closed starter for @heavensauras
locations: various locations within the village
tw: stalking, body horror, creepy in general, sorry y’all
She got onto her feet after enjoying a few moments alone at the beach. Whenever possible the earth sprite enjoyed some quality time out in the open, completely isolated from everyone else. Like a hermit she preferred to be a loner, unseen, unheard, until one could only feel her claws ripping through their skin. Such precision had to be recharged, unlike the hunger within. A hunger like that was never fully sated and Lynx considered herself to be a glutton. Nothing could ever be enough, so she looked around for another target. She walked around the village with her bare feet, dressed all in black, skin tight and capable of letting her fight if needed. The cage had been busy for the past few days as more and more humans, as well as sprites, came in to be challenged, tested, for their stamina and strength. She quite openly used them as toys, ready to be slaughtered, tricked, over and over again (the human’s aren’t that lucky, of course). Lynx spotted Aura near the graveyard. She wasn’t really alone and it was too crowded at this hour, but Lynx had always liked Aura for effortless beauty and the way she carried herself by floating. The earth sprite got closer, one step at a time, always making sure she remained unseen. Aura’s beautiful skin, the way she moved and she seemed so oblivious to what was happening. Lynx dug her nails into the nearest tree, slightly, just to stop the tingling. Whenever Aura moved, Lynx moved, too. Her blinking decreased now as her focus grew stronger and stronger. Whenever someone moved in her way, Lynx pushed them aside with ease. They used to know to let her be -- kindness or courtesy were utterly lost and confusing to her by now. Lynx’ heart raced, her breathing increased -- she wanted Aura, craved her.
This went on for what felt like an eternity, until they were alone. Lynx, without saying a word, without making a sound, not even through breathing, approached Aura from behind and yanked her to the ground with brutal force. She got on top then to stop her from floating, or even attempting to, altogether. “You seem so utterly lost, Aura.”
“Light?” Lux repeated with intrigue. “That’s beautiful! You should have been a sky sprite.” As with all sprites that weren’t her own, however, the monarch could have easily listed the vices that prevented her from bonding with Lynx upon her arrival to Concordia. She was belligerent and combative and publicly so. The sky sprites weren’t perfect yet, albeit even the most rumbustious had made progress with their impulse control. “Stella?” She pondered it for a moment, then smiled. “I like that. That will be my human name from now on.” Suddenly, she gasped. “We should give all the Monarchs human names. Then we can talk about them without them knowing.”
When they walked off to be alone, Lux looked around and wrinkled her nose. “The Village is beautiful,” she said. “But have you ever seen the Edge of the World? It’s the best view in the world. I’ll show it to you next time you visit Caelum ― which we should arrange soon, by the way. A bit of sun is good for everyone.”
At Lynx’s encouragement, she looked around for a throne to sit upon, and, seeing only harsh logs or piles of dirt, settled instead with standing. “I know you enjoy toying with the new arrivals, Lynx,” she said bluntly. “And you’re corrupting Nimbus by allowing him to play along. I could bring my concerns to the other monarchs. But, as always, in Caelum spirit, I’m willing to compromise.” She smiled. “Let me judge the humans first. I’ll decide which ones have potential, and I’ll send the lost causes to you.”
Lynx laughed, no, cackled, at her suggestion. First Caspian, now Lux? It was fun to see them fight for her like that even now while it was too late. Her wild personality must’ve been perfect for Concordia, after all, further confirming her own thoughts about never feelings truly human even before arriving here. Lynx was born to be a sprite, to claw and bite her way through life and be stronger than all others like her father, like her competitors. To know, that Lux would always be one of the strongest sprites around here didn’t really bother her. What bothered Lynx was the realization that such power came with an unparalleled beauty. Like the stars, like rainbows, like the first sunlight after a long night kind of beautiful.
