tell me now of the very soul that look alike

[inferus]

WHO: Wrath + Red + Others
WHEN: Event threads / Tower Aftermath threads
WHERE: Serthica
WHAT: November Catch-All. Please let me know if you would like a closed thread with either of mine.
WARNINGS: Cursing, memory-loss, curses, talks of Hell/demons. Will edit if more specific warnings come up.

[ closed starters will be below. ]

Comments

the curse ruled from the underground ] [ closed to emilia.

[inferus]

Emilia had contacted Wrath to let him know she intended to take another trip to the Sibilant Sands to find necessary ingredients for the cure. She had informed him in a way that clearly implied she would be going without him. Their distance has continued since their last conversation - checking in on one another through pendant communication alone except on more chaotic occasions.

Wrath tires of it, of the space, of the ice he is met with every time he attempts to reach out. Whether or not he deserves it is beyond the point. He will no longer be giving her distance - certainly not when it means his wife will be riding a dragon across the sands alone to a potentially dangerous location.

Instead of arguing with her (again), he acts.

He shows up where the dragons are kept, introducing himself to one of the martial dragons. It is black with gold upon the tips of its wings. These dragons seem to recognize something in the General of War. They are not quite as unsettled by him, and while he has no experience riding dragons, he is familiar with the skies, with flying in general. He purposefully aims to be there shortly before she will arrive.

[valeas]

Emilia is determined to help distribute the cure across Serthica — and her assigned role as an opiate mistress gives her some ideas on how to go about it — but first, she must help procure the ingredients. By now, she believes herself adept at riding dragons, and has experience with the Sibilant Sands besides.

The experience in question taught her a thing or two, and she's gathered essential equipment for this next expedition, including a set of airtight goggles she purchased in the markets.

She arrives promptly, wearing her riding leathers and a look of sheer determination. The latter falters, however briefly, upon catching sight of the godsdamned demon. He's impossible to miss.

Blood and bones.

"What are you doing here?"

[inferus]

Wrath is aware of her as soon as she arrives - how could he be anything but aware of his wife always? He does not turn to look at her, however, until that flare of annoyance rises up inside of her and she speaks to him.

Then he turns toward her away to lift an eyebrow at her with a polite (petty) smile. Blood and bones, she has no right to look the way she does in those riding leathers, striding over to him, with purpose and fire in her eyes like she might want to smite him off the face of the planet.

He has missed her.

"I am readying a dragon to accompany you to the Sibilant Sands."

It is spoken like it ought to be obvious.

[valeas]

She comes to a stop before Wrath, her gaze wandering over to the great beast at his side. Larger than Opal, each of its claws the shape of a scythe.

Black, of course.

It is with great and concerted effort that Emilia meets his civility with her own. She has had to learn these things: restraint, diplomacy, patience. There is a time to let her fire burn, and a time to put it away. But they both know her true nature. They both know what she would prefer at all times, if she could.

"You have never ridden a dragon."

If they are going to state the obvious.

[inferus]

Wrath does miss her fire. She has been icing him out, which is using his own moves against him. It should be fair, and it is, but that does not mean he will react fairly to it. He aches for the explosion that would melt the likes of him when it burned hot enough even if he was the one to caution her on allowing her anger to rule her, even if he is the one so often highly restrained at the worst of times.

He lifts both of his eyebrows at what she believes to be an obvious statement. His gaze razes over her and then lingers on her own mouth before he simply answers with:

"Haven't I?"

He married one, in fact.

[valeas]

With Wrath back in Minaras and Emilia in Eidris, the bulk of their conversations have been through their sending stones, and she has kept them purely business. Were their relationship in a better place, they wouldn't let a halved citadel stop them from seeing each other, but she has been quite insistent on reinforcing this. It allows her some physical distance, alongside the emotional chasm that plagues them.

But standing before him now, she's keenly reminded of her eternal conundrum: she does not know whether she wants to kiss or kill him. But she gathers herself eventually, returns his polite smile.

The truth is, she would not respect anyone incapable of putting their personal affairs aside to work on a greater cause. She can only hold herself to the same standard, and do the mature thing. That it still deprives him of her fury is just a lovely bonus. "Don't slow us down, General."

