Hellhound AU

[just_aces]

Sometime round about 1900, a witch summoned a hellhound as a familiar.

He didn't mind it, hellhounds are loyal after all, and if some of her spells left him tired and drained, well, that was what he was there for, to keep her from using too much of her own energy for things. That and to eat the souls of her victims, sometimes.

But then, in the early 1970s, she ran afoul of a much stronger coven.

She was quite quickly banished to hell, but the hellhound couldn't be allowed to go with her, because, well, hellhounds are loyal and she was powerful and would have been able to use him to escape.

So the hellhound was made human, figuring that sixty, seventy, even eighty years if he was lucky would be enough time for the witch to have been consumed, so that even when the human-that-had-been-a-hellhound died, and Death herself realized that he was definitely not where, or what, he was supposed to be, she'd send him back.

But then one Charles Rowland kind of fucked up that whole plan by dying young and immediately running away from Death herself.

So the ghost-who-was-the-boy-who-was-the-hellhound has no idea what he was, or still is, under it all.

But, after a trip through hell to save his best friend (Hellhounds are loyal, after all) and time spent in a familiar position -though not a familiar kitchen- after that has been enough to knock a few things loose...

Comments

[just_aces]

Charles had shifted back to himself almost as soon as they were through the mirror, just leaning against the desk, arms folded loosely over his chest, comfortable as he ever was, practically lounging.

He nodded at Edwin's initial run of statements, because he'd felt the same, really, and agreed, it was just remembering in the moment of being argued against that they also had support that was the hard part, which was part of what had him asking: "It's Celeste and Estelle is the other two, yeah? One of them asks questions differently than Astra and the other one." His brow creased, lifting one hand to scratch behind his ear, squinting ceilingward as if that might help him figure it out, but he finally shook his head, fingers wiggling near his temple, "I'll sort it out eventually, got to let it simmer a bit, probably just have to pay better attention next time they're both talking."

He was caught up enough in trying to remember what it was he'd noticed about the three of them who seemed to delight in needling Edwin and, apparently, were trying to 'confiscate' him -and he definitely didn't like the sound of that- that he almost missed Edwin's actual question, and he smiled, "I'm alright. Better here than there." Which had as much to do with familiar and friendly surroundings as it did anything else.

[uptightboy]

Edwin frowned at Charles. Asking questions differently? He narrowed his eyes. Had Charles noticed something about the sisters? But he just nodded a little preoccupied, waiting for Charles's answer to his question.

"Good, I did not wish to exhaust you further with this visit but I was afraid it would look worse if we didn't show," Edwin sighed. "We shall catch our breath then..." he started, then took his notebook with the list Daphne got them. He walked to Charles, showing it to him. "Then we shall look into these items and practices," he said. "Some of these are quite expensive and rare magical items but there are some items and things we could try out to see if we can replenish your energies faster. And maybe... maybe get rid of the scarring too," he added a little careful.

[just_aces]

"Oh yeah, would have been worse if we hadn't gone." He replied easily to that explanation, glancing at the list as it was offered over, brow creasing as he studied it more intently once he realized just what was on it.

His fingers drifted reflexively to the where that scabbed-over burn spot was on his shoulder, currently hidden by his shirt, when Edwin mentioned the scarring, "It doesn't hurt. Mostly just annoying." He assured, even as he dropped that hand to tap a fingertip against one of the line items, "We've still got a couple of these in storage, bottled spells, from the Cloister case, they were in the bottom drawer of the alchemy case and we just moved them to a shelf to make room for actual ingredients."

He wouldn't have remembered as much if he hadn't literally just done the inventory a few days before, "'Course I'll have to figure out how to y'know, consume the magic without using the spell, but I'll have to do that for most of these anyway." He doubted that consuming magic was the same as consuming a soul, for one thing he doubted the magic would fight back, or be afraid of him.

