Are We Not Drawn Onward to New Era?

RP blog for Katherine 'Sigyn' Signy, Mastigos Apostate

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Sora Choi by Willy Vanderperre for Perfect Magazine Issue 4

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Sora Choi at Marc Jacobs Fall 2016

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Sora Choi at Paco Rabanne SS 24

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Sora Choi at the 2023 Met Gala

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Sora Choi & Yoon Young Bae after the Chloé Fall 2019 show at Paris Fashion Week. © jaylim1

[lilithniles]

[rhyme-and-reason]

Shortly after she spoke with Remy, with thoughts of her future weighing on her mind, Hester scheduled a meeting with Sigyn to discuss 'something important'. She was already at a booth in the Watchtower when Sigyn arrived, staring directly into space over her drink.

Sigyn takes the time to get herself a shockingly green cocktail before moving toward Hester and her booth. “May I sit?”

[hester-blake]

She jolted, but smiled shortly after, gesturing across from her.

“Yeah- sorry, go ahead. Thanks for agreeing to meet, I’ve got kinda a huge favour to ask you.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“Alright.” Sigyn sits down, taking a sip of her drink in preparation for whatever outlandish request Hester might have.

[hester-blake]

Hester took a breath, mentally repeating what she’d rehearsed one last time before speaking.

“So, I had a meeting with the Strategos of the local Free Council. He… asked if I’d be willing to undergo some examination, to see if there’s anything in my head that isn’t, strictly speaking, me. He allowed me to pick the Mastigos, and I couldn’t think of anyone more qualified, and anyone who I’d trust more to do it. If that’s something you’d want to do, obviously.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“O-oh.” Clearly this is not what she was expecting. “That’s…definitely a lot. Okay, first things first, we’re not doing that today, even if I agree to be the one to examine you. Alright?”

[hester-blake]

Hester raised her hands a little, in a placating gesture.

“Wasn’t expecting it to be today, I’ve still got to work out if I want to go through with it myself, and I’d assumed it was something that would require scheduling.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“Okay, good. So, are we talking deep Scrutiny, an Astral delve, or telepathic rapport? How…intimate do you want me to get with your mind?”

[hester-blake]

“He didn’t say how deep he wanted, so I guess that’s up to me… how intimate would you need to get in order to be sure my mother didn’t leave anything in there?”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“That…would be a pretty deep dive. Here’s a fun question: would you want me to attempt to resolve anything ‘left’ in there, or simply inform you there’s a thing?” Sigyn’s voice is soft, her tone almost…apologetic, somehow.

[hester-blake]

“Hoo- that’s a doozy.” She considered carefully before answering.

“If… if it’s something core to me, then… maybe not. But if it’s going to hurt me in the long run, then that’s more important, yes.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“Hester, we’re talking about what your family has done to you. It’s entirely possible that there’s something wrapped up in the core of who you feel like you are that’s a present from them. It might not even be magically implanted, it could simply be a core belief that’s due to your upbringing.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

Shortly after she spoke with Remy, with thoughts of her future weighing on her mind, Hester scheduled a meeting with Sigyn to discuss 'something important'. She was already at a booth in the Watchtower when Sigyn arrived, staring directly into space over her drink.

Sigyn takes the time to get herself a shockingly green cocktail before moving toward Hester and her booth. “May I sit?”

[hester-blake]

She jolted, but smiled shortly after, gesturing across from her.

“Yeah- sorry, go ahead. Thanks for agreeing to meet, I’ve got kinda a huge favour to ask you.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“Alright.” Sigyn sits down, taking a sip of her drink in preparation for whatever outlandish request Hester might have.

[hester-blake]

Hester took a breath, mentally repeating what she’d rehearsed one last time before speaking.

“So, I had a meeting with the Strategos of the local Free Council. He… asked if I’d be willing to undergo some examination, to see if there’s anything in my head that isn’t, strictly speaking, me. He allowed me to pick the Mastigos, and I couldn’t think of anyone more qualified, and anyone who I’d trust more to do it. If that’s something you’d want to do, obviously.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“O-oh.” Clearly this is not what she was expecting. “That’s…definitely a lot. Okay, first things first, we’re not doing that today, even if I agree to be the one to examine you. Alright?”

