when you've seen my best and worst

Artorias had not expected Venom to have a fully fleshed out or concrete plan for what she wanted for this next and unexpected stage of her life. Hell, he hadn't been prepared for all the changes and forced transitions he'd had to endure when his mother passed, so losing a loved one so close to you that had become a staple of your foundation really turned your whole world upside down. Of course, from what he knew of the intelligent and wise Empress, he wouldn't have been surprised if she did have a backup plan on hand for just such an occasion. She answered him honestly; she wasn't sure what she was going to do next. She had been thrust into this tumultuous upheaval of her entire life and now she was left to pick up the pieces off the floor. It would not be easy—but she wouldn't have to do it alone either.

With a pensive hum, Artorias poured himself another shallow pool of wine into his glass before taking a slow sip. He wished he had some sort of cure-all for her, an answer that would solve all her problems right here and now. Were his mothers here, they would know just what to say. Resin had always been so prudent and able to see clearly even through the murkiest of uncertainties, and Tamsyn was so empathetic and loving she could make anyone feel better and safe. Art didn't know if he possessed either of those qualities from his parents—but he could try. "Well, maybe you're just asking yourself the wrong questions. Maybe you're thinking about everything as a whole, and maybe that's too much to handle right now," he suggested, softened gaze landing on the white-gloved woman at his side. "What do you want, Venom? If you could have anything in the world right now, what would you ask for?"

Had anyone ever asked the Abraxas matriarch what she wanted? She was always thinking selflessly, of providing to others, as he did as well when it came to his wolves. But at the end of the day, the true question was what would make the fae happy? If she didn't know the answer to that, then they at least knew where they could start searching.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Argent"