Shard — Roleplayer Guild

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In The Red Hoods: Rebirth → 5 yrs ago Forum: Advanced Roleplay

Location
🌑 Aiden’s Penthouse Apartment.

Interactions
🌑 None.

Rubbing his face, Aiden managed a low groan, before his bare feet gently connected with a lacquered, wooden floor. Thirty solid minutes of sleep had managed their way into the boy’s schedule, and not for a lack of trying. He had failed in his mission, and that was guilt which wouldn’t easily fade. Because of him, a Demon was free in Duncaster, and it was his sole duty to find and vanquish this beast. However, just as he had stated for the time-traveler a day before, rushing in blindly would help no one. Sleep was a struggle, and with thirty mere minutes of rest to accompany his five hours on expensive silken sheets, Aiden’s tired eyes spoke volumes. ”I need a fucking drink..,” the Angel mumbled, his slender fingers gently rubbing at the boy’s forehead. 

”Aiden, the wound in your heart is aching loudly enough for me to hear its every beat,” came a soft response, as warm hands found home on the Angel’s cheeks. ”You need to abandon this misery, for it is only a detriment.”

Dark, obsidian eyes rose to meet their reflection, peering into the endless abyss that was Lumen’s replicated visage. Ironic, how only a night’s difference had turned Aiden’s scenario around, completely. He could still picture the moment where he stood in Violet’s apartment, telling ‘Keith’ to calm himself down, and think logically. Now, here the boy sat, in his own bed, disillusioned, and defeated. ”She controlled my mind,” Aiden spoke, the words cracking as he clenched his teeth. ”She nearly killed us with words, Lumen.., because I wasn’t strong enough.”

”It is foolish to think a Demon any less powerful,” the Spirit retorted, and truthfully so. That woman, her chilling presence which so easily twisted into soothing warmth, it was enough to cause a fright. She had peered into Aiden’s very soul, where she not only saw his extended life, but also Lumen. There were no secrets to be held from this creature. She knew of his deepest, most secure thoughts at a mere gaze. Could all Demons manage such a feat? Surely not.

”We need to find her,” Aiden sighed, rubbing his face before finally pulling himself away from the bed. 

”Finding a Demon of such power will be difficult,” the Spirit offered, his presence lingering at AIden’s side where the boy slowly padded towards his kitchen. It was a sleek sight, as if an image cropped from a luxurious magazine. Unlike Violet’s home, one could be forgiven for mistaking Aiden’s venue a mere studio, which no one actually called home. This was perhaps elevated when his pale fingers wrapped their way around the fridge handle and pulled it open to reveal rows of energy drinks expertly stacked within. No food to speak of.

”Or she’ll just find us..,” came a sigh as Aiden opened a can of Java Energy, from the one brand he truly enjoyed. Monster. Moving the drink towards his small lips, Aiden sipped its contents followed by exhaling a short breath. A refreshing act which was the best experience he had been granted in the past nine hours.

”That is not outside the realms of possibility. Perhaps you should focus on assisting Violet and ‘Keith’, while we maintain vigilance?” Lumen spoke. Frustration was closely acquainted with the feeling of helplessness, which Aiden could now relate to. He did not know where to look, or where to start. Neither did he know what the Demon’s agenda had been. 

”I promised the Time Hobo some weapons. Let's hope he doesn't kill himself with them..,” Aiden stated, his thoughts traveling elsewhere, if even for a brief moment. Tracking a path back to his bedroom, he reached for his phone, and called Charles.

In The Red Hoods: Rebirth → 5 yrs ago Forum: Advanced Roleplay

Location
🌑 Abdandoned Brewry.

Interactions
🌑 None.

The brewery was an old, decrepit sight. One would be forgiven for mistaking it a structure from Colin’s age, long since forgotten and abandoned by modern times. With a hand placed on the cold surface of a metal crate, Aiden lowered himself to a knee. Large, black eyes scanned the surrounding area, but silence and solitude struck. ”We should be able to sneak inside,” Lumen spoke, raising a finger as he pointed ahead, ”from over there.”

”Are you ready for this?” Aiden paused, turning his attention towards the Celestial Spirit. Again, he could feel his heart beating like a jackhammer against the shape of his ribs. Adequate time had been wasted, and while thoughts of this ‘Samael’ lingered within the recess of Aiden’s mind, there was accompanying regret. 

He should have come here, long ago. However, conflicting thoughts were abundant, and present. There was no right decision, not if he intended to maintain a humanity which could slip between his fingers at any moment. 

”Are you?” Lumen returned, placing his hand on Aiden’s shoulder. ”Tenebris is our home. Protecting it should be second nature, by now.”

Clenching his teeth, Aiden moved a hand towards his chest, where it remained. Every second, another beat slammed against his palm, a gulp traveling down the boy’s throat. WIth a deep breath, the Angel moved away from where he had been hiding, casting aside any doubts he might have had. Delving into a jog, Aiden soon accelerated his pace into a faster sprint. Weightless steps padded across hard concrete, until finally, the Angelic Warrior found himself face to face with his target destination. 

Climbing up a wall-side pipe offered no challenge, and soon, Aiden was able to gaze inside, through the shattered square of a now broken, dirty window. Tensing at the sight, a deep breath managed its way past the Angel’s pale lips. He saw a circle of thirteen women, standing within a ritual symbol painted in what could only have been the sanguine nectar of blood. Indeed, the conclusion was easy to draw, once the gathering of cadavers was noted, within the ring of hellspawn. ”We need to halt that ritual, now!” Lumen exclaimed. 

Never before, had Aiden witnessed such a concentrated gathering of death, and gore. Thirteen women stood in a circle, thirteen bodies were piled between them, and chanting could be clearly heard, in a foreign language. One thing was certain, the words were painful. Every tune which left the vampiric sisters’ lips struck at Aiden with a headache. ”It’s Satanic,” the Angel groaned, a hand on his forehead. 

”Then we’ll shut them up!” The Spirit shouted, before Aiden leaped down from where he had climbed. 

Within an instant, and Angelic boy landed on the hard, cold floor, motivation and a burning desire for justice emanating from his golden heart. However, the young Angel would soon learn that in his attempt to embrace humanity, through help which had been extended to those in need, he had neglected his Celestial duty. 

A dark presence was suddenly overwhelming, and every vampiric sister who had stood before him found themselves turned to little more than a white mist. The hellspawn, and the bodies they had procured, alike, were all engulfed in a powerful swirl of darkness perverting and twisting a bright, white color. “Sweet, little Angel..,” came a cold, sinister voice which echoed throughout the abandoned building. 

Unable to move, Aiden was frozen to the spot. Fear, it had taken hold, and gone was the resolute desire to strike down those who were to summon this beast in front of him. Indeed, such a wicked word would not do the creature justice, as a beautiful woman soon presented herself, standing in front of the boy. A tall, slender figure clad in white stepped out of the mist which by now had slowly began to fade. “A child of purity,” the woman continued, her pale skin like snow, digits reminiscent of skeletal fingers as she extended a hand. Her empty, black eyes spoke volumes of this Demon’s true nature, where the ghostly beauty otherwise surrounding her was but a facade, hiding what dwelled within. “Yet, two children stand before me, one of flesh, the other of Heaven.” Every word uttered by the ghostly creature left her lips in a soft tune, and yet, they cut like razors. 

”You can see me..?” Lumen tried, his eyes widening at the realization. 

”Why..,” Aiden gulped, ”why is her presence.., comforting..?” The boy clenched his teeth, a wicked sense of warmth washing over him. It continued, growing all the more powerful as the woman’s bare feet gently brought her closer, each step padding along a cold floor. He had heard stories of Demons with the ability to induce a false sense of security, but until this very moment, he could never confirm that they truly existed. 

“Torture, isn’t it?” The woman continued, a small, tender smile bridging across her features. “Will you, Aiden Connors, keep Lumen of the High Heavens shackled to you?” She tilted her head, eyes narrowing on the couple before her. “Is your desire for life now stolen from an Angel so overwhelming..? Would you truly force him to your side, to trick the Reaper out of his due?” 

Trembling at her words, Aiden found himself taking a step forward, unbeknownst to the boy himself. He was not consciously moving a muscle, and yet, he was. ”I.., stole his life.”

“You did,” the Demon slowly nodded her head, “would you allow me to free this lover of yours, Aiden Connors? Would you release him from your pact, and let him soar with the wings you have now clipped?” 

”He’ll die.., if I..,” Aiden tried, his sight dimming with pearls now trickling down his cheeks. 

“I can free him, if you just take my hand. It has been so long, since you last enjoyed a Mother’s embrace..,” she finished, reaching for Aiden’s now slowly outstretched hand. 

”He’ll be free..,” the boy whispered, ”I won’t be his prison.”  A mere split second followed Aiden’s utterance, and he felt a fist connecting with his face, which immediately sent him tumbling towards the floor. 

”How fucking dare you..?” Appearing between the demonic entity and Aiden, Lumen stood, infuriated. His fist trembling, his eyes wet, the Spirit gazed down at Aiden, before wrapping his fingers around the boy’s collar. ”Free me?” The words were spoken with venom, ”wake the fuck up!” Pulling him back to his feet, Lumen once more punched the boy, sending him tumbling back a second time. ”I am your sword, Aiden Connors!”

Struggling to his feet, the Angel shook his head, as if the boy had been knocked out of a trance. ”My sword..,” Aiden mumbled, eyes adjusting to the sight before him.

”Don’t you dare let go of me! There is only one thing we say.., to freaks like that!” Lumen turned to point at the monstrous woman, her presence unmoving.

”One thing..,” Aiden gulped, his breath heavy, and his heartbeat at maximum. A hand rose to wipe the tears from his eyes, and with a scream, the Angel called forth his sword. In a brilliant burst of blindingly white fractals, Lumen vanished, taking the shape he had proclaimed, in Aiden’s resolute grip. With his voice twisting into an entwined combination between his own vocals and Lumen’s Heavenly strings, there was indeed only one phrase which fit. ”Fuck You!”

