[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/QXbc87m.png[/img][/center] Murder was something that Phoenix was well acquainted with. He remembered how his sister had come to meet her end so many years ago, so the tear stained eyes of Mindy Diasco were nothing new to him. He was standing outside of the police briefing room, or at least that’s what they had called it. Phoenix was called in by a detective who got word that he had visited the small town from the locals. The police station was an inviting place for him, he had never actually stepped foot in one, but he had heard they existed from various members of Paradox. One such member being Beatrice Hanamura, a nice woman who acted as the agency’s blacksmith in a way. “Police stations are kind of scary if you’ve never been in one before.” She had told him one time. “Just know that if you ever find yourself in front of an officer, it’s best to be compliant. Going against orders can lead to deadly consequences.” The precinct didn’t seem all that scary to Phoenix. He actually kind of liked sitting in the waiting area next to Mindy, though he figured he shouldn’t be too happy right now. He glanced down at the girl sitting next to him. She hadn’t spoken a word to him at all, not since she walked in and saw him sitting there. She had let out a little gasp of confusion. [color=slateblue]“Do I….?”[/color] She was about to ask who he was, but recognition graced her features once she got closer to him. She said nothing, and sat down next to him, patiently waiting. She wore a mask of despair and tiredness. She looked different from when he last saw her. Her eyes had a bluish tinge around them, and he wondered if someone had hurt her somehow. [i]“It’s unkind to stare, Phoenix.”[/i] The God spoke to him. He quickly looked away, ashamed he had been gawking at someone like that. Just when he was about to consider answering the voice back, the door to the briefing room opened and Eris Goodoire stepped out. They still wore the brightly colored clothing that Pheonix found to be a pain to look at, but their expression was far too dismal for their attire. The man behind them was tall, and business like. He wore an unbuttoned suit jacket, with a plain white dress shirt underneath. Phoenix hadn’t brushed up very well on his future fashion attire knowledge, but even he could tell that this so called detective was a little bit over dressed for his job. “Alright, thanks for being cooperative Miss Goodoire. I’m going to need to speak to Mindy next.” He gestured toward Mindy, not sparing Phoenix a cursory glance. She didn’t move, and the detective noticed this. “Hey, I said I need you for questioning.” He said it a bit louder, as if she couldn’t hear him. Eris glanced nervously back at the detective. Suddenly Beatrice’s words of advice about listening to the law echoed in his ears. He decided to speak up. [color=maroon]“Uh...'Excuse me, miss.[/color] [color=maroon]He need you.”[/color] It was a bit broken, but he was sure it got the point across. Mindy seemed to shake out of her stupor when she heard his voice. She looked up at him confused, before she suddenly seemed to remember where she was. [color=slateblue]“Oh, right.”[/color] She said, hollowly. She got up, and made her way into the briefing room with the detective. Eris sighed heavily, and took Mindy’s spot next to him. They both sat quietly for awhile. [color=mediumspringgreen]“So,”[/color] Eris began. [color=mediumspringgreen]“Any idea why they want you here?”[/color] They asked. Phoenix thought for a moment, he had been trying to muster up an answer to that very question himself, but he just couldn’t understand what the death of Darius Winters had to do with him. He shook his head. [color=maroon]“No, I know nothing.”[/color] He said. The two of them sat in uncomfortable silence for a little while, neither even looking at the other. Phoenix had to wonder how he came to be partners with someone like Eris Goodoire. It wasn’t just their terrible taste in clothing, but their name and their looks. There was just something achingly familiar about them, yet he couldn’t place why. He had never met Eris before, and seeing how this was the future essentially, he couldn’t have met them. Still, he had a hard time looking at their face for too long. It scared him a little. [color=mediumspringgreen]“What’s Paradox like?”