arcanae

[arcanae]

𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐄𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐊 𝟎𝟎𝟐. — doug ewing

[arcanae]

Merle approached Vincent, looking him over critically. Something about seeing him here made her gut twist painfully—calling her Vos was just another twist of the knife that she didn't allow to show on her face. Despite it, though, she felt that familiar urge to look out for him.

She quickly disguised it as an intention to find information. That was easy enough—it was very much like her. "No, you're not," She responded simply, looking him over for a moment. "Why are you here then? Drinks aren't as good from the ivory towers in Virtue?"

@arcanae / closed starter / merle vos setting: sin & tonic

Honestly, Vince shouldn't even be here, and he was well aware of that. In fact, he wasn’t even sure why his feet even carried him to this dark back corner in Sin & Tonic. He just needed a drink. He needed to think. First the gates and now Unity… He should be with them right now and he wasn’t. Yet another thing to be guilty about.

He'd been minding his own business when he glanced up, catching Merle's eyes. He assumed she was also wondering what the hell he was doing there. Vince only raised his glass and then downed a big gulp. Before he knew it, there she was. "Not really a great Virtue, am I?" He chuckled, but there was no humor behind it. "Never was. Trust me, I don't need to hear that from you, Vos."

[arcanae]

She was sure that was a compliment, though there was a part of Evelyn deep inside that bristled at the idea of being seen as scary. She didn't want to be this way—it was just safer. It made things far less complicated and ensured that she could get done the things that needed to be done.

Still, a compliment was a compliment. "Thank you, Dorian," She raised a brow at him as he sipped from his drink, adjusting in her chair as the fresh drink was brought to her by the bartender. "It was nearest to where I was," She answered truthfully, inching her glass closer to her seat and gazing at it thoughtfully for a moment before she looked back at Dorian. "And you?"

@arcanae / closed starter / evelyn hino setting: sin & tonic

After downing the rest of his glass, Dorian leaned back in his chair with a long yawn. Boring. All of this was boring. Where was the chaos? The panic? Weren't they all supposed to be terrified? They were acting like their precious leaders were going to help them at any moment. Just a speed bump. Sigh.

When he sat back up, he found that Evelyn was on the other end of the bar. A grin began to stretch on his lips. Well, at least she always made things interesting. He snapped for the bartender's attention for a refill and ordered a drink for Evelyn at the same time. When he had his new glass, he sauntered his way over.

"Is this seat taken?" He asked before simply sitting down beside her. "Wonderful. Evelyn! You're looking absolutely bloodthirsty this evening. Positively terrifying. Like an angel of death and edginess. Scaryyyyy." He chuckled to himself, taking a sip from his drink. "What did Sin & Tonic do to deserve you tonight?"

[arcanae]

"I was just making a detour and found them there, I swear," Violet assured him, holding her hands palms-up in a gesture of mock-surrender. Maybe she'd been feeling melancholy and lingered near a certain spot near a certain lantern, maybe not. Either way, the person was there and she couldn't just leave them.

"Oh, shit," She cursed, eyes wide at the apparent diagnosis—though the request had her moving immediately. Couldn't have someone dying after she'd been the one to find them, after all. And of course there was the whole fact that she didn't want them to die. "What's the best way to do this, Doc? I'm thinking move 'em like a table but that feels kinda weird, right?" Still, her hands were reaching for their ankles.

@arcanae / closed starter / violet mcvries setting: seraphina sanctuary

“And you found this person how?” Benjamin asked, raising a brow toward Violet. He had only been taking a jog when the other had pulled him to the scene. Being a doctor was a full-time job, especially in Virtue, where everyone knew who he was and what he did. Violet was no exception, but he was a little surprised to see her here.

He placed a couple of fingers on the stranger’s warm neck and sighed. That was a good and bad sign. “Looks like heat stroke. Wouldn’t really be surprised." He nodded to Violet. "Hey muscles, help me get them to some shade?”

[arcanae]

"Sorry. I wanted to get over here earlier but you know how weird everyone's being," Violet flashed him an apologetic smile as she walked into the familiar room, setting her bag down on a clear surface before the face she'd seen as she walked in fully registered in the back of her mind and then she looked at her brother again.

"I own the place. I'll go there when I have to," She assured him with a wave of her hand before striding over to pull him into a hug, pressing her cheek against his chest and inhaling the familiar scent of his cologne. "You alright?" She asked, her voice softer than before.

