Don't fuck with Aria (queenofomega) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2017-07-31 19:32:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, aria t'loak, regina mills (evil queen) |
Who: Regina and Aria
What: Regina is giving Aria a glamor for when she turns into an asari.
When: Recently!
Where: Casa de Disney Villains
Warnings: Pretty low, though it takes place in Regina's crypt with all the creepy that goes with that
Regina’s house wasn’t a mansion, but it was certainly large - nestled in the suburbs of Garden Grove, it was a two-story abode painted brilliant white with flora entangled along the front fence, trimmed shrubbery and a curious apple tree in full-bloom. It was elegant, everything kept so well it was practically flawless and the queen did her best to keep it that way. Her home was an example of work, especially the inside. Atrocious home decor tastes didn’t bring bacon to the table.
What wasn’t visible, however, was the dreary and dank family mausoleum in the back. It was veiled by a ripple of illusory magic and served as the primary entrance to what was hidden beneath the house. A stone-walled chamber of magics, the contained hearts of enemies of a past life, mirrors galore, the space carrying the smell of burning candles, all-spice and earth. That’s where she’d be leading the woman she had invited over - Aria wasn’t the first alien Regina had helped.
Though she was curious as to what kind of world she dreamt of. She knew of two people that dreamt of galactic travels and wondered if she was in any way connected to one of them.
Killian had taken Meara out on a father-daughter stroll with their latest home addition (a dog, good god, although she’d been getting attached to the bastard too), Kenzi was off doing lord-knows-what with her succubus friend (drinking, shopping, maybe both) and all that was home was her royal majesty and an amber-eyed cat with smokey fur on the front porch.
With a glass of vintage red she was nursing now that mommy had peace. Aria wouldn’t be completely scared off by the chaos in her home with it absent, either.
Considering the whole transforming into an alien process seemed to be different for everyone that underwent it, Aria could not gauge whether her transformation would be quick or slow. That served as a minor point of frustration because it meant she couldn’t predict it. All she could do was to wait and see. However, the fact that Regina was willing to help give her a human disguise to use once she became asari was reassuring.
Aria wasn’t above running things from the ‘shadows’ and being the unseen owner, but she preferred having a physical presence in her clubs. Not to mention in her day to day interactions with people. Though she had to say that she’d have one hell of a Halloween ‘costume’ once she began to change.
Pulling up to Regina’s house aboard her Ducati 959 Panigale motorcycle, she probably looked quite the sight. Multi-colored hair, which was mostly blue with streaks of purple and neon green mixed in, clothing that suggested she belonged in the middle of a moshpit at a death metal concert, but she had a commanding presence. She was statuesque, being nicely muscled and toned, but there seemed to be something oddly regal about her. Aria may have questionable morality, but she had an odd sense of nobility as well. She always kept her word when she made a deal with someone. She didn’t attack anyone unless they crossed her first.
As she strode towards the porch, she took in the look of the house. It was eye-catching and certainly made a statement. She caught sight of the cat, but didn’t really react to it.
“You certainly know how to make a first impression,” she commented. Aria liked that. She was rather the same way, though she had to find different ways to make first impressions here. In the dreams, she simply pointed people to Omega as a whole, or pointed them at Patriarch.
Did she? Unless Aria was impressed with Regina’s act of ‘cat lady lounging outside the house imbibing,’ then perhaps. “As do you,” she replied, eyebrow quirked. It was hard to decide what was more captivating - her method of transportation or the sheer image of the woman, wild in style but with a magnetic presence that carried an air of royalty.
How interesting.
Based on first impressions, Regina liked her already. Tigra was indifferent - too occupied cleaning between her toes and pulling at her claws to acknowledge the latest house guest. “Pleasure to meet you in person.” A hand was extended after she stood, the other still holding the stem of her glass. “Care for a drink before we get things started? My cabinet’s either wine, tequila or rum.”
Because of course rum. She was betrothed to Captain Hook.
The house and the scenery made an impression. It gave Aria clues about Regina, but she didn’t leap to conclusion. That tended to get people in more trouble than if they simply allowed first impressions to be proven or disproven by getting to know someone.
Just as Tigra was indifferent towards her, Aria was indifferent towards the cat. She wasn’t precisely a pet type of person. Though she could see herself with a snake or some other reptile, but aside from that, Aria didn’t have the time or the patience to keep pets. She liked to keep to her own schedule.