[/color] They suddenly asked. He jumped at hearing their voice. [color=maroon]“It’s nice.”[/color] Phoenix said. [color=maroon]“Good people there.”[/color] [color=mediumspringgreen]“Really now?[/color] [color=mediumspringgreen]How long have you been in Paradox?”[/color] They turned to look at him. [color=maroon]“Some months.[/color] [color=maroon]I have few missions, though.”[/color] He answered. [color=maroon]“We’re partners.[/color] [color=maroon]You and me.”[/color] [color=mediumspringgreen]“Partners?”[/color] Phoenix nodded. [color=maroon]“All members get partner when they join, eventually.”[/color] He said. [color=mediumspringgreen]“I’m not joining Paradox though.”[/color] Eris said, which surprised Phoenix. [color=mediumspringgreen]“I was supposed to just go for practice, not to be a member or anything.”[/color] [color=maroon]“Oh.”[/color] He didn’t know what say to that. [color=mediumspringgreen]“I don’t think I’m even going to do that now…”[/color] “Yes you are, ma’am.” Charlton arrived at the precinct. He walked toward them, a stern look on his face as he spoke.“I know this has been a rather difficult two days, but you need to control your powers however you can.” He nodded at Phoenix. “Hello, Phoenix. What brings you here, tonight?” [color=maroon]“I don’t know.”[/color] He answered. [color=maroon]“What….what will he do?[/color] [color=maroon]When I go to the room with him?”[/color] [color=mediumspringgreen]“You’ve never been to a precinct before?”[/color] Eris asked, confused. Phoenix shook his head. [color=maroon]“I have never seen a police officer before.”[/color] He said. “No need to worry, then. You just have to answer his questions honestly.” Charlton explained. Phoenix looked taken aback. [color=maroon]“He will ask me questions?[/color] [color=maroon]About… Darius Winters?”[/color] [color=mediumspringgreen]“Most likely.[/color] [color=mediumspringgreen]That’s what they asked me about, anyway.”[/color] Eris said. They leaned back in their chair, and closed their eyes. [color=mediumspringgreen]“He’s a strange one, that detective.”[/color] They murmured. Charlton took a seat, and the three of them waited for Mindy to come out of the room. Phoenix and the God of the Sea played a friendly game of I-Spy while waiting, and then the door finally opened. The Detective looked smug when Phoenix saw him, and this time the man decided to give him a once over. He seemed to grow even more secure of himself when he glanced at Phoenix. "Your turn." He pointed toward Phoenix. Phoenix got up, slowly. He looked at Charlton and Eris, who both gave him encouraging looks. The Detective ushered him into the small breifing room, and Phoenix relaxed when he saw what the room actually looked like. Just a table, two chairs, and white walls. Nothing to be afraid of in here, and the Detective even gave off a friendly vibe. "Take a seat please." He gestured at a chair at the end of the table. Phoenix gingerly sat down in the plastic armchair, and faced the detective with a brave face. He seemed younger than most adults Phoenix had seen in this building, and he held a nice, kind air about him that made you want to trust him. [i]"I am wary of this one, Pheonix."[/i] The god whispered. Phoenix gulped nervously at his words. "So, Mr....Phoenix, is it? Can you tell me why you were sent here this week?" The detective asked. Phoenix nodded, though he didn't answer. The detective cleared his throat, impatiently. [color=maroon]"I...I came to meet my partner."[/color] He said, slowly. The detective nodded, and scribbled something down on a notepad. Phoenix couldn't read it very well, it was all in english. [i]"Ask his name, match stick."[/i] The god spoke again. Phoenix was glad he had someone else in the room to guide him, just a little. [color=maroon]"What's your name?"[/color] He asked, clearly. "I am detective Roland Moore." He answered. "You seem a little more talkative than I thought." Roland observed. [color=maroon]"I just don't talk very well.[/color] [color=maroon]In english."[/color] Phoenix explained. Roland nodded, chuckling patronizingly. "Yeah, I can see that. So you're meeting a partner. Would that partner happen to be Ms.Goodoire?" He asked. [color=maroon]"Yes, they are my partner.