. The giantess's mind was a haze as she waited for these words that left her guessing. She had a thought, but she prayed the king could see a sense where his bloodline had failed in their ignorance.
"You've always known how to attract," Thrymr said as a simple matter of fact. To an untrained ear, it may have sounded like a flirt. Thankfully, they were all knocked out to avoid such allegations. The man was once attracted to her, but such feelings had died long, long ago. He took the drink and raised it to his lips, the flavor of raspberry filling his mouth. More nostalgia washed over him.
He put it down before he got too lost in his own thoughts. "I have come to ask of you a simple request, but also selfish," Thrymr said as his hand floated need the cup. he was ready to drink more, but resisted from the flavor bringing back memories of his wife. Killian was wrong, it was not her who had hidden away - but Thrymr who toiled away in his castle.
"I trust you Killian, more than most. My daughter is intent on going out to sea, taking Nott with her. I know how she is - rash, impulsive, and not all too bright. However... my children are my greatest treasure and she is the crown jewel," Thrymr said as he slammed the remainder of his drink. A wave of both happy and sad memories washed over him as he pushed the cup away.
Clearing his throat, he looked up to her. "I want you to join my daughter's crew. She likes you. She trusts you, as do I. I need her and Nott to remain safe and I know she would reject Norn or Farbauti or any of my Aesir. You... you are unexpected."
Killian remained silent as Thyrmr made his claim. The older giantess knew any flame between them died with her embrace. "I've led many to their dreams, a concept more intoxicating than the strongest mead." The bartender responded honestly; the facade she wore relaxed a tease.
Like an expert in the body language of a miserable man, she lent her ear to his request with apprehension. A bartender was sometimes the only person a person could open up to. However, Killain's ear was no longer open to the troubles of love, loss, or joy. Instead, she stood before a symbolic vault platted in bloody gold with several bolts still sealed with unending sorrow.
There was a slight flinch as the yonko's glass knocked against the bar. A moment passed before Killian spoke her mind. "Like a thief in the night, your jewels have taken flight despite the gilded walls you put up around them. My King, she is not the only one who is rash; it's the nature of our youth. We both know what it's like to charge into life brazenly. It came with many pleasures and tragedies." She froze at his anticipated but startling request. There was a part of her that wanted to resist, to finally be done with the royal family and the locked-away grief that surrounded her shame every time she saw them. An urge she couldn't hide as, with no audience and history to the King, she opened her own festering wounds.
Her mask slipped as she felt an agony well up in her stomach. Her lips curled in tension as the grief forced its way out of her throat."Why?! Why me! Thyrmr, why do we always have to come to this crossroads!" Killian finally let his name roll off her tongue as she was hesitant. "Why can't the Heidrun bloodline let me rot in peace? Wasn't it enough when she died..." Killian shut up, feeling she had stepped over a line, as her following words were picked with a weak voice.
"I'm sorry... However, the princess should not trust a captain whose hands are bloodied by her crew. No matter if she trusts me, others must be more capable. Not for my sake; I know what I did. But for her sake, she shouldn't consider an old hag like my family."
"The princess should, Killian. You have regrets, I know you do. However, you are not the captain, not this time. Skadi is stepping into that role and she... needs guidance," Thrymr spoke as he looked at Killian. "Your regrets are why I trust you. Skadi must learn lives are in her hands, just as they are in mine. I wish your tragedy did not occur, but it can serve to prevent it happening again."
Thrymr kept his eyes on her. He was aware that he seemed to be reducing the tragedy of Killian into a utilitarian issue, but he did feel for her. Losing those you loved, no matter the relation or the circumstance, was a painful endeavor. "She's a spoiled, loud mouth, arrogant woman. She needs to learn humility. I know you wish to toil away here until to pass and, hopefully, face your crew once more. However, you can be the one to help guide her into the kind girl she is at heart. Maybe helping her can ease your mind for that grand reunion one day," spoke the king as he stood once more.
"I must see to her becoming a proper ruler before I can face my Embla, it is a burden we share."