Denix Vames Posted August 5 Posted August 5 The man thought again, 'Help! Can't explain! Suffering!' --- Nil glared with tears in his eyes, "What I understand is that magic has helped me. Nature gave me a chance to be something better. I was only trying to help!" He disappeared. --- Eris was at one of Hell's bars. She stood up, "Trying to take your power back? Well, it's mine now." Insanity shook his head, "I won't kill you. I only want enough so that I may grow back into my adult form. Through time I must wait but enough should do." Eris sighed, "Ok. I guess things are different now. You're not exactly evil." She held out a hand. Her aura began to enter into his body. He flew to the floor where he soon transformed into a child. Displaying the same bird-like entity but having grown a bit. When Insanity spoke, his voice was like that of a child, "Oh this is going to take some getting use to. Nevertheless, I am forever grateful!" --- Reed nodded, "I can do some research on hobbies that fit our criteria." He took a sip and pursed his lips. "This tastes strange. Why would anyone drink alcohol?" --- Dariel suddenly found himself back in the castle. He stood from the floor, "Shezmu I...I don't know the first thing about making allies. The one time I was with other people was because I was desperate for protection. Could you maybe teach me how to make allies?" (sorry but i need a reminder as to who Clementine is living with right now so i can make a scene for them) Quote
Shadowess Posted August 5 Author Posted August 5 (That's ok 🙂 She was living with Kodi (My demon police officer), Harris (Your trickster) and Autumn (Your human teen that Kodi unofficially adopted 🙂) Quote
Denix Vames Posted August 5 Posted August 5 (thanks) Autumn had been staying at home recently ever since that incident in her high school. When everyone nearly kill themselves because of that flute. She had been focused on horror movies and ice cream when she decided to use the bathroom. After her bathroom break, she looked around. She called up Kodi, "Hey uh...Kodi? Wasn't Clem supposed to get some groceries and come back? She isn't home yet." Quote
Shadowess Posted August 5 Author Posted August 5 Amelia, David and Abaddon were thrust back into the Gobi Desert. Almost immediately, the human was also teleported from Hell's Cells and unfrozen. As soon as he was, the connection he'd made with Kris would shatter. Pain shot through Kris's skull, and he cried out while his knees buckled. He slumped to the floor and passed out as a little blood trickled from his nose as well as his ears. When he would eventually awaken, the experience would cause him to search for answers, and inevitably, he would begin his search for this mysterious tortured man. For now, though slipped quickly into unconsciousness. Meanwhile, in the desert, Amelia was still grinning playfully at David. Having no idea of the human's attempt to contact anyone. "Oh, come on! You can tell me!" "I don't have a date," David said firmly. "I was just getting that question out there for the others." "Mhmm, sure." Amelia chuckled, unconvinced. "That being said, bringing Carol along might not be a bad idea." David then mused with a sly, mischievous smirk, which only grew as he saw Amelia's smile drop a little. "Wait-" "Yes, what a wonderful idea, Amelia! To bring your valued royal guard to the event. I'll go and give her the good news." "Dad-!" But too late, David had already vanished. Amelia let out a sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Ugh... she's going to be flirting with every Archangel in sight..." she groaned. Then she turned her attention back to Abaddon and the human. "I suppose we'd better get this guy somewhere secure for a while so we can go and get ready. Are you going to be inviting anyone, Abaddon?" --- "She's not back?" Kodi asked. He held his phone to his ear while walking towards his car at the station. He'd been about to do a routine patrol when the call had come through. "Is Harris there? Did she say she was going anywhere else?" His tone was steady and measured so as to sound calm, but he was a little concerned. --- Jessica frowned at the spot Nil had been standing in, but she stayed where she was with her arms around her maker. She felt a little guilty at having snapped at him, but she also believed she was right. Now, once again, she had the arduous task of trying to calm Niko down and prevent him from throwing himself into the sun. --- Warren watched the transformation, and his heart sank when Insanity took the form of a child. He had hoped he'd be an adult again, as he deep down had wanted to get closer to him. Seeing that Insanity seemed happy with his transformation, though, Warren pretended to be happy for him but couldn't bring himself to speak. --- "Different reasons," Lang answered with a shrug. "One or two can help you unwind. Some people drink more to get drunk. I'm more of an 'enjoy the flavour' kinda guy." He then looked thoughtful. "Maybe we can try out a few things? Like, maybe one day we could go on a hike together? Or take a painting class? What've you always wanted to try that's different to what you're used to?" --- "Hmm, we won't have a lot of time for a full etiquette lesson before the event. Come, I will help you choose your outfit, and then we will go over some basics." Shezmu said quickly. "This will be a valuable skill for you to learn. Alliances can help you build your strength, and an alliance with Death will elevate us to a much higher status than we are now." --- Azrael appeared back at the Irish pub with Nate and Gabriel. He looked awkwardly between them and briefly glanced at the ceiling, knowing Lilith would likely still be snoozing in the bed upstairs. "Well, I suppose I should return to Death's realm... I have a lot to prepare..." he then looked sideways at Gabriel and Nate. "And no shenanigans, you two. We don't want a repeat of Greece." he vanished. --- Lilly, Death and Raven would appear back in the Castle Courtyard. "Oh! What do we wear? Is there something specific for us with it being our Coronation?" Lilly asked with a mixture of nerves and excitement. "Sort of," Azrael answered as he appeared nearby and approached them quickly. "Children, I have had outfits tailored for you already. I've arranged that they be delivered to your rooms. The robe included is ceremonial. I've also sent a copy of your oaths to your rooms. Please practice these while you have time; you will need to recite them when Death calls you forth during the ceremony. It'll be done oldest to youngest, so Lilly would be first to recite the oath." Quote
Denix Vames Posted August 5 Posted August 5 Abaddon caught the man with his tentacles before he could have fallen. The man's eyes were bleeding as he was unconscious. He gently laid him on his back. Then he lowered his head, "I have no one. The fact that you think I might tells me of your naivety." --- Jean was about to head to bed after that whole meeting when he felt Niko's pain. He appeared in the room, "What has happened here?" --- "Harris is-" A door would be heard slamming shut. "Apparently going to check things out. It looks like he's just as worried as I am. She usually takes the bus, I think. Maybe he'll check the nearest bus stops? I just hope she comes back. I don't really know her but she seems to mean a lot to Harris." --- Insanity turned to smile at Warren but frowned when he saw him. "You're disappointed, aren't you?" Eris shook her head, "I can't give him more. I don't want to die." She crossed her arms. "I rather not make my recent friend miss me. Maybe you can get more power from somewhere?" Insanity pondered, "Where would that be? Is there a way to gain power peacefully?" --- Reed thought for a moment. He soon smiled, "Using graph paper for note taking instead of blank paper." As far as wishes were concerned, he really had the most bland ideas. --- Dariel followed Shezmu, "You really think Death will like us? He seems kinda uptight." --- With a roll of Nate's eyes, Gabriel went upstairs to check on Lilith. --- Death appeared by his family. "Oh that being!" He sighed, "They are quite a friend but sometimes unnerving. I only wish they learned a few things about hospitality." Raven frowned, "Are me and Lily really the only ones who can save the world?" Death touched his shoulder, "Yes but you will have support. Do not ever think you will be alone." Raven nodded, "Yes Father." He turned to Lily with an excited smile, "Let's go get our clothes! I want to make sure I remember every single word from the oath!" Quote
Shadowess Posted August 10 Author Posted August 10 "I call it 'optimism,'" Amelia responded with a smile. "And it doesn't have to be a romantic partner. I was just kidding around with David. You could bring a friend. What about Ash? Or Insanity?" --- "I'll have a look for her too. Do you know which store she was heading to? It might give me an idea of which bus stop she would have gone to." Kodi asked. --- "Niko..." Jessica replied simply with a frown. This hadn't been Niko's first breakdown, after all. Although he had seemed to be getting better recently, so having just missed Insanity, she wasn't too sure what exactly had triggered this particular episode. "Jessica..." Niko said shakily. He pulled away to look at her. "I want to try it. What he said..." "But it won't work-" "We don't know that, Liebchen. I have to try. I can't keep living like this. You and I both know it. It's only a matter of time before I-..." He looked away. "You won't," Jessica said resolutely. "I'll help you, like I always do." "You'll watch me, yes. You'll stop me from ending my life over and over, but eventually you will get tired, your guard will drop, and I will find my opportunity..." He sighed heavily. "You are the greatest thing that I have done with my life. I don't want you to waste yours by worrying over me, and I don't want to cause you any pain. Please, Jessica. Let me try this." "And what if it doesn't work?" Niko looked at her sadly. "I have to believe that it will... but if it doesn't... well, we shall cross that bridge if it comes to it." He took her hands in his and gave her a weak smile. "For me, liebchen. You have saved me enough. Save me this one last time." Jessica blinked back tears and looked conflicted for a moment before relenting. "Nil... Please come back." --- "I don't know..." Warren answered. He sighed and shook his head. "Don't worry about me. You got some of your powers back, you're still you, and you came home, so that's something worth celebrating. We should probably head home." --- "Woah, don't go too crazy there, tiger," Lang joked with a short chuckle. He took a sip of his drink. "Well, I guess it's a start. I was thinking maybe I'd like to get into pottery. It's messy, but you come away with something you created that's also useful." --- "Heavy is the head that wears the crown." Shezmu quoted the phrase nonchalantly. "He is the king of his own realm with millions of citizens and reapers who count on him to protect them. It is therefore understandable that he be... what is the phrase? 