Tag: Core Chapter

Arrival: Chapter 1.17 (Kiyoshi)

~ EJ ~ 2 Comments

Kiyoshi rode in the back of the most unheroic looking hatchback Audi driven by the Raven himself, Ian Coleman. On the backseat beside him was the Raven’s adopted daughter Charlie, glaring daggers into the back of Kiyoshi’s head. Kiyoshi kept his eyes firmly pointed out the window for the 15 minute car ride from the Raven’s home to Ravenhold Academy, the school for heroes. Kiyoshi could almost hear Aaron’s excited voice in his head… and the desolate sadness in his voice that always followed. 

The Raven pulled through a gate into an empty parking lot and turned off the car, “Here we are kids, Ravenhold!”

“I’ve been here many, many times dad.” Charlie said, bored.

Kiyoshi froze, his black cat’s tail in his hands as he wringed it nervously. He stared out the front windshield of the car, straight up at the dozen or so large red brick buildings that made up the Ravenhold Academy campus, larger and more grand than anything Kiyoshi had a right to be a part of. He wanted to flee, he itched to turn invisible to teleport away but the more he desired to do so the more his brain filled with the static of the power suppressing collar.

Raven and Charlie both got out of the car, going for the trunk to get their bags. With the car doors left open, the Raven’s voice traveled to Kiyoshi,  “Now, Kiyoshi, I got you the basics of what you’d need; a few uniforms shirts and pants, a few casual outfits, underwear, pajamas, toothbrush, et cetera,” Ian said, “Also what you were taken into custody with.”

Woodenly, Kiyoshi stepped out of the car and took the bag offered to him. “Sorry.” He mutters. The bag is heavy in his arms, way too much to give him for free, he’s done nothing to earn it, he needs to do something to earn it.

“No need to apologize,” The Raven gave him a warm smile, Ian wasn’t what one expected of a hero, he wasn’t buff but had a slender and fit build like an acrobat, he was quite tall, but he had a soft face with short hair and a patchy attempt at a beard. Worse, he wore a sweater and jeans, hiding his physique. 

“I haven’t had the chance to see the class breakup, but maybe you two will be in the same class.”

Kiyoshi hugged the duffle bag in his arms tighter, looking utterly terrified of that possibility. He cast another glance up at the closest Ravenhold Academy building and then immediately looked back down at his bare, cat-like feet. He could still feel Charlie’s glare on him.

The Raven paused, “Try to get along?”

“He’s the one who was stealing from us,” Charlie shot back, annoyed.

“Just things, we have plenty of things, we don’t need them.”

Kiyoshi felt his ears flatten a bit and his shoulders raise, “sorry.” He really didn’t earn this bag in his arms.

“It’s fine,” the Raven took a step closer, “Can you raise your head so I can take that collar off?”

As he waits for Kiyoshi to raise his chin, he asks his daughter, “Do you remember how I became the first Magpie?”

“I’ve heard the story a hundred times.” Though Kiyoshi wasn’t looking at her, he could hear her rolling her eyes. He raised his chin up to give Raven access to his collar. 

“Well, here it is again; I stole from the Raven, lifted his wallet in fact, and he took me under his wing. Stealing doesn’t make someone a bad person.” He explained, reaching for the collar and unlocking it.

“You weren’t his guest.” Charlie answered and Kiyoshi could still feel her heavy, heavy glare. 

Once the collar was off and Kiyoshi’s head cleared of the white noise, he took the opportunity to flee from that glare, turning invisible and almost teleporting away. This wasn’t where he belonged, he really shouldn’t be here. 

“Now, Kiyoshi,” Raven’s voice cuts through Kiyoshi’s thoughts, “If you run off you know this chance will pass by, just wait here with Charlie until the other students arrive, give Ravenhold a chance, give us a chance..”

“Does he deserve it?” Charlie asked, sulking a bit.

“Everyone deserves a second chance, sweetheart.”

Kiyoshi took a deep, steadying breath, thought of the way Aaron looked when he said he would join Ravenhold Academy, and let himself become visible. He hadn’t yet moved an inch.

Like the broken voice box of a toy that has only one line he repeated, “sorry.”

Raven smiled, “Good boy, I need to get in costume for the welcoming speech. It is technically my academy, but I’ll be back soon.”

Charlie walked slowly over to a bench overlooking the gates and sat down. 

Kiyoshi felt his chest and cheeks warm and his lips curl up into a smile at being called, ‘good boy’

After standing for a bit, watching the Raven leave, he jolted out of it, realizing Charlie had walked away. He teleported to her side when he spotted her at the bench.

