Mehemis (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rockyemperor) wrote2037-01-21 12:54 am
rockyemperor) wrote2037-01-21 12:54 am
history
Notes
【Please read to be informed of potentially triggering topics. There will be no more warnings past this point. As a child, Mimi was attacked by his brother in an attempted sexual assault. Though the attack was unsuccessful, it heavily impacted his personality. It's very unlikely for this to come up in everyday conversation. 】
History
Mimi was born to a Greek princess and an Egyptian king, but during his mother's pregnancy, she was discarded and forced from the castle. To protect her son, Mimi's mother disguised him as a girl as a princess had much less claim to the throne than a prince. During the initial years of his life, Mimi experienced poverty but found contentment alongside his affectionate but ailing mother.
Unfortunately, their lack of funds posed a challenge in obtaining the medication vital for Mimi's mother's survival. Upon hearing from a friend that the castle discarded surplus medicine, the duo ventured into the courtyard. It was there that Mimi encountered Sutter, his frail half-brother, who was also battling an illness. As the outcasts, the two grow very close, and Sutter assists Mimi in obtaining the medicine Mimi so desperately needs for his mother until the very thing meant to save her life is the reason for its end. The boy returns home only to find his mother unresponsive on the floor.
Enraged, Mimi swiftly storms to the castle and discovers their elder brother amid a frenzied attempt to eliminate Sutter, driven by a desperate desire for the throne. Mistakenly assuming Mimi to be a girl, their brother launches a vicious attack, attempting a sexual assault, undeterred to learn that his victim is a boy. Before the attack can succeed, Sutter manages to kill their brother, but the priests soon arrive. As Sutter's illness meant he'd been hidden away and knowing that the priests would now try to use the young boy as their puppet, Mimi takes on the name Mehemis and pretends to be the sickly prince.
Over the next few years, Mimi's hatred for the religion grows as he sees through their deception. Determined to rid the land of their lies, Mimi becomes the feared tyrant, playing the role of a horrifying dictator. Though he has friends in Evetiti and Val, he's unable to visit Sutter as often because of the priests' watchful eyes.
During one visit, Mimi finds that the boy's hair has turned silver. Unbeknownst to him, his brother had been trying to find a cure for his illness, broke into their dead brother's tomb, and was approached by 'them'. 'They' helped cure his illness, but the cure forces him to eat human flesh.
Mimi's story begins when our main character, Li, enters his life.
Canon
◦ The boy from the future
Though the story has yet to explain the mechanics, our first glimpse of Mimi isn't as a human but a statue that's unearthed during an expedition. Li is a medical student with an interest in archeology and visits the dig site. Here, he's attacked by bandits and is injured. In an attempt to flee, he bleeds on the newly unearthed statue of the ancient king which soon allows it to gain life. Much to Li's confusion, the statue -- whom he names 'Rocky' -- seems to recognize him. Stone is excited to see the university student and follows him even after Li returns home. During this time, the statue shows a sweet and protective side which causes the duo to become quite close.
Soon after arriving at Li's home, he plants and nurtures a beautiful purple flower but after two months, it begins to wilt. This causes obvious discomfort though Li misunderstands the reason behind his distress. In an attempt to lighten his mood, the two go on a walk but while at the park, Rocky's eyes become red and he attacks Li, biting into his neck. Instantly realizing his actions, the statue pulls away, horrified. As Li approaches, the student faints, but Rocky catches his smaller body and carries him home. Li suffers from a fever for the next week, but Rocky is by his side, caring for him.
Yet, when he recovers, the statue refuses to approach him out of fear of losing control again. Determined to repair their relationship, Li throws himself into the water which quickly prompts Rocky to rescue him, but when they're safely out of the water, Li notices that Rocky is starting to crumble, and a red stone is now visible in his chest.
Li realizes that the deteriorating body is the reason behind Rocky's attack and attempts to get the statue to try again, but the king refuses. Terrified of losing someone so dear, Li strikes out and runs away, only to quickly return and apologize, but Stone can only smile as his body begins to fall apart. In the end, the boy is left with only the red stone that was in Rocky's chest and the earring he made of the purple flower he once grew.
Clutching the stone, Li prays for a miracle and is soon enveloped by a light.
