((Collab between Letter Bee and ShadowVentus.))

[b][i]'Medieval London'[/i][/b]

Despite its name, Medieval London was a patchwork world. It resembled what people in other worlds [i]thought[/i] London was like, as opposed to the historical realities. There, the names Bloody Mary and Jack the Ripper can be taken by gang leaders, while Arsene Lupin and Shelock Holmes waged a war of wits despite being out-of-place for this time period. Said time period was also vague, as well as the place of magic and magitech alongside the low level of mortal technology.

[i]How Quaint,[/i] said the hooded figure as he appeared in an alley, [i]This will be one of the first worlds I destroy.[/i] And with these thoughts, he waited for his client.

Now Playing: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbBlOfUlhUs]Stray Sheep[/url]

        Save for the clattering of glasses being sorted at the bar, everything was rather quiet at the Raven’s Nook.  A Dark Corridor opens in one of the shadowy corners of the bar. A figure clad in a black coat exits from it. As it closes behind him, he draws back his hood, rubbing the back of his head as he slips through the main lobby area of the inn, moving towards his personal study. He approaches a bookshelf, each book labeled with Roman numerals in perfect order. In an order known by very few others, he locates and pulls on the books numbered “XIII, XXII, and VIII”. An assorted variety of clicking sounds resonate behind the shelf, revealing a hidden passageway as it opens. The bookshelf turned door closes itself as he walks inside, beginning to descend a spiraling stairwell. After a minute or so, he finally reaches his destination. This space was used when the top brass of the Shepherds needed a place to negotiate private matters. He glances about the room and immediately sees Morgan seated at the table situated at the center of the room. 

        “My my, you’re here early.” He remarks, sitting himself on the opposite end of her.
 
The girl simply chuckled, her mouth curling into a smile as she was joined by her long-time mentor. “No, you’re just late.” She responded, casually running a hand through her hair. “Jack, I know you didn’t just call me here for some idle banter. What am I here for?” She inquired, cocking an eyebrow at him. 
He laughs, propping his elbows to allow him to form a bridge with his hands, within which he rested his head. “Straight to the point as always, aren’t we darling? Ah, but yes, I do come here bearing news. I followed our client’s tip about your brother’s wherea-” 

He’s cut off by her slightly jumping out of her seat in pure hastiness, bringing her hands down on the table in front of her.“You found Ash!? Is he safe? Are the moogles holding him cap-” 

She’s cut off by Jack’s raised hand, motioning for her to settle down. “One step at a time, milady. It seems our client’s intel was on the mark. In fact, I got the opportunity to meet him face to face...the resemblance is uncanny. However, there is [i]one[/i] problem.” 

His smile fades as he adopts a more serious facade. Continuing to support his head with his left hand, he places his right index finger on his temple, lightly tapping it. “His memories of what happened the night your house burned down are extremely suppressed. While I had neglected to mention you by name, my poking and prodding didn’t seem to bring anything to light for him. The only family members he seemed capable of recollecting were his mother and father. Granted, they [i]were[/i] in the same room with him when the incident took place.” 

This revelation caused her to sit back down, her form crumpled inward as if she had just been struck. A brief moment of silence followed. Once she fully processed what was going on, she straightened up, resuming to make eye contact with him. “His memory is still there, then. There’s still a chance that I can get him to come to his senses.” 

Jack’s smile returned in response to this. “Thatta girl. I knew I kept you around for a reason.” 

Then, reaching beneath the table, he triggered a switch. This would unveil a secret alcove within the center of the table. Upon looking inside, Morgan would discover a black coat identical to the one he was currently wearing, and her usual array of weaponry and tools used during her operations. 

“The coat is a gift from our client. This’ll allow you to travel through the Corridors of Darkness without becoming tainted by its use. Of course, I’ve also supplied you with your preferred weapons of choice from my personal armory.” As he explains what lies before her, Morgan begins equipping herself with everything, taking her time picking what she felt she would need most for what more than likely would be along journey ahead of her.

Now being fully decked out, Morgan stands up, putting the black coat on. It magically fits to her physique. She pulls the hood on, looking over at Jack one final time. "This Corridor will send you straight to our client. I know I don't have to tell you to be careful, but...please do come back in one piece." He says, opening up the aforementioned Corridor behind her.

She chuckles. "I'll be back alright. My brother will be coming home too, so you all better be ready to celebrate!" With those parting words, she turns to face the Corridor and advances forward, it closing behind her as she does so.

