Blood Red Trees

“Hypothetical,” Vitruvion murmured, “Purely … No I never met another kenku before her. Not for long enough.” He looked right at Nevin, most of his strength and confidence back. Briefly, he looked into Stare's mind, and found her to be suffering. A range of emotions surged through her, and he knew he would not let it go on forever. It would damage her usefulness to him. But he needed to take care of something far more important first.

“When I first came to this planet,” he said quickly, “The Althanas pantheon, they-” he stopped and found himself curling his lip with disgust. “Screw those bastards, but one of the conditions of me being able to stay here - and I cannot go home - is that my entire existence as a deity remains an entire secret. I'm telling you this now, you cannot, for your safety as well as ours, tell anyone.” He finished and then blinked a few times. Twisting around he looked back down at Stare and paused before looking back at Nevin, seriousness in his tone.

“Do you understand? The bastards shoved me in this body so I cannot force you to do anything, but for your own sanity …”

Nevin frowned and shook his head. “I told you already. I am not going to share your secret. It is yours, not mine. I merely know it. Now, I think other business needs your attention. We can talk more another time, if it is necessary. Stare. Trust him - his feelings are so bright they almost blind me.” He gave a crooked smile and stood up, bowing to the two of them before he slipped out of the office. It looked like the two of them had a discussion they needed to have. And Druss had never returned with food, and his stomach was rumbling.

And he had things he needed to think about himself. Did this power work on things that weren’t divine, or divinely touched? Or could he only see connections between gods? That would be an unusual power, and a fairly useless one. As a researcher, he would have to do some experimentation and find out the limits of his new power.

Vitruvion watched Nevin leave, his eyes piercing at the red-haired man. Several times he swallowed, trying to get his body back to a normal working routine. He bit his lip, the stress of the day and that event getting to him, as he thought.

Another. Another knew, adding to the list. Ventrua, Raevin, Stare … and now her close friend, Nevin. Strong, potentially part divine himself … not a threat. Likelihood of that had dropped significantly.

Turning around he found himself looking at Stare, her slumped, awkward form a crumpled mess. For a moment he blinked, then sighed and bent down to slide his arms underneath her form.

She was moldable, bendable. Easily he scooped her up, and felt no resistance as he used the mighty strength that he hand to pull her up and into his arms. One supporting her back and the other beneath her knees he watched her for a moment - the dainty but strong and hardy loyal kenku that he held dear in his heart. Now, all confused and broken, like he had made her, like he himself had been made.

Consciously, she let out a breath, then curled inwards into him, placing her head against his chest. A small smile came to his lips, a slight fluttering of appreciation. Gripping a tighter hold of her he began to stride from the room.

“Mine,” he whispered to her as he pushed his way through the doors, then paused as he saw Nevin. Vitruvion moved his gaze away and continued his pacing towards the hall.

Nevin had paused in the library, testing how far away he had to be for the bond between himself and either of the others in the room to form. It worked best when he was close to the wall that Vitruvion’s desk was set by - if he had to make a guess, the connection was only really visible if he was within ten feet of both people involved and could see them. Right now, he could see two bonds - his connections to Stare, and to Vitruvion, but not the one the two shared between themselves. So, they had to be in direct sight?

Then Vitruvion came out, carrying Stare, and Nevin paused in his experiments and focused on the duo. The chains between the two were shimmering with a rainbow of hues, including concern and tense nervousness. Stare was strangely passive, at least physically, but her emotions were running a wild gamut. Both the connection to Vitruvion and the one to him were shimmering with different colors, thought he array towards her god was far more extensive. Nevin watched silently as the two continued out, Vitruvion shoving the door out of his way as he went out to the hall towards the main lobby.

Well, there went his experiment group. He shrugged and headed towards the dining room, intent on getting the food that should hopefully be there. And in the meantime, he could experiment with whoever he could see and find out if his magic worked on everyone, or just on those divinely touched.

Vitruvion took the stairs two at a time, sighing slowly as he held his precious cargo to himself. He flicked a finger and her bedroom door opened for him, the most natural of movements. It slid unlocked and he strode in, and it closed itself behind him. Moving right to the bed he lifted his quarry and placed her down on it with reverence, and then paused before he arranged her a little better, grabbing a pillow to shove it under her head.

She lay there for some time, breathing slowly, absolutely still else. He stood above her, white-haired and blue-eyed god, blinking and trying to take in what Nevin had said along with how he felt about this being before him.

Love? He had to admit, there was a form of love in his mind when he thought about Stare. Not a romantic sort, that he had rid himself of a long time ago, but there was a reason why she had been the only being he ever trusted to share his bed whilst sleeping. Never before had he been known to rest with another, give himself to that sense of trust. There had been that first night, in the Hollow, and things had gone on from there, a connection felt, then made and a thousand spiralling emotions rapidly whirlwinding around them until they had come to this. Acceptance. Knowledge. Power.

Nine months ago that night had been now. And recently he had had Blaze in this very house and been unable to stomach the thought of sleeping in the same bed. Thus, he had come here that night and curled himself around his most precious possession. His kenku. His. The only one he ever could feel right enough to sleep with. Raevin had explained it to him as Vitruvion's innate trust of her … born from their first ever meeting, and their solid destiny of bring together.

His heart thumped, a great chunk of flesh for his should-be mortal body. Silently he moved, swinging his form onto the bed, so he sat at the head of it, her by his sprawled legs. Leaning his head back the god condemned to a life of never reaching his full potential sat there, dreaming of another life when he could have been worshipped, adored and wanted.

Finally she moved, a huffing breath and she shook herself from her daze. Blinking, she glanced around, eyes dancing to the ruined bed post, still there, then her small bookshelf, the chandelier, her covers and then - him. Head back, staring at the hanging drape that made a private ceiling for the bed.

Quickly, she looked away, but not before he noticed. His gaze, snapped down to meet hers, and she cowered for a moment from it, her breath fast. Fear ran through her body, fear of what this all meant now, what this all was, fear of the unknown of where she stood with him, what she was to him.

He paused, and saw her curled form, then let out a long sigh. Placing a hand to his temples he rubbed them and shook his head. “Stare, nothing has changed. Nothing.”

“But you are angry,” she whispered. “I told Nevin, I did not make it subtle, I made it too obvious-”

Vitruvion threw up a hand, “That?! Yes I was annoyed at it, girl, but that led to this. Another to have my secret … Ideally it would not be he who you regard as a strong best friend, but we never know. The boy is more ally now than enemy, that was my fear. That was what I needed to ascertain, that there was not some higher power behind it, worming its way into our lives like …”

His brother. He curled his lip with intense distaste as she kept her eyes glued to the bed spread, body still in that curled position. He needed to find and kill his brother. Fast.

“Stare,” he realised suddenly. “Are you trying to avoid making me angry?”

She flinched a little at the inflection of his voice, then stilled and lay there. “Maybe,” she mumbled.

His brows rose and he gave out an impressed breath. “Well. That took you some time.”

She awkwardly shrugged where she lay, paused, then peered up at him. “You said you were going to punish me when I got back for the fire thing.”

He nodded, “I did say that. You were an idiot.” He raised an eyebrow. “I will think of something later. Right now I need you back to being of use to me. Hence me, here. You want to say things, then say things. Ask questions and I will answer.”

It struck her then how very unlike a god he was. Usually they were high and mighty, looking down on their people with a glorious indifference. But here he was, and though he made an effort to keep his speech high and noble, there was a certain line of realism to Vitruvion. He had suffered himself, he had been outcast and suffered the loss of close friends, loved ones. He had direct access to her mind where he could see the daily struggles that a mortal endured. He was so different from the beings she read about in books and holy texts that she began to wonder if he could ever get back to being a god, ruler of many …

“Is that you saying you have none?”

“Only what does it mean now? With Nevin knowing, and all of this,” she gestured usually between him and her. “I hate you part of the time, Vitruvion. For what you did to me, that's what I rely upon for activating my powers. I detest the Hollow, what you have there, what you make me do, what-”

“And that part of me will never change, Stare,” he promised, his voice firm. “You know why I made it, what it has become is different, but I accept your opinion on it. I accept that I manipulate you, that is entirely true,” he said it as casually as if he were swatting a fly, “But that is my life, and you're in it.”

“But Nevin said 'love’?!” she whispered the word so haunted and shocked that it seemed like her body would break from the pressure she was putting it through.

“Not the way I would have put it,” Vitruvion looked away, blinking a few times. “But then he sees connections, I do not,” he shifted a little, in a manner that … no. Not him. He could never be awkward.

