unholiis

[unholiis]

Andrea Gibson, "DEPRESSION [VERB]", Lord of the Butterflies

[unholiis]

brows rise, disappearing behind a veil of snow, while single violet hue remains tethered upon the mechanic's visage. they're about to reply but then they feel hands upon hips, feel a sudden warmth envelop them & they're all but caged within arys' hold. heart should not have skipped that erratically, it wasn't even fully organic anymore ! ❝ w - what has gotten into you ? ❞ though he knows he won't get a response not with the state arys was in. shion wills body to relax instead, casts gaze towards the ceiling, exhaling softly before he deemed himself ready to face this challenge head on.

❝ a man can but not if he isn't being careful. people can take advantage of you like this ... ❞ gaze flits down to meet those warm hues ( now clouded with something else ). gloved hand is lifted to settle upon dark tresses, carefully carding digits within that wavy sea, almost tenderly. ❝ i happened to be out on a job. imagine my surprise seeing you here, flashing your tits and not even asking compensation for it. ❞ other hand carefully settles upon the part of arys' cheek shion could reach & wasn't fully smushed against their torso. ❝ shall i take you home, cutie ? ❞

he sways on his seat , looking down at the finger pressed between his pecs , before clumsily swatting it away , waving away the other's concern . 〝 mm , too much beer -- 〞 arys mumbles , yawning slowly , revealing those sharp canines as he does .

〝 can't a man have a night on the town ? 〞 he asks , grinning up to shion , hands somehow finding themselves on their hips , before his arms encircle the man , sighing as he buries his face into their stomach . 〝 nah , s'okay . they left a while ago . 〞 arys looks up , face still partially obscured in the other's torso , 〝 how'd d'you find me n'ways ? 〞

[unholiis]

he laughs, it's a low sound that vibrates through the night air, rumbles across the now desolate shrine grounds before it settles comfortably upon the two figures underneath starlit canopy and ancient chiming bells. there were no lies spoken there: his heart, that beating organ that he molded from roots and the veins of the earth, to function as the one he'd lost centuries before now sang only for her. it followed an intricate melody that would skip, dip & rise where she was concerned. it spoke the truth, the bold, unabashed truth that this deity had become attached to one who's fate was inexplicably bound to his ( though unaware he was of that in this very moment ). when she laughs it's as if spring has bloomed once more, the forest behind the shrine came to life ━━━ night birds sung their moonlit song and the serpent of rot felt that treacherous heart of his soar with it.

❝ forgive me, my darling. breaking your heart ? i should be punished for that, such error cannot be made again. i shall better myself. ❞ while there lies a hint of innocent tease there's something far more heavier that rests underneath spoken words. break her heart. such a thing akin to grief itself. the fallen deity brings her hand towards his cheek, holds it there, relishes in the warmth of her palm while singular magenta hue could not bare to look away from her. tantalizingly slow is the way he tilts head so lips may brush against her palm, raising her hand further upwards where tiers met small wrist, pressing kiss there where he could feel her pulse race. throughout it all gaze never leaves the harbinger, a blazing violet in the dark, seeking and claiming silver hues ━━━ silently demanding to watch his every move, watch how lips continue to leave affection behind upon warm skin.

❝ you'd never let anything happen to me, hmm ? ❞ a whisper upon flesh before her hand is flipped, now blessing each knuckle with its own kiss. ❝ as to what you can do to keep me happy ━━━ let me consult the stars for an answer. or perhaps we should do that together ? ❞ without warning does the arm around her waist shift to carefully reach below round bottom and picks her up easily, hoisting her up until she balanced upon broad shoulder. geta sandals click loudly upon the steps as they walked away from underneath the canopy to stand under one much more grand, glittering stars calling their names. they extend a scarred hand, digits reaching for the sky, once a domain where they thrived but have long been cast down from, now to crawl upon the dirt. ❝ i can hear them speak ... can you ? ❞ perhaps what he heard were the whispers of his own past, of eons tortured, discarded and having to find himself once more. ❝ all of their secrets ... all of mine just ... out of. what do you think you should do to keep me happy ? ❞

