For Pratyu to keep track of all the ish that goes on there.
- Aressthalya --> anti ascension, anti demon, main goal: protect family, Altair by getting rid of the demons once and for all. She understands the threat they present to her people
- Jānis --> pro ascension, pro "symbiosis", traditionalist and conservative. Wants to keep the demons around because he understands that Altair would be much worse off without them (in regards to the very nature of the land).
- Most Lumanlisc sisters --> progressivists that do not want the Ascension, are afraid of the demons, and want to live in peace. Against the traditionalists. Binzy and Nquilla want to rule; most of the others do not care one way or another, but acknowledge that if they conceded their seats, Altair would probably devolve into a greater mess.
- Roo --> cannot bring herself to decry demons because she is of the opinion that the land belongs to them as much as it belongs to her own people. Wants to find a way to coexist, even if they frighten her
- Imperialists --> remnants of the Jānis regime. Conservative, insist on the need to keep demons around and very anti Sangrian. Want to return to "the old ways"
- UCAS Internal Rebellion --> want the Lumanliscs out of power, attribute everything terrible that's ever happened in Altair to their rule
When Rhea was a young woman (age 15-16), she got pulled in by a mirror demon. Aress managed to get in as well and got her out. Rhea was trapped for a day, Aress was trapped for a week. This singular event shattered Aressthalya's brain and turned her into what she is today. It is not known to any of the other Lumanliscs.
Aress' desires and personality were pushed to extremes. She no longer had qualms or hesitation (loss of impulse control? loss of empathy? loss of foresight?)
It was weird, being back in Atherdale after only a year, but with everything changed.
Sparrow hovered near the edge of the room, closest to a table covered in food, where she could at least pretend to be doing something. Feo, her usual security blanket, had been whisked away by Parisa for some graduation party event. She could see him in the distance, swamped by their classmates - well, her former classmates - an expression of regret stark enough that she could see it from across the hall. Sparrow had been surprised when he'd complained that Pari had, "in an act of generosity and frankly, charity", decided to share her graduation party with him. It was the last thing he wanted, but how could he say no? Well, he'd tried to, and the princess has simply rejected his rejection. It wasn't like Pari to want to share the limelight, but it wasn't like Pari really shared anything with Sparrow anymore, so... she was in the dark about these latest antics. Vic had been hanging out with Sparrow until a few minutes ago, when he'd gotten pulled into a conversation with some very brightly-dressed students. She'd thought about trying to tag along, but the notion exhausted her. She loved Vic. His friends could be... overwhelming. And things had been weird between them since her disappearance. It rankled at her, but she had to give them time and space for their anger. They deserved that, at least.
Then there was Mirza. He was probably the most forgiving, after Feofil. She'd actually managed to pull him aside in the early days of her visit to apologize, but he'd just patted her arm and reassured her that he hadn't been too offended, and that he'd gotten over the hurt. His eyes, always so dark and perpetually steady, signaled that he knew there was more to the story, but it was Mirza. She didn't offer any explanation and he didn't ask. She could have kissed him for that, but kisses had caused this mess in the first place. Speaking of which, Mirza was making rounds with his uncle, who had been steadfastly avoiding her when he wasn't giving her the PR-prince routine. And Sparrow knew that Pari was undoubtedly furious with her, though she'd been all smiles and careless laughter through the visit, the very picture of unbothered. Pari had sided with her cousin in his and Sparrow's unspoken fight, though Sparrow desperately hoped that she didn't know what the fight had been about. And Sparrow, for her part, had tried to make amends, but Pari was in full PR mode as well and she had parties to worry about. She made sure she didn't have a gap in her schedule during which Sparrow could steal her away.
For the most part, the trip had been exactly what Sparrow had expected, and dreaded. Feo, the only one who knew everything that had happened that fateful night, and why she'd left so abruptly, had taken it upon himself to be her advocate. She was staying with his family actually, and it was a breath of fresh air. The Zhernekov uncles were boisterous and every day was new, blessedly ordinary drama. Sasha and Saskia and Vera had invited her in with great delight. Saskia was excited to have another woman in the house - she said Vera, who was a goblin in disguise, didn't count. Vera was excited to have a new playmate to torment, and Sasha seemed pleased to have another calm presence to offset his wife and his daughter. Their invitation had been a relief for Sparrow, who had been a little afraid that Simona might want to keep her at the palace. Instead, her de facto guardian had been eager to pawn her off on someone else. Simona hadn't been around very much at all.
Despite her years of experience, despite knowing better, that Simona didn't have time for her after a year of not seeing or speaking with each other had pierced Sparrow's heart just a little bit; then again, Simona always ensured that nothing - not even friendship - flourished between herself and the girl she'd been tasked with taking care of for seventeen years. And... maybe it was fine. Sparrow had wanted to talk to her about the mermaids back in Altair, and about Altair itself, since Simona could keep a secret and she was reeling from the weight of so many. But she could bear it. It was hard not to say anything to her old friends, though. Despite their distance, they were the ones who knew Sparrow best. But they didn't know about the mer, not really, and the Lumanliscs had made it clear that their goodwill and her reputation for being mostly quiet and compliant was really the only reason they'd let her into Altair. She didn't think they'd be so welcoming if she let anything about the disaster in their country slip, especially in front of the Tyrneamitore. And the royals had tried - Tasia had been at it the entire week, crafting the most subtle of questions to gauge anything at all about the state of Altair. Sparrow was sure Kyros and Pari would be at it too, if they were talking to her like normal people. Either way, it didn't matter; years at the palace had given her a master class in the art of deflection and a vague smile.
The hardest thing not to talk about was the demons, especially since she knew what they meant to Kyros. She hadn't really talked to him at all, since... well, since the night it had all gone wrong. Sparrow had been something of a mess for her first month in Altair, which was mortifying in retrospect. She didn't want to know what the Lumanliscs had thought of her, even though most of them had been nice to her face. Maybe, because they had enough sadness between them, her own was just a drop in the pool. They seemed comfortable with the constant cloud of misery that Sparrow had carried around in those first days. She supposed they had to be. Surviving Altair was no easy task; depression and anxiety were a guarantee. But Sparrow had slowly found herself again, and she'd also discovered why it was so hard for everyone there to leave their broken country. As petrifying as Altair could be, she'd never seen such a crystalline sky or felt such downy grass, trekked through soil that was rich and heady with minerals, fallen asleep under the firmament of stars that she might have been able to touch and the balm of warm rain. Every corner of Altair felt stunning. Sparrow felt more beautiful in it, like the colors had twined themselves through her hair and the life that saturated every vestigial creature had grown in her, too, and she'd needed that... especially after what had happened. The others could see it too, she was sure, because her first day back had been full of comments from Saskia and Vera on how lovely she looked, how she glowed with health, how her eyes glimmered and her cheeks pinked and she'd grown bronzy under the sun.
Sure, there were things to be deeply afraid of, but the horrors crawled upon the land while she was safe in the sea. Sparrow and her pod rarely encountered the things that reigned in the night, though... a few near-misses had left her occasionally sleepless, and with a some scars as reminder not to get too comfortable. Anyways, wasn't the good it had done her heart worth it? Sparrow just... reeled her memories in, when they began to dip into the shadows and the nightmares. There was a lot that she successfully kept bolted behind a door, latched with several strong locks. She was getting better at it every day.
But here, now, feeling utterly alone when there were so many people milling around her - people who knew her, but who quickly glanced away, or who blatantly stared with voyeuristic curiosity, because no one knew why she'd left so abruptly last year - she could feel herself drifting out of her own body, uncomfortable in her skin once again. She'd tried to pick out a pretty, inoffensive dress suitable for the party that would let her blend in without trapping her. She spent more time out of cloth than in it, now that she was trawling the ocean most of her days, but even the carefully selected gown was starting to stick and chafe and itch, and all she wanted to do was strip it all off and sink into a plush bed. There were so many people here and there were so many walls. She couldn't see the sky.
