Month: February 2022

Profile: Gabriel Hsiang

~ EJ ~ Leave a comment

Personal Data

Gabriel in Baydew’s Avatar Maker

Name: Gabriel Hsiang
Gender: Cisgender male
Pronouns: He/him
Age: 13
Birthday: December 31st
Ethnicity: Chinese/White
Nationality: American
Species: Chimera (Axolotl)
Sexuality: Questioning

Family: Sold to the Syndicate as a baby by extended family after his parents died. “Adopted” by high ranking Syndicate member Elias Hsiang.

Strengths: Innocent. Soft-hearted. Cute. Hard to injure or capture.
Weaknesses: Naive. Too trusting. Stubborn. Low combat ability.

Appearance and Style: Gabriel’s skin and hair are entirely pink. His hair is wavy and somewhat thick. His eyes are black. He has webbing between his fingers and toes and a large axolotl tail that drags on the ground behind him. He has the feathery gills of an axolotl on the sides of his face, in front of his ears. He tends to wear soft pastels and loose, knee length skirts. He likes childish clunky accessories and cutesy cartoon bandaids. Rather than a Syndicate ‘S’ he has the initials ‘EH’ branded on his sternum.

Superhero Data

Supranym: ???
Status: Alive. Active

Metahuman Type: Mutant, Chimera
Abilities: Can phase through solid objects. Can breathe underwater.

Ravenhold Data

Acceptance to Ravenhold: Special Circumstance

Class: Four
Power Category: Miscellaneous
Roommate: Tommy

Backstory

All Gabriel has ever known is his Papa and the apartment they lived in. Everything he read or watched, everything he ate, when he slept, when he woke up, every aspect of his life was carefully controlled by his Papa. And to Elias Hsiang, Gabriel was a son, a pet, a slave, a decoration. Gabriel would spend hours or days in a large aquarium as if he were an exotic fish. Under the care of Elias, Gabriel suffered physical, mental, and sexual abuse.

One day, only a few months before the beginning of the story the home Elias kept Gabriel in was found and raided by police who hoped to catch this major Syndicate member but unfortunately only found Gabriel. After speaking with Gabriel and understanding his situation, the authorities realized he was an innocent, abused child. But when they attempted to take him away from the apartment, Gabriel freaked out and tried to fight against him. When his meager strength proved to be no match in his panic, fear, and desperation Gabriel awakened his mutant powers and literally slipped through their hands. They had to use knockout gas and a power inhibitor collar to catch him and bring him out of there.

They brought him to a therapist and social worker named Dana Fern who specialized in helping Syndicate chimeras. She was unsure of how to deal with Gabriel’s deeply rooted, twisted world-view, especially when he made no effort to communicate with her. She also faced the threat of Elias or the Syndicate coming after and attempting to retrieve him. She knew she could not protect him and neither could a normal family or mental health care facility. The only options were the Chimera Asylum or Ravenhold Academy. When offered the choice, Gabriel chose Ravenhold Academy.

Misc Information

  • Gabriel doesn’t know much about heroes and doesn’t have much of a desire to become one
  • Gabriel likes to color and paint
  • Gabriel actually misses his tank and often wishes to be underwater in the dark when he is stressed out or sad
  • Gabriel wears skirts not just because he likes them but also because pants would need to be almost entirely split down the whole butt to fit his tail
  • Gabriel’s feet are a little wide so he doesn’t like wearing shoes

Arrival: Chapter 1.7 (Danalar)

~ Nerathul ~ 2 Comments

Danalar walked through the crowd, gauging people and their reactions to seeing a Tzari, four years ago his kind had invaded earth, and now he, along with several hundred thousand others, had been left behind when the fleet retreated. 

At just an inch under seven feet of height he did not exactly blend in, even if he wore clothes in the style of humans. On his shoulder was a long high-tech polearm with a crystal AI core, currently dormant. 

Thankfully nobody seemed to pay him mind, a few looked but it was curiosity and not anger he saw in their eyes. He boarded the bus, having to bend his neck so as not to hit the ceiling of the vehicle, and looked around, someone drew his attention immediately; She looked like a Ver, a type of alien not known on earth! Short and fuzzy gray fur, with long orange hair growing down her back. Her top pair of eyes, the day ones, were open wide and looking around, their pink color fairly typical for a Ver. Her aitae, the antenna-like structures hanging from her head, were pierced with simple gold hoops. She still wore Ver typical clothing, long, billowy pants and a poncho in muted colors.

Danalar had never seen one like them in person, only in reports of the Tzari fleet about a distant alien race they had encountered exploring. 

“You are not of this world,” Danalar said, “I did not expect to find one such as you in this place.”

The alien stared at him, for a second before awkwardly extending a hand “Sis one is Son’ma. Son’ma is Ver.” she spoke with a strong speech impediment, or was this what a Ver accent sounded like, unable to make ‘th’ and ‘f’  sounds, instead them coming out like an s.

“I am Danalar, son of Neetarin,” He said, giving a formal bow in the Tzari-style before taking her hand. “I did not know Ver had reached this world.”

“Not sis universe. Srom anoser one. Ver take over Ears,”  She spoke slowly, pausing often to find their words. 

Danalar’s ears perked up listening to her. “I see, it would explain your presence, I admit I have not met one like you outside of intelligence reports, you are  lovelier in the flesh.”

Son’ma squinted a little, evidently confused by Danalar’s big words. “Son’ma bad at human language what is “intelligence report” and what is “slesh””

“An intelligence report is a message that spies or scouts write to people to tell them what they have seen?” Danalar attempted to explain. “In the Flesh means face to face.” Only a few years ago he had been in Son’ma place, having to learn a strange new language. 

Son’ma nodded slowly, leaving Danalar unsure if she had understood. “Sit?” Son’ma said, pointing at the seat, their tone phrasing that single word as a question,

Danalar sat down. “You may call me Nalar, it is customary for my people.”

“Nalar.” She repeated, twice, trying to get it right.

“That is it,” He says, “How long have you been on this world?”

“8 monss”

“That is quite short, but your English is good. The human language is… clumsy.” Danalar said, with a flick of an ear. The Tzari language was regular and tightly constructed, English had all of these exceptions, such as Goose and Geese but not Mouse and Mice, it could all be so confusing. 

“No Ver. Has to learn quick.” 

“I am afraid I do not speak your language, but I am quite certain it would be delightful upon my ears.”

Son’ma spoke a few words in a guttural language, spoken deep in the throat, and the sounds ‘bounced’, varying in pitch a lot. 

Danalar answered back in Imperial Tzari; “And I am pleased to meet you,” it wasn’t quite as guttural, but it was a harsh sounding language with strong consonants. He smirked, exposing more of his tusks.

Son’ma smiled, exposing the teeth of a predator, all sharp canines dominating her mouth. They might not have understood a word of one another, but they had connected on a level nonetheless.

