waves

Admittedly his meeting with Maxis had been short, but that also hadn’t been completely unexpected. The original Letharger had summoned Dodger with the intent of finding new ways to terrorise the world, but the two had ended up barely speaking and opting instead to make contact if they actually had ideas. It was typical Letharger action to not take action at all unless completely necessary.

Action it seemed was destined for his kind, as the disappearance of the Loyalists and the flooding of the Dominion left Dodger practically homeless. Not that he minded, the poor fool could literally sleep anywhere. Only thing was, out here in the world was dangerous for demons, with human and Mer after them at all hours of the day.

Plus, he was still weak. Hollis and his selection of potions and medicines had seemingly done nothing to halt the increasing sickness Dodger was feeling. More lethargic than normal. No strength. Just all around not himself. Added in with the disappearance of Lenn: he wasn’t sure if his lover was back with the humans or stuck with the Mer but he figured the blonde would have said something. Unless he was in trouble.

Which set Dodger’s worry skyrocketing once more.

He let a cigarette rest on his bottom lip as his fingers ignited with hellfire, lighting the end and he took a long drag of it, hoping the stress of everything would just melt away. At least the shore was quiet and he could be alone with his thoughts. Thoughts of a time before a war. Before Mer hated them. A time when it was just him and Lenn for days at a time with no care in the world. A time before he felt so damn sickly.

Shouting from the distance caught his attention and he watched as a tall figure made their way across the sand seemingly in Dodger’s direction. Unsure whether it was him that was being addressed or not, he decided to respond anyway.

“You uh…you talkin’ to me?”

-

at first josiah wasn’t even going to awknoledge the other man; he wasn’t under his command, he wasn’t part of his people, and if josiah was to step one step closer to him he would find out - he was the worst kind. the one that hunted them and the one hunted by them. the back and forth - the tug of war that was nowhere close to an end - the opposite really. it was just beginning.

he could sense the man; and so could the rest of the mers behind him, who stood in one place; on guard, waiting for the one man to move one step closer, waiting for josiah to make one gesture that would allow them to finish the demon.

“brave of you to set foot anywhere near our waters.” 

he spoke; calmly; his hands firmly behind his back, as he stood tall before the demon. he relied on his senses to know if he was alone; if this was some sort of an ambush, but the vman seemed under no concidition to participate in such a plan. he seemed rather tired; rather on the verge of his powers, and josiah only hoped thi wasn’t some kind of a silly play they were trying to put up, because if so - he would ruin them all singlehandedly. 

“don’t tell me you’ve come waving the white flag so soon.” his lips curled into a small smirk, as he eyed the man closely. 

“Hm.” She hummed at his words. Not angry. Right. “Then what are you?” She asked as his hand came up to rest upon hers. The corner of her lip lifted slightly. “Antsy? Excited? Ready to get this over with?” She pressed her lips together into a thin line. “It’s been a long time coming. Lots of planning. Lots of patience. But we’re prepared for anything. Me, you and the other Advisors made sure of that.” 

A frown formed on her lips. She jerked her hand from his shoulder. “Excuse me?” Her voice was slightly shrill as she stared at him. “Is that an order from an Advisor, or a suggestion from a friend?” Saylor asked as she took a step back from him. She needed to see the expression on his face. “Because if it’s the former, you have no right.” Saylor told him. “And if it’s the latter… well. I appreciate the concern, but I am Queen and I will do as I please.” 

-

“cautious.” he spoke; mossy hues studying her features; he could look at her for hours; but lately - they haven’t had any time for themselves; any time to look at each other and appreciate each other in this world; hold her like he’s always wanted to; in full content, breathing in and out, as she laid in his arms, in the calmness of it all. and he often reminded himself that this is why they were fighting this war - to achieve a victory that would bring them the peace they diserved. 

“of course we’re prepapred. we always are.” he leaned in to plant a kiss on her forehead gently. 

but then in a seond she was backing away;she couldn’t understand where hisconcern was coming from; it took him a while to understand it himself, but now was different. now - she must already know. “and what if i’m neither?” he turned around to face her. “what if i’m the person who loves you most, and is scared to lose you?” his hand had reached for her; long fingers wrapping around her wirst. “did that not cross your mind?”

Saylor frowned and tilted her head to the side. “Who are we decapitating?” She asked. She wasn’t surprised that Josiah was on edge. She, too, was more wary than usual. She fiddled with the bracelet her mother gave her years ago, that was still clasped around her wrist. Months ago, she had Daphne put a spell on it. Enchant it? To help keep her protected. She hoped it worked.