She turns to go and ready her own dragon. Emilia is loyal to her beast, even if Opal is smaller. And... technically not alive. That, too. But Opal took her to the Sibilant Sands once, and she'll do it again.

[inferus]

There is a spark of her anger in response, but he does not have time to enjoy it before it is gone once more. She has shut it away again before he has even caught proper glimpse of it, before it can feed him. Her own restraint has become entirely too impressive, sharp and cold and abrupt. He rolls his shoulders back after she has walked away from him, shoving down his own spike of anger. There is no one other than his wife quite capable of matching him at every turn, challenging him, drawing out his own anger.

Naturally, these emotions have no place when they do have a mission to see through if they are to heal this city. Still he would have liked more fight from her, more of her anger for a time before they left. He watches her step away to fetch Opal.

At least they leave together, however. He refuses the physical distance for another day. She does not fight him on his coming at all - not that he would have listened.

Wrath turns back to his dragon, outfitted with a saddle, which has already been packed with what was needed. It has been some time since Wrath has flown - his wings were taken a long time ago, and he eyes the air with that reminder in the back of his head. He mounts the dragon, gathers its reins, and steers it toward the designated airstrip.

It appears the dragons in the expedition are being paired off to take into the sky to be certain there's room enough for their wingspans and keep the group together. Cain is the first to take off along with one of his dragon riders. Wrath remains back as he watches the pairs start to fly, waiting for Emilia.

[valeas]

Many things can be said of Cain d'Ubiq, Emilia is sure, but he told no tales: plants remain intact aboard one of the aerial healing units she and Wrath have located. A container the likes of which she's never seen houses at least one of them, as fresh as the charmed lilies that were once sent to Arabella.

The last time she explored this terrain, dark waters seized hold of her and attempted to assume her shape. Pain assailed her as though hundreds of sharp needles descended upon her hand at once.

Needless to say, Emilia wears gloves today as she inspects their findings closely.

"This is juniper," she confirms to Wrath.

[inferus]

Wrath steps up behind her to look over Emilia's shoulder at the plant that she is holding. She is far more familiar with plants than he is, but he has learned. Wrath knows all of the plants used in summoning the Seven Wicked Princes and utilized in any witch spell or ritual. Celestia's book made its rounds within Hell, and Wrath was all to ready to learn all he could from it despite being no witch himself. Demon magic can be utilized in a similar way as those who are goddess-blessed.

Beyond that, he has sat and watched Emilia cook many times before, and she often tells him the names of ingredients and herbs as she goes. It has been some time since he had the chance to watch her cook, and some quiet yearning awakens inside of his chest which is quickly smothered by the nature of their mission and his own careful control.

"...the container is full of it?"

The more they can take back, the better.

[valeas]

She's no less immune to his closeness than before. The opposite, really, which is entirely frustrating to realize. But that realization is for future Emilia to stew on. Even with the heat of him at her back, she concentrates on the herbs in front of them. They're in perfect condition, she's relieved to report.

"Full."

Upon confirmation, she fetches a smaller bag from her satchel. Its design is not exactly on par with what's fashionable in the underworld, nor does it complement Emilia's own aesthetic exactly, but she sends him a withering scowl in preemptive warning. "It belonged to Lily, and she left it to me."

"It's enchanted to expand the internal dimensions without affecting the exterior. Brilliant, really." As was Lily. So not a word about it. "We should be able to fit all of it and then some."

[inferus]

Wrath's expression goes through as much of a roller coaster as it ever could for someone who is so restrained. His eyebrows lift at the sight of the bag that does not remind him of Emilia's style in the slightest and which certainly does not fit in with the King and Queen of Hell's aesthetics, but then she is sending him that withering scowl before he can even get a word out.

He enjoys the sight of it in truth. His gaze falls to her mouth rather openly like he is thinking of devouring it entirely with his own, especially because when she turns to look back at him, her body presses against his own in the process. He can hear her heartbeat.

"I will check the remainder of the area," he says instead of all of the many words that run through his mind. They have a mission to do after all, and the bag does seem like it would come in handy. He knows Emilia misses Lily, and so he smartly keeps his mouth shut at present, turning to look through the rest of the area, following the scent of it in the air until he finds another container.

