Colours in order of appearance: V: f09add S: 3ad29f St: d74f08 D: ade8f4 M: a92d52
She looked in the mirror, Verin was right… she looked so drab and so hideous in these shades of muted cream and beige; fortunately Stasia had the good sense to have a private wardrobe adjacent to her elevator. Stripping down she barely cared to glance at her tattoos - too busy constructing an outfit in her mind. Now, the sensible thing would have combat gear and plenty of scissors: but she felt a far more sincere and disarming approach was better suited for this supposed ‘fuck up’.
So it was that Stasia walked out of her Rome studio in bright yellow well worn converse hightops, pink and white poker dot socks, denim overalls, a lazily tucked band tee with some reference to some niche 80s rock amateur, a green beret… more plastic glitter bracelets than was appropriate for such an occasion, her hello kitty back pack and bright red star shaped glasses. If the humans were awake they’d think her mad.
Having ditched her leather jacket and helmet inside her studio - grateful that the city’s human law enforcement also seemed to be out cold; Stasia climbed onto her Confederate FA-13 Combat Bomber in the colour cherry soda red (it had been given to her by the CEO as a thank you for being one of the company’s first shareholders). Revving the engine she decided she would do a loop around the city, if anyone was still awake they’d be a claimant and therefore perhaps up for a fight. As she turned the corner; heading towards the central parts of Rome’s business district, she could almost sense or at least thought she felt the sensation of the pair of inked on eyes at the base of her neck, blink.
Vivian had been more than pleased when her current employer had been oh so gracious to book out an entire hotel - owned by some miserable sod of a death claimant. She was happily emptying out the all inclusive mini fridge in her rooms and downing some of the content needlessly. Kicking her feet up as she floated towards the balcony; Vivian barely caught a glimpse of a cherry soda red motorbike speeding past with what appeared to be a kaleidoscope.
“I wonder what that was.”
The vehicle emerged again - not a mirage. Coming to a halt in front of the building; the engine silenced and the rider walking straight towards the guarded front door.
“Someone is about to get their ass whooped!”
She shouted to no one in particular (everyone had their own floors. DeVian she knew was upstairs in the palatal penthouse). Leaning against the balcony, Vivian craned her neck; hoping to hear whatever was happening downstairs… nothing but doors opening and her stunned drunk silence.
Stasia walked into the pristine lobby as the owner of the place, Antonio looked her up and down; they were familiar, seeing as Stasia usually brought her targets here (those who ventured to Rome of course). She turned on her heels and walked up to him: he noticed her usual gold bracelets were not on her; he pulled away so that they did not touch.
“Got any rooms for me?” The Aikekunai asked him.
“No-no.” He stuttered out. Perhaps he should call the Princess of Death down to see this unexpected guest out.
“Shame, any news?”
“None… that would interest you Ms Noba.”
“Stasia. We’re friends aren’t we Antonio?”
“W-why of course. I am just so busy dealing with the tourists.”
“So they are here.” Stasia grinned, Antonio gulped.
“It is not wise for you to be here, mind thief.”
“I’m only here because unfortunately the higher ups think the children they sent in aren’t experienced enough or rather… they fucked up.”
There was no need to mince words with the man. Stasia looked at her nails as Antonio fumbled for the phone and dialled someone in the building. She turned to face the water fountain just as the building’s elevators told her that someone or perhaps someones were coming to greet her - based off the fact that the elevator made several stops. She extracted one of her surgical grade scissors from her sleeve and disassembled it, the blades glinting in the lobby light. She would use it if the people inside the elevator chose to come out guns blazing. Antonio watched with dread and guilt as Stasia’s eyes clouded over until one of her lives: a sharpshooting assassin took the helm.
“Please no violence in my hotel.”
“Should have thought of that before you let me in.”
Stephani had been in the shower when the elevator told her someone had arrived, grabbing a towel she wrapped it around herself as someone shouted over the crime podcast she was listening to. ‘Get dressed and come down. We have a supposed enemy in the lobby.’ Before she was left alone to try to sort herself out. She dried and dressed quickly, shoving her hair into a mess of a high pony with some old scrunchie. She nearly tripped over her favourite combat boots - opting to go barefoot seeing as she didn’t want to keep DeVian Desdon waiting. The Portuguese woman had been an utter fright when they had been escorted by force back to some hotel; their belongings having been deposited in the foyer with a squadron of death claimants, bowing and bending to DeVian’s every whim and thought.
