Octavian Shields

Where: Tiff’s house, in Octavian and Noelle’s room When: Thursday, August 31 What: After a lot of thought and worries, Octavian decides it’s safest for Noelle if they both leave the island and go back home to Chicago with their families. After some hesitation and convincing, Noelle agrees, is excited to return to her family, and prepares to say her goodbyes to those she cares about.

@ocxshields

Qhuinn sighed softly, twisting the damp tissue nervously in her hands. She was doing her best to keep him positive and give the best advice that she could, but it seemed like nothing was working. Not like she could blame him, she had a hard time keeping up hope when Meghan had been sick. But what had happened to her sister was not going to happen to Noelle, she could feel it. “Positive thought can be a powerful thing. I’m not saying that it’s going to help above and beyond everything else but..it can’t hurt. I’m sorry OC..I’m just trying to help in every way that I know how” she whispered, then nodded. “I understand. If that’s what you think is best for her, for the both of you, then that’s what you should do”

“Likely not.  My mothers were … well, one was a former ballerina, the other a performance artist.  Apparently even as a djinn, there’s only so much you can do when it comes to the ballet.”  And the latter probably did a bit too much of shrooms and acid while she was growing up, but Jude still loved her anyway.  The djinn wasn’t surprised to hear that a lot of people had come to visit Noelle; her feelings for the little brunette were quite pure.  She didn’t deserve what had happened to her, but at the same time, she did believe the best of Octavian.  At least for the moment with what little she knew of him and the helplessness she felt as a professor now versus a slave.  “I am happy I could help, if in any capacity.  Any issues they might have … now is probably not the best time to make them known.  It’s obvious you care for her, to the point that you claimed her, and not in hate.  And there’s only so much we can do.”  Another sigh left her, reaching over to give OC’s wrist a gentle squeeze.  “Pardon if I’m not remembering right, but we’ve talked about this, right?  I was a slave here, a former student.  Being here as a teacher … I know both parts of this place.”

Octavian raised a brow at the mention of mothers, plural, but quickly changed his expression. He didn’t really care about what that meant, what her background was. He wasn’t judgmental about that shit, especially not about lesbians. But it was still a small bit shocking. “Yeah? I imagine them like, not so flexible. Trapped in a bottle for so long,” he said, joking with her. Not something he did much since he started looking after Noelle in the hospital. Jude was a very calming presence for him. “Yeah, you mentioned it,” he started, nodding head at her. It made her unique, that she’d experienced stuff similar to Noelle, she could be trusted. “Which I think is why I’m good with you being here. Why I’m in one of the best moods since this happened. I know where your concern comes from. It’s easy to trust you. There aren’t many people I trust here. So many people have hurt her, despite my attempts to protect her,” the cambion said, motioning with his head towards Noelle. 

Smelling his tears, Qhuinn got up slowly and plucked a tissue from his cardboard house. Two actually, as her own eyes instantly started to stream as well. His sadness was like a weight on her slight shoulders, dragging her down, but she did what she needed to do. Handing him the Kleenex, she dropped a sisterly kiss to his forehead then sat again and dabbed under her eyes. “Don’t think that way.. If there was even the smallest chance that I didn’t think she was going to pull through, I would tell you OC. We gotta believe. The more we do, the more people who love her and come in here with their good vibes and prayers..the better her chances will be. I’ve seen stuff like that work, even in the most hopeless of cases. Never stop hoping” she whispered, then gave a sad nod. “Yeah.. I would miss you both like the sun, so would Violet and Tiff and so many others. But no one would blame you for it” 

Octavian shrugged at her. She couldn’t tell for sure what would happen, she already admitted that. And he wasn’t entirely sure she’d be able to give him bad news. Not that she wasn’t a good nurse ,she was. But he wasn’t sure that Qhuinn was the type to be able to deliver such a message. It was just seemed out of her nature. “I don’t know if good vibes are going to be what gets her out of this,” he said as he accepted the tissue from her. Octavian wasn’t like her, he was much more of a pessimist, despite the fact she had been at the school longer than him. The cambion tilted his head down as he contemplated leaving with Noelle in tow. If of course, she even woke up. “I mean, yeah, I’d miss it. But if she were safe, isn’t that’s what’s important? I know you said it was selfish to think that way, but that’s the difference between us. I’m good with being selfish,” he explained to her.

