The Mélusine's Filtered Cage

The Parasite Can Talk

It was your birthday and you were gone.

Salvatore's been through the motions of a day such as this for two years now, but he could tell anyone that it never got easier. Alina and Elena helped, they've made it their own tradition to visit the old Lord every year on your birthday with a small cake and some flowers. Their fathers even joined in, bringing sympathy and some Tuica. They knew that Salvatore couldn't get drunk but the bottle they brought was one they bought off of you before your tavern burned down. It was the last bottle you ever made and they decided it was best to be served to your last family member. It was a bit of a sombre occasion but Salvatore appreciated it more than he could possibly describe. He didn't want to be alone that day and those four people coming by made it easier. By that point, it was announced to the village that you were dead, so they knew how important it was to not leave Salvatore alone on a day that was supposed to be a celebration.

Unfortunately, the solemn festivities had to come to an end near sunset. For Mother Miranda called for a meeting that night and it wasn't an option for Salvatore to skip. He bid his guests farewell and even had Irini and Boian accompany them home safely, not wanting Alina and Elena to face the same fate. Salvatore had to all but drag himself through the cave leading to the old chapel, he wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and sleep off the Tuica he consumed. But Miranda wasn't going to let him skip, he tried once before but she dragged him to the chapel herself. It displayed a kind of power that Salvatore had learned to fear before the Cadou overtook his body all those years ago.

"Glad you were able to drag yourself out of bed today, Sal," Heisenberg said, startling Salvatore. Heisenberg was gone for a month, out of the village on some mission that Miranda ordered from him. These missions were rare considering the plethora of spies Miranda had on the outside, but that didn't mean she needed the best at times. Heisenberg would often be the one called outside the village, his territory needed the least amount of maintenance (from an outsider's perspective, he'd tell you that manning a sit-story factory alone wasn't easy) and Heisenberg's abilities were best suited for the outside world. Alcina was much too tall to be inconspicuous and Donna wasn't exactly a people person, Salvatore would run if given the chance. "Got the two of you a present while I was out."

"It's good to see you too, Karl," Salvatore said, a hit of a smile crossing his face. "What do you mean by a present?"

"I mean I had some time to myself on my way there and back," Heisenberg said, reaching into his coat pocket. "Took some scrap metal from everywhere and made something." 

Heisenberg pulled two metal figures from his jacket, one was the Moreau Family Crest while the other was a very colourful, metal flower that was as large as Heisenberg's palm. Salvatore couldn't tell what kind of flower it was supposed to be but couldn't care less about that, it was beautiful. Unbeknownst to Salvatore, that flower was an ongoing project Heisenberg was making for you. He started it a few weeks before the fire that scared you, collecting pieces of metal and attaching them together when he got the chance. Heisenberg meant for it as a form of- what he heard Alcina ramble about -Expressionism Art, it was supposed to be an expression of his feelings for you. There were some jagged and ugly pieces that showed those few times when you pushed his buttons but the rest were colourful and smooth. It was as if Karl Heisenberg created a new flower species just to express his love.

But he was never able to give it to you.

Near the edge of the flower were petals made of Zirconium, Karl Heisenberg's own expression of grief. Zirconium was something he couldn't get in the village, not even the Duke could get his hands on some. Karl wasn't about to hand over an incomplete gift, he wanted it to be put by your gravestone so you at least had it, even if it was in death. The Lord of Metal was able to find enough Zirconium to finish the flower, some were rings that came with a few diamonds that he was able to use to put in the center.