CORY COLLIER
Reaper
Posts: 125
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Sept 30, 2024 19:10:29 GMT
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Post by CORY COLLIER on Oct 2, 2023 19:36:52 GMT
”I promise it’s not gonna be so long next time,” Cory murmured softly as he set Petyr down in his crib. ”I’ll see you soon little man and don’t forget how much your mom and dad love you and wish you could be with them.”
The little boy in the crib snuffled like he was going to wake again, but then the small body went lax with sleep. The dark lashes closed all the way, hiding the blue irises that’d been bright with interest when he’d finally arrived a couple of hours ago. Cory laid fingertips lightly on Petyr’s chest for a moment and then he was gone.
He probably wasn’t meant to go on these side jaunts in Heaven. There were a million rules for reapers, probably chiselled into stone tablets back at the dawn of time. Don’t mess with the natural order, only take those that Death sent you for, don’t go rogue. It had already been too late on the last one when Augustus had shown up in his Heaven. He’d tried to stick to most of the rules since, but at times he’d been pushed across the lines those rules drew – and sometimes he stepped across them for something that felt right. Coming to see Petyr was right, and nobody was gonna be able to tell him otherwise.
Up until a fortnight ago he’d come by every week. Sometimes it was just an hour snatched between gathering up souls, sometimes it was entire days when things were blessedly quiet and he could push back that breathless anticipation that someone’s life was gonna end in a total nightmare at any moment. Drinking up everything he could of Petyr’s life here to carry those memories, the images, back to the parents that couldn’t be with him. He and Dani would have given anything to have had even that much of their dad still in their lives and Cory knew it was the same for Destiny and her boyfriend.
Leah still hadn’t apologised for it. Taking the life of an unborn child felt like the worst possible crime, but she’d defended it the same way she had every shitty thing she’d done. He didn’t know why he’d thought that maybe this would be different and Leah would finally grow a conscience. She was broken beyond any hope of fixing.
Cory didn’t bother stopping back at the motel or checking in with the boss. He took a chance instead, blipping in on the bottom floor of the office complex’s parking garage. It wasn’t like he’d gotten behind the wheel of a car since he’d come back, but it felt like the least conspicuous place to arrive, unless they were eyes on those cameras. He cast a quick dart of a look up at the cameras before he headed for the elevator. It was mid-afternoon, but the car was still half full by the time he reached the floor the newspaper was on. Maybe he should’ve waited until later and gone to the hotel. It felt like an intrusion, though, like he was busting in on lives that had already been left in rubble by someone he felt responsible for.
The receptionist was all smiles as he walked in, drawing a nervous one out of him. Cory eased up to the front desk, one hand settling lightly on its edge while the other continued holding on to its little bundle. ”Hi. I’m here to see Ms. Baccari … if she’s available. I don’t have an appointment, but I was hoping …” That he could barge in anyway, to give her an update on her son. Oh, God, it was gonna make her cry, he knew it as surely as he knew that he was gonna fill up with tears as he did the story telling. His smile flickered again as the woman asked his name. ”Cory Collier. If you just tell her Cory’s here … she’ll know who it is.” And Destiny would likely know why he’d come too.
Petyr.
Bringing the bundle up towards his chest, Cory tried to smooth out the creases, to make the meagre scraps of a life that should’ve been lived out right here with his parents look better. It should’ve been more, but even taking this much with him was probably risking things. You didn’t mess with the supernatural things that were big enough to turn you into a speck of dust with a single look. You were respectful to the, polite, and you didn’t go stomping over what they laid out for humanity. Augustus scoffed in the back of his head, leaving him wincing away from the sound as the receptionist set down the phone she’d presumably called through to the boss on. She shot him a concerned look, but was gesturing to the chairs set against the wall opposite.
”Take a seat, she’ll be right out.”
”Th-thanks,” Cory muttered. He folded himself down into one, elbows braced against his knees. They were probably way more expensive and comfortable than the hard plastic chairs at the train station, but the waiting was enough to remind him of them. The reason he hadn’t seen Petyr in weeks, the reason his gut had been in knots most of the time. No matter how much power he had there were still situations he couldn’t control and Ruby being taken was one of them. He couldn’t just snap his fingers and take her and the others home, he hadn’t even been able to unlock her memory so she wasn’t staring at him like a complete stranger again.
The moment he saw Destiny approaching him, Cory was on his feet. He cradled the bundle between his hands as gentle as though he had Petyr himself there. His smile flickered into place again. ”I probably should’ve waited until later, but things have been busy, and I wanted to make sure I visited while I could.” A quick glance at the receptionist confirmed that she was on the phone again, hopefully not managing to eavesdrop on the two of them at the same time.
