A man known by many names, seen as many entities, existing in many places.
But also, a man.
Legion does not know when he began. If asked, he could not tell you who (what) he is. Legion is a plaything to the devil. He is an older brother to twin demons. He is an (ex)lover of the god Apep. He is the best friend of Time itself; immortal, to a point. He can die. He just won’t stay dead.
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Where do you begin with a man who has no history? Or, rather, with a man who has no beginning?
Legion was not really… ‘born.’ One could say he was created, but it is more accurate to say he just appeared one day, bursting through the shadows like bats from a cave. He was probably around at the very crest of time, although no one could say for sure – not even himself, as he has no memory of his early life. Sometimes he remembers little things during quiet, lonely nights, like the vast, empty feeling of stillness before there was wind, or the feeling of endless wind before there were trees and land and water to disrupt it. His memories escape him, though. There’s so much to remember when you’re so old.
He knows he had made a home in Hell, before there was a devil. He believes, perhaps wrongly, that Hell once belonged to him, that he created it to live in when there was nowhere else to exist. He had been a ruler, once. A creator of things and places. An amorphous creature with powers beyond comprehension.
But now, he is just a man.
He knows also that he became a favorite toy of Lucifer’s when the angel fell from Heaven and stole Hell from him, guided by the power of a god Legion didn’t worship. He lived and he died. He reincarnated. He was at the mercy of the whims of the Lightbringer. That is, until Legion made the decision to adopt two unbearably annoying, mischievous, obnoxious little twin demons as his sisters. Creatures so exhausting and so unwilling to die and stay dead that they were banished from Hell to walk the Earth, Legion with them. Of course, he was welcome back any time. Without them.
Legion’s time on earth, some might say, has been rocky. Though his sisters were by his side for some of it, he was more often alone, and preferred it that way. Having no place to go, he wandered the earth for millenia. It’s hard to kill a creature like him, and he simply kept on living, never aging. Falling in love and out of it. The thing about living so much life for so long, is that you often become bitter. And if you don’t become bitter, you love more deeply than anyone you could ever know. Legion has been both of these people.
There is a lot of life to fit into the story of him. His most recent escapade ended, like most of the others, in tragedy. Deeply, madly, painfully in love with Apep, the god of chaos, he had chosen a life for himself at the side of the snake, against the Sun God, desperate for the life they could build together. No one had done for him what Apep had. He had felt rescued. Hell, the god had eaten Lucifer. For him.
And then, Apep died.
Or, rather, he was killed. Destroyed by his own family, murdered for his plot against the Sun. Legion fell into disrepair. He grieved in the only way he knew how: withering away. A catatonic state. Becoming one with the shadows. Starving to death.
Oh, death. Oh, what bliss.
When Legion dies, he changes. Over time, over many deaths, his memory fades away, until he remembers only a couple of his past lives. He takes a new name, a new appearance, and begins life anew. Sometimes with the memories and personality of his previous self. Often, there are alterations. He remembers Apep. Remembers the muscle of arms around him while they stood upon the beach. Remembers the elation he felt when Apep asked him if they shouldn’t live together, in a towering castle in the middle of the Irish moors, away from each of their troubles. Remembers the fear and exhilaration he felt as the god pressed a knife to his neck in a playful, sadistic manner. He remembers that their love burned quick and fast and hot, not like a candle but like a struck match. Knows that now, it’s over. Now, his name has changed. His face, too. Knows he is no longer the same.
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Legion Lucifai
He doesn’t know what he is, but he calls himself a demon. After all, he is not the devil, and he is from hell. With no other words to describe him, and with striking similarities to other creatures of the same name, this is how he prefers to identify. After all, Legion eats humans to survive. Blood, bones, skin, soul and all. What is more demonic than that?
Legion can go a very long time without food, if he trains for it. Typically, he prefers to eat every couple of weeks. In previous lives, when he was stronger and when he had more power, he could live for years, even decades at a time without consuming anything. These days, he is not the same creature he was then, and he simply must have nourishment, or he becomes ravenous and weak. When not consuming food for sustenance, however, Legion prefers sweet things to eat. Human food does nothing for him, except that he likes the taste of it. Ice cream is his favorite.
