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Post by pallas on Oct 15, 2023 21:25:06 GMT
She wasn’t understanding him. And he didn’t know why he’d thought she would. Luka didn’t always think about how her actions affected people, and as healer all Lucien did was clean up after those kind of consequences. Maybe she wouldn’t get why he was so afraid.
”Yes, I was involved in Hallowe’en.” he acknowledged ”I’m not mad at you for that, I’m trying to learn from it. I’m trying to be a better friend. I promised River I wanted to have his back. If we went out there and got caught and it got Laurie killed, I sure hope you’d be able to look him in the eye and tell him why that happened.”
He shook his head with a sigh. He wasn’t trying to be angry or aggressive, he was trying to get her to see sense. To understand. Because this had to be the worst idea ever for more reasons than Lucien could possibly list.
But then she started talking about how badly she’d been hurt last time, and he could feel how raw and afraid she still was after her fight with Fenrir.
”Saw it. Felt it.” Lucien said, eyes locked on Luka’s back as she began walk to away. ”I know you were hurt, Luka. I’m the one who had to stick an IV in my best friend and pray it was going to save her.” Knowing if it didn’t that it would have been his fault for falling short. ”That’s why I’m asking you not to make me worry about losing you again.”
He didn’t know if he was getting through to her, but he hoped he was. Maybe he was talking to a wall, but he had to try or he would never forgive himself if something happened.
”I know how it feels to be helpless. But once in a while Cleo gives some actually good advice so I’m going to tell you what they told me when I wanted to run out to help in that last Fenrir fight. You can’t help them by going out there.” Lucien swallowed, ”Lukes, if you do this you’re going to put them and you in more danger. Is that worth your peace of mind?”
River had come back with that awful wound that he wouldn’t let Lucien heal, no matter how much the boy wanted to. And he couldn’t fix the way River was hurting. But what he could do was try and learn from what had happened and he better.
He couldn’t fix anything. That did scare him, he couldn’t lie. But he would not risk making things worse.
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by Nari on Oct 15, 2023 23:34:19 GMT
Theo blinked in surprise at Cleo's response to Laurie, calling the boy out for lying. It gave confirmation to the worry he was feeling for the boy, but it ticked him off that their leader put it out there like that. Why did they expect him to tell the truth when he was surrounded by the exiled? He would have called it out, but decided to hold his tongue on the subject when Laurie was sent away.
Part of him felt relieved that his friend was no longer next to Ripley the Ripper. Another part felt hurt that he was gone without speaking to him or his other friends. The final part was an irresistible urge to run after him and make sure he was okay. However, he stayed in place when the exiled's second in command replied to him.
"Don't worry there's plenty of me to go around."
Theo's eyelids lowered and he clenched his teeth into a plastic smile. Oh don't flatter yourself, he thought, not daring to speak it out loud. Contrary to popular belief, the boy knew restraint. Which made it more baffling when Cleo scolded him with 'read the room.'
"I can read it just fine," he stated, rolling his eyes, "But you? Try some glasses." It came out with more snark than he was intending, which surprised him. Great, Luka was rubbing off on him wasn't she.
The only thing that seemed to get him back on track was Atticus's pouting because they chose to address Ripley instead. So he wasn't the main leader? Could have fooled him, especially when for the past few days he was their only contact in regards to the meeting. This Atticus person just seemed insecure.
"Aw, it's okay," Theo said sweetly as he glanced at Atticus, "not everyone can be as eye catching as Mr. Gates over there."
The champion of Baldr wanted to kick himself for saying that, but it was too late now. Haleema's condition was being addressed and all eyes were directed to Fenrir.
"Oh…" his expression seemed to slip at the sight of her leg being chewed on by the hound. It was enough to make him feel ill just knowing how close it was to being their group, and how Haleema didn't get that chance.
He had it out for the chosen people of the Norse Æser, and it was just the 3 of them left.
