life after death // open

*:･ﾟ✦ In the few days Clove had been with the Rogues, she'd seen a lot. Her long lost brother for starters, his existence a revelation which the femme was still reeling from. And then her sister, too, who had been there to greet her as she travelled down to the Solaris Kingdom. Her coffee hued paws ached from the sheer amount of walking she had done, but Clove did not feel tired. Instead, she felt like she'd been reborn, and the world was her oyster.

Ever since she'd awoken in Agrelos, Clove had not expected to see anyone from BlizzardClan ever again. That had been proven wrong when she and Jerseyboy had stumbled across one another, and now it seemed she was wrong again - because Clove recognised the eerie dragon that was stood on the border.

She had never really got to know Aleksei when she had been a paladin of BlizzardClan. In fact, the only interactions with him that Clove could readily recall were those at the meetings, where she had been promoted. She remembered feeling grateful that he hadn't chosen her to step up into a medic role and instead allowed her to pursue a different path, but that was it.

It would have been interesting to have known her former leader more deeply, but the missed opportunity wasn't something that bothered her enough keep her awake at night.

What would prevent her from closing her eyes, however, was the idea of there being abusers sleeping on either side of her. Between her and Primerys, she and her sister had experienced every single act that Aleksei accused the Rogues of doing. Even murder. Clove would never forgive the Sangine Ruins, or the Cartel, for the despicable things they had done to her sibling. And ColouredClan...well, it would be unfair to blame the entire clan for Yuri's actions against Clove. Despite that, it was still hard to not resent them too.

So, the fact that Aleksei was insinuating that Clove was now walking in a clan that protected such predators...the kitsune felt sick. She hadn't known much about the Rogues before the shift, and that likely meant she'd also been ignorant to their crimes as well. Apparently, she was going to have a history lesson right here and now - and it didn't sound like Clove would enjoy listening.

"Tell me what they've done." the kitsune half-demanded, solar eyes focused intently on the orbits of Aleksei's skull. Clove didn't care that the formalities were going to hell, and that he may not recognise her as a former clanmate; she was a new member of a group she had crawled into for temporary refuge, and what Aleksei was saying made room for no loyalty within her heart for the Rogues at that moment of time.

She held a deep distain for Blizzardclan as well as most the individuals the dwelled in that rotten island. Her animosity was petty but Ver couldn’t help it. Her cordiality with them would be short lasting and she eagerly awaited to inevitable battle. Avenging was done with tooth and nail not by diplomacy and minced words.

Her glare was focused squarely on Aleksei as she came up besides Clove. She was sure he’d remembered her, that fated visit wasn’t long ago. She’d blink at him head tilting and lip rising up before barking out a raucous laugh. Was he seriously thinking old crimes justified them coming here, god what a self righteous jerk off. He had no right. He hadn’t lost a child days ago and yet now he was coming here like a slapped child for revenge just because she had the gall to call them out on their murder.

She didn’t care what the rogues has done or the logistics that led up to and after the actions. They were old news and went unanswered and Blizzardclan just now acted like they cared. ”Oh please. Spare us the bullshit Aleksei, are you seriously going to waste Saoirse’s time with this old drivel?” she’d coo haughtily before casting a glance to Clove. Brow raised at the woman, they’ve? What did she possibly mean by that. Was she truly going to fall into his ploy. She wouldn’t state a word of accusation or paranoai. If she wanted to switch sides or leave than Ver would say nothing, she knew what it felt like to be labeled a traitor.

// SAOIRSE W.  

”SPEECH.”

saturnrings would appear beside clove, attention grabbed by the heinous accusations spat from the mouth of the blizzardclan leader. she remembered how when she first joined, trashboat had attempted a temporary alliance with blizzardclan, made unsuccessful by their long-reigning leader’s disdain for fourthwall fallout. the enforcer’s amber eyes narrowed, ears pinning back as she allowed a cool smile to slip onto her maw. she was without a doubt sure that this was nothing but lies and exaggerations- it always seemed that way with aleksi and his group. though they’d never met face to face, the feline had her own thoughts on the male, similar to the hatred he harbored for her family. spreading lies and rumors, conspiring against their back - he disgusted her. “aleksi, is it? how wonderful it is we finally meet.” she smiled at him in an icy manner, eyes flashing. “i’m saturnrings, enforcer. what is it that you wish to speak about? saoirse will be here soon, i’m sure. but rest assured, you’re surely mistaken.” with this, she sat, tail wrapped around her paws in an attempt to shelter the kits in her belly. she hardly spared clove a glance, but felt the stab of distaste for her words. if she wished to fall into aleksi’s trap and leave, she could find refuge in the place she once lived.

