10-31-2019, 01:56 PM
In the past, whenever Wormwood had ended up attempting to ask Roy about it, Roy had always avoided talking about what happened before he had arrived in Tanglewood. He avoided revealing why he looked the way he did, why he had been up in flames when he had gotten there, and what he might've been even before any of that. At first Worm had been hurt by Roy's constant question dodging or uncomfortable silences, thinking that the tiger didn't trust him enough to tell him such things. However, as the two had grown closer and Worm had learned more and more about the younger male, he realized that it wasn't that big of a deal. After all, one's past didn't define everything about them, and God knew that Worm despised talking about his own childhood – the one full of equally false promises, parental abuse, an absolutely clueless brother, and a life that felt like he was never truly living. If Worm could consider that his life had never truly started until he had arrived in Tanglewood, then why couldn't Roy? So, after that realization, Wormwood had stopped it with the questions about the past, instead focusing on things that Roy liked to do, what he hadn't read yet, and everything in between to learn about the boy. That had eventually caused everything to progress to now, when Worm was Roy's adoptive father. He still didn't know that much about his son's shrouded past, but he had known what he wanted his future to look like, and he had been looking forward to it. Everything had been so utterly perfect, and finally coming together in the way he had always dreamed – and then the Pitt had wrenched Roy away from him, dragging him down into their depths and practically brainwashing him.
When Worm had arrived on the Pitt territory the first time, with determination in his eyes and in his heart, he had been so sure that he would be able to sneak in, find Roy, and sneak the both of them out without any issues. Easy as pie, one might say. But then, Worm had finally reached the young tiger, and Roy had just looked up at him, without a hint of recognition or familial love in his eyes, and had attacked. It had been clear then and there that Roy wasn't the same as when he had first been snatched seat from Tanglewood, and Worm had recoiled, terrified and hurt because the one person he thought he could trust, the one person he loved, had betrayed him. At least, that was what he had thought had first. In the hours following that encounter, Wormwood had gone to see Viera, turning to the woman who acted almost like a mother figure to him for comfort about what had happened. After a long conversation full of tears and pain, Worm had come to the realization that the tiger he had met within the Pitt territory had not been his son. That tiger had not been Roy, the young and cautious soul that liked books and was hesitant, but delighted to have a true father figure again. Rather, that tiger had been a totally brainwashed version of that child, manipulated into doing whatever the Pitt commanded and protecting that bastard Jervis. The realization had made his blood run hot and fierce, and had only made his delight when they were finally able to raid the place that much stronger. Worm had been so, so ready. So ready to dig his claws into Jervis's flesh, throw the fox from his throne of bone, and make it so that he had his son – and his happily ever after – back again. The moment Goldie had told them they were moving towards the camp had been pure euphoria, and Wormwood could already feel the flames engulfing him as they had charged towards the jungle.
However, unlike Roy, Wormwood actually had control of those flames. Sure, they were motivated by strong emotions, just as the other's were, but Worm was more easily able to manipulate the flames, making them dance around his body and engulf the parts he wanted them to when he lashed out at his enemies. Even when Worm had first met Roy, he had never considered his seemingly unending fire to be anything more than a minor nuisance. With his own flame elementals, Worm had been able to sit side to side with the tiger, enjoying his company and worth without the flames lashing out and searing his fur, burning down to his skin. Still, he had been delighted when Roy had finally been able to put his flames out, because it meant that his son was able to see more of the territory, and would be able to truly make friends, something that Worm knew Roy was hesitantly excited for. Still, at that point, it had seemed as though Roy had finally crossed a bridge in his life, and was finally able to operate without his flames ruining anything for him. Of course, the Pitt had then decided to go and fuck that up, as they did with so many other things in the boy's life. Because now, here Roy was, sobbing and wailing out a cacophony of noise that seemed to burn Wormwood's ears before he was even on the scene, filling his body with sorrow and dread. He knew that voice, he knew that light, and he knew the overwhelming smell of smoke that billowed through the air. He had been eager to find his son after the other had fled from the battle with the Pitt, but he had been hoping to find him in a better condition than this, at the very least. It made his rage grow hotter and more prominent inside, but he shoved that aside, reminding himself that the Pitt was being dealt with. Goldie could handle that. Right now, he needed to handle the sobbing and flaming tiger within the Tanglewood trees.
Without a single regard for his own safety, the guardsman plowed through the jungle towards the source of the noise and the smoke, ignoring the way that his body wailed in protest, sore from the battle that had taken place only hours before. His legs trembled with each step, his wings crooked and struggling as he glided briefly through the trees, but he was eventually able to make it to where Roy was, landing just a few feet away. His blue gaze immediately softened when he saw his son, curled up into a ball and sobbing so hard that it made Worm's head hurt just to think about. As the flames flicked and spiraled wildly around the tiger, Worm just flattened his ears, taking a deep breath before he plunged forward, ignoring the billowing storm of emotion, noises, and heat that bombarded him, the closer he got to Roy. Spreading out his wings above his head, Worm lowered himself down to the ground near Roy, his paws stretching out to wrap slowly around the other, offering him comfort and security. The flames attacked Worm's fur and feathers, eager to burn and sear whatever they could reach. Having already used his powers a lot during the battle against the Pitt, Worm could feel how exhausted his body was, his elementals curling the flames away from him as blood dripped from his nose down into the ground below. He was sure eventually his powers would fail, and he would end up with some pretty nasty burns to show from this, but he ignored that thought, just rumbling firmly above the roar of the fire. "Roy...? Roy, please, I want you to look at me. It's me, Wormwood. I'm here for you. I will always be here for you... I need you to do like we practiced. I need you to take a deep breath, close your eyes, and let it out, alright? I know you can control this." His words were so firm and confident that it seemed as if there was no doubt in his mind that Roy could conquer the fire, but inside his emotions were a messy storm of anxiety and sorrow, desperately hoping Roy would be okay.
