He grins down at his sketch before looking up to compare it to Harry's; it took a while to get the style back down, but he was finally confident in his piece.
He sighs, now it was time for the hard part. He'd had so much practice with his last gun-
And though he could tell the pen was better than the last, he was still concerned over how well he could wield it on skin.
His eyes narrow.
He needed to practice.
But on what?
His brow furrows as he looks around before his gaze settles on his calf.
Ah.
He grins as he snatches a pen from his box and starts drawing, the piece coming to his mind nearly instantly.
Simple but significant.
"Huh," T comments over his shoulder, "you should shape the heart into a spider."
He snorts, "how 'bout no."
"What are you-" Uma stops before a smile slips over her lips, "can't do it without a bit of warming up?"
He grins sheepishly, "wouldn't feel right."
Harry chuckles as he claps his back, but the sound dies quickly when he narrows his eyes, "not when I'm drawing."
"Aye, right ya be."
"Don't worry," Deez grins as she steps between him and Harry, "I'll keep an eye on him."
"Tch," T snorts, "forgot how serious ya could get." He shakes his head, "someone get me when it's my turn, yeah? Tina's got shit ta do an' I don't wanna hear it."
He can't help his smile, for as much as an ass T could be with waiting, he always seemed to find patience when it came to him and his hobbies.
Well, patience was probably pushing it-
But, he at least didn't hover over his shoulder like Harry did.
"Aye," Harry snorts before he moves away from Deez with his hands in the air, "I can be ah gettin' ya when Gil be needin' ya."
"Cool." T salutes Harry before he dips out.
Faustina sighs as she turns back, regretting she couldn't stay, while understanding why. There were too many questions that needed answering.
And she couldn't sit idly by when Master Yensid and the Lord of Death were so readily available.
She knew there was a chance nothing fruitful would come of her endeavor. That she may be wasting time she'd rather be spending with her family.
It was an unfortunate but necessary evil, and for once she trusted they'd forgive her
And, if she were being honest, she also knew she owed the god an apology for making him so uncomfortable.
Despite the amusement it brought her-
She knew it was something that was worth meriting.
The others may not want to admit it out loud, and she wasn't about to force them to voice it, but their chances of survival were pivotal on the god siding with them.
Not that it made her ventures any less a betrayal.
She sighs heavily.
She truly didn't know how Uma dealt with this with so much poise, but she was envious of the other girl's natural, and hard-earned, skill in the department.
"Yowsa, that's how much energy you need for something like that? Me dammit, I think I need to sit."
She frowns at the weariness in Hades tone as her concern becomes paramount.
If the god was tired-
How was Yensid faring?
"My apologies, Lord Hades, I may have leaned on you a little more than I should have."
"No no, I told ya to. Just, ya know, yikes. No wonder you don't tell those kids-"
She pauses as she frowns at the sudden silence before she knocks on the wall. "May I enter?"
"Of course," Yensid answers.
"Thank you," she smiles as she walks into the cavern, "Master Yensid, my Lord-"
"How in the damn underworld are you so silent now?" Hades demands as he pushes himself up from sitting.
She frowns, "I've no idea as to what everyone keeps referring to, so unfortunately I have no way to tell you, my Lord."
"I believe it may be an effect of your gift from Gil." Yensid explains with a smile.
She narrows her eyes.
The accusations only started post receiving the gorgeous piece, "oh," she drops her eyes to where the anklet was hidden.
Gil was going to be furious with himself for inadvertently causing the family so much strife, but if she were being honest she, and T, enjoyed having the edge. "I would have to agree to your conclusion, as it started around then."
"Oh ew, you both talk like that?" Hades rolls his eyes.
"You mean proper?" She asks with a raised eyebrow.
Hades pffts, "proper is in the eye of the you know how many 'propers' there have been throughout the years?"
"As I haven't lived for millennia, rest assured I do not. However, I do know that presently, this is the best way to give voice to one's thoughts."
"Oh? And was it proper to talk the way you did earlier?" Hades crosses his arms over his chest as he glares at her, "since you're suddenly so concerned with proper."