Charlie wasn’t all that much physically, slightly under five feet tall, a young latina girl with tanned skin, she wore masculine clothing and her dark brown hair was only two inches long or so, but Kiyoshi had seen she packed a lot of fury and strength in such a small body… 

Charlie had taken out some cookies from her backpack, and was eating them absently. When Kiyoshi teleported to her side, her arm moved towards him and he flinched, expecting a hit. When he saw she was just holding out the pack of cookies to him, he gingerly took one. “Sor- thank you.”

Charlie sighed, “Stop apologizing,”

Kiyoshi lowered the cookie he was about to bring to his mouth, “sorry.”

Charlie facepalmed with an audible sound.

“I’m sorry!” Kiyoshi panicked, his hands hovering near Charlie’s face wanting to see if she had hurt herself but scared to touch her with his dirty hands.

“Relax,” She sighed again, “and don’t say sorry.”

Kiyoshi nodded uncertainly and carefully said, “okay.”

“Relax your shoulders, unclench your jaw,” She said, her tone less harsh than usual.

Forcing himself to physically relax was something Kiyoshi was used to, it made things… easier.

“Alright, now breathe in through the nose, but using your belly not your shoulder to draw air in,” Charlie said, “slow and deep, hold it three seconds, then let it out.”

Kiyoshi followed her instructions, breathing along with her. Instructions were easy, there was a clear right and wrong way to do things.

Charlie smiled at him for the first time, “There you go,” she pulled two cans of Dr. Pepper out of her backpack, opening one and handing Kiyoshi the other. 

Kiyoshi took it but didn’t open it, just holding the lukewarm soda in his hands

“You remind me of when I was young,” Charlie mumbled, “Afraid of everything.” 

“There are a lot of things to be afraid of.” Kiyoshi muttered his first full sentence of the day, as he rubbed his thumb along the edge of the can. 

“Then you have to become stronger,” Charlie stated, “So you don’t have to fear them.” 

I want to be a hero but I can do nothing but hurt people. Kiyoshi thought of Aaron’s words, of what he had to prove to him and nodded resolutely.

A few buses started to pull in through the gates, “About time,” Charlie chugged the rest of her drink and tossed it in a garbage bin.

Kiyoshi tucked the unopened can into his bag and zipped it back up.

“Alright, just join the group like we’re meant to be there,” Charlie said, “Dad will do his little speech and then they’ll call classes, so don’t panic.” 

As people poured out of the buses, Charlie melded into the crowd and Kiyoshi followed along behind her, holding on tightly to his resolution.

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Arrival: Chapter 1.16 (Gabriel)

~ EJ ~ 2 Comments

Gabriel hated cars. He had to sit too far forward with his tail bent at an awkward angle because the base was too thick. And the person who was always driving the cars Gabriel was in didn’t help.

Hatred was a feeling that was very new to Gabriel. Papa never gave him the option of hating anything. But now he was separated from Papa and it was all the fault of that woman and her friends.

That woman opened her mouth and spoke up, “We’re almost there, Gabriel.” Gabriel looked up from staring down at his tail that was laying across his pale pink thighs and his white floral skirt. He glanced at Dana behind the wheel, who quickly turned her head back to the road when Gabriel looked up. Then he looked out the window at the huge and wide open gates and the dozens of red brick buildings beyond them.

Dana drove in through the gates just as various buses pulled out. She parked in one empty spot amongst many and glanced at her watch, “Shit. We’re a bit late.” She opened the car door and looked back at Gabriel, one foot out of the door, “Wait here for a second, okay?”

Gabriel didn’t respond. He stopped responding to her at all when he learned she was keeping him away from Papa. Dana got out of the car and walked off. Once she was gone, Gabriel opened the door and climbed out, moving his tail to work out the stiffness. He thought of walking off at that moment but he had no idea how far this “Ravenhold Academy” was from his home. 

Dana returned a few minutes later, her long, wavy brown hair now pulled up in a bun and some papers in her hands. “We missed the opening speech but I got your information, I can help you get to your dorm.” She popped open the trunk, setting Gabriel’s suitcase down on the ground and slinging his other bag over her shoulder. “Follow me.” She started for one of the buildings past the main one, occasionally looking down at the paper or glancing back to make sure Gabriel was still there.

And Gabriel followed her, his pink axolotl tail dragging along the grass as the two of them cut through campus. Dana finally stopped. She pointed at a building that a few teens were filtering into. It was two stories tall with five numbered doors, there were clear seams in the walls between the large numbered section, each section looked as big as his home with Papa. “Those are the 1st year dorms. You’re in class 4 so go in door 4, okay?”  She set his bags down in front of him.

She took a step towards him and Gabriel backed away. She sighed, her eyebrows knitting together. “I just want to take your collar off.”

