#medicus-mortem

Plotted Folk Horror Starter for @medicus-mortem

Ikkaku frowned sadly as she walked through the ruined city she'd been taking shelter in for the past few days. Flevance might have been left off the newer maps, but the old ones her grandfather had left her had shown her the way. It had once been a beautiful, thriving place from what she'd heard. Full of life and prosperity. Where faeries and mortals and hybrids had actually lived happily.

Now, though, less than two decades after it had been overrun by their jealous neighbors, it was basically a ruin. Nature had been creeping in and taking over once more, with vines and moss growing over the skeletons of burned-down houses. Foxes, raccoons, and birds had been making nests and dens in the various nooks and crannies throughout the city. Yet while there was indeed life, there was no mistaking that it was only due to the horrible deaths of the citizens. Ikkaku swore she could even smell smoke and burning flesh the other night when she'd bunked down in one of the old houses. It was unsettling. Even more so than the eyes she felt on her at times, or the shadowy figure she swore had been over her one night when she'd awoken from a nightmare. It had vanished before she could get a good look, so she wasn't sure if it had been a dream or not, but the danger had certainly felt real enough.

Despite her unease, she was there for a reason. A few, really. Part of it was that, despite the history, Flevance seemed like a safe place to hide out for a few days. Being hunted by the faerie courts meant she wasn't really safe anywhere. However, after the fires and accidents that had broken out in the last town thanks to mischievous sprites and fierce fae hounds tearing through the streets, Ikkaku realized that it might be better to stay somewhere that was already destroyed and full of death. The faeries couldn't ruin a ruin, after all.

The other reason was wanting to understand the faeries better. Many claimed that the Unseelie Court were the "bad" faeries, while the Seelie Court were the "good" kind. Yet it was the Unseelies who had lived in harmony with mortals here, while the Seelie had taken her grandfather away, putting her in this situation in the first place. Ikkaku wanted to understand if beings like the fae even held the same morality as mortals, or if their minds worked in a less linear manner.

After all, understanding her hunters was essential to surviving their tricks and traps.

Disappointment is but a brief feeling as his attack misses and doesn't do much in terms of harming the surgeon. He is not given much time to think about it as he is forced to twist drastically to avoid the blade looking to cleave him in two beyond the reach of his sword humming with bloodlust even he could taste from close proximity. Not all of him comes out of the fray in one piece as a good chunk of his cape is split off and left to drift to the ground.

His body does get pushed back by the force, boosters sputtering to keep up with the complex movement as his lips twist into a frown. Lack of success was not something he was used to, but Ichiji wouldn't let that get to him, still intent on pushing this forward and testing the Hearts captain.

Close quarters while risky had more of a pay off than keeping away where objects could be tossed endlessly at him. Though, even out of range he had weapons of his own to use before closing the distance again. Eyes shimmering with a red glow, Ichiji released powerful bursts of photonic energy out of his eyes to chase the pirate captain as he resumed his pursuit, the beams hot enough to make quick work melting any object in its path.

This motherfucker. This cheeky motherfucker. So, he wants to dance, huh? Sure. He can go. He's got a couple of minutes to burn. Might as well waste them on ruining this asshat's day.

❝ Ah, well, you'd know all about animal carcasses when ya got a damn little dead mole glued to yer fuckin' chin. What, can't grow a real beard so ya had to settle for strappin' a wee rodent to your face? Shame, that. Dun' fret, maybe one day yer balls will finally drop and you'll be enough of a man to grow a half-decent beard instead of having a face that looks like a freshly trimmed gash before a night on the town. ❞

Flecks of his accent always seep through when he's ranting like this; a habit he won't apologize for. Tough shit if the surgeon need's a translation, because he isn't going to bother writing out his death report.

❝ Nah, I ain't insulted that ya hate my clothes, though. I ain't lookin' to get complimented by someone who's been stuck wearing the same jeans he bought when he was fourteen. Still clinging to that teenage youth, aye? Still hoping there's some wee dweeby boyband out there that's desperate enough to take you in? Good for you; follow yer dreams, and all that sad shite. ❞

He takes a brief pause to bring his bottle of rum to wet his lips, but barely has a chance to swallow before he's continuing.

