Axius Scourge

[jiutiandaiyu]

Daiyu recognized the expression on the man, not because the man himself was familiar but because the look he had was. Many men had looked upon her with the very same far-away glance, the same wonderment. It was only natural. She was a demigod, awe-inspiring and radiant. A soft smile graced her features as he spoke and an understanding slowly developed. "Ah, so we have met before," she turned toward him then, giving him her full attention as her expression turned thoughtful, observing him carefully for recognition. "You were a soldier," this much she could tell by sight alone. She was well familiar with the gait of a soldier, of one who had seen war torn fields and too many dead bodies. The demigod reached forward to delicately touch the side of his jaw, allowing him time to refuse the touch or accept it, and if he allowed it then she would with the gentle point of a cool-toned finger, turn his face to the side for her to inspect further. If the action was denied, she could still inspect him well enough from this distance.

"There you are." She could see him now. In the bridge of his nose and the height of his brow, somewhere around his eyes he still held a hint of the youth he had once been, the young ambitious soldier she had once met. "My, my, the boy has become a man but something is wrong with you. You were human once.." Now he was something else.

[axius-scourge]

“Yes,” the man merely whispered as his golden yellow eyes remained on her.  Many soldiers had this worn look and the way they carried themselves.  There was something about being on the battlefield with your brethren that truly shapes you as a person.  As she reached forward, he nearly pulled away.  Only woman he allowed to touch him was his wife, but this was different and he accepted her soft cool touch as she examined him.  A soft smirk formed thinking about how she probably viewed him the same way he viewed a bug.

“It had been awhile, you met me in my youth.”  In her words, he was set back.  Was it the eyes that gave him away or here mere power of perception?  “How are you able to tell I am no longer human?”  Axius inquired, curious if it was anything he could hide easily.  “Do you know what I am?”  Even he had some hard times knowing exactly, torn between two planes of existence.

[evelynscourge]

Axius confused expression did sting somewhat, Evelyn allowing her gaze to wander away from the look he gave her, foot falling from where it had been rubbing his calf and taking a deep breath to compose emotions that wished to take hold. She needed to remind herself that where ever he had been was surely painful, perhaps adjusted how he looked back on the history between them. Evelyn hadn't ever thought he saw making sure her name was known in connection to his was solely about the guild, it had always felt like a sort of pride in what they had and to hear he lacked the desire for their names to be connected, disinterested in the prospect, did sting enough to quiet her for a moment because attempting to understand did not lessen the ache she felt.

After a moment or so, internally consoling her heart, she let her eyes wander back to him. "Perhaps I am wrong and it will not," she tried to concede, not wishing to burden him so quickly into his return. The worry she felt on his consistent declarations of affection was continuing to find purchase in her but not enough to quiet the young woman in her who had passionately pursued the man despite how far he had been from the inheritance she desired. Conceding was not in her nature, she hadn't just wanted a guild, she wanted love and all the messiness of it, Evelyn wanted the husband who would not have allowed a dinner where he was thought of as her concubine.

"You are my husband, not one lover in dozens, one of one, and even with whatever has quelled your raging jealousies, I do not choose to believe you were so hurt where ever you were that you would desire to not be known as my paramour, my knight," Evelyn asserted of her emotions with determined strength of conviction. "I do not accept any notion where you would keep quiet our family name, the name you took for us. Your name is my name, as mine is yours, you never allowed your own to go uttered without mine and I will not allow mine to be said without yours. Maybe your passions will not return, maybe you will not care for your name to be known, but I am your wife and I care to show you that the years with which you did feel differently and chose to gift me with your name mattered to me."

It was almost harder when he looked at her like this though, eyes so dramatically in love, a selfishness tingling at her skin. She was loathe to imagine he would not find his way back to the man he had been but she also knew she would eventually have to accept that the husband she had lost might not be the one who had returned. She would love him, regardless, but she did worry what it would mean for them. So distracted by this thought she barely heard what Axius ordered. "I will have what the chef thinks will be served best this evening," she said, though the wait staff likely already knew this, scurrying off quickly after.

Evelyn exhaled hard, her chest falling dramatically. She could not work miracles, she'd had imps crossing the continent since Axius return to delivery the message to their son of his resurrection but the boy had been travelling for near on a century now. "I am trying," she assured him of the efforts. "I do not know where he is. He was grown for years when I stopped tracking him, long before you died Axius." There was nothing more she could think to say but simply to repeat... "I promise I am trying."

[axius-scourge]

The two were out of sync, Axius quickly realized it when he heard Evelyn speak causing him to blink a few times trying to wrap his head with everything she was saying.  “Darling, please.”  Axius began hoping to further explain himself since he did so poorly the first time.  “I know I am your husband and you are my wife.  You and you alone my love are the only reason I managed to get back to his plane of existence.  You must know my hunger and desire for you that I would even conquer death to be in your presence.”

