higher demand

[morsreliqua]

multimuse for calamitoushq, written by king. aspen ratliff. intro. aria. intro.

[wxldxheart]

Cain gave a not at the request for something fruity and reached behind the bar, pulling together a classic Daiquiri, sweet, delicious, with a kick that hits. The alpha idly watches her as he mixes the drink, curious and mildly amused. Humans always reminded him a little of rabbits—skittish but still curious.

He idly wondered if she was from the Refuge, maybe an old friend of Boone's, Kit's or even Peyton's. A thought that made Cain realise he was seriously collecting Refuge rejects.

Setting the drink down in front of her, Cain gave a nod at her compliment to his bar. "Always lookin' for new art for the walls." Cain agreed, his own eyes dragging over the pieces already hanging and spaces where he could easily put more. "What's your style? Think you could paint somethin' for this place?" He asked casually.

[morsreliqua]

The Daiquiri looks fucking great when its set in front of her - enough that she almost doesn't want to drink it. She's about to pull it up when she gets distracted again, looking up at all the spaces she could fill up. her mind starts racing with ideas, and after two more tries of pulling the straw to her, she finally gets a sip of it.

Stunned, she looks down as if it - maybe - isn't real before gulping down twice more. Delicious, and not even a hint of burn as it goes down.

When she looks back up, her smile a little uneven but her shoulders definitely looser, she nods towards the Alpha guy. "I dunno what kinda style you'd call mine, but I draw a lot of.. like, nature stuff? Plants. Some animals.." She trails off and then sits up straight.

"I could draw your pack!"

[morsreliqua]

closed starter for: @sonofbloodandthorns

The Myre Grove is not some place she went to willingly the first time, but she fell in love with the different types of plant life - ones she wouldn't touch for the life of her. The first time she had gotten lost in her journals, spent hours drawing the beauty she could capture.

She'd wandered into a few fae here and there - some scarier than others - and this visit she was here to meet a specific person. In her pack, she has a few gifts for the man, and Aspen tries to meander through until she finds the extravagant entrance to the casino. She's always nervous, but this one isn't tinged by fear - anticipation, perhaps - because she mostly wants Heathcliff to like the gift she's made him.

If he does, then maybe he'll entertain more of her questions about the grove in general. Maybe there's something here than can help the humans, if the right deals are made.

[oftragxdy]

"Very. A bit surprising, considering the previous King and Queen were fairly strict on the whole walking on land, thing." In the shadows -- when no one was expecting such a thing -- someone could easily gather all the information they needed. Often, Akemi was exactly that. Darkness in the trees or down an alley, blending into any shadow as if he was made from it.

"I have." Akemi answered with a smile. "Although, maybe not exactly in the same way as you." It was obvious to him what she was. He'd spent centuries learning how to decipher what someone was from afar. It's how he knew which were worth his time and which weren't. "I see it with those who lose themselves to power." He not only watched it but he extinguished it as well. Not that anyone but his followers knew of that. "It's interesting, the way cave so easily. Most don't even need a gentle push."

[morsreliqua]

"Times seem to be changing." For better or for worse for the mer, Aria could not even begin to make a guess at - that is not her expertise. She prefers the taste of magic on her tongue, of warping innocents to her own baser desires. But she can't deny that the entire situation intrigues her.

"Surely not." Her smile brightens her face - a little too wide, perhaps - but she'd blame that on her true form. Aria moves towards Akemi, gliding in her steps, and walks past him. "Absolute power corrupts, yes - but." She trails off and turns back towards him, still slightly disappointed by the lack of a show. A curiosity that needs to be satisfied scratches at her.

"I was more thinking we might join together for a bit of fun, since we are.. missing out."

[curseaddendum]

It wasn’t long until part of Adrian started feeling sorry for the girl. He hadn’t even drawn water from his pouch and she was nearly shaking like a leaf. He couldn’t let his guard down completely, he never would, but at least he trusted the fact that she was alone in that moment.

She didn’t lie about what drew her to the ruined bookstore either.

“Are you armed?” he asked at last, after weighing his options for a few more seconds. It didn’t look like she was carrying anything deadly, but her reactions could tell him more than a simple glance. Judging by her slip of tongue, her people could be near, and if that were the case, using her a leverage would be the best option. He’d keep her close, for now.

