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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Aug 27, 2024 15:51:11 GMT -5
( ofc~ it's a lot this week leading up to it and next week, but hopefully it will start to calm down a little after that. so far i'm spending my commute time writing, so we'll see ) |
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Aug 28, 2024 0:25:11 GMT -5
𓂋
ʚ♡ɞ Gluttony
♡♡♡♡♡
Gluttony waited patiently while the human considered his words and pieced together a response, relieved at least that his voice was clearing as time went on. He must have succeeded in appearing as less of a threat, as he can tell that Beck's mind has gone to puzzling out answers rather than remaining on alert. The Guardian Angel is to be understood more than he is to be feared. That is a much better outcome than he had anticipated, although he'd already known his Trust to have an open mind given his interests. The eudaemon's tail curls into his lap as some of the tension he'd been holding eases. There's still an ache in his body but the fine tremors it produces can be hidden by his cloak and dispersed through the alatai. He draws them closer at an angle so that they don't bend against the floor. His aureole has returned to its lazy rotation, although the light is dimmed and a few cracks remain. His frightful appearance is gradually fading away, and he can only hope that it would make him less of an objectionable figure. Gluttony has been subject to a variety of descriptions concerning his general demeanor but 'approachable' never made the list. Throughout all the mythologies of this world, it is unanimously agreed upon that 'Guardian Angels' are a source of warmth and safety. Gluttony can...he tries to keep others safe but recent events have shown him that his efforts are still not good enough. Warmth is in the realm of 'approachable'. He feels as if he is failing at that as well...Establishing his role and purpose seems to be a step toward rectifying it, however.
The eudaemon's head tilts when his Trust makes his first skeptical inquiry. "What you do outside of your occupation would be of particular interest to many. I understand that your research has...insights that others in your field are not privy to." It had already been established that their charge would be singular in his successes regarding the study of magic in this world. That is part of what makes him perfect for his role. Gluttony is beginning to suspect that there is more to his achievements than first met the eye, however. The scent of magic still clings to him with only the faintest traces of something darker- smoky notes that originated from the therian's own cloak. They've intertwined partially, as if someone had begun braiding the two together and stopped midway.
Gluttony perks up at the human's mention of magic with a brief flutter of his alatai. The sound they make now is more muted, rustling feathers rather than shifting steel. Beck attempts to dismiss himself almost immediately and the eudaemon finds a spark of amusement at his visible dismay. He is aware that he is speaking to a potential 'guardian angel' yet cannot help offering a more 'realistic' solution. Wintry eyes narrow slightly, a muscle in his right cheek twitching once.
"I would say that it is a combination of the two. Both stealth and magic were utilized. My presence is not intrusive, however. I will appear to you regardless of barriers or distance should I be needed."
He hums when the man levels him with a considering look, his own pensive gaze following the movement of the brunet's hands when he purposely tucks them away from the red velvet that lies between them. "I placed myself between you and the spell." Gluttony inclines his head. "I apologize for any...rough handling." While the move had been as gentle as he could make it, they were pushed back farther than he had anticipated when the spells clashed.
Gluttony's tail-tip flicks thrice at the man's last statement. He hums again, eyes briefly slanting toward the open office door. "The why...I arrived when I sensed your home being intruded upon. The would-be thieves intended to steal from your study; they were likely intent upon your findings. How: There is a spell that binds us. As previously stated, I can appear at your side in an instant. The witches used magic to infiltrate your home and conceal their presence."
His ears swivel, gaze intent upon the human. "Have I provided satisfactory answers?" There is no doubt that there will be follow ups- despite mentioning magic, Beck had been careful about keeping his avocation a secret beyond the peers he interacted with online. It would likely alarm him to know that his work was both known and targeted by those beyond his trusted few. Gluttony is prepared to provide clarification when he is reminded of where they are- seated upon the wooden floors when his Trust has just experienced a fall. His eyes narrow.
"Before we continue, I would like to move our discussion somewhere more comfortable for you. And to search your home for magic that may have been left behind." He cannot smell or hear anything suspicious, but his senses have been dulled by the Geas. Wrath will have to follow behind him to ensure he hasn't missed anything.
{ Making nice, are you~? I almost don't want to interrupt~ }
{ Wrath I swear- }
{ Haha~! Don't get your tail in a knot~ I'll come save you from the mire of ~social interaction~ }
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Aug 28, 2024 0:27:18 GMT -5
( Ah, I understand! That's honestly really impressive- I could never write coherently while in a moving vehicle lol
Hope it's not too stressful for you ^^ )
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Aug 28, 2024 3:15:27 GMT -5
( i don't think i could do it on a bus/in a car, but writing on the train is like my favourite thing in the world haha it's very peaceful. not at all~ it's fun to get back into it actually ) |
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Aug 28, 2024 3:30:10 GMT -5
( Ohh on a train! Yeah that's not so bad! I haven't taken the train much but I can see how that'd be nice~
I'm glad to hear it~ It's the good kind of busy then ^^ )
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Aug 29, 2024 0:11:23 GMT -5
Edwin had considered that his work might be valuable to people other than himself, of course he had, but never for very long at a time. Magic was a lost art. He kept it secret not because people might hurt him for his knowledge and possession of it but because he knew he would not be believed. If it was to be believed that his work research was the reason for this break-in, he’d been right to be careful, but understood too little to be careful enough.
The supposed angel was starting to look a little more like one as blood and rust faded away. The corner of his mouth even twitched into a brief, almost smile, far more real than the one he’d been attempting to wear thus far. Even then, he looked nothing like any angel Win had ever seen before, despite wings and crown shaped halo. Win watched him with a blend of curiosity and scepticism, quickly shifting to displeasure as the other continued to speak.
“Your presence is ‘not intrusive’?” Eyebrows crept up, his voice incredulous. “That’s not up to you. I don’t remember inviting you, actually.” Whether or not his claim of being here as his guard was true, Edwin was sure that he felt quite intruded upon.
Rough handling was the least of it. Win might be on the frailer side, but he could handle hitting a wall. That dreadful cloak, though… The shock of his brief contact with it still throbbed in his head as a constant distraction. To say he wasn’t holding it against his uninvited guest would be a lie. He rubbed two fingers against the building knot in the nape of his neck, trying to find the pressure point he knew would ease the awful headache slightly.
“No. Your answers suck.” He sounded like a child, but couldn't bring himself to case. In truth, the explainations were at least logically consistent. As far as answers went they were pretty clear, just inadequate. He wanted the whole image, not just puzzle pieces provided one by one.
Edwin followed the other’s cool gaze to his office door, wide open. That was when it finally sunk in. The strange man had told him his research was what the thief had wanted - had she gotten her hands on any of his journals? The thought of his prized, hard earned collection of history in the hands of some thief filled him with disgust and panic. He needed to know that-
Wait. ‘They?’ ‘Theives’? As in several more people he hadn’t been aware of.
“They? I only saw the one trespasser. Did they get anything? I have to check if they stole anything. And I’m fine.” He knew both that it was a lie and that anyone with eyes or ears would see right through it. So be it. The only thing that would do anything to help was a dark room and sleep, neither of which sounded especially appealing right now.
After a moment to collect himself, he pushed to his feet with the help of the wall behind him. A wave of dizziness crashed into him and he swayed slightly, closing his eyes against the nausea, but stayed standing. “Fine. Check if you must. I’ll sit down once I’ve gone through my office.”