“It is an honor to meet you,” Danalar saods, “I understand the confusion of this world, shall you need assistance please seek me out.”

Son’ma’s head tilted slightly as she decoded the words. “Sank you.”

“If I may be so bold, you are quite a wonderful creature,” Danalar said, 

Son’ma cocked her head quite strongly this time, almost completely sideways.

“Beautiful?” Danalar clarified.

“Son’ma is?”

“Yes,” Danalar said, “Pardon me if it is untoward.”

Son’ma blinked with both sets of eyes. 

Danalar took a breath. “I am sorry if what I said was too forward?”

“Sorward?” A hint of understanding in her eyes.

Danalar’s cheeks flushed, “I did not mean to possibly make you uncomfortable saying you were beautiful?”

“Not uncomsortable.”

“Ah, color me relieved then.”

“Son’ma’s teashers did not speak like sis…” Son’ma said with a deep frown.

“Excuse me, it is difficult to break form,” Danalar said, trying to change to a more casual tone. “Among my people it is considered rude to speak so directly to a stranger.” 

Son’ma nodded after a moment.

“I’m sorry if it causes confusion,”

Is there a missing line or does Nalar just say two things in a row?

“Well, let me welcome you to this Earth,” he smirked.

Son’ma smiled back, “Sank you.”

“It is no problem.”

It was then that the Polearm Danalar carried sparked to life, the orb going from a dull, almost black, red to a bright and vibrant color, with little fireworks glowing within.

“Reboot complete, Sir, I am glad to report I am up to full capacity.” Bardiche the AI spoke, Danalar had programmed ‘him’ to speak in the way of an English gentleman, finding the voice quite soothing.

“Ah Bardiche, it is good to hear you say.” Danalar answered. 

Son’ma’s eyes widened and she leaned forward, “Weapon speaks?”

“It does, Son’ma this is Bardiche, Bardiche this is Son’ma.” Danalar said, “I created him,”

“Greetings Sir.” Bardiche answered. 

“Hello Bardiche. Nice to meet you.” Son’ma words were clearly rehearsed many times.

“A pleasure to meet you, sir.” Bardiche answered as programmed.

“He is still young and learning,” Danalar explained. Bardiche was a complex AGI, with time he would learn and evolve, but at the time he was only a few months old.

“So is Son’ma.”

“My database analysis suggest that Son’ma is a Ver, perhaps this unit requires an update as the likelihood of a Ver being on Earth is extremely improbable.” Bardiche said.

Son’ma squinted at Bardiche, likely confused at his excessive use of words.

“Bardiche is confused as to why a Ver is here,” Danalar explained. “It is not an error Bardiche, extraordinary circumstances.”

“Noted, Sir.”

“Bardiche smart. Strong also?” Son’ma reached and poked the polearm with a claw.

“This unit is equiped with protonic ax functionality, pulsed particle projection and—” Bardiche began but Danalar cut him off.

“Son’ma will not understand you, Bardiche.” He turned back to Son’ma. “Yes, he is a strong weapon, I could show you later.”

Danalar watched as Son’ma wrapped one of her strange dangling appendages that came out from under her poncho around Bardiche’s pole and AI core. Danalar allowed her, watching with a deep curiosity. 

“Interesting.” Son’ma said.

“What were you doing?” 

“Learning what Bardiche is made.”

“You can do that with these appendages?” Danalar asked.

Son’ma nodded, “Tae knows many things”

“A tae?” Danalar pondered for a moment, “May I touch it?”

“Delicate.” She said. rather than let him touch it, Son’ma loosely wrapped the ‘tae’ around his wrist. 

“Oh course, quite a beautiful thing it is.”

“Sank you.”

Danalar smiled and she unwrapped her tae. “Are you hungry? I have brought some food along.”

“What sood?”

Danalar opened his bag, revealing a bunty of human snacks he had come to enjoy; Doritos chips, pretzels, chocolate, but also jerky and pepperoni sticks. “What does your kind eat?”

“Meat”

Danalar offered them a hot and spicy pepperoni stick, opening it for her in case she did not know to. “Try this?”

Son’ma put the pepperoni to her tae, and then took a bite. “Taste good but hurts tongue. Why?” She gave the stick a concerned look.

“It is spice,” Danalar explained, “Some like such a feeling.”

Son’ma gauged his answer and took a second careful bite. “Son’ma likes spice.” She declared and then proceeded to devour the rest of the stick with great abandon. 

Danalar laughed a little, “I am glad you do.”

The two of them kept talking, about their worlds, about Earth, and how they had gotten there in the first place. It was refreshing for Son’ma to meet another alien, someone who understood her position.

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Profile: Kavin Williams

~ Nerathul ~ Leave a comment

Personal Data

Kavin made using Poika’s character maker

Name: Kavin Amelia Williams
Gender: Cis Female
Pronouns: She / Her
Age: 14 years old
Birthday: November 28th
Ethnicity: Black
Nationality: American
Species: Human
Sexuality: Lesbian

Family: Kavin is the oldest of three children, two girls, and one boy. Her parents are still together and operate a Southern food restaurant in the Bronx.

Strengths: Smart, kind, has a strong sense of justice, handy with technology.
Weaknesses: Asocial, not a team player, communicates poorly

Appearance and Style: Kavin is somewhat short and large in frame at 5’2” in height, she has dark brown skin and natural hair she typically wears in braids, cornrows, or dreadlocks, changing every few weeks as her hair grows. Kavin typically wears simple utilitarian clothing; sweaters, cargo pants, jeans, overalls, and never uses makeup.

Superhero Data

Supranym: Priwen
Status: Alive, Active

Metahuman Type: Mutant
Abilities: Hypertech specialized in robotics and energy.

Ravenhold Data

Acceptance to Ravenhold: Recommendation

Class: Four
Power Category: Hypertech
Roommate: Son’ma

Backstory

Ever since childhood, Kavin was always a rather withdrawn child. Born mute, she never talked which drove a wedge between her and most other children, although her parents tried integrating her in a deaf/mute school, Kavin didn’t really take to sign language and eventually asked to go back to regular school as she found ASL exhausting to ‘listen’ to.

Kavin grew up without really interacting with other children but that rarely seemed to bother her, always preferring the companionship of technology and her service dog, Nimue. When she had to talk to people she always preferred texting over face-to-face conversations. Although her parents would have probably preferred she be easier, they still did everything they could to help their little girl.

When she was 11, Kavin manifested her mutant abilities with seemingly no trigger, becoming a hypertech. This only led to Kavin spending even more time isolated in her little workshop in her parents’ garage. There she started building robots, mostly to help her around the house, do her chores, and entertain her. But she started a bigger project she named the Priwen; a large mecha about fifteen feet in height.

Kavin’s life changed when superheroes and villains clashed through her neighborhood causing extensive collateral damage, including several fires. Although she wasn’t completed Kavin booted up Priwen and set out onto the streets, using the mecha’s great strength to rescue people, put out fires, and assist with the evacuation of the area. Because of this, she attracted the attention of Centurion who lauded her for her efforts, he would even send her an invitation to attend Ravenhold Academy later that year.