Theo wasn't able to process Ripley's words before Chiara piped up about River. How he wasn't dead and low key insulting the exiled leader's skill. Luka would be proud. Unfortunately this was a negotiation, and it was hard to get anywhere with insults. Especially with their giant bloodthirsty hound in the corner.
"Aside from that," Theo piped up, hoping to divert the conversation elsewhere so they wouldn't dwell on the semantics, "that still leaves the 3 others unaccounted for. Now, I don't doubt you kept your word, but…" he lifted a finger and pointed at the crown on Esme's head, "that needs addressing."
Yeah, the crown was definitely Pascal's, and if memory served him right, it was also his key. It seemed strange to just parade it around like that when the rest of them got dumped in the factory.
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Oct 16, 2023 16:36:05 GMT
Cleo shivered as Ripley cooed at Laurie and as he kissed his temple, disgust and horror evident on their face. It furthered when Laurie got up and squeezed Ripley's shoulder, he was acting like the perfect pet, and it unnerved Cleo to no end.
Theo started in, they snapped at him, and he snapped back. At the words, Cleo seemed ready to throttle him. The boy had been around Luka Ravina too much and it was showing. Icily, they forced a cool tone into their voice, judgmental and to-the-point, "Theodore, I believe I told you to shut up, and I also believe that I wasn't asking."
"I'm sorry about him," Cleo said, looking at the Exiled leaders before them, "as you can see, we have our hands full."
"We can help with that," Atticus said, his eyes gleaming with an interested spark as he scanned Theo who had made a comment towards him, looking the boy up and down, "especially if such a pretty eye-catching thing is bothering you. We could always use more trophies."
Cleo looked horrified, mouth falling open as they shook their head. They may not like Theo, but they were not about to give him away. Not only would that be terrible, but Luka would kill them if they allowed it.
Atticus grinned wickedly as Haleema's fate was revealed, and Cleo's mouth fell open in shock and horror. They had expected it, but for once they had hoped they were wrong. They had hoped against all hope that Haleema was alive, that Ripley had played a cruel trick.
With a withering glare, and upset clearly in their eyes, they glared at Atticus, "Make him stop!" They demanded, and when he only laughed and shook his head, they glared, "You want to show you're the actual leader? You want us to respect you? Make Fenrir stop!"
"If you keep it up, Clementine, I'll take Miss Beauty Queen over there and feed her to Fenrir myself," Atticus said, glancing in Guinevere's direction. The girl had been shocked into silence and seemed to pale slightly at the threat, her dark skin seeming ghastly at the threat. Slightly panicked, she glanced at Cleo with somewhat pleading eyes.
Biting their lips and staring away from Fenrir, wincing every time they heard him chew, but Ripley wasn't done. Two leaders dead...? Did he think Luka died? Surely not, right? The Exiled did know they had a healer because of Styx.
He must think River's dead!
That could give the Ascendants an advantage. They could gain the upper hand slightly and lead the Exiled to think they were weaker than they were. Resolutely, they remained silent and solemn, but Chiara's own words caught up to them.
They flashed the girl a withering look, they felt a rare moment of agitation towards the blonde. It lightened slightly though as Chiara continued, and it turned a bit to fear. Was Chiara...taunting him?
Last time someone taunted this man, he beat Echo as they listened. They didn't want to see what Ripley would do when one of them taunted him over his inability to kill River.
With slight amusement in their mind though, they thought about how much Luka's bold nature must have spread to her friends, or maybe the three were just bold all together and flocked together. No matter, Cleo was impressed and terrified by the bold words.
They remained silent, but glanced at Ripley to see how he'd react to that revelation.
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Post by pallas on Oct 16, 2023 16:44:29 GMT
The blindness of Styx’s attack was what made it so effective in the end. It limited Lane’s ability to predict and dodge it, leaving her more vulnerable to the attack.
