Fantasy Primacy [Closed]

[cleopat]

Drazhan chuckled as Kirsikka relented. He could agree with her, that people were more exhausting than work. Especially when one had to deal with the prejudices that came from being a Primal.

And Kirsikka…wasn’t exactly a people person. Which he wondered how much of that was because of her years on the run. What was she like before she became the Boreal Wind?

Drazhan joined her in dressing down, though he didn’t have to remove much. He was left in his tunic and pants, though he wanted to take his shirt off as well. Best to take things slow, in case sleeping shirtless would be too much for Kirsikka right now.

He might have gotten a kick out of that.

Drazhan crawled into bed and pulled back the covers for Kirsikka to join him.

~~~

Mikhail and Tamsin proceeded to sit in two chairs opposite of each other in one corner of the main room, and they talked for a bit about her thoughts. About trying to get Varick to talk.

She was a person who loved to talk things out. To communicate feelings. She came from a family that wasn’t afraid to do so. But Varick…she should’ve known not to prod in something that he was obviously sensitive about. Not everyone was as mentally equipped for such a conversation as she was.

She needed to learn when to drop a certain subject matter if it made him a bit too testy.

With a friendly hug, Tamsin left Mikhail’s side to go back to her temporary room shared with Varick. He should be done with the bath by now, she figured, but she didn’t know what to say to him.

She opened the door and saw Varick had returned from his bath, as evident by no more archespore guts on him. Nothing came to her tongue, so she proceeded to walk to her bag and get out her sleeping clothes to prepare for the nighttime.

 

[Lucyfer]

Although still somewhat tentative, despite how easily she’d crawled into bed with Drazhan that first night (even if that was different) she did join Drazhan, and she did welcome his arms, curling into his chest to try to rest.

Of course, it still didn’t come easily.

And she still had to deal with pushing back those terribly intrusive thoughts of Dravon, thoughts she wouldn’t dare breathe life into. She didn’t want to think of their last night. She didn’t want to think of his arms. She wanted it to be Drazhan.

She so fucking desperately wanted it to be Drazhan and not Dravon.

At least the scents were different. Dravon was perfumed by all his tools, Drazhan well…he wasn’t even really perfumed by soaps. But he still smelled good. And his heart was still a steady beat. Focusing on that helped, although when she did drift off, it still felt like she was awake too soon later as the sun reached the window and the sounds of movements began in the house.

She didn’t want to get up.

She wanted to reclaim the sleep so rudely taken from her, and tried to settle back into that as her senses let her know there was someone besides her.

It didn’t register that it was normal and good, but at least, it didn’t register as Dravon. So she jolted up, and started to pull away when she recognized who it was. She let out a frustrated sigh, more with herself than Drazhan, but she relaxed. Pressed a kiss to his forehead.

And still got out of bed. “You should go get yourself breakfast.”

She had work to begin.

~***~

Varick did hear Tamsin enter, but he was already halfway on sleep’s doorstep, so he didn’t acknowledge it. He didn’t want to restart the conversation, anyways, so he played fully asleep and felt her settle into the bed. Soon enough, he was well and truly asleep, and morning came along to wake them all up.

Hopefully, the Boreal Wind had some answers and hadn’t been distracted all night.

He wanted to leave here sooner than later.

He woke quietly, unsure if he ought to disturb Tamsin. He didn’t have an apology, although he felt annoyed with himself that he’d upset her, all over Drazhan. Drazhan didn’t deserve that much thought, or to get between them, but he wasn’t upset for telling her the truth about it all.

So he didn’t rise immediately, but lingered.

Wrapped his arms around her, even though he knew they wouldn’t be staying long, as they had in the hotel. The one thing to miss about being in Tamsin’s hometown, he supposed. That, and the general fact they could enjoy it with no monster to hunt, even if they were on a timeline. One that now felt frustratingly derailed.

 

[cleopat]

It had been too long since Drazhan truly enjoyed the company of a woman in bed like this. Arms around each other, enjoying each other’s warmth. It was far different from the first night they spent together, when it was done out of necessity.

He drifted off into a light sleep, and soon the morning woke him. Drazhan stayed still for a bit, simply enjoying the woman in his arms. Soon the house would begin to stir, and soon they would have to break apart so Kirsikka could get to work.

Drazhan was a bit startled when Kirsikka jolted up, and confusion remained on his face as she leaned over to press a kiss to his forehead. Nightmare? A moment of regret? Maybe he shouldn’t question it.

He did gently rub her back before she got out of bed and out of reach. “Do you want some food before you start?” He sat up and got out of bed to begin the process of dressing for the day. “Concentrating hard for several hours sounds like it will need some sustenance to accomplish.”

