#// ✨thenk yew ✨ for sending!

[mpxkaya]

❛ you look like you've got something to say. ❜

"Oh, I always have something to say." She was furious. Some dickwad thought he knew better than Eirwen, and if there was one thing she hated most above everything else, were people like that. People with gigantic egos and minuscule respect that pushed whatever sorry excuse of a thought their brains managed to conjure onto others.

"If I ever hear him breathe again--" It was a joke. Kind of.

Kaya was not a being of goodwill and kindness. It was not in her nature to be, she only tried to be out of consideration for the people she had come to care about and some others. This blatant show of disrespect, however, made her blood boil even if she'd only seen the other woman a couple of times. Her jaw clenched as she rubbed her temples, unsure if she was proud of herself for not blowing up on him or if she regretted letting him walk away unharmed. "I'm sorry, people like that just... get to me."

[mpxnoel]

❛ i thought maybe they’d realize that they need me. ❜ The layered voice of Invidia’s magic speaks for him now, eyes taken over by the Otherness inside him. ❛ there’s nothing crueler than letting a dream end midway. ❜

This was one of those rare moments where he got to see the side of Invidia that was usually kept hidden.

Noel didn't know much, Dakota only ever dropped the smallest of hints about it and he didn't want to push Invidia for answers either, so these small glimpses was all he had.

To someone that didn't know Invidia, not much would seem out of place, but Noel knew better. He'd spent countless minutes drowning in every detail of the younger man that he could, and it was by the gleam in his lover's eyes that he knew this wasn't quite the Invidia he knew.

"They do." Noel's own gaze softened, never once shifting from that of the younger man's and his otherness inside him. He took a careful step forward, hand reaching to hold the curve of Invidia's cheek in the same way he always had ever since they gave in to their hearts' desires as young boys. "You've done so much, probably more than I'll ever know of..."

What could one say in such a moment? There was too much to ask and so much more to unveil, but this instance of tenderness and fragility had rendered him vulnerable to the beautifully complicated existence that was the man he loves. "They need you, and in a way, I need you too." His thumb caressed the soft skin along Invidia's cheekbone, following a rhythm that could only be explained as the silence in between heartbeats. "Thank you for keeping him alive all this time."

[carternardis]

❛ experience is a brutal teacher, but you learn. ❜

Carter frowned.

It had been his third attempt at crocheting a tiny fox, and much like his previous tries, it went terribly. He'd been able to do other things, but this one fox was proving to be quite the challenge. "Experience is a brutal teacher, but you learn." His eyes narrowed at Max. "Do you know how to crochet or sum?"

Carter was a patient guy, more patient than most, but this venture into crocheting was toying with it. If the tattoo artist had some insight on how to master this new skill, he'd want to know all about it. "Am I using the right needles? Maybe it's the hook - or the yarn?" He mumbled while looking down at his 3 star looking creation. "Maybe the needles are too small?" He *had* been struggling with the tiny tools in his hands, but didn't think the size of them could affect the end result.

"Go on, don't keep quiet now."

[mpxbillie]

❛ so, what do i owe this pleasure? ❜

The world must've had the biggest laugh when it came to them.

There Alice was, sitting by counter at Noona's looking as beautiful as she remembered. "I figured sitting next to you was better than sitting by myself." Billie smiled, eyes searching for something that might say that the woman next to her remembered her. Except nothing came.

She'd seen her around, but thought it was only the waves of memories unleashed by a past fling that everything else seemed to have come crashing down. The first time, Billie could only blame the nostalgia of thinking about what once was, losing herself in the infatuation of the moment as she usually did when it came to people that had shined in her life in one way or another.

Whether Alice remembered her or not was still something she wasn't sure of, but it didn't hurt to try and find out. "I'm Billie, the pleasure is mine." She grabbed her glass of pink champagne and took a sip, turning her body to face her once rival and occasional friend better. "I hope you don't mind me joining you."

[mpxnoel]

❛ i just wanted to say thank you for protecting me. ❜

It wasn't the first time Noel had heard Invidia say it before, but it never ceases to surprise him (in a good way).

"Hmm?" His eyebrows rose up and he blinked a couple times. They were tangled up on his couch, with Invidia's head on his chest, and both of them with a book of their own, managing to enjoy them as best they could in their current positions. He didn't know what brought this on, but still set his book aside to wrap his arms around the younger's frame.

"What brought this on, love?" He asks softly, leaning down to press his lips against his lover's forehead. Maybe he was referring to their younger days when Dakota had gotten him to keep Invidia out of trouble, or something else after that. It was hard to tell when so many things always happened around them. Life was never boring after meeting the two cousins, that was for certain.

"I promised I always would, so I always will."