[uptightboy]

"Good memory, Charles," Edwin nodded. "Then, we shall start with those," he decided. "Then we may look into places where they make delicious food so you can... feed," he added, bringing the list to put it on his desk for now.

"As I noticed," he started, turning to Charles again. "Your instincts work quite sharp when you shift," he said. "So, it may be advisable to trust your other self to find out how to consume the magic of a bottled spell. I shall also see what I can find." Edwin stopped for a second, thinking. "I'm quite relieved we do not need to feed you souls, however," he said. Though, he wondered... if they had no choice, would he do it? Would he catch a ghost to feed it to Charles? Would it ever come to it? As Edwin remembered how it felt when he thought he was going to lose Charles, he had to realize Despair of the Endless had chosen him as a 'friend' for a reason. He closed his eyes for a moment to try and get that thought out of his head. They didn't need to feed souls to Charles, not as long as he was careful.

[just_aces]

He did smile at that praise, the same as he ever did, "It's only because I just did inventory the other day. Should probably try some of the lower-power ideas first, though, just in case?" A little shake of his head as he explained, "Too much energy might be worse than not enough, I know how I used to get after I had a coffee, figure this is probably about the same thing, yeah?"

It seemed like it should be at least, or at least something similar, "But if there's no change after we get back from the market, can try one of the bottles. But yeah, other shape is probably for the best, I think I can still absorb energy or whatnot like this, but I don't know for sure, and probably better not to test that if it's just as easy not to." And considering that changing between the two forms was already second nature, something he did without even having to think about it too hard, it really would be that easy.

[uptightboy]

"I had never imagined a high-quality magical spell in a bottle would be compared to coffee and yet, here we are," Edwin remarked with a raised eyebrow. "That said, starting small is indeed the safest way to proceed into this."

"May I suggest..." he started, narrowing his eyes. "You need a scent of food, any kind. While the market is indeed a good place to smell food, we could visit actual kitchens," he advised. "Restaurants, perhaps. Including Italian ones. My idea would be it may work better if it is food you actually like."

[just_aces]

That suggestion just kindled warmth in his chest all over again and his smile spread, "Yeah? Sounds like a valid theory, only one way to find out." He gave a shrug, hands in his pockets once more, but smile very much in place. He knew Edwin knew how much he missed spaghetti -among a handful of other things- but the fact that he thought ahead that way, or even took something like that into consideration in a new situation was... it was nice in ways he didn't have words for.

"If it works we could always try that park near the university, where all the food trucks set up on the weekends? Crystal says it always smells amazing over there, that many different kinds of food at once and all." His brow furrowed a moment later, "Usually pretty big crowd, though, might be safer to go disguise route if we're doing that."

[uptightboy]

Edwin is already trying to rake his memory of nearby places where they could start feeding, when Charles also suggests the university.

"Ah, yes, I suppose finding new favorites may also benefit the cause," he nodded. "Do you think we need disguises? I believe plain ghost form should be enough to visit. Or, well, if we were to go with Crystal I suppose we can take on the disguises," he adds, not too enthusiastic. He would fight for Crystal and protect her with everything he got but being in a crowded area for her? No, he has to draw the line somewhere.

[just_aces]

He laughed softly, "I just meant it'd be less people trying to ask questions if it's two of you and a fuckoff big dog instead of just you." He shook his head, "We'll save that for later, have to find out how well this even works first, and how close I have to be, all that kind of thing. The finer points and all."

He gave a shrug, "And if the garden thing works, we can always get some planter boxes up on the roof, yeah? Might not be enough for full recharge, but could work for a sort of top-up?" And depending on what they managed to actually plant in them it might attract more birds for the Hound to chase besides the pigeons. Not that he was actually trying to catch them, he just liked pouncing at them to make them scatter.

[uptightboy]

"Right, later then," Edwin agreed. "Oh dear, a garden of our own," he huffed. While he does love nature, gardening isn't really their forte. But maybe for Charles, he can put some effort into the skill, and maybe the witches can advise them on the details of it. "If we start going down that path, I believe we could also grow some of our own supplies of alchemical components," he added. It may be useful but Edwin still wasn't entirely thrilled about gardening.

