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houndsofcorduff · 17 hours ago

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Avalon Show Bible: Season 1 Episode Outline

Season 1 Episode Outline

Spoilers - although these ideas may change over the course of writing

Episode 1 - "Pilot" - A new outcast at Waystation 001 goes missing, only to return via the police in a near catatonic state. Devon is assigned to monitor him when the outcast suddenly wakes up and imparts a vision on him of Avalon and a younger version of his mother, Maeve. Meanwhile, two suspicious government agents arrive on the Waystation's doorstep, tracking the outcast.

Episode 2 - "Control" - In the aftermath of the events of the pilot episode, Maeve tightens Waystation security. Government agents question Natalie and Zane, forcing them to partner up. Devon's new curiosity about Avalon and Maeve's past causes friction with her when she refuses to give him any answers.

Episode 3 - "Pack" - A new werewolf hybrid enrolls at Dunhaven High and tries to recruit Andy to their pack. Devon feels left behind and jealous, trying to drive a wedge between Andy and the newcomer, which only causes more conflict between the two best friends.

Episode 4 - "The Long Night" - Devon breaks Maeve's rule about not going out on Halloween - the one night a year that the Slaugh, a dangerous entity imprisoned in Avalon, can break into our world. One attaches itself to Devon and gets a free ride past the protective runes around the Waystation.

Episode 5 - "Scream" - A new banshee student at Dunhaven High is haunting Devon and Andy's substitute math teacher. Unlike the other banshees they're familiar with, she's not there to warn him; she's there to torment him. Meanwhile, Natalie and Zane investigate a suspicious death near the Waystation.

Episode 6 - "Echoes" - Devon dreams of a stranger calling out for help, but ignores it until Zane shows up, saying a missing person was found dead, clutching a notebook with Devon's name in it. Wracked with guilt, Devon risks everything to solve the crime.

Episode 7 - "Crossroads" - An outcast from Waystation 005 stops by Dunhaven on their way to Waystation 011 in Maine, dredging up Maeve's mysterious past. Devon attempts to learn more, but government agents are back and on the hunt for the outcast.

Episode 8 - "Switched" - Devon and Natalie accidentally activate a magical artifact that switches their bodies. Forced to impersonate each other to avoid a lecture from Maeve, they need to figure out how to switch back as quickly as possible.

Episode 9 - "The Mission" - A lone Vulegrim appears in Dunhaven, bringing up bad memories of the death of Gideon Murphy and sparking conflict in the present Murphy family. Devon and Natalie don't want to repeat past mistakes, but Maeve insists on staying true to the mission of the Waystation and protecting any outcast she can.

Episode 10 - "Exile" - A stranger claiming to be a relative of Maeve arrives at Waystation 001. Devon uncovers some shocking secrets about his mother and about why he received that vision of Avalon - someone is reaching out to him through his dreams.

Episode 11 - "Breach" - Maeve, Natalie, Devon, and Andy travel to Waystation 010 in Alaska, a high-security containment site for the most dangerous outcasts. And they've escaped. Chaos reigns supreme as they try to restore security to the Waystation and survive the night.

Episode 12 - "Second Skin" - A doppleganger impersonates Devon, stealing from gas stations, making prank calls, destroying the school's mural, etc. As he tries to navigate the new accusations and repair his relationships, he also needs to figure out why this outcast is targeting him.

Episode 13 - "Gravekeeper" - Zane investigates a series of grave robbing cases but gets stonewalled by Natalie. The Waystation tries to stop a thornkin hybrid from continuing to steal from graves in an attempt to resurrect an ancient nature spirit.

Episode 14 - "Heartlines" - A hybrid selkie outcast arrives at Waystation 001 during a Valentine's community event. In an attempt to make her feel at home, Devon accidentally makes her think he's flirting with her, sparking jealousy in Andy.

Episode 15 - "Safehouse" - Government agents try to recruit Zane to their organization, and he refuses. Before he can leave the safehouse is attacked by an outcast. Without backup and without knowing what's going on, he has to escape all on his own.

Episode 16 - "Static" - Waystation 001 goes haywire, electrical systems, plumbing, etc are not working right at all. The team must figure out what's going on while the Waystation attacks them.

Episode 17 - "Wake" - Devon comes across old papers from the founding of Waystation 001 and pictures of Maeve dating back to 1890. When he pushes her for information, he unleashes a wave of grief over his mother's past mistakes.

Episode 18 - "Second Chance" - An outcast who was kicked out of a different Waystation for breaking the rules seeks asylum at Waystation 001. Technically, their time of banishment has ended, and Maeve offers them a second chance against the very loud protests of Natalie.

Episode 19 - "The Hollow Tree" - A Lunawing is found dead in the forest near Dunhaven, their wings harvested. Natalie investigates a magical trafficking ring while Maeve is convinced the recurring government agents are behind it. Meanwhile, Devon dreams again of the person from Avalon who leads him to a hollow tree in the woods. Investigating, he finds a secret message from Avalon.

Episode 20 - "The Other Side" - Devon uses the message he found in the hollow tree to take his first official dreamwalking adventure. He connects to the guide who has been influencing him all season. Meanwhile, his body is in a coma, while the government agents attack the Waystation.

The Production Team (aka the taglist): @kingragnarok-writes @aalinaaaaaa @annetilney @ark-inkweaving @imsoveryveryconfusedatlife

Let me know if you want to join the production team ;)

#wip: avalon the tv series #avalon show bible #avalon season 1 episode outline #avalon spoilers #avalon pre production #i'm almost done with the show bible guys #really excited for some of these episodes #let me know if there are any episodes you'd like to see in season 2 #or maybe replace something in season 1 i'm not locked down to all of these ideas #pilot will be coming out soon!

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houndsofcorduff · 2 days ago

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Avalon Show Bible: Outcasts: Lunawings and Thornskins

Lunawings

Tiny humanoid outcasts at only 4 - 6 inches tall

They are very delicate and have nearly translucent wings that allow them to fly

They are very gentle and very shy; they avoid crowds and loud noises

They are empaths and can sense the emotions of other Lunawings, humans, and animals - they will hide if they sense aggressive or angry emotions

They are nocturnal; they sleep during the day and are active at night. They can sometimes be mistaken for fireflies or similar creatures

They have festivals during the full moon

Their humming and singing can be healing, usually in helping humans or animals fall asleep or have a more restful sleep, calming fears, anxieties, and pain

Their wings can be ground into a powder and used for various healing potions, especially those related to sight. This makes them a target

They live in small communal groups in hollow trees or caves

They are pacifists; they cannot fight even if they tried, so if they are threatened, they flee to safety as best they can

They often find refuge at Waystations and set up their groups nearby or even on the premises.

