*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Apr 2, 2020 21:12:46 GMT -5
("Wow, little one, your Winter impression is getting really good." XD
That's it. Sam's adopted Gil as his new dad. XD There's no going back.)
Sam waited, his eyes never leaving Gil's face. He had done a similar trick like this before, pulling a coin from behind his ear. He actually done it several times while he tried to figure out how he had done it. The boy never figured it out, but he still liked the trick. This was what he was waiting for now. He expected to see a shiny coin appear in the man's hands. Instead, he was greeted by his beloved penguin.
"Waddles!" Sam squealed loudly, wrapping his arms around the toy and hugging him close. The day had been long and, while fun, had taken some toll on the boy. While he would have been fine falling asleep with just Gil present, having the stuffed animal in his arms seemed to set the world right. There was nothing better than returning to an old friend at the end of the day. He tucked himself back into Gil's side, now with his trusty companion wrapped in the blanket with him. "Thank you!"
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 2, 2020 21:37:31 GMT -5
[[ “Put me down, I keep telling you I’m not Sam!”
I don’t think Gil would want to go back, he loves Sam too much. XD ]]
Gil would break a thousand laws to see that bright light fill Sam’s eyes, the way he smiled so widely and squealed with joy at the sight of his beloved penguin. There was no better gift in the world than bringing such intense happiness to someone who truly deserved it. He felt like a proud parent, having done a spectacular deed for their child, rather than a familiar who had broken a serious law.
“Of course, little one,” he murmured and carded his fingers through the boy’s hair. Although he did not have any children of his own, he thought that this was what it might feel like if he had. To imagine that Sam was his son was not a difficult task. He loved him like one or perhaps like a younger brother. Either way, he was family. To think that someone could harm him willingly, knowing how gentle and sweet he was, made him furious. Sam’s biological father must have been both foolish and blind, to not realize how lucky he was to have this boy as a son. Gil would have been truly blessed if he’d ever had a son like him. “Anything for you.”
And it surprised him how much he meant that—he would do anything for Sam. Give him anything he wanted.
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Apr 2, 2020 22:05:25 GMT -5
(XD Gosh, now I want to do a scene like that.
Good, because there's no escape even if he wanted to turn back, lol.)
Now he was all set for the night. Safe, warm, and surrounded by everything that he found security in, Sam had no intentions of leaving. Unless, of course, a switch happened. But until then, he wasn't moving from his spot. "We can start the movie now," he declared, as if the man had been waiting for his permission to do so.
It was surprising just how quickly Sam had attached himself to Gil. While upon their first meeting, their had been some hesitancy, it was soon dissolved the more time he spent with the man. Everything about his physical appearance mimicked their father's, but it was the actions and way he spoke that was different. Gil never raised his voice to him, never degraded him, never moved in a way that made him think that he was going to harm him. It was these things that made the boy trust him. That, and the fact that he treated him like a child. While for most, being treated like an adult was the end goal, for Sam, he would much rather be treated like a kid. He never aged, forever stuck (for now at least) at the age of six. It was hard enough to have to live with an adult's body, he didn't want to have to act like one too. That's what Derek and Winter were for.
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 3, 2020 7:26:12 GMT -5
[[ lmao we should totally do a scene like that.
i’ll get a reply up when i can, i’m having a pretty bad day. ]]
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 3, 2020 10:20:46 GMT -5
[[ Thanks! It’s just school stuff being annoying and stressful. ]]
Gil played the movie and settled down with Sam by his side. Although he hardly paid attention to the film—he had long since memorized each line and the scenes when they were spoken—he didn’t doze off. Never did, during their frequent movie marathons and cuddle sessions. He felt safe enough to sleep, but something always irked him about the thought, as though he needed to stay awake for Sam’s sake. Always vigilant, should the boy wake from a nightmare or suddenly decide he needed something. There needed to be someone to watch over him and he was happy to fill that role.
