Snippets and Stories: (WtI) Black Dog (2 of 4)

He sat discreetly in a corner of the Rainforest Cafe, watching as the bartender twirled to and fro across the floor, an intricate dance of balancing cups, condiments, hot fluids, and various other drink customization.

It was almost mesmerizing, and he had to tear his gaze away, flicking open his pocket watch and starting at the hands as it ticked away the seconds. 

Soon it would be 4:00 p.m., their appointed meeting Time.

"Early as always."

And there she was, early as was proper of her class. Yet earlier than the House, was the Steward. 

Snippets and Stories: (WtI) Black Dog (1 of 4)

"Come again?" The trio watch in mild interest as Silas received an unusual call to his residence.

When there came a ringing in the landline of the tall man's dwelling, none would've imagined it to be a messenger informing them of, Silas puts the woman on speaker, "--a visitor for Estavia Canterbury.".

They had all turned to Esti--Estavia. Neiro's countenance was one of curiosity, Ken's anxious, and Silas's a blank, bored, and apathetic slate.

In the redhead's defense he seemed just as perplexed as the rest of them. Esti grunted as he pushed himself off the hanging UFO chair and spoke directly into the phone, "This is Estavia Canterbury, who is it?"

"A man by the name of 'Mikhail' wishes to speak with you."

Snippets and Stories: (WtI) Chronic

It was another one of those days when the pain was particularly prominent. Borderline excruciating.

Neiro was by his side, hand kneading the tense knot of his shoulder.

He didn't need to look to see his flatmate's worried expression, nor ask to know that he had called off an outing with their redheaded acquaintance. 

His condition was gradually getting worse, and even Neiro, for all his optimism, acknowledged that there was nothing to be done for it.

Snippets and Stories: (WtI) Courage and Folly

"You'll have to face your crimes someday."

It was a conversation they had several Times before.

"... No."

It was always the same.

Snippets and Stories: (WtI) interference

The Yggdrasill slowly roused. Had it worked? 

He gazed up at the rift he had tore into the Continuum, breath coming in harsh pants. Long silky tresses stuck uncomfortably to his skin with the perspiration, and multiple times he had to wrap the end ribbon to ensure it stayed. 

Rending a tear into the continuum had taken more from him than he was willing to admit and he stood gingerly and with much difficulty. It was fortunate that the fog surrounding the mire wasn't as suffocatingly thick with miasma as it was at high noon.

A thought struck him then of how ridiculous this was, risking his life to artificially tear a hole in the fabric of existence. Even more so was the intention behind such reckless action--a confrontation with a being but whispered in Lore and shrouded in the murky depths of the Aether. No one had recorded an encounter and the validity of a millennial old scrap of parchment was hazardous at best.

Like a mirage the air around it flickered and twisted. As if the surrounding itself had warped and the very presence of existence no longer grounded to reality.

Well, it wasn't too far off the mark he supposed.

There was a rustle of grass and his breath hitched. A small smile crept onto his face.

So they had finally come.

Straightening out, he evened his breath and forced down the remaining vertigo. Likely they'd been here a while already, only now making their presence known. 

And indeed, his visitor had done exactly that, materializing and observing him in concealment, perusing the various timelines as they weighed out and calculated the optimal outcome. 

That they were only now making their presence known meant that whatever it was the Numen was searching for, had been deemed adequate.

He waited but his guest stayed his tongue.

"I had wondered when you'd show up. You've kept me waiting quite a while." 

The Ophidian turned to greet his guest, or at least the marionette. The puppeteer was elsewhere, deeply immersed in the Aether.

Tucking a stray strand behind his ear, he went on, "So long in fact that I had begun to believe the Keepers of Time mere myth."

The tall figure seemed to have been waiting for the acknowledgement and finally spoke.

Their voice wasn't quite as monotone as he had expected, and carried  with it just a hint of melodic lilt that suggested at amusement and boredom, "It is unwise for those of flesh and blood to dabble with the Continuum, lest they find themselves entangled in a spider's web."

Sharp eyes studied him, and narrowed. No doubt the other had noted his arcanum and its seal displayed so blatantly in his eyes, sensed the unusual aetheric density.

Prior to their staged encounter, he had gone over the multitude and settled for transparency as the best approach. Numens were a force to be reckoned with, and crossing one was no trifling matter. He wouldn't play them for a fool.

