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BxA (m)
A spoked wheel spun spun serenly in the darkness of the void, illuminated with the embers of an azure flame that revealed the back of a certain someone. A certain someone who had, a year ago, embraced the power within himself and selfessly raged against a world that wished to subjugate the ones close to him with a burning fury. A year ago, he had fought with his all, and won, against the Toli, effectively re-uniting the two peoples into one entity again, but not before Yamiko had cursed him into Nirn, the supposed world of the dead, and sealed him for all time to remain on a barren rock in an endless, empty void with nothing but a distant red star to illuminate "his" world.
He drew in a long breath and exhaled slowly, watching the moisture in his breath crystallize and float into space. It was cold, cold beyond belief. He surely would have died were it not for the flame that resided within him, although, that had been mostly exhausted in the fight, and the year spent in this void. "It's been a while now, hasn't it?" He murmured quietly to himself as he twiddled his thumbs and twisted the braided rope that Avia had won for him in a knife throwing game at a carnival. He smiled sadly and slid back, stretching his legs for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. There was something strange about the world he'd been banished to. Time slowed to a crawl, hunger and exhaustion were a thing of the past, and absolutely nothing had changed. "I wonder if she'll ever find it in her to forgive me." He slowly turned his head to the right, away from where the sun regularly came into view, every 8 hours or so. The aforementioned red star winked into view and cast a orange light on the surface of the rock, slowly revealing the frame of a door, or a gate, he couldn't decide which, and he didn't care. That wasn't there before. He stared with a look of disbelief on his face as he quickly stood up, stirring up frozen dust with his scorched Chuck Taylor's as he scrambled to do so, and ran towards the gate with an exceedingly slow stride. There wasn't much gravity on this rock and he had to be careful not to fling himself off of it, he wasn't a person who liked leaving the ground, at all. Gravity is something I miss, amazingly. He grumbled to himself after reaching the gateway, as he had decided to aptly name it. He brushed his hand along the side of the frame as he gazed into the grooved lettering that adorned the smooth black frame, and gasped as one of his fingers sank into the groove of a round letter similar to an O with a dot in the middle. It was hot, searingly hot. He drew his hand back quickly and inhaled sharply in pain, then stared in awe as the letters glowed an omnious shade of red. Did I turn it on or something? He stared at the gate in wonder as a red orb formed in the middle of the gate, which, now that he thought about it, was just big enough to accomodate a person his size. No. The more important question is to where it leads. And... Will I ever see her again? He grasped the braided rope firmly between his index and thumb as he reached for the red orb, which promptly swallowed him with a flash of light before disppearing from the rock, along with the frame. Gasp...Gasp...Gasp...He slammed down onto a patch of thick brush, instantly incinerating it with the heat from the rift that had opened to spit him out, and snapped shut with a deafening bang! that flattened the grass around for hundreds of yards with a shockwave. Sweat was drenching from his face as he gulped down air like there was nothing sweeter in his life, perhaps except maybe, seeing her again. Where was he anyways? The spasms had come to a stop mostly as he sat upright, albeit shivering violently as he did so. He clamped down his teeth with a miserable gaze on his face as he surveyed his surroundings and opened his eyes slightly wider in surprise as he saw the familiar branching outline of a Kodama, or several of them dancing about in the near distance, unfazed by the commotion his entrance into the woods had caused. |
Matt bounced in place as she scrubbed the last pot with a pad of steel wool. It was week three since her dishwasher downgraded itself forcefully to just a drying rack and she was about done and a half with doing dishes by hand. Then again, they did kinda get cleaner this way so she wasn’t really sure how to feel.
“You can dance if you want to, you can leave your friends behin—no. I will not go there again. I will stop singing Safety Dance right now and I will not sing it any more today.” She frowned, pulling the sink plug and draining the soapy water from the basin. She rinsed the final pot and placed it on the top rack of her dishwasher to drip dry, pulling the bright yellow rubber gloves off her hands and tossing them over the edge of the sink where they landed with a savory “pllft” like rubber gloves do. She turned on her heel and decided it was long past time to put on some non-Safety Dance music in hopes of getting the damn song out of her head. Coincidentally, the first song to pop up on her iPod when she hit “shuffle” was Taylor Swift. Why did she have to have such whiny guilty pleasure music? Ugh. At least the songs were catchy. “Esss, ayy, efff, tee, eee, whyyy, safetyyy… NO. Oh my God, this needs to stop right now. That song isn’t even about dancing.” Matt’s finger hovered over the play button when she felt the floor tremble. Her dark eyebrows knit and she looked up for a moment, thinking she may have imagined it. The sound of a canon (or something else loud enough to rattle her windows) and the subsequent gusts of wind let her know that she most definitely hadn’t. There was a flash of light out in the woods, too… Adventure time? Adventure time. She shut off her iPod and threw on a pair of flip-flops, darting out the back door towards the flash and source of the noise. She never took her eyes off the direction where she saw the flash, and the trails of flattened brush helped to let her know she was going the right way. Wow, okay. Can’t say she’d ever run into this before. He looked about Matt’s age, maybe a little bit older, with dark, scruffy hair and severely dirty clothes. “Wow. Hi. Did something just explode or did you just crash-land here from space and that explosion was the sound of you entering the atmosphere and breaking the sound barrier? Both are pretty acceptable scenarios, but I mean, it’s whatever.” And the award for the world’s most awkward female goes to...! “Hey, are you okay? Do you need me to get you, like, some water, or…?” |
Thud-thud. Thud-thud. His heart rattling against his ribcage was the only sound in the forest after the Kodama had danced off into the distance. Feels like I'm alive again... He concluded after feeling a year's worth of waking slammed into him like a train. He opened his mouth to call out to something, anyone, if he was really anywhere other than just another of Nirn's worlds, and nothing came out except a dry rasp. His right hand flew to his neck as he groaned, I've never been so thirsty in my fucking life, goddamn. He sighed and winced as the air sailed through his parched throat, and sat up clumsily. His arms hadn't much time to become re-accustomed to gravity, or air even, as a result they were shaking uncontrollably. Yeah, definitely not in Nirn anymore. His eyes danced from tree to tree as his eyes turned from black eyes with fierce golden irises to the normal deep brown. The spoked wheel had lost it's ember and faded into thin air somewhere in the transition from Nirn to wherever this was.
A few minutes had passed as he regained his bearings before the sound of footsteps echoed louder, promptly shocking Brandon into a state of alertness. Well, something in the gist of it, anyways, as he was a wreck. Who was it? Avia? Yamiko? Aqua? His eyes widened as he strained to discern the author of the footsteps approaching his direction. No... His shoulders drooped a little as he exhaled in relief. It's someone else. He stared at her with a Huh? expression on his face as she bombed him with questions, to which he slowly nodded his head. He stood up clumsily and coughed dryly, then grabbed his throat and extended his pinky outwards and the thumb towards his mouth, indicating a universal sign for drink. His throat had been parched to the point where he'd mostly lost his ability to speak. |
Matt stared down at him. Guess he'd lost his voice? Either that or he was just rude, but she was hoping more for the former. He looked like a mess, that was for sure.
"Okay, well, gimme a second. You can come with me if you'd like but I'd rather you not, my roommate's not home and you might be some kinda psycho or whatever." She smirked, placing her hands on her narrow hips. After a pause and one last once-over, she just said, "I'll be right back," and then took off running back to the house. Matt pulled open the sliding glass door and rounded to the fridge, gathering up three bottles of water and an entire box of granola bars from the pantry. It was a lot harder to close the door with her hands full, but oh well. It was an interesting jog back because she kept dropping the bottles-- the condensation gathering on the plastic made them slippery and it became more like trying to hold three short plastic eels rather than water bottles. "Here," She announced, holding out one of the bottles to him. "And I brought some snack bars in case you're hungry. Uh... Hope you like peanut butter? Maybe once you get some food in you, you can explain to me what the hell that explosion was! And also why you look like hell. And what you're doing behind my house." Matt nodded to herself, tossing him the box of granola bars. |
He tilted his head to the side as she spoke, placed her hands on the hips and left. Bit on the sassy side, isn't she? He smiled a little, regardless it was more than pleasant to have contact with anything after being banished to Nirn for what seemed an eternity. With the fading sound of her footsteps, Brandon took a cue to remain where he was and sat down with his legs crossed, taking a long draw of breath. Well, it's definitely going to be a hell of a job getting her to believe my story. Jeez. A whole year, and I never took the time to notice my clothes... He cast a forlorn gaze down to his clothes, which had seen better years.
