#eli idv

[heartshapedbubble]

Hi! I hope your having a good day/night wherever you are 🫶

I was wondering if you could maybe write some friends to lovers head cannons with Ganji and Eli?

hello!! you too anon💖 (like. 5 months later but oh well :c )

this is such a cute prompt HEEHEE >W<

ganji gupta and eli clark friends to lovers hcs🏏🦉

ganji gupta🏏

he likes company but doesn't like initiating hangouts. he's a man of few words, most of them reserved for when there's really no other option other than to communicate verbally

whenever you two sit together he always gets a bit restless and fidgety. if you try to bring up the topic he'll just brush it off, saying it's nothing to worry about

he can't EVER discern if he likes somebody or if he's just anxious and it literally swallows him whole. thinking about verbalizing what he feels or physical closeness makes him feel a bit dizzy so he just pushes these thoughts to the back of his brain until they eventually resurface again

gets a tad distant, being a bit rude and brash as a defense mechanism

shows his care by being (over)protective, especially in matches. when he sees you in danger it's like he's seeing red, leaving hunters bruised from his aggressive swings. he says he's overprotective in general, that you're not special and that he treats you like he would anyone else, but it hurts to say that when he thinks the exact opposite

confess first. or, at least, hint at doing so. it's not gonna get to his head unless you say it first, directly, no buts or ifs - only then will he realize that hey, maybe i should stop denying myself romantic attraction?

your first few dates are a bit awkward. you two are a *thing* now, but he doesn't understand the new boundaries your relationship sets. is it really alright to hold your waist in front of everyone?

just give him some time until he gets comfortable, it takes time for him to drop the stoic persona

his first kisses are sloppy. he initiates them slowly and without much confidence, hands trembling as they bring you closer and he plants his warm lips against the corner of your mouth - he still doesn't dare to go lips-to-lips. they make for a good laugh afterwards, him nervously grinning at his own anxiety.

is almost shocked when you return the favor, maybe even more eagerly than him. slowly kiss his temples, rub the back of his head with care and he's paralyzed under your hands, his mind wandering away beneath your tender touches

his most cherished moments with you are spent in complete silence. the feeling of unconditional love contained within a comfortable silence is indispensable, and just the fact that he doesn't have to strain himself with small talk and expressing things he can't actually describe feels great

eli clark🦉

victory or loss, no matter his mood, whenever you call upon eli clark his head turns towards you in a second. his face is completely covered - save for his mouth and nose - but his lips are always curled into a soft smile

the cloaked seer enjoys solitude and spends most of his free time in it. he's softspoken, but always a tad gloomy and breathless

yet it doesn't take much to creep under his skin. a few kind words will quickly put him at ease and, encouraged by your own openness, he won't hesitate to be straightforward with you

spending so much time pondering and overthinking, he can't help but notice his feelings towards you. well, they might not be feelings by the traditional definition, but what other word can describe the tingles he feels when he hears your voice from behind, when you creep upon him? or the surge of heat in his abdomen while he's slowly making his way towards you, watching your expression change through brooke's eyes?

he confesses first. definetly. it'll take him a few days to devise a plan, to find the best spot and time to confess and phrase his thoughts, but it wouldn't take long during your friendship for it to happen. he's a bit of a romantic at heart and can easily get swayed by affection

most of his ways of expressing affection are through small PDA. tenderly holding your hand or your waist, rubbing your shoulders after a tense match or holding you from the back. he's a literal heat machine! has so much layers on and it feels really good to lay back against him in response. you can easily wrap the remaining fabric around yourself, too

only takes off his hood and blindfold a bit further into the relationship. he's so used to them masking his true appearance that taking them off in front of others makes him feel vulnerable

asks the WEIRDEST questions and says the most random stuff on dates. literally no filter. who knows where his mind actually goes while you talk to him?

likes when you get touchy with him :,) rub his hips (they're kinda sore and he often has to crack them like knuckles, it's hard to carry so many bags and pouches around his waist ok!!), mess with his hair, trace your fingers around his face, whisper him the dumbest things up-close into his ear, hell, even bite him if you want to! has insomnia anyways and any kind of stimulation helps him fall asleep. he just turns into a happy human blob

[ithaquasbbg]

Hello there! I really liked your Ganji, Norton and Naib reacting to their s/o getting in a fight with another survivor hcs and was wondering if you could do something similar with Aesop and Eli?

