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+---- Thread: i don't belong among the angels (/showthread.php?tid=12486)
i don't belong among the angels - Nikandr - 02-06-2026
Niki has learned a thing or two on his trip down to King's End. For instance, there are apparently many different ways to sail a skyship, and Melita's style is considerably different to Flora's. Not better or worse, you understand, but... well. If the necromancer steps out onto the Boondocks with a few premature grey hairs, he's sure Ludo would approve either way, so the Honeybee is doing her demigodly duty regardless.
Still, he's got the trip up towards the House of Midnight to recover his nerves from flying and to let them start to hone an edge all over again as he realises what he's done and why. The day is sweltering - too hot for long sleeves and buttoned collars, but that doesn't seem to stop Niki, though the fabric is light and breathable at least, his shirt slightly over-large and in a shade of soft green.
The cart pulls to a rumbling stop outside the brothel (and he supposes he can thank Asta and the Dusklight for not immediately feeling completely out of his depth) and the necromancer hops down, cane in one hand and a parcel in the other. He ought to have just mailed it, he tells himself for the umpteenth time, and yet as he ascends up and into the house, he's asking the greeter if the proprietor is at home nonetheless.
RE: i don't belong among the angels - Sunjata - 02-06-2026
He’d thought that after the absolute fumble of his trek in the Greatwood that the Abandoned would decide to ship the item to him rather than make the trip over here. In fact, he’s nearly counted on it with the way the House of Midnight seems to bustle, the rooms mostly full and the bar and restaurant nearby thankfully not running out of ice because of magic users within. He’s one of them, helping out with the ice to keep the inside cool despite the heat that radiates outside and fills in, which means he’s shoved all of his stress and no-sleep self into working.
His beard is in a much better state, short and kept up with thanks to the help from Colt, and he wears a relatively thin tank top in a pale grey shade that only makes the sun tanned hue of his skin and the navy of his tattoos stand out that much more as he moves from place to place. And for the most part, he’s fairly certain it’ll be the status quo for the day until one of his greeters comes to retrieve him.
Surprised that he’s agreed to come, still, Sunjata reins it in as he hands off his task to the worker helping him, slipping through the halls until he’s made it to the entry were the greeter has had Niki wait. “[say]Hey Niki, glad you’re here.[/say]” He offers a warm greeting, an easy and relieved smile as his grey gaze takes him in. “[say]Sorry it’s so hot, we’ve been trying to keep it cool. Hard to do against Tanau, though, I guess.[/say]” He conjures a ribbon of water and lets it freeze in his hand as if to explain the help he’s been trying to provide. “[say]I can show you to a room if you’d like?[/say]” He asks, realizing seconds after that it’s very likely Niki won’t stay and that he’s just come to drop the box off and depart again.
RE: i don't belong among the angels - Nikandr - 02-06-2026
Niki has been directed to stand in a cool little alcove while he waits so as not to get in the way of the (many) other patrons looking to take advantage of the brothel's services. One shouldn't compare, he knows, but he can't help but take in the similarities and differences between the House of Midnight and the Dusklight. There's a reception area, a bar, places to sit and eat and converse, of course, but... well. It isn't so much that things feel more proper here and more that the Dusklight had not tried to hide even one inch of its debauchery behind a social mask.
Blinking at the sound of a now-familiar voice, Niki is drawn from his thoughts to glance up (and up some more) towards Sunjata. Immediately he feels awkwardness want to climb up into the back of his mouth and throttle him, and he clears his throat before he speaks. [say]"You do not need to apologise for the heat,"[/say] he forces himself to say with a wry sort of smile. [say]"Unless this is actually your fault?"[/say] The smile grows a touch more genuine, and he raises his eyebrows questioningly.
