#sorin probably: NO WAIT--

[deadvnstudios]

How would everyone take care of a sick MC?

"No, just...sit up. Here, drink this."

Noel is methodical in his approach to care. By the time the MC has awoken from their nap, he'll have already whipped up a hardy broth that warms their bones and tastes like home. Noel prioritizes the MC's comfort: helping them sit up for every meal, fluffing their pillows, changing their sheets - and often does so without being asked. He is very strict with the MC on not overworking themself, making sure they take their cold medicine on time, and keeping them hydrated.

"Wait...I. Let me put these in your water."

And he certainly carries a couple of electrolyte packets on him with several flavors for them to choose from.

Mona is a bit overbearing in her approach to care. If the others were not already aware of it being a common cold, they'd be led to believe it's bordering on terminal. Though her dramatic flair remains, she takes to her caretaker role very seriously and has no shame in babying the MC. She's constantly adjusting pillows and sheets, pressing her hand to the MC's forehead, and monitoring them in between crafting sessions for any signs of discomfort.

"Here, something to soothe the sickened soul. Oh my, why so shaken? Worry not, even I am aware my work would be wasted on such a...diminished palate."

She laughs at the way the MC's face twists in horror as she carries soup to their bedside. But don't worry, she didn't prepare it. Merely heckled Noel into doing so.

"Such feverish skin...slowly, go slowly."

Sorin is very gentle in their care. He isn't disturbed by the grosser aspects of human sickness and takes no issue with more intimate tasks such as wiping down the MC's clammy skin, bushing their sweat-slicked hair out of their face, and helping them walk to-and-fro with them pressed against his side. They have nowhere else to be, but beside them. Tending to more delicate things is in their nature, after all.

"Her breath, drawn up from the dank, sunken cavern of her lungs, perspired in the humid twilight air. She wandered the shore alone, all shaken puffs and sulken skeleture, aimlessly careening in a feverish haze. Despite the distance, the sea could not quell its love for her. Seafoam tickled the soles of her feet, teasing heated skin with cool caresses, before whisking her away into its pool of tears. And there they could wallow in their sadness, together."

They go silent, peering up from the tale when they're interrupted by a soft snore. A small smile paints their lips at finding the MC asleep. They had grumbled earlier, upset that Sorin had urged them to reconsider reaching for their phone when they awoke. Instead, Sorin had offered to read them to sleep once more.

Mary's already at MC's bedside when they wake up.

"Hey, I got you some grub."

The porridge is already cold when MC grabs the bowl. Mary presents them a spoon that she was hiding somewhere in her skirts.

"I've heard that if you manage to shove a spoon down your throat, you instantly get better. Wanna try?"

She's definitely joking... Right? Her smile never wanes, only becoming sweeter when she hands them the spoon.

Tempest is sincerely at a loss when it comes to care. Used to suffering in silence or bitching about it to no one - someone showing any dependence on him puts him way out of his element. He's bare bones in the way he 'watches over' the MC, but he emulates what he's seen in shows and movies. He probably thinks they look gross.

"Seriously, what a drag. Can't you at least wear something nice to look at?"

And tells them so.

Still, he tucks them in, feeds them, and fills their water up with minimal mumbled complaints. And he’ll whine all around the commune about all the fun he's missing out on, even while on his way to ask Noel whether a hot or cold compress would be better for them.

"Oooo here it is, ah - wait! No, let me pour it, it's like super hot."

Vein is carefree but caring in her approach to care. Always looking for ways to keep the MC entertained and engaged, tethering them despite any lingering fever. She'll visit Sorin at times like these, requesting any medicinal plants to steep for soothing relief. She happily prepares a pot for the two of them to share and sip on as she loads up a film. No matter how much the MC complains that she'll get sick, Vein sticks stubbornly in bed beside them.

"Ah - look look! They just added this one, you wanted to see it, right?"

Vein will play whatever the MC wants for a change, even if it's not up her alley. But she'll still sneak in a horror flick or two when they pass out.

[notsorryforbeingbluencold]

WAIT THIS IS A BLOG UHHHMMMM I ALREADY SENT THIS TO ANOTHER CHNT BLOG WHOOPSIESSSS

but uh, chnt x inanimate insanity.

sorry to all the non osc chnt peeps, uhm, have fun listening to me yap

(and ive mad posts about this au, so if you want to see my designs and stuff, i have them on there ^^)

sydney would be microphone, they both can be a lot for some people, and they also end up meeting up with the person in the woods and working with them and believing theyll get benefits from it. just to end up being used for that person's reasons

jedidiah would be test tube, i feel like she would stay up all night while ignoring everyone else because shes working on a project. although more sciencey, she does build stuff too so i guess she can be an architect.

elijah would be taco, theyre that person in the woods from earlier. they also both like tea and from european countries (sorta? idk if countries really exist in ii, but she is british 💔). also i gave her a cat mask instead of the elephant mask, and im now realizing the taco cat thing 😭.

adam would be mephone, they have similar vibes imo, and i feel like he would have good relationship advice. and since mephone is sorta robot, i thought that would go well with adam being a demon.

rowan would be candle, with all the magic stuff from her i thought that would go well with the visions stuff. plus candle is kinda black coded, atleast most people (including my self) draw her as black for gijinkas/humanized

juniper would be silver spoon, because... 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧💔BRITISH💔🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 and i feel like he would try his best to get out of touching fish and stuff.

marisol would be lightbulb, first, lightbulb is sorta canonically trans fem, and second, shes just as loveable and goobery as marisol

salem would be paintbrush. mainly because of the whole lightbulb x paintbrush thing, but they also have that similar vibes know? (and tulip would be their pet crab, baxter!!)

yvonne would be knife. it was really hard for me to find one for yvonne, but i thought he would fit best. he sorta the though guy and pokes fun at people, but doesnt mean it in a bad way. and he canonically plays video games, so yeah

joshua would be balloon, as theyre both the scrawny type. they also can be annoying for people, and people probably believe they cant win a fight tbh.

sorin would be ying-yang, evil little mischievous dudes. similar vibes tbh

lucielle would be tea kettle, they both can be the sorta motherly like figure, but have a short temper. tries to stay calm.

matthew would be box

so yeah, i thought of this yesterday, and oh my gah, the fact that the characters and stuff like almost match perfectly GRAHHH. and the whole thing with microphone and taco is literally sydney and elijah without all the religion stuff, HOW DID I NOT REALIZE THIS SOONER 💔💔💔💔

:)

[wifelinkmtg]

Neon Dynasty Kami- wait hang on

Are we still on Innistrad? I thought we did Innistrad last time. Excuse me while I review the previous post.

***

Yes, it seems we started Innistrad, but I got sidetracked by talking about all the corrupted angels from Shadows block. Odd. When I try to remember the process of writing the last post, there aren’t any specifics, just this... warm, hazy thrum. That’s probably fine, right?

Anyway.

INNISTRAD: MIDNIGHT HUNT + CRIMSON VOW, CONTINUED

Henrika Domnathi (art by Billy Christian)

It really is so easy to make vampires hot, isn’t it? Like there’s a formula: take a pretty woman, give her opulent clothes, put a little trickle of blood from her mouth as a crack in the facade of controlled civility, right, just to indicate that she may look like nobility but is in fact a decadent animal, and then give her a wine glass full of blood and have her hover a bit. There you go: buttons pushed, hotness achieved.

Henrika, Infernal Seer (art by Billy Christian)

Oh, by the way, Henrika apparently drinks demon blood exclusively, which is a cool character detail I thought you should know. There is something very Mardi Gras about this whole look, which just makes me want to reread some of Caitlín R. Kiernan’s New Orleans short stories. Actually, you could do a very interesting Innistrad reskin using Kiernan’s mythology, their dog-like ghouls and Southern vampires in houses with decaying wallpaper. Wizards of the Coast did a bunch of alternate versions of cards from Crimson Vow as Dracula characters - I’m imagining something similar with Jimmy de Sade as Sorin, Salmagundi as Avacyn, and so forth. Free Secret Lair idea, if Wizards want to make a product with a target audience of one.

MUCH LIKE THAT WHOLE PARAGRAPH. LET’S MOVE ON, PLEASE.

Gisa, Glorious Resurrector (art by Yongjae Choi)

You know, there is something really compelling about a woman who is passionate about her art, even if that art is raising the dead. Not a lot of fun to be had on Innistrad, generally speaking, but Gisa is having the time of her life: bloody cleaver, picnic basket full of hands, horde of adoring undead, evil shovel. Some respond to the horrors of Innistrad by retreating to the safety of ritual or religion, hiding in their hamlets, hands gripping axe or torch, mouths set in grim hope. Gisa responded to the horrors by saying, “I could do your job better, actually,” and it is working out great for her. Apologies to Olivia Voldaren, but Gisa is Innistrad’s premier girlboss and it is not close.

Bat Whisperer (art by Jodie Muir)

I’m sure the other vampires get judgy about how Sabrina’s always getting fully contoured and dressed to the nines just to go lounge around on rooftops with bats, but frankly she has captivated me with her #AutisticGirlSwag. I am so excited to learn all about the difference between bat species in Nephalia and Stensia.

Saryth, the Viper’s Fang (art by Igor Kieryluk)

There aren’t any gorgons on Innistrad, so Saryth has decided to DIY it. About eighty percent of the sex appeal here is the massive, luminous constrictor. That’s not just me, right? Igor made the snake really hot, right?

ANYWAY, YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THE CROSSBOW SEGMENT OF OUR SHOW.

Apprentice Sharpshooter (art by Steve Prescott)

Personally I think it’s good to have to watch out for spikes when you kiss a pretty woman. There’s a lovely textural contrast between cold pointy metal and the softness and warmth of fur and skin. More spikes on women in 2023, please.

Bloodthirsty Adversary (art by Heonhwa Choe)

Yes, like that, exactly! Spiked pauldron, spiked hips, double crown of thorns, and we’ve escalated to two crossbows. She will kill you, unfortunately, but you’ll get to experience several interesting and different piercing sensations on the way out.

Sawblade Slinger (art by Joshua Raphael)

And speaking of escalation, um. Look. We can argue about whether the Fuck-Off Buzzsaw Hurler is technically a crossbow, but I hope we can all agree that it is an Effective Visual Metaphor for the best goddamn strap game in Innistrad.

THIS HAS BEEN THE CROSSBOW SEGMENT OF OUR SHOW. THANK YOU.

Creepy Puppeteer (art by Marie Magny)

If you’re not at least curious about what it would feel like to get double-teamed by a lovely hammer-wielding maniac and her mannequin duplicate, you might be reading the wrong blog. Hey Marie, this is pretty good, but can we get the horny turned up a couple hundred percent?