“What does that mean?” she was up on her arms now, staring with a mixture of uncertainty and horror.

His eyes flickered back to her. “As I said, nothing has changed, Stare. Perhaps now you know to the extent that my willingness to protect you goes, now, but that is all. Love can mean many things in a tongue, and devotion from a god to his subject … that could be one of them.” He paused, because that sort of love made most sense to him. Though he felt the pang of a deeper attachment, a hunger to look after her as he would a best friend or even a child. After a pause he looked away again. “That is all that it is,” he said it in a firm tone, as if he needed to convince himself of the fact. Which is what he did need to do.

All? Stare’s heart thumped, and she moved into a better sitting position. That was all? To her it meant the world. It was like having a family again, an affirmation of someone to belong to, to talk to about all her world's problems, no matter how minor … oh yes, he could see into her mind, but that was part of it. Now that she knew the extent of his simple like for her, she did not mind so much that it was him. Their connection had indeed strengthened over time. Blaze had commented when she came to the house of how could she [Stare] bare to have him in her mind? One, Stare had never had the choice and two, now she had gotten used to it. It was a connection that had begun to work, that had actually made her life easier in some way.

“You are better then?”

Glancing up she saw the quizzical brow and she found herself nodding. “Yes, thank you,” she responded. Because truly she was.

He took a moment, looking at her straight, then nodded before moving. “Good. Dinner I believe is being served, but come when you are ready.” Then with a moment's thought he continued. “The ophiotaurus guts?”

“In the chest,” she confirmed. “Safe. Away. You summoned me moments after I had closed the lid.”

“Good,” he nodded. “For now I want you to keep the key. Until I ask, I do not want access to the things, lest they do damage on my person.”

“They need to be burnt first.”

Agreeing, he shifted off the bed entirely. “Indeed. Now … come when you are ready? Yes?”

“Yes, my lord,” she said with the first hint of amusement in her eye.

He let out a short chuckle as he opened the door. “I need you fed well, so do not be long.”

And with that he left, swirling out in a soiree of blue and white. The door clunked behind him and he paused before starting down the stairs, a breath of relief coming from between his lips. Upstairs, Stare gazed at the door for a while, and then sighed before collapsing back against the bed.

“Ansaldo's balls,” she murmured.

Nevin had managed to get some food - in this case, meat from a roasted duck along with a small selection of vegetables that he arranged neatly on his plate as he sat down and began to eat. By this time he had confirmed that his new ability worked on more than just who were touched by a divine being in some way - everyone he had seen actually had some of the strange red ribbons leading away from them, fraying apart in the air. The only time it hadn’t was when he saw the young boy that was in the kitchen before.

The boy had come into the room bearing a hot tray of fresh bread that he set on the side table where the food was served from. As he came within Nevin’s somewhat arbitrary range, Nevin noticed a faint red connection that reached out and latched onto the alchemist himself. It was surprising - why had this happened? What was the difference between this boy and the other servants that he had seen so far?

Wait. Could it be - the boy was the only one who knew him at all. None of the others did - not beyond his name and that he was apparently a guest of Stare’s, so not to bother him unnecessarily. But the boy, the boy had been there when Nevin worked on the truth serum earlier, and had been asking Nevin questions. It wasn’t much, but it was enough for the boy to recognize the Alchemist. Was that…? Nevin abruptly stood up and walked over to the window and stared out, watching people in the yard. It wasn’t until he saw two of the garden staff walk by, talking amicably with each other, that Nevin’s sudden thought was confirmed.

He wasn’t seeing divine influence like he had been wondering. He was seeing the connections between people. His eyes widened and he looked down at one hand, as crimson threads emerged from beneath his skin. Nevin had heard about this before, who hadn’t? He just hadn’t expected, his well, blood based powers to somehow connect to that. Just what on earth? How much of the Crimson was actually an allegory for souls?

The Red Strings of Fate that bound people together. It seemed the Great Flow of Crimson was more than just a giant river of eternal blood. He was still staring at his hand, trying to work this out, when one of the doors was shoved open, and a rather angry young woman stormed in. Ebony hair whipped around her face as the petite Elven woman looked around the room, then snarled in aggravation when she saw Nevin.

“You! It’s all your fault that she came back here and now he’s all squirreled away with her, caring for her and carrying her around!” She stormed over to Nevin, and went to jab him in the chest with a finger. Nevin casually deflected it, not that the girl noticed in her anger. She continued ranting in his face. “If you hadn’t come back, she’d still be stuck doing whatever it was that had her out in that damn forest, where she should have been eaten! Then I would have had him all-” She stopped cold, apparently realizing that Nevin had stood up and was now looming over her, his glowing red eyes locked onto her.

Hey, if it startled Vitruvion and Stare, who were both very powerful in their own rights, it had to be terrifying to this little Elf, right? He took a long, slow breath, and when Mer tried to back away he glared at her again, locking her in place.

“It seems I need to make a few things clear to you. First off. Stare is my oldest friend. If you say she should be dead again, I will personally deliver your flayed carcass to Vitruvion and explain to him. Secondly. The bond between the two of them is something you can never, ever hope to match. It would be better for you to settle your eyes elsewhere, little Elf, because vying for that man will just end up with you sleeping in a cold and lonely bed.” Mer let out a squeak and fled when Nevin turned and sat down, picking up his fork and knife and finally starting to eat the food on his plate. He didn’t particularly care that it had gotten cold as it sat there waiting for him.

Vitruvion paused, feeling a twist of ire in the air. He swept slowly around the doorway to the dining room, looking curiously to the two people who sat there, eating grumpily and not saying anything to one another. Brows rose, and he took a moment before carefully stepping in, then walking without comment over to his seat. He drew it back, and without once looking at Nevin, his nerves still not quite there he reached for food. Mer watched in confusion as he helped himself for some time before she offered.

“Can - can I help?”

“No,” Vitruvion said in a low, quiet voice as he grabbed the wine jug and began to pour himself a healthy-sized portion. “Thank you.”

His eyes flickered a few times around the portraits of himself at various stages of his life in Raiaera, then he dropped them to swing back a mouthful of wine. He drank it, easily, his body still tense but far more relaxed than it had been half an hour earlier. Grabbing his fork he began to eat, on the cusp of proper decorum, clearly still agitated.
“Is she doing better, Sir Elssmith? I am sorry, it was not my intention to disrupt…. Well. It seems that,” Nevin’s eyes slid to Mer, who was watching him from the corner of her eye, her head down after Vitruvion rebuffed her. “Recent acquisitions can take on a mind of their own until one gets a handle on how to utilize them. I apologize for that whole situation.” Nevin bowed his head to the man for a moment. But he was also concerned about Stare, sitting dumbfounded and passive was not her normal style, and it had been rather worrisome to see her not even twitch as Vitruvion had carried her upstairs in his arms.

Well, he could see why Mer had gotten upset, if she had seen Vitruvion carrying Stare around. It was clear, even without resorting to seeing the connections between people, that Mer was enamored with the majestic white-haired man. So seeing her rival being carried by the man she was after … hopefully she listened to his advice and looked elsewhere.

He was still calling him Sir Elssmith. Vitruvion blinked a couple of times between a mouthful of sausage and one of mashed potatoes. Pausing, he almost considered saying, 'Just call me Vitruvion,’ but that seemed all a little out of sorts. Instead he focused his mind onto the ring of his third finger on his right hand and found the connection through the cuff at her wrist. Stare was currently at the bathroom, splashing water onto her face.

“She is fine,” he replied. “A lot better. She will be down shortly.” His tone was slightly off, and he still refused to make eye contact with Nevin. “She just …” he tried to think of an excuse for Mer. “Was exhausted from her journey. It came suddenly.”

There. It would do for now. He shovelled more food into his body as he could do in a posh manner, without seeming disgusting.

Nevin nodded slowly. That was a relief - and it gave him an idea on how to handle talking about Stare’s collapse. Though it seemed he didn’t need to. He wondered absently why whenever Vitruvion glanced in his direction, the man refused to meet his eyes - wait. They were still glowing. Whoops. He hastily pulled his magic back from them, letting them fade to their normal, neutral state of red so dark they seemed black.

“I’m glad to see that she’s recovered so well. She was a tremendous help in the forest.” Of course, Vitruvion already knew that, he lived in the back of her head whenever he wanted to. But Nevin didn’t know if Mer was aware of that, so this would give an opening to talk about the events in the woods and not have it seem suspicious. Though, he didn’t really care about Mer himself, he didn’t want to make things more difficult for Vitruvion in his own house right now.