Charging forth, Aiden raised his sword and swung the weapon in a vicious arc, Celestial white following the motion, as if a judgement in itself. For a brief moment, he thought the Demon vanquished, but soon saw her appearing further away. “This is a wonderful development,” she stated, “an Angel and his human, entwined as one.” The horror continued, “allow me to leave you with parting words,” the demon spoke, her shape fading into the air as if sand in a breeze. “We will meet again, for I shan’t abandon..,” her voice lingered, following the disappearance of the woman’s frame, “something so precious..”

In The Red Hoods: Rebirth → 5 yrs ago Forum: Advanced Roleplay

Location
🌑 Violet’s Home.

Interactions
🌑 @Shard
🌙 Aiden.

🌑 @MsMorningstar
🌙 Violet. 

🌑 @NorthernKraken
🌙 Colin.

Violet plucked at the pieces of lint on the couch, scraping her nails along the surface to draw up more small, grey fluff. She was on edge, because the shower had been off for at least ten minutes now. Unless the stranger was busy using up her expensive skincare and scar cream, he'd be out any minute.

And that meant she'd have to perform. 

She glanced over at her father, who was hard at work playing the gem matching game on his phone. She didn't want him to be there when she made her attempt. 

"Hey, dad?

He glanced up, setting his phone down in his lap. "Mm?"

"Don't wanna send you off before the pizza gets here, but..." Her eyes said what she couldn't.

"Ah. Better get home before your mom thinks I ran off, too." His words were pointed, but gentle, and he couldn't contain a laugh. He supposed the interrogation could wait, it had been almost an hour and the pair of brother's didn't seem to be leaving anytime soon.

Getting up, he stretched, multiple bones cracking. With a prolonged grunt, he strode towards the door and grabbed his coat. Giving Violet and her friend a small wave, he stepped out into the hall and started toward the parking lot.

Releasing a heavy breath, Violet eased further back into the couch. "What do you think the guy's name is? I'm banking on Keith."

Aiden on a sofa was almost endearing. Where the boy sat, his arms wrapped around his legs and eyes fixed on the television, Aiden rested his chin against a pair of small kneecaps. Balled up as he was, the Angel nearly vanished into an otherwise cozy and lived-in background. ”He keeps talking about a ‘Samael’,” Aiden commented, the bored expression on his face a constant, rather than an active choice. 

He was often told to smile more, a counter to the display generally provided, and so he did, when presenting himself to others. However, there was no longer a need to do so, with Leo’s departure. ”This guy’s name is probably something weird, like ‘Lancelot’,” Aiden noted. ”Also uhm.., sorry,” the Celestial continued, a hand rising to scratch the boy’s neck. ”I get that all of this is pretty fucked up. It’s.., weird for me, too.”

"Lancelot...huh." She mulled it over, testing it. It really didn't fit. Keith was a much better option, in her mind.

As Aiden apologized, Violet's face grew slightly sour. "It's nothing to be sorry over. This got thrown on you as much as it was thrown on me."

"You were even doing something important...I was just, pouting." She shrugged, going back to picking at lint.

Unable to stifle the quiet chuckle making its way past his lips, Aiden slowly released the embrace around his legs, lowering the slender limbs to a carpeted floor. ”You were vomiting,” the boy commented, ”was that related to your uh.., pouting?” Aiden finished, a faint grin bridging itself across his face. Violet appeared to have found herself on the tail end of a very disappointing situation. ”Is it safe to say..,” Aiden spoke, ”that your night got better?” The Angel laughed, seeing some irony in the development.

Violet shook with a low laugh. She didn't want to say more about her pouting, so she ignored that question. "I guess you could say that." She couldn't believe she was admitting it, really. Aiden was a cool guy, though. Even if they never spoke again after that night, she'd still be quite happy knowing she had met him. 

After a momentary panic at seeing his clothes gone, Colin eventually emerged from the shower wearing a jumper with a hood and writing he didn’t understand scrawled across the front, as well as a pair of black baggy pants, both made out of a material that was soft and confusing in equal measures. At some point, he’d lost the tie he usually used to keep his hair out of his face, so it hung in rats tails, seeping through to his shoulders. Round the corner, he spied Violet and Aiden, sitting, talking, likely planning how they were going to lure him out into the waiting trap. 

(not the future, not the future, not the future, not the-)

 His jaw tensed, and aching muscles he hadn’t noticed relaxing stiffened right back up. For a moment, he’d let his guard down. Stupid. 

 Bare feet on the carpet, he made his way toward the two. He was interrupting something. Probably plotting how they were going to contact Samael. Except Violet said she’d help. He had to count on that, that was the whole point of this. 

He spoke up, “You said you could help me find Samael.”

Violet would've made a joke, told the guy he was looking good in the hoodie with Virginity Rocks embroidered across the front, but apparently there wasn't any time. This guy really was in a rush. 

It was all business from here on out. 

"Yeah...alright. Come sit down and I'll get to it." She looked to the sky, sending a quick prayer to whoever was watching over her. Didn't the mages have someone they usually prayed to? Would that even help in her case?

Ready to offer the man a response, Aiden found himself promptly halted by a knock on the door. The food had arrived. He reluctantly pulled himself away from the couch which had granted comfort. Indeed, time had passed since Aiden last enjoyed a pause of relaxation. However, considering the circumstances, such would not last. Excluding the traveler, Aiden was still bound to a mission which required attention, sooner, rather than later. 

With a small hand pulling the front door open, Aiden was met by an elderly man. “Mr. Connors?” There was surprise trickling from the question, and an onlooker would have been able to deduce that whoever stood beyond the threshold, knew the boy. 

”Hello, Mr. Russo,” Aiden offered, ”visiting a friend,” he thumbed over his shoulder at a newly showered time-hobo, and Violet. 

“Well, enjoy your night, Mr. Connors, and best wishes to Mr. Pennyworth,” the delivery man continued, referring to Charles, Aiden’s butler. 

”I will most certainly forward your regards, Mr. Russo,” the Angel finished, accepting a large pizza which was offered, along with a small bag of clinking, and clanging aluminum bottles. A quick farewell would then promptly end the scene, and Aiden closed the door, turning his attention to the others, with a small, awkward smile on his face. ”We.., know each other.”

The pizza soon found itself on the coffee table, and Aiden shifted his focus to four succulent energy drinks in his bag, producing a bright pink bottle. ”Eat first, Samael later.”

The food, whatever it was, smelled [/i]good[/i], overpowering the steamy floral scent that had briefly followed Colin from the shower. His stomach made itself known again - a gnawing ache that seemed to travel all the way to his fingertips. 

 Colin watched as the man at the door and Aiden talked, and then the man handed over the food, confused. He thought they were getting food out of the glowing device? Or was that just another communication device? Was the man at the door an assassin - someone they’d called in as backup? Maybe… maybe he should ask? 

 Still watching the pair closely, Colin took a seat as far away from them as he could get, half an eye on the door, back not touching the sofa cushion. He scratched at the scar on his arm - half nervous habit, half attempt to relieve the itch. It tended to do that from time to time, the flesh turning bright red and sensitive. Slowly, deliberately, he forced his hands back to his sides before asking, “Who was that man at the door?”

Violet watched as he scratched, and scratched, tearing away at the skin beneath his hoodie with a vengeance. It made her own scars itch, and she writhed uncomfortably, digging her fingers into the cushions to prevent herself from dealing with her own ache. They burned, just like they did when she was still wrapped in bandages. 

What kind of scar was he hiding? 

His hands fled, but Violet was still staring. It wasn't until his voice broke through to her that she wrenched her eyes away.

"Huh? The delivery guy?" Her voice was weaker than she wanted it to be. She cleared her throat, blinking away the prickling sensation. 

"In this time, we pay people to bring us food." Not something she did often, especially on her usual, strict diet. 

Leaning forward, she opened the pizza box, before laying eyes on the most elegant pizza she had ever seen. It looked heavenly, and without a second thought she reached for a slice. 

Only to hear a heavy whimpering beside her. 

Turning slowly, she found herself face to face with Apollo. He darted forward, opening his mouth and licking Violet's face. A yip, and he retreated to his former position. 

Violet sat with wide eyes. She had almost forgotten him with everything that was going on. Seemed like he had forgotten her, too, until good food was involved. "Heya, buddy!" Violet cooed, reaching out to pet him. 

Apollo backed up, barking at her before leaning forward and licking her hand.

Violet sighed, he was always like this. Couldn't choose what he wanted. Reluctantly, Violet put her hand down and watched as he pranced closer, eyes focused on the pizza.

A bright smile intruded on Aiden’s features the moment he heard paws rapidly padding against the carpeted floor. A dog. He would often claim that his favorite people were animals, and Aiden made sure to offer monthly donations to shelters. It was a passion of his, one could say, and the boy’s love for critters such as this reached no limit. ”Well, hello there.” Aiden spoke, lowering himself to his knees as a small hand extended to gently feel a blanket of fur against his digits.

”What a beautiful creature!” Lumen exclaimed, echoing Aiden’s response, with delight. The Spirit circled his Angelic partner, and managed a better view of the new arrival. ”There was a ‘no animals sign’ downstairs, Aiden.” Lumen continued, a faint frown revealing itself on the Spirit’s visage. ”I hope he doesn’t bark.”

Moving a dainty hand towards the canine’s ears, Aiden spared no expense in offering the creature comfort. ”If I had known, I would have ordered your own pizza, buddy..,” the boy spoke. With a genuinely upset expression making itself known, it was clear that Aiden was being serious. He had been more than willing to buy the dog a meal. He then, however, turned his attention back to Violet. ”This is risky, Violet,” the Angel commented, his soft voice now quiet, and somewhat melancholy.

 Colin watched Violet take a slice of the dough-circle using just her hand, finger food then. He followed suit, picking up a piece, biting into it,and… immediately wincing. Holy fuck that was piping hot! Were they trying to- no, Violet had taken a slice for herself after all. 

 He chewed, swallowed. Watched as a large dog bound into the room, begging for food. Colin couldn’t help the slight smile that crept in watching Aiden apologise to it like it was a human. 

 They seemed… trustworthy. But Colin had thought that about people before. He remembered the mission with the doppelgangers, more specifically, Lucy. She hadn’t been his first kiss, but she’d been his first real one, then she betrayed them all. And he hadn’t noticed because she was nice to him.

Kiri. He thought he could trust her, too. Had even gone to her for help back home, and how had that ended? Red melting the snow, and a ring of bruises around Colin’s neck.   

