Xerxes Break (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
payingfordeliverance) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
deercountry2022-01-11 10:58 pm
payingfordeliverance) wrote in deercountry2022-01-11 10:58 pm
Entry tags:
House Log 003: Be Our Guest 2: Vampiric Boogaloo
Who: Closed to Pandora House and some wandering RWBYs
What: Two casts alike in dignity are having vampire drama now
When: Somewhere in the midst of all this
Where: Pandora House, which still needs a cooler name
Content Warnings: Probably nothing as we are here for shenanigans, but will tag in subject lines as necessary
Ozpin gets kicked out of his own house for his recent descent into vampirism and one Qrow Branwen has the brilliant idea to bring him to his good buddy Xerxes Break's house for safekeeping. In theory, this is a solid idea. Despite the first impression given off by White Alice's decidedly weird and sometimes violent snow goon sculptures littering the grounds, this house is safe and cozy, and because Break is a Victorian, being abruptly called upon to provide hospitality is something that is simply written into his personality. There are separate rooms available for all three of their guests, and plenty of food around for the taking at all times. The new arrivals are taken in with about the same level of fuss and disruption as there might be if somebody saw a cute critter out in the yard and everybody had to pause and go look at it because critters are neat.
However, this house also has three chaotic darkbloods in it who are all feeling aggressively friendly at the moment, another vileblood who is also named Oz, and sometimes Ozpin's ex's beloved nephew is just there with likewise zero warning for ghost-harassing reasons. So, you know, have fun with that.
What: Two casts alike in dignity are having vampire drama now
When: Somewhere in the midst of all this
Where: Pandora House, which still needs a cooler name
Content Warnings: Probably nothing as we are here for shenanigans, but will tag in subject lines as necessary
Ozpin gets kicked out of his own house for his recent descent into vampirism and one Qrow Branwen has the brilliant idea to bring him to his good buddy Xerxes Break's house for safekeeping. In theory, this is a solid idea. Despite the first impression given off by White Alice's decidedly weird and sometimes violent snow goon sculptures littering the grounds, this house is safe and cozy, and because Break is a Victorian, being abruptly called upon to provide hospitality is something that is simply written into his personality. There are separate rooms available for all three of their guests, and plenty of food around for the taking at all times. The new arrivals are taken in with about the same level of fuss and disruption as there might be if somebody saw a cute critter out in the yard and everybody had to pause and go look at it because critters are neat.
However, this house also has three chaotic darkbloods in it who are all feeling aggressively friendly at the moment, another vileblood who is also named Oz, and sometimes Ozpin's ex's beloved nephew is just there with likewise zero warning for ghost-harassing reasons. So, you know, have fun with that.
no subject
Ossi's confession was soft as she followed Baltus up the dimly lit stairs, careful with her step in the shadows but confident no less. Perhaps she should be telling this to Break directly... But Omens had an uncanny link with their Sleeper.
She trusted Break to understand.
"I'm also a Paleblood, like Uncle Qrow. Ozpin is a Vileblood... But his connection with me runs a bit differently from the one with Uncle Qrow. He... We..."
Ossi huffed, momentarily frustrated. There was no easy way to explain the conditions beyond both of their desires or even consent, nor the depth of their souls blending as inseparably as milk poured into tea
no subject
The omen could snitch. And will, if the situation calls for it. For the most part, he doesn't, not even to Break, all the way up to not telling him if the people around him are making sad faces during times when Break cannot see them. If this is truly important, it will be better for everyone if Ossi talks to Break directly. There's an honesty in that which would be undermined, if it became clear that anything Baltus heard or saw in confidence made its way back to Break.
Xerxes trusts in Qrow, Baltus repeats. Qrow trusts in Xerxes, or he would not have brought his important person here. Then, you can trust all of them, yes?
He leans forward to bump his snoot reassuringly against Ossi's hand.
In their many long conversations, Qrow and Xerxes have found a great many things that your worlds have in common. You may find that he understands more than you might think, if you talk to him.
no subject
Ossi laughed softly, both at the advice and the reassuring snoot. Without thinking, she reached out to offer Baltus some affectionate ear scratches while she bent down a little to get closer to eye level.