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Aug 29, 2024 4:45:18 GMT -5
𓂋
ʚ♡ɞ Gluttony
♡♡♡♡♡
His Trust's previously calm voice takes a turn toward incredulous in his response. Gluttony tilts his head, ears following the movement as he scans the distrustful man once more. Hm. It is...not a determination that he can make? He is present only when he must be, and his purpose has never been to do more than ensure no harm comes to the man...He calls the word's meaning to mind and checks it against his actions. Is he violating space or privacy, or causing disruption and annoyance? Beck naturally does not want 'strangers' in his home. Gluttony does not see him as a stranger, but the reverse cannot be said to be true. He has occupied the man's personal space briefly, and his actions have caused disruption even if they are in reaction to another. Thus it appears he must yield to Beck's opinion, for it is fact. Gluttony will not be so immature as to argue that he is not the one to cause events to unfold as they have. He can always do better. He must always do better.
Gluttony hums, eyes closing briefly. "I see. You could not have 'invited' me as you were unaware of my existence. That is no longer the case. You may do so now, whenever you have need."
"Ah." He blinks in surprise when the man decides that he has once again been...inadequate. That is what he understands the...slang to mean. Wrath used it against him once.
The eudaemon does not recover quickly enough and Beck launches into possibly the longest stream of words that he'd said to him all night. Gluttony's brows furrow, his own response coming a tad quicker out of concern that his Trust would move before he'd answered him fully.
"There were three. I will not know until we have checked. You are not." His last three words are delivered in a sterner, more dry tone.
Beck is of course attached to his research, so the urgency is expected...The lamps in his apartment have stayed on late into the night when he'd been poring over manuscripts, bindings, journals, and whatever else held the keys to solving his latest mystery. Gluttony had been privy to how hard Beck worked for an interest that didn't have a concrete meaning to him, but was important all the same. Out of respect for his efforts, Gluttony will recover whatever has been stolen in its entirety if such an act has occurred. It is the least he could do for a crime committed on his watch. The thought prickled at both his pride and conscience despite knowing that in the end, his Trust's safety comes first. He should have-
The eudaemon makes a quiet sound of displeasure when Beck moves to stand. He uses the wall to support himself but still sways slightly, as if overtaken by dizziness. Gluttony had noticed him rubbing at the nape of his neck, but he doesn't appear to have injured himself badly enough in his fall. Nor in the brief seizure. It is likely the aftermath of the seizure itself. As for what had caused it...
Lips dipping in the beginnings of a frown, Gluttony rises as well. He is...similarly affected, but familiarity with such a state prevents him from showing any outward signs. His tail uncurls to sway behind him, and the alatai briefly flare outward to aid in maintaining his balance. A silent exhale whistles through clenched teeth when he straightens. It is easier to ignore his body when he is stationary and solely focused on something outside of himself. Only the ghosts of pain linger now, the memory of it preceding his every movement. True memories are harder to shake, however. He grounds himself by naming three things that affect each of his five senses, cementing the fact that he is here and not there.
"Very well. Allow me to enter first, so that I may ensure your safety." Gluttony's eyes reopen at half-mast and he runs a tired hand through neatly parted ginger hair, ears swiveling when they pick up a familiar rhythmic stride.
As impertinent as ever, Wrath suddenly enters through the door the witch had closed behind her without so much as a single knock. Well, besides the one to his head when he forgets to duck. He greets the weary pair with his patented devil-may-care smile as he toes off hanfu slippers and sets them neatly aside. "Hmhm~ Looks like you two had an interesting night~"
Gluttony briefly slants his Trust a rather droll look. "This one is definitively intrusive."
Wrath laughs, tossing back the long queue of hair that he'd finished off with a large bronze bow. He'd apparently had time to fully dress in a midnight blue laced shirt and black pants that tie at his hips. If he didn't look so windswept, Gluttony would have immediately gone for his throat. As it stands, the taller eudaemon's curly bangs are in disarray and his clothing is wrinkled rather than being carefully pressed. His aureole blazes into being above his head as soon as the door shuts.
{ You imbecile! Why are you appearing before him? }
{ It'll be easier this way~ }
{ What will?! }
Wrath approaches his irate partner utterly undeterred by the glare attempting to strip his skin from his flesh. His smile doesn't falter even when he hits his shin on the side of the sofa. Once blue eyes are now dual-toned fuchsia and aqua, silver star-shaped pupils briefly transferring his attention to their Trust.
"Hello again Edwin! Pardon the late intrusion, I'm here for this furball~"
Gluttony bristles. Ears pinned back and tail stiff behind him, even his feathers rise and shift in response to his ire. A defensive posture borne of his partner's nearness. Wrath simply halts within arm's reach and leans down slightly, frigid blue meeting sparkling rose. The proximity between their aureole relights Gluttony's. Wrath's flames feed it until it glows bright enough to cast shadows, all signs of distress fully melting away. The alatai become lighter and less unwieldy, bloodstained shadows lurking at the corners of his vision retreating back to the darkest corners of his mind. As if refreshed by gentle rainfall, the pain and fatigue slough off to leave him unburdened by the effects of the Geas. At least when he doesn't look too deeply- Gluttony raises a hand and flexes his fingers, mana coiling comfortably in his palm. Its return is like a balm on his frayed nerves. The scent of magic is more potent now, and he can trace it-
"There's that beautiful glow~" Wrath gives him a fond hair tousle and Gluttony leaps back, simultaneously smacking his hand away. A growl rumbles in his chest but his partner is far too accustomed to it. He actually turns away from the therian as if he isn't in danger of having a knife slipped in between his ribs.
Wrath addresses Beck, placing a hand on his own chest before sweeping it away in a little bow. "I'm your illustrious Guardian Angel of the Right. Feel free to continue calling me Enlai, however! I've grown attached to it~" He straightens and places his hands on his hips, head canting. "Tails alerted me to your...situation so I'm here to help! You were just in the process of taking stock of your belongings and checking for traps, right~?"
Wrath's usefulness has waned with the reinstatement of Gluttony's magic. They do not need him to conduct a simple search. He had simply barged in and acted as if they'd naturally flow with the tide he'd brought. It is continuing to piss Gluttony off.
"And the thieves?" His tone is hard, brows arching in a silent 'your actual job?'. To Wrath, who has practice with reading his expressions, there is an additional 'The one thing I asked you to take care of? Why the hell are you here??'
"If we tracked them it would have to be the mundane way." Wrath waves his words away with a graceful swivel of his wrist, tone maddeningly casual.
"...what? You didn't use your magic?"
"Ehh? What did you expect me to do? You're the hunter between us, Sir Fox. I am merely a simple bow." Wrath presses his palms together and briefly bows his head in deference, though a flash of dimples makes it clear that he is enjoying riling the therian up.
{ Cor damn you to all ten of your hells. }
Gluttony's tail begins subtly lashing, one arm banding across his chest to support the other as he pinches the bridge of his nose. "It is of the utmost importance that we-"
{ Tread lightly. You know what no magic means. } Wrath adds a lilt to his mental voice, softening the command in his tone. Gluttony bristles further at the mere suggestion of it.
{ We cannot leave them unchecked. I did not violate my Geas, it was...some magical item that the witch possessed. I can hear its echoes now, and surely you can see it. Beyond that, our Trust- }
{ Hm? Oh, that's... }
For once, Wrath is rendered speechless. His smile doesn't drop, but his eyes widen slightly as he looks the brunet up and down as if seeing him for the first time. His inhuman gaze lingers on his hands. Abruptly, Wrath breaks the tense silence with a clap of his own hands. "Well then, let's not keep the man! We'll do our little inspection and discuss this more once we're sure no one planted a bomb as a parting gift~"
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Aug 29, 2024 4:51:01 GMT -5
( Sorry if there is too much going on to respond to! ;;;
As ever, Glue is ~out of touch~ and Wrath lives to annoy him ^^" )
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Aug 30, 2024 13:26:02 GMT -5
Win was already turned, uninterested in letting the winged man go first if it meant he had to wait, when the door opened again. There came a bang, then a familiar voice. He whipped around, only nearly too fast for his body to manage in its current state. All he could do was gape at the flat’s most recent guest.
