The sun sank behind the horizon as Opium carefully climbed down the Summit, finding it the easiest to take each rock one step at a time. She hopped down each one, which was kind of exhausting, but it ensured she'd didn't misstep and tumble down. The faint trickle of water below drew her in, and eventually, she reached its level.

As the sunset cast pink and orange hues in the sky, Opium approached a small, trickling cascade. Its top layer of water was frozen over, but beneath it, the water still leaked from within the rocks somewhere. Placing a paw on one of the icicles towards its base, she pushed - harder and harder until CRACK! The ice gave way, revealing the seeping water. She studied the remaining icicles for a moment, ensuring nothing else would collapse from the break, but everything seemed sound. Dipping her head, she bent towards the water's base and lapped at the water that collected there on the semi-frozen surface of the pond.

---

OOC: general / can go anywhere! Feel free to add to the setting <3 AW!

art by moogle

To Gain the World, yet Lose your soul

It makes for a mighty profit indeed

It was truly silly of him to think his sister would be anywhere but the frozen wasteland that was the north. It was a place where the wind nipped at him and the frost bit at his nose in quite an unpleasant manner, having been removed from the cold for so long. Even so, it did not take long for him to become accustomed. The engrained aptitude for the cold - thanks to the Black family genes - surely rectified whatever aversion he had initially felt stepping foot upon the crunching blanket of snow.

He felt oddly at home now, as though he were returning from a long voyage... and in a way, he supposed he was.

As he ventured though the ice and snow he came across a border that did not smell of his family. It was a red flag... something that put him on edge. Shifting his gaze, he made sure he was alone and not being watched before taking another whiff of the scent. --- no --- it most certainly was not Black. But that begged the question... who else would lay claim to a place such as this?

With his head low and ears on a swivel, Vain would boldly cross the threshold. He had to see for himself who these Northerners were. As he slunk through the elongated shadows of the setting sun a heavy CRACK drew his attention. Promptly he made his way in the direction of the noise, and to his (not-so) surprise... there @Opium stood.

It was then, as he stood behind her in the darkened shadows that he rose to his full height. He smiled at the sight of her, his heart filling with glee that she had been taking care of herself. In fact, he was unable to suppress the smile, even as he spoke. "Do take care, sister. We wouldn't want your tongue to stick." The smile could be heard in his words, something extremely rare for the likes of him. It was just further testament to how glad he was that she was there in front of him now, and in good health!

code by corvus

The cool water hit the pit of her stomach like the likely feeling of lightning hitting an unsuspecting tree... and yet, it was pleasurable all the same. It quenched a nagging thirst that the snow couldn't quell, not even if she scooped up mouthfuls of it and let it melt to nothing but water. It didn't taste as good as this... this was like fresh water from the heavens.

She had been so wrapped up in it that she didn't notice him approach - which was pretty bad considering she prided herself on observation, and her exalted title suggested she should have been paying more attention than she was. His voice cut through the silence and as she paused drinking, many thoughts and emotions went through her. Elated and irritated ones.

When she turned towards him, "You're trespassing." Her expression was less than amused as she turned her serpentine eyes upon him. Was she happy to see him? Of course. Vain was easily her favorite sibling and he came second only to Odium, who was her own flesh and blood sibling.

"Do you wish to join or become a prisoner to our icy maze?" she asked him. The tease she hid so well was not evident in her tone or expression, but it played behind her eyes, dancing like mischievous flames.

Never mind her tongue; Vain's actions here were much more interesting.

---

soo soo sorry for letting this sit so long

art by moogle

To Gain the World, yet Lose your soul

It makes for a mighty profit indeed

Vain stood and waited for his sister to speak. Historically, if there was anyone in the family that could spot Vain when he melded into the shadows, it was her... and to have managed to sneak up behind her without her knowledge, ha! It was something he KNEW she would hate. He was like a phantom only she could see, but not this day! She had stopped drinking, and suddenly she whirled around and confronted him. Her expression was stoic and stern, her words were almost shocking.

Trespassing?

His face fell from it's rare smile, His heart falling with it. His eyes searched her's for the glimmer of jest... but he couldn't see it today. Had he truly been gone so long he couldn't recognize the tease or... was she -. She spoke again... the same stern tone. His ears rested and the glee in his eyes dissolved like snow in a hot spring, replaced instead with a sad worry - Worry not for himself, but for their relationship.

"Oh Gods... If there is a choice, throw me to the prisons, I beg you. A place to sleep and a meal unearned sounds rather tempting, indeed." Though her initial response to him was not what he had expected, perhaps if he threw some humor to the floor she would reveal that she truly WAS happy to see him. He held the hope, at least, but it didn't reach his eyes.

