the decayed divine

no need to apologize !! please take as MUCH time as you need to get back on your feet, and don’t force yourself to be here if you’re not feeling it !! wishing the best for you ������

Oh, goodness, a friendly face—! He’d been so worried about the possibility of his superior officer being as soulless and terrifying as the ones who’d briefed—read, heavily persuaded—him to join their ranks. Ugo had only been after a simple job, before his talents in the arcane had been recognized and put him on the spotlight as the next big thing. Not a horrible fate, per say, but…

He didn’t know if he liked the whole … extermination thing. As necessary as it was to keep the peace in the world, the incessant pacifist within him couldn’t help but scold him for how wrong this all was. How inhumane, even for creatures…! …At the very least, though, the woman before him—with so short a stature—seemed to harbor some form of compassion in those eyes; you hardly ever see it in places like these! Clearing his throat nervously, the man bent down some and returned the warm smile.

❝Uraltugo Noi Nueph — b-but, I’d rather you call me Ugo.❞ He laughed sheepishly, soon after, following Haneul’s lead; momentarily astonished by how quick she was to turn introductions into an offer of reviewing the case he received this morning. Everyone was so fast around here, it seemed, and he feared the thought of falling behind.

❝I think that would be a great idea, Miss Ju—I’d only skimmed a bit of it, thus far, but didn’t notice anything too dire. I imagine this is only a piece of cake for someone of your expertise.❞ And the first challenge for himself.

“Ah, if that’s the case, you can just call me Haneul, Mr. Ugo. There’s no need to be so formal with me. Rather than superior and subordinate, I’d prefer if we could be friends instead... maybe?” Her naivete is what compels her to make the proposal to be on more friendly terms, but her uncertainty leaves the delivery falling a bit flat. She certainly didn’t want to be pushy about being friends, but strictly being coworkers felt a bit too cold like the rest of the job. 

It may be a bit too hopeful, to want to befriend her new coworker. After all, she didn’t know of any others like her who had been forcefully recruited because of their magical proficiency. (She’s certain they exist, elsewhere, but always too far out of her reach.) Even though it’s likely that after they’d rarely be put on the same assignment, it couldn’t be too much to hope for, right? 

“Ah, well, I’m not really...” She tries to gently deflect his words. Certainly, she hadn’t been on such a straightforward assignment since she had been in his position, but she doesn’t think that she’s particularly skilled. “I’m sure you’ll be able to learn the ropes in no time. You may even exceed my ability someday.” 

Despite her words, she really hopes not. As much as she would like to give up her position for a more peaceful life, it isn’t exactly a torch she wants to pass on. Haneul empties her mind of her musings--they aren’t important. Fixating on the hypothetical is a fruitless effort and she has more important things to do.

Nick had gotten his excuses over with pretty quickly, glad he wouldn’t have to interact with these people, at least for the night. He’d finally checked what room he was in on the way to the elevator. Well at least they’d not given him the penthouse again. He didn’t want to explain to the hotel why one man could crash up a place that big again. It hadn’t only been him, of course. Rikki had brought their children to visit quite a bit.

Regardless, it was still a luxury suite, which he wasn’t too stoked about. He’d entered and heard the last comment, amused. “Would you survive?” he asked. Part teasing, part serious curiosity. He didn’t really know what humans were capable of. Some might be able to jump out a twenty story window and survive.

Not waiting for an answer he hung up his coat at the door and said, “you should relax. Go sit in the bathroom and I can help you with the wounds. I was a doctor once.”

“I’m sure I would survive, but any other human would certainly die.” She answers his question as vaguely as she can without lying (after all, she’s so easy to read that her lie would be detected right away).

She watches as he hangs his coat, coming to the conclusion that there’s no escaping this situation. If he’s telling the truth and actually was a doctor, it would probably be best for her to leave things to a professional. On the other hand, if he isn’t what he says he is and things end up taking a turn for the worst, Haneul could just use her magic to try and escape. With that small consolation, she resigns herself to the present circumstance. 

At his last comment she gave a hearty laugh. “Like anything could kill me, love~” Not for lack of trying though. She just kept coming back. No matter by her own hand or another. “The only way I’m dying is shriveled up in a back alley long after you’re dead~”

“Also no,” she said, suddenly super serious. Well, mock serious. Very pouty. “Nothing’s ever good enough for me. What will it take for you to tell me?”

“You should still be careful.” Carmine irises flicker almost imperceptibly, restless with suspicion. Maybe it’s because nearly all he’s ever known is war, but he thinks it’s better to regard others warily. It’s impossible to determine just who is aiming to take his life with a single glance, after all. 

“Aw, that’s no fair~!” Rikki pouted, raising herself up to his eye level and putting a hand on his chest. “I gave you my complete trust~!” She really didn’t, but he’d piqued her curiosity now. Why wouldn’t he say?

