#int. -> khion.

[failbhe]

It was continuously surprising to see just how many folks complied with the ridiculous request. In truth, Cían hadn’t expected a single soul to go ahead with it and realise that he was merely being difficult for his own amusement to help the hours pass by a little quicker, but by some small and endlessly amusing miracle, the hellhound had amassed a small wealth of information from those willing to hand over whatever form of ID they’d been carrying with them. “‘s a pretty recent scheme,” Cían replied conversationally, shrugging off the lie with as charming a smile as he could muster. “Better safe than sorry, y’know?”

"Thanks, man," Khion snorted, grinning crookedly as he took his ID back. He stepped aside near the door for a moment so he could tuck it back into his wallet and pocket. "When the fuck did they start this shit? Are we really expecting anyone here in this place to be underage?"

[bastardfae]

closed starter for @icebird-khion

arnon had always considered himself the sociable type and given his extroverted tendencies, he’d never struggled to make acquaintances. whether that was friend or foe, he really wasn’t picky. with tiernan being a little more generous with granting free time here and there (though in arnon’s opinion, the bar was fucking underground), the halfling had made it a personal mission to get to know as many of the other slaves as he could. there was no telling just how long he’d be stuck here so it made sense to at least try and make an effort. 

the pamola was one arnon had heard about, mainly due to the news of his recent claim becoming a topic of conversation amongst a few stuck in the undercroft with not much else to discuss and consequently, arnon’s interest had been piqued. whatever game the fates were playing, arnon was grateful for it as he spotted khion a little further up the corridor and quickened his pace to catch up, slinging an arm around his shoulders the second he was close enough. “hey, man. congratulations are in order for you if the rumours are true. how’s it feel to be official property now? only a little demeaning, right?”

[timetrickster]

Aloha Oe X Edith Nox Crossover Minisode “I Have To Go”

This clears up a plot hole that I didn’t fix up and I thought maybe it would be nice to make a little story line out of it. ALSO AGAIN NOT CANON! THIS IS FOR FUNZIES!

TAG: @cometworks (SURPRISE!)

FADE IN:

A couple days  after The Battle of Demons and the Wedding of Edith Nox. JUSTIN had forgotten to return a time displaced CLEMENTINE. To the proper time and place she was taken.

LOCATION: UNIVERSE 528 - ABRICOT

EXT. EDITH’S HOME 

CLEMENTINE has a bag packed and outfitted with a black jacket, grey coat, jeans, and brown boots.

VIOLET

Where are you gonna go?

CLEMETINE

I don’t know... maybe travel on my own for a bit, I’ll travel to the different kingdoms. Maybe treasure hunt, save some people along the way.

VIOLET

When are you coming back?

CLEMETINE

I don’t know... I’m fated to die, might as well live a lot more before I have to go back. If Justin ever comes over for a visit again he can pop me back where he took me from.

She made her way out the door, 

VIOLET

Wait!

She stops her sister before she leaves. VIOLET hugs her immediately which CLEMENTINE hugs her back.

VIOLET

Be safe, and come back home.

CLEMETINE

I promise sis.

They share one last hug before CLEMENTINE departs. 

9 Months Later...

EXT. EDITH’S HOME.

It was midday, as the Sun was ready for it’s slumber, a time displaced CLEMENTINE was lying down on the roof. Looking at the slowly sinking sun, she plays with a flame in her hand. She looks into the flame, and it began to flicker. A little frustrated she tries to summon it again, in doing she has a quick flashback to her death.

The Black Beast stabs then flashing back to reality, she checks her stomach for her wound. But it wasn’t there... not yet anyways.

CLEMENTINE

I have to go... but after everything... I don’t want too.

She says to herself.

Suddenly out from the skies, a familiar time ship arrives. Leaving the portal opened which quickly closed behind it. The Eternity lands in front of the house which makes CLEMENTINE hide behind the other side of the roof. JUSTIN exits The Eternity from the cargo bay entrance and fixes his coat.

JUSTIN

EDITH! 

He shouted at the house, walking his way toward the front door. He knocked on it very timidly. The door was answered and VIOLET had answered.

VIOLET

Justin!