◦ A king from the past
In ancient Egypt, King Mehemis orders the destruction of God's Monument. Before action can be taken, a boy dressed in odd clothing appears behind him and instantly reaches out to the king. While Rocky knew Li, Mimi does not. The sand had hidden the man long enough that had he been an assassin, he had enough time to kill his target, and yet, the appearance is so odd, and Mimi's role so strict that he has no choice but to treat Li as if he is just that: an enemy. The intruder is treated cruelly and publically sentenced to interrogation. Is he a spy from Yazoo or Pozzi? Or a spy from the church? Both are possibilities.
In reality, though Li is openly suspected of being an assassin, Mimi isn't so rash as to ignore the fact that Li ignored an opportunity to kill him and as such, saves him from death as is the punishment for most assassins.
As Mimi and his lead advisor (Ev)Titi continue to play their roles, Li displays both intelligence and kindness, earning him a small amount of freedom. Using this as an opportunity to sneak away, the archeologist searches for something he can steal and resell to fund his freedom and finds himself in the library. However, he isn't alone and as he approaches the other inhabitant, he finds it to be King Mehemis though in more casual dress.
We're finally shown a different side of the king. Absorbed in his studies of the scrolls, he nonetheless freely offers Li the use of his torch, fooled by guard clothing the other adorned. Mistakenly assuming him to be Titi's assistant, he also offers the very scroll he's reading and suggests they should learn the language together after Li admits his inability to read the words -- Mimi has only recently learned to read the language of the higher class.
Unfortunately, their time is ruined by assassins.
In the proceeding days, while training his falcon, Mimi notices that Li, Titi, and the captain of the Imperial Guard, Akinatton are nearby. After he approaches, the king learns that Li requested a chance to be part of Mimi's protection -- after seeing a different side of Mimi, the blonde realizes there may be more beneath the facade. However, trust is hard-won and Mimi offers a cruel challenge: if Li can know the hawk Mimi's been training from the sky, he'll allow him into the guard. Should he fail, it's his death.
Unbeknownst to Mimi, Li's intelligence and archery skills make a strong combination. Knowing that killing a royal hawk will also result in his death, Li realizes the animal flies in a particular pattern thanks to the training and manages to show enough feathers to knock the animal from the sky. With the animal alive but currently unable to fly, Li passes.
Only to show up in the same guard uniform as the night before which allows Mimi to recognize him. Angered and feeling fooled, Mimi nearly removes Li's hand before the blonde saves him from an assassination attempt, once more earning his trust.
◦ The man behind the mask
Though Li's manages to infiltrate the guard, his treatment doesn't improve, and he suffers depression caused by killing the would-be assassin. After seeing Mimi kill a priest for daring to complain about the church's mistreatment, he once more questions his choice to stay. Mimi, meanwhile, notices Li's inability to eat and tricks him into giving in to hunger and regaining his appetite. After learning that Mimi killed the man only at Titi's request because the priest was a danger to the people, Mimi and Li's conversations begin to deepen and even occasionally delve into playful territory.
Despite the budding relationship, Li is still a dangerous outsider. Titi spreads rumors among the guards with claims that Li is a dangerous killer. They ostracize and mock the newcomer. When Mimi sides with Li during a dispute, a fellow guard takes matters into his own hands and lies to Kaba, the most skilled archer among their ranks. This leads to an archery contest that the church uses as a means to assassinate Li, but Mimi steps in and foils their plan. Though he tries to do so in secret, Mimi loses his sandal in his haste, and Li recognizes the shoe. When confronted with the man's thanks, the king is too prideful to admit to his actions.
Mimi's Chief of Intelligence and Undercover Guards, Veelaveesa, returns. Vee and Titi were both raised in the same slums as Mimi, and the king hold both very close. The couple are also an official couple. Li also meets Imu, the royal doctor who was once part of the church and is married to Akin. She treats Akin for the injuries he received from a mob of craftsmen who helped build the churches. Mimi decommissioned the group and sent them supplies for survival until they were able to find new employment, but the church secretly intercepted the supplies.
