#void things

A reference sheet for Void! Been meaning to make one for a while now. His clothes can change but his style is overall the same: green hoodie, some form of sweatpants or joggers and a good running shoe; the blue lanyard is part of his lore that I’ll work on, but it’s supposed to be an infinite map of the universe in a keychain!

Do you ever think about how the universe in all its love for its players pushed back the voids of sky and below to make more space for us to build and create, knowing we can get over any challenge?

The call of the void is a popular real world phenomenon where the need to go deeper that can't be described in any other way. How these living caves are perfectly made for us to continue deeper and deeper with lures and promises of riches and treasures the further down you go. How you can stand at the surface and stare into gaping maws of chasms and no longer see the bottom.

It's how the environment itself gets harder, harsher, and darker closer to the bedrock you go. It steals your life and shows you abandoned ancient cities of the people that came before you. 

These ancients likely felt this same pull. The same need to know how far the depths will allow you to go. It makes me wonder if anything else could still be hidden, further forever downwars. Or maybe it has already been consumed.

The sky is another story though.

The higher you go, the more life seemly ceases to exist. The urge changes from going deeper to ever spiralling upwards in attempts of freedom, solitary, or power over those below.

Without the boundaries of the earth expansion seems endless.

But a color or shade does not bind the void.

The depth of the sky is not unfamiliar to the depths of below.

The void is just where the universe ceases to exist. It is encompassing and inescapable.

The void simply allows the universe to have its fun. The universe may be kind but the void rarely ever is.

It continues to call to anyone who can hear.

It can wait.

You'll come to hear its melody eventually.

[ RP snippet from in game with @cineas-duskhollow - Warning: Feels, Blood, talk of murder]

Elenaris took little time in making her way to finding the Lord of Ravenhill upon her approached to the large estate. There were numerous places in the mansion that he could of been but Elenaris knew easily the ones to narrow his presence down to. Her first choice had done her well, finding the man overlooking his grounds and seemingly unbothered, but her hastened footfalls toward him likely would have disturbed what could be deemed as his peace. “Cineas…”

Cineas turned in an abrupt fashion as the sound of heels were heard along the marble hallway that lead to his balcony over the conservatory. He had sent for his mother and Elenaris had been at the Eventide Estate, so there had been little question to who exactly was making their way towards him. Surprise coated his features, however, when he turned to see the visage of the blonde woman moving towards him with a sense of urgency. His features quickly reset to that of their stoic nature. The events with Nostalrius had occupied a large portion of his emotions for the time being. “Elenaris,” he breathed as his hands moved to clasp in front of his abdomen. “The storm has just broken here. It was not safe for you to travel such a distance.”

Elenaris shook her head upon her approach in response to his words, her features seemed coated in worry but also in anger and yet she still glowed with an overwhelming happiness. “This could not wait… though I apologize for having caught you unaware or perhaps if I have interrupted anything."Cineas seemed to drop his hands the moment she continued towards him. He would have assumed she was coming for an embrace but her actions and expressions had hinted at otherwise. ”You have not interrupted anything, my wife,“ he explained and gestured for her to sit in the singular chair beside him. The worry on her features had also bled over to him slightly. "What is this business that could not wait?”

Elenaris  reached out for his hands as he gestured for her to sit before him. She guided him to turn around as she stood in front of the chair and instead of lowering down, she pulled him somewhat closer and placed his hands upon her stomach. “We have our son…” She breathed softly with a smile despite the concerning tainting her features. Cineas grasped her hands within his own as he offered them an affectionate squeeze. His features continued to mirror her own before she had spoken and a slight wave of relief washed over him. “It is confirmed?” He asked in a quick manner as he couldn’t help but smile as his gaze locked on her stomach. Though she continued to still appear troubled at the matter and he could feel the lump welling within his throat. “However, something still troubles you. Is this not the outcome you wished for?”

Elenaris squeezed his hands before removing her own so that his palms could lay flat to her abdomen. “It is confirmed, my dear, and of course it is the outcome I wished for.” She paused for a brief moment, however, to offer him a time to indulge in his own happiness at the news.

Cineas allowed his leather covered fingers to lay flatly across his stomach. It was flat for now, but it would grow as the child grew within her. His child, their child. It would be an heir to be reckoned with, one who would continue the glory of their reigns and the only emotion he could amount to at present was joy. The time with Elenaris had been complicated and ill prepared but she had been everything he wanted, he needed. Now they were moving forward with these plans. “You just,” he paused for a moment ashis hands pulled away from her robes. “Appear to not be your usual self.”

