*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 Mar 31, 2020 14:00:41 GMT -5
(Cool! ^^ And thanks. I don't know how I got so into learning DID myself, but the more I learn, the more interesting it is. I highly recommend going to watch DissociaDID on YouTube if you're ever bored and want to see how it really works.
I think that's the end result a lot of doctors and therapist try to work towards with people who have DID, but I think it depends on the amount of alters a body has, as well as the amount of trauma endured. Not going to say it would never happen, but it would be a result that would take a lot of time and dedication to work towards.
Now, onto Xoros. XD This is something I have even less knowledge of, so if I say anything that I later find out is incorrect, I will let you know and change it. There are several different types of alters in how they are formed and the roles they perform. Xoros is a Interject and a Prosecutor. An interject is an alter who is takes on characteristics of someone the system knows. More times than not, many Interjects take on traits of the system's abuser. A Prosecutor is an alter who brings harm to the body, most of the time unintentionally. Most of the time Prosecutors believe that they are protecting the body and the other alters by bringing harm to them. There are a lot of ways this could be, and I don't want to try and list off a bunch of ways this happens because I still need to do some research into it. Anyway, Xoros doesn't really harm the body in anyway, but he's a Prosecutor in the fact that he holds their father's opinions and treats them the same way as Urzilan did, at least verbally anyway.)
Flinging himself into chaos was half the fun of living. Xoros rolled his eyes slightly. "Really, I don't know why you're even bothering with them. They know nothing of the magical world. They wouldn't last two minutes here on their own. It's almost embarrassing to say I have to share the body with such pathetic humans. At least the emo one has some inkling of sensing magic, but he shuns it like the plague. What's the point of having this mixed blood if he doesn't try to use it to his advantage. He could have easily killed Urzilan years ago if only he put forth the effort."
Her threat seemed to have been completely missed by the demon. Really, he wasn't that concerned. He could do as he wished and didn't have to listen to the words of some witch. This was his body, as weak and frail as it was, and he could do as he pleased. If the others had a problem with it, so what? They got to do things all the time without his say so. Why not return the favor.
In what felt like no time at all to him, they reached the fork in the hall. There was nothing to indicate what laid at the end of each path, but Romi seemed to favor the right. He stood for a second, drinking in the magical essence in the air. If there was a trail of any kind, he didn't sense one. Nothing that eluded to where each path might lead. So, without any better reason to do otherwise, he followed the witch.
(I was really tempted to just have him say "Bye, witch," and walk the other way. XD But I didn't know what you had planned so I made him play somewhat nice.)
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Mar 31, 2020 16:50:29 GMT -5
[[ i’ve only learned a little about DID through some classes and a bit of reading on my own, but i will definitely check out the channel! i just love learning about anything that has to do with psychology or medical conditions, even though i’m pretty far from a medical professional lol.
yeah, i would say that it’s a difficult end goal to reach, but the one a lot of people probably strive for. especially if the person in question has a large number of alters or if they’ve been through extremely traumatizing situations.
see, that makes perfect sense for xorros, because i noticed right away that he seems to treat the others the same way urzilan treated them. it’s interesting to have an alter that doesn’t care much for the body as a whole or the other alters in question, when the rest of them more or less work together. even if he doesn’t go out of his way to physically harm them, he also doesn’t take their thoughts and feelings into consideration. ]]
“They’re still learning. Don’t put them down before you give them a chance. Besides, it’s not their magical capabilities that I’m interested in. I like them as people, just the way they are,” Romi argued, because she knew fully well how long it could take to master the art of magic. It came more easily to witches and warlocks born into purely magical families, but she didn’t know how demons or demon blood factored into the equation. Most demons weren’t legally allowed to use magic without extensive permits and paperwork, certainly not unsupervised.
Which reminded her of another problem that they would, eventually, have to face. Sooner or later, whether or not they became her familiar, they would have to be registered by the council as an unpartnered demon. And they were not kind to free demons. That would involve far more paperwork and debating than she wanted to think about right now.
The right corridor actually led somewhere different. A large, spacious foyer that somewhat resembled what she would imagine the inside of a legitimate castle might. Of course, normal castles didn’t have furniture floating and bouncing around midair. Nor did the hallway one came from generally tend to vanish without a trace, leaving them with no choice but to move forward. When she turned her head to look around, she found a sight that made her snicker. “Oh, look, it’s you!”
A large floor to ceiling mirror reflected Xorros’s image, but it was warped and distorted, to make him appear as though he had very long arms and a very small body. Her own reflection wasn’t even there, which didn’t bother her as much as it should have. Right now, she couldn’t care less.
[[ lmao, he can be as mean as he wants to, i doubt it will get in the way of the plot. ]]
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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 Mar 31, 2020 18:25:05 GMT -5
(I had only one physcology class in college, but it was very basic. I don't like science much, and all of the technical terms. However, I'm so intrigued by learning about mental disorders. I know that DID is not portrayed in a positive light in the media, so I guess that I like knowing the truth of it.
It's really interesting though because I learned that the Inner World of a system works just like the Outer world. Alters have jobs, mostly to do with keeping the body working as it should, they can fall in love with each other, get married, and have kids! Like if it's so cool to think about, but I know that it isn't easy to deal with the more alters a body has. I know that having fewer alters might be better, but the thought of all of the integrating and no longer having those connections to their friends and loved ones, having their wholes lives ended and changed, is a really sad thought to me. Like, I know it's good to heal, but at the same time, everyone has already worked so hard to establish themselves.
