Stick Bones Inbox

[unheiring]

“Unavailable. Always.”

voice video text action

username: Aurelius

art credit code credit

Comments

around town, sometime between luca's arrival and the snuggle thread

[livlaughlove]

[livio is pretty damn sure he struck a nerve with the wine-haired stranger, before... so he gives it a little time, then goes looking for him. the usual places people need, he checks first. the inn kitchen, the shops... maybe the treeline, again. if that doesn't work, he may end up knocking on doors whose occupants he isn't familiar with.

whatever the manner, surely he'll find the guy eventually. and when he does, he puts a hand up in one-half awkward wave and one-half placating gesture.]

Uh -- hey. Would you hear me out for just a second?

[unheiring]

[Funny, how you find things when you least expect it. See, Luca isn't in any of those places, or at least not when Livio comes around. However, when he returns to working on the school, and when he just so happens to stumble into the library, he'll find one Luca Aurelius at a table (full size, thank you). His head is currently cradled within an arm, hair strewn out everywhere but -

the moment he hears heavy footsteps he's alert. Blinking sleep from his eyes as he brings a handful of fire into existence, maybe, but awake nonetheless. The flame disappears the moment he realizes it's Livio in front of him. Strangely enough, he doesn't seem too irritated to see the man. In fact, his brow just... quirks.]

Yes?

[livlaughlove]

[maybe he should have thought of this sooner, instead of giving up and putting it off for later, but... hey! they're here!

despite his plea, livio doesn't know what to say for a good moment...]

Right... I wanted to say I'm sorry. I think I... came on strong? Or... forceful, or something.

hey baby it's garg

[purifier]

[Zahliya is absent for a few days.

It means the roof of the Church is vacant, and it means there's one less set of watchful eyes over the Grove, though Moder is easily able to handle that in his stead (now that they're friends and not, y'know, trying to kill each other). This is a normal occurrence; Zahliya often slips into the black fog, immune to it as he is, to deal with the monsters waking in the forest. A guardian's work never ends, after all.

This means a couple things for when he comes back. The first is that both of his blades will be slightly broken from overuse, covered in various colours of blood and sticky. The second is that he'll be tired and scratched up, because that's what happens when you go get lost in the woods for a few days. The third... the third is that those glowing green lines in his skin are giving off a black smoke, as Zahliya's body automatically purges the corruption he took in while he was wandering for two days.

He didn't sleep (he doesn't need to, but sometimes it's nice). He didn't eat, again not a necessity, but food tastes good. It's been nothing but combat and having his body fight back against what's been absorbed into his being. This is a normal process for the gargoyle, but by the Stars does it tire him out.

He isn't sure why, but the first thing he does when he gets back to the Grove is drag himself to the tavern. Luca will probably want to know where he's gone, Zahliya thinks, partly unsure why he shouldn't just yell HEY I'M BACK and drag himself to the roof for a while, or go see Add at the clinic and demand some type of painkiller. No, it's Luca he goes to see.

He'll figure out why another time, probably.]

hey garg it's baby

[unheiring]

[It's... a little strange, how keenly aware Luca is of Zahliya's absence. Whether the gargoyle has realized it or not, whenever Luca deigns to leave the tavern, his gaze first seems to go toward his companion's chosen perch. Every day, there's an assurance that he's still there, and for some reason that makes Luca feel good. He explains it away as being comforted by the presence of a local guardian, currently more powerful than he could be, but...

Something in the back of his mind tells him that isn't the case.

The point is, though, that the moment Zahliya disappears, Luca notices. He expects it to only be temporary, assures himself that the gargoyle has only gone for cheese. But when he hasn't reappeared by the evening, Luca knows that something is up.

So he makes a point of checking more frequently than ever. Morning, noon, and at sunset, he makes sure to watch for Zahliya. And with the gargoyle having not been about during his noon check, Luca had simply assumed that this would be yet another day in which he doesn't appear.