Elenaris inhaled slowly, watching him in this moment brought her even more pain regarding what she was about to tell him. Something that likely could take that joy he exuded away. Her fingers went about undoing the few buttons that held her robes together. They were simple this evening, mostly just as if it were a nightgown fashioned into an appropriate dress. As the fabric moved from her stomach, the remnants of her visit from her familiar remained and she looked up to him with a hard swallow. “His life hangs in the balance for the Void feels I am not fulfilling my duty to them. Not enough. The shadows expected that our work with the Chancellor would have already begun to produce for them and yet we are still in the midst of procuring the contract with Malice. If I do not give them what they desire by day’s end and continue to bend to their will until our job begins….we will lose him.”

Cineas watched her actions with an intent manner, his jaw clenched as the robe opened to reveal the after effects of what her familiar had done to her. It had taken a moment for the words to seep into his mind, but once they had, he found himself overcome withanger. In a swift motion, his hand had slammed the bottle of wine from the table as it crashed into the pillar and shattered into a splashy mess. “The Chancellor has been dragging his feet,” Cineas spat as he turned away from her in a brisk manner. “I should have him killed for his laziness but I do not believe the shadows would be so accommodating of such things.” He breathed heavily as a loud sigh sounded from his lips. “How many do the Shadows request for the life of our son?”

Elenaris flinched slightly as the bottle flew through the air to shatter into pieces. She quickly went about closing her gown and folding her arms around herself to hold it closed. “I was not given a number as to continue by but two by day’s end today at the veryleast. Surely once we see that our work is steady in fashion, there will be little intervening.”

Cineas growled somewhat beneath his breath as his emerald hues took in the sprawling land of the estate before them. It was overcast still and the blades of grass gleamed slightly with the little drops that still clung to them. His eyes closed finally as his breathing ceased. There was a long pause, his mind attempting to find a solution to such matters. “I will send Ebonheart to find lambs for the slaughter,” he turned to her once more as his hands moved to clasp tightly behind his back, his tone cool. “The Chancellor is on a limited time frame from this point forward. I will no longer tolerate his dragging of feet or he too will become part of the machine. I will not risk my son and heir for anyone.”

Elenaris did her best to keep her breath slow and steady as he turned around to her. She nodded as a hand lifted to rest upon her midsection once more as she glanced downward. “I feel this is my fault. I knew what they wanted and instead of seeing it taken care of I sat back and awaited the oppurtune moment to move forward…and now this is where we are.”

Cineas shook his head at her, his eyes opening to focus solely on her abdomen. “We knew entirely what we were getting into with the path we choose to follow,” he spoke slowly, thoughtfully as his eyes finally lifted to gaze upon her. “I will give my son a river of blood. I will adorn the walls outside of his bedroom with the heads of those who seek to cross us, those who seek to slow or dismantle our plans. I will give this Shadow what he desires for the life of my heir.”

Elenaris lifted her chin somewhat as he spoke, his words filling her with pride in the most unexpected manner that an outsider to their relationship would believe. She stepped forward and placed her hands on either side of her face and gaze up into his eyes. “We will together. As in all things, we will secure our son’s life in this world…together."Cineas relaxed slightly as the feeling of her hands on his face brought him slight relief. His breathing resumed into a normal, light pace and his gaze dropped from her own the best that he was able to. "I will give the Shadows this one gift,” he spoke to her boldly. “I have provided them with souls to last more than my lifetime. I command my army of Ravens by my own volition, their souls destined to join the Void, but the Shadows have broken their contract. Our bargain was not activated as we did not carry out our end of it. Arrynn was not to be a product of the Void and here they are, strong arming us into this. I will make haste in conducting a ritual.”

Elenaris parted her lips as he spoke, taking in his words and realizing his meaning. “Cineas…this is not a consequence of our wrong doings with the shadows. He is not a product of the Void… he is simply being used to punish…me.” She finally stated as her hands fell from his cheeks and her head lowered with a heavy sigh. Cineas paused in his movements as he listened to her. While her words were clear, he found himself confused. Elenaris had never spoken of how she angered the Shadows, but they had only recently begun being exactly how they were with one another. He sighed loudly, his jaw coming together tightly. “What have you done to anger the Shadows?”

Elenaris turned from him and found herself sitting in the chair as he had instructed beforehand. “I was instructed to go to Argus… Apparently there is quite an abundance of shadow and void energy on the planet. Of the exact details of what I was supposed to do once there, I was never aware as soon after I agreed to do so…I met you.” She looked up to him as she explained and continued onward. “Just recently they came to me, praising me for finding you as a worthy match for me but they were intrigued by yourstrength. I refused them in harming you, instead offered our future business dealings as an alternative. What’s many instead of one, in my argument. I suppose…I suppose they were becoming impatient and having known I was yearning for a child, they now use it as leverage against me.”