As he took the time to dust off his clothes and matt down his hair, she returned with food and drink, much to his pleasure. WATER! He smiled at her and tore the top of the bottle off, gulping down the water in mere seconds. "Aaaahhhh!" He sighed appreciatively and exhaled. "Much better, much better." His voice was still raspy, but it wasn't to the point of nonrecognition. "Okay." He exhaled yet again as he prepared to divulge the information she had asked for, and nodded, placing his hands on his knees and leaned over. "My name... Is Brandon. I... uhh..." He struggled to consolidate everything into something that would make sense. "Okay, A year ago, there was a conflict between the Toli and the Kyuketsuki which I involved myself in after the Kyuketsuki sent a guardian to help me remain free of the Toli's influence. Her name was Avia." He paused for a second, wondering how she was doing. He could picture her punching his face in for going off and sacrificing himself to save the world, exactly what she told him not to do. "Ahem. At the climax of this conflict, one of the Toli, before they were defeated, managed to create a rift, and throw me into a dead world of sorts, which I've come to call Nirn. I was banished there for...What year is it? Where are we?" He hadn't bothered to ask how long he'd been gone. Nirn had no indication or concept of time passing. He'd measured the time he'd been in Nirn to be about a year, but time could have gone faster or slower outside of that realm. |
Matt blinked, staring down at him with her eyebrows raised.
"O... kay..." Of course she didn't believe a single shred of that bullshit, but she sure gave him props for creativity. "Well, for one, it's 2013. And you're in the woods out behind my house which is on the outskirts of Tarpon Springs and--this isn't ringing any bells, is it? Doesn't look like it." Her expression went deadpan. "If you can somehow prove to me that you're not a rapist murderer criminal, I suppose I can let you come use my phone. You know what? On second thought, you can't prove that. My housemate's getting home soon so I'll take my chances. Come on, let's see if we can get you talkin' sense." She held out a hand for him, helped him up, and started walking back to her house. Matt pulled open the sliding glass door again to the smell of a fresh pot of coffee. "Looks like we're too late," she uttered, "he's already home." She took the phone off the hook and handed it to him. "If you have to call long distance, try to keep it short; our phone company's a bunch of assholes." |
He scratched his head, grinning ruefully, As expected, she didn't believe me. Oh well, it can't be helped. "2013, huh? Guess it's been a year, then." She helped him up, which took a bit of effort as his coordination was still a little off. His footsteps felt so heavy, it was disorienting.
As they reached the house, he wrinkled his nose as the smell of coffee besmirched his nostrils. He really didn't like coffee, or anything of that sort. He blinked in confusion as she handed him a phone. "Um.... Who exactly am I calling? It's not like I have any family or anything. They died, like, 13 years ago. If anything, Avia was the closest I could come to knowing, and she doesn't have a phone number. Well, I don't think she does anyways...." |
"Oh." Matt hung the phone back up. "Well, then. Um. Dunno what to tell you, then. Where're you from?"
"Matt," a cool, even voice came from the hallway, "Who is this?" "Not a good time, Djinn!" Matt threw her hands over Brandon's eyes. "He looks kinda familiar..." "You know him?" "Maybe. What's his name?" "Brandon." "Mm, yeah, I know a lot of Brandons." "He says he's from Nirn. Something about Kyukewhatever and Toli or something?" "Hmm. Never heard of Nirn, but I know about the Toli. They were a bunch of assholes 'til they went extinct. The Kyuketsuki went with 'em last I heard. It's been a while, who knows what happened? It's like this huge mystery in the Otherworld. Matt, stop covering his eyes, that's embarrassing." Matt hesitated, and finally took her hands away. Djinn stood in the hallway, one set of blue arms with their hands on his hips and the other set holding a massive cup of steaming coffee. He sipped it slowly, not taking his silvery eyes off Brandon. "You look like hell." Djinn mentioned with a mild grimace. "Doesn't he, though?" "You're sure he's not nuts?" "No." "Good." Djinn stepped closer to the two and dumped his coffee out in the sink. "This coffee is shit." "I told you so," Matt uttered. "Never buying Starbucks beans again, that was awful." Djinn mumbled back. "That's why I keep telling you to stick with that Otherworld place, their beans are fresh." "This is why you have blue hair, Matt; you have to stop drinking that Otherworld swill, it fucks with your chemistry." "I like my blue hair, why do you think I keep drinking it?" "You're impossible." Djinn turned to Brandon and looked down at him. Literally. He must have been at least 7 feet tall, and that probably didn't even include the stubby white antlers branching out of the top of his wavy mass of cloud-coloured hair. "So, Brandon, how do you know about the Toli? I had a Toli chick for a manager once, total bitch." "Aren't you just friendly?" Matt grumbled. |
He sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair and chuckled at Djinn's comment on his appearance. "Yeah, I seem to be getting a lot of that lately." He stood by silently, with a slight smile on his face as Djinn and Matt exchanged conversation. Seems like I can relax a little here. His eyes widened as he heard mention of the Toli&Kyuketsuki's extinction, he refused to believe it. No...There's no way. He looked down with a tinge on sadness on his face and sighed, swallowed and looked back up.
He cleared his throat. "My name, I'll state it once again, is Brandon, and I am Azuronni, One of the Seven Eidolons, Ruler of Flames, and I was the one responsible for the extinction of the Toli, a year ago." He looked down again, "And the Kyuketsuki, as it would seem as well." He sat down on a nearby chair and twiddled his thumbs as he began to recall the earliest encounter with the Toli& Avia. "Avia showed up first, and then Yamiko showed up shortly after trying to capture me. That's when I learned about the two races. I also met some other of the kyuketsuki guardians, who Avia called to help her keep me in line. I didn't like the idea of them sacrificing themselves to save someone who hadn't done anything to help them, so I made something out of myself, and learned how to control the power within me. Most of that power has been exhausted in my imprisonment in Nirn. A gateway appeared to me, although I have no idea how it came to be, nor where it lead to, but anything had to be better than that dead world. So, I went over to it, touched it, was pulled through," He threw his hands up in the air with his palms facing towards hims, "and bam, here I am." He dropped his hands on his lap, pursed his lips and stared expectantly at the two for a response. |
Djinn studied him for a moment, then went to the fridge and refilled his mug with orange juice.
"Sounds official, but I've never heard of any of those things. Have you ever heard of any of that, Matt?" "Nope." "Me either. If you want, I can take you to the Otherworld and you can see if anyone there knows you. I'm going to do some shopping anyway, so it's no big." "What? I wanna go!" Matt complained. "Sorry, babe, but they don't like me bringing humans over anymore. I'll pick you up some of that shitty tainted faerie coffee you like, 'kay?" "Fine, but make sure you get the vanilla kind, the regular kind tastes like ass." "Every kind tastes like ass, but I digress. We have a deal." He looked at Brandon again. "Did you want to eat first? Or... wash up, or anything?" he asked. "I mean, you really do look like shit." |
He shrugged and stood up, wiping his hands off on his brown canvas pants. "I figured as much, the Eidolons weren't very high profile for millenia(sp?), I only learned about the power I had because it told me, during my imprisonment. Yeah, actually, going to this Otherworld sounds like a good idea for me at this point... Not like I have anywhere to go anyways." His stomach lurched at the mention of the word "eat."
He grinned sheepishly and nodded. "Some food sounds great actually. Do you think I could take a shower, rinse out my clothes afterwards? I don't mean to intrude." |
"Yeah, no problem; Matt, can you show Brandon to the bathroom?" Djinn waved one of his hands dismissively.