In the end she was left with a very unpleasant cut on her arm, immediately bleeding more than she would like. But blessedly it was her left arm, not her dominant right arm. That was the only upside to the whole thing.
She’d cried out at the pain, but found it only fuelled her more. The reminder that she was still alive. She still had blood to bleed, she still had a heartbeat to hammer in her chest, and breathe to rise fast and shallow. She was still in this as long as she was still alive, and she still had a chance to protect her friends. She wouldn’t waste it.
”You might kill me eventually,” Lane said, ”but if you think that just because I accepted that fact and won’t kill for more time that I’ll come quietly, you’re sorely mistaken. It’s Hades I’ll make no trouble for. Not you.”
Styx didn’t know - or seemed to have forgotten - what it meant to have someone to fight for that wasn’t herself. Lane had her friends, and if she managed to achieve something to help them during this trip to the underworld, she didn’t care what else happened.
So the girl made her own wild, rapid attack. A quick and decisive strike with her blade. And god was she wishing she was better trained in combat, that she’d paid more attention. She was never supposed to be caught in a one on one melee. She was supposed to be able to move in and out, get hits in. She wasn’t meant for this. But god was she going to try.
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Oct 16, 2023 17:02:56 GMT
Ripley laughed loudly at that ignoring Theo's attempts to salvage the conversation. His attention now went to Chiara as he leaned forward to look her in the eye. "No shit?" He asked with a much to gleeful expression. Too excited a finding out the boy he tried to get rid of made it back home. "Well, hell now I know to put more pressure when I cut. So where is he?" Ripley asked.
He folded his fingers together and rested his chin on his hands. He stared unblinking at the norse champion and raised his eyebrows daring her to come up with a reason as to why only two out of seven leaders were here to talk. "Where is the little Ares boy? Scared to come fight me for his boyfriend again?" Ripley leaned back and raised his hands as he remembered a fact. He took his eyes away from Chiara and stared at the before mentioned leaders here then back at Chiara. "Sorry ex."
"But, you're right Theo, lets get back on track," Ripley agreed and looked to where Theo was pointing. His expression turned bored and he pointed towards Esme. "That is an Esme."
"But why is she wearing Pascal's crown?" Griffin asked. He was doing his best not to sound angry but he couldn't help from looking it. Brows furrowed, jaw clenched together, the ever present stiffness of his body betraying his uncomfortability and anger. He desperately wanted to move from his spot behind the chairs and pace but he planted his feet and kept his arms crossed. "Is he dead too?"
Ripley seemed to perk up a bit and a tiny smile started to form on his lips. "No, he's not," he answered slowly and softly.
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Oct 16, 2023 17:14:59 GMT
 
Esme was quiet throughout the whole situation, her fear turning into a calm wave. These people wouldn't reveal her, if they wanted to, they would have already done it. They must have thought she injured Pascal or killed him and took the crown as trophy. Good.
However, the little Golden boy, Baldr's Chosen, glanced at her and pointed. "...That needs addressing," he said, and her fear grew again, though she kept her face carefully passive.
Ripley did introductions for her, and she raised her head a bit at that. But then the big dumb himbo decided to open her mouth, and like a King would, she glared right at him with a withering look. "But why is she wearing Pascal's crown?"
Shit. Why wouldn't he just ask that in some other way? Why is she here?
She had to salvage this.
"You're friend is alive," She said, shaking her head slightly, "the Crown is mine, however. Make no mistake about that."
She carefully held back her lie. If she made any mention of her Champion, these people would call it out. They'd already called out the crown. By claiming the Crown was hers, it could be taken that she'd just...stolen it and claimed it as her own for the Ascendants. For the Exiled, it could fit the whole King of the Underworld stick. They didn't need to know whether or not it was her key. She appeared with it one day, and they hadn't questioned it then. Surely they wouldn't now.
She felt like she was lying to herself though. A feeling of danger was already permeating the room, it would seem. But for who?