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Hi! Yes I love Aesop and Eli (I think I have a pretty odd interpretation of Aesop though- so apologies in advance lol)

Aesop and Eli when their S/O gets into a fight

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Pairings : Aesop x Reader, Eli x Reader

Tw : Blood (bloody nose- injury)

｡☆✼★━━━━━━━━━━━━★✼☆｡

1) Aesop | Embalmer

|⚰️| Aesop is probably one of the least likely people to step in and fight for you, first of all. He’s never been the type to lay his hands on another person. That being said, he probably has other ways of getting back at them for hitting you (will mention later)

|⚰️| Assuming you’re still conscious after being punched, he’d walk to to Emily’s room in order to have you looked at- eyes staring at the forming bruise and blood dripping from your nose

|⚰️| If you’re unconscious, he’d probably look over you himself first. He’s a little creepy at times- and definitely loves how peaceful you look while asleep. (Also- it’s unlikely you feel any pain while knocked out- extra bonus!)

|⚰️| He can’t help but think that In some messed up way, you’re almost pretty/handsome like this.

|⚰️| If your clothing is covered with blood from your nosebleed- you’re unlikely to be receiving any of Aesops clothing off of his own back, he’s a huge germaphobe.

|⚰️| The embalmer will, however, go to your room and bring you a change of your own clothing (or maybe some of his if he’s feeling generous..). That way you won’t have to sit in that shirt of yours.

|⚰️| As I mentioned earlier- Aesop doesn’t like to get blood on his hands directly, but has other means of getting back at people who hurt anyone he cares about or himself.

|⚰️| In this case, he’d likely mess around with them for a while, not enough to hurt them- but enough to scare the person who hurt you into backing off.

|⚰️| This usually stays at just odd stare downs and glares, along with a few blunt words from Aesop. But if the fight was bad enough, best believe Aesop will do his best to screw them over in the next matches he has with them.

|⚰️| You’re one of the only living (perhaps?) people he loves, if anyone hurt you- he’d probably not take it very well.

2) Eli | Seer

|🤍| Eli’s inability to directly see what’s occurring would make it very unlikely that he’d step into the fight. Instead, he’d probably do his best to convince you two to stop. Or, if needs be, call for help from another manor resident.

|🤍| He can’t see how bad the damage is unless Brooke is with him.. and assuming he may not under this circumstance- he’d probably take you to Emily just to make sure you’re fine.

|🤍| He’s super gentle when touching your face after finding out you had been punched there, worried he could potentially cause more pain. (Not in a himbo way but in like a caring way idk)

|🤍| Quite awkward approaching the subject with you, but Eli does scold you quite a bit for getting into a fight in the first place

|🤍| “what were you thinking, (name)? You could have gotten much more hurt than you did!”

|🤍| Like Aesop- he wouldn’t do anything physical to your attacker (but for Eli, it’s simply because he isn’t in a good condition for fighting. If he could see, he’d probably deliver the other person a quick smack)

|🤍| Instead, the other person can safely bet they will not be receiving any owls or protection from Eli for a while.

|🤍| He does hold grudges to an extent when it comes to people harming his loved ones, and would probably be upset and anxious about you getting into a fight for weeks afterwards.

[dadanegative]

sorry for not posting in a while got arrested then lost my job heres some idv sketches to make up 🤤

[aceofclove]

Eli: Okay so let's say you're driving and you see Norton and Aesop cross the street. What do you hit?

Naib: Oh I'd hit Norton for sure

Eli: no-

Eli: the BRAKES, Naib- YOU HIT THE BRAKES-

[rakimi]

A bit of an art thump- I’ll probably start posting a bit more regularly♥︎

[loveliepa]

Light (Elisop)

pairing: Aesop Carl x Eli Clark

media: Identity V

word count: 620

Synopsis: Just Aesop crushing on Eli and doing his makeup.

Something Aesop could have never imagined: Eli in his room and Aesop doing his makeup. Shaking, his gloved hands brushed back Eli’s fluffy hair and pinned it back leaving his face beautifully unobstructed. Aesop had never seen such beautiful eyes. Sparkles seemed to dance tirelessly through waves of pale blue. Aesop glanced at the discarded blindfold and wished he could see Eli’s eyes more often. The morning sun encased their faces in gold, and Aesop took one more long glance at Eli’s soft face before gathering his brushes.