She immediately hugs the Time Walker, JUSTIN smiles and accepts her hug.

JUSTIN

Hey V! How are you? It’s been 9 months? VIOLET

Exactly that, and I’ve been good. What about you?

JUSTIN

So far so good. Took a trip to Mars, Made friends with a Vampire Queen and a Gem Dame. Ooh! And traveled to a universe and met a magic human aliens.

VIOLET

Sounds like your life is pretty much the same. Lots of traveling the universe.

JUSTIN

Where’s Edith?

VIOLET

She’s at work at Maple Brew

The ground suddenly shook

That’s been happening recently, we don’t know why. Probably some Earth caster messing around Abricot.

JUSTIN

I’ll stop by when I can to see Edith but that’s why I’m here. 

VIOLET

Here for what?

JUSTIN gets serious.

JUSTIN 

Time in your universe is reshaping and Clementine’s displacement is the cause. The longer she remains in the present time your universe will become different. Certain events that have transpired will cease to exists. You will be written out of existence, your marriage to Edith will be erased. Is Clementine here?

While they conversed CLEMENTINE had heard the conversation. She goes back to the roof immediately.

VIOLET

Yeah, she got back a couple days ago. She’s been traveling the world, we have to hurry!

She turns around and shouts toward the ceiling.

VIOLET

CLEMENTINE!

She repeated to call her once more.

VIOLET (cont’d)

Clementine!

There was still no answer. VIOLET rushed upstairs to find her way to the roof. JUSTIN steps outside to find her as well finding her on the roof trying to hide. JUSTIN which caught her attention.

JUSTIN

Hey Clem! Sorry for leaving you here for so long. It’s time I return you to your time.

CLEMENTINE doesn’t respond immediately, summoning a flame in her palm. She immediately threw it at the Time Walker. VIOLET pops up from the roof’s entrance and sees what had passed. She felt horrified, that action was unlike her sister. JUSTIN had caught fire and was hit with a concussive blast from the ball of flame. 

VIOLET

Clem, what did you do?

CLEMENTINE looked at VIOLET as she realized what she had done. She transforms into full fire and blasts away into the sky like a rocket. Vanishing from sight, VIOLET jumps onto the roof and creates an ice slide down to JUSTIN. Showering him in frost to cool off the fire. JUSTIN was unconscious from the concussive force but VIOLET looked toward the sky.

VIOLET (cont’d)

Why did you do that Clem?!

She looked into the sky trying to find a single image of her sister in the clouds.

INT. EDITH’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

A couple of hours passed and JUSTIN was still unconscious. EDITH warms his head with a hot towel, while VIOLET converses with NOEMI.

NOEMI

I’m sorry V, but we’ve checked everywhere. On foot and in the sky, nothing. It’s as if Clem just vanished.

VIOLET

She’s out there somewhere! My sister wouldn’t have reacted like that! I don’t know what set her off or why she attacked Justin! But we need to find her first! (She turns toward EDITH) Babe how is he?

EDITH had waved her over him, she squirmed a little.

EDITH

He’s still in pain, some of his wounds are healing but it’s at a slow rate. A Savior’s magic are 10 times more powerful normal casters. So this may take awhile probably even a couple of days. 

VIOLET

We can use the Holy Water from the temple. Or use your empath magic to speed up the healing.

EDITH

He is an alien from another universe. Our magic may not be effective on him as it is on us. He may heal by the holy water but it is possible that it can mess up his vibrational frequency.

VIOLET

Vibrational frequency?

EDITH

It’s a science thing Justin and Enoch taught me. It’s kinda like our aura but tied to a certain universe.

VIOLET

You use your empath magic on him all the time. You can sense his emotions!

EDITH

That’s true, Honey... but if, I use my magic to heal him it might mess with his biology. I may screw him up worse than before. The deal he made with The Fates it took a toll on him but he was strong enough to withstand it.

VIOLET

If he’s strong enough to survive that, then he’ll survive your healing!

EDITH

Do not take that tone with me Violet Choi.

VIOLET realizes her temper and apologizes.

VIOLET

I’m sorry Sweetie.

