Fiendish Fae

99 & Living Large || Aquire

Aquata assumed he meant Ren— honestly, that wasn't a bad idea. Family was family and all. The Ambrosiuses had a pretty big, nice house. What was one more?

"I mean, you could. That's what I did when I needed a roommate but didn't know who to live with, I moved in with my sister," Aquata said with a shrug. "Who lives with her fiancé, now, by the way, so she's absolutely not an option. In case you were getting any ideas."

@fiend-ofthefae

Briar made a face. Martin was fun to play with, but the little sister and Ren would dampen the fun tremendously.

"You should know by now that taking favors from the fae never ends up well, Dewdrop. For anyone." He ended with the minuscule sadness he felt barely tingeing his voice. "Don't worry, after that twitter fiasco with the little one I want nothing to do with your family."

@aquata-the-champ

99 & Living Large || Aquire

"What kind of information would they need? I'll be gone half the time anyway!" He really didn't see what would matter to the mortals. He didn't have pets, didn't have ragers, didn't even plan on staying in the common areas or tormenting them. "D'you really think a photo would help? Like, people will want to live with me because I'm attractive? I don't even really have a fake job, what did I tell you I did? Family business?" He took his flyer down and examined it, noting how blank it seemed compared to the others on the board. "And I'm not a weirdo, I just don't conform to your 'normal'."

@aquata-the-champ

"See, only a weirdo would say that," Aquata said, rolling her eyes. Unfortunately, she did still, for some reason, feel sort of bad for Briar. Not that she was ever going to admit that.

She crossed her arms impatiently. "Look, do you want my advice or not? Because you're the one who came and asked me." Maybe he was dragging this out because he liked arguing with her, but Aquata didn't have all day.

@fiend-ofthefae

He mimicked her stance, crossing his arms and scowled. “Well, I’m just telling you that your advice might not work for someone who isn’t exactly a citizen of this country let alone *realm*.”

“My cousin got lucky that their little boyfriend took them in. And I am *not* going to live with them.”

@aquata-the-champ

99 & Living Large || Aquire

"I did!" Briar exclaimed back smacking the pathetic little paper he put up on the board.

It was plain with handwritten text: "Looking for roommate - single male, anyone will do."

"See? No one emailed me." He then gestured to the other flyers put up, "and these are just ... water aerobic classes!"

@aquata-the-champ

Aquata looked at the paper disdainfully. Yeah, now she could see why Briar didn't have any takers. And she believed it was probably better for everyone involved if Briar didn't have a roommate, but... well, she couldn't help giving her input.

"Have you thought about putting a little more information about yourself on there?" Aquata said. "Like, a photo, maybe? Your fake age? Your fake job? People probably think you're a weirdo, which you are, but if you don't want people to know that..."

@fiend-ofthefae

"What kind of information would they need? I'll be gone half the time anyway!" He really didn't see what would matter to the mortals. He didn't have pets, didn't have ragers, didn't even plan on staying in the common areas or tormenting them. "D'you really think a photo would help? Like, people will want to live with me because I'm attractive? I don't even really have a fake job, what did I tell you I did? Family business?" He took his flyer down and examined it, noting how blank it seemed compared to the others on the board. "And I'm not a weirdo, I just don't conform to your 'normal'."

@aquata-the-champ

99 & Living Large || Aquire

"I don't even know what that is," he stated plainly.

He fucked around on Tinder and Twitter on occasion after Phineas had introduced the wide world of the web to him. Briar used the internet for his classes when he was enrolled, but that was ages ago and he had fallen back into his low tech ways.

"You sure you don't just know anyone? Maybe Boo is looking for a live in boyfriend?" Briar half joked to jab at her.

@aquata-the-champ

"See, I knew you just did that to piss me off!" Aquata said hotly. As soon as she did, she realized that she was playing right into Briar's game. Even after all this time, he still got a rise out of her. It was maddening as ever.

Aquata groaned. "Never mind. It's not important. I'm not fixing you up with any of my friends. As flatmates or otherwise. Just make a flyer, mate."