“Now. About the party in Radasanth.” He raised an eyebrow to the man. “While clearly it can be discussed later if need be - are there any steps I should take to prepare for the guests?” The bastards would be attacking near his own home, the Grand Celestial Brewery wasn’t that far, and some of its workers came by his store occasionally for hangover cures.

Vitruvion was not an idiot. It took him less than a second to figure out precisely what Nevin meant. A minor nerve in his hand flinched as he was reminded of the ever-present and growing threat of his brother. He drew in breath, stared at his food for a moment, then replied as he dropped his fork.

“Raevin is taking a group to greet them,” he spoke carefully, “Including Brer, who I believe you have met now. They will be treated well, do not worry.” Reaching out he grabbed his goblet of wine, his fingers curling around it like it was a neck to strangle. His other hand scraped back hair from his face. “You personally should not need to worry about making yourself … available.”

He drank back the wine and briefly twisted his eyes up the ceiling, checking on Stare. Pausing, he set the goblet back down. “You are making a shop in Radasanth?”

“I am. It’s primarily based in an application of the alchemical arts that are a bit divergent from those that I practice in Stonevale. More… focused on termination of contracts, if you will. I of course am a neutral party and all involved know it there, at least in regards to my wares, so I have been mostly left alone. It’s becoming popular with a subsect of the citizens, as I usually operate on later hours than the alchemists who are beholden to the Guild.” He frowned, thinking of that particular lot.

“An unsavoury group, the Guild. They put rather surprising restrictions on people, for a group of alchemists. I can’t stand them.” He shrugged. “My business does well enough without their interference. Though I think I may have to do something about them soon. It seems that if you don’t match a certain set of criteria, among them race, a Guild Alchemist can just kick you from his store.” He frowned.

Vitruvion raised his brows but said nothing for awhile. Still, he had not made full eye contact with Nevin, something he was resisting, for now. He sipped his wine, looked briefly at his hair, which was definitely white, not blonde as it had been not that long ago. Another aspect of him changing since meeting Stare, but the only physical sign so far. He hoped.

“They sound quite unsavoury,” he commented. “Do you know if they have a residence or influence near Bottleberry Avenue?”

He spoke of a long street of ornate townhouses, terraced together but as fine as you were going to get. He glanced to Mer who was still grumpy. When he forged eye contact with her though she perked up, straightening her back and showing all the signs of a lady suddenly. He grunted and continued to eat, knowing just what a shallow person he had hired.

“Bottleberry…. Yes. Sorry, the guild I referred to is the Alchemist’s guild, my apologies. They have their hand in just about every alchemist in Radasanth apparently. It’s far harder to find an independent operator in the city than one who is a member. They don’t outright target you, but they do make it far easier for guilded members to stay afloat. If you weren’t sure of your skills, well, signing on with them would clearly be a wise decision.” Nevin didn’t bother to say that he was quite sure of his skills.

“However. Recently a vampire came in to my store, desperate for help. She was trying to avoid - Is something the matter?” Mer had frozen and was staring at him with wide eyes. She slowly shook her head, trembling a bit, and Nevin shrugged before returning his attention to Vitruvion. “As I was saying. She apparently seeks to avoid having to feed off of living individuals, and prefers prepared blood tonics. Radasanth was where she unfortunately began to run out. Multiple guilded alchemists threw her from their stores simply for being a vampire, despite the fact that she was actively seeking alternatives. Distasteful.” He shook his head - and heard a soft clacking outside of the doors. He watched, intrigued, and sure enough, as the person on the other side approached the doors a massive network of chains sprung up from Vitruvion and shot towards the door.

Hidden in the mass was a thin cable, a paltry thing, almost anemic, that was tinged with an ugly, dark color - envy. Mer was hopefully not going to be a problem.

Stare pushed open the door and looked briefly around the room. Pausing at the sight of Nevin she stared at him briefly before moving on hurriedly as if something had spooked her - and it had, she saw the red in his eyes and she still couldn't quite get used to it. As she passed behind Vitruvion's chair she peeked over as if by habit and grabbed the goblet as she went. He gave her an amused look, an arched eyebrow but said nothing. She sank into an empty chair and filled the goblet as she nodded.

“Evening,” she said quietly.

Mer looked at her with confusion and astonishment as Stare moved the goblet back. With simple ease Vitruvion took from the air before it settled.

There was a small pause before Vitruvion looked over at Mer. Before her was an empty plate and he nodded at it. “Mer if you are finished, then please go. Mr Aimaparapoiitis, Stare and myself need to talk.” He paused, then added. “In private.”

Mer’s lips parted. She glanced with disbelief from Stare to him, and then with near rage at Nevin before she stood. With a last haughty glare at Stare she strode out the room, muttering curses under her breath. The god's brows rose but he said nothing, swinging back some wine into his gullet. When the door closed behind Mer he spoke flatly.

“Colourful. She cursed your feathers to … wither I believe would be a good translation.”

Stare grunted and began to take the last of what food was on the table. Vitruvion smiled slightly, then set the goblet down and looked at Nevin. “Raevin is currently on his way to the brewery. We are currently recruiting more mercenaries, which may not be enough, but they will be something. What Stare got for me in the forest was the guts of the ophiotaurus. Guts, that after being burnt, are said to be able to kill a god.” He folded his hands before him, then finished with a grunt. “Should do some damage against a half god.”

Well, there went his need to study and find out just what the bull serpent thing was good for. Nevin folded his hands on top of the table and stared at them, his brow furrowed in thought. The glow in his eyes receded as he considered the situation. Then he looked up, to the two of them, a frown on his face.

“That’s a bit lacking in practical applications, isn’t it. ‘Guts that have been burnt’. What, are you meant to carry that entire mass around with you after scorching it, and bury him? I know burnt offal has a powerful odor, but I doubt throwing it at someone would affect even a normal being, much less a god. So, what do we know about how to actually weaponize it? Is it some kind of power released in the burning process perhaps, and you have to burn it near the intended victim? Or is it like certain kinds of creatures and their weakness to wood, where having part of it in a wound will prevent it from healing?” And how could it be applied if that was the case? Would Stare - or Vitruvion himself - have to be the one to deal the blow with the guts nearby, or could it be done by anyone so long as they were properly equipped?

“I understand if you don’t feel comfortable talking about it with me, but if you haven’t already, you might need to look into that post haste. I’ve never heard of intestines being used as a weapon before, except to strangle someone, or to infect them. I suppose burnt intestines might work, perhaps there is a unique weakness that they generate?” He frowned and drummed his fingers on the table. This was why magic made science difficult. There was no chemical you could point to here and say “Ah ha, here you are, this is the god-slaying chemical!”

Vitruvion slowly breathed in, his eyes rolling to look at Stare. They narrowed slightly and there was a single look between them. She saw irritation in him, recognised it and responded with a small shrug.

You chose to tell him.

His terming is ...

Less refined than yours? she had a small smirk in her eyes.

“Stare,” he said audibly and disapprovingly before he sighed and looked at Nevin. “Research into the ophiotaurus is limited, there is talk of it killing thaynes and an ancient,” he pushed a hand through his hair. “I won't say anymore than that. I don't like the idea of being known by many, for obvious reasons. There is a reason I got Stare to collect it and not myself and why now …” he paused. “One moment.”

His eyes glazed over for a second, refocusing somewhere else. There was a pause, and it was as if he was talking mentally with Stare but to another far more distant. Stare munched on a sausage, watching him, before he came back to the room, a slight grimace on his face.

“My dear half-sister is demanding to know who you are. She will likely hunt you down soon,” he took up his wine and chugged back the remainder of his wine.

Wait. What? Nevin blinked twice, feeling both of his eyebrows raise up into his hairline. Stare resolutely was not looking in his direction, and seemed to find the ceiling absolutely fascinating. He cleared his throat and he found it a little hard to speak at first.

“H-half si-sister is it? And ah, why...why might she be hunting me down?” Nevin swore, if it was because he had accidentally forced Vitruvion and Stare to confront some feelings about each other, he was going to swear off dealing with anyone from the Raerian continent for a few years. He swallowed and looked between the two of them for a moment before rubbing his forehead.

“Alright then. Why would she be hunting me down, and is there anything I should be aware of?” Aside from her half-divinity that she was running around with, if she was Vitruvion’s half-sibling. Nevin would rather not be blindsided by say, a hydra god walking up and demanding to talk with him about something. Or a Gorgon, freezing him in place with her baleful eyes as she ‘hunted’ him down. And that was a concerning turn of phrase in and of itself. Normally you would say that someone would look for another person, not ‘hunt them down’.

Was he about to be killed because he had gotten too curious at the wrong time when he had relaxed his guard?

