WHEN: Immediately after the destruction of the Death gate at Mercer House
WHERE: Castle Dashrix, Thirteen's quarters
WHO: Lex, Thirteen, and Naoki
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[11:26] Lex Dashrix: Lex strode purposefully across the bridge to Thirteens tower and laid a hand on the door handle pausing as the rain dampened his neatly pressed shirt. Had the ritual truly gone so smoothly or had he stopped to change surely not, yet he hadn't teleported directly to her side, was he so spent? His skin was clammy and there was a drained pallor to it's already pale tone, he was largely spent by the evening exertions. Outside the wards the storming surge of Aether from the Death Gates destruction howled but they remained in an island of serenity for now at least. He knew Willow had taken her leave via her usual ways to return to the safety of the Academy, a sign things went either very well or very poorly, no he'd not let doubt creep in, he'd weighed every variable this was the only way. Lex took a deep breath and slowly let it out through clenched teeth and opened the door stepping in and casting his eyes and senses across the room falling upon Thirteen and to a step towards her before falling to a halt and looking to her frail seeming form with the barest hint of uncertainty in the course he had chosen before that doubt too flickered away and he nodded greeting, "Precious." he hushed having no words to express the complexities of the moment.
[11:36] Thirteen (aimee.aurelia) sensed Lex coming before his physical form arrived though she was mostly distracted by the small grumbling bundle swaddled in soft blankets. Her smile was radiant as Lex and Naoki arrived. She'd not yet marked the lack of physical body as Thirteen saw their aether first and foremost and visual was much lower on the list. "Welcome home, Professor," she offered quietly before bending to scoop up the infant in her arms to show off the results of her own hard labors. She, too, was pale and drained though her own struggles had been physical rather than magical. The ambient ripples of aether that rippled out of her weren't significantly weaker and she didn't seem to notice as her magic reached to refill the emptied stores of Naoki and Lex's own. "Look! Isn't he perfect?" That was debatable as glamor had not kicked in to cover the baby's less than human features when he crabbed before settling into his mother's arms.
[11:43] Naoki Sato was no longer limited to standard walking paths when it came to travel. Without a body he could simply drift up to the castle and through its walls so it was likely he reached Thirteen's room before Lex. Despite this he remained a distance away, watching Thirteen and the little thing she held from a spot by the door. She could feel his Aether, likely - faded and cold and drifting, faintly buzzing with the energy outside like a coal from the fire. It was only when she fed him her own that his form became at least more clearly visible, unglamored and ghastly to match the admittedly less monstrous features his spawn had inherited. The Jikininki's stare flicked first to Lex as he approached her before settling on Thirteen and the infant in her arms. He swayed closer, a tentative hand reaching out before slowly lowering when he realized touch would do little but chill the two as passing through ghostly apparitions tended to. "Can she still hear me?" he asked after a moment, quiet and tenative as if unsure who he was asking. He hadn't spoken to Lex since being forced from his body, after all.
[11:50] Lex Dashrix: "Her and any others with what we've just done." Lex replied solemnly to Naoki. With the veil between living and dead fully rent asunder ghosts would be visible and audible if still ephemeral to all. He hadn't met Thirteens gaze until now and he looked down upon her and the babe in her arms studying the creature with clinical detachment, "It conforms to the expected parameters and I am assured is healthy and hale." he agreed concisely. Willows not had included rather more colorful invectives about spawning so unnatural a creation and the difficulties one caught betwixt worlds such as the babe may face. But this was not a time to worry it's mother with such talk. "And you are well Precious?" he inquired knowing full well both mother and midwife would put the child above the mother in importance a sentiment he did not fully share.