Thornskin

Forest-dwelling outcasts

Dark skin, tough like bark, sometimes with thorns, moss, or even vines in some cases

Their hair is often the color and texture of moss

Their voices are often very deep, even for the women among them

They consider themselves guardians of the wild and untamed places of the world, but in the modern day, they are often forced out of their homes

They do not wear clothes, but their naked form doesn't have any "private" parts to cover up anyway

They are generally solitary, living in very small family groups or even alone

They are not aggressive but can be dangerous if provoked

They can root themselves to the ground to blend in with trees and/or become immovable

They have some control over nature and can merge with trees as long as the tree is larger than they are

They move slowly, even when running, it's more like they are walking

They are also very slow to trust outsiders

Some live at Waystations, but it often has taken years of effort on the part of the staff to coax them in

They live longer than humans but are not immortal like the Aos Si

Hybrid Thornskins are often less shielded in bark with patches of human skin that is more vulnerable and cannot fully merge with trees

The Production Team (aka the taglist): @kingragnarok-writes @aalinaaaaaa @annetilney @ark-inkweaving @imsoveryveryconfusedatlife

Let me know if you would like to join the production team ;)

#wip: avalon the tv series #avalon show bible #avalon worldbuilding #my worldbuilding #avalon pre production #todays theme was creatures i came up with specifically for this story

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houndsofcorduff · 2 days ago

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Lore! Caeliverse!

Caeliverse taglist

@aalinaaaaaa @ark-inkweaving @darkluminosity @houndsofcorduff @mymomsaysbobcipher @wingedcatastrophe @rayne143 @rybloodandfire @yaboiii-azzy

#woah this was really cool!#great job!#other peoples writing #other peoples stuff

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houndsofcorduff · 3 days ago

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Avalon Show Bible: Outcasts: Slaugh and Vulegrim

The Slaugh

Extremely dangerous outcasts

They are kept in containment in Avalon

They are a group of wicked and evil souls bound together

They appear to others as a host of ravens

Soul eaters, they gain strength from eating "good" souls

They are never satisfied; they are always hungry for more souls

They can infect a person's shadow for secret travel to find new souls to devour

Can escape their prison one night a year - on the night of Samhain, when the invisible walls between Earth and Avalon are thinnest

They can only move around at night, and they can be damaged by light

Their goal is to do as much damage and eat as many souls as possible on that one night a year until they are strong enough to escape their Avalon prison forever

They are clever, predatory, and unpredictable

They love to cause fear

Iron can burn them

Powerful wards can shield you from them

Once they've latched onto a soul, it is very difficult to save that person; you need some serious magical intervention from a powerful being like an Aos Si

They will definitely show up in every season's "Halloween" episode (yes, I know Samhain is different from Halloween, but it's a late 90s sci-fi show, cut them some slack)

Vulegrim

Somewhat humanoid fox-like creatures, usually more dangerous than other outcasts, more beast than human

Can walk on two feet, in which case they are about 5-6 feet tall, but prefer to be on all fours

Thick and coarse black fur easily hides in the dark, good camouflage

Long and narrow faces with fox-like muzzles, pointed ears, and sharp claws

Despite not having a strictly human intelligence, they are very clever and can communicate with each other, they come up with strategies, and they trap their prey easily by leading them into traps

They are very stealthy and blend in well with the shadows. They enjoy making their prey scared and sending them on the run before hunting them down

They can "mark" their prey with magic so that they can be tracked by the whole pack at once over the course of several days

They have a strict pack hierarchy with scouts, hunters, sentries, and alphas

They abandon the weak among them; they do not accept any sort of weakness in their pack

Isolated vulegrims are the most dangerous; they lash out and often go on a rampage before being killed by another creature or human

They have been very difficult to study because of this, some believe that if a child Vulegrim were raised outside of the pack, they could be different and that their predatory behavior is more the result of nurture rather than nature

This theory has not been able to be studied, and the few times it has been attempted it has ended in the death or near-death of both the Vulegrim and the researcher

There are no hybrid Vulegrim

The Production Team (aka the taglist): @kingragnarok-writes @aalinaaaaaa @annetilney @ark-inkweaving @imsoveryveryconfusedatlife

Let me know if you want to join the production team ;)

#wip: avalon the tv series #avalon show bible #avalon worldbuilding #my worldbuilding #avalon pre production #todays theme is scary outcasts

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houndsofcorduff · 3 days ago

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Writing Share Tag

I was tagged by @aalinaaaaaa @nightmaricwriter and @kingragnarok-writes to share some writing, and I was waiting a little bit, but I can hold back no longer. Consider this a sneak peek for the Avalon pilot ;)

He pressed his hand more firmly into a rune etched faintly into the stone, and it glowed blue in the darkness. He abandoned his chanting momentarily to speak some words in an unfamiliar but ancient-sounding language. The space between the pillars of the archway rippled like hot air above the asphalt and revealed, impossibly, an entirely different setting. Gone was the forest; on the other side of the archway were rolling hills stretching for miles. "Home. I'm going home." He stepped eagerly into the space, as finally, he was going home. The archway rejected him, rebounding him like he'd just landed face-first on a trampoline. He was spat back out with no respect. His back thudded painfully against a tree trunk on the opposite side of the archway. He slid to the ground and slumped over, still conscious, but gasping for the breath that had been knocked out of him. The archway returned to its perfectly normal state, with the forest reapparing on the other side. The man watched it fade and let heavy tears water the forest floor. The tree itself was clearly battered, the bark worn away from many repeated attempts to enter the doorway without permission.