It takes her to an alleyway, where she confronts another hooded figure, who then tosses back his hood to reveal the white-haired face of Young Leo - Leo Psellos. The young man smiles at Morgan, before saying, "Hello, Morgan. My name is Leo, and yes, I am the client." 

He smiled, before continuing, "Doesn't sound like a safe place to hold a conversation in, right? Let me remedy that: Cone of Silence."

Air swirled around them; mufffling all sound from outside and presumably doing the reverse. "Now we can talk; any questions you want to ask?"

Now playing: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riKtlRIzg30]Disquiet[/url]

"Heh, well, this is quite the unique experience already. First, your intel [i]doesn't[/i] send us on a wild goose chase. Second, you've completely silenced the area, making this a clean conversation. You doing all this makes me wonder..if you're [i]this[/i] good, why do you need the aid of someone like me? Also, just what kind of ties do you have with my person of interest?" For Morgan, these were very valid questions. It was extremely rare for a client to know what they were doing, let alone have any sort of acquaintanceship with people within their organization. She had to play her cards right, expecially if this deal went south and turned into an ambush. She needed to get all of the intel possible in case in came to that.

Leo smiled, then said, "I'll be up-front with you; I have no personal interest in him. He's weak, he's overconfident, and his magical potential was unrealized. But it's the people he's with that interest me; I want them... Tested. I want someone to harass them, bait them, slowly strengthen their magical potential while rendering them vulnerable to the darkness. And your quest to get your brother back, after making him remember, dove-tails nicely with our goals."

Morgan's guard is even further up, if that was even possible. Leo knowing her own personal goal surprised her. The only one that had that intel was Jack, and he was not known for leaking critical information to clients. 

"My apologies, but I think you have the wrong person for the job then. I have no interest in toying with others just so you can fulfill whatever agenda you're inclined towards. Keep your darkness to yourself." She took a step backward, instinctually preparing herself for retaliation. While this certainly wasn't the first job she has declined, she definitely didn't want this to be her last. She even went as far as calling forth her keyblade, it materializing in her right hand. She maintained her defensive stance, patiently awaiting anything that might get thrown her way.

Another Keyblade appeared in Leo's hand, wisps of dark smoke clinging to it for a while before disappearing. "On the other hand, you're stronger than your brother and vulnerable to the Darkness already. You'll do nicely as a substitute."

He pointed his weapon at her midsection and said, "Dark Firaga!"

And a fireball of Darkness hurled itself out of the Keyblade.

Now Playing: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8XjZWGx7gs&t=43s]
Run all you like. You can't escape fate![/url]

Considering the projectile heading towards her was coming from close range, all Morgan could do was brace herself for impact. The force behind the attack was strong enough to send her back a couple of feet. She dug her heels into the ground, allowing her to remain standing. Deciding there was no point in pulling any punches, she transformed her blade into two hand crossbows. 

"You're at quite the disadvantage here. Let's see what you come up with after I fill you with holes!" She fired mercilessly at Leo, both acting in self-defense while also getting payback at him for insulting her brother earlier.

A shimmering green barrier shone from Leo's Keyblade as it was held outward to parry, reflecting the intended damage from the crossbow bolts back to her unless she avoided it fast enough. Then Leo, not wanting to waste any power, hurled a ball of ice at her, one intended to freeze.

Upon seeing a barrier get thrown up, Morgan leaned fully back, the bolts flying past her face as she narrowly escaped what she had volleyed at her enemy. Upon straighetning out, she was too late to avoid the ice blast that had followed. It impacted the ground, encasing her feet in ice that was too thick to quickly melt through, let alone attempt to break. It began creeping up her body, embracing her legs and eventually making it so that she could no longer move. Unable to maintain her grip on her weapons, they clattered to the ground, dematerializing as the ice got up to her neck, her head being the only part of her not currently frozen in ice.

"Gods damn you...I'm going to make you pay for this.." The sudden exposure to such a cold substance was causing her vision to become hazy. She fought to stay conscious, barely managing to maintain the glare she had focused on Leo. If looks could kill, this one would certainly have done Leo in by now.

"I don't think so," Leo said, before continuing, "[i]Sleep.[/i]"

And Morgan was magically struck with overwhelming drowsiness.

With the casting of that spell, Morgan finally lost the last of the resistance she had left. "Asher..." That was all she could manage to get out before the Sleep incantation fully took its effect on her, her head now hanging into defeat as she fell into a deep sleep.