HARPER
He’s a welcome visage, and the fool that Harper is - unaware of news and updates - there’s a twist in his chest that is reminiscent of feelings he shouldn’t be feeling for the man. Maybe he’s just been alone too long. Or maybe Sunjata is just more forward than most in this role of his. Either way, it’s hard not to want.
The words crowd in his throat, desperate to be spoken for the very first time. With the Flood sitting aside from him, steel eyes bright and half-smirk on his scarred face like it’s so familiar he’d forgotten to stop, Harper knows he shouldn’t. That he should do this the right way and tell Hadama first. But why? It’s going to happen anyway.
“I’m uh…I’m gonna be leaving Torchline.”
It’s like the world lifts off his shoulders, letting him sit a little straighter. Only for the darkness of so many other things to darken his blue eyes and twist his lips into a frown. “It’s not good timing. But I can’t do it. If I don’t leave, I don’t think I can keep being diplomatic.” He wants to tear apart the plan for their current regional quest. He wants to throttle Koa for presuming to have the Dragoons be involved in Torchline’s affairs. He wants to remove the region from Safrin’s domain. It all slips through in disjointed thoughts through the bond, fully formed words but scattered and streaked with emotion where the words fail. “We’re not going to get the region secure enough before Safrin returns. I can’t - I can’t have their blood on my hands. Even if I have to take the coward’s way out to avoid it.” He can hear Flora’s voice in his head already accusing him of it - but he can’t stop seeing the wobble of her lip either, the thickness of her voice. Harper hadn’t been able to agree with her up there in that meeting, and it had killed him. Filled him with helpless anger. And this is where it had all led him.
The words crowd in his throat, desperate to be spoken for the very first time. With the Flood sitting aside from him, steel eyes bright and half-smirk on his scarred face like it’s so familiar he’d forgotten to stop, Harper knows he shouldn’t. That he should do this the right way and tell Hadama first. But why? It’s going to happen anyway.
“I’m uh…I’m gonna be leaving Torchline.”
It’s like the world lifts off his shoulders, letting him sit a little straighter. Only for the darkness of so many other things to darken his blue eyes and twist his lips into a frown. “It’s not good timing. But I can’t do it. If I don’t leave, I don’t think I can keep being diplomatic.” He wants to tear apart the plan for their current regional quest. He wants to throttle Koa for presuming to have the Dragoons be involved in Torchline’s affairs. He wants to remove the region from Safrin’s domain. It all slips through in disjointed thoughts through the bond, fully formed words but scattered and streaked with emotion where the words fail. “We’re not going to get the region secure enough before Safrin returns. I can’t - I can’t have their blood on my hands. Even if I have to take the coward’s way out to avoid it.” He can hear Flora’s voice in his head already accusing him of it - but he can’t stop seeing the wobble of her lip either, the thickness of her voice. Harper hadn’t been able to agree with her up there in that meeting, and it had killed him. Filled him with helpless anger. And this is where it had all led him.
this is your ocean, an ocean of night
BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3
