We Need A Reason To Exist

Indie | Private | Selective | Multi-Muse OC blog, League of Legends oriented! | Mun & all Muses are over 18 | NSFW/Trigger-Heavy (/Minors DNI/!) | Penned by Fex (They/Them).

[violinsandchains]

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THIS WASN’T ACCORDING TO PLAN.

BLINKING SLOWLY, Zed took in a deep but silent breath. It appeared as Octavius has failed to inform him of the very crucial detail that his friend wouldn’t be able to follow up on the task of finding her way to their safehouse. The whole thing now started feeling like a trap, suddenly, but he was damned if he wasn’t getting his reward out of this.

CLAWED THUMB CAME DOWN ON INDEX FINGER, applying quick and heavy pressure to release a crack. The sound was followed by the snapping of Zed’s gaze forward where he’d come from rather than Cordelia as he weighed his options. A second inhale followed as he straightened up on his feet, leaping off the roof in a front flip - one foot coming over his head while the other was at a ninety-degree angle. He landed with one knee bent and the other extended to his right side, the tips of his fingers spread across the dusty floors.

AS HE STRAIGHTENED UP ZED POINTED TO THE DARKER CORNER OF THE WALLS, NODDING ONCE.

“I have somewhat learned my way around the city, but he gave me no location. Our effort as together could track down his residence. I hope.” He cleared his dry throat and swallowed, exhaling once. “Stick to the dark, some D O G S were still around.”

Octavius gave Zed no location? Cordelia almost facepalmed. And what did Zed mean by dogs? Was it a derogatory term he used for the guards, or did he see actual hounds being brought over to sniff Cordelia out?

She didn’t bother asking. Instead, she just readjusted her bag on her back and her grip on the violin’s case. Finding Octavius was going to be harder than she thought, apparently, since the bastard didn’t even bother informing Zed where he was going, nor did he ever tell Cordelia herself. That man was shrouded in secrecy, for his own protection he claimed, but it worked against him sometimes. Also, she had to make note of Zed’s acrobatics in the back of her head for they were... impressive, lacking a better term at the moment. Cordelia wondered how long it took him to master those skills, and if he would be willing to teach.

If he’d even stick around long enough for that.

“Lead the way then. He had to leave something behind, some form of trail.” Cordelia approached the shadows to blend into them, glancing at Zed with an empty stare.

“I know there is no trust between us but I can assure you that I have no interest in fucking you over. Or at least try to assure you.” She shrugged, waiting for Zed to start heading back and hoping that the guards went elsewhere by now.

[violinsandchains]

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ORANGE HUES FOLLOWED CALMLY, eyes lidded and heavy unlike his firm voice. The strained grit in his throat and the look he gave the woman were the only giveaways to how he felt just about now.

TIRED.

EXHAUSTED, REALLY.

“Zed.” Was the simple answer. “Octavius… he got in troubles with Trifarrix guards.” This wasn’t how they were called, but the albino couldn’t be bothered. There was a fantasy in his head about a bowl of hot soup, instead. “I helped him and now he owes me. But said cannot pay until he finds you.”

HE PAUSED THERE, TRYING TO MAKE UP THE NEXT SENTENCE IN HIS HEAD. A sentence that wouldn’t make coming along with sound like a trap, or a sure way to end up royally fucked over.

ZED TOOK IN A DEEP BREATH, rosey lips parted beneath the mask on his face just to press together to form a thin line. A few more moments passed until he finally spoke.

“I promised to find you if you can locate him back. If you can… bring us to his hidey-hole.”

Cordelia listened carefully to what the man had to say, noting the certain difficulty with which he strung sentences together. He was a foreigner, like her. At least they had that much in common.

About the Trifarix guards, or Legionnaires, Cordelia already knew. Octavius drew their attention away from her to himself on purpose, so she could get away without having to fight too much if at all. It’s him they wanted after all. But Cordelia still worried for Octavius’ safety, even if he acted like he generally knew what he was doing. Despite operating somewhat independently of each other, they were still companions on some level, and neither wanted the other to get hurt if they could prevent it. So when the man - Zed - implicated that Octavius was still alive, Cordelia felt her stomach settle a little... But Zed’s last sentence upset it all over again.

Find Octavius? She hardly knew her way back to the city border.

