ben-books

[ben-books]

Great, no one had been injured and nothing had been broken. But Ben's secrets had nearly been exposed and he had lost his relationship. Glad to be rid of it, honestly, after the discovery that she had used magic to coerce him. The thought of it all made it feel like his scales were just a layer under his skin, itching and tingling.

Breaking their engagement wasn't enough. He wanted whatever magic user that had been responsible for all of this punished. Severely.

"And what about the investigation into who might have done this? Do you have any sort of expertise on your team when it comes to Magicks and the crimes they commit?"

@trackedbymaximus

Office Hours || Open

[ben-books]

Ben wasn’t sure if he believed her. He wasn’t sure if he believed anyone at face value, ever. He was fully aware of how much of his own persona was a lie so who was to say that wasn’t true of anyone else? Especially another basilisk.

But the unfortunate reality was that you could not work on a foundation of lies. If nothing anyone said was true then there would be no way to move forward. Certain things had to be taken as the truth, whether or not he actually believed them.

“I am also the last of my colony,” he answered, offering his own dangerous truth. “But that has also served me well. I’ve learned how to survive.”

They were awfully young to be on their own, but not so young that it wasn’t possible. It was also possible they were only shifted to seem younger, which could have its own benefits.

“I’ve been here several months,” he answered vaguely, not getting anymore specific than that. “And what is it that you’ve come here for, then?”

Basilisk² || Ben & Vee

[ben-books]

Ben Wormwood

Night at the Museum Prom, 2025

Out of all events in this strange town, this is the one Ben understands the least. Isn't Prom for secondary schoolers? The idea of dressing "on theme" is deeply ridiculous to him, so he attends in a generic formal outfit. He also abstains from voting.

[ben-books]

Ben glowered at the man sitting across from him. The last sheriff had been many uncharitable things, but someone who didn’t recognize the dangers of magic, he was not. This new sheriff seemed much more blasé.

“A basic research into magic and its workings would let you know that a feat of that magnitude needed some interference. And considering the people we have not heard from who were perhaps prominent figures in this new world would be a good indicator. And even if you don’t want to do the bare minimum of an investigation, the least this town could ask for would be SOME kind of statement at least pretending that some sort of care is being paid.”

@trackedbymaximus

Office Hours || Open

[ben-books]

Ben narrowed his eyes. It wasn't much of an answer, which was likely purposeful. It was going to be a tricky balance of exchange here, with both knowing where this could potentially end.

"They refer to me as Ben," he said. There was every possibility this creature could run into people from the human "Books"'s past, if they hadn't already. "I took on this persona almost a decade ago. It's served me well and I have no intention of starting over as someone else," he spoke in a dangerously even tone, a warning not to mess in his affairs.

"Are there others with you?" He asked, referring to more of their kind. It had always been safer with more numbers--or at least, that's what he'd been told when he was part of a colony. Having spent years on his own, he wasn't sure how true it was anymore. But he did know it was the basilisk way, and that they believed themselves to be safer together, whether or not it was true.

@veeva-la-vida

Basilisk² || Ben & Vee

[ben-books]

Ben exhaled deeply. "Ah, so many incidents, hard to keep track of," he commented, shaking his head. It was honestly ridiculous.

"I'm referring to the incident at the beginning of the month, where as far as I can tell, the entire Swynlake citizenry was abducted into a spell that gave us an "alternative life" within the A Plot of Wishes and Words book series. Nothing was done about it, it came to an end seemingly out of nowhere, and nothing has been said about it since. Are we just supposed to file it away as "just another magical incident" and leave it at that?"

@trackedbymaximus

Office Hours || Open

[ben-books]

To be fair, Ben didn't want to start any fights. He was much more analytical than he was physical, which had worked out well in the identity that he had stolen. He did his best to avoid altercations where possible. At the same time, however, another basilisk in town, one that was able to spot him right out of the gate, was extremely dangerous. If things stumbled down a treacherous path, then he would follow it to its grim end.

He was quiet the entire way to the Tipton. He only gave a brief nod to the staff as they passed through but continued to say nothing all the way until he got to his room, standing by the open door and beckoning them in.

Yet, he wasted no time. As the door closed, he turned to face the other basilisk directly, asking, "Who are you and what are you doing in Swynlake?"