Until the doors open, and Zahliya's form is revealed. It's a good thing that the bar is empty, lest Luca have to explain why he first reaches for his sword, then promptly drops it in favor of crossing the room. His hands go out, but stop short of both skin and smoke. He isn't sure if Zahliya is hurting. He doesn't want to make it worse.]

Where - ["have you been," he wants to ask. But it doesn't feel like the right question.] What do you need?

[His heart jackrabbits within his throat. He knows damn well this isn't just about being startled by a suddenly opening door. It may not be the same intensity, but Luca is deeply acquainted with this feeling, one of being on the verge of losing someone important.

He tries to swallow it down in favor of focusing on Zahliya's needs.]

[purifier]

[Oh, good, Luca's here. Zahliya attempts, keyword attempts, to look less like he's going to fall over. It... probably doesn't go over well, all things considered. There are scrapes on his cheeks that'll heal in time, not to mention various other wounds elsewhere — gashes over his legs and midsection — but all he wants to do is flop over somewhere and let the corruption get burnt out of his system, rather literally. Wounds like this can't kill him. They're an inconvenience at most; it's all the black gunk he absorbed that hurts the most.]

A place to lie down would be lovely. [He shakes his head, though, forcing a smile.] I was killing monsters in the forest, and as my fire cycles through all of it, it causes strain for me. I'll be fine. I'm only tired.

[He used to be able to spend longer in there. Either his stamina has dropped, or the corruption has worsened, or both.]

Sorry about the floors. [You know, with the various blood droplets all over them.]

Mid month after the heartspace and chocolate stuff

[sesa]

[Sesa has been feeling…some kind of way, as of late.

He wouldn’t exactly call it bad, persay. Conflicted, though? Absolutely. He’s been acting out of sorts. He’s been behaving rashly, impulsively…he’s been letting his gut guide his actions, and though they feel right in the moment (isn’t that what matters?), after the fact he’s bombarded with his logical mind reminding him of the snake pit he’s chosen to lay in.

Elliot. Passenger, as everyone else knows him. He admitted to him his complicated feelings, and somehow that turned into an unplanned tryst. Said tryst lead to where they are now, with Elliot living in his room (invited) and wearing a pearl ring (made by Sesa). Like. What is he doing here, exactly? Fraternizing!?

He decides to sneak off to the bar in the evening in the hopes that a few drinks might calm his nerves. They certainly won’t clear his head, at any rate. And whether or not Luca is already there, he’ll find the Vouivre slumped over one edge of the bar. He could be sitting there drunk, but in reality he’s just moaning quietly to himself for no reason other than because it’s better than moaning quietly to himself in his room.

He’s having a real one.]

[unheiring]

[Having taken a handful of bartending jobs to make ends meet out on the road, Luca is no stranger to people slumped over the bar, bemoaning their woes. Thus, it's no surprise to find someone there when he walks in for the evening. He sheds his jacket, hanging it by the door, and glances toward the spirit that handles the place while he's away. Though he's ambivalent about its presence given its appearance, he'd prefer it linger if it meant not dealing with a drunken man and whatever plagued him.

Unfortunately for Luca, the spirit gives him a brief wink, before dissipating just as quick. Great.

Stepping behind the bar, Luca glances to the counter to establish... whatever the hell his patron has been drinking, then turns back once more. Another shot is poured and slid over to the man occupying his space. One glance at the fiery red hair tells him who he's dealing with, which... only makes matters worse. Of course it would be the person he cuddled and flirted with.

He can practically hear the phoenix snickering at the back of his mind.]

How long are you planning on moping about, then?

[sesa]

[Honestly, Sesa didn't even notice Luca came in until he spoke up. He exhales heavily as he's immediately called out on his being here at all, which prompts Sesa to rumble under his breath, feeling his scales tingle with frustration at himself.]

Until the spirits kick in, or I die. Whichever comes first.

[Okay dramatic ass]

at da tavern

[livlaughlove]

[it's only fair he give the scant few businesses in town his patronage, right?

he's... curious, anyway. he stops by one day after working on the school, a bit dirty and sawdusty and sweaty, but, well, stuff like that isn't really a huge deal where he's from, so... sorry to luca and any patrons near where livio sits at the bar.

he just stares behind the counter without saying anything. he doesn't know what the fuck most of the bottles are.]