Blood Hypnotist (art by Marie Magny)

Amazing, thank you so much. Where to even begin with this? I don’t know exactly what blood hypnosis entails, but I would very much like to learn. The dominating eye contact, the blood-soaked talons, the coy little heart in blood on her previous victim’s face (”previous” because what this image communicates above all else is “you’re next,”) fat braids straining against their prison of riveted leather strips, the way the outline of her head irresistibly suggests a praying mantis head (that one’s just for me, thank you!), and - why not - fat tits into the bargain. Honestly, the only thing that could possibly make this any hornier would be the visible bulge of her thick cock, which I’m sure they only didn’t do because this game is 13+. Then again, they printed this card as-is, so I guess Magic: the Gathering is real educational, huh? Tap lands, cast spells, make friends, feel things about card art you can’t yet identify but which will shape whole swathes of the rest of your life.

Alright, that’s been Innistrad, a welcome change of pace from almost two years of mostly-neutered art. Thanks for going on this journey with me!

NEXT TIME: CYBERPUNK, ART DECO, AND TAMIYO'S HOT GIRL MAKEOVER COMES AT A TERRIFYING COST!

[squarebracket-trickster]

Hi, happy WBW! (I am @writeblr-of-my-own, this is my main and apparently I can't switch them).

For this question, what is the school system like in your world? What kind of schools there are? If magic is present, is it taught?

In my current WIP education is based off of how it would have been back in high Medieval England (though the religion is this world is not Christianity).

Isadred/Adris would have received her education alongside her ladies-in-waiting. They would have been instructed in the scriptures, the language of the scriptures, and some history (mostly religious) by the castle chaplain, needlework and etiquette by Isadred's nurse, running a castle household by Isadred's mother, the queen, and riding and music by a rotation to tutors, governesses, or other masters.

Sorin's education came mostly at his father's side as a squire. His father would have taught him to fight, hunt, ride, administer and rule over their lands, etiquette, and how to command troops in battle. He would have learn scriptures, the religious language, and some history and geography in the chapel school with the other pages and squires, and music from tutors.

Phraelys, being a page herself (cis women were not pages in Medieval England, nor are they in my story; Phraelys is a closeted trans girl by today's understanding), would have had most of her education in the chapel school and from service to Lord Malrid, lord of the castle and a distant relative of hers.

Knuckles and Mace, having been born peasants would have learned their skills from their fathers, primarily around farming, woodworking, and using polearms and a longbow for when they were old enough to be required to serve in their local knight's lance-fournie.

Ulvin, a townsboy, would have had an apprenticeship with a guild master, though I have not decided in what.

Sniff has lived in the woods his whole life. He would have been taught hunting, foraging, tracking, and survival skills from some mentor figure, perhaps his father (I have not really decided on his backstory yet, or why he grew up in the woods). He probably learned to fight just by getting in them.

It never comes up in the actually story, but my head-canon is that none of the characters know how to read. Isadred, Sorin, Lord Malrid, Lord Aedred, The Bandit King, and Phraelys would all have a scribe to write for them when they sent letters.

[razieltwelve]

The Gary Plane (Final Rose x MTG)

The Gary Plane is the fortress and home base of Diana in the multiverse. It is an entire plane dedicated to the greatness of Gary. It runs off the accumulated positive emotions of the multiverse and weaponises them to eradicate evil wherever Diana and her faithful minions encounter it.

The Gary Plane is renowned for several things:

A plane-wide theme park

A variety of incredibly well-stocked gift shops and stores of various kinds

Super weapons of many varieties

Entire armies of animal minions, automatons, and the like who are all ready and waiting to crush evil

A system that allows for the teleportation of troops and items via a temporary planar bridge

The Gary Plane is also the reason Gary Tokens are accepted currency in many parts of the multiverse. Basically, if you have a Gary altar, you can contact the gift shop and the other stores and buy things using Gary Tokens (via a holographic interactive menu). The items are then delivered to the customer via one-way planar bridge.

Items you can buy include countless different forms of merchandise... but also more normal things like food, medical supplies, weaponry, and the like. Basically, if you need it, you can probably buy it with Gary Tokens (GT). Many planeswalkers have actually taken to carrying around miniature Gary altars and GT, so they can get help in a pinch (e.g., weapons, healing potions, etc.). You can even pay for emergency extraction where an elite strike team of animal minions and automata are dispatched to your location, so they can grab you and retreat to the Gary Plane before sending you on your way.

Apart from Diana, the Gary Plane is home to multiple other planeswalkers since quite a few of her minions have achieved that over the years, with Strangles being the first. The Gary Plane has the largest mobile army of any plane and is often called upon to assist in peace-keeping efforts.

As for how you get GT, you can trade various things in (e.g., gold, favours, etc.) for GT using the trading function of the Gary altar.

Diana has met many of the other planeswalkers after they use GT to purchase supplies in an emergency. For example, Sorin bought his way out of the stone he was encased in by Nahiri by using a pocket-sized Gary altar and a nice chunk of GT. A bunch of squirrels came to get him out, and he paid extra to make sure no one ever finds out about it.

[thewolfisawake]

Can the muse cook?

Kesil: He can follow instructions but otherwise wouldn’t season. 

Artemis: Yes, someone has to save the tastebuds in his house. Pretty average but has picked up a lot of different dishes from all his travels. 

Samir: Yes! Like his fc, so good that it could’ve been his job. Just one part of his malewife ability

Bijou: Yes, but prefers for others to cook. 

Asier: No, to be fair, he doesn’t have to eat.

Aspis: Loves to eat but will be in the kitchen too, he cooks very well.

Crowe: Technically he could learn it any time and be good but has not. So no. Have to keep it fair somewhere.

Vesna: Don’t.

Dominicus: No, a hold over of that former rich kid.

Tannim: Honestly, hidden culinary god but no one ever assumes because his stuff ‘looks so basic.’ 

Noita: Unless it’s something long and slow or potato.....no. Generally no.

Kirika: Chef-tier. All of it looks instagram worthy cute. Best at sweets.

Sullivan: Does chucking stuff over a fire count?

Sorin: Yes, he helps run his family’s ryokan so he’s had to learn some of the good dishes. 

Altair: Nope, all these years and not a single bit of cooking done. 

Yukina: Pretty average cook.

Makari: Pft, no. Rich kid, never had to

Arsene: Yes, he had to learn after leaving and is decent at it.

Gisilbert: No, why would he?

Biserka: Only if she is dedicating every ounce of concentration so not really (Wait wait wait, doesn’t that mean that Vasi--)

Nikita: No, also rich kid and has the funds to just...eat at some nice place.

Hijiri: Yes

Beatrix: Yes, has saved a wedding from disaster because of it. Leave nothing to chance. 

Alec: Could but doesn’t, apparently villainy can pay for restaurants every night.

Erdene: Surprisingly, yes.

Kyri: Yes but can’t bake. 

Taehyun: Yes but would never let anyone know so he never has to cook. Anything with wine in it is exceptional.

Jasper: No and it’s hilarious because he has to when ‘babysitting.’ 

Belun: Can follow instructions, excellent knife work though

Wilhelmina: No

Veronika: No, as the head to a powerful vampire clan, why would she?

Yuliya: Yes, why her twin doesn’t is beyond her. 

Anri: Chef-tier, as servant to a powerful vampire clan, why wouldn’t he?

Rukiya: Yes, she makes lovely meals

Faye: Yes

Anastasiya: No, she doesn’t have to eat and thus doesn’t cook.

Ashte: Learning, since Eresh hasn’t had the chance to.

Rihanna: Does mess hall stuff count???

Luis: Yes

Raphael: No but he is giving it his best to learn.

Niamh: Yes, kinda has to to run her shop. 

Bayani: No, he’s a clueless bird and would just keep mixing whatever to see what works.

Donovan: Yes, nearing god-tier and forcing it onto his students.

Kidane: No

Yaenako: Yes, very specialized though. 

Oren: No, you’d think he would but no. 

Reyes: Yes but does not know how to scale down so a meal will last days.

Iris: Why would you want her to? She’d probably poison it

Calla: No, seems to be a trend in the friend group.

Altyn: No however no one would get to know that since she steals the talent for it if it ever came up. 

Percy: Yes, very good at catering to nonhuman palettes. 

Deianaira: Yes but wouldn’t use it. 

Cèilidh: Probably the only kid of the court that does. She can thank her sire for that. 

Mikoto: Yep. No one would ask her because they think she wouldn’t. But she is a great cook. Sometimes questionable ingredients or styling though.

Eiji: Sadly no, he hasn’t really had the time to learn.

[theworldgate]

Right, it is 4/13, I might as well get this INCREDIBLY CURSED poll out of my brain:

Since some of those inclusions are Spicy, a somewhat flippant rationale for each is under the cut (so as to avoid bias if people want to avoid that):

Liliana - The OG Vriska of Magic the Ga- wait, hang on, Urza [adds Urza to poll options]. Ahem, anyway the OG Vriska of Magic the Gathering Planeswalker cards. Undeniably, uh, kinda terrible to Jace? But also coming in to save the day at the end of Eldritch Moon? Big Vriska energy. Partly because of the dramatic t-posing (and then she immediately roped Chandra into shenanigans out of boredom...). Also the Raven Man has big Doc Scratch energy, ngl.

Nahiri - One word: Discourse. Honestly there's a lot more I could say about Nahiri here, but I'll settle for: Discourse.

...Okay fine, I'll also say Sorin [handshake] Raven Man [line break] [center aligning] Having big Doc Scratch energy.

Vraska - ....I mean. Her name is literally Vraska. Also, she is a pirate. And I think people did vote for her in at least some polls because of the name thing?

Jace - The 'face' of MtG and highly divisive because of it. Also associated with the colour blue, has mind control powers, and has a tendency towards terrible plans involving charging at the enemy immediately that should, by rights, get everyone killed except for where that enemy has Plans. Plus, an ally literally stabbed him in order to stop one of his plans being executed which is the kind of highly specific thing that merits inclusion.

Urza - I... look I can't account for why I was compelled to put Urza in last minute, I am not that familiar with Urza at all, but the general Vibes I get around him forced my hand.

Bonus, counterpoints!

Liliana: has actually, like, had character development that seems to have stuck.

Nahiri: Uh... Um... ... ...Okay, honestly, I've got nothing? Doesn't mean that Nahiri's the Most Vriska, just... the one with the fewest negative Vriska points. Please give me your Nahiri counterarguments and no, before anyone asks, "I hate Nahiri, she's a complete monster, I don't want her to win any poll" is very much not a counter-argument to her being a Vriska.