[mpxnoel]

❛ what is it you want this time? ❜ He peers at the other man. “Chocolate covered bon bons?”

"Bon Bo—" He looks down at himself at the question - he's dressed like himself, still tall, he has his tattoos and everything that sets him apart from Kaya, so the sweets related question has him chuckling. "Well, I mean, Kaya does like those."

It's no secret that the younger of the two has a mean sweet tooth, even if that's not the reason why he's visiting. "I just have a question or two." They weren't hard to articulate, but it required the delicate touch of the God of love for them to not be misunderstood. "I've been curious..." The thought had plagued him for a while, and stole a couple of minutes of his time each day. Did he have a reason for it? Probably not, or at least he hadn't realized it yet.

"Can two people actually be fated?"

He might've been reading too many romance novels, it wasn't something he had been curious about before them, but still, it was a question he needed an answer to. "If so, how can you know?"

[carternardis]

❛ just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever. ❜ At least, not usually. Right?

Agreeing wasn't as easy as one would think.

While Carter did agree with that statement for the most part, he'd come to understand that in very peculiar cases, losing direction once was enough for a person to be lost forever. He'd witnessed it far too much for his liking and the memories left a nasty scar in his heart. "I think so. I guess it also depends."

People were complex creatures, and everyone had something that would tempt them to go astray at one point or another. Family, money, love... the reasons seemed endless yet predictable enough to be understood. "Some are lucky to have good people around them to guide them back when it happens. Sometimes, all you need is someone to hold your hand while you figure it out on your own—"

He'd seen what one decision could do and experienced it first-hand. "I like to think that we're not lost, no matter how many mistakes we make."

[mpxkaya]

❛ touch me, and you're dead. ❜ He says waking up with the light touch on his arm. He sees who it is and relaxes a bit. “Oh, it’s you, never mind.”

Kaya chuckled.

She'd been around many people who'd said the same thing if she accidentally disturbed their sleep, and she knew —or at least, liked to think she did at least a bit— Dakota enough to be sure he wouldn't really hurt her. "I'm sorry, I woke you." Her voice was soft, with a gentleness to it that felt almost foreign.

"Are you okay?" It hadn't been long since she finally met him. The Dakota that always seemed to be in Noel's memories from when they were young and exploring the world on their own. He'd told her about all his friends, even when he couldn't tell them about her. Noel had shared many things: their friendship, the brawling, the bickering and experiences he got to live beside him and Invidia and in all of them, Dakota always sounded strong, fierce — so alive with that spark of old magic that drew similarities between them.

A younger Kaya thought he sounded like the coolest guy around, especially when he gave Noel hell. "I can bring you a jacket or something if you're cold."

[carternardis]

❛ can’t sleep? ❜

Carter had never been able to sleep well on a 'normal' schedule. Ever since he could remember, his days felt like nights and nighttime was when he felt more awake, and even then, sleep felt more of a plus rather than a necessity. He'd spent countless nights reading his heart away or drawing to his heart's content, filling pages and pages with whatever thoughts came to mind at 2AM on a school night.

"Not really." He smiled, his eyes twinkling under the artificial lights keeping the park's playground alight. Going to the park with snacks was now a habit he'd formed after experiencing it with friends, so finding him there wasn't too unusual. "But that has rarely been a bad thing for me." He'd seen her before, singing at the fanciest restaurant on the island; her voice was as beautiful as her, and getting to listen to her was extraordinary.

"How about you? I don't typically run into other people at this time."

[mpxnoel]

❛ violence only breeds more violence. ❜

This was one of those things where Noel had to agree to disagree. He wasn't the best person to talk about such a topic to, not when he's had to do pretty awful things to survive in a world that apologized to no one. "That is true, yes." He hummed, taking a bite of his blueberry muffin. Its taste was sweet compared to his opinion on the matter.

Noel wasn't someone opposed to talking and sharing his thoughts on topics such as that one, even if his answers might not be the most appropriate. It was interesting to hear what others that walked a less troubled path had to say about things that in his mind, weren't black and white.

He hadn't had an easy upbringing, and sadly, some sort of violence always took place in every part of his life. Noel did many things he wasn't proud of, but he did what he had to do to survive. Violence wasn't something that came naturally to him, but having been forced to enact it didn't give him much room to argue against it. "Violence isn't the best, but for some it's an inevitable choice in a world born from it."

[mpxnoel]

❛ kiss me again. ❜

Noel looked back from the bottom of the stairs that led up to Babylon's doors. "Again?" He found it endearing. The simple request had such an influence on him that he could not find it in himself to refuse.

He'd never been able to, and he'd never wanted to.

