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They burst into the Dukes office, Aether a step behind Lyney as Wriothesley descends the spiral staircase and rather politely, in Aether’s opinion anyway, tells Lyney that he would like a meeting with their Father.
In all honesty, considering the Fatui have been trying to infiltrate the Fortress of Meropide for a while and since their incarceration, Aether, Lyney, Lynette and Freminet have essentially been given free rein?
Hostage situation aside it’s a no brainer of a deal really.
Which is why Aether can feel a long buried rage simmering under his skin, running through his veins.
There is nothing Aether would not do to ensure his sister’s safety, there is nothing she would not do for him either.
Aether tunes out Lyney’s mutterings about how busy father is, how something like this shouldn’t be brought to father’s attention. He crosses the space slowly and pulls himself up to sit on one of the storage boxes.
He sits with his hands on the edge of the box and starts humming to himself as the two continue their stare down.
Wriothesley shifts his body so he can see both teens and directs his next question towards the Traveller.
“My apologies, are we boring you?” He asks almost amused.
Aether pauses humming and smiles guilelessly at him.
“Not at all Your Grace, but I feel furthering this conversation is pointless.”
Wriothesley tenses slightly. “Oh?”
Aether waves his hand dismissively, “Seeing as Monsieur Lyney clearly doesn’t give a shit regarding his siblings continued existence, I fear your negotiations have long broken down.”
Lyney’s head snaps to the side so quickly Wriothesley is sure he just heard it crack.
“Don’t give a… of course I care for them!” Lyney doesn’t quite shout but it’s a near thing.
Aether regards him with an amused look.
“It doesn’t look like that from where I’m sitting. His Grace is offering you, in my opinion a good deal. He wants to meet your Father who is the one who keeps sending agents down here into his territory and clearly he’s had enough.” Aether pulls his knee to his chest and rests his cheek on it bored.
“The fact is, he’s offering you a deal to ensure your siblings safety. The fact you won’t even consider it tells me you really don’t care all that much.”
Lyney stares at him uncomprehending, Wriothesley looks speculative at the golden haired traveller.
“My sister…” a pained, anguished sound had both men staring with trepidation. “My sister once tore an entire castle down brick by brick and slaughtered every living being in her way to save me once.”
Amber eyes glow as the Traveller stands, an oppressive air fills the room that has both men sweating.
“I once levelled an entire city, civilians included because they threatened my sister’s life. She is my other half, my everything, my only family and we have destroyed Worlds to keep each other safe.”
The light on Aether’s armour flickers from blue to white, like something trying to burst forth from his very being but stays blue eventually.
He looks dangerous, edges sharpened, smile too wide with too many teeth bared in a promise of wrought and ruin.
“Even with the current… limitations of my power if I were in your position, without the bloodless route, I could rend this entire structure from the sea floor.”
Wriothesley watches with narrowed eyes as Sigewinne shudders from her hiding place, eyes wide with fright and wonder.
He wonders momentarily if she’s looking at the same monster that he is.
“You however do not have the power to do that.” Aether narrows his eyes at Lyney, the magician stood pale and shaken.
“You have the power to make a choice to save their lives and you hesitate, you dither.”
Aether smiles at him, sharp and deadly like a spear to the jugular.
“You do not care.”
Lyney falls to his knees eyes locked onto unforgiving amber, fathomless fractals for eyes stare through his being.
He feels like an ant before a deity.
“However, Lynette and Freminet have grown on me, and I can feel they are safe within the walls of Meropide. I will go and update the Knave on the status of her children and see if they are open to a meeting with you your grace. Will this arrangement suffice?”
Aether turns back to the Warden who can just about manage a nod under Aethers foreign gaze.
Like a flipped switch, like the sun peaking out from the clouds, the Traveller’s entire disposition changes, his edges soften, his oppressive aura disappears and his smile reaches his eyes again.
“Then by your leave your grace, I will make my way to the surface.” Aether strolls past the warden with a smile and leaves the office not sparing Lyney a glance.
The door closes behind him and Sigewinne steps out from her hiding spot, Wriothesley loosens his tie.
“Remind me never to piss him off.”
Sigewinne nods gravely next to him.
“He wasn’t joking, about his abilities.”
Wriothesley gives her a sharp look.
“Oh?”
“He wasn’t lying when he said it was limited, my eyes can see the remains of a heavenly limitation, it is breaking but it is still a serious hadicap.” She hums poking a finger to her lip.
Wriothesley can see her small hand is shaking.
“But when he said he could tear the fortress from the sea floor, I could feel the water surging to aid his command.”
What a terrifying thought.