He opens this one and pulls out another herb, turning back to her. "...there is rosemary here."

[valeas]

Emilia raises one lone brow, observing Wrath as his expression goes through its own gymnastics course, at least a milder version of it. He never looks more human than when he looks confounded, and she stubbornly refuses to acknowledge the endearing element to it, alongside the way his gaze lowers to her mouth.

He had plenty of chance to feast on it before.

Wisely, he says nothing, and Emilia focuses on gathering the juniper into Lily's bag.

She still can't think of it belonging to anyone else, not even herself. It remains a marvel: she always thinks there won't be room. And there always is. She should have never doubted in the first place.

Remembering the tentacles that gave her and Yelena trouble, she forsakes the ache in her chest and hurries toward Wrath with the bag still open, that he may place the rosemary inside. "Do you think it necessary to charm the bag?" she asks. The plants have preserved well, but the return will be volatile.

[inferus]

Wrath shuts the container and places it within the bag, which does indeed appear to have more room than what it looks like it would on the outside. A useful spell which does not exist within their own world but should, could if they were to remember any of this on their return, but they are already aware they will not.

"It may not be necessary but better to charm than regret not doing so. The journey here was treacherous."

They need those herbs to be returned to the city even if it means taking more time to do so. If they lose the containers or if they are damaged, they are in for greater trouble. He moves to where they came in to look outside of the crashed vessel, scanning the area.

They are not alone, and he smiles wickedly, craving battle, and blood spilled at the realization.

hear those bells ring deep in the soul ][ closed to the doctor

[growlies]

The first time the Doctor comes to check on her, she's asleep. She sleeps for hours on end with small breaks to drink, or smoke, or eat, and then sleep again. Her body's way of recovering from the shifts, the damage done. It's likely one of her housemates (Emilia or Hermione) answers, but a knock on the door to her room reveals that she is very much asleep.

She hears he visited (which how? he was bleeding from his head last she saw him and put through the ringer, but it's good to know he's at least able to walk around now). So the next day, she's staring at her communication device in her hands, trying to figure out what to say. She's not good at this, sitting on the edge of the couch in the living room downing more from her flask until it all burns down her throat and settles in her stomach wrong. She's worried about the Doctor, worried about Vanessa, worried and conflicted and unable to process anything that happened in that Labyrinth - a bundle of tense contradictions.

Red is not expecting him to come the next night too, especially when she didn't even reach out about the first day. Her housemates are not home, and she sits curled up in the living room, going over the posts on the network before she makes a face and sets that aside. Shit never stops, does it?

[thedreamer]

The Doctor has rather perfected the art of both denial and compartmentalization through the years. For the sake of his sanity, he must. Though, by his own admission, his sanity is a tenuous thing in the best of times and their shared experience in the Labyrinth was anything but the best of times. In the days since the Tower, the Doctor has felt in a dream at times, questioning what was real and what wasn't. What really happened? What did he feel? How does he begin to process the terrible things that were thrust upon them all? He gives each thought barely a hint of consideration for the moment, burying it all deep and neatly tucking it away.

The only way through it is to focus on the people around him. It's what he does best. This, at least, he knows; how to help, how to guide, how to care for his friends. Maybe he isn't always the best at it, but he'll try, he must. For them, he would do anything.

So he divides his time, among other things, checking in on Red and Vanessa, timing his visits carefully to coincide with each of the citadel halves being over- or under-ground, depending.

He's not a man easily deterred, so he returns to see Red the next day, not necessarily expecting her to answer when he knocks, and not caring if she doesn't. He'll keep coming back to check on her until she's ready.

[growlies]

Red pushes herself up from where she'd been sitting when she hears the knock. The idea of leaving the house is one she hates, but she can answer the door, especially because her roommates aren't here. It might be important. It might be a life-or-death thing. It might be-

She reaches the door, opening it up. Surprise shifts across her expression (but she shouldn't be surprised, they came back for her, didn't they? that was before- before everything else happened, but he's the Doctor and he carries his own ghosts and darkness, the destruction in his soul she saw from the start). It takes her a moment to process him standing there in her doorway then she is looking over him properly, because she still remembers the blood dripping from his head, and how he was flung.

