Q wasn’t sure what to expect as he’d found himself in the empty bright hallway. Devoid of colour and the hums of machines and far off footsteps. He’d been set another charge, or as it seemed, more like some sort of rescue mission. For the one whos aura was a mix of pink and green. However..what on earth had the one he was looking for end up here was a mystery. It was as eerie as an empty hospital and as clean as anything, sterile..like a lab.
He kept himself cloaked from those who didn’t need to see him, eyeing off many a man and woman dressed in snow coats and similar attire. Scavenging the halls until he found a slightly softer looking room, with a large viewing window that stuck out in the blank hallway. A soft tug from his abilities guiding him closer towards it.
Peering in, silver eyes were drawn to the watermelon hair, curled up in a small glass tank in the back of the room. Quinton didn’t even think before slipping into the slightly padded room, walking carefully up to the glass. It seemed the smaller one was fast asleep, and he didn’t wish to frighten the other.
So, he tried to do the nicer thing, and ever so lightly tapped the glass. He couldn’t just go taking the little guy from where he was without introduction.
It seemed the other was used to the disruption, tensing up as they blinked slowly, rubbing their eye before they caught a glimpse of bright blue- and a whole lot of other colours they’d rarely ever seen. Suddenly feeling quite small under the new persons gaze.
“Hello.” Q greeted softly, a gentle grin on his lips. Matthew flushed slightly, the voice seemed far nicer than the ones he was used to hearing, no false intent or over the top friendliness.
“..h-hi?..” he asks back, voice soft and quiet. “w-what are you doing here..?” He questions, sitting up slowly and rubbing his eye again before looking up curiously.
“I’m here to help. You don’t belong here do you?” Q asks, but he doesn’t assume, raising a brow delicately.
“I..uhm..I dunno.” Matt shrugs, rubbing his neck and ducking his head slightly. He’s not sure at all what he is and isn’t meant to be.
“Would you like me to take you somewhere nicer..?”
Matthew hums again, slowly getting to his feet. He fidgets a little, highly unsure. But he can’t help but want to jump at the chance.
“No..more tests?”
“None what so ever.”
“And colours?”
“So many colours and things you could enjoy that aren’t here.”
“..a-and..soft things?”
“I’ll find you whatever you’d like to feel comfortable.”
The experiment blushes again, rocking side to side before nodding.
Q overs his hand into the little box. “Oh, and I’m Quinton by the way..you are?”
“S-subject 387 E..Alias Matthew.”
“Well Matthew, I think it’s time we take you somewhere nice.”
“a-and safe?”
“And safe. No one is going to touch you unless you ask it of them from now on. I assure you.”
The little male all but hugged Q’s hand softly, sighing as he took a seat on the palm. Q lifting the other out slowly and carefully before putting Matthew on his shoulder. “Is there alright?” Matthew hums, instantly latching to Q’s neck. Poor thing is ultimately recognized as touch starved as his small arms hug Q’s neck.
Quick ficlet featuring my OC Katya and @missthunderkin‘s Dagmar because?? Why not man I need to get to work with Kat more often, why not some fun quick stuff? I don’t actually know a great deal about how Dag acts so I just kinda?? Made a estimated guess??? Not meant to be canon for either of them anyway so much as a fun exercise.
Katya walked quietly down the street, grateful for the overcast day making her oversized hoodie look a bit more natural considering the day. She couldn’t say the same for the large cat walking beside her.
They continued down, and walked down an older street with a few old, shut-down stores. She stopped at the third door, reaching into the collar of her jacket and pulling out a key attatched to a long leather strap worn around her neck. She unlocked the door, waited a moment to feel the distinct charge, and then opened the door and stepped through.
The old shop was replaced with a full, and apparently running book store.
Katya frowned down at the cat as it trotted ahead to climb up on the counter by the door. “Do you really need to tease Dagmar everytime we come in here?”
The cat snickered. “Aw come now, Kat, it’s all in good fun~”
“Of course..” She sighed, staring at King as he sat on the edge of the counter and looked around.
“Speaking of shadowy boogeymen..” King began, stubby tail twitching. “Where is he?”
“Probably further in the shop.” Kat replied, lowering the hood of her jacket and attempting to push her hair back with minimal success. It fell back out of place as soon as she removed her hand, and she left it be.
“Do me a favor and wait here, will you?” Kat replied, beginning to walk into the shop, glancing down the aisles of shelves. She didn’t really hear what King said in response as she continued into the shop.
She found Dagmar closer to the back (at least what she assumed was closer to the back- she was never really sure how Dag’s shop really worked), up a ladder looking over the books.
