Chains.... my baby's got me locked up in chains, and they ain't the kind that you can see.

Oh, Acrathia... I'm going to doubt you've ever been less happy to be proven right.

Acrathia: *sighs* I sincerely hope that he was not attempting to deceive me when we spoke. I did warn him that he did not want The Three on the opposite side of the battlefield from him. But if that is indeed who I think it is, it will be sadly inevitable.

It is her, isn't It? It's Mab.

Though... what do the chains signify?

Acrathia: I do not typically associate chains with Mab, then again I have not met with her in a long while, so I suppose she could have adopted the symbolism in that time. I do associate chains with the Titans, so that is an unsettling possibility, especially considering I sided against them in the Titanomachy. There are a few underworld gods I associate with chains... I'll ask Hades if he has heard anything, I doubt it would be him, but I'll keep my wording ambiguous enough incase he has decided to disappoint me. But the being that I associate the most with chains is the one he swore that he had no association with. The one that christianity has titled the devil, or whom we know as... The Vile One...

I don't think it would be, at least not wittingly. The Storm told me as much; he keeps his distance from the Hand, and only tolerates The Storm as a fellow spirit of chaos. Perhaps having let go of me, the Vile One has instead infiltrated one whom you claim doesn't want to leave her ignorance of Fate behind, may not even notice, and thus get to Goodfellow by indirect means. Who knows how many pies the Vile One can stick his fingers in at once?

*shakes head sadly*

I don't think Goodfellow will even reach the rank of 'adversary'... she'll screw him over first. And I have no permit to do anything to actively stop it - only be there to clean up the mess once that happens. But the confrontation with his 'ally' will be inevitable. All I had to do was have the Storm confirm what I'd already guessed - manipulate the conversation, ask without actually forming the question.

You asked, during my recovery - maybe jokingly, maybe sarcastically - that if I ever figured out how 'fate' actually worked, to let you in on the secret, what with Lassiate being tight-lipped on the subject. Well... I think I may have it now. It's the mortal perspective - what people tend to call 'fate', they actually mean 'destiny'. The Storm described the tapestry of Fate as an extrapolation - the chain of cause-and-effect laid out from the pattern of ways a given person will react and respond to any given situation. Like a computer program, subject to different variables. Feed in a person's characteristics, run the program through whatever scenario is going on, 'Fate' is the data you will get back, but the path to get there is the person's on.

Destiny on the other hand is a fixed event because it's what will inexorably take place when people, either through their own habits, rigid ways of thinking or from outside influence, cannot help themselves. The same program, but one variable is going to overwrite all the others, so the outcome will be the same, no matter how many times you run it. Moth and Azura would play their silly cat-and-mouse games till the end of time, no matter what I do to interrupt them, so I've ceased to bother. Whereas with my expanded worldview and abilities, I have the desire to help whoever I can just to break the continual deadlock of the world around me, and that' my weakness. Whereas Goodfellow is too single-minded and had one purpose in life for so long that there's no possible way he can stop now; and that's why you and I would not be allowed to intercede.

But Mab? She's fair game as far as I'm concerned. Moreso now if she really has been 'got at'. If I still had knuckles, I'd be cracking them at this moment.

Acrathia: I will advise caution, as I usually do. I like to make light of Mab and her achievements only because she is no true threat to me. You and much of the Seelie Courts is another matter however

Acrathia: *Thinks on it a moment.* Then again, Mab has been called "The Queen of Unbreakable Pacts..." so perhaps the chains are her magic working it's way toward our friend...

MoOTF: *shrugging* It is what it is. You don’t change the course of death and geasses with IOUs, after all.

Acrathia: Indeed, and you at least seem aware of the consequences. Still, I will offer you the same bit of advice that I gave to your ex lover, "No path is darker than the one you walk with your eyes shut..." I hope, for your sake, that your eyes are as open as you claim they are

MoOTF: Milady, I appreciate the concern, but I believe you will find that they see more than my current benefactor’s. She is powerful, but she is also complacent. That, and I always have a safety net.

Acrathia: If any beyond beings of God-like power could outwit the Queen of Air and Darkness, I would not be surprised if it were you. Just remember she is good at improvising. She did not take all of the sidhe like she wanted, but she did manage to make her own kingdom in it, and thrust the rest into a permanent state of civil war

MoOTF: *with a wink* You honor me, milady. With any luck —and I am a very lucky fellow— even that little slice of tyranny will fall when I am done. This is my last hand and I am playing for keeps, unbreakable vows be damned.