Yeah, I've been trying to figure out what to do with Xoros for a while, like how he came to be and what not, so when I saw a video about the different types of alters and learned about Interjects, I instantly knew that's what Xoros was. It explained so much about it.
Also, I meant to say in the last post but forgot: I need to make it clear that even though their are alters who do harm to the body, they are not "evil". If you've know about the movie "Split," that is a movie that depicts DID as being an illness that create personalities that are blood thirsty killers. That's not the case. Even though they're known as Prosecutors, they do not harm anyone outside the system. Xoros may be a demon, and does have a lot of chaotic tendencies, he's not going to purposefully go off the rails and harm anyone. On accident, that's another story, but never on purpose. )
"Sure you are," Xoros replied. Se was a witch. From what he knew, witches didn't have anything to do with demons if they could help it. The only time they chose to be around them was when they tricked them into becoming a familiar to the witch or warlock in question. While Romi hasn't done anything to prove that she was trying to bind the others into such a servitude, but he was sure that was something that she was working towards.
The room they ended up was interesting to say the least. Furniture was floating all over the room, and there were several mirrors scattered about. He looked in the direction of the one Romi noticed, not as amused by the sight as she was. It was a little strange that only his reflection was shown, but it wasn't that important. A flick of his hand sent a surge of magic towards the mirror. The goal was to make it shatter. At the same time, he turned away and walked farther into the room. "Do you fancy to take a nap here instead, witch?" he asked in turn. "I'm sure if you ask nicely, I could toss you up onto one of these chairs. It should be fun to watch you struggle to get onto one."
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Mar 31, 2020 19:05:46 GMT -5
[[ i’ve had a couple high school AP psychology classes and one in college, but that was a while ago and we only studied DID for a very small section.
i think that it’s both a happy and a sad thing. i remember reading that the individual lives of alters can be as different and detailed as that of a person in the outer world, but it truly is amazing how the human mind and body works. although on a slightly different note, if i were to imagine derek and sam integrating (or even winter integrating with one of the others), it is very sad. even for people they interact with on the outside, because i think romi, as a friend to all of them, would be as sad to see them go as she would be happy that they’re healing.
oh, no, of course none of the alters are evil. being careless and inconsiderate is a far cry from being a bloodthirsty murderer. personally, while i have seen the movie split, i’m not a fan of it. it showcases DID in such a negative light and a lot of people think that’s how it really works, that all the alters are “crazy” or “dangerous”, which is definitely not the case. like i understand what the creators were trying to achieve, but people usually don’t bother double checking facts and take fiction to be the truth.
i love that you’re willing to put so much research into your character! it’s great to be able to talk about such a misinterpreted disorder and learn the truth about it. and i love incorporating it into our rp, it’s new and not something i’ve ever really done before. ]]
The surge of magic did, indeed, shatter the mirror in an instant. However, the glass didn’t fall to the ground—it rose up towards the ceiling, with the rest of the levitating furniture, twisting and twirling. It reflected the light from the nearby lights on the walls. Romi quirked an eyebrow up at it. Despite being a witch, it wasn’t every day that she witnessed inanimate objects defying the laws of gravity on their own, without a magic user in sight.
“I fancy a roll of duct tape to cover your mouth with.” She didn’t feel much like sleeping anymore, as tired as she was. When Xorros fronted, she had an instinctive urge to keep a close eye on him. To her, he was more of a danger to himself and the other alters than he was to anyone else. A ball of chaotic magic and attitude. She didn’t fear him—she worried for and about him. He was still a part of the others, no matter how much he argued against that fact or insulted them. “It would be fun to listen to you try to speak around it.”
A slight breeze made her shiver and she turned her head toward its source, the shattered mirror. Behind the remaining shards of glass was a wall of darkness, but as she flicked her hand to call forth her own lights, she saw that the undamaged frame was more of an entryway. A room was hidden behind the glass, the smooth rock walls of a cave.
“How much of this do you think is real? I’m beginning to think this is all just make believe. And if that’s the case, I doubt wandering around is going to get us any closer to the exit.”
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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 Mar 31, 2020 20:24:21 GMT -5
(I was also home schooled, and didn't have a lot of means to help understand everything. My mom did her best to explain stuff, but it was still confusing. So I blame my aversion to the subject on that. XD But this doesn't feel like science. More like understanding what makes people tick, and that is something I like to understand.
It's very challenging for people who have made close bonds with the alters. Like, if someone was dating a certain alter who integrated, there's a good chance that the new alter may not want to date them anymore. Even though they have all the memories of that person and know how much they meant to them, the new alter is a different person. Most cases I've seen tend to work out and they can maintain all of their relationships with everyone they know, but there is still a chance that things will be different. I think it would be really difficult on Romi if Derek and Sam integrated. The loss of them would be missed, but I feel like their personalities are so similar that the new alter would maintain a cheery outlook. Winter would lose his mind if he integrated again. XD He's still not entirely okay with the first time it happened.
Yeah, I haven't seen it, but I remember when the commercials came out wanting to go see it. This was before I knew anything about DID, and it caught my interest. The idea of having multiple personalities was intriguing and, not normally one for horror/thriller movies, made me want to watch it. I never did, and I'm glad I didn't. I kind of have an idea of what the creators might have been trying to do, but the fact that they spread so much negative information about a very real illness is just very insensitive and has done a lot of damage. Don't feel like I was worried you would have these misconceptions. I just felt like it was my responsibility to spread that fact, if nothing else, since I'm using a character with DID. I'm not trying to lecture or anything. Merely trying to do my part in the debunking of stigmas. Especially since there's been a lot of drama in the community about it this past month or so (I won't get into that though, don't worry. XD).