She moved towards her advisor and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t let your anger cloud your judgement, Josiah.” It wasn’t meant to be a rude remark. She meant it as a kind suggestion. She didn’t want him to dwell too much on his anger. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

-

josiah knew better than most - how dark and brutal the world they live in was - a nightmerish monster with a gaping jaw and sharp teeth, redy to devour the weak and prey on everything else, and josiah knew - better than most what one must become to survive in this world - and he hated seeing saylor have to turn more into him with every passing day - to learn that survival means moe than purity of heart and a gentle hand. his father had taught him that - with fewer words, and far more scowls. 

when he was younger he knew to always listen to the maids; they saw all, they heard all, they knew all. it wasn’t any different now; he had his sources of information; all kinds, different species, all around this goddamn earth they were walking. and what they were saying now was anything but good. and he had to share it with her. 

“i’m not angry, your grace.” he spoke, neck turning slightly in her direction, as he watched her from the corner of his eye; his hand coming up to rest upon hers. “i don’t believe you’ve seen me angry.” he added. a drop of playfullness in his tone of voice. 

“all you have to do is stay safe in your room. it’s dangerous anywhere else.” his fingers squeezed hers with the words, as he leaned a few inches closer, “please, don’t make me lock you in there.”

status: closed // for @oceanboundx​

she had stayed in the water for too long, and yet somehow, not long enough, the fear that had rippled through her every vein since her run in with the wolf was too much for the mer to bare. she didn’t want to run to her brother. she didn’t want to be any more of a nuisance than what she had already been for him. 

instead, she ventured into the forgotten where that’s exactly what she could be: forgotten.

she had holed herself in her family’s old home, ruins now, amongst the sea water. everyone knew that she and the juarez family had come from nothing. their home that she stayed in was still the same. 

the water was where she was safe. no one could find her here. no wolf. she was safe. 

that didn’t stop her from swimming to the absolute corner of the wreck when an intruder came to her door. “stay back.” she warned, her back against the wall. she looked around, for someone to hold as a defence. for some kind of protection. it wasn’t until the familiar face peered into the home that her speeding heart began to slow.

“go away, josiah.” 

-

he took it as part of his duty; checking up on octavia, always keeping tabs on the young woman, especially now, with the demons walking on thin ice with their species; after the measures they had to take to defend their honer. way too many blows have been taken by the mers; it has come to a stop. it had to.

it wasn’t difficult to find her; he was waiting on more information from his sources; each detail was of importance. they did not have much time left. he had to make sure octavia would be safe through all of this; wouldn’t be reckless like her brother and throw herself into war for whatever foolish reason.

“you wound me.” he spoke, with his hand on the left side of his chest. “i’m only checking up on you, octavia - you know that by now.” he only said this much; he feared if he spoke of whats been going on with the kingdom, and she was not aware already, it would scare her. he needed to know how much she knew first. 

“how have you been lately? i haven’t seen you in a while.”

status - open @calamitousstarters​

time - night​

it was the calm before the storm; the actual stom had passed, of course, but what was coming was way worse. he could feel it in his goddamn bones. what saylor had done, what they had done would have severe consequences, that josiah knew they were prepared for. they could handle it - whatever was coming their way; he had alliences ready at the door; one phone call away. they had an army, they had a strategy. they had a solid plan, and a few more if the first one fails. he was his father’s son after all. 

they will come for her. - thats the message he recieved from one of his trusted people. if there was anyone who could recieve this kind of inside information and believe it to be true - it woul be josiah. there wasn’t a thing that could go past him in this kingdom. he was the shield before saylor; even before the king when needed. he was a metal fucking door and before they got to her, they would have to go through him. 

the messages kept on coming; one after the other, all saying the same thing; the plan, their plan, the one that is pobably aleady set in motion; he couldn’t know this much, but he was now rushing to gather their army and check on every person who could be of use to him. everyone on guard. 

“if i see anyone fucking blink for a split second, i will personally decapitate them.’”

@oceanboundx // jake & josiah

           back rests against the couch, feet placed up on the table in front of him. the cottage is, for the first time in a while, actually clean. not sparkling by any stretch of the imagination…but not littered with empty bottles, old food and dirty clothes. he feels less heavy. the weight that has been filling every waking moment has a new direction, a channel, a focus. and that clarity is enough to pull him a little further off the ledge. less time spent at the bottom of the bottle ( though hardly entirely given up ) and more spent training himself again. he’s taking a break from that, sipping on a coffee that for once isn’t spiked, and waiting for his friend to show up. the mer needs a debrief on the events of the night before, and of what josiah showing up to a ball with a vampire meant for the rest of them. 