“There you are.” Kat said, resting a hand on the edge of the bookshelf as she leaned into the aisle. Dagmar stopped mid motion, either replacing or removing a book from the shelf, and looked down at her. “Katya?”
Kat held up a bag she’d been carrying. “Got time to chat?”
Dagmar nodded, removing the book and stepping down from the ladder, motioning for Katya to follow him back to the front of the store. He stared at King for a short moment before passing the being by and continuing through another door, pausing to let Katya walk through first.
A sort of ‘break area’, but it looked fancier than any break room in any other store. Kat set the bag on the table, opening it and removing a plastic container from inside. Kat had managed to make an arrangement with Dagmar; baked sweets in exchange for information. The offering this time was checkered matcha cookies.
They settled at the table, eating a few cookies and having a moment of idle chatter before Dagmar changed the subject.
“Going to make me ask about your cheek?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. Kat frowned slightly, reaching up and scratching lightly at the large gauze bandage stuck there.
“Had a run in with something the other night.” She replied, taking a bite of a cookie. “Something I didn’t really recognize.”
“So burn it.”
Kat frowned, swallowing another bite of cookie. “Thanks, Dag, great advice, why didn’t I try that sooner?”
“Immune to fire?”
“Or too quick for me to get a bead on.”
Dagmar hummed softly, sliding his chair back and grabbing a book from a shelf behind him. He scooted back to the table when he had it, flipping through the pages. “What did it look like?”
Kat leaned forward, resting her arms on the table. “About my size, give or take a head or half.” She started, thinking back. “Looked like light caught on something, so probably scales. And it could see in the dark.” That was minimal information, she knew, but Dagmar could at least help narrow it down even if only a little.
Another hum. “I’ll have to look through a few more books.” Dagmar stated softly, clearly focused more on the book in his hand than the conversation. Katya held up another plastic container. “I was prepared for that.”
Ok listen LISTEN I have Theories about Monty so like??? Have some drabbles cause I need to get these ideas out of my head sorry @herr-doctor but I gOTTA
Diantha stood at the door of Monty’s shop, frowning as she stared at the door. He was inside, she could just hear him tinkering away at whatever project he had.
Behind her Jelani snorted, and she knew there was no point in trying to talk him into just waiting outside. He was more suspicious of Monty now than he’d ever been.
Sighing heavily, Diantha tried to ignore the knot of anxiety building up in her.
“Monty?” She called out as she stepped inside, glancing around the shop. Empty again. It was better that way; she could have a conversation with Monty without worrying about anyone else.
Monty stood at his work table, focus almost entirely on some vial of a liquid that Diantha didn’t entirely care to pay attention to. He gave a quick mumble, a sort of half-acknowledgement of her calling his name. Diantha moved to stand beside him.
“Monty,” She rested a hand on his in hopes of actually getting him to look at her. He did, to her relief, and it didn’t take long for the concern to show on his face. “We need to talk.” She said finally, and Monty glanced back at Jelani.
“All three of us?”
“Monty, please.”
Monty looked back down at Diantha, and she could see him bite his lip. “What’s wrong, Diantha?”
She hadn’t let go of his hand.
“Monty, in Shade, there was a man...” She started, trying to think of what to do should this conversation go for the worst, praying that she wouldn’t have to act on her worries. “He was the necromancer we met, back in Shale... Monty, he looked..” She took a deep breath, pausing to try and let her voice steady. It didn’t. “Monty, he looked like you.”
Diantha felt Monty’s hand tense, and for a moment there was a charge of arcane energies in the air around them. The scar on her chin ached like it was fresh again, and she forced away that memory of betrayal.
Jelani shifted from his ‘relaxed’ posture against the wall.
“Melpha..” Monty sighed, and the charge that had been in the air dissipated, his hand relaxing once again.
Diantha stayed still, not sure what else to say, not wanting to move. Monty took his hand away from her and rested it against the back of her head, pulling her against his chest.
“I’m sorry for worrying you, Dia..” He murmured softly, then released her. “I suppose I owe an explanation..”
“Ya think?” Jelani growled, still looking like he was ready for a fight.
Monty smiled weakly, holding his hands up in mock surrender. Diantha, at least, felt a bit better than she had when they’d arrived.
There was a long moment Diantha’s mind seemed to quit processing everything. The cultists and devils or whatever had all faded into the faintest background noise, and she barely registered Ciaran grabbing her shoulder hard.
They were finally here, they finally had a face to put to the name Melpha. Finally knew who it was they’d been chasing this whole time.
Diantha wished she would wake up.
The hood of the cloak had fallen, and Monty stood at the center of the room.
“What the hell?” Ciaran hissed, and Jelani snarled as he moved to the front of the group, Firebrand Waraxe in hand.
