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[poolrooms]

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[poolrooms]

586 words

Stating who their favorites were in their line of work was a rather risque concept.

Knowing the Sinners they often dealt with in the day-to-day downtime between wings to dungeons, should word ever get out that there is a looming possibility of Dante having favorites, their arrival to hell would come a lot sooner than intended. The group of twelve people bickering or potentially butting heads over the concept of such a bias existing would undoubtedly not only cause them several headaches but earn them flack that’d last for a few weeks.

They could already hear the nagging tone of their co-worker stating they’d have to work harder in favor of winning Dante’s regard. There was no doubt such a string of words wouldn’t erode what little grasp they had over their sense of guilt. It served as Dante’s biggest motivator to keep their non-existent mouth shut. The less their biases were known? The better.

Unexpectedly, they never took into account how different identities would analyze this sort of treatment. Not that inherently, Dante had such obvious preferences on an individual level but when it came to performance and battle? That was naturally unavoidable, the fact that there were identities which struggled or had more of a niche use than some of the other versions of the same sinner.

It hadn’t helped that the identity in question made it glaringly obvious that something was amiss. Dante thought they were seeing something wrong when they first realized on their way to the next room. It was by chance that they caught the gaze of the blade lineage id of Yi Sang looking very very perturbed at them. They decided to not assume the worst case scenario but after several noticing it once, they find their eyes naturally went to him, only to be met with the same look, but arguably far more intense than it had been prior.

It’s how they found themself stumbling back into the bus in near relief. Had they been subjected to the sensation of eyes burning holes in the back of their head any longer, it would’ve been a matter of time before they’d began choking on the tension emanating from the man. Dante thought they’ve seen it all with him already but Yi Sang never really failed to outdo their pre-constructed notions on him. Especially Blade Lineage.

Dante didn’t want to toot their own horn but they thought they had a pretty good read on most versions of Yi Sang. Surprisingly, with enough time… the way he spoke sort of clicked in their mind. The usage of specific words never changed between his versions, sometimes deployed differently yet the intent felt all the same. Understanding the small key differences wasn’t too hard.

Their most recent example of this was Spicebush who they hit off a lot faster than they initially expected.

The manager thought there’d be some sort of clash they would have needed to smoothen out but all it took was one simple talk to bridge the gap. Long conversations and seeing eye to eye allowed the two to establish what felt to be a rather comfortable dynamic. The more consistently they met, the more their downtime would be stolen away by the soft spoken Yi Sang. Speaking of what their mirror world was like in comparison to the present timeline, asking Dante personal thoughts or opinions on facts about The City they quite couldn’t answer. Though… At some point, the tone of these talks became a lot more personal.

 

[poolrooms]

290 words

“I’m having fun, Ak.” She looked up at him, grinned and all while water dripped from her hair down her face. “I rarely get to enjoy myself like this so loosen up big guy.” A pause. “If I do start drowning, I’m sure you’ll come and rescue me in no time.”

She knew she was right in the assessment. Mia got the feeling that Ak wouldn’t hesitate to save her in such a situation. It’s why she hadn’t stopped herself from acting recklessly. The desire in her to enter the water wasn’t insincere either. There was always this barrier between them. To finally enter his space, to feel the sensation of a hand of someone on her.

It was different from her normal to say the least. “I’m sure it’s nice to live here anyways. Feels like a different world you come from.” She stares off somewhere in the water. “I always wonder what it’s like for you down there.” Are you happier? What does your day to day life look like? She’s used to the world being centered around her, and to meet someone who wasn’t a part of it as much as she’d like.

…She wishes she too could escape, plunge to the depths of this sea where he thrives most. Watch him in his natural habitat much like he hears about her endless tales of the land above. It’s frustrating how she has someone in her reach, able to grab but slips from her grasp each and every time.

Fortunately for her though… she moves into him and allows her hands to reach out. Touch him… she laughs, smiles even. “I’m only touching you and yet this makes me inexplicably happy.”

A pause. “It’s the alcohol, surely?”

 

[poolrooms]

782 words

The pads of her sole's connect with the ground. A simple touch is enough to make her body still. Blue eyes off somewhere in the distance as she collects herself from the uneventful conversation she was subjected to have with a madman. Had she had a say in how her day would've unfolded it. Cassius much would've preferred to bask in the comfort of the little life she went on to establish for her here.

Maybe have Iris finally take her out and show her how to properly hunt. A goddess of her calibur had no need for such things yet Iris had done nothing but give and give from the moment they made their oath. She wanted to return the favor for her cherished one's succor. She hasn't seen the girl smile for as much as she desired. A few steps forward and for a split second she's warmed. Not as slow as she usually is. I need to get home.

Yet, the discussion lingers in the form of a headache. Of weight that wouldn't be easy to shake from her shoulders. The pressure he exudes onto her was less than favorable. A man who did not hesitate to swoop and utilize her greatest flaws against her. Cassius viewed it as the words of a man on the high of his own delirious view of life. Every step she took to be closer to home does every sentence he uttered unto her rebounded against the walls of her mind. You don't want to be alone, right?

Declan Everhart...

Her face scrunches up in a scowl.

You want to protect her, who you love, right? I can do that, I can help you, but only if you help me too.

To Cassius his words were no different from that of a witch trying to lure her into a false sense of security. Had she been alone. Any weaker. Maybe then she would have let his claws sink in. ...Not to say they haven't already if she was here. Thinking about what he said. Cassius wasn't careless enough to agree. Turning down such an offer yet the thought lingered. If something were to come up? Something to threaten this semblance of normalcy. Of a life she worked so hard to obtain. Maybe...?

"Cassius."

Like a deer being caught in the woods, her head snaps up. Inexplicably still but her eyes soften. She could know that voice from anywhere. A languid slow blink of the eyes, lips parting to speak "Iris?" She asks, not as a question but confusion. Happy to see her yet that happiness disperses with a few flicks of the eyes. From the way her love's ears are straight up. The base of her tail raised yet its tip drooped. Anger? The crunch of grass and twigs follow. Cassius only watched her closely.

. . .

Iris on the other hand had been restless.

Woke up to find her other half gone without a trace. Traced her scent around the makeshift home that Cassius provided and Iris worked to keep in pristine condition. Led her outside until it ... vanished. Her feet dug into the grown while her eyes closed. She left again. Without her.

That made this what... the fourth time? Iris wasn't some incapable lass. Trained in the art of knighthood. Having held a blade for the majority of her life until the loss of the kingdom she served came. She put away that sword in the face of being unable to deem whether she can protect someone if she could barely protect the royalty she swore to. Though, it was Cassius. Found her when she needed her most as Cassius came across the wolfkin in her most dire state. A promise made with sincerity, with someone who opened up and pushed past such barriers no one had been able to make in years. Yet. Yet. There's always a yet with Cassius; she leaves her be. Keeps her at home when she goes off and does who knows what.

She hears what she goes through after the fact. They promised they'd do it together. Iris sworn herself to Cassius. To be her shield, to be her sword if it went awry. Cassius never gives her the chance to do so. Always a forethought that's left behind. So Iris wasn't happy. Wasn't going to be overjoyed as she finally came up to Cassius. Her nose crinkles, eyes shooting her a look at the unfortunately familiar scent of that man. A scent so bitter yet laced in unbearable saccharine. Iris wasn't angry anymore. She was furious. A turbulent storm rumbling within her, lips letting out the snarl that served as thunder striking the sky. "You."