#𝔉𝔞𝔠𝔞𝔡𝔢 𖥨ํ ic

[hollowfaith]

「✦」 Once again, Aurelius finds himself looking down on a human. Standing on the roof of a house safely above the Glitched, he watches impassively as another figure runs towards the base of the building while being pursued by three more.

His wings flex and catch the light, golden reflections dancing down the windows of the house. The man notices the light and looks up, leaving their eyes to meet. Aurelius arches his brow at the sight: he looks vaguely familiar.

Usually, the humans he end up remembering either turn out to be shockingly deficient or outstandingly flawless. This one is...

"Have we met?" the angel asks conversationally.

The three Glitch creep closer.

@allhesaid ໒꒱

[hollowfaith]

「✦」 At the very least, he's in one piece—excusing the dirt stains on his suit, the general disheveled state of his hair, and a trace of exhaustion in his eyes. There's some blood too, but it's not his—and like Klaus, Aurelius is scrutinizing his partner from head to toe to guess what he's been through during this event.

The relief he feels curdles slightly at the other's words.

"Don't apologize."

"Or have you done something else to make me sorry?"

@hollowfaith

"You're okay."

Well, as okay as one could probably be after the wall of texts Klaus saw from Aurelius. Still, he's checking for any signs of injuries, too.

He's relieved, honestly. Relieved to see Aurelius again. "I'm sorry."

[hollowfaith]

@bitemedotmp3 ໒꒱

"Miss—" The name escapes his lips before he corrects it midway with a pause. "—Uzi."

"I believe that's what you preferred? It's been a while since we've last talked."

He taps a finger on the table as he speaks, the other hand holding a cell phone to his ear as he stares down a blue screen of death in front of him.

"It's a little embarrassing to say, but my work computer seems to have stopped working. Do you do on-site consultations, or should I take it to you?"

"...Of course I'll pay for any travel fees you need."

[hollowfaith]

@anghexescu ໒꒱

「✦」 Climbing the steps of Savior's Respite, Aurelius finally finds who he's been looking for sitting on the edge of the cliff. Tiny flowers dot the earth behind the figure like a carpet, although the blooms are sparser than he remembers.

The last time they were here, Klaus had confessed his love for him.

Aurelius hesitates at the memory. Inside his pocket rests a letter, its contents an outpouring of the seraph's thoughts and feelings. As much as it expresses love, it also speaks of worries.

And of fears.

Perhaps that had been why Klaus had kept his distance instead of tracking him down. At times he pushed, but he never forced. As with all things, Anghelescu always reached a certain point...and then refused to cross the line.

The realization ignites Aurelius more than anything else. He's marching across the flowers the next instant, a noisy approach impossible to ignore as he advances on his partner.

"Were you really planning to leave me a letter," he begins, "and never show yourself?"

"Am I to pursue you, leave you, and then chase you back on my own? You have legs and wings and a mouth that speaks. Is it really so terrible to confront me with any one of those things?"

His body stops a foot away from his partner, golden eyes staring down at the other angel. "Klaus."

Still, his voice softens at the name.

"Even if you want me to do all the work, tell me that to my face."

[hollowfaith]

「✧」 During a lull between the many, many dances, Aurelius steps out into the gardens. It's cooler here as well as quiet; his eyes drift to the bright moon in the skies above before he picks his way among the garden paths.

He had thought to find a place to sit—maybe somewhere by a fountain, or next to a parterre. Instead he turns and nearly runs into someone standing by a trellis, dressed in green with a full, all-white face mask.

"My apologies," the angel is quick to take a step back. He doesn't recognize this man, but it's odd to see someone alone out at night.

"...are you lost? The party's over there, back on the path I came from."

@kleinstar ໒꒱

[hollowfaith]

「✦」 He smells it before he sees him: Sebastian's familiar stench, corrupting all it touches. This area of the city is relatively deserted—he's been favoring those kinds of locations recently—so at least there wasn't a question of too many victims the demon lord could pick out. Following the scent to its source, Aurelius lands on top of a building and looks down to see...long green hair?

His breath catches in his throat, confused.

The next moment, he watches the youth below him round a corner, cut off a man trying to circle around him by grabbing his shoulder, and raise his other hand to attack—

Aurelius is behind him in seconds, catching the offending wrist as he turns the figure to face him.

"Riel—"

His words die down at the sight of ruby-red eyes. Behind him, the freed victim gives a stammering whimper before running off to safety.

@divinedevourer ໒꒱

[hollowfaith]

「✦」 Despite New Year's having passed, a festive mood is still in sight. The streets are full of celebrations—both from Winterfes and parties—and the explosion of fireworks are a frequent occurrence in the evening.

Boom. BoombOOM!

Aurelius doesn't mind the sights, but the noises jar unpleasant memories to the surface, and so with a thought, he uses telekinesis to still the air around his ears, bringing him some blessed silence.

