blood money ;

jonah moraski / 35 / cambion / employee at çiçek & mercenary

[eliasthemagi]

♒

Elias promised Cloe and the other eladrin that he would play ball. They needed to not only acclimate to their new status but also establish themselves as a species that warranted respect in Rome. That meant Elias had to try harder to keep himself on the straight and narrow. He was, trying at least, but he hadn't stopped working at Killjoy's nor had he axed all his underworld contacts. For all intents and purposes, he was still in the business even if he's recently made a habit of turning down the more sinister gigs.

That's why Elias wanted to see Jonah. Only someone whose hands were as dirty as his could offer a proper appraisal. As much of a team player he said he'd be, Elias couldn't let himself get soft. "Your place of work is a lot tamer than mine. You better believe I'd come find you first." Even with the cameras off, Elias was cautious and intended to bury the lead. Even with that constraint, he was still more honest about his work around Jonah than anyone else. "You should swing by sometime though. I get more offers than I can handle. It's been a while since we had a team up."

[mercenaryjonah]

A lot tamer than mine. People always underestimated the draw and danger of plants and potions. Everything in the shop was meant to heal but the cambion had taught himself long ago to know how to make something worth healing into hurt. Some of the produce that came in that he was meant to handle with gloves before it was diluted or chemically altered but his quick healing never gave him any problems here. Jonah was clandestine killer - snipers, poisons, and silenced guns. Some hunters were much louder and some more impressive with their magical gifts - the newly minted Eladrin included.

"I'm on..." Retirement was what the cambion should have said and it's what he'd been meant to say. "Hiatus," he said instead - Jonah's mouth knew his heart more than his mind. "Besides, I would have thought you wouldn't need anyone anymore. You got promoted." He smiled wryly. "I heard what's happened to every faiman since Titania's death and you're not a faiman anymore, are you, Elias?"

[xsorceressx]

The shop had been created with only one thought in mind: to provide the necessary ailments for the citizens of Rome. There had been no want of money, nor to establish herself in any higher regard. Which may be why any money that was earned from the sales often found itself in the palm of those who sought employment. Of course, this was when Circe did not just give out the remedies from the goodness of her heart. Perhaps when it had just been her, before one after another came to her door with the request of working for her. And who was she to deny them such a thing.

Jonah had been no different. A cambion with infernal blood within his being, who attempted to hide the darkness within him. Circe had known monsters in her life, had dabbled in treachery. But she had made no move to deny him such a request simply on the choices that he had made in his life. Even now, as he blurted out his question, Circe took it in with a careful sense of consideration. "It would work however you wanted it to," she stated, task at hand dismissed as she turned her full attention to him. There had to be a reason behind his request, and she couldn't help the want to understand what it was. "Am I not providing you with enough?" For perhaps he had needed to find a secondary employment somewhere else.

[mercenaryjonah]

"It's not that," he hesitated. "Money isn't the issue." Jonah bought himself some time picking at the salad in his sandwich, pushing it further into the bread as he considered his words. He wasn't sure just how honest he could be with her - this being that radiated power but who he only knew as some nice, tall, mysterious woman with a down-to-earth nature and some great organizational skills. Maybe she had more of a bleeding heart than he knew and she'd incinerate him or something because he killed people for a living ever since his teens. She was a good boss but was more than met the eye, just like he was in that sense.

Fuck it. Jonah liked to think of himself as strategic but he had restless, reckless moments that unfortunately befit his bloodline. "Is Aytaç Durmaz really your name?" The words were blurted out before he really thought them through.

[lunanightshadex]

It was a simple game of toss and catch and yet the competitive spirit within Luna began to mount, quietly she waited for him to throw it again so she could snatch it quickly mid-air and it was a test of patience and control to listen while he held onto the ball.

A passe shrug and her brain didn't tick the way most did, being a demigod didn't grant one normal ideals of morality although morality tended to present itself from different species to the next. "I don't experience much guilt, wasn't build for it or ever found it useful. Power belongs to those who are willing to take it." It was the teaching of Drow society that had due to recent events were Dark Elves but that had happened long after she had fled the Underdark. "The Great Old Ones were powerful and I felt that power from within. I was a weapon in ways I've never been before and creatures of old responded to every whim and call that was uttered from my mouth." She missed it.