That and he himself was doing the same, taking in the Numen's silvery hair as it fell in haphazardly around the entity's shoulders. Set in his stern visage were eyes of translucent opals.

Briefly he wondered if all Numens had such distinctive features or if this one was the odd one out. 

It was rather strange, the stories had painted them subtle, bland, as was one hidden in the background, masters of blending in with the crowd. Not strange nor bold--

"Clearly you have not been to the metropolis in quite some Time. This is rather commonplace, if anything it would appear odd not to appear this way."

Muspell blinked, had he voiced his thoughts?

The sheer intensity of their gaze as they beheld him was far more intimidating than he had anticipated. With them they carried the weight, the judgement of eternity.

It was as if Limbo itself lay within those swirls of colour.

When he didn't answer, the Numen crossed his arms, eyes slipping shut as he addressed an earlier statement, "Such words could mirror your own reflection, Yggdrasill. We are as much a myth as you yourself are."

That brought out a delighted chuckle, "Wonderful, you know of our kind. This will make things go much faster."

Almost immediately the Numen interjected, with a biting edge of finality, "Dabbling in mortal affairs is best left to the corporeal."

The air rippled and he turned to stare in amazement at the normality of the space behind him. The rift that he had nearly expired all his aether on all but gone. His keen senses hadn't been able to detect what the Numen had done, only the aftermath.

And with that the temporary vessel of flesh made to leave.

"Pray lend me an ear." he urged, stepping forth.

"Time waits for no one, seedling." but the Numen stopped nonetheless, peering over his shoulder.

The Yggdrasill shook his head, "I do not expend myself to solicit with the desire to flip the hourglass on the fleeting days I've left. Wont you hear me out, Numen?"

With a raised brow, the Keeper turned fully and waited patiently for him to speak, a small gesture indicating that he had his full attention before he settled, arms crossed over his chest.

"There is one who seeks to amuse himself with mischief, but I speak not of the levity of minor pranks. They aim to retrieve the Time capsules."

Opal eyes studied him carefully, and he was taken aback when their owner spoke, "Is that all?"

"There is someone out there who schemes to annihilate your kind." he frowned, "Does that not concern you?"

If anything the Numen seemed to have once again tired of the conversation, voice a bored drawl, as if reciting a spiel, "We are already aware of the fallen Seraph. Guardians of Time we may be, but matters of those bound by flesh and blood are but the matters of mortals." he adverted his gaze, tone dropping off in a low murmur, "What is to come is done, we but see to it that the spun web does not fray, from hypothetical start to end. My kind has already finished paving the future with the past. Even as we speak efforts are made far beyond mortal reach to ensure existential continuation." 

Never had he seen such blatant lack of concern for one's own perseverence. 

Despite the astonishment from the lacking sense of self preservation and the absolute detachment from the will to persist, the Ophidian would yet hope, even vainly, in the Numen's apparent discontent, "You could save yourselves. Your future is not yet set in stone."

"Whether you would believe it to be fixed or not is irrelevant. Impermanence is a natural order of existence. For us the future is as stone. While mortals live multiple existences in the varying spectrum of time and alternate realities, we are but a single entity. If we should perish then it is as it was meant to be." 

The other uncrossed his arms and instead crossed what distance was between them, placing a placating hand on his shoulder, "You need not worry, the future will continue to exist. The last of us will make sure of it."

With a smile he went on, "Your efforts are much appreciated."

He frowned at the other but before he could speak the other continued, "But--That is a matter we are aware of. And do not think to deceive. It is with your own boon that you so desperately sought my kind out." The hand gave a light squeeze, a reminder, and warning.

But he had no need to fear any such backlash, for he had played no such deception.

A grin spread across his face and his eyes slipped shut, "It is with neither intent, Numen. I approach you with motives, it is true, but it is for the same reason as that which I've mentioned already. The one who has plotted your destruction is the selfsame one that would see to my early demise--and that of the seeds that have yet to be sown."

"And what is it then, that you sought us out for."

They locked eyes and the Numen was pleased that the other held it with a determined and steady stare of his own. There was a fire to them, securely kept beneath his composure, but a fire nonetheless, "To sever the seed-" here his company let out an amused "Oh?" but he continued, "-and ensure that my successor does not follow Aversatio, or in the colloquial tongue, what many regard of as the Armageddon."

The other's expression was unreadable, "I will do no such thing."

"You will." the Ophidian grinned.

A smirk spread slowly and the puppet laughed, silver bangs following his shaking form, "What is your name, Yggdrasill?"