And there was one more confrontation she'd had to make when she'd stepped into Atherdale again, one that had sent her stomach to her feet and her heart to her throat. A gorgeous one, with thick, dark hair and flawless skin and a mischievous smile, impeccably dressed in fashion that even Vic would have to commend and so sweet that even Feo, forever guarded after Sol, had to admit that he found little fault with her. Her name was Dulcette, which was just the perfect name for someone so kind, warm, and cheerful. And she made Sparrow sick with jealousy.
It only made sense that Kyros would start seeing someone; it was a reality that Sparrow knew she'd have to contend with at some point, though she had quickly realized, upon seeing them together for the first time, that she wasn't nearly as prepared as she'd decided to be. It had been without warning, which had made it even worse— karmic, even. She'd walked into the palace alongside Feofil. Its denizens had known that she was visiting this week, though no one had been informed that she'd be stopping by that day, and she'd hoped that the shock of her arrival would lower their guard enough for her to get her apologies in, and then her eyes had landed on them. They'd been silhouetted by the sun, pink from its descent but a perfect, blazing backdrop to Kyros, who had somehow matured even more finely in only a year's time. Those good looks were utterly devastating now, painstakingly crafted by a cruel God. His easy strength remained, visible even beneath his coiffed clothes, but she thought he'd grown a little slimmer, so his muscles were tighter instead of so bulky. He'd probably gotten a new trainer. It was her last coherent thought before her eyes fell upon the girl whose arm was laced through his, all sugar and delight, laughing musically. Sparrow had instantly known that Dulcette de la Rosa was nothing like Sol, and she'd seen Kyros's expression soften in an unfamiliar, cloying smile in Dulcette's direction, and her heart had squeezed so painfully in her chest that she thought it might actually shatter, little bits of it bursting through her rib cage and flying about the palace like debris from a bomb.
She didn't remember much about what happened next; there were vague memories of Sparrow spinning around and hurrying off in a random direction before Kyros could see her, Feo following behind, his silence heavy with sympathy. She remembered him kindly saying, perhaps in a misguided attempt to reassure her, "She's a lot more like you than Sol." and somehow that made everything so much worse, because Kyros hadn't wanted her. He hadn't wanted Sparrow, who had been his friend for more than a decade, who'd been there for him through his worst days and who'd carefully carved her life away so that he was the center of it. Clearly, he wanted someone like Sparrow, but... more beautiful. More accomplished. More clever, more educated, more high class, and just more, in every single way.
Later that night, back in her quiet guest bedroom in the Saposhnikov apartment, Sparrow couldn't help but dissolve into tears she thought she'd already cried out long before. I could have loved you so well, she wept, despite knowing the truth: he never had and never would love her.
When Sparrow finally got around to trying to see him again, she'd done it with plenty of people present and Feofil had made sure to schedule it so that Dulcette was otherwise occupied. The whole time, a reverb echoed in her head: Kyros had to know that she knew; he had to know how seeing him with another woman made her feel. And he didn't care at all, clearly. Though she wasn't owed his time or his consideration, she wouldn't put herself through the agony either. So they hadn't spoken a word to each other since.
Sparrow locked it all away behind that same door that held her memories of their last night: the heat his hands caressing her skin, his lips crushed against hers, knowing he'd never taste her again, the weight of his body. But while she closed most of her feelings away, she made sure to withdraw one: that humiliation she'd felt when she'd seen his expression, his pity, moments after he'd registered her confession of love. She let it roost in her chest, let it swallow her words when she thought to speak. She let it flourish under the poignant looks Kyros and Dulcette shared, all the while upholding her detached calm. Simona would have been proud of her, though Sparrow burned with shame.
It was hard to hold a steady line of communication with everything going on, but Roo didn't think that her sisters had misunderstood Queen Tyrneamitore's warning. Historically, the queen didn't mince her words, and she'd been particularly blunt about what it meant to leave the Altirian gate open. She'd also been very clear about how they would have to close it. Rhea and Binzy and Nquilla and the others were out there right now, milling about in the dining room or the living area or one of the offices, combing through every page of ancient text or every obscure ritual they had access to; summoning demon allies and sea witches to interrogate about planes and how to tether them, not that anyone would know anything. Tasia Tyrneamitore was the gatekeeper and her word was irrefutable law, despite everyone else's protestations. Roo had known better than to argue, not that hearing the verdict had been easy to swallow; but she'd always been a little cursed, and she supposed that there really was no other way for all of this to end.
She sat in the relative dark of her room, scratching small, meaningless designs on a pad of paper with a quickly-drying pen that had been lying in her nightstand. Motes of dust floated through thin strands of light that tried to push their way in from underneath the blinds. The air was still and cold. Mina was gone and Moira had left because rabbit... deer-crow creatures, Roo supposed, could also be haunted. And she was alone. And now... she tipped her head back as a telltale gnarl wended its way around her throat, thorns pricking at the tender lump that was her voice. Now, she thought steadily, distantly, she had practice. She knew what it was, to be lonely, and now she'd be alone forever.
There were only two options: anchor Altair fully and unleash her demons upon the world, or evacuate and close the gate - lose Altair and everything horrible within to the vast expanse of whatever existed outside of what was known, but save the rest of the realm... one that she had never, and now, would never look upon with her own two eyes.
The gnarl tightened. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, pen stilling in her hands.
There was no point in wishing things were different, praying that they could be. They had all the answers right in front of them. She just had to sit and wait for her sisters to come to the same conclusion.
ages - kyros 7, baseline from there
"What do you think of the 'Lurians?" Pari asked, spooning some ice cream into her mouth. "They're weird."
She, Sparrow, Kyros and the rest of the gang were sitting around Sparrow's dining table. Simona was out, working with the queen, which left the small apartment rather empty.
"I like Uzochi." Sparrow said. (edited)
plum — 01/29/2021 10:12 PM
"It's not like they ever talk to anyone," Kyros shrugged.
"I like mint. I wan' mint." Vic said for probably the sixth time in the past ten minutes, thumping his spoon against the table.
peach — 01/29/2021 10:23 PM
"Uzochi talks to me." Sparrow said again. A small smile lit upon her lips. "He's nice. I like him."
"He's old and boring." Pari decided. "And you can't have mint, Vic, it's stinky and no one likes it so we don't have it."
January 30, 2021
plum — 01/30/2021 12:36 AM
"Stinky?" This was an outrage.
"Isn't it a little weird for you to be talking to him?" Kyros pointed out.
peach — 01/30/2021 1:07 AM
"I help clean his room." Sparrow justified. "He gives me chocolate biscuits."
"Not strawberry? Lame." Pari scoffed.
Mirza patted Vic on the head and said appeasingly, "I like mint." (edited)
plum — 01/30/2021 1:34 AM
"Why are you cleaning his room?" Kyros wrinkled his nose.
peach — 01/30/2021 1:35 AM
"Cause it's my job."
plum — 01/30/2021 1:35 AM
"You're five. You don't have a job."
peach — 01/30/2021 1:38 AM
"I do too!" she protested indignantly, "Simona told me so! I have responsible-cities."
plum — 01/30/2021 11:58 AM
"You're not even in real school yet."
peach — 01/30/2021 12:01 PM
"Yeah I am! I learned counting to one hundred, want to see?" she leaned forward and splayed her hands on the table without waiting for his response. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, 'leven, twelve, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty-" (edited)
plum — 01/30/2021 12:17 PM
"Hey, hey, you skipped a bunch!" He accused. "Cheater!"
peach — 01/30/2021 12:19 PM
"I'm not a cheater!" She cried. "You're mean!"
"Sparrow is a cheater, Sparrow is a cheater!" Parisa thumped her fists on the table, grinning.
plum — 01/30/2021 12:20 PM
"It's just the truth," he defended. "You have to say all the in between numbers or it's not right."
peach — 01/30/2021 12:22 PM
"You're not right," Sparrow pouted, putting her spoon down. She didn't want to eat ice cream anymore. "I did say them, I did."
"Kyros is mean," Pari declared. "And he's stupid! Stupid kyros!"
"Uzochi's smart, that's why I like him." Sparrow sniffed. "He's nicer than you." (edited)
plum — 01/30/2021 12:31 PM
"He's a dummy and a bad prince."
peach — 01/30/2021 12:32 PM
"No he's not! He's nice, he gives me chocolate biscuits and he helps me clean." Sparrow informed him hotly. "He's nice and cool."