if she held any ability to purr, it would only serve to align her more with the mannerisms of a cat　⸻⸻　leaning into their heavenly touch as if silently beckoning for more, yet far to shy to demand it outright. at least, for now, that would remain true　⸻⸻　her confidence had a reputation for growing with time.　kiss me until i’m breathless, until lungs weep for the air they’ve always needed,　but such words, such proclamations, fall short. she remains mesmerized by him instead, a not—so—subtle tell in the way her lips part slightly in awe — of his strength, his beauty, how his presence both soothes her　&　sets her heart ablaze. what a dilemma　!　what inner conflict she faces　!　

❛　i can say the same for you,　❜　she playfully bites back,　❛　it’s incredible how you stay so composed, despite what your heart gives away,　❜　she’ll relish this little victory in her own battle, while he’s already won the war entirely　⸻⸻　&　as much as she might pout　&　huff over the loss, perhaps next time she’ll be luckier. those delicate hands, though their time on his skin is fleeting, carry the sensation long after　⸻⸻　it lingers, persistent. it escapes her comprehension the way invisible threads tug　&　pull so eagerly, as if to whisper,　　this is more than just a simple touch, a fleeting moment　⸻⸻　yet she remains blissfully naive, thinking too deeply about the feeling that remains, reminding her of the rhythm of his pulse.

❛　you’re gonna break my heart, saying things like that,　❜　guilt stings bitterly　⸻⸻　the soft knit of her brows, the sign that slips past her lips, her gaze flickering, wishing to look away if only for a moment but she remains nestled in his arms, anchored by his insistence, by every gesture that says　stay.　she pleads silently with her heart to calm itself, despite it threatening to burst beneath his touch, her thoughts feeding the heat of the moment. but it doesn’t take long for that familiar smile to return to her lips　⸻⸻　always eager to amend her faults, to brighten over any loss, no matter how small,　❛　shrivel away　?　not on my watch,　❜　there it is　⸻⸻　her singsong laugh, light yet filled with an energy she should have lost hours ago. a squeeze to his hand, a tilt of her head,　❛　so, tell me, teacher, how exactly can i keep you happy　?　i can do just about anything　&　i find that i’ve got a lot of time to kill.　❜

[unholiis]

it can see the battle that must rage within the stranger's mind, sees it swirl within those blues, wash across that pretty face of theirs. and it's a delight to be witness to such a thing. to view the moment where one has to decide quickly in a moment of life or death, weigh the options and choose the lesser of evils. well ━━━ if mihael was evil because he was not. surely not ? such concepts long transcended and what remained was that they simply were. any and all actions that spilled forth from divine hands followed its unpredictable whims. but one thing was certain: they were all free from sin for such things were merely reserved for creatures below them. mihael acted upon a divine mandate it set for itself and if it demanded blood then so be it. blood was water, water was life & mihael was all.

the grip upon yoru does not lessen, fingers wrapped tightly around the swollen ankle and with one quick flick of the wrist it snapped it fully ( effectively breaking it ). one can only heal if you were completely and utterly broken first. it was doing him a favor ! free hand comes to rest upon a cheek, brushes night - kissed locks away from pale visage, all to see those blazing blue hues better. oh, defiance ! such a remarkable trait that was best left behind for it was a double edged sword, ready to cut at a moment's notice ━━━ the recipient and the wielder. ❝ oh, well if i were going to kill you i wouldn't want it to be easy as well. the more struggle the bigger the reward or so much more nefarious people than me say. ❞ smile upon visage reaches tired eyes, no hint of malice to be found even if grip remained upon broken ankle & the hand upon a cheek allowed nails to briefly sink into flesh ━━━ enough to leave an imprint.

