Who'd be an angel? (RP invitation for alec_troven)
Something in his universe has shifted.
Something. Or things. Both within Young Phoenix Kaelen, and outside, in the cosmos, have been subtly moving around and rearranging themselves without his true understanding of what has been happening.
He's not stupid.
Phoenix is a thinker, too much so at times, and over the last few months he's been noticing the changes in his feelings, the small surges of energy within him, ones that he's never encountered before. After much mulling, pondering, connecting, and scrutinising of events over this time. Phoenix has come to the somewhat clouded, but doubtless realisation that since the news of his uncle reached his ears. Things have begun to change.
He approaches Ylaia and puts his thoughts to her. He's mildly surprised, yet further convinced he's right when she holds him close, strokes his hair and whispers that if he's ever trusted her over anything, he must trust her with this; and that he must not ask such things. He's safe and well, and he must move on with his life, accepting the natural inevitable changes in a young immortal. It's the tears in her beautiful violet eyes that actually persuade him. He does trust her. He trusts the Chieftains, and some things… are best left alone.
Something far bigger than he's been informed of has definitely taken place. Phoenix has no experience of anger or hatred, so in the past, he has had no way of being able to tell he can't feel those emotions. It's only over the course of his life, where his adopted mother realised the angel reacted very differently to certain situations than a mortal might, or another immortal, and through much discussion with her, and his friends. That he even realised he was lacking in those two feelings at all.
Several times now, Phoenix has felt that hot roiling inside him. Anger. A few times alone, just in contemplation of the witch, what she had done to some of his friends, - and of his uncle, whom Phoenix is surprised to find he now dislikes intensely. For the things he has done, both known, and merely suspected. All Phoenix's peers, though technically juveniles themselves, have always manifested some hint of their active powers. The angel never has. And he now, perfectly reasonably, suspects that his uncle, a god with such profound and powerful psychic abilities, has somehow managed to suppress Phoenix's own talents.
He isn't certain if it's hatred. Not yet. Phoenix is convinced he's yet to experience that particular feeling. He's approached it, perhaps, a little. But it feels ugly, pointless and unproductive. He doesn't want anything to do with it. He doesn't want its poison.
Phoenix wanders around the flat one day, alone; with Sari off to stay overnight at a friends; Schnozz being coddled and babysat by Sal… to give Phoenix and Alec a little quality time, as Sal puts it. Whilst waiting for Alec to get back from work, Phoenix idly takes a Kaldoan ceremonial short-sword from its drawer - a gift from his brother. There's nobody there to threaten, so it doesn't cause him any pain, and Phoenix has learned a little swordsmanship in his past, practicing on holograms, and taking instruction without sparring.
He gives it a couple of experimental swings, and moves to block an invisible opponent, then goes through the 'form'. A series of meditative movements taught to the young by Kaldoan warriors and Libre. It feels good, the sword is well-balanced, and years of active life have left Phoenix graceful and strong. He just wishes it wasn't so frustrating. He can never use the darned thing, even if there were shadow-warriors to fend off, and damsels to protect.
Nope. He'd grab the teleport in one hand, the damsel's arm in the other, and teleport them both the heck out of there. If there was no teleport… Well. Then he'd put himself between damsel and danger. What else could he do? He's done similar before, and at least from that, Phoenix is reassured he isn't the coward he sometimes wonders about when he looks in the mirror.
He stops, sighs, and regards the sword, feeling utterly stupid and useless.