He took in a breath, “all those years ago, I conquered the guild to create a legacy with you and we have accomplished our goal.  What more do I need to do?  I am content with just being with you, especially after all these missed years.  You have maintained everything beautifully and I am beyond proud of everything you have done.”

It bothered him now, he was terrified his wife saw him less than the man he used to be.  Sure, he still had those primal desires to conquer.  But his deal with the demon came first and his need to remain in the shadows was vital.  How could he even explain all of this?

“Tonight when we return home and it is just the two of us, I will explain further.  About my return and other things.”

Perhaps a formal explanation about his connection to a demon would clear up much of this miscommunication and she would further understand his need to remain out of the limelight.

“I trust you my love, I just was hoping to see the man he had become.”

[madkingmerry]

location: rochielles

event: "one is taken" - helping rebuild dismantling homes

with: @axius-scourge

Merrymock reclined on a stack of lumber, thin and pale green smoke rising out from his lips as he exhaled slowly from a black polished pipe. Adorned in a billowing white blouse that was opened to reveal the center of his chest, shirt accented with silver stitches and a deep teal undercorset, the yellow-skinned tiefling with his crown of black curls and broken horns looked a picture of some flamboyant youth. If one did not know he was the governor of the town, one might easily assume he was perhaps part of a traveling troupe based on the decorative livery that detailed corset he wore, a louche quality in the way he lounged. It was not the appearance of one familiar with manual labor. Even during his time serving his once Lord, Merry had not needed to use tools which were required for construction unless they were used for entirely different methods which would not be welcomed here. When he arrived and declared how adroit he was with a handsaw and attempted to demonstrate by removing a few digits, the other individuals here for the purpose of rebuilding had promptly removed the handsaw from his person and delegated him to be the master of handing out lumber instead.

"You look strong," Merry addressed a gentleman nearby as he inhaled from the pipe once more, holding the smoke within his lungs before releasing it slowly in a swirl of green smoke. The drug taking its effect on him and caused the yellow flame of his eyes to spark in a cooler tone of chartreuse.

[axius-scourge]

Sweat upon his brow, Axius lifted his head and let out a relaxed breath as he felt a cool wind.  Things started off rough, the people around him nearly incompetent or at least he thought so.  Eventually they began to have a rhythm and one could hear the pounding of nails against the wood and the chatter of different people from all over conversing.  Axius for the most part kept to himself, he had only been back a few months but even then the man felt as if he was some foreigner in this land.  Times have changed, even in the short amount of decades since his departure from this plane.

In much need of a break, he was stunned when someone spoke to him.  Apparently, the other was not picking up on his aura today.  “Compared to you,” his eyes looked the man up and down in a quick glance.  “Why are you pointing out such things, do you need something?”  He inquired, unsure who this man was or why he was even there in the first place.  Because from where he was standing, the individual hardly had done anything thus far besides lay around and smoke.

[kanaloasteele]

It wasn't often that Kanaloa received requests that really tested his skill.  For most of his work day he spent his time making the same handful of basic knives and swords.  As much as Loa preferred to forge blades, he still took regular orders for anything else a blacksmith might make.  One had to pay the bills after all.

The light dusting of snow and cold mixed with the heat from Kanaloa's forge, creating a rather temperate zone where one could wait comfortably.  Loa needed the extra heat to keep the magically inclined metals at a forging temperature.

Despite the outside temperature, Kanaloa was still shirtless, a special hammer in his hand as he forged the sword that was to be enchanted.  A specialty blend of metals went into the sword that was to be enchanted later with Kanaloa hammering it in just the right way to keep the structure intact.  One wrong hammer swing and the pattern inlaid in the sword would break and it wouldn't hold the magic as well as it could.

Seeing the future swords owner step forward, Loa buries the blade in the coals, letting it heat up for the next round of forging.

“Master Axius,” Kanaloa replied, nodding his head in a gesture reserved only for good paying customers.  “Yer blade is being worked on as we speak.  I had to wait a bit to get a shipment of magically inclined metals in.  It's not something I normally stock.  Give me a day to finalize the internal structure of the blade and you'll be able to take it to any enchanter you wish to get your magic spells inlaid.”

[axius-scourge]

Covered in a dark cloak, Axius perused a few parchments on the side of the building.  A theater play over some battle fought long ago, something he might indulge in with his beautiful wife later in the week.  Eventually, he turned his attention towards walking to the blacksmith less than fifty feet away.

Clouds stretched across the sky, a faint chill in the air with the snow on the ground.  Days such as these were meant to be spent with his beloved in his arms in front of a fireplace.  Yet, there were things in his life he was unable to divulge to her that took precedence.