Vraska: Has a >0 level of chill. Also. Uh. Y'know. Everything else about her personality.

Jace: See Vraska, just switch the pronoun appropriately.

Urza: Look, seriously, I am vaguely familiar with Urza, but only like. In passing. I guess Urza is a lot more... intricate in his plans? Probably? Also maybe not showy? I didn't get showy dramatic vibes off of him?

[shinra-agent-phoenix]

Chapter 2

The Shinra base was really nice. Filled with all sorts of tech. As Phoenix and Maya walked in, they were greeted by Chizuru Urashima, or Doctor as she preferred to be called.

"Wow! You made it, timewise," she said. It was true that Phoenix and Maya were right on time. Trucy was left with Pearl, who was in Kurain.

"Yeah. Glad to be here." Phoenix said.

"Well, I made you two your uniforms, and added some gadgets" Doctor said. She tossed the duo their new clothes. Both got a red jacket, like Xiamou and Reiji had. Phoenix got a black undershirt with lines meant to somewhat resemble a suit, and Maya got a two piece with a utility belt in the middle, so everything was covered. Both got long black pants as well.

"There you can store your weapons and anything else you need. It also has a really good body cam, and it will make you able to take blows that would kill any normal human." Doctor explained.

"WOW! Nick, I'm gonna go put it on!" Maya said.

"Locker Rooms are to your left!" Doctor yelled after Maya who was already running off. Phoenix looked at the uniform. It was all so real now. He wasn't a lawyer anymore. He was an agent, who would be investigating, and fighting, all sorts of things regular people can't handle. He sighed, and walked to the locker room.

After he had the outfit on, he walked out and was greeted by Maya, Doctor, Xiamou, and Reiji.

"Wow! You look great, Nick! I think this suits you better than that old suit!" Maya said. Phoenix sheepishly smiled.

"I don't know about that…" he said.

"Well, let's start with some basics. Your Magatama is the source of your powers, correct?" Reiji asked.

"Yup! Thanks to Morrigan!" Maya said.

"I see. Then you'll need other weapons," he said.

"Wait why!?" Phoenix asked.

"Because you can only use those powers together. And should the Magatama go missing, you'll need weapons." He said.

"Like me! I got Suiren here, and Silver and Platinum!" Xiamou said, showing off her swordstick and twin pistols

"Plus I use mystical arts, talismans, divination and even pro wrestling. If you wanna survive in this line of work, you'll need more than just that Magatama!" She explained.

"She's right. I have my flaming, lighting, and ice swords, Karin, Chirai and Sorin, along with Hollywood and Gold. And I practice Gogyo Sword Drawing," Reiji said.

"Hollywood and Gold?" Maya asked.

"My shotgun and magnum," Reiji said.

"(Does this mean I'll have to name my weapons too!?)" Phoenix thought.

"Come on! You guys gotta pick out some weapons!" Xiamou said, grabbing Phoenix and Maya and taking them to the armory. When they got there, Phoenix and Maya gasped. All sorts of weapons. From modern guns, to Medieval weapons with enchantments and magic. There was one that caught Maya's eye.

"Is that…the Shichishito!?" Maya said.

"Wait wasn't that evidence in two of our cases!?" Phoenix said.

"Oh that? That was a replica. This one is dangerous, since it has magical abilities. Though only someone with lots of spiritual power and training can control it." Reiji said. Maya ran over to the sword.

"Can I try it out?" She asked, already grabbing the sword. Doctor pressed a button, and a training dummy appeared.

"Ok! How does this work? Um…" Maya thought. Suddenly, it was like she figured it out, and shot an energy blast out of the sword, removing the green rust in the process. The explosion took the shape of a magatama, and the dummy was destroyed.

"WOW! CAN I KEEP IT!?" Maya asked.

"Of course you can! It's from your clan and your the only one who can use it anyway!" Xiaomu said. As Maya cheered and looked around, Phoenix went to pick out a weapon. He didn't want anything fancy, but they were probably going to have him pick two guns and a Melee weapon, like they had. His eyes landed on a revolver and a semi automatic handgun. He picked them up cautiously. To think he'd be using these. Guns. He breathed in and out. His law career was ashes, but he'd rise from them! Maya came bounding over, with two Glocks.

"Heya Nick! Don't I look like a cowboy with these?" She asked.

"Put those down! Don't wave them everywhere! And at least Gemini had a hat!" Phoenix said.

"Oh please, you think I'd be dumb enough to leave them loaded?" Doctor said, slightly offended.

"I'm gonna call them Ramen and Burger!" Maya said.

"Why not choose a more intimidating name?" Phoenix asked.

"I was also thinking of Kura and In, you know like Kurain. What about your guns?" Maya asked.

"I wasn't going to name them" Phoenix said.

"WHAT!? Nick you gotta name them!" Maya said.

"Well what do you suggest?!" he asked.

"Hm…well, you used to defend people with Evidence and Testimony, and now you'll be defending people with those so why not call them Evidence and Testimony!" Maya suggested. Phoenix was going to object, even ready to point, but stopped himself. She may have had a point…

"Alright, Testimony and Evidence it is!" Phoenix said, lifting the revolver as he said Testimony and the Semi Automatic Handgun as he said Evidence. He then went over to the close combat weapons. He saw a pretty big spear, with engravings depicting a flaming birdlike dragon. He grabbed it and tried spinning it around as flames swirled. He quickly dropped it in shock. This made the others laugh.

"That spear is called Enchou. We found it in the mountains in Hokkaido," Reiji said. Phoenix looked at the once flaming spear.

"So, if I choose to use this, I don’t need to pick another weapon?" Phoenix asked.

"Nope! You'll be all set, weapon-wise," Doctor said.

Phoenix picked up the spear.

"Perfect, now, you guys go train so I can make holsters and sheaths and other stuff for your weapons," Doctor said, taking the jackets off of Maya and Phoenix. Reiji and Xiaomu lead Maya and Phoenix to the training hall, while the engaged pair bickered to each other about stuff that Phoenix didn't feel was his place to be overhearing. Then again, Xiaomu would make somewhat…inappropriate comments quite a lot last time they helped Shinra, so Reiji was probably trying to stop her from making a comment in the first place. They finally reached the training area.

"Ok! So now, let's teach you two how to do combos and such!" Xiaomu said with a smile. Another training dummy appeared. She and Reiji drew their weapons, doing complex coordinated attacks crossing with each other. The two looked at the new recruits, who stood there in shock.

"Your turn!" Xiaomu said. Phoenix and Maya took out their weapons…and just ended up tripping over each other. Xiaomu laughed while Reiji sighed.

Training continued for a few hours. Eventually, the duo got the hang of it. Doctor came back with their jackets.

"Well, it's getting late, you two can go home." Reiji said. Phoenix nodded. Maya grabbed his arm and dragged him away, though she discreetly gave a wink to the other agents.

On the train home, Maya kept raving about how cool this new job was.

"I have TWO jobs now!" She said, holding up two fingers.

"Then you can pay for your own Ramen," Phoenix replied. Maya pouted, which made him laugh. The train ride fairly uneventful. Eventually, they reached Kurain. The duo walked to Maya's house where she lived with Pearl. Phoenix was expecting to see Trucy and Pearl. What he was not expecting was…

"SURPRISE!" Larry yelled. A bunch of others were there too. Most of Phoenix's friends. And defendants (who weren't in jail).

"What…what is all this?" Phoenix asked.

"Well…we heard what happened with your badge…" Will said sadly.

"But then we heard that you got back on your feet and are gonna get your badge back! We had to come! Also, the fact you work with a Private Detective Agency is so cool!" Maggey said. The Private Detective Agency thing was Phoenix's cover story, since Shinra's very existence was a secret.

Phoenix was happy. Trucy bounded over to him.

"Daddy! Daddy! Max was teaching me magic and it was so COOL!" She said. Phoenix picked up the 8 year old and spun her.

"I hope we aren't late!" A voice said behind Phoenix. Xiaomu, Reiji, and Doctor walked in.

"Maya invited us to this little party. Who were we to refuse?" Reiji said.

Eventually, Edgeworth showed up. With two teens in tow.

"Wow so this is Kurain! Man I can't wait to see what's here, maybe I can steal something," the girl said.

"Kay, we aren't here to steal!" Edgeworth said.

"WE'RE HERE TO STEAL!?" The boy said, bending a conducting baton so far it looked like it was gonna snap back and hit him in the face.

"NO!" Edgeworth said. Phoenix laughed seeing this. He walked over with Trucy.

"Hey Edgeworth!" Phoenix called. Edgeworth turned to him.

"Ah, Wright. Congratulations on getting a job that will allow you to continue to pursue the truth!" Edgeworth said. The boy got a shocked look, his little cowlick standing up like an exclamation point.

"Ah. I see you are the "Mr. Wright" I have heard so much about. The one who took down von Karma. Pops mentioned you a lot…" the boy said, though he looked a bit uncomfortable talking about his father. Kay grabbed his arm and dragged him off. Edgeworth sighed.

"I'm guessing that's the ward Maya told me about? Also you don't talk about me?" Phoenix asked.

"Yes, and I assume that's the daughter Larry mentioned? Also I do speak of you occasionally." Edgeworth said, looking at Trucy.

"Hi there, Mr. Edgeworth!" She said.

"You can call him Uncle Miles," Phoenix said. Edgeworth was about to retort before Trucy grinned.

"Ok! I'm gonna go play with Pearl! See you, daddy!" She said, running off.

"Uncle? Are you serious?" Edgeworth asked.

"Well, yeah. You and Larry are basically my brothers. Right?" Phoenix asked. Edgeworth paused in thought.

"I…suppose…" he said with a smile.

"So that means that kid is my nephew?" Phoenix asked. Edgeworth sputtered.

"I am NOT his father!" He said.

"(Suuuuuure you're not)" Phoenix thought.

The night went on. Everyone mingled. Phoenix learned Edgeworth's ward was named Eustace. Xiaomu proved that she was the best at video games, to Maya's displeasure. Kay demanded Ron teach her how to be a thief. Pearl admired the Shichishito. Phoenix was just shocked that so many of his defendants showed up for this. So many people cared…

Eventually, he needed to get home. It was getting late and Trucy was getting tired, despite her best efforts to stay awake. He carried her out while bidding everyone a goodnight.

