STRINGS

DEATH

[emiliaxhan]

Emilia appeared unsatisfied by his answer, but nonetheless unsurprised by the typical excuse that the realms called upon the gods to maintain proper balance. As the Weaver, she too strived toward shifting the pieces among the coven members and fulfilling duty, though, many unknowingly trusted her without understanding how powerful she truly was. Mil instantly felt the intrusion of another's abilities, brighter and stronger than anyone she ever allowed inside her mind. Death's power radiated through her veins strongly enough that she wanted to enjoy the moment. Instead, what touched the witch's gaze the moment she opened her eyes was glorious, breath-taking, and appropriately otherworldly. Strings, so many beautiful strings ebbing and flowing, the sound accompanying it like the angels above singing harmoniously. Emilia's hand nearly reached up to touch one, wanting to know what a life felt like. She wondered where hers was located, where Azriel was, or Kai's, what color they would appear. "I see it." She murmured with understanding. However, Emilia knew the beauty and peace would not last, after all, there is a reason why Death was showing her this. Showing her what happened after the rifts opened. The strings now doubled, tripled, representing every person who came from a different timeline. The Foxwood twins, Blair Baird, her cousin Cael, Nyrinn, nearly everyone who now resided in her home disrupted what should not have been tampered with. The sound of cries caused the woman to flinch, the unpleasantness sending chills along her spine. Too many emotions, too much anticipated dread, filled the witch and almost sent a pleading beg from her lips to stop him from touching Gianna's tangled string. "No, I wouldn't-" She shook her head repeatedly, but it was far too late. The break cut through the air and sent the ground quaking as if it trembled from the fear of Gi's connection to the Princes shattering. Or perhaps, that was her own fear taking root and burrowing into the dirt. Mil's eyes snapped up and shot all around her as the world she lived in disintegrated before the pair. This right here, this is what will happen because of her hubris. Lives perishing, realms ending, because of her and Ulric. Mil's palms pressed against her ears, eyes squeezing shut as she tried every method attempting to drown out the screams. "I never wanted to become the villain. This isn't who I am, I just wanted to help Ulric...and save Azriel." Give him back his sister, make him happy, they were excuses. Her attention found the god again, pleading etched into her expression. "Just make it stop. Make it stop."

[deaths-tapestries]

With a single snap of his fingers, the illusion dropped, the silence of his powers returning to him, filling the air around the witch, whereas it was something that he would always be subjected to until the error was fixed. "I have seen this timeline, where it would be by now had it not been for my brother's foolish mistake. The Foxwood girl would be well on her way to growing the lives within her that you were so willing to destroy her over, living happily with her Prince. Kai would have still been with my nephew. Azriel would have still been with Lust– even you would have found happiness that you have been neglected for so long." A silence stretched between the two of them, with his hands clasped behind his back once more. "Actions have consequences, Emilia. If you do not wish to be what you regard as a villain, then it would be best for you to remember that fact. While some actions are designed into the timeline... some are not, and it will end poorly as you saw with your own eyes." The god gave the witch a once-over, giving a small nod before disappearing into thin air. Only time would tell if the witch would heed his warning and stop her pursuit, but there would be nothing else he could do other than be hers, and every living mortal's, fear.

[emiliaxhan]

The man had to have known she would remain resolute in her endeavor, a justified plan saving what remained of that little boy Ulric lost long ago at the hands of his father. She truly did care about him, her part of the plan was not for her own selfish reason. Ric loved his mother more than she has ever seen a son love one of his parents. Her own were distant memories and left a hollow hole in her chest, it was easy to forget a time when they were here. "Some versions are just not meant to reach this timeline." Yes, Emilia knew the truth of that statement well. The evil side once taking possession of her body came from a world of chaos at her fingertips, treating mortals as mindless pets and her own family as royals. And then there is the now banished King Envy, leaving bodies in his wake and creating problems. "It must be a burden knowing we create these branches and add to your brother's many responsibilities, but just because it's the twins' destiny living in that timeline, still doesn't make it right. You and the gods like you hold the power to shift minor pieces that disrupt very little, yet, how can anyone be blamed for thinking you choose to do nothing?" Mil shook her head and slightly turned away, understanding what a waste of breath it is asking a question she wondered will be answered the same way. An effort not worth pursuing. The Weaver returned her attention back on Death, uncertain if she wished for such chaos, but it's what she signed up for. "You'd end those responsible." No, the consequence is more extreme. Permanent. Emilia couldn't consider the possibility right now. Instead, she nodded and slipped her eyes closed in anticipation. The anxiety coursing through was palpable, stomach-churning, but she stayed the course.

