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mpxmalea · 1 month
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☽༺𖤐༻☾
🔮
   Malea pulls her form through the last pose and up into Warrior. Around her is a collection of people that she meets with regularly for Yoga in the Park. She had started doing it with mostly just the companions at Babylon but then it slowly grew to be something that attracted others to the circle that gathered in the park on the warmer days to stretch and relax together. Today a few more people had joined than last time and Malea happily started her instruction.
   A good ways into the lesson for the day she notices that at the edge of the circle someone else comes in. Late joiners were welcome to the group as it was come and go as people pleased anyway so she doesn’t fret. She just checks to see who they are and if they are actually there to participate or to disrupt. He’s tall and seems like he more belongs in the gym lifting weights with others of a similar built to himself but the fact that he came here makes her think he’s a more reserved soul. Either way, she gives him a smile and a welcome from where she is and continues guiding others through their poses. It’s not until the cat that seems to be attached to the gentleman hops up on him that she does move from her own mat and goes over to check on him.
  “And who do we have here?” She says to the four-legged friend but is talking to the man. “If I had know you were coming, I would have brought out a mini mat!”
  She bends at the waist, flexible and ease and looks at the human counterpart upside down. “Hello here. Welcome to Yoga in the Park. What’s your name?”
Marjariasana | Ben X Malea
@mpxmalea
Ben had gotten up that morning due to the sun shining in his eyes. He groaned before turning over to give them a break. Nana had heard the commotion, only to be on the bed shortly after screaming for attention. A defeated sigh came out of the demigod's mouth followed by a chuckle. Looking back out the window he gave a serene smile.
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Ben had gotten to the park after a gentle morning. He gave Nana her food, he ate some eggs as well. He got dressed in sweats and a thinner hoodie on top. He grabbed Nana as he made his way to the door only to put her on the bench so he could put her harness on. The temp had gotten warmer so he felt more comfortable bringing her outside again after the winter.
Parking the Jeep he jumped out and got Nana out of her seatbelt leash and put the regular one on. She jumped out after and they were on their way around the park. Ben shuffled along in his socks and slides as Nana roamed around. Eventually the duo near someone guiding yoga. He started to lazily copy the poses, giggling to himself when he found himself off balance.
He moved closer so he could hear her better and do the poses more accurately. Nana was still wondering around, however she did pick up on Ben's movements. She took the chance to jump on his back as he was bending down to touch his toes for a quick stretch to loosen up more. "Yah! Nana" he whispered to the cat, trying to keep the scene peaceful.
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mpxmalea · 1 month
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Most Unexpected! 𖤐 Cedric
{{ Because nothing can ever just be correct or go according to plan! A starter for the half-sibling, @mpcedric
☽༺𖤐༻☾
🔮
  The red of her manicured nails presses into her temples and Malea wonders, not for the first time today, if perhaps there is a way to procure a lobotomy still for someone else. Or maybe for herself at this point. It’s a warmer day than most have been recently and while that is normally just fine for Babylon, it has to be this particular day that the air conditioning has failed. Warm, heavily scented air blankets the interior of the building and though she has had every window opened to help lower the temperatures, it hasn’t stopped the inevitable change in attitudes.
   Everyone is overly warm and thus overly snippy with each other. The beauties that are currently working are either draped over the lounge couches near as they can be to windows or in semi-heated verbal altercations with each other or various other staff. Outside her door the secretary that she has hired to take over for her prior one answers a call and tries her best to not seem utterly fried when answering. It’s not her fault— it is unreasonably hot in here.
   Malea looks at her watch again and is at least thankfully that when the problem was first realized she called for a company to send someone out to fix it. That said though, it has been well over two hours since that call and she is on the edge of delusional herself.
  “Ma’am,” comes a voice from the open door. It’s her secretary peeking in and some tall man standing just a ways away from her by the main desk. “Someone to see you.”
   She springs up instantly. At last! “Perfect. It must be the person they sent to fix the air conditioning. I’m coming.”
  Crossing the room and going out into the main area Malea puts on a polite smile and goes to greet him. “Hello, welcome to Babylon. I’m Malea, I’ll show you to the panel room where most of the breakers and other building hubs are. Did they tell you that the air conditioning didn’t switch on at all?”