@veeva-la-vida

Basilisk² || Ben & Vee

[ben-books]

This was getting ridiculous. At least with the dreams it was for one night and there were no material consequences. What had just transpired a few mere weeks ago was not that. And the consequences for that, well--

Those were matters that the Sheriff had no business in. In the matters that caused them, however, that was a grave oversight.

He wasted no time as he entered, straightening his posture and his glasses as he spoke. "I'd like to speak of the magical incident that took place at the beginning of the month. As far as I've been able to discern, there was no preparatory plans in place for something like this, there was no statement made afterwards, and no one has been held accountable for taking the entire citizenry hostage for several days. I want to know what is being done about this."

@trackedbymaximus

Office Hours || Open

[ben-books]

The other basilisk is tense but so is Ben. Although their kind stuck together in their own colonies, anything outside of that was fair game. The only thing more dangerous than your enemies was someone who knew you and what you were capable of.

That's why he had to make sure this went absolutely perfectly.

"I have a room at the Tipton Hotel," he explained. "I know from personal experience that the walls are thin enough that should any sort of altercation happen, it would alert surrounding rooms." It was both a reassurance to them as much as it could be conveyed a threat, though one of mutual destruction.

"But at the very least, our discussion will not be overheard." He watched the other very carefully. Although he was not physically adept, he'd have no choice but to chase them down if they tried to run.

@veeva-la-vida

Basilisk² || Ben & Vee

[ben-books]

Backdated to May 3rd

Ben was seething.

Anger was an emotion he knew all too well. He held it close, like a snake wrapped around its prey, suffocating the life out of it. In all of his years, it always lie in wait, tense, waiting for the final breath to give.

But this was different. Now, he wanted to lash out. He wanted to sink his teeth into the prey over and over, leaving rips and tears of blood and venom. Destroy for the sake of destruction, rather than a means of survival.

Of course, he knew better than that. His logical mind was enough to outweigh the brutish instincts. But he couldn't let their last encounter stand. She would know venom.

Oh, would she know venom.

He found her on campus in between her classes, approached her and stopped her directly on the quad. Dark eyes flashed with something sinister when they made eye contact and for the briefest moment, the black pupils underneath almost seemed slit.

When he spoke, his voice was quiet but cutting, dangerous in a way that he'd never shown her before. "How dare you?"

@enchantedtomeet-giselle

How We're All Alone || Adwood

[ben-books]

How We're All Alone || Adwood

[ben-books]

NAME: Benjamin Wormwood HOMETOWN: Faraway Lands OCCUPATION: Scribe LOYALIST/REBEL/OTHER: Unaffiliated

BIOGRAPHY: When magic is sustenance, a magical society may feel bountiful.

But the only one with a bounty is you.

For a basilisk to survive at all is a feat, to procreate is a victory, and to form a clan is a boon. But should you flourish, you may draw the wrong sort of attention.

When their clan was destroyed by sorcerers, Three and Five fled from their homeland in search of somewhere better. Somewhere safer. The lesson learned from their destruction was that having too many close to each other was a danger. When they got to La Cuidad de Rosas, the basilisk left their sibling behind to start a new life in safety.

They took on the form of Benjamin Wormwood, a fellow who almost discovered their secret, but was not fast enough to keep his identity and life from being stolen. From then on out, Ben was very careful. While magic was everywhere, he was always careful about where and who he would take it from. He needed to surround himself with people who would never grow suspicious.

And that's how he found himself in the orbit of Giselle Adams. Happy-go-lucky, exuberant, and far too trusting, she was a perfect candidate for Ben to feed on, though he never took so much as to disrupt her magic fully.

He did not intend to marry her, but it happened somehow anyway. All the better for keeping her close, though he does not express that closeness in the way a typical husband might. To him, it is a marriage of convenience and he does the bare minimum to keep his beloved sated. It's a system that works for now, and he intends to keep it going as long as he can.

Will his happily ever after be in the mundane life he's built with his constant food source? Or does his wife have far greater things going on that may foil his scheme?

Art credit

[ben-books]

Ben listened intently.

His eyes practically dilated at the infamous sorcerer's name.

In his months here he had been scouring Swynlake's archives for any sign of the fabled objects and here was one now, being presented to him. It sounded too good to be true, and in some ways, he believed it was.

But if it wasn't, then this could be a very valuable exchange indeed.

He wanted more details, but he knew they wouldn't be given just by asking. He would have to do some research of his own, and keep a close eye on the man as he conducted his business. Even if he could be outbid, that didn't mean he couldn't later extract from the buyer.

