S E N S E S

I'm a twisted fool My hands are twisted, too Five fingers to black hooves I'm a man, don't spin me a lie Got toes and I can smile I'm crooked but upright

[twinunhinged]

► erasmusrowe:

Erasmus was pretty sure he was going to throw up tonight. What with experimenting with different foods and alcohol, moving way too much, and overall enjoying his time as human once more, he’d forgotten his body had limitations and that gorging himself would likely lead to a night, and day, of regretting it. He was grabbing a fresh glass, something strong and potent, before making his way back to Sorin and that’s when he felt the unpleasant feeling of being tackled to the ground. 

Unused to being overpowered, Erasmus let out a surprised grunt as his back collided painfully with the ground below. He was winded, something else he was unused to, and found himself face to face with someone he’d started to call friend. “If you were happy to see me, you didn’t have to be so brunt about it.” It was amusement in what would have naturally been a place of anger, but one look into those eyes along with the feel of her now cold to the touch body, and Erasmus knew he was in danger. “Aislinn.” He said firmly. “You need to get back.”

Aislinn’s face hovered above the neck of that which pulled on her attention. She barely saw the being in front of her, only able to truly register that the being below her was a source of sustenance. Despite the enhanced sounds surrounding her entirely, she only found herself zeroing in on the one thing that mattered. Lips pulled back away from her teeth, baring her vicious fangs. 

The food spoke to her with a sound familiar enough for her to pause her advances upon him and pull back. Her vision remained blurry momentarily, but quickly focused in on him, able to see every pore along his skin, smell the warmth on his breath, and hear the heartbeats inside of his chest. Pulling her face back to view him in his entirety. ❝Erasmus... Why are you warm? I’m...❞  She pushed herself away from him in fear of causing him harm. ❝Your blood... You smell of iron, but I want it... I need it.❞

[twinunhinged]

► CLOSEDSTARTER || @erasmusrowe​

Aislinn had not expected to attend the dance, having twisted her ankle only days before when she’d mistaken a hole in the ground for a log. Yet, she saw much possibility in such an event. She could meet more in the faerie alliance. She could make valuable allies. Perhaps, though seemingly superficial, she might even find herself taking someone’s hand on the dance floor. However, it seemed that the night did not go as many of the attendees had planned. The first sign that things had gone wrong was the sudden disappearance of the snakes she’d seen slithering across the floor, followed quickly by the pain dissipating entirely from her angle. Her vision seemed to improve drastically and the iron smell that so often accompanied nausea had become more... enticing. 

Vision went quickly red and her legs moved of their own accord at an abnormal speed towards the strong scent of iron. Before the former fae even knew what she was doing, she’d thrown herself into the air and onto the warm body of another.

[emilybrowningfans]

Emily Browning photographed for Rogue Magazine by Jonny Marlow

[twinunhinged]

► piouswar:

“Because I know how it feels to be uncared for by your own parents,” it might perhaps be unnecessary, but the interjection of the Fannon’s neglectful parents was vital to gaining sympathies, “I know how it feels to have magic as if it would take control over you and I know how it feels to be responsible for such dangerous magic.” There was much grip on his words, the way each memory fragment seemed to blurrily piece itself together. He does not forget the way he had ruined his own forest with his magic, he was the reason why his dimension had locked itself, similar to the situation in Arain and not before long, the Equinox had helped him control his own magic, perhaps for power but it was for the benefit of not losing his whole sanity. “No one deserves to be left in the dark, Aislinn. Everyone deserves to know their magic, to unravel it and understand it and be one with it.”

His vein nearly popped in frustration, teeth clenched in forced patience; a man like him could only do so much, this pity party game they played was not his cup of tea. A momentary pause as he closed his eyes and opened them once more, “I will not take it from you, did I ever try to take your brother away?” he looked at her, as if hurt by her words. “I am not pertaining to your reliance on your brother as a weakness, even I rely as well.” No matter how high and mighty he may appear to be, Valerie was one that saved him from dire situations on most occasions, fleeing wasn’t always an open option for him no matter how quickly and stealthily he flees and diverts a messy situation. It was not evident, but those who have come close enough to the Equinox and their little circle, they would notice the tight bond and reliance each held for each other.

“No, that is only what you think but the Equinox will always welcome you and your brother back.” He could not say for Norwyn’s side, and albeit Valerie was often out of touch she had never held as much grudge towards the Fannons, it most likely may be because of the fact that to her—they were a tool for success, nevertheless it was still a reason for her to treat them kindly. Natalia had always wanted to nurture them, and this is what Razael too had wanted—to aid in building their confidence and strengthening their magic to limitless ends. “Then we will first learn control,” a tender, understanding smile drew upon his lips. “At this state your magic is already trying to overpower you, that can’t be so—because within time magick eventually grows stronger, will you be able to manage it by then?” Not all magick can be cured or sedated with treats and the like forever.

