&& THANATOS

✧ —  @paledcath !

      it seemed to be one of those days where the littlest inconveniences were starting to add up.

       evan was out of tea for breakfast, and so she went to purchase more. only for her favourite brand to be out of stock. that was fine, she could handle that, and just buy some another day. but when she went to a coffeeshop to fulfill her needs, a clumsy businessman rushed past her and jostled the cup right from her hands and down the front of her skirt. okay, that was not his fault, he was probably in a hurry and late for a meeting. evan had experience with plenty of lawyers to understand that trouble. when she sat down to try and complete some work on her laptop, she discovered it was dead, and that her cat, jean-claude, had chewed through the charging cable the night before which was why it had not charged all night.

                    it was time to get back into bed. call it a day already, and perhaps start over.

      yet, it was not over, much to her displeasure. extreme displeasure. there were many human customs that she did not understand even after having been explained to her. one of them being — roadkill. at the sight of the deceased bushy tail belonging to a squirrel at the curb, tears sprung to her eyes before she could help it. she really was going to be that girl crying on the sidewalk about a dead animal. but who could commit such an atrocity?

[ text ✉ >> 💕👻char-amander 👻💕 ]: hahahahaha nope not unless theyre draggin my ass back 2 arkham [ text ✉ >> 💕👻char-amander 👻💕 ]: those fuckers [ text ✉ >> 💕👻char-amander 👻💕 ]: ooh!!! sounds sups cool!!! im in!!! [ text ✉ >> 💕👻char-amander 👻💕 ]: how bout we sneak out 2gether???  [ text ✉ >> 💕👻char-amander 👻💕 ]: itll be another adventure!!! cnt wait!!

[ text → ✉ → char 🖤]: umm. yup. [ text → ✉ → char 🖤]: it does matter, char :c [ text → ✉ → char 🖤]: i’m scared because i’m a terrible momma to rini [ text → ✉ → char 🖤]: and i’m scared because i don’t think this is ever something i’ll get over :c [ text → ✉ → char 🖤]: you both may not be but… i’m upset with myself :c

[ text >> charani roth. ] – yeah, you’re right. it’ll be tough [ text >> charani roth. ] – but you know me, i love a challenge [ text >> charani roth. ] – can’t imagine any upsides to being drunk at the moment. so i guess that hangover was good for something, after all

[ text >> charani roth. ] – did you say pregnant?? [ text >> charani roth. ] – how in the hell would i get pregnant, char. i’m literally only seeing women rn ???

            ❝ you’re welcome.❞ he mumbled, his attention caught by the feeling of a hand against his arm, his skin instantly warming at the touch.  it was too quiet in the apartment, save for elijah’s pounding heart. no signs of rini or scarlet which meant no distractions from  the sight of charani stripping off the last bit of clothing they were wearing.  blue eyes tracked the jacket as it i drifted down towards the floor —  a shower? together?      as if he wasn’t feel uncomfortably hot already, the question that left charani’s lips had elijah nearly choking on air. they were just messing with him right? no. maybe before they officially started dating, but looking into the shorter brunette’s eyes elijah knew they were serious. ( surprisingly enough the other guy wasn’t fighting for control. a sense of respect for charani or was it fear of being called names again? ) his throat felt dry as her felt their fingers interlock.  ❝ i,um, show — you sure that’s a good idea. i can just shower after you’re done. i don’t mind waiting.❞ once again his eyes locked on something being his partner —  a bookshelf off in the distance. one of the books was out just a little further than the rest.

         maybe they should have felt bad for how flustered elijah was getting. they didn’t want to pressure or push him into anything he wasn’t ready for. but at the same time... they couldn’t help the teasing. his reactions and expressions were--- charani wouldn’t say adorable but, they would say amusing. not only that but there was some part of the cambion that felt that the man would never step out of his comfort zone without a little push. it had taken quite a lot to get him to even kiss them. ( sometimes it was still an effort to have him make the first move there, as well. ) so. suggesting and pushing him a little... well. charani felt it’d help in the long run. 