Stare suddenly laughed. Vitruvion threw her a disapproving look, fire suddenly in his eyes. She had a guilty smile in her features, that she could not get rid of it though she ducked her head slightly as he growled at her, irritated. There was a short moment as he narrowed his eyes at her, his jaw tightening but she continued to helplessly be amused.

“Stare,” he warned her.

“It is amusing though,” she confessed, flinching slightly as his hand tightened on the rim of his goblet. He said nothing more, only eyed her with grim anger. Quickly, she looked to Nevin. “Sorry, it is just Ventrua will not mean you any harm. She is abrasive but that is all.”

Her god glared at her whilst he picked up from that point. “Ventrua came with me from Ansaldo’s planet. Half our father, half a mortal woman, of the Hitarik people. She was supposed to be my ‘servant’ for all of the worth it was, after he shoved me out but obviously she more or less is my equal.” He dragged his eyes away from Stare to look at Nevin, though his knuckles were still white. “She can be abrasive, and demanding, especially of her ‘dear brother’.” For a moment he looked like he might fly into a rage, but then he pulled himself down and took a couple of breaths. “I have told her specifically not to harm you, and not to react like she did when I made Stare aware.”

For a moment, Nevin thought about asking about how exactly she had reacted when Stare was informed of the situation. Had she tried to attack his friend? Or had it been - from the way Stare was laughing at first, Ventrua would not be the type to attack. Or at least, she wouldn’t attack him physically, which he was thankful for. He didn’t really have any kind of defensive option if she had decided to attack him directly, not beyond his threads. And he knew many people could punch harder than his threads could block.

But, abrasiveness, that he could handle. He might return the favor, but at least it wouldn’t overwhelm him to deal with someone like that. The redhead took a deep breath, and shook his head. “I thank you for the warnings as they stand, then. I’ll keep an eye out for her and try not to be taken aback.” Nevin leaned forward, his head aching. It seemed like he had been using his new power a bit too flagrantly, and now he was dealing with the aftereffects. Namely, a splitting migraine that was hurting him the longer he kept his eyes open.

He pushed his way to his feet, gripping his head in one hand. He flashed them a pained smile. “It seems like being able to see the bonds between people isn’t a power you can use for free. I - I need some rest, it appears. Excuse me.” The alchemist bowed, and wavered on his feet slightly. He straightened up successfully though, and started heading out the door, his destination the main entrance.

“The room you slept in last night is still available,” Vitruvion said, reaching for his wine goblet again.

As Nevin wavered his brows rose and Stare sucked in her breath alarm. Glancing over at him she then swung her long beak at Vitruvion. A silent moment passed between them, with her expressing the desire to greet her friend. Waving a hand at her he quietly dismissed her, with a note of, I will see you later. Do not be too long.

Nodding once she stood up fast, forgetting what little food she had on her plate. Rushing over to Nevin she ducked under his arm before he could protest and supported him through the door. Kicking it open she blew a small raspberry, as best as a crow can, at Mer on the other side. The elf was standing there, dagger-eyed, and Stare mocked her. Carefully she began to direct Nevin up to the stairs.

“You should get some rest.”

Nevin stumbled a bit as a small form slipped on under his arm, supporting him and making his wavering walk straighten out a bit. He was a bit surprised - he had heard Vitruvion speaking, but whatever the white haired man had said had kind of just ended up noise in Nevin’s ears, not something that his brain actually processed. Had they been trying to talk to him?

Oh crimson, what if there was someone else they had been trying to warn Nevin about and he hadn't registered it at all? A long lost sibling of Stare’s or something, and now there were two Kenku to worry about, only this one served an enemy? No, no, there was no way Stare would be this calm if that was the case - she was calm enough to blow a raspberry - at least it sounded like she tried to and where did someone without lips learn to do that? - at someone that Nevin couldn't see clearly.

A flash of magic and a hard wince - that had been a stupid idea. But he knew who it was though, that envy tainted cable belonged to only one person. He shook his head, a motion that sent shivers of pain down his spine.

“She needs to find another, and soon. Dark emotions like that aren't healthy.” His voice was as soft as he could make it, because each word made his headache throb in aggravation. It was only at this point that he realized they weren't going to the front door like he had intended. They were - climbing stairs? “Wh-where?” where were they going?

“To your bed,” Stare said softly to him, clambering up with him. Her eyes glared back at Mer as they passed her. The elf woman paused, then marched up the stairs.

Stare turned Nevin at the corner and made him stop at a door at the top. “That,” she stressed, “Is my room. Come if you need anything. Call if you do. Okay?”

She waited until he gave her some form of an answer.

Oh, she was pointing somewhere, somewhere nearby the stairs. That was - ah, her room. It was hard to think through the splitting pain in his head at this point, but he managed a rough nod. “Your room. Come if you call and need anything. Right.” He didn't think he would be of much help if she did need something, at least not in the near future. But Stare was near and dear to him, and if she needed his help by the Great Flow he would not let a paltry thing like a migraine hold him back.

Thinking the matter sorted he pulled away and leaned heavily against the wall, moving himself along it by feel. He knew the room that he had slept on was nearby, and it had had a rather interesting design carved on the front. While he wasn't really opening his eyes that much, his sense of touch was not making his head scream in agony, so finding his room by feel shouldn't make him want to just curl up in a ball for a bit.

Finding the room and getting inside into some nice, quiet dark seemed like a very, very good proposition to Nevin right about then. After he had recuperated, then he would be able to figure out what was going on more certainly, find out what it was that Vitruvion had - wait, he was here, so the god had probably been saying he was permitted to rest here a bit longer, he doubted Stare would have just intercepted him and brought him upstairs without that individual’s permission. Feeling satisfied about his deduction, Nevin pushed it from his mind, and instead focused on finding the door that he had slept behind… Was it really only just last night? Goodness.

Gently she caught with him, catching her arms back around his, sighing. “You're absolutely ridiculous sometimes you know. You and all men,” she rolled her eyes. “You're like my brother Avin. He would get so drunk on the Wanderer's beer that we needed to carry him home on a stretcher, Akka and I.” A faint smile came to her eyes of that good memory. “Sometimes I miss my family, my brother's more than anything. Ah here we are l.”

They were at an ornate form of door, commonly known as the guest bedroom one, with carvings of the familiar owl in ivy. It was furthest from hers laterally, but she turned him around and pointed in the direction of her room once more, and said, “You go all the way around okay?” before turning him around again.

Carefully she opened the door and supported him inside. She took him as far as she dared, and sort of nudged him the last foot to the bed.

The bed looked so very soft and inviting, and when Stare gave him a nudge, the redhead just slumped forward and collapsed onto the bed, like a puppet with its strings cut. He let out a long, deep breath into the folds of the duvet, his body almost visibly deflating as he forced his body to relax. There was a pause, and then he rolled his head to one side, just enough that his face wasn't buried in the blankets and his mouth was exposed. His voice was soft as he spoke, and there was a strange tone to it.

“So I'm like your brother? I think.. I think I would have liked having a sister like you.” He seemed a bit unsure about that though, like there was something about the statement that bothered him. When he spoke again it was almost entirely to himself, so soft that it might have easily been missed.

“Did… Did I have a sister?” that was odd. He hadn't thought about it before, but he couldn't remember what his family was like. He remembered Salvar, remembered it being so cold, remembered wanting to be an Alchemist… So why couldn't he remember his parent’s faces? Or if he had a sister or not? Wasn't that kind of thing incredibly important?

He tried to turn his head more towards Stare, but - but moving, actually moving to look in another direction, made his headache fiercely and he gave that up for a lost cause quickly. “Family is important. But friends can be the family you choose, right?” Unfortunately, whether or not Stare replied to him - or had even heard him - was lost to Nevin, as his body finally got fed up with him and shut him down, making him pass out on the bed.

Stare let herself smile a little and nod as she turned. “I don't know,” she admitted. “My family is all dead, and I've never had friends until I came to this city. I'll see you later, Nevin.”

Then quietly, she slipped out, satisfied to hear the soft sound of his sleeping. She crept out and left the area of the balcony, peering down at the bright lights that still spoke of the house's life. It was late, that was clear, hours had passed really since they had been back. Nevin knew that Vitruvion was a god - Stare honestly didn't know if that was a good or a bad thing, but at least for now, it was just a fact. Also there was confirmation now of what Raevin had begun in her mind some time ago - that idea of Vitruvion actually trusting her on an instinctive level and now building up forms of trust, so passionately and possessively, but in a way that she could only learn to live with.
She heard slightly tense voices, and could only imagine the discussion Mer and he were having. Inwardly, she smiled, then continued onwards to her room, where she undressed to her under tunic, paused, then left herself just in her simple loin cloth. Nevin wouldn't even notice the fact she was naked on top if he needed to come in - nobody did with a kenku. Most were surprised there was actual breasts there at all, beneath the wild plumage. Easing her way down in between her covers she settled in for a quiet start of the night at least, entirely forgetting that Vitruvion had asked to speak to her afterwards.

