With You By My Side

[Luna]

Kom woda ‘so gyon op, gon woda ‘so kom daun

from water we are born, to water we return

T

he leader of Floukru had passed. Her loss would be felt by all those aboard this safe haven. A sanctuary for everyone who had given up violence. Her passing was not a result of a battle or war, but rather, natural causes. An illness. Luna had been close to her as she had welcomed her to Floukru after her running away. Of course she did not know of her true identity though, and Luna preferred to keep it that way. On her deathbed however, with two witnesses -- her seconds -- she asked Luna to take over.

To be the leader of Floukru. The responsibility of her request strongly felt, and yet it was an honor at the same time. Before an answer could be given, the former leader had drawn her last breath. With her hand in Luna's, and the younger female gripping onto it firmly. Her death was expected, but did not make the passing any easier. A tear rolled down Luna's cheek, as he leaned forward to kiss the forehead of the beloved leader. A mother figure to many.

Could Luna truly fulfill this role? Do it justice? Follow in such large footsteps? Hearing a bit of noise outside, indicated that Derrick had returned. Sent to land with a couple of others when signalled. Luna instructed the seconds with a few tasks before she went on the open platform of the rig to see Derrick. She needed to speak to him about this. Relief swept over her to see him returned and unharmed as she gracefully walked toward him. "Did everything go well?" She softly asked him, wanting to know if there were any complications, and whom he returned with -- if anyone.

tag: @derrick
notes: bring on the lunrick!

crafted by Molly Josephine ☁

[Deleted]

There was a method to what they did when they reached the shores of the land. Questions asked and then they would choose their next course of action, whether to bring them or keep them on land. If their answer was sufficient and true, then they were given a drink that would put them to sleep until they reached the rig. Extra precautions to keep themselves safe from those wishing them harm. They were not a violent sort - abandoning violence to live in peace. He'd done the same, along with Luna when they fled the lands and found sanctuary when he thought there would be none. He'd kept Luna's true identity secret - the fact she was a Nightblood mattered little when it came to needing safety. Revealing that would only put her in danger.

To him, she was merely Luna. And that was more important than the color of her blood.

Though their leader had been unwell, Derrick did as he was commanded. Life continued and he pushed his feelings into helping others. In this instance he had gone off the rig after a signal fire. He remembered his first time returning to land, he was put in one of those weird suits to go under water. He'd trained on the rig to wear one so he wasn't as panicking as he would have otherwise but it was incredibly weird to be beneath the waters and not drowning. He'd returned with the others after picking up a young boy whose parents had been killed. Thankfully the kid had escaped witnessing too much. According to the kids neighbors, the family had planned to seek safety with Floukru until their deaths.

After setting the boy down, he headed towards the open platform, needing to make sure things were still okay before he went to get himself cleaned up. Some of the blood that hadn't completely dried had transferred onto him. It was a grim reminder of death and destruction and one that he was glad to have escaped. Peace was a far nicer concept, it was safe and that was important in a world of uncertainty. It took all of a few moments as he hit the deck to hear footsteps behind him and the voice of the one he had missed the most. Spinning around on his heel, he greeted Luna with a dip of his head. "So far. I'm worried when he wakes. The boy lost his parents. It's not going to be easy for him." But his eyes said it all: but we'll be there for him..

"You okay?" Derrick asked, scanning her face. It wasn't exactly rare for her to come see him upon his return but there was something else there. Something she wasn't saying. Considering he'd only been back a few minutes, it wasn't a surprise that he didn't know their beloved leader had passed away.

Luna

[Luna]

Kom woda ‘so gyon op, gon woda ‘so kom daun

from water we are born, to water we return

L

una listened intently to Derrick epxlain the situaiton of the boy; their newest memvber of Floukru. The man's eyes spoke the unsaid words, a small, gentle smiling touching Luna's features in response. She looked over toward the direction of where he was being taken; where he would rest and awaken to a world void of violence. At least here, in the center of the water where they could be untouched. "He is in the right place then. In good hands, and no better place than here to heal," she stated, glad for him to be rescued from the war that plagued the land. It was heartbreaking and yet, this was all they could do.

They could only save those who could be, and the rest of the time . . . well, Luna could not be discouraged by it. Each life brought here, was a life that they could help. Her gaze met Derrick's once more when he questioned whether she was ok. He knew her far better than anyone else here, so she could not keep her burdens secret. Nor did she want to. She held no secrets from her closest companion.