“Monty..?” Diantha whispered weakly, and he finally looked at them.
Diantha cut Ciaran a look when she entered the bar after sun up. A mix of irritation and concern, and whether Ciaran ignored it or just didn’t see it as she took a seat at the table with the rest of the party was anyone’s guess.
“Where were you?” Diantha asked, keeping her voice low. She’d been worried when they’d awoken and she’d been missing. Jelani had convinced her not to ‘send out a hunting party’ to look for her. He’d been right, and Diantha was grateful for that, but now her worry was replaced mostly with irritation. No note or anything as far as they’d seen, she’d just been gone.
Ciaran muttered something under her breath, something like “He’s fine” coming out a short hiss. Diantha frowned, brows furrowed as she tried to make sense of what the (likely hung-over) Tiefling had said.
“So he’s okay then?” Elowen asked, drawing Diantha’s attention to her. Oh. She realized, looking back at Ciaran as she huffed.
“I was right there on his tail the whole time! Followed his trail up stairs, then down, then back up! And then when I get outside POOF, he’s just gone again!” She ranted, cursing in what Diantha assumed was Abyssal. “Found his damn lute, found his trail at the top of the cliff overlooking the city, he’s just gone!” She threw her arms up in the air before accepting a drink from the bar tender. Ciaran downed it in one go, muttering something about it being good before returning to her pout. “Damn bastard is just fine...”
There was a moment Diantha thought she saw relief on Elowen’s face, but it was gone just as quickly as it had appeared. She couldn’t blame her. Diantha herself had never really been attracted to anyone like she thought Elowen had been to Symund, and after everything the day before...
Elowen was quiet as they finished breakfast, and as they finished and began discussing what Diantha had learned of ‘Vecna’, she spoke up. “He’s going West.”
The party looked at her. “What?” Jelani grunted out, raising a brow.
“Symund, he’s going West.” She stated again.
“You used a spell to find him?” Diantha asked, and Elowen nodded. “I can’t see the exact location, but I can see him and a quick bit of his surroundings.” She explained before standing.
“Where are you going?”
“To find him, and beat him with his own lute.” Elowen replied.
Jelani choked on his drink, barking out a laugh. Ciaran slammed her hands on the table as she stood. “I’m going with you.”
Diantha held her hands up. “Wait, wait, now just wait a minute.” Ciaran and Elowen looked to her. “Didn’t you two hear me talking just a moment ago? The cult of Vecna and what not?” She started, lowing her hands. “I understand you want to go take care of Symund, and I don’t blame you. But I think this is more important than-”
“I came here to see the library and I did. You can take the information back to Whiteshadow.” Elowen replied.
Diantha sighed. “Elowen, Symund was down there for a long time; I know what he did hurt, but if you saw he was okay, then give him time.”
Elowen glared and opened her mouth to speak but Diantha cut in again. “He needs time. To work through what happened, to deal with being free again. And probably, to find any relatives of his party.” There was a moment of silence then, and Jelani nodded from behind her as he took another drink.
Elowen looked at the ground for a moment, thinking over what Diantha had said.
“Give Symund time to come to terms with everything. He knows where and how to find us. And, once we get this information to the King, and we take care of what we need to, I’ll help you track him down myself.” Diantha smiled, soft and warm. Elowen didn’t say out loud, but it was a comforting thing.
After another moment the Halfling nodded. “Alright. Whiteshadow first.”
Diantha smiled more and nodded her head, and the party gathered their things and headed out, back to Whiteshadow.
The ride took about a week, even with minimal rest, and by the time the party had made it back into the city the air had chilled and the first snow of winter began to fall.
The horses were left at the stable, and the party stopped at the Keep that had been given to them to drop off their bags before making their way through the city and up to the castle.
There were booths out now, and the streets seemed busier than every the closer they got to the castle. They heard people talking about a festival, and Diantha found herself surprised. She hadn’t stayed in a place long enough to attend a seasonal festival since before she’d met Jelani. It was an odd, nostalgic feeling, and the half-elf found herself longing for her home city.
She didn’t have time to dwell on the thoughts long however; standing at a booth with small potion bottles was Monty.
Diantha blinked, and behind her she could hear Jelani grunt softly, a sound she knew was his own surprise. They hadn’t seen Monty out of his shop since they’d first came to Whiteshadow.
Upon approaching his booth, Diantha reached up and picked up a potion bottle, smiling up at the familiar face. “Monty, what in the world is in these?”
Monty blinked, surprise on his face for a moment before he smiled. “Well hello to you too, Diantha.” He leaned forward on the booth, pointing at the bottle she was holding. “These are just some treats for the local kids, or anyone who wants them really. It’s a festival after all!”