 One act of kindness didn’t mean he could trust these people. 

 He took another bite of the slice, it’d cooled slightly, and watched the dog for a moment. He hadn’t seen one quite like it before, so, curiosity getting the better of him, he asked “What kind of dog is that?” 

Apollo had been seemingly wary about Aiden's presence, his flewies retracting to reveal a row of cream-colored teeth, canines glistening. Violet had been prepared to reprimand him, when the angel turned his attention to her and Apollo pressed his head against Aiden's hand, whining for his attention. 

God, that dog would be the death of her. 

Considering Aiden for a moment, Violet shrugged. "The landlord's a softy," At least, he was, most of the time. "Besides, I can't just throw Apollo out. He's too cute, aren't you, Apollo?" She made a kissy face at the dog, who ignored her in favor of pressing his wet nose against Aiden's hand, nostrils flaring as he smelled him.

"He's a german shepherd," She remarked, turning to face 'Keith'. "I'm in the process of getting him registered as an emotional support animal, so he'll be fine as soon as the papers come in."

Even though he was an emotional wreck, Apollo made her feel better...most of the time. 

Taking a bite out of the pizza, Violet sucked in a breath to cool it down on her tongue. It was really good, if she could get past it burning her tastebuds. "Thanks for the food, Aiden." She was looking forward to keeping the leftovers, if there were any.

Apollo had figured out that he was out of luck when it came to begging from Violet, and this Aiden kid didn't have any food in hand. Cautiously approaching his third option, he rested his head in Colin's lap, staring solely at the pizza that was going toward his mouth.

”Are you going to be a rich kid and buy the apartment complex, to remove the animal rule?” Lumen chuckled, the Spirit’s lips close to Aiden’s ear as he continued to whisper, a teasing tune circling the words. ”I know you want to..,” the Spirit finished, before Aiden cleared his throat, in turn. 

”I’ve been meaning to get a dog from a shelter, but I’m never home,” the boy sighed, and rose to a standing position. Donations were good, and they would remain. Though, having an animal in their lives was something Aiden and Lumen had discussed often. Every single time, however, it ended with the same results. The Angel was rarely ever at home. He was either working, or hunting monsters, both of which kept him far away from the alleged dog he wanted to help. 

Stepping towards the living room window, Aiden took another sip of his drink, a reflection staring back at him. The same sick kid who lived in the mirror, always peering at the now healthy young man who maintained the same image. ”And, you’re welcome,” Aiden offered, revealing a small smile, as he did. 

Though pleasantries were currently abundant, an overlaying sense of tension remained. ‘Keith’ did not trust them, and Aiden was unsure if he could leave Violet alone with the stranger. He would have to, eventually. ”If you want help in finding Samael,” the Angel began, turning towards the traveler, as he proceeded to lean back, feeling a hard wall against his scrawny shape, ”we need to know what we’re looking for, right?” With eyes narrowed at the man, Aiden paused for a moment, lamenting the thought, and then continued. They would get nowhere if information was stunted. ”You need to start understanding that we don’t work for your enemy, and we don’t know what you’re looking for.”

Taking another sip of his drink, Aiden exhaled a long sigh. This was the first time he had ever interacted with anyone else in this regard. He was supposed to have a secret identity but that was essentially tossed aside, considering the odd circumstances. ”I should be out there, right now,” he confessed. ”Though, if this ‘Samael’ is as dangerous as you think he is, I guess it can’t be helped.” Indeed it could not. Aiden hunted monsters, and disregarding recent insanity, this could very well fall into his ballpark. ”If your response to what I’m about to say is the same as before,” Aiden motioned towards the front door, ”I’m leaving.” Moving his slender fingers back to the chilled aluminum can in his hands, the boy approached ‘Keith’. ”I am currently on a mission to stop a group of vampires from summoning a demon, do you understand? I don’t have time for your paranoia, so either work with us, or I’m out.”

A warm weight on Colin’s knee - Apollo the ‘German Shepherd’ had plopped his head there and was looking up at him with big doey eyes. His first instinct was to flinch away, Apollo’s teeth were big, his body clearly muscular, even if he hadn’t shown aggression thus far, he was capable of it. It felt… nice though. The only dogs Colin was familiar with were the hunting dogs from back home - wiry animals that could get you a rabbit for tea in the time it took you to blink. Effective? Very. Likely to put their head in your lap and beg for food? Less so. 

 Tentative, he reached up and scratched Apollo behind the ears. Then, remembering how the hunting dogs would sometimes chase stuff just for fun. he broke a chunk of crust off the ‘pizza’ and threw it across the room for Apollo to run after. 

 At the mention of Samael, Colin looked toward Aiden. There was determination in his eyes, or at least, purpose. Angel or not, he knew Aiden was a warrior of some kind, but this proved it more than any disappearing sword ever could. He didn’t trust him, didn’t want to, anyway. But the truth, whether he wanted to look it in the eye or not, was that Colin didn’t stand a fucking chance on his own against Samael, and he wasn’t about to let the world get destroyed because he was too much of a fucking coward to recognise the only help he was gonna get.

  Again, his right hand started to creep towards his left, but he caught it in time, “You said that this is the future. I don’t... “ grit teeth, fingers clenched to fists, “I can’t believe that. Wherever it is though,” probably best to leave out that he thought it was Samael’s lair, “it’s in danger. You’re going after vampires?”  He directed this at Aiden, “The Red Hoods, the organisation I was- am with took down vampires in their sleep,” or at least that’s what they told everyone. In reality, vampires didn’t pay enough, “Samael is bigger than all that shit. We… we got him to run. We tracked him and his armies of undead for months, and eventually we cornered him. We had all of us, our whole order, even the Commander herself, and when it came down to it, he cut through us like butter.” 

 The battle was still fresh. Red and grey and brown. A ripple of Eliza’s fire, a glimmer of Brighid’s healing magic, Kiri…. If he poked too hard at it, he knew he’d only make it bleed, so he didn’t.

“And now he’s here.” he realised he’d been staring a hole in Violet’s beige carpet, he forced his gaze back up, “Samael is a threat to this whole fucking reality, he already sent his fucking vampire lackey after me - and far as I know there’s not anyone else out there trying to stop him.”  The admission was a betrayal, burned like it too, “So yeah. I’m fucking paranoid. If you help’s up to you I guess. I can leave now if you want,”  he glanced at Violet as he said that, “Just don’t expect me to be a fucking open book with a pair of strangers I met half an hour ago, kind as you are, a bloody flapjack’s not something I’d stake the fate of the whole fucking world on, would you?”

With that, he stood, ready to leave if that’s what they wanted. He could do this on his own. If he had to. Fuck. 

Violet groaned, burying her head in her hands. Confrontation was ass, complete and utter garbage. She hated it, even though her therapist said it was a necessary evil. It would hurt her at times, heal her overall. She didn't believe any of that bullshit. She hated that office, with its beige walls and the abstract paintings in a myriad of colors. 

Hated her therapist, and his wire-rim glasses, his thinning hair. His understanding tone, his ability to pull the past into focus. It was all so overwhelming. She had cancelled her next appointment. Her mother didn't know yet.

She hated this. The fact that she had invited this crazy man and an Angel into her home. The fact that they both had problems, more pressing than her own. 

How could she make a decision when she couldn't even challenge her mother? Couldn't even face her brother, in the same way he hadn't been able to face her? 

Breathe. She hadn't been breathing.

Sucking in air, she feigned a yawn. "Do what you need to do." She paused, glancing between the two before focusing on the stranger. "You shouldn't do it all alone, though, you'll die. I...just...ya know."

'Can't help you, because I'm a fucking wuss.'

It was not unexpected that Violet wished to avoid conflict. She was a normal girl caught in an insane situation. Three years prior, before Lumen bonded with Aiden, the boy would have echoed her sentiment. Indeed, he was ill, barely able to leave the home, but the principle remained. Sick or healthy, the weight of an entire world was a daunting prospect for anyone, more so a civilian, who expected her night to be like any other. ”That’s fair, you don’t trust two strangers you just met,” Aiden commented, his eyes lingering on the time-traveling warrior. ”I am going to be making assumptions, but when we met you, the wounds, the dirt, the fatigue.., you were in a battle, weren’t you?” There was a short bout of silence between the three of them, but Aiden eventually continued, speaking based on observation. ”You were fighting, and then.., you ended up here. You said someone else went through a portal before you did. A..,” the Angel narrowed his eyes, ”friend..,” he finished, uttering the word much like Colin had, previously. 

”We’re putting aside the childishness, now,” Aiden stated. There was no anger or frustration in his voice, however. ”It’s as difficult for us to believe in your story, as it is for you to believe in us.., ‘Keith’,” the Angel spoke, and motioned towards Violet as she had made herself heard. ”Though, I believe that.., you believe.., what you’re saying.”

Aiden reached for a pen on the coffee table, and proceed to scribble down a string of numbers on the notepad which had been left unused in front of Violet’s father, Leopold. ”I am sorry that you got involved in any of this, Violet. You’re an ordinary person, with a normal life. I guess.., I’m leaving my number, in case you need it. Honestly, it’s been nice to just.., be myself around someone, for once. Ironically, it’s when I’m pretending to be someone else,” a quiet chuckle escaped the boy’s lips. 

He had often considered the notion. Was this truly someone else? Was he Aiden Connors, a billionaire shareholder of Infinity Enterprises, or was he Aiden the Angel? Lumen had told him that they were, in fact, Seraphs, angelic knights. Yes, perhaps that was Aiden’s true identity, and the businessman a mere mask. 

”You think the safe route is to not trust us,” the Angel turned his attention back to the stranger whose name was yet to be revealed. ”Isn’t it the other way around? Samael threatens the world, you say. If he’s here, you should be gathering an army, not running around on your own, thinking that you can make a dent in someone as powerful as you claim.” Holding out his arms, motioning at their surroundings, the Angel continued to speak. ”I’ve been doing this for three years, you might have been doing it for twice that long, with your.., ‘Red Hoods’, but without them, you seem lost.”

Lowering his arms, Aiden let them rest at his sides. ”You and I know that the moment you walk out that door, you’re alone. You won’t be able to tell left from right, you won’t understand a single thing you see, and every second you want to spend on finding Samael will be spent in confusion, and fear.” He proceeded to take a small breath. Colin had been stubborn, but at the very least, the Angel hoped that he was willing to take at least this as fact. 