~~~

Tamsin didn’t sleep too well. She never liked going to bed after fighting with someone, and before reconciling, but Varick had already been asleep, so she had no choice.

Any words had to wait till the morning.

And morning eventually came, too slowly as deep sleep never came to her, her mind riddled with too many thoughts. Was Varick awake yet? Would he want to talk yet?

Her questions were soon answered. Her heart melted when she felt his arms wrap around her. Tamsin shifted and wrapped her own arms around him and buried her face into his chest. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to rile you up so much last night.” The words were muffled, but they were still understandable.

“I wanted to understand something I had no business sticking my nose in, and I didn’t realize how upset I made you.” Her face continued to press into his chest as she inhaled his scent.

 

[Lucyfer]

Traces of lightning lingered where Drazhan’s touch had been. Both the lightning that had stricken her just the day before, and the sensation of touch. She really should have put a balm or something on the wound, but she was getting bad about taking care of injuries. Why bother, when they were all just going to leave terrible scars? Without fire, she wasn’t healing as well.

Damn fire.

But she didn’t mention that.

She just shook her head at the offer food. “I’ll want it when I’m done,” a reward, of sorts. There was also a strange fog that came over after eating. She had a good way of focusing when deprived. It was likely a terrible habit, but sleep deprivation, or food deprivation, led to work.

Even before she was on the run, she was the sort not to remember to eat or sleep. It made friends like Mikhail all the more necessary, before she lost herself completely in research.

~***~

As soon as his arms were around her, Tamsin shifted and buried herself into him. He managed not to sigh at the gesture. It was as welcomed as it was somewhat exasperating with the apology. He didn’t need it. “There’s nothing to forgive,” he said, even if that also wasn’t true. He didn’t want to turn her off from trying to know him, “you wanted answers and communication. I gave what I could. I’m sorry my answers upset you.”

She wanted peace.

Happiness.

It just wasn’t possible here, and that was hard to accept. She wanted good things for him. She wanted him to have peace. She just…didn’t grasp this one. As she admitted. Now, perhaps, she had a better idea.

He’d let his hand stroke down her back. “If Drazhan hadn’t already pestered me so much I may have been able to speak…better.” Not in a way that would satisfy her, he knew that already. But perhaps without getting annoyed and walking out to calm down.

 

[cleopat]

Drazhan nodded, accepting her answer and committing it to memory. He’ll make sure she ate after she was done then, and not a moment later, and maybe he’ll even tell Mikhail this. To make sure she did eat.

“Then I wish you good luck, and I’ll be sure no one comes knocking down your door.” He gave her a smirk, and in a quick movement, he bent down to press his lips against hers in a chaste kiss. He wanted more, oh how he wanted more, but that would have to do for now.

Until Kirsikka felt more comfortable. Until after she was done with her magic research. A promise for later.

With that, he left her alone in the bedroom and settled himself in the main room for the time being. When he saw Mikhail, he told the mage that Kirsikka didn’t want to be disturbed by anyone till she was done, and he obliged.