When the first movie ended and the second began, he trained his ears to listen to Aries and Romi speak from the other room. They were talking far too quietly for Sam to pick up on it, but his own ears were sharper. Their conversation troubled him. Romi and the others had been missing for over three weeks, closer to four, with no sign or trace of where they’d vanished to. All he knew was that wherever they’d been, it wasn’t a good place. His arm tightened slightly around the boy in his arms, protectively. Romi could mostly take care of herself, and while that didn’t stop him from worrying for her, Sam was as helpless as a true six year old would be. Vulnerable to those who wished to do him harm. That wouldn’t happen on his watch.
Long after the movies were over and Sam had slipped into sleep, Gil became suddenly aware of a presence that wasn’t there before. It made his hackles raise and his hair stand on end, the feeling of being watched by a predatory and dangerous force. The room was empty, as he scanned it, but he knew well that didn’t mean anything. Nothing should have been able to get into the hotel room with Aries’s wards up, so he wasn’t concerned about them being hurt, but there was still a chance something small could have slipped through.
“Begone,” he hissed quietly. “I don’t know who or what you are, but if you are here for Sam, I will not let you have him. You can pry him away from my cold, dead hands.”
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Apr 3, 2020 11:37:30 GMT -5
(Ah I hear ya. School can be a bit much sometimes, more so than it needs to be.
Also, I love the fact that Gil possible knows more than he lets on. I can't wait until Winter starts interrogating him. XD)
It didn't take long for Sam to fall asleep. While he did seem to have higher energy levels than the others, the body could still only take so much. Settled as he was, the exhaustion caught up to him. He was asleep long before the first movie was over. It didn't matter that he was still sitting upright, leaning against Gil's side a weird angel. Kids could sleep in the strangest positions sometimes. He was completely unaware of the world around them. Not aware of Romi and Aries talking elsewhere in the room, not of Gil's constant watch of him, and certainly not the presence that seemed to creep into the room.
(Sorry it's short! If you have something in mind to happen, cool, let me know what I can do to help it along. If not, I'm good to skip whenever you are. )
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 3, 2020 12:38:24 GMT -5
[[ It’s okay! We’re good to skip, I just wanted to start introducing the fact that things are getting a little weirder/more serious. Gil definitely knows more than he’s letting on lmao. But there is about to be another incident with ghosts gone wild, telling them to go back, except this time they’re actually going to get more of an explanation.
Also I don’t know if you want it to be a surprise, but I would be more than happy to explain what I have in mind for the plot! ]]
Although the presence was there, no one revealed themselves and nothing came into sight. Before long, it faded altogether, without a trace of what it might have been. Gil didn’t relax for the rest of the night.
Strange things were among them in the days that passed. To Romi, the air of the rooms felt heavy and suffocating. Her skin prickled with the sensation of eyes on her back, of some force breathing down her neck. She saw movement from her peripheral vision, yet found nothing there, and heard voices that she didn’t recognize in rooms that she knew were empty. Worst of all, she noticed that it only happened in the presence of herself or the alters. Whether it was Derek, Sam or Winter did not make a difference. It troubled her, but she kept silent on the matter. She didn’t know what she could say to Gil or her brother that didn’t sound completely crazy.
It was the third day of it that she decided she finally had enough, when all of them were gathered in the kitchen eating lunch. All of them being together was rare, as Gil and Aries left often for work they didn’t wish to share. It was impossible to go back to her dorm room. As it turned out, her school had officially failed her for the semester, due to her long absence. Although it was irritating, she didn’t care too much. All of her belongings, along with Derek’s, were back at her childhood home. There were more pressing matters to attend to, anyway.
“Alright, I’ve had enough,” Romi declared as she crossed her arms and huffed. She looked toward Gil with a huff. “Is someone going to explain why I feel like I’m being watched twenty-four seven? I know you know, Gil. Don’t tell me you don’t.”
Gil exchanged a look with Aries. “I can’t say.”
“Oh my god, you’re keeping secrets!” She threw her hands up.