"Uzochi's cooler than Kyros!" that was Pari, obviously.
plum — 01/30/2021 12:34 PM
Kyros could think of no bigger insult than to stick his tongue out at his cousin. On the other side of the table, the other three kids were having a peaceful discussion about ice cream flavors.
peach — 01/30/2021 12:46 PM
Pari reached over and poked his tongue, fast, before he could pull away. "You ate my germs!" she crowed.
plum — 01/30/2021 12:47 PM
"You're disgustin'!" He crowed back, face scrunching up in disgust.
peach — 01/30/2021 12:48 PM
"No, I'm Pari!"
"Do you like mint, Sparrow?" Mirza asked in his squeaky voice. Sparrow thought on it. "It's spicy."
plum — 01/30/2021 12:50 PM
"Haha," Vic crooned. "I like it."
"Mint's not spicy, it's cold." Kyros put in.
peach — 01/30/2021 12:52 PM
"Do you like it Feo?" Mirza asked. When the boy said nothing he nodded and agreed, "Me too."
"It's ice cream, it HAS to be cold." Pari said scornful. "Stupid Kyros, stupid Kyros!"
"Pari, don't be mean." one of the guards chastised. She frowned at him. (edited)
plum — 01/30/2021 1:11 PM
"Even if you eat other mint things, they're always cold." He rebutted. "Mint is cold. You're the stupid one."
peach — 01/30/2021 1:12 PM
"No it's not! You can have hot mint tea." she sneered. "Hot so it can't be cold, you're stupid!"
"I'm gonna go hang out with Uzochi." Sparrow decided, sliding out of her seat. (edited)
plum — 01/30/2021 1:13 PM
Kyros turned his attention to her suddenly, grabbing her wrist. "Hey, you can't just leave."
peach — 01/30/2021 1:14 PM
"I want to!" she insisted. "Uzochi will play games with me and he isn't a meanie!" (edited)
January 31, 2021
plum — 01/31/2021 3:17 PM
"You're the meanie for calling me mean," he accused.
peach — 01/31/2021 3:18 PM
She squinted at him, then looked mollified. "I'm sorry." (edited)
plum — 01/31/2021 3:20 PM
"It's okay. I'll forgive you if you finish your ice cream with me."
peach — 01/31/2021 3:20 PM
"Okay." she said, clambering back onto the chair and picking up her spoon. "Maybe we should invite Uzochi for ice cream!"
plum — 01/31/2021 3:21 PM
"I don't think he would come," Kyros shrugged.
peach — 01/31/2021 3:40 PM
"We won't know if we don't ask!"
plum — 01/31/2021 3:46 PM
"Well, you can ask him, then, cause I won't."
peach — 01/31/2021 3:49 PM
"I will." she replied stoutly.
peach — 01/13/2021 2:36 PM
"That's a very strong if." Tasia said with a laugh.
plum — 01/13/2021 10:41 PM
"It is," he agreed. "The important thing is they really do love each other underneath all that. I mean, look at how much he's missed her and we're only here for a couple of days."
January 14, 2021
peach — 01/14/2021 1:48 AM
"He's been Facetiming her every second of the day. My phone isn't even my own anymore. I'd have brought her with us, but her grandfather is visiting."
plum — 01/14/2021 1:48 AM
"He won't get to see her much with her on calls the whole day. The toy store was a good idea."
peach — 01/14/2021 1:49 AM
The corner of her lips tugged up. "I do have those once in a while."
plum — 01/14/2021 1:49 AM
"Hey, speaking of which, shouldn't you be heading out for the meeting?" His brows creased in concern as he glanced down to the watch on his wrist.
peach — 01/14/2021 1:51 AM
Tasia exhaled a sigh and nodded, pushing herself up and brushing out her pants. "I'll freshen up and be downstairs in a few minutes if you'd like to head out now. I'm not looking forward to it. Ambassador Artemy enjoys his droll conversation."
plum — 01/14/2021 1:52 AM
"You want me there?" He questioned.
peach — 01/14/2021 1:53 AM
"No, it's probably best if you don't come..." she admitted, "And best if you aren't in my rooms when I leave. I should be back within the next few hours. If Kyros gets back by then, will you make sure he eats dinner?"
plum — 01/14/2021 1:56 AM
"Of course," he agreed. "Good luck. Um... please stay safe."
peach — 01/14/2021 2:04 AM
"I will." Tasia assured him. "Don't worry so much."
February 2, 2021
<<proboards posts here>>
[DMs between Kyros and Parisa]
Kyros: We need to talk. ASAP
peach — 05/06/2020 9:20 PM
Pari THE GREAT: what do u want?? I'm working
plum — 05/06/2020 9:21 PM
Kyros: By "working" do you mean sulking in your room?
peach — 05/06/2020 9:24 PM
Pari THE GREAT: no, dumbass, I'm working
Pari THE GREAT: school didn't suddenly end because Sparrow decided to leave
plum — 05/06/2020 9:47 PM
Kyros: ASAP means ASAP, Pari. You'll want to hear this.
peach — 05/06/2020 9:50 PM
Pari THE GREAT: just tell me now
plum — 05/06/2020 9:51 PM
Kyros: I had a long talk with Tasia about a lot of things she's been keeping in the dark
Kyros: I'm not allowed to tell you most of it. But I did finally get answers about Miz's dad, for one
peach — 05/06/2020 9:58 PM
Pari: wtf are you serious??
Pari: you're telling me everything, right???
plum — 05/06/2020 9:59 PM
Kyros: We can talk about it
peach — 05/06/2020 9:59 PM
Pari THE GREAT: come to my room!!!!
plum — 05/06/2020 9:59 PM
Kyros: I knew you were sulking in there
Kyros: I'll be there in a little while. Wouldn't want to interrupt your studies
peach — 05/06/2020 10:06 PM
Pari: ALREADY INTERRUPTED JUST COME NOW
Pari THE GREAT: how tf am I supposed to keep studying w you dropping that! So casually!!
plum — 05/06/2020 10:09 PM
Kyros: If you want to know so badly, meet me in the gardens
peach — 05/06/2020 10:17 PM
Pari THE GREAT: geez, fine, Mr. Wannabe Saga. Be there in 15
Sparrow: hiya
plum — 07/22/2019 1:12 AM
Kyros: What’s up?
peach — 07/22/2019 1:14 AM
Sparrow: I have a little break before I have to start decorating for your very very important gala 🙃
Sparrow: tis fine. I'm just tired. What's up with you?
plum — 07/22/2019 1:16 AM
Kyros: Going over my speech for the thing tomorrow
peach — 07/22/2019 1:24 AM
Sparrow: aw good luck
peach — 07/22/2019 1:24 AM
Sparrow: you'll be great
[1:25 AM]
Sparrow: what's this one about?
plum — 07/22/2019 1:36 AM
Kyros: The new cultural initiative. It’s whatever
[1:36 AM]
Kyros: Afterparty’s gonna be boring to
[1:36 AM]
Kyros: *too
peach — 07/22/2019 1:45 AM
Sparrow: yuck.
[1:45 AM]
Sparrow: at least the food will be DELICIOUS
[1:45 AM]
Sparrow: make sure you eat the creme brulee. I made it!
[1:46 AM]
Sparrow: unless you hate it. Then it was someone else.
plum — 07/22/2019 1:54 AM
Kyros: Ha
[1:54 AM]
Kyros: Gramsey let you slip something in?
peach — 07/22/2019 2:01 AM
Sparrow: yeah. All the drugs I could get from ingora.
[2:01 AM]
Sparrow: hey speaking of which
[2:01 AM]
Sparrow: do you like
plum — 07/22/2019 2:02 AM
Kyros: Like...?
peach — 07/22/2019 2:02 AM
Sparrow: have trouble sleeping?
[2:03 AM]
Sparrow: sorry
plum — 07/22/2019 2:03 AM
Kyros: Why?? Random topic change.
peach — 07/22/2019 2:04 AM
Sparrow: I was trying to figure out a way to say it without sounding ominous
plum — 07/22/2019 2:04 AM
Kyros: What I’m getting from this is there’s sleeping pills in the creme brulee
peach — 07/22/2019 2:04 AM
Sparrow: idk I was following the whole creme brulee > tastes funny > drugs > sleeping issues???
