Illithid behind the Curtain: First Impressions (Patreon)

There was an Atlas airship approaching.

This was expected. I had honestly been prepared for the worst possible timeline, but it seemed like Ozpin had been able to run interference or at least, a stay of execution. Even so, I was stressing out like crazy as I floated from one side of my office to the other, in my true form as my tentacles writhed and flicked in an expression of frustration. Oh, not with the city... Town? I don't know, it felt like I'd blink and suddenly a new form for a new block would be in front of my face and all I could do was sign off on it. Even the fact that yet another bar had been trashed by Yang wasn't the reason for my agitation, no... If anything, I was experiencing something much, much more horrible and outside of my experience.

Taiyang had asked me out on a date.

And like an idiot, I had said yes. The date itself wasn't really a problem for me, we were both adults and we knew it meant nothing. Just a possibility of exploring something more, and with my psionic abilities I even had an edge there. Hells bells, Yang had taken to giving me and her father the most shit-eating grins possible whenever she saw us, so the idea of worrying about their blessing wasn't an issue.

There was nothing here, that could not be solved with speech and with human interaction, but that was it, wasn't it?

I wasn't human at all, not really and I spun to the mirror and used Alter Self, rapidly transforming into one beauty to the other. Male, female it didn't matter and only when I realized I was approaching Daemonette looks for fun did I turn back to Esmerelda and groaned. My hands went to my face, my ass to my desk as I clutched my hair and tried not to hyperventilate.

Nope.

Back to the tentacle face! And returning to Illithid form, I was... Well, I was still somewhat agitated, but I had more control.

.... Who the fuck was I kidding, I spent another high-level spell slot and the illusions of Vetinari and C'gorath appeared. That actually had me pause and look between them, as well as the circular looking black and white checkered board. I noted that C'gorath was playing the Dwarves side and despite myself, I asked.

"How desperate am I, that in a moment of panic the illusion I produce as my sounding board creates YOU two."

C'gorath looked up from the game, looked his identical face in the eye and then finally spoke, deeply amused. "Because it's either us or Yang."

"Great to speak to you both!" I said happily, because I was NOT going to touch that with a hundred-foot pole. Not yet at least. Vetinari moved a troll piece, finally deigning to look up as he remarked. "You have to admire the way he did it. Especially considering the venue."

The Major Illusion reacted to my thoughts, a memory playing of this morning as past Esme stared at the wreckage of what had once been a tavern. She had an expression on her face that looked like she was listening to the angry huffs and speech of a minotaur, with Yang herself being scolded by Taiyang. Eventually, it was settled and as Yang went to help clean up, Taiyang had approached and apologized.

"Hey, I am SO sorry about this again." Esme's features softened as she offered a smile, glancing at him beneath the brim of her hat. "Wouldn't be Yang without the property damage. I could do without the migraine though." Taiyang winced, then considered before he spoke. "Hey. Maybe I can make it up to you? Qrow told me about this place in particular here. Are you free for dinner tonight?"

A little distracted at the sight of goblin druids directing shape water cantrips from a barrel in an odd, display of what I think was an effort at firefighting despite the tiny flames had put her off I think, as she spoke.

"Yes, I am. Why, you offering to buy?"

"I sure am. See you at eight?"

"Yeah, that works."

"Ok, great! I'll see you then." And then he kissed her on the cheek, light and sweet before walking off, much happier.

Past Esme registered this belatedly, suddenly redder than a fire hydrant as she exploded into flames in a particularly, violent looking teleportation spell.

Which brought us to here. "Could it just be dinner between friends?" I said, somewhat hopefully and Vetinari sighed and paused the game, turning to face me entirely as he pressed his fingertips together.
"It could be. But it's not something neither of you are no longer entirely satisfied with. You've raised the children together, you've fought together, you know his emotional state and he knows yours. Moreover, he knows about your little problem."

He gestured to C'gorath, whom for some reason my subconscious was making him cheat at the Thud board before Vetinari slapped a tentacle.

"If that isn't at least devotion, I would hardly know it. But if I had to determine what exactly, he does that makes you so worried... It's the sensation of safety." I became still as was my usual reaction, Vetinari driving in the nail relentlessly as he listed off.

"You can be yourself around him. You know his true nature; you know you can sleep and not wake up about to suffer a coup de grace. You can stop being a displaced Mind Flayer or city leader and simply be yourself. It's everything you ever wanted, when you wished to stay retired and now, it's in your grasp."

