damnpire | Kenos Inbox

[ — the point where Communion violently begins is born from the sense of intimate connection developed between two individuals.

It is very obviously a burning, bright thing from Set, whose mind scatters into the corners of those he has forged some sort of companionship with — for duty, for responsibility, for fun, for solemn vow. What arrives is the briefest sense of rising disorientation, woven through with a burst of wrath and grief so white-hot that it might char flesh from bone within seconds, shot through with rapture and the whiplash of love. It rises like a dying, murderous sun ( like Meridian ) — stifling and acute and suffocating — only to be tempered within seconds, by the cool, crisp wash of the dark sea ( like Zenith ), tempered and soothed with all edges laid flat once more.

The Communion plunges into quiet and calm, like a great, purring beast, and ends as abruptly as it began.

d gets this because he's the anubis proxy and that gives him weird Rights im sorry ]

[me just finishing a tag and getting this like set, you good buddy???

The emotions which suddenly curl up over the bed of his mind are a little familiar, but more than that, the presence itself is extremely recognizable. The chaos of everything is as disconcerting as the abrupt end, and he wonders if something is wrong.

Then it's gone, and the more placid pieces of his mind try chasing what was left in its wake.]

Sutekh?

[ he's fine wym??

His mind slips into D's and back out, like a stitch being drawn through the fabric or flesh, the prick of forceful emotion and the soothing slide of that cool, dark energy associated with Zenith. The only thing keeping him from flinging himself into the ether in pursuit of the things he wants most now, the combination of agony and ecstasy driving him — at least his answer is calmed, force-contained and evened out by the blush of darkness upon him. ]

Shh, [ he murmurs, descending upon D with the brief lack of clarity that had driven him into the man's arms before. He strokes his hand through the impression of that long, dark hair. ] I did not mean to reach so far, and disturb you. I found something exciting, perhaps useful for us.

[ #delusional ]

[Stop teasing him!!!

When Set dip in again, he pauses, then inwardly makes the metaphorical motion of a cat trying to swipe at something as Set goes once more. As Set fully appears again, the mental grab of Set's essence is so stern and tight, predatory, like he thinks Set will slide between his mind's fingers like before.

And as Set finally lingers instead, when he doesn't have to worry about Set flitting in and out like an apparition, the commanding and primal mental hold loosens into something incredibly restrained and soft.

He lets Set's presence drape over his shoulders. The invisible fingers pull goosebumps out on his actual flesh. The shadows in the back of his mind are instinctively enticed, and they stir.]

What did you find?

[His voice is so quiet and collected for how many turbulent things are going on inside.]

[ haha get edged ]

Before you arrived, I sought the guidance of Zenith's leader. She pointed me into the Beyond, far to the north to a long-abandoned temple — something that felt familiar to me. Finally, I have reached it.

[ There is a dreamy, hazy quality to the way that he settles across D — the weight of him intensive, attentive. Though he knows in his hindbrain that this man is not his child, they are alike enough that D slips through his defenses and fills him with the urge to be close. Having avoided him for some time meant he could resist that urge, but now — he has fled into the recesses of that mind and stirred at the curtains drawn against his hunger. ]

It is my sister's temple. Perhaps not "my" sister, your au— [ Not D's aunt. Anubis's aunt. ] It belonged to Isis. I do not know if it arrived in the way a shattered world that drifted to Kenos would have, or if it was part of the core of Kenos's creation — but, I know now why I am drawn to it.

[ Even if it's not "his" Isis there, she will always be his sister. Loathed and loved in the same breath. ]

Is that not a curious thing? To have been directed to my sister by the Lady?

[NOOOOOO

The difference in Set during their first meeting versus now is very peculiar. He's not sure if it's simply easier within the communion, or if Set is this languid and close when he's--happy? Excited. Relieved.

(Maybe it's because he looks like Set's son...?)]

It's dubious. [For as negative as the words are, D does not exude a feeling of rudeness. It's logical, factual.] If you are a god, it's only natural she would try convincing you to join her by showing you something you'd like. When it comes to making a new world, you would be powerful and have experience ruling.

Has anyone else ever found something similar to their world there? The Beyond.

[Maybe it was a giant graveyard of broken worlds.]

Well, duh. Zenith may have the wisdom of their leader, but not a single one of them genuinely has the ability to take on the weight of crafting a new world. I bet most of them are content with simply handing all right over to Lady Yima, do as thou will style.

[ A brief huff, because it isn't as though Set has not harbored those thoughts since the beginning. He has been a vocal proponent of Zenith's delusion, that they can craft a single world ripe with all the nuance required to ensure each and every one of their unique concepts of what makes the vision of the future better than the cruelty of the past.

Without him, or Quetzalcoatl, they're hapless fools stumbling about saying "we'll figure it out later". No foresight! ( D has no idea how pleased the ~~compliment~~ acknowledgement of his divinity and experience make Set, wtf d ) ]

I know she wants me there. Truth be told, I quite like Zenith — I am harsh on them because I believe in their goal, and if they were to succeed... I want them convicted and ready for it. Otherwise they are just bitter little sycophants spiting the rest of us.

