[ The evening of the same day Annie had helped him wrest the chemicals from that strange machine, Lucius decides to test them. In another circumstance, in another world, they might go straight into his mouth or his bloodstream to learn of their effects—but, here, he's no longer an Astartes warrior, all but immune to toxin. Here, whatever this drug is, he would have to be a fool to think it has nothing to with the strange, saccharine behavior that has been on such proud display these last few days. And so, here, he needs another man to taste for poison.
Lucius rolls the vial between his hands with a restless energy, and where another person might be afraid of dropping their precious bounty, he tosses it back and forth between his palms with a grace and confidence that suggests he doesn't see any such risk. It does nothing to soften his bearing as a prowling, capricious predator—or, at least, it doesn't to the human woman in front of him, her limbs tense and back held painfully straight as Lucius boxes her in against the door of the diner she had been trying to close up for the night. ]
Now, now, [ he chides, and his voice is a playful purr. If only he were a few feet taller, and in this moment, he would feel perfectly at home. He can see that the images dancing in her head are far worse than anything he intends, and that widens the sharp grin already parting his lips, the half-grown tail behind him swaying in his mirth. ] I already told you. We're just going to have a drink.
[ The idle toss of the vial stops, and with his unburdened hand, he crooks a finger, beckoning for the cup he'd already ordered her to go inside and retrieve. With shaking hands, she does so; he uncaps the vial and pours just enough into the basin of that cup for a good mouthful. ]
Well, drink up! [ He tells her cheerfully, and for a moment, all she does is stare fearfully up at his face. Lucius' smile drops; his eyes roll, and he scoffs. She shrinks back against the door, as if expecting him to be tipped into violence, but he doesn't move.
When he opens his mouth again, his boyish voice rings with unnaturally mellifluous tones. ]
Drink.
[ She begins to lift the cup to her lips, and his long, feline ears twitch as they catch the sound of footsteps. ]
[Later on, he'll think about how he said those two words, the venom caking the syllables. He'll think about how confident he sounded, like a police officer, or perhaps a hero from one of the old stories he'd read to Hazel. (Did he read old stories to Hazel? It feels right, but he's not sure.) He'll reflect on the irony of it all, how he sounded so sure of himself in those moments in spite of his wretched, cowardly nature. In spite of what comes next.]
Leave her alone!
[He spreads his wings to make his wiry frame look larger, drab and brown and pest-like, the wings of insect that spends its entire life in dark, dingy corners.
He has a small knife clutched in his right hand. He doesn't remember taking it out.]
[ Lucius has met uncountable foes across uncountable battlefields, and by now, a single sweep of his eyes across the silhouette before him is all he needs to tell him everything necessary. It's an aggressive posture, if not one that particularly suggests a warrior; that the wings are spread speaks more to a man trying to intimidate than a man confident in his ability to win a brawl. Even so, his eyes catch on that little knife in his hand, and a laugh escapes them at the sight of it. ]
And what is it to you, I wonder? [ In spite of himself, he turns, his lips once again widening in a vicious grin. ] If you're looking for a meal, simply wait your turn. She'll be all yours when I'm done with her.
[His wings tremble for just a moment, tension building like a taut violin string. ]
We owe it to ourselves to find worthy prey.
[He places a special emphasis on those words, worthy prey, like he's describing something so filthy that it doesn't belong in his mouth with all the other words. ]
That poor woman is just trying to get home to her family.
[He couldn't help but notice Daniel's clear distress on the network, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out who the beast that threatened him is. But Black Hat is concerned that bringing it up in public would just alarm the poor man even more! So, he shall apologize here, in private!
...at least, that is the plan, but what ultimately goes through to Daniel is:]
[There will be a rather long delay before a response comes in.]
Pardon me, I must have left the computer open for the kittens to run about on.
I just wanted to apologize for threatening you so; it was very rude of me. I would have done so publicly, but you seemed very distressed already and I thought you wouldn't appreciate my appearance where others could read it.
You're ill. You've been afflicted with a madness that dulls your viciousness. I have no doubt that should you recover, you will threaten me once more. Perhaps you'll even follow through.