❝ let us go then. ❞ body is moved with grace and fluid, removing itself from yoru before he lowered down once more to pick him up like one does their blushing bride. mihael adjusts the slayer's body, ensures head is resting against chest. blood drips eagerly from the wound, staining not only the wooden floorboards but also his own stark white robes. drenching him in sanguine colors, matching the shimmering red within his own eyes. the way mihael moves between the pews, holding yoru like so, ah ━━━ it could almost be a scene from a romantic novel. the protagonist carrying his lover towards the aisle to exchange their vows in the secrecy of dark. though this aisle would eventually lead them towards a door, staircase and then a dim lit room where they were not alone.

❝ worry not, they are docile. ❞ referring to the disfigured creatures kept in cages and the few that dragged their mismatched limbs across the floor. his little monsters. his beautiful babies. the light flickers on without any prompt to reveal an operating table ( often times the stage of his divine experiments ) upon which he carefully placed yoru. ❝ now, for this to work i need you to comply, dear. can you do that ? ❞ the cold light casts shadows upon its face and dares to hide everything else.

" agh .... !! " a pained noise followed by a hiss between his teeth would leave him, forcing yoru's body to fall back onto the floor against this ' thing's ' harsh grip. glaring blue eyes peer up at the thing that haunted this church, attempting to decipher briefly what it could be -- it was dressed like a priest, but it had to be a front. for whatever abomination that lurked beneath the garments that was meant for followers or emissaries of the divine, it was anything but holy. yoru's stomach can feel itself twisting when mihael crept closer to him, forced to be caged between him and the floor stained in spilled blood, midnight locks blanketing beneath him. he can feel the loss of his own blood begin to make his body weaker ....

despite being trapped and the exhaustion that was plaguing his body, yoru's eyes never leave this person -- this thing's face. he said he wants to look at his injuries for him .... hah, and yoru almost wanted to laugh. ( all for what ? ) was he going to expect something in exchange ? he definitely wasn't asking out of the goodness of his heart .... and yet, rationally, he devises that there's a reason why he didn't kill him along with those demons that intruded in his church. to his eyes, he might as well be like an intruder invading his home. so why bother saving him at all ....

all this thinking ... it was giving him a headache. yoru can feel his eyes only get heavier as his hand weakly attempts to press down against his wound, further spilling blood against the floorboards. he can't close them yet ... he needed to at least stall enough time until his family tried to look for him. yet at the same time, for any of them to come into paths with this thing .... wouldn't it only put them in more danger ? resigning himself to whatever mihael wanted, he lets out a deep, pained sigh as he tries to recuperate his nerves, glaring up at him. eyes never breaking contact from the false priest. " go ahead ... whatever you're gonna do ... if you're gonna end up killing me, i won't make it easy for you. "

[unholiis]

perhaps this was a bit too straight forward. sudden even but at this point were they not … more than just mere acquaintances ? besides did crimson not continuously give him complimentary fruits and desserts ? that could be considered a small gift therefore the small package within zixuan's hand should not feel so heavy. should not feel like he was encroaching upon a space he was not welcomed to. the last of the patrons finally left the cafe and like many times before, it was only zixuan and crimson ( the latter's children being gently urged away to go home by their father ). he's moved closer towards the counter now, cold eyes flickering from the contents behind the glass towards the fluttering figure of the one who slowly but surely continued to cross his mind more often than not. he doesn't make a big show out of it, places the small box wrapped in cute wrapping paper and equally bright ribbon upon the counter before his low voice takes hold of the space. ❝ ruoxi made you something …. well, baked you something would be the correct term. ❞ slender digits carefully trace the outline of the box. ❝ she thought the person that continuously feeds me pastries must have a taste of her own dazzling pastry work. her words not mine. ❞ ghost of smile finally shows itself. ❝ it's also … from me of course. a thank you for the company and the sweets. ❞ heavy gaze seems to flicker with something, his following words said with purpose. ❝ aside from that i would like to take you out on a date some time. i don't want to overstep but i rather ask you directly than wonder about what if's .... ❞