[mercenaryjonah]

Jonah considered her words with nothing but academic curiousity, despite never being much of an academic himself. When it came to those close to him and those that mattered there was nothing the cambion wouldn't fight hard to understand. "I haven't heard anyone else talking about it like that," he muttered. Jonah didn't have much of an opinion on it himself yet, unable to understand the full width of the terror and pain some might heve endured as he'd been dispatched to death quite quickly apparently. That's all he remembered. Apparently he hadn't been all too useful to Gods. "They make it seem like they were powerless to do anything while someone else took control. So whoever this God is listened to you?" He wasn't so sure how he felt about that. He adored Luna so the idea of looking at her face and speaking to anyone that wasn't her didn't sit well with him. It also brought his thoughts to darker places like Rhovanor.

"Would you be looking for that again?" According to the black markets and the 'underworld' of magical commerce, there was a lot talk of all sorts of powerful and divine beings congregating to Rome.

[thesubjugoated]

He hadn't tried to regain his memories, or even to look back into the past, afraid of what had happened, knowing what happened through the eyes of their killer. Still, a part of him had spent the last 15 years in pure denial, of wanting to move on, like a complete fool. He'd never felt more powerful, more in tune with himself. Somniar had done something probably neither of them would've guessed: he'd managed to turn Rhovanor into someone he could be proud of. So why should he mourn the past? Their sacrifice ended up saving the world, with Rhovanor having helped to turn back time. The Illithid swallowed hard, unable to hide his emotions any longer. "Monsters don't have hearts."

Engaging the kiss, Rhovanor finally decided to take the lead. A free man at last, in tune with what he'd been made into, he finally longed to have everything his heart desired. Allowing himself to be happy was the first step to a better future, so, as Jonah deepened the kiss and turned him around by his collar, his own back now pressed against the wall, Rhovanor let out a slight groan. Lips lingered dangerously close to one another, with Rhovanor keeping the other away, until he couldn't stand the thought of not feeling his warm lips against his own. Dragging his fingers down and unter Jonah's shirt, Rhovanor quickly placed his hand against the Cambion's hip, squeezing with more force than possibly needed, not to bruise or hurt, but to make sure he stayed close. "You're my lost cause," Rhovanor continued," and I've found you, You've found me. That's all I've ever wanted to be: found." His body reacted to the sudden tension between them, the passion, but he kept quiet, his nose silently placed against Jonah's neck as he breathed in his scent, "You're everything and more."

[mercenaryjonah]

The cambion was filled to the brim with selfishness and he had fought it a long time in favour of the two fey that had died at his hand. He had held himself back from this exact thing for them, for their son and what he thought they would have wanted for him - some peace and joy away from their murderer. But as Rhovanor eagerly took everything now, Jonah couldn't find it in himself to look for reasons to stop or slow down. He'd tried for those fey and he'd done what he could but, in the end, he cared more for the son that he'd been meant to kill. And the son didn't seem to mind to jump headfirst into something that might hurt them both. If the Illithid could find it in himself to forgive, or to at least forget for a little bit, Jonah would indulge. Maybe his feelings were fleeting, maybe there was nothing to worry about in the end. Or maybe he didn't care if there would be anymore.

At the moment, there was little Jonah cared about but Rho's hands and his lips, the cadence of that breathless voice and the warmth of his skin. He pressed himself hard again the other corrupted creature, darkness and hellfire entwined in brief passion. "Fuck it," he muttered against his skin, "Fuck it all." He'd thought he'd lost Rhovanor to these Otherworldly, immortal forces Jonah couldn't comprehend, let alone confront. Now: "You're mine. You got that? Not theirs, not the elves', not anyone's."

[christopherwoods]

best of jake riley

[bosvcr]

make me choose: chris wood in containment vs. chris wood in supergirl

[macherierps]

Chris Wood as Kai Parker on Legacies → 2.12 “Kai Parker Screwed Us”

[thelaziestmotherfucker]

[thesubjugoated]

@mercenaryjonah

[mercenaryjonah]

Date: January, some time Location: Çiçek Characters: @xsorceressx & @mercenaryjonah Notes: so anyway boss

Jonah had applied to be a full time employee, if only because it gave him a better cover as a normal person. He didn't really need money urgently - he'd made more bank with one commission than he did a few months working at a shop like this. He had a hefty savings, enough that working part-time at a store would have always been enough to live. He'd been doing really well - showing up, not talking a lot, even covering extra shifts. But, in his heart, he knew this couldn't last forever. This normal life - his life was never meant to be normal. One day the mercenary knew that his encrypted email would pop up a notification with a job that he just couldn't resist and couldn't ignore. All his building altruism couldn't stop him from taking a commission that wasn't the usual ones that he had committed to ignoring: killing cheating or rich spouses, business and political rivals. There was only so much of his nature that the cambion could change. He was better but he would never be perfect. And so the question popped out of Jonah's mouth before he could really stop it. His boss had been stopping by to sign some paperwork and Jonah had been taking his scheduled lunch break just a few feet away from her.

