#cyrek

date: january 5, 1997

@nxnbinarydracvla

Romi had called Cyrek early that morning. After all, they hadn't really talked in months. If she was honest, she'd been avoiding him. She hadn't wanted to call him--she almost hadn't, convincing herself that he'd be pissed for possibly waking him up so early. But she knew that that was just an excuse. Shit had been piling up. Her mother was gone again, Meera was in trouble, and it didn't look like she was going to be named underboss anytime soon. She was drowning in self-loathing and every fiber of her being was practically begging her to call up her old dealer and dive back into the abyss. Normally, in the past, she would've followed her impulses and not even bothered calling her sponsor, figuring Cyrek probably didn't want to see her anyways. But lately, she was trying to do the right thing first. If it bit her in the ass then maybe she'd never do it again but she had to at least try, right?

She'd arranged to meet in their usual spot, at the Waffle Cottage. It had subpar coffee and pretty good waffles so it was almost always a safe bet. When she saw Cy walk in, she gingerly waved, though she could feel the knots in her stomach become tighter as he made his way over. It wasn’t his fault that she was nervous but hers. Lately, she’d started expecting everyone to be disappointed with her presence and she couldn’t really blame them if that were the case. When he sat down, she averted her eyes, as if she’d already done something wrong. The confession about what she’d been wanting to do alone was shameful enough, wasn’t it? “Hey,” she said softly, giving him the faintest of smiles before staring back down at her coffee. “Thank you for meeting me.”

Solomon had been about to leave, but shit suddenly seemed to hit the fan and now he's standing beside Cyrek, smoking a cigarette and trying to figure out what on earth had just happened. This night's been a shit show since the start, and Sol doesn't know how he's suddenly entangled with things like emotions and communicating and then a few moments after having something thrown at him, he sees skeletons. He sees the bloodiest scene he's had the pleasure of viewing in a long time.

"So. Question." Sol's flat tone is his usual, even with this nightmare of a night. "Did someone from the Cactus Cats turn Azazel Hawthorn?"

location: the mean-eyed cat bar

@nxnbinarydracvla

Dahlia was feeling rather ravenous tonight so she figured that it was probably time that she make her way to the nearest bar. To be fair, this wasn't how she always hunted--there were times that she preferred to stalk the streets late at night. In fact, there were times that that was necessary. But other times, it was the thrill of the hunt that she enjoyed. After all, why not entertain herself in the process? So tonight, she'd settled on a man as her meal. He'd almost been too easy to pick out--he was painfully average. She knew the moment that she gave him a lick of attention, she'd have him eating out of the palm of her hand. Nevermind that he wasn't her type in the slightest but that didn't really matter to her. Food was food and he was probably dumb enough to fall for her scheme. He was currently telling a horribly dull story about his last business trip to Anaheim and she was sort of finding it difficult to pay attention but she tried her best to stay with him, nodding and saying 'Right,' and 'Uh huh,' at all the right times until finally, he announced that he had to go and 'break the seal.' Jesus.

Good evening everyone. My name is Alice and I'm the maid of honor, as well as the sister to the groom.

When Stella asked me to be her maid of honor, I was truly overjoyed and so honored that she wanted me standing up there with her on such a beautiful day. I've known Stella for about eight years now and from the moment I met her, I knew that she was the one for Cyrek. She had a loud mouth and a big personality and funny enough, so does my brother! She proved long before I came around that she could go toe-to-toe with Cy and keep him straight.

I'll never forget when Stella told me that she wanted to propose to Cy--when she told me, I think she had to beg me to stop bouncing off of the walls, I was so excited! And then she had to beg me to stop laughing after she told me that she had decided that now was the time to propose because my brother essentially said "Do it, you won't"--but she sure did! I went ring shopping with her and I remember that she was so nervous about what he was going to say when she asked him. But I already knew he was going to say yes.

Anyone who knows me knows that family means a lot--and not just to me but to all of us. Everyone in the Pallas-Adler clan sticks together, no matter what. In fact, my brother once told me that family sticks together the way that rats cling on to each other so they don't get separated. And as funny, and maybe a little gross, as it is to envision a group of rats clinging to one another, he really was so right about that. Our families have been through so much--but we've always come out on the other side of it, together. And even when I first met Stella, it was very clear that she was already a part of our family. She is so fiercely loyal and a force to be reckoned with. Time and time again, I've seen her selflessly put family first and do whatever she needed to do to be there for them.