Misc Information

  • Kavin’s favorite school subject is the physical sciences and history, she dislikes English.
  • Kavin is autistic, her special interests are robotics, knights and King Arthur mythos.
  • Kavin is mute and communicates primarily through her tablet and phone, using a text-to-speech program.
  • Kavin has a service dog she named Nimue after the Lady of the Lake of Arthurian mythos.
  • Kavin’s favorite foods are strawberries, pilaf, and peach cobbler. She drinks a lot of lemonade.
  • Kavin has competed standard-tech robot fighting competitions and won a few trophies.
  • Kavin is a devout Christian and is part of the African Methodist Episcopal Church denomination.
  • Kavin has PTSD from behavioral therapy before her parents realized the harm it was doing to their child, and is triggered by being restrained, the taste of vinegar, and certain phrases.
  • Kavin is not good at expressing herself; her feelings or ideas, and tends to just do things without consulting others as she finds it infinitely easier.
  • Kavin is attracted to girls but has never attempted to initiate any relationships or been asked out, which she doesn’t really think much about.

Profile: Thea Winters

~ Nerathul ~ Leave a comment

Personal Data

Thea made using Hunbloom’s character creator.

Name: Thea Analise Winters
Gender: Cis Female
Pronouns: She/Her
Age: 16 years old
Birthday: March 15th
Ethnicity: White American
Nationality: American
Species: Human, Paramophic-Mutant
Sexuality: Questioning

Family: Thea is the only child of her family, her parents are unemployed, struggle with alcoholism and their relationship with their daughter is strained.

Strengths: Sociable, loyal, protective of others, empathic
Weaknesses: Secretly insecure, subject to peer pressure

Appearance and Style: Thea changes her appearance quite frequently as the mood fits her, she is a 5’10” female-appearing plant humanoid with green skin. Her hair is actually a variety of flowers she changes almost daily, she has birch bark in some areas like the arms and lower legs.

Superhero Data

Supranym: Hamadryad
Status: Alive, Active

Metahuman Type: Mutant
Abilities: Her body has been transformed into a plant-humanoid form, ability to accomplish minor shapeshifting and create plant parts.

Ravenhold Data

Acceptance to Ravenhold: Application

Class: Four
Power Category: Scrapper
Roommate: Hijack

Backstory

Thea was an ordinary girl just two years ago, living in Anchorage Alaska with her dysfunctional family, parents who struggled with alcoholism and were verbally abusive. Thea was the local ‘ugly girl’ overweight, with bad eyes requiring terrible glasses and misaligned teeth that her family couldn’t afford to get fixed. A mixture of peer and parental abuse and bullying. Thea was a miserable girl, and she developed anorexia as a result.

Thea’s life was set on a disaster course but during a particularly bad bullying incident her mind snapped and the stress of the event caused her mutant powers to manifest. Her old body was gone, transformed into some strange alien plant creature. While many would struggle to adapt to this new form for Thea it was the slightly twisted answer to all of her prayers.

Almost overnight Thea reinvented herself, she learned to control her new form and shape herself to be as beautiful as she always wanted. But her family life remained, so she looked for an exit strategy, one she found at Ravenhold. She applied and by some miracle, she was chosen over thousands of people.

Misc Information

  • Thea’s hometown is Anchorage, Alaska where she lives in a trailer park outlying the city.
  • Thea is very skilled at applying makeup, she wants to be a professional makeup artist and costumer for Hollywood.
  • Thea’s family is very poor, she makes money on the side by growing marijuana buds and selling them around the park.
  • Thea is a fashionista but her family finances mean that she gets most of her things from thrift stores
  • Thea’s transformation means she takes most of her nutrients from water, air and soil like a plant, but require additional carbohydrates she take from plant sap and sugar water. She likes to joke this makes her a plant vampire.
  • Thea once had a boyfriend briefly for a while, liking to be desirable for once but the novelty quickly wore off and she found the relationship annoying.
  • Thea is uncertain of her romantic and sexual orientation, she used to dream of wanting to be desired by boys, loved even, but she is no longer sure this is what she wants. Her transformation has also altered her hormones and she no longer feels sexual arousal.
  • Thea’s favorite school subject is Social Sciences
  • Thea loves animals but never had a dedicated pet as her mother hates animals.
  • Thea sleeps in a special garden bed where she can grow roots and processes nutrients from the soil.

Arrival: Chapter 1.6 (Ethan)

~ Nerathul ~ 2 Comments

The trip from England to America had been long and tiresome for Ethan, not only for the usual reasons but also thanks to Jack-of-Smiles, the horrible demon that Ethan had the great luck to have confined within his head.

It was a long story, one that involved urban exploration and disturbing an ancient magical binding that ended with him being sent to Ravenhold for “Monitoring.”

“Look at all these pathetic would-be heroes!” Jack said, “We could slaughter them all easily!”

“Shut up…” Ethan mumbled, his head had already started to hurt hours ago.

The demon was contained within him but could manifest in any of his reflections, but only Ethan and a few mystically aware individuals could see or hear him.

Ethan climbed aboard the bus, being among the last, and cautiously chose a place to sit. He saw a black teen with vitiligo and eir eyes closed and sat down. Ey wore eir hair in extremely long braids that pooled a bit on the seat.

“Hi, sorry, there wasn’t much space left elsewhere.” Although he was Indian in ethnicity, Ethan’s accent was unmistakably the Queen’s English, it tended to surprise people, especially the racists. 

“It’s fine,” the teen said, eir voice deep and somewhat cavernous even.

“I’m Ethan,” he offered a hand but the closed-eyed teen didn’t notice.

“Why did you have to sit next to the strange one?” Jack said, appearing upon the window, “His aura is unusual.”

“Shut up jack, people will think I’m crazy…” Ethan mumbled to himself.

It was then that the teen finally opened eir eyes, turned to the reflection, and spoke, “And I think you are stranger than I, demon.”

“You can see him?” Ethan asked.

The teen turned to him, eyes now open. The scleras were pitch black but one eye was gold and the other silver, not in shades normal among humans. 

“You are not the only one who has made a deal with deities or demons,” Ey said, eyes wandering around. Ethan looked and surely a few other magical beings were around, one kid had some sort of half-monkey and half-sphynx-cat creature perched on their shoulder.

“Everyone kind of thinks I’m crazy at home, only this wizard dude I met knew I wasn’t,” Ethan sighed, “Anyway, this is Jack, he’s an asshole, please ignore him.”

“You’ll do no such thing!” Jack protested

 “And what can you do to force me to pay attention to you?” 

“Smallpox, Leprosy, Consumption,” Jack listed, making Ethan shudder. “I could have flesh-eating bugs eat your eyeballs too.”

