Sorry I Can't Be Perfect

Zachariah 'Eiji' Remington The Black Sheep of the Family.

[matthew-alexander]

Matthew frowned as he stared down at Eiji, the drip drip drip of water from his clothes was not lost on him as the silence stretched between them.

"Hmm... How silly of me to forget... I suppose you've been locked away without access to someone with divination to fill you in. You missed a whole other timeline that we apparently lived through. I suppose you'd be happy to hear that you humans won in that world. That is until we all got destroyed in the end."

[theleastfavoriteson]

Matthew was not wrong. He couldn't fight the small, self-satisfied smile that tugged at his lips. Destruction of, well, everything wasn't really his goal, but knowing there was a world where humans would win... well, that made him optimistic indeed.

"Yes, how silly of you to forget. And I'm sure it did nothing to remove the general air of superiority from our glorious supernatural overlords in this world. Did you even have a moment of self-reflection, Matthew, or did you just decide you didn't like the cattle rising up?"

[liankoeman]

Part of Lian had been tempted to find a way in to visit Eiji. His punishment was light, compared to what it could be so they were grateful for that. But the isolation must have been lonely and Lian understood isolation. It was safer that they didn't visit him, knowing it would be risky. If his hacker friend kept up her ways, it would draw attention away from Eiji. A seed of doubt was all they needed to convince others to let him go free.

Lian would make sure to do this more often, to give him a chance to talk freely and openly if they desired to do so. "Yes, that's exactly what I think. These plans are accelerating and you have had no access to magic or resources to pull this off. While it's a shame that her talents may be wasted as a result, it might mean your freedom." Lian hoped it would but they had no leverage with the council to force that decision.

It was too risky to infiltrate the council but Lian wished they could, wanting to find a way to the the top. "I think you'll have some work ahead of you before that. It is going to need some convincing and you have access to at least two council members. If they can convince others, they could vote in favour of your release."

[theleastfavoriteson]

Poor Artemis, really. He took another large bite of his fake breakfast, chewing slowly. They needed her to flood the internet with proof -- and, in turn, keep every fixer in the city so busy they'd never see daylight -- to open the floodgates. It was a shame she felt the need to distance herself, because they could definitely use her for more, but...

"The Council is unstable, as is. Matthew cursing my father, that little turf war between the vampires and werewolves; apply the right pressure, and the Council will be too busy fighting itself to take care of anything serious." He knew he might be a little optimistic, given he hasn't gotten any of his usual gossip recently, but... "My father said he would do anything to protect me and that may be the breaking point if nothing else is."

"There are other points, too. From some of the whispers I've overheard, it seems Caleb's popularity is... diminishing a little. What have you heard?"

[matthew-alexander]

It figured that Eiji would bring up Elijah's curse. The same one that Matthew had a hand in creating on the human's behest. Matthew's hands were dirty when it came to the Remington family drama, but he was still not going to allow Eiji to attempt to threaten him.

He gestured for a couple of the nearby guards to fish Eiji out of the tank and told them that he wanted to have a conversation with him before leading them away.

"What I tell anyone about that I did with your father is none of your business." And while Matthew would be concerned if the news came out, but he had actually told Elio about it months ago just to give himself some form of a safety net. It helped to have a deity elder's support even if Elio had disapproved of his actions.

"But where you were in the last six or seven months does not really matter when I've been told that these videos still exist somewhere on that thing called the Dark Web. And who knows what other sort of allies you have amongst the humans who are more than happy to keep this dirty work going?

"Did that other world not give you enough warning? You were so different in that world. You had finally grown out of being a petulant child."

[theleastfavoriteson]

He was still sopping wet, but it was something of a relief to not be hooked up to a microphone and in the seat any longer. He stretched -- the tank was actually kind of cramped -- and listened with narrowed eyes, already knowing his ability to participate in this conversation would be limited.

"What other world?" he asked instead, settling for the easiest response.

