forum At War // OxO // Closed

Started September 19, 2021 by @ElderGod-Icefire

tune

"Yes, I'm very sure. And while I am well aware you are terrible in battle, I also do not believe that your parents never had you do anything other than sit pretty."

“Well, yeah, I’m pretty bratty when I’m bored,” Kaylum laughed.

Seren exhaled loudly, cracking the whip. "Answer the questions with honesty, prince Kaylum."

Kaylum had been wondering when that would happen again. This time he definitely made a noise, crying out briefly before gritting his teeth and just focusing on breathing. He did not answer at first; the stinging feeling had escalated into a raging burn.
“I am,” he eventually rasped. “Also, wow… you used my proper title. Who would have… would have thought?”

Seren glared at him. "You are not, and you know that." he retorted.

His gaze slowly descended to the floor. “Fine… fine. I’m not telling the truth, but I’m not being dishonest either,” he amended.

He snorted. "Then tell the truth, Kaylum. The solution to all of this is simple."

Oh great ancestors… Kaylum was this close to praying in the middle of this interrogation. “It’s really not,” he said, shaking his head faintly. Wincing in pain for a moment, he didn’t say any more.

"It is, though." Seren countered, shaking his head at the dragon shifter on the floor.

After taking a moment to breathe, Kaylum rolled his eyes and said. “Well, clearly we’ve reached a difference in a opinion. Let’s agree to disagree.”

"That's not– we aren't going to just agree to disagree." Seren growled, glaring down at Kaylum.

“Great ancestors human, you’re as stubborn as I am,” Kaylum laughed.

"I am more." he retorted. "And if you continue to refuse to answer, then I will have my men bring Nikolas in here."

“Well, you haven’t asked me much, have you?” Kaylum shot back, though his heart was beginning to pound again. If worst comes to worst, he may just shift. “Sorry, what was the question again?”

"The question, Kaylum, was of how your government works and how the crown is passed off." Seren's voice was razor sharp and angry.

“Oh, we’re circling back to that again.” He rolled his eyes. “I thought I already answered that. Honestly, could you be a little more creative with this? This is starting to bore me.”

"As am I. Nikolas, perhaps, would squeeze more words from you. Perhaps I should get him." he replied, setting the whip down and stepping towards the exit of the tent.

Sh-t, not that creative. “Ah! No, that is not necessary. I at least thought you would have more questions for me to answer,” Kaylum said quickly, jerking forward.

"That depends on if you have any better answers than the ones you have given me thus far." he retorted, pausing, but not yet coming back. "Or are you going to continue to give me empty words that mean nothing?"

He let his body slacken, as if in defeat. “What else do you think I’m going to do, human?” He scoffed. “I’ve given you my answer already, might as well move on.”

"You have only given me empty air and false bravado." he spat. "You have given me nothing, and if you continue to give me nothing, then I will be forced to bring in Nikolas. I hope you do not force me to do this, I don't want to hurt him any more than I have to."

Giving you nothing was kind of the entire point. Kaylum grimaced, then hung his head. He was silent for a moment, thinking. “I’m not forcing you to do anything, Seren. All of this is your own choice. If you don’t want to hurt him, then don’t. The solution to this is simple, after all. Isn’t it?”

He snorted. "I need information, Kaylum, and I'm not going to let any sort of misguided, nostalgic sympathy get in the way of that. Nikolas should have never been born to begin with."

“Well, too bad, he was born and he’s alive now,” he shrugged. “And you don’t have to give him your sympathy. Just give him some basic decency. There are better ways to do this, you know.”

"There are not." he replied. "He is not a person, and neither are you. You are an animal, and he is a curse." he shook his head.

Kaylum tried to be like Nikolas, and get his initial surge of rage under control. His eyes flickered with something dangerous, though only briefly. He covered it up with a cringe. “Oh, yikes, now we’re being upfront with the prejudice, I see. Well, I’m not going to bother convincing you otherwise.”

Seren scoffed. "It is the simple truth. Your species is no better than animals, and he is an unnatural, twisted thing." he retorted, shaking his head.

Man, how did Nik ever deal with this guy? He should ask him when— or if— Seren let him go. Kaylum really tried his best not to let his rage take over, and it was often when his emotions were concerned that he struggled to control his mind. As such, the wounds from the whip began to ache and sting again. “Oh, shut up,” was all he said.

Seren snorted faintly. "Are you going to cooperate, or are you going to continue to give me nothing?" he snapped.

Not after that I’m not. Kaylum stared at him, silent and grim. He had made a decision, and cooperation with this man had no part in it.