The earth sprite eagerly awaited an explanation for Lux’ sudden desire to meet her in private. This could’ve been about everything, really. “You are Lux, don’t let them call you like that, so mundane. You are not mundane,” she should own her name and power and not reduce herself to something as weal as humanity. Lynx mirrored Lux’ wrinkled nose without really thinking about it and replied “I live in a cave,” she spat, “so, I’m not a fan of crowds,” or going out in general, really. Lux mentioning Nimbus didn’t surprise her. Though she’d hoped they were subtle in their hunt at times, more often they weren’t at all. Her cackle could be heard from far away as they hunted others to test their limits. “You’re setting them up to be slaughtered? Send off to be toys to keep the wild cat happy?`” for the first time Lynx sounded amused, “I’m already managing my fun with Nimbus, thanks for the offer. What’s in it for you, anyway? You know I don’t really care about rules, right? So why bother?”
Lux raised a brow at the sprite’s fiery reaction to her peace offering. Despite her kindness, she wasn’t easily intimidated, especially so by a mere earth sprite. In fact, she found the other being’s stance more… cute than threatening. She crossed one knee over the other, and looked up at Lynx with a sweet smile. “That’s okay. That leaves more for me,” she said, popping the remaining berries passed her lips. “I think there’s a bowl of sour ones too, if you prefer those. I like sweet, but to each their own. They say your berry preference reveals much about your personality.” They didn’t, but sometimes she liked to create things in her mind and then speak them into existence ― an old habit.
“I know, but Lucy is such a beautiful name,” she gushed. “If you had been a sprite of mine, we probably wouldn’t have changed it at all. Lucy.” Human names always tasted foreign on her tongue and sounded silly enough to make her giggle. “Honestly, what does that even mean?” If the origin of the name couldn’t be traced back to some aspect of the universe, she couldn’t fathom how humans thought of it. “Be honest. What do you think my human name would be?”
The threat didn’t faze her, though it did urge her to get to her point quickly. “Right. You’re friends with Nimbus, aren’t you? I saw you two talking earlier, not that I was eavesdropping,” she said quickly. “But… The wind has ears, you know.” She waved her hand as though her potential wrongdoing wasn’t worth further discussion. “Speaking of which… We should probably go somewhere more private. I have an offer for you.”
In what world would anyone ever consider her threats to be smile-worthy? She continued as if nothing had happened. The threats against her sprites, the reminder about Lynx’ not so kind approach to things -- nothing. Lynx believed Lux to be naive or simply blind. Probably the first considering she was talking to a monarch, after all. She’d never been human, but, in a way, neither had Lynx ever felt like one to begin with. The sprite watched the Sky monarch with curiosity. For the first time in years, if not decades, she considered herself intrigued and surprised. Lux really didn’t care, did she? The mere idea of this just being a way to assert dominance annoyed Lynx. Because it worked -- in a way. Because she found herself unable to act without overthinking. “What if I don’t any?” Lynx looked down towards Lux and didn’t move her body to be at eye level with her. No way, she’d stand, watch her from above, monarch or not. “Does that mean I don’t have one?” Lynx’ hands curled into fists and her jaw tensed tight enough to get her teeth to hurt.
“It means ‘light’. There’s nothing light or good about me, never has been. I’m not Lucy,” her words were laced with pure disgust. Some of the other sprites near the fire were watching them with a mix of curiosity and surprise. A hiss from her part was all they needed to drop their drinks and run, leaving them completely alone. She almost didn’t dare to look back towards Lux, couldn’t stand looking at her. Lux was bright, like a star, brilliant, angelic, innocent. “Oh, I’m sure you’d be an Annabelle or Stella, I don’t give a fuck,” her harsh words were meant to divide them again as they were getting too close. Lynx felt comfortable in her own bubble, apart from everyone else, definitely as far away from Lux as possible. The monarch embodied power and an innocence Lynx didn’t dare to corrupt nor fully challenge. Who knew how well these two components would mix in the end? With the ongoing conversation Lynx’ fingers twitched nervously as her claws anticipated something new to claw themselves into. Anything, just something to slice. No use, not now. “I know him,” that’s all there was to say about their relationship. Lynx’ privacy remained sacred.