She has not only been a great friend to me but she's also been such an amazing partner to Cyrek. Through thick and through thin, they've always clung to one another. Even when they're exhausted, they always manage to find strength for each other. They know how to make each other laugh--with their morbid sense of humor, I might add--and they are always there to comfort one another through the tears. I honestly couldn't ask for a better person to love Cyrek. And Cy, you better take damn good care of that woman!

I would love to invite everyone to raise their glass and join me in toasting the newlyweds. I love you both so much. You deserve every happiness in the world. Opa!

location: cy's home in cactus ridge trailer park

@nxnbinarydracvla

While Khadroma tried her best to not drop by unannounced, she now found herself at the Cactus Ridge trailer park, parked outside of her son's abode. She was hoping that she wasn't interrupting anything and that her son had time to talk. Two days ago, Roma had gone by Lyonet's place of work and something just felt...off. At first, she hadn't wanted to pry but the more she thought about it, the more her stomach twisted up in knots so she was going to see someone who may have a little more insight. Knocking on her son's door, she waited outside patiently, thinking about how to breach the topic or if it was right to burden Cyrek with her concerns.

The tension in the town was a tangible specter, whispers of a missing soul weaving their phantom patterns like an eerie nocturne on the wind. Yet within the timeworn ramparts of the Fawns’ bruised trailer, Evren, an undaunted ship amid a storm, found her compass unerringly pointed towards Cyrek, captivatingly vexing, yet irresistibly compelling anchorage. The progeny of their wild union were under the vigilant eyes of another and their absence resounding in a silence rich with fervid expectation. Olfactory serenade of coconut cake, still effusing an exotic comfort, meandered through their kitchen like an aromatic balm beyond the turmoil. Evren had adorned herself in her most enchanting garment, a sheath of deep, bold crimson that echoed the passion and intensity of their entwined existences — and yes, her bunny uniform, embraced close. On the turning of their fifth calendar of love, a tribute like no other was called for - a proclamation of their undying affection amongst the clambering shadow of anxiety.

[MASTERPOST] [Bird One] [Bird Two]

Second member!!! Here's Magpie.

[Codename: Magpie; Real name: Cyrek] As can be very easily gleaned from their codename... he's a thief.

Of course, there's more to that- he's a twenty-seven year old human who used to grew up right next to a nest of coastal harpies. They were harmless, since they preferred fish to anything, and generations of cohabitation with the neighboring village made them half-tame. Young Cyrek was obsessed with the harpies and got his love for shiny things and stealing from them. They would steal his jewelry and he'd steal it back and then they'd steal it again and-

He used to be a professional thief who often was hired by nobility to steal from their enemies, but Magpie switched to stealing rations from soldier camps for refugees when the war started.

He was caught and imprisoned eventually; freed by Wren and Golden Eagle on their first prison raid. He followed them in the chaos of all the prisoners attacking the guards and demanded to join them immediately.

He's in Sandpiper's crew though, mostly because he's a huge chatterbox and would much rather be with people than wait in silence during a raid and partly because he's not sure he could kill someone if it came down to it.

Magpie always has his satchel with lockpicks and gas pellets on him, as well as a few charms and enchantments- a temporary invisibility spell, some glamours, a healing potion and his favorite dark lipcolor. He doesn't like weapons, but Nightingale and Sandpiper nearly broke a chair over his head when he threw a fuss, so he has some daggers on him as well.

He can sing wonderfully and can make great mimicking calls and impressions of anything you can think of- saved everyone's asses more than once with them. But at the same time he's somehow completely shit with instruments- much to the dismay of his entire crew.

Magpie usually goes for the more high-ranking, important charges to extract- the thrill of the danger something too enticing to resist. Which usually means he has the most soldiers after him- but he's a professional thief. He can handle it. SANDPIPER CAN YOU GET OFF HIS BACK-

Does he have jewelry and fancy clothing and shiny baubles that he's stolen while on the job? Well. Can you prove it?