EDITH

I know. (She placed her hand on her shoulder)

CLEMENTINE walks through the door and VIOLET immediately hugs her. Breaking away, she looks at her sister. 

VIOLET

What did you do?!

CUT TO: INT. LIVING ROOM.

Al surrounded by the couch, JUSTIN still unconscious. CLEMENTINE being looked and surrounded by EDITH, NOEMI and VIOLET. An intervention, awaiting to hear why CLEMENTINE did what she did.

VIOLET

Out with it, Clem.

CLEMENTINE

I panicked... I didn’t mean to attack him. I just reacted because I’m not ready to go...

EDITH

Why? What happened?

CLEMENTINE

During my travels... I...

NOEMI

You... what?

CLEMENTINE

I met someone and we fell in love... and I didn’t come home because... I

JUSTIN

You had two kids...

JUSTIN had woken up from knock out from CLEMENTINE. The room now filled with shock, JUSTIN joins the intervention.

VIOLET

You mean, I have..

CLEMENTINE

A niece and a nephew, twins.

CLEMENTINE looked at JUSTIN briefly

CLEMENTINE (cont’d)

How did you know?

JUSTIN smiled,

JUSTIN

I’m a Time Traveler... I keep tabs on all my good friends.

CLEMENTINE smiles at the thought of her children. She nodded her head.

EDITH was starry eyed, at the news of already having a niece and nephew.

EDITH

Who was he? and what are the names of your kids?

CLEMENTINE

His name is Redmond and he was so handsome. He always showed off with his Air Magic. My kid are named Khione and Vulcan.

JUSTIN smiles,

JUSTIN

After the Greek Goddess of Snow and the Roman God of Fire.

VIOLET stands up,

VIOLET 

They... they have our magic?!

CLEMENTINE nodded then looked toward JUSTIN.

CLEMENTINE 

I attacked you because I wasn’t ready to let them go... they know who I am and what’s happened to me, but I know I have to return... I’m sorry.

JUSTIN

It’s okay but I’m sorry, I’m so sorry that I have to do this to you. I don’t want to take you away from your kids but it’s the only way to fix time.

CLEMENTINE nodded,

CLEMENTINE

Could you bring them here? For one last goodbye?

JUSTIN

As you wish.

CLEMENTINE

Thank you, Justin.

She kissed him on the cheek.

JUSTIN

Where are they?

CLEMENTINE

The Amethyst Plains, two kingdoms over.

JUSTIN

Got it. Edith? Wanna tag along?

Before turning his head, EDITH was suddenly in her Time Traveler outfit but she also had worn shades.

EDITH

Ready!

They two heroes of their stories, rush out the door and to the Eternity. It takes off and flown through the skies. While VIOLET, NOEMI and CLEMENTINE watch as they venture off. Meanwhile in her own thoughts... she looked off into the darkness of night.

CLEMENTINE (V.O)

I can’t let Justin take me back! I have to live my life here... my children need me.

CUT TO: EDITH’S HOME - MORNING.

The Eternity lands in from of the house. JUSTIN & EDITH exit the ship with REDMOND, with baby KHIONE in his hands and baby VULCAN in EDITH’S hands. CLEMENTINE rushes out immediately to hug REDMOND and her kids. With VIOLET and NOEMI behind her to join everyone else.

EDITH with baby VULCAN in hand.

EDITH

Hi baby Vulcan... I’m your Auntie Edith! And this is your Auntie Violet!

VIOLET is in shock and awe meeting her nephew.

VIOLET

Hi Vulcan.

She whispered loudly.

CLEMENTINE takes KHIONE from REDMOND and showed VIOLET her niece.

VIOELT

Hi Khione... I can’t wait to take care of you and your dad and your brother.

CLEMENTINE makes her hold her niece, awkwardly holding her due to not knowing what to do.

VIOLET (cont’d) Uhhh how do I hold a baby.

NOEMI and EDITH help her out. CLEMENTINE turns to REDMOND,

CLEMENTINE

Honey, it’s time.

REDMOND

We always knew this day would come.

JUSTIN waited near the platform, CLEMENTINE hugged and kissed REDMOND.

CLEMENTINE

I will always love you.

REDMOND

I will always love you too.

She then looked at her babies, KHIONE and VULCAN.