--- ↪ UNPROMPTED.

crimson has begun to grow accustomed to zixuan's presence with almost every shift he had; to the point he would feel odd if he didn't see him after a certain length of time. light chatter, the familiarity in offering zixuan complimentary fruits, and soon sending him off with a free dessert to give to ruoxi when he was on his way home .... it had become a norm for him, and one crimson would always look forward to every time he would catch that familiar smell of his cologne, followed by the chime of the bells hanging just above their door. upon the sight of him, the reaction will always be the same : " zixuan. " a gentle call of his name in recognition, and a tender smile with the light dust of pink upon his cheeks will follow not too far behind. ( delight all too apparent in violet irises. )

briefly, crimson would dismiss his children to return home first before he did -- a gentle wave of his hand that assured the tsukinos that he and zixuan needed a moment alone. without fail, it would earn him a small smirk from taiyou, a nod of acknowledgement from yoru, a giggle from hikari, and an inquisitive perk of his brow from shou. one by one, they leave and follow out through the door. ( shou nosily insisted on sticking his head back to peer through the windows to watch their exchange; alas, failed as hikari continued to keep pushing him along down their route to home. ) it was a brief sight that earned crimson a small chuckle before his attention would entirely resume to zixuan. handsomely well - dressed with a stoic air. as always.

" hm ? " crimson's eyes would fall down to the adorably wrapped box, and the brightness in his gaze somehow only manages to grow upon hearing that ruoxi herself baked something for him. " for me ? oh, thank you so much .... such a sweet little girl. to think she thought about me ... i'm truly honored. " there's a breathless tone in his voice, as if completely blown away over the fact she took time and effort to make him something with her own hands. a gift presented from both zixuan and ruoxi ... he has to find a way to repay them both for such a beautiful gift. but what could he make to top his previous works that he's already given zixuan and ruoxi ? eventually, as his thoughts would trail away and slowly enrapture him in the hope of making them both something new --

" huh ? " crimson feels like his heart suddenly stopped, eyes immediately lifting up with a widened gaze and surprise painted over his expression; including the harsh dust of red that kissed his cheeks. take him out .... on a date ... ? suddenly, he feels like his heart resumed its pace, this time surely capable of skyrocketing out of his chest. ah, of course ... of course, zixuan will be straightforward with what he wanted -- there was no dancing around or no misunderstandings capable of towing beneath his words. all the more certain that he was being absolutely sincere in wanting to taking him out on a date. he's careful of his grip around the box, not wanting to squeeze it too tightly else he could ruin the lovely gift they prepared for him as he tries to ground himself from the wave of timidity that soon washes over him. and by the time he had the strength to muster up his voice, his words come out stronger than he intended, " yes ! i - i mean -- "

crimson quickly clears his throat, brushing his hair back to keep it from intervening with his gaze. " o - of course. i would ... i would love to go on a date with you. if ... if you would be willing to have me for your time .... i'd like that very much. "

[unholiis]

slides in here .... i know i haven't really been active here but rl has been quite demanding AND i am also still busy with reworking some things here but that's obvsly going really slow .... 😮‍💨 i've been mostly on discord though. if you want to talk/plot/write there you can catch me there 💃💥 for now consider me really slow on here until i get everything sorted out.

[unholiis]

whatever shion was expecting it was most certainly not this. to find the mechanic in such a state was one thing but to hear him say such things was something else entirely. ah, what kind of personality did he hide behind those usually doe - like eyes. naughty, naughty, naughty. ❝ i see. ❞ literally, the assets in question on full display while arys' shirt was desperately holding on for dear life. ❝ what brought this on ? ❞ metallic digit is now pressing right between the two mountains that encompassed arys' chest, cool artificial skin meeting heat.

❝ must i beat someone up for your ... honor ? we can't tolerate anyone disrespecting your great tits after all. ❞ ready to play along but aware enough that they'd stop the other if it would go too far ( taking advantage of a drunk person was not something they did ).