( ic opinions only!! )

the pregnant woman watched coldly as he spoke but let him, biting her tongue, letting her boiling blood rush through her. for a few moments after he spoke, she was quiet, the smile having been wiped off of her maw with his words. and then she rose, coldly staring up at the dragon, unphased.

"i, and many others in the group, have never denied our ugly past - as you said, we use the past to improve our current selves. and though it is something we dislike speaking of, especially considering most of our members are so young, we are not ignorant to it. but the way you come to the border, spitting these accusations as if they're recent - it seems hardly fair. fourthwall fallout is no longer a part of our ranks, he is long, long gone. and while i'm sure i can offer my condolences on behalf of the clan now, that version of the rogues is not us now." she paused, calculating her next words, then speaking. she figured saoirse wouldn't mind, the anger bubbling in her stomach disregarded any punishment she may endure. "i don't know what you want us to say, aleksei. every time we have spoken with you, you deny an alliance. you seem to refuse any sort of apologies from us, and even if we were to offer them, they mean nothing. we did not live under the rule of fourthwall fallout. everyone under his reign is dead or gone - would you like us to revive them? perhaps we can rewind time, take back the ones lost? if life were that easy, i'd trade mine in a heartbeat."

"i find it ridiculous for you to be so self-righteous. just a few days ago one of your members murdered an apprentice - six moons, much like ladon. one of the sweetest kids i've ever met, ruined by one of yours. you could own up to it - apologize, perhaps it'd make you a better leader. but no, instead you come here, rip into us for the doings of someone the current group members have never been ruled by." her words were cool but flowed from her mouth with an angry bite. "if fourthwall fallout ever returns, i will gladly deliver him to your border - i wouldn't want him around my family, around my kits, now knowing what he has once done." with this, she huffed, turning back to the matter at hand.

"i would apologize about ver's behavior, but yours equally matches hers, so i suppose we're even, aleksei. back to the real matter at hand - one of your members killed one of our newer apprentices, for no reason. unprovoked. i will wait for saoirse to get here and see how she wants to handle that situation, but as for your blatant disregard for current reality, lets not waste anymore time here. the blackheart rogues are a million times the group we used to be - we are now noble and remade, but blizzardclan seems to be the only group ignorant to these changes. it is a new era aleksei - you tread on shaky ground living in a world that no longer exists." by now she had settled, sure of her words, no longer shaky with anger. she was no brainwashed, she was no idiot as he made her out to be. she had never murdered a single time in her life, she would not be made out to be some relentless child-killer.

// tracking this for now because idk how kiragi would respond to this, also hi pax... its pin lmao

Narcissus had figured that something like this would happen, and he was pleased with how quickly the events were transpiring. Finally, his rank was useful.

As a child, the boy had been disinterested in the deeds of the Blackheart Rogues' enemies. As long as they kept their distance, he didn't care. But in a time of Clanwide fallout (ha ha), shortly after his first father's death, Saoirse had named him Heartkeeper of Enemies. He intended to take this role seriously, and he did. And since then, he had developed some... Opinions on the archipelago-dwelling Clan. They were removed from any personal bias any of his Clanmates might have towards them. They seemed to keep their enemies closer than their friends, constantly fighting or at war. And he most certainly hadn't been keen on this mythical Aleksei figure.

And now he finally got to see the fellow face to face.

