[hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/QIUSezo.png[/img]     [img]https://i.imgur.com/ycOCuCr.png[/img][/center]
 [right][b]Interactions:[/b] Jasper [@NoriWasHere], ‘Alizée’ [@Estylwen], Everyone Present
[code]The House on the Hill[/code][/right][hr]
Luca considered everything that was said with a slight frown. 

Jasper was right that they weren't there for her before. He'd heard of Alizee's continued night stalking, knew the influence an apparition could have. What had he done to help? Nothing. How could he, when he couldn't even help himself. He'd justified it because if he could rid himself not the rot, he could help them get rid of their Apparitions too.

But he was here now to help all the coven members. That... Included Alizee's ghost. 

[color=c6e100][i]Why does it matter to you, my host? She can't hurt us. Why feel guilt over something like that? It was inevitable. Just like your own end is.[/i][/color]

[color=6B8E23][I]It wasn't. Even if my life ends, I won't give any of it to you. Not like she did.[/I][/color]

[color=c6e100][i]That's not her anymore. She could be just like him. Denizens of the void are often like that... Ah, a nice place, but nothing for me to corrupt. Not like here, with you-[/i][/color]

Luca forcefully shut the Rot out, who was being particularly chatty right now, as Jasper came back over to him. It was a warmth washed over him and pushed away his aches, the worn threads of his sanity tangling back together. He looked over at Jasper, at his smile that seemed to light up the entire room. It was enough to drag Luca back into his normal place of positivity, suppressing the corrupting influence the Rot continually had on him. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. He'd be able to keep an eye on Alizee - and while he wasn't physically strong, he could directly weaken apparitions. And he wasn't alone anymore. To deal with any of it - ghosts of their deceased members, the rot, dying...

Luca opened his mouth to say he agreed with Britney. He shouldn't be biased towards a new apparition because of the one inside him. He knew not all of them were malevolent. Giving her a second chance, on the condition she didn't look for Void Heart, was a good compromise.

But then moments later, she was right back to demanding where Void Heart was - threatening one of their weakest members. It didn't particularly matter to Luca that she backed down. It showed where her loyalties lay. While she hadn't caused any more harm than any of them, Void had. Just like the Rot, he deserved to be sealed. 

Luca tilted his head, something else coming to mind as the Temple was mentioned. Something he'd... Heard of but didn't know much about. They had void? They'd sealed him? How? The apparition hadn't seemed the kind to just leave his host. He'd picked a new one so quickly. Leon and Layla were part of this Temple? He looked over at Leon. His current form was dramatically different, and it concerned Luca too. Whenever his appearance changed that meant... He was losing control to the Rot. The two toned voice. But Leon didn't seem out of control right now. 

He'd have to talk to him later. Ask if they could help with his problem.

Though he was wary if Sloane said they were cultists. 

But that wasn't the matter at hand. What was at hand was a once again rapidly escalating situation. 

[color=6B8E23]”Sorry Jasper,”[/color] Luca said softly to his friend, smiling warmly at him before stepping away from the wall and more towards Alizee. The wood where he'd been leaning was peeling away to reveal its rotting insides, crumbling between his fingers as his hands were held out in front of him.

[color=6B8E23]”Originally, I agreed with Britney, but she's already going against the [I]one[/I] condition. We can't trust that. We can trust your self-serving interest, but that'll always be towards him. I understand it. It's a strange relationship, with your Apparition. But it'll always be him before us, right?”[/color]

Luca sighed. A hand came up to brush back his hair from his face, rough and brittle. Another reminder of the effects on his body. Was this still bias? 

He stepped forward, coming closer to Alizee, while trying to avoid getting near Layla. Unlike humans, Alizee wouldn't be able to feel the effect of his rotting aura. It wasn't strong enough to affect her. 

But when he reached out to take Alizee's hands, she would feel it the moment they touched, if she let them. A sapping of her strength - a decay of her magic and the emotions that fueled her. It wasn't something that could kill her. No, he couldn't kill Apparitions like he could kill humans. But he could weaken them.

[color=6B8E23]”One more chance,”[/color] he said softly, ignoring the commotion behind him. Amara's yell rang in his ear painfully, only increasing the headache throbbing behind his eyes, but he managed to ingore it. Like he did all his pain. The sealing was probably inevitable. He was unsure if he was stalling for time, or genuinely trying to find out more - a way to save the young apparition, still bound to an older, dangerous one. [color=6B8E23]”Can you ignore the Void Heart- Vul. Can you form connections with others? So you don't need him?”[/color]

He tried to keep hold of her (if she hadn't moved away in the first place), to keep his hands touching her in some way to weaken her. But there wasn't a killing or dangerous intent there. His gaze was soft, his smile friendly. Kindness, or an attempt to prevent her from teleporting away by eroding her abstraction?

It was hard for anyone to tell. Even Luca himself.