[esmeraldabheriya]

While she hadn't been aiming for his head, she didn't mind that it hit him there. If he wanted to be a brat, she could treat him like one. The alpha watched in amusement as a conversation transpired, knowing it wasn't going his way. Esme waited patiently, knowing she had at least two more throws though she had plans to send a message in the family chat for her children to come and play a few rounds.

The boy's words were meant to poke and prod at her and it worked. Esme felt her blood boiling beneath the surface. There was no definite proof since they couldn't read his thoughts. Or so Elijah had said but that didn't stop her from being angry that he was not sitting in prison like her daughter was.

"It must be nice to have your daddy always protecting you. I should have taken up a council position earlier so I could do the same for her." There was fire in her eyes, this boy didn't know what he lines he had toed.

"Yes," Esme agreed, her dark eyes flashing with a sign of the wolf inside her as she lined up her next shot. "She gets it from her mother after all," she taunted.

This time, the alpha lined up her shot perfectly, making sure to use all her strength and power behind the throw as it went straight for the target.

[theleastfavoriteson]

Into the tank he went.

He floated a moment, letting the coldness envelop him. This was not ideal, given the small little knives stabbing his every nerve, but this had been an opportunity he only dreamed of. He hadn't thought he'd get to fan the flames here, had thought he would only be a jester, but... Well, anything to get Esme to do something she would later regret.

Anything to get the Council to trust each other less than they already did.

He finally surfaced with a big gasp, shivering as he set up the chair again and pulled himself onto it. He watched, vaguely irked, as some attendants poured more ice and water into the tank to account for what had splashed out, but it wasn't enough to fully dampen his spirits.

He wondered if he could push his luck. After all, he wasn't allowed to speak of his imprisonment, but...

"What would I need my father to protect me from?"

[matthew-alexander]

Matthew watched as Eiji fell into the tank of freezing water with mild amusement and waited patiently for him to emerge again so listen to what the younger Remington had to say.

"I wouldn't put it that way. Not when it seems like there are some amongst us who are more than happy to help them hurt us..." he said matter-of-factly before moving closer to the tank, not caring for the way Eiji's demeanour seemed to have changed. "Just like how you received help from whoever it was who aided you. But I assume it was much easier for you given your connections."

[theleastfavoriteson]

He watched Matthew move closer, observing somewhat curiously. When the demon was close enough that they could speak without needing the microphone, Eiji fiddled with some of the wires and moved the microphone away from his mouth, giving it a quick test noise to see if he'd really blocked signal.

And then, well, they could talk... a least somewhat privately.

"You know where I've been. I have nothing to do with anything that's happened in the, what, last six or seven months? Meanwhile, have you told anyone you cursed my dad? I feel like that conveniently didn't show up when you started flinging accusations."

[esmeraldabheriya]

For a moment he looked like a scared young boy but then he shifted. It almost felt like Eiji despised her the same amount she did him. It was curious, the alpha wasn't sure what she had done to piss this child off so much.

That change only made her hand tighten around the baseball in her grasp, a low growl rumbling through her. The little boy was really playing on her patience. If she could get him alone in a room, she'd wipe that smirk off his face. "It does, but luckily I think they'll be safe because you're in that tank," she responded.

"But since you don't want to waste time."

The alpha was aiming but it wasn't for the target. She was aiming for Eiji, hoping the ball would hit his knee or stomach instead. She wanted to toy with him before he got dunked.

[theleastfavoriteson]

Esme's aim was a little too true; the ball sailed right into the tank and hit him on the head, making him yelp out in an extremely undignified manner. The ball fell into the water with a dull plop, and Eiji moved the microphone to have an intense, but mostly private, with the attendant when he walked to collect it.

Eiji did not look happy with the result of that conversation.

He rubbed his forehead, eyes narrowed, but otherwise not looking detered. "Are you sure? I obviously didn't -- and couldn't -- do anything to your daughter."