While trying to gather more information about Mimi, Li speaks to Kaba. Though he knows little about the king, he's seen Sutter and mistakenly assumes him to be the second princess who's been locked away by Mimi. He fell in love with Sutter as a youth, when the man took an interest in Kaba's hands, which has a mole with the same placement as the King's. Throughout Ebis history, it wasn't unusual for siblings to be married, and with Li's suspicion that Rocky was originally guarding the crypt of a loved one, he hatches a plan to spy on the 'sister'. However, 'her' quarters are heavily guarded, and as he watches, the guards turn away the king. They meet again outside of the 'her' room when they're both discovered trying to sneak inside. Sutter's attitude is outwardly more kind and gentle, causing Li to question Rocky's identity after all. Had it been an older, healthier Sutter? Mimi grows angry when the man requests to leave his guard to protect Sutter instead which causes an argument that ends with Li hitting Mimi. The king imprisons Li -- Sutter has the potential to be more dangerous than he appears, and with Li being such an unknown, allowing him free reign to visit Sutter again could end badly for their plans. Even in that short interaction, Mimi seems to show his cruel side when he kicks Li from a chair, but in actuality, he knows it isn't safe to accept a drink from Sutter.
He strikes. As the attack on the church nears its conclusion, Sutter informs the Church of his presence and releases his green potion - a potion that, when used, turns corpses into his puppets. The undead army grows and soon attacks the city. Li escapes his cell and finds Kaba with his hands missing; patching him up as well as he can, he searches for Mimi. The church has met up with Sutter and is now sailing to Ferris. Mimi manages to jump aboard, but he's soon overtaken by a clone of himself. Sutter's been collecting people who have similar attributes to his brother and has now created a faux version of the man, one loyal and obedient to him, thus his willingness to save Kaba earlier in life.
Though badly injured, Mimi's saved by Li before Sutter can remove his heart. The doctor quickly rushes the king back to the police and performs first aid. Li also gets his first real look at an unguarded Mimi and sees the same Rocky he once loved.
While Mimi heals, his true personality and story come to light. Gone is the cruel tyrant and in his place is a man, a human, who cares for his people. After learning of his sexual trauma, Li slowly starts implementing measures to try and help the man heal mentally as well, but once his body has recovered, they must strike. Backed by the church, Sutter crowned himself King of Lower Ebiz. Soon, he begins to leak bits of truth regarding Mimi's backstory but to combat public opinion, Mimi agrees to worship the god created by Li: Hermanubis. During a parade thrown to gain further support and draw out Sutter's troops, assassins strike but are easily defeated. Per their plan, Li pretends to be abused by Mimi and asks to be led to Ferris, the prosperous city in Lower Ebis that's hosting their enemies. Against the plan, Mimi follows along in disguise under the guise of Vee's subordinate. Li quickly figures out his real identity but fakes ignorance to playfully exaggerate the master/servant role of their disguises.
◦ In enemy territory
Ferris isn't without dangers. Sutter has his men attack Li almost immediately, and they must deal with the public perception being manipulated against Mimi -- sometimes in odd ways, such as rumors and dolls that undermine his power -- as well as the church's attempt to brainwash Li and Assulpa's perverted interests in the blonde. Their successful navigation earns the trust of the church, creating a path to further divide an already-divided enemy.
When Li and Mimi return, Mimi's sent to Chase a fleeing thief, but it is a distraction from Sutter, who waits in hiding with the puppet to attack the blonde. Due to his observational skills, Li notices and uses Vee to coordinate a counter-attack, leaving the encounter with the puppet's - originally Kiba's - hands. Even more importantly, he manages to poison Sutter, one that requires a second poison to activate, a chemical he gives to Mimi. Once in effect, the poison will leave the person mindless for half a month.
After the church confronts Sutter about the attack and the latter only shows further arrogance, they task Li with gaining the trust of the people to eventually replace Sutter. This leads to the two being worked to the point of exhaustion, and while they're resting beneath the stars, Mimi finds himself entranced by Li. When the blonde catches him staring, he makes a move of his own, but Mimi is triggered and runs away. That night, he dreams of making love to Li, only to have a copy of himself accuse him of hurting Li and forcing deprivation into him just as he'd almost been forced to endure at the hands of his half-brother. When he wakes, Li is waiting by his bedside, demanding an answer. Between his trauma and the misplaced idea that Li still hasn't seen through his disguise, Mimi rejects the blonde, causing a strain in their relationship. Mimi finally confronts the tension, and Li claims that he can't enjoy the benefits of a close relationship without acknowledging a close relationship. When the king exclaims he doesn't want Li to leave, the younger man realizes Mimi's deeper issues and silently vows to help.
