#worn thin

(( Oh boy, alludes to lots of you! ))

The music was just loud enough...to drown out everything else - bordering on almost too loud...for her, anyways. She didn’t want a headache, after all - at least, not until the hangover set in tomorrow. Though...diverting one addiction with another wasn’t really the best idea. But what did it matter, at present?

It wasn’t just the temptation of somnus, though...just like it hadn’t stayed ‘just gambling’. None of this was supposed to be happening. The little thief thought she’d been doing at least a decent job of maintaining her walls, despite those who’d do their best to circumvent them, anyways. She hadn’t, though. 

Over and over in her hands, spun that dagger hilt - so finely crafted it made her chest tighten, just to look at it; it was thoughtful in design, and intent...maybe that’s why she felt like she couldn’t breath? Was that what this was supposed to feel like? Like its blade was already hilted in her ribcage? Not only did breathing take effort - like she couldn’t...couldn’t catch  her breath, but those shredded muscles in her back seized as she paced, pain shooting down her spine - the little woman staggering, growling to herself as she clutched a nearby pillar.

Practically a fucking cripple.

Worthless.

Weak. Because of him, you can’t even face going home alone. You’re wounded, and you can’t even trust the safety of your own den. How does it feel, to need someone’s help with even walking? To need to be protected? 

@javnennavok​ ( content warning: alcohol mention )

Busier than ever, given the way that the galaxy was heading, Vidu-- excuse me, Uria had gotten into the habit of doing paperwork during periods of waiting. As she was then, leaning against the bar in the Ten Leagues cantina, tapping away at her holopad-- everything on it had a stupid number of encryption layers so that no one glancing over her shoulder would know anything, but it was still probably stupid to do out in the open like this. Stress made her less careful, she supposed. 

“Violet,” The bar tender caught her attention as he handed her the drink she’d ordered, not that she was actually going to drink it on the job. Still, it helped with appearances. 

Midori Sour, Dirty Martini, Tokyo Tea, Absinthe, Death in the Afternoon, Zolezzi Cocktail, The Last Word.

An idea I have for Worn Thin that could also work for another AU where Octavian is basically a musical sea menace that has bothered every single Atlantean king and queen after Atlantis sank. He's presumably an Atlantean who has been exposed to Nth metal at some point coupled with being highly magical.

He's considered rather harmless, because he doesn't kill people, he just starts musicals and steals things. He's like some kind of environmental hazard the royals have to inherit and one of Aquaman's rogues.

They've kinda reached the point where they think killing him would unleash some kind of disaster.

His attempted theft of the Royal Ceremonial Harp is like a yearly thing, people get worried if he doesn't try and steal it.

He's likely considered to be some kind of siren because of his singing and he just likes sinking ships with neat things on them.

He typically lairs in really large, sunken ships, doesn't matter if he's sunk them.

I had the idea he's in the crowds when Gamemnae attacks the JLA with her League of Ancients and O'Brian is shattered while the others are killed.

He's already had some kind of run-in with O'Brian who's mentioned being really familiar with him and being immune to Octavian's singing which gets him very curious.

After the battle, he finds O'Brian's head and can tell he's not actually dead. Very weird, very interesting.

He can't do anything for the others, but he can collect O'Brian's broken body and put him back together and restore him. His shattered pieces would be right there at the time.

I think Gamemnae goes overboard as the others are celebrating and there's from that point there's not that much time actually passes? It's always 1000 BC, so I assume JLA team's death->Celebration -> Gamemnae goes overboard->Manitou traps her->Future Manitou sends the others back to beat her. Which might be the day after?

But, Aquaman is freed, the "current" Atlanteans get sent back to the present, Aquaman defeats Gamemnae and resinks Atlantis and they all go home.

Except O'Brian, who they think is actually dead.

Now, Octavian would be able to unpetrify O'Brian. What I'm unsure about is if he's done it by the time Aquaman fights Gamemnae and sinks Atlantis.

O'Brian would be so traumatized and completely out of it, so he's not going anywhere, no matter what.

If he's awake at that time, they'd both be able to hear Aquaman sinking Atlantis.

But he could get restored later when it's quiet and it's all too late. Donno which is better.

No matter what, O'Brian is stuck 3000 years in the past and got saved by Aquaman's little musical menace.

Now, he intends on getting back to the others, doesn't matter if he has to wait 3000 years, he'll get back to them. He preoccupies himself with minding/keeping Octavian company and going on various adventures, eventually befriend/meets various immortal heroes/villains, but kinda keeps them at a distance. They know him as "Plas"/"Ó Briain".

He lives with Octavian because the Atlanteans are xenophobic and wouldn't want him there, I assume.

But 3000 years is a long time to wait for them, so I imagine he keeps forgetting and remembering them as time passes.

Notes on clothes:

-Octavian is still quite short compared to other Atlanteans, so his clothes generally make him look bigger and more intimidating.

-Octopus imagery: His top is shaped like octopus arms. When not floating, it would hanging down around him and look like a dancer's dress. (Like the dancer from the dragon quest games.) -The metal bands on his lower arms has lights in them. The upper ones are likely enchanted, but otherwise normal metal bands. -Legs are covered by a seaweed veil which he remakes every so often.