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Apr 3, 2020 13:10:17 GMT -5
(It's all good! Ghost are fun. I can't wait to see what happens. X3
That's up to you. I'm all good with being surprised, but if you want to tell me about it so I can help set things up. You can decide. )
The days that followed returned them to a somewhat normal state. They had made a temporary residence in Aries's hotel room since the dorm was apparently off limits. Due to the amount of time they had been gone, which was something neither Winter nor Derek could comprehend, she had been failed for the semester. They themselves were probably failed from their classes as well, but there was hardly any loss felt. Sure, Winter had been enjoying some of the classes, but it was one less thing he had to worry about.
Like Romi, the strange feeling of being watched could be felt by the boys. Well, Winter and Derek seemed to feel it the most. Sam didn't really notice it much when he was out. The first few days, the older two didn't think much about it. They figured it was flashbacks or due to having two more people in the living space. Yet, as the feeling continued, Winter grew more concerned.
It was a rare moment for all four physical occupants were in the hotel room, eating lunch, and Sam was not out and about. Because they were staying with the others, Sam had been given more liberty to be in control of the body, seeing how they would be safe in the presence of Gil and Aries, but mostly Gil. Now, however, Winter was in control, planning on talking with the older men whenever he found a good chance. It seemed like Romi beat him to it first.
"So you've felt it too," Winter commented, taking a bite of his sandwich. He hadn't mention the strange feeling of being watched for not knowing if it was his own mind playing tricks on him or not. Now, however, knowing she had felt the sensation as well, he was more than happy to mention it to get answers. He turned his gaze to Gil and noticed the small look he passed to Aries. His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Gil, I need to know what's going on," he stated. "You can deny it all you want, but there's something the two of you aren't telling us. We need to know what it is. I need to know."
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 3, 2020 18:22:26 GMT -5
[[ I think it would be good to tell you at least the basics of it! So what I had in mind with the voices telling them to go back was that it really is a bunch of spirits, who want them to go to South America, because that’s where magic (and essentially all witches/warlocks) was rumored to have first appeared. The exact location is an area of abandoned ruins, where one of the earliest magic settlements used to be.
The whole idea of the plot is that there are a lot of secrets that the council is hiding about magic and demons in general. Specifically, I was thinking about those secrets having a lot to do Romi and all of the boys, even though very few people know. The demon they met at the party knows, since they’re prophetic, but Gil knows too. Sometimes he has dreams that are often about the future, but they’re usually rather cryptic. At least kind of? He knows of the prophecy, but he only has a suspicion who it’s about.
Romi and the boys are basically connected to it because of their family lines, which would be extremely connected and intertwined. So they’re going to be going through a lot of trouble, unfortunately lol.
I hope this made sense, I feel like I rambled too much. But feel free to add any of your own ideas in, if you want to! ]]
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Gil and Aries remained silent, eyes locked on one another, but for them there was no need for words. They’d known each other longer than most humans lived. Neither of them seemed to want to break the staring contest, but it was Aries that at last relented with a heavy sigh. “Fine, you win. I’ll tell them. Don’t say I didn’t want you, Gilbert. They’re far too young to know.”
Romi’s face scrunched up, hearing those all too familiar words, as she took a bite from her own sandwich. “We’re not children,” she argued. “Both of us are adults. Just because we’re not ancient elderly men like you doesn’t mean we're not ready to hear whatever it is you’re about to say.”
Gil was wholly unamused by the comparison. “We know you aren’t children, but it’s serious business that even your brother and I don’t fully understand. That name you gave me the other day, when you were missing—Inika. Do you know who that is?”
Romi hadn’t yet been told the truth, so she furrowed her eyebrows. “They said they were a forest guardian.”
“A forest guardian,” Gil scoffed and for the first time in her entire life, Romi heard a note of pure and utter hatred in his voice. “No. Inika is the major demon of trickery and illusions, a powerful denizen of the demonic world. He rules his own circle with an iron fist and is a cruel, terrible creature. Many wars have been started in his name.”
