☽ The Potionarium ☾

☿ Rp blog for Mona from Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, associated with Isola Radiale ☿

[gingkoapron]

@decantress has been added to the mailing list liked for a starter!

SpiraleFES was a perfect time to hustle and make some coin with game booths and attempts to bank on selling a feeling. There was no hustling on an empty stomach though and Redd was sure to take full advantage of the free barbecue dinner down by the Boardwalk, a conveniently short distance from where he’s been doing festive business. The fox is loading up his plate without shame when he spots a green-skinned woman he’s realizing he’s seen more than a few times at this tasty hand-out. Redd wasn’t one to forget folks and he knew when he saw her before she was the same dame that bought him sake that one time. Maybe… he should show some good will and return the favor. Also maybe if she’s out here doing the same thing he is she’d be open to some profitable ideas. Yeah, this could work.

He approaches her with a smile, tone chipper. “Hey hey~! Funny bumping into you again! What are ya doin’ here?”

[decantress]

Mona had come here to eat, not make friends. Counter-intuitive for sure but science was hungry work. She noticed the approaching fox long before he had called out, and she tactically delayed her response to the best of her abilities by stuffing her face. But there was no denying from his beeline that Redd was seeking to chat with her specifically. Was this about that whole sake business? She already resigned that money as a loss. What did he want? She feigned confusion, squinting and looking around as he spoke, conveniently blocking her view of the short fox Redd with her plate loaded down with an excessive pile of barbecue. “Who~ said that?? Hmmm...” She took another bite. But he continued waiting patiently, intent. Mona let out a quick sigh and collected herself, deciding to at least see what he wanted. Maybe that would make him go away sooner. And if he did not, she could always just pay him to shuffle off. He seemed to like money. She adjusted her plate and looked down. Feigning the most genuine surprised face she could muster, then placing her free hand on her hip, she leaned down to be at eye level with Redd. “Oh it's you! Well, ~funny~ running into you here! Is this about the.. sake? Did you and your -cousin- enjoy yourselves? That's great. Well look at the time,” She pulled out her phone to check the time but it was off, “I should go get some more food!”

[alphabetofscars]

Though the hour is easily a night one, dusk is only now settling over Spirale, summer time stretching the sun’s rays as long as it can. A tall figure in a tattered crimson robe, clutching what resembles a scythe, is marching steadily down the street. The dreadful omen is far preceded by the sounds of their entourage. Behind them trail five skeletons, each clutching an instrument in their thin digits. A tarnished trumpet wails discordantly though no lungs blow into it. A triangle chimes the pace in a one-two fashion. An old violin in dire need of new strings offers a strained melody, periodically screeching over the same few notes. A child’s xylophone backs up the triangle with teetering dings, dancing up and down its metal plates. Finally a tambourine splashes its own rhythm into the cacophony. The skeletons’ song is almost, almost coherant.

[decantress]

Her newest potion was a delicate one of unknown effect, necessary to complete the month-long brewing at sunset of a waxing crescent moon, with minimal disturbances. The golden glow of the evening sun filtered through the shuttered blinds, refracting off of the prismatic liquid and casting rainbows through Mona's plant filled room, filling her with anticipation she had not felt in a long time. She readied her pipette, careful not to shake her work desk at all, drawing up with the final ingredient; the morning dew collected from (hundreds of) amanita muscaria. She steadied her hand, hopeful that yesterday was the last she would hear from him... But from down the street, she heard it. The nightly march. The wail of the trumpet. The dreadful violin. Xylophone. Again. It had been weeks. Why tonight? Why? How long did he plan to keep this up? Eternity? Maybe it was not too late. But Mona could feel the march vibrating through her floor. Panicked, she looked back to her potion, which ceased its glow, returning to its dull natural state of plain water. Every bit of joy or any emotion at all vanished from her face. She snatched up the crystal vial and eyed it carefully. Inert. She moved to the window, just in time to watch a flash of scarlet robes, Specter Knight, wielding his scythe like a baton, jovially leading his band through their nightly parade. She could hardly believe she had ever danced with such an ostentatious dead man... cat. She drank the vial and sighed, closing the blinds. It was good water.