“And what potion have you whipped up for these?” Diantha asked again.
Monty shrugged. “Eeeh, it’s a bit of a surprise in each bottle. You don’t know what you’ll get until you drink it.”
Elowen spoke up then. “It’s a transfiguration potion, then?”
Again, Monty gave a shrug and a non-committal noise. “A bit of transfiguration, a bit of others.” He grinned. “Can’t go giving trade secrets, now can I?” It seemed to dawn on him then that he wasn’t familiar with this new face and he blinked before asking. “And who are you, miss..?”
“Elowen.” She replied, bowing her head slightly.
“Ah, so you lot finally picked up a arcane user then?” Monty winked at Diantha. “Good on you, she’ll be quite helpful.”
Diantha laughed, setting the bottle back on his booth. “We didn’t exactly ‘pick her up’.” She started. “We had to make a trip recently, and she was headed in the same direction. Jadine recommended us to her as travel companions.”
“Ah, well, all the same.” Monty replied, grinning down at Elowen as he pointed with his thumb at the other three. “You’re quite the lucky one; these three are quite skilled adventurers.”
“So I learned.” Elowen replied with a smile. Diantha could only imagine she wasn’t quite sure what to make of Monty just yet, and couldn’t blame her. It had taken Diantha herself a bit to warm up to Monty, and found she enjoyed his greetings upon returning to Whiteshadow these last few trips. Whether he knew it or not she couldn’t say, but it had made the city feel a little more like a home.
“How much are they?” Ciaran asked as she picked up a bottle, her lips quirked up in a grin.
Diantha frowned. “Ciaran..”
“Oh no charge; it’s a festival, so the King is paying for my time and wares.” Monty replied with a smile. “You all are quite free to take a bottle.”
Elowen accepted the offer. Diantha and Jelani decided against it.
No sooner had they drank the bottles, Ciaran burped fire, and Elowen turned a shade of green that nearly matched her dress.
Jelani laughed, and Diantha looked rather alarmed. “Monty..?”
“I told you.” Monty laughed. “They’re random. You never know what you’ll get until you drink it.”
“Oh this is cool...” Ciaran grinned, and Diantha took a large step back away from her. Monty frowned slightly, as he realized the potential repurcussions of giving Ciaran a random ability, much less fire breathing. He reached under the booth and pulled out another bottle, this one with clear liquid. “If it gets a bit out of hand just toss this. Should negate the ability right away.”
“While you lot are here you should have some fun with the festival. Food, games and the like all around.” He changed the subject, pointing to a booth across from his. A woman ‘created’ a piece of meat on a stick she’d held, and then dipped it into a cauldron. After a moment she pulled it out and rested it on the table beside her, the once raw meat now a golden brown. Jelani and Hak both seemed rather focused on that booth in particular.
“I’ll keep that in mind, Monty,” Diantha started, tucking the bottle Monty gave her into her bag. “Do you know if the King or Jadine are occupied at the moment? I have some information I need to share with them.”
Monty looked back down at her, leaning forward on his forearms on the booth. “Haven’t had a visit with the King today. Far as I know he’s preparing for the ball.”
“Ball?”
“Oh, yes this is your first winter here; every year at the winter festival, the King hosts a ball. It’s not mandatory to go or anything, but it can be quite amusing should you decide to go.” He explained.
Diantha nodded with a smile. “I’ll keep that in mind, but first I’d like to speak with the King and Jadine.”
Monty nodded in understanding. “Ah, yes yes, business first as always.” He smiled down at Diantha. “You could take a break to have a bit of fun, you know, I’m sure even your Goddess wouldn’t punish you for it.”
Diantha laughed. “Thank you for your concern Monty, but this is a bit more important than whether or not I attend a festival or ball.”
“Alright; you can find them in the castle as always. Take care.” Monty replied, giving a quick wave. “Thank you, Monty.” Diantha replied, waving a hand before turning to the party. “What about you lot?”
Jelani nodded his head towards the castle. “I’m with you, Dia.” Whether it was his loyalty or any mistrust he may have still had Diantha wasn’t sure, but she appreciated Jelani’s company either way.
Ciaran looked as though she crossed her arms under her coat, and for a moment Diantha thought she looked oddly relaxed. “I’ll go along too. In case you forget something or need me.”
It dawned on Diantha then, that she had said she was going to see the King and Jadine. She smiled at Ciaran and nodded.
“I’ll do a bit of shopping for all of us then.” Elowen smiled up at the party. “I don’t have anything in particular I need to share.”
“Alright; we’ll meet back at the Keep tonight if not sooner, then.”
The party split then, Diantha leading Jelani, Ciaran, and Hak to the castle, and Elowen browsing through the booths and vendors in the streets.