[11:56] Thirteen (aimee.aurelia): "Well enough. Sore. Tired, but that is to be expected, I am told. I am to tell you that, 'Even your perversions of the natural order are well within my significant capabilities' from your cousin." Thirteen's faint accent deepened into an excellent mimicry of Willow's crisp pronunciation, so like Lex's own. Thirteen's nose wrinkled slightly with vague dislike. "She is very abrupt but efficient. I am assured that my vessel will be in perfect form once more in short order." Only once she had completely delivered Willow's message and answered Lex's questions with her usual completeness, did she tip her face up for an expected kiss from Lex even as her gaze turned to Naoki with a small crease wrinkling her brow. "Why wouldn't I be able to hear you? Did something happen?" That was an understatement and only when Thirteen reached her hand towards the father of her unnatural offspring did she finally clock that their positions had reversed with his essence incorporeal and unanchored to the physical. Dismay and distress rippled across her features.
[12:03] Naoki Sato dipped his head, nodding in acknowledgement and acceptance. "He is," the spirit confirmed but with a tilt of his head added, "but hungry." Thirteen's touch slipped through him just as he moved away, drifting closer to Lex to circled him. The protective magic Lex long ago etched into his own skin flared as the Jikinki attempted to work his blood magic on the ancient, the effort stopping just as quickly. It was something done to send a message more than achieve its goal. Thirteen's question put a little shake to his head and he turned to look at her from where he floated at Lex's side. "I was unsure if losing my body would make communication more difficult, even with the gate destroyed." He didn't mention specifics and it was difficult enough to read his expression with most of his face occupied by that mangled, toothy mouth but there was a hint of bitterness Thirteen was likely able to feel from him as he turned back to Lex. "Will you feed him? Her body shouldn't be further strained."
[12:13] Lex Dashrix leaned in to place a ginger kiss on the new mothers lips, "She is the best at what she does, unfortunately she's been informed of that since birth." he agreed as he rose to standing once more. "His talents were required beyond the veil of death." He stated flatly eyes falling on the yokai with a harsh questioning fire as his blood magic probed the wards etched into his skin. "You are as you were but no longer given physical form." Lex explained with a sigh. "Perhaps the condition will ease your troublesome Venal Urges." he added still embittered at the costs wrought by the Jinkininki's dealings with Lexs father. Looking down upon mother and babe he slowly nodded as he calculated the angles of being the spawns first meal as it were. His right hand still bandaged neatly as it had been since he left reached out before he abruptly shook his head and presented the left untainted by whatever the bandage concealed pressing the meat of his palm just below the thumb to the infants maw and wincing slightly as needle like teeth punctured the flesh. Breast feeding was going to be an adventure for the young mother.
[12:19] Thirteen (aimee.aurelia) was soothed for the moment by the twin reassurances though the ripple of tension between Lex and Naoki did not go unnoticed. Thirteen gently pressed the baby into Lex's arms when he let the babe rip in to steal living flesh and blood greedily. She reached out one pale hand and pushed her own living aether into the baby as he fed, allowing the child to feel full more quickly than he would on blood and flesh alone even if it left Thirteen swaying a little as she fed her own fount of aether into her men. Her hand finally fell and she turned fully to Naoki with that soft smile that she saved for him alone. "It's alright. I am certain the Professor can find you a body much quicker than it took to perfect my vessel. The science is already established, isn't it?"
[12:31] Naoki Sato seemed to find a small amount of satisfaction in watching the child feed. His stare lingered there, curious both at how the child would feed and whether any other inclinations would manifest. The infant made no instinctual effort to manipulate blood or flesh; he simply bit and chewed and sucked until both the meal given and aether offered sated him. "You shouldn't strain yourself," he repeated, turning to go to Thirteen's side. His hand reached again, resting on her shoulder before passing through it and hanging at his side. Not being able to touch was going to take some getting used to. At the prospect of a new body the muscles around his mouth appeared to twitch. He said nothing, merely looking to Lex to respond. It was clear there was no expectation of so quick a resolution on his end.
[12:34] Lex Dashrix withdrew his hand before the spawn was fully sated. Hunger would be it's constant companion best it learn quickly to live with the gnawing sensation of want. He looked down at the hand as the wound slowly closed. A frown creased his features as Thirteen swayed, "Lie down and do not exert yourself further, none of us need drain you further." he scolded lightly clearly including the infant in the statement despite it's soft mewls of hunger. "The technique would be similar though not identical." Lex agreed, "Though the care he takes for his vessel does not suggest it a good investment of resources." he coolly countered looking to Naoki, "Perhaps he will find a more efficient manner to bind himself to flesh." he challenged with a slight raise of one neatly arched brow. "Or learn to control his carnal needs and earn my aid in such an endeavor." He laid out the loose terms of Naokis return to flesh, prove himself obedient to Lex once more or manage on his own.
