This is an RP I did on My side blog @the-sun-behind-the-slaughter with @gothamsdeadgirlwalking. I will put all of their additions in brackets [] and they will be left as they are in the thread. In my portions I will be editing the punctuation and any spelling mistakes, and they will be typed in red.
[Candles snuffed out one by one.
An animal's carcass slowly rotting away.
Dead birds being shot out of the sky.
All dreams Aster Voss had been experiencing.
They progressed each night, worsening in state until only three candles were left. Three days without rot. Three birds still flying.
...Three days left to live. She had managed to steal the scroll back with Tim's help, and had been working on it with him for a while... But nothing seemed to work.
Now, she was here, pacing back and forth in the alley out back of her apartment clutching at strings (metaphorically) and her hair (physically).
It had to work. Something had to work. THERE WAS A CURE TO THIS CURSE SOMEWHERE she just HAD TO FIND IT.
Why did it have to be her?
She wanted to scream. To cry. To... Something.
But she had to keep working.
Pace, pace, pace. Pace in circles and maybe something will come.]
"Hello child, you seem.... helpless" a voice that seems familiar but somewhat strange whispers from what seems to be the depths of her mind.
"I can help you, sweet child" the voice continues.
"You would like that. Wouldn't you?" As they speak the air is filled with the smell of freshly picked wild roses.
"All you must do is wish it my dear." A soft gust of wind floats into the alley. Bringing with it a single rose petal that delicately land at her feet.
Looking closely the petal seems to have a faint red sheen atop it's stark white color.
[Aster froze, her entire body shuddering to a stop. ...Something felt wrong here.
Oh, god, another voice in my head...
The petal was... Strange. This was suspicious. So very suspicious...
All of her studies screamed at her that entertaining this was a horrendous idea, but she was desperate.
Aster clenched her hands into fists and looked around, her eyes bordering on manic.
“Who are you?... And where are you. You aren't one of my usual figments.”]
A chuckle bubbled up in her mind, reverberating in what felt like her soul.
"Fear not, child," the voice said. "You seek a solution; I intended to provide one; all you need to do is grasp that petal and make a wish."
"Then all will be revealed."
She had heard this voice before. An offer, or was it a request, maybe even mockery? But back then it was always in tandem. There was always a more dominant voice saying the words while the other seemed to echo it with no real will or power of its own.
But this—this was different. This voice was alone and was filled with a power that felt otherworldly, as if it was reaching from somewhere unfamiliar to find her.
There is a pressure in the air, anticipation of what is to come.
[You have to know this is a bloody terrible idea.
SHH. Yes, of course I know that. I'm not bloody stupid.
Oh, oh if Aster survived all of this she'd kill that bastard.
Seemingly sensing her violent thoughts, the conman's voice faded into obscurity.
Aster took a deep breath. She tried her very best to shove the countless voices down, to suppress them, to be herself but...
...Well. Let's just say her voice had an edge to it.
“...Offers like that always have a cost.” She stared down at the petal borderline murderously. Her chest heaved with each breath as she tried to think despite the war in her mind. “...So, tell me. What's the monkey's paw?”]
Another chuckle, this time mocking.
"Tell me, child, what do you have to give me that you haven't already lost?" The voice, though still calm, had a bite to it.
There was a quiet crackling in the air. "I simply want to help you, and maybe receive your help in return," a soft warmth erupted in Aster's chest. It felt like comfort, as if this entity was holding her in a mother's embrace.
"But first, you must make a wish for all to be revealed." The smell of roses once again filled the air and another gust of wind swept through the alley, bringing another rose petal, this time landing directly in her hand.
"I will not force you; if you truly do not want my help, I will leave." The voice quieted, speaking gently as one would a child. The breeze gently tousled Aster's hair, feeling more like a gentle touch than a natural phenomenon.
"But be warned, my dearest, if you deny my help, I will not offer it again." Just as the last word was said, the presence suddenly vanished. The scent, the wind, even the warmth was gone. All that was left were the rose petals thrumming with the strange energy.
[...That much was true. What did Aster have to lose, at this point?
Did she like this strange being? No.
Was something clearly wrong here, and likely evil?
...Was the offer right tempting?...also, yes.
...Aster released her breath with a heavy sigh. “I'm going to regret this,” she muttered, rubbing her thumb over the petal.