Sure enough, Enlai was now, apparantly, the fifth person to enter his home in a single night, and the second to do so with an odd halo and inhuman features. This late into the night, he couldn’t bring himself to disbelieve his senses. He’d done enough of that.
“You are intruding,” he muttered in lieu of a greeting, though he made no effort to force either of them out. It was clear he was going to be unsuccessful and what back-up could he reasonably call? The police? Seeing as he hadn’t seen the first stranger until after the explosion of light, he was sure they would be of no help.
He should have taken the opportunity to get back to what he needed to do while the others were occupied doing… whatever it was that they were doing. Instead he stared, mesmerised, as the dull crown brightened and brightened until it glowed all on its own. He thought he could see the smaller of his visitors straighten just slightly. By the time he could tear his eyes away, it was too late. Enlai had things to say, and the other, whatever his name, was disagreeing with fervor. Win had never been one to be patient for squabaling, but today least of all. He should have left while he could. Edwin drew a hand across his eyes, hoping against hope that this was not a sign of how the rest of the night would go. Why did he even have two Guardian Angels anyway? Surely one should suffice.
The fact that one of them had been haunting his workplace, while strange and more than a little uncomfortable, wasn’t as disorienting as he might’ve expected if forewarned only a few days ago. And Enlai had told him once, though Edwin had dismissed it as nothing but a slightly teasing joke. He’d told the same kind of jokes himself many times, and in retrospect it was completely transparent. It even explained his unique fields of interest – in an especially creepy way, mind.
He sighed heavily, putting that conversation away as well. “Please just do that sweep you feel like you need to do, or go following thieves or whatever. Just stop talking about it, or talk elsewhere.” Too overwhelmed to do anything but continue with his original plan, he turned on his heel and stomped into his office with irritated steps.
Even in the dark, he could see that the office was mostly untouched. Whoever got in here must’ve not had time to properly search the place. The light flickered on, making him cringe. In the artificial brightness, it was easy to see exactly what had been touched.
Despite what his occupation of choice might suggest, Edwin wasn’t generally a neat person. Clean, sure. Tidy at a stretch. But he wasn’t the kind to keep his work carefully organised by chronology or volume or topic. His notebooks had their shelves, but what order they were in there or how the contents they held were organised was anyone’s guess. Generally speaking, Win could still find his way. He was, after all, a professional. He counted by sight not feel, still spooked from the earlier incident, finding everything where he remembered its place to be.
He had only a small desk which he rarely sat at it for very long. That, unlike his shelves, was a mess, everything shoved out of alignment as if by a hand that would know what it was looking for when it found it. On it he’d left a half-finished cup of coffee and three different kinds of cheap, blue ballpoint pen, and his journal. They were all in places he’d never put them. A stack of post-its had been swept onto the floor, alongside his unused pen pot and desk-buddy-plant.
The Law According to Madam Grenshaw was missing.
No. It peeked out from the lowest shelf, blissfully unaware. The relief was instant. If he misplaced something from work, he might have to fake his death to evade the shame and his colleagues’ rage. He’d moved it to make room for his fifteenth volume of notes, which he’d thought might include information relevant to the alchemists in Mondi’s area.
So why was there only one notebook left? He snatched it up, flipping through rapidly. His work in progress - he wasn't sure if it was the more painful option or not. He eased onto his knees, running his hands anlong the floor under his desk and shelves. Nothing. Not behind his chair or the other books in his shelf either. It was gone.
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 2, 2024 23:41:07 GMT -5
( Working on a response! )
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 5, 2024 19:07:26 GMT -5
( Sorry for the wait! The app I was writing on 'stopped responding' and deleted the bulk of what I wrote so I kind of left it for a while out of frustration ;;a;;
Getting back to it today, though! Just trying to remember what I had planned- )
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 6, 2024 1:01:57 GMT -5
( that's the worst, im sorry ;-; i know how frustrating that is. no stress at all! ) |
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 6, 2024 1:13:27 GMT -5
( Haha yeah ^^"
Thanks for understanding! I'm free midday tomorrow so I'll try to finish up then~ )
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 6, 2024 23:59:54 GMT -5
𓂋
ʚ♡ɞ Wrath
♡♡♡♡♡
"Guess I'm tagging in~" Wrath sing-songs, following the irate brunet into his office. The lightness in his steps belie the heaviness of his thoughts. He wishes that his little 'ah, this is going to be troublesome isn't it?' premonitions were of milder inconveniences instead, not mission-altering ones that demanded a whole lot more than he was willing to invest. Like a dog with a bone- or a fox after a hen, Gluttony continues to hound him in his mind.
[ Oh? Is that all you have to say? ]
The eudaemon stands just inside of the barely disturbed room, absently charmed by its tidy disarray. He casts his gaze over the space in its entirety, newly restored eyes seeking out hints of magic. It doesn't take much focus to simply...look but he still finds himself pushing Gluttony out of his mind as if he's distracting him. It doesn't work, but Wrath knows exactly how to shut him up.
[ I can't offer any more than that until I know what I'm working with~ Show me what you witnessed? ]
Predictably, the younger eudaemon falls into pensive slience. To share the experience in its entirety, he would need to let Wrath into his mind so that they could relive it together. Neither of them are particularly keen on that, even though the act would be especially easy for Gluttony. The hesitation is no doubt borne of that fact. It is too easy for him, and so he has come to fear it. He would never admit it, but Wrath suspects he wouldn't deny it either.
[ I will recount the night to you. ]
[ Good enough~ Now, I'm on guard duty so why don't you do some recon, hm~? We can't interfere, but that doesn't mean we can't be informed. ]
[ I intended to. ]
Wrath laughs out loud, feeling that flicker of mulishness that Gluttony struggled to bury. The 'not because you told me to' is heavily implied. His partner likely lived a life submitting to no authority but his own. He always gets petulant when Wrath presumes to give him any sort of directive- at least when he recognizes them as such. The first time Wrath had given him a direct order (more like a pointed suggestion) he'd stared at him in disbelief before looking around as if there could have been anyone else that he'd been asking to 'use your wings'.
There is no sound from the living room behind him, just that of the front door closing as Gluttony presumably moves under the cover of magic once more. Edwin is currently taking stock of his belongings, and appears to come up short on something. The redhead watches him feel along the floor and shelves, leaving him to it as magic doesn't trace the air around him. Ah, that's not exactly true. No foreign magic dances in the air currents of his movements. His own has withdrawn into his body, leaving his hands with a faint glow. With his back turned, Wrath is free to run a hand through his hair and tilt his head back with a sigh. He can't pretend as if he hadn't seen it. Gluttony's nose and ears are just as keen as his eyes.
There are...a lot of questions to be answered concerning that. No doubt Gluttony will return with an itemized list. But for now, one concern at a time.
Wrath crosses his arms and leans against the doorframe, tilted forward so that he doesn't hit his head again. "What's missing?"
[ I left my ribbon tied to their car. You'd better find it. ]
[ I believe that I have divined the nature of his magic. ]
Huh? That was...unexpectedly quick. But then Wrath has been on the surface of Gluttony's mind enough to know that he can think several things at once and somehow not get lost. It's like fighting your way upstream in there. And then there are The Horrors~
[ I am familiar with it, as it is loosely related to my own thaumaturgy and of a kind that could be found in my...realm. ]
[ It does look similar- but our problems are bigger than what it is. We need to find out how and why. ]
[ Yes... ]
[ And find my ribbon. ]
[ That is of much less importance. I believe I'm forgetting already- ]
Wrath laughs again. It is entirely possible that Gluttony is 100% serious, but he prefers to take it as a so-rare-it's-more-of-a-legend joke.