"Yeah, I can trust Uncle Break. It's why I came with them."
Even if she had only known Xerxes Break for a short while, Qrow's trust in the man was good enough for her. It was the same with Ruby and all the friends they had made in Deerington. If someone from his team-- his family-- trusted someone, then she saw no reason to question it.
That's part of teamwork.
"If you'd prefer I talk to him, then I can wait a little bit. While I doubt Ozpin wants another person having this info, I think it's important. We're... not exactly normal, even on Remnant."
no subject
You needn't wait long. He's just here.
So saying, Baltus turns and trots into the open room down the hall. Break's voice emerges -- "There you are. All's quiet on the front? Excellent work, O Noodley One." When Ossi follows, she'll find Break kneeling in front of the orb-powered heater in the room that serves as a safer alternative to a fireplace, with his omen draped over his shoulder to receive further affections. Despite the unexpected intrusion and the drama attached to it, he seems to be in a fine mood, and doesn't look completely surprised when Ossi walks in.
"Ah, young Oscar is here too?"
no subject
She started-- and right away Break would notice that the voice was somewhat different from the Oscar he knew. A bit higher in tone, but with the same teenage awkwardness and odd sensibility that Oscar carried.
"It's Ossi. Just Ossi. It looks like Oscar and I swapped places when he-- I-- uh, I guess we molted." She shrugged. "I didn't know squids molted. Did you?"
Ossi held back, uncertain about what Break would think.
"Besides that, everything else seems kind of the same. The people, the things that happened...
"But, if this is a problem? I, uh... I can go--"
no subject
"Ah, that shedding business I've been hearing about." Dilemma solved. Break flaps a hand, carelessly. "Don't worry, don't worry. I make a charming lady, myself."
It's the most disarming thing he can think of to say. The notion of people switching places with alternate versions of themselves somehow does trouble him, honestly, if only because goodness knows what version of himself the place could turn up. After all, there was a time in his life when his general motivation in life was feeding other people to an ill-begotten demon, and he can imagine that's true of many, many other timelines mostly because he's a little bitter to think of timelines where it isn't. If the change in Ossi here is only that she believes she's always been a girl, but everything else is the same down to knowing Break himself -- that's not so bad. Certainly not worth kicking up a fuss over when Qrow's household is already in such upheaval.
no subject
"Really? That, I-- Thank you, sir."
It was the best she could do under such circumstances. Too many factors were out of their control, and the shedding was indeed troubling. She had no idea what the future held, but she knew that the Salem left on Remnant would not stop.
Anything was possible.
no subject
This is an unpleasant notion, given the face Break makes as he rises to his feet, patting his trousers off.
"Then, are you meaning to stay over as well? I see you've brought a bag," he observes. If Baltus has snitched that Ossi might have something important to tell him about, he gives no sign of it. Indeed, his omen has slithered his front half beneath the bed to retrieve a very large femur he'd stored under there. In this house, if you want to have a good chewing bone that doesn't get sacrificed to an art project, you have to hide it from White Alice.
no subject
Ossi beamed, glad to not have to worry about the silly details. Hitching the bag in her hands, she looked around momentarily for Baltus and-- coming up empty-- decided to press forward.
"For... a bunch of reasons, actually. You see, Ozpin is kinda my... mentor. And I'm supposed to be his successor. But, it's a little more complicated..."
She trailed, momentarily uncertain. The information she was going to share was sensitive and, although she trusted Break, she didn't trust the younger residents to not take advantage of it.
no subject
Then, too, in Break's experience it's rare for this kid in particular to be speaking so haltingly. Ossi -- or Oscar, rather, though if the memories are the same Break doesn't believe it matters -- had no trouble at all making a friendship speech at him when they were still total strangers. That makes Ossi's uncertainty now so palpable that he can practically smell it.