There were far more interesting people he could study in the meantime.

~~~

Tamsin nodded at the response Varick gave and remained silent for a moment longer, slowly breathing and enjoying his presence all around her. He was just…so unlike most of the other guys she had been with.

Calm. Patient. Understanding. Forgiving. It was whole heartedly welcomed.

She did frown at what he said about Drazhan. Had the man tried to talk to Varick, only to be denied? She didn’t like that one bit, and wanted to tell him he should’ve given the other Primal a chance, but she swallowed the words. They were back on calm grounds. Now was not the time.

“If you ever want to talk to me about something that may make me feel uncomfortable, I will be willing to do so.” There was one topic in particular she thought of before quickly pushing it to the back of her mind.

She basked in the present, gently tracing one finger over his torso in patterns that didn’t make much sense. “What do we have to do today?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Damn Drazhan.

Why couldn’t Kirsikka ever want him at the normal hour of night? The kiss definitely left her regretting a few things, mostly that it wasn’t more, but she had work to do, and he was going to honor the promise of not letting anyone disturb her.

‘Better get to it.’

The dagger was easy to locate again, once she did get herself cleaned up a bit, and woken a bit more. So was her working mirror. She wouldn’t go grab anything from Mikhail. Sure, it could help, but it was true it mostly wasn’t necessary for her. The mirror would do all she’d want other tools to do so far as reflecting and investigating went.

And so she began with that mirror, using the reflective surface of both the knife and the mirror to create a loop – and start to dive into what made it, and what she could force it to reveal.

~***~

Varick did not want to talk about things that made Tamsin uncomfortable. She had told him all he needed to know about one situation, difficult as that was for her. He didn’t need all the gory details unless it was something she wanted to talk about. He just needed to understand what had happened, and he did.

If other things came up naturally, he’d find out about it. He’d press if he needed more, but right now, he didn’t.

Right now, he could hold her, and contemplate how to go about the day with the damn mages. “We have to find out where the Boreal Wind is at with her research, and make sure she isn’t just going to steal your dagger.” Varick answered, and with that, he did finally start to untangle from Tamsin, because they needed answers. “We can’t forget we’re here for a reason.”

And the other mages had better take note of that reason.

He didn’t go fetch ingredients for Kirsikka for free. He may have been paid by Mikhail in gold, but he would be paid by Kirsikka in knowledge, or they could leave the area. He had a good idea of where to head now that he’d seen the stars.

 

[cleopat]

“Does that have to be right now?” Tamsin whined as Varick pulled away, and she gave him a mock pout. They had only just discussed what happened last night, and now the soft mood had to be ruined by what was indeed more important.

Didn’t mean she didn’t want to enjoy Varick’s company while she could, knowing their time alone was limited for the foreseeable future.

Eventually she did move from the bed and got dressed for the day, peeking over at Varick occasionally as he also prepared himself for the day.

After dressing, Tamsin headed downstairs, first with the intention of seeing what the deal was for breakfast. She was hungry.

Drazhan was in a corner, seemingly staring out a window as he sipped on some drink, presumably tea.

Mikhail greeted her and Varick with a simple good morning, which Tamsin reciprocated. “I have two questions,” she then said. “First, I suppose you aren’t cooking breakfast? And second, do you know where Kirsikka is? We need to ask her a question.”

“Two questions I can answer quite easily. I can easily fix something for breakfast for the both of you, and Kirsikka is locked in her room, doing some serious research. According to Drazhan, she isn’t to be disturbed for quite some time.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Varick did not acknowledge Drazhan as they left the room and went to where Mikhail was. Of them all, Mikhail was the only one Varick could say he didn’t completely mistrust or dislike. He didn’t like him, exactly, but Mikhail had so far been a good host to them during this crisis of sorts.

So, he wouldn’t be rude.

He wasn’t happy with the answer, although it did explain that Kirsikka was working on the dagger. Research wasn’t potion making. “We could use breakfast,” even if he still had some mistrust of food from mages, Tamsin needed to eat. So he had to eat if only so she would. If only to get over his possibly irrational concern of mage food.

