Chapter Text
Since he came to be, Salvador Isi Schnee, operator codenamed Silverash had been raised to do well with everything on behalf of Laterano. Born with a halo that later manifested spokes resembling a crown, along with radiant white wings, he had been born in the higher echelons of the country and the privileges that came with it. It meant he needed to uphold himself to a standard that his authority was warranted.
Silverash read, studied and practiced harder than average even as a child. He spoke as eloquently as he could with adults and a natural charisma he refined to be a magnetic leader. No one matched his talent and efforts other than his younger brother Federico Etherion Schnee, codename and job titled Executor of the Notarial Hall.
Since they were children, Silverash more or less taught and trained Executor into various competitions to test the limits of his abilities. Everything physically and academically inclined, Executor of course gave his all since Silverash was the only one he could comfortably interact with throughout his childhood.
Their parents more or less put their work before their children, and had the two brothers as their status and social obligation rather than a desire to raise them. Due to this, Silverash made certain that he was there for his younger brother no matter what happens. He never wanted Executor to ever feel unloved as he when his emotional neglect carried throughout his early childhood memories.
The younger angel was more reserved and unintentionally blunt with how he conducts himself. His social awkwardness hadn't changed even as an adult but thankfully his line of work made use of his talents. It was all his own efforts, but his brother played a huge part in setting a path for him to consider.
Six months have passed since the two Sankta brothers came to Rhodes Island on behalf of their individual work for Laterano. For the most part, Silverash was keen on experiencing how the mobile city ran in terms of hierarchy and merits. If the combat operators were truly the strongest of their nations and how he stacks up with them in a tactical and martial sense. As a means of contributing, he and Executor are often in the training rooms to help instruct, demonstrate, and train many field operatives for special assignments.
Everything was clear cut as to why he and Executor were here. Only for Silverash to falter from a distracting presence.
"...He's here again isn't he?" Executor only asks as this certain Sarkaz operator had a powerful, innate cloaking befitting his specialty. Silverash had a sharp instinct in seeing invisible presences.
"Please brother, I'm in the midst of instructing." Silverash dismissed, they were in an observation deck in one of the training grounds.
Executor frowned just a fraction more. "Merely speak to him again Isi, your attention is divided when he is in your vicinity. This has been going on for a month now."
"I utterly refuse. Operator Phantom has no bearing to our work unless it requires training or combat deployments." The older Sankta then faced his brother. “If this is your primary concern, we are done here, Therion.”
The older Sankta had Arts abilities strong enough to cleanly sever reinforced steel, and Executor couldn't understand his brother's stubborn mindset with this. The man could talk to an entire Sankta council without a hint of hesitation, but this one elusive Sarkaz kept him in line? Mind-boggling really. “I express this concern because I value your wellbeing. If he becomes the reason you fall, then his life is forfeit.”
Silverash had a specific reason as to why he couldn’t. He was the eldest son of the family and his life was already forfeit to lead it. His prospects of marrying were for the family’s sake and he refused to let his younger brother take his place. Moreso that his brother was born an omega and more likely couldn’t have children under their family name by still archaic laws. The Notarial Hall gave Executor more freedom than what Laterano left him with. “Noted.”
Executor let out a small sigh before he headed into another training area. He was far from done with this, but it wouldn’t change things in the meantime.
“...Remember to keep your breathing in check during the lulls, your enemy could appear and leave you in a momentary panic. Still, very good job.” An alluring voice stated in the intercom a distance away.
“Understood.” the operator responded simply from the speaker.
The Sankta tried to keep his heart still regarding Phantom. It was no lie that his heart sped more with the Sarkaz than he remembered in battle. And even now when Silverash hears that beautiful voice, he desires nothing but to meet that demonic amber gaze and converse as they had before. By dagger, voice or simple look, Silverash would fall by Phantom’s hand. He repressed his feelings and continued to monitor his own trainee in the drill.
The next day came with both brothers in a sour mood, but to varying degrees.
Executor woke still holding on to this ticked off anger, just staring up at his ceiling. It shouldn't be his business regarding Silverash, but this was the first time the older Sankta was genuinely smiling at someone aside from himself. It was strangely reassuring for him. Executor still wasn't familiar with the notions of romantic love. Although he knew all too well how much Silverash loved and cared for him all his life. Time, effort, attention, affections, all of these embody how much Executor took in what love was.
