LOVE AND MAGIC

Watching her expression fall as she saw the memories hurt. He'd been there for Persy's nightmares and had always tried to reassure her that they would get through this, but now the nightmare was real.

Those words just broke Eri's heart all over again. He didn't want forgiveness, or any sort of apology. He wished that she'd just scream at him and tell him that he was the worst kind of screwup possible. Blame him, not herself. She was just human. And he'd been a deity. He was meant to heal people. To help people. Not kill them. To his horror, he started crying, and nothing he could do would stop the tears from falling.

Getting the call from Percy had set Luke’s nerves on edge. Although she had sounded pleasant enough on the phone, there was something not quite right. The normal charisma that he’d come to expect from Percy was lost in her voice as he agreed to meet with her, rushing to wash away the day’s filth in the shower.

Seeing Luke broke her heart. There was a part of her that had hoped maybe she could have gotten to know him better or explore the feelings she had for him, but none of that would happen now. Even without being told, she knew her days were numbered. Still, she kept her smile warm and soft, wanting this meeting to be a good one.

Eri shook his head at her question about the seat being taken. He didn't want to see Persy right now. Her presence was just making things worse. He wanted her to be doing whatever would make her happy with whatever remained of her life, not talking to him.

date: late night October 31/early November 1

She had just been settling in to watch a movie when he appeared, clearly upset despite how much he was trying to hide it and hold it all in. She set her bowl of popcorn down in time for him to sit next to her and take her hands in his. Even before she mentioned Eri, she had an idea of what he was going to say.

There was something about Eli’s words that sounded odd, but she ignored that, instead feeling reassured that they were both safe and that they could protect each other, as well as rely on the pack she had grown close to over the years, and especially over the last several months. Persy led him to the large den and found a spot on the sofa, pulling a blanket up around her but leaving space for Eli to sit beside her. 

For: @persyweiss

where: vicium with who: open @vievecorcitystarters

She had wanted to get out for fresh air, sticking to areas she knew. Regrettably, she had ended up at Vicium. It had been almost a year since she'd spent any amount of time there and it felt so foreign to her, but almost nostalgic at the same time. At the very least, she could have a drink and pretend to feel normal for a while.

He let out a relieved sob when she opened her eyes, kissing the palm of her hand before pulling her closer. "I don't- I don't know I'm sorry." Persy was already on the ground injured when he had run to her. But past that, everything was a blur. It had happened maybe a minute ago, but why was he having trouble remembering what had happened? "You were hurt. I think you turned so you could heal."

Eri gave an exhausted nod, blinking rapidly to regain his balance. Elijah wanted to know what happened. That was what he was asking. Eri was nearly too exhausted to think up a good lie, so he stuck as close to the truth as he dared.

Elijah appeared a few feet away from them and at first only saw a vague shape. He'd been summoned when one of the protective charms Persy was wearing said that she had been gravely injured. After a second, the misshapen lump resolved into a person curled over a wolf that Elijah had never seen before but felt like he recognized.

Eri could do nothing but allow himself to be tossed to the side as Elijah appeared. The man had always seemed so put together, and seeing him lose it now seemed somehow worse than the situation had been initially. He, very slowly, very painfully, turned his back to the pair, allowing Elijah to mourn in peace.

The last thing she remembered was being a wolf and panicking and now she was waking up with Eli cradling her with tears soaking his face. What had happened? She remembered transforming, was that why he was so upset.

When she had started to feel unwell, she assumed it was anxiety or a stomach ache and had decided to take a walk. But the further she walked, the worse she felt. Everything felt wrong, her mind felt wrong. She felt angry and unsettled, on edge. Every noise was louder, echoing in her ears. Persy didn't know where she was anymore, desperately trying to hurry back home. She had realized now what was happening, that something was wrong with the potion she had drank and she was changing. Hearing a voice call out to her, reminding her of that horrible night in a park, just like tonight, was enough to break her concentration.

"Hey, whoah!" Eri said, sobering up fast. He yanked his sleeve free, stumbling back a few steps. "Calm down!"

For @persyweiss

When she had started to feel unwell, she assumed it was anxiety or a stomach ache and had decided to take a walk. But the further she walked, the worse she felt. Everything felt wrong, her mind felt wrong. She felt angry and unsettled, on edge. Every noise was louder, echoing in her ears. Persy didn't know where she was anymore, desperately trying to hurry back home. She had realized now what was happening, that something was wrong with the potion she had drank and she was changing. Hearing a voice call out to her, reminding her of that horrible night in a park, just like tonight, was enough to break her concentration.

He'd tried to resolve the 'conflict of interest' but he was the only teacher for the class this semester so he'd been stuck with Izak. "What rumors?" He knew it was bait, but the words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. Percy always had gone for more personal insults, but Elijah had to wonder if there actually were rumors flying around about him, and if so, what they were saying.

No matter what he had said, it was always what he didn't say that caught Elijah's attention more. He suppressed a grin that threaten to expose just how much he enjoyed the attention the other man was giving him now, all of his focus on his question and the answer he hoped to receive. "Rumors about your marriage," he replied, knowing Elijah's mind would run wild with the possible rumors that could be circling. Students loved talking about teachers who's marriages were falling apart and who were being cheated on.

"Yes. I take it it is not your every day occurrence." Teddy laughed humorlessly as he sat, dropping his shoulders in slight defeat. "I was..really lucky to have made it out with just a couple of bruises and scratches." Oh, but Percy'd said something else, hadn't he? "Oh..and, you're helping already..this is." The male gestured between the two of them and smiled. Normal felt good, yes. Pointing towards the other's coffee at the waiter, he then looked up. "..I'm glad to hear you're doing well, Percy. Any chance I can attend one of your classes again soon? I'd..I'd really like that."

Teddy was clearly very comfortable around him if he was comforted by his presence and was also willing to tell him what had happened so candidly. He must have also been stressed, given how his face and shoulders fell as he was seated, but Percy decided against pointing that out, for now. "You don't have to attend any classes, you know. You're welcome to visit, or even just sit in. I won't assign you any readings," he added, teasing him gently. "You are the first to actually want to come to one of my classes, though. I must admit, I'm flattered."

“It didn’t kill you then, and it won’t kill you now.” He couldn’t guarantee that without using more serious magic to permanently alter her dreams, but he wanted to put the idea into Persy’s mind that she would be safe. Elijah reached out towards the door to cast a protection spell that should keep the monster out before turning back to Persy. “Esme and her pack should drive it away, so I think we’ll be safe here for as long as you want to stay.”

There was something about Eli’s words that sounded odd, but she ignored that, instead feeling reassured that they were both safe and that they could protect each other, as well as rely on the pack she had grown close to over the years, and especially over the last several months. Persy led him to the large den and found a spot on the sofa, pulling a blanket up around her but leaving space for Eli to sit beside her. 

There was something about Eli’s words that sounded odd, but she ignored that, instead feeling reassured that they were both safe and that they could protect each other, as well as rely on the pack she had grown close to over the years, and especially over the last several months. Persy led him to the large den and found a spot on the sofa, pulling a blanket up around her but leaving space for Eli to sit beside her.