Vivian had only gone down cause she was curious as to whether or not the person she had witness pull up was the same person they would probably be beating up in a short moment. She sighed, using her legs to stop her from being squashed against the ceiling of the glass tube. They continued to descend, none of them looked enthused or prepared to deal with whatever was about to happen in the lobby.
“Maybe its just a food delivery and a false alarm…” She joked
No one was taking it and that caused Vivian to pout. Other houses and their members really could be so dreadfully dull. She changed her position so she could watch their ever slow progress towards their possible doom. Vivian giggled.
“How can you be laughing?”
“Typical airhead.”
The elevator door chimed and the group of impromptu allies left the small glass chamber, perhaps they had been misinformed about the danger, as the only notable presence in the lobby was a person; the kaleidoscope Vivian had seen less than five minutes ago stood there; examining what appeared to be a small sharp blade in the light and beside her stabbed into the marble was what appeared to be a very large pair of separated scissors - did claimants fight with scissors? Vivian floated up towards the chandelier and watched as Stephani, Nier, Najya and DeVian took defensive stances… behind the counter; trembling like a leaf in a hurricane was the owner of the place; rocking himself. Poor thing.
“Shit.”
Vivian gazed at Nier, he looked far more tense than the others. Stephani having quickly summoned her own weapon; the entity shifted and that caused the group to move back towards the elevator… now that Vivian had settled in and could hear the wind inside the lobby; she realised that this person did not smell like any claimant she had ever met; worse still this person exuded a type of power that Vivian had only felt around the best of her house.
“Shit. Shit. Shit.”
Nier repeated under his breath. Did he know this person? Should they be worried? Nier stepped forward, hands raised almost in a cautious gesture of surrender.
“What is he doing?” Stephani hissed.
The entity retrieved their lodged blade and Vivian watched in astonishment as one became two: holding them as though they weighed nothing. Vivian bit her lip.
“No one move.” Nier took another step closer.
“What the hell is happening? Who are they?”
The owner of the place could be seen crawling towards the fire escape. Vivian reached into her pocket and bit into her peanut butter brownie - not laced, just fuel in case she needed to fly away and get help.
“Whose in charge?” Nier asked
“Guess who.”
What a strange question. Jillian kept her eyes on Nier: Eric’s strength keeping hold of their blades. Her eyes narrowed as Nier stopped just before the trip wire she had devised; he sat down - his hands still raised. He look at his companions; urging them to also sit and keep their hands raised. Perhaps there would be no fight; but better to keep the collective guard up. Eric shifted them so they were back to leaning rather relaxed against their weapon.
“Does someone want to tell us what’s happening and why we’re sitting down in the fucking lobby?”
“Shut up.” Nier hissed
“Why?”
“Mind thief.”
“What?”
The female with a ponytail seemed to be mocking them. Perhaps she should be taught a lesson, reaching into her sleeve she took out the previously examined surgical pair of scissors. Before Nier could warn the Rhihon, the blade had been lodged directly in the woman’s chest -just below her right collarbone. Stephani hissed, reaching to remove it: only to feel as though she had been electrocuted; she screeched and fell to her side in agony.
“Please, we won’t fight.” Nier tried to ignore the screams.
“Mind thief.” Vivian thought about it “As in the Aikekunai? Aren’t they a myth?”
“You’re looking right at them.” Nier sighed
All eyes looked at the kaleidoscope- Stephani was now out cold, Vivian clapped her hand over her mouth. What the fuck was a someone who was meant to be a myth doing here? In the lobby? Were they in trouble. The entity shuddered and their eyes rolled back into their skull, were they high? The entity’s eyes resumed their natural position. Wait hadn’t their eyes been green? Now they were grey and stormy.
“What just happened?”
“Nice to see you again Nier.”
“Not so nice to be encountering you Noba.”
“I suppose not. Nice to meet all of you.”
“Are you our enemy?” Najya asked, poking Stephani’s unconscious form.
“Depends. I can tell you though; I am supposedly here to aid in fixing up this situation.”
“Then why did the owner of the place call you an unexpected guest? Doesn’t that make you a threat?”
“Only if you get on my wrong side.”