“See? That’s the kind of sweet romantic shit that would happen to the two of you when you get out of here. You’ll find each other and be together for the rest of your lives. You also have a family on the outside. You have people who will be ready for you. All I have is you guys. I don’t want to lose that.” She whispered softly. “I do think forgetting some things would be better for her, but I also want her to remember all the good things.” Violet rolled her eyes at him. “And what is the real you, Octavian?” She asked, realizing she rarely called him by his full name. “Maybe you should let her decide whether or not you’re worth it.”

Octavian shut Violet out for a bit as she spoke. She sounded crazy. The two were far off from marriage. Neither of them had even said that they loved each other. “Just... slow the fuck down...” he told her, putting his hand out while he shook his head. “If I took her out of here, it wouldn’t be so we could get married. It’s because Im tired of shit happening to her. Even now, who’s to say she doesn’t get compelled again? And worse shit happens to her this time around. It’s not some plan to make her my wife, jesus,” he told her, his head tilted up to look at the ceiling. “The real me? Probably the guy who wants to be able to fuck Sage, enjoy my time with her, then come home and hang out with Noelle,” he told her. Octavian wasn’t sure if he meant it, but it felt right saying it. Maybe it was just to make himself look like a jackass. 

Qhuinn bit her lip, retreating into herself once more at the emotions coming from OC, and at his words. She already felt useless, like a terrible person for being here. She didn’t condone what went on, and tried to help things and people when she could. But she couldn’t stop what happened. Did that make her a fraud? She was sure that wasn’t how OC meant things, but that was kind of how his words made her feel in that moment. “It’s not to late to tell her..” the wolf finally murmured, sighing a bit as he spoke. She had to swallow hard before answering, as she didn’t like the thought of losing either of them. But if they could find a better life away from here, she would be the first to support that. “You’re right..you would be better of somewhere safe. If that’s..what you both want, then I think you should do it” Qhuinn finally finished, her gaze sweeping to Noelle. The girl did deserve so much better, they all did.

Octavian shrugged at her. “You don’t know that. It could be. She might not ever wake up,” he reminded her, wiping some of the tears off his cheeks. He didn’t like thinking about that, but it was possible. This could be the end for Noelle. Octavian wasn’t sure how he’d be able to live with himself if that happened. He sat back in his chair. This was the first time he ever seriously considered leaving here. Even though Noelle’s compulsion may have been broken, who’s to say it wouldn’t happen again? “Yeah? You think?” he asked her as he still considered it. ‘I mean, she may not remember me, but at least I’d know she would be safe,” he added.

“I know.” she said quietly. Noelle knew she could be too trusting and naive at times, she should probably listen to Octavian more when it came to people she couldn’t remember. “I don’t…work for him anymore, do I? He’s not my boss anymore?” she asked, only imagining what would happen if she had to go back there. She chewed on her lip, it was hard to remember awful stuff like that. “Maybe without my compulsion, people won’t be so mean to me anymore? It’s probably less fun now…” she mused, hoping that was true. Noelle smiled a little, “Just around me? I bet you’re always confident.” she pointed out. Her cheeks got red at his questions and she shrugged, not wanting to admit out loud to all the sexual memories that actually had come back. “Um, I remember a lot of our kisses. You should tell me about our first one.”

Jude nodded, though she wasn’t sure she understood, even hearing his thoughts as she could.  Maybe by trying to destroy what he had with Noelle, it was considered both.  She was no counselor, no therapist, but she did earnestly hope the two would have the opportunity to work it out, and do so to boot.  While closer to Noelle than OC, she’d be there for both if needed.  At his question, the djinn was pulled from her thoughts, giving him a small smile and a nod.  “I did.  I learned to crochet and knit from one of the hippies in the caravan.  The rhythm is relaxing.”  It hadn’t taken her much time to make, the size of the yarn ensured that it was a quick knit.  But she was happy to see that he seemed pleased enough, even if he didn’t consider himself worthy of any of the presents, despite the situation and it being his birthday.  Though her face did darken only slightly at his question, hesitating for a moment before nodding.  “It’s how I know she’s not lost, that there’s still hope.  I’ve been in these rooms when there’s none.  Hold onto that, Octavian.  She’ll need you.”