[deaths-tapestries]

Death stood patiently as the woman spoke and mulled over his words. He didn't have to answer, didn't have to justify. As a god, he was above the mortal existential crises and the ways emotions shape decisions, as it was meant to be. While the timelines were not truly his domain, culling the chaos when his brother could not was his alone, and sometimes explaining drove home the urgency. "Right or not, it is how it is supposed to be, and no. While we are gods, we do not have the power to shift as you so claim." The current mess was an example of such. His brother chose to disregard his duty to stop the resurrection, thus condemning them all. The god stepped forward, hovering his hands beside the witch's temples, willing a small portion of his abilities to flow from himself to the woman, not so much to cause irreversible damage, as a mortal cannot handle the true extent of his abilities, but to see what he could. Feel and hear what he could. "Open your eyes." His words were a gentle command, arms sweeping to the clearing around them. Now, decorating the space around Emilia were the strings that connected life to him, an almost endless number of colors singing the harmony that held the multitude of meanings mortals can have. Death missed the sound, the music calming and melodic. "What you see is the life of everyone in this timeline, witnessing the very friendships, relationships, and enemies they craft as they are meant to before they meet me in the afterlife. This was your timeline before the resurrection that disrupted everything." A snap of his fingers revealed what he saw now, more strings appearing from those that crossed through the rifts. Every relationship that broke, every friendship that began when it shouldn't have, every senseless death as a result outside of their fated tracks. The knotted and frayed strings snapped in real time, turning the once harmonious melody of the life tapestry into a discordant and woeful sound– as if the very timelines were screaming in his ears. "My brother may see that the timelines are falling apart, but I feel them. Every life from every timeline is part of me, and I am part of every living being. You believe saving Gianna by removing her memory from the Princes and vice versa is minor." His fingers flowed over the strings, Gianna's life string and that of the Princes glowing golden in the sunlight. They trembled as he gripped them tightly one by one, untangling them from one another as would be the result of what Emilia and the Foxwood boy had planned. The snapping was audible. While it was an illusion, it reflected what he knew would happen. The earth trembled below his feet, evidence of the very tapestry of life unwinding. "This is what you believed that even I, as a god, could do. Altering the course of life for any person, no matter how insignificant you may believe what you are changing to be, would have this reaction. Everyone has a role to play, a life to live, charted from the moment of their creation." The trembling grew louder, the shaking beneath their feet noticeable even as the two of them stood still in the illusion. Slowly, the world began to crumble and fall apart; screams were heard on the horizon as lives ended from the calamity. "This is what would happen if I do not hold those responsible. Anguish. Fear. Needless death for those who had long lives ahead of them. I am being reasonable, Emilia, in ending the timelines before this happens if you and your ilk who believe they can change the course of destinies do not back down."

[wanderingxjasper]

What choice did I have, really, with these idiots? I'm tempted to portal their brains through their assholes seeing as they're not using them.

[deaths-tapestries]

I may be inclined to allow you to do so. Idiots indeed.

[emiliaxhan]

"Is that a stated fact or a command?" Knowing the power Death possessed and what he could make rightful demands of, the truth was that it is both. Mil pressed her lips tightly together and picked up her pace again, reaching the familiarity of the street. "Why bother asking a question you know the answer to already?" She considered the consequences typically, patient as she was calculative. Emilia's eyes swept their surrounding curiously, the tall trees and foliage creating a canopy that could seem comforting, but reminded the witch she's trapped with a god. "You and the other gods abandoned Ulric and his sister, Death. Don't try justifying their torment as the way fate intended because even he and I know that's bullshit. Why did no one help but me? Why am I the only person to care about that boy and give him the happiness he was denied? You and your brother, Envy's subjects, his own brothers who were left, why did they turn a blind eye? The control over the timeline is not my job, as far as I'm concerned."