In the same vein, human vices do nothing for him except act as a comfort. Legion smokes because it hurts his lungs. He drinks because it burns. If he does enough of one drug, he will begin to feel something.
Legion appears to be in his late twenties or early thirties. He stands at a moderate 6’3 when he looks like a human. Sometimes, he appears to be shorter. Though he does have a demonic form, he has found very little reason to actually use it, and so it remains essentially useless to him. His hair is the deepest brown; without direct sunlight, it appears black. His skin is ghostly pale, and his nails are often black and mildly pointed. He prefers the aesthetics of black clothing to almost all else, though he will sport a white shirt now and again, if the vibe calls for it. The only thing about his appearance that doesn’t change with his reincarnations are his eyes. They are black through and through, from pupil to sclera, with only a thin red ring around his iris. He sports deep bruising beneath his eyes, dark purple and blue, the bruising of a lobotomy victim. He hides his eyes beneath sunglasses for the part. Once upon a time, he had wings.
Legion is a playful and somewhat sarcastic character. Most often, he comes off as aloof and flirtatious (both things he actually is) but with a temper. He tries very hard to keep his cool, but it is in his demonic nature to run hot. He is exceptionally kind until he isn’t, playful to an alarming degree, and enjoys spending time with animals.
Legion is a musician. Actually, the better description of him would probably be a singer. He fell into the job after giving up his position in a large local drug ring, realizing that the high of performing on a stage for an enraptured crowd vastly outweighed selling drugs to rich snobs. Legion craves the attention of an enamored audience. His pop-punk style of both music and clothing earns him plenty of fans, and the tabloid stories of his rendezvous with both men and women keep them interested. His fanbase is small, and though he is considered more underground than mainstream, the fans are loyal. He has gained a cult following over the years. It is said that his music can change lives. People leave the concerts feeling more pleasured than when they came in. The feeling, they say, is addicting.
He lives in a London flat by himself. When not preparing for a performance, Legion often sleeps his days away and stalks out into the dark for the London nightlife. His natural way of consuming food is very conducive to night owl behavior.
Fun Facts:
- Because demons aren’t really meant to survive on Earth, Legion’s body doesn’t operate correctly. He suffers from extreme iron deficiency and begins to cough up blood when he becomes too anemic. Although this affliction won’t kill him, it is wildly uncomfortable. Drinking blood helps.
- Legion does eat people, but for the most part, unless he is actively starving to death or terribly injured, he tries only to kill people he believes really deserves to die. There is often a layer of seduction when hunting his victims - it is, after all, the easiest way to get people to remove their clothing before eating them.
- Legion is covered in tattoos, but because he wears pants and long sleeves almost all of the time, it is hard to get a glimpse of them.
- Legion loves cats. He loves cats a lot. Some people would even say he is cat...like. Part of the reason he refuses to live with his sisters again is because of their propensity for putting cats in ovens to piss him off. It works.
- Legion also loves plants, though he can’t seem to figure out how to keep them alive for very long.
- He is terrified of bugs and he will make you regret making fun of him for it.
- It would be incorrect to say that Legion cannot be affected by human drugs. If he takes enough poison, drinks enough of the strongest alcohol, or uses enough very strong drugs, he will suffer, either becoming violently ill or intoxicated. They can’t kill him, however, not unless they are made with the intention of killing creatures like him.
- Angels love Legion. He has no idea why, but they have a feral attraction to him for some reason – his smell, his blood, his pheromones, something about him pulls them in. Though Legion has dated an angel before, the experience was not something he would ever want to recreate. Despite their obsession for him, they did not come to him with love in their hearts. Something about him makes them insane, abusive, cruel. Legion has no idea how to get them off his back.
- Legion knows The First Language. His name - his real name, not the different names he chooses to go by on Earth - is part of that language. To speak it aloud is to summon him and have some sense of control over his form. For this reason, there are only two people who know what that name is. He trusts no one else to know it. He has been burned in the past because of it. Therefore, he will not speak his real name, or even The First Language, aloud. Ever.
- Legion is made of shadows. They cling to his body, tugging at his skin, causing rips and tears and healing him again, over and over. He came from shadows, and thus he belongs to them. Because of this, he can also manipulate shadows to his own will, though they seem to often have a mind of their own. This used to bother Legion so much that he wore gloves and long sleeves constantly to hide it. Now, he has managed to hide them, and most people do not even notice it.
