The few rumble tummies, some of the phone messages and email alerts. Raven gleams with showing her an email about some sort of high mage banquet tonight. He particular was grinning like a kid over how their names are addressed on the email. So much that even while dressed up for some formal event. He was telling her all the importantance of the event given she gained church approval.
The plans for London will be determined how well they act during this "little party". Plus it will be their wedded "announcement" to all of upper mage society. As her last name is now his; the stigma of Fallown or Seer wasn't an option. He was humming the whole time of dressing her up and doing her hair. She did her own makeup and tied his tie. She can only softly smile listening to him, as he was ranting about table manners. Arthur having finished ahead of them, speaks up about the 9 course meal. Three matched drinks. He tries to say something of a warning about potential poisoning.
"She isn't entirely human, so human poisoning isn't a problem. That's why that dagger did nothing to her. My Lords feather repaired and healed, when it is meant to be used for magic source testing. I was testing for where that dagger came from." He was putting a beloved hair pin, she assumed it lost a long time ago. Its broken length of abnormal god metal chains hung of charms. The length chopstick like part stabbing her hair bun in place. Runic abyss language scripts along the stick length. He leans into her and his chin to her shoulder, "But you know where that dagger is from."
Given his steady, she was able to line spell craft over his right eye. Adding a celtic pattern of Omens powers over his face, protecting his right eyes strange fosted nature. His spirit eyes are missing matched. His human eyes dont appear to have medical issues. She can see a scar. She can see a soul cutter has scratched his right eye. She was putting away this clay based made makeup crayon; she has even sighed in making a mental note to need a new one soon. The ingredients of such a crayon.
"My sight." He jolted with shock, he looked around. Even directly of staring right through Arthur. She shakes her head in how he is over reacting. She slide stare at Omens bird. The rainbow feathers vessel posing wing at beak and eyeing the changes this brought. Omens slides a stare back at her, hissed and flustered away from her. She closed her makeup bag and shadow tucked it away. She rolls eyes of how host gods reactions arent so godly. She pouting in what can mean for the near future for those sensitive to gods. In this small chaos, she able to understand reactions she will be looking out for in him.
"You sure know a lot for someone that hasn't anything." Arthur huffed in coming in and helping himself to the bathroom. Here to steal a few hair products and style his hair. She wiggles fingers at casting magic, Arthur's hair done for him before he even started. She brought out her make-up pouch with threatened to mark him with any runes. He escaped her try of them, but Omens put himself blocking between.
In her adapt fingers, thanks to omens putting himself just right for her reach, She runic marks with a clay crayon the needed protections against god eaters and most abyss things. Omens may have struggled and snapped her. At her finish, he felt it and knew exactly what she did. He puffed but was taking in the energy. His rainbows glowing and vivid now.
"Neon things puts a sense of against those of darkness." She softly says, "If you dislike it, wash in holy water. It will wipe off as soot. Although there is use of dulling the vivid tones to attract them. You will be normal again once washed off." Away the makeup goes. Arthur leans at the door stunned that she touched and altered Omens bird body.
"Why did you use Norse runes on Omens?" Arthur asked gentle.
"I recall becoming the follower of Muninn. Raven was Huginns. The birds over Odins shoulder." She tilts at checking her own face, her clay one of its marks too and the shimmer of her undertaker body echo, "Such runic spells have use - regardless of their origin. Omens has a celtic knot version of this spell, but I could not make it as strong as I do for Muninn. If given the clay ocra crayon, Raven would use Omens version more effectively. He could use Huginn if he tries. He could use the fey words of dark ages Britain's." She softly stares towards Raven as he is looking at all sorts of things. She tilts pondering what he does know or remember. She lowered in likely it being not a thing is remember. Only that some facts cross time and space always.
"What exactly is he trying to figure out?" Arthur being concerned about why Raven stares at the Arthur and her with a deep frown.
"Likely the true shape of the ender title." She huffed, "Some enders have damned reflection of the pain their universe or their inner world is under. Some are the costumes over ones soul. Some are the soul itself." She gave a bright smile in return of Raven and he flinched, "He is looking at my undertaker shape. The clay spirit body of imperfections. Although I am more complicated and scary then that." She play pats Arthur, "You must have freaked him out with that nasty mask creak down your left eye. Feeling sympathetic of your damage senses. His right eye is the same. Same damage. Different blades." Arthur tilts with finding that disturbing enough, "I am sure everyone will keep telling you." She crossed her front like always, "Nothing good comes from the unknown Abyss. Especially a monster that enviously stares back at you if you look in to deep."