"Yeah, whatever, you elitist prick. Come on, bathroom's this way." Matt started towards the hall, and opened the linen closet for a towel and washcloth. "It's the only door on the right. I guess just leave your clothes in the hall and I'll wash 'em. Just rinsing 'em out isn't gonna do shit." she mentioned, handing him the linen-based supplies. "Sorry all the soaps smell girly; Djinn isn't the most masculine guy. The Pink Chiffon from B&B is actually his, so..." "Excuse me, Pink Chiffon smells fabulous; you can't deny that." Djinn interjected from the kitchen. "Whatever. Point is, you can use any of the soaps in there but you're gonna come out smelling like a pretty princess 'cuz there aren't any men in this house, but it's better than nothing." She shrugged. "I guess, see you in a few minutes?" |
He chuckled at the mention of the soap and shook his head. "It's better than what I smell like right now." He wrinkled his nose as he took a whiff of his shirt, it reeked of iron, copper, scorched cloth and sulfur. He followed Matt down the hall and promptly went into the room, stripped and placed the clothes on the floor outside the door. He turned around and blinked as he saw the massive collection of feminine looking soap. Okay...That's a little too girly. Is he gay, or something? He shrugged and jumped into the shower, rinsing off a year's worth of dirt. He sighed appreciatively as the hot water soaked him. Best, fucking, shower, ever... Aaaahhhh...
After showering off for the longest time, he stepped out and dried off with the towel Matt had given him and faced himself in the mirror. He looked quite a bit fresher, albeit he still looked ragged in a way. His eyes were sunken, dark grey bags under his eyes, and his body was adorned with long, knotted, ropy scars, particularly around his neck. His hair had grown quite a bit too, and he had some stubble. Stubble might be understating it, he had a full grown beard from ear to ear, about an inch long. He noticed a bag of disposable razors, plucked one and cleared away the brush. Now I could say I look presentable. And for the hair... He hummed a tune similar to a short version of "Hail to the Chief" as he slicked his hair back and nodded, satisfied with his appearance. Just one more thing... He frowned and turned around to look at his back in the mirror. There was a large tattoo of a 9 spoked wheel on his back, not placed there by needle, as he knew. Two of the spokes on the tattoo had been burned off his skin, replaced with a blotchy scar in the shape of the orignal spoke. Seven left, huh... After drying off, he grabbed a mouthful of mouthwash and gargled, spit. Roadie manners He stepped out of the room with the towel wrapped around his chest, and sighed. "All done. I'm pretty sure I lost a pound or two, shedding all that dirt. And I must say, I smell fabulous." He smiled comically and sat down in a nearby chair, his clothes were doing their final rounds in the dryer. "So, how do we get to this.... Otherworld as you called it? I'm technically a human, or well, I was. It's complicated." |
Djinn and Matt chatted idly at the kitchen bar, and as soon as Djinn caught sight of Brandon, he used a pair of his hands to cover Matt's eyes.
"Ooh, baby," he uttered. "Did he come out here naked?" Matt asked in a hushed voice. "No, honey, he's covered. By a towel." "Ah, might as well be, then." "Do you want me to keep shielding your eyes, dear?" "Djinn, I'm twenty-three." Matt scowled. "Is... that a... yes?" "Oh my God." She pushed his hands away and went out to the laundry room to check the dryer. Djinn shrugged with both sets of shoulders and poured a glass of orange juice into a clean mug, then came over to Brandon. "Sorry, dunno what her problem is today. Nice tat, by the way. Juice?" He smiled a little. "Oh, yeah, you were asking about the Otherworld. Yeah. It's where a lot of fae like to hang out, like kind of a neighbor universe to this one? My family's there, and I work there. I mean, can't really work in the human world with, y'know, four arms and blue skin; I might get mistaken for some Indian deity. Wouldn't be the first time." He sighed and took a sip off his own cup. "It's not really complicated to get there, just a trans-dimensional portal." He paused, "But a stable one. Matt told me about the explosion noise earlier, whoever opened that one is clearly a trainee at space-time travel. Or was really in a hurry to make it." Matt re-entered the room and threw Brandon's clothes at him. "Clothes're dry. Now negative-strip." "Aww." Djinn complained. "I don't want to hear it from you." "Jeez, what's got your panties in a bunch?" "Nothing! Just, go put some clothes on." Matt folded her arms across her chest with a scowl. |
Oooops, think I pissed her off. Might have been better to call from the bathroom. Oh well. He grabbed the clothes out of the air and smiled appreciatively. They smelled nice, for once, and they looked somewhat presentable. "Thanks, Matt, be right back." He ducked into the restroom to change, and jumped back out. "Much better." He pocketed the braided rope Avia had given him and nodded, taking the cup of juice from Djinn. "Really? I've never really seen any of these portals before, but the one I saw. Well." He gazed off into the distance as he searched for a sufficient description. "Umm, it was a dark, metal gate way just big enough to house me, and there wasn't any light from it until I put my thumb in this thing that looked like..." He noticed a stack of blank paper and a marker, which he proceeded to draw the pattern on. It was a black circle, with a large dot in the center. "I put my finger in the dot, and it burned me. Before I knew what happened, it just pulled me through and chucked me out here."
"I just noticed the gateway, but trust me, it wasn't there for very long. I've been on a rock for a year, and I knew every pebble on it. It was just kinda... there." He chugged down the mug of juice and sighed. "Thanks. That's some fresh juice." He put down the mug on the table and began tapping his fingers on the table, in a nervous, irritated manner. "I don't mean to rush you, or anything, but when do you think we could go? I want... to see what I've wrought." |
Djinn thought for a moment.
"Sounds like a portal specifically for you." Matt spoke up. "It probably used blood recognition so only you could pass through. I've heard of them being used when someone isn't quite sure how to find a person, so they scatter portals across various destinations, but only the person they're looking for can pass through." Djinn raised his eyebrows at her. She shrugged. "I know a thing or two about scrying, okay?" "All right, well, you seem pretty eager to get going, so might as well jet." Djinn got to his feet, slipped on a pair of sandals by the door, and waited for Brandon. "I'll see you later, okay, babe?" "Right. And don't forget my coffee." Matt insisted. "Of course." Djinn took two medium-sized crystals, announced something in a language Matt didn't recognize and clacked the crystals together like he was sparking flint stones, and sparks flew from them, igniting a bright purple fire in front of the glass doorway. Matt seemed unfazed. "You can go first, since it'll close when I go through. This leads to my shop. And I'm just saying, but, if you're human, or used to be human, they can tell. Most fae are really respect-oriented, and you're an idiot until proven otherwise to them, especially if you're human." "Later, I guess." Matt waved lazily, then crossed her arms. |
He got up and squinted a little as the portal came into existence. "Now, that's a portal I recognize." He'd seen these before when Avia had been around, plenty of times. He eyed Matt briefly before returning his attention to the portal. I get the feeling there's more to her than what's going on here. Definitely keeping an eye on her.
"Hmmm, a shop? What do you sell?" He stepped into the portal with his hand outstretched. As the flames of the portal engulfed him, the tattoo on his back disappeared and materialized briefly behind him, saturating the room in an azure glow as the wheel burned brightly for a moment, disappearing again as he reached his destination. |
Djinn smirked as he followed Brandon through the portal.
"Wow. Really nice tat." he mentioned, stepping out into the workroom of his shop. Bolts of colourful fabrics of different patterns and textures were lined up against the walls. A long table was set up along one wall with a sewing machine and a comfy-looking swivel chair on one end. Above the table was a bulletin board with different notes, sketches, and patterns pinned up, haphazardly overlapping one another as if the ideas were competing for priority. "Well, if you couldn't already tell by all this," Djinn motioned to the multicoloured mess with one of his hands, "I make clothes. People tell me what they want and I make it for them, isn't that neat? Anyway, come on. I'll take you out to the main square-- I've already closed up for the day, I'm just here to shop for a bit, so you can basically go do whatever and then meet me back." He smiled a little and put one pair of hands on his hips and the other folded across his chest. "I mean, unless you wanna hang out for a bit or something. You know, like, we could go for a drink or whatever, I know a great place. It's up to you." |
He raised an eyebrow as he surveyed his surroundings and nodded. "It's a nice shop. Could do with a little tidying though." He chuckled and stepped over a rag, turning around to face Djinn. "Actually, a drink sounds pretty nice. I've been here before, and I still have some currency from, er, last "shopping" trip" He pulled out a small bag filled with gold coins, shook it a little, coins jingling. "I don't really know anyone around here, and the last time I was here, I was in a hurry. Drinks' on me." He smiled comically and pocketed the bag.
|
Djinn's eyebrows arched in surprise. "Dang, son. Well, at least we've got a start, if you've been here before. Come on, let's go out." He smiled and held the front door of his shop open for Brandon, and after they'd left, he locked it up and pocketed his key.
