Don't Hug the Kenku (Hug the Kenku) (Closed)

Nevin smiled pleasantly at the person who had just left the shop, then slumped down, his shoulders sagging. Ever since he had gone to the church - and since he and Philomel had dealt with Berak - he had been seeing a huge upsurge in business. There was a healthy mixture of regular church members, easily identified by the bright, smiling faces and the way they seemed to never buy anything - but were instead content to just be in the shop while he was there. Then there were the ‘Gallery’ members - still smiling, but with darker edges to it. They preferred to buy things from him, usually potions that had blood in them in some way.

Then there were the regular patrons, or the more well to do ones. People who were just trying to go about their business as they always had. Nevin had finally had to give in and push his hours more into the day time and less into the depths of night, as more and more people were demanding his services in the day time. It had caused some friction for him with his older clientele base until he had finally set aside three nights where he would stick with the older schedule.

And finally - he had had a steady stream of ladies of the night. Apparently, with the murderous alchemist dead, they felt safe visiting alchemists again, and many of them needed to be resupplied on the roots and herbs that they used to mitigate certain inevitable risks of their profession. Several of them had apparently remembered him as the man who came to the funeral for one of their own, and word had spread. He was mildly disconcerted with the fact that many of them would flirt with him - despite his rather verbal protests that he was a taken man. Eteri had even lashed out at one of them once, almost scarring the poor woman's face. The poor girl claims she does not remember attacking the courtesan, which was cause for concern.

After that, they had at the very least backed down when Eteri was present. Which had led to Nevin doing his best to always keep Eteri in the shop. He couldn’t tell if Eteri was helping him, tiring him out more, or a mix of the both. Her incessant need for her more devious needs and her inability to mix a potion, and his desire to keep from being the target of affection was a confusing mix that was - reassuring. It was normal.

He could almost forget the other concerns in his life, forget about what he was becoming, forget about the slender volume on the back of his store, forget about having to kill Berak for venturing into forbidden Alchemy. He could almost forget about his lover’s time limit, forget about the oncoming storm that he had promised to help Vitruvion and Stare with. The redhead could just lose himself in the mundane, pleasant work of his profession.

An older woman came in, and Nevin was dragged out of his thoughts as she started peering around the shop, trying to find something. He straightened his back, and placed a pleasant smile on his face. He was tired - but still work had to be done. Eteri was in the back at the moment - so he couldn't ask her to help the woman find what she was looking for. He cleared his throat, and the woman blinked and turned in his direction, peering at him from behind oversized glasses.

“What can I help you with, madam?”

I looked myself up and down in the mirror. The streak of red in my messy azure bob still stood out, bright. Nevin had dyed it again. This time using what he insisted was hair dye and not clothes dye. I still didn’t see the difference between the two. I reached up and tugged on it. The hair wasn’t as dry nor as brittle. Nevin had lovingly put a conditioning treatment in it. He even offered to dye more of my hair, but...I liked the single red streak that framed my face. It was a silly notion...but it felt like a part of him was always with me.

Then again that may be because I literally carried around a locket with a piece of his soul in it. I clasped a clawed hand around it. Still staring at myself in the mirror. Souls...the dark soul that was only the smallest of fragments within me had grown. Branched out. When I looked at myself it looked like a burnt tree with branches that spread out to my arms and head. It was...dark, and a little cold - but beautiful in a way.

The woman who stared back at me wore an Akashiman shrine outfit made of red and white, albeit a little shorter and low-cut than the traditional garb, altered for ‘fashion’ I wasn’t exactly the ideal picture of someone who was a god's right hand…

It was still funny to think about. Nevin...a god...but, he would be - no. Was my god. I grinned and my reflection grinned back.

It was late afternoon and he was working hard in his shop. There had been an increased influx of customers lately. Most of them were from the church, wanting to see Nevin in action and to buy his wares. Others were just catching onto what was ‘trendy’ and ‘trendy’ was well - Nevin. My Nevin.

A low growl rumbled up from my gut as a wave of possessive envy flooded through me. I took a deep breath and calmed myself down. They did not mean anything, they did not want them for themselves, and it’d be horribly selfish of me to not let Nevin help those in need.

That’s what gods did right? It’s what we did with the little boy. We helped him and now he was in a better place. And not the ‘bad’ type of better place. The ‘good’ type.

Giving myself a final once over in the mirror, and readjusting the bells that jingled from my tail. Tying an extra knot in them I felt ready. Ready to tackle the customers, maybe literally, and help Nevin today.

I burst through the small wooden door that lead from the front of the shop into the attached house. It bounced off its hinges. Nevin turned to me with wide crimson eyes, holding a vial of bright blue liquid out to a very frightened looking older lady.

“E-Eteri?”

I grinned and practically jumped toward him. In two swift leaps I landed on his back.

‘Oomph.’ He struggled to right himself as he completed the transaction, the old lady quickly shuffled out the store.

“What her problem?” I muttered.

“You ah....burst into the store and jumped toward her - I am sure she was worried you were about to attack. Eteri, ah..must you do that?”

I grinned, I had been nibbling on the back of his neck. I nodded. “Yes. Must. Nevin taste good. Nevin look tired. Will help.” I nuzzled into him. The store, for the smallest of moments was empty.

“Ate many irons today.” I purred into his ear. His body stilled as his breathing picked up slightly. I heard a very slight growl slip from his lips. The thought excited him.

Such a thing always seemed to revitalise him, among other things. I knew it’d be a distraction but he was just serving customers today right? Would it really matter so much if he took my blood here?

I blinked, my face turned red as a lewd thought crossed my mind. I whispered my intentions into his ear; how I could oh so easily hide under the counter and ensure he had a very, very good day.

“I-I don’t think that’s a good idea. Later, Love.” His face was very red, and my wandering hands could see how much he liked that idea.

“Fine. Fine.” I lifted my hands up and away from him and slipped from his back and onto the counter. “Then just take Eteri blood?” I yawned and stretched out on the counter. “As much as need.”

He looked thoughtful, and like he was about to accept my offer - when the door chimed, and he turned around to greet the customer coming in. I sighed, he was going to work himself sick if he kept this up.

“Nevin butt.” I muttered.

“Seriously, crow, you did not need to come,” he scowled as he tried to sit up. Lines of pain crossed over his face, harsh and horrible and unforgiving. Instinctively Stare reached out and curled an arm under his shoulders to support him, her eyes narrowed.
“Elf,” she looked at the injured elf seriously. “You look awful. Seriously awful.” He made an agonising face and she firmly then brought up a hand to press him back down to the bed. It took a moment of struggling between the two wills for him to grunt and then slump back down onto the cushions and blankets.

They were in Bottleberry Avenue, within the house that Vitruvion had bought there. Raevin lay on a futon that had been set up on the lower floor, resting his legs … leg.

Stare had been horrified when she had seen it. The whole section below the left knee for the elf had been severed and the end burnt to black. Healers had been called upon but n the best they had been able to do was remove any more dead flesh, which had continued up his body to under his armpit. Now he looked like a mummified corpse, but one who had only been half wrapped, with his arms bare and his good leg still working. What was possibly the worst part, however, was that the damaging blow had also managed to hit part of his sensitive area. None had mentioned it yet, but it was likely Raevin would never be a father.

Stare pushed him back onto the cushions, and forced him to relax. He had started when she had come into the room, but she herself was not having that.

“I was in the city anyway,” she explained, “I planned to come here to stay the night anyway. But then I heard that you had been struck.” She paused. “Surely you're an elf. You have some form of magic to help heal …”

The man shook his head, screwing up the covers with a tightening fist. “It's dark magic, crow. Mixed with demon. Not even your master could.”

“Employer,” Stare reprimanded him.

A pale eyebrow rose, reading to touch the brown hair before Raevin grimaced again. He screwed up his face as he leant to the side and coughed loudly. Immediately Stare's arms were out, one draped over his shoulders.

“Elf …” she sighed. “You need to come back to Beinost. There you can-”

“I am not bringing whatever magic attacked me back into our city,” Raevin said decidedly, leaning forwards limply. Despite his condition he still seemed strong enough to let his thoughts known. “Sir Elssmith has enough troubles on his own.”

“How - what happened?” Stare asked him quietly, running a hand on his back lightly as he coughed more, careful not to scar him with her claws.

The elf looked at her a moment with his pale green eyes before sighing. “The attack came when we least expected it. In the middle of the day. There were maybe ten of them, with at least two mages. Brer took one down,” he spoke of their half-giant colleague. “And the other … he was more powerful. He slaughtered one of us, then I went for him. I managed to kill him but lost my leg.”

Starr found herself nodding. She had suffered similarly at the hands of the same sort of mage. A demon one, bound to the lord Sabazios, the same demon lord who had been manipulated by Vitruvion's half brother. A man who seemed intent on bringing down Vitruvion's downfall and who had ordered the attack on the brewery that Raevin had been involved with, and the attack on the merchant ships that Stare had just come from.

“You … are here why?”

The kenku breathed in. “Ships. We have lost two, plus a whole bulk load of cargo in one. The other, the Zephyr, is now anchored in a small town up north. Where the faun keeps hers.”

Raevin blinked heavily. “I see,” he grunted.

She paused for a moment. “Elf, the maid said that you have not yet shown any signs of good recovery. She said you have tried every healer available.”

The guard captain groaned. “Crow, if you are going to try to suggest another person who will just come in here and prod me-”

“No,” she shook her head, her eyes bright and gently helped him to lie back down. “No, I'm more thinking … what about Nevin? He is here, he is an alchemist. And - he has magic that even Vitruvion has trouble understanding. He should be able to help.”

Raevin looked at her a while, then blinked and grunted. “So long as he doesn't poke at the bloody things.”

The kenku smiled and patted his shoulder. “I will specifically ask him not to.” Then she paused. “Oh and also. Bloody - I know I am immortal now.”

There was a brief look of guilt that came over Raevin's face. Then he smiled awkwardly. Clearly he had known as well. Another person who had known, and not been willing to let her know, even though she believed it her right. “Well …”

She folded her arms grumpily as she sat back in the chair. “Yeah. The bastard didn't even tell me.”

“He didn't want to lose you,” the elf said quietly.

“Hmm,” she rolled her eyes. “But he did not have to wait until I actually died for me to fully find out.”

I accept your thankful gratification for the gift, a voice in her head said. Stare paused, then groaned and ground her eyes at the permanent cuff on her wrist.

“For one moment there,” she told Raevin, “I actually forgot about him.”

---

She strode in, dressed in her finest tunic, her daggers and helmet attached to her belt. Her dark eyes darted around the room, different from his one in Stonevale but still with a degree of familiarity. Her nostrils flared a little, and then she rolled her shoulders back before she looked at the counter and the couple of people before it.

One was old and another young. They were speaking in low voices, eager apparently to conduct their business with the proprietor in relevant privacy. Respectfully she stood behind them and waited for her turn.

“Alright alright, yes. I understand.” Nevin waved his hands placatingly at the couple in front of him. “She has a steady, high fever that has resisted all the standard medications, and you're both concerned someone has targeted her. Right - alright please calm down.” He sharpened his gaze at one of them, the young man, and swatted away the tail that had drifted in front of his face.