“You can stay,” he allowed as his stance relaxed just enough to not be threatening. “I’m here for books, just like you.”

[morsreliqua]

Aspen starts to shake her head at the question about her weapon, and then remembers the small knife she'd shoved into her boot on the way out. It's not for defense, really, but to take samples with, but she gestures down to it anyways. "There's a little knife in my boot, but I use it mostly for scraping stuff or cutting away bits of flowers and leaves."

She's not a fighter, really. Maybe she could be one day, but she enjoys the parts of scouting that has her moving quickly and hiding in the shadows. It's not often she gets caught out, but when she does and she's in danger - she knows how to be slippery and make a quick getaway.

But he's here for books, too, so she'll.. try and trust the situation won't end with her head on a spike. Her shoulders relax a little. "Oh. Cool, yeah. Maybe I can help you find some? A lot of these places are.. super ravaged." She tries moving away from the spot she's rooted to, mainly to test his reaction - but she slowly goes over towards the shelves, lightly touching the spines of older books with her fingertips. "There's always something cool, even if I don't understand it."

[feralmenagerie]

@morsreliqua

A fugitive must have a hole to hide in, and this shallow cavernous tidal pool is hers; out of the way and solitary, and day in and out it has largely stayed this way until today, whern the sounds of conflict bounce off of its walls and draw her eyes towards the pin-prick of light high above.

A girl has fallen into her home, into the pitch-black. Vaine stares, before new sound draws the hollow glow of her eyes up, where two other shadows darken the entrance to the grate chasm that is her cavernous hovel. They talk amongst themselves.

"Just leave her, this place is bad juju."

"That little shit had a damned full pack, who knows what she's carryin'? Get down there."

When the girl struggles to resurface Vaine considers for a moment the prospect here offered - three humans in her home.

Delicious. She coils in the deep, dark pool, snaking through its usually still waters until she finds her hands on the girls shoulder, only her bright eyes lighting up the dark. A finger glides to her mouth, its monstrous nature obscured in the dark, indicating... calm.

She pulls the poor thing's lips to hers, and fills her mouth with air while her pursuers clamber down; after, aspen pulls her pack free from the snagging bit of driftwood it's caught her on. Under the water, her words are muted and dull. "Be quiet, little minnow."

[morsreliqua]

The night swallows her up as she sprints as fast as her legs will take her - as they burn and turn to fire the more she pushes. Behind her, she can hear the two people scrambling to keep up, gaining on her as she loses steam. She'd stolen from them. Of course she had, she'd needed to. It was food. It was supplies. It was important for the Refuge.

But being only human in the dark, her foot catches and she stumbles, falling down into a cavern. Fear strikes up in her heart, and she freezes as she hits the water - all breath gone from her lungs. She can't see and she scrambles to try and find air while not letting go of the pack.

Something touches her.

She can't see for a moment - the bright light blinding her in the dark. She wants to scream, but can't, because lips touch hers. She's given enough air so she won't drown - which gives her time to pull her pack free, and she watches as the shadows above try to follow her down.

Eyes wide, she shakes her head - but doesn't speak. She's afraid to lose her breath.

[wxldxheart]

Oberyn's smirk is as wicked as it is deadly.

When she offered out a hand to seal their agreement, the Viper glanced down at her awaiting palm, his lips curling a little more before he finally grasped it. But as he shook—grip firm, the sizzle and burn of flesh heated between their skin, palm to palm touch to touch.

Obi didn't flinch at the pain, and he didn't expect her to either, but when he pulled back, carved in a brand upon their flesh was his personal sigil, the brand angry, red, before it began to fade in front of their eyes until their skin was as clear and unblemished as before.

"Just a little insurance—I never seal a deal without it." He smirked, the magic beholding them both to as good as their word.

"Let me know the place and when you want this soul shoved into its new home, although I wouldn't leave it too long—rot does tend to ruin the meat." Obi chuckled darkly. "This rat of yours, will they be there? I can't have any distractions." He asked conversationally.

[morsreliqua]

The burn hurts, but she does not flinch - the demon's eyes simply narrow when he pulls back, and she looks down at she watches the sigil fade from view. Amused, she allows herself a slight smile and turns her gaze up to the sorcerer. "To be expected."

It does not bother her, quite the opposite - this means that it will get done, and she will be beholden to her end of the deal. A favor, if ever needed.