“Yo that’s really cool. I think my mom can do stuff like that. I mean, she at least had the supplies, but I never saw her make anything. I guess it could have been my grandma’s stuff though,” he rambled a little, just trying to take his mind off of the situation at hand. “Although, neither of them were hippies, I can guarantee you that. So if either of them learned, I don’t think it was under the same circumstances,” he joked. Octavian looked her over, now with another blanket over her. She always did like to be cozy. Octavian resumed his seat next to her. “A lot of people have come to visit her,” he started, slouching down in his chair a little. “But honestly, I think this has been the best visit yet. People come in here criticizing me, being a victim, or just being... weird. I know, people have meant well, trying to make me feel better. But you were probably the first to actually do that. So, thank you,” he told her. Octavian wasn’t serious often, so this was a rare moment. “Sort of wondering what your angle is. There aren’t meant down to earth people here,” he added.

“I..think some do. I mean, Finn let me claim him and Hyun before, so..that has to matter for something right? I just don’t want anyone to hate me or be angry at me because I can’t do more.” For a while, when they first met, she had thought Simon felt that way about her. And he probably did to an extent, but they had worked past it. Her stubborn streak had worn him down until he saw the person that she really was. And she guessed that was kind of her point to OC, that this place didn’t define them, the good ones, any more than it did the grant students. “No, you’re not a bad person at all. I never thought that you were. A slightly unbearably conceited one maybe, but not bad” Qhuinn joked lightly, tapping his thigh with the toe of her Converse. She had to shake her head at the thought of the rules changing for anything, anyone. It just didn’t seem plausible. “I know she deserves better..they all do. The only people that deserve to be hurt are the ones doing the hurting but that never happens. There’s no justice. Good people die, while the ones who run this place still live. But yet..I can’t help the feeling that I still have more to do here” Qhuinn sniffled softly, wiping her eyes before looking back at OC. “No..no one could watch after her better than you, because no one cares about her the way that you do.. We all love her but..you’re doing this OC. You’re doing the best you can”

Octavian furrowed his brow. He didn’t even know that Qhuinn had one claim, let alone two. Things happened here so quickly. Octavian thought he had moved the conversation back to Noelle, seeing as she was the person in the room who was the worst off. “I guess,” was the only response he could muster. No matter what, he had grown bitter at the idea of claiming someone. It wasn’t even much of a protection. It was really just a symbol. “Yeah, but I mean, that’s your opinion, just one person. There were times I could have told her that I liked her. Hell, maybe even that I loved her. But I didn’t. Maybe it was pride, maybe it was because I was scared. But sometimes I think it was just because I wanted to be an ass to her. The hell kind of person does that make me? Maybe you have more to do here. But honestly, I’m not sure I still do. I know an education means a lot to her, but it doesn’t to me. We’d probably be better off someplace else, someplace safe. I don’t care if there are others slaves here who have to deal with shit. I don’t care about them. Not like I do with her,” he explained.

“You.. You just called me a third wh- oh fuck it.” She huffed. Violet glanced down at her hands as OC talked. “Yeah. For now. But what happens when one of us, or both of us, leaves this place? From what I’ve heard, we won’t have our memories. I don’t want to be alone again OC, I don’t want to lose the only family I’ve had in a long time, even if we aren’t blood related.” She whispered. She glanced up at him, remembering hearing something about his fiance before. “Then you should feel better around Noelle. Because as long as you don’t put on a front, you don’t have to be anything else. You will be good enough for her if you do that. And you know Noelle. She’ll never judge you. I don’t think she has it in her. I know what you mean. I feel like I’m putting on a front all the time now too, but you shouldn’t have to do that around your friend and around your sort-of girlfriend/claim.”

