IC contact

[wiseoldbartender]

Husk

Fuck off.

VOICE | TEXT | VIDEO | ACTION

🔥

FROM: SUBJECT: FAMILY CHAT So we got a pig now. LAPIS I know you don't want a big fuss... EDWARD If you want to talk about it or... DIARMUID I heard what happened. CEREZA Knock knock, my little Sourpuss~ CAMILLA Say, Husk, you wouldn't happen to have any recommendations... LAPIS Father's Day SAMPO/LAPIS/JINWOO Husker Agapov. On the next night in... LAPIS Are you at your place right now? EUNIE how's this month's mission mildred

TO: SUBJECT: FAM CHAT What does it mean when you dream DIARMUID So. Are we gonna talk about the thing. FAM CHAT Weird request. One of you needs to come... BLADE Got a sword from that sketchy shopkeeper. ELLIOT Hey, Elliot. Think shit's calmed down enough... DIARMUID Order came. At Jinwoo's place. LAPIS That FUCKING son of a BITCH HUA CHENG Shit's getting bad. LAPIS One of those flying boxes gave me a new phone EUNIE You might wanna stay away from your regular place for a while.

code by cawaii

Comments

3/2 text; un: fortuneclovers

[medicgunner]

how's this month's mission mildred

[wiseoldbartender]

[She can't hear it, but he's screaming. ]

WHO THE FUCK TOLD YOU?!!!

[medicgunner]

i'm not telling

[wiseoldbartender]

You know, I'm starting to realise why everyone said the Kaisou branch was fucking batshit.

[medicgunner]

yeah and now you're here too welcome to batshit hell mate we have cursed potlucks every two months

[wiseoldbartender]

I'm super aware of that, thanks. I ain't going to no potlucks. I'm not here to be fucking SOCIAL.

[medicgunner]

even if i wasn't just kidding around you don't got a choice in the matter

[wiseoldbartender]

I have a choice in that I can go get drunk in a bar instead. Lotta bars in this city. They'd never find me.

[medicgunner]

they'll find a way. :)

[wiseoldbartender]

I dunno. I got pretty good at avoiding people. They'd have to try pretty fucking hard.

voice | un: laluna (after Teresagate II)

[crisantemo]

[ Lapis heard what Teresa said about her. About Marlon. And she heard just how upset Husk got in response.

She knew better than to step in during that confrontation, not when her name was mentioned. But she's still worried. ]

Are you at your place right now?

[wiseoldbartender]

[He kind of figured this was coming. He'd hoped he could be significantly drunker before having to deal with this, but here they are. ]

Sure am. Here all fuckin' night.

[crisantemo]

[ Too bad Old Man, she's not letting you get any drunker. ]

Good, I'll be there soon.

[ And thanks to the power of shapeshifting + flying, she's there in a few minutes. Knock, knock, Dad! Though there's deliberately a small rhythm to her knocks, so he knows it's not Teresa. ]

[wiseoldbartender]

[But his coping mechanism!!!

He knew it wouldn't take her long, he knew it wouldn't take her long at all. The knock does help, though- it's familiar, safe. He's not afraid of Teresa - but he also knows if they had a fight it would be fucking messy and he's not sure how well he'd fare in it. He's not as young as he used to be. She probably could take him now.

He opens the door, a bottle of Beezlejuice in his hand because he might as well continue his downward trend of terrible decisions today. ]

I really do gotta get you a key.

[crisantemo]

[ Too bad!!!

The bottle gets a glance when he opens the door, but she's quick to let herself in. Even if she's worried about him drinking that, hopefully she can stop him from getting too terribly drunk. ]

You do. We can maybe do that tomorrow, depending if you're still up for moving around. [ It's a gentle jab, like always, but her voice immediately softens; concern clear as she takes a look over her father figure. ]

... How are you feeling, Husk?

[wiseoldbartender]

[It's not even a drink he liked that much in his past life- he has hazy enough memories of it to realise that. But this shit is strong and oh boy does he need it tonight. He takes a long pull from the bottle, heaving out a sigh.]

Don't hold your breath. Was planning on drinking myself into a fuckin' coma tonight.

[Which he is, at least, aware likely won't happen now Lapis is here to try and steer him away from self-destruction. He closes the door behind her, moving to sit on his couch in a slump.]

Just peachy. Never better. Walkin' on fuckin' sunshine.

[crisantemo]

I would vastly prefer you not in a coma, Old Man.

[ He slumps on the couch, and Lapis doesn't hesitate to sit next to him - there's still some space if he needs it, but it's also close enough that he can just. Slump on her if he wants to. ]

Yeah, I can see that. [ There's no dry humour to her tone though, only just a girl concerned for her father. ]

... Bringing him up was a low blow. [ But nothing is ever too far for Teresa, as vile as she is. ]

[wiseoldbartender]

Duly noted. I make zero promises.

[He doesn't move immediately. Instead, his shoulders sag as he looks at the bottle in his hands, rolling it idly between clawed fingers. ]

Yeah... well. Kinda asked for it. Should've known she'd do it- that psycho goes for the jugular every time.

[He raises his shoulders in what's supposed to be an indifferent shrug, but it's really not. Much as he can try to put up his front of not giving a shit, that one hit too close to home. It was a harsh reminder of what he got himself stuck into. That he'd done this to himself in two completely different lives, with completely different monsters. How badly can a person fuck up their existence to manage that twice? ]

It is what it is. [He takes another swig of the Beezlejuice, welcoming the sharp pang of it, and the promise it holds of future oblivion. Then, finally, he relents and does a little sideways lean nearer to her.] Bitching about it won't make him any less dead- won't make them give any more of a shit that he's gone, neither.

[Your mistakes in mentoring Guardian Fiore is biting somewhere in the back of his mind, too. He knows Teresa did it on purpose- attacking a weak spot, trying to get at him. He hates that it kind of did. He didn't think he fucked up with Lapis that badly. She's still alive, which is a step up from Marlon. But fuck, maybe he's just kidding himself and he messed her up in ways he just can't see. That'd track.

He doesn't voice any of that, of course, not a chance. He just takes another long pull of the bottle. ]

Eunie got somewhere safe, at least.

[crisantemo]

[ Lapis is simply silent, as she listens to him. He plays at indifference, but she knows it's not - she knows just how badly Marlon's death eats him up, how badly he spirals because of it. Even though she's strong and she lived, she knows none of that makes up for what happened to him - for how the Order treated him.

And she lets him keep drinking, for the moment. She'll fuss and take the bottle off him later, but she'll let him have this for the moment. It's only when he leans nearer does she move as well, shifting close enough that her arm presses against his - a solid presence, amidst everything else. ]

Yeah, she's with Zhongli. [ The safest place to be, in this city. At least that's one good thing, amidst the giant mess that this is.

Part of her wonders if he thinks he's made mistakes in mentoring her. It's a thought that makes her heart sink, when it's only because of him that she isn't completely dead and hollowed out; maybe that's what the Order wanted, in the end. But she doesn't want to think about that.

So she hums again, eyes drifting over to that bottle. ]

Drinking yourself into a coma won't help either. [ Numbing himself to those feelings won't make them any less real. ]

... You know none of it is your fault, right. She said all of that just to get to you.

[wiseoldbartender]

[He knows, logically there was nothing he could have done about Marlon's death. The kid had worked damn hard, and he was ready for a solo mission. Husk knows better than to let self-loathing get at him, that's another layer of bullshit he doesn't need. No, Marlon's death was on the Order, fully and wholly- there wasn't shit Husk could have done to stop it.

He always knew the Order didn't care about them, you couldn't be in the Order for more than a month without picking that up, unless you were a Zealot. But experiencing just how little of a fuck they gave about the teenager they got killed hit different. That was the start of the snowball of him losing what was a fairly decent position in the Order. It was like looking behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz. Can't unknow just how fucking little you mean to people- and you sure as shit can't go back to wanting to be part of it. ]

Good. He'll keep her safe. ...For now at least. Dunno how long it'll last, not while Teresa's still here.

[Eunie's on borrowed time. All of the former Guardians that got out are. He almost says that Zhongli gave him an out- offered him a deal that would make him safe from the Order. But he bites it back- that would lead into conversations of why he didn't take it and he's feeling bad enough without adding fucking Alastor into the mix. He takes another pull of his drink.]

I dunno. Means I can check out for a couple hours. That'd help.

[He's so fucking tired. It would be so much easier if he could have just continued his self-destructive existence after Marlon. He'd always managed to be functional enough at his job that the Order couldn't make a good cause for Sealing him. It worked. But then Lapis came along and it's a lot harder to let your vices eat at you in the vain hope they might eventually destroy you when you have someone you genuinely love. Someone who loves you back.

The power of love can't completely trump alcoholism, but god if it doesn't put a spanner in the works. She could have done a lot fucking better without having to deal with dragging his ass out of the gutter all the damn time as a kid. Sure, he kept her from being dead inside, but he sure as hell never made it easy for her. ]

Yeah. I know. They're the ones who fuckin' killed him. They knew he shouldn't have done that shit alone, but they sent him anyway. [His fingers tighten on the bottle a little.] Sometimes, I think they did it on purpose just to get rid of him. They never fuckin' thought he was good enough. Didn't think for a second maybe he was just a goddamn traumatised kid and wouldn't be a perfect soldier right from the get-go.