She wants to make sure he is really in one piece. Emilia gave her healing herbs so she's not in as much pain anymore though there's still a nasty bruise on her side, and- and she finds her voice but it's rough.

"I was trying to write you back when I heard you stopped by yesterday. I just-" couldn't figure out what to say, how to say it.

[thedreamer]

"Words. Silly words. Big words. Small words. What do we say, eh? How do we start? How do we find the words?"

It's his way of saying he understands, because he does. He talks so much, so often, but when it comes to the things that matter, well, those words sometimes elude him. Oftentimes, in fact, they elude him. Though, when it comes to offering comfort, it comes a little easier.

"We don't need words right now. Not yet. Not this second. The next one, yes, and the one after that probably. But I wanted to see you first."

He worries about her physically, mentally, and they do need to talk, but they don't need to start with that right away. "Do you mind the company?"

[growlies]

"Okay. Pause on the words. Until another moment."

Red offers him a soft smirk, because she gets what he means. Words are difficult even for someone who has as many words as he does, and that's okay. She doesn't need him to have the right words or any of the words. She's just grateful to see him not bleeding anymore.

Everything else inside of her feels raw and scraped out, uncertain and wrong and right and. She shakes her head, and then takes a step back, opening the door further for him so he can come inside.

"I think I could use the company even if earlier I wanted to shut the covers over me and never come out. I really was completely fucking asleep yesterday, but... I like that you came," She doesn't bother asking if he's okay, because she knows that he isn't like she isn't like Vanessa isn't- Her gaze lingers on him as she leads him toward the kitchen, because there's good food in there that Emilia's made and then she can like... do something with her hands. She thinks he'd probably like that too. "You're... all healed up?"

[thedreamer]

Somehow, despite only having met a few months ago, she seems to know him well enough, at least to understand where he might most enjoy to be at the moment. There's a restlessness they share, particularly now, and he finds comfort in it as one would with an old friend. For those who have such a friendship, words don't always need to be said, or least not rushed into.

"Oh, I've never been better," he reassures her easily. This is true, at least, physically. He is okay. But he worries for Red, this body of hers that's all too human.

"How do you feel?" As they speak, he does fidget and fiddle around the kitchen, opening cabinets and drawers slowly, sometimes just to open and close them, with no real purpose to it.

As Red moves, the Doctor has a sense of her somewhat stilted posture, the bruises that must still be healing, and he wonders not for the first time what would happen if he tried to use some of his regeneration energy on her. As things are so twisted around in this world they inhabit, he fears something could happen he doesn't intend, but it's on his mind as a genuine consideration, should the situation call for it. He hopes it never becomes that desperate here.

engage with the pain as a motive ][ closed to vanessa

[growlies]

It takes a few more days following the Tower incident for Red to check on Vanessa. This is largely because she doesn't want to leave her own house at all. It feels too much, too big to step outside of the walls, which is probably ridiculous. The Underworld in some ways was very structured in ways that this world isn't, can't be.

Eventually she runs out of booze and weed, and she figures Vanessa has probably run out of the weed she originally brought. And also, that she is maybe feeling bad about everything that happened, and Red's stomach is all twisted up with guilt and concern so it's hard to even eat anything.

So it's. Yeah. She decides she's going to see her and make a delivery in the process, which might help, because she's sure Vanessa has been going through it too. She sneaks down to Minaras with probably too much weed and alcohol in a bag like the shit-at-processing individual that she is. Then she's just kind of bouncing on her feet on the steps of Vanessa's house after having knocked.

[matermali]

Vanessa hasn't been a complete recluse, but she does as little as possible outside of her 'home' ever since the revelation of undead and coal sick. Not out of fear, but whatever sense of dread had built up throughout the tower has finally culminated in a very specific sense of loss. Loss of hope? Loss of direction? The path keeps trying to veer. Her legs are tired from the cursed journey.

So she sits in her room when not on mundane errands, mulling over the requests made by Karsa to lend aid. Vanessa has opted to stay because it is the swiftest route back to London, but what is this city of Serthica to her, anymore? What was it ever? Some immortal's plaything. Such as she has always been, perhaps her empathy for the city's plight is too great to tend to. It's an old wound by now. Perhaps the rot has infected her too deeply. Empathy is threatened to be traded for apathy.