[hester-blake]

Hester raised her hands a little, in a placating gesture.

“Wasn’t expecting it to be today, I’ve still got to work out if I want to go through with it myself, and I’d assumed it was something that would require scheduling.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“Okay, good. So, are we talking deep Scrutiny, an Astral delve, or telepathic rapport? How…intimate do you want me to get with your mind?”

[hester-blake]

“He didn’t say how deep he wanted, so I guess that’s up to me… how intimate would you need to get in order to be sure my mother didn’t leave anything in there?”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“That...would be a pretty deep dive. Here’s a fun question: would you want me to attempt to resolve anything ‘left’ in there, or simply inform you there’s a thing?” Sigyn’s voice is soft, her tone almost...apologetic, somehow.

[rhyme-and-reason]

Shortly after she spoke with Remy, with thoughts of her future weighing on her mind, Hester scheduled a meeting with Sigyn to discuss 'something important'. She was already at a booth in the Watchtower when Sigyn arrived, staring directly into space over her drink.

Sigyn takes the time to get herself a shockingly green cocktail before moving toward Hester and her booth. “May I sit?”

[hester-blake]

She jolted, but smiled shortly after, gesturing across from her.

“Yeah- sorry, go ahead. Thanks for agreeing to meet, I’ve got kinda a huge favour to ask you.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“Alright.” Sigyn sits down, taking a sip of her drink in preparation for whatever outlandish request Hester might have.

[hester-blake]

Hester took a breath, mentally repeating what she’d rehearsed one last time before speaking.

“So, I had a meeting with the Strategos of the local Free Council. He… asked if I’d be willing to undergo some examination, to see if there’s anything in my head that isn’t, strictly speaking, me. He allowed me to pick the Mastigos, and I couldn’t think of anyone more qualified, and anyone who I’d trust more to do it. If that’s something you’d want to do, obviously.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“O-oh.” Clearly this is not what she was expecting. “That’s…definitely a lot. Okay, first things first, we’re not doing that today, even if I agree to be the one to examine you. Alright?”

[hester-blake]

Hester raised her hands a little, in a placating gesture.

“Wasn’t expecting it to be today, I’ve still got to work out if I want to go through with it myself, and I’d assumed it was something that would require scheduling.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“Okay, good. So, are we talking deep Scrutiny, an Astral delve, or telepathic rapport? How...intimate do you want me to get with your mind?”

[rhyme-and-reason]

Shortly after she spoke with Remy, with thoughts of her future weighing on her mind, Hester scheduled a meeting with Sigyn to discuss 'something important'. She was already at a booth in the Watchtower when Sigyn arrived, staring directly into space over her drink.

Sigyn takes the time to get herself a shockingly green cocktail before moving toward Hester and her booth. “May I sit?”

[hester-blake]

She jolted, but smiled shortly after, gesturing across from her.

“Yeah- sorry, go ahead. Thanks for agreeing to meet, I’ve got kinda a huge favour to ask you.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“Alright.” Sigyn sits down, taking a sip of her drink in preparation for whatever outlandish request Hester might have.

[hester-blake]

Hester took a breath, mentally repeating what she’d rehearsed one last time before speaking.

“So, I had a meeting with the Strategos of the local Free Council. He… asked if I’d be willing to undergo some examination, to see if there’s anything in my head that isn’t, strictly speaking, me. He allowed me to pick the Mastigos, and I couldn’t think of anyone more qualified, and anyone who I’d trust more to do it. If that’s something you’d want to do, obviously.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“O-oh.” Clearly this is not what she was expecting. “That’s...definitely a lot. Okay, first things first, we’re not doing that today, even if I agree to be the one to examine you. Alright?”

[rhyme-and-reason]

Shortly after she spoke with Remy, with thoughts of her future weighing on her mind, Hester scheduled a meeting with Sigyn to discuss 'something important'. She was already at a booth in the Watchtower when Sigyn arrived, staring directly into space over her drink.