I'm having a lot of fun with it. Like, I've never put this much thought into a character, never done this much research before. Had we made this plot three years ago, I might not have done any research and just worked with the limited knowledge I had. I guess since I started watching videos of someone who actually has it and gotten to know a lot of the alters, it made it more personal, more real. So now I've just been obsessed with it, lol. A lot of people don't use a whole lot of disorders with their characters apart from like depression or anxiety, so I'm always a little hesitant to use Derek and his DID. In fact, it's only recently that I decided he was part of a system. So getting a chance to use him and his disorder with someone willing to listen to me ramble on about the info I've learned is really amazing. XD)
"Duct tape would hardly work. If you want to do a good job with it, glue would be better. Really, I would expect much better problem solving skills from you by the way you talk," Xoros commented. He walked among and under the furniture, inspecting them as he passed. While he did, he tried to find the source of the magic that kept them aloft. There was bound to be some kind of spell in place to keep the gravity in the room inverted as it was. If not a spell, then someone or something was proving the magic needed. If they could find it, then they might be able to at least navigate the house a little easier.
At her words, the demon turned his head to look in Romi's direction. "You're asking the wrong person there. I've learned that everything is real, no matter where you are," he informed her. Inside, outside, it didn't matter. Everything was real, even if it only took place within the mind. "Now, the ability to manipulate the reality is what you should question. I guarantee you that we can shape this place however we want if we figure out how to do it."
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 1, 2020 8:03:09 GMT -5
[[ Public school was awful, but that’s just my opinion. I mean I had fun in some classes, but most of the time it was just a pain in my side.
Yeah, I think it would be hard on her, too. She’ll always care about any of the new alters who pop up or new ones created from integrating, but I think it would feel like losing friends to her. Poor Winter has been through so much.
Oh no, you’re fine! I just love being able to talk about how trashy that movie was. To be honest, the movie isn’t all that great, even if you removed the DID misconceptions. A little irrelevant to the conversation, but I feel like the plot was all over the place and the characters weren’t very relatable. All in all, though, people already didn’t know a lot about DID or had the wrong ideas, but for some, I think this movie solidified those bad views. I hate that the media does that with so many mental disorders. That’s a whole topic on its own, though.
I think it’s great to be super passionate about learning so that you can apply that to your writing or to a specific character. Not only does it show how invested you are in the topic, but I think it also shows a lot of respect. I’m more than happy to listen to everything you’ve learned, all your ideas, and work to put it into our rp! I think it’s amazing and I find it all equally as interesting. Plus, I love all of the alters and how they all interact with Romi so differently. ]]
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“Oh, hush. That was a joke. I wasn’t that serious about shutting you up, but now I might be,” Romi said as she examined the entrance to the cave, though she could see little past the dim light of her magic. A long, winding tunnel that could have taken them anywhere.
Everything is real.
In every way, shape or form, everything could be considered real in some aspect. Xoros might have been right about that. To manipulate reality actually be their ticket out of here. The question was how, exactly, they should go about doing that. Her magic didn’t seem to work here the way it should have, given how she couldn’t make a portal and her communication with Gil had been abruptly cut off.
Then she put a hand on her cheek as she thought. A lot of things in this place didn’t make any sense, like how she had no reflection. Huh, now that could have been a key. Better than what they had to go on anyway. Ignoring the obvious tunnel cave, she moved over to one of the unbroken mirrors and stared right at it. Still, she couldn’t see her own face, but the surface of the mirror was clean and shiny, reflecting Xoros and the room behind her. There was no way it was a real mirror, otherwise she would have shown up herself. She wasn’t a vampire. Curiously, she stuck her hand out, and was unsurprised to find that it went right through the glass, as though she were touching air. “Hey, Xoros. Come here for a second.”
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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 1, 2020 10:57:09 GMT -5
(Yeah, I'm glad I was home schooled, don't get me wrong. I'm not a socially skilled person and wouldn't have done well in public school. But there are some aspects of it that I kind of wished I had a chance to take part in.
Winter's had it rough since he's the main trauma holder, which is surprising. In a system who's been as much as they have, there should actually be a lot more alters Inside, even if they all don't front and use the body. So maybe there will be some hidden fragments or alters that pop up here and there as time goes on, just to give Winter a break and add to the system.
Which perfectly leads into my final idea of having a new alter make an appearance. XD I'm not sure how soon I want to have her split since we just had Xoros finally emerge from his own hiding, but my idea is that Winter experiences a traumatic experience, either by the hands of Witch's Council or by something Xoros got them into. It's too much for him, thus resulting in a new alter splitting. She's a Prosecutor as well, one who does not share any information of what's going on with the current system. She has her own memories of her own parents and her own life, but basically her role is to take some of the trauma and feelings from Winter. She took and personified his feeling of voicelessness, of knowing no one cared to hear their cries of help, so she's mute. While she doesn't know of the others or why she's suddenly in this whole new situation, her memories and Winter's emotions kind of go hand in hand. Now, the part I wanted to get you input in is this: She's a Persecutor because she's the one that will start to self-harm the body. In her own back story and memories, that's something she's always done, so she continues it in this new scenario she's found herself in. If you are not okay with me having her self-harm, and of course I would never go into too much detail about it anyway, I can cut that detail out. It's entirely up to you and how you feel about the subject.