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Oct 16, 2023 17:35:55 GMT
Luka made sure to get closer to Lucien and pointed sharply into his chest when he asked how she could look River in the eye if something went wrong. Her green eyes blazed in fury, "Oh yeah?" she challenged, voice clipped, "well I sure hope you can look him in the eyes if this meeting goes wrong and explain to him why the only two leaders that went to assure his ex-boyfriend's safety were the two who forced him to break up with his boyfriend in the first place!"
She turned at that point and started to walk away, ranting and talking and joking as she did. She was calming herself down. But Lucien's words caused her to slow. A sensation of guilt filled her skin.
"Saw it. Felt it." He said, "I know you were hurt, Luka. I’m the one who had to stick an IV in my best friend and pray it was going to save her."
She finally stopped, and the rest of his words poured around the hall like a lazy river. They echoed a bit in her ears, and she finally turned after a bit. It seemed she had focused on one part.
"I'm-" She paused, looking at him as if trying to read him, "I'm your best friend?"
The look in her eyes edged on a more vulnerable one. She jokingly called Lucien her best friend, and of course she meant it. But it wasn't entirely about the word choice either. It was about the fear she could hear, and the love she knew he felt for her. The love she returned. They were family, but to have it vocalized was entirely different than thinking it.
She knew, realistically, Lucien cared for her. That they were friends. But the fear he felt, the panic he had, to the point where he would risk his life just to save hers? That's what he said after all. That he tried to run after her when she got hurt, but Cleo held him back. It wasn't just about risking his life, but the fear, the pain he went through just to save her. It wasn't out of duty or guilt, it was because he cared.
"You've gotten soft, Sunshine," she said, looking away from him for a moment but not able to contain the soft smile on her face.
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Post by pallas on Oct 16, 2023 17:49:56 GMT
Gwen glared between her two superiors. Her best warning look, the one she reserved for when she wanted the boys to know she was currently plotting their murder in her head. Ripley was clearly trying to make Atticus jealous and Atticus in response had been making jabs at both Ripley and Laurie the entire meeting. Now both of them were trying to flirt with Theo. They were at risk of getting off track and letting the ascendants see how distracted the two could get with their own mess.
But the conversation moved on to River, and Gwen was kind of impressed to see that Chiara didn’t shy away at Ripley’s apparent glee over having not killed River. There was a distaste there, a disgust, but her expression stayed impressively calm.
”He doesn’t have to be here.“ was Chiara’s simple, smooth answer. ”He doesn’t have to perform for your amusement. It must upset you that he’s not here for you to try and get a rise out of him, but you’re shit out of luck.”
It was clear this girl was not someone Ripley would be able to goad into a fight, an excuse to hurt, like River might be. But Gwen knew of one thing that truly got this girl terrified.
”Chiara, isn’t it?” Gwen began easily, giving the girl a smile that might have looked friendly coming from anyone else. ”You seem awfully confident for someone who can’t take notes properly in that notepad of yours. We can always give Fenrir a go at the other arm if you want to even things up. Or you can rein it in.”
That seemed to shut Chiara up, at least mostly. But it didn’t stop Gwen having her own thoughts wondering about the lack of leaders. Irene was in Venice. River was clearly elsewhere, probably back at the Pantheon recovering. That left the two teenagers, the Australian girl and the blonde Apollo boy, as the two others who were missing. Interesting.
Then the conversation turned to Esme, and Gwen’s gaze immediately turned to the girl. It grew suspicious as the exchange occurred, revealing to whom the crown actually belonged. Esme’s comments felt evasive. Gwen’s look grew suspicious.
”I don’t see a key.“ Gwen heard Chiara comment quietly. ”Except Pascal’s.“
Eventually Dillon, who had been quiet for some time, spoke up once again. It drew Gwen’s attention, for the moment, away from Esme, though the girl’s mind continued to whir. Questioning what was going on with the girl.