Strolling through the streets, he passes by a girl looking markedly unused to the noise herself, and waves a finger at her ears too. Waiting until she notices, the angel looks down and slowly mouths a single word:

"Better?"

@guidingstarmira ໒꒱

[hollowfaith]

「✦」 When Aurelius next awakes, it is dark, and he is warm.

Blinking at the unfamiliar surroundings, the angel tries to stir—and finds himself floating in some sort of enclosed space, just wide enough for him to stretch and touch the walls. A moment of confusion ensues—had his angels moved him indoors?—before a messy jumble of memories hits him straight on.

Sky. Swords. Blood. Klaus—

Of all the people he had trusted, Klaus had—

He doesn't finish that thought before an involuntary shudder wracks his body. Feverishly, he inspects his body in the dim lighting, checking to see that all his limbs are intact, then touches frantically at the walls, looking for a way out.

Seconds later, the giant, golden-leafed tree ejects him from its trunk, and Aurelius falls on all fours at its base. It's late afternoon and bitterly cold; he wonders if this is why he's shaking as he climbs to his feet, fingers trembling beneath his gaze.

"....."

He looks at the tree, then at the familiar house beside it. It's a place he knows, but now utterly foreign to him. For some reason, there's a sweater and scarf around the trunk of the tree as well, along with a completely unnecessary jacket—as if a plant could use those things to keep warm. He doesn't recognize them as gifts for himself while his mind plays catch-up with the present.

I need to leave.

Certainly, it wasn't safe here anymore. Klaus had chosen his side in their last fight, and condemned him to confinement in a world where death was meaningless. As long as a world with humans existed, there would be no room for him to stand by his side.

It was a truth he'd guessed from the start, but been too stubborn to accept until his partner—his soulmate—had stood against him, and very nearly killed him.

The thought turns him woozy; Aurelius pauses to catch his breath before pushing off from the tree to walk forwards. Could he fly? Or would that make him too easy to spot from the skies? Perhaps going deeper into the woods was an option until he figured out where to head next. His legs feel like jelly—how long had he been asleep? A root from the tree catches him unawares, and he trips, sprawling on the dirt like some uncoordinated fawn.

He crawls back upright—faster this time—and keeps stumbling forward. At the house he pauses, holding onto its walls as he scans the forest for his best way of escape. East or southeast, perhaps. Using the setting sun to gauge his position, Aurelius picks out a suitable opening in the trees and dives right in.

@anghexescu ໒꒱ hurry klaus ur not-BF is going awol

[hollowfaith]

don't test me

If you're going to force your ways on me...

then it's only fair I force mine on you

[hollowfaith]

「🕊」 Nioqu was a small but troublesome continent known for its notorious earthquakes and active supervolcano. It was common for Aurelius to fly over its lands just to check on the status of the people there—rumors of demons flying out of the volcano had the more desperate souls routinely risking their lives in hopes of finding one and making a deal.

He wonders if this latest wanderer is one of them—or perhaps a soul already lost. The path he's on will take him to the very rim of the fiery crater, so the angel is quick to land on the crest of the next hill, wings outstretched to block his way.

"That is far enough."

"There is nothing the least worthwhile up there for you to risk your life. If you must seek help, find it from God in your prayers."

The next second Aurelius turns aside to cover his mouth, stifling a rising yawn. Although the flight was supposed to wake him up, it was so warm around here that he couldn't help feeling sleepy.

At least he didn't look as ridiculous as the guy still wearing a fur-lined coat.

@imnotdracula ໒꒱

[hollowfaith]

November 20, 9:35AM Archimedes Ward Court Courtroom No. 4

—

「⚖️」 "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, good morning. My name is Aurelius Vane-Tempest, and it is my pleasure to represent the city of Spirale as a prosecutor on this tragic case."

As the din in the gallery died down, the bespectacled blond lawyer read off his opening remarks to both judge and jury.

"On November 15th, 2024, the defendant in this matter, a Mr. Eiden Itadori, was found on the steps of SP*T besides the dead body of Mr. Ron Mann, well-known family man and beloved philanthropist to the community. Mr. Mann was determined to have died from blunt force trauma to the cranial region from a weaponized toy sold on Mr. Itadori's premises."

His voice was smooth and even, carrying no inflection besides the ones needed for dramatic effect. There was a storybook quality to the way he detailed the crime, the collection of the body, and the charges pressed against Eiden afterwards.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a case about a man who could not control his strength, who lost his cool at a crucial moment to commit involuntary manslaughter on the unlucky victim. Despite this, justice must be upheld."

"At the conclusion of the case, and after you have heard all the evidence, we are confident that you will return a verdict of guilty."

Thus finished, the angel prosecutor set down his papers and politely indicated to the judge that the defense could go next.

Today, the case of Eiden Itadori vs. The City of Spirale was formally in session.

