“Everything is okay.” You hardly believe the words coming out of your own mouth as you rake your fingers through the curly mess of hair on the head of the troll that sat in your lap. Well, mess is a mean word for it, you and Thuein had just spent about two hours detangling it.
It was a good bonding experience. It was a better distraction from the fact that neither of the two of you knew where Persep ran off to with Lopard early last morning. “Have I ever lied to you?”
Zurven leans all the way back against your chest, tilting his head as far as he could go to get a real good look at you.
“Hmm…” He squints, and though you can see that his scrutiny is being played up for the bit, you feel a knot beginning to form in your stomach. You would say it is about the size of a peach pit, if you had to guess. Wait, aren’t those called stones?
You shake your head.
“Yeeessss Zurven?” The way you draw out the word is innocent enough, right? Simple enough that it does not betray the guilt that is slowly consuming you, right? Lying to the kid was hard enough, who knows what he’s already seen?
“Then where is Lopard?”
I don’t know. “I think he’s sleeping in today, bud.”
“Lopard?” Came his incredulous retort. “Sleeping in? Is he sick?”
Your voice catches in your throat, the words that already left your mouth having left a sticky residue in their place. Tacky and thick, like the sugary sweet of a homemade frosting made by an amateur.
Lopard doesn’t sleep in.
“I hope he isn’t sick..” Panic starts to claw its way into the bronze blood's voice as he tugs your hand into his lap. He fidgets with it.
Behind you the door opens and closes with a soft click, it gives you a start but you try to conceal it for Zurvens sake.
“Who, Lopard?” Oh, thank god. It’s Thuein. You relax as he takes a seat on the floor across from you, the look he shoots your way tells you what you already know – You have a shit poker face.
Zurven sits up fully to turn his scrutiny onto him, not letting go of your hand.
“Mhm! Lopard. Is he sick?”
“Lopard doesn’t get sick. He beats pathogens up for fun.”
“Path-o-gen.” Thuein must have forgotten that this five sweep old didn’t get the most stellar school-feeding. You couldn’t imagine it, being raised in this glorified morgue. What would that boy do if not for the three of you?
“Pathogen is a big word for little guys that start diseases.”
“Why would little guys need a big word like that? Isn’t it better to just say that?” Zurven huffs his indignation for Alternian Standard.
Thuein looks thoughtful for a moment, and it dawns on you that this impromptu vocabulary lesson was not a mistake. He was using it to distract him.
“Well, we don’t call you little guy that sneaks snacks before dinner,” his voice is soft, he smiles. “We call you Zurven!”
“Hey!! I’m more than a little guy who sneaks snacks!”
“Oh, of course you are! You are a great deal more than just a snack thief.” Fuck, he’s good at this. “But we’re agreed that you’re a little guy, right?”
Zurven devolves into giggles, nodding his head into the palm of your hand, and you feel yourself breathe again.
It was nice, having had a good cathartic cry with Veylin and Benjin. You don't remember when, but at some point they lead you to the bed and had you sit. A long while passed while they doted on you, Ben with his fingers raking through your hair and Vey had interlocked her fingers with yours the second you sat down. You sat in silence like that for a while, staring ahead, despondent.
If there was any way to parse through your feelings, there would be nothing to find but guilt. Guilty that they felt the need to tend to you, that you returned to the room without corporal punishment.
Instead, your emotions were muted. Through Veylins intervention or because of the voices swarming your mind, you will never know.
It was a cacophony of madness. Swirling. It made you dizzy. They talked over each other, they yelled at each other, they agreed with each other. They couldn't stand each other.
They loved each other.
After the cry, Veylin suggested a shower. It helps clear your head, she said. Benjin was in agreement. A shower could be good, he thought.
They waited until you gave the affirmative head nod before they set about getting it ready.
Ah, agency.
He disappeared into the bathroom attached to his room to run the water, she collected some clothes to change into and a towel.
