#bluenix lore

[silverdragon889]

Phoenix and Reginald | Codes Of Jars and Candles

Tag list: @pandagobrr @wyvchard @ghostlystarwanderer if anyone wants added lmk

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Reginald and Phoenix were both aware of the nature of their job- there would more likely than not come a time where they'd need to communicate without words about the state of affairs in the Agency, or themselves. And so, they came up with a code.

Reginald kept a mason jar on a shelf in his office. If the jar was empty, and the shelf level, all was well. If the jar was empty and the shelf uneven, then the Agency was compromised even if Reggie himself was not. If the shelf was level but the jar full of red beads, then only Reggie was compromised and needed help. Phoenix fears the day that jar is full and the shelf uneven- it means he'd be alone with his back against the wall. He fears that day. Prays over and over it never comes.

Phoenix's ritual of lighting a candle after successful missions became a code in and of itself. A cinnamon candle meant all was well. Lily of the valley scented meant Phoenix was compromised. Lotus scented meant only the Agency. But there is a scented candle deep in Phoenix's desk Reggie prays he never sees or smells- they both hate the smell of frankincense. Lighting that candle means both Phoenix and Agency are compromised and Reggie is alone without an agent as the world burns. He fears that day. Prays over and over it never comes.

No one in the Agency understands why Reginald relaxes at the smell of Cinnamon. No one in the Agency understands why Phoenix hates red beads.

They keep it that way.

[silverdragon889]

For me, Phoenix is kinda kept alive by Death himself. Because to me, ressurective immortality always seemed like a subtle way to say "favored by death".

So I took that literally.

Thanatos has a deal with Phoenix- he'll only allow the "respawn" up until the day Phoenix is slated to die of natural causes.

So I imagine that when that day finally DOES come, Phoenix isn't scared. He isn't anxious, or even weirded out.

If anything? I imagine to him it would feel like finally having an old friend take you home after a War. He can finally lay down the proverbial sword and join his loved ones in the beyond.

And I'm not sure how I feel about that. It's very bittersweet.

Question for people with Canon/Diagetic Respawn Phoenixes: what happens when Phoenix eventually dies of old age? How does that work?

[silverdragon889]

Reginald Crane | Burned Ties AU

Tag list: @warden-draws-sometimes @wyvchard @sleepywillowo0o @pandagobrr @ghostlystarwanderer if I missed anyone pls lemme know I am Very warm-brained from my walk

There is a chance to affect the AU below the cut, so do give a read!

Reginald heard the clatter of chains and removed his headset from his ears before he broke. He decided to mentally rewind everything- perhaps it would make any of this easier to digest once running it through again.

He knew from the start that something about these missions had been setting his Agent on edge lately; it was obvious from the fidgeting and the click of a lighter when he thought Reginald wasn't listening.

He just didn't think it would be this.

He saw the initial reaction his Agent had when confronting the latest of Zoraxis’ head lackeys. Visceral. As if he'd been shot. Hell, Reginald remembered winding back the feed just to see if he had been. For the Agent to lose cool like that on a mission… he hadn't seen anything like it since Phoenix's rookie years.

And then the fight happened.

It started verbally, mind, though Reginald initially could make no sense of what was being said. (Spanish was never his strongest language.) But the verbal barrage eventually gave way to fists and knives, bionic arms and TK. A usual sight in the field, save for two details.

One. Phoenix was holding back. That was the first major tip off for him that something wasn't right here. Phoenix, as a rule, never holds back against knocking out his opponent, lest they kill him. But he held back against this woman, who if he heard right, went by Mechanique.

Two. The other tip off was when he hesitated dealing the final blow, which ended up giving Mechanique enough time to trigger the cage. By that point he was concerned his agent was more than compromised- fear had gripped him as though death himself had taken hold of his soul.

But then it all clicked when Phoenix had started pleading with her. Calling her by name. Using a word he actually recognized.

Oriae. Hermana. Sister.

That enemy was his Agent's sister.