She blinks up at him, "technically, my words weren't improper, though admittedly the topic was vastly inappropriate."
"Grossly so." Hades seethes.
She smiles at the layered response. "I understand your distaste, my Lord, and I apologize for putting you in such a position. I assure you the topic of anyone's sex life is not something I keep a tab on."
Not that she hadn't in the past when she had nothing better to occupy her time.
Jay and Harry had been the epitome of tramps in every conceivable way, and she'd be lying if she wasn't concerned one of their conquests would manage to poison them or something of that vein.
It had been, and still was, fascinating to her, but her priorities had shifted quite starkly once the Core had been sent to Auradon.
"Well, I guess I can accept your apology-"
"How benevolent of you, my Lord, I appreciate-"
"But do not ever pull that kind of stunt again." Hades stabs the air between them with an accusing finger, "unacceptable Arachne, unacceptable."
"I see I have stepped on a boundary-"
See was a stretch.
Known was more fitting.
"-and will do my best to keep such matters to myself in the future. It was unseemly and made for an unpleasant moment for everyone."
"Good."
She nods, "of course, my Lord. I appreciate your grace." She was happy, and not for the first time, that the god couldn't handle anything with true maturity.
"Anyway, why are you here?" Hades' brow furrows, "shouldn't you be celebrating your new bond to your family?"
"I was worried that I had stepped too far out of bounds and wanted to apologize. I know this is difficult and new for you, and I feel I owed-"
"Okay okay okay!" Hades flaps his hands in her direction, "and the real reason?"
Her lip twitches, "I was curious if you would indulge me in an attempt to pacify my family's concerns to your presence and intentions. It is rather taxing to keep defending you to them, and there are better means to utilize my time and resources."
From the corner of her eye, she finds Yensid watching her and Hades converse, clearly fascinated and amused at the exchange.
"Nothing is ever in the middle with you, is it?" Hades shakes his head as he sits back on the ground, "consider me indulgent."
She frowns as she turns to Yensid in concern, "is he going to be alright?"
She knew he'd agree, she just hadn't expected it so quickly.
"Hello, right here. Do you want me to not hear you out or-"
"I can see that, my Lord, my worry lies with your lack of moxy, at the moment."
"Moxy?" Hades glares.
"Rather the lack there of. At the moment I feel like T would be able to best your tongue, and that's quite unsettling, my Lord."
Hades' reply is cut off when Yensid steps forward, "I believe, Lord Hades, that Faustina here may have overheard our conversation, and this is her way of inquiring if you are well."
"I know I can be trying, but I am sincere in my concern, my Lord."
"I'm fine, just a little surprised at how taxing magic can be. Especially something as small as creating an illusion of the ship sailing around the Isle." He turns to Yensid, "which I thought you didn't want them knowing about."
Yensid shrugs, "I did not wish to bother them when they have so many other concerns they are dealing with, but Faustina is my apprentice. Therefore, I know when I am caught."
She smiles at the praise before she shakes her head of it, "wouldn't this task be less wearing if you were to create it from your home, where you'd have the ability to use the magic more freely?"
"Unfortunately not for this, I am mapping out where the spell will travel, so I need the sea to anchor me."
"Besides, he had a half-powered god at his beck and call, like a blood bank."
"Blood bank?"
Yensid's lip twitches, "oh dear."
Hades rolls his eyes, "it's a human thing. People donate the red stuff for when there's like an emergency or something."
"And how does one store blood?"
Hades blinks before he turns to Yensid, "help? I know concepts, not details."
"It needs to be kept at a low temperature."
"I'm guessing the sea isn't sufficient then. How about your fridge?"
Yensid tilts his head, "possibly, though the process of taking blood and the bags to store it in are of equal importance."
"We still have the IV bags, would that be suitable?"
"Unfortunately no, sanitation is also a big part of blood transfer. And we do not have the means of blood typing."
"Like whether it's 'o' or 'a' and the such?"
"Indeed, so you are familiar with blood types, then."