Also tagging for the game, the other half of my production team (aka taglist): @ark-inkweaving @annetilney @imsoveryveryconfusedatlife

#wip: avalon the tv series #avalon pilot #write share tag #tag games #writing tag game #avalon sneak peek #writeblr #writeblr tag game

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houndsofcorduff · 4 days ago

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Avalon Show Bible: Outcasts: Selkies and Merrow

Selkies

Ocean-dwelling outcasts who normally appear as seals but can transform into humans during specific phases of the lunar cycle or during equinoxes

When they transform, they shed their seal skin and hide it, because the only way they can transform back into their normal form is with the skin

If someone else were to find their seal skin and hide it, they would be trapped in human form, which they do not prefer

They live in close-knit family pods along the coastline and don't usually come into contact with other outcasts unless they run into one while in human form

They are generally playful and even charming, they enjoy coming ashore during the full moon, and meeting new people (and flirting with them)

They are hopeless romantics; they love seduction and mischief

They love music, festivals, parties, and romance

They also love to take trophies home with them, especially shiny ones. They'll often seduce a human, sleep with them, steal from them, and disappear back into the ocean

They almost never mean harm, but sometimes the chaos they cause can have consequences they don't consider, like broken hearts and missing valuables

Some have been trapped in their human forms by the person they were seducing when that person steals their skin and hides it, in these cases they'll often get married or even have children, but the selkie will be depressed and long to return to the ocean, if they ever find their seal skin they will immediately abandon their human families and return to the ocean

The children born in these situations are hybrids; they are more like shapeshifters than true selkies. They can often shift into different water animals like seals, dolphins, otters, fish, etc

Hybrids are not held back by skin, they do not shed it, or the lunar cycle; they can transform at will

In human form, they often have more aquatic features like webbed hands and feet, feel a strong connection to the ocean, and are exceptional swimmers

Merrow

Aquatic outcasts, similar to selkies, they live in the oceans and seas, but they are not tied to lunar cycles or seal skins

In their true form, they are half fish/half human; they are basically mermaids, and they have a sleek tail, usually green or silver hair, webbed hands, and can breathe underwater.

They rarely show these forms to humans, but can transform at will to appear fully human and walk among them

They tend to keep to themselves, but those who live near the coast often become curious and attached to the humans who live in the towns and cities on their coast

They are serious, contemplative, and protective

They see themselves as protectors of the underwater realm

The more empathetic among them will often try to warn fishermen or other humans of incoming storms or other dangerous conditions

Some do not like humans and will try to lure them into dangerous waters to drown them

They have beautiful voices which have been known to mesmerize humans, again, depending on their individual intentions, they can use this ability for good or for evil

Merrow hybrids are rare since they rarely find themselves in a position to have children with a human but they do exist

Merrow hybrids are generally one or the other, usually, but not always, a hybrid child born to a female merrow will be fully merrow and have the same appearance and abilities, while a hybrid child born to a female human with a merrow father will be fully human, although presenting some merrow like features similar to selkie hybrids but will not have a merrow form or be able to shift

Merrow are usually not found at Waystations, although they have been known to be helpful to Waystation personnel and other outcasts

The Production Team (aka the taglist): @kingragnarok-writes @aalinaaaaaa @annetilney @ark-inkweaving

Let me know if you want to join the production team ;)

#wip: avalon the tv series #avalon show bible #avalon worldbuilding #my worldbuilding #avalon pre production #aquatic outcasts is the theme for today

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houndsofcorduff · 4 days ago

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HELLO happy sts !! what is the werewolf lore like in ur world? do you have any fun facts for me?

Happy super late STS! I was sort of waiting until yesterday so I could refer you to this post on shapeshifters and werewolves, but I will also take the opportunity to ramble!

So fun fact in Irish/Celtic mythology, most werewolf-type stories show the werewolf being more protective and less wild than in most stories we are used to. They are known to protect especially children and those who get lost in the woods. This was kind of my starting point for what I wanted to do with turning the trope a little bit.

I also didn't want to be restricted by the full moon thing in the story, since one of the main characters is a hybrid werewolf, and I'm sure I'll be showing off his werewolf tendencies quite often. So my werewolves can shape at will, which also seems to line up pretty well with the stories I've read from Celtic mythology.

They are very much pack animals; werewolves that are alone usually don't last very long, they are extremely social creatures. Which will be a plot point for Andy, my werewolf character, because just because he doesn't have a werewolf pack (he was the only survivor of an attack on his pack when he was a child) he does have the Waystation and they have become his pack <3

They also make deals with nearby towns for protection, so the pack will generally live in the woods near a town, and the werewolves will protect the town and help its people if they get lost in exchange for opportunities to trade in the town in their human forms. It's a good deal for everyone, really, and it generally works every single time.

In fact, sometimes it works too well, and a werewolf and a human from the town will fall in love. A baby born of a werewolf and a human is usually more restricted to human form and rarely can transform into a full werewolf, and not for long, but they do inherit the heightened senses and the accelerated healing. They can usually transform parts of themselves easily, like growing fangs or claws if needed.

#wip: avalon the tv series #happy sts!#storyteller saturday on tuesday #avalon worldbuilding #my worldbuilding

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houndsofcorduff · 5 days ago

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Avalon Show Bible: Outcasts: Shapeshifters and Werewolves

Shapeshifters

Humans with the ability to change their form into animals

The purer the shapeshifter's blood, the greater the variety in the animals

Powerful and pureblooded shapeshifters (usually in Avalon) can change into any animal they choose at will

The further removed from their pure bloodline, the less variety. Some shapeshifters can turn into a group of animals, like any kind of cat. Other shapeshifters may be limited to only one animal, like a horse.

Werewolves are considered distinct and separate from this type of outcast

They can shift at will, although the ability does take some time to learn, and most shapeshifters have at least one embarrassing story about a shift gone wrong, either too early to too late, or spontaneously turning back to human form at an inopportune time

The ability usually presents itself in childhood around ages 5-7

Heightened senses and faster healing

Most shapeshifters can blend easily into Earth society and live their lives with minimal friction

Some shapeshifters are born with animalistic features like ears, antlers, or claws, and these are sometimes abandoned by their parents in order to stay hidden. These less easily hidden kinds of shapeshifters are often the ones found in Waystations

Shifts are usually triggered by emotions or stress, making adolescence particularly difficult for shapeshifters

Most common types of shapeshifters

Wolves, foxes, and dogs

Mountain cats, house cats, and lynxes

Hawks, falcons, crows, ravens, swans, and owls

Horses, stags, deer, goats, and rams

Bears

Otters, beavers, seals, fish, and dolphins

Mice, rats, rabbits, and squirrels

Werewolves

Technically, a separate group from shapeshifters, werewolves do shapeshift, but specifically into a wolf version of themselves

They can transform on demand; they do not need the help of the full moon, and lunar cycles do not impact their abilities

They run in packs, a lone werewolf is usually sick or depressed, they need a community to function emotionally, and they are very dependent on this

Packs have strong bonds, and they focus on protecting the weakest members, like children, the elderly, or the sick

Hybrids rarely have the ability to transform into a full wolf, but can change parts of themselves, like claws, teeth, eyes, etc

Like other shapeshifters, they have heightened senses (especially smell and hearing) and accelerated healing

They do possess all their human intellect upon transformation; they are not mindless beasts

Like most humans and outcasts, they can be good or bad depending on the individual. Some werewolf packs are more territorial and ferocious than others and have been known to kill those who trespass on their land