Mimi, in disguise, pretends to receive a letter from the king, also him, promising Li lands and riches upon his return. This makes him possibly the only person to become jealous of himself twice.
◦ On the offense
Sutter's goal is to make his puppet 'real'. To achieve this, he plans to steal the heart gem Li previously pretended to present to him. Anticipating this, Li has a fake gem crafted and instructs Mimi to study the puppet's behavior to post as the creature once they kill the real puppet and pretend the fake worked.
But first, the corpse soldiers. Vee discovers that they're hiding in the Colosseum. To gain entrance, the duo disguises themselves as street performers in hopes of being chosen to entertain the wealthy during intermissions. Here, they meet Narcissus, a supposed blanket merchant who seems to take a romantic interest in Li. He manages to get the pair into the Colosseum before they knock him unconscious. Despite that, he reappears once they find the locked door hiding the corpse soldiers. Li neutralizes the green water that not only preserves the dead bodies but allows for their reanimation. After confronting Narcasissus about his involvement with the church, the two take their leave.
While Mimi is meeting with Vee, the church manages to capture Li. When the king comes to his rescue, Narcissus reveals that they've moved the blonde and that he knows Mimi's true identity. Meanwhile, the church is revealing its real plan: to sacrifice Li to a giant snake, their real god. However, Mimi manages to save him before their plan is successful. As Mimi and his men execute many of the high-ranking church members, Narcissus, who is both the adopted son/slave to Assulpa and Mimi's cousin, convinces the old man to assassinate Sutter... unsuccessfully, as Sutter manages to defend himself though he comes short of killing Assulpa, forcing Narcissus to do so instead. The blonde also plants further seeds of hatred for Li in Sutter's head just as the puppet wakes. However, his seeming lack of emotion only distresses Sutter further, and he decides to split them up, with the puppet tasked to kill Li.
As usual, Mimi's side has seen through the ploy and the king manages to defeat the puppet and take its place, playing the role of Sutter's doll -- and learns that Sutter's love for him was more than platonic. As Li wrangles the church under control, Mimi reveals the truth and activates the poison before having the puppet completely killed. However, their plans are thwarted when they learn that Li's group has run into Narcissus. The 'blanket merchant' lures Li away and attempts to trick him with a fake Mimi, just as he tries to trick Mimi with a fake Li. However, the first copies are so bad that they don't expect the next Li and Mimi, respectfully, to also be fake. The man uses both sets of fakes to strain their relationship -- presumably to test it and help the two resolve their issues. Successfully. Their reunion is initially hostile, but Li tells Mimi of his true origins and once more assures him that it isn't 'Rocky' he's looking for but Mimi himself. Finally, the king confesses his true feelings.
◦ Complications
Vee manages to capture Narcissus. When Li and Mimi make it back to his team, they learn they were missing for a full day. As the ceremony to cement Mimi as the one true king is taking place, Narcissus reveals the truth: he'd replaced most of the undead soldiers with fakes and now can control them. With this power, he sent the troops to Menga City. Leveraging the situation and his men in the crowd, he forces the team to spare Sutter's life and requests control of Ferris to remake a new Athens. Only Li's quick thinking, threats, and Mimi's cooperation managed to form a deal new: temporary control with an explicit withdrawal date.
Mimi charges to Ebis while Li takes Sutter to a nearby canon -- the younger brother acts as a beacon for the undead soldiers, calling them away from the city since when Sutter awakens, he instantly sees and wishes to kill Li. With the bridge now cut, the soldiers simply walk off the edge and fall into the canon.
Betrayal comes in the most unlikely of places: Kaba. The man was approached by 'them' and lured in by the promise of revenge. After knocking Li unconscious, he takes Sutter to the cult, which seeks to sacrifice him to their god. When Sutter awakens again and recognizes Kaba, the man regrets his decision, but it's too late. However, the god they summon is Anubus and not one of the gods they thought they could control. After saving Kaba, the god reveals that in one year, the people of the city will riot, kill, and cast Mimi into stone.