Yeah, I really want a movie that accurately portrays DID. Like, even if it wasn't centered around DID or a character with DID, there still needs to be a movie with a DID character who is shown in a positive light. Yeah, it's not a fun disorder, but it's not all bad. I have watched a lot of sweet and wholesome moments while learning about it, and it's made my day on multiple occasions. Especially if a Little is out and about and exploring the world. It's just too precious. X3 I kind of want to be the one to write a story from the perspective of a DID character, which is why I'm so glad you're willing to listen and work with me in this rp. I think it'd be interesting to see how it would play out in a fantasy setting, and this plot is helping me solidify a lot of things I haven't thought about before, not only with the backstory and individual alters, but the system as a whole. ^^ )
"And I was fully aware that it was a joke," Xoros responded. He wasn't an idiot. He knew that Romi didn't like him, but the witch wouldn't do anything to harm him. Otherwise, she'd be putting the body at risk and risking the trust of the others. It had been an empty threat, but one he still corrected her on. It was fun getting under her skin.
Current he was standing in the middle of the room, eyes scanning for a pattern in the way the furniture floated. Everything was floating independently, but nothing was crashing into each other or the walls. Reaching up, the demon pulled on a leg of a end table closer to him to be inspected. There was nothing out of the ordinary about it. However, when he let go, it returned to the spot he had plucked it from. Interesting. But before he could go further, Romi called him over. "And what has the great witch found that she needs my assistance with?" he sneered, lazily wandering over to where she stood.
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 1, 2020 14:25:30 GMT -5
[[ Yeah, some aspects of public school are good. I guess it’s like everything else, it has its ups and downs.
I think that’s a great idea, to have fragments or hidden alters pop up every now and then. It would be a really neat way to show that just because some alters haven’t surfaced or don’t share their thoughts/feelings with the others, doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
Aww, poor Winter, the sweetheart. I do actually like the idea of a new alter splitting due to the amount of stress he’s under, though! Especially since they are going to be going through a lot with the whole council/Xoros causing trouble/being a part of a bigger plan sort of deal. That’s a lot of pressure to put on one alter, on top of all the trauma he’s already been through with his father. As for the self-harm aspect, I’m not sensitive to the subject and mentioning it doesn’t personally bother me. I don’t mind you having that detail in there at all. I already know that you’re a wonderful and respectful writer (and person, you’re awesome), so I really don’t have any worries about it.
I’m glad to help out! Honestly, I would love to see a book or novel, even a short story, with a focus on a character with DID. It’s just not something you see very often and when you do, it’s almost never portrayed properly. I think you’re doing a wonderful job with this rp, so I have no doubts you could write an awesome story! ]]
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“I think we should make our own door,” Romi offered as she stared at the fake glass. It clearly wasn’t real or at least not something tangible. She ignored his snide comment. “I’m sure there are a lot of exits out of the room, but I’m pretty sure if we make our own, it might actually get us closer to getting out of here. My magic isn’t strong enough and I doubt yours is, either for but I have an idea. Hold my hand, unless you’d rather stay here forever.”
He would probably reject her idea, but she would convince him one way or another.
Xoros was starting to grow on her, ugh. It was impossible not to feel some semblance of fondness for him, when he was so heavily connected to the others, but Romi didn’t want to like him. He was so mean and spoke so rudely about the others, which was highly uncalled for. The demon was irritating and grated on her nerves, but deep down, she wondered if he was simply just scarred due to his own trauma and unable to show emotion in any other form. Everyone coped in different ways. Plus she was a softie when it came to the alters. Didn’t matter which one. All of them held a special place in her heart. Maybe even Xoros would, too, one day.
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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 1, 2020 15:21:40 GMT -5
(Yeah, but nothing beats getting to sleep in and do class in pajama's all day. XD
Yeah, I feel like since they don't really have a clue about what really goes on with DID, there's going to be a lot of alters that they don't know to look for. Winter is primary protector and likes to think he's the one who knows the most about the system, but really he's at a loss for a lot of things. I actually think it's Sam who finds all the new alters because he's a Little and doesn't have to worry about fronting often. So he has a lot of free time to explore the inner world and find all these new people. XD
Haha, yeah, Winter has a long standing history of having bad things happen to him. He really doesn't like me much. XD And thanks, I just wanted to be sure you're okay with that sort of things. And I don't want to seem like I'm trying to put all the spotlight on Derek and them and away from Romi. So if there's anything that you want to do with Romi, just let me know!
Aw, thanks. I really appreciate it. It means a lot to know that I'm doing a good job with it, still being a noob on the topic as I am. And I'll keep you inform on how that goes, lol. I have nothing so far, so it might take a while. XD)
Xoros took a closer look at the glass of the mirror. Like before, Romi's reflection was not there. Only his own distorted image could be seen. There was a reason for that, he was sure, but he didn't know what it was. Curiously, he reached out to touch the glass only to find that it was not solid at all. "Well, look a here. You are good for something," he commented.
Pulling his hand away, he folded his arms over his chest and glanced her way. "And why should I? As you said, there's plenty of exits here, and my magic is plenty strong." Perhaps not well trained as it should be, but he knew he had a good amount of magical ability and control. "Who's to say you won't get us into a bigger mess than we're already in?"
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 1, 2020 15:41:13 GMT -5
[[ Lmao that’s the only good thing about online classes, too.