Most packs live in the more isolated places of the world, and often have ties to nearby villages or towns that they protect in exchange for trade

They are known as being particularly protective over human children of that town and help people lost in their territory find their way to that town

Most do not live at Waystations as they look after their own. There have been some exceptions, like werewolves who have lost their pack, were banished from Avalon, or entire packs who live near a Waystation

The Production Team (aka the taglist): @kingragnarok-writes @aalinaaaaaa @annetilney @ark-inkweaving

Let me know if you want to join the production team ;)

#wip: avalon the tv series #avalon show bible #avalon worldbuilding #my worldbuilding #avalon pre production #honestly most of the outcasts are just some kind of shapeshifter #like werewolves and selkies and merrows and a long list of other outcasts are just a really specific kind of shapeshifter

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houndsofcorduff · 5 days ago

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#about me #amen #living in my head be like

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houndsofcorduff · 5 days ago

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happy sts Star! i'm curious, what's your plan for the formatting of Avalon? are we going to get more episodic video descriptions like for the teaser?

Happy late STS! I know I have a bunch of other asks but I’ll get to them later I wanted to explain my idea for formatting and scheduling.

Okay so right now the plan is to “air” the pilot for Avalon NEXT Monday. I’ll be writing in a five act structure (with the teaser at the start of the episode counting as its own act) and posting one act a day (but combining teaser and act 1). So it would look like this:

Monday: teaser + act one

Tuesday: act two

Wednesday: act three

Thursday: act four (end of episode)

Friday: “behind the scenes” or “deleted scenes” based on the flash fiction Friday prompt

Saturday: shrug emoji

Sunday: teaser commercial for the next episode

I also plan to do “commercials” every so often to promote other peoples WIPs and maybe design some kind of teaser trailer for the WIP like I did for my latest flash fiction piece. All teaser trailers/commercials will be written like the most recent one where it’s second person present tense describing lots of jump cuts and such.

The actual “episodes” will be written in 3rd Omniscient past tense. I won’t be writing them in strict script format because I just don’t have as much fun writing in that style. But I do plan on following it a little, like starting with establishing descriptions. Like instead of “INT. WAYSTATION 001 KITCHEN…DEVON (16) and ANDY (15) eat Toaster Strudel for breakfast” I’ll write “The kitchen of Waystation 001 was built from the hospitals old reception and prescription area, making it narrow and cramped. It was the worst place to sit and have a conversation, which was exactly the reason Devon and Andy chose it to eat breakfast. They were never bothered by any of the residents who all ate their breakfast in the much larger space of the waiting room turned living room. And therefore never had to share their Toaster Strudels.”

It will be more dialogue heavy, the only “internal monologue” will be Devon’s voiceovers which will generally happen in act one and/or act four to establish background. So I still get to keep my personal writing voice but it’s more true to what you would “see” in a tv episode

#happy STS #wip: Avalon the tv series #this is the plan anyway #I liked the teaser trailer but I couldn’t do the whole series like that #it’s better for quick jump cuts and short pieces #the episodes will be more like single camera long shots #I hope this actually answered the question #I’ve been really thankful for all the positive comments you’ve been showering me with on my pre production posts

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houndsofcorduff · 6 days ago

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Chapter Six: The Filigree Falcon

Greetings to my fellow writeblrs, followers and readers! Time for the weekly posting of my newest rough draft chapter for my current WIP, The Heralds of Blood, what I hope would be the first book in a series I'm planning called The Remnants Of The Goddess War.

The response to the project has been overwhelmingly positive and supportive, thanks so much to everyone for the reblogs, likes, replies, asks and other forms of support! I have been having more fun with this project than anything I've written in a long while and hope to keep it going. I am actually a decent amount ahead and partway through writing Chapter Nine! That being said, I'm gonna keep up the weekly chapter postings to give me breathing room/a deadline to work towards.

I am posting this a touch early as I might be busy this Sunday but will hopefully reblog it again at least once Sunday daytime and also once for the evening crowd!

Links to the prologue and previous chapters can be found on the pinned post at the top of my blog (there are starting to be too many to put in each post so go there if you wish to start the story). I have also started adding supplementary material to the pinned post to better understand the story and the world-so far I've published a post about Leylines, Magic and Mages and the Character Profiles (Parts One, Two and Three). I hope to have a post about the Geography of Retha up in the near future as the story will eventually move from its initial setting. I will also a backstory on The Seven Goddesses and a Brief World History at some point.

I will be tagging anyone I think is interested in reading the story, please let me know in replies/messages if you wish to be added or removed: @houndsofcorduff, @bardic-tales, @nightmaricwriter, @dontpokethekitty, @510amy5, @talesfromaurea, @firesidefantasy, @detectivepetrichor, @talesofsorrowandofruin, @alcego, @aalinaaaaaa, @satohqbanana, @thalion71, @dragomango, @writingamongther0ses, @dyrewrites and @winterandwords. Also adding @a-forlorn-crow as one of my newest followers-again, if you wish to be removed from the list, please let me know!

Again, comments, likes, reblogs, replies and messages are always welcome!

And now for Chapter Six: The Filigree Falcon, below the read-more:

CHAPTER SIX:

THE FILIGREE FALCON

Maianar 10th, 3052 A.G.

The Filigree Falcon, Corner of Gleamstone Boulevard and Ivorylance Lane,

South Gleamgate District, The New City of Silvergard

Eli took a deep breath as The Sigma Route street-tram came to a shuddering stop by the metallic green shelter on the corner. He looked out of the tinted glass window at the blocky five-story building across the cobbled street-an ordinarily friendly public house, inviting, but somehow sinister in the week’s second storm.

Nerves made Eli tug at the high collar of his purple turtleneck, pull the hood of his cloak higher up so his silver hair wouldn’t draw attention. Please let there not be a crowd, not tonight.

Curling coils of sapphire-and-jade neon flared bright against the evening’s mist and drizzle, bathing the tavern’s blackstone façade in an ethereal glow. Beneath a green-grey striped awning, a pair of rich red cedar doors stood open, beckoning to streetwalkers from either side of Gleamstone Bridge to come enjoy a drink and a warm, tasty meal. Above the golden squares of mullioned glass and the radiant legend reading THE FILIGREE FALCON, the massive silvered-stone bird that was the weathered old pub’s namesake loomed large enough to be seen at either end of Ivorylance Lane.

Most weekends, Eli came with his friends to The Falcon for a night of rest and relaxation, his heart full of contentment as he sought respite from the rigors of daily life as a servant of Sterling Keep. Tonight, his heart instead churned with doubt and dread, worry and weariness after searching for the answers to what dangers may lurk within the Opaline Vault.