Drake was lucky to have discovered a cave before the heavy rainclouds burst and brought forth their bounty of life giving water. The thunderous roar of the rain pelting the roof of the cave from the outside and occasional crack of lightning assured him as much that his taking of shelter earlier in the day had been the right decision to make.

He had taken to stripping out of the heaviest of his armor save the horned helm donning his head to shield his cursed eyes. the dry wood he managed to collect lay stacked to the side as he fed them to the roaring fires keeping him warm on what he supposed was going to be a frigid night helped along by torrential storms.

It wasn’t an ideal situation, but he’d certainly seen and survived worse.

Humming a low tune heralded by his kingdom, Drake peers out into the curtain of water only to widen his eyes in surprise to spot a dark figure meandering along in that horrendous weather! He sets aside this ominous feeling in his chest as his need to be of assistance surpasses all desire to leave this figure well alone.

Pushing himself up to his feet, he is tempted to leave his sword behind but against this judgement he chooses to leave it strapped to his belt, not wanting to waste a seconds trepidation when this stranger could be dying of the cold.

Rushing his way out into the ran he is immediately pelted by the unforgiving waves of rain shooting pangs of freezing cold into his veins and yet he trudges on until that wandering figure is within arms reach. He doesn’t so much as say a word as he insistently scoops up the individual to run back towards the safety of the cave. That ominous sensation roars to life once more upon contact with the individual but he shoves it aside harsher this time.

Quickly stepping back within that glowing warmth, Drake gently lets the man down, or at least what he could tell was a man despite the soaking wet cloak wrapping the figure up in it’s enigmatic cloth. But first things first, he just had to know what this frankly odd stranger was doing in a hazardous storm.

It starts out as a headlock, as it always should when it comes to Shachi. Law simply grabs his old friend, arm wrapping around his neck and his hold tight as he ruffles Shachi's hair through his hat. Eventually knocking the thing off. The doctor smirks with the rough housing but is quick to change his hold. Arm loosens, and he grabs onto Shachi's shirt to pull him up into a proper hug. Law gives a squeeze with his hug, his hand now slipping into Shachi's hair with a rare bout of affection.

"Never change," he mutters, words near a whisper before he back pedals from the touchy feely shit and shoves Shachi away. [from @medicus-mortem​]

Law was always quick to jump from an unreadable mood to bouts of instigating play. Though they seemed rarer these days. The lack of usual affection tended to worry Shachi but he didn’t complain too often. The last thing Law needed was more unwarranted stress. Even if it was from a well-meaning place. 

They’d all been through hell. Law of course more than most. But the rest of them, worried for their captain. He was the one who brought them all together, brought them out of their own hells and set them onto a new path, gave them new purpose and gave them family. Something many of them no longer had. He saved them. Shachi wanted nothing more but to be able to give the same back to one of his eldest friends, his brother. 

While he grunted and yelled, joy flooded Shachi at the playful display. He might have pulled away and fought it off, but instead he gave a boisterous laugh and soaked it all in. 

“Aw c’mon bro not the hat!!!” He whirled around in half hearted attempt to pull away and reposition to strike back, but before he could he found himself in a tight hug. His body froze, eyes widening in surprise. It took everything in him not to ask Law what was wrong for him to be so openly giving affection. Fear of ruining the moment made him bite his tongue. No mater what the hell was going on, he would appreciate and treasure this moment. And maybe keep it as evidence to throw at Law later that he did indeed love them the next time he tried saying otherwise

“Never change.”. 

Shachi was almost overwhelmed with emotion hearing the words. He knows he’s a pain in the ass. He knows he’s far from perfect but damn if he doesn’t try his damndest. Law knew. He saw and appreciated them. This was enough to truly understand that. 

He throws his arms around Law, reciprocating the love and devotion. Of course he was gonna take this rare opportunity to do so without being threatened bodily harm for being gross. 

He held still a moment and nodded firmly as he promises, “Never.” 

Just as quickly as it started, Law was quick to end the exchange. Shachi gazed at his brother and grinned fondly. He could never change. Law helped make him what he was. But they in turn affected Law as well. Nothing could rip that or them apart. Not now. Not ever. 

@medicus-mortem​          Ibi -  A healthy signal

"It's odd that we share the same birthday. And please, no morbid jokes about that alright? Just stating the obvious". She must be bored to talk to him of all people but it's still odd that they were both born on October 6th.