With a stubborn pout to his lip, Gabriel stepped forward and lifted his chin to let her remove his power suppressing collar. The second it left his skin the annoying buzzing in his head ceased and he unconsciously untensed.

“Also, here,” Dana reached into her pocket and pulled out a cellphone, “my number is in there if you ever need me. But you don’t need to call if you don’t want to,” she said, pressing it into his hand.

“I won’t need you,” Gabriel declared, turning on his heel towards the dorm building. Dana didn’t stop him as he took his bags and marched into the dorm. With her out of his sight completely, his anger started to melt away. Papa would come get him soon so he would just do his best to stay happy until then. 

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Arrival: Chapter 1.15 (Angelo)

~ EJ ~ 2 Comments

Angelo sat in the backseat of a rented Lamborghini, his back straight and his head held away from the seat to avoid messing up the perfect curls in his blond wig. The skirt of his baby pink and lacy lolita dress was arranged in a slightly inelegant way in order to fit in the car without warping the hoop skirt. In a small travel cage on the seat next to him was his pet chinchilla, Cookie.

The small clutch purse in Angelo’s lap vibrated. Angelo unzipped it and took out one of the very few things that fit in the bag, his phone. He played the voice message from his mother, “Hello my darling boy!” Angelo’s mother’s voice spoke in Italian, “I know you must be on your way to school now! Your father and I wanted to let you know we are very proud of you! Love you so much!” Angelo listened a second time, took a deep breath and put his phone away.

He looked up and out the window in time to watch the wide open Ravenhold Academy gates as the car went through them, amidst the parade of buses and other vehicles entering the gates. The car slowed to a stop.

Angelo took a steadying breath in and got out of the car. He patted and shook his skirt until it fell properly and then ducked his head back into the car to grab his parasol. Once he was sure he looked presentable, he looked up. All around the car were people flooding out of the buses, some of them strange-looking paramorphs, some of them all too normal looking. There were a few people staring at Angelo as well. Angelo raised his hand in a small wave.

The driver came up to Angelo’s side, “What would you like me to do with your bags, sir?”

“Just wait here with them for now. I’ll come back and find you when I know where my room is.”

Angelo started walking, following the stream of students. He paused briefly when he saw a single file line of students exiting a bus and getting power inhibitor collars removed. Angelo forced his expression to remain neutral when looking at those criminals he may have to share not only classroom space, but living space with. He forced his gaze away, pointed his nose in the air, and continued on his way. 

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Arrival: Chapter 1.8 (Deryn)

~ Nerathul ~ 2 Comments

Deryn’s mind pulsed with a hundred emotions at once; anticipation, anxiety, boredom, fear, joy. Some were their own, but most were not. As an Empath since the age of seven Deryn had largely learned to center themself and deal with the tide of emotions around them.

Hermes was a helpful little fellow, laying patiently in his cat carrier, and so Deryn used him as an anchor in the storm.

Deryn looked around scanning for a seat, their gaze drawn immediately to another teen, they couldn’t have been much more than four feet tall, swimming in a gray sweater and worn jeans that were several sizes too big for them, anxiety burned bright in that one. They had short brown hair and a smattering of freckles across their cheeks. On their lap was a gigantic maine coon. 

They were seated, eyes clothes clearly trying some breathing exercises to maintain their calm.

“Is this seat taken?” Deryn asked softly. 

“Eep!” The teen jumped up, and then proceeded to shrink, now only three feet tall. Their cat protectively coiled around their owner and staring Deryn down.

“Okay, not quite what I expected,” Deryn said, “Are you alright?”

The teen took a few breaths and slowly regained some size, now about four and a half feet, “yeah sorry, you… you startled me.”

“Can I try something?” Deryn offered, knowing they could help. “Take my hand.”

They nervously did and Deryn focused; sending a warm soothing radiance into them, banishing away anxiety and leaving behind a gentle peacefulness. The teen grew back once more reaching about five and a half feet. 

“Oh that’s kinda nice.” they said, Deryn could feel their jaw and shoulders untense.

“I’m an Empath, I can help people with their feelings” Deryn smiled. “Now, may I sit?”

“Oh, yes.”

Deryn sat down and the Maine Coon came over, sniffing them, Deryn gave them a hand and the cat proceeded to rub herself all over.

“That was really nice,” they said.

“You should see what else these hands can do,” Deryn teased. Eli’s mind went somewhere naughty, turning bright red. While Deryn couldn’t read the thoughts proper; they had a gut feeling of where emotions came from.

They opened their cat carrier and Hermes peaked his head out. The Maine Coon came over to smell Hermes, who was a little cowed at the giant cat, being only a few months old. 

“What brings you to Ravenhold?” Deryn asked.