"If I ever want to be part-time, how would that... work?" He didn't want to leave and find another job. Jonah liked it there with all the natural merchandise that he was well acquainted with as a killer-for-hire, even though he didn't know what his boss actually was and she radiated something that made him slightly apprehensive. Probably some powerful being from some sort of myth - there was no shortage of those in Rome, the Caput Mundi.

[mercenaryjonah]

Date: January, some time Location: Çiçek Characters: @eliasthemagi & @mercenaryjonah Notes: friends that kill together gotta stick together

Business was slow that day and the cambion was the only one in. The roads were extra icy but calm and the store played tranquil background music as Jonah finished stocking up a few bottles of essential oils. On the other hand, mercenary work was coming in quick, encrypted emails he still recieved and hadn't touched in months. A part of him missed the job, another part of him swore that he'd finally lay off the blood money. In his heart, he knew he wouldn't be able to resist certain commissions but none of those had come in - just the usual 'kill my cheating partner' and 'this guy is trying to one up me in politics.' Few people knew Jonah's work and reputation by face but Elias had been a colleague who had once been so easy to collaborate with. They'd trusted each other - except Jonah hadn't yet told him that he hadn't taken a job in months.

"Ah... found me again," he muttered, glancing over at their one customer and doing a double take when he recognized the face. Mercenaries were good at finding people but Jonah had been hoping to keep this awkward conversation off a little while longer. He sighed and stood up from where he knelt by the merchandise. "The cameras don't have audio," he offered. Elias could speak freely.

[mercenaryjonah]

Date: January, some time Location: Outskirts of Lupercal Characters: @adamoromerof & @mercenaryjonah Notes: missing other dad

"I thought someone was bound to sniff me out eventually," Jonah piped up, grinning slightly as the other man came into view. It had been a while since he'd seen his godfather face-to-face but he had to admit that the days were now lonelier and more uncertain than ever. No matter all the peace and tranquility the city was going through this cold winter, his heart was in turmoil and it kept remembering there was someone older and wiser and kinder than him just a short drive away from his home. He kept remembering Adamo. The lycan had been only welcoming and warm towards him and the cambion was staring to realize just how much he was taking that presense for granted.

"Brought some stuff from Çiçek for, uhh..." He looked down at his phone screen. "Lupercal Clinic?" It had only been an excuse he made up, but since all the medical places seemed to order herbs and stuff often enough it was easy to volunteer to hand deliver some expected orders. The box hovered magically at his side, the cambion's hand raised slightly to keep it there. "Mind showing me the way?"

[christopherwoods]

mon-el appreciation week // day 4: favourite outfits

[thesubjugoated]

He had to give it to the Cambion: he was being incredibly difficult to hate, but still, a part of him did. For wanting him, for what he'd done and for not believing in Rhovanor. The Drow had believed in him, with the tadpole within ever growing and feeding, the Architect and his master constantly using him for their stupid games. Yet Felandaris had been the one to bring him all the way to Haven, someone he'd developed a close friendship with. Alas, regrettably, it was Jonah whose undivided attention he truly wanted. Like a moth drawn to the flames, perhaps, he wanted to be burned again. "I'm an Illithid, still me, not a monster." He wasn't his old self, he could barely remember a life before the war, but what he did remember included bits and pieces of his missions with Jonah, the kiss, the hints at a real understanding they'd shared. "Oh, shut up Cambion. Your kind only knows to be dark and broody." The corner of his lip raised into a slight grin which faded fairly fast.

He listened to the other carefully, just like he'd wanted Rhovanor to. The Illithid barely moved as he piled confession onto confession, pleading his case. He'd grieved for 15 years in his solitude, within a war most didn't remember. All the Illithid wanted was to move on from what could never be repaired. "How this would end? Like me falling for the murderer of my parents who'd been sent there to actually kill me? All for your fucking blood money?" His rage kept returning in waves, but he had to remain strong, in control or else another part would take over completely. "You're not a monster, just a fucking idiot, honestly." He pushed the other, gently, not as hard as their conversation probably warranted, "you're the reason for some sleepless nights while people died around me every year until there weren't many left. You're the sole reason I even felt that pain and yet..." he pushed him again until he couldn't hold it any longer. "This is so fucked up," he hadn't been an Eladrin for a long time and refused to let his former grace take over now. Too late for that now. Instead, the wilderness took over, with Rhovanor now grabbing the Cambion tightly, lips pressing together unceremoniously and intensely, hoping the Cambion would finally shut up about the past.