"Come to the gallery within the week. I'll distract the little wolf by taking her out on the town. I'll make all the preparations before hand." By leaving the soul elsewhere for him to grab and place into the body. Surely there is some sort of urn or old coin she can find in the mess of their gallery.

"The sooner the better."

[oftragxdy]

Axel noticed a small shift in the other. He wasn't surprised -- he rarely talked about those that were no longer in the Refuge. It had been years since Izara had been banished. By him, no less. He doubted anyone would assume that he still had contact with her. And he hadn't, not up until a couple of years ago.

"There's no need to be nervous, Aspen." Axel said as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "Kit is my ex. And we... we still talk, occasionally." More than talk, really. "If you can have a good professional relationship with her, and even friendship, if you desire, then it would be helpful for us." For the Refuge, he meant. "But I'll need updates on anything you two agree upon. Anything she gives you. Information or otherwise."

Axel trusted Kit to tell him herself but in his opinion, it was always good to have information from both ends. "Thank you. That's all I can ask for." He said, offering her a smile. "And if there's anything I can ever do for you, all you have to do is ask."

[morsreliqua]

Oh. Well. Okay, yeah, that explains it. Aspen takes a visible breath, her shoulders lifting and dropping while she rubs her forehead with her index finger. "Damn - I thought you were about to ream me a new one." She laughs it out, letting go of the last of the nerves that had taken over her in the last few minutes. "We're - We're on good terms." She nods, shoving her own hands in her pockets to match his posture.

"But you got it, boss. Updates and stuff. Mostly it's just .. art stuff, is all. Right now, really. But anything else, you'll be the first to know. Absolutely swear it."

His offer right back helps her, too, because if there's ever a moment where she takes off too big a bite and gets into deep shit - maybe he'll come and bail her out. Within reason. "I got a couple of runs to finish - but, I'll come see you next time I meet up with her."

[wxldxheart]

"Sure—you mean a soda or some sort of fruity cocktail that packs a punch?" Cain asked casually as he grabbed a glass from behind him, pouring a generous amount of whiskey and handing it off to a wolf who'd slid up to the bar.

The alpha didn't even charge for the drink—not when it was pack anyway, they had that privilege.

He casually looked the kid over, noting her nervousness, the scent of hesitation was all over her, but Cain was used to that attitude around him. He cut an intimidating figure in and out of his wolf-form.

"Free to look around kid—this place ain't off-limits t' humans. Just watch yourself, I get all sorts in here." Cain replied casually as he leaned against the bar's oak wood-top. "Cain." The alpha introduced himself, offering his hand.

[morsreliqua]

The question takes her off guard - but she finally blurts out, "Fruity thing." For a fruity thing, she almost follows up with and winces internally at the bad joke. Though she doesn't quite relax here, it does help to know that she's, at least, welcome here and won't be thrown out by the scruff of her neck. Turning her head away from Cain, she takes a deep breath and looks around.

It's funny how she's growing more and more comfortable around wolves of all things, but after the chance meeting at the station and after figuring out a rapport with Kit - she thinks she has a good chance to maybe find others that won't tear her throat out.

She takes his hand when she looks back, a slightly nervous grin on her features. "Nice t'meetcha. It's - kind of a cool place." Her fingers drum on the edge of bar, as she looks around more. "D'you put art up? I - I paint, is why I'm asking."

[feralmenagerie]

the tempest @morsreliqua

Before they'd arrived, she had faced a crisis; what to wear?

The clothes she brought with her to the Galerie had been the clothes she'd lived in for years. New things would meander in as she found them, but all her wardrobe was a patchwork of rags and scraps held together by coarse thread and a dream.

Most of it was gone - if the Demon - Aria - had thrown it out or burned it or what, she doesn't know. Maybe it would arrive in her room someday soon, cleaner than she'd ever seen it. She misses it; she'd kept two things, refused to let go of them because they'd smelled of Summer.

But she's confronted now with a dress and a suit. The dress reminds her of the things she and her fellows would wear at midsummer, but much more rich. It's too soft though, feels like oil between her fingers. She opts for the suit.

