#𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙽 𝙸𝙲. i’ve been astray from you too long. ❞ ⌟

[incendiorum]

  CRICK, CRICK, CRICK GOES THE bit in the red mare’s mouth as she fidgets with it. her rider leans forward, watching the campfire flicker and lean their direction, long orange fingers reaching. “ it’s been a long day, ” they say, casting a glance over their shoulder at the golden gelding picking at scraggly bunchgrass behind them. when they turn their attention back to the stranger they lift an eyebrow, eyes as gray and flat as smoke. “ can I share your fire before moving on? ”

[incendiorum]

on the eve of your own murder, you wake, alone. you came back for revenge.

in 283 CE, the universe doesn't spin the way it should have. a man does not die, but he is, in one fell move, usurped. betrayed, he and his lover are forced to run. and run they do. into the carpathians and north, north, north and back again. when the new world is the thing in everyone's mouth, they make the journey west. and west is where they are, inevitably, caught.

for a long time, they make it and make it well. for a long time, it seems like they've finally shaken the hounds on their scent trail. the lawlessness of the dry west is sweet as molasses. canyonlands and mountain ranges tall enough to scrape the sky and just as good to vanish into. dead or alive posters are an allure. when one can't make the kill, the other can. and between them both they have the funds to live a good life. it's when they settle down, amongst pinyon and juniper, that real life catches up to them.

the universe turns right, this time. lucius inevitably dies. but this time iovita dies with him. bloody and awful and sobbing. and... only one of them comes back.

resurrected, iovita dedicates their life to revenge. tracking down each and every hound that ever dared to scent their trail or speak their name. they're the cruel god of the west, a desert vagabond with nothing to their name except for a mean red mare and an even meaner temper themself. stories follow them like flies to deathly miasma. that sometimes, if you're alone at night, a stranger will show and ask to share your fire. deny them, and you're soon for death at nature's hands. allow them, and they'll tell you stories to shake you down to your bones. and if you tell them valuable information about the people they seek, they'll reward you with something grand. something you desire above all else.

dead man walking. woman in white. a riderless horse and a ridge full of patient vultures. your lack of hospitality on the range will be treated accordingly.

[incendiorum]

  THEIR EYES NARROW INTO STEELY slits, silently appraising. “ if you’re after what I think you’re after – try harder, ” they finally say. she gets their entire attention a moment later, fixing onto her with a near audible click. oh hello, they think when they hear their heart pounding its thrill in their ears. rare, now, that they remember what living was like. “ take me with you and you can have all of them but one – if he’s there. he’s mine and he knows it. ” they wonder if he can feel it, even far away. does it build in him like a storm? does he feel the chill of a ghost down his back? does he know his clock is winding down faster and faster? they clench a fist and then relax it, their gaze, unfocused for a moment, zeros back in on her. “ I don’t even care what you do to the rest. ”

" Ohhhh jus' abuncha walkin', talkin' trash. Perhaps 'ah 'ave heard 'bout 'em. " Her gaze follows their finger, a subtle bob of her throat as she watched the fire dance. Such a scary power that was! If she didn't act right she may just very well get herself burned, but that wouldn't be the first, nor the last time she managed such a feat. " Darlin' there's only one thing 'ah want, but it's a diff'ernt kinda heat. Not sure youse would be up fer the task. " She chuckles before leaning back on her palms, the cool rock easing her clammy palms. " Been hearin' 'bout a ruckus that happened not too long ago. 'Parently some lil bad boy wannabes rolled into a town maybe fifty 'er so miles away. Shot up some tavern 'an now they're headed this way. Yers truly planned on takin' a gander th' closer they got, but if they're yet prey I'll gladly back off. "

[incendiorum]

  FOR A MOMENT, SORROW SPLITS like a chasm in their chest –  deep, wide, and dark. it’s smothered mercilessly the moment it opens. they bricked it over years ago with anger, with the thrill of a hunt. head tilts as they regard her. they can see the glitter in her eyes from here, dancing like the firelight, and they wonder just how they can use that spark. “ killed two, ” they say, voice carefully neutral. “ people minding their own business. shot one and then the other. first quick, second slow. whole group of ‘em did it and then split a few months later. found some new dogs and started running their own pack. I’ve been tracking them down. ” they twist a finger, pulling a flame into a miniature vortex. “ I reward well for information. most folk ask for money, but some have gotten wise about what I can do. ” gaze lifts, mouth slanting up. “ almost whatever you heart desires. ” // @the1iars

Brown irises come alive with a childlike sparkle at their line of questioning. It was as if she were a little girl waiting at the general store, keen eyes focused on the little candy jar her daddy was pointing out, telling her she was allowed to grab a piece. “ Youse ain’t say… what they do t’ youse t’ be tracked down, eh? Why aintchu tell lil ole Loni, and I’ll see what I can do fer youse. “ Despite the, still somehow, suggestive ring of her voice there was good reason for her to mean what she proposed. If these folk misaligned with her morals then she wanted them good and dead. She ain’t need no more sacks of trash wandering around here, causing problems for the local women and children. They already had enough to deal with.

[incendiorum]

  “ IF YOU SAY SO, ” IOVITA muses. their smile is sharp and amused and there for only a moment. taking a step back, they drop down on the other side of the campfire, leaning forward with their arms on their knees and fingers dangling into the fire. “ after someone. several someones. ” they tip their head again, considering her. their gaze, flat until this moment, has gained an interested glitter. the fire mutes itself under their hands, flames curling towards each other in curious suspense. “ you’re familiar with the area? ” they lean forward. “ have there been more people moving through? a particular group, maybe? they would all have something in red on their person, and they would be organized. very. wouldn’t like talking to folk much, either. ”

" Well shoot- 's fine. I like a lady that can gimme a lil pain along wit' th' pleasure. " She's not one to question such magic out here. Stranger things have happened than watching a person play with fire- quite literally in this instance. Besides, they're close enough to water to make a speedy get away if need be. Not to mention she doubts (how confident, how cocky) they'd be able to out draw her in the event she had to defend herself. " Na' what gotchu all th' way out here? These parts ain't used ta' seein' so many people in one spot. Either youse runnin' from someone, or runnin' after someone. Hmmm? "

[incendiorum]

  THEIR OTHER BROW JOINS THE first, lifting towards their hairline. they say nothing, and when they step out of the saddle they scratch their mare just under the jaw before drifting closer. stopping alongside the fire, a few feet before her, they cock their head like she’s a puzzle to solve. hospitality is what they want from the strangers they approach, but getting shot at point-blank is more expected than this. their gaze drops to where she loosened her blouse, and then drifts back to meet her eyes. “ you have a lady to contend with if you want that kind of company from me, ” they finally tell her, nodding towards the fire that strains towards their own splayed hand like a desperate, living thing. “ she is the sharing kind a’lady. not many that can handle her, though. ”

" My, my ain't youse a handsum' piece. " The purr of her voice breaks the otherwise calm air. Leaning forward she eyes them with a sickly simper, tongue flicking out to wet plush lips. " No need t' ask me twice, sweetthang. C'mon and take a sit. Shoot, feel free t' do more than take one. " The meaning of her comment was all too apparent as she pulled at the strings of her blouse, allowing them to part ever so slightly.