Sam is literally the cutest, I love him and how easily he just finds everything that other people miss.
I haven’t thought of anything major to add with Romi yet, but I’ll be sure to let you know if I do! I actually love just having her interact with all of the alters and see what happens. She’s literally so attached to them.
Hey, we all have to start somewhere, and I think you’re doing a great job. ]]
“Because even if your magic is strong, there’s obviously a barrier between wherever this place is and our world,” Romi pointed out, though she understood his hesitation, for once. She knew that none of the alters had liked being touched at first, and even the ones who didn’t mind now still had their own boundaries. Derek liked to cuddle, but sometimes he still flinched. The same could be said for Sam. Winter allowed small touches, but nothing major. She didn’t know about Xoros because they hadn’t spent much time together.
She held out her hand to him, anyway. Let him make the decision. She wasn’t about to grab him without his permission because one, that was extremely rude, and two, he could very well react badly. “One way or another, we’re going to get ourselves into a bigger mess. Might as well do it together. Someone is behind this wacky world we’re in and I guarantee you, we’re going to meet them before the day is over.”
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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 1, 2020 15:52:32 GMT -5
(I'm so glad I don't have to worry about school anymore, haha.
Sam's just more free to do what he wants and isn't weighed down with everything else like Winter and Derek. He just wants all the friends. XD
Haha, good. I have something in the works as well, but I'm going to keep that to myself until I find a good time to use it. x3 I want all raw reactions to it because I think it'll be really interesting to see what will happen.
Again, thank you. ^^ )
Unlike the others, Xoros actually didn't mind physical touch. He did, however, have issues holding the hands of the witch. The action was beneath him, to rely on her powers to get them back to their own world. Staying there in the strange house was not an option, especially since there was no way of knowing what was lurking around in here. He eyed the hand held out to him. Then sighed. "You sure are annoying, you know that?" he asked, grabbing her hand. "Do whatever it is you're planning before I regret it."
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 1, 2020 18:08:54 GMT -5
[[ Sam deserves to have all the friends he wants, sweet bby. <333
Ooo, I’m excited to find out what it is! I can’t wait. ]]
“Aw, thanks for the compliment, honey. I strive to be as annoying as possible.” Romi held his hand and, oddly, it wasn’t all that awkward. It felt the same as holding Sam or Derek’s hand, because it was exactly the same size. Unsurprisingly, despite the clearly demonic physical characteristics, he was similar to them in a lot of ways. When she focused, though, she could feel the magic thrumming through his veins—strong and vivid, powerful. It held a note of intensity that wasn’t often found with witches, easily attributed to his demon nature. Her hand almost hurt, where it touched his skin, from the sheer force of it.
She didn’t move away. Put all her attention and effort into one idea, one word: door. That was how magic worked. It followed what you asked it to do, if one knew how to ask. Romi felt the familiar tug of her own magic, but when she was focusing like this, it mingled with Xoros’s and turned into something entirely different. New and strange. She could sense when the spell was complete from years of training and pulled her hand away only then. The moment she did, she felt truly drained, like all the magic had left her body. In the little time they’d been holding hands, she hadn’t been quite so cold, but now, she was freezing.
In the middle of the floor, where once there was nothing, now stood a flat trapdoor. She fought down a shiver as she approached and opened it. There were the stairs she pictured, exactly as she imagined them. “Watch your step,” she told Xoros, whether he appreciated the sentiment or not.
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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 1, 2020 18:20:20 GMT -5
(He really does. XD
It's a good thing, I'll tell you that. No suffering involved, haha. Unless, you know, you can inner emotional turmoil suffering. )
He felt the moment she called forth his magic to use for the spell. It was almost enough to make him pull away. He felt the power transfer from him. While there was no visual signs, there was a tugging or slow trickling of magic. Normally when he cast spells, his power surged forth, not caring to hold back and just powering through whatever was in its way. This was different, more controlled. It was weird to say the least.
In no time at all, the demon watched the mirror transform into a door, one, when opened, revealed a flight of stairs leading to another unknown part of the building. Whether the spell worked or not, they were about to find out. Making no comment to her warning, he stepped after her, curious if nothing else to see how this was going to play out.
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 1, 2020 19:00:24 GMT -5
[[ Lol, now I’m even more intrigued! ]]
Romi tucked her hands under her arms as she walked, to both have something to keep them occupied and to warm them up. Her stomach did a weird flip as the staircase suddenly changed from going down to up, nauseous at the clear disorientation the magic seemed to take, and came to a stop as the stairs ended. The last step met the stone ceiling, where another door was located, and she opened it without much worry of what might be on the other side. Honestly, she was expecting another wild corridor or funhouse room of floating objects.
A bustling city scene met her eyes. Fast flying cars and crowds of people on phones. No one seemed to notice as she pushed the door up and stepped outside, because they stepped out into an alleyway. The door appeared to actually be nothing more than a sewer grate. However, she put her hand gently on top of Xoros’s head to keep him from following her up. “Stay there for a second. If a human sees you, they’re going to flip out.”
Quickly, she checked around her, just in case there happened to be a witness to the literal demon that was about to crawl from the sewers. Not that Xoros was ugly or scary—he was quite handsome for a demon, actually. That was besides the point.
“Okay, I think it’s clear for you to come up.”
