Logs:House of Memories

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Cast

Asbolus, Lux

Setting

Asbolus' Hollow, near UPenn Philadelphia - Part of Plot: Gentryfication

Log

Set after A Night of Revelations

Lux: It's pretty late in the night when Asbolus gets a text:

where are you?


Asbolus: Seeing the message Asbolus was happy that he had decided to go on a bit of a wander after leaving Vertigo rather than heading straight home, otherwise he might have missed it, cell service in the Hedge being as spotty as it tended to be.

On my way back home.  Everything alright?


Lux:

can i come over


Asbolus:

Of course.  I should be there in about fifteen minutes.


Lux: No reply. But as Asbolus walks up to his apartment building, he sees Lux slip out of the shadows, appearing from no where. Their lights are pale, almost colorless, and very dim. They're covered in sweat, like they'd just been running hard and for a good while. Expression blank, and mantle cold.


Asbolus: Asbolus frowned quietly as he spotted Lux, concern clear on his features as he motioned for them to follow. Once inside he checked the hallways for anyone coming by before knocking on the maintenance door and granting them entry to the Hollow within, waiting until the door was closed behind them before giving them a proper once over. "What happened?"


Lux: Lux follows quietly, eyes downcast. Once inside the Hollow their arms wrap around their chest tightly. "Mearcstapa is starting to remember. Who I was. What I did."


Asbolus: "...I see." He nodded quietly, holding an arm out for them to come in for a hug if they so wished. "What did he say?"


Lux: "Nothing." Lux grimaces. "I ran away before he could say... much." They steps in, practically collapsing into his arms, pressing against his chest, shoulders hunched.


Asbolus: Asbolus wrapped his arms around them as they came in close, one hand gently massaging the small of their back in what he hoped would be a soothing motion. "And you're afraid of what he'll think of you because of it?"


Lux: They nod quietly, arms uncrossing so they can wrap tightly at Asbolus.


Asbolus: "We all have our own sins to bear from that place...you, me, him as well, I imagine. Not letting them define us now is how we reclaim what we lost, and you've done a better job of that than most."


Lux: Lux shudders, shaking their head without lifting it, fingers curling into his back. "I don't want him to know. I don't want him to look at me differently. I still feel her light inside me all the time and I don't... I don't want him to be afraid of me."


Asbolus: "He knows you beyond what She did to you. And he's of the Mirror besides; fear won't stop him if he has anything to say about it." He looked down to Lux with a small smile, continuing to massage their back. "You make a fine impression on your own, Lux. No question of that."


Lux: Lux doesn't immediately reply. After a minute or two they pull back enough to rub tears from their eyes. "How can you be so sure?"


Asbolus: "Because I know you. He and I may have been made into hunters, but you won't let go of what you're after any more than we will. If you both want this to happen, it will."


Lux: They stare at Asbolus' chest for a long moment, not looking completely convinced. But doesn't seem to have the energy to argue. "Can I stay here for a while?"


Asbolus: "Of course." He gave them a gentle hug. "Care for some tea? Tends to help me trying times like these."


Lux: "Yeah... Tea would be good." They return the hug weakly, then nudge their shoes off by the door. They sniff and rub at their eyes again, trying to clear away the remains traces of having been crying.


Asbolus: With a bit of finagling he managed to retrieve a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Lux, offering a small smile along with it. "Heavy on the sugar, per usual?"


Lux: "Yeah. Please." They accept the handkerchief with a small smile, wiping at their eyes and face. "Thanks, Bobo. I... fuck. I'm a mess. I'm kind of jealous how well you seem to have yourself together all the time."


Asbolus: "Quite welcome." He gave them one more quick squeeze before letting them go and stepping into the kitchen to prep the tea. "I have my moments, same as anyone else."


Lux: "Heh. Good at hiding it, I guess." They walk over to the couch and collapse onto it, curling up on their side.


Asbolus: "I am an actor at heart, after all." He smirked a touch, looking over the selection he had in the cupboard as he pulled out a cup and strainer.


Lux: Lux huffs softly, looking towards the kitchen. "...What would you do? Would you tell Mearcstapa?"


Asbolus: He thought on that a moment before nodding to himself. "I would. Better to hear it from me directly than for it to come in drips and drabs. Although I'll fully admit there's quite a bit I don't remember myself."