The distance between them was small, so small that he was able to reach for his lover's hand after turning to face him once more. He took one step up towards him, then another, and brought their linked hands up to his lips; they were gentle over the soft skin of his knuckles as if he was trying his best not to let them convince his heart to just run away for the night.

He smiled against the back of Invidia's hand and walked up the last step until he was left looking down into the eyes that could convince him to do anything they wished for. "You're going to be late." His voice came as a whisper as their noses touched. Another kiss couldn't possibly hurt, right?

[mpxnoel]

❛ people often visit shrines to light candles for those they’ve lost. who are yours for? ❜

Noel could've sworn he saw kindness in her eyes.

"Forgiveness." She carried herself differently from other gods and goddesses he'd met. "Redemption." He wasn't one to be shy about his intentions, even if that seemed to surprise some. There was no reason to lie and there was something about her that eased his mind and his heart, at least for a moment. "Peace. For those that have no one to light up candles for them." Loss wasn't something unfamiliar to him, and neither was grief. Those two things were engraved so deep in his existence that he didn't remember a world without them.

"Mine are for those that departed alone and far too soon." His beliefs allowed a gentle path for death and pain and perhaps she'd understand. "There's too many lost souls that don't have anyone to remember them. The candles I light are for them because no one deserves to be forgotten even in death." The smile that formed on his lips was small, for grief was still grief, but at the very least, it held hope. "Well, most of them, anyway."

[carternardis]

❛ when we meet again, you can give it back to me. ❜

Carter looked from the book in his hands to Eirwen so fast, it was a wonder he didn't hurt his neck.

Was she really letting him borrow it?

They'd met when the demigoddess had offered baking classes, and unsurprisingly had gotten along so far. She was incredibly talented and a great teacher, and Carter felt lucky to have had a chance to learn from her. The classes always were fun, more so with the pockets of time where they could talk; he'd shared about his love for cooking and baking, but also his interest in the occult.

It was something that always sat at the back of his mind, even more so since meeting Kaya and a couple others on the island but he never knew how to look into it more without drawing attention to himself. "Wait, really?" He asked with wide eyes. So much knowledge was at his fingertips and the spark that had been dormant for a while started burning again. "I'll be careful with it." He gushed, tenderly holding the book to his chest.

Little did she know she'd just opened the door to a curious Carter with a million questions.

[mpxnoel]

"you're not bad as everyone says you are"

Noel blinks in surprise. Someone had said that to him not too long ago as well and he couldn't help but wonder what he possibly did for people to think he was anything but an extraordinary individual. He takes a look at the man talking to him before smiling and putting his phone away, his last google search of creepiest urban legends put on hold for this conversation. "I've been nothing but good ever since I got here."

He sighs with a shake of his head, though his voice sounds more nonchalant than anything. He wasn't bothered by it - people would talk and if the demigods in the island were anything like the people in the outside world, they'd definitely judge him for his... peculiar appearance. There was barely any skin left without ink and he was certain his piercings didn't help. "But I'm glad you think I'm not so terrible, new friend."

His lunch break was almost over. "Say, have you ever considered getting a tattoo?"

[mpxnoel]

❛ sometimes i wonder if you're in love with me. ❜ He’s kidding!

Dakota nearly has him choking on his drink. The audacity this man has sometimes!

Noel turns to him with bewilderment plastered on his face. He'd been taken by surprise and that was not something so easily achieved, he had to give his friend that. In all the years they'd known each other, it was safe to say that the one causing such reactions was Noel, so the change was welcomed even if it was surprising. "You're a couple years too late, I like the other cousin."

He was back to his usual self, face relaxed and eyes filled with jade tinted mischief as he plotted his revenge. He'd get back at Dakota, even if that cost him an arm and his neck. "But..." he carried on, leaning back while brining his glass of whiskey back to his lips. "You do look quite charming when you're threatening me. It's quite enticing, if you ask me."

[carternardis]

❛ you look good like this. ❜

Carter sneaks a glance at his friend.

"Of course you'd say so." He tried to focus, but failed so miserably the moment his eyes caught the other looking at him. The book in his hands was nothing but an accessory to his demise, as all he could think of was the way Erik seemed to love to torment him in the way of tracing his fingers along his skin.

It wasn't the first time he'd seen Carter shirtless, far from it actually, but there was just something different that made his breath catch in the back of his throat. There were no words he could think of that would take away his attention from the shapes being drawn on his back in that cruel game of his.

It was as if Erik knew how much Carter craved for his touch and only did enough to have him silently plead for more. An innocent touch of their hands and his attention was stolen; one stare too long and his resolve was shaken, but to have him play with the skin of his shoulders was entirely maddening.

"What do I get if I guess right, hmm?"