"Ah!" His halo fades away when his idling gaze finally finds the end of a glimmering silver trail that he had been tracing. He steps into Edwin's office carefully and manages an entire minute without incident until he hits his elbow against a shelf. Wrath's hand shoots out to prevent the books from falling before he kneels to fish out a tiny shard of mirrored glass from inbetween the floorboards in a corner. He cups it in his palm and looks it over, reading the spell woven into it. While Gluttony's magic manifests in opalescent tendrils that extend from his heart and weave over his head in a shining crown's silhouette, the magical dredges of this world are more like tightly spaced runes all jumbled together. Like someone has tagged and re-tagged a wall with graffitti so many times that the original art has been almost entirely obscured. Wrath hasn't had much practice with reading this world's magic, but his eyes are quick to adapt.
"Looks like...this is some kind of monitoring spell." He turns it over and tilts his head as if another angle would help. "Perhaps...alerting them to magic being used? Ah, but that squiggle there...Hm."
It requires further study. Or. He could give it to Edwin~
Wrath dismisses the thought before it could fully form and pockets the shard. The man is still unsteady from...whatever he'd experienced. And besides, he wants to know what Edwin makes of it first. He sighs, then realizes he is being watched and dons an amiable grin instead.
"So, why exactly do you look seasick~?"
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 7, 2024 0:00:54 GMT -5
( Okay, finally got that up! ^^" It was originally going to include Gluttony's exploits too, but that was lost to the ether so I'll offscreen it- )
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 7, 2024 13:16:58 GMT -5
Edwin hadn’t noticed Enlai following him, and at the sound of his voice he started just slightly. He turned his head to peer up at him, hanging off the doorframe. “A notebook. One, from what I can see.”
The thought of someone else touching his books – reading them – made him want to burn the rest and then promptly throw up. Beyond the research on those pages being valuable to him, the journals he kept were extremely personal. He didn’t split his life into separate notebooks, preferring to put everything he might one day want on paper in one place. They were as much a collection of interesting findings as they were a running log of his visions as they were a diary. Even imagining someone reading what he’d written in them felt like a violation. He wished he could muster the optimism or the desperation to believe it might still be here, hidden behind a row of books or slipped between the couch cushions. If he weren’t so tired, he might’ve been able to force it. Instead, all he felt was dread and red-hot anger.
He braced himself for the expected vertigo and pushed to his feet again. Sure enough, his vision swam for several long moments before it stabilised somewhat, staying fuzzy at the edges. A warning lance of pain passed behind his eyes. Normally, he wouldn’t be on his feet after an attack as violent as the one he’d experienced tonight. He was exhausted, and his entire body ached. There was no doubt as to the fact that he should be in bed. But what could he do? There was no way he was going to manage sleep anyway.
Enlai laughed and Edwin glared sharply at him. There was little about this whole ordeal that amused him and the fondness that had formed for the man over the last few months was not nearly enough to smooth over even the smallest of his frustrations. For him to laugh… Win grit his teeth, watching him as he crossed the room and fished something small from the corner of the room, trailing almost-destruction as always. “I don’t know why you think that’s funny, but it’s not.”
Keeping his narrowed eyes on the redhead, he sank into his desk chair. “Because I’m feeling sick.” He wasn’t going to explain his visions. He had no way of knowing if it was a secret he could even keep - maybe the self-purported Guardian Angels knew about them already, maybe they had ways of finding out. Just how much of an eye they’d kept on him was unknown. Regardless, they clearly knew him better than he knew them. If anyone was owed some answers, it was Win, and he was feeling petty.
“You’ve been stalking me,” he commented, eyes falling closed. It helped a little, but not much.
Though it was probably stupid of him, he could at least admit that he still trusted the man. He’d been thinking of him as a new friend for a few weeks now, he realised. It didn’t seem likely that Enlai was going to do him any immediate harm, nor was he all that afraid of the possibility.
“I’m guessing you’re not actually working on a paper, or a thesis, or whatever. Anything else I should erase from my mental image of you? Or add, for that matter?”
It seemed many things were the same. The halo was new – and gone, now – as were the strangely coloured eyes. The open talk of magic was strange as well. But his body language was the same, his incredible clumsiness and equally incredible ability to save his surroundings from destruction too. He spoke in the same tone of voice. It wasn’t like Win had known Enlai exceedingly well before, but he’d known him well enough to note than he wasn’t all that different now. Except of course in all the ways he was.
Edwin opened his eyes, huffing to himself. Not seeing, while a relief as far as his headache was concerned, wasn’t doing anything to set his mind at ease. He took instead to once again pressing small circles to a spot behind his jaw as he drew his legs up beside him in the chair. He'd said he would rest once he'd checked on his belongings. He'd keep that promise for his own sake.
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 9, 2024 23:13:29 GMT -5
𓂋 ʚ♡ɞ Wrath
♡♡♡♡♡
"Hm?" Wrath had blinked, returning to himself. It took him a moment to figure out what the brunet had been referring to. The amused smile lessened somewhat as he tilted his head pensively. "Ah, I'd say this situation is more ironic than funny." Watching over the one meant to be a teacher of magic instead of a magic teacher, only for the man himself to have magic of his own? And the exact same kind as his super special one-of-a-kind student no less? That's not a story even Wrath could dream up.
"I was laughing at my partner- I still forget to keep it in my head sometimes." He explained easily, using the desk to help him stand. Wrath's hand had landed on a notebook that slid out from under him, however, and he nearly brained himself on the wooden corner when he lost his balance and fell forward. He caught himself on the wall this time, rising to his full height and busying himself with trying to return the desk to how he'd seen it previously. He miraculously didn't drop a pen- it was a near miss- but he did almost spill the cup of coffee. Keeping his hands busy helped him think, and he didn't have any weapons to maintain or drinks to pour. Does Edwin even have alcohol? Wrath doesn't know, it's not like he poked around his cabinets or fridge, despite curiosity niggling at him every now and then. He knows enough to determine that the man's meals are uninspired. He would change that if he had the means...hmm.
Wrath turns at the settling creak of Edwin's desk chair, leaning back against his desk with a hand supporting him on either side. He tilts his head back and narrows his eyes with mock-suspicion at the man's nonchalant answer, peering at him from under riotous red curls. "Hmhm, I'm sure it was a sudden illness brought on by the shock of recent events~" Edwin wasn't sick when he'd seen him earlier that very day. He wants to push, because he has jokes to make, but ultimately decides to drop it for now. Edwin has been subjected to one violation after another. If he wants to hold on to a secret or two, Wrath won't break the illusion. Besides, he's feeling generous~ Edwin's second equally matter-of-fact comment only cheers him further. He hadn't minded revealing himself to their Trust, as he knows the man to be rational and not prone to allowing emotions to overtake his logical thought processes. One of Wrath's earlier Trusts had tried to have him drawn and quartered when he was shown to be more than he appeared, but Edwin's tone isn't even accusatory.
The eudaemon's smile is free to widen when his Trust closes his eyes, his own now a warm blue that sparkle like the sea under the sun. As amiable as he is with everyone he meets, Wrath rarely allows himself to believe that he has actually made friends. He befriended his Trusts knowing that he cannot be his 'true' self by any meaning, and that he would one day leave them to be forgotten (he never forgets) and not so much as glimpsed again- barred from returning to their realms. Something within him that has yet to be fixed persists, however. Revealing himself to Edwin was as much for his own sake as it was for the mission, and seeing his belief in Edwin validated is...something. It makes his smile a little too fond- he needs to fix that...
Wrath never allows himself to believe he's made a genuine connection, however. And he has neither the magic nor the nose to know what Edwin is truly feeling. (Of course His Prickliness gets it all, not that it helps him any) He would consider them...close enough, but Edwin is treating him no differently than usual, and his words reflect a desire to understand. To know him more. To Wrath, who will accept anything, always, it's enough.
