Achronum

Of Blood and Magic (Closed)

N/A

The Fallen Goddess - A Journey of Heroes

Beatrix shook her head with a smile as she moved past the commander of the Snow Leopards. While a Goddess and thus rightly demanding her respect, no self respecting Luvalonian would consider themselves a child of Rofella. The Goddess of War and Peace commanded a portfolio that created a comparison which perpetuated the horror the Luvalons so determinedly resisted. However, she wasn’t summoned for a debate on theology. There were more important issues on the table so she held her tongue. Beatrix instead focused on the smug look that crossed the woman’s face. The hieromancer liked the look, much nicer than what she expected, so she decided to try and keep it on the commander’s face.

The resulting discussion, detailing the disaster that befell their would be comrades and seeing the horror that slaughtered them, filled her with determination. They would find this Goddess and end these atrocities and Beatrix would lead a contingent to each of these nations to help them rebuild. She sent a silent prayer to them. Her considerations were cut short when a hulking creature stomped in.

“Well met Kharne! When we have a chance, you should have a drink with my men and I. No doubt you have a myriad stories to tell!” Beatrix clapped him on his… she meant to hit his arm but only reached his wrist. “And I would love to hear them all!”

“My forces are best used on the frontlines. Our enemies will break against our shields and wards. They will buckle beneath our wills and chains.” Beatrix explained. “Our magic allows us to control vast portions of the battlefield or even quarantine enemies. Our forces may be small but our shields count for three more.”

Of Blood and Magic

Let the Dance Begin.

_{Interacting with: @trainerblue192@Obscene Symphony}

The resulting silence stretched the rest of the course, only the various guests eating and Varis fiddling absently with his glass heard in the room. By the time the servants began collecting empty plates however, Salem suddenly felt it click in his head, the delicate movements Varis made on his wine glass since just after he sat.. stroke, tap, pause, stroke, stroke, stroke, pause, stroke, stroke, stroke, pause, stroke, tap, pause. Over and over again, Varis repeated the sequence as he listened to Aaron, pausing sometimes to sip at his glass or swirl the blood.

The concerned inhale was no more than a whisper, if even that. The vampires at the table, and Lady Sinnenodel’s mages, almost snapped their necks turning their collective gaze on Isadora. The poor woman’s face turned sheet white and she trembled, the glasses on the platter in her hand clicking. Her eyes were fixed on the Princess. The Queen’s disapproval shifted to suspicion as she appraised the scene. “Go.” The Queen said. The mage hurried to the Princess’s side and gently laid her hand on her shoulder. “Are you well, Princess?” The woman whispered.

All the while, Ryner watched Varis’s fingers for far longer than it took him to stop his actions. Her face was blank but her eyes seemed ill at ease. Isadora’s touch seemed to bring her back and she nodded at the woman. "Yes, thank you. I remembered a rather important piece of paperwork I forgot to submit to the Council on behalf of the school. No need to worry; it is a matter I can handle come tomorrow.” Isadora hesitated a moment before curtsying, picking up the tray of glasses, and leaving the room once more.

“I’ve always said. You need more organization.” The Queen snapped, breaking the brief lull in conversation. “Your sister. Recently started using. A rather colorful. Method of labelling. And scheduling. Perhaps a lesson. From her could. do you well. She never seems. To have these issues.”

“I’ll see when our schedules cross, Mother. It has been a few decades since I’ve seen her after all.” Ryner responded stiffly. She relaxed quickly and a sly smirk, eerily similar to Varis’s. “Though perhaps now is the time to mention exactly what those papers are about."

“Varis has done exceptional work blocking the past few issues I’ve written for the Council. He has quite an eye for technical reading and analysis.” Princess Ryner said thoughtfully, swirling her glass. “As such, I was considering waving Varis’s treaty law requirement. He knows it better than most here after all. But then I thought to myself, it would be remiss of me not to offer the best for my students here at the Academy and so starting tomorrow Varis, you’ll be Count Alder’s TA.” She sipped at her wine, a smug look on her face peeking over the glass. “Though it is more a formality than anything else. Several important family issues are pulling at the Count’s attention and I thought it easier to find a substitute for him this year."

“Princess with all due respect, I don’t have the time-” He stopped talking when she set her glass on the table and the smug look on her face vanished, eyes darkening quickly.

“You broke my school’s policy when you convinced my arena master to waive your self defense credit. Although I expected it, I’m disappointed in your heavy handed approach. I’ve grown to expect a certain degree of finesse from you.” She arched an eyebrow and sat back, inviting the Count to disagree. Varis stayed quiet. “Since you won’t be participating in that class, you’ll have plenty of time for your TA duties.”