“Do you know how long research typically takes Kirsikka?” he didn’t know. Mages lived long. A short time for them could be months, and Varick wasn’t staying here for months. He hoped that Mikhail could shed some light on what that looked like.

Varick had an idea it wouldn’t be months.

He just hoped it was shorter than a week.

 

[cleopat]

Mikhail brightened at Varick’s admittance of needing food. “Great!” He set forth in the kitchen to prepare the two a meal worthy of travelers with the aid of incantations learned long ago, and used so often, that he didn’t even have to think about them.

“Hmm?” He thought a moment back at the mage school, and how long Kirsikka normally spent researching some difficult topic she was determined to crack. “Oh, that’s a tough question to answer. With her tediousness and the complexity that can be magic, she could be researching anywhere from a few hours to several weeks. Maybe even more.”

And if she wasn’t out of that room by lunchtime, then Mikhail will break down the door with a plate full of food.

“So I really can’t tell you how long you’ll be waiting on those answers from her.”

Tamsin frowned, not liking the uncertainty of…well, everything.

 

[Lucyfer]

The casualness of Mikhail’s magic was somewhat odd, but only because of the casualness. Varick understood this kind of magic with incantations and gestures, with ingredients, even if it was mostly just food. This made sense to him – not what Kirsikka did, or what Tamsin did. It was thus sensible the two of them were connected.

But neither of them knew how.

And Mikhail confirmed his fears it could be quite a while before Kirsikka had answers. He could only sigh and accept the food when it was offered with a word of gratitude, before he’d find a place to sit (away from Drazhan, so they weren’t disturbing each other), and eat.

The hours ticked by.

Thankfully, it wasn’t weeks, but it was evening before Kirsikka emerged from the room. She had ignored Mikhail’s lunch – though she appreciated the thought, she couldn’t tear herself away from the work, and even when she emerged, it wasn’t all done.

The dagger told her much, the nicks on her fingers told a story of tests, but the answer hadn’t come from her own blood. So, of course, she went to the one it was destined for, “Tamsin, can I have your hand?”

Varick, who was near, did notice the bloody fingertips. “…why do you want her hand?”

“To put a ring on her finger,” Kirsikka stated flatly, which garnered no amused reaction from him. She didn’t expect it to, his question was stupid, and he was on her shit list, “To cut her finger, I need to test something, obviously. Just a nick, Tamsin,” she added, “I’ve already done it to myself a few times,” as if that made it safe. "I mean, I'm happy to test it on other people if Malina's anywhere, but I think it'll get the same results." Nothing.

 

[cleopat]

Tamsin looked up at Kirsikka as she approached, and her eyes widened slightly with the request. With the knife in the mage’s hand, it was quite obvious why she wanted her hand. “I…what?” And Varick vocalized similar thoughts.

She only needed to cut a finger, something that she had apparently done to herself, judging by the knicks on her own fingers. “Oh, uh, sure. But nothing more than a cut on the finger.” She didn’t want some long cut on her palm. But she was curious as to what Kirsikka was doing.

Tamsin reached her hand out for Kirsikka, but the mage didn’t have a chance to knick a finger before Mikhail hurried into the room, concern on his face. Tamsin and Drazhan, who had been sitting on the opposite side of the room from Varick, were pulled from what they were doing and looked at him.

“There’s someone here,” he announced, and even Malina came out of her room when she heard him. “The amount of people who can come onto my property unannounced is a very small list, and most of them are here already.” So he had an intruder.

Please don’t let it be Rience, Mikhail had thought to himself in horror.

He glanced at everyone. “Prepare yourselves for anyone.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Kirsikka reached for Tamsin’s hand as Mikhail came into the room, not at all perturbed. She expected a lecture for not eating, and fully intended to ignore it, as she grabbed Tamsin’s hand and cut her finger just as Mikhail’s words came out. ‘Well, this isn’t good.’ Kirsikka had enough sense to recognize that, before her attention was captivated by the knife.

It glowed white.

Words she’d seen in the reflection etched themselves more clearly on the blade, in a language she thankfully understood. She’d read it before, and now she understood how to activate them. How to activate the blade. “Well, this could be useful.”

Varick saw, of course. He rose, and marched right over to where Kirsikka stood. “Give that to me. Now.”

“You can’t use it—”

“Good.” He interrupted. “I don’t want it used until I know what’s going on.”