"Well then, do rest now, and inform me if we can go to, well, feed you," Edwin said at last.

[just_aces]

He nodded, moving to drop onto the couch, "It's probably a couple hours until most restaurants are open, still early." Their meeting with the Coven hadn't gotten dragged out like they sometimes did, which he was definitely grateful for in some ways, but he'd already been tired to start with, though not as badly as he had been the past few days, so he'd take it.

He shifted himself around so he was leaning against the arm of the couch, just dragging the blanket down off the back to wrap himself in like a shawl, "Three hours? Then we can go."

[uptightboy]

"Alright," Edwin nodded, watching as Charles got comfortable on the couch. It was still so new, knowing that he needed naps and even slept too. Now they were going to visit places where people were eating. It was almost like Charles had his wish come true, he was 'being alive' again. "Charles, do you..." Edwin started but halfway he wondered if it was a stupid question. In the end, he squared up and asked. "Do you prefer being a hound than a ghost?"

[just_aces]

He did, actually, seem to consider that question for a moment, brow creasing as he turned it over in his mind, weighing it against his experiences, realizing only belatedly that he'd been quiet for maybe a little too long, and finally just shaking his head, "No."

His brow creased, "I mean, some things is easier? But it's just gone and complicated everything else." He pinned Edwin with a look then, "I don't regret it, though, so don't go getting that in your head, either." He shook his head, settling in a little more, "It's just going to take some getting used to, that's all."

[uptightboy]

Edwin felt a little alarmed as Charles stayed silent. He didn't even realize how he was so fixated on the answer. But he let out a sigh, even if useless, when Charles spoke.

"I'm glad," Edwin said, looking away for a second. "I was only thinking that you are alive again, in a sense. You got your 'life' back."

[just_aces]

A string of various confused expressions chased each other across Charles' face, finally just asking: "What?" He shook his head, "No, I mean, I can see how you got there, but that's not what it's like at all. It's more like..."

His brow was still furrowed, trying to figure out a way to explain and finally just coming up with: "Like that story about the swan that got raised as a duck, yeah? Spent this whole time thinking I was just bad at being a ghost and turns out it's because I've been using the wrong script the whole time." Which was two different metaphors, but still fit.

[uptightboy]

Well, Edwin had to admit it got more clear to him with that metaphor. Right. A swan raised by ducks. That... was fairly accurate.

"Well then, Mr. Swan," Edwin started. "I just wanted to say I am happy we will finally put you in your place. In multiple ways," he added. "I shall let you rest, thank you for indulging me."

[just_aces]

He snorted a laugh at the new title, though his expression softened into an actual smile at the rest as he settled in again, "'Course I will, you've done the same for me since the start, wouldn't be fair if I didn't do the same."

Another nod, kicking off his shoes to draw his feet up onto the couch as well, though it left him curled up like some kind of isopod, he seemed comfortable enough, "Three hours. Then we'll go."

He was always surprised at just how easy it was to slip off to sleep, because it wasn't like normal sleep, or at least not how he remembered sleep being, he was still mostly aware of what was going on in the office, but even then it was still restful, it was enough to recoup some energy and he was uncurling again in just over two hours, shaking the blanket out to drape it back over the back of the couch again.

[uptightboy]

With Daphne's handy list, Edwin and Charles started working on methods to keep a Hellhound strong and fed. The scent of cooking food worked so they took on more runs together. Their supply runs sometimes included walking to restaurants, the market, and the university campus. Some of these runs included them being in disguises which brought a new kind of horror to Edwin's afterlife as apparently, dogs were pretty popular around the university parts. People loved Charles and thus they also paid attention to Edwin's disguised self, a young woman just walking her dog... When Edwin had been asked for his number for the second time, they brought Crystal along more and the attempts were reduced but only about half. Yet, it was still a good method to keep up Charles's strength.