As the Halfling browsed the shops, an older man in a cloak stopped beside her and with a wave of his hand shifted her traveling cloak to a fur cloak. “Oh, pardon me, miss.” He started, suddenly sounding apologetic. “You looked a bit cold, and it’s been so long since I’ve been out and about I forgot to ask before using my magic.”
Elowen looked up at the man, startled for a moment. He was a human, hunched forward slightly and with a long white beard. An older man, far older than what she thought most humans could get.
“It’s alright..” Elowen replied, adjusting the cloak on her shoulders for a moment.
“Since I’ve gotten your attention,” The older man coughed, shifting his footing, “I was wondering if you’d seen a.. well a bit of an odd traveling party. A half-elf, a half-orc, and a tiefling. They’re quite striking, you can’t miss them.”
“And who is asking?” Elowen narrowed her eyes slightly.
“Grayden-”
Everything stopped.
Diantha felt the chill from the castle, even inside the halls. She stalled for a moment, glancing back over her shoulder to look back the way they’d came. What was that?
“Dia?” Jelani asked, looking down at her.
“Yeah, sorry, just-” Diantha looked back to Jelani. Then she noticed the steam. First it was just coming from him, then she realized, it was coming from all of them.
“What in the world?” Ciaran hissed, looking at her hands. Jelani too was alarmed at this development, and Hak gave a low whine as he lowered his head, facing back toward the way they’d come.
They didn’t need to ask, sensing what they were sure had Hak concerned. The group jogged back outside the castle gates, shocked at the site.
Frozen. The entire city; not a thick layer, but enough to be seen. Everyone, everything was frozen still.
Diantha raised a hand to her mouth, and before she could ask there was movement in the distance. A tall woman, slender and pale; a pale blue they realized as they neared her. She looked like the embodiment of winter.
“O-oh, dear me, you three are...” She looked just as surprised as they did. She neared them, leaning down into Diantha’s face. “You have been touched by fire.” She stated softly as Diantha leaned back from her. Hak gave another low whine, and Jelani rested a hand on his head.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Touched by fire.” She said again. “You’ve come in contact with a powerful fire being, have you not?”
Mara. It dawned on them, though no one said a word. It was the only explanation.
“Please, you must help me..” The woman pleaded. “My queen, my kingdom, they need help.” She spoke so fast Diantha could barely keep up. “My queen is of ice, of winter, and she, our kingdom, we’re under attack. If my queen falls, if the kingdom falls, we’re all lost, and this,” She gestured to the frozen city around them. “This will be far worse, and far more permanent.”
Diantha frowned, her head spinning. Surely there was something they could do once they’d taken a moment to breathe. They’d only just returned to Whiteshadow, they hadn’t been able to inform the King or Jadine about what Diantha learned about the sigil she’d found in the town that had been murdered silently in one night.
The woman started pleading again. “Please, you must help me. Surely you have another with you? The tasks I need done, they require at least four..”
Jelani raised a brow. “Oddly specific...” Ciaran nodded, both eyeing the blue woman suspiciously.
“Actually, the chances of coming across and requiring a party of at least four adventurers such as yourselves-” She started again, speaking too fast for Diantha’s already exhausted brain to process. The half-elf raised her hands. “Alright, alright, we understand.”
The group retraced their steps, back to where they’d separated with Elowen. It didn’t take long to find her, and the woman- Boreal, she’d called herself- placed a hand gently on the Halfing, freeing her from the ice.
Elowen blinked, staring for a moment before looking around. “What in the hells...?” She asked, looking to Boreal, and then the party. Ciaran mouthed “Long story” to her.
Diantha gasped then, moving in front of the old man standing frozen before Elowen. “Grayden?!”
Jelani and Ciaran looked to her. “What?” “Grayden’s here?”
Diantha looked to Boreal. “Can you free him, too? He’s a friend, and he could help.”
“I.. I can certainly try.” She nodded, moving to the elderly man before her. She rested a hand on him and seemed to focus for a moment before her legs gave out beneath her.
“Woah!”
“I’m sorry...” She sighed, looking up at the party. “My power is connected to our kingdom, to my queen. If she loses power..”
“Then the rest of you lose it.”
Boreal nodded.
The party looked to each other, taking a moment to fill Elowen in on what had happened. It was a quick discussion, with Boreal pleading with them all the while.
Diantha looked down at the woman, holding out a hand to help her up. “We’ll do what we can.” She smiled.
Boreal smiled back, nodding her head.
And then she was in a dark place. A cave, a room? Diantha couldn’t tell.
Jelani, Ciaran, Elowen, and Hak, she couldn’t see any of them. “Hello?” She called out, anxiety bubbling up in her.