The three of you had the same hope for this shower, that the water would carry some of your burdens down the drain.
Benjin ushered you into the bathroom, with frantic hands that couldn't decide if they wanted to settle at shoulders or on back. His soft touches suggested that he thought you were made of glass. There was no underlying threat in the way he handled you.
"We'll be right out here, Zurv." His hands had finally found their resting place -- One on your shoulder, and the other at the small of your back. He gave your shoulder a squeeze.
You nodded.
He hesitated, giving your shoulder another squeeze before he left. The door shutting behind him.
You are alone now. No you aren't.
Who are you anyway?
You shake your head and begin to disrobe. The shower will help, it will clear your mind. You step into it and immediately find yourself standing under the showerhead. The water soaks into your hair first and quickly makes the trip to coating the rest of your body.
Its heat stirs you a little, but mostly you stare into space.
A part of you needed answers. Who wouldn't? How could he do that? Persep couldn't even trigger visions for you, he knew you your whole life. Did he know you could see the past, too?
Another part of you wishes to forget the events ever happened, to never know the answer to the questions.
You feel yourself splintering.
Hey, who are you again?
You are Harlan Mahkir, and everything always goes just so.
You are Orfuse Saekul, the threads that bind you are invisible.
Once again, you shake your head and lean back against the wall, sliding until you are sitting on the cold porcelain and eventually in a fetal position. This isn't new, you're no stranger. You've helped Veylin through this countless times, the same with Benjin.
A shaky breath in, but your lungs refuse to expand to capacity. Your breathing comes in short spurts instead.
Is it possible for someone to lose themselves in their own mind? The water running down your face makes it hard to tell when you started crying, but there were certainly tears spilling down your cheeks. They tinge the water as they meet.
You would scream if you weren't positive that it would alert your friends waiting just outside the door. This isn't their problem. It doesn't have to be their problem.
Whose problem is it?
Who are you, again?
You are Aderae Punnam, and something is wrong. You miss him.
You are Thanat Lycaon, the mysterious figure before you offers the chance to see your lost love, just one more time. It comes with a price. You shake their hand.
You are Lycias Argoli, that thorn in your side is finally gone.
You are Erilee Otrame. Or are you Elison? You are the Otrame twins, you are having so much fun.
No, not really. It isn't fun at all. You try to focus on the heat from the water as it hits you. What happens to someone that gets lost in their own mind?
Actually, you don't want the answer. It doesn't matter. Needing the answer to a question like that suggests that this will be happening to you. It suggests that he won.
The water is doing its best to ground you, but time slips away as you watch it run. Has it been 5 minutes? 10? 20? Who is counting, anyway?
Who are you?
The pressure starts to build up in your chest, the bathroom contorts and changes shape before your eyes. The sound of the running shower fades into the cacophony of voices.
Who are you? Who are you?
Where are you?
Papers strewn about, words alien and familiar encompass you. You're bored. You want out. You are Lauren DeVoss, you need to find the Ferryman.
Plumes of smoke obscure your vision, there's one more prisoner here. You are Onitem Enegii. You are not leaving without them.
You are Laclan Slaine, the world around you is burning.
The smoke clears. There was no smoke. You've lived a life of luxury and enjoyed its spoils. You are Planhz Sevrin.
Their body falls limp against yours, the madness in their eyes fades with their life. You are Haryan Ostera. You are responsible for this.
You are Juleus Monark, the world bends to your whim.
That's too many! It's too much!
You find the sound of the water again, it pulls you out of your head. There must be a better place to go. The present. Something in the present. The water, its heat. The jolt of cold porcelain when you shift to a new position.
The future. Hope. You'll get out of here, you'll get back to your life. Benjin and Veylin will be part of it.
Benjin and Veylin.
Such a waste of their energy, on this small problem. Who are you to demand this of them?
Who are you?
You are being used, the dead are in agony. You are Hocus Fantôm, these flames will cleanse you of your sins.