“I appreciate the opportunity and the compliment.” Varis acquiesced, his calm and relaxed manner clashing with his eyes. “You have a brief review of Count Alder’s lesson plans prepared for my review?”

“You keep all of the projects you’ve worked on or a copy at the very least?” Varis’s eyes narrowed as the the smug look crossed Ryner’s face again. “Then you already have what you need.” Varis sat in silence, seething again. Just under a year before his invitation to the Academy, the Princess included a request to evaluate and improve a professor’s outdated lesson plans on the treaty law. Varis shredded the papers, disgusted with the Noalian propaganda involved in it, and sent back an entirely new plan. With everything going on, he’d forgotten about that. Apparently, the Princess had had plans.

“I do have a folder with images and names of everyone you will be teaching. I know you dislike being caught unaware.” She added, finishing the conversation. “Come to my study after dinner to get it. As a side note, TAs grades are based on both the professor’s and the student’s reviews and pass rate.” Varis remained silent again, fuming.

“Mr. Starag,” The mage spoke again as she tied her blindfold back on as a tomato, basil, olive, and mozzarella salad and a small glass of pinot grigio was set in front of the guests. “We are interested in your appraisal of our dear Varis so far. We afford our darling more independence than the rest of our house at the moment and we want to ensure he is as strict as consistent as we taught him.”

Of Blood and Magic

Let the Dance Begin.

_{Interacting with: @trainerblue192@Obscene Symphony}

Silence pressed down on the room’s occupants after Salem finished speaking. Ryner and Varis made eye contact while the Queen glanced once at Lady Sinnenodel’s mage and back to the recklessly forward boy. The mage brought a melon slice and chewed on it for a moment as she regarded Salem. Varis picked up his glass and leaned back, fiddingling with the stem. Isadora, with a look from Ryner, shifted discreetly towards the servant’s door. Only the woman chewing disturbed the silence..

Inwardy, Varis sighed. It was obvious his Lady and himself were goading him into a mistake. If no one at the table acknowledged what just occurred, he should take the hint and maintain the charade. Instead, the plant mage handed himself and quite possibly what few rights he had over to the Sinnenodels. He would have to tread carefully or the arrogance he’d shown thus far would come back tenfold. The woman tapped her fingers gently against her napkin.

“We find your demand both amusing and insulting. As a mage, you should be thankful for anything your betters do for or to you.” Her voice rang sickly sweet. “But since your naivety amused us this evening, we will allow you an opportunity to redeem yourself.” The mage reached behind her head and drew off the blindfold. Her eyes were partially sunken in, a deep red covering what remained of her sclera and the last of the pupil colored like puss. Faint scars reached a few inches past her eyelids. “What disrespect” the mage chuckled on the word, “have we offered?”

Salem watched as the mage removed her blindfold, revealing a grotesque scene that more interested him, than repulsed him. Severe acid damage He’d seen these before, never once as a form of accident. No, these monsters clearly disfigured their mage in order to make her more complacent. It was clear the type of people he was dealing with, Salem would need to watch his next moves more carefully.

“I refer to the intrusion of my mind. Lady Sinnenodel, I acknowledge that you view things as mere objects, and if that's the case, my mind is no possession of yours. If anything, aside from my own it would, by your logic, be the possession of Mr. Bordeleux who is not present at the moment to have given you his blessing to use his item.” Salems eyes wandered back towards the mage and a slight frown began to form. Poor dear...such a cruel fate to have to live

‘Game, set, match.’ Varis shook his head as the Queen narrowed her eyes at the mage and Isadora slipped out of the room. Ryner sat forward, prepared to object to anything that occured on her school grounds if it endangered the foolish mage’s life.

“That is quite. An accusation. Mr. Spellman.” The Queen raised her voice. “I expect you. Have some proof. Of this intrusion.”

Salem clenched his fist under the table as the queen spoke. “I don't quite know how one would prove such a thing. I can only describe to you what it is I felt and know, Your Majesty.”

“Your feelings. Mean little. When bringing. Accusations. Against my council.” The Queen responded. “Mortals easily. Misconstrue their own. Experiences since. They have so. Little to gauge. Them against.” The mage woman hummed thoughtfully.

“Perhaps there is more to this than we see.” The mage turned to the Queen. “The boy blatantly disregards our superiority, pushes for massive reform, and fabricates claims against a Council Member. All the night after the Eve’s little debacle. We find this an interesting coincidence.”