"Try to stay kinda close; can't trust no bitch out here." he whispered. "It's right up here. Totally great place." He added. The windows of the storefront had been blacked out, but the doors were open. Djinn led him through and sat down at the bar. The bar itself was an acceptable size, with a small stage for live bands and a hardwood dance floor in front of it. The walls were lined with booths, and the rest of the floor had several tables for varying numbers. There was a jukebox and a cigarette vending machine next to the door, and the bar was at the front. The entire place seemed fairly dark, its colour scheme mostly black with shades of red or purple. Djinn leaned on the bar and smiled, waving the bartender over. "Hey, Genie. What can I get for you?" She approached, a rag over one shoulder. She was tall and slender, similar to Matt, with her midnight blue hair pulled back into a bun. Her features were severely and impish though her expression was sweet, emphasizing her gently pointed ears and yellow, almond-shaped eyes. "Hmm, I think I'm gonna go with a Will-O-the-Wisp, if you please." Djinn gave her a smile, resting his chin in the palm of one of his hands. "Coming right up. And for you?" She directed her attention towards Brandon. |
He entered the bar with Djinn, looking around the bar in pleasure. I can dig the colors of this place. Nice and cozy. He grinned as they sat down. He held up his thumb in the general hitchhikers sign, in a bar, it meant a pint. "I'll have a.... Pilsner, light." He nodded as the bartender walked away to fill their orders and turned to Djinn. "This place seems pretty cool, I wish they had something this.... colorful back in the human world. In our bars, everyone's drinking, everyone wants to fight, but no one does. Here, it's relaxed. Well," he eyed a short green man attempting to fondle a large blue woman's rear, only to be annhilated. "Mostly, anyways." He chuckled.
"Well, well, what do we have here....?" A voice filtered itself from the background noise as a man dressed in crimson armor, approached the two with his hands extended outwards from his sides, as if to perform a bow of sorts. He stopped just out of arm's reach of Brandon and looked down with red/black eyes with a murderous glee dancing in them. He grinned menacingly as he leaned forward to extend a hand towards Brandon. "My name is Mercutone, and you must be the bearer, am I not mistaken? You are the one I opened the portal for in Nirn, yes?" Brandon moved against the edge of the bar, hair raising on the back of his neck and arms. He knew exactly what he was, and made it a priority to avoid conflict. He acccepted Mercutone's hand and shook it as his eyes remained fixed on Mercutone's limbs. Is he going to start something in here? If he is, I need to clear out. Mercutone grinned maniacally as they shook hands. "Excellent, no need to be so uptight, we'll be seeing each other, very soon. I just need you to stay alive until then. Ehehehe, enjoy your drinks, gentlemen." He turned his head towards Djinn and chuckled. "Enjoy your boytoy while he's still around..." He stood up straight and disappeared through the exit. Brandon clenched his fists and teeth. "Goddamn it. I knew there had to be something to that portal." He relaxed his shoulders and exhaled in frustration. I don't think we should worry too much for the immediate time being, Genie. Oh good, drinks are ready." He turned to the bar to see the bartender bang down a massive mug of foamy beer for Brandon, and for Djinn... |
Djinn scowled after the armored guy.
"He seems like a dick," he mumbled, sipping on his glowing turquoise drink. "Who the hell was that, anyway? I take it you know him." Suddenly, someone came bursting through the door, panting and leaning on the door frame. He was a hulking guy, his bright red hair cropped short, and his cappuccino skin flushed. A long tail whipped behind him, a single, similarly red tuft of hair at the very end. Soon after came a much smaller woman in flowing oracle's robes, her curly hair cascading down in shades of white and blue like a waterfall. "Is he here?" She asked between breaths, wiping the sweat from her forehead onto her sleeve. The large man looked into the bar with eyes like fire, and a smile broke across his face. "Oh, thank the Fates." "What?" She looked up with her own deep blue eyes, and then squealed, running over to Brandon. "I was right! You're really here! I thought I saw Mercutone walk in here and I got really worried but you're here and you're okay and wow that makes me super happy!" She took his hands and smiled, bouncing up and down. "Wow, you're popular today." Djinn mentioned. "Forgive my sister's excitement," the red-haired man spoke. "We've been looking for this man for more than a year now." "And you're heeere, you're here, you're here, you're here! Ooh, I'm so excited, I could kiss you! But I won't, that would be improper." "You must come with us. Our sister needs you. You had the deepest connection with her, so maybe you can help." "Hey, what are they even talking about?" Djinn asked Brandon in a hushed voice. "My apologies, we've forgotten to introduce ourselves. You knew me previously as Ignis, and my sister you knew as Aqua. We are no longer either of those individuals, though we have retained some of their attributes." "Ohh, okay. I'm still totally confused." Aqua turned to Djinn and grinned. "Thanks a ton for finding him! If you come with us, we'll reward you for your great assistance." Djinn shrugged. "Sure, why not?" "Great! You must come quickly. Sister's sedative will wear off soon." |
He chugged a third of his pint and banged it down on the table and sighed. "Those eyes. I'm pretty sure he has to do with another of the Eidolons. That's all I know. Anyways," He picked up his mug again "Don't worry about him too much. It's me he wants." He took another swig and spat it out in surprise as a loud bang rang out in the bar. He rotated himself to the sound and flashed a huge smile. "It's been a while, hasn't it guys?"
As Aqua ran up to him, Brandon blushed and looked away briefly before returning his attention to her. She needs a breast reduction, seriously. He grinned ruefully, scratching his head."Sorry if I kept you guys waiting, it took me a while to get back." He stood up, and put a shoulder on Aqua, pushing her down until she stopped bouncing, and embraced her. "It's been too long. Hmm? Where's Terra?" He let go and straightened up, looking at Ignis. "What have you guys been doing while I was gone?" Djinn muttered something to him, to which Brandon leaned towards to and whispered. "Remember that story I told you when we first met? About the Kyuketsuki and the Toli? Every word of it was true." His heart skipped a beat when they mentioned Aqua's sister. He immediately knew who that was. "What? Is she okay? Where is she? Sedative?" He asked in a tone of alarm. "Let's go see her. Now." |
Ignis laughed at the mention of Terra. "Terra was a free spirit through and through. Last I heard, he was hiking the Appalachian trail with the humans. He won't be back for another three months."
Aqua's expression darkened and the tiredness in her eyes became much clearer. "Ignis and I... well, since you were banished, our main task has been keeping Sister calm. She's... not well. That's all I can say for now." "So, wait, these guys are...? You said you defeated the Toli." Djinn whispered back, "I'm still confused." "Come, we shouldn't waste any more time. I'll explain more when we get home." Ignis left three gold pieces on the bar and led the other three out the door. Djinn certainly made sure to follow-- his curiosity was getting the better of him. Besides, he could better explain to Matt what was going on with Brandon; he knew she hated nothing more than being kept in the dark, and she had ways of finding things out on her own. "Our home is just outside of town, so we have a bit of walking to do." Ignis told them. "No big," Djinn spoke up. "I had a vision that you'd come back," Aqua mentioned, her arm linked with Brandon's. "Where have you been? I could swear I searched the entire cosmos for you; it was like you'd fallen out of reality." "Oh, so you really are an oracle?" "Yes," Aqua groaned, obviously not happy with the title, "unfortunately, the getup isn't just for show. I'm still getting the hang of controlling my visions." "She blacked out at the dinner table last night, fell face-first in her soup. It was hilarious." Ignis mentioned. "Mm, honey, I know that gig. My housemate gets possessed, like, once a week. Poor girl can't help herself." "You live with a medium?" Aqua asked. "It's not the funnest thing ever, but we work. If she has trouble, she sends me a message. We have a system." As they got to the edge of town and the number of people around diminished, Aqua spoke up again. "Brandon, I have to warn you, before we get there... We don't just look different; we're not the same people that we used to be. We've taken on qualities of both the Kyuketsuki and the Toli. Most of us don't even use our old names anymore. But... Avia... her Toli counterpart, if you don't know already, was Yamiko. Most of us became one again without a hitch! For some, it may have taken a couple of days or weeks, but... Avia, she..." She averted her gaze and heaved a heavy sigh. "Even now, she and Yamiko are still fighting each other. Their body is one, yes, but their mind is still two." "That's awful," Djinn muttered. "They are both becoming tired. If they keep up like this, they very well may destroy each other." Ignis added solemnly. They approached a large stone archway that led to a huge, lush garden, with a fountain cascading into a pond with gigantic, colourful fish swimming in its depths. A few people tended to the garden, misting the flowers, pulling weeds, tossing bread crumbs to the fish. Most of them had some shade of green hair, also with varying skintones. Ignis led them down the stone pathway into the complex. Instead of doors, heavy, intricately-patterned curtains were draped over each arched doorway. Djinn had to duck to get through them. "The hospital wing is close to the back of the complex near the back garden. Ignis will take you there, but I need to get back to the temple." Aqua smiled wearily, and gave Brandon one last hug. She looked up at Djinn. "What can I call you?" "Genie. I own the tailor shop downtown." "It was lovely to meet you." Djinn nodded. "You, too." Ignis continued down several long, open hallways until they reached the last doorway on the right. He lifted back the curtain for Brandon and Djinn to enter. The room was mostly bare except for crystalline bay windows overlooking the garden. She sat on her knees on a large cushion by one of the walls, her lavender and yellow-streaked hair stark straight and cut short to her jawline, with her bangs pulled back into a half-ponytail out of her face. The strips of magic binding wrapped around her wrists pulsated with a turquoise light and connected her to the floor. She sat still, breathing slowly, with her head down. "Sister," Ignis spoke up, his voice gentle, "Someone is here to see you." |
Brandon shrugged and turned his head to Djinn. "Beats me, I was banished to Nirn before this happened. So, I'm almost as lost as you are, although they told me about reuniting of a people, I never really gave it much though, figures, that faggot was always a wild one." He chuckled.