         “ i would not have asked you if it was not a good idea, “ fingers still intertwined together charani pulled the other’s hand up to rest against their chest, directly above their heart. so elijah could feel the steady heartbeat. remind himself to stay calm and steady. “ see? i mean it. no joking or lying here. “ they let go of his hand, gently, before twitching the corners of their lips into a hint of a smile. “ if you really do not wish to--- i will not force you. “ the brunette took a step back, finally moving to turn around. “ but i would like you to come. “ they were already starting towards the bathroom in the apartment, giving elijah a fleeting glance before continuing on.

event starter | @paledcath

    she’s twenty seven but she has yet to learn how  to act like it. ley’s over      this whole event, it’s bullshit. what, just  cause  your lights went out and     your electronics go fuzzy you gotta lock everyone in? fuck that. it’s way     more  fun when  there’s  less  distractions  and  less  light–  makes  the      element of surprise more pronounced. so she blinks, and lets  her body     go with the flow. teleport. find  charani.  it  definitely  took  the demon a     few tries to get charani’s location right, considering that ley didn’t know     where the fuck they  could  be  in  the  slightest.  a  couple  of  shocked      faces as she pops in and out  unannounced  looking for her companion,     and just under twelve tries,  ley  considers  having found them in eleven     attempts pretty impressive. 

           “—— bitch come on let’s get this show on the road.”

    oops.  hope  she  didn’t give the other a heart attack popping out of no     where. 

           “hang the skin of one of the kids in the janitor’s closet             or something, maybe? i don’t know. what do you do             for fun?”

              consider it their unusual upbringing that makes them so accustomed to everything. nothing short of their grandfather appearing in front of them would really startle them--- and even then--- that’s a hard maybe. it’s hard to startle them, so, when a portal opens up in front of them charani does not even blink. merely steps back as the fellow cambion pops out speaking. the younger cambion raises a brow, lips tight in a monotone expression. of course. murder. ley would consider that fun. the blue eyed college student stepped back around as the portal vanished into thin air, dusting themselves off as they eyed ley. they were--- sort of cousins? charani had no idea what the hierarchy of hell was, really. they were both princette and princesses in a way.

“Where are these strangers? I will make sure they do not continue on their seizure.” Thor asks since last he checked his building was meant to be relatively safe. Considering his children were here he doesn’t want them to be learning their lessons somewhere that was at risk. He was fortunate to come when he did at least.

          at first he thought maybe charani got what he meant. they had paused for a brief moment, but as usual, it wasn’t that simple. nothing ever seemed simple with charani roth. he knew what a smirk like that could mean — multiple things that all ended up with elijah becoming more embarrassed than before. oh no. how did they interpret his words? save their naked appearance —  he sputtered again, a mix of words that didn’t make sense in any shape or form. more like noises that could loosely resemble words. if it weren’t for charani taking the jacket from his hands, eli was sure it would’ve fallen to the floor. ❝ i ,um, that’s not — ❞            and there went the pants. his mouth suddenly felt dry, eyes unable to turn away for a brief second as he took in the sight of charani’s bare thighs. just standing there in a pile of their clothes by the — oh right he had the keys. scrambling to pull them out of his back pocket, eli all but rushed towards the door. his fingers fumbled with the array of keys on the ring until he managed to jam to right one in the lock and open the door. looking down at the ground, the nervous wreck of a boy moved aside to let charani enter first. ❝ s-sorry.❞

        they’re watching him with a smirk, corners of their lips pulled tight and eyes half lidded as elijah fumbled with the keys to the apartment. at least he remembered them this time. he tends to leave them behind most of the time. arms crossed charani cocked their head to the side as the door swung open, elijah stepping aside with it. they hummed, kicking the pile of dirty clothes into the doorframe before moving to follow it. the cambion patted the walters’ bicep as they walked by, hand lingering on his arm until it was pulled away by them walking further into the apartment. “ thank you, elijah. “