Around half an hour later the door slipped open. Barely had she begun her sleep, and she started awake with a gasp. “Nevin!” she assumed, “Give me a second, I-”

“Move up,” came the soft voice.

She paused and drew around to stare right in his eyes. “Oh,” she whispered, gazing at the white haired man with utter surprise.

He waved a hand, hissing at her. “You are currently taking a large portion of the bed.”

“It is my bed,” she made her point.

“That I pay for,” he countered, and he bent down to unlace his boots. When she didn't move he looked right at her, brow rising. “Stare?”

He trusts you on an instinctive level. Deeper that you or he understand.

“Yeah,” she huffed and wriggled over, offering half of it up.

She was disgruntled by it, but his habit of crawling into her bed on nights where something of especial sensitivity had occurred was already preset. Begrudgingly, she knew she could not exactly refuse, and waited until the shirtless but trousered form slipped in behind her. A slight pause, then arms pulled around her form, tugging at her until she gave in and worked her way over.

“You seriously need to get yourself a girlfriend,” she muttered.

“No one would be good enough,” he whispered and curled against her. A small smile came to his lips. “You can sleep now.”

“Thanks, my lord,” she sarcastically said.

And that was all. The only thing to happen in the morning to bring new excitement was the entrance of a woman with hair the colour of a summer harvest. Exceptionally beautiful, gracious, and graceful, she asked the whereabouts of the red head staying in the house. Information got, she marched up to the first floor, and threw open the door. Then, she came close to the bed and folded her arms, waiting for him to wake up on his own.

It wouldn't be that long.

Nevin stirred because he felt someone watching him. He cracked open his eyes, testing whether or not opening them sent pain spiking through his head. To his enormous relief, it did not. So, with sight restored to him without causing pain, the Alchemist looked around the room slowly. He didn't think it was Stare - he would have shook him if she needed him awake for something. And she hadn't called for him that he knew of, so he didn't think she had needed him at some point. So who was -

A tall, stunning blonde was staring at him, literally from beside the bed, and far closer than he would have thought was proper. When she realized he was awake, a smile curved across her full lips, and she slowly leaned onto the bed, resting her weight on one hand. Nevin’s eyes widened.

“So, I hear you've learned of a certain little secret.” Oh thick Crimson, this was Ventrua, wasn't it. “Now I'm sure my brother has already addressed the need for you to keep it quiet.” her other hand landed on the bed, and she leaned over, giving the reposing alchemist a clear view down her low-cut blouse. “But I find myself wondering…” Her eyes flicked down, and Nevin got the distinct feeling that she was sizing him up.

“I find myself wondering if there is anything I might do to help convince you to keep quiet.” As she spoke she crawled onto the bed, and Nevin found himself unable to move - he was till in the process of waking up and his body wasn't responding properly. Well, one part was, and he didn't want that to be what she noticed. If she hadn't already. A strange, chilly tingle ran across his skin as she brushed a hand along his leg.

“I-i-i-” She grinned at his stammering. He felt slender fingers trail up the inside of his leg and she brushed her fingertips against him, and he wanted to squirm away as he blushed profusely.

“Oh, he never told me you were the shy type. Don't worry, I'll be sure to take good care of you.” Her voice was a throaty drawl and felt like honey trickling into his ears, smooth and rich. “Look at this, you've got all this tension built up, how about you just lay there like a good little boy and let me do just that.”

“I have a girlfriend - I think- please stop.” Her lips just stretched wider, and she crawled forward, one hand on either side of his head now as she stared down at him. One of her legs traveled up between his and pressed against him, and he felt more of that strange tingling running through his body.

“She doesn't have to know sugar. If you keep his little secret, this can be ours…” With that soft whisper against his ear, she began to lean over, her lips traveling towards his.

Oh sweet crimson am I about to be raped?? Nevin tried to move away, tried to push her back, but he felt sluggish and his body refused to respond to his actions beyond a stiffening in his pants. Which was not helpful for him.

BAM!

The blonde beauty, halfway across stretching over the body of the poor red-haired human, looked back suddenly, her gloriously golden hair cascading like a rainfall down over the body beneath her. A look of annoyance came over her features and her lip curled as she began to lean back.

“My dear brother,” she sang, in her sweet seductive tones still. “How nice of you to-”

And suddenly there was marching. Thuds of fury, firm footsteps over the ground, and a deep growl echoing in a throat. Ventrua moved, revealing to Nevin the white-haired figure of the god striding with pure purpose and a flood of fury within his eyes, but with a glare only on her.

“Ventrua!” he hissed, in a voice that could make bold kings faint from fear, “How dare you-”

She let out a gasp, now pushing herself off Nevin. “Brother, how dare you-”

Suddenly she was grabbed, a pale hand appearing around her shoulder. It tensed, yanked, then pulled her entirely off the bed. She let out a fake yelp of pain before he threw her to the side with strength that would usually a crumple. But she was still smiling as she thumped into the wall, a smile that was growing.

“Brother, I was having so much fun …”

Vitruvion curled a hand into a fist, a finger pointing at Nevin. “That,” he spat, “You can very much define as 'mine,’ Ventrua. You are not to touch him again, do you hear?”

Nevin spoke up, his voice thick and groggy. “N-not yours, I'm indepen-” his eyes shot to Ventrua’ s form. “No no I take it back sure yes I'm yours just keep her away!” Even if his body really did not want her away. Vitruvion's mouth twitched with a smile.

Ventrua let out a pitiful moan, as she pouted pathetically and began to fakely brush herself down. “But Vitruvion …”

“I think you heard him enough, sister, now unless you really want to actually try. Again?” His blue eyes lit with a universe of fires, lips curling higher into a smile and fist beginning to tighten, the air around it shimmering …

“You spoil everything!” Ventrua shouted back, before she pushed away from the wall. And she had flipped. Her light, playful mood was gone, her eyes were full of irritation. Throwing a “tsk” in the air she didn't throw Nevin one last look before she flipped Vitruvion a bird, and twisted. She marched out of the door, head held high and golden hair swimming out behind her. Still enchanting, still …

Vitruvion stood there for a while, staring at her. His fist slowly untensed, and he took in a long breath. One eye narrowing he watched her move away, then shook his head, letting out a sigh. He turned to the door.

“Stare?”

A very sleepy looking kenku shuffled into view, wrapped in a blanket and looking honestly confused. In her hand she had a white shirt, and a pair of black boots that she dragged along the ground. Her exhausted eyes looked bemused from Vitruvion to Nevin, whom the god still had not looked at.

“You left … these. What did she try to do now?”

“Take care of him, I have my sister to deal with,” Vitruvion spat, before he turned and marched out, swooping to grab the items from her hand. She gave them up willingly, and blinked from him as he left, then back to Nevin.

She rubbed her leg, pulling the blanket tighter around her. “… You alright?”

Nevin slowly, laboriously, swung his head towards his friend. His eyes were still a little glassy but life seemed to be coming back into him. His lips parted and he tried to speak, but it just came out as a groan before he squeezed his eyes shut.

“That is a very dangerous woman. I'm glad you two showed up when you did.” whatever she had done to him - and Nevin was familiar enough with his own body to know that she had most definitely done *something* to him - was fading, but slowly. The sluggishness - maybe a weak sedative effect, while his other problem was an aphrodisiac? But how…?

“Does… she have a way of magically putting drugs into a person’s system?” As he said that, he realized that this might draw the kenku’s attention exactly where he did not want it to be. He prayed that she didn't think to look as he hurriedly pressed on with speaking, trying to distract her.

“I think it is either that or some kind of numbing drug, I'm having trouble moving but it is fading. Ah - the headache from last night is gone, thankfully.”

Stare awkwardly nodded, and tried not to but she ended up yawning as she listened, her great beak splitting and gaping. She twisted to the side as she did so he did not have to be subject to the worst of her gullet. “Oh excuse me …” she closed her mouth and then looked still sleepy at Nevin.