[[ I’m tempted to make an elderly person see Xoros and make a scene. ]]
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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 1, 2020 19:46:54 GMT -5
(Hehe, then I only hope I can do a good job putting it into action when we get to it.) The change in directions was a little unnerving as he wasn't expecting it, but Xoros didn't seem to be as effected by the use of magic as Romi did. Perhaps it was because he had lived among the magic the body was capable of using, he was responsible for who could use it and how much. He stayed surrounded by it all the time, so he was use to the swirling storm that was the body's own source of power. Now, of course, he wasn't entirely aware he could control the use of magic among the alters, just that he seemed to be in the thick of it. Upon reaching another trap door, this time sunlight poured down onto them. Xoros let out a small hiss of annoyance at it, but was otherwise fine. Sunlight didn't cause him any harm, but it did make him uncomfortable, as with many demons. Granted, the sun was in the process of setting, as he found out once he was allowed off the stairwell, but it still wasn't the best. "So, I take it we're back where you want to be?" he asked, glancing around at the crowds and cars that passed by the alleyway they were in. (Do it! )
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 1, 2020 20:19:08 GMT -5
[[ I’m sure you will! ]]
“Back in the normal human world, yes. Not exactly where I would have picked us ending up, though,” Romi answered quietly. She could only imagine what they would look like to the public eye—a girl in a ruined dress and a demon in a destroyed suit. Not that she cared too much about the clothes, that wasn’t the issue. No, the issue had more to do with Xoros’s skin and teeth and horns. How she was going to sneak him anywhere in such a crowded city, she didn’t know. “I was picturing somewhere oh, I don’t know, a little more rural.”
A discreet place where they wouldn't be seen. This was the opposite of that.
She was about to pull out her cell phone and see if it still worked when a shriek interrupted her thoughts. Her head whipped around and she made direct eye contact with an elderly woman, whose groceries dropped to the ground, mouth wide open like a fish. What a wonderful day it is, thought Romi tiredly as she quirked an eyebrow. “Can I help you, ma’am?”
“That’s—that’s—monster!” Babbled the woman who seemed rooted to the spot. Other people were beginning to take notice, too.
Romi went with the first excuse that popped into her head. “Oh, him? No, he’s not a real monster. We’re on our way to a party,” she explained, taking note of how the woman’s pale face changed a bit. Without missing a beat, she hooked her arm with Xoros’s and poked him in the cheek. Normally she wouldn’t have done so, but this was a bit of a special circumstance. “See, it’s a themed event. Old horror movies. He’s a swamp monster and I’m his bride. Lots of special effects makeup required to cover up this handsome face. I’m sorry if he scared you. Sugar, apologize to the nice woman.”
At the last sentence, she gave Xoros a look. Please just go along with it.
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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 1, 2020 20:59:43 GMT -5
Xoros didn't recognize anything in the surroundings to give him an idea of where they were. Then again, he didn't recognize any place Outside. He had been around for a while, but he had never really been out in the world. He had no memories of anyone else's outings. He was about to make a comment about it when a scream filled the air.
Red eyes turned and spotted the elderly woman starring in horror in his direction. Her fear and panic washed over him, much how magic would. Only instead of the form of energy, it was more of a scent. It was hard to describe just exactly how it was like, but it was intoxicating to the demon. He took in a deep breath as a grin formed on his face, fangs barring to the crowd of onlookers slowly gathering. Oh, how he wished he could reveal in the moment, but, sadly, Romi had to ruin it. She took his arm in hers and got much to close for his taste. On top of that, she had to poke his face. He let out a controlled sigh, barely biting back the comment he wanted to give when she called him sugar. "Yes, special effects is a passion of mine, so any chance we get to dress up, I go all out."
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 1, 2020 22:12:34 GMT -5
The elderly woman didn’t look convinced, but Romi didn’t plan to stick around long enough for her to get a better look. She used her arm around Xoros’s to her advantage, pulling him along beside her as she quickly and steadily made her way in the opposite side of the alleyway and out into the street. There was no escaping the curious and shocked gaze, though she did her best to make it seem like she knew exactly where she was going. There was a subway entrance not too far ahead, which she ducked into, and was finally able to pull Xoros into a secluded, shadowy corner where no one could look at him and scream.
Immediately, she let go of his arm and shot him an apologetic smile, because that’s the way she was. “Sorry. Anyway, now that you’re not the city’s most interesting thing to gawk at, him going to call my brother to come pick us up, because I have no clue what city we’re in.”
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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 8:35:21 GMT -5
It was a shame they couldn't stay and talk with the woman more. Xoros was enjoying the scene he was causing. Alas, Romi had to ruin the fun by dragging him off to who knows where. During the walk, he felt himself starting to lose his train of thought. Not being in a place of strong magic anymore as well as in the sunlight, his hold over the body was weakening. Others were cramming to the front, but since he had poor communication with the alters, he had no idea who was trying to push him out of the front. He was able to maintain his control, though, as they entered the subway, stepping out of the light and into a much quieter space. Thankfully, that meant Romi releasing his arm as well.
"You go do that. I'm going to explore," the demon said. They were in a relatively safe spot. Him wandering about should be fine. After all, what could be lurking here that was more dangerous than himself? He still wasn't completely clear headed, but it was fine. He could still function and do what he wanted.
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 2, 2020 10:46:51 GMT -5
“Don’t start any trouble,” Romi warned him sternly, though she had no qualms about letting him explore around if he wanted to otherwise. She took her cell phone out and was pleased to find that she could still turn it on—thank the gods that it hadn’t been broken at sometime during their weird adventure. Finding her brother’s number, she dialed it, and waited for him to answer while keeping her gaze on Xoros. She didn’t quite trust him to behave himself, and therefore, it was her responsibility to watch over him. The moment the call went through, she started speaking. “Aries, oh my god. I need you to pick us up.”