“Now this is rather odd. I arrive back in Midgard, and someone stole the light out of this place.” Thor announces while he wanders through the halls. He twirls the hammer in his hand for a moment, observing his surroundings before sliding Mjolnir into the holster on his back. Now that his hands were free he hopes to come off less threatening if anyone was around. 

the dead walk among her  ,  a friend to the dark  ,  a home of nightmares  .  teary eyes blink stars back with each yawn  ,  growing exhaustion impeding on her reluctance to rest until her daughter does  .  she’s a PRYDE  ,  that very much implies a pridefulness that’s rooted in her ornery and tenacious outlook of providing protection for her loved ones  .  and yet she’s slowly nodding off into slumber  ,  dark curls pressed against the brick wall of the basketball court  ,  toddler cradled in her arms  .  

(   she’s a horrible mother  ,  isn’t she  ?  trapped in a blackout and lockdown  ,  isolated from her family  ,  unable to fully support her own daughter without the unyielding craving to swallow a fistful of pills  .  there’s nothing poetic about being a mess  ,  nothing poetic because prose will once end but her addiction seems infinite and boundless  .    )

it’s a voice and approaching footsteps  ,  however  ,  that tease her awake from her reveries  ,  and the pryde’s sunken visage immediately brightens  .  despite everything lately  ,  the secrets and lies and deceit  ,  the overdose and withdrawals and limitless cravings  ,  this is her family  ,  and she refuses to take them for granted again  .   ❝  charani  ?  eli  ?  you found us  !   ❞  gosh  ,  she’s missed them  .  steps towards them both and pulls them in for a tight hug  .   ❝  you’re both safe  ,  thank goodness  .  i was starting to worry so much  !  how’re you both doing  ?  personally  ,  i’m super frustrated they separated us  .  rini’s been really overwhelmed with the lockdown and has been a pretty big handful  .  ❞  a gesture to the toddler whose cheek’s resting delicately on her left shoulder  ,  small pool of drool soaking into her sweater  .   ❝  i think she’s finally fallen asleep  .  ❞

@prodigivm

          with each room they searched, elijah had to remind himself that there  was still hope. it was hard not to get frustrated, but he had to collect himself  for charani’s sake. while they could be the frustrated one, eli had to be the  hopeful one this time. scarlet had taught him that much. what he wouldn’t give for her infectious happiness right now though. mustering up what he could, elijah gave charani’s hand a reassuring squeeze as they headed towards the basketball courts. at first he hadn’t spotted scarlet, charani being more adept to the darkness than elijah, but the second he did relief flooded his body. just seeing her and rini was one thing, but hearing her voice —  he didn’t even bother to hide the huge grin that enveloped his face. complete at last. ( trying to find the rest of his family, his sister and the defenders still lingered in the back of his mind, but his partners and child needed him right now. he couldn’t be separated from them again.)

          as scarlet pulled them both in for a hug, elijah rested his head on top of scarlet’s head, arms wrapped around all of them as best as he could. ❝ better now that we’re all together. other than being frustrated are you and rini alright?❞ he pulled away ever so slightly to get a better look at the sleeping toddler on scarlet’s shoulder. ❝ that’s good. have you slept yet? do you need a break?❞ anything to make things easier for both scarlet and charani.

@paledcath

             relief settles in charani’s stomach as scarlet shifts her gaze to them, smiling. the relief grows at the sound of the girl’s voice, infectiously happy even with the frustration and exhaustion tinging the edges of it. charani allows themself to smile, soft and small but still there. there’s very few people who can make them smile--- and the roth’s small family makes up most of them now. “ of course we found you--- i was not going to rest until we were together again. “ there’s no apathy or monotone in their voice. not today. emotions tint it, frustration and relief all at once. they’re whole again. 

            they let elijah speak for the most part, more than content to just hold scarlet for a while. even when elijah pulls back charani doesn’t want to let go. it’s not just worry from being separated. they KNOW scarlet has been battling more than just exhaustion these past few days. and they know scarlet will not speak of it--- not that charani even knows how to discuss it with her. “ yes, “ they finally pull away though, they leave a hand to rest against the small of the other brunette’s back. “ how are you? “ charani’s question is deeper than it sounds, blue eyes searching the mutant. “ if you need anything--- we are here now. and i am refusing to leave again. they will have to forcibly remove me. “

          charani’s distrust for authority was something elijah often tried to help fix, but their words this time….it seemed highly likely that could be the case.  ❝ that sounds like something they might do.❞ he admitted, having no problem with admitting when he thought charani was right. more often than not he tried to get his partner to see the other side of things, but this time — he just couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something to be worried about.

