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  • Old Guild Username: KageShio
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    1. Kage 11 yrs ago

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Samuel gave a small smile and a slight nod. "Of course." He said before he walked back to pick up the coat, which he had set on the shoe mat near the door. Clearly he was not as worried about the garment as she was anymore, his role of a host having superseded the desire to have it repaired. However, it was more logical to get it dealt with first. "The latrine is this way."

Moving past the living area and kitchen, he lead her through a simple archway and into a short hall. Three dark-stained doors lined the walls, two of them along the length of the hallway and one at the end. As he walked down to the last door, he reached up and clicked on a brass and stained glass wall lamp, warm light filling the area as he did. The carving and etching on each door was now clearly visible, as was the detail on the hanging tapestry that covered much of the wall opposite of them. A plethora of aged colours skillfully displayed what some would recognize as scenes from the stories in the book One Thousand and One Nights.

Turning the brass handle and pushing the door open, he reached in to flick on one of the few light-switches in the apartment, then stepped aside so Evelin could walk into the modestly sized bathroom. Like the rest of the home, it was simple yet ornate, with blue, brown and gold Moroccan tiles lining the lower half of the walls and outside of the tub. The mirror was framed with winding, etched brass that reflected the other brass fixtures within the small room. There were few decorations here, just a vivid green, leafy plant on the counter next to the sink and a floral mosaic set into the wall opposite of the mirror.

Glancing down to the coat again, he unbundled it to look at the darkening stains. "I do not have much in the way of cleaning supplies, but I do have vinegar, if you would like to use it." He said before offering the garment to her for inspection.

I am interested, and willing to play up to three characters.
Alright, there we go. I hope it is not too long for you; I know I can get wordy.
I realise that my post left off in a bit of an awkward place. Should I go ahead and describe the apartment so you have something more to interact with? It will probably make my post six to eight paragraphs long, just a warning.
His orange eyes flicked over to the young woman as she responded, looking over her small frame. Satisfied that she was telling the truth, he returned to examining the article of clothing in his hands, only vaguely paying attention to her as she wandered around the room a bit. It was the reaction most anyone had when then entered his small store, though she was one of the rare few that got to see the back rooms. Here, aside from all the extra storage, were various objects of great value, monetary and otherwise. Of course, in this particular space there was nothing dangerous, so he did not bother to stop her curiosity. When she spoke again, he lowered the coat and brought his full attention to her. He gave a small smile as she introduced herself, and bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement. However, he took notice to her reaction as she saw the condition of his clothing, subconsciously shifting the coat to hide the garish damage from her view as best he could while she continued to speak. "I would say it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Richards, however the circumstances have been anything but." He said with another small, though warm smile as he extended his right hand to shake hers. With the cuff of his sleeve out of the way, bold black tattoos could be seen encircling his wrist. A solid band wrapped around the backside, meeting with a simplistic eye that rested over the underside. Strange runic symbols made of various lines and crescent shapes lined the band, above and below. Slightly covering the markings, a deep blue woven bracelet rested on his dark skin. Three ultramarine Turkish Evil Eye beads were braided into it, the center one being larger than the other two. Finishing off the simple ornament were fine silver chain tassels, which dangled off the hanging ends of the knot that held the bracelet on. It seemed that now they were out of harms way, his demeanor changed rapidly. Far from being cold or unfeeling, he was now rather genial and relaxed- charming, even, as he regarded her and the situation. "There is no need to thank me, though I would appreciate your help in attempting to rescue my jacket... It is my favourite." He said, glancing down to the mostly white garment. He then turned slightly, careful to keep his back out of her line of sight as he gestured toward the other door in the room, which lead further into the building. It was propped open by a stone carving of Chinese origin, allowing the light from the storage vault to illuminate the hall beyond. "Please, after you. The stairs to the living quarters are on the left." The narrow flight of stairs was dimly lit by a line of lights hidden under the rail, offering just enough light to see. At the top was a simple multi-coloured tapestry drawn to one side with a bit of hemp cording; the fixture obviously serving as a door. Once they entered, Samuel leaned down to click on a lamp that sat on a small table wedged between the doorframe and the half-wall the separated the living room and kitchen. The stained glass hood of the light reflected blues and greens on the walls while a soft glow lit up the immediate area. Past the threshold, in the subtle lighting, lay a paradoxically simple apartment. It held few furnishings- a low table, ottoman cushions, a few cabinets and bookshelves dotted the living room; however the rich quality of each piece elevated the room. The table was inlaid with mosaic tiles, the cushions were made of beautifully dyed and embroidered fabrics, and the wood of the shelves was stained and carved. Under it all was a large Persian rug depicting the hunt of strange, yet elegant creatures of lore. To the right of the doorway, past a half-wall topped with wood railing, lay an equally simple and beautiful kitchen devoid of any real modern convenience; no microwave, coffee maker or even a toaster lined the counter tops. Instead, ceramic jars, tins and other various containers were tucked up against the walls. On the stove, a kettle and strange, engraved decanter of some sort with a long handle lay ready. Everything was pristine, from the wooden counters to the Moroccan tile walls. Overall, it hardly looked like a western city home; one could almost think they had walked into a sandstone house in the middle east. As she took in the sights, Samuel took what looked to be a short-sleeved, knee-length robe off the coat stand near the door and pulled it on. The light-weight, dark brown material was hemmed much like his shirt, with broad bands of green and gold embroidery giving a flourish to the otherwise simple garment. "Please, make yourself comfortable, I am sure you would like to rest after that adventure." He said, gesturing to the plush cushions that served as chairs. "I am sure you also have many questions. I would be happy to answer them." He walked into the living area and turned on another finely crafted lamp, which illuminated the rest of the room, glinting off the artifacts tucked away on the cabinets and shelves. "Would you care for some water?"
In the darkness, he watched her silhouetted form, staying silent as she collected herself. Taking in deep breaths of his own, he willed his heart rate to normalize while fighting the dull waves of pain that rippled across his back. The tissue started to knit back together, and while it was not a wholly comfortable feeling, it was a relief. A battle with creatures with such low-vibration energies could have been devastating for him. This time, it was barely enough to impede his healing rate. It may take a few days, but it was immensely better than the months of agony that could have resulted, were it not for the young woman lashing out. Silently, he thanked The Creator for gifting his kind with impressive healing abilities.