“Eteri. Please. Now. You two. I'll give you a selection of some general antioxidants to use - Eteri. Tail, back.” He turned his head to shoot a soft glare at the woman on the counter behind him.

She grumbled and sat up so she was no longer laying across the counter. She curled her legs up underneath her and shot him a small pout. “Thank you, dear. Now, gentlemen. Each night, give her a different of these serums. If one of them works, then we will know she actually has been poisoned. Until then - I would advise you wait and be patient.” With that, he stepped past the two men - and froze, his eyes widening.

“Stare!” A wide grin broke out on his face and he had to visibly stop himself from striding over to her. “I'll be with you in a moment, Stare.” She gave a single nod but nothing more. He moved noticeably quicker to the shelf he had been moving toward, and unlocked it swiftly. He pulled out a small selection of bottles and moved to the counter - swatting Eteri’s thigh when she tried to shift into his way.

“Behave, Eteri.” He started to ring up the transaction for the men, who were now swiveling their heads between the three people in the store, gawping at the catgirl, then at the kenku, then at the alchemist - until he handed them their bill.

“B-but… that is-” Her golden eyes were focused on the kenku behind him, pointing at Stare. Nevin hushed her and her ears fell flat against her head as she lowered her hand and shoved it into her lap, grumbling in Akashiman. Stare looked back with stoicism, hands cupped before her. The older man paid, with a loud grumble - and the two customers departed.

“Now - what were you trying to say, Eteri? And hello, Stare.” Nevin smiled warmly at the kenku after raising his eyebrow at his girlfriend.

Stare took a slow steps forwards, looking briefly between Eteri and Nevin. Breathing slowly she said nothing before she came right up to the counter.

“Hello,” she spoke in a calm, measured tone. “I see you have the cat on your desk.” She kept passive. Nevin blinked, slowly, and tilted his head to the side, trying to process this.

“Nevin! Nevin!” Eteri pointed to the bird. “This Stare. We helped man once. Had ah… leech uhm … symbol on his soul.” She sat up on her knees and fell backward into his chest, he had to fumble to catch her, to avoid her falling off the counter.

“Symbiote, Eteri,” Stare reminded her, and then frowned. <“It is good to see you,”> She said in Akashiman, the switched back to common. “… but honestly, you should behave more professionally in a store like this. You can always do that sort of thing in your own time. In the comfort of your own home.” Then she folded her arms. “Anyway, Nevin, when you have the time I need to talk to you about a serious matter.”

The alchemist blinked. <”Wait, you two know each other - soul leech symbiote OK what? I feel like I've missed some things here. Uh - right. Hold on. Stare, is this a business thing, or personal?”> Nevin blinked and tilted his head to the side, looking between the women for a moment before turning his gaze exclusively to the bird woman. As he spoke he righted Eteri and kept his hand against her back.

Stare looked between them a while, blinking a little before going on. “Yes, I told you when you were last in Beinost, Nevin, I knew a person of the catfolk called Eteri. It got mentioned when … well, Ventrua ...” she tailed off, a little awkward, then straightened to switch subject and language. <“When did you learn to speak Akashiman? It's not that easy to learn. Harder than kenku but … well.”> She looked over to Eteri. <“Will you please get off the counter? You're not actually a cat.”> Eteri refused and sat right where she was. Stare narrowed her eyes.

“I… Cheated. I think. I still have trouble actually speaking the language, I'm better at understanding it. Right - down you go.” To cut off the glare between the bird and cat woman, Nevin lifted Eteri off of the counter, and shifted her over to the seat he had just vacated. “And - yes. I remember mentioning her there but well - I am trying to repress that morning. She was a rather forceful woman. I - should go lock the door.” He chuckled and shook his head, then snagged up the key and headed towards the front door to flip the sign to closed and lock the door.

By the time he had returned it was obvious Stare was far more relaxed. She held her posture, standing with her back straight and careful, claws linked together. As he walked her eyes shifted focus slightly, and it was then he noticed that a short woolen cloak now covered her back. Underneath them there was a new form of lump, a small and compact but oddly shaped form.

“Stare? Is everything alright with you?” The alchemist paused and frowned. He slowly started to pace back and forth, examining what he could see. He frowned. That was - odd placement. It seemed almost familiar - the lumps were actually two - he raised a crimson eyebrow. “Uh. Do - wait this might be a rude question, I've been told off for that before.” He walked back to the counter and went behind it, leaning against it as he stared at Stare, Eteri followed him and pressed her head underneath his arm so she could hold him from his side.

She raised her brow ridge, looking at him with confusion. She gestured. “Go on, please. I've been asked a hell of a lot worse questions in the last while I'm sure.”

“Do you have wings?” His fingers twitched towards his notebook. He smiled at Eteri as she caught on and reached out, grabbing it and placing it in his hands.

Stare looked at the exchange but she looked more taken aback by his question. She looked away, uncomfortably for a moment before glancing back. There was obvious twitching beneath her cloak. “Yeah … it's … complicated. Vitruvion, he -” she cut off, her eyes glancing to Eteri.

Eteri tilted her head to the side. “Is ok...can go if need private talkings.” Her ears perked up, toward Stare. “No mind.”

Stare shifted slightly. “It's fine, the reason I came here is far more important.” She looked back to Nevin. “The attack on the Brewery happened, Nevin. Raevin was hit by … well, demon magic as far as I can tell. I've got a lot more to tell you about myself but this is what I am here for. He lost an entire leg and his flesh is … dying, but there is nothing that the healers can do.” She set her hands on the counter, her stare intense. “I need your help.”

Nevin’s eyes widened, then narrowed. “Right. OK - the corruption on his leg. Is it a localized issue, such as like a plaque on his skin or, is it more like a true infection, and it extends into his body as well?” Damn. He stepped back and spun his pen in his fingers, humming as ideas chased each other in his head. As he thought he leaned against the chair Eteri was sitting in, pen still spinning in his hand.

“What have they tried? Just curing it? Pulling the magic out? Tried simple medicines maybe?”

Most of their conversation went over my head, I didn’t understand this talk of breweries or legs that didn’t heal with magic. Or anything like that. I didn’t know who or what Raevin was, or why there was demon magic involved in a place that just made and sold alcohol. It made no sense to me.

“No understand…” I mumbled as I tugged gently on Nevin’s sleeve. “Nevin is god right? Nevin can fix with...uh…” I trailed off. I wasn’t sure what his abilities were, nor how much they had grown. But I had seen him grow, and with the prayers of the people in his church...I could tell that he was gaining more confidence. “Can you fix?”

“I can try. Not really on the healing front - more about acceptance. Which I doubt Raevin wants to accept the loss of his leg.” Nevin hummed thoughtfully, still spinning his pen. His eyes weren't focusing on either of us despite apparently responding to my question.

Stare almost choked as she stared at Eteri, eyes massive. “God?! You think - Nevin - well yeah you're the Messiah or whatever of your church and …” she leant back and held up her hands, looking to Nevin. “I mean you can if you want. I'm not jealous.”

I turned to Stare. “He hears prayers. He helps people.” I grinned, tail flicking side to side as I began to grow excited. “Not just messiah!” I held my arms out wide trying to show Stare what I meant, what I had seen in my head. “You see… there place, big place with many sands and dead things and its all red…” I turned and pointed at Nevin’s hair. “Like this! All shades red and - and - he is like - that place will die without him and-” I paused and took a few breaths, I had been talking fast, perhaps too fast for the poor woman to comprehend. I gave her a firm nod. “Nevin. Nevin is most definitely a god. I see the divinity part right here.” I pressed a finger to his chest, pointing at the section of his soul that was coloured slightly different to the rest.

“Yes, I know, I have seen it in his chakras,” the kenku answered back. “But trust me. Prayers don't make someone a god. Power doesn't either. Don't-” she looked at Nevin. “Do not get carried away with this stuff, Nevin. Please. You have a church, that is good, look after your people but … well gods are frigging arrogant and all powerful. Most even omniscient. Call yourself some deity if you want, but be careful. The-” she broke off, dragging in a breath. It seemed she wanted to go on but she turned away, furious.

Nevin blinked, and his eyes refocused and he gave a confused grunt. “Wha - what? Ok what? I - Stare. Stare - I’m currently, at best, a fledgling godling. Fuck, even if I do ‘take over’ the role of my church fully - I’d be nothing like the level of gods like the Thaynes or the Ethereal Sway. I mean - before meeting me, had you ever even heard of the Great Flow of Crimson? I - doubt it. Because whatever the hell I am - not from this world. I doubt my divinity functions the same way they do. Hell, to hear the prayers that Eteri was talking about? The followers have to have a pearl of my blood to form a connection. It’s not like they can just pray all willy-nilly to me and get my answering service.” He spun his pen around and pointed it at Stare. “I’d call what I’m becoming an Outsider at best, not a true God like those you had experience with. Now. My ambiguous state notwithstanding. I believe, I might be able to help Raevin with Alchemy.”

I pouted. Things were turning.... Bad. Stare didn’t seem to like the use of the word god. A part of me wanted to hug it out. Just wrap the giant bird lady up in a giant cuddle and tell her that it was ok. Nevin would do good things. He would not be arrogant and all powerful. He would still be my Nevin. My ears flicked up and I wriggled my nose. It was difficult...being silent for this long as the two spoke. I took a breath and clambered back onto the counter. I could hear Nevins exasperated sigh from behind me as I pushed myself back off the counter (Who has time to walk around it like a normal person?) “Is ok!” I said to Stare with my arms out wide. “Nevin is the modest. Nevin do good. I am Nevin Priestess will reign him in if he do the bad!” I approached her for a hug. She looked odd. Like she was staring off into space. I would fix that.

When I approached Stare suddenly reacted and threw up her hands. She flinched back, away from my arms, making a loud ‘clack’ sound from the inside of her beak. Her eyes narrowed quickly. “Don't you dare, cat!”

I lowered my arms. My shoulders slumped and my ears twisted back against my head. Tail slumping dejectedly between my legs. She didn’t want a hug? Were they really that bad? “B-but you is not look the happy. Eteri not know how help. Only know hug bring happiness.”

“Eteri, honey. Not everyone likes hugs, first off. Some people don’t like contact. Secondly - Stare is really stressed about one of her friends being hurt really badly, and she - has problems with gods. Stop - stop trying to hug the kenku, honey.” Nevin sounded torn, behind me. Like he was trying to be exasperated, but also trying not to laugh, but also not be sad.

I sighed. “Fine.” She was gonna get hugged one day, again. Regardless of if she liked it or not. This whole ordeal felt like it was over my head. That I was just some third character thrown in for comedic relief or something. I wanted to be more useful. I wanted to show him that I would continue to do the best I could - and I wanted to show her… show Stare that I could be useful too. “How help?”

Stare’s jaw seemed to tighten for a moment before she tore her eyes away from me before the bird nodded stiffly. “Raevin is … the injury goes from here,” she gestured to her knobbled leg, “To here,” she placed a hand just under her armpit. They found some dead tissue, some of it even down to bone.” She closed her hands into fists. “And no, I do not like hugs, Eteri, please do not give them to me. I'm not hugely fond of physical contact … just from some people, that I have chosen.” She adjusted herself, and the lumps on her back wriggled around a little. “Can you help him?” she asked Nevin.