She reclines with her gaze over at the tomes per always. She shuffled many versions of the same books. Shuffling alternative universes that the true souls will have fleed to. As this universe is empty of real gods as thought. Yet then it strikes a thought about why lady death crossed to the soild stone soul worlds. She wonders if gods being a collective of trait souls would become densities of soild state. She will need to see another God example. To that sense, then this universe isnt actually without its gods. The gods are just in a shape that cant be determined by locals.
"Are we ready?" Raven asked them.
"Good enough for now. I am starving for some party foods." She stands up, adjusted her posture and soon dips her feet to change shoes. She takes his arm and links with Arthur too. Going as a three for now. Locking the flat behind them and most things turned off. The laptop with all the data about the trip was locked and those files were wiped off the device history. Her shadow hugging the file with care.
Taking the elevator up floors, the third highest that is always private offices or open mage space of spell casting. She had her passive watching of the crowds that stare at them as they exit. Including themselves; dressed to the knives, to impress the upper mage society. There a sort of snobby assumptions at play for the lack of power; her aura is muted unlike Raven and Arthur.
She made her greetings and respect for the highest here which is Arthur's eldest brother. She thinks over in what dynamic is at stake. Mostly her mind is pondering the way this version of Gladers and Darkwood scheme. If they work together or back stab. Is there a common threat or they unable to know who will be the next to the throne? There a vast majority that look down on the three of them. There a small few that react with fear. The clean cut of who is in the know which powers at play.
"Merry band of three." Josh steps up with joining them, "When things go sideways I at least have you three to help."
"The sad club of those that know the end of the world." Arthur huffed with clearly a sort of in freind greetings. Play taps and hand shake. Clearly close friends, "Matthew got himself married."
Sprung like it was simple news. Josh took one stare at her and then at Raven. He does a sliding check to the rainbow bird that sighed.
"Undertakers are pairs. It has always been pairs." She wafted her left hand side to side, "It doesnt have to be love of each other. Although, knowing this guy." She measured Raven before her conclusions, "Obsession maybe?"
"Make sure she doesnt disappear. Bad things always happen when she's not around." Raven follows, "If my lord of feather is good times ahead. She is the tell of how much hell is to cross to get there." She shurgs unfazed.
"Soul partners just get on with whatever. Even death do not part." She retorted.
Josh half frowns and sort of smiles about the oddities. He stands with them as they took to the side of the room like wall decorations. A small set of men in the corner began music, sounding small snippets of classical music. There is divide languages at work. Damned speaking political coupes by bets. Holy prayer verses by a Glader and her gaggle of gals; likely some sort of coded meaning between themselves. There a set of path sigil oath keepers hovering alone or side groups; clothus taps, hand flings and occasionally monotone words. God followers with their pantheon brothers. The occasional mage nobility in their own side pow wows.
"This is boring." Josh sighed.
"I have a game. Its a test of how good you are to tell what is human or not." They all look at her and then shurg. Make gestures of wanting to join, "I spy but with a twist. You pick a target and we each take turns finding something wrong about them. The mock humans always have a lot of flaws. The real humans always have things attached about them." They mull over her game, "I will start." She picked carefully and picked an interesting target, "The plus one beside the clay masked in the purple velvet." Everyone takes a moment to adjust.
"Deep lavender lacing dress with poor taste in gemstones." Raven knew. He knows the game.
"Another clay mask. No self control." Arthur knows her, "Always depressing to speak to."
"Is that even human?" Josh softly asks. They all tilt unsure between men.
"Nocturm stamp... not a living human. Rather that is a invited one. Brought here by a ritual. Wearing a man made flesh mock." Leana tuts, "I wonder what they use to hid the smell of plastic." She tilts in checking, "A vessel for Erebus. And given those stones, a very active God follower." She hid her gaze at the target. The men around her follow lead to look away. They managed it, this time.
"New one?" Arthur asked. Nods of thise around and he looks about carefully, "Golden lace but wearing death uniform." Softly each person grasps the target in some features guessing. It takes a while for them pick abnormalities for this one.
