Beneath the Surface

"Beneath the Surface" is a [SEASON NUMBER] thread written on [IRL DATE].
==Summary==
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==Full Text==
Malak pushed himself into his house…well…the house he had been allowed to stay in, and stumbled over to rest his elbows on the kitchen table. He was worn out, tired, and pissed. He wanted to strangle Opie, and wipe that smug, snake like look right off his face. 
Why hasn’t Farris come to see me?
Why did Chelsa?!
“Am I the only one in my family…” Malak growled as his fingers gripped the wood of the table, and his extra legs stiffened into the floor and walls. “That’s still totally lost!?” He panted a few times, and then hung his head with a shake.
What a joke…Am I the only one? As if I have a family left…
@lbigreyhound13
Feb 17, 2020
“Still no word on the Phantom?” Brandt asked Hroar as he walked with the council member and his wife through the village. 
“Afraid not, Brandt,” Hroar replied. “Aside from those four villages he attacked, not much has changed.”
“Perhaps, he’s abandoned his cause,” Brandt mused to Grey. 
The Chief sighed in deep thought. “As much as I would love to believe that,” Grey finally said after a moment, “I find it hard to believe. We’ll keep those scouts out there until we’re 100% sure.”
“Understood, Chief,” Hroar replied. 
“Anything else?” Grey asked her old friend. 
“Actually, yes, Malak seems to have returned from seeing Opie,” Hroar replied gesturing to the half-breed’s house.
“Oh, perfect timing,” Grey said. “We can ask him now.”
“You absolutely sure we should do this?” Brandt asked his wife as they approached the house. “I mean…it’s not that I don’t trust him, but…Grey, he used to work for Rhenco.”
“Positive,” Grey said. “Besides, the worst he can say is no.” With that, she knocked on the door. 
Feb 17, 2020
Malak’s legs gave a rapid scramble in surprise before he caught himself, and then made his way towards the door. His teeth clenched when he caught a glimpse of Grey through the window. Of course I would look like this /again/ when she shows up…
As he passed, he also caught sight of Brandt, and he lowered his head. He stopped thinking after that, and opened the door. He hoped his face wasn’t retaining its redness from his private outburst. “Lady Grey…ahem…Sir Brandt…how can I be of service?”
Feb 17, 2020
“Well, Brandt and I were in the neighborhood and saw that you were back from visiting Opie,” Grey said smiling. “May we come in?”
Feb 17, 2020
Malak stepped aside, as if to show he held no sovereignty over the house he rested in. “Of course.” He bid them inside and strode to the kitchen to make room for seats and something edible they could partake in. 
Feb 17, 2020
“So…listen,” Grey said as she and Brandt sat down at a table with Malak, “Brandt and I had been talking lately, and…given what had happened while we were at the raid with…Boriss, we wanted to see if you were up to doing a small favor.”
“And feel free to say ‘no,’“ Brandt quickly added so that the half-breed didn’t feel any pressure. “But we wanted to see if you could do something…for Sven.”
Feb 17, 2020
Malak hesitated as he set down a section of bread and a bowl of butter. “I would do any-” He coughed once and pinched the brow of his nose. “Ugh…Borris…” The half breed couldn’t help but feel a note of responsibility for that one. “Of course I will help. What is the favor?”
Feb 17, 2020
The Chief and her second-in-command looked at each other and nodded before looking back at Malak. It was worth a shot, and they were doing it for their son. 
“We were wondering if maybe…given you have demonstrated to me that you are a duelist, if…perhaps…you would be interested in becoming Sven’s sparring master,” Grey finally said, “in addition to your rebellion duties.”
Feb 18, 2020
Malak wrung his hands. He knew the boy could desperately use more training. Less in technical skill, as he was sure as the chief’s son he knew plenty of that, but more so in fighting spirit. Actually reacting properly to a threat. when to rely on words and when to rely on action, and so on. He would love to know that Sven was safer…at the same time though…
“I mean…I would love to help him. I’d be capable enough but…are you certain that wouldn’t cause the boy um…” 
He imaged having to get Sven in a standard grappling hold, or a mock choke for the boy to defend against… and then the very real one he had attempted to place on him.
“That it wouldn’t cause him any undo distress?” 
Feb 18, 2020
Grey and Brandt couldn’t help but smile at the fact that Malak was thinking about Sven’s mental well-being while possibly sparring with him, and they both considered this as well when they spoke to Sven about it. Both the Chief and her second-in-command worried if sparring with Malak would bring up some bad memories from the hotel, but there was a way to address it.
“We had spoken to him about it,” Brandt finally said after a moment, “and he assured us that he would be okay. However, we have told him that he would have complete freedom to stop it if it gets to be too much.”
“It’s just…we’ve been teaching him,” Grey added, “but as his parents…I think he might feel that he needs to restrain himself. However, having someone who doesn’t know him as well as his family does…perhaps, it will be a good outlet for him…to get those emotions out.”
Feb 18, 2020
Malak folded his arms in thought, and then nodded. “Yes…I see. Very well, I’ll begin work with him in whatever way you’d like me to start.”
Feb 18, 2020
“Excellent,” Grey said smiling. “I think the best thing to start with would be sword-fighting tactics. He’s been learning it from Brandt and me, and we can continue to go from there based on how he progresses.” 
Feb 19, 2020
Malak was already thinking of ways he could help Sven use a sword in one hand while wielding a dagger at the same time with the other. He nodded readily. “Certainly.”
Well Malak…you wanted someone to help this kid learn to keep himself alive…I guess you’re the someone now. 
Feb 19, 2020
Both husband and wife smiled and looked at each other before looking back at Malak. “Excellent,” Grey said. “You both can start tomorrow. I can make some arrangements for you both to use the arena.”
Category:BOTGD 2
Category:Events
Category:Act II
Category:Malak
Category:Grey Bergman
Category:Brandt Felman