LIANDRIN DELACROIX ♕ Lady Swallowtail ♕ Kaiser of Netsach The proud woman who once came to Aidan angry and broken, and is now singularly responsible for keeping Netsach together. He is occasionally amused at how she insists on mothering him, but perhaps that is just an indicator of how times have changed. He was once, after all, a father to her in her own father's place.
RILEY FALNER ♕ The Daywalker ♕ Master of the Falner Estate All of the words of this world and the last will fall short at any attempt at describing the depth of the love Aidan feels for this one, and how indebted he is to the man. Once upon a time, he saved Riley's life. When their world fell apart, however, Riley was the one who ended up saving his, inspired him to look towards the future, pulled him back from the edge whenever he came close to falling, and continued to stay with him in spite of everything. He is only too happy to have his first and greatest friend back at his side.
ALISTAIR MORDECHAI ♕ The Seer ♕ First of the Searing Wind The first man Aidan ever befriended in the Fifth World, and had, at different points in time, been the finest among his Kings and a constant reminder for the Keepers of the Fifth World's Vigil of what they ought to stand for. He misses the Seer's presence in his life: even when he is not too far away, Alistair does, after all, remain distant on principle, and the two of them have had their differences in the past. As such, Aidan does understand his reasons, and is willing to wait for as long as it takes for Alistair to come around.
MAES MORDECHAI ♕ The Butcher ♕ First of the Brotherhood Aidan has always known that Maes places the Vigil before family, friends, and loved ones - he is one of those rare individuals who is completely defined by his cause, and is only too willing to lose himself. This is why Aidan was surprised to hear of Maes' return to the Kings, and humbled by the fact that the Butcher did not hesitate to tell him that he returned because the Kings are important to him. They've come a long way, and it is good to have one such as Maes close at hand once again.
RETHE KYRIFF-CLAYCE ♕ Zaghiel ♕ Beloved Aidan's love for Rethe came quietly, written into every detail that defined their story together. He had sought to ignore it, of course, the moment he realized the feelings he had for Rethe; it had not helped that it had been only too easy for him to make excuses, to convince himself and to tell anyone who would listen that surely the boy only thought that he loved the Voidseeker because the Voidseeker was his Source. It took centuries and interesting times in the Vigil to make Aidan come around, and finally acknowledge that Rethe was another real chance at finding happiness. He took that leap of faith back in 2012, and has not regretted it in the slightest.
HIKARU SHINTA ♕ The Blade King ♕ Never a Weapon Where does one even begin with a person who is as much a brother as he might have been a son, who was the dearest of the woman one once loved with all of his heart and gave himself up willingly to a force that later caused him so much suffering? This is the boy Aidan taught to stand on his own two feet and found himself standing against only too often in the past. This is the man who has quietly promised to stand by Aidan's side even when his decisions threaten to rip him apart, and has also promised to be the first to challenge Aidan on his decisions. Aidan's own regard and love for Hikaru often causes them to be at odds with each other since they have rather differing ideas of how to take care of the people they care about, but that isn't ever going to stop him from watching over him. The boy's his little brother, even if Aidan and Setsuna never managed to be together.
SETSUNA SHINTA ♕ The Shield ♕ Fatespinner The first of Aidan's betrayals, and the girl he had sacrificed to the Vigil precisely because he had been frightened of the feelings he had for her. It had not helped, of course, that she had known exactly what he planned on doing, and had been fully aware of his reasons. It also had not helped that she had never turned away from him no matter how terrible he elected to be to her. She's the possibility he ruined for himself, but she is also ultimately the first person in the Fifth World who became his guiding light. Losing her in 2012 was difficult, and even with these challenging circumstances, he's pleased to see her with them again.
CALINTZ DUSKRIDER ♕ King of the Limitless ♕ Our Compass He had originally picked Calintz up and brought him into the Kings out of deference to John Duskrider's legacy, and because he felt that the boy did not need to suffer from the failings of his father Shane. He had not expected that, one day, Calintz would end up being one of those few individuals who could stand on equal footing with Aidan as a friend and comrade, and take care of Aidan as Aidan had once taken care of him. Ultimately, Calintz is the one in the best position to remind all of the other Kings of their humanity. He's done wonders in that direction in the past, and - in the face of old adversaries returning from the grave - it seems as though there's a need for Calintz to continue doing that for as long as it takes.