Around the date of may 20th

[anyprice]

[ some magical items are better off tested and seen before trusted.

this notebook he'd gotten today came with some PRETTY INTERESTING instructions, huh? Aha was vividly giggling in his head as Sampo considers it, nods his head. and starts writing.

thanks to sampo's constant dealings with the man over the last 15 years of outrunning and dodging one Husker Agapov, his name was the easy part--but the prank...?

Well.
it says nothing impossible, or deadly, but.
A lot of soap and shampoo companies also have factories that produce things like dye, too, don't they.

Which means... ]

Husker Agapov. On the next night in which Husk purchases and cleans himself with a bottle of bodywash, he will find there was a factory mix-up and some yellow dye got combined in with a small batch of the product. The issue was not caught until the bottling process, which most of the bottles got pulled but a few made it past inspection--which Husk realises only after having himself a nice relaxing bath.

[wiseoldbartender]

[Bathing is always a pretty consistent pain in the ass for Husk. When your body is largely either hair or feathers, washing is a long and laborious process. It's got even worse since he got the stupid mermaid curse- because it means there's a delicate balance between trying to get his legs clean before they turn into one solid tail and he suddenly becomes part of a whole other world.

But still, he managed to navigate that mess, and have himself a nice, relaxing bath. Sure. he's still in Lapis and Jinwoo's place, unwilling to leave while things were so fraught after Douman, it's been a traumatising time and having a moment where he can just chill out is rare and welcome.

...You know, right up until he's drying himself off and realises that he's fucking yellow anyway.]

WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK?!!!!!

[lowestclass]

[ here jinwoo is, minding his business as he boils tea on his own stove to serve to Husk after his shower, complete with some individually wrapped snack cakes...

He almost drops the tin of tea that he'd been gifted by Zhongli a few months ago as Husk suddenly curses loudly and without warning from the bathroom. ]

--E, eh!?

Is--is everything okay? Did you slip and fall--did the shower break?

[crisantemo]

[ Meanwhile Lapis is... mostly moving around again. Shit still hurts and she's tired but at least she can walk again, which is a plus.

So mostly she's in a dozing position on the couch, absently listening to Jinwoo move around the kitchen area before just. Startling awake when she hears her dad yelling, freezing for a moment in Panic Mode before shifting to sit up. ]

Dad, are you alright? Did you pull your back again...?

[ It doesn't sound like 'Distressed Husk Cursing' so hopefully it's alright... ]

[wiseoldbartender]

[RIP the nice tea.

Husk is speedily putting pants on, while trying to rub the FUCKING YELLOW off but it's not going. He grabs the body wash bottle, squinting at it, but he can't see the tiny fucking bitch letters - why do they even print this so small? (Why doesn't he wear his reading glasses?)

But he can hear Lapis and Jinwoo asking for him and he knows he... probably can't hide in here or avoid this humiliation until it wears off - assuming it even WILL, fuck. ]

I didn't fuckin' hurt myself, you little shits! [What do you think he is? OLD?!!! He leans by the door.] Something fuckin' stupid happened with my shampoo. Was anyone fucking with it?

[lowestclass]

[ listen, it's been a long time since Jinwoo's shared a house with anyone but Lapis, and he's read about how old people can sometimes like. fall and break a hip and it fucks them up really badly so of course he's worried!!!

But he calms down a bit when Husk shouts back with irritation rather than pain or panic--and he's gonna put the tea aside to slowly move down the hallway. ]

I bought that shampoo for you given you'd need something more efficient than the stuff I normally use. [ you know, the tiny bottles of some prissy designer brand because deep down he's still a tv star and is very vain. he'd bought a bigger more grocery-store brand for husk for when he would stay given he has a ... lot of fur, and his little bottles of product wouldn't quite cut it. ] Is there something wrong with it?

....

Did it make your fur go curly? Some products can make your hair frizzy, I'm sorry, maybe I should have gotten pet shampoo...

[crisantemo]

[ Yeah, if Husk's yelling like that, then the old man is fine. It does make her wonder what exactly has gone wrong though, and she takes a moment to push herself off the couch with a wince. Ugh, it really is like she's pulled every muscle... ]

I doubt that's it, you should see him when it's humid. [ Nothing can save his fur then, it's a lost cause. And pet... shampoo...

Lapis knows what he means, but - ] And wording, Jinwoo.

[ But she makes her way down the hallway too, leaning against the wall by the bathroom door. Standing without support is still difficult, and she has to resist the urge to schlump down and sit on the floor. ]

I haven't touched it either. So, what's happened?

[wiseoldbartender]

[Husk would not have had much luck with Jinwoo's prissy-ass shampoo, that's true. One of those tiny bottles might have covered a leg, if he was lucky. ]

It's not fuckin' frizzy!!!

[The humidity is a cruel mistress to him. But unfortunately, Jinwoo used the P Word and an annoyed, angry gurgling growl comes from somewhere in the bathroom.]

I'm not using pet shampoo you fuckin' shitting shit. I'm not a fuckin' pet.

[Sorry, Jinwoo, that's a Trigger Word. He almost opens the door when he hears Lapis get closer.]

Okay. I'm gonna show you, but if you laugh, I'm fying outta the window and I won't come back. Deal?

[And then, he'll open the door, gesturing with annoyance at his damp, yellowed fur.]

It's fuckin' yellow.

[You know. In case. They didn't notice. ]

[lowestclass]

--I didn't mean pet shampoo in the way that--you're. Just. It's better for fur?! I'm sorry, I'm sorry. [ he's making a real mess of this, both of his hands are coming up to wave them in a way that's supposed to be apologetic.

Not that Husk will see it until he comes out to.

Show off his new Dandelion form.

Jinwoo doesn't want to stare.

But Jinwoo is staring.

He's only just getting used to breathing again, so holding his breath to keep the laugh IN is remarkably easy, but his face is definitely turning a bit reddish with the effort.

he'll turn away, respectfully. ]

--I'm going to get my laptop. I'll.

I'll start researching ways of getting it out. And maybe contact the. Manufacturing company.

[ he's running out of air. ]

[crisantemo]

[ Oh. Oh, Husk sure is...

Yellow.

Incredibly yellow.

Lapis also just... stares for a good moment. Maybe two moments.

He says not to laugh, and the noise Lapis makes to hold back her laugh is impossible to hide. Even as she brings her hands over her face, desperately trying to hold it together.

- Ow ow ow, laughing hurts actually, and there's a wince as she lets out a wheeze like a deflating balloon - dragging her hands down her face. Keep it together, Lapis. ]

I-I'm not laughing. [ This isn't laughing. She swears. ] Aha - Ahem, right maybe we can... see what we can do with this now while Jinwoo looks. And tries not to suffocate.

[ It's so obnoxiously bright, how the hell did this happen?? Lapis pushes herself from the wall with a wince, hand resting against it to keep herself propped up while the other is offered expectantly. ]

Let me see the stuff you used, dad.

[wiseoldbartender]

[He will remember the pet shampoo comment, Jinwoo. He will remember it and bring it up years, decades from now. This insult will hang over you until the end of your days.

He steps outside and watches the kids try and fail not to laugh at this nonsense he's dealing with. His tail flicks in annoyance as he folds his arms across his chest like that will do anything to hide all the YELLOW. A low, grumbling, muttering growl bubbles out of his throat.]

You're both fuckin' laughing- Jinwoo's about to fuckin' pass out- breathe, you goddamn idiot.

[Still. At least they're offering solutions, which is better than complete and open mockery. So, muttering curses under his breath, he turns to the bathroom, pulling out the big bottle of shampoo which... honestly just looks like regular shampoo. Nothing on it suggests this should be dyeing anything. He holds it out to them.]

Look. Just a fuckin' normal-ass shampoo bottle. I don't fuckin' get it.

[lowestclass]

[ please forget the pet shampoo comment effective immediately. he wants to shrivel up and die. english is a hard second language, even if you've spent ten+ years learning it.

He's going to breathe. Breathing. He's breathing. He clears his throat to prove it.

He's also flicking open his laptop on the coffee table and typing in a few things--remembering the brand and typing it into the search bar.

...

There's a long quiet silence for a moment as Husk and Lapis deliberate over the bottle, and then Jinwoo sighs. ]

You guys are gonna' wanna come read this.

I found a news article.

[crisantemo]

[ Sorry Jinwoo this is your fate, for years to come. They will remember this.

And Lapis does let one little giggle slip out, before she reaches for the bottle - taking a look over it with a hum, while Jinwoo gets his laptop. It seems... perfectly normal, and she turns it over in her hands as she examines it closely. Nothing weird is written on the label either, and she shakes her head with a faint hum of confusion.

It sounds like Jinwoo has found something though, her head perking up with a curious sound - and sorry Husk, but she's going to use you as support since moving around still aches. But once they have view of the laptop, she chirps up with; ]

What does it say?

[wiseoldbartender]

[ Sorry Jinwoo, the Polygot Agapovs will never let you rest on this.

Husk's ears pin back at the giggle, heaving an annoyed sigh. His existence continues to be a prison. He doesn't mind being the support, though, bending a little so she can get a better grip on him without stretching. He peers over Jinwoo's shoulder. ]

...How bad is it? This shit better come out.