“I… have a hard time controlling my powers.” They gave Deryn a self-deprecating smile, “as you saw. I wanted… a change of pace. To get out of my comfort zone a bit and maybe learn some confidence and control… and who doesn’t wanna be a hero?… I’m… Eli by the way, they/them pronouns” they held out their hand once more, for a shake this time.

“Deryn,” they  smiled and shook hands, “And same for they/them, don’t mind she/her either.” Deryn leaned back, opening their coat, “Being a hero seems strange, but I’ve always wanted to help people.”

A spark of disappointment went through Eli’s mind toward the handshake.  “You’re disappointed,” Deryn noted. “Empath, I’m warning you I can feel things and I’m bad at letting them go.”

“Oh uh,” Eli went from disappointment to embarrassment, “I just thought maybe I’d feel that calming again when we shook hands.”

“Ah, it’s a willing thing,” Deryn explains, “Want another shot?” they wink. 

“No no it’s fine!” Eli waved their hands in front of them.

Deryn’s powers told them yes, but they didn’t press, they’d learned their lessons before, if painfully. 

Next to them the Maine Coon had already begun licking Hermes’ head, having adopted the kitten in less than a minute it seemed. 

“This is Angel. She’s mostly an emotional support cat but she does know some tasks to help me when I shrink.”

“Alright, and this is Hermes, my little boy.”

Deryn looked at Angel. “Hello Angel, I’m Deryn.” 

Angel gave a little ‘mrrpp’ noise in answer. 

“He’s adorable.” Eli reached their hand out to offer Hermes a sniff, “Is he still a kitten?”

“We think he’s about six months old, he was found abandoned with his siblings.” Deryn explained, “I work at a shelter, it’s where I got him.” They hadn’t found the mother but it had been likely she had died when searching for food for her kittens. “Is Angel a Maine Coon?”

“Yeah!”

“She’s a beauty, how old is she?”

“She’s 7 years old. Will be 8 in a few months.”

“Well, she still has a long way to go.” Deryn smiled. “So, I take it you can shrink down is your power?”

“Yeah I can shrink all the way down to  6 inches.”

“Oh wow,” Deryn says, then a thought came over remembering the state of Eli’s clothes, “What happens to your clothes?”

“… they uh… stay the same size… but! I sew and…” out of their pocket Eli pulled out a tiny little dress in a floral fabric. They were evidently proud of their work.

“That is A-do-ra-ble!” Deryn picked it up, it looked like it belonged to a little doll, “You can actually fit in that?”

“Yep! I’ve made a few outfits! I also have a little…” Eli’s excited tone turned a little toward embarrassed, “dollhouse that I made to hang out in sometimes when I’m small.”

“Okay, that is so damn cute,” Deryn said.

Eli smiled shyly, turning quite brightly red once again. “Thank you.”

“Have you ever heard of mini baking?” Deryn asked.

Eli frowned, thinking, “Like those videos of people making tiny food?”

“Yeah, it’d be funny to have you make those,” Deryn said, “Imagine it; World’s smallest baker.”

“Maybe I’ll give it a try.” Eli said, noncommittally.

Deryn smiled, not pushing the idea. They took out a thermos. “Coffee?”

Eli shook their head, “No thanks. More of a tea person.” 

“Afraid I didn’t pack a second thermos, but I can make the best tea latte you’ve ever tasted.” Deryn said.

“Oo sounds good.”

“Two years working at the Coffee Mill, and employee of the month many times,” Deryn bragged, “Hand ground coffee beans roasted in house,”

“Oh wow, I’ve never had a job before, I mean, I helped out in my dad’s shop a bit before but never like a Job job. Was it fun?”

“I loved it, well besides the terrible customers, but the owners always let me tell them off.” Deryn said. It helped Deryn could zap Karens with a bit of guilt, it was illegal technically, but very satisfying. “What does your dad do?”

“He makes custom furniture! I usually help him more in the back, too anxious to deal with customers. My mom is usually the one who deals with the customers.”

“Oh wow that is so cool,” Deryn said, “My mom’s a college teacher, my ma works doing house renovation, mostly painting”

“What does she teach?”

“History, mainly early modern,” 

“That’s cool.”

“You know what’s not cool?” Deryn said, “Living in Ohio.” 

“I’m from Ohio too.” Eli laughs,

“Oh, damn, I’m sorry,” Deryn laughed. “Actually I was born in Pennsylvania but mom got offered a tenure when I was six.”

“I’ve lived in Ohio my whole life.” 

Deryn put a hand on their shoulder, “And for that I’m sorry,” 

Eli laughed. 

“If you could live anywhere in the United States, where would it be?” Deryn asked.

“I don’t know… I like the cold so maybe it’d be nice in one of the Northeastern states.”

