redrighthanded | IC; Duplicity Inbox

[ Jacob groans as he, for one of the first times ever, comes through the door. He's aching, muscles sore and shoulders stiff, as he removes his collar and drops it, shrugging off his coat and letting it fall to the floor. He doesn't see Gilia, already focused on Hellboy perched on their bed and he shifts to settle himself in the big man's lap, sighing and resting his forehead into Hellboy's neck. ]

You look as pissed as I feel luv. Whose got your goa-

[They aren't alone. He realises it too late, too used to this space being a sacred space the two of them share. He's never brought anyone back there, never let anyone in, and his head turns in the direction of the unfamiliar shape in the room.

Only to realise it isn't unfamiliar at all. Why is Gilia here? Why is Hellboy so bloody tense about it? Or is he tense about Jacob's arrival, and not hers? ]

... Am I interrupting an assignation?

[ It takes Gilia a second to realise what is happening. The way Jacob just trudges in the door like world was on his shoulders. She wants to speak to him almost immediately because he was next on her list and did not Hellboy just say if she waited, she would see him herself?

But she doubted he meant like this and the privacy she has invaded without meaning it - what can she do, half risen to greet him, herself.

She whirls, sharp on her heel, immediately facing the wall. ]

No! [ Her voice sounded pathetically squeaky even to her own ears. ] Nothing of the sort! Master Hellboy is being a perfect gentleman! I came to talk to him about a problem! And I - and I wanted to talk to you as well Master Frye! And - well you are here now. That is very good. Very good, I found you and I ought suppose I will talk to you when you...

[ Was it acceptable to use one's sacred gifted powers to flee any given room from embarrassment? Oh fungus and shells and other dreadful words she ought not to say, she was dreadful at this. ] - after I... finish staring at this wall...?

[ If she pretend no one could see each other, then she could die of shame peacefully. ]

[He frowns as she whirls around, hair and dress flaring out. He can't help share a look with Hellboy, as if to say, do you know what's wrong with her?

And then he gets it. Gilia is as innocent as sweet as any person he's ever met before, and perhaps the very intimate nature of his return back to this cramped little home from home has embarrassed her.]

Gilia, you can turn around. I promise everyone still has all their clothes on. And I'm not moving. Not after the day I've had.

[ This wall is a very good wall, she decides. It's doing a very good job at being a wall. It is has a flat side, which is good for a wall to have, and it's holding something up, another key function of a wall. It even seems to be holding something very heavy up, which deserved to be acknowledged. A roof was a good thing to have too, after all. Someone had given it the coat of paint a sensible white. She hoped that made the wall feel nice, since it was doing a good job, it should get something nice and -

Oh. Right. Jacob. Well then. Yes. Maybe she should tell him what a fine this wall is. A nice neutral topic that does not involve anyone acknowledging anything. ]

It is quite fine. I am so sorry to have intruded on your time together!

[ But she does dare to peek over her shoulder a little bit first. ]

[ Despite his prediction to Gilia, Hellboy doesn't expect Jacob to arrive so quickly or without a care to who else is in the room, though he doesn't exactly object when the younger man piles into his lap, except to try to protect the cup of tea that gets jostled when he climbs on top of him. ]

Hey, watch it -- [ Gilia, on the other hand, is far less sanguine about it. Hellboy raises his eyebrows as he exchanges a glance with Jacob, confused and slightly troubled by the difference in the young woman and the writhing, gleeful sea creature who had begged for him to fill her over and over.

He resists the urge to settle his right hand around Jacob's behind and studies the back of Gilia's head, meeting her glance back with a shadowed gaze. His patience for all of it is rapidly wearing thin. ]

She's here to talk about the guy you beat up. [ He supplies the information for Jacob's sake, though he doesn't look away from Gilia. ] Came to warn me off from doing the same.

[Jacob makes a soft noise as the tea is lifted out of his grasp, but when he settles and Hellboy brings the cup back in reach, he takes the cup and takes a swallow. It's not as sweet as he'd like, or as milky, but it did something to warm his insides as he tried to work out what the fuck was going on. Thankfully, Hellboy fills in the gaps.

Of course, he knows nothing of the strange sexual creature Hellboy expects- this is the woman Gilia knows: meek, innocent, and more than a little ridiculous. ]

The Stroker guy? Tim Stroker? [ Dick Stroker, more like. He bites that back though. Gilia won't appreciate it. ]

It's dealt with. He shouldn't come near you again. Why? Has he been bothering you again? He promised me he wouldn't when I was over there.

Master Stoker, yes.

[ Does she like the man? Not in the slightest. Will her manners ever allow her to call him anything less than the absolute proper thing? As likely as her ever wanting to sleep with him again.

But she had best face them both, as much as she just wanted to slip away from clearly a moment that was theirs, rather than anything she should be intruding on. Turning back to them and smoothing her hands against her dress in some effort to keep something of her own composure. ]

He also threatened all of you, blamed me for it - [ No, she could not look either of them in the eye. Her head down, wringing her fingers against themselves. ] - I could not bear it, when I saw, the money you owed, then I know you were forced to go and serve him. Over this. Over more violence and I - I cannot bear it. I do not want any more of it, please.