He was a bit surprised at how quickly the woman calmed. Normally when blissfully ignorant humans had a run-in with the preternatural, they panic- they snap, lash out or simply collapse. She showed little to no signs of a mental break, instead she simply expressed concern over him. He could not help but give a small smile. Though their meeting has not been the best, and they had not been together long, Samuel found himself liking her. At least, he found himself more and more intrigued by her oddities. The smile fell just as quickly as it came, however, as once again he began puzzling over her powers.

After a moment, he cleared his throat and answered. "It is shallow, I will be fine." With that, he pushed himself off the wall, wincing only slightly as he stepped forward and carefully stepping around the dark shape he knew was hers. "I am turning on the light, watch your eyes" He said, waiting a few seconds before moving to the light in the center of the room and tugging on the cord, knowing exactly where it was due to habit and familiarity with the storage room. As the bulb flickered on and light flooded the room, it revealed a treasure-trove of history. Boxes and crates were stacked high, labeled in various languages, from Arabic to Japanese, English to Russian. Shelves lined nearly every wall, filled with ancient artifacts, dusty books and yet more boxes. Rugs, weaponry, sculptures and various objects, great and small, were scattered throughout, stashed away wherever there was space.

"Are you alright?" He asked as he carefully shrugged off his jacket, revealing a white tunic with wide lines of red and gold embroidery at the cuffs and collar, paired with dark brown slacks. As he brought it up for inspection, he frowned. The once-pristine white wool was stained crimson, three long tears rending the fabric from the right shoulder to the waist. Even if it was repairable, the stains would never come out. He had liked this coat.
I would like to keep this going, but I really cannot do much until either Ren gets information or shakes off the ESP sensations for now. I was hoping he would get some sort of clue or whatnot, but there will be other chances, I am sure. His skills are either something like this or automatic writing, both of which require information to be given by you, Ant.
Samuel swore aloud when the creatures attacked, he was unable to form his energy fast enough! He turned, ready to use his fists against the entities when the light from the single lamp within the alley dimmed. His eyes widened as the darkness formed around the young woman, leaving her attackers to bounce off what seemed to be a solid wall. Could it be... She had his power? That would explain the convergence of the dark creatures, certainly, but how did a mere human come to have it? He could only stand there as the shadows diminished, watching the woman with shock written across his every feature as she thanked him, thinking somehow it was his doing.

This distraction was a perfect chance for the entities that had been slowly creeping towards him. With a snarl, the lead creature lashed out, long, wicked talons ripping through the wool and linen of Samuel's clothing to rake at his flesh. He gasped as pain erupted across his back and quickly spun around, one hand charged with power delivering a brutal backhanded slap that sent the monster head-first into a wall. There were too many of them to take on safely, at least while the human was beside him. Defensive maneuvers were needed. "Get the wall to your back." He called to his new companion, pushing her towards one side of the narrow alley. Once she had done so, he positioned himself in front of her, making the entities think twice about another aggressive attack. This bought him the time he needed he conjure the energy for an attack of his own.

Bringing his hands together, he pressed the first and second digits of each together, the warm glow of his power transferring solely to that point. "Once this is cast, we run. follow me and do not look back." He said, voice showing obvious strain as he concentrated. After a few heartbeats, he slowly pulled his hands apart, a ribbon of translucent, tangible power stretching out from between them. Glowing significantly brighter on the edges, it widened to nearly half a foot wide. As it grew, strange, fluid symbols shimmered into existence, flowing along the center line of the band. Once he deemed the spell to be charged enough, the taciturn man jerked his hands outward, snapping the connection between his body and the energy. The band split and encircled each creature, eliciting wails of pain and frustration from the beasts as they became trapped.

