[IC] We'll take the low road.

[PopeAlessandros]

Player: PopeAlessandros

Name: Amano Hughes

Race: Human

Age: 19

Height: 6' 1”

Weight: 130lbs

Hair: Black, cut perfectly even just above the shoulders, with bangs parted down the middle and as long as the rest of the hair. Occasionally he pulls it back into a short pony.

Eyes: Chocolate Brown

Skin: Very pale from lack of sun exposure

Build: Very slight, his only exorcise being fencing.

Clothes: He's a richer kid who wears clothes fitting his station, but he starts the RP nude.

Accessories: A silver pocket watch his father gave him so that he stops being late for his classes.

Powers/Skills(If Applicable): He's an excellent fencer, but other than that he has no skills of note.

General Personality: He has the natural rich kid arrogance, but he masks it well beneath a truthfully very awkward visage. He's rather shy and has a tendency to say the wrong things. However his arrogance shines through when other rich kids start trying to get him to engage in their favorite spot: Picking on poor people. He's very convincing and has often times left groups of confused entitled asses standing around scratching their heads, wondering if they had just been insulted or complemented. He has a strong moral code, but will set it aside when his emotions override his rational mind.

Background: Amano is the son of the man who owns most of the store property in town, and as such he's never wanted for anything. He has three older brothers who are all training to take over their father's job when he dies. As the youngest, Amano was given the choice at a young age on weather or not he wanted to complete with his siblings for the job, but he declined without hesitation. It may have had something to do with the eldest threatening his seven year old brother's life should he not do so, but no one may ever know the real reason. Amano spent most of his childhood wandering around town, meeting people and drawing pictures. The drawing were never very good, but they made him happy.

Despite knowing most of the people in town, Amano is still very awkward around people his age and has a tenancy to stutter when he get nervous. He took up fencing a few years ago and advanced through the ranks quickly due to his slender build and innate abilities. As of late he's spent a lot of time just outside of town, sketching trees and the like from inside the shadows of the houses.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The room smells strongly of incense and blood. The hooded figures move slowly around the edges, chanting in an old arcane language as they slowly spread droplets of boar blood around the room. As they move counter clockwise a figure to their left struggles vainly against the chains binding him to an ornate old stone alter. On the floor around the alter is an old alchemy circle in white paint, splattered with blood and bedecked with bloody animal bones over the proper symbols. The chanting increases in volume, and the nude figure chained to the alter gives out muffled cries through the cloth gag in his mouth.

The cries reach a peak when he spies one of the hooded figures steps out of the circle and approaches the alter, a silver knife appearing from the folds of it's robes. Tears pour freely down his cheeks and back into his raven black hair as the flickering light from the few trorches around the stone chamber glint off the polished blade. He screams as the blade comes down and slices him once, twice, four times. One slice in each limb. His blood flows from the wounds, pouring down his pale skin on to the stone of the alter. He coughs, trying desperately to beg the men to stop, but all Amano manages to do is inhale his own saliva. As the action causes a coughing fit, the young man peels a sense of surrealism come over him.

'How is this happening? It can't be. I must be dreaming, or hallucinating all this' His eyes roll back in his head as he recalls his day. He'd woken as he always had, to the sound of his pet songbird Musaya singing to the sunrise. After a quick breakfast he bid the staff farewell as he rushed out the door. He hadn't seen any of his family that morning, but that wasn't unusual. The lot of them tended to be up before sunrise to go inspect some thing or another. Being a landlord was never something Amano wanted to be, and the early morning his family has is simply one more thing to add to the long list of reasons why he's content to spend his life doing wheat he likes.

The dank chamber fades from view as the blood loss starts to take it's toll. Instead he sees the wheat and trees he'd been observing when he began to nod off. A face floats before his eyes, but even as his heart skips a beat in recognition, the fleeting sight vanishes and with it his knowledge of just who it was that found him seated against one of the older apartments at the edge of town, facing the old forest. The feeling of cold metal against his neck shocks the young man back to the horror at hand. He swallows hard, his terror coming to a sharp point as he feels the blade pressing harder into his flesh. He's about to close his eyes, unable to bare the darkness glaring out at him from beneath the thick black hood any longer when suddenly there's a bright flash of fire and everyone in the room cries out and falls back away from the blaze. Unable to move away Amano simply stays as still as possible as the flames seem to shift and move. Then suddenly, a figure appears in the flames.

[cthulu]

The human race, the self entitled 'superior' animal on this ball of rock, how truly pathetic they were in the eyes of one so old. Humans were to most demons nothing more than a plague, a virus that would hopefully run its course and give way to something new, something better. They were little more than an irritant that, at times, could provide some relief from the crushing boredom that came with a long life spent in the burning horrors of the under plains. It had been a while since someone had called for them though and many had theorized that the silly little humans had come to their end, met with both a sense of joy and despair. Humans were greedy and once upon a time they were summoned for every little nuisance that popped into a humans life. They wanted that girl to like them, that man had more money than them, if only they were prettier, the requests had come in like a stream of self-hate and loathing ridden by ignorance and arrogance. Demons had made more a mark on their filthy napkin of history than any human ever had but such didn't' reflect in any history book but the one kept in the bowels of the earth in the forbidden library which held every book written and thought of, every life story of every human that had ever lived and the things that came before.

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The candles in the dank little room flickered and all blew out with a chilling wind that sounded like the souls of a thousand tortured men, the floor cracked down the center, spilling the piles of animal bones and breaking the markings, like lightening the crack spread reaching up to the stone altar and breaking it in two, though while one end sagged half an inch it barely moved. In a rush of air a river of fire ran across the ceiling in waves before coalescing into a ball at the far end of the room, which stretched and began to form an archway. The man at the front with the blade dropped it and clutched at his throat, scrambling away from the alter like a rat scurried away from the right before dropping to his knees and coughing a torrent of blood. As the first panicked screams entered the room the resounding sound of the doors banging shut and a heavy sounding lock rang out. The silly insects attempted to open the door but found it was indeed locked and refused to shift. As some cowered and wept others began looking for ways to escape their little trap and one stepped passed the ritual master who still choked and coughed on a mixture of blood and vomit, and grabbed the blade from the boys chest, making to plunge it into his heart. However an inch above the boys prone flesh the blade seemed to snag and refuse to move, even as the person gripped it with both hands and put his full weight onto the blade it refused to budge. The ghostly wind howled louder and caused those already weeping to go into hysterics while the person with the blade tried harder to force it into the boys chest. It still didn't move. With a gust of air the would be killer was swept off his feet and thrown clear across the room to become impaled upon the antlers of a deer that had been hung there.