She SAYS she doesn’t like hugs - but she just hasn’t had the right hug yet. Still, I nodded. “Eteri understand. Maybe Nevin hugs would be better?”

“Uh. I have hugged her yes - right that’s not the actual important thing here. So - dead tissue to the bone. I - actually can help. Dead tissue is differentiated from living tissue, I can remove it. It will be - weird for him. I don’t know about painful.” Nevin had stopped pointing the pen at Stare - and was in fact, reaching over and placing his hand on the cat’s shoulder, apparently to prevent her from moving towards the Kenku. Stare felt gratitude at that act, breathing in slowly as she tried to sort through the various conversation pieces.

The idea that Nevin was a god was … crazy to her. She knew gods - hells, recently she had even met that Galatirion that Vitruvion seemed best of friends with these days. That was what a god was like. Hearing prayers was impressive though. She knew that once Vitruvion had had such experiences, but that was in a world where he existed alongside his father as a worshipped entity, and was not stuck in human form, disallowed to be worshipped and so on.

Auras. Check them.

Speak of the devil … his clear, aristocratic voice filled her mind.

I'm trying to save Raevin's life here.

I do not deny that I am cautious for his condition also. But we both know you can look and speak. He spoke quicker this time.

State sucked in her breath, as her eyes blinked once and she settled down into the aura sight. Before her were two people, one with comfortable dirt brown aura, suggesting a lean more towards chaotic than his previously more neutral self, the the ugly void that was Eteri. Stare was slightly surprised to not see any of the fragmented souls that she had seen swirling around the catgirl before, but more surprised to see the void where her aura halo should have been having a noticeable mess of black now. The alien soul that still apparently inhabited her soulless body. And there was a tiny glimmer of Nevin’s dirt brown about her neck.

“I believe some of the healers already removed some of the dead tissue, but it keeps coming back. It looks like an infection but is definitely magical in origin.”

Eteri's chakras were also unusual. There was a shimmer of silver that made up the flowing light that was Eteri's power, as well as a thin red thread that was tangled alongside. So she had been born with her powers, there was some genetic element. Stare guessed the silver was her soul associated magic. She breathed in and looked to Nevin. His divine strand was now dominant, strong over his original red, twist. It was not what a full god’s would be - but far more vibrant than what she had seen before. And then he had a third cord, a thin, strangely parchment coloured thread that Stare had seen only once before.

So he's teaching himself magic from books, Vitruvion said, amused. Just like Illiu.

Stare grunted slightly as he spoke of an old friend of Vitruvion's of the University. Now, Raevin ...

“Your power is stronger, Nevin,” Stare said with a small nod as she came back into natural sight. “What do you think you need? Raevin said he is very happy to supply blood of you need to use it for him.”

Nevin hummed and shook his head. He swung his head to Eteri. “Honey, do you remember where the lizard blood is stored? I think that was one of the ones you reorganized.” She gave a small nod and turned to go rummaging through a box that sat behind his counter. His dark red eyes turned back to Stare. “I can use some lizard blood for its mild regenerative property, along with some blood from Raevin. That will give a template to heal towards.” His fingers were flexing and twitching as he was thinking.

“Maybe fit an adjustable prosthetic to him after removing the tainted flesh the magic has set in to, introduce the healing and regenerative serum, then set up an observation period to make sure his body is rejecting neither - and if you or yours can obtain blood from a creature known for regenerating that might be able to speed up the process, lizard blood regeneration is quite weak, even if it is effective.” The man was speaking rapidly, almost under his breath as he thought.

Stare paused a moment, and looked right at him. “What about regeneration within death?” Her heart began to hammer in her chest as she said it, a sudden thought in her mind. “As in … the body regenerates after death has come.”

Eteri returned, tugging Nevin’s sleeve to draw his attention so she could pass him the small vial.

Nevin blinked. His head tilted to the side and he did seem to be pondering it. “It - might be possible. To create a one time usage serum that would grant a single revival heal. In fact - most magics, demonic included, tend to negate themselves on death - they have nothing to anchor themselves to in that case. It might be a way around needing to remove the magic at all - but where in earth would you get blood of a reviving creature? Do you have a Phoenix on tap?”

She breathed in slowly and tightened her jaw, as she had to admit once more to herself again of her annoying immortality. Taking a long deep breath she fixed Nevin with a solid, determined look. “You know where my power comes from, Nevin.” He nodded once, slowly. “If you think that it would work then -” She rolled back her shoulders and pulled out her mythril dagger. She flipped it in the air, caught it so the point was up and then bared her other arm, with the fist tight. “You got a bowl?”

The alchemist blinked. Was she saying - that she had some kind of revival - ah. Of course she was. That made sense - of course he would want to keep her around and hold onto her. He was exactly the kind of - being - that would refuse to let death hold onto her.
Nevin took a deep breath - then gave Eteri a hug as she came up, holding out the bottle to him.

“Thanks dear. Alright. Stare. I'll give this to you then, to help you recover.” He exhaled slowly, then went and grabbed another bottle - an empty one. He already knew his power could circumvent the connection, if that was what the Kenku was concerned with. He'd done it before, with her ability to discern souls. Bottle in hand, he took the dagger from the bird woman. She kept her eyes on him, dark and stoic.

“This - will probably weaken you. This is going to be worse than when you offered up your soul sight - this is much more powerful, so it's going to take more out of you.” He nodded to the bottle of lizard blood on the counter. “You will need that. And need to rest.” And he drove the blade in, piercing the scaly skin of her arm. Bright blood welled up and began to flow into the air, spiraling and condensing into the bottle. The kenku hissed sharply but did not look away.

“I don't age anymore either,” she said in a low voice, tinged with anger. “I'm going to be stuck like this for eternity.”

Eteri’s ears were low against her head. Standing behind Nevin. She didn’t seem too phased by what he was doing. “Eternity. Nevin live for eternity. We think. Not Eteri.” She shifted her eyes away as she kept a hand tightly on the back of his clothing. The man looked over his shoulder to his beloved.

“We are going to be fixing that.” His voice was hard and firm - as he stopped drawing the blood from the wound, and he closed the bottle. It was glowing brightly even in the faded light of the store. His slender fingers picked up the bottle of regenerative fluid - and pressed it into Stare’s hand. “Stare, drink.”

She took the bottle and held it in her fingers. “In all honesty I would recommend having a get out clause. I would have only had another twenty years myself but, I … Dying is hell, immortality … is already a pile of Ansaldo's shit.” And she opened her beak and threw down the potion. She swallowed it, then as she was grimacing held out the empty vial. “Nevin, that tastes vile.”

“Eteri think Nevin should add sugar to potions to make tasting better.” Eteri mumbled, clearly still in a mood. Her ears flipped up toward Stare. “Eteri have ten years. Not think bad. Worry about Nevin.”

Stare flicked her gaze between the two of them. “Most potions would react negatively to the introduction of sugar, Eteri. Unfortunately medicine can't always taste good. And - you do not have to worry about me. I am, will be, fine.” He - didn't sound to certain about that.

Eteri stepped in closer and pressed her head into his back, muffled she said. “I love you.” His right arm went back to where she was, out of Stare’s sight. Threads slid from his hand and wrapped around Eteri’s waist, giving her a comforting squeeze.

“And I love you. I promise. I'll figure something out.”

There was a muttering sound from where Stare was, and it sounded like a few attemptingly hidden clacks and caws under her breath. Nevin let out a breath and looked back to the bird. “Right. So. The medicine should work but you'll need some time before you're really safe to be walking around. Eteri, off please. Kind of hard to walk.” He chuckled as Eteri lifted her head off his back and stepped to the side.

The kenku at this point was looking deliberately away, a hard look in her eyes. “I'm fine, ill be fine. We should get back to Raevin as soon as we can,” she said quietly. Nevin tilted his head to the side. She - was upset. But why? It wasn't like she wanted to hug him - Vitruvion wouldn't let her have real relationships from what she had said. They had settled as good friends - so why did she seem agitated at him giving Eteri affection? And why was Eteri being so quiet? It wasn't like her at all.

Dark eyes slid back and forth between the two women before he blinked. Ah. Maybe this was less to do with who the affection was with, and just the affection itself? He did remember that in Akashima being affectionate where others could see was frowned upon. He didn't realize that Stare had held onto that. He cleared his throat, loudly.

“Well then. I was going to suggest a simple meal, but you are right. We should go to help him as soon as possible.” Maybe if he got them out of the shop, things would be better?

I was trying really hard...I caught on pretty quickly that Stare wasn't comfortable with me being close to Nevin, to hugging him and kissing him and just...experiencing his warmth. Maybe I was being stupid… maybe I was being needy, but not being able to actively do those things kind of… hurt.

Then they were … they were talking about all these things that went completely over my head. I knew I wasn’t very smart, nor wise - in any sense of the words but I felt completely and utterly out of my depth. Did I really deserve to be his priestess if I couldn’t do such simple things? These two worked together so wonderfully, it was like two smaller rivers flowing into a big one.

Then again, Nevin always had that way with people.

I put on my biggest grin and turned to the two. “Mm mm! We can go now yes? Eteri help Stare walk if need?” I would help, in anyway possible. I could at least do that, right?

The kenku looked at me briefly before taking her dagger from the counter and wiping it on her tunic before slipping it back into the sheath. She looked a little weary but since there were feathers it was hard to tell if she was pale. “I'll be …” she paused as she leaned against the table, grunting. Taking in a breath she pushed herself up again. “Yeah, just don't … try to hug me, please.”

I nodded. Little did she know helping her like this was a side hug. So, one point to me I guess? The victory felt hollow as I scampered up to her and draped one arm around her waist, the other I used to steady her as I ducked my head under her arm. “Is feeling the ok? Can walk?”

“It's are you feeling okay, Eteri,” Stare said quietly. “As in …” and she switched to Akashiman. <“Are.”> And she gingerly accepted my support. I nodded and repeated the sentence with her correction. Just as I did with Nevin.

“Are you feeling ok?” The words rolled off the tongue a little easier. I didn’t wait for her to answer, if she could correct my poor speech she was fine. I took two small steps forward and waited as Stare got into the rhythm. We headed to the door and out of Nevin’s store. I had to admit ... It felt kinda weird with her feathers all brustling up against my skin.

Nevin was quiet as he closed and locked the door to the house attached to the shop, then he picked up the bottle with her blood in it. He seemed thoughtful as he walked behind us, watching us.

“We're staying in the house on Bottleberry,” she said, “The one with the huge fancy houses. If you … want to get a carriage then I can pay. It's not too far though.”

“If not far can walk!” I said with a nod. “Got lots energy. All time.” And it was true, especially of late I had far too much to burn. It even exasperated Nevin at times and he was the only one I had ever met….who was so patient with me. I turned over my shoulder to glance at him.

“Is Nevin okay?”

“Hmm?” He blinked and looked at me. “I'm fine, love. Thinking on things.” He gave me a smile. “Thank you for helping her.”

“You tell later.” I muttered. I turned my attention back to the road. It was late evening, so it wasn't as busy as it was during the middle of the day - but there were still people walking. Talking, shifting out of the way and staring at the sight. Nevin and I were fairly well known in the town, Stare - I wasn’t so sure. Maybe it was because she was barely able to stand? I readjusted her with a ‘hup’ and continued on. “Men...never not tell what on minds…” I mumbled to Stare.