As they went outside, Brandon also dropped down a few coins as a tip. As Aqua drilled him with questions, he put a hand up and sighed. "Aqua, I wasn't sent to a place within this world. I was banished to a place that only exists in one's mind. Don't ask me what it was like, I'm still recovering from it." He grunted with a look of desolation on his face, which pretty much suited him as he looked now, nearly malnourished and deeply sunken eyes. He had a hard time keeping the demeanor as he pictured Aqua going facefirst into a bowl, and was unable to suppress a snicker. "That's just like you, Aqua." He turned to Djinn. "Oh, she was an oracle? Must be why she was acting so cranky around me. Huh." He heard everything they had said and remained silent as a statue with an expressionless face. His fists were tightly clenched, nails digging into the skin. Fuck. If...I hadn't had to go and be a fucking hero, would she be okay? No. She'd still be worse off. Goddamnit. He kicked one of the stairs, bruising his toe, which he paid no mind to. Before they parted ways, Brandon embraced Aqua and said his farewells and continued with Djinn and Ignis, hands in pockets and his head held low. Well, it was good to see her again, wasn't it? We'll have to go to the carnival again. Someday. As they continued towards her room, Brandon took note of the surroundings. God, it's beautiful here. I'd like to live in a place like this, somewhere, when this is over. He spoke up for a moment as they went down the hallways. "Genie." His voice was low. "When we get there, come in if you like, but I'd like you to wait until I'm done talking with her, okay?" When they reached her room, Ignis announced their presence. Brandon's eyes widened in anger, then looked away guiltily, clenching his fists. Now, Brandon... This isn't the time to be angry with yourself. A regal voice echoed in his head. It was Azuronni. I don't really care for the affairs of my host, but I thought I'd just say something. Tend to her. Deal with your pathetic guilt later, mortal. Brandon relaxed his hands and exhaled slowly, before walking slowly over to Avia, and seated himself on the bare floor with his knees. "I'm sorry, that I took so long, Avia." He spoke in a gentle voice as he reached for one of her hands, and delicately clasped her hand with both of his. It was slightly cold to the touch. He looked up to Avia's forehead and held his gaze, as he couldn't see her eyes. "I'm here." |
"I'll wait outside, Brandon." Ignis mentioned, then left with Djinn.
Avia looked up slowly, her lavender gaze far away. As soon as she caught sight of Brandon's face, a lethargic smile and huffed in a way that was probably supposed to be a relieved laugh. Almost as soon as it had appeared, her smile was gone, turned into a sneer as her eyes shifted to a golden yellow. "You're just like a cockroach, aren't you?" Her voice was hoarse, and sounded as exhausted as she looked. "This is your fault, you know. You did this to me. But I don't mind. I'm going to die soon because of you, and I'm taking your precious little Avia with me. I couldn't dream of a more perfect justice." |
He winced as she spat the words out. It stung to see her be like this. He remained silent and rubbed the top of her hand with his thumb.
I don't know what to do. I didn't want this. I....Didn't Djinn say Matt was a medium? Brandon looked up and rubbed her hand once more before letting go. "Genie!" He called out to Djinn as he stood back up, not taking his eyes off hers. "Could you come in here for a minute? I'd like you to explain this, spiritual medium thing she does in a little more detail. And contact her first before you explain, I don't think we have a whole lot of time." |
((thats the best reason to edit something ive ever seen))
Djinn perked up at the sound of his name and lifted the curtain back, ducking through the doorway. "You want to know about Matt?" he inquired. "Aren't you strange?" Yamiko smirked. "Mm, girl, you sound like a Toli." "You can tell?" "Yeah 'cuz all them bitches is basic. Can't recognize true fierceness when they see it." Djinn grimaced at her, sassily placing a hand on his hip. Yamiko glowered at him. "I'd never taint my line of vision with your likeness anyhow." "Mm-mm now, if you want to turn this into a sass-off, bitch better work 'cuz I ain't even started." Djinn was about ready to pop a bitch when he stopped himself, took a deep breath, and folded his top set of arms over his chest. "But I've got shit to do." He returned his attention to Brandon. "I can't actually contact her the way she contacts me. She sends an astral projection to let me know she's in trouble. Besides, she can't come to the Otherworld unless I bring her over, 'cuz she's human. "But, like, she doesn't have a whole lot of control over it, but she's a medium which is basically like, she acts as a gateway from the spirit world to the physical world. Sometimes she'll just wake up one morning and realize she's possessed or be like, out shopping and a spirit will randomly hijack her or whatever. It happens like once a week or so, sometimes more, sometimes less. She can't help it at all. It's part of the reason we live together-- if she gets possessed, ain't no human bitch gonna know what to do with her 'cept take her to some stupid church, but I've got easy access to the Otherworld so I can get her a shaman pretty much whenever." He explained. "Why, what's up?" |
He sighed and shook his head at Djinn's attitude. Yamiko must be so pissed, having a fruity tailor smack talk her. He smiled faintly and looked at Djinn. "Well...." He scratched his head slowly as he spoke."I... was hoping, maybe there might be a way to pull Avia out, give them a break, so to speak, into Matt, since she's a medium as you said." He pursed his lips and kicked the floor with his toe awkwardly. He was asking a lot, and he knew it. He turned to Yamiko/Avia, with a longing gaze. "It'd mean a lot to me if I could speak to her again, Genie."
|
Djinn frowned, his eyebrows coming together. "Mm, I don't know. You really should be asking Matt about that, not me. I don't like to bring her over here 'cuz it's a lot easier for her to get attacked."