[lowestclass]

[ this is his life. He'll learn to live with it. Suffer with it. It's fine. He's found himself caring about these two a lot and dealing with them getting annoyed at him for his lack of intelligent responses is just gonna be a fact of life.

He gives a slow sigh as he starts to read out the article... ]

'Complete Recall on Maybelleaf's Soft and Silky Line of shampoos, after factory mishap that caused many of its products to become cross-contaminated with its line of popular 'Panic Magick' temporary hair color. While most of the bottles of contaminated product was caught and taken off the line before distribution, it has come to the company's attention that some of the mixed bottles had made it past inspection and may have been distributed to the general public. If you have found one of these bottles please contact the number below for a refund...'

[ he trails off and turns the screen towards the other two. Showing a bottle that looks identical to the one that Lapis is holding, as well as a dozen little jars of temporary violently-colored hair dyes... ]

[crisantemo]

[ It's okay Jinwoo, Lapis still loves you even if you just... say things sometimes. It's a charm point.

And she'll listen silently as he reads the article, tilting her head with a low hum - squinting at the pictures as he turns the screen towards them. Yeah, those violent shades certainly match with how... aggressively yellow Husk is right now. ]

Well. [ She says with a click of her tongue, letting herself lean against her dad as she examines the bottle. ] At least we can get a refund, and it's temporary.

[ So not all terrible - ]

So after a few washes you'll stop being mustard coloured, dad.

[wiseoldbartender]

[It's a fact of life but they let you live amongst them anyway. Like a feral cat colony accepting you as one of their own or something.

The article is just a bitch-ass cherry on top of his shit sandwich. He stares at the HORRIBLE YELLOW and drags a clawed handle slowly down his face with a long-suffering groan. ]

Jesus fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. I know my luck is dogshit, but it should be this fuckin' bad. How the fuck do you mess it up that badly?

[This is a nightmare. He didn't ask for any of this. ]

Well. Like fuck am I goin' outside like this.

[lowestclass]

I... I don't know. Maybe a funky new hair color isn't so bad. [ ...even if red and yellow kind of give him drifting thoughts about Anpanman... ]

But Lapis is right. At least the type of dye that. Somehow got mixed into the shampoo bottle is temporary dye and can wash out quickly...

So at least you aren't stuck with it for a few months...?

[ after living so long with Bad Luck-itis, Jinwoo has taken up the habit of "think of the positives"--where the positive is usually "let's imagine how this could have been worse." ]

[crisantemo]

Yeah, changing things up isn't that terrible. [ Gotta think on the brightside! It's a trait she has mastered due to... having a dad, a cousin and a boyfriend all with terrible luck. So much bad luck. ]

And after a few washes it will come out, so it's not permanent. Like Jinwoo said, only a few months. [ Lapis will shift to take a look at that horribly, violent yellow that is now Husk's fur; considering their options for a moment. ]

I'll look up methods for getting dye out faster too. And if you need something, Jinwoo and I can get it for you if you really don't want to go outside.

[ ... Let's be honest, that will mostly just be Jinwoo for the moment. Lapis is still struggling to stand upright without support.

So he will have to be errand boy. ]

[wiseoldbartender]

Okay, I'd like to see how much you fun chucklefucks would think "changing it up" to a "funky new hair colour" would be if your hair looked like you'd been mauled by a fuckin' Teletubby.

[ Do YOU guys want the bright yellow hair? Do you?!!

Still, the kids are offering reasonable solutions here, so he heaves out a long, tired sigh. ]

I mean. I guess it's not like I lost a leg or something. [ Because that's the logical escalation of this. Limb loss.] And fiiiine. Once it's less fuckin' obnoxiously yellow I'll head out again. Thanks, I guess.

[lowestclass]

...Okay, you got us there. Changing it up isn't a bad idea, but yellow is... definitely not the color i'd choose.

Maybe purple, or maybe even blue...

[ he trails off quietly as he closes his laptop, tipping his head back to look at Husk with a sort of crooked, well-meaning smile. ]

I can go out and get you guys anything, Lapis is right.
Maybe I can find some sort of shampoo that's good at getting temporary dye out...

[crisantemo]

Is this you offering to dye your hair in solidarity?

[ The words are said with a soft chuckle, a small grin directed Jinwoo's way, before she hums in agreement. ]

There should be something like that... Clarifying shampoo is meant to be good for that, so there's one option.

[ And with a gentle nudge in Husk's side; ]

So you'll be fine. It will just take a few washes until it's not as insanely bright, that's all.

[wiseoldbartender]

...You know that would take the sting outta the whole experience.

[Don't listen to the Agapovs, Jinwoo. Don't let them do this to you. You're a good boy! Husk is glad for the help though, it's genuinely helpful. ]

Yeah? You think that'll work? Well. I'll give it a shot, gotta be worth it. Thanks, Kid. [That's to Jinwoo. For offering to go get it. He rolls his eyes as his daughter nudges him, heaving out a sigh. ] I'll take it. Anything's better than looking like a fuckin' Peep.

[lowestclass]

[ he cant help it he's too polite for his own good sometimes.

hes standing here
considering it
looking between yellow husk and red lapis .... ]

...I. Well. Lapis did mention I needed more color in my wardrobe...

[ he's trying so hard to imagine himself with purple hair right now and it's not going well.


.....could he even get his hair dyed, what would a hair dresser do about his horns.... ]

I mean, what's the worst that could happen. The product I buy being tainted with blue dye this time...

[ It's a joke but

...

it's a very real possibility isn't it

he clears his throat. ]

I'll go out now, if you two think you can handle yourselves for an hour on your own.

[crisantemo]

[ Clearly he has to join Yellow Husk and Red Lapis by becoming Blue Jinwoo. They'll have all the primary colours then. ]

And dying your hair could be a fun way to introduce more colour.

[ Don't listen to them!! The Agapov's are full of awful mischief, and her grin brightens for a brief moment. ]

Plus I can always dye it for you, if you're worried.

[ Terrible. But she chuckles as Husk rolls his eyes, letting herself straighten up a little more now. ]

Peep could be a good look for you too. [ But teasing aside; ] We'll be fine, I promise. I can have a look and see if we have anything in the house in the meantime, to help make the yellow less... yellow.

[wiseoldbartender]

[ Jinwoo is so polite for this family- it is a weakness that is likely to be always exploited, and he doesn't deserve that. But this is what he's got. ]

I mean, yeah. There's other colours than black, y'know. It might even look good on you, you don't know unless you try.

[ He grimaces at his beloved daughter. ]

Nobody looks good in fuckin' peep yellow. Yeah, we won't burn the house down or nothin'. We can behave ourselves.

[CAN they though? ]

action!!

[crisantemo]

[ It's a very particular day today, and so Lapis is a little bit nervous. Most recent Father's Days she's been on missions or travelling, so all she could really do is call Husk when she had a moment to spare and timezones aligned.

But this time she can put in a little more effort - especially since this year, it's official. She's now an Agapov, so she wants to do a little extra for Husk. It took some hours at the forge and some assistance from her brother, but she managed to make something...

So Husk is at Jinwoo and hers place today - after her insistence that he come over - and at one point during the day, Lapis will be cornering her dad with a gift. ]

Ah, here you go. [ It's a small-ish, slim box neatly wrapped in red paper. Once he tears through that, he'll find it's a metallic playing card - with the Ace of Spades design on the front. It's not just a card though, as he'll find he'll be able to actually open it; inside are two photos, one on the inner panel and one right in the centre, of them both. Back from a few years ago, when she was young, and something more recent.

And inside the trinket is an engraving: "Thank you for being my dad. I love you."

Meanwhile Lapis absently twists her fingers together, giving him a soft smile; quietly anxious for his reaction. ]

Happy Father's Day.

[wiseoldbartender]

[ Father's Days really aren't something that Husk has seen a lot of. It's always been nice to get a call from Lapis, of course, but he's never really expected more than that. Everything had always been so tricky, especially when they weren't even on the same continent.

But it's different this year. He was honestly already a little sus given how insistent Lapis was that he stayed in her place today. So when she corners him with a present, he really should have seen it coming. He takes it with a soft grumble with no real venom to it at all. ]

Didn't have to go through so much trouble.

[He's just saying it for show though, really. Typically adding to the grouchiness they both know is more front than it is anything genuine. He opens the gift, eyebrows rising in surprise because this is... actually really fucking nice. He turns the card in his fingers, letting it slide between them in that old, practised sleight-of-hand. And then he opens it and... oh.

The pictures were wonderful, they tugged at his old, grumpy heartstrings. But that engraving? That was a fatal shot. He stares at it for a moment. Jesus, fuck, he really did luck out and get the only decent thing in his whole fucking life with her, didn't he? Something in his chest aches- before he clears his throat- trying to mask the emotion welling up in there, even if it's not as well hidden from his voice as he'd like to think. ]

That's - [ he sniffs- allergies - rubbing a knuckle over his eye ] that's a really fuckin' nice gift, Lapis. Thanks.

[crisantemo]

[ Lapis watches, quiet, for his reaction; maybe it's silly to be so anxious, but she did want to make this year a special one. And she wanted Husk to know that she appreciates him - even with all the dumb fights and stupid bullshit they get into, there's nobody else who she would want to be her dad. He was there for her when she was brought into the Order an angry, traumatised mess and he kept being there for her as the Order kept trying to wear her down.