“Is Noba your first name?” Vivian asked curious.
“No. Stasia. The green eyes, was Jillian.”
Stasia’s weapons disappeared and thus the trap laid vanished before anyone could exhale. Nier relaxed and stood up, he looked at this companions.
“Rule one, under no circumstances even if you’re horny for her are you to touch her or she touch you.”
“That is a woman? They do not look like a woman?” Najya furrowed her eyebrows.
“They’re non-binary but use she/her pronouns most of the time.” Nier felt like he was babysitting.
Stasia for her part was now walking towards the elevator, the owner had returned grateful to see that everyone but the hotheaded fire claimant was unconscious and bleeding; at least he did not have to report another casualty in his place of establishment.
“Hot head can share the same floor as Air head. I’ll take the floor.”
“Arrangements have been made for you to-“ Antonio began
“Cancel them, I’d like to stay in and amongst the action.” She tossed the man her keys to her bike.
“Besides, if these lot are anything like the last lot I dealt with, I may be out of here before you can serve me a martini.”
Stasia walked past a dark skinned woman and felt the same tattoo on her neck blink. She tried not to show that she was affected and stepped into the elevator. Antonio reached for the handheld set and shouted into the phone as the group of claimants were left to figure out what to do with the unconscious Rhino.
“She’s going to be fine right?” Vivian took a swig of her flask, filled with a heady mixture of vodka, gin and liquid cocaine.
“Sure, will wake up feeling like death.”
Not intending to suggest anything bad of course. Nier murmured, sweeping Stephani off the floor, a small puddle of blood had formed underneath the unconscious claimant. Vivian and Najya gave each other a look before rejoining Nier in another elevator, not wanting to wait for the first of the glass tubes to return to the lobby. Vivian didn’t mind so much that she now had a floor mate; so long as Stephani was not opposed to finding all of the fridges empty of goods. She clutched the bar that seemed to enclose the space with her hands; DeVian was left alone in the lobby.
Stasia went straight for the room with the largest tub, she found it easily and without much gusto stripped and dumped half of the complimentary bubble bath formula that the hotel provided free of charge into the continually warming water; she wanted it to boil her alive. She was relieved when she noticed her bags appear almost silently inside her room, there was more of her wardrobe at home; but this would do for now – diving partially head first into the deep clawfoot bath, she moaned in pure ecstasy. There was a ding; someone had come to join her for her bath she fathomed.
“If you’re here just to annoy me, turn around and leave.”
The rest of her tattoos seemed to tingle and she shivered despite being head deep in hot water. The bathroom door which she had not bother to close surprised whoever was stepping in. It was the dark skinned female and she looked furious.
“How dare you.”
“Excuse me?”
Stasia rose up from the water and the bubbles, so that her head was peeking out. The bubbles she realised barely hid any of her exposed flesh. She reached towards the tap where two particularly overly glorified simple gold bracelets hung barely above the water. Stasia shook her hands dry, or as dry as she could. Sitting up and putting the bracelets on; the usual natural sensation of being on a live trip wire dulled until it was barely noticeable… and just like that the scent that exposed her for a claimant disappeared – just like it had in the lobby, though she had only been wearing one bracelet then. The dark skinned woman cursed her out in Portuguese and that made Stasia chuckle, the woman went silent.
“Afraid to reveal your cards? I’m humoured.”
“What the fuck are you doing here. What makes you think you have the right.”
“I’m an Aikekunai, unlike you champion death. I don’t obey the Ancients and am free to do as I please. I work by contract. You work because otherwise your dear Ancient would have you disposed of and fed to the dogs.”
“Do you know who I am?”
“Yes, Princess Death. DeVian.”
Stasia decided her bath had been ruined and stood up, the water sloshed over and nearly covered ruined whatever clothes the woman was wearing. She unplugged it with her toes before grabbing a towel and wrapping it around herself. She could always rinse off later, the soap and bubble covered Aikekunai dragged her wet feet on the marble and onto the carpet; still not having dried an inch of herself as she sat down on the white chaise lounge – it swallowed her up until all that could be seen were her storm coloured eyes. The woman who had so rudely interrupted her downtime, trudged after her in stilettos that looked lethal and yet familiar too… hmm perhaps it was from her most current summer collection. How cute, this DeVian was a fan.