"I could not..." Avia spoke up. "I could not burden your friend like that. I do not require a 'break,' as you put it. I am fine." She averted her gaze. "It is nice to see you again, Brandon, but you need not worry about me." "Ooh, baby's so formal; that's cute as hell." "I would much rather us both disappear than for Yamiko to gain control. I will not have her enslaving my people again, and I will not let her enslave me this way. Our souls with clash until we both break, as it should be. We are both weary and will not last much longer." "Aviaaa!" Aqua threw back the heavy curtain in the doorway and shoved past everyone to get to her sister. "Avia, don't talk like that! I just had a vision, okay? It's bad! Really bad." She whipped around to look at Brandon. "I saw someone kill you, Brandon. Like, for good. They captured Azuronni and used his power to do some majorly bad shit!" she cried, shaking his shoulders. "You've got to stop it." Aqua whirled back around to a very startled-looking Avia. "And you! Don't even get me started! You have to become one with Yamiko." "No." Avia grimaced. "No, for real. You actually have to." "I refuse." "No, I mean like, seriously! You don't have a choice!" "I politely decline." Aqua copied her scowl. "Avia, you and Yamiko together have the potential to be unfathomably powerful. Your help is Brandon's only chance." Avia paused, looking away. "Why is that my issue...?" "Wow, bitch," Djinn mumbled, his tone mildly sing-song. Aqua's face turned red. She raised her hand and struck Avia. "I thought you cared about him!" She screeched. "I thought you cared about all of us! We're still your people, Avia, the ones you swore to protect! And Yamiko, you are still our High Priestess, and we still care for you dearly! We're still the same people you risked your life and your sanity for! I don't give a single shit about your stupid spiteful quarrel, that's in the past now; this is the imminent future if you let yourselves cancel each other out! Now you better get your shit together right now, I will punch you in your fucking face!" Djinn breathed in sharply. "It's official, I'm in love. Can we get married? Let's get married." "Call your medium friend; we're ending this today." Aqua gave her sister one last sharp look, then turned on her heel and sashayed away, flipping her hair over her shoulder where it tumbled down looking like white water rapids. "Sure thang, mama. Ooh, girl! I ain't never seen a bitch so fierce!" Ignis entered the room, his eyes sparking shades of yellow and orange. "We will go to the human world. There is no need to put your friend in more danger than she already would be." he noted, coming over to Avia/Yamiko and plucking up her magical ties, forcing her to her feet. "I hate to treat you this way, Sister, but I don't want to risk challenging Araxie's visions." He sure didn't sound sorry. "What do you intend to do?" Yamiko demanded. "If you won't rejoin peacefully, we may have to force you." Ignis threatened. "What? Keahi!" "Open the portal." He told Djinn, who withdrew the same large crystals from before, announced something in the same foreign language, and clashed them together. The purple sparks ignited a person-sized fire on the floor. As soon as everyone was through, the portal closed behind them and they stood in the foyer of Djinn's house. "Matt, baby! I've got a favour to ask." Djinn called out. "Did you bring my coffee?" "I've been a little preoccupied!" "Then no!" "Come on, babe, don't be like that!" Matt came out of her room and stared at the scene. "What the fuck did you get yourself into, Djinn?" "Hey, girl, this is Brandon's shit, not mine." "What do you need?" "Some medium stuff...?" Djinn tried to play innocent. "Oh hell no! 'No' until the cows come home, I've gone a solid two weeks without getting possessed, and I don't intend on breaking my record now!" Matt raged, going back into her room and slamming the door. Djinn sighed. "What a ho. I'll be right back." He strode across the living room and down the hall to Matt's room and went in, closing the door behind him. Silence fell. Almost a minute later, the two emerged again, Matt's eyes glued to the floor and her cheeks bright red. "I guess I could do whatever it is you need... but only for a little while, okay? This spiritual bullshit really wears me out. And you'll owe me big time." "Whatever you want," Keahi nodded. "If this plan succeeds, we will be greatly indebted to you." "Better be." Matt grumbled. "I'll call Ghost, okay?" Djinn whispered to her. She nodded in response. He went back to his room, retrieved a small glass sphere with something glowing a bright white in the center, and smashed it on the floor. The air grew hot, and then a bolt of lightning struck the place where it fell. When it faded, there was a boy no older than seventeen with bold blue hair and silver eyes standing there, beads around his neck and wrists, and barely visible, flickering dragonfly wings extending from his back. "Did you need something?" He asked. "Who are they?" "Yeah, we've got a... thing. It's a problem, I think? We need you to do some shaman-y stuff so Matt can do some medium-y stuff and we can help these poor fuckers out. It's kind of important." Djinn explained. Ghost arched an eyebrow. "Specific." "So...?" "Fine, whatever. It's not like I have anything better to do right now." ((I'll stop here and give you a moment to interject. if not i can keep writing)) |
"Yeah, I guess you're right about that, Genie."
As Avia's voice reached Brandon, he turned a tender gaze, and kneeled back down in front of her, pulled out the braided rope she had given him before, and held it in front of her. It was scorched, torn, and covered in reddish dust. "I... didn't come back from Nirn to let you die. There's no way I'm going to let you." He stood up as Aqua burst into the room and blinked in surprise as Aqua shook him. I knew the instant I looked into Mercutone's eyes. He stood by silently as the scene went on, his hand twitched as Aqua struck Avia. He really didn't like Avia receiving that sort of treatment, even if necessary. He shook his head in exasperation. Stubborn to the very end, as usual. For once he agreed with Aqua, as he watched her go ballistic on Avia. Hell of a way to have a reunion. Well, sure beats being in Nirn, for sure. As Djinn opened up the portal, Brandon wordlessly pocketed the rope and stepped through it. The wheel as usual, flared into existence and bathed the hospital room with it's azure glow before disappearing again.' After the scene with Matt and Djinn, Ghost appeared. Brandon acknowledged him with a warm smile and extended his hand. "Ghost. It's been a long time. It's good to see you. I wish it were under better circumstances." ((There's barely any place to interject. lmao)) |
"Oh yeah, we have met, haven't we?" Ghost squinted. "You look pretty different, I almost didn't recognize you. I've finished my training though, as you can tell. Though apparently I'm still serving my old masters, in a way," He shot an uncertain and mildly disgusted glance at Keahi and Yamiko/Avia. "Whoa, shit." He took a step back, then whispered to Brandon, "Why are they still separate? They're gonna kill each other..."
"Which brings us to why you're here, darling!" Djinn smiled. "I'm not exactly sure what's going on, but we can't talk to both Yamiko and Avia when they're like that, so..." "I see." Ghost paused for a moment, then shrugged. "Whatever. Tilly, you dig?" The similarly blue-haired girl nodded once, not looking at him. "You have ten minutes." she answered, her tone reluctant and her cheeks still flushed. "Okay, then." He approached Avia/Yamiko, Matt followed. "Hello, Mistress, it's nice to see you again." "You're looking well, Ghost." Yamiko sneered. "You're not. I would say it pleases me to see you this way, but that would be spiteful." "Ghost," Matt tapped his shoulder. "Right." Ghost withdrew a little slip of paper and a pen from a bag on his hip, drew an intricate symbol on it, and his eyes sparked with a white light, similar to the one he rode in on. With one last glare from Yamiko, he stuck it to her chest. The symbol glowed and the paper burned away. Yamiko swore, keeling over. "Tilly, you ready?" "Whatever," Matt sounded approximately 500% done with the entire situation. "All right then. Avia, release." "Fuck my life." Matt grumbled. Lilac-tinted lightning shot from Yamiko's eyes into Matt's, and Ghost caught the latter as she toppled over, which was a bit awkward, considering she was taller than him by several inches. Keahi caught Yamiko in a less awkward manner. "Damn, I never get used to this shit." Djinn uttered. "Okay, head count, who is who?" "Piss off," Yamiko scowled. "Okay, so we got the Toli bitch over here, so that makes Matty-baby the Kyuketsuki bitch. Yo, is she okay?" She lifted a hand to her head slowly, as if she wasn't entirely sure where it was. Ghost helped her get her balance. "Avia?" "You moved me," "Isn't that just uncanny?" Yamiko spoke up. "I feel stronger just being away from you." "Now is not the time to argue." Keahi interjected. Avia looked at Matt's hand as her fingertips elongated and sprouted white leaves. "I can hear the trees again..." She looked up and caught sight of Brandon, stumbling over to him. "You are really here..." She touched his arm gingerly. "What is it you want? I have already told you, I will not unite with Yamiko." "Likewise!" Her counterpart spat. ((ugh my writing is horrible today)) |
SAPPY MODE, ENGAGED.