“You do not have to choose right away, as much as I would like to have you back I know you need time to speak with your brother but remember that I will always be here if you need my guidance. I only wish for the best for you and for your health.” Though his tone seemed to have dropped a decibel lower, a hint of disappointment that can be caught from his words nevertheless, the offer was genuine.

The words held the feeling of a long knife ripping through her midsection. A buzzing sound began softly in her ears and she could feel the sensation of insects covering the entirety of her skin. Aislinn began to scratch and brush at her arms, softly at first in fear of drawing too much attention to her anxious movements. Her head jerked to the side as if she was brushing something from her ear with her shoulder with quickly dissipating resolve. 

❝I know you do… but I have survived this long and I could very well continue to do so…❞ Again, she contradicted her own level of confidence, consistently wavering from what she believed herself capable. Aislinn felt her breath catching in her throat as she avoided eye contact with the elder fae. She could not help but allow her mind to venture to the possibility of feeling as if she was in tune with her magick rather than attempting to control it like a ridiculously dressed human and an out of control bovine, just waiting for the day that it would finally manage to impale her entirely.

Aislinn found herself more easily slipping into the role of the angry and defensive rather than discussing calmly with him and feeling vulnerable, but even she recognized the distortions in her thinking. ❝No… You never have and I do not truly believe that you would…❞ She admitted, a hint of defeat in her voice as she backed down from her poorly constructed defensiveness. It was clear that those in Equinox held a great deal of fondness for one another.

❝Cormac wants us to align with the courts, but I have managed to stall the idea until this point. To join you once again will go against all of my reasons for staying alone in the forest until now… But, perhaps my control will also grow along with my magick?❞ It was worth the consideration. Aislinn found herself thankful for the chance to think over the decision without needing an immediate answer. ❝You will exercise patience with me then? You have no intention of taking us away without our own choosing?❞

[twinunhinged]

► erasmusrowe:

“Don’t be, it’s alright.” Erasmus said with a small nod. “I’m just glad he was nice to you, though I’m not surprised, that’s just the type of guy he is.” Kainan really was someone to aspire to. He was intelligent, kind, strong—all the things his parents had neglected to tell Erasmus as he was growing up. Here laid the truth of the difference between them—Kainan was decent with a stranger while Erasmus was more the type to attack first and talk later (assuming they survived).

Shaking away the thoughts of comparisons, Erasmus eyed the food now lingering at his lips, wondering if it would even work on him. If it did or not, that was beside the point. Aislinn was very openly stating that he was someone worth trusting, and that alone was enough to have him taking the treat and biting into it himself. It wasn’t the best tasting thing in the world, not for his blood-wanting taste buds, but no sooner did he swallow that first bite did the magick take effect.

It was…inexplicable—the changes that came over him.  His body tingled for a moment, and then it was like every worry melted away, his entire attitude and outlook changing. For too long Erasmus had carried some sort of weight on his shoulders, and now it was gone, leaving him feeling light and wonderfully free. “Wow.” He breathed, eyes closing a moment in acceptance of what was actually happening before he finally broke into a smile. “This feels….great.”

❝You make hims sound like a hero of some sort.❞ Aislinn could not help but smile at the thought. There was something in Erasmus’ voice similar to that which hid in her own when she spoke of her brother. Though they were the same age and they often bickered about who was older, Cormac always seemed protective to her while she always looked up to him in a way that she never had with anyone else.

Aislinn watched with anticipation, wondering if he would show the same trust for her as she had for him. The fae was uncertain if she was deserving of such trust, but hoped that she could earn it... at least with Erasmus. When he finally seemed to give in to the offer, she could not keep from allowing the smile to stretch across her face. The expression was full of mischief, but it was much different from that which often painted her face when in the presence of those who fell victim to her magick. No, there was an odd paradox in the way that her face also held some sort of wonder and innocence along with the promise of trouble.

Taking another bite from her own tart, she closed her eyes to allow the feeling to overtake her completely. Another bite. She often stopped at two. Perhaps, just this once, she would give into the feeling for something more than making the waking nightmares vanish. ❝It makes you feel as though your entire body is part of the air... I’ve heard of fae that can actually become one with the air...❞ The very thought made her want to try and she found herself spinning away from him, brushing the nearby leaves with her fingertips.

[twinunhinged]

► averynye:

“If you’re clever enough, perhaps.” Fae held a particular challenge with not being able to tell lies, and if she was able to appeal through words alone Avery would be quite impressed. He had the advantage of his telepathy, which he was already beginning to use to peer curiously at her, wanting to know the layers of thought that she wasn’t openly revealing to him. “But sometimes words aren’t enough, are they? I’m sure you’ve come across a threat or two within this forest.”