“Okay... Zed...” Cordelia tasted his name on her tongue, squinting her eyes slightly. “If you could bring me back to where you saw him last I could make an attempt to track him. I’m sorry to inform you that I’m not particularly familiar with Noxus Prime.”

[violinsandchains]

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GUARDS WERE INDEED ALERTED TO THE LOCATION. It was just on time the the two parted ways for the moment Zed fully cloaked himself in darkness and marched forward did heavy footsteps echoed between the walls. There was the clanking of weapon and armor, some Va-Nox exchanged between men and women affiliated with the Hand of Noxus, questions of what could it be this time around. If he wasn’t so fatigued, Zed would make a stop here and take them on.

BUT CONSIDERING HIS STATE, HE KNEW HOW IT WOULD END.

IN THE REDHEADED WOMAN LOST, AND WITH HIMSELF BEHIND BARS.

ONCE HE COULDN’T MAINTAIN THE CLOAKED FORM, the albino found a rooftop to perch on top of and materialized once more, casting his gaze at the streets as his eyes regained their human shape. Keeping his head low, Zed crouched and quickly moved from rooftop to rooftop, crawling on top of a thin fence on all fours while darting his eyes on each and every head.

IT TOOK TEN, TWENTY, THIRTY MINUTES PERHAPS, UNTIL HIS EYES LOCKED ON A SMALLER FIGURE. A woman attempting at hiding her face, yet blood-red strands of hair stuck to the beads of sweat against her skin. In her hand was what he could only assume was the case for the deadly instrument.

AND THEN THE TRULY DIFFICULT PART HAS COME.

ZED… WAS NOT TOO SURE HOW TO APPROACH HER. He perched himself on the fence much like a common feline and watched her movements. Zed was patient - it came with the job - waiting for the moment in which she would truly be isolated to leap from the fence to the rooftop right over her head.

ONCE HERE, he perched in the very same manner, albeit now his head was tilted forward as he slightly bent, trying to lock his eyes with hers.

“Are you Octavius’ friend?” He rasped.

Cordelia knew absolutely nothing about Noxus Prime besides how difficult it was to navigate the narrow streets and alleyways, even with her small figure. It was her first time there, maybe second at best, since Octavius avoided the capital like the plague and only really returned there when his brother was absent or when he really needed something, like information, or supplies. But for Cordelia it was an entirely different ordeal. Hailing from Piltover meant that Piltover was all she knew until she met Octavius. Until she convinced him to take her with him back to Noxus.

So when he suggested they split, Cordelia’s stomach flipped upside down despite her initial compliance with the older man’s idea. She ran blindly, guards nipping at her heels almost, unsure of where she was going and how far from Octavius she was getting. Being small and lithe had its benefits, of course, as she was still faster than the armored guards chasing after her, but they knew the city. She didn’t. And feeling lost only added to the growing panic in her chest.

At some point she managed to lose them somehow. But they were still searching, she knew that. No time to stop. No time for rest. She’ll do that once Octavius gets to her, if she’ll even survive until then. If Octavius survived himself. She heard the gunfire from earlier. She hoped it meant he lived.

There was barely any time to even take out her own weapon.

Cordelia’s cloak was stained with sweat as she was trying to sneak away from the voices of guards and the clanking of weapons, and just when she thought she made it through, that she was finally alone, the voice from above made her gasp and turn her head towards it, stumbling backwards. She stared at the man speaking to her and wondered whether she was saved or thoroughly fucked.

“Yes. No.” She answered, unsure whether he was friend or foe, whether to lie through her teeth and run again or comply. She chose the latter.

“Yes... Cordelia. Are you?”

[violinsandchains]

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THE DESCRIPTION ITSELF WORRIED ZED JUST A TAD. It wasn’t because of any reason but the fact that during his stay here he learned that many women answer to such descriptions. It sounded however like she was a natural redhead, and with the instrument she had to carry around it would narrow the targets down easily enough, he assumed.

NOT MANY REDHEADED WOMEN WOULD CARRY A BOW OR A VIOLIN AT NIGHT.

ZED RELEASED A DEEP CROON, eyes wandering around to their surroundings again as a tiny red dot appeared in his pupil. In a moment’s notice, the dot expanded to the rest of his eyeballs, taking over them with a glow that was a staple for creatures and users of the Tears. People affiliated with the Shadow Realm.