“Greetings, good day to you sir.”  A soft smile appeared along his lips hearing the blade was already in work.  Axius figured it may be another month before he got to feel the hilt between his hands.  “Wonderful, ahead of schedule.  Hopefully the materials were not too difficult to come by,’ he commented.  

“I may need a similar order, I am thinking of giving a sword to my son.  I would want it to be nearly identical, perhaps more adorn with jewels than mine.”

[jiutiandaiyu]

Her name was called. The deity turned toward the source. It was not uncommon to be recognized. As a demigod of many years she had believers scattered throughout the continent, more condensed in some areas than others and Destarin had always been one such place where her alters were readily found. A city built from chaos amid the convergence of warring states. It was only natural.

The slight radiant sheen surrounding her lessened until it seemed completely gone to only a suggestion, that perhaps the sun was shining just right behind her instead of the glow coming from somewhere magical and internal. "Yes?" There was something familiar about him but she was so well traveled and met so many people that she could not immediately recognize him.

[axius-scourge]

Not often did another woman outside his wife cause him to pause and stand in awe of their beauty.  Yet, the raven haired beauty with glowing ivy skin nearly caused Axius’ heart to skip a beat.  How could it be after all these years she did not age a single day?  Not a wrinkle or anything to indicate the amount of years that ticked by.  Axius knew there were forces beyond his understanding and immortals out there, but he still could not fathom it.

“I–I, uh…”  Did he just lose his train of thought?  “My apologies, it has been ages since you have been in my sights.  Back when I was a younger man with much to prove.  You still remain just as beautiful since the day I met you.  Over a century ago.”

[evelynscourge]

Evelyn nodded with an amused smile on her face. He was right to be shocked, few lived so long but as Evelyn had witnessed, like most dogs, those who did rarely changed their spots. She had not. At least, Evelyn assumed she had not, unaware if Axius saw a shift in who she was as well as how she appeared. The latter was at least a comfort to her, their respective ages now far more aligned. It seemed better for her than for him, he was as handsome as he had been when he left home before he died and yet she had aged on. So far, he seemed hardly concerned with her ageing, his hands still roaming on her as if they were both young again. "Yes, and as stubborn as the last time we were here," she answered, little smile to herself.

His heart once more exposed itself, as it had repeatedly since his return, as those who lived so long stagnated she supposed death for so long had shifted him. It did not change her affections for him, each time he insisted upon his love for her it warmed her and worried her all at once for how horrifically whatever realm he'd found himself in had been.

"It matters to me," she insisted, and it did. It always had. Especially as, at least in her mind, he was still known, just not recognised as his face had been lost to time. Within their guild and their enemies it was legend how Evelyn had come to be their leader with he various renditions of what had come to be of her in-laws spoken in hushed words whenever new members joined. The coup that had taken out their previous leader and the two elder siblings who should have taken the guild before him, only for Axius to not take it for himself but to give it to Evelyn. It was a betrayal for love, a tragedy and triumph, and the complexities that had come of that were known only to the pair. "It will matter to you once you have adjusted," she insisted, sure that with time he would remember why he had come to desire his name known when he hadn't wanted anything to do with the familial guild upon his return.

With her affections matched by his tenfold, her fingers toyed within his, his heart continuing to show whatever change death had given him had drawn him back to the same affections he'd had when he had first returned to Destarin from being sent away by his family to train, and was avoiding them all together, didn't want anything to do with the guild, just wanted her. "You make me wish we had never left home," she flushed, her eyes averting themselves downward to the cloth over the table while her foot slipped from the leather heel it had been within and ran along the inside of his calf. "Unfortunate we can't live in bed."

His stamina had more than doubled that of his mortal form and Evelyn practically stumbled out the door when they had finally left to dine on food she did not require. He was her food and it showed in the healthy warmth to her face from feeding for days on him. "I typically let chef decide what is freshest," she answered, allowing her icy coloured gaze to rise once more to his as her toes caressed the back of his calf. "I am sure he will remember your old habits and find something appropriate unless your appetites have changed?" she suggested, the cool shade of her gaze warmed by insinuation. Evelyn did not know if this form of his needed to dine differently than it had in the past now that he had a different array of talents.

[axius-scourge]

Matters to her?  By what reasoning would his name being known affect her now?  Sure, when the two were younger and had a hunger of expanding the guild and dominating those who may interfere.  Now though?  What importance could lie there?  Axius gave his wife a curious expression, wishing for her to explain her thoughts on the matter.  For him, those days were behind him.  Now, he had to work in the dark for a master far more powerful than him.  Something, he has yet to discuss with Evelyn.  The topic was a difficult one to bring up and his need for secrecy was important.

