Solstice War - Gathering

[willysilver]

The Solstice was upon them. When the sun went down the magic began to swell, the veil between this world and the Other Side thin as vapor. Mortals could sense it, even, though they may not have a name for it. They gathered together, not realizing the animal instinct of safety in numbers.

But all around the city, from the dark parts, fae began to come together as well. Unseelie filled the city- boggarts and Red Caps and things unseen for many a year with bright eyes and sharp teeth. But they were tricksy, dangerous and malicious but no worse than they ever were. The real threat, the ever present danger this year, were the Milesian that crawled out of the sewers and tube tunnels to prowl they city. They were hunting tonight. They had eyes black and soulless, eyes too wide for their white, gaunt faces. Larger than their eyes were their mouth. The smile of needle fangs glinted in the street lights. Long arms ending with spidery, spindly fingers reached and clawed at passers by from the shadows.

There was a war in the city tonight and the nature of the foe, the Milesian, meant no bound mortal needed to be near any battle. Death would come to one or the other if a killing blow came down.

But there was hope. Seelie fae prowled the city as well, fighting for Light and Air. Even the Queen had seen fit to step through with her sword and shield. Such was the threat to the Fae way of life that the Milesian presented.

The longest day of the year dawned but the sunlight did nothing to frighten off the dark forces. The longest day of the year simply meant the things that went bump in the night were attacking in the light.




(Tag in, tag around! Open all week so check back. Have fun with your adventures. If you don't want any Milesian, there are plenty of Unseelie, too. Day or night, whichever works for you.)

Comments

[pecked_by_birds]

"To you, perhaps. To the fae a fight like this is like breathing," the titan pointed out with a little shrug, taking another drag and then holding the pack out in offering, purely out of habit.

[whispersoflove]

Anael did smoke, once in a while; it wasn't as if it would harm his lungs. But right then he did not feel like it, and shook his head to turn down the offer. The gesture would have felt too inconsequential, while lives were at risk.

"Then I'd rather they were breathing in their own plane," he muttered.

[pecked_by_birds]

Shrugging, Prometheus tucked the cigarettes away, but continued to smoke his.

"Agreed. Sadly, there's no controlling the fae though. They'll do as they please, where they please, when they choose to. All we can do is stand aside and keep mortal casualties low. I mean, they really don't need more than one being raining down fire and brimstone, do they?"

[whispersoflove]

"They're lucky none of my brethren seem to have noticed, or care to make a point," Anael stated. It was tempting, asking Aziraphale to let them know, emphasise the need for action. Bringing this war here was proof of their disregard for human life, and part of Anael wanted them to pay for it.

But he could still decide to choose love, even when it became increasingly difficult to feel it.

[pecked_by_birds]

"Mmm, to their credit though, I've seen several patrolling. It seems the Seelie are at least somewhat invested in protecting the mortals," the titan pointed out, a bit surprised by how cross the angel seemed. ...Or, if not cross, somewhat perturbed anyway, which was still a curious development.

[whispersoflove]

"Pushing this back will take more than patrolling," Anael stated. "I pray they're doing what they have to on their end to put a stop to this. Do the Unseelie care so little?" He had rarely met any, and his last brush with one of them... Well, it was best not to think about that, especially now.

[pecked_by_birds]

"I don't know, I'm not a fae historian," the titan shrugged, head tilting as he saw another creeping nearby.

[whispersoflove]

Anael followed his gaze, then turned to face the creature, bracing himself. He ought to be worried that this felt good, right, but anything that made him feel something other than hopeless was welcome, these days.

[pecked_by_birds]

The titan stepped back, making room for the angel to fight. Prometheus couldn't put his finger on why, but there was something intriguing about Anael's reaction to all this. It was worth observing, he found.

[whispersoflove]

The fight was as short-lived as the previous one. Anael's wings came out, and he was soon on the creature's back, an arm around its throat, pulling it off the ground so it could not brace itself on it. He focused his Grace straight onto it, and if this time, he had to shine a little brighter and it took the beast a little longer to collapse in his arms, Anael did not seem to notice. He let it go to drop to the ground in a heap, and touched ground neatly next to the Titan. "Any idea how many there are?"

[pecked_by_birds]

"Millions, I imagine. It's unlikely you can irradicate them all, only find comfort in knowing they will leave once the sun rises," the titan said honestly, because that much he did know.

[whispersoflove]

"As long as millions don't make it to London," Anael replied, but it was nice to know that the sunrise would effectively disperse them.

[pecked_by_birds]

"Not much to be done if they do, dove. Some floods can't be stopped," the titan replied, a faint smirk on his lips.

[whispersoflove]

Something flashed in Anael's eyes at the moniker, but he pushed the emotions aside. "Of course they can. As long as They want them stopped."

[pecked_by_birds]

"Alright, perhaps I should rephrase that. Not all floods should be stopped. Just because it's not your daddy dearest pulling the strings, doesn't mean it's not the call of the higher ups. ...And let's be honest, if your daddy didn't want it to be, it wouldn't be, would it?" the titan shrugged, biting back some harsher words in favour of not upsetting the angel too much. ...Mostly because he knew Robin wouldn't approve of that sort of thing.

[whispersoflove]

"Stop calling Them that," Anael said, a touch shortly. It was so reductive of God's nature.

[pecked_by_birds]

"Grumpy today, dove," the titan noted, tilting his head. "It suits you."

[whispersoflove]

"Stop calling me that," Anael replied without losing his sour expression.

[pecked_by_birds]

"What would you rather me call you, hmm? Rook, finch, sparrow... Tit?" the titan grinned.

[whispersoflove]

Anael ignored the question. "How is Robin?" he asked instead, his tone softer.

[pecked_by_birds]

"Well. Busy lately, but well. Have you not visited him recently?" he asked, looking a bit confused. He'd been under the assumption the pair were close.

[whispersoflove]

"Not recently," Anael confirmed, with a brief, sad smile. It sounded, and felt, as if things were going well between the two, and Anael was happy for that. It was at least one good thing, among all the rest. "I should go back up, and help whoever I can." He seemed more like himself now, simply for thinking of one he loved so dearly. "Take care, Prometheus."

[pecked_by_birds]

The titan shrugged a little, then nodded. "Goodnight, dove. Try not to get gobbled up, hmm?" he suggested.

[whispersoflove]

Anael didn't say anything to that, and simply took off, looking for the next person to assist - or, to be more accurate, the next beasts to strike down.