After some walking and a train ride, the father and daughter reached home. A small, one bedroom apartment. Phoenix hadn't had time to sort out finances and get something bigger when he took in Trucy a month ago. He looked at the sleepy girl holding onto him. He was glad he took her in. A girl like her didn't belong in a dingy orphanage. Well no kid did, every child deserves a parent, but still. He set her on the couch while he grabbed the futons and rolled them out.

"Trucy…wake up…" he said gently.

"M awake…" She said, half asleep.

"I need you to get your PJs on," he said. She groaned and wandered to the room while he stood outside. Once she was dressed, she went out of the bedroom, and he went in and changed. Then they settled into their futons.

"Daddy…?" Trucy said.

"What is it?" Phoenix asked.

"I'm glad I got to…meet your friends…can we see them more often?" Trucy asked.

"Of course," Phoenix said, as the duo drifted to sleep…

Then, a few hours later…something hit the window. Multiple times. Phoenix woke up and saw a shadowy figure in the window which left. Quickly putting on his new jacket and grabbing Evidence and Testimony, he ran outside.

There he saw a man. Covered in a black outfit. His goggles were too reflective to be able to see his eyes.

"Hello Mr. Wright," he said in an unnaturally deep voice. Startled, Phoenix took out Testimony, and shakily pointed it towards the man.

"Relax. I am not a monster. It is merely a voice changer." The man said. Phoenix still held the weapon.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Phoenix asked.

"I cannot tell you who I am. But I will tell you one thing. Stay away from the Gramarye case" the man said.

"What!? Why!?" Phoenix said.

"I cannot harm you directly, to attack a Shinra Agent would be foolish" the man said. Phoenix back away slightly. Shinra was supposed to be a secret! How did he-

"That doesn't mean I can't harm those close to you. Such as your daughter, Trucy-" the man said

"LEAVE HER OUT OF THIS!" Phoenix said.

"Or your girlfriend, Iris? I happen to know many prison guards…it would be easy to slip her something…or your prosecutor friend, Edgeworth?" At this, the man recited Edgeworth's address, and the name of the prison Iris was at, including her cell number.

"Shall I go on?" He asked. Phoenix stared at him, still shaking and aiming the gun. Why did this man want Phoenix away from that case!?

A car drove by, distracting Phoenix as he closed his eyes due to the headlights. When he opened them, the man was gone. Phoenix quickly holsters Testimony before running home. Trucy was still sleeping. Phoenix sighed with relief. He quickly got ready for bed. Trucy woke up.

"Daddy? Why are you up?" She asked. He froze, he didn't expect to wake her.

"Its nothing," he said.

"You're lying. You always…yawn have sweat come down from your face when you're nervous. And only your face…" She said. Phoenix forgot about her Perceive ability.

"Look. I'll tell you tomorrow, ok? Try to go back to sleep." He said, getting back into the futon.

"Daddy? Can I sleep with you tonight?" She asked. Phoenix looked surprised, then nodded. As the father and daughter snuggled, Phoenix held Trucy tightly. Now he was more determined than ever to find out what happened in that case. But he needed to be careful. Extra careful. He held Trucy like if he let go she would vanish…

The New Career

Chapter 1

His badge…gone…framed for forgery. Disgraced…jobless…and now with a daughter to take care of…what was he gonna do…

Well, his friends came over. Edgeworth promised to look into things, as did Franziska. Maya and Pearl offered to help Phoenix get a job, but they weren't exactly good at that. Larry was the only one who really could do something for him right now, for once. He offered to watch Trucy whenever Phoenix needed him to. Plenty of others came. Phoenix just wanted to be left alone. He made sure not to talk to anyone. For an entire month, he was alone… Maybe he'd just play poker for the rest of his days…maybe.

The door was broken. And two people walked in. A girl with weird hair, and a boy.

"Xiaomu, maybe don't break down the door?" The boy said. Xiaomu stuck her tongue out at him.

"Xiaomu, Reiji, what are you two doing here? There isn't another world ending emergency is there?!" Phoenix asked, panicked.

"No nothing like that! We heard about what happened with your badge…and so-" Reiji was cut off by Xiaomu.

"How would you like to be a Shinra Agent? It beats being a Hobo who plays Poker and plays Piano in a club even though he has no musical talent!" Xiaomu said with a smile.

"Wait! But I can't use the powers Morrigan gave me without Maya! And even so, I'm not so sure I want to go on another crazy adventure like that." Phoenix said.

"Maya already agreed to work part time, and we'll train you to be able to use those powers on your own. And most days are just monitoring things and training. Plus, you'll be payed really well. And have access to all sorts of Shinra's resources to use to maybe find out the truth of what happened." Reiji explained.

Phoenix thought for a moment.

"I'll…I'll consider it." Phoenix said.

"Just call us when you have the answer!" Xiaomu called out, leaving the room and dragging Reiji with her.

Phoenix had a lot to think about. Shinra was a secret organization, so he could only tell this offer to people he really trusted. Edgeworth and Maya already knew about Shinra, but he could probably tell Iris, Trucy, and Pearl…Phoenix picked up the phone.

"Maya? We need to talk."

At the ramen shop, Phoenix sat down at a booth and saw Maya arrive.

"Hey Nick! Glad to see ya getting out!" She said.

"I'm glad too. But…did Reiji and Xiaomu visit you?" Phoenix asked.

"Huh? Oh yeah! They asked if I wanted to become a part time agent. Be able to train those abilities Morrigan gave us! Why do you ask?" Maya asked, as the waiter brought them their ramen. One bowl for Phoenix, and 10 for Maya. At least she was paying this time…

"Well, they offered me the same thing. And well, I was thinking of accepting the job, but I have my worries…" Phoenix confessed.

"Nick! You have no job, you have bills to pay, and you have a kid! You kinda need this," Maya said.

"Yeah I know. I'm just…you know what, I will accept this! I mean, it gives me a chance to find out what really happened in the Gramarye case, and in the meantime, I can help people in a different way!" Phoenix said.

"That's the spirit, Nick!" Maya cheered.

"So tell me how everyone's doing." Phoenix said.

"Well, remember that kid who Edgeworth is mentoring? Well since he's still a minor and has nowhere else to go, Edgeworth took him in as his ward!" Maya said.

"Wait now Edgeworth has a kid!?" Phoenix said.

"He insists they are just ward and guardian, but I'm sure that dynamic will change in time." Maya said. Phoenix chuckled. Edgeworth already acted as a father figure to a girl named Kay, and she only visited him. Yeah having a kid living with him was going to turn him into a father whether he liked it or not.

"Anyway, how's everyone else?" Phoenix asked.

"Well, Gumshoe and Maggey are finally dating!" Maya said.

"Really? About time." Phoenix said.

"I know, right? It was pretty obvious Gumshoe liked her." Maya said.

As the night went on, Maya updated him about everyone. He had to admit, after closing himself off for a month, he missed this. He only saw Larry and only to drop Trucy off and pick her up when he needed to. He didn't see any of his other friends. Heck, he kept dropping Trucy off so he could investigate things on his own. Phoenix regretted isolating himself. Well no more!

"--Oh and Pearly finally accepted that you have a special someone that isn't me…it was a difficult thing for her…" Maya said, looking down sadly.

"Well, how DOES she feel about me and Iris?" Phoenix asked. He remembered that during this month he hadn't visited her. He mentally cursed himself. He'd visit her the next day.

"Well, she's as supportive of you two as she was of you and me!" Maya said happily.

"So that means she'll slap me if I'm in the presence of another woman?" Phoenix said sarcastically.

"Yup!" Maya said way to happily. Phoenix sighed.

After a long night of talking, Phoenix went home. He stopped by Larry's to pick up Trucy. Larry handed him a sleepy Trucy, and silently left, knowing the routine.

"Hey Larry. I'm sorry I haven't been talking much. I kinda closed myself off. And that wasn't a good thing…" Phoenix said, rubbing the back of his head.

"You mean it, Nicky?" Larry said, suddenly right in front of Phoenix, with tears running down his face.

"I mean it! I won't be closing myself off anymore!" Phoenix declared. Larry hugged him.

"Alright!" He said. Phoenix broke free of the hug.

"But it is getting late, and Trucy looks like she's about to fall asleep…"Phoenix said.

"Oh OK. See ya tomorrow!" Larry said. Phoenix took Trucy to the car. Once he got home and got her to bed, he called Reiji.

"This is Phoenix Wright. Count me in."

[gold-eyes-vengeful-heart]

Blue vs Blue

((Runya duels the Sapphire Weapon.

Spoilers for the Sapphire Weapon part of the Werlyt questline, of course! And, as always, contains some Sorin ( @aetherstitch ) :P))

===

The brilliant blue sky overhead almost mocked him, as he and Blue sped towards Terncliff. Not that he actually expected even the weather itself to reflect his moods and whims, but it felt less...dramatic, appearing out of a sunlit sky to fight a giant monster with his own giant monster--

Blue interrupted the train of thought with a splash of annoyance.

“Come now, I mean it in the good way.” He glanced down again at a scanner readout, sighing. “Oh, it’s around here somewhere.”

{Yes.} Even if he was still slightly perturbed, Blue had perked up a bit and renewed searching the deep blue seas below with his eyes. {Hm. Not far. It’s close.}

He didn’t bother to pester Blue with the obvious question of where; connected as they were, he knew already, somewhere vaguely ahead of them, but not so close as to be an immediate threat. The sensation prickled at the front of his mind like a distant chill wind...

And it suddenly got closer. Much closer.

Runya had barely thought to go up before he was pushed into his seat by the force of Blue rising at a sharper angle, thrusters roaring and wings outstretched. Barely had they cleared a few hundred feet of altitude, however, before the ocean below them boiled and burst and a hellish creature, clad in dark blue armor, rushed out of it to snap at the tip of Blue’s tail with pointed crab-like claws.

“Ah, naughty.” He urged Blue higher, out of reach as the enemy Weapon circled below them in the sea, and only then did he turn his own living machine to face it, the eerily biological pattern in Blue’s wings casting crazed shadows on the VIIth Legion’s monstrosity. Runya chuckled, looking the thing over with a single glance; that was as large and brutal-looking as the Ruby Weapon had been, but something about the sluggish way it moved and the odd lack of ranged attack was halfway to convincing him it wasn’t...well, nearly as operational.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted airships. Ironworks airships, carrying a familiar humanoid machine. 

He clicked on Blue’s communications and spoke out loud, though his eyes stayed on the other Weapon. “So, you’re the Sapphire Weapon, are you? I expected something a little...more.”

No response. Runya just cocked his head, ears flicking forward.

