imagine a world...

Erik has made himself at home in the north, just as he has in Auster. That’s the thing about vikings– they’d view any land beneath their paws as theirs. He doesn’t need to worry about things. He doesn’t need to fear. Hell, he barely even needs to think twice. Maybe there’s some entitlement to him, sure. Maybe it’s something else. It lives in his bones, it lives in his blood. It makes him feel well and truly alive and real. He is a viking. It doesn’t matter that he’s equal parts bastard and prince. Erik carries himself in such a way that… well, just look at him. It doesn’t matter that the boy wears a heavy curse around his neck. It doesn’t matter that he’s a bastard.

It doesn’t matter that he’s a bastard, save for the way he knows they look at him. He’d seen it in the Warlord’s eyes at a distance, like hearing he was Víðarr’s son came as a surprise. They knew he was Sedna’s son. Like there was an extra layer of explanations that the world seemed to want. He’s grateful that neither parent would give it so easily. Talk about entitlement. No, they would not answer the prying questions that seemed to dance behind the eyes of strangers. There are too many political machinations, too many things that he can’t bring himself to give a shit about.

Well loved, now, the boy is. He wants to be well feared, but that would come in time. He could only give so many wild-eyed glances to kids his own age, surely it would begin to rub off eventually. Please. And then there’s the question of Ursa. Okay, he doesn’t want her to be afraid of him. She’s soft, but Erik suspects she’s stronger than even she knows. The two move through the Mines in quiet tandem… he’s glad she stopped him in the market. Dad didn’t mind if he slipped off and away, thank fuck. Víðarr said something about don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, and the two were off on their own adventure.

While the vikings were trying to expand into the Crypt, Erik had gotten pretty used to being underground. It was kinda fun, like a scavenger hunt. Speaking of scavenging, Ursa wanted to… catch something. Erik had seen the slithering from the corner of his eye, too, and he could only wonder what was down here. Still, he wasn’t going to go breaking her heart about it. Of course they could try to hunt something. He gives a little nod, setting his nose to the ground. He’d rely on that more down here, along with his ears. Inhaling deeply, closing his eyes, trying to dial in on the scent.

Something distinctive smelling… he pauses. Waits. Breathes for a moment before dialing in on the right direction. There were bats deeper inside the Mines, and Erik was happy to lead the way towards them. They’d make for a good snack… right? If they could find a way to get them down, at least. Ursa would probably come up with some smart plan once they arrived at the little sky morsels. Erik was pretty sure of that much, at least.

"Speech"