“And how much of this one’s,” the teen tilted eir head towards Ethan, “permission do you need?”

“We are absolutely not doing any of that,” Ethan scolded Jack in a hushed tone.

“The boy might be in control, but I can wrest it from him long enough if I must.” Jack grinned, revealing his filthy yellow and rotten teeth with maggots dangling out of cavities

The teen grinned and everything became darker, washed out of color, eir skin going from human-black to pitch-black. 

“Eh… you okay?” Ethan asked. This didn’t bode well… A fight between two mystical beings on a public bus…

“What about herpes! Or syphilis!” Jack kept brainstorming.

“Those sound truly terrible.” The teen looked at Ethan, ey were still smiling but something about it sent shudders down Ethan’s spine. “You should keep a tight leash on him.”

“I’m trying, mate, but I can’t exactly make him shut up.” 

“Me a leash? Says the entity that’s way off their leash, possessing that kid, how hypocritical!” Jack said, hamming it up.

“What?” Ethan looked at the teen. Was he not speaking to someone like him?

“Perhaps that is the nature of my deal with the child? Who are you to judge, little plague.”

“Little?” Jack said, “Oh now you’ve done it!”

Jack disappeared from the window and leaped back into Ethan’s mind, forcing his way through Ethan’s will and pushing him out of the driver’s seat, Ethan became nothing but a spectator in his own body.

Ethan’s face distorted into a sickening grin as bugs emerged out in a projectile vomit upon the other teen. 

“I am Jack of Smiles, bringer of plague, the scourge of the world! I have slain hundreds of millions with plagues of my own creation! And you will listen to me you little shit!

Ethan tried to take over, managing to say but a few words “Stop— That—” He coughed out more bugs, “You idiot.”

However the entity was unimpressed, shadows blackened the bus for but a second, and then all of the insects were gone, swallowed by darkness itself into only the entity knew where. 

“This isn’t over!” Jack promised as Ethan took back control. Unfortunately for him, Jack couldn’t wrestle control for more than a moment at a time.

To say everyone was glaring at them was an understatement. “Sorry, minor technical issues!” Ethan said getting up, “It’s all over!”  He then sat back,  “I am so sorry,” he added, retching, “you don’t happen to have mouthwash do you?”

The teen calmly reached into eir pocket. “Will tic-tacs do?”

“I’ll take them.” 

Ethan took some, then rinsed his mouth with a water bottle, spitting out of the window before popping a handful of tic-tacs in. “Thanks.”

Jack was still present but his stunt had cost him a lot of energy. 

“So… are you a demon or something too?”

A twitch passed over the teen’s face, “I am a god.”

“Right, god.” Ethan said, “I’m Hindu we have a lot of those, so what’s one more? Come to think of it, I don’t know your name.”

“Enozi,” Ey said after a pause, “The Devouring Dark, god of night and shadows”

It was not one Ethan had heard of, “Neat?”

“Oh, another wannabe god pretender, don’t listen to his crap,” Jack said, “it’s like a lesser-G god.” 

“If I am a god pretender then what are you? A bottom feeder demon?” Enozi said.

“Bottom Feeder? I was the terror of Victorian Britain! I have slain millions and enjoyed their sweet delightful suffering! I was greater than you could have ever possibly been!

“There he goes again,” Ethan sighed.

“Victorian Britain.” Enozi scoffed, “you are almost as much a child as the one who holds your leash. I don’t squabble with children.” Enozi closed eir eyes again

“Oh you—” Jack starts.

“Okay, that’s it,” Ethan took out a bottle of rubbing alcohol and started washing his hands and face. Immediately he felt Jack’s intense discomfort and pain. It was petty but Ethan took satisfaction from that.

“Ew, no, stop that!” Jack begged.

“You act like a child, you get antiseptic.”

Enozi’s lip ever so slightly quirked up into a smirk.

“And now I stink,” Ethan says, “Anyway, sorry for all of this.”

“Caleb feels sorry for you. Ey rather hate bugs.” Enozi said.

“So, Caleb’s your… host?

“Yes. Ey are still here. Eir soul intact.”

“That’s not super reassuring… Did ey consent to this?” Ethan asked.

Enozi seemed to ponder what that meant, but nodded once.

“Would you mind if I have a chat with… eym? em? I don’t know what’s the right pronoun here…”

Enozi considered the request and then eir voice changed, the more recognizable cracked voice of an AMAB teenager.  “No!” Caleb, or so Ethan presumed, covered eir face with eir hands, “You can’t just swap with me on a dime.” Ey whined, “I need 3-5 business days to prepare!” Ey peeked at Ethan thru eir fingers, “At least he seems nice.” Ey muttered vaguely.

“Hi? You must be Caleb?” Ethan asked

Caleb lowers eir hands, “yeah… “

“Ah, the unwitting pawn of that god. Quick, strike while it is weak!” Jack declared.

“Shut up Jack…” Ethan sighed. It had become a mantra of sorts by now.  “So, you’re the vessel for some god of darkness? And you’re okay with that or…”

“The whole ‘intact soul’ thing wasn’t part of the plan…” Caleb mumbled, “I was supposed to die. Enozi didn’t get the memo.”

Ethan blinked. Ey wanted to die? Had it been some kind of suicide or evil sacrifice? “Oh… Oh… I’m sorry…?

“Enozi isn’t the worst headmate to have… better than yours anyway,” Caleb shuddered, “and Enozi is going to use my body to help people and be a hero! So maybe I’ll be useful then and people will like me… and it’ll be less painful to be around.”

“Well, thankfully Jack stays out of my head for the most part,” Ethan said. “And I’m sorry you feel that way. I’m Ethan, I’m not sure if you could hear us before, or how much.”

“During the day I can hear and see at least. Sometimes I sleep at night because Enozi is too strong and it hurts a bit to be conscious.”

Ethan nodded, “Well, it was nice to meet you, I do hope we see each other again, you know if you need someone to talk to about magical headmates and all.” He smiled. 

Caleb smiled with relief before the smile fades into Enozi’s calm arrogance.

“Thanks, I guess, and sorry again for Jack.” 

“I do not blame you for your little plague’s audacity.”

“Most gracious of you,” Ethan said, opening his bag, “are cool ranch Doritos an appropriate deific offering?” He asked, obviously teasing, “Repayment for the tic-tacs and patience?”

“Yes,” Enozi said, eir expression as solid as stone.

Ethan shared his bag with him, his mind preoccupied with Caleb, part of him wanted to save poor Caleb, free them, but if ey had consented… Was it right? Ey seemed so miserable and sad…

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Profile: Axel King

~ Nerathul ~ Leave a comment

Personal Data

Axel made using Hunbloom’s character creator

Name: Axel King
Gender: Cis Male
Pronouns: He/Him
Age: Fourteen years old
Birthday: January 1st
Ethnicity: White American
Nationality: American
Species: Human
Sexuality: Pansexual

Family: Axel is the only child of two superheroes who died during the Earth and Tzari War. He is being taken care of by his aunt and uncle since.