[say]"Ah, I did not want to intrude - or take a room away from anyone using your services,"[/say] he declines automatically, lowering his gaze to the neatly wrapped parcel in his hands. [say]"But I did finish the candle holder for you."[/say]
RE: i don't belong among the angels - Sunjata - 02-06-2026
Sunjata nods as Niki tells him to not apologize for the heat, but the jest isn’t one that he expects – especially not after what had happened not too long ago. It takes him by surprise, the ice melting in his hand briefly before he’s dissipating it with an ease of his hand. “[say]I think it kind of is? I could try to encase us in ice.[/say]” Pouting his lips briefly as if he’s actually considering the thought, Sunjata lets it fall with the snort and shake of his head, growing a bit more comfortable as the seconds go on and the conversation comes with relative ease.
Hearing the decline of his offer, though, Sunjata’s smile lingers on his face in the corners of his crooked smile. “[say]I’ve got lots of rooms open right now. It’s the usual break time, so, shift swap and all that.[/say]” He shrugs far too casually, not pressing the issue too much aside from the next comment. “[say]Besides, it’s definitely much cooler up there when you can make the room whatever you want.[/say]” He reaches up to wipe away a bead of sweat trying to descend from his temple, the short crop of hair curling in the front thanks to the humidity and heat.
The candle holder takes his attention, though, and his smile brightens and simultaneously grows softer. It’s more genuine. “[say]Thanks. I hope it didn’t give you too much trouble?[/say]” He asks, reaching out to take the package from Niki’s hands to alleviate him of that small burden. It's precisely the time that a small sea panther comes barreling down the stairs toward Niki with mews of excitement and bright blue eyes to take him in. She doesn't run into him at least, but she does plop herself down precisely in the line of Niki's exit, looking particularly proud of herself as she blinks up at the necromancer with a twitching tail and ears perked forward poking out from beneath the curve of her horns.
RE: i don't belong among the angels - Nikandr - 02-06-2026
[say]"Is it? I will have to start calling you Tanau,"[/say] Niki remarks as Sunjata continues to blame himself for the heat, though the idea of them both being encased in ice, whilst refreshing at this temperature, does feel a bit intimate given their last stumbling conversation. That doesn't seem to deter Sunjata though, especially on the subject of a room, and Niki tries not to imagine a shift swap in a brothel in too much detail. [say]"Whatever you want?"[/say] he repeats despite himself, brows furrowing. [say]"You rearrange the furniture...?"[/say]
Remembering himself in time to hand over the parcel, he shakes his head with clear fondness - no, it hadn't caused him any trouble to do. [say]"I quite enjoyed it,"[/say] he says on the contrary. [say]"It was interesting to start with one thing and end with something completely different. Hopefully you do not see any traces of a trinket box in it now."[/say]
He's about to angle towards the exit to prepare politely for a departure when suddenly there's something hurtling towards them and mewing excitedly. For a second Niki is convinced that his mercurial feline friend from home has stowed away (and found a voice), but no - this is the famed sea panther Sunjata had spoken about. [say]"Ah, hello,"[/say] Niki says. [say]"I am afraid if I lean down to pet you I may not get back up too easily. Forgive me."[/say] He grins.
RE: i don't belong among the angels - Sunjata - 02-08-2026
He laughs lightly, shrugging his shoulder. “[say]I don’t know much about the Longheat deity, but something tells me he might be offended if I pretended to be him.[/say]” He muses a little playfully, falling into easier banter despite the way his mind seems to try and tug him back to the awkwardness of the Greatwood conversation. It’s enough on his mind that he lets the playful mention of the ice slip, not realizing how intimate it is.
So he latches onto the mention of the rooms, the mention of furniture confusing him briefly. “[say]Oh, no, like..[/say]” It’d be easier to explain if he could show him, but he opts for something else, something that might get the point across easier. “[say]It’s a normal room but if you wanted it to be a treehouse in the middle of the night surrounded by stars, it could be. Or.. The cold far reaches of Halo in a cabin. It’ll shift.[/say]” A thought occurs to him shortly after, though. “[say]Or a huge library.[/say]” He murmurs a little softer, drawn in with the mention of the candlestick holder.
