drop of poison

[gianna-foxwood]

I wouldn't doubt that Kai tracked Azriel down the moment I told him everything that's going on. I know... Marina may be our ace in the hole when it comes to controlling this psycho Azriel. Turning his abilities down to nothing would be crucial in the physical world, but I'm not sure if it will help in the astral plane, and that is and always will be where Azriel is the strongest. The fact of the matter is, the only person who knows the full scope of his abilities and what Azriel can do is the one who threw him to the wolves in the first place, and I may have torched a bridge with Emilia by declaring her my enemy.

[ainsleyxbrooks]

Blithely predictable, your brother is. True...there's the possibility powers other than Azriel's own won't even work in the astral palace traversed by two different versions of your brother, but that's why I'm throwing an enforcer with her as a backup plan in case shit hits the wall. Why wouldn't you declare her your enemy? If the dumbass is coherent enough to talk to and not so far in psycho Azriel's bed that she would be willing to shed some clarity on his abilities, maybe Emilia could provide a small useful tidbit before you decided to do with her whatever it was you were planning. It's not my problem either way.

[gianna-foxwood]

She seems to think that whatever deal they made is enough to believe that he won't overstay his welcome, but I won't believe a single word of it until he's gone. As much as I wish an early warning would help bolster Azriel's defenses against his evil alter-ego, I doubt it will help much. There's only one person who can undo my brother's wards, and that's himself. That's also something I wanted to talk about. If it gets to the point where the psycho version of him refuses to leave, then someone needs to help us get... rid of him, and I don't know if Kai and I have the strength to do it. I just know that Azriel would rather be dead than be controlled like this.

[ainsleyxbrooks]

Yeah, she's fucking whipped and can't see past her own evil dick appointments. Az should still know what Mil has dragged him into even if he won't have enough time to prepare for the worst. You mean when the psycho version of him refuses to leave, but the point is clear, I guess I'll help despite your brothers throwing a wrench in my plans left and right. I might have enough power as a joint effort, but we know one person who could level out this Azriel's abilities long enough for us to take the kill shot. You worry about the kid, I'm not blind to that. Marina's fond of him and clearly is spending way too much time around your family to dive into protective mode impulsively. If we want to save lives, Gianna, we take that fight to him where he cannot hurt anyone.

[gianna-foxwood]

I know how you are, Ainsley– you have a kindness that people often overlook. I know she'll be okay with you.

Apparently, she forgot that part of our lives when she sheltered my children and me away from Evil Envy. She said this Azriel will go away once he kills Bellora, but the Murphy's Law of this situation is that he probably won't. A monster, in Emilia's words, will want to stay in a realm that hasn't been subjected to him yet, just to torment it. I did tell him, he's as irate about it as I am. I wanted you to know since this other Azriel will be making himself known soon.

[ainsleyxbrooks]

Oh, how you make my slightly cold heart weep with your compliments. She will be.

Apparently, the only major difference between Evil Envy and Evil Azriel is she's fucking one of them if the pattern from last time proves the same. Did he pinky promise her he would leave once Bellora's dust or should we trust the fucker on his word like she blindly has? Let us hope your timely brother is wise enough to warn your soon-to-be meat puppet brother so he can fire up extra defenses against the intruder. If he does make himself known to me, I may electrocute him continuously until he's fried.

[gianna-foxwood]

I'm aware of what you did, but I'm also aware that you wouldn't have thrown Marina to Bellora without a plan. However, this isn't just about Azriel's recklessness. It's worse.

Emilia essentially sold my brother out to a worse version of himself under the guise of getting rid of Bellora. This alternate version of my brother is going to use my Azriel as a skin suit to do his bidding, and I can't let it come to that. Your plan will go off without a hitch, but at the expense of my brother.

[ainsleyxbrooks]

Despite my initial frustrations with the actions of your bonehead brothers, don't think me cold for involving Marina. I see myself sometimes when I look at her. I hate worse.

I'm sorry, the bitch did what now? Did we literally not learn a fucking thing when an evil version of Envy came through? Right, okay, it's nice to see we could actually witness Bellora's death after months of preparation, but now the city's on the verge of another dark force conquering the realms in her place. Did you let Kai know?

[gianna-foxwood]

You won't get any hate from me. I wanted to give you a warning before you're blindsided, which has something to do with Azriel.

[ainsleyxbrooks]

I threw one of your kids to a dangerous being, Gianna, it's shocking you wouldn't be. I wouldn't do it without reason or a great level of protection for her. Something tells me this is not just about the fact him and Kai both gave themselves up to Bellora. If he did something reckless that screws this up, I swear.