[decantress]

[i’m gonna go hide in my cave again goodbye friends]

[alphabetofscars]

Savino’s heart pounded in his chest, his dark fur bristling uncomfortably beneath his armor. Slowly, his pointed ears eased from being folded flat against his head. His claws retracted. Bright slit eyes gazed down at the corpse lying at his feet.

Keep reading

[decantress]

After her latest two week long working binge, Mona decided to go out for an evening stroll (to steal cuttings from local flora). Strangely though, she noticed an abundance of unattended children in the city tonight, but thought nothing of it. Nothing was normal around here so she had to quickly learn to develop a thick skin to the oddities. She shrugged it off and enjoyed the sunset walk, intent upon a nearby azalea bush in full bloom. She looked left and right and saw nobody. Pulling a pair of shears from the extra pocket of her new favorite pair of pants, she swiftly clipped a green branch and a flower and stuffed the shears and branch back into the already full pocket, while tucking the pink flower behind her ear. A more successful haul than she expected on such a boring night like this one. A nearby door exploded outward into the street, splinters falling onto the porch while she briefly saw a leg retreating away from view back into the townhouse. An excessively tall and shadowy figure immediately followed, clad in a familiar looking suit of armor, though she could not figure out where she had seen it before. He looked in her direction but did not seem to notice her presence. Though when he did turn she could see that it was the face of a cat. A very distressed looking cat... man. He stopped where he was, as if he could not decide what to do with himself. Mona considered her options. Usually interfering with a situation with the residents of Spirale this would mean trouble. But then again, she was very bored. Maybe he was hurt and could make use of a local alchemist. Maybe he was in the wrong house and needed directions. It didn't seem like there was anyone else around to help so it might as well be her. She just wished she knew where she had seen that armor before. “Hey. Are you okay?” No response. She took a few steps forward. Mona was used to being taller than a lot of her peers, but this cat towered over her. The closer she got, the more intimidating his stature became, as if his mere presence was a judgment in itself. She could more clearly decipher the look of horror and distress painted across the cats face. “Are you hurt? Do you need me to whip up a potion really quick? I don't have any of my lab equipment but...” He seemed to freeze at those words. She could feel the silent anger of his side-eye. She stopped approaching. That cape. Those greaves. She knew that armor now. But there was no way. Specter Knight? THE Specter Knight? What's with his... face! But it occurred to her that she had never seen his face before. In fact nobody she knew of had ever seen his face before, though she made a mental note to ask Propeller Knight later if he knew anything about the feline tendency of his comrade. “Specter... Knight??? Is it really you? What happened to you?”

[gingkoapron]

decantress said: 🍶

Redd lets out a chuckle at the pleasant surprise. “So does this mean you’re buying? If ya need an occasion it’s one of my cousins’ birthday today.”

[decantress]

“Is that how this works now? Sure I’ll buy. Unless… you wouldn’t happen to be lying about that cousin of yours, would you, mister fox man?”

[gingkoapron]

“I would never lie about my cousins! Sure, I got a lot of cousins but each and every one has a spot in ol’ Redd’s heart.”

[decantress]

“I believe you. Take my money and send that cousin of yours my regards.” (doesn’t believe him)

[rp-meme-glaceon]

Force my Muse to Spill their Secrets

🌧- For a heavy, emotional secret

🙃- For a lighter, slightly embarrassing secret

🌟- For a secret wish or desire of theirs

🍏- For something they secretly wish didn’t exist

🍎- For something they secretly wish did exist

❤️- For a secret crush

📲- Talk about someone/something you dislike, but only pretend to like

👁‍🗨- Talk about someone/something you like, but pretend to dislike

🍻- For something bad/mischievous you did as a child or teen that your parents don’t know about

🌜- For a ‘weird’ habit or tic that no one knows about

💃- For a talent that they like to keep hidden from others

🏹- For a talent they wish they had

👻- For something that scares or disturbs them, but they refuse to tell anyone

☢️- For a controversy or scandal they have been able to keep mostly under wraps

🐇- For a secret item they keep (stuffed animal, comfort object, etc)

📒- For a secret journal/diary they keep (Bonus: Share an entry from it!)