“Good one, now, call me cliché but Seattle, the great green north, home of American coffee culture.”

“Never been to Seattle. I’d like to visit there.”

“Same,”

Was a pause for a while, Deryn drinking coffee and sharing snacks with Eli, talking about home and family. Eli looked out the window and watched the city go by as they got closer and closer to the school Eli’s anxiety started picking up again. They pulled Angel back to their lap and aggressively petted her.

“So empath huh… is anyone in this bus as scared as I am?”

“I’m afraid you kind of stood out,” Deryn said, “There’s anxiety but it’s mostly tempered by excitement.” Eli nodded gently, Deryn leaned over, “And that Venusian over there is very high.”

Eli glances over to the huge lizard-like alien that was currently having his drool wiped away by a chubby Asian kid. “high?” 

“Oh yeah, I get a kind of contact-high just focusing on them,” Deryn laughs, feeling a little giddy and excitable like when they’d smoke weed. 

“Wow.” Eli fidgeted a bit. “I’ve been homeschooled for the past few years so… suddenly going to a boarding school far away from my parents is… a lot.”

“Oh, damn I can imagine.”

“Are you nervous at all?” 

“I’m not actually sure,” Deryn laughed a little nervously, “Sometimes in a big crowd it’s hard to tell me-feelings from crowd-feelings.”

Eli’s eyes widened, worry in their mind, “Really? That sounds kinda scary.”

“Well, I am hoping to get some mentoring,” Deryn answered, “Learn to better control it. It’s also easier if I have a ground,” They gently pet Hermes who purred gently, “Like him.”

Eli reached over and pet Hermes as well, “Well crossing fingers we both get better at controlling our powers.”

“Let’s hope so,” Deryn smiled. 

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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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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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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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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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Arrival: Chapter 1.3 (Sirius)

~ EJ ~ 2 Comments

Sirius sat in the back of a cop car. He couldn’t remember how many times he’d been in one, this was maybe the tenth time he sat there? Didn’t matter. The car pulled up to JFK International and a bus hangar. 

The officer opened his car and he shuffled out of there, he was taken out of handcuffs, but the inhibitor collar around his neck itched. Sirius idly scratched at it, “Take it off?”

“We don’t have the key, the school will open it.”

“Fucking great,” he huffed. 

At least he could stretch his arms now. Wearing an inhibitor was worse than most realized, it wasn’t just your that powers were gone, it was this constant dizzying droning at the back of your mind, a constant noise that wouldn’t fade into the background.

Sirius rolled his shoulders and cracked his knuckles before grabbing his backpack from the trunk and opening the side pocket, taking out a lighter and some cigs, only for the officer to snatch it out of his hands.

“That’s illegal, now get in line.”

Sirius called him a few nasty words under his breath but followed along, still giving him the finger for good measure. Quickly he noticed everyone boarding his bus was wearing a collar like him. 

When the piggy wasn’t looking he pulled out his emergency stash from the waistband of his boxers. He lit up and let the sweet smoke of tobacco fill his lungs. 

He took a few puffs before squashing it on the side of the bus, slipping past the driver without issue.

He walked through the aisles until he saw a pretty redheaded girl, she was built strong not like a dainty little girl, just his type, but strangely she wore a pair of cowboy boots and a matching hat. The girl fiddled with a big metal case.

“Hey Red,” Sirius said, sliding into the seat next to her with a smirk.

The girl barely looked up. “Don’t suppose you have a bobby pin or a screwdriver?” She spoke with a strong southern drawl.

Sirius blinked confusedly at the question but pulled a bobby pin out of his messy black waves out and passed it along. The girl reached for it but Sirius held it up and out of reach. 

“What’ll you give me in return?” He teased.

The girl finally decided to look at him, her hazelnut eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Depends, what’d you like?”

He tapped the bobby pin against his lips, grinning a little cockily. He expected her to argue, be embarrassed, anything but instead, the girl reached out, dropped a quick peck on his lips, and snatched the bobby pin.

“Done deal.”

“So quick I feel cheated,” Sirius joked, he liked this girl already, she was impulsive, a little weird, but bold. 

“Well, darlin’ should’ve negotiated better.” She took the bobby pin and started jamming it into the keyhole of the big metal box she held.

Sirius put his hands behind his head and raised his legs up onto the seat in front of him, his waist bent at what should have been an uncomfortable angle but was just fine to him. 

“Well, it wouldn’t have even been worth a kiss if I didn’t sell it now. You’ll be able to get those from anybody once we get there. What’s in the box anyways?”

“My babies,” she answered cryptically, “this is a lot harder with that stupid collar on.”

Sirius stared at the box. Babies? In a locked box? Some kinda contraband? But what contraband would they give back to her at school?