The bird was quiet for a moment, her eyes focused forwards. Her chest heaved and I could feel her feathery wings bumping against my arm at her waist. “Yes they can be,” she agreed. “But some women can be too. I'm terrible at it.”

I snorted then laughed. She was like Nevin. It wasn’t surprising that the two were friends. “Do me the favor?” I asked as my laughter died down. “When Eteri die - look after Nevin. He will needing friend like you. Ah-” I shifted again as I tried to point to a house up ahead.

“Is that it?”

Stare looked up, and dragged in a breath. “Yes it is,” she said. “But … Extending your life may be possible, Eteri. Just make sure it's your choice. All of it. When you finally die, because you will want to, how your immortality works,” she looked at me with solid, dark eyes. “Your choice.” Then she pushed away from me suddenly to begin a staggered walk past the narrow gate to the tall terrace town house before us.

I wanted that...I wanted to extend my life, I’d stand by Nevin no matter what it took. Even if the costs were dire, to me - that was my duty. Not just as his partner, his girlfriend but as his priestess. Although Stare couldn’t see it, I gave her a small nod of confirmation and followed her inside.

As Stare strode with a determined stride up the pathway to the townhouse she realised that her and Eteri were strangely similar in some ways. Both of races from Akashima that had short lives themselves, both with some sort of divine being which to spend their remaining lives with. Eteri called herself Nevin's priestess … that was the same term Vitruvion had used for herself when he spoke of his hope for one day actually having a church and the ability to be worshipped. The main difference was of course that Eteri has chosen this life for her - and for Stare, it had been forced. It made the kenku grim and with far too many personal issues.

She got to the door and partly collapsed against the wood, hand fumbling for the handle. She twisted it and stepped in, grumbling in a loud voice. “It's me. Back with the alchemist.”

There was a grunt as a small man stepped into view. He peered at her, then past her at the two others behind her. Stare leant heavily on the doorway as she sighed and gestured Nevin and Eteri into the building.

“Jon, this is Nevin and his partner, wife, whatever Eteri. They are here to see Raevin. Give them everything they request and …” she looked back at them. “I'm going to just get some tea. I'll bring it up. Raevin is upstairs.”

Nevin had curled his arm around Eteri’s waist as they were introduced, and it looked like it had been an automatic gesture. He bowed his head to the man who was letting them in. “I just need to see the way to Raevin.” His tone was calm and polite, then he switched his gaze to Stare. “And thank you.”

The kenku grunted as she moved inside, giving them the room to get into the front hall. It was a fairly regular sized room, with a door off either side. To the back was a fine staircase that took up a lot of the space, then split off to both sides to lead to the first floor. Behind the staircase was a hidden third door and it was over to here that Stare was haphazardly walking.

Jon blinked, then looked at his guests. “Sir … madam, if you will …” and he began to awkwardly start up the stairs.

Eteri followed Jon closely, constantly glancing back over her shoulder to check on Stare. Her ears flat against her head as her eyebrows furrowed in a look of concern. Eteri paused midway up, hand tightly wrapped around the oak balustrade. “Is Stare ok? Stare not walking good.”

“Stare is.. Stubborn.” Nevin’s voice was soft behind the Kenku as she slowly, carefully moved away.

Stare continued in through the door, her body wavering still, but she managed to grab at the handle. Before her was a set of stairs and she began down them, carefully and slowly. She could feel the blood loss pounding through her head, but it was not like she had ever experienced anything like this before. Just a month and a half ago she had worked for over forty eight hours and her energy had been so depleted it had taken a jolt of energy from Vitruvion himself to make her able to stand.

At the bottom of the stairs she could smell the scents of a good kitchen. Heading there she entered the small area, where stoves of many kinds were presented, and a huge table dominated the centre. It was here that Elsie the cook sat, pounding a large cake of bread dough. When Stare came in she looked up, her small brown eyes blinking in her round face.

“Hello dear. How is Raevin?”

“I brought an alchemist friend,” Stare grunted, snatching a seat and collapsing into it. “He should help.”

Elsie paused. “Are you … alright?”

Stare nodded, waving a dismissive hand. “I've been worse, Elsie. I just need … tea.”

Get an extra cup, came the formal, but firm tone in her head.

She blinked. Why?

Trust me, you'll need it, was his reply. Then he was gone.

Leaving her extremely confused.

Nevin mounted the stairs behind the other two. He had remained at the base of the stairs, watching Stare until she disappeared from sight. He was, if anything, more concerned about her instability than Eteri was. He frowned as he realized the kenku woman had never actually taken the regenerative serum that would have helped her recover, despite him pressing it into her hand. He'd have to figure out what she had done with the vial and convince her to drink it later.

Red hair swayed as he shook his head and started up the stairs after the other two. He went faster than they had, climbing up them two at a time - and getting a face full of Eteri’s tail as he caught up to them. The blue haired catgirl turned to Nevin, lips pressed into an annoyed pout as he gave her a slight, sheepish grin.

Then they were at the top of the stairs, and Jon gave a loud grunt. “Sir Raevin’s room is this way.” Without waiting to see if they'd heard him, as he had spoken while facing a away from the couple, the... Butler? Manservant? - whatever term he preferred, the man strode off quickly heading down the hallway. Nevin raised an eyebrow.

“Eteri, my love, I don't think he cares much for us, do you?” The alchemist sighed and shook his head. It didn't matter whether the other man liked them - all that mattered was that he let Nevin do his job. After he reached out and squeezed Eteri’s hand, Nevin followed after the surly individual. He thankfully hadn't gone too far, and had pushed his way into another room. As Nevin entered, Jon gave him an evil glare - until a sharp clearing of the throat from the occupant of the room made him blanch.

“Thank you, Jon. That will be all.” The voice was rough, and a bit strained. Jon looked like he was building up to protest - “Jon, I meant what I said. The Alchemist is a known ally, he will not assault me. Depart.” The manservant gave an angry glare to Nevin then stormed out of the room, shoving past Eteri who was standing confused in the doorway. The catgirl turned and stuck her tongue out at the man’s back.

“Raevin. You've looked better.” Nevin had moved further into the room, and was now staring at Raevin’s semi-prone form. The captain of the guard gave him a strained smile. His left leg was missing, gone from the knee down, and bandages wrapped around his groin and the same side of his body. The elf started to try to sit, only to freeze under the stern glare of the alchemist. “Do not even think of moving, Raevin, or I will tie you up and give you a paralytic. Now then. There are - a couple of options here. But - should probably wait for Stare to return. She went to get tea - and I'll warn you now. The method we are thinking of using to help you... Will be rather drastic.”

Raevin shifted, a look of discomfort shooting over his face. But it was only a small movement, in order to place himself in a more comfortable position. “If you even try to tie me, alchemist, I will get the crow to blind you,” he paused. “Or whatever threat makes it worse.” He looked over to Eteri. “You must be Eteri. Crow - Stare - told me a little about you.”

“Eh?” Eteri blinked. “She did?” Nevin blinked and focused his dark gaze on his girlfriend.

“What exactly happened between the two of you? You mentioned a soul leech earlier but - just - what?” The alchemist sounded about as confused as the catgirl sounded surprised.

Nevin watched as Eteri’s tail flicked side to side. Her eyes shifted up to the ceiling and she was chewing her cheek, things she did when she was thinking. Cute little tells. Always wearing her emotions so clearly on her face. He folded his arms across his chest and waited - she would get the words out when she could, and rushing her usually ended up with her getting agitated.

“Ah. Looking for Barchie’s store. Stare kept following. Then Eteri follow Stare to this shop. Man had soul leech on his soul. Eteri….ah…still have.” She shoved her hand into her shoulder bag and rummaged around till she pulled out a small vial with what looked like a black, viscous sludge inside it. “Think it might be dead? Dying?” She stared at the vial then shook it. The sludge formed into a slug-like creature which began to bang against the glass.

The redhead let out a sharp hiss as crimson threads slipped from beneath his wrists as the little creature tried to escape. It felt wrong to even look at, like it was an abomination that was twisting and pervert in the world just by existing. He wanted to dissect it - and to obliterate it. “You - carry it with you?” His words came out in an almost disbelieving tone. She was looking for Barchie’s store - wait why did that name sound familiar - when the women had stumbled across this thing. Did that mean there were more somewhere in town? Was it being propagated somehow?

He desperately wanted to crush the vile little thing, to smash it out of existence. He forced his threads to retract though, the crimson receding back under his clothes as he gave a soft cough. “That… have you ever seen more of those things, dear?”

“Sometimes. This one paralyses victim. Then slowly infect soul. Eteri fix.”

“Wait,” Raevin suddenly spoke, his voice pained. “You met crow … Stare months ago from what I understand … just after her master - our employer - Sir Elssmith took her into his household. That would be about eight or nine months that you have had that.” He blinked. “My goodness, cat. But I'm sure if there was an epidemic, alchemist, then you would have noticed it.” He had managed to move himself up onto his elbows while they had been talking and was now looking between the two of them.

Nevin shook his head. “Not necessarily. Parasitic entities can take months, or years, to begin manifesting adverse effects upon the host creature. It gives them more time to propagate throughout an at risk population. It can also depend on the gestation period of the entities in question - who is to say that they didn't just catch the first one to hatch?” He frowned sharply and gestured to the thing in the glass vial.

“If it has survived thus long without a host to feed upon, imagine how long it might be able to live with such a host. After all, the number of people who would be able to properly see such beings here is a rather limited number. And - that thing does not look like a progenitor to me.” The alchemist folded his arms and began drumming the fingers of his right hand against his left bicep as he thought.

“But - that doesn't matter right now. What does matter is the task at hand. The restoration of your leg. And lay back down - I think Stare would rather be more upset with you for moving and hurting yourself, than she should be with me for preventing you from hurting yourself.” Nevin focused his eyes back on the half propped up form of the captain of the guard.

Raevin glared daggers at him, then at Eteri before he slumped back down. “The leg isn't the problem, alchemist, the burns are those that hurt. Damn demons.” The redhead hummed in thought at the response from the elf.

My nose scrunched up in confusion as the conversation shifted from something I knew many things about to, well, things I knew nothing about. I shoved the tiny creature back into my bag. Nevin was making a big deal out of nothing. As I watched him start to prod the edge of the messed up part of the leg, one hand slowly following the bandages. I continued the previous conversation. “Lots people have things on their souls. Some leeches not bad just paras-paras…” I shook my head, giving up on trying to say it in Tradespeak. <”Parasitic but harmless.”>

I switched back to Tradespeak, I very much doubted the elf man's ability to understand Akashiman. “Eteri see people with ones that are harmless on them. Is like…” I pointed to my eyelashes. “Is like everyone has tiny bugs in eye hairs.”

Nevin blinked slowly and I saw him stand up right, one hand lifting up so his fingers could brush his eyelashes, obviously thinking about what I had said. Raevin was frowning a little but seemed to understand. I grinned as I approached the two men. I stood behind Nevin and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, hugging him from behind as I pressed my lips to the underside of his jaw. He turned his face toward me to press his own against my cheek. “Eteri as much as I love that I can’t have you bump me right now.” Despite his words, I could feel him lean into my embrace, and one hand came up to hold my arms over his chest. I nuzzled my head into his hair. I loved everything about the man. I gave him one final kiss on the top of his forehead before looking up at Raevin who was eyeing the two of us with… now what was that look in his eyes? Caution? Concern?

