The Fell Spring

Oh my steak is a guy? Yawn. Boring. That's every steak in horror.

Give me meat that just spawns randomly in your fridge. Meat that has no clear origin. Where is it from? We don't know. What kind of meat is it? No clue. It's mystery meat (non human (as far as we're aware of)). That's already a bit scarier if only thanks to not knowing how hygenic it is

- meat of a long extinct animal

- meat, alot of it, that is human, but its genetically the same as your perfectly unhurt and alive friend

- meat of an almost extinct animal, the last of its kind

- meat that genetically more closely resembles viruses, bacteria, plants or fungi but still feels and bleeds like meat

-one piece of flesh that is genetically made of several different species

- a piece of flesh far larger than the animal it genetically is

Phos had just gotten home and gotten a shower when there was a knock at his door. He's surprised to see Jevil at his door. The mischievous monster seemed to come and go as he pleased, and largely did what he wanted - what problem could have him coming to Phos of all people?

He would show them on his phone but he honestly wasn't sure how to use it that way. Instead he juggles his notpad and pen to one hand and pulls out his wallet. He flips it open and a set of pictures rolls out. The one he holds up shows Arachne and Phos as a princess and a knight. "This is us last year. We went to every house on the block, and then watched an enterly inaccurate children's movie about witches."

He knows on some level he is being unreasonable in his anger, even if he thinks he's explained this before perhaps he was unclear, or Merlot simply did not understand but...

Phos had just gotten home and gotten a shower when there was a knock at his door. He's surprised to see Jevil at his door. The mischievous monster seemed to come and go as he pleased, and largely did what he wanted - what problem could have him coming to Phos of all people?

He did not notice Merlot slip in behind him.

What he did notice was the tone, or rather lack of it to Saki's speech. It made him concerned for the other.

He digs into a pocket and pulls out a notepad and a pencil. "I was wondering if you two wished to coordinate costumes for Halloween? I wish to get a family picture and would like to include you and Merlot, it would make a good addition to the scrapbook."

Phos had just gotten home and gotten a shower when there was a knock at his door. He's surprised to see Jevil at his door. The mischievous monster seemed to come and go as he pleased, and largely did what he wanted - what problem could have him coming to Phos of all people?

He did not notice Merlot slip in behind him.

What he did notice was the tone, or rather lack of it to Saki's speech. It made him concerned for the other.

Phos had just gotten home and gotten a shower when there was a knock at his door. He's surprised to see Jevil at his door. The mischievous monster seemed to come and go as he pleased, and largely did what he wanted - what problem could have him coming to Phos of all people?

Saki seemed displeased, but that displeasure had no visable effect on his... significant other? Or significant problem if Nyx was right.

The look he shoots Phos and Nyx is certainly not friendly, but then they had interrupted what looked like a failed attempt at an intimate moment and playful manipulation... Well it appeared playful, but if it were Phos he would not let the comment about Saki's emotions to go unchallenged. That was rude.

But Phos was here as an outside observer, and would not interfere just yet.

Phos had just gotten home and gotten a shower when there was a knock at his door. He's surprised to see Jevil at his door. The mischievous monster seemed to come and go as he pleased, and largely did what he wanted - what problem could have him coming to Phos of all people?

He walks to ths bakery as its a lovely day, one of the last that feel more like summer than fall, and to give him time to comb through what little henknew and had observed of Saki.

He just didn't seem to be so naive to be taken in by someone pretending to be interested in a relationship built around power dynamics - and to what end would one pretend to a power dynamic they did not feel? He had seen huge strong men who eagerly licked the boots off thier waifish partner so maybe Nyx only thought the power balance was skewed out of Saki's favor due to his inexperience?

One could only hope that Saki wasn't truely in over his head.

Phos saw Merlot, saw his hesitation and his guilt, and tried to ignore the way his soul clenched.

Later.

They would talk about it later.

Phos had just gotten home and gotten a shower when there was a knock at his door. He's surprised to see Jevil at his door. The mischievous monster seemed to come and go as he pleased, and largely did what he wanted - what problem could have him coming to Phos of all people?

⚖️: Saki are you free to meet up? It is rather urgent that I speak to you.

He does not tag him as he does not know how to do so. Afterwards he looks up at Nyx.

"You are correct. It would be best to see them interact for myself." That way he could stage an intervention or simply offer insight as the situation warrented.