Cineas Duskhollow watched her. There was little he could do otherwise within the moment and he found his gaze trailing her every movement, down to the simplest ones. His brows knit together in a frustrated manner and he paused as she finished speaking. His hand moved to the curved blade that hung from his hip and he removed it, spinning the object around so that his palm held the blade rather than the hilt. “So feed them their soul,” he said quietly his gaze drifting between that of the ritual blade and her. “Secure a future for Arrynn and yourself. What is one more for the machine.”

Elenaris held her gaze upon him only until his words were spoken in which they fell to the blade. Her breath halted in her chest as she flicked her eyes between the dagger and him. “There is no future for us without you.” She finally stated as she abruptly pushed

Elenaris Eventide herself from the chair to take the blade in hand. Cineas pursed his lips and frowned somewhat as she initially declined his offer, though the retrieving of the blade had caused him to straighten his posture as he stood tall. His shoulders broadened and his breathing had slowed as his eyes remained solely on the blade. How many lives had he taken with that? What was one more? “You have survived many years without my assistance, Elenaris Eventide. The Shadow will only live to torment for the deal that you have broken. End this cycle, do what is best for my son.”

Her features twisted between anger and pain as he continued further and as he stood tall almost awaiting the plunge into his chest, her eyes swelled with tears that would not fall. “Yes, I did survive long before you but it was simply that. Before you.” She stated firmly before she took the sharp edge of the blade and ran it across her palm briskly, a line of blood showing slowly from beneath her gloves. “I will kill hundreds, thousands to secure not only his life but yours.” With this, she reached for one of his hands and held it in her blood palm. “Promise me you will not leave us.” Stated demanded as the dagger lingered just above his own outstretch palm as she held it.

Cineas made a slight noise that would resemble a hiss as she refused to indulge his request. Cineas was not a man who preferred the easy way out, but in this situation he found himself seeking just that. His emerald hues watched her drag the blade along her palm in a angered manner. This is not what he was requesting. His eyes drifted between her bloodied palm and the blade. With a loud grumble, his hands moved to remove the leather gloves he wore and he extended his palm towards her. “There is nothing I am able to deny you.”

Elenaris Eventide swallowed hard as she held her stern gaze over him. Just as he spoke, she brought the blade to meet his skin, breaking the barrier and digging deep enough to offer the flow of blood. “Lucky for you that I do not ask for much.” She stated as she removed her glove, despite it having been ripped and soaked in blood and took his palm into her own. She looked down as the blood of both entities mixed and flowed over their fingers before dripping to the floor. “Very rarely, if at all, do I deny you, Cineas. Unfortunately this is one request I cannot give into. The Shadows will get what they need and we will have our son, but I will not do it without you.”

Cineas nodded at her simply. It was the only emotion he could muster after a hiss left his parted lips upon her quick slice of his flesh. The feeling of their hands pressing together stung momentarily and he inhaled a sharp breath as his gaze found hers once more. “I will send for bodies tonight and prepare the cells within the basement.” Elenaris tightened her grip upon his hand as she looked him over with a serious demeanor. “I will handle it from there.” She flipped the dagger around and offered it back to him. “Do not ever act so irrational and disrespectful toward me again.”

Cineas removed his grasp from her own, his hand bloodied by both of their crimson liquid so that he was able to remove the blade from her grasp. His fingers wrapped loosely around the hilt and his opposite hand shot forward to group her neck roughly. His motions brought her briskly to her knees before him and his fingers holding the blade bounced it up and down only slightly. “Do not ever lie to me again, Elenaris,” he spoke flatly, his tone cool. “I have killed others for far less. Even those I have loved.”

Elenaris tensed as his grip came to her neck and she fell to her knees with a wince. She clenched her jaw as she glared up to him and through strained words, she spoke. “Then kill me.” She urged him, testing him in some ways. “ For let us not forget…that was your intention to begin with."Cineas chuckled quietly as his grasp loosened on her neck somewhat, his intention not that of restricting blood flow or breathing. "Killing you while you hold my heir in your belly would be pointless,” his words echoed as he spoke them loudly in the open area. “I will spare your life this once as you did entirely what you thought was best but I cannot afford to have my wife be deceptive in any situation.”