@fiend-ofthefae

"I did!" Briar exclaimed back smacking the pathetic little paper he put up on the board.

It was plain with handwritten text: "Looking for roommate - single male, anyone will do."

"See? No one emailed me." He then gestured to the other flyers put up, "and these are just ... water aerobic classes!"

@aquata-the-champ

99 & Living Large || Aquire

Aquata wasn't sure she believed that (because she'd also forgotten that the fae couldn't lie). But it didn't matter, because she didn't really have anyone to set him up with anyway.

"Why don't I just help you make a Facebook group post? Or you could put a flyer on the town bulletin board, but with Facebook, at least you can kind of vet people's profiles," Aquata explained. "Do you even know how to use Facebook?"

She knew that he could, at least, use the Internet. She'd seen him on Tinder before.

@fiend-ofthefae

"I don't even know what that is," he stated plainly.

He fucked around on Tinder and Twitter on occasion after Phineas had introduced the wide world of the web to him. Briar used the internet for his classes when he was enrolled, but that was ages ago and he had fallen back into his low tech ways.

"You sure you don't just know anyone? Maybe Boo is looking for a live in boyfriend?" Briar half joked to jab at her.

@aquata-the-champ

99 & Living Large || Aquire

"I don't know, Briar. Do you promise not to kidnap them and turn them into your faery queen?" Aquata sighed, rolling her eyes. It was half-sarcastic, because Aquata really had no intention of setting Briar up with any of her friends— as a roommate or otherwise.

But, unfortunately, she was slightly sympathetic to his situation anyway. Not too long ago, Aquata had been the one searching for a roommate. She knew what a long and arduous process it was. And if Briar promised...

Wait, wasn't that a fae thing? Aquata didn't really understand it, except that she wasn't supposed to make promises to the fae. But it wasn't dangerous for Briar to make a promise to her, right?

#99 and living large #aquire #hehee

"Do you want me to say that I won't just to prove you're special?" A sarcastic comment bit back, his natural fae instinct to avoid promises and deals he wasn't the initiator of.

He shrugged, "I am not looking for a queen right now. Figured it would be best if it was someone who wanted it that showed up. After all, it wouldn't fare well for the Riverlands if both its rulers were forced into their roles."

It was the truth and not a promise. He wished he could promise her something, give Aquata something sure to grasp onto, but it was just his nature to be slippery.

99 & Living Large || Aquire

"Why do you even want to rent? Can't you just compel a realtor to sell you a house? Then you don't have to deal with a landlord or anything," Aquata pointed out. She'd definitely considered it lately, because Benbow was... well, it was Benbow. But Aquata liked living with Boo, and she didn't want things to change.

But a fae prince, renting an apartment? Aquata really didn't understand that. Unless Briar was just trying to find an excuse to move in with her. He'd spent enough time at their apartment already, hadn't he? Well, Aquata was not gonna let that happen.

@fiend-ofthefae

"I could... but then they would come pester me every time they realize the paperwork is missing or not adding up. I can control people, but it really is a hassle sometimes, Dewdrop. I don't prefer it." He replied, with an air of condescension.

"If you're so against me crashing and paying your rent, fine. But do you know anyone else who would take me? Isn't it, like, your job to help the citizens here?" He pointed at the direction she came from. Her Board job, he assumed.

@aquata-the-champ

99 & Living Large || Aquire

He stuck out a pouty lip, "because I need somewhere to live."

Briar didn't expect that to have any effect other than to receive an eye roll from Aquata. "And you look stressed, maybe you need help with rent! You know I have the funds, I could probably pay your entire rent... if you just tell me how to do that." He muttered the last part, embarrassed that he still didn't know fundamental ways the world worked.

@aquata-the-champ

"You don't even know how to pay rent?" Aquata had told herself that she wasn't going to engage with Briar anymore, but sometimes he said these things and she just couldn't hold herself back.

She sighed. "First of all, no, you're not paying my rent, and you're not living with me. How have you even had somewhere to live all these years? Are you just scamming your way into hotel rooms?"

