House Pride

[tenacious-finnian]

It's nice to see that you are just as devoted to your Queen in this timeline as you are in my timeline. I figured I'd keep my distance, given the security, but thought I'd introduce myself now. I'm Finnian, son of Rhys and Uriel– First Heir. You're the King of Hell in my timeline, and we had a close working friendship that I hope we can have in this one. Even if you aren't the King.

[sinfullyxpride]

If there comes a day where I am not devoted to my Queen, I have either turned my emotions off or I am dead. Ah, the infamous Finnian I've heard mere whispers of by name and reputation only. I knew there must've been a timeline or two out there when I was King, but even if I'm not, your Aunt and my brother who come from two worlds, united both with their union. Therefore, I do not see why either Wrath or myself wouldn't continue the close working relationship. He really isn't the best with socializing, I should warn.

[sinfullyxpride]

At least, we're finally at the open-door policy stage. It was touch and go for a while.

[steadfast-hope]

I'm turning into my favorite gluttonous brother with how much I love the food that doesn't consist of gruel.

[sinfullyxpride]

I'm sorry, but whatever that is looks like gruel's distant relative that was thrown in the deepest pit of Hell. Oh, that was actually you.

[isabel-bishop]

No one ever sees the less glamorous side of being a healer, which is making an exhaustive list of ingredients I need for whatever bullshit war is around the corner.

[sinfullyxpride]

I really hope no one has approached you to help majorly in this war, my love, and they may find themselves hosting a problem directly from me.

[isabel-bishop]

Nor was it what I was expecting him to say. You think you know someone, and then they come out of left field and knock you on your ass. I know I deserved more, deserved better, and this whole thing... I'm not mad that he likes men or that he left me for one. I'm mad that, after all the years of friendship we had, he chose to run when I would have done pretty much anything for him. I don't know. This whole thing is weird, and I'm feeling... conflicted, but I don't need you going all vengeful demon Prince on him, alright?

[sinfullyxpride]

And you really had no idea in your time together? It would explain his sudden departure, we tend to run from the things that scare us. And this isn't me making any comparisons between his actions and our vacation away from the city. I never expected him to go sweeping back in our lives, my darling, but fine. If he gives me just one reason to distrust anything he says, I am going all vengeful demon Prince on him and ensure no one resurrects him again.

[greeds-indulgence]

You say that now until the not-so-little furball breaks your ribs, lying on you. The chaos is manageable until one of them decides to get into a fight with a witch we don't want on our bad side, and then gets stabbed by an assassin. Just make sure you erase evidence of the beast, and you will be in the clear.

[sinfullyxpride]

Indeed, but I wouldn't allow Bel hear you call her little beast chubby, of that's what you're implying. I heard about your temperamental boy starting a physical altercation with the Delacroix witch and his unfortunate run-in with our niece's husband. Nettle should consider himself fortunate that I'm feeling generous and letting him live another day for the time being.

[greeds-indulgence]

I have never been so thankful before that my witch didn't come with a hairy mongrel that I would somehow have to orchestrate getting rid of. I don't know how you do it. The little beast would have been a nice pair of gloves for Isabel by now if I were you.

[sinfullyxpride]

Judging by the chaos of your home life, brother, I will admit that I might prefer the little beast to what you have. We'll ensure these clothes are paired nicely by a beautifully crafted matching hat for my queen and she will be none the wiser.

[isabel-bishop]

A comeuppance that is undue even though he's a fucking idiot. He didn't leave me for a woman; Colin is gay. It doesn't excuse what he did, but I at least I know the truth.

[sinfullyxpride]

Colin is-...well, that is not what I was expecting you to say. No, he still left you for a man, Bel, left you to drown because he couldn't face who he was. That does not excuse what he did in my eyes. If you don't want me taking away what he should be grateful for every day, fine, but you deserved more than how he treated you.

[jadis-hawke]

Want me to make the little beast disappear? It will solve your hair problem.

[sinfullyxpride]

Only if you wish for my demise at my Queen's hands for making her cat accidentally disappear.

I must admit, I am surprised you're choosing my company, Jadis. You've been scarce to me, but I only assume that's due to your current problem.