Brandon watched the scene and smiled faintly in relief as Avia's voice reached his ears again. "Avia." He embraced her warmly for a minute, then held her by her arms. "You already know what I want..." He looked into Avia/Matt's eyes with a steady gaze. "You saved me. Gave me friends." He cocked his head towards Ignis and Aqua, "I was alone in this world, before you showed up. Okay, it might not exactly have been on relaxed terms, but you gave me a lot more than you realize. You gave me something to fight for." He clasped Avia's hand, and sighed. "I know I'm being pretty cheesy right now, but, after what we've been through, and what you've done and suffered for me, there is...." He shook his head. "No way, I'm going to let you go." He furrowed his eyebrows and took on a stern countenance. "You, and Yamiko, have to unite. I don't like the idea of it, or forcing you to do it, but if it means that you live, I'll gladly do it a hundred times over." |
((bro you use commas way more often than you need to. also araxie isnt there just sayin but i'll ignore the mention of her))
"Wow, you really are a sap." Yamiko groaned acidly. Keahi heaved a heavy sigh. "I'm about ready to strike you myself, My Lady. There's nothing left here but your selfish grudge against each other, and that's hardly a reason to stay apart anymore. Saying the Kyuketsuki and Toli have had a rough history is quite the understatement, but that's in the past now. We're at peace now that we're one again, and now a new evil has risen and we need your assistance, both of you, together, to stop it." "How can you not despise yourselves?" Avia cried. "You have literally become your enemy. We were cursed, kept weak and starved and in pain for centuries, and you just expect me to forgive and forget? This is no mere 'selfish grudge,' Keahi, this was war! This has nothing to do with me, I could not bear to see her live on. She does not deserve forgiveness, and I am willing to let myself die if it means taking her with me." "Oh, that's just not fair." Yamiko made a face like she'd just tasted something bad. "Yes, we fucked you over. Yes, for many scores, I led my people in fucking you over. I thought that's what they wanted, but now they've betrayed me just by becoming one with you filth. You were powerful, and my people were afraid you would wipe us out if the whim came over you. We had to keep you weak because we knew you would kill us all if we didn't. I don't regret it, because I see now that what my people feared was true. I've witnessed your military; you're ruthless, and you're unfeeling in the face of death. You couldn't understand us because of your sheer lack of emotion, and any who were different you would cast out without a second thought. You shunned even your own brother because he loved a human, and now you seem to think it's totally okay now that you've found someone of your own! You're nothing but a hypocrite!" "Do not dare mention Terra to me as if you know him." "Well you don't seem to know him very well either!" Avia lashed out, her arm changing into a ropey white mass of vines that wrapped around Yamiko's neck. Pain crossed her own face and she lost her footing, as well as her grip, for a moment and Yamiko sucked in air while she could. "Hey, hey, whoa!" Ghost quickly sketched out a symbol on another long strip and slapped it to Matt's back. She yelped, her hand returning to normal. Yamiko collapsed to her knees and went into a coughing fit. "What have you done to me?" Avia demanded. "I interrupted your chakras so you can't use your powers." She let out a frustrated scream. "I do not care anymore. I will bring justice to my people; Yamiko will die!" "Hmm, wrong answer. Besides that, your time's up. And considering we haven't come to an agreement, looks like we'll have to make one up." "Oh, hell no." Yamiko groaned. The blue-haired fae drew a talisman on his palm and struck Matt's back, right between her shoulders. The same lightning as before jet from her eyes back to Yamiko's. The human toppled, and Djinn jumped to catch her. He scribbled one more talisman on paper and approached Yamiko/Avia, sticking it to her forehead. She went limp and fell back onto Keahi. With a sigh, Ghost approached Brandon and pulled him off to the side. "I've just pretty much knocked her out for now, but I know you were talking about recombining Yamiko and Avia forcibly." He pinched the bridge of his nose and his eyebrows came together. "I don't really think you guys completely understand how difficult-- and risky-- that is. I mean, I can do it, but I've only really done in on humans and fae with identity disorders. Their soul only thinks that it's split. With Avia and Yamiko it's..." He paused to think of how to phrase it. "Even though they're part of the same whole, they're still technically two separate souls, completely separate psyches, that would be forced to come together. I would have to gamble on the fact that they're dependent on each other, but the only way I can imagine doing that is if they became so weak individually that they would compulsively combine in order to have enough strength to keep her body alive. Kind of like..." He thought for a moment more, then shook his head. "Never mind, that's a bad example." Ghost continued, "Even so, it's still risky. Every living thing has an innate need to do whatever it takes to stay alive, but they could just as easily cancel each other out. Even if it were to succeed, she'd probably take one hell of a psychological beating, considering how much she would hate herself once she realizes what happened. She'll definitely be less of a mess than she is now, but she definitely won't be the same person as she was before. You're obviously gaga for Avia, but you have to take into consideration that she won't be Avia when I'm done." He took a deep breath and crossed his arms. "If you're okay with that, then I'll go do my thing, but like I said, I can't tell you for sure what the outcome will be." |
He crossed his arms and shook his head, he didn't approve of the situation at all. Or Avia's actions towards Yamiko, either. He sighed in exasperation. "Well, I know that neither of them will survive if this goes on, so, I'm willing to accept the aftermath of this."
He sat down against the wall with his knees together, his arms folded across the top of his knees and sighed wearily. "There isn't any justice in what you're fighting for. You've lost sight of what really matters, because of your hate." A gust of cold air swept through the room and promptly raised Brandon's attention. Goddamn it, not now. He stood up and walked towards the back door, where he and Matt had originally came in. "There's something I need to take care of, go on with the fusion and everyone, stay here." He closed the door behind him and walked into the forest. Time to see what I'm capable of with my bit of power.He reached into the recesses of his mind and pulled out a flame, and melded it into a thought, of a protective shell. Instantly, dark black armor, in the texture of obsidian materialized around him. The boots were lightly armored and matched that of leather, with some black plates covering the shin, and the legs were left relatively unarmored save for a belt with two long plates hanging over the thighs. A long, gray rectangular cloth hung from his belt and extended over his groin and rear in similar fashion. The upper armor gave Brandon the appearance of being bowlegged, as the armor was very thick and extended from the belt to the shoulders and stopped there, but extended up the neck as a collar to cover most of his face, only stopping slightly below his eyes. His head was covered by an obsidian hat, which was similar to a mushroom and had two leather flaps extending down the sides. He began to twirl his fingers as he reached the clearing and suddenly, a three pronged black trident materialized into view, ablaze with azure flame emanating from the three blades. "Mercutone." "How perceptive, and foolish of you, to come alone." Mercutone stepped out from behind a tree with the same maniacal visage as before and touched the tree, which prompt froze and shattered into ice covered wooden shards. Brandon leaped to the side as the shards shredded the ground where he stood a moment before. "Good to see my little stepbrother's not an idiot...Hehehe." Mercutone chuckled jovially as he pulled out a cruel looking blade with no hilt, and an air of ice crystals around it. "Little stepbrother...?" Brandon seemed puzzled as he stood up straight. "Oh, that's right, you were just a wee little lad when our parents died. You don't remember who killed them, do you?" Mercutone flashed a smile as he lunged with his blade pointed towards Brandon in a manner similar to a fencing dash. "It was me!" He laughed as he spun around, having his lunge attack foiled by Brandon's far reaching trident. The smell of ozone filled the air as Mercutone noticed his crimson armor had been burned. "You're a quick one, having a trident that big and all. Didn't even notice you nicked me." He twirled his blade through the air and sighed. "I was kinda hoping this would be a slash and go but," Mercutone shook his head in annoyance as he threw a hand up in the air. "Nooo, you had to go and learn how to use the powers bestowed on you." "Well, I suppose it doesn't matter, you're still no match for me." Mercutone disppeard in a flash, and reappeared in front of Brandon, kneeling down with a victorious grin on his face. Shink! He had buried his blade through Brandon's leg, ignoring the long plate that kept him from turning his blade, and leaped back with his blade in hand. "That leg is good as gone until you break another of the seven remaining seals." Brandon looked at his leg briefly with a heavy sigh. The blade had pierced him all the way through, and the flesh was turning a mottled blue from the cold blade. Shit. At this rate, I really will have to use another of the seals as he said. He grunted and stood up, putting his weight on his good leg. He swung out his arm and opened up his hand. A azure ball of flame erupted from his palm and struck Mercutone with blinding speed, knocking him backwards into the air and slammed against a tree , reducing the tree to splinters. Fuck... His entire thigh was now frozen. He slammed his hand against his leg and seared it shut, effectively stopping the spread of ice. He looked up with a look of hate burning in his eyes. |
Djinn frowned, cradling Matt in both pairs of arms as he watched Ghost's expression turn incrementally darker. Finally, he shook his head as Brandon went out the back door.