Crane found himself feeling a multitude of emotions; disbelief, anger, sadness, but most of all, determination. Phoenix had admittedly sat through and even sometimes aided in resolving a lot of his messy, less than professional relationships.

It was only fair he returned the favor.

With that in mind, he reached for the phone and made a call. Speaking of favors, he had one or two to call in.

Operation: Burned Ties would need them.

(Poll time! You can directly affect my AU by selecting an answer. Maybe reblog so I can get a lot of feedback? 👉👈🥺)

[silverdragon889]

Nix and Oriae | Burned Ties AU

Tag List: @pandagobrr @wyvchard @warden-draws-sometimes @sleepywillowo0o @ghostlystarwanderer

Disclaimer: Panda this is your fault xD

Enjoy!

Nix feels his heart lurch in his chest. Is the woman before him really the woman he used to know? His own *sister*, working for Zoraxis and nearly *succeeding* in causing worldwide damage?! He takes a shaky breath. This is his last shot at making her see reason. He grips the bars of the cage she shoved him and begins to plead with her in a way he never would were it anyone else.

Oriae, this isn’t the answer! You keep going down this road you won’t be able to come back, hermana, please. Don’t do this- it may feel right but you’ll be staining your hands and soul with sins you can’t undo. You can’t excuse that away, even when you eventually realize you have no more left to lose.

She snarls at him in a feral way he’s NEVER seen cross her features before it settles into a sneering disdain he hates is becoming familiar territory.

You don’t have the right to lecture me, Damien! Yes, this path I’m on is dark, but the end goal is worth it; it’s worth it if I can finally gain the power and prestige I deserve. 

The mask cracks again as she rounds on him like they’re kids again and she’s throwing the world’s biggest tantrum.

YOU are the one who disappeared! YOU are the one who wasn’t there when I lost it all. If you were, then you’d know I already HAVE nothing left to lose! Despise me if you must, but this is what I choose.

Listen, please-

Oh shut UP already!

NO! 

He yells from the bottom of his heart. He isn’t giving up yet. He can’t. HE CAN’T. He glares at her with a heat he hasn’t felt since she accidentally tore his blanket all those years ago, even as she starts to walk away.

You’ve gone and lost your damn mind, hermana. You still have so much here in front of you that you refuse to even glance at in favor of a shiny illusion! Drop the sense of entitlement and come to your senses.

She stops, deathly still. When she turns around, the only thing Nix can think of is seeing blood red *ice* in her eyes. His heart stops for all of two seconds.

I refuse. The thing you call a ‘shiny illusion’ is my answer to the universe stripping away my happiness. You can take that claim of entitlement and shove it. I’m not the one losing here.

How would you even sleep with what you’ve done, Ori?! He tries.

Her response is a hollow smirk over her shoulder as she grips a nearby lever.

Well and soundly in plush velvet. Now do shut up, brother dear. Head to your room.

When she pulls it, Nix feels the cage shoot up towards the ceiling and sway a bit from the force, knocking him onto his backside. It’s a bridge burned if he’s ever seen one. He only lets his broken heart grieve for a single second.

After all, it seems there really *was* nothing left to lose.

[silverdragon889]

The brainworms got me again, and with help from @stellar-collective , I give to you!

A Crane and a Phoenix: Short Change Hero

It had been after Eaves Drop when Reginald Crane asked the question

Usually, he was content to worry silently and stoically about some of the stranger habits his Agent had; being drawn to fire, the absurd collection of Greek history books, the odd obsession with the color blue, and the ability to sleep just about anywhere to name a few. However, Agent Phoenix had one habit that always rubbed Reginald the wrong way;

The Agent always ate food like a man who was afraid of losing it, no matter the food's quality.

The Agent's file stated he had no living blood relatives. THAT much he knew. He also knew that the E.O.D. had found him in a warehouse, snooping around nearly silent. It was that stealth that landed him the job as field agent, but beyond those two facts?

Reginald knew nothing about his agent.

So it was during lunch on call with the Agent that the curiosity finally got to him. Phoenix was currently scarfing down a toasted sandwich and three donuts like the food was about to grow legs and bolt.

