Estylwen

Magic in the Park

The opening post was a true wonder for the senses. I've written up a little something-something! :)

Magic in the Park

Phonk Drift

Asher Estate, Realspace

_@Asuras

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Reina gave a look to Cygni as she languished in her seat. He was trying to get her killed, the sooner the better. Yes, send her to deal with the Anomaly, alone. If he wasn't so powerful, she would have stripped him of his position and exiled him long ago. But House Asher needed strength. And he knew this.

She'd deal with him. But first-

Reina glanced up at the servant beside her, then gestured with her chin towards the double doors. The servant, Isabella, with her ashen hair and wary eyes, understood immediately, and left through the doors. She returned momentarily with a prison inmate in tow, cuffs still on his hands. He was made to stand beside Reina's seat. The look on his face was aghast, with darkness brimming around his eyes. He knew what his fate was, as a death row inmate, but the nondescript woman seated beside him, was she really the one who'd-

She looked up at him, her red eyes flashing, and she smiled.

Before taking up one of his cuffed hands, she kissed the back of it. Nothing would appear to happen in real-time there except for the magically adept. Well, they were all magically adept after all, weren't they? There was a draw, a suction, like hungry jaws clamping down on the sinews of the soul, and eating them up like a hearty stew. Minutes passed…

Before the man's breath hitched, and he fell backwards, collapsing dead on the floor.

Reina had let go on the hand a second before, and brushed fingertips to her lips, savoring the taste. Her insides were enlivened, and her mind sharp. A much better state of mind, a much better… atmosphere.

Her eyes glanced cooly at Cygni, and she spoke in a crisp voice. ”I think a Dungeon is a brilliant idea. However, I will not be entering it alone.”

Her hand gestured to Cygni, ”You will be joining me.”

A chin rested on a curved fist as Reina glanced over at Erina. ”And you.”

If any House member was looking carefully, they'd realize they were both chosen for what they said. Cygni daring to even breath a hint of a plan that could get their precious head killed. And Erina, spouting opinions instead of facts at her table.

Of course, it was a small correction. Reina would be present, and would ensure nothing happened to her enemy, and her faithful. They were both skilled, exceptionally so, making her command more like a slap on the wrist than a true punishment.

Alas, she had her own ulterior motive. She wanted to bring Cygni with her so he didn't make a mess of her House while she was gone. And Erina would be a witness so Cygni would have a harder time trying to kill Reina. Apostles knew Cygni coveted her position, but she would thwart him at every turn.

As the servants lifted the body of the prison inmate out of the room, Reina continued. ”We will discuss with Lord Yusei, and we will ascertain this Anomaly with our own eyes. I will not rest until this threat to our shores is dealt with.”

Umbra: The Abyssal Connection

I'll give Rabid one more day, and I'll have a post up tomorrow. :>

Dark Beyond: Voices of the Past

Very sorry to hear that, Days. Yep, just take it easy, and no rush. :)

Iris Ascendis

Awesome, I think I'll wait on @ERode before my next post.

Magic in the Park

Ohmaigosh yessss. My muse is ready.

Thanks, ERode.

Magic in the Park

@ERode Hehehe, I'm sure there's a cult book somewhere where it says Ashers welcome death. Regardless, I'm very intrigued to see how the two shape up. :>

Speaking of which, was an IC date dropped yet?

Magic in the Park

@Remram Aweeesome. Yeah that sounds good. The Ashers would try to stay under the radar for as long as possible, but it's likely these two factions may have some... differences to sort out very soon. :>

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree [Complete]

Okay, two yeeters. That's still not a whole lot. Alizée's a bit worried. ^^;

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree [Complete]

The Eleventh Path

_{Interactions: Luca (@FernStone), Adora (@Shin Ghost Note), Sully (@Atrophy), everyone}

---

Aislin perked up as the 317 filed in, waving her hand. ”Hey guys! I brought wine, you should try some.”

Layla and Alizée both looked to the 317 in tandem, nodding. Layla offered a smile.

”I think smaller groups still is a better bet than all living together. There’s too many clashing personalities here… and someone like me, who will just destroy anywhere I live. It won’t work out. We can’t force everyone, anyway.”

Luca

Aislin gave a nod, shrugging with open hands. ”Well, I can't argue with that.”

Layla's eyes hovered on Luca for a moment. Had they spoken with Leon? How had it went? She wanted to ask, but alas, the meeting was now in near-full swing. So, Layla simply took another sip of her wine, and continued to listen.