Agony? No, you put trolls out of their misery. You are Lament Demmot.
Who cares if trolls are in misery? You are Tozika Kollin, people will be hurt in your pursuit of knowledge.
This is madness! This doesn't happen to people! You don't deserve this. You are a person!
You are!
You are...
You are Amillo Aarika. You are Persep Lycaon. You are Mallum Pravus. The world belongs to you.
Uhm, no. You are Cifera Opprim. The world is yours for the taking.
You are Julius Montër, you fear that you are running out of time.
"Enough! Enough! Fuck!" You shout, your voice fills the bathroom. Your lungs burn, you are so tired.
There are so many people in your head. Their voices rise above the buzzing of the lights, above the relentless torrent of water against the tub, above your thoughts.
You are Veylin Kenshe, the cafe is bright. You have to do this for him.
You are Benjin Mahkir, the pool of green blood seeps into the dirt. You killed him.
No!
No, you aren't! No he didn't!
Benjin Mahkir is standing on the other side of that door, trying desperately to get your attention. The rattling of the doorknob brings you back. You don’t know how long he was standing out there, it takes you a while to register his voice.
“Goddamnit..” He’s stressed. Presently. As in right now. “Zurven! Zurven!! Can I come in? Please, can I come in?” He’s frantic, but he won’t trample your autonomy. Neither of them will do anything without your permission. Just find your voice again. Help him help you.
“Please, Zurv. Are you okay?” Desperation.
You start to search for your voice, pulling at it like a loose thread from the tangle of all of the other ones.
“Benjin.. Benjin, please come in.” Your voice is low now, but he must’ve had his ear pressed to the door because it was thrown open the second the words left your mouth.
“Here, here’s your towel.” He’s frantic, moving to turn the water off in an instant. As promised your towel was draped over your body. It all happened very quickly. You move slowly, but you finally get it adjusted.
“I’d like to pick you up. Is that okay, Zurven?”
You nod and he wastes no time, in seconds you are in his arms and cradled close to his chest. His heart is racing. He holds onto you as though you are seconds away from falling to pieces. You are. God you are unraveling.
“Don’t worry, I got you. We have each other, right? It’s going to be okay, we’ve got each other.”
Hey, he’s right.
God he’s right. You could kiss him if he wasn’t holding you together the way that he was.
You are Zurven Saekul, and he can’t have won for as long as the three of you have each other.
Is there something that can be read to explain exactly why Zurven hates his ancestor as much as he does?
uhm! the entire flashback arc
Zurven started that arc entirely ambivalent to Orfuse and his existence, his whole life was kind of dictated by the mistakes Orfuse made in his life but he really wasn't aware of the extent.
Basically in an effort to stop Harlan from becoming what he became, Orfuse did a lot of fucking around with things that changed the timelines he saw so that those things wouldn't come to fruition.
He really only succeeded in pushing back the inevitable.
So his timeline meddling essentially put Zurven right into Perseps hands (bad), and then in Harlans hands (badder). All posthumously, of course.
The events of the Flashback Arc led to two things for Zurven. More experience with his powers, up to that point Zurven'd only used his powers to view the future because that's what Persep was obsessed with but Harlan exposed him to the part of his powers that let him view the past, and through that, he did a lot of viewing the world through Orfuses eyes.
Viewing the past through someone's eyes is different from viewing the future, you adopt their feelings and stuff along with it because the past is rooted in.. The emotions that surround the situation.
So basically he got to see Orfuse doing all the stupid shit he was doing that brought about the timeline everyone is occupying right now. and the reasons he was so persistent in doing it that way. He thinks Orfuse is stupid, selfish, and weak.
All of this could've been avoided, he thinks, if Orfuse just killed Harlan. And if he didn't write every single fucking thing down.
"My love! I'm sorry I'm late! I got tied up." Orfuse shouted as he came bounding into the hive. He always entered so loudly. Excited about something that might have happened to him that evening.