“I want you to leave.”
“No.”
“I did not pay for you to–“
“Intrude? I’m friends with the owner. Besides, it’ll just be added to my pre existing tab. Do sit, I hate talking to people who are higher than me.”
DeVian refused and Stasia sighed. She adjusted her towel and shut her eyes.
“You’re safe. My bracelets keep you safe.”
Lifting her arms up, the bracelets glinted in the artificial lighting. Come to think of it, DeVian seemed to be covered in head to toe clothing from her fashion house ABON. Stasia wondered if the woman was simply here to ask for an autograph and then would be on her way. When no pen or paper was offered, and DeVian continued to look at her intently. Stasia glowered and decided she would shower whilst DeVian spoke. Returning to the previously abandoned bathroom, she turned the shower head on; dropped the towel, removed the bracelets and stepped in. The cold water made her feel wonderful and though she was not shy of being naked around strangers; the fact that her tattoos still felt like they were blinking irked her.
“Care to join me?” She joked, hoping to lighten the mood.
“No thanks.”
“Missing out.” She let the water fall through her hair.
“Do you often just shower around strangers?”
“I’m used to it. What can I do for you Desdon?”
“I already said–“
“Apart from leaving. I can’t do that. Have a contract to fulfil. Besides I can be a great asset if your wanting to capture the attention of Pickering.”
“How did you know–“
“There’s not a lot I don’t know Desdon.”
“Just call me DeVian.”
“Stasia then, if we are on first name basis."
Stephani woke up with a killer headache and stitches, on the bedside table sat the reminder of what had happened and a pill case strictly labelled as morphine. Could you even orally ingest morphine? Stephani looked around... this was not her room and she heard a giggle. Vivian was floating on the ceiling waving and kicking her feet here and there as though it allowed her to move around freely. Stephani sat up and rubbed at her chest, seemed everything was in order; she was just in a lot of pain.
“You were out for three days.”
Vivian reached for a jumper that seemed to be resting against one of the chairs in the room. Stephani could not believe she had been out for three days and from the looks on Vivian she seemed to be just relieved that her roommate had survived and not died; she didn’t want to have to explain to the house of fire how one of their members had died under her watch.
“What did I miss? Or have I missed?”
“Like me, nature girl and dark boy who won’t talk to anyone we’ve been resigned to the bench. DeVian took charge of the situation and assigned everyone a team, though you’re lucky cause we’re on the bench it means we’ll get actual action eventually but the ice chick hahaha she ran away.”
Stephani clapped her hands over her ears, Vivian was not shouting but it felt like it and it made her want to lie back down and return to unconsciousness.
“Also the person that did this to you, they called for backups.”
“What?”
“Apparently as a whatever they are… Aikekunai they have their own motives and don’t have to follow the rules like the rest of us.”
She suddenly had the urge to go to the bathroom but her legs were still asleep, flexing the muscles and forcing herself to stretch she was relieved to know that she was not paralysed.
“I’ll give you some space and I’ll go find some food for you.”
“Whose on the team with DeVian?”
“Life boy, the kaleidoscope, your slightly feral cousin, and the backups."
“Who are the backups?”
“Oh someone from your house and a replacement for the ice chick.”
|| Three Days Ago ||
Stasia laid on the carpeted floor, keeping her eyes on the ceiling as the other individuals who were a part of this exercise - exempting the fire chick who was still out cold and probably comatose based off how faint her heart beat was. Stasia did not bother to move as DeVian entered the room and stepped over her.
“Are you going to remain there on the floor?”
Another female, her skin was more chocolate or olive than deep dark chocolate like DeVian, this one was not in shoes or barely any modern clothing… though why she was wearing a fur coat in this humidity? Stasia shuddered and decided to close her eyes. She didn’t want to see what other fashion disgraces were part of this group, DeVian stood at the head of a whiteboard that her dear assistant and maternal figure Marjorie had, had delivered at her orders. She uncapped a red marker, the artificial scent of chemicals and whatever else constituted modern day markers and started to write in block letters a new plan. Stasia peeked one eye open and saw that DeVian was writing names down and sectioning them off under three different categories. She shut her eyes again as that same female who had asked Stasia the question nudged her ribcage.