[2:05 AM]
Sparrow: yeah watch out trying to make people more receptive to your speech
[2:05 AM]
Sparrow: ha ha joking
[2:05 AM]
Sparrow: anyways it was a very sophisticated line of thought because I also circled back around to my comment on being tired but whatever. You have to have a certain sort of social finesse to get it
plum — 07/22/2019 2:06 AM
Kyros: Honestly I wouldn’t mind if you did. Would make it okay to just home and nap instead of schmoozing
peach — 07/22/2019 2:07 AM
Sparrow: always got your best interests at heart ;P
plum — 07/22/2019 2:08 AM
Kyros: You’re my man on the inside
peach — 07/22/2019 2:14 AM
Sparrow: that also reminds me
[2:14 AM]
Sparrow: did Pari tell you she's gotten proposals?
[2:14 AM]
Sparrow: it's crazy. Apparently Faey and Rosco have been hiding them from her. The first ones came when she was sixteen.
plum — 07/22/2019 2:16 AM
Kyros: Jesus. What the hell? She didn’t tell me
peach — 07/22/2019 2:17 AM
Sparrow: she was not too happy about it :/
[2:17 AM]
Sparrow: is it :/? Or :\
plum — 07/22/2019 2:17 AM
Kyros: Vic has a whole dumb schpiel about that
peach — 07/22/2019 2:18 AM
Sparrow: it's pretty important
[2:18 AM]
Sparrow: changes the whole tone if you get it wrong
plum — 07/22/2019 2:18 AM
Kyros: I wasn’t listening though. They convey different kinds of disappointment or something.
peach — 07/22/2019 2:19 AM
Sparrow: makes sense. Doesn't it? I think :\ looks more uncertain and :/ is more disgusted/mad
[2:19 AM]
Sparrow: anyways yeah I think some of her suitors are coming to your thing tomorrow because she mentioned beating the shit out of someone so like. Be careful? I guess?
[2:20 AM]
Sparrow: I wouldn't want her to blow her top. Not that she isn't justified. And beating the shit out of someone might dissuade people from proposing to her
plum — 07/22/2019 2:28 AM
Kyros: Do you have names?
peach — 07/22/2019 2:34 AM
Sparrow: a few but not all of them. I'll send you the texts I got from Parisa.
[2:34 AM]
Sparrow: might take a second though.
plum — 07/22/2019 2:34 AM
Kyros: Yeah do that. I’ll keep them away from her.
peach — 07/22/2019 2:35 AM
Sparrow: you got it.
[2:36 AM]
Sparrow: just.... to be sure. No sleeping problems? Really? How?
plum — 07/22/2019 2:36 AM
Kyros: Never said that :\
peach — 07/22/2019 2:36 AM
Sparrow: ah
plum — 07/22/2019 2:37 AM
Kyros: Just depends on how tired I am honestly
peach — 07/22/2019 2:37 AM
Sparrow: an mad-disgusted :\ but I'm detecting notes of........... sorrow
[2:37 AM]
Sparrow: ok yeah makes sense
[2:38 AM]
Sparrow: me too. Ever since that whole
[2:38 AM]
Sparrow: situation at the carnival.
[2:39 AM]
Sparrow: when it happened I was just. Like. Chock full of adrenaline and so freaked out I dont think I really took the time to try and understand what happened. But now that time has passed.... plus I think I'm freaking myself out more lol
plum — 07/22/2019 2:39 AM
Kyros: Aw
[2:39 AM]
Kyros: Don’t freak out. If anything, it’ll come for me, not you.
peach — 07/22/2019 2:40 AM
Sparrow: oh it's all good then
[2:40 AM]
Sparrow: >:( dummy
plum — 07/22/2019 2:40 AM
Kyros: Yeah just use me as your human shield and I’ll be fine
peach — 07/22/2019 2:40 AM
Sparrow: if anything that makes me feel worse
plum — 07/22/2019 2:40 AM
Kyros: *you’ll be fine
peach — 07/22/2019 2:40 AM
Sparrow: what on earth WAS it? It wasn't a person... right?
plum — 07/22/2019 2:40 AM
Kyros: Sorry I’m tired I’ve been up since four thirty
[2:41 AM]
Kyros: I don’t know. People have powers, maybe its power is... that
Sparrow: when do you get to sleep?
[2:42 AM]
Sparrow: and God what do you even look out for? It's just... like big and scary and mad
[2:42 AM]
Sparrow: like pyros = fire and hydros = water and cryos = ice but this thing was like pure and unadulterated fear
[2:46 AM]
Sparrow: sorry
[2:47 AM]
Sparrow: I'm making it worse
[2:47 AM]
Sparrow: are you okay? You... don't have anyone else to talk to about it, do you?
[2:47 AM]
Sparrow: or have you told mojisola..?
plum — 07/22/2019 2:48 AM
Kyros: One sec Mala’s here
plum — 07/22/2019 3:38 AM
Kyros: I don't know. I can feel it when it's close by so I usually have a heads up. The thing's just dread incarnate
[3:38 AM]
Kyros: Sol doesn't know
[3:39 AM]
Kyros: Tasia still thinks it's make believe I'm pretty sure
peach — 07/22/2019 3:40 AM
Sparrow: Sol doesn't know???
plum — 07/22/2019 3:40 AM
Kyros: Don't be so surprised. It's not exactly an easy thing to explain
peach — 07/22/2019 3:40 AM
Sparrow: dude the last time it came for you we were pretty much alone together and
plum — 07/22/2019 3:40 AM
Kyros: Be honest, would you believe me if you were her?
peach — 07/22/2019 3:40 AM
Sparrow: you and Mojisola spend a LOT of time together. Alone. So.
[3:41 AM]
Sparrow: yes
[3:41 AM]
Sparrow: I know you.
[3:41 AM]
Sparrow: you've been together for a year. She knows you too! She'd believe you.
plum — 07/22/2019 3:42 AM
Kyros: Even if she didn't think I was crazy, why would you want to stay with someone after that?
[3:42 AM]
Kyros: You know I'm figuring it out
[3:42 AM]
Kyros: I'll just deal with it before it ever becomes an issue.
peach — 07/22/2019 3:43 AM
Sparrow: because you love them???
[3:43 AM]
Sparrow: I don't think you're giving her enough credit :/
plum — 07/22/2019 3:44 AM
Kyros: Yeah, well, either way, it's better if it's just not an issue
peach — 07/22/2019 3:44 AM
Sparrow: how can you be sure that it won't be an issue?
[3:44 AM]
Sparrow: what if it takes you by surprise again?
[3:45 AM]
Sparrow: I honestly think that we survived last time was a huge huge fluke
plum — 07/22/2019 3:45 AM
Kyros: I've survived all the other times though, haven't I?
[3:45 AM]
Kyros: And I was a kid back then. I can actually fight now
peach — 07/22/2019 3:45 AM
Sparrow: that's honestly the dumbest excuse I've ever heard
[3:45 AM]
Sparrow: nothing happens until it does
[3:46 AM]
Sparrow: you know? Not to be like callous but
plum — 07/22/2019 3:46 AM
Kyros: Then I'll just make sure I happen to it before it happens to me
peach — 07/22/2019 3:46 AM
Sparrow: also what are you going to fight??? Are you going to punch a monster???????
[3:46 AM]
Sparrow: God if this were a movie I might believe you with lines like that
[3:47 AM]
Sparrow: what if it just absorbs you or something
plum — 07/22/2019 3:47 AM
Kyros: Why not? I'll burn his face off. If anything it'll buy me time
peach — 07/22/2019 3:47 AM
Sparrow: what if it's like resistant to fire
[3:47 AM]
Sparrow: my point is
[3:47 AM]
Sparrow: you don't know for sure that you're safe and you should be taking ALL the precautions
[3:47 AM]
Sparrow: especially with sol
plum — 07/22/2019 3:47 AM
Kyros: Like what, Sparrow?