"Does it matter to one so unbound by the constraints of Time?"

"Consider it one that would endear me to your cause."

With another smile, he answered, "Muspell. Muspel N. Heime. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

The Numen nodded approvingly, "Null-0."

Scribbles: Dark Knight Storyline

Seeing as it's been a while since I've drawn Silas, I wanted to give him a bit of loving and started drawing him in some awesome pose--until I realized he wasn't at all in character. A bit of tweaking and it turned into a parody of the Dark Knight job quests.

(The Darkness): "Prove to me that you're stronger.
Come on, LET'S DANCE."

Silas: ". . ."

|||||||||||

I STILL LOVE YOU SILAS. YOU'RE STILL MY FAVORITE LALAFELL EVEN IF YOU ARE MISSING YOUR MAN-PARTS.

Snippets and Stories: (WtI) Nonsensical Days

"So... an Earl Grey and a Chai Latte?" there were simultaneous answers of affirmation and Neiro nodded, "'kay got it, I'll be back in a bit!"

Snippets and Stories: (WtI) The Oddest of Gifts

Sometimes people had the oddest of gifts, a most unexpected surprise.

Neiro mulled over the thought, a spherical lollipop dangling from his lips.

He lolled it in his mouth a minute longer before returning his astonished stare to his tall flatmate's back. So focused was he on his task that he had yet to acknowledge his companion's presence, if at all he noticed his entrance.

The short man had always wondered what it was that Silas guarded with such zeal, kept under lock and key and would always slip away to do, so covert in his secretive visits. The brunette, once sure the albino was occupied, would slip away for sometimes hours at a time.

Now though, he only grew less certain, and he gaped with unmasked awe at the faces that stared back at him, each a character in their own right, and a story they would never tell.

There was a sigh and the tall man leaned back in his seat, rolling shoulders and stretching his back.

Now seemed as good a time as any, and Neiro stepped further into the room, "Si, these are amazing!"

Silas jumped and like the crack of a whip, swiveled around.

"Neiro you--" he cleared his throat, "I didn't hear you enter."

"Sorry, I didn't think anyone was home." It made the albino almost chuckle, it wasn't often that he found Silas in such a state, guard down and his composure all but out the window. It was a rare moment where the brunette was caught unawares and unprepared.

"The chimes-"

"Ah 'bout that, I knocked them over as I was heading out earlier." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly and swiveled the candy in his mouth with an apologetic smile, "Didn't put 'em back 'cause the hook broke. A flash of annoyance briefly crossed the pâtissier's face, but it was quick to pass.

"I'll fix it I swear!" he added in hastily at the other's disapproving scowl. Carefree though he may be, he wasn't boorish enough to test the limits of where hence Silas drew the line and rescind his accommodations.

"I see." the Invalid pushed his chair back and with a withheld groan, stood, and stumbled. Almost immediately the albino was by his side, holding his arm.

"Si-"

"I'm fine. Fine." he grit out between flashes of pain, but accepted the support nonetheless as Neiro helped him up. The aches were getting worse and the waves of streaking pain unrelenting. Odd eyes chanced a glance down and failed to contain the small gasp at what he saw.

Silas coughed and pulled a sheet over it.

"You make all of these yourself?" he turned towards the other dolls with a newfound wonder.

The brunette shifted, "Indeed. a pastime of sorts." he shrugged and adverted his gaze to the shelves, all lined with perfectly sculpted dolls, "Just one of many diversions."

They were ball-jointed dolls (BJDs) to be exact. One of many crafts he had undertaken, and one of which he had practiced for quite a while.

"They're so beautiful." he reached out to pull off the cover partially covering the doll on the table, "Can I...?"

Silas nodded and the albino let out a small noise of glee, lifting the sheet up and gingerly picking up the doll beneath. The Invalid watched his companion so mesmerized by the miniature, and tilted his head, arms crossed, "You don't think them strange?"

"Of course not! Si these, these are beyond amazing! They're so pretty, you should show the others." the words were spoken in excited haste. Neiro grinned up at him with odd eyes, large with delight and wonder, urging him.

And he spoke so earnestly. Silas chuckled and Neiro was momentarily taken aback, "I'm serious Siras!"

Figures that his odd flatmate wouldn't find it disconcerting. The brunette went back to scouring through some leftover materials on the shelf, "I'd rather not, most find such dolls to be... unnerving. Truly, you are far more composed than I would've presumed."