When Worm had arrived on the Pitt territory the first time, with determination in his eyes and in his heart, he had been so sure that he would be able to sneak in, find Roy, and sneak the both of them out without any issues. Easy as pie, one might say. But then, Worm had finally reached the young tiger, and Roy had just looked up at him, without a hint of recognition or familial love in his eyes, and had attacked. It had been clear then and there that Roy wasn't the same as when he had first been snatched seat from Tanglewood, and Worm had recoiled, terrified and hurt because the one person he thought he could trust, the one person he loved, had betrayed him. At least, that was what he had thought had first. In the hours following that encounter, Wormwood had gone to see Viera, turning to the woman who acted almost like a mother figure to him for comfort about what had happened. After a long conversation full of tears and pain, Worm had come to the realization that the tiger he had met within the Pitt territory had not been his son. That tiger had not been Roy, the young and cautious soul that liked books and was hesitant, but delighted to have a true father figure again. Rather, that tiger had been a totally brainwashed version of that child, manipulated into doing whatever the Pitt commanded and protecting that bastard Jervis. The realization had made his blood run hot and fierce, and had only made his delight when they were finally able to raid the place that much stronger. Worm had been so, so ready. So ready to dig his claws into Jervis's flesh, throw the fox from his throne of bone, and make it so that he had his son – and his happily ever after – back again. The moment Goldie had told them they were moving towards the camp had been pure euphoria, and Wormwood could already feel the flames engulfing him as they had charged towards the jungle.
However, unlike Roy, Wormwood actually had control of those flames. Sure, they were motivated by strong emotions, just as the other's were, but Worm was more easily able to manipulate the flames, making them dance around his body and engulf the parts he wanted them to when he lashed out at his enemies. Even when Worm had first met Roy, he had never considered his seemingly unending fire to be anything more than a minor nuisance. With his own flame elementals, Worm had been able to sit side to side with the tiger, enjoying his company and worth without the flames lashing out and searing his fur, burning down to his skin. Still, he had been delighted when Roy had finally been able to put his flames out, because it meant that his son was able to see more of the territory, and would be able to truly make friends, something that Worm knew Roy was hesitantly excited for. Still, at that point, it had seemed as though Roy had finally crossed a bridge in his life, and was finally able to operate without his flames ruining anything for him. Of course, the Pitt had then decided to go and fuck that up, as they did with so many other things in the boy's life. Because now, here Roy was, sobbing and wailing out a cacophony of noise that seemed to burn Wormwood's ears before he was even on the scene, filling his body with sorrow and dread. He knew that voice, he knew that light, and he knew the overwhelming smell of smoke that billowed through the air. He had been eager to find his son after the other had fled from the battle with the Pitt, but he had been hoping to find him in a better condition than this, at the very least. It made his rage grow hotter and more prominent inside, but he shoved that aside, reminding himself that the Pitt was being dealt with. Goldie could handle that. Right now, he needed to handle the sobbing and flaming tiger within the Tanglewood trees.
Without a single regard for his own safety, the guardsman plowed through the jungle towards the source of the noise and the smoke, ignoring the way that his body wailed in protest, sore from the battle that had taken place only hours before. His legs trembled with each step, his wings crooked and struggling as he glided briefly through the trees, but he was eventually able to make it to where Roy was, landing just a few feet away. His blue gaze immediately softened when he saw his son, curled up into a ball and sobbing so hard that it made Worm's head hurt just to think about. As the flames flicked and spiraled wildly around the tiger, Worm just flattened his ears, taking a deep breath before he plunged forward, ignoring the billowing storm of emotion, noises, and heat that bombarded him, the closer he got to Roy. Spreading out his wings above his head, Worm lowered himself down to the ground near Roy, his paws stretching out to wrap slowly around the other, offering him comfort and security. The flames attacked Worm's fur and feathers, eager to burn and sear whatever they could reach. Having already used his powers a lot during the battle against the Pitt, Worm could feel how exhausted his body was, his elementals curling the flames away from him as blood dripped from his nose down into the ground below. He was sure eventually his powers would fail, and he would end up with some pretty nasty burns to show from this, but he ignored that thought, just rumbling firmly above the roar of the fire. "Roy...? Roy, please, I want you to look at me. It's me, Wormwood. I'm here for you. I will always be here for you... I need you to do like we practiced. I need you to take a deep breath, close your eyes, and let it out, alright? I know you can control this." His words were so firm and confident that it seemed as if there was no doubt in his mind that Roy could conquer the fire, but inside his emotions were a messy storm of anxiety and sorrow, desperately hoping Roy would be okay.
[glow=black,2,300]THE FREEDOM OF FALLING[/glow]
— Reggan