”No matter how little time you think you have left, you need a plan. Step one, locate your friends.” Aiden held up a finger, followed by a second.

”Step two, gather them,” he raised a third, ”and step three, pick up where you left off. Running into the unknown, armed with nothing but your anger, and frustration, will serve only one purpose. It will make Samael’s job easier.”

Colin clenched and unclenched his fists. 

 Everything Aiden said made sense. Of course it fucking did. He couldn’t take Samael on his own, not really, and there wasn’t a chance in hell of him walking out that door and having even the slightest clue what to do to find Samael. And without the Hoods? Even shielded by the most capable members of the order, Colin was lacking. On his own? 

Always were a coward lad-

He was nothing. 

He exhaled, a harsh puff of air, “There was a battle. With Samael.” He said, tone clipped more out of deliberation than anything else, “We had him cornered. He opened a portal to escape. My-” he should stop calling her his friend, she wasn’t, not anymore, “Another hood jumped through after him. I followed her. No one else did that I know, they were pretty hurt-” Brighid’s red fur stained brown with mud, Eliza’s full weight, slamming into him- “and I’m pretty fucking sure the other hood that jumped through’s a traitor.”

 If Colin wasn’t a coward, he’d look Aiden in the eye, beg him to help. Do anything to save the world, because that’s what it needed. He was a coward though, so instead he stared at the floor, doing his best to pretend like the last dregs of adrenaline weren’t slipping away already, “You’re right that I need a better plan than chasing after wherever Samael’s gone on my own. But it’s the best one I’ve got right now. There’s not…” his chest corkscrewed and he gave up trying not to scratch his arm, let his nails sink crescent moons into the scar, “There’s not a fucking soul out there that’ll help me so. I need to be fast if I even stand a chance.”

What could Violet say to that? If she sent him off all alone, the guilt would eat her alive. If she offered to help him, she'd be committing herself to something she knew nothing about. He could turn around and kill her at any moment. 

She thought back to the day of the accident, how she had been arguing with Vince over nothing in particular. How they had been driving a road they could travel in their sleep, and had suddenly slammed into something. She could've lost it all in that moment, but she hadn't. 

If she believed in fate, or destiny, she would've been convinced it was because she was meant for something great. Perhaps this very moment was the start of her destined adventure.

But...she didn't. All she knew was that she was lucky enough to live, but unlucky enough to come out of it covered in scars. With powers she didn't understand, that she couldn't control.

If she just let this guy leave, she could return to normalcy. This would just be a faint memory ten years from now. If the world didn't get blown to pieces by the Samael guy, of course. With every passing moment, she was diving deeper into this conspiracy.

"Uh...well, there are people out there, who would...help." People like Aiden, she supposed. "And I--" She was going to regret this, wasn't she? "--will help you find them. I will help you, if you just calm down long enough to let yourself be helped."

”These are two souls willing to help you.” ‘Keith’ was by no means alone. The Angel would be standing at the warrior’s side in a time of need, that much was certain. Additionally, if what this man said was true, Aiden’s blade would rise against Samael, irrelevant of external factors.

A threat to Tenebris? There was no question. Samael was an enemy, no matter one’s stance on the time-traveler, or his ‘Red Hoods’. The world had changed, however, and it was no longer what Colin remembered. In fact, Aiden was skeptical towards the situation because of these differences. Samael would have to change his approach drastically, if he aimed to conquer a modern world. He now faced an entirely new opposition. A stronger opposition. 

”A few things you should consider,” Aiden spoke, and approached his jacket. ”This is a new battlefield, not only for you, but for Samael as well.” The Angel drank from his beverage, and started to slip into his outer garments. ”He’s facing new enemies, and you’re gaining new allies.”

The boy’s slender fingers gently tapped against a polished door handle, but he had not yet departed. ”You had him cornered once, didn’t you? Remember that he escaped, not you. You’re the hunter, not the beast. Stand straight, recuperate.., ” Aiden motioned to the pizza, ”eat and rest. Your prey won’t take over the world in a day.”

Twisting the handle, Aiden stopped, recalling an important detail. ”I’ll get you new weapons, and leave them here, with Violet. She can also contact me.” Finally stepping outside, Aiden offered the two a small wave. ”Welcome to your new battlefield.., ‘Keith’.”

In The Red Hoods: Rebirth → 5 yrs ago Forum: Advanced Roleplay

Location
🌑 Violet’s Home.

Interactions
🌑 @Shard
🌙 Aiden.

🌑 @MsMorningstar
🌙 Violet. 

🌑 @NorthernKraken
🌙 Colin.

Violet lingered outside the door of her apartment, turned to the side to subtly block it from her companion's view. She feigned clumsiness, stabbing at the door with her key even though she knew it was unlocked. She couldn't hear any commotion within, but she knew someone had stayed behind to ensure she made it home. 

Who would it be? Her overbearing mother, or her alienated brother? Violet sighed, slipped the key in the door, and opened it. 

Her gaze immediately traveled to the couch, where her father sat. They made eye contact, and she cursed under her breath. 

Her father was, to put it lightly, the best dad a person could ask for. When her mother was irritated, her father was the shoulder to cry on. When she was sick and her mother wanted her to go to school anyways, her dad let her stay in bed. He had gone halfway on the deposit for the apartment, and whenever she needed an oil change he was around.

How the hell could she lie to him? 

"Dad..."

"Hey, Vi," His gaze darted past her, into the hall that she was desperately trying to block. "Where've you been?

Had he seen them? Oh God. He definitely had. Might as well work with it. "Out. I didn't go alone, though. These are my friends..." What were their names? Would they even play along if she gave them fake ones? "Come on, guys. Come meet my dad..."

She ushered them in, pleading with her eyes for the hobo to put away his knives. At least for the time being.

Casual interaction between ‘the rabble’, as Aiden’s father had Christened those beneath a status of wealth, was a minefield, for the boy. He stumbled through such conversations with little grace, and clung to whatever appeared available. However, the teenager could wear a mask, and he possessed a silver tongue. He had the ability to improvise, and he was most certainly no stranger to acting. Yes, not a single day in the silken palace of aristocracy allowed for honest representation. Rather, Aiden was expected to play a part, a role, which he had been assigned at birth. He was a rich man’s son, and the heir to a questionable company cradled by unimaginable treasure. 

However, that role could very well change, even if temporarily. ”Hello, Sir!” Aiden spoke, raising a small hand as he greeted Violet’s father from a distant threshold. ”I’m Aiden, this is my brother,” the boy thumbed at their mysterious time-traveler. ”I’m sorry if we worried you, the LARPing session lasted longer than expected, and my brother’s really serious about the whole thing.” Followed by a small chuckle, Aiden presented a welcoming smile, and stepped into the young woman’s house, but only once she had done the same. 

As per etiquette at his own home, Aiden slipped out of his converse shoes, and gently padded towards the older man who had made himself comfortable on the couch. The Angelic boy proceeded to pull his hood down, revealing a large mess of black hair, which managed a splendid job of covering Aiden’s eyes in thick bangs. However, with effort, the boy managed to surpass the issue, large obsidian orbs resting above a small, pale nose. Indeed, a young, seemingly innocent face peered across the room, evidently fitting an otherwise petite, and scrawny frame which made itself all the more visible once Aiden removed his jacket. He extended his hand for the older man to shake, and maintained a practiced smile.

The ‘apartment’ the woman was going on about appeared to be a living space, located in one of the huge towers that lined the road. Going in had been unnerving - it was even brighter in here than outside, like the bathroom earlier. Colin kept an eye on the other doors around them, just in case any more vampires burst out and tried to attack him. 

 Now though, the woman seemed to be talking to someone on the other side of the door - her dad. She hadn’t mentioned her dad being there. Last time Colin had met someone’s dad… was that why the woman was working for Samael? Was she being pressured into it by her dad? If that was the case, she might be open to joining the Red Hoods. She wouldn’t be the first recruit who joined to get away from her family, and she likely wouldn’t be the last. 

 Did that mean they’d have to kill her father too? 

 Colin swallowed the nausea that rose with that thought. One thing at a time. He followed the other two in, stomach dropping at the pleading look the woman gave him and the nervousness in her tone. Theory confirmed it seemed. He gripped the knives, still in his hands, tighter. Ready for any move the man might make.

 He fixed the man with a cold look. He didn’t appear to be a fighter, and Colin couldn’t see any vampiric traits. Spellcaster then. Likely one of Samael’s inner circle… maybe that was what the woman meant when she said she had tricks up her sleeve? If he could get to Samael through the inside… this might actually work. And all Colin had to do was survive the next few minutes. 

 He watched the boy toe off his clean fabric shoes, revealing even cleaner socks - not a hole or a patch in them. Colin looked down at his own cracked leather boots - he hadn’t taken them off since the keep, and the laces were damp and thick with mud, not to mention the soles. The custom here seemed to be to take them off though, so he got down on one knee and tugged at the crusty knots, before yanking the shoes off. Nose wrinkling briefly at the resultant stench, he stood, realising a little too late the bloody stain his knee left on the soft beige rug that blanketed the floor. He supposed it didn’t matter too much, if all went to plan the woman would be coming back to the keep to work for the hoods anyway. 

 He looked to the woman’s dad, the boy’s words making little sense, but he assumed ‘LARPing’ involved something to do with Samael. This must be a cover. He went along with it, “Yeah, our master was happy with the larping we did, I’m sure you’ll be hearing all about it. It’s an honour to meet you sir.”

Violet's dad, bless his soul, seemed mostly unfazed. He shot Violet a glance, full of mirth, before rising to his full six foot four height. At one time, he had been a star center on the football team. Now, though, his belly had rounded and his body had grown soft. 

Taking a few steps forward, he extended his hand toward the shorter boy, Aiden, in greeting. "LARPing, huh? Didn't know Violet was into that, but to each their own..." His face crinkled merrily, and he let loose a gravelly chuckle. 

"Guess I'm just lucky to meet you, Violet never brings her friends around." He raised a brow, directing his gaze to her. 