@fiend-ofthefae

#aquire #99 & living large

He blinked, “well yeah.”

That was how they ended up spending the night in his suite together those years ago. She booked a room that he had compelled the concierge to give him. Soon enough, the suite wouldn’t be there to scam free stays in.

“How was I supposed to learn? You’ve seen my home, at least from a distance… I don’t exactly have a landlord at my castle!”

Briar crossed his arms, “I’m good to pay a rent, but I don’t really have references or a paper trail here to prove I have money. I need a roommate so that it’s their record that matters. I can compel all I want, but I can’t procure months of bank statements and employment histories.”

@aquata-the-champ

99 & Living Large || Aquire

The King of the Riverlands lived as large as he could, maintaining his feet halfway in both worlds. While he stayed in Swynlake, the closest he could get to a castle was the Tipton. A luxury suite, obviously, but still nothing he wanted to call home for the long run. And now a little blonde girl took over the place and started zhushing it all up. Soon enough, she was making her way to the suites and attempting to move around residents to lower floors.

Briar wanted no part in an econosuite. So he took to the town hall flyer board. For roommates, there were plenty of listings: weirdo who only wanted a girl under twenty four and willing to be a house wife for free rent, someone who insisted their potential roommate was NOT a Magick, and finally a house of college dudes and the room they offered was really a cupboard.

"Hey!" He caught Aquata going in or out of a town hall office. "You've got a pretty nice place, do you need a roommate?"

@aquata-the-champ

Aquata was exhausted and frustrated after a long day of work in the Board offices. What used to energize her just burned her out lately. And running right smack into Briar by the bulletin board didn't help.

She stared at him like he'd grown an extra head. In what universe would Aquata want him as a roommate, especially after she'd reacted just to seeing him on her couch?

"Are you insane?" Aquata said. "Why would I ever agree to that?"

@fiend-ofthefae

He stuck out a pouty lip, "because I need somewhere to live."

Briar didn't expect that to have any effect other than to receive an eye roll from Aquata. "And you look stressed, maybe you need help with rent! You know I have the funds, I could probably pay your entire rent... if you just tell me how to do that." He muttered the last part, embarrassed that he still didn't know fundamental ways the world worked.

@aquata-the-champ

99 & Living Large || Aquire

#aquire #99 & Living Large

The King of the Riverlands lived as large as he could, maintaining his feet halfway in both worlds. While he stayed in Swynlake, the closest he could get to a castle was the Tipton. A luxury suite, obviously, but still nothing he wanted to call home for the long run. And now a little blonde girl took over the place and started zhushing it all up. Soon enough, she was making her way to the suites and attempting to move around residents to lower floors.

Briar wanted no part in an econosuite. So he took to the town hall flyer board. For roommates, there were plenty of listings: weirdo who only wanted a girl under twenty four and willing to be a house wife for free rent, someone who insisted their potential roommate was NOT a Magick, and finally a house of college dudes and the room they offered was really a cupboard.

"Hey!" He caught Aquata going in or out of a town hall office. "You've got a pretty nice place, do you need a roommate?"

@aquata-the-champ

99 & Living Large || Aquire

Situations, Circumstances, Miscommunications || Aquire Boo

Oh yeah, it didn't take a genius to figure out that something very strange and messy was happening. It was also very clear she was missing at least half the picture.

Because she and Beck hadn't hooked up the first time that long ago. It was only a couple months, and Q had already been with James by then. (The only one who hadn't known it was official had been her, frankly, and them defining the relationship had just seemed like Q finally bowing to the inevitable.)

So when had this Beck/Q thing happened that had made everything so sharp and angry? And why hadn't Q said anything about it to her?

"Still not sure if this makes me the accidental homewrecker or the other woman in this scenario."

@aquata-the-champ @fiend-ofthefae

"Neither. We're not together," Aquata said vehemently, glowering at Briar.

