Hopelessly Devoted

Nalini Harms 30 | she/her | Leecher Priest of the Church of the Survivor Right hand of the burning word When tyranny is law, revolution is order

[dangerousdevotion]

heartlikeiron

“ THE PLEASURE is all mine, I promise– ”  Ferra rarely allowed anyone (even those related to her) stand so close without expressed permission– yet the protest quickly died in her throat the second she traced Nalini’s eyes.  Though not easily phased by such attention, it did surprise her. She was used to being the predator, not the prey.  It was not an easy thing to adjust to but she was also never one to back down from a challenge.

“ But, if that is what you’re looking for tonight then you are in luck. ”  She mimicked the woman’s dominating posturing, though did so subtly, shifting her weight onto one hip.  She opened her clutch to retrieve a pen, then met Nalini’s eyes as she grabbed her hand.  Holding eye contact for just a breath longer, she began to write the address to her club across the woman’s palm.

“ This… ” She said, elongating the word until she was done writing, “ Is my club, Spikes. In the First.  You should come by tonight– we’re doing a special little extra show in honor of the holiday.  If you like that kind of thing.  If not, just ask for me– I’ve got a private lounge I can entertain you in.  Drinks on the house, of course, either way.  The girls do a great job, but we’ve got a banging DJ and a killer dance floor too if you’re more of a doer than a watcher.  Which I certainly hope for my sake, you are.”

It was a struggle not to grin with lupine satisfaction at the way Yomen reacted to Nalini’s advances--like a cornered snake, confused by the reversal but unwilling to sheath her fangs and relinquish powers so easily. Their eyes locked for a long moment, prompting only one thought in her head: this will be fun. She allowed Ferra to manhandle her as she wished, playing docile for the time being. If she was going to end up privately entertained sometime before dawn reared its head, there would be plenty of time for an impassioned chase. Until then, she put up no resistance to the woman’s touch.

“I like to think of myself as a doer,” she said, voice sultry with suggestion as she looked up at Ferra through thick, heavy lashes. “Especially when I’m lucky enough to get a personal invitation from someone like you.” Tilting her head slightly--as if exposing a hint of her bare throat to a creature ravenous for blood--a trace of a smile, lips parted oh-so slightly, ghosted across her face. “I couldn’t possibly waste such an attraction, could I?”

Her hand lingered in Ferra’s for a second longer before she pulled away, raising her fingers almost to her lips in a gesture that only just missed becoming a wave. “See you tonight,” she said, turning to saunter away into the crowd, hips swaying deliberately, before Ferra could say another word. As soon as passing strangers had swallowed her away, she yanked her phone out to shoot a message off. “Oh Glorious Leader, you are going to be so proud of me,” she murmured, feverish delight making her words lilt, almost singsong.

The rest of the evening before her late-night arrival was a blur of dress options and glitter and a compelling mixture of revulsion and intrigue. A personal invitation from Ferra Yomen! What a day this would be. Standing outside the club’s entrance, she considered her options one last time--the risks were great if she was truly about to walk right into the heart of enemy territory--before flipping her hair over her shoulder and tossing caution to the wind. With little resistance from the bouncer (invitation or not, she was a vision in azure and gold, and she knew it because she had taken hours making herself as irresistible as humanly possible) she strutted inside, eyes searching out her prize. She felt covetous gazes on her from all sides and grinned--she had only one very memorable face in mind, at least for now.

[dangerousdevotion]

amelie-demoux

Amelie was called out of her reverie by a familiar voice, making her way up to the steps of the cathedral towards Nalini. The priestess was decked out in her finest robes, a pleasing tribute to the Survivor, Amelie was certain. “Nalini, you look well. Quite a sight, certainly. Was the attendance at mass to your liking?” Her smile was genuine, which made it all the more startling, the hint of a steely glint in her eye visible to the woman she may call a friend, but certainly regarded highly. Nodding in response to Nalini’s assumption, she agreed, “A very blessed day, indeed. My students were all particularly receptive to my message and I have had nothing but enjoyment out here in the streets.” Tilting her head as she thought about what she was most looking forward to, a sly smile came across her face, her teeth just barely visible like razor sharp fangs. “I look forward to who I may meet tonight…. perhaps someone from the past… perhaps even someone to look forward to in the future.”