Many of his Clanmates would have to look up to meet the eyes of the BlizzardClanner. Saturnrings definitely did, and Saoirse would have to as well. However, the boy in his new body stood far taller, something close to twice the height of the furred dragon. This certainly affected some things. He could squash the man with a massive black paw if he so desired, and man, was he tempted right now, the way he was spewing accusations at his friend and deputy. But instead he loomed over the rest of his Clanmates, silent. Listening. Watching with icy blue eyes fixed on Aleksei. How funny, he found it, that he decided to bring up these offenses as a way of deflecting the blame for the death of a boy barely even six months old. A boy who had already lost nearly everything. You don't see him naming any current members of the Clan, now do you. He's the one still harboring a murderer. His Clan would never let someone get away with such a crime. If they did, Narcissus would lay his claws into the person himself, after all he's been through.

He wanted to say something. He was itching to say something to this man, something so scalding that it would stun him into silence. But he knew that the words wouldn't come. He'd never be able to come up with a strong enough retort. And even if he did, he didn't put it past the man to just move on with his life and disregard it. Nevertheless, he could feel his lip curling back into a snarl. I'm gonna make your whole Clan fucking pay for this, he wanted to say. You're gonna regret the day you set your paws in the pines.

"speaking"

YOU'RE THE LAST OF A DYING BREED & TAGS

*:･ﾟ✦ The fact Aleksei remembered her name barely registered with Clove, who's blood was beginning to sing with fire. If she had joined a clan that was doing such terrible things, even if were for a few days, the kitsune wasn't sure she'd be able to forgive herself to readily. Clove had always been thirsty for knowledge, even as a kit - how had the Rogue's morals evaded her for so long?

Her gaze darted to Ver Million, listening to the BlizzardClan leader speak whilst she eyed the femme up and down. Ver Million's glance at Clove told her she didn't approve of the way she had spoken, but Clove did not care. None of the people here had earned her loyalty, or even respect; and they would be fools to try and demand it from Clove. Meeting her clanmate's crimson eyes, the kitsune squared her jaw and stared at the canine as if challenging her - every inch the princess she had been born as.

The death of any child, over 6 moons or not, was a complete and utter tragedy - and a waste of blossoming life. Clove continued to listen to the dragon speak, but she could not see the German shepherd's actions as sinister in the way Aleksei had been suggesting - and in fact, they mirrored the longing for justice Clove also harbored. Satisfied that Ver Million was not someone she needed to despise, she turned her muzzle back towards Aleksei and waited for him to continue.

Ladon was a name she recognised. When Clove had been a member of BlizzardClan, she had seen the pale wolf pup out and about...and, oh Helios, he had worn a blue blindfold over his eyes. Clove had never asked why, but the answer had just been given to her. Dorian was a name that was unfamiliar to her, and that now made sense too.
She had heard of Fourthwall, but she had not been aware of what he had done. Bile rose in her throat, but the femme did nothing apart from turn her candor-seeking eyes upon Saturnrings.

Her interactions with the pregnant feline had been limited - similar to Saoirse - but Clove didn't imagine them as willing to sanction such cruel actions. Whenever the crimes Aleksei spoke of had happened, Clove felt fairly certain they had not happened when either of the two high positions had been calling the shots.
Saturnrings spoke clearly, sharply. She made no attempt to deny what had happened in the past, but she also sounded like she was certain the Rogues had progressed and changed.

As much as she venerated SunClan, they were not blood-free either, and although they had never harmed children, tortures and trials had been permitted. It would be hypocritical to not extend the same understanding she had for her birthclan to other groups, too.

Everyone here seemed disgusted with what had happened, and yet none of the accused were present to take the fall. Clove understood Aleksei's rage, for what the Rogues had done to BlizzardClan - her former home - was despicable. But Clove also sensed that the Blackhearts standing beside her were striving to move on; a quality which Clove could admire, not that it made their history any less heinous.

The kitsune remained silent, deciding to wait for Saoirse's arrival before she weighed all of what had been said.

Scum of this earth. Wasted breath. Worthless existences doomed for failure. Hellspawn.

There were a million and one ways to describe Blizzardclan, but it was only after the murder of her very own nephew that she truly understood each and every one. They were a group stuck living out a collective fantasy of a time where they were reigned supreme, while the rest of Agrelos had moved on. As a deputy, she watched Trashboat grow frustrated by Aleksei's unwillingness to budge from his delusion. It seemed as though the leader of that floating archipelago had not changed, had he?

