when you've seen my best and worst

Artorias saw the gamut of emotions passing through Venom's face from the simple yet profound question he had posed her. It was not easy for someone to consider what they truly wanted on a good day; to try and consider such things in the midst of a maelstrom of upheaval seemed even more impossible. But the Aegis was patient. He waited, giving Venom all the time she needed to think and consider, until she finally gave him her answer. She wanted tor reaffirm the ties she had with her family and friends, and between her pack and others. It was a good answer, but it also revealed much about Venom's mindset to the young Carpathius man. Despite the raw emotional pain she was feeling, Venom was still living, thinking, and functioning as the Empress of Ashen, and not as Venom Abraxas. She was still very much focused on everyone else and the grand scheme. She was letting her guard down for him, but Artorias began to wonder if she could ever let her guard down for herself too and take stock of what she wanted and needed as a living, breathing wolf and woman—not just as her station.

The dark-furred brute hummed and nodded, taking another long sip of wine that drained nearly half his glass. The buzz of the alcohol was beginning to become more prevalent, though with his experience with their wine, it would take more than a glass and a half to put him on his ass. "So do it then," Artorias said in suggestion, rolling his shoulders in a shrug. "Nothing is holding you back now. You can spend as much time as you want with your friends and family. You can make decisions all your own without needing to consider approval from anyone else." Artorias placed a gentle azure paw atop one of Venom's white-gloved paws in solidarity. "You will always have us on your side, Venom. So long as I hold the title of Aegis, the Hallows will be friends of Ashen." He hoped perhaps the Empress would find comfort and consolation in that vow. The Hallows would never be subject to Ashen like the Armada was, as had been Resin's wish, but they would be aligned with them, provided nothing took an unsavory shift.

"You know, it's kind of funny. Chimera and I have been working on brokering an alliance between Fenmyre and the Hallows for a couple seasons now. I think your ex-husband's flight of fancy might be just the push needed to make it happen, for solidarity in Auster!" The Aegis chuckled and finished his second serving of wine with a smile. "I'll admit, it's much easier for me to consider allying the Hallows with Ashen now that my one and only concern has been so kind as to remove himself from consideration too." Hattori had always been the one asterisk to Artorias' opinions of Ashen. With the wildcard koi no longer in the picture, the notion of brokering an alliance between the longstanding empire and the sanctuary in the south seemed much more attainable now.

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