@darkenforcer > @kleinstar ໒꒱

[hollowfaith]

"You said you were free," Aurelius pointed out. "That's why I invited you to join me."

"Are you regretting it, now that we're alone?"

Leaning back in his seat, golden eyes look questioningly at the man on the couch cushions across from him. The room itself is dim, the lights just enough to illuminate the impressive collection of wine bottles on the table separating the two men. Beyond the doors, the faint thrum of music persists in the public areas of the venue.

This, however, is a top-tier VIP room at one of Golden Ward's most exclusive clubs, known for both its staff discretion and privacy.

"Or is the wine not to your taste? I could order something different, if you just tell me your preferences."

@allhesaid

[hollowfaith]

"Mira," he echoes.

"Having a name suits you more than parading about with that title. Even your colors are mellower in comparison."

Aurelius extends his fingers to coax a lock of the violet-blue hair into his hands, admiring the fine display of stars and galaxies scattered across it.

"Well? Am I different in your memories, too? It seems half the city's lost their heads overnight, behaving in completely illogical ways." He plays with the strands a bit more before starting to braid the ends.

"Just so you know, I prefer you more this way. You wouldn't have paid me any attention before, unless it was to rip me apart."

@guidingstarmira

[hollowfaith]

「✧」 They say bad things come in threes.

The third time Aurelius runs into Architect, she's looking decidedly like the aftermath of some devious scheme gone wrong. Unfortunately, their eyes meet before he's quick enough to turn again, so the poor angel resigns himself to going through the motions for morality's sake.

"Are you hurt."

"Do you need healing, or perhaps an escort to the nearest hospital?"

There is a long-suffering sigh in his tone.

@explosivedesire ໒꒱

[hollowfaith]

「✦」 Ever so often, the moon drops him something interesting.

Sometimes it's their speech, other times their soul. Sometimes a single look is enough to elicit interest and keep it; or perhaps it's the rustle of wings, the glint of gold, the familiar call of Light within.

There is too much to see with this one: colors, adornments, aura, and skills. The vein of gold peeking from beneath one wing is too intriguing to resist, and mars the symmetry of the face besides; so as soon as the Glitched are clear he steps in to explore beneath it himself.

Those wings are soft to the touch despite their darkened feathers, and the other side of his face equally fascinating to study: pointed ear, pale eye, white strands flowing through the grey-blue like rivers of ice through a canyon.

Unfortunately, the sudden pressure around his throat makes his grip falter all too soon. He stares at the one visible eye, trying to glimpse emotion but sensing nothing, as oxygen leaves and pain takes its place—still.

".....!"

An angel needs more than this, to die.

His eyes brighten with the expectation of meeting strength. The hand falls away, but his thoughts remain, coaxing at the wing to unfold on its own while the stranger still has him in a stranglehold.

@hollowfaith ; sc

you are a blade that cuts. this remains true in any place foreign to you— first khorvaire, now spirale. when you arrive, there are mindless husks sprawling across the island. though there is no decay about them, your divine sense finds purchase wherever you look.

you are a blade, so you start cutting.

it is easy enough at first. with your greatsword at your side, you manage just fine. eventually, the glitched stop falling still if you do not cut off their heads. it takes you a moment to realize, their wheezing bodies on the ground getting back up. enough for a group of them to surround you.

it takes you two swings to separate their heads from their bodies. it is within the motion, after they all fall in a circle around you, that you feel a different presence approaching. celestial, this time.

when there is a hand peeling back the wing covering half of your face, you do not slice through them, but grab them by the throat. it is with your gloved hand that you find purchase around pale skin with an unrelenting squeeze. there is a hint of golden scars that peeks through, beneath your right eye.

' release me. ' it is all you say. it is all that's needed.

[hollowfaith]

「✧」 "I am," Aurelius (seafoam green) declared dramatically, "a spectacular failure."

"Please shut up." Aurelius (light mauve) glared at him.

"You see?" The first one sighs, and drapes himself even more dejectedly over the couch. "I can't even please myself. What a disappointment."

Despite being made of paint, the details of his face and clothes are remarkably sharp, making the contrast between clone and original all the more striking. Seafoam green Aurelius has a head of disheveled hair and an untucked shirt with a row of mismatched buttons leading all the way up to his collarbones, where it abruptly stops to reveal the skin (paint?) beneath. Klaus' poor, green-stained hoodie lies somewhere squished between his body and the sofa cushions beneath.

Even with those words, he doesn't seem particularly glum, taking generous bites of a grayscale burger between his teeth as he talks. He's all but taken over the sofa, legs crossed over its back while the rest of his body slumps ever-so-gently in a downward diagonal towards the carpet.

"Eiden," he waves the fast food treat, sending a splotch of sauce dripping on his shirt.

"Do you have any more of these? He'll pay you for them," he nods at his other self, who rises to his feet in irritation.

"I will not."

@kleinstar ໒꒱