“Careful or you’ll end up like Steph.” Another voice murmured
This one coming from a red headed male with eyes that Stasia personally did not suit him, he was shuffling through a deck of cards and had something in his mouth? Stasia wasn’t sure; all she had known was that he was part of the opposite house to DeVian and had been the one to assure the rest of the group that Stephani was not in fact dead but probably just very weak from such a harsh electrical shock.
“Alright, three teams. We’re all aware that we’ll be heading to the realm of water sooner rather than later and I think it’d be best if we devised a plan. I believe based off our talents that we should split into three groups.”
She tapped the board to make sure everyone was paying attention, and for the most part they were… though she wasn’t sure if Stasia was even listening.
“One to take care of Pickering who is still at the colosseum acting high and mighty, a bench team full of people who won’t necessarily be useful and then the team that will come with me to the water realm.”
DeVian sounded confident despite the fact that everyone in the room gave her looks of annoyance at being told what to do. Stasia opened her eyes to see where she had been assigned, her name was directly under DeVian’s own name. Raising her hand, Stasia sat up and pointed to where her name was.
“Why do you think I’d be useful in the water realm? I’m from the house of electricity, my being there will be a hinderance and a danger to the collective group.”
“We may need your ability to collect intel.”
“No can do.”
Stasia wasn’t afraid to argue with the Desdon girl all day. She stood up and approached the board, unlike the previous day events when she was dressed like a vomited rainbow; today she was in a far more subdued outfit though the colours were still there. In ankle socks that had small cartoon calico kittens, dark blue track pants that rested just below her hips, a belt that was silver studded with a bejewelled buckle, an off the shoulder, recycled asymmetric pink plaid shirt and no accessories - no bracelets; rather several piercings in her ears that did the same thing as her bracelets. She picked up the blue marker and circled her name.
“If we’re doing this. I am calling for backup.”
“Like who?”
“Old friends, nothing to worry about.”
“In which house?”
“You’ll see.”
Haden’s jaw was bruised and his muscles felt like jelly as he was being restrained by several of his own house members after he tried to take a direct hit at Daenu who was standing over him, her heel crushing his neck uncomfortably.
“If you’re done with trying to rebel I’ll tell the others to let you go.”
He couldn’t actually respond with words seeing as Daenu’s foot made it impossible to do so without the thought of being impaled. He nodded and she clicked her fingers and the others finally let go and she stepped back until she was a safe distance away, he got back onto his feet and rubbed at his throat; he was still furious that his annual vacation with Shinzo had been cut short because one of his house members had run chicken shit scared to fuck knows where.
“You’re to go to Rome in Natasha’s absence.”
“What about my holiday?”
“Over for now. Besides I have new toys for you to try and I’m giving you permission to shoot down anyone or thing in your way who isn’t involved in this falsity of a team exercise.”
He supposed that would be alright, if he got to cause damage and kill people just for the sake of getting revenge on his holiday being ruined.
“Shinzo will be there too.”
“What?”
“The only known Aikekunai present in the city, Stasia has asked for both of you.”
“Been a while since I saw them.”
Daenu looked at Haden, it astonished her that he wasn’t swearing and cursing the high heavens and dark hells or trying to take another shot at her… suppose this was the fear that other members of his house had; when Haden was stone cold sober; not that he ever was. Daenu summoned up a portal that would lead him directly into the heart of the ancient mortal city of Rome.
“New bullets too. Now go and don’t disappoint me. I’m off to hunt down Natasha.”
|| Two days ago ||
“You wanted to see me?”
“Well you summoned me here.”
They were back inside the room where DeVian had first devised the plan, there was more writing on the board seeing as DeVian had to make last minute changes based off the fact that two additional names apart from Stasia’s were there in blue; contrasting the red. Stasia was currently dressed in a bright orange and purple zebra sundress, gladiator sandals, a checkered white and black newsboy hat and was wearing a pearl choker; again with the same purpose as most of her other accessories up to this point. DeVian looked at Stasia’s outfit and wondered how on earth she could walk around dressed like she was and not give a shit that people might judge her for it.
“Why are you such a bitch?”
DeVian crossed her arms over her chest hoping to intimidate Stasia like she did all of her usual company subordinates. Instead it had the opposite effects as Stasia leant in closer to DeVian. The death princess suddenly felt the urge to step back and put some space between them but every time she moved. Stasia just moved closer and continued to lean in until their faces might as well have been touching. She opened her mouth to speak but all she got in response was a kiss on the lips from Stasia.