THE STORY IS ONGOING AND WILL BE UPDATED.
【Please read to be informed of potentially triggering topics. There will be no more warnings past this point. As a child, Mimi was attacked by his brother in an attempted sexual assault. Though the attack was unsuccessful, it heavily impacted his personality. It's very unlikely for this to come up in everyday conversation. 】
Mimi was born to a Greek princess and an Egyptian king, but during his mother's pregnancy, she was discarded and forced from the castle. To protect her son, Mimi's mother disguised him as a girl as a princess had much less claim to the throne than a prince. During the initial years of his life, Mimi experienced poverty but found contentment alongside his affectionate but ailing mother.
Unfortunately, their lack of funds posed a challenge in obtaining the medication vital for Mimi's mother's survival. Upon hearing from a friend that the castle discarded surplus medicine, the duo ventured into the courtyard. It was there that Mimi encountered Sutter, his frail half-brother, who was also battling an illness. As the outcasts, the two grow very close, and Sutter assists Mimi in obtaining the medicine Mimi so desperately needs for his mother until the very thing meant to save her life is the reason for its end. The boy returns home only to find his mother unresponsive on the floor.
Enraged, Mimi swiftly storms to the castle and discovers their elder brother amid a frenzied attempt to eliminate Sutter, driven by a desperate desire for the throne. Mistakenly assuming Mimi to be a girl, their brother launches a vicious attack, attempting a sexual assault, undeterred to learn that his victim is a boy. Before the attack can succeed, Sutter manages to kill their brother, but the priests soon arrive. As Sutter's illness meant he'd been hidden away and knowing that the priests would now try to use the young boy as their puppet, Mimi takes on the name Mehemis and pretends to be the sickly prince.
Over the next few years, Mimi's hatred for the religion grows as he sees through their deception. Determined to rid the land of their lies, Mimi becomes the feared tyrant, playing the role of a horrifying dictator. Though he has friends in Evetiti and Val, he's unable to visit Sutter as often because of the priests' watchful eyes.
During one visit, Mimi finds that the boy's hair has turned silver. Unbeknownst to him, his brother had been trying to find a cure for his illness, broke into their dead brother's tomb, and was approached by 'them'. 'They' helped cure his illness, but the cure forces him to eat human flesh.
Mimi's story begins when our main character, Li, enters his life.
◦ The boy from the future
Though the story has yet to explain the mechanics, our first glimpse of Mimi isn't as a human but a statue that's unearthed during an expedition. Li is a medical student with an interest in archeology and visits the dig site. Here, he's attacked by bandits and is injured. In an attempt to flee, he bleeds on the newly unearthed statue of the ancient king which soon allows it to gain life. Much to Li's confusion, the statue -- whom he names 'Rocky' -- seems to recognize him. Stone is excited to see the university student and follows him even after Li returns home. During this time, the statue shows a sweet and protective side which causes the duo to become quite close.
Soon after arriving at Li's home, he plants and nurtures a beautiful purple flower but after two months, it begins to wilt. This causes obvious discomfort though Li misunderstands the reason behind his distress. In an attempt to lighten his mood, the two go on a walk but while at the park, Rocky's eyes become red and he attacks Li, biting into his neck. Instantly realizing his actions, the statue pulls away, horrified. As Li approaches, the student faints, but Rocky catches his smaller body and carries him home. Li suffers from a fever for the next week, but Rocky is by his side, caring for him.
Yet, when he recovers, the statue refuses to approach him out of fear of losing control again. Determined to repair their relationship, Li throws himself into the water which quickly prompts Rocky to rescue him, but when they're safely out of the water, Li notices that Rocky is starting to crumble, and a red stone is now visible in his chest.
Li realizes that the deteriorating body is the reason behind Rocky's attack and attempts to get the statue to try again, but the king refuses. Terrified of losing someone so dear, Li strikes out and runs away, only to quickly return and apologize, but Stone can only smile as his body begins to fall apart. In the end, the boy is left with only the red stone that was in Rocky's chest and the earring he made of the purple flower he once grew.
Clutching the stone, Li prays for a miracle and is soon enveloped by a light.