"Maybe some might." Neiro shook his head and gestured with his free hand towards the shelved dolls, "Anyone can tell just by looking, there's so much care in their handicraft." he marveled, gently feeling the fine stitches of the cloth. "You put so much time and much effort into making these. It's hard to find something unsettling it's your passion."

The albino stared appreciatively at the doll in his hands. Brilliant crimson mane shone in multicolored tones of Autumn spectrum and the doll met his gaze evenly with a confident, fiery, and tenacious stare, mouth smirking with a handsome curl of the lips.

Though it was but half finished, it practically exuded of a strong character. It was as if it was holding his stare on its own. But there was something oddly familiar about the doll. Or perhaps it was the smoldering determination of their gold-flecked eyes, like embers.

"Eh? Silas is this--?"

The brunette nodded, clearing his throat, in what could've been embarrassment, "Estavia."

"You should show them!" Neiro glanced at the other dolls, come to think of it they all looked rather familiar.

"Definitely not." Silas immediately shot down, shaking his head. Where was that piece? He narrowed his eyes, and pulled a jar down. "I may take from them my inspiration but few take well to such a strange craft."

"No way, I'm sure they'd like it." he turned the doll appreciatively in his hands as he held it.

"I highly doubt that they'll find it flattering."

"Hmmm." Neiro hummed and went back to admiring Silas's handiwork, "Such a pity. An Artisan's work is mean to be appreciate, Si."

Silas scoffed and placed the jar back. Ah, there was the piece he was looking for.

Neiro glanced up as the other appeared at his side, reaching over to tuck the doll's hair behind their ear. A dainty pink flushed peony held it up and the sight gave Neiro pause.

"It-it suits Esti well." he marveled.

"I know." Silas looked away, "Though it may not be my place, I believe they would agree."

One may not think so what with Esti's passionate nature and assumed identity, but the brunette didn't miss her forlorn glances that lingered on such feminine adornments. The redhead could appreciate beauty, even in the weak dainty things she oft scoffed and turned her nose at.

"Do you think you can make a bigger one?"

"The doll?"

His short flatmate shook his head, "The flower, can you make a bigger one?"

Oh.

"You want me to make one for Esti."

The albino swiveled the lollipop again and nodded, a shy grin at his lips.

Silas stared, letting out a silent sigh in mock exasperation. He lifted his shoulders and dropped them again in the same half-hearted shrug, "I'll have it done by tomorrow."

Another nod and enamored grin.

Neiro had never shown romantic interest in another, not once in the Time he had known him. Then Esti appears out of nowhere, dropping in from the sky, literally speaking, gives his small companion an all encompassing hug, and the albino was head over heels. Or as head over heels as Neiro could be.

Well, he could certainly see why.

Silas lowered himself into the seat slowly, hand searching the table for a wire spool.

Esti was certainly attractive, a quality he himself wasn't completely unaffected by. Truly her fire burned bright.

Then there was Neiro, his genuine, carefree, and merry personality, so loveable and kind.

Both of them bore thoughts that warmed him.

It'd be a lie to say he wasn't a little envious of the two. Aside from their haleness in body, optimism, and kinesthetic intelligence and aptitude, the two were spending quite a bit of Time together, and any fool could see why.

The brunette forced it down, a part of him worried that Neiro wouldn't remain by his side for long, and neither did he have a right to keep the albino there. Not when the other had a whole life ahead of him to live.

Besides, his condition would only worsen. Things would only become more cumbersome with Time, not better.

But he had already lived long enough.

A bitter smile graced his lips. However short that may have been.

"Si?"

He started at his name, "What is it?"

And then there were arms around his shoulders, engulfing him in a hug. A small face made itself known at his nape, nuzzling into the exposed skin, "Your hands are shaking, it's okay to do it later. Besides, it's tea time!"

Moments like these seemed to grip him more often than before. This Time he blamed it on the albino's unannounced entrance, and walking into a rather private moment.

It was something he'd rather had kept undercover.

Loneliness, fear, anxiety, and worry.

He smiled down appreciatively at his flatmate, brows creased as he took in the sight of his greying companion, burning this image into his memory.

So that when the albino was gone, he would at least have the memories.

But for now Neiro was urging him away, and he complied, moving to the couch in the inner sanctum of their home.

There his companion nudged him onto the cushions, pulled the throw over him, and went to fetch some tea mix that Silas had prepared earlier that day.