“Come now, cat got your tongue?” Blue growled, and he had to mentally squeeze Blue back to keep him from just diving at the thing right off. No, he wanted to at least speak to one of them...

But all he got was a shaky hiss of a reply. “I’m not scared of you, IXth Legion’s pet. I can’t afford to lose--not to you!”

And right as Runya had expected, the enemy Weapon started to glow and spark and everything about that aether reeked of something disgustingly synthetic, something wrong--even as the exterior of the Weapon barely changed under the onslaught of that ‘Oversoul’ mechanism.

Well, maybe he had been right, he reflected idly to himself as the sparking and lightning died away. Maybe it was unfinished if it hadn’t turned into some monstrosity--

It immediately shot a beam of vicious energy at him, and had Blue not been paying more attention than he had, they might have gotten rather harshly hit rather than just singed on a wingtip.

{Runya-friend!}

The admonishment slapped him right in the face, cold and confused, and he rubbed his head where it had banged into a side-panel. “Mm, yes, I was just ruminating.” He did see the next shot and easily nudged Blue into dodging it. “My apologies. Let’s just end this, shall we?”

“Runya!” A familiar voice rang out in his ear, tinny from the communicator, and a small video screen obligingly popped up to his lower right. Sorin, fully geared up just like any good pilot, and the sight made Runya smile slightly as he just tweaked Blue to the other side and then again to dodge the next two violent shots. “Can you hear me?”

“Oh, of course.” He had to send Blue spiraling higher into the air to let another shot pass beneath him, and he and Blue both turned to see the G-Warrior rising to meet them, its own thruster-pack blazing with light and a gleaming energy blade in one hand. “Hm, that looks much nicer in motion, doesn’t it?”

Now it was Sorin’s turn to dodge a shot. “Runya, can we focus?”

“That is rather obnoxious of him, isn’t it?”

But a shadow of something unreadable crossed Sorin’s expression. “...He’s gone already, isn’t he?”

“Oh, yes, I’m fairly certain that was the Oversoul he activated just a moment ago. Pity it’s only put him on the level of the prior Weapon before it went completely mad.” He finally put Blue into a dive with a single thought and a push to the controls, laughing to himself. “Come, come. Let’s end this quickly, shall we?”

And the G-Warrior dived with him, sliding between Blue and the Sapphire Weapon as it fired a hellish beam straight into a glimmering angular shield around Sorin’s machine--

---

Runya landed Blue on Terncliff’s...well, cliff, and hopped out of the cockpit, feeling more bored than elated. That had been easy. As powerful as that cannon had been--and as much as a violent blow from the Sapphire Weapon’s tail still had his everything aching in protest--that Weapon had been simple to deal with, too slow to effectively fight Blue let alone Blue and the G-Warrior combined. 

“Runya?” Speaking of--Sorin had long since dismounted his own machine much earlier, and came trotting over with his tail flicking behind him in worry, leaving a cluster of the others behind him at some distance near Terncliff’s center. “Are you alright?”

Runya snorted. “As if that was even a challenge. He merely slapped me once and that was all.”

But at that, Sorin raised his brows.

“I suppose we should be grateful that it was so simple,” Runya continued, stretching his arms over his head with a wince. “Especially with your...interesting...machine’s surprisingly-adequate performance--do remind me to ask you more about that thing later, that shield was a pleasant surprise--but I can’t help but wonder if the other Weapon that was supposed to be here was as shoddily-made, or if they’re saving the best for later.”

Sorin glanced away. “...We should be grateful it was so simple, yes,” he admitted, with a hint of reluctance. “Far be it from me to enjoy killing, but if the other option is to let these superweapons run wild...”

“Exactly.” Runya waved a hand, distracted by his own thoughts. “Did you learn anything from them, by the way, about it? I saw you speaking to that lot of engineers and dear Baelsar.”

And even if Sorin frowned at the angry purr behind the final two words, he didn’t outright mention anything. “Just that...the pilot died like the last. Fused to that thing.” His nose wrinkled in disgust and his ears set back. “I don’t think madness is what’s driving Baelsar’s adoptive children on, but to willingly do that to themselves--”

“It seems an awful lot like it, doesn’t it?” Runya finished, glancing over at his friend with a wry smile.

And Sorin just sighed. But he nodded, too. “It reminds me of someone, Runya.”

But the pointed barb went ignored. “Ah, well, regardless, they’re trying to harm us, so it’s up to us to harm them first.” He patted one of Blue’s massive talons. “Isn’t that right, dear?”

{...Yes.} The cautious reply trickled into both their minds, judging by how Sorin jumped and rubbed the side of his head. {But. No enjoyment doing it. Just want them to stop.}

Runya rolled his eyes. “Mm, I don’t--”

“Yes,” Sorin interrupted, reaching past Runya to give Blue’s giant claw a pat, “that’s very true. Some people need to be stopped, but we shouldn’t enjoy doing it.” ‘Runya’ was the unspoken addition to the remark...again. 

And Runya just clicked his tongue and did actually respond to it this time. “You’re going to confuse him trying to imprint your morals onto him.” The word held no small distaste, but Sorin just smiled and stared him down as if daring Runya to get into that argument in front of a bunch of people.

...The prat.

“He does like listening to me as well as you, you know.”

And that was the shite of it. Blue didn’t just listen to him; he listened to Sorin just as much. It was a wrinkle he hadn’t anticipated--much like Sorin himself.

“Well, have we nailed down where the other ones are yet?” Runya went on, looking and sounding much more casual than he felt. 

“Mm, not yet...” But Sorin suddenly looked up at the Weapon. “Wait, did the IXth Legion ever have anything to do with the VIIth? I know the XIVth let them have the land for a lab, but...do you know anything about these?”

A long, long pause from Blue. The Weapon was just looking...not at Sorin, but somewhere past him, the claw-tipped tail swirling slowly behind him.

{...HE didn’t like him.} The face of Merceus flitted across Runya’s mind and he instinctively swatted at thin air in surprise--his heart hammered harder than he wanted to admit--but at least the answer was something. And Sorin, though he reached a hand over to steady him, kept his eyes on Blue, speaking again.

“The...Legatus of the IXth?” he ventured, and Blue just nodded. “He didn’t like who?”

{Other Legatus. Called him stupid. A fool.} But that came with no images or memories whatsoever; just the sluggish swirl of a mind struggling to remember something. {...Unworthy.}

“Mmm, the glorious and all-powerful Legatus Silentius finding another Legatus unworthy of being his equal, what a concept.”

Sorin sent him a look at that, but Runya just quirked an eyebrow back at him. “As if I’m wrong, Sorin dear.”

“I wasn’t going to tell you you were wrong, no.”

“Anyway...” Runya pulled free of Sorin’s grip, only for it to immediately find its way back onto his shoulder. Much to his exasperation. “Oh, come now, that was a momentary lapse--”

“And you’re clearly not doing as well as you want to make me think you are.” Sorin tightened his grip and steered him. “We can talk more about what I know, if that makes you feel any better.”

A thoughtful hum from Runya, but he did acquiesce. He would be lying to say that that didn’t sound good to him...

After all, when he said he fully intended to take down all of these Weapons with his own, he meant it. Even if he himself didn’t deign to speak to Baelsar again--yet--Sorin had and clearly knew more than he was letting on...and Runya fully intended to pick his brain for it.

(The more he knew his enemies, the more he effectively he could gut them to death. And that was all he wanted. The VIIth Legion’s Weapons were as good a place to start with that than any.)

(He would not even give them the chance to do it to Sorin, no matter how much blood he had to spill.)

[ryttu3k]

Sascha, obviously.

Obviously <3

First impression: "...Yikes 😬" Honestly, really quite negative? Like I was going, "This is the main nonbinary representation we have? A torturer who's frequently described an inhuman sicko? Y I K E S."

Impression now: My baby. My most problematic favourite. (...Actually, no, the Master probably has them beat because at least Sascha's Crimes(tm) are only limited to the one planet lmao). Needs a hug... from a safe distance.

Honestly it's basically entirely Myranda Kalis' fault (complementary) because she actually wrote them as human in the Dark Ages Tzimisce novel, gave a reason why they might be like that instead of 'lol bad person', then gave them a way to move on from their frankly horrific past in Beckett's Jyhad Diary. Thank you <3 @solivar

Favorite moment:

If 'the entirety of the aforementioned novel' doesn't count, then:

idk I just find the whole scene painfully cute.

Also, the scene/story with Sascha and Anthony in the Clan Novel Saga, the whole 'good cop, bad cop' thing they have going on with Beckett in The Drowning of Rasputin, and:

Idea for a story: Aside from meeting up with Anthony again (the next Skylines one), I'm kinda considering a super self-indulgent thing of them meeting with my OC, Sorin. Basically just a, "Sorin has some understandably very bad memories of them, for Sascha they're just one of the countless people they messed with, post-Dracon!Sascha trying to make amends." It might be too similar, thematically, to the Anthony one, which is also about trauma and making amends?

Edit: Wait I thought of another one. Exploring the question: who was the original Sascha? By which I mean the comrade who was killed in Silchester who was apparently important enough to them that they changed their name to Sascha in their memory.

Unpopular opinion: tbh just being a Sascha fan is kind of an unpopular opinion XD

Favorite relationship: Ilias *sobbing*

Favorite headcanon: Frequent user of social media, including the old ones. Like in 2022, they still have a MySpace. It's (usually) not even Masquerade-breaching stuff, it's just an opportunity to shitpost! Gets tension out. It's healthy! (Or, at least, healthier than some past coping methods!)

[penny-nichols]

HI I JUST REALIZED SOMETHING

If Dumas Gloomsbury was jealous of Ellen for becoming a part of the sprocket family.... Did he want to marry Sorin?

Actually wait he probably wanted to marry his sister before she died, huh

[jeskaim]

Crimson Vow Spoilers Part 3 - The Wedding of the Century

First of all thank you for the love on my last post. I didn’t even post all of them and it blew up. Thanks for the likes and reblogs, especially from those that actually read Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.”

So with Edgar spoiled today I can post my thoughts on the wedding of Olivia Voldaren and Edgar Markhov. First of all I find it hilarious how Olivia woke up Edgar with blood and then almost immediately pops the question. At least that’s what they said on the stream. If that’s not a clear indication on her true intentions I don’t know what will. It’s obvious that Olivia is the one who wants all of the attention since she’s a mythic and Edgar is rare.

Now onto poor Sorin. I don’t know the story behind this card but I wasn’t expecting a name like “Sorin the Mirthless.” For those who don’t know the word mirth means amusement so I guess he’s not amused that his grandfather is marrying the head of another clan. Maybe he sees through Olivia’s facade and knows her true intentions but we’ll have to wait and see.