Another fae outside the forts, and Avery was growing all the more curious as to what kept them from joining forces. “I do, yes. Haven’t you been driven by enough curiosity to come to the forts and be with your own kind? I can imagine how lonely it must be out here by yourself, and with the countless dangers atop that.”

❝It would be sloppy to try if I was not.❞ The fae knew well when to create a labrynth from her words and when to remain silent. And, for the most part, she was correct in her choices for each of the two circumstances. ❝Sometimes. And sometimes silence itself can become valuable... or dangerous.❞ At the mentions of dangers, she pictured the hunter, shouting at her illusions during the winter solstice in the middle of the woods. She pictured Erasmus, but her mind quickly moved from their initial interaction to her most recent perspective of him. Then, she pictured the humans that had surrounded her with a barrier of iron. Of course, none of those dangers came close to the fear she’d held for the Equinox.

Aislinn felt a knot in her stomach as he used a similar argument as her brother had on a few occasions. The small wave of nerves distorted the image of her company as the air above a hot spring might move in small waves, threatening to move to a more threatening image. ❝I... know my own kind well enough to hold some reservations.❞ Thoughts moved to Cormac. ❝I am capable of protecting myself to a degree.❞ She opted not to share the face that she was not, in fact, alone. The less information, the better.

[twinunhinged]

► erasmusrowe:

Erasmus straightened and waited, wondering who it would be that she would project before him. He had his answer soon enough as a very convincing image formed of his brother, standing there looking at him with that same calm and welcoming expression. Erasmus couldn’t help the softened touch to his face that came in return, nor the fondness he felt at the sight of the brother that he’d actually grown closer to over the last few months. Now that Kainan had seen her, Erasmus felt it necessary to speak of her next time they talked. He would need to know she held importance to him.

He was about to tell Aislinn who it was when the image shifted, his brother becoming something monstrous and threatening. It was not only frightening, but disturbing–something that would likely haunt him behind closed eyes for several days to come. Erasmus recoiled, wanting to turn his head away but unable to do so until the dark apparition finally vanished, leaving Erasmus both shaken and unsettled. “That…was Kainan…my older brother.” And he would have to make a point of poking his brother in the chest next time he saw him to make sure he was real, since he was really beginning to no longer trust his eyes.

Blinking, Erasmus looked to the tart she held. “Drugs? You brother has spiked the tarts?” Now that was interesting, but with what he just saw, Erasmus would have been fine downing something to make him more relaxed. “They could leave you vulnerable.” He replied softly. In a place like this, not being on guard would usually lead to mistakes, and that would lead to death. “There would be nothing wrong with taking them in trusted company however. I certainly would.” 

Aislinn noted the way his demeanor seemed to shift at the sight of the other vampire and could only infer that they were close. It only made her feel that much more guilty that she couldn’t hold an image that maintained such an impact on someone. Aislinn nodded, not meeting his eyes. ❝He was very kind.❞ She rubbed her arm, wishing the image would leave her immediate memory as quickly as it had entered her vision. ❝I’m... sorry.❞ She repeated her apology, hating the knowledge that she’d left such an image in his mind and knowing that it would now be any easy one to shake.

The fae looked down to the baked good and nodded quickly, eager to change the subject. Distraction could always be a valuable ally after seeing something you’d rather not. ❝Yeah... You know how I mentioned his magick is like an opiate? He can sort of... put it into these for me. Some people would pay a lot for something like this, but to him... it’s just baking.❞ Aislinn nodded. ❝True... They could, but my magick can do the same as you may have witnessed during the human trap. I guess it’s just a measure of which source of vulnerability is worse.❞ Despite the fact that she would most definitely prefer none.

She smirked, looking up to him. ❝Trusted company, you say?❞ She lifted the tart so it was level with his mouth. ❝Present company included?❞ With her free hand, she reached into her bag and pulled out a second tart for herself. The thought of trusting someone other than Cormac was somewhat unsettling, but she could not deny the fact that she did hold trust for Cormac, a different sort of trust that she had yet to fully understand. In a nonverbal statement of such, she lifted her own treat to her lips, looked him in the eyes and took a bite.