However he did not want a possibly dangerous unknown in his house, or anywhere remotely near his daughter.

⚖️: I will meet you there, keep your company if you so choose.

Phos had just gotten home and gotten a shower when there was a knock at his door. He's surprised to see Jevil at his door. The mischievous monster seemed to come and go as he pleased, and largely did what he wanted - what problem could have him coming to Phos of all people?

⚖️: Saki are you free to meet up? It is rather urgent that I speak to you.

He does not tag him as he does not know how to do so. Afterwards he looks up at Nyx.

Phos had just gotten home and gotten a shower when there was a knock at his door. He's surprised to see Jevil at his door. The mischievous monster seemed to come and go as he pleased, and largely did what he wanted - what problem could have him coming to Phos of all people?

His only steadying thought was that Merlot probably didn't know any better. He had thought he had explained but...

It takes a moment for him to collect himself, his usually impassive expression pained. But he slowly puts himself back together.

He finally reaches out to take the coller from Nyx and tries to marshal his thoughts into something relevant.

Their silence spoke volumes, and that look they wore was painful to see. He hadn’t meant to hurt them like that. “We doubt he meant offense by the act, Phos. He would give anything for his sibling, but that exchange wasn’t permanent. Just a trial, to see if it’d help. We make these for specific people in mind, it wouldn’t work because this one isn’t meant for Saki or his deranged companion.” He hoped that’d bring a fraction of comfort.

Because Phos held the collar and so did Nyx, Pho’s thoughts traveled through the weak link in fragments. The jester could make out enough to make sense of the ramblings. “He won’t listen to us. We’ve tried near countless. We brought to you because the one that’d likely know him most would be you. We...realize that was selfish...”

"It is not selfish to seek help from another though, I do not know if I can help - I can only promise to try."

His mind goes to the gun safely tucked away in his safe upstairs but so far it had not helped him... and he did not like how easy a solution it was becoming.

It was sad that the one Nyx considered to know Saki best was Phos, for Phos did not know Saki all that well. It made him wonder if Saki was seeking companionship and emulating the only relationship he saw in his life.

It made him feel... responsible.

"I shall contact his brother," Saki's brother, not Merlot, "and see if he knows Saki's location - unless you happen to know?"

Phos had just gotten home and gotten a shower when there was a knock at his door. He's surprised to see Jevil at his door. The mischievous monster seemed to come and go as he pleased, and largely did what he wanted - what problem could have him coming to Phos of all people?

His only steadying thought was that Merlot probably didn't know any better. He had thought he had explained but...

It takes a moment for him to collect himself, his usually impassive expression pained. But he slowly puts himself back together.

He finally reaches out to take the coller from Nyx and tries to marshal his thoughts into something relevant.

Phos had just gotten home and gotten a shower when there was a knock at his door. He's surprised to see Jevil at his door. The mischievous monster seemed to come and go as he pleased, and largely did what he wanted - what problem could have him coming to Phos of all people?

“We are not choosy, whichever you have that’s plenty,” the jester replied. He’ll wait until they’re done before broaching the topic. This was more than a little awkward the more time is stretched between silence and actual topic. “We’re unsure where to start, cannot skim over a single part. So listen well, for it’s not simple for us to relay this farce,” he began. He fidgets absentmindedly with a bell on his hat before speaking again. “We don’t involve more than necessary between your relations, but we’ve noticed you’ve acquired an admirer whom is not at all experienced. To put it simple, he saw you improve Merlot’s life. The one he’s trying to assist though will only cause everyone here strife.”

He sets the two cups and saucers out and brings out tea and honey for Nyx to use if he so chooses. It isnt until he pours the tea that Nyx begins to speak.

He listens intently and sips at his own cup, leaving the other for Nyx to take. Perhaps he should have offered something stronger than tea, but then again he did not drink.

He was glad that he had yet to pick up his daughter from Arrow's home - this would take time to unravel.

Phos had just gotten home and gotten a shower when there was a knock at his door. He's surprised to see Jevil at his door. The mischievous monster seemed to come and go as he pleased, and largely did what he wanted - what problem could have him coming to Phos of all people?

He doesn't like that Nyx doesn't want Merlot around, or how unmischievous he looked. The monster was serious for once and that put him on edge. He tries not to let it show as he asks "Any preference?"

At least it did not seem to be about Merlot this time.