I like how the suit and gown of the bride and groom are equip artifacts in this set and they have additional effects if you control both. If you ask me Groom’s Finery should have been red instead of black because that way they’ll both be the color the bride/groom is missing like how Bride’s Gown is white which is the color Olivia is missing.

Now onto Chandra. This is going to be killer in mono-red aggro. I want to know who invited her since you can’t get in without an invitation and anyone who doesn’t is killed upon passing the Lurenbraum barrier. Either she was invited by fellow Planeswalker Sorin or she stole an invitation which I can definitely see her doing. Either way if anyone is crashing this wedding it’s her.

Hopefully this wedding will turn out like the Harvestide festival in Midnight Hunt with both of them turning into complete disasters that don’t accomplish their goals. Knowing Magic it most probably will.

[mobiivs]

140720XX

@xinqfu 🍀

sorin’s running off the moment she passes through customs, forgoing the baggage claims—her manager will get that for her, eventually. there’s eighteen hours of a plane ride she’d braved still stuck to her, impatient wave of her hand when she finds the company car waiting. “i’ll tip you extra if you get there in twenty minutes,” are her first words, leaning forward, the unflappable, confident bassist looking just a little more frazzled for once. “it’s really important!”

summer’s packed full with tours, inescapable heat on her back. she misses the lazy summers from forever ago, when all she had to worry about were white dress codes and the startling new discovery of sungho’s... everything. but sorin’ll admit she likes it better now, even though her schedule’s fit to burst and it’s been two years since that beach party and more. she’s never been that much of a romantic, to be honest, but having the literal best boyfriend in world means she’s got to at least make it home in time for their anniversary.

the drive home follows that winding red thread, her leg bouncing impatiently. she worries at her nails, a watchful eye on the clock, hands cradling the little giftbox she’d gotten. red weaves down the road, through the sights of seoul, and there’s a smile she can’t fend off. she’s going to be home.

⚾

they’re sitting face to face, in dead silence. she hasn’t talked to him—not just right now, since she saw him first in the team’s hall, but in months. sorin should’ve known this wouldn’t last, the calm away from the storm when she’d finally sucked it up and left their team, for a second time. the last time, she’d promised herself, that she’d give in to the player.

and months later, because they’re both good at what they do when they’re not trying to ruin each other, sorin and sungho sit in the same room in the olympics village.

the string lies taut and frayed, that last, single fibre connecting them dyed scarlet. “we should meet the rest of the team,” she’d said. “we should,” he’d replied. sorin’s still sitting across from him, arms crossed; he eyes her, and there’s that look she used to think meant something. but she’s got someone who smiles at her with none of the edge, sweet and soft in a way she’s still learning to keep up with. she’d wonder if he’s found someone else too, but sungho probably has half the girls in the village on his phone instead.

she stands up, and team captain’s eyes follow, an arm coming in front of her. it’s all so easy, she thinks, to fall back into this. he still looks at her the same, the thrill that’d drawn her in jumping down her spine. sorin pulls away and lets the string snap between them. today marks the first day of moving on.

👓

sorin sets the cake down in front of him, a smug little raise of her eyebrow. all pleased with herself, even though the lettering is off and the biggest ( and only ) candle is tilted to the left. sungho’s eyebrows shoot up, and she quickly raises her hands. “i only decorated it! i bought the cake. i didn’t bake it, really.” a mock gasp, elbowing him. “you didn’t even get anything, stop looking at me like that—you forgot, didn’t you!”

she’s kidding, laughing over his sputtering, indignant defense—she saw the present sungho tried to bury in the back of his closet, one night when she’d stayed over. a month early, too. she’ll bet she can find one of his posts on reddit and that means her present’s going to be internet-sourced, but she trusts her little nerd. sorin pulls him in, both hands on his cheeks, and plants a kiss square on soft lips.

he’s not the same gangly, awkward nerd he used to be, and she’s no longer the mean girl cheerleader stereotype she’d hung her pride on back in high school. can you believe yoo sungho’s blond, now? probably not as much as lim sorin reading books on string theory to impress a nerd, though. their red thread is the colour of the strawberries around the cake, knotted in places; the loops they’d made around each other and back again, milestones to the fate that links their pinkies together. sorin makes him light the candle and grins at him, and thanks the skies out there for the second chance on their high school romance.

🔪

“i should take a picture,” he’s marveling, and she just knows he’s going to say something smart.

she flicks the wound she just bandaged before he can, hard enough to sting. “shut up,” sorin huffs. the red of their string is bright against bloodied cloths and discoloured iodine, weaving around their wrists. “i’ll leave you to bleed on our doorstep next time,” she warns, has to take a pause when she realises she hadn’t meant my. it’s... been a while since sungho stopped loitering around the ground floor of her apartment, hands shoved in his pockets. the younger guy follows her up now, most days, terrorises the rest of the tenants with his tattoos and scuffed up jackets, his harley rumbling menacingly by the entrance.

the lawyer looks at him, grinning on the couch, and wonders when she got domestic with the boy rough around the edges, cornering her in the office. perhaps, since the day her flimsy morals had folded so easily over his request. “i was just gonna say you’ve gotten better at this,” he says. sorin rolls her eyes at him, teases, “only because i need to keep my boyfriend from dying on my couch,” and immediately spots the flaw in her premise, the keyword not even second guessed. a hand slaps over sungho’s mouth, his eyes smirking knowingly at her. red bridges between them as she points with her free hand. “don’t you dare,” she warns, but sorin’s laughing despite herself and, well, it wasn’t anything they didn’t know already.

🪙

she knows she’s picking at it, unravelling the thread that binds them together, like if she pulls at the loose ends hard enough, it won’t just fall apart. looking out from her glass walls to where sungho’s sitting, neutrality strained on his face while she meets yet another chaebol son, smiling the way weak men who think they’re powerful do.

“just a moment,” she says, standing up. outside, she sees her secretary do the same, brief relief on his face. her hips sway as she exits the glass door, stopping in front of his desk. sorin places a hand on the warm wood, head tilted up to look at him, in full view of her prospective blind date. the muscle in his cheek jumps, understanding and resignation setting in. “c’mon, save me, he’s boring,” she says, and sungho doesn’t move. can’t, really, before she does.

she kisses him, lips coated with something glossy and saccharine, like overripe peaches sitting out for too long on a summer afternoon. sticky sweet and soon to spoil, on his. something gets thrown, audibly, in the office behind her, a door slamming closed soon after. his arms around her don’t let her turn away; sorin presses a hand against his chest and pulls away, doesn’t let the daze distract from the point of this. “is he gone?” she asks, and the other looks up, nods briefly.

“good,” sorin says, “you’re mine.” an assurance, empty—she leaves the second half unsaid, even though she can see the thread wrapped around his neck, and still she drags him down and tightens it herself.

📷

“should we film something for our anniversary?”

sorin tilts her head back, crown of her head meeting his thigh where she’s draped across his lap. she’s scrolling through her feed; he’s editing her newest video. red string hang loose between them, comfortable and unseen. “mm,” is his reply, focused on the task. she sighs and reaches up, running her hands through his hair to get his attention. “your roots are growing out again,” she complains, “we should find another colour you look hot in that doesn’t stain my hands purple every two weeks.”

there’s a huff of laughter above her, sungho looking down. “you like it, though,” he teases, and well. she’s got no comeback for that. sorin shrugs her shoulders. it’s a bigger feat than you’d think, while lying down and avoiding dropping her phone on her face. “let’s keep our anniversary for ourselves,” sungho adds, wraps her like a strand around his finger and pulls her in, wry smile on his face. “just us, no one else.”

she lets herself be pulled closer, snuggling up to watch him touch up the footage they’d filmed earlier. “okay,” sorin grins, “the internet thinks it’s on, like, whenever that last episode of inferno aired anyway.” she laces their fingers together, intangible crimson link disappearing somewhere between their held hands. it’s their little secret, hidden from view.

🎾

the red of their strings are dyed darker, reaching across the tennis court. they’re still the star players, even if they’re not partners on mixed doubles anymore.

“good game,” he says, jogging up to her, and sorin scowls a little at him. “we’re still getting used to working together,” she defends herself, because it sucks to be on the losing side, across from sungho instead of beside him. “since you, y’know, left and all that.” sungho’s graduated and gone, even though he visits the team once in a while, and now there’s that undeniable distance between them, as certain and tangible as the net in front of her. it feels unfair, somehow, the double fault that they’ve fumbled completely, serves and signs missed because they were just a beat too slow. now he’s someone else’s.

but she still thinks of him as hers, first. “it’s fine, we’ll play another round and keep the nets later,” sungho calls to the rest of the members, waves off the clean up with an arm slung over her shoulders, skin warm against hers. like they’re still best friends and partners, the contact innocent and friendly and casual, the sort that mean nothing until everyone else is gone. sorin knows she’s going to regret this. but he kisses her like he still wants her, and at least the regret tastes a little like victory.

🎞️

there’s music booming, the reverb of something bass while the rest of the set cleans up, stylists carefully peeling her out of the last expensive, horribly branded outfit she’s paid to make look good. sungho’s by the monitor, going through the photographs; there’s that focus on the screen that she’d seen develop as their careers started rising, an inexplicable flutter to know it’s her he’s looking at now, even though their best pictorials have always been together.

sorin hops out of the makeshift stall, dressed down and comfortable, and she’s caught up to him before she can think. she’ll blame it on the fact that she hasn’t seen him in a while—haven’t been booked together, as that set they used to come as. it’s spite that drives their synergy today, annoyance over the rumours of a slump in their partnership she’s determined to prove wrong. the rumours were wrong, anyway, crisp lines on the samples on the screen, the splash she knows this one’s going to make.

sungho glances at her, the sort of grin when they’ve pulled off a concept, and something tugs at her. “wanna grab a bite?” she asks, entirely on impulse and that vague, ever-present sense of missing him. there’s a pause, point two seconds too long, sandwiched between sungho’s surprised expression and no answer. oh god, she’s made a fool of herself.

she turns on her heel and flees the room, embarrassed; sorin doesn’t see the relieved laugh he lets out, picking up the red thread that’s spooled out and following it back to her.

🕸️

the tear in the fabric of the spacetime continuum seals itself shut at the tip of sorin’s index finger, pointing at nothing. “wait, was that us?” red strings crisscross unseen, a multiverse of possibilities, and the constant that ties them together shining in between. sungho blinks from where he’s seated at the console, his code done executing. they’d just been looking for an alternative design to the webslinger they’ve got now, and yes, taking a peek at the multiverse is kind of cheating, but if you figured out the formula in advanced physics... it’s fair game, really.