His dimples make an appearance when he lifts a hand to wave away Edwin's first observation. "Stalking? Ehh, I'd call it...devoted 24/7 guardianship. We're doing this for your health, after all~ Ah, your current state notwithstanding...which reminds me, what do you normally do to feel better?" It is clear to him by the way Edwin is reacting that he's been in such a state before and at least has a general idea of how to manage it. As the man's Guardian Angel however, Wrath can't just let him suffer through it~ If he'd known to expect this, he would have brought tea!
The redhead laughs and tucks a few loose curls behind his ear, clearing his vision. "Ah, no. Thank the heavens. If I'm being honest, I was surprised that you believed me in the first place! I have never been a scholarly person- but good 'ol Glue certainly helped maintain my image~ He's the one interested in...all of that. And he prepared me before our meetings so that I didn't 'embarass him'~" He rolls his eyes here, but there's still a softer smile tucked into a cheek.
"Hmmm, good question! I think that depends on what your mental image of me is in the first place~" Wrath leans forward with an expectant grin as if making it clear that he's fishing for compliments, even though he's genuinely curious. Most of what Wrath shared about himself is true, in one way or another. So what picture has Edwin been piecing together with what he's given him? He hopes it's that he's dashing and can be trusted with a stove~
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 9, 2024 23:19:10 GMT -5
( I found some old notes about this rp and was suddenly reminded that I had different terms for magic for the gingers! For Gluttony it's thaumaturgy, which is partly scientific in nature, and for Wrath it's wu, and more fantastical. 'Magic' is kind of a catch-all and placeholder, but especially applies to Edwin's world. I'll be using them kind of interchangeably going forward, but Glue will refer to his own abilities- and occasionally Edwin's- as thaumaturgy. Wrath will use the term magic except on the rare occasions where he mentions his home world.
I'm looking forward to slowly revealing the extent/nature of Glue's thaumaturgy! It shares a similarity with Win's~ )
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 12, 2024 0:01:49 GMT -5
( oo interesting! i'm looking forward to seeing it a little more~ win's magic was once part of a much wider magic system, but he's been summarily plucked out of it so i'm still figuring the specifics out lmao. i'll update you as i do) |
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 12, 2024 15:07:17 GMT -5
Hmm. Edwin chose to believe Enlai’s explanation. It wasn’t worth the effort to question him further on this thing, when there were so many other questions that demanded answering. Maybe Enlai was the type to laugh at people who weren’t in the room, maybe he was the kind to laugh at others’ misfortunes. Neither was very nice, and if it mattered Win would have plenty of time to figure it out.
He hummed his agreement, not offering any more information as far as his present state went. Even if he’d been feeling more forthcoming, he doubted he would have. Of course it was important that he himself knew why he became this way. He could even accept that it was good for others to know a palatable version of the truth – that sometimes he had unexplainable seizures, and that they always dragged with them a migraine. That didn’t mean he liked to talk about it. For most people, it would make no difference.
Edwin looked unimpressed at the differentiation. Whatever the purpose of the watching, the point was that two beings had been watching him. Around the clock, seemingly, as he hadn’t been safe from observant eyes – or magic - even in his own home. He was just starting to consider what that observation might entail for the Guardians’ impression of him when Enlai broke his train of thought with a question. Thank God.
His teen years had been spent, in large part, figuring out how to manage these episodes. Every medical professional he’d seen had determined them to be migraines, and despite their magical origins Win had always thought that seemed reasonable. The asymmetric, travelling pain, the partial loss of vision, the vertigo and nausea, even the pain in his limbs: all of it lined up neatly. Medication didn’t help, but then he’d been told it worked best if you took it before the pain came, and he couldn’t see that coming.
Plenty of other migraine recommendations did offer relief, though, and by now he had a routine. When he first came to, his nerves felt like shards of glass beneath his skin. He’d never found a way to ease that other than to wait. But once it passed, rarely more than an hour later, he could find something cold and something sweet. He’d sleep as much as he could, taking advantage of the ebbs in the tide to take baths and eat and put on some TV-show he didn’t need to actually watch to follow. He moved as little as he could, and minimised his sensory input as much as he could bear. With few exceptions, it would all be over in a day or two, getting progressively lighter as time went on. It was manageable. He functioned.
Tonight, nothing would convince him to sleep. He wouldn’t even suggest it might be helpful for fear that Enlai would latch onto the idea and try to talk him into going to bed. Something sweet and the lights dimmed, though…
“I eat ice-cream and lie down in a dim room somewhere,” he replied. “Iced coffee helps sometimes.”
‘Glue’. That would be the other guy, Edwin could only assume, and the fabled research partner apparently. Was he anything like how Enlai had described him? He couldn’t say, having spent no more than five minutes in his company.
“Hmm.” Win pursed his lips, considering Enlai carefully. His expression reminded him of his little sister, always waiting hopefully to receive praise. It was charming, which he was far more likely to admit to her. “Well, I thought you were human, but I don’t know about that anymore. You’re tall, stylish, and have the grace of a giraffe with a drinking problem. You obviously take care of your appearance, so you’re probably older than you look. Mid-thirties? Late?” ‘Neither’ was becoming increasingly likely. If, indeed, Enlai wasn’t human, he couldn’t base anything on his knowledge of how humans aged and acted.
“No kids. Researchers with kids always complain about them at one point or another.” Just look how much reading I can get done without a three-year-old hanging off my arm! He knew now that Enlai hadn’t been among peers, but he’d been asked to draw a picture. He could only draw the one he’d had when they met last. “You apparently live with your research partner, which is an unusual arrangement, so at first I thought you were together. I changed my mind though. I don’t know if you’re seeing someone else. Probably not, for the same reason as the kid thing.”
Enlai’s personality was harder to put into words but also seemed less likely to be a façade. Win wasn’t generally a quick study when it came to people’s character, but he could try at least. “Other than that, you’re protective. You joke around a lot-” Win suspected Enlai thought he was funnier than reality reflected, but he displayed impressive restraint and didn’t say so out loud “-and talk too much. That, or you just really hate reading. I think you’ve spent more of your time at the library bothering the other patrons than actually reading.”
Edwin reflected, briefly, on the positive distraction this little game was proving to be. The topic was inconsequential enough that he didn’t need to stress about it, and large enough that he could theoretically ramble less and less accurate judgements forever. As long as he was talking about Enlai, the human, he didn’t have to consider the theft or the break-in; Enlai, the something else, or even his headache.
“You’re probably a dog person. Either a clean-freak or a mess at home. I’ve divined that your lucky number is 3.” He shrugged, signaling that he knew he was grasping at straws now.
“Your turn.”
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 12, 2024 15:09:06 GMT -5
( describing someone else's character from the perspective of your own is so difficult TvT definitely a great exercise, but i'm struggling over here lol win is too analytical for me. he's talking about wrath with the energy of that one murder board meme, meanwhile i'm wishing he'd just say a slightly mean, witty remark to save me from having to do all this brain work and still feel like i'm not writing his observations or general vibe quite right.
all that to say, i'm far from happy with this reply but am getting it out anyway because i don't think i would be until the third rewrite and i do not have time for that ) |
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 13, 2024 23:50:57 GMT -5
( Oh, that sounds interesting too! ^^ Definitely update me, because I'll have to ask questions when we get into the training arc! I'll probably have to know how different your concept is from Glue's- I'm still working out his own magic system but I know how his magic works at least! Mostly. Haha...
I'm really seeing what you mean on my end ^^" I had to revise Wrath's words a lot too- and they still came out too robotic ;;;
Honestly I think you did a great job though! It's short and to the point, and it's all reasonable and flows well!