Lux’ sudden proposal forced Lynx into a new state of shock. With widened eyes the earth sprite turned around and moved towards the woods, knowing Lux would probably follow. Fuck, fuck -- is she going to kill me or what? I can’t kill her, she’s a Monarch. Fuck, my last hunt must’ve been a bit too much, but I only counted five kills, nothing worth mentioning. They all survive anyway, fuck, fuck. Lynx stopped her ongoing rant while turning around after they were within the heart of the nearest jungle. “Speak.”
the familiar voice that gave form to the prowling presence triggered a curling tug at the corner of his lips. not by any means whom he deeply wished had gathered the courage to seat themselves beside him and yet, one of the few on the island that brought a tingling excitement to the surface of his skin instead of a creeping irritation. wherever lynx found herself, trouble nestled itself home - a home that nimbus found himself craving more than ever with the crackle of tension in the air around all of them. welcoming bonfires were always exciting, in more ways than one, but it was the foreign joy of reuniting with faces not commonly crossed that made them worth the distraction of ripping his eyes off the fresh meat.
the words that slipped past her lips were all the confirmation that nimbus needed to hear she had not changed a second since their last encounter. “I should ask you the same for accompanying me rather than skimming out your favorites. I assumed you would be taking advantage that I wasn’t playing with the fishes first so you might have had the chance to swoop in.” nimbus’s eyes swung from lynx to the bottle being brought forth to them and he cocked his head to the side as an idea dug itself into his mind. “would you be interested in losing another betting game?” his eyes flicked once again from bottle to her, motioning to the liquor before them with a nod of his head. “let’s make it interesting with that.”
.
They were two predators, a constant nightmare to everyone around. Whenever she hid within the mountains in her carved out lion’s den, Lynx remembered their hunts and ended up regretting not spending more time with the sinister sky sprite. But Lynx, like her namesake, was a loner, so she felt heart tugging her in both directions simultaneously. The idea of isolation won most times, but not today. Not with the fresh meat all around, not while she had a chance to get drunk (or at least try to). The bottle in her hand was evidence enough to let everyone know what she was up to. Getting drunk so most faces, sounds and connections would blur into one single blob. Lynx sometimes wondered if they were meant to find each other, especially considering they arrived together -- then again she only ever believed in herself and her actions. Expectations and rules be damned. “Oh, I do like a challenge. Besides, what makes you think I’m not hunting you first? Get you out of the way so I can enjoy them all on my own?” she slightly tilted her head and her dark eyes practically stared into his skull. The sudden tension vanished after just a moment and licked her fangs accompanied with a chuckle.
Lynx curiously eyed the other sprite while he focused on the bottle. “I will give them four days before they’ll break,” the earth sprite shrugged and pushed the bottle towards Nimbus, “I have no intention on showing any mercy. They either submit or break. Or,” she began with a quirked eyebrow, “do you want to hunt today? Jump right into action? They will never be as fresh as they’re today.”
THE WELCOME BONFIRE― sweet escape (closed for @savagcblooded)
There were many things about humans that never ceased to fascinate Lux, one of which was the continuous evolution of their society. Their fashion, their slang ― “Lit,” she whispered to herself. How did they think of such things? Though it occasionally came out, sudden and harsh, she always attempted to keep her confusion muted in an attempt to maintain the image of an all-knowing being among the humans. Sometimes, however, she wished there were a cheat sheet to understanding them. “That’s lit. That’s… Light?” She furrowed her brows.
Among the small crowd that sat around the fire, Lynx was difficult to miss. Despite Lux’s disposition against her competing kingdoms, she and the earth sprite got along rather well. She couldn’t explain the attraction, the same way a moth couldn’t explain why it always returned to the flame. It simply did.
“This bonfire is lit,” she announced proudly to no one in particular. From the corner of her eye, she watched for Lynx’s reaction. Then, a bowl floated to her lap, and she took a couple of berries. The fruit left a fresh red stain on her lips, which spread into a smile as she looked at the sprite beside her. “Do you want one? They’re sweet,” she warned. Gathering a small handful of berries, she allowed the bowl to float back to its place and held a berry to Lynx’ lips. “You look fire tonight, Lucy,” she said lowly. “I mean that in a good way.”