〝 i can't help it , 〞 he mumbles , drunk , groping his own muscular chest , shirt suddenly more unbuttoned than before .

〝 m'just .. burdened with great tits , i guess -- 〞 - open to mutuals .

[unholiis]

Paintings from the ‘Peripety’ series by Jen Mazza

[unholiis]

@oblyvn send a secret ━━━ Arys lifts the goggles from his face, which’ve left an imprint on the ash and soot against his cheeks. Amber eyes look up from his project and he offers Shion a lopsided grin. “Well if it isn’t my favourite duo,” he stands, making his way to Shion, saluting the lizard on their shoulder, offering a finger for it to sniff and approve. “Ya think he’ll ever let me pet him?”

shion couldn't quite explain it but there was something riveting about watching arys work on his little projects, to see his face contorted in concentration, brows furrowed, droplets of sweat rolling across temple before dripping upon the iron. love for the craft. perhaps that was it. the genuine, passionate love for the craft and seeing it become real. it prompts them to draw closer, curious and ever so eager, heeled boots guiding them towards the mechanic: close but not too close as to not disturb him ━━━ ( nor be affected by the heat ).

however it seems their presence was noticed regardless and how can they not smile in return when they're greeted with such a dazzling grin ? even more when their darling companion is addressed as well. did arys realize that it only made shion become that much more softer around him whenever he did that ? truly dangerous. the agent pushes those thoughts down and instead focuses upon the way their little shikigami curiously looked up at arys, snout tentatively reaching forward before tongue briefly licked to taste the air and appraise the extended finger before it drew back [ ━━━ ] slithering underneath shion's collar. ❝ such a sweet talker you are. ❞ gloved hand is raised to daringly cup a warm cheek, thumb wiping away some of the soot. ❝ he will, give it time. ❞

the hand upon arys' cheek eventually playfully squeezes the soft flesh before he lets go. instead it ends up traveling upwards to rest upon dark locks, carefully tangling a lock around hidden metallic digit. ❝ perhaps he's waiting until i can pet you first. ❞ shion doesn't bother restraining the soft laughter that bubbles up, visible eye twinkling with mischief and a certain kind of delight that remained quite difficult to grasp. ❝ what do you say ? can i ? ❞

[unholiis]

you the garden and the grave,

Ada Limón, from Bright Dead Things: Poems

[unholiis]

between my laptop dying, a work trip that drained all my energy and tumblr locking me out of my account i have not felt like writing at all. these past few days were stressful af 🚶🚶

[unholiis]

by 十分之一

[unholiis]

she's about to lose it. or perhaps she already did. pacing around, sleeve covered hands are clutched in front of her chest, skinny digits wringing together, pressing and pulling. anything to distract herself from the almost agonizing hunger that was tearing her apart. monstrous maw, now hidden under the guise of a human mouth is pressed tightly together, sharp teeth grinding against one another. liliya is about to drop down on her knees, no exaggeration, she's completely over it and perhaps wishes the ground would swallow her up. maybe the hunger will stop then. the apparent surprise and confusion that's littered all across the stranger's face goes over her head, she doesn't see it and even if the ghoul did she wouldn't understand it. ❝ eh ? ❞ tired eyes give the other a confused look, hands still pressing against chest, by now claws were digging into the fabric of her top, digging, and digging [ ━━━ ] pressing into rotten flesh.

