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 Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2024 6:25 pm
The shopping district was full of holiday cheer, decorations, and the power of Mariah. It'd been a good day for Tony Tippytoes, and Brassite patted herself on the back for the genius idea of putting a set of felt reindeer antlers on the youma. Making him look extra cute and huggable. Too bad the collar full of jingle bells got completely lost in his fluff! There were tons of people approaching and petting the huge mastiff-lookin guy throughout the day, and if some of them walked away all the more tired for it? Well! That was just the holidays for ya!But Tony really did have to restrain himself a lot today. Even before they'd met, he'd clearly learned from some sorta experience that it was a bad idea to drain the kids. Or at least the really short sort of human. And boy was he surrounded by them today, all hyped up on Santa, sugar, and capitalism. But not a single one, child or adult, passed out on their route today. He really deserved a treat! So as the sun started to go down at what felt like ******** noon, Brassite led the leashed youma toward an emptier street. Small local shops peppered the area, but there were far fewer shoppers and not even a single Christmas bop to be heard. Looking around, Brassite was considering if she should give Tony his Best Boy treat here or if it'd be better to find one of the city's conveniently ******** alleyways. And then her eyes landed on, "...Eion?" America hadn't seen him in a bit, though she definitely had spammed his phones with pics her Halloween costume. She'd taken his monster art of her and worked with Aunt Bitsy to finish the bottom half of the look. It'd been like, super ********' cool. So she should totally reward him with a trip to one of the Christmas food pop-ups trending on insta lately. Opening her mouth to call out again and say as much, she suddenly remembered that she was not, in fact, America right now. She was Brassite, a totally different person, at least as far as the hapless populace od DC was concerned. And Eion, sadly, was one of them. Coughing into her hand, Brassite corrected herself, "Uh...you look just like a person who my really cool friend told me about. Named Eion!" Hella good save!
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Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2024 4:47 pm
Eion halted at the sound of his own name. Turned on a heel in half-surprise, for he did not recognize the voice that hailed him so suddenly. It wasn't a name oft shared, and to hear it called by a stranger set him on edge immediately, the wrongness of it ringing in his ears like a gunshot.
Thus did he face a girl wearing the most blasé, downplayed Halloween nonsense that was better left in a closet. Some bubbly ginger who was talking like she wanted to sell him something. Eion blinked at her slowly.
He nodded haltingly. Part of his suspicion was embedded in the nature of this outing — he was following up on a lead provided to him by one of many agents, but as far as he could tell, the lead was misinformation fed to his agents by dubiously trustworthy informants. In truth, the informant deals needed a rework to place the Negaverse in a more favorable position. Verifications like these, he knew, could easily turn deadly with the right opponent, and a lone member of the Negaverse oft proved an easy target. He only went on such trips alone because he was well-connected enough to counter such an ambush.
It occurred to him, too, that this girl might be part of said ambush. But she lacked the trappings of the White Moon and didn't look like she was wearing another century's poor fashion choices.
Drawing a sigh through his nose, he unearthed his cold hands from warmer pockets and pulled a small notebook and pen. He wrote a simple message that he then directed to her: Can't speak. Vocal cords damaged. Who told you about me?
And, as his attention flickered to the overly fluffy dog at her side, he wondered who he would've known that had made friends with such an odd duo. Maybe Waru for how outgoing he was, or perhaps she was one of Aelius's dance classmates? No, couldn't be Aelius, because she seemed more interested in talking to him than hitting him. And it couldn't have been Hestia, for all the dog hair would've been exhausting to clean out of her clothes on top of the soot she cleared on the daily.
Whatever, he supposed. If she turned out to be a White Moon in civvies, he figured he could handle her.
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Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2024 5:06 pm
"Oh, so you are Eion!" It was, she had to admit, pretty cool to have this sort of secret advantage. To know that she was stronger, faster, and more magical than her friend could even imagine. That she could drain him and he wouldn't even realize it. Brassite ********' loved secrets, and this sort was extra spicy 'round the edges. Bouncing on her toes, the girl explained, "Oh, I have friend named Meri, well, America. Jhones, with an H, for helluva gossip. And this..." Hand sweeping toward the massive dog-creature, she introduced the youma, "...is Tony Tippytoes! Say hi, Tony!" Which was his cue to schmooze up, all harmless and fluffy. But it seemed the Goodest Boy was pretty done for the evening, because while he approached Eion, he stopped about two feel away and politely sat at attention. Well, so much for that little prank. Anyway, it was lucky Eion ran into them instead of anybody truly aggressive in regards to energy, starseeds, or attractive minors. "It's getting dark pretty early this time of year, y'know? Not really safe for a cute boy to be out and about by himself."