Finally the form began to come, a face not befitting that of humans, a face they did not deserve to see and so among the torrent of hell fire it changed. For those capable of observing they saw a camel the hue of gold and silver licked with ruby incandescence and finely bedecked in jewels and fine rugs but it was the creature beside it that would command attention. Eyes of a burning blue that only seemed to intensify rather than cool the flames, a head of jet black hair fell about his form lifted by the air currents created by the fire. Two fine ebony horns rose up and behind like those of a mountain dweller while a further set curved in towards the face like the legs of some great scorpion. His skin was the hue of caramel, a delicious but delicate bronze that gave a hint of ethnicity to the strong features of his face. As he pulled himself from the generated rift one could see his body was devoid of any unnecessary hair and that he was completely unclothed. Standing at six foot and four inches he cut an imposing figure, a strong looking body that narrowed in a slight V from shoulders to waist giving him a desirable aspect. The muscles in his arms were defined but he did not seem to bode impassable strength, one hand held long pianist fingers while the other was more bird like, with four long digits that hooked into claws at their tips. His stomach was flat, a defined but not overly accentuated six pack to flash off his 'good health' while his legs were likewise defined and toned.

Impassive blue eyes scanned the room as the opening behind him rushed shut like water rushing down a hole, the screaming sound of the wind intensifying to near earsplitting levels until it and the portal disappeared leaving only the silent sobbing and the darkness. Glancing to the 'offering' he plucked the dagger from the air where it had been hanging since the unfortunate soul who'd tried to use it had been flung across the room and impaled. Glancing at the blade he cast it effortlessly aside and returned his gaze to the room, everyone here reeked of desire and greed, of deep wanting for the most mundane things, the kind of things a demon grew bored of granting. There was only one desire here that interested him, one that held potential for a meal of fine delicacy instead of the fast food the others threatened to offer. Glancing to the quivering prone wreck upon the stone altar his deep voice seemed to fill and echo every inch of space in the room. "Your wish is granted." His tone sounded like the crackling of an eternal fire, like the night, like a thousands serpents battling a thousand lions and even that didn't seem to begin to describe this deep and ancient voice.

Screams then filled the room, crying, scrabbling and yet the demon rose only clawed hand and watched as the madness began to destroy the remaining people, the original ritual master had collapsed now, dead or unconscious the demon cared not. The impaled one was very much dead, his blood and saliva dripping to the floor which now one of the humans danced under while clawing at her own face, removing strips of flesh with ease. Another had devolved to rubbing its own feces on itself while others were going at it tooth and claw, literally ripping chunks out of one another. With them suitably seen too the demon turned his gaze back to his prize, the scaled talons dropped to where the wounds ran red with blood, they felt smooth like snake's skin and devoid of any of the stereotypical slime associated with such creatures. They were warm too, not hot but that comforting warmth and as the talons rose passed the wound it was sealed, not healed but sealed for the time being. Each wound received a similar touch until the claw was lifted and resumed a similar guise to the one on the other side. With a click of his fingers the chains restraining the boy burst open, releasing him of the binds, the demon scooped up his charge, holding him in a 'bridal' carry position, his body was as warm as his hand had been, his skin smooth and soft to the touch. Hanging around him was the faint smell of a bonfire mixed with exotic spices and perfumes, it was not an aggressive smell but subtle and hard to catch a second time on purpose. "What will you have me do to them?" His voice now softer, more human, still powerful and old but restrained to the form he had taken, he knew full well the hood was still on and for the moment he wanted to keep it that way, humans often were more creative when there was a filter between them and their actions.

[PopeAlessandros]

Despite his best efforts to stay completely still, Amano begins to shake violently when the stone beneath him gives way. He has barely a moment to thank the gods that the break didn't tear him apart before the cries of those around him make bile rise in his throat. The sound of the door slamming shut makes his head pound. The light from the flame makes it so that the frightened man can see vague figures beyond the black fabric. He tilts his head slightly to try and figure out what's happening. 'This fire, what, that can't' His thoughts become more incoherent as the voices around him become infused more and more with terror, sending a different kind of fear burning through the bound man's innards. 'That, that cold on my chest. It's the thing I was cut with, I think' He tries to bring his mind to focus by wrapping his mind and senses around the feel of it there, however his efforts are interrupted by a shadow falling over him.

He turns his head to the shadow, biting his lip as he feels the blade lifted off his chest. His body jerks as the movements of the shadow seem to indicate that the figure has raised the blade above his head. He cries out as the glint of metal comes rushing down at him. 'No, oh gods, this can't be happening!' His mind cries out for mercy. 'I just want to live my life! Even though I am no one, and never will be, I just want to live me life!' Tears fall, soaking the hood as he squeezes his eye together. Heart pounding in his ears, helpless to do anything to save himself, Amano sobs silently into the hood and waits for it all to stop. Then he hears a voice speak. Deep and inhuman, it makes him shake slightly, but at the same time the words it speaks seem to bring him comfort.

The sounds of the people around him begin to fade, his mind reaching a calm, peaceful place. His will to live tingles through his veins, fighting what feels like a losing battle against the fates. The fear of the moment seems to make the wold outside the dark hood meaningless. 'Is it so wrong, to want to live? I wonder if it will end soon. What will I see? Will there be anything to see?' The loss of blood begins to get to him, and despite the knife blow having never fallen, Amano can feel his life seeping away from him.'Those cuts, they must have been deep. I can feel. . . .'