“Describe your. Experience, boy.”The Queen demanded.

Salem cleared his throat as he looked sincerely at the Queen. “Of course your Majesty. It began as I went to catch a glance at Mr. Starag, only finding myself unable to do so. I felt cold, lifeless hands, like that of a spectre, gripping against my face, forcing me to look onto images of my past. Starting from the most recent, going all the way onto my childhood. Most were memories that caused pain, or negative emotions. Very few slipped in that offered some form of comfort. Anytime I wished to look away from the barrage, those cold spectre hands would grip me once more and force me to look on. I was suddenly jolted back out of its grips when Varis mentioned the potential of enthrallment of the mage council members.”

Salem sat forward, both hands clasped together on the table. “Your Majesty, that is the experience I just had as I sat at your table. Now, I do not personally state that Lady Sinnenodel ordered her mage to do so, but as magical law stands, any magic made by a mage is the vampires responsibility. Is it not?”

The Queen’s eyes turned black almost immediately and her frown deepened into a scowl. “Do not presume to lecture me on laws written by my hand.” The Queen boomed. The previous lethargy faded as her irritation became apparent. “Since your arrival you have spouted radical views and blatantly disrespected my Council and her authority. While I encourage progressive thoughts, I will not have you attempting to cause turmoil within my ranks with false accusations. In light of recent events within the Eve household and here on my daughter’s campus,” Ryner moved to speak but the Queen held her hand up. “You will be placed under observation and your family's assets will be seized until our investigation into your intentions has concluded.”

“Mother, Salem is speaking from inexperience and an obvious trauma. There is no need to launch a full investigation into him.” Ryner protested. “The boy offers free medical services to those in need. You can't shut down his operations with practically nothing against him. And if it turns out to be true, it would be a gross violation of the treaty and its laws.”

“While the description of his ordeal matches several mental interrogation techniques, the boy already admitted to having no other evidence of the event. It is entirely circumstantial that the attack originated with my Lady or her mage. It is also possible, and more likely, that the attack came from another source considering the increase in the Red Hand’s activity as of late.” Varis countered Ryner. “In consideration that an agent of the Red Hand has managed to infiltrate the Academy as Countess Marivaldi’s partner, it is likely they have resorted to other techniques to fracture our unity. Mental magic is not an uncommon branch and an agent of the Hand could have inflicted something upon Mr. Spellman without his knowledge.”

“I meant no disrespect Your Majesty, I, a mere mortal, simply wished to gain clarification on if I recalled your laws correctly. That way I could know if my allegations towards the pair would be correct or if I must offer an apology to Lady Sinnenodel for misunderstanding your laws and thus wrongfully placing blame towards her.” Salem turned to room. “I know nothing of this Red Hand you speak, so I doubt I'd be aware of any of the hands involvement with my mind. With more information to consider, aside from the only mage I could have seen responsible, I ask humbly for an apology that I may have spoke too soon in my accusation towards Council Woman Sinnenodel. As you said, Your Majesty, mortals can rarely process their emotions so well and having my mind infiltrated is a very disturbing thought to bear.” Salem bowed as he could in his chair towards the Queen then Lady Sinnenodel. “My sincerest apologies.”

“As such, we support the Queen’s decision to investigate the Spellman family. The Marivaldi’s should prioritize them in fact.” Lady Sinnenodel’s mage demanded as the conversation continued without acknowledging Salem. “We find the very possibility of more unwitting victims both disturbing and dangerous. If the Red Hand exploits such staging grounds, we suggest closing all of them.”

“I apologize you Excellency but closing charity funded organizations would damage our standing with the vastly majority of the community. We should be careful not to take extreme measures with such little information. If anything, the boy mentioned he found acting as a guest stressful earlier and it could be as simple as a case of overactive nerves.” Ryner interjected. “Stressful situations often trigger mortal’s overly colorful imaginations. Run your investigation mother but ease his restrictions. I will add etiquette lessons to his schedule so we can prevent this behavior in the future.”

“If my theory proves correct, he is still a danger to himself and others.” Varis reminded the table. “He must stay under someone’s eyes. On campus, there are plenty of guards but when he returns home, he becomes a flight risk at best. It is imperative we assign an escort or temporary watch for his breaks.” The Queen seemed to consider this, her eyes clearing as the assembly spoke.

“Very well. The Marivaldi’s will investigate the Spellman assets but the boy will have his freedom still.” The Queen decided, her voice returning to its slower pace. “On his breaks, he will accompany Aaron home until the investigation is complete. The boy will have no contact with his family or assets until the Marivaldi’s deem it safe. That is final.”