She’d get this secret out now even if it killed her. Which, well, was practically impossible. She’d sure try though! It wasn’t often she wasn’t immediately given what she wants. Maybe innocent curiosity wasn’t this guys jam?

“Isn’t knowing that I’m not human good enough for you?” He pointedly ignores the hand on his chest. Faxiah can’t fathom anything about the woman before him; he understands little, which only serves to make him more wary. 

“Nonsense, my meeting doesn’t start for another couple hours anyways.” Nick says as he put a hand on her back to support her as he led her inside the hotel. Better than spending the next few hours drinking and forcing small talk with his employees. “I was a doctor once, I can deal with a few simple gashes.” Lord knows Rikki’s clumsy ass gave him enough practice.

“I have some things to deal with down here, but please make use of my room,” not like he slept. He gave her one of his keycards and gestured for one of the bellhops nearby to help her while he went to tell his employees he couldn’t join them.

He...he noticed...! Her panic renders her unable to offer a proper refusal and she ends up caught up in his pace, scrambling to accept the keycard. While being escorted to the hotel room all she can think of is how she might be able to worm her way out of the current situation. If it weren’t for her being so spineless, maybe she would have been able to refuse and avoid this admittedly awkward situation. 

Now that she’s here Haneul is unsure of what to do. Perhaps she could quickly take care of things and insist she’s fine if he returns? But what if she’s in the middle of dressing a wound with her blouse is off. No way! That’d be too embarrassing! 

“Wh-what do I do...?” Hanuel mutters to herself. No, there’s only one thing left to do. She convinces herself the only option she has is to to escape the situation entirely. But going out the door would be too obvious, which leaves the only viable option being a window. Whether this stranger is nice or scary, Haneul can’t decide, but being along with a strange man in his hotel room...a situation like that is just too much! She tries to open the window, only to realize it won’t open as far as she needs it to go.

“I am not human, good call~!” Rikki grinned at him, confident in doing so without freaking him out with her sharp teeth. She’d teleported here hoping to end up at Nick’s apartment, but now she was here. At least she wasn’t alone. Rikki floated up to him, curious now. How did he peg her so fast?

The flying could be part of it.

“I’m Atlantean, you probably don’t know what that is. Technically, I’m an alien that should have never existed~” She hovered closer, wind whipping around her as she got excited. “Now it’s your turn~!”

He certainly hadn’t expected her to take his observation so easily. Many non-humans at least try to deny it and present themselves as human. Either the so-called Atlantean is terrible at blending in or just doesn’t care. It’s a bit hard for him to understand why she would be so obvious as to...floating, and  rather casually at that. 

And like despite all that she ??? still marches out to the front lines??? retains her optimism and hope and does her best to save lives??? like yes, maybe the bloodshed isn’t justified and maybe she’s fighting for the “wrong” side and yes, maybe her ideals don’t match up to what she does but??? to try her best despite all that??? to be able to continuously witness people die terribly over and over again and just??? resolving to do better next time??? 

granted taking all the responsibility upon herself isn’t healthy and having a heart that bleeds for anyone and being willing to die for something she doesn’t fully believe in are all arguably bad but???? i just think the fact that she doesn’t give in to bitterness and hatred and tries to approach all things with sincerity and an open heart is admirable and super brave? 

Nick had gotten out of the town car and sent off the valet before turning, bumping straight into someone and sending them to the ground. “Oh, sorry,” he offered the other a hand up. “I can get some first aid if needed,” he said, gesturing for one of the door men to grab something.

“Oh, no, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been in the way.” The apology is automatic, even though she’s the one one the ground. She ignores the way the fall jars her hastily patched wounds. Looking up at the offered hand, she realizes how tall he is. How intimidating! Still, she takes the stranger’s hand, unsure if she’d be able to stand up on her own. 

She’s extremely adaptable. It’s almost frightening how well she can just adjust herself to any situation, even those she’s not familiar with. When she had been put in charge of the Astral Teahouse, she didn’t feel any anxiety about it and just went along with it. She was of course a bit surprised that not all the patrons are human, but she shrugged it off fairly easily and figured things out for herself fairly quickly. It’s applicable to most situations as well, as she’s the type to take most things in stride and is able to roll with the punches so to speak. 

Ashte has a talent for being able to taste a tea once and being able to replicate it herself, or coming extremely close to how it tastes. She can’t really explain how the process works or why she’s able to do it, but it’s something she knows she can do and is proud of. That said complex flavors/blends tend to be more difficult for her to get a handle on and often require much more effort to replicate than simpler teas. 

Faxiah sighs, looking at the ground in the dark alleyway. There’s no one else around and the relative silence is something he appreciates. It is in the midst of this quiet moment that he realizes that he is not alone when a splash of red enters his peripheral vision. He lifts his eyes from the ground a bit languidly, observing the person--a woman he now realizes--before him. He can recognize others that aren’t human by virtue of being something not human himself.