Strengths: Enthusiastic, energetic, hardworking, focused
Weaknesses: Cocky, Impulsive, Abrasive, bad grasp of personal boundaries, book dumb

Appearance and Style: Axel is an awkwardly proportioned lanky boy at 5’8” he has decent muscles for his age due to heavy physical training. He has light blue eyes and champagne blonde wavy hair that he keeps in a ponytail. Axel is a bit of a drama queen and often dresses to impress and draw attention, with accessories, colorful bandaids covering his frequent scrapes and stickers and body glitter.

Superhero Data

Supranym: Blademaster
Status: Alive, Active

Metahuman Type: Mutant
Abilities: Can create replicas of any object he has touched before and manipulate them using telekinetic force. Favors using weapons and shields, but also nets, lasso, bolas. Struggle with replicating complex mechanisms and electronics. Can conjure seven items at most at the start of the story.

Ravenhold Data

Acceptance to Ravenhold: Recommendation

Class: One
Power Category: Scrapper
Roommate: Riley

Backstory

Axel was born a cape kid, the child of two superheroes, it wasn’t the easiest of life as his parents spent so much time at work, never knowing when things might go wrong. But Axel never let it get to him, growing up with his grandparents for many years. At a young age, he knew he wanted to follow his parents’ legacy and be a superhero.

His parents were in semi-retirement by 2018 having reached their mid-forties when the Tzari-Earth war occurred. Like many heroes and former heroes, they answered the call of duty and fought the aliens for their planet. Unfortunately, his parents were involved in the battle of Moscow when the aliens destroyed the city from orbit, killing them and many more.

The death of both of his parents deeply shook the ten year old Axel who at first grew distant and depressed, at first he was angry that his parents had answered the call like any child would, but over time the values his parents passed onto him prevailed; His parents hadn’t left him, they had made the greatest sacrifice for the world, he knew that was something worth dying for.

So he poured everything into being a superhero, following his parents’ legacy and example, it was that or succumb to loneliness and despair. Axel began training as hard as he could; mastering his powers, training his body, and even steeling his mind.

When he turned thirteen he begged his uncle and aunt to let him attend but they said no, he wasn’t ready. So he trained harder and by the next year, they knew they couldn’t stop his ambition.

Misc Information

  • Axel’s hometown is Manhattan, New York City.
  • While Axel isn’t actually stupid his impulsive nature and preference for acting over thinking makes him look like it, often making terrible decisions.
  • Although Axel can replicate guns he thinks they are “Uncool” and “Unheroic”
  • Axel is agnostic, the death of his family left him questioning religion and afterlives particularly hard.
  • Axel has had a few sexual “experiments” but thinks romance is a distraction from his journey to become a top tier superhero.
  • Axel’s life revolved heavily around becoming a hero; he’s a fanatic of fencing, parkour, martial arts.
  • Axel likes to relax by going to the beach, he does surfing and wake-boarding, and is a licensed paramedic and lifeguard.
  • Axel’s favorite foods are Sushi and Japanese food in general which he got from his uncle-by-marriage. He dislikes broccoli and green bell peppers.
  • Axel’s connection has had him get a few fashion model gigs although nothing particularly noteworthy, primarily in online teen catalogs.
  • Although Axel is a friendly and outgoing guy he has very few friends, almost exclusively other cape kids from a little clique of east-coast heroes.

Valentine’s Day Special 2022: Mitch and Credence

~ EJ ~ Leave a comment

Mitch stepped out of Ravenhold Academy’s front gate and looked around. Across the street with his head down, staring at his phone, was the person Mitch was looking for. With a quick glance both ways, he jogged across the street.

Mitch stopped in front of the man. The man didn’t look up. With the hood of his faded black hoodie up and earbuds in he didn’t notice Mitch’s approach. Smiling, Mitch grabbed the edges of the hood and flipped it back, revealing a sickly pale face and messy, shoulder-length black hair that was less messy than usual. The man’s head snapped up, the large scar across his face glaring red and obvious and his steel gray eyes wide. When he saw it was Mitch he relaxed and let out a breath. He grabbed the cord of his earbuds and yanked them out of his ears just in time to hear Mitch say, “Happy Valentine’s Day, corazón.”

Mitch’s ‘corazón’, his boyfriend Credence’s lips puckered slightly as he sucked in his cheeks to chew on the insides, “Why didn’t you text me that you were on your way out? I-” Credence was forced to swallow the rest of his sentence back down when Mitch pressed his lips to his.

Mitch stepped back and smiled while Credence scowled in spite of his crimson cheeks. “I wanted to see if I could surprise you.” Mitch leaned down and kissed Credence once more. This time Credence had warning and could tilt his head to the side and let the kiss deepen. Finally, Mitch broke away just enough that he could, with his forehead still pressed against Credence’s, repeat, “Happy Valentine’s Day, corazón.”

Scoffing and rolling his eyes, Credence took a step back, “Yeah, yeah. Happy Valentine’s Day to you too, puppy.”

Mitch beamed brighter, his metaphorical tail wagging, and shrugged his backpack off his shoulders, “I got something for you!” He reached into his backpack and pulled out a tightly sealed tupperware container.

Credence crinkled his nose at the container, “You didn’t bake cookies, did you?”

“I did,” Mitch stuck his tongue out, “but I burnt them.” He shrugged, “So I made tamales instead-”

The second the word ‘tamales’ left Mitch’s mouth, Credence snatched the container from Mitch’s hands. “Missing my cooking?” Mitch teased.

Credence shoved the container in his own tote bag, his ears reddening, “shut up.”
Mitch laughed. He wormed his fingers into Credence’s loosely clenched fist, “So what are we going to do today?”

Credence let Mitch wiggle his way into holding his hand before he gripped Mitch’s hand tight and started walking, dragging Mitch along behind him. “We have a reservation.”

Mitch whistled, “A reservation? We’re really going all out today.”

Even though Mitch couldn’t see it, Credence rolled his eyes, “It’s really not a fancy place.”

“It’s a place that accepts reservations that’s super fancy for us.”

“Whatever.”

Mitch skipped a step forward and nudged Credence’s side with their joined hands, “Did you miss me?”

Credence pointedly looked the other direction, “You text me every fucking hour-”

“Yeah but did you miss me?” Mitch interrupted with a teasing lilt that was still somehow forceful.

Still looking away, Credence gave Mitch’s hand a squeeze and muttered, “yeah.”

Arrival: Chapter 1.5 (Axel)

~ Nerathul ~ 2 Comments

Axel was among the first to arrive at the airport hangar. The buses had not yet arrived when his uncle drove him there, wishing him good luck. There was a bounce to Axel’s every step, he’d be a superhero just like his parents before him, just like his grandfather who had started the family legacy. 