Salem looked towards Aaron, eyes shaking slightly as he looked down and nodded in agreement to what had been decided for his fate.

Silence descended once more. Isadora slipped back out into the room. Ryner shot a sympathetic look at Salem and Varis sipped at his blood, disappointed in the Spellman child but satisfied he learned his place. The mage went back to eating alongside the Queen. Lady Sinnenodel herself now wore a small smile.

The Gifted - Concluded

James Kingston

---

Location: Comic Shop, Millennium Plaza
Skills: N/A

---

---

“Thanks.” James gratefully accepted the helping hand and grabbed his sandwich. He really needed to learn to keep his nose out of other people’s business. “We gotta move fast. Someone triggered an alarm at a store down a ways and a few cops were already on scene.” He looked bewildered at the man’s choice to steal on top of whatever hot water they were already in. Why add-

Oh. His train of thought froze as a bewilderingly large top hat popping into place around her head. He stared at it for a few moments before snapping his jaw shut and taking off after the other guy. The whole ordeal reminded him of a Looney Tunes cartoon. “So what's your deal then? You mimic cartoons or something? Can you do the whole anvil dropping for the sky kinda thing too?” His body felt sore and a little heavy, still recovering from helping the girl-Sunshine?- get back up. He would be feeling this in the morning alright.

Of Blood and Magic

Let the Dance Begin.

_{Interacting with: @trainerblue192@Obscene Symphony}

The plant mage snatched Varis’s response to Aaron off his tongue as he suggested radical change to the monarchy. To the Queen. No hesitation, no brief consideration of his future, no passing self preservation instinct. Laughter threatened to bubble out of Varis but he suppressed it. Compared to Aaron’s puritanical Noila ingrained beliefs, Salem presented an entertaining point of view on the current order. The gears in Varis’s head picked up the pace as the vampire recognize an opportunity in this. Salem presented the perfect hammer with which to shatter his new mage’s silly preconceptions.

In the corner of his eye, he noticed the slight flinch in the Queen’s temporary attendant. The motion smoothly transitioned into a full movement away from the table but someone looking for it would have noticed. The mage’s flanking his Lady kept their eyes firmly trained on Salem after his little speech. Varis smiled at Salem as his and Ryner’s gamble played itself out. Earlier than the Count would have cared for but Salem accelerated the plan unexpectedly. The pair spent countless nights conceiving a way to counter this nasty habit of his Lady but instead they agreed to use an unprotected mage as bait, someone with little more than rumors and guesses about their internal affairs. The empath would invariably give away his Lady’s actions as she assualted his mind with a cacophony of suffering and Ryner would break the spell as she did. He saw his Lady’s mage turn her head slightly to the Queen’s attendant.

Just as planned. Now Varis had an easily identifiable boundary to work with. As long as the empath was in the room, she wouldn’t try her little tricks again. He would make sure the boy was on his heels while the attendant was out.

“Lets entertain the boy for a moment. What is to stop the vampires, anyof them not just the Council, from enthralling the mages like they do now? Wouldn't the mage Monarchy turn into a puppet government?” Varis asked, “And boy, what do you think of Mr.Spellman’s suggestion? Does it warrant any serious consideration?”

✧ Talrae S2 ✧

Willow

Health: 2700/2700
Mana: 3300/3550(+450)

Stats

• Strength: 5
• Agility: 15
• Intelligence: 95 (+5 gloves +10 Potion +10 Mind’ Eye)
• Stamina: 20
• Reduction: 6U / 7P / 11B / 4C