“Close your eyes…” Aesop said. Eli politely nodded and obeyed, his long eyelashes resting upon gold-tinted cheeks. Aesop could not stop himself from admiring Eli for two moments too long. Embarrassed, he quickly snatched a brush and nervously swept his hair out of his face. His heart sped up as he leaned in closer to the man who had been plaguing his thoughts for months. He thought of the first day Eli had come up to him and started a conversation. How neat his clothes and mannerisms were in contrast to his messy brown hair. How Aesop had always wished to see his eyes and feel his hair.

A small smile emerged as Aesop pushed those thoughts away. Aesop carefully brushed Eli’s face, but not a moment later Eli laughed! Aesop stiffened. Why was Eli laughing? He could not have messed up this early!

“I’ve never had my makeup done before. It is… quite nice.” Eli said, leaning closer to Aesop. Aesop leaned back in return; Eli was making him nervous. Too nervous. He liked it? Aesop had hardly done anything, yet he says he likes it. Aesop scrutinized the other’s smiling face and returned more relaxed to his work. 

By now, there was nothing left of the morning sun’s rays except the warmth on the men’s faces. Aesop had pulled the gold right from the sun and draped it over Eli’s eyelids, so he shimmered with every move. Eli had always rivaled the sun in beauty and vitality, so Aesop conquered the sun for him. He traced the gold over the scars as well intimating an illuminated god.

“Open your eyes.” Aesop said softly.

“Do I look pretty, Aesop?” Eli asked. Aesop froze once again; of course, Eli was pretty, way more than pretty. He was the morning sun, the clearest ocean, and the brightest stars. Eli was the world. His beauty exceeded eathly descriptors, but how could Aesop say anything like this? Eli’s usually steady smile wavered. Aesop remained silent. Eli cautiously called out Aesop’s name.

“Yes, very pretty.” Aesop curtly replied. The sparkle in Eli’s eyes faded just a touch at the brevity of Aesop’s words. Aesop’s face contorted in worry, knowing he said the wrong thing. Eli quickly thanked Aesop and left, taking all the light in Aesop with him. Aesop felt empty. He could have told Eli every last thing he saw and felt, but he did not. He sat and stared into his empty room, eyes focused on something beyond physical. He stayed that way for a while.

Aesop let his eyes drift through his room. A flash of yellow. His gaze landed on the single yellow rose in the corner of the dull room. He delicately held the rose and slowly picked the thorns off. Then he scoured his room for paper and began to write. He wrote and wrote and wrote. Aesop filled the page with every thought and memory he could. Aesop then hurriedly shuffled to Eli’s room and set the letter and rose before his door. He rapidly knocked three times and then disappeared down the hallway. Aesop hoped that now Eli could see how much light he brought into Aesop’s life.

[uziditbu]

Look what I found pt.6

Cre : https://pin.it/35cWZQf

[jiauro]

I drew this on his birthday and forgot to post it

[chawawanya]

they found the lil guys!!

[broh3m3]

3rd Survivor Batch!

[a018233]

ೀ Identity v men with a s/o that sleeps naked.

Characters: , Eli Clark, Norton Campbell, Naib Subedar. Edgar Valden

content warnings: gn!reader, mostly sfw. Not really yandere, but can be read as one. Established relationships. Cockwarming in Norton's but it's not really sexual.

A/N: almost at 100 followers so I kinda wanna do a special. Someone should commission me and I'll write you whatever you want, give me sanrio photographer or buffy and my life is yours‼️‼️

Eli was surprised after finding out, he's a little traditional and modest when it came to clothes, but oddly enough, he wasn't against it. Eli can't help but think it's a little cute and endearing, though. Mainly because he thinks he's at the point of your relationship where you're comfortable doing 'weird' things with him. His biggest concern is you catching a cold. Eli prefers to keep his sleepwear on, so he won't join you in sleeping naked. Though, maybe on a hot summer night, he'd strip down to his boxers just so he can spoon you comfortably without overheating the both of you. Eli likes having you relying on him whether you realize it or not, so he prefers to stay up until you've fallen asleep so he can cover you with a blanket, it's more a act of love and reassurance that you won't accidentally catch a cold.

After you started doing it, It didn't take Norton too long to follow. He likes the close intimacy he gets from cuddling nude with you. Norton is aware he's high maintenance as a lover, to him, it's total reassurance that he's the only one for you. Reassurance that you love and trust him no matter what. The type of intimacy only he and he alone can have with you. It gives him a little pep in his step the next day. It's something looks forward to each night. He looks forward to your shared nightly routine just as much as waking up with you. I'd think at some point you two decide to kick it up a notch with cockwarming, something to keep you two locked in place together. He finds nothing as relaxing than burying himself nice and deep inside you while his arms keep you in a tight embrace.

