trans_9 | In Honor... [Open - before Under Siege]

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In Honor... [Open - before Under Siege]

Ronnae had been fairly silent the past few weeks. She didn't do anything out of the ordinary; went to work every day, did her time, came back home, spent some time with loved ones and made dinner before bedtime. If anything, it all felt like it was going too well recently, which meant it was high time for her thoughts to drift into more unpleasant memories.

There was a lot that had been nagging at her head, the missions, their 'sponsors', the ship, the enemy... It all felt as if more and more weight was being put on everyone's shoulders and she wondered when she too would succumb to the overbearing feeling that it was to be a member of this crew.

This is why during one of the days that she had off, she packed her bag, grabbed her massive weapons and set off towards Religion Row. She had never been one to pray, or hope, or rely on the gods of yore. But she needed something familiar, something that held a very important place in her life... And when she had scanned the files on the City a long time ago, she had made a mental note of the location of a place that struck true and sounded very familiar.

Light's Hope Chapel.

Even as she neared the location, she could see the singular bell tower that made up the front of the Chapel and instantly recognized it. It really was it wasn't it? Her steps took on a hurried pace of urgency, as if she expected to see familiar places in the location. but she knew better... Even as her heart raced, her steps slowed down once the place came into view. The old and war torn building still bruised and battered, just as she remembered during the wars she took part of. Even now, in this close proximity, Shadowmourne hummed violently as if warning her to not go there. And she couldn't blame the runeblade... Light's Hope Chapel had once held the most holy of grounds in Azeroth. Even the Lich King failed to take it down with almighty Frostmourne, so it was no surprise that Shadowmourne felt the same way about entering.

But this was both hers, and its destination, whether on the ship, or back in Azeroth. It was here that she had intended the final resting place for the Runeblade to be at... She made her way slowly towards the Chapel, each step causing the Runeblade to curse at her in her thoughts, to hum violently and begin to glow in that eerie purple aura from the thousands of damned souls inside the blade and yet, the counter balance that had been gifted to her aboard the ship by Daja and Aibghalien seemed to be working to keep it from becoming too overwhelming. While the legendary Runeblade was vastly more powerful, the opposing forces and elements canceled each other out a great deal, enough to make it easy for Ronnae to continue on even against the powerful influence of the blade. Ironic that she had named her new weapon Light's Hope, in honor of the place she was just visiting.

Tattered Argent Dawn banners still decorated the Chapel and the stained windows seemed to be intact. Images of the heroic acts of the great heroes of the Light depicted on them. Images of stories that she grew up on. Stories told by her father, an elven Paladin of the Silver Hand and devoted follower to the Argen Dawn. This was a place of peace for her, and it was exactly what she needed.

The young, half-orc girl knelt in front of the altar and placed her Runeblade in front, much to it's dismay and hatred. It almost seemed as if the blade was burning just from being in the hallowed place. It was here that Ronnae closed her eyes and placed her hand upon the cold burn of the angry Shadowmourne, wincing a little as the pain from the freezing burn began to leave it's mark on her hand, but it mattered not, she knew of the pain, and she had carried the burden for long enough, it would heal over soon enough... After a deep breath, she began her prayer;

"I come here to honor those who have fallen, and for those who will still fall during this war. Allies and enemies alike. I bear the burden of thousands of lives and if fate deems it, there will be countless more until I fall... It's the way of my trade, of my people, the ways of a world where war is never ending and it seems as if those ways will follow me wherever I go. As such, I pledge my blade once more to keep those I care for safe, those that are unable to fend for themselves, those that are caught in between the warring sides even as I do my duty for my own.

I see my foes as equals. Souls intertwined in this on-going war, same coin, different sides. They deserve as much honor as those who fight beside me for it is them who my blade is meant to cut down just as it is theirs that is meant to end my journey.

I see my allies as my wards, meant to be protected and defended against those that mean to harm them. They deserve my protection no matter how different we my be for it is them who are at my side and my back, protecting me just as well.

I see my friends and loved ones as my strength. They deserve my everything for without them I'd be lost, alone, and caught in the void that is inside. They are the ones who I fear for the most, they are my life line, they are my driving force and I'll do anything for them.

It is for all of them that I will continue to carry on the burden bestowed upon me when I pledged my life to this until I fall and cannot get up no more.

Today I reinforce my pledge, my promise, my dedication, my word given when I first became a warrior. In honor of the fallen the past, and the future."

With that, she gripped the cold, burning Shadowmourne once more and strapped the massive axe to her back once more before standing up and staring at the large stained glass image of the bearer of the Ashbringer. One of the many heroes she admired.

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Billy was, of course, working for at least part of that day. He tried to arrange his schedule to give himself and Ronnae the same days off every once in a while, but this was both inefficient and an abuse of his position, so he'd backed off recently. That had left him working and training constantly, with the thoughts of war steadily building in his mind.

After all that Kaya had said to him...her revelation, what things meant to her...who was he in this war? That was something he still needed to discover.

He happened by on his way home for some supplies, head unconsciously tilting in a certain direction when he almost heard something. A step closer, and then he did. Ronnie was active here, wasn't she? There was a hushed voice.