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DESTINY BACCARI
Darach
Posts: 180
Age:
25
Occupation:
Mystic Daily Owner
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Grey Maddox
Played by:
Julia
Last seen Nov 17, 2024 17:51:44 GMT
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Post by DESTINY BACCARI on Nov 6, 2023 20:57:27 GMT
 ━ i'll stay awake at night with just my skin and bones ━
All she wanted was to protect what family she had left. She couldn’t lose him in the process, though━that wasn’t the point. She just wanted Grey to know that what she was doing was for them. It was supposed to be a good thing. And… she knew it was dangerous, but she was more concerned with the power it would bring. It was less dangerous the better she got at it.
But she’d never wanted to hurt Grey. She didn’t mean anything she said, either━she was just worked up and… fucking upset. And yeah, maybe the dark parts of her mind had dwelled on some of those things in the past, but she’d always known it wasn’t true, and that saying it aloud would only cause him pain. She’d done it anyway, though, and now she was left with… this. Her relationship in fucking shambles.
She’d have to do something nice for his birthday. She couldn’t stand another night walking on eggshells with him, barely speaking to each other━both of them just in pain.
Her phone rang, and Destiny jumped, then puffed out a breath and glanced at the screen. Just reception━at least it was something to break her out of this mindless shit. “Hey,” She answered, and the minute Sally’s perky little voice told her that Cory Collier was here, Destiny was jumping out of her chair. Cory. Her heart hammered in her chest. That meant Petyr━he might be able to tell her about her baby. And, selfishly, she thought it would be a good way to break the ice with Grey, too.
“Yes, yeah, coming!” She said before Sally could finish, “I’ll be there in a second!” Destiny abandoned her work and tried not to sprint through the office, settling for a quick walk to the front.
The minute she saw Cory, she beamed at him, her vision already starting to get fuzzy. “Hi!” Destiny said quickly, rushing in to hug him, though she had to work around the stuff in his hands. She pulled away after a minute and waved off his words, sniffling as she laughed, “No, it’s okay━come whenever.” He was a welcome sight at any point, and not just because he usually brought news about the baby she couldn’t see. What’d happened had tied them together forever, and she’d always be thankful for him and what he did. She’d owe him for the rest of her life━and probably after, too.
“Here, come to my office,” Destiny waved Cory along, beckoning him to follow, and trudged back to her office with him, being careful about what she said until she was closing the door behind him. “How’re you?” She asked politely, though she was dying to know about Petyr. “Thank you so much for coming. For always… I’ll never be able to thank you enough.” She smiled, the tears making her eyes glassy again as she sat down on the other side of her desk. “How is he?” Destiny asked finally, eager to know, even if the updates were usually just minute things. But she remembered when Cory told her Petyr had learned to walk, and she felt so proud, so unbelievably happy, and then… just empty. It hurt every time, but it was worth it to know that he was okay.
CORY COLLIER | no notes. |
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CORY COLLIER
Reaper
Posts: 125
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Sept 30, 2024 19:10:29 GMT
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Post by CORY COLLIER on Dec 8, 2023 20:04:32 GMT
It didn’t matter how many years he’d been gone, Cory had still felt a rush of grief beneath the joy as he’d woken in Heaven to the sound of his dad’s voice. Losing someone you loved carved a wound deep into your heart. Maybe it scarred over eventually, but it took just one memory, one mention to leave you feeling every bit of it again. Your body and mind could only do so much to shield you from it.
On the night they’d lost Petyr, he’d done his best to try and heal at least some of the damage Leah had done. Seeing the look on Destiny’s face now, Cory knew it hadn’t been enough to make much of a difference, if any at all. Petyr would’ve been so loved, was so loved, but everything he could’ve been, all the years he should’ve had with his mom and dad had been torn away. What remained felt like a shadow – just enough to be recognisable, but the moment you tried to grab on you lost it, what you thought you could have shredding through your fingers.
Cory’s fingers twitched like they’d tighten around the bundle, but the little voice in the back of his mind screamed gentle, the same way it did whenever he held Petyr. He let go with one hand, wrapping his arm around Destiny as she hugged him. His smile was definitely a little watery when he drew back. Her sniffles were already threatening to echo through him. ”Alright, thanks,” he murmured, dipping his head in gratitude. ”Usually, I’m a little more organised.” It only felt polite to set things up instead of leaping straight into them, especially with something so sensitive. If Destiny had burst into tears instead of holding it back, how many sets of eyes would’ve turned in their direction? People were nosy, especially when emotions were involved, and he didn’t want this gift to be public.
His gaze slid over them almost nervously as he followed after Destiny. Some people looked back at him, but maybe that had more to do with the fact that he practically towered over Destiny as he scurried along in her wake. Cory looked away, focusing on Destiny instead. Nobody here knew why he’d come, there wouldn’t be any sort of furore about him upsetting their boss later. He’d slip back out and Destiny would be able to fold her love around what he still held as though Petyr there. It wouldn’t be the same, but it was as much as he thought he could give her and his dad for now.