“We’re going to be all right,” Eli muttered to himself as he stepped out into the unseasonably chill rain, glad that cloaks were once more in fashion (why were they ever out of style in the first place?) His limbs were all pins and needles, anxious fingers fiddling with the thin black drawstrings. “All will be well, and all manner of things will be well. No one’s going to die tomorrow, least of all you.”

“That’s the spirit, laddy,” murmured some soggy graybeard leaning against a slender, black-stemmed lamppost, his ale-thickened breath almost as strong as the sodium-yellow glare of the crystal-lights overhead. He waved a chunky, half-empty bottle around, sloshing his drink into the pissing rain. “Always look on the bright side of life! A motto for the ages!”

Eli nodded in response-it was unwise to be rude to your elders, even the crinkly, scruffy ones-then dodged past street-skimmer traffic to the opposite side of the lane. The puddles beneath the waist-high hedges glistened with the flickers of reflected neon.

Inside the tavern, a thankfully smaller-than-usual knot of pub-goers sat around the booths and tables, though not quite small enough for Eli’s liking. He searched for his friends, but spotted none in the main dining room, so off Eli went to the back of the house.

A haze of pearly blue smoke drifted over one end of the establishment, a mantle of crisp, clean air over the other. Between the fancifully carved wooden pillars, battered old shields and suits of armor serving as decor, the wait-staff walked by with mugs of golden mead and slender brown bottles, trays held high overhead carrying greasy steak sandwiches and bowls of steaming stew. A jagged song-stone as high as Eli’s shoulder sat in the corner by the coat cubby, its glowing facets shifting from blue to green to red as a jaunty tune played just loud enough to be heard over the buzz and bustle.

Eli muttered “Reflect!”, limning his body in a subtle leyline glow as a Mirror-Shield expelled the drizzle from his cloak and the short black coat he wore underneath. Hanging up the long, spell-dried drape of cloth, he then turned his attention to the main bar, a smoothly polished U-shape of gilded silverwood with two dozen stools arranged from end to end. Half the stools had occupants, drinking and eating nuts or crisps. Overhead, a trio of gaze-glass globes hung proudly from snow-white stems, displaying local news, mainland sports and, of all things, a documentary.

“Ultima, Urania, Heliona, Verdana, Titania, Selenia and Nocturne,” droned the documentary’s crusty narrator, his voice-over in sync with images of starscapes, mountains, temples and ruins. “The Seven Goddesses to many, the powerful forces of creation and magic to others. All know that the world once shook and burned as the Underworld Legions rose beneath Nocturne’s banner to cruelly strike down Selenia from the firmament countless centuries ago. Many say jealousy guided the Shadow Goddess’ Hand, others say it was no more than simple wrath and rage. But what really caused The Goddess War? What really brought our fragile mortal world to the near precipice of a final, fatal end as the goddesses sought to destroy each other?”

“Wouldn’t I like to know,” Eli murmured, patting the side of his overstuffed satchel. After the past four days, he had an inkling he knew more than most. And he didn’t like what he’d read.

Behind the bar, a bulky, ash-haired woman in plain shirtsleeves and a long black apron emblazoned with silver wings wiped out heavy glass mugs with a tattered tartan cloth. Between the clinks and chatter of the dining hall din, she barked orders to the kitchen crew behind the dividing wall. The occasional barback and waitstaff scurried around the thick-necked tavern-matron as she tugged on tap-handles, slid heady amber drinks to regulars and cheered along with the rest when another goal was scored overhead.

Eli tried for several long, loud moments to gain the woman’s attention as she moved back and forth with drinks and dishes, bouncing up and down like a terrier begging for a treat until he finally succeeded. Her thick eyebrows nearly shot up through the roof when she at last laid eyes upon him, her grin like a wolf’s; everything about the matron was over-the-top.

“Young Master Nash!” Matron Bess Dunbar cackled gleefully, slapping her towel against the bar. She cracked her massive knuckles then leaned across the counter to hear him better. “How are you this fine evening, boy? At the very least, I can see you’re not a drowned rat like half my customers!”

“As of five minutes ago, I’m dry as a cracker and twice as salty.” Eli wasn’t quite sure what he meant by the quip, but it felt good to say. “Have you any idea where my friends are, ma’am? I saw none of them up front and some wretched townies claimed our regular booth.”

“Young Greencross rented out a private room this evening, said you all needed a bit of peace and quiet tonight. No idea why you’d come ‘ere of all places for such nonsense, but I happily oblige my customers with any vices they may have. Should be in Room 8, on your left.”

“You have my thanks, Matron Dunbar. Have they ordered yet or should I put in-”

“Your usual? I’ll have it sent back in five minutes tops, your ginger friend got everyone’s orders sorted. Just waiting for you to show your pretty little mug. Steak sandwich, chips and gravy, ice-cold cream soda, yeah?” The matron beamed when Eli nodded. Kitchen staff liked him no matter where he went. “You’re all set, lad. I’ll have Andrew take you to your room.”

Eli’s ears flushed red as the shifting song-stone. “Oh, there’s no need for that, Matron-”

“Pfft. Andy may be blissfully unaware, but I know you got an eye out for my son. Trust me when I say you can do better. Nonetheless, I’ll drag him out to grace your presence.”

The matron stuck her head past the dividing wall, bellowed for her boy, then gave a thumbs-up at Eli once he stumbled out ‘round front, straight-backed and sable-haired and smiling. He was almost, but not quite, as broad-chested and muscular as his boisterous bartending mother.

Eli knew several spells capable of melting many things but sadly none for himself.

A few moments later, he was fortunately free of the mad matron and her stupidly handsome son and surrounded by the friends he’d longed to see all day. Eli relaxed at last.

The private room was wide, warm and wood-paneled, a merry golden fire crackling in a small hearth. Carmen sat by the bubble-paned bay window nursing a drink, eschewing her usual priestess’ garb for an autumn gold sweater and sober black pencil skirt. To her right, Ian’s girlfriend Melissa happily devoured a plate of fried pork cutlets and buttery mashed potatoes, gossiping between bites. Ian himself wore his short black ward’s coat with the silver clasps undone but had ditched the rest of the uniform for a dark green henley shirt and grey jeans, tossing darts at a motley board with a determined gaze. At the other table in the corner, Trey wore his usual rustic wyrm-binder’s gear while setting a checkered fold-out board with painted, polished miniatures. Opposite him sat a rakish young man with tousled mud-brown hair and a tufty chin-beard, his long laurel green jacket and golden scroll-badge the sign of his role as a Courier of The Court-Jamison Cooper, the key to Trey’s little plan.