With an almost audible snap, Amano gets jolted back to reality by the feeling of something touching his wounds. 'So soft. Like flesh. . .but not. . . .' He can feel his body relaxing as whatever it is touches each of the cuts. The odd sensation feels somehow warm, and comforting, but at the same time his mind casts about to try and place whatever it is touching him. 'It feels almost like a snake, but why would anyo-' His breath catches as he hears what sounds like someone snapping their fingers and an instant later the chains binding him fall away. After the flame the room feels cold and his first instinct is to curl up for warmth. The sounds of the others in the room make him shake as he tries to make his limbs listen to him, but a moment later he cries out slightly as warm arms slide under him. His arms cross his chest as he feels himself lifted from the cold stone. As the being lifts him up, Amano presses himself into the warmth that seems to radiate from the beings skin.

His hand comes up to press against a firm bare chest and it vaguely registers that he's being held by a man. 'He smells nice' The vague observation barely registers as he begins to lose consciousness. When he speaks, his chest rumbles pleasantly and Amano can feel himself being lulled. However when the question finds it's way through the fog of pain, and fear he manages to pull himself out of the fog long enough to murmur, “They wanted my life, which is mine and my most precious.” His head comes to rest on the bare shoulder of his rescuer. “Take from them what they prize the most, and make them feel the pain of it forever.” He has no idea how, but when Amano makes the request he knows that the man holding him can make his wish come true. The shock of everything that has happened finally brings his mind and body crashing down, and with a finally shuddering breath, he passes out, going limp in the man's arms.

[cthulu]

The first and only words spoken by his now unconscious master were a treat for his ears. Very few seemed to grasp the concept of revenge or 'an eye for an eye'. People tended to assume what was important to them was equally as important to someone else though often it was not the case. For instance, none here would truly struggle to stay alive as this one had, so simply murdering them would not equate to the request of his master. No, his 'master' wanted them to have the thing most important to them taken away and that would require a little more creativity. For now the demon did nothing, he took in the countenance of those still alive and figured out just what would be deemed their most valuable thing. It took very little for the demon, still tethered to the demon realm which siphoned into this dank little room, to look into the dark hearts of the humans and come to realise what their most important thing was.

For one woman it was easy, her sexuality, she used her body, even now, as a weapon to get her way with men. Even though he was a demon in her maddened, terrified state she thrust her hips and chest forward and bit her lip as seductively as she could. It was, almost insulting, though many demons were quite carnal creatures he was a different type all together, of a higher class one might say. Shuffling the new master into one arm he reached over with the previously clawed hand and gripped the woman's face, she screamed and as he pulled his hand away boils and welts marred her previously beautiful features and quickly spread. "You have leprosy, your ugly now and no one will want to share your bed." His words were warmly spoken despite the coldness of his over all tone and he smiled a chilling smile as the woman began to sob into her now bloody and raw hands.

Others would require more planning, more effort but he mentally noted them and then with a grin watched as the doors flew open and he, with his master in his arms, exited the little hall. Removing and dropping the hooded mask he climbed the stairs, taking a long riding coat in a dark hue of black form the hanging pegs where the demon worshipers had changed before summoning him. After placing his charge down, dressing in the coat and buttoning it he slipped the unconscious man into one, sadly it was a females coat but it was the only one long enough in his size to cover him and for the time it would hide his identity. Covering his charges face with a hat he left the dismal building and emerged into the sunlight.

While one might assume a pair of shoeless individuals would be cause for rumour all the public noticed was waist up usually, so the demon's shoeless state went wholly unnoticed and his 'masters' feet were covered by the hem of the coat, rather skillful, even for him. When looks were cast his way and one particular law enforcer asked what was happening the demon charmed them with a charming debonair smile, answering of sunstroke and exhaustion and asked if he could be pointed to an inn. He spoke briefly with an innkeep before getting their room key and letting them in. The room was sparsely furnished but due to its small size still looked cluttered. There was a double bed with night stands either side, an ottoman seat set into the bay window and a wardrobe which currently hung empty.

Settling the boy onto the sheets he pulled off the hat and removed the coat though left it under him, with the sheets tucked up under the man's chin he had the door locked from the inside. Then, opening the window he slipped out to fulfill the rest of his order, there was a lot to do after all. Some time later there would be rumours of a strange mad man on the streets, howling about how his wife and children had disappeared and insisting he was someone everyone should know. There would be gossip of a woman killing her son in a fit of jealousy when he bought home his lady. Another suffered severe losses with his money and his business was failing and yet another, the last, was last seen packing up a donkey and leaving town sobbing.

Returning to the room not two hours later he closed the windows and drew the shutters, his own coat having disappeared after the last act of revenge and once more he was naked, sitting at the bay window seat and awaiting his new owner to awaken. He always did savour this bit, the first dawning of realization, the initial terror and fear and self-loathing, it was often the hardest time for a demon to hold back with all those delicious flavors filling the air.

[PopeAlessandros]

~He's alone. He's nowhere, there is nothing to see, hear, smell, touch, there is nothing. He cries to the darkness, but even his own voice has no power. Bringing his hands up he grips his throat, but he can't feel it. Terror fills him, the sheer helplessness sapping his strength. Then suddenly, blinded! The darkness erupts into flames. A wall, high and stretching into either direction before him as far as the eye can see. The heat feels warm, but he feels no comfort from the sensation. He moves towards the fire, wholly against his will, his fear mounting as he closes in on the red orange depths. The flame licks his skin, but still there is no burn. Beyond the flame he can hear now the muted sounds of suffering. Human voices crying out in shear agony. Tears spring to his eyes, though he can not feel them fall. Suddenly, from the fire, a hand, and arm. They come shooting out and his heart nearly stops as it grips him by the shoulder. The touch is soft, but more frightening than one could ever imagine. . .~

With a scream Amano sits up, panting hard. His sweat glistens on his body in the moonlight pouring through the window. His eyes stare blankly at the covers, twisted and tossed about as if he'd been thrashing in his sleep. Sharp ragged gasps are the only sound in the silent room. His hands curl into fists as he feels the tears from his dreams now. They pour down his cheeks and eventually drip down on to the covers clenched in his fists. 'It was just a dream. I had to be, all of it, all just a dream, it can't. . .' Finally managing to blink a few time he filches at the feeling before glancing down at himself. His heart rate, which had begin to fall, speeds up again as he spots the wounds from the knife on his arms. Pushing the covers down he lets out a whimper at the ones on his legs.