"Aleksei." The seal-point greeted cooly, the sheer size comparison between herself and the furred dragon laughable, really. Her demeanor, however, was no joking matter - the maternal warmth had been extinguished in favor of a eerie serenity, and ice blue eyes settled on him with such strength, you'd swear she was trying to freeze him solid where he stood. "How kind of you to pay a visit." Raising two children, and then a clan, Saoirse's patience had been tested again and again, extending her limit each time. So when the leader of the group that had killed Narcissus - a boy she very much considered to be a son of her own - showed up on her border, she was surprised at the calmness that settled deep within her chest, allowing her to speak without too much anger. Still, the fact of the matter remained at paw: Blizzardclan had to compensate them in one way or another, for the death of one of their apprentices.

"My fellow clanmates bring up very valid points, I'm afraid. As you said yourself - history is to be remembered. You showed up on our border, dredging up the lowlights of our history days after one of your own killed on apprentice, without even so much as an apology. We have taken into account all these individuals who have tainted the Blackheart title, and we have learned from our mistakes. We strive, day after day, to improve ourselves. Meanwhile, you're stuck in the past and you refuse to learn from yours, Aleksei. Blizzardclan isn't the fearsome group you thought it was anymore. Perhaps, at a time, it was. But that was generations ago. You don't have the authority to go around preemptively handing out accusations when one of your own members killed an apprentice without provocation." Saoirse was unmoving where she sat, tail curled loosely around her paws. It twitched from time to time, in an almost relaxed manner. "You simply do not have the right to be so venomous to the individuals who are still trying to process the scene left behind by own of your warriors. As unfortunate as it is, yes, we are associated with Fourthwall Fallout, just in the very same way you, as a group, are associated with Felix, or need you be reminded of the atrocities that he committed? I'm not sure what you tried to accomplish here, Aleksei, causing a scene like this. At the very least, you could have asked to come and speak to me personally, and we could've settled this quickly instead of having me scold you like a child."

She paused for a moment, flicking an ear. This was senseless honestly. "Though Ver's visit was unauthorized by either myself or Saturnrings, I must agree with her demand for recompense. Please exile the murderer accordingly, just as Fourthwall and Felix had been. From the fact that it was unprovoked, I would say it would not only be for our safety, but Blizzardclan's as well."

✧ — Politics, Astralchains decided, were not his favourite topic to be a part of, nor a witness to. They often seemed petty and not much ever seemed to get done nor much seemed to come from them. Thus they were deemed annoying by the direwolf, petty little futile meetings. Despite all of this thoughts on them, here he was approaching his new clanmates to ensure that nothing went south from this meeting. It was almost certain he would not speak, nor did it seem like he needed to. Saturnrings held her ground, but also took account for what apparently the Blackheart Rogues were before. The pregnant molly was clearly capable of handling her own and speaking on behalf of the group. Plus it was clear she held a slight distaste for whatever this other group was called. For a brief moment Astralchains’ red gaze landed on Saturnrings before traveling to seek who else had arrived here. Exhaling softly, the large albino direwolf came to a rest just behind Saturnrings as she was the only one he explicitly knew at the moment. Continuing to stand, Astralchains watched the scene with a neutral expression and matching garnet eyes. Hopefully something would come out of this, but the male was doubtful. With the approach of Saoirse, Astral's gaze would flick to her as she spoke. He noted she handled herself in a similar manner, calm and collected but stern where needed. Interesting.

She'd faded out letting her clanmates talk, she knew better than to bark anything that would insight an early attack. She still wasn't entirely in her right mid, she couldn't distance herself enough to warrant trying to speak civilly to this jackoff. Yet he deflected every word of sense as if they were doing nothing more than berating him, could he not pick apart their terse words and realize the point to them. Or was he that inept and focused on his and his peoples pride that he didn't give two shits about what any of them said? In reality it was pathetic and it made her blood boil.

