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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 17, 2024 13:23:47 GMT -5
Edwin blinked, jerked back to reality as he was spoken to. He was offered no name, which upset him. ‘Shy’ or not, he would have liked to know how to refer to him, in thought and speech alike. He only nodded. ”Thank you,” he said, taking the tub of ice cream out with some apprehension.
Though he could hardly say he trusted the still unintroduced man – ’Glue’ was the only name that had identified him, and even then it was only probably – it wasn’t distrust of him that made Win so careful. He didn’t think either of his guests were here with the intention of hurting him, and even if they were, a tub of ice cream or a handshake seemed an incredibly inefficient way of doing so. But he’d been spooked by the night’s revelations and the force of his earlier vision, the aftereffects of which still rattled painfully in his head. Like a wounded animal, he was retreating into himself and returning to old – likely bad – instincts. He could only hope that, too, was a temporary side-effect that would leave him along with the throbbing in his head. He didn't want to go back to feeling this nervous all the time. It had been years since he’d worn gloves for protection more than as the rare exception, but now his hands felt naked and uncomfortably vulnerable. His shirt didn’t even have long sleeves to hide in.
With a sigh, Edwin finally broke from his frozen spot. Realising, finally, that he was technically the host here, he led the way out of his office and into his once-again dark living room. He didn’t turn the ceiling lamp on, but he did press the switch of one floor lamp with his foot as he passed. The three of them would have to survive the dim lighting, despite the mood being all wrong for it.
He slipped into his small kitchen for three bowls and spoons. The pint of ice cream wasn’t much to split three ways, but it was enough. And he’d rather have not had any at all than sit and eat it all while the others watched him. Edwin didn’t have the energy nor the will to be a very good host tonight, but it felt so wrong to not share. Besides, eating while a stranger and a man more unfamiliar than he’d thought did nothing but… cheer him on? Judge the size of his bites? It was unthinkable.
With a long exhale, he sank into the corner of his couch as far away from the lit lamp as possible. His eyelids fell shut without his thinking it. Just a few moment to rest his eyes. He forced his eyes open again, hating the part of his mind that wouldn’t let him reconvene tomorrow. How long was he supposed to stay awake, anyway? He needed sleep eventually, but he couldn’t imagine ever wanting to lie down. An issue for the future, he decided quickly.
“Make yourselves at home,” he said somewhat unenthusiastically, gesturing broadly to the other side of the couch and his lone lounging chair.
Content he’d done his part, he cracked open the tub of ice cream. It was already softening, and scooping it into his bowl was easy. He slid it down the table, a silent offering for the others to take their share. Then, drawing his knees up beside him, he took his first bite. He sighed contentedly as the dessert melted on his tongue. To this day, he still didn’t know how much was placebo and how much was the cold actually helping take the edge off, but he knew that it didn’t really matter.
“So. You still haven’t told me your name. Either of you, actually. Why?”
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 17, 2024 23:13:38 GMT -5
𓂋ʚ♡ɞ Wrath
♡♡♡♡♡
Wrath had followed Edwin out of the office but lingered in the living room when he stopped off in the kitchen, not wanting to crowd him. Gluttony takes a space not far from him, arms crossed and gaze far away. The link between them was definitively closed now that they share a space, so he can only guess at what the therian is thinking. The taller eudaemon's lips quirk at their Trust's 'make yourselves at home', but he refrains from further expression. It's likely a habit born from the courtesy they've just mentioned. He takes the other side of the couch, angling to face Edwin with one arm thrown over the back and a leg folded over the other. His hair he pulls to the front, allowing it to cascade down his chest rather than become messy when pressed against the cushions. The room is dim with only a floor lamp and light shining out from the open office, but Wrath can see perfectly. When his partner passes by the lamp, his eyes briefly reflect the light.
Gluttony moves closer but seems content to stand by the furthest armrest, almost at Wrath's back. A dimple is revealed in his lopsided smile when he turns to his partner and pats the space next to him invitingly. Nose wrinkling, Gluttony responds by stiffly moving away to perch on the lounging chair. He sweeps his cloak out so that it spills over the side and curls his ginger tail over hands neatly laced in his lap. Both of his boots are firmly planted on the hardwood and his posture is once again ramrod and at attention, ears swiveling to pick up sounds only he can hear.
The therian blinks at Edwin's content sigh, cool gaze briefly darting to Wrath in a silent acknowledgment. Wrath arches his brows in a pointed 'I told you so' but is dismissed in favor of his partner gingerly retrieving one of the bowls that had been slid across the low table. Gluttony cradles it in one hand and supports it over his tail, listlessly swirling the icecream with his spoon. Wrath has never actually seen him eat- he suspects that he does despite not needing to, however. Like a feral animal in unfamiliar territory, Glue accepts whatever food Wrath offers him and retreats into his room to consume it in private. He's curious to see whether or not he'd defy his instincts for Edwin's sake. The man would likely feel awkward eating alone.
For his part, Wrath smilingly takes up his own bowl with a singsong 'Xièxiè~' and almost immediately takes a bite with a pleased hum. He'd been saving this tub in particular, but it tastes better when shared.
He's already up to his third spoonful when Edwin speaks, and nods with the spoon in his mouth before swallowing. "No particular reason~ It just never came up directly." Wrath doesn't wave a hand to dismiss it, but twirls his spoon idly. No doubt Edwin would feel more comfortable with some degree of familiarity, and names help. "I prefer Enlai while I'm here, but officially I'm called Wrath and my friend is-" He flips his spoon toward Glue-
"I am called Gluttony." His sharp eyes lift from the raised spoon to meet Edwin's gaze before he lowers it again, slipping the icecream into his mouth. Unlike the pair before him, Gluttony gives no indication on whether he likes or dislikes it. He seems subdued, the ivory tip of his tail tapping silently against his thigh.
"He prefers Swiper though~ Or maybe Tails-"
"I do not." Gluttony's ears pin back. Ah, that brought him around~
Wrath continues as if he didn't hear him, though he's wearing a teasing grin. "Glue is fine too~" Out of all the nicknames that Wrath has given him, Gluttony has never objected to 'Glue'. He'd wrinkled his nose at 'Tony'- even though he could totally be a Tony~
"You can only be named after one of the Virtues when you graduate to Archangel and we haven't reached that level yet, so we're stuck with Sins." Wrath shrugs and scoops up some of the last of his icecream. "If you're asking for the names we were born with, they've been lost to time~" This is true on some level. The eudaemon are given new 'names' and forbidden from using their original ones, but the memories aren't erased. Quite a few secretly share them amongst each other to be addressed more familiarly in private. Even a rule follower like Gluttony has elected to do the same.
'-If I am ever lost, use my name. Help me find myself.'
'Of course~ And you-'
'I would.'
Wrath finishes his icecream with a sigh. He licks the remnants off his spoon and shoots Gluttony a forlorn look. His partner never rolls his eyes, but somehow he gives off the impression that he would in certain situations. Expression unchanging, Glue leans forward to pass his mostly untouched bowl over to the taller man. Wrath slides his empty bowl toward the therian so that he can set his now useless spoon inside without having to get up. Satisfied, Wrath sits back with a new bowl of icecream and returns his attention to Edwin.
"Any other questions before I take my turn~?"