“Trust me my dear, I look forward to returning home after this visit.”  A sly smirk formed at the corner of his lips at her next words.  “Unfortunately indeed, but we certainly can try harder.”  Although he knew the two had responsibilities and no matter how he wished to never depart from her again there was no choice in the matter.  His hands were tied and he soon would be vanishing anytime Vallmaz beckoned him.

With her across the table, he reached for her hand and his thumb lightly grazed the top of her hand as he stared into her eyes, completely lovestruck.  “I shall do the same, I hope he remembers I have quite the appetite.”  Axius shook his head.  “No, my appetites remain the same…perhaps have even grown larger.”  His tongue ran across his upper lip.

Soon, the two were approached by a server and Axius ordered his usual pint.  Not long after, their drinks had been placed before them and it was time to choose the meal.  “I shall have beef ribs,” he commented hoping it would be the recipe of old where it marinated in the wine and herbs before being placed over the fire.

After their order was placed, Axius returned his sights on his wife.  The two had hardly discussed their son, but he was curious how he grew up.  “Where is my son?  Is he on an adventure?

[jiutiandaiyu]

location: downtown trade district

with: open to anyone

The trade market is currently at its busiest time, flocks of people bustling about on the streets with high voices conversing rapidly with vendors, haggling for lower prices and better deals. It's a familiar scene for the demigod and she strolls languidly, her hands clasped lightly behind her back, the crimson red of her hanfu with expansive sleeves fluttering softly around her without a care in the world. Despite the congestion of people who often end up bumping into each other due to the proximity and amount, none seemed to bump into her. As if the people within the crowd just so happened to step out of her way at just the right moment to avoid her. While she walked, she happened to make eye contact with a vendor on the side selling roasted duck, it was a young looking man and he smiled at her and she smiled back. Then a commotion started when the fire he was roasting the duck over suddenly flared, rising in height by a few feet like it was trying to jump right out of the coals and into the face of the young man. "Watch it!" Cried out disgruntled and panicked voices of customers nearest to the flames, "You almost burned my eyebrows off! You call yourself a professional? Get out of here with your amateur business!" The customers chastised the young man who could only apologize profusely and scratch his head, confused at what had caused the sudden surge of flame which had now died back down to a reasonable flicker. Daiyu hummed delightfully at the scene as a thin radiant sheen emanated around her.

[axius-scourge]

Times were busy for Axius, his commitment to his master hardly left him with time to pursue his interests…well besides his wife.  Down in the trade district, he searched for several things.  A gift for his wife, jewels to adorn that goddess.  And well, something of an amulet of magical nature.  Many claimed to have magical amulets, but the man knew the difference between a fake and the real thing.  As he strolled down the cobblestones, he heard a commotion that captured his attention.  A small crowd gathered around at the yelling, but quickly dispersed.  With every person moving in all different directions, he nearly missed her.  A dark haired beauty he met his youth, but she had not aged a day.  Axius shook his head and returned his sights on her, figuring his eyes were playing tricks on him.  Yet, there she was and he was intrigued.  Slowly following up behind her, he watched from a small distance until finally he called out to her.  “Daiyu?”

[evelynscourge]

A Whole New World || Axius&Evelyn

The Destarin of their youth had changed since Axius' passing. He could likely remember the signs of change that had come when the Kingdoms had first begun to abandon the town they had revitalised after the war, but now it was so present. The community mindset had grown, but there seemed less individual hope amongst people, at least as Evelyn had observed. People had run from their lives elsewhere, rather than running to some dream. One of the few places it felt like had not changed was the old Crirthan resturant Evelyn had enjoyed since her childhood, used only for special occasions then, but when she and Axius had married became a frequent place for the pair to dine.

"I think perhaps only the chef will still remember you," she informed her husband as she reached across the soft woven fabric of the table, embroidered with bougainvilleas and lemons around the edge, to take his hand in her own, wishing to slip her fingers beneath his palm. The place had aged a little, paintings that adorned the walls sunburnt and paler than they had been in it's inception but beautiful nonetheless.

The host had ushered them quickly to Evelyn's favourite table, one towards the back, by a window that showcased one of the temples, insisting a bottle of wine would be brought to them and the chef would be informed of her arrival. At least that probably felt familiar, beyond the lack of recognition for himself. "With time it will be like it was, my knight. No one will know my face and not know yours."

Though, as he had been back a short while now, most people who saw him were unaware of who he was and presumed he was simply one of Evelyn's evening guests, and Evelyn worried it was hard for him to reconcile, that all of this world as it was now could be hard for him to reconcile. His family had been known, he and his brothers a family that had lived on the land before the revitalisation of the town, but for so long the name had belonged to only herself and their son. "I love you," she assured him, or maybe herself.