◦ A king from the past
In ancient Egypt, King Mehemis orders the destruction of God's Monument. Before action can be taken, a boy dressed in odd clothing appears behind him and instantly reaches out to the king. While Rocky knew Li, Mimi does not. The sand had hidden the man long enough that had he been an assassin, he had enough time to kill his target, and yet, the appearance is so odd, and Mimi's role so strict that he has no choice but to treat Li as if he is just that: an enemy. The intruder is treated cruelly and publically sentenced to interrogation. Is he a spy from Yazoo or Pozzi? Or a spy from the church? Both are possibilities.
In reality, though Li is openly suspected of being an assassin, Mimi isn't so rash as to ignore the fact that Li ignored an opportunity to kill him and as such, saves him from death as is the punishment for most assassins.
As Mimi and his lead advisor (Ev)Titi continue to play their roles, Li displays both intelligence and kindness, earning him a small amount of freedom. Using this as an opportunity to sneak away, the archeologist searches for something he can steal and resell to fund his freedom and finds himself in the library. However, he isn't alone and as he approaches the other inhabitant, he finds it to be King Mehemis though in more casual dress.
We're finally shown a different side of the king. Absorbed in his studies of the scrolls, he nonetheless freely offers Li the use of his torch, fooled by guard clothing the other adorned. Mistakenly assuming him to be Titi's assistant, he also offers the very scroll he's reading and suggests they should learn the language together after Li admits his inability to read the words -- Mimi has only recently learned to read the language of the higher class.
Unfortunately, their time is ruined by assassins.
In the proceeding days, while training his falcon, Mimi notices that Li, Titi, and the captain of the Imperial Guard, Akinatton are nearby. After he approaches, the king learns that Li requested a chance to be part of Mimi's protection -- after seeing a different side of Mimi, the blonde realizes there may be more beneath the facade. However, trust is hard-won and Mimi offers a cruel challenge: if Li can know the hawk Mimi's been training from the sky, he'll allow him into the guard. Should he fail, it's his death.
Unbeknownst to Mimi, Li's intelligence and archery skills make a strong combination. Knowing that killing a royal hawk will also result in his death, Li realizes the animal flies in a particular pattern thanks to the training and manages to show enough feathers to knock the animal from the sky. With the animal alive but currently unable to fly, Li passes.
Only to show up in the same guard uniform as the night before which allows Mimi to recognize him. Angered and feeling fooled, Mimi nearly removes Li's hand before the blonde saves him from an assassination attempt, once more earning his trust.
◦ The man behind the mask
Though Li's manages to infiltrate the guard, his treatment doesn't improve, and he suffers depression caused by killing the would-be assassin. After seeing Mimi kill a priest for daring to complain about the church's mistreatment, he once more questions his choice to stay. Mimi, meanwhile, notices Li's inability to eat and tricks him into giving in to hunger and regaining his appetite. After learning that Mimi killed the man only at Titi's request because the priest was a danger to the people, Mimi and Li's conversations begin to deepen and even occasionally delve into playful territory.
Despite the budding relationship, Li is still a dangerous outsider. Titi spreads rumors among the guards with claims that Li is a dangerous killer. They ostracize and mock the newcomer. When Mimi sides with Li during a dispute, a fellow guard takes matters into his own hands and lies to Kaba, the most skilled archer among their ranks. This leads to an archery contest that the church uses as a means to assassinate Li, but Mimi steps in and foils their plan. Though he tries to do so in secret, Mimi loses his sandal in his haste, and Li recognizes the shoe. When confronted with the man's thanks, the king is too prideful to admit to his actions.
Mimi's Chief of Intelligence and Undercover Guards, Veelaveesa, returns. Vee and Titi were both raised in the same slums as Mimi, and the king hold both very close. The couple are also an official couple. Li also meets Imu, the royal doctor who was once part of the church and is married to Akin. She treats Akin for the injuries he received from a mob of craftsmen who helped build the churches. Mimi decommissioned the group and sent them supplies for survival until they were able to find new employment, but the church secretly intercepted the supplies.