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 18, 2024 14:15:31 GMT -5
( i bring you: a little more information on how edwin's magic works! in the process, i ended up coming up with a whole explaination of earthly magic as a whole lol idk if you were working on something/had something in mind when it comes to that, but what i've put together really has almost nothing to do with how the magic works and is more about how it's talked about anyway, mostly because that's what win cares and is knowledgable about. it's really more about how edwin conceptualises and understands magic than anything else. anyway, of course let me know if you have any issues with it! i'm pretty set on the how and what of edwin's particular strand of magic, but the rest isn't written in stone or anything even if it all sounds really declarative lol
magic on earth
Magic is an innate ability that most, though not all, humans once had the potential for. However, with some exceptions, it much be taught and honed, and the level of proficiency a person can reach varies greatly. Spellcasting, especially, is both art and science and must be carefully studied. This, in combination with sorcerers almost always being incredibly secretive, means that historically only small portions of the population have had access to any magical power. Anyone with magical potential may use magical relics, regardless of how their magic relates to the magic-user’s own. However, most require a level of ritual that must still be taught.
Just as the level of ability varies greatly, so does the kinds of magic one can perform. Many magical scholars have attempted to categorise the types of magic, and when the field was more alive there were passionate debates on the topic. There is some overlap between these systems, but plenty of differences. For example, some prefer to separate between physical forms of magic and spiritual ones, others between senses and taught magics. Others still are functionalists and prefer to categorise based on what the magic relates to – this school of thought would, for example, consider necromancers and mediums as the same class of magic user. Even if two scholars agree on the classification system, determining in which category a particular form of magic belongs in is often easier said than done. The closest thing to a consensus that was ever reached was a split between spellcasting and the psychic arts, but not every form of magic can be easily sorted into them – the most hotly debated example is necromancy.
Spellcasting has long been the most common form of magic, and the easiest to teach. Powerful spellcasters may cast them without a talisman, but most will need to bind their will to an object which they can later use to realise the spell. These talismans can survive their maker, though they go dormant after years without use. Spellcasting can also be further subdivided. Elementals of different kinds are spellcasters, as are healers and most alchemists. Due to the almost scientific approach necessary for the collection and crafting spells, spellcasters have across time and geography tended to congregate into cells varying from small, familial units to larger towns and cities. Each group’s style of spellcasting and available spells will be unique, as they rarely like to share knowledge between them.
The psychic arts encompass all forms of magic that deal with the mind and time. While there are some more common varieties of psychic abilities and rarer types of spellcasting, as a rule these kinds of magic are far rarer than spellcaster magic as they're less flexible and harder to teach. Some cannot be taught at all as they require a sixth sense that is inaccessible to nearly all. No amount of study will give sight to the unsighted, for example. The sight, that is the ability to see or hear the dead is the most common kind of psychic art. Others include premonition, psychometry, mind-reading and zoolingualism.
Those with a sixth sense are often caller sensers. Just as you don’t need to be taught to see - if you can see you will see - sensers don’t need instruction to use their sixth sense. Magic that hasn’t been taught is often called innate or essential, as are the people with it. Most innate magic users will have a sense. However, it is possible for a powerful magic user with a strong enough affinity for a particular kind of magic to be innate as well. It’s long been theorised that the first elementals were innate, for example. It’s not a universal rule, but it’s common for sensers to have no other magic ability of instruction.
The proportion of humans with magical abilities has been shrinking for centuries due to a combination of witch hunts, the destruction of grimoires and other magical texts, the growing presence of technology and a mostly undocumented and completely un-understood phenomenon whereby magic is fading from the world. Now, most magic-users have only weak magic, or are forced to rely on relics made by spellcasters from generations past. And that is if they are ever made aware of their potential at all. It has always been the case that most never realise their potential, but fewer than ever have the resources to explore the possibility. Sensers have become far rarer as well. As magical communities have shrank beyond recognition, splintered or dissolved entirely it has become impossible to estimate the scope of this effect beyond the unavoidable fact that it is profound.
edwin's magic
Edwin is psychometric, a rare sense now rarer than ever. By touching an object he can see its past. This requires physical touch, and his magic is specifically confined to his hands. With practice, he has been able to learn to ‘ask’ for specific moments in time, but he doesn’t know how to search for people or things that have interacted with whatever he is scrying. He finds that reading the past is much like a recalling a memory – easier when looking at something recent or significant somehow and often vague or blurry without significant effort. Unlike memories, though, he is confident that when he sees the past he sees it exactly as it was. As his ability is a rare one, there is very little information about it and he knows of no one else alive with it. He's figured it out almost entirely by trial and error for this reason.
Win distinguishes between ‘flashes’, which is what he calls the brief, involuntary moments of the past he sees in passing, and ‘visions’. What he calls flashes are rarely more than a feeling or single image, and almost always involuntary. They often consist of only one or two senses, or just an emotion that isn't his own. They occur more frequently when he’s tired or stressed, or if he touches something holding a particularly powerful impression. Visions are more all-encompassing, and often involve all five senses. They are more drawn out, and he may faint or seize during them. Now that he is older and more practiced, they are almost exclusively stepped into voluntarily. What little reliable literature he’s found on the topic has also referred to them as ‘echoes’ or ‘imprints’, but generally ‘vision’ is used for all parts of the spectrum.
There are records of psychometrics reading people and animals, but Edwin himself has never done so. Human touch has never caused an involuntary vision of any degree, and he’s never tried to call one either.
While Win is in a vision, time continues to pass in the real world. This time usually matches up quite neatly to the time he experiences passing in the other place, but not always. More vivid visions generally take up more real time, while less distinct ones may be over in only moments. Under ideal circumstances, he just looks like he’s zoning out. If a vision breaks through his defences rather than being invited in, he reacts more violently.
Since touch is necessary for him to form a connection to the scrying object, gloves or some other physical barrier is enough to prevent any visions. He often felt suffocated wearing them, though, and the constant anxiety made his visions worse once they were finally allowed to occur. He no longer uses them, except when he's sick or otherwise weakened.
After a vision, it can be hard for him to force another one. It's also far less likely for them to follow each other without his consent. That isn't to say it never happens, but usually he is safe for at least a few hours. Flashes however can continue to make their way through.
In the vision-space he inhabits a not-quite body. It feels to him as his usual one, and he can move it in the space to some extent, though not far from the scrying object. It’s not time-travel, so he is not visible to other people there. In fact, he can’t even see himself. He can’t regulate what he sees, hears and feels, nor interact with anything.
The biggest question Edwin has in regard to his own magic is whether it is a magic directed inwards or outward. That is, does he draw in energy from the scrying object, or does he project his spirit into a separate, past time and space with the object only as a focusing tool? It is a question he doesn’t know how to even begin to answer, but he’s convinced knowing would help him immensely in wielding and controlling his power.
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 18, 2024 15:35:45 GMT -5
“Okay. Enlai and Gluttony it is, then.” Hearing it confirmed that he could stick to the name he already knew, that it would be preferred even, set Edwin’s mind at ease just as much as finally getting to put a name to the fox-eared one’s face. It was a strange name, mind – Enlai’s explanation that they were named after sins gave more questions than answers – but all he really cared about was that it was a name.
Win took another bite of his ice cream, pressing the cold spoon to the roof of his mouth as he tried to decide where best to start unravelling this mess from. If he’d been more awake, maybe he’d have been quicker on his feet, but he found himself needing to take his time. It was as frustrating as any other part of this.