Romi felt her blood freeze, though she stayed quiet so he could speak.
“It explains why you thought everything looked normal, for the most part, and why time passed you by so quickly. The creature you met was likely not his true self, but the entire world was one of his creations, built to trick you. He can fool even the wisest people with his illusions. The question is, how did a portal to his world open at the party and did he purposefully seek you two out?”
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Apr 3, 2020 19:51:02 GMT -5
(You made perfect sense! I love that idea, and I think it'll be fun to see how they handle and cope with all of that. Not to mention watching Aries as he has to chauffeur them to South America because you know they ain't going alone. XD
If there's anything on my part that you need me to have the boys do, or if you need me to play one of the NPCs along the way, just let me know! I'll do my best to keep things going on track and not accidentally ruin the plans. XD)
Winter listened, suddenly no longer hungry. He didn't have any memories of their time in the other dimension. The one time he needed to be out the most, and he was unable to gain control of the body. All he had to go on was Sam's recap of the events in his perspective, and what Romi told him while Xoros was out. That was something he still hadn't fully come to terms with, but it was a problem for another day. Right now, he had other things to focus on.
"Could it perhaps have something to do with a certain prophecy that claims to involve us?" the protector asked. The words of the demon from the Lovelace library came back into his mind. As much as he would rather not think of it, he couldn't deny the strange things that had been going on. There was a reason for all of it, and even if everything wasn't connected, then he would at least have answers about something. The demon said Aries and Gil knew of the prophecy, and it was something he had been meaning to ask the two about since they had returned. Here was his chance.
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 3, 2020 20:18:58 GMT -5
[[ Oh heck no, Aries would not let them go to South America alone. And you know for sure Gil is tagging along, because he’ll be worried sick that Sam might front and get scared of the place. XD
I’ll absolutely let you know! But you won’t ruin any plans, I promise! Plots should always be flexible, anyway. I think it’s more fun that way. ]]
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The single world prophecy forced the room into absolute silence, at least on the behalf of the older men. Gil, who looked tiredly down at his cup of water and Aries, who let out a slow exhale through his nose.
“I believe so,” Aries sighed at last, lifted a hand to scratch his beard that was perhaps getting too long. “I’m assuming you found out about that from the party. Lovelace’s familiar is well known for having the sight. It’s...an old prophecy.”
Gil took the reins from there. He leaned into Aries’s side, which was not uncommon, but he looked tired. “Some with demon blood are gifted with the sight. I am not, but traces of it linger in my blood. When I was a younger man, I would wake from dreams I could not explain. I saw too much. None of it made any sense. I thought little of it, back then, but now I know better. They’ve reoccurred over the centuries, from time to time.”
Romi wanted to give him a hug, or perhaps offer to let him sleep, but she knew that this conversation was one they needed to have. “Is it really about us? And why?”
“I didn’t know, at first. But after I met Winter and the others, I began to have suspicions. And then my dreams changed. The faces of the people were no longer blank—they were yours, Romi, and Winter’s,” he said softly, but his eyes held centuries of wisdom. “A long and tedious journey lies ahead of you, I believe. The details are murky, but I know that much. Winter, I‘m sorry to drag you into this, but I think you and Romi have always been destined to meet.”
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Apr 3, 2020 20:34:53 GMT -5
(XD I can see them now: Aries and Romi have normal suitcases, pack with the essentials, and Gil's over their with like three over-sized bags filled with everything he thinks Sam needs/might want at any given time.
I know, but I know the frustration of setting up a really important scene in the plot only to have the other person ruin it by either not participating like they should or having their character refuse to do what they're supposed to.)
Well, that was certainly not what he was wanting to hear. Winter wasn't thrilled to have the prophecy be confirmed, but that didn't mean he couldn't try and find a way out of it. "How can you be sure it's about us?" he asked. "I mean, you said it yourself you don't have this so called sight. They could just be dreams. We have recurring nightmares all the time, and your faces show up in them now. Maybe you're mind is just filling in the blanks with people you already know."
