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[wiseoldbartender]

Husk

Fuck off.

VOICE | TEXT | VIDEO | ACTION

🔥 | NSFW

FROM: SUBJECT: FLINS Husk. I'm not sure I know how... FLINS Lottery Number, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth... ZEVRAN Were you, by chance, aware that your beloved... FLINS It is January 17th, 2025 CE FLINS January 10, 2026 CE FLINS January 3, 2026 CE FLINS December 27, 2025 CE FLINS December 20, 2025 CE ALASTOR Good day, old friend! FLINS December 13, 2025 CE FLINS December 06, 2025 CE SHROUD/HARU I was told you had a pest problem. FLINS November 29, 2025 CE ZEVRAN My dearest of furred friends! FLINS For the sake of convenience... 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: FLINS Y'know how you think shit can't possibly... ZEVRAN WEE WOO WEE WOO FLINS Okay Baby, I'm gonna need you to do me a solid... JUN Flins asked me to message you... JINWOO Jinwoo, get your ass here... SHROUD Whatever higher power is in control... 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

[lanternae]

[See? He's thinking of you~]

The sea spray can chill you to the bone, especially in December. It's certainly not for the faint of heart.

Nevertheless, the ships pass as they always have. One of the sailors waved to me earlier today. I waved back, and the smile that spread across his face was like a daisy popping up through the snow.

[wiseoldbartender]

[ So good to him and his sleep cycle. He appreciates it.]

I can bet, not a lotta shelter out there after all. Not like you've got a lotta tree or buildings to break the wind and spray up.

[ Nature of being out on a lighthouse.

And oh. Oh no. That's fucking adorable. A happy little smile crosses Husk's face that Flins can't see, as he pulls his phone a little closer to him - like that would bring Flins closer to him. He hasn't felt butterflies like this since he was a teenager, Jesus. ]

That's so fucking cute. You're fucking cute. Look at you, making his whole ass day. You know you're gonna have to wave at him every time now. You've got yourself a passing acquaintance. Like petting a puppy at a dog park.

[lanternae]

That there isn't. Just the cold expanse of the sea, and nothing but the horizon as its company.

[Cute. It wasn't a word often attributed to him. In fact, most people either found him polite enough to enjoy his company a moderate amount, or were repelled by his 'vibes'. Hearing himself be called cute... maybe he's not the only one with strange taste.

Still...it's made his night. He's trying his best to hide his smile, despite this just being text.]

I did not expect him to be so elated. It was not even much of a wave. But he turned to his fellow sailors and pointed to me, before all of them shouted a greeting to me. 'Oi, Keeper, we're back!' Is I believe what they said to me. They called me 'Keeper', Husk. Isn't that fun?

[It warms his chest. He truly did love humans and the richness they gave to the world.]

He must've been on his way back from a long time at sea. Lighthouse keepers are the first to welcome sailors home after such a journey. It lifted my spirits. If I should see him again, I'll certainly wave.

[wiseoldbartender]

[Husk definitely has strange taste - had can admit that to himself. Flins definitely resonates as some sort of cryptid with most people, he reckons. Fine by him - more of Flins to himself.

Meanwhile, Flins continues to be fucking adorable about something as simple as waving at some random fisherman and it really does leave a warm feeling in Husk's chest. It's hard to keep his usual crabby front up while he's dealing with this. It's like dealing with Charlie - just the pure unadulterated innocent joy of it all. He always sucked at deflecting Charlie's... everything too.

Charlie never made him feel like this, though. Like he could just lower every carefully crafted defence mechanism he's built up over two lifetimes like they're not there at all. This is... new.]

Awww, you got a little nickname and everything. And it makes sense, like you said, your position is, like, the first welcome back to land these guys get. It's like when you've been away from home and you start recognising landmarks on the way back. Means you're almost there, and you associate those landmarks with nearly being home, with everything and everyone that matters to you.

So you're probably that to a lotta the people going out to sea. Once they see you, they know they're almost back home- and so they attach all them nearly-home-happy-feelings on you. So yeah, you probably should wave - he'd probably appreciate it.

[lanternae]

[His position before all of this had been the uninhabited Flannan Isles. He didn't mind the position. He liked the solitude. But to see sailors and fisherman wave to him every day, as if he were their sentinel for a safe return home...that had its benefits.