THAT CHANGE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE TEARS THEMSELVES EMITTING FROM HIS SKIN. Each time they reached a certain height they would fall like raindrops back to his skin and emit anew. Zed contemplated whether or not to tell him of his name - for a Noxian was still a Noxian and honor was not something they had a true value for.

THE H A N D TAUGHT HIM THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

“The woman is more important right now.” Zed’s body broke apart into a mixture of ink and mist, legs first, sucked towards the shadows cast by the walls in front of them near the exit of the alley as the rest of his body quickly followed. “Keep an eye on the papers on the walls and tear off any one you come across.”

Octavius let out a light scoff when the man refused to give him his name, though he felt as if he should know it by now. Something in the back of his mind screamed that he is familiar with this shadow magic, that he should know its user, but the answer eluded him still. Perhaps he was, perhaps he wasn’t. It didn’t matter right now. What mattered was getting himself to safety.

Observing as the other dissolved into shadow, Octavius remained still for a few moments after he was gone before peeking out of the alley once more. He then quickly exited it and, sticking to darker passages, progressed in the direction of where he remembered used to be his hideout in the capital; a house in one of the poorer neighborhoods. Its entrance was sealed by magic, so Octavius didn’t worry too much about break-ins. He had a lab there, too, where he stored and studied various objects and ingredients, made potions, and generally experimented. Enough place for three people, he thought.

Keeping the albino’s advice in mind, Octavius’ eyes wandered to the walls as he briskly walked the narrow streets. There were posters, some old, some new, which he tore down every time he spotted them and stuffed them in his bag. He wondered if the one he was searching for was indeed here, or if he will have to keep looking. Leave Noxus Prime once more. Octavius sighed. Every time he thought he grew closer to catching him, the man slipped away again and again. The occultist was growing more desperate by the day. But, reaching the house after some time, Octavius approached the door and placed his hand on it, a glow emitting from it and the door it touched. Once the glow died out, he entered, closed the door, and pressed his forehead to it, exhaling.

He could only hope the other two will make it here safely while he livens the place up a bit.

[violinsandchains]

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ONLY AS THE MAN GREW CLOSER DID ZED’S REALIZATION OF HIS STATURE DAWNED ON HIM. The man was undoubtfully taller than his Master, and if his eyes didn’t morph reality too much from fatigue, he could’ve sworn that he was even taller than Darius. He saw a few men like these in his life, but they usually came with the build - just like the men he was seeing.

THIS ONE… A SCHOLAR, SO IT WOULD SEEM.

“A woman?” Zed perked a scarred, pale brow before his eyes shifted around, taking in their surroundings. “Part of my job is to find people,” he began saying, and albeit it was true that as an assassin and tactician he needed good awareness and predictability on his targets, it wasn’t to say that he greatly benefited from the fact he was a plain and simple S T A L K E R . “Your face around these parts… no good to us. More have to be on way here as we speak.” The albino shook his head once. “Go to your and your friend’s place. Give me identi - inden…id - details unique to her and names. We find you after.”

Octavius frowned when the man suggested he finds Cordelia alone, but he did have a point about Octavius’ face being too recognizable and parading it around would indeed be a hazard to their safety. The occultist was being hunted down by the Empire for reasons that varied depending on who you asked, so finding a person who didn’t want to turn him in or gut him themselves was a rarity. And despite his stature, it was Cicero who was the combat expert, not Octavius. Octavius knew his way around spells and crystals and ground up animal parts, how to speak to the dead and summon or banish demons. Cicero knew his way around a battlefield. While powerful in his own way, Octavius still preferred to avoid conflict when he could and keep his energy for other things.

By comparison, Cordelia was the more combative one. Which was ironic, considering how small she was.

“She’s small, about this tall.” Octavius gestured with a flattened palm to the height of his chest area. “Blood red hair, brown eyes, pale. She carries a violin which she can transform into a bow... And her name is Cordelia.” He concluded. “Mine is Octavius. You are?” He inquired, eyeing the stranger.