”I’m good, thanks,” Cory said softly as they slipped inside. He closed the door behind him, folding down almost stiffly into the seat in front of her desk. As Destiny thanked him, Cory shook his head. ”You never have to thank me for that.” Especially since he hadn’t been able to do what he’d so desperately wanted to at the time. Regret would always have his heart aching at the thought of that night. The what ifs swamping him like waves – if he’d got there a few minutes earlier, if he’d been able to use more of what he was, if he hadn’t got Leah the damn job in the first place.
This time his smile was brighter, warmer. Cory felt the heat rise into his sinuses, prickling at the back of his eyes as he thought of the little boy who was probably dreaming of a world and parents he’d never see now. Sweet, innocent dreams untouched by what his aunt had done to him. ”He’s amazing,” he said hoarsely. ”He’s starting to talk. It was just, you know, sounds at first, but I’m sure he’s working his way up to mama and dada.” With the little boy in his lap he’d work at it, showing him photos of the people who still longed for him, repeating what he knew about them over and over. Tiny fingers patted at the screen, the gummy smiles leaving him sure that Petyr knew exactly what he was talking about.
Looking down at his lap, Cory drew in a deep breath. He set the little bundle down on Destiny’s desk, pushing it slowly forward. The pale blue tissue paper had been folded neatly around it all, but he’d forgotten the tape and he hadn’t been about to go pawing his way through someone’s heaven to try and track some down. ”I wanted to bring you something. I thought, with Christmas coming up, it was a good time.” He patted the bundle gently before he sat back, inside the painting crinkled lightly.
Unsure what his parents would want, he’d tried to put together little keepsakes for them. Hand and footprints placed gently on the paper in bright colours. Petyr had patted his face before he’d managed to clean him off, the specks of green paint were probably still scattered like freckles on his skin despite his attempt to wash it off. The photos had been taken on the trip before, but it had taken him days to get developed. Petyr toddling across his nursery, determination etched on his little face as he’d headed straight for a stuffed toy. The little boy sleeping, grinning with food painting his cheeks, his face lit up as he looked up at the stars that twinkled overhead. Both were wrapped carefully in a onesie Petyr had outgrown, a teddy bear’s face on the chest, beaming out from the field of blue and white stripes, still carrying that sweet baby scent with it. God, he wished it was Petyr he could’ve held close as he’d left there.
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DESTINY BACCARI
Darach
Posts: 180
Age:
25
Occupation:
Mystic Daily Owner
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Grey Maddox
Played by:
Julia
Last seen Nov 17, 2024 17:51:44 GMT
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Post by DESTINY BACCARI on Jan 12, 2024 17:41:29 GMT
━ i'll stay awake at night with just my skin and bones ━
“Oh, wow,” Destiny whimpered, only managing to get out that much because of the tears she was still attempting to hold back. That was so amazing, but she couldn’t help but think about how he’d learn the words without really knowing what they meant. He’d never be able to assign it to Destiny and Grey as people, only as photos, maybe, if Cory could bring him any. “That’s so… amazing.” She sniffled, “What’s he saying now?” It was probably just ‘nanana’ and things of a similar nature, but Destiny wanted to know exactly what their baby would’ve started with. Well, what he was starting with, just not with them.
She leaned forward to grab the bundle of blue tissue paper, not hesitating for even a second. ‘Thank you,” Destiny started before she’d even torn it open. It was Grey’s birthday first, so maybe she could…
Destiny lifted a trembling hand to her mouth, trying to keep the sob behind it. It only muffled the sound slightly, but she didn’t glance up to make sure nobody had heard through the office door, or that Cory wasn’t cringing where he sat. Nothing mattered except blinking her eyes clear so she could see her baby boy’s beautiful little face.
And his tiny hands and feet pressed to the canvas in green paint. The facial expression as he toddled━like a drunken sailor, she was sure━across this little makeshift home Cory had produced for him. She recognized the look on his face━it was the same one Grey wore when he was focused on anything. Brows drawn together, lips faintly pursed, looking like whatever he was giving his attention to was the most important thing in the world. This was their baby, her mini version of Grey, and she was pushing away his dad as if they weren’t the only people they both had left.
Destiny carefully pulled the onesie out from beneath the items, and she didn’t hesitate before lifting it to her face, accidentally brushing her tears on it as she inhaled him. Her baby boy. She’d never been able to hold him he was alive, never got to press her lips to his head and know that he was safe, happy, good. That everything would be okay. If this was the closest she could get, then she’d take it. She’d never expected this, really, and it was the best present she could ever receive. It would be the best for Grey.