@axius-scourge

[axius-scourge]

Out in the real world with his wife, it felt as if he was living in a dream right now and soon everything would fade away and he would be back in that dark pit of despair trying to climb his way out to be with her again.  “The chef is still here?”  Many other creatures among the continents lived for centuries, but at times it still was hard to wrap his head around.  Especially someone who would remain in the same vocation day in and day out.

Axius felt his lover’s hand and softly smiled as his dark eyes peered over towards her.  Although she spoke kind words, Axius shook his head.  “As long as you recognize me, nothing else matters.”  In his youth, he wanted his name known throughout the lands.  Now, looking back it just didn’t feel as needed.  Sure, it was nice to know when warriors heard his name, it made them shiver.  But in the grand scheme of things, it cost him his life and few now remember his name because others have come in his place.

Few words came from his lips most of the evening, it was still strange taking everything in.  Yet, when he heard those three words from Evelyn he felt this warmth inside him.  “My queen, you have always held the keys to my heart.”  He only hoped she knew the extent he was willing to go to be by her side.

“What have you decided on?”  All he knew was he wanted a piece of meat.  Something large and on the bone.

[axius-scourge]

LOCATION: Ashen Armour & Weapons WHO:  @kanaloasteele

A soft kiss on the shoulder should suffice until he returns, Axius told himself as he climbed out of bed leaving Evelyn to sleep in.  The man had waited several weeks and wanted to check in on the progress being made on the blade he requested to be specially created.  Axius only hoped he could wield such a powerful weapon if the time arose.  Slipping out of the protected home unnoticed, he stared off towards the West to see the sun from the East brighten the blue waters with orangish hues.

Currently, he feels human again not having to answer to Vallmaz for a couple of weeks.  Some part of him was nervous that the demon was merely toying with him and was about to give him a large assignment.  But, he supposed he should be grateful for the time off.

“Should have brought a horse.”  He mumbled to himself, his feet sore from the thin sole of his shoes hitting the cobblestones forgetting how far the distance.  The city had expanded and walking from one side to the other was tiresome.

Finally, at the expense of his feet he made it and noticed the larger male at work.  Axius remained silent for several moments just watching the man in awe of his craftsmanship before he decided to step forward.

“Greetings my good man, Kanaloa.”

Axis took a few steps forward.  “I know you said it would take some time, but I wanted to check on my requested blade and the progress on it.”

[lxwlers]

For many children, the idea that your parent was involved in any... adult activities were likely the topic of uncomfortable thought, let alone conversation, but Ivy never felt that way with her mother. It was how she lived. Truthfully, she herself was always a little relieved that that particular aspect wasn't passed down to her. She was her mother's daughter, and it wasn't a difficult feat to find someone to take home for a few hours - or the evening, depending on how it went - but she always felt that the nature of a succubi required a lot more maintenance, and Ivy counted herself lucky with the abilities she did have.

She grew up knowing that her parents weren't soulmates, certainly not true love, but valued their friendship as that was all she understood out of parents. As the years went by and her and Evelyn grew closer, she got used to seeing 'friends', or other nutritional flings pass through the various places her mother lived. Rarely did she see any in Evelyn's house, though. When she had entered, down the hallway into the sitting room, Ivy was almost taken aback by the squared shoulders of a man staring at a painting. Quickly doing a once over of the room and found her mother was not around, she carefully stepped closer. "And who might you be?" she sighed. "Can't get enough of my mother, can you?"

@axius-scourge

[axius-scourge]

Too many years have passed, the house remained in the sands of time barely changing since his departure.  The man was no fool, he knew what his wife was and what she needed that he could not provide during his absence.  Still, it left a bitterness in his mouth thinking about the different partners she had been with.  Did she love any of them, or did she remain loyal in matters of the heart to him.

Axius stood in the presence of a painting of his beloved wife and him when they were younger.  Long before the lines on his forehead and light sun marks on his hands.  Before all the battlefield scars littered his body and he was still pristine in his appearance.

While he stared, he heard a woman’s voice but did not turn to look at her, assuming she was one of the staff members.  “The head of this household,” he simply commented.  But then quickly added the mother part and he turned to look at her.

“Evelyn is your mother?”

[evelynscourge]

Keep reading...

The words were cruel. To ask how long he had been gone, and she’d have scolded an impersonator for asking them, however his tone gave her pause. Fear. His questioned lacked the mockery that would have come from a fraud and instead held a tinge of truth. Still, Evelyn didn’t answer, not immediately, her own fear brewing as she took in the lines of his face, trying to recall them, to remember how he moved when he held her, surely a fake could only do so well…

His kiss certainly felt familiar, though more desperate than it would usually be mid argument, a different sort of hunger. She’s never felt him kiss her desperately, like he needed it, like he was starved for it. Even as he took his time there was still a craving purpose to it. Evelyn far more impatient, perhaps because she knew the time that had past, her nose hard against his cheek and her mouth parting to breathe in his breath.