"You know you can slow down when you eat, Agent, right?"

Phoenix, for his part, finished his meal. And yet...

"Sorry, 'Phones. Just habit, is all."

It was meant to be a joke...

"What, did your parents starve you? I'll write a strongly worded letter if so!"

"What parents, 'Phones? I lived on the streets!"

That one sentence shattered his whole worldview all at once, and for the life of him, he couldn't place why. Orphans weren't uncommon in this line of work. It was more of a given, really, considering that it probably saved on paperwork. So why? Surely the Agent had someone to care for him! And yet, he thinks about the temporary lodging in the Agency that Phoenix has made into a home. He thinks about how Phoenix HATES wintertime. Hell, when he first joined the Agency, Reginald had to explain what Christmas was!

It had hurt then, too.

...he thinks about Phoenix being fine with eating rotten food.

He pushed it aside for later. Phoenix needed reminding not to choke, after all!

"While it certainly explains your iron stomach, do remember not to choke Agent. It wouldn't do to have our top Agent suffocate!"

He paused, before speaking just that little bit softer.

"You... do realize you don't have to inhale your meals anymore, yes? Why, I'd happily make you a sandwich anytime! I even remember just how you like them! You like-"

As he rambled on and on, he glances at the camera. He smiles, because he knows he saw Phoenix smile. For now, that was enough for him.

[agentwraith]

13-12 is absolutely getting snacks and blankets from a worried Wraith.

Imperfect Mirror, Broken Candle

Agent Bluenix and Agent 13-12, during intel gathering, managed to walk in the wrong time. Things get go wrong and quickly.

Content Warnings: Canon Typical Violence, Mind Manipulation, Time Loop Deaths, Self-Loathing, Possible Nightmare Fuel, Blood and Injury, Concussions

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"Well, Nix. I think that's it for now. We'll continue next week. I think I've hit my social battery quota." Agent 13-12, Florian, looked at their companion with awkwardness yet the fond gaze can't be denied.

"I've gathered the intel from several people. I think we can take a break." Agent Bluenix gave a thumb's up while they headed to the car, with Florian in the driver's seat.

"Well, guess we're going back to my place. Multiple universe traveling is quite... tiring." They started the car as they checked their watch. "Hopefully, we'll be in my place soon to gather the data."

"You said it was a lab?"

"I had it before I joined the agency. Which is why the owner name was Marife, instead of... you know. Florian. Hopefully, we're in my universe, not..." They took a deep breath. "Just me overthinking. Hopefully."

"I sure hope not."

The ride was soon over, leading to a relieved exhale from both.

"After me. Mostly because I would rather be the one unlocking the door instead of... you know. Breaking into my own house."

"You once broke into your own house?"

"I forgot my keys." They chuckled as they opened the door and turned on the lights. Pastel yellow walls greeted them, clothed in several trinkets and framed sketches.

The smell of homecooked meals and comfort assailed him, stirring up memories but he shook his head to focus on the task at hand.

"Nice place." Green eyes darted around the trinkets on the walls, taking in the framed sketches. "These look nice."

"Thank you! It took a while to fully furnish it the way we wanted it. But it was so worth it." They walked to one of the doors and opened it, leading down to a set of stairs.

"Wait. I have a bad feeling."

Florian nodded, rummaging through the inner pocket of their coat and revealed a device with a closed button. Pressing it, they soon moved on while they brought out their knife and the pin to stick it onto their hat.

The pair of agents made their way down the steps, careful to avoid making any sound. Florian's warm familiarity soon turned frosty as a sudden bang pushed them to the ground.

Clear liquid spilled on the ground, slowly mingling with the metallic smell that both agents have grown familiar with over deaths and missions.

"Florian!" He yelled, turning to them while they tried to recover from passing out from the blow. They tugged at his hoodie to stay back, their brown eyes slowly seemed to shine with their tears.

They clutched their head, counting the breaths as their vision was still hazy, the slick feeling of blood between their fingers slowly losing warmth as the sensation of not again practically yelled at them.