He refused to accept that he or his system was destined for this. Of course, being destined to meet Romi wasn't all that bad. She had given Derek and Sam a friend to confide in, and with her around he didn't have to keep as close of a watch on them whenever the others were fronting. He had a little more time to himself with her to keep them company. That was a plus if nothing else. However, being destined for this journey everyone keeps talking about, that was something else. That he wanted nothing to do with.
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 3, 2020 21:14:43 GMT -5
[[ Lmao yessss, Gil takes ages to pack because he’s trying to find out which blankets are the softest and which stuffed animals are absolutely necessary. Plus he has to pack all of Sam’s favorite snacks that won’t spoil and make sure he has plenty of clothes, etc. He’s going to be such a worried dad.
That is true, but I love your writing and you’re an awesome partner so far, so I don’t have any worries at all. ^^ ]]
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“I truly wish that were the case, Winter. I really do. But how would Lovelace’s familiar have known if it were not true? I have only spoken of my dreams with Aries and he would not tell another soul,” Gil replied, hands tight around his cup, which he lifted to take a drink. His typically stern face was pinched tight with worry. “I do not know as many details as they do, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting you two wander off alone again. I worried for you too much while you were gone.”
Romi tried to let all of the information sink in, but she really wasn’t sure what to make of it. All of it sounded a little out there, too far into the realm of impossibility. Though she knew they would never lie about something so serious, it didn’t settle her nerves or disbelief. “What type of journey are we speaking of? And how is feeling like we’re being watched related to this?”
Aries was the one to answer this time. “I think the two might certainly be related. A prophecy of you two on a journey and strange spirits telling you to go to South America. Sounds a little too coincidental for my tastes.”
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Apr 3, 2020 21:49:23 GMT -5
(XD Nothing for the other alters. Maybe one or two things for the others, but not much. Only Sam. XD
Aw, thanks. ^^ )
It was strange to hear Gil say he worried about them while they were gone. The man was usually gruff and stand-offish whenever he was out, but he knew from Sam and even Derek that the man was gentle towards them. But for him, it was just hard to picture him, or anyone, being concerned for their well-being.
When Aries started talking, he turned towards him. "I'm sorry, but who said anything about spirits?" he asked. Up until this point, there had been no talk about what caused all the strange events or what left those messages for them. "What do they have to do with this?"
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 3, 2020 22:21:51 GMT -5
[[ Probably a couple things for the others, but he knows they can take care of themselves. He’s too worried about Sam being sad. XD ]]
Aries looked exasperated, more at himself than anyone else. He clearly hadn’t meant to let that last part slip out. Too late to take it back or change the subject, he barreled on with a carefully worded, “Gil said he sensed a spirit the other day, when you two first came back. At least, that’s what he thinks it was. Something old and otherworldly. And after Romi told me about the incident in the elevator and with the map, well. Hard to believe the two aren’t connected somehow.”
“Spirits. The demon from the party said the same thing and so did Inika. What are the spirits? Like, ghosts?” Romi asked, more on Winter’s side of skepticism. In fact, she moved a little closer to the man, just because she was freaked out and liked his company. Although she made sure not to get too close, of course. “Are we being haunted or something?”
“No. It’s hard to explain,” Gil added with a shake of his head. “The spirits are—not human. But they’re not witches or demons, either. They might not even be dead people at all. It’s been believed for hundreds of years that those with the sight are given their gifts by the spirits. To be able to talk to a spirit is a rare thing, but not always good. I’m sorry if it doesn’t make a lot of sense. They’re otherworldly beings that don’t follow our rules.”
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 4, 2020 7:54:22 GMT -5
[[ Aries is a little jealous, not gonna lie, but he’ll just have to get over it lol ]]
“There are some rules,” Aries answered, but when faced with the question of what they should do, he took a moment to think it over. “Sitting by doesn’t seem like a good option, though neither does heading to South America. I have to say I’m curious what might be waiting for you there.”