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 1:29 pm
Seemed America was the connection. Eion's shoulders relaxed. No one had spoiled his terrible secrets. If anything, as he looked her over again, the connection seemed quite apt; he'd drawn America as a monster, and now a friend of hers with hints of Halloween in her getup was out saying hi. Someone who clearly wanted to sound both flirty and spooky with her enormous puffball of a dog.
Tony was noted, particularly for how well-behaved the dog seemed, but Eion was already writing in his notebook again. This time, he handed it to her.
Scrawled on the page in his knifelike writing was a simple question and witty observation: Must be lucky you found me, then. Were you looking for a portrait too?
America seemed delighted enough with it. He was no revolutionary artist, but he found it rather fun to conceptualize people as youma or half-youma. It was therapeutic in a strange way, particularly when strangers who knew nothing of such affairs became quite enamored with the outcome. Watching America light up about it had him wondering if acceptance was possible without the prerequisite of love.
He gave her time to read the message and figure her answer. Eion squatted down, thin frame bending easily, to say hello to Tony on his level. The boy was quite a mess of hair, though, and the youth combed bushels of it away from the dog's face with his fingers. What he found underneath coaxed a wordless oh out of him.
What a ******** dilemma, he'd thought, as he looked at the quadricuspid face with its barest hint of teeth. Does she know? He signed to the not-quite-dog. Are you hers?
So be it if the girl was an officer. But, on the off chance that she wasn't and was truly convinced that Tony was a dog, he was loath to blow the youma's cover.
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 5:23 pm
Both hands coming up, revealing a set of glow-in-the-dark plastic fangs around one wrist, Brassite gave a surprised little cheer, "Oh, hell yeah! Draw me like one of your monster babes, honey, and I'll uh..." Pausing a moment, the agent cocked her head in thought. "Well, I don't wanna bother you to just give me cool stuff, so you think 'bout what you'd like? I'm real good at a lot of things, y'know! Hunting, mechanics, fashion model, being really smart about forreals stuff, handcrafts, beating people up..." The list could on, up to and including murder, even. Wow! She was actually like, kind of a mafia b***h, huh? Tony seemed to really like Eion, which she decided was a good thing. It's nice when you're friends get along! Right until the Best Boy opened up all of his mouth to give the Pretty Cool Boy a huge, monstrous smile." Uh, he like, has some dental issues, but we're working on it!" Which was not at all a lie, whenever they went out like this, Tony would tolerate her giving him a good brushing at the start of the day. From his teeth to his fur. In fact Eion would find the youma gave a certain smell that would be very familiar to anyone who'd ever stepped into a Bath and Body Works. The youma slowly wagged his tail and gave the General King confirmation.
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 5:59 pm
Relieved, Eion brushed Tony's fur back into his face and stood. He looked at her again — an agent, then. Probably a Captain. Young as hell, too.
He wondered, then, what it would have been like to experience the Negaverse in a better manner than he'd been introduced. If he would have done similar to her, using a youma like a pet and getting to know people under the guise of anonymity. Wouldn't it have been grand? Wasn't that the romance and adventure that he craved from books upon books that he devoured as a kid? Wasn't that why he snuck around parties with made-up missions tucked into the back of his mind, like he could play god with the fate of the world at his fingertips?
She was young. Couldn't have been much older — or younger — than him when he started. When he was conscripted by Umber and made to learn how to fight with his body like his survival was at stake. Before he ever learned to feel powerful.
Eion looked away for a moment. Blinked. Examined his pen, his thumbs running along its smooth surface.
Then he reached for his notebook and took it back from her. Clicking his pen, he began to write in it, then handed it back to her.
It read: Tell me a story, then. We'll go somewhere. I'll draw you however you want.
Lead the way.
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 6:43 pm
Letting out a little breath in relief that he'd bought it, Brassite congratulated herself on being <********>. And also felt a bit of worry for her friend, he should really be more wary! After this, she'd see about walking him home. leaning over the pad, she didn't bother taking it this time, and just nodded with a smug little chuckle. "Oh I got stories, hun. Boy, do I got some stories. There's a little park um...somewhere 'round here. There's always some little park in this city; 'swear the city planner was obsessed with them." Which was a good thing in a lotta ways for magical secret agents, and in particular one who was bad at remembering directions. Surely they'd hit one with a bit of walking. Along the way, he'd find her sniffing the air and running off several times, leaving him with Tony's leash. Coming back first with warm gingerbread men decorated like kpop idols, later with a paper sleeve of chestnuts, and then finally with two huge steaming cups of mulled apple cider. Ignoring the side quests, it didn't take long to reach a park, small and dark, with fewer working lights than the more well kept ones. Brassite found it kinda cozy. "How 'bout a Christmas story? Got a bunch of those, 'cause Christmas and Thanksgiving are the ones that always go wrong, but Christmas gets the most weird of all."