She drew him out of his pondering, “Now, you got a name darling?”

“Sirius,” he said, looking away from the box and trying not to act as curious as he was.

“The name’s Penelope, everyone calls me Penny,” 

She kept fiddling with the lock for a moment until it finally gave out and the case opened. Inside were not one but two gold engraved revolvers; one black one white, and old-timey revolvers too, the type you would have seen in a western. 

“Come to Mama!” Penny said, hugging the things.

Sirius’s eyes widened a bit at the sight, “Knew you were my kinda girl but now I’m a bit nervous, who’d you shoot with those?”

“Just some gangbangers,” Penny said, eyes fixed on her so-called babies “My ammo’s all degraded from a few weeks in jail, how did you get here?”

“Like setting things on fire too much.” Not the whole truth but close enough.

“Random things, or important things?”

For a second he thought of them and his mouth went dry…Penny was looking, expecting an answer. 

“A bit of both… mostly random.” He shrugged, looking away.

“Set fire to anyone?” Penny asked, her tone so casual.

Sirius paused before answering, his heart constricting, “a few times.”

“Well, I’m sure they ought to have deserved it,” She said, “You ain’t got the look of no psycho killer.” She took out a tissue and cleaned her guns.

“… yeah.” Was all he could answer, in a soft voice.

“You okay, Darling?”

He did his best fake smile, “Yeah, say did ya kill the gangbangers or just shoot ’em?”

“Well the bible says a lot about killing being wrong, but it don’t say much about shooting kneecaps and giving concussions,” Penny answered.

“You’re not wrong.” Sirius laughed. 

“Are you a Christian?”

 “Never been much of a church goer and I go a bit back and forth on believing.”

“Righty, then. So, how’d you get caught? Not sure if you noticed but this whole bus full of us collared folks.”

“You first,” Sirius answered

“Surrendered myself,” Penny said, “Doled out some good ol’ vengeance old testament style, then called the police.” 

“Vengeance? What’d they do?”

“Shot my best friend, wasn’t even the target, just collateral damage in a drive-by.” Penny’s words had turned harsher, the playful twang in her tone gone. 

“Is your friend…”

“Paralyzed.”  Penny’s expression remained frozen still.

“Sounds like they got off easy then.”

“Wasn’t my right to take their life.”

“Well, if ya ever think they deserve a few third-degree burns let me know.”

Penny smirked a little at the offer. “They did get in trouble for all them illegal guns and drugs, turns out a vigilante attack grants the cops one hell of a probable cause to not need a warrant.”

Sirius snorted. “Sounds about right.”

“That got them doing something,” she said bitterly.

Sirius leaned back again. “You plan on being a hero? You seem to have a good sense of justice from where I’m sitting”

“Wasn’t, it all seems too much micromanagement but I reckon it is better than juvie hall.” 

“Bet that’s what most people in here are thinking”

 “Is it what you’re thinking, darling?”

“Not sure. Could be fun to burn things in the name of justice.”

“I bet that’d look good in the news, but then again you don’t be hearing much about gunslinging heroes, guns being for criminals, and all that liberal nonsense”

Sirius frowned, “You’re not going to turn out to be ‘Jesus hates fags’ type of Christians on me are you?”

“Darling, I am one hell of a dyke,” Penny says, “Conservatives want small government except when it comes to what I do in my bedroom and with whom.”

“Good cause if you were I was going to have to regale you with the tales of every dick I’ve had up my ass.”

Penny snorted, “Well then, you did want a kiss, but I do have to inform you I ain’t come equipped with one of them dicks.”

Sirius leaned in, “Some of the dicks have been pink, vibrating, and attached to girls which I’m sure would have lots of conservative homophobes clutching their pearls too.”

“Oh my,” Penny said, “Well, I’m afraid I ain’t got the chance to pack one of  them in my bags but do I reckon I could get myself one of them if I had to.”

Sirius winked; “I’ve been told I’m quite good at cunnilingus too,” he opened his mouth and stuck his tongue out.

“Have you?” Penny said, leaning closer, “Now what do I reckon I would find down in these?” Penny’s hand shifted over to his pants.

“Wanna find out?” Sirius whispered with a grin.

“In here?” Penny exaggerated a little surprised expression, “Into public exhibition, are we darling?”

“It’s hardly even public, the bus is only half full.”

“Is it now?” Penny shifted her hand to his zipper.

Sirius jerked away, but moved his upper body, kissing Penny’s neck. 

Penny shivered gently, “So maybe feeling it a tad too public?” she gently teased, “I do suppose you can get a feel for now,”

To his surprise, she popped open a button on her shirt and led in hand in, which he allowed her to. He felt the contour of her breasts and the bra she’d chosen to wear. She leaned in and kissed him.