RILEA HEARTNET ♕ The Living Land ♕ Liberty's Belle Aidan had taken Rilea under his wing knowing full well that she would not need his guidance for very long, and was only too happy to be proven right. He appreciates the fact that she took it upon herself to attempt to fill in the void that Setsuna left behind, and be a mother figure/older sister/confidant to the rest of the Malice Kings under his care. He is also quite pleased to see that she has finally stepped away from the demons of her own past, and allowed herself to be happy by settling down with Calintz.
LORENZO REYES ♕ Alastor ♕ Liandrin's Dragon Where many of the others saw a potential adversary and a rabid dog on a fraying leash, Aidan saw a creature who could not help but be defined by his nature and sought to rise above it. Lorenzo had the Voidseeker's affections the moment he saw the Acamoth right at the girl's heels. If Lorenzo understood family, how bad could he possibly be? Besides, it has been centuries since their first meeting, and Lorenzo has, indeed, been nothing but loyal to all of them.
JESSIAH VICE ♕ The Hanged Man ♕ The Last Gambler Admittedly, the main reason why Aidan brought Jessie into the Malice Kings was because he knew that the young man's strongest suit was his grit, and the fact that he was never afraid to oppose anyone who stood in his way regardless of intimate ties or previous sentiments - and antagonize Aidan was precisely what Jessie did all the way until the Voidseeker finally had the good sense to step away from the corrupted shell that his own conspiracy had become. Aidan is only too grateful for everything that Jessie has done for the Vigil (and, on a more personal note, what he has done for Hikaru), and looks forward to seeing how far this one will go from here on.
JOSHUA LARUE ♕ Sin-Eater ♕ Blade Leader A ghost from San Diego and Vancouver who has a propensity for aiming high - and, quite surprisingly, getting there, no matter how high "high" happens to be. Aidan is admittedly fond of this one, and grateful: the boy is keeping this new and fascinating blade together, and he's also doing what none of the other Kings seem to be able to do for Hikaru. And let's not forget how Josh is Rethe's first real friend outside of the Kings. 2063 is, indeed, looking like a good year in spite of everything.
YULIA BOSTOVA ♕ Bladian ♕ Second of the Hounds Inasmuch as Yulia was the Blade King's since the beginning, the conspiracy she first entered was his - that might explain why Aidan tried to be as good to this one as he could manage, even if being "good" meant occasionally disregarding her feelings on the matter. But it worked out, didn't it? Bringing her into the Hounds. Maybe they could have a nice talk about that sometime.
ESTANISLAO MARISIGAN [HERACLITUS] ♕ Obrimos Mage ♕ Third of the Hounds It is interesting how things work out. Taning was the first Hound he knew before Hounds became a Thing: it's hard not to notice the one person who actively avoids greeting you when you're kind of a permanent (and draconic) feature on Falner's lawn. Yet now, they are "friends". He has missed those talks of science and philosophy, and he hopes that Taning does not think any less of him for losing it out there. His home was under attack: excessive as his reaction might have been, the Dragon does not take well to having his people threatened.
BRIGADE [ROLAND STEVENSON] ♕ Tammuz Golem ♕ HECATON's Last He was not kidding when he told the others that they needed Brigade. As Netsach had to be formed for the Methuselah to realize the error of its ways, the Dragon's Wings now needed more soldiers in their ranks who were willing to question them when it mattered the most. Granted, Aidan does hope that this isn't the ONLY thing Brigade will do. There is that not-so-small matter of his Pilgrimage to attend to.
BRIANNA LOPEZ ♕ Changeling {Fairest} ♕ The Princess Regrettably, Aidan never got to talk much to this one because it seemed as though she was most comfortable with Liandrin and Hikaru. The girl's a sweetheart, yes, but she was also a proud creature: Aidan got the sense that she was not approaching too much because she did not want to embarrass herself by somehow "screwing up" with the Dragon himself. It's a shame, then, that he might not have the opportunity to tell her that she never would have.
KARLO ANTONIO ZOBEL DE AYALA ♕ Card ♕ Little Brother in Violence Ah, he has always liked this one a lot. He sees a lot of Neeka in her, and he also sees a lot of what Alexa used to be before life destroyed her. It is also nice to note that the boy always took time out to come around and hang out - so few of the kids do that these days. As such, he's... well, he isn't happy that Kaz died? But they now, at least, have a bit more time together. He just hopes that the youngest of his Seven remembers, more often, that he can always come to any of them for assistance.