'closed off'? from almost all others." Shezmu explained. "But that does not mean forming an alliance is impossible. One just has to know how to properly conduct oneself. Always bear in mind that while we are in his kingdom, we are merely guests and must act appropriately. Do not do anything to insult him, his kingdom or his children." He began walking towards his wardrobe. "When speaking to him or his children, do so respectfully. This ball will give us a unique opportunity to create a good rapport. Realms rarely invite so many guests for such events anymore, so do not squander this." Shezmu then opened his wardrobe. "Choose a black suit, then head to the baths to cleanse and get dressed." He turned to Dariel with a small smile. "You are around the same age as his children. I believe our best chance will be for you to get close to either one or both of them." He then glanced away. "I shall need to sate my thirst before we attend the event. I will do this while you get ready," he mentioned as he thought of paying Warren a quick visit. --- Lilith was still sound asleep by the time Gabriel checked on her. Oblivious to the fact that she had essentially been left alone for a short while. --- Lilly shared Raven's excitement and ran with him back into the castle, heading to her own room to see a beautiful black lace dress hanging in her wardrobe. Hanging behind that was a thick black robe made from crushed velvet. Its hood, sleeves and hems were lined in silver thread, which was intricately woven into swirling patterns. She spotted a scroll on her bedside table, which she hurriedly picked up and unrolled to see the oath written in fresh, black ink. 'I, Lillian De Morte, do hereby accept the title of Princess and heir to the Kingdom of Death. With this, I accept the duty and responsibility to the Kingdom, its citizens and the Reapers. I swear to serve and protect the Citizens of the Kingdom of Death. I swear to guide the Reapers to Reap souls with compassion, peace, patience and understanding. Above all else, I swear to uphold The Balance by any means. May all present here today bear witness and keep me to my oath from this day until my last day." Lilly read the scroll over and over. It seemed simple enough, but she didn't want to run the risk of getting it wrong when she had to recite it. She guessed Raven's would be the same except with his name instead and 'Prince' instead of Princess. Meanwhile, in the courtyard, once the children had run into the castle, Azrael turned to look at Death. "I had a new ceremonial robe made for you, too, your Grace," he said in a soft voice. "I should oversee the catering and decorations. I suppose I won't see you again until the ceremony begins." Quote
Denix Vames Posted August 10 Posted August 10 "Insanity has gone to see his family. I imagine they missed him dearly. Ash has his own family now. I can't imagine him finding interest in a party. He was always much too solemn. A crowd felt like a nuisance to him centuries ago." Abaddon nodded at the man, "I fear of what will happen should I leave this soul." --- Autumn suddenly burst into tears, "I don't know. I've just been stuffing my face like selfish idiot! I should have paid attention but I was so caught up in what happened at school." --- Nil appeared but looked away. Jean walked over to him, "Is it true? A pond that can heal the broken?" Nil bit his lip, "I can't guarantee a miracle. I only read what was on my history of fairies. I'm going to try." Jean nodded, "Then I don't see why you shouldn't." He headed to Niko and held his hand, "I hope this works." --- Insanity nodded, "Indeed it is." Once they returned to their home, Insanity froze at the sight of Shezmu, "You are Shezmu. You helped me send a message before. What brings you here?" --- Dariel took the suit out of the closet, "Uh How do I even get in this-?" He turned and saw nothing, "And he's gone." He rolled his eyes, "Guess I'll clean up first." He would head into the bathroom where a nice cooling bath was already there. --- Gabriel thought for a moment before sending Nate to her besides instead. Nate sat at the edge of the bed. He gently shook her, "Mom? You're safe here. This is still Earth. We found this abandoned pub in Ireland. Me and my friends are going to make it supernatural friendly. We'll have plenty of alcohol but you don't have to work. It's up to you. This place is meant as a home for you. A real home. And I promise I will give you so many things." Nate wiped the tears from his own eyes, "I just....I hate what happened to you. It wasn't right. This time, I'm going to make sure that you're happy." --- Raven's outfit would be a black suit with green gems on the cuffs of his sleeves. A few green gems were also on his collar. His tie also held the same dark green tone. Despite the rest of his suit being black, it seemed Azrael kept in mind of his colors. Death smiled, "My love. Ever since you arrived into my realm, you have brought nothing but goodness upon my kingdom." He caressed his cheek. "I am honored to have you by my side." He kissed him. "I will soon see you at the ceremony." Quote
Shadowess Posted August 10 Author Posted August 10 "I know what you mean, but you got summoned the same as I did. I don't think the council would take too kindly to you not making an appearance." Amelia pointed out while looking over the man warily. "I have some friends who could watch him for us. They have powers of their own, so they'd be able to handle him if he acted out. Let's drop him off and get ready for the event." She said while considering Ricky and Rickster as an option. --- Kodi paused. By now, he'd gotten into his car, and his hand was hovering over the key in his ignition. "Autumn, listen to me. Don't go blaming yourself, ok? You've had a lot on your mind, and Clem is a capable adult. I'm sure she's fine. Maybe she hopped onto the wrong bus or something. It happens. I want you to take some deep breaths and try to think. Did she say anything to you before she went out? Anything at all?" --- "So do I," Niko replied, and his hand trembled as he held his. He turned his head slightly to Jessica. "Let me go, liebchen," he said softly. "But-" Jessica started, but Niko cut her off. "Please." Jessica hesitated, and reluctantly, she let go of him, then took a step back while hugging herself. --- After leaving Dariel to get ready, Shezmu had made himself comfortable on Warren's couch to wait for him to return, as he had done a few times by now. Only this time, when Warren returned, he had brought an altered version of Insanity with him. "Ah, you have returned to your family." He greeted him with a nod. When Insanity asked him why he was here, his eyes drifted to Warren's and noted the discomfort in his consort's eyes. Warren was conflicted about how he should feel. He had longed for Insanity to return, but at some point during his stay in the castle, he had begun to accept that what he felt for Insanity would never come to fruition. Then Shezmu had come along, and although Shezmu had never made any advances, he had filled the emotional hole that had been left. Now he was standing between both of his love interests, and other than wanting the floor to swallow him up, he didn't know how to feel. "Warren and I have an agreement," Shezmu explained. "In payment for delivering his message to his family, he agreed that from time to time he would help me to -ahem- quench my thirst." "I'm his consort," Warren admitted numbly. "That is the term I use for such a position, yes. I'd like to assure you, though, that there is nothing nefarious about this arrangement. Warren is consenting, and I never take more than I need." Shezmu said casually. He then stood and straightened his jacket. "I-um-uh maybe we could have some privacy?" Warren asked awkwardly. His cheeks turned a deep shade of red at having this conversation in front of Insanity. "Of course. I did come for another reason, though." "Oh?" "My apprentice and I have been invited to a Ball in Death's Kingdom. It is a rare event that is set to be quite memorable. The Spirit Council have permitted invited guests to bring one person with them." he looked at Warren expectantly. "Y-you want to take me?" Warren blinked in surprise and blushed. He glanced at Insanity, and part of him wanted to accept in a bid to make Insanity jealous in the hopes he would find a way to become an adult faster. --- Lilith opened her eyes and then sat up quickly. She was startled to see she'd been moved to an unfamiliar location. She backed up into the corner of the bed, where her back rested against the wall and the bed frame, while she hugged her legs. She heard Nate while her eyes darted around the room. When she realised it was just her and her son, she relaxed a little but was still very much on edge. She hadn't really understood half of what Nate had said. She didn't know what a pub was. Or alcohol. Or Ireland, for that matter. Having spent the majority of her eternal life in Hell, which in her mind was still Eden, she had mostly survived in a similar fashion to beasts in the wilderness or cavemen before there was civilisation. But one word she did understand was 'home'. "H-Home..." She repeated the word and looked around again, but this time her expression had shifted from fear to wonder. She looked back at Nate. "The Angels?" she asked in a half whisper. She'd been referring to Gabriel and Azrael. She was distrustful and even fearful of all Angels, but now she seemed a little more willing to listen to Nate. --- "The honour is mine, your Grace," Azrael replied in his soft voice. He held on to the kiss for as long as he could, and he felt himself swooning at Death's touch. He had to tear himself away as the desire to stay close to him grew. "I will see you there," he said dreamily as he dragged himself away to make sure the preparations were all in order. Quote