Too close for her own liking. Too many noises and faces. Lynx tried to drown out the unnecessary details. She didn’t care for their pathetic, superficial happiness, not while most would probably continue to be suspicious of one another the next morning. Weak, little, pathetic sprites-- Lynx watched the flames dance in front of her. She absentmindedly drew lines into the sand with her claws. The lines turned into various shapes. Even the stupidest of pastimes was much more fun than actually joining the party. That was her reality, until Lux arrived and announced herself with a lame, innocent joke. Lynx looked upwards towards the monarch. She couldn’t help but tolerate and accept monarchs as her superiors. Mainly due to the fact that they were, in every way, superior to her. That certainly didn’t mean she’d just accept everything they did and stood for.
Watching the other sprite, Lynx blinked slowly, unsure how to react now. The berries irritated her just as much as her words did. Such light and wonder surrounded Lux, Lynx had troubles looking away again. “No, I’m not hungry,” she protested. To engage in their conversation and show some respect, at least, Lynx stood up to greet the monarch more properly, “your majesty,” Lynx hissed and showed her fangs. With her hands pressed against her hips, Lynx’ stance was much more dominant than actually intended. Again, nothing but irritating words coming out of her mouth. Lucy? Fire? “Lynx. My name is Lynx,” she got closer now, dangerously close, to assert even more of her so wanted dominance, to shift their control towards equality and away from the inequality. “I wouldn’t push my luck, your majesty." Lynx took a moment to inspect Lux before returning her eyes back to Lux’ face. “This is dangerous. Knowing me won’t make you happy. If you know what’s good for you and your sprites,” Lynx threatened.
digits curl around the goblet of red swirling within, cerulean orbs surveying the events before him. there was a sort of static in the air that came every couple of decades, a sort of recharge to the island that had even the farthest of rouges and lowest of those gather together with an extra pep to their step, a rush of different happinesses splitting apart every passing grin he laid his eyes on. he always favored being gathered within the clouds, in the company of his family and the comfort of the sky but coming to charlie’s bar never hurt him. in fact, it shook his bones loose and sharpened his teeth. tonight would be a different kind of fun - the kind he waits centuries for.
an audible step bringing forth a crack in nimbus’s ears signals the presence of another coming up behind him. it’s quickly decided in that second, as he turned his gaze away from a departing charlie and cocks his head over his shoulder, he prayed it was a new brave human to feast on. it is funny what hope does to a being - human or not. praying is a thing that ceased to cross his mind since transitioning and yet, he finds himself using the sole word as his eyes aim at the empty seat before him without focusing on whom it is. “perfect choice of company for a drink, if I do say so myself. i’ve been told i’m a ball around these parts. choice of temptation?” nimbus raised his glass after bringing forth it to his lips.
.
She keeps her distance, hides within the woods away from the crowds. The beach isn’t too far away, so Lynx keeps on watching the humans and sprites alike. Curious, little creatures, so innocent, so weak. This should be celebrated in the only way she knew, how: hunting. No, Lynx didn’t care for the bonfire nor the festivities and fake smiles, but rather the fresh meat arriving to her home. The earth sprite felt the tension in the air, but some were pleasantly surprised by the festivities. She’d let them dance and laugh for now. As a social creature she would’ve preferred the company of many, alas, Lynx loved solitude and chaos rather than harmony. Even though she should’ve introduced herself to others, Lynx walked towards Charlie’s to hide. The hunt would come soon enough, anyway.
There he was -- one of the handful of sprites she could actually tolerate, whom she could relate to. A predator, just like her. Making her way towards the unsuspecting air sprite, Lynx stalked her new prey and slowly moved closer. Unfortunately all the decades of hunting together and all the challenges they’ve had in the past revealed her to him in ways that were out of her control now. Such exposure would’ve been a liability early on, but Lynx knew better than to doubt Nimbus or his motivations. “Afraid to approach the fresh meat? Or are you trying to build up the courage to ask me for another hunt? Now seems to be the best time..,” Lynx suggested while sitting down next to him. She grinned towards the man behind the bar and grabbed herself one of the closest bottles. “I’m hungry, you know.”
Education: graduated from high school and has been taught on the streets ever since
Occupation: Assassin/Donna of the O’Neal crime family
Drinks, Smokes, & Drugs: yes to drinks and drugs, no to smoking.