“Oi! Nash’s arrived.” Melissa smacked Ian’s left hip then shrugged herself along to make room for both young men, shoving her duster aside. “Also, your dinner’s been partly eaten by a beautiful and dangerous interloper. Be warned: you have quite the struggle ahead of you.”

“Hmm, I do love a good struggle,” Ian said with a chuckle while sliding into place, flinging his arm ‘round Melissa’s shoulders while the pair of them giggled. Eli was reasonably certain Carmen’s eyes rolled in sync with his. Ian may have been their friend but that was no excuse for overbearing couple cuteness in public.

“Oh good, that’s the last of your little crew arrived then, yeah?” Jamison Cooper swigged a slosh of ale out of the bottle to his right. There were already three empties on the floor beside his work-tote, beads of moisture slicking the brown glass. “Can we at last get down to whatever business you invited me here for tonight? Not keen on losing another round to wyrm-boy here.”

“Jamie, behave! We’re all good friends here, remember?” Melissa jabbed a steak knife in his direction for emphasis. “Keep your arse planted and give Eli a moment to settle.”

“Hmm. Well, my drinks are on your tab tonight so guess I can wait for an airing of grievances ‘till later. Far worse ways to spend a Septethday evening.”

Eli mumbled his thanks to Melissa while he dug his notes out of his satchel, relieved to see he wasn’t the only one as Ian thumped a book by his “borrowed” dinner plate and Carmen slid a scroll-glass from her handbag. Trey finished setting up his game scenario-he appeared to be specifically playing a match of Beasts & Bastions, so immersed he hadn’t heard any of their badinage-then beamed when he finally noticed all his friends had arrived.

“Right.” Ian rubbed his hands together, ready but far from eager. “Are we all settled?”

“Almost. My food’s still on the cooker but I suppose we can start-”

A not-so-gentle rapping on the door that very second revealed Eli’s meal was very much now off the cooker, a delicious steak sandwich dripping in rich brown au jus and caramelized onions steaming hot and ready and right in front of him not thirty seconds later, chips and soda on the side. Whatever words were about to escape the tip of Eli’s tongue died right then as he began salivating instead.

“Many thanks,” Eli said with a nod and a fat gold crown tossed to the waiter (who was fortunately not Andrew.) The waiter bit the coin, nodded politely and left them be.

Having money to toss around and being allowed in a drinking establishment were still odd behaviors to Eli after all these years, growing up on an isle where coin was scarce and such establishments were on a list of forbidden things, but he relished every moment of it regardless. He still stuck with his beloved cream soda, even though he was two years past the age of majority. There were some things that would take a lot longer than a few simple years for him to adjust to.

While Eli noshed away at the crusty bread and tender steak slivers, Carmen got straight to her part of the evening’s business, leaning forward with steepled fingers. Judging by Melissa and Jamison’s expressions, they at least knew in part the little quest they were all about to embark upon, if not exactly the full details.

“Since the Duchess’ audience, Moira, Teresa and I have been working with the high priestesses near round the clock securing the sanctification circles around the Keep and Chapel. Boundaries of salt, steel and silver, prismatic keys and soul-crystal locks with spirit-spells woven in that should last until all the lights of reality fizzle out. The other Paladins have accompanied us and can confirm no other Vaults have been broken into; likewise, nothing else has gotten out.”

She slid her spell-glass across the table, the translucent blue sheet of thin, malleable crystal bumping into her plate of half-eaten egg-and-scallion pie with a clink. Images of ancient circles bound into stone foundations, lines of High Aetholean text embedded into burnished metal and interlocking matrices of crystal rods flowed across the scroll’s slick surface.

“We can confirm that there’s absolutely something special, something different about the Opaline Vault. It’s had the most breach attempts by outsiders over the centuries, the largest amount of sanctification circles and the strongest spell-locks. And Arch-Magus Flint’s guess seems to be correct: Master Quigley and his colleagues used Soul-Grafts to slip past the City Watch and the locks. Quigley may have had all the keys to every locked door in the Freehold but that alone wouldn’t have been enough. By using those grafts, they could bypass all sorts of supposedly fool-proof barriers as well as the gate-guards. Wherever he got those thrice-damned spells, it was a treasure trove of secrets he never should have had access to.”

Eli swallowed another lump of steak sandwich and almost wished he hadn’t. Carmen was touching upon the facts he’d somehow managed to uncover between his studies and his chores, the facts he was dreading having to share. Things weren’t looking too good for his master.

Urania’s Breath! Perhaps it was right of me to take the lodestone after all. The heavy dark mystic crystal had switched coat pockets, but Eli had yet to return it, the Arch-Magus giving no hint he was wise to the theft. Eli couldn’t make himself enter Flint’s study, not when he knew so little about the device but much more about what else was going on in the dark. Forgive me, Master.

“I, um, oh drat, sorry, sorry-” He reached for his cream soda with fumbling hands, chugged down the bottle, wiped away at his lips. “Do you mind if I borrow the scroll, Carmen?”

Carmen nodded, amber eyes bright, and pushed the device towards him. A few quick swipes at the runic keypads along the side allowed him to demonstrate his discovery.

“To build off of Carmen’s findings: I’m no Lunarist but nonetheless, I do like to dabble in leyline studies in my spare time. Not just charting the flow of the shifting leylines providing much of our everyday power but also the stable leylines that are the anchor to all magic joining the realms of reality together. Most authorities reckon there’s a network of 144 different Stable Leylines connecting different Sources ‘round the world, though there’s also corrupted lines and lost Sources and some magic you wouldn’t want to touch with a thousand-yard pole-”

“Can you get to the point already?” Jamison grumbled, scowling as the black-and-red dice he tossed landed on basilisk-eyes. Trey chuckled and swiped away four of his opponent’s tiny figurines, his eyes drawn to the board but his ears clearly listening to the rest of them.

“Yes, yes, my apologies but magic is a delicate art that often needs a lot of set-up to explain to the mundane mind. Suffice it to say, one of those Stable Leylines runs directly under the isles of Silvergard, its course connecting every single rock and islet in the Freehold.” My own miserable little home-island included, Eli thought glumly, tugging at his plum turtleneck collar in irritation. Wouldn’t that bit of knowledge just churn their butter. “And furthermore-”

“Some of us “mundane minds” already know all that,” Melissa chortled, flicking a splot of potato off of her red-and-green plaid shirt. “Hell, every skimmer-driver in the isles knows that! The signal tower lattice that keeps us all afloat with the backup net is plugged into that wobbly energy thing. The shifting leylines shift too much, we don’t all fall out of the sky when a cooling crystal goes bust. Which sucks when it happens, by the way.”