While trying to gather more information about Mimi, Li speaks to Kaba. Though he knows little about the king, he's seen Sutter and mistakenly assumes him to be the second princess who's been locked away by Mimi. He fell in love with Sutter as a youth, when the man took an interest in Kaba's hands, which has a mole with the same placement as the King's. Throughout Ebis history, it wasn't unusual for siblings to be married, and with Li's suspicion that Rocky was originally guarding the crypt of a loved one, he hatches a plan to spy on the 'sister'. However, 'her' quarters are heavily guarded, and as he watches, the guards turn away the king. They meet again outside of the 'her' room when they're both discovered trying to sneak inside. Sutter's attitude is outwardly more kind and gentle, causing Li to question Rocky's identity after all. Had it been an older, healthier Sutter? Mimi grows angry when the man requests to leave his guard to protect Sutter instead which causes an argument that ends with Li hitting Mimi. The king imprisons Li -- Sutter has the potential to be more dangerous than he appears, and with Li being such an unknown, allowing him free reign to visit Sutter again could end badly for their plans. Even in that short interaction, Mimi seems to show his cruel side when he kicks Li from a chair, but in actuality, he knows it isn't safe to accept a drink from Sutter.
He strikes. As the attack on the church nears its conclusion, Sutter informs the Church of his presence and releases his green potion - a potion that, when used, turns corpses into his puppets. The undead army grows and soon attacks the city. Li escapes his cell and finds Kaba with his hands missing; patching him up as well as he can, he searches for Mimi. The church has met up with Sutter and is now sailing to Ferris. Mimi manages to jump aboard, but he's soon overtaken by a clone of himself. Sutter's been collecting people who have similar attributes to his brother and has now created a faux version of the man, one loyal and obedient to him, thus his willingness to save Kaba earlier in life.
Though badly injured, Mimi's saved by Li before Sutter can remove his heart. The doctor quickly rushes the king back to the police and performs first aid. Li also gets his first real look at an unguarded Mimi and sees the same Rocky he once loved.
While Mimi heals, his true personality and story come to light. Gone is the cruel tyrant and in his place is a man, a human, who cares for his people. After learning of his sexual trauma, Li slowly starts implementing measures to try and help the man heal mentally as well, but once his body has recovered, they must strike. Backed by the church, Sutter crowned himself King of Lower Ebiz. Soon, he begins to leak bits of truth regarding Mimi's backstory but to combat public opinion, Mimi agrees to worship the god created by Li: Hermanubis. During a parade thrown to gain further support and draw out Sutter's troops, assassins strike but are easily defeated. Per their plan, Li pretends to be abused by Mimi and asks to be led to Ferris, the prosperous city in Lower Ebis that's hosting their enemies. Against the plan, Mimi follows along in disguise under the guise of Vee's subordinate. Li quickly figures out his real identity but fakes ignorance to playfully exaggerate the master/servant role of their disguises.
◦ In enemy territory
Ferris isn't without dangers. Sutter has his men attack Li almost immediately, and they must deal with the public perception being manipulated against Mimi -- sometimes in odd ways, such as rumors and dolls that undermine his power -- as well as the church's attempt to brainwash Li and Assulpa's perverted interests in the blonde. Their successful navigation earns the trust of the church, creating a path to further divide an already-divided enemy.
When Li and Mimi return, Mimi's sent to Chase a fleeing thief, but it is a distraction from Sutter, who waits in hiding with the puppet to attack the blonde. Due to his observational skills, Li notices and uses Vee to coordinate a counter-attack, leaving the encounter with the puppet's - originally Kiba's - hands. Even more importantly, he manages to poison Sutter, one that requires a second poison to activate, a chemical he gives to Mimi. Once in effect, the poison will leave the person mindless for half a month.
After the church confronts Sutter about the attack and the latter only shows further arrogance, they task Li with gaining the trust of the people to eventually replace Sutter. This leads to the two being worked to the point of exhaustion, and while they're resting beneath the stars, Mimi finds himself entranced by Li. When the blonde catches him staring, he makes a move of his own, but Mimi is triggered and runs away. That night, he dreams of making love to Li, only to have a copy of himself accuse him of hurting Li and forcing deprivation into him just as he'd almost been forced to endure at the hands of his half-brother. When he wakes, Li is waiting by his bedside, demanding an answer. Between his trauma and the misplaced idea that Li still hasn't seen through his disguise, Mimi rejects the blonde, causing a strain in their relationship. Mimi finally confronts the tension, and Li claims that he can't enjoy the benefits of a close relationship without acknowledging a close relationship. When the king exclaims he doesn't want Li to leave, the younger man realizes Mimi's deeper issues and silently vows to help.