But seeing him try - and fail - to hide the emotion the gift brings is enough to make her perk up, giving him a warm smile in response. She's thrilled he likes it, and even more so that it at least shows a fraction of how much she cares about him. ]

I'm glad you like it... [ And the best cure for 'allergies'? A hug, of course, and she steps closer so that she can wrap her arms around him. ]

I love you, dad.

[wiseoldbartender]

[Honestly their dumb fights and stupid bullshit were how they truly showed they loved each other. Sure, they might look insane and petty to anyone on the outside, but that's just how the Agapovs roll. Though as much as Husk generally wasn't one for big shows of emotion, Lapis really did mean the whole fucking universe to him. He'd do anything for her. With only minimal grumbling.

The hug is a great cure for his terrible 'allergies', and he returns it, giving her a tight squeeze. ]

I love it, you Dumbass. [ An affectionate "dumbass", full of love. ] I love you too, Lapis. Thanks. It's uh- it's real special.

[crisantemo]

[ There's a tight squeeze in return, not able to stop herself from smiling brightly now as she leans back just enough to peer up at him. He really does mean the world to her, so she's glad she has a chance to try to properly show this - and being lovingly called a "dumbass" only makes her giggle. ]

I wanted to make something a little more special this year. Especially now that I'm officially an Agapov and we can celebrate this in person.

[ She'll even let him choose to have Taco Bell for dinner and she'll not complain at all - ]

[wiseoldbartender]

[He returns her smile with one of his own, reaching down to ruffle her hair lightly. It really did mean the whole damn world to him. That she took his name. That, despite the fact they were thrown together by the Order, they managed to make something actually good out of it. That she remained the one damn decent thing he'd managed to do in two lifetimes. It all meant so much, more than he could ever truly put into words. ]

Hah, that's true. Ain't normally lucky enough to be on the same continent for this, let alone the same city. [ No, Lapis, don't do that, think of poor Jinwoo. ] Well, you did good on that one. Thanks, Lapis, it means a fuckin' lot.

Gemini Text | UN: generous_rarity; 30 minutes before the raid

[noblerise]

[Approximately half an hour before the raid is set to begin on their homes, Jusis gets a vision. All he sees is a hail of gunfire and explosions, along with a very familiar symbol. The dots connect rapidly and he immediately informs Elliot before sending out a mass text to certain people (Husk, Leon, Ardyn, and Blade) while his husband grabs everything of value. Things can be replaced, but people can't and he has no desire to get innocent civilians involved.]

I've just received a vision of danger. Be prepared for an attack from The Order and proceed as if it's imminent. Rendezvous at the Crystal Tower before dawn, but be extremely cautious. Use the Gemini app only.

sometime late July; non-app text

[nohrianrose]

Say, Husk, you wouldn't happen to have any recommendations for hotels up in Kaisou, would you?

[wiseoldbartender]

[Ardyn's already ruined his day so sure, why not at this point. ]

I mean, my idea of "hotels" ain't usually your idea of hotels. Not unless you wanna fight rats for your bed I guess.

Taking it you're part of the cavalry too then, huh? Didn't realise how far word had got how deep in the shit we are.

[nohrianrose]

Fair enough. I'll see about asking someone else, in that case.

But yes, I'm on my way with some of the Florida team right now~ We started putting the pieces together after blissful silence from some of the truly insufferable zealots ♥

[wiseoldbartender]

Probably smarter. Be kinder to yourself, Kiddo.

Yeah, they kept sending the fuckers. Cú wrecked the place me, Lapis and Jinwoo were holed up in which was fuckin' rude. Turns out the fuckers have got a prison for any of us who they can't make play nice or kill, so that was a fun thing to find out about. Fair warning, you guys are waltzing right into a shitstorm. Ain't none of us would blame you for avoiding it and staying alive.

[nohrianrose]

Oh dear, I take it the three of you at least have somewhere to stay in the meantime?

... Wait, a prison?!

[She is not going to say it but the "oh for fuck's sake" is palpable.]

Thinking on it, I should not be quite so surprised and yet here we are... Honestly.

Oh, we knew it was a godawful mess when we heard they sent Cú. But I will not be swayed from offering my assistance. The more people here to help, the likelier it will be for more people to make it out of this alive.

[wiseoldbartender]

Yeah, I got an old friend who's not part of the Order. He's given us a place to stay. We're safe there.

A fucking PRISON! They got people in deep sleep in there and fuckin' everything. Files on all of us, on how best to neutralise us if we step outta line. I mean, shit, we always knew we were one disobedience away from them hitting the nuke button on us, but they were real prepped for that.

[ Here they are! Dealing with this inevitable, terrible nonsense. ]

There is that. Don't say I didn't give you an out from the bullshit, though. Might save you from getting yourself killed.

[Not that he CARES or anything, because obviously he doesn't! He doesn't HAVE a heart! ]

How many idiots diving into the jaws of death are we looking at here? Who you got?

[nohrianrose]

Thank goodness.

I knew the higher-ups were atrocious, but this is next-level.

[Ugh, ugh, ugh.]

I do appreciate the out, even if I'm not taking it.

Well, there's five of us in this van including Velvet and myself, I think I saw someone from the Venice team express interest in coming, Miss Noel is taking a bus with that mentor of hers and Black Swan, and there might be one more group? I haven't looked in the Discord where we were discussing it in a while.

[wiseoldbartender]

Sure fuckin' is. I thought the worst they'd ever do to us was kill or seal us. Keeping us caged for an eternity wasn't on my bingo card.

Christ. That's a lotta people. [...A lot of people who might get killed helping them, but... ] Fuck. We might actually have a half a chance with that many people. We were pretty fucked with just the seven of us beforehand, even if any of the folks in the city decided to throw their lot in with us.

Fuck me, we might not die horribly.

[nohrianrose]

Nor mine.

Really, with the way the higher-ups have been running things, there's no shortage of people they've pissed off. And I suppose enough people were going to get tired of things sooner or later.

[They're all about to do something incredibly badass or incredibly stupid. Time will tell.]

[wiseoldbartender]

They sure worked real hard on making everyone as miserable as fucking possible. They can't be surprised that the dog they beat had turned around to bite them. You're right, that shit was inevitable.

Well. Glad for the help, I guess. If you guys are determined to come through all this. I'd say if we survived I'd buy you dinner, but they haven't paid us for three fuckin' months so you'll have to have it on lawway.

voice, post-meropide and direct line

[umbranwatch]

Knock knock, my little Sourpuss~

I do hope your grumpycat self hasn't decided to kick the bucket yet, I'd be terribly disappointed in you. Especially since you've been residing in an interesting time in Kaisou- or so I've heard.

[HI HUSK, DID YOU MISS CEREZA? SHE MISSED YOU. :D]

[wiseoldbartender]

[ No.

Not this. He picks it up with a long-suffering groan. He's just a tired old man. What has he done to deserve this? ]

Not my fuckin' name, Cereza. And no, I ain't dead. Worse, all the demonic immortality bullshit from my past life kicked in while I was living here so now I'm stuck on this mortal coil. It's some kinda bullshit because I was hoping at least death could free me from dealing with you chucklefucks, but no. And look at you, not dead yet, neither.

[He did not miss her one little bit :| ]

Not surprised word is getting to everyone else about that. The whole place is a fuckin' trashfire. Ardyn said you guys were on the way because... I don't fuckin' know. Because you're batshit and wanna suffer, I guess.

[umbranwatch]

Of course it's your name, dear. You've always been Sourpuss to me.

[Cereza loves the sheer amount of NO she gets anytime she gives him that name. It's delightful.]

Oh wonderful. You and I had something similar in our past lives- immortality was a rather useful thing and plenty of fun. I got to do as much as I wanted and whenever I wanted.

[So long as she kept her contract, that is. Thankfully that shit doesn't exist here, but knowing her luck she'll still end up immortal anyway because of being an Umbran Witch in general.]

Oh I'm always around for a little rebellion, darling. You are talking to the witch who killed angels as part of her livelihood- and I would hate to be stuck in this drab and boring organization for ages without shaking things up a bit.

[wiseoldbartender]

You could just call me Husk, y'know? It's my actual fuckin' name.

[ He hates this. He hates nicknames. He doesn't want this. ]

It's not supposed to be fun for me. Least not in my past life... death? Fuck if I know how to put it. But we were supposed to never double-die, 'less an angel did it. It's that whole eternal suffering bullshit. We just got up from whatever tried to kill us to keep having a miserable time in Hell. Forever.

[ He's not sure how to feel about it kicking on this side of life in his second go around of it. On one hand, he has to watch a bunch of people he cares about die. On the other, it means unless he gets got by an angelic weapon, he doesn't have to go back to Hell- and that means hopefully never having to deal with Alastor again, which trumps just about anything ever. ]

That's true. Angels fuckin' deserve it, too. There's a kid here who's got like... holy powers, or some shit. He's safe. Not Order, but if you see him running around doing holy-power bullshit, don't stab him. He's okay. And yeah, 'bout time those fuckers got what's coming to them.

[umbranwatch]

If I did that, darling, things would be a lot less fun for me. And you know how I hate dreary parties.

[YOU BRING THIS ON YOURSELF OLD MAN.]