She then put a hand on his chest and pushed him back. “The rest, for later,” she winked.

“Have to hold you to that.”

“You better,” she said with a grin.

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Arrival: Chapter 1.1 (Avery)

~ Nerathul ~ 2 Comments

A hundred thoughts buzzed into Avery’s mind, some their own, but most were not. Psychic impressions jumped right into their brain. A few months ago they’d applied to Ravenhold hoping to learn to control their powers for times like these.

The collar of their hoodie found its way into their mouth and they bit down on it, the mechanical and repetitive motion of their jaw chewing the fabric bringing some comfort. If their mother was there they’d get scolded, it wasn’t ‘proper’ for a fifteen-year-old to do, but she wasn’t there and Avery could take the little comfort the stim brought them.

There were so many people, far more than they’d ever been around back in the suburbs of Edmonton and their minds were not calm; waves of anxiety, anticipation, and excitement washed over Avery like a psychic tempest as they made their way through the crowd. 

Avery stashed their suitcase in the compartment under the bus and then walked up into the bus they’d been assigned. Climbing inside they looked for a free spot and found one next to a girl.

The girl sat staring out the window, her long, thick and wavy brown hair covered most of her bare shoulders. She wore ripped jeans and a tank top that had the sides cut out to make room for sugar glider flaps connected from her arms to her waist and sides. The cut up shirt revealed a couple of strange scars and an obvious lack of a bra, or need to wear one. When she turned to look at Avery there were black markings, like those of a sugar glider, around her eyes and a few cuts, old and new, on her chin.

“Hi! I’m Amanda!” The girl said, while her tone was soft, shy and friendly Avery could pick up the irritation deep beneath her facade. 

Avery removed their headphones and frowned at the strange girl. “I’m Avery…”

“Whatcha listening to?” Amanda asked, but her thoughts were much harsher; What’s this bitch frowning about, they’re the one that sat next to me?

“You don’t have to be so mean!” Avery snapped. It then dawned on them they had answered to Amanda’s thoughts and not words

“You didn’t say that outloud did you…”

Panic raced into Amanda’s mind, she had to get away from that damn psychic. She lost control and gravity inside the bus broke, Avery and every nearby loose object floating away. 

But Amanda wasn’t the only one in a panic, “I’m sorry… I’m sorry… it was an accident.’’ They repeated, going into a protective stance, covering their face with their arms as the memory of their father hitting them resurfacing, awaiting a hit that never came.

Avery couldn’t breathe, a panic attack hitting them hard. They did the only thing that they knew to fix it; bringing their hand to their mouth and biting on it – hard. The pain was like an anchor that grounded them.

Amanda’s power ceased and Avery fell a few inches back onto their seat. 

“I’m sorry…”

The fuck is wrong with her?

“I get punished for reading minds.”

Amanda pursed her lips. She didn’t speak but her thoughts were loud and clear to Avery; and I got punished for losing fights stacked against me. You ain’t special.

“You don’t have to be such a bitch about it.”

Amanda crossed her arms, leaning away from Avery, “Well normally the “bitch” is contained inside so it’s your own fault for being a psychic.” Her voice is low, only loud enough for Avery to hear.

“Well, it’s not my fault your thoughts are very loud, it’s not like I can switch it off!” 

Amanda leaned in and hissed, “Then sit somewhere else then.” Although the words were full of poison, Amanda’s voice was still laced with that fake softness.

“I will!” Avery snapped, drawing attention to them again. 

They got up and grabbed their bag, going to the back of the bus and flopping down in the furthest seat they could from her. 

Avery chose the seat next to a boy in a ratty black hoodie with the hood up, the split ends of long blond hair peeking out from under the hood and the drawstring missing.

The boy sat there half-asleep, his thoughts quiet, but the impact of Avery sitting down  jolted him awake.

To Avery’s surprise there were not one but two voices in his head; one clear, the other a strange distorted hiss. 

“Sorry… I’m Avery,”

He looked up at Avery when they spoke. He had a bit of stubble on his chin and his eyes were a slightly piercing blue. Around his left eye was a strange black marking and the sclera was black as well. “Thor,” he yawned. A strange inky ooze slinked up his neck and onto his cheek forming a strange mouth full of teeth, “and I am Ragnarok!”

Avery squinted at the ‘Ragnarok’ creature, the source of the mental static. “Your thoughts are weird, like old tv static, I can’t read them.”

The boy swatted at the mouth-thing but it retreated under his shirt, causing him to slap his own cheek. 

“Nobody asked you,” Thor spoke, his voice deep but still cracking.

