TM - 72 - Trust. [Locked to those who know about Immortals]

[on_holy_ground]

Fall, 410 CE

Darius sat in his tent, sharpening his sword and thinking about the battle to come. He knew that it wouldn’t be that difficult for his men, given the relative ease they had in sacking Rome that summer, and he was looking forward to the fight. It had been too quiet since Rome, and he felt the need to bloody his hands in more than just some drunken brawl among his men. He also knew that his men were restless for a real fight as well, and for the spoils of conquest, and he knew that Paris would provide enough to satisfy them all for a time.

His thoughts were interrupted as he felt the buzz of a nearby immortal long before he heard the voices outside his tent, but he still set his sword aside, knowing that it was just his commanders there to discuss the strategy for the coming battle. Of course the sword was still well within reach, for while there was a bond of trust between him and his men, he knew that complete trust in a world where only the strong survived could quite easily get him killed.

They discussed what they were going to do when morning came, and then went their separate ways to rest before the battle. They had no way of knowing then that the bond of trust that they did have with each other would be shattered before the battle ever took place.

Comments

[civ-barbarian.livejournal.com]

*shakes head* That bond of trust was broken by you and you alone. Between Grayson and myself, it held.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

I was referring to the bond between me and the both of you, not the one that you held with each other. Forgive me if I didn't make that clear enough to suit you.

[civ-barbarian.livejournal.com]

You didn't. You implied it broke between the three of us, instead of just one who did the breaking.


(OOC: I knew what Darius meant...Hsu's just being deliberately obtuse (of course)...didn't want to think you weren't clear. *g*)

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Actually, I did not imply that, as I did mention in the second paragraph that I was speaking of the bond between the two of you and myself, so it is really a matter of how you choose to interpret it. You being who you are, would of course choose to be argumentative.

[civ-barbarian.livejournal.com]

Me argumentative? Just wanting to clarify your point. As for my interpretation, I'm sure Grayson would have agreed with my view.

(OOC: Naughty Darius, setting out such tempting bait! Though I suspected. *lol*)

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Yes well, you and Grayson had much in common. I simply hope that it does not end in the same way for you as it did for him.

[civ-barbarian.livejournal.com]

I have no intention to. As much respect I had for you, Grayson's was far greater. I could and did move on, he couldn't, but then he had a much larger investment in your trust.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Given the differing circumstances that the two of you went through, that is quite understandable.

[civ-barbarian.livejournal.com]

*snorts* Experience of life. It's simply that you meant more to him than you did to me. You were, in all essence, his father. *pauses* Though, I think recently, I've really begun to understand how he felt.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

*nods* I can see how you would start to understand, given your own situation.

[civ-barbarian.livejournal.com]

*long silence while he slowly lights a cigarette* If Grayson had been at any point more willing, do you think you could have made things right between you? And none of that priestly forgive and forget crap. Really.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

I believe that it is possible, if he had been willing to accept the changes that have taken place in my life. I do not however think it would have been easy for either of us.

[civ-barbarian.livejournal.com]

No, I can't imagine it would have been. *another long pause* Did you ever think of trying?

[aeon-flux69.livejournal.com]

Trust is shattered like mirrors to easily. A simple word or words. Misunderstandings. And it leaves you empty inside. Makes you see the world differently.

I see it very differently now.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Has something happened that has shattered your trust?

[locked down tight tight]

[aeon-flux69.livejournal.com]

I don't want to talk about it any more. But yes. Maybe not trust so much. I shattered someone else's trust in me. I'm paying the price for it.

Re: [locked down tight tight]

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

I have experienced the same thing when I broke trust with others in the distant past. It is a difficult burden to bear.

Re: [locked down tight tight]

[aeon-flux69.livejournal.com]

So I have learned. It doesn't feel good either. How... how did you deal with it?

Re: [locked down tight tight]

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Well, in my case the breaking was not intentional, and the aftereffects allowed me to see that it was the right thing to do.

Re: [locked down tight tight]

[aeon-flux69.livejournal.com]

Mine... wasn't either. *looks down*

And I don't see... I said goodbye. It was all I could do.

Re: [locked down tight tight]

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

*is curious, but will not ask because of her wishes not to talk about it anymore* Unfortunately, sometimes that is all that we can do.

Re: [locked down tight tight]

[aeon-flux69.livejournal.com]

*she looks up to him* Did it ever make you feel like... running away... hiding forever... to... to die?

Re: [locked down tight tight]

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

*after a moment of silence* There are some that say running and hiding is exactly what I did, and am still doing to this day really. However, I never felt the wish to end my life, because that act only causes others more pain and it leaves no room to try and repair the damage done.

Re: [locked down tight tight]

[aeon-flux69.livejournal.com]

*she stepped closer to him* What happened to you? Can I ask?

Re: [locked down tight tight]

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

I was once a general in charge of an army. On the day we were to take the city of Paris I had a fight with a holy man and ended up deciding against taking the city. Actually, I decided against violence of any sort at all, and I sent my commanders and my army away. The men that I had led were betrayed by the end of the vision that I had given them, and by my sudden change of heart.