After all, he had no magic. He couldn't have spelled the girl.

"In fact, I'm really not sure what I have to do at all with you raising a cold-blooded murderer, who is right where she belongs."

[matthew-alexander]

"Says the person sitting above a tank of ice cold water," Matthew arched a brow at the human as he silently urged the next person to hit the bullseye. His lack of magic meant that he was not able to help with magic so this was going to be left up to fate -- or the dexterity of these guests.

"Surely you've heard of the hunters. Does the name Artemis ring any bells?" This seemed as good a time as any to bring this up. The rest of the community knew of the broader strokes of recent events anway.

[theleastfavoriteson]

"Hmmm," he said, pausing a moment. "Greek Goddess of the Hunt, right? Fitting name, I suppose. There's enough deities walking around to claim the title-"

The ball hit the bullseye. There was a loud noise as the seat underneath him folded inwards, leaving him to fall into the icy waters below. A moment of shock, as the cold hit him, chilling him to the bone almost immediately, and he scrambled to get the seat set back up and climb back up.

The chattering of his teeth was audible through the microphones, but he shook his head to get some of the water out of his hair and watched in vague distaste as someone came around with another bucket of ice water to top up what spilled out when he dropped.

He sounded a lot smaller when he said, "Anyway. Very interesting. Hunters? But, of course, none of you have anything to fear."

[liankoeman]

It was hard to believe the dream when you knew it was happening. Eiji could do it but they found that the human didn't want to believe anymore. The only way they could give him real waffles was delivering them to the Lycaon pack's house but there was no guarantee that a dumb wolf wouldn't eat them before they got to Eiji.

An amused smile graced their lips, chuckling because they knew it was true. "That is a dreadful shame. I'd try an infitrate as a cook but I think they'd notice a witch skulking about in their kitchen." They were quiet for a moment, sighing softly. This wasn't what they had wanted for Eiji, they wanted him free. "I wish I could visit you and bring you waffles for real."

At least they had this dream to enjoy the food. Lian sat back, sipping on their coffee. "Something will happen," they answered. "Your friend is impatient and power hungry." The hacker had been of use but their plans had grown more risky and Lian wasn't sure how long they could go. "I think her plans will fail and we can't be linked to her but you might be able to blame her once she's caught and silenced."

[theleastfavoriteson]

There was a moment when he wasn't sure how to respond. They joked, he was fairly sure, about infiltrating, about visiting, and he knew it wasn't possible because they couldn't, shouldn't, be seen together. This was much safer for the both of them, for their own plans and the ones they'd made together, but part of him... part of him longed to see an actual friendly face, one he wasn't actively planning to stab in the back at the earliest opportunity.

This was a lonely path. They made it a little less so, but, he knew, there were many things he was giving up to walk it.

But bringing up his friend gave him an out, a way to escape the more emotionally vulnerable conversation, and he was grateful. "Yes, she has her uses. She is loud, and obvious, and it gives us time to break away the pillars that keep everything else stable." A pause. "I'm glad she's moving now. I've been in isolation for months now -- there's no way I could be part of whatever she's planning, and it might be enough to split the Council opinion on what to do with me."

He was hoping, at least. Hoping and praying, because the more split the Council was, the better. The aftermath of the Spirit Party was excellent, but they needed something bigger.

[matthew-alexander]

Matthew knew from when the demons were planning out this Halloween celebration that they needed someone for the dunk tank and before anyone could offer their suggestions, he put forth the name Zachariah Remington. The other demons ate that up with glee and that was how they found themselves with one of the Remington children locked in the contraption for the entertainment of others.

He fished out the five dollars and handed it to the attendant. "I'd like to give my throws to the next five people in line," Matthew said with a smile, eyes fixed on Eiji's because they both knew that he was not going anywhere.

"How have you been doing, my dear Eiji?" the fallen deity asked as the person behind him gleefully moved up to take their free throw. Matthew was not about to do the dirty work himself when he could pay someone else to do it for him.