Aware of his ignorance regarding customs about who may enter such a place, he waited outside, head bowed in thought. Just who am I becoming?

After a while of looking around and writing down notes, Ronnae felt it was time to head off. She had a lot of personal plans now, including the fixing and repair of this building. One last look back into the Chapel before she stepped outside fully, only to notice that Billy was out there.

A faint smile spread over her lips and she made her way towards him before wrapping her arms around him in a loving embrace.

"I didn't expect to see my knight around these parts~" She mused happily. "Pray tell, good knight, what brings you to these parts and what seems to be worrying you my love?" Because she had noticed and felt that his mind was in turmoil, even if there was reason for everyone aboard the ship to be in a state of constant worry, she wanted to appease the ones she loved the most whenever she could.

Especially the most important person in her life aboard this ship.

There she is! Billy thought he might have to force himself to smile when he saw her, but that was always genuine. He gladly burrowed into her arms, smiling down at the sweet face he was so fond of. She seemed at peace, and secretly he envied that.

"We're not too far from home, remember? Just across the river. I was heading there to do my working from home. I thought I'd take the scenic route. And I heard your voice, and I wanted to wait for you."

He shifted his eyes guiltily. "How do you know?"

"True enough, jus' like you to want to continue workin' at home~" she mused before leaning up on her tip-toes to kiss his lips lovingly, settling back on firm ground after a moment.

"I'm glad you did then! It'll be a much nicer walk with you around for sure."

At his inquiry however, she smiled warmly, "Stance, heartbeat, the feeling surrounding you, the way your eyes gave you away. Different things for someone who has been around you long enough to pick up, especially when I lots of attention to my sweetheart."

Ronnae was so good at coaxing him. He let himself enjoy kissing her, smiled down as best he could, and gestured at the road ahead questioningly.

"Should I tell you on the way, or did you want to sit?"

"Well, if you're tired, we could take a seat inside the Chapel. But if you're feeling like you wana start the trek back home, I'm good for that too love. Jus' lemme know what you want, kay?"

"Are you sure I can come in?" Billy asked, but he was already inching toward the chapel. "I didn't want to disturb anything, just in case it was special to you."

Ronnae smiled, "Of course you can, and it is special. Very much so, but it's also a sign of Hope for my generation and the one that witnessed the third war and onwards. So you're more than welcome to visit it."

"All right then," Billy whispered with a smile, taking her hand and stepping back into the chapel. It was a peaceful place, and he almost felt...safe. Safe enough to discuss what was on his mind, actually.

"Have you talked to Kaya recently?" This might seem a random question, but it was important. A starting point.

Ronnae settled down on one of the benches to the side, one of the Argent Dawn banners decorating the wall behind it and a random, beat up tome laid on the floor.

She looked up at him curiously and concerned before speaking, "No, not really. Not since the day we all hung out together... Why? Is something wrong?"

"I thought you might've seen her after she used the Spice," Billy explained. He knew that term might be unfamiliar, so he pressed onward to clarify. "It's a substance that some of her prior mentors used. When she inhales it, it expands her mind and gives her the ability to gain a wider perspective about things. It's almost like a 'high' sensation from taking recreational drugs, I suppose, but not quite."

Oh, it was definitely some sort of high. But he wasn't about to admit to that.

"She used our mental bond to share some of its residual effects with me, and that's what got me thinking. She took the Spice to overcome the last of her fear of the future of the war, of having to kill, of being overcome with remorse. She now clearly knows her way forward. I just wonder if I do."

Ronnae listened, looking very curiously at Billy as he retold the story. Once he was done, she tilted her head in thought before speaking.

"Such substances are not uncommon in war. Sometimes it's magic, sometimes it's alchemical, sometimes it's even natural... like my own." She paused for a moment and left it there, not wanting to go further unless he inquired.

"Knowing your path in troubled times like these is a rewarding breath of fresh air. It's better when you reach that conclusion personally, without the aid of outside sources. But the end result is what matters and if she's at peace with that, then I am very happy.... As for your path, that is up to you love, but know that I am here should you need me to. Is it that you need advice? Reassurance? Tell me what's keeping you from reaching your answer; while I can't assure you that I'll have what you're looking for, I can help you the best way I can."

Billy was slow to put his thoughts together for once. Not much had happened recently, it was true, but the few things he had seen had shaken him slightly.

First, though, he thought he'd ask. She was talking to the person who would prod at just about everything out of curiosity until he was singed twice, after all. "What substances?"

"Which ones? The ones used in our wars?" Yep, beating around the bush!

"The natural ones," Billy clarified with no wiggle room, raising a playful eyebrow at her. Come on, don't deny him his curiosity.

Darn!

Ronnae visibly flushed and her cheeks turned a bright shade of red. There was only one person in the entire ship that knew what could happen to her in battle...

"Well... You see I... Hmm." How to start... "Orcs have this natural ability back home. You could say it acts like a stimulant, enhancement, drug, what have you. It generally activates when there's a lot of emotion involved, generally anger, or when in combat. It sends a rush of energy that both increases their abilities, their strengths, their speed and it makes combat a lot more enjoyable. Which is why they are all some of the most feared combatants in Azeroth. Battle is pretty much in their veins quite literally."