He gave a look around the hangar. A few people were already there and he waved to a few people he recognized. Cape kids were a tight community around New York City, they’d grown up together, discovered their powers together, and mourned the deaths of their parents and family in the war between humanity and the Tzaries.

Axel put down his bags and took some time chatting with the others. He’d been so busy with his own personal training he hadn’t seen many of them in a long time. 

“What’s up with all the bandages?” Jimmy asked, the son of the Tempest.

“Was working on my parkour last night,” Axel said, “Def a work in progress.”

“Why are they sparkly and with unicorns?” Kate, daughter of the Night Prowler, asked.

“Because I’m fabulous that way!” Axel flipped his long wavy champagne blonde ponytail. “And you know it.”

The others snorted. “Sounds about right.”

They sat down together, catching up like old times, showing one another their progress in power. Jimmy could control lightning, while Kate was one of those super agility types who could also turn invisible. 

“Remember how I could only conjure three things?”

“Well, yeah,” Jimmy said.

Axel stood up and focused on his powers, what he called the Inner Armory; all of the weapons and tools he had ‘scanned’ with his power. First, a dagger came out of it, appearing from thin air, then a second, and a third, but Axel kept going until seven were now floating around him, gently circling around his body through telekinetic force. 

“Nice!” Kate said, “Definitely better.”

Axel frowned deep in concentration and an eighth appeared. A cold sweat started dripping down his forehead, a numbing throbbing emerging from the back of his head. He tried to keep it steady but couldn’t, the weapons faded away.

“Damn it!” Axel sighed, “Seven I can do fine, but the eight just need perfect focus.”

“Hey, I’m sure you’ll get it soon enough,” Jimmy said.

“Yeah.”

Powers were like muscles the more you practiced the stronger they became. When Axel had first manifested his power he could barely get two and only vaguely control them, he’d gotten far in five years since.

An announcement rang through the station. “Please proceed to your assigned bus.”

“Which do you have?”

“S01,” they both answered.

“S02,” Axel said, frowning he would’ve liked to catch up some more with them, but alas he had to go. “I’ll see you on campus then!”

They grabbed their things and went to queue up for their bus.

He caught up with them and showed them all of his progress. As Axel boarded his bus he looked around for a place to sit his eyes went over a face he hadn’t seen in a long time. 

A tan boy with a mop of curly hair sat in a seat with his head tilted down at his phone. He was a few years older than Axel and looked it, one foot into adulthood already.

Had Mitch not seen them? Or was he avoiding them? He hadn’t exactly been in touch for a long time…

“Mitch?” 

Just like him, Mitch was a cape kid, but he’d drifted apart from their little clique sometime after the loss of his parents and sister. 

“Axel! Hey! Haven’t seen you since…” Mitch trailed off with a frown, running his hand through his loose brown curls.

“For-e-ver!” Axel said, dumping his bag down and sitting next to Mitch, not waiting for an invitation. “What’s up, bro?”

“Not much, just finally deciding to follow in my parents and sister’s footsteps.” Mitch’s voice was quiet and his gaze did not meet Axel’s.

“About time!” Axel said. Most cape kids began their career early, but Mitch was already seventeen.  “Ugh, my uncle wouldn’t let me apply last year, and said I needed more training! As if.” Axel rolled his eyes, his uncle was overprotective.

Thirteen was the youngest age one could apply to join the Ravenhold Academy program, but applicants obviously needed their legal guardian’s permission.

Mitch smiled, “he’s just worried about you getting hurt.” Mitch reached out a hand and ruffled Axel’s hair like when he was a kid.

“I’m gonna be unbeatable,” Axel answered with a grin, “Villains better watch out.”

 “Sure thing kid. Let me know when you can beat me and then we’ll see about you calling yourself unbeatable.”

“You are so on,” Axel said, “Fight you in the dojo?” Mitch had fallen off the wayside, he’d be an easy fight, Axel thought. He wasn’t the little kid who used to practice against and get his ass whooped seven ways to Sunday.

“Sure.” Mitch playfully punched his arm.

Axel returned the gesture as strongly as he could, not that it would hurt with Mitch’s energy absorption.

Mitch rolled his eyes and leaned back against the seat, “If this attitude of yours gets you killed I get to say I told you so.” He said with a smile.

Axel rolled his eyes. “Chill dude, no need to be so tight up.”

Mitch patted him on the head. “I can chill-ly say I told you so and that I’m going to kick your ass down a peg.”

Axel bit down his lip a little, Mitch would never see him as anything but that dumbass kid from years ago. His first task at Ravenhold was going to prove him he wasn’t, he’d grown up, learned, gotten stronger and Mitch would have to learn the hard way. 

“Bring it on, I’ve been working on all sorts of new tricks.” Axel grinned.

 “I’m ready to throw them all right back at you.”

“You can surely try, why don’t we make a wager then?” Axel proposes, “If I win you have to kiss my feet and acknowledge I’m the best.” 

“And what do I get if I beat you?”

“What do you want?”

“You gotta wear a sign that says ‘I’m an idiot’ on it for a whole day.”

“As if I’d have to do that,” Axel answered, “You’re on.”

Mitch put an arm around Axel’s shoulder, “so how have you been brat?”

“Been good, y’know same-old-same-old,” he leaned back casually, “You still seeing that guy?” About two years ago, before they’d completely fallen out of touch he knew Mitch had found a guy.

Mitch smiled, turning a distinct shade of red, “Yeah!”

Axel grinned, that was a good avenue of attack! “You’re getting all blushy, bro, it’s that serious?”

“I really love him.” 

“Oh damn, L-O-V-E now? Like putting a ring on it love?”

“Maybe?” Mitch mumbled all flustered. He punched Axel’s arm again. “Ah, shut up, brat”

Axel wasn’t about to let it go. “No way, that serious you get all embarrassed.” 

“I’m still too young to talk about rings and shit but…” Mitch fiddled with his empty ring finger. “I couldn’t imagine marrying anyone else.”

“Oh, shit,” Axel says, “okay no more, this is way too mushy. Next, you’re gonna tell me you write him love poems!”

Mitch seized the opportunity, draping himself over Axel. “Awww can’t handle a little looooveee?”

“Gross,” Axel says. “you know me, a pretty boy or girl here and there’s fine, but then they get weird and clingy and thinking about Love and shit”

Axel had… experimented with some of the other cape kids, the occasional pretty boy, or cute girl, but never anything serious as of yet, definitely not anything resembling Love! Axel wasn’t really ready for any kind of commitment anytime soon. 

Mitch frowned, his tone going all serious. “I feel like you’re a little young to act so casually about sex.”

Axel gave him a look. “What are you, my uncle?”

Mitch sighed, “I’m too young and handsome, how about your big brother? But seriously just… be careful?”

“I am, watch this,” Axel could conjure more than weapons with his power. He snapped a finger and a condom appeared out of thin air. “Always ready.”

Mitch smiled with exasperation, “I mean, that’s good too but also just… be wary of people.”