[ainsleyxbrooks]

I'm having a blast getting a maelstrom of hate from one house, thanks for asking.

[seer-nikolai]

Hope you're not looking forward to some witty and hilarious banter– I don't have it in me at the moment.

[ainsleyxbrooks]

And why are you here, seer? You're about to create a whole slew of problems for yourself if you're not careful.

[azriel-delacroix]

I can be in worse moods.

I can think of a million other things you could have tried before bringing the girl in, but you ran out of cards to play in your loyalty gambit, and Marina will be the first person that Bellora points her finger at when she inevitably feels her power diminishing. Marina might be the goddess's new weapon, but she is also now her weakness, and Bellora won't hesitate to take the girl out. Don't pretend you know my motives, Ainsley. I can either help you or rip everything you've worked for apart. So, I suggest you deal with my presence and stop giving me attitude.

[ainsleyxbrooks]

Bellora's already growing suspicious of Cronus, not that I'd ever trust a god with my life, but at least his intimate knowledge of her seemed useful. She needed larger scale and I provided with immense approval. Then let us hope the bitch is either distracted or dead before she even notices the decrease in abilities. You are a petty ass bitch, aren't you, always have been. How about your job is keeping the kid and yourselves alive while I worry about attempting to keep a goddess from nuking a city, okay? This is bigger than you and it's bigger than Kai, Azriel. I won't pretend to know your motives when I kind of do in reality if you don't fuck this up.

[azriel-delacroix]

I'm aware that you should insult me when I'm in a better mood, Ainsley.

Having everything under control by throwing a witch who hasn't truly been trained for the shit we can do at a goddess's feet? I'm not here for whatever plans you think you're at the helm of; someone has to watch out for Marina so you don't get her killed.

[ainsleyxbrooks]

You are never in a better mood, that's a moot point.

I didn't enjoy tossing her at Bellora's mercy any more than you do, Az, but that girl still has far better training beyond other witches and more power at her fingertips than some possess in their bodies. Slowly diminish a goddess' abilities, for instance. Careful, Azriel, latching on what you perceive is another version of your sister will get you killed.

[ainsleyxbrooks]

You two are real fucking idiots, I just hope you are aware.

I had everything under control.

[jadis-hawke]

Oh, now that... works on so many levels, Ainsley. Not only a powerful witch, no matter how green, but Constance's apprentice as well? It's poetic, and you have truly outdone yourself. It could serve in flushing out the annoyances that are Constance and Corson, so I can finally end this charade.

[ainsleyxbrooks]

I normally wouldn't place a child on the radar of a goddess, but she was chosen by her coven as a future assassin for a reason. Being Constance's companion is just the icing on the cake knocking out two birds with one stone. She cares about the girl and Corson cares about Connie. It's a win-win.

[jadis-hawke]

Exactly. The city would be the easiest to take over, the more broken and unprepared, so what is this way? I'm all ears.

[ainsleyxbrooks]

It tastes sweeter leaving them at your mercy. There is a young witch who traveled with Constance as her apprentice, Marina Hartley, who possesses this ability as a volume button of sorts. She can amplify powers as well as diminish them completely for a time. Now, consider that on a larger scale, Bellora. Every species here relying on their special talents no longer able to use them. No longer capable of going toe-to-toe with a goddess. She's young, however, there is potential.

[jadis-hawke]

There never really is a plan, Ainsley. Only chaos, and right now that chaos is in the form of vampires. You feel it, don't you? The fear, the imbalance in nature itself. It's delicious.

[ainsleyxbrooks]

Ah, right, you feed from chaotic improvisation and now plan on taking advantage of the vampires' arrival. Of course, I feel it. The question is, goddess, how unprepared would you like the city to be when you strike? I know a way.

[jadis-hawke]

At least I can look forward to not being bored from here on out.

[ainsleyxbrooks]

I cannot help if I do not know what plan has entered that mind for you.

[ainsleyxbrooks]

Who knew raiding a god's liquor cabinet could work well in my favor?

[ainsleyxbrooks]

God, there needs to be a new plague or I am about ready to burn it all down.

[jadis-hawke]

Oh, I love Christmas lights, but smelling singed skin will probably make me nauseous, though I'm weirdly hungry now. I would skin someone for you in a heartbeat if it didn't mean that I'd get my ass handed to me more by my Uncle. If he found out I hurt someone, he'd flip. More than usual, that is.

[ainsleyxbrooks]

Remind me to pick up some smoked barbecue for lunch later. Baby, let no one stop you from skinning someone else alive for my benefit if that's just your birthday present to me. All you have to do is cause harm so discreetly, that your Uncle doesn't notice a thing.