❝ what do you mean task ? what are you on about ? ❞ monsters beyond her understanding ? now that was funny. she should laugh and she does, short, stuttered laughter escapes the man - eater. finally dropping hands ( exposing the cuts in her top and the thick dark blood that seemingly bubbled up ). ❝ you didn't save me ! you just condemned me ... i am going to die because of you ! ❞ now she all but drops down to her knees, not far from a rapidly disappearing demonic corpse [ ━━━ ] which she tries to preserve but it fades away the moment fingers reach for it. ❝ i am hungry, i am so hungry and i can't keep it in. how can i stay calm when it feels like my insides are about to burst ?? if you're so adamant on keeping me safe give me something to eat ... ! ❞

ruined it ... ? " i beg your pardon ? " confusion is apparent in lumina's frustrated gaze, attempting to register her words logically. ( if that was even possible. ) briefly, her eyes glance around to the bodies that were currently dissipating on the ground at their feet ... dead demons that fell victim to the rapier in her hands. her expression shifts, the lightbulb that hangs over her head flashing on as she realizes -- that was what she was mad about ? because she killed them ? this was an odd reaction indeed; most people who were targeted by demons would be thankful in knowing she had killed them, not angry. again, the notion of LOGIC seems to extend beyond the realms of this person ....

" well, i've never been ' scolded ' before for doing my task ... " she mutters to herself, almost begrudgingly as she readjusts herself with the rapier held in front of her, maintaining a formation to be on the defensive. regardless, as much as this person is being recklessly hazardous ... she can't stay here for long. " i apologize for angering you, but i had to kill them. these creatures are monsters that are beyond your understanding .... i'm not sure why you wanted them alive of all things, but believe me when i say i did it to ensure your safety as well. " then again, given how this person fought ... she's understanding now her protection isn't necessary. her rapier lowers just a tad, her gaze softening in hopes of still resolving this ... dilemma more peacefully. " now .... will you please calm yourself ? again, i don't want to hurt you. "

[unholiis]

@lured-into-wonderland send a secret, ❝ hand . hold out a hand for my muse to take. source.

the sound of champagne glasses being ticked together, the endless chatter of the guests ( many of them prominent figures within various industries ) and the soft tunes of classical music filled the spacious hall. with the glow of grand chandeliers sparkling like diamonds in the sky the ambiance carried a certain otherworldly feel to it. amidst it all was the heir of rozanov, standing tall and proud, with sharp amber gaze sweeping across the bodies that fluttered about; moving from one hub of people to the next [ ━━━ ] watching how the waiters swirled around effortlessly in between people and offering them refreshments. this particular event was one hosted by a family close to the rozanov's and custom, tradition even, dictated that yohan had to be present for it.

his presence brings in more noise, chatter, elevating the event to heights not often achieved by others. to be paraded like so was something he was used to, knew how to play this game, made it effortlessly his own. it wasn't strange for the various guests to vye for his attention or even in desperate cases offer themselves or their family to have a moment with him. this was no different [ ━━━ ] the daughter of a politician he remembered vaguely by name pushed towards him. pathetic truly ... but yohan rozanov was a game master, effortlessly moved pawns across the board and this too would simply have to become part of it. a fun little thing in between bigger plans. a little outing as it were.

therefore when she offers her hand in greeting he takes it like any affluent member of high society would. reigning from his throne build upon blood and bones, forged from stolen goods and crafted with his own hands does he wrap those same crimson dipped digits around much smaller one. one hand is moved behind his back, bowing slightly as hand is brought towards lips, a brief brush upon knuckles. a mere ( insignificant ) greeting [ ━━━ ] part of protocol but poison drips from his lips and would now stain her too ...

[unholiis]

FREEDOM AT LAST!! i'll be here later to try and work on some drafts. won't be on dash much though bc i need to lock in. this weekend will be touch and go activity-wise bc i'll be going on a trip soon and i am not prepared ... nothing packed, i need to shop for stuff and literally had months to do it but yknow how it goes. ah well we ball or smth. but first i am gonna take a nap dhfkjgk

[unholiis]

this world was filled with curious things. amazing things. odd things. and all of them it wished to inspect further, peel it apart, layer for layer and understand what laid underneath those pulsating bodies [ ━━━ ] those squishy brains, what travelled within ichor tucked away in precious veins. when the infernal creatures burst through its doors it thought to simply keep them alive, perhaps wound them a tad and then drag their unwilling bodies down into the basement where it could prick and prod and toss the remains to the man -eater he took under his wing, his darling ghoulish sister one could say, and her equally as strange best friend.