Kissing him almost made her forget where he hand had found itself, though his hardening length only added an additional familiarity and the woman stroked him tenderly, mind heady with past moments of her palm in the same place. The more she felt him kissing her, felt his nature showing through, the more she started to fall into an idea it was him. Not a dream. Not a con. Him. Whatever his eyes were mattered not, all that mattered was he was in front of her, reforming her heart wounded in his death.

His admission of his own love, paired with the touch of his fingers to her lips felt so familiar it was impossible to fathom any longer this was a fiction or a hoax. She remembered his fingers pressed to her plush lips in this way and her steel gaze looked back to unfamiliar eyes and saw a familiar soul. She couldn’t have him follow her within the soft sheets until he knew, and she could not tell him with her hand in his pants, so as he moved his own to take the one that was free, the occupied palm unoccupied itself.

"A hundred and forty-five years."

The succubus stayed standing before him, fingers interlacing with his own. Surely, if he had been watching for the past few days, he would have seen no company come with her into the home beyond guild members protecting the exterior of the estate, no indications within the home that there had been another's presence within, beyond potentially that of her sisters. A hundred and forty-five years and so many spaces that had held his belongings had remained unchanged. She had not been waiting for him, but she refused to forget him.

Evelyn's grip tightened around his palm, nails pressing into the back of his hand she was so determined not to release him. She was somewhat heady from a need still feverish in her muscles but her heart longed to hear how he had come to be back with her, and in truth she suspected their ideas on what a night for her would mean were not the same. A hundred and forty-five years. How many had she bedded in those years? She had often thought of his anger when she came home with sweat on her brow and a scent to her skin he knew too well, how in the first few months she thought if she did it enough that surely his anger at her betrayal would bring some part of him back to tell her to stop. Some ghost, some angry spirit, anything.

"How?" she asked, the hand that had been in his pants grasping the fabric of his blouse to hold him close. "How are you here?" Evelyn asked, a quivering to her lower lip as she tried to fathom what had become of the near black eyes that had made her melt the first time she caught his gaze.

[axius-scourge]

There was a longing in his kiss, his tongue exploring her mouth for the millionth time but with the years it felt like it was the first time.  All he wanted was to remember every moment of their reunion.  The taste of her lips, the scent of her hair, the way her silky skin felt against his aged callous hands.

Soft moans drowned nearly everything out as her hand stroked him.  Truly, it seemed unfair how someone of his lowly stature could be in the presence of a goddess.  But he thanked the gods that they did play favorites to give him the opportunity to meet her and now reunite with this brunette beauty.

Nearly one hundred and fifty years, shock nearly overcame him as he stood there blinking at her.  Axius originally thought maybe twenty years, fifty being the maximum amount of time that had passed since he was a part of the mortal realm.  What had happened in his absence?  Where was their son?  Many things crossed his mind as he stood there, trying to piece things together.  Their place, it hardly seemed untouched from his memories.  Had she not moved on from him?  Axius remembered telling her to move forward if anything were to happen to him, but his painting was still there and his family belongings remained intact.

The grip of the succubus tightening around him, the nails digging into him caused his mind to come back to the moment between them.  The now yellow, goldish eyes peered at her with sorrow.

“I’m sorry you had to wait this long.”

How, even he was not fully sure how the demon managed to pull off such a feature.  Axius gave her a solemn expression, not wanting to delve deep into his accords with Vallmas.

“The how does not matter, all that matters is that I am here now.”  He reached to gently touch the side of her face.  “I told you long ago, even death could not keep us apart.  I did what I had to do to be reunited with you and I do it again and again, just to be with you my dear.”

[lordkrakenprimitori]

Something Wicked This Way Comes-Open

Only 20 years had passed since Lord Kraken had left the shores of Destarin, his kraken form calling him back to the depths of the oceans to swim through its waters and feast to his heart's content.  Truth be told, the ocean was more home to the elder merfolk than land.  Of course, that's not unexpected considering the number of centuries he spent out amongst the other sea creatures both large and small.  The call of his followers brought him back however, the magic of his Church calling him back to land with urgency.

One of his followers was always watching the docks for when he returned, a chest of clothing and his belongings waiting for him.  Unbothered by his own nudity, Phanrax, whom most called Lord Kraken, pulled himself up onto the docks.  Slipping into the little shack, he slipped into his usual clothing of silk shirt and trousers with an oilcloth coat so black it looked almost wet draping his shoulders.

Boots clomping along the ground as he left the shack, Phanrax made his way into the trade district, not looking for anything in particular so much as just judging the feel of the city and its inhabitants.  One of the runic tattoos on his neck glowed with a dark bluish smoke as his eyes glowed the same color, allowing the elder merfolk to read the magical energies of the city.