"Enough to follow, I just never thought of storing it. That's something worth looking into…"
"It has helped save millions of lives, there's no doubt," Yensid tugs his beard, "but, unfortunately, I don't think this idea will work here. It can kill if blood types do not match."
"Understood, though if you have any books on the topic- I always enjoy learning about the complexities of biology."
"Of course. When I have a moment to check."
"Oh my fucking me!" Hades lets his head hit the wall behind him, "you guys are so boring right now."
"My apologies, my Lord, I was merely curious."
"You went off on a whole damn tangent-"
"It's fascinating-"
"After asking me to indulge you."
"Right," she bows her head in apology, "I was interested in your thoughts of inducement?"
"What the hell do you think I'm doing?" Hades drags a hand down his face, "offering up my energy because I like it?"
"I understand your frustration, my Lord, but you've spent over a decade causing disquiet and distress in my family. That being said, for time's sake, I am suggesting an alternative incentive for my family to understand, and more importantly believe, your intentions."
Hades drums his fingers across the floor before his gaze drift to Yensid and back, "okay. But answer this first. Does my daughter really think she's useless to her family without her flames?"
She levels her gaze on him, "you've felt bereft without, I certainly can conceive her feeling useless without it."
"But she'd always hated her fire."
"Up until she understood that her fire didn't control her, she controlled it."
Hades drags his hand over his flaming head. "Okay, so what did she do with her fire that helped everyone out so much?"
"That is a long list." Yensid says.
"Aye, my Lord, though I would argue the most pressing matter, and part of the reason I am beseeching you, is because we are without a working forge…"
"Oh, I could fix that. You squishy humans need weapons since you all insist on fighting."
"I was hoping you would be willing, that being said, in the off chance you forgot, my Lion is our smith, and he is rather, let's go with, unfond of you currently."
"Your whole family, including my daughter, is unfond of me." Hades rolls his eyes before he sits up straighter, "oh, I see. Doing this would help him too. What else you got?"
"He is rather keen on the hammer you bestowed us, and nearly salivated at the mere thought of the anvil. I believe that would be an olive branch even my Lion couldn't refuse, my Lord."
"Cool cool cool, so anvil and a new forge, easy enough. I can leave some of my flames for him."
She tilts her head before she chases away the questions begging to leave her lips. Like, for instance, was his fire limited by more than his cuffs?
"I would think it best for our collaboration." Yensid offers with a stroke of his beard, "for those untrusting of you, I believe Faustina is correct in her idea that such gifts and signs would bridge the gap between you and her family."
"I also think it would be more-"
Interesting.
"-convincing, for you to bestow each of them a gift of your choosing."
She was fascinated to know what he would come up with, "though with that in mind, know I wouldn't protest assisting you in this endeavor. I just believe it would defeat the purpose of the gesture."
Hades groans as he presses his fingers against his temples, "it better not get out that I've gone soft."
She blinks at him, "I'll do the best to contain the urge to undermine one of the few advantages we have going for us." She sighs, "I assure you, my Lord, your secret is safe."
"No need to get snarky and snappy." Hades shakes his head, "I was referring to later. I still have my reputation as Lord of the Underworld to think about."
She smiles at the god's optimism that there would be a later to be considered. "Of course, my Lord. I would never put you in such a position. The fact that you're championing our cause, might bring undo attention, and I too hate the idea of being the center of anything."
"I just don't want the mortals to start thinking I'm a gift giver. Or that worship will get them something in return."
She tilts her head, "I understand the cause for your concern, and I assure you, it won't leave this cave if that's what you desire, my Lord."
"Good."
"Well then," Yensid covers a smile with his hand, "if you are feeling rejuvenated, Lord Hades, would you care to help me with the next stage of the spell?"
She frowns at Hades' groan, "the others may not see it now, my Lord, but I appreciate the sacrifices you are enduring for our safety. I know it's untraveled territory for you, and for what it's worth, it means a great deal to me that you're so readily willing to protect your daughter and those who follow her, despite the discord it brings you. You've made the decision to shift your views, in all the best ways, and I admire you greatly for the effort you are putting in even when there's, currently, so little return." She offers.