[twinunhinged]

► piouswar:

Too many emotions, the way it flashed like a multi framed animation sequence. Razael could not have missed it, despite the short time he had spent with her, it did not take long for his interest to be caught by this young, talented faerie—and certainly enough, it did not take too long for him to analyze and understand the way she worked. It almost hurt to watch the fae put on a mask of indifference, as if it were broken and glued back together temporarily. He let himself be silent momentarily, letting the other finish their side. “Expectations are nothing but empty hopes, however… striving for a change, a better you—no, the version of you that you deserve to be, is what makes it changes one’s perspective. You shut off the world and the bliss it offers you, you blind yourself with your pain—your cynicism and fear,” a pause as he took another step closer. He clicked his tongue as eyes shut close for a second before looking back at her, “‘likely, could’—words that utter such doubt,” and it is confirmed by the following sentences, there was confusion, the feeling of being torn apart by different beliefs and experiences—different groups of people but Razael would not let her fall into someone else’s path. “I do not… deny the fact that your reliance on your brother is alright, but is this what you want? To always have to rely on someone?” he paused, tone seeping with concern. Reliance may be a prime factor to one’s success, but to grow one must learn to control themselves without anyone to by their backs or side. Unlike her, he grew up with no one to rely on; he was both his ailment and his remedy. It was only in his later life that he had found the other three faeries who he never would have thought would have a life changing impact in his life. He could not blame her for having a wall to lean on.

“The day will come when your brother will not be by your side and your magic will be out of control, what will you do then?” the possibility was not false, it was definite and bound to happen one day. “I know that you can, Aislinn, you are holding back your opportunity to grow, to learn more of your magic.” He held out his hand, an act he would never dare to do to anyone else; he was not one to reach out—he was, after all, a selfish and conceited man. “You are not a tool, trust me. You are a faerie of your own with a magic unlike any other, you have power.” He once again heaves a heavy sigh, “Look at me and you will be the one to judge my words,” though faeries cannot lie, they were intelligent creatures able to twist words enough to be false, but a man who’s lived far too long knew of how to avert one’s mirrors. The eyes are windows to truth and he’s learned the art of false reflections. “You will not be used; you are after all, a faerie of your own. I, myself, would feel that you are wasting your life with idle daydreaming, you deserve to be recognized more of your magic, you deserve to unravel every aspect of your magic that you’ve yet to witness and enhance it past its limits.” It was true, that the equinox had wanted the children to be a weapon against the two Tuath Queens, however Razael knew that Aislinn was not only a weapon of her own, she was more than that. A mirror image of himself that was lost and he’s learned from his past, he’ll reach out. Now that was the question will she…, “Come back, Aislinn.” Let me teach you more of your magic. 

It was far too often that Aislinn found that her emotions, magick, and thoughts were all connected in a way that created a very fragile environment within her mind. She did what she could to keep her eyes only on that which she wanted to see with the knowledge that the area outside of that limited space could easily be filled with images of the unthinkable. The fae would not give the mutinous magick an inkling of attention. Doing so might only empower that over which she held little control. Aislinn struggled to keep the porcelain image of apathy in tact as he spoke. ❝I don’t shut...❞ Her mouth contorted as her voice failed to speak anything further. Instead nausea threatened to overtake her. ❝What do you know of what I deserve?❞ The word was spoken with as much venom as she could muster for a concept that felt so uncomfortable to her.

Aislinn could not bear the thought of being without her brother and could not imagine a world in which she was without him. ❝Do not speak of my brother. Keep him from your thoughts and your words.❞ Though she held uncertainty for many things, her loyalty to her brother was one thing that grounded her in place. She knew very little of what she meant to others, but she knew exactly where she belonged in relation to Cormac. ❝As long as we are able, we will remain together. It is not weakness to hold trust for someone. To truly love someone and feel loved in return. You will not take that from me.❞

As he took another step toward her, her feet shifted on the ground, but did not move away from him. Everything within her told her to run, illusions projected outwards spoke the same, and her eyes glanced off to the side as if verifying that the source of the noise was, in fact, from her own magick. Despite herself, she found her hand rising to meet his, but eyes deceived her, showing blood trailing down his arms and pooling in an abyss below their feet. The sight alone cause her to jerk her arm back, hand shaking and suspended in the air, separate from his.

It was as if his presence alone was a magnet, siphoning her magick from her in a way that fell quickly out of her control. It started with a quiet buzz, echoing each of his words until his voice was distorted altogether. She cringed away from the sound at first until it softened into something quiet and almost sincere. The sincerity was a blade in her side. ❝The others will not think kindly after the way that we left... I think your belief in me as well as my potential is ill-informed... If my magick is strengthened, it may overpower me...❞ I am afraid.

[twinunhinged]

If you could jump into a pool full of something, what would it be?

► TMI TUESDAY

❝...Blue gelatin.❞

[twinunhinged]

► erasmusrowe:

Her description beckoned to Kainan, and yes, Erasmus believed he would be the civil type when confronted by a trespassing fae. Likely he would have warned her to keep away, perhaps even escorted her to a safe range as long as she did not seek to provoke him. Kainan was far from the murderous type, but he wanted to know for sure if it was him or someone else with darker intentions. “Show me.” As nightmarish as they might seem, he could at least validate and identity.