CLEMENTINE

Mommy loves you both so so much. I really hope Auntie Violet (briefly looking a VIOLET with a smile) takes care of you and your papa really well.

One last wave of goodbyes, from her sister, predecessor, dark angel, and the love of her life. Turning to JUSTIN, she nods.

CLEMENTINE

I’m ready.

JUSTIN

Let’s go.

Take the first step, she suddenly flashes back to the moment of her death. Causing her to freak out again.

CLEMENTINE

No, no, no! I don’t want to go!

JUSTIN

Clem, calm down.

She screamed. The ground shook even more and EDITH, VIOLET, & NOEMI scream in agony. They dropped to the ground and writhe in pain. CLEMENTINE transforms into her fiery self and blasts off into the sky and vanishes away.

REDMOND

Do you know where she’s going?!

JUSTIN

Yeah, somewhere painful. Look after them, I’ll be right back.

REDMOND nods and JUSTIN activates his jet boots and follows quickly.

CUT TO: INT. THE ALLEYWAY

JUSTIN landed onto the sidewalk as he knew exactly where she was. He looked somber as heard cries, he slowly walked toward the alley then turns the corner. Finding a crying CLEMENTINE, sitting against the wall and holding her face. Removing his coat, he throws it on the side and sits next to her.

JUSTIN

I sorta know what you’re feeling... dying.

CLEMENTINE quickly looks away from her wet palms and at JUSTIN. 

JUSTIN (cont’d)

I had dueled with a Time Demon... and before he vanished into the Chronal Zone. I was exhausted and wounded and I felt my life slipping away from me. My eyes closed and I was so frightened that I wouldn’t wake up.

CLEMENTINE

I’m not ready to die... after what I did. All the traveling, all the adventures, all the people I saved... my kids... Redmond... what’ll happen if I go back?!

JUSTIN

That won’t ever change. What you did, will become stories. Stories that’ll be heard and told by the very people you saved. You’ll be remembered and Violet... she’ll never let your memory die. And your kids... their Aunt Violet will make sure that you’ll never die. I promise you that, the only way you can fix this, is that you have to be returned to the proper time and place.

CLEMENTINE hugs him immediately,

CLEMENTINE

Thank you.

JUSTIN

You’re welcome. I know how ya feel. I’m a parent too.

CLEMENTINE

You have a kid?!

JUSTIN

Yeah, she’s adopted and she’s been the best daughter ever. Now, let’s get you back to your time.

CUT TO: THE VERY MOMENT.

JUSTIN and CLEMENTINE reappear at the “Very Moment” the two friends silently sit on a nearby bench. She had worn her original clothes that she changed out of.

CLEMENTINE

Here we go again. I’m ready for the memory erase. 

JUSTIN

You don’t need it, everything else is gonna be fine.

CLEMENTINE nodded and kissed JUSTIN’S cheek.

CLEMENTINE

Thank you Justin.

JUSTIN smiled

JUSTIN 

You’re welcome, be brave.

CLEMENTINE

Give Violet that recording... for her, Redmond and the kids.

JUSTIN had returned to The Eternity and gave one last goodbye to CLEMENTINE.

CUT TO: EXT. EDITH’S HOME 

Everything had gone back to normal as time fixed itself. JUSTIN makes one last check on the team to see if they’re okay.

VIOLET

Did she?!

JUSTIN nodded.

JUSTIN

Everything’s fixed... time is fixed. But also, (He pulls the devices from his coat pocket. Handing it to VIOLET & REDMOND) She left you messages and for the kids when they’re old enough.

CUT TO: EDITH & VIOLET’S ROOM - NIGHT

JUSTIN had said his last goodbyes and wished them luck in the future. He’ll always be watching out from them on his end. Later that night, with the device ready it plays a hologram of CLEMENTINE.

CLEMENTINE

Hey V, I know I didn’t say goodbye to you, I’m sorry for that but anyways... these are my last words to you before I go. You’re the best sister I could’ve ever asked for and I wish everyday that I could be with you. But Fate is a funny thing... I know when you see this, I’ll be long gone. But just know I love you and promise me that you’ll take care of Redmond and the kids. Promise me that.