She already regretted reacting the way she had— if only she could have hidden her surprise and then later texted Briar telling him not to come back here. But Aquata could never be that kind of person. Her emotions always gave her away within five seconds.

"Look, you didn't do anything wrong, Boo. Don't worry about it," she said, then turned her gaze back to Briar. "But do you really have to come over here randomly like this?"

@boointhenight @fiend-ofthefae

#situations circumstances miscommunications #broo #aquire

Briar didn't expect Boo to be anything other than miffed, but she was taking as he assumed she would. They weren't anything exclusive. It was just weird he ended up going back to the bedroom in the same apartment as the woman he'd played cat and mouse with for for however long.

"I was invited," he threw up a defensive hand. "You've got your boyfriend, Boo can invite anyone she wants over. It's not like I'm here for you."

Not anymore. Not even if he wanted to. He was long lived, but so was the fairy. Aquata was a mermaid, he wasn't sure what they lived like in this realm. So he couldn't say that he'd wait, but he wanted to.

"Maybe next time I'll ask your permission," he mocked, dripping sarcasm.

@boointhenight @aquata-the-champ

Situations, Circumstances, Miscommunications || Aquire Boo

Inside, she could feel Cel stir in amusement as well at the situation. After all, she loved drama and entertainment of all sorts, and this was feeding that part of her.

It was unclear whether it was Mary's own instinct or Cel's nudging that had her stirring the pot a little bit more.

"Wow, not even going to say hi to me Q? Apparently no one can be interested in me just for me?" She turned towards Briar shifting away from him. "And what, I'm just the rebound to you?"

@aquata-the-champ @fiend-ofthefae

"Okay, chill, Boo, I never said that," Aquata replied, which was probably harsher than she should have been— it was just her misplaced annoyance, which she was already directing at Briar, but now it was spilling over.

She crossed her arms, assessing the situation. What could she even say to Briar? She'd never told him he couldn't do this. But it still felt wrong.

"It's not bad, I just-" Don't believe you. Not that Aquata thought that had anything to do with Boo! She obviously pulled all the time. It was just too much of a coincidence. "You know she's my flatmate, c'mon."

@fiend-ofthefae @boointhenight

#situations circumstances miscommunications #broo #aquire

Having multiple lovers was not uncommon in Elfhame, but being in the middle of whatever this was made the king want to shrink like a pixie and fly away. Unfortunately, he did not possess the skills to do so. He thought Mary was chill and wouldn't even care about his history as he didn't care who she was currently entangled with. Why would his past yearnings for her roommate matter?

Because the roommate hates your guts. Aquata isn't the type to let it all slide down the rushing embankment he saved her from. No. He welcomed her to his domain but she banished him from hers. And here he was, in her home.

"U-Uh... well if you must know... Boo and I happened before-" His words caught, still eluding him as he tried to explain. Speaking before he knew what he was going to say next. "What happened with us..."

Not a lie. What happened to them, the fallout of what could have been great, happened so recently. He was licking his wounds, yes, but Mary wasn't table scraps. She was fun. Easy. She was an option for queen he surveyed before his realization that he'd been in love with the dewdrop the whole time. "And," he turned to Boo now, "I had a thing for her. Whatever it was, it isn't why I'm here now. "

@boointhenight @aquata-the-champ

Situations, Circumstances, Miscommunications || Aquire Boo

He looked dumbly between the women again. What was he supposed to say? Laying with your roommate? Doing a bad job of avoiding you? Missing you?

"Uh, I... we were-- chilling." He was at a loss for words for once in his near century of life.

Briar had given up on finding a queen actively and had submitted to it being an organic, accidental thing, like what Slightly and Martin had. Though, he'd fall in love with someone a lot less timid than the pair of glasses. It had already happened, but like the fishing ships off into the mist the love he could have had went off into the unknown. So for now he could settle on hot boy summer.

"Do you want a chip?" The fae held out a crisp to Aquata, a pseudo peace offering over the knee of Boo.

@boointhenight @aquata-the-champ

Oooooookay. So. There were maybe some vibes in the room.