Violet didn't move, her gaze lingering on the knives in Colin's hand. His grip had tightened. Was he going to attack them? She'd beat him to death with her bare hands before he ever touched her father. 

"Hey, dude, you wanna grab that food we were talking about?" She gestured toward the kitchen a bit forcibly. 

Her father turned to Colin, pursing his lips slightly. "I didn't catch your name...I'm Leo. Short for--"

"Short for Leopaul, but my friends call me Lee, or Paul. You're not my friend yet, yada yada." Violet finished, sticking her tongue out at her father for a bit of normalcy. "He gets it, we're gonna get some food."

Another gesture toward the kitchen, and she began striding over to it.

”Well, so far, so good,” Lumen commented, as the creature followed Aiden’s steps. ”Even the traveler has managed to stay in character.., that does surprise me.” With an obsidian gaze lingering on this man, by the name of Colin, which was yet to be known, Lumen maintained surveillance. This stranger, he was quite filthy, which was a conclusion previously drawn, but now fully realized. ”And who, pray tell, will teach this creature to use the shower?”

At Lumen’s words, Aiden halted his stride with an abrupt stop. For a brief moment, he turned towards Colin, eyeing the weathered, worn man, before quickly padding to the kitchen. ”He might need a..,” Aiden whispered, narrowing his statement at Violet once the boy passed her, ”shower.”

Clearly more humble than what Aiden saw on a daily basis, the woman’s kitchen was a reflection of her small home. Where some would perhaps consider the venue lacking, Aiden was not above calling it quaint. ”Maybe you should.., clean up, before eating, big bro?” The boy presented, now aiming his words at the time-traveler with nothing between them. ”Cause’ uhm.., you kinda’ fucking stink.”

Unable to stifle a string of laughter, Lumen’s hand moved to slap Aiden’s shoulder. ”Savage.”

Like fuck was Colin giving one of Samael’s inner circle his name - who knew what kinds of dark magics he could do with that? He’d hung round Brighid long enough to know the power a name could have. He scowled at Leopold, before following ‘Violet’ towards the food. 

 The boy’s suggestion stopped him in his tracks. Briefly, he glanced down at his feet, skin pale with cold and damp peeking through the holes in his socks, faint but definitely present tracks following behind him. Clean would be good. 

His stomach growled. Until now, it’d been lulled into silence by inactivity, but now food was right there, or so Violet said… 

 Colin grimaced, “Can we not… eat first… maybe?” 

Violet shrugged at the man's words, continuing to walk. He was being a douche to her father, of all people, and now he was begging her for food? She could've left him on the streets to dig through garbage. Time-travelling conspiracy or not, he needed to be humble.

Upon making it into the kitchen, she turned to him with a grimace.  "I dunno, can we 'eat first maybe'?" She mocked his desperate tone, planting her hands on her hips.

"Maybe, and this is just a suggestion, we can stop being dicks to the people who help us." God, was she looking to get stabbed? She really needed to check herself...but so did he. Sucking in a sharp breath, she released it in a sigh. 

"Look, I'm trying to be civil, and you can't even put down the daggers? Are you just gonna threaten me until I help you?"

Violet's dad, meanwhile, took his place back on the couch. He wasn't going to leave until he had the one-on-one confrontation he had promised his wife. But, he wasn't going to be irritating either. Violet had never liked him butting into her conversations, so he'd simply...wait. And listen. Maybe then he'd be able to figure out the asshat's name.

”I like this girl, she’s assertive, and her father was lovely. It is a shame I cannot interact with the man, he would surely have been pleasant company.” Lumen exhaled a soft sigh. It was not always an easy prospect, being tied to Aiden and locked away from the world. However, their relationship, while uniquely complicated, was a shared endeavor. 

”To be fair, we are already helping him,” Aiden offered, his eyes curiously scanning the area for what presented itself. The kitchen in his parents’ mansion, while enormous, was sterile. Everything was sleek, every surface spotless, and one would be forgiven for mistaking the scene an elaborate picture, in the cover of a magazine. However, Aiden’s immediate surrounding sang a different tune entirely. This was a home where people actually lived.., in unison. 

A home. Yes, did Aiden ever truly have one? The saying ‘Home is what you fight for’, would very much have left him at a disadvantage. ”He won’t hurt you.” The boy spoke, his dark eyes moving to glare at Colin. ”Arrogance will only take a man so far.”

A small, innocent teenager, indeed, but none could deny Aiden’s cold gaze. A ‘resting bitch face’, as it was, surely helped in that regard. ”But.., if it means anything, Violet,” Aiden continued, pausing in his words for a brief moment, before continuing. ”Your dad’s.., really cool. I wish me and my dad were as..,” another pause lingered. Clenching his teeth, the Angel shifted a melancholy gaze towards the living room. His statement would have rang true, if it echoed the fact that Aiden wished for a father, in the first place. ”Getting dinner ready will take time. You can clean up while we wait.” Cutting his utterance short, in lieu of their previous conversion with Colin, Aiden proceeded where they had left off.

Colin bristled. 

 Yeah, he was being a dick, and yeah, Andi probably [/i]would[/i] have boxed him round the ears if she saw the way he was behaving, but he was currently trapped in a confined space with three possible servants to Samael. ‘Manners’ went out the window the second Samael decided to destroy humanity (Or whatever the fuck his end goal was. Colin didn’t know. Or care to find out). 

 Still. He wasn’t sure about the woman yet, if he was right about her dad, there was still a chance she could be won over. A potential ally wasn’t something he should turn his nose up at, especially if it meant she didn’t have to die. The boy he was less sure about. He wasn’t a vampire, in fact, he’d accused Colin of being a vampire, and upon realising that he was human, he’d quickly sheathed his blade, which… didn’t make a whole lot of sense. 

 None of this did. Which was why he had to find Samael and get back as soon as he could. And for that… fuck. 

 He didn’t want to be defenseless, made his skin crawl, but if that’s what it took to get the woman to help? 

 “Fine." he exhaled through clenched teeth, before bending down, slotting the knives into the sheethes at either ankle. He straightened, and showed the pair his empty hands, “Happy? If you fucking murder me now I’m gonna be mad.” 

"Thanks, er...Aiden. I gotta admit he's a lot better than my mom." Violet chuckled, shaking her head slightly. This Aiden kid was quite nice, and normal...ish. She could imagine herself getting along with him in a less forced setting. 

Turning her attention back to the nameless hobo, she commented, "Very," She felt as if she had just stepped off a ledge, though she was still far from the warm embrace of safety. 

"And, just a friendly reminder, we're not trying to kill you." If he were her friend, she would have punched him playfully in the shoulder. That seemed like the absolute worst idea with him, though.

Turning to her cabinets, Violet threw them open, clicking her tongue as she looked for something that a time traveller might enjoy. She could make him some real food after he bathed, but he needed something to tide him over. Maybe a...granola bar? That seemed safe enough. She had protein bars and shakes which would really fill him, but those had cost her a shit ton and she was sure she wouldn't be getting a refund.

Decidedly, she pulled out a handful of granola bars, the wrappers crinkling in her hand. With a bit of reluctance, she also reached into another cabinet that contained protein. This would be his gift for putting away the daggers. Moving around the kitchen, she brought out a shaker bottle, filled it with water, and dumped in two scoops of unflavored protein powder. Closing the lid, she passed it off to him.

"Here, shake this, and then drink it." Thinking for a moment, she added, "It's not poison or magic or anything. It's good for you. So are the granola bars. I'll cook something hot for you when you're out of the shower."

Heaving herself up onto the counter with ease, she kicked her legs lazily and stared at the odd pair in front of her. "Bathroom's to your left..." She mumbled. Would the guy know how to work the shower? She'd have Aiden help him. 

"So..." Her gaze drifted over to Aiden. The curiosity from earlier was finally beginning to come back, as her heightened sense of anxiety lessened. "You're an Angel...yeah?"

Lowering himself to a chair, Aiden gently drummed his fingers against the kitchen table. For the first time since meeting the two individuals now sharing space with the boy, hostilities had slowly faded, and a breath could be spared. Absentmindedly, the Angel’s hand slipped into his pocket, and from its confines, Aiden’s phone came to life. A row of text blanketed its screen, along with occasional pictures, each of which had been taken from a distance. Surveillance, one could call it. ”Yeah,” Aiden responded, raising his attention towards Violet, before leaving his device on the surface in front of him. ”I was looking for a vampire coven, before I ran into you two,” the Angel explained, his chin resting against the flat of a pale hand. 

Indeed, now dressed in little more than an unzipped sweater, Aiden’s leather jacket hung from a coat-rack in the hall. It left little to the imagination, and his petite frame was displayed far more evidently. Every finger was a slender digit, his arms lacking in muscle, and his torso flat, every rib making itself known. Of course, there was an adequate explanation as to why this boy maintained such a fragile display. 

Illness struck at a young age, and remained with him until Lumen’s embrace finally cured the teenager. However, it was not quite a cure, but rather a transformation. If Lumen by chance was to leave, it would result in Aiden’s immediate death. That fact was, however, mutual. ”I get that it’s difficult to believe,” a small chuckle escaped the boy. ”You probably expected a hunk with golden hair and a chiseled chin,” the Celestial continued. ”I guess it’s a big contrast from the little emo shit you ended up with,” a faint grin bridged its way across Aiden’s thin lips. He was not above making light of his image, and it was often a source of faux ridicule between himself, and Lumen. Acceptance had come to find its place long ago. 

”I don’t mean to be disrespectful..,” Aiden spoke, ”but, you’ve already invited us into your home. Taking your food, as well, seems a bit overkill.” A short pause lingered, before dark, obsidian eyes shifted to the Angel’s phone. ”We could order something, if you want. You’d have gained at least something from inviting two weird freaks into your house,” he finished, leaning back in the boy’s chair, as he lamented his stated.

Neither of the objects Violet handed to Colin seemed much like food, but he thanked her all the same, doing as she said and shaking the canteen she’d put the powder in. It was made out of the same shiny material as the doors in the bathroom where he’d appeared, and looking round the woman’s house, there seemed to be an abundance of it - all different consistencies, but clearly the same substance. Another of Samael’s developments - like the ‘phone’? 