[ A sign, and he seems to coil deeper into D. To wind his arms around that neck and push his face into the dark fall of his hair — it's wild of him, to vacilate between minds and approaches. But. He is a little more flayed loose and open, because of Isis's presence within the temple. Because D looks like his son. ]

No. The Beyond is difficult to explore. We have found dangerous creatures and environments, and have met long-pained Shardbearers who harbor no ill intent, but are full of terror. Nothing we found was remarked upon by my companions as familiar. The temple... was unique to me. And Liem, who has a pantheon in his world that shares my kin and I.

[SET. Don't be pleased with his compliment even if it was more of a statement of why than an intended compliment. He'd just be a liar if he said Set wasn't powerful or experienced as a god.

Whether or not D likes gods is an entirely different story.]

You should be careful. One day, they may offer you the right temptation.

[It doesn't sound like he's accusing Set of being short-sighted necessarily, of easily forgetting a promise, only wary about how good promises might taste to literally any of them.

The weight in his mind settles over him; the primal edges of him twist and curl. The shadows stretch their tendrils out toward Set, unable to reach past the restraint. A part of him wonders if Set would like him half as much if he didn't look like Anubis.]

Why is it there? [It's weird.] What do you plan to do?

[Now that Set has found it there.]

There is only one thing that could bring me to their side, D. Right now, it is the sole thing tethering me to Meridian.

[ It is not a matter of what Zenith can tempt him with, really. It is the fact that Meridian is the one that provided just enough to tether him to their ranks, just enough alignment to the things he wants. It is a promise to someone else, that has led him to the side of those who look to the past.

( If he reaches out the thought of a finger to curl through the shadows, heedless of their intentions, who has to be the wiser? He has flirted with the dark thing that was Sebastian, after all, what's a little more gloom and doom to stroke like a dangerous animal. ) ]

Take it for my own, of course. Isis is not here, and someone must make use of a proper temple — why not her little brother? Maybe I will seek out other locations such as this, to determine the core history and composition of this world. Is it the embers of Greece and Egypt alone, or is there more to it?

[ There is more to it, than just owning the temple.

He is a god of war, after all. ]

[After hearing about a few of Zenith's tricks the last time, he... does not trust even a god of war to be resistant to the whimsy of sway.

The forefront of his mind is thoughtful and pensive. Someone having a piece of the Beyond might not be a bad move even if he is a person who creates no ties and never lingers long in a single place. Or... rather, he didn't.

But he's also thinking of how that could be used against Set. He's not sure if, in the end, it would or wouldn't be their problem.]

I assume we'll find out.

[While D is busy contemplating, a tendril of mental energy reaches out and wraps around the whole of Set's prying, curious arm.

It tries to pull Set in, away from D, warm and languid as if they were going to dance. Teased, like being edged. The spirit of it is a silhouette, and it looks very much like D. An incredibly tall and imposing aura mostly shadowed except for a face as pale as the moon, framed by rivers of long and dark hair, and two bright carnelian eyes burning like flames.

It smiles knowingly at Set from the edges. The charm is etiquette over the lust: taking Set's hand and bestowing an airy mental kiss on the knuckles with the hint of teeth when the smile curls upward. Pushing through a hypnotic desire that makes Set feel like the only important person in existence.

D snaps his attention, and the darker part of himself steps back, playfully letting Set's hand reluctantly slide away.]

[ How unfortunate, that Set is deeply responsive to such an illusion. Even false devotion is something he craves, weak of will and full of a bottomless yearning for attention, for eyes upon him. Perhaps it is why he is drawn to darker things, to darker creatures. Even a lie, even something built upon a shapeless bargain or the dangerous promise of more, is preferable to being ignored completely. Abandoned, forgotten.

( Unlike with Sebastian, whom he can dance with and resist to a degree, Set has no defenses against D or the aura within him — their silhouettes, the dark fall of their hair and the darkness of their eyes leave his mind in shambles. Eager to do anything, to be able to take even the facsimile of his child into his arms.

He's made the same mistake before, unbeknownst to him, after all. ) ]

Oh.

[ There is palatable disappointment, an urge to reach out and seize at that deep, hidden thing within D. ]

— you do not mean to do that, do you?

[The charming, vampiric part of D lingers in D's mind where it is and watches Set with playful interest. The essence of it is primordial, perhaps familiar to Set in the way it may be older than time itself. Elegant, regal.

There is no need for a coronation for a heritage which is one hundred percent nobility in its godhood.]

It's best if you don't entertain it.

[The logical, more human side of D would of course say this. The other side he won't ever escape, always there, churns with a peculiar sort of thirst. It's parched. The whole of it is all around Set, curious, but without touching, held with an iron restraint. The hunger makes the thicker presence of D irritated.]