He was right. I felt peace. I felt protected. I felt human, in a way that used to elude me and it felt vaguely dirty, as I floated again back and forth before speaking. ".... I'm scared."

"That is true." C'gorath spoke, pausing as he added. "The nature of our existence conflicts heavily with everything else. To say nothing of your controlling nature. Take this city." He gestured with a purple hand as he continued. "Our reputation precedes us, keeps it all in line. It is why you've held back, why you've never simply polymorphed and called it a day. We're your hidden weapon and in a world of bloody evolution, it pays to keep a dirk prepared to strike as much as a sword."

"And if I draw Taiyang deeper-."

"-Mr. Xiao Long is already a participant, happily so. No amount of distancing now will change that." Vetinari pointed out. He stared and then suddenly, raised an eyebrow.

He was just an illusion, something for me to speak to and clear my thoughts. He knew what I was thinking, as did C'gorath. The Illithid spoke first, his expression troubled.

"You can't be serious."

"I am." I said, swallowing hard as I added, reluctantly. "She'll not be happy to see me, but maybe I could at least talk? Besides, it's a possibility. All those people we collected; they knew of me. So, she has to exist too, right? And if she's here and I can get her help, I won't need to be C'gorath anymore. I can just be... Whoever I want."

"And where do you suppose, you'll find her?" Vetinari asked and I laughed mirthlessly, one hand covering my face as I dragged it slowly down.

"Where all lost people eventually find themselves trapped." I remarked, thinking of red eyes and fangs flashing, as divine power exploded from a blade, the severed tentacle I had pulsating with phantom pain.

"Sigil."

After a suitably, dramatic pause Vetinari spoke.

"Do you feel better?"

"A little."

"You still have an Atlas Airship to deal with too."

"Ah yes, I should do something about that."

====

Ozpin didn't even recognize Patch anymore.

The island had expanded since he last saw, an active volcano of respectable size spewing magma even as mist swirled and obscured most of the land, giving it an eerie feeling. There was a city under way realized Ozpin, money, resources and manpower working hard day and night to make it what it was. Even primitive as it looked at first glance, he knew not to underestimate it. More so as one of the radar technicians spoke up.

"General Ironwood sir! Several bogeys inbound. It appears to be..." Her voice trailed off, suddenly confused.

"... Pirate ships?"

On either side of the airship was, indeed, wooden galleons. One of them of ashen wood, black and with what looked like the rib cages of some great beast set along the hull. Tattered black sails with a misty quality seemed to nevertheless, catch the wind and if Ozpin peered closer he could see the crew.

Masked, heavily coated humanoids with one of them seeming to stare directly at the bridge letting out a nod.

The other vessel was far more professional. More man-of-war than pirate ship, its crew in uniform and even armor, the flag of a white background and a snarling, blue dragon head seen before its hull suddenly opened up and creatures flew out quite outside Ozpin's personal experience. Spherical looking creatures with sharp teeth in wide smiles, a single massive eye and several tentacles with eyes at the end of them. Without any discernible method, six of them flew around in a similar escort as the Atlas crew became more and more agitated.

And then the communications pinged, as Ironwood answered with a friendly nod from Ozpin to help. Immediately, a growling voice came over the bridge.

"Unknown vessel, you've entered Patch Airspace. Identify yourself."

Ironwood stood straighter, calling out. "This is General Ironwood of the Kingdom of Atlas, accompanied by Headmaster Ozpin of Beacon. Our apologies for the intrusion, we simply wished to greet our contemporary and visit your shores."

The voice back responded quickly. "Ozpin? Very well then. Our Beholder Escort will show you to our new landing zone. Follow them."

The black galleon tilted and flew away, as did the other as the creatures, the 'beholders' immediately turned and led them off into the island. The voice itself, saying with amusement.

"Welcome to Patch, General Ironwood."

The Beholders dove through the mist, the airship following and a few moments later, it broke through to the following. An airdock in construction, already containing a few of these flying ships and some oddities among them, the most common looking like squid or sharks as they were led to an empty berth.

And perched atop the highest one, surveying it all was a massive, blue scaled dragon who watched the airship as the Beholders flew away.

Ironwood stared on in shock, eyes wide. Ozpin hid a grin. Yes.

That reaction was never going to get old.