"I am glad to see her again." Leana whispered gentle, "Old time pen pals in another life." They are interrupted by a servant offering out a tray of drinks and snacks, "I doubt anyone remembers me. If they did, thats a bad thing. Those that mess with the abyss or have broken soul names should be the only types that seek me." Shooing away the servant. They been speaking a Ender language using safe truce words. So the servant shouldnt pick up the deal of the conversation.
"Leana, you have broken knowledge of how things work outside of humanity." Josh changing topic and makes a business gesture to be clear. This was an information exchange. She postures being sure to talk, the best she can without censorship.
"Careful what you ask the abyss." Raven warns.
"You figured out where the gods went. Didn't you?" Josh being up front to it.
"The only God that hasn't converted, to my knowledge thus far, is Death. I think his sour about the Fallowns cheating his price. The others have altered into the next versions of themselves. Among us, hidden in plain sight. I am just having trouble wondering the legislation and logistically implications. Although I think having been watching Erebus long enough. I think I get the point enough." She paused in knowing that vessel looked at them. They all silent and act indifferent. The vessel turns away, "God gazes are so hard to avoid."
"And what's that any different to the abyss watching us?" Arthur asked.
"I am indeed watching your soul names in the tome. That is what it means of the abyss to watch you. Gods watching you is more like a protection or enactment of their blessing." She paused again with knowing a god was watching them. This time it isn't Omens or Erebus. The gold trim tugs and clacks hard steps.
"Mistress of Nocturm, wearing human flesh again?" Josh and Arthur steps back from this goddess and her energy.
"Your husband is being being sour over your death. I tried to let gentle the news. He didn't seem to trust me. I can understand his distrust." The lass takes a while with that reply. Taken back that Leana spoke the language used for those in the stone soul universe. Understanding that its the highest holy language to use around these parts. Used so causally. There a secondary level of feeling broken about Leana; Leana assumptions that this lady knew the context of meanings, "I guess I didn't explain it properly." Leana makes a long greeting and gestures her typical soul exchanges promise, "Your soul name is tracked by my Nocturm because I promised your soul mate that I would protect your name from false use by clothus. In return, he helped me. Given I lived nearly half dead most lifetimes. I am always one foot in the grave. You gave me such a blessing in pity. Maybe because you wanted me to watch over his names the same way. I don't get it. It is your private stuff."
"So your why I am marked. You're watching over me as you promised." The lady poses hand at her chest, fingers tracing over the gemstone, "You have no ill intentions."
"I had never did. Never have. I have no will to in any future." Leana honestly spoke. The goddess smiles and bows her head lightly in thanking Leana. Left the conversation without further. With a soft adjusted tone, Leana speaks among them, "Why do the spirit beings never finish conversation?"
"That's Deaths wife?" Raven remarked and Omens slaps wing on Ravens head.
"Soul mate, yes. One of the many I am always watching." Leana huffed, "Easy there Omens. The twin of life is a water based goddess. Her creatures are the domain of waters." Omens hissed at her, "God's are their own wills."
"Can you teach me the holy language?" Arthur asked.
"That's no up to me." Leana chuckles, "The fact I speak the language of gods, it has plenty of broken power behind it." She lifted hand showing she spun a reel of unknown silk thread. This kept the divine energy from harming these Enders. Saved her from breaking in a rash. She tucked away the materials, "Clothus cursed beings to my awareness that are the only known entities that convert things of aura, magic and energy into a physical materialistic touch among the living worlds. This doesnt break laws, it bends them. This Universe is full of these clothus tracings and magic."
"Is this the sad people corner?" Spat to insult them. Yet there a sort look between each person that doesnt argue or bother acknowledging this black wear.
It takes a while for the aura to pass over Leana to work out who this is. Strange how some changes happen to souls. This man is Pride. Ravens undertaker sister - well. This is a man. A snobby stuck up brat that was kept by the mage nobility Raven came from. Pride as a nickname still stands as a suitable name. And its very likely that even if the mage nobility disowned Raven for being a god choosen. There a level of envious pety tacked with Pride here. As the more Raven gains ear to Royal mages, people like this are left in shadows.