Enlai continued to speak, and Edwin’s gaze flicked to him. He wasn’t sure which part of his statement was the bigger surprise – that Enlai thought he might be out of questions, showing that he clearly didn’t know him at all, or that the taller man had questions of his own. Win had been assuming the Angels knew far more about him not only than he knew about them but than they had any right to know. Apparently, Enlai felt he didn’t know enough. He supposed both things could be true at once, though he didn’t like the thought of that. “Many. Obviously.”
Edwin very much didn’t want to stop asking questions. He wanted to answer them even less. He really didn’t think he owed them any more information than they already had. But because he’d been given ice cream, and because he wanted some illusion of equal standing for his own peace of mind, he nodded. ”We can take turns,” he said. “One for me, one for you.” It was more than he should be giving them, he was sure. “You share yours.”
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 20, 2024 17:53:48 GMT -5
𓂋 ʚ♡ɞ Wrath
♡♡♡♡♡
"Obviously~" Wrath echoed with a wry smile, absently twirling his spoon. He'd known that Edwin's answer to the night's events would be to question them relentlessly- and they had something of an obligation to answer him seeing as they'd been 'caught' and all- but he was really hoping to get the majority of Edwin's inquiries out of the way first so that the conversation could fully turn to more pressing matters. He doesn't doubt that Edwin has the stamina (or will muster up the stamina) to quiz them well into the morning. He can only hope that the man's energy wanes as the night goes on. Lack of sleep bleeding into what seems to be an extreme migraine will do that to you- and it isn't as if they couldn't answer him as things came up. They are going to be much closer as time goes on. He's a potential target now, their methods will have to change.
He slips another spoonful into his mouth and hums as if considering his first question. Gluttony, who hates to remain still for long, slowly rises and steps away from the chair. "I will return with more."
"Not cookie dough- how about peach vanilla?" Wrath read once that chocolate could trigger migraines, and he doubts chewing frozen cookie dough would be very pleasant with a splitting headache.
Gluttony nods an acknowledgement before leaving as silently as he'd arrived. He locks the door before he closes it- the whole display for Edwin's peace of mind more than anything. His chi signature disappears as soon the door shuts behind him, and whether or not he'd engaged the lock, no one would be getting past the threshold with Wrath on duty.
Setting his empty bowl on the table, Wrath leans forward with the fingers of his left hand drumming over his knee. "How do you think those women would know you have anything worth stealing? Glue says they were specfically looking for your office." |
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 20, 2024 18:01:33 GMT -5
( Ooh, it's all perfect, honestly! That's almost exactly what I had in mind for earth's magic! ^^
Mine were in bullet points rather than such an informative style however pfft
I'm also glad to learn more about Win's magic~! And I like the tone you've written them both in- as if I'm reading from a dossier on the matter haha~ I'll add them both to the front page for us to refer back to!
I can see where Win's abilities differ from Glue's now too- Gluttony has a lesser form of psychometry but it's more...fantastical in nature. In fact, even in his world his magic doesn't make logical sense lol He can be said to be powered by love. The more love he feels, the stronger he is. So to the general populace, whose magic is reliant on the power of runes and elemental spirits within their world, all of his feats are met with a 'what the hell is even that...'
There are some with psychic abilities, but not to the extent of his own. Glue is known as an Amacorde, a person whose magic is unique and innate, said to be blessed by 'Cor' their progenitor goddess. He doesn't play by the rules of the other therian in his world, who form pacts with spirits in order to use their own magic. They're also limited by the need to draw the appropiate runes for their spells. Vespers are the privileged few with psychic abilities, but they only receive them by forming pacts with higher beings and can lose those powers by failing to be fully devoted to their patrons.
Wrath's world is...basically a wuxia novel. I've had him longer but haven't built on his world all that much ^^" I know his personal story though, and it may continue to slowly come out as we write~ )
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 21, 2024 14:41:07 GMT -5
Edwin watched Gluttony leave, mystified. He couldn’t even begin to understand the man, which was equal parts irritating and fascinating. No doubt it would get easier with time, but for now he didn’t even know where to begin constructing an internal image of him. It would have helped if he’d stayed, been a more active part of the conversation, but it said something that he was choosing not to. Just what it said was unclear.
“I don’t know,” he answered, turning his eyes back on Enlai as he took the final thoughtful bite of ice cream. “My… hobby, for lack of a better word, isn’t exactly a secret. I even told you,” he pointed out. It wasn’t something he went shouting off the rooftops, to be fair. His constant search for niche, fantastical texts didn’t tend to come up, and he didn’t really broach the topic himself.
“I have a small group of colleagues, I guess you could call them. We don’t really work together, but we’re interested in the same things so we cross research-paths pretty often and bounce ideas off each other sometimes. They probably know best what I’m looking into, but it’s not like any of them have a detailed list. Someone they bounce ideas off might know to look for me, too. Or it could be someone was interested in one of the many books I’ve ever checked out or loaned in from other libraries. Trust me, it’s really not hard to find out who’s been reading what. It would depend on what they were looking for.” Win hadn’t given out his address to anyone, but that didn’t matter. People with an interest in magical artefacts and literature were, almost without exception, fantastic at snooping around. It wouldn’t be difficult to find him for anyone who wanted to. He should’ve been more mindful of that earlier.
All that to say: he had no good answer. And what little he had to go on was assuming they were even after his research, like Gluttony and Enlai seemed to think. He agreed with them. The women had brought magic with them, that was the only explanation for how they’d gotten in without him seeing them at all. It only made sense they’d want to bring magic out. He’d rather they’d have taken literally anything else.
Win sank deeper into the couch cushions, letting himself relax a little. He was so very tired. Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, he knew that if he only closed his eyes and leaned back, he’d drift off before he even knew it. The thought terrified him, but getting a bit more comfortable couldn’t hurt, surely. Surely.
His turn. Best to focus on that. “How long have you been guarding me?” His tone betrayed continued scepticism that guarding really was the right word for it, but he used it anyway. He had to prioritise and ask only for the answers he was most desperate for.
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 21, 2024 14:59:11 GMT -5
( i'm glad, then!
lmao yeah, the style was 1000% a side-effect of starting the process by figuring out how win would've been writing about his own magic cx i like it, though!
ooo interesting! i love that concept~ exploring their similariteis and differences will be fun :D ) |
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 21, 2024 22:14:42 GMT -5
𓂋
ʚ♡ɞ Wrath
♡♡♡♡♡
Wrath's scarred brow quirked as he watched Edwin track Gluttony's passing, clearly still attempting to determine what, exactly, he made of the man. He wants to huff that he has an air of mystery too- but Edwin's fascination is a given when Wrath is for all intents and purposes, a known quantity while Glue very much isn't. He only just showed up and acted vaguely off-putting. Before beating a retreat as soon as it was socially acceptable. Wrath doesn't doubt that he wants to have disappeared for the remainder of their conversation but pride and duty won't allow him to give into the desire.
His train of thought switches track at Edwin's words, and Wrath hums thoughtfully as he tilts his head toward the ceiling, blowing rippling bangs out of his eyes. "So. The question is not just 'who' but why now. If enough information on your research is available for a particularly motivated person to track down, we can assume that person has been aware for some time and only chose now to strike. Or something big caught their interest enough to interfere in your research and risk being discovered." He's talking mostly to himself, melodic voice low and pondering.