“Yeah Ventrua has a hypnosis … drowsiness thing. Thankfully doesn't work on me because of,” she waved a hand at the door, “Yeah but I've heard its a bitch. It should fade in a bit. She shouldn't do it to you again. But glad the headache is gone.” Blinking a few times she hugged the blanket, then began to shuffle over. “Vit just got out of bed and shot out the room and I was like, 'what,’ and yeah.” She paused. “Oh and the 'mine’ thing. That's just a thing between them. Everyone is either Vitruvion's or Ventrua’s … you honestly get used to it. You don't need to worry about it too too …” she sat at the end of the bed and stifled another yawn. “Much. You need anything?”

Nevin clamped his mouth shut on his immediate reaction to that question. This should subside when the drowsiness did too, at least he hoped so. Not something to bother Stare with. Not something he WOULD bother Stare with. Nope. He shook his head.

“Guess I'll have to keep that I'm independent quiet around her. At least Vitruvion doesn't try to molest me.” He tried to give a weak grin. “Not even that I have a girlfriend slowed her down. Terrifying woman when she has her eyes set on something.” he tried to sit up, but his arms were still heavy, leaden by whatever she had done to him. But it was fading, he could feel his muscles smoothing out.

Stare’s brow rose when she heard the word 'girlfriend’. Nevin had … he had … what? She blinked and stared at him as he went on, as confused as hell why this hadn't come up already. Then it struck her that they had been dealing with demons and a bloody church and the fact Vitruvion was a god …

“No, I don't think I do. But it looks like you need more sleep, Stare. You should head back to bed. I should be able to keep her at bay if she decides to try sneaking back. Don't think she will though.” Nevin didn't know though, if she did come back, if he would be able to resist her. Maybe if he knew more about where things stood with a certain blue-haired girl he'd be able to resist, but.. Ventrua hadn't been wrong when she said he had some tension built up. “Is something on your mind?” Stare was looking at him strangely, and didn't even twitch when he said she should go back to bed.

“... Girlfriend?” Nevin blinked and went back over what he had said. Ah, whoops. He rubbed the back of his head, wincing when he realized he hadn't undone his ponytail when he went to sleep. Or rather when he passed out. He busied his hands with pulling that out and fixing up his hair a bit as he carefully looked away from those wide, unblinking eyes.

“It, ah, isn't certain. She's an interesting one. I'd wonder if she had some relation to you if she wasn't a cat-woman - she saw my soul too, right away. Saw that it was too. Doesn't care though.” His tone was strange, like he wasn't sure what to feel about the situation.

Stare's eyes widened. “Cat girl? So that wasn’t your wife but just girlfriend at the castle? Ezra said there was rumours, but wasn’t sure ...” She was suddenly awake now, definitely. She had perked up, interested, or not knowing what to think. Then she paused. “Wait soul did you say? She didn't seem the soul type. Huh. Did she see your soul scar?” Her head tilted, a myriad of questions and wonderings coming to her mind. Downstairs she was vaguely made aware of a tense argument going on between the two children of Ansaldo in the front room, the smallest of the three reception rooms in the house (the drawing room did not count).

“Wha- do you mean Rainee? No, Ezra was just confused by rumors in town. And no, I don't mean Rainee. Her name is Eteri.” Nevin had to let out a soft chuckle at the thought of Rainee as his girlfriend. She was nice enough, but with the anger she had towards the stranger who had, admittedly rather rudely, propositioned her, Nevin did not think Rainee would be interested in a relationship with anyone just yet. He coughed, and managed to sit up properly, and slowly rubbed his face with one hand.

“And I don't know if she actually likes me, or if it is just a trait of nekojin to have about zero percent respect for other people’s personal space. I also don't know how I feel about her - she was nice enough, a bit flighty though. But I'm not used to actually, well, feeling for someone outside of friendship. Last time it happened, I bottled it up and it has mostly faded by now.” He was glad he had kept rubbing his face, his slow movements giving him an excuse not to have his eyes open so he wouldn't inadvertently look at Stare as he said that.

“And she saw more than my scarred soul. She was able to see I had two souls, poorly merged together. She tried asking for part of my soul, but - well, I'm glad I didn't let her. Not sure how I would have handled that power surge if I had given her a part.” Nevin shrugged, a slow rolling movement. “So maybe my attempt at defending myself from Ventrua was as specuous as Vitruvion defending me.” And for a moment, Nevin wished the two had been a little later. He tried not to let that thought show.

Stare blinked. “Wait, wait, wait.” She held up a hand. “Don't … don't ramble like that … You said Eteri right? Blue hair, doesn't speak tradespeak that great. Does know Akashiman though …” She sighed. “You met her in Radasanth I'm guessing. You're going out with her. We've met.” Then she huffed and remembered herself back then, the recent weeks, days even, after she had just begun her employment under Vitruvion with the knowledge that he was her god. So long ago now … it seemed. She shook herself. “And yes, souls, sorry, scar thing that leads to your other little soul.”

She looked down at her body and realised she was still in the blanket. “I should probably change. I actually have nothing but my undergarments beneath this.” She blinked. “Well and my feathers.”

Nevin blinked once, and looked at her, towards the areas covered by the blanket, then looked away rapidly. Well that was … a thing. He nodded rapidly. “Yes, all correct. Sorry, I think whatever she tried on me scrambled my head up a bit.” Actually, it was almost certain that the aphrodisiac was lingering in his system, or else he would not have wondered what sounds she might make if - he shoved that thought down, hard, shoving it into a lockbox that quite clearly belonged at the bottom of an ocean. Instead of saying that, he gave her a strained smile.

“Probably should at that, yes. Wearing too few clothes around an unrelated man leads to trouble, you know.” He gave a weak grin, showing that he was joking. “And I should get up and get my head sorted. Need to remind myself not to overuse that power until I’m used to it - crippling migraines are not pleasant in the least bit.” He shook his head, and was very glad that the motion no longer caused intense spikes of pain to run through him. He slowly pushed himself up, glad that he could at least stand now without it taking an eternity. He paused and turned away from Stare when he realized that enough of the aphrodisiac was still in his system that he had a bit of an obvious tent in the front of his trousers. He cleared his throat loudly.

“And I should probably get changed myself. I know I brought enough clothes for the journey to take longer, but these have gotten a bit messed up by now. If you could?” With a blush dancing on his cheeks, he nodded towards the door. And was so very glad that Stare hadn’t bothered checking with her aura sight so far. “Please?”

The crow head tilted, going on its side in a animalistic fashion of curiosity, before she nodded a little, tip of the beak lowering just a tad. It was then that she saw what he was badly trying to cover up, and her eyes went massive. Quickly she stood up, joining it partly with his avoided looks before and the pleasure she saw before when she had touched his tendrils. She jolted. Definitely time to leave him alone.

“I'm not free to … at all. I can't ever ... okay I'm going, I'll see you in the dining room. Um …” she gestured blindly out the door, trying to not look anywhere but his eyes. “Bathroom is across the way, around the stairs.”

Twisting around quickly she exited, realising what an idiot she was for not thinking. Not realising. Nevin? He was her friend, never anything more. She had known a long time ago that she'd be romantically alone all her life. Vitruvion was both her god, her employer … and her master. Damn that last one.

She went to her room and began to run the hottest bath she dared.

Nevin meanwhile threw himself into the coldest shower he could stand, only turning up the heat even slightly long after he had cooled off. He thumped his head against the wall several times as the icy needles of water beat against his skin, forcing his blood flow back to normal.

He blamed all of this on Ventrua. If she hadn't come in and riled him up, then he wouldn't have thought about Stare that way. Or least he didn't think he would. He hadn't thought about thy in some time, trying to categorize Stare as family in his mind. That idea if emotions should have been tucked away never to see the light of day again. At least, that was the case until she sat on ‘his’ bed bed with only a blanket and undergarments on.

He shoved the shower even colder. He had seen the love, the connections between Stare and Vitruvion. His and Stare’s bond was strong, sure, but nothing like the network of sturdy chains that joined the two of them. As the freezing water washed across him Nevin let out a long, drawn out sigh.

“Sister. Just, sister. She might be of a different race, but just think of her as your sister and it will be fine.” Finally he had calmed down enough - read, he was just this side of suffering frostbite- to climb out safely. He shook out his hair, grunting in annoyance when he realized he couldn't tie it up right now, it needed to dry. Frustrating. So he let the short fall of just past shoulder length hair hang free as he began pulling on clothes shaking his head as they clung to his still damp skin.

“Alright. Showered, calmed down, and dressed in clean clothes. I can face the day now, even if that temptress tries making another move. Which would be unwise of her but hey. OK, say goodbye to Stare and Vitruvion, then leave. I can do this much without incident, right?” With that rather unhelpful self pep talk, Nevin picked up his pack and headed out, aiming for downstairs. With everyone awake, and just so at that, they were probably getting food.