Denix Vames Posted August 10 Posted August 10 Abaddon nodded. Both would appear in the mansion. Ricky turned to their arrival. He was making scrambled eggs, "Amelia? It looks like you've brought some new people. Do you need help?" Abaddon nervously rubbed his own arm. Not looking at anyone. --- Autumn thought for a moment, "She told me I should be eating something better. Something that wouldn't make me feel worse. She said Harris told her about vegetables so she went out to get something healthy. Do we have a healthy supermarket nearby?" --- Nil enclosed his hand in his. The two appeared at the pond. "You may take your clothes off and bathe in the water. Do not worry. I will not look. I'll turn away but if you need my help then please let me know." --- Insanity's tears peeked out. He climbed on the couch and stood on the armrest. "Tell me Shezmu, would it be right of me to become my adult form and relations with Warren? After all the pain I caused him, all the torture, he forgives me so. Yet, I cannot muster the courage to give him what he needs. I do not believe I am worthy of that. I feel as though you have done better for him than I ever could. I ask of you Shezmu to show him the respect that he deserves just as you have done so far." He turned to Warren, "I want to feel right about being close to you but I will keep myself as a child for now. I do not think it is right of your previous torturer to be close to you." He held his hand out. A scroll appeared. "My contract on your soul. I shall destroy it if you so wish. You can be free. It is what I should have done from the beginning." --- Nate replied, "Gabriel is downstairs. He's organizing everything. Azrael went back to Death for the ceremony they're having." He sighed, "Look mom. I know you don't like Angels. I don't like most of them either. Some of them were real pieces of shits. Back when God was filled with wrath, he tormented me. I had to kill so many of my own kind just to survive. But things have changed. It's been centuries. Angels and Demons see each other as friends now. The King & Queen of Hell are in alliance with the Archangels of Heaven. Things aren't what they use to be. Please mother. You don't have to like all the Angels but you can at least try to like my friends. Gabriel and Azrael....They've always been there for me." --- Death would soon reach his bedroom where he would change into an illustrious purple and black garment. Matching the very form of his usual outfit but with purple hiding underneath. To show that he was welcoming of all people. For purple meant tranquility. Quote
Shadowess Posted August 11 Author Posted August 11 "Hi, Ricky. Sorry to drop in like this. This is Abaddon, and this is... um..." She gestured to the emo-looking man and paused. "Well, he doesn't have a name yet. I guess he was technically just born. We pulled him out of Abaddon, but he's a little... uh, what's the nice way of putting it? Disturbed? I'd normally deal with this myself, but Abaddon and I have been summoned to an important event that we can't miss. Would you mind watching him for a while?" She asked and then gave him a serious look. "Don't let your guard down around him, though. Especially not around anything he could use as a weapon. In fact, it might be best to restrain him before he wakes up. I'll come by after the event to take him off your hands." --- Kodi's eyes lit up. He knew where to look. "Yeah, we do. Alright, I'll see if she's still there. Stay by the phone in case she calls, and if she comes home, let me know, ok? Try to relax, I'm sure she's fine." --- Leaving his underwear on, he stepped towards the pool and gingerly dipped in a toe. It was a little cold but not uncomfortably so. Not feeling any different, he moved further in and kept going until the water reached his shoulders. He sat there for a moment and wondered if he'd need to dip his head in, too. That's when he started to feel dizzy. He suddenly reached out to the edge of the pool. The water splashed up as his arm flung towards the grassy ledge, and he gripped it to try and steady himself. Before he could react, he lost consciousness and started to sink. When Nil would realise and pull him out, he'd be pulling out a human Niko. The only way that the healing waters could save him from his traumatic memories was to remove them completely. All of them. The memories of his torment at the hands of Donnie and Insanity. The memories of his trial and punishment at the hands of Xenos. Even the memories of his family and friends being murdered by Steinheil hunters. All the way back to the time he'd been human, and so, in reversing these traumas, the waters had also reversed his change from human to Vampire. He was a mortal German man again who barely knew a lick of English and whose last memories had been of when he had been excited to be welcomed into the Vampire society at the castle with his best friend, Hannes. --- Shezmu looked from Warren to Insanity as he asked his question. Warren's heart hammered and ached as he heard Insanity's words. "All of my consorts have my word that I will protect and respect them," Shezmu answered simply. He looked at Warren as he continued. "My consorts' lives are their own, and how they live is up to them. If they wish for our bond to include romance, I am not opposed to the idea. But I must be clear; I am not a monogamous man. My harem was once spread out across the world and consisted of dozens of men and women. It is only fair that I expect some of my concubines to have lovers of their own." He explained, not wanting to be misunderstood regarding his preferences. "That's-..." Warren stammered. He recalled Shezmu mentioning that he'd previously had a few consorts, but he'd never imagined it had been so many. "Oh, wow..." he was caught more off guard by Insanity's offer to destroy the contract he had signed. He'd been about to object, knowing it was the only thing left that tied him to Insanity, but then something unexpected happened. Black blotches on the scroll started to appear and spread, as if the ink was running. It continued to spread until the entire thing was just black parchment, which wilted and rotted in Insanity's hand. "Ah," Shezmu said as he watched what happened and saw their confused faces. "You mentioned before that your beloved Donnie had perished. I assume he had co-signed these contracts with you?" he asked Insanity. "Co-signed contracts are never a wise idea. It only takes one of you to perish, and they all become void. None of the contracts that you had co-signed will be in effect anymore." While this news disheartened Warren, Shezmu saw this as a good thing. Not because Warren was free now, but because he was now able to offer a contract of his own to his consort. --- Lilith's eyes were fixed on Nate as she listened to him talk. Her heart ached to know what her first child had gone through during his life. When he finished speaking, she hesitated before slowly moving from the corner of the bed to sit more in front of him. She lifted her hands up to cup his face and to take a proper look at him. She slowly ran her fingers through his hair and brushed some out of his face. Her finger traced over his scar as she looked at his eye with a frown. "My child." She whispered and smiled tearfully. "My Naoutha." She wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly. Quote
Denix Vames Posted August 11 Posted August 11 Ricky didn't want to abandon the scrambled eggs so he called out, "Rickster? I need you to tie this man securely to a chair. He's dangerous but still a human." Abaddon walked to Amelia, "Maybe this foolish of me to ask but....can you help me find a friend to bring to the ceremony?" --- Autumn replied, "Ok. Just don't be surprised if you run into Harris. And please be careful. I...I don't want to lose this family. Even if we are a mess." --- Nil's eyes widened, "Oh geez! Um...!" He grabbed his pile of clothes and shoved it into his arms. "Get dressed and I'll take you to the castle. I'm sure someone can help me with this." Nil would soon appear with a clothed Niko in the dining area. "Hey? A little help here? I think I made a really terrible mistake." --- Insanity clenched his talons. Despite his size, he stomped over to Shezmu. "He is free now. I won't let you or anyone else ever make him sign a contract. I will never let him under someone's command. I'll make sure that even I will never be able to do him any harm. It is why I am now what I am." --- Nate burst into tears as his head sunk into her chest. "Oh mother! You don't know what they did to me! I think God knew all along. He used me as a toy because of it. It's why I left Heaven recently but I won't leave my friends." Quote