Despite his affinity to ghosts, he wanted to model his behavior off the Lightkeepers who so kindly rescued him those years ago. He didn't want to terrify people.]

I had never considered it that way until now.

To think I could be a symbol of returning home for sailors. That they would react such a way to seeing me upon their return home. The lighthouse lamp would be enough, but me... I couldn't be more honoured.

It's times like this that being a Ratnik is truly so rewarding. I would not want to be anything else.

[wiseoldbartender]

[ Pleasant as the ghosts probably were, there really was something to be said for spending time with the living. ]

Yeah, well, a lighthouse lamp is just a lamp. You're a person they can attach themselves to - someone to actually greet them all proper like. It makes a difference, 'specially if they've been out to sea for fuck knows how long.

Good. Glad it brings you something, Babe. I think it suits you. Always sounded more to me like a calling than anything else, anyway.

[lanternae]

You think so? That... would be an honour to a Ratnik like myself. To know these sailors as fellow companions. To see the fisherman daily as if we were colleagues to the sea.

Perhaps you're right. I'd thought I'd just done it on a whim, to repay the Lightkeepers for finding me that day.

But I truly think this is my calling.

[wiseoldbartender]

I do think so, actually! And if you think about it, they are colleagues. You're doing a job that's part of their job.

[ This really is fucking adorable, though. Husk makes a soft, amused sound, even if Flins can't hear it.]

Well. That sort of shit can catch you by surprise. You think you started it for one reason, but then it turns out you stick around for another.

[lanternae]

You sound like you speak from experience. Could that be speaking to both your past life as a barkeep and your current one?

Surely you didn't expect things to unfold the way they did.

[wiseoldbartender]

...Honestly? I didn't. In my past life, I was only in the hotel because Al ordered me to be there. Jokes on him that the people actually fuckin' grew on me. I sure as shit didn't see that one coming.

...Same with this city, really. I was only sent here to keep an eye on the mumblings of a rebellion. And then it actually happened and... I dunno. Guess I got attached to the people here pretty good too.

[ Husk you have literally adopted five of them. Five!]

[lanternae]

Perhaps it speaks to your nature. I knew when we spoke that there was something more under there than a Black Order grunt ready to do his job. But you adapted and took control of your situation. You made an undesirable situation into a power.

That goes true for your previous life as well. Alastor put you there as an order, but soon..you took that control from him. You were there because people wanted you there.

Much like now. You are very wanted.

[wiseoldbartender]

[What the fuck, Flins? You can't just say shit like that to him??? Husk just stares at the words on the screen for a moment, letting them settle somewhere in his chest. He can't decide if this is comforting or painful. Maybe both.

Probably both. ]

...Well. It was always bullshit, dragging people into the ranks without a fuckin' choice in the matter. Forcing them into a fight they shouldn't have to have any part in, just so the fuckers up top could enjoy their little power trip.

[ Something about being wanted makes him feel... weird. He knows it's true. Lapis has told him as much time and time again. He understands it as a fact, even if he never quite gets their logic behind it. What is he supposed to say to that?? Thank you??? ]

...Yeah. So I keep getting told by all you insane fuckers.

[lanternae]

[Sorry, Husk. He's unfortunately very good at evaluating things like this.]

That it was. All to simply keep employee retention up in an already questionable organization. The Lightkeepers kept their distance, understandably. I unfortunately attracted their attention and put them all at risk.

[It was very easy for the Black Order to figure out he was a fae.]

It still surprises you, I see. Well, with time comes understanding.

[wiseoldbartender]

[ Husk is too, but he hates it being turned on him? Like hello?? That's not fair?? ]

You didn't put them at risk, Kyryll. The Order would have come for them either way, that part was always inevitable. You have them a safe harbour. You gave them a way out. You did the fuckin' opposite of putting them at risk.

[ Don't make him might you over this, sir, because he will fight you over this. ]

So they keep telling me. I'll let you know if it ever sticks.

[lanternae]

My wards, no. The Lightkeepers themselves, though, I do wonder.

[They could've been a lot more undercover if a fae wasn't their most guarded secret, and the Order sure found out about that.]

I do not regret my actions, though, and neither do they. We kept our oath and provided light for those in the darkness, as lighthouse keepers should.