'It wasn't a dream. They were, I was. In a basement, chained, how did I get?' He sobs slightly, pulling the covers up to his chest. Breathing hard for a few seconds he suddenly freezes when he recalls what happened just before he passed out. 'Someone came. Someone, in fire. They came, and asked me. . . What I wanted. What I wanted him to do' He takes in a sharp breath. 'Yes, a him. He was bare, like me. . . .Maybe they tried to sacrifice him too, in another room or something, but then. . . .' His thoughts falter as he gets the sensation of not being alone. He looks first to the door, and it's in that moment that he realizes that he's not in his own room. Forgetting the feeling of not being alone he looks down at the bed and back to the door.

“This looks like an Inn. Why am I. . . .?” The feeling comes back again, sharper, and Amano's head snaps around to the window. His breath catches in his throat. The figure sitting there is looking in his direction but Amano's eyes trail over the curves and plains of his body before moving up to look in his eyes. Something about those azure blue depths fill him with both comfort and fear. Unable to control his reaction Amano practically falls backwards off the bed, sheet in hand. He back away, barely holding up the sheet against his chest to cover himself. “What, how? What happened? Wh-who are you? What are. . .?” His thoughts scatter as he stumbles backwards into the door. The smooth lacquered surface feels strange against his bare flesh and he jumps away from it with a yelp. His whole body shakes as he tries to figure out what's going on.

[cthulu]

There it was, the panic, the fear the utter confusion, it was not unlike a sweet nectar to him, or a perfume of the finest quality, all he need do was sit and watch with that unearthly smirk on his features and his hands folded on his one raised knee. The boy sputtered like the blocked spout of a whale and fell from the bed with all the grace of a rock, even then though the demon sat and watched, listened to him clumsily spill over words and panic. A silence then settled and a yelp as the boy's bare back touched the cold handle and this, this had the demon laugh. For a moment a flash of sharp teeth and a dark black serpentine tongue flashed before a more human guise of flat little teeth and fleshy tongue took their place. The laugh was not wholly pleasant, it was the type that could make the bravest men's skin crawl, dark and rumbling and with a hint of malice matched by few that weren't sociopaths or psychopaths, something, a danger, flashed in his eyes and then with a blink of lashed lids it was gone.

The tall but athletic figure unfurled from the seat as one might imagine a tiger or dragon might, standing with a powerful grace before taking a few slow steps towards his master, his wicked eyes glinting darkly in the ill lit room which seemed to quietly hum with energy and power with each flicker of the candle light. "The how is simple, I carried you." His voice was warm and deep, rich in context with a rolling purr that almost hinted at an accent and it of course sounded oh so familiar. "The What, why it is an inn room, I did not know where you lived so I carried you here." Each statement was punctuated with fluid smooth steps, unhampered by the nudity of his body, proud and confident and yet oblivious. "What happened, oh now come come, you know that." He was within an arms length and one long arm shifted form his side and began to raise, "As for who I am, well now. that is up to you, isn't it?" Standing not feet from the boy he gave a sweeping bow from the hips, his raised hand crossing against his stomach and chest as he did so. "Friend or foe, saint or sinner, saviour or damnation, angel...or demon."

As he rose he tried to take the boys hand and spin him effortlessly as one might a dancing partner back to the middle of the room. "For now though lets start with something simple, a name."

[PopeAlessandros]

All of his focus goes to the man in the window. His laugh seems to fill his head completely, the sound causing his stomach to churn. His eyes widen as the man seems to change before his very eyes into something dark and sinister. Something that hell itself could only dream up. 'Oh god, it can't be. He looks, like a monster. Bu-' He's startled out of his thoughts as the man's face returns to a normal human looking face. All save for his eyes. For an instant there seems to be something there, almost like a madness just waiting to be unleashed on the world. But in an instant, the too is gone and Amano can once again think, abet sluggishly. His tongue seems to fuse to the roof of his mouth as the figure stands. A fear begins rising from somewhere deep within his primal mind. Like a small animal being stalked by a great best all he can do is press shimself more firmly against the door and tremble as the other approaches.

"The how is simple, I carried you."

His voice causes the young man's body to quake slightly, his innards quivering with fear and unease. His eyelids slide a little lower as he tries desperately to get himself to flee from the figure stalking him.

"The What, why it is an inn room, I did not know where you lived so I carried you here."

Swallowing hard Amano's eyes remain locked in the others' gaze. The image of being carried through the streets by this man makes his heart race, his tongue turning to sandpaper. His tongue darts out to try and wet his lips but to no avail.

"What happened, oh now come come, you know that."

The stranger is so close to him now, and his mind begins to cast about, trying to figure out what he meant. 'How could I know, I was unconscious! This isn't, I don-' His mind goes numb, the heat coming of the man making him shiver. He flinches slightly as he spots the man's hand come up.

"As for who I am, well now. that is up to you, isn't it?"

For a moment Amano is dumbstruck, the taller man's following statement barely registering. Before he has time to think on it too hard though he lets out a yelp as the stranger grabs his hand and spins him around so he's back by the bed. A little off balance he grips the man's hand to keep from tipping over as the sheet flares around him for the spin then comes to settle back against his body. He takes a few moments, trying desperately to put everything together. When at last he finds his voice again the only thing that he can think about is what the man seems to want from him. Looking over into those sharp blue eyes he swallows thickly. “A name? You. . You want me, to give you a name? But, don't you already have one?” His voice drops a bit, “A-and it's not like such an honor should go to someone you just met, right? Someone like me. . .” His gaze falls and his sheet seems to droop a bit at the thought.