Shadowess Posted August 12 Author Posted August 12 Rickster had appeared when Ricky called him, and he briefly looked at everyone. The only ones he didn't recognise were Abaddon and the man. He gingerly took the man from Abaddon's grip and carried him over to a chair, where he snapped his fingers, summoning ropes that bound the man's hands and feet. "So... why are we doing this?" he then asked. Wanting to see what the commotion was, Atma had also wandered into the kitchen and looked at everyone curiously from the doorway. Amelia had been about to answer Rickster's question when Atma caught her eye. She looked at Abaddon. "What about Atma, here? She used to be a Spirit of Life, but she retired." "What about me?" Atma asked, looking confused. "What's going on? Who's that man? And why is he being tied up?" --- "You won't," Kodi assured her. "Alright, I gotta go. I'll call back soon, ok?" he ended the call and started his car before taking off towards the local green grocer. His heart sank as he approached the bus stop not too far from the store and saw the abandoned bag with its contents spilling onto the pavement. He pulled up next to it, hurriedly turned his car off and took his seat belt off before hopping out and getting a closer look. He caught Clementine's scent here. And an Angel's. And something else that he couldn't quite place. It was human, but not the ordinary human scent. He looked around, hoping to see Clementine still nearby. "Clem? Clementine?!" He called out. He tried to teleport to her, but found that he couldn't. His heart began to race. Something was very wrong here. --- It took several minutes for Niko to awaken, and even then, he was groggy as he tried to make sense of what Nil was trying to say. When he eventually figured out of context that he needed to put the clothes on that were nearby, he blushed at realising he was mostly naked and hurriedly put on the strange clothes. He looked at himself in confusion, wondering why he was wet, and then he looked at the nearby pool and assumed he must've been bathing in it. But where was he? How did he get here? And who was this strange man who kept trying to talk to him in English? Were these his clothes? He didn't recognise them. Then, even more jarringly, he found himself suddenly standing in the Vampire Castle. He smiled widely. "Oh! This is a dream! I'm dreaming!" he laughed in German. Jessica appeared and looked in confusion from Nil to Niko. Having missed what Niko had just said, she couldn't tell that anything was wrong except that Niko was now staring at her in awe. "What happened?" She asked. --- Shezmu seemed unfazed by Insanity's protective display. "I believe that what Warren decides to do is his decision." He said simply. He then looked at Warren. "Time grows short, and I have yet to get ready. Will you come with me to this Ball?" Warren looked uncertain. He'd learned so much in such a short space of time, and he was still torn about how he wanted to feel towards either of them. He looked at Insanity sadly. Once again, he was forced to realise that his love for him would not be reciprocated, so he might as well see where things go with Shezmu. He looked at the Blood God and nodded. "The event is formal, black tie. Please take some time to prepare. I will collect you before we go in around thirty minutes." Shezmu nodded and then vanished, leaving Warren and Insanity alone. --- Lilith held him to her and gently stroked the back of his head. She frowned as she listened to him, and when he was done speaking, she did the only thing that she could think to do to try to comfort him. While still stroking his hair and cradling his head against her chest, she began to hum the lullaby that she used to sing to him when he'd been a newborn. The lullaby that she hadn't sung again after he'd been snatched from her as an infant, until now. Quote
Denix Vames Posted August 12 Posted August 12 Ricky turned the stove off. He set the scrambled eggs and sausages on a plate. Placing it on the counter. "Amelia said this guy needs to be looked after while they're off doing royal duties. He's...?" Abaddon awkwardly stepped forward, "I had a human side at one point when I lost my memories and powers. It wasn't a good human. He wants to hurt people. As for bringing you somewhere, well, there is a ceremony for Death's children. I don't have anyone to bring as guest. I am still new to this modern world. I only came back from Oblivion recently. I understand that you were once a Spirit of Life. I was wondering if you would like to go to the ceremony as my invited guest?" --- Harris was around the corner. He ran over to Kodi, "Where could she be?! I can't get to her!" --- Nil looked around, "I need someone who knows Niko as a friend. Someone needs to talk to him." He helped Niko to a chair before turning to Jessica. Bringing himself and her further away from him. "The pond worked but....his memories are gone. Everything has been erased. He's a human now." He shook his head with tears in his eyes. "I-I didn't mean to. I was just trying to help. I didn't know...." --- Insanity walked over to Warren and touched his leg as he was too short to hold his hand. "I know you want me to love you but I feel as though I don't deserve you. Shezmu seems better. Answer me this, despite everything, do you still want me to love you? I can take back all my power. I can become an adult once again. As much as I want to punish myself, I don't want you to be upset. And I don't want to be in the way of your choices." --- Nate found himself surprised by this but smiled. He found comfort in her singing and her touch. For the first time, he felt safe. Probably a bit too safe as he ended up falling asleep. --- Raven took a deep breath. Before he would enter the ceremony, he needed to do one small thing. He appeared wherever David was. "My apologies but I must ask permission from you. Your friend Hades? Does she want me to turn her back?" Quote
Shadowess Posted August 28 Author Posted August 28 "I-! Uh-!" Atma faltered awkwardly. Having forgotten everything from her previous life when she became human, she had no idea that Death's Kingdom was a thing. She knew vaguely of Heaven and Hell from her friends talking about it with her, but most other things were practically brand new to her now. Additionally, she was surprised to even be invited to anything. She usually spent a lot of her time maintaining the garden or reading. She rarely went out or socialised at all, but this was fine by her. She figured out fairly quickly that she was more introverted than her friends. "Please go, Atma. I know you won't remember anyone there, but I'm sure it'd make things a bit more special to have a veteran Midwife in attendance. Not to mention keeping Abaddon company." Amelia had winked during that last sentence, and Atma felt her cheeks grow a little warmer as her eyes moved back to Abaddon. But then she looked at Amelia again in surprise. "Was I really that renowned?" "Girl, you were famous! First Midwife in existence. You've been around since the beginning, from what I heard." "Yeah, you were actually mentioned during the history seminar when I was training to become an Angel." Rickster chimed in as he looked hungrily at the plate Ricky had set down. "Man, you're such a good cook," he complimented him. Atma was nervous at the thought of going somewhere new and being surrounded by strangers, but her curiosity overshadowed her anxiety. She turned to Abaddon and smiled with a nod. "I'd like to go with you, then." "Wonderful! You might want to hurry and get changed then. It starts soon. Black tie, formal." Amelia told her quickly. "Oh! That soon? Uh, alright. I'll go and get ready then... I'm sure I saw a black dress in one of these wardrobes somewhere..." Rickster smirked, seeing an opportunity to show off his Trickster skills and snapped his fingers. A second later, Atma's, Amelia's and Abaddon's clothes changed to the appropriate attire. Atma's short, slim black dress had small tassels along the skirt and came with a silver shawl that loosely hung from her arms. Amelia's was a long black dress with a mermaid-style skirt and subtle red accents. "There! All Cinderellas are ready for the ball." Rickster chuckled proudly. --- "Me neither," Kodi said worriedly as he met with Harris. "That scent..." He took a few more lungfuls, trying to place it. "I don't know what the other one is, but there was definitely an Angel here..." He looked around wildly, half expecting to see them with Clementine somewhere. "I just don't know who. Or why?" He looked at Harris. "Go home. One of us needs to stay there with Autumn in case she comes home. Try to keep Autumn calm. I'll report Clem missing first so that the other officers can keep an eye out. Then I'm going to Heaven to see what I can find out." --- "Look at this red-haired beauty! You must be new to the castle!" Niko said to Jessica in German. Jessica looked at him in mild confusion, not really understanding what he'd said as Nil led her away to talk more privately. When he told her the news, she was stunned. "He-... he doesn't remember? He doesn't remember me?" She asked quietly as she glanced at Niko, who was obliviously smiling and greeting the vampires as they entered the hall, going about their own business. Jessica frowned and then sighed. "Hannes. From what Niko told me, they grew up together. He'll be your best bet, but... Maybe-" She hugged herself as she tore her eyes away from her maker. "Maybe this is for the best. If he can't remember his trauma, he can't suffer from it." --- Warren gave Insanity a torn and teary look. "But Eris said she'd die if you took it all back." He bit his lip and looked away from him. "I won't lie. I want you to be an adult and for us to be together, but... not at the cost of someone else's life." he sighed heavily and stepped away from him. "Please don't get my hopes up if it's not possible. Don't play with my heart like that... I should get ready," he walked away, into the bedroom to get changed. --- "My child..." Lilith smiled as a couple of tears rolled down her cheeks, and she looked down at her sleeping son. She was deceptively small despite the strength that she possessed, and she lifted him easily, only the bed. There she took a moment to study him. To drink in the moment. Cherishing his return to her. Hesitantly, she quietly stepped away as she moved towards the door. She kept looking back at him, worried that he would be taken from her again. But he's not an infant anymore, and she reluctantly accepted this truth. She stepped out of the room, wanting to see this new home he'd picked out for her. She wandered into the different rooms along the upstairs before eventually making her way down and pausing in the bar area at the sight of Gabriel. She stared at him silently. Her eyes gave him a silent warning not to try to approach her. Her eyes remained fixed on him as she moved around the bar, and only briefly she'd take them off him to glance around at the rest of the room curiously. "My son trusts you," she said finally as she came to a stop across the room from him. "You mean much to him." --- David had been adjusting his tie in front of a mirror when Raven had appeared. He looked at him and then smiled warmly. "That colour suits you." He complimented him while nodding to the green. "I believe she does. Is it something that you can do?" Quote