“Mass was lovely! I’m quite proud of today’s service, if I may say so,” Nalini responded brightly, carefully examining Amelie’s expression even as they smiled at one another. She was never sure where they stood relative to one another--Amelie could seem friendly enough, but as the strategic mind behind many of their operations she had proven herself particularly cunning, and that left Nalini wary of her footing around the woman. That wolfish smirk she often sported when she was ten steps ahead and had no problem showing it off was a source of consistent concern, though never enough to make her fully question her loyalty. Of course, even this sly wraith of a woman could make her smile conspiratorially with talk of their shared faith, and shared secrets.

“What a very thoughtful answer, dear Sister. You always were especially adept at seeing all the fun that could be had after the Survivor’s own style. Not many followers can boast the same. Will you be staying for the fireworks, or,” she asked, eyes alight with mutual knowledge, “do you have somewhere else you need to be this evening? If not, I’ll be forced to offer you wine.”

[dangerousdevotion]

valalekal

Sighing softly and leaning a head against the woman’s shoulder, Valarie flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Listen, I could have done just as well without those things,” she glanced at Nalini’s face and burst into a huge smile. “Nope, I couldn’t have. I’m a sucker for bad movies and chocolate, especially when they’re with such an amazing friend like you,” Wrapping her hands around Nalini’s waist for a hug, Valarie released and followed into the kitchen. Though Vala was normally very affectionate with her friends, it seemed that she felt wholly more comfortable with Nalini about everything. Nalini knew most of her secrets, her darkest feelings. She also knew exactly how to quell those thoughts that rampaged her at night, which was a feat in and of itself.

Hopping on a barstool, Vala put her hands on her chin and held her head up, closing her eyes as Nalini moved about the kitchen. She couldn’t help but smile her patented grin. Opening her eyes as Nalini stood in front of her once more, Vala could feel a burst of emotion swell inside of her. If only she could pinpoint this bad feeling in the pit of her stomach, know why it had solely dealt with Juliere. Vala grabbed Nalini’s hand and held it in her own. “I cherish you so fully, Nalini. I’m so thankful to have you in my life,” Vala smiled once more before taking one of the glasses. “Now let’s make this a true celebration!”

Nalini’s eyes shot up to meet Vala’s when she clasped her hand, a deceptively demure smile gracing her features. No matter what her intentions were with this relationship, often she was surprised by how much she cared for the sweet young thing she called a friend as well as a disciple. Truly no one else could match the girl’s honest kindness or wholehearted devotion to their Survivor, save maybe her brother. Naiveté made her tricky where their real work was concerned, sure, but she was just so...innocent. So malleable. So easy to please.

“I’m the one who ought to be thankful. Who could be a better friend than you? But, we can be sentimental after a few glasses.” She made quick work of the cork, grinning with satisfaction at the loud pop it made as it streaked off into the air and out of sight. Pouring a solid glass for each of them, she snatched her flute off the counter and raised it in a fluid gesture. “To the Ascendant Warrior, for fulfilling the Survivor’s will and bringing us into a better age,” she declared, eyes bright with faith.

[dangerousdevotion]

Text ➳ Nalini

Valarie: Nali! Did you hear about the thing?

Nalini: You mean the heist headline? Or did something else happen?

[dangerousdevotion]

l’appel du vide date: 23 vinuarch 552 time: early morning, after the job open to the burning word

Mists eddied above and around Elendel, eerie with the glowing lights of thousands of buildings below. A mild breeze lifted the tassels of Nalini’s mistcloak from the edge of the rooftop she perched upon. She liked to think, in quiet moments like this, that she was doing just as the Ascendant Warrior had so long ago; just as the Survivor once looked out over the white-blanketed land, so she did now.

That quiet would not last long--after the shake-up they had just initiated? The Burning Word could forget about taking things easy. She smiled at the thought. Just the way it should be.