Now, here, sitting next to Aria in a private box, looking down on a stage where a story's being told. It's some swashbuckling tale that she's barely following, because her thoughts keep traveling to the woman next to her, to the promise made, and to the idea that she hasn't seen either side delivered on. The door opens behind them and Autumn jumps from her seat, turned towards the approaching attendant like she might pounce for the kill.

[morsreliqua]

Contrary to Autumn's pick, Aria sat next to her in a beautiful flowing dress - dotted with decorative feathers to match her true form. Beneath them, the show goes on - beautiful melodies and haunting stories. It's one of the better shows, if she were to tell it, but her attention is mostly at the wolf next to her. She can tell the poor girl is tense, but she gets confirmation when the door opens.

Looking up lazily, she gestures to the attendant to make a wide berth to deliver their drinks. Her gaze does not leave Autumn. Lifting a hand, she touches her wrist, leading her gently back to the seat. "You are much too feral for the setting. Sit, pay attention."

She sips from her glass after having it handed to her, and nods to the attendant to give one to Autumn, as well. He does so with terribly shaky hands. Aria's free hand goes to the wolf's knee, rubbing it in circles with her thumb. "Drink. Relax. You must learn to control yourself in a public place, you mongrel." Though it's an insult, she says it like one might say 'darling' or 'beautiful.'

[cavernovs]

"Look at you," Izara muses, softening her posture to rest a hip against the workbench. "You got me more than curious now." Kit would love to see what Aspen's creations are, in her neck of the woods ― so to speak. What does a drifter like her come up with?

Shaking her head, Kit smiles, genuine. "Don't fix nothin' up. I'll come by, leave everything as is. You think this place is all spruced?" Ain't gonna bother Kit none.

Looking around, any visitor could see the oil, and paint stains. The spray cans busted, rusted and vying to cave to rot. Equipment dangling from hooks nailed in, covered in more oxidation and decay. It's a mess, but it's Izara's. And she'd know where everything is, if asked. She gets the job done, does it matter how?

Jutting her head towards the back, she doesn't want to keep Asp any longer than needs. She's sure there's other stops on her ventures beyond Gaskit. "Let me know if you need a hand with that stuff, yeah? And I'm serious about stopping by."

[morsreliqua]

Aspen does look around when prompted - and decides, naw, this place ain't spruced up at all. She likes it here, wonders why it's here she's at, rather than anywhere else. But then she remembers the talk with Axel and feels her shoulders tense up. Not now, she thinks, because it does feel like she's making a real friend. Maybe not a human, but - danger lurks at every corner here.

"Sure, yeah. Thanks." She lurches forward a little too quickly, unthinking, and gathers the her portion of the trade goods into her own sack. Slinging it off her shoulder, she wheels back around. "Oh! I mean - yeah, please come by. Whenever. I'll.. I'll draw you a map real quick."

And she does. Crude as ever, on a blank page ripped out of an old book. "I'll show you my mural." Is her parting words, and she lets out a slow, shaky breath with a nod before skipping out. Next time - she'll ask Kit about the Axel stuff. Next time - she'll try and make a better deal. Friends, first.

[wxldxheart]

Oberyn listened, his grin only growing—like a viper's strike, before he laughed, amused. "Poor puppy." He said with a derisive smirk. Such a desperate little dog to go crawling to a demon of all things to try and raise their dead sister. It was foolish, utterly idiotic in Obi's opinion—but then most people were.

Anyone who trusted a demon was an idiot.

"Put just any rotten soul into that corpse and call it a deal done? Sounds delightfully wicked." The sorcerer grinned, all fangs and venom.

Oberyn leaned back, plucking up his glass of rich brandy and taking a sip as he considered what he would want from a demon. Might be nice to have one in his back pocket should a day arrive when he needed infernal expertise.

"When a time comes that I need something from such a spectacularly devilish creature as yourself—come when I call, and I'll shove whatever soul you want into that rotting corpse." Obi laughed.

[morsreliqua]

"Any rotten soul." Aria confirms, her lips sliding into something of an amused smile - she would prefer to handle the deal on her own, but sometimes concessions must be made. If she owes a sorcerer, then so be it - she's owed much more to much worse in her time. When the day comes where she has to pay her price, then she'll do it with a grin on her features.

And just like that - she knows she'll be at beck and call when needed. Not the worst thing to be done here.