That was when Layla felt prickling on the back of her neck, and scanned the room. Her eyes fell on Clancy's, and the quiet fury he was exuding felt like it punched a hole in her. Self-conscious, Layla distracted her gaze by staring very, very hard at her wine glass.

"But our primary goal is the artifacts: The Map of the Drunken Sailor and the Mirror on the Wall. They are information-gathering tools, which is what we are after. They will point us in the right direction, and lead us to Father Wolf."

Jack

Alizée's chains swirled where she hovered, a tick. She was deep in thought, eyes glancing to Layla now and again. Having unpacked Layla's memories, Alizée was well aware of the need for information, any information, that would bring them closer to unraveling the serial killer that threatened their lives, and Layla's life.

But were two artifacts worth the sacrifice this fight would no doubt extoll?

”... Luna was playing us. Greyson killed her, though."

Britney

The color drained from Layla's face. Luna? Dead? At the hands of Mr. Devola, no less. Weren't they friends, though? What had happened to cause bloodshed between two Sycamites?

Layla felt a bitterness on her tongue, and hung her head quietly.

”Layla, how are you doing? Those people... They didn't hurt you or force you to do anything, right?”

Adora

Layla pushed down her sorrow and guilt for a moment, looking over at Adora with a small smile. Ah, Adora. One friend she could count on, yes? Layla's thoughts drifted back to the Adjoining, on what she learned about the Temple. She had complained to Luca already, surely, there was no need to voice her concerns further, yes?

And it was true, then Temple hadn't forced her to do anything.

Layla nodded. ”I'm doing okay. They didn't force anything, promise. And uh, Alizée and I are getting along nicely. She's still her old self, though she doesn't remember.

“Thanks for asking, Adora.”

Alizée's gaze was on Adora as Layla accepted the apple, vividly remembering her aggressive introductions. Self-conscious. ”My apologies if I disturbed you the other day. Yes, Layla's fine. Eating better too.”

Layla took a small bite of the apple. Sweet, and crunchy.

Before she almost choked on it as Ruby leveled a gaze that could kill at her.

”If you're going to apologize to them...”

Adora

Layla's face flushed with embarrassment. She stood from her seat, and bowed her head slightly, addressing Ruby. ”Sor-sorry for the other day.”

Before she sat back down, and listened to the plan that Ruby and Greenwood had.

"We're going to be up against assholes with guns. Assholes with magic… But, if you decide to help, we will split the artifacts three ways - including the two artifacts Britney wants so badly.”

Ruby

”You sure about this?” Alizée thought mentally to Layla.

Layla, shamefully ignoring Ruby’s gaze, only mumbled mentally back. ”We need those artifacts. Auri is dead. Who knows who will be next…”

"Physical arms and armaments, Lux boosters, healing salves, the list goes on."

Leon

Layla perked up upon hearing Leon, and the adjoined pair seemed to relax somewhat in the presence of Temple’s finest. However, Layla's intrigue was piqued. She wasn't aware of the Temple's healing salves. The sedation medicine, yes, but this? Interesting.

“Worrying? You’re worrying? Man, the one who needs to be worrying is that bitch ass Scott Reese… Over here we got the goddamn Thunder God Drake “Raiden” Blackmore and over here we have the Big Bad Wolf, Leon “Motherfucking” Richoux. You throw in me, the Water Boy. You throw in me, the…the Juice Man…and what’s Scott Reese gonna do? Nothing.”

Sully

“Yeah, you said it, Sully!” Aislin cheered from her seat, raising her glass in a toast.

Layla and Alizée glanced each other with dark looks. Scott Reese. Just the name was enough to elicit uncomfortable memories for Layla. But the two were in agreement. Team Aggro would be able to handle any stupid Stygian thrall. That left…

”I want to be on the artifact team. We'll… figure out something with the Starving Dog.” Layla said, glancing at the group around her.

Aislin nudged Layla. ”Count me in too. Come on, it's a dog. All we have to do is distract it and let me bend the door open! Bam, all those artifacts will be ours.”

”What if we're not able to distract it, though?”

Aislin merely grinned, nudging Layla again. ”You doubt me? Oh ye of little faith. Then I'll make the Starving Dog sink in a hole it'll never crawl out of. Those artifacts are as good as ours, I promise..”

Alizée listened to Aslin and Layla go back and forth, before she raised a hand, addressing the group. ”Say you get the artifacts. Say you kill a couple of them. How are you getting off the island? Not everyone is lucky like Layla in being able to void-step. You will be disorganized and weak. Some will be disconnected from the group, to be sure…

“How does everyone make it home?”