Of course the flood of questions that followed was expected, but she didn’t have the time or energy to answer them all.
“No, I don’t know where we are. You’re going to have to track me. I’ll explain everything in a little while, I promise, just—please come get us?” She wasn’t surprised that Aries agreed to come get them without an explanation. He was the best brother and she was grateful to have him. Once the call ended, she turned back to Xoros. “Aries will be here soon to come get us.”
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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 12:30:00 GMT -5
(Also, I'm putting together playlists for these alters, so if you know of any songs that fit them, I'd love to hear them. XD)
"Your lack of faith in me to stay out of trouble is very touching," Xoros responded even as he was walking away from her. Really, there wasn't too much to look at here. Nothing really popped out at him or caught his eye. There was no one else around at the moment, which was disappointing. He could use a little bit of entertainment. Boredom was slowly creeping as, as was another alter. Try as he might, he was loosing the battle to stay in control of the body. But he was determined to stay in front as long as possible.
"Lucky us. Then I'll have to put up with two of you," Xoros muttered, but there was a shift in his voice, a kind of disinterested tone that indicated he was as all there as he was a moment ago.
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 2, 2020 13:56:04 GMT -5
Xoros could be as sassy as he wanted to be, but Romi still liked to believe that one of these days, she would properly win him over. Maybe by bringing him to a junkyard to run rampant and do as he pleased. She was certain he would enjoy setting old cars on fire for the fun of it. The shift in his demeanor was noticeable, the bite to his words not quite as intense. He sounded far away, distracted, and she chalked it up to him being occupied with other alters. All of them acted similarly when they were about to switch—the telltale signs were a bit different for each one, but never by too much. The longer she spent in their presence, the easier it was becoming to see those little hints, when at first she feared it might always come as a surprise. Sometimes it still was, but it was less difficult to simply take it in stride.
“The more the merrier,” Romi teased, though she knew he didn’t really like people. Specifically, he didn’t like her. It didn’t take Aries long to show up at all, perhaps twenty minutes, and she supposed most of that time was spent tracking them down. The large man came barreling down the subway tunnel over to her at record speed, pulled her into a hug that crushed her bones and squeezed the air from her lungs. Not far behind him was Gil, who hugged her the second Aries let go. Neither men were very physically affectionate, but she knew she must have really worried them if they were being this cuddly.
“I’m relieved to see the both of you alive and well,” Gil said as he pulled away. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
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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 14:29:44 GMT -5
Xorros didn't reply to her comment. He had more important things to concern himself with. Mainly staying in the body. It was a process that seemed to last an eternity for him, but the second he heard Aries and Gil rushing towards them, it was a lost battle. It was hearing Gil's voice that secured the switch. Sam, more excited by the events that happened than anyone else, was eager to tell the older man about everything that had happened. Slowly but surely, Xoros faded away, leaving a very human looking body behind in his stead.
"Gil!" the child squealed, running over to his friend and bouncing with an energy that shouldn't have been possible at this point. "Guess what? We went to a forest, and saw a bunch of glowing flowers. But they weren't just flowers. They were on this huge creature! It let me pick some, and there were all these glowing months that changed colors and they tickled as they walked on my hands. Then I tried climbing a tree, but I feel. But it's okay, because I helped Miss Romi find cobblestones! Those are round rocks that make a path. And I helped her find the portal!"
He was beaming as he talked, unaware of the concern and the possible danger that they could have been in. All that mattered was the fun adventure he had had.
(If Gil wants to hug him, he can. I'm sure Sam has cuddled up to him on more than one occasion by this point. XD)
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 2, 2020 15:01:39 GMT -5
[[ I feel like a good song for Xoros would be “Legends Are Made” by Sam Tinnesz. Idk why, but it reminded me of him. I think a good one for Sam would be “Wandering Child” by Wild Rivers!
Also Sam has Gil wrapped around his finger lol ]]
Gil was thrilled to see Sam, though the shift between demon to human was one that he hadn’t witnessed in a long while. Still, he didn’t miss a beat when the boy began chattering on about all that had happened. “Sam!” He called and leaned down to scoop the boy up in a gentle, but wholeheartedly warm, embrace. Lifted the boy off the ground and ruffled his hair. “I missed you, buddy. It sounds like you had a really fun time, huh? You helped her find a portal because you’re a little genius. I’m happy you had fun, but I’m really glad to have you back.”
No one was quite as good with Sam the way Gil was, the way he always leaned down to make himself seem a bit smaller, how he always participated so happily in all of Sam’s conversations. No matter how trivial or random they might be, he always managed to sound completely invested.
“Hey, how about we go home and get you cleaned up. Then we can watch a movie, just you and me? I’ll let you pick any Disney film you want and you can tell me all about your adventure.” Gil offered, because Aries and Romi would likely be having a serious discussion not suitable for Sam to take part in. Not only did he not want to scare the boy, he didn’t want him to feel left out on his own while the three of them talked. It was better to break into groups of two. “How’s that sound?”
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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 16:21:42 GMT -5
(I love Sam Tinnesz. x3 And that is a pretty good song for him, tbh. I also like the one for Sam. It fits his personality very well. ^^
Hehe, you can bet he'll eventually use that to his advantage.)