A shifting of fabric tips his head back down, and the corner of his mouth lifts at the sight of his Trust getting comfortable. He'll have to answer and get his questions out quicker then. Gluttony will not accept a less than actionable response by the end of this. They need to know what their next moves are. It's still two and a half weeks until they can reconvene with the Archons and get some solid answers. Why weren't they told of Edwin's magic beforehand? Why was it hidden from them thus far? Did the Archons even know? What does this mean for Edwin's future- and the future of his protégé?
"We started the day we met~" Wrath smiles brightly, as if reminiscing. "Sooo...going on three months and five days now."
Gluttony abruptly returns to the front door and Wrath rises to unlock it, bringing in the full-sized tub of peaches and cream icecream with a pleased hum. His partner trails silently behind him and takes his seat once more. Again, he curls his tail neatly in his lap and sits at attention. Wrath hands off the icecream for Edwin to divvy up and Glue silently waves away his offering. After a polite proverbial 'knock', Gluttony reluctantly opens the link so that Wrath can share Edwin's answer.
Once he's settled, Wrath sits still mostly turned toward Edwin but casts an encouraging look at the stoic therian over his shoulder. "Do you have any questions, Glue? Since we're all sharing here~"
Gluttony's response is immediate, wintry gaze immediately fixating on Edwin. "Have you had any breakthroughs that you've shared with these 'colleagues'? Something significant enough that it would warrant theft? What-"
"We're going one at a time~" Wrath breaks in to remind him, and ginger ears briefly flatten to either side of his head as he exhales softly. "Very well." Gluttony subsides but the air around him still hums with energy. His pride is smarting and his protective instincts have activated with a vengeance. It probably kills him not to take immediate action, but he could use some exercises in patience. The situation really isn't as dire as he seems to think it is~ Wrath smilingly takes another spoonful of icecream.
[ We'll sort this out~ It's obviously a ~canon event~ ]
[ ... a what? ]
Wrath eats a bigger scoop to hide his chuckle at Gluttony's miffed confusion, and nearly chokes on his icecream. Vulpine ears pin back as he shoots Wrath a quelling look. He isn't going to ask for an explanation, but Wrath bets the remainder of his icecream that it'll soon be in his search history.
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 21, 2024 22:17:08 GMT -5
( Right! And it'll happen sooner rather than later- Wrath wants to take things slow but Glue will just come out and say Hagrid's iconic line lol )
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 22, 2024 4:25:31 GMT -5
Three months. Not that long, then. That was good. He remembered the day they met, though he wouldn’t have been able to recall the date to that precision. It was comforting, too, that he’d presumably known Enlai as long as the other man had known him. Well, he’d probably been assigned to this job by the same people who would let them ‘graduate’, so maybe he was in possession of a seven-volume file on his life thus far. He’d have to ask.
Enlai stood, and for a moment Edwin couldn’t understand why. Then he went to open the door for his partner, who came bearing even more ice cream. Gluttony moved quickly. Magic? He’d have to ask about that, too.
Win leaned forward to refill his bowl. The movement thrummed in his head, but he only blinked slowly. He didn’t even have time to sit back in his seat again before the barrage of questions. How did Gluttony know what was said while he was on his self-nominated ice cream errand? Yet another thing he had to bring up. At this rate, he might be dead before he ran out.
It took him a moment to respond. Even if he only picked out the first question, he wasn’t quite sure how to answer it. He didn’t think he’d shared any major breakthroughs, especially not recently. Besides, he and his circle weren’t research partners. They shared only as much detail as was necessary context for any given question. Some of the others were incredibly protective over their findings even by Edwin’s standards, others were more forthcoming, but all seemed to work alone or very closely with only one or two others. Edwin included. Their network was mutually beneficial, but not always friendly. Despite Win sometimes wishing they could share more, he’d never taken the first step to do so.
“Maybe.” Technically, that answered the first question, the only one he’d obligated himself to answering, but after a pause and bite of ice cream he continued anyway. “I don’t go around announcing my discoveries, but if someone knew what they were looking for better than I knew what I had, details could be enough. I’ll go through my e-mails with them tomorrow.” If someone in his circle had done this, he needed to know.
He needed his network desperately, and not only for their knowledge. The field of magical study was aged, skeletal, and barely breathing. There weren’t many pockets of the world with connections to it anymore, but Win’s network was one of them. Win wasn’t sure he could bear to spend the rest of his life even more alone than he had been to this point, but he might need to consider it.
Win pushed the thought and its accompanying sadness down. He didn’t need to decide tonight – couldn’t. Instead, he returned Gluttony’s icy gaze evenly. “How did you know about my colleagues?” The question surprised him. He’d been intending to ask more about why they were here. But as he said completely the wrong thing, he realised maybe it wasn't so wrong after all. If the Guardians were mind-readers, he had to be careful. And he could stop answering their questions.
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 22, 2024 4:32:28 GMT -5
( hahah that's one approach cx win will just nod and agree lol ) |
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 22, 2024 17:08:25 GMT -5
𓂋ʚ♡ɞ Wrath ♡♡♡♡♡ Gluttony made a vaguely displeased sound at Edwin's answer. "Yes, please do." Wrath hums into his next spoonful. Okay, so they're back to square one. Well, not really 'back', they'd never left. This is coming completely out of left field and they have a number of suspects but nothing to pin them with. At least they have a motive, however loose. It's simple. Edwin has something- or knowledge of something- that those women want. But he doesn't seem to recognize the leader and neither of the eudaemon do either. Wrath never forgets a chi signature, and he's sure they're distinct enough that Glue wouldn't forget their scent. Wrath snaps his fingers. "Glue, give me something to draw with!" The therian looks down his nose at him despite Wrath being taller even when seated. "Your attempts at art are abysmal. I'll do it myself." He reaches into the depths of the cloak and withdraws a worn orangey leather notebook embossed with a crescent moon surrounded by stars of differing sizes and points. A charcoal pencil is pressed to the spine, secured by the leather strip keeping the journal closed. Gluttony unwraps it and winds the leather around one of his wrists before flipping to blank pages and beginning to sketch. When Edwin speaks, he lifts his gaze but continues drawing, his left hand moving in sharp, graceful movements. "Wrath informed me." Is the short answer, but then he continues in a tone that sounds as if he's reading from a textbook. "Guardian Angels are rarely required to be on duty alongside one another. The Guardian Angel of The Right takes point and interacts with their charge as a human while the Guardian Angel of The Left takes their shift in spirit form when their paths diverge. As such, it is necessary they have a swift and reliable method of communication to alert one another to potential changes in plan or the state of their charge. Our aureole create a psychic link that allows us to communicate telepathically with one another." "That's our official word for 'halo'." Wrath supplies, leaning toward Gluttony in an attempt at seeing his work in progress. Apparently feeling rather petty, Glue lifts the book and sets it on his tail. He tilts it more toward himself, switching to the next page. Wrath snorts and returns back to settling in his seat. "We can't use them to read your mind, if that's what you're worried about~ The halos only work between Angels." Another fact that is almost entirely true. "Hmmm," He absently twirls his spoon. "Do you know what was in the notebook that they took? I'm sure they left in a hurry with your guard fox nipping at their heels, but there has to be a reason she took just the one." Each woman had a single black canvas bag, but all but one was entirely empty. At least in the sense that they were devoid of books. [ Where did you say they went again? ] [ A motel in the next town over. We can assume they traveled far, but just how far is uncertain. I heard no mention of traveling via airplane, just the car they'd rented. ] [ I see...ughhh it looks like I'll have to take point for that as welllll...They won't soon forget you. Aiya I hate stealth missions... ]
[ Are you just going to complain or do you have something constructive to say? ] Gluttony's mental tone is impatient, and then without waiting for a response, he closes off the connection. Wrath huffs, but is distracted when Gluttony flips the book around and reveals its contents to them. On one page is a realistic but rudimentary portrait of the tallest woman. He'd even gone so far as to shade her eyes and add contour to her high cheekbones. Her gaze is stern and mouth affixed in a frown. On the next page is the younger woman, her round eyes kind but her mouth is slanted in worry. After a moment, he turns to another page to reveal the youngest. She has a plump face and a burn scar on her forehead, crooked teeth are revealed as she's depicted biting her lip. All three of them have neat box braids in common, and share enough resemblance as to be related. Wrath has seen them before, so he only takes note of Glue's enviable skill at art before moving on. What truly catches his attention is what is on the page opposite the last portrait. At the top there's a paragraph in spiky lettering that he assumes to be Gluttony's native language, and under it is some kind of magic circle with unfamiliar runes affixed at the points within the octagon at the circle's center. And then to either side appear to be random doodles. A flower that vaguely resembles a snowdrop growing out of what must be snow. A raven perched on a branch. A hyper realistic heart. The entrance to a gothic and ominous-looking mausoleum. A crown that suspiciously resembles his halo, but much more detailed. It seems that each page is dated as well, although it's in more spidery writing. It doesn't look like he's using this world's calendar system, not even on the portraits. Gluttony clears his throat and turns back to the first two pages. " Do you recognize any of these women? Further detail can be added if you believe it would help."