“I didn’t say that.” Erasmus replied with a small shake of his head. She was capable of keeping him back after all, so she was certainly strong enough to take care of herself, given enough time to prepare. “I find you more than able to hold your own, but as you’ve discovered, fae blood is very tempting, and I don’t think it would benefit you to have more than one vampire wishing for yours.” And neither would he.

Erasmus looked to the tarts, something that might have seemed appetizing when he was human, but now, looked rather inedible to him. “He cares for you.” It was a more simple and honest truth, because Kainan treated Erasmus similarly. If there was an easy solution to his problems, likely his brother would have provided it, just as Aislinn’s did for her.

Aislinn had reservations of attempting to project a specific image, especially an image that involved someone’s loved one. When her magick had first manifested, she’d tried so hard to create beauty, flowers, snow... yet they’d only come out had terror, bones, locusts... Swallowing, she nodded. ❝If you are certain.❞ She stepped back from him and turned to the side as if looking towards invisible company. The image of the vampire appeared. At first, it was very normal, but quickly contorted. The angles of his face became more jagged and his limbs stretched, fingers turning to long claws as blood poured from the illusions mouth. After a few moments, she was forced to look away, dissipating the projection quickly. ❝I am sorry...❞

Aislinn glanced sideways at him, smirking. ❝I certainly don’t need two of you. One is plenty.❞ She began to chew on the inside of her lip, before catching herself. Such a habit would hardly be helpful in the presence of a vampire. ❝He does. Too much, I fear. Though, I suppose I should count myself lucky.❞ She picked up one of the tarts from her bag and held it in front of her. ❝Not everyone’s brother is willing to give them drugs...❞ She paused, considering the irony of it. ❝They do help, but I’ve found that I’m not as comfortable taking them in the forest. I feel like I always have to be on guard... alert... And these, well, they make me a bit too relaxed. Which, when you’re quite used to feeling the opposite, can be a bit uncomfortable.❞

[twinunhinged]

is there someone you consider that have given you enlightenment other than family?

► TMI TUESDAY

❝During my time with the Equinox, I learned much about myself and my magick from Razael. I learned to not label my magick as good or bad but to just accept it as what it is. Mine.❞

[twinunhinged]

► piouswar:

It was not all of it that he was able to see—but from a distance he was able to watch the way she was engulfed in her own magic. An expression of pity could have been read for a second the way his brows furrowed and his lips pressed. The nearer he came, the more apprehensive her magic seemed to have caught. Still leaning on the tree trunk, he saw how the girl shuffled around and took a little treat from her bag, he eyed it hatefully. But he decided not to talk about that brother for starters, while Razael did not hold resentment towards him, it irked him how the two could not be separated, a bond stronger than anyone else’s.

It somewhat hurt to admit it; he looked at her, expression devoid of any emotion, but his heart still ached. He reminisced like it were yesterday, the slow but steady improvement they had trained for her magic, but all is left to burn into ashes when she had left. She was once again a lost fae with little to no control of herself. “Not what…? Not real?” though bitterly, he chuckled, “I am real, not whatever that you’ve seen in your surroundings a while ago.” A pause, he took a few steps closer, his arms down He did not want to cause any more anxiety to her, he did not want to her to feel fear (not yet). “Did you think that you will be able to live a blissful life after shoving your betrayal on our faces?” He stopped halfway, eyes seeming to have opened a little to show a piece of his soul, why did you leave? But he dared not to show the rest of of it.

“I only wanted the best for you, Aislinn,” he drew in a heavy breath attempting to compose himself, other than the other three faeries, he trained himself to have at least a bit more patience with her—she was just a child, with a magic so fickle. He glances at the snack she was holding, “That must’ve been another drug your brother created, is it not?” He knew of their little exchanges, how Aislinn’s brother held magic to calm others—quiet a complement to his sister’s temperamental, destructive magic. “One day, you will grow immune to it, and then what will you do?” Another sigh, “—but you can learn to control your magic, control it without needing those treats.”

There were several moments in which Aislinn found comfort in the minuscule spec of denial onto which she could grasp. The Equinox are far away... We escaped them... We left them far behind... They could not have found us so very quickly... Yet, the mere fact that she could not utter her thoughts aloud only strengthened the argument of truth against her. Her eyes ran over him, wide as if such a thing could keep her from missing any change in his expression, begging him to to give her a clue, any clue, that might allow her in on his thoughts. Of all the Equinox, Aislinn had been closest to him. He’d been more of a mentor than anyone who had ever entered her life. He’d treated her magick like a tool rather than a curse. Yet, when the time had come, she’d left him in a heartbeat. 