          ❝ irritated is better than hurt, so that’s good.❞ it wasn’t like he wasn’t used to charnai being irritated. he’d be more concerned if they weren’t irritated at all. ❝ there’s nothing i need other than for all of us to be together. so if you’re ready to go, we can sneak around this way to get to the door. ❞ gently he lowered their intertwined hands, swinging them gently between them. ❝ they might not let us go home, but at least we can stick together this way.❞

          they can’t help the proud smile that slipped onto their face as elijah agreed with them. charani knew that often times scarlet and elijah both tried to get them to see the better side of things--- bless them, really but--- for him to agree meant something truly did feel shady. good. charani didn’t trust the administration as far as they could throw them. especially not in this situation. the three of them could deal with that later though. for now charani just wanted to find the rest of their little family. ( they were sure elijah wanted to check on his sister, as well, and that scarlet was worried about her sisters, too but, that could come afterwards. ) scarlet and karina first. ranting about the school government second. 

          “ i would not let myself get hurt, do not worry. “ of course they would say that. of course they’d believe they’d be incapable of being hurt. they knew it was in the realm of possibilities but... a very slim one. very, very slim. “ alright, “ they nodded to his statement, face soft as they swung their hand back with his. “ hopefully your uncle will not worry too much. “ too bad. they were stealing elijah. 

@sweetfablcs​ ] finding scarlet without the spirits outright telling charani where she was proved to be far more irritating for the cambion than they had initially thought. at least elijah being with them helped quell some of their anxieties and anger. but going from one building to another was a tiring effort. finally though, finally, it seemed they had narrowed it down to two locations. the basketball court, ( which had charani wrinkling their nose because SPORTS ), and the cafeteria. they had chosen the court first. it was much bigger than the area elijah had been corralled into--- big enough that most people were spread across the court. that, even with the small amount of light, made it easier for charani to spot a collection of curls near a court wall. 

          ❝ yeah, i’m glad they thought to put us together at least.❞  it had been the main thing keeping him calm in the begining. after being told that he was to be separated from both of his partners and his child, having bruce around reassured him that things would be okay.  ( no matter what anyone told him, rini was also his child. she’d always be important to him even if there wasn’t a biological bond.)           charani not knowing where scarlet was either worried elijah a bit, but he did his best to focus on the positives. he and charani were together now at the very least. together they could search for the rest of their little family. ❝ exactly, together we’ll find them. we got this.❞ out of a habit he leaned into the hand on his cheek, a small smile appearing on his face. small acts of physical affection were easier to deal with now that he had gotten used to them. instead of causing his heart to race, charani’s actions gave him something to keep him grounded and calm. gently he lifted one of his hands to place over charani’s. ❝ i’m uninured, don’t worry. what about you? how are you holding up?❞ he just needed to check on them before doing anything else. had to make sure that charani was okay, even though they seemed to be alright. dating scarlet and charani taught elijah that not everything was as it seemed.

           “ perhaps they put some thought into this. otherwise it seems to me they split us all up in hopes for us leaving our assigned locations. “ they crinkled their nose up at the thought, never having much trust for any position of authority. being raised in a cult that insisted anyone outside of it would try to kill them had perhaps given charani some issues with authority. paragon’s tendency to keep things from their students and faculty didn’t help this distrust. still. they were forced to be here. and couldn’t actively act out against the school--- for scarlet and elijah’s sake--- but it didn’t mean they had to be happy about anything the administration did.