[wiseoldbartender]

Ah. Point still stands, then. They took you in, and you've done a fuckin' lot for them for a longass time. 'Sides, they always seemed to do pretty okay for themselves, keeping under the radar. Higher up Guardians were always mad about it.

[ And Husk made all the correct "oh no, how sad, what a shame, oh well what can you do" noises until they picked up the scent again. He was a pro at that.]

Exactly. You all did really important shit. Trust me, it helped a lotta people from something pretty damn shitty happening to them.

[lanternae]

They have always known when to pull back, and when to hide. After all, it is much harder to go after a civil servant such as a Ratnik employed by a city compared to someone on the run.

They've never complained once. They've always looked to me as their pride. Eternal gratitude and service is the least I can offer in return.

[As long as there were Lightkeepers, he would be there.]

If there is one positive to be taken from this, it's that we can mostly retire from that part of our jobs. We will be keeping an eye on the new Black Order, naturally. But for now...peaceful waters.

[wiseoldbartender]

Sure is. The Order was always better at cloak and dagger shit. The less normies knew, the better. Hiding amongst them was smart of them.

Course the did, ya dipshit. They saved you, you helped them by helping other people. What wouldn't there be to be proud of?

Yeah, I sure as hell don't miss all the goddamn missions. You're right, things are relatively quiet now. Sure the city goes to shit every couple months, but that's workable. I'm keeping a quiet eye on the New Order, too. Ain't done anything to make me concerned just yet, though.

[lanternae]

I'm certain that is the only way that the Black Order didn't arrest the entire organization. The love from the common folk, and the word of mouth of the supernatural did wonders for them. Goodwill pays off.

[He can't deny both Nikita and Husk saying that now. They were proud of him--he was their most kept secret and something they would all collectively hide from the Black Order as much as possible. Even now, he's reluctant to come forth to that organization with info about himself.]

You and me both. I want to have faith in the new heads of the Black Order, but too many lives have been uprooted, changed forever due to their actions. One does wonder why they didn't wipe the slate clean and make a new organization.

[Repairing The Black Order's reputation was going to be an uphill task, in other words. ...Flins' thoughts drift for a moment, before Flins is typing... shows back up on Husk's screen.]

Husk. If I had asked you to hide during one of those times you came to my door--to run away at that moment and escape with my refugees. Would you have done it?

[He realized that...he never made the offer to him. Maybe he knew that it wouldn't be that simple. But now that they have the time...]

1/2

[wiseoldbartender]

Sure does. It's something the Order never understood. Not in their nature. I'm pretty sure the Unyielding lost any understanding of the fuckin' decency of human nature centuries ago.

[Nor should he. Husk might not hold any ill will to the new organisation - but he still watches it carefully. Only time will tell if they don't go the way of the last Order. He isn't planning on giving them too much until he can be sure. And that might take years. Centuries. And that's fine, he's got the time.]

I think they still wanted to be held accountable. Jusis? The guy at the helm now... he's a good guy. I trust him, which ain't a thing I can say about a lot of people. He wouldn't want to scrub everything clear, that's not in his nature. He'd want to make good for all the shit that's gone down. He's got his work cut out for him, but we'll have to see how well it fares when he eventually moves on.

2/2

[wiseoldbartender]

[ Husk... was not expecting that question. He stills, staring at the words for a moment. He does, at least, give it proper thought. Would he have done it? Would it have made a difference to his life at all? Would he have found his freedom early? Instead of losing all of his prime to that hateful organisation? Or would they have just hunted him down anyway? Their precious little bait on an end of a line to try and snag a much bigger, nastier prize? Would that have just meant running? Forever?

And if he had... then he wouldn't have been able to be there for the kids foisted upon his care. Husk doesn't think much of himself at all, but he likes to think he at least made some sort of difference in the lives of the kids he mentored. That, even in the smallest way, he stopped the Order from completely hardening all their edges. Taught them that it was okay to be... fucking people. With flaws and wants and emotions, instead of just whatever weapons the Order wanted to aim at the world. What would have happened to them if he hadn't had been there? ]

Maybe if you'd asked me when I was still fresh, I might've been tempted. Before that place wore me down. And that would have put you all in a hell of a lot of fucking danger. I think, even in my idiot twenties, I would've realised that. I wouldn't have put you through that.