Naib already likes sleeping in his boxers, so he doesn't really have a reaction. At least, that's what you think when you go under the covers on your shared bed. He's internally questioning himself. Is it okay to hold you? Where does he even put his hands without it being weird? Is he even allowed to look? For the first couple nights, he doesn't hold you like he usually does. But after a while, he gets used to it. Although, he won't join you in going full comando unless he just got out of the shower and dried himself fully, but he's keeping his boxers on when it comes to sleep. Naib isn't one for opening up or heart to heart conversations but having your head against his chest, and your limbs entangled with his provides comfort for him. He's a mercenary, someone who has killed for his own benefit. So it's complete solace when you ramble in a sleepy voice about your day knowing you trust him wholeheartedly.

Edgar can't help but scoff when you join him nude under the covers, he's seen your nude form before. Your his lover and muse, of course he'd seen every inch of you. As much as your breathtaking, he's annoyed. He bought you a whole collection of all sorts of sleepwear made from the most richest material money can buy. Only the best for his lover, he can't have his muse wearing cheap clothing. Linen, silk, cotton, satin, and chiffon. With all sorts of designs he commissioned personally. Tailored to your exact size, some with your favorite colour's, colour's that match you. He even made sure the fabrics were light and breathable, and yet you choose to sleep naked? When the initial annoyance settles, he begins to feel a little flustered, yes he's seen you naked before, he has done full body portraits of you. But somehow this feels different. He can't explain why, but it feels more intimate than any canvas he's painted of you. Now, to him, it cements your love for him. That in the dead of the night, that you aren't his muse right now. But his lover. The one you love the most.

[heartshapedbubble]

Hi there! I was wondering if it's ok if you could do some angsty head canons of Eli Clark and/or Aesop Carl. Only do this if you have time though :)

ANON.......anon your brain is so huge anon..... so ginormos

im sorry for delaying this ask i was having a brat summer (playing p3p for 4 hours a day) but ACKKKKK i was so excited when i got it i love angsty prompts

cw for: mentions of attempted death and alcohol

eli clark and aesop carl angsty hcs 🦉⚰️

eli clark🦉

he's so selfish.

he gave into the comforts of the manor too easily. the free yet quality booze that makes you feel all warm inside, the heavy meals served everyday, warm sofa cushions padding your back. he got used to it so quickly it stopped seeming like a privilege.

in moments like these he often remembers gertrude, how she's probably somewhere out there praying for his - presumably dead - body to at least be found in one piece. it has been too long since he left home in order to pursue a chance of a comfortable life for the two of them. no one would think he survived.

the unfairness of it all is what hurts him the most. how shameless of him is indulging in luxuries when his most beloved is probably rationing a two-day's portion of bread? there's probably a way to escape - but maybe he just doesn't want to.

the fastest way to cope is to indulge in those same luxuries over and over, day by day. a lavish life that would otherwise cost one a fortune is easily available to any resident. haunted by the past? down a bottle of wine with the other nobodies to forget your sorrows. or two, if one doesn't give you the kick you need. stressed? ring the butler, serve yourself and light a cigarette. don't mind the ash and the butts staining the velvet covers since it's not your duty to clean up. nothing's working yet? there's enough concoctions and drugs in the basement to take them recreatively.

he might not look like the type, but he has tried them all. he stopped with some, though, but mostly because they don't work anymore. the others, guilt. luckily his alcohol tolerance remained the same through the years and - although on very rare occassions - just a puff from a cigarette helps him unwind a bit. his two trusty companions when his head pulses from thinking too hard and the weight on his chest makes it difficult to move a muscle.

not a single speck of high taste in his actions. he doesn't chug the wine with vigour like demi or josé and whatever he smokes slips out of his fingers 'cause of his clumsy grip. the devilish temptations are splayed on the low table in front of him like a tarot deck and he slowly takes in whatever his gut finds appropriate for the moment.

he's not addicted, it's not like he'll die from withdrawal, it's just (sadly) the quickest and most effective way of avoiding his problems.

only a handful of people know about his destructive habit, and the secret hasn't spread any further since he first joined. the same way of coping with guilt and shame results in more of guilt and shame, creating a vicious cycle. especially since many newbies admire him, a veteran, for persisting for so long in the games and remaining near the top of the food chain. it's not an image one should uphold, let alone someone with his reputation.