I also love the bit about him saying that Wrath spends more time being a bother at the library- and I'm sure it took an enormous amount of restraint not to tell Wrath that he isn't as funny as he thinks he is- pfft! And that was such an elegant way of saying it, too!
I absolutely love your reply, I think all of your posts are very high quality and there wasn't a drop in this one at all~! Edwin's voice is still distinct! )
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 14, 2024 0:03:24 GMT -5
𓂋
ʚ♡ɞ Wrath
♡♡♡♡♡
"Oh? Is that all?" He doubted it, but Wrath happily seized upon Edwin's answer- just because the man was accustomed to the...magical kickback, it didn't mean that he was in a fair enough state to leave the matter unaddressed. He seems like the type of person to say that he 'manages well enough' but 'managing' has degrees to it. Even Gluttony was concerned enough that it floated under the surface of their connection when they spoke. Wrath isn't himself familiar with the effects of straining one's own magic, but he's seen it enough in his family. And he's also familiar with the sight of a person going through physical discomfort with a...stiff upper lip- is that what they say here?
Tea and sleep are two of his favored remedies- a good meal also does wonders- but Edwin is proof that they aren't universal. At least in this instance. Wrath had already known that the man would refuse to sleep. Whatever tentative trust he harbors for the eudaemon has a clear limit. And he's likely disturbed enough by recent events that he couldn't manage it if he tried. Wrath wouldn't force it, but he'd definitely be open to opportunities to make it a more palatable notion.
For now, he will simply focus on the changes he can enact. He tilted his head, crossing a leg and leaning back to maintain his balance. The mug of cold coffee wobbled precariously, but he'd moved it behind him and against the wall so that he would have less opportunity to knock it off. "That's something we can help with~ What's your favorite icecream flavor? I'll have Glue pick it up on his way back~ Iced coffee will have to come later, I don't know if any coffee shops are open at this time- oh! I'll check."
Wrath fished his phone out of a pocket- nearly dropped it once- and navigated over to the search engine. His attention was then completely arrested by Edwin when he began his series of inferences. He listened raptly, smile widening and lips parting a time or two before he forced himself to listen to the end rather than interject.
Eyes crinkling, he laughs at Edwin's unethusiastic finish and sets his phone aside. "Let me answer some of your initial question before I take my turn~" Wrath absently curls a cinnabar lock around one of his fingers, brow furrowing slightly as he reviews the brunet's assessment. "I'm more human than Glue, so I can classify, if loosely." Now isn't the time to elaborate on his origins and long-life species- "I am far more graceful than a drunk giraffe!" This one emerges as more of a protest. Wrath stubbornly clings to the belief that if he doesn't acknowledge how the world and his body conspire against him, then others won't as well. He has received enough comments and side-eyes to reveal that this is not the case but does his best to dismiss them in turn. Ugh. Now he's upset that being a 'Guardian Angel' doesn't make him magically graceful. That shouldn't have made Edwin's list-
He went from a put-upon pout to a preen, lifting his chin with a dimpled smile. "Honestly, it doesn't take much work to care for my appearance~" Wrath says with false modesty, as of course this implies that he's naturally beautiful. Which he is~ "You're close! I stopped aging at thirty-five~"
"And you got another one! Haha~ The only 'kid' I need to look after is my partner, and he's more like a cat." That's all that he can say to that one. No kids. She doesn't-
"Oho?" Wrath's grin widens, "what made you change your mind about us being 'together'~?" It was likely Gluttony's almost visceral reaction to him, but he wonders if Edwin could have come to the conclusion ahead of their meeting. Glue and Wrath are very rarely in public together, and when they are, no one had the time or wherewithal to consider whether or not the pair currently killing them or destroying some aspect of their world are romantically involved. He's gotten plenty of assumptions in this one, however. Wrath knows to avoid mentioning Glue in any way if he's trying not to sleep alone. It also made him reconsider how often he mentioned or thought of his partner- which was an even more annoying train of thought to pursue. It's difficult not to when they've been unified on some...psychic through-the-aether level.
"Of course~" Wrath's tone is dry, but there's still a smile in his azure gaze. "I don't pursue romantic relationships for the sake of my...research. Unless of course you mean that assumption comes from the fact that I only ever complain about Glue~" He laughs at that. "But you're right, I don't have time for serious relationships. I'm too busy 'stalking' you after all~" He sweeps a hand through the air as if floating that thought away.
"Hm, let's see...Protective. Do I come across that way?" His eyes widen as he peers at Edwin through bangs that refuse to stay in place. He hadn't the time to pin them before he rushed out of the apartment. He...probably shouldn't be so surprised. He's a Guardian Angel after all and 'protect' is synonymous with 'guard', but Wrath works...not hard, just to a reasonable degree- not to appear as if that is what he's doing. A wry smile overtakes his features as he considers the other observations that Edwin added to that. "I have to make light of things or Glue will have me constantly living in darkness." He says solemnly. But again, there's a curve to the corner of his mouth and light to his eyes that hints the solemnity is only skin deep. "'I talk too much or I hate reading-' pfft!" He can't help a short laugh. "I've...heard both of those as accusations. For the latter, I can definitively say that I do hate reading. My teachers hated their jobs as much as they-" hated me "-loved pushing boring texts with no applicable value to them. I've always been more apt to learn by doing than by being buried in literature."
"And I wouldn't say I was bothering people-" He waves a hand through the air, elegantly dismissing the notion. "-it was more like, enhancing their experience. And networking~" They may be boring bookish types, but Wrath still made quite a few fascinating connections. He often wasn't familiar with the finer points of their research, but he didn't mind lending an ear for ideas or frustrations. Victoria in particular had no one to vent to. He knew way more about her family than he needed to, but she certainly made his visits more entertaining. And he was able to help her complete her dissertation by phrasing questions in ways she'd never thought to consider.
Edwin's demeanor seems to have improved some during the course of their little back and forth. Wrath can tell that his mind is present. The pain isn't necessarily far away but it isn't something to distract him at the moment either. He seems to have been truly turning over his considerations with his usual focus, and the way he speaks to Wrath hasn't changed despite the revelations. He's pleased that the diversion appears to have served its purpose. Right now, he has to leverage their connection as fellow 'humans', and it's easier with the distinctly inhuman Gluttony out of the picture. He can hide his ears and tail with the magic of the aureole, but even then the sheer volume of his power manifests in an aura that can be unsettling for most.
Wrath tosses the lock of hair he'd been playing with back over his shoulder. It simply springs up in a corkscrew against his cheek. "For the last three, you're close! I'm actually more of a horse person, though I'm fond of dogs too~ I once had a puppy named Du Ma~" He smiles fondly at the memory, short lived as it was. "I wouldn't say that I'm a 'clean freak' but I like to stay organized. Glue puts me to shame though-" The therian is obsessed with cleanliness for someone who probably never cleaned a day in his life. "My preferred lucky number is 1366 but it was probably 3 at some point~"
"Okay!" He steeples his fingers and narrows his eyes at Edwin over them, pretending to seriously consider his words. "My first thought upon meeting you- if Glue is a fox, then you're a cat. I could see that you're an introvert, you like to be clean and presentable, and you don't need to be around others to feel fulfilled. But as I got to know you, I've decided that you're more of a bird. Calling you an owl would be a bit too banal, but you're close~" He dimples in an almost fond grin. "It's hard not to accuse you of being one with how long your lamps stay on at night~"
"You're a hard worker, but that could be because you love what you do. And that fact is clear. I can tell by our conversations at the library that you have a genuine interest in all of the topics we pursue. And even correcting me through my misinformed wandering doesn't appear to be particularly tedious for you."