There once was a boy who was a Halloween fanatic. He loved dressing up for Halloween, he loved pulling pranks and watching horror movies, and above everything else... he loved candy. One fateful year, while he went trick-or-treating, he visited a house. This house was creepy as hell! It was big, it was old, it smelled like a grandmother and it was owned by a happy, old rich couple. The boy came here thinking that he would be handed out big chocolate bars, because it was a rich person's house but when he knocked on their door... he was handed a bag of that shitty candy that nobody likes! Tootsie rolls, shitty flavoured dum-dums, those weird... peanut things... needless to say, the boy was heartbroken. He was so heartbroken that he died, right there on their porch and now, every Halloween he goes out and finds people to curse. He wants everyone to suffer the same way he did!
Everybody is already suffering from his curse!! Send this to ten people to break the curse, or to avoid getting cursed, or you'll be stuck looking freakier than usual for the rest of your life!!!!!!!!!!
I understand a lot of us weren't ourselves recently. I wanted to thank you however for how you acted. You and I did not have the best introduction to each other on the network but since then you have actually made efforts to be a decent monster.
I can't say a decent man because frankly as a young lady from a different time period than yours I have seen men behave far worse than we monsters do every single day.
I don't really know exactly where you believe we stand with each other. I do know that I am starting to think fondly of you and wanted to include you in an early holiday season fashion from my time period.
It became the fashion for people to wear brightly colored Christmas sweaters that were intentionally tacky. Electric multicolored lights or bells attached (sometimes both!). Silly characters or themes that have to do with the holiday season. It is all considered fair game.
I negotiated with Mana to get a box of sweaters made to fit different monster body types. I want to give you one.
Let me know where I can drop it off. I hope you stay well this season.
-- Annie
Edited (Forgot to close an html tag) 2020-12-03 04:17 (UTC)
I've received your letter. You demonstrate a considerable amount of kindness and magnanimity -- far more than I deserve. No matter what you think, however, I'm afraid that I'm neither a good monster nor a good man. There is a darkness within me, one that shouldn't be faced by a fair maiden such as yourself.
I must urge you to reconsider your favourable opinion of me, even though it fills me with the most incredible warmth. Nevertheless, if you wish you offer me a gift, I will receive it with the gratefulness it deserves. You may direct it to La Fortress prison.
I've also received your letter. I think you're not giving yourself enough credit however, I won't argue with you on the nature of men. I do however think you need to consider the nature of Ryslig. It's sweet that you think I'm a fair maiden. Maiden? Yes. Fair? No but, not because I wanted that.
I choose to try and be good to people. I choose to try and hold onto that part of me. I can't ignore the two parts of me that exist as that would be a mistake.
I will leave the package at the prison for you. My hope is it bring you some kind of happiness during the holiday season.
Sincerely,
Annie
[ Annie thinks it's hilarious Daniel thinks she's good. Wow, he really is a sweet guy. ]
I hope you are well. I have not seen you around, which is truly disappointing, as I so enjoyed our last encounter. I told you to reach out to me should you wish to indulge in another outing, and frankly, I am hurt that you would not take me up on my offer.
Let us go for a hunt, won't you do me this pleasure?
I hope you can forgive my rather uncouth silence, as well as my conspicuous absence from events (parties, greeting arrivals, etc) pertaining to monsterkind. When you saw me last, I was corrupted by the Fog God's foul influence, rendering me nigh unrecognisable from my usual self. I behaved in a dark, animalistic fashion, and I feel like my crimes that week may very well be unforgivable. I admit that I was frightened to run into you again, for fear of how you'd react.
In addition, I'm afraid of what I would do were I see you again. I still am.
What a treat you are, as even through the deplorable script of this machine your eloquence is ever so inviting. I wonder, then, how I would feel to receive a letter written by your very own hand.
But never mind that — you have no reason to fear me, and most certainly not yourself. I know that you cannot lie, and so there is no point in denying how much fun we had that night months ago. The way your eyes were alight with cruel passion still shivers through me.
The only crime you commit, sweet beast, is the crime of denying me another taste of your company. Will you truly rebuff me?
Please forgive me for forgetting myself. I cannot live my life as the man you saw that week. It would be best for the both of us if you pretend that whole thing never happened. I won't discuss the matter any further.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
action → set about midway through the event?