That sounds rather similar to the contract I was bound to in my past life. Having my soul be damned to Inferno if I didn't meet the criteria consistently was a rather good motivation, after all.

The ones I know are ugly as sin and every hentai artist's wet dream, in terms of the tentacles and eyes. And I've no interest in causing problems of that sort in this life- I may have the same powers, but the contract doesn't exist this time around.

[wiseoldbartender]

It wouldn't kill you to have less fun at everyone else's expense.

[ He has done nothing wrong in his life ever!! ]

Guess that about pushes you into doing what they want. Once you've been down there once, you wanna avoid it again for... fuckin' ever, I guess.

What is with the whole eye thing? Ones in my past life had a shitton of eyes too. Not so much with the tentacles, though. That's a new one. Probably smart to avoid them in whatever life anyway.

action!

[crisantemo]

[ It's been a... strange few weeks, since the fight at Asgard. Since they finally cut ties with the Order. It eventually dawned on Lapis that now she has an entire life ahead of her, a future that she can make entirely her own - no longer a weapon on a leash.

So she's been thinking more about the future, about what she wants, and there has been one thought sticking at the corner of her mind. Jinwoo and her have been together for a while now, have been through a lot, so maybe...

But there's also the worries about "what ifs" or she's thinking too far ahead or there's no way he would ever want anything more - And she knows she's just going to put herself into a doom spiral eventually. And there's always one person she can always talk to, to help her get out of her head and give her a few shakes.

So it's a quiet afternoon where it's just her and Husk in the house, and while he's relaxing in his chair a daughter will approach. ]

Can I... talk to you about something, Dad?

[ The fact she's asking is already an obvious sign that it's something she's Worrying about. ]

[wiseoldbartender]

[Husk had been taking a minute in his Dad Chair, reading some book on... fuck if he knew. He thought it was some sort of murder mystery, but it seemed to be about a bunch of old weirdos in a book club so far. He's so glad he got his gig with Hua Cheng, he doesn't think he could handle full retirement. This is bullshit.

He glances up from his (nonsense) book, peering over his reading glasses to see Lapis looking... worried. And then she actually asks to talk to him about something, and worry starts to crawl unsettling up his spine. He closes his book, puts it to one side and sets the glasses on top of them. He pushes out the footstool for her to sit on.]

'Course. Is this something I should be worried about? Feels like something I should be worried about. Do I gotta punch a fucker in the face?

[crisantemo]

[ Lapis takes a seat in the offered footstool, trying not to fidget as she thinks of how to word this. Only to then immediately shake her head when there's talk of punching someone. ]

No, no, no. No punching. [ This is related to Jinwoo please don't punch Jinwoo. ]

And I wouldn't say it was something you need to be worried about, I think... Unless you're worried about me getting married. Maybe. I'm not sure.

[ Wow she actually said the word. "Married." Immediately she tenses up, lips pressing into a thin line as she twists her fingers together - actually talking about it makes it feel so much more real. ]

... I've been thinking about it, lately. But I keep psyching myself out.

[wiseoldbartender]

[Husk doesn't look impressed at the no punching rule being brought right out of the gate. This feels like it should be a punching problem. At the very least, it does feel like a worrying problem, given how stressed Lapis obviously is about it all.

And then she just drops the M word and he blinks. He's about to ask if Jinwoo proposed, but as his daughter continues to speak, he realises that's not the case at all. She's percolating on this, clearly. His tail flicks, uncertain for a moment, thinking on how to... tackle this.]

...Well. It obviously matters to you if you've been thinking about it at all. So. What's been freaking you out about it? Let's walk it back a bit.

[crisantemo]

[ It's a lot to tackle, especially since Lapis never... considered this could be a thing she would think about someday. Now here she is: thinking about it.

His question is mulled over for a moment, as she tries to detangle each worry and put it into words. There's a part of her tempted to go back to old habits, to clam up and shove this all aside, but she pushes passed that - she knows talking to Husk will help. And she's learned better now. ]

It's just... What if I'm thinking too far ahead? Or if I... If even mentioning this will mess things up?

[ Which all does sound kinda silly, now that she's saying it. But this is also why she's talking to the dad today. ]

[wiseoldbartender]

[Husk at least does listen to what she has to say. He can understand where her fear is coming from. For the vast majority of her life she has been treated as a weapon in the Order. Been told she will never be anything but that. He's always done his best to teach her otherwise, but his voice is one against a hundred. Loud and stubborn as he is about that, some of their bullshit seeping in was inevitable. It would leave a mark. It has left a mark.

He puts his hands together, heaving out a sigh.]

Okay, first up, you're not gonna fuckin' mess it up by talking about how you're feeling. C'mon, dochka, I taught you better than that. If you're feeling this, you owe it to yourself by telling him about it. You owe him that too. And if he don't take it well? Then he's not as fuckin' worthy of you as you think, and you'd be saving yourself worse heartbreak down the road.

[He unclasps his hands, raising up one clawed finger.]

BUT I don't reckon he would. Because that boy is fuckin' besotted with you. And you're happier than I've ever seen you with him. I know you've just had the goddamn Order stopping you from thinking you'd ever have a chance at a future, and now you're freaking out because suddenly you're getting one and you don't know what to do about it. But that's the thing, you can do whatever the fuck you want with it now. You took your future back, it's yours. No fucker can take that away from you, not even you.

[He raises his shoulders in a shrug.]

So, if you want a future being married to Jinwoo, why not ask him? He's just had his future given back to him, too. Maybe he wants exactly the same thing- but one of you'd gotta broach the subject to get there. Ain't shit gonna happen in your life if you're too afraid to do anything about it.

[crisantemo]

[ Despite being stuck in worry mode, hearing him call her "dockha" does get her to perk up - some of that tension leaving her. And the more she listens, the more it gets through the haze of worry she had hidden herself in. Husk is right, this is something she should talk to Jinwoo about... And part of her knows that this next step isn't really that far-fetched for them. Their home is with each other, and she knows whatever comes next in the future, she wants to be by his side.

But it's still... a large step. Something more permanent. There's a big step between boyfriend and...

And the other thing. Even thinking about it makes her embarrassed. ]

I guess I didn't want to... Bother him, with how I'm worrying about this. [ She is bracing herself for getting shaken, she knows Husk has taught her better than to worry about that!!! And it's not fair to hide it from him either. ]

I know I should talk to him, and I want to, but it's hard to shake the worry that I can't... have something like that. [ To love and be loved by someone, enough so she wants to spend the rest of their lives together. ]

[wiseoldbartender]

[He watches her perk up, glad to give her some comfort in this, because he has a feeling most of this conversation will be him telling her that she's being a fucking dumbass. Husk lets her think, watching ash she processes everything in her head. She is right to brace herself, as Husk rolls his eyes to the goddamn heavens. There they are.]

Don't be a fuckin' dumbass. Why would it be bothering him? He's your fuckin' partner, being bothered is part of the goddamn job description. You're supposed to talk shit out. I mean, fuck, ain't none of us are mind readers, Kiddo. You need to let people know what's goin' on or you're just gonna keep worrying and then people are gonna worry about you. And then everyone is fuckin worried and miserable. Nothing gets fuckin' better that way.

[ Because he HAD taught her better on that one. That letting her bad feelings fester would only be poison for her mind and heart. That she needed to be honest about them to be better.

He gestures at the room around them.]

Lapis. He literally fuckin let you live in his house with him. He invited your fuckin' father to live with you. In his house. Literally you idiots not sealing the deal is the only step you're goddamn missing at this point. You've already got something like that, you're fuckin' living it already, dipshit. You just ain't done the final step is all.

[crisantemo]

[ Lapis is at least aware enough to look sheepish the more Husk talks, because he is right. But this is exactly why she came to talk to him - he doesn't sugarcoat anything, and that's one of the only things that gets through the piles and piles of poor self-esteem that has built up over the years.

And it is enough to chase some of those fears away, and she deflates a little more with a quiet sigh. Her life with Jinwoo now is... basically all of that, something calm and secure, and she doesn't see that changing anytime soon. It's impossible to imagine a future where she isn't with him, now. ]

The last step makes it all... permanent. And I do worry that he might get tired of me someday. [ And she quickly holds up a hand, she knows how that sounds - ]

I know he's not the type to do that, ever, but I still don't have the best opinion of myself.

[ It's a work in progress!! And after a pause, she adds; ]

... Well, at least now I know you don't oppose the idea either.

[wiseoldbartender]

[ Husk will never sugarcoat anything in his life. Sugarcoating is for people too chickenshit to tell it to people straight, in his opinion. It doesn't make him many friends, but it does at least guarantee an honest response from him.

He pointedly and slowly claps his hands together.]

Yeah, it's permanent, you fuckin' dumbass, that's the fuckin' point. It's two idiots saying they wanna be idiots together for as long as they're breathing. Otherwise, it wouldn't be as big a deal as it is.

[He was absolutely about to argue her point, luckily, she did it for herself.]

Well. Now's the chance for you to learn how to have a better opinion of yourself. If you can't work that shit out for yourself, let someone who loves you do it for you- eventually, you might start to believe that they see in you.

[He shrugs, pulling out some cards to idly shuffle them because god forbid he not do some sort of displacement activity while he's talking about genuine feelings.]