Did he want a hug too?

“Hug too?” I asked, Raevin held up his hands and shook his head to deny, but it was too little too late. I shifted behind the man and wrapped my arms around his shoulders. I pressed my head on top of his. “Better?” Behind me, I could hear Nevin cough, then laugh.

Raevin scowled a little, uneasy at first but then it seemed to settle. He blinked, winces over his face as the pain passed over his face, then he grunted and seemed to ease into it. His eyes closed slightly and there was the smallest hint of the smile - when suddenly the door opened.

Stare was there, a tray of tea perched on her waist, her eyes large and staring with disbelief at Raevin.

“Uh … well I came in at the wrong time.”

The elf’s eyes snapped open and he gasped. “Dammit, ow, ow,” he said as he tried to shift out of my hold. “Ow - crow stop looking at me like that.”

“Stare!” I let go of Raevin and dusted off my hands. “Why is wrong time? What tea? Need help?” Last I saw her she was barely able to hold her own weight up, let alone the weight of a teetering tray of tea and cups. It took two quick, broad steps to reach her. I nearly toppled her over. Nearly I steadied myself and held out my hands so I could take the tray from her. “Is ok?”

She shook her head to me, blinking as she did, almost blushing before she righted herself and moved to the side to take the tray to a table. “I am fine, it's 'are you okay’. I have just never seen anyone … hug the elf.”

“Shut up, crow,” Raevin muttered, slumping back on the pillows.

I was confused, to me hugs were fairly normal. I enjoyed the closeness and the warmth. “No?” I tuned back to look at Raevin, whom was doing his best to concentrate on anyone but the bird and the cat. “Why? Is easy.”

“Hugs are not common in our community,” Raevin replied. “I'm a warrior, as well, cat. Hugs are not in my line of work.”

“You not complain. You enjoy?” I asked him curiously. Nevin, having moved to the corner, was currently chuckling madly to himself, one hand clamped over his mouth. He cleared his throat when I said this, and was still grinning widely.

“I'm certain he does, dear. But he's not used to it is all. Just like I wasn't when we met. Crimson, the first time Stare hugged me, I froze up.”

“Nevin,” came the groan of the kenku, coupled with the gentle sound of flowing liquid as she poured tea. The redhead shot her a teasing smile.

Raevin settled back into his pillows and pulled a blanket over his missing leg. He rested his head back as he smiled with amusement at Stare's back. His eyes flickered over to Eteri before he mouthed, “I dare you to try.”

To try...and hug Stare? My ears straightened as my tail flicked feverishly from side to side. Yes. Yes this was a very, very good idea indeed. I had been wanting to hug Stare all day. She looked like she could really use one. Both Nevin and Raevin now were trying to hold in stifled laughter as I turned on my heel and headed toward Stare.

One single step...quiet now...another… I rose my arms high above my head and extended them, fingers twitching in anticipation. I could almost feel those strange feathers against my skin. Just another step… I heard an inhaled breath.

My arms wrapped around a warm body and the room suddenly grew very silent The air seemed to shimmer As my face was pressed into material. Hmm… My hands squeezed tightly. This did not feel like feathers. I ran my hands up and down the body.

Hmm.

Fingers danced over the material. No… no this was definitely not feathers.

I… I don’t think I was hugging Stare.

At the sound of the dead silence filling the air her brow furrowed. Slowly, finding the light sploshing of the tea too loud she stopped pouring and set the pot down. That was when she began to turn, her eyes twisting first to Raevin, and seeing a horrified expression. It was a brief view before she noticed the tall, dark shadow in her peripheral vision, basically standing just a few inches from her. Where moments before there had been nothing -

In his casual attire of dark shirt, breeches and trousers. His arms were loose by his side, but she could see one hand clutched tight with agitation around his cane. And around him … well.

Spare damn extra cup indeed.

Vitruvion had clearly stepped into the room through one of his portals at exactly the wrong time. Just in the moment when Eteri of all people had been … apparently sneaking up on Stare to give her a hug. And instead the nekojin had got … well. The least amused person in the world.

“Stare …” he said in a thick, slow voice. His eyes were pointed forwards, not daring to look at the cat still tightly wound around him. Stare. Kindly remove this.

“Fuck,” she whispered, a feeling of dread in her. She stepped forwards a little, trying to find the best place to start trying to peek the latching Eteri off. Heart racing she threw Nevin a desperate, pleaful look as she began to nudge at Eteri's hand. “Eteri, that is not me …”

“Eteri know. This feel warm and nice.” The obstinate catgirl purred. That was when Nevin stepped forward and gripped her shoulder tightly - and dragged her back, forcefully pulling her off of the agitated man in front of her. She was pulled back to his side - and the alchemist kept his hand firmly planted on her, holding her in place. Vitruvion was stiff, his jaw locked and his eyes slowly blinking.

“Enough, dear. Greetings, Sir Elssmith. I wasn't aware you'd be joining us today.” The redhead sounded different now - wary, guarded.

Vitruvion took in a long, slow breath, his eyes continuing to blink. By his side Stare was pausing, anxious and uncertain. A hug from nowhere. Nobody ever did that sort of thing to him. His eyes narrowed slightly, staring at the wall, before his head swivelled around to look at Raevin, ignoring Nevin completely. There, he focused, twisting his body around to join his head, before he took in another long breath. Raevin reacted by gasping and starting to push back his blankets to struggle out of bed.

“Raevin. Do. Not. Move.” Crimson threads snagged the blanket and used it to pin the elf down. “You will only make things worse if you continue to try.”

Raevin looked caught between a desperation to get out of the bed to salute his employer and being told by his healer not to. His breath seemed to accelerate, Stare could feel great empathy as she herself was caught in a whirlwind between being with friends and … him. She saw Vitruvion's brow rise at the sight of the crimson threads before he wordlessly held out his cane to her.

Confused, but without hesitation she took it as Vitruvion stepped forwards to look at Raevin.

“There is no need, Raevin,” he said in a low voice as his eyes began to work over his body. “You are no use to me worse. Causing injury to your recovery is no use …” he paused, before looking finally at Nevin. “The dead flesh still malingers. Two inches there,” he pointed to the leg, “Coming to halt an inch there,” he moved his hand to point at Raevin's arm. “In one place there is bone affected,” he nodded at Raevin's hip. “It … just touches. I can see it scraping the first layers of marrow. And please do not restrain him, alchemist, that fares no benefit currently.” The redhead raised one eyebrow but the coils of threads retreated from the blanket, releasing the Elf from the hold. The threads didn't retract though - they retreated to Nevin’s side, and curled around Eteri’s waist.

“I cannot heal this, it is too … infected by its source,” Vitruvion said, with a note of displeasure in his voice. He straightened, his eyes swirling back to look at Eteri. “Stare, this is, I take it …”

The kenku seemed quiet and subdued. She blinked a few times before nodding, her claws tight on the cane in her hands. “Yes, my -” she broke off, took a breath. “Yes. Eteri. Eteri … this is mine and Raevin's employer, Sir Elssmith. Vitruvion.”

Eteri grumbled, fidgeting as she pulled on the threads around her waist. “Is good meeting-” She paused and her nose wrinkled as she tilted her head to the side, staring at Vitruvion. She turned her golden eyes toward Stare. “You not tell me your boss is god too.” She huffed. “Just cause god no mean to be rude.”

“Half celestial,” Vitruvion snapped as fast as anyone could breathe. “Thank you. Common misconception.” Beside him Stare seemed to freeze. He ground his eyes into Eteri, settling on the red threads coiled around her waist. He pursed his lips before looking back to Nevin. “How long will it take to heal?”

“It depends on how the method Stare thought of, works.” He reached into his bag and pulled out the rather precious vial. “I can remove the infected material. Due to the source of the corruption, it has differentiated itself significantly from his natural flesh.” Nevin’s tone was calm, even, hard. “The healing process will then be able to be performed either off of this method - or off of other, more mundane ones. Do you agree to the usage of this particular blood, as I have no doubt you are in some way responsible for the effect?” Dark red eyes bore into Vitruvion’s. Around Eteri’s waist the threads shifted and rubbed back and forth, the only subtle display of irritation.

The corner of Vitruvion's mouth twitched slightly, “I am partially responsible of what you are talking of, yes. But Stare's blood is hers to give as she pleases.” Slowly he raised a hand, bringing it to rest on the kenku's shoulder. She rolled her eyes and throwing an apologetic look at Nevin.

Nevin could see the look of irritation and hurt on Eteri’s face, and he couldn’t blame her. She misread situations and he knew she felt dismissed and disregarded by the both of them. He did his best to hold her still but it did not hold her tongue.

“Eteri not like being ignored!” She spat. “Eteri is Stare friend. Eteri is Nevin priestess and not like this.”

Vitruvion's brows rose and he glanced to Stare. She pulled in her breath, before looking at Eteri. “Nobody is ignoring you, Eteri. Not deliberately. We're - they're trying to sort out Raevin as he is hurt.”

“And once that is dealt with, we can all settle down for a drink and actually talk and find out what’s gone on in each other’s lives since we saw each other last. Now.” Nevin drew in a deep breath and squeezed Eteri tightly, with both threads and his arm, before he stepped away. He closed his eyes as he moved closer to the bed - and his head rotated towards Vitruvion. “I need you to back up.” Then he exhaled slowly, as his hands began to glow with a shimmering hue that seemed to warp and twist between colours.

Vitruvion surprisingly did as Nevin said. He twisted around, pushing Stare back lightly before he moved a metre or so away, with him in front of her. The alchemist gave a slight nod, then with one coil of threads he jerked the blanket off of Raevin’s body, once again revealing the bandages. Beneath it the elf bared himself, eyes focused on Nevin. “Eteri, Stare. Please, look away.” The alchemist’s voice was steady, but it seemed talking strained him a bit to the ones used to hearing him speak. Whether they did or not, the alchemist swept one hand up along the length of Raevin’s side, and behind the shimmering hand the bandages twisted, warped and pulled away, collapsing into a small, dense ball, stripping away the coverings over the damaged parts of the Elf’s body. The ball was dropped by Nevin’s feet, and he rolled his shoulders.

“Raevin. I’m sorry - this will hurt.” Raevin gave him a tight nod. And Nevin drove his fingers into the infected flesh, the strange shimmering around his digits spreading out. The corrupted flesh warmed and twisted, and there was an unpleasant, wet, sucking, tearing sound as it was pulled away from the healthy flesh. Thin tendrils of rotten material slid out from the sides, rapidly shrinking and coiling around Nevin’s hand, twisting and compacting as the man worked. Raevin’s face began to go red, and there was the noise of teeth cracking against each other. Blood started to pool into the raw, exposed gap - only to freeze in place as Nevin glared at it intently. The red blood thickened, clotting up against the injured parts of the healthy flesh, and Nevin began to move his other arm.