 Impossible to know. These two certainly wouldn’t be telling him anytime soon. He stopped shaking the container, and took a peek inside - the powder had dissolved, leaving behind nothing but a liquid that looked a little too much like one of Moonshine’s ‘magical healing tinctures!’ for comfort. Violet had said it wasn’t poisoned. She’d also said he’d travelled three hundred years into the future. Both claims were equally unbelievable, but at the same time, a little voice that sounded a lot like Andi reminded him that it was rude to turn down food offered by your host. 

He set the drink aside for a moment and instead looked at the little squares the woman had handed to him. They were encased in the strange material, some sort of wrapping to make transportation easier. He tore the packaging free, revealing some kind of oaty square - a flapjack, just packaged in Samael’s weird creation. They had flapjacks with the hoods, especially when they were going to be travelling long distances, and Colin couldn’t help the relieved smile that came with the wash of familiarity. He took a bite, and then another, and then more until the whole bar was gone within a matter seconds. 

Fuck. It felt good to not be hungry. He looked up, about to thank Violet again, and caught the tail end of what the boy, Aiden, was saying about money. Right. Shit. 

 The keep provided accommodation and food for the most part, but the hoods still paid a not insignificant wage to both their recruits and the fully fledged reds. Colin didn’t drink like most of the order, and the one time he’d tried to send money home to Andi she’d sent it right back along with a strongly worded note he’d had to beg Brighid to read out to him. He’d never had a lot of money, but he knew, distantly, what it was like to be stuck in a big city without any, so he’d taken to carrying a reasonable amount with him on missions, just in case. 

 He padded back across the carpet to where he left his boots, lifting up the worn sole of the left one and fishing out a small wad of tattered notes. They were a bit damp, but they’d do. He went back to where Violet and Aiden were, and offered them to her, not meeting her eyes “Err… thanks. I appreciate you not poisoning me. Or at least I’m guessing you didn’t seeing as I’m not dead.” he shrugged, "I dunno how much this is worth to you but I’ve got fuck all else to offer.”

"Nah, never been the blonde hunk of meat type. Always thought angels were just good dead people." She wasn't going to tell him that she didn't believe in whatever he was, at least for a time. Her mind had been more open ever since the accident. Besides, vampires, werewolves, witches. They were all real. Why couldn't an angel be?

"Anyways, you're not so bad. A little short though."

Her stomach growled at the thought of pizza, or beef and broccoli, or a cheeseburger. She remembered throwing up everything she had eaten earlier, vividly, but she wasn't aware of how hungry she was until now. Rubbing at her thighs, she nodded at last. 

"Eating out sounds good, I'm down with whatever." She wasn't indecisive, she wanted pizza. Opening the floor was the nice thing to do, though.

As the man left, she tensed lightly. Apprehension around him wasn't what she wanted, but it came naturally. Just like breathing. He was a stranger, in the end. Hadn't even trusted them with his name. She let out a small sigh as he returned, watching him reach out. She tried, and failed, to meet his gaze, before scrutinizing what he held.

The currency was damp, and looked very different from the bright colored polymer bank notes they used now. She frowned down at him, reaching out with slender fingers to push away his hand. 

"It's okay...keep your money for when you get back to the past, or...uh, wherever you think you were before." A smile worked its way back onto her face.

Tapping a pale thumb against the screen of his phone, Aiden moved past the documents he had been repeatedly skimming over. Once these pleasantries came to an end, he had an assignment which required attention. ”I know a good place,” Aiden commented. Indeed, the angel did not eat, and much less did he order food, for himself. However, the boy’s best friend, who was incidentally his butler Charles, had a preferred ‘haunt’, as one might say. The two would often visit the establishment in between meetings, and the drinks mixed together behind their bar were of top quality. Granted, it was quite evident that neither Violet, nor the stranger knew of ‘Fratelli’, as it was a venue for the upper echelon. 

”It’s my treat,” Aiden commented, signing into their website with a required account. However, before the boy was able to place an order, he turned his attention towards the shady individual they simply knew as ‘stranger’. He had walked towards the hall, where money was procured from his boots. A disgusting development, to be sure. 

Clearing his throat, Aiden attempted to shift his focus elsewhere. ”Uhm.., what would you like?” The Celestial asked, his dark eyes moving to Violet. ”We can just get the same thing for him,” Aiden motioned at Colin. ”I don’t.., eat. So, I won’t be getting anything, except a drink.” By ‘drink’, Aiden was referring to the popular brand Monster Energy, which had warranted some controversy, considering its name in relation to vampires, werewolves, and spellcasters. Of course, the irony of an Angel consuming the beverage was not lost on the boy. Had they gone to the restaurant itself, he would have enjoyed an artfully mixed drink of lemon, strawberry, and fruit. However, such was not a luxury afforded deliverance. ”Would you like me to get something for your dad, Violet? It’d be a shame if he missed out.”

 Colin’s shoulders slumped a little as Violet turned the money away, and then they fell even further when he noticed Aiden’s hastily disguised look of disgust. Right. He was gross and should clean up. It was important. If he wanted to fit in.

 Maybe he should just leave. 

 He needed Violet’s help to find Samael though. Clearly she was connected… He looked down at the money in his hand, then around at Violet’s accommodations. Everything was clean, warm, dry. Of course she didn’t want his money - it was enough for a meal, maybe a roof over his head for a night, but for someone who worked for Samael, who could afford to keep all his minions this clean... his money was shit to her. 

He watched the two interact some more, pouring over another glowing device (that somehow seemed to make food? Colin didn’t understand and wasn’t sure he wanted to), before awkwardly mumbling, “Is it okay if I use your shower?” He shoved the wad of notes back in his pocket, realising he still had them in his (filthy, disgusting, not worth the air in the fucking house lad!) hand, “I… err…. Don’t worry about food for me…” he directed this at Aiden, “I need to go look for Samael. He’s still out there.” this last part was more forceful, because he was, and Colin had to fucking focus. 

 “That way, did you say?” he motioned to the door Violet had pointed out earlier.  

Violet's face scrunched, confusion evident in her features. She figured they had been making progress, or something. Maybe she was just confused, but when the guy wasn't talking about Samael he seemed...nice enough? Why was he all upset? She wished he'd respond to their politeness in a way that wasn't: A.) hostile, or B.) saddening. 

"Oh, yeah...go ahead." She drummed on the counter with her fingers. "Once you get out, I'll...see what I can do to help."

Tilting her head at Aiden, she thought for a moment, "Any chance they have pizza at this 'good place'?"

”Yeah, it’s an Italian place. Pasta and pizza, you know?” Aiden managed a small chuckle, before his eyes lingered on the stranger. For a moment, the Angel fell silent. He had no intention of making their new ‘friend’ uncomfortable, but such inconveniences were difficult to avoid, especially considering how they were still assumed the enemy. ”And yeah, dude, you do need food. As far as I’m concerned, you’re human and hungry,” the Angel frowned. This man was somewhat annoying, indeed, but his stubbornness would get him killed, and not through violence, but rather, hunger. 

Making their order, Aiden would eventually send it to the restaurant, and slipped his phone back into the confines of his pocket. ”Do you need help the shower,” the boy asked, followed by a short breath. This was nothing he had signed up for, but things would get even more awkward if the medieval man was showed how to shower, by a woman. An old-fashioned thought, but such was the issue. History was not known for its liberal views on bathing etiquette.

In The Red Hoods: Rebirth → 5 yrs ago Forum: Advanced Roleplay

Location
🌑 Duncaster Streets.

Interactions
🌑 @Shard
🌙 Aiden.

🌑 @MsMorningstar
🌙 Violet. 

🌑 @NorthernKraken
🌙 Colin.

 Shit. He'd been discovered. There went plan A. 

 Colin pressed closer the metal carriage he was hidden behind (Where were the stables? For so many carriages parked they must be nearby.), muscles itching in preparation as he reached, quietly sliding his knives out from their sheaths. Carefully, he peeked around the corner, trying to get a better look at the pair. 

 The smaller one, clearly little more than a child, was closest to him. Even with vampiric strength, Colin doubted he'd be much stronger than he himself. If either made a move, he could make a grab the younger one, hold a knife to his chest, get the older to tell him where the fuck Samael was. 

Sweat mixed with dirt in his palms. 

For now, he would wait.

With a frown making itself to Aiden’s face, which was otherwise hidden beneath his hood, the teenager exhaled a frustrated sigh. If he attempted to leave the situation, this most unwelcomed gestalt would likely cease such an opportunity and strike. Strength of an Olympian athlete ran through the boy’s veins, the prowess of an Angel at his fingertips, and yet, young humanity and a lack of experience did warrant a rapidly beating heart. ”Relax..,” Lumen’s voice caressed Aiden’s senses, a warm hand moving towards the teen’s cheek where a palm flattened against its shape. ”You.., we.., are warriors. Knights of Heaven.” Though the eyes meeting Aiden’s own were of reflective obsidian, their very presence glowed with steadfast determination. ”Now fulfill your duty, and stand against adversity, as is your purpose, Aiden Connors!” Lumen vanished from sight, before appearing behind the boy and pushed him towards danger.

Stumbling forward, Aiden cussed quietly for himself, followed by taking another step, and a third, finally leaping onto the hood of an old car which sheltered their newly acquired enemy. ”Enough games!” The boy shouted, swiping his hand in a straight motion, within which a blinding light erupted to leave a long, slender blade of impossible, glowing white. The Celestial weapon made itself known with little subtlety as it found home between Aiden’s slender fingers, its length pointed towards he who remained hidden. ”Vampire or Werewolf, come what may, you face an Angel, now!”

At the commotion behind her, Violet paused. The slight thunk of warping metal, the shameless yelling. In the middle of the night, of all times. While she didn't quite catch what was being said, her cringe at the words managed to scrunch the entirety of her body. She needed to pick up her pace, turn a corner and get back to her fucking apartment. 

Or...she could satisfy the itching at the back of her neck, a physical manifestation of that which would kill her. After all, the kid could be in trouble.

She stopped, rotated, and cursed heavily at what she saw. 

So, the kid definitely wasn't a human. If the glowing sword that popped out of nowhere was any proof. From her angle, Violet couldn't see what he was shouting at, but he was looking down at something. Or someone. Or nothing, and he was just a crackhead. 

"Kid, is...uh, everything alright?"