Taking Regina’s hand, she shook it, having a firm grip. “It’s a pleasure to meet you as well.” Regina had quite the presence to her, and Aria already liked her name. No doubt it would be admired in asari society. Not that Aria was a typical asari, but even she still upheld some beliefs of her people. “A glass of wine would be nice, thank you.” For once, she minded her manners. She wasn’t necessarily big on thank yous, but she did say them now and then. This was one of those times she’d ensure that her gratitude was made known.
A glass of wine for the guest then, not a problem - all it took was a twirl of her wrist and a concentrated purple fog overwhelmed her free hand, magic rippling in the air. And just like that, poof, a glass filled and ready for consumption appeared in her hands. Definitely a handy trick when there was an immediate urge to harm her liver. “Here you are - it’s an aged cabernet from one of the local vineyards. You can follow me right this way.”
Regina could also teleport them but for first timers, that method was a little disorienting. She lead Aria through the backyard, past the tree full of the fruit of sin and at first it seemed like they were walking towards empty space, up until they crossed an invisible threshold. A ripple spread through the air as they walked through it and appearing before them in a blink was a family crypt.
A little depressing looking, but well-kept. It was through that door she walked, and then there were steps that led down beneath the earth. Stone walls were seeped with arcane energy, and it smelled like candles, incense, herbs. A witch’s workplace. True to the evil queen tale she had mirrors around - for scrying and spying - and there were wooden chests and shelves with the most curious of enchanted trinkets.
Well, that was certainly a very handy trick. Aria’s eyes narrowed slightly, though it was out of studying the spell than anything else. Magic was something she knew people had from things she’d read on the network and from what Garry's and Shepard said. This was the first time she’d seen a spell in person. And perhaps biotics could be considered magic by some, but it was more science than anything else.
“That is quite the handy trick,” she responded, taking the glass before following after Regina. Her eyes darted back and forth, almost as though she expected an attack. She really didn’t, but Aria was just one of those people who always hyper aware of her surroundings. Her asari commando training had ingrained that within her, and her life on Omega had made it almost a neurosis.
Though it was good that Regina didn’t use the teleportation spell, that would have certainly been very disorienting. It was almost bad enough when they passed through that invisible threshold and the crypt was suddenly in view. Aria actually stopped walking and blinked for a moment before looking behind her, then back to the crypt and resumed following her hostess. And once inside the crypt, it became even clearer why it was concealed in such a way.
“Ingenious, concealing this crypt. Easy way to keep this safe from prying eyes.” Aria was curious about the wooden chests, and the number of mirrors, but she knew better than to snoop. She figured if it was relevant to why she had come here, Regina would reveal it in time.
“That idea’s owed to my dream counterpart,” Regina chuckled - the evil queen really did like those dreary, gothic touches, didn’t she? “I’m the queen from the Snow White tales, the evil one that poisoned the apple and preened in front of the mirror? That’s me.” Though her dreams were nothing like the Disney cliche. More nonsensical and complicated, for one.
Tigra had followed in pursuit, rubbing up on Aria’s legs before hopping off those dainty paws to sit on one of the many wooden chests scattered around the vault. “You brought your watch, didn’t you? The one you would like enchanted?”
Aria eyed Regina. That was quite the admission. “Then it seems to be imperative to remain on your good side.” Though the same could be said about Aria. Those who fucked with Aria tended to end up dead, with only a few exceptions. She had no intentions of getting on Regina’s bad side, especially when she was helping her out.
She glanced down at the cat before she returned her attention to Regina. “I did, though it is less a watch and more, well, an omni-tool. A gift from my dreams, and one that I will wear more than a watch.” And at least when the omni-tool wasn’t activated, it wouldn’t raise eyebrows about being alien technology. “I am able to use to show you what I may one day look like, if you are so interested.” Lifting her left wrist, she tapped the tool with her right index finger, activating the orange hologram that engulfed her hand and forearm. “Though if you believe your magic may cause this to not function, I did also bring something else to use instead.”
“I didn’t think you had plans to be on my bad side,” Regina retorted with a little dark humor, leaning against her table of potioncraft. It held various vials and several ingredients - some herbal, others more like an organ from a creature. But that contraption Aria had, she’d actually seen it before.
And then it clicked.
Someone from Jane’s world, no doubt. A brow rose. “That’s - ah, what’s it again? Omni-tool, isn’t it? You know Ms. Shepard.” Hm. It was one hell of an interesting contraption, too, and usually she enchanted less complex things but she’d see it as a challenge. “And I think it’ll do. The magic shouldn’t overload it. It’s a subtle, rather basic illusion. It doesn’t seem like you’ll need much as far as physical texture goes? That would prove to be more complicated.”