“I can handle people.”

“Fine, fine just stomp on all my brotherly concerns.”

“Do you really think that little of me?”

“No, I think you’re young and dumb and overconfident, I’ve been that before it doesn’t end well.” Mitch sighed and shook his head, “Forget it, I’ll be the bad guy if I start lecturing.”

“Whatever you say,” Axel said, looking away annoyed, “You really sound like my uncle.”

“It is whatever I say thank you.” Mitch teased.

“Yes, Uncle Mitch.”

Mitch gagged. “I have never hated my name more than when you said it right there, sounds wrong.”

“Uncle Mitch,” Axel repeated, stressing every syllable.

“Fine fine I’ll stop lecturing now stop it!” Mitch leaned away from Axel with a shiver.

“Smart move.” Axel grinned, having won the conversation.

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Profile: Mari Soto-Torres

~ Nerathul ~ Leave a comment

Personal Data

Mari made using Hureihii’s character maker on Picrew

Name: Mari Soto-Torres
Gender: Non-Binary
Pronouns: They/Them, but any is acceptable
Age: 17
Birthday: November 20th
Ethnicity: Latino, Mexican-American
Nationality: American
Species: Human
Sexuality: Aromantic Pansexual

Family: Mari is the second oldest of four children, with two brothers and a sister, all of whom they get along well. Both of their parents are alive and still married.

Strengths: Fast Reaction, Social adaptability, fearlessness, charm, athleticism, acrobatics, and fighting experience.
Weaknesses: Impulsivity, competitiveness, distrust of authorities

Appearance and Style: Mari is a young athletic Latino teen, 5’7” in height with messy hair that is naturally dark. Mari’s style changes a lot depending on how they feel, often athletic and easy to move in, but sometimes they prefer to go sexy and scandalous.

Superhero Data

Supranym: Carnival
Status: Alive, Active

Metahuman Type: Mutant
Abilities: Enhanced agility, reflexes, and coordination. Has access to a pocket dimension where they can store objects they touch. Can instinctively feel anything to do with dimension, space, distance, velocity, and vectors.

Ravenhold Data

Acceptance to Ravenhold: Parole

Class: One
Power Category: Scrapper
Roommate: Sirius

Backstory

Mari grew up in a perfectly ordinary immigrant family in Miami Florida, second oldest of four children. At a young age, Mari proved to be a lot to handle for their parents; impulsive, lacking focus, and struggling with academic matters. Where Mari found a place to express themself and pour their focus was Circus arts which they took like a fish to water. Mari wasn’t particularly feminine, sometimes even pretending to be a boy at a young age which the family always took in stride, just another part of Mari’s many quirks.

When Mari’s problems began was with the stealing. It’s not that Mari was a thief, it was an impulse stronger than they could control. Mari was caught a few times stealing from friends, neighbors, and even stores which they always felt great shame after doing. However, they got caught many times, ruining friendships and soon getting into trouble with the law. After talking with a court-ordered psychiatrist they were diagnosed as a kleptomaniac.

After getting some medication and therapeutic help around age ten Mari seemed to have calmed down, but the itch to steal was always present, just weaker, and sometimes they still fell for it. It was during one of these times at age eleven that Mari’s power manifested; they’d taken a Gameboy cartridge from a display but a security guard (knowing their face) demanded they empty their pocket. In that moment of panic, Mari’s mind snapped, and space around them bent; the stolen goods disappearing into a dimensional pocket.

Mari got away with it, having no idea how, but soon it was apparent something had changed inside their mind, they were more agile, more precise, faster, and stronger even. Whatmore, Mari’s brain could now calculate the distance, trajectory, and speed of things.

Although their powers provided them with a potentially foolproof way of not getting caught, Mari still did their best not to give in to the impulse. But as Puberty came into full force their impulsiveness grew. First, it was fights, drugs, and taking dumb risks like surfing vans on the beach, anything to get that thrill. When Mari became caught in the crossfire of a superhero and gang fight, Mari had a revelation.

They went home and gathered everything they needed to make their own costume, sure they COULD have become a hero the legitimate way but that seemed like way too much bother and wait for them. So they went out as independent neutral cape, fighting villains, criminals, but also ‘fighting back’ against people Mari felt deserved it no matter what the law said; asshole rich people who through they were above the law, racist cops, corrupt corporations.

Mari became Carnival, an “Ethical Rogue” is what they fancied themselves, and for a few months, they were very successful. But Mari’s luck ran out, they were caught by villains who wanted revenge. If it hadn’t been for heroes coming in to rescue them they would’ve suffered, maybe died.

However the Heroes weren’t willing to just let them go, they’d broken so many laws even if their heart had mostly been in the right place. So they were given the chance; Attend Ravenhold on parole instead of going to Juvie hall. Mari took the deal wholeheartedly.

Misc Information

  • Mari’s legal name is Maria but they prefer to shorten it.
  • Mari came out as Non-Binary age 13 to their family shrugging believing it might be another phase, but so far they have been mostly supportive.
  • Mari is an avid fan of circus arts, and performs with a troupe
  • Mari suffers from ADHD and Kleptomania.
  • Mari has an incredible sweet tooth, their favorite is their grandmother’s tres leche cake.
  • Mari’s favorite school subject is Physical education, their least favorite is mathematics.
  • Mari has had a variety of passing casual relationships with others.
  • Mari is a lapsed Catholic, their family is not particularly pious.
  • Mari had been in problem with the law before for shop lifting and fights prior to their arrest as Carnival.
  • Mari’s favorite musical genre is Hip Hop
  • Mari’s hair is dyed, their natural color is very dark brown bordering on black.

Arrival: Chapter 1.4 (Thea)

~ Nerathul ~ 2 Comments

As students lined up for the buses, one drew many gazes; a teenage girl with deep green skin, rich with chlorophyll, and gentle layers of birch-like bark that covered her exposed arms and part of her neck. Instead of hair she had strands of lavender flowers falling down onto her shoulders.

She was used to strangers staring at her, she’d learned to carry herself with confidence ever since her powers had awakened, transforming her into what she liked to call a Dryad.

“Name?” A security guard asked.

“Thea Winters,” she gave him her papers.

“Winters?”

“I know, plant, winters, it’s ironic or something.” If she could she would have rolled her eyes, but they were now a solid black.

“Bus two.”

She went there, dragging her suitcase, climbing onto the bus, and looking around. A kid, perhaps two or three years younger, drew her attention. They were tall and lanky, dark-skinned with a huge cloud of pastel pink afro hair that fell past their shoulders. They wore overalls made of many kinds of different colored jeans with colorful patches sewn in and mismatched clasps over what looked to be at least two shirts, the top shirt a knit sweater with smiley face patches on the elbows. They had a Hello Kitty bandaid on their chin and a couple of clips with clay animals in their hair, she liked their sense of color and style.

“Is this seat taken?” She asked.

