Qia

Recollections: Primal Sinister

_{Interactions/Mentions: Luciana/Loni @FernStone, Elijah @Theyra, Quill @PatientBean}

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Elena halted abruptly, her heart pounding in her chest as the doppelganger materialized before her, effectively obstructing her retreat to the sanctuary of the circle. Its grotesque grin expanded unnaturally, revealing a row of razor-sharp teeth glimmering like tarnished daggers in the murky light. A swell of nausea twisted in her stomach upon sighting this, overwhelming her with a wave of dread as the reality of her vulnerability washed over her, leaving her feeling exposed and powerless in the face of this sinister apparition.

From the depths of the circle, Luciana's delicate sobs penetrated the oppressive atmosphere, serving as a fragile lifeline that beckoned Elena back from the abyss of her terror. She understood that she needed to escape, that every second counted. Yet, the monstrous figure loomed ominously in front of her, its claws catching the dim light as it raised them with malice, the seconds elongating into an agonizing eternity, suffocating her resolve.

“What a sweet gesture,” it jeered, its voice saturated with contempt and insincerity. The sound reverberated through her, sending a jolt of ice coursing down her spine, making reality feel like it was teetering on the edge of obliteration. In an instant, the creature had the power to extinguish her life, as well as Loni, and perhaps even little Luciana's, in a single, merciless strike.

Yet, in a shocking twist, the doppelganger hesitated.

Its clawed hand quavered suspended in the air, its unnatural eyes flickering with a flash of an unexpected emotion—anguish. Elena's astonished gaze darted to the creature's arm, where the gaping wound from Elijah’s spear appeared more pronounced. The monster's previous aggression faltered as its movements slowed, the strike directed at her becoming sluggish and painfully obvious in its intent.

In that pivotal moment, instinct surged forth, shattering the paralyzing grip of fear that had anchored her in place. With a swift, decisive motion, Elena ducked, the lethal swipe narrowly missing her and allowing her to scramble backward, her boots slipping on the sugar-dusted surface beneath her. The adrenaline coursed through her veins as she fought against the disorienting haze of panic, determined to reach safety more than ever before. Because she had a chance.

Just as Elena began to twist herself toward the sanctuary of the circle, a blur materialized in her peripheral vision. From nowhere, Elijah appeared, his spear driving forward with deadly precision, the tip aimed squarely at the creature’s grotesque form. The spear seemed to cut through the air itself, its momentum a razor-sharp promise of salvation. For a heartbeat, the world froze, her gaze locked on the gleaming weapon as if it carried the weight of all their hopes.

The doppelganger’s unnaturally oily black eyes flicked downward to track the spear’s trajectory. A guttural snarl tore from its throat, echoing through the bakery like the wail of a predator caught unawares.

All the while, Elena’s instincts screamed at her to move, but her body remained paralyzed by the visceral collision of events—Elijah's sudden appearance, the monstrous howl, and the impending clash that promised either victory or utter catastrophe.

Claws lashed out lethargically at Elijah, even as the spear plunged with brutal precision into the doppelganger’s abhorrent body. The impact was horrifyingly visceral and was followed by the creature’s guttural screech as the spear struck true. The doppelganger's repulsive form convulsed violently in response to the puncture, and for a fleeting moment, Elena feared it might somehow elude its grim destiny once more. However, as reality reclaimed its hold, the creature's body slumped to the ground, its sinister grin diminishing into a pallid, lifeless mask as it uttered its farewell: “This is just… the beginning…”

As the doppelganger collapsed, the suffocating atmosphere within the bakery seemed to lift, as if the encroaching darkness had inhaled its final, rattling breath. The creature’s disfigured features melted away into an otherworldly visage, rendering it unrecognizable and no longer bound by its perverse impersonation of humanity. Elena's chest heaved as she surveyed the lifeless entity, a tide of nausea crashing through her at the grotesque spectacle. Even in repose, the sight of the thing seemed to instill a deep unease within her.

Suddenly, Luciana’s heart-wrenching wails splintered the tenuous silence, and Elena whipped her gaze toward the little girl, her heart constricting at the sheer terror in Luciana’s cries. The cry yanked her from her stupor, urging her to take a cautious step back toward the protective circle as Loni, visibly worn and wounded, enveloped her daughter tightly in her embrace, murmuring soft reassurances that sought to soothe her. She made sure to grab the torn bag this time, taking careful steps toward the descending barrier to avoid spilling the rest of its contents.

Elena’s gaze was first drawn to Loni’s wan complexion as she got closer, the noticeable tremor in her hands, and the vivid red stain unfurling across her jumper. She knelt beside her, her heart filled with concern and determination.