Harlan wasn't complaining though, his loudness gave him the opportunity to set his book to the side and prepare for whatever onslaught of affection awaited him.
He smiles and politely folds his hands into his lap to the sound of Orfuses footsteps hurriedly rushing up the stairs. They grew louder and louder as he approached the door, where he stopped abruptly.
There's always a game to be played. Why did he choose to tease Harlan so? He knew that he'd be excited to see him, hear the news of the days, spark in his eye as his voice goes up several uncomfortable decibels.
Harlan watched as the doorknob slowly turned. He plays too much.
"Dearest," his voice was calm and steady "I will be in the history books by the time you get that door open."
The turning stopped, he could hear the chime of Orfuses laughter. Finally, he throws the door open.
"Don't be so dramatic, my love!"
"Yes, my mistake. All of the drama was reserves for you, darling."
Orfuse gives a pleased hum and moves to seat himself in his lap. He throws his arms around his neck.
"Don't let it happen again." There was no real threat there, not that he'd ever have a reason to threaten Harlan. Not that Harlan'd have taken it seriously. The words passed through his mouth with a barely contained giggle following after it.
Harlan only responds by wrapping an arm around his waist, a fond smile on his face. Orfuse removes his arms around his neck to take the glasses off of his face. He begins to twirl them around in his hands as he rests his head against his chest.
"I finished my surprise!" This is a project he's been excited about for a very long while. He apparently had to learn a great deal of technical skill to get whatever it is done. Harlan hated being made to wait, so the new is welcomed with an affirmative mm. Then he sighs. He knows he will be made to wait, still. Orfuse will want to wait until all of his quadmates are around for the gifting.
Harlan figured himself above the other two, but whatever. Anything for his Orfuse.
"Now don't start pouting! It's important to share these special moments with your friends."
Harlans eyebrows begin to rise, Orfuse can tell he is pulling a face without looking. He reaches up to drum his fingers again his chest.
"Friend and Aderae." The smaller troll says, with mock exasperation.
"Better."
He adjusted himself to get a better vantage point of his moirail propped against his chest, moving gently against him with each breath that he took.
"Why bother bringing it up at all, then, dearest?"
"Suspense!"
Hmm. Yes, of course.
The suspense. The drama of it all. How could you forget? Your love couldn't stand to let go of the theatrics.
Another smile settles over your features as you bring your hand up to tangle it into his hair. "As if I were not already waiting with baited breath."
He sighs against you, leaning as much as he could into your touch. You knew him like the back of your hand. You knew if you stayed still and silent for longer than three seconds, he would doze right off.
This isn't what you wanted, though. You'd missed him all day. You wanted to talk to him. To hear his voice.
"Dearest, what will we do with the evening so I do not lose you to your slumber."
"Sleeping is so good!"
"Better saved for the day."
He huffs. "I guess. A puzzle?"
Amenable, you quite enjoy this activity with him. He looks so cute when he focuses.
Wait.
You don't have hard opinions on puzzles.
Your feelings on Orfuse Saekul can be described as neutral at best, hatred at worst.
You are not Harlan Mahkir. You have to wake up.
—
There is a cocktail of emotions swirling inside of you, it takes up all of the empty space in your lungs and makes it impossible to breathe. That must be why he separated you from Veylin, she would have picked apart the feelings with ease. Honestly, she’s gotten really good at using her powers. You’re proud of her.
Very little time is afforded for you to dwell on that, to think about how proud you are of her, to be happy that you’ve identified a feeling of your own, to remember how to breathe – The pink glow shifts from the puzzle on the table and settles on you. The last thing you want is to meet his gaze, but you chance it anyway.
There is an amused smile on his face, one that contorts his features behind the glow. Incomprehensible.
“Welcome back, dear.”
It was strange, his tone. He’d spoken to you gently before, his voice was always sort of calming, hypnotic, trance inducing. Enticing? Disgusting.