Love was becoming apparent when Silverash met Phantom a week into their arrival and began to smile more when he spoke regarding the Sarkaz assassin. Only for it to be repressed to a terse and formal civility. Silverash didn't speak ill regarding Phantom but a lot of what he felt looked forced.
Executor couldn't track down the Sarkaz for questioning. Even with all of his training for the Notarial Hall, Phantom was one of the most agile and elusive operators on Rhodes Island with years of experience, added to being Lady Ceylon’s co-bodyguard with Schwarz. Phantom was remotely traceable with special sensors or if he wanted to be found through the black cat he accompanied. Authorizing sensors to interrogate an Operator about relationship issues was not going to be a good reason.
‘I need a different approach with this. However, this subject is too uncertain for my current knowledge and experiences. Maybe the library would be a good start?’
He cleaned and dressed himself for the day and headed off. When he arrived, the library was empty with how early it still was. Only to find two felines in Anya Pramana and Anthony Simon to occupy a table with some pile of hardback novels.
Executor meets with these two often enough when Mountain comes in to train and Pramanix to watch over him.
As for the snow leopard woman, she was a great benefactor to much of the funding and supplies that come into Rhodes Island. She and her sister Encia were the daughters of an esteemed noble family that were said to have been caught in a tragic accident, leaving a power vacuum in the Kjerag political sphere. The young woman apparently made strides to acquire great wealth by industrializing the formerly closed off and conservative Snow Realm and became a very powerful woman at its helm.
Although, from Operator Matterhorn’s personal accounts, the snow leopard woman wasn't originally this driven to amass this wealth and power. Quite the opposite. She was more a typical idle rich socialite who was arranged to marry with another noble house or a wealthy family. But the shock of losing her parents left her a deep trauma to preserve her family's name added to her younger sister having been infected with Oripathy, leaving her to Rhodes Island's care.
Silverash valued him dearly, and to think of his brother possibly suffering from the incurable disease honestly scares him, but he holds no ill will toward the infected. Everyone in this mobile fortress wants to live their lives in a meaningful way, it was an ethos he and Silverash respected for all walks of life.
Mountain picked up Executor’s footsteps approaching the table and looked up, “Oh, good morning to you Executor.”
Executor nodded to them. “Good morning Operators Mountain and Pramanix. May I inquire if either of you know where Class 300 books on relationship advice are held?”
Pramanix stared at the Sankta oddly regarding the subject, only for her to slightly blush and nod, “The books are held further down there.” And pointed to the shelves’ direction.
“Thank you.” And left the two felines alone to their own devices. The section in question had many sociology related topics and started picking out whichever suited his inquiry.
In another area of the ship, Silverash thought he was a bit harsh with how he spoke with Executor and decided to head to the kitchen early in the morning.
Usually when it comes to an argument, Silverash took to making sweet pastries or cold desserts as a peace offering for them to open up again. That and he had a habit of spoiling his brother and hardly stayed mad for too long with him, if ever.
When he entered the kitchen, he was met with the sight of Matterhorn helping the kitchen staff with the meal prep for the early morning. Matterhorn saw the Sankta before he stopped his work. "Silverash, it is good to see you this morning."
"Good morning Matterhorn, you’re volunteering to help prepare the morning buffet?"
"Of course, if I enjoy my work then why not provide it for the ship's occupants?" Matterhorn humored, "What brings you here?"
"Oh just making chocolate croissants for my brother, I would normally make gelato but I do not have time to make everything from scratch. We had...some issues and needed a peace offering. " Silverash explained.
“I see, the work area over there is free to use. Storage has new ingredients shipped in this morning.”
“Thank you.” Silverash washed up and took care to procure an apron, baking supplies and ingredients to measure out. When he was doing so, he felt something brush up against his heels.
“Meow~”
Silverash stopped and looked down. A familiar black, blue eyed, two tailed cat rubbed and bunted her head against his legs. She looked at him and meowed again.
“Miss Christine.” Silverash smiled sadly still. She still sought him out on her own, whether for Phantom’s sake or her own kitty fondness. “I’m sorry, but I can’t come with you anymore. Still, watch out for your master’s safety for me.” And returned back to work.