He lowers his hands and tilts his head, supporting his chin with his left. He can't go too far into personal territory, as he has insights that he wouldn't have if paying attention to Edwin wasn't his job. Not that he wouldn't pay attention to him anyway. Wrath finds the man rather cute~
"You prefer calm environments and don't mind helping others, but value the time you spend alone or with fewer people. How well-mannered you are sticks out to me in particular. You must have good parents, or a positive role model~ How you dress can also reflect that. I never see you wearing anything less than 'business casual'."
His eyes shift back to Edwin with a dimple tucked into one cheek. "You probably have a caffeine addiction-" He says this with mild horror, as if the revelation is just coming over him. "-but you make up for it by liking icecream. Which we have in common~"
"Obviously no kids and no relationship-" He tilts his head and leans back, "-too devoted to work, I suppose~ I don't recall catching you out meeting people or taking a special interest in either gender." He doesn't comment further on that. It's Edwin's business~ And makes his own job easier, besides.
"Other than that-" Wrath parrots, "-you like quiet hobbies and have the mental strength to read through a variety of topics and ancient texts in one sitting. I'd say you're probably a fish or lizard person-" That he threw in for fun- "you were likely a quiet and serious child, and I've divined that your lucky number is...six."
He clasps his hands together on his raised knee with a grin. "How'd I do~?"
[ I am returning. ]
[ Wait, get ice cream first! ]
[ ...What? ]
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 14, 2024 0:04:12 GMT -5
( This is b l a h and I'll come back to edit it when I wake up ;;; )
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 15, 2024 6:26:14 GMT -5
That was certainly all he’d be willing to do, so Edwin nodded slowly. “Strawberry,” he replied, though he’d eat almost any ice cream offered to him. As a rule, he wasn’t picky, and least of all when it came to frozen sugar.
He listened to Enlai’s series of responses, ranging from protest to pleased agreement. He opened his mouth as if to speak once or twice, but thought the better of it and remained quiet, instead taking in the other’s own assessments. It was a relief to know how much he’d gotten right, even as what he’d erred on disturbed him somewhat. ‘Stopped aging’ could mean anything from he was actually 39 (unlikely) to he was centuries old (a terrifying concept), and Edwin wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer to that obvious follow-up question.
As much as he tried to stay quiet, ignoring a direct question proved difficult. “I went back and forth about the details of your relationship for a few weeks,” he admitted. He’d caught himself wondering as recently as this week, but never asked. It would have been rude to, and it wasn’t really relevant anyway. But it felt like it would’ve come up eventually, and it never did.” Their interactions earlier tonight had put an end to his wondering, if nothing else. He knew nothing of the details, but their dynamic certainly hadn’t felt romantic.
The next question was easier to answer. The corner of Win’s mouth twitched slightly, betraying his amusement. “Once or twice, you’ve sounded exactly like my often-overbearing mother,” he said, clearly both sincere and entertained. He’d never commented on that before either, choosing instead to smile and roll his eyes. But as long as they were being somewhat honest.
He braced himself for what Enlai’s impression of him was. It was starting to truly dawn on him that his watchers almost certainly knew things about him that he would much rather they didn’t know. He’d have worn his ten-year old, by now too short in the legs, pyjama pants less often if he’d known someone could see him in them. Not to mention been a little more exciting. He was fond of his routines, but he didn’t like the idea of being considered boring.
“I do love my job,” he agreed. Both the work he did for money and during his free-time genuinely made him happy, and he wasn’t ashamed to admit that. The caffeine addiction was likely accurate as well, which he acknowledged with a ‘what-can-you-do’ shrug.
“’Obviously’ no relationship? Ouch.” He understood, though. It was true that it had been years since he’d been in a long-term relationship, despite several short lived attempts. It hadn’t been a conscious choice. Life had just worked out that way. Win wasn’t a hermit by any means, but he wasn’t the type to spend Friday nights out dancing and online dating had never appealed to him. Though he’d managed to find friends, the settings he usually met people in – conferences, the book club he’d very briefly joined on Penny’s recommendation, the university – had proved fruitless when it came to finding 'true love', whatever that meant. He could have made a bigger effort but had always found his day ran out before he could even consider doing so.
“Not bad, though,” he conceded. “I don’t think I’m an especially hard worker, but I’ll take it. I was definitely a serious kid, but I was really argumentative and easily riled up. I like to think I’ve mellowed out by now. And my lucky number is eighteen.”
He was quiet for a while, digesting how Enlai had described both him and himself. It was fascinating to get a glimpse of how someone else saw you, but more interesting than that was getting to share their self-image, however partially.
It wasn’t long before his mind caught on a detail he hadn’t previously considered. He frowned, tilting his head slightly as if to view the problem from a different angle. “If you hate reading so much, and your partner likes it, why were you the one coming to my job? Wouldn’t it be easier for him to do it?” The ears and tail posed a problem, he’d admit, but the currently absent Guardian had also shown he could avoid notice altogether. Not to mention that he’d never noticed Enlai’s inhuman eyes or halo. Somehow, Edwin doubted it was an unsurmountable obstacle. “If he was sending you lists of things to look into and books to check out anyway, I mean.”
He'd pondered this very question once or twice even before he knew any of the things he’d learned tonight. Sometimes Enlai would show up with a hyper-specific question or short list of items he wanted taken out. Often he would say it was put together by his partner, who was allegedly very particular. It had of course occurred to him to wonder why this very specific partner wasn’t there himself, especially when so many of the books and documents in his care couldn’t leave the building.
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 15, 2024 12:49:23 GMT -5
( its just the right amount of making it up as we go along haha
thank you <3 you, too! it is tricky, but you did a great job! honestly it seems like a good character development tool for more planned out projects as well. it would be interesting to try for cast building for bigger projects like a novel. ) |
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 16, 2024 2:34:52 GMT -5
𓂋
ʚ♡ɞ Wrath
♡♡♡♡♡
Wrath made a strange sound when Edwin compared him to his 'overbearing' mother, something between an indignant squawk and a laugh. He promptly cleared his throat and pretended as if the incident didn't happen, even as he wrinkled his nose in exaggerated distaste. He wanted to protest that he was only being a proper Guardian Angel and that it had nothing to do with his character- his traitorous mind supplied him with the memory of fussing over a jacket the brunet had worn that he hadn't thought to be warm enough and he kept his mouth shut.
He grinned with a pleased hum when Edwin scored him with a 'not bad', happily listening to his mild corrections. "I can agree that you seem to have mellowed out, but you're still stubborn~" Or more like headstrong. "And I'll keep 18 in mind~" It couldn't hurt. They'll need luck where they're going.
[ Oh! Bring the tubs that we have in the freeezer! ]
[ And why would I do that? Are you seriously- ]
[ Edwin says that icecream helps him recover~ ]
[ You are serious? How can that be? It is merely a dessert, there are no medicinal properties. ] Gluttony mentally probes him, searching for some kind of joke or evidence of a fib.
[ Absolutely! Strawberry to be exact, and I just bought some. I told you it wasn't a waste of money~ ]
[ You sound too eager... ]
[ Because it's icecream~ ]
[ If you are wrong- ]
[ Worst case scenario, you end up eating icecream with your new friend. What is there to lose, exactly~? Your dignity? Your pride? Because you've- ]
[ If you finish that sentence- ]
[ I wouldn't be able to with icecream in my mouth~ ]
[ That does not make sense. ] Gluttony is back to being prickly but he's silent. Considering. There are still flickers of concern and unease.
[ He won't go to sleep so it's the next best thing. ]
[ Very well. I will only bring enough for him. ]
[ Aiya don't- ]
Gluttony abruptly ends the connection. He can be petty when he wants to- and Wrath may have pushed him a bit far...but when he's annoyed, he's in the moment rather than worrying over the past or future. He's going to think himself into a coma one of these days. Ah, Edwin is talking.