Likes
Cats, flowers, sharp things, ice cream, shitty Chinese food, most men, fierce and powerful women, arguably bad animated movies, rain, the cold, cigarettes, bonfire smoke, iced coffee, scalding hot showers, blatant flirting, the taste of Vampire blood
Dislikes
Most dogs, most animal meat, hot coffee, yelling matches, vibrant colors, licorice, bitter foods, loneliness, injustice
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NPCs that often show up in Legion’s stories. Some of these characters I have written separately and others are only ever written with the purpose of advancing plot for Legion.
Anna
Legion’s manager and a siren. Anna has been around for as long as Legion has been making music. He saved her once, and since then they have been close friends. When he decided to quit his drug business and pursue music instead, Anna was the first to support his decision and help him grow his presence in the music industry. He doesn’t make any career decisions without her input. She manages all of his appointments, from modeling to interviews to concerts. Although she is a strict manager, she would never put Legion in a position that is too uncomfortable for him. She loves him dearly and would give her life for him. Anna is married to a gorgon woman, Navy.
Aki
Legion’s little sister. Aki presents herself as a thirteen year old girl with white skin, long black hair (picture The Ring), and a thin, emaciated body. She has fascinating eyes – silver most of the time, but opalescent when she’s using powers. She has no interest in love, relationships, or even, really, friendships. She is as creepy as a child can get, and although she appears as a teenager, her behavior often makes her seem much younger. It is important to note that despite this appearance, Aki is almost as old as her brother. She is the definition of evil and annoying. She loves causing mischief, murdering people (and animals!), and terrorizing humans. She carries around a puppet-like doll with her who holds a scythe called Mr. Happy. Some people say Mr. Happy is alive.
Aki is the twin sister of Keller, a beautiful blond-haired banshee. Aki loves her sister and her brother more than anything else in the world. Unlike Legion, she will kill upon the slightest inconvenience.
(Aki is my own character, but Keller is not, so she is not available to write or play at all.)
Lucifer
The devil. The lightbringer. The morningstar. Lucifer has always had an obsession with the demon. Their relationship is complicated. Legion is branded with Lucifer’s sigil, although what the angel really wants with him is hard to say for sure. Once upon a time, Legion was stronger than Lucifer, held more power over him. Now? Well, now it’s the other way around. Legion is Lucifer’s slave. Lucifer uses him as a toy, a sexual release, a punching bag.
Apep did eat him. Although Lucifer can regenerate and is immortal, it will take a while for him to return.
Uriel
In the 1980s, Legion (who went by a different name, Cassius) was considered a growing rockstar to rival other large bands at the time. He had the stage presence, the appearance, and gave just enough of a glance into his life that tabloids and fans thought he was scandalous and fascinating. However, all of that changed after he met Uriel. A man who had come to his shows, wormed his way into the demon’s life, and eventually into his heart. But Uriel’s intentions were cruel. Slowly, he dismantled everything Cassius had worked for, including his house, his job, and his friends. Uriel wanted the man all to himself, and he succeeded. After this, the tables turned. The sweet man Cassius thought he knew shed his skin to show a monster beneath it. Everything about him was swift, abusive, vicious. Cassius had never been more terrified of an angel.
Their break up was hard and left him with nothing. It almost ended his life. Uriel, being an angel, is equally as immortal as Legion, though the demon hasn’t seen Uriel since their relationship ended. Some pieces of it still haunt him, especially knowing that, somewhere, Uriel is lurking.
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About the Writer:
Hi! My name is Micajah (they/them). I'm 28 and a grad student in Library Science. I've been writing since 2007 (16 years!!!) but have had a rocky last few years. I haven't consistently written since 2020ish. You might know me from Rolepages or Faeries and Vampires (if you're OG)! I'm typically a really fast replier, but with a full time job and full time school, my response time has been greatly reduced. I do my best to get to things within the week, but it's not always possible.
This is my second account :) Other accounts:
https://wrealms.com/members/themoon
Minako - Writer's Realm - Roleplay (wrealms.com)
Comments
Ryan wasn't sure how to react when he apologized. She wasn't sure what someone's reaction would be other than that, to be honest. It wasn't something you hear everyday. She could imagine how she would react if someone told her they were sold for drug money: gobsmacked.