“Do you think it’s a good idea?” Romi asked, biting her lip. She personally didn’t like the idea of heading to the strange location on the map, in search of something she didn’t know the first thing about.
“A good idea? No. But if you’re with me, I think you’ll be safe. I’ve been around long enough to know how to deal with a bit of trouble,” her brother responded with a shrug. “You won’t get hurt on my watch, Winter. I promise you that.”
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Apr 4, 2020 8:04:06 GMT -5
(I feel kind of bad since I know they're super close. Aries just needs to go on and adopt Sam as well, and just embrace parenthood with Gil. XD Problem solved.)
"Yeah, and curiosity killed the cat," Winter muttered. The more he listened, the more it sounded as if the trip to South America was happening. That didn't bode well with him. No one in the system had ever traveled before. They're stayed in the area they lived in and that was it. So the idea of leaving to some unknown country, so far away, made him uneasy. Aries reassurance did little to help.
"And how do you know that?" Winter asked. "What if we find out that what's waiting there is beyond out management? What if we need the help of the Council? Last time I checked, you weren't exactly on good terms with them. Which is another subject I think needs to be cleared before we do anything major. Besides, we also have a habit of disappearing it seems. So how can you be so sure you'll be able to stick with us the entire time?"
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 4, 2020 8:27:09 GMT -5
[[ He just needs to accept that Sam is their son now and embrace being a parent. XD ]]
“I’ll make you some protective charms, so I’ll always know where you are. And we’ll stick together. No one goes anywhere alone,” Aries decided, though even then, he knew that he could still lose sight of then for a moment. That was all it would take for them to vanish, it seemed. They were no safer here, though, and he was positive that with a few charms they would be better protected from the influences of whatever dragged them into Inika’s realm.
On the topic of contacting the council if they needed help and disclosing why they were on bad terms, Romi could see her brother’s entire body go stiff.
“I have friends and contacts I can call if we run into serious trouble,” the man answered, but didn’t say anything about what Winter wanted to know.
Gil looked like he wanted to speak, but he too kept quiet.
“I think Winter’s right. We need to know, don’t we?” Romi interjected, even though she knew how touchy of a subject it was. This wasn’t the first time she’d asked.
“Aries,” Gil said softly and put a hand on the other man’s arm.
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Apr 4, 2020 8:50:52 GMT -5
(Gil: "Aries, I know we've never talked about having a family, but just look at him." *Sam, covered in mud and holding a frog he caught* "Tell me you don't find that precious." XD )
Charms would be good to have, but Winter doubted they would be able to do much. He had a feeling that if something wanted to harm them, it could do it whether the charm was being used or not. His faith in magic was still pretty low. The wards around the hotel room worked well enough, but if spirits could get in, how good could they be?
"I just need to know if this is something that's going to cause problems for us in the future," Winter told Aries. As one who like to keep to himself, he knew that prying into their own secrets wasn't fair. But safety was his first priority, and having two people who were on the Council's bad side was a wild card. He needed to know why they were on such bad terms. If it was nothing of huge consequence, than he would take a vague answer. If it appeared to be something more dangerous, then he would have a lot more to say.
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 4, 2020 9:12:50 GMT -5
[[ Omg that would be so cute!
Aries: “No, my answer is no. I don’t care how cu—” *Gil, also covered in mud while he helps Sam make a mud castle for the frog* Aries: “Ugh, fine.” ]]
“It might cause issues if the council needs to step in and get involved, but it’ll mostly be our problem, not yours.” Gil didn’t move his hand away from Aries’s arm and he still spoke carefully.
“We’re a couple, if you hadn’t noticed,” Aries mumbled, clearly unhappy about having to speak about it.
Romi raised an eyebrow. She could tell exactly how much the mention of feelings bothered her brother. Only Gil could put up with that level of grumpiness. “Uh, yeah. That makes sense. Kind of hard not to notice, you know.”