[3:48 AM]
Kyros: Backup?? No one believes me
peach — 07/22/2019 3:49 AM
Sparrow: she's with you almost 24/7. It would be better for her to know that this thing exists - even if she doesn't believe it - so that if something happened while the two of you were together, she'd be more prepared than if something happened and she just had like, no idea that this was a thing
[3:49 AM]
Sparrow: weirder things exist, trust me
plum — 07/22/2019 3:49 AM
Kyros: IF I feel it coming, I'll just leave her somewhere safe
[3:49 AM]
Kyros: Weirder things like what?
peach — 07/22/2019 3:49 AM
Sparrow: especially if you told people now. You're not a kid anymore. People will believe you
[3:50 AM]
Sparrow: what if it goes after her?
plum — 07/22/2019 3:50 AM
Kyros: Why would it do that?
peach — 07/22/2019 3:50 AM
Sparrow: I feel like we may be discounting its intelligence
[3:50 AM]
Sparrow: sol would be perfect bait dude
plum — 07/22/2019 3:50 AM
Kyros: Would it make you feel better if I shared what I have with you?
peach — 07/22/2019 3:50 AM
Sparrow: yes
plum — 07/22/2019 3:50 AM
Kyros: It makes me sound like a goddamned conspiracy theorist though
[3:51 AM]
Kyros: So
[3:51 AM]
Kyros: Just buckle up I guess
peach — 07/22/2019 3:51 AM
Sparrow: we're in this together so I guess we're both mental
plum — 07/22/2019 3:51 AM
Kyros: Great
[3:51 AM]
Kyros: I think there's a pattern
[3:51 AM]
Kyros: Every time it's happened, it's always around the same time of year. October-November
[3:52 AM]
Kyros: And it's been 4 times now. The chances of that being a coincidence are small
peach — 07/22/2019 3:53 AM
Sparrow: that's creepy
[3:53 AM]
Sparrow: but super useful. You have a time frame, even if it's vague
plum — 07/22/2019 3:54 AM
Kyros: Yeah. And it's never come for me when I'm with a group
[3:55 AM]
Kyros: Increased security around those months
[3:55 AM]
Kyros:
peach — 07/22/2019 3:55 AM
Sparrow: and stay in a group as much as you can
[3:56 AM]
Sparrow: ha ha ha you're a very pretty emoji girl, k
plum — 07/22/2019 3:56 AM
Kyros: Shut up
[3:56 AM]
Kyros: There's no guy shrug on here
peach — 07/22/2019 3:56 AM
Sparrow: sexism
plum — 07/22/2019 3:56 AM
Kyros: It really is real
peach — 07/22/2019 3:56 AM
Sparrow: so it's confronted you how many times?
[3:57 AM]
Sparrow: not sexism. The bad man.
plum — 07/22/2019 3:57 AM
Kyros: Four as far as I know
[3:57 AM]
Kyros: Ha ha
peach — 07/22/2019 3:57 AM
Sparrow: right.
[3:57 AM]
Sparrow: weird that it hasn't even touched you though.
plum — 07/22/2019 3:57 AM
Kyros: Once when I got the scar, once during the bodyguard contest, once with you, and once at the sleepover
[3:58 AM]
Kyros: Yeah I don't know what it wants
[3:58 AM]
Kyros: If it wanted me dead why didn't it just kill me in my crib if it knew where I was
peach — 07/22/2019 3:58 AM
Sparrow: there's no pattern of like, high octane situations or emotional stuff or anything
[3:58 AM]
Sparrow: Yeah. For real.
[3:58 AM]
Sparrow: unless
[3:59 AM]
Sparrow: it doesn't want to kill you?
plum — 07/22/2019 3:59 AM
Kyros: What does it want then???
[3:59 AM]
Kyros: Are you saying it's some elaborate YouTube prankster?
peach — 07/22/2019 3:59 AM
Sparrow: dk. Maybe.
[3:59 AM]
Sparrow: it just makes no sense.
[4:00 AM]
Sparrow: like, if it were spying on you, it would be more subtle and not reveal itself. If it were trying to kill you it should have done it already. And if it were trying to communicate with you... we would probably know by now right?
plum — 07/22/2019 4:00 AM
Kyros: Maybe it's just trying to scare me
[4:01 AM]
Kyros: Maybe I'm cursed
[4:01 AM]
Kyros: I don't know
peach — 07/22/2019 4:01 AM
Sparrow: don't say that
[4:01 AM]
Sparrow: also, if you were cursed, why hasn't it gone after Tasia?
plum — 07/22/2019 4:01 AM
Kyros: Because I'm the cursed one, idk
[4:02 AM]
Kyros: Or maybe it has and she hasn't said
[4:02 AM]
Kyros: But then she might believe me. I really don't know
peach — 07/22/2019 4:02 AM
Sparrow: tasia would have absolutely smothered you in protective measures, don't you think?
[4:02 AM]
Sparrow: if she had even an inkling of an idea that you were im danger?
[4:02 AM]
Sparrow: *in
plum — 07/22/2019 4:03 AM
Kyros: Yeah
[4:03 AM]
Kyros: You're right
peach — 07/22/2019 4:03 AM
Sparrow: you said it doesn't get you in groups but it tried to get you during one of our sleepovers?
plum — 07/22/2019 4:03 AM
Kyros: Fair
[4:03 AM]
Kyros: Is anyone in that group really a threat though
peach — 07/22/2019 4:04 AM
Sparrow: feo's got a hell of a punch
plum — 07/22/2019 4:04 AM
Kyros: Lmao
peach — 07/22/2019 4:04 AM
Sparrow: jokes. I shouldn't joke about that.
plum — 07/22/2019 4:04 AM
Kyros: Boy broke his hand afterwards though
peach — 07/22/2019 4:04 AM
Sparrow: yeah. God. I feel terrible about that. Thank goodness for Maari.
plum — 07/22/2019 4:05 AM
Kyros: Eh, it could've been worse
[4:05 AM]
Kyros: It was pretty badass
peach — 07/22/2019 4:05 AM
Sparrow: :)
[4:05 AM]
Sparrow: I'll tell him you said ha ha
plum — 07/22/2019 4:05 AM
Kyros: Go ahead :P
peach — 07/22/2019 4:05 AM
Sparrow: he'd sink into the earth from embarrassment
[4:05 AM]
Sparrow: feo's pretty badass
plum — 07/22/2019 4:06 AM
Kyros: He is when he wants to be
[4:06 AM]
Kyros: Other times he panics for an hour because his mom's making him call the dentist
[4:06 AM]
Kyros: It's a mixed bag with that kid
Sparrow: he grew up with all those uncles and saskia and sasha. I guess. What is it called? O something
[4:06 AM]
Sparrow: osmosis
[4:07 AM]
Sparrow: ha ha ha yes
[4:07 AM]
Sparrow: the other day he walked into the kitchen, saw gramsey, and walked right back out
plum — 07/22/2019 4:07 AM
Kyros: Sparrow did you even take freshman biology
peach — 07/22/2019 4:08 AM
Sparrow: honestly could not tell you. It all blends together
plum — 07/22/2019 4:09 AM
Kyros: God are you typing a novel?
peach — 07/22/2019 4:09 AM
Sparrow: school is not my strong suit it's fine
[4:09 AM]
Sparrow: I have a lot of thoughts, ok?
plum — 07/22/2019 4:09 AM
Kyros: Why is that, anyway?
[4:09 AM]
Kyros: The school not the thoughts
peach — 07/22/2019 4:09 AM
Sparrow: ha ha. Idk. I'm just not cut out for it?? Maybe?
[4:10 AM]
Sparrow: who knows. I'd ask my parents buuuut. There's a small issue with that.
plum — 07/22/2019 4:10 AM
Kyros: I guess...
[4:10 AM]
Kyros: Aw :\
[4:10 AM]
Kyros: Speaking of parents I have a theory
peach — 07/22/2019 4:10 AM
Sparrow: I'm kidding. Didn't mean to put a damper on things
plum — 07/22/2019 4:10 AM
Kyros: Nah you're fine
peach — 07/22/2019 4:10 AM
Sparrow: even though we were just talking about the monster
plum — 07/22/2019 4:11 AM
Kyros: Our parents are dead. It's whatever
peach — 07/22/2019 4:11 AM
Sparrow: what's your theory?
plum — 07/22/2019 4:11 AM
Kyros: What if its motivation is revenge?