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mpxmalea · 2 months
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Enfin Seule! (Finally Alone) by Jean-Louis Forain in Le Courrier Français, ca. 1890
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mpxmalea · 2 months
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Bath Time || W.C 002
{{ Another installment for the Monthly Writing Challenge that we have for April! As a lover of baths this was all together too easy to write for me! Simple joys for self care in this house! }}
☽༺𖤐༻☾
🔮
   It’s the perfect time for it. Malea pours down her favorite bath oils, salts and watches as the tub fills with the heavenly scents of jasmine and other florals. Today she has a few spare hours to herself and she plans to take full advantage of it with a luxurious bath and some time to catch up on the book she’s been trying to finish for days now. As the water rises she works on getting the little set up ready so she can fully enjoy herself.
   On the bath tray she arranges her book, a glass of water, a small bowl of fruits and nuts and a candle that burns a light but delightful citrus scent. Work isn’t so much stressful as it is full of tedious smaller tasks that occupy her time and mental energy. Then on the occasions that there is an unruly guest or two, she has to find it in herself to hold back the disdain she has for men in general. This week though, had been blissfully free of incidents from rude guests and so today before she will return to Babylon, Malea takes the time to escape in the form of this bath.
   Switching her phone to Do Not Disturb she sets it on the charge in the other room before she sets herself up to sink deeply into the forgiving waters of the tub. After she’ll get the day started. She’ll check the wealth of emails she knows she has to answer and maybe even she’ll make some calls.
   But for now… she’s busy being not busy. And that’s perfect.
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mpxmalea · 2 months
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☽༺𖤐༻☾
🔮
   Hephaestus goes on to talk about his looks changing and it gives Malea just enough of an opportunity to make a note about him in her personal notes app on the computer. Just a reminder to brush up on his story a bit more in the inner sanctum of the library and perhaps after speaking with some people who know him better. Like perhaps other members of his family without a cruel streak in their usual disposition.
   The comment that about riches gained from snide remarks made by those called family earns him a polite chuckle. “Believe me, that is something I am deeply familiar with. It is often family that has the sharpest of blades to bury into our backs.”
  A short silence is between before he comments on Babylon being in good hands. She does smile genuinely then to him, lifting her eyes from the screen that she types on to offer, “Thank you. I aim to exceed the previous notions of what this place could be.”
   There’s a light knock at the door and she smiles brightly. “Come in Invidia.”
☽༺𖤐༻☾
🔮
   He got himself settled and as soon as the mention of the prior owner leaves his lips Malea rolls her eyes. Ares. She didn’t need to meet him to know that he had wrought both trouble and a fair deal of grief to those in employment prior to her arrival. He was the reason that the filing system was a joke before the two workers got their hands on it and before Malea reset it better. The notion that he may have falsified records due to merely disliked someone is also a concern that she will now have to address with a staff meeting and many phone calls later. For the moment she tackles this individual task.
   “My apologies,” she says smoothly regarding the issue of Ares. “I find that a great many things are still working themselves out since his departure. I am sure however, we can clear your account of any negative marks he may have left behind. Do you have an escort who can vouch for your character that you would like me to call in? If they are still working here I can verify that you are in good standing and that will help settle a lot of things.”
   Malea stands and goes to the file cabinet to pull open one of the massive drawers with records. Her fingers skim over tabs to the letter H before she is carefully carding through the files in there. As she picks through them she asks, “This prior owner, do you suspect he will cause trouble should he return? Or do you think he will simply amuse himself with other ventures?”
   There it is! She plucks a file out and flips it open before sitting down at her desk again and letting her fingers fly over the keyboard that livens her computer. She pulls both the handwritten file and the newly made digital one up so that she can compare notes from each and make corrections.
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mpxmalea · 2 months
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☽༺𖤐༻☾
🔮
  He agrees to the lounge for relaxation and Malea smiles as she rises from her desk to walk with him there. She could use the break from her book and from the office. Stepping out with him along her side she takes in a deep breath. The scents of the incense around the building lure her into the sense of tranquility. Sometimes she forgets all the work she’s done to make this place a step away from reality- and that it can transport her as well if she simply let it.
  “Dislike the cold?” Malea repeats but her tone has surprise in it. How curious! “I don’t know why but I always figured Death gods either liked colder weather or were largely indifferent to it. I suppose that’s likely just media I took in painting that idea as the standard. Goes to show, one shouldn’t assume anything.”
  She’s makes her way up the main staircase with its grand railing and carpeted steps as they talk. “Invidia is most likely fine to come out to visit for a little bit. We can ask after him once we’re up there and you’re settled in. I’ll have your request for tea given to him or to whomever is able to bring it to you from the kitchen.”
   Once they reach the lounge the room greets them with those at rest and the warmth of the fireplace.