“I’m sorry about that.” Came Boreal’s voice from behind her. Three blue portals opened in front of her then, a table beside each. On each table was a doll that, upon closer examination, resembled each of her party members, save for Hak.
Diantha looked back at Boreal. “Where are we?”
“Things had to be done quickly, so I took the liberty to put everyone where they would be most suited.”
How would she know that?
“Each of your friends is undertaking a task.” Boreal started, and Diantha lost her train of thought. “These dolls here will allow you to use three spells on each of your friends, but I’m afraid with my limited abilities they can only hold three.” She explained, motioning to the portals. “From here we can watch your friends, and you can decide if you need to help them or not. You would know them best after all.”
Diantha stared at Boreal for a moment before looking to the portals. “Okay..” She she sighed softly, flexing her hands.
Ciaran was in some kind of forest; even just seeing it through the portal gave Diantha chills. She watched as the Tiefling approached a shrine surrounded by mushrooms giving off some kind of gas or powder, a black muck pond with a shrine in the center, and a group of trees with some sort of lesions on them, again with a shrine in the center.
Elowen was in a dimly lit library from what Diantha could tell. Two large bookshelves nearly encircled a clear case with a stone in it. Probably glass or some sort of crystal.
Jelani was in an open field. A tundra? It was white, and Diantha could barely see Jelani’s breath come out in puffs in the air before being carried away by a strong wind. Before him were four stone pillars of some kind.
Diantha’s heart raced in her chest. What the hell had happened to get them into a situation like this? Wouldn’t it have been easier to just keep them together? She didn’t have time to question Boreal.
Ciaran approached the mushrooms, trying to rip them up with her tail and failing, and after having to breath in some of the spores around them, leaned down and grabbed them in her hands before rubbing them on the stone.
It melted; there was no other way to describe it. Like acid had been dumped on it.
Diantha swallowed hard; she couldn’t really tell how Ciaran was after being so close to the mushrooms, but she seemed ok. She’d give it a bit longer.
Ciaran followed up by going to the pond; she waded through it, managing to keep from getting stuck in it and throwing a dagger into the water. When Diantha saw why she clenched her fists. Some kind of.. fish. Diantha used the term loosely; what ever it was, it looked mean. Ciaran removed her dagger from the thing, then like with the mushrooms before she slapped the fish against the shrine.
It too melted.
Ciaran tossed the corpse aside, looking at her hand. Diantha stepped forward, casting Lesser Restoration on the doll that resembled Ciaran.
While Ciaran had done that, Elowen was working on the case; using a spell to fire what looked like hundreds of daggers back to back at a specific point, trying to break through.
Jelani was approaching the pillars, upon examining the first seemed to find some sort of hole. His hand disappeared for a moment before he snatched it back out, looking down at his hand. Diantha hadn’t realized she’d stopped breathing while he did it, pausing for only a moment before moving to the next pillar.
Again, his hand vanished into the stone, and was quickly removed. Is that blood? Diantha bit her lip, readying a healing spell.
Ciaran was pulling something off of one of the trees now, having thrown her dagger at it. Diantha couldn’t tell what it was, but she repeated the same process as before, and again the stone looked like it was melting.
She looked alarmed then, looking around her before moving to a new portal and hopping in.
Elowen finally broke open the case, the stone vanishing or something, Diantha couldn’t see clearly. A portal opened and she hopped in.
Jelani was finishing up with the last of the four pillars, a bright light shining as Diantha was using a healing spell on his doll. A portal opened and he leaped in.
“Alright,” Diantha sighed, finally taking a breath. “They did it.”
She turned to Boreal, and then something felt wrong. The woman’s face was no long soft or nervous as it had been. The fearful expression from before was replaced with a hard look. Cold.
Boreal looked down at Diantha, a wicked grin spreading over her features, and Diantha’s head throbbed.
The forest. The library. The frozen plains.
Diantha’s breath caught in her throat, and she stumbled back into one of the tables, barely catching herself. She lifted a hand to her head, now aching as images flashed.
The forest Ciaran had been in, it wasn’t.. it wasn’t a dark place. It was light. The shrines she’d defiled, they hadn’t been from some dark entity. Flowers, a squirrel, a young tree. From deep in the forest, something made a sad sound.
The library hadn’t been a library. Elowen stood in the center of a city. Fire everywhere, but not fire. Fire elementals. Living, breathing creatures. Fear was a shared expression, faces pleading. Elowen removed the stone from the center, and all at once the fires died out.
The frozen planes, Jelani punched into the ice, four times. And then there was a voice, seeming to come from no where and every where. “Why...”