One of her fellow revolutionaries stepped up beside her and she turned that smile on them, all cheery energy. “Isn’t this lovely? The mists are a sign of His approval, I know it. And I know the spear was the perfect finishing touch. You can trust my judgment on that. Soon the whole city will be talking of nothing but us!”

[dangerousdevotion]

text » glorious leader

Juliere: I mean, I'm all for speed when it comes to info gathering, but it's a tempting chance to get at Yomen, too.

Juliere: And taking both avenues does give you a chance to milk everything we can get out of this.

Juliere: Very well. Both it is!

Juliere: I suppose I don't have to tell you to have fun seducing the most dangerous woman in Elendel.

Juliere: But have fun! Take pictures! Send a postcard! Take more pictures! Blackmail is our friend!

Nalini: For your information, Amelie is the most dangerous woman in Elendel, and she would have said so if she knew about this

Nalini: I'm on it like rust on iron, she'll never see us coming!

Nalini: Well, figuratively speaking. Literally, I can't promise that about me.

[dangerousdevotion]

text » glorious leader

Juliere: She does. So do we.

Juliere: Don't get gutted. Will you need backup? The city needs you.

Juliere: Where do you think you could do the most damage and gain the most information, the dance floor or the lounge? Morgan has been slightly reticent with me lately, and this could be an incredible help.

Juliere: Whichever method you choose, I trust your judgment.

Nalini: Is this your way of worrying about me? I'm touched, Juliere. Touched.

Nalini: No backup, it's her terf, all the unknowns will just make them suspicious. I can handle them.

Nalini: I'm thinking both because I am a massive tease, which I'm sure you never expected of me because you just think so highly of me all the time.

Nalini: I also kinda wanna see how long I can play this out. How hilarious would that be?

[dangerousdevotion]

text » glorious leader

Juliere: By the Survivor's left nut DO IT.

Juliere: You see what you did? You made me blaspheme. Damn, I'm impressed.

Juliere: So am I to understand that the entertainment is...intimate? You've actually seduced Ferra Yomen, ruler of the Iron Syndicate?

Nalini: It's all in confidence with me, brother Lekal. Convenient confessional right here at this number!

Nalini: Even I have to admit it's a little exaggerated to suggest that I've already seduced her, but she made it /very/ clear that she wants to see me either on the dance floor or in her private lounge tonight.

Nalini: She clearly likes it when things go exactly her way and I'm so about to throw every wrench at her I can until she either guts me or pins me down 😏😏😏

[dangerousdevotion]

text » glorious leader

Juliere: So there's Luciel who sucks at cards, but you're way better looking than him, so...

Juliere: There's Garyne, but he was kind of a liability after he blew his cover.

Juliere: Dorian? But he's not at the back of my list. And Amelie...probably wouldn't care but I would (figuratively) kill you.

Juliere: On a scale of one to Ferra Yomen, how smug is your grin right now?

Nalini: SO smug. Possibly my most smug ever. She's so into me, Jules, it's possibly The funniest thing that's ever happened to me in my entire life

Nalini: I mean, obviously she's into me, look at me

Nalini: but Ferra Yomen invited me, personally, to her (Ferra Yomen's) club, to be personally and privately entertained. I almost wish I was making this up because it's just THAT good

Nalini: Talk me into or out of it, boss man.

[dangerousdevotion]

text » glorious leader

Juliere: Hah, my favorite priestess, the lush.

Juliere: So do I actually have to guess? Because it's probably going to take me a while to sort through every eligible human from the congregation, the other priests' congregations, the general citizenry of Elendel, literally every Pathist in the world, and lastly, the Sliverists.

Juliere: Wait.

Nalini: If the Survivor liked His fine wines, so too will I.

Nalini: You don't have to guess but if you were going to guess i'd say start from the back of that list. Like the last person you'd ever want. Ever.

Nalini: Besides Vala.

[dangerousdevotion]

text » glorious leader

Juliere: As long as their name doesn't start with "V" and end with "alarie" then you should definitely tell me.

Juliere: It sounds like SOMEONE is having a good Ascension Day.