 Colin winced, everywhere, impossibly white, so bright it burned. He threw an arm across his face in an attempt to shield his eyes, but it made little difference. And then - an angel? Was this another of Samael's tricks? What other reason would a fucking angel have to be in Samael's lair? Colin knew fuck all about angels, but from what he did know, they'd never been particularly pally with necromancers. 

Either way, there was definitely no hiding now. Squinting against the light, Colin yelled back, "Like fuck you're an angel! Tell your boss to pull the other other one!"

Raising a brow at the statement, Aiden noted a voice within his mind. It was Lumen, the Spirit now communicating with the boy in far more intimate manner. ”Wait. This man’s clothes, his boots, the arrows, those knives.., Aiden, things are not as they seem.” The teenager proceeded to linger for a moment, before descending from the car. With a nearly weightless thud, Aiden’s feet connected with the concrete and he lowered Ivory, along with previous hostilities. ”He spoke of our ‘boss’. This man is looking for someone.”

”We’re fine,” the Angel offered, his eyes turned to Violet for a brief exchange, before moving back to the most urgent point of interest. ”People have not used bows in a long time,” the boy casually motioned towards Colin’s arrows with his blade, the weapon’s light now dimming, in response to Aiden’s equally faded hostility. 

”He is wounded, dirty, and lost. The man’s hair has not been cut in some time, marks of battle riddle his frame.., how out of place.” Lumen continued, his ghostly voice echoing within Aiden’s mind, ”ask him what year it is.”

At the Spirit’s words, the Angel took a moment to analyze this man’s appearance. Indeed, none of it belonged. A reenactor? Impossible. No one was quite this in tune with their character. ”What..,” Aiden began, thinking it ridiculous, but why would it be? Angels, Vampires, Werewolves, and even Demons if rumors were to be believed.., why not this? ”..year is it..?”

An angel? Memories of wing-like wisps were recollected in Violet's mind. This little kid was an Angel? No way. It was a ridiculous thought. Because if angels were real, that meant there was some form of afterlife. If that was true...then Violet was fucked! 

She needed answers. And, if that boy wasn't a total nut, he had them. She knew she could potentially discern the truth. Only if she could rely on herself, for once. Such a big if. 

Creeping closer, she stuck her hand into her purse. With a casual grace, she slipped her fingers through her Spartan keychain, the grip comforting her. Not nearly as deadly as a sword, but she'd rather use it than her bare fists.  "Who's the new guy?" She thought she had heard a guy's voice, at least.

Colin scrambled backwards as the ‘angel’ jumped down from the carriage, his eyes falling on the boy’s shoes. Fabric, white and black, impossibly clean. What? His attention flicked back to the sword, dimmer, but still gripped in small, vampirically pale fingers. 

 Colin stood, hiding the stumble in his step, palms scraping against the rough ground, eyes fixed on the sharp edge of the sword the whole time, “You can fuck off with your three-hundred years bullshit,“ he hissed, “I didn’t buy it from tall, pale and fang-y, I’m not buying it from you, whatever the fuck you claim to be!” 

A lingering moment of silence maintained itself between the trio, and Aiden’s obsidian gaze remained fixed on this mysterious gestalt, who appeared lost in time. Lumen’s voice had halted Aiden’s advance, and indeed, it was for the best, but the boy was somewhat frustrated. Every second since leaving Steve’s hideout had been wasted. It was nothing grounded in experienced mistakes, but rather, a rookie’s distractions. ”Fine.” The Angel stated.

In his hand, Ivory’s presence vanished in a slew of white, divine fractals. One would be forgiven for mistaking the dispersal a gathering of petals, blowing into the wind before fading from this world. ”I have my own ‘Pale and Fangy’ enemies to hunt.”

For anyone else, Ivory’s disappearance was little more than a graceful display, but for Aiden, those fractals all shaped themselves into the Spirit who once more stood beside him. ”It’s not wise to leave this man to his own devices.”

Turning to take a step away, Aiden shifted his gaze to Violet, before offering another look towards the curious ‘time traveler’. ”I do want to help you. Maybe it’s because I’m clinging to my humanity, so.., perhaps it’s a selfish reason, but I don’t think it’s worth wasting more time on, if you’re dead set on pairing me up with whoever your enemy is.”

At the...seemingly homeless man's hissing, Violet raised a calming hand, keeping the other firmly in her purse. He seemed to be wholeheartedly ignoring her, which was his own problem. At least she hadn't threatened him with a pointy stick. Yet. 

"Hey, dude, calm down alright? We can get you some help if you need it." wanting to be reassuring, she added, "Unlike the kid, I'm human. You got a phone? I'll dial up your family."

About to spit back a retort at the boy, Colin's attention shifted to the woman. Skin, warm and human looking. Mouth, apparently free of fangs. But her clothing was bizarre, unnaturally clean, like the boy’s.

And then she mentioned a 'phone', and 'dialing up' people - what did that mean? What was she going to do? She may be human but that didn't mean she wasn't working for Samael. He gripped his daggers tight, "You hurt them and you're dead! Now tell me where Samael is and I might let you live!"

”Aiden,” Lumen spoke, appearing in front of the boy, in a manner befitting the station of ‘Angelic Spirit’, and prevented the teenager from walking further. ”talk to him. Do not abandon him. Inaction may as well lead disaster on another front.”

Inhaling a sharp breath, Aiden turned on his heel, once again facing the mysterious stranger. Yes, Lumen was correct. Indifference towards mortals would start with a small spark, and this could very well have been it. Despite the man’s threat, and his hostile demeanor, Aiden did not respond in kind. Rather, he remained stationary, and had yet to conjure forth his blade, for a second time. ”You met someone else since getting here? Someone who mentioned.., what was it? Three-hundred years?” The boy tried.

”You’re tired, hurt, and from a quick glance, down to your offhand weapon,” the teenager pointed out, motioning towards the blades this man was more than willing to use. ”I am fairly certain that you’re aware of how this would go, and you’re at a severe disadvantage.” Narrowing his eyes, Aiden continued. There was no malice in his voice, none whatsoever, but rather, an analysis brought into words. ”If you’re looking for your friends, making some along the way is beneficial in finding them.”

Tilting his head, Aiden moved to cross his arms, tapping a slender finger against his biceps. ”Or have you decided that this ‘Samael’ is everywhere you look? You know, taking a chance on the unbelievable can sometimes benefit you, and as it stands, the only one willing to hurt anyone, here.., is you.”

”You’re weak - let the fanged bastards know it ‘n you’ll be dead as well.”

 The boy had a point, much as Colin hated to admit it. It was hard enough fighting a leech when he didn’t feel like he was wading through treacle and when his bow hadn’t disappeared along with his former captor. Now? He’d rather run. Only problem was he didn’t know where the fuck he was, aside from Samael’s lair. He needed information. Whoever these two were, there was a chance they could provide it, even if they were just waiting for their opportunity to strike. 

 He didn’t lower his weapon, but there was an almost audible lessening of hostility in his tone when he spoke, “The fuck is a phone - what’re are you gonna do if I don’t go along with you?” 

The situation had been bubbling up to a solid eight, and now, everything was back at a calm and collected five. The knives were still in play, but it didn't seem like someone was on the verge of being stabbed anymore. 

Hopefully, Violet could keep the LARPers in check.

At the man's question, Violet released the Spartan in exchange for her cellular device. She pulled it out slowly, displaying it for the man. She scrolled through her notifications briefly, then turned it off. 

"This," She waved it in the air. "Is a phone. It's for communicating over long distances. I somehow doubt you've memorized your family's number...so, maybe we should try the hospital?" She looked to the boy for help. 

"As for what we'll do if you...don't 'go along'," She knew she'd call the cops, but she wasn't going to tell him that. "We'll leave you to do whatever it was you were doing. We both have better things to do with our lives than entertain you, but we're trying to help. 'Kay?"

”I would advise against calling a hospital, Aiden,” the Spirit spoke, considering the situation, ”they will lock him into an asylum before long, and this individual is clearly not insane. He’s in the wrong.., time.” Lumen finished. 

”A hospital will just lock him up,” Aiden offered, and fell into a slew of thoughts. Lumen was convinced that this man was from a different time, rather than a mere lunatic. He did not smell of alcohol, either, which granted the theory substance. ”We can’t force you to do anything, but before moving on, I’d like to ask you a question,” the boy continued. He let his arms fall to his sides, and proceeded to gently lean against the car which had previously been in the center of conflict. ”Could you maybe tell us about this ‘Samael’? I know you halfway assume that we’re working for him but.., humor us. Got nothing to lose.”

Number? Hospital? Locking people up?

 As the boy moved, leaning against the carriage, Colin took a step back, eyes not leaving the ‘phone’. The small device had glowed, lights flickering and changing in response to the woman’s touch - ‘long distance communication’ the woman had said - was this how Samael was giving them their orders? Did Vitius have one too? Was that how Samael had called him back? 

Colin grit his teeth at the boy’s question, what was he playing at? Was he trying to figure out how much Colin, and by extension the hoods, knew? “Like you don’t know about the army of the dead? The hoods have been tracking him for months now - we know everything,” he hesitated, the buildings, the lights, the noise - it all seemed to go on forever, “we know all about this lair, right now, there’s a whole fucking army of hoods, just waiting outside - you take me to Samael and I’ll tell them you helped, lock me up and you’ll be slaughtered with the rest of his minions!”

The...hoods. Why did that seem so familiar? Violet dug through her mind, but without the added help from her newfound abilities she was only able to fetch a name.

"Hoods...like, like Blanket Rogue?" That was completely wrong, she was sure, but it seemed close enough. Blanket was a badass, if she remembered correctly. Wandered ye olde Duncaster in a red cloak, fighting criminals. 

That had been Violet's favorite history lesson, but she had still failed that fucking test. Had her benched in volleyball for a week! 

Batting back the memory, she gave the crazed man another, lingering look. His yellow cloak glared at her, obvious now. "So you're telling me you're with Blanket?" She wasn't going to bring up how impossible that was. Everything she had known up to this point seemed irrelevant. 

"If that's true, why'd she send you off into the 'evil lair' without a way to signal for backup?" She couldn't help the smirk that appeared on her lips. This was funny. "Unless you...I don't know, can call for backup. Then go ahead. We can't take you to this Sam guy, so you may as well imprison us and waterboard us 'till we squeal."

