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I saw the swans again this morning, and would you know - they didn't even try to bite me.
I'm beginning to think you were teasing me.
I'm beginning to think you were teasing me.
[ Inside an envelope upon which is written, in neat script, from Astarion: ]
[ ooc: there won't be a main log for the movie-watching (at least this time around) but folks are obviously free to icly respond, send their allotted invites, and/or play out their experiences if they so wish! welcome to the rebooted astarion's movie club! 🥳 ]
[ ooc: there won't be a main log for the movie-watching (at least this time around) but folks are obviously free to icly respond, send their allotted invites, and/or play out their experiences if they so wish! welcome to the rebooted astarion's movie club! 🥳 ]
[ The morning before Shadowheart's first shift at the Hex Club, an envelope finds its way to her door. Inside is a gold pin in the shape of a hexagon, as well as a note: ]
Shadowheart,
Welcome to the Hex Club.
I look forward to working with you.
— Silco
* For clarity's sake: The pin is merely a gift, not an expected part of your daily dress.
( Gale recommends Shadowheart. Stefan's not usually a vampire who jumps from witch to witch, but he recognizes allies and friends. If Shadowheart is recommended, then he takes Gale's word for it. He likes Gale. And Damon likes Gale, he thinks.
It's late and he knows Damon will wake up in the morning, but he'd like to take care of the bite before Damon wakes up.
It's weird to be getting in touch with a number he's just been given. Usually, someone is just physically sent. But, this is a small manor and the network works differently. )
Shadowheart, my name is Stefan Salvatore. Gale pointed me in your direction. I know it's late, but he told me you might be able to help my brother, Damon. Until tonight he was dying of a fatal bite. I was able to reverse the fatal part, but he still has an infected bite leftover. I know you don't know me, but I'm willing to do something in return if you helped him.
It's late and he knows Damon will wake up in the morning, but he'd like to take care of the bite before Damon wakes up.
It's weird to be getting in touch with a number he's just been given. Usually, someone is just physically sent. But, this is a small manor and the network works differently. )
Shadowheart, my name is Stefan Salvatore. Gale pointed me in your direction. I know it's late, but he told me you might be able to help my brother, Damon. Until tonight he was dying of a fatal bite. I was able to reverse the fatal part, but he still has an infected bite leftover. I know you don't know me, but I'm willing to do something in return if you helped him.
[ gale can’t be certain which shadowheart he reaches out to, only that he feels the need to speak to her. to ensure she’s safe, even as he plasters himself to astarion’s side. ]
Astarion and I have returned from whence we came.
[ if shadowheart has joined them on the journey, she’ll understand. ]
How are you faring?
Astarion and I have returned from whence we came.
[ if shadowheart has joined them on the journey, she’ll understand. ]
How are you faring?
Due to the month everyone spent as other people, I was never able to properly thank you for making sure Damon didn't die of rabies. So, thank you.
[ It's late - or perhaps even early - when a message lands in Shadowheart's inbox. On opening, she'll find a photo: a threaded, intricate spell sigil on a canvas of skin. He's draped a certain tie around Armand's neck to hang down his back in a mockery of the outfit he'd used to create today's piece, the vampire's curls just visible at the top of the picture. ]
Thanks for returning these. I needed them tonight.
[ These because both items of discarded clothing are present and accounted for, though only one's been entirely reinvented. ]
Thanks for returning these. I needed them tonight.
[ These because both items of discarded clothing are present and accounted for, though only one's been entirely reinvented. ]
[ Shadowheart has just managed to ease the bruise (to her dignity, she tells herself, for letting herself be fooled by a man who didn't care for her at all--though in truth, it's a bruise to her heart) when the message lights up her phone. It takes her a moment to understand what she's seeing (and who she's seeing, another stab of betrayal with the recognition of Armand).
Her reply is near-immediate: not thinking of the best way to wound him back, just angry. ]
What is wrong with you?
Her reply is near-immediate: not thinking of the best way to wound him back, just angry. ]
What is wrong with you?
[ It's late, and she isn't home. If he didn't already know what that meant then the last several hours have offered plenty of clarification, but now things are finally quiet, still, save of course for the usual roiling absence and strain of so many echoing lives cast out beyond himself. Tony's been dragged into sleep by the aftermath of their evening's insight into Shadowheart's life outside of their reach and Stephen lays there listening to him breathe his steady breaths, thinks of her. Worries about them both.
Daily life without her when there's no clear word to follow is a process of trial and error. He's started to fumble here and there over things it turns out don't align with the thread of her will, but when he opens up their conversation to its last messages he finds he has no problem tapping out a message and sending it her way. ]
Okay?
[ She can feel again over there, he knows. Some stolen part of her returned. It's concern that has him reaching out, yes, but that doesn't mean it isn't also jealousy. Hope, to speak with her as she is, and not only as he's made her. ]
Daily life without her when there's no clear word to follow is a process of trial and error. He's started to fumble here and there over things it turns out don't align with the thread of her will, but when he opens up their conversation to its last messages he finds he has no problem tapping out a message and sending it her way. ]
Okay?
[ She can feel again over there, he knows. Some stolen part of her returned. It's concern that has him reaching out, yes, but that doesn't mean it isn't also jealousy. Hope, to speak with her as she is, and not only as he's made her. ]
[ Shadowheart wonders if she'll ever have all of herself in one place again, if there was ever a whole self to piece together in the first place. It's a detached, idle thought at most hours, but a panicked one when she's more lucid.