📔- For a secret sketchbook they keep (Bonus: Share a sketch or doodle within it!)

🖤- For something they secretly wish they could do with your muse

❓- Free Space! Ask them about a specific secret!

[gingkoapron]

decantress said: 🍶

Redd lets out a chuckle at the pleasant surprise. “So does this mean you’re buying? If ya need an occasion it’s one of my cousins’ birthday today.”

[decantress]

“Is that how this works now? Sure I’ll buy. Unless... you wouldn’t happen to be lying about that cousin of yours, would you, mister fox man?”

[rosy-rpmemes]

Random headcanon meme!

[firstgemboy-citta-blog]

giraffys-rpmemes;

⍤ : What does your muse’s voice sound like? Is it light? High pitched? Scratchy? Deep? 

✍ : What is your muse’s handwriting like? Is it neat? Sloppy? Fancy?

☕ : Does your muse prefer coffee or tea?

⌚ : Is your muse good with keeping on schedule for meetings, appointments, or events, or are they always late? Or, are they always a bit early?

♿ : Has your muse had any injuries in the past?

☺ : What is your muse’s smile like? Do they smile often?

⚡ : How does your muse feel about storms? Are they afraid of them, or do they calm them?

⚠ : How does your muse react to possibly dangerous situations? Do they face them head-on, or do they plan out their actions first?

☃  : What is your muse’s favorite season? What about their least favorite season, if they have one? 

☂  : Does your muse like rain?

☼ : Does your muse like daytime or nighttime more?

🏨  : How well does your muse sleep?

❤ : What are your muse’s thoughts on love? If they are not in a relationship, do they believe that they will ever find a perfect someone for them?

☘ : Does your muse believe in luck? How about fate?

⚯ : Does your muse have good eyesight? If not, what is it like? Are they nearsighted or farsighted? Or both? Do they use glasses? Or do they prefer contacts?

👓 : If your muse wears glasses, what are their glasses frames like?

♨ : Does your muse have good table manners? How do they feel about bad table manners?

❀ : What is your muse’s opinion about flower crowns?

♬ : Does your muse sing well? Regardless of whether they sing well or not, do they enjoy singing?

📐 : Is your muse good at math? Do they like it, or do they hate it?

♞ : What is your muse’s favorite animal?

εїз : How does your muse feel about bugs and insects?

📱 : Does your muse prefer calling or texting?

☆ : Of the sun, stars, and the moon, which is your muse’s favorite?

ツ : Does your muse prefer lots of friends, or just a few close ones?

✝ : Is your muse religious?

[decantress]

It had been a few weeks since the destruction of Spirale.  Mona stood awkwardly in a coffee shop, holding a bag of clothes that she did not know if she would wear, waiting for her order to be called. It was crowded so she did not feel too out of place. She had woken up that morning mysteriously having been moved a block over from her original townhouse, room somehow intact. This final straw brought on a sudden epiphany that she hated the Stars. It was time to look for something new to do besides fall into old habits, or else they might continue to taunt her from their lofty repose. For once she decided to forego her research and set out into the city where other people existed, locating a new notebook and pen for scribbling ideas, and then spending an unreasonable amount of time pondering new outfit choices. In the end she walked out wearing pants with pockets on the legs (for carrying extra stuff she figured), and a floral print button down shirt. It was better than continuing to wear her old singed clothes that she arrived wearing. Her hair was getting longer than she preferred, hanging over her shoulders and getting into her eyes. Not too bad yet, she hoped.

“Mm-ona..?” A voice called out from behind the counter, setting a drink down with the others and returning to her work completing the rest of the orders for the lunch rush. Hearing her name called by a cute barista snapped her out of her cursed introspection. The people behind the counter reminded her a bit of herself when she was working in a good flow, the kind she had not experienced in months. Hair fell over her eyes as he reached down to pick up the drink, one of several that had been placed on the counter. She found an empty table with two chairs and dropped her things, pulling out her new notebook. Opening the blank book up to write the date at the top of the page, she realized she had no idea when any of this was. She took a sip from the drink, realizing too late that this was not scalding black coffee. She wasn't even sure this was coffee. She squinted at the name written on the cup and realized it was not even hers... She shrugged and took another sip. She scrawled at the top of the page: Friday, week ten.