"Ooh, child, this entire situation reeks of bad juju." "What is it you need to do?" Keahi questioned. "The only thing I know to do is to weaken both souls to the point where they are too weak individually to keep her body alive and they recombine out of instinct. They're already reliant on each other whether they like it or not. Like I told Brandon, it's extremely risky and they could just cancel each other out, but it seems at this point she doesn't have much to lose." Keahi sighed. "I understand. Do what you must." Ghost looked back at Matt and Djinn and gave a sympathetic smile. "Sorry, Djinn, but I need to borrow Tilly again." Djinn scoffed. "She's gonna be pissed." Ghost didn't say anything more, but he uttered something under his breath and Matt's eyes shot open, burning with white-hot flames. She sat up, pushing away from Djinn and struggling to her feet. She made her way over to Avia/Yamiko and peeled the talisman from her forehead. It burned away in an instant and Avia/Yamiko blinked awake. "Sorry about this ahead of time. There's like a 95% chance that this will hurt like hell." Ghost held his hand out and Matt copied him, her palm setting aflame. As soon as Avia/Yamiko looked at her eyes, her own burst into flames and she let out an agonized screech, her back arching in pain. Keahi grimaced, holding her still as best he could. Djinn flat-out plugged his ears. She screamed for what seemed like forever, and finally Ghost stopped Matt. Avia/Yamiko went still for a moment. Suddenly, she snapped upright (smacking Keahi in the chin on her way up), her eyes intense violet with gold flecks. She lashed out and punched Ghost in the face. "I definitely deserved that." he grumbled, cradling his jaw tenderly. Matt shot him a look, then looked outside, then back at Ghost. "Whatever. Go on. But be back soon, okay?" She and Avia/Yamiko dashed out the back door and into the woods. Matt's hands and forearms had set on fire, her hair turned a neon shade of red, and she moved with an inhuman speed. "What's gotten into you?" Avia/Yamiko questioned. Matt looked over as if she didn't understand the words, but kept running. A gust of air pushed Avia/Yamiko forward to catch up until they both caught sight of Brandon, as well as someone else. Matt skidded to a stop in front of Brandon, and she began inspecting him fervently. When she saw the wound on his leg, she made a hissing noise like someone had dropped water on a fire and immediately began defrosting him with the flames on her hands. Avia/Yamiko strolled up to the three of them and scowled. "Wow, that's hilarious. You're seriously fighting an ice elemental? Looks like you're up shit creek." Matt glared over at her. "At least your little servant knew you were in trouble. If you're not careful, he'll get his pretty host killed." She gave Mercutone a once-over. "And what're you called?" ((ughhhhhhh my writing is horrible right now ughhh sorry)) |
Mercutone laughed and shrugged. "Ask your lover." He raised his hand as his eyes glowed crimson. Avia? Matt? Shit! The wheel blazed into existence alight with azure flame as Brandon grabbed Matt by the shirt and, seemingly imbued with extraordinary strength, flung her into Avia with enough force to knock the two to the ground, just in time for a massive wave of ice to shred the air they occupied a second ago. Brandon wasn't so lucky.
The wave of ice slammed into Brandon's armor and shattered it, sparing his chest the brunt of the blow, but the wave had sliced cleanly through his left arm and encased the wound in ice, leaving the arm dangling uselessly. "Arrgh..." He groaned and looked up with a gold/black eye just in time to see Mercutone move again. Mercutone disappeared in a flash and appeared in front of Brandon and made a long deep cut across his chest with a smaller blade hidden away, this one left no ice and the blood flowed freely. "Well, I think I'm outnumbered. I don't really make it a point to fight the King of Eidolons and the High Priestess at the same time, and whoever you are." He nodded towards Matt. "I'll take leave of you, ladies and gent. Exeunt! He bowed and disappeared into a reddish rift which closed with a thunderous clap. Brandon lay on his back, drawing jagged breaths. The wheel had disappeared when the wave struck him. Blood oozed freely from the wound in his chest as his chest heaved unevenly. |
Avia/Yamiko pushed Matt off her and got to her feet, looking 12,000% done with his attitude. Matt scrambled over, kneeling over Brandon, the flames on her arms diminishing to just her palms. She frowned, concentrating them then to just two fingers, which she dragged slowly across the laceration on his chest in an attempt to cauterize the wound. When that was finished and the bleeding had stopped, she got to work on his arm. Avia/Yamiko stood beside them with her arms folded across her chest.
"I didn't know fire fiends were smart enough to know how to give medical attention." She smirked. Matt held up one flaming middle finger for a moment before attempting to lift Brandon. "No, don't even. Let me help." Avia/Yamiko knelt down and lifted him up princess-style, armor and all. Even Matt looked surprised. "Hm," Avia/Yamiko arched an eyebrow. "This is new." At that, she shrugged slightly and they started back towards the house. Matt started to become sluggish along the way, but they made it back. "Oh, honey, what happened?" Djinn exclaimed. "Um... I'm sorry, I don't really have anywhere to put him, um... I guess on the floor so I can clean it later? I'll get a pillow or something." Avia/Yamiko set Brandon down and Djinn tucked a throw pillow under his head. "Sorry, I really don't like getting blood on the furniture. It's such a bitch to clean." "I don't really care about his comfort right now, so it's fine, really." Yamiko/Avia shrugged indifferently. "What about you, though? I mean, are you doing okay now?" "No. I hate all of you." "Mm, fair enough." Matt found her way to Ghost again and she coughed up a puff of black smoke and orange embers before falling forward on him. "Hey, Djinn? I need a little help, here." "You should go talk to your brother, sweet cheeks. He's really worried about you." Djinn mentioned to Avia/Yamiko before turning away to assist Ghost. "Ugh, I don't care." She huffed, sitting down next to Brandon with her knees pulled up to her chest. |
He groaned as Avia/Yamiko set him down on the floor. "Look at me, whining like a little bitch." He chuckled sourly and drew a ragged breath and exhaled haltingly, blood seeping down the side of his mouth. Geez, bitch much? No. She's being pretty nice considering what I just put her through. Hell, I'm surprised she didn't finish me off. He cast a half-lidded gaze over in Avia/Yamiko's direction. He only saw her legs and arms, her head was obscured from his perspective. "Sorry." He managed to choke out a word before returning his blank gaze to the ceiling and closed his eyes.
His mind wandered to when they first met, what they did together, and the circumstances under which they parted, and the painfully long year he spent in Nirn. Well, it's been hell of a day, hasn't it. She's back. Kinda. I don't care. She's alive, that's all I need to know. Yeah. Not sure what's going to happen after this. At any rate... I don't need the armor anymore. He released his hold on the flame within his mind, and with a flash of azure flame, the armor disappeared into thin air. "Lot of good this armor did me..." He rasped hoarsely as the scars slowly began to shrink. "So." He turned his head back over to Avia/Yamiko and sighed. "How do you feel?" |
Avia/Yamiko took a deep breath and let it out sharply.
"If you have to ask, I'm not going to bother telling you because the answer should be obvious." Her gaze flicked down at him. "You are the biggest idiot I've ever met in the entirety of either of my lives. If I had my way, I wouldn't have rushed out there to find you but unfortunately there's still a part of me that cares for you, and that part is just enough to keep me from allowing myself to let you get yourself killed even if it might teach you some semblance of a lesson on how to not be fucking stupid, but then I realized, 'no, Brandon will always be a complete moron, it's just who he is.'" She spoke quickly and precisely, then huffed once more. "There aren't words for how much I hate you right now, but I'll have you know, that is miniscule compared to the hatred I feel for myself. You've done nothing to put my mind at ease. You thought I was having an identity crisis before? I don't even know what to call myself now! I don't know my own name, I don't know what kind of repugnant being I've become, I don't know if I can trust my own memories because all of them seem familiar and foreign at the same time!" Her voice cracked and she raked her fingers through her hair, her bottom lip trembling and her face flushed. "I just-- I hate you so much, but I love you as well, and I would protect you with my life but I want to wring your fucking neck. You couldn't possibly fathom what I'm feeling right now, so just don't even ask." She pawed at her eyes, not looking at him, and stood, striding away from him. Djinn caught up with her, handed her a mug of hot chocolate, and took her back down the hall. It was Keahi's turn to come over and sit. He sat down next to Brandon and placed a glass of water down for him. "I'm still trying to convince myself that what we just did was right. I have a bad feeling about the coming days. If Araxie is right, there's no way you stand a chance against whatever evil is coming the way you are now. You must hone your skills further, Brandon. But more importantly, I need you to look after my sister. You will need her help just as much as she will need yours." He stood once more, leaving the glass of water. "There is a place for you at the complex if you wish, but it may be wise to make amends with the individuals you met today first. Especially the beanpole girl with the blue hair. She's going to be pissed." |
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