[violinsandchains]

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D O G S TURNING ON EACH OTHER, F I G H T I N G EACH OTHER, THAT WAS THE QUICK SUMMARIZATION OF THE OLDER MAN’S WORDS. Zed’s eyes finally tore themselves from those of the Noxian’s to briefly scan his form. Tongue found itself running across his lips once more, the blood drying slowly giving way to a sticker, more persistent residue on his pale stubble. If focused on closely the dark circles under his eyes were slightly sunken, and the frames of his eyelids an irritated red.

HE WAS SLEEP DEPRIVED, DEHYDRATED, HUNGRY AND YET HE APPEARED UNNATURALLY RELAXED AND COMFORTABLE IN THE POSITION HE STOOD IN.

PERHAPS IT WAS BECAUSE HE WAS INCLINED, T H I S TIME AROUND, TO BELIEVE THE MAN’S WORDS. His head cocked the opposite side as he weighed his option, and briefly after straightened it as one normally should. A deep inhale of his own followed, and this time, the blood was swallowed rather than spit aside.

THE MAN PERHAPS ACTED OUT OF COWARDICE, BUT HE WAS NEVERTHELESS INNOCENT.

THIS… ‘ N O B L E ‘ , NOW… ZED DOUBTED T H E Y WERE ANYTHING BUT.

“Fine. I am believe your words, but you owe me dinner. And depends how the night is continued…” His Noxian was near-fluent, but there was still much for him to learn. The nekote rose to pull the mask of his shirt up the top of his nose, and pulling forward on the red veil on his head.

“Lead. Your brother do not scare me.” His voice a smidge calmer.

Octavius couldn’t help but let out a sharp exhale of relief seeing the other man chose not to turn him into minced meat next. In a battle of raw magical power, Octavius likely overpowered the albino’s shadow magic. But the difference between them was that unlike the albino, Octavius still didn’t fully harness the complete extent of his magic, and he could easily burn himself out just by trying. There was always the potential that Octavius would end up a drained heap on the ground way before his opponent, while the albino seemed to control his power more fluidly. It was more stable.

Slowly, Octavius detached his back from the wall behind him and took a few careful steps towards the other man. When no hostility was shown towards him, his shoulders relaxed, and his stride became more confident. Choosing not to remark on the other’s grammatical errors, Octavius stepped over the corpses of the Legionnaires and peeked out of the alley before looking back at the man still standing by his side.

“I need to find the woman I was with. We split ways somewhere over there.” Octavius pointed in a direction. “When we find her, if she’s even still alive, I promise you dinner.”

[violinsandchains]

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ZED KEPT HIS GLARE LOCKED UPON THE MESS OF A MAN BEFORE HIM. His eyes were unblinking as the one in front of him spoke, tongue slowly running across bloodied mug to collect the crimson ichor with a slight twist in his expression as the taste took over. The left side of his upper eyelid twitched upwards to reveal a fang as his nostril flared and twisted along with it, disgust and hatred as clear as the stars in a summer night’s sky.

INHALING ONE DEEP BREATH, the albino turned his head away with his eyes still locked upon the other’s to spit again, on the shiny gauntlet of one of the dead. Not for a moment he fell for that façade that the man was selling to him. In fact, Zed only became more suspicious of the older man with each and every moment passing. That weapon in his hand, that G U N , it was enough a reason for Zed to just end him then and there, but he’s had enough trouble while captive here in Noxus.

NO… APPARENTLY IT WAS N O T ENOUGH, EVIDENT BY THE WORDS THAT HAVE FOLLOWED OUT HIS ROSEY LIPS.

“ H I D E the bodies? Ha,” A dry, bitter chuckle escaped him without a hint of emotion across his features. His voice however was a demeaning one, laced with a thick coat of venom and disregard for the lives discussed. Be it the dead’s… or the older man’s. “and why would you H I D E them?” Each word delivered slowly, and with an emphasis. Accompanied by the thick Ionian accent, it was clear that Zed took P R I D E in what’s he done.

PLATED BOOTS APPROACHED THE LEGIONNAIRE HE MARKED FOR DEATH - EVERY ORIFICE AND HOLE LEAKING THE MAN’S BLOOD BY NOW. He stomped on the chest plate and started applying pressure, the action causing all gas and air in the corpse to release, resulting in what sounded like a moan or a soft death rattle, slightly distorted from the blood that pooled in his gaping maw.