when it became apparent though that these things did not come here solely to eat but to attack, following the one before him, mihael's tactics changed. this could prove to be more interesting after all. you didn't see someone swinging a scythe in a church every day, now did you ? it meets his startled gaze with one akin to that a fond friend, a gentleness reflected within red eyes, sunken slightly as if he had not seen a goodnight's rest in decades. if they could bottle this ... fear that that filled the air they would've done it a long time ago. label it and taste it whenever the need would strike. this angelic eldritch creature, this blazing holy fire, it carried within it something horrific. for everything divine was at its core a horror [ ━━━ ] so too mihael.

❝ lying in a holy house ? what has the world come to ... ❞ reprimanding tone as pale hand reaches for the man's ankle, slender digits wrapping around it before pressing upon it harshly. the blood surrounding them seeped into the cracks between the floorboards and somewhere below them it was raining crimson. ❝ i don't think you're in a position to leave. it would be very ... cruel of me to let you go like this. let me at least take a look at that ankle of yours, tape it. and perhaps that wound you sustained as well. you're bleeding all over my floor after all. ❞

its shadows wriggles the slightest bit, stretching far behind up, creeping along the walls and the glass before it disappeared with the crackling of a lightning strike that lit up the dark church. mihael all but crawls over towards the stranger, hovering over him, caging him between his body and the floor: only so he could look down upon those sapphire hues. ❝ it's best you simply comply, dear. makes it easier. ❞

he had intended to hide here until he recuperated from his injuries ... ankle twisted and the side of his body somewhat torn from the infliction of demonic hands; much of his energy was lost after fending himself against an entire hoard of demons. it was all a trap ... to separate each other from the rest of the family when they were out on their usual hunts so that they can overrun them individually. yoru is thankful that his reflexes were quick enough to outmaneuver most of them, else he would've suffered through more than the injuries currently inflicted upon him. he took refuge here -- in this old, eerily dark church that stood out amidst the dimly lit path of cobblestone that served as his guide. when he saw it at first glance, something had pulled him in ... beckoning for him to hide here.

his blood paints the floor beneath his feet as he stumbled inside, forced to crash onto his knees and catch his breath. he could hear them just outside-- chasing him down by the scent of his blood alone. his scythe is lowered at his side, attempting to use it as a prop to support his body, but to no avail. yoru's gaze was locked on the approaching group of feral demons frantically charging his way, unbeknownst to the haunting presence that was initially akin to the eerie shadow of the church. his grip returns to the body of his scythe, ready to at least make an attempt to defend himself as he backs further away from the floor. move, dammit .... move, move, move - !!

yoru felt like his heart dropped into his stomach when he feels like something flew right past him -- a projectile of sorts that instantly tore through the masses of demons that threw themselves into this ( presumably ) empty church. he closes his eyes, flinching when the demons get torn to bits and pieces of flesh and limbs; bodies being strewn and tossed about in this sanctuary ... red painted the floorboards and pooled almost all around him. yoru watched the sight of it all with shocked, wide eyes, feeling like his entire blood ran cold .... what the hell was .... mind stifling back from the puzzlement, he turns his body to face the ' thing ' that tore them to pieces. he thought this church was empty ....

-- " don't -- " yoru attempts to support himself up when the stranger ( was it a priest or something ? ) draws closer to him, but to no avail. his ankle remains twisted, undoubtedly bruised. he continues to hold his hand down against the open wound bleeding around his sides, blue eyes averting away from the creature before him. despite the demons that chased after him were all slaughtered, somehow it still didn't feel safe. " i'm fine ... i need to get out of here .... "