&. PERSONALITY
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio -- Scorpio is the eighth sign of the zodiac, and the Eighth House is all about sex, death, and the cycle of regeneration. With their penchant for all things spooky and magical, female Scorpios are natural Queens of the Underworld, and thus usually not ones to shy away from the more intense or heavy characteristics of life. This sign gets a bad rap from most astrologers for being “too much,” overly dark, or even downright evil. This stems more from modern western culture’s inherent discomfort with discomfort with discussing the Pluto-ruled subjects of sex and death (typically not your general everyday dinner-table conversation). Reviled as a Scorpion woman can be, not many can deny her magnetic personality and the aura of mystery, magic, and sensuality that she wears around her like a cloak. This is not a woman who tolerates surface-level interactions easily. She prefers to give her attention to those willing to go deep with her. With a Scorpio’s electric gaze powerfully focused on you, it’s easy to feel like a bug pinned under glass, examined by a curious scientist determined to learn everything there is to know. Scorpios rule over the occult sciences, and the true meaning of the word “occult” is “hidden” – hence, the Scorpionic tendency toward secrecy and inscrutability. Only the most determined (and respectful) will be granted permission to explore the secret caverns within the heart of a Scorpio woman.
MBTI: ISTP -- ISTPs are equally difficult to understand in their need for personal space, which in turn has an impact on their relationships with others. They need to be able to "spread out"--both physically and psychologically--which generally implies encroaching to some degree on others, especially if they decide that something of someone else's is going to become their next project. (They are generally quite comfortable, however, with being treated the same way they treat others--at least in this respect.) But because they need such a lot of flexibility to be as spontaneous as they feel they must be, they tend to become as inflexible as the most rigid J when someone seems to be threatening their lifestyle (although they usually respond with a classic SP rage which is yet another vivid contrast to their "dormant," impassive, detached mode). These territorial considerations are usually critical in relationships with ISTPs; communication also tends to be a key issue, since they generally express themselves non-verbally. When they do actually verbalize, ISTPs are masters of the one-liner, often showing flashes of humor in the most tense situations; this can result in their being seen as thick-skinned or tasteless.
Likes: being outdoors, having her way, gore, breaking rules, power, the woods, Terra in general, inspiring fear into others, day-drinking, confidence
Dislikes: mundane interactions (for the most part, she warms up to it from time to time), extreme heat, feeling helpless or unheard, crowded places
Bad Habits: her jaw is tensed most of the time and if she talks Lynx has a habit of showing off her sharp teeth to assert dominance. She also just.. stares a lot.
Secret Talent: (not so secret) killing, negotiating, sensuality
Hobbies: hunting for sport, scheming, watching others from afar, getting to know the newbies and possibly teach them, talking about the old days
Fears: being dominated, being forced into the spotlight for too long, Terra throwing her out, losing her powers
Five Positive Traits: confident, challenging, playful, tough, dominant
Five Negative Traits: insensitive, predatory, cantankerous, obsessive, hedonistic
Other Mentionable Details: has fangs due to her nature and abilities (ref. picture) as well as sharp, claw like nails (ref. picture), almost always wears dark, unassuming colors
&. APPEARANCE
Tattoos: none
Piercings: earlobes
Reference Picture: ref picture
&. FAMILY INFORMATION
Parent Names: William O’Neal (former don, drug dealer) & Meredith O’Neal (socialite)
Parent Relationship: Lynx never really cared for her parents, especially not their authoritarian ways. She killed her own father, so there’s really nothing to be said here other than she didn’t care about them and wanted them gone.
Sibling Names: she has no siblings
Sibling Relationship: --
Other Relevant Relative: None at the moment, she’s a loner.
Children: --
Pets: --
&. BIOGRAPHY
( tw: death, murder, drugs, violence )
She grew up in the wildest of neighborhoods in the wildest time imaginable. Miami was one of the sunniest, loveliest cities in Florida if not the entire United States. Lynx, formerly known as Lucy O’Neal, confronted her surroundings with the reality that she wasn’t too eager to follow rules. As the daughter of a prestigious drug lord, Lynx grew up sheltered, yet surrounded by crime. A spoiled brat, as some liked to call her, always able to command those around her with ease. The constantly increasing demand for drugs had helped the O’Neals enter Miami’s elite. With drugs being widely accepted and legal at that time, Lynx’ father expanded his business to more shady dealings like fraud and bribery of politicians. The O’Neals had no real reputation. Like a shadow in an otherwise sunny city they remained near celebrities of all walks of life while simultaneously waiting for them to open all the doors for them. Lynx, however, didn’t care to be subtle. Within her school years Lynx had developed an aptitude for breaking the law and getting away with it, either through her father or intimidation. Intimidation and aggressiveness she’d learned amongst the ranks of her father, no doubt. Thus began her reign of power and chaos — the reign of a girl boxing her way through etiquette and rules.
