Chapter Text
| [ 2 hours before the tragedy ] |
The bite of the Eternal Freeze had only doubled since the beginning of December. The air howled and snapped its jaws at any passerby. In turn, the wind’s bites required all folks to be bundled up to the most extreme measures and place geomarrow heaters at every corner of the city, and in every room of the house.
To say that Bronya was cold in her dress would be an understatement, she felt the vice grip of the howling wind as it crept up on her. From her nose to her toes she shuddered at the chilled air. She wrapped herself in a soft blanket that laid on the armchair by the window. Bronya peered out of it cautiously.
Her eyes met with the sight of joyous civilians, from both the Underworld and Overworld, on every street corner. There were a multitude of relieved faces she could pick out in the crowds. She couldn’t recall the last time Belobog had seemed so united. An ounce of pride swelled in her chest as she let herself truly beam.
Bronya’s wedding had been arranged to be around Christmas. It was decided that she and Seele would send invitations out for their wedding to people outside of Belobog, as well. The Astral Express was invited alongside a few IPC members, Xianzhou and Penacony civilians. She was surprised to learn some of the people, mainly Dr. Ratio, were going to attend the wedding at all.
The wedding day was to be treated as a festival among the people, all the stores closed early with chatter of the big day and coworkers clocked out together to go and celebrate. The booming ecstasy of Belobog reached out to the rest of the universe and pulled every individual star, planet, or person into its welcoming arms.
The festival included plentiful bouts of rented space and paid performers of all kinds for children and adults alike to enjoy. Gepard insisted he’d be security for the event, to ensure everybody could have a good time. And he did exactly that. He protected everyone. He protected his siblings while they went out on rides and played carnival-like games.
Serval and Lynx would stop by wherever he guarded and show him what prizes they’d won; he got left with the duty of keeping some of their belongings guarded. He complained to them over it, but he really didn’t mind. As long as everybody was safe and happy, he would do anything to corroborate that wish for the people of Belobog.
It was funny to see everybody dressed up in their nicest suits and dresses all mucking about outside and running around. A more gentle, fond smile fell upon Bronya’s face. She made note that Sampo was still out in an attempt to scam people and brushed it off for once. Though she wasn’t sure that Gepard would let it slide, In Gepard’s words; “Sampo was exactly the kind of person that people needed protecting from.”
But if Gepard fully believed those words, then he wouldn’t leave his window unlocked at night. If he truly felt unsafe around Sampo he wouldn’t let his guard down around him as much as he did. Bronya knew Gepard didn’t really think that about Seele’s inherent sibling. The same way Bronya never truly thought about Seele that way.
They were always so weighed down by expectations, while admittedly it was mainly Bronya, Seele still had her worries too. Yet here they were, about to get married. It was so strange the way things changed after time passed. Any amount of time could pass and something would inevitably change, including the time itself.
Speaking of the time. The firework show was supposed to begin soon, as the sun began its setting the sky was destined to light up with loud squeals and pops of the bright, vivid fire and sparkles.
| [ 0.5 hours after the tragedy ] |
Incredibly loud, ear-ringing screams carried alongside worried voices trying to call for all sorts of names. Sounds that mashed together to make inconceivable threads of nonsense. All semblance of unity and security was easily thrown out the window the moment things went awry. No matter the spray of blood splattering across the snow and similarly pale faces, there was nothing to save the situation anymore. Even those with torches and flashlights seemed to shine no hope at understanding.
Clothes were ripped up and scrapes and scratches covered those who made it away from the scene of corpses and crimson. Dare not to mention what may remain of the bodies who weren’t so lucky.
Far away from the original site, inside a fortified building, a small campfire blazed. Around it sat many familiar faces from the initially buzzing site of socialization and laughing voices. Only familiar by recognizable features unfortunately, as every expression wore a somber, petrified frown.
Bronya sat garbed in the same wedding dress. Just like many folks huddled around a pitiful flame to listen in on ambient screams, it was ripped, tattered and speckled with the blood of her people. It saw scenes she never hoped to watch unfold in a situation she could not prevent. With the unfortunate circumstance that she was given no comfort. Everyone else sitting around had nothing to say. The only few who might have had a smile or some security to give refused to remain idle, with Seele and Gepard and many others wandering back out with new gear to gather survivors and fight for those with something to save.
That made the room dull and bleak. Eyes with blankness, and minds with nothing to do but think.
At least, that was until a sitting survivor had the voice to speak up and break the silence, but in a quiet tone. A voice that knew to at least heed warning in whatever she may have to say. Not even for the people in the room, but for the monsters lurking outside.
“Lady Bronya,” Softly the voice spoke out in a small room. The tone could be traced back to the only female in the room with baby blue hair and light wings.. “This may be the wrong time to say this, but I saw your wife leave this at the door. I just wasn’t sure when to show you.” One of her hands reached out, holding a piece of paper that had been stomped on with dirty shoes.
No strength could be read from her face as Bronya stared at the dirtied paper. A weak hand met the other woman’s offering with hesitance. Reading loved ones’ messages at times like this rarely delivered good tidings.
Unshockingly, this one was no better. An already weakened and vulnerable woman who was once looked upon fondly now stared at a poorly written note like a child with a poorly received report card. Emotion was easily translated through her eyes and the furrowing of her eyebrows.
A short, wispy sigh flew through the air as it escaped her lungs. The blue-haired woman who gave her the note hadn’t read it previously. It could’ve contained very personal information, after all. Yet the expression worn by the supreme guardian left curiosity within her. For no reason other than perhaps knowing would allow her to bring some effect of consolation. In the dark, she could give no words to ease a heavy heart that wouldn’t just be hollow.
Still not a peep escaped the lips of the lady in a tattered dress. Just a fall of her hand as thoughts presumably swarmed her mind. Just a small look in the right direction gave almost the perfect view to the boldly written letters on the note. Even with the dirtied paper.
Such a hastily written message, as if she’d done it just before she departed through the door. Seele’s handwriting said, “I love you, don’t wait for me, just know I’ll definitely make my way back.”