But this was different, it felt insidious. A threat hidden just behind those three simple words. It made your stomach hurt, you trained your gaze on the half finished puzzle instead.
How fucked up is that? Veylin was cut up for her troubles, and you’ve been summoned up for board games. Guilt burns a hole in your stomach as you stare at it.
Once again you are knocked from your thoughts by a disturbance, emphasis on disturb. A large hand cups the back of your head, thumb gently curving around one of your horns. He could rip it off if he really wanted to, instead he uses it to guide your head back up, to make eye contact with him.
“Darling, I am speaking to you.”
Why was he still speaking so softly? He was clearly irritated with you. You swallow the lump in your throat back down.
“I…” the dislodged lump affords you the ability to breathe a little easier, but not to form the words you would like to say.
“Did you enjoy your trip? It must be a nice reprieve. To have a way out.”
Another pang of guilt. He knew just what to say.
There is only one thing that you want to say. It silences all of your other thoughts.
“You really loved him.” Your voice is low, you’re tired. Harlans feelings for your ancestor still weigh heavy on your heart, they confuse you. You have a seering headache. Harlan doesn’t get to be normal, to have loved normally.
A flash of recognition intensifies the glow of his gaze, and just like that it’s settled again. His smile broadens.
“Immeasurably. With all of my heart.” You could throw up, right here. All over his stupid chambers and his stupid puzzle. Espeically the stupid puzzle. He seems satisfied with his findings, and releases his grip.
Your gaze trails back to the table, you never thought you could have such vitriol for a picture. You hate this stupid thing.
Harlan starts to move, he’s handing you something. Between his index and middle finger there is a puzzle piece.
“Finish the corners, Zurven.” It was a gentle command, but the hand off frightens you much more. It took this long for him to demand full control of you. You’d hoped he never did.
There is hesitation, he stands there ever patient with hand outstretched. You really don’t want to look at his stupid smile. You don’t have to, to know it’s there.
This is a game to him.
You reach for the puzzle piece, hand shaking all the while. There will be consequences if you deny him, ones that might be levied toward someone who isn't you. You're already consumed with enough guilt.
But, before you can take it.. The edges of your vision start to blur.
Shit. Another one? How? Is He doing this somehow?
You watch him place the piece on the table before it all fades to black.
–
This time, there is an already completed puzzle on the table in front of them. Well, partially completed. There are a few pieces missing from the puzzle, Harlan is searching under the table for it, for surely it must have fallen while they were putting it together.
“The corner, Orfuse. Most of the corner is unfinished.”
Orfuse watches with wonder, a smile on his face. It was like observing Harlan do even the most mundane thing filled him with joy. It fills him with admiration. It fills you with admiration.
“We had the pieces the last time we did it.” It’s a bit silly, hearing his voice come from under the table. To his credit, he’s right. The puzzle was fully in tact the last time you’d seen it.
The last time you’d seen it?
“It’s not that important!” Puzzles are taken apart and put together and taken apart again, it didn’t really matter about the pieces. But your Harlan. -His- Harlan was a perfectionist. Everything always had to go just so. This is not just so. “It’s fine.”
“It is not fine.” His voice is curt, he stands and kind of glowers at the puzzle for a moment.
The glare makes your stomach churn – No it doesn’t, it fills you with concern, Orfuses concern. He got frustrated so easily and that was a great cause for concern! Poor thing. Poor thing? Harlan Mahkir is not a poor thing. Your head hurts.
“My love, you can’t take your anger out on inanimate objects. It’s not healthy.” Nothing about it is. “Look, I can fix it.”
Orfuse hurried makes a grab for one of his journals, eyeballing the size of the pieces he needed to replace the missing pieces Harlan watches with furrowed brows as he starts to tear up the paper he’d ripped out of the book.
It looks like watching him quelled whatever anger was boiling up inside. Good to know that he was just always like this – Good to know he’s feeling better now!
This is unnatural.