"10:33. Nix, what ever you do, don't-"

"It seems like your ability is legitimate." A detached voice echoed in the desolate laboratory, pulling Nix's attention to the new arrival. "I do wonder if it's because of that implant of yours or if you came across something. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see."

"Who are you and how did you-" Nix paused, staring at a woman in a lab coat. Her brown eyes seemed to hide silver as a golden sheen seemed to cover her brown hair. The woman's resemblance to his friend was uncanny. "Florian, I didn't know you had a-"

"You looked away. Well, I'm sorry to say but that's a mistake you'll regret immensely." The familiar stranger's face was solemn, distant as if looking at a diorama in a museum depicting the execution that would've sparked a revolution.

His ginger hair nearly covered his face after he ignored the pull on the bottom of his blue hoodie. The tug on his mask afterwards was urgent, practically flying off into the hands of the one he never wanted to see.

"Oh, Feenie, what's wrong? Finally staying quiet for once?" Something's wrong. Don't say anything.

Brown eye soon gave to red as the robotic right arm held onto his sky blue domino mask and a knife on her left hand. Ash grey hair in a ponytail seemed to frame her neck as she embodied the mockery and smugness she always carried when their paths crossed.

"Mechanique. Give. me. my. mask. back." He practically snapped at her, trying to grab it back with his TK but 'her' grip was tight, taking a step back to maintain distance. Her eyes looked panicked as the flames from his wings seemed to practically grow as each word was enunciated.

His eyes looked around, trying to find his friend but Florian was just gone. He's now alone with two Zoraxis operatives, one unknown and the other wants to kill him.

Florian's butterfly knife cut through the tension after a click of the gun echoed in the lab, causing the unknown operative to take a step back as the blade clanged onto the tile floor.

Bluenix looked around, trying to discern where Florian is. He wishes that the pin was working as intended, but the red shards where they fell before was not looking good. His domino mask was left forgotten on the floor as shards of broken glass and sounds of struggle seemed to echo around the laboratory.

The mask was lightly scuffed, but it wasn't ruined like she most likely would. It didn't make sense... Unless-

The voices of reproach in his head came back with hungry vengeance as he tried to hide his tears away from everyone. If anything, the least he can do is maintain the little composure he had left.

A cold sweat covered him as he frantically searched for everyone, cursing up a storm as it seemed like Zoraxis has the cloaking devices that can evade his sight, just like Florian's pins.

"Parehas tayong kumakapit sa patalim dito. Binabalaan kita. Kapag ako nagkaroon ng suliranin, sisiguraduhin ko na malalagot ka rin."

The operative's vitriol echoed in the lab, revealing their location as he saw her pointing the gun at his sister enemy.

"What are you doing?!" He held onto his butterfly knife, a few clicks from the handles as he readjusted it to prepare for a fight.

A pair of arms wrapped around him from behind before he managed to reach the operative, causing him to pause as everything clicked as he fell apart.

"Damien. It'll be ok. Papa and I are here. Just breathe." Nix? Nix, breathe. Just take a few breaths. I'm fine. We're fine. Backup will arrive soon. Shhh.

It was her words but it was not her. It was a lie. Not true.

Those days were over.

"Consider this a warning. I'm staying away from all the 'Zoraxis is involved in kidnapping agents' business. I want to live in peace as much as I can. I will find a way to make this permanent if any of your scientist asking ends up implicating me, got it? I have to go before Smitten gets here."

Try as he might to break free from their grasp, he just couldn't.

"Why would you let her go? She hurt you!"

He thrashed, trying to break free but the reassuring head pats from them only made him feel worse.

"She... what did she even do?"

His companion refused to say a word, trying to stop him from leaving. He turned around slightly, remembering the hit on the head and choosing to focus on that, not... everything else.

His blood ran cold as what was supposed to be red was brown.

His hand let go of the butterfly knife as he grabbed the nearest first aid kit to stop the bleeding from the cut.