as time passed, this means of escape became more like a ritual, way less frequent and if not more important.

besides, the end is inevitable. it has been haunting him from the very beginning, day and night. visions of chaos intrude on his peace of mind everyday and there's no way he can avoid them.

it's only a matter of time before this garden of eden turns to ash. the end is near, but what hurts the most is he's the only one who knows what's coming.

aesop carl⚰️

one may assume the influence of jerry carl upon him has dwindled with time. it has been years since aesop joined in the survivor faction and started interacting with others. he already has a set of prepared phrases to use in daily communication. to most, this might give off an impression of someone skilled in socializing - of course, this is all just learned behavior.

even with him gone, jerry did build the foundation on which aesop carl's whole being is constructed. he taught him the ropes, how to prepare the dead - or the living - for a safe departure to the other side. jerry nullified every speck of empathy that may have resided in him once, for he's just a third faction in this exchange of life and death, not somebody who can choose between mercy and violence.

his profession is what he is. he can't remember the last time he worked with a real human body, although that just might be the effect of the memory distorting drugs he unknowingly took during his stay. with no real purpose, no need for his kind, aesop carl started to crumble.

his life has been on a downward spiral ever since he stepped foot into the manor. "oh, but he embalms the puppets!" - aren't they just a disgrace to his craft!? they're nothing but a perversion of what should be the most graceful and important duty on this earth. turning cloth into skin, rice filling into flesh, doesn't all this just scream idolatry? playing god? the dead are supposed to rest, not come back to life! it's completely reversing the natural process!

he dreams of being of use again, to finally be praised and admired instead of scrutinized and avoided. the same people that treat him like a creep beg for his aid when their body lays limp in the hunter's hands.

he wants to work with real people again. sometimes he drifts off and finds himself picking out the best candidate for embalming. fantasizes of their tranquil expression, the faint traces of warmth on the skin after they die. blood trailing down the curves of their body and him gently wiping it, their life taken with just one little scar that he'll patch up anyway.

it doesn't have to always be someone else, though. he's often enarmored in thoughts about his own death. he has already decided he'll stuff his usual coffin which he uses in matches with the softest padding he can find and the freshest yellow roses from the garden. maybe he'll overdose? smoothly transport his mind from one world to another? if things don't get better, this solution is always available.

his own little funeral, fit for a prince. he has to treat himself with care, no? his frail frame has already been damaged enough.

he sometimes avoids visiting emily after matches since he'd rather suffer than engage in unnecessary conversations. he's pretty sure his left rib is broken and his right knee makes concerning noises when he puts a lot of pressure on it. not to mention the amount of times he dislocated his knees and ankles. it's all good until it hurts to breathe while running and he gets hit in the same spot over and over again until he coughs up blood. hunters catch up with weak spots faster than one may think.

the smartest decision would be letting the expert heal him, but aesop knows emily would mercilessly scold him beforehand. he often finds starting arguments and conflicts fun, but this one he wants to avoid under any circumstances.

despite how torn he is between morals his mentor showed him and morals imposed by the society he's now part of, jerry undeniably cared for aesop. he was like a father he never had. he's starving for praise, just a whiff of validation coming from somebody he knows. he's the only person that truly knew his worth.

maybe all this physical pain is a good omen, a sign that he'll pass by natural causes soon. he learned a lot about other interpretations of reality and death from fiona's seances and the religious residents' prayers. he hopes this feeling he has is right and, maybe, he'll meet jerry again in the afterlife.

[brainnuts]

hii may i ask for eli clark (identity v) inspired pixels?

The Seer

ᛝ　　𝓔li　𝒞lark　🦉　　⌓

themed　pixel　recolors 、

credit & reblog/like to use 𓈒

[t0bey]

*checks calendar* Oh.

[aceofclove]

Eli: Hey are you okay?

Aesop: Yeah.

Eli: You don't look okay...

Aesop: Then stop looking.

[rosemaze-reveries]

During an interview, the manor guests suddenly get a question about you.

this is def an experimental format!! i got this idea while reading the character letters. in the POV of an unknown interviewer (not reader). reader uses they/them.

🔗⚰️📰🔮❤️‍🩹💉🌪️✂️🍀🩰🔫🪡🤹🧲🦋🐍

Q. Could you describe your relationship with (Y/N)?

🔗 Ada - "Yes, that's my lover. I would say our relationship falls within the typical scope of that sort of thing. Of course, I believe we share something special, but everyone does when they're in love, don't they?" She covers all her bases in one decisive breath, leaving little room for me to comment.