Bloody genius you are. Was one demon not enough for you? Two curses? The verge of-
S̵̡̯̞̫̙̱̹͕̙̚H̴̙̫̯͔̩̜̙̊͛̓̓̅U̴͎̗̯̟͍̰͍̼͍͎͎̹̲̒̀̈̋̈́̌̎̊̂͌̔̈́͘Ţ̸̨̳̟̦̪̞̯̬͇̩͕̺̿̾̓̔͛̔͗̂͗̔͜͝ͅ ̸̛̣̠͕̪̼̰̿̑̀̏̽̚͝Ṵ̷͘P̶̨͈͙̰͔̊͌̀̒̈̉͐͆̅̾̽̇̕.̶̥̼̣͚̫̪̞͕̫͉̼̳͍͉̓̎̉͊̏̂̋͌͜͝ ̵̦̉͝͝
...Don't say I didn't warn you.
“Alright... Fine. I have literally nothing to lose. ...I wish...” ...Wishes are tricky. There are countless loopholes, you have to be ridiculously specific to avoid-
Just get it over with. You know you're dying.
“...I wish... For a way to cure my death curse.”]
As her final word fell, a light chuckle erupted, crescendoing into raucous laughter.
"A worthy desire, dear child." The wind suddenly picked up, red energy crackling from the petal in her hand, a red glow bouncing off the alley walls.
Suddenly, thousands of white rose petals bubbled up from Aster's feet, swirling around her in a torrent of red energy and wind. The flowers enveloped her, hiding the rest of the world from view. For a moment, she was filled with a feeling of weightlessness and vertigo.
She looked down; her feet were no longer touching the hard asphalt of a Gotham street, but a luxurious hardwood floor. The smell of roses still lingered in the air. Looking around, there was expensive furniture, each table held a bouquet of white roses. Looking out the large windows, there was nothing but an endless darkness with occasional arcs of red light.
She was no longer on Earth; she was in a place between worlds. A place she could only enter on request and leave with permission. For all intents and purposes, she was trapped here.
But before she could panic, a door at the far end of the room softly opened. A soft, welcoming glow seeped through the crack, beckoning Aster to enter.
She walked forward with trepidation, as if her feet were being moved for her. Pulling the door open, she was met by the sight of a solarium packed to the brim with rows and rows of roses. Sun streamed in through the windows, and an impossibly vast garden lay beyond them.
In the center of the room, next to a small tea table, stood a woman in a flowing white dress covered in delicate lace. She glanced over to meet Aster's gaze. Her face was passive, almost emotionless, but her eyes held a distinct anticipation.
But her face, Aster had seen that face. Maybe only in passing, or a few times on television. That face was there at her freshman orientation, happily smiling and offering everyone snacks and financial aid. She'd seen it on a TV in a store window giving an interview about community outreach. She'd even seen it on the street dragging someone into a high-end shopping center.
As she thought, one name came to mind: this was Sunny Gotham. The woman who brought her here was Sunny Gotham. But something was different, wrong even. The one thing she knew about Sunny was that she always wore a smile on her face.
But the woman before her looked as if she hadn't genuinely smiled in years. Her hair was straight, flowing down like black silk, unlike the Sunny in her mind, whose hair was always a wild and free ball of fluff.
This wasn't her; it was someone or something else altogether. But just as she got lost in her thoughts, the woman spoke.
"Welcome, my little flower. I understand you have a wish." The voice didn't echo from her mind; it was soft and unhurried, it felt entirely human, unlike before.
"Sit," she said, gesturing to the air. A soft wind blew, and a bounteous fluttering of rose petals swirled in the air. They twisted in place, tightening until they all burst, leaving in their place a delicate wooden chair with a soft white cushion.
"Tell me what you truly desire." The woman walked to the other side of the table, sitting in a chair of her own. She poured a cup of deep red tea, pushing the cup toward Aster's empty seat.
She gestured toward the chair, giving a soft smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, beckoning her to sit once more.
[The first thought that rushed through Aster's head was one of absurdity, followed instantly by a reminder that she'd seen...stranger.
This was still quite weird.
This- This... Strange alteration of her own reality... An alternate universe, perhaps? Another realm? She had a thousand questions, wanted to learn everything about this place and this... Other Sunny.
...Her suspicion was stronger. Hesitation beckoned, but Aster sat, as her maddening desperation won out.
Tea. This wasn't some sort of fae food, was it? No... No, this wasn't that sort of strange.
She tilted her head, glancing over this... Person.
“...Depends. You said you'd want something in return. ...I'm desperate, not stupid.”
"Drink," the woman said, her delicate nails tapping the saucer as she pushed it towards Aster. "It is no fea trick, it is simply rose tea. I make it myself; it is the same thing I give my husband; it will not harm you."
"This place is a pocket between my world and yours. I have been linked to your world through a power beyond my influence." The woman took a sip from her own cup, taking a moment to admire the aroma.