The kid looked up, a little wide and bright-eyed at her, and then smiled wide and bright, a gap between their teeth. 

“No, go ahead!” The kid said, speaking in a British accent. Their voice was high pitched, Thea wasn’t sure what to peg them as in terms of gender, being so strongly androgynous.

Thea sat down and offered a hand. “I’m Thea.”

“I’m Riley!” 

They took her hand, and then whispered something to themself, patting the air above their shoulder. Thea raised a brow but didn’t inquire. 

“Pleased to meet you, I love your hair,” Thea said.

“Thanks! I like the hair, uh, flowers? Very pretty.”

“Thanks, I felt like Lavender this morning. What’s your favorite flower?”

“I love red spider lilies! But all flowers are pretty in their own way I think.” 

An uncommon answer, but still Thea put a hand to her forehead and focused on her powers, commanding her arboreal flesh to change its shape. She took it away and a red spider lily had grown. “Like this?”

Riley clapped, “Amazing! Is that what your powers are? Can you make any plants?”

“Something like that, a bit of shapeshifting into anything in the kingdom of plants,” Thea explained. “I meticulously crafted my new body to suit me.” 

“Crafting your own body sounds like a dream come true!” 

She took a moment to gauge Riley further. Perhaps they were trans. 

“Tell me about it,” she smirked, “it’s kind of how I became a mutant, although, between you and I, boobs are very difficult.” Some paramorphs were ashamed or distressed about their transformation but for Thea, it has been a liberation, a rebirth from the prison of flesh she’d been born in. 

Riley snorts out a pure sounding laugh, “oh! Would you like a cookie?” A vortex of swirling darkness appeared next to them and they stuck a hand into it, emerging with a Tupperware tub filled with homemade cookies.  “Chocolate chips? I have other kinds too!”

“I don’t eat human food anymore,”  Thea answered, “But thanks for the offer.”

“Aw okay,” Riley put the tub back from where it had come from. 

“That is a cool power, what else do you have in there?” 

“All sorts of things! And I can use them to teleport too.”

“That is pretty cool,” Thea paused, “If you can teleport, why do you need to take the bus then?”

Riley pursed their lips, evidently not having thought of that. “I… guess I don’t need to…. but if I didn’t take the bus I couldn’t have met you!”

“Fair enough.” Thea took a metal thermos out from her bag. “Birch syrup, I don’t think you’d like a try?”

“What’s it taste like?”

“Pure sugar,” She took a sip through the built-in straw. “I get my other nutrients from the air and soil, but I need sugars from food and drinks.”

Riley nodded but did not ask to try.

“I like your clothes, did you make them yourself?” Thea asked, she knew they were obviously homemade.

“Yep! Most of my clothes are either made by me or at least altered by me.”

“Okay, that is pretty cool, do you have a sewing machine in there?”

“I have two! One of them is kinda broken tho.”

“How much do you carry in there?” Thea asked, “I wish I could carry a whole wardrobe with me.”

“Most of my stuff is ‘in there!’”

“Where exactly is ‘in there?” 

“A little private corner of hell!” Riley said their tone as cheerful as usual.

Thea blinked. “Hell? Like that town in Michigan?”

“Hell-hell!”

Was this kid serious? They had to be mistaken, hell wasn’t real, no matter what her mom and preacher liked to guilt her over… Right? 

“Like Bible hell? Dante’s with the nine layers and all that?”

“I suppose? Hell’s hell isn’t it?”

“Right.” Riley was one of those who believed their powers came from magic or other supernatural nonsense. Which was silly, mutant superpowers had a scientific explanation; it was the Aldaar’s interference with the human genome or something.

“I’m not lying…” Riley bemoaned, seeing Thea’s disbelief.

“I’m not saying you are, but it’s a bit of a long one to buy?” Thea answered, after all, there was an infinite variety of other dimensions, Riley was surely just accessing one of those? “Are you sure it’s hell-hell and not just a place that looks like it?”

“I’m pretty sure it’s hell-hell there are a whole bunch of demons there… Like Peanut! she’s my friend!”

Demons? “What’s a peanut?”

Riley conjured another portal and reached into it with both hands, this time emerging with a thing that could only be described as a demonic puppy; dark maroon in color with a mane of fire, and glowing eyes and mouth! 

Thea stared wide eyes at the thing. Surely there was a scientific explanation for this, yes.

“People can never see my friends. Teddy has been on my shoulder hissing out at you the whole time and you didn’t see him so maybe you can’t see Peanut either.”

“Ugh, that’s a dog on fire…” Thea babbled.

“Oh! So it’s just Teddy people can’t see!” They look to their shoulder, “why is that?”

“You tell me?” 

Riley shrugged, clearly not seeing the weirdness of the situation, “Wanna hold Peanut? she’s very sweet.” Riley kissed the dog-thing’s head, only for it to roll out a terrifying spiked tongue.

“She doesn’t burn? I may be slightly flammable.”

“She’s just warm.”

Thea very hesitantly reached out and picked the devil dog, thankfully not immediately combusting into flames.

“Okay, yeah…”

‘Peanut’ sat down giving puppy-eyes to Thea who very carefully ran a hand over its back.

“She’s a very good… hell puppy?” Thea said. “Today has been so weird…”

“Well, we are on our way to Ravenhold. I’m sure “weird and new things are on the schedule every day for the next few weeks.” Riley said with a big smile.

“Yeah, but I thought maybe dipping my toes, this is diving right into maximum weird.”

“Too much?” Riley asked nervously, a frown coming over their expression. They reached to take Peanut.

“Well, I’m already neck-deep in it,” Thea shrugged and very cautiously gave Peanut a scratch, “And I guess I’m going to church first thing this Sunday,” it had been a few years since her last visit, but for the first time Thea was feeling very worried about the prospect of hell being very real…

“I think demons get a bad rap. They didn’t choose where they were born any more than we did,” Riley whispered, recalling Peanut who crawled back to their lap.

“I admit I kind of zoned out a lot during Sunday school, but something about turning against God and being cast out?”

Riley cuddled Peanut and rubbed their face against her head, “But Peanut is such a good girl.” Riley devolved into baby talk about how good a puppy Peanut was. 

“Right.” Thea sat there for a moment re-evaluating everything in her life, perhaps going through the slightest crisis of faith. 

“Do you have any pets?” Riley asked.

“Not exactly, but I was always a friend to the local stray cats, gave them water and food when I could?”  

Thea’s mother didn’t like animals, even if they had been able to afford one. So Thea would give them water and table scraps to the strays around the trailer park she called home. 

“That’s sweet.”

“I guess, I mean they didn’t choose to become strays, someone has to love them.”. 

“I agree!”

Riley and Thea kept talking, Riley excitedly jumping from one topic to the next, ever so full of energy; pets, clothing, music, hobbies. And for a moment it helped Thea stay distracted from the talk of hell and religion… 

She’d been certain about things just a few hours ago, but now nothing seemed so certain…

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