Acrathia: All tyranny's do fortunately. Mab will fall one way or another, but I hope that it is you whom causes it. She and all the other two bit tyrants out there spend so much time amassing power that they fail to respect the very power they wield. Magic has a tendency to return all those who do not respect it to the dust.

MoOTF: And when that magic has an identity, it is all the stronger. *shaking his coat as he seamlessly takes a raven shape* It is only a matter of finding a vessel for him and reminding him who he is.

Acrathia: And do you have any leads on a suitable Vessel for one such as Oberon? Or will you take it upon yourself to... craft one for him?

MoOTF: *glances over his shoulder* Not myself, no. That kind of vessel needs an experienced midwife.

Acrathia: *Laughs at how things seem to be falling into place* Many of the first witches who were burned during The Trials were experienced midwives, and who do you stand before? None other the The Queen of Witches! She who has often been invoked during child birth for protection! *Laughes some more* Its almost too perfect!

Acrathia: Ah! But listen to how utterly ridiculous I am sounding. You already have a pact. One with whom I have little respect for, but a binding one non the less. Please ignore my silly little daydream. I wouldn't even think of interfering with your pact...

The man has a thousand faces, but I certainly recognize this one.

He got a thousand faces, but I thought 'traitor' weren't one.

I gotta learn more about these backstories.

MoOTF: *settling into a seated position* Well then, I suppose I should argue my own case if certain two-minded unicorns are going to bandy about insults. *he holds out a paw* Greetings, I am the Man of One Thousand Faces, former Seeker of the High Seelie Court, most loyal friend to the late king Oberon, and, apparently, a newly-minted traitor. It’s a pleasure, mister...?

*winces*

And here I was hoping our next encounter would be rather more cordial, since there's a fair amount to catch up on. Like my gratitude.

MoOTF: *eyes narrowed* I see you have one fewer consciousness rattling around in there, at any rate. And The Storm left you with all your limbs. Good for you.

*shakes his paw in return* Ridley, um, apprentice magician. I don't have much in the way of titles.
Tell me, what are the responsibilities of the Seeker and what cause would a certain unicorn *flicks an ear in Eala's general direction* have for calling you a traitor?

MoOTF: *raises his eyebrows in curiosity* Apprentice, you say? Whose student are you, Ridley?

A Seeker is tasked with gathering information for the High Court... usually by indirect and tricky means, which I particularly preferred. I was a spy of sorts.

As for him, he doesn’t much care for the company I keep or how I get results. But I assure you, nothing I have done has been anything less than in service of the sidhe and it’s rightful king.

My master is a human by the name of Damian.

Of course, in your line of work and serving the Seelie court, I expect you would make more than a few enemies. I feel I've seen you before, though not quite so foxy.

*sadly* Because after two decades of following, hearing of and talking over your mischiefs, the only conclusion one can draw is the company you keep always takes advantage of you.

One image. One brief glimpse. But that glimpse could spark a tragedy. One must wonder what he does. One must wonder what game the fox plays. One must wonder. And one must watch. One hopes the fox does not become the prey.

Too late for that, methinks.

Oh crap, I've just had a terrible thought. It hasn't made any sense to me before why Mab would agree to such a deal; she can't possibly have anything to gain from handing back the balance of power to its 'original owner', as it were.

But the Vile One is like a contagion. He corrupts or withers you from within, and your corrupted actions then affect and influence those you come into contact with who aren't made aware of it. I was fortunate indeed to have been alerted early. But If the Vile One now inhabits Mab, that can only mean one thing.

He wants Oberon.

That ... has some startling and disturbing possibilities if your theory proves true. Though it is important to note that even the Vile One can't break the course if the higher up says no. So, I guess it depends on if said higher up and the rest of the hands will allow it.

Assuming the rest of the Hand all actually know. He's a devious bastard, that one... and you saw what it took to unite them just to get the Vile One out of me.

*eyes widen in further realization...*

Son of a bitch!