[deaths-tapestries]

His gaze cut to the woman on her question, knowing that she knew the answer. Both. Death listened to the witch with a patience that only he could muster out of the gods that were roaming around currently. It was his duty, the listener of the living's tales, in order to craft an appropriate afterlife. However, this time, he was listening to someone whose emotions for a young boy were clouding the greater understanding of the universe that no mortal should really have to grasp. "You, of all people, should remember that timelines are different for a reason. You have seen it first hand." He stopped in the clearing, allowing himself to bask in the sunlight for a moment before turning to Emilia. "Every conceivable thought and decision that a mortal has creates a diversion in time, a new timeline. It is an ever-growing structure that my brother controls. I will not spare your feelings or the twins' feelings by giving explanations you will not receive. The bottom line is that their timeline was the life they were supposed to lead, regardless of whether you believe it's 'bullshit'. They have had many losses, but they would also have had wins they will never experience again because of the collapse of the loom." The god walked away from the witch a few paces, simply observing the area. It was different from how he remembered, but its beauty remained, even if it was clouded by the continuing tangle of every string that was attached to him. The dissonance spelled doom that radiated on a subatomic level, the auditory evidence of the fracturing timeline. Strings were snapping like an overplayed violin, curling and rotting in a way they were never supposed to move. "The control is not your job, no. It's mine, and I will exercise said control if you do not stop this pursuit of helping Ulric Foxwood in meddling with his mother's mind and that of the Princes." He moved back to the witch once more, standing before her. "Close your eyes, and I will show you the true chaos under the surface that you and other mortals do not realize is there."

[timely-cronus]

I know you say such not out of jabbing humor, but it makes it no less true. I can't claim to know of fatherhood when my own children have grown without me there.

[deaths-tapestries]

I did say yet. You are an appropriate father in what was supposed to be our future for Tatiana and Alastor. Even one that is not of your own blood.

[emiliaxhan]

Emilia hesitated a moment before walking forward along the pathway, falling in step with the god while she gathered her courage and thoughts. Death isn't the first higher being she's encountered, but he was the most intimidating. The keeper of all life, the door through which everyone would pass. "A refusal is clearly the least of my worries." Mil halted at the same time the male had, parting her lips silently before speaking, "You are aware of a plan in motion involving me and Ulric Foxwood in order to save Gianna, as well as the Princes' memories. I made him a promise and I need to keep it." She frowned, "What else is it about then if not that?"

[deaths-tapestries]

Death watched the woman closely as she spoke, shaking his head slightly. "You're not saving anyone, Emilia." He continued walking once more, following the path down to the main street before he spoke once again. "It's partly that, yes, but if I were to tell you to stop, would you without knowing the ramifications of what you were truly doing?" The god offered rhetorically, tone even as he navigated to the clearing he knew was well within the coven's territory. It was the one he met Helena at, after all. "This isn't a promise you can keep without aiding in the unraveling of what little control over your timeline that we have left."

[blazinglyxseraphina]

Of course, the moments with our children are precious especially when your rat bastard of a husband ripped those away from you. I'm not bitter, just hoping you are the god making his suffering happen for eternity.

[deaths-tapestries]

Bitterness is a natural mortal emotion, and I would not blame you for holding such. I hold no control over what happens in the timelines as I do after people are taken into my realm, but I can assure you that he is receiving an apt punishment in his afterlife that he deserves for his choices.

[radiantlyxceleste]

What has troubled you now, my friend?

Not only that, I have yet to meet the darling babe of the hour.

[deaths-tapestries]

Mortals' freewill is always fascinating to watch until some of them make decisions that could impact the timelines, and it is quite tiresome.

She is currently sleeping, but you are welcome to look over her and hold her when she wakes.

[violetxjameson]

Sir does seem formal for someone who is technically my uncle by way of adoption, I guess. You're probably feeling the godly aura from my connection to your nephew and niece. They're my siblings.

An understatement. A boy who I understand to be Ulric and the one known as the Weaver are brewing a plan that involves Gianna, a...separation between her and the princes. A schism of forgetting, but I don't know how. I saw the goddess too, Bellora, she's growing her ranks. Her attention intertwining with that of the Hartley girl. I'm not certain what way.

