Eternal City RP
Ailward Guard
Never one without the other. (Siobhan and Dominic)
Dominic sat in the worn plush recliner, slumped down in a fitful state of sleep if it could even be called that. The last four and half days had been equally the worst and best chaotic hours of his life.
Seeing Siobhan wake again in his arms after most certainly breaching the afterlife had nearly made him pass out as the mix of adrenaline and relief rushed over his body like the flood of a broken dam. It was a good thing he'd already been on his knees otherwise he would've collapsed with her right then on the spot. Time had slowed enough that he drank in every word she'd whispered to him, his chest having felt like it split open at hearing her voice again. Seeing that familiar soul behind those blue-green hues. The one that somehow looked back at him and thought he'd be worthy of her love.
Then mayhem erupted. Everyone was suddenly sweeping in to check in on Siobhan when all he wanted to do was take her from that room and bring her home. She was slipping in and out of consciousness and it took a lot of coaxing from Billie Mae to relinquish his hold on her to let the diviners check on her vitals and whatever else they needed to do to make sure the affect of Discord was truly gone and done with.
They hadn't been too sure.
Two days had gone by and she remained asleep. Her pulse was getting stronger, but she only slumbered. Hardly moving. The others tried to tell him it was good that she rested, but every moment she remained unconscious had only made him more worried that she would never wake again. So as she slept, he stayed awake, pacing about her room, about the hall where they'd put her. Then through the thousands of bookcases before coming back again to her room where she continued to lay in bed with magical swirls of energy rotating around her which monitored a variety of things on her wellbeing. Or so he was told.
On the third day they said she could come home with him and it had only relieved him slightly. Penelope had decided she would be okay without their spellwork, but to consistently keep an eye on her. As if it were possible to do anything else. Dominic had placed her in his bed and there she remained for the next day with no change as he constantly came in to check on her while texting the others with updates on her condition.
Now it was the fourth day. Siobhan remained looking peaceful and he had watched the even rise and fall of her chest from the doorway where he leaned against the frame. His body was screaming at him to sleep and so he found himself in the recliner he'd taken from the living room to keep vigil, a cup of old coffee in his hand from early in the morning. Despite what his body wanted, his mind would still not let him pause, so though he was drifting somewhere between asleep and not, something seemed to be tethering him back to consciousness.
His eyes lifted with great effort and he saw Siobhan sleepily looking to him from the bed as pale afternoon light cascaded over her. She was looking at him.
Dominic nearly dropped the mug as he moved. Placing the drink down on the floor, he sat on the side of the bed and reached for Siobhan's hand, kissing her fingers, and putting them against his face. He stared quietly for a moment at the familiar eyes he'd missed before speaking, his voice raspy since he hadn't used it in over a day. "Hey, you."
Nephilim
✓ Siobhan Leslie ~Mod~
✧ Never one without the other ✧
In the depths of her heart, Siobhan recognized that hindsight was a tricky beast, yet she couldn't help but dwell on the doubts that had crept in—doubts about what she truly was to him before. As she reached out and placed her hand against the wood where he stood, she reflected on the family she had built in Evermore. She had taken their love for granted, assuming they would turn away from her. The desire to make amends surged within her, though uncertainty loomed. Her hand trembled as she pulled it back, burying her face in her hands, inhaling deeply to push away the haunting memories of the pain she had caused those she loved—Dominic, Clarissa, Kaelyn, and others. Confidence in her ability to make things right wavered, but she knew she could start with Billie Mae, the one person she believed would be least likely to resent her.
Dominic had reassured her that Billie Mae wanted to see her, but he had also warned her that he would revoke her ability to pop in whenever she pleased if she didn’t stay away for now. Part of her was grateful for his guidance; it allowed her to decide when to step out of her self-imposed isolation. The thought of Billie Mae’s eagerness to see her warmed her heart, reminding her of the unwavering kindness the woman had always shown. As her gaze fell upon the scars along her arms and legs, she lightly traced the scar that ran along her lower stomach. She had no doubt Billie Mae would have something ready to help fade most of those marks, but that particular scar would always remain a part of her story.
The silence stretched, and Siobhan sensed Dominic keeping his Therin side in check for her sake. Her empathic abilities reached out, picking up on the anger and tension that radiated from him—an expected reaction. “I’d really like you to stick around,” she said softly, her voice almost a whisper. “But I’m not sure I’m ready for tools or sharp things just yet.” The weight of her confession hung in the air, and memories of blades stained with her blood flickered in her mind. She shook her head, trying to dispel those intrusive thoughts.
“How are the aspects doing? Ery?” she asked, eager to steer the conversation toward lighter territory. It had been far too long since she had seen the aspect of death, and she realized how much she missed those interactions, especially with how close she was to meeting him on the other side. Tilting her head back under the water, she took her time lathering her hair with shampoo, savoring the sensation as she let the warmth envelop her. She scrubbed her skin with determination, hoping to wash away the remnants of her past. When she finally accepted that some stains were stubborn, she rinsed off and turned off the shower, accepting the towel Dominic offered. “Thanks,” she said with a small smile, drying off quickly and slipping into the oversized shirt he helped her with. His familiar scent wrapped around her, melting away the tension in her shoulders.
Apr 11
Ailward Guard
✓ Dominic Howlett ~Mod~
Dominic's eyes closed at her confession, dropping his head, but taking a deep breath before speaking to ensure his voice didn't hold the emotion he was feeling. "Whatever you want." He took a few steps over to the wooden stool leaning up against the cabin and carried it back over to the shower, settling down and stretching his long legs out. Leaning back against the wall again, he scoffed lightly. "Ery is shit," he replied bluntly, gaze looking out into the thick of the trees beyond.