A small smirk crossed over the old man's face as he pushed away the small spell, sweeping through the trade district with a subtle air of menace.  It took someone with power to walk through a lawless city like Destarin like he owned it.  Rather than check in with his followers at the Church, Lord Kraken turned to a random passerby and spoke.  “It has been years since I have been to the city and something changed recently, what was it?”

[axius-scourge]

From an early age, Axius learned to be cunning and use his wit to get out of situations.  It helped him all throughout his life and even assisted him in the afterlife when he made a deal with a demon.  Now, he was collecting souls and making deals on behalf of Vallmaz while working diligently to find a way to release him from the shackles of servitude with the demon.

Ages have passed since he walked the cobbled streets of Destarin, the town grew in population and the stress appeared more crowded.  Yet, there was this familiarity with the place as if he had been there the whole time watching from a distance, seeing the progress and development of the city.

As he strolled through the streets, his tattooed body covered by a cloak he felt a strong power nearby.  Shivers ran down his spine as his lips curled into a devious smirk.  It was something he needed to check.  Like a moth to the flame, Axius felt a magnetic draw to the power and was stunned to see a man that appeared fairly young.  Certainly a magical creature of some sort, he told himself.

“I do not know good sir, I too have recently returned to the city after many years.”  Axius rescinded, assuming the larger man was speaking to him.  “Has something call you back?”

[evelynscourge]

It was a dream. She dreamed of him often. Dreamed of his touch against her skin, of his eyes on her form, of his affectionate words - in truth even of his less affectionate ones. Surely she had picked up the book and fallen quickly to sleep in bed, her mind rushing to comforting thoughts of her lost love to ease her exhaustion. It felt real though, and she gave into that reality, better than the one she woke to each day without him. If dreams were as close as she could come to him, and they always felt this real, she wold concede to them.

The aged succubi felt his fingers grazing up her arm, pushing the fabric of her robe's sleeve up in the process, allowing the woman to shiver. Yes, it felt so real, she was sure she even seasoned a movement to her dark hair as though he were inhaling her scent. No. It was but a dream, her fantasies mixed with her memories.

The words, of course, felt more painful than her typical dreams. In dreams he had never gone anywhere, they had never needed to miss one another, they could just be happy like nothing had ever gone wrong. His mortality needn't have caught up with them in dreams.

The book that she had forgotten was in her hand was drawn away and the woman was turned, habit making sure she moved her horns away from him, gaze down at her now empty hand as she mentally processed how unlike her dreams this specific one felt. Not to mention that most dreams she did not cognitively recognise she was dreaming, instead suffering the loss of him again when her eyes opened and dreams faded.

Only when she felt fingers on her face did she look up. He looked almost as she recalled. Unsure why dreams would gift him the yellow eyes she gazed into, the painting behind her depicting the shade they had once been, the one she had been so entranced by. Maybe it was not a dream, maybe it was a magical manipulation - one Evelyn was ready to give into.

For him, surely Evelyn looked different. When he had died she looked to be in her early twenties, his natural age so obvious compared to her delayed one. Now, though she still shed her skin to maintain youth and kept her complexion flawless from feeding on her sexual partners, Evelyn had lines around her eyes and lips, her jaw had filled out more, her cheeks less round. No doubt that spoke to how long he had been absent.

"I miss you," she answered, her stormy gaze on the strange hue his own eyes now were. It was obvious from her phrasing she did not conceive his presence genuine. Though some form of reality was staring to settle in she still couldn't believe it was him. A changeling spy, a trickster fae, a potioned enemy. Potential options she was fine manipulating her. She could kill them after she had been able to assuage her heartache for a few moments. "I cave your affection and your accountability with each starved breath, my starling knight," she spoke as though it were truly him, leaning up so her lips might almost touch his, her nose breathing him in to try and discover what might have been familiar.

Evelyn's hands sought at whatever fabric he wore, feeling his slender but lean form with brazen hunger. "It is impossible to inhale without your existence by my side," she whispered at his lips as the woman's hands did not rise up his chest but instead pushed lower with a feverish need, looking for the buttons or lacing that kept his pants on. "Let me take something else between my lips," she remained quiet within her room as her soft hands began to pull away his pants.

Evelyn would slow once she realised it was him, once she knew it wasn't a dream or a con, so she might tell him how happy she was that he had returned, discover where he had been, but if she only had until her eyes opened until the impersonator gave up the con, she needed him as a wife needed her husband.

"Axius, I love you," Evelyn confessed, fingers still fiddling with his pants. The woman's lip was quivering so close to his. She could not stop the words upon seeing his face, feeling his form so close, and yet she loathed the idea she might have been saying them to someone who was not her husband. How desperately she wished to tell him she loved him once again. Telling it to his portrait, sharing the feeling with their son, or asserting the love had not lessened to her sisters was not the same as telling him. "I love you forever."

