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 Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2025 11:49 am
Since he had resolved to take this guy home and apparently solve his love life issues for him, it seemed inevitable that he couldn't stay as Undine for that entire process. It would probably be safer to not reveal both of his identities to someone he'd met ten seconds ago, but it wasn't like Calder was the smartest and most thoughtful- And he was pretty sure this pitiful man was someone he could take on if he turned out to be Secretly Evil. He also definitely couldn’t keep his power on while physically in someone’s house and invite Chaos into a most-likely-normal person’s life. The risk from revealing himself seemed like the only option since he'd gone and dug this hole.
This wasn’t Undine's favorite turn of events (he’d literally just wanted to go home, himself…), but he would manage.
He waited until they arrived at his new friend's house before he powered down. Undine had that entire time to debate the merits of staying versus just leaving, but in the end... Whatever. He could keep himself safe probably, and if it meant knocking a bad boyfriend down a notch or two, the risks were worth it.
Because even if he couldn’t be bothered to get into some rando’s personal business usually, there was a very particular kind of joy in managing men with the sort of attitude he expected this one’s boyfriend (ex boyfriend, whatever) had. And there was almost definitely no way this could come back and bite him in the a**, and if anyone said otherwise he would simply do what he always did when listening to something he didn’t want to hear and ignore them! Everything was and would be Fine. He could call someone if things turned south. Undine would not be the pitiful frightened one in this scenario.
Shedding Undine's power at the door, he turned toward the other and said, "We've hardly introduced ourselves, and given what we're going to go through, I think I at least deserve your name. I'm Calder."
This whole situation wasn’t suspiciously weird, right? No Chaos person would act so meek and pitiful and take him to an actual residence if there was to be some evil afoot? This was probably safe, right?
Calder peered around the younger guy as if with his eyes alone, he could detect any traces of evil, but it really did look like a normal place, and he suspected this was just a normal civilian.
He gave a mute, tiny little nod to himself in affirmation that this was right and fine. He was being a good person by helping a neighbor out of a s**t situation. And it would definitely Not Be Dangerous. But at the risk of having to unpack why he seemed like a different person all of a sudden, Calder jumped ahead of it. "Oh, and if you can find it in yourself to ignore all of... that," he added with a dismissive flick of his fingers towards the past twenty minutes they'd spent together walking here- where he'd been Undine. "I'd be grateful. It won't be relevant in the future, anyway."
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Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2025 1:37 pm
If Cordell hadn’t seen the man change into another man in front of his eyes, he would have thought he was going crazy. As it stood, he was still quite sure that he was going crazy but…but. This Calder was…acting like it was totally normal…was he supposed to act that way too? Pretend that this wasn’t a completely different person standing in front of him now?
For a moment, Cordell stood there, mouth opening and closing, eyes filled with confusion and perhaps some fear. “...How did…how did you just? You…” He drew in a long breath through his nose and got stuck on the letting it out again, coughing slightly. “...You…aren’t…but how?”
Great. Now he sounded as stupid as he felt but. This was something strange, was it not?
“...I’m um. I’m Cordell…how…do you want…you’re not? How did you become…someone else?” Because that was what had happened. And now he had shown this…magician to his home and that…might get confusing? Bad? Dangerous? “I’m…Cordell.”
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2025 7:01 pm
Calder had known not to expect his words to be heeded. And frankly, he should've also known better than to power down in front of some stranger he'd just met on the street, but it turned out that it didn't matter what he Did or Did Not Know. All that mattered was he'd settled on a goal worth accomplishing, and he didn't need to go saying or doing anything that didn't further his ends toward that goal: of getting rid of this guy's- Cordell's- boyfriend. No, wait- that wasn't the goal. It was just to retrieve Cordell's things. Definitely not to get rid of anyone.
Unless it came to that. Calder assumed there was a good chance of it coming to that.
"You.
Need.
To.
Listen."
Calder snapped each word pointedly, keeping sharp eyes on the other the entire time. "I said to ignore all of that. It is not important, and it's not dangerous to you." Which he added only as an afterthought, because he supposed if their positions were reversed, he would be more alarmed than comforted... Not that Calder would find himself in a situation that involved inviting home a stranger to handle his problems ever. "The less you know, the safer both of us will be, so don't worry about it for now."