His smile brightens as Niki mentions he’d enjoyed it, though, some tension loosening in his chest. “[say]It’s great. Thank you.[/say]” He murmurs a smidge softer, not needing to see the item within to know that it’s perfect and exactly what he needed. It’s precisely the time Petronella bumbles down the stairs and proceeds to be a problem. She peers up at him as Niki responds to her, apt and attentive as she mews again in a way that almost seems to say ‘your loss’ or ‘next time’ like she’s confident there will be a next time. “[say]Ah, sorry. That’s Petronella. Nella for short. She can be really stubborn.[/say]” As he imagines Niki knows from the cat he’s got back home that comes and visits now and then.
Reaching over to pluck her from the floor and hold her, it puts her at the perfect height for Niki to be able to pet her, and you bet your ass she’s staring at him intensely enough to expect it.
RE: i don't belong among the angels - Nikandr - 02-09-2026
Of all the thinks Niki has expected Sunjata to say when it comes to the rooms in the House of Midnight, magical rearrangement clearly hasn't come into it, and the necromancer seems unashamedly fascinated as he continues. [say]"That is quite something,"[/say] he says. [say]"I assume it is for the patrons and their preferences...?"[/say] He doesn't know anyone who would particularly like the far reaches of Halo as a place to be intimate, but then you could fill a book with the things Niki doesn't know about that subject.
[say]"A wonder you ever leave to go elsewhere,"[/say] he adds, glancing past Sunjata briefly and into the ground floor of the House. [say]"When you could be anywhere you liked here."[/say]
Niki might have pointed out that Sunjata hasn't actually looked at what he's made were it not for Petronella's perfectly timed introduction, and before the necromancer can offer further apologies to her feline grace, the other man has plucked her up from the floor and suddenly he's at the exact right height to deliver pets. [say]"No need to apologise. Cats own us, not the other way around,"[/say] he assures him with a chuckle, reaching out to let her sniff at him (and probably headbutt his hand) before offering careful and indulgent scritches.
RE: i don't belong among the angels - Sunjata - 02-09-2026
“[say]Yeah. But it can really be for anything.[/say]” Sunjata explains – that the idea doesn’t have to inherently be sexual in nature. “[say]I’ve heard some people use it when they’re particularly nostalgic about where they grew up or what not.[/say]” He shrugs a little casually, before he hums a soft laugh and an even easier smile. “[say]Real fresh air is nice now and then.[/say]” And it helped to keep people from hoarding the rooms, too, if they cost a little bit of money to get into.
But either way, the Heartless focuses instead on Petronella and her obnoxious tendencies to be the center of attention as he picks her up and she nestles into the crook of his arm, staring Niki down like he might do one hell of an offense if he doesn’t pet her. And given that she’s a sea panther, it’s a wonder more people didn’t feel like they were quietly being cursed when she stared as intently.
“[say]Gods, isn’t that true.[/say]” He sighs with agreement as Petronella does headbutt the necromancer’s hand, dipping her head a little lower to let him scritch her in precisely the right spots along the back of her neck. “[say]Well, do you wanna see how it works?[/say]” Sunjata asks instead of giving Nki the out to leave – though he still could if he wanted to, but there’s a softer edge to the Heartless’ smile now as he watches Niki give his companion a very thorough amount of attention that she absolutely selfishly eats up.
RE: i don't belong among the angels - Nikandr - 02-10-2026
[say]"Oh, I see,"[/say] Niki says, brows furrowing as he considers. Clearly there is much more to a brothel than a place for people to seek out the carnal company of others, and whilst it's true that the necromancer would never use those particular services himself, he does loathe any gap in his knowledge. [say]"I suppose if they are far from home or unable to return for some reason, it could be comforting."[/say]
Laughing under his breath at Sunjata's comment on fresh air, he shrugs his shoulders in guilty agreement and gestures around at his (very clearly) different surroundings. [say]"I cannot argue with that."[/say] It's why he forces himself out of his house - and further afield still - every now and then, right?