[aerialcorsaire]

decantress‌:

“If that’s what you want to call it. Lively turn of events is just a polite way of saying we got used.“

She smiled with ironic delight as Propeller Knight scrutinized the contents of bottle. She didn’t blame him. Most of the things that could actually be in that bottle would tend to cause a minor case of death. But she felt grateful nonetheless as he showed enough trust to reveal his well traveled face and drink what could be poison despite all his prior experiences.

The shuffling of the crew sounded below as last of the lanterns were extinguished . They sat, a peaceful darkness enveloping them as the clean atmospheric breeze blew past. Though the peace was not likely to last for long, and she was not able to appreciate such a vantage point as she normally would have. The Flying Machine could bring them to the island as quickly as they wished, but they had a long day and it was time for rest. Propeller Knight motioned to return the bottle but Mona waved it away and summoned another for herself. He shrugged and continued to sip.

The ease with which they could travel begged an important question. Could they not just fly home? They had their powers back. Did they really need to be doing this? But deep down she already knew. He was already home on the Flying Machine. And there was no going back for her. For now at least. So she lowered her eyes to her tea and decided on saying the next closest thing to her heart.

“We should do this again sometime. When things aren’t so.. lively.”

“It is the closest to the adventure and thrill I have lived before coming here! A bit of danger puts a fire to your feet, does it not? Don’t tell me you do not enjoy a little bit of thrill, Madame Mona?” His teasing was delivered with a playful air before he turned his attention skyward towards where he assumed the floating island was past the cloud. “Well, I could do without the backstabbing, even if I could see it coming.”

Propeller took another swig of the drink as she spoke before quickly responding to her suggestion with a delighted hum.

“There wouldn’t be a greater prize for surviving this then the honor of sharing another moment with you. I shall look forward to it!”

[decantress]

Mona finished the rest of her tea and threw the bottle over the railing behind her. She also briefly considering throwing Propeller Knight over the railings as well for somehow being the most charming bastard she had ever met. But then there would be nobody to pilot the ship. Maybe she could ask one of the skeletons... “Thrill huh? If mindless danger is how you get your thrills then suit yourself.” She smiled and shook her head, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, unsure of whether she liked or despised this man. Though somehow she was surprisingly unphased from being called Madame. “I can think of a lot of things more thrilling than throwing explosives at my friends and neighbors,  Monsieur Propeller. If we survive this then next time I'm picking the itinerary, oui?” She felt mechanical life humming somewhere in the depths of the Flying Machine. The word If lingered in her mind. She began to wonder how much she would be willing to give a just to wake up in her own bed again, but decided against entertaining those thoughts.

[decantress]

Which Flower Are You? Nymphaeaceae (water lily) A family of plants that flower atop bodies of water. They are the favourite food of water lily beetles, which 'bounce' on the water's surface to travel between lilypads. Introspective, eccentric, bright. You are enchanted by strange, unknown things. Whether you like it or not, your mind constantly froths with ideas and scattered thoughts. People are fascinated by your worldview and want to hear more, but you can't always find the words you need. You value your boundaries and thus respect others' as well. You can be trusted with secrets. The prospect of letting someone into your space is frightening--you are wary of what they might uncover.

[aerialcorsaire]

decantress‌:

Closed Starter for @aerialcorsaire

———————— A  blackout had enveloped the city in uncharacteristic darkness as Mona returned to the decks of the Flying Machine piloted by Propeller Knight. The final wire had been cut. Somewhere far above, even beyond the limitations of the vessel, a floating island had appeared, eclipsing the stars themselves and obscuring the light that remained. In this dead of night she walked, illuminated only by the lanterns of the ship as the crew of skeletons gifted by Specter knight clattered about preparing to make way towards a new destination. A voice began to boom over the phone tucked up her sleeve, an event she had grown far too used to by this point. It told her she wasn’t dreaming, that GPU will destroy everything. She tuned this voice out. The skeleton crew parted before her at her approach as the voice continued to echo truths she understood from the beginning and chose to ignore. Somewhere below engines stirred, and the vessel began to lumber forward, once again called to defend the city. A call she would heed this time. She relished the wind in her hair and the feeling of freedom it instilled. Though, she had returned a failure. A failure covered in soot and dust of her own explosives turned against those she had briefly considered her neighbors and kin. She brushed off this dust as she walked. She was a failure to her deceitful masters who promised power and freedom, a failure to her new friend who welcomed her aboard as if she was not a monster, and mostly a failure to herself for sinking so low just to feel a bit of control. Her allegiance to the Null had been meaningless, as they now intended to destroy the entire city regardless of those that had chosen to help them. There was no promise fulfilled. Only destruction. And she fully intended to pay them back for using her as a pawn. Propeller knight stood straight, hands at ease upon the wheel, unbothered by the turmoil of the city below him. They briefly made eye contact at her arrival, and he nodded low towards her. His pleasantries never failed to bring the slightest blush to her face which she was thankful the night obscured. He seemed at home to be piloting his machine, a feeling she envied just a bit. She walked over and leaned on a nearby railing, unclasping her tattered cape and allowing it to billow to the floor. A nearby skeleton quickly grabbed it and took it away below deck. She summoned a potion to each hand. The first was a bright red health potion in a lavish crystal vial, which she downed immediately, shivering at the sickly sweetness and tossing the container over her shoulder towards the ground below. The other, a plain bottle filled with earthy liquid, she sipped gratefully. Tea, black, unsweetened. She extended the rest to Propeller Knight, insistent upon offering whatever she could for his hospitality. It had been a long week for both of them.

Propeller had heard the news from his own phone, tucked safely away in his jacket. Despite knowing this would be an inevitable outcome, it still put a bit of a sour taste in his mouth. Oh well, he got what he wanted from this one sided arrangement and he was going to milk it for all it was worth. With his guest safely onboard, he steered the Flying Machine towards a nearby cloud bank before setting it to idle slowly beneath in it’s foggy cover with a practiced sequence of lever pulls. Best to avoid the open air while everyone is gathering their bearings and preparing for what is yet to come.

He turned his attention briefly towards his makeshift crew. They could never replace his own, but for what these gaggle of bones were, they did their jobs. “I want those lights snuffed! This cover means nothing if we shine like a beacon underneath it!”

Satisfied with the stir of movement at his orders, Propeller retired back from his position at the helm to where Mona had taken to. He smiled beneath his helm as he accepted the gift she offered before taking the spot next to her to overlook the darkened city below.

“Well, this has been a rather lively turn of events, has it not?”

The Sky Captain’s voice held an air of humor to it as his swirled the contents of the bottle with a hidden scrutiny. If his time with Plague Knight taught him anything it would be not to immediately drink whatever an alchemist hands you. He’d swear that strange little man could drink straight poison and be better for it. But this wasn’t Plague or any of his minions. Sweeping aside his brief air of caution, he pulled down the mask under his helm that covered his nose and mouth to take a swig. The taste of tea left him pleasantly surprised at least.

[decantress]

“If that's what you want to call it. Lively turn of events is just a polite way of saying we got used.“ She smiled with ironic delight as Propeller Knight scrutinized the contents of bottle. She didn't blame him. Most of the things that could actually be in that bottle would tend to cause a minor case of death. But she felt grateful nonetheless as he showed enough trust to reveal his well traveled face and drink what could be poison despite all his prior experiences. The shuffling of the crew sounded below as last of the lanterns were extinguished . They sat, a peaceful darkness enveloping them as the clean atmospheric breeze blew past. Though the peace was not likely to last for long, and she was not able to appreciate such a vantage point as she normally would have. The Flying Machine could bring them to the island as quickly as they wished, but they had a long day and it was time for rest. Propeller Knight motioned to return the bottle but Mona waved it away and summoned another for herself. He shrugged and continued to sip. The ease with which they could travel begged an important question. Could they not just fly home? They had their powers back. Did they really need to be doing this? But deep down she already knew. He was already home on the Flying Machine. And there was no going back for her. For now at least. So she lowered her eyes to her tea and decided on saying the next closest thing to her heart. “We should do this again sometime. When things aren't so.. lively.”