Kirsikka rolled her eyes, but put the knife into the palm of his hand and walked by him, “I’m sorry Mikhail, it’s probably my fault. I’ll go see who we have here.” She hardly knew how right she was, expecting it to be some lucky Council of Light member who’d figured out how to track her mirrors.

Very few knew how to get by her enchantments – all were dead, save Mikhail.

As Kirsikka stepped outside, the truth of who she’d forgotten when she went to kill Wydan reminded her of who was left to spy on her, as Dravon stepped into the clearing where Mikhail’s cottage was, looking around in a bit of pleasant wonder.

Her breath hitched.

Yes, she was definitely at fault.

“Lovely place. I always did wonder how you did it, Mikhail,” Dravon noted, voice raised only enough to carry inside, but otherwise calm, as he stopped several yards from the door, aware he wasn’t a welcome guest. “Now I understand how you stopped so many from pursuing you. Even I couldn’t portal directly onto the land.”

“How are you here?” Kirsikka’s throat was tight against the question.

“Oh, come now, Cherry. It’s just simple illusions of misdirection,” he smiled, “you’ve done worse than that. The mirrors you were using showed me other reflective surfaces, and I followed the path until I could make one here. It’s not a hard trick.” It was one she did often enough.

Varick heard the voice.

He was out of the house quick, after leaving the knife in Tamsin’s hand, and ahead of Kirsikka in a couple of steps. “Leave.”

Dravon scoffed. “Have a care, Varick. I’m not here to cause harm.”

 

[cleopat]

It was Kirsikka’s fault for who stood on his property, but Mikhail could hardly care about faults right then. Kirsikka had already dealt with enough in the last few days, he didn’t put it past her to allow something to slip in regards to hiding her location.

But why did it have to be Dravon? A sentiment shared with everyone who headed outside to see what was going on, Drazhan and Malina included.

Tamsin hurried to hide the knife back in her clothes before joining everyone else, staying close to the doorframe.

“And yet you’re still here,” Mikhail said with contempt to the undead mage. Well, at the very least if it did this great of a job in keeping out Dravon for this long, then maybe he would have luck against other certain mages…

“Why are you here?” Drazhan was the one to speak up, walking forward a few steps closer to Kirsikka. “You aren’t exactly wanted here.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Dravon looked over the gathered, not surprised by any of the faces save one. One who seemed almost as openly hostile as Varick, which was the main surprise. "Was my advice so bad when we drank together, or the hangover?"

Kirsikka looked between Drazhan and Dravon, definitely confused, and more than a little upset. "You knew him?" Varick also looked between them, but wasn't that surprised.

Dravon chose to elaborate, "It wasn't anything with names, just commiseration about troubles. Still, I thought I still looked myself. I do, don't I?"

Kirsikka nodded. Varick refused a response. Dravon knew the answer. Varick had recognized him quickly.

"What do you want?" Varick changed the subject, getting to the point.

"To help and to be helped." He stated simply. "We're both on the side of wanting the White Sun dealt with. You can't tell me you've never accepted the help of a ghost or other undead before."

"What help do you want?" Varick didn't let that distract him. Most undead he helped and accepted help from, wanted to pass on. He doubted that was the case with Dravon.

"I don't know what I am. I don't know why I am. I want to know."

Varick didn't trust it. Knowledge was power...on both sides. Dravon could use it, as they could.

"No."

"Are you really so--we'll help."

"He can use that--"

"To do what?"

"I don't know--"

"Exactly. Neither does he, neither does anyone," Kirsikka snapped back. "You'd tell a ghost they were a ghost. Finding out what he is... It's something we should do anyways."

"That doesn't mean telling him."

 

[cleopat]

Drazhan looked confused for a moment as Dravon seemingly recognized him, then he remembered why. They shared an evening together in revelry over sorrows, and Drazhan distinctly remember getting so drunk, that he could barely move the next morning, despite Primal metabolism.

“I’ll tell you later,” he mumbled to Kirsikka. The whole crew didn’t need to know.

“I may have to be on Varick’s side for this one, Kirsikka,” Mikhail said. “How do you know he’s not lying to us? He’s lied to you before.” And done numerous other things to Kirsikka that made him distrust the older mage.

Was he still tangible? Mikhail always wanted to punch him in the face…

“How is it you seemingly know what I am, but won’t tell me, and yet don’t know what you are?” Tamsin dared to ask, unmoving from her place by the door.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kirsikka wasn't really surprised that Mikhail refused to trust Dravon, but she still huffed disapproval at him and might have argued if it wasn't for Tamsin interjecting.