But, then again, she wasn't the best example.
Two feathered appendages seemed to unfurl from behind her jacket, giving a brief flap to spread some crumbled plumage from its current state. Her eyes casted over his shoulder when he spoke, despite the blankness in his tone, she could hear how much he wanted to do this for her. A roll of her hues before she turned to face him, giving a brief flap, before extending her hand out towards the other. "You haven't even seen the inside yet. C'mon."
When he would take her hand, those two wings gave a strong strike downwards, floating them into the air for a moment, before another sent them up three floors, and onto the fire escape, where an open window rested, the cool breeze flowing into the room. Dropping his hand from her own.
Ducking her head, she stepped through the window, and hopping off the window sill onto the worn carpet before.
The room wasn't messy, maybe only the sheets on the bed being shifted around and not made. And the peeling wallpaper, but nothing too crazy. Ryan had stepped her way over to one of the beds, and sat herself down on the end, taking off her sneakers from her tired feet.
"..Make yourself comfortable if you want. I promise the sheets are clean. I bought them the other day."
Legacy's fingers danced across the neatly folded clothes, a warm smile spreading across her face at the thoughtful gesture. Her eyes landed on the cat plushie, and a soft laugh bubbled up from her chest. The plushie was a sweet touch, a kind token that filled her with gratitude. She scooped up the toy along with her things and carried it downstairs with her, her feline senses immediately picking up on the soft scratch of pencil against paper and the staccato tap of fingers on a keyboard. She waited patiently in the kitchen, listening as footsteps approached. Navy appeared, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. She hadn't been unfriendly before, exactly, but there had been a guardedness about her. Legacy couldn't blame her for that.
"Thank you," Legacy enunciated carefully, making an effort to be clear without seeming like she thought Navy would struggle to understand her. Her stomach wasn't growling with hunger, but a light breakfast sounded nice. "What?" Her head snapped up, surprise jolting through her. "An entire day?" She raised a hand to her forehead, rubbing at it. "I guess I was more exhausted than I realized. I didn't mean to worry anyone. But I do feel very refreshed now."
She listened intently as Navy described the layout of the outside world. "I won't be any trouble," Legacy promised, her gaze flicking towards the living room as Bee's head poked out. She waved at the little girl. Turning back to Navy, she offered a reassuring smile. "I don't want to interrupt your work anyway. I can keep myself occupied." When Navy disappeared back into the living room, presumably to her office or a spot in the living room, Legacy quickly put together a simple sandwich, grabbing whatever protein looked good in the fridge before slapping it between two slices of bread. She washed it down with a warmed glass of milk.
The house was quiet, except for the occasional giggle from Bee and the rustle of Navy's papers. It was...peaceful. Legacy took a sip of her milk, feeling the warmth spread through her hands and into her chest. She closed her eyes, letting the quiet wash over her, and just...was. For a few moments, there was no guilt, no grief, no gnawing sense of purpose. She simply existed, in this quiet house with these quietly kind people. It was a strange sort of luxury, one she wasn't quite sure how to navigate. But for now...for now, she simply let herself enjoy it. The warmth, the quiet, the simple, easy companionship. It was a fragile thing, she knew. A fleeting sense of normalcy, of peace. But for now...for now, it was enough.
She carefully washed the dishes she had used, dried them, and placed them back where she found them before heading towards the living room, seeking out Bee. By the sound of it, she was drawing. Her gaze swept momentarily to the TV, curious to see what was playing. Legacy approached her with a warm smile, holding out the cat plushie.
"I think this belongs to you," she said gently. "He kept me company while I slept and chased the nightmares away. I enjoyed having him with me, but I think he misses you." Legacy sat down beside Bee, whether that was on a couch or the floor. "I'm sorry if I worried you. I was just in a very deep sleep, that's all. I'm happy to be awake now." Her eyes shifted to the paper in front of Bee. "Are you drawing something? May I see?"
