The Proposition

Tamsyn assured him that this new Kane wolf made her happy, and the heartfelt smile she wore told him all he needed to know. Yes, this new man made his mother happy. He hadn't seen Tamsyn smile like this in a very long time—not since Resin had started to get sick. While he didn't know how he felt about it, he guessed it didn't really matter much. He had promised his mother that when she found someone to make her happy, he would do his best to understand and accept it, and so he would. Thinking about how happy being with Briar made him... that was all he wanted for her too. He could try to get to know Kane better once he got back from his time at the Armada. But gods help the dead wolf walking if he ever did anything to upset or hurt his mother.

She still didn't seem happy with his decision to go to the Armada for a little while, but he didn't expect her to ever be okay with it, not after what she'd just told him about her crumbling relationship with Sirius. All he could do was promise to be careful and to come back to her. But his mind had been made up once she mentioned how volatile he'd become. He had to go to keep an eye on him and to look after Briar, even if she had ended their relationship. The Fatalis family did not seem to be in a good place right now. Sure, he could cut his losses and run, but they were like family. Family didn't abandon family. He gave a forced smile and a slow nod when Tamsyn acknowledged understanding where his head was at. "Thank you, Mom. I'll come home soon, I promise," he repeated, leaning forward to nuzzle her cheek with his own again. It was just in his nature to help the wolves he cared about, no matter the cost.

Artorias' ears flicked up when his mother mentioned things going well with Briar and he felt his heart break a little more. A shy smile and hot flush came over his face, chuckling under his breath while ears folded back to his head. "Well, uh... yeah, I mean, I thought they were," he stammered out between nervous laughs. He knew what she was hinting with her sagacious smile. Tamsyn had called his relationship with Briar from the start, even before there had ever been a relationship. "We've, uh... we've been hanging out a lot, and like, talking... and maybe kissing and stuff..." His bashful smile grew, flashing his teeth while he rubbed the back of his neck with an embarrassed paw. His smile soon drooped from his face though and the mirth died in his normally blazing eyes, leaving them dull and empty.

"But after the Ashen festival, something happened... I don't know what caused it, but she... she left me... She was really quiet around me and when I tried to talk to her after everything, she broke up with me and just left to go back home." Artorias' heartbroken expression deepened on his face a while he recalled how Briar's attitude around him had shifted during and after the festival. He remembered her words that had cut him to the core and how nothing he had said seemed to do any good. "I don't think I did anything to upset her, but she just looked so mad and sad at the same time. She said I deserved better and wouldn't talk to me. And now all this with Seer, I'm just... lost, I guess? Like I dunno what to do now?" He looked back up to his mother with apprehension in his eyes. He didn't mean to pull her into his personal drama, but he didn't really know what else to say or who else to turn to for guidance when it came to matters of romance.

"Artorias Carpathius"