[isabel-bishop]

No. Just leave him be. If I let you go after him, then it means I never got over him.

[sinfullyxpride]

It means you are justified in doling out his comeuppance. And what did Colin have to say for himself, hm, Bel?

[isabel-bishop]

Sometimes I really don't like that you know me so well.

I've barely had time to process myself, but Colin's back. We had a nice chat.

[sinfullyxpride]

It's a curse for you and a blessing for me.

Well. How fortunate he's back so I can take away what he never really deserve to have in the first place. I'll take pleasure in it, just say the word.

[isabel-bishop]

Or, you could just wear black suits like a rational pet owner, Pride.

[sinfullyxpride]

Even if my suits are all black regardless, they're like an infection.

You aren't gushing about my rivalry with Nettle like usual. What's wrong, my love?

[sinfullyxpride]

It's rather inconvenient my favorite suits are a magnet for the hairs of the little beast.

[voracious-gluttony]

Are you... worried he could get between the two of you? Besides, if anyone is going to point blazing guns at him over what he did to Bel, she'd be the one to do it, so we don't need both of you grilling him. Delacroix isn't stupid, just stubborn, but he'll realize that dealing with the demons he knows is better than dealing with those he doesn't. I'm sure he'll have some sort of stipulation on it, though, and unfortunately, it's not one I can predict.

[sinfullyxpride]

Of course not. Maybe, I don't know. Yes. Okay, I am worried that by some miracle, Isabel moved past what our Angelus did and feel the connection she had with him through their timeline. She never needed my help defending herself against any man-handling, that's a certainty. That's what worries me about Azriel, Gluttony, he will possess the pettiness adding something extra just to make our lives more difficult. Perhaps, someone close to him like Gianna can help identify exactly what if it came to that.

[voracious-gluttony]

Are you afraid he will go after Bel? I've spoken to him, actually– he's not a carbon copy of the one we knew, Pride. Things will fall into place, both Azriel and Blair, but the thing we can't do is pile everything onto Envy's shoulders the minute he gets back. I've asked for Azriel to look into a way of permanently cutting us off from the other timelines, but if that doesn't work, then we can't force Envy into another spiral that could let someone else through. Which means you can't come in like a loaded cannon for what the other version of him did to Bel, okay? That wasn't our Envy that laid a hand on Bel.

[sinfullyxpride]

Is there this sneaking suspicion he could hurt her? Yes, but it's also the fact Bel was his queen in the timeline he originated from. As much as it would gratify me throwing the blanket of blame over Envy for the crimes of his possessed side, I see how it would deteriorate his already fragile emotional state. Suppose it's counterintuitive to the real problem, so fine, I will not face him guns blazing over Isabel's involvement. I'm assuming Azriel is willing to help knowing preventing our possessions meant the great good for all?

[voracious-gluttony]

I have a knack for pissing off Kings; it seems to not matter who holds the crown. Do I enjoy hinging every part of the success of my plan on a witch who despises us and our brothers? No, but I trust the facts, and I have to trust that the Foxwood's would rather deal with our Envy instead as the lesser of two evils. There is no other option, and this plan puts my daughter in danger, so I have to be sure of it.

[sinfullyxpride]

Speaking of Kings, Wrath's predecessor is causing me some concern. I'm certain even a witch who despises us understands the good of the many outweigh the good of the one being torn from our brother's body. It's obvious Blair will be in agreement over her part, Gluts, I'm told she is very much a miniature version of you where her intelligence is concerned. If you need my support even cleaning up the aftermath, I'm here to help.

[isabel-bishop]

Petulant brat or not, despite him being a twat to me, it's not our problem to fix. If you're feeling this way about Envy and his visitor, you're not the only brother to think so.

Because I doubt that Quinn would want to relocate with us. She's the whole reason we came back.

[sinfullyxpride]

You're right, it isn't our problem to fix, so I hope they better figure out a solution soon before I lock Envy away chained in a cell for eternity. My brothers are certainly sick of him as we speak.

I know. I'm sorry, my darling, it's just I'm instinctually ready to enact this protection mode and run as we did before. I don't want to leave her.