-

josiah knew he had to restrain himself from drinking around jake; he did not lack common decency, even if most doubted that. he did not wish to bring more suffering to his friend; the man was struggling enough as it was right now. so instead of bringing a bottle of whiskey, he brought take out; actual food the two can share and speak on recent events. a normal night; quiet. they both needed a bit of quiet. 

“i hope you enjoy steak.” he placed the boxes on the ktichen table. he could’t believe he did not even bring his flask. he almost cursed himself for that, but was quickly reminded why he didn’t in the first place. he took off his jacket, and his shoes in a very human fashion, and sat down across the other man.  “i saw your sister at the ball. we spoke.” a beat. “she seems to hate me, which is understandable.” he spoke almost too non-chalantly, if that was even possible. for josiah it was. his voice was monotoned almost 99% of the time.

she wanted to cringe in the presence of josiah. how did she always happen to run into him at such events? it was like jake had some higher power of keeping an eye on her, making sure she wasn’t getting up to any trouble, or embarrassing the kingdom. 

“oh, well – i’m sure you’ll survive.” she smiled plainly, then genuinely as her drink appeared in front of her, and she tilted it to josiah before she took a sip. “my evening is going splendid, josiah – how is yours? are you on or off duty?” 

-

he marely shrugged at her words; shouders barely lifting;eyes remaining on her. if it wasn’t enough he had to babysit jake, now his sister as well. how bad could it actually be if she was left to her own devices? perhaps she would only make this war they might be starting with the demons that much more difficult. to him - she was careless and reckless - hell, even sloppy within her recklessness. definitelly not a master mind, but a child tied to a ticking bomb. 

“for once - i am off duty, octavia. my life is not all about work - contrary to popular beliefs.” his lips tugged into a lazy smirk; mossy hues dropping on the empty flask in his hands, “are you here with your brother, or do you have an actual date you can introduce me to?” of course, the last part he added just so he could pull on her tail; but underneath all that - he cared about who she was here with. 

RANDOM PROMPTS MEME    /    @oceanboundx​ asked: 

“can i pay you to leave me alone?” 

matias had been talking a lot, he knew that but josiah was one of the few friends he had outside of the vampires and feeders and he enjoyed talking to the man and spending time with him. still, when josiah had interrupted him and said “can i pay you to leave me alone?” matty felt wholeheartedly embarrassed, and like a pit had just opened up in his stomach; it was a shame it wasn’t big enough to swallow him whole. “oh…” 

how had he done this again? how had he thought that he was friends with someone that wasn’t actually his friend and just pitied him for some reason, and so had put up with him. “i’m sorry, i’ll go. y-you don’t have to pay me, or see me again. i can just leave.” he stood, wiping the sand from his clothes as he glanced out towards the waters of the forgotten. it hurt, and it was upsetting - he was trying to hard to not get upset but he couldn’t help his quivering lip and shining eyes. matias wanted to run away from josiah, but that would just be pathetic so instead he started walking along the beach, back up the shore towards the mainland. why did he always convince himself that he was friends with people who, in reality, couldn’t stand to be in his presence? god, he missed julian. 

-

josiah wasn’t a santimental man; he was a man with very little friends, and a lot of allies; he knew how to work on a connection for his benefit, but never committ to an honest one. he was static; hard and harsh; he never knew how to be anything else but that; he never knew how to be good, without being bad, and how to show care without showing disdain. he didn’t know how else to live; and after living for as long as he has, it had turned into a habit; it was living in his flesh; in his soul. ripping it out; twisting and changing wasn’t in the cards for him anymore. it was too late. 

but the pain in matias’s voice did not go unnoticed. josiah’s eyes narrowed to the papers on his desk, the tiny wooden desk in his cottage on the shore, where matty would ocassionally come to meet him. selfish; always so selfish and wrapped up in his own needs, in his own plans, plans that could fall through if he did not perfect every little detail. work on the perfect strategy that could just as easily fail; even if, josiah maxwell, rarely failed. 

“matias.” he called out his name; perhaps a minute or two too late. he wasn’t good at this; what was he supposed to do? run after him? would he even do that for saylor? has he done that for saylor? he couldn’t remember, because all of this was so foreign to him, so distant, so unlike him. 

he stood up from his desk and walked out of the cottage.  large frame standing outside the door and watching the other man walk away. “where are you going?” it was late; darkness beginning to swallow the shore. “it’s late.” he was only calling out from the door; but a part of him was hoping the man would turn around. 