☽༺𖤐༻☾
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    Malea chuckles and reaches for her bookmark before slotting it into the pages and closing the book. “I doubt she would be very upset with you. She hasn’t met me yet so no attachment and at the very least she would know that I walked bravely into the afterlife laughing with the reaper that takes me.” 
    Her relationship with the idea of death was a calm one and left room for much humor, albeit dark humor. Malea would offer him a seat at her desk but since he is coming for leisure and not for the business of paid pleasure, they can take to the lounge. “A visit? For me? Then you are a man of your word as Invidia brags about. You did promise to come see me at the dance so I am touched. Come, let’s rest in the lounge. The fire is going up there so you can warm yourself and if you like I can have some food and drinks brought to us.”
   Arawn, though a man, was a kind one and she found that his company was more comfortable than many others. He, at least, offered stimulated conversations on a variety of topics. “What’s your fancy for the night? And do you want Invidia to serve it up to you? He’s here tonight and I think he’s resting away in his room again.”
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mpxmalea · 2 months
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☽༺𖤐༻☾
🔮
  His assessment that she had been left with a lot of work to tackle post Ares was nothing short of outrageously kind to the reality of the matter. Ares, to put it politely, left her an abyss of paperwork, missed records, guest and worker complaints and a headache to sort through. She gives the driest of laughs in answer to that bit. “Well, it was something that’s for sure.”
   She clicks around and then her fingers fly over the keys as she updates information and corrects malicious statements left behind. It’s only when he mentions the reference of Invidia that her hands slow in their typing. Hm,interesting. She reaches out and presses the button on an intercom. “Room 69 to the office. Verification.”
   There’s a pause and then Invidia’s deep voice on the other end giving a short but pleasant sounding reply of ‘Be right there.’ Malea releases the button and turns back to hear the latter part of what Hephaestus says. “If your point of reference clears your name then I’m sure we can easily correct the apparent lies left by your family.”
   At the mention of his new looks Malea offers a polite but relaxed smile. “I’m sure they will serve you well with many. How recent was the change? Would our Invidia recognize you?”
☽༺𖤐༻☾
🔮
   He got himself settled and as soon as the mention of the prior owner leaves his lips Malea rolls her eyes. Ares. She didn’t need to meet him to know that he had wrought both trouble and a fair deal of grief to those in employment prior to her arrival. He was the reason that the filing system was a joke before the two workers got their hands on it and before Malea reset it better. The notion that he may have falsified records due to merely disliked someone is also a concern that she will now have to address with a staff meeting and many phone calls later. For the moment she tackles this individual task.
   “My apologies,” she says smoothly regarding the issue of Ares. “I find that a great many things are still working themselves out since his departure. I am sure however, we can clear your account of any negative marks he may have left behind. Do you have an escort who can vouch for your character that you would like me to call in? If they are still working here I can verify that you are in good standing and that will help settle a lot of things.”
   Malea stands and goes to the file cabinet to pull open one of the massive drawers with records. Her fingers skim over tabs to the letter H before she is carefully carding through the files in there. As she picks through them she asks, “This prior owner, do you suspect he will cause trouble should he return? Or do you think he will simply amuse himself with other ventures?”
   There it is! She plucks a file out and flips it open before sitting down at her desk again and letting her fingers fly over the keyboard that livens her computer. She pulls both the handwritten file and the newly made digital one up so that she can compare notes from each and make corrections.
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mpxmalea · 3 months
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Alexandre Dubois-Drahonet: detail of Female nude, back view (1831)
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mpxmalea · 3 months
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❛ well, someone's cranky today. ❜
&. 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬 (𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬?) 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. {No More.}
🔮
Her kohl rimmed eyes level a look at him as she reviews camera footage of something from a few days ago. She is very, very cranky. So much so that idle prattle doesn’t suit the moment and with no words that leave her, she makes it unmistakably clear that the comment was uncalled for. Those eyes stay on him and her face stays expressionless save for the hardness in the way that she focuses on him.
It’s intense and unnerving and ends only when a solid length of time of seconds pass and she turns her eyes back to the computer screen.
“Room sixty-nine’s guest has overstayed their welcome. Remind them our hospitality only extends so far.”
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mpxmalea · 3 months
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❛ well, someone's cranky today. ❜
&. 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬 (𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬?) 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. {No More.}
🔮
It’s her own fault for taking the distressing call from back home during her morning brunch. Without meaning to, Malea had gone from calm to slightly raising her voice. Regardless of the fact that she was speaking in a language that many on the island didn’t know or at least they politely pretended they didn’t, she didn’t want to be heard losing her temper. It was hard not to when family can be the sharpest of blade that pierce you.