She moved her hands, ready to shove Stasia away, but when Stasia hooked her arms around DeVian; stopping her from pulling away or pushing Stasia away. A nip of teeth against her lips; her mind spiralled and she began to panic but before the kiss could go any deeper, Stasia moved away and walked out of the room without a backward glance.
DeVian’s heart was left pounding and the ghosts that usually surrounded her began to gossip excitedly, she cleared her throat and tried to calm herself…. Shooing the ghosts away. What the fuck had just happened?
Marjorie had been stirring a pot of caramel for her husband when the frigidity of the grave told her that her ‘boss’ and her little girl had emerged through a door opened by the void. DeVian looked flushed and perhaps a little bit upset. Turning the cooker down as Bruno came back in from serving another famished family a meal. He had been taking his apron off and changing the sign over when he noticed DeVian, he put his apron back on and though covered in sweat, sugar and flour – hugged DeVian tightly before taking over for Marjorie who sat down at the table and beckoned for DeVian to do the same.
“It’s been a while since you just void walked here.”
“I… I need you to do something.” DeVian hiccuped. Was she about to cry?
“Food first, talk later. Tea? Coffee? Cocoa?” Bruno asked from the stove.
She didn’t know how to respond as her father figure – a human at that, took one glance at her and decided that she was in need of his signature hot chocolate.
“What’s wrong?”
“I…” She hiccuped again.
“Have some of the Bifana.” Bruno ordered his daughter.
She reached, hands shaking for one of the warm pork sandwiches and though she really should just tell her parents what was on her mind; she obediently took a bite into the slightly spicy, tangy sandwich and chewed absentmindedly. Bruno set down a mug of hot chocolate in front of her and massaged her shoulders, until the knots were gone and the hiccups disappeared.
“Now you talk.”
“It’s a disaster.”
“The mission?”
Marjorie picked at her own sandwich, squeezing Bruno’s hand as he sat down and poured himself a glass of lemon iced tea. DeVian sipped at the sweet liquid, with its hint of chilli and cinnamon. It filled her with all the comforts of home and she was glad she had made this decision to visit her parents.
“There is this person, Stasia.”
“The Noba girl?” Marjorie wanted to be sure they were talking about the right one.
“Yes.” DeVian flinched.
“She’s a difficult one.” Marjorie sighed sympathetically.
“She kissed me.”
“Oh?” Bruno seemed surprised by this, normally a kiss was a good thing no?
“I think this mission has failed before it has even started.”
“You think that now, but it’s the opposite.” Marjorie took another bite of her sandwich, giving DeVian the space to talk.
“Ha. I feel like an utter fool and nothing is going according to plan.”
“Perhaps this is precisely what needs to happen?” Bruno packed his pipe full of tobacco. Marjorie ignored her husband’s comment and gave DeVian a look, one that DeVian had only seen once before ‘do you need out?’.
“I just don’t know what to do.” She picked up another sandwich and took a bite.
“You keep doing as you have done or you leave this right now. Novevu will understand.”
“Will he? The Princess of Death scared away from a mission because of a stupid Aikekunai.”
It sounded ridiculous and DeVian had to take another bite of her second sandwich to stop from breaking down hysterically.
“I see this as a human. I don’t always know what is happening with you two. But I think that maybe you should try to find out why you feel so scared or nervous around this new person.”
Bruno lit his pipe and huffed and puffed like a chimney would on a winter’s evening. The smoke being taken away from the three by a fan that was permanently on. It only occasionally creaked in protest.
“I don’t normally feel this way.”
“No one does. It only happens once or twice.”
Marjorie scowled at her husband for suggesting a thing, but Bruno continued on as though she was not there to interrupt him.
“I felt like that when I first saw your mother. I was only a boy then, barely even a man.”
DeVian tilted her head and looked up from under her eyelashes.
“Love is strange like that.”
“Love?” DeVian repeated.
“Yes, even you lot fall in love. I don’t have these elements as you do but I know that it is us humans who taught you lot to love. I like to think us experts.”
“We have an ancient for that.” DeVian chortled.
“Yes but they never did anything with it until this realm was made.” Bruno gently corrected his daughter.
