Day 8: Assembling the team - Part 1

Merlin kicked his feet up on the desk, twirling a pencil in his hand. Some things just didn't come easy when you were stuck in a body of a 40 year old.

Back aches and twinges. It was really annoying but truthfully painful.

He looked around before grabbing a ball of rubber bands and tossing it playfully in the air. There had to be a solution to the division that was stirred up by the new additions popping up since the Dark days whatever the f**k you'd call it.

There was one thing he was certain of. Progress was being made. "Operation Cuddle" was a success!

A knock at his door signaled Darkness was ready to enter the room.

He still wasn't used to him. The bugger growled, hissed and looked scary. It was this big, dark imposing shadow creature of some kind. Many arms and two big, red glowing eyes.

Well, he thought, we already have a shadow member, Saudis! I guess we can have another.

Darkness creeped in slowly, as Merlin opened the door. "Welcome Darkness. Or is it Drac, now?"

The shadow creature slowly turned. "Drac? Yes. Drac. That will do."

Merlin welcomed him to the other side of the desk. "So! How are you feeling tonight?"

Drac hissed, before he said in a deep scary voice, "I am alright. I desire to be a friend. Let us make an agreement you and I."

Merlin dropped into his chair and kicked his brown boots up on the desk again. "I'm listening."

Drac snarled. "I will be friend if you teach me things and I will teach you my skills. Agreeable yes?"

Merlin nodded. "Alright seems fair. Gotta wait now for the others."

Drac sat down in the chair. It was a rather strange sight but Merlin was used to seeing weird things inner world. Like this lidless Eye stalker that the Goblins constantly tried to ride and annoy.

Together we can achieve more than separate assholes in disagreements. Merlin thought.

Another succession of several knocks signaled Voidius, Demon King Malaketh and Valmar had arrived. Next would be Jareth, the main protector and hopefully Blake and Blaze.

Voidius walked in wearing his robes this time with the hood up. He moved forward and hugged Merlin without a word.

Merlin stood shocked. This was the first time he'd seen Voidius hug anyone. After the shock wore off, Merlin hugged Voidius back. "It's okay Voidius. And thank you. I love you too."

Voidius repressed a sniffle before he stood near Drac.

Valmar in her full regalia strode in with Demon King Malaketh on her arm. To Merlin this was a interesting development. "So, you two dating now...or...?"

Valmar smirked. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. I don't kiss and tell Merlin. You know that."

Malaketh chuckled. "I might be. Right now we got bigger fish to sauté."

Jareth in his half-plate golden embossed armor, stalked in, his werewolf, brown tail swishing from the back. He was still in his human form. He wore a gold chain around his neck and a golden cross earring in one ear. Another golden chain around his neck, was a cross with the Virgin Mary medallion and a J.

Merlin sighed. "You know we are not Catholic right?"

Jareth snorted. "I like it anyways. It's gold and sparkly."

Merlin shook his head. "Leave it to the werewolf hipster to adore anything with gold on it."

Jareth stood near Valmar and Malaketh. "Da...Demon King Malaketh." He nodded to him. Then to Valmar. "My twilight mistress, Valmar."

Jareth waved at Drac.

Next came Blake holding hands with Blaze.

Blake was dressed in a black band jacket with a red shirt underneath. Around his neck was a spider necklace and a red collar that read: Sex God. His black hair overhang his face and he had several silver, facial piercings. Two tiny black horns with red tips poked up from his head. His eyes were red.

Blaze wore his orange and black trench coat with flames dancing down it in stitching and as actual flames. His shirt was black with a orange red sigil of flames on it. His left cheek had a blazing crest of The Fire Lord. His short, wavy black hair moved slightly to the fire wisps darting off it. Around his neck was the coveted Time Lord amulet, he acquired from his studies with Chronos - God of Time.

Next came Liandra, dressed in her dark purple tight corset, with leather purple pants and thick purple goth heels. A single thin purple tail with a spade, darted behind her. Her short, black hair was cut close to her in a Bob. Her purple eyes locked with Merlin's.

"Merlin, you seem a bit distracted?"

Merlin closed his open mouth. He'd been caught ogling Liandra's chest again. "Whoops, um sorry. You look good." He squeaked.

Slowly the council filed into the small room until they were all present. "Did we really have to meet in this room, yo?" Said a bass tone voice, a Dante Hieroden.

His green and blue Mohawk stark against the many colors in the room. Dante wore a green material jacket that had a hood. Underneath was a black Celldweller shirt, complete with his punk guitar puck necklace and keys and rings. Another necklace of a blue skateboard, also, hung around his neck. He had a silver lip ring and eyebrow piercing. His pants were black cargos complete with black boots.

His partner Chase Avernus, stood next to him. Chase wore a black and dark green stripped hat. His short, brown hair slightly buddy under the beanie. His short was a green muscle T and dark blue jeans. He wore black sneakers.

"So are we going to put a plan together? We can't achieve anything without a solid plan right?" Said Amari.

Amari Shaamuthi had medium length brown hair with soft brown eyes. He had a beige and black silk jacket on with black shirt and black pants.

A hand went up. "Excuse me."

In the back a 1940s dressed woman walked forward. She had black curly hair with silver eyes and on a red 1940s style dress with black polka dots. Around her neck was a red diamond studded heart with earrings to match. The woman's name was Morticia Norman.

"I love you all. Let's be friends. No more fighting alright?" Said Morticia.

Chase nodded so did several others.

Jareth sighed slightly annoyed. "Of course. Can we now determine if we can achieve the things we want?"

Dante nodded. "I can wait for my guitar. I'm patient. I just want our life to get better. I'm sick of bad news. It's a bummer."

Merlin clapped. "Well said. Well first priority is making sure we are all right first yes?"

Jareth nodded. "I'm okay."

Many more of "I'm okays" came up.

Merlin was relieved. Things were really getting better! "Alright, I love you all. Let's try to relax and start working towards our goals. I believe in all of you."

Blake smirked. "Im f**king down..let's do it."

Blaze squeezed Blake's hand. "Of course. I'm here for this."

Merlin smiled. "Okay so we are finally on the same page. Yes!"

Amari crossed his arms. "What about the 15 year old? Can we try to help him with the trauma?"

Merlin nodded. "Yup! I volunteer! I will make certain he doesn't get into trouble and also make sure he knows he's loved because I think that's important."

Amari blinked. "Ah such a young age. He will be okay though right?"

Merlin nodded. "Yup. I will keep him safe, I promise."

Jareth clapped his hands. "New Years Resolution? That we make this The I Rise Era."

Many claps echoed. "Very well. I shall dub thee 2026, The "We Rise Era!'" said Merlin.

"OH where's Arlo?"

Several nervous looks on faces made Merlin pause. "He's f**king someone isn't he? Jeez, timing dude. Timing. Oh well he will get the notes."

Jareth nodded. "Yes."

Merlin swirled his chair, after putting his feet down, off the desk. "Happy New Year everyone. And this will be our restart. Our new path. Saving America from itself while also working through all the bullshit trauma we still have. Ugh, but hey we got this." He gave two thumbs up.

Sincerely,

The Valerian Legion aka The Chaos Warlock