Sigyn takes the time to get herself a shockingly green cocktail before moving toward Hester and her booth. “May I sit?”

[hester-blake]

She jolted, but smiled shortly after, gesturing across from her.

“Yeah- sorry, go ahead. Thanks for agreeing to meet, I’ve got kinda a huge favour to ask you.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“Alright.” Sigyn sits down, taking a sip of her drink in preparation for whatever outlandish request Hester might have.

[rhyme-and-reason]

Shortly after she spoke with Remy, with thoughts of her future weighing on her mind, Hester scheduled a meeting with Sigyn to discuss 'something important'. She was already at a booth in the Watchtower when Sigyn arrived, staring directly into space over her drink.

Sigyn takes the time to get herself a shockingly green cocktail before moving toward Hester and her booth. “May I sit?”

[rhyme-and-reason]

So I've done some thinking. That's the mildly cryptic text Sig gets one weekend afternoon from Hawke. Wanna come over? I made too much soup, anyway.

There is a pause between reading the text and replying.

do you want me to bring some crusty sourdough to use as bread bowls or dip in the soup?

[rhyme-and-reason]

“I have no idea. I can see them being amused or embarrassed. Or both.” She laughs. “Maybe work out so if they’re snuggling up here, you and I hang out here? Something like that.”

[hawkewardsilence]

“Yeah that’ll probably work best. This place is big enough, that we could all be here and not know it but…your place is comfortable. Plus, your movie collection is definitely better.” They grin.

[rhyme-and-reason]

“Mmm. When do we tell our boys? If at all, I suppose. We could just let them figure it out.”

[hawkewardsilence]

“Jair’s not my ‘boy’.” It’s a reflexive response.

“I don’t mind not telling them, they’re smart. They’ll figure it out eventually.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“He is your family, though, in every sense that matters, from what I’ve seen. Or perhaps it’s the reverse, that you’re his family. And you’re the one reading parenting blogs, Hawke.”

Her tone of voice is gentle, here.

[hawkewardsilence]

Hawke opens their mouth to respond, and then makes a face.

“Okay. Fair, he’s definitely family. You and Fray are too, for what it’s worth.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

"Clarify that: we're family for one another or for you?"

[rhyme-and-reason]

So I've done some thinking. That's the mildly cryptic text Sig gets one weekend afternoon from Hawke. Wanna come over? I made too much soup, anyway.

There is a pause between reading the text and replying.

do you want me to bring some crusty sourdough to use as bread bowls or dip in the soup?

[rhyme-and-reason]

“I have no idea. I can see them being amused or embarrassed. Or both.” She laughs. “Maybe work out so if they’re snuggling up here, you and I hang out here? Something like that.”

[hawkewardsilence]

“Yeah that’ll probably work best. This place is big enough, that we could all be here and not know it but…your place is comfortable. Plus, your movie collection is definitely better.” They grin.

[rhyme-and-reason]

“Mmm. When do we tell our boys? If at all, I suppose. We could just let them figure it out.”

[hawkewardsilence]

“Jair’s not my ‘boy’.” It’s a reflexive response.

“I don’t mind not telling them, they’re smart. They’ll figure it out eventually.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“He is your family, though, in every sense that matters, from what I’ve seen. Or perhaps it’s the reverse, that you’re his family. And you’re the one reading parenting blogs, Hawke.”

Her tone of voice is gentle, here.

[rhyme-and-reason]

So I've done some thinking. That's the mildly cryptic text Sig gets one weekend afternoon from Hawke. Wanna come over? I made too much soup, anyway.

There is a pause between reading the text and replying.

do you want me to bring some crusty sourdough to use as bread bowls or dip in the soup?

[rhyme-and-reason]

“I have no idea. I can see them being amused or embarrassed. Or both.” She laughs. “Maybe work out so if they’re snuggling up here, you and I hang out here? Something like that.”

[hawkewardsilence]

“Yeah that’ll probably work best. This place is big enough, that we could all be here and not know it but…your place is comfortable. Plus, your movie collection is definitely better.” They grin.