[axius-scourge]

I missed you, the three words he longed to hear for ages.

Time, it was a fickle thing. In death, it does not move linearly as it does in the world in the mortal realm. There was no way for him to gauge how long he had been gone. Vallmas did not divulge this information to him, but when she turned to face him Axius realized it had been awhile. The brunette was just as stunning as ever, but the times of sand move for nearly everyone including a succubi and he noticed the small differences, but it made no matter to him. In fact, he found her more appealing to see her in this glory.

All he wanted to do was fall to his knees and start worshiping her body, begging her to forgive his absence and take him back as the broken man he was…well he wasn’t exactly sure what he was currently besides a soul collector for a demon. But that news could wait for another time.

“How,” he paused for a moment, a little terrified to hear the answer. “How long have I been gone?”

There was something going on in her mind, but Axius was unable to put his finger on it. Did she not know he would scale the underworld for her? That he would do absolutely anything in his power to be reunited with her. From the day they met, he never wanted to be parted from her.

With her lips nearly grazing his own, he waited for a moment desperate to feel her luscious lips against his own. “My paramour,” before he could ask what held her back he suddenly felt the rush of her hands against his threads.

There is no need to rush, I am here to stay.

Those words meant to come out, but as she pulled down his pants he could feel his member hardened at her touch. Taking in a hesitant breath he leaned in to kiss her.

As his lips pressed against hers, he instinctively cupped the side of her face. “Evelyn,” he murmured between their lips just wanting to say her sweet name. Axius kissed her deeply, he longed for this for so long. All he wanted was for them to take their time with one another.

“I loved you then and I love you now,” he told her as their lips parted.

“Please, come to bed with me so I may worship your body in the ways I have craved for so long. I want tonight to be about you,” and then he did something he hadn’t done since they were younger. He pressed two fingers against her lips softly as he gazed into her eyes.

"Come with me," he then moved those fingers and reached for her hand.

[evelynscourge]

Home Again || Axius&Evelyn

Evelyn reached behind herself as she stood in front of the full length mirror within her room of the old estate, nails seeking the lacing that aided the sleek garment in clinging to her form and beginning to loosen it. It was easily observed both the fabric loosening around her and the exhaustion in her expression, the removal of fabric in part removing the weight of the day for the woman who had lived beyond the years she showed. The guild had been constant questions and concerns since the election and each day she had to work harder than she ever had before to make sure they all knew she was in control, that things would be fine. It was only in the privacy of her secret estate that Evelyn allowed that weight to show.

The fabric fell to the ground and Evelyn reached for the old robe hanging off the side of the mirrors frame, fur circling her throat and allowing the woman to temporarily close her eyes, focused on the soft comfort of the tender worn in fabric against her skin, hands absentmindedly linking the two sides together with a small clasp hidden amongst the fabric.

She was ready for bed but, with her eyes opening and the succubi stepping away from the mirror, she knew she couldn't sleep quite yet. She had to go over some of the books for Scourge House, the large leather bound books sitting on the edge of the woman's bed. The soft deep burgandy fabric that covered the intricite wooden frame overseen by an old oil painting of her husband. It was his near black gaze that seemed to follow her always and though it was not half the same as having him, feeling as though he were watching her made the room less lonely each time she slept there.

Picking up the book, jaw tight, Evelyn heard a familiar creaking in the floorboards, gaze lifting slightly. With the age of the home, having been built for the Scourge family when the town was rebuilt it was almost two hundred years old, of course the floor boards would creak... Still, her eyes would always lift to it, like one day she might look up and see...

"Axius?"

@axius-scourge

[axius-scourge]

Several evenings have passed since Axius made the pact with the demon Vallmaz and each night during the witching hour, he appeared in the Scourge estate to check in on his beloved.  From the first time they met, the woman had enchanted him and even in death, Axius never stopped loving her.  The man’s only goal from his miserable existence in the underworld was to return to her.

Now that he has, he does not know how to make initial contact.  It has been nearly one hundred and fifty years, surely she has moved on.

Once again, he appeared in the dark corner of the room.  The only thing easily noticeable was his yellow eyes peering at the woman he longed to hold once more in his arms.  Axius watched, moving just a few steps for a better view of the goddess when the wooden floors creaked.

Axius, she still called out his name all these years later.

Swiftly, he appeared behind her near the edge of the bed.  His body pressed against hers, his head leaving in to smell the scent of her hair as his fingers lightly grazed up her arm.

“I have missed you, my peerless paramour.”

Axius then reached around to grab the book and place it down, before having her turn around to face him.

“I have yearned for you every moment since my departure,” he revealed as his cold hand cupped the side of her face.

[boysappetit]

Skeet Ulrich