"You'll have to come see the body for yourself. And say nothing of who will occupy it." At that, she holds out a hand - to confirm and set the deal between magic user and demon. "Maybe you'll see the little pup yourself. Almost a wererat, if such a thing existed."

[morsreliqua]

There were too many haunts in the State that Aspen knew she should stay the hell away from. But she was.. looking. Again. Not for any old thing or any old pieces of scrap to take back to the refuge, but for the wolf she'd run into outside of her safe haven away from haven. She'd thought about asking Kit if she'd seen one, but that felt like a bad idea on top of another stupid idea.

She'd wandered into the Roadhouse to hopefully strike up conversation, and maybe run into whoever it was themselves. But it sounded ridiculous to just ask 'hey did I give you a bunch of weird meat outside of a gas station one time?', so most of her time there at the bar was hiding in a corner and watching.

The commotion startles her more than anything, watching a man about twice her size throw another around. Was she about to witness something maybe she shouldn't have? She tries to escape, but hears more people behind her, moving to see what's going on, or moving out of the way. And before Aspen knows it, she's right in front of them. "Oh. Shit."

[wxldxheart]

Cain gave the packless wolf caught in his grip a final dismissive look over, his grip tightening past the point of pain as he rose him up off his feet. "Get runnin' before we hunt you." He growled low, deadly, an alphas warning.

Then he tossed him, like he weight nothing, straight out the doors to the Roadhouse.

Rolling his shoulders, like he was shaking off a minor inconvenience, Cain turned back to the bar, ready to go back to pouring drinks and generally having a good time. The alpha rose a brow when he caught the distinct scent of human. It wasn't uncommon in his bar - but it also wasn't a scent he smelt often either - after all, a den of wolves was a dangerous place for any human.

"Trouble's done, you can relax kid." He told her before gesturing to the barstools. "Drink?"

[morsreliqua]

It felt like an accident, stumbling in here, getting swept up in the crowd. But there's really nowhere to turn that isn't obvious the moment the alpha guy sets his sights on her. The guy he'd been threatening seems to heed the warning, and Aspen feels rooted to the spot. Swallowing hard, she glances over to the stools he motions to.

Is this a trap? Is she totally done for, finally? Aspen knows she needs to mind her own damn business half the time, but her feet start moving before she has a chance to think. By the time she comes back to her mind, she's sliding onto the stool and tapping her fingers nervously on the edge of the bar.

"..sure, yeah. Do you - do you guys do, like, sweet drinks?" It's been a long time since she's had something sugary. Usually she gives her share of it to the younger ones back home. "I'm Aspen. I was kind of - I was just kinda looking around. Mostly. Curious."

[josiahmaxwell]

There was something in the young woman that reminded him of the innocence his twin brother used to have. He lived with that version still, even now, with Elian alive and standing, breathing, blinking those same wide eyes at Josiah. Elian was real, and yet robbed of nearly everything he had once been. This girl, however, still carried something genuine, because he noticed joy brightened her face when she accepted the books and thanked him, as though he had saved her life. In a way, perhaps he had, when they had both survived that greenhouse of horrors, and survival had a way of binding strangers.

Was that why he lingered now? Why he felt the need to remain a little longer and keep her company, to ensure nothing unpleasant found her while he stood there?

"I do like books," he said, "The classics, mostly." Josiah lowered himself into a kneel so their eyes met on equal level. "I am no one so important that you cannot speak freely to me. Is it not peace we claim to be fighting for?" His voice gentle, "You don't need to be afraid."

He meant to remind her there was nothing false in the kindness he offered, though caution, in her place, would still be wise. "Where do you live—" A pause then, allowing the space for her to offer her name first.

[morsreliqua]

"Aspen." She offers the name, though realizes that probably wasn't the best idea either. "I live in a safe place." She knows she can't reveal where that is, and despite the gift given to her and the nerves thrumming through her, she remains steady. That's the only thing this bundle of nerves made into a girl knows how to do: be steady in her protection of the only place the humans have.

She strokes along the covers of the books again, cradling them still. Her gaze studies him, trying to see if there's something lurking beneath the surface that he hasn't shown her. Sharp teeth or acid on his breath or.. fins. Or something.

Aspen swallows hard. "I can't tell you where. You understand, yeah?"