[decantress]

Closed Starter for @aerialcorsaire

------------------------ A  blackout had enveloped the city in uncharacteristic darkness as Mona returned to the decks of the Flying Machine piloted by Propeller Knight. The final wire had been cut. Somewhere far above, even beyond the limitations of the vessel, a floating island had appeared, eclipsing the stars themselves and obscuring the light that remained. In this dead of night she walked, illuminated only by the lanterns of the ship as the crew of skeletons gifted by Specter knight clattered about preparing to make way towards a new destination. A voice began to boom over the phone tucked up her sleeve, an event she had grown far too used to by this point. It told her she wasn't dreaming, that GPU will destroy everything. She tuned this voice out. The skeleton crew parted before her at her approach as the voice continued to echo truths she understood from the beginning and chose to ignore. Somewhere below engines stirred, and the vessel began to lumber forward, once again called to defend the city. A call she would heed this time. She relished the wind in her hair and the feeling of freedom it instilled. Though, she had returned a failure. A failure covered in soot and dust of her own explosives turned against those she had briefly considered her neighbors and kin. She brushed off this dust as she walked. She was a failure to her deceitful masters who promised power and freedom, a failure to her new friend who welcomed her aboard as if she was not a monster, and mostly a failure to herself for sinking so low just to feel a bit of control. Her allegiance to the Null had been meaningless, as they now intended to destroy the entire city regardless of those that had chosen to help them. There was no promise fulfilled. Only destruction. And she fully intended to pay them back for using her as a pawn. Propeller knight stood straight, hands at ease upon the wheel, unbothered by the turmoil of the city below him. They briefly made eye contact at her arrival, and he nodded low towards her. His pleasantries never failed to bring the slightest blush to her face which she was thankful the night obscured. He seemed at home to be piloting his machine, a feeling she envied just a bit. She walked over and leaned on a nearby railing, unclasping her tattered cape and allowing it to billow to the floor. A nearby skeleton quickly grabbed it and took it away below deck. She summoned a potion to each hand. The first was a bright red health potion in a lavish crystal vial, which she downed immediately, shivering at the sickly sweetness and tossing the container over her shoulder towards the ground below. The other, a plain bottle filled with earthy liquid, she sipped gratefully. Tea, black, unsweetened. She extended the rest to Propeller Knight, insistent upon offering whatever she could for his hospitality. It had been a long week for both of them.

[decantress]

Pt 2

Of course at this hour, there was nobody familiar on the other end of Mona’s phone to call, but in the dark mirror of the screen she saw only herself. Left alone with the words of the stranger from earlier. Promises of freedom, and power. They called themselves the Null. She was a stranger in a strange land herself though, one who hadn’t yet learned to trust this city or the people in it. All she had was this stranger’s promises and some potted plants.

She resented being thrust into an unfamiliar world and once again told her place by the powers that be, ultimately with nothing more than a vague hello. Instructed to survive under someone else’s laws, someone else’s money. She was shown where to live and the things she was good enough to own. Where she could go and the people she was allowed to talk to. Be good, and she’ll be given a larger chemistry set soon. Maybe. That night after the earthquake, looking up at the moon and her distorted and blackened reflection, with the booming echo of the promise bouncing around her head, she realized the futility of it all. She gently slid her phone back up her sleeve. She knew. She missed her lab and all those townsfolk who looked at her weird. She missed carving out her existence with her own merit. She missed her dumb job and the annoying customers. She missed the unhindered sleepless nights of study and discovery. She wanted freedom. Whoever the Null were, she had full confidence that they were no good. But was Mona good either? She wanted to be. So badly. But she had always been the other, and over the years it left her broken. Chaotic and tired. But strong. Willing to do whatever it took to live. Maybe goodness was only a matter of perspective. And after all, the better the alchemist... And true to the words spoken in their broadcast, as her heart made it’s decision, she once again felt the unceasing connection to her lab and potion stock back home. Home. Freedom. She stretched out her hand and willed a potion into existence. As promised, it appeared. A tear rolled down her cheek as she stared at her work. Because this wasn’t good. No. No this was bad. And maybe she was too for what she was about to do. But she had her instructions. There were wires. The Null needed these wires. Simple. She knew what was expected of her. And she knew her antagonists would not have their powers. And she felt sorry for them. But maybe, maybe she’d find a friend. Someone like her. She threw the potion at her feet, eager to feel them leave the ground once again. And as the explosion catapulted her through the air once more, the feigned exhilaration stood only to mask the hatred she felt towards her own decision. But she knew what to do