@arcanae / closed event starter / violet vaccaro setting: riot theatre

Art felt like he hadn't gotten any sleep in weeks. Between the gates shutting and Edgar's trial being totally over, he was dealing with the fallout in too many places. Still, it was second nature to smile through it all, and he figured that might be what Edgar needed right now. Art's own version of staying strong.

But in his own office with the door shut, it was just him. He could let go of seeing Edgar in so much pain and the fact that he was now trapped here. This place, which was once his happy place, his sanctuary, had turned into a prison in some ways.

A knock at the door stopped the spiraling of thoughts. He roughly dried the tears from his cheeks with stiff hands and opened the door, beaming even before the person even came into view. "Vi, aren't you a sight for sore eyes," he said, pushing it open wider for her to join him inside. The smile dropped. "Don't you have work or somethin'?"

[arcanae]

where: St. Mary's Palace, Condo 9

who: Unity & Eun-Ji / @ryueunji

Settling in on the couch across from Eun-Ji, Unity sat stiffly, unsure how to proceed. They'd agreed to meet with the man both out of respect for his position and also out of the knowledge that it would be helpful to do so.

"Unfortunately, I can't promise that I remember much at all," Unity explained, feeling guilty already. There was no way that this would be enough—but it was important to try. They knew that. "But I'll do what I can."

[arcanae]

where: Mercy Hospital

who: Unity & Edgar / @edgarwayne

Unity hadn't wanted to see Edgar again like this—they were supposed to have lunch. Or dinner? They couldn't really remember now and trying made their head ache. There was a certain level of guilt and shame that they felt when they saw him again, almost as if they had let him down by being here.

"You didn't have to come all of this way." Was all they could say, voice quiet and soft.

[arcanae]

where: St. Mary's Palace, Condo 9

who: Unity & Beverly / @strawberette

To have anyone who cared enough to check in was still a surprise to Unity, though maybe that was selfish to even think. Rationally, they knew that there were a few close friends that would be there for them, at least statistically.

Though Unity hadn't accounted for Beverly visiting. Maybe she should have—the other woman was kind and soft and nurturing in ways Unity couldn't comprehend. She hadn't expected that those tendencies extended to her, though.

And now here they were in Unity's condo with Unity unsure what to say or do. "I apologize. I haven't had the chance to go grocery shopping. Did you want a sparkling water?"

[arcanae]

where: Mercy Hospital

who: Unity & Vincent / @strawberette

Perhaps worst of all was the fact that Unity couldn't explain what was happening. Questions were asked dozens of times, people prompting her to remember what had happened to her and despite how desperately she tried, she couldn't. Hours and hours of retracing their steps, rationalizing how this could have happened led to nothing.

It was easy enough to zone out and try to think. But eventually, it took its toll—and this happened as Vincent walked into her hospital room. The moment she saw him, her walls crumbled, her expression dissolving into one of pure anguish. "I don't understand." They admitted, a strangled sob leaving their lips, one they silenced by pursing their lips as the tears rolled down their cheeks.

[arcanae]

where: Mercy Hospital

who: Unity & Adeline / @ofenigmas

Being vulnerable was perhaps Unity's greatest fear. The idea that they could open up, bare their heart raw and have someone turn away—the notion was terrifying. It was easier to put on a mask, to pretend that it did not bother her. Most people believed that.

Adeline was not one of those people. Unity knew this.

Seeing her made Unity's eyes immediately water. There was a strong desire to reach for her, to initiate touch and comfort, but it was warring with the fear that now that she was different, now that her identification said Slightly, that things would change. After all, they'd certainly already changed with their grandparents. Unity couldn't speak. Their throat felt too raw and so they just stared at Adeline, trying to brace themselves.

[arcanae]

where: Mercy Hospital

who: Unity & Kol / @ofxlilac

Perhaps it was the pessimist in her, but Unity hadn't expected visitors. Seeing anyone at all show up was a surprise, as awful as it sounded—so when none other than Kol Sinclair showed up in her hospital room after her nurse finished a check-in, Unity blinked slowly at him in shock for a few moments.

They weren't stupid, of course—there was no denying he was there to visit her. But why? Unity settled back against the pillows, propped up so that her upper-half was straight, swallowing thickly. "Hello," They greeted awkwardly. What else was there to say? "You came to visit me."

[arcanae]

The praise almost made them tear up—for a moment, they wondered if they'd ever heard their grandparents compliment them like that, like it wasn't just to get something out of them. They managed a small smile. "I'll do my best. Thank you. I... I appreciate this."