The knock vexes her. She hasn't been humoring suitors of late, but when she goes to the window, it's a much more welcome face. Yes, also unwelcome. Guilt tears at Vanessa as she looks away from the window and finds her pocket watch. Red doesn't deserve poor treatment, but Vanessa doesn't yet know what to say to her while she's still in such a state.

Cautiously, she murmurs into the pocket watch, keeping the video off. Lacking her usual decorum, to say the least. "...Yes?"

[growlies]

Red blinks at the sound from her own watch, setting the bags down and pulling the watch out from her pocket. She is still bouncing, restlessly on her own two feet, pacing in the small space on top of the steps. There's too much inside of her, twisting and pulling and setting heavy like a stone. How do people do this? That Yes? though. Yeah, Vanessa is not okay, and she knew that. How could any of them be after that?

This is the first time, however, that she's considered maybe Vanessa doesn't want to see her. She is a reminder of- of what's inside of her, of what that power and magic can do. She slips her fingers through her hair, thinking maybe she can sweeten the deal so it's not just her here, but-

"I brought weed." She swallows hard, and then the truth is quieter: "I wanted to see you."

[matermali]

I wanted to see you, she admits so earnestly, and Vanessa knows she was cruel to even make her ask. Always has she wanted Red to know sanctuary in Vanessa's space. She would always be welcome here, isn't that how Vanessa had hoped the girl would feel? Yet she brings supplies, as if she herself isn't enough.

The hesitation is slight, and her murmur humbled. "One moment."

Still dressed from the day's errands, Vanessa's presentable enough for company, though her hair is slightly disheveled and she doesn't bother with make-up or extra accessories. Not beyond the uncharacteristic gloves which she'll be sporting indoors of all places.

The droid isn't greeting the guest, with Vanessa instead answering the door and stepping aside to give Red space for entry into the foyer. She hates herself for making Red think for a moment that she even needed to give a reason. Still, Vanessa's voice feels stiff. Surprised, perhaps, that Red would want to see her.

"Please, come in. You are always welcome, you needn't ever ask."

[growlies]

Red slides the communication device back into her pocket where it came from, and then picks up the bags that she's brought with. The door opens, and her breath catches in her throat - she'd been so worried. The last time she saw Vanessa was... She tries to remember exactly how it went down.

After the Doctor had been thrown, after Red tried to draw the minotaur's attention away and Vanessa drew it back to herself, the minotaur was going to charge. She was thrown to the side, and then Vanessa starting speaking that dark magic-

The next time she was fully aware of her she was unconscious, but she remembers bits and pieces from being Cerberus. It was mostly so feral, so consumed with violence and killing - the taste of blood, the smell of burnt flesh, the dark words in the background, the desire to serve, to follow, to obey, to devour.

She steps inside when Vanessa gives her the room to do so. "Figured after the Labyrinth, you might be feeling..." Red releases a breath, because again, what are words? Her head ducks, and she clutches the bags a bit further before she clears her throat. "Good to see you awake."

[matermali]

Her gaze momentary darkens at the reminder that the Doctor had so easily put her to sleep, eyelids drooping and chin tipping, but she'll still nod as if it's a perfectly normal thing to say before shutting the door. A glance between the bags, and Vanessa wonders just how far Red must be wanting to numb her own feelings.

She hasn't run out of liquor or cannabis, having managed to locate her own source by now, but nothing will be said on the matter, if it will help Red feel more useful. Though, Vanessa wonders what she hopes to gain from the visit... She's welcome, yes, but what does she want to talk about? Oddly enough, she doesn't look ready to fling accusations Vanessa's way, though she knows she deserves them.

Rather avoidant of accidentally running into Finn or his company just yet, Vanessa will lead Red to the parlor, leaving her to a sofa or chair to sit on. Two glasses clink as they're set onto the small ornate table in the room's center. She really has no plans to drink and socialize, but neither can she turn away Red. She's still waiting for the anger, for the resentment, at Vanessa's transgression. She won't refute it.

"Do you not hate me?"