When he got down Stare was already there, filling two plates with items from the series of platters on the table. Vitruvion was now more clothed, his eyes fixed on a newspaper as Ventrua lounged to his right, her arms folded and not looking at him. It was clear their argument had ended in someone winning. With a fabulous purse of her lips Ventrua had her attention on the portraits that bordered the room, looking at them silently as Stare filled up the plates. She blinked but did not look as Nevin entered the room, but rather refused to do anything else but the paintings of her brother through his life.

Delicately Stare slid Vitruvion's plate in front of him, and got a single glance from Ventrua. They had a silent staring contest until Vitruvion, still not looking up, shook his head, and said, “No, Stare. You’re mine only.” And Stare then sat down with her own plate.

Nevin coughed and did his best to avoid looking in Ventrua’s direction. He failed. As he walked towards where Stare and Vitruvion were, his eyes kept sliding over to where the blonde was seated, her arms folded under her ample bust. Suddenly, Ventrua’s eyes snapped towards him and a devious smirk stretched those full lips. She lifted her arms for a moment, before leaning back, stretching her arms out behind her and emphasizing her curves with a slight wiggle.

“Oh? It looks like the cute little shy boy does want to play?” Nevin felt a blush shoot up his face. He was not going to get himself back into that barrel of trouble, no, not even if those lips did look perfect for -

“Ventrua!” A hard, cold voice snapped from Vitruvion, who had leveled a glare at her. Ventrua stared at Nevin a moment longer, let her eye on the far side from Vitruvion drop into a wink, then she hugged and folded her arms across her chest and went back to glaring at the portraits.

“No fun…” She mumbled under her breath with an angry pout on her lips. Nevin was now focusing solely on the white haired god, and specifically not looking at the half sister.

“Alchemist, do you need something?” Nevin hesitated a moment before shaking his head sharply.

“Not at all, Sir Elssmith. I just came to let you and Stare know I would be returning to Radasanth. I thank you for your hospitality these last couple days.” He bowed, then turned his head to Stare.

“Stare, it was wonderful seeing you again. Do try to come by when you can, I know you're going to be busy though.” Against his better judgment, he switched his gaze to Ventrua, and swallowed a bit when he saw that that husky gaze was back on him. “Miss Ventrua, it was.. An experience to meet you.” Despite himself, Nevin smiled slightly, remembering when he had said nearly the exact same thing to Vitruvion the first time they had met.

“Do you have anything you need from me before I go though?” Nevin directed his gaze back to Vitruvion.

The god paused, and looked up to Nevin before shaking his head. “If you need to go now, then at least take some breakfast with you,” he gestured at the table. “That or eat and I will prepare you a marble.”

He saw the look of confusion in the humans eye. Grunting once, Vitruvion tapped Stare on the shoulder and then held out a hand. She blinked, and he blinked at her.

You still have the longer distance marble from yesterday, yes?

She gasped a little when she realised what he meant and dug into a pouch at her belt. From it she drew the darkest blue marble, but one that was dim and no longer beaming with light. When Nevin did not move Vitruvion gestured more fervently at the table. “Sit,” he insisted.

As the marble in his hand began to glow again.

Ventrua scowled before rising and grabbing a plate of her own. “Brother, you are always a spoiler of good fun.”

Nevin slowly moved to pick up a plate and begin gathering food, he was not about to argue with Vitruvion in his own home. Even if he was edging into something more than human - well, Vitruvion had always been that way, and a disagreement between them would inevitably end with Nevin coming out the worst of the encounter. He swallowed nervously and nodded. He sat down and began to eat, his mind churning a bit as he did so. Abruptly he looked up, a strange look in his eye.

"Now that I think a moment longer, I'd offer a trade with you, if you're interested Sir Ellsmith. I have need of, well, business help. I seek to force the alchemists guild in Radasanth to get rid of some of their more harmful practices. Perhaps in exchange for expertise from someone in your group, you would like me to prepare and provide a stockpile of healing agents, in readiment for the upcoming event at the Brewery?"

With a raised eyebrow Vitruvion threw a glance at Stare. But Stare was … cautious, careful to not think about Nevin much, just that she would need to say goodbye to him soon, and trying to think of pieces of small talk. Like the weather. The states of the roads. How the quality of hemp had changed over the season … The god smiled with amusement for a moment, knowing that it was all to distract herself from what Nevin had said earlier. In all honesty, it was good the alchemist went now, today, rather than stay around and make this situation more awkward than it was.

At least the boy had a girlfriend now, even if she was a cat.

“Raevin is currently making his way over. He and others will be staying at my Radasanth home in Bottleberry Avenue … if you go to them they can help. I will inform him and he will be grateful of any assistance you can give.”

He sucked in his breath and kept his eyes on Nevin for a moment, wondering of what really to say. “Alchemist … Nevin. You do understand the importance of the secrets here? The fact that I cannot control what the natural gods of this wretch of a planet … world will do to you if you say … nevertheless. You will be in danger from both them,” he paused, then decided to add. “And me.”

His lips curled into more of a deviant smile, eyes glimmering for a moment with a hint of the power behind. Stare looked up to him, her eyes massive and startled, and he simply dismissed her.

I am not his friend, just because he knows who I am, Stare. I am still me.

Nevin raised his eyebrow and folded his arms together in the table, staring at Vitruvion silently for a long minute. When he spoke again, his tone was soft, matching Vitruvion’s.

“I already told you, Vitruvion. I have no intention of spilling secrets that are not my own. Everything I learned in this house are the secrets of this house, and shall stay as such as long as I have control over my involvement in the matter. With or without additional encouragements or warnings, my lips are sealed on the matter. And as for the gods - what matter they to me? I grew up in Salvar, where I was ridiculed for wishing to learn magic to help others. Any concern I might have had about that lot is as dead as my - well. Quite dead.” Nevin slowly pushed his way to his feet and sketched a low bow to Vitruvion.

“But I think I should not tarry here any longer. I have affairs to get in order in Radasanth, and I do still have to find out whether I properly have a girlfriend. By your leave?” He raised an eyebrow, watching Vitruvion carefully.

The god rolled his eyes partly, feeling ire from Stare and entirely ignoring it. Turning to her smiled as he glanced at her again, as if her unhappiness made him more amused. He paused for about thirty seconds, letting Nevin hang there before he opened his hand. Within was a deep blue marble with an intensely beating heart of light.

“Be quick,” he told Stare, holding it out to her. “We have things to do today.”

Her body was tense but she took it and got up. Twisting around she left Ventrua and Vitruvion there, gesturing to Nevin fast.

One minute you're actually nice, the next you’re a dick. You can be an utter bastard you know.

Vitruvion chuckled a note of laughter as she left, actively trying to pull Nevin away. The god picked up his newspaper and went back to reading. All the while his sister fumed.

“Sorry,” Stare said quietly, when they were far enough away. “His mood can ...change. Suddenly.” She flinched with worry about what the day would bring, but that was hers to deal with, not Nevin. So strange, the idea of Vitruvion loving her at the same time as his cruel methods.


Nevin coughed and followed after her, wondering what on earth was going on at this point. He would have thought that Vitruvion would be thrilled to get rid of him, and instead it seemed like the man was using his departure to tease Stare? Or maybe dangling what she couldn’t have in front of Ventrua. Oh, Crimson. He had said where he lived in front of the blonde. He just hoped that her irritation with her brother was enough that she hadn’t been paying attention to him. He did not need a leggy, stacked blonde showing up while he was trying to figure out his feelings for a petite cat-woman. His eyes refocused on Stare when he realized she was speaking to him - at him, at first, but she wouldn’t know that.

“Well.” He looked around, making sure that there was no one else but them around in the hall. “They do say that the whims of the gods are often capricious. I can only hope that whatever is happening to me doesn’t make me as flighty as all that. I have been feeling a bit more…. Agitated, of late. Perhaps that is a concern.” He frowned and rubbed his chin - then realized that his hair had dried enough from his shower that he could tie it back. He wasn’t working on any alchemy any time soon, but even so, he was used to having his hair tied out of his face and off his shoulders.

As the two of them walked, he fished a thin cord of hemp rope from his pocket and began dragging his hair back and away from his face and neck, and began tying it up behind his head. He gave the finished ‘product’ a few experimental tugs, and nodded when the string didn’t come loose. An errant strand of blood-red hair did drift in front of his face, and he blew it away with an irritated huff. Minor grooming maintenance dealt with, his attention shifted back to Stare, who had watched all this with an amused eye.