Yeah... he's a good guy. And he obviously loves you. I dunno, if you've gotta settle down with some rube, it might as well be with one who thinks you actually matter. That shit's important.

[crisantemo]

Which is also why I'm a little nervous. It's a big deal, even if we are already very domestic...

[ Even if they already act like a married couple. How many times have they called Tank and Azzurra their kids...

The more she thinks about it, the more the only real difference is the lack of rings and official ceremonies and paperwork. Though let's not think about the actual wedding part until things are actually official... She really should talk to Jinwoo, try to gauge how he feels about this. ]

And good thing I have you and Jinwoo to help me, huh.

[ Because as poor as her self-esteem is, as horrible as she views herself, she knows they love her. Not even she can deny that, no matter what her worries might tell her.

It will take some time, but she knows she can rely on them. ]

Mm, he's always treated me well... I still remember how determined you were to not like him.

[ She still remembers the threats..... ]

[wiseoldbartender]

You two act like you're already married, don't start with that shit. You just ain't made it official. You keep calling me grandpa. That ain't what people do who ain't already at least thinkin' about it.

[ He will call you the fuck out about this, daughter!!]

'Course. You gotta have someone to pull you back and make you realise you fuckin' matter. You're too much of a dipshit when you get into your own head to notice what your worth.

[He snorts in a mix of amusement and irritability.]

Yeah, well. He had to prove himself first. Needed to be sure he wasn't a fuckboy trying to get what he wanted and go. Now I know he's the biggest simp on the goddamn planet. [He shrugs.] You got a good one.

shortly before midmonth. text; un: goldenrose

[twofoldfury]

[Diarmuid gave this longer than he would've liked, but some individuals needed a more patient hand lest they lash out instead of listening. But it's been long enough.]

I heard what happened.

I won't ask if you're alright, I'm certain I know the answer to that already. I will ask this instead: What can I do to help you?

[wiseoldbartender]

[Husk isn't the best at accepting help. He's stubborn and mistrustful and tends to expect people are working some kind of angle if they reach out a hand to him. But Diarmuid has been nothing but obnoxiously decent to him. After a while, he just had to accept the guy was just a Good Person and he wasn't looking to exploit a weakness. He was just... fucking sincere in his desire to do good. Fucker.

Which is honestly the only reason Husk peers out of his bed, surrounded by empty bottles to grab his phone and respond. ]

Not unless you can break a soul contract, no.

[ Husk pointedly does not talk about Alastor, but it's clear not doing that fucked him over on the ship. He can still feel the collar heavy around his neck, and he makes him want to curl into a ball and stop existing for a while. Logically, he knows Alastor wasn't real. He knows that. But it felt too real and it's left him on edge. What WOULD he do if Alastor showed up here? Fucking nothing? Just be back to being at his beck and call?

He's reaching around at the foot of his bed- he has to pick up a few empty bottles before he finds one that still has some whiskey in it. Downing it.]

That was some real bullshit.

[twofoldfury]

[Unfortunately, Diarmuid was not just sincere but also more stubborn than he would be under different circumstances.

Ones that made Husk bringing up a soul contract made his heart twist. Knowing that the only reason Diarmuid could even exist was due to a summons, a pact. A soul contract of his own. Knowing that the one who held it in Kaisou was a rarity among mages that would and has relinquished full authority. Is a partner over a Master.]

If only I were able to. I would if it meant you could feel a sense of relief. Or perhaps freedom.

I assume someone who once bound your soul was among those hallucinations I was told of.

[He's inviting Husk to speak about it, but not forcing. Much like their earliest conversation, Diarmuid is treading this water carefully. There's just more investment now. This isn't a stranger, a new member of the Black Order he wished to know more about. This was a friend who has suffered.]

[wiseoldbartender]

[Husk has owned souls himself, in his past life. Hundreds of them. He remembers that. The rest of his time as an Overlord is vague and fuzzy, but he knows he wasn't a good Master to the souls he owned. Gambling them away like they were nothing but poker chips.

Quite regularly, he wonders if Alastor was simply karma coming to collect.]

'Preciate it, Kid. But it ain't in the cards for me.

[He's fishing around for more booze- christ there has to be something he hasn't drunk already.]

Yeah. Past life bullshit.

[ There's a pause, he's never typed the demon's name before- for a brief, insane moment, he's scared he'll summon the guy by doing it. The heaves out a breath. No. That's stupid. ]

Alastor. The Radio Demon. He was...

He was a fucking sociopath.

[twofoldfury]

[How long must one's past sins follow them across lifetimes? Was looking over one's shoulder from the influence of another demon or the demon that a faction formerly was not penance enough? Though, in Diarmuid's eyes, he had a matter to atone for himself. One that he paid the ultimate price for.]

So you say, but have you not earned your freedom once before already?

[Diarmuid didn't know the full circumstance, but he would prefer to have a heart full of hope in potential goodness than scrutiny. He was not naive by any means, but it's that world wise nature that allowed him to hope more strongly.

His heart twisted again for Husk. In the familiar way that it did for "himself" as he existed on another branch. Knowing more than just they or other Servants were forced to have their souls in the hands of the worst of the worst.]

I see. And presumably the way you were treated under his contract was reflective of that. If not even worse.

[Again, he was treading carefully, all the while rage towards himself and a ship that was no more made anger start to rise in him.]

You have safety from him here, but you were forced to face the last person you ever wanted to. I'm sorry.

[wiseoldbartender]

[Husk frowns. For a few moments the little "..." appears and reappears as he types, deletes and retypes what he's trying to say. ]

Order was different. They HAD an out. Took a whole fuckin revolution, but they still had an out. No one escapes Alastor. No one.

[Hope of getting out from Alastor's chains died long before he even began this life. He'd tried it plenty, when he'd first been captured. When he was still proud and arrogant enough to presume he could think or fight his way to freedom. He was proven wrong time and time again. Every spark of hope doused quickly.

He learned apathy was the best way to deal with it. Alastor thrived on the misery of others. If he acted like nothing got through... well, it meant the Radio Demon didn't get his jollies. It's a tactic that's followed him into this life, too.]

Probably deserved it. Don't remember it too good, but I was a pretty shitty person. I was an Overlord once, y'know? All fuckin...

Territories. Owning souls. Murdering fuckers who crossed me. Shit like that. Gambled people's souls like they were nothing. Just caught up to me, is all. Gambled against the wrong demon.

[ Maybe, deep down, he'd be touched by Diarmuid's anger for him- but he'd honestly find it misplaced. Husk's self-loathing is pretty powerful. He really doesn't think it's worth the effort. He was a scumbag in his past life and is only marginally better in this one.

There's another long pause. ]

Order were trying to wake him up in this world. Alastor. They were using me as bait. That's why they didn't just fucking kill or seal me when I was causing them problems. I was just meat in a trap for something nastier.

So no. Not really all that safe, actually.

[twofoldfury]

The same was said about the Black Order.

[Stated matter of factly, even over text. Not to dismiss, but because this was what Diarmuid truly believed. He was in Kaisou before there was an "out". He's just doing the same thing he did with Edward, applying logic where one's inner turmoil bellowed.

Still, the same ire he felt towards the Order was being felt towards Alastor. Even if Husk would say he didn't deserve it. Even if he was once an awful tyrant as bad as his soul contract owner.]

In your past life, maybe. But the life you lead now isn't the same as the one you led before. Even if many years ago in this life you made mistakes, you raised Lapis to be more than what the Order demanded of her. You loaned your strength against the Zealots and Unyielding for a better future. You listen and advise, even helped me find my footing when I felt my resolve threaten to shake.

I'll never forget that. The people you have helped will never forget that.

The Order that dared to use you as they did for Alastor's return no longer exists. And even if Alastor himself may, he has no right to your soul in this life.

You fought hard for your family's freedom. You deserve yours just as much as anyone else.

[And if by the strangest twist of fate someone within the Order attempted to facilitate Alastor's return again? Diarmuid will gladly remind them that his loyalty is, has been and always will be to Waver Velvet, not the Black Order.]

[wiseoldbartender]

Black Order ain't one of the most powerful demons in Hell, kid. Much as they wanted to be.

[He has absolutely no hope of getting off Alastor's leash. The Order were nothing compared to the Radio Demon, in his eyes. They were awful, and they've made the last forty years of his life a living hell. He reads what Diarmuid has to say, but he can't find a lot of comfort in it. This life might be better - largely thanks to Lapis, but he never had much faith it would undo all the bad he's done in this life and the last.]

You're making me sound more heroic than I am. I didn't do it because it was the right thing to do, I was just protecting me and mine.

[Not really true, but it's a falsehood he's willing to believe. It's easier accepting the crap he's been though if he wholeheartedly believes he deserved it. That karma screwed him over, than his existence just being that shitty.]

I dunno. Alastor was a lifetime ago but on that ship? It was like no time had happened at all. Like it was just right back in that fucking life again. And that's the problem. People wake up all the time here, he don't NEED the Order to do it. One day it might just happen, and if he comes to collect?

Well. There's shit all any of us can do about that. Pretty fuckin' clear from the Order's files that his "right" to my soul carried over. The bastard owns me in this life, just as much as he did the last. He juat ain't awake to claim it yet.