[cthulu]

The demon gave another smile as if Amano had just uttered something incredibly stupid and then drooled all over himself. "Why no, I don't, not one that can be spoken here." The creature stretched slowly and languidly as he thought about how best to explain it. Then again the little human runt hadn't asked so he hardly felt obligated to tell. "Oh?" He uttered as the human began to doubt himself. "It is because it is you that the honour falls upon you." The demon leaned forward, one long finger coming underneath the mans chin, the fingernails becoming sickle like claws as he forced Amano to look up at him. "Do you think, that I would make such a mistake? Do you think someone like me would not spot talent and potential? Do you really believe that i would follow someone unworthy of my talents?" His tone growing sharper, edgier as he spoke, the room seemingly growing darker and the flames in the sconces that lit the room seemingly sputtering and growing as he punctuated each word.

Withdrawing from Amano's vicinity the demon rolled his wrist in a dismissive manner "Perhaps you are right, perhaps you are unworthy of me, perhaps then I should find someone else to name me and to whom I shall give my service and my powers." The demon offered a half smile and rolled his broad shoulders before heading slowly towards the window. If humans were anything they were predictable and even if this was a man of God the idea of sharing such power, even if his mind did not accept wholly what he was, would be too great. Or a misguided attempt to keep the rest of the world 'safe' from a thing such as he would drive the man, as it had hundreds if not thousands of people before him, to name him. Even if just to make him stop walking away.

[PopeAlessandros]

Amano's brows furrow in confusion. 'A name you can't speak? And what does he mean by here? Oh, maybe he's on the run or something' However deep down Amano can tell the meaning behind the words is far more sinister. He finds himself trying not to stare as the man stretches. He isn't really a prude, but it's hard not to be a little self conscious when the only person you've ever seen naked is yourself. At the feeling of the sharp claw under his chin his body goes stiff. His insides begin to quiver fearfully as the other speaks, his eyes locked on the man's face. He cringes visibly when he realizes that he's offended the man, but other than a whimper he is unable to make his body respond for the fear. However his brain begins working again slowly and he can feel things falling into place. 'This is very unnatural. He can't be human,not with these claws, and this darkness. I have been foolish in my fear' He swallows hard as the male draws back, and his eyes follow him intently.

'His powers. He has powers. He most definitely isn't lying, I see enough of it to know that. But what would I do with such a thing? I mean, it's not like I have a great need of it' As he walks towards the open window Amano brings up a hand, finally prying his tongue from the roof of his mouth. “I'm sorry. Please forgive me.” He takes a deep breath, trying to organize his thoughts quickly before continuing. “I do not think well when I am frightened, and this day has been scaring me non stop since I was captured. I didn't mean to sound ungrateful, and it was poor form of me to deflect the one request you've made of me.” With a cough Amano look up towards the ceiling for a second before looking back at the room's other occupant. “You saved my life, kept me safe, and if I am recalling things correctly, you have even asked how I would like to exact my revenge on those who harmed me.” Looking down at his wounded arms he adds with a smile, “And these. This is not a natural state of healing, so you must have done that too.”

His mind finally kicks back into almost full power and he manages to pull a smile for the man. “Although I'm sure you have far more talent than I, I thank you for your assessment. I don't know exactly what's going on here, but I will choose to believe in you. I have never had the highest opinion of myself, but if you say I have something, I trust you. You saved me, and I see now that you really wouldn't have if you didn't have a reason.” Talking makes him feel a bit better and after a relaxing breath he lets his eyes trail over the other man, taking in everything. 'If I'm really going to name this guy, right here, right now, I at least want to come up with something that suits him' The flawless tan skin, the beautifully shaped muscle, the dark hair, and at last the striking eyes all pour in through Amano's gaze and his mind slowly rolls into a name. “Illiendi.” he murmurs. Almost to himself he adds, “The god who will bring the end of days.” He blushes slightly, dropping his gaze to his feet. “If you like that name. . . .”

[cthulu]

The human seemed rather, quick, to change his mind but weren't they all? The temptation of power, the desire to keep it even if they didn't know why or what for. They were all like children playing with matches. Still, this one, while different from most did seem to like to talk a lot and yet had very little to say that honestly made any impact on him, it sounded in many ways as if the human was besotted already, while the demonic forms sinful potential could indeed have such affect he had thought it might take a while more, his last master had despised him, at least on an emotional level, for years. Such good fun and what a unique flavour he had had, certainly a fitting meal and now he had the chance for another, as long as he prepared it just right of course.

"Illiendi." He repeated as the boy finally spoke something of note, a smirk took the corner of his mouth, "Well, now it is almost as if it is you who gives I too much credit, why, my king would be utterly furious to hear such praise coming from your mouth to any but him." Illiendi turned to face the human once more, his dark hair falling briefly over one eye, "Well then my master, the contract has been made, by naming me you have accepted the terms there in and it is legally binding on a level no ink and paper can hope to match." Illiendi stalked towards Amano and slipped his fingers -for they were no longer claws- up across his chest and above his heart. There he pressed his hand flat and a searing pain would carve into the mans chest. There would be no words to describe the abject burning sensation but it was over relatively quickly and where it had been a black brand appeared,

a pentacle

which would throb dully for a while to come. "This is my mark, with it comes the proof that you control me, touch your fingers to it and call my given name and I shall complete the task you ask of me. If I am not near to you I shall still hear the task if it is spoken aloud."

[PopeAlessandros]

Amano's eyes widen and his gaze snaps over to the newly named creature. 'His master? Does he really mean?' He drops his eyes for a second, a smile coming to his lips as he shakes his head slightly. 'You know, I shouldn't be so surprised. After all that has happened, I'm not going to let such things shock me anymore' Looking back up at Illiendi he listens carefully. He can feel a faint tug in his stomach as his eyes lock with the other man's. He can feel himself tense as he approaches. He forces himself to relax, knowing that he is not in any danger at the moment. When Illiendi touches him a chill runs up his spine, his heart racing once again though for a different reason. His mouth opens to ask what he's doing, but the only thing that comes out is a harsh scream. His hands come up to lock around Illiendi's wrist as the pain of the brand races through his body.