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 22, 2024 17:16:34 GMT -5
( Wrath will be like "I wanted to say it!" lol
Also I don't know if it matters, but Felicia only took the one notebook because she thought there was less chance of them coming after them if she didn't clear out Edwin's office haha- but she also had no time. She took the newest looking one- what's inside it is up to you!
I was thinking the Philosopher's Stone has the ability to mimic any alchemy/potion ingredient no matter how obscure or difficult to find- but in the end it's a mcguffin because the real object both sides will be competing for is the Seal Of Solomon once they learn of its existence- and its power, but what do you think? ^^
Also I'm giving Win his wish to know Glue better by sending Wrath on a mission soon haha~ Poor fox is going to be like "Good riddance! Wait...who is going to fill my awkward silences?!" )
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 23, 2024 11:35:53 GMT -5
Edwin listened carefully to Gluttony’s explanation, trying to affix it to his memory. After so many years, he was used to relying on a notebook and pen, and his exhaustion wasn’t helping his comprehension. He really should be taking notes, as he usually did, but his current journal was so far away. His ears would have to do. He could understand and remember, at least, that Enlai and Gluttony could speak without speaking, and that they couldn’t get into his head. Anything else was a bonus.
“I got it out to cross reference 18th century alchemical symbols,” he replied. “I think it was one of the first notebooks I used when I first started looking into English alchemy, so it covers a lot of the basics. But I don’t organise my notes by topic. There’s quite a bit on scrying bowls and liquids in there, too. I got distracted part way through, started reading about a spell to make trees bear fruit year ‘round.” He must've done most of his reading in the library at the time, because there was also a shocking number of pages that devolved into reflecting on his teenage crush on the cute girl who always sat at the next table, complete with heart doodles in the margins and a list of first date suggestions. He quickly made the decision not to share that, flushing pink at the realisation that at least three other people were going to dissect that moment in his life. It was nothing short of mortifying.
Win had started writing in the journal at the end of high school and finished it not long after he started university, and by then his mental defences had been good enough that tracking his involuntary visions no longer took up half the pages. Even then, there’d be plenty of short memos about flashes he’d had going about his days in there as well. He could only hope they were vague enough not to rouse suspicion. If he was lucky, those portions could pass as a dream journal.
“I don’t know why that was the only one that was taken. If they were looking for specific information, they would’ve had to go through each book one by one until they found it. It might’ve been open, the easiest to see and grab?”
Absentmindedly, he scraped the last melted remnants of ice cream from his bowl before setting it down on the table, content. He leaned back again, snatching a blanket slung over the armrest to cover his legs. Now that he wasn’t intending to eat any more, he tucked his hands beneath the blanket and between his knees before rolling his shoulders back to get comfortable. He would’ve sat back, too, if Gluttony hadn’t flipped his own book around to show him three sketches. Instead, he leaned forward.
Edwin allowed himself only a moment to be impressed by how quickly Gluttony put them to page. It was a skill he could only dream to have. Unfortunately, he needn’t have bothered. Win recognised none of them, not even the woman he’d seen earlier. He was sure it had nothing to do with the quality of the drawings. Everything had moved so quickly, and happened in darkness for the most part. He’d been terrified. When he tried to remember what the woman who’d been in his living room looked like, he saw little more than a silhouette. He couldn’t even pick her out among these three, even knowing she must be one of them. He couldn’t remember seeing any of them before tonight.
For just a moment, he entertained the possibility of being petty. Having answered a question already, he could have refused this one. Especially since he didn’t have a good answer anyway. But he was too tired to bicker, and there was an obvious benefit to answering honestly.
Win shook his head softly. “No, sorry. I've never seen them before.”
“Why are there two of you? I would’ve assumed a person would only need one Guardian Angel.” he said, not willing to leave space for a third question. He could practically hear his brain winding down. It was happening faster and faster, much to his dismay. Every thought took longer to form than the last. It wouldn't be pleasant, but he could force himself to stay awake for several more hours. Forcing his mind to cooperate with him was a different thing altogether. There would be nothing to do if he became too tired to listen, so he needed to ask as many questions as he could as soon as he could before the answers started to run off him like rain on an umbrella.
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 23, 2024 11:42:09 GMT -5
( lol poor guy v-v gotta move quickly to get what you want in this world
oo i like it, absolutely! just the right amount of useful, i think. & 100% all focus will shift to the seal, there's no way anyone involved would be able to spend time on anything else
not win, that's for sure. he'd try, but he's no conversationalist. they'll just have to live in a cloud of perpetual awkwardness for a while haha )
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 24, 2024 3:16:02 GMT -5
𓂋ʚ♡ɞ Wrath
♡♡♡♡♡
So the witches grabbed something full of miscellaneous information- too many leads there.
"Damn." Wrath mumbled into another spoonful. It was certainly a long shot, but it might have made their investigation easier if Edwin had seen the women in the past. If they'd been physically watching him before the 'Guardian Angels' came into the picture, it would indicate some prior knowledge into who and what Edwin is. Crimes with unrelated parties are the hardest to make sense of. Not that he's ever been any great detective- but now he feels a certain empathy with the various authorities who'd had to make sense of his own crimes. Maybe this is what atonement is about~
It doesn't matter now, but Wrath sends a heartfelt 'my bad' into the cosmos before his next bite. He was right- icecream is definitely making this all more palatable~ Too bad Gluttony refuses to let it work on him.
The therian nods, closing and re-wrapping his journal to be returned into the depths of his cloak. His magic is so obtrusive- especially after whatever spell had snagged into it in the first place- that Wrath can actually feel it disseminating into the ether. Ah, that's another thing. Gluttony will need a full 'check up' after that weird flare of the Geas...that's going to be fun. Or! Wrath can just wait for the Archons to do it during their caucus...Yep, that's preferable!
...
