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Post by Puck on Jan 21, 2016 7:10:59 GMT
Many I.A.C.S.B. members possessed a Spiritual Armament. They were inseparable with such things as it was common to think that the average I.A.C.S.B. member would have an Armament. It was a source of their power and their lifelong partner. The spiritual entity inside such equipment were more than invaluable. Yet, it wasn't exactly given out so easily. Many joined the organization, that's for sure. Though some never needed such assistance as they had their own gifts and talents that allowed them to do the job without having to rely on them. And for others, they needed it. No matter how much power an individual human accumulates, it has always been an unavoidable law that the individual has dipped into the supernatural at least once. Human strength alone could never go far without it. And Edwin Melchiott was certainly no different than his fellow members. It was finally the appointed day of his initiation. Was it worry that wracked his body like many agents? Or was it a sensation of exasperation just like any other day? However or whatever he felt at this moment wouldn't matter. As a member of the I.A.C.S.B., he needed a Spiritual Armament and that was final. He would finally be in front of the entrance of the Ceremonial Altar. It was easily located in the very underground of the I.A.C.S.B. district and for good reason. Many things could go wrong if the ritual was done improperly. A complete possession of the agent's body by the desired spirit could spell danger for all involved. So far, that didn't seem to be the case for some time. But who knows these days? Maybe tonight would be the first night in a long time that something awful happened and Edwin would happen to be that guy in the center of it. The double doors that led into the altar were quite literally littered with magical seals plastered all over it. No doubt a form of safety precaution. The magically sensitive would be able to sense it formed a very insulated form of a barrier. Very difficult to get through by normal means. They remained shut as Edwin stood in front of it and he was the only guy around. Though there was shouts and incoherent screaming that emanated from the doors. Clearly, this night would prove to be an interesting one.
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Post by The D.J. C.J. on Jan 21, 2016 10:20:57 GMT
There were many things Edwin Melchiott was feeling at this point.
And he'd heard stories. Many people felt terrified - it was entirely possible if such a ritual as this were to fail they'd lose their soul. Many people felt exhilirated - they finally had a true partner, a powerful ally that would stick with them through thick and thin. There were many stories told, and Edwin in his time as a member of the TAMRD had heard...well, just about all of them at some point, every member of his organisation sharing them around like schoolboys trading gossip.
Edwin felt none of these things. What he instead felt was impatience.
To some extent, this might have been because of the area - Edwin was a man whom appreciated technology. He prefered the buzzing of computers, the gentle tap of fingers on a keyboard, the boring landscapes outside ordinary windows and being able to sit in a small cubicle, by himself, quietly. And nobody in the TAMRD tended to bother him (with the exception of ****ing Geoff, but that guy was a superior so he could do whatever the hell he wanted), and he quite liked it like that. If he could, he'd just be the voice behind everyone else doing their own thing and happily tap at computers away from trouble. Instead, right now he was in front of a ritual altar, about to once again deal with magic - and as much as magic was a necessary part of life in this service, it was also something that Edwin had no experience in and found somewhat unsettling.
Of course, Edwin had wanted a Spiritual Armament just like every other member of the IACSB probably did at some point - for one thing, it would mean he actually had some power to wield, and any bit of power he could get would surely help him climb the ranks. For another thing, he would actually have some way to defend himself, since as much as a shotgun was nice it really didn't do much against the denizens of darkness. In hindsight, he noted that it was somewhat fascinating when, of all people, ****ing Geoff himself had decided to give Edwin the good news, that he was finally going to be 'growing up' by getting his very own spiritual armament. "Why would anyone want to give me one of these things?" had been his first thought. After all, he was well known throughout not just the TAMRD but the entire IACSB as 'the IT guy'. It was amazing enough they let him keep a shotgun.
In any case, he was brought back to the present by the humming of a crowd nearby - and THAT was what bothered him the most. Despite his requests, it turned out that he wasn't allowed to just have this thing privately (preferably in complete secrecy), instead that he got to have damn near every other junior member of the IACSB listening through the doors, waiting to see if he'd explode or something. "Bastards..." he muttered to himself. Edwin tapped his foot on the floor, the tapping getting louder slowly. Honestly, he just wanted this over and done with. Sure, it would be a little bit more power, maybe even have him be taken a little more seriously by others, but then what?
After this, he'd either be dead or it'd be back to the same mundane situation. Fixing everyone's computers, ignoring work, and trying to be noticed in a world where he was the least noticeable person of all. Though for a few seconds, he closed his eyes, a slight smile grazed his face and he let himself just take a flight of fancy and let himself wonder...
"What if tonight is the night everything changes?"
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Post by Puck on Jan 21, 2016 17:00:34 GMT
The screams and howls would soon subside and then there would be silence for once. For a few moments, there would be nothing. Until the doors slowly opened to reveal its dark maw. There was no word from the entrance, but clearly it was beckoning Melchiott to enter the room. It was foreboding, no doubt. The unknown was staring at him right in the face. But, as a member of this organization, he had to move in.
It would be utter darkness as Melchiott walked inside. Nothing that could be seen. There were only noises, it was hard to tell what they were while they only added to the uncertainty in this darkness. Soon, there was a dim light twinkling in front of agent. A beacon of the end of his journey. At the end of it, was a certain view. The man would find himself on a platform overseeing the actual altar. It was a very wide and open space, perhaps a good thirty meters all throughout. Fluorescent lights from portable light fixtures kept this place illuminated enough, at least with their attention focused on the ritual grounds. Blades and weapons of all kinds were littered about. Swords, spears, axes, and firearms, you name it. All sorts of weaponry were standing erect as if waiting for someone to lay a single hand on them. Perhaps, the most notable feature of this place was the magical formula, or ritual circle, etched in the center of the room. But there were people. Three, in fact, were on those grounds. There was clashing. Sparks sprayed about through blade to blade contact and the room was full of blades contacting each other in cacophonous shrieks. A hooded man waited at the upper right corner, as if waiting for the other two to finish. A man with an axe in hand, eyes bloodshot and mouth frothing with spittle, was angrily and wildly swinging his weapon at an older woman who was easily swaying away with ease and unharmed. From what Melchiott could see, she was winning with deft parries and precise counterattacks slicing at each where the tendons would be in order to incapacitate her attacker. When one compares each other, she was clearly the better fighter as she practiced the utmost calm and wise discretion. Their business soon would end as the woman finally cut the final tendon, causing the Possessed to fall face down against the cold hard floor still writhing and shrieking. "Someone get a stretcher and send this one to the infirmary. He'll live. Make sure to send an exorcist there too." Two women garbed in what seems to be medical clothes rushed into the scene and extracted the individual. They soon left with the rabid man still writhing and screaming. As soon as they left, the woman looked up towards Melchiott's direction. "Are you the last one for today? Alright. Please get ready and come down." She swung her blade to the side in chiburi before wiping the blade of blood with her a handkerchief and then sheathing it. The woman would wait in the center of the room as the hooded man would now come from his corner to walk over near her. If Melchiott looked around, he would easily find a set of stairs to his right that would easily lead him down to the grounds.
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Post by The D.J. C.J. on Jan 21, 2016 21:21:25 GMT
"Oh thank Christ." Edwin muttered with a sigh of relief. With any luck, the other members had decided there was a good movie on TV or something that would be better for them to watch then Edwin's upcoming explosion. As long as they were somewhere else - or at least they couldn't be heard - that was at least one good spot, he supposed.
Granted, walking into a dark portal was not what Edwin preferred to do - especially considered he hadn't been allowed to bring along his shotgun. It was always a sense of comfort, knowing that whatever was nearby, demon or not, a good gun at your side tended to solve a lot of problems. Instead, he was here, alone, and trying not to feel like he was about to be swallowed by this darkness. It almost felt like he'd gone to sleep at some point and was awake inside a living nightmare, cursed to endlessly descend steps, forever and forever and forever and forever and--
Even Edwin's impatience was beginning to give way to fear. It actually took some surprising amoung of will to stop him just screaming into the darkness, but somehow he managed to suppress it, which was probably just in time because just as he was doing so there seemed to be a small dim light, beckoning to him from the end of however many goddamn steps he'd gone down in order to get this far. Just the sheer sight of it gave him a bit of comfort that this hadn't all been some nightmarish joke someone was playing on him.
This comfort was pretty much obliterated the second he saw what he had to look forward to. "...oh, shit." Edwin barely managed to keep the words escaping his lips. "What kind of messed-up magical freakshow arena is this...?!" Weapons of every kind were strewn everywhere, like there'd been an war that took place down here. Were the dead watching this place...? The ritual circle in the middle of the room didn't help matters, since that kind of magic never spelt good things, and he'd never seen anything THIS big before. What was the most chilling though too place in the middle of the room, watching some lady with a katana (because it was always a katana, that was just the rule) slowly and carefully deflect the blows of a man who was frothing at the mouth, and swinging about an axe like it was a feather duster. She was careful and precise, and the madman stood absolutely no chance against her. He barely noticed the hooded man just standing there watching.
Edwin clenched his fist as he watched the battle play out. It was hard to think, even just to breathe, knowing this was what awaited him if things went wrong - just being watched as he was hacked carefully and methodically to pieces. Even the words that 'this one would live' that he heard the woman say from his position watching from atop weren't much comfort. It wasn't living when you had your muscles sliced like a chicken's. That poor bastard might recover his mind, but his body...those screams haunted him.
The woman called up to him. Edwin realised he'd been leaning against the wall trying to keep his damn body from shaking, and it wasn't working. "And yet...I don't want to...no, I can't run. This is the only chance I have for...anything." Edwin took a deep breath in and out, and descended the stairs, two at a time - if he was going to throw himself in the lion's den, he wanted it done and he wanted it done now.
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Post by Puck on Jan 22, 2016 1:51:45 GMT
The woman coolly watched Edwin descend down from the platform through the stairs. Judging by his looks, he didn't seem to be... anything substantial. She had wondered if he was going to be alright. The last one seemed promising at first with his bigger body. But, it turned out badly at the end. For this agent's sake, Ree did hope it would go well for him. Once the T.A.M.R.D. agent finally arrived in place, Ree looked back towards the hooded man, who was now behind her, and nodded at him. As if on command, she was given a clipboard attached with a sheet full of names and pictures. With her eyes scanning around its contents, she finally rested upon a familiar face. Edwin Melchiott. It seemed that he was a T.A.M.R.D. member. That explained a lot. Even so, her concern was still there, though she would have to have faith in this man. The woman handed back the board towards the hooded man who slipped it back into his robes somehow. Looking back towards Edwin, she finally spoke, "Agent Melchiott. I am Agent Ree Claire. I shall be presiding over the ceremony. Please give me your hand. I'm sure you know how the procedure works here."Every member in the organization had a mandatory seminar to cover the ritual's procedures. The contractor's blood was needed in order to pick out which spirit best suited them. It was after that the ritual would actually finally begin as a crystal, imprisoning the spirit, would be given out to them. The purpose of the ritual was to facilitate communion between the contractor and the chosen spirit. In other words, Edwin's exchange with the spirit would happen within his soul. After Ree requested for his hand, she would pull out a small scalpel from her jacket. It was small, but sharp. Its edge seemed to glisten against the dim lighting of the room. But of course, it was sealed in a sterile packet. As it was drawn from its plastic sheath, Ree would hold out her free hand for Edwin's in order to continue the process. His blood was going to be vital for this.
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Post by The D.J. C.J. on Jan 22, 2016 2:25:34 GMT
This entire arena already felt designed to intimidate. Despite that, Edwin was at least thankful that the woman (a miss Agent Ree Claire, apparently) in front of him was trying to be reasonable and somewhat calm about the process. Although a few seconds afterwards he recalled how coolly and efficiently she cut a man down like one would cut pieces from a turkey, which made him shiver again. Still, he drew himself up tall as he could as he reached the floor. "If we're gonna do this, let's just get the damn thing done already." Edwin thought to himself, trying to keep the sense of fearful foreboding lodged as far down as he could, making sure not to look at the hooded man who he could have sworn just looked intrigued to see what would happen.
Edwin had been to the seminar - trying to absorb as much of the information as he could and probably failing. All he knew was something something magic, rituals, crystals, and figured this might as well have been a video game. Except that his soul actually was at risk this time, for once, in a much more tangible sense than having to deal with soul-crushing delirium and frustration over that damn half-elf...
As Ree drew out the scalpel from her pocket, Edwin grimaced. He at least remembered this part, and really wasn't looking forward to it. He did not particularly like blades at the best of times, and he certainly didn't like it when they were cutting into him. "Let's just get this over with, then..." Edwin clenched his fist again for a second, mustering up his courage and then holding his hand out (hopefully Ree wouldn't notice the slight tremor). Even so, it wasn't hard to notice the grimace on his face as he waited for the painful part.
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Post by Puck on Jan 23, 2016 16:48:55 GMT
She grasped his hand, taking easy note of how nervous he seemed. Was it being cut or was it the ritual itself? Whatever, the case, she has been through this song and dance many times before and didn't bother to say anything of the matter. What happened next was ultimately swift. With one exceedingly efficient and precise movement, she was able to make a very light slice into the base of Edwin's middle finger and held it back up near her face to inspect if there was blood on it. For the Agent who was taking the cut, it was as if Ree never really moved and never cut him. In fact, he never really felt any pain with that cut at all at first. The only discernible change was the film of blood on the scalpel and blood starting to leak from the small and superficial wound. She handed the sullied blade towards her hooded assistant, who took it gingerly within his bony grasp. He bowed to both of them before leaving the room for a moment. Ree took this time to close her eyes and to wait with her arms crossed. Likely, Edwin was at least aware enough to do the same.
What lasted a few minutes, the assistant soon returned with a spherical crystal in his hand. It started to glow lightly the closer it came to both Ree and Edwin. The trinket was handed over to Edwin as the hooded man carefully laid it upon his palm. With his contact, it glowed even brighter and to the agent it would feel warm. There was power inside this crystal and it was eager to be freed. Ree would let Edwin some moment to perhaps let him reflect on it or even to admire it. Whatever the case, she silently gestured at the assistant to get things going. "Agent Melchiott, please move to the ritual circle. We will begin." With such brief words, she started to move out towards the edges of the room and would lean against a pillar as she waited. The hooded man stood in front of the circle with hands clasped over each other as he waited for Edwin to position himself. The preparations were finished. Now all that's left was Edwin's will.
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Post by The D.J. C.J. on Jan 24, 2016 0:02:42 GMT
It was only when Edwin looked at his finger that he realised anything had happened at all. Of course, it was also at that moment that a slight burst of pain shot through his finger. Edwin hissed slightly but didn't pull his hand back, letting the Agent do whatever this damned ritual was supposed to encourage. Thank goodness at least they used clean scalpels - with how old these blades surrounding th eplace must be he'd been worried it'd be worse. Some kind of ancient guillotine of magical power or something. Getting to keep all his fingers was a good start.
Edwin was a bit confused as to what Ree was doing when she shut her eyes. "This supposed to be some kind of ritual meditation before the fact?" he wondered to himself. As much as he didn't have much faith in meditation, it had been very firmly suggested to him that any failure to follow the ritual properly was going to result in, if not full possession, someone giving him some very harsh words for not following the ancient rules, so he decided to at least close his eyes, cross his arms as well and pretend he was thinking deep thoughts.
Though he quickly opened his eyes when he heard a loud shuffling come into the room - turned out it was the hooded man which he'd barely noticed earlier, coming towards him with something glowing in his hand. "Glowing crystal? Has my life turned into a JRPG?" There was a moment where he remembered a group of old friends, friends whom he discovered mysteries with across the Internet a long time ago, and he realised if he'd been able to go back and time and tell them that this was happening to him, it literally would have made their little world go mad. Ahhh, when things were easier and he was just a scruffy-looking conspiracy journalist with the Internet and sweet ignorance between him and the forces of darkness...
The trinket was placed in Edwin's palm. Such an innocent-looking thing, and yet, apparently this was going to be one of the greatest challenges that he was ever going to have to face. He hesitated for a second, wondering if he'd die from what was about to happen...but then, he shook his head. If this was the only way to take a step up from being the IT guy to someone who actually might have some recognition for once, some part to play...well, it was the only real option. Edwin exhaled, clenching his fist around the crystal. The power already felt like it was seeping into his arm. It was hard to deny it felt...intoxicating.
"Well...here we go." he whispered to himself, if only to give him some pause so he could remember what the world was like, in case this all went to hell. If only to give himself some form of courage. The Agents watched him. What else was he to do? He stepped up towards the ritual circle, just the way he'd been shown in the seminar. He took off his glasses as he stepped towards the circle, giving them a quick polish on his shirt, before putting them back on, facing the hooded man, feeling the power slowly pulse in his hand and...
...well, there was no turning back now.
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Post by Puck on Jan 24, 2016 14:34:33 GMT
The magic circle that Edwin stood on started to shine a blue light as the hooded man started his incantations. The contractor that awaited for the ritual could not understand what the words the caster was using. At this point, they may as well be gibberish. Yet, they were words of power as the air around the circle started to feel to have more weight. The crystal in Edwin's palm seemed to emit even more light in tandem with the circle. The blades that stuck themselves to the ground around and outside of the ritual formula started to shake lightly as if they were nothing but plants swaying to the direction of the wind. As soon as the hooded man uttered the last word, the ritual was at is apex. And before Edwin knew it, something had shattered. The jewel that Edwin held broke into myriad pieces in his palm. But the light in the midst of the shards was intact and it flashed to blind him with light that flooded his perception of the environment---
When Edwin came to his senses, only the sound of crows would alert him that he was no longer in the ceremonial altar. What he felt under his feet was no longer the asphalt, but of grass and dirt. It was dark around the agent. With the moon hanging over his head, it was clearly the evening; a vulnerable time for many and an opportune time for others. The area was completely lonesome with the frosty crisp air about him. But what was important to him was that he was alone. Unless one counted the crows flying past over his head.
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Post by The D.J. C.J. on Jan 25, 2016 4:05:02 GMT
Light. Light everywhere. The circle...no, the world itself was glowing. Edwin tried to shield his eyes by crossing his arms in front of his face, but he couldn't escape the light even then. Sight turned white. Sound turned white. Smell and taste and feel turned white. Somewhere at the centre of it all was Edwin Melchiott, T.A.M.R.D. 3rd class, member of I.A.C.S.B. Edwin's mind flashed through his history, the only thing he could do to try and keep some sort of semblance of self, trying to hold onto every memory he could find, trying not to be consumed.
"--followed by the mysterious disappearances in Detroit, Michigan of June 17th, 19--...huh?" He took his arms down from in front of his face and blinked. He looked at his surroundings, and then proceeded to blink again. "...the hell...? Where is this?" he muttered, but only the wind whistled by in response. Edwin proceeded to pinch himself, followed by a short cry of pain and nothing changing. "...well, at least I haven't passed out then." he said to himself. Even if this wasn't entirely real, it was real enough for Edwin's taste, and to be worried about where in the world (if this was still the world he knew anyways) he was.
Edwin looked around, instinctively reaching for his shotgun before realising that it hadn't made the trek with him, and proceeding to be much more worried. This...forest? It seemed like a forest, with (surprisingly strong) moonlight the only illumination around, shining through dead trees and almost making the grass and dirt around him shine. But the world didn't seem dead...not quite. Edwin couldn't put his finger on what exactly it was...but despite the world not feeling dead, it sure as hell felt quiet. No matter where he looked, there seemed to be not a single other living thing anywhere nearby. What was supposed to happen now, then...? Edwin had no idea what to expect at this point in time, and he didn't remember what any seminar was supposed to say about this.
"Hello...?" he called out, continuing to look around. What kind of test was this supposed to be, anyway? He hoped this wouldn't end with a fight - namely because he couldn't throw a punch to save his life. Something had to be waiting out there for him - Edwin was paranoid enough to believe something was going to charge at him soon, but he had no plan but to just wait and see what happened...
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Post by Puck on Jan 25, 2016 15:38:26 GMT
It was silent for a forest in the night. It may be this eerie silence that may test Edwin's nerves. Perhaps, it would be further tested as the sound of incoming movement that was starting to get louder and louder in every second. It was starting to becoming very obvious that it was the noise of horseshoes beating against the grass and the dirt of the forest. Wherever it was coming from, Edwin would be very hard-pressed to know as the noise echoed throughout the area. It was until that the sound of a horse's neigh that brought his attention behind him. From the distance, it was a horse and its rider. From the distance and dark, Edwin couldn't easily tell what the former really looked like. But, there were specific characteristics that stood out the most even from here. It appeared to be an emissary of death with the deadly scythe resting on this figure's shoulder. But with a closer look... it had no head? No. It seemed to be holding something in another hand. What could it exactly be? It started to walk towards the Agent closer with Scythe in hand and... head? As the distance started to lessen, Edwin would soon be able to see with his own eyes at the creature that approached him. "Are you the human mortal to contract with me?"
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Post by The D.J. C.J. on Jan 26, 2016 0:17:37 GMT
Only the silence answered Edwin's call - not even the wind blew past in response. Edwin rubbed his arms. "...brrr...it's so cold here..." If talking to himself was the only way that he could remember he was still alive, well, so be it. Not like there was anyone around to tell him he was being weird at least, which was a nice change. Actually, once you started getting used to it, the loneliness here was quite nice. Edwin almost wished he could come back here from time to time, if only as an escape from the doldrums of his current day-to-day life...
Though that thought immediately shattered once he heard a sound - the first sound beside himself that he'd heard since he'd arrived here (wherever 'here' was). He strained his ears trying to listen, but that wasn't much help - in this weird forest, the sound seemed to echo everywhere around him, quiet yet sinister. But as it echoed louder, Edwin started to recognise the sound. "Is...that a horse?" Edwin asked himself. "What in the hell is a horse doing here...? If this is some prank being played on me, I swear I'll--"
But whatever he'd been grumbling about, he certainly didn't get a chance to finish it, as he suddenly heard a loud neigh from behind him. Spinning aorund to confront the noise, he turned and saw...well, yes, a horse and rider. And yet...something was off about the rider, even as it approached. Edwin stared closer, his eyes straining to penetrate the darkness. "Where's that bloody spiritual light when you need it...?" he muttered to himself, even as the rider came closer, the few rays of moonlight finally piercing the curtain of darkness and revealing the creature to him. Clothed in colours that would probably make it blend back into the night with ease, holding a massive scythe and...Edwin blinked, still unsure he was seeing what he was supposed to be seeing.
The creature looked at him, a calm but serious look in it's eyes, as it asked her question of Edwin.
Edwin just blinked again. "You're...why are you holding your head like that?" he asked stupidly, before realising that the spirit probably wanted an actual answer from him. Was this it? Somehow, Edwin didn't think it would be just as easy as saying 'sure' and then going back to the IACSB with a fancy new spirit companion by his side. If she was surprised by whom she was talking to, she didn't seem to show it, not as far as Edwin could tell. As much as Edwin figured there had to be something else here, nothing else happened here. If this was the spirit that was he was supposed to work with - somehow - there was really only one option. "Yeah. I'm the one who'll be working with you." he said, trying to muster up some sense of authority that didn't seem to belong to his voice.
How exactly did you introduce yourself to a spirit? Edwin figured the same way he introduced himself to everyone else was going to have to do. "I'm Edwin Melchiott, IACSB. TAMRD, 3rd class." It seemed stupid to say, but this slip back into familiarity was the only way he could figure out how to deal with a creature beyond his understanding. Though it didn't give him much more confidence, especially when that scythe the creature held looked razor sharp. Edwin forced himself to stand up straight, nonetheless. He might have been terrified, but by whatever spirit or god or magic force this was he wasn't going to let it show that easily.
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Post by Puck on Jan 26, 2016 16:25:11 GMT
"Well met, Mortal. I am called Ciara. And about my head... well, I am a Dullahan." This mortal seemed to be rather... calm? He never seemed to be impressive in any way or form when it come to appearances. It's rather disappointing for this spirit. But what else can she do? The ethereal bounds of the crystal's and ritual's devices were keeping her down from immediately overpowering him, not that she was awfully motivated to do so. Likewise, this was an awkward situation. She had actually been expecting some kind of awe or fear or something. But he was just taking it with rather great stride. Perhaps that is a cause to admire his composure. And so she must answer in kind. "As part of my contract with the I.A.C.S.B., you must prove yourself worthy to wield me. A show of your own competence--" the Unseelie fairy continued and then seemed to stop, at least for a second. She had really expected someone that actually looked capable of fighting in some way. The fairy was really looking forward to a competent partner that could wield her. Yet, this man here really gave her the impression that he was a complete opposite of what she was looking for. But if she could simply overtake him this easily, where is the fun in that? Ciara continued again, a bit flustered by the awkwardness of her situation, yet still maintaining as much composure as she could. She has once remembered about something that she had once worked on a long time ago with pen and parchment. Maybe this young mortal can take on this 'challenge'. "--is required. I will have you answer a... riddle. Are you ready?" The Dullahan wasn't exactly looking forward to this and it would show with the troubled expression on her face. But, if he was ready, she would then recite the challenge to him. I am the death of laughter and of happiness. I am everywhere by the end of life. I engulf all that stands for mere hours and return for cycles to come. I am feared by many. The aware and self-assured only find me as an annoyance. I am also a part of your soul. What am I?
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Post by The D.J. C.J. on Jan 27, 2016 8:35:25 GMT
"Ciara, huh?" Edwin almost absent-mindedly looked the vampire up and down. He'd vaguely heard of the Dullahan, even though he didn't follow myth so much. It had been one of his old friends who had been far more interested in mythology, and had tried to discuss with Edwin at some length - back then, he'd only half-listened to what that man had been saying. Standing in front of one now, he really wished he'd been paying more attention. Still, if he could go back and time and say he'd actually met a real-life Dullahan, well...
But then, of course, she had to ruin it by mentioning that he had to show his own 'competence'. "Competence?! What, do even the spirits think I'm a loser?" Edwin's teeth grated. Still, he wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of seeing him squirm that easily. "Alright then. Come on, gimme your best shot. I'll show just how competent I am..." he looked her right in the eyes, with every ounce of his defiance.
Unfortunately, Edwin had once again forgotten that pride cometh before a fall. He blinked, taken off-guard by what she declared. "A...riddle?" Edwin repeated, unsure he'd heard correct. A frown shortly followed. "Oh, goddammit, I hate riddles." Edwin silently groaned to himself. Of course it would be a challenge with riddles. Granted, that was preferential to a bar fight where he'd be forced to fight someone wielding a scythe with his bare hands, but still Edwin never liked being talked around in circles - why did nobody in this entire world ever want to talk straight? And it was a riddle for his soul...was this a Dullahan or the goddamn Sphinx?
Edwin listened to the riddle, and rubbed his temples, trying desperately to think. "Come on Edwin, use that brain of yours you keep telling people is worth such a damn..." What on earth was this Dullahan talking about? Damned riddles. He wasn't quite sure how long he'd been standing there for, not even paying attention to the Dullahan at this point so wrapped in trying to solve it was he, before he nodded to himself slightly and then looked up. Well, he wasn't sure what he'd thought was the answer he was looking for, but this spirit wasn't going to wait forever for him to explore all the possibilities, so he was going to have to take a risk. He took a deep breath in and out. "...the darkness. You're talking about darkness...I think." The slight hesitation in Edwin's speech probably betrayed his fear, but the alternative was far, far worse. "So what's to lose? Y'know, besides everything."
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Dec 27, 2016 22:15:37 GMT
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Post by Puck on Jan 28, 2016 16:30:24 GMT
She stared at him upon given the answer. Somewhere inside Ciara, she wasn't quite sure whether to take it as a sign of her failures as someone who makes riddles or that she should be glad that she wouldn't have to ragdoll a mere mortal. The Dullahan decided not to think too much about it. But she did sigh at this and replied in monotone. "...Correct. You've passed the test." One really couldn't call this an actual test, at least Ciara wouldn't call it one. But what could she really do anyway? There really isn't much that she could rely on. She continued to look at Edwin with slight askance. This boy was going to be her partner and she will be his. The Unseelie fairy wondered how long it would last. "I look forward to working with you." With all that said and done, another flash of light would flood his senses once more. As his consciousness was fading away, the Dullahan listlessly looked to the side and sighed. "This... will certainly go well." Whether this was cynical sarcasm or not, Edwin may not be able to tell as all he could see and hear would simply turn to white.
As Edwin finally woke, he would find himself laying on the floor of the ritual circle from the room that he had entered earlier. The familiar sight of the erect weapons stabbing into the ground should be a familiar sight. So were Ree and the hooded man. Yet, they were staring at something with a mix of barely hidden amazement... and a visage that seemed to scream "What the fuck". If the Agent took the time to trace where they were staring at, he likely would share their expression. Since, after all, there was a black van behind him. To top things off, the car horn somehow sounded itself.
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