*hoofstamps*

Then that's got to the reason he decided to mess with MY head - somebody distinctive, who has made waves and turned heads, but only modestly influential in my own right - and make no secret of it. Point of fact, he encouraged it - made himself easy to see to those who would know what to look for. And he must have counted on me aiding that with my own worries. Four of the Fingers crossing a single entity's fateline, that's virtually unheard of. All that seed of himself needed to do was sit there inside my head, and all eyes would be on me - including Puck's.

Don't you get it yet? I knew, I said it looked strange when there were far greater ambitions at play to take advantage of. I haven't been the Vile One's 'plaything' at all. I've served as his DISTRACTION. His plan all along may have been to intercept Mab, sneak in unnoticed and at just the right time - she wouldn't give a toss anyway, from what I understand - and then as his Patient Zero, Mab carries out his work for him until the Vile One is ready to strike at Oberon himself, and damn what the Hand has to say about it. True destructive chaos.

Where is Puck now? I have to find him... sure, I can't alter his course but a cryptic warning to return the favour isn't out of the question. Even if I'm wrong, just knowing that he has some kind of backup plan would ease the tension just a bit.

It's Puck. He's always got a backup plan. XD Just ... sometimes that backup plan is made up as he goes along.

*annoyed*

That's not a 'backup'! It sounds more like a -

Desist, if thou pleaseth.

I thought you two were closer to one again.

He's still having to recuperate some more. Both selves acted as one for as long as was required... it might have been lengthier to separate us again if the battle hadn't come to such a violent end.

Of course the unicorn side is also pissed off that even though we were both integrated, it was he that bore the brunt of the healing pain. I guess it's because having come into being and grown from that initial change and influx of magic as Azura wanted, he's more naturally attuned to the body's different physical sensations. You uh, don't really want to see what it looks like with the glamour dropped.

Thou couldst split off any time thou liketh.

Could have. Didn't though, after we were sent back. You were in and out of limbo for days - somebody had to stay on board and take care of the rudderless ship. And there's no point in blaming me for poking around my old memories while there was little else to do, discovering where the stash of locked-away bitterness was, binge-drinking and then taking it out on me.

*subdued* I had no inkling, the potency of -

Hey... we're good. Really. So much physical agony, you barely even noticed. Nothing I hadn't tormented myself for years over anyway. If getting it out of your system makes us both more determined and focused on what lies ahead, I'll take all the 'punishment' you want.

Then if thou please, accept mine apologies. Mine own fault -

Ah - ah. Don't start getting into THAT habit. That's what the Vile One wanted.

In other words, it's both yoru faults, because you're both one person. I can relate. I feel th same way about Ronoc from time to time. XD He and I get along well enough at times, but there are others where we do have our ... disagreements. To put it lightly. ^^;

Who is Ronoc? I don't recall before hearing anything about him... unless that's one of the memories the Fates took away from me early, because I wasn't ready for it.

He exists outside of TWIU world. He's sort of Omni's other half. The darker side of his psyche. His anger, aggression, etc. He was separated from Omni for a time, then eventually reunitied with him after a long period of separation and certain conflicts/brushes with one another. They share a truce/peace of sorts now where they are mostly one, but each have certain times where they allow more control to the other part of the psyche.

Halloween is a time Ronoc enjoys cavorting. .
But yeah, he and I have had our differences, but we get along pretty well for the most part now.

MoOTF: Pity he isn’t here. I’m sure he would love how loose the rules are in this place.

'Loose' but at the same time 'tangled'.

MoOTF: That is the fun part.

Then allow me to visually offer you up some 'fun'. You're an ex-Seeker - wouldn't be much of a 'civil servant' myself if I didn't keep copious records of my own.

*projects a replay of the Storm encounter and full battle, up to the point where the Vile One is compelled to leave the unconscious body...*

There. I did exactly what you implied, placed my faith in you, and it paid off. Will that make a difference yet?

MoOTF: *raising an eyebrow* What kind of a difference do you mean? We made our deal, our business is concluded, and we both benefited. What more is there?

I mean, to each other. There was a *very* candid and informative 'chat' with the Storm afterwards concerning the mechanisms of Fate; turns out the vow you had me make not to directly interfere wasn't strictly necessary in the first place. But I agreed to it anyway, and intend to keep to it.