Lux: "I remember... enough," Lux mutters. "I don't remember ever reprogramming him, exactly. There were... so many. It just all sort of blurs together. But the risk is there. I could have... made him do the things she wanted him to do." Their arms circle wrap around their stomach as they curl up, as if trying to repress a sudden wave of nausea.

A beat pause. "I must have, if he recognized my voice from there."


Asbolus: He allowed himself a small smirk, wry little thing that it was. "I'd almost say that blur might be a gift, but knowing and not knowing both have a weight all their own."

"Perhaps, or someone else who also was touched more thoroughly by the Beacon. I know you weren't the only one."


Lux: "Maybe," Lux mumbles, eyes closing a moment. "You're not afraid of me, right?"


Asbolus: After putting the kettle on he stepped back into the living room, sitting on the arm of the couch for the moment since he would be getting back up soon enough. "I'm not, no."


Lux: "...Good." Their eyes open to look up at him, lights still dim and pale. But they manage a faint, small smile. "By the way... I have some.. news."


Asbolus: "Do tell."


Lux: "I spoke to Marjorie, several days ago. She mentioned she was having dreams. Of a circle within a circle--like an iron wheel, but not a wheel. And... 'horrible brutalist buildings' being put up around the city." They sit up slowly, rubbing a hand over their face. "It sounded like what you mentioned. So--I asked if the thing she saw might be a dream-catcher. She was surprised--but agreed. An iron Dream-Catcher. Which, apparently, can remove the ability for a mortal to dream."

They look up at him. "She clearly hadn't heard about what was going on. So... I mentioned to her, that Robin knew. Mentioned the files you saw. She was... very disturbed over the fact that Robin has been holding information from her."


Asbolus: "...that is unusual." Asbolus frowned quietly at that, the gears visibly turning. "Perhaps it may be worth visiting one of those buildings to see what we can find."


Lux: Lux nods. "Marjorie has asked me to... investigate Robin. She clearly isn't jumping to conclusions, but... it's troubling. She told me to bring in Winters I trust. So. That's you. I'm going to try to keep an eye on Robin, and I'm going to poke around City Hall to see if I can figure out who owns those buildings and who got the permits and stuff. Paying a visit together might be a good idea, too."


Asbolus: "It is troubling." He gave a little nod. "Let me know where you need me and I'll be there."


Lux: They reach over to squeeze his hand. "You too, if you come up with any ideas. I... had already mentioned this to Mearcstapa, before talking to Marjorie. But she is wanting Robin's involvement kept on the downlow. Winter only."


Asbolus: "Naturally." He smiled slightly, giving their hand a squeeze in return. "I do know a bit of the Crown that can help with getting into places we ought not be, if anything."


Lux: "That's useful. Might be a good idea to let me see what I find at City Hall before we go there ourselves? But... if you have ideas for how to handle Robin... Well. I'm not much of a hunter. Do you think we should try to... break in and look at those files?"


Asbolus: "Perhaps. She mentioned that she would be handing them off to someone else once the season ended, just a question of who that would be, and thus where those files are now."


Lux: "Huh." Their head tilts, brows knitting in thought. "Do you think we should just confront her directly?"


Asbolus: "I would lean towards getting more information first before confronting her directly, personally." He looked to the kitchen as the kettle started to whistle, hopping up from the couch to get the water poured and the tea set to steep. "She's definitely trying to keep something under wraps, though, which is telling."


Lux: "Yeah... I mean... maybe she's just doing the I need to handle this myself to protect people shit that Winters sometimes do." Lux shrugs. "Or maybe it's something more suspicious. We don't know yet."


Asbolus: "Perhaps." He checked his watch as he leaned against the opening between the kitchen and living room. "Hence why I say get more information first. Don't want to point fingers unnecessarily."


Lux: "Sounds good to me," Lux says, nodding. "I'll let you know what I find out."


Asbolus: "Sounds good. For now, though, let's let you relax. You've had a rough night." He finished that with a small smile, looking Lux over.


Lux: "Yeah..." Lux hesitates a moment, looking a bit sheepish. "Uh. How do you feel about some light cuddling?"


Asbolus: "Not opposed to the idea."


Lux: "Cool. Um. That might... be nice. I just kind of want to be close to someone right now. I won't get in your way or anything."


Asbolus: "No problem at all. For this evening I am yours."


Lux: Grats, Bobo. You've doomed yourself to having a Lux leech for the rest of the night...