”So the rest of our people are alive.” Dillon clarified, looking between the exiled as if to confirm this. ”What did you call us here to ask us for? What could we possibly have that you want?”
Gwen just let a smile play across her face, a knowing smile, and turned her gaze to the first- and second- in command. The joy of explaining this one was theirs.
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by pallas on Oct 16, 2023 18:40:02 GMT
Lucien felt a rush of relief when Luka stopped, and felt himself relax a little bit when she turned. It was clear that for the moment she wasn’t thinking of running. It seemed that his words had gotten through to her on at least some level.
”I’m your best friend?”
He hadn’t even registered he’d said that. He’d been even less aware that Luka didn’t actually know he thought of her as his best friend. He’d assumed it was an unspoken thing they both knew. That the way he felt about her was somehow obvious. That was wrong, he knew that now. He should’ve told her. Certainly if he had lost her that night he would’ve regretted never having said it. So he was grateful he got the opportunity to do so now.
”I mean, I wasn’t overwhelmed with the options,” Lucien joked, before his expression became earnest once again, ”but yes, you are.”
Of course, there were people in the pantheon he cared about. There was Echo, for example, but he cared for her in a big-brotherly kind of way he supposed. Protective. There was River, but the friendship they had (though neither had acknowledged that friendship’s existence explicitly) was more like a brotherly bond. But after Hallowe’en, that bond seemed in tatters and Lucien worried all too often about whether it could be repaired.
Luka? Luka was different. They understood each other deeply, because they were so alike. Not even two sides, but one side of the same coin. It didn’t even bother him, that worry in the back of his mind that warned him that two people who had a bond like theirs, an instinctive ability to understand one another, could also wound each other all the more deeply. He just loved his best friend and that was all there was to it.
”We understand one another in a way nobody else here does.” Lucien said, looking into his friend’s eyes. ”And maybe it is soft but… you see me in a way nobody else has.”
People had never seen him for who he was. Before he came here, he was seen as a nuisance by most people, a lost cause it wasn’t worth wasting time on because he was too angry to try and be better. In the Pantheon he was seen as a child too immature to be trusted or respected, but mature enough to be elected leader and given responsibility for the lives of others. Very few people in his life had bothered to try and get through the angry, prickly exterior and actually understand him. He wasn’t a good enough brother, student, friend, leader but nobody seemed to see how hard he was trying.
But Luka saw him for all of the things he was. All of the messy things but the wonderful things too.
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by Nari on Oct 16, 2023 18:45:06 GMT
Theo was used to Cleo telling him to shut up on many occasions, so this was expected. Arguing with them seemed pointless so he just smiled and gave a lazy salute as if indicating an ‘aye aye captain’. Hey, they did tell him to shut up.
Though he visibly seemed to stiffen in his chair at Atticus’s remarks. His expression slightly fell and his eyes widened, with one of them twitching ever so slightly. A Trophy. A TROPHY? First was the pawn stuff, then being treated like food, now this. Comments on his appearance weren’t new, but hearing him say that made it feel like there were worms under his skin trying to break out. Even with Guiney getting threatened he was too stunned to say anything else at that moment.
There was something wrong with these people, further emphasized by Ripley and Chiara’s conversation. So much excitement in the idea of hurting someone, and all it did was remind the boy of River’s reaction to hearing him over the phone. The panic in that moment was so raw, and it sickened him to think that the person wanted more from him.
Chiara at least had responding to him handled, though Gwen’s quick snide remark seemed to make her quiet. Really mentioning her arm? How callous.
“Gudrun, if all you’re going to say is insults, then please shut your mouth. This isn’t high school,” Theo stated in his notorious sweet voice, the voice he reserved for when he was using his charm. He was starting to grow weary of the disrespect his friends were getting.