“What? It’s too much hassle to cut it.” He folded his arms across his chest and assumed a mock-affronted look. After a moment he broke it with a shake of his head and a slight grin. “Did you need something from me, Stare? Or just want to say good bye from Ventrua’s prying eyes?” The redhead didn’t bother mentioning Vitruvion - in all likelihood, the white-haired god was keeping an eye on this conversation through their bond.

“Well I wanted to say goodbye properly? If I'm allowed to from one of my only friends,” her eyes danced with a happiness and the idea of friendship. For her it was the foundation of the better part of her life.

She looked away as she opened one of the huge doors of the front entrance. Light burst into their eyes from the glorious weather outside, with a beaming bright sun ... and she found herself scowling slightly. Under her breath she muttered. “Vitruvion is now able to have influence on the weather now, and every day is warm. One day I'm going to moult.” Screwing up her face she was gone for a moment in discomfort, but then looked to Nevin.

She paused, then held out the deep blue stone. “It's like the one I gave you before … ah yeah I need that back. Basically you hold it, think just that you ‘want to travel’ and it will get you to the place programmed … With Radasanth he has a habit of getting you to the harbour, out of the sight of people. And it only works the once. He has to 'recharge them’.” With an awkward look in her eyes she looked down, then back up.

“I'll see you … I guess, later? I should meet … Eteri again.” She stood there in the bright light, the brilliance glinting off her still damp feathers.

“Of course you are.” He shook his head. “There's no way I'd stop you from saying goodbye. That'd be pretty damn stupid of me.” He smiled slightly and shook his head. When she mentioned the other marble he blinked and began digging around in his pockets before finding it.

He swapped them, picking up the new one with slender fingers and dropping the short range one back into her outstretched hand. He held it up to one eye and gave it a somewhat critical glare. “Don't know why, but I am not particularly a fan of this method of transit. I've dealt with a couple different kinds now, and I always seem to be ill afterwards.” He sighed and grasped it firmer before looking at her, then stepping forward and pulling her into a hug.

“Be safe, Stare. I can't have one of my few friends dying on me. And I hope to have you over, maybe by the time you're free I'll actually know if Eteri and I will be together.” A final squeeze and he stepped back and away, the glanced at the marble held in his clasped hand.

“So just think ‘I want to trav-whoa!” A wrenching sensation in the pits of his stomach and with a rather startled expression, he was gone, Stare alone now in the light of early morning.

There was a flashing swirl around him, and Nevin felt like was churning end over end. He really, really hated teleportation magics. None of them seemed to fit quite right with him, and they always - he landed on his feet with a stumble, and had to fight back the urge to retch off the side of the pier. It took him a few moments to calm the churning in his stomach, and when it did finally settle he looked around..

This stretch of the piers was thankfully deserted, with only a few ships sitting in their moorings. He was about to stand up and walk away rapidly, when he realized he recognized one. He hadn't realized that Lady Philomel was back in the city. He would have to swing by and say hello later.

She watched with a growing sadness as he vanished into the portal of magical creation. His form slowly and gently melting away out of sight, into a world beyond that which she could grasp. Some shimmers of illumination, a couple of winking stars and then he was out of her life. Again. He who knew who she was. Who understood why she could never leave Vitruvion.

It took her time to walk back into the house. Her footsteps were reluctant, and closing the door was hardier and the object heavier than she ever had noticed before. Gradually she came back to the dining room and slumped down in her seat to sit there, eyes dropping to gaze at her half-eaten meal. A soft sigh came from between her lips, and she was aware of quiet conversation happening between Vitruvion and Ventrua. A discussion of where they all sat now, a guarantee of truths and responsibilities.

“The responsibility lies mostly with him now,” Vitruvion said. “I warned him of the consequences should he even hint to his … cat girlfriend. He knows of who is involved.”

“Yes, all the gods of Althanas,” Ventura commented. “Well the major ones. The others had to really go along with their decision.”

The white-haired man breathed in slowly. “Indeed,” he replied with a dry tone. “Do you actually remember if any fought against the decision, Ventrua?”

The half-goddess shrugged. “I am not sure brother. At least you found …”

And some other things were said, but Stare was not listening then. Her eyes slid closed, and she pressed her body to the table. So many things had happened. The discovery that Vitruvion did not hate her soul, but rather had a love for her. A love more than an owner to his possession? Likely. And Nevin - Nevin knew of everything now. What she was, where she had come from. Well, he knew everything apart from one specific secret, but she was never going to admit that to her best friend was she now?

She paused. Best friend? Was Nevin really that to her? She thought of all the other good people in her life - Raevin, Mer … no, wait, forget her as a friend, Brer, Nosdyn - they were all friends but not in the same way as Nevin was … she thought. He had called her sister at one point. Maybe he could be that, a sibling to her. It wasn't like either of them really had one themselves. Well aside from Vitruvion but he was different in every situation.

“Stare.”

She barely noticed the word.

A sigh, then, Stare.

Hmm? she glanced up, eyes bright and filled with hope at the idea of a surrogate brother. Soon she would forget Nevin's admission that he had liked her more than a friend. That would forever be in their past, she was determined.

Vitruvion had an eyebrow curved. “Right. Now, we have things to discuss.”

It was then Stare noticed that Ventrua had gone. The half-goddess had left her chair and gone out of the room altogether. With a quick scan of her eyes the kenku found that she was not in the near vicinity.

“Firstly, you are right, a relationship in your case with anyone would complicate things. Anything. If you need to have a brief connection with someone in the future, that we can discuss, but a relationship would cause too many problems. A conflict of loyalties for a start.” He paused, “So I forbid you from seeking out one, or having one. Call it your punishment for the idiot action with the fire.”

The dull eyes bore holes into him. “I wasn't going to seek one anyway.”

“Well, it determines where we stand upon it. And I will adhere to my own promise not to use you as I did in the Hollow. With that we have an accord. It is not your use to me.” He slid a hand smoothly to tuck hair behind his ear, and smiled delightfully at her. “Yes?”

“Yeah,” she grunted in reply.

His smile warmed.

“We have to start organising how things will run now Raevin is not here. And ... I have a guest coming in a month. I need you to ready the house for him. I received his letter yesterday but obviously other issues became more important.”

With that she looked up, brow furrowing. “A guest?”

“One that I invited some time ago, but it seems he has time now.” He leant back, taking up his coffee. “He's from Hernsford city. The port.”

Hernsford. Stare suddenly felt the blood drain from her face. “Hernsford?” she questioned, unbelieving. “You mean?”

“The same one,” he nodded. “The only Hernsford, that there is. And the man who is coming is the very same merchant.”

The one who had arranged everything for Vitruvion's official ownership of her. Stare groaned loudly, feeling ugly, horrible and sick.

“He knows of who you are, and the circumstances, Stare. Our arrangement.” He straightened. “Anyway, what we need to do is …”

And the next several hours were spent organising what precisely a visiting political official’s needs were, in a foreign city. From another that depended entirely on slavery.

Nevin let a long, heavy sigh as he pushed the door to A Single Drop open. He had been told a message about his greetings and well-wishes would be passed on to Lady Philomel, who wasn't currently present within the ship, off on some business he was not to know of. So he had simply thanked them for taking his message and left, making his way back to his store. Which was dark, and quiet. The alchemist closed the door behind him and latched it - he was in no shape or mood to deal with customers tonight.

He slumped back against the door, his eyes drifting shut in the quiet shadows of the Alchemy store. He had become used to being around other people at this point, customers were constantly filtering in and out of the store whenever he had it open, and in the day he had business to take care of in the city. And for the last couple of days, he had literally been spending nearly every waking minute with his closest, dearest friend.

Who was firmly set in some kind of relationship with a god. The warmth had been laced with a strong possessiveness, an almost desperate attachment, but it had definitely been love. Nevin didn't know what had happened to Vitruvion that the other god refused to accept it - the alchemist paused and went back over his last thought in his head.

The other god? Nevin shook his head dismissively. Even if he was slowly transitioning in that direction, he was not a god, or godling, himself. Not yet. With a ugh, he pushed himself away from the door and began trudging his way into the back of the shop. He dropped his bags down beside his kitchen table and slumped down into a seat, staring across the table.

“It's too quiet here.” He slowly dropped his head down into his arms, resting them on top of the table. He had no idea how long he stayed there - he wasn't sure if he fell asleep, or if the quiet darkness just held him in its grasp for hours. It was strange to him - he was a reclusive person, or at least he thought he was. So why, instead of just feeling alone, did he feel.. Lonely?

Stare receives 4225 EXP and 350 GP.

Nevin receives 4460 EXP and 350 GP.

All rewards added.




Raiera