"It seems that sister-in-law is here to tongue waggle wasted energy." Leana voiced, "It is nice that you never change that sibling complex. Here to spy me out and make sure I know my place." Leana sighed and pose hand to mock Pride where it matters, "Its just well..." a little brow wiggle in tease, "It would seem he so claims to love me. Married me on the spot. Doesn't even let me use a bathroom in peace." There a long time of burning glares. Bright red of Arthur confirming the loving couples antics and Josh steps back away from the cat fight his stuck between. Breaking into Raven having to laugh and hide his bright red embarrassment. Proving she's on point in that whole statement.
"You never pick a normal person. Its not even a human." Pride went to pull Raven arm for face to face check. Looking for a curse or any fake behind the emotions. Raven got Prides hand off him and holds Leana closely. A hand snakes around her waist to pull her tightly as a meat sheild between the siblings.
"My creepy wife has you well figured. I told her nothing about your side business as a magazine model. Maybe all that makeup, bright lights and tight clothes as made you forget that your not a doll. Sister." Raven siding with Leana.
"I do worry for the day that my brother makes his judgement of this whole thing." Leana sighs, "I dont think sister in law can handle being inspected like an insect by a death order."
"Your brother? Didn't know you had one." Raven voiced.
"Cousin. But raised as siblings." Flops her hand, "And assuming his avoided dying before turning 20." Arthur shivered at suddenly hearing this being a thing. That it seems to make something else worse.
"Cute. The pet is underage and has no chances of living past 20. You never have kids. My concern is unfounded." Pride turns away a smug and yet there a stand still for what words shot next. Pride jolted leave just yet.
"I have no issues with the god of death. I very much appreciate and feel proud for my brother. Going by his fate threading, I want to guess 39. He is however not finished training as a Grim. So I dont think I will be seeing him near an active crime scene any moment soon." Leana rolls her left hand over and over, "But you need to stop starving yourself and stop wearing lead makeup. White pale skin isnt fashionable. It is a sad commentary of humanity." There a sharp pain felt in that attack of words. Pride was to hurt and stunned to make his retort. Equally with Leana knowing her brother is alive is an added development for Josh to figured out something on his end. Arthur is all that more in shock of how fearless she claims bold statements.
"Wife, dont hurt my brother." Raven deep tone snap.
"It was uncalled for." Leana softly bows her head, "Forgive me, brother in law. I do genuinely hope your prolonged good health, work balance and luck of opportunities. We must have a date set up to talk fashion over a tea. Your insight might be helpful for my businesses."
Raven smiles and shared this bow. Happy to see there isnt bad intentions on Leana part. That she does actually care about Pride and share open mind interest in shared topic. If Pride wasn't a mage, he would have taken this tea offer with excitement. There lingers also a bad tone. An air that stings that things arent as it looks. This was evaporated as it was Raven making a sort of gesture. Pride cant help but be only a bit of relief that Raven has someone that meaningful. That loneliness is gone. Leana maybe a creepy being in human flesh. But Raven clearly owns this creepy girl. It is almost to turn the table for Pride to pity Leana. Knowing how clingy Raven is to things he loves. A silence is long aired.
"You're next photo shoot is in the smokey Mountains." Josh breaking the tension, "You're being sent not just for a photos for a nature theme. I heard your being sent to check the hidden gateway there."
"Oh..." Leana tones deeply with a bad tone, "You're going to need salt. Sage. Buy a carcass or find a big road kill." She then pulled a string of unknown material and forced Pride left hand over, "And this is to make sure they dont eat you by mistake. Them woodlands is not safe. It doesnt matter day or night." She knots up, "Run away from the air raid siren. The pole is alive. OK?" Pride takes back his hand. Watched the thread disappear.
"My wife has a lot of pets. I think she means to say that there some of them there. Always glooming the gateways between worlds." Raven smoothed, "I wouldn't ignore her words."
"Make sure the road kill is actually dead too. I know a guy that uses that trick to kill people." She added, "You use the gestures for Nocturm. You will be treated as one of them. Good luck."
"And why do they not send you?" Pride snarls.
"We have a trip to London. It will be a close call." Leana shurgs.
"Do you understand how she knows this much?" Arthur asked Josh.
"She is using her soul memories and some broken logic. When humans die, they are wipped of past life knowledge. She hasnt that luxurious of a clean reset. So if you murder her, she will likely never forgive you." Josh sighed and Arthur was deeply processing this over, "You must have died many times to the Nocturm creatures." Josh has came to figure out from her knowledge this far.