[12:41] Thirteen (aimee.aurelia) looked between the pair of them, her frown deepening slightly as she went to take her son back from Lex. Dutifully, she withdrew her aether from the two men and headed towards the bed as she was told, Ichi cuddled to her breast. That she wanted to protest was clear on her features, disliking the idea that it was not seen by Lex as a priority, rather a lesson. Her lips remained down turned as she settled herself amidst the blankets and pillows. It went against Thirteen's nature to protest a command once Lex had laid it down in that tone of voice. And yet... and yet the faintest flicker of her aether came to her fingertips, stroking over Ichi's downy hair and easing the pangs of hunger in quiet defiance of Lex's commands. "Professor, please."
[12:51] Naoki Sato followed Thirteen as she nestled herself into the comfort of her pillows and sheets. Attentive eyes ticked about the bed itself, searching for blood that would need to be cleaned up if Willow hadn't already done so. As if to effect some sort of gentleness in lieu of physical touch Naoki's glamour flickered back into place, a more human face peering down at her and their child. "I'll find a way," he stated plainly without specifying whether that meant earning Lex's help or accomplishing the feat on his own. Her sharing of Aether though earned another shake of his head. "Stop. I can find him something more. You need to rest... and heal," he insisted.
[13:00] Lex Dashrix: Lex followed to the other side of the bed and tucked the blankets up around mother and babe with a delicate touch pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "You can't care for it if you exhaust yourself Precious." he reminded gently his words a bare whisper against her ear. Lex stood and looked between the pair and shook his head to Thirteens plaintive request. "He needs to learn." he stated evenly, the statement equally applicable to Naoki or his firstborn. "Rest, I will return shortly with sustenance for your vessel." Lex promised and rose to turn for the door. It was rare he didn't send servants for such menial tasks, a small peace offering of increased attention for what she was denied by Naoki's current state.
[13:06] Thirteen (aimee.aurelia) pulled her aether back at the admonishment, though her fingers continued to stroke, soothing the baby into light doze. "Yes, Professor. Thank you," she said simply, offering Lex an uncertain smile before she reached towards Naoki, accepting the chill of his aether in place of his touch. "I know you will," Thirteen told Naoki with absolute faith. "And I am recovering. Truly. There was an... unsettling bit in the middle when it seemed like he might need to come out, well, in a different manner than attended but the midwife managed to get that sorted and it all went blessedly quick. I would do it again, but not for a few decades minimum. Besides, I want to focus on Ichi. He really is perfect." She ran her fingertips over where his too-wide mouth curled up towards his cheekbone, as pleased with his monstrous features as she was with the tiny fingers and toes. "Isn't he?"
[13:15] Naoki Sato "Ichi?" Naoki repeated, something of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He raised his hand, a carving in the form of one singular horizontal line appearing in his palm as if drawn by a calligraphy brush. "The first." Looking down at his child he marked the differences in their appearance. Ichi was decidedly less monstrous than his own unglamoured form. He had those awful teeth, that wider smile - though at least it didn't tear at his face. Some of the veins were evident under his paler skin, framing the eyes that were certainly more like Thirteen's bright blues than Naoki's own paler stare. There was restlessness in the infant likely born from his inherent connection to the dead that railed at the world outside but Thirteen's touch calmed, the recent meal helping to that end. "You'll be safer here. Being watched. Him under close supervision." There was a pause before he added, "The Professor may run out of human staff." What few of them still remained anyway.
[13:20] Lex Dashrix: The professor lingered at the door, "Do not stay overlong they need rest." he suggested though he at least did not exile Naoki immediately he'd allow some private time betwixt the parents. "The only staff I retain are retained for that purpose and their families are well compensated for any accidents." he assured them as he took his leave.