[ Eustace has been left with a lot of time to think while camping out at the Tree of Life, waiting for Dokja to dig his way back out of the dirt like some nondescript BL zombie. Namely, he's thought deeply about his actions during the last Oracle and how deeply embarrasing they were, and it's probably time to make amends for his actions as much as he would like to pretend they never happened.

So! Here he is, knocking politely at D's mental door. ]

Is this D?

[Stupid ass Dokja. D is also going to pretzel that dude after he digs out of the earth.

Eustace is already doing better than Set. Joining D's headspace politely gives D time to push all of the terrible vampiric things back out of the way. A cool and steely sort of weight blooms in Eustace's mind. The quietness is familiar; the space is full of a strong, dark silence.

At the edges is a primordial, powerful energy which curiously tries to inspect Eustace with a strangely sensual and languid interest. A dark thing with glowing carnelian red eyes.]

Yes.

[He at least doesn't yell HEY IT'S EUSTACE THE DUDE WHO SMOOCHED ME.]

Are you feeling better?

[ Can't believe D's vampire pheromones are this strong even in Communion. No wonder Eustace got debuffed so easily into wanting to kiss him. Even with his full mental capacity at his command, he can feel the weight of the presence that surrounds him. A trickle of something between fear and excitement trickles down his spine, but the reminder of his past transgressions chases it away quickly enough. ]

I am. [ At least he doesn't have to bring up the subject first. ] I wanted to apologize for that. For what I did, before.

[ THE KISS it was a nice kiss but he still shouldn't have done it. ]

[They are SUPER strong on the inside unfortunately. This is why he acts so stupidly stoic on the outside!!!!!! No one must know the lustful vamprism is in there.]

Thank you.

[First of all, he does not want to brush off Eustace attempt to offer an apology. D doesn't sound amused in any way, like he's trying to tease Eustace about what happened.]

But you don't have to apologize. Better me than someone who will give you trouble later.

[ It's okay, Eustace knows a little bit of that lustful interior now. Good thing he's basically married to Dokja and won't be tempted by those seductive vampire wiles. He seems to be in control of himself now, at least, a dutiful sense of apology still present in his mind. ]

Regardless, I did.

[ And now that's out of the way, it's time to say his goodbyes and end this thread! Just kidding. ]

You're very calm about this. [ And was, even back during the heat of the moment. ] Does this happen to you frequently?

[EUSTACE WOULD BE SO VALID FOR THAT REALLY, OKAY. Saying sorry and then immediately running away from him.

For a long moment, he doesn't say anything in response to the question. It does--did?--happen to him frequently, but he does not want to sound conceited because it was not something he particularly liked. Besides, he thinks if he sounds more calm about it, it will be less stressful for Eustace.]

On the Frontier where I was was from, yes. But rarely here.

[Kenos people are built different.]

Fae-like creatures often employ tricks, so I understood it wasn't something you'd have done on your own.

[ D.....truly what a pal. 🥺 If only things hadn't started off as terribly as they did.

Though he's beginning to suspect D's the worse one off now, if people keep throwing themselves at him without warning. ]

Would it have bothered you more if it had been something I'd done willingly?

[Eustace is doing great so far? He has not slammed the communion receiver down and stormed off yet.]

I didn't know you, so I would have questioned the validity of the feelings.

[Sometimes, people become enamored with you just because of your inhuman vampire beauty, so you must ignore it.]

[ Who could possibly hang up on sexy, sexy D..... ]

You don't believe in love at first sight?

[ This is a joke. A very bad one. So bad that he doesn't give it much time to settle, moving on quickly. He's not here to talk about love anyway. ]

Thanks for being [ ... ] open-minded though. You don't have to worry about it happening again.

[Eustace could...]

I don't.

[He knows it was sarcasm, BUT JUST TO REITERATE HIS POINT. No love at first sight for him. Maybe for cute maidens...]

You are promising a great deal for being in a place which doesn't play by those same rules.

[Maybe Eustace will be cursed again to be in love with him. Aphro event...... Eustace will be trying to bang him (no).]

[ I'll die before I let him hang up on D.

But also—fair point. Give him a minute to amend his words slightly. ]

You won't have to worry about me doing it willingly.

[ Once aphro's on the table though? No promises. Dokja will just have to deal as his bf goes and bangs another man. ]

[NOOOOO, DOKJA, YOUR CUCKHOLDING.]

You didn't strike me as that sort of man.

[Com...pliment...?? He gets the feeling Eustace is taking this embassment hard.]

We can start over. My name is D.

[ Can't believe friendship is back on the table....will Eustace fuck it up again, only time will tell. ]

Eustace.

[ They've been through this song and dance before, but it feels different this time. More welcome. Except...where do they go from here? Once again, conversation proves not to be his strong point. ]

Did you manage to find what you were looking for, back then?

Kenos Inbox

BACKDATED TO LATE WARQU, PRE-BEACH.

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communion. i know i said he was going to avoid d but consider: i want to tag you

val......

anna....... :face_holding_back_tears:

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