The young fae swallowed, unnerved by the way that he simply mocked her so. He seemed to see into her magick in a way that she only hoped she could, but such thoughts must be pushed down. He was not her teacher he was not her friend. The words repeated themselves in her mind, trying to convince her of all that tempted her belief. Aislinn brought her hands up in front of her, but they only fidgeted with one another. I should be running. Yet, she could not make her feet move, even as he moved closer. Her lower lip quivered slightly as an unexpected sensation of guilt seemed to well up inside of her. However, Aislinn took a deep breath and painted on her usual visage of indifference. The tactic had scarcely worked in the company of the Equinox, yet an attempt was inevitable. 

❝I have hardly expected bliss since before I met you and the others. Why should I change my outlook now?❞ She looked into his eyes, immediately regretting having done so. Her own mask faltered, forcing her to look away from his face, instead focusing on his feet. How could she truly believe that he wanted what was best for her? Yet, the very fact that he spoke the words meant that he believed them to be true. Discord reigned within her mind as she felt herself being pulled into two separate directions. Eyes tricking her, she could see black spiders with red hour glasses on their backs crawling over his feet, but she kept herself from reaching into her bag a second time. Instead, the strain displayed itself in her brow and in her eyes as she squeezed them shut before opening them once more. ❝You know it is... If my magick grows stronger, his likely will too... He could still help me.❞ She shook her head. ❝I don’t know if I can. I don’t... And here, everything is more vibrant, more real...❞ She quickly shook her head, feeling herself being pulled in once again. ❝I don’t want to be a tool for the Equinox... I don’t want to be used, not for my magick and not for who I am.❞

[twinunhinged]

► t-cousland:

She started to move and he started to feel that maybe he placed himself in a really bad position. The last time he saw fae on the ground was during the eclipse, although she didn’t seem to be in that sort of easy position. This was more controlled, more obvious. He didn’t really have that much time to think about it - all he saw was her face, she was pretty - and bam, what suddenly came from nowhere seemed to magickally approach him. It was approaching him really really fast.

Tobias was already ready to run, but his mind started to panic at the absurd volume of what seemed like insects - hornets ready to devour him, it left him raising his arms up, forming an X - a heartbeat, two - he felt nothing. But he could still feel the ringing of the hornets that buzzed in his ears earlier. He didn’t even hear the girl as she formed words. Taking a peek from under his arms he saw the forest, the fae still in the middle, the hornets were there, but duller and even though they looked threatening it did not seem to bother him apart from the initial shock. “Whaa—” he stammered, lost for words as his shocked eyes looked at those of the fae. “What did you do? How did you do that?” of course that was a stupid question. Fae had their own powers. “Why, why did you do that?” It probably was rude to ask, but then he also had a rude welcoming.

Aislinn felt a wave of her magick leaving her body and propelling itself forward towards her company. The feeling of exhilaration was dwarfed by the feeling of relief that followed. Her magick had been cooped up for far too long, causing it to seem almost angry with her for her neglect of something that should have been such a large part of her identity. Yet, she continued to struggle in accepting it for what it was, hers. 

In her moments of elation, she found herself distracted from looking upon her victim. The practice had always been something that she rather enjoyed. To manipulate the mind of another gave her a feeling of true power, as long as that other person was not someone about which she cared and as long as her magick was being used in accordance with her own desires rather than with the desires of another. She would not be used. When she finally redirected her gaze to him, she found her face contorting in confusion. 

Why did he not scream? Why did he fail to bat at himself like a madman in an attempt to brush away the ever-persistent hornets? Why, instead, did he look to her? Her flow of magick ceased, the illusion faded, and she took several steps back from him. ❝I...❞ Avoiding his questions, she took to studying him instead. ❝What did you do? Why are you not afraid?❞

[twinunhinged]

► piouswar:

@twinunhinged

Though memories soaked with bloodshed and betrayal—there seemed to be another that he couldn’t get his mind off. The Tuath’s. Well, while Bronagh’s betrayal was as fresh as yesterday’s harvest, there was another that seemed to have tugged his mortal heart. Aislinn. A child with gifted talents; a child, akin to him, held the power to control an audience. But it was turbulent, uncontrollable and still so young. It reminded him of when he first knew of his magic—luckily enough he could do the reverse, with that he was able to trick the world into thinking he was some sort of heaven sent peacemaker. But enough of reminiscing, it’s time to move on. Well, that was how he wished he could do—forgive and forget? No, resent and remember.