@oceanboundx​

She had came with Ezekiel and honestly, she hadn’t minded. Her best friend was good company and she was glad that she was able to get him out of his house. She felt for him, as his wife had suddenly left him without a trace just a couple of months ago. She was trying her best to be a better friend. A supportive friend. But that didn’t mean that she didn’t have another reason for going with him. It was to make sure no one suspected her and Josiah. 

The Queen of the Forgotten moved towards the bar and tapped her fingers on the counter. Her eyes flickered towards the other side of the bar, noticing her Advisor. She offered Josiah a smile before she pushed back from the counter and moved towards him. “You came.” Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she stood next to him. Her hand brushed against his before she rested both of her hands on the counter. “Have a drink with me?”

-

a disguise. that’s what jessie was; that and a strong ally he needed to keep closer, hence why he chose her as his date for tonight, even if josiah wouldn’t usually be seen at an event like that; he was only doing this for saylor, and appearances. his father always knew how to keep up with them; as a formality, josiah on the other hand always rebeled against this; he was smart; clever - he knew how to keep his allies close and move a few steps ahead everyone else without attending boring events and involving himself in meaningless chatter. 

but there was saylor. a polar opposite that he was so wrapped up in; he only wished to ever see her happy. and if attending this event would bring a smile to her face, then he would do it.

you came. of course he did. only a fool wouldn’t. and he was, a fool, ocassionally, but losing her over this was not something he would be foolish to do. 

his hand his behind a large man’s frame; and it softly tangled with her own; even if it was for a brief moment; even if the mans frame would keep them hidden for a few minutes, it would have been enough. he had been too busy lately; both of them; it was only now that he got to indulge in keeping her close like this. 

“you look beautiful.” it spilled right past his lips, he did not even have to think about the words; they rolled down so swiftly. “is this evening everything you wanted it to be?” he wished to know if his presence really made a difference; if there was something more he could do. anything. everything. 

the drinks he ordered for the two of them were shortly presented before them on the bar, and his hands reluctantly now untangled from hers and wrapped around his glass. 

the brave, tin soldier - a book he not only loved as a child, but he continued to read through the centuries. and he had promised to find a copy for jessie; for the amount of time they’ve known each other, he has found out that they shared a similiar taste in books, and in people - which actually meant they liked none. she was a woman sharing the same responsibilities he had; she lived in the same world that he did. no close friends, only allies. 

that did not stop him from building a connection with her; he did not know if it stretched beyond allies, but his mouth curled in that way when he was being arrogant; cocky, in that way he talks to the ones he wants to pull closer; for his own benefit, because that’s what he does best, isn’t it? and she knew that. because she was doing the same thing. 

“of course i did.” he handed her the copy; but not before he allowed for his eyes to take in her dress. and then mossy hues locked back on hers - another similiarity - eyes like a mirror. 

STATUS: open | @calamitousstarters​

LOC: valentine’s ball

of course she was there. where else would she be? hiding in the forgotten? unlikely. sure, after what had happened in the aftermath of the play certainly made her…somewhat cautious – which for octavia, that was hardly cautious enough to stay away. no matter what her brother would tell her. 

not having a date paid her no mind. she sauntered in, confident and full of energy for fun. her wound was healed finally, feeling that nostalgic sway in her hips as she moved down the stairs and looked for eyes she recognised – or perhaps just eyes that watched her. 

she moved to the bar, tucking in beside someone and demanding the attention of the tender, ordering a glass of champagne. “you weren’t waiting, were you?” she asked the person next to her, not that she cared.

-

despite being here with someone; as a formality, nothing more, nothing less, his eyes still scanned the room for a certain face he awaited to see; she should’ve been here by now. there was not a trace of worry in his gaze, but his heart picked up its pace. what if she had no intention to be around him at such events anymore? last time went horribly wrong; and he knew he was the one at fault for that. perhaps she did not wish to give him a second chance - he wouldn’t blame her if that was the case.

he downed the last drops of whiskey in his flask; it was part of his attire, besides he was more comfortable drinking hiw own liquour, and so was jessie - they both carried their own flask. he had his back turned to the crowd for one second, when a familia voice eased through his senses. 

“i was actually. “ he did not turn around, but he adressed her anyway. she was his friend’s sister after all. he was going to be decend. “i still am.” he clarified, this time turning around to meet her eyes. “how’s your evening so far, octavia?”

He really was insufferable, his whole aura of not caring about a thing she said or did, or not caring about anything at all really ground on her. Maybe this was why he was so happy to fall in line with the Zander’s, because he genuinely just didn’t care about anything. Better to fall in line for an easy life than try and make a change for the benefit of the masses.