She paused for a moment, fidgeting a bit before continuing.

"Me being a half-orc... well I have it too. I... well..... Combat is.... invigorating. Exciting.... a-arousing... the more enemies swarming on me... the more I enjoy it. I live for it. The bloodlust takes over me and I thrill in the act of fierce combat... sometimes to a sexual high."

Prior to her renewed resolve, she would have NEVER admitted to it. But even if she was still IMMENSELY embarrassed to be saying this to Billy, she had enough courage to let him know.

Whatever reaction she expected from Billy, it probably wasn't laughter. She sounded so worried about it, and yet...it wasn't so different from him after all.

"Morphing's almost like that. It gives us energy and strength, though I wouldn't call it enjoying battle. Not precisely. It's more of a reminder of why we fight and encouragement to keep going, even we're beaten down and outnumbered. When I'm in that mindset, I can focus---and do things that I'm not sure I could accomplish otherwise."

The implications of that were just setting in, but they were at the core of the issue. For now, he could tease a little. "So the best time to meet you would be after a battle?"

"Really? That's really neat." She said with great curiosity and a bit relieved. She even leaned forward as if expecting to hear more about morphing.

At least that was until the latter comment and her face flushed completely red and she gave him this surprised, timid look.

"Oh, ah, w-well, ummmmmm. I d-d-d-don't k-know if y-you're j-joking or not.... b-b-but... if you aren't.... t-then yes... that would ummmm be the best time if you're looking to... g-get jumped."

"Then I'll keep that in mind," Billy smiled just a little. He'd need little moments like that to keep going through the more serious problems.

"Well...my problem's tied into all of that," he continued. "When I morph, I lose most of my fear. I'm so energized and purpose-driven that I can do almost anything, and I worry that it overrides my logic sometimes. When I'm in that mode...I hardly think about the after-effect of my attacks. If my opponents die, I hardly care. And I'm not sure that was what I was meant to become."

He looked guiltily at the little power coin in his hand.

Ronnae listened to Billy's worries with a concerned yet understanding expression, placing a hand on his comfortably as she waited for him to finish.

Her life had been much different than his and the ways she was taught as far as the war from her world went, were much different than his, at least she believe so.

"Sometimes in war, the decisions come down to survival. When you're in the heat of battle, a split second can make or break you, or any of those fighting besides you who have entrusted their lives to you." She paused to let him think on that before she continued.

"I go into each and every battle with that in mind, in addition to knowing that it is the same for my opponents and as such, I honor them by viewing them as equals and paying my respects once the battle is over in my own personal manner. But in the end, unless there's a diplomat or an ambassador involved, it's you or them, and they might not be some considerate of you or those you love."

Billy laced his fingers with hers, listening patiently.

"I'm starting to understand that now. I fear losing myself, losing that I care...but your way's a good way to stay grounded. And it's obviously worked, if you're the sweet person I love."

He had to smile. Already he was feeling a little better.

"But I still wonder about how much I've changed. I know the situations are different, but...I hardly knew Kim before she left. I'm alone again, growing more distant from the person I was before all of this every day. I know change can be good, but how differently will I handle that little battle if I go back?"

"Billy, my love, change is usually inevitable, especially when some people are tossed into such an extreme that they need to adapt. You should know this as it's very common in nature. To others on board, this is just another scenario to the same life, like Master Cargn, Erhart, Kerrigan and Splicer among others. Then there's people that have needed to change in order to survive and make due with their new lives. Like in nature, a species that doesn't learn to adapt in an extremely different environment goes extinct..."

She held his hands a bit tighter, squeezing comfortably. "You've been fighting hard to do your best and help others. People look up to you, people are thankful for your support and help and your friendship. I don't think you've been changing into anything wrong at all... And... I'd hate it if you went extinct... A man like you is rare indeed..."

As to press the point forward, she leaned up as best she could and pressed his lips against his own. It was a more subtle, yet needy kiss. A kiss of someone who needed them and loved them for who they are.

"That's what it's about, then. Living." And he did want to live. There was so much to live for now, one important piece of that picture sitting right in front of him.

His smile showed that he understood. With her advice, he was going to be okay. That new resolve was sealed with a kiss that removed all doubt. Smiling into it, pressing against her lips, he slid an arm around her shoulders as it went on.

Finally, he pulled back, sporting a sheepish smile and looking around the chapel. "...they don't usually do that in chapels, huh?"

"Well, they do. When..." and then she choked a bit, and blushed heavily before laughing a bit, moving one of her long bangs off her face before looking back up at him.

"Usually after a marriage in the more traditional human and elven marriage ceremonies."

Of course! Billy smacked his forehead. "Yeah, you're right. Not in a back pew like this, but...front and center, standing in the light."

He turned his head to 'front and center' and couldn't quite banish the mental image of himself and Ronnae standing there, smiling at each other, and making vows in front of a small crowd. It was appealing.

"So it was done here, in this specific chapel? Or chapels in general?"

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