He may not be as much of a linguistic as the other faes may be, but now he knew that word ‘Tuath’ meant betrayal. Somehow, Bronagh’s betrayal had lowered to a notch while Aislinn and her brother’s were on top of it. “Well, fuck! Just damned wanted the best for her and this is the fucking gratitude I get!” out of bubbling frustration his hand reaches for a critter on the ground with his bare hands and slamming it on a tree trunk nearby, a piercing screech emitted from it but he couldn’t care any less about it. He threw the crushed little animal far from his sight, “And now my hands a bloody!” Not that he minded it, venting out of frustration was his way to release stress.

A loud click of his tongue as brows furrowed, he wiped his bloodied hands on the fallen leaves. And well he’d be damned, maybe he should think of his desires more? From a distance he could tell that it was her. Razael didn’t waste any more time and paced closer while leaning on a nearby tree trunk, “Enjoying the life without the Equinox, perhaps?” His voice was subtle… though the deepness resonated and echoed. It was unlike him to be subtle, but it was this that many had to watch out for. Quiet hatred from a man like him was not to be trifled with. “Long time no see, Aislinn.” Face twisted in a welcoming smile, this forest wasn’t so bad after all. Maybe a little, but not do much for the moment.

There was a sense of calmness that often fell before a matter of difficulty. It presented itself in a feeling resembling a moment of panic one might experience in a moment where they remember that they’ve forgotten something, or the moment when one realizes they’ve made a grave error. The difficulty, in Aislinn’s case, came in the fact that such a sensation prompted other side effect. Around her, the image of a forest of fire arose from the ground, scorched earth, trees, and wildlife were burnt to a crisp before her. The feeling of smoke in her lungs caused her to cough and brace herself against what looked to be the charred remains of a tree.

In another shake of her head, the forest was back to normal. Hand rose to her throat to gingerly rub at the soreness that remained despite the absence of any illusion at the hands of her own brand of magick. Hands shaking, she reached into her bag and pulled a small part of the tart that her brother had sent with her. It was cooked with his magick as well as his skills, meant to calm her when her magick seemed to want to destroy her from the inside. 

A voice entered her surroundings. It was both familiar and alarming. With all of Cormac’s talk of the Equinox and of the fear that they might, find them, the threat had been constant on her mind. It would only make sense that her magick would choose the most prevalent nightmare to bestow upon her senses. You’re not real. The thought began to slowly repeat itself even as each movement of the fae proved true around her. The silent mantra held little power until she attempted to speak the untruth aloud. ❝You’re not-- ...❞ An instantly wide-eyed Aislinn felt her mouth close up at the attempted lie, heart frozen in the moment of unadulterated terror. She swallowed past the soreness in her throat with the intent of speaking, yet her voice still only sounded as barely more than a whisper. ❝Razael.❞

[hellishsuggestion]

decorate yourself with flowers, with gold, with bones

[twinunhinged]

►  averynye:

Avery was really beginning to wonder how insignificant he was if people were creating such a habit as to running into him. He stumbled back, because he truly wasn’t the largest of fae, and huffed an indignant breath at the one responsible. She apologized, yes, but that really did little to smooth over his annoyance. “You’re in a forest full of other beings, and it seems to be becoming more crowded each day. At some point along a walk, you’re practically guaranteed to run into someone.” Avery himself hadn’t been wanting company, but he’d been counting on something like this to happen.

“No harm done at least.” He sighed, flattening a wrinkle in his shirt before looking her over. “Good thing you weren’t carrying a blade in hand, otherwise this might be a less fortunate exchange.” He mused. “Anyway…I don’t recall seeing you around. Are you a newcomer here?”

Aislinn stopped considering his words. They were true, of course, but that hardly meant that she appreciated their being voiced. The reminder of the forest’s current predicament only caused reason for feelings of suffocation. Aislinn glanced upon her surroundings as the illusion of the trees closing in on her presented itself. Feeling her heart race inside of her cheat, she focused instead on putting up the facade of something quite different, allowing a confident smile grace her features. Despite the images in her mind, she must present outward contentment. 

❝I’m not one for blades. Call me optimistic, but I find that many disputes can be deescalated with a few carefully chosen words.❞ Aislinn allowed her eyes to travel over him, studying his posture, his stance, wondering if he had experience with blades. ❝I have been in the forest for a few months. The forts, however... I have not ventured into this area of the forest. Do you live here?❞

[twinunhinged]

► tranquil-embrace:

Cormac gave a grateful smile at her actions towards him, it calmed him down, it did of course give him a jolt of surprise but at least he was used enough to her magic that it did not give him a scare like those who would be first time victims.