She stares deeply worried into Pride. Seeing fate so dangerous ahead. It was making Leana that more nervous. So the next best she can offer, reluctantly given.
"Deep among the ridges of the cliffs into the smoke mountain peak. Above ocean level - a mining shaft in the back dirt paths." She being very serious and gladly Pride is listening, "It is a private slave exchange among the Clothus elite. Well. It could be full of monsters, skins walkers and corpses. But if your needing safety, you tell the bar owner your protected by Lady Marinette. You will be given 3 nights grace. Leave before then. Do so with it being a last resort. Being tangled with Clothus and fake ones is dangerous. But its sometimes the danger you need from the others." Holding Pride from leaving, "Come home safe, please." Pride shakes off the hand reach. Glaring at them all and leaving.
"You lot are mentally ill." Leana retracted with a sad sigh. She makes a gave at Omens. He huffed in knowing. Raven looking down with gloom. Hugging Leana with needing comfort.
"Do I take it that you wish to put that soul on the watch list, my lady?" A gloomy thing stepping to them. Josh hide behind Arthur in cold sweat. Arthur is unable to hear the words it spoke.
"I cant let my poor husband worried over his sisters soul while we are fighting the puppets." She tells her servant, "Are there any progress with converting the title of Death?"
"His resentments and lawful allowance for revenge has this on hold." It bows.
"And conversation with the soul mate didnt accelerated it?" It lowered and shivers, "Did death want me dead too? I mean. If my husband wasn't so attached me, I would happily pay any dues." The being shakes.
"It is that death owns you a debt more." It corrected, "You did teach him to use the blades." She smiles recalling that like it was yesterday. Then it draws to her to her attention how wrong that is. Leading her to next excliam.
"How the heck am I a human?" She huffed, "Anything I need attention for?"
"The mages are unable to make a contract suitable to our favours. Attempt of blood shed they do, the less likely we heed the call. The tome keepers have all but few. Death took all but five Fallowns. Not including you. The sands are empty. The ocean is out of reach. Not all of your pets came with you." She nods understanding and it bows taking leave. Some god vessel nearby fainted. She brought out the god tome in checking, just a faint.
"I missed a lot of the context to that conversation." Raven grumbles.
"Its a lot to know." She stops there as there approach of shock by the current royal mages. The only person that doesn't bow to the royals was her. Standing with meeting into the eyes of the mage king. She measured his soul and worth. She understood the mage crowns strange beyond human life memories. Her shadow pages tickles the kings name.
"We meet again and not over a drink of tea. Not talking nonsense of soul laws." She smiles warm and eased with a twisted business back tone, "But it is nice to see you doing well mage king. Making the right amount of chooses to recall it loose memories." She has a fan out, and uses royal court gestures of other flattering small talk. The king bows his head softly welcoming her, "I am happy that you prize my husband for his quirkiness. His love of birds and feathers is my only rival." She snaps close the fan, "Do not fold page corners in the tomes. It doesnt work and its a mess to fix. OK?" The king lowered slightly more with a little sweat.
"And your humanity among us is very telling to how dangerous the worlds on the other side of gates are." He straighten, "My concern about London means nothing if in your claws." He paused there, "Your hands."
"Nah not to interrupt. But... bu but how do you nah know each other?" Arthur stammers.
"They have forgotten your deeds." The king sighed sad.
"Its fine. Its a blessing. A gift to someone that saved me." She shakes, "The enders of the connected worlds are in truce pact. The undertakers are smoothing the unexplained things. You are making a good excuse for humanity to assume mages for reason. A fragile state but its working. Can't fault something that is working."
She smiles with turning to look at on lookers and melted into a real smile. She postures how nice it is to be a nobody. Her foot tapping amusing comments of how the blind are. The king smirks too, glad she is happy with her affairs. He can only sigh at how strange it all is.
To be facing the personification of soul law in human flesh. All her aspects from her division hair colour, nearly not human gesturing and yet her presence is felt and warmer than any fire. Her alert glancing at all the pale mages and flowing energy among the crowd.
"I will leave my youngest brother. I know you will always watching his back for me."
"Of course I do." The king leaves them. Josh and Arthur stand up next. Looking at her. Raven struggling. He hugs around her, given there is plenty of mages about cast. Many about peg down a disobeying little girl with no background and no talent of magic. Plenty who suspected her as a Trickster or a false human have ample justification to slay her here.