Ragnarak’s  muffled voice came from Thor’s chest, “this kid’s a freak!”

“And you aren’t?” Thor snarled down at his own lap, “ignore Bastard.”

“I’m not a freak!” Avery snapped, tears threatening to erupt, “Why is everyone so mean today…”

“Sounds like something a freak would say!” Ragnarok gleefully said. 

Thor punched himself in the chest, hard enough that he bent over wincing. “Please, I’m begging you, just ignore him, he’s a bastard saying shit just to get a rise out of people.”

Avery didn’t look at Thor. “You don’t think I’m a freak?” 

“I’ve got a weird monster living inside me that’s trying to kill me. I don’t have the right to call anyone else a freak.” He said with a smile that pulled at his reddened and slightly swelling cheek, they could feel he was genuine.

Avery smiled back a little. “How did you get that thing inside you?”

It was then Ragnarok snapped. “That bitch fucking ripped me from my home and cut me open and turned me inside out! So I’m going to kill her precious little spawn!! I’m going to cut him open! And turn him inside out! I’m going to eat his heart and melt his brain into sludge!” As it spoke, Ragnarok slowly encroached on Thor’s face, his voice seeming to come from multiple points on Thor’s body, and soon Ragnorak’s “skin” had covered over Thor’s mouth.

Thor tried to speak but only choked noises would come out. 

Avery froze, not sure what to do. They could communicate telepathically, they knew it even if they hadn’t done so in years…

Thor had said they weren’t a freak?

 Avery projected their thoughts into Thor’s only to find his mind ensnared by Bastard like a cage.  

He’s really rude! No answer came. Can you hear me?

Thor isn’t here right now. Bastard’s distorted voice answered, soon turning into laughter.

Thor was struggling against it, and Avery felt compelled to act, but how? An idea popped into their mind.

They conjured up their worst sensory experiences; the smell of overcooked brussel sprouts, the seam of new clothes scratching against bare skin, wet greasy hands after doing dishes, chalk on the blackboard; sending it right into Bastard’s mind.

“Stop that freak! Bitch! Slut!” It screeched, drawing more attention, but it was pushed back and away from Thor’s face.

“Shut the fuck up already! Or I’ll go sunbathe on the roof in the nude again!” 

To this threat Ragnarok retreated completely out of sight, even leaving Thor’s eye back to normal. Avery could still feel its presence but it felt deep and far away in Thor’s mind.

Avery leaned back in their seat, a sudden wave of tiredness washing over them as their head buzzed and ached from the strain. 

“I’ve never done that before.”

“Well, it did help so thanks,” Thor smiled, seeming equally tired.

Avery smiled back. “It sounds very annoying,” 

“So fucking annoying.”

Avery couldn’t help but giggle. “Well, maybe if it misbehaves I can try that again. I don’t think it liked the Brussel sprouts.”

Thor took down his hood and swept his hand through his long greasy blonde hair. He’s kind of pretty, Avery thought, maybe he needed a shower and some skin lotion, but Avery was in no place to judge. 

“I really am sorry about him. It’s hard enough keeping him from taking over my limbs and shit, stopping his mouth is nigh on impossible.”

“Sounds and felt like it, I tried to reach you but couldn’t.”

“I could vaguely hear you but I had to focus too much on fighting him to respond. Distracting and annoying him is a much more effective help.” 

Avery nodded.

“Threatening him with the sun usually makes him shut up for a while but unfortunately I turn into a ripe tomato after only 5 minutes so it’s torture for the both of us.” In fact his face was already a little red, maybe it was a sunburn or maybe it was just dry skin.

“Oh same.”

“Good ole Scandinavian genes.”

“Is that where you’re from?” Avery asked.”I’m Canadian.”

“It’s where my dad’s family is from. I grew up in the States”

“Oh.”

There was a long pause as both of them took a moment to breathe after that confrontation. Avery took out some aspirin and popped two into their mouth hoping to disperse the headache growing before it would reach critical mass.

“Are you… excited to start a new school?” Thor asked.

“Terrified.” Avery answered, chewing the collar of their shirt once again, they could feel Thor wasn’t judging, “I was home-schooled.”

“That’s…” Avery paused trying to find words, “not good? But it’s reassuring to know I’m not alone.”

“Same actually.”

“I’m sure we’ll both be fine and we can look after each other as fellow former homeschoolers.”

Thor nodded and there was another pause. 

“Do… Do you have a phone?” Avery asked.

Thor got out his phone, its screen heavily cracked, and shared his number with Avery, and Avery shared theirs. Avery didn’t have any signal down in the United States but hopefully they would get a SIM card soon enough.

As the bus continued its journey there was a happy bounce in Avery’s foot. For the first time in their life they’d made a friend!

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