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THE MALICE KINGS
♕ Lady Swallowtail
♕ Kaiser of Netsach
The proud woman who once came to Aidan angry and broken, and is now singularly responsible for keeping Netsach together. He is occasionally amused at how she insists on mothering him, but perhaps that is just an indicator of how times have changed. He was once, after all, a father to her in her own father's place.
♕ The Daywalker
♕ Master of the Falner Estate
All of the words of this world and the last will fall short at any attempt at describing the depth of the love Aidan feels for this one, and how indebted he is to the man. Once upon a time, he saved Riley's life. When their world fell apart, however, Riley was the one who ended up saving his, inspired him to look towards the future, pulled him back from the edge whenever he came close to falling, and continued to stay with him in spite of everything. He is only too happy to have his first and greatest friend back at his side.
♕ The Seer
♕ First of the Searing Wind
The first man Aidan ever befriended in the Fifth World, and had, at different points in time, been the finest among his Kings and a constant reminder for the Keepers of the Fifth World's Vigil of what they ought to stand for. He misses the Seer's presence in his life: even when he is not too far away, Alistair does, after all, remain distant on principle, and the two of them have had their differences in the past. As such, Aidan does understand his reasons, and is willing to wait for as long as it takes for Alistair to come around.
♕ The Butcher
♕ First of the Brotherhood
Aidan has always known that Maes places the Vigil before family, friends, and loved ones - he is one of those rare individuals who is completely defined by his cause, and is only too willing to lose himself. This is why Aidan was surprised to hear of Maes' return to the Kings, and humbled by the fact that the Butcher did not hesitate to tell him that he returned because the Kings are important to him. They've come a long way, and it is good to have one such as Maes close at hand once again.
♕ Zaghiel
♕ Beloved
Aidan's love for Rethe came quietly, written into every detail that defined their story together. He had sought to ignore it, of course, the moment he realized the feelings he had for Rethe; it had not helped that it had been only too easy for him to make excuses, to convince himself and to tell anyone who would listen that surely the boy only thought that he loved the Voidseeker because the Voidseeker was his Source. It took centuries and interesting times in the Vigil to make Aidan come around, and finally acknowledge that Rethe was another real chance at finding happiness. He took that leap of faith back in 2012, and has not regretted it in the slightest.
♕ The Blade King
♕ Never a Weapon
Where does one even begin with a person who is as much a brother as he might have been a son, who was the dearest of the woman one once loved with all of his heart and gave himself up willingly to a force that later caused him so much suffering? This is the boy Aidan taught to stand on his own two feet and found himself standing against only too often in the past. This is the man who has quietly promised to stand by Aidan's side even when his decisions threaten to rip him apart, and has also promised to be the first to challenge Aidan on his decisions. Aidan's own regard and love for Hikaru often causes them to be at odds with each other since they have rather differing ideas of how to take care of the people they care about, but that isn't ever going to stop him from watching over him. The boy's his little brother, even if Aidan and Setsuna never managed to be together.
♕ The Shield
♕ Fatespinner
The first of Aidan's betrayals, and the girl he had sacrificed to the Vigil precisely because he had been frightened of the feelings he had for her. It had not helped, of course, that she had known exactly what he planned on doing, and had been fully aware of his reasons. It also had not helped that she had never turned away from him no matter how terrible he elected to be to her. She's the possibility he ruined for himself, but she is also ultimately the first person in the Fifth World who became his guiding light. Losing her in 2012 was difficult, and even with these challenging circumstances, he's pleased to see her with them again.
♕ King of the Limitless
♕ Our Compass
He had originally picked Calintz up and brought him into the Kings out of deference to John Duskrider's legacy, and because he felt that the boy did not need to suffer from the failings of his father Shane. He had not expected that, one day, Calintz would end up being one of those few individuals who could stand on equal footing with Aidan as a friend and comrade, and take care of Aidan as Aidan had once taken care of him. Ultimately, Calintz is the one in the best position to remind all of the other Kings of their humanity. He's done wonders in that direction in the past, and - in the face of old adversaries returning from the grave - it seems as though there's a need for Calintz to continue doing that for as long as it takes.