VIOLET

I promise.

CLEMENTINE

I love you... miss you.

VIOLET cries deeply as it will be the last time she’ll see CLEMENTINE. EDITH comes into the room and comforts her wife.

EDITH 

It’s okay. (repeatedly)

VIOLET

She’s in a better place, I know but she’s still alive in them. Those beautiful children.

EDITH

True...

VIOLET

What is babysitting? Do I sit on the baby?

(She asked nervously as she didn’t know how to take care of babies)

EDITH laughs,

EDITH

You have a lot to learn Honey.

FADE TO BLACK

The End

[bastardfae]

“i’m putting my money on one an’ two being viable options one day. him gettin’ bored wouldn’t fix shit. i don’t know about you, but i’ve got no intention of being passed ‘round from freak to freak. i’d rather slit my throat with a butter knife than let any of ‘em near me.” at the very least, arnon had some hope for a reprieve from this perpetual hell; he could only hope that it would come sooner rather than later. as khion offered a name that arnon could only assume was correct, the halfling nodded in intrigue, listening closely to hear how bad the pamola had it. devastatingly, it sounded as if he had the perfect arrangement and arnon’s face fell for a moment. “what the fuck? can we trade? you can have tiernan for free. fuck it, i’ll pay you to take him at this point. he’s just about housetrained. it’ll be a good investment, i swear.”

"I can't imagine why he'd reject that idea," Khion laughed, shaking his head. He doubted that whatever beef Arnon and Tiernan had would ever resolve into something positive or amicable with or without counseling. Clearly there was an enmity there that the pamola had no further background on than the trials. "Hopefully not. Maybe someone will off him or you can find a way to successfully escape or... maybe he just gets bored. I don't know." There were options. Very few options but options nonetheless for Arnon to hold onto hope. "You mean Noel?" Khion snorted, the corner of his lip curving upwards in a crooked grin. "He's fine, actually. Lets me do what I want. Not sure if I trust him completely cause he's a reaper and all but he's not given me any reason to yet. He's pretty tame compared to your bastard-in-charge."

[failbhe]

“Do I look like I’m jokin’, princess? ID or no entry, take your pick.” Realistically speaking, there was no need whatsoever to ask, that much was blindingly obvious to every single one of the town’s inhabitants but that wasn’t nearly as entertaining as watching the reactions the questioning prompted. Ignoring the other’s questioning, Cían snatched the ID the moment it was offered, scanning his gaze over it for a long moment – much longer than was needed – before moving to hand it back, only to snatch it away again when Khion went to take it back. “Two-hundred-an’-two, huh? You don’t look a day over one-ninety.” This time, he actually handed it back with a cocky grin, moving aside to let the pamola pass. “Thank you. Go ‘head, go have fun. Not too much that I’ve gotta intervene, though. I don’t wanna have to deal with that tonight.”

"Are you for real?" Khion's brows rose up at the question he hadn't heard in his direction in maybe a hundred years. He glanced on either side of himself, double checking that this bouncer was indeed addressing the 200 year old pamola who physically appeared to be in his 40s. He was a frequent guest at Euphoria and never had this happen before, certainly not by the unfamiliar man supposedly now working here. "Are you new? Do I look like I'm 16 or some shit?" Shaking his head, he produced his wallet from his pocket and swiped out his ID, handing it over between index and middle fingers.

[bastardfae]

“this is jus’ a minor complication,” arnon replied breezily, shrugging off the impending doom of being tiernan’s house pet for the remainder of his days as if it was the least of his concerns. “a bump in the road, y’know? jus’ one more thing to overcome.” with uncharacteristic patience, arnon listened closely to khion’s angle on things without interruption, nodding slowly as he took in each word. “smart, smart. sensible. can’t argue with that. but would you really say that life is good here? even with a lax master, there’s no true freedom here. would you consider that good? just ‘cause the floor’s a little further away when the council’s collective boot is off your neck doesn’t mean you’re not still stuck down beneath ‘em.” despite the weight of his words, arnon’s tone was surprisingly upbeat. getting too weighed down by the horrors of everything krovs stood for didn’t do him any good. khion’s smirk pulled a light laugh from the halfling, his expression brightening further still as he reached out to playfully punch the paloma’s arm. “where’d you get that idea from? i’m a saint, me. besides, sometimes there’s no time to think. if the chance to act is there, ‘s best to take it. around here, who knows if it’ll ever pop up again? gotta do what you’ve gotta do, khion. sometimes all you can really do is say fuck it and give it a shot.”