"I simply want to use you to give myself more influence in your realm in the hopes of breaking that bond." She looked genuine, like that truly was all she wanted. But there seemed to be a bit more to it; the look in her eyes wasn't desperate. She was excited about some part of this deal.
"But before we speak of what I want." She reached out, gently touching Aster's hand resting on the table. She looked deeply into Aster's eyes.
"You must tell me what you truly want. Not the end of the curse. What you want in the depths of your heart. And do not lie to me, little flower. I will know if you do." With that last word, the sun itself seemed to flicker for a moment, and a distant crack could be heard from the sky
[Half-truth. Interesting.
The flicker was concerning. Aster cursed internally, knowing that she was utterly helpless here. ...It was infuriating. She hadn't felt like this since-...
...She gripped the teacup's handle and tried to soothe herself–remember her manners–and regain some semblance of dignity.
...It didn't quite work. Sure, her face had relaxed, and yes she sipped the unfortunately rather delightful cup of tea, but her frame was tense. Ready to snap at any given moment, like an animal stuck between fight or flight. Not active... But ready.
“I... Guessed as much,” she murmured, tracing the cup's rim.
...That's hard to answer.
She pondered for a minute. Realization set in slowly, as did annoyance that she'd have to be genuine. What did she want... Well... The same as everyone else. Right?
“I... Want... ...To live. To just- Be able to live. I haven't... I've never gotten that chance.”]
"Hmmm, interesting. Not a lie, but not quite the truth. You seek knowledge; you desire to know what you are not meant to. Maybe that desire itself is something you don't recognize." She spoke slowly, a faint red glow evident in her eyes.
"But your answer is satisfactory. I can give you the power to live, and to learn the knowledge you seek. It is a simple matter."
"First, let me set the terms. What I am to give you is a great gift. And it comes at a high cost." Each word fell with increasing severity. The planets in the room rustled as she spoke, filling the room with the sound of leaves brushing against each other.
"Usually, the price would be your soul, but because your soul is so scattered, I would have no real use for it. I also do not wish the one who holds mine to get what he wants." At the mention of this person, the sky darkens completely, a red glow filling the room.
"What I will do instead is replace it; I will imbue the remnants of your soul with my power, making your body a vessel through which some of my powers can flow. In return, I may occasionally make a request of you." As she finishes speaking, the room becomes still, slowly reverting to its normal state.
The woman sits up, maintaining eye contact. She holds out her right hand, a small knife appearing out of thin air.
"With my power you will be able to fortify your body." With that, she lifted her left arm, cutting a gash deep enough to reveal bone down the center. Blood spilled from the wound, rising in the air. But just as Aster began to panic, the wound began to knit itself together.
"This is but a small portion of what my power can do for you; agree to my terms and I will see about providing the knowledge you seek."
Something echoed within her mind... Something familiar.
Of course, it was impossible to make out over the rest of the screaming collective.
Her mind set to work, ushered on by fascination and morbid curiosity. The terms were not outlandish, she'd studied many a tale such as this. But what exactly was this... Person? Some sort of witch? Goddess? She'd mentioned being an... Otherworldly being. That could mean many a thing.
“So...” Aster set down the teacup, and stared over at the woman. She was watching her, not with fear, but with... Almost blank scrutiny. Aster's eyes, grey as storm clouds, carried no emotion. “You're some sort of... What, goddess?...And you'll have me as a... Devotee of sorts.”
Aster leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table, using her interlocked fingers to prop up her chin. “I'll have to know what that entails... Surely, you understand. You could say I'm the sort to read the fine print.”
Because that's worked so well.
Aster, for the last time, you should just... Give up.
Have you learned nothing?]
She laughed, not a chuckle, but a laugh—one that seemed to fill her chest.
"You believe I am a goddess? How cute, but no, I assure you, dear child, I am entirely human." She reached out to caress Aster's cheek. Her fingers were warm and undeniably real.
"And I have no need for worship; I get enough of that from my husband." There was a barely noticeable flushing of her cheeks as she spoke of him. But her face remained passive and serene.
"But first, before I continue: there is a voice in your mind that is not welcome here. John, was it? He is not the one I know, but he is equally as unwelcome." As she speaks, you feel Constantine's connection to you weaken; he is not gone, but he is certainly more muffled. "Now, that that's dealt with, let's continue. You will get your little friend back when we are done," she said, pouring Aster another cup of tea.
"What I want are hands in your world; on occasion, I may ask you to find someone or something for me. You will get the information or item that I seek, and you will bring it to me." She motioned to snap her fingers but stopped halfway.