[4:12 AM]
Kyros: I mean... my parents had some enemies
[4:12 AM]
Kyros: Maybe it's playing some twisted long con
peach — 07/22/2019 4:12 AM
Sparrow: look who's also writing a two sentence novel
[4:12 AM]
Sparrow: what would the end result even be?? It's not even doing anything
plum — 07/22/2019 4:13 AM
Kyros: Who knows? Nobody right in the head would do the shit it does, so clearly we're not dealing with a rational person here
[4:13 AM]
Kyros: I think the reason it sticks to that time frame, also, is because of Halloween. It's easier to blend in. That's my idea anyway.
peach — 07/22/2019 4:14 AM
Sparrow: what a weirdo
plum — 07/22/2019 4:14 AM
Kyros: I'm just trying to make sense of it all with the tiny scraps of info that I have
peach — 07/22/2019 4:14 AM
Sparrow: I get it. It feels like there's some obvious answer that's just out of reach because all you have is threads
[4:15 AM]
Sparrow: and no one tells you anything....
[4:15 AM]
Sparrow: it's a good theory
plum — 07/22/2019 4:15 AM
Kyros: Yeah, that's fun
[4:15 AM]
Kyros: There's so many stupid family secrets
[4:15 AM]
Kyros: I'm part of the family too though?
[4:16 AM]
Kyros: Hello?
[4:16 AM]
Kyros: It's fine. I'll find out one way or another
peach — 07/22/2019 4:16 AM
Sparrow: tasia just won't tell you or?
[4:16 AM]
Sparrow: maybe... she has her reasons. Although that doesn't mean that they're good ones.
[4:16 AM]
Sparrow: have y ou u
[4:17 AM]
Sparrow: don't take this the wrong way
[4:17 AM]
Sparrow: have you ever considered talking to Chitori?
plum — 07/22/2019 4:17 AM
Kyros: Chitori???
[4:18 AM]
Kyros: Why would I ever talk to her?
peach — 07/22/2019 4:18 AM
Sparrow: she might know about your family secrets. Right?
plum — 07/22/2019 4:18 AM
Kyros: Ugh. I guess
peach — 07/22/2019 4:18 AM
Sparrow: since she knew your dad before tasia was even born
plum — 07/22/2019 4:18 AM
Kyros: She's so resentful she probably wouldn't even tell me
[4:19 AM]
Kyros: I don't blame her, but she does deserve it
peach — 07/22/2019 4:20 AM
Sparrow: you don't blame her for being resentful?
plum — 07/22/2019 4:20 AM
Kyros: Wouldn't you be?
peach — 07/22/2019 4:20 AM
Sparrow: yes
[4:21 AM]
Sparrow: can I ask you something and you'll promise to give me an honest answer?
plum — 07/22/2019 4:21 AM
Kyros: Kinda depends on what it is, but okay
[4:22 AM]
Kyros: Just go for it, Sparrow
peach — 07/22/2019 4:23 AM
Sparrow: do you genuinely think she deserves it?
plum — 07/22/2019 4:24 AM
Kyros: Deserves what? Prison?
[4:24 AM]
Kyros: She stabbed my dad like fifty times. She's crazy. Yeah, she deserves it.
peach — 07/22/2019 4:24 AM
Sparrow: I don't know if I'd call that prison, k
[4:24 AM]
Sparrow: it's like prolonged torture
plum — 07/22/2019 4:25 AM
Kyros: Is that not what prison basically is?
peach — 07/22/2019 4:25 AM
Sparrow: I'm not saying that what she did was okay. It was horrible and it needed punishment, but
plum — 07/22/2019 4:25 AM
Kyros: If she didn't want this to happen maybe she shouldn't have murdered the king in cold blood
[4:26 AM]
Kyros: Seems like a pretty easy thing not to do
[4:26 AM]
Kyros: Most people managed it
peach — 07/22/2019 4:26 AM
Sparrow: I mean... there are regulations in prisons, right? I don't think she's seen the sun in decades.
[4:26 AM]
Sparrow: I don't think she's moved in decades
[4:26 AM]
Sparrow: yeah you're right
[4:26 AM]
Sparrow: do you know why she did it? Even if she's crazy. She must have had a reason
plum — 07/22/2019 4:27 AM
Kyros: I mean she had a lot to say about it
[4:28 AM]
Kyros: I've read the court transcripts. It's textbook crazy rambling. That's what they decided, and that's the punishment she got. Tough luck.
[4:28 AM]
Kyros: Nothing she ever said was substantiated.
peach — 07/22/2019 4:29 AM
Sparrow: I guess so
plum — 07/22/2019 4:29 AM
Kyros: So even if she did tell me any secrets I don't know if I could believe her
peach — 07/22/2019 4:30 AM
Sparrow: I just don't see why she'd lie to you
plum — 07/22/2019 4:31 AM
Kyros: Why wouldn't she?
peach — 07/22/2019 4:32 AM
Sparrow: it wouldn't do her any good
plum — 07/22/2019 4:32 AM
Kyros: Wouldn't do her any bad either
[4:32 AM]
Kyros: I mean
[4:32 AM]
Kyros: I can't deny I'm curious
[4:32 AM]
Kyros: I just don't know that it would lead anywhere
peach — 07/22/2019 4:33 AM
Sparrow: it couldn't hurt to try
plum — 07/22/2019 4:33 AM
Kyros: I guess
Vera was sitting in Illy's bedroom, her knees drawn to her chest. She'd chewed through three fingernails and was working on her index finger now. She didn't know what was going on at home, but she'd heard Mama and Papa muttering to each other about Feofil and some party, and using words that she didn't know the meaning of. She wished someone had taught her more Russian.
They'd dropped her off at Illy's house and for the first time in her life, she didn't want to be there. She'd much rather be at home, or wherever the rest of her family was. It wasn't fair that they wouldn't let her get involved.
plum — 04/17/2021 12:48 AM
Illy had been confused when one of Vera's uncles had pulled up to the house in the wee hours of the morning with her best friend in tow, exchanging hushed conversation with her mom. She didn't know what was going on, but the vibe was weird, and not in a good way. Gal had made them some hot chocolate and for the first time ever let them take it upstairs into her room. She'd already drained her mug dry, and held the thing between her hands as she lightly kicked her feet against the side of the bed. "Uhhh... well, I could braid your hair for you if you waaaant... or I was gonna say we could paint our nails, but you're eating yours, soo..."
peach — 04/17/2021 12:49 AM
"Do you have that gross nailpolish that makes your nails taste bad so I won't eat them anymore?" Vera asked miserably, her finger in her mouth.
plum — 04/17/2021 12:55 AM
Illy's eyes twinkled. "The one that was supposed to be pineapple-flavored but tastes like licking vomit off a shoe?"
peach — 04/17/2021 12:55 AM
"Yeah," she looked even more beaten-down. "That one. I'll... put it on."
plum — 04/17/2021 12:57 AM
She hopped up and went to grab her nail polish box from its spot on the closet shelf, dropping the mug off on the nightstand along the way. "It's gross but it is super shimmery at least."
peach — 04/17/2021 1:02 AM
"I do like shimmers..." Vera reached out to grab it, but her voice was still melancholy. "I think something's wrong with Feo."
plum — 04/17/2021 1:03 AM
"I was wonderin' why you showed up at like four in the morning."
peach — 04/17/2021 1:04 AM
"Yeah, Ma and Papa ran off somewhere and they were talking about him..." she frowned at her feet. "I think he's in trouble."
plum — 04/17/2021 1:08 AM
"Well where was he?" She deposited the box at the foot of the bed and picked out the aforementioned pineapple polish. "Also, I'm gonna give you braids while you paint your nails so your hair'll be curly tomorrow, cool?"
peach — 04/17/2021 1:10 AM
"He was at some party." she said, nodding her assent to Illy's latter request. "He went with Kyros and Pari and them. Can you do a fishtail?" (edited)
plum — 04/17/2021 1:12 AM
"Sure, I've been practicing." Illy fetched her little spray water bottle and hair bands from her bathroom and settled down behind her friend. "D'you think he got arrested? Like maybe they got busted for something?"