Orfuse pulls a colored pen out from his arsenal. Pink. For the pink moon. One of the missing pieces was of the pink moon.
He scribbled at the piece of paper to color it fully before placing it in one of the empty spaces.
“Ta-da!” You’re filled with pride as Harlan gives a refined chuckle.
“This is horrendous, Orfuse.”
“No, it’s perfect!” He bounces on his heels, absolutely giddy.
“We are throwing this puzzle away.”
“I know. It wasn’t a very good puzzle to begin with.” It was one of his favorites, he knew that Harlan would replace it.
Harlan nods his agreement, moving to drape an arm over his shoulder. Orfuse gives a happy hum.
You love Harlan so much.
No. You hate Harlan.
No, look how softly he smiles at you, how gently he treats you.
How delicate he is with Orfuse. What he did to Veylin.
You are Orfuse Saekul, with complete devotion to Harlan Mahkir.
No!
You are Zurven Saekul, and you hate the Dominion with every fiber of your being.
No!!
You are Harlan Mahkir
No!!!
You are...
You are forcibly removed from the vision.
–
When you come to this time you are sitting, staring directly at the now complete puzzle. Harlan must’ve gotten impatient while he waited and finished it himself. Harlan could be like that. So impulsive. Wait. What is this? Why was that a fond thought? Those aren’t your thoughts. You.
You brought Orfuses sentiment back with you? No.
You’re about to lose your lunch for real, your head is pounding. What’s worse. You’re positive that Harlans feelings are still with you. Their emotions are having a conversation in your mind, speaking over your own.
Harlan is amazing, stunning, handsome. Orfuse is perfect, useful, intelligent. You hate them both. No, you love them.
How was he doing this? How could he make you see things? Feel things? You shake your head, hoping in vain that it would dispel their feelings from your psyche.
“It is a difficult thing, visiting the past.” His voice breaks the silence, you find yourself hanging onto his words. You look up in the direction of his voice with a sort of reverence that makes your entire body shudder.
“Such strong feelings. I’m sure you’ve found the future to be more objective.” He seems to take note of your – Orfuses – disposition. You take note of the new tone in his voice.
This is how it sounds when he talks to Veylin.
“How do you know –”
“My Orfuse was not quite so impressionable as you. Even in our youth."
"Are you doing this? Please -- It.. I feel like my head is going to explode."
"No, my Orfuse did a very good job keeping his head on straight."
He was right, Orfuse was perfect. He was amazing and he did everything just as he was expected to.
No! Orfuse was blinded by his foolish want to save a man that wasn't drowning.
"Are you trying to turn me into him?" You start to curl in on yourself, it would be very nice if you could disappear.
"Never." His humor disappears very briefly. You flinch. "This will serve as a reminder to you."
"What is it? What point are you trying to prove?" You want to raise your voice. To demand from him a real answer. But you're so tired it comes out as a desperate plea. Strangled.
He leans forward, looming over the table, and tilts his head with a smile that could kill.
"You cannot hope to fight me, Zurven. I've already won."
Your mouth opens, you want to speak. To yell at him. But the glint of a gold object, barely wrapped in his hand, catches your eye. You can just make out what looks to be the etching of a flower on the surface.
The edges of your vision begin to blur.
Fuck. Fuck! Not again. You're so tired.
Harlan sits back again with that satisfied smile still in place, and it all fades to black.
Here it is in a google doc if you hate reading the pink on my blog!<3
Your name is Zurven Saekul and things are going pretty good as far as it stands. It’d been a really slow day at work, so you found yourself busy stocking and reorganizing some of the shelves that lie behind the front counter.
Some of this stuff has not seen attention since Taital put it there, they’d probably be covered in a fine layer of dust if it weren’t for their meticulous upkeep. Thorough weekly cleanings meant that each aisle looked like the store opened up yesterday. But, still, some of it had to go. And since the store was so dead, and you were the only one actually in the store, it was your task.