“so... no webslinger designs there...” she fixes him with a look that says duh, because that universe’s sorin is definitely missing the spidey sense if she didn’t notice two college kids gawking at her while she ‘made out’ ( censored for the pg-13 movies ) with the sungho of that other universe... uh huh. sorin of this universe might have bigger problems than faulty webslingers right now.

“hey, the us in that universe, were we...” “... yeah.” “huh.” ”...” “wanna try it too?”

❤️

sorin rushes into his arms and laughs, gives him a kiss that’s far deeper than it ought to be, airplane breath and their door still ajar. the thread tied between the two of them is barely a centimeter long, their hands interlocking as he pulls her in for another kiss. sungho smells a little like the hospital mixed with the candle she’d bought on a whim, hugging her tightly. “missed you, baby,” he says, kisses the crown of her head and moves to take her luggage in, sorin still clinging to him. home feels like a forever, ticking off the years. there’s no other way to describe it, the surety of the two of them after the rollercoaster to get here, red wrapped around their pinkies. fate, choice, and love, everything in between.

“i made it in time, right? happy anniversary!”

[cadcnce-archived]

@hallowleylines​ sent:

This individual looks out of place. Not because of any type of aura or poise held, but the clear scar that ran across her face. It was rare to find a burn victim with the results in the air so clearly but she seems unbothered by any awkward glances she receives whilst wandering the landship.

Rhodes Island. Sorin had definitely entered this landship as an operator. The issue is finding him through this mass of wandering souls. A gentle slip through the crowd until she spots someone, staring... at an air vent. A brief pause to survey him and he doesn't seem to budge from that spot. Yeah, he's the type of weirdo he'd probably get along with. It's a start at least.

"You, Liberi with the coat." Ears flicker as she approaches, a triplet of tails following suit. "Have you seen a short little guy running around here? White hair and a weird left arm. Star above his left eye and probably loud to boot. We've been looking for him but he hasn't answered his pager."

Anyone would think it was abnormal seeing anyone, let alone Zephyr watching the vent like that. This stranger was far from the first to come by and question him. For awhile Popukar had sat next to and also joined to watch, but grew bored ‘waiting’ and gone back on her way to get up to some other mischief. The Liberi remained. When accosted this time, perhaps something about what she had said he curses and there’s.... something shuffling in the vent?! A loud clatter like someone had been sitting back there somewhere and now turned tail.

“Damnit!”

But he’s cool, he’s fine. He’ll find her again later. For now... Zephyr turns to face the Vulpo, sizing her up with a glance as words are regarded. One moment he’s sitting on the ground leering, the next he’s vanished. A voice sounds from behind the woman, Zephyr now standing against the wall with arms folded. Not a conventional way to approach someone, but when was he ever following any of those lines? Besides, she was suspicious.

“Well hello there.” The smile is superficial, but carries enough of the usual smugness of the raven that it would be convincing all the same after he recaptured her attention. “Maybe. I’ve seen a lot of people around here, but I don’t recall seeing you on Rhodes Island before. And I’d remember a face like that.” And yet, there was something about her appearance that jogged the memory. Vulpo. Taller woman. Tails, plural. Could this be the ex which Jester had mentioned before? ...and to think Zephyr had thought him going mad.

The grin renews.

“So, mind telling me who’s asking? And what this we is? I might be willing to help... might not... I was already tracking someone down after all before you came along. So I find myself a little inconvenienced as it is.”

[fragmentedink-archived]

Hell to Pay: Part Fifty-Four

I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, IX, IX, XX, XXI, XXII, XXIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XVIIII, XXX, XXXI, XXXII, XXXIII, XXXIV, XXXV, XXXVI, XXXVII, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XL, XLI, XLII, XLIII, XLIV, XLV, XLVI, XLVII, XLVIII, XLIX, XLX, LI, LII, LIII

cowritten by @lux-scriptum

The body of the demon Cameron dumped on Cyrus’ floor made a solid thunk. Cyrus winced, but leaned forward out of instinct. Only one of the demon’s eyes was able to open, but the glittering purple was enough to reassure Cyrus that he was indeed still alive. Cyrus chose to look up at Cameron instead, mouth thinning despite his best efforts.

“Is this the sacrifice?” Cyrus asked, despite knowing the answer.

“Do I need to be the one to kill him for this to work?”

Stifling a sigh, Cyrus shook his head. “No,” he promised, reaching for the candles strategically set out. They sprang to life, but even that didn’t ease the amount of magic he had roiling under his skin. He’d been hoarding it for weeks, and supplementing with what he could only really equate to magic energy drinks. It felt like he was seconds away from splitting at the seams and deflating without the magic to hold him up. “But I think I need some of your blood. Just to tie it to him and make sure the spell takes hold in him, not you.”

Cameron took a thin switchblade from his pocket and sliced precisely across his palm. Black blood welled instantly, suggesting he cut deep. “Figured as much. Take what you need.”

“Do you have the ashes?” Cyrus asked, knowing and not caring there was an edge to his voice as he snatched up a cup to catch the blood. It took only a little magic to close the cut on Cameron’s hand with a golden flash. “I think after that we’re ready as we’ll ever be.”

While Cameron left to retrieve the urn, Cyrus went to work, muttering the spells he needed. Where the blood was smeared on the demon, it soaked in and disappeared. As Cameron returned, Cyrus could see the brown hair of the prone figure before him slowly start to morph closer to white.

“With your blood, I was able to shift him into... you,” Cyrus explained as he took the ashes. Cameron hadn’t looked perturbed, but Cyrus felt the need to explain anyway. “Even though... I’m sorry, what is his name?”

“That’s not important.”

Cyrus waitied, folding his hands over the urn patiently. “I want his name.”

“For...?”

“Consider it payment for casting the spell. I never specified my price, but I want to know the name of the demon I’m killing for you. I have to live with his death, whatever he has done.”

Cameron raised a brow, staring him down. Eventually he said, “Sage.”

Cyrus nodded. By this point the demon had fully morphed into an exact likeness of Cameron. Albeit, a very battered looking Cameron. “Even though Sage will be dying in your place, it’s still a body that is... you. It’s cheating in spirit, but Asmi has promised to fill in the gaps to make sure the spell succeeds.”

Cameron gave a thin smile. “I’m sure they’ll be glad to fill the gaps. Angels always are happy to do so.”

“They’re a god, not an angel,” Cyrus muttered, before calling out for Darius, giving a tug with his magic to let the ghost know they were ready.

Darius materialized not a moment later, looking unruffled and determined. “Hello, Cyrus.”

“Are you ready?” Cyrus asked. “We are if this is still what you want to do.”

“It is,” Darius said. He was quiet for a heartbeat. “Will it hurt?”

“It didn’t hurt Levant,” Cyrus said. “This should be the same.” He offered a smile. “Just try not to linger on the other side for three days, and you should be just fine.”

“I will do my best,” Darius said, offering his own smile. He looked at the urn in Cyrus’ hands. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt pain. Or much of anything else.” He looked back up to Cyrus’ eyes. “Thank you, Cyrus.”

Cyrus only smiled a little, and went to work. It was still a complex spell, and he wove his magic into each word, until his voice was hoarse and his hands shook. Sage’s body slowly disintegrated before them. Without a physical magic to help even out his, the sparks of raw magic fell from his fingertips visibly. Bit by bit, they replaced where Sage had been until a very real Darius lay on the floor instead.

Darius’ golden eyes flickering open was the last thing Cyrus saw before his own rolled back and he toppled to the side.

---

Cameron watched from his spot as Cyrus crumpled into the floor. He was well aware the witch’s heart was still beating, even if his nose was bleeding steadily. He stepped over Cyrus’ body and knelt next to Darius.

Even if Darius’ brown skin was currently leeched of its warmth, he was still him, still physical and now breathing. And now staring up at him unblinkingly. Even though Cameron was pulling his suit jacket off to cover Darius’ naked frame. “I have clothes for you in the car,” he said. “I didn’t have anything from before, so I had some made.”

Darius opened his mouth to speak, and then closed it, frowning. Instead he took Cameron’s hand into his icy ones. Cameron’s entire body flinched when Darius kissed the top of his hand, almost in a thank you.

“Well,” Cameron said, tersely. “It was the least I could do. I’ll get the witch’s mate.” He slipped his hand from Darius’ and pulled out his phone to send a text, telling the demon to come collect Cyrus and put him to bed. He looked down at Darius, despite the blood pounding in his head. “I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”

Not that he could.

And it certainly seemed like an amusing thing for Cameron to say by the look on Darius’ face.

He ignored it and disappeared back to his car for the clothes he promised. By the time he got himself back inside, Darius had moved himself into a sitting position, or was trying. “I thought I told you to not move,” Cameron said, flatly, already moving to help sit him up.

Darius patted Cameron’s arm, as if he were trying to humor Cameron. Cameron ignored the suggestion that this was humorous in any way and carefully moved in front of Darius to begin putting clothes on him. “Are you cold?

When Darius shrugged, Cameron sighed irritably. “I see five hundred years in limbo hasn’t taught you how to give yes or no answers.”

Cameron moved to pick Darius up and set him on the couch. He grabbed the few throw blankets available and wrapped Darius up tight, remembering how Lev complained about being cold.

Sorin eventually popped into the house, looking flustered and anxious. Cameron and Darius both watched mildly as he fussed over Cyrus’ limp body.

It was that inopportune time that his phone decided to start buzzing. He had let it go to voicemail twice before answering Ash the third time.

“What the fuck did you do?” Ash said, sounding like he was in tremendous pain.

“I’m not sure I know what you mean,” Cameron said, indifferently, watching Darius.

Darius frowned, but Cameron just looked away as Ash laid into him, giving a few rather choice words about whatever it is Ash ranted and raved about. “I can’t see and I can’t access any of my magic, Cameron. So I ask, what the fuck did you do?”

He wasn’t sure that he had been expecting exactly that, but considering Asmi, and how they are the god to the angels, this was something on brand for the angels. “I gave Lev what he wanted.”

“You gave Lev-” the phone thudded and Cameron could hear Ash yelling at Lev from wherever he was.

Cameron waited a few moments to see if the idiot would pick his phone back up but when he didn’t he decidedly hung up and turned his focus back to the scene in front of him.

Sorin had Cyrus’ head in his lap and was trying to clean the blood. “Cyrus wasn’t sure if you were staying or not,” he said, distractedly. “So he had the guest room set up.”