[alphabetofscars]

decantress‌:

Mona hovered near the refreshments with names she could not even pronounce, watching the sea of dancers, bodies moving as one, hers not among them. She figured she could eat for free and then make a scene and get kicked out once she grew bored enough. It would be of no real loss to her. She was used to not belonging. Still though, in the back of her heart she felt a pang of loneliness and regret. Dancing the waltz was a passion of hers. One she regrettably only ever practiced alone… or with people who later ended up hurting her. It took a lot to draw her out of her solitude, to put herself out there again, thinking maybe if she had the courage, that tonight she could finally dance with someone else who appreciated doing so just as much as she did. Though at this rate it seemed like maybe she would have been better off tending to her growing collection of plants and researching recipes for her first batch of new potions. Mona grabbed a glass of champagne from the platter of a wandering server who gave her disdainful a look as if she should not be there. She wanted to give them a rude gesture with her finger, but decided against it. She knew she should not be there, because she had already figured it out the moment she entered the high-ceiling, marble-floored room, moonlight shining through vaulted windows trimmed and shining with golden art-deco motifs. This place was above someone like her, and so were these people. But she had come too far to back out by then. The invitation was an open one after all. Though after a certain point she began to feel as if the waltz invitation being open was more of a formality, that she could be there, they would not ask her to leave, but she was not welcome. She felt that she should have gone somewhere else, somewhere in the lower levels, somewhere with people like her. Who among these suit or gown wearing wearing rich folks would want to dance with her anyway? The heavy gilded door on the far side of the room opened, allowing a new wave of guests to enter. She sipped her drink to watch as more dime-a-dozen suits with dates walked in, however one stood taller than the rest. She felt her heart drop as she noticed their red hood, and choked on her drink a bit when she heard the unmistakable clatter of metal on stone as he walked. It was the same apparition who had chased her from the Lich Yard whenever she had risked collecting ectoplasm and graveyard soil for her experiments, Specter Knight. What was he doing here? And why was he walking? People turned their heads as he walked forward, but he paid their opinions no mind. Had he heard she would be there, here to exact revenge to a longstanding grudge? She grabbed a handful of cocktail shrimp from the refreshment table then slunk to the back of the crowd.

There existed only one course of action to acquire a partner and that was to start asking. The lich set his steps to the cadence of the waltz as he crept to the nearest throng of idle partygoers. Once within range, he bent into a bow, gracefully unfurling his skeletal arm to beckon. Specter Knight peered up from his reduced position, letting his voice drag ragged on its way out from his throat. “Dost thou dance with Death tonight?” The lich remained poised until the group shuffled away. None had taken his hand. Drawing himself back up to his full height, he stalked to the next target and the next. Repeating this theatric display, searching for a partner but reveling no less in his rejection. The distaste at his grotesqueness now a twisted pleasure, rather than another grain of irritation.

An older lady whose dress rivaled a chandelier swatted his offered digits with a fan before turning away. He made no move to react, straightening once again and resuming his performance. A petite person in a mask tittered nervously at his query, slipping into the crowd with a nimbleness he could not match. A daring young man almost took his hand, his friend intervening before their palms could seal the deal. What a shame it was! But Specter Knight had no complaints. After all, he was no mere actor, his appearance no costume. The hand he offered was not of the living. Cold, skin preserved and leathery, each knuckle of his phalanges a stark protuberance, decayed muscles leaving his wrist knobby and far too thin for a man his height. 

The reaper’s dauntless search brought him to the refreshment tables, then beyond. As he rose from yet another turned down invitation, he caught sight of what he realized was a familiar figure. That strange trespasser. Would she possess the same aversion as all the other people he had propositioned this evening? She had dared to enter his graveyard multiple times. Surely this woman had guts. He moved towards her, dipped down into that bow, arm once more unfurled, fingers gently beseeching. “Dost thou dance with Death tonight?” dredged from the depths of his helmet as he looked to her face for an answer.