"Honestly, I didn't want to say it until I knew you were in safe hands, lest Varick decide to take his duty as a monster slayer too seriously," Dravon said, gesturing to Kirsikka as the 'safe hands'. "She and I have researched the topic extensively, though we went down different paths of it."

"You never figured out what I was." Kirsikka noted.

"You're simply human," he chuckled, "lucky, but human. We've discussed this endlessly with theories of magic. I still don't have an answer for why the others can't cast as you do."

And he left that, to return to Tamsin. "You're a descendant of the White Sun, Tamsin. And the White Sun is the source of all monsters."

He saw how rigid Kirsikka went.

He saw the way Varick's look turned to surprise, before hardening. Denying, he'd bet.

"Because of that, you're a source of magic, but not the magic that belongs to the fae. Even so, it could be used. There are those who will try, once that magic starts to truly manifest at 30."

"How do you know all this?" Varick snapped.

"I'm a sorcerer, Varick, and not a stupid one. This was Kirsikka's pet project, so it became mine," a simple shrug, "we all become interested in what our loved ones care for."

Kirsikka looked down. Guilt. Such terrible guilt, again like a wave, for trying to move on. For thinking it was best.

"Though much of my understanding has increased after being exposed to it's magic, since it did bring me back. It's dreams have been telling, as well."

"The dead don't sleep." Varick pointed out.

"And yet I do. You understand my own confusion with that."

 

[cleopat]

Tamsin froze at the truth Dravon revealed. Or was it really the truth, or a lie? She ignored the several sets of eyes that darted her way, and her vision tunneled to see only the older mage standing before all of them.

Descendant of the White Sun.

That had to be impossible.

Mikhail’s gaze hardened at Dravon. “And why would it bring you back? It would only bring you back if you serve a purpose for the White Sun, and thus reason enough for us to not trust you.”

Drazhan stepped closer to Kirsikka, as if sensing her guilt. As if trying to help her ignore all the memories seeing Dravon could bring for her. He felt both anger towards Dravon and worry for Kirsikka. Worry for several reasons, one of them admittedly a bit selfish.

“You haven’t given us a reason to trust you,” Malina was the one to speak, after a quick glance back at Tamsin to gauge how such a tiny human could indeed be a descendant of such a powerful being.

“We don’t even know if you’re telling the truth about Tamsin,” Mikhal added.

 

[Lucyfer]

“He’s telling the truth….” Kirsikka hated the way everyone dogpiled against Dravon, though she understood from Mikhail’s standpoint. There was a reason he was brought back, and it certainly wasn’t to kill the White Sun. “The dagger—”

“Not another word,” Varick cut Kirsikka off, although he was fast realizing that if Kirsikka opted to flip, they were fucked.

They were fucked enough in front of Dravon, but he doubted how well they’d stand against Kirsikka and Dravon. ‘That’s why….’

“It’s for the best,” Dravon agreed with Varick, “Mikhail isn’t wrong. The White Sun has use for me. I’ve created a barrier around its home so nothing can get in, and I continue to be used by it, despite having an awareness,” another frustrating aspect. “It’s full plans for me are unknown to me. Knowing what I was, would give me a better idea of how to resist it, and perhaps, what it fully intends with me.”

Varick didn’t know what Dravon was.

He knew zombies. He knew liches. He knew plenty of undead, but this was an anomaly, rather like Tamsin herself – another, supposed, creation of the White Sun. He was curious, but he wasn’t sure it was in any of their interest to help Dravon.

“And the White Sun just lets you go as you please?”

“Oh, no, not at all,” he chuckled, “the White Sun has a vested interest in both Kirsikka and Tamsin. They’re key to its demise, or its restoration.”

“You aren’t making a very convincing case to trust you.” Varick deadpanned.

“There’s no point in lying when trying to earn trust,” he said, “and you don’t have to believe me now. You’ll learn in time I’m not lying, and perhaps then we can all be of more use to each other.”

 

[cleopat]

It was clear no one bought Dravon’s words. No one, save perhaps Kirsikka, who faced an old bias in the form of her former lover. Mikhail frowned, glancing from Kirsikka back to Dravon. “You said yourself, that the White Sun is using you, and that it doesn’t even let you simply go as you please.”

Would Dravon be too strong to fight off if he decided to attack, with that power behind him? Would Kirsikka go back to her lover?

He gulped, clenching and unclenching his fist in anticipation. “That right there proves that we shouldn’t trust you, for the White Sun could be using you to get to us.” To get to Kirsikka and Tamsin.