THE CHEST PLATE STARTED BENDING UNDER THE PRESSURE, GIVING IN SLOWLY.

“Scholars are too valuable to be in such position. You a traitor? Fugitive? You… saw too much?” Zed mused out loud, seeming not at all concerned that the gunshots had to have alerted or at least deployed some more armed authority to investigate.

The man before him seemed almost feral, Octavius noted to himself, and despite being much taller than him, the occultist still felt intimidated. He was still cornered, just under different circumstances. Nothing about the situation changed besides the fact that instead of four assailants, Octavius was now only facing one.

He contemplated using the remaining bullet on the stranger, who he quickly came to learn was of Ionian origin judging by the thick accent and foreign clothes if not for facial features which were mostly concealed by the dark. But the way the other could simply merge with the shadows, become them... That bullet would be wasted for nothing. Should he choose to aim his gun at the albino, he would be making another enemy when he had the potential to instead make a friend, or at the very least an ally. Was he a prisoner of war? An escapee? Were the authorities after him, too?

Deciding to put the gun back in its holster, Octavius inhaled deeply, then exhaled. His muscles were still tense, he was by no means relaxed; but he didn’t wish to appear like a shivering dog in front of someone who was clearly powerful and so far not a direct threat. He still had some dignity left in him, some Noxian pride. So he tried to calm himself the best he could.

Octavius didn’t reply to the first question, about hiding the bodies. Truth be told he would much rather just leave and find Cordelia, wherever the hell she was, but he learned long ago that leaving evidence behind was usually a bad idea. The men that the Ionian killed, fine, sure, they could remain where they were. But the ones he himself shot... He was nervous about leaving them there. Anything that could tie him to the death of some Legionnaires was bad news.

The second question, however... About the reasoning behind Octavius’ would-be assault. He could still remain silent or refuse to answer, or lie, even, but Octavius preferred the more cooperative route this time. What could this man do with the information? Blackmail him? Give it to the authorities in exchange for his own freedom? All plausible options. Octavius’ brows furrowed and he bit his lip.

“I...” He began, hesitant. “Long ago, I killed someone important. A friend of my father’s, a noble. It was a complete accident, but instead of facing trial, I ran. Been on the run most of my life.”

After a short pause, he added, “But this is hardly about that anymore. I am being hunted down by my brother. I’m sure he’s using that noble’s death as an excuse, but he has a personal stake in this. I hurt him.”

[violinsandchains]

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B A N G !

THE SOUND OF A FOREIGNER’S WEAPON GOING OFF WAS A FAMILIAR ONE TO ZED. The sharp and quick shots were enveloped by the echoes mellowing their sounds and padding them just enough to let the albino know it was far, yet that information bore no comfort with it. It was a sound he’s heard many times both in battle and in the pursuit of Khada Jhin, making his stomach flip upside down and the muscles in his upper body to tense - feet feeling like loose jello instead.

GUNS WERE NEVER A GOOD SIGN, HE LEARNED.

AND YET INSTEAD OF TURNING AWAY AND FLEEING THE SCENE, ZED FOUND HIMSELF BECOMING ONE WITH THE SHADOWS AS HE MADE HIS WAY TO TOWARDS THE SOUND.

HE HAD TO CHECK THE REASONING BEHIND THE ALTERCATION. This could concern something he was personally involved in, or be key to an opportunity he wouldn’t otherwise have been aware of.

WORST OF ALL, IT COULD BE SOMEONE HE CARED ABOUT.

IT COULD BE… -

‘ LEGIONNAIRES… ‘ Zed hissed to himself. Oh, he was so very familiar with their appearance and armor. There was no mistaking that those were Darius’ men, and their ruthlessness was very much like their leader’s. It appeared, however, like the man backed against the wall put up a fight, for two of the four were cold and dead on the dusty grounds of Noxus.

WHERE THEY B E L O N G E D .

WHILE ZED FELT NO TRUE PITY FOR THE CITIZEN, he held a special type of contempt for the Legionnaires and their smug looks - though now they looked anything but. Instead the men, from under their restrictive helmets, were scowling and snarling at the cornered man.

HE’S FELT ON HIS SKIN WHAT THESE MEN ARE CAPABLE OF WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR WAY WITH YOU.