[unheiring]

[Well, of all the people Luca expects to walk through those doors, it certainly isn't Livio. They've had such a strange, up and down relationship, haven't they? Never mind one that culiminated in the kind of physical intimacy that Luca hadn't partaken in in some years.

If ever at all.

Truthfully, he has half of a mind to duck back into the storeroom to let his ghostly co-proprietor handle this mess but... Unfortunately, he's pretty sure he's been spotted by now. And it isn't as if his spirit bartender can offer advice.]

You look lost.

a few days after The Fuckening

[cryopathy]

[it's been long enough that kiera hasn't seen luca around town or been able to get into the bar. maybe they aren't yet familiar with quite how deep his guilt runs these days, but they do recall a time or two in childhood when he would have minor fits of self-isolation. they don't really know what might have triggered something similar, or even if that's what... this whole thing is. they've just got a feeling it can't be anything good.

so they are pounding on the locked tavern door, in the middle of the day, under the guise of a drunkard run dry. which... is also technically true, but still.]

Hey! Open up, you lazy excuse of a barkeep! You've got customers with good shells to spend!

[unheiring]

[Thick though the stone walls of the watchtower are, there are a few gaps for noise to slip through. Between that and Kiera's keen sense of hearing, she will undoubtedly hear footsteps approaching the door. The slide over the old peephole scratches open, then promptly slams shut.

The steps don't retreat, but the door doesn't open just yet. Either someone is put off by her yelling, or he just doesn't want to talk either. Or both.

Hm... ]

March 10th - Afternoon

[unheiring]

[When Wolfwood makes his announcement about the bookburning, Luca's thoughts not go to the bonfire, but to the Church itself. He thinks of a certain Gargoyle, perched at his chosen spot, and can't help but wonder what he might have to say of all of that.

It's strange, how his thoughts always seem to go to said Gargoyle. Stranger still is the way his stomach seems on the verge of twisting into knots. He has to focus his mind to keep from dwelling on it, lest he start acting like a boy with a crush.

He isn't. He doesn't. Or at least that's what he tells himself even as he marches over to the Church. Normally, he might sit below the building and call up to its resident. However, with Wolfwood and his companions busily prepping for that evening, he opts for something a little more private. And so he hefts himself up to the rafters, and then carefully exits through the hole in the ceiling.]

Zahilya. [He clears his throat.] You know, this is a rather difficult place to regularly visit you at.

[purifier]

[Zahliya, as per usual, is doing the male Miqo'te sit on the roof, because when is he not doing that. This is how you monitor the world from on high, obviously. Turns out Gargoyles are just cats—

He hears Luca coming, climbing up the rafters, but doesn't register that it's him at first. He merely thinks either the good Father is trying to chase the pigeons out, or that Elsword's back in there, or maybe someone else is just fucking around. Then, he hears Luca's voice, and he tilts his head back and grins.]

It's good for you to climb. It keeps the upper body strength up. [Not that Luca needs it, really.] Did you come to watch with me? Everyone seems excited about this. I have to say, I like the thought of getting rid of the False God's things.

Zahliya (immediately post Zahliya-quest)

[unheiring]

[Luca gives Zahliya approximately one (1) whole hour to gather himself after retreating from the ruins before the hunt begins. He ardently checks all the usual spots, even going as far as climbing up to the top of the church, in an effort to track him down. When that fails, he makes his way around the perimeter, searching for traces of glowing green fire. It would be just like the Gargoyle to immediately rush into more combat after nearly losing everything.

Instead, Luca finally catches sight of a familiar form near the river. He clears his throat on approach, figuring it best not to startle the creature whilst its predatory sibling still loomed. Nevertheless, Zahliya isn’t going to get away with stewing in silence tonight.]

I brought you something.

[There are bandages in one hand, on the off-chance any Zonari-inflicted wounds have lingered, and a bottle of alcohol in the other. Luca… actually isn’t sure if Zahliya can drink but! Hey! Only one way to find out.]

