The Fateful Convocation

[Winter]

Deception strode through the thick trees following the consistent humming of the thoughts of his Sins burning into his mind through the trees. As he rounded a large oak, he saw Deviance, then Rapacity. Larketh was there, bearing an unfamiliar man on his back. But where was Taint? A movement to the right of the wolf drew Deception's attention...but....

"Lust?" he whispered, voice suddenly hoarse. He searched for the words but they would not come. He stared at her, his eyes piercing...searching for any explanation as none drew any closer to the surface. He was a sea of turmoil within, but he was able to uphold his outward calm in the face of a newcomer.

[Ariadne]

"Deception." Lust answered in a serious tone. She took a bittersweet step separating herself from the others and moving closer to the Emperor of the Sins. She maintained his gaze, studied his face. She had once known his face, his being, his energy, his person. There had once been a time she might have tried to guess what he was feeling, but she did not have that connection now. Her wrist weighed heavily with the bracelet that bound her to her duty and she blinked to refocus herself.

This was the only way I could have survived, Lust reminded herself, I had no choice. But looking into the cloudy eyes of Deception made her heart ache for the companionship she'd once known amongst the Sins. Her heart ached for the friendship she'd once shared with the man who stood before her so incredulous that she was here. She didn't expect to be accepted back amongst them. Lust wholly accepted that she would in all likelihood never truly be a Sin again after betraying their trust. She would accept whatever fate they chose for her because she felt she deserved it. She wouldn't use her charms or her guile to try to get out of her penance.

Looking into Deception's eyes told her that she had had no real justification for what she'd done. She knew that now. Deception had been her ally, her friend, a companion even - saving her from a lonely night or two. Though they'd never been lovers, she certainly regretted hurting any of the Sins who may have needed her in her absence, or who were wounded by her leaving.

The copper haired sin opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it again. Though she had much to say, this was neither the time or the place to discuss those matters that needed to be discussed between the leaders of the Sins. The wind blew sharply, antagonistically southward. The brutal cold and bitter isolation of the mountains had clearly taken its toll on the Sins who had chosen to live there. She could see the strain on the faces of everyone except the child. She opted not to speak. It was Deception's territory she was in now, and she would let him make the first move.

[Seya.]

ooc; So I suppose Restraint and Rapacity need to get in here as well. I'll be third, then, I suppose... haha Deviance won't really have too much to say, but okay...

After seeing his 'father' come round the side of a large tree, Deviance sprung forwards and collided with the man, although the force of his impact didn't seem to even throw the tall guy off guard. Nevertheless, he giggled and grinned, pressing his face into the warm material that was his adoptive father's cloak.

"Da..." he sighed contently. "This lady and this man and this dog came to see you. Can they stay? I like the dog. If I ask him, will he give me a ride?" His young, bi-colored eyes shone brightly.

Larketh took a few slow steps forward until he could press his nose against the youngster's back. Anytime, he whuffed, before raising great green eyes, the color of new grass, to the Emperor of Sins.

It's been quite a while, friend, the wolf murmured, studying the old sin his mistress had put so much trust in. After three years, he could see the same dulling light Taint had always retained in her own gaze; turmoil bred of stress, of not knowing, of having power almost frighteningly unstable. Deception fared much better than the old Empress, but how long could he keep it up?

Larketh fell to his haunches, and lay waiting to hear the news.

[Kal Skirata]

OOC: Sorry for the wait. It's been a while and I needed a little bit of time to get a feel for Restraint again.

Restraint looked to the towering newcomer with an expression of curiosity. This new man was clothed head to toe in a flowing black robe and carried himself with an aura of power. Restraint could feel deep down that this was at last the one who would cut his ties to the Virtues.

After giving the man a once over, Restraint dismounted Larketh with a simple somersault, landing on his feet. He brought his gaze back to Deception "I am going to guess that you, Deception, are the one I have been looking for?. "

[Zee ♥]

Ooc: *facepalm* I didn't notice that its been updated. Go on without me for now, 'Pacty shall be quiet since it doesn't seem to involve too much of him... yet.

[~Pain And Panic~]

OOC. Can others join this?

[Seya.]

ooc; In a little bit; we need to lay down some cement first. Come ON Winter...

[~Pain And Panic~]

OOC. Okay that's cool, Brutality just kinda got ditched so >_<

[Ariadne]

We're waiting on Deception, right?

[Winter]

Deception faltered slightly, regaining his composure before anyone could interpret it as more than Deviance's self-launching distracting him. He gazed at Lust as she stood where he was. She seemed ready to speak, but reluctant. He grimaced slightly.

As Larketh spoke, he smiled a little, laying a hand on his shoulder. "It has indeed old friend...but we shall speak more of that."

He turned to the man on the wolf's back "I am Deception, if that means I can help you I shall gladly attempt to do so. I am unable to tell you more than that however...though you do seem to be immortal, I cannot touch your mind, so I question if you are a Sin. Nonetheless, if you are a friend to Larketh, and....to Lust, then you are welcome here."

The tall man flashed his eyes back to Larketh's quickly enough to catch the great wolf studying him, before looking back to Deviance at his knees, "Yes, little one....they may stay," he glanced back at Lust with a tad of uneasiness, "All of them." He led Deviance over to the great wolf, "Larketh, if you would? He is vulnerable to the cold. I will speak with all of you later, but if you would care to go a little ahead of us, I would speak to Lust first." He waited for a response from the wolf, or words from Lust.

[Ariadne]

Nodding to Deception, she took a deep breath in. Here it comes, she thought. The unique mixture of distaste and hesitation he held in his voice made her cringe internally. Of all the bitterness she'd swallowed over the years, this was one thing she was having a hard time stomaching. She'd felt his hand against her cheek, yet now she felt nothing but his cool gaze raking what little soul she had left.

The red haired sin regarded the Emperor and walked towards him until she stood directly in front of him. She forced down the weight of her name to maintain focus on the man before her. Restraint had but left her more frustrated and wanting, but there would be no resolving that particular ache with Deception. She swallowed and looked up into his dark eyes.

"I will answer anything you ask me," she whispered, then paused and added, "honestly." Whether or not he believed her was out of her hands, but she meant what she said. She would answer anything he asked. She just prayed he would not ask about her. She shivered in the cold, wanting so badly to feel the warmth of embrace once more. How long had it been? She didn't want to know, because it would go on for just as long. Her chest ached as she wondered, Zaila, what have I done?