#setting: maximum security facility

[madnessxlurksxwithin]

ᕙ( •̀ ︿•́ )ᕗ arachne, probably

Challenges were nothing new to them - a welcoming pastime - the beast within clamoring to not only accept the ones carelessly delivered to them on a silver platter but to rabble-rouse their way into fights that would, at the very least, entertain them; and by extension give into their instinctive need to scrap and tussle as nature demanded. So when the small-boned creature standing before them announced her intention to fight, her stance one of confidence, Malachi merely stared down at her, unblinking and silent; but for the calm, steady thump-thump-thump of their heartbeat. She smelled vaguely of silk - it was almost like the scent was fused to her cells - a sickly sweet scent that bespoke of the danger of drawing too close to her bite. Like a spider. Small but capable of rendering a creature immobile with one tiny bite. “Your small stature must house a great deal of confidence - and strength; poisonous strength - to so willingly challenge us,” the manticore mused aloud, giving a shake of their head at the thought of facing this creature. 

Interesting? 

It could be.

“But if it’s a true fight you want, we’ll have no trouble obliging you.” They wouldn’t say no to a true fight.

[madnessxlurksxwithin]

💔 [hehe]

17 ↣ Our muses in a hostage situation together.

Another night, another trap - but rather than hunt their prey into a corner that would prove effective in trapping them, Malachi thought it might be a little more interesting if they played the victim this time around. Innocent, at-the-wrong-place-at-the-wrong-time kind of victim. And their would-be captors had little idea of the kinds of dangers they’d invited into their lives with their impulsive decision to confront them, no doubt intending to make good on their threats. Unfortunately for them, they were far too enamored of the notion of destroying their enemies. Humans were such simple-minded creatures, after all. “One, two, three - we see three blind mice,” the manticore growled; a low, gravelly sound that didn’t travel far, only managing to reach Loki’s ears, the trickster sitting feet away from them with both hands and feet bound with nylon tape, unsurprisingly unruffled by their circumstances. “Want to see how they run?” At that, a sharp, eager grin broke out across Malachi’s face as they slid a dark, calculating glance in the direction of the foolish humans.

Game on.

[madnessxlurksxwithin]

☀

[ 24 ]  Blood on a stick.

“Are you hungry? We’re hungry.” Leaning against the wall with their ankles crossed, the toe of their right boot pointing in the direction of the fox - she’d called herself a kitsune, but they only recognized her as a fox - Malachi waited only until they’d gained the girl’s full, undivided attention before adding, in a contemplative, conversational tone, “You know that thing they were selling earlier - chicken on a stick?” It had looked so damn unappetizing, and it had smelled even worse; like charred meat. “We think they ought to replace it with blood on a stick. Now doesn’t that sound good?” It would probably sell better too.

[madnessxlurksxwithin]

Lounging at a table in the middle of the room - a bar often made for decent hunting grounds - Malachi casually watched as the two men went at it, pounding away at each other in their desperation to prove their Alpha status. “Ten on red,” they murmured to no one in particular, partial to the color red; even this uglier, unattractive shade. That, and they’d recently discovered the fun of gambling; which was why they couldn’t resist making a game of it.

Now all that was needed was someone to take them up on the challenge.

[venebalder]

What is this?

Balder sucked in a sharp breath, practically choking on the air - if he’d had a drink in hand, he would be sputtering all over the place; but thankfully, he’d decided not to indulge his desire to forget everything, at least not for another hour. 

He was patient. It could wait.

As he squinted up at the monitor, struggling to understand what was going on - not to mention the events that had already begun to unfold on the screen, its broadcast extending to every public place it would seem - the former god of light grimaced, slanting a look of stupefaction and worry at the person beside him. “Forgive my impudence, but do you, by chance, know what’s going on?” He asked quietly, as always minding his manners. Surely someone must, at the very least, have some idea as to what was happening and why the vaguely familiar faces of some of the inhabitants on the island found themselves unwillingly participating in - whatever this was; it certainly didn’t look as though they were there voluntarily. 

[venebalder]

@ heavenly-kitsune

Cobalt eyes lifted to the darkened sky, having finally deemed it dark enough for his ability to shine through, so to speak, Balder chose that moment to activate his light merely by concentrating all of his thoughts and will power on the emergence of the brightness that he’d never imagined losing, certainly not to the unwanted interference of the mortals. But he had, and it ... stung, almost as though they’d removed his arm as well; a limb that would be dearly missed. And yet they hadn’t completely obliterated the light. Something to be thankful for, certainly. “Yuki,” he whispered, not wanting to disturb the night with any loud, disruptive noises. “Yuki, look.” A strangely proud demand. A demand for her to acknowledge the glow emanating from his skin, the luminosity chasing the shadows away. 

But when he turned to grace her with a small smile - he simply couldn’t help but smile in her presence, regardless of how faint and nearly imperceptible it proved to be - Balder blinked in surprise to find her hiding behind a tree, clinging to it as if it was her only form of life support. “What’s wrong?” 

[venebalder]

It was a cloudless afternoon, brilliant rays of sunshine bathing him in breathtaking light - light he would have gathered around himself if he was still in possession of all of his powers, and not the pale imitations forced upon him by the meddlesome mortals. But rather than enjoy the warmth and luminescence of the sun, Balder cast a disgruntled frown in the direction of the obnoxiously loud crowd gathered around the entrance of the bar, wondering if perhaps he ought to move away from the noise. 

As he considered the merit and appeal of that particular option, however, the soft pitter-pattering of footfalls immediately snagged his attention. Head turned to peruse the forest at his back, Balder blinked in surprise when an orange tabby emerged from the forest line and looked in his direction - an unblinking stare. “Oh,” he whispered, unsurprisingly happy at the sight - for he favored cats above all creatures; they had been present in his darkest hour, after all, a presence that had brought comfort when all else failed. “Come to keep me company, have you?” He murmured calmly, extending his hand toward the animal in hopes of it approaching him. Cats were independent creatures, as he well knew, and would only approach if and when they wanted to.