No problem! You always got to play keepsies with what needed to be thrown out.
You couldn’t really get into it, though, because there was a chime from the front door as someone entered. You’d just climbed up onto the highest shelf, too. Haha! Oops.
Then thudding footsteps that made their way toward the counter. Well, that sucks. You thought for sure they’d take the time to browse so there’d be time for your descent. You must’ve looked very silly the way you straddled the shelf.
“Just a moment!” The troll behind you says nothing, so you assume they’re okay with it. It doesn’t take very long for you to shimmy on down the ladder, but it was just for the sake of being polite.
“What can I help you with?” You call into the silence as you climb down.
“A repair.” Came the gruff response. A voice like velvet, or something equally as poetic.
“Oh, you can just set it on the counter, it’s been crazy slow today. As long as it’s not like..Missing anything ridiculous. I can try to get it done in a hurry.”
Behind you, the troll remains silent, but there is the soft thud of metal touching wood. Silent types freak you out, plus you’re pretty sure you can feel his eyes boring holes into your back.
Finally, you turn to face him, but you keep your gaze geared toward the small pocket watch that sat on the counter. You weren’t really interested in looking at someone who had such an intense energy.
My, what a gorgeous piece it was. It’s casing was a stunning silver, though obviously it was worn by time, it was clearly made by a master of the craft. And looked after by someone who cared deeply for it. Embossed roses followed each other in a ring around it, stem to petal, with a hectic spiral of vines traveling toward the center. Upon opening it, you find that the watch face is a rich deep purple with silver plating for the numbers. But it wasn’t ticking. Something with the gears?
You can feel his eyes follow your every move as you handle it.
“It’s uh. It’s beautiful. It must have cost a pretty penny.”
“A gift.”
He was clearly not a man meant for conversation, as he answers you, you turn the watch over to see a small engraving towards the bottom. It kind of looks like your sign. You don’t think much of it until your eyes catch the slightly larger symbol next to it. The sign of the Dominion.
Your stomach drops.
In your hands, an actual watch, handcrafted by your ancestor. In front of you, you hoped, a very avid, and bold collector. You swallow your nerves and look up at the man. And up, and up, and – You get the idea, I think. This was no collector, you feel your knees go weak and use the edge of the counter to support yourself.
Then. Things went dark. It started slowly, with your vision blurring around the edges. And then it was lights out.
You must’ve been out for 30 seconds max, but when you come to you’re no longer in the shop staring up at the face of a hulking purple blood. You give your eyes time to adjust, and as they do, you find that you’re actually staring into a far more gentle pair of purple eyes.
“It was scary..” You feel yourself speaking, but the words are not yours. Neither is the voice. “The Harlan from my vision. I don’t know..I don’t know how he gets to that point.”
Ah, of course.
You may be Zurven Saekul, but this is Orfuse Saekul. The Evocator. And you are watching the world through his eyes.
Orfuse latched onto his partner, it was something he did often when he had a bad dream or vision. This recent one one was just that, Thanat was the only support he felt he’d had with this. Who else would he bring the problem to? Lycias? Please.
“He’s.. He’s getting worse, my love.” Thanat’s features shifted, his typical calm demeanor replaced with worry in almost an instant. It was good to know he was worried too, Orfuse was worried that he might have written Harlan off. But, no, he cared. And that meant he could help.
“What did you see?” It was nice to hear the urgency in his voice, Orfuse felt supported.
“There. I was cerulean. He. He was inundating me with his feelings.” He talks fast, and he pauses in strange places. You get the idea that it was always this way. Excitable little man. “Horrible. Hideous. Heavy feelings. He. Then he…” He trails off, grabbing at his left shoulder. He gave it a tight squeeze. Maybe he was grounding himself. Weird strategy. “He hurt her.”
The panic that settled on the purple bloods face as he watched his mate talk was soon replaced with abject horror. The realization that there was nothing he or Orfuse could do about it
“Total control, he had total control, Thanat! Of his emotions, her emotions, her body!”