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 7:45 pm
Eion agreed with her point. The city was so chock full of damned parks that it nearly felt intentional, like the city needed its combination of daytime family fun and nighttime target hunting. He knew the general direction of one, so he began walking east with the girl following. It occurred to him that he didn't know this agent's name.
There would be time to ask for it later, when he was finished with the portrait and ready to title it. Pretend that it's real art rather than some scribble of a dream in a notebook.
He took up Tony's leash with ease, sparing the youma a glance to ensure that it wasn't lethargic from being out topside for too long. Permission to leave when you need to recover, he signed to the not-dog when the redheaded officer first disappeared like a bloodhound on the trail. Eion would've passed the good boy some energy, but shifting out of his guise as Eion would blow his remaining time for the day. He wanted to humor this one a while longer, though.
When she was back, she had food the likes of which America would have sussed out. He nodded his thanks for the chestnuts, the gingerbread men, the cider. By the time she came back with the cider, he'd just finished wolfing down the gingerbread man to sate his ever-burning hunger.
Then they reached the park, looking a margin decrepit but still serviceable for their needs. Eion picked a seat at one of the picnic tables, though he shivered with the chill that greeted him. Taking up his pen again, he switched to a Moleskine that he kept in a side bag and paged through to a fresh sheet.
Sure, he wrote on the notebook next to it. Name a monster too..
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 10:27 pm
Opting to sit on the table rather than at the table, Brassite leaned forward, elbows on knees. "Since we're being all seasonally appropriate," and because she always loved going with a good theme, "...how about Crankussed." A pause, and then, " Crampypuss? Well, the Christmas devil guy, you know? The one with horns that beats shitty children?" Huffing a bit with laughter, she motioned Tony to come over so she could smush her hands in his fluff, maybe sneakily feel him that starseed while Eion was distracted. "Speaking of shitty children, when I was about six I was pretty sure I was destined to be a princess ballerina. Not just any ballerina mind you, the princess variety." Saying this her posture turned notably much more prim and presumably regal. "So of course I got signed up for the local dance classes and of course I worked my little tutu off to take my rightful place as Clara in The Nutcracker. There were, sadly, no cute boys in the class to be my nutcracker prince, and honestly at the time, my tastes ran more toward a young Burt Reynolds anyway,. But I was willing to sacrifice a less than ideal prince on the altar of my fated role as a princess ballerina." Squishing Tony's face, she leaned in and assured him that he would absolutely have been an excellent Nutcracker prince had he the opportunity to audition. Then she slipped him his Christmas Starseed. "Of course, I didn't get the role. Lucinda Williams was the prettiest little blonde girl you'd ever see, like she'd fluttered straight off a Christmas tree herself." There was a sudden realization and a choked off laugh, "In fact Gen..." a cough, "..one of the cuntiest people at my part time job actually kinda looks like a growed up version of her." Sighing for society's lack of appreciation and general fear of little ginger girls, Brassite went on, "Instead they made me the seven-headed Rat King that gets stabbed and killed and doesn't get to go dance with fairies in Candyland or whatever." Turning to lean closer to Eion, she lowered her voice, "I was so mad. so intensely mad. If I didn't get to be a ********' princess ballerina, then I didn't want anybody else to be one either. I started small, cause I'd never really done anything very big or very bad before, understand?" So I started small, with just hiding food, here and there's about. Tucking it into places nobody would find it, the sorts my Aunt Prudie would have a fit of screamin' mimis if she'd seen me do it at home. And when that didn't get any fast results, I started leading trails outside to the town theater. Got my uncle Travis to get me a big ol' bag of bird seed, portioned into cute little bags for me to carry with. To feed the little animals over the holidays, you know? Wasn't a lie." She'd always prided herself on not lying, even back then. Though to be honest, it just made her a sneakier little s**t. "When I started seeing traps in the theater, I knew I could stop doing that," another laugh, quieter this time, "...and I started smearing little bits of peanut butter in certain places instead. Specially 'round the costumes and props for Clara. Didn't come to head, though, until the first real dress rehearsal. Folks started to put on costumes, and the holes, the little spots of s**t, the smell? Nobody could ignore it, and then the middle aged guy playing the nutcracker prince got bit , had a bad reaction. A couple folks got sick, and maybe it was the mice getting into food, but maybe it was just some really sketchy catering." The girl shrugged, "They shut it down for that year, everyone was heartbroken 'cept the exterminators. I ruined so many people's Christmas that year, like holy ********>, right? Folks put a lot of work and heart into all that, and it took just one single spurned princess ballerina to make it all turn to s**t. But the thing is," because there was always a thing, now wasn't there?
"I only had one real regret from it all," and here her lips curled up, a teenage Grinch at her best sorta worst. "And that was never going up on that stage in front of that never-was of an audience. 'Cause I'd have been a great ********' Rat King."