Diantha felt sick, starting to hyperventilate.
“Oh, you poor, poor dear...” Boreal stated, walking slowly over to the half-elf. She even walked differently, holding herself high, head and shoulders back.
“Boreal, you...” Diantha gasped, unable to form a clear sentence, a clear thought. What had they helped this woman do? Fire burned in Diantha’s hand.
“Now now, I can’t have you go and doing anything drastic. Not yet anyway.” Boreal’s eyes glowed gold, reflecting in Diantha’s, and suddenly Diantha couldn’t move.
“You give me a month; you can say nothing, do nothing. You have some powerful friends, and I’d rather they not know anything about this just yet.” She stated, and Diantha found she couldn’t argue. The fire in her hand died out. “You give me one month to take care of some matters, and if at the end of that time you decide to come after me, then please, by all means.” Boreal grinned, bowing before her.
Mocking her.
Diantha stared up at her, some sense of clarity finally beginning to return. “Why-”
“Oh yes, you are probably wondering, why, oh why, am I doing this to you?” Boreal asked, leaning down to Diantha’s level. She lifted a hand and rested it against Diantha’s cheek, nails sharp against her skin. Diantha thought she may have scratched her, but couldn’t be sure.
“Because I hate you.” Boreal answered her own question, anger burning in her gaze. “You have your bastard father’s eyes...”
Diantha blinked. “What...?”
“Now then, until we meet again.”
“Wait, what do you know-”
In a flash, Boreal was gone, and the rest of the party was now behind Diantha.
“That was surprisingly simple.” Elowen stated. Ciaran nodded.
“Dia, you good?” Jelani asked, moving to stand beside her.
The priest was holed up in a beaten down old church. Half or partially melted candles covered every possible surface. The soft orange glow would have been ethereal and beautiful if it weren't punctuated with bloody runes drawn messily on each pillar. Aside from the soft flickering of candles the only sound to be heard was the low murmur of chanting and a small whimper. As far as things go it was the perfect set up for a demon summoning ritual. At least as far as human standards go. I supposed he got it partially right, since he had managed to summon me. Too bad I wasn't here to grant any wishes or make any deals.
The whimpers sharpened in fear before quieting down again. That was why I was here.
The priest had been wanted for awhile on suspicion of kidnapping and murder on top of the demon worship. The bloody runes on the pillars were long since dry and the poor boy shaking in fear beneath the bag on his head seemed unharmed... so far. I had a feeling when everything was said and done they were going to find more than just some creepy relics when they swept this church. As of yet, the priest hadn't heard me. He was still facing his twisted version of an altar, a knife held in the air. Behind him his poor victim sat with his hands tied unable to do anything but wait.
"This looks like an absolutely delightful party you have set up," the priest whirled around to face me, I smiled with a flash of fangs, "but I'm afraid you have a prior engagement. There's a lovely pair of Energy Cuffs just calling your name."
"Foolish humans will pay for their arrogance!" He screeched, pointing the knife directly at my face. "When the Lords of Sin reclaim what was taken from them, all will kneel!"
"Right...," I drawled, keeping my eyes on the sharp point of the knife. I'm not a violent person, but the fact that he had the audacity to point a knife at me had me itching to turn it around on him. Draw a little blood from the point of his nose before he was even aware I had the knife.
"Foolish human! Who dares summon me?"
A booming voice cut short my vengeful reverie. I spun around to come nearly face to face with a tall figure with deep emerald eyes. An actual demon. There was an actual demon. What the hell? There was no way that clown could have actually summoned someone. The demon had loose blond hair with a long elegant pair of horns that curved up and over his head, flicking back up at the tips. Darkness pooled off him like fog off dry ice. Who the hell was this? What the hell did they think they were doing?
Without a sound and in less time than it took me to blink, he was standing behind the priest. The knife clattered to the floor. The metal of it echoed against the stone and it felt absolutely deafening. The demon's voice was a menacing purr as he leaned in to the priests ear.
"Or perhaps I should paint these stones in your blood as punishment for your impertinence."
The priest began to babble almost incoherently for mercy. The demon's gaze met mine and he grinned as he rolled his eyes. Just look at this idiot. Like we were sharing a joke. I was still too confused to find it funny. In one quick movement he knocked the priest in the temple. The man crumpled to the dirty stone floor, unconscious but very much alive.
Keeping my eyes on my new 'friend', I approached the victim quickly. I pulled the bag off his head as carefully as I could and looked away from the demon to look into his eyes. My hands cupped his face as softly as possible as I smiled for him.