Nalini: You think I'd flirt with Vala?

Nalini: Because honestly if I didn't know better I probably would, she's adorable, too innocent for this world

Nalini: How could I NOT have a good Ascension Day? I am literally doing the Lord's work. Which is easy, because his work involves a lot of wine.

[dangerousdevotion]

text » glorious leader

Nalini: Guess who I just ran into completely out of the blue

Nalini: Who is also totally into me and totally going to be under me before the weekend is out

Nalini: GUESS you're going to freak tf out

[dangerousdevotion]

valalekal

As Vala followed Nalini through the church, she felt an omnipotent smile upon her feelings and emotions. It was normal for Vala to feel as if someone, something was in the church guiding her hand to do what she could in the world. It wasn’t any wonder that she kept attending the church even after her upbringing. She loved it here, more than anything. The Survivor was her reason for everything.

“Are you sure,” Vala spoke slightly and watched the woman. “I’m all for indulging in the name of the Survivor.” She giggled modestly and allowed her shoulders to, once more, fall and relax. Valarie Morrigen Lekal couldn’t help the fact that she was raised by strict parents that forced her into functions that she didn’t want to attend. She couldn’t help that her allomancy was hard to control and that more often than naught, she felt like she would never be able to control it. What she could help, however, was how she felt in the moment, how she controlled her own actions. Her smile couldn’t be contained. “Have I told you today how much I love fireworks and champagne?”

Nalini cast an aghast look at Vala, playfully pretending to be offended by her words. “Am I sure? Me? Not sure of how to get your spirits up? Are you accusing me otherwise? That’s low, Vala, low. Doubting me, when all I’ve ever done is plied you with chocolate and made you endure bad movies...” She matched the girl’s laughter with her own only when her dramatics became too much even for her. Anything to further the trust between them, to continue proving to young Vala that she had a trusted confidante in her friend.

She led Vala through a door near the steps up to the altar dais, taking her beyond the public realm of the cathedral and into its belly, its more intimate living spaces--a simple kitchen and living room space, decorated only (though thoroughly) with things that alluded to the Survivor and His Way. “Make yourself comfortable.” Leaving Vala’s side and journeying to the fridge, Nalini unearthed her prized champagne from the freezer box with a wink and a devilish grin. “Tonight is going to be fun,” she sang, swiping two glasses from a cupboard and bringing her loot to Vala. “You just let me know if you still don’t feel right, and I’ll do whatever I can to make you feel better, okay? You more than anyone deserve a blessed holiday.”

[altruistic-elariel-blog]

“Oh, hello,” Morgan chimed, holding out a glass of champagne he’d just snatched from the bar. “And a happy Ascension day to you.”

[dangerousdevotion]

Happy didn’t quite describe what Nalini felt on days as divine as this, but she accepted the drink nonetheless, an inviting smile lighting up her face. “May yours be blessed, though I can’t imagine it’s been anything other than lovely thus far, knowing how you celebrate.” She batted her lashes, just to add to her conspiratorial tone. “Are you offering drinks to everyone, or just your good friends?” Was there a difference?

[dangerousdevotion]

nalini harms family template

Nalini: Deepika Padukone (31) Joseph Harms - Father: Amitabh Bachchan (74) Sarala Harms - Mother: Supriya Pathak (56) Stéphane Galland - Maternal Uncle: Sanjay Dutt (57)  Kajol Galland - Maternal Aunt: Moushumi Chatterjee (68) Mohan Harms - Sibling: Suraj Sharma (23) Roma Morin - Half-Sibling: Lisa Haydon (30) Sherin Morin - Half-Sibling: Janina Gavankar (36) Dion Harms - Sibling: Karan Brar (18) Francis Harms - Paternal Uncle: Irrfan Khan (50) Gemini Harms - Cousin: Ileana D’Cruz (30)  Bijou Harms - Cousin: Genelia D’Souza (29) Ashwin Harms - Paternal Uncle: Sendhil Ramamurthy (42)

[dangerousdevotion]

heartlikeiron

        IT WASN’T OFTEN she was met with an equal wit– which only made her more intrigued.  That alone was enough to send off red flags, but she suppressed her normal cause for alarm.  She hardly let herself have fun these days, let alone flirt with talk to a beautiful stranger.  It simply wasn’t productive.  If she wasn’t getting anything out of it, why bother?