Lucius rolls the vial between his hands with a restless energy, and where another person might be afraid of dropping their precious bounty, he tosses it back and forth between his palms with a grace and confidence that suggests he doesn't see any such risk. It does nothing to soften his bearing as a prowling, capricious predator—or, at least, it doesn't to the human woman in front of him, her limbs tense and back held painfully straight as Lucius boxes her in against the door of the diner she had been trying to close up for the night. ]
Now, now, [ he chides, and his voice is a playful purr. If only he were a few feet taller, and in this moment, he would feel perfectly at home. He can see that the images dancing in her head are far worse than anything he intends, and that widens the sharp grin already parting his lips, the half-grown tail behind him swaying in his mirth. ] I already told you. We're just going to have a drink.
[ The idle toss of the vial stops, and with his unburdened hand, he crooks a finger, beckoning for the cup he'd already ordered her to go inside and retrieve. With shaking hands, she does so; he uncaps the vial and pours just enough into the basin of that cup for a good mouthful. ]
Well, drink up! [ He tells her cheerfully, and for a moment, all she does is stare fearfully up at his face. Lucius' smile drops; his eyes roll, and he scoffs. She shrinks back against the door, as if expecting him to be tipped into violence, but he doesn't move.
When he opens his mouth again, his boyish voice rings with unnaturally mellifluous tones. ]
Drink.
[ She begins to lift the cup to her lips, and his long, feline ears twitch as they catch the sound of footsteps. ]
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[Later on, he'll think about how he said those two words, the venom caking the syllables. He'll think about how confident he sounded, like a police officer, or perhaps a hero from one of the old stories he'd read to Hazel. (Did he read old stories to Hazel? It feels right, but he's not sure.) He'll reflect on the irony of it all, how he sounded so sure of himself in those moments in spite of his wretched, cowardly nature. In spite of what comes next.]
Leave her alone!
[He spreads his wings to make his wiry frame look larger, drab and brown and pest-like, the wings of insect that spends its entire life in dark, dingy corners.
He has a small knife clutched in his right hand. He doesn't remember taking it out.]
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And what is it to you, I wonder? [ In spite of himself, he turns, his lips once again widening in a vicious grin. ] If you're looking for a meal, simply wait your turn. She'll be all yours when I'm done with her.
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We owe it to ourselves to find worthy prey.
[He places a special emphasis on those words, worthy prey, like he's describing something so filthy that it doesn't belong in his mouth with all the other words. ]
That poor woman is just trying to get home to her family.
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cw: abuse
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cw: gore
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<BlackHat> before Flug confiscates the laptop
...at least, that is the plan, but what ultimately goes through to Daniel is:]
klmkklkllkmefsr]]]]]]]]]l]]]]]]]]lkkklkasasaasassakdsaokkk
.lll;;lll;;ll;l;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbqqqq
aaa'
[Someone may have left his laptop unattended while kittens are about.]
<daniel>
...or has Black Hat lost his mind? Again? ]
What do you want?
<BlackHat>
Pardon me, I must have left the computer open for the kittens to run about on.
I just wanted to apologize for threatening you so; it was very rude of me. I would have done so publicly, but you seemed very distressed already and I thought you wouldn't appreciate my appearance where others could read it.
<daniel>
You're ill. You've been afflicted with a madness that dulls your viciousness. I have no doubt that should you recover, you will threaten me once more. Perhaps you'll even follow through.
<BlackHat>
(no subject)
<BlackHat>
< SweetTooth >
Everybody is already suffering from his curse!! Send this to ten people to break the curse, or to avoid getting cursed, or you'll be stuck looking freakier than usual for the rest of your life!!!!!!!!!!
<a.dyer>
Daniel--
I understand a lot of us weren't ourselves recently. I wanted to thank you however for how you acted. You and I did not have the best introduction to each other on the network but since then you have actually made efforts to be a decent monster.
I can't say a decent man because frankly as a young lady from a different time period than yours I have seen men behave far worse than we monsters do every single day.
I don't really know exactly where you believe we stand with each other. I do know that I am starting to think fondly of you and wanted to include you in an early holiday season fashion from my time period.