"I got a lot to make up for," Hades slowly slides up the wall, "but, ya know, thanks or whatever."
"Of course, my Lord." She nods her head, "thank you both for sharing your time," she turns to Hades, "and if you would like some tips on the incentives-"
"I know how to reach you. Now shoo," Hades waves her off, "I don't want anyone seeing this."
So much like his daughter.
"Understood, my Lord." She bows before she turns and takes leave.
She smiles; that had gone so much smoother than she'd anticipated.
T!
What?
This is my body too, and so help me if you-
"T, you need to sit still."
He huffs, "what do you think I'm doing?"
"Squirming." Uma snorts.
He scowls at the insult, "I. Do. Not. Squirm."
Really? Then what would you call what you're doing?
Jesus fucking-Sitting still, that's what I'd call it!
"You kind of do," Deez tilts her head back and forth, "but usually only when you're bored."
He shuts his mouth, "I was expectin' it to be more distractin'. Hook made it look like it hurt or some shit when he got his." He pulls a mocking grimace, "ya know, like that."
T! You stop it right now, he did no such thing.
"I ain'nah be makin' no such face," Harry glares at his amusement.
"You know what," he grins gleefully, "my bad, you're right, it was more like this-" he clenches his jaw with a wince as he imitates whimpers.
Uma snickers, "there was a lot of ow ow owing goin' on."
"Ha!" He snorts, "told ya. Bitch."
Oh? And you're a paragon for taking pain?
Says the bitch who made me to take the hits.
Please, if I were conscious when I quote 'made you' I certainly wouldn't have made such a whiny little-
Bite. Me.
"Only cause it be gettin' me pats from me, captain."
"At what cost, though?" He snorts, ignoring Gil's twitch of irritation.
T, what did I tell you? Stop jerking around, and let my Lion do what he does best.
"Ain'nah no cost I wouldn'nah be ah payin' for comfortin' touches." Harry winks.
"Whore." He rolls his eyes.
Harry snorts as he shrugs, "ain'nah ever claimin' elsewise."
"Sorry." Deez sighs as she stands from where she'd been watching Gil work, "I think we need to stop being so distracting."
Gil glances to Deez, "I'm honestly not sure if that will help or hurt." He turns to glare at him, before he looks around, "do we have rope?"
"Um, are we pirates?"
"Can ya go grab some?"
Harry snorts before he tilts his head to the side, "wait, seriously?"
"If he's serious about gettin' this, then yeah."
Harry blinks at him before he turns to Uma.
He studies Gil's serious features, "Yo, yo, yo." He straightens up, "I can sit still. Watch."
One.
Shut up.
Two.
I can do this.
Three.
It isn't that hard. I've sat still before.
Liar.
Am not. He glares.
"T!" Gil snaps.
And that's four, call me impressed. That's longer than I thought.
"Do you really want to tie him up for this?" Deez asks as she pulls her hands behind her back.
Gil pauses, "would it be better if we drugged him? I don't wanna mess it up."
"It doesn't hurt!" He growls, "an' I don't need drugs. I'm sittin'."
Uma crosses her arms over her chest, "you two need to figure this out. We ain't tying T up or drugging him for a tattoo."
"Thank you!" He waves at Uma.
"Fucking damn it T! Do you want this or not?"
Damin it T-
Damn wha-?
She stills at the anger and sits up straighter.
There were many, many, many things she could abide T twitching his way through. A tattoo, however, was nowhere near that list.
"Fucking finally." Gil sighs after a moment of her staying immobile.
She breathes in deeply before she closes her eyes at the sound of the low buzz.
T hadn't so much as flinched at the pain.
She could do this.
If nothing else than for the sake of Gil's art. And sanity.
Harry narrows his eyes as he watches Gil working on T's exposed arm.
Five full minutes.
T hadn't so much as twitched for five minutes.
He crosses his arms over his chest before he looks over his shoulder to see Uma and Deez talking with Daniel in the corner.
He inches closer to Gil and T- though he was having serious doubts about it actually being T at this point.