[twofoldfury]

You don't need to be renowned or even without sin to be someone's hero, or perform heroic and altruistic acts. The sin may follow, but acts of good are remembered.

[Diarmuid wasn't going to let up on this matter. Though he would concede that he didn't know the full situation with Alastor.

Would it stop him?

Absolutely not. It would encourage him to fight against that fate for his friend.]

The ship you were on opened an old wound that has reared its head before this. I realize that makes it harder to believe, even for a moment, that you will ever be free.

In that case.

I will believe for you. I will believe with all I am that you will be free. That you are free. That your life, Husk, will always belong to you and who you choose to share it with.

I won't be swayed. Even if he does "come to collect", then I promise you that my swords will stand against him in the fight for your soul.

[DIARMUID.]

[wiseoldbartender]

If you say so. Still say it don't apply to me.

[What will win out? Husk's colossal self-loathing or Diarmuid's unshakable faith? Only time will tell!

And then he's just staring at what's being written, because it's a level of batshittery he's not seen in a long fucking while. Husk groans, rubbing his face with a hand, even if Dia can't see it.]

See? This is exactly why I don't tell people about him. Because I know it'll end in some insane bullshit where you decide you can fight against him to save me and that'll just get everyone killed. He's one of the most powerful demons in Hell, and most of you fuckers are squishy and mortal. Ain't no need on you getting pasted on my account. Be smart. Live a long life, Kid.

[twofoldfury]

[Diarmuid has the power of god and anime on his side.

As for his response, it came with a delay. Husk was concerned for him, for anyone who would do the same as him in bringing Alastor down for Husk's sake. But there's more to Diarmuid's motivation that Husk did not know. And more to the nature of his existence, though the latter was easier for him to explain than the former. Considering he knew what he was... not who the other "Diarmuid" was or what he felt.

Still, though, he could speak for himself.]

Calling me mortal wouldn't be entirely accurate either. Though I can die, I'm not human. But I know that knowing that will not stop you from wishing you'd said less.

I am only able to exist by tethering myself, my very soul if you will, to a human that summoned Heroic Spirit Diarmuid ua Duibhne, into the modern era. Who you know me as is fortunate enough to have been summoned a person who is loyal, caring, humble and asked me when I came to this world if I wanted to renew our contract. Which I accepted.

But planes of reality exist where my Master was someone cruel, arrogant and selfish. A powerful man among his peer group who could in theory have forced me into anything. And as a Knight and a Servant I had no choice but to follow him.

I never want to see a dear friend be forced into a similar situation or believe he stands on the precipice of one.

Móralltach will sever that fate if it ever rears its head.

Your life is yours.

[wiseoldbartender]

[Husk wants to rail against this. He wants to throw his phone across the room and go back to drinking and being fucking miserable about everything. That wold be easier. He's good at that, and it means he has to talk about Alastor less. How, even living through second-hand memories, that man made his skin crawl. How he can't listen to the radio without his fight-or-flight response being triggered. How he feels weak and useless over a man he's never even come across in this lifetime.

But here's Diarmuid, coming with sound reasoning. Speaking from a level of understanding he hadn't expected from anyone else in this place. Someone who understands exactly what Husk is facing down whenever he thinks about the Radio Demon.

...Well, shit. ]

Hell's full of fuckers like him. Like me. Ain't a lot of decency there. Which is kinda the point. There's always some asshole ready to exploit another one for their own gain. It's...normal.

[But something Charlie was desperately trying to fix. That was the whole point of the Hotel, after all. Proving that people could be better. Could choose to be better. That Hell didn't mean the end of everything forever if you didn't want it to be. If you were willing to put the work in and change for the better.

Your life is yours.]

...You're really fucking obnoxiously stubborn, aren't you? How the shit ain't you dead?

[twofoldfury]

[It's a flavor of understanding neither of them would wish on another. And Diarmuid of Kaisou only knows of it essentially second hand. Until a few IC weeks from this conversation anyway, oops.

And the real answer to Husk's question is: Diarmuid has already died. Thrice, in fact. Once being left to succumb, twice for what he believed was right.

But Husk didn't need to know that. It was a burden to bear on his own.]

So I've been told. But by all means, let me be so obnoxious if it means I may look down a hopeful path. Even if those around me cannot. Especially if they cannot.

I don't mind being the man to so aggressively remind my loved ones that they are and deserve better than they might think.

[have you considered, mr. ua duibhne, taking your own fucking advice?]

[wiseoldbartender]

[Husk doesn't know that (yet) it's not a burden he carries just at this moment. But his response wouldn't be much different either way. He heaves out a sigh, reading Diarmuid's words, scraping a hand over his face. Fuck's sake, this kid will be the death of him. ]

Yeah. I'm getting that fucking impression. Reading that one loud and clear.

You never get tired of it? There's so much goddamn bullshit going on, you can't keep it up forever, right?

[Even Charlie had breaking points. Even her. ]

[twofoldfury]

[There's... a short delay at that. Diarmuid did once hit a breaking point. It wasn't a moment he was proud of. He completely lost his composure when Waver went limp in his arms in the cabin last year. He wasn't a fool, he knew everyone had one.

He just...

He could never let it be seen again.]

But as long as I can hope and believe, I will. Even as I fall to the earth, I'll pull myself up from it again and again.

[At the very least... that's what he wanted. That was what a knight had to do. Though fallible, he must never lose that image. It was who he was. It was what let him exist. If he wasn't a Knight of Fianna, what was he?]

[wiseoldbartender]

[That is not a healthy way of dealing with your shit, young man!!! ]

Fuck me, you're exhausting.

[The tenacity is so goddamn much. But isn't that what he's brought Lapis up to be? Not letting the bastards grind her down? Having Alastor appear to him has reminded him just how much can be taken away from a person. That sometimes, the bastards really can grind you down until you're dust. Nothing.

...And yet. The horrors persist, and so does he.]

Guess it ain't a terrible mentality to have. 'Specially in a place like this that's actively looking to fuck you over on a near monthly basis.

text; un: captainkenway | three days post-Horrors

[jackdawvision]

If you want to talk about it or just punch someone who killed you in the face, come meet me at this bar.

[And he sends the name and address of a seedy dive bar somewhere downtown.]

[wiseoldbartender]

I ain't gonna punch you, Dipshit. You killed me, I killed you back. It's even.

[Husk that's not how this works at all you psycho. Still, the offer for a drink is a little too loud to ignore. He doesn't WANT to talk about it, but now it's happened and he guesses if he tries to not talk about it, someone's gonna be obnoxious and bother him anyway.

And... well, he guesses being quiet about it for the past 40 years didn't really do shit for him. Might as well give talking a try.]

...Fine. I'll be there.

[He drags himself out of his home, headed to the seedy bar. He looks like a man who hasn't been sleeping and have been actively drinking for three days... which is exactly what's been happening. He takes a seat next to Edward at the bar once he gets there. ]

Hey.

[jackdawvision]

Then I suppose all that’s left is to talk about it.

[Joy. The thing Edward wants to do about this the least. He’s still a bundle of raw nerves, too exposed and bloody, but he’s at least made some progress over the past few days. Well—progress, in that he has bothered to comb his hair and change his clothes for this meeting. Any more effort than that is beyond him, for the moment.

Husk looks like a wreck. Edward’s fairly certain he does too. But in this dive bar, they’re surrounded by other people whose lives look a bit like fresh shipwrecks, so at least they don’t stand out. He pushes a bottle of something clear towards Husk.]

I asked for the strongest drink they had. Apparently, they use this as paint stripper. [He has no idea what it’s called. Frankly he doesn’t care.]

…I’d say I’m sorry, and I am, but under the circumstances, it feels a tad inadequate to just—apologize, for what happened.

You deserve better than that from me.

[wiseoldbartender]

[True, at least they didn't stand out so much in a place like this. Not a soul in the bar looked even remotely okay. Small mercies, Husk supposes.

He takes the bottle, giving it a cautious sniff. He pulls his head back as the stench of it hits him. Yup. That's for sure a pain stripper kind of booze. Just what he needed. He takes a long swig of it, glad for the burn in his throat as it goes down. ]

S'what I needed, thanks.

[And here comes the apology. Husk's ears pin back as he takes another swig of his drink.]

I don't deserve shit. None of us were in our right minds in that fuckin' ship. You don't gotta apologise for something you didn't have any damn control over. It happened, and now it's done. Ain't no point kicking yourself about it.

[jackdawvision]

Aye, but it's still my blade. My hands that did the deed. That it didn't stick is a stroke of luck, because I am damn good at what I do.

[Which is, essentially, murdering people.]

I didn't have any control, you're right. But you still deserve an apology from me, at least. [Tiny and inadequate as it is. He pauses, then adds dryly:] Besides, it was very impressive, how you managed to get the drop on me.

[wiseoldbartender]

No, it didn't stick because I'm a fuckin' demon and mortal weapons can't kill me for good. Luck don't got shit to do with it. Especially when it comes to me.

[ He knows how terrible his luck is. He knows. ]

If I accept your apology, will you stop feeling like you've done me some great wrong? [He snorts in light amusement.] I've been working for the Black Order for longer than you've been alive for. I know how to attack someone good. Probably helped that you thought I was dead, though.

[jackdawvision]

I'd still feel like I wronged you, but I'd bother you less about it. [He sips at his own drink. It burns his throat going down, and he'll take that as some sort of penance.] I've been carrying my guilt around for years, this'll just be one more thing to add to the pile.