“ I make it a practice not to be disappointing, sweetie. ” She stepped away from the stand to make room for those behind them all eager for their own drinks, coaxing the woman to follow with a wink over her shoulder.  “ I’m in the business not to be, anyway. ”  She extended a hand, though at this point it seemed an odd formality.  She wasn’t used to having to introduce herself.  Her name (and face) had been in the papers enough of late. “ Ferra Yomen. ”

The woman’s come-hither gaze made Nalini’s lips curl, which was all it took to break any hesitation she had against following her--this looked to be a fun chase. Who was really following whom had yet to be decided, and that was just part of the fun. “I’ll take your word for it, for now.” She stepped up beside the stranger, a little too close for decorum, near enough that Nalini had to tilt her chin to look up into her face. That, of course, required a slow sweep of her gaze across the valley of her collar, up the line of her neck, lingering just briefly over her lips...

The name Yomen sounded out like a cathedral bell and Nalini locked eyes with the woman, Ferra, realizing exactly who she was in that moment and yet...sensing an opportunity that lay beyond the initial reaction, the most obvious response, death to the sinners who must be purged by fire and all her usual. Now, without her robes or her sermons, Nalini was a nobody. She had ditched her family name long ago--as if the Harms mattered to anyone anyway--and nothing marked her as one of the Survivor’s blessed followers besides her gift. She was a knife poised on its edge, waiting to fall in either direction--or to cut.

Why not see how deep into the flesh of the Iron Syndicate she could sink herself, before the inevitable twist?

“Nalini Harms,” she said, turning her distaste for the name into a coy smile as she shook the offered hand (so soft, so elite, so deceptively fragile). “What business is that? Tonight my only business is pleasure and, well, you’ve already promised not to disappoint.”

[dangerousdevotion]

valalekal

Valarie knew that everyone came into the religion differently. Being a part of Survivorism made everyone’s struggles different, every person had a story to tell. Believing in the Survivor and knowing his strength meant knowing that there is strength in each and every person. To Vala, it meant the world to know that the people standing beside her, around her had this undeniable strength spawning from a shared belief. It was a beautiful thing to believe in something so strongly, to know how real life can be.

“I just feel like something is happening that I don’t know about, that something bad is going to happen and I’m not going to be able to stop it,” Vala was wringing her hands now. “I’m probably being crazy.” Vala smiled softly and calmed at the touch of Nalini. Sighing, Vala could feel the worry wash off of her. “I don’t know what it is, Priestess, but I can’t help but feel at ease with you. How happy I am to know that our shared belief brought us together.” Folding her arms around the woman’s shoulders, Vala collapsed herself. Breathing heavily for a moment before removing herself, Vala smiled again. “I have the strength of the Survivor. No matter what, it’ll be okay.”

Genuine sympathy slipped into Nalini’s smile when the poor girl before her worried herself into a small frenzy and then threw her arms around her in a hug; she returned the embrace, the wide sleeves of her robes--complete with mock-scars stitched up the length of the fabric--cocooning around her. “Poor Vala,” she said, a hint of playful teasing in her tone. “Just so full of emotions, you are. What are we going to do with you?” Meeting the girl’s smile with a grin, she slipped her hand under Vala’s arm and led her back up the cathedral steps with no hesitation.

“I know exactly what will cheer you up,” she said again, mischief alight in her eyes. It was no coincidence that inside the church was much safer than out, and Nalini was never one to dismiss Vala’s premonitions or feelings, but at the very least she could distract the girl from them if she seemed to want it. “Never doubt my ability to get us the absolute best spot for fireworks, but even better than that alone, I also have a very special bottle of champagne waiting in my room.” A bottle she had snatched from her parents not too long ago--therefore, one of her favorite possessions, and one she was desperate to crack open. “Shall we indulge ourselves, as the Survivor Himself would do?”