venenum . cato

venenum . cato Dec 1, 2020 22:56:26 GMT -5

Post by cass on Dec 1, 2020 22:56:26 GMT -5

a s t e r .

"Oh, I know that there'll be better days
Oh, that sunshine 'bout to come my way
May we never ever shed another tear for today
'Cause oh, I know that there'll be better days"

She’d spent the past fortnight thinking back on what Killian had done to her. She’d tried her best to ignore the aching feeling that settled into her stomach when she lingered on the images of Finn and the forest. Part of her still felt foolish for hugging him, but the terror that had filled her body from the moment she had stepped into this house had fallen taken hold of her. He had come in time to shift it before it had devoured Aster’s heart- he’d saved her. As confusing as that statement seemed she couldn’t find a better way to describe what he had done for her. Falling apart on the floor of the training room, to screaming until her throat was raw.

Killian had left her with scars in her mind and insides that still felt tender two weeks later. She was pushing her way through meals and falling even more behind in training, the lasting impact of the poison lingering in her veins. She knew that it would take another week or so for her body to recover and wanted to yell at him for putting her in such a terrible situation. It wouldn’t help, and even if Victor kept hitting her and screaming at her, she knew Killian would refuse to send her into the ring. After all, she was his newest interest, a hobby to pass the time and she would not let herself squander that.

The book she had just finished read fit nicely under her arm as she made her way to Killian’s office. The sun had already started to set, their fighting classes over and done with for the day. Octavia had bored them all half to death by teaching them how to talk properly and twist their words in interviews to appeal more to the crowds. She was stricter and more violent about her intentions after the whole Meredith ordeal, and now with her new position as mayor, she had less patience for her underlings.

Aster knocked on Killian’s door, pausing for a moment before opening it and heading into his office. She had asked in advance for this meeting, and she slipped the book she’d borrowed back into its place in his personal library. Killian wasn’t here at the moment, so she focused on the books, finger running over their titles as she tried to spot another one, she had yet to read. Most, if not all of the books filled with poison had found their way into her hands. There was less than three or four remaining for her, and she pulled gently on a title that was unfamiliar to her.

“Venenum,” she murmured, pulling open the book to reveal the first page. It was written in Latin, the words hard to decipher with her few years of experience with the language. This book would be work, and she felt a spark of excitement burning in her belly as she admired the gentle curves of the words printed before her. The challenge was worth it. Killian entered, and Aster shut turned her gaze to him, “I have an idea, Killian.”

She closed the book in her hands, tucking it under her arm as she moved over to his desk. “I was reading about building immunity to poisons and I was wondering if we could start doing that. I think it’d be very useful.”

elegant

venenum . cato Dec 5, 2020 19:45:42 GMT -5

Post by Cato on Dec 5, 2020 19:45:42 GMT -5

K I L L I A N S T R A U S S

When Aster asked for a meeting, I wasn't too sure what exactly she was wanting, but I agreed to it anyway. Now I look at the time, and while it's getting closer, I have a few moments to spare. I left the library to take care of a few things, and run a couple errands. Sometimes I have to make sure all my lessons for the next week are squared away, and while I don't have as much structure as my siblings, I know how I want to run things, and that's all that matters. Sometimes I take a few items from the kitchen just to show what can happen when things are left unattended for quite some time, and how by paying special attention to when something, or someone is getting weak, the fight can turn back against them especially if they had the upper hand.

Once I have items in hand, I make my way back to the library. It's getting close to time, and if I'm late, that's okay. It's my house, and I make the rules for myself that I only abide by. I walk through the door and sit stuff down at the desk that's closer to the door reminding myself to carrying it back to my private office out of sight, and that's when I see her walking through looking at the books. For a moment, I just stand there not moving wondering what she's up to. She looks at me and says she has an idea. I pause raising an eyebrow wondering what she's up, and she says she wants to build immunity to poison. I look around the library looking for the many different books I have. Getting immunity to poison isn't easy. It takes a lot work, but if she wants to try, by all means, I'll see that it happens.

"If you really want to go through with it, I will teach you." It's easy remaining emotionless and keeping a blank face. Many nights she'll wish she didn't ask for this. She'll wish it would just end. The poison she had before was just a small amount, but it takes time to build up immunity to it. Countless hours of going through the pain and suffering wondering why someone would even want this. It's not an easy task. "It can be useful." I agree, there's no denying that. Never know when someone might try to sneak poison into a meal or something, but clues are there. Sometimes a different coloration or the smell is different, but sometimes odorless ones are the most deadly because once the poison hits the stomach, it might be too late.

I head back to the vials of poison sitting on the shelf in the back of the library I could pick one myself, but that will take all the fun away. If she's read enough books, she'll know what each one does. She'll know how painful this challenge is, but I cannot deny her what she wants. I lean against the wall hoping she's following along. "Your first session will begin now." My demeanor shifts, and I'm in the teaching mode where taking it easy isn't part of my vocabulary. It's hard to hide the smirk that's spreading across my face. If only she knew what she was getting herself into. If only she knew, but I will not tell her. "You get to pick your poison, and I'd be careful if I were you. Some of them even the tiniest drop will kill you."