Mimi, in disguise, pretends to receive a letter from the king, also him, promising Li lands and riches upon his return. This makes him possibly the only person to become jealous of himself twice.
◦ On the offense
Sutter's goal is to make his puppet 'real'. To achieve this, he plans to steal the heart gem Li previously pretended to present to him. Anticipating this, Li has a fake gem crafted and instructs Mimi to study the puppet's behavior to post as the creature once they kill the real puppet and pretend the fake worked.
But first, the corpse soldiers. Vee discovers that they're hiding in the Colosseum. To gain entrance, the duo disguises themselves as street performers in hopes of being chosen to entertain the wealthy during intermissions. Here, they meet Narcissus, a supposed blanket merchant who seems to take a romantic interest in Li. He manages to get the pair into the Colosseum before they knock him unconscious. Despite that, he reappears once they find the locked door hiding the corpse soldiers. Li neutralizes the green water that not only preserves the dead bodies but allows for their reanimation. After confronting Narcasissus about his involvement with the church, the two take their leave.
While Mimi is meeting with Vee, the church manages to capture Li. When the king comes to his rescue, Narcissus reveals that they've moved the blonde and that he knows Mimi's true identity. Meanwhile, the church is revealing its real plan: to sacrifice Li to a giant snake, their real god. However, Mimi manages to save him before their plan is successful. As Mimi and his men execute many of the high-ranking church members, Narcissus, who is both the adopted son/slave to Assulpa and Mimi's cousin, convinces the old man to assassinate Sutter... unsuccessfully, as Sutter manages to defend himself though he comes short of killing Assulpa, forcing Narcissus to do so instead. The blonde also plants further seeds of hatred for Li in Sutter's head just as the puppet wakes. However, his seeming lack of emotion only distresses Sutter further, and he decides to split them up, with the puppet tasked to kill Li.
As usual, Mimi's side has seen through the ploy and the king manages to defeat the puppet and take its place, playing the role of Sutter's doll -- and learns that Sutter's love for him was more than platonic. As Li wrangles the church under control, Mimi reveals the truth and activates the poison before having the puppet completely killed. However, their plans are thwarted when they learn that Li's group has run into Narcissus. The 'blanket merchant' lures Li away and attempts to trick him with a fake Mimi, just as he tries to trick Mimi with a fake Li. However, the first copies are so bad that they don't expect the next Li and Mimi, respectfully, to also be fake. The man uses both sets of fakes to strain their relationship -- presumably to test it and help the two resolve their issues. Successfully. Their reunion is initially hostile, but Li tells Mimi of his true origins and once more assures him that it isn't 'Rocky' he's looking for but Mimi himself. Finally, the king confesses his true feelings.
◦ Complications
Vee manages to capture Narcissus. When Li and Mimi make it back to his team, they learn they were missing for a full day. As the ceremony to cement Mimi as the one true king is taking place, Narcissus reveals the truth: he'd replaced most of the undead soldiers with fakes and now can control them. With this power, he sent the troops to Menga City. Leveraging the situation and his men in the crowd, he forces the team to spare Sutter's life and requests control of Ferris to remake a new Athens. Only Li's quick thinking, threats, and Mimi's cooperation managed to form a deal new: temporary control with an explicit withdrawal date.
Mimi charges to Ebis while Li takes Sutter to a nearby canon -- the younger brother acts as a beacon for the undead soldiers, calling them away from the city since when Sutter awakens, he instantly sees and wishes to kill Li. With the bridge now cut, the soldiers simply walk off the edge and fall into the canon.
Betrayal comes in the most unlikely of places: Kaba. The man was approached by 'them' and lured in by the promise of revenge. After knocking Li unconscious, he takes Sutter to the cult, which seeks to sacrifice him to their god. When Sutter awakens again and recognizes Kaba, the man regrets his decision, but it's too late. However, the god they summon is Anubus and not one of the gods they thought they could control. After saving Kaba, the god reveals that in one year, the people of the city will riot, kill, and cast Mimi into stone.
THE STORY IS ONGOING AND WILL BE UPDATED.