“We’re safe, thanks to you,” Elena whispered gently, her words intended to soothe both mother and child in that moment of fear. Relying on instinct, she placed a calming hand on Loni’s uninjured arm, her own fingers quivering ever so slightly with apprehension. “But we should probably take care of that injury now,” she continued, gesturing towards the jagged claw marks marring Loni’s shoulder.

Before Loni could voice any objections, Quill materialized with a first aid kit in hand; her swift and assured movements helped to alleviate some of Elena’s residual anxiety. In a moment of clarity, Elena handed over the sugar just as she started applying first aid.

“Combine this with the salt and press it into the wound—it should help to stem the bleeding until better help shows up,” she said.

As the other woman finished with the first aid, Elena then did her best to answer her inquiry.

“I… don’t know everything,” she admitted, her tone cautious. “It showed up looking like someone else. Started messing with people’s heads—turned them into puppets, basically.” Her brow furrowed as she glanced toward the lifeless body on the floor, now reduced to something unrecognizable. “Whatever that thing was… it wasn’t human. But I guess you figured that out already.”

Realms of Sun & Shadow

_{Interactions/Mentions: @c3p-0h Amaya, @The Muse Flynn}

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Elara lingered hesitantly by the door, her fingers delicately resting against the robust wooden frame as Kira's footsteps gradually receded into the encroaching darkness beyond. The redhead’s ominous warning echoed resoundingly within the confines of her mind, stirring a tumultuous knot of anxiety deep in her core. What precisely did Kira intend with her cryptic words? Was it simply a caution, or had she discerned something more urgent, something Elara had been blissfully oblivious to?

For a moment, curiosity ignited within her thoughts as she pondered who this woman truly was. That glimmer of familiarity, intensified by the fervent urgency in her tone and the poignant sorrow in her gaze, hinted that she was not merely a stranger moving through Elara's life. Elara bit down on her lip, lost in contemplation, yet she swiftly dismissed those musings. Amaya was still mending and the uncertainty regarding whether Kira would actually fulfill her request remained up in the air, after all.

Elara turned away from the door and slid the bolt into place with a deliberate click, her hands quivering with an amalgamation of emotions. “Secured,” she whispered gently to herself, her voice barely breaking the silence of the room; it felt as if she were trying to convince herself that this small act could guard them against any lurking dangers outside. Her gaze drifted toward the fireplace, where the flames frolicked, casting undulating shadows that danced across the walls. Before it, Amaya stirred minutely in her slumber, her features twitching as if she were ensnared in a vivid reverie. Elara hastily traversed the room, kneeling beside the Princess to wrap the blankets snugly around her delicate shoulders.

“You’re safe here,” she whispered, even as Kira’s ominous words gnawed at her conscience, planting seeds of doubt that resolutely refused to dissipate. Her gaze risked a glance at the window, where her pale blue eyes caught a fleeting manifestation of her reflection in the glass. Outside, the snow glistened enchantingly beneath the moon's gentle luminescence, appearing tranquil yet deceptively serene. Nonetheless, the disquieting sensation that someone—or something—was scrutinizing them remained, an unwelcome shadow that clung to her.

Suddenly, the serene atmosphere shattered as the unmistakable sound of frantic footsteps raced toward her abode, a relentless pounding resounding against the door. Elara gasped, her heart hammering wildly within her chest, as a surge of shock and fear coursed through her veins. However, her apprehensions were swiftly alleviated when she recognized Flynn’s unmistakable voice resonating from the other side of the door. A wave of relief washed over her like a comforting blanket, prompting her to cast a fleeting glance at Amaya, who remained entirely undisturbed in her peaceful slumber.

With newfound purpose, Elara hastened toward the door, shifting the bolt aside to create just enough space for the entrance to yield. There stood Flynn, his silhouette stark against the frosty night sky, looking breathless and slightly dishevelled, as though he had rushed to her side without a moment's respite. His cheeks flushed pink from the biting cold and the vigorous exertion of sprinting, while an intense urgency sparked in his eyes, mirroring the very feelings that had earlier gripped Elara in their icy clutches.

Elara carefully observed Flynn as, upon spotting his wife’s frame behind her, he passed her and entered the cottage, his very presence suffusing the cramped space with an effortless assurance that both soothed and disquieted her. He had perpetually exuded this aura of unspoken dominion, an implicit ability to captivate attention without any overt displays. Yet, as he advanced toward Amaya, his gaze entirely affixed on her, Elara felt that familiar, delicate ache blossom in her chest once more akin to the sensations she had grappled with previously.

As Flynn knelt beside Amaya, a gentleness emanated from him that should have provided solace. His fingers delicately brushed away an errant wisp of hair from the Princess’s brow, hovering momentarily before withdrawing, and his voice, now a tender murmur as he uttered her name, conveyed an intimate comprehension that Elara found impossible to overlook. The slight way in which Amaya stirred, almost as if instinctively gravitating toward him even in the depths of slumber, only intensified the growing knot of worry nestled within Elara’s abdomen.