@Opium *** No worries!! I love their dynamic though! I'm glad you responded XD***

code by corvus

His response to her cracked a smile, and a single laugh fell from her momentarily parted lips. With it, a puff of frozen air from her lips. He looked so worried and pitiful; she couldn't imagine why. Vain was always the one with the smart ass comment, but now... being confronted, his bravado dissolved. "I doubt they'd feed you, but you could sleep all of your troubles away." She turned from the small trickling bit of water, pausing and directing her eyes towards it as if silently offering him a sip before...

"You are trespassing," she reiterated, though there was a more light-hearted expression upon her features now. She would not let him ruin her reputation just because he's her brother. "But because I am a caring sister, I will escort you out instead of letting you become a hostage in Illyria Summit." Whether or not he wanted to stop for a sip, she'd then nod her head towards the border from which he came, waiting to lead him so that they could walk and talk.


@Vain

art by moogle

To Gain the World, yet Lose your soul

It makes for a mighty profit indeed

He was relieved of his worry when she cracked a smile at his wit. Not only that, but a laugh was drawn from her as well. She REALLY had him going! What a complete ass she could be sometimes! His demeanor lifted visibly as he perked back up. His smile did not return, but the light in his eyes burned brighter than ever before.

"Oh... I could try. But my troubles are many. I'd sooner starve before I could sleep through them all, surely. But... as there is no food for the evil, wicked, trespassing rogues -" He said in a scolding tone, as though she was the one who made the rules around here. - I suppose I will take you up on that escort... 'Caring' sister of mine."

He would silently decline her offer of the water she had been drinking, simply not acknowledging the offer in the first place before he took a few preemptive steps toward the portion of the border from wince he had come. And abstractly, he dropped the humorous facade for a moment. "It's good to see you."

@Opium

code by corvus

The amusement on her features was slight, but it was there. Even as she led him towards the border and looked back at him as he began to follow. "I mean you can join and hang out with Archaic and I in these frigid and secluded mountains...?" she offered, quirking a brow. Vain didn't have the extra fur that she did (Archaic didn't either), so living here in the mountains might be a bit cold for comfort, but... such was their family's home for decades. The question hung in the air, but she wouldn't push it.

"Same," she finally said, nodding. "It's been too long of a while, @Vain." The last time was when he was teasing her about her failed garden in the tundra - a bit down from the mountain where they were now. A memory came to her and she couldn't help but titter with laughter. "I think the last time we met here, you showed me how not to dive into the Springs." Her shoulders shook with silent giggles as she remembered how wet, ragged, and desperate he looked coming out of the springs.

art by moogle

To Gain the World, yet Lose your soul

It makes for a mighty profit indeed

They walked side by side, and at last he felt that they were truly reunited. He walked a little straighter and slightly taller at her side. She was his best friend, after all... of course, there wasn't much competition. After she spoke, he mulled over the thought of joining her there... but there was her mate, Archaic, to think about. Vain did not see @Opium as a potential mate himself, but Archaic might still become jealous. Vain would always do what he could to safeguard the close-knit bond they had, even if that meant staying elsewhere.

"Archaic and I are not the closest of cousins." He hummed, looking at his adoptive sister from the corner of his eye before returning his icy gaze afront. "But I'll linger. Perhaps I'll show up beneath your shadow again to push you into the waters next time... see how much you retained since the last time we spoke." He chuckled darkly, having to drive home his little victory today in response to her jab.

code by corvus

As they walked the snow banks, she turned and admired their shadow in the snow. He was taller than her, and so, his shadow towered over hers, and his mane billowed in the wind like a proud flag. She wasn't quite as close to anyone in the family as she was to Vain, and it was comforting to know that at least she had him on her side if no one else. She hadn't seen her real brother in about a year now, so having her adoptive brother around was enough.

"Archaic isn't asking, I am," she replied, tilting her head slightly, wondering what exactly he was getting at. She understood that perhaps they weren't the closest, but Archaic seemed laidback enough to where he wouldn't get jealous of their relationship. Surely, he had to understand that they grew up with each other?

Her eyes narrowed at his statement and a grin played at the corners of her lips. "You wouldn't dare!" she growled at him, playfully of course, swatting at his shoulder (because it was all she could reach). Perhaps if there was another lingering mist, she'd get to see him do it all over again. "Plant a proper garden for me, okay?" she suggested, smiling up at @Vain. That was another part of their last meeting - her sad, nearly dead toxic garden.

art by moogle