"No, I cannot show you what I will give in return without your agreement. I have shown you that my power can heal your body. You must decide on that alone."
[Aster let that settle, for a moment. It's true... Constantine was muffled. And, to be frank, this was a bloody good offer.
...Aster stared, empty eyes behind a mess of hair, and spoke. Her voice was... Quiet. Dull. Void. “...And, my mind?”
That must be healed at all costs...]
She reached out, once again clasping Aster's hand. There was a warmth radiating from it. That warmth seeped into Aster's body, making it feel as if parts of her were healing.
"Your mind, dear child? Oh, it can be as mad or as clear as you desire; that power will be in your hands." She spoke, gently rubbing her thumb in circles on the back of Aster's hand.
"But I will also feed it. I will give you knowledge that most can only dream of, beloved." The look on her face seemed almost motherly or indulgent, as if her gift were the simple request of a small child.
[She took a deep breath...
Aster, Mallory Voss... What do you even have to lose?
As the word sank into the room, the woman's eyes widened and her lips curled into a wicked smile.
She tightened her grip on Aster's hand, pushing her influence into it, sending a burning pain shooting down her arm to the center of her chest.
The pain was unimaginable, like being torn apart and put back together over and over again, as if her soul was being invaded and filled with an otherworldly energy.
"Do not move," the woman ordered. But Aster couldn't, even if she wanted to. She was being held in place by the same energy coursing through her.
"That was a joke, dear. No need to be so serious." The woman was grinning, taking amusement in Aster's pain and the remnants of fear within her mind.
Just as the pain reached its peak, it all stopped: the burning, the anxiety, the fear. Her body felt normal, as if it weren't dying or cursed. It felt brand new. The woman released her hand.
"Now that that's taken care of and you are now one of my people, we can continue. But first, how do you feel?" she said, sitting back with her hands resting on her teacup.
She was genuinely asking; this wasn't a game or a deal anymore. Something had changed, but what? Aster wasn't quite sure.
[Aster stared at her hands in shock, chest heaving with each breath, still experiencing a rush from the pain. She turned them over and then traced them, even glancing at her arm where a bite mark once was.
It was gone. All that was wrong was gone. She could think clearly again… For the first time in…
Oh. Well. Ever, she supposed.
She was awed. “I… I feel…”
She touched her neck. Her hands did not pass through it. She was here. Really here.
"Good, I wouldn't want my work incomplete," she said, pride evident in her tone. "Now for what I promised."
She snapped her fingers and a book bound in deep red leather appeared. It landed delicately in her outstretched hand. The spine had filigree of thin vines and small roses; on the cover, there was the imprint of an aster in the center.
"This book, my child, is for you. Keep it close; it will be our primary form of communication." She pushed the book across the table.
It was warm to the touch and shimmered slightly with an energy Aster could feel in her soul.
"As we will speak often, you will need a name for me. I know you recognize this face and have a name for it. And I will tell you now, it is indeed my true face." She caressed her own cheek, taking a moment to admire her beauty.
"From now on, you may call me Anneliese. It will make it easier to separate me from my other self in your mind. With this book, you can write any question you have, any knowledge you seek, and I will grant it to you. But you will need to follow my request to receive it." She drummed her fingers on the book.
[Aster nodded slowly, feeling the book over in her hands.
“Yes... Thank you, Anneliese.”]
"Good. On occasion, I may bring you here to teach you to control your new powers and…"
Before Anneliese could finish her statement, a loud chime reverberated through the air, seeming to shake the threads that held this place together.
Anneliese's face brightened, filling with excitement and unrestrained joy.
"It seems I have something to attend to," she said, motioning for Aster to stand.
"Just be careful; don't try to affect anything around you unless I tell you to, for a bit, yada yada. Anyway, goodbye." She rushed out, speaking with less deliberation, hurriedly pulling Aster to her feet.
Just as Aster stood, Anneliese snapped her fingers, and in an instant, without any ceremony, she appeared back in the alleyway exactly where she stood. No time had passed; there were no rose petals. The only scent in the air was the smell of old motor oil.
The only proof that anything had happened was the lightness in her chest and the slightly warm book in her hand. She opened it to the first page, the scent of roses rising from the pages. A letter was being written in blood-red ink as she read:
I have rebuilt you according to my whims, and because I ordain it, you are destined for great things.
Learn well and discover the truths you seek; I know you will succeed.
Your beloved patron, Anneliese.
Aster had quite a lot of research to do, now... But maybe, she thought...
...She would go for a walk instead.
With Rowan, perhaps, through the botanical gardens like they used to.]