[ Hellboy lets the tea go without complaint, by now more than used to sharing with Jacob, and besides the younger man is cold and clearly tired against him. His left hand falls automatically to Jacob's thigh, rubbing him idly as he studies Gilia with a frown. He's tempted to ask if this guy has any ancestors who wrote bad novels about vampires, but maybe it's not the best time. ]

Like I was saying, we can't control what he's gonna do. Even if we don't go looking for him, is he gonna stop looking for us?

[ Jacob shakes his head at all of this.]

It's finished. It should bloody well be. Fine is paid, I did my 24 hours, he has said he'll leave you alone, Gilia. I've spoken to his friends- the general consensus is that back home, something happened to him that made him this way. They're trying to help him... heal, I guess.

[That really isn't their problem, but he feels very much like they're not helping. He takes another swallow of tea, and leans into Hellboy, relaxing more when the big warm hand moves to his leg.]

I don't think thumping him is the long-term solution.

Because he lives next door to my new Dominant. Who also calls himself not 'human'. I have to go out of my door every day and be reminded of him when I had set myself to forget he ever existed.

[ She picks at a nail. This should be a happy thing. Jack makes her happy, she is so glad to be his.

But here he hung over her. Like a chokehold. ]

I am relieved to hear you say that. We made it abundantly clear to one another that we should never speak to each other again. So Chieftan Jack, my Dominant, he spoke to him for me. In their exchange, he made it perfectly clear that he would bring down every bit of power he could on any Submissive, especially if they were Uncontracted.

[ Hellboy doesn't like most of what he's hearing and doesn't bother hiding the frown that darkens his expression. But he's quickly discovering how little he can do -- how little any of them can do -- when it comes to this sort of thing, as unfair as it feels. ]

Fine.

[ Though it's not, which his tone makes clear. But he likes Gilia, as little as they've interacted outside of the festival, and doesn't want to make things worse for her if he can help it. ]

But if he decides to make the first move against either of you, I'm not gonna promise anything. Guys like him don't last long around me.

He wouldn't last long in a fight against either of us. I almost-

[Jacob pauses, aware that Gilia probably won't want the messy details, and Hellboy might not either for that matter. So he shrugs it off, wrapping an arm around the big man's shoulder. ]

He wouldn't be a threat. It's the authorities here that are the problem.

[ And there she stands, with big eyes. Absolutely horrified. The implication is more than enough to make her want to be ill. Of violence freely given? No. That did not happen, not in her world, and how sorely it showed with how pale she seems to go. ]

I cannot stop you if you must, but I beg of you, please, make it the last thing you do. I want no violence, and this all started because of my own foolishness.

[ Gilia's clear distress isn't something Hellboy enjoys seeing and he definitely doesn't like being the cause of it. He raises his hand off Jacob's leg and holds it out to her, palm up, offering it for her to take if she wants. ]

Hey, it's okay. We're not gonna do anything unless we have to.

[Jacob feels a pang, wishing he could do something to put her mind at ease, but his normal methods would be offering up violence. Clearly that's not something that Gilia likes. But Hellboy's seems to know what to say, his deep voice calming. It's all he can do to agree with him, trying to match that tone.]

We won't. We'll only do anything if we really have to, as a last resort.

[ When they reassure her - what else can she do, but believe it? Because contrary to anything anyone else might say she knows one simple truth to this all. They are good men, perhaps of a life so far away from her own. Not in terms of place, that seemed trifles to the real differences, in upbringing, understanding of the world. But this remained true to her, what she believed. They were good men. Even if the violence scared her.

With Hellboy's offered hand, she steps forward. Taking him carefully by the fingers, like she would any other.

But there, in front of them, she does the one thing that she felt needed to be done, said, acted upon. With her hand lifted in Hellboy's, slowly and gracefully as she can, she sinks to her knees in front of them both. Her coat and skirts pooling underneath her. A small ceremony, in turn, where she takes Jacob's hand as well, and then as reverentially as she dared, she kissed the back of his knuckles, then in turn, gave the same to Hellboy's own hand. Turning her eyes up, and the sincerity of everything she feels is painted in it, as she meets their gaze, Jacob and then Hellboy as solemnly as she could. ]

Thank you. Both of you. Thank you, from all I am as Queen and all I am not as a woman, you have honoured me twice over. For defending my honour as you have, for being willing to do so again, and listening to my request, even when I know I have neither right nor position to ask it from you. Were I still of my rank, I would shower you in gifts and position in my lands, but I have not but myself, and my own ardent thanks, and I can do no more, now than hope it suffices.

[ Having her come here to ask them to stay out of a fight is one thing, but when she starts to go to her knees in front of them Hellboy has to stifle a murmur of disagreement, torn between not wanting her to feel like she needs to do such a thing and wanting to let her do what she needs to in order to resolve whatever it is that's going on. He endures her actions with a faint air of discomfort, having never enjoyed people prostrating themselves in front of him, given how often it ends with the summoning of elder gods or worse.