The alchemist was working, and was starting to look a bit paler. This was taking time, and concentration, and sweat was trailing down his head, dampening his hair. He had experimented with transmutation alchemy in the past, but had always done it in short bursts, on simple objects and materials. The demonically corrupted flesh was actively fighting him in his work, trying to resist him, to further its spread throughout Raevin’s body. It had wormed its way in, and miniscule lines of the infection had spread out, small enough to have slipped by easy detection. But Nevin’s magic was thorough, if draining, so he kept going. His right hand was buried in the Elf’s side, while his left was moving back and forth over his right arm. As his right hand pulled corrupt flesh out, the left arm was gathering the infected material up, condensing and compacting it. The flesh was being smashed into a ball, and at this point it didn’t even look like meat at all - instead it was like a solid, smooth obsidian orb, shiny and black-red.

He felt Eteri shift behind him, she gently wiped away the sweat from his brow and kissed the top of his head. Her hands rested gently on his shoulders and gave them a squeeze. At the same time Raevin's jaws ripped open and it was clear he had been holding in the pain for that long. A scream began to pierce the air, high and shrill.

But the white-haired man was fast. Shoving Stare right behind him he swung around to the end of the bed and shoved a hand forwards. His fingers clasped around Raevin's still existing ankle.

“Vitruvion - do not touch him!” Nevin’s voice came out in a loud hiss, and the control over the orb of corrupt flesh wavered, and spikes began to jut over it. “Your nature is causing the demonic material to go fucking nuts!” He had frozen, and the alchemist was visibly trembling as his right hand flattened onto Raevin’s side. His left was held up in a claw around the ‘orb’, and one of the spikes was nearly piercing his own skin.

But Vitruvion did not let go, and did not say anything. Instead he closed his eyes. Raevin's scream suddenly cut off. His eyes went large, staring at Vitruvion who was suddenly still. He blinked a few times before looking at Nevin. “I don't feel a thing …” he whispered. The alchemist didn’t react - his eyes were locked on the flesh hanging by his hand. Slowly, slowly, the spike retracted - and the very end glistened red, matching a welling up on his palm. With a shudder that shook Eteri’s hands, Nevin managed to force the corrupt flesh to bend to his will, locking it back into the smooth orb.

He let out an explosive breath. “I… will try to end this quickly.” The redhead’s voice came out in a bit of a croak. He had to - he already had an idea of where the pain had gone. And controlling the corrupted material was not an easy task at all, and was draining him even now, just holding it in abeyance. His right hand moved back up and off of Raevin’s torso, and he resumed drawing the infected material out. The process had been nearly done when the pain had become too much for the elf, but even with it nearly done, Nevin had to be sure that none of the corruption remained. If even a little was left behind, then this would have all been for nothing. And there were too many variables that had managed to go right for this to go anywhere near as smoothly if they had to do this again.

With a heavy sigh, Nevin pulled the last of the main corruption out and away. His chest was heaving as he sucked in deep breaths - and his right hand began to sweep back and forth across Raevin’s body. In a few places, he paused, and thin, almost invisible, slivers of blackened flesh slipped from beneath the skin. The healer was visibly sagging when he finished, sweeping his hand along Raevin’s form one last time. “Done. None left. He - needs to drink the potion. You know the rest from there.” Nevin stumbled backwards, leaning heavily into Eteri’s hands, and both of his hands were held up, around the now solid black orb.

Nevin’s body was shaking as he slumped downwards, and the only reason he was currently upright was the fact that his girlfriend was holding onto him. He gave her an exhausted smile. “Thank you, love.” His voice was thin and reedy.

Eteri gripped him tightly and burried her face into his neck. “Is weak. How make better?” She mumbled into the sweaty flesh of his neck. He gave a low chuckle, that sounded more like a croak.

“Rest. Fluids. The usual. Not for here. And it’s ‘you are weak, how can we/I make you better.” His right hand tossed the vial towards the bed, letting it land next to the now cleansed elf.

He winced as he felt the nip of her teeth against his neck. She was irritated. “No. Now.” She hissed. Nevin tried to shake his head, but didn’t really have the energy for the action. His head slowly rolled in the direction of the bed.

“The spare room is prepared,” a low voice growled from the corner of the room. Vitruvion was slowly curling out of his crouch, eyes still closed and rolling back his shoulders. “Out the door, second on the right.” His voice was thick and tense, as if he had just suffered a great ordeal. Near him Stare was standing, eyes like daggers and baring into him, but with the focus slightly off - a look Nevin recognised as a mental conversation between the two. Nevin managed a weak nod.

“A bit of rest sounds like a fantastic idea. For you, too. I know what you did.” His right hand still a claw around the orb of corrupted flesh, Nevin slowly started making his way towards the door, or at least, trying to. Eteri was holding the most of his weight against her small form. Still grumbling as her hair bristled. The couple made it out of the room and to the nearby chamber, and the redhead collapsed onto the edge of the bed, his body trembling.

“Love - do you have a glass jar? An - empty one?” Nevin’s voice was soft, barely audible.

I fumbled around in my bag, still trying to hold him up. It was a great deal of effort. I shot a glare behind my back at the door where the man stood behind. I knew it wasn’t exactly his fault but his indifference pissed me off. I didn’t care if he was a god or a Celestial being or whatever. There was no reason for him to be so damn rude.

I pulled out an empty vial and handed it to Nevin. The scowl turning into a look of concern. He never usually denied my help. Was it because of everyone in the room? “Nevin….” I whimpered, ears falling flat against my head as I pressed the vial into the palm of his hand. Unlike him, I didn’t care what they thought. “You should take Eteri blood. Make you feeling better.” His shaking hand popped the vial open - and he forced the strange ball into it, then closed it hard, sealing it. As soon as he had, his body relaxed, and the weird shimmer around his hands vanished. He sagged, and let the vial fall to the bed. His warm, dark red eyes locked onto mine, and he reached out and took my hand, pulling me down into his lap.

“I’m sorry, dear.”

“Am worried, please?” I insisted. Even against his clothing I could feel the short ragged breaths, feel the slick of his sweat on his clothes. I wasn’t sure what he did but I did know that that it took far too much out of him. “You did too much. Nevin...why?” I felt them - thin threads that wrapped around my arms, sliding up my neck, and then slid into me, piercing my skin and tapping the veins. I felt that familiar, warm pulling feeling, and almost tugging sensation. He wasn’t holding back this time.

I mumbled and leaned into him. He was finally listening to me. I sighed and shut my eyes. “This day not fun.” He gave a weak laugh.

“No, it isn’t. And - I did it because.. I owe them. Stare was the first person to accept me as not a monster for these, and my blood magic. And she helped me when I had to fight something that was trying to bring something very dark into this world. Helping to heal Raevin is - something I could do. So I did. Besides.” He gave a chuckle, and this one sounded healthier - as it should, since he was pulling heavily from me, and color was returning to his cheeks. “Aren’t even demi-gods or godlings meant to stop demons?”

“Then boss man should do more.” I grumbled. “No think he or Stare like Eteri. Thought Stare was friend.” I pressed my head further into his neck and lifted heavy arms to wrap around his shoulders. I felt dizzy, but I wouldn’t let him know. If I could I’d give him everything I had. “Nevin make far better god.” He hugged me tightly.

“Stare is... Polite. Formal. Very bad things happened to her, and she still has trouble being open. And she was raised that way too. As for Vitruvion - it seemed like that stuff was specifically created to react powerfully, and negatively, to his presence. Wai- Eteri?” Nevin’s voice shifted from amused, then thoughtful, to frightened and panicked. I felt his threads withdraw suddenly from my skin, and he grabbed me, turning my face to his. “Oh no, love, I took too much. Damn it I was too tired to stop myself. Damn, damn damn me for a crimson-tainted fool.” He chewed on his lip as he turned his head down to look along my body. “Thick flow I must have taken in well over a pint or two, damn it this is dangerous -” He was talking rapidly, to himself, and he seemed very worried.

I blinked. Slowly. Had he? I felt a little dizzy and heavy but beyond that I felt fine. I shook my head and pressed my lips against his. “Can take more if need. Is ok...is ok…” My hands found his and squeezed them tightly. Such numbers meant nothing to me. I didn’t know how much or little that was. All I knew was that he needed it. He shook his head, his red, red hair dancing about us.

“No, honey, no. I - you don’t look anemic?” He suddenly frowned and stared into my eyes, and he pressed his fingers against a spot under my jawline. His eyes closed, and he held his breath for nearly half a minute. “That’s… odd. You don’t seem to be suffering any adverse effects to the amount of blood drawn. You should be nearly passing out now - I’ve taken more now than I have since we used a blood stimulation pill.” He hummed in thought, and the frown eased into a look of confusion.

“Am ok.” I squirmed in his lap trying to ease his thoughts. “See!” I held my arms up wide. “Fine.” He pressed down on my legs, making me stop squirming, and I could feel why as he chuckled.

“Well. We will have to experiment with that later. At home. Not here.” He laid back, bringing me down with him, and he let out a deep breath, his arms curling around me. “We’ll rest for a bit. I .. even with you helping me - and dear, you were definitely a help there, I wouldn’t have been able to finish without you supporting me - I need some actual rest. We can lay for a bit, then see about heading back home to sleep.” His voice didn’t sound weak anymore, just tired.

I ran my fingers through his hair as he slowly drifted off to sleep. I didn’t like this. I didn’t like that he felt he had to overwork himself for a stranger just for a few good deeds. I needed to talk to that man. Set him straight. I carefully pried Nevin’s hands away from me. They clutched desperately for something so I shoved a pillow into them.

I leaned over his sleeping form and pressed my lips to his. “Will be back Nevin. Need chat to this man.” I whispered softly into his ear.

“D-dont cause too much trouble…” He mumbled.

I wouldn’t, at least. I wouldn’t do it on purpose. “I love you. Come back soon, ok?” His voice was soft as I moved away from him towards the door.

Why are you here and what did you do? she demanded. Okay I get why you are here, but-

“Stare, will you shut up and help me finish this, please?” his voice was odd, strained. Her brow furrowed low as she glared at him and saw the way his eyes were tightly closed, screwed up as if against a sudden wave of nausea. The emotions she was feeling from him through their mental bond was stress, strain and anxiety. But there was something more, something else ...

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, and she was shoved into the full glory of his icey blue irises. “The potion Nevin left needs to be used. If it comes from you, that means revival after death.”

Death. Stare looked suddenly alarmed. Swinging her eyes around to Raevin she looked at the slowly breathing man who was simply lying still, his raw flesh savage for all to see. His hands were shaking, but aside from that he seemed to be aware of what was happening. The elf’s eyes moved from one to the other, then down to the vial of potion that sat on the table near his supported head. The kenku went still, eyes widening slightly.

“I trust in your magic, sir,” Raevin said, entirely honestly. “And that of the alchemist. I trust that it will work, but I would ask one thing.”

“Ask away,” Vitruvion nodded, his voice now more regulated, yet Stare could still feel the same strong emotions from him and see his hand beginning to shake. The last she had seen anything like that had been-

“That you be the one to kill me, sir. I will not have it any other way.”

“I see,” Vitruvion said quietly, observing Raevin with both eyes before he inclined his head. Raising a hand he settled it over Stare's shoulder before nudging her forwards. “I need to get past, my dear.”