"The changes in Evermore don't seem to be doing anyone any favors since the aurazin arrived. The ailwards can't seem to find the link to their falling and what it has to do with the aspects and other strange shit going on." The memory of finding Erythreus as broken as he'd ever seen flashed in his mind. Having to practically carry him from that alley. Dom had been terrified. Something he never admitted to Ery. Or anyone. "He's handling it a bit better. Their abilities have been off and being all cosmically important to the balance of the world, I'm sure you can imagine how unsettled they feel. "
Hearing the water turn off, Dominic straightened up and offered the towel, waiting while she got dressed. She looked a bit more refreshed, but a simple shower wasn't going to erase the haunted look that still clung to Siobhan. He followed alongside her until she abruptly stopped and seemed to be taking everything in. His brow raised at her suggestion, but he softly grinned, a spark of warmth igniting in him when she called it home. Dom nodded, a plan already forming in his head while he pulled out his keys to the truck. "I think that's a great idea."
A few minutes later and they were driving down the quiet two-lane highway that passed through Therian Woods to reach the other territories. Weu Weu was laying in between them, his fat head in Siobhan's lap. The absolutely pathetic and adorable look on his face when he stared out of the window, nose against the glass, at their leaving made Dom groan and open the door so the fluff could come along. There was no separating the two of them now. He reached out and pet the dog, his hand practically disappearing in his fur, thankful Siobhan had him too.
Billy Mae was already standing outside when he parked the truck along the road to her home. Of course she was. Like him, she didn't have neighbors anywhere nearby, happy for her solitude. Dominic could already see the streaks of tears that quietly fell from the diviner's eyes. He gave her a pointed look. One that said don't overwhelm and push and prod and crowd. Billy, a psychic, didn't even invade his thoughts to figure it out as that singular look seemed to convey it enough. She pulled a rumpled tissue from her bosom and dabbed at her face as they got out of the truck.
The diviner walked over the pathway of round stones as he came around the side of the truck but staying some steps away to give them a moment, Billy Mae taking Sio's hands in hers. "Hello, mon cher." Her thumbs rubbed softly over Siobhan's hands. "It's so good to see you." Dominic noticed how hard the woman was holding back not to completely smother Sio in a vicious hug. "Let's get you inside," she said, wrapping an arm around the other's shoulder, looking back to him too. "You can come, I guess." He rolled his eyes and smirked, following them inside.
Jun 12
Nephilim
✓ Siobhan Leslie ~Mod~
✧ Never one without the other ✧
“This is something I’ve always wondered but never asked,” she began, her voice steadying. “Why are the Aspects together most of the time? Is it for balance? Wouldn’t it make more sense for them to be spread out? That might be safer, right? Keeping the eight most powerful beings crucial to balance in one city seems like a recipe for disaster.” She wasn’t even sure if Dominic had the answers, but the questions had lingered in her mind for far too long. She was done making herself smaller to avoid being an inconvenience. “The thought that they’re all affected by whatever happens is a little scary,” she mumbled lightly as they climbed into the old truck, a vehicle filled with so many cherished memories—the kisses shared, the arguments fought, the reconciliations, and the road trips. A smile tugged at her lips, warming her heart..
As she rested her hand on the sun-warmed seat, it was quickly enveloped by Fluffy, who settled beside her. Siobhan gazed longingly out the window toward the water until it faded from view. She and WeuWeu looked like twins, both lost in thought, though her nose wasn’t pressed to the glass like his. Instead, she reminisced about her life before Discord had taken hold of her. The familiar places they passed ignited memories of breakfast at the diner with Dominic, but the name of the waitress escaped her in that moment. The drive was quiet, but she found comfort in the purring engine, her mind piecing together fragments of her past while absorbing the beauty of Evermore that she had missed so dearly..
Siobhan kept her pale purple gaze on Dominic until her hands were in Billie Mae’s warm grasp. The moment she focused on the Elder Diviner, she noticed Billie Mae’s tired eyes; it seemed she hadn’t been sleeping well. A wave of guilt washed over Siobhan—had she been the cause of that worry? Relief flooded her as she felt the tension in her shoulders ease, grateful to see Billie Mae again. Even though Dominic had assured her that Billie Mae wanted to see her, a part of her struggled to believe it until that moment when tears threatened to spill uncontrollably. “It’s good to see you with a clear head,” she said, striving to keep her voice upbeat and light, reminiscent of the old Siobhan..
As she was led into Billie Mae’s home, the mingling scents of herbs, spices, and earth enveloped her, bringing a sense of comfort. Her eyes roamed the room, landing on various stones and divination tools scattered about. She would never fully understand how it all worked, and honestly, she was okay with that; right now, she craved a normal, mundane life, free from the weight of magic..
Taking a seat on the deep couch Billie Mae gestured to, Siobhan’s gaze landed on a photo on one of the shelves. It was a snapshot of her and Dominic, both covered in oil and grease from working on an old car he had brought home as a project. Billie Mae had clearly snuck a few candid shots while dropping off cookies. The way Dominic was staring at her in that photo made her heart skip a beat..
Shifting back into the couch, Siobhan forced herself to focus on Billie Mae, who offered a gentle smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “So, what have you been up to the past two years?” she asked, hoping to avoid feeling like an awkward child in the presence of someone she had come to see as a mother. A wave of worry washed over her—was Billie Mae disappointed in her? The pain she had caused Dominic and the weight of everyone she had let down swirled in her mind like a storm cloud. Siobhan rested her hands over her stomach, feeling the familiar ache of self-doubt settle in as she braced herself for the conversation ahead.
Jul 18