Now, this wasn't the first time she and Q had found some kind of overlap in their hookup history. Swynlake was small and there were only so many people in their age group who were also interested in something casual. There was bound to be some places where the lines had crossed, and mostly they'd compared notes and gone their own way.

The tone of Q's question told her this was something more than just a shared hookup. (It was probably a her problem that this made her more curious than concerned.)

Looking between the two of them to see what happened next, she picked up a chip of her own and popped it in her mouth.

@aquata-the-champ @fiend-ofthefae

"No, I don't want a chip," Aquata scoffed.

Briar, at least, looked genuinely unsure of what to do. Not like he had some evil plan— or at least a well-planned one. But why was he chilling with her roommate? Of all people in this town?

"Br- Beck, I meant what I said. I'm not interested. I have a boyfriend," Aquata added, like the chip thing was some other kind of proposition.

@boointhenight @fiend-ofthefae

#situations circumstances miscommunications #aquire #broo

Briar picked up the crunch from Mary. If only they were eating popcorn, this would be the dramatic film blowout of the century for her. Briar would try to not let it get that far… he just didn’t remember much of his lessons in diplomacy. The fae didn’t use it much.

Q had out him in a weird position. He had loved her and was now sleeping with her friend. Maybe he had done it, but he wasn't quite done blaming someone else for the ache he tried to remedy. "Look, it looks bad. It's a different bad than you think… I'm here for Boo… *with* Boo."

@boointhenight @aquata-the-champ

Situations, Circumstances, Miscommunications || Aquire Boo

After a short period of self flagellating, Briar committed to his hedonism once again. It was the one thing that was constant under all his airs of grandeur. Before he was a king, he was a boy. These fiendish and hungry urges led him back to the apartment he'd been in many times before, too many times.

It was too easy with Mary, she never asked for more or wanted him to stay longer than he pleased. The other resident however, Aquata was complicated. He was avoiding her.

Not very well considering he was on her couch with her roommate when she got home.

Briar looked from Boo to Q and quickly slipped his arm from its resting position on the back of the sofa to a more uncomfortable spot on his side. "Uh, h-hey, Q."

@boointhenight @aquata-the-champ

Boo had absolutely no idea that any connection existed between Beck and Q.

Why would she? It wasn't the kind of thing Q had ever talked about, and she and Beck hadn't crossed the line from occasional hookup to friends so they weren't sharing any kind of details about their lives. There had been a period of time where he'd gone quiet which she hadn't paid attention to, and when he'd texted her again, she'd responded whe it was convenient for her. It didn't have to be that deep.

After that first time, he'd dropped the weird 'queen' talk, so it wasn't that big a deal.

She was surprised to hear the door open this time. "Hey, you're back early."

@aquata-the-champ @fiend-ofthefae

When Aquata saw Briar on her couch, she froze. She'd assumed that, after the encounter in the woods, they would stay out of each other's way. So-

"What are you doing here?" Aquata demanded.

She could tell that he was just as surprised to see her as she was to see him. But that didn't necessarily mean he was here with good intentions. Was this some kind of new play, to get to her roommate and try to change her mind about the fae realm?

Whatever it was, Aquata wasn't falling for it. Hopefully Boo wouldn't, either.

@fiend-ofthefae @boointhenight

#situations circumstances miscommunications #aquire #broo

He looked dumbly between the women again. What was he supposed to say? Laying with your roommate? Doing a bad job of avoiding you? Missing you?

"Uh, I... we were-- chilling." He was at a loss for words for once in his near century of life.

Briar had given up on finding a queen actively and had submitted to it being an organic, accidental thing, like what Slightly and Martin had. Though, he'd fall in love with someone a lot less timid than the pair of glasses. It had already happened, but like the fishing ships off into the mist the love he could have had went off into the unknown. So for now he could settle on hot boy summer.

"Do you want a chip?" The fae held out a crisp to Aquata, a pseudo peace offering over the knee of Boo.

@boointhenight @aquata-the-champ

Situations, Circumstances, Miscommunications || Aquire Boo