More importantly was what they were actually going to do next... Cordell hadn't felt safe walking home alone, so Undine had escorted him. His phone was at his disastrous ex's house, so Calder couldn't just say 'ring me up tomorrow when you're ready to go get your things.'
"Hm... If you have a computer here, I can give you my Discord name and you can message me tomorrow when you want to leave. But if you've left 'everything' at his house, I can stay and we can go get it first thing in the morning. I don't have a strong preference. I was planning on going home and going to bed, anyway. I don't work until noon, so my schedule is relatively open."
His attention flicked to the doorway, as if saying, 'Well?'
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2025 7:08 pm
Cordell’s eyes were still wide, and he looked as though he might be sick, but he nodded and swallowed hard. “Um…Y-yeah that…that’s fine…I…guess…”
He was trembling as he spoke, and the way that Calder had snapped at him seemed to trigger a flight or fight response that was more…turn into a mouse than anything else.
“I don’t have…D-discord but I think…I think Alexi does I could use their computer…or…you…you could stay that’s…fine. My sister shouldn’t know…and just…don’t worry if she um…give you any…um. Looks…that’s just…mostly her face…not anything a-against you. But.”
He moved aside, and gestured, opening the door. “...Come…in?”
At the very least he knew that Sabrina wouldn’t tolerate any kind of serial killers…and that this Calder would be stopped before he could get started…and Alexi…well. Alexi knew how to sus people out far better than he did. “...Do…you want a drink?”
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Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2025 11:10 am
Good. It pleased him to not have Undine addressed further.
But the information he did get was surprising. Oh. Other people lived here. Calder hadn't expected that- though it wasn't like he had any reason to have expectations at all. Based purely on his new friend's demeanor, he'd expected someone who existed solely as an attachment to their gross boyfriend. How could he live with people who didn't address this situation? "You have a sister?" Calder asked as he stepped past Cordell and into his home.
He shouldn't judge without knowing more of the facts. Perhaps she was very young or exceptionally meek herself, or maybe this mousy boy just didn't engage with her often enough for her to know what was going on. Calder didn't know, but he was about to figure it out.
"If you have housemates, I won't stay long enough to intrude. It sounds like it will be easier for me to leave my contact information, and we can meet up tomorrow." No room for argument. He couldn't say something like 'if you feel like it' and expect Cordell would ever feel like instigating something with a guy who sounded like a real piece of work.
He flicked dark hair over his shoulder as he moved very assuredly to take a seat on the couch. Calder had said he wouldn't stay long, but it suited his idea of getting the whole picture to meet whoever Cordell lived with. "I'll take a drink. I strongly prefer not to drink tap water, but whatever you have is fine." He was lucky to be a bit of a bold person to begin with- Well, Calder was. Undine, less so. He thought it made it easier for people with the sort of disposition Cordell had. Here is what I want and what we're going to do. Simple. Straightforward.
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Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2025 6:26 pm
“Yes, he has a sister. Who are you?”
The voice came from nowhere and Sabrina stood in the doorway of the kitchen, staring at Calder, eyes narrowed behind her glasses. “You’re not who Cordell normally.” She cut herself off and took a few steps closer, attention going to her brother and concern marring her features for a moment as she took him in. “What happened?”
Her voice was sharp, and while it was most likely from worry, she hated how it made Cordell flinch and open his mouth to say something, but then close it again.
Damnit. Whatever it was, either this stranger caused it or…didn’t. She hoped that he hadn’t but. Strangers and all.
“I’m Sabrina, Cordell’s older sister. Again, who are you, and why are you here?”
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Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2025 6:29 pm
Cordell absolutely jumped, nearly out of his skin when Sabrina appeared out of nowhere, as she did far too often. “Sabrina…” The words were hardly a whisper, and he had hoped that they would be some type of a reproach, Calder wasn’t someone to integrate but…
“He’s…he’s a friend. He helped me. And he’s a friend…a um. A new friend…”
He hoped that the emphasis on new would have his sister cooling her heels…at least a little bit…
He didn’t really want to scare this one away if he could help it.