Only one of us may be a 'renegade', but whether you wish to acknowledge it or not, the two of us are becoming more alike as time goes on. I also have my own job to do, but I'm an independent spirit and will handle it in my own way. Let the Fates extrapolate my thread from that.

MoOTF: To play the devil’s advocate, since when have you willingly adhered to Fate before now? If memory serves, you fought it (and me) at every turn. A fellow needs to have insurance, you understand.

You may no longer be a threat, but I know we are hardly allies. *the bravado falters, giving way to angry hurt* You have lumped me in with the only other fae in recent memory who has been titled “traitor,” and you know all too well her crimes. That is a deeper wound than losing my wings. However alike you misguidedly believe we are, I will be very surprised if we ever see eye to eye. Go and have fun with his lordship in the Verdant Hills. At the very least it will keep him out of my affairs.

Alright, fine. Yes, I've entirely too cavalier, too dismissive and human about Fate before now, thinking I could run rings around it. And see where that's left me.

*removes glasses and drops the glamour, revealing the unhealed battle injuries - the drooping right eye; the streak of burn scar down the face that scorches off a corner of the mouth, exposing teeth within; the heavy internal bruising, plain to see around the region of cracked ribs; the much larger region of scar tissue around the flank and down the thigh; the half-destroyed tail.*

Not the same as losing two entire limbs, I'll grant you. Magic can fix my damage. But not today. This I intend to keep for some time as a lesson to be learned.

*headdrops, eyes closed, expressing his own hurt once the glamour is restored...*

And I am still, after twenty years, entirely bad at this in so many ways. Too 'clever' for my own good. A superiority complex as long as your arm. A so-called 'diplomat' that undoes a retrievable detente with one off-the-cuff and ill-chosen word. Oh, the Vile One did a number on me alright.

And by hook or crook, shall be certain to attempt the same with THOU, from without if not within.

MoOTF: *exhales through his nose* And you seek out Auris to better understand diplomacy? That’s rich. Shizaaraa or Skurl I’d understand, but the old goat who singularly severed relations between the Noble Races? *he pauses and tilts his head* Unless you mean to heal the Verdant Hills from the inside. Magicks know that realm is as scarred as you are now.

*unsurprised*

Well, the Seeker's old talents haven't deserted you. Who seems to be 'following' whom now? But it was about Fate that I was planned to get some tutilage on. As for diplomacy...

*inhales...

You're not wrong. I'm well aware of the 'strained' relations between the Nobles and Lord only knows how sick Skurl must be of having to play go-between. Perhaps an 'outsider' might be able to do something about that, however small... take some of the weight off his shoulders. Because who actually said Auris was going to be my first port of call?

I told you, I'm handling this task my way. Call it my 'redemption', if you like. Or 'folly', if you're so inclined.

Well, he probably wouldn't mind having some fun from time to time. You certainly got to see at least a small portion of him when I was a satyr, albeit a very small piece. We both knew to keep things in check. But if I were to be completely suppressed and he were able to take the wheel, well ... I'm not sure what could happen, honestly. He might have enough wherewithall to show restraint where it is needed. Or he might just go and run wild. *Shrugs* I suppose it depends on his mood. He is a rather chaotic and selfish character.

Ronoc: Hey!

You know it's true. I'm not saying that necessarily as an insult, more to describe how you operate. If it's in your self interest or will be amusing to you, you usually do it.

Ronoc: I suppose you're right there. That doesn't mean you have to tell them that, though. Spoilsport.

I heard that.

Ronoc: I know. It was meant to be heard.

As you can see, he also is very good at sulking.

Ronoc: And getting revenge.

... And that, too. If you want to see a couple of samples of him at work, I do have a few pieces where I've written him conducting business for our services at the Omnistore.

Ronoc: He rather enjoyed it, too.

Me: Oh, shush, you.

Enedia: I keep thinking that it is that form... t-that monster that I once saw when I was a child. The hands, cold, rotting with flesh hanging off the bones that it stole and is now using... I am glad that it is not. No matter who this unknown is, it is not the thing I fear.

MoOTF: *shaking out his fox form in favor of a coyote’s* Oh no, my dear. You should fear this one... at least as much as a gazelle fears a lion or a mortal fears the unknown. Good healthy fear is one keeps one alive in the Unseelie Court.

Enedia: Why should I fear it? I merely ask this as a question and not as a threat to you or... whatever it is.