“A fascinating factoid with little relevance to my revelation,” Eli rebutted, trying his best not to sound like an ass. When anyone rebuffed him in magic matters he was more than certain of, he tended to blow a fuse. Melissa didn’t deserve that. “As I was saying, further study reveals the Silvergard Stable Leyline connects not only the islands of the Freehold together but also the Vaults. Every single ruin, reliquary, place of power upon the isles, in the city and the fields and forests, all of it, aligns together along the leyline’s path. And the flow doesn’t just connect to the rest of the worldwide leyline network! Much of the energy rushes into a pool around the thirteen vaults in the city-almost an anti-Source, if you will. And that pool charges fully at the-”

“The Opaline Vault,” Carmen breathed, stealing back her spell-glass along with his thunder. She flickered across the map Eli had drawn, the notes he’d brought up by connecting to his own unit back in his dorm (being used by Ben to message girls, of course, the tosser). She’d grabbed his written notes as well. “And you found more! The leyline isn’t the only thing connecting the vaults but also what looks like a list of visitors. Multiple people inspecting every site over the years, but only two in the last year visiting each one in order, interacting directly-”

This was the part Eli was afraid of. He nodded sadly.

“Keymaster Quigley and Arch-Magus Flint,” he finally breathed, interrupting Carmen in turn. “I’m afraid Ian may have been right all along to distrust my master. It’s highly possible he may have colluded with Quigley and his other cohorts. To what end, I, um, I cannot say but-”

Yet another interruption, this time Ian thumping the table with his thick book. Trey and Jamison, who’d tried keeping attention while growing more engrossed in their game, both jumped in their chairs at the Saber-Ward’s ill-tempered act.

Eli’s best friend loomed over him, freckled cheeks flushed as red as his hair, looking both vindicated and vengeful. He’d never been frightened by Ian, had never seen him so full of seething wrath, but right now both of those truths were reversed.

“For years, I’ve believed that bastard was up to no good but always you pushed me away, Eli. Every. Single. Time. You said you knew him better, that we were all imagining things. “He researches the obscure and oddball, of course he seems suspicious! That’s all!” You’re my friend, so of course I always put your beliefs before mine, gave you the benefit of the doubt. And now you think you’ve found a flimsy but almost certain proof through days of exhaustive research over something I could spot a mile away-”

“You don’t understand,” Eli murmured, looking away. “None of you do.”

He saved me, whispered the voice in his head. I owe him everything.

“Well, please enlighten me, then! Before we walk into our certain deaths tomorrow!”

Eli winced when Ian smacked his book again. The dog-eared pages flipped open to a section that Ian had clearly read dozens of times over the past week. When Eli saw what was written, his eyes widened. The ink was a deep blood-red, shining bright like Quigley’s shredded remains.

“You’ve discovered what no one else seemed to notice: the leyline pools around the Opaline Vault.” Ian shuddered as Melissa tugged at his sleeve, pulling him down to his seat. He drummed his fingers along the table’s edge. “Well, I discovered what it seems no one remembered was actually in there! Not old blades or cursed armor or shadow-plasm gone to rot like all the other vaults seem to have. Not just an ancient and deadly weapon-but a living weapon! Immortal most likely, maybe even invincible! Whatever Quigley awoke in that vault is probably still waiting down below, ready to flay to shreds the first flesh-and-blood creature to step foot inside! And your master’s the one trying to control the damn thing!”

A veil of silence cloaked the suddenly over-heated private room, their collective breath caught like flies in amber. The proverbial pin could drop and ring out, scattering endless amounts of dancing angels.

A second later, cutting through the honey-thick block of halted reality, a frantic knock pounded at the door.

Hugo Drummond, Ian’s irritable fellow Saber-Ward, burst into the chamber, spell-sword and vision-crystal in his hands, eyes glaring daggers at his fellow would-be Paladin.

“For once in your life, answer your damn crystal, Greencross! Mistress Rook wants all of us at the bloody vault NOW, on the double! There’s been another murder!”

*****

#Eli my beloved #I love him #his sweet anxiety and the way he tugs at his turtleneck when he’s nervous #he was absolutely right to dig back at Melissa #and Ian was mad when he should have been worried #silly boy #I love your descriptions they always draw me right in #and I loved the way the matron could read Eli’s mind basically lol #yet another cliffhanger #other peoples writing #the heralds of blood #the remnants of the goddess war

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houndsofcorduff · 6 days ago

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Avalon Show Bible: Outcasts: Aos Si and Dreamwalkers

Aos Si

Descendants of the Tuath Dé Danann, who were driven out of the Isle of Destiny by mankind

They built up their new realm of Avalon, where their descendants, the Aos Si, became immortals and ruled over their new realm

They have closed themselves off from the humans who once chased them out of their homes and want nothing to do with Earth

Immortal, beautiful, powerful, arrogant, elitist

Scholars and diplomats

Heightened senses, varying magical abilities

healing, illusions, elemental magic, manipulating light and sound, dreamwalking, shapeshifting, etc.

Graceful, sharp-eyed, elegant, poised

They see Earth as a distant and diminished place they left long ago, and they want nothing to do with it anymore

They would never admit it but they are very prejudiced against humans and those who live too long among them

Traditions are very important to them; they have many celebrations, feasts, holidays, dances, and other traditions

Deeply suspicious of outsiders but far too egotistical to turn away someone who wishes to enter Avalon, but will find any excuse to kick them out of the "utopia"

Marble halls, ivy-climbing pillars, huge glass domes, wide open spaces of nature, enchanted gardens, mosaic-covered floors

Floating lanterns following them around, long sweeping robes, long hair, carefully groomed

Dreamwalkers

Able to travel in dreams across great distances

Can sometimes even travel through time to see the past and future

Dreams are difficult to interpret or control

Most dreamwalkers have no idea that they even have these powers

Often intuitive and observant, they notice things others don't without knowing why (it's because they saw it happen in a dream and don't remember)

Often have feelings of deja vu because they don't remember it, but they saw this exact thing happen in a dream

Abilities tend to begin in early childhood and develop over time; again it's very difficult to control

Sometimes they will take on a different form while dreamwalking, often something representing their soul

It can be difficult for them to get restful sleep and often wake up feeling just as exhausted as when they went to sleep

Experienced dreamwalkers can leave messages in another person's dreams, but it isn't a guaranteed form of communication, as the other person may forget the dream or not understand the message