peach — 04/17/2021 1:13 AM
"Busted for what, though?"
plum — 04/17/2021 1:14 AM
"Uh... punching another important guy?" She guessed.
peach — 04/17/2021 1:14 AM
"You know, maybe he did. There were lots of important people at the party, I think." Vera ruminated. "... do you know why he punched the last guy?"
plum — 04/17/2021 1:18 AM
"Not really, none of them seemed to want to talk about it. Did he tell you why?" Illy spritzed Vera's hair to dampen it up so it would form lovely, curly waves whenever it was released, combing through it afterwards with her fingers.
peach — 04/17/2021 1:21 AM
"Nope, but Papa gave me a really long talk after I punched Bobby and he was like, 'Vera, you can't go punching people for no reason, you can only use fruit borscht if you're trying to protect yourself or your friends.' And I was like, what's fruit borscht gotta do with it? Can you even make borscht like that?"
plum — 04/17/2021 1:22 AM
Her brow furrowed. "Huh?? That makes no sense."
peach — 04/17/2021 1:24 AM
"Right? That's what I thought, but Papa just goes on and on so I just said, 'okay papa. Okay papa. Okay papa.' I even tried asking Feo, but he said he didn't wanna talk about it!"
plum — 04/17/2021 1:31 AM
"Your dad does talk a lot," was all Illy gleaned from that. "I feel like my dad doesn't talk as much, but he does talk loud."
peach — 04/17/2021 1:35 AM
"Your dad talks to your mom a lot." Vera objected. "And to Furfur. But he doesn't really talk to me a lot. I have tons of questions for him, actually. Do you think I could do my Parent Jobs Interview paper with him? 'Cause Ma and Papa aren't allowed to talk 'bout their jobs..."
plum — 04/17/2021 1:36 AM
She sulked, "Nooo... Gal told me I can't talk about his job either."
peach — 04/17/2021 1:37 AM
"Huh? But his job is so cool!"
plum — 04/17/2021 1:39 AM
"I know!" Her fingers weaved carefully between the sections of Vera's hair. "I think it's a dumb rule. I guess she doesn't want him to get in trouble for punching people like Feo did."
peach — 04/17/2021 1:40 AM
"Yeah, that makes sense. Hey, what about Uncle Seir? Can we interview him?" (edited)
plum — 04/17/2021 1:41 AM
"Well she didn't say anything about him."
peach — 04/17/2021 1:41 AM
Vera's eyes lit up. "I still need someone for my report. And it's due tomorrow!"
plum — 04/17/2021 1:44 AM
"Tomorrow's Sunday though. But I don't know when he works, it's pretty random, so we should get him when he's free."
peach — 04/17/2021 1:48 AM
"Oh. It's due after tomorrow. Is he free right now? Can we go? It'd make me feeeeel betterrrrr..." she sang, then realized that it was true. It did make her feel better. If she was off on an adventure, at least she wouldn't be sitting around here waiting for someone to tell her what was going on with Feo.
plum — 04/17/2021 2:24 AM
"Yeah, I guess we could try the door in the basement, even though my mom keeps it locked."
peach — 04/17/2021 2:29 AM
"Ah, what's a piddly little lock to the greatest detectives on the earth?" Vera sprang up.
April 18, 2021
plum — 04/18/2021 2:24 AM
"Truuuue, besides I'm pretty sure she just keeps the key in their room somewhere. Do you want a hair clip?"
peach — 04/18/2021 2:25 AM
"Ooh, do you have a cat one?"
plum — 04/18/2021 2:26 AM
"Uhh, I think I might've left that one at your house." She hopped off the bed and bounded over to the bathroom to retrieve her little box of hair clips. "The blue one?"
peach — 04/18/2021 2:26 AM
"Oh yeah... maybe. Do you have a smiley-face one?"
plum — 04/18/2021 2:28 AM
"Yeah, here," she picked out a little orange smiley face and handed it over.
peach — 04/18/2021 2:28 AM
"Thanks!" Vera tucked it into her hair. "How are we gonna get the key from your mom's room?"
plum — 04/18/2021 2:29 AM
"I don't know, especially if she's sleeping..."
peach — 04/18/2021 2:29 AM
"Do you think Iezabel could get it for us?" she wondered, "We can just ask nicely."
plum — 04/18/2021 3:17 AM
"Yeah..." Illy scratched at her head. "It depends what kinda mood she's in, but she might. Let's try it."
peach — 04/18/2021 3:41 AM
Vera followed her out the door and down the stairs. The house was warmly lit, soft orange lamps glowing amidst the darkness. She could hear dark whispers emanating from the shadows and then the echo of footsteps behind them, but it had never bothered her. The lesser demons were bored, too. They had to entertain themselves somehow.
April 21, 2021
plum — 04/21/2021 12:56 PM
"Iezebeeeeel," Illy whisper-called, not wanting to alert her mother, whose location was unknown. "Geez, she's never around when you need her to be."
peach — 04/21/2021 1:10 PM
Vera made a face at a small, squat demon that tried to bite at her ankles and shooed it away. It was called the Harbinger, and Gal like to keep it around because it ate bugs that came in from the forest, but Vera thought it was just a little too keen on nibbling anything in its path. "You think she's sleeping?"
plum — 04/21/2021 5:56 PM
"She might be reading in her room or something..." Illy guessed, banking a left in the direction of the basement. "I dunno."
peach — 04/21/2021 5:58 PM
"How does Iezabel read if she doesn't have eyes?"
plum — 04/21/2021 5:59 PM
"Not Iezebel, dingus. My mom."
peach — 04/21/2021 6:01 PM
"Oh." Vera blinked. "That makes more sense."
plum — 04/21/2021 6:06 PM
Before they knew it they were standing in front of the warped basement door, protected by an unassuming keyhole with no matching key in sight. Aside from wear and tear over the ages the door had stood here, it also housed a tangle of crosshatching scratches all down the bottom... the dogs got excited whenever they anticipated Dad coming home. He liked to believe it was because they loved him, but Illy suspected it had more to do with the assortment of outlandish treats he often brought back for them to gnaw on. "We could pick it." she suggested.
peach — 04/21/2021 6:10 PM
"Do you have a bobby pin?" She asked. She didn't know how to pick locks with one, but it seemed prudent to ask.
May 11, 2021
plum — 05/11/2021 12:04 AM
The ghastly, wheezing susurration that emanated from between the two girls murmured, "I have a fingernail."
Illy couldn't help but jump at Iezebel's sudden appearance, turning to fix the gangly mass of black hair and paper skin with a scowl. "Bel! It's rude to sneak up on guests."
"You do it all the time," the woman hummed in her peacefully melancholic manner, jarringly at odd with her death rattle of a voice. (edited)
peach — 05/11/2021 7:20 AM
"You didn't sneak up on me, Iezabel." Vera said, patting her head where she'd thumped it into the wall upon startling. "I knew you were there the whole time."
June 14, 2021
plum — 06/14/2021 6:00 PM
"Why are you girls trying to break into the basement?" She glossed over the obvious lie to inquire.
peach — 06/14/2021 8:06 PM
"We're trying to get to Hell so that I can finish my school project." Vera said, holding up her phone. "I'm gonna interview Mr. Seir!"
Mirza was sitting in the library, his hands on a book, his head on his hands.
He hadn't been reading. Well, he had but every time his eyes moved to another line, his mind drifted.
Min-Ju had taken Ma out for a walk around the palace grounds. He had watched them for a little bit from the tower - watched as his mother shied away from the sun like she was a vampire, resting her head on Min-Ju's shoulder even though Min was smaller than she was.
Ma had stopped talking about a week ago. Mirza remembered it distinctly, because he'd come into her room to give her a kiss goodnight, and as his lips left the warm skin of her cheek she'd seized his arm. "Mirza," she said with those starry, distant eyes. "I love you so much."
"I love you too." he'd returned, managing to keep his voice level.