Regret is a metallic taste at the back of her throat, the haunting flavor of it there after a derogatory slur is leveled at her by the voice of her own father. The words he uses sting like the tears she holds back. It’s cruel but it ends the call as she snaps into the receiver of her cell phone in her language, “Well, at least my marriage wouldn’t be a loveless one.”
It’s a moment after she’s been listening to nothing that someone speaks. Her eyes lift to take them in and the image of them blurs a bit beyond repair before she’s lowering her gaze and reaching for the napkin on the table.
“Just a little,” it’s said with a weak laugh.
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mpxmalea · 3 months
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❛ WAIT, DID YOU JUST SAY THAT I’M CUTE? ❜
&. 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬 (𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬?) 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. {No More.}
🔮
Malea nods affirmatively from where she is draped across a chaise lounge. Her eyes follow and stay on her friend as she had been moving to grab something from the food table before stopping short of it to ask her that. A look of amusement decorates her face as she watches the realization of her words sink in.
“Yes, I did.” She says and props her head on one of her hands. “Did you not know I thought that way?”
The question has layers to it really. She doesn’t over explain it though, just lets it float in the air between them. Her demeanor remains relaxed even though the inertia of it is heavy.
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mpxmalea · 3 months
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"you're not bad as everyone says you are"
[[ Muse is gone blah blah, explanation again. It’s for my amusement at this point to answer things in my inbox by the ghosts of prior muses. Deal with it. ]]
&. 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬 (𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬?) 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. {No More.}
🔮
Curious. How one little clip of a video can pin a person to where they stand. It was a bit of video taken from Invidia’s phone that he sent to prove that he was more than fine this evening as he was out and about drinking with friends. He had been briefly talking with someone off camera toward the end of it before the video darkens then seems to flip to film forward and for a flash of a second a man she’s not seen before is there.
‘You’re not as bad as everyone says you are.’
There’s a laugh then a soft silence only perforated by the noise of the streets around them before Invidia can be heard saying, “oh… really?”
And then the video ends. Malea watches it again. She checks the time stamp. Curious….
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mpxmalea · 4 months
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&. 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬 (𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬?) 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.
(  various  dialogue  prompts  to  send  to  your  worst  enemy  (affectionate).  feel  free  to  change  how  you  seem  fit.  )
❛ oh great, it's you again. ❜
❛ you? kill me? that's funny. ❜
❛ for being someone you hate, i'm sure on your mind a lot. ❜
❛ you're the last person i wanted to see, actually. ❜
❛ do us both a favor. stay away from me. ❜
❛ you really are an asshole, you know that? ❜
❛ i'm the asshole? what does that make you then? ❜
❛ sometimes i think you must hate me. ❜
❛ i thought you said you never wanted to see me again. ❜
❛ if you want me to go, then you have to tell me to leave. ❜
❛ well, someone's cranky today. ❜
❛ well, someone needs to shut the fuck up. ❜
❛ just stay out of my way. ❜
❛ of all the idiots in the world, i'm stuck with you. ❜
❛ what is it you want this time? ❜
❛ sometimes i wonder if you're in love with me. ❜
❛ do you honestly think this is easy for me? ❜
❛ why would i ever want to be friends with you? ❜
❛ can we please just talk? ❜
❛ there is nothing for us to talk about. ❜
❛ you can yell at me later. just let me help you. ❜
❛ touch me, and you're dead. ❜
❛ oh, so now you care? ❜
❛ there is something deeply wrong with you. ❜
❛ i know i'm the last person you probably want to see, but... ❜
❛ you don't think we could be friends, do you? ❜
❛ i'm tired of fighting against you. ❜
❛ don't pretend you give a shit about me. ❜
❛ you're an idiot, but... i trust you. ❜
❛ oh, don't be cute. ❜
❛ wait, did you just say that i'm cute? ❜
❛ we're not good for each other. ❜
❛ if i say yes, will you shut up? ❜
❛ don't you have to be stupid somewhere else? ❜
❛ maybe we should kiss just to break the tension. ❜
❛ i'm sorry i can't turn off my feelings as easily as you. ❜
❛ maybe there's a universe out there where we're friends. ❜
❛ how can you be so smart yet so dumb at the same time? ❜
❛ don't think this changes anything between us. ❜
❛ you look ridiculous in that outfit, by the way. ❜
❛ if you die, i'll kill you. ❜
❛ is that a challenge? ❜
❛ ah, so you're not heartless after all. ❜
❛ i don't think i've ever seen you smile. ❜
❛ you never cared about me, so why now? ❜
❛ why didn't you kill me when you had the chance? ❜
❛ i don't even remember why we started fighting. ❜
❛ i don't have time for distractions right now. ❜
❛ you're not as bad as everyone says you are. ❜
❛ enemies make the best lovers, you know. ❜
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mpxmalea · 5 months
Text
To the Letter ⛤ Davina
The starter we discussed for Davina healing Malea! Thank you for waiting! @mpxdavina
☽༺𖤐༻☾
🔮
    It had been a foolish injury.