Jean considered them for a moment. "You're a good friend, Unity. When Dr. Wayne seems at his worst, do not give up on him. He will need someone like you on his side."

[arcanae]

Merle preferred seeing him like this—more confident, more sure of himself, the very picture of the Leader that Vice depended on him being. There was no one better for the job, which was why Merle followed behind him dutifully. "I can reach out to my contacts and see what information I can gather. It might also be in our best interest to ask that hacker for whatever they can get us—even if we can't confirm exactly who it was, maybe it will let us rule things out and get us closer to the truth."

He nodded slowly. It was a lesson. To let others in despite a history was foolish, a weakness he entertained for too long. "Information. That's what we need." Jean gave Merle a small smile. "And I happen to know the most capable woman in the city to gather such. We need to plan our next moves carefully, and information will be vital in considering that move." It would also give him the time to move on from the hurt. To do what needed to be done when the opportunity came.

[arcanae]

The satisfaction she got from seeing Xiu happy, genuinely so, was a bit frustrating somewhere in the back of her mind. It was a bit jarring—the way she wanted to see Xiu this way and the way that she hated that instinct. It meant she was depending on someone, at least in one way or another. That was dangerous. "It's doing well. I researched the best way to take care of it and I've been following along with it diligently." She'd only meant that she had done her job well—though now that Evelyn said it, she realized it came across more like 'I took care of the thing you gave me because you gave it to me.' Maybe that was more accurate, truthfully.

Her smile only grew at the twitch of Evelyn's lips. Xiu had become quite adept at reading people, a necessity of her profession. Now, huh? Would she want to go back to her old ways? Probably not. Being a Joker satisfied her...needs. Besides, now she had someone she didn't want to disappoint. "How is your orchid doing?" It wasn't a diversion; the topic of conversation had simply ended in mutual appreciation.

[arcanae]

Esmeralda barked out a laugh at his response, caught off guard by the reaction. She dismissed the notion with a wave of her hand, "No, no, that's not it, I promise. And milk's good in coffee! Just sometimes I prefer the raw thing, you know? The smell and taste of it by itself feels warm, like it's wrapping me up, I guess?" Her cheeks flushed as she struggled to explain. "It just tastes good to me is the shorter answer."

His lips quirked into a smile as Esme immediately gave up on trying to change his mind. He was damn stubborn when he wanted to be. At her drink order James couldn't help barking out a laugh. "No shit? Yer hell of a lot stronger than me. I gotta at least have some milk in mine."

[arcanae]

"Right, yes, I am shouting now. You pissed me the fuck off," Merle snarled in response. She felt justified—after all, she had earned her place, had fought tooth and nail to get here. She had thus, in her opinion, earned respect.

Though her expression quickly changed into something more amused. "You didn't have to say anything. The look on your face said enough. Besides, he pisses off enough people—it's a nature of the position. Not very surprising that someone like you might step out of line and piss him off. The fuck did you say to him?"

"Well no offence darlin' but yer doin' a lot of shoutin' now." On any other day he'd find this hot, without a doubt, their back-and-forth often was, but today, with his paranoia running high and someone on his ass with cryptic texts, he wasn't in the mood or frame of mind to be pushing people.

She mentioned Jean and he felt his body stiffen, facial expression trying and failing to look any way other than scared shitless. "I never said nothin' about Jean. I just said ya ain't the only one wantin' to squash me. Why ya jumpin' to Jean as head of the line?" Maybe Merle knew something he didn't.

[arcanae]

"Oh, no, I don't hate them. Just... y'know, maybe you could branch out! Do something fun now that you're over here. Maybe it'd be interesting to let me style you or something—and if you hate it, we can get rid of them after." Violet assured him, already mentally coming up with some ideas.

"Raspberry's a bad favorite. Objectively. I won't hate you for it, though, promise," Violet teased, rounding the counter to pull herself up onto it and sit as she watched Edgar. "Ooh, sweet. Lots of espresso though, too. Like someone sucker punched me with espresso and caramel or chocolate, usually."

The smile widened at the normalcy of everything. Even while crying, Edgar felt the most himself at that moment than he had all day. "Is that you telling me I need to update my wardrobe Vi? Don't tell me you hate the button ups and sweaters, too."

Edgar wiped at his eyes, letting out a small laugh. "And what if raspberry is my favorite?" he countered. With a nod, Edgar moved to get the espresso machine going. "I like both. Grading finals, I practically lived off coffee. Both are comforting in their own ways. How do you take your coffee?"