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Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2024 8:12 am
The Christmas devil guy. Didn't he look like a goat?
Managing a Google search was the most he could do with a phone, so pulling it out and tapping its little screen demanded all of his concentration. So engrossed was he that he missed her posing and the first portion of her story entirely. But, in the end, he had some images of Krampus on screen.
True to memory, he looked like a goat. Eion was fairly certain he'd met a youma that looked remarkably similar. Clever, too; it probably capitalized on its looks quite well around this time of year.
Jumping back into the story, she was saying something about Burt Reynolds. With no idea who that was, he kept his expression schooled through her transition. His heart went out to Tony, though; the youma was incredibly patient and tolerant, without a single objection for the way she treated it. Felt like the Negaverse didn't deserve youma like that. He only realized why Tony was so well-behaved when he caught a glimpse of a glow. His attention returned to the page in hopes that she didn't notice him looking.
Right. Krampus. She'd look good with goat horns regardless. He started working on her face shape, aligning her posture. Decided her shoulders would be shifted — one toward her back as her hand would be parked on her hip, the other away from her as she lifted her arm with a demure wave. He set to work firming up the next sketch layer, taking occasional pauses to snack on one of the candied chestnuts or warm his drawing hand on the cup of mulled cider.
The story wasn't quite what he was expecting. Didn't seem like she was speaking in code about any of the experiences she had as an officer. Perhaps they lost their novelty to her by now. Or she thought something like this would be more relatable? Hard to tell. Sounded like she kept reliving that trauma because of someone named Jen at her part-time job.
Then starseed her, he thought, as he began to add the large, sweeping goat horns and little goat ears.
He'd seen the Nutcracker maybe once before. Might've been more, but only one memory stood out for him. He'd barely qualified as a teenager back then, and his mother wanted to see the Christmas ballet with the family, but both his dad and brother had to work. He wasn't interested in ballet, and fully intended to sulk his way into the book he'd taken with him instead, but his mom kept calling his attention to the play, saying the people in the troupe could be his future classmates. It wasn't until the prince made his way onstage that Elex started paying attention.
Beautiful boy, sumptuous violet hair, and a regal getup that felt inferior to the boy's natural royalty. Elex was dumbstruck and swept over with a wave of dizziness and heat. That was, as far as he could deduce, the first time he saw Rowan. A shame that he'd forgotten about it until now.
Eion added details to the horns, the hair, the fake fur on the Santa outfit. Tony proved a handy model for the latter part. She wound down her story with playful pranks that finally culminated in a cancellation, and Eion nodded, figuring it was sensible. Sounded like she fit the Negaverse well enough, though he thought she could take that vindictive streak much further. He made a mental note to suss out who her CO was.
Finally he finished, not long after she concluded her story. Switching over to the notepad, he wrote: What's your name? Maybe he'd get a mineral. Maybe she'd give him something more austere.
He agreed with her, though; she'd have made a fine Rat King. Certainly a better one than Faustite was when he first discovered his crown's utility.
As he waited, he rested his head on his palm. His gaze transitioned from Tony to her. He was starting to feel a little tired himself.
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2024 8:33 pm
"Brassite," she answered easily and then looked a little awkward. "It's a little weird, right? Somebody just...sure loves her weird mineral names." At least she could spell hers without looking it up. Leaning forward she took a good look at what he drawn and then laughed with a huge grin. "I k new you'd make me look cool as hell!! Look at my cute little ears! And my b***h a** pose!" Angling her head another she asked, "How are you so damn good at this? Like, are you going to school for it? Are you gonna be a comic artist?" Looking over at him, Brassite suddenly noticed he seemed a little faded, like the gas in engine was ticking toward low. "Well," she cleared her throat. "This is awesome, thank you! And your welcome for being such a good subject of course!" Of course. "It's getting a bit late, though, how 'bout I'll walk you home?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2024 11:35 pm
'Somebody just… Sure loves her weird mineral names.'
Eion almost smiled. She wasn't much good at concealing herself in a personable manner. Then again, neither was he.
Nodding, he added her name at an angle just beneath the portrait. He wondered — who brought her in? Who assigned her that codename? Was she someone who was recruited briefly and dropped by the wayside, or was her commanding officer giving her guidance? He expected that a Captain would have more sense to come up with a believable false identity, so perhaps she had been going it alone all this time.
Someone must have noticed her to grant her a promotion. It wasn't him, though.
He folded the page over, then tore it from the Moleskine and handed it to her. On his notebook, he wrote It's just a hobby. He was what he would always and ever be.
Standing and stretching his legs, Eion bagged his Moleskine. He nodded to the suggestion, though he half-suspected that Brassite may try to drain him now that she'd gotten something she wanted. Thus, he met her suggestion with a compromise: Walk me to the edge of the park.
He would be sure to run into her again, one way or another. And Tony, too.
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