Some dreamwalkers have reported a guardian of dreams or other such being that has appeared in times of stress to help them navigate their abilities, but these reports are difficult to confirm

The Production Team (aka the taglist): @kingragnarok-writes @aalinaaaaaa @annetilney @ark-inkweaving

Let me know if you want to join the production team ;)

#wip: avalon the tv series #avalon show bible #avalon worldbuilding #my worldbuilding #avalon pre production #so excited to explore both of these #since maeve is aos si hybrid and devon is a dreamwalker

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houndsofcorduff · 7 days ago

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Writing Share Tag

Thanks to @oh-no-another-idea for the tag! This just might be a snippet from A Healing for the Birds 👀

—

Eshani stilled, attempting to still the heat of her magic from clogging her throat and mind in the face of her amour’s hardened resolve. “You had ten years. What were you doing all this time, hm?” “I was trying to protect you.” She gestured, her shoulders slumping. “If the crows found out and took you, I’d never forgive myself.” He huffed, taking another step back from her. “Some promise that was.” “Cerigo, wait.” She caught his hand with him a step away from the door, his other hand pressing down on the handle. He did not turn. “Please, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to have you wait this long, I hoped this would be our night. I just want you back.” “Don’t do this to me.” His eyes went to where her hand met his, tracing up to where he met her tear-stained eyes, his own flecked with light between its soft brown tones. “You know what you’ve done.”

—

Here's an open tag as always, plus @houndsofcorduff @nightmaricwriter @winterandwords @bardic-tales @ark-inkweaving @tryingtimi @kingragnarok-writes @merlot-and-rainstorms @gioia-writes-and-others and @askyaphelion

#ahhhh they’re so good #such good tension #knowing both sides #other peoples writing #writing share tag

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houndsofcorduff · 7 days ago

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What's A Friend Worth?

(late) submission for Flash Fiction Friday 311, event hosted by @flashfictionfridayofficial

WIP ✵ Revolve

Trigger Warnings ✵ Drinking, Mentions of Graphic Violence, References to Sex

Rating ✵ Mature

Wordcount ✵ 775

Lukiat clinks his glass on the table, half-choking on his anake. "You told him what?"

"That he could stuff his dick in a redcap's mouth if he wanted to play imbecile," Kea says, sounding much like a preening bird over the sound of poured alchool. "Easier way to lose his dick without involving my knife."

Lukiat curls his nose in disgust. "That's barbaric."

"Oh my apologies, your excellence, I shall not get blood on the oh so pretty knife you oh so generously gifted me." Kea's wings rustle behind him, shifting the air in the room.

Lukiat — who is intimately familiar with what that knife's been used for — presses his lips into a smile.

Kea clicks his tongue. "Shut up, Lu."

"I didn't say anything." He takes another sip of the anake, savoring the lilac taste before the bitterness hits. "So what did he do with that?"

Kea taps his claws on the wood in a happy rhythm. "What could he do with that? I've got all the cards. Either he plays nice or I air his dirty laundry."

Lukiat sighs. He lays a hand on the soft carpet and leans back on it. "One day you'll say the wrong thing to the wrong person and land yourself in a jail I can't get you out of."

Kea scoffs, roughly dropping his glass onto the table. Ishiya half-startles in Lukiat's lap. "Please, I can get myself out of jail."

Lukiat raises an eyebrow at Kea's general direction. "Legally?"

Kea smacks his lips together. "…Not violently. And honestly, they have to get me in one first. That requires admitting they slept with me."

"Hm, the horror."

He can almost feel Kea's eye roll so strong it is. "He won't say shit. As an elected official months before reelection? He's got a lot more to lose if people fins out he cheated on his wife." He uncaps another bottle with a pop and sighs. "Poor woman. I really don't know what she finds in him. He's not even good to fuck."

"A truly tragic fate," he says, gently twirling the anake in his glass before taking a sip. "The sacrifices you have to make."

"Exactly. He was even worse than you," Kea says among the rustle of fabric.

Lukiat furrows his brows. "I'm taking that as an insult."

"Good, it was one."

"Fuck you."

"Honey, at my actual rate I'm too expensive," Kea chirps. "You should ask your boytoy."

Now Lukiat wants to roll his eyes. "You need to stop calling Niev that."

"Once you ask him out, sure," Kea snorts.

"It's not like that."

Kea's gaze on him is so strong it almost burns. "Lu, you took on his kid as your ward."

Lukiat curls his nose. "What's wrong with that?"

"You make me homophobic," Kea mutters before taking a loud sip of his drink. "Want more?"

"Gods, please," Lukiat groans, laying his glass on the table.

"Ohoh! Trouble?" Kea chirps over the pop of the bottle.

"Mhm. Governor Perital's been blocking some legislation I need to go into action," he says, sipping on the once again full glass.

Kea's voice is filled with disbelief. "Again?"

"Again," he confirms with a groan. "And she won't reply to anything. Impossible to contact."

"Ugh, what a nightmare." Kea taps his fingers on the table, the rhythm slower.

Lukiat hums around the glass. "Honestly. She's the kind of person who's more useful out of the way."

The air in the room stills, almost as if it were holding its breath.

Kea hums. "You ever met her?"

"Never talked to her. Almost feels like she's avoiding me," he says. He raises an eyebrow at Kea, petting Ishiya with his free hand. "You heard anything?"

Kea clicks his tongue. "Not much, but I was half-thinking of visiting Lamei over there. He's been whining about hig taxes."

Lukiat hums. His thoughts circle like the liquor in his glass. "How strange. County Ippan is on the lower end."

"Strange indeed." Kea's clothes rustle and his glass clinks against the table. He sighs. "How out of the way you reckon she should be?"

"Oh nothing dramatic," Lukiat snorts. He puts down his glass and leans back. "I'm just saying. If it was found out that taxpayer money's going missing, she'd be out of office pretty quickly. Don't you agree?"

"Oh I agree wholeheartedly. Unfortunately I've got a busy schedule if I want to keep my purse from suffering."

"I can make sure it doesn't," Lukiat grins.

Kea chirps out a laugh. "It's always a pleasure to do business with you."

"What business?" Lukiat smiles, sipping on his anake. "It's just favors to a friend."

❊

✵ Revolve Taglist ✵ @corinneglass @aalinaaaaaa @write-with-will @mymomsaysbobcipher @writeintrees @firesidefantasy @inspirationallybored @askyaphelion

#ooh I loved the way the dialogue flowed here #I liked how it transitioned so naturally #I can’t stay away from the political intrigue #other peoples writing #flash fiction Friday #fff311 #true colors #writeblr

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