 "Our leader has passed," she revealed, knowing that would not be shocking. Tonight, there would be a memorial in her honor and Luna would have to reveal her decision then. "May I speak to you in private?" She asked, not wanting to explain it in public where others would catch wind of this matter. Especially when she was undecided. Though perhaps deep down, she knew what her answer would be.

tag: @derrick
notes: none

crafted by Molly Josephine ☁

[Deleted]

Luna

Derrick agreed with her words because he believed in them. Here he had been able to heal after everything, including what he had done in order to survive. Fighting was not healthy, violence was not good for the soul. From experience, violence bred violence and it was a never ending cycle of death and destruction and pain left behind for those in the aftermath. That wasn't healthy for anyone. But the peace and safety and solitude and solace of the rig washed away the darkness. A place where you weren't called weak for not wanting to fight but to live in quiet, not hurting another soul. "He'll be safe here. I'm thankful we were able to get to him."

Some they couldn't help. Some didn't want to join and some were found dead before they could even get to little island to signal for them. And as much as that saddened him, he was thankful for the ones they could bring aboard, the ones that were able to join their family and look towards a brighter future.

Though he knew it was getting close, the news still hit him like being dunked in ice cold water. He closed his eyes, drawing in a slow breath. A small moment of silence that would be one of many on the oncoming days, including her memorial. She had done her part, helped them flourish and now she could rest. He reopened his eyes to look at Luna and reply to her words. "Of course." He smiled gently, reassuringly. He would always be there for her, no matter what. She'd been there for him many times, and in his youth that had been one of the driving factors of him not drowning himself in the river.

He knew of a few places they could go to to talk although since Luna wanted to talk to him it was best if she lead the way, not knowing if she had a particular preference at this point of time or not. And he wasn't going to push, not when he could do what he did best and offer support in his own Derrick-way.

[Luna]

Kom woda ‘so gyon op, gon woda ‘so kom daun

from water we are born, to water we return

L

una gave a small nod in agreement. "As am I," she expressed, glad for all those they were able to get to in time. Before they too become victims of violence and war. So many wished to escape. Luna knew that feeling firsthand; being forced in situations where they were to be warriors, yet having no desire to actually kill. Had she known such a place could exist . . . she would have come here well before her training even commenced. She watched him intently, seeing his reaction to the saddening news.

It was expected, but still difficult to accept. That their leader was truly gone. She led them to her room, a place private enough to speak, without interruption. Closing the door behind them, she turned to look at Derrick, the unwavering soft gaze in her eyes, an underlying expression of sadness due to the loss that everyone here in Floukru would be feeling. "She asked me to lead Floukru," Luna revealed, unsure of how much time alone with Derrick she would have. Needing to cut to the chase and . . . well, having to make a decision soon. If not her, then they would need to discuss who another well suited candidate would be.

tag: @derrick
notes: omg whyyy is she always taking him to her room?! tsk tsk Luna!

crafted by Molly Josephine ☁

[Deleted]

Luna

He was silent as she lead him to her room, closing the door with a silent click behind them. He met her gaze with one of his own, waiting patiently for her to begin talking. Honestly, he couldn't say he was all that surprised. While her nightblood status was still very much a secret to those on board the rig, that didn't make for a good leader. Someone with heart and soul did. People cared about Luna and she cared about them. They listened and looked up to her, himself included.

"I'm not at all surprised." Derrick admitted, his gaze never wavering, his eyes only blinking to stop his eyeballs from getting too dry(or maybe it was because of the grief flooding his system that made him blink more). "You're hesitant about accepting, aren't you." Last time she was in position to become a leader it was met with death. This time there would be no conclave, no killing their family to have the rights to lead. It was based on who was suitable, who would be able to continue leading them with their belief of peace. And if their former leader had asked Luna to lead then that spoke volumes.

He also knew he didn't have to ask what she was thinking or feeling - it was already in his expression. He'd mastered the art of that look as it was sometimes easier to communicate through expressions rather than words, depending on their location and who was around. Sometimes a simple look was able to put him at ease or if he needed to meet her in private for words meant for only their ears.

((ooc// hope the expression part was okay and how they sometimes can communicate through expression. if not i can certainly change it!))

[Luna]

I didn't flee the conclave because I was afraid I would lose

I fled, because I knew I would win.

L

una offered a small smile, muted from joviality by the saddening occasion that promtped this conversation. But the expression was there, in response to Derrick's admitted lack of surprise. She then gave another small nod at his question, though she suspected he already knew the answer to it.

"She is entrusting me with this position of leadership among our people," she began to say, the burden clear in her tone. The last time Luna had been working towards such an offer -- becoming Heda -- she had rejected it. She had run from it. Not because she feared the burden, but because she feared the bloodshed. She had killed her own brother and couldn't imagine being forced to kill another. "I once ran from my responsibilities." Even if she had not felt that same entitlment as perhaps other Natblidas did. "I fear disappointing our people." An admittance she would only ever make to Derrick. A confession of being inadequate; of not leading them the way they deserved to be led.

tag: @derrick

I have peace right here

crafted by Molly Josephine ☁