Ryan seemed happy when given the phone back, a slight smirk on the edge of her brims as she brought it closer to her, clicking away from the contact screen to see the battery. 71%. Good, there was enough to last through the night and her alarm in the morning before it could be charged again while she was at work. Stuffing the electronic back into her jacket pocket, she had half the mind to accept his offer for the hotel room, spring for something pricey to make her comfortable....but she sided against it. He was...sweet in a way, and she didn't want to make an enemy out of him by getting a hotel that was expensive, and leave him to dry. She only did that to unsuspecting drunks at the club, bleeding them of their paychecks.
Allies were...unfamiliar to her.
This was going to take some getting used to.
Hearing him speak only gave the woman was tension in her shoulders, finding herself trying to loose it by shaking them. He seemed so adament on learning about her, and it left this weird taste of something on her tongue. Biting the inside of her lower lip, she spoke after a moment of silence between them in this dingy alley.
"...You don't understand how far they would go. They won't stop until I am what they intended for me to be all those years ago. Last I heard...I'm the only one that came out half decent enough for them to consider continuing the damn project."
With that, she kicked an empty cola can across the uneven, and even crumbling cement, the metal making a soft clinking and clattering sound as it scuttled along the pavement. His question soon followed, before she drooped her shoulders briefly, getting towards the end of this alleyway, where the moon could reach them.
"...They sold me for drug money."
She didn't need to expand on that further. There wasn't an idea of what their names were, where they were even. All she knew was that's how she eneded up there, from the gossiping scientists that were performing her exams.
Coming out from the end of the alleyway, a decaying, but still standing, building emerged. The rusty hotel sign seemed to be barely clinging to the side of the building anymore due to its age. Not that Ryan cared that much. As long as the rooms weren't too dusty, and it was safe from prying eyes, she would sleep anywhere.
Home Sweet Home...
A shiver ran down Legacy’s spine at the mention of Lucifer. She hadn’t known about any contract — she hoped that was null and void at this point. If he had history with the Devil, she most definitely did not want Agatha unleashing him, if that is her goal. She presumed the Fallen angel was trapped in Hell l, unable to visit the mortal realm. It needed to stay that way. If Lucifer was freed, he would not only wreak havoc on the world, but it seemed likely that he would pursue Legion, just as Agatha did when she escaped herself. Go figure that it would be the president of Hell who actually aided her escape all those years ago. That was a story for another time.
“That is odd “ Legacy mused. She could not find a rhyme or reason as to why angels would be driven crazy from his presence. Perhaps she would look into it, if only out of curiosity.
She rolled her eyes at her next comment, then laughed easily at her mortality comment. “Ah, yes, the curse of being a super squishy mortal. Here lies Legacy; she did not, in fact, have nine lives.” She chuckled at her own dry joke. “ She wasn’t all that sure she would enjoy immortality. If witches really did have an extended lifespan, that would be good enough for her. Living forever though? It always sounded so unequivocally lonely.
She enjoyed the little tour of the rooms. The home was absolutely beautiful. Legacy had never seen a room quite as well kepy as this. Even though it was simple as a guest room, it was nothing like what she was accustomed to, staying in hotels and whatnot. She took the offered shirt with a gracious smile. “Thank you. For everything.” She meant it too. She bid Anna a goodnight and turned back to the bedroom.
Legacy emptied her pockets by tucking the broken metal into the desk while setting the coded message onto the nightstand. She tiptoed to the bathroom, almost weeping over how nice it appeared. No leaky faucet, no peeling paint, no cracks in the shower…it was better than most motels, since she tended to use the cheapest options. Hell, it was better than her house. The array of natural vegetation made her feel right at home. She loved plants.
Clear, warm water flowed out when she turned the knob. Wasn’t that something? Oh, she still hated getting wet. But what she hated more than that? Being cold and wet. Bleh. She really needed to fix her hot water heater when she finally went home. Ugh.
The pounding of the water loosened the knots in her shoulders and back. The warm shower dulled her senses, lulling her to near sleep. She gave herself a shake, scrubbing madly at her hair and skin. She always took quick showers, because, water, but her movements were slow as she slugged through the task of showering. Steam collected on the mirrors by the time she cracked the shower door open. She hissed as the cold air caressed her skin. She quickly dried and jumped into her clothes, barely managing to brush her teeth. The borrowed tee fell to her kneeShe cleaned up the bathroom before she left, turning off all the lights.