[decantress]

Though she had plenty of time to avoid him, she knew a confrontation would be inevitable, as it would be impossible to leave unnoticed. And at least if this went bad, she could probably outrun him. And maybe it would be funny. So she had decided to wait, enjoying her stolen refreshments while giggling at the reactions of the other party-goers. “Gimme a sec,” Mona said, holding up a finger as a signal to wait. She shoved the last of the shrimp into her mouth to stall, shocked at the calmness of this lich’s offer. Specter Knight remained frozen, expectant, a reaction to her presence very dissimilar to the ones she received while plundering the depths of his graveyard. She couldn’t stall forever though. She could feel whatever was under that helmet looking up at her, patiently, and she almost wanted to chuckle at the mess she had gotten herself into. This was somehow worse than being chased by hovering wrath wielding a scythe, and that made it so much better. She wiped her hand on her leg and downed the last of her champagne and tossed it over her shoulder at the wall where it shattered audibly. If people weren’t staring at Specter Knight before, they were now. Dancing with Death felt like a preferable alternative to the judgement of high society. She sighs. “Don’t disappoint me,” She says, taking his hand, unsuccessfully gazing into the darkness within Specter Knight’s helmet. His grip was surprisingly assured for a dead man.

[decantress]

Pt 1: Security Breach

Another sleepless night. The city was quiet, but loud, the kind of noise where the life never seems to fully rest. Somehow Mona missed the quiet isolation underground, but much more-so she missed the constant whirring of machinery and bubbling of large batches of potions in her old lab. The restful sleep she experienced upon first arriving in Isola slowly faded to a new kind of restlessness. Whereas before she used to spend her nights pouring over her studies, these days she felt limited, like her wings were clipped. Forced to brew small batches with insufficient equipment with whatever few ingredients she could manage to get ahold of, the vain attempts to rebuild her personal library, the dissatisfaction sequestered her mind into boredom, and soon anxiety. And she began to resent her new unseen masters for these limitations imposed upon her. But part of her didn’t blame them. Explosions were messy, and she was good at making messes. Mostly, she just wished something would happen. Something interesting. She stared up at the cloudless sky, the moon glittered in the swirling orange liquid in her retort. She sighed. It was all so nice here. So calm. So.... domesticated. She sparked a burner to life. The blue flame filled her with hope, that maybe this next batch would yield something a little bit more... volatile. As the solution began to bubble and smoke, she noticed an unintended reaction. It was shaking. In fact, her entire desk was shaking. She looked under it for the cause, to no avail, then looked back to her hanging plants. They were shaking too. Then her whole room was shaking. Violently. She pinched the bridge of her nose and moved to cap her burner, barely extinguishing the flame before helplessly watching her latest work roll from her desk and shatter onto the floor, sparking and igniting immediately. She smiled maniacally. She knew it would work, but, she didn’t really have time to be proud of herself. She stamped it out under her foot, almost gleeful about the singed spot on the carpet, and scooped up her potted mugwort, making a mental note to write down this recipe once the ground decided to cool it. She slid down the banisters and walking through her shaking townhouse toward the door, unphased by the noise of shattering dishes and tumbling furniture. After all, finally, something was happening, right? She stumbled through the front door with a flare of her cape, placing her plant gently to the side of the porch, and then floated against the shaking ground to a safe distance away from any structures to a patch of grass. Then she simply lied down, cushioning her head with her gloved hands, staring up at the sky. The moon was still bright, shining unperturbed onto the chaos below. What a joke, she chuckled. And she waited until the shaking subsided. Which, eventually it did. She didn’t know how long it shook. She didn’t know the city was built over a fault line. Seemed like an oversight to her, but maybe this was not a regular occurrence. But an air of uncertainty had replaced the peace of that night. The city seemed quiet-quiet now. Really quiet. Listening for what comes next. She wondered if anyone else felt the same way she did, or if they were afraid. She supposed she should check her phone. Maybe somebody knew else what was going on. The device seemed like the best way to find these things out.

[decantress]

[[oof, past few weeks have been garbage, gonna........ get back to this like nothing even happened i suppose]]