Saber punishes her, for giving her pleasure to someone else. The world is grey without him, dull, and she feels the concern from Tony and Stephen when she's home. Feels some small ache, in wanting to lift it.
The ache is wider, but also more fraught, when she's with Saber. He doesn't have to punish her for feeling for them when her heart does it for her, chest constricting painfully when her phone lights up. ]
Mm.
Do you need me?
Saber punishes her, for giving her pleasure to someone else. The world is grey without him, dull, and she feels the concern from Tony and Stephen when she's home. Feels some small ache, in wanting to lift it.
The ache is wider, but also more fraught, when she's with Saber. He doesn't have to punish her for feeling for them when her heart does it for her, chest constricting painfully when her phone lights up. ]
Mm.
Do you need me?
You were rather prolific, in the ceremonies.
[ or the aftermath, the pairs aemerging from the hall or lingering for a second offering. regardless, it surprised him, given her upbringing, her paranoia, her cautiousness. they were informed of what they give and risk in bonding with another — their very life.
and there is only one whom seemed worthy to him, after a lifetime of serving someone who wasn’t. ]
Are you so convinced of their ways?
[ or the aftermath, the pairs aemerging from the hall or lingering for a second offering. regardless, it surprised him, given her upbringing, her paranoia, her cautiousness. they were informed of what they give and risk in bonding with another — their very life.
and there is only one whom seemed worthy to him, after a lifetime of serving someone who wasn’t. ]
Are you so convinced of their ways?
[ It stings, when Shadowheart already nurses the shame of so publicly claiming and being claimed. And the paranoia still pulses in her, tendrils reaching outward--she's never trusted Saber, doesn't trust Stephen or Tony. But the people she does trust have others they'd put first.
Shadowheart is no one's true love, here. Easier to guard her heart by giving it to those she believes can't surprise her. ]
And if I'd refused the bond, would you be protecting the commune from me?
This is how we survive here. I don't relish it.
Shadowheart is no one's true love, here. Easier to guard her heart by giving it to those she believes can't surprise her. ]
And if I'd refused the bond, would you be protecting the commune from me?
This is how we survive here. I don't relish it.
[ He feels it when something slips sideways. It takes him a while to identify the source: Shadowheart. She may not be able to feel good away from the keeper of her heart, but she's perfectly capable of feeling worse. ]
What's wrong?
What's wrong?
[ A compounding of shame at his question, when Shadowheart intends to keep Gale's judgment to herself. But she can't, can she? And that's precisely the problem. ]
Gale thinks my handling of the binding ceremony was foolish. Reckless.
[ Her words, but she could read them in his messages easily enough. ]
He's right.
Gale thinks my handling of the binding ceremony was foolish. Reckless.
[ Her words, but she could read them in his messages easily enough. ]
He's right.
The next time you choose to recklessly endanger yourself, leave my daughter out of it.
The rumours, when looked at in conjunction and paired with evidence, may point to Astarion and myself at the scene.
Though only you and I caught the whiff of magic as we know it, I imagine.
[ boy who is going to throw up soon ! ]
Though only you and I caught the whiff of magic as we know it, I imagine.
[ boy who is going to throw up soon ! ]
Emmrich's gone. I thought you might hear it from me rather than discover on your own.
[ Shadowheart stares at the message a long while, feeling the drop in her stomach that comes with--being wholly unprepared for this. Even though she's always known, in this place, that this could happen at any time. People come without warning and leave without warning. And knowing should make it hurt less, shouldn't it?
It doesn't. Emmrich was one of the first people who cared for her, here. Who helped remind her she could be more than her fragmented past, that it was worth being a part of her future.
Shadowheart had only just told him she missed him. It feels surreal. And she knows, for Parisa--
No. She doesn't know. But she can imagine how much it must hurt. ]
Parisa. I'm so sorry.
Do you know when?
It doesn't. Emmrich was one of the first people who cared for her, here. Who helped remind her she could be more than her fragmented past, that it was worth being a part of her future.
Shadowheart had only just told him she missed him. It feels surreal. And she knows, for Parisa--
No. She doesn't know. But she can imagine how much it must hurt. ]
Parisa. I'm so sorry.
Do you know when?
Hi, Shadowheart! I'm — oh, damn. Shoot.
( a loud clattering of something presumably to the floor. after an awkward beat, )
Um! Anyway. I'm throwing a big party for Thanksgiving, and I want you to come! You will, right? Thanksgiving is just a big holiday where you eat until you can't fit in your pants anymore, and it's basically the best day ever, in the history of ever. Actually, historically it's not that great — but if you love food, it's the best! I'm making everything. I'm talking pies, mashed potatoes, turkey, gravy ... everything! There's gonna be a lot. You have to come. Please, please!
Crap, damn ... Um! Anyway, let me know! And, uh — what the — um, I'll talk soon! Okay bye!
( a loud clattering of something presumably to the floor. after an awkward beat, )
Um! Anyway. I'm throwing a big party for Thanksgiving, and I want you to come! You will, right? Thanksgiving is just a big holiday where you eat until you can't fit in your pants anymore, and it's basically the best day ever, in the history of ever. Actually, historically it's not that great — but if you love food, it's the best! I'm making everything. I'm talking pies, mashed potatoes, turkey, gravy ... everything! There's gonna be a lot. You have to come. Please, please!
Crap, damn ... Um! Anyway, let me know! And, uh — what the — um, I'll talk soon! Okay bye!
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