The black cat was still persistent to get his attention and continued to meow at the Sankta without any luck. After several minutes of meowing, she finally refrained and exited the kitchen.
An hour later, Silverash finished making all the pastries and set to bake them in the industrial oven. He made enough to serve for some bakery, but everything is only for his brother. It was definitely his fault for spoiling the younger Sankta with sweets.
“Matterhorn, I will head out to find my brother. Could you watch the oven for me?”
The Forte man nodded, “It is no problem, I would not want your brother’s peace offering served mistakenly.”
Silverash laughed at this and headed out to look for the mentioned Sankta.
From the books Executor borrowed from the library, he found three to take reference with. Books understanding the history and social conventions of Terran cultures, pairing issues with alphas/omegas and one regarding Victorian botany and flower languages.
Yes, these were a good start figuring out how to help understand his brother’s trouble with Phantom.
One social convention regards presenting flowers in a meaningful way. So going to the Convalescence Garden to look into the blooms there could give a better idea of what to present. When Executor entered the greenhouse, the changing humidity spread around him and some various scents in the air.
He entered in hopes to find Perfumer for help. Instead, he found Flamebringer tending to the aromatic plants.
Right, Executor knows about this particular Sarkaz due to him being interested in his brother's martial prowess when they first came here. As a high ranking Sankta within the Laterano Papal Guard, Silverash is within the last line of defense regarding the Pontiff's life. Currently working in Rhodes Island is an opportunity for them to be at reach.
Flamebringer glanced back at the person behind him, “Oh, if it isn’t Snow Angel mini. Need help with aromatherapy? Can’t really help while Lena is out.”
“Not quite Operator Flamebringer. I came to better understand the social convention of bouquets.” he answered, looking down in thought.
Flamebringer looked at the Sankta oddly only to smirk, “So you have someone you want to give flowers to. What exactly are you going for?”
“Yes.” Executor presented his book of flower language, “From my reading of this book, I seek flowers that represent, “unattainable love and longing”, “romantic passion” and “devotion”.”
“...Holy fuck that’s a strong order from you.“
Executor looked at the Sarkaz strangely, “Is it impossible to convey correctly with a bouquet?”
“No it’s very doable, it's just...I never expected that you had it in you, Snow Angel.”
Executor didn’t completely understand what he had exactly but continued, “Hmm well considering the situation I am solving, it needs to be a strong expression. Romance is a difficult concept to fully understand.”
Flamebringer scratches his neck in thought, “Yeah it can be a pain in the ass alright. Still, you’re making an effort to it, so I’ll look into the roses I’ve helped to cultivate. Follow me.”
Further through the greenhouse, some number of different colored rose bushes were budding and partially in bloom. Flamebringer scanned through the bushes as if assessing a battlefield and took his pruning shears to expertly cut uniform length stems of the roses.
Dark red, orange, and even the once impossible blue rose were present to be cut down to signify the intended message. He went out to wrap the flowers up and held them out. “There you go, good luck with whoever this is for.”
When Executor received the wrapped up roses in one of his arms, Flamebringer caught the small, candid smile when the angel looked down to the bouquet. His war ravaged heart actually fluttered at the sight.
‘I hope this helps you brother.’ The Sankta thought determinedly.
‘...Oh just fuck my life this instance.’ Flamebringer mentally cursed to the very depths of hell. He just had to get smitten with a man already in love with someone else.
Executor looked at Flamebringer still holding that small but genuine smile. “Thank you for helping me with this Operator Flamebringer. If there is anything I can do for you in return, do not hesitate to ask.”
‘Just forget this person and go out with me instead.’ Of course the Sarkaz couldn’t say it out loud as much as he wanted at the moment. “Sure, I’ll hold you onto that. And I prefer just Flamebringer, formality isn't my thing.”
Executor nodded and turned to exit the greenhouse, only to be shortly stopped by Flamebringer.
“Wait, if you care to tell, who are the flowers for anyway?” he might as well get a bearing on what type of person the angel likes.
Executor paused and looked seriously to the Sarkaz, “I see no harm, I intend for my brother to receive these. Thank you again for your help.” And exited from view.
Once the angel was gone, everything in Flamebringer’s body was screaming. “What the fuck?!”