Swallowing, he made his way over to his sister and moved past her, wanting to go and get a drink, like he had suggested....not tap water, but he was sure they had something that Calder would like. Hopefully.
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2025 3:43 pm
"Sabrina." Calder's smile was borderline unkind as the woman appeared as if on command to introduce herself. It wasn't fair of him to have any expectations of her- he didn't know anything about her, and he barely knew anything about Cordell-
But he did know that she had the audacity to come at him all suspiciously when all he'd done was try and offer his help to her sibling- And if she was going to snap at Calder, she'd be better off turning that sort of attention to 'who Cordell normally-' Calder waited until the other boy had disappeared into the kitchen before turning fully to Sabrina.
"Do you typically affect the inquisition on everyone your brother brings over? Seems unfair to be such a harsh judge of his company in his own home." He stepped closer, eyes narrowing.
"Unless you're familiar with the company he keeps? I admit, I've only just met Cordell, but it's a good thing I did. He was wandering the streets all meek and frightened, thinking someone was following him after his 'boyfriend' kicked him out in the middle of the night, no phone, no money, no way to contact anyone. And I don't have much to go off, but it didn't sound like the first time, and I wouldn't be surprised if this wasn't the worst of it. Oh, but if you'd met this man, I'm sure you would've done something about it, before some stranger- me- had to get involved?"
"It's not like it's my business, but in the absence of anyone else doing anything about it, I barely have a choice. I told Cordell I would take him to retrieve his items in the morning. I'm Calder."
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2025 6:23 pm
Glancing behind her to make sure that Cordell was truly busy in the kitchen, Sabrina moved closer to the stranger, eyes still narrowed. “This is my reaction to anyone who comes into my home. This is simply my face. And you come with my brother who looks scared half to death.” She broke off and gritted her teeth at his explanation of the company her brother kept.
Yes. She was all too aware, and she hated it.
“I can’t control my brother’s choices, even when I hate them with every fiber of my being. It’s his life. I can only be here to pick up the pieces. He’s been controlled too often, and if I want him to keep being able to rely on me and trust me. All I can do is support him.” There was a deep bitterness in her voice, and the implication that she wished that she could do more but.
“What are you proposing here, Calder? Are you going to try and be his knight in shining armor? My brother is stubborn, as well as…” Sabrina hesitated, trying to choose her words. “...eager to please. Don’t you hurt him too. He grows very attached, very quickly. As for going to get his things, I think that’s a wonderful idea. Cordell knows that I’d like to kill that a*****e. And I might do it if given the chance.”
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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2025 9:01 am
"Does he not usually look scared to death?" Calder scoffed softly. He'd only known this boy for an hour, tops, and even though the situation did lend itself to a fidgety demeanor, Calder was not under any illusion that this wasn't Cordell's typical state. "He looked scared of you, even." And there was nothing he could do about that. Nothing he would even attempt to do about that.
He had to exert actual effort not to roll his eyes, had to physically try to keep a smile on his face. Such a proactive woman!
Only there to 'pick up the pieces' after something- someone- broke? She had the power to prevent it and was choosing not to! "No one said anything about controlling his choices, but there is a whole other party in this situation. People can be persuaded, given the right motivation. And those who are misbehaving should be corrected."
"We're just going to get his things, and if the opportunity comes up that I can talk to the guy, I won't waste it. That's all. Look. I'm not planning on hanging around forever. I saw a problem that needed fixing, and no one else was going to do it." He didn't hide the sharpness of his tone, the little jab that she could've and should've been the one to handle the situation before Calder got involved.
But no. He'd been pulled in literally off the street, and what should these Knight powers be for, if not 'defending the weak?'
He wasn't going to say or do anything to Cordell. The meek little boy wasn't going to be 'controlled,' or whatever Sabrina was so worried about.
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2025 3:28 pm
Sabrina narrowed her eyes. “Tell me, just how long have you known my brother? That you think you can judge me for understanding how he works and knowing that if I try to tell him to avoid the a*****e he’s seeing, that he’ll simply try to just move in with him completely, like he’s done in the past?”
Her voice was quiet, so Cordell wouldn't hear, but just who did this Calder think he was? Judging her.