Aria’s attention was caught and she looked at Regina. “Ah, you know Shepard as well. Yes, I know her, though I know her far better than she knows me.” Of course, anyone with a pulse that paid attention to the goings-on of the galaxy knew a lot about the famed Commander Shepard. Aria just tended to do her own research on people. Shepard had quite the history.
But she didn’t let herself become distracted from the point of this meeting.
“But yes, it is an omni-tool. Even if the magic overloads it or renders it non-functional, Shepard was ever so kind to give me a few extra ones.” Among other things. Aria was grateful for that tech, even if she didn’t really show it. Aria wasn’t big on thank you’s and gratitude. “Not precisely. My head will be the trickiest part. From the eyes down, I will have the same body shape that a human does.” She punched a couple things on her omni-tool before she brought up a 3D hologram image of an asari. “This is what I will look like. The head tentacles or fringe or whatever you wish to call it sticks out farther than human hair does.”
Gamora’s enchantment was a little simpler - she retained a mostly humanoid form on the outside aside from the green-toned skin. Aria’s would involve a couple changes, a little oomph, but nothing Regina couldn’t handle.
“Let me see it? If you’ve a few extra then I assume you don’t mind if an accident happens?” Not that she foresaw it would, but just in case.
At least Aria wasn’t a krogan or a salarian. Disguising those forms would be quite a bit more complicated. And she was very thankful she wasn’t a quarian because having to wear a suit the entire time so she didn’t die would not be her idea of fun.
“No, I do not mind. I backed up the information stored on this omni-tool, so I will not mind if an accident happens.” Aria said as she deactivated the device, then slipped it off of her wrist and handed it over to Regina. “I must say, you have quite the area to practice your magic in.” In a strange way, it reminded her of her secret bunker in Omega. An area where she could go and not fear prying eyes when she needed to deal with her more sensitive operations.
Regina was careful in handling it, but despite the bits and bobs that made it tick it seemed sturdy enough. “A gift from the dreams, all this,” she gestured all around after setting the omni-tool on specialized parchment paper at the table before getting to work. “It originally was a storage place, funny enough - in them I had cursed the Enchanted Forest and brought them to a world without magic. Maine, specifically.” As in New England Maine, yes. “It held all those things no one was meant to see. Their memories were wiped, replaced with new ones but they slowly remembered.”
Sound familiar? Anyway, she reached for a bottle and an eyedropper, and sucked in several drops of a clear liquid to drizzle on the omni-tool. It didn’t wet it, no - just evaporated over the device with a sizzle and smoke. “But I assure you, something else is at work here. There’s no curse despite the similarities. Just a not-so subtle overlapping of planes.”
The place was a little grim for Aria’s tastes, but it clearly served a purpose. Hearing about Maine made one of Aria’s eyebrows raise a bit in curiosity. “Maine? Suppose if you wish to keep a group of people contained and apart from outside influence, Maine is one place for that.” Aria crossed her arms as she watched Regina.
“I am not worried. If you were responsible for our current situation, I somehow doubt you would be so willing to show a stranger a place like this so easily.” Aria well knew there was power in holding all the cards and not showing them until she wanted to. She was also a woman who kept secrets very well.
“That little town I cursed everyone to was Storybrooke, meant to be isolated from the rest of the world so no, if this were me, no way in hell I’d let people just wander in.” Regina didn’t desire vengeance here, just happiness - very much like her counterpart, damaged goods with a mommy-complex that sought fulfillment in all the wrong ways. “I’m more occupied trying to live my life while trying to ignore my other one. And you? How are you dealing with yours? Because not long ago those alien machines Jane always talked about used the OC as their stomping ground.”
A hand waved over the omni-tool, magic pulsating, and then she reached for large bottle with airy liquid, shimmering and dark and wispy, and she pulled the cork from it. It spilled out on its own, swirling around the item until the omni-tool seemed to absorb it.
Aria respected that. In fact, she found that to be a similarity between them. When she had secrets and places like this, she kept them absolutely secret, save for the people who needed to know. There were places on Omega that only a select few people even knew existed.
“Ah yes, the Reapers. My dreams had not progressed to where they were a threat when they arrived here, but I knew of them. Shepard and I crossed paths in the dreams some time before the Reapers made their presence known to the galaxy at large when she arrived on my space station.” Aria watched what Regina was doing, intrigued by magic and how it worked. “I am adjusting well. There are quite a few similarities between my life here and the one I dream of. Though I am several centuries older in the dreams than I am here.”