"Florian!" An unfamiliar voice snapped him from his task as the man looked over them with a frantic yet methodical gaze. "The pin was... it wasn't supposed to break. Didn't..." He turned to Bluenix. "She came by, didn't she?"

"Who? What's going on?! Who are you? Why does Florian look like-" He choked, choosing to withhold that he was seeing someone else. That he could've hurt his friend if they said anything more. That he could've said something they didn't deserve to hear.

"That..." The man took a breath, revealing his agency ID to TK to him in order to attend to Florian, who was rapidly losing consciousness. "The name's Agent Smitten from 13-12's universe. And... Candlelight, the Zoraxis operative who looked exactly like Florian is Florian in another universe... where they ended up working for Zoraxis instead."

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@silverdragon889, you asked for angst and I hope it delivered! Poor Bluenix though.

@phoenix-and-found-family, @the-one-and-only-043, this is what Vadas (and Candlelight) is capable of. I can't wait to see what she will do with this.

@agentwraith, @blueorchid-95, @agent--shadow, don't worry. The most this did is take 13-12 out of commission for a few days. Candlelight is not interested in this attack. She's indifferent and would rather stay far from it in order to avoid getting hurt. (But she will make sure to drag you down with her if she gets in trouble.) [Yes. That's basically what she said to Florian.]

[silverdragon889]

Linking the post here because 13-12 did an AWESOME job writing and I needed to write the aftermath.

Bluenix's B-Side: Echo in the Mirror

Hey hey! Before you read this, be warned with these Trigger Warnings!

Self-Loathing, Thoughts of Suicide, Eating Disorder

Bluenix didn't stick around long after that.

That's not to say he left the building! No, the bathroom he's locked himself in works just fine, thanks. He's broken and damaged and would very much like to lick his wounds and discard whatever pride he had left.

The alternate Florian. Anti-Florain. Candlelight. Whatever they went by. They messed with his brain and his eyes and his heart and that left him LOW.

10:33, they told him. How many deaths were by his own hand? How many by the operative?

...how many deaths must HE suffer as penance?

He shakes off the thought. No, now's not the time to spiral. Than probably wouldn't let him do that anyway.

Some Phoenix HE is...

The knock on the door startled him out of his thoughts.

"Hey. Are... You ok? Coping well?"

He's not, but he's already appeared weak too much today. No more, thanks.

'M fine. Thanks.

"... Do you want some warm food, at least?"

If you leave it outside the door, sure.

He's left alone after that. He doesn't really touch the food, either, once it's there. He doesn't want to leave until he can finally be ok with himself. Fight the echo of himself in the mirror.

...

...

He's gonna be here a while...

[silverdragon889]

Oh. There's a million thoughts racing through Nix's head, and all of them amount to "Error 404"

Is he allowed to do this? Is this something he should do?

Is this safe? What does he do?

My charge. It is alright.

?!

Than?

I trust this Lifeline individual. So, too, should you.

...if you say so, Than.

He takes a breath. Another. Then speaks quietly

Well, I suppose since I don't know who else is listening, like you said earlier, you can say that I'm an Agent. Saving the world from the background is kinda what we do. My case in particular is a little special, though.

I don't die. Thanatos, God of Death, has a vested intrest in my survival. He... He told me a long time ago that someone was trying to thwart Fate by killing me. So, until my destiny is fulfilled, I'm allowed to... Respawn, we'll call it.

We have a mission coming up to an underwater base, too. Than gives me a feeling that SOMETHING is gonna go wrong, but I have no clue as to what; even Gods can't mess with Fate too much.

You step into your office, and there’s a radio on your desk. You don’t know where it came from or why it’s there, but it’s there. It looks old, plastered with stickers written in odd languages. There’s only one that’s remotely legible, and it reads “help.”

Bluenix is SO CONCERNED, but manages to steel his nerves. It's best to investigate first, and panic later. Oddly enough, Thanatos hasn't screamed danger at him yet, so he circles the radio to look for a way to interact with it.

[wyvchard]

Nooo!

