#ofthcshvdes

Ulysses makes little claim to his alignment of House Fraser. Others may have had comradery with their shared union, and a bond over their mutual dislike of the other houses, but as a cursed blood, his status was not often appreciated by those honing in on their abilities the same time as the rest. Sign him up for a newsletter. Show up for an assignment once in a blue moon. Ulysses had more priorities than dedicating his life to House Fraser.

Fighting any of those monsters under his House banner seemed like a mistake waiting to happen, but Ulysses is not quick to forget his days as a soldier. Although he shies himself away from the public eye most days ( eating someone’s father does little to boost your own popularity ), when the monsters grow too close to his foster mother and the tavern he calls home, Ulysses can’t simply sit idly by.

The turnout of others surprises him - and in the heat of shouting and sweat, all he can smell is blood. His cravings in recent years have grown impossible to ignore. Even when his arms are flaked with frost from the shards of ice he sharpens from the air’s moisture, Ulysses grows still in the middle of battle. Blood seems to hang all around him - how easy would it be for him to join in on the beasts side? To take a warrior or two for himself?

The daydream fades too slowly and allows for a beast to sink their teeth into his side. Ulysses’ ice leaves bright red burns against the monster’s skin, but the damage to him has already been done, and he staggers in place in a struggle to collect his own thoughts.

“Woah, wait -- Josefine? Is that you?”

Perhaps Vivan should begin characterizing his life by the people he reunites with later in his life. That particular day, he’s busy grabbing himself some lunch before heading to the hardware store ( perhaps his house is not as insulated as he believed; the cool air seemed to leak out at every corner, and that was an issue he needed to put an end to ), when he comes across a woman from a life he lived so long ago that it no longer feels like it’s a life that belongs to him.

Josefine, meanwhile, doesn’t seem to have changed much in the slightest.

“It’s me - Vi. It’s been...I don’t know how many years...” A hundred? Two? He found it difficult to keep track. “What is it you’re doing now? You still look very...professional.”

“You! You!” Ulysses didn’t believe he’d be able to track the woman down again, but he had a pretty good eye for faces and even better knowledge of Selphia’s streets, which he’d first learned as a young boy prowling for trouble. His knowledge had been reinforced upon becoming a soldier and going on patrols. He knew the usual hiding spots, the seedier parts of towns, and where to hide his wallet from thieves.

But the woman had, unfortunately, got the best of him; he’d bat his eyelashes and promised an extravagant night out with champagne and dancing under brilliant lights. Ulysses knows better than to let his guard down - especially in front of a beautiful woman. He knew to keep his hand on his wallet...but had forgotten to keep his hand on the small compact he’d swiped from Fraser’s tower.

“Listen. I’ll give you whatever money I have on me. But that --” He doesn’t see the compact in her hand ( no, he’s certain she knows better than that ), but he knows it’s on her somewhere. “--That I need back. Okay?”

“Oh, Josie! Josie!! I’m so glad you could make it,” 

On a bright Saturday afternoon, she’d invited Josie to an open air market with the intention of them both getting to stretch their legs and enjoy the early summer weather before the season got too unbearably hot. But, having quickly grown tired of waiting, ( and partially unsure if Josie would show up ), she’d rented a pair of roller skates at the flat part of pavement. Which, of course, is exactly when she caught sight of Josie.

“Um. I um...I don’t know if I can get back over to you...”

"With a sister like Ariel, patience."

"Ren's favorite."