Still positioned near the entrance, Elara kept her hands interlaced before her, a gesture of both restraint and observation. Gratitude washed over her—a profound acknowledgment that Flynn had arrived, that Kira had done as she’d asked. Yet beneath this gratitude lurked an unwelcome pang, a quiet realization that she remained at the periphery of a bond that felt deeply intimate and unarticulated between them—an acute sense of exclusion from a connection that flickered more brilliantly in their presence.

Almost like I do.

“She’s stable now,” Elara finally said. “I’ve done what I can, but she’ll need rest to fully recover.”

Nocturnal Memoirs: An Urban-Fantasy Mafia Epic

@ERode This sounds pretty doable :)

Nocturnal Memoirs: An Urban-Fantasy Mafia Epic

@ERode ohh gotcha. I think her finding out could either be Bella meeting with Mathias either coincidently or intentionally (we can decide that in the possible collab?) or she could find out through a trusted informant about it :)

Nocturnal Memoirs: An Urban-Fantasy Mafia Epic

Alright, collab with Est and Yankee done.

Est, for reference on the finalized deal before I post it up:

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Anyways, will maybe wait on some words from Qia and Evierose regarding muh previous pings. Or maybe I post and kick off a proper war.

@ERode

wait sorry what previous pings? May have missed it.

Umbra: The Abyssal Connection

A

_{Interactions/Mentions: VV-@Estylwen, Wren-@SporkoBug, Val-@Herald}

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Through her hazy vision, A noticed a movement. VV shifted closer to the bright, laser bars, and as A blinked slowly against the relentless pounding in her forehead, VV’s outline became clearer. The faint, unpleasant smell of burnt hair pricked at her senses and she also briefly registered the red beams of light casting soft, flickering patterns on the walls around them.

A tried to push herself up even further, but her arms shook under the effort, feeling heavy as if weighed down by stones. Her body refused to listen to her commands, and though the ache in her chest had lessened, it remained. Giving up for now, she allowed her eyes to wander, catching fleeting glimpses of the others. Yet, her focus quickly returned to VV, who had posed a question that A wondered herself.

“Why…” she whispered, feeling a fresh wave of shame wash over her as she recalled the outcome of her “duel”. The medication had numbed her feelings, that much she recalled, making her feel like she was floating in a fog. Perhaps, to fight against it, she had pushed herself too much, and instead of channelling her energy outward, it had spiralled back on her. “I didn’t mean to throw it,” she added, a little louder this time. “I wasn’t…in control.”

For once.

A hadn’t felt this lost since she first discovered her powers.

“A… A, let's leave. The doctors won't find anything good. It's just Umbra all over again. I'll destroy this door, and we can just… get away…”

A took a moment to really consider VV’s suggestion. Her eyes then darted over to Val, who chimed in with his support for whatever decision they might reach. There was something both disquieting and strangely comforting about his reaction, specifically how he seemed to calmly accept whatever dangers he might face with people he’d practically just met. As he rolled his neck, a smile appeared on his face, creating a peculiar contrast with the seriousness of their predicament.

The redhead shifted her position on the narrow mattress, her fingers weakly gripping the rough material beneath her. The thought of leaving this place behind was incredibly alluring, yet it also felt like trying to run away from a shadow, Umbra’s or her own A couldn’t exactly say. No matter where they attempted to flee, she knew the burden of being outsiders, from the Above, would inevitably follow them.

A soft crackling sound captured her focus then, and A instinctively winced a little as the commanding voice of the general boomed through the intercom. After he gave his brief instruction, A let out a tired sigh.

“Where…where would we go if we actually decided to leave?” she asked Val, her eyes wandering over to Wren after. “And if you’re anything like us, you already know that Umbra isn’t going to let us walk away without a fight.”

Which meant, they were surrounded by potential enemies with few allies.

“I think…I think we stay.” Besides, with her current state, how could she be of any real help?

Nocturnal Memoirs: An Urban-Fantasy Mafia Epic

I told myself that I will sit down and sort all of this out on Friday given the holidays atm :) so will get back to who I need to then.

Realms of Sun & Shadow

_{Interactions/Mentions:@PrinceAlexus Sya}

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“I’ll write,” Orion promised gently, his crimson eyes meeting Sya's wide blue one with sincerity. “Even if it’s just a note or a few words, you’ll hear from me. And when I do visit again, we’ll share that drink you’re so insistent on.”

When she moved to hug him, Orion remained still for a moment, once again caught off guard by the gesture. Her small frame leaned into his, and he hesitated, unsure of how to respond, before carefully placing a hand on her back. As Sya pulled away, Orion watched her with a quiet intensity, his crimson eyes following her movements as she approached the door of the inn.