Her gaze would move to Saoirse before dipping her head to the overseer in some sort of submissive yet contended gesture, it was good to know that her impromptu decision was at the very least understood. A low huff would blow through her teeth at his response and she decided now was a better time than ever to snap back in hot defense of her leader and clanmates. She was somewhat responsible for him being here so it was only right. ”God you sure do talk a lot don't you? You certainly have been doing more yapping than actually listening to a word any of us are saying” she'd start smoothly with a roll of her eyes. ”What good does an apology serve when none of the creatures who committed those crimes are here. It's a faulty one if anything only made on false pretenses. No one here can feel sorry for a crime they didn't commit” she'd grumble, did he have a stick that far shoved into his rear that he couldn't understand that? Was he that entitled? ”Yes, i'll admit I threatened your precious clanmates, for that i'm sorry on my behalf but i will not apologize for a crime I have not committed or feel sorry about why I snapped at you or your comrades.” she could go on longer but realized she had to wrap this up.

”We are enemies you are right, but it doesn't have to be this way. Yes, the rogues have contributed to it but with you being so far up your own ass it's hard to get so much as a word up to you. We don't need to be allies with someone who can't see how the times have changed, we can't be allies with someone who claims murdering a borderline 6 month old child is fair game just because they're still bitter about something that happened months ago” her jaws would snap shut as she finished, maw curled into a grimace as she stared up at the leader.

// ic opinions ofc

”SPEECH.”

Jeez, the man was serving up some real word salad here.

It seemed like this argument was just going to go in circles. For any point that his Clanmates brought up, Aleksei would just turn back around to his original statement and stick by it. There was no changing him, it seemed. He had never even heard of the supposed criminals he was pointing out-- sure, he believed the accusations, as did his Clanmates, but what had he to feel sorry for? What had he done to require an apology on their behalf? Exist? Be born into the Clan? Not much he could do about those things.

Eyes glanced over to Saoirse, and then to Ver again as the two women put in their pieces. But even as they spoke, Narcissus had the sinking feeling that none of this was going to get them anywhere. Nothing was going to get it through this man's thick skull. All of these past crimes do nothing to change the fact that one of your own fucking killed me. He was bitter. He had every right to be bitter-- he was the one at the business end of the murder. He was the one who had to find a way back to the land of the living, and he wasn't going to just move on with his life like Leif had never wiped him off the planet to begin with.

It was at the BlizzardClanner's apology that he finally let out a scoff.

"With all due respect," began the boy, "I think you're full of shit." His eyes were narrowed, his head lowered so he could get a better look at Aleksei. "If you were so sorry about our Clans being at war, maybe you'd be more receptive to our attempts at ending it. If you were so sorry about what one of your Clanmates did, maybe you'd quit dragging your feet and do something about it." He let out a snort through his nose as he lifted his head again, glaring down his muzzle at the BlizzardClan leader. "It's clear that this argument isn't getting anywhere because you're not going to concede to any of our points. You'll just keep pussyfooting around everything if we keep it going." He snorted again, a puff of mist lifting into the winter air.

"I'm not going to sit here and listen to myself get treated like some sort of pawn in the big game of the grander scheme of things," he said lowly. "So either get on with it or get the hell out of here."

"speaking"

YOU'RE THE LAST OF A DYING BREED & TAGS

None of this arguing was getting them anywhere. Aleksei was too full of himself to admit that the Rogues were not at fault for the crimes of their past members, and the Rogues were too prideful to give an apology that meant nothing to them, but would get BlizzardClan off of their backs. It fell on him to step up and do something, since he was one of the members who had been here the longest.

"If you want an apology, Aleksei, I'd be more than happy to give you one," the mutated lupurca woofed as he came closer, coming to stand with the rest of the Rogues, putting himself forward slightly as he addressed the BlizzardClan leader. "The rest of them may not have lived here under Fourthwall, but I did. I knew what he was, I knew what he did, and I watched from the sidelines as those I called my friends committed these crimes you speak of. I may not be personally responsible for what happened, but I did nothing to stop it from happening.

"I know you want someone to pay for what has happened to your Clan at the hands of the former Blackheart Rogues. Seeing as I've been here the longest out of most of these members, I'll offer myself up. I'll return with you to BlizzardClan, where you can do as you like with me." It was a notion that terrified him, but he refused to let that show on his face. He had to remain confident for the time being. "I'll personally take responsibility for all of it, as I'm the only one left here who could reasonably do so."

