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Kal was not doing well. He hasn’t been since Esha and Davrin’s death party. Since his husband had to finish the contract on his sister. Since then, Lucanis’ wonderful, beautiful, hurting husband has been sequestered away in their bedroom, staring at the box of things Esha left behind for him with Spite pressed against him the whole time to give whatever comfort he could.
Lucanis should be getting back to them soon. He only left to get refreshments. Specifically, two cups of tea, one spiced with Up and Adder and the other spice-free for Lucanis. He sips on his as he makes his way back to the mourning man in their bedroom.
“Kal?” Lucanis settles in beside him, passing off the spiced cup. “I brought tea?” For the first time in hours, Kal pulls his gaze from the box.
“I don’t think I can do this,” Kal mutters, the words a bit misformed from his face being buried in his knees. Lucanis scoots closer, leaning against his husband and throwing an arm around him. Spite mimics the action.
“You're stronger than you give yourself credit for." Lucanis tries. "I know it's hard, but you have it in you to do this. Spite and I are here for you. All you need to do is take the first step.” Those sad eyes meet his.
Kal takes a long drink of his tea before setting the cup aside. “Okay.” He shifts, moving to open the box. The first thing he pulls out is a recording crystal. Kal bites his lip before reaching out with a bit of magic to play it.
As the crystal hums to life, Esha appears, stepping back a few paces so she is fully in view.
“Kalias De Riva…” She begins. “My crazy younger brother. I remember the day you came to the manor. I thought to myself ‘I could never get along with this kid, he's insane!’ But you aren't insane. You are brilliant in a way no one else can understand outside of a few of us. You have a method to the madness, and I love that.” Lucanis couldn’t agree more.
Esha continues. “I wish that I had been around more those early days of the Murder. Once a week was not enough to get to know them. I regret not spending more time with you, and I know you already know that. I also know that you know that you were the greatest force of nature in my life. You never let anything stop you. I wish I could have been like that.” Lucanis wishes the same sometimes.
Esha stumbles a bit, catching herself with her cane as she takes a deep breath. “Take care of yourself. I say this, but I know you won't. Allona will have to do it, just as she always does.” Hey! He’s still kicking, too! “And when she's long gone, I suspect Oakley shall do it. You're both…the luckiest and unluckiest man in Thedas, Kal. To live forever, to see the world change. To watch the rising and falling tide for eternity. I sometimes wish I could have that.” Lucanis understands the sentiment. It hurts to think about his wonderful husband having to live in this world without him, cursed to wander for an eternity of pain.
“And yet… It can be a curse. To watch those around you fall victim to the enemy that is time. To watch castles crumble and fall away into the sea. I wouldn't wish that on anyone, let alone my son or you. So I hope you will take care of each other. And Lucanis? Since I know you'll be seeing this, thank you for taking care of Kal this long. Human bodies can be frail.” She gestured to herself. “So take care of him just a little while longer for me, okay?”
“I will,” Lucanis whispers.
Esha’s silent for a few moments before a knock sounds behind her. She turns as quickly as her frail body allows. Viago enters the frame with a tray in his hands.
“Viago.” She greets, glancing at the crystal. “Can this wait?” She uses her cane to balance herself before she stumbles again.
Viago looks at her with an openness to his expression that’s becoming more and more common these days.. “It's been a while since you've eaten.”
Esha shrugs. “What's the point?”
“The point is, why make your last days miserable?” He scowls and sets the tray away from the picture. “How do you feel?”
“Like shit.” She replies just as frankly. “My heart is barely keeping up at this rate.”
Viago frowns, motioning to the tray. “Eat.” He used that commanding tone that no longer had the same edge to it it once did. Esha looks over at the tray, taking it in.
“Did you cut this?” She pulls up a sloppily sliced apple. Viago’s knife work isn’t as precise as it once was.
Viago scoffs. “No.”
“Thank you.” Esha pulls Viago into a hug that the stoic man actually returns, wrapping his arms around her and squeezing. “I'll eat it.”
He nods, releasing her. “Good.” He looks around. “You should turn some lamps on; it's too dark in here.”
She chuckles, looking pitifully at him. “The light hurts my eyes. Now, go.” She turns him around and pushes at his back lightly. “I have something I need to finish up.”
Viago grumbles something inaudible and disappears.
Esha smoothed out her dress and resumed her position. “Sorry about that, Kal. Now, where were we? Ah, yes.” She presses her fingers together. “Don't let the years kill you, Kal. Be strong so others have a beacon to look forward to. That is my only ask of you, and please-” It cuts off, reaching the end.
A sob reaches Lucanis’ ears. He doesn’t have to turn to know his husband has tears running down his face. He and Spite all but crush him in a hug, letting him cry until there’s nothing left.
Once Kal’s calmed down some, Lucanis hands Kal his own cup of tea, knowing he’s going to need the liquid. “Shall we continue, or do you need a break?”
Kal hesitates, then states with determination: “I want to get through this.” He moves back to the box, pulling out a small, triangle-shaped bone. “A patella.” Kal supplies helpfully. Lucanis only wonders why Esha would leave something like that. It’s not enough for Kal to perform any form of necromancy. Is it just supposed to be a keepsake?
A series of recording crystals come next, each labeled with pictograms and a written description just in case. Then a cook book. Between each page is a small note for Lucanis, a fail-safe in case Esha translated her pictograms wrong. Finally, Kal hands him a note before digging out a series of six handmade kilts.
“They’re enchanted to help you with the heat and cold.” Lucanis smiles softly. “She made them herself.” There’s tears in Kal’s eyes again.
“Luca?” Kal asks brokenly.
“Hm?” He rubs Kal’s back, skimming over the remnants of his tattoos. He knows it helps.
“It hurts.” He chokes out, closing his fist over his heart. “I hate this feeling.”
“I know,” Luca whispers, offering his presence. “And it will for a while. That’s just grief. All I can promise is that as long as you let yourself feel, it’ll get better with time.”
“You promise?”
“I promise,” Lucanis states, pressing a soft kiss to the top of his head. “Now, would you like to find a home for everything, or would you like to rest?”
“I want to cuddle,” Kal mumbles, dragging himself to bed. Spite follows.
Lucanis smiles. “Alright. Just give me a moment to get everything cleaned up, then I’m yours.” It really only takes him a minute to get everything packed back into the box, and the box moved away from the middle of the floor. Lucanis considers taking the cups down to the kitchen but decides to just set them on one of the tables to take down later. Kal is more important right now.
Lucanis takes off his shoes and slips into bed beside his distraught husband. Pulling him close, Lucanis lets him cry into his chest until they both fall asleep.