Soon all attention was on the girl with the crown, who Ripley mentioned was Esme. Theo wasn’t sure what to make of the others’ reactions to his and Griffin’s observation, it was certainly strange. Her excuse in regards to the crown wasn’t very convincing either. Seriously, why pretend the crown belonged to her? Even when they said it wasn’t the case.
“Look, all we’re saying is that it’s kinda messed up to steal from Pascal of all people,” he said, “the dude can barely hold a conversation without referencing some obscure horror novel, it's like you’re bullying him or something.”
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Oct 16, 2023 19:57:56 GMT
Esme stared at the people before her, and she felt a prickle of fear enveloping her mind. She could distinctly feel the eyes on her, and the chewing from behind her seemed to be so loud, echoing in her ears. She stared at Theo as he continued, and her gaze, for just a moment, went from annoyed to pleading.
Atticus himself looked right at the girl, looking over at her and she looked back. She schooled her expression, shaking her head at him. "Esme, dear, what are they on about?"
"I have no idea," Esme said, staring right back at him.
A voice drew the Exiled's attention, "You're lying."
Both Atticus and Esme looked over at the Ascendant leader. Cleo's eyes were narrowed at the girl. Atticus himself seemed confused, shaking his head for a moment, "No, no, Esme is the Champion of Hades. Your Pascal, he's the Champion of Persephone."
Cleo actually laughed a bit, eyes narrowing at him, "you're a fool. You actually believe that too," they said, looking at Esme next, "she is not the Champion of Hades. Pascal is."
Atticus didn't look as if he believed that at the moment, looking at Esme for an explanation. The girl looked more pressured now, eyes wavering between Atticus and Cleo. Growing annoyed with her skittish behavior, Atticus snapped at her, "Explain!"
"They're just trying to turn us against each other. They're tricking us!" Esme commented, growing more panicked by the second and desperately trying to contain it.
Atticus glanced back at Cleo, the lie-detector, and his eyes flashed in a semblance of recognition. Then it mutated a bit, turning from realization to anger. He stood suddenly, glancing at the Ascendants as if expecting them to figure out the situation. As his hand clenched on the table, Esme's eyes zeroed in on it, her hand coming up to the raven brooch on her cloak, covering it with her hand and scooting back a bit, her eyes flashing from the Ascendants to Atticus, a pure fear resting there.
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Oct 16, 2023 20:47:11 GMT
Styx grinned at Lane's words, smiling a bit, "I said I wouldn't kill you today," Styx reiterated, "But I never said you wouldn't be wishing I would."
As Lane made an attack against Styx, the girl flashed a Cheshire grin, and completely disappeared from sight before the blade could make contact. No wind or ruffling came from Styx's movement.
Appearing from thin air behind Lane, Styx took a few steps back from the disorientation of teleporting, but took the moment to attack while Lane was focused on her own. The sharp end of the Scythe swung out at the back of Lane's torso, potentially to catch the skin at her back or or on the back of her arms.
The white-haired girl stepped back after the attack, balancing on her toes and blinking away the dizziness from her own 'Messenger' abilities, and quickly used her Scythe to balance after making her attack against Lane, leaning on the handle. Her eyes were still somewhat spotty in dizziness, but she still remained focused on her enemy.
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Oct 16, 2023 21:35:28 GMT
"Hey, hey," Ripley said as he leaned forward ignoring Gwen's disapproving looks at him and Atticus. He snapped his fingers in front of Chiara's face once Gwen had shut her down. He tapped on the notepad in front of her and raised his eyebrows expectantly. "Focus. No one wants your projected guilt cause you're useless. Defending someone who's not even here is blinding you from why we even agreed to meet."
Ripley sat back down in his seat and smiled cooly. "You want your friends back right? Stop talking back and take down the two words you can probably write with that hand," He said in a low voice. He smiled cooly and pointed towards Esme as more and more people started looking at her. That wicked glee shining in his eyes. "Things are about to get interesting."