Distracted soon enough by delivering due payment to Petronella in the form of scritches, Niki's smile is almost boyish to see her indulgently accepting his offerings; it's enough that the ghost of tension that wants to rise in him at the question settles with surprising ease almost instantly. [say]"As long as it would not interrupt your work,"[/say] he says. [say]"But I will admit to having been intrigued by it."[/say]
RE: i don't belong among the angels - Sunjata - 02-10-2026
Sunjata’s one of those, even if he doesn’t admit it. Much as he loathes his home world and the events that had lead him to harboring far more trauma than he leads on, he’d be lying if he said it wasn’t nice to revisit it now and again. “[say]It can be.[/say]” He agrees without giving more up, but the smile on his face might seem a touch softer with the idea than anticipated.
Fresh air, though, was something everyone needed now and then – even if the heat of the season tended to be overwhelming right now, he imagines a cooler room can’t hurt in the slightest. At least, not for comfort, and as Niki offers Petronella all the scritches she desires to sate her feline attention, Sunjata brightens with the acceptance. “[say]Oh no, they can handle themselves these days for the most part.[/say]” And besides, he’d love a distraction away from all of the ice making.
Shifting to turn so he can guide Niki to one of the closest rooms that’s available without too much work or stairs, Sunjata’s pace is mindful of the Abandoned and perhaps a touch distracted while Petronella scrabbles to get up onto his shoulders – a few quiet hissed out “[say]ow[/say]”-s leaving him with her claws that dig in for purchase.
“[say]Alright, here we are.[/say]” Sunjata says, opening the door and letting Niki step in first. The room itself is normal – a bed, four walls, impeccably clean. “[say]All you gotta do is imagine a place you want to be or make any adjustments to said spot. I’ll start to give you an idea.[/say]” For science, obviously. But given that he’s fairly confident Niki chose the suggestion of a library, he latches onto that thought as he begins to imagine the space he wants it to be.
Before their eyes, the room turns into a vast expanse of a library with arching architecture and a sensation of being old and entirely not from Caido. It’s similar enough to the library that used to sit in Stormbreak, only the words along the spine are in a language that Niki likely doesn’t know. Made of stone and marble, lit by sconces all throughout, there’s the occasional window to view a rain-soaked metropolis of a city and the scent of old paper and pens and pencils that fill the space with the quiet pitter patter of rain against the panes of glass. “[say]This was the family library I had growing up.[/say]” He murmurs softly, shooting Niki an easy smile and bends to send Petronella down so she can go chase the rats that occasionally found their way inside (whether they were real or not).
The library looks a lot like this
RE: i don't belong among the angels - Nikandr - 02-11-2026
[say]"Good to know,"[/say] Niki says, finally letting his hand drop once he's sure Petronella won't punish him for it. [say]"In that case, please lead the way."[/say] He readjusts his grip on his cane and sets off in Sunjata's wake when the other man begins to walk them further into the House of Midnight, the necromancer quietly biting back his smile as he watches Petronella ascend her bonded with reckless abandon to settle around his shoulders. He hasn't had to worry about that at least (yet), and his distraction is such that he barely notices the other man has made adjustments to ensure he doesn't have to walk too far or climb too much.
Then suddenly here we are, and Niki can't stop his footsteps halting a little, just a fraction, before he steps inside. This is different to Asta's workroom in the Dusklight - that had been his own space, specifically for his creations. This, for all intents and purposes, is still a room in the House of Midnight, and people evidently come here to do what people do best in brothels.
Even so, he finds himself lingering just inside the very plain looking room - which stays plain, naturally, in Niki's presence - and glancing back towards Sunjata as he comes to join him. [say]"What happens if you have a shortage of imagin..."[/say] ation never quite makes it past his lips, the necromancer turning as the room warps and stretches around them. Shelves bloom upwards stacked with books, marble and stone and gilded windows looking out onto a steady downpour, and he finds himself taking a step or two further inside without notice.