Denix Vames Posted August 28 Posted August 28 Abaddon jumped at the sudden change in his clothes. He looked at what was over him. An all black Victorian suit. He moved his arm, "Must you? I would have preferred my usual wardrobe. This feels tightening. How does anyone dress like this?" He looked up to see Atma and found himself at a loss for words. He stared for what felt like an eternity before he quickly looked away. "I really don't know about this. No one knows me or has probably heard about me. And if they have, it is not for good reasons." Ricky smiled at Rickster then turned to Abaddon, "You're too hard on yourself." --- Harris grit his teeth, "You better find her or it's your ass on the line!" He disappeared. --- Nil replied, "But he doesn't remember you!" He looked around, "Hannes?! Where are you?" --- Insanity replied, "Who's to say it must come from a living being? Hell has much power to give. Yet, I still believe Shezmu is the right man for you. I will rest on this couch and regain my strength. You can tell me all about your time at the party. I wouldn't mind hearing it." --- Gabriel poured a brandy, "Oh yeah! We go way back. You should have seen us centuries ago." He chuckled, "We were a bunch of trouble makers." He lifted an empty glass. "Got a favorite drink?" --- Raven nodded, "Thank you. I believe it might be possible for my powers to help her. She was attacked by the very same portal that was opened with my brother's powers after he.... sacrificed himself for me and Conrad. Do you know where Hades might be?" Quote
Shadowess Posted September 11 Author Posted September 11 "Ricky is right," Amelia said to Abaddon. "I'm sure the council wouldn't have warped you into that meeting if they thought you'd be in any way a danger. Also, even if no one else knows you at the party, it just means that you can take this as an opportunity to reinvent yourself. Like, introduce yourself as the kind of person that you want to be going forward." Atma hadn't seen Abaddon staring as she worried over how short and snug the dress was as she fidgeted with one of the tassels on the skirt. She certainly pulled it off, but it was never an outfit that she'd normally wear. But then again, she was still finding herself and hadn't actually had any opportunities to go out on the town since her new life had begun. --- Kodi skillfully hid his emotions, but inside, he was panicking. He watched Harris leave and then spent a few minutes having another look around the bus stop. Unable to pick up any more clues as to who or what had taken Clementine, he decided to head straight to the station first to report her as missing in case she was still on Earth somewhere. --- "Yes, thank you. I noticed." Jessica snapped irritably. She took a breath to keep herself calm. "Sorry. It's just- think about it for a moment." She said to Nil. "Niko asked for this... he- maybe deep down, this is what he wanted, and your magic water somehow granted his wish?" "What's happened?" Hannes asked as he appeared in the room. Two things happened simultaneously in this moment. Hannes caught Niko's human scent, and his eyes snapped to him with a mixture of disbelief and confusion. Meanwhile, the sudden appearance of Hannes has caused Niko to jump so much that he almost fell out of his seat and stumbled clumsily to his feet, all while his wide eyes stayed fixed on his best friend. "Hannes?! How did you do that?!" Niko said quickly and still in German. "And- you're a vampire already?! We were supposed to be turned together! As brothers!" Hannes stared at Niko in shock as this was happening, and then he rounded on Nil. "What happened to him?" he demanded. His eyes were intense and angry. "What have you done!?" "Calm down!" Jessica snapped back. She stepped between them. "Calm down? Calm down?!" Hannes repeated. His furious gaze was now on Jessica. "Hannes? You're speaking English now?" Niko asked in German. He took a step back and then glanced around the room as if really looking around for the first time since Nil brought him back. He realised there were other vampires in he dining hall that he'd never met before. "Who-? What is happening?" he asked worriedly as he took another couple of steps back. His eyes continued to wander the hall, and he noticed decorations, rugs and tapestry that he hadn't seen before either. They were new to him, but they also looked worn... even, old. "Things are different... how long have I been gone? Where did I go? What happened to me?!" --- Warren had picked out one of the black Victorian suits from the wardrobe. It had dark, blue trims and fit him perfectly. Thinking over what Insanity had said, he frowned as he stared at himself in the mirror. "You should wear such clothing more often." Shezmu's voice behind him had made him jump and whirl around to see him sitting in an armchair near the bed on the other side of the room. "How long have you been watching me?" Warren gasped. "Not long." The Blood God answered as he rose to his feet. He was wearing a similar suit but with red trims with a red silk cravat. He walked towards him with a small smile. "Beloved, your mind is troubled." He stopped in front of him and lifted his hand to caress Warren's warm cheek with his fingertips. "Might I make a selfish request? Don't dwell on it. For tonight, simply be mine." Warren stared at Shezmu for a moment, and his cheeks flushed pink as he glanced away bashfully. "A-alright," he said softly while unable to conceal the little smile that crept across his lips. "Good. Now, come. My apprentice awaits us." He held out his arm for Warren to take, and without any hesitation, his consort wrapped his arm around his. A second later, they'd be standing in Shezmu's home to meet with Dariel. --- Lilith tilted her head slightly while looking at the glasses. She'd cautiously and curiously taken a step towards the bar. "Favourite?" she repeated. Anything she had ever consumed had been out of necessity and survival. She'd never had the luxury of experiencing enjoyment when eating or drinking. Other than the thrill of the hunt, of course. --- "My condolences," David told him quietly. There was understanding in the way he said it. David had experienced his own losses over the years to know the kind of pain that Raven was likely feeling. He then nodded and briefly glanced across the room as he thought of where Hades would likely be now. "She's been spending a lot of time with her friends in Hell recently. I'd imagine she'd be with them now and getting ready for the ceremony." Quote
Denix Vames Posted September 11 Posted September 11 Abaddon nodded, "Thank you. I appreciate your encouragement." He looked at Atma, "That dress. It...suits you." --- Travis was sitting at his new desk. He smiled at Kodi and waved. His sketchbook and other drawing tools were in front of him. --- Nil blurted out, "I wanted to make his pain go away! I took him to a pond filled with my magic. His memories were erased. He's not hurt anymore but...I'm sorry. He doesn't remember anything." He bit his lip. Fighting back tears as he felt like now wasn't the time to cry while Hannes was pissed. Jean appeared. A tear fell, "You! How could you?! Without telling Hannes about it first?" --- Dariel was fumbling with the bow on his suit. Frankly, he would have preferred not to wear a suit. His eyes widened at the sight of Shezmu with someone. "Didn't take you for a lover." --- Gabriel flushed, "Oh! That's right. You haven't had a chance to try human drinks, right?" He took out a few bottles from the shelf and set them on the bar. "Well, there's all sorts of alcohol that you can try. We've got whiskey, scotch, tequila, and a variety of old wine. There's a couple more things but the list goes on." --- Hades would be at the Library with her friends. Preparing everyone and herself for the ceremony. The band would be dressed in suits. Hades was wearing a red dress with a cobweb pattern. Raven lowered his head, "Could you, perhaps, come with me? I feel as though I need someone there to make me feel less strange. I am still unsure of my presence with her. Of how she feels about her form. Whether or not, she spites me for it." --- When Kris would wake up, he would hear crying coming from Violet's room. Violet had her blouse in her hands as she sat at the edge of the bed. Old scars from whip marks were on her back. Quote
Shadowess Posted September 16 Author Posted September 16 Atma looked up at Abaddon and blushed both at the compliment and at taking notice of his outfit. "Thank you." She said shyly as the corner of her mouth lifted into a small smile. Rickster gave Ricky an amused and knowing look before pretending to fire an invisible arrow at the pair. The joke, of course, was that by dressing them, he'd somehow managed to play the part of Cupid. Smiling at them and also smirking at having noticed Rickster's gesture behind them, Amelia stepped forward to give Abbadon and Atma her hands. "Alright, shall we get going?" --- "Hey, Travis," Kodi said whilst also signing to him out of habit. "Who's on call tonight? I need to file a missing persons report." --- Hannes gawped at Nil in disbelief. His face had turned red from anger as he opened his mouth, ready to lay into him. Once again, Jessica stood between them and squared up to Hannes, poking a finger at his chest. "Niko. Wanted. This!" She snapped. "He asked me for it! Practically begged me to let him go and do it! So, don't you dare take this out on Nil! All he did was help!" "Help?!" Hannes snapped back and gestured to Niko. "You call this helping!? He doesn't remember being a vampire!