"I do quite appreciate the head's up," he said, giving a polite nod and smile for the first time in the conversation. "And in return I will tell you this. I likely will not be able to outbid your interest in terms of money, though you're a smart enough man to know that there are things more valuable. I deal in information, favors, and bartering of wares oh my own. I think you'll find as the table is set, that I have far more to offer than silver spoons."

@goodeveningjasper

God Damn Artifact Race | BadWood

[ben-books]

Ben narrowed his eyes at the boy. Was this some kind of sick joke that they were both in on? Well, he didn't very much appreciate it. Giselle's joke was also just as tasteless and he had to stifle back a grimace. But in the hopes of keeping any more jokes from coming out, he instead smiled. "Of course not, dear."

Pet names were very rare for him. He'd only ever used them in public, in front of people, when there was a point to prove. The point being that he was very much not an Elton John person.

They got through the song, a slog. While Giselle clapped enthusiastically, he gave little more than a golf clap. "You're both very good at what you do, clearly."

@jere-me--oh-my @enchantedtomeet-giselle @euterpe-of-hesiod

Sing Along | Blueson + Adwood

[ben-books]

The magic curled within Ben's stomach, practically purring at the meal he'd just indulged in. In his lifetime he'd consumed plenty of different types, but this had a flavor to it that managed to stick in his craw and regurgitate itself over and over like bile in his esophagus. He'd only ever thrown up a handful of times in his life, usually when he was forced to eat a full meal in order to keep his cover. This was sort of like that.

Except this time, he anticipated the feeling. Enjoyed it even.

For a time, there was nothing. No knock on his door, no call from the front desk telling him he had a visitor, not even some magical message (that he would have returned sucked dry). He thought maybe, that whatever had happened at the Court, was merely going to stay there.

Then the knock came, at his balcony door and Ben froze. The creature, through magical means or otherwise, had managed to ascend several floors worth of architecture to approach him in as foul a way as possible.

The surface level of Ben, the instinct that had kept him alive for so many years, told him to run. Whatever this thing was, it was not to be messed with.

'I'm not to be messed with,' a deeper part of him whispered in return. Ben had faced off against threats before and those threats no longer existed. For as just as many times as his survival had hinged on his caution, just as many encounters were triumphed through precise action.

The taste stung in his throat again. He savored it.

Then he stepped forward and went to unlock the door. From there, he pulled back sharply, taking large steps back towards the other side of the room to put distance between them. For the time being, he wanted to see what this creature would do, and react in turn.

@the-pumpkin-king-lament

Parasitic Psycho Filthy Creature || Back (Vday Tropes)

[ben-books]

Warm up the crowd--what crowd? It was just the four of them, together in this room. He certainly didn't know who they would be performing for. More than likely it was to hear the sounds of their own voices. That was fine, though. Less singing for him.

The girl's insistence on his love for Elton John made him squirm. Was that supposed to be some sort of dig? Was she implying an attraction to men, which this singer is so famously known for? He knew the rumors of his and Phillip's "date" had circled after that inane Instagram post, but starting his relationship with Giselle was supposed to curb that.

Perhaps this girl--this Linnet--was more perceptive than she let on. He would have to be wary of her. Still, to answer her question, he replied flatly, "Not particularly. But have fun." With that, he took his water and sat back, preparing for a show he was not particularly excited for.

@jere-me--oh-my @enchantedtomeet-giselle @euterpe-of-hesiod

Sing Along | Blueson + Adwood

[ben-books]

He "wasn't Tommy's type". And yet here he was, raising his kid for him. Phillip had taken the first opportunity to meet back up with Thomas and John, not caring for what was left behind in the process. He had no idea where John was in all of this and quite frankly, he didn't care. One less person to seethe at.

No, it seemed Tommy had just knocked out some random woman, an unpleasant one at that. He couldn't say he was surprised at the lack of foresight, planning, or responsibility on the Sheriff's part. If they were still in the Order, it would have ended in marriage to said nut job, so of course he was even more reckless and careless without those guidelines on him.

Levi. Yes, he already knew that from the online stalking, but there was something about the way Phillip talked about him that betrayed something deeper than just the child of a friend. "So…you're simply living together? Helping raise his child?"

@knightley--phillip

Paid Good Money for This || Knightworm