And after that? I had other people who needed me more. I ain't done a lot of good in this life, but I sure as shit hope Lapis and Anby's lives are at least... a little fucking better for having me in them. If nothing else, I wanna think I made a difference there. One I wouldn't have been able to make if I ran. Not with how the Order wanted to treat them.

The Order fucked me over real bad. 'Cause of them I got two lifetimes in fucking chains, being ordered about by the people on the other ends of them. But I still don't reckon I would've changed that. It is what it is and I am what I am. Think the best now is try to live what I got in the rubble of all of this much as I can. It ended better than I expected, so I'll take it.

[lanternae]

[This Jusis sounds like a good one. If Husk is praising him in such a way and showing respect, he knows that's no small achievement. He'll put optimism in the young man then, if Husk is.

So far, the new Black Order had shown promise.

Husk's answer to his question is exactly what he expected and wanted to hear. It was not a decision that could be yes or no. It had layers, nuance. Had Husk escaped, he would've been free, but the thought of leaving Flins to the next collector was something to worry about. Flins himself wasn't afraid, he would've fought like he always had. But it certainly wouldn't have been as easy.

After enough time, Husk had to teach others, to be a mentor and a safe harbor himself. Both their tasks were ones they couldn't move from.]

A good answer. I like to think we were partners in our own way.

If you would like an outside perspective...Lapis and Anby are truly gentle and loving girls. They care about others, and they have a bright outlook on life. The light has not left their eyes.

That is your influence there, Husk. You kept that light alive for them. In a sense, you are their hero.

[wiseoldbartender]

[He's a very good egg. Husk doesn't trust many people. Outside of his found family, he can probably count on one hand the number of people he genuinely trusts. And he's only got four fingers.

It was a complicated, messy answer. The price of his own freedom would have like have been Flins, and Husk wouldn't have made a barter like that for anything in the world. That wasn't a fair bargain through any stretch of the imagination. And then not being there for the kids who he ultimately helped? No. Things in the Order had been hard, at times desperately miserable, but the slivers of good made the suffering not for nothing. ]

...I guess we were. When you look at it like that.

[ Even then. Jesus Christ, he really was oblivious, wasn't he? The rest of Flins comments gives him reason to pause. He's done his best to do right by those girls. He knows he hasn't been perfect. He's too rough around the edges to be some picture-perfect smiley holiday card dad. And they didn't need that anyway. The Order was cruel. They needed to be able to roll with that. They needed thick skin with those good hearts.

But it had meant... just about everything to him that they didn't lose that light. That the Order didn't have the ability to just... snuff it out. It took so much from them, but he didn't want it to take that. Unseen, his ears pin back, trying to sort through the emotions going on in his head. There was no small amount of pride to know someone else had seen that in those girls. That the light was blatantly there. There was comfort, too. Knowing he'd managed to do one thing right for them, if nothing else. ]

...Don't know so much about a hero. I was just doing right by them, best I could. They deserved that much. Still do.

But yeah. They're great kids. Tenacious with not letting... fuckin' everything the Order was take them down. I'm real proud of them.

[lanternae]

We were a great team, despite being on opposite sides. And if you stuck around for my safety...

[No, he doesn't really want to think on that. That delves into some feelings he can't properly articulate over text. He does know he's in deep trouble if true. This cat...thought about him just as much, didn't he.

He'll move on to the girls. Yes. They were the real focus.]

That is the very definition of a hero, Husk. To them, you were their savior. Their protection. Their mentor. And now their father. What more could you want in a hero?

I have nothing short of admiration for their strength. To come out of such a situation with bright outlooks on life. I'm truly happy for them.

[wiseoldbartender]

If someone else had replaced me, they wouldn't have stopped at just knocking. You and everyone you tried to protect would've been dragged back to the Order in chains. I never would've let that happen if I could help it.

[ Husk will just confirm it for him. That, yes, he really had thought about him plenty. That if the option was between staying or risking innocent people... risking Flins being captured. Well. He would have chosen staying every time. And that's a fact Flins can let sit with him for a while. ]

I... don't know. I never really thought about it like that. I was just doing what needed to be done. What those kids needed.

...Yeah, me too. I know Anby's still there, and I worry about her with that. But she and Lapis still got a better chance at a life than they ever had before. I'm real proud to see them doing that - can't wait to see what they make of their lives now they got control of them.