Mikhail didn’t wish to see either one of his friends at the mercy of that bastard.

“If you wish to earn our trust, then I suggest you find a way to just do that,” Drazhan said.

 

[Lucyfer]

Varick and Mikhail were preparing for the worst. Dravon was somewhat amused, but mostly exasperated by the pair of them. Mikhail had sense, so he wasn’t terribly bothered by him. It was the matter of breaking Mikhail down so he could break the others down that was the trouble; Kirsikka was already well on his side.

He didn’t need to do anything there.

In the end, that might be all he needed, but he’d prefer to gain Tamsin as well. That would make things easier.

“The White Sun is,” Dravon agreed, “but all I’m asking for is information about me. Not this dagger that seems to be quite revelatory, not whatever plans you intend to make – none of that.” For now. “And I’ve given plenty of information you’ll find to be true in time.” He gestured out at them all, palm up, “Then, you can decide what is best. I’m sure you of all people, Mikhail, understand how displeased I am to be used. If nothing else, you can always trust my selfish streak.”

A slight smirk, but he hoped that would linger. Mikhail would trust nothing else, from all the complaints Kirsikka used to feed him. Pity Mikhail never heard the other side, but he wasn’t about to make Mikhail a drinking buddy.

“I’ll get off your property now. Cherry, you know how to reach me when you need me,” he couldn’t portal out. Damn barrier. So, he turned to walk off, out of the illusion field, to lands he could portal out from.

Despite herself, Kirsikka nodded. As if it was a viable option. As if she might.

And then Dravon was leaving, into the forest.

 

[cleopat]

There was silence for a few moments after Dravon left. Malina was the first to speak up, “I never fucking liked that guy.”

Mikhail made a noise of agreement. “Me neither. He always grated on my nerves, and not just because he always upsetted Kirsikka.” He swore he heard Malina mutter to herself, was that really a bad thing?

He chose to ignore Malina’s and Kirsikka’s petty little rivalry that started before Malina joined the Council of Light.

“We’re not actually going to entertain the notion of helping him out in any way?” Drazhan questioned. Sure, when Dravon was alive, Drazhan may have helped the mage after spending an evening together lamenting over their troubles.

But Dravon was dead. And anything dead, that wasn’t quite dead, wasn’t something to fuck around with.

“I don’t plan on it, but I would like to figure out what he is, for my own piece of mind. Before you,” he pointed at Kirsikka, “go off and do something stupid, and before he can get -,” he trailed off as he looked back to where Tamsin was, noticing her gone. “She must have gone back inside.”

And up to the room that was temporarily hers and Varick’s, so she could soak in what Dravon said without having a meltdown.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kirsikka knew better than to state she was humoring what Dravon had to say. She was the only one on that side, which wasn’t much of a surprise. There was a reason to mistrust everything. He was undead and being forced to help the White Sun – that alone put everything he said under a confusing light. ‘But we don’t know what he is, or why he is.’ Those were the more concerning questions…and if they could figure it out, she’d happily trade the information for more on what he knew.

More, to get rid of the White Sun.

But admitting that was a surefire way to start a fight, if not get kicked from the group. They wanted the answers to what Dravon was. So, she could help with that, and once they found out, she could trade it.

She still scoffed at Mikhail’s words, but frowned as Tamsin was pointed out to be missing. Varick also seemed bothered by that, glancing around for a moment to make sure she wasn’t outside. Kirsikka just turned towards the door. “I’ll talk to her.”

“No, you will not,” Varick quickly overtook her steps, “I don’t need you poisoning her mind any further.”

“What, by telling her about the dagger, and why Dravon wasn’t lying—”

“Lying or not, he’s dangerous, and he’s using us.” Considering a moment, Varick then asked, “What did you learn from the dagger?”

“I’m not telling you.”

Varick definitely wanted to punch something. Someone. “By the FUCKING GODS!” his voice thundered in outrage, “I have had ENOUGH of these secrets and the bullshit you are putting us through!”

“It’s not your secret to know.” Kirsikka barely kept her voice even, barely didn’t rise to the bait of a yelling match. Oh, she wanted to. And she likely would. “It’s hers to reveal when she knows it.”

“I think we’re a bit beyond that now,” Varick snapped, “there’s more at stake than a thrice-damned legacy she might want to keep secret from the rest of us! We all need to know what’s going on with the White Sun.”