[oftragxdy]

Our own fun? That piques Akemi's interest as he watched the woman stand from her seat next to him. "Yes. Suppose we might have to." He said with a smile that slowly lifted his lips and met his eyes. He'd never met this woman but Akemi had a hard time turning down fun. And as long as she kept his interest, then he'd stick around.

"I did hear rumors that it fucked with their water." Akemi smirked as he glanced towards the fish that swam in front of them. "They seemed to be spooked now. I also heard they are building something on land for themselves." Would they be able to tell the difference between Merfolk and regular humans? "It would be unfortunate if they continued to abandon their duties to entertain, though."

"So..." Akemi placed his own hands behind his head as he stared up at the woman. "About this fun. Tell me -- what do you normally do, hm?"

[morsreliqua]

Aria's fingertips tap on the point of her chin as her gaze takes in the view of the ocean beyond them. In certain types, this vastness may strike unnerving fear into the hearts of them, but to her - it simply reminds her of other, better people and events. The yawning cavernous hunger of her compatriot, for example, provides much more to fear than water.

Her attention moves, then, back to the conversation at hand. "On land. Vulnerable, that. And very intriguing." She hasn't had a taste of fish in quite some time. She files that away for later, to sick her pet on someone, perhaps, to bring back to her.

"Have you ever watched someone lose themselves in their own baser desires without so much as a touch?" Her lips part in a soft smile, "When someone gives into themselves fully without thinking about anything but what they crave? It's a good meal for myself, but quite enjoyable to watch otherwise."

[wxldxheart]

Obi looked up from where he'd been enjoying some of the entertainment his establishment hosted for guests, the Viper's Den always rife with pretty little things or those with talent to entertain his clientele.

The ancient sorcerers' gaze dragged over the demon for a moment, his interest certainly piqued enough for him to humour her.

"If you're after my soul querida, you're out of luck - I sold it millennia ago to something with a little more power than a demon." He chuckled, relaxed and casual.

Obi saw no use in demon deals, there was nothing one could offer him that he couldn't obtain with his own power—and in his mind, he was far more powerful than any measly demon.

"But say you've got me curious—what's got a demon coming to me begging for a deal?" He smirked playfully.

[morsreliqua]

"Not yours." Aria muses, and saunters over closer so they may speak as equals - not a privilege she gives to many. But, well, she wants something that only Oberyn can provide. "I promised something to a little wolf that I'm unable to do just on my own. And in exchange, I get her soul." There's no need to expand on the witch coven she came from or the fact that she'd already been promised their souls.

"You see, this poor pup has a sister. Dead, though. Rotting corpse, wafting its foul smell all through the gallery. I promised her I could bring her sister back. Now, you and I both know that necromancy isn't exactly the easiest, and I certainly know that I am not in possession of her. But I do have others."

Her grin widens. "What say you help me pluck a soul from my oblivion and bind it to this festering rot so that I may keep my end of the deal? You may name your price for what I'd owe you."

[oftragxdy]

Axel couldn't hide the smile, and the snort, at who Aspen claimed to know. "Is her name Izara? Or does she go by Kit, with you?" Maybe he was wrong. Maybe it wasn't Izara that Aspen was talking about. But he honestly wouldn't have been surprised if it was the same person in his mind. His ex. She used to live with them, as a human. Axel never kept track on who either remained in contact with her or who met her after he'd made her leave the Hideout.

He'd rather Izara not involved if she didn't need to be. But... he wasn't going to deny help. "See if you can talk to her into getting you more than that. Make a deal. You can use me in the conversation. I'll give her anything she wants." He'd build her a new fucking treehouse, if she wanted it. "It is." Axel let out a sigh. "I'll see what I can do on that end. Maybe I can find a witch or something."

[morsreliqua]

Aspen almost freezes. Does him knowing who she'd been talking about means she's in trouble. Her mouth feels dry almost immediately, with a cold fear settling itself in her stomach. She is - somehow - able to find the words despite wanting to shrink in on herself. "Yeah. Kit."

What he offers, though, shocks her. Because she doesn't expect him to be okay with it, in the first place. She forces herself to nod, forces a shaky sort of smile. "Yeah - I'll, uh, I'll try. Maybe.. maybe something good can come from it." Her smile widens a little bit, leaning into the trust for the guy who leads this whole place. Axel won't lead her wrong, even if she is scared she's going to fuck up.

"I'll keep an eye out, too. Swear it."