♕ The Living Land
♕ Liberty's Belle
Aidan had taken Rilea under his wing knowing full well that she would not need his guidance for very long, and was only too happy to be proven right. He appreciates the fact that she took it upon herself to attempt to fill in the void that Setsuna left behind, and be a mother figure/older sister/confidant to the rest of the Malice Kings under his care. He is also quite pleased to see that she has finally stepped away from the demons of her own past, and allowed herself to be happy by settling down with Calintz.
♕ Alastor
♕ Liandrin's Dragon
Where many of the others saw a potential adversary and a rabid dog on a fraying leash, Aidan saw a creature who could not help but be defined by his nature and sought to rise above it. Lorenzo had the Voidseeker's affections the moment he saw the Acamoth right at the girl's heels. If Lorenzo understood family, how bad could he possibly be? Besides, it has been centuries since their first meeting, and Lorenzo has, indeed, been nothing but loyal to all of them.
♕ The Hanged Man
♕ The Last Gambler
Admittedly, the main reason why Aidan brought Jessie into the Malice Kings was because he knew that the young man's strongest suit was his grit, and the fact that he was never afraid to oppose anyone who stood in his way regardless of intimate ties or previous sentiments - and antagonize Aidan was precisely what Jessie did all the way until the Voidseeker finally had the good sense to step away from the corrupted shell that his own conspiracy had become. Aidan is only too grateful for everything that Jessie has done for the Vigil (and, on a more personal note, what he has done for Hikaru), and looks forward to seeing how far this one will go from here on.
THE PACK
THE ROCKIN' ROLLAS
WOLF'S CHOICE
THE PRIDE
THE WAR HOUNDS
♕ Sin-Eater
♕ Blade Leader
A ghost from San Diego and Vancouver who has a propensity for aiming high - and, quite surprisingly, getting there, no matter how high "high" happens to be. Aidan is admittedly fond of this one, and grateful: the boy is keeping this new and fascinating blade together, and he's also doing what none of the other Kings seem to be able to do for Hikaru. And let's not forget how Josh is Rethe's first real friend outside of the Kings. 2063 is, indeed, looking like a good year in spite of everything.
♕ Bladian
♕ Second of the Hounds
Inasmuch as Yulia was the Blade King's since the beginning, the conspiracy she first entered was his - that might explain why Aidan tried to be as good to this one as he could manage, even if being "good" meant occasionally disregarding her feelings on the matter. But it worked out, didn't it? Bringing her into the Hounds. Maybe they could have a nice talk about that sometime.
♕ Obrimos Mage
♕ Third of the Hounds
It is interesting how things work out. Taning was the first Hound he knew before Hounds became a Thing: it's hard not to notice the one person who actively avoids greeting you when you're kind of a permanent (and draconic) feature on Falner's lawn. Yet now, they are "friends". He has missed those talks of science and philosophy, and he hopes that Taning does not think any less of him for losing it out there. His home was under attack: excessive as his reaction might have been, the Dragon does not take well to having his people threatened.
♕ Tammuz Golem
♕ HECATON's Last
He was not kidding when he told the others that they needed Brigade. As Netsach had to be formed for the Methuselah to realize the error of its ways, the Dragon's Wings now needed more soldiers in their ranks who were willing to question them when it mattered the most. Granted, Aidan does hope that this isn't the ONLY thing Brigade will do. There is that not-so-small matter of his Pilgrimage to attend to.
♕ Changeling {Fairest}
♕ The Princess
Regrettably, Aidan never got to talk much to this one because it seemed as though she was most comfortable with Liandrin and Hikaru. The girl's a sweetheart, yes, but she was also a proud creature: Aidan got the sense that she was not approaching too much because she did not want to embarrass herself by somehow "screwing up" with the Dragon himself. It's a shame, then, that he might not have the opportunity to tell her that she never would have.
♕ Card
♕ Little Brother in Violence
Ah, he has always liked this one a lot. He sees a lot of Neeka in her, and he also sees a lot of what Alexa used to be before life destroyed her. It is also nice to note that the boy always took time out to come around and hang out - so few of the kids do that these days. As such, he's... well, he isn't happy that Kaz died? But they now, at least, have a bit more time together. He just hopes that the youngest of his Seven remembers, more often, that he can always come to any of them for assistance.