Sam giggled as he was scooped up into a hug. Despite having an adult body, Gil still treated him like a child. He was big enough that picking him up seemed like the easiest thing in the world. Sure, it was probably awkward for him to pick him up, and an awkward sight, but Sam didn't care. He was just glad that he was able to get to feel like a kid while in the body. He grinned as he hair was ruffled and he was told he was a genius.
"I did! It was really fun, but I'm glad to be back too," he said. As fun as the adventure had been, he was feeling the exhaustion of the whole event. "Really? Can we watch Bambi? Or Oliver and Company?" The child hadn't gotten a chance to watch movies before when they lived at home, so since he had been hanging out with Gil, he had been catching up on a lot of movies that all children watched. Sam seemed to like the ones with animals the most. Bambi was his favorite, and had probably watching it at least twenty times.
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 2, 2020 17:23:49 GMT -5
[[ He’s an awesome singer. I’m glad you like it!
Gil will literally do anything for him lmao ]]
One of the reasons Gil liked to pick Sam was, despite being in the body of an adult, he really was just a kid. He was innocent and sweet, but likely never had the chance to enjoy his childhood and live it the way he deserved to. Although it wouldn’t change things, he was more than willing to give him everything he never had before. “We can watch both,” he decided with a small but happy smile. He didn’t care how many times they watched the same movie on replay, as long as it made Sam happy. “Let’s get you home.”
Making a portal took very little time and getting back to their hotel room took even less. Gil was quick to usher Sam into the bathroom with a clean change of probably too big clothes, before meeting him in the living room. By the time Sam was finished, the couch was covered in soft blankets and pillows, the coffee table covered in various snacks. Perfect for a movie marathon and a nap, because he knew that the boy would eventually fall asleep cuddled up to him like he always did.
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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 18:43:27 GMT -5
(I can just see Gil giving Sam a piggy-back ride when all of a sudden Winter switches out, and he's just like "Put me down this instant." XD)
Sam was all too happy to stay by Gil as the portal was made. Unlike Winter, who was hesitant the first time using a portal, Sam seemed to think it was exciting. There was little that didn't intrigue the child. Not to mention no one else was showing any negative reactions to it, so it couldn't be that bad, right?
Once they made it to Aries and Gil's hotel room, Sam took the clothes he was given and set to work getting a bath. He wasn't going to bother with it, but Winter reminded him that he had to take on. They were filthy, and even if they weren't at Romi's dorm, they still needed to get cleaned up. It took maybe ten minutes to clean off all the mud (and he might have just been playing in the water). When he was done, he dressed in the baggy clothes Gil gave him, leaving the muddy suit in the corner of the bathroom. He didn't mind wearing the clothes that were too big on him. If nothing else, they made him feel smaller, more kid like.
Seeing the state of the couch when he left the bathroom, the boy grinned and hurried over to the couch. He lifted up one end of a blanket and crawled under, not stopping until he reached the other side, closest to Gil. When he got there, he poked his head out from the blanket and giggled. The blankets and pillows were just what he liked. He could curl up in and under them, making a nest of fluffiness and softness to protect him. The only thing that could have made it better was if Waddles was there. But he was back at Romi's dorm. "Are we watching Bambi first?" he asked.
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 2, 2020 19:13:33 GMT -5
[[ lmao i can totally see that happening, it’s all fun and games until winter shows up and demands to be put down. XD ]]
Gil laughed softly as Sam poked his head up from under the blankets, ruffling his hair and lifting an arm to hug the boy close. While not a hugger by nature, he didn’t dislike cuddling with Sam. For many reasons, Sam reminded him so much of himself, as a child. Energetic and naive, eager to impress those around him. Eager for any attention and love that he could get, because he wouldn’t find any at home. That was a very long time ago, but he was determined to make Sam feel safe and welcomed.
“Yep, Bambi first and then Oliver and Company,” he said as he grabbed the remote and selected the movie in question. However, while the intro was playing, he turned to Sam with a tiny smile. “Want to see a magic trick, little one?”
Magic was forbidden for all familiars, even simple spells that required little to no skill to perform. It was punishable by significant time in the council’s specialized prison or, in some cases, being forced under house arrest and monitored depending on the severity of the magic used. Gil was already on bad terms with the council, as was Aries himself, but that never stopped him from finding loopholes. The council couldn’t tell who was using magic in a specific location, only that magic was being used. Besides, there was a certain stuffed animal named Waddles that he very much wanted to surprise the boy with.
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 2, 2020 20:39:49 GMT -5
[[ lol i can see gil just continuing on like they never switched and winter just angrily yelling for him to stop ]]
“A surprise magic trick.” A tiny grin curled up the edges of Gil’s mouth as he moved his hands behind Sam’s head, right behind his ears, as if he were about to perform the old coin in the ear trick. Instead, when he moved his hands away, it wasn’t a coin that he was holding. No, it was the soft and fluffy material of an all too familiar stuffed animal. “Ta-da, magic!” He said, and while he never would have acted so ridiculous in Aries’s presence, he would absolutely do so for Sam. “I thought you looked a little lonely without Waddles.”
Truthfully, he noticed that Sam never slept well without the toy in question. If he didn’t have it, he would of course still have Gil to cuddle up to, but sometimes it wasn’t the same. He knew how much the boy loved Waddles, how it made him feel safe and secure. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to make Sam as happy as could be, even if it meant breaking the law to do so.
Sam meant the world to him, in a way that so few people did. The list of people he would die for was slim, but now, Sam’s name was right there along with Aries and Romi’s.
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