Having all these options at hand did help Edwin's anxiety about using magic. He didn't plan to exhaust Charles again like he did with the destroying spell but it meant they could experiment a bit more boldly about boundaries without leaving Charles empty. Knowing that there were ways to help Charles if he was being used calmed Edwin just a bit. It also allowed him to experiment with a wider variety of spells. It was also a bit dangerous because it made Edwin look for spells he wouldn't usually... as if he learned nothing from using the wrong offensive spell the other day.

So, on a slower day, between cases, Edwin decided to check on one of the smaller spells, like using a seeing stone to send some updates to Daphne.

"Now, let us see," Edwin muttered to himself as he was holding the stone in one hand, and his notebook in the other. He read the spell in his notes a few times in quiet at first. If this was working it would solve some of their delayed communication issues, and also spare them to write letters. Which Edwin did not mind but he had to admit that sending letters was sometimes way too slow.

[just_aces]

When Charles showed up basically good as new at the week-later check-in meeting, it was deemed safe to return to their twice-monthly meetings, and even those hadn't been terrible now that they had a surefire way to keep Charles' strength up, and Charles was still paying close attention to Astra and her sisters, though he still hadn't really figured out what it was that Celeste -he was pretty sure- did differently when she asked things that it was still sharp and pointed and sometimes downright mean, but wasn't the same as Astra and Estelle.

He knew he'd figure it out eventually, but in the meantime he was going to enjoy the fact that they'd figured out a good regular energy top-up on basically the first try, and had bottled spells in reserve, with a few more added to the collection thanks to Auntie who they had gone to visit at the Floating Market. More than that, he sometimes walked with Crystal to the cafe, because even though it wasn't quite as effective in his regular form as it was in hound-shape he still could absorb that ambient food energy, and it always smelled delicious in there anyway, he'd always been fond of the almost-sharp scent of roasting coffee as it was, and that was more pronounced now.

Daphne was still their liaison with the Coven, or their minder, as she often said, only half-joking, and being able to communicate with her quickly would only be a good thing, which was why Charles was sticking close as Edwin worked on the sending stone, not where he'd get in the way, and not close enough for Edwin to draw on the extra power, not that there had been further incidents, but still better safe than sorry.

Something prickled at the edges of his senses whenever Edwin did magic, though this time was different, but he couldn't quite place why, straightening from where he'd been sprawled on the couch leafing through a Tintin comic, fingers marking his place and tilting his head as if he might be able to hear what was different about the spell.

[uptightboy]

Edwin hummed, whispering the words to himself a few times before he attempted to say them out loud. He sent a look at Charles, noting how his attention was on him too. Edwin's very first thought was that Charles was maybe worried he took a lot of power again accidentally. Edwin hated that feeling. He knew he wouldn't take as much, he knew they settled it with Charles... Maybe one day he will believe it himself, that he can do this and protect Charles too.

With a lick of his lips, Edwin nodded to himself. The spell was supposed to open a gate for the message to go through, almost like a voicemail. So Edwin repeats his message in his head too, and then goes for the spell.

He says the spell out loud, holding the stone. He already knew how it would feel when the spell worked and he could feel it working... except what he thought would happen, didn't happen. Upon casting the spell the stone did light up but instead of waiting for his message and small portal opened and something dashed out of it. Something with wings and the scent of sulfur. Edwin yelled and his kneejerk reaction was to grab the stone and throw it at the thing- an imp? But Edwin had no time to properly check it as his body was already moving, kicking his chair back and backing away from the desk where the creature spawned.

[just_aces]

Charles shifted shape without even really thinking about it, much as Edwin's automatic reaction was to throw whatever was on hand, Charles' was now to take the shape more suited to going on the offensive, which he also did without fully thinking it through, pouncing from where he was on the couch straight at the desk, something that sent the messenger imp scurrying off, which was definitely the wrong thing for it to do as well, because that lodged it squarely as 'prey' in Charles' mind and he lit off after it.