[/color] [color=maroon]I got no chance to tell them in time.[/color] [color=maroon]I was..."[/color] He searched his mind for the right word. [color=maroon]"Late."[/color] The detective nodded. "Okay, that's unfortunate I guess." Roland shrugged the answer off as if it didn't matter to him. "How did you know Darius Winters?" [color=maroon]"I didn't.[/color] [color=maroon]Not actually."[/color] Phoenix said. [color=maroon]"I just met him.[/color] [color=maroon]Couple days ago."[/color] Roland smriked, and gave Phoenix an amused look. "Really now? So this is the angle your playing, huh?" He asked. Phoenix looked at him confused. [color=maroon]I don't-"[/color] "I know you can hear me, Dehxi." Roland seethed through gritted teeth. He was glaring at Phoenix, but he had a feeling that Roland wasn't really looking at him, but rather in him instead. The Rolun spoken into the room was a sound that Phoenix missed dearily, and he nearly gasped when he heard it. Roland continued on, a completely new person than the one Phoenix had aquainted himself with. "You can't keep ignoring me like this. First Goodoire, and now you?! I would think you'd have had more class than that." He gestured toward Phoenix. "And what is this host you have chosen? This wasn't the deal at all!" Suddenly, Phoenix felt a burst of pain from his left eye. It was excruxiating, and he tried to scream, but that familiar calm song of the waves washed over him, claiming his voice. His mouth spoke words that were not his, and his voice trembled like it was somebody else's. It [i]was[/i] somebody else's. [i]"I had no choice, Daraeya.[/i] [i]The boy was the closest thing to a healthy body then.[/i] [i]That idiotic village leader was poisoning them all with your jewel, yet he laid untouched."[/i] Phoenix could still see out his other eye, and was able to read Rolands- no Daraeya's, facial expressions. He calmed down a little. "I can't believe you." Daraeya shook his head. "Do you know how long I have been trapped in the mortal realm because of Goodoire and his stupid antics? Far too long! You said you would get the jewel back, and in my hand." Phoenix felt his shoulders shrug against his own will. [i]"I am sorry, Daraeya, but I am trying.[/i] [i]You will have to be more patient."[/i] He said. [i]"It doesn't even matter right now, what matters is this mortals death."[/i] He must be referring to Darius Winters. Daraeya shook his head sadly. "He was Brune's host body." He said. "Brune is lost with no anchor, and no lover, and no-" Phoenix was so utterly lost and confused at this point. He didn't want to interrupt the God of The Sea, however. [i]"Enough of that.[/i] We have roles to play.[i] You find out who killed Brune, and I'll get another shard along the way.[/i] [i]We can't keep talking for too long, the other's will grow suspicious of Fexixote."[/i] Dehxi, the God of the Sea, spoke Phoenix's name, and it shocked him deeply. The pain receded, and it was almost as if it were not there at all. Phoenix rubbed his eye, softly. Daraeya looked him over. "You will follow what Dexhi says, won't you?" He asked, threateningly. Phoenix nodded, earnestly. He nodded, "Good. Don't tell anyone about this talk, though Goodoire has probably spilt the beans already, knowing how he is." [color=maroon]"Who...?"[/color] Phoenix asked confused. He felt like the name Goodoire was familiar, yet he never knew why. If Daraeya knows the name well, then maybe there is a reason for that. "Nevermind that. Dehxi will explain all, he is a powerful god. You should feel honored you are his host." Daraeya said. Phoenix just nodded again, and Daraeya dismissed him. [i]"I will explain all at a quieter time."[/i] Dehxi spoke from within his mind. [i]"Just act normal.[/i] [i]If the others ask you what Daraeya talked to you about, just say Darius Winters.[/i] [i]I was right to be wary of that one, Felixolo...."[/i] Dehxi sounded like he regretted ever going into the briefing room with Daraeya. [color=maroon]"Yes, you were very correct."[/color] ......................... [color=thistle]hey so here it is finally, lets hope I can get the other one's done faster while all this shit is still going on.[/color] [hider=tonight's atmosphere][url]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv6tuzHUuuk[/url][/hider]