"How'd your risk turn out for you?" Khion countered, raising a brow at Arnon as he indeed referenced his current situation and how he wound up in it. Not that Arnon did anything more than run his mouth with the gods honest truth in the heart of the hornet's nest yet the point still stood. He leaned back and shrugged his shoulders. "Depends on what it is and if it caters to my own interests. If it doesn't benefit me or my own happiness, likely to sit back. If I can find an advantage in it for myself and the risks are worth it, I might act. I'm not about ruining what good I have in my life." He smirked crookedly at the halfling. "You seem like the type to act and often without thinking first, aren't you?"

[bastardfae]

it was an undeniable breath of fresh air for arnon to finally have a conversation with someone on the same wavelength as him; a small part of him was beginning to wonder if he was being a little too headstrong with his disgust for the current circumstances but clearly, he hadn’t been having the right conversations with the right people. arnon wrinkled his nose in visible irritation as the ever-delicate subject of past rebellions arose. “yeah, for sure. there’s no doubt in my mind that they’ll–” he gestured a throat-slitting with his free hand as he paused. “–if any one of us even tried, but… what’s the alternative? we keep putting up with it? day in, day out, same old shit goin’ on an’ on? sometimes you’ve gotta take a risk for things to change.” it was one thing to talk about it; to actually commit to doing something about it was another matter entirely but enough of the slaves were on board with such a suggestion, arnon struggled to see a downside. the only fly in the ointment was the matter of getting the collars off, but that could be worried about at a later date. sneaking a glance at khion, arnon coaxed a reassuring smile into place. “d’you see yourself as the type to act? or the type to sit back an’ watch it go down? hypothetically speaking.”

"It doesn't, like, I don't know if anyone's said that to you or what, but our individual experiences here aren't a competition of who has it worse," Khion continued. "I mean, yeah, like logically some do have it worse than others, but everyone's also got different personal standards of what's terrible to put up with. The fact that we're all even here as slaves is shitty enough to deal with." He followed Arnon wherever he was going since Khion didn't have much to do himself these days. Besides, he rather enjoyed chatting with the halfling here. "Yeah, being smart is the key when the council and their goons are likely always three steps ahead. Just saying, they haven't maintained their power over the world like this for as long as they have just by existing. I'm sure they would expect slaves to rebel at some point, probably had it happen multiple points. There's no way they've gone this long without someone speaking up, y'know?"

[bastardfae]

something about khion’s vehement disapproval of tiernan’s questionable legal guardianship was indescribably reassuring to hear and the grin that spread across arnon’s face as he listened was entirely genuine. “right? ‘s fucked up. i mean, i know it could be worse or whatever, but that doesn’t make it any less shit to put up with.” arnon’s grin faltered as khion continued and he tried not to let his distaste for the council show too explicitly on his face. “‘s not like we’ve got much of a choice right now, huh? i mean, not unless we do somethin’ about it ourselves.” glancing over his shoulder, arnon pursed his lips in thought before moving to continue his wandering from earlier, making sure to drag khion along with him. “‘s always an option. jus’ gotta be smart about it. as you said, silence an’ compliance are our best hopes for now. false sense of security an’ submission or whatever, but at a certain point, the scales have gotta be tipped, at least a little. they’ve gotta learn they can’t get away with this shit forever. y'know what i mean? if enough of us decide to challenge shit, it's gotta have some kinda impact in one way or another, right?”

"I'll have to take your word for it," Khion said, still not quite understanding at all how that was a win in Arnon's book or the symbolism when there was a well-known miming gesture for that. Oh well, to each their own he supposed. He snorted out another laugh at the diapers rather amused by the thought of a big, bad, scary councilman wearing them. Course that entertainment faded rather quickly as the halfling continued on about his daily life under Tiernan's claim. His nose wrinkled specifically at the cage, a particularly triggering thought for the ice bird who wasn't a fan of them. "Fuck cages, man. Fuck him for that too. This Finn's advice sounds pretty good to me. I mean, I get you. I hate being trapped here despite Noel not being so bad as a master but a pig's still a pig even with lipstick on it. Sometimes silence and compliance are the best weapons to wield in a game of survival."