[deaths-tapestries]

If they are your siblings, then you are my niece. No need for sir when Uncle will suffice if you wish to call me anything other than my name.

This iteration of Ulric Foxwood was never meant to leave his timeline, just as the others, but it is more pertinent to that family at the moment. All of them together are simply catalysts for the worst version of themselves; this timeline is not equipped to handle it if it is not rectified before it begins. As for Bellora, she will only feed off of this and attempt to wrest control. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will need to take care of this personally.

[charismaticallyxalastor]

Well, this seemed like something right up your alley and I wasn't about to bring the matter before my father. I understand being the son of a god and a part of our family means I have a role to play, but I'm not setting aside my date because somebody decided to fuck with the timelines again. Just because you don't take your girl on any, doesn't mean I will follow suit.

[deaths-tapestries]

Your father will still need to be apprised of the situation, Alastor, regardless of what you think he deserves to know or not. I am not saying you do not spend time with the Princess; simply, there is a time to do so, and now is not the time. For once, I would agree with my brother, since I know he would say the same, but that is where I would draw the line between us. You are allowed your relationships, but our duty is still our duty. That is why we are the gods, and they are not. My relationship with Helena is no different than what I am expecting of you, since the living with no blood of mine has no place in my realm, and I am there more often than not.

[timely-cronus]

Welcome to the joys of fatherhood mixed with the weight of our responsibility, brother.

[deaths-tapestries]

I do hope you know the irony in that statement, Cronus. You have not actually raised a child yet to enjoy fatherhood.

[wanderingxjasper]

You know it's fucked when I must involve myself into everyone else's bullshit.

[deaths-tapestries]

I figured you and your father would not be far behind with the newest developments, Jasper.

[sensiblyxmabel]

I'd hoped making my appearance known to you first before Mom might spare her the shock. I didn't come through the rift alone.

Not in the least. A little absent-minded, busy with your duties, but you're a loving father. A girl dad as it's known today. You taught me everything I know.

[deaths-tapestries]

I would say that was smart, but I believe your mother would say she could have handled it if she'd overheard me say such. Who did you cross over with?

I had... hoped that I would not prove the stigma of the gods abandoning their children accurate with you. Having a strained relationship is not what I wanted for you and I, even from before you were born.

[emiliaxhan]

He was only lenient due to certain distractions, but that's a subject for a different day.

I know when not to piss off a god by refusal just as I know what this is about.

[deaths-tapestries]

Death curtly nodded, gesturing to the winding path that he had taken to appear at the Weaver's home, clasping his hands behind his back as he began a slow walk. "Refusing a simple request is not the only way to disrupt the cosmos and anger the powers whose job it is to maintain said cosmos, Emilia." He stopped briefly to peer at the woman. "Why don't you explain to me in your words what you think this is about, and I will tell you what it is truly about, which I can guarantee you do not comprehend."

[divinely-helena]

I understand where they're coming from, though, I do not approve of their methods.

I asked Yasmin to bother me with it considering my family is at stake. Unless, of course, you think I do not have business in god affairs despite us sharing a daughter. What am I to you, Death, really?

[deaths-tapestries]

I did not mean for it to sound as though I am excluding you from matters of my realm, but merely that you require time to heal and should not be bothered by matters that I can very well handle. I know I am not well-versed in conversing with other beings, as I usually do not take this form long enough to worry about it. You matter more to me than perhaps even I understand, Helena. I am not curious about mortals before they cross into my realm, but I found myself going back to you and spending what time I could in your timeline. You are captivating, and I am sorry if there was a moment where you thought that now that Mabel is born, I would turn my back on you.

[divinely-helena]

As dedicated of a father as I'd hope you would be, Death. The work is never done.

Have you spoken with Violet yet?

[deaths-tapestries]

Especially not when people are determined to meddle in things they do not understand.

I have. Did someone bother you with all of this? You should be resting.

[violetxjameson]

I don't want to keep you from her for long, sir, but this is a matter of the life and demise of realms.

I had a multitude of visions concerning not just the goddess, but the Foxwood twins.

[deaths-tapestries]

Sir seems rather formal for someone who who gives off the aura of those who are in the presence of the gods for an extended amount of time.

I am aware of how problematic both of those options are. What are these visions you have seen?