     But even more foolish than that was the belief that simply washing a deep cut like the one that Malea had earned when she was too tired and opening letters at night would suffice. Exhausted from her day but unwilling to slow down just yet, she had kept at opening the various letters that had come through for Babylon with the long letter opener she had brought with her over from Turkey. It was sharp and precise in her hands most days but this evening a little slip had gone a long way into slicing up the soft side of her hand.
    Immediately she had cleaned it out but she hadn’t done much more than to do that and wrap it a little. It bled horribly for a while and when it finally did stop, it throbbed angrily at her. This didn’t stop her for days and it’s only when she is on the way back to work another day at her business that the wound peaks with pain. She’s handing over money to one of the food stall keepers- a young and sweet demigoddess who serves up hot drinks in the cold- that the pain is too much. Her payment drops into the snow and she winces drawing her hand to her chest instantly. Se’s over extended it and the felt the exact second that the wound had reopened. The bandage is wet with not red but something and she sighs. “Pardon me, I will get it.”
   Bending, Malea collects the fallen payment from the cold snow. Taking a brief moment since no one is behind her she allows herself a second to press her hand down into the snow. The cool of it helps with the intense burn her hand has deep down into the skin.
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mpxmalea · 5 months
Note
❛ i’m sensing a little bit of tension amongst the crew. ❜
&. 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 (𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧) 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. {No more.}
🔮
As with all families, there is likely to be some bickering. As with all work families there is likely to be at least three times more in this particular industry. Already saddled with the worst headache she has had in months due to some unfortunate overindulgence the night before, Malea is in no mood for it now.
“I’m sensing some people being fired,” she says flatly from where she continues to look at her computer screen. She’s annoyed and would simply let it go if immediately after that she didn’t hear the sounds of glass breaking and a loud angry string of threats. “This is how women end up on Snapped, I’m sure of it.”
[[ Mun note: Snapped is an old tv show in which they talked about women who were lead to murder or extreme violence, typically against family or spouses due to stress. Or money issues. ]]
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mpxmalea · 5 months
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❛ i know you're upset, but you should eat something. ❜
&. 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 (𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧) 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. {No more.}
🔮
“I will eat.” Malea says as she looks at the vandalism sprayed across one of the large doors of Babylon. A word, ugly and cruel is painted there. “I will eat my niceness in favor of revenge.”
And she will! Malea marches directly inside of the pleasure house and to her office. One of the first things she did when she arrived and took over the building and business was to set up new security cameras. In the event that something were to go wrong she would have both her own evidence and that of the CCTV from the city to back up any claim she might make of malice done to the building or it’s workers. She’s thankful for it in times like this— she will get directly to the bottom of who thought it fun to mess with her business.
Carefully she backs the cameras up to hours ago when the crime was committed. “AHA! THAT WRETCH!” She makes a few clicks of her keyboard and the computer snaps the image on the screen of a couple of younger demigods.
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mpxmalea · 5 months
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❛ i'd say you live up to your reputation. ❜
&. 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 (𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧) 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. {No more.}
🔮
They’re outside when he says this to her. Malea draws the bow back, her chest open and hold poised properly. Her usual training routine would stop for no weather- rain, sleet, hail, snow or snow beasts would not deter her from her archery now that she had finally gotten her bow restrung. Months of being in the city and it was just now something that she could get to. There in the thick of the woods, Malea is happily practicing her passion hobby.
“And what reputation might that be?” She asks before she goes quiet again. There’s a stillness that’s unmatched before she releases the arrow. It sings sharp through the cold air, flying directly at the target tied to the tree a good ways ahead. It sinks right into the center and she smirks proudly. “Also, why did you insist on following me out here. I’m not in danger here. These woods are protected by goddess energy, I have nothing to fear.”
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