#concupitor

The early summer heat exacerbated the warmth of the tavern, the unfaltering goodwill permeating the tavern as infectious as any will to happiness. Leander had long abandoned his coat, but had refused to undo any part of his shirt due to his inebriated inability to undo the far-too-many buckles holding it together. The heat and the hour and the countless bottles of mead had left him dead tired, but couldn’t bring himself to be the reason his men couldn’t keep up their carousing. But the same drinking games, the same jokes, the same drunken spats, the same magic tricks done for the same people … were taking their toll upon him, quietly tarnishing the brilliance of his smile. 

That was, until, an unmistakable shock of dark red hair peeked over the heads of the crowd, drawing Leander’s attention immediately. His heart quickened foolishly in his chest, quiet excuses given as he extracted himself from the throng to see who it was for himself. Sure enough, Vere stood before him, his scowling expression quite incongruous with the merriment of the mood. Leander, however, lit up at the sight of him, grinning wide even as he stopped himself from pulling him for a proper greeting. 

“You’re here!” he exclaimed happily,  his voice barely loud enough over the throng. He wasn’t so foolish as to think Vere would be here specifically for him. It was enough that Vere was here at all. He beamed at him. “Can I buy you a drink? You’re going to stay awhile, aren’t you?” 

@concupitor

Ok, first of all, hello! Welcome to the rambling with Renata. Giving heads up that all of these ideas are easily changeable, adapted, or fully rewritten. It’s only ideas and nothing is set in stone. If any plot idea interests you, please, tell me! And give me all what YOU would want to see/to do. I’m very laid-back regarding dark topics and plots, given the setting of the verse and these characters' behaviors. We love two pretty beasts killing anything that stands in their way. 

As both Vere and Zarina are muses of high power and/or authority, please correct me on any takes I might have gotten wrong or what you’d like to add. Many would prefer to add their spins based on mythology or unique twists, so run this by me in the future! Not only that, but I want to make sure to be respectful while balancing out/communicating about how these two can interact in different dynamics. 

Alright, now it’s time for me to offer several ideas. Since Vere has been forced to listen to Senobium mages through the magic collar, I believe they could’ve met in Senobium the first time by accident or because she was forced to meet him by other mages. Let me now dive into the ideas regarding what information Vere can have regardless of interactions! 

Let’s go down the line of what I want you to know you can use in future plotting and interactions! It’s interesting to me to see what may interest you because I can see these two being very self-indulgent, turn anything into an innuendo just for fun (just to get on other’s nerves like Vere tricked MC and how Zarina tricks Bloodhounds), and are vicious yeet hide under pretty appearances. I’m actually very curious about where their interactions can go! 

Logically speaking, I think Vere and Ais are the only ones who would know VERY CLOSELY what Zarina became after her exile aka an Elemental, I give Vere even more rights to that information/deduction/assumption because he’s said to be a fox SPIRIT. Basically, I give you and Vere the possibility of knowing Zarina’s nature as an elemental based on his experience in the Shroud, also mentioned being an old and powerful spirit. 

Vere can also have additional knowledge about Zarina from the Senobium mages. Specifically, hearing about her preventing some experiment or getting on some of the mages’ nerves or how was speaking about not using monsters to do their jobs. I also think that because Vere is who he is, certain Senobium mages probably would also speak to him specifically about how maybe they should assassinate her with Vere’s help but never actually go in that direction. It’s just a possibility because I’m sure there are mages in Senobium who tried to kill her but failed, so others dropped the ideas altogether as well after being threatened and intimidated by her behind closed doors.  

Now off to ideas for plotting for just starting off, so first meeting ideas we could go off. I do have more ideas for pre-exile meetings here, so forgive me that the first one has more ideas while the post-exile might be repetitive and short. I didn't dive into what relationships they might have in the future, so for now just first meeting plots. 

PRE-EXILE. Within Senobium. 

I think the easiest way for Vere and Zarina to meet is when other Senobium mages responsible to “look after” Vere meet up with her in the early days in Senobium before she gained her reputation and her authority. Perhaps, she shows disgust towards treatment of Vere, which causes her and the Senobum mages to get into an argument. Probably Vere witnessing or just hearing the way Zarina drives those mages insane through calm and collected words, almost apathetic and just condescending. 

On the contrary, maybe Zarina herself was forced to ‘handle’ Vere against her wishes because during those days she hadn’t yet gained enough authority to reject this ‘task.’ Maybe they spend time together like that, tried to get on each other’s nerves, maybe shared some fun ideas on how to make others’ lives absolute hell. Maybe stage a murder of one of the mages who was getting a bit too comfortable in their position and continued to mishandle important tasks. I just think they deserve to plot murder of those they don’t like if they actually walk off on the right foot but only if it’s possible. It’s just an idea. If they don’t hit it off, it’ll be just Vere doing what he wants and Zarina doing what she wants, just making sure no deaths really happen. 

They could’ve met when either of them had been on a hunt for Soulless. Zarina goes off outside of Eridia because she was raised as a hunter and as a survivor, which she doesn’t show inside Senobium or within Eridia until it’s actually needed. They could’ve crossed paths when they were hunting. Maybe Zarina thought that she wasn’t recognized, but judging by Vere’s innate abilities as a fox spirit, I’m sure he can point her out by blood or by the feel of her magic. Like Vere can call her out when it’s just the two of them to get on her nerves or ‘expose’ her since inside Senobium she’s not exactly known for… anything outside of intelligence and magic study. Until past her exile. 

POST-EXILE. Outside of Senobium, but within Eridia. 

So if they never actually spoke to each other much until her exile from Senobium, I can see - just like in the last plot idea with pre-exile - them meeting when they’re out for a Soulless. I’m sure the talk of the Senobium’s ‘Golden Moon’ being exiled and kicked out would be the talk of the town for a while and people would start betting when a Soulless eat her alive. Maybe they were hunting the same prey and clashed. 

" Is that so? " the monster replies cooly, apathetic to what would be an otherwise threatening remark. It merely elicits a scoff of amusement from the bestial woman. Ivory claws drum a slow and steady beat upon her thigh as she regards the fellow beast.

" I must warn you it would be ill advised. . . some might say that I am an acquired taste, " a wry smile curves her lips at an untold joke, that her blood would melt the vulpines tongue and eat him from the inside. If he were mortal that is... perhaps this could be interesting. Taloned feet step forwards, and footfalls are eerily soft in spite of her immensity, she prowls closer.

" But I IMPLORE you to try. It has been dreadfully boring, I could do with a little entertainment. "

“I like the new look. It suits you.” — @concupitor

The doctor made no sudden movement: his form froze, as if any movement, subtle or otherwise, might disturb this unusual accord. There had been nothing said or done between them to merit or provoke such a compliment, which did not only arouse his suspicions, it put him on full alert. In fact, nothing he had done to Vere in the past few minutes should have earned him little else but a string of elaborate swears as he mended his wounds, as his work always did. It was a deviation from their usual pattern that confused and currently petrified him.

"Ah." The ecphonesis strangled in his throat, it was the most honest and appropriate response he could think of. "Th-thank you. You— ..." His lips pursed, demonstrating their frustration in being able to muster up anything that didn't sound like a lie or an empty compliment. Unfortunately, the latter won in the end.