“Until he finally realizes how toxic this a** is, telling him to stop seeing him…just doesn’t work. Trust me. I’ve tried.” Another thing that was making the hair on the back of Sabrina’s neck stand on end.
“And, if you’re not planning on sticking around, why are you so eager to make it seem like I’m not doing my job as older sister? You seem invested for someone who’s just passing through.”
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2025 4:50 pm
"Girl," Calder's tone was sharper and noticeably louder than anything he'd used prior. He wouldn't say he was the type to let his emotions have the run of him, but also what did he have to lose by being curt with these people he barely knew? "Do you not listen? Don't tell Cordell to do anything. Literally don't bother with him at all; the guy is a wet ******** noodle, and his opinion is kind of irrelevant. But there is another person in this equation. A person you can say whatever you want to because I imagine his ego is the size of a planet, and could you fathom how wounded that ego would be if he had to go crying to <******** Cordell of all people that 'his sister was mean and threatened him,' or whatever the ******** you want to do to straighten him out. It don't matter."
He huffed, shifted his weight to rest on one foot and suddenly found interest in his nails, a dismissive gesture to find a moment to get her himself, his composure.
"I've only known him for an hour- less? But I don't really need more than that to understand the picture that's being painted. He has a s**t boyfriend that's going to get him killed, and a sister that doesn't want to do anything about it because excuses, but you're sure gonna feel like s**t when something you can't 'pick up the pieces from' happens, aren't you?" Another huff. Calder folded his arms. "It's my civic duty to prevent a problem if I have the power to, isn't it?" And he wasn't afraid of angry boyfriends.
Whether of not he should be was another, less important matter.
"You got a bat? A golf club? Lipstick? Anything of that nature?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2025 5:12 pm
As much as Sabrina wanted to keep arguing, she did understand where this guy was coming from, and it wasn’t that she hadn’t threatened. Cordell had begged her to not hurt this guy. She had wanted to. Would have. Honestly, really had thought about it now she had this whole alter ego thing going for her…if she could just find a place to…
“He does have a s**t boyfriend. And he’s had others in the past. This one. Is the worst so far though. He.” She raised her hand to her mouth and began chewing on her thumbnail, scowling as she did so.
“He’s protective of the people he loves. He would know if I did anything more than verbally threaten this guy, which I have done, thank you. But. It goes to his head. He’s an absolute a*****e of the worst kind, and he loves knowing he has power over Cordell. And Cordell, my innocent…” Her voice lowered. “Idiotic brother. Has made me swear I wouldn’t do anything more to upset Carter. And the trust that my brother has in me isn’t something I could break. Even if it was in his best interest. Knowing him, I’d get rid of this guy and he’d end up attracting someone even worse...”
She paused for a moment. "...What the ******** good would lipstick do?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 2:18 pm
"How miserable," Calder said dismissively.
He knew, realistically that the one with the most blame was Cordell. It was unfair of Calder to snap so much at this girl when it was ultimately Cordell's business who he got with and who he chose- and if he made a s**t choice, that wasn't Sabrina's fault.
But to just let this guy, Carter was his name, apparently, have the run of the place was a disservice to the ******** population.
"I am going to stick my head into this situation once," Calder warned. "But if everyone just decides to let things go back to the way they were once we're done, then you are all batshit stupid, and I am not going to waste my time further. I don't let people step on me, and if you- or Cordell- do, I can't help you. But they have broken up, for the moment. So we'll go and get his things and share some words. Some words need to be written nice and brightly for them to get the full picture across."
"I'm not planning on a physical fight, but I'm not going to be unprepared if it turns into one." Usually he wouldn't do this sort of confrontation face-to-face, preferring to resort to property damage and red lipstick warnings, but- But.
Undine existed, and Calder wasn't too worried about some shitty man being a match for Undine.
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2025 7:20 pm
Sabrina still didn’t understand the point of the lipstick, but she broke off when Cordell came back into the room. She shot Calder a look, one that she hoped would let him know that she wasn’t done with the conversation, and she very much wanted to know what was going to happen when he went to ‘take care of things’. But with a curt nod, she turned and left the room, careful not to bump into her brother.
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