-" "Exactly! Because all the traumatic shit that happened to him was while he was turned! This is his second chance, and you have no right to take it from him!" "No right?!" "No! None!" "He's my best friend and practically my brother!" "He's my maker! I didn't want this any more than you do, but this was HIS choice! HIS!" "But-!" "Hannes, will you shut up and listen? We tried! alright?! We all did! But his pain was too deep! He told me himself that if he didn't try this or if it didn't work, then he would eventually find a way to kill himself!" Jessica stopped suddenly as she realised what she said and saw the wounded look on Hannes's face as she finished saying the words. He was shocked by those words, but the shock alone wasn't what made Hannes speechless. It was the truth in them. He knew it even without it needing to be said. They had all tried to talk to Niko. Jessica, Hannes and even Jean. It only ever seemed to temporarily lift his spirits, but inevitably, he'd become brooding and begin isolating himself again as his mental state continued to decline. He hadn't wanted to think of it or even accept that it could be a possibility, but Jessica was right. It would only have been a matter of time. "Hannes... I didn't-" Jessica started, but Hannes held up a hand to quiet her. He sighed while shaking his head and glanced over at where Niko had been standing, only to find that he was no longer in the room. He had run out during their argument. By now, he'd made it halfway across the castle. He was still freaking out about the apparent time he'd lost and couldn't fathom where or why he'd been away for so long. Or even how long he'd been away for. His mind was still racing as he slowed to a stop to catch his breath. Then something drastically unexpected tore him out of his panic and distracted him entirely from his own problems. The sound of a woman groaning and crying. He listened carefully and followed the sound until he found a very pregnant Patience gripping the wall in one of the hallways, apparently in too much pain to move as her other hand gripped the underside of her belly. "Mein Gott!" Niko gasped and hurried towards her. "Lady! Do you need help? Shall I call for a midwife?" he asked her rapidly in German. Thankfully, Patience knew enough German to understand what he was saying to her. "Niko?" he gasped between breaths, but then her face scrunched up in pain, and her knees bent slightly as she groaned through another contraction. "You know me?" Niko asked her in surprise. "Niko, help me." Patience gasped between breaths again. Without hesitation, Niko wrapped an arm around her waist while moving her arm around his shoulders. He helped her to walk further down the corridor while calling out in German. "Help! Midwife! Doctor! Someone! This lady is in labour!" --- "The pursuit of power and knowledge need not be a lonely one," Shezmu answered simply with a small smile as he stepped away from Warren to approach his apprentice. He casually fixed Dariel's bow. "When you become strong enough to make your foes quake at the sound of your name, you too might choose to take a lover or two. After all, you will have all the time in the world for such things when I give you my gift." Warren stood idly and rubbed his arm while awkwardly looking away from them. He was surprised to hear Shezmu was planning on eventually turning Dariel, but then again, what else did he think would happen to the young man that the old Blood God had taken under his wing? "Now, are you ready to go?" Shezmu asked Dariel as he stepped away. --- Lillith looked at the bottles and the differently coloured liquids curiously as she stepped closer to the bar. "The humans drink these?" she asked, intrigued. She had no idea what any of the names of the drinks meant or how they'd be any different. These beverages were completely alien to her. "This one looks like water," she noted while pointing to the bottle of clear liquid, unable to read the label. --- "Of course." David nodded as he brought his gaze back to Raven. "I don't think your father would thank me for letting you wander into Hell alone anyway. The realm is currently under... reform. So, there are a few Demons that are still trying to cling to old traditions to watch out for." He offered Raven his hand. "I'm sure you're capable of handling yourself, but all the same, I'll ensure that you're protected." --- Kris jolted awake with a gasp and quickly lifted himself to sit on his knees. Although he could still vividly remember the strange man's face, he knew any link he'd had to him was gone. His head throbbed painfully as he cradled it in his hands for a moment. He felt moisture under his nose, which he patted with his fingers to see he'd been bleeding. Groaning quietly, he brought himself to his feet and then moved into his bathroom to look in the mirror. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at his reflection, yet he barely registered his own state as his mind raced. Who was that man? What kind of desert could ever get that hot? How did he manage to connect to Kris's mind like that? What did he mean by he was suffering? All the questions that Kris would soon become obsessed with answering. For now, he took a moment to wash the blood from his face and ears. As he rubbed his face with a towel, he heard the soft, unmistakable sound of crying. For a moment, he found it odd that he could hear it from his room, but considering what he'd just experienced, he decided not to overthink it. He left his room and followed the sound to Violet's room. He contemplated opening the door but paused as he realised she might not appreciate him barging in on her. Instead, he gently tapped his knuckles against her door. "Violet? May I come in?" Quote
Denix Vames Posted September 16 Posted September 16 Abaddon looked at her before taking it. Ricky smirked at Rickster, "Mind giving me a cupid moment with you? You've been working nonstop. I've been missing you." --- Travis pointed at Reed who was sitting at a temporary desk. Reed looked up from his book, "Hello officer. What do you need? I'm with the CIA but I can still help." --- Jean appeared before Niko and Patience. "Hannes! We need help!" Nil could only stand there in silence. Finding himself thinking over what had happened and whether or not, he was a problem. --- Dariel thought for a moment. The idea of having a relationship seemed like it had been crushed since his recent breakup. Yet, Shezmu was giving him hope. He nodded, "Yes sir." --- Gabriel poured the alcohol she pointed at, "This is Vodka. Humans, especially Russians, can handle this stuff. It's strong so I think it'll be right up your taste." --- Raven smiled before taking his hand. They appeared in Hell's Library. Hades walked over, "Hey dad! And kid from the portal?" Raven stepped forward, "I've come to apologize and change you back into your previous form." Hades nonchalantly waved her hand, "It's ok kid. I'm good." Raven's eyes widened, "What?! But I turned you into this monster! Aren't you mad at me? You should be hating me right now!" The band stopped fixing their instruments and watched the scene unfold. Raven was now bursting with tears as his fists were clenched. Hades knelt down and put a hand on his shoulder, "Look kid. None of it was your fault. I decided to mess with shit that I shouldn't have. Honestly though, I'm cool with being a Hellhound. To be closer to my adoptive dad? That's way better than knowing I was related to some egotistical psycho when I was a Leviathan. So, you're ok in my book kid." Raven didn't know what to say. --- Violet quickly drew her blouse on and rubbed her eye. She soon opened the door with a grin. "Hey Kris! How's it hanging? Want another round of drinks or what?" Quote
Shadowess Posted September 24 Author Posted September 24 Once both Abaddon and Atma had taken Amelia's hands, she teleported them to Death's Castle. Rickster grinned and leaned over the counter to kiss Ricky. "I've missed you, too. So, candlelit dinner followed by a night of passion under the stars?" --- "CIA?" Kodi said in surprise and glanced around while wondering what he'd missed. But now wasn't the time for that. "Um, I need to report a missing person. She uh, she's one of my roommates. She was supposed to be home hours ago from doing a grocery run, but she never came back. We- my other roommate and I, we found her bag of groceries on the ground at the bus stop. I think she might've been kidnapped." --- Jessica watched as Jean and Hannes vanished. She was about to teleport after them, but caught sight of Nil's expression. "Hey," she said to him quickly. "Don't worry about them. They'll come around. This was what Niko wanted. In the end, that's all that matters, Ok? None of this is your fault." And with that, she vanished too. "Scheiße! (Shit!)" Hannes gasped when he appeared near Jean and saw what was happening. He hurried forward and lifted Patience into his arms. He then hurriedly walked to the medical wing of the castle. Teleporting with Patience in this condition would have been too risky. Niko followed closely behind, his eyes on Patience the whole time. "Should we alert her partner?" he asked in German. Hannes cringed at the question and gave Patience an apologetic look before answering, also in German. "There is no partner, Niko. I'll explain later." He then ducked into the medical wing and called for the help of a midwife. With a flurry of movement, Patience was taken from Hannes's arms and guided to a more private room towards the back of the wing. Just as Patience was taken away, Jessica had managed to catch up to them. "But she cannot be alone for this! Isn't there anyone we can call upon? Her family?" Niko said worriedly, his eyes on the door that Patience had gone through. "She will want to be alone..." Hannes said sadly. He locked eyes with Jessica briefly and knew what her look meant. As much as he hated to admit it, she was right. What happened to Niko was his own choice. Giving him back his memories would only bring him pain. He sighed and nodded to her as a silent agreement that he wouldn't ruin this opportunity for his oldest friend. But still, there were some things that Niko needed to know. He'd missed so much. Starting with Patience. He gave Jean a sad smile as if to tell him he could handle this himself from here. He then wrapped an arm around Niko's shoulder to walk him towards the door so that they could walk the halls while Hannes attempted to fill him in on some important details without triggering any traumatic memories. --- "Good. Remember what I told you about etiquette and creating allies." Shezmu told him privately before gesturing for Warren to come closer. He lifted his elbow for Warren to take and then placed a hand on Dariel's shoulder before teleporting them into Death's Main Hall. --- "Russians?" Lilith repeated the word. There was so much about this world that she had to learn. She inched even closer to the bar with her eyes warily on Gabriel. Gingerly, she reached out and lifted the small glass before bringing it under her nose. She sniffed, then recoiled while cringing as the smell burned her nostrils. "Humans willingly ingest this?" She asked, baffled. "It smells toxic." --- David couldn't help smiling at Hades's words. He looked from her to the band and nodded. "You all look great. I'm looking forward to your performance later on." He said and then turned to Raven. "Speaking of, we should probably get you back home now." --- Kris looked at Violet oddly for a moment before stepping into her room and closing the door behind him to give them some privacy. He looked around briefly before bringing his eyes back to hers. "I thought I heard crying," he said to her quietly as he sat on the edge of her bed. "I know I'm not the most approachable person. I have to..." he paused, contemplating his words before continuing. "This life we have isn't easy. It comes with challenges, prejudice from outsiders and threats from local vampire clans... not to mention rival Tricksters who would love to overthrow me and take this territory for themselves. What I'm trying to say is... I might be the boss here, but you're one of us now. So, you can come and talk to me about anything that might be troubling you. I might not always have time, but if you let me know that you need to talk, then I'll find time." --- When Amelia, Abaddon and Atma arrived in Death's castle, Azrael hurried over to greet them. He held a clipboard in his hands with details for the party, including a guest list. He ticked off Amelia and Abaddon's names as he approached. "You're early!" He greeted them with a smile. He was wearing the traditional formal black robes. As it was a formal occasion, he also had his black feathered wings out, which shone silkily in the light. The hall was handsomely decorated. The walls were lined with tapestries that vaguely told the history of Death's kingdom through intricately woven images. Silver canopies hung from the rafters high overhead and along the top edges of the walls. Death's throne was polished, and on either side of it were two slightly smaller thrones for his Children, for when they completed their oaths. The runway towards Death's throne was kept clear, except for the long carpet which matched the colours of the tapestries around it. Long tables had been set up on either side of the hall with black tablecloths and polished silverware. The chairs are all facing towards the centre of the room. Around them, Reapers were busily setting up the finishing touches. "Are the first ones to get here?" Amelia asked. "For now, but I expect the others will be appearing at any moment." Azrael nodded, and then his eyes landed on Atma, who was looking around them in awe. "Atma?!" Her eyes snapped to Azrael in surprise. "Oh, I guess you know me. Sorry, I don't remember-" "No, th-that's fine. Apologies, I know your situation. I was just surprised to see you here." Azrael stumbled on his words awkwardly before smiling at her. "My name is Azrael. Despite the circumstances, it is nice to see you again." He awkwardly cleared his throat after adding her name as one of the plus ones, and then he gestured around them while speaking. "During the ceremony, you'll be expected to stand on either side of this runway. It's important that until the oaths are completed, none of the guests say or do anything to interrupt. When the oaths are completed and Death invites his children to sit by his side, he will then give the order for the feast to commence. That's when you'll need to take your seats at the tables at the sides here... There's no seating plan, so sit next to whoever you want. Once everyone is seated, our culinary team will start bringing in food and drinks. They're here to serve you, but you're still guests, so please be respectful to them. When you have finished with your meal, you can head to the ballroom..." Azrael continued on to give them the trio directions to the ballroom as well as the lavatories, in case they'd be needed. This is the same speech he would give to each guest as they arrived, so that all guests would know what to expect and how to behave. "Finally, there is a ballet box arranged in a private room. I'll give you the direction momentarily, but at any point during the ball, you may submit your vote in private. Unity has already arrived and enchanted the ballot box to only take one vote from each guest. Additional votes submitted by the same guest will incinerate itself as it enter the box." Azrael looked a little relieved to have finished his spiel, as he then pointed towards the back of the room where a temporary bar area had been set up. "You may help yourselves to drinks as we await the other guests." "Blimey! How many times do you have to go through all that info?" Amelia chuckled, a little amused. "I dare not think on it." Azrael laughed as he noticed Carol appear in a simple black dress. "Please excuse me," he said as he made his way over to her. Shortly after Carol arrived, Shezmu, Dariel and Warren would appear next to get the same speech from Azrael. Then David arrived, too, with Raven. "Well, I suppose we might as well get a drink," Amelia said to Abaddon and Atma. "Oh, yes, please." Atma smiled. Being in this new place for what appeared to be a very fancy party was exciting. But also, after already being recognised by someone she had no memory of, she felt a drink might just settle her nerves a bit. "Amelia!" Carol cooed as she half-jogged over to them in her black heels. "Oh, so he did invite you, then?" Amelia chuckled. "I'm just as surprised as you are, but I'm not complaining." Carol grinned as she walked towards the bar with them. "Sex on the beach, please, sweety!" she ordered from the bartending reaper. "And maybe afterwards I'll get a drink?" she then said jokingly with a cheeky wink. "Mum! Cut it out!" Amelia groaned. "It's just a joke!" Carol laughed as the reaper began mixing the drink after rolling his eyes. Shortly after, Lilly walked into the room in her new dress and robe. She looked around shyly at the mixture of new and familiar faces. A reaper approached Azrael to ask him what they should do with the ice sculpture of Shubael that had just been delivered. Looking slightly irritated, Azrael rubbed his forehead as he instructed the reapers to take it into the ballroom for now. As they hurried away, he then mumbled under his breath, "With any luck, it'll melt before the ball starts..." --- [[----------- To make things a little easier to remember who is attending;- From Death's Realm:- * Death (+ Guest?) * Azrael (No Guest Invited) * Lilly (No Guest Invited) * Raven (+ Guest?) From Life's Realm:- * Life (+ Guest?) From Earth:- * Shezmu (+ Warren) * Dariel (+ Guest?) * Jean (+ Guest?) From Heaven:- * Nate (+ Guest?) * Gabriel (+ Guest?) * Samael (No Guest Invited) * Raziel (No Guest Invited) * Cassiel (+ Guest?) * Raphael (+ Guest?) * Jophiel (+ Guest?) * Haniel (+ Guest?) * Uriel (No Guest Invited) * Camael (+ Guest?) * Zadkiel (No Guest Invited) * Shubael (+ Guest?) From Hell:- * Amelia (No Guest Invited) * Charles (+ Guest?) * Abbadon (+ Atma) * David (+ Carol) * Hades (+ Storm & Band Members) -----------]] Quote
Denix Vames Posted September 24 Posted September 24 Ricky smiled, "Definitely." He jumped over the counter and caught Rickster. Keeping his hand under his head as they landed on the floor. He kissed him. --- Reed opened his notepad, "Can you describe her to me? And any possible suspects?" --- Jean would wait until Hannes would finish explaining everything. He soon reached him. "Darling? I...I would like you to come with me to Death's ceremony if that's alright with you." --- Dariel's eyes widened when they appeared in Death's castle. "This is like something out of a fairy tale. It's awesome!" --- Gabriel held a small smile, "Yeah well, humans have got a lot to be sorry for. They drink their sorrows away. Not caring if alcohol kills them or not." He soon frowned. "We Angels had our own battles that we didn't bother to help the human race. We have much to blame for what the humans did to themselves." --- Raven silently took David's hand. Hades did a salute, "You won't be disappointed!" --- Violet clenched her fists, "Fine. You want to know so badly huh?" She turned around and took her shirt off. Revealing old whip marks that were now scarred into her back. "This is what happens when Lucifer says you haven't done enough. This is what happens he tells you to stop fooling around and join the cause." Her hands trembled as she squeezed her shirt. "This is what happens when he kills the only man you ever loved!" --- Raven appeared with David in the throne room. He blinked back tears, "I don't understand. Why doesn't she hate me?" Shubael appeared next to Azrael, "I heard that! Now, if you don't mind me, I'm going to make sure everything looks perfect." He moved his feathers to make sure they flicked at Azrael's face before leaving, "Hmph!" Life had appeared with his plus one. Both were wearing black. He cringed, "I feel like I've gone against my code of life with all this depressing black." Quote
Shadowess Posted September 24 Author Posted September 24 Rickster was surprised by the move but smiled as they hit the floor, and he kissed Ricky back passionately. Losing himself to his beloved. --- "Y-yeah, she's about this tall..." he lifted his arm to roughly his neck and then thought of how tall he was in comparison. "So, about five foot five-ish? Maybe five-seven? Skinny. Shoulder length, straight black hair. Dark brown eyes. She's super pale too... I guess kinda like a real-life snow white? Only without the cheery disposition." Kodi then hesitated as he wasn't sure if Reed would know much about the supernatural world. But then he recalled the CIA having worked a few supernatural cases in the area before. "She's human. Her name is Clementine. It's a mononym, so no last name. I had a look around the area at the bus stop and caught the scent of an Angel. No one I know in particular, though. And a strange other scent that I've never smelled before..." he bit his lip worriedly. "As for suspects and possible motive... Clementine used to be a Demon... a renowned one and vicious too... she made a lot of enemies during the war, so catching the scent of an Angel isn't a total surprise... I just hope she's ok. She's not like how she used to be. She's trying to change." --- After several minutes, Niko would walk alone back to the medical wing. His eyes were on the ground, and tears were in his eyes as he thought through everything Hannes had told him. He couldn't recall any of it, and he had a horrid feeling he'd intentionally left out some details, but he also had an equally horrid feeling that perhaps that was for the best. Among all the talking, Hannes had tapped his forehead with his fingers, and after a moment of excruciating pain, Niko suddenly found that he could understand the English language. He was still reeling and trying to take it all in, but absent-mindedly, he'd made his way back to the medical wing until he was standing outside Patience's room. Listening to her struggles from the other side of the door. Waiting. Hannes turned to Jean as he joined him in the hallway. His own eyes were also a little watery from their conversation, but he stayed strong. He was almost thankful when Jean invited him to attend Death's ceremony with him. If there was one thing he really needed right now, it was a distraction. "Of course, but what ceremony?" --- Lilith did not comment. Her opinion on Angel-kind had already been made clear. She lifted her eyes from her glass to study Gabriel for a moment. At least, for an Angel, this one seemed to be sincere. She shuffled awkwardly on her feet as she looked back at her drink. Then her expression became resolute. "If there is one thing I have learned as an immortal, it is that eternity is a long time to not make mistakes." Her eyes lifted back to Gabriel's. "We will fuck up. But how else would we learn? How else would we grow?" She sighed and downed her drink. Her face scrunched up from the way the liquid burned, and she had to force herself to swallow it. Coughing a little, she opened her watery eyes to look at Gabriel. "Not how I imagined it to taste..." she said in a strained voice, but despite her grimacing, there was some humour in her eyes. --- If Kris hadn't already been sitting down, Violet's words would have knocked him on his ass. Having not encountered anything from Hell before meeting Violet, he found himself stunned to learn that there was really a Lucifer. Slowly, he rose to his feet and moved a hand to trace his fingers over her scars. Before he could touch her, he realised what he was doing and pulled his hand back. He then turned away from her to give her enough privacy to dress herself again. "This uh, Lucifer..." he began, even sounding clueless to himself. "I-Is he-? I mean... Will he-?" he stumbled before sighing and forcing himself to say what he intended to ask. "Is he going to be a problem? Will he come looking for you? I should know something like that. I have the boys' safety to consider." --- Atma ordered a glass of white wine, wanting to keep classy in such a formal setting. She looked up at Abaddon. "Do you drink?" She asked him curiously. "I don't often, myself. But I like wine now and then." Amelia ordered herself a whiskey and Coke, then turned to Carol. "So, are you and Dad finally a thing now, or-?" Carol waved dismissively as she sipped some of her cocktail through a straw. "Oh, sweety. That'll never happen. He's far too in love with that stick up his ass! No, I much prefer just having fun with no strings attached. Much less messy. That Napoleon, for instance-" "Ok, I don't need the details-" "Let's just say what he lacks in stature-" "Mum, stop, I don't wana-" "He makes up for it in other areas." "And that's this conversation officially over. Thank you, mother, for the fresh nightmares I will have after today." Amelia said sarcastically. "You're welcome, sweety." Carol chuckled as she took another sip of her drink. Amelia paused by Atma and Abaddon. "I'll catch up with you guys later. Have fun," she smiled before making her way over to Charles when he would inevitably arrive. It would be at that moment that Carol would spot Samael as he appeared and wouldn't be able to stop herself from staring at him like a deer in headlamps. Much like other men who turned up, he was wearing a simple black suit with a white button-up shirt. His tie was a little loose and his hair wasn't combed, but he didn't seem the least bit bothered as he swaggered confidently towards the bar to order himself a drink. He either didn't notice Carol staring or chose to ignore her. Just like the other Angels, his own wings were out. Their feathers were a brilliant white, in stark contrast with the dark surroundings. Spotting her adoptive brother, Lilly made her way over to him and David. As she got closer, she noticed the tears in Raven's eyes. "Is everything alright?" "Everything is fine," David answered softly, then looked at Raven. "Because you're a good lad and she can see that in you, that's why." He told him gently. "Look around you, Raven. This celebration isn't just to cast votes and declare you a Prince. It's a fresh start. For both of you." He smiled between Lilly and Raven as he placed a hand on his shoulder. "So, leave your regrets in the past where they belong and enjoy the occasion." "Pompous chicken." Azrael huffed under his breath, repeating what Charles had called him in the meeting. He ticked off a few names and added more plus ones as they arrived. Uriel had arrived as well. The feathers of his wings looked a little ruffled and tattered, but it seemed at least he had tried to make them more presentable. Shezmu smiled at the wonder in his student's eyes. It had been a very long time since he had felt the awe of experiencing these things for the first time. He tilted his head towards Raven and Lilly whilst looking at Dariel. "Now might be an opportune time for you to... I believe the mortals of this era call it 'network'." The Hopper or La Tramoggia arrived with Life in an ashen coloured tea-length dress with black trims and a black bow around her waist. No longer going by her pseudonyms, she had decided to start her life anew as Leandra, Life's fiancé. "My Life, my muse. You're looking at this all wrong, my love." She purred to him after hearing his complaint. "You are the Life of the party, no?" [[----------- Party;- From Death's Realm:- * Death (No Guest Invited) * Azrael (No Guest Invited) * Lilly (No Guest Invited) * Raven (+ Conrad) From Life's Realm:- * Life (+ Leandra) From Earth:- * Shezmu (+ Warren) * Dariel (No Guest Invited) * Jean (+ Hannes) From Heaven:- * Nate (No Guest Invited) * Gabriel (No Guest Invited) * Samael (No Guest Invited) * Raziel (No Guest Invited) * Cassiel (No Guest Invited) * Raphael (No Guest Invited) * Jophiel (No Guest Invited) * Haniel (No Guest Invited) * Uriel (No Guest Invited) * Camael (No Guest Invited) * Zadkiel (No Guest Invited) * Shubael (No Guest Invited) From Hell:- * Amelia (No Guest Invited) * Charles (No Guest Invited) * Abbadon (+ Atma) * David (+ Carol) * Hades (+ Storm & Band Members) -----------]] Quote
Denix Vames Posted September 24 Posted September 24 Ricky moved his hand down to his waist, "I want to see what those wings can really do." --- Reed wrote everything down. He pulled out a laptop. "I'll email my supervisor about everything. If this is a supernatural matter then the CIA can handle it. We hope to prevent a situation with your precinct like before. Remember stick to what you guys can do." Suddenly, a Demon appeared in a cliche pimp outfit with a machine gun in his hands. "Alright you fucks! Keep your guns down! I can do more than pull the trigger! Now, your chief took my best dancer so I'd like an exchange." He nodded at Reed, "You! Get over here!" Reed replied, "No." The Demon glared, "A wise guy huh? Well, how about if I take down everyone in this precinct? After all, do you really want to find out what I can do with all your pigs here?" Reed shook as he gripped the desk. He slowly stood up and made his way over to the Demon. Once in close proximity, the Demon grabbed him. Wrapping an extra arm around his waist, "Now aren't you a sweet one? Ripe for the taking." --- Jean informed, "It's to honor Death's children and make them official royalties. I'll have to change into a black dress. I'm sure you have a suit that works on you." --- Gabriel chuckled, "You know you ain't so bad. People said you would rip the guts out of anyone you saw but I think they were just crushing on you." He leaned forward, "Can I let you in on a little secret? The humans. Some of them worship. I don't know if that helps but I thought you might feel supported at least." --- Violet put her shirt back on, "Nah he left a long time ago. Fell in love with some woman and ran off. Just abandoned us and his duties. After that, things went crazy. But now, there's apparently a new King. He's doing a lot better than Lucifer ever did. So I don't think this new King has an interest in finding me." She turned around to him with tears in her eye. "Probably doesn't even know I exist." --- Abaddon replied, "I'd like to try this wine. I have never heard of it before." Charles wrapped an arm around Amelia, "Can you believe this? Did you ever think we would be here today?" Raven wiped his tears away. He nodded, "Thank you David." He turned to Lily, "Let's go greet!" Dariel swallowed his nerves as he made his way to the siblings. He did a quick bow before saying, "My name is Dariel Grant. It's an honor to meet you two." Raven smiled, "Dariel! Would you like to see my new rock collection?" Dariel nervously smiled, "Sure!" Death was sitting in his throne. Receiving bows and greetings from everyone. He soon reached his children. "You may show your collection later. Right now, the two of you are to be present for the entirety of this ceremony." Life laughed, "You've got that right!" Quote
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