Ripley sat back and watched as Atticus and Cleo went back and forth about Esme. How slowly it seemed like everyone was going to turn on her as she grew more panicked. Ripley raised his eyebrows at the suggestion that they were trying to make the exiles fight amongst themselves. "Oh no, pumpkin that would be my job," He mused cheekily.
Griffin took a step forward and pointed an accusatory finger at Esme. "You're the one thats lying. Tell us what you did with Pascal!"
Then Esme was backing up with her hand covering the brooch she always had on her. Always.
"No. You're going to stay right there," Ripley tutted and gave her a big grin.
Fenrir got to his feet and sniffed at the girl again. His eyes widened and his lips curled back into a silent snarl. "I knew you smelled familiar, you old rotten coward," he growled, his jaws opening inch by inch as his growl got louder and his fury got deeper.
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Oct 16, 2023 21:53:01 GMT
Luka had looked at Lucien, and damnit if she cried due to an emotional overload now would be the time but Luka didn't do crying and she hadn't done crying in a really long time. She locked away emotions after too many arguments with Juliet and her tears had been spent on her father's death.
Instead, she offered him a genuine smile, and she laughed brightly at his joke about there not being many contenders. "Sadly my own options were limited to you, a narcissist with an inferiority complex, and a girl whose only other friends are books," she commented, though her words were teasing and fond. But the bond she shared with Theo and Chiara went deeper than a normal friendship, on a level, they were family. They were the only Norse Champions left (that they knew of), and thus they has to stick together. Obviously she loved both of them dearly, they were, for lack of better terms, her siblings in every way but blood.
But Lucien understood a part of her that Theo and Chiara wouldn't be able to. The strains of being a teen and having this responsibility put on her shoulder.
"I love Theo and Chiara, but you're my best friend too, Sunshine," she admitted, before rolling her eyes at the sweet syrupy feeling that was coating the room, "even if you have questionable tastes in fashion and an obsession with being emo."
He continued by addressing their bond, one that no one else could share, and she made a disgusted face at the admittance, scanning him, and rolling her eyes, "Okay. Okay. I get it, you're obsessed with me, I don't blame you, I'm an absolute delight to be around...kind of like non-spiced milk in a house full of spice."
She was making a callback to that time she put spice in all the food. Still, she held up her hands, she knew he wasn't confessing his love or whatever, but she couldn't pass up the opportunity to tease him, "I hate to tell you thought that I can't return you affections, my dear Romeo," she said, snickering slightly at the words, "I am too busy transcending my Earthly forms and I already sexually identify as a mistake, deepest apologies."
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Post by Nari on Oct 16, 2023 22:35:06 GMT
Theo watched the confusion as it unfolded, looking between the ascendants, the exiles, and Esme as information started coming out. For a moment he caught her expression shift briefly, as if she was begging for a way out. He returned her glance with worried confusion.
That concern seemed to grow as the leader laid out the girls lies in front of them. She lied about being the champion of Hades, stole Pascal’s crown, but why? As the seconds ticked on she seemed to grow more panicked. He wanted to curse out Cleo for being so blind to what exactly was happening. Pointing out every instance of a lie just seemed to be making people more angry and tense. It seemed more ironic that they told him to ‘read the room’.
“That broach… the symbol…?” Baldr spoke in his head, and the boy could tell there was some recognition in his voice. He was too focused on what was currently going on that didn’t ask what his guide meant by that.
“Hold on,” Theo stated, standing up from his chair and moving himself so he stood halfway between the table and Esme. “Look, we’re getting way off track with this. Pascal is alive, that is good. That’s all we wanted to know, right? Of course. This whole thing must be some miscommunication, which happens to the best of us! So let’s all just calm down now…”
“I knew it…” Baldr said softly, his concern evident in his tone, “Father.”
His attention soon fell to Fenrir as he started to stir, and something clicked in his mind. Why would someone lie about their guide? The wolf was that reason.
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