[mercenaryjonah]

Illithid. Jonah remember hearing the word in passing, so much of his reading and questioning come to nothing because there was no more that the cambion could recall of importance. Illithid. That's what Rhovanor was now, and yet some part of his old self remained. Dark and broody. He almost returned the smile, a tiny spec of amusement flickering within him and trying but failing to fight against all the angst and apprehension. This is so fucked up, the Illithid said and the cambion could not agree more. Of all the things that he said about him, Jonah was at least half relieved to hear Rhovanor wasn't completely insane - he recognized the cambions deadly faults. "So what is that if not a fucking monster?" He muttered out, a humorless smile peaking at the edge of his lips and fading just as fast because there was something else sparking in the illithid's eyes.

There was only so much goodwill that the cambion could have. There was a gentleness and a lightness to his heart that came at birth and was nurtured on by his human mother - but there was a darkness there too and a recklessness. He had opened up his heart in more ways than one: coming to realizations and admitting them as his heart shattered to pieces by Rhovanor's words. He wasn't sure how much longer he could stomach his own vulnerability. So when the kiss came and Jonah knew this was not a road they should take, he shoved his good sense away. He shoved it far, far away and instead pressed himself further against the illithid, grabbing onto his collar and shoving him up against the wall as he deepened the kiss.

[shadcwhcart]

[agentoutofdiaz]

[thesubjugoated]

He was agitated, clearly visible at the way his chest raised and fell rapidly. The Illithid couldn't focus on anything else but Jonah at this point, with his heart fully attuned to his mind. The more he got into the moment, the worse his bodily reaction got. Heavy, quick breathing out of sheer anger, the way he balled his hands into fists until he could see the white of his knuckles, eyes wandering with intent, hoping to finally see Jonah break away from this charade. Nothing. "Why wouldn't I? One bad deed doesn't mean I don't get to mourn you," quite the opposite. Unfinished business, that was Jonah was, an unanswered question followed by an exclamation mark and a few hearts.

"Did I ever tell you how much I don't fucking care at this point?" there was a darkness approaching within, his voice changing ever so slightly, "did I ever tell you how much I want you despite everything?" he grew tired of twisting the truth, to not lie, but be a bit creative with his words. The truth, the whole truth. "The why doesn't even matter," he could feel himself tear up, " It's all my fault," the Illithid concluded, "what happened. It's in your nature," a total read, but he was exhausted, tired of their constant struggle. "So, what did you buy with that blood money? A new home? A nice car?" he could hear his own poison seep through the words, "you must've known the moment our eyes met. You kissed me anyway, and stained me too. I kinda don't want to wash it off now. That's the worst part."

[mercenaryjonah]

Rhovanor spoke so many words, so many truths, and each one stung more than the last. By the end of his voice it felt as though a knife has been thrust into Jonah's chest and now he was sure that he had been fooling only himself. This was Rhovanor. Somehow, someway, the fey had survived his change - or at least an integral part of him had survived. Jonah didn't cry; the nuns taught him crying was useless and such a thing stuck. But the lump in his throat made his voice waver and deepen with emotion as he finally found his own words. "And you fey are always so emotional," he breathed out. "Even now that part of you survived. You're really him." Jonah sniffed and nodded once stiffly. His heart bled and broke and, at the same time, it hammered away like a war drum at the memory of their kiss and how it had felt. The memory itself was enough to reawaken that part of Jonah that he kept locked away, something that he couldn't bring himself to think of now. Unlike Rhovanor, he hadn't ever had the luxery to allow himself to humor or consider love - not when he knew how this would end all along.

He didn't speak of the specifics of what he had done; if Rhovanor had deduced the unbreakable deal with the fey and the loophole that cost his parents his life than Jonah did not yet know. "Then if you're really Rho, you'll listen. I tried... I tried so hard to do right by your parents and I found nothing that could work. In the end, you still lost yourself, just like they feared you would, and then you still somehow saved yourself as well." He shook his head, teeth gritting. "And you know what, Rho, believe it or not, cambions have emotions too. Yeah, I kissed you, but we were just two blokes in that party and I- I remembered no reason why I shouldn't. All the care and the caution and the putting you at arm's length because I knew how this would end-" He raised a hand in a frustrated gesture, just to feel himself wither and let the arm fall back to his side; his voice also lowered. "Forget it, it doesn't matter. Whatever you decide now, just don't put my actions on your shoulders. None of that was your fault. You were never the reason I was a monster, or still am." No, he'd been the reason that the monster in him had started to fall asleep.

[daxambcrn]