Skills

• Healing: 35
• Staff Wielding: 10

Passives

• Mana Payback (3) - Every time user casts any spell, there is a 10% chance of recovering 50% of spent mana. Passive.
• Arcane Resistance (6) - User and any friendlies within a short distance gain 5% spell resistance. Passive.
• Spell Essence Collector (10) - User gains 150MP whenever any nearby friendlies cast a Spell. Passive.
• Double Casting (12) - User may cast 2 spells at the same time, provided they are level 11 or lower Pure Magic Discipline spells. Passive.
• Boost Intel (14) - User gains +15 INT permanently. Passive.
• Attuned to One’s Body (3) - User gains 100HP whenever they cast a spell from the Body Discipline. Passive.
• Essence Gain (6) - User gains +100MP every time they heal by using spells from the Body Discipline. Does not activate with “Attuned to One’s Body”. Passive.
• Mind Shock (3) -Any opponents affected by Mind Discipline spells have a 5% chance to be stunned in addition to other affects. Passive.
• Mind’s Eye(6) - User gains +10 Intelligence for a minute after casting a Mind Discipline spell. Passive.
• Hidden in the Shadows (3) - Whenever user casts a spell from the Darkness Discipline, user becomes covered in shadows, grating +5% Evasion chance. Passive.
• Attuned to the Night (6) - User slowly regenerates mana during nighttime. 50 mana per hour. Passive.
• Night Vision (9) - User gains near-perfect night vision. Passive.
• Bounty (1/Universal) - User gains D10 extra Renn whenever they receive Renn from GM. Passive.
• Greater Bounty (5/Universal) - User gains D10 extra Renn whenever they receive Renn from GM. Stacks with Bounty. Passive.
• Grand Bounty (10/Universal) - User gains D10 extra Renn whenever they receive Renn from GM. Stacks with Bounty and Greater Bounty. Passive.

Equipped Items:

• Cloth Armor (Common): 5U / 6P / 10B / 3C
• Glove of Magi: +5 Int, +200 Mana
• Cloak of Magi: +150 Mana
• Sorcerer's Shoes: +100 Mana
• Teleport Ring: 1/day wear may teleport a short distance.
• Ring of Protection: +1% to all items’ reductions.
• Wand of Affinity(uncommon): -25 Mana Cost
• Ancient Mage's Taliman: 2/day restores 100% mana and 20% health.
• Greater Blue Potion (2): Restores 50% Mana.
• First Aid Kit

“Can’t they just die already.” Willow grumbled. “Dual Cast: Chakra Magic and Greater Chakra Magic.” Willow restored mana in Cecilia and Karuu, making sure they had mana to spare. “Healing Beam.” The dim light shot out at Tower. These brutes made the mage nervous. With the capacity to shred their defenses to bits, the party would be incredibly vulnerable if another wave spawned before they could repair their equipment.

---

Summary:

• Dual Cast Chakra Magic and Greater Chakra Magic, restoring 150 MP to Karuu and 300 MP in Cecilia.
• Cast Healing Beam on Tower, restoring 791 HP. -100 MP
• Triggers Essence Gain. +100 MP

Of Blood and Magic

Friends?

Interacting with: @Jade Blades

“Yeah, Evalyn made most of these. A few others were gifts from other students or commissions. She likes to surround herself with her milestones.” Ryan explained. “She picks up pieces she thinks are way above her level and tries to “beat” them. Not really sure what beating them entails but it gets her real fired up so it works I guess.” Ryan shrugged and grabbed the disk, placing it on top of the console. He sat on the bed with a bounce. “But yeah, tons of talent. The Princess is a big patron of the arts. The Academy has ridiculous art program if you’re interested. Evalyn can give you the rundown once the President lets go of her and Nick.” Ryan looked back out at Evalyn and Nick, disapproval briefly flitting across his face, before he turned back to Joryldin.

“So, any plans for your first year? I know it takes a bit to adjust to.”

---

The Red Hand

Interacting with: @WeepingLiberty@Gisk

Shortly after Amaris’s invitation, sirens could be heard in the distance. Several cars, each stamped with the Royal Guard's insignia, whipped into the dormitory area and down to the Cul-de-Sac. They screeched to a halt in front of the Marivaldi house. Four of the cars were standard size and lightly reinforced. Four guards piled out, two loading crossbows and two drawing their blades. The fifth vehicle was an armored truck, heavily reinforced. The two guards stayed in the trucked, keeping it idling. The back opened quietly and Lucan Bordeleaux stepped out, surveyed his surroundings, and gave a few muffled orders. The Royal Guard spread out, crossbows aimed at the door, while others circle the building and covered the back. He held his hand up to help another vampire step out.

This vampire was covered head to toe in gleaming black plate armor, golden swirls branching out from the Noila royal symbol on the back. A long, thin blade in a plain leather hung at the vampire’s waist and a heavy war axe, the same gold sword adorning the handle, in their right hand. The vampire barely made a sound as they approached the pair in the street and moved almost entirely unencumbered. The slammed the butt of the axe on the ground and pushed to keep it upright and took off the helmet. Princess Nox stared at them, her usual frown firmly in place. Her hair was shaved completely and she had several faint scars across her face. Her eyes flicked from Cassandra to Amarais and back again.