THEY DIDN’T DESERVE THIS QUITE OF AMUSEMENT. THIS SORT OF T O Y .

THEY DESERVED TO LAY BY THEIR OWN KIND ON THE FLOORS OF THEIR TAINTED LAND.

ZED ACTED QUICK - leaping out of the shadows and towards the man nearer to him, the one holding a long halberd in his left arm and dematerialized into black shadows that seeped into every hole in the man’s body before bursting out and right towards his friend. Both soldiers hit the ground at the same time; one already dead and the other struggling to prey off the albino which straddled his chest and sank his teeth deep into his neck.

AFTER SOME STRUGGLE, THE SCREAMING TURNED TO A GURGLE.

A DEATH RATTLE OF A MAN CHOKING ON HIS VERY OWN BLOOD WHILE SQUIRMING, CLAWING AT EVERYTHING IN HIS WAY.

THIS INCLUDED CLUTCHING ZED’S SCARRED WRIST, but the Legionnaire was granted to sweetness or mercy in his agonizing death. Zed instead yanked his arm away as he stood up, spitting aside the large chunk of flesh as his maw was dripping, orange hues fixating on the cornered man.

“You’re welcome.” He snarled.

Octavius managed to take down two of the Legionnaires with five shots, two for one, three for the other, but there were still two more left standing, and he had only one bullet. He was left with one bullet and he was facing two enraged Legionnaires with nowhere to run. Octavius would only be more unlucky than that if they would have unleashed hounds after him too. His eyes darted from the gun to the soldiers as he was contemplating his options as fast as he could; use magic after all to get away or shoot himself. He would die a coward in their eyes, but at least he would die on his own terms, and not to them or Cicero or worse. Where the fuck was that wanted man...

Wait. Cicero wanted him for himself. They wouldn’t just kill him. If they have any respect for Cicero, they won’t - and therefore, they wouldn’t allow him to die by other means either. So Octavius quickly put the gun to his temple with a determined look, eyes wide, his chest rising and falling rapidly. The Legionnaires stopped in place, albeit still upset. It was working. For now.

But just as Octavius was about to start negotiating with them and stating his terms, a man appeared and the Legionnaires were engulfed in shadow. Octavius stared, confused, as the shadows reformed into the shape of said man who singlehandedly assaulted the remaining Legionnaires in a rather... brutal fashion. Was he being saved? Octavius wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth but who was this man? He looked like he didn’t belong at all, sticking out like a sore thumb. The armor didn’t fit.

He watched in a certain amount of awe when the man spat out a chunk of the now dead Legionnaire’s neck. He made eye contact with the man, lowering the gun from his temple. He gulped.

“...Thanks.” He muttered back, staring at the four corpses next. If his face wasn’t plastered on posters by morning he would be shocked... Unless the stranger was a bigger problem than he was.

“You aren’t going to kill me next are you? I am but a harmless scholar.” Octavius chuckled nervously, trying to smile to look less... threatening. “I would very much prefer to part ways now and pretend we never met, kind sir, unless you are also willing to help me hide the bodies?”

[violinsandchains]

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There was always at least one pair of eyes tracking Octavius’ movements, be it in the form of a spy, an assassin, or yet another fucking Legionnaire from his brother’s inner circle. It felt as if the bastard had eyes and ears pretty much everywhere, as no matter where Octavius hid, no matter how careful he was, eventually he was always found out and attacked. He didn’t understand how Cicero managed to have such a widespread influence. Even a high ranking Legionnaire had to have limits, right? But not the great fucking Cicero Vesta, apparently, who had people all the way over in Piltover and its criminal underbelly, too. With this big of a following, Octavius was surprised his brother hadn’t tried overthrowing the Trifarix yet. But Octavius had his own contacts, too. People he trusted, but only to a degree. Trust doesn’t get you very far in a place where anyone could stab you in the back should they come up with a good enough reason to.

It’s been a while since the last time Octavius got to see Noxus Prime with his own eyes, but his search after the wanted man led him in circles and now he was back home. He and Cordelia moved mostly at night and avoided people the best they could, so they have been a bit slow, but approaching the outskirts of Noxus’ capital filled Octavius’ chest with hope mixed with dread. Just as Cicero was tracking his movements, Octavius was tracking Cicero’s as well with his own network, and right now Cicero was supposedly absent... If the information Octavius was given was indeed correct. So it should be relatively safe for them to enter the city and continue their search.