Nix and Oriae | Burned Ties AU

Tag List: @pandagobrr @wyvchard @warden-draws-sometimes @sleepywillowo0o @ghostlystarwanderer

Disclaimer: Panda this is your fault xD

Enjoy!

Nix feels his heart lurch in his chest. Is the woman before him really the woman he used to know? His own *sister*, working for Zoraxis and nearly *succeeding* in causing worldwide damage?! He takes a shaky breath. This is his last shot at making her see reason. He grips the bars of the cage she shoved him and begins to plead with her in a way he never would were it anyone else.

Oriae, this isn’t the answer! You keep going down this road you won’t be able to come back, hermana, please. Don’t do this- it may feel right but you’ll be staining your hands and soul with sins you can’t undo. You can’t excuse that away, even when you eventually realize you have no more left to lose.

She snarls at him in a feral way he’s NEVER seen cross her features before it settles into a sneering disdain he hates is becoming familiar territory.

You don’t have the right to lecture me, Damien! Yes, this path I’m on is dark, but the end goal is worth it; it’s worth it if I can finally gain the power and prestige I deserve. 

The mask cracks again as she rounds on him like they’re kids again and she’s throwing the world’s biggest tantrum.

YOU are the one who disappeared! YOU are the one who wasn’t there when I lost it all. If you were, then you’d know I already HAVE nothing left to lose! Despise me if you must, but this is what I choose.

Listen, please-

Oh shut UP already!

NO! 

He yells from the bottom of his heart. He isn’t giving up yet. He can’t. HE CAN’T. He glares at her with a heat he hasn’t felt since she accidentally tore his blanket all those years ago, even as she starts to walk away.

You’ve gone and lost your damn mind, hermana. You still have so much here in front of you that you refuse to even glance at in favor of a shiny illusion! Drop the sense of entitlement and come to your senses.

She stops, deathly still. When she turns around, the only thing Nix can think of is seeing blood red *ice* in her eyes. His heart stops for all of two seconds.

I refuse. The thing you call a ‘shiny illusion’ is my answer to the universe stripping away my happiness. You can take that claim of entitlement and shove it. I’m not the one losing here.

How would you even sleep with what you’ve done, Ori?! He tries.

Her response is a hollow smirk over her shoulder as she grips a nearby lever.

Well and soundly in plush velvet. Now do shut up, brother dear. Head to your room.

When she pulls it, Nix feels the cage shoot up towards the ceiling and sway a bit from the force, knocking him onto his backside. It’s a bridge burned if he’s ever seen one. He only lets his broken heart grieve for a single second.

After all, it seems there really *was* nothing left to lose.

[agentwraith]

Nooooo! 🥺 Poor Bluenix

Linking the post here because 13-12 did an AWESOME job writing and I needed to write the aftermath.

Bluenix's B-Side: Echo in the Mirror

Hey hey! Before you read this, be warned with these Trigger Warnings!

Self-Loathing, Thoughts of Suicide, Eating Disorder

Bluenix didn't stick around long after that.

That's not to say he left the building! No, the bathroom he's locked himself in works just fine, thanks. He's broken and damaged and would very much like to lick his wounds and discard whatever pride he had left.

The alternate Florian. Anti-Florain. Candlelight. Whatever they went by. They messed with his brain and his eyes and his heart and that left him LOW.

10:33, they told him. How many deaths were by his own hand? How many by the operative?

...how many deaths must HE suffer as penance?

He shakes off the thought. No, now's not the time to spiral. Than probably wouldn't let him do that anyway.

Some Phoenix HE is...

The knock on the door startled him out of his thoughts.

"Hey. Are... You ok? Coping well?"

He's not, but he's already appeared weak too much today. No more, thanks.

'M fine. Thanks.

"... Do you want some warm food, at least?"

If you leave it outside the door, sure.

He's left alone after that. He doesn't really touch the food, either, once it's there. He doesn't want to leave until he can finally be ok with himself. Fight the echo of himself in the mirror.

...

...

He's gonna be here a while...