He chuckled as Neiro returned along with the tea and an unmentioned platter of snacks. How like him to try and sneak a few treats in.

"Who said you could help yourself to the raspberry crumble?"

Neiro threw him a cheeky grin of perfectly white teeth, as he set the tray down, "Me!"

Silas snorted and pulled the other down beside him, mussing his hair as the other gasped for air between fits of laughter.

---

Esti blinked at the white and pink flower Neiro had presented with a grand flourish, down on one knee and everything. Standing off to the side, Silas was ignoring the both of them and their flair for the dramatic in favor of his drink.

If it weren't for the slight quirk of his lips, the redhead would've believed the whole fiasco to have slipped his notice entirely.

"So uh--what's the-" Esti glanced down at the flower again, "-occasion?"

What even was it? It looked like a cross between a carnation and a rose. Neiro said something earlier but she didn't quite catch it between a face full of petals and the hilarity of the exaggerated manner of the albino presenting them.

"Do you like it? Silas made it!"

In the back Silas finally spoke, "Don't drag me into this."

Picking up the trinket the redhead stifled a laugh, "It's nice--but you know I don't wear these Neiro."

It truly was well made, and so detailed too.

"Try it on, please?"

"Well..."

Neiro held it out for him, earnest eyes and blinding smile.

Well, he was already here, and they did go through the effort of procuring such a piece. Might as well, it couldn't hurt to try it on.

"Just for a little, I'm not used to wearing dainty things. I might break it." Esti tucked a curl behind his ear and knelt so their short statured friend could pin the flower on.

Straightening up the Neophyte chanced a glance in the mirror. It did look quite nice. Strands of red and gold flashed as they caught the sunbeams.

Off to the side Silas peered at the two in his peripheral. Esti was trying for disinterest, but those blood red eyes were a smidgen too wide and that voice a tad too eager.

Seems like Neiro hit the nail straight on the head. The brunette had to commend him, though he doubted that anyone else would've been able to coax the same from their redheaded acquaintance.

For the longest Time Esti had remained withdrawn, her zest and zeal all but gone. Even after being released from the hospital ward, she'd make herself scarce and none of them could hardly catch more than a quick wave or flash of red before they darted off.

This had been difficult for the albino he was sure. Even getting the Neophyte to come must've been a hefty undertaking.

Frankly speaking it was a bit of a surprise in itself that Neiro had managed to get Esti to wear it. Looking at her now, smiling and laughing in the sun, it was hard to imagine the reservations she had with associating with anything of feminine nature. Though having seen into her memories, it was easier to understand why the redhead saw it as weakness and frailty, and why she feared it so.

Neiro was a salve, his presence soothing the hurt around him.

"Sy, it looks great don't you think?" Neiro cried out, a mere four or so feet away.

"Neiro." The Invalid scowled, "Hush."

Esti cocked his head. Neiro hadn't been all that loud. The albino whispered, "Sensitive ears." and gestured towards his own.

"I heard that."

That sent the two behind him into muffled laughter.

Silas turned in his seat and took in the sight of Esti with her hair tucked by the pin. It had looked good in his peripheral but seeing it now fully, "It's an improvement. You should wear it more often."

"See! Even Silas likes it!"

"I never said I liked it." Silas shot back, brows knit together as Neiro waltzed over to him, a mischievous grin on his face. The albino threw his arms around his mid much to his chagrin, locking his hands and keeping the other from pushing him off.

Esti just smiled and thanked them quietly. Somehow it wasn't the same as being cheered on from the sidelines, or the compliments he oft heard commending his skill and deftness with physical fitness.

Agility, balance, power, speed, coordination, and reaction. The 6 vital components that made up physical skill. Even so he went beyond that, and it wasn't unusual for him to hear praise for his grace and form.

This though, was something they weren't accustomed with.

It was strange and oddly embarrassing to take a compliment, and to have something given to you.

An odd gift, both the hairpin and the compliment.

He looked up at an indignant cry and laughed at the sight of Neiro having climbed into Silas's lap and nibbling with all the innocence he could muster on the man's slice of tiramisu.

"Thank you Neiro." Esti grinned as the brunette sighed and caught his stare. Silas gave him an exasperated half shrug at the antics of his flatmate, "... and Silas."

The redhead laughed openly and joined them at the table, making an attempt to nab the slice of cake Neiro was jealously guarding.