No noise.
No flinching.
Nothing.
He watches Gil as he slowly creeps forward, waiting for a telltale glare or huff at the intrusion.
Was Faustina the one sitting perfectly still for this?
Or was she just threatening T?
He immediately shakes his head. If she were, he'd be flinching.
T constantly nagged about her tone when he was out and she was still present.
He stops just behind Faustina, because it had to be Faustina-
T slouched.
Faustina sat up as if she had a sword pointed at her back.
He spares one more glance at Gil, but the artist in him had apparently taken over because it felt like months since he'd seen their Sweet Boy so fixated and focused.
"He's sittin' nice, Harry, don't rile him up." Gil warns with a glare.
"Wouldn'nah be ah dreamin' o' it, Sweet Boy." He quickly defends himself with his hands held in front of him.
He waits for the buzzing to start back up before he carefully lowers himself to sit beside Faustina.
Would Gil be able to continue working if he knew it was Faustina under his pen?
"We both be ah knowin' yer brother ain'nah ever be sittin' this still ah single moment in his whole life," he whispers into Faustina's ear as he cups her free hand in his own.
Her hand carefully links their fingers as she squeezes, her eyes narrowed in pain, "I feared he wouldn't continue."
"Ah, I see we both be ah worryin' like o'er the same thing then." He carefully scoots closer and offers his shoulder, "jus' be ah leanin' on me, Love."
She nods as she hides her face. "Thank you," she whispers softly.
"O'course." He grins as he lightly squeezes her hand, "ya be bein' a beast at hidin' it, but I be ah figurin' it out. Sorry it be takin' me so long though."
"That's kind of you," she tenses as she holds her breath for a moment, "it means a lot to me that you can tell in the first place," she smiles tightly. "I wasn't trying to alert anyone."
"Just be ah squeezin' me hand when it be hurtin'," he looks over at Gil, who was completely absorbed in his work, before he presses his lips to Faustina's temple, "I don'nah be thinkin' anyone else be ah noticin'." He whispers against her skin before he grins, "maybe Deez, but what ain'nah that girl seein'?"
Her hand grips his in a vice, before she catches his grimace, "sorry."
"Ya be fine, Love," he kisses her cheek, "I can be ah sharin' in the pain. It be good knowin' ya be havin' ah strong grip."
Her cheeks burn red as she buries her face again and mumbles something about "T' and 'Ear'.
He snorts, but the laughter dies in his lungs when Gil's eye twitches.
"You've got this, Angel. Just a few more lines, and then you can have a break."
"Huh. Look-it that, the Sweet Boy be knowin' ya too."
"An' appreciatin' you. I'd hate to mess up either of your tattoos because T can't sit for shit."
He watches as Faustina slowly shifts to look over at Gil, the look of surprise quickly turning to a smile.
"He be ah bein' right, Love." He squeezes her hand again, "ya do be ah havin' this."
Faustina takes a deep breath before she nods, "it's an honor to be granted such an intimate gift, I don't want to be the cause of a mistake, especially when our Lion takes much pride in his work.."
"He do be takin' pride, an' it be well deserved," he lightly runs his fingers through the hair at the back of her neck, "an' I can'nah be waitin' ta see our family tattoo on ya."
"Me as well, my Prince." Her eyes narrow, "T is going to be upset he missed it."
"He should'ah sat still." Gil grumbles.
Faustina rolls her eyes, "that would mean he'd have to think, and I don't believe that would behoove anyone at the moment."
"Fair." He grimaces, "Ain'nah none o' us wantin' ta be thinkin' too much right about now like."
Gil sighs, "still ain't happy it's you out."
"I'm sorry-" she frowns, "you were able to tattoo the Captain, so I didn't think-"
"But, she's Captain, an' yer Angel."
"I see…" Faustina nods.
"Be ah thinkin' o' it as more practice then," he offers, "cause she be yer Angel, an' next ya be tattoin' yer Treasure."
"And surely our Constellation Chaser will handle the needle with far more poise."
He frowns, biting his lips as his eyes drift to the corner.