[bastardfae]

“well yeah. ‘xactly. less damage, y’know? ‘s all about the symbolism of the gesture or somethin’. makes more of a point and i don’t bleed out. win/win.” with a lighthearted shrug, arnon filed the idea away for later and made a mental note to dig through the cutlery drawers in tiernan’s suite at some point. the sound of khion’s laughter worked wonders for the halfling’s ego and a bright grin spread across his face as a breath of laughter escaped him a second later. amidst the chaos of it all, it felt good to experience a little normality again. “it was that or breaking out the adult diapers, but i don’t think his decrepit ego’s ready for that kinda switch yet.” his grin faltered slightly at the question but arnon fought to keep it in place, offering a brief shrug of his shoulders. “eh… we have good days an’ bad days, i guess. he’s still hot on the whole keeping me in a cage thing when he doesn’t want me around. that kinda sucks. massively. but i’m tryin’ to take finn’s advice of being… what’s the word?” arnon’s brow furrowed as he cast his mind back. “fuck knows. palatable? not a pain in the ass all the time? we’ve both got areas of improvement to work on. i mean, don’t get me wrong, i still want him–” he drew a finger across his neck with a theatrical noise, knowing better than to utter the word aloud. “–y’know? that hasn’t changed. but, like, i know i can’t be all loud ‘bout it now. gotta keep him sweet so that he thinks we’re good. false sense of security an’ all that. if i’m gonna be getting outta here, i don’t need him suspecting shit about it.”

"I don't think you'll do any slitting with something as dull as a butter knife," Khion pointed out, not really getting the whole meaning behind it. Oh well, Noel always said he hadn't claimed him for his brains and Khion took no offense to that. He snorted out a laugh at the offer and grinned at poor Arnon. "Nah, I think I'm good, you can keep him. Sounds like he's making real progress under your hand if he's almost house-trained. I mean, like... is he really that bad?" he asked, the smirk fading into something more serious since he didn't know the true extent of what Arnon went through in Tiernan's claim these days. The halfling looked physically fine but that hardly said anything at all.

[bastardfae]

when the options were compared, arnon wrinkled his nose in visible disagreement but surprisingly had the decency to let the pamola finish without interruption. he huffed a laugh as the congratulations were returned, a theatrical roll of his eyes following suit as he playfully shoved khion away. “up or down, it’s all terrible in here. don’t try an’ kid either of us by pretending any decision made by them is beneficial in some way. you know as well as i do that it’s all…” trailing off, arnon offered a series of elaborate hand gestures that technically translated to fucking awful in an almost coherent manner. “as for halloran… we’ve had some… teething issues, i guess. i suggested couple’s counselling to him, but he didn’t seem too sold on the idea. still kinda really fucking annoying that he managed to drag me in here, but hey. might not be forever, right?” the chances of actually getting out were unsettlingly slim, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to keep some hope alive. “your bastard-in-charge– whatever his name is– what’s he like? is he, like, semi-bearable, or…?”

Khion was headed back to Noel's suite when Arnon caught up to him. Initially he bristled, the pamola feeling much like the prey he could be considered as a bird amongst vampires, wolves, dragons, and all the other beasts this place housed. Though once he recognized the other he relaxed a second later with any threat of harm out of his mind. He may not have ever spoken to Arnon but it wasn't hard to know who he was –– the halfling that Councilman Halloran wanted dead for an alleged attack against him. Arnon came into the Undercroft just as Khion was pulled out of it but he'd always been good at remembering faces.

"Thanks? I mean it's better than living down below fucking powerless, isn't it?" he snorted. At least claimed by Noel he had access to his wings and magic. Still caged though. "Guess I should congratulate you as well, shouldn't I? Heard Halloran finally claimed you. Course I'd imagine you're less than thrilled about that situation."