[unholiis]

shion was of theatrics, of sugar sweet words and equally as sweet smiles, he was curiosity, a desire for adventure and thrill. therefore arys wasn't all that wrong to tease him about his choice of words and how they approached the mechanic. it's why the only answer he gives to that is a playful wink ( even if only one eye was always visible ). the more darker parts of the agent's character always kept under wraps, the bitterness, the trauma that had long nestled into empty eye - socket and the limbs that were now replaced by something else [ ━━━ ] it was best to be the comforting sun instead of the thunderstorm he was meant to be. a blazing, roaring sun instead he became ( destruction so close, so close ). gloved hands are pulled behind back, languidly walking around the workshop, peeking curiously at a world he wasn't often privy to. when arys tells him a bit more about the ore he swivels on high heeled boots and walks back towards the mechanic. slowly does he draw nearer towards the iron drum, leaning forward to look at its content before violet hue lifts up to meet arys' gaze.

❝ it's alright ... i'll take a look and decide then. ❞ when the ore in question is retrieved and eventually presented not only before them but also their shikigami, shion's gaze softens the smallest bit. appreciating the fact that arys tried to involve the bound spirit especially because he seemed so startled by it before. ❝ well ? ❞ gently does he urge the creature to give its verdict. it leans forward a tad, small claws digging into shion's shoulder to maintain leverage as tongue flicks out in the air, tasting not only the ore but the scent this stranger carried. it turns back to shion, cocking its head, tongue slithering back followed by a soft chirping mixed with some clicking sounds [ ━━━ ] all of which shion understood. ❝ hah, do i have some good news for you, arys. the little cutie approved and not only that ... ❞ he leans forward, almost conspiratorially, gloved hand rising to hide their faces as he whispers into an ear. ❝ he seems to like you too. you feel warm ━━━ whether it means it figuratively or literally it refuses to say but i don't think that matters much. ❞ voice light, an air of tease as he carefully takes the ore from arys.

❝ thank you. i wonder if i can use it in combination with another alloy. maybe melt it down and use it as coating. not that i have a workshop like yours ... ❞ more an underground research facility it was, sterile, the outcome ever only important and not the lives that were lost along with it. ❝ but the tools i have should do the trick. unless the great master advices me to use traditional tools instead of modern ones ? ❞ wordlessly do they lift right arm up, pulling the coat sleeve down to reveal the cybernetic prosthetic, soon after they remove glove as well. ❝ to give you an idea this is what i am working with. you may now impart your knowledge. ❞

he snorts at shion's words , shaking his head. it wasn't an act arys performed, but rather, a sentiment he couldn't shake. his work... he was proud of it, sure. it was a direct connection to his father, whom he missed immensely on days like this. But it wasn't legendary, or even particularly better than what could be found on the current market. arys' dogged determination & quick turnaround were his best assets; he didn't take breaks, didn't cut corners, & made sure what was asked of him was delivered in a timely fashion. the technics of his family passed down from generation to generation were impressive, but he was far from mastering them, even now.

〝 anyone ever tell you you might be layin' it on a little too thick ? 〞 he teases , unlocking the large garage style door of the workshop, sliding it up & letting his guest take a glance around. the forge still radiated heat from that morning's smithing, the coals long since smothered, but the stone furnace keeping the warmth well. it was hell in the summer, but arys wouldn't have it any other way. 〝 well , that's good t'hear, i guess. as for the ore, it's all here. again , rough shape. most of it is recycled, some of it's raw ore i bought at a blacksmith's meet some time ago. 〞 arys rolls his sleeves, grunting as he pulls an iron drum from behind his anvil. inside it were twisted iron bars, some pieces of old, rusted fencing, some misshapen steel. the raw ore is at the bottom of the barrel, which the wolf bends over to grab, tugging out two, three chunks of unprocessed iron, rough to the touch & still surrounded by solid rock.

he straightens, turning to shion & offering the smaller piece of shining ore, smiling as eyes flicker to the dual coloured lizard, brows lifting in inquisition, the ore presented ever so slightly closer, towards the little creature. 〝 whaddya think little fella ? this good enough ? 〞