Would she?
Deez could be hard to read at times.
Most times.
But after seeing her bleeding out after Mim-
They'd all seen her small grimaces after waking up.
The glaze in her eyes as she tried to ignore the unfamiliar feeling of pain. Lingering pain.
"T was far too eager for Gil's art," Faustina frowns, "if he had applied the ointment first, I don't believe receiving it would be nearly so unpleasant."
The hum of the tattoo gun slows and stops.
"Why didn't we think of that?" Gil asks in horror.
"T wasn't the only eager one, my Lion." Her cheeks burn red, "I only thought of it once I took T's place. The rest of you had taken receiving them, so stoically, I was hoping I could keep the mantle going…" She drops her eyes, "my apologies for my miscalculation for my aptitude of pain."
He clicks his tongue, "ain'nah no reason ta be apologizin'. Ta be tellin' the truth, I ain'nah takin' it well either.'' He looks up to Gil, "an' when ya be gettin' that break, we can be ah puttin' it on the other arm. I think that be ah makin' us all feel better like."
Gil frowns, "or we could put it on her now and not."
Who was he to argue with the artist?
He quickly sits Faustina up before he darts across the small alcove to retrieve the tin.
"Sorry," he says on his return, "I were'nah bein' sure if it be messin' ya up ta be doin' it now."
Gil frowns as he turns to Faustina, "will it?"
She frowns, "only one way to test it at the moment… But I don't see why it would."
Before anyone can change their mind, he scoops out a glop and gently slathers it over the area Gil had already worked on, as well as the rest of her upper arm.
Faustina lets out a rush of fresh air, "thank you, my Prince." She smiles up at him brightly before she turns and settles for Gil once more, "at your leisure, my Lion."
He smiles as he pulls her back to rest against him, thanking every Sea God who existed that he'd been able to stop the pain.
"Can't believe we didn't think about that…" Gil grumbles under his breath.
"To be fair, it's been months since me and T had to use it preemptively, my Lion. It didn't even occur to me until I was the one receiving it."
His brow furrows.
Preemptively?
As in, they sometimes used it because they knew they were about to suffer?
His hand twitches, but he catches himself before he moves to reach for his sword.
The monster was gone. He'd made damn sure of that.
He takes a deep breath before he runs his fingers through Faustina's hair again.
His eye twitches at his next thought.
All the times T had been injured while out on the Isle.
The burns.
The scars.
The things they couldn't let that bastard see.
His throat burns.
Preemptively.
He takes a slow, deep breath that hopefully can't be heard over the buzz of Gil's tattoo pen.
Preemptively.
"Well," he starts before clearing his throat, choosing to ignore the strain, "point be, we be ah gettin' there." He looks down at the dark lines Gil was working on, "how it be ah doin'?"
"Good," Gil grins, "ain't even smudgin' it."
Faustina sighs in relief.
He chuckles lightly, "looks like ya be magickin' us up a way ta be bein' our Sweet Boy's perfect canvas'."
"Yeah," Gil nods, "you ain't tense anymore."
Faustina smiles, "it's strange being the one who needs it, but-" she shrugs her free arm delicately, "I could kiss T for encouraging me to do so. Oh, and Carlos. I never would have been able to get so far with my medicine's without him, either."
"I can be ah managin' that for ya," he winks, "the Pup may be ah takin' me a bit ta be trackin' down for ya, but I can be ah sendin' yer regards."
She smiles warmly, "how kind of you, my Prince."
"Aye. That be me. The kind Pirate Prince." He chuckles before he looks over to Gil, "An' I be ah claimin' the next free spot." He taps his finger to his nose, "I be ah havin' ah great idea for me next work o' art."
Gil lifts his head, "if you're offerin' I wouldn't mind workin' on you before I get ta my Treasure."
His eyes widen, "really, mate? I can be ah requestin' an' gettin' in the same day?"
"Yeah," Gil grins, "if Angel doesn't mind, I'd actually prefer to do yours next."
"As long as I get my own tentacle, I will happily wait, my Lion."