She couldn’t let it get to her, and she relaxed her features, although the glint in her eyes remained harsh.

“Good,” she spat out, “nice to know I’ve had some notice taken of me.” Though the majority of the Mer may not see things the way her family did, a small selection of them, and the rest of the state would, and did, and that was enough to know there was some weight in her opinion, enough to think with a twist in the narrative it could become fact. She wasn’t dumb however, that was why she spent the majority of her time on land these days, knowing full well that her presence wasn’t always appreciated within the Forgotten, most of all by Saylor. Mer jurisdiction didn’t stretch this far out.

She shrugged, a genuine grin stretching across her harsh features, the closest she had really gotten to matching his playful energy, “whiskey, vodka, beer, it all goes down the same way does it not? Has the same effect at the end of the day.” She tapped at her lips, looking up into the lighting as if it would bring forth an answer. “I don’t understand how someone like you is so…passive. Out of everyone in the Kingdom you’ve got potential, I can see it…but you’re happy to just be the lapdog and just waste your time on whiskey. I don’t…I don’t understand that.”

-

he dragged long digits over the rim of the glass; drawing circles slowly, light orbs fixated on the liquid that stil remained. alcohol had not had the same affect on him for a good while; now he was drinking out of habit; his hand was always reaching for the bottle, as if drawn by a magnet, as if the glass fit the palm of his hand perfectly. he welcomed every drop, every burn that was now more of a pleasurable scratch along his throat; it left no scars, no headache - but it couldn’t dull anything within him that wasn’t already gone.  she couldn’t know that; she saw a fragment of a man who turned into a loose canon at night, and a diplomat at day, but he liked to believe he was neither, and whatever he was; the man that he was, alcohol was just a crutch that he had leaned on to for centuries; a welcomed ally, that had turned into a friend; it was the only company he enjoyed. 

“now you sound like someone who has not had that much experience with drinking.” full lips tugged into a smirk;  before he brought the glass to his mouth and took a sip; eyes still on her.

he nodded his head at her words; he trusted that was an honest answer of her; she had not motive to lie about this, and even if she has, he didn’t find it that bad or demaging if he bought into her foul play; for once. however, there was a tiny part of him that hoped she was being honest.  “i’ve been alive for a very, very, very long time, daya.” he spoke gently; calm, but not the calm he oozed when his whole demenour could turn you into an ice figure; no, his voice was calm like a tide wave. “i’ve never had much ambition, even when i was younger. i know my spot in this world; always have. i’ve taken my spot in this place, i’ve chosen my believes, i’ve chosen my side - what’s left of me to do is defend it. do what is expected of me to do, i’ve given my word.” he offered her a genuine smile. he was a man of his word; he was raised like that, even if his father was nothing more than a man with a rotten heart; a liar, a broken man who died before he even thought about the word redemption.

“he was nothing like him, and yet he was more like him, than he was of his authentic self. who was he without his father’s legacy - perhaps there was truth to daya’s words, perhaps not. 

“are you disappointed in my answer?” he teased lightly, 

“Balls, balls, balls…” Olivia mumbles to herself as hands scramble to pick up the pieces and stuff them back into the trash bag. She stands up and almost walks into a chest, brows raising up as she pulls a less than convincing apologetic look to the mean-faced stranger. Before the brunette has a chance to say anything an arm comes down to her eye level and her eyes flick to the newcomer. Her own arms grab the trash bag a little tighter knowing how valuable the stuff inside could be to her and her work. “Pretty foolish.” Olivia agrees with a nod of her head and takes slow steps backwards from the two guys. “You two seem to be having a good catch-up though, don’t wanna intrude.” 

-

the other man was persistent. he reached for her bag and snatched it out right of her small hand; josiah mentally cursing the situation he found himself in; a human girl, and a very important and valuable ally, and him - sober and finding himself on the wrong side; two things that had not been frequent in his life. “and what do we have here - “ the older man trailed off, as he tore the bag open and pulled out the objects; observing them closely before letting some fall to the ground. 

“josiah let out a low sigh; mossy hues drifting between the bag and the brunette; words adressed to her quietly, as the fae was roaming through the bag, “don’t say anything.” he knew she would protest, if whatever was inside was so important she had to risk her safety, he assumed she would fight for what was now taken from her. he kept his arm before her; just in case she tried to leap forward. she didn’t strike him as the fiesty type, but he knew better than to underestimate anyone. “go. give me a place and i’ll meet you there with your belongings.” he muttered to her, as he urged her to move away from the scene. find a safe place to wait for a moment, until he took back the bag from the fae.