'Damn.' He can't leave it unaddressed for that long. Without seeing the spell himself, he can't make a proper judgment call. Nothing should be able to interfere with their Geas. It was crafted by the Archon themselves, and some random hedgewitch shouldn't be able to accidental onto something of that magnitude. Wrath absolutely believes Gluttony when he says that he hadn't violated his Geas or indulged in his Sin. For one thing, the situation didn't call for any feelings or displays of 'gluttony'. Glue in particular has a Sin so situational that Wrath actually has more recent instances of 'relapse' than the rookie eudaemon. And it's not as if Glue had overused his magic either. He may use it more often than he's meant to, but that's more because it's second nature to him than anything. He handles near everyone and everything with kid gloves when it comes to his abilities. The evidence of that is clear- had he utilized it as he should have and actually done his job, they wouldn't be in this situation in the first place.
All that power and he refuses to- ah, that's not the way he should be thinking~
Wrath takes a moment to resettle his mind, rolling his shoulders and setting his empty bowl within Gluttony's (a small part of him cringes at not using coasters), before resting an elbow on the back of the couch and his scarred cheek on his fist. He hadn't been silent long, but it might be enough to be noticable when he's usually so fond of his own voice. Gluttony gets up to silently put the leftover icecream in the freezer as he answers.
"Actually, pairs are rather common~ Although I guess it depends on your belief system. We're often paired together for our individual abilities that are required for different situations~ Glue and I may not seem like it, but we're quite the team~!" Wrath lifts his head to grin at the therian as he returns to his seat, and is delighted to see a tiny acknowledging tilt of his ginger head. They've been together long enough for the younger eudaemon to begrudgingly, reluctantly, and unethusiastically accept that there was some wisdom behind forcing them together.
"Now," Wrath begins, but Gluttony utterly blindsides him by asking the next question.
"Your magic...were you born with it or is it a recent development?"
Honestly, he shouldn't be surprised by his partner's random bluntness but he can't help an exasperated sigh. Wrath could have answered that. During the brief period where he'd had access to his true eyes, he could see the makeup of the sensory magic within Edwin's very being. It was tightly wound at his center, showing that it wasn't a part of his life as much as Gluttony's is. He likely suppresses it more, but it isn't completely left to disuse. There were faint trails snaking from the book he'd recently acquired from the archives, noticable even with the more obvious rhythmic glow from his hands. It glowed and flickered like a lantern bobbing in the dark, almost hypnotic.
Glue could have easily checked with Wrath, but the question isn't for the sake of an answer. This new information is bothering him, and he wants to broach the topic within the confines of their back and forth. Wrath would rather they kept to softballs while their Trust is flagging- anything more involved could wait until he's had some rest and time to recharge. It's on him for not communicating this to Gluttony. He slants his eyes at the therian, and his partner ignores him in favor of explaining himself before Edwin could ask.
"You had a reaction to making contact with my cloak. My aureole informed me that you are not suffering from the effects of a natural affliction, and I could sense your thaumaturgy at work with my own brought to the fore." Gluttony's ears swivel forward, gaze intent. Wrath knows the question he really wants to ask is 'what did you see?'
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 24, 2024 3:21:03 GMT -5
( Especially with Glue around lol
Glad we're on the same page! ^^
They will xD I'm hoping that them both having more questions for each other will bridge the gap a bit! The studying and training may be mostly done in silence though lol
I'll have to come back to this when I'm better rested- but I'm working on something of a timeline for future plot points! Like, when and how the Seal of Solomon fragment & its abilities are discovered. As in, if it'd be Win or the witches who learn of it first. I think looking for the philosopher's stone will lead to interest in the Seal somehow- well more than the interest they have in it already. I don't think Wrath's solo investigation will turn up much about the Seal, as he's doing it without magic and the witches themselves don't know what they have yet.
We should probably also plan out Glue & Win's romance! I imagine that it'll happen slow, but it'd be a good idea to already have in mind our turning points and various developments between them! For one, I know that between the two eudaemon Wrath would notice something is up first while Glue is blissfully unaware lol He thinks he's being totally normal and Wrath is just "cute! But also cease and desist" )
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 24, 2024 13:26:36 GMT -5
An amendment needed to be made to his understanding, then. No problem. Win nodded. Whether or not this pair was a good one, as seemed to be their own judgement, he couldn’t say. It would help to know more about why and how they did what they did, but formulating that into a short, precise question would take brainpower he didn’t have access to right now.
Any attempts at constructing such a question died at Gluttony’s next question. Gluttony’s explanation made no sense to him, half words he didn’t know, but the question itself was simple – if unexpected. It wasn’t so shocking that they knew of his magic, nor that they’d ask for details, but it was so different from his previous train of thoughts that it took him a moment to reorient himself.
“I was born with it,” he replied. “At least, I can’t remember a time before.” That, paired with all the reading he’d done on the topic, was enough for him to be sure that his magic was as essential to his being as breathing, but it wasn’t like he remembered the first time he’d seen the impossible. And who could he possibly ask?
The new line of questioning wasn’t ideal. Not so much because he didn’t want to answer it – though that was part of it. Miserably, it meant he had to adapt his own plans. “How much do you know? In words I can understand, please,” he said, his plea entirely sincere.
It felt like a waste of time. On the list of things he wanted to know, what details Enlai and Gluttony knew about his magic ranked somewhere between his nana’s closely guarded chili recipe and what the name of that one show he loved as a kid – the one with the talking, paranoid, blue bird - was called. Although it was far from uninteresting, he wasn’t falling over himself to pay for that information with sleepless nights. Unfortunately, unlike the contents of his nana’s chili, he needed to know. What he wanted would have to wait.
Win had never talked about his magic before. Not really. He’d done so much reading and writing that sometimes it felt like he had, but this was a first. He’d learned quick as a child that people didn’t like it when you knew their secrets, and that they wouldn’t accept ‘I saw it’ as an answer when you hadn’t been there. He’d stopped talking about the things he saw long before he’d aged out of it being dismissed as childish imagination, and long before he had any words to describe the things that happened to him. Last time he mentioned seeing things to anyone must’ve been before he even started school. It would be hard to go against decades of calcified habit now, he could already tell.
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 24, 2024 13:33:22 GMT -5
( lol hopefully it’s not too painful for them, win doesn’t mind silence in itself, but the kind where everyone should be saying something and no one is causes him physical discomfort so haha we’ll see how they do~
hmm I’ll brainstorm a bit! I absolutely think they could be distantly connected somehow. but idk how… I’ll get back to you if I think of something, and feel free to share what thoughts you have already as well!
sure~! win is kind of the opposite! he’s very obvious, not least to himself. he’s 100% the person who overanalyses his own feelings and makes himself miserable in the process. he’s also very good at playing the denial game, again both to himself and other people, if he thinks his feelings are inconvenient or inappropriate. except he continues to act a complete fool, so maybe he's not so good at it after all cx sounds like of the two of them, he'd catch on first and then proceed to do absolutely nothing about it for way longer than is good for him )
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 24, 2024 21:32:57 GMT -5
( For Glue's part, he can spend too much time overthinking lol Especially when it comes to socializing- you've probably noticed by now that he's not used to it haha
He's actually a bit better now due to Wrath though! The Government Assigned Extrovert is definitely a necessary part of their trio-
Right! I'll be busy for the rest of the week but I'll try to brainstorm when I have time as well!