“You will be Countess Marivaldi’s mage. The Astorio whelp turned left with his tail between his legs shortly after orientation.” She address Cassandra curtly before turning to Amaris. “By the authority of the Royal Guard invested by Queen Noila and the Moonlight Council, your belongings, including your mage and hers, have been seized as possible threats to the Council. Once your belongings have been cleared by the Royal Guard, they will be returned to you and you may return to your lodgings along with your new mage. You and your mage are required to return to the Asotrio dormitory at once.” Nox slammed her helmet back on her head, picked up her axe from the ground with a slight crack, and stalked back to the van. Sir Bordeleaux drew his blade as Nox passed him and walked up to the Marivaldi dorm. Attempting to open it, she found it locked, stepped back, and kicked the door in. Lucan snapped and a few guards stormed in after him. Shouting could be heard briefing and Minfillia flew out of the door, obviously thrown, just to slam against the van with a sickening crack and slumped to the pavement. The guards quickly grabbed her and tossed her unceremoniously into the back of the van. Others were moving grabbing metal cases from the back of the cars and tromping inside with them, probably collecting things from inside.

Of Blood and Magic

Let the Dance Begin.

_{Interacting with: @trainerblue192@Obscene Symphony}

Silence lingered after Salem spoke, the vampires watching the mages expectantly. After it was apparent they had finished, the mage’s polite smile thinned. Varis sent Ryner a look across the table. The mages clearly prioritized her clarification on the point rather than addressing the Queen’s original statement. She clearly didn’t want possible solutions floating around after the stunt she pulled with the Eves. Still, her attempt was painfully heavy handed. Varis sneered. Cut down the mages and save Ryner’s skin; Varis would have to thank her for the opportunity later.

“As expected of mages, completely missing the point.” Varis said dryly to the mage. “So opinionated and yet incapable responding appropriately. The Queen asks for solutions and the mages hand her opinions. This is why vampires are the ruling class. On the subject of breeding however, have we any news from Countess Lavintra? Though her pet is a brute, he is a perfect match for Eloise.”

“She was always a poor communicator. He was removed permanently from the breeding pool. Apparently, the mage fell in love and had a child under her nose. She’s practically ruined, the poor thing. Any vampire with existing contracts parted ways and I hear she is struggling to find new ones.” The mage sipped at her drink before handing it away as the next course was served, Culetto and thin Bamboo Melon slices with sparkling water.

“Absolutely disgraceful.” Varis sighed, picking up the glass of blood that was just set in front of him and swirling it. “As the boy pointed out, mage’s have a duty to their betters. In fact,” Varis looked at Aaron, “what do you think is an appropriate punishment for a mage fornicating and impregnating others without permission?”

“I find Mr. Spellman brings up an interesting point as well.” Ryner spoke up quickly, just as Varis finished his question. ”Your discussion suggested a mage's opinion should count for more in their treatment. How much weight should a mage's opinion have in your opinion?”

The Gifted - Concluded

James Kingston

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Location: Comic Shop, Millennium Plaza
Skills: Accelerated Healing Factor

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James managed to keep his wandering eyes to himself as far as the comic shop. The memory of the man and woman crossing outside the nail salon piqued his curiosity. Perhaps one of them triggered the alarm. He considered briefly poking into the comic shop, satisfy a tad of his curiosity, but instead he only glanced in and… He paused a moment and looked harder. Was that a baseball bat on that person’s shoulder?

James opened the door and stepped inside the comic shop, his curiosity winning against his common sense. Even if things took a turn for the worst, what could a bat do that he hadn’t already tried. He took a moment to look around the shop. James could definitely see the appeal of some of the merchandise but it all still seemed somewhat frivolous. He shrugged and sipped at his coffee.

“Hey, you know what's going on with the alarm?” James asked, walking further in. He practically jumped out of his skin however when he noticed the girl from earlier laid out in front of the baseball bat person. What the hell was going on with today? Alarms and passed out people. “Shit, did you just straight up kill her?” He dropped his sandwich on the floor and knelt next to her, feeling for her pulse on her wrist. His eyes unfocused, her heartbeat pounded in his ears, and his breathing was ragged as he tried to soothe away any injury.

When he sat back, he trembled. This part of his ability took more than he liked out of him. The girl stirred and opened her eyes. It was then James noticed the man from earlier was also there, pillowing the woman's head in his lap, though now wearing a domino mask. He shrugged mentally. Whatever floats this guy’s boat.

“Hey there! Nice to meet you all, the name’s James. This was fun and all but let's try not to meet up like this again. I recommend movies next time” He joked as he caught his breath, shooting them a weak smile.