Headed by a Snake

Tycondrius felt a warmth enveloping him.

He believed the intent behind it was... Suka emulating an embrace.

[You were my inspiration, Ivory Prince,] she said...

"I'm... glad," Tycon replied. "That is... what I strive to be, yet I often find myself having trouble with the particulars."

[Yeah, I know,] Suka readily agreed, [When we first met... you came off as a huge prick.]

"Is that so?"

[You sat on me.]

Ah. Yes. That did happen.

"...and for that, I apologize."

[It's supposed to be the other way around.]

Tycon allowed his displeasure to be conveyed, "I'd like to rescind that particular apology."

[Oh? Then what's the other apology you--]

The other apology...

Tycon wanted to apologize for stealing a kiss. And, as he recalled the memory, so did his conversational partner.

[OH! OHHHH!! YEAH! NO! WAT???]

It was mildly unpleasant for his fewer but different senses to be saturated with the amount and variety of Suka's thoughts and emotions.

"Suka."

Please stop.

[AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!]

"Suka, you were there."

[I-- I didn't remember it!]

[At the time-- I just-- the FEELS!]

[I remember the FEEEEELS!!]

[But you-- you remember THE TONGUE!!!]

[DID YOU GRAB MY BUTT?]

"No. That is entirely in your imagination."

He had no desire to caress Suka's buttocks.

Besides him recognizing and adhering to tacit social boundaries, the curvature of Suka's behind was too lacking to be aesthetically pleasing.

[Oy. I can hear your thoughts.]

"I apologize."

Tycon had a strong aversion toward apologizing-- especially so much in rapid succession.

The circumstances were appropriate, though...

Slowly, Suka's risen emotions began to wane... returning to the calm shadows.

The edges retracted for several moments, then flooded the space in full-- as if a deep breath was taken.

[Prince Tycon...]

[I was in love with you, long before I met you.]

"And then... you did," Tycon mused.

[Yes... I did.]

[You came into my dreams.]

[You mercilessly and cruelly played with my heart...]

[But... it was... really fun.]

[You accepted my world-- my weird, dream world without question...]

[You accepted me... for who I was.]

The notion, Tycon found peculiar. He didn't feel like he gave Suka special-- or even irregular attention. He recalled teasing her a bit?

But it was true that he did not mock her for hobbies or her magics.

Rather, he found her incredibly skilled.

And thus, he immediately sought to use her.

Taking advantage of her feelings, he swept her up into his pace and used her abilities to solve his problems.

...It wouldn't be out of place to say that Suka was the reason he survived that sun.

[And after I met you... I fell in love with you... even harder.]

[The reason I wanted to take my sister's place... was a selfish one.]

[I wanted to chase you.]

[I wanted you to notice me.]

[I wanted... to be someone... who deserved that kiss...]

Tycon was... overwhelmed by Suka's sincerity.

It served to feed the guilt blossoming in his heart.

Suka was going to die. That kind, honest child was going to die.

[You know... Ivory Prince...]

[How we are, you and I...]

[We're... actually kinda alike.]

Tycon was caught off guard by the declaration.

"In... what respect?"

He disagreed, and strongly.

He was a selfish hedonist who, whenever inconvenienced, went through five boxes of fried dough balls, minimum. He was a man who loathed the effort of social maneuvering to complete his tasks, instead opting to murder any individuals who dared oppose him.

He was a domineering, self-serving narcissist who lived his life only going through the motions of giving a shite.

[We... only know how to do things for other people.]

...That was something Tycon did not want to hear.

[We don't know how to be happy without the approval of others.]

That was something Tycon wanted to hear even less.

[So I have a request, as your consort.]

"You're not my consort."

Suka laughed a little at the remark.

[Ivory Prince...]

[I want you to live.]

[I want you to live like tomorrow is certain.]

That...

Tycon was willing to grant nearly anything Suka had asked for.

But... that...

That... was... too much.

"It's not as easy as you're making it sound."

[I've heard that the Ivory Prince never goes back on his promises.]

"Well, yes, but--"

[You owe me a boon.]

"Suka," Tycon said, guilt and regret and helplessness wrenching his heart... "I can't."

[Please... live.]

[Live as long as you can.]

[I... love you, Tycon.]

"But Suka..."

[I have always loved you.]

"Suka, please..."

[And... I will love you... forever and always.]

"Suka, that's--"

...

"--not fair..."

Tycondrius was holding his bleeding arm outward.

The stinging pain renewed its assault on his senses.

Suka was gone.

Ananta wept; she crouched over her sister's stone form, crumbled into dust.

Cass was with her, the younger Princess had her arms around the older's shoulders and was crying into her collar.

Last he remembered, the two were about to fight. If they were to come to blows, it would be nothing like the spectacle they put on in front of their allies.

But with the loss of Suka...

"It's not fair," Tycon said, his voice quiet enough that only he could hear it.

His sister, Cass, slowly stood up, unrestrained in her sobbing.

Moving on instinct, Tycon approached her and pulled her into his embrace.

She cried.

The women in his presence were crying by no fault of his own, yet he derived no satisfaction from it.

Suka was not the first loss in their farcical war, nor would it be the last... but her departure was sorely felt.

Tycon strengthened his embrace, his mind distraught by Suka's request.

She wanted him... to live as if tomorrow was certain.

She was asking him to live a f*cking lie.

It was an unfair request... and he was doubtful that he could even do so.

...But if he were to refuse... his conscience would collapse under the weight of his guilt.

He cursed the fates. He cursed the eleven heavens and seven hells.

He was... so... certain... that he was a selfish snake...

Tycon comforted the hatchling in his arms as he made a vow in his heart.

He would live... but not for the uncertain suns ahead.

To the best of his ability, he would live for Suka... until he was naught but ash and fire.

Tycon heard footsteps approaching.

One set of them carried a heavier weight-- noisy, but deliberate.

The interruption was unwelcome.

He had to grieve. They all had to grieve...

The voice of Dragan Ashlord boomed from the chamber's entrance.

"(You and you, take these two and see them to the medical tents.)"

--"(I hear you, War Prince.)"

--"(At once, War Prince.)"

Tycon silently observed Dragan crouching to get through the door portal. The Titanblood approached until he was a respectable ten or twelve fulms away.

"War Prince Tycondrius," he said, "We discovered somethin' that requires your immediate attention."

Tycon shook his head, "I will not leave this place, War Prince Droghan. As of current and for at least the rest of this sun, my family is my only priority."

"But Brother," Cass sniffed, "your duties..."

Tycon closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to his sister's, "I've made my decision."

"Brother... you... you're our Commander..."

"Others will command in my stead," Tycon said. "Right now, my place is here with you."

He glanced back up at Dragan, hoping for tacit agreement.

Instead, the red-headed Titanblood began signaling a series of letters.

Q. V. A. I.

Tycon narrowed his eyes.

"Cass, take care of Ananta. I need to go."