Oh no they're quite the pair! xD
Wrath will be endlessly amused by them- in fact he might find it so entertaining that he just lets it continue because he thinks nothing will come of it- unfortunately for all involved, once Glue makes a realization he locks in pffft
But what I meant was, how do you think their relationship will progress and what story beats do you see happening for them? Like, the first time they truly get close, when they'd realize feelings, etc
I already know that as Glue comes to like Win, he'd want to share more of his story and home. I can see him presenting facets of his world and sharing some of his journals- which are very similar to Win's in purpose. Not all of them are personal- he was big on research too~
I also know that the first time he touches Win- whether it's protective, casual, or more meaningful- will be a milestone as well. His magic isn't activated by touch, but he's so accustomed to not having anyone to interact with on a physical level that tactile actions have kind of fell to the wayside.
As a secret- Wrath is the only person who is really tactile with him and Glue only pretends to hate it! ~frenemies~ )
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 28, 2024 5:56:00 GMT -5
( sorry for the late response, i've had a very busy week!
tbh i very rarely plan out a romance ahead of time, so i don't quite know how cx but i'll see what i can do :D
casual touch is definitely a turning point for win. he's really fond of his personal space, and he has a lot of it. going from that to not minding when others step into it to even being happy when they do is quite the shift. when it happens obviously depends on gluttony as well, but it could either be an early hint or another nail in the coffin. he's never going to be the clingy type, but he does become more tactile once he's comfortable~
when it comes to win's journals, he's never willingly shown them to anyone before and i honestly don't know if he ever would. if he does, it would 100% be a point of no return for him. for him to even consider it, he'd need to be all in.
i think win would be be sure of his feelings the first time he notices he's feeling protective. it could be caused by something smaller and in passing or something more drastic, but either way it's exactly the kind of thing he'd clock about himself. ) |
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 29, 2024 0:33:34 GMT -5
( It's okay, I understand! ^^
Haha, no problem! I just figured that since Win & Glue are both too much alike but very dissimilar, we'd need to help them along by creating situations that would actually have them draw closer or forge a bond, because it's unlikely that things will change without outside help lol
If circumstances weren't what they are, Wrath would totally help them get together though pfft
Okay, that's something! Glue is very careful about respecting others' personal space so he's unlikely to intentionally touch Edwin out of the blue. He doesn't want to touch Win with his magic out of concern for what it may do either though, so I can see him reaching out to steady him, pulling him to safety, or physically shielding him- anything like that, at first. He's very tactile when in a relationship though. He's always been starved for it so once he knows that it isn't unwelcome, he's bound to do everything from simply holding hands to wanting to sit together to full on surprise hugs when he needs a good 'ol recharge. I don't know if it's ironic, but when in a romantic relationship Wrath is actually the chill one xD But then he's been in relationships before
Gluttony wouldn't mind if he never knows what's in the journals~ He'd be curious, but he knows that to share is his decision and that it isn't encumbent upon Win. More than anything he wants to form a connection, and he knows that is born of understanding. He knows that he can be confusing and difficult to read so he likes to provide those he cares about with more insight. He'd even tell Win embarassing stories or past failures if he's interested. Glue isn't the type to just chat, but if he feels like there's something to be gained from speaking at length, he'll do it.
I'm a bit confused! Do you mean Win would be sure of Glue's feelings when Glue gets protective, or sure of his own feelings?
Either way- protective is definitely a good indicator haha
He's naturally protective of those he feels responsible over, but Win may notice that it's different with him as time goes on. It's...probably going to get a little bad, actually. As Glue starts feeling more for him, the dread he'll feel toward completing his mission would get worse. Edwin is destined to die, after all. That would likely be the source of one of Wrath & Gluttony's Big Arguments.
"He's going to die, that's how this story goes!"
"How About No." )
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 29, 2024 1:03:31 GMT -5
𓂋ʚ♡ɞ Wrath
♡♡♡♡♡
Wrath's blue gaze bounces back toward Gluttony, but the therian doesn't show any indication of what he thinks about this new (to him) information. Edwin was born with his magic- in a way, that makes this worse. They don't know how the prophecy would respond to that and there's a possibility that the Chosen One Won't be born with magic, or at least not that specific brand of it. The eudaemon had to have their own placed under restriction and modified just to be accepted into this realm. There's a limit to how many people can wield such power in this world, and already they're pushing it. With the addition of the witches and their mysterious spell...
Wrath pulls his braid over his shoulder and re-twists the loose ends, wanting to pinch the bridge of his nose instead. 'One headache at a time.'
Gluttony blinks at Edwin before glancing at the redhead with a furrow to his brow, silently asking if he had slipped into another tongue without realizing it- Wrath shrugs- When he meets the human's gaze again his expression has smoothed out, however. "I know that you wield a...magic that is commonly referred to as psychometry. Presumably, you can see the past of an object or being by touching them. Something...likely the spells woven into my cloak, caused it to activate when you made contact. It would seem that the interaction of the two magics has resulted in your current...discomfort. And for that I apologize. I will be more careful in the future." He laces his fingers together atop his tail. "That is all I know. I do not know the extent of your abilities, nor the particulars. That you have it at all is...should be impossible. You are singular. That must be why we are here."
Hmm. Wrath subjects Gluttony to another side-eye. That isn't exactly why they're with the man. Glue likely anticipates that being one of his next questions and decided to imply an answer. It's not a lie, but it's not the full truth either. Still, it's better than 'we need to ensure you only die in one particular way'. Of course, 'we need you alive and well to teach your world's newest hero' is much better and more palatable, but Edwin can't know that either. He can know nothing of his destiny to ensure that it isn't altered. They're complicating things by revealing themselves in the first place, but Wrath has full confidence in his ability to control the situation. Besides that, being closer to Edwin would make figuring out this whole magical switcheroo easier~
Well, as long as the man cooperates. And judging by his expression...he doesn't intend to make it easy on them.
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 30, 2024 14:56:09 GMT -5
( nah, you're right, i'm just very rusty lol
being willing to tell stories is a dangerous trait to have around win, who might very well start demanding them like a child at bedtime before long cx
ahh my bad! there are too many masculine pronouns to keep track of. win would be 100% sure of his own feelings after something happens that makes him feel protective of glue. he's more of an emotional caretaker than a physical one, but the feelings are the same - and rare for win who is very much not a natural protector, hence the certainty.
i'm probably going to keep being a bit spotty activity-wise for a while as i'm in the middle of moving and my health is taking a dip all at the same time (the health dip is actually the reason i'm moving lol). watch me say that and then nothing changes lmao at least if it does, you know why~ ) |
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Sept 30, 2024 15:32:39 GMT -5
The apology caught Win by surprise, but it was a welcome one. Truth be told, he had been blaming the man for his current state – and knowing himself, a sorry wasn’t going to be enough to stop that emotional reaction. Once the headache was completely dissipated and he wasn’t so dreadfully tired, it would be easier to rationalise it and move on. Edwin wasn’t one to hold onto a grudge for years on end, but his feelings had never burned fast and hard either. He acknowledged the apology with a small dip of his head, before focusing on the rest of Gluttony’s description.
“Definitely your cloak,” he agreed. If the cloak was ensorcelled, it didn’t seem farfetched to think his reaction had been caused by the presence of magic. Earthly magic was dull and most once-magical artefacts were dead now, but even then he’d felt echoes vibrate deep under his skin on the rare occasion he’d held a talisman of some kind. The magic in the cloak, then, must be truly alive. If the magic of yore was a knife long rusted, this was newly sharpened. He’d have liked to study it, if not for the fear of another vision like the one he’d had tonight. Or worse.