The asari lifespan, something that Aria made thorough use of. She’d learned early on how to be patient to get what she wanted. When one could live for one thousand years, one learned patience. “Though shall we say my dream self has a far more checkered lifestyle than I do here.”
“That’s usually the pattern, isn’t it? We see ourselves with one hell of a history,” chuckled the queen, and after a few more steps she gave the omni-tool one last layover of her passing hand - a glow, pulsing shimmer, then smoke, poof. Fairytale magic was a whimsical art, with very bendy laws (emphasis on the very). “I hope that’s the extent of your dream bleedovers because that was quite a shitshow from space. I don’t think I could forget hearing those...sirens.”
Blaring sounds like they were meant to herald the apocalypse. It certainly felt that way. But, anyway, the item seemed complete, enchanted. “Now, for this - there’s no trigger word, the best I could do is to have it take effect the moment you wear it. So as long as you have this on, your appearance is human. Take it off and everyone will see your asari form.”
“True enough.” Sometimes, Aria wished she had the same kind of life her dream self did. But on the other hand, this world tended to crack down on crime and finding a safe haven like Omega would be near impossible. And if the space station did ever show up, it wasn’t as though she could send perfectly normal people to work for her from the station. Space travel was still in its infancy here compared to her dreams. “As far as things from my dream world coming through, Reapers are the worst.” An army of rachni coming through trying to destroy them would be pretty bad as well, but rachni at least didn’t come with those blaring foghorn sounds. And they didn’t want to turn people into machines either.
Though they wouldn’t have millions of krogan ready to throw at the rachni.
“Sounds simple enough. I appreciate the assistance in this matter.” This was one thing that technology from her dream world would have been unable to provide her with. Now she would be prepared for whenever she turned asari. And she had a feeling it was a when and not an if at this point. Just by how much she was starting to feel wrong in her own skin, she felt that this was the beginning stage of the change.
Regina had a certain skillset she might as well use - skills that always didn’t involve ripping out someone’s heart or catastrophic curses. “Not a problem. It’s nice to keep practicing some magic tricks and why not help others when we’re all on the same boat?” She wasn’t the friendliest one out there but overall she had a degree of basic sympathy for everyone on the network.
No one had asked to be changed the way the OC changed them, after all.
“Let me know if you come across any issues with it. I don’t foresee any, but sometimes presence of other magics can cancel the effects or at least dampen it. I’ve usually seen it happen in wide-scale events.”
Aria wasn’t know for being friendly, or even generally kind, but she also approached most things like a business transaction. She had little interest in the personal details of others’ lives, even if she’d poke Shepard later about knowing Regina. That was a little different. She did have some sort of glee over knowing something about Shepard, and maybe it would give her a better picture of the woman here. She wasn’t quite the same Shepard from her dreams, so she needed to figure this one out.
“Of course, best to be aware ahead of time. One never seems to know what hell hole this place will spawn next.” At least Aria was armed. She had her shotgun and pistol. She had her omni-tool. But she didn’t really need either with her biotics, and those were only getting stronger as time went on.
“And when you think you’ve seen it all, that’s when it surprises you,” Regina scoffed. Oh, well - the option to move was always there, but there was a little bit of her that liked the chaos of it. Sometimes it felt good to let that shackled inner-queen out, dark magics and all. “I’ll walk you out, though, follow me up this way towards where we came - and do tell me how it works when you officially use it, yes? I’m sure the change for you is around the corner. And I hope the transition’s not painful.”
“I shall do my best to keep prepared for anything.” Aria paid attention to the network, keeping tabs on what other people dreamt of. She couldn’t help it, she liked knowing things about others in the event she needed something she’d have an idea of who to go to. Her dream self would undoubtedly use some of the information she saw to blackmail someone in the event they tried to cause trouble for her or something. But this Aria wasn’t quite at that point yet.
Give her a few more dreams and experiences in this world, and she might change her tune about it.
“Thank you. I anticipate it being less painful than Vakarian’s transition. Though I may have one hell of a headache during it.” Those cartilage tentacles would undoubtedly hurt when her skull remolded itself. She followed Regina out, wondering just how short or long the change would take. Aria anticipated that she’d probably feel sick more than be in pain. Most of her changes would be internal ones. But at least when all was said and done, Omega’s queen would be herself once more.