Gil nods as he glances at him, "wish you'd said somethin' sooner."
"Mate, I ain'nah knowin' it be ah option 'til ah few hours ago."
Gil grins, "Angel isn't the only one who could kiss T." He smiles as he wipes away the excess ink, "it's awesome to be able to be able to tie us together like this. A permanent reminder that we belong with each other. It's awesome."
"Aye," Faustina laughs, "T's ingenuity is impressive, to create a silver lining out of a tragedy rather than just mourning the disaster. It's one of his more endearing qualities."
"Ya both be havin' that," he corrects as he squeezes her, careful to not disturb Gil.
Faustina frowns, "you think so? Because I rather find myself finding the glass half empty more often than not."
"Sure, when ya only be ah lookin' by yerself, or 'bout yerself." He tilts his head to the side to watch her, "but see, Deez be ah tellin' me how talkin' with ya always be ah helpin' her out. Like when ya be tryin' ta help her through seein' all the bad things."
Faustina's brow furrows, "I suppose in that sense I try, after all at the end of the day it could always be worse."
Gil nods, "yeah it could. We're all pretty lucky, we could be alone in this. We almost were. It's a miracle we all ended up survivin' the ground shaking and storm."
"An' every wave crashin' inta us after that," he says blankly.
Every single, terrifying, gods damn wave.
The unrelenting storm that only seemed to let up right before something bad was about to happen.
The kids at Hell Hall and Evil Queen's tower.
The ritual that affected everyone who was a weilder.
Their need of The Spider.
The hunt for all Isle borns, or at least the rounding up of most of them.
The adults joining the Yu army or going into hiding.
The kid's that had been kept in cages, tortured, raped, and sea gods only knew what else.
Getting shot at time after time after time.
The people they'd been forced to kill.
Deez nearly dying after being taken by the big bad Mim herself.
Too much.
It was all too much.
And yet, somehow, they were all still here and still hoping for something more. "Aye, I guess it could be worse."
Faustina nods, "always." She furrows her brows, "though I suppose in that sense, I've been rather optimistic. It always helped me to remember that and kept me appreciative of what I did have, like T and his stories. I'm not sure what I would have done without them."
"I hope T be tellin' ya stories 'bout me right, cause I be downright entertainin',"
"More often than not, he spoke of how protective you were. You and Jay both. I admired the lengths you would go for those you deemed as yours."
He bites his lip as he brushes his thumb against her neck.
Oh, how he missed those days.
Days when protecting what was his only meant putting the fear into anyone stupid enough to mess with his people.
Act a little drunk, flash his eyes with murderous intent, pull out his sword and intimidate.
It all seemed so simple and easy now. Which was crazy to think about when it had been so daunting at the time.
Always on the lookout for danger, on edge, and balancing a fine line between being on both the defensive and offensive. Torn between keeping others secrets and maintaining trust.
He was still on edge, always on edge, but it was different now.
More exhausting, draining.
He didn't have to only look out for living threats, he had to be aware of everything.
Constantly vigilant for the safety of those he cared for and those he didn't even know existed.
He blinks when it dawns on him. That T had spent his freedom from their room doing what they had only just begun, and sure, it had never been as extreme but-
Fuck.
Sea gods, it had to have been exhausting for him, especially when he'd done it alone, and yet-
He couldn't remember a single time T had complained about it. Not once, hell, if anything it had been the opposite.
His only complaint was that they needed to do the same. Be as paranoid as he was.
He can't help the soft snort.
Well, here they were.
Faustina looks up at him curiously, "my Prince?"
He smiles as he looks at her, "just thinkin' how T always be wantin' us on his level."
Gil snorts, "well, he's got it now."
Faustina sighs, "everything happened so quickly, and certainly not in any way I anticipated. Vigilance can only us so far at this juncture, for right now it's a matter of resourcefulness in our tactics."
He frowns, "ya can'nah be tellin' me we finally be gettin' on his level, an' it ain'nah matterin' none."
Faustina pats his arm, "my apologies, my Prince. It wasn't my intention to-"
He alerts to the sound of Uma's gasp as the buzzing sound stops.