Wrath leans back- teetering dangerously a bit- and puts a hand under his chin again, nodding sagely along with Edwin's revelation. "Good question! It may have been apparent to you after meeting him- but Glue is still new to all of this. Still a kit, really~" He dimples in a serene smile, sweeping a hand toward himself. "And I am his illustrious mentor~ He's shadowing me his first go around, so he must have limited interaction with humans until we're sure he's got the hang of it~"
"Ah, well- that has changed rather abruptly but I'm experienced enough to know when and how to pivot~" He waves a hand, "I'm permitting him to interact with you since you've met anyway. And no worries, his bark is worse than his bite~"
His assurance is accompanied by the sound of the front door opening and closing. Then a lock clicking into place. That's a good sign~ Gluttony could simply appear in the room with them but he's making an effort to keep the superntaural/invasive aspect of their beings to a minimum. The therian's steps are still silent, but he knocks briefly on the open door before stepping in with a canvas bag over one arm. It's the reusable grocery bag gifted to Wrath by one of the mothers who frequent his local grocer- the ugly paisley one emblazoned with '#Mom Life'. It looks so incongruous with Glue's dark, stately attire and utterly solemn features that Wrath snickers. It earns him a brief glare but Gluttony's attention is soon arrested by their Trust. He stares at him intently as if he can determine his health by looking at him hard enough before taking a few steps toward him and extending his arm. His tail sways to a stand still, ears perked forward.
"Strawberry icecream. As requested."
He opens his mouth to say more and then thinks better of it.
Wrath tilts forward to peer into the bag and sees his beloved strawberry Haagen Dazs. True to his word, Gluttony had brought the singular tub despite their having three different flavors. He pouts and tilts back with a sigh, but he isn't going to complain in front of Edwin. If this is something that helps him, he'd rather the man eat his fill.
"Why don't we reconvene in the living room? We can get you a spoon and bowl on our way~"
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 16, 2024 2:37:12 GMT -5
( Right! lol
Of course~ And thanks! <3 That's a good point! I already do it for my own characters- I often have pairs or ensembles- but it was a bit of a challenge for a character I don't know as well! I think you do a good job of showing who Win is through writing though~ I enjoy learning more about him just as the boys do ^^ )
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 16, 2024 14:28:09 GMT -5
Limited interactions with humans, huh? Well, that explained at least part of his previous, very strange exchange with the man. Edwin tucked this piece of information away carefully, hoping it might give him the understanding to extend some grace. He wasn’t so sure it would be enough.
He didn’t have to wait long to find out. The front door opened gently, then clicked shut. Fully expecting someone this time, Edwin only looked up. He would have preferred a knock and for his guest to wait, but that was apparantly too high an expectation (and though he was loath to admit it, even to himself, he wasn’t sure he’d have wanted to make the trip to his door regardless). At least he announced himself with a rap on his open office door, which was an improvement.
Win watched the newcomer carefully, met with a cool gaze inspecting him just the same. He couldn’t read the redhead’s expression, but knew there would be some apprehension in his own.
He held out the god-ugly bag, offering its contents. Sure enough, he’d brought a lone tub of strawberry ice-cream with him. Quick work. Edwin actually smiled, however slightly, and stood to take it, the only outward sign of discomfort a long blink. He paused, hand held over the offered bag and brows furrowed slightly. Though he hummed consent to Enlai’s suggestion, Win didn’t move from his spot.
For a long moment, he simply watched the stranger with slightly narrowed eyes, trying to make sense of him. He didn’t have the headstart he’d had with Enlai here, which was both helping and hindering his ability to navigate the situation. His first impression of the man had been about as bad as it was possible for a first impression to be, but there was no lingering sting of discovered dishonesty, either.
Finally, he extended a hand, before clearly thinking the better of it and snatching it back to himself. “I’m Edwin,” he said instead. He might not be willing to shake hands, but he could at least introduce himself. “I’m sure you know that already, but whatever. Lots of people call me Win. You can as well, if you’d like. Or Edwin is fine,” he continued, tone expectant.
For the first time, he truly studied the ginger’s features as if they might give him some clue to start him on the journey of figuring all of this out. He found very little to go on. Win wasn’t a skilled people-reader, and he was faced with someone who did the opposite of wearing their heart on their sleeve. There were no secrets written on these features.
What he did discover, to his surprise, was how young the man opposite him looked. He wasn’t a child, but nonetheless his was the face of youth. It shouldn’t have surprised him quite as much as it did, yet it seemed wrong somehow. He remembered gunshots and bloodshed and knew the man looking back at him now wasn’t much older than in the echo he’d seen before. At least, he didn’t look it – what Enlai had said about not aging likely applied here, too. Oh, to go back to this morning, when everything made sense and was as it should be.
Except, he realised, he didn’t really want to. Better to know and feel uneasy than to be ignorant and at peace.
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 16, 2024 16:48:00 GMT -5
𓂋ʚ♡ɞ Wrath
♡♡♡♡♡
Wrath watched the pair- well, interact seems too strong a word- with amusement that he doesn't bother to hide. Their stiff postures and wary stares bring to mind an interesting conversation he'd once had with a proud father of three. (Dogs) On the importance of socializing puppies. If Gluttony knew that was what he was doing...Haha, well~ This promises to be rather entertaining for him- he'll likely still need to monitor them, however. It isn't like Gluttony is rabid or likely to haul off and hurt Edwin, but he can be too...honest. Wrath had purposely dropped the fact that his partner was still learning to earn him some grace, but the degree of it may be lessened by just how much he tends to suck at interacting with others. Wrath doesn't know whether to be proud or aggrieved by the fact that Glue seems comfortable enough with him to emote so often. And not mince his words in the slightest. The little pumpkin is surprisingly adept at slipping insults into their conversations like a knife between the ribs.
After they'd taken each other's measure- Edwin showing apprehension while Wrath could parse nothing of Glue's thoughts or revelations- the brunet's lips curved in a small smile and he rose to accept the offering. They became locked again in a silent standoff soon afterward. The human's hand was frozen over the handle of the bag, and Gluttony's remained extended. The only real movement came from their breathing. Cool blue eyes scanned the man's face and body, lingering on his pensive expression. Hazel eyes did the same.
Ever magnanimous, Wrath refrained from commenting. Even though they reminded him of preying mantises preparing to duel.
Another aborted movement. Edwin extends his hand before snatching it back. Wrath winces. He can watch Gluttony's gaze shutter in real time. Where before he'd been open and intent, the wintry hues of his eyes become colder. The tail that had been curled forward to wrap around his legs unwinds itself, and his ears flicker backward for half a second. Eyes at half mast, he exhales steadily before straightening his already ramrod posture.
"Very well." His tone is curt, accompanied by an equally stiff nod of acknowledgement. He submits patiently to Edwin's continued scrutiny before dropping the proffered arm and making an abrupt about-face. "Your icecream will melt."
With that, he strides purposefully out of the room and presumably toward the kitchen. Wrath hops from his perch and straightens his clothing with a wry smile. "He's shy." He says by way of explanation. It isn't one, really- but not even he knows everything about the therian. Just enough to make educated guesses on what makes him tick. There's no need to tell Win that he might have unknowingly made a faux pas- it's up to Gluttony to deal with.
"Let's get you icecream, and then we can have a chat about what happened tonight~"
The little diversion and getting to know each other was fun- and preferred- but unfortunately they'd have to switch gears sooner rather than later. Plans for Edwin's safety would have to be altered, his future even- and Wrath wouldn't demand an explanation for his magic yet but they do need to know more of how and why he became a target. He hoped the icecream would make the investigation a little more palatable. Speaking of-
[ What happened, exactly? Give me the mission report~ ]
There's a slight hitch in the flow of Gluttony's thoughts, as if he's switching tracks.
[ I was first alerted to an intrusion at- ]
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