I feel it would be foolish to ask how you are feeling considering everything but… [A vague motion.] How are you feeling?

haha gay

[purifier]

[Mostly, Zahliya is trying to clean up, because he is... messy. Dirty. He spent half the time rolling in the mud while it was raining buckets out, not to mention the injuries. Though most of them are healed, a small handful are not, mostly clustered on his arms and legs. He absorbed so much of that black rot that the healing is delayed.]

Pissed off, mostly. [For reasons that are very obvious. But he takes the bandages anyway and starts patching himself up. He's also mostly naked sorry Luca (not sorry Luca). At least there are pants??] At least my head feels like it's on right, but it won't stop pounding.

[He sighs. Then:]

At least you remain a breath of fresh air.

after feral vash attack

[cryopathy]

[whether luca is upstairs in his quarters or downstairs at the bar, he'll surely hear a series of thuds as barrels and... something else hit the floor on the storage level.

said "something else" turns out to be his sister, drenched in their own blood and wheezing softly. clearly still alive, at the very least. as soon as they catch sight of him, they smile with bloody teeth.]

Sorry for the mess.

[unheiring]

[Naturally, Luca hears the clattering. He's up in his room at the moment, preparing for the day. At the sudden eruption of noise, however, he promptly tears down the stairs. He doesn't know what he expects to find, but it certainly isn't his sibling.]

Kiera! [He rushes to her side, already taking stock of the wounds.] What in the light happened to you?

during bracelet enchantment

[aneikonic]

[ Once the stone has been fully enchanted, blessed, and set into the bracelet, Clive seeks Luca out at the bar. This is going to be an odd request and he knows it, but at least being blunt about it will make it less weird, perhaps. So he just walks up to the bar, glancing to see if Luca is serving today. ]

[unheiring]

[Serving isn't quite right. He's seated on the opposite side of the bar, leaning over to direct Kiera on where certain bottles can be found. They're clearly enjoying themselves, if the grins and playful teasing is anything to go off of.

The brevity pauses for a moment when Kiera notices Clive, though. A wink is directed toward Luca, before she conveniently disappears into the store room. Luca, meanwhile, turns to face Clive. It's probably silly for him to already be flushed but... here we are.]

Hello, Clive. Is it time for your nightly planning session already?

[cryopathy]

[should polaris pay her a visit to check up, kiera has a snack of berries and a rolled and tied letter ready for her. it's clearly been ripped out of a book and written on the blank back pages of a table of contents and glossary on wagon wheel construction.]

Luca,

I believe the last letter I wrote to you was addressed "Ser Aurelius," quite some time ago. It feels almost ridiculous to communicate this way now, but I am pleased to note that even as I write, I am not overwhelmed with a sense of dread as I was in person. My hope is that this affliction is over with sooner rather than later. It pains me to leave you alone at this difficult time, so I suppose I will have to bother you sufficiently in this manner in the meantime. I pray that my meandering thoughts are, at present, a comfort rather than an annoyance to you.

Thanks to a generous (and entirely voluntary, I can assure you) donation from a new arrival, I needn't worry about feeding for some time. Even like this, it being physically necessary and all, I found the taste repulsive, which is a great relief. Nonetheless, I am doing my best to avoid anyone still in human form. I have taken to occupying my time with reading. There is an abundance of books in the school library and hardly any visitors at this time. I suspect that even if I had started at one end when we first arrived and read nonstop since, I would have hardly covered but a few shelves. My favorites thus far have been concerning subjects such as crop rotation, selective breeding of fancy pigeons, and farriering and hoof injury and disease, though I'm sure none of these come as surprises.

What did shock me is the existence of fiction romanticizing vampires. In this particular book, the human protagonist lusts after one and dreams of "being turned" by him. Can you imagine? As you might expect, disgust soon won out over my curiosity, and so that novel will forever remain unfinished by me or anyone in the Grove.