"What's wrong?" Gil demands as he jumps to his feet as he and Faustina join him.
He quickly eyes the entrance to see if they needed to brace for any more intrusions from their resident pain in the ass god.
"It's nearly healed." Uma looks towards them from where she was kneeling next to Deez, "her stomach, it's nearly healed."
That made him give Uma his full attention.
"What?" Faustina rushes over in confusion, beating him and Gil to the punch as she falls to her knees on the other side of Deez.
"I thought it felt strange." Deez frowns as she looks down at the starkly black thread holding together the raw looking, but noticeably more healed, wound.
Gil looks her over in awe as he joins Faustina and Uma and traces the over the remaining wound gently, "but how?"
"Do it be matterin'?" He grins, "Our Fire Princess be gettin' her healin' back."
Faustina frowns as she studies the gash curiously, "did she, though?"
Ah. There it was. Glass half empty.
"Wouldn't she have fully regenerated if that were the case?" She questions as her eyes narrow.
"Can we wonder about this while we get the stitches out?" Deez pleads, "I think that's what I felt when I moved."
Gil looks to Uma hopefully, only to sigh in relief as Uma picks up the scissors, "I don't see why not."
"Fully bein' healed or not," he drums his hands against Gil's back in excitement, "it be bein' damn good ta see ya lookin' better."
Faustina tilts her head, "did you happen to notice when it felt different, my Constellation Chaser?"
Deez falls silent with a frown before her eyes widen, "could it have been the family bond? I can't remember exactly when I noticed it, but I had an easier time breathing right after that."
Faustina's brow furrows as she shakes her head before she stands and starts for the entrance leading to her lab.
He glances between Uma and Faustina and back before Uma shoos him off.
"Where we be ah goin'?" He asks as he catches up.
Faustina glances at him, "to find answers, with any luck."
Dead.
T trying to sit for a fucking tattoo?
Not that we didn't all see that one coming-
Especially how excitable he is right now-
Not that I'm complaining. Since, again, this is the T I miss the most. He's just so delightfully playful and mischievous.
Any of you happy to see this side of him come back?
What 'bout that talk between Sr, Yensid, and Faustina though?
Dark thinks is gold, but I hold some reservations-
Mostly on the topic of Tina-
I still question how she got comfortable talking to two of the most powerful players on the Isle so freely-
But she did, and it doesn't seem wrong…
It's just bizarre to me that it happened.
Any thoughts or theories about what happened with D'z wounds?
Oh! Oh! Thought!
Dark is going to hate me for this, but-
It's time for another game of Categorizing the Characters!
Ready for the maybe first, and most likely last, round in WWTM: BaR?
(Guaranteed this is gonna end in an argument between Dark and me)
Categories: Optimist, Realist, Opportunist, Pessimist, Idealist, Defeatist, Rationalist, and/or Escapist
Mal: Pessimistic Realist
Jay: Realistic Optimist
Evie: Idealistic Optimist
Carlos: Escapist Rationalist
Ben: Idealistic Optimist
Lonnie: Realistic Rationalist
Doug: Rationalistic Realist
Roy: Escapist Opportunist
David: Optimistic Rationalist
Nani: Realistic Optimist
Hiro: Idealistic Rationalist
Lilo: Realistic Pessimist
Bubbles: Rationalistic Realist
Uma: Optimistic Realist
Harry: Optimistic Opportunist
Gil: Optimistic Idealist
Deez: Idealistic Realist
T: Opportunistic Escapist
Faustina: Opportunistic Rationalist
Daniel: Opportunistic Pessimist
Beam: Defeatist Realist
James: Realistic Rationalist
Harriett: Idealistic Escapist
Dizzy: Optimistic Idealist
Freddie: Opportunistic Escapist
Celia: Pessimistic Opportunist
Yensid: Rationalistic Realist
Senior: Opportunistic Defeatist
Wanna fight about it?
Cause I'm right here, so come correct bitches!
(Dark here: Guess what? We didn't argue! First time for everything.)
Much love and shit
-Twisted