Cameron looked to Darius, who was already staring at him expectantly. He frowned. “I should… probably let you stay here for a day or two. I need to talk to Nik.”

Darius nodded.

Cameron had completely spaced it off. He’d kick himself later for it, but he had to get Nik’s overreaction out of the way before he brought back someone who was just dead for five hundred years. Last thing he needed was Darius to get sick or for Nik to burst a blood vessel yelling at him because he brought someone home he didn’t expect.

Cameron got up from the couch and swatted Sorin’s hands away before hauling Cyrus over his shoulder and began carrying him back towards their bedroom. “And they called you a soldier.”

Sorin rightfully didn’t say anything and went back to Cyrus’ side when Cameron carefully placed him on the bed. He propped pillows to help with blood flow and left Sorin there to fuss while he tended to Darius.

---

Nik and Lev had spent the last hour or so putting the gifts from the babyshower away.. There were so many and if it hadn’t been for his belly, it was the gifts and the nursery itself that made it feel real. That he was in fact having a baby.

That was if the kid managed to survive whatever hell Amara and the witch had unleashed on the demonic lands.

He held onto a soft blue and white baby blanket Nate had brought for the baby. “I’m not really doing the right thing, am I?”

“It doesn’t take a genius, Nik,” Ash said, from the doorway. “But I already told you I’d do my best to help keep the baby healthy.”

Nik side glanced Lev, who looked a little saddened. “It might be best for the baby,” Lev said, quietly. “I don’t want to lose either of you.”

Nik looked back down at the blanket, and ran his fingers across one of the thick blue stripes. “I don't want to leave you and Cameron. I also don’t want to deal with Papi. Last thing I need is him breathing down my neck.”

“Could Bay and Nate keep him away from you?” Lev asked. “Or Ash? I don’t want him anywhere near you. You’re ours.”

“I’m sure both Bay and Nate would be more than glad to keep Az’ril away from Nik so he can incubate in peace,” Ash said.

Nik rolled his eyes. “You exhaust me.”

“Yeah, well, next time I tell you to do something, maybe you should do it,” Ash replied, unfazed.

Lev touched Nik’s shoulder. “It wouldn’t be forever.”

Nik sighed. “I’ll… think about it.”

Lev opened his mouth as if to say something, but instead choked on nothing at all and doubled over.

“Lev?” Nik said, putting a hand on Lev’s shoulder. “What’s wrong?” At nearly the same time, Ash crumpled to the ground, pain twisting his face. “Ash- whats going on?”

His voice was rising as Lev heaved, puking black nothing onto the floor, where it slowly faded away. “Will someone fucking answer me?”

Ash’s breath was shallow, and he wheezed in pain, but not before Celeste appeared in the doorway with Dakota in her arms. “Nik, take him,” she ordered, moving to check on Lev.

Dakota was luckily sleeping in Nik’s arms, but he still watched in horror as Lev seemed to be dispelling his own magic.

“Nik,” Ash rasped, “Grab my phone. Right now.”

Nik hurried to grab the phone from Ash’s room, finding it on a desk, and returned as quickly as he could while not waking the baby. “Here.”

The bright green in Ash’s eyes was fading in and out, and Nik could see bruises peeking out from under his shirt. Nik knew enough that it meant that Ash had used far too much magic and it was now burning him nearly from the inside out.

He swiped it from Nik’s hand. It was nearly half a minute before Ash managed to get someone on the other line. ““What the fuck did you do?” Ash snarled.

Rage whitened Ash’s face. “I can’t see and I can’t access any of my magic, Cameron. So I ask, what the fuck did you do?”

Ash froze, head snapping up. “You gave Lev-”

He dropped his phone and tried getting up to his feet, even when in searing blinding pain. “What was that fucking bargain you made with Asmi?” Ash yelled. “And why the fuck did you rope me into it?”

“Ash-”

Ash’s mouth snapped shut when Celeste whipped her head in his direction. “You shut your mouth right now, Ashwyn. You are not helping.”

“I don’t know,” Lev croaked. “I said I’d help take the punishment if necromancy was practiced again, but I was supposed to be the only one anyway.”

“Well someone clearly didn’t get the memo,” Ash bit out. “And now I can’t access any of my magic, including the magic that I was using to keep Nik’s baby healthy.”

Nik’s head went very quiet and he went to pick the phone up. But unsurprisingly Cameron had ended the call.

He pulled out his own phone.

Nik: where are you

It was a moment before Cameron finally deigned to answer.

Cameron: I’m at the witch’s house. I was going to call you in a minute.

Nik: sure you were. Why the hell are you performing necromancy???

Cameron: It was something that needed done. And Lev had asked for Darius, so that’s what I’m doing.

Anger sizzled through Nik’s blood and he threw his phone across the room. “Great.”

“I’ll talk to Asmi,” Ash said, using the crib to hold himself up. “I have an inkling they're behind this."

---

It was only after Cameron got Darius settled in the guest room did Darius ask him for something to write with; Merely a scribble on his hand.

Cameron nodded slowly and went towards the witch's bedroom and leveled a single knock before opening the door. "Where are your writing utensils?"

Sorin was in his demonic form, watching Cyrus for a moment before climbing down from the bed and leading him back towards the office.

There was a sense of a chaotic, but methodical organization that Cameron could make out. Clearly the witch wasn't able to keep his work space clean. Either that or he didn't consider it important enough.

Sorin jumped on the desk, a few papers falling to the floor, as he picked his way across it. He poked around for several moments before sitting on the edge on the left side, draping his tail over the edge until he could grab it with his fluffy orange-striped tail and pull that open. Inside was a supply of pens and sticky notes of varying sizes.

Without prompting, Cameron reached for a pen and one of the larger pads of sticky notes and headed back to the bedroom. Darius was exactly where Cameron had left him, and was watching him very closely. He put the pen and notes in Darius’ extended hand. “Can you still write?”

Darius rose a brow, but looked down at the pad of paper for a few moments before very carefully writing: You should call home and talk to Nik.

“Why don’t you go ahead and tell me that and I will.”

Darius’ brows furrowed, and he looked down once more only to write: :/

Cameron sighed internally. “Alright,” he said, fishing out his phone once more, even if he detested phones. “Have your way.” He rolled his eyes at the smile he got in return for his troubles and decided to FaceTime Nik and get this over with.

It took nearly five minutes of continuous calling before Nik answered. He looked every bit annoyed and angry as Cameron expected. “Oh well, thank you for gracing me with your presence, Cameron.”

“You’re welcome,” Cameron replied, mildly.

“So were you going to just bring home your dead ex-boyfriend and expect us to welcome him in with open arms, or...?”

“He was never my boyfriend,” Cameron said. “That implies I ever agreed to date him.”

“Oh right,” Nik snapped, “just like you’re not my boyfriend, right?”

Cameron ignored that. “It was not my intention to not tell you,” he said. “It just never crossed my mind.”

“It didn’t cross your mind while you went behind my back?”

“I haven’t thought about Darius in over five hundred years,” Cameron said, “and you have also been rather busy being pregnant and miserable, so no, it never really crossed my mind to tell you upsetting news.”

Nik’s eyes narrowed. “Whatever. So is he just going to be living with us, or are you just gonna pick right back off where you left off? Do I need to, you know, pack my bags and go back home now that you have your original model back?”

“I have no intention of making you go anywhere you do not wish to go. If you choose to go back to Liwen, that is solely your choice and yours alone. Everything will remain the same unless you make it so.”

“Yeah right.”

“He will remain with us until he is able to live and move on his own without any assistance. After that, he is free to move about and out just as you are. Nothing changes, Nik. I am mated to you and you alone.”

Nik’s lips thinned. “Fine. When are you going to be home, because I’m hungry. Or are you giving me permission to cook?”

Cameron’s nostrils flared. He did not want Nik cooking in his kitchen. The absolute mess Nik makes no matter how much he tries to not make a mess makes Cameron’s skin crawl. “We will not be back until tomorrow morning,” he said after a moment of internal debate. “So yes, you may cook. Make Lev clean up after you, if you must.”

That at least got a smile from him- though it was sharp and pointed enough Cameron knew well enough that Nik was going to make a mess of his kitchen on purpose.

tagging:  @incandescent-creativity @solangelo3088 @lil-miss-red @halstudies @littleyellowdinosaur @caelisis @idreamonpaper

[bretongirlwrites]

There was a woman as if waiting for us, on the crag: a glance towards the mudcrabs, and one towards us, the both of them undeniably accusatory. It was not, fortunately, a face which was crafted for anger, merely disappointment. 

    ‘Someone,’ she said, ‘has taken my satchel.’

    ‘Satchel?’ said Marcurio, and patted his own.

    ‘About so big –, never mind. It was probably a mudcrab.’

    She came down from her perch, and looking down at the now-dead mudcrabs said: 

    ‘Nasty little buggers, aren’t they?’

    Then, perceiving, in a sideways sort of fashion, our bewilderment:

    ‘I’m sorry. That was not much of an introduction. I didn’t expect to see anyone all the way out here.’

    ‘You’re Sorine Jurard?’ – A nod. – ‘Calcelmo said we’d find you up here.’

    ‘Calcelmo?’ she asked: an eye yet roving for her satchel: ‘I didn’t think he was listening, when I said where I was going.’

    ‘We were lucky to find you at the second ruin,’ Marcurio explained.

    The satchel turned up on the edge of the water, a little further downstream, quite to Sorine’s surprise: still waxing upon the evils of mudcrabs, something about how they would take over the world before too long, she made sure that everything was still inside, and returned to speak with us.

    ‘I suppose Calcemo wants me back, to hold something while he does some experiment?’

    ‘No – not Calcelmo,’ said I: ‘Isran.’

    ‘Isran!’

    A name which did not please her much: just as Isran had guessed. – She held her tongue, asked of us what our business was with him, and with her, and we narrated it to her: the vampires, the Elder Scroll, that great castle in the mist and the woman we had abandoned to it. There was a disbelief in our own narration, and a greater one upon her face, but she was patient, and said:

    ‘If Isran thinks we’re in trouble – we probably are, I’ll give him that.’

    ‘Will you help, then?’

    ‘If he really needs a Dwemer scholar –’

    ‘He has two, now,’ said I, and indicated Marcurio.

    There are scholars who rejoice, at the meeting of like minds; and then there are others, like Marcurio, who would rather believe their interests so perfectly esoteric that none other possesses them. There was a little of the latter in Sorine: in the way she sized him up a little, as if hoping that, if nothing else, the man would not have a professorship in Dwemer crossbows.