It became the fashion for people to wear brightly colored Christmas sweaters that were intentionally tacky. Electric multicolored lights or bells attached (sometimes both!). Silly characters or themes that have to do with the holiday season. It is all considered fair game.
I negotiated with Mana to get a box of sweaters made to fit different monster body types. I want to give you one.
Let me know where I can drop it off. I hope you stay well this season.
-- Annie
<daniel>
I've received your letter. You demonstrate a considerable amount of kindness and magnanimity -- far more than I deserve. No matter what you think, however, I'm afraid that I'm neither a good monster nor a good man. There is a darkness within me, one that shouldn't be faced by a fair maiden such as yourself.
I must urge you to reconsider your favourable opinion of me, even though it fills me with the most incredible warmth. Nevertheless, if you wish you offer me a gift, I will receive it with the gratefulness it deserves. You may direct it to La Fortress prison.
Respectfully,
Daniel
<a.dyer>
Dear Daniel,
I've also received your letter. I think you're not giving yourself enough credit however, I won't argue with you on the nature of men. I do however think you need to consider the nature of Ryslig. It's sweet that you think I'm a fair maiden. Maiden? Yes. Fair? No but, not because I wanted that.
I choose to try and be good to people. I choose to try and hold onto that part of me. I can't ignore the two parts of me that exist as that would be a mistake.
I will leave the package at the prison for you. My hope is it bring you some kind of happiness during the holiday season.
Sincerely,
Annie
[ Annie thinks it's hilarious Daniel thinks she's good. Wow, he really is a sweet guy. ]
<Archmage>
I hope you are well.
I have not seen you around, which is truly disappointing, as I so enjoyed our last encounter.
I told you to reach out to me should you wish to indulge in another outing, and frankly, I am hurt that you would not take me up on my offer.
Let us go for a hunt, won't you do me this pleasure?
Eagerly,
Eridanus Sungazer
<daniel>
I hope you can forgive my rather uncouth silence, as well as my conspicuous absence from events (parties, greeting arrivals, etc) pertaining to monsterkind. When you saw me last, I was corrupted by the Fog God's foul influence, rendering me nigh unrecognisable from my usual self. I behaved in a dark, animalistic fashion, and I feel like my crimes that week may very well be unforgivable. I admit that I was frightened to run into you again, for fear of how you'd react.
In addition, I'm afraid of what I would do were I see you again. I still am.
Yours sincerely,
Daniel
<Archmage>
What a treat you are, as even through the deplorable script of this machine your eloquence is ever so inviting. I wonder, then, how I would feel to receive a letter written by your very own hand.
But never mind that — you have no reason to fear me, and most certainly not yourself.
I know that you cannot lie, and so there is no point in denying how much fun we had that night months ago. The way your eyes were alight with cruel passion still shivers through me.
The only crime you commit, sweet beast, is the crime of denying me another taste of your company.
Will you truly rebuff me?
—Eridanus Sungazer
<daniel>
No.
Don't say
Dear Eridanus,
Please forgive me for forgetting myself. I cannot live my life as the man you saw that week. It would be best for the both of us if you pretend that whole thing never happened. I won't discuss the matter any further.
Sincerely,
Daniel
<Archmage>
<daniel>
<Archmage>
<daniel>
<Archmage>
<daniel>
<Archmage>
-> action
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cw: internalized homophobia
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<marco>
Do you need to talk?
[Because uhhhhhhh this is not a mirror he feels super great about looking in!]
<daniel>
No, it's not the right time. I can't afford any delays. Why are you writing me?
<marco>
No, what were you going to tell me?
I'm sure it won't take that long.
<daniel>
<marco>
<daniel>
<marco>
<BlackHat> forward-dated to March 16th, shortly after the disappearances
[Guess who woke up, discovered Flug gone, and found a very damning post when he stormed the network to demand answers.]
<daniel>
<BlackHat>
<daniel>
<BlackHat>
<daniel>
<BlackHat>
<daniel>
<BlackHat>
<daniel>
<BlackHat>
<4N631>
We have never met formally, but I have questions for you regarding what happened last month.
You said it was permanent.
<daniel>
<4N631>
<daniel>
<4N631>
<daniel> GOD I'm so sorry I missed this tag
<4N631> it's ok!!