"You're safe now. Close your eyes and rest. When you wake up you won't remember any of this, okay?" It almost felt like talking to a child the way I wove Compulsion on him. He nodded sleepily, eyes fluttering closed. As he slipped into a heavy sleep his body slumped over to the floor. I winced when his head made contact. He'd have a headache when he woke up, but better that than dead. "I hate doing that," I muttered to myself as I watched him sleep.
Truly, I hated using Compulsion. When I first learned the ability as a child it felt great to be able to make Uncle V do whatever I wanted, especially since his brand of Compulsion didn't work on me. Aunt Ley would use magical Compulsion on me anytime I tried using mine. She wanted me to understand how awful it was to be forced under someone else's influence. The lesson stuck. Using Compulsion now makes me feel guilty, but this was somewhat of an emergency.
I hoped Aunt Ley would agree.
Alone with the demon, I stood and crossed my arms. The deep emerald was a dead giveaway for Circle Envy. What was a demon of Envy doing out here, especially parading in front of an agent of the MTF.
"Who are you?" I demanded.
"Wow, that's a funny way to say 'thank you' for making your job easier," he laughed and ran a hand through his hair. The horns were gone and so was the drifting darkness. Now he almost looked human. Almost.
"Who are you?" I demanded again.
"Damn, I know Circle Pride types can be bad but you can't even thank someone," he put a hand to his chest as if offended.
"I'm not thanking you for being stupid. You could have gotten yourself killed pulling that stunt." If I had been any other agent, the priest would be a secondary concern. Taking down the demon that had appeared would become top priority. He shrugged as if my argument were fair enough.
"I happened to be in the area when I heard that idiot trying to summon bigger boys to play with." He grinned, flashing his sharp canines. Gods, is that what I looked like when I did that? "I saw that the MTF was already here and was ready to make myself scarce but... well, you see there's this rumor being passed around the halfs in the city that one of us wormed their way onto the MTF. I had know. Honestly, I'm glad I took the risk."
His eyes glittered in a way that suggested he was flirting but I cared less about that than the rest of what he'd said. Rumor? Halfs? That one sentence told me so many things and I couldn't believe a single one of them. The demon grinned wickedly and shoved his hands in his dark jean pockets as he watched me puzzle it out.
"That's right Princess, you're not the only half-demon in this city, and you are the talk of the town among us."
The car was a mess. Bullet holes, dented metal, and shattered glass; it’d take a pretty penny to get her back in pristine order. But the car was the last thing on Damien’s mind.
Damien didn’t wait for Aiden to get out of the car. Hell, he didn’t even wait for Kass to completely pull up beside them in the garage. He slammed his door shut and rounded the front of the car, slamming his hands on the hood of Kass’ car. “Have you lost your damn mind?!”
He could see Kass jump slightly in her seat, alarm on her face quickly shifting to anger.
Aiden was already going inside when Kass opened her door and climbed out, walking to the front of the car to confront Damien. “Have I lost my mind? What the hell about you?!”
“What about me?!”
“Damien you can’t go out fighting like this every damn time you get a job! You aren’t some twenty-year-old hacker, you’re going on forty and you’re better behind the computer anyway!”
“I can handle myself just fine! You didn’t need to show up unannoucned in a fucking battlefield!”
“I wasn’t ‘unannounced’ you jackass, Aiden called me!”
“Why for?!”
“To make sure you didn’t get yourself killed!” Kass yelled, grabbing Damien’s jacket. “We worry about you, you moron! And I don’t know about Aiden, but I for one would like to keep you around until well after your forties!”
Damien blinked, staring down at her. They were both panting now, throats already worn from yelling, and basically out of any anger that had previously been between them.
“I just want you to be more careful, Damien. Please. I don’t want you to go earlier than you have to.”
Huffing, Damien reached up and placed his hand on the back of Kass’ neck, pulling her forward against his chest. “..’m sorry.” He mumbled into her curly brown hair, and Kass wrapped her arms around his chest. “I’ll forgive you this time, you big jerk..” She replied into his chest, and Damien grinned into her hair.
#18, you + nik + me (nobody said a pairing was two people only, nor did anybody say had to be shippy)
“This is without a doubt the stupidest plan you’ve ever had. Of course I’m in.” Niko grinned broadly.
“Guys, no.”
“But it’d be funny.”
“We’d all wind up in the hospital with alcohol poisoning.”
“..... worth it?”
Blu stared. “I doubt it’d be that worth it.”
Niko tapped her chin with a pen. “Okay then, how about we only take a shot when....”
“When Nate says ‘crap’.” Ace suggested with a grin.
Again, Blu stared at the two. They seemed pretty intent on the drinking game, to say the least. With a sigh of resignation, Blu held up her hands in mock surrender. “Okay okay- but only when Nate says ‘Crap’, and no more than that.”
