#moonlighttinkered

It wasn’t uncommon to receive a call late at night in his line of work. Most nights at the first ring he was smirking, reaching slowly for the phone as he made them wait. He would then pick up, lean back, and listen.

Most of the time the caller on the other end was too nervous to speak first, or so nervous they rushed into asking for what they wanted. Sometimes they were seasoned and knew what was coming, making it more of a power play. Whatever it was, his first words to them always had their attention. They were soon putty in his hand.

“How may I serve you?” Was his purred out inquiry, smirk on his lips as he awaited his orders or permission to begin. It was all a game to him, and when it was done they would hang up questioning if it happened at all. For they never managed to connect with him again.

Tonight...was a different story.

He picked up the phone as usual, waited, and opened his mouth to begin when he was stopped by what he heard on the other end...

(@moonlighttinkered)

Aaravos looked up, quirking a brow in confusion.

“Alright.” He was suspicious why Ethari was acting so strange, but usually it became clear soon enough. He walked over to where Ethari was.

(Closed RP with @moonlighttinkered for Midnight Shadows)

It was peaceful, quiet. The stars above softly glowing with his own as he stood out in an empty grass field. For once the silence not bothering him.

He then looked around and found a forest nearby. Deciding to explore, he went to it and entered. The trees glowed with bioluminescent flowers and fruits as he trailed a hand along the bark. The glow soft and complimenting the glittering stars.

He then came to a particular tree. White moon blossoms were glowing on this one, softer than the rest, but no less beautiful. Some had a sparkling appearance as well. He reached up to touch one.

At his touch, the flower suddenly lit up as a flame ignited. Burning quickly through the flowers and leaves until the tree was on fire as well.

He tried to stop it, but it wasn’t salvageable. Ash was all that remained. He fell to his knees in grief, moving to pick some of the ashes up. Only for them to glow hot again as he tried, before lines of fire sparked to life and grabbed his wrist. He couldn’t keep the pained cry from escaping as it burned his flesh.

He pulled, trying to get away, but the fiery chain only wrapped around his arm further. The burn getting worse. He somehow knew if he let it reach his chest it would be too late...but he couldn’t stop it.

All around him, the rest of the Forest was now ablaze as well. He was surrounded by fire on all sides. There was no escape. The chains wrapped around him. Keeping him in place before a pillar of flame rose before him and took the shape of a person he couldn’t quite make out the features of.

The person moved forward as he tried to scoot back and away. They grabbed the end of the chain, yanking him back and toward them. He tried to pull away still, struggling even as the flames burned. He was pulled up and toward the person made of fire now, and as he struggled still, they leaned forward.

He began to beg for them to stop. Let him go. He didn’t want this anymore! Before they were on top of him and everything hurt. His insides and his outsides burned. Then he was falling and now was in dark water. He was no longer held by chains of fire, but still was chained.

He was being dragged down, down...into darkness. The farther down he went, the more his struggles failed. He couldn’t breathe...he couldn’t fight anymore...he was drowning. He was dying...

As his vision darkened, a light appeared above him. Out of reach. He tried to reach for it, but couldn’t move even as he was now no longer tied. The light faded. A new light then came from below and he looked to find more fire. His eyes widened but he didn’t have the strength to escape.

He cried out again, for help or simply from pain, he didn’t know. But everything hurt again as he was dragged down by hands made of fire. He struggled weakly now, but it was no use...he was too late...

There was no escape.

* * *

Aaravos sat bolt upright in bed. Eyes wide, lungs desperately pulling in and letting out air. A vice-like grip on the sheets on his side as he stared sightlessly ahead.

His stars faintly illuminated the bedroom. His eyes adjusting as well and seeing where he was. He could feel the weight of a body next to him. Hear the breathing of two people.

Home. He was home. With his Moonshadows...Ethari and Runaan.

It was just a nightmare... He reasoned with himself, but still had a grip on the sheets. Not real.

His heart was still pounding. He needed to do something about that... So he got up carefully and quietly left the room to go down to the kitchen. With magic he could heat up some tea instantly, so did so. Running a hand through his bangs as he let it steep. Attempting to get a grip on himself again.

It wasn’t uncommon now to see the elves that moved in a while back out and about. Two of them were seen leaving for their respective jobs almost every morning, and the Startouch elf (a sight in itself those familiar with magic and elves-and the archmage, Aaravos especially-were still wrapping their head around) was oddly helpful around the area. Taking up odd jobs for those in need...and especially now seeming to show up even before they admitted to needing him.

So it wasn’t unusual to see him or the Moonshadows he lived with outside their home. Somehow even less so to see them carrying groceries from the local market with them. Though usually it was the craftsmith, Ethari...this time Aaravos was with the other one: Runaan.

He was currently teasing the other about something...

It was a day like any other in the human town the Moonshadows and ancient Archmage had moved to. Runaan and Ethari were at work and Aaravos was working on a new spell he had invented.

More of a modification of an old one...but a new spell none the less. He had been waiting for just a day like this, when they would be gone until evening and he, himself, had no one needing his help.

It was all going just fine, until Starlight teleported...right above the ball of light. His eyes widened as he realized this.

“Starlight, move-“ Aaravos started urgently, instinctively reaching for her at the same time. But as he was doing so, he lost concentration and the ball of light in front of him started to build in size and brightness. It then pulsed, getting faster and faster. His eyes widened and he only had a split-second to react. He couldn’t dodge it or block it and Starlight wouldn’t get out of the way in time.

The ball of light then exploded, rattling the shelves. Starlight yowled loudly when this happened, but found she didn’t have to move out of the way...Aaravos, having no other options, chose to grab and shield her from the blast.

-@moonlighttinkered

Aaravos, who had grown more suspicious and confused...but ever the opportunist simply accepted and quietly enjoyed the rare company, hadn’t thought much of these behaviors. Though had wondered what Ethari could be so preoccupied with...and why no one was intervening.

Until that morning. The nudging woke him reluctantly, the sudden shout, however, made him jump in alarm almost comedically. Then he sat up slowly, rubbing an eye.

Send me  “DOWNPOUR”  for my muse to show up on your muse’s doorstep during a rainstorm, drenched and shaking from the cold. 

@eyesfcrtruth / @moonlighttinkered

Midnight Shadows AU

Aaravos looked up when he heard a knock on the wooden doorframe to the treehouse home, realizing it wasn’t just the pounring rain outside, and went down to investigate. If it was someone for Ethari he would have to tell them what they all agreed on. Ethari wasn’t available for the time being. He was still resting after the trip. Though who would be coming to call in this weather?

When he reached the bottom floor, the rehearsed line and schooled expression was replaced by a look of surprise and very different words.

send a name in my inbox and my muse will have to say whether or not they’d slap that person for $100.

(Midnight Shadows is an RP AU with @moonlighttinkered / @eyesfcrtruth)

“Short answer: No.”

“Long answer: I would sooner slap a Soulfang Serpent than Runaan. Which tells you the result of that action if I even get past his assassin reflexes.”

“If anyone even suggests slapping my daw’ alqamar I will sooner punch them in the face instead. How dare you even ask.”

“Not even at her most annoying would I slap Astil.”