Octavian was upset. Maybe the most since he got here. The cambion shrugged his shoulders at her, unsure what to even say to her. He didn’t remember that, but if he did call her a third wheel, it was probably out of sarcasm. It does sound like something he would say. “I don’t know,” he started, contemplating what it would be like. “I guess, if me and her were meant to be, we’d find each other again. And honestly, I’d rather her forget all the shit that happened to her here, even if that meant forgetting me. It would be worth it,” he told her. Octavian wasn’t sure he actually believed that, or if it was just something he’d said in the heat of the moment. OC shook his head at her, she didn’t get it. “It’s not easy. I know you think it is. But it’s not. In fact it’s probably better to not show her the real me. Or like, drive her away, make her realize there are better people here for her. It’s good she finds that out now before we get too attached,” he added.

Noelle frowned a little, biting the inside of her cheek. “I don’t want to assume the worst in people though…I bet there aren’t that many bad people here are there?” she asked, trying to stay hopeful. She nodded though, “I had a headache last night and remembered her…she hurt Violet.” she admitted. “I think I’m remembering things I was compelled to forget, like stuff I wasn’t supposed to talk about or tell you about.” she said quietly. She smiled a little and gave him arm a small shove, “You’re so confident!” she accused playfully. “Maybe if we’re alone and the doors are locked…maybe.” she added, feeling her ears get red. She snuggled in closer to him, nodding. “It’s okay. I know you’re a good guy.” she assured gently. “I’m getting a lot more good memories than bad ones, a lot thanks to you.”

These commands were getting increasingly taxing. First she had to go make-out with Zaki out of the blue, which was an odd dare, but at least she knew him and knew she could explain to him what’d happened. But now she was supposed to kiss a random person? Like like time though, her body was responding to the command and before she could stop herself, she grabbed the first person who was walking by and drew them in for a kiss. “Uh…sorry,” she mumbled, pulling back a little. “It was a command thing.”

“Oh will you now?” she chuckled when OC mentioned putting himself on the menu at the bakery. She could imagine that lines like that usually worked for him with great success- it was charming, how could anyone resist? “I must say, I feel honoured that you’d do something like that for little ole me,” she teased, leaning against the counter as she watched Octavian move about the kitchen. He sure seemed very familiar with the space- with was promising to say the least. Last thing she needed was for him to have an accident trying to impress her. When he called her temptation, Briar grinned and shook her head. “I’ll have you know that me kissing you like that was a very rare occurrance, alright?” she joked good-naturedly. “Although, if all the people I kiss abruptly turn out to be as charming as you, I might be in a bit of trouble, don’t you think?” She didn’t exactly approve of not helping out- she needed something to do to occupy her hands, but she also didn’t want to step on any toes. If Octavian wanted to run the show, then she’d let him- with the promise that she’d return the favour another time. “Mostly Greek dishes, it’s what my mother taught me. But as the years went on, I picked up other dishes, mostly because of my siblings. Some of them are very picky eaters. And did you offer that?” she asked with playful innocence. “I can’t seem to recall.”

“Little ole you...” he said with a scoff. Her curves were anything but insignificant. They were eye catching, she had to know that. But she seemed to not like the spotlight, no matter how much he tried to place it on her. “Trust me, I don’t pay attention to girls that I don’t think are cute,” he assured her. Octavian placed the steak in the sizzling hot pan, and placed a healthy amount of butter on each of them. He kept the butter out, and turned back to her. Octavian smirked as she explained herself. “Look it’s okay. I have that affect on women. It’s not your fault. You’re probably a damn good girl, most of the time,” he joked. Well, half joked. Octavian figured even the most well behave,d button down, church going girls were compelled to kiss him. Briar was doming something not a lot of women did though, which was openly compliment him back. The cambion knew he was charming, it just wasn’t very often someone else told him that. “I don’t you’d get in trouble. People would be pretty happy to be getting kisses form the likes of you. But hey, if you want to not take the chance, and instead make me your victim, then go for it,” he told her. He walked over to the mixing bowl with the butter and cut what was needed for the mix. He raised some of the cabinets and put what else was necessary for them and turned the stand mixer on. “Well, just to be sure,” he said as he began to take his clothing off, until he was only in his boxers. “As host I think it would be rude for you to be the sexiest person here,” he joked. Octavian leaned over the counter, facing her. “Greek dishes huh? Like what?” he asked.