#replied: jude

[ascnsionismx]

Work kept going and life kept moving. Mathias' time to rest was short and over way too quickly. He was thankful to be left alone during his healing, the Higher Ups were keeping him at an arm's length. He figured it was out of fear and safety, as they didn't want to have his new anger and powers directed towards them. But that time alone was gone, and now they were back causing Mathias stress.

Their first orders were for him to expand his reach of influence, and to build a bigger army. It sucked because Mathias longed for time away, and maybe if he could delegate tasks, he could get time off. For now, he was stuck listening to various new followers speaking about their loyalty to them. Another change had been the shift into not hiding who Mathias was. The Higher Ups believed it was time to put a face to the new god of life. It wasn't his favorite thing, but Mathias didn't have the energy to argue.

The long time of people slowly dwindled down, and Mathias' headache grew. Thankfully he was allowed to have someone there with him during the meetings. Obviously he picked his advisor. Mathias was biased, but Jude had been one of the few who hadn't caused him great stress recently. He found comfort in the vampire's company. As the last person left the church, Mathias let out a big sigh.

"That was...not very fun" He mumbled. His eyes glanced over to Jude and he waved at him, "Sorry for making you sit through that".

@undead-jude

[ascnsionismx]

@undead-jude

As always, Mathias had invited Jude to come with him, but he didn't expect a yes. The vampire could say no and Mathias would accept that. So it was always a surprise when Jude said yes, especially after the moment they shared after Jude fed from him. Mardi Gras was such a big celebration for the city, and because he had lived there for most of his life, Mathias learned to love it. It got better as he aged too, and deep down he knew that this could be his last one as a mortal. So he was planning to enjoy it fully.

He smiled as Jude came to him, Mathias wearing comfy clothes and looking very casual for once. "Hi Jude" He said, and extended some plastic beads to him. "Don't worry, I don't need to see you topless for these. Take them".

[ascnsionismx]

The meeting was brief but Mathias tried to make the best of it. He could see the worry on his peoples' faces, and he tried his best to ease it. This was something Sebastian had drilled into his head in his early years. Even if Mathias was worried, or scared, he was to never let his followers see or feel that. He needed to comfort them and show them that everything would be alright, that they could put their faith and trust in them.

He thanked all of them, and sent them on their way to rest and hold each other close. The summer night's moon hung high in the sky. "Knox and Jude, if you two would hold for a moment. We need to discuss a few things back at my place" Mathias said and turned to walk towards the building. The church, which doubled as his home, wasn't too far from them, but with every step Mathias felt his strength leaving him.

He let both men into his home, his hands trembling now from the pain and the exhaustion. Mathias barely made it inside before he put his back to the door and slide down to the floor. Everything hurt, his body felt cold and on fire at the same time. He was sweating and shivering, shaking and unable to move from where he was. Pain. That was all he felt. It slipped through the bond he shared with Knox for a moment. Tears ran down his face as he sobbed and began clawing at his clothes.

Mathias tore off each article of clothing, the fabric sticking to his skin in odd ways, until he was just in his underwear. The state of his body was not the same as it was that same morning. Open wounds covered him and wept a black and red substance. Bone could be seen in some of the areas where the skin was thinner. He was rotting from the inside out. When Mathias saw the state of himself, he began to hyperventilate and cry harder. He didn't know what happened, he didn't know what he was. But that voice in his head just hummed with satisfaction as Mathias looked to Knox and Jude.

@sanguisxferox @undead-jude

[ascnsionismx]

Mathias had kept his distance for as long as he had. A year ago he had created Jude through a twisted kind of rebirth in the flooded church. After months of obsession and, what most would consider, a crush, turning Jude into a vampire seemed logical. Of course the priest didn't see it that way, and Mathias understood. It was such a violent and sudden change. So when Jude first denied Mathias' offer for a place to live and decided to live on the streets, the necromancer allowed it.

He had lost track of the priest for the first several months of their separation. But the streets talked. With the help of a certain naga, Mathias was able to keep tabs on the vampire. He heard of his heroics, only feeding off of bad people and saving the helpless. Admirable to say the least, but it gave Mathias an idea. He waited until he felt the moment was right to show up in the hole Jude called home. All doors opened when you were the soon to be God of Life.

He waited in the dark, looking around the tiny home. Knox wasn't around, nor were any other guards. This was a solo mission for Mathias, but he knew deep down he wouldn't be heading home alone. When he heard Jude come in, he sat up and smiled big. It had been a year since he saw the man, and he still looked stunning as ever.

"I'm a little offended you turned down my offer for a nicer place just to live in something like this. I know I said it was in the Bayou but I promise it isn't swampy".

@undead-jude

[ascnsionismx]

@undead-jude

There were multiple reasons why Mathias made Jude an advisor over any other role. He was certain the priest would prosper in whatever role Mathias put him in, but it was a deliberate choice to make him advisor. Because Jude had an ability Mathias had never seen before. He was able to make sense of most things and have a clear mind even in harsh situations. He needed that at his side.

Having Jude near by to listen to his meeting with Fior was a good choice in Mathias' part. He could show the vampire the side of the business that wasn't always easy. The choices Mathias had to make in order to maintain the safety of the Deathrunners, all while ensuring their status as a threat to the other gangs. The way he could hurt without lifting a finger and just by using his words. But the anger he felt after that meeting was getting harder and harder to ignore.

Then of course Suresh came and there was more information sitting in Mathias' head that was unsettling him. So he did what he had done before, and called on Jude to come to his side. He wasn't as sad as he was after the party, but the necromancer was visibly upset by everything. His appearance was still being affected by his powers, his hair getting greyer as his mood persisted.

Mathias sat on his couch, fiddling with an animal skull as Jude came in. He looked up from what he was doing and exhaled, "Hello Jude. How are you?"

[ascnsionismx]

The night after the party~

Mathias was so tired, and the alcohol was still very much in his system. The discomfort of getting over intoxication was never enjoyable. The room felt like it was spinning, but thankfully he made it safely to his home. Everything that transpired at the party was replaying over and over in his mind. It was the worst outcome and Mathias knew the consequences would simply be even worse. For now though, he would enjoy the one night he had before the storm.

Even though he had turned everyone away, there was one person Mathias would allow close. Jude had messed up yes, but Mathias also couldn't fault him too much. He was new to this, and everything that was said was completely true. Mathias destroyed his life and then had the audacity to expect gratitude. He extended an invite to the vampire, unsure if he would show up or not. The door to his large home was left unlocked so Jude could see himself in. Mathias' world was still spinning so he had to stay in bed and hope that it would stop soon.

@undead-jude

[ascnsionismx]

@undead-jude

It was late, and the moon in the sky was barely a crescent. The stars were twinkling and the crickets and fireflies were out. Mathias sat on the dock outside the church, wrapped in a blanket, staring up at the sky. He had snuck out of the bed he shared in secret with Jude. When he left he made sure the vampire was asleep. How peaceful he looked, how warm the bed was. Mathias couldn't rest though, he hadn't been able to rest since the Jazz Festival.

Sleep never came naturally to him anyways. Whether it was when he was young, and the nightmares of his family's deaths kept him up, or when he was a teenager, and the desperation to be free made his mind active, or even now, when the pain of his soon to be godhood and death robbed him of the only moment of rest he could have.

The air was cool on his skin as he stared up at the stars, mapping out the constellations he knew and watching as satellites passed far above.