“Let us hope not to be in danger.” he said even though he knew it was near to impossible. “Closed space…” Cormac breathed, remembering a certain memory as he had a box of plants with him and an enchanter whom he had been quite improper to. “I am afraid Aislinn but if I were entirely honest then yes, even if I would like to adhere to what you want which is to not align with any fae, I believe it is easier to hide with a group of fae than us alone. We stay here — in this forest trapped. What if they come? What if the Equinox comes to find us here? They shall be trapped too… and — and it will be harder for us to hide with only the two of us.” The breath Cormac released was heavyand filled with fear and tightening. “If we do make it to the fae, we could learn to enhance our glamour, live wiht others and hide within faces of our kinds. It will not be easy but it is a step forward.”

Cormac ~smiled ~then, a trying smile that was f i l l e d   with encouragement that hopefully moved Aislinn as much as he tried to move himself. “We might even find those who would understand of our plight, and would protect us if need be.” The time to make friends was little the Equinox may know where they are and that would make their little romp through the hopefully safe forest come to and end. Cormac pushed aside the thoughts that could no doubt mean they might make friends that they would hurt if the Equinox did come but with the little time they had to themselves, Cormac hoped that he and Aislinn would have enough fight in themselves to not fall prey again.

He tried to envelop her in a hug, a try, if it came to a worse feeling he would use his magic on her to calm her down — but for now he would let the fears catch up to them and let the unwanted feelings come out. "I would not do it unless it was dire Ais.” he laughed together with her, knowing she needed him as he needed her.

Parents… their ~~u n k n o w n~~. It did no good to always hide what they feared. “We find our parents Aislinn… we find them, we learn of the why. If we forgive them, then that is for our betterment, if we become a family, that is a bonus. You and I are already family and whether or not we find out parents — we will always be family.”

The vampire again sent c h i l l s in Cormac’s nerves, waking him up almost instantly. Bites. Cravings. Feeding. “Is he young or old?” he asked with a tic in his cheek. “That is a very intimate gesture, are you sure you are not under his compulsion?” It was every bit of tone an older brother would use to chastise a younger sibling. “Important?” the coldness in his blood tightened. He was not Aislinn’s father to have these feelings but it was not like he didn’t play as such when the time came, it was always only the two of them.

“I would like to meet them.” he said after a moment of pure quiet and internal rage. He could not promise he would be cordial, maybe the tranquil magic he had was a gift. If it came to be he could calm himself well enough to meet this… v a m p i r e that seemed to hold control over his sister.

Aislinn nodded silently. Despite her wants, she knew well that her brother only wanted what he believed was best for the both of them or he would not have suggested it at all. What if the Equinox did come. They would not only be a danger to her and her brother, but to their parents as well. ❝Do you ever think that leaving and coming here might have been a MISTAKE. Yes, we are finally free and yes... there are definite benefits to this place.❞ Her mind traveled temporarily to the friend that was certain to cause trouble at some point. ❝What if this was their plan all along, for us to hear them and find our own way to Arain, to allow us to meet our parents only for them to use us against them...❞ 

Her brother’s eyes were filled with such unadulterated ｈｏｐｅ that Aislinn could not find the words in her mouth to devalue the emotion that he seemed to be trying so hard to ENDORSE like a mother who really wanted their kid to eat their vegetables. ❝Do you truly feel that they would see us as an asset worth protecting?❞ Asset because Aislinn could hardly see a use for herself outside of what she could DO and the reactions that she could cause. As much as she wanted to be seen as more than her magick, she couldn’t even do that much for herself. She was in the middle of a constant internal B A T T L E between the idea that her magick was her only value and the constant feeling that her magick made her into something monstrous.

Cormac, however, was a different story. Aislinn saw him as someone to be appreciated. Of course, anyone would be lucky to have him on their side not only for his 𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓬𝓴, but for his knowledge of medicine and his ability to cause such a calming presence even without use of his abilities. Cormac would be worth protecting, but Aislinn could not possibly hope to see herself in the same light. Even with their time under Equinox, Aislinn still struggled. ❝Do you think you will forgive them? I’m not sure if I will...❞ She furrowed her brow. ❝I sometimes wonder if my magick might have manifested differently.❞ At the very least, she took comfort in her brothers embrace.

Aislinn found her heart begin to race at the onslaught of questions and a glance in her brother’s direction brought the image of blood running down his neck. It’s just magick, it’s just magick... Her breathing quickened, and she had to FORCE herself to look away from him and from the newest  ｎｉｇｈｔｍａｒｅ  that her magick had projected. Still her heart thumped loudly in her chest and she began to fidget with pieces of grass that she pulled from the ground. in order to busy herself. ❝Young... and I didn’t think so.❞ The compulsion would have made the most sense, however. She was certain nothing to save and yet the vampire had. ❝I... I don’t think meeting him... Do you think that would be the best idea?❞