In the absence of the gentle giant (or rather, his inability to fit through the doors of the school) I have been looking after the greenhouse plants here. By the grace of some heretofore unknown benevolent god, indoor piping and tap water do not unnerve me as the river does. It is nice to bask in the presence of living things that do not cower from me on instinct. Do tell me how my beloved Pinto Grigio is faring, if you would be so kind. I miss her terribly.

I suppose I ought not push my luck, getting too long-winded about this. You needn't feel obligated to match my length, as I'm aware you're a man of fewer words than the boy in the barracks was. Even so, I must admit, it would comfort me to be privvy to your thoughts of late. Please do not feel guilt on my behalf should you be unable, however.

Your sister always,
Ser Kiera Canorus

[unheiring]

[When Polaris returns, she comes with a wrapped stack of blank paper. Don't be a monster, Kiera. Stop destroying books.]

Ser Aurelius,

Do not think I missed your faux pas there. Do you think that your current condition strikes you from the family line? I cannot imagine Father would feel that way. He would, does love you unconditionally, just as I do.

I am glad you have been able to achieve some level of comfort. I cannot imagine it was easy to accept, voluntary or no. I am glad, though, that you are caring for yourself. Just as we both know how you would regret it had you not.

Trust that I wish I could be with you in this time as well. I know you are struggling deeply, and if we were both not keenly aware of how difficult my presence would prove to be, I would be there in but a moment.

Dearest sister, I do hope you know that a romance could be made out of anything. Might I regale you with the one about the Cataegan Emissary and the heir to the Phoenix? Something tells me you would truly hate that. Still, I am glad you have found enjoyment within other pages. Will you tell me your favorite so far?

Pinto fares well, as to all the chicks. They remain obscenely plump, thanks to a kind benefactor who learned from your ways. You are quite welcome.

As for my own thoughts, I fear they verge on the romantic. There is something I neglected to tell you before trouble struck. Truly I felt... ashamed to talk about it, and also didn't want to trouble you with things I know you feel distaste for. But... Zahliya and I separated in the wake of Clive's absence. I said some rather untoward things to him, and though I have apologized, he has requested time and space.

It... has made things difficult. I suspect that is why my powers have been manifesting as they have. An influx of emotions combined with additional power has been... difficult.

In any case, I do so miss you. I eagerly await the moment in which this new curse releases you.

Your faithful brother,
Luca Aurelius

PS: Rip another piece of paper from a book and I will rip a chunk of hair from your head. Use paper like the civilized harlot I know you to be.

sometime in late may

[kingincognito]

[ For the past week or so, Joshua has been watching. Waiting. Holed up in his house, mostly, save for the occasional expedition back to the portal to the Library to look for the currently unnamed spirit there.

But the reality of his situation eventually settles in on him, and one evening, the silence of being alone in a house meant for many is too much to bear. So, out he goes.

He's different than the last time he'd stepped into the bar. A werefox now, rather than a vampire, so the click of low leather heels is replaced by the silence of paw pads. Despite the orange fur and the fox snout that have changed his face, his hair is rather unmistakable, though his ears are limp and folded back rather than perked and alert and his tail hangs motionless behind him.

The first thing he does is find Luca. Because Founder, does he need the company of someone he knows. But also-- ]

... might I have a bowl of stew? Please.

[ --he hasn't eaten in Founder knows when, and he's feeling it. ]

[unheiring]

[Luca has, admittedly, kept a close eye out for Joshua. The back to back losses aren't lost on Luca. He's familiar with the weight of that sort of grief, more than he cares to admit. Crushing as he knows it to be, he can't help but worry.

The changes Joshua displays are different, but not too alarming, considering Luca's had a month to get used to these strange transformations. If anything, he feels guilty for how easy it is to read Joshua's mood.

But he doesn't say anything right away. He gives a nod to Joshua before heading to the pot. He ladles out a decent helping — not too large and overwhelming, but not too small, either — all while making sure no carrots make it through. It's slid across the bar to the other man, and quickly joined by a glass of water.]

You don't have to ask. [Luca chews on his cheek for a few seconds, contemplating asking after him. He's pretty sure he knows the answers to whatever questions he may ask, though, which leaves him instead settling for:]

I'm glad you're here.