Samuel reached back to grab the young woman's hand, then ran, pulling her along as he made for the small back door to the antiques shop. Not daring to take the time to unlock it, he pressed his free palm to the metal. It hissed as it heated, becoming red-hot, then white within seconds. A shove released the nearly-liquid bolt and the door swung inward. After quickly ushering the girl inside, he slammed it closed, the metal binding itself again rapidly in the cool air. Panting slightly, the Arabic man allowed himself to slump back against the wall, a light grunt of pain reminding him that he had been struck.

After catching his breath, he brought his gaze to rest on the young woman he had just saved twice. Though it did not look like it was purposeful, he was certain she had used shadow magic- umbrakinesis. Such a rare gift- if one could call it such; he could not help but once again question how a human had it though. Such abilities were only found within creatures of the night, like... him. The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth, but he could not deny that this girl, this human he met by chance, might be just the thing he needed.
Ren pulled into the scene to see a the other members of SIN gathering around the body. It seemed speeding had paid off, provided one of those damned street cameras doesn't make the city ticket him. He slammed the rest of his espresso before killing the engine, then fished around the jeep for his things. Once everything was in order, he kicked the door open and got out, stopping to discretely slide a pistol into its holster at the small of his back before heading towards his coworkers, messenger bag in tow. Pale eyes examined the area, attempting to note anything that may be of use. Disappointingly, the area looked normal- at least from a general sweep. So, he instead focused on turning his other senses towards the case. With practiced ease, he let up the guard he typically had over his abilities; in an instant, his body was alive with power, a slight shudder rolling down his spine.

A couple of moments later, he was able to tell that there was a tormented spirit in the area- a new one at that. Not unusual for a crime scene. However, the chill that washed over him and heavy weight that fell into the pit of his stomach told him whatever it was, it was also very, very active. He approached cautiously, keeping an outward calm as he called out to his teammates. "What have we got?" He asked as he flicked a few stray locks of hair over his shoulder, stormy eyes falling to the corpse. It was then that his head began to swim, forcing him to shut his eyes tightly as he fought for a sense of balance. Then they started- the voices. It began as a whisper, then quickly escalated to a wail. Pain, fear, and rage ran rampant through his mind as the spirit of the dead man cried out. "Damn..." He managed to mutter, as he unconsciously raised his fingers to rub at his temples. Another wave of that ice-cold sensation crept over him, his skin tingling in response as his gut clenched. He could not help but sink down to one knee, all of his attention on attempting to control the flood of information assaulting him. There had to be something of use in the jumble- he didn't want to go through this hell to come out empty-handed.
Though his eyes never strayed from the scenery ahead, he knew her gaze was on him. It hardly came as a surprise, most everyone stared and whispered under their breath when he was in public. At first, this attention annoyed him, stirring harsh glares and brusque comments from the normally calm man. However, over his long years on the physical plane, he learned to adapt and ignore it. Instead, he focused on keeping a brisk pace as they walked past the darkened shop fronts and other evening wanderers. When she spoke up again, his bright eyes swept across the street, taking in anything and everything with vigilance. In the shadows of another side-street, bestial figures stirred. This made him frown again, lips curving downward ever so slightly. His eyes darted to the left as they passed an alley. More of them were pushing at the boundaries of the planes, he could feel it. This girl was not just a random target, was she?

After a few more moments of silent thought, he responded with another simple, straightforward statement. "Somewhere safe." He had decided that simply leaving her in her home with wards would not be enough. Something was wrong with the entire situation... it was not too uncommon for a single creature or small pack of them to slip into the physical realm corporeally, but this amount was unheard of in modern times. Why would so many of them risk death to get at her? Regardless of the answer to that question, he would take her to his home. He had talismans, wards and spells over the entire building- plenty to conceal her from the entities, as well as pretty much anything else.

Sliding his hands into the pockets of his wool coat, he continued his watchful guard and lead her along, a turn taking them down another store-front lined street. Neon signs glared past the various wares displayed before the windows, the unnatural hues casting an eerie glow over the concrete.They were close, close enough that he could feel the energy that radiated from his home. However, he also knew the creatures were closing in again, clearly driven enough to show no fear of his power. Gritting his teeth a bit, he lead the young woman to a small alley between an antiques shop and a coffee house. The two businesses contrasted in a bizarre manner. The cafe was open, well lit and sleekly decorated with modern touches, like a sign proclaiming free wi-fi. The cluttered curio shop, on the other hand, proudly held ancient sculptures, books and artifacts; all laid across fine, but weathered arabesque cloth. Behind the protective iron gating, the words "El-Amin Antiquities" was painted in ornate script, only able to be read due to the soft lighting that illuminated the front displays. The silent Arabic man paid no heed, however, simply slipping between the brick walls and into the darkness.

Disposal bins and litter dotted the precarious walkway, where half-frozen water from vents made the ground slick. As he dodged the first collection of bags and boxes, the hairs on the back of his neck started to raise. Just a bit further- they just had to make it to the back door. As his eyes scanned the alley, his fingers clenched into a fist, heating as energy was once again called forth. In a tense silence, they had made it half-way down the narrow path. Suddenly the shadows in front of and behind them coalesced, twisting and churning as the entities forced their forms to be tangible. Samuel swore under his breath and ripped his hands free of his coat, red-orange glow already pulsing off of them.
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