Between the imp's panicked squealing and Charles' growling both while tearing around the office -Charles much better aware of where things were than the imp- it was chaos for the entirety of the chase, though it didn't last long, less than a minute but more than thirty seconds and it was only the knowledge that this wasn't what Edwin had been trying to do and that he might be upset if Charles outright killed the thing -despite the fact that he really did want to just eat it- that kept Charles from doing just that, instead carrying it carefully back over to the desk.

He dropped it carefully in the empty space where he usually sat, rearing up on his back legs so that he could hold it down with a forepaw, casting as confused an expression as he could at Edwin as he did, waiting for explanation or instructions and trying to remember how things had gone when the Duchess had summoned imps like this, trying to connect its arrival to what Edwin had been doing and not quite able to do so.

[uptightboy]

Edwin gasped as he watched Charles leap after that sorry excuse of an imp but he was too shocked to tell him no. Though, in retrospect, he maybe didn't even want to tell Charles to stop. The office became a mess after the short but intensive chase but Edwin was too preoccupied to note it just yet. He blinked as Charles brought it back to the desk, putting it on it as a trophy...

"Ah..." Edwin blinked, setting the lapels of his jacket straight to settle himself. He moved back to the desk, eying the caught, miserable imp under Charles's paw. The thing looked like a rabbit caught in the teeth of a hound dog... still alive but facing the inevitable. Edwin did wonder why the hound didn't kill it the first chance he got. "Um, well done, Charles," Edwin nodded as he was still thinking about what to do and what happened. Upon further inspection, he had found that this kind of imp was the servant type - used for small errands and messages. "Huh, I- I did not think the spell would summon a messenger, it should not have been that strong," Edwin wondered out loud. "Oh dear, let me check how to proceed, bear with me for a moment, Charles."

[just_aces]

He knew Edwin hadn't actually meant to summon it, the same way he knew he'd only managed to catch it because he knew the layout of the office better than it did, and it couldn't simply portal itself away again until it was given a message and dismissed, though he couldn't quite be sure how he knew that part and wasn't going to think about it too hard, not when it kept wriggling miserably, seemingly more out of annoyance than any actual attempt to get away, as the pitiful squeak of: "Message?" would attest to.

Even just that much was enough to have Charles leaning closer and growling once more, not snarling in full, but definitely baring his teeth more intently, because he could still eat it, if Edwin wanted him to.

[uptightboy]

"Oh," Edwin blinked when the creature stated the reason of its summon. Well, it meant that it was harmless at least. Yet, Charles still went after it. Could be because of Edwin's scare, which was quite adorable if the ghost had to say. Or it could be... Edwin remembered the list Daphhe had given them. He froze. Letting Charles eat such a creature would boost his strength for weeks. And it was only an imp... an unfortunate one that is.

"Charles," Edwin frowned. "Are you... Are you asking if... Do you want to, um, eat?"

[just_aces]

It had been partly due to the way Edwin had startled -because it was Charles' job to protect him- and it was partly due to the fact that it was something of Hell and it was in the office and that wouldn't stand because that had always been something they avoided at all costs. But more than anything it had also just been instinct. Hellhounds chased imps the way cats chased mice, it was just there.

He blinked up at Edwin at the question, considering for a long moment, and it was probably some kind of cosmic joke that he was less impulsive at the moment than he usually would be, because something like that would be a lot of energy, more than he was used to certainly, but maybe that would be a good thing, because they could figure out what had gone wrong with Edwin's spell and fix it without him even burning off the surplus.

It was that more than anything, the thought of being helpful, that had him grinning, arching up again so he could just swipe the imp off the desk again, maw bigger and sharper than it had been a moment before as he tossed the unfortunate creature into the air with that paw, snapping it down in one bite before it could hit the floor.