[The memories of the friends he attack while he was a Seeker haunted him when he woke up. What had he done? He had always been afraid of what he would become when his memories faded away and the mage part of his soul consumed him and Sleep gave him a nightmarish glimpse into that future.
The comforting presence of his tethers now made his soul ache and he left his bookstore before any of them came looking for him. The more he isolated himself, the more he felt himself slip away. But where could he go where he wouldn't hurt anyone else? A memory guided his steps to the Devil's Nest, his loneliness pulling across their tether as he approached Greed. His eyes were partly clouded with darkness as he struggled not to lose himself to his wraith's nature.]
[He feels it. Even under the scratch that's starting to form, that's starting to pull at every connection he's got, as if it's trying to tear them apart at the seams. It's loneliness. A loneliness he knows all too well, reaching right to the core of him and gripping it with what little strength it had left.]
[Greed's eyes turn to the door (daggered thin, running red, waiting), and a frown digs into the meat of his cheek. Their last encounter had been what feels like months ago. Two men, lost in a sea that drank everything they were only to spit it back up again. Honestly, he's a little surprised to see Sirius. He figured the man had decided it wasn't worth the trouble. Too much uncertainty or, perhaps, too much second-hand knowledge that the bar in question could bring more bad than good.]
[The Sin slinks out of his place on the bar stool, one heel first, then the other. He can only take a wild guess as to why the man showed up here, now, of all times. Something isn't right. The calm of it all, holding like it's readying itself for a storm. But he's aware that prodding won't do either of them any favors. Wanting dogs rarely needed the push, and he's not sure how hard Sirius can actually bite.]
[So, he steps forward; his hands in his pockets, his tail making screws around his thigh, and his wings as thin as they can be, planted at the strong of his back.] Ah - ? What kind of question is that? [He purses his lips, showing off the faintest hint of a smile. Kinder on better men, but as close enough as he can get.]
Oi, oi. Don't be stupid, Sirius. [The former homunculus eats away the space between them. With his heels, his body, and the drift of tobacco, long-since spent.] I told you, you could. And you might not believe me, but I've made it one my rules never to lie. [However, he is looking the man over - the run of his eyes, checking to see if there's any hint of physical damage.]
Got plenty of rooms upstairs. Think you can walk on your own?
[Sirius hadn't forgotten the dream they shared. Greed's tempting offer was never far from his mind but the events of the last few months had taken their toll. He hadn't meant to forget the promise he made to Greed, it just felt like he has so little time to breathe before something terrible happened again. It was also difficult for him to ask for help, although he was trying to get better at that.
He also didn't have anywhere else to go and the quiet gratitude in his expression was reflected by the hesitant warmth that flowed through their tether.]
Thank you. I didn't mean to doubt your word. I just didn't want to impose.
[The darkness that bled into the edge of his eyes stopped its advance as Greed's tether helped ground him. Greed's scrutiny however stirred the wraith's nature inside him and the black bandages around his arms discreetly loosened with a predatory aggression. The movement revealed a small glimpse of something glowing underneath his bandages.
With a small wince, Sirius struggled to control the wraith's violent impulse that momentarily clouded his mind.]
[The Sin's eyes go steady; the weight of them frozen, chilly, cold as he watches the glow beat itself through the bandages. However, the look on his face isn't as challenging as it usually is. It's something else: empathy, understanding. A little sympathy from the devil, silently passing between them like a sack of water when all else has run dry, dry, dry.]
[Greed pockets his hands, and the tip of his tail licks off the floor. A waft to taste the wood and scorch the dust settled between the boards.] Save it. That thanks. Wouldn't have offered if I didn't mean it, Sirius. [His tone is light, yet there's a scratch to it. The barest hint of a bite, twitching at the forks of his tongue and pressing hot behind his teeth. How long was his list going to get? How many more names was he going to have to add? Of the people he knew, of his, and all life owed them, time and time again.]
[It's a later conversation. Or maybe, it will never be one at all. He's always made it a point not to pry too much if he doesn't have to. It had to be because they wanted to. Because they wanted to lay down their confessions and let sin, sin of all things, add them to a pile that he would collect on later.]