A soft moan slipped past her lips when she hit the bed. Legacy was used to lumpy mattresses, or mattresses that had springs coiled within. This, on the other hand, was some sort of pillow-top mattress. Her body sank into it, easing the tension that had accumulated in her joints from improper beds of the past. She barely had enough wit to slip beneath the sheets. They felt cool against her bare legs; a sigh of contentment escaped her before the tendrils of sleep dragged her down.
She slept…for an entire day. The sun rose and fell then rose again, before her eyes finally blinked open. Sunlight streamed in from the blinds, filling the room with a golden light. Of course, she did not realize how long she had slept. Not yet. To her, this was just the next morning. An early morning, at that, as a quick glance at her flip phone read 8 AM. So, not too early, but early enough.
Legacy stretched each limb in turn, rolling over on her back with a soft giggle. That had been the best sleep she’d ever gotten in a while. Wiggling her toes, she finally rose from the bed, carefully making it by folding the sheets back. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned her backpack using the hidden glympth etched inside of it. A neat little truck that has cost her a pretty penny to learn. At least now she had her things. She brushed her teeth before yanking a brush through her hair. She took the extra time to thread the tresses in a tight braid. It fell down her back, following the contours of her spine as she stripped and dressed in a fresh pair of jeans and a light gray shirt. She carefully folded the borrowed shirt and placed it at the foot of the bed, stuffing her other night clothes back in her pack; she would need to do laundry at some point.
She washed her face, blinking at her reflection. Her eyes were brighter, no longer marred by exhaustion. She cleaned up the bathroom, ensuring she left it spotless.
She needed to get to work decoding Agatha's message. She grabbed her broken tablet, the slip of paper, and her notebook before she fled the room. She wasn’t sure where she should go — she didn’t want to wander the home and poke her head where it wasn’t wanted, but she figured the kitchen or living room was a safe place. She opted for the kitchen, since that was the first place she had been welcomed to. She wasn’t sure what awaited her. Perhaps Anna could hand off a few chores, as thanks for allowing her to stay.
There was a pause in her reach as he seemed to take care of the pizza before she could even get her hands on it. Her hues settled on his face, watching his expression, and even when they left the building.
With her hands free, she ended up shoving them back into her pockets, tilting her head back to let herself enjoy the night sky, and the slight breeze in the fall air. How gracious of you. Her brims turned up into a simple smirk, before tilting her chin back down to give the other a side glance through some of her black curls.
"Mmm...? Your number?" The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. What if she needed to get a hold of him if she was in danger?
"Alright then," She brought out her cellphone, and unlocked the screen, managing to get to the contacts, before handing it over to him. "Congrats, you're the second contact I'll ever had added in this thing."
When he took the phone, she would tuck her hands back into her pockets, as she took a sharp turn down an empty alleyway a block away from the pizza joint. Sneakers kicking up small cans and soda tabs across the cement, some small pebbles following as well.
Legacy listened in stunned silence as she passed dishes to Anna, her heart heavy with each word of Legion's heartbreaking story. Uriel? The legendary archangel? A jolt of righteous anger sparked within her. The very thought of Legion, so full of life, captured under Uriel's tyranny... it was a pain she couldn't fully grasp. Her respect for Legion's unyielding strength surged. She'd never fathomed the twisted desire to control another, to suffocate their spirit, especially by one who claimed to love you. To be fair, she hardly understood romantic relationships to begin. She visibly flinched at the fact that Legion had died under Uriel’s hold. Given how much he could brush off, she couldn’t imagine what he had to go through to actually perish. The pain, the agony, the fear, the heartbreak…it must have been immense. She didn’t believe she would be strong enough to bounce back from that.
“Was that before…or after Apep?” She hoped it was before, so at least Legion had a taste of what love could really be. “And do you truly mean Uriel, as in, the Uriel? From the legends?” Weren’t archangels too busy upstairs than to be able to fool around? Shouldn’t he have lost his wings? It wasn’t very godly behavior, after all
“Anna, I... I'm so sorry. For Legion, for what he's been through. He's strong, to have survived all that. But it left such deep scars. No wonder he's changed. He deserved better. So much better. He deserves someone who will love him, truly love him, not try to possess or control him. Someone who will help him heal, not tear him down further. He deserves to be cherished and cared for and appreciated. He deserves to be happy. Of course, that's just my own observation. You know him better that I." But she was certain Anna would feel the same. "Yoy can’t blame yourself. Love is blind.” Legacy blinked slowly, turning her gaze momentarily on Navy. She wasn’t wrong, but it could have come out a bit nicer.