Elenaris jerked away from him as her hand gripped his wrist to pull his grasp from his hold on her. “I am yet your wife.” She hissed as she attempted to move to standing, which all depending on if she was successful in removing his hand. “I will see to his care and their wants on my own. I do not need your little ravens to save my son. Truly a shame that I will forever remember the day that I gave you the news of your son and this is how I am repaid. You have killed those you loved, you say? I find it difficult to believe as their is little love in your heart from where I am standing.”

Cineas held his chin upwards firmly as she rose to a standing position once more. His chest puffed out in an arrogant manner and his shoulders broadened. “Your son?” Cineas asked in a slightly concerned manner. “That is my son in your womb, Elenaris!” He now shouted at her and his hand slammed the blade down onto the table near them. “That is my heir’s future that you toy with in regards to your games with the shadows! That is information you willingly withheld from me, your Lord!” His tone continued to grow  in volume and the veins along the sides of his neck began to bulge with the sudden demand of angered blood flow. “Do not forget your place, Elenaris.”

Elenaris tensed as his voice raised in volume but she did little to break her gaze away from his. She was just as strong and resolute as he was, perhaps just as stubborn. “Perhaps I should have taken your offer.” She began, her tone cool as she spoke. “I am not toying with anything, I do not play games or dance around with the lives of those I deem important. Do not forget your place either, Cineas.” She took a deep breath and began to turn away from him. “I should have not come here and simply handled this myself for it seems you can do little to control your emotions.”

Cineas ran his tongue over his bottom lip in a hasty manner. In her motion of turning away from him, his gaze narrowed with furrowed brows. "Ebonheart,” Cineas called to the large, bulwark of a man that stood outside of the conservatory. The sound of plate boots came along as the tall man stood on the opposite side of Elenaris. “I will clean up this mess, Elenaris. I will get your souls for slaughter. I will save our son if not for my damned love of the two of you,” he spoke in an eerily calm manner. “Ebonheart, see to it that Lady Eventide finds her place within our quarters and that she does not leave. We need not more trouble than we are currently afforded.”

Elenaris halted in her steps to carry her out of the room, her gaze narrowing upon Ebonheart before she turned to step back up to Cineas. “You cannot keep me locked away like some prisoner, Cineas. I already said I do not want nor do I need your help.” Cineas  moved to clasp his hands behind his back as he began to exit the room himself. He stopped after he had passed the two of them and turned back to face her somewhat. “Unless you plan to void our contract of union, you belong to me, Elenaris.” His tone held no emotion as his chin rose and he swallowed the lump that had once more formed in his throat. “I will call for you tonight to complete your end of the bargain, but until then, you will be staying put.”

Elenaris clenched her jaw as the stinging in her eyes overcame her, the deep coloration to her cheeks blossomed and the tips of her ears wilted just slightly. The first time Elenaris Eventide had ever bowed down to another individual, lowering her stern stance upon them and holding her tongue. As her eyes blinked, a single tear fell and her arm wrapped around her stomach. “Fine. But perhaps I might reconsider said contract for the safety of myself and my child moving forward.” Her words were soft, quiet in nature, much less defensive than they had been before as her gaze now only rested upon Ebonheart. “Let us get this over with, take me.”

Cineas watched her longingly for a moment. It had pained him to be so stern with her. His pride and his stubbornness had refused to allow her intervention on the matter. His ego had felt that she had done enough. With a long and loud sigh, he had nodded at the large man who stood behind him. “She is free to escort herself. She is not a prisoner within her own home.” His voice was much softer than it had been, much less powerful as his gaze had caught the tear that streamed down her porcelain cheek. “We will discuss that after this night is complete,” he spoke finally. “Should you wish to void this contract, I will not allow a child of mine to become a bastard.”

Elenaris began to walk toward the exit, pausing just as their shoulders came nearly touching. “Will you then threaten his life as you have mine?” She said in a near whisper before flicking her gaze up to him allowing it to linger a moment before looking forward.Cineas allowed his eyes to remain on her face for a long moment as she had arrived next to him. His ears pinned backwards slightly at her words and he cleared his throat loudly. “If I wanted Arrynn to have little chance, I would not get what the Shadows request.”

Elenaris held silent a moment even after he had spoken. “Send word when they are locked in the cells and I will handle it from there.” She then looked to him. “Send word and do not be there upon my arrival. I wish not to see you again this night.”  Cineas bowed his head slightly after she had finished speaking. There was a hesitation in his speaking, almost as if he were to say something else but quickly reconsidered the words that were about to leave his mouth. There had been more than enough fuel on the fire for one night. “As you wish, Lady Duskhollow.”