[say]"That is incredible,"[/say] he mumbles, almost to himself. [say]"All of this is just from your memories?"[/say]
RE: i don't belong among the angels - Sunjata - 02-12-2026
The hesitation is noticed, though Sunjata doesn’t exactly stop because of it. If anything, it forces him to delve right in – because while yes, it was a brothel, it was used for any number of things aside from the most obvious. It’s a fact he doesn’t think that too many people know or take note of, because obviously sex was probably the most exciting part of the whole of the House of Midnight.
But as for this? Showing Niki what it can do was entirely science based, and he hears the way Niki’s question cuts off as he warps the room around to mirror that of his family’s library back in Korofi. “[say]Something tells me you won’t suffer in that aspect.[/say]” Sunjata suggests, stepping further into the library and shooting Niki a bright smile over his shoulder as Petronella hops up on the table in the center, batting at a beaded lamp switch to watch it move.
And as Niki steps in further, well, Sunjata feels a bit like a fisherman that’s finally caught him with his curiosity. “[say]Yeah.[/say]” He says, turning to look up and fine tune a few things based off his recollection. “[say]The books are all in Korofi, so, I’m afraid it probably doesn’t make too much sense to you unless you speak it. But you can absolutely change them to something else.[/say]” Pausing by one of the tables to run his fingers along the edge of the plush leather chair, he looks back at Niki with a smile. “[say]You can take this and change it to whatever you’d like, too. Give it a shot.[/say]” Opening up the floor for Niki to take this baseline and make his adjustments, Sunjata settles in to watch everything change.
RE: i don't belong among the angels - Nikandr - 02-14-2026
That bright smile makes Sunjata look suddenly years younger, Niki realises, though he isn't sure whether it's also the location playing tricks on his mind. Either way, watching only briefly as Petronella goes to threaten one of the reading lamps, he heads a little further into the library and reaches out to let his fingers skim across the spine of one book whose title he can't decipher.
[say]"Korofi?"[/say] he asks automatically, never having heard of the language - and it's fair to say that Niki has done his fair share of studying. [say]"Even if I were to change them to something else, it is not as though I remember whole books,"[/say] he says with a crooked smile, letting his hand drop. The titles, perhaps, but he has the impression if he were to open any of the books it would just be gibberish or blank inside.
[say]"Hm?"[/say] He turns to see Sunjata by the chair, an eyebrow raising, and as the other man asks him to change it, he can only give a small shrug. [say]"But it suits the place so well already,"[/say] he says, all quiet, dry humour. But even as he speaks the chair starts to morph under Sunjata's fingers. No longer plush leather, Niki warps the chair into a wingback in a shade of deep, rich green fabric. A matching footstool pops up just in front of it - perfect for a person to rest their bad leg, one might guess.
[say]"Oh."[/say] Niki is surprised by his own creation, stepping closer and reaching out to brush his fingers across it, as if to check it's real.
RE: i don't belong among the angels - Sunjata - 02-18-2026
“[say]Mhm.[/say]” Sunjata answers easily as they wander through the library crafted of memories and adjustments. A small smile tugs on his lips to be able to explain it. “[say]It’s the world I’m from. Well… My country, I guess? Specifically?[/say]” He tilts his head as he thinks about it before bypassing it completely to huff a soft laugh at the answer. “[say]Oh trust me, you could open one of these books and find them blank, too.[/say]” He barely remembers most of the titles, too, a lot of them jumbled Korofi to give the appearance of normalcy for something entirely conjured.
He lingers by the chair as Petronella plays with the lamp, already used to the fact that things changed rapidly and finding a way to make it fun regardless. What Sunjata doesn’t expect, however, is for Niki’s thoughts to work on the chair he’s currently standing by – and before his very eyes (and touch), the chair shifts and changes, the rich green fabric soft and matches the footstool. As Niki approaches, Sunjata’s grin brightens – lopsided and full of easy wonder.
He steps to the side of it to inspect it more fully, before he gestures to it. “[say]Try it out. Looks really comfy.[/say]” As if saying so, Sunjata makes another chair at the table look similar to Niki’s creation but adorned in a deep blue fabric and without the footstool, plopping down in it comfortably and stretching out his long legs.