[Greed irritably snorts, yanking one of his hands out of his pocket.] Yeah, I'm sure you could. Seems to me you've already had a time getting here, though, hmn? Figured you're owed the favor. [He extends his arm, then; an elbow, should Sirius decide to take it.]
[After days of isolation Sirius was parched and he gladly accepted the little sympathy from the devil, although he didn't see Greed that way. Not when he was kind enough to let someone like him stay here. He was trying not to see himself as a monster anymore but Sleep reopened those old wounds.
But that was later conversation, one that he might be willing to have when the wounds from the dream weren't so raw. He wanted to, but he needed more time.
He was too tired to argue with Greed's observation and he gave in with a ghost of a smile.] Fair enough. [The aura of cold that radiated from him hungrily wrapped around Greed's warmth as he took his arm, taking advantage of his exhaustion to lean into the other's comforting touch for a moment. His eyes narrowed slightly at the question.]
I'm not sure. Several days maybe but I don't need normal food anymore.
[He craved something else and a shadow crossed over his expression. When was the last time he had that?]
[He takes his arm, and the Sin smiles. Something sly, something slick, something knowing. Really, he couldn't possibly have any idea of what Sirius has gone through (in the world where he came from, in another dream of Sleep's design where she took her pleasure in pitting whatever she had against them). That exhaustion, however: he's seen it countless times. Seen it and, maybe, lived it once or twice before. Not that he had ever gotten tired. Not in the same way, at least.]
[Still, it's all semantics at the end of the day. He understands, even if he doesn't have the whole picture yet.]
[Greed hums, guiding Sirius as gingerly as he can up and away from the bar proper.] That right? Something from before, or is that thanks to our friend here running the place? [Friend, he says, yet his tone says otherwise. How it rattles on the forks of his tongue like a lick of hot-ready venom.] Doesn't matter. First, let's get you upstairs. We can get to all that later.
[One day, he's going to have to thank Jinx for her efforts. The elevator, which had been stuck at a standstill for months, is an easier alternative. And it's where he leads Sirius on; the colorful lights of the bar and its eye-popping decor, drifting past them as smearing as traffic signs in the rain.]
[Greed shoves his elbow into the outside console, turning the button for "4" yellow with a glow.] Figured this floor will be a little more quiet. It's still pretty empty, for the most part. [Save 'Lört, but the bird had a habit of being anywhere he wanted, when he wanted, no matter who took up residence.]
[The elevator chimes (offkey, grinding), and the former homunculus nudges one of its sticky doors open with the toe of his boot.] In the meantime, think about some things you may need. We'll get you settled in, and then I can see what I can do on my end, hmn?
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Take Aim & Give, Beginning of Week 1
The comforting presence of his tethers now made his soul ache and he left his bookstore before any of them came looking for him. The more he isolated himself, the more he felt himself slip away. But where could he go where he wouldn't hurt anyone else? A memory guided his steps to the Devil's Nest, his loneliness pulling across their tether as he approached Greed. His eyes were partly clouded with darkness as he struggled not to lose himself to his wraith's nature.]
Can I stay here for awhile?
no subject
[Greed's eyes turn to the door (daggered thin, running red, waiting), and a frown digs into the meat of his cheek. Their last encounter had been what feels like months ago. Two men, lost in a sea that drank everything they were only to spit it back up again. Honestly, he's a little surprised to see Sirius. He figured the man had decided it wasn't worth the trouble. Too much uncertainty or, perhaps, too much second-hand knowledge that the bar in question could bring more bad than good.]
[The Sin slinks out of his place on the bar stool, one heel first, then the other. He can only take a wild guess as to why the man showed up here, now, of all times. Something isn't right. The calm of it all, holding like it's readying itself for a storm. But he's aware that prodding won't do either of them any favors. Wanting dogs rarely needed the push, and he's not sure how hard Sirius can actually bite.]
