#grumpyascianteddybear

It was always a good day when he was several steps ahead of the Mortales Coven. For centuries, his father's family, the Howard Coven had been locked in a bitter battle with the Mortales Coven. Warlocks pitted against Warlocks, witches stripped of their magic by other witches. It never seemed to end, and like his father before him, Liam had been drawn into the fray when the bastards decided to go after his own twin sister and their younger cousins.

His girls were perfectly capable of handling themselves of course - Liam was all for Women Empowerment - but there was an innate urge to protect that no matter how tainted or bloody his soul got, he would always step in with a helpful hand. Or shadows.

Word had reached his ears that the Mortales were now trying to recruit others to their cause and well, he certainly couldn't have that. Being a thorn in their side was always a joy and if he could thwart Zeidan Mortales' plans in anyway, then it was a good day. This particular target of theirs, according to his reports, was a young woman who had a particular brand of magic. Now, while curiosity may have killed the cat, it certainly had a hard time with him. Liam knew how to blend in with the darkness, which made it easier for him to track the woman down. He would investigate for a while, keep out of sight and if it was determined that she was indeed being targeted by the Mortales' then he would step in.

{ @grumpyascianteddybear | cont'd from [here] }

"I don't know what you expected from me, My Dear." The Ascian mused as he looked at her. Him? Give a straight answer? What in the world was she thinking? "I have never given a straight answer since this started."

"You, I expect it from." Dove jabbed a finger at him absently, eyes narrowed as they hefted the pickax over their shoulder again. "Hang-gallows active citizen ye are, the truth'll dance like a trained chocobo for you."

Eyes narrowed, they lifted the pickax before bringing it down in a perfect arc. Dink! "No, the ones what I'm offended at are Urianger and that crystal-mad Admiral o' the Blue up in his tower. Think they're awake, trying to bilk me like a colt on their first moon cursin'. Drive a mort to drink, it will."

@grumpyascianteddybear

Z'nakei had fallen just tad behind on her studies, who could really blame her? Even with the Final Days dealt with people were still clambering for her services. So she was in Sharlayan's library, legs swinging from the bench she was sitting on.

Partly because she wanted his company, and partly to exploit his height, she had convinced Emet-Selch to come study with her. Her ears twitched as she heard approaching footsteps, looking up with a sickeningly sweet smile. Oh a method she had damn near perfected in such time. A cute, sweet, innocent little act to tug at the heart-strings.

"Did you find iit~?" The Miqo'te asked, the words drawn out in a little sing-song tone. Yet another book she requested he retrieve because, like most of the other books in this damn place, she could not reach.

She scooted to the side on the bench, staring up at him expectantly as she patted the space next to her.

"So, you think he found out he was an Ascian, and then..." He trailed off, hands gripping so tightly at his braid that he started to feel the beginnings of a headache. Forcing himself to give his hair a break, Morganaux put his hands into the pockets of his robe, nails scratching against the soft fabric within them.

Revelations like this were not what he had been expecting at all in confronting Emet-Selch on his own, and he was starting to wonder if he would have actually preferred getting attacked by the Ascian over having to wrestle with everything that was going through his head right now.

What a living nightmare it must have been, he imagined, to fall in love with someone and find out that they were a monster in disguise, an enemy to everything he knew and loved. He didn't want to think about what anguish this Phoebus must have felt knowing he had been blind to it all, or even complicit in it, and yet he could not banish the feelings from his mind, nor the sorrow that stung at him like a sword through his heart.

"I'm sorry for what happened to your Papa. I truly am. It was a mistake, confronting that man and making you relive such awful memories. But do you... Do you really think that I was him in another life, and that this isn't all a matter of coincidence?"

He didn't want it to make sense, but it did. Though he may have looked like Emet-Selch's late husband, such similarities would have been easily brushed off if their souls were not alike. And how could he possibly have known his name? He never heard of the former Emperor taking a husband, let alone what his name was.

@grumpyascianteddybear

Tonight was meant to be a night of celebration for the recently sorted students of Asteria Academy. Those who had just turned 18 during the last cycle of the new moon had each been sorted into their Houses of Magic, and whilst the majority of them were downstairs celebrating with their friends and fellow housemates, Kya Howard found herself holed up in the Headmistresses' Office with a select handful of adults. First there was the Headmistress herself, Madame Sabine. She sat behind her desk, listening as Kya's father droned on and on about what a disappointment the sorting ceremony had been. Her father was pacing back and forth, his hands animate as he spoke about tradition and how it was clear the Lode Star Fragment had been wrong. About how no child of his could ever be in House Mystic. Sitting next to Kya was one of her professors, Mr. Havok. He had insisted on sitting in on this meeting and in truth, she was thankful he was there. Aside from the Headmistress, Mr. Havok was the only other adult Kya had grown to like and feel safe around. Being at the Academy had certainly been an adjustment for her, given that she was away from home and away from her mother. 'Oh, I do wish Mama was here... she would know how to keep father quiet and make him stop embarrassing me... ' was her lone thought as she discreetly wiped at her cheeks. Click. Click. Click. Kya's head lifted at the distinct sound of heels approaching the office and her heart leaped in her chest as she looked at the Headmistress, her expression hopeful. Madame Sabine glanced at her and ever so subtly gestured to the door just as it opened.

Hell hath no fury like a pissed off mother. As soon as she had gotten Sabine's message, Serena had dropped everything and made her way to the Academy. It was the night of the Sorting Ceremony, and as much as she had wanted to be there, parents usually came the following weekend to celebrate. Leave it to her ex-husband to stick his filthy nose where it didn't belong and ruin her daughter's evening by turning up.

And now he was demanding that Kya be resorted?

Well, that certainly wasn't going to happen. The Lode Star was never wrong. It looked deep into one's soul and their magical essence and sorted them as was fit. For Kya to be sorted into House Mystic was wondrous news to Serena... but apparently Elias was going to get his nose all bent out of shape.

She already heard his grating voice as she approached, and by the time the door opened, she was already ready to drop him down several pegs... but before she could do anything, Kya was there immediately with the scent of tears and Serena had her arms around her baby within a heartbeat. "Shhh, mama's here...," she cooed softly, running a hand through Kya's hair, trying to sooth her daughter. The look of abhorrence from Elias was matched with a counter glare from Serena as she pressed a kiss to Kya's temple. "Thank you for calling me, Sabine." "I figured it best," came the dragoness' reply. There was one other in the room, but Serena's attention was solely divided between easing her daughter's pain and try not to hex her ex-husband where he stood. "What is this I hear you demanding that Kya be resorted? The Lode Star has spoke and House Mystic has been picked for her. That should be the end of it," came Serena's curt retort when Elias snorted. The witch narrowed her gaze for a moment and sighed. She looked at Kya and wiped her tears away. "My little wren... what color was the fragment?" "B-Blue..." came Kya's soft voice as she looked at her other, eyes wide.

"Yes, feels like that all the time." The Garlean woman stated as a sigh left her. It likely didn't help that she was aware. At least more aware than others were. She absolutely blamed her father and the other one arguing in the middle of the night for that. " But I am also more aware then most."