[rhyme-and-reason]

“Mmm. When do we tell our boys? If at all, I suppose. We could just let them figure it out.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

So I've done some thinking. That's the mildly cryptic text Sig gets one weekend afternoon from Hawke. Wanna come over? I made too much soup, anyway.

There is a pause between reading the text and replying.

do you want me to bring some crusty sourdough to use as bread bowls or dip in the soup?

[rhyme-and-reason]

“I have no idea. I can see them being amused or embarrassed. Or both.” She laughs. “Maybe work out so if they’re snuggling up here, you and I hang out here? Something like that.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

So I've done some thinking. That's the mildly cryptic text Sig gets one weekend afternoon from Hawke. Wanna come over? I made too much soup, anyway.

There is a pause between reading the text and replying.

do you want me to bring some crusty sourdough to use as bread bowls or dip in the soup?

[rhyme-and-reason]

“She’s a teenager, right? Remember that she doesn’t think of herself as young. Kids…they’re always the oldest they’ve ever been in their whole life, and feel more mature than ever before.”

[hawkewardsilence]

“Yeah she’s like sixteen. I definitely don’t wanna come off as condescending, or like I’m talking down to her. I mean not with any of ‘em, really. I’ve…” They rub the back of their head and open a cabinet to get out some bowls. “God it’s embarrassing, I’ve been reading fucking parenting blogs. The ones with actual decent advice.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

Sigyn laughs. “That is a fucking mood. I did the same, and a shitton of research on autism when Fray and I moved out on our own.”

[hawkewardsilence]

“I found a few decent ones run by foster parents of teens, and one by a guy and is wife who adopted a teenager too. Really makes me feel like I don’t know shit though, I mean I’m not even twice her age.” Hawke shakes their head. “But here I am, I guess. ‘Caretaker’ is not something I’d ever thought I’d describe myself as.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“Can you email me those blogs? I’d love to read them for my own purposes.”

Sigyn helps prepare bowls and cut bread.

[hawkewardsilence]

“Yeah, sure.” They take a breath. “I…do you wanna wait for after dinner for me to…talk about what I’ve been thinking about? It’s not bad, I don’t think, I’ve just been processing. Shit. And that always takes me a while.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“I think I’d be more anxious waiting, honestly. So if you can start talking now, that would be much better for me, personally. But if you’re not ready, I can hold it.”

[hawkewardsilence]

“That’s fine, yeah, um…” Another breath and they rub the back of their head. “So I…I think I’m more interested in…romance, then sex. And for romance to be like…like this, hanging out together at home, not fancy dinners and shit.” There’s a beat, and they ladle soup into bowls.

“So if that’s the kind of shit that you’re okay with, I’d kinda like that. With you.” They glance up to make eye contact with Sigyn.

[rhyme-and-reason]

Sigyn blinks a few times, processing that. And then her face blooms into a brilliant smile. “See, making me anxious over that would simply have been rude, because all of that sounds perfect to me, honestly.”

[hawkewardsilence]

Hawke exhales, their shoulders dropping as they relax. They offer Sig a hesitant smile. “Cool. Sorry I made you anxious, I’ve been kinda freaking the fuck out, not knowing how to say what I wanted. And…and figuring out what I wanted in the first place.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

“Hawke, I haven’t told you this explicitly yet, but weaponizing my sex appeal was something I did as a Guardian of the Veil, and the fact that what you want from me has nothing to do with that is definitely…it’s good to hear that stated aloud. It makes me believe that it’s actually me you like, instead of any mask I’ve ever worn.”

[hawkewardsilence]

“…Oh. Fuck, yeah I…of course I like you. For…you. I like to think I know a mask when I see it. We both had ‘em up, at the beginning.” Hawke brings the bowls over to the table.

[rhyme-and-reason]

“I try not to wear mine much at all anymore. Which is hard.” She lets out a bit of a laugh. “But I like you, too. I like being around you.”

[hawkewardsilence]

“It’s comfortable, spending time with you. I’m not used to that with people. I’m not used to trusting people like I trust you, it’s weird. But not bad weird.”

[rhyme-and-reason]

"The funny thing is, I think I've overheard Jair saying exactly that to Fray." Sigyn grins.