[theleastfavoriteson]

Ah, the man of the hour.

Eiji had an inkling that Matthew would show up, to gloat over this "victory", this humiliation. It wouldn't last, of course, but Zachariah never had any intentions to be anything other than a martyr, and if this was the beginning of his fall, then at least it would likely give someone ammunition.

He gave a little shrug. "Doing better than you, I imagine," he said, grinning. He watched the first person throw -- and miss. If anything, his grin widened. "But, I have to admit, I haven't been paying attention to the gossip recently. Wanna tell me know what's up?"

[esmeraldabheriya]

-

Esme had been wandering around the attractions, taking note of what effects it had on others. The alpha wasn't foolish enough to indulge in something she couldn't control but when she came upon the dunk tank, she stopped and watched for a while.

The arrogant little boy was sitting atop the chair, almost mockingly. It was lucky that this was his punishment and he hadn't been locked up with Thoda Laal. If it wasn't for his father, Esme was certain that the arrogance would have been slapped off his face far sooner. She watched for a few minutes as people threw and missed and left the boy high and dry unfortunately.

Finally, she decided to step up to the attendant and handied over five dollars without a thought. She might end up handing over fifty dollars and getting the entire pack to have a turn. "Are you sure you're going to stay dry?" she asked, throwing the ball into the air before catching it again, testing it's weight.

[theleastfavoriteson]

Eiji had been ready to curse Matthew from hell and back. Ask Lian to make it impossible for him to ever get any quality sleep. But, when the switch flipped and Eiji realized who was stepping up?

And that he was explicitly instructed to taunt people?

Maybe, just maybe, he needed to thank Matthew instead.

His grin turned lazy, dangerous, amused. He leaned forward, almost like he was actually interested in what was going to happen here, eyes shining with an fae-like mirth. "You sure you have time for this?" he asked, sounding far more eager than he maybe should be, but he didn't get opportunities like this every day. "After all, it seems like bad things happen to your children at these things..."

[theleastfavoriteson]

the dunk tank

for: open @vievecorcitystarters loc: the dunk tank

Eiji had thought it a joke, when one of the wolves entered his little bit of paradise with a swimsuit and telling him he had a job. He already had a fucking job, and it had nothing to do with wearing a swimsuit. But when it had been very thoroughly determined that this was a serious discussion, and he was almost practically forced into the swimsuit and then paraded in front of a demon who used magic to limit what he was allowed to say, he was carted to the Midnight Carnival and sat in the dunk tank.

And, well, locked into the dunk tank.

The pool was already filled with water, but he got to watch various workers pour buckets of ice into the water. At first it melted, but slowly it got to the point where the ice just floated at him tauntingly.

Eventually it was obvious that the carnival had opened and he got to watch everyone walk around, happily going about their time and enjoyment. Suddenly an attendant showed up, standing outside the tank, holding baseballs in his hand with more in a pouch hanging off his hip. "One dollar, one throw. Five dollars, six throws. This kid is lookin' mighty dry."

He pointedly looked at Eiji, and he rolled his eyes, tapping the microphone he'd been given to make sure it was ok. It was. "I'm going to stay like that, thanks."

[theleastfavoriteson]

Presenting…

Zachariah Remington, the Dunk Tank “Volunteer”

[liankoeman]

They didn't need to put on the whole show, Eiji knew what Lian was doing, the illusions and dream magic they were weaving to make this look real. While it wasn't necessary, Lian wanted to give him something else. Whatever basement they were holding him in didn't offer the freedom that a dream could. This at least gave the young human the illusion of freedom, if only for a little while. Here they could speak freely amongst each other.

"I missed you too," they answered, smiling up at him. For once, Lian's words were genuine. Not many people knew who or what they were, only Eiji had been given most of the whole story. They were both alone in the world in that way, no one really knew them and the people that did weren't worthy of their time.