Kirsikka lifted one shoulder in a shrug, a very simple gesture of ‘fuck you’ and ‘what are you going to do about it?’.

There was much power in knowledge. She knew that as well as Dravon, and Varick was already on her shit list.

 

[cleopat]

Mikhail strode forward as Varick and Kirsikka bumped heads. Honestly, he had figured that Kirsikka and Malina would have attacked each other first. But he wasn’t surprised that Kirsikka was involved in this little spat.

“Hey, hey, hey,” he said, only raising his voice slightly as he raised one hand. “That will be enough of that. There is to be no fighting on my property, or there will be consequences.” He gave them both a stern look with that.

“Kirsikka has a point, Varick,” he started with a sigh. “Tamsin deserves to know this information, and she deserves to know before the rest of us does. But,” he continued before Varick could interject with any objection, “given everything that is going on, after she has been told, the information should be shared with everyone else, especially if it could help us figure out what the fuck is going on.”

With Dravon. With the White Sun. With fucking anything.

“Now, will that suffice?” he asked Kirsikka and Varick, as if they were children arguing over the last cookie.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kirsikka was very aware of the consequences. It was why she’d not throw the first punch…but she’d retaliate. She was almost hoping Varick would, simply so she could retaliate, for so much. None of it personal – and yet all of it very personal.

Mikhail intervened.

He tried to set terms, and Kirsikka scoffed.

“Hey—” Varick started to speak, to challenge the scoff, but fell silent when she fixed him with a look. Not a willing silence, a silence anticipating further response or he’d make a response. Enough of what he meant to say was in his own glare.

She was silent too long for his liking. “It’s reasonable.”

Kirsikka didn’t want to be reasonable. She wanted to be petty. ‘Focus. Bigger picture.’ She didn’t like being the bigger person. She really didn’t. “With Tamsin present. When she’s ready. You care about her feelings, don’t you?”

“I do,” he stated, “that’s why I’m not letting you go see her now.”

“Oh, I thought that was just because you didn’t want me telling her any further truths that all of you disagree with because of who’s speaking them.”

Varick clenched one fist. “You told me you weren’t working with Dravon.”

“I’m not,” she said, “but I can’t help it if our goals align, anymore than you can help it that the Council of Light wants to eliminate the same monsters you fight. Sometimes, it works that way.”

“Some coincidence.”

Another ‘fuck you’ shrug.

Varick let out a frustrated, strangled noise, before he threw his hands up in the air and walked back towards the house, ending the argument he would get nowhere with. Besides, he was more concerned about Tamsin than continuing this, and so he intended to try and find her within, to see if she needed company, or needed space.

Although space was becoming harder for any of them to find with the tensions as they were, something he was not happy to realize.

 

[cleopat]

Mikhail sighed again, heavily, resting his fingertips on the bridge of his nose. There was nothing quite like trying to keep peace between a stubborn mage and a stubborn Primal. He barely recognized when Malina said she was headed back inside.

And here he thought she would want front row seats to the show that Kirsikka and Varick were putting on. Maybe even they were beginning to be a bit too much for her. At least Drazhan was still there, arms crossed over his chest as he looked upon the scene with less-than-amusement.

“You two are going to need to figure something out,” Mikhail said after Varick went back inside. “I can’t have you constantly at each other’s throats like that. Not good for…” he motioned around them, “the mood.”

“And I thought there would be enough trouble with only our history,” Drazhan added in. “With the way things were headed, he may just forget why he doesn’t like me.” A hopeful thought. Somewhat.

They didn’t need anyone mad at anybody.

~~~

Tamsin tucked herself away in the only safe space she knew in the cottage, which was the room she was staying in. She allowed herself a few minutes to cry to release her pent up emotions, which she was still struggling to understand.

She was just a simple bard. How could she get mixed in with all of this!

She was sitting on the edge of the bed when a knock sounded at the door. Brushing away the tears rolling down her cheeks, she called out, “Come in!” She was almost tempted to send her visitor away, or not even respond at all, but she realized she wanted someone there right then.

Varick entered, which she was grateful for, despite hearing his booming voice from the argument all the way from the room. She couldn’t quite look at him yet in her struggle to ground herself back down to the present.