And he did. It might have been hard to imagine Mirza loving his mother, considering what a hollow person she'd become, but he did. What else could he do? She was his mom. And even though she was vague and distracted with everyone else - even with Uncle Lucifer, who she'd apparently been inseparable from before everything had happened - she always met Mirza's eyes when she spoke with him. He could tell how much it hurt to. But she still did it.
But Ma had stopped talking and he would never hear her say she loved him again. Even worse than that, he wondered if she still did, or if that growing darkness had consumed her completely. People thought Ma was hollow when she hadn't been, but maybe now, they were right. Maybe her soul had finally been carved out of her body. (edited)
plum — 06/29/2020 4:22 PM
"Are you dead or are you napping?" Kyros asked as he discovered him, carrying a couple thick books of his own.
peach — 06/29/2020 4:23 PM
"Both?" Mirza tried, looking up at his uncle.
plum — 06/29/2020 4:25 PM
"I don't think that's possible, unfortunately. Unless you mean to tell me you're some kind of ghost." Kyros dropped his hand onto Mirza's shoulder, confirming that he was not, in fact, incorporeal, and gave him a single pat before moving past him. "Why so glum?"
peach — 06/29/2020 4:31 PM
"I'm always glum," he said. "Pari's always loud, Feo's always quiet, Vic's always goofing off. And I'm always glum."
plum — 06/29/2020 4:33 PM
"That's not true," he perused the bookshelf behind Mirza. "I'd describe you more as... hm." He thought on it for a moment, tapping one book's cover. "Taciturn."
peach — 06/29/2020 4:35 PM
"That's a nice way of saying glum." he said glumly.
plum — 06/29/2020 4:35 PM
"Fine then. Why are you more glum than usual?"
peach — 06/29/2020 4:36 PM
He shrugged a little and asked, "Don't you just feel sad sometimes for no reason?"
plum — 06/29/2020 4:38 PM
"Not really," he admitted, pulling a book. "Seriously, Miz, what's up? Are you gonna make me do the whole song and dance?"
peach — 06/29/2020 4:38 PM
"That would be pretty funny, to see you singing and dancing." Mirza said. "Would you? It would make me feel better."
plum — 06/29/2020 4:40 PM
"I will not." Kyros took a seat beside him, looking his friend in the eye. "And I'm leaving it at that. I know better than you give you more fodder to sidetrack the conversation with. What's wrong?"
peach — 06/29/2020 4:44 PM
"It's my mom." he said finally. "She's getting worse. What else is new, you know?"
plum — 06/29/2020 4:46 PM
"Just because it's not a surprising development doesn't make it any less important." He replied. "...What happened?" (edited)
peach — 06/29/2020 4:47 PM
"She's not talking anymore." there was some relief at Kyros' quiet understanding and his words. It was true. They all knew Ma was getting worse, but each time it hit as hard as a hammer against his chest. He slumped a little, saying sadly, "I... wish there was more I could do."
plum — 06/29/2020 5:49 PM
"When did she stop? Maybe it's just a spell."
peach — 06/29/2020 5:49 PM
"A week ago."
plum — 06/29/2020 5:51 PM
"Is she otherwise, you know... present?"
peach — 06/29/2020 6:09 PM
He shrugged, dropping his head back onto the book.
plum — 06/29/2020 6:18 PM
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but closed it a moment later. "It's hard." He said finally. "There's no other way about it."
peach — 06/29/2020 6:20 PM
"Yeah. I guess so."
plum — 06/29/2020 6:33 PM
"You know you can talk about it, right? I know you're not exactly one to monopolize the conversation, but lord knows Pari takes up enough of our time whining about her problems. I'm sure no one would mind listening to yours for a change." He said. "I just notice you never really bring it up, but obviously you think about it a lot."
peach — 06/29/2020 6:40 PM
"It just feels like there's no point," he admitted. "In talking about it. Because nothing's going to change. I guess I just have to... I don't know. Learn how to say goodbye."
plum — 06/29/2020 7:11 PM
"Maybe," he allowed. "But you don't talk about it to change things, you know. A little venting is good for you sometimes. And besides, you never know what someone might say-- they might drop some piece of wisdom that ends up holding you over."
peach — 06/29/2020 7:12 PM
He deliberated Kyros' words with a small frown. "What if venting just makes me more sad?"
plum — 06/29/2020 7:14 PM
"Then at least you'll be sad with friends. If anything at all," he articulated. "You'll at least get to have some of Sparrow's baking, guaranteed."
peach — 06/29/2020 7:16 PM
That merited a small laugh. "Yeah, I could go for a cookie and a hug. Too bad she's gone this week."
plum — 06/29/2020 7:17 PM
"Well, don't tell Pari. Remember her brief baking phase? I'd rather eat her mother's food."
peach — 06/29/2020 7:18 PM
"God," he snorted. "That's a dangerous line of thinking."
June 30, 2020
plum — 06/30/2020 1:58 AM
After a moment of amused silence, Kyros went on, "You know one good thing? Aunt Faey's already taken over for one orphan kid. What's one more?"
peach — 06/30/2020 2:00 AM
This actually seemed to have the opposite effect of what he intended as the smile faded from Mirza's lips, worry overtaking his expression once more.
plum — 06/30/2020 2:01 AM
"All I'm saying is," he explained. "She cares about you and she's got your back."
peach — 06/30/2020 2:01 AM
"What if she doesn't want me, though?" he said quietly. It was a fear that had wriggled itself into his mind, ridiculous as it might sound. "What if all she sees when she looks at me is her dead kid?"
plum — 06/30/2020 2:04 AM
"Mirza," he intoned, eyebrows furrowing. "Of course she'd want you. If you choose to look at it that way: you'd be the only piece of her kid she had left."
peach — 06/30/2020 2:05 AM
"I guess so." he admitted. "... it just seems like a better idea to get ready for the worst thing that could happen. Then at least I won't be surprised."
plum — 06/30/2020 2:06 AM
"Just be careful not to do it at the cost of enjoying what you still have."
peach — 06/30/2020 2:07 AM
He nodded again, thinking that these were very wise words. "Thanks, uncle."
plum — 06/30/2020 2:08 AM
He looked up to the ceiling in exasperation but didn't call him out on his word choice... this time.
peach — 06/30/2020 2:09 AM
"What are you looking for anyways?" he wondered, glancing at Kyros' stack. All of them had very old names and very strange titles. "Doesn't look like work stuff..."
plum — 06/30/2020 2:11 AM
"Oh," he looked down at his books, which might be more aptly described as tomes. The top one's title was written entirely in Latin. "It's just for some history project."
peach — 06/30/2020 2:11 AM
"Whose class? So I know what to avoid."
plum — 06/30/2020 2:15 AM
He hesitated a moment before deciding, "Richter's."
peach — 06/30/2020 2:16 AM
"Really? I've only heard good things about him. Guess everyone's got a dark side." he said dolefully. "I'll just take Faraday's class." Even though she assigned a twenty-page paper every mid-semester. Maybe by the time he got to Kyros' grade, she'd retire. Hopefully.
plum — 06/30/2020 2:19 AM
"Richter's fine. I'm not complaining," he patted the dusty book cover. "As long as you do your work, he's pretty relaxed."
To be fair, most of his teachers were pretty relaxed when it came to him specifically, but he wasn't about to admit it.
peach — 06/30/2020 2:19 AM
"Okaaay." he said disbelievingly. "What's the history project over?"
plum — 06/30/2020 2:22 AM
"The evolution of occultism." He replied, and then thought to tack on, "... and its role in European culture."
peach — 06/30/2020 2:23 AM
"That sounds pretty cool, actually." Mirza tapped his chin. "If you want to find out more about the occult, you should listen to this podcast Vic got me into. It's called Chicago Grimm."
plum — 06/30/2020 2:24 AM
"Is that the one Vera's obsessed with?"
peach — 06/30/2020 2:25 AM
"Yeah, that one! It's these Americans - an ex-war journalist lady and some of her friends, and they follow hauntings across the USA. But it's cool because she does a lot of research about all the arcane stuff, she doesn't just go for the spooky ghost stories."
plum — 06/30/2020 2:29 AM
"I've always wondered if it wasn't too scary for her." He remarked. "Thanks, though. I'll check it out."