“That…Is a far cry from the power of suggestion Orf–”
“That’s what I said!”
“Can we do anything?”
Orfuse pauses, chewing on his lip. He must have bit down a little too hard, because the taste of blood starts to fill your mouth. In no time at all, his face was cupped gingerly in Thanat’s hands. A tentative thumb swiping some of the blood away.
“We’ll figure this out. We’ll help him, Orfuse.” He spoke oh so softly. Like he was afraid that Orfuse would shatter at any point, from any sound.
You guess while they were having this gentle moment, they didn’t notice Harlans shadow in the doorway. Well, they weren’t trained for small details like you were.
Fuck. Harlan.
All at once you snap back to the present. The Dominion had made himself comfortable, his watch back in his possession. Open and ticking along just fine. Oh, motherfucker.
He tilts his head when he notices you’ve come too, the corners of his lips curling up into a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes.
Wow I love those two guys! Why are you fighting them?
"Hair care is self care!" - An assortment of hair care products. Pretty useless for what's up ahead! But at least you'll look cute while you're being torn to shreds by an enraged violet blood.
"Oh right.. She's a school teacher" - A handful of crayons, a childs drawing, and what looks to be half eaten cookie. I guess if you're in a pinch you can eat the cookie for +5 health. I wouldn't depend much on it.
"Trusty Cloak!" - Oh silky. Another cosmetic change. Maybe you didn't have to fight her.
--
"Dagger!" - It's a dagger! Get to stabbing, it's what he would've wanted.
"Journal?" - Did you totally bomb at Lycaons place? This journal has a detailed map of Perseps hive and includes the sort of attacks he might've been weak to. Ughh, duh. Why didn't you think of that?
"...Nourishment?" - That's just a handful of Starburst jellybeans. Did he just have them loose in his pocket? Ohh they're the tropical flavor. Good taste, little man.
We’re in an RPG now! What do my muses drop when you beat them?
Can you explain the Saekul power to me as if I'm really stupid?
Sure thing!
So they can see the future! (Ooh!) It turns out, since the future isn't really set in stone, they are a lot more objective than looking into the past. Things that would trigger a vision into the future, for Zurven at least since Orfuse mastered his powers very young, are things like objects or very specific actions.
Because Zurven doesn't have the control over his powers that his ancestor did, he was made to focus on calendars, clocks, and other suck things that would help him get a rough estimate of when these things are taking place. Orfuse, however, was able to place himself so perfectly in his targets shoes that he would would know exactly when it was taking place -- He would know a bit about the preceding events, as well. Zurven only knows what he sees in the short time he is in that persons shoes.
Orfuse was very good at using his powers. Zurven is not. Because Persep is a shortsighted fool, and all of the journals that Orfuse had that detailed how his powers worked.. Well. You know where they ended up.
They can see the past! (Ahh!) Turns out, the past is much more subjective. It is rooted in the emotions bound to those objects and actions. (Ex: Harlan using the sentiment attached to Thanat's watch to get him to watch the world through Thanats eyes. Or giving him his own watch to trigger an emotional response so that he would view through Orfuses.(This was a test, to see if his powers worked the same way, I believe.)
Thus, Zurven is much more susceptible to adopting the emotion and personality of the person he's observing through. Fact of the matter is, Orfuse could do more than what was laid out by his rules by the time he was fifteen sweeps because he'd been doing it for so long that he could naturally just wave that person away.
Zurven is very new to this power. So he doesn't know how to wave them away just yet.
If they view too many people beyond their threshold, the personalities become muddled and you get.
Well.
You get what's happening to Zurven.
Think of it like he's throwing a piece of his consciousness at a wall like one of those wall climber balls, and the dust that comes off when you pull it up from the wall is the personality of the person he visited.
Eventually, if you keep throwing it at walls without cleaning it off first, it'll lose some of that original stickiness.