It was more of a link of words, for he was already gently guiding her direction. Instead of fully going the way he intended, however, she moved to the side, and then forwards, heading over to where the vial was, and picking it up. Pausing, as Vitruvion made his surprisingly slow pace to catch up with her - it was obvious he had done something when he had touched Raevin's ankle, but she had been too far away to hear the whispers from the elf - she uncorked the potion, before staring from its crimson depths to Raevin.

“You sure about this, elf?” she asked.

He hardly looked at her, leaning back as he was on the cushions as he held out his hand. Shrugging, she passed it to him, before stepping back and watching him down the contents. Savoring every last drop, he relaxed fully back as Vitruvion did his final approach to his head. Elf and god eyes locked, both chests rising and falling in slow synchronisation.

“I expect it will not be too long,” Vitruvion said quietly. “Galatirion suggested that after the first time Stare suffered the hours between living and waking would go down.”

Raevin nodded once and went still. “Thank you, sir. For coming and … taking-”

Crack. The sound was ugly and brutal. Stare let out a loud gasp as she saw Vitruvion's hands move surprisingly fast, as if in a blur. From what she could discern they lifted Raevin's head on either side of the face, and with a practised, savage movement suddenly jerked the head to the side. Immediately, it broke the neck and gave instant, almost pain-free death.

For a moment Vitruvion hovered over the body, before he grunted and moved back. Twisting around he settled his eyes on Stare as she continued to blink with alarm with what he had just done.

“It was better it come unexpectedly,” he said quietly.

Swallowing, she nodded. It was not like she had never see him kill before. Very far from that - she had seen him end many lives - but never so swift and sudden. Never to a friend.
“Yeah …”

A sigh came from between the divine lips. Then a quiet groan. They were usually the sort of sounds that Stare would be quickly alert to but … she could not seem to look away from the limp form of Raevin. She was still staring as the other man in the room moved to come behind her. Without any hesitation a strong arm moved around her waist before it hoisted her up in the air.

“An’s balls, Vitruvion, what are you-”

And he was slumping back in the lone armchair of the room, taking her with him. A breath wooshed from her lungs as she was forced down, right onto his lap, with legs dangling awkwardly over the arm of the chair. Rolling her eyes she placed her hands on his arm that stuck around her, pushing at it as he let out a sigh and smiled.

“There,” he murmured softly. “I have you back.”

Twisting her head around she glared at his face. His eyes were heavy lidded and there was the familiar twist of a grin on his face. She clack’ed her tongue loudly before answering. “I've been gone two weeks, Vitruvion,” she growled. “You can deal with that length of time.”

“Yes two weeks of neither you nor Raevin,” he said quietly, “Zulon is, as you predicted, stepping up well, but gods, Mer …”

“You were the one who hired her,” Stare shrugged, giving a last push at the arm. It was not moving. Giving up, she sighed and dropped her eyes before leaning against his shoulder. He went quiet, and she took time to think about how he was acting, and just what it had seemed had happened to Raevin when he had touched him. Her eyes lingered on the dead elf’s body as she thought. Then, suddenly it came to her in a rush of remembrance.

Damn, Ansaldo's balls. The last time he had been like this was when she had grown her wings. Yes, he was just dimly shaking then, but there had been time between the pain she remembered and waking up. Lots of time. Like she had fallen unconscious with the pain, or it had simply gone away. Like -

“Balls,” she whispered, stilling.

So he could take pain for other people. The two people he would ever consider it for were the two currently in the room with him, but that meant little. He could actually take other people's pain and endure it himself. Hence the closed eyes, the stiff voice. She began to lean away from him to stare with disbelief at him - but he moved faster. He made his grip tighter on her, pulling her further towards him, before he relaxed with a sigh.

“Indeed,” he said softly. “I do actually care about you Stare.”

“Your pride is going to be the end of you some day,” she muttered as she forced herself to relax. It was obvious he was not going to let her go for a while. Probably to make up for the two weeks she had been away. And partly to say something now she had had her second sexual partner in her life.

“And your stubbornness, yours, dearest,” he replied quickly, tipping his head back and closing his eyes. “Good thing we will live for eternity.”

I burst through the door, kicking it and ignoring the loud bang as it bounced off its hinges. “Hey! Mister-” My voice and adamant attitude warbled and disappeared as I felt a heaviness in the air. Raevin was...err...dead in the corner. That was the first thing I noticed.

“What!” I ran over to him and shook him. Nevin used all that work and energy to save him but now he lay there, dead. His soul still lingered close by but his body was...well. “Dead.” I repeated my thoughts aloud. Initial shock turned to concern then turned to anger. I turned on my heel and glared at the celestial-god-whatever who was practically man handling Stare. I pointed to the dead elf.

“Why this! Nevin work hard to fix!” I pointed back at him as I closed the gap between us. “Stare no like hug! Get off!” I was close enough now to grab onto Stare, pulling her in the opposite direction of the man-god-celestial. “Leave Stare alone!”

“Ow, Eteri, ow!” Stare wrenched herself away from my grasp. She threw me a warning look. Beneath her the still form of the man was lifting his head and peeking open a single eye, calmly looking at the two women.

I paused. I slowly let go of her. Did I misread the situation? “You.. want this man to hug you?” I tilted my head, ears swivelling toward the two. I glanced curiously up at the man. Then back to Stare...come to think of it she looked rather relaxed in his grip compared to earlier when everyone was on edge. Rather...everyone seemed tense around the man. I didn’t get the big hooblah about it all. “Explain please?”

Stare paused and angled her eyes up to the white-haired man, before a quiet, silent communication seemed to pass between them. After a moment he grunted and his arm slipped away, eyes sliding closed again.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, as she moved onto the ground. She paused for a moment before nodding to a door on the other wall, that did not lead out to the corridor. “Let's … talk privately?”

My gaze lingered on the man. I was still….frustrated with him but whatever anger I had bubbling up inside of me had dissipated. He looked tired. Just as tired as Nevin. “Mmmm….” I reluctantly agreed to Stare’s request giving her a nod. “Ok.” My eyes were still on the sleeping white haired man. “He is your boyfriend?”

“No,” she said quietly, her eyes looking over him for a moment. “It's … complicated.” She pulled open the door, gesturing for me to go first. I went first into the next room. It was a plain living room. An extinguished fireplace sat on one side of the wall and two cushioned armchairs faced it. There was a writing desk pushed up against another wall and piles and piles of paper surrounding it.

“Is ok if he is.” I continued the conversation. “Nevin is Eteri’s god and is also Eteri’s boyfriend.”

Stare started speaking in Akashiman as she moved to an armchair. <“Raevin is dead because the potion we used was based on my blood. I …”> she paused, and spoke in a quiet, sad way, <“I heal when I die. Then I wake up, a few hours later, perfectly healthy. Raevin will do the same.”>

<”Oh.”> I followed Stare and sat in the other armchair, sinking into it. My feet barely touched the ground. <”Is this what Nevin was referring to when he said that man did that to you? He made you uh… immortal?”> This intrigued me. From our past conversations that day I knew she was immortal and that she was unwillingly so, but I didn’t know it was the sickly man in the other room that had done it.

<”I’ll punch him!”> I offered as I raised my fists. <”One in each eye, bam! Bam!”>

The kenku smiled a little and shook her head. <“It's okay. It's done now and he's had enough from me complaining about it. I don't let him live it down, don't worry.”> She looked down. <“But he's not my boyfriend. Just … my employer. Complicated.”>

I lowered my hands. It honestly sounded like they had something going on but it wasn’t really my business to know what. <”Can you reverse it? The immortality thing?”> I pushed myself out of the arm chair and shuffled so I was sitting at the edge of it, leaning forward toward Stare. Wide and yellowed eyes staring intently at her. <”Nevin wants me to be immortal too. I’ll do that for him. I think the difference is that I’m willing to do so. You never were willing, were you?”>

Stare seemed to get a little sad. She looked down and shrugged. <“It's done now. It's not reversible. In fact there was an- ... a god involved with the whole thing and it got complicated. It is. My wings were a whole other surprise. But nobody made them. They just … happened.”> She looked up at me. <“I've dealt with worse.”>

That’s it. If some creepy ass celestial white haired-whatever the fuck he was...was allowed to hug Stare then dang-nabit I was too. She looked so dejected. She sounded so sad. I personally would do anything to become immortal so I could stay by Nevin’s side but that was MY choice, and I did not like the fact that this man didn’t give her the option. It was downright rude.

I pushed myself off the chair and practically lunged at the unsuspecting Kenku. My arms wrapped around her tiny shoulders as I pulled her into my grasp. “There!” I proclaimed as I struggled to keep us both balanced. <”You need a hug.”> I said again as I nestled my head next to her feathery one. <”And friends. Nevin and I are your friends. Even if you don’t think so.”>

<“Fuuckk - Eteri!”> she gasped in surprise as she slipped. Underneath my arms hers flailed, and from her struggling we fell off her armchair onto the floor, with a loud thump. I refused to let her go. <“Ahh …”> She struggled a little more before she stopped, and sat there, still and dejectedly under my hug, her eyes tight shut.

<”Even if you don’t like it.”> I added as I nuzzled my face into her plumage. Tail flicking leisurely at my victory. Eteri one, Stare zero.

She let out a groan. <“Eteri, you're so like a cat that-”>

“Oh. Right,” said a low, definitely male voice. State seemed to freeze.

<”Mmm?”> I lifted my head to see the tall and looming figure of her boss standing in the doorway a bemused expression on his face. His hand tight around the wooden cane at his side. His body tense. I grimaced. “What? What want?”

Stare sighed. <“I am not being attacked, no. And Eteri, he speaks Akashiman.”> The brow arched on his face as he relaxed a little.

<”Good!”> I spat as I let her go and dusted myself off. I had a few things to say to the man. <”You!”> I said as I stepped over a very alarmed looking Stare and stood in front of the man.

I jabbed a finger into his chest, over and over again with each word. <”You. Do. Not. Do. That.”> I huffed as I crossed my arms over my chest staring up at the strange man. <“Who do you even think you are? You can’t go make someone immortal without their permission!”>

Cold blue eyes looked down and ground into mine. The man stood, rigid, but the edges of his being tender. He stared at me with irritation before a lip curled upwards into a snarl before he turned to start leaving again. <“I'm going back to rest,”> he hissed low.

<”Your selfishness upsets her!”> I shouted at his back. <”If you really cared about her you’d fix your stupid mistakes!”> I huffed and crossed my arms over my chest. I had more to say but I held my tongue. I was furious. I didn’t care if he was hurt. He had hurt a friend and he was all aloof and self centered. Not very ‘godlike’ material. <”Nevin is a far better god…”> I mumbled under my breath.

The man slowed in his step. Behind me there was a small whimper. The sound seemed to catch his ear and he turned his head slightly to look back over my shoulder. He paused, and then his eyes stared at me.

<“You do not know anything about me. Or how much I care about her.”> he said coldly. <“I have made mistakes with Stare but making her immortal was not one.> He looked to Stare, and continued in the common tongue. “I'm going back to Beinost. Alert me when Raevin is awake.”

And with that he twisted around. The air shimmered a little as he took a step … and vanished.