If it wasn’t for the Legionnaires that caught them sneaking in.

Part of Cicero’s group, apparently told to keep watch for Octavius and the younger musician, they chased after the two through the streets and that alone alerted pretty much every other guard that was nearby. Octavius and Cordelia ended up splitting in different directions after Octavius instructed her to find a place to hide, saying that they will reunite later, drawing all the attention onto himself while allowing his companion to escape. The Legionnaires cared none for her, so they let the low ranking ones deal with her as they continued their chase after Octavius.

Magic, or gun? Octavius gritted his teeth as he ran. Both would be too obvious and attract too much attention, perhaps even making it so his face would be plastered across Noxus next if he used either. What’s worse, it would definitely alert Cicero to his exact location, and he would finally find a way to come after him himself. And Octavius knew that whatever Cicero had in store for him was worse than the torture he endured at the hands of previous captors.

Making sharp turns and vaulting over objects in an attempt to lose the Legionnaires, Octavius soon found himself facing a dead end. He cursed under his breath as he came to a halt before a tall wall that was impossible to climb, and turned to face his imminent doom. He could technically destroy the wall with magic, but... No.

Gun it is.

Octavius pulled out the revolver and aimed it at the armored soldiers who were slowly advancing towards him, laughing between them. Back against the wall, Octavius reminded himself that he’s got six shots before he had to reload, and if he aimed right... He might even survive this without having to resort to suicide.

[violinsandchains]

What i’ve got going so far on the new oc

His name is Octavius

He is 42 years old

Cis male

He is Tall (didn’t decide how tall but he’s Tall)

Occultist by profession literally just a nerd who dedicated his life to studying the supernatural, experienced, currently still active, specializes in natural magic as well as some ceremonial/ritualistic. either a normal human with no magical powers of his own or a mage wielding chaos, creation, or fire magic, but has no idea how to properly utilize it/hides it

Been to piltover at least once and got a hextech revolver from there for self defense

Speaks multiple languages

Had 2 younger siblings and they all grew up in an abusive family, sister (younger by 2 years) killed herself at some point, younger brother (younger by 4) went hardcore into the military and became a legionnaire

bad blood between octavius and his younger brother, who blames him for their sister’s death among other stuff (being generally absent/distant/abusive towards the younger two). younger brother is seeking revenge and is constantly sending thugs/assassins after octavius to scare him, threatening to come after octavius himself some day

Octavius got captured and tortured by them at least once, is scarred all over

He grew paranoid and traveled often to escape the constant harassment, eventually following the trail of wanted posters depicting thresh to hegby, beginning an investigation to find him…perhaps befriending bort early on

Thresh of course led him in circles until eventually revealing himself

Octavius asks for protection in exchange for his brother’s soul, and the souls of all who come to harass him

Thresh is intrigued, and agrees. their dynamic is a …peculiar one. they travel together and shit

[violinsandchains]

Got a new OC time to infodump until all 7 of my followers get tired of me and leave

[multiiiplicity]

הוא שם לב שמאגנוס סירב לגעת באוכל שלו. הוא גם שם לב שעיניו נדדו ברחבי החדר, מסרבים להעניק לחברו הוותיק אפילו מבט יחיד במהלך הסעודה. הוא, אם זה היה מפתיע, גם ציפה שמאגנוס יפצה את פיו עם מילים מהסגנון הזה… אך עדיין, איכשהו, סוויין מצה את עצמו בוהה בריקנות בצלחתו, מילותיו של הגבר מתפוגגות להן בדממת החדר. הוא לקח נשימה עמוקה, ומיד לאחר כן גם הוא הניח את מזלגו כנגד צלחתו. עיניו האדמומיות כמעט וזהרו מאור הנרות שהשתקפו בהן.

אצבעותיו היססו לשנייה, נגעו הן בעדינות במזלג עד שהנציח את החלטתו ותופף על הכסף פעם ואז פעמיים. הבעת פניו מעולם לא השתנתה, ולא היה דבר שיכל להעיד על העובדה שבפנים התחוללה סערה. הגבר ששאג בשנאה וכאב ותסכול, שתלש ספרים ממדפיי עץ כהים וניפץ גביעי יין מקריסטל-זכוכית על גבי רצפות מצוחצחות צרח בראשו.