"There are things in life we cannot control, Anna, no matter how much we might wish otherwise. The lessons we learn are often cruel ones. My heart aches that Legion had to endure such pain. But what matters now is that you were there for him in his darkest hour, even when he didn't want you to be. You stood by him, and you always will. That's a gift, not a failure.” If she had someone like Anna in her life after losing Alex, would Legacy’s fate turned a different course?
“It's natural to blame yourself, to wonder if you could have changed things. But that's a burden you cannot carry. Life lessons are harsh. Acceptance is harder still. But it's the only path forward. And perhaps, with time, Legion will come to see and appreciate the wisdom in your words, to take your warnings more seriously. Until then, know that you did everything you could. And that will always be enough, even if you cannot make yourself believe it.” Her words held nothing but conviction, her gaze just as fierce as she watched Anna.
A teasing glint softened her gaze. She wanted to lighten the mood. "At least you're spared worrying about that with me, since he’s into guys.” She nudged Anna playfully with an elbow. “And I’ll keep an eye on him, too.” She also would not be telling Legion of what she knew. She felt appreciated that Anna trusted her enough to impart the story on her. Anna's trust meant the world; Legacy would carry this secret.
“It made me feel a little ill at first too, but I thought I was going to have a heart attack on the plane to London, so teleportation is now preferred.” She bit back a yawn as she called goodnight to Bee.
"..."
He seemed to brush across the fact of ITEX wanting her with a direct hit. Her eyes softened, her knees finally coming up to rest against her chest, her arms coming to wrap around her shins, letting her chin rest there on top of them. She...wasn't exactly hungry anymore, bright blues staring at the pizza still left, even if it was only a few slices.
"I..think they aren't done with me. I escaped before they could do much else...but I remember them saying they wanted me to be able to 'bridge the gap to Heaven', and 'be a new breed of humanity'..." Ryan rested her cheek on her knees as she looked towards the kitchen where the man was throwing around some dough to make some more delivery orders.
"...As far as I'm aware from what I know, I'm really the only success they've had. When they lost me, they..really couldn't replicate what I am. So...they want me back." A hum left her throat before she exhaled through her nostrils, pressing her brims to her knees, hiding her chin from him behind it.
It was all a mental struggle she had been dealing with for such a long time now. It made her feel so small, that she could only do so much about her life. Running around only could go so far before she had to fight. No matter where in the world she went, they would always be around. They stuck their sticky little web so deep into her life, leaving her trapped in its snares.
Letting her sneakered feet fall back on to the tiles before raising her hand towards the owner of the pizza joint. He gave her a brief glance, before taking one of the boxes next to him, and frisbee throwing it over the counter, where she leaned over out of the seat to catch it.
Opening up the cardboard, she slid the now lukewarm pizza into the box, before closing it. "..Let's get going. It's already late enough, and I have a shift tomorrow I need to sleep for." There was a pause in her speech as she stood up. "..I'll let you walk me home."
"I've only known him for a few days – a week at most, I think." She hadn't kept track of the days. "We met at a bar." Legacy winced, perhaps realizing what that might suggest. "Well, kinda." she amended hastily, her gaze flicking to Bee; she didn't want to get into the finer details with a child present. "Let's just say I got myself into a little trouble. I was looking for someone, trusted the wrong person for information, and traded things I shouldn't have for that information. Legion has been helping me since. Don't ask me why — I still don't quite understand it myself. But I'm glad for his company." He was, for all intents and purposes, her first friend since her escape years ago. Well, her first living friend anyway. "So I'm not surprised he hasn't mentioned me." She shrugged a shoulder, unbothered. "Besides, not much he could tell you anyway." Legacy's fork scraped against the plate as she chased after the scraps of fish and veggies. Anna was very much a motherly figure, just as Legacy herself was. She realized that Anna might worry about Legion running with her if it meant putting him in danger. "Don't worry," she met Anna's gaze, solemn and unflinching. "I won't let him get hurt because of me." Not that he was easy to injure. Apparently, he had three damn hearts. Killing him would be near impossible, but considering that she was chasing after a witch hell-bent on destroying the world, if there was a being that could seriously harm him, Agatha would be that one.