An amused smile graced their lips as she took a sip of the coffee, noticing his eyes on the food. "It will taste like the best waffles you've ever had," they promised, placing the mug down again. "Depending on how you feel when you wake up, you may feel full but you have to believe it." Dreams were a funny thing but Lian knew how to manipulate them perfectly. Who else would be able to put the whole city into a dreamlike state?

"But that doesn't surprise me. Wolves like meat, I don't think they care how it's cooked. Especially the ones you're stuck with, I don't think they've heard of spices let alone salt and pepper."

[theleastfavoriteson]

Oh well, there went that. He deflated a little -- he already knew it was a dream, so he already knew these waffles weren't real -- but he did begin eating. He'd enjoy this while it lasted, while he could, because at least for once he'd get some flavor with his food.

"I don't think they've heard of a lot of things," he said, with a snort. "But, seriously. The food is the worst part. I can live with the bad self-help books or puzzles missing four pieces, but can't they at least, like, order out every once in awhile?"

A pause, then, and he stuffed a piece of waffle about the size of his fist into his mouth, taking his time to chew it. "But I assume you didn't do this to hear me complain about food. Has something happened? Will... something happen?"

[thejax-reed]

Jaxon stared across as if trying to decipher what the hell Eiji was thinking and settled across from him, sitting backwards on the first chair he found. "And you think that's cool? Smart?" the wolf scoffed, arching a single brow at the other. "Shit, you probably do." Jaxon had dealt with many teenagers in his life time. Gwen being his most recent, so a little defiance did not faze him. He knew what his mission was..so you best believe he'd fucking stick to it.

As Eiji eyed his plate, Reed did some stretching himself..and leaned his arms over the back of that chair. "Not Elijah? Not gonna lie, I kinda thought he might..no matter what sort of shit you did back then."

[theleastfavoriteson]

There weren't many times Eiji was caught off guard, but this was one of the few. Why the fuck did this guy sound like a high school security officer? Or, really, more like the high school football coach that everyone but the football team hated.

Eiji thought he was smart because he was fucking running circles around a goddamn Council whose ages added up was likely longer than recorded human history, not because he couldn't stop himself from mouthing off.

Get it right, coach.

He decided to just ignore those comments, not entirely sure of his own self control, and instead just picked up the fork and began to play with his food, eventually taking a bite and trying not to make too bad of a face. "Haven't seen Dad in..." he paused, blinking and chewing, then shrugged. "A couple weeks? Maybe a month? Hard to keep track, I'm not exactly keeping up with my appointment book."

[liankoeman]

for: @theleastfavoriteson location: eiji's dreams

It had been a while since Lian had visited the young Remington in his sleep. They used to try doing it face to face, trying to stay out of his brain. Or at least appearing like they weren't meddling there. Since his house arrest, Lian had been careful about reaching out. They'd heard the rumors that Elijah was trying to learn dream magic as well, as if that could help those around him. Despite his curious mind, it would take him much longer to catch up to Lian's level of skill.

For now, Lian would have to meet him in his dreams. They had done this before so Lian only had to leave out some bread crumbs for Eiji would find his way towards the cafe. It was much like the one they would meet at in real life when he was on his lunch break. Today, it would appear like it was an early morning, enough time to stop for breakfast. Lian would be there waiting, hot coffee and a plate of belgium waffles laid out for Eiji to enjoy once he arrived.

On the otherside of the table, Lian had their own cup of coffee, a newspaper in front of them as they waited. It didn't take long for the bell at the door to ding, their eyes drawn up to see Eiji walking through. Their hand lifted in a wave, beackoning him closer. "Hello, Eiji. Long time no see."

[theleastfavoriteson]

There was a time, not long ago, where it would have taken him some time to work out this was a dream.

But he was under house arrest, in some basement somewhere in the City, so it wasn’t hard to figure out this time.