“Grey’s birthday’s soon,” Destiny sniffled, trying to gather herself together as if Cory hadn’t seen her during the worst moment of her life. She pulled the onesie away so she could look down at it, her thumb gently touching the edge of the bear’s face. “Before Christmas. So this’ll be good for… for him. It’s perfect. Thank you,” Destiny pressed her lips together to stop another sob from rolling out, her eyes lifting to Cory’s face. “Would I be able to give you some stuff to bring him?” She asked quietly, her head already spinning with all the items she could give to Cory. “Pictures and stuff, but, like, maybe clothing, too?” So he could recognize the scent of his mom and dad, too━so she could give him something normal in the situation he was given.
CORY COLLIER | wrap soon?  |
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CORY COLLIER
Reaper
Posts: 125
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Sept 30, 2024 19:10:29 GMT
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Post by CORY COLLIER on Feb 10, 2024 17:21:20 GMT
Hiding what his afterlife had been like from Dani had never been an option. She’d needed to know that he’d been safe and somewhat happy while he’d been gone, small reassurances to melt away a fear that had probably plagued her mind as much as he’d worried about her there. Sitting in her motel room after she’d found him on Wickery Bridge, Cory had tiptoed through the whole story from what had happened in those last minutes of his life (heavily doctored to remove the crushing fear that had hit when he’d seen the lights veering towards him) to when Augustus had shown up in their heavenly home to make him his offer. Telling her about all the time he’d spent with their dad, everything the two of them had talked away, what those conversations and the moments they’d been able to have meant with him hadn’t been as easy. It was like rubbing her nose in it, telling her about all the things she’d never have with him – especially since supernaturals didn’t get to go to Heaven.
When he’d started going to see Petyr he’d questioned whether he should keep that sort of thing from Destiny and Grey too. Their hearts were still freshly broken over losing Petyr and there was a chance he could’ve been grinding the shards back into the wounds by telling them about the time he was spending with their son when they couldn’t. He couldn’t not go there, Petyr deserved more than that, he couldn’t keep all of it to himself either.
Cory let the details spill out, managing a watery smile at Destiny’s whimper. No, this was the right thing. It gave them a taste of all they should’ve had, little details of their son fitting together in the most perfect puzzle to let them know who he was, who he was going to be. Tears burning with his own tears, Cory grinned across the desk at her. ”Lots of bababa,” he told her. Lots of high pitched squeals too, usually preceding one of those big belly laughs that always had him smiling. It didn’t matter what mood he went there in, Petyr always lit up and by the time he left, he was smiling again. Destiny deserved to see that, to feel the joy in motherhood, but Leah had crushed that chance and walked away as though it didn’t matter.
”You’re welcome,” he whispered politely. He needed to bring more, he realised as Destiny opened the package up and the sob rolled through her. Cory pressed his lips together, watching as each item was uncovered. Next time he needed to videos. He could teach Petyr to wave to his parents on camera, even if he couldn’t arrange for it to be an actual video call.
There were so many rules about Heaven, about what they were meant to do there – they weren’t angels, they weren’t meant to make themselves at home there, don’t take anybody with them except for the soul they were transporting – wrapping the whole place up in red tape. It wasn’t as much could he take the two of them there to Petyr, as much as it was that there’d be a heavy punishment for it. With Death that probably came with a swipe of his scythe and he couldn’t die again, not even for this.
Should he reach for Destiny and offer her some comfort? He scooted to the edge of his seat as Destiny lifted the onesie to her face, hovering on the brink of it before Destiny found her voice again and lowered the onesie to look at it again. ”I’m glad I could do something for you both. I’m sorry it’s not more. I wasn’t sure what I could bring for you both.” Would anything ever compare to actually being with Petyr? Never.
”Absolutely,” he instantly promised as Destiny asked if he could take stuff back. ”I can take anything you want. I’m sure he’d love having something of his parents’ around. I was thinking maybe I could try and take videos too. I could show him ones of the two of you, let him know what your voices sound like.” Still not enough. None of it ever would be and every time he thought it he hated Leah more. She’d manipulated him from the start, using him even as she’d tried to take everything her brother held precious. There was no redemption for that and although he couldn’t have known, guilt settled like a thorn in his heart for having brought her back in the first place.
That thorn buried deeper, leaving him feeling breathless as he licked his lips. Frowning faintly, he studied Destiny’s face. This was probably going to taint the gift he’d tried to give her, but they deserved to be able to find some justice for Petyr. ”There’s something else … I think there might be a way for you to get rid of Leah for good.” And Leah would kill him for spilling the secret. ”We’re meant to be immortal, untouchable, but … it’s not true. People have gotten rid of reapers before. Some sort of magic can do it, they can trap us somehow. There’s a weapon too. I don’t know how you’d get your hands on one too, they’re meant to be rare. If you can though … Leah wouldn’t be able to hurt any of you anymore.” Petyr still wouldn’t be here, but all three of them would be safe at least.
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