[There might, perhaps, be a good reason why he knows this dive bar well enough.]

Hm. I don't know about you having worked for the Order longer than I've been alive. I was born 1693.

[wiseoldbartender]

Guilt's a motherfucker like that. And the more you add to it, the heavier that shit'll get. Sounds like I don't gotta tell you that, though.

[He snorts, taking a swig of his drink. ]

Aint what I meant and you know it. You're like... fuckin' what? Thirty?

[jackdawvision]

You really don't. But like I said, I've carried it for years. I know the weight of it intimately, at this point. [It weighs exactly as much as a friend's dead body in his arms.] I can handle a bit more.

[It'll suck, but it won't break him. It'll just...knock him down for a little while. But he's good at getting back up again, too stubborn to stay down.]

Thirty-two. [Pause.] Thirty-three, I've been here a year. And, let me guess, you're a hundred years old?

[wiseoldbartender]

Least you know what you're in for. Probably more than some of the poor fuckers caught in that mess.

[ There were kids there - actual kids. Those are the ones Husk feels will struggle the most. ]

Sixty-three, so still twice your age, you smug fuck. [ As spiky as his words are, he's smirking as he does it. The he sighs, taking another swing of his drink. ] ...Past life was about that, though. Maybe more. But I was also... fuckin' dead. So there's that.

[jackdawvision]

Better than the children that bloody fucking ship dragged into this. Better than my interns. I can understand me, but they shouldn't have gotten caught in that shite in the first place. At the very least I ought to have been able to keep them safe when we got there.

[He didn't, and that's something that's always going to stay with him. That instead of being of any use to anyone, instead of being able to protect anyone, all he really did was make things worse.]

Really. You don't look a day over fifty. [This, from the man who's been at sea long enough to look forty.] What's your secret? [Jokes aside, he sighs.] What do you mean, you were dead?

[wiseoldbartender]

[Husk grimaces, he'd been out of his goddamn mind for the vast majority of that experience, but... ]

Yeah. I remember the kids. That was some real bullshit, bringing kids into it. [And yet he doesn't sound surprised. He's spent too long in the Order, where kids were at best moulded into perfect weapons or at worst were cannon fodder. It was terrible, but it was the way of things. He takes a deep slug of his drink.] You can't save everyone important to you. 'Specially when you're going out of your own head. That fuckin' think was designed to break us, you can't beat yourself up for getting broken.

[He snorts, raising a bottle. ]

Pickled everything. [ That is not the answer. He leans forward on the bar a little, frowning.] Past life? I'd died and gone to Hell. S'what this stupid cat bullshit is, it's just my demon form. Been dead a while too, don't remember all of it that great, but I know that much.

Action (Backdated to Oct 28th)

[crisantemo]

[ After the actual hell Husk has been through, Lapis has done her best to be there for her dad - gently urging him from his blanket nest so he actually eats and does something else besides sleep and drink. And making sure that he isn't spending time alone; he has her and Jinwoo now, and he's never going to be alone in dealing with this. Husk was there for her when she was at her lowest, so she can at least do this much for him - days have passed and things have gradually become easier, but this will still take time to work through.

And today, on this particular day, Lapis is insistent that Husk comes to the kitchen. She will carry him there if she must!

Once he's there, he'll see why she wanted him there; atop the kitchen island is a small cake sitting next to a box wrapped neatly in silver paper. And there's even a couple of balloons, black with the words "Birthday Bastard" printed across it - only the best and most appropriate for her family of course. ]

I know you don't want a big fuss, but I still wanted to do something for you. [ To make sure he knows he's loved, no matter what. ]

Happy birthday, Dad.

[wiseoldbartender]

[If left to his own devices, Husk absolutely would have just wrapped himself up in bed and drunk himself into oblivion until the horrors of the Event Horizon had faded into the back of his mind with the rest of his trauma. It's what he's been doing his whole life at this point- it worked just fine.

But he hasn't had the chance to indulge in this extremely unhealthy coping mechanism this time. Lapis has dragged him out and reminded him over and over again that he doesn't have to deal with it alone. He's... not good at relying on other people to help him with his bullshit. This is... new.

He does come to the kitchen on his own steam, blinking at the setup. The balloons pull a rough, low laugh out of him. ]

Holy shit, where did you even get those? [He doesn't like much of a fuss when it comes to this, but he knows it means a lot to his daughter. And honestly? It's... kinda nice. He manages a tired smile.] ...Thanks, Kiddo. This... ain't actually all that bad.

[crisantemo]

[ No unhealthy coping mechanisms are allowed, not anymore. Lapis is determined to be there for him and support him, just as he did for her over all these years - which means gently dragging him out of bed to spend time with them. It was a rough time, but she wants to be there for Husk.

So hearing how he laughs when he spots the balloons pulls a gentle giggle from her in return, her smile brightening as she shrugs a shoulder. ]

Jinwoo's new delivery power is very handy. [ Thanks off-brand brain UI Amazon. But she is glad he likes them; this felt much more appropriate for him instead of those usual colourful and cheery balloons. ]

But I'm glad you like it, though you still need to open your present first. [ Then she'll obnoxiously sing happy birthday to him-

But she'll head over to the island, reaching for the box and offering it to him; her expression a little sheepish. ]

I, ah, decided to make something again. Something you'll be able to use since it's getting colder.

[ He has fur, but even that has its limits. And after what he's been through, she's hoping it might bring some comfort too.

Once he opens the box, he'll find a sweater tucked inside - a handmade thing, made of wool and a little wonky on the edges, made of black and red wool with card symbols lining the hem and edges of the sleeves. It's not perfect, the patterns aren't entirely even and aren't lined up as well as they should be, but she's done her best.

And her expression is a little sheepish once he opens it, hands twisting together as she hunches her shoulders. A little nervous about his thoughts on it. ]

[wiseoldbartender]

[He knows, deep down, this is a better way of handling it. That he has half a chance of actually, legitimately healing instead of following the "alcohol solves everything" path. Because it... sure doesn't.

He snorts in amusement, oh of course, Jinwoo's latest nonsense. ]

That thing is making our lives a whole lot fuckin' easier.

[He'll bear the singing with the long-suffering sigh of someone who has heard this song too many times in his life now and knows he will have plenty more too. Still, he opens the parcel and a small smile crosses his face. He picks up the wonky sweater like it's the most precious thing in the world- which is is. ]

...Holy shit, you made this? [He holds it up, examining it this way and that, before looking over at her- ah she's doing the hand-twisty thing she does when she's nervous. ] Dochka, this is fuckin' amazing. I love it.

[Genuinely, he does. He reaches out to pull her into a hug. ]

C'here, why the fuck you so nervous about giving me anything? Honestly.

action!!

[crisantemo]

[ Another Father's Day falls upon them, and unlike last year Lapis has more... adapted, to their retirement. Gotten used to a more normal, domestic life where her main concern is her family and their day-to-day shenanigans. And she's been glad that she could share this new period of her life with her Dad nearby.

It also means she's far less nervous this time, and that morning as she preps some things for breakfast - need to eat before they go to this masquerade - there will be a gift waiting for him as well. It's larger than last year, thicker too, and wrapped in black and red paper with a little bow to neaten it all up. She did have to be a bit sneaker in getting this together, but she's pleased with the results. She just hopes he likes it too...

... Okay, maybe she's still a little nervous. But when he makes his way into the kitchen, she brightens up. Cup of coffee is already prepared, but she'll be handing him the gift first. ]

Before you do anything, open this.

[ The gift is held to him, and once he opens it up he'll find it's a book - on the front is an Ace of Hearts engraving, similar to the gift she gave him last year. And when he opens the book, he'll find it's an album - with an assortment of pictures of not just her and him, but also with the other residents of the house too. Including Tank - and she's even managed to add some newer pictures with Nuggets. A family album, with some space at the back to spare. And within the inside of the front cover, is something written in Russian:

To the patriarch of the house, and the best Dad (and grandpa) there is. Love you.

And Lapis waits quietly, giving him another soft smile once it seems he's done looking over the gift. ]

Happy Father's Day.

[wiseoldbartender]

[It's been a bitch of a month for Husk, really. Losing his name was an irritation he did not expect. Who the fuck loses a name? Well, him, apparently! At least they have the means to deal with it now, even if it means having to go to a fancy-ass ball.

He'd almost forgotten the day when he steps into the kitchen to the smell of breakfast and coffee, Angel's obnoxious little pig trotting behind him. He pauses as he steps into the kitchen, blinking down at the gift, before carefully taking it from her. A rare, soft smile crosses his grizzled features as he turns it in his hands. ]

Holy shit, I forgot.

[ He carefully opens the gift, his eyes widening as he realises exactly what his daughter has given him. He turns the pages, eyes pouring over each image- of the home, the family he's built for himself here. Something that's all his own. Not Alastor's. Not the Order's. His. And there's not a single fucker in this or any other world who can take this away from him. He sniffs lightly, rubbing a clawed hand by his eye. He's not tearing up. He is not. ]

This is beautiful. [ Okay, fuck, he might be tearing up a little bit. He pulls her into a hug. ] I love it. Thank you, dochen'ka. That means the fuckin' world to me.