He liked the illusion of choice, though, that he could seemingly go anywhere he wanted, but his feet walked familiar pathways to a familiar cafe, where he would open the door and see the only family he’d met who hadn’t abandoned him. Yet, anyway. He never felt so secure as to imagine it wouldn’t, or couldn’t, one day happen. But, for now, Lian was there and waiting, just as they typically were.

They were much more punctual than he was.

He sauntered over, sitting, looking at the spread in front of him. “Lian, I missed you,” he greeted. In a world where everyone with a familial title, like dad or brother, had left him, it felt safer, easier, to just use their name. If they weren’t an “aunt”, they couldn’t leave him. His eyes had never left the food. “Excuse me if I sound like an idiot, but how does this... work. Will I actually feel full from eating this? Or at least taste it? Because let me tell you, whoever’s meatloaf they’ve been feeding me is not a gifted cook.”

[theleastfavoriteson]

caleb-lycaon​:

“Of course it’s convenient,” Caleb nodded, unable to help but want to help Eiji since he genuinely looked like he wanted to get this message out to Elijah. The fact that the Remington coven leader had hardly come to visit his son was disheartening, but it was not Caleb’s place to judge their family dynamic.

“I’ll get the word to him right away. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy those snacks…”

He beamed, and part of him was legitimately happy. Part of him was, well, using this as any opportunity he could to see what was going on in the outside world. But there was something nice, about maybe being able to expect to see a face other than the ones guarding him. “I will,” he said, eyeing the bag and deciding how to ration it out, because if he didn’t he knew he would eat them all at once. “And maybe ask whoever’s getting me books to stop with the self-help ones?”

A pause. Then, a moment of rare sincerity, “Thank you, Caleb. I appreciate this visit a lot.”

[theleastfavoriteson]

He’d always had a bit of an... off natural sleep cycle. With no work, and no dad breathing down his neck, he’d fully embraced it again and become, once again, a teenager. It didn’t matter. He had no work, nothing but books and jigsaw puzzles, and any other such items they allowed him to entertain himself with, and he didn’t need to be awake during the day at all other than to eat.

So yes, he had been asleep when Jax walked in. But, really, he would have been waking up soon anyway, brought back into the land of the waking by the rumbling of his stomach.

He took his time, stretching and working out a kink in his shoulder, turning his head only slightly to look at the werewolf with a half-opened eye and hair that was standing up in every which direction. Normally they just dropped off the food and left. This was unusual. But then again, a lot of things were unusual these days.

“I see that,” he said, barely getting the words out before he yawned. “Who the fuck are you?”

[theleastfavoriteson]

thejax-reed​:

Jaxon took his time studying the other’s features, getting a good idea of what he was like, and paused as he was questioned.

“Who the /fuck/ am I?” Jaxon frowned, feigning a scoff. “I’m someone you want to watch that mouth of yours around, that’s who. Name’s Jaxon -I help Caleb call the shots around here..and you..you’re the oldest of the Remington kids. I’m told..black sheep of the family?” As always, the lycaon beta kept himself on the edge of nice but dangerous, using his own tactics to get what he wanted out of a situation.

Reed stood up not long after and got the food over to the other, stepping into the light. “Here. Eat up.. when was the last time you got a visit anyway?”

.

Interesting. Caleb’s second in command? He hadn’t been aware the alpha had one but, then again, he’d been out of the information loop for a couple months now. He contemplated a moment, observing the man in front of him, because he knew that this man would be the best way to get Caleb to do whatever ill-advised thing Eiji needed.

He would just need to figure out what kind of man was in front of him, what buttons could be pressed, how to get him to sing.

“I’ve never watched my mouth around anyone,” he said, if just to keep up his too angry, angsty kind of teenager act, eyeing the food as he sat up, stretching again because whatver cot they’d given him did not agree with his back at all. But, he conceded the man in front of him knew who he was, agreeing with, “Zachariah. But everyone calls me Eiji. And I was last visited... I don’t know, Caleb stopped in a couple weeks ago. Don’t keep track.”