It takes all his will to stifle the sound, clamping down on his lips with his teeth. Like the intense heat of a flash fire the burning sensation drops to a dull throb after the initial pain biting into his flesh. His grip on the others' hand remains rigid as tears begin weeping out from between squinted eyelids. He barely hears what the being says, and without thinking nods in response. 'Oh, I can't, oh god that hurt. It's for calling him? His mark, I guess, that makes sense, but he could have warned me. Oh, just, ouch' He pants a little, willing himself to relax. “Ahh, ow, wow, that smarts. . .fuck, pain. . .” He murmurs a long string of profanities to himself but after a minute he carefully relaxes his grip and steps back a bit so that he can get a look at the damage.

He trips slightly, his gaze falling to the floor where his sheet lay forgotten. A deep flush covers his flesh, one hand dropping to cover himself. Before he can think of what to do next though a knock at the door makes him jump. He falls back a bit to sit on the stand beside the bed. Glancing at Illiendi he looks back to the door as a voice calls through it. “Hey, is everything alright in there? If you ain't dyin' then keep it down. You woke up half the inn!”

Amano swallows hard, he begins thinking franticly of how to respond and ends up blurting the first thing that comes to his mind; the truth. In a shaky tone he calls out, “I'm sorry sir, I just got hurt, but it's fine. I'll be okay. I'm sorry I caused a disturbance.” A grunt and the sound of fading footsteps pulls a sigh from Amano's lips and he slumps back against the wooden stand. Taking a deep breath he finally looks down at his chest where the brand now lay. His fingers come up to trace over the mark. He winces every so often as it's still tender, but he smiles none the less when it strikes him how beautiful it looks.

[cthulu]

Illiendi simply grinned slightly, tilting his head as the inn keeper interrupted the poor boys vague attempt at modesty, "Dear Master, you were unclothed when I was summoned and remained so while I carried you here, do you really think now is the time for modesty?" With a roll of his shoulders the demon glanced to the window and then waited for the conversation between innkeep and Amano to finish before speaking up again. "Where is your home? I shall fetch you some clothes and bring them back here so we might leave this." Illiendi gave the room a disapproving glance, "Abode and you can decide upon my duties."

The demon traced his way back to the window, taking the sheet to wrap about him neat enough to make a convincing, albeit bland, looking robe, it would have to do until he could get himself a suit of clothes. Likely on the way to the abode, "Unless." The demon grinned, leaning against the window frame and glancing at his nude and uncomfortable master, "You have no plans on using me as anything more than a genie? There are all kinds of masters and I can't quite figure out which one you will be."

[PopeAlessandros]

'Why be modest now? Well all this nudity was involuntary and I may have been shy about this before but now it brings up unpleasant memories? That's why the modesty' Amano looks past the demon out the window. 'He'll go get me clothes? That'll be nice. He really seems to be full service' The young man shakes his head at the foolish notion, covering the tender flesh of his new brand with his palm. 'It's as big as my hand' He muses absentmindedly. Amano begins thinking desperately for something for Illiendi to do that wouldn't seem menial when he chokes slightly at the man's words. His body flushed and he looks to Illiendi. The tone in his voice sends Amano's mind to rather different places than he's use to and he bites his bottom lip softly.

“My, um, my address is 401 Crescent. My rooms on the second floor looking out over the alley. I, um, don't think anyone will be around aside for the servants.” Scooting over to the bed he yanks off the blanket, the sheet having been commandeered, and throws it over his shoulders. Pulling it tight he clears his throat. “I would be very grateful to you if you would retrieve some clothing for me, yes, and um, while you are gone I will try to think of something for you to do. . .For me. . .That won't bore you to death, heh.” He swallows hard, looking to the room's other occupant with a sort of sheepish half smile. “I don't know what kind of. . Mast. . . I will make either, but I will do my best.” Taking a deep breath he kneels gently on to the bed and turns so he can sit with his back against the headboard. One hand comes out from under the blanket and he rubs his temples firmly. 'This is so weird. . . .'

[cthulu]

With a light bow the naked Demon disappears out the window and is gone, leaving Amano alone with his thoughts and the room. Time passes and the sun is reaching its peak in the sky when finally he returns. Slippingi n with the same quiet grace with which he left. A pile of clothes and pair of shoes folded on his arm. He too had found something suitable to wear. A black suit jacket, white shirt and cravat, ruffled lace at the sleeves with straight legged trousers and clean, neat black shoes. For Amano a grey suit, slightly richer in quality than the one he had found -which oddly seemed almost tailored to his size and fit him perfectly- was placed on the foot of the bed for Amano to help himself to.

"I wasn't seen by the servants or any passers by, though I did have a telegram posted to your father that you were running a little late and would be home this afternoon before supper. I also picked up a copy of the news." He dropped the paper upon the bed on top of the clothes. "Though I can tell you the headlines if you want, needless to say a lot of strange things happened last night and some very unfortunate things happened to specific people." Chief among those were the death of a Lordly family leaving only the Master alive, servants, pets and his wife and children died in a mysterious blaze. Lady Charlotte Grey who was famed for her beauty wore a veil to town and refused to lift it for anyone, even her fiancee and a small handful of other lords and ladies seemed to have suffered similar bizarre turns of events.

"I was thinking you could take lunch before you returned to your estate, it would give you time to contemplate a story you wish to tell your family." The demon leaned back against the window, inspecting his nails which, despite being of the right hue now still had a bird like appearance, in fact his whole form, posture and appearance, seemed to scream of some kind of majestic but deadly bird.