He can't bite it back forever, though, squeezing her hand gently. ]

Hey, c'mon, you don't have to do that.

[ Hellboy isn't the only one uncomfortable with the young woman on her knees in front of them, although Hellboy's reasons are probably a lot more sensible than Jacob's. He simply doesn't like the fact she feels she has to bow down and give thanks, it's too much in exchange for too little, and it has him slipping off Hellboy's lap in order to gently take her by the elbow and ease her back up.]

Doesn't matter if you're a queen or a match girl to us, Gilia. You're a friend, and we don't need thanking for doing the right thing. [He pauses, reflecting on himself and then adding] Not like that anyway. Just a thank you, is fine. It is, really and truly, something we'd do for anyone.

[Although for Jacob it had been personal, not only because of her, but because someone who said that sort of thing would go after anyway who was in some way not human. Like Hellboy. Or Vrenille with his magic. Or Anduin with his.]

And you'd do what was in your power for us. So it's all even. All square. No more being on your knees or any of this I am a weak and feeble woman nonesence.

[ As much as they soothe her, she looks still seriously between them as she rises again. Watching their faces, like it might divine something for her about how the world worked that she could latch onto.

For her - this is no idle thing, no game, no half measures. The stakes were set the moment she was born and there was only ever one consequence. Victory or death and she would never pretend the world worked otherwise. ]

If... if you... if you wish it so. I ... [ She looks down at her hands, where Jacob holds her so lightly, so carefully. ] It still means very, very much to me. You are both good men. You are kind men, no matter what else might be said.

[ Left sitting alone on the bed, Hellboy's not sure how he can help here, half assuming adding his bulk to things won't be necessary anyway. He watches the two of them, reflecting on how young they seem standing together like that. ]

It won't be the first time I've heard the kinda thing he wants to say. [ He means it to reassure Gilia, though he realises as he says it that Jacob might need reminding as well that there's no need to take his part in any argument that might end badly. ] I won't let it bug me.

I've heard people say similiar. About all sorts of people.

[ All based on stupidity, fear, and closed mindedness. But Jacob knows that those fires are fanned by the people who should be trying to fight them.

He looks between them and then leads Gilia to sit down on the edge of the bed. ]

But for as much as he screams and shouts, there's a lot more people that know you aren't monsters.

[ She - hasn't. Caught somewhere between aghast and indignant and how much she has been so privileged in her life. It fixes somewhere so deep, and so unpleasant, in her heart.

She thinks of her mother. Hildegard would stomach not a word out of Tim Stoker's mouth. Her will so absolute and her words are unforgiving. Her mother never suffered a lesser man to speak so in her presence.

Because her mother always knew exactly what she was, before who, or how, or that which she felt.

They thought it was a maidenly shyness alone, and they were not wrong in some forms, it all reviled her, she knew she was sheltered, knew she was but the delicate daughter of greater family who had once been expected to do not much more than marry. That even now, thrust to another world, she treaded water on her expectations at the best of times.

But Tim had - hurt her. So terribly. A way she had never thought another person could do to another. ]

We do not. We do not use these words. No one, not ever, would ever dare challenge my family, they would never commit such blasphemy as what came from Timothy Stoker's mouth as was spoken to me. Because we are far, far worse than anything he has used to describe me. Some paltry creature lurking in the dark. Snaring a man for a wicked device.

You can kill a man, though I ought never to imagine such violence in your hands for surely I should weep to know what made you do so. I do not know if I could kill a man. I know what my people do when we go to war, in the stories of my founders time. We wipe cities from the shore. We drown tens of thousands. We crumble coastlines. When I rage, the ocean rages. We do not kill, we consume. Back to the place where life began, where you cannot live, but we are bonded in our very souls with.

It is not that I should think I could not. It is that I most surely could, but it would not just be Timothy Stoker. There will be no measure left, if it came that.

[ It's Hellboy's fears confirmed in the careful way she describes the power that exists in her beyond the simple reach of her hand, the concern that he had upon first speaking to her sketched out in her soft voice. But within that fear, he has to admit that she and Jacob would have every right to feel the same way about him, if they knew the full extent of possibility wrapped up in his right hand, and it's with a grim acknowledgement of their shared potential that he studies his two companions. ]

Then it can't come to that. Right? [ He glances beyond her to Jacob. ] We'll make sure it won't.

[Jacob nods, meeting Hellboy's look. Jacob's seen Gilia's power, the spirit of the sea that exists in her, part of her very soul. He knows it's powerful, knows it's deadly, but he doesn't fear her.]

It won't come to that. And as I see it? We can't be fighting each other when the city is against us. We keep each other safe, we watch out for each other.

[ She shakes her head, a simple aggreement to that. ]

No, I never want it to. My power is a gift and one I want to use for the good of those around me, never their pain. But I know I must never let any pain I feel be known, the consequences of it...

[ Far outweighed any slight or broken heart. ]

... I would much rather do as you say, and work with you.

IC; Duplicity Inbox

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guess whose notifs got eaten again.....

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