⚰️ Aesop sits perfectly upright, fingers threaded at his knees. His eyes drift to the side and he seems to begin speaking mid-thought. "I had... cautioned myself not to upset their perception of me," he explains. "But they pried, and stayed, regardless of what they found... For that, I'm grateful."

📰 Alice has kept a sharp eye on me the entire time, but it's at this question that she drops the formalities. "I wasn't aware you would be prying into my personal affairs. Where did you learn that name?" Her frankness pins me in place. For some reason, I end up apologizing.

🔮 Eli can't help a sheepish smile from blooming across his face. "Well, truthfully... I don't use this term lightly, but they might be the love of my life." He has been consistently grounded with his responses, so I'm surprised to catch him flustered, however subtle it is. Personally, I'm touched.

❤️‍🩹 Emil considers for a moment. He doesn't meet me in the eye, instead pinning his gaze on nowhere in particular. A faint smile ghosts his lips. After a while, he answers, simply, "Safe."

💉 Emily's hands are folded neatly on her lap. At the mention of that name, her shoulders tense, but she otherwise maintains her composure. "Someone I trust." Her answer is vague and cautious, but acceptable. I'll try to uncover a deeper meaning behind that 'trust'.

🌪️ Ithaqua - "Mine." He is curt and to the point. Yours? I echo, hoping he'll elaborate. His head tilts to the side, and while I can't see the face behind his mask, a sense of dread suddenly overcomes me. I decide not to press further.

✂️ Jack stretches out his hand of blades, flexing each finger in front of him. I can't deny the cold sweat that drips down my spine just by being in his presence. "May I respond with a question of my own?" he says to me. "Suppose a butterfly loses its way, and winds up caught in a spider's web. Wouldn't you agree that the more it writhes and struggles, the more exhilarated the spider becomes?" I don't have the courage to hear out the rest of this analogy.

🍀 Lucky - "I've always been known as a pretty lucky guy, but the luckiest day of my life was when I met them! I remember it was the—" He drags me down a long-winded story about their life together. I get the idea. Eventually I'm forced to cut him off.

🩰 Margaretha twirls a curl of hair, a meek blush dusting her cheeks. "Have you ever been in love before? You're never prepared for the magic of it all. I feel a new rush with them everyday. I know, realistically, all good things come to an end, so I tried to remind myself to expect the worst, but they've proven over and over that... I'll never feel safer than in their arms." After rambling for some time, a look of surprise flashes across her face. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to go off like that. Oh, but I've just never met someone who feels so much like true love before."

🔫 Martha doesn't miss a beat. "Sorry, I don't know anyone by that name." I look down to double-check the name written in her file. Her watchful gaze follows my line of sight. Are you sure? I try. "Must've been some confusion somewhere," she insists. The next day, I realize all my files on her and (Y/N) have gone missing.

🪡 Matthias - "Wh-What?" he starts, but keeps going before I can repeat the question. "Oh, uh, an ally, I guess." Well, I gathered that much. When I press for more details, his head sinks low, fingers grasping at the armrest. "I don't know what they saw in me. Was it out of pity?"

🤹 Mike's eyes light up and he blinds me with a contagious smile. "(Y/N)'s a sneaky one, and I mean it—they've got me under the trickiest spell of all. Guess what happens every time I think about them?" Egged on by his grin, I take the bait. You get lovesick? I guess. Suddenly, he tosses a handful of butterfly glitter in my face. "I get butterflies!" Very funny, I sigh, exasperated with these carnies. Why did he have that on hand in the first place?

🧲 Norton leans back in his chair, scowling. "What's that got to do with anything?" He snaps a couple times in my face, urging me to "stay on topic." It's hard to say if this question struck a nerve, as he's been uncooperative for most of this interview, but my suspicions point me to prod further. After all, it'd have been much easier if he just said he didn't know them.

🦋 Vera's face contorts into a leery, hostile glower. "Why do you ask that?" Before I can say anything to mitigate the rising tension, she catches herself, and her expression softens slightly. "I'm sorry. That's... someone quite dear to me, so your question took me by surprise."

🐍 Yidhra's follower goes pale, clearly unnerved. "She won't answer that," she tells me through shallow breaths. "Th-This isn't my place to say, but I'd advise you not to involve yourself with that person." As if on cue, I get a sensation I can only describe as a hand slowly wrapping around my neck. It disappears when I move to scratch it. Must've been my imagination.

Part 2