Others described her as reckless, selfish, careless, wild — a lot of descriptive words for someone who never wanted to be categorized or labelled. Lynx desired to be her own master without restraints. She was nineteen when the United States prohibited domestic distribution of drugs, weakening her father in the process. She’d been running her own little empire in secret, consisting of assassinations and intimidation tactics. While her father knew about her business and certainly used her talents from time to time, Lynx distanced herself from her father as much as possible. In her early years Lynx began with using poisons, but quickly decided for a more direct and sadistic approach. People always commented on finding fun in work, so she did. Call it irreproachable customer service in which the boss did all the dirty work. Gladly. Lynx fully focused on work and, as the war for customers and booze increased after prohibition in the early 1920s, she got to target someone close to her heart. Her father had dominated the Miami crime scene for decades, forcing others into submission — and Lynx saw an opportunity to pull ahead, to play by her (non-existent) rules. The next morning Lynx called her father and customer to a meeting under the guise of killing one as mandated by the other. With two shots being fired into the round, Lynx left behind whatever shred of rules they had set in place. From that an even larger empire arose. Her targets became her prey after all rules had been abolished. She ruled over Miami all on her own, leaving claw and bite marks everywhere she went, recklessly ripping into every poor soul who dared to threaten or annoy her.
Lynx oftentimes decided to stalk and expose her prey, no, let them expose themselves before she got rid of them. She pulled the strings, watched them squirm, satisfying her sadistic tendencies in the best way possible: up close, sometimes even while dragging her prey along to display them. While other women her age enjoyed being hunted and hit on, Lynx loved to hunt and hit people, having fun in the only way she’d ever known: with violence, dominance and cunning. After Miami had been hit by a hurricane in 1926, Lynx decided to expand clientele after she’d already made numerous headlines back home, warning of an assassin roaming the otherwise sunny streets of Miami. A killer they couldn’t identify, but given the strength displayed and the lack of attention for detail the press was quickly to pinpoint the assassin as being male, possibly large and in his 30s. While this would’ve been an undoubtedly good disguise, Lynx loathed the idea of giving them even more fodder for their yellow press. She boarded the Horizon to assassinate her last target before eventually expanding all the way up to Chicago or even New York City. That’d never happen — and cats weren’t really known to like water that much.
Lynx awoke in a strange land, surrounded by a sense of belonging despite everything being so foreign. The sea took her prey, her former home and washed her ashore into a new world, everything she’d once hoped for. Concordia turned out to be a beacon for powerful beings, a birthplace for the wild and creators. Creators of various kinds — chaos or peace, death or life — Lynx joined Terra, accepted her new name upon being reborn, and practically planted herself into its social structure. For the first time Lynx tolerated some rules. She found shelter in one of the caves, though Lynx spent most of her time training with her new powers and causing random battles to test them out. Once the hunt and battles were finished Lynx returned to her cave; a feral predator loving solitude, rarely seen, but if so she was one of the most threatening presence safe for the monarchs and older sprites. The years, however, began to bore her after a while. Without fresh meat and the monarchs back and forth the days felt much longer and all her mice weren’t that interesting anymore, either. The truce opened Concordia, a change Lynx welcomed with open arms. Fresh, innocent meat, ready to be corrupted, turned and molded. Unlike her human years Lynx decided to recruit one or two people if given the chance, to raise, teach and protect a new generation of sprites -- in the only way she knew: with fangs, claws and ferocity.
No wealth, no ruin, no silver, no gold.
Nothing satisfies me but your soul.
O Death,
Well I am Death, none can excel,
I’ll open the door to heaven or hell.
