Duchess had settled easily into Elysium. She had stayed here once before, and this was also the last she spoke to Indigo before they came together again. A part of her stung to the memory, but it had become a part of herself to go numb to it. Try to forget. At least act like it was a dream.

She went to the covered herb gardens, at least what they could keep out of the winter elements and at first just walked through admiring the different herbs and flowers planted in line with each other. Some potted due to the rocky terrain behind or just to keep them separated. She picked up a watering can and started to water the few that had dryer looking soil. She wasn't much a healer herself, but as she grew in age her energy to hunt started to dwindle. For now she would do what she could for the pack. And savor the last few years of youth she'd have left.

"Duchess"

Duchess is an !M rated! character for themes of Depression. Please Discord me if you have concerns.

Indigo was slowly settling into Elysium as King, though he never thought that he would fully feel comfortable with that title. One constant that kept him grounded was the fact that Duchess was with him the whole time. He no longer had Aslatiel to lean on, and after so many years any friends and family he had once been close to just fell by the wayside. Despite their history, or maybe because of their history, Indigo felt like he wasn’t completely alone here.

He’d had many wolves that he loved come and go, and Duchess was all he had left. Not that he wouldn’t have chosen to have her at his side if he had any others. Part of him wished desperately that he still had his sweet Aslatiel, but Duchess was here and had fully devoted herself to him. As a friend, which was everything he needed at that time.

Not only did she do her best to take care of him, as his massive paws brought him to the gardens he saw her taking care of the plants he so loved as well. Most of the greenery was dormant for the winter, but he’d come upon her watering the potted plants that were still growing through the cold weather. ”It’s nice of you to look after them like that.” He spoke softly as he seated himself there, enjoying the peace of the gardens.

Indigo Arcturus Fatalis

As Indigo spoke out, Duchess turned slightly to his form, showing a small smile that she was able to muster. She had grown to show 'happiness' or emotions that weren't really there, but she could say she didn't feel bottom of the barrel anymore. Maybe it still felt like she was falling, but stuck in a place where she couldn't reach the bottom but had no chance of crawling out either. She could have some kind of purpose here with Indigo, just as she had for Noir. Just different. She was here for him, wasn't that all she was good for?

Looking down to the herbs and plants she gently shrugged her shoulders, "Just trying to find something a little more relaxing to take over my time." She dropped a little water onto another before putting the watering can back down, "Maybe you can teach me again about them sometime." It had been a long time since she had wondered about different properties of herbs. But being in the band she kind of dabbled a little here and there. A basic knowledge was good, but if she wasn't feeling much up to the chase anymore or any time soon, it would probably be good to make herself useful somewhere else.

"Duchess"

Duchess is an !M rated! character for themes of Depression. Please Discord me if you have concerns.

Indigo still wasn’t certain if Duchess’ smile was genuine or if she was forcing the expression just for him. Either way, he couldn’t deny that he enjoyed seeing her sweet grin. The pair of them still had a long way to go in repairing their relationship, but with the amount of wolves that he trusted at an all time low he knew he needed her. They were both broken beings, and he could see that they both needed each other to have any chance of recovery.

Elysium was broken as well, it had been struck at its heart and Indigo stepped up to heal that wound. He couldn’t do so if he did not fix himself first. The same went for Duchess, she couldn’t help him recover if she did not heal herself first. He tried to banish the thoughts from his mind, living in the past would only keep him in a sorrowed depressive state. Indigo had to focus on the present moment. He was alive, as was Duchess, and they were both there enjoying the plant life they could nurture together.

Duch shrugged at his words, though he had no doubt that she was being completely honest with him. She needed a relaxing task to occupy her time, and Indy couldn’t agree more. He’d taken on leadership to put his life in perspective, having something to care for, to have responsibilities, would do her more good than anything he could say to her. ”Of course, you know I could talk forever about plants.” He chuckled softly, actually feeling like the joy was audible in his words. ”Are you settling in alright?” He changed the subject slightly, he concerned himself over her not just because he was her alpha, but because of all the history between them.

Indigo Arcturus Fatalis

Duchess could keep that light smile on her maw as Indigo had mentioned his love and knowledge over herbs and plants, all she already knew. Her issue with feeling a true happiness wasn't so much the cards dealt in life, some that she had harshly blamed on herself. But it was something she couldn't control. In time maybe Indigo could see it, but her depression had suffocated her for years. A lot of it born in her early seasons, but something she didn't know could be helped. She felt like she was stuck in a loop, reliving every bit of her misery and misdirection. But being here with him again, she did feel like she could breathe. There was a sense of security with him, even without the walls of the pack. She just wouldn't allow herself to think of him as any more than a friend all these years later, if he even accepted her as that. Maybe the way they saw each other was so clear. She just couldn't bring herself to ask, and it was unbeknown to her.

"Yeah, I've visited Elysium a couple of times, so the lands are familiar." Duchess went to move out of the little herb garden just so they weren't in closed space, not that it really mattered seeing as she stayed in his den since the death of Aslatiel. Still the beauty of the pack was worth taking the moment to admire. "I haven't stayed in one place for a long time. It can start to feel like home again."

"Duchess"

Duchess is an !M rated! character for themes of Depression. Please Discord me if you have concerns.