Legacy finished her plate with one last forkful of veggies. "I am pretty exhausted. I need to shower first before resting. Still, I'll help you clean up." Manners were deeply ingrained within her. She smiled as Anna laughed. Legion had been right, this was the best place for her at the moment.
Legacy breathed a little easier once it was clear her blunder was not that big of a deal. She had expected Legion's age to be more than she could even fathom, but hearing it was a different thing entirely. Legion didn't look a day over twenty-five. Then again, neither did Anna. Legion had mentioned that he never took lovers that were mortal because of the limited time with them; was Anna immortal? She hoped she was — it certainly seemed that way. It was a small comfort that he would, at the very least, always have a friend.
"Something happened?" The question left her lips before she could stop them. She wondered if Legion had met Apep then, back in the 1980s, and that's why there was a break. Anna had worded it mysteriously though, as if suggestig something more sinister. "You don't have to answer that." Especially with Legion not being here. Legacy was surprised to have learned Apep's death had been so recent. She had thought it had been more than a handful of years.
"I studied French," she said, mostly because she had been about to speak it towards Navy before remembering she was deaf. "Though I've never been there before." Traveling to London had been terrifying enough.
Once Anna stood to clear away the dishes, Legacy quickly followed. Legacy collected the dishes, taking care to wipe any remnants of food off into the trash.
The question did not surprise Legacy. She wondered how much she should tell Anna. The woman clearly thought Legion had found someone normal to hang around. She guessed that thought would bring comfort given how much she fussed over Legion. At least, Legion had told her Anna fretted over his safety. She didn't mistrust Anna or her family, but her story was far-fetched even in the supernatural world.
Legacy sighed quietly. No, she would tell them. Might as well. "I'm from a Clan of cats out in the forest — Georgia, to be exact." She didn't give a specific location, but she didn't necessarily need to. She likely garnered their attention with that alone. "I used to be just a cat." Legacy gathered any leftovers into a single plate, ordered by the type. She would help sort these out to save for later.
"I only recently became a human. A witch, to be exact." Legacy shifted on her feet. "A few years ago, give or take. I have a shop in Stonebrook, North Carolina. A tiny little town, really. Most people hardly know it exists. I call it the Sixth Caldron. I sell fresh herbs, veggies, fruits, and eggs, as well as herbal remedies, potions, and brews." Legacy shrugged. "I've always had an interest in medicinal herbs, so I studied it quite a bit. I learned a lot in the Clan as well.'
She placed any leftovers in containers if Anna wanted them, before tucking them away carefully in the fridge.
"I came to London looking for the witch who turned me. I just…I need to find her." She mumbled, eyes downcast for a moment. She didn't want to burden this family with the darker troubles in her life. "Those leads led to me meeting Legion. His talent for teleporting has really come in handy," she joked, eager to lighten the mood with a soft smile.
Of course :) Let me know if you'd like to write sometime!
Chewing with a gentle purpose, bright blues staring down at the same tabletop he was. Splotches of red sauce seemed to now rest upon its surface with the new addition of their meal between them. Of course, it would be cleaned by the Avian before they left. The owner was a sweetheart to her and she wanted to make sure he was respected as much as possible.
It was only until she took a deep sip of her soda that she was spoken to again, this time about her encounter's with ITEX. The edge of the can slowly tapped against the tabletop, her fingers still collecting up the condensation on the sides of the metal, letting the droplets wetten the tips. Enamels moved to nip at the edge of her lower lip, as she thought of the last run-in. It wasn't exactly ideal...
"...Yes. Two months ago," She began, crossing her legs at the ankles underneath the table, leaning her back against the backrest behind her. The chair groaning again. "..I got spotted when I was going home. I managed to get out of sight, but it's put me on edge since. It's shown me that they are everywhere, even here in the city. I've....got to be careful."
Her sneaker began to tap quickly, and repeative across the stained tiled floor beneath the table, shaking her whole frame.
"...."