[So, he steps forward; his hands in his pockets, his tail making screws around his thigh, and his wings as thin as they can be, planted at the strong of his back.] Ah - ? What kind of question is that? [He purses his lips, showing off the faintest hint of a smile. Kinder on better men, but as close enough as he can get.]
Oi, oi. Don't be stupid, Sirius. [The former homunculus eats away the space between them. With his heels, his body, and the drift of tobacco, long-since spent.] I told you, you could. And you might not believe me, but I've made it one my rules never to lie. [However, he is looking the man over - the run of his eyes, checking to see if there's any hint of physical damage.]
Got plenty of rooms upstairs. Think you can walk on your own?
(cw: undead and fungi body horror)
He also didn't have anywhere else to go and the quiet gratitude in his expression was reflected by the hesitant warmth that flowed through their tether.]
Thank you. I didn't mean to doubt your word. I just didn't want to impose.
[The darkness that bled into the edge of his eyes stopped its advance as Greed's tether helped ground him. Greed's scrutiny however stirred the wraith's nature inside him and the black bandages around his arms discreetly loosened with a predatory aggression. The movement revealed a small glimpse of something glowing underneath his bandages.
With a small wince, Sirius struggled to control the wraith's violent impulse that momentarily clouded his mind.]
Yeah I can walk. I'm just tired.
no subject
[Greed pockets his hands, and the tip of his tail licks off the floor. A waft to taste the wood and scorch the dust settled between the boards.] Save it. That thanks. Wouldn't have offered if I didn't mean it, Sirius. [His tone is light, yet there's a scratch to it. The barest hint of a bite, twitching at the forks of his tongue and pressing hot behind his teeth. How long was his list going to get? How many more names was he going to have to add? Of the people he knew, of his, and all life owed them, time and time again.]
[It's a later conversation. Or maybe, it will never be one at all. He's always made it a point not to pry too much if he doesn't have to. It had to be because they wanted to. Because they wanted to lay down their confessions and let sin, sin of all things, add them to a pile that he would collect on later.]
[Greed irritably snorts, yanking one of his hands out of his pocket.] Yeah, I'm sure you could. Seems to me you've already had a time getting here, though, hmn? Figured you're owed the favor. [He extends his arm, then; an elbow, should Sirius decide to take it.]
When's the last time you ate?
no subject
But that was later conversation, one that he might be willing to have when the wounds from the dream weren't so raw. He wanted to, but he needed more time.
He was too tired to argue with Greed's observation and he gave in with a ghost of a smile.] Fair enough. [The aura of cold that radiated from him hungrily wrapped around Greed's warmth as he took his arm, taking advantage of his exhaustion to lean into the other's comforting touch for a moment. His eyes narrowed slightly at the question.]
I'm not sure. Several days maybe but I don't need normal food anymore.
[He craved something else and a shadow crossed over his expression. When was the last time he had that?]
no subject
[Still, it's all semantics at the end of the day. He understands, even if he doesn't have the whole picture yet.]
[Greed hums, guiding Sirius as gingerly as he can up and away from the bar proper.] That right? Something from before, or is that thanks to our friend here running the place? [Friend, he says, yet his tone says otherwise. How it rattles on the forks of his tongue like a lick of hot-ready venom.] Doesn't matter. First, let's get you upstairs. We can get to all that later.
[One day, he's going to have to thank Jinx for her efforts. The elevator, which had been stuck at a standstill for months, is an easier alternative. And it's where he leads Sirius on; the colorful lights of the bar and its eye-popping decor, drifting past them as smearing as traffic signs in the rain.]
[Greed shoves his elbow into the outside console, turning the button for "4" yellow with a glow.] Figured this floor will be a little more quiet. It's still pretty empty, for the most part. [Save 'Lört, but the bird had a habit of being anywhere he wanted, when he wanted, no matter who took up residence.]
[The elevator chimes (offkey, grinding), and the former homunculus nudges one of its sticky doors open with the toe of his boot.] In the meantime, think about some things you may need. We'll get you settled in, and then I can see what I can do on my end, hmn?