It was frightening to think that he was in the presence of so much magic, and to know that it could do him so much harm. Edwin had spent most of his life studying magical history and cataloguing spells, enchantments, and alchemy, so it was inevitable that he’d interacted with magical artefacts before. He’d handled them, tracked their movements even. That didn’t mean it was a regular occurrence. Win’s interest had never been in learning to use the spells he read about. This whole life had been kickstarted by the want to not use his magic, after all. He'd never felt the urge to keep the magic he came across, much less scour the Earth for surviving spells.
It was a problem for another day. Edwin cleared his scrambled mind again, refocusing on the issue at hand. “Just things, but yeah. I touch something, I see a moment from the past, sometimes it wipes me out for a day or two, et cetera.” He should probably elaborate. He couldn’t figure out how.
“Do you not know for sure why you’re here?” he asked instead. That was the implication, no? That was truly surprising. Once again Win was faced with how little he knew of the situation. Who’d sent them? Had anyone?
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Sept 30, 2024 19:55:14 GMT -5
( That's fine! Lol We can work on it together- we'll probably find inspiration as we write!
Haha that's cute~ Glue will suddenly love telling stories then~ Not all of his personal ones are positive, but he has plenty from his world to share!
Right?! xD That's why I tend to make my villains female if my protagonists are male or their altercations will become confusing lol
Ahh, that'd be sweet! I look forward to seeing that side of Win! Glue will be slightly disbelieving on the other hand, as Wrath just tells him to 'walk it off' when he gets hurt pfft
I understand! And I'm sorry to hear that you're not feeling well- I hope it's not caused by anything serious like black mold!
Right, thanks for the heads up! ^^ I hope moving isn't as much a pain for you as it generally is! I've moved quite a few times & packing is always a chore- )
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Post by Ave Domine Nox Noctis on Oct 1, 2024 4:12:54 GMT -5
𓂋ʚ♡ɞ Wrath "The magic is reactive and cannot be dismissed. However, I will ensure that it no longer plagues you." Gluttony's tone is solemn as if swearing an oath, and Wrath can see that he relaxes incrementally at Edwin's tiny acknowledgment of his apology.
"Ah, et cetera." Wrath murmurs with an enlightened nod, lips curving in amusement once more. Even Gluttony's brow furrows at the insufficient explanation, but they've already taken a turn. It looks like it's taking a physical toll on Gluttony not to speak however. His tailtip begins to flick anxiously and his fingers tighten, wintry eyes narrowing.
Wrath saves him the burden of coming up with a reply. He isn't sure if he'd lie or continue the vagueries.
"We're given a general idea but the top brass don't tell us everything." He sighs and rolls his wrist with a put-upon frown. "We know that you need to be protected and looked after because of the importance of your work, but you having magic was not on the bingo card for this mission. It...changes things."
Almost as soon as he gets out the last syllable, Glue fires off with an: "Elaborate. Your magic can 'wipe you out' for a day or two? Do you...experience this level of discomfort every time you use it?"
His baritone is as clipped as ever, but there's a slightly more pronounced frown in the furrow of his brows and downturn of his mouth. Wrath can feel the aureole above the therian fighting not to be forced into existence. He wants to use its magic to check in on Edwin's condition again but it's resisting him. Wrath adds his own will to it, sending Gluttony a look that clearly communicates a 'down, boy'. It's painful and inconvenient, but the human has clearly dealt with it before and turned out fine. He suspects that Glue's guilt is behind the sudden concern. Wrath pries open their link.
[ Stop acting as if this is your fault. You didn't hurt him, his magic had a bad reaction when he accidentally made contact with your dangerously enchanted cloak. Besides~ It's a good thing this happened, else we'd be flying blind~ ]
[ We are still blind. ] Gluttony grumbles. His ill feelings do not subside, but he doesn't order Edwin to bed like he clearly wants to. It's the little things.
Wrath can see they're close to wrapping up anyway. The light outside is beginning to change and Edwin is visibly struggling to keep up with the conversation. Rather than forcing anything and causing him to bristle with defensiveness once more, they can simply let it all play out to its natural conclusion. Both sides may still have questions, but they also have an abundance of time spent together in which to get their answers. It's highly unlikely that the witches will turn back or return at all, but he already knows for a fact that Gluttony isn't going anywhere. He's paranoid at the best of times. Wrath only wonders what Edwin would make of the therian when they're forced into close quarters with full knowledge of each other's presence. It's too bad that he'd have to leave...he imagines that it'd be highly entertaining.
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Oct 1, 2024 15:14:57 GMT -5
Edwin nodded slowly, though he didn’t quite understand. It took real effort now to internalise every new revelation. It was infuriating that Gluttony’s first impression of him should be of him so slow and useless, but he was powerless to do anything about it. Win couldn’t be more aware of the fact that his time was quickly running out – before long he wouldn’t be able to hold a productive conversation at all. Not yet, he begged silently. Keep your energy up a little longer.
He snuggled even further back into the couch cushions, letting himself relax the last of the way as Enlai described the ’mission’. It was a bad idea to close his eyes so he didn’t, though it would have been so nice to rest his eyes for even a moment.
Gluttony didn’t give him the chance to digest any of what had been said before he returned fire. He was so fast Win was almost taken aback. At least it was a question he knew how to answer this time – he’d answered it many times before, albeit without being able to be entirely honest.
”No. Not every time. Not often anymore, actually. Just when I’ve been overwhelmed.” And even then, it depended on how strong a vision he’d had. Flashes almost never gave him even a passing headache anymore, provoked or not. If you’d told teenage Win that, he might’ve cried with relief.
He ran a knuckle across his nose bridge, trying to quantify it somehow. “I used to see things all the time, without wanting to. More days than not, if I wasn’t wearing gloves. And I’d usually get a migraine afterwards. Most visions I have now I’ve called myself, or they’re very small and don’t hurt at all. So I have a lot fewer headaches – just one every month or so. I can get them when I overexert myself, too, but I know my limits.” Of course, it happened that he fell to temptation and pushed himself further than he should. It was always so easy to get caught up in trying to see just one more minute of the past, one more, one more. The aftermath would dissuade him from repeating his mistakes for a few weeks, before he could once again convince himself that it wasn’t so bad last time.
“It doesn’t do any lasting damage, as far as I’m aware. It’s just a bit annoying.” Not so just, as was clear by the grimace on Win’s face. He wasn’t trying to hide it and would likely have failed anyway. But the point he was trying to make stood. The migraine would pass, and he would be fine, as he had been every time before. Just how long it would take this time was a fun discovery to be made along the way.
It would be so easy to speed it up. A good nights- A good early morning’s sleep would do him good. And sleep was like time-travel; it let him skip hours of his pain and exhaustion at a time. For the first time tonight, it sounded almost enticing.
Not. Yet. Soon. Soon.
“If you didn’t know I had magic before, how do you know now?” It wasn’t like he’d told them.
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Post by 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯 on Oct 1, 2024 15:35:14 GMT -5
( i'm sure we will~!
thank you <3 it's a long story, but there's no mold, it's just my chronic illness making things difficult for me as usual~ also means i'm probably moving again pretty soon, but we'll see how the flat search goes. at least the packing went pretty smoothly, i hauled around half of it yesterday and i've managed to talk my dad into helping me with the rest this weekend. then there's the unpacking, which is usually way more timeconsuming for me at least cx ) |
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