It was probably best not to mention the fact that he’d jumped through the portal after Kiri with no actual plan in mind. Samael was probably banking on that. Probably banking on him not realising Kiri was a traitor too. Maybe…

“The hoods don’t waterboard people, and I would signal the Commander, but I need to find my-”  the hesitation was accidental, but it was too late, he’d already stumbled, he kept going, “friend - she has my… long range communication device that the hoods also have the technology for…” 

 He was fucked. Well and truly. 

Inhaling a short breath, Aiden raised a brow at Violet’s explanation. She knew far more about this than he had anticipated, if she wasn’t faking such knowledge. The boy himself knew nothing, which was, in turn, echoed by Lumen. What remained to use was observation. ”Army of the Dead.., Samael.., okay, I assume this Samael dude is a mage? A wizard?” The teenager asked. It was a reasonable conclusion, given the reluctant information so far provided. Few others would warrant an army of undead soldiers, as it was.

”Yes, that does appear to be a reasonable assumption,” Lumen agreed, fingers rubbing his chin in thought. The Spirit was understandably curious as to how this stranger had arrived on the shores of present day.

”If that’s the case..,” Aiden continued, ”is it too far-fetched to believe that this.., Samael with an Army of the Dead.., cast a spell that sent you into the future?” A shot in the dark, but things were appearing to line up. Magic was undoubtedly involved in the man’s presence. Nothing else made sense. ”Maybe the..,” Aiden quoted with a gesture of his fingers, ”’three-hundred year bullshit’ makes more sense than you want it to.”

The boy would then proceed to motion at their surroundings, ”you’re calling this a lair? Duncaster, or just the street? A short pause crept into their conversation, as Aiden allowed the statement to settle.

Are your ‘Hood’ friends ‘outside’? Where? Outside the city?” Questioning the man’s delusions may have been an adequate way of perhaps breaking them. That is, if he was willing to listen. 

”I get it, dude, you don’t want to believe it. This morning, you didn’t expect to be standing in front of a kid claiming to be an Angel. It’s fucked up.” Managing a small smile, the boy shook his head. Indeed, the world was, as they said, ‘fucked up’. ”If you take a moment to just.., digest your situation, what do you see? Honestly?”

Colin didn’t have time to digest anything. 

 Every second wasted was another second Samael had to retreat, regroup, focus his efforts on building his defense. If he didn’t get to him before then, then nothing mattered. These two weren’t going to be helpful, not like this. They’d made it pretty clear they weren’t taking him to Samael, at least not until he believed the time travel crap they seemed to be trying to pedal. Fine. He could play along. 

 Slowly, he started to back away. 

 “Say I believe you,” he ground out, “This is the future. This is Duncaster. Everyone is-” don’t go there, move on, “I wasn’t the first one through that portal. I followed my friend,” it was like the word itself was acid, “And she followed Samael. He’s here and I need to fucking find him or everything’s gonna go to shit.”

Violet's brow furrowed deeply at his desperation. He seemed set in his ways, unable to open his mind to anything. She wished she could convince him but...it seemed pointless. His tension was evident. 

It couldn't hurt to try, one last time. 

"Alright, dude. I get how urgent this is to you...but, you can't do it all in one night. You look like a fucking methhead, and if you keep running around with a pair of knives you're going to get arrested." She pointed warily at his knives. They would only serve to get him in trouble if he couldn't put them away. "I'll take you to my place, you can shower and get some food. You don't have to spend the night or anything, but I do have a few tricks up my sleeve to send you on the right track." Maybe, she couldn't really promise anything. "The kid's coming with, though. I don't trust you enough not to stab me."

After all, the angel boy couldn't kill her. Right? It had to go against the angel code to stab a human in cold blood. Violet pursed her lips momentarily, before her face settled into an image of calm.

”Progress is being made,” Lumen noted, a hand moving to find home on the boy’s shoulder. Onlookers would likely have considered the situation one of absurdities. Why on Earth would Aiden prioritize such a trivial manner over his mission? An incredibly important mission, for that matter. Indeed, the answer could be found within the teenager’s shifting nature. With every day, he felt how the value previously afforded those around him was slowly fading. He was becoming focused on end-goals, and his purpose as a slayer of monsters, rather than a person. 

Lumen had explained for Aiden on numerous occasions what Angels actually were. Weapons, dutiful soldiers, it was the extent of an Angel’s worth. They were agents of divinity, avengers. An Angel’s care for others generally did not extend further than their own kind, who they vehemently sought to protect.

Had Angelic love for humanity been a norm, Miracles would have been far more common, rather than mythical rarities. Yes, compassion for humanity was known as an occurrence, but such Angels were often shunned, and their powers were considered wasted on something so.., impure.

”Fine..,” Aiden spoke, turning his attention towards Violet. ”I have a penthouse not too far from here, but..,” the boy paused. He had technically moved out, left the nest, as it were. However, he had yet to fully appreciate his new home, as Infinity Enterprises consumed any free time the young shareholder managed to grasp. 

The move was finalized only two days prior, and yet, Aiden had not taken the time to enjoy his newly given privacy. Rather, the streets of Duncaster cradled his attention far more frequently, and the only part of his new apartment Aiden had actually explored was the bedroom, and shower.

”I just moved in, so, I don’t know where most things are.” Another peculiar situation. Buying a new home was usually a milestone in a person’s life, and for Aiden, he had not even scraped up the time to enjoy it. Part of him still believed he lived in his parents’ mansion. ”It also lacks my butler, which sucks.”

Colin eyed the pair warily. 

 The woman said she could help find Samael. Not in so many words, but the meaning had been clear. At the mention of food, his stomach growled. The last time he ate was… he couldn’t remember. Before the battle, back at the keep. More than a day ago. His aching limbs, pounding head, hollow, empty stomach screamed at him to say yes. Another voice, deeper and rough with age, told him that if he let his guard down he wouldn’t last the night. 

 Going with them would be stupid. 

 Going with them would get him killed. 

 Going with them meant the woman would help him find Samael. 

 “Fine.” He said, “But I’m keeping my knives, and you have to help me find Samael after.” 

 Colin still didn’t believe them, but if this was a trap Samael would be there anyway, and if it wasn’t, then it wouldn’t hurt to eat. Hunger only kept you sharp for so long, and he was starting to reach his limit.

In The Red Hoods: Rebirth → 5 yrs ago Forum: Advanced Roleplay

Location
🌑 Duncaster Streets.

Interactions
🌑 @Shard
🌙 Aiden.

🌑 @MsMorningstar
🌙 Violet. 

🌑 @NorthernKraken
🌙 Colin.

The afternoon sun had long since dipped into obscurity, fading with memories of a previous day. Rather replaced by darkness, Aiden made his way down the dark streets of Duncaster with hands gently resting within the warmth of jacket pockets. ”Think it will ever end?” A quiet question escaped Aiden’s slender, pale lips, and were promptly met by a manifestation of his very own reflection. 

With a dim light emanating from Lumen’s shape, the angelic spirit found himself pondering the notion for a brief spell. ”Are you asking me if mortals will cease their pursuit of gain?” The statement was followed by a raised brow, before Lumen continued, ”for that will never come to pass, unless the very nature of humanity shifts.”

Without the ability to prevent thoughts from finding their way back to his father, Aiden clenched his teeth. The very agency this Angel secured for his own was designed to exploit conflict. ”Maybe we should.”

Again, Lumen mulled the statement, and offered one of his own. ”You still consider yourself human?”

Unable to answer, Aiden paused, his eyes lowered to view the rain-soaked ground beneath his small feet. Was he human, still? He had asked himself the question more than once, and never did an answer surface. With a shake of his head, the boy continued. He left the alley behind, Steve’s hideout now secured behind a self-locking door, and started into the open streets.

Where are you?Momma

13 Missed Calls

Vi I'm sorry but you need to get home. Everyone is...Vince

Violet scrolled through her notifications, face scrunched up with distaste. Anxiety bubbled up, manifesting in the form of a slight aching in her spine. Fire lit up behind her eyes, willing tears to the surface. 

Fuck. She was in so much trouble. Maybe cutting her losses would be best. Turning around, heading home and confronting her problems. Yeah. Yeah, that was best. Right? 

Turning around, she began pacing in the direction of her apartment complex. She made it five steps, before freezing in place. 

She couldn't go back home, not yet. Seeing their faces, full of pity and disappointment, would only serve to further the throbbing. 

With a sigh, she shoved her phone back into her purse, lifting her hands to press her fingertips against her temples. She was so goddamn tired. And confused. She felt alone in the world. 

Turn around.

Shoulders hunched, she took a step back and began to pivot. Halfway through the rotation, she halted. A glow in the corner of her vision left her wary. It was blinding, more than the other auras she had seen. A pristine white, with no odd mixing of opposing colors. Part of her wanted to see more, the other part was attempting to ignore the churning in her stomach. 

Curiosity --and the urge to not look like a crackhead who couldn't decide where they were going- won out. 

She turned fully, staring at the side of a figure. Closer to the figure's body was the overwhelming radiance. The aura stretched outward, though, in a way she had never imagined one could. It was wispy, elegant. Looked almost like a wing. 

Violet would've loved to think on that more. Would've called out, perhaps. Instead, she doubled over and began to puke out the cake, beer, and chicken fried steak she had eaten not too long ago.

With eyes widened, Aiden halted his stride. A peculiar woman had made herself known, and proceeded with such pleasantries once her dinner presented itself to the rain-soaked ground. One could only hope that too much of a good thing was what lead to her less than sublime state, but as Aiden watched the display play out, he found himself somewhat paralyzed. Fitting, indeed, but perhaps also a sign. This might very well have answered the question brewing within the teenager. Was he fully Angelic, only one point of interest would have lingered, which was wholeheartedly the mission at hand. 

However, as Aiden’s feet brought him closer to the woman who had now slumped over, humanity shone brightly from within. Had the situation warranted less urgency, Aiden would undoubtedly have paused to ask Lumen why a small, tender smile found its way to his lips. It was one of pride. ”Yes, we ought to offer aid,” the Spirit commented. 

”H-hey!” Aiden exclaimed, upon approaching the unfortunate sight