[PopeAlessandros]

It takes a few minutes for Amano to realize that the other had gone. When he at last looks up to find himself alone he lets out a sigh and is finally able to relax a bit. Something about the man's presence was both soothing and frightening at the same time. 'He's obviously not human, but that's not enough to set me on edge like this. From all accounts of what he said before, he must be some kind of demon, but. . .' His thoughts turn to ones of confusion. 'But how can that be? Demons are not real. Not in the way that this guy is at least. I mean, the church people who pass through town from time to time preach about demons drawing mens' souls down into a fiery and horrible place, but. . .' e sighs again and looks towards the open window. “But he doesn't seem like that's what he wants to do with me. He wants. . . To serve me. . . .Or he has to, or something, but then he. . .”

Swallowing hard Amano recalls the look in Illiendi's eyes when he looks upon him. “He may say I am his master, but he is in no way subservient. I've been around servants my entire life, and it's obvious. He's only doing this because he's getting something out of it.” His own words tumble over and over in his head, trying to figure out what to do. A faint twinge of the brand on his chest pulls him from his jumbled musing and he bites his lip as he looks towards the spot. Pulling the blanket aside, letting it settle around his waist for now, he looks more closely at the mark now. Even at the awkward angle of trying to see his own chest he can discern the shapes fairly well. Reaching up he touches the sun before running his finger across the symbol to the moon. “It really is beautiful. . .” he murmurs, his mind calming a bit at the sigh. Somehow, just touching it helps him to relax.

As the time passes slowly Amano thinks of one thing after another for Illiendi to do, but each time he discards it as too trivial. When at last his mind settles tentatively on one, Illiendi appears at the window almost as if on cue. Feeling much calmer now he smiles at the man as he climbs in quietly. The suit he's wearing seems to fit him perfectly, but even with the familiar looking coverings the other still seems to radiate an aura of otherworldly energy. Thanking him for the clothes and for informing his father that he's safe the young man moves towards the end of the bed and begins getting dressed. At first a jolt of shock runs through him as Illiendi begins telling him about the “strange things” he could read about in the paper, but as he pulls his pants on it begins to sink in what had happened. When he finishes talking Amano sighs to himself, his eyes on the floor as he sits on the edge of the bed. “So they were the ones who. . .” It's not a question, simply a statement to drive home to himself just what he had set in motion by making a simple wish.

Shaking his head he pulls on his undershirt before grabbing his suit jacket and standing up. Leaning against the foot of the bet he looks over to the man perched against the window. He follows the lines and curves of his features, his eyes moving slowly as he tries to figure out just how this man can be the way he is. 'He looks so human, but so not at the same time. It's. . .A nice look, but at the same time, terrifying. . .' Putting a smile on once again he looks up into Illiendi's eyes. “Thank you.” he says, a truly earnest look in his eyes, as he is honestly grateful to the man. “Thank you for fulfilling my wish. . .And for getting the clothes of course, heh.” With a cough he glances down at his feet for a moment before looking back to the being with whom he now seems to share a fate. “Yes, food would be good. I haven't eaten for some time. We can hit up one of my favorite places. I run a tab so we won't have to worry about paying, seeing as I don't have any money at the moment.” Looking to the door he adds, “And I know just the place. It has private booths so we can. . .Discuss things.” Turning back to Illiendi he smiles, “Shall we?”

[cthulu]

Illiendi waited for the lord to ready himself, it seemed there were no pressing matters, no urgent need for him to do something and so the demon took a more relaxed stance than normally he might. Mind you normal masters would have had him running ragged doing menial tasks, some more menial and stereotypical than others. "I can list them all if you like, the others may take...a few days to reach the news." Some had much subtler punishments, their wealth, their lovers, their family. Still, it would all come together nicely in the end.

Once the young lord was dressed Illiendi pushed off from the wall with a fluid graced and smoothed his suit as if it had wrinkles, it clearly didn't of course, brushing back his hair with one set of digits he waited for a command or at least to be told what his duties would be now that he was on this side. Instead he was offered to go to lunch and while he hiked an eyebrow at the naivety of the boy who seemed to not even take into consideration that a demon might not eat human food, he made no protest and instead rolled one slender shoulder as he made towards the door, opening it and gesturing for Amano to go first. "After you." He all but purred.

[PopeAlessandros]

Shivering slightly Amano leads the way out of the room. In a low voice he murmurs, “Perhaps later. Yes, I would like to hear about the rest later.” The young man makes his ways swiftly from the building, glancing up and down the street. “I. . .I know where we are. The place isn't too far. . .” Slowing to a reasonable pace he looks over at his new companion. 'I wonder if he's hungry too. I know Cardigan won't mind if I bring a guest, but I hope she gets the hint to not start asking questions' Turning his eyes to the road he does his best not to draw attention to himself. He has no idea how many people were involved in what happened, and for all he knows there were others not at the ritual who had a hand in his kidnapping. After a few silent minutes Amano begins to catch sight of several people looking in their direction. Following their line's of sight he smiles absentmindedly at all the attention Illiendi seems to be drawing.

'Not that I can blame them. He is very different looking, and stunning to boot. I wonder if they can feel the. . .Whatever it is, coming off of him as well. . .' Raising his hand up he brushing the mark over his heart lightly through the fabric and lets out a sigh. As they move into a more crowded street a low hiss of whispers reach his ears. He looks all around and notices that the gossip news system is in full swing with rumors of the “Odd happenings” around town last night. A few people he knows even stop him to ask what he's heard about them. Unsure of how to respond he just smiles and shakes his head. When at last the restaurant comes into sight he casts a final glance at the milling crowds before giving Illiendi a smile and slipping through the front door.

The interior is lit with low light, giving the place a rather secretive and cozy feeling. Chatter is subdued with most diners speaking in hushed tones to one another. Amano had often come in here to simply observe the other patrons. On one such excursion he'd uncovered a group of men planning of robing the place, and ever since the owner has let him eat whenever he likes as long as he pays up every few months. He glances around the room, and not spotting her he gives a wave to one of the servers before heading to a booth in the back corner. The server gives him a nod and heads off to grab his usual drink. The corner booth is rounded into the corner of the actual room, the seating well padded and pleasant tot he touch. With a light smile he motions for his companion to take a seat before scooting into the middle of the bench where he can keep an eye on the rest of the restaurant. “I love this place.” He murmurs. Adopting a more serious look he turns his gaze to Illiendi. “So, um, now. I would like to hear everything you did to them now. Unless you wanna wait for the drinks. . .” Amano bites his lip nervously, not sure how much he'll be able to handle.