"Is this the sort of business that might be easier to tell me about if I had a little owl sitting on my head?" he asks. He's referring to the parade in October, of course. Back then, Oscar had cheerfully prattled on at him about magics he'd outright asked Break not to prattle about in turn, and he's kept those secrets. But, more importantly, Oscar had been speaking directly into Break's head then. If there are more secret magics afoot now, Break won't be fussed if a more voiceless conversation would be preferable...or, at the very least, a closed door.
no subject
In a blink of an eye Ossi was a familiar little owl, fluttering over to land on Break's head.
"Thanks," she said telepathically, her voice reverberating unheard between them. Her relief was palpable as she got herself comfortable on Break's head.
"For being discreet. Most people find our situation a little uncomfortable. At least one person threatened to call the cops on us!"
Unbidden was an image, a reedy, stringy haired man whose hair was colored as artificially black as the battered boots he wore, bedecked in violent looking jewelry-- though not near as violent as the eyes tattooed upon his every joint. Ossi quickly caught herself with a stab of affection and sadness.
As sad as the story of Gerard Keay was, she missed the sharp tempered yet sensitive goth whose hands both created lovely art and yet were still willing to destroy when called upon.
"I guess that's a kinda normal reaction to learning that one of your students literally shares their soul with the strange old man lurking in a large mansion... alone."
no subject
Then:
"-- aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah." It's a low noise of understanding, drawn out. Puzzle pieces fitting together. "Mister Qrow had told me your world had such a circumstance...because I had told him that, in my own, we have something similar."
But Qrow hadn't told him just who that immortal was or that Oscar was in any way involved, because neither of them are the sort to spill someone else's secrets unless they might actively get someone killed, and even then. This is evident in the flicker of surprise that Ossi will feel running through Break's mind as he makes the connection. And, immediately after, the faint feeling of "gears turning" as Break starts rearranging things in his mind to accommodate this new information.
no subject
The surprise was incredibly obvious both from an empathetic connection standpoint and for the fact that the little owl suddenly flapped in surprise on Break's head. Every time Ossi heard of similar situations in other worlds, she felt uncomfortable-- and sad.
She had hoped no one else would have to deal with quite that situation.
"I'm so sorry you've got to deal with this kinda headache in your world, Uncle Break. It's not right!"
no subject
"Oh, you needn't be fussed on my account. All I had to do was fight the guy," he drawls. "Anyway, given those conversations, I do believe I get the gist."
Break has begun ambling down the hallway in search of another guest room. He skips over the first door he comes across entirely. That one has certain dents in the wood around the knob which mark it as a linen closet, and that door reliably stays a linen closet. The dents, of course, are due to a certain crow-bird having pecked it into submission on Break's behalf some months ago.
"However, if there's anything you want to make certain I'm aware of...I'll trade you some of your stories for some of mine, yeah?" he adds. Even outside of the basics, Break does actually want more details if he can get Oscar talking. But he gathers that this is a very delicate topic even outside of Oscar's wish for secrecy, and Break isn't sure how much he could get away with asking outright.
no subject
"If Ozpin's having trouble with physical symptoms of any sort, we've both found that being near each other helps. We're in two bodies now, but our souls are irreversibly tied together"
It was part of why the fact that they lived under the same roof was always met with gratitude, and why Oscar always found his way back to Ozpin before that point.
Not even distance could separate them.
no subject
It's something Break appreciates, given that he needs to be mindful of the safety of his own household in all this, too. He does trust Qrow not to knowingly bring someone who would cause harm into his home, and he also trusts his kids to be able to watch out for themselves or quickly reach someone who can. But letting your guard down completely is never wise in the face of these kinds of unknowns, and Break is right to be wary here. They don't completely understand yet that a part of Ozpin's problem is that darkblood in particular is very tasty, and there is rather a lot of that going on in this house.
"Indulge my curiosity about something, would you?" Break opens another door. It is a broom closet. He shuts that door, spins around in a circle, opens it again, and this time it is a bathroom. Useful, but not quite what we are looking for. Break will move on to the next one. "How did this come about? Rather -- is this something that was true the very moment you were born, or...?"