הוא זעם והשתולל, אך הוא היה כלוא בתוך גופה קרירה.

גופה קרירה ונסוגה שסירבה בנחושות לשקף שום צורה של רגש.

לעת עתה, לפחות.

“מדוע אתה מוצא את עצמך שואל דבר שכזה?”

השאלה ניתנה למאגנוס כאילו והייתה זו שאלה כה טיפשית להציג בפניו. היא אכן הייתה, בעיניו של סוויין, שתלש את עיניו מצלחתו ונעץ אותן בשחור השיער. כה טיפשית. כה חסרת תחלית וכה מייאשת.

“בוודאי שלא.”

קולו נימוך, רק למען שתי מילים אלו.

@violinsandchains​

[violinsandchains]

To Magnus, the Grand General’s silence was almost worse than a confirmation, worse than if he would have shouted. Swain wasn’t the type to lose his cool like that, it was Magnus who was the passionate and emotional one, but the Vastayan still remembered the sheer rage in Swain’s eyes on the very first day of their supposedly long-awaited reunion. He remembered the tension in his body, as if he was debating whether to kill Magnus on the spot or not. He remembered how he raised his hand, only once, and slapped every bit of hope Magnus had out of him with just one swift but powerful motion. He remembered how his cheek burned for a long while after that. He remembered the tears.

When Swain answered his question with a question of his own, Magnus felt his stomach twist into a knot, but his last words and their tone left him with mixed feelings. Was he lying? Could he trust him? He’s been so cold and so distant for such a long time, even before Magnus’ disappearance, there could be a storm raging within while Swain masked it with an icy facade. Magnus worried for him sometimes. While he was always on the reserved side, there was a time Swain was more sensitive, more... expressive.

Not anymore, though. Now Magnus was left to decipher Swain like the most complicated puzzle in the world, despite knowing him since he was little.

“Then why does it feel as if being near me causes you insurmountable pain, Jericho? Why does it feel like you’d rather be anywhere else but here?” Magnus inquired with obvious desperation in his voice.

He’d rather Swain would be violent than deathly silent. His silence was definitely worse.

[perfectfeelings]

I am so at peace. I don’t want any revenge. You won. Just leave me alone.

(via perfectfeelings)

[perfectfeelings]

[violinsandchains]

I’m thinking now like wait what if the Swain family didn’t approve of Magnus and Jericho being together for one reason or another? What if they wanted Jericho to marry nobility and house Severna just wasn’t It because they weren’t noble blood and also Vastaya, while on Magnus’ end it was Marden’s disapproval because Jericho was human and they wanted him to marry another Vastaya (good luck finding someone in the very human Noxus, Marden)? What if initially Jericho and Magnus’ relationship was secret until Swain killed his parents, after which he felt it was safe for them to come out with it publicly now that he was spearheading house Swain? Or what if it was never safe for them to be publicly together at all, and the relationship remained secret up until Magnus’ disappearance? Decisions, decisions.

[violinsandchains]

Swain rejected Magnus when he confessed his love to him as a teen because of the social status difference despite feeling the same send tweet.

[violinsandchains]

Три дня дождя, Лали — Космос

Слушай альбом на всех площадках: band.link/cgoEE---------------------------------------------------------—ICE UP MUSIChttps://www.instagram.com/iceupmusic/...

*vibrates softly* When Lali went “hug me all night even if you kill me in the morning” I went Y U D A I

[violinsandchains]

I’m thinking now like wait what if the Swain family didn’t approve of Magnus and Jericho being together for one reason or another? What if they wanted Jericho to marry nobility and house Severna just wasn’t It because they weren’t noble blood and also Vastaya, while on Magnus’ end it was Marden’s disapproval because Jericho was human and they wanted him to marry another Vastaya (good luck finding someone in the very human Noxus, Marden)? What if initially Jericho and Magnus’ relationship was secret until Swain killed his parents, after which he felt it was safe for them to come out with it publicly now that he was spearheading house Swain? Or what if it was never safe for them to be publicly together at all, and the relationship remained secret up until Magnus’ disappearance? Decisions, decisions.