“Take care, Lady Sya,” the man said softly, his voice carrying the reverence usually reserved for long-time friends.

Perhaps one day, there would be a true meaning behind those words.

For now, Orion lingered a moment longer near the door, his eyes tracing the path of her shimmering blue scales as they slipped inside the inn, disappearing into its cozy arms. The faint sound of her staff’s concerned voices carried out, blending with the laughter and crackle of fires from the town square. As Orion watched, he noticed the delicate imprint of an S etched into the snowy ground and a smile crept onto his face, brightening the early afternoon despite the lack of sun.

“Cracked eggs,” he chuckled to himself, the absurdity of the phrase lightening his spirit, as Orion shook his head in disbelief. With a final glance at the traces of her presence, he turned away, the sound of his footsteps crunching on the snow. He adjusted the collar of his coat out of warm-blooded habit, pulling it closer against the chill he barely felt. All the while, his thoughts wandered as he walked, thinking about everything that had transpired over his short “holiday”, if calling it that wasn’t a stretch. The man had simply wanted a respite from his duties and, as always, had gotten more than he could chew. Still, he was still able to find at least a few silver linings.

He had made a friend. Although she was bolder in showing her feelings, he appreciated the connection nonetheless.

Furthermore, his relationship with Kira had transformed from just nods and sideways glances to, well…something more. They were at least talking to each other now.

His boots crunched steadily against the snow as he wandered toward the quieter outskirts of the square. The distant laughter and chatter of the town began to fade, replaced by the soft sigh of the wind threading through the narrow streets. Orion welcomed the quiet, the space to let his thoughts settle. The snow sparkled under the dim moonlight, casting a shimmering silver carpet across the ground, an enchanting sight that made the world appear enchanted —as if time itself had paused to admire its beauty.

Yet, tranquillity, as always for him, was often short-lived.

Suddenly, a sound pierced the quiet—a blend of hurried footsteps and hushed voices, carried by the breeze. Orion's keen ears picked up the urgency coloring their whispers, a subtle hint that something was amiss. With a quirk of concern etched on his brow, he quickened his step, drawn toward the commotion. It grew louder as he approached and, soon, the glow of torches flickered in the distance.

As he rounded the corner, the scene unfolded slowly before him. A group of guards stood, their bodies stiff as iron bars, weapons ready. They gathered in a tight-knit circle, voices low but animated until Orion approached. One guard’s gaze shot towards him, and he stepped forward, hand raised high.

“Halt!” the guard commanded. “Who goes there?” His eyes narrowed, a hawk sizing up its quarry, uncertain yet resolute in his duty. Orion straightened his back in turn, feeling the weight of countless stories behind his name as his reddish eyes sparkled dimly under the flickering torchlight.

“Orion Nightingale. Advisor to the prince,” he replied, “What’s the issue?”

The guard hesitated, a flicker of doubt crossing his face, glancing nervously at his brothers-in-arms, before turning his attention back to Orion. “It’s... the princess,” he murmured. “She was attacked by…something. We suspect blightborn.” His gaze shamelessly scrutinized Orion, drawing a comparison between him and the lurking menace.

“Much like yourself.”

A fleeting shadow crossed the guard’s features, as if he sensed the irony in his words, his pulse quickening with a fear that Orion could practically feel in the energies around him. “We’re looking for her now,” he finally concluded.

Orion’s deep red eyes narrowed, revealing a tinge of annoyance at the guard's half-hearted words. He knew all too well the skepticism and disdain that men like this guard felt towards beings such as him. Yet, the urgency of the situation demanded his full attention. “Where was she last seen?” he asked instead.

The guard gulped nervously, his finger pointing toward an icy path blanketed in white. “Down that road,” he said, his voice shaking. “The… thing she was with—he threatened to tear through them like they were nothing. It got one of them, you see. One of her guards.”

Orion’s eyes flitted towards the designated trail. The snow lay like a pale blanket, but beneath its surface were traces of movement—fragile footprints and faint drag marks almost lost in the silvery glow of the moonlight. An unsettling feeling crawled up his spine, as if the very night itself was alive and watching. The air was laced with a ghostly essence of magic, a sour taste lingering like spoiled milk, making his teeth grate together in discomfort.
“Split up and search for the princess,” he ordered. “Avoid engaging any threats alone. If you stumble upon anything out of the ordinary, summon help immediately.” The guards exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting unspoken fears, but they obeyed, breaking into smaller clusters before slipping away.

Meanwhile, Orion stepped toward the path, his mind already concocting horrible images of the scene he was sure to find himself in.

Umbra: The Abyssal Connection

this week might be a little busy for me cus of Christmas, but aiming to get something up by Friday

Umbra: The Abyssal Connection

Important question. Is Roose pettable? Asking for science.