He paused, letting the other consider what he said for a moment before he posed a question. "Would you agree to this, Aleksei? Or is there something else you want from me, instead?" Virgil asked, remaining in his place between Aleksei and the Rogues behind him.

"EVERYTHING I PROMISED EVERYONE I'D BE, WELL I JUST AIN'T" & TAGS

AMBROSIAPAW ;;

-----> Ambi listened silently as the mess of a originally planned peaceful confrontation turned sour. She said nothing, choosing to remain in the shadows as she simply watched what was to transpire. She hadn't been a member of the BHR for long, so she really had no place to speak anyway, and even if she did she had nothing to say. She didn't know of any of the accused or their credibility, and she certainly had never heard of a Fourthwall guy before. But she wasn't entirely out of the loop here. She frowned as aleksi brought up a point she herself had fought over with her own home. The six moon rule. too many times had her clanmates been readily ok with a creature of six moons and younger being kidnapped and attacked. She loathed it, and wished better of her family and friends. But her clan had managed to go without punishment for their crimes seeing as it had been Exiler children. But if it had been Blizzardclanners, or creatures of a clan with similar care for their own creatures and the manpower to truly put a dent in the veil's own poulation...Would it be worth it?

Would her clanmates even care?

she was quiet, thinking about her own issues, but continued to listen in order to understand the politics better between blizzardclan and her new home.

" SPEECH "

(c)trexgirl

Saoirse would resist breathing an exasperated sigh, her eyebrows only twitching slightly in what would've been a frown. Quickly, however, it was reverted back to its calm, collected expression, cornflower eyes simply observing the furred dragon. She could understand how painful it was to lose a sibling, how much you wanted their killer to pay. It must've been painful, seeing their possible descendants standing right in front of you and not being able to get your revenge. Aleksei, however, seemed to be letting his personal vendettas cloud his vision and mingle in with the political stances of Blizzardclan.

The Overseer was quick to shoot a glance at Virgil, watching him offer to hand himself over, "Virgil, I want you to think twice about your decision. It isn't mine to make for you, but I need you to think about the personal consequences for you by handing yourself over for a crime you didn't commit." Personally, she wanted him to stay. It was nonsensical, delivering himself straight to Blizzardclan simply because he lived here during Fourthwall's reign. He hadn't committed the crimes that the aforementioned leader had. But she wasn't his mother. This was a decision for him to make. The Loyalist turned back to Aleksei, tail-tip swishing gently against the snow beneath, "Regarding your and Trashboat's discussions, I'm afraid I stand with the opinion of my predecessor. The Blackheart Rogues acknowledge the crimes we have committed against Blizzardclan in the past. If I could personally go back and stop them from happening, Aleksei, I would. No one wants to lose a child, or a brother, or a mother. But it doesn't work like that. I also can not offer you an apology for crimes this generation did not commit. Save for Virgil, no one else was even alive to witness them. The apology would only be a hollow one, without any meaning or emotion behind it. You can, however, have the assurance that we will hand over anyone that has committed a crime against Blizzardclan will be handed over immediately. That is, if we have the assurance that Narcissus' murder is handed over to us." Personally, she was against captures. She knew the fear of losing a loved one to an enemy, and the thought didn't agree with her, morally. However even if her own moral views didn't agree with her clan's, she had a political stance and reputation to maintain. By not taking the criminal, it proved that they were soft. That crimes could be committed against them without consequence. And that kind of softness only begot exploitation.

As he listened to the two continue to speak, his mind was quickly made up. This conversation could be ended and the situation could be solved if he did this, so what reason did he have not to? "Don't worry, Saoirse, it's fine. I've made my decision already." He turned his attention back to Aleksei as Saoirse went on, and once she was finished, he spoke up once again.

"She's agreed to the terms that you made, and you've agreed to hers. I'm willing to give to apology that you want, and I will remain there to find a way to right the wrongs against BlizzardClan if need be. If that's all that need be said, then I'll return with you, and you can send the murderer of Narcissus back to the Rogues." It was such a simple solution, and yet so much had needed to happen in order for the situation to be resolved. It didn't matter to him, so long as it was resolved. Whatever it took, he would be willing to do.

"EVERYTHING I PROMISED EVERYONE I'D BE, WELL I JUST AIN'T" & TAGS