I sighed and turned back to Stare. She was curled up ball, her knees drawn up under her chin. I blinked. Did his presence bother her that much? What an asshat of the biggest proportions. <”Hey it’s ok, he’s gone now.”> I padded over to her and sat next to her. I reached over and offered a comforting pat around her shoulder. <”I will punch him if you want.”> I offered. Trying to make her feel better.

She let me hug her, offering no resistance. <“He doesn't make me upset,”> she whispered. <“Just … his anger.”>

I nodded. Not quite understanding her fear. <”If he gets angry around you. I will punch him. In his jingle jangly balls.”>

The redhead sat up abruptly - a weight had vanished from him, an odd, familiar yet unfamiliar weight. He frowned sharply and looked around. Nevin was alone, Eteri hadn't come back. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, then exhaled softly and steadily. This was one of those times he wished he was more of a real god then whatever fledgling thing he was; he couldn't feel normal people’s presences, only if they were bleeding. He shoved himself off the end of the bed, staggering a bit at the motion. His lips curled downwards in a frown. He couldn't feel normal people’s presences but he had found a knack for knowing when other deities were around.

So why then, had Vitruvion left. He had been clearly invested in Raevin and his recovery. Nevin sighed and ran his hand through his hair, pushing some of the sleep-tousled strands out of his face. The alchemist had a feeling that if he found out where his girlfriend was, he'd probably find out the answer to that question too. He bent down and scooped up the vial that contained the demonically corrupted flesh, which was now far more quiescent than it had been, further confirming that its antagonist, Vitruvion, was gone.

Nevin put the vial and its dark burden into a safe pouch, a hardened thing meant to protect his potion vials, and headed back towards Raevin’s room. He'd check on the recovery of the Elf, then look for his girlfriend and his friend. The room where Raevin was was curiously empty - aside from the dead man. Nevin frowned and headed over to check on the body - it was still warm, still fresh. Strangely he didn’t seem to be cooling down any - no rigidity had set in at all. The one problem was - the leg did not seem to be returning. The damage to the rest of his body was peculiarly healing up, regenerating, but not the actual lost limb. Nevin frowned and headed back out, to search the adjacent room to see if the others had gone there. If not, he’d head downstairs, maybe they had wanted more tea.

He opened the door to the adjacent room- and froze, staring at the sight before him. It took him a long moment to process, during which nobody seemed to move. Eteri was currently sitting beside Stare, cat wrapped around bird, as the kenku shivered and stared ahead blankly. Nevin drew in a deep breath, and let it out slowly. He couldn't recall Stare ever looking like this, but he could only guess at one individual being responsible. Well - two. The alchemist lifted his hand and rubbed his forehead tiredly. He sighed. It was almost enough for him to turn around and just head back to his own house, and go to sleep and just ignore all of this. But - no. Instead he knelt down and tilted his head to the side.

“<What happen?>” His voice was soft and steady as he spoke in their home language. He winced as he realized he’d gotten the tensing wrong, but he pushed that concern aside for the moment as he was more worried about seeing Stare like this. Just what had happened while he was recuperating?

Stare was still for a moment longer before she shook her head and slid out of Eteri's hold. Tucking her legs beneath her she stood, her eyes still full of torment though, and avoidance. Her wings beneath the cloak flinched as she caught her balance. “Nothing happened. It's fine. How is Raevin?” Her tone was flat and dejected. Nevin stood up and gripped her shoulder, holding her in place as he studied her.

“He’s still dead.” Nevin’s voice was even - but not like hers was. He continued to hold her gently as he looked to his girlfriend. “What happened, love?”

Eteri’s ears perked up. “Eteri give old man lecture!” She jabbed her fingers in the air in sharp motions. “Like this! Told him he is mean and selfish. Made Stare sad.” She seemed proud of this accomplishment. “Will punch in jingle jangles if mean to Stare again!” Nevin’s eyes closed and he took in a deep breath.

“Please don't do that,” Stare sighed quietly. Nevin gently pulled her into a hug and he exhaled slowly, his eyes on his girlfriend. It took a little doing to avoid hurting her with her new appendages, but Nevin managed.

“I see. So, then, he left, and I would assume in a bit of a tiff didn’t he?” Nevin pulled back and raised an eyebrow at the bird woman.

“He back down!” Dark red eyes turned to look at the blue-haired cat girl, and Nevin gave a quirked smile. He gave Stare’s shoulders a final squeeze and stepped back, letting her passed to the bed.

“He'll be fine,” Stare whispered to herself. “He just needs time to-” she shook her head and started to walk back through to the room with Raevin. Her footsteps were small and she slid her arms around herself to hug herself as she went. Nevin drew in a deep breath, and let it out slowly, and held one arm up for Eteri to come hug him. This had become a rather different night than he had been expecting.

Eteri slinked up to him and wrapped her arms around him. Her ears flat against her head as they watched Stare. “Did...Eteri do wrong?” He stroked her back with his hand as he thought about how to respond to that.

“I… don’t think so, no. But I do think you need to be careful. That man is not nice, at all. He and Stare have a very different relationship than we do, love. He has hurt, and scared, Stare in the past. A lot. He has gotten better but - when he is angry, I think she remembers it.” He hugged her tight against his side. He sighed and shook his head. “We should go check on them, make sure that everything is moving along properly. Then, can head home and get some proper rest.” He gave her another squeeze then followed after the kenku, slowly.

Stare had already made her way to Raevin's side. She was perched on the very edge of the bed, her wings slightly visible as they kept her balanced. Her eyes were staring at the dead man and she was completely silent. Nevin slipped into the room and crossed his arms over his chest. “The wounds are all closing up. There does not seem to be any trace of the corruption left within him.”

“Nevin,” she said quietly, in a shaking voice. “I was killed by - by my brother.” Nevin’s eyes went wide, then narrowed. There was silence for a few heartbeats, as he heard Eteri enter the room behind him. That - Avis had told him, that her whole family had died. That she had been found and raised by a baker for a time. So…

“So someone, or something brought him back.” His voice had gone flat. He already had a fair guess as to who.

She swallowed and nodded, rocking back onto her behind so she sat there, curled. “Vitruvion tried to chase him down but - I was already dying. It's - he didn't even know who I was.” Nevin reached past her wing and placed one hand on her shoulder. He swallowed, and tried to sort out what he knew. There had been some work done on bringing the recently deceased - and that meant the very, very recently deceased - back to life through science, in Alerar. He was trying to think of what the medical newsletters he had seen about the topic had mentioned.

“It is possible that.. Flirting with the veil of death has damaged his memory. If that is the case, it should restore itself in time.” Nevin tried to comfort her.

“I finally get a piece of my family back for that single moment,” she hissed, as her eyes started to glisten. “And then it's - no, fuck you Stare, have another shit thing happen to your life. Balls, Vitruvion is a lot easier to deal with now but fucking hell…” she shoved her head into her hands. “Raevin better come back, Nevin.” The alchemist held his breath as his body sagged. He didn’t need her seeing how worn he was at that moment. He felt Eteri squeeze his arm tightly from behind.

“He will. He’s stronger than the corruption, Stare. And the blood I pulled from you was potent, and different. It sang of life and rebirth. He will come back. And then, you will hunt down your brother and drag him back kicking and screaming. He’s being used as a weapon against you.” He shook his head softly. “When is... Vitruvion returning?” It would be a damn good idea for them to be gone before the hidden deity returned - Eteri would undoubtedly rile him up even more, and right now, that was not what Stare needed in her life.

She cast her mind outwards and felt his familiar presence. Sometimes he watched her in secret, but around half of the time now, unless he was having a private conversation, he let her have a vague understanding that he was there. He was currently sitting in an armchair, drinking heavily from a goblet. The image faded, then vanished as he realised she was watching and he cut it off, wordlessly. She paused and sighed.

“He is … resting just now,” she sniffed a little. “Drinking wine. I'm to let him know when Raevin is back.” She huffed, then paused and looked at Nevin, her eyes wet but her voice more sober. “Why don't you and Eteri go? Get rest, do whatever. I can send someone for you when Raevin is back. It will probably be hours.”

She saw Nevin draw in a deep breath, and his hand on her shoulder tightened a bit. “Alright. I- go sit down with one of the staff. I don’t think you should be alone in here right now.”

“I'm fine, Nevin,” she told him quietly. “I've been through a lot worse than this. There's still things I haven't told you about-” she broke off. “Nothing. Just go and rest. Actually Eteri,” she looked around to the nekojin.

“Can you make sure he gets rest?” Nevin blinked, and his right eyebrow rose. His posture straightened up and he narrowed his eyes.

“I assure you I am -”

Eteri gripped him tight and grinned. “Yes! Nevin can have all the blood and hugs till he is strong again.” The man looked like he wanted to protest at this, but Eteri just turned her eyes in his direction and gave him a wide grin. “If no listen Eteri will bite threads!” The alchemist curiously froze at that, and gave a slow nod.

“I.. think I am beaten, here.” He gave a wry smile and shook his head. “Stare. Come to the shop if anything happens alright?” His dark red eyes bored into hers.

The kenku quickly nodded. The alchemist blinked and tilted his head to the side and his eyebrow rose as he looked between the two women. “One question though. I know why refreshing myself with your blood will be helpful, love, but ah, why hugs? I do like them but…?’ He trailed off and a look of confusion was on his face.

Stare said nothing, and shrugged. She looked to Eteri and listened as the cat girl spoke. “Eteri just like hugs.” For a moment Stare looked at the two of them before she found herself curious about something. She blinked as at Eteri spoke and switched into her Aura Sight. There, the two auras stood out - the dirt brown and the strange void - but Stare ignored these and went straight for the epicentre of their souls, that being their heart chakras. First she delved as she had accidentally done so with Galatirion first, right into Nevin's chakra, focusing closer with narrowed eyes. The tri-coloured lines of power separated at her will, swirling back to give her an image. One that began with the sound of running water, causing her to pause and frown. Then, as she got nearer she began to see red, blood red but still clear water as a river.

And in the centre of that river, a large, obstructing rock. Stare blinked, quite surprised. The red River clearly symbolised blood, but the rock - well. It was firm and strong and unmoving. So Nevin considered himself an obstruction in the flow of his world, an unavoidable presence in what was becoming his own church. Her brows rose, but she said nothing as she moved over to look at Eteri. What she found there, surprised her though … a tree. Tall and spindly, but made of glass. Fragile, delicate, yet aiming to grow. Here stood before her two people - one a rock, the other a glass tree. Two people who strove to be more than life had given them. Stare room in a slow breath and moved back into the present.

“I see you,” she smiled a little. Nevin blinked, those dark, dark red eyes shifting as he raised an eyebrow at her. The man tilted his head to one side and looked to the catgirl, then back to the birdgirl.

“Well, yes, the lights haven't exactly gone out.” There was a tone of confusion in his voice as he tried to figure out what she was talking about. His arm had wrapped around Eteri’s shoulders as she gripped him tight, but it looked like he had given up arguing that he needed rest.

Thread Title: Don't Hug the Kenku
Type: Basic Rewards

Nevin receives:1040 EXP and 78 GP

Eteri receives: 780 EXP and 78 GP

Stare receives: 988 EXP and 78 GP

Congratulations!

Rewards added.

Stare reaches level 10!