“Well our relationship is illegal, so we try to keep it to ourselves. Familiars aren’t allowed to be in relationships with their witch or warlock. You can date a demon—it’s frowned upon, but it’s legal—but the second they become your familiar, it isn’t allowed anymore,” Aries continued. “It’s punishable by a term of banishment, where you’re unable to use magic and aren’t allowed to travel. As well as exile from all council matters.”
Gil, seeing how the subject troubled him so, picked up where he left off. “We served our banishment before Romi was born, but we’re still on bad terms with the council. They put our names down on a list and they check in every decade or so. Legally, they can’t make us separate, but they hold grudges.”
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Apr 4, 2020 10:07:29 GMT -5
(Lol, Sam makes him a #1 Unwilling Dag mug for father's day. XD)
"That's it?" Winter asked. He had been expecting a tale of them getting on some councilman's bad side, or used a spell that caused mayhem for the council. Started a rebellion. Heck, anything more life-threatening or of greater importance. But this? "How stupid is your council to banish people for dating your familiar? Why is that even a bad thing? Dating someone else's familiar, I could see being problematic, but your own? That's just stupid." While he himself had never been in any form of relationship, that didn't mean he was fully cold-hearted on the subject. In fact, it had been fairly obvious that the two were more than just warlock and familiar not long after knowing them. As far as he could tell, it didn't really do anything to hinder their abilities to function.
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 4, 2020 10:31:49 GMT -5
[[ aww that would be great ]]
“It’s an old, stupid law,” Aries agreed in a half-sigh and made a scowling face as the conversation progressed. “The council thinks that our familiars should be so far beneath us, that we shouldn’t even consider wanting to start a relationship with them. It’s a load of bull, if you ask me. There’s nothing wrong with it. Actually, I think it happens more frequently than most people are aware of. How could it not? You spend all your time with you’re familiar—they work with you and get to know you better than anyone else.”
Gil’s lips quirked up in a tiny smile. “Nope, that is certainly not it. The council never would have found out about us if someone didn’t interrupt a council party to declare his love to the world,” teased the other man with a raised eyebrow. “He jumped up on the table and told the head councilman that he was a—what was it? If I remember correctly, you called him a despicable, self-centered baboon of a man with rubbish for a brain and the most heartless, soul-stealing gaze you had ever seen. And then proceeded to pour your drink over him.”
“I did no such thing,” Aries argued.
“Oh yes you did, don’t give me that. Winter, he was nothing but a stereotypical bad boy when we were young. Don’t let him tell you otherwise.”
Romi, for one, was laughing in her seat. She tried to stifle her giggles with her hand but it was no use.
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Apr 4, 2020 11:38:29 GMT -5
(And that's what finally wins him over is Sam calling him Dad. x3 This is just the most wholesome idea. Like the whole premise of Sam's real dad was terrible, so now he has two dads to make up for it. My heart can barely take it. )
Winter raised an eyebrow at this. It wasn't the fact of the possible number of secret relationship there could be, but the new information of Aries and Gil in their younger years. It was hard to picture the men as being their age at one point in time. He was so used to them as they were now. It was also hard to imagine Aries as the "bad boy" type. Then again, it kind of made sense. Out of the two, Aries was the one he gravitated to more. The man was a lot like him in the way he kept to himself and left everyone else well enough alone unless he had a reason to interact with someone. Save Gil, of course. He seemed to always prefer the other's man's presence and had no problem getting around his personal space for no reason other than he could. Aries's claimed actions at the party in question sounded like something he would have done. Perhaps not to such degree or for the same reason, but he was no stranger to causing scenes when he felt them necessary. High school was filled with such scenes.
"Such a waste of the drink," Winter said. "Should've used his drink. Added insult to injury."
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 4, 2020 12:20:50 GMT -5
[[ It would be so sweet and wholesome if the reason Aries finally comes around is because Sam legitimately calls him dad, like that’s cavity inducingly sweet. I love the fact that he really does practically have two dads now to make him happy. <333 ]]
“Believe me, I wanted to. He wasn’t drinking anything at the time, though, and I wasn’t about to walk away after he sat there insulting Gil. Stupid Rylan,” Aries grumbled under his breath, much like a petulant child would after being scolded for doing something bad. “And he’s still head councilman. Stuck-up, old-fashioned witches and warlocks treated him like a hero after he banished me.”
Gil shook his head, half fond and half sad. His smile, though, was not one of an upset man. “But that’s really the majority of what we’ve done to get on their bad side. It doesn’t take much these days—the council is full of thick-headed, unkind people.”
“That’s awful,” Romi said and leaned over to very lightly bump her elbow against Winter’s. “Do you think they’ll do anything to Winter? If we go to South America?”
“Probably not, unless we stir up way too much trouble,” said her brother. “In which case, I’ll make a few calls. I have many friends who know how to pull strings well.”
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Apr 4, 2020 12:33:58 GMT -5
(And it's just out of the blue too. Neither Gil nor Aries tells him to call them dad, figuring that he would have negative reactions to the word, but Sam just says it like it's the most natural thing in the world.)
So the story ended up being more amusing and bittersweet than he feared it to be. Winter felt a little better about that, knowing they hadn't done anything to make them gain too much attention. But Romi did raise a good question, one he thought he should expound upon. "And what about me in general? About us? We're half demon, half warlock. Lovelace said she knew our mother, but she apparently wasn't on the council's good side either. What will they do to us?"
It was a fair question, one he had been trying to forget about and put off. He was trying not to care about the judgement of the council on their part. If he didn't acknowledge it, then they couldn't do anything. However, the more they talked, the more it was clear that staying out of this world was going to be impossible. The boy had to know what was waiting for them. He was too much warlock to be considered a demon, and too much demon to be considered a warlock. Although, it was easier to accept and claim the demon blood in his veins more than anything surprisingly.
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 4, 2020 13:33:52 GMT -5
[[ Omg I can imagine the look on Aries’s face, he would be so shocked (and secretly happy), because he’s never pictured having a kid before. ]]
“I can’t say for sure what they might do to you, but Winter—let’s keep your lineage between us. I know Lovelace figured it out on her own, but this isn’t something I want to start getting around. A child between a witch and a demon is incredibly rare,” Aries decided, in all seriousness. “I doubt the council would be kind if they found out you were half-demon and half-warlock. They’re a shady bunch. If push comes to shove and you have to meet them, you need to pick one and pretend to be solely that. Either demon or warlock. Not both.”
Romi didn’t like the idea of Winter being in the presence of the council at all, let alone under the facade of only being one creature. “I don't want Winter to have to deal with them,” she admitted as she chewed on her bottom lip. “But I know it would be asking for too much to be that optimistic.”
“We’ll do everything we can to make sure they don’t. And if they do—well, it’s a good thing they already don’t like us. I don’t mind speaking up,” Gil added as he stood up to clear away the dishes from the kitchen table. “They don’t scare me anymore.”
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 4, 2020 14:26:07 GMT -5
[[ Aww, calling him papa! I think Aries would melt. The word for father in Hawaiian is “Makua kāne”, which would also be super adorable for Sam to call Gil. He would definitely teach him his native language as a pass time. ]]
“Let’s keep it that way,” Aries said as he also rose up from his chair, rubbing the back of his neck and stretching until his muscles popped. “I doubt Lovelace will run her mouth, but Gil and I will do what we can to make sure your secrets stays, well. A secret. In the meantime, I’ll make some arrangements and see if we can safely get to South America without any major obstacles. We’ll probably take a portal to the closest place. It’s faster and easier than plane travel, plus if Derek or Sam were to front, I don’t think they’d do well on a multi hour flight.”
“Guess we’re actually going, then. I’m kinda nervous to go out of the country on a mystery journey.” Romi could hardly believe they were about to go on an adventure to South America and that none of them knew exactly what they would find. She could only hope that it wouldn’t get them hurt, killed or in trouble. Not for herself, but for Winter and the boys, who didn’t need such unnecessary stress in their lives.
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