[cthulu]

Of course Illiendi follows and seems either utterly oblivious to the looks he is given or utterly unaffected by the attention he is gaining. His eyes rest solely on his 'master' and where he was being lead, it was important information if one were to serve a contented master if one knew all the favourite places of said master. Of course, Amano had been right in assuming he wasn't truly the 'master' here, he was just playing at it as children did when playing with adults. The difference in station of the pair was much the same, the boy was young and naive he had no idea the cruelties of the world around him and the people he interacted with and Illiendi was the wise adult, the one who understood the ugliness inside even the kindest smile and had to somehow teach this child to spot it too.

When they enter the little restaurant he glances at the decor and the settings with a brief and almost appreciative glance, neither breaking stride nor slowing to admire it. When the booth had been selected the avian like Illiendi pulled himself opposite and settled into the rather comfortable cushions. While it was not an unpleasant sensation there was a hint of discomfort at the cushioned surface an unfamiliarity that was swept away as quickly as a shadow passed across the sun. Even now he kept a straight backed posture, shoulders back and hands neatly folded into his lap, when quizzed about the others he simply flashed a brief, devilish grin before returning to a face of rigid neutrality.

"Baron Drake, his luck with money will turn, he will be bankrupt before nightfall begging on the street for change. Mister Arnolds will be forgotten, even you will forget him by tomorrow. He will just be a raving insane man. Miss Carlise will find her business dries up as its found she's contracted a horrible illness meaning she can not really sell her body anymore. I believe that is all." He spoke as if it were no more than moves on a chess board to him, as if the people were just pieces being moved. No anger nor enjoyment just emotionless delivery of facts.

[PopeAlessandros]

Amano's stomach does a little flip at the smile Illiendi flashes his way, and he carefully leans forward on to his elbows. As the other man speaks his hands come up, lacing their fingers together before his presses them just beneath his nose, propping his head up with his thumbs. 'I is so odd, the things people treasure over their lives' He muses, getting only slightly ill at the thought of what's going to happen to those people who dared try and steal him away from the world. 'It is so foolish! All of these things could have happened naturally, save maybe the forgetting one, and still these people. . .' His brows furrow. 'On that line, I suppose my life could happen seconds from now, but at least I can claim my out of no vanity or twisted sense of power. . .'

With a sigh he glances up at Illiendi and swallows hard. 'I suppose now we should talk about this stupid idea I have' Clearing his throat he shifts his eyes around the room once before speaking in a low voice. “That sounds like exactly what I asked for, thank you.” Dragging his eyes back to the being sitting across from him he steels himself. “There is no doubt you are an amazing, being, and you could give me anything I desire. I think it would be rude to just send you off to do whatever pops into my mind as I think of them, so instead I'm hoping for something a little more. . . .” His mind casts about for the right way to put it. “I'm the youngest son, no one expects anything of me. And while I'm sure you could kill my siblings and make me the next successor, or something else as easy as that, however that just wouldn't feel right to me.”

His hands drop down to the table, sliding against one another until he's gripping his elbows softly. “You are obviously wise and intelligent, and that's just what a simple guy like me needs to get ahead in this world.” Staring at his hands his voice drops to a whisper. “I want you to stay with me, and teach me how to make my own fortune. I don't want success to just be handed to me, I wanna work for it.” His gaze shifts up to Illiendi. “I want you to be my companion and mentor as I find my place in the world. Even if that takes me away from this town or across the seas.” Biting his lip he adds, “This was the least menial task I could think of, and I know it must sound like such a hassle to teach a. . .a human stuff I'm sure you learned years ago, and over the course of your long life, but if we can both get what we need out of it, I'd say it's a win win, you know?” Falling silent he looks up a second later when the server appears with his drink. Looking to Illiendi he motions that he's free to get something as well, should he want it. The server however gives Amano a 'Who the hell did you bring in here boy?!' look, which Amano returns with a sheepish grin.

[cthulu]

Amano's shy, coyness was an aromatic delight to the demon, he could breath in such delicate fumes all day and fill himself on simply those -for now- as the human stumbled and tripped over his own thoughts and words. While Illiendi waited for what was to be his task he carefully folded one knee, smoothed down his trousers legs and carefully folded his long fingers upon the soft wood of the table. He made no attempt to hurry the poor boy even when it seemed he was drifting away from the subject at hand, when there was mention of 'simply killing' Illiendi quietly agreed the affirmative, he could easily kill the brothers, the father too. Then he could kill anyone who stood in their way, of course, even demons were bound by laws and while the strange happenings around town over the next few days would be....disturbing, it wouldn't immediately be pointed to a demon. Of course beforehand there was a time where demons could roam the plains with little concern but even up here they could be hurt and even removed from the plane of existence should one know the right ways. So on the whole it was easier to keep a low profile, which meant killing only one ordered to do so and controlled to look accidental or unfortunate at worst.

When finally the point was reached the demon had a smile that luckily didn't reach his face for it twisted like a toothy Cheshire grin in his minds eye, like the cat that got the cream Illiendi knew he had chosen well with this master. The hard way, it could take years to get what the boy wished for, to fulfill the deal that had been struck and claim his prize and while he couldn't overtly 'season' his meal he could steer the other towards the course of action that would lead to the best tasting meal he'd had in centuries. "I accept." He uttered, pausing only to glance to the server and offer a polite shake of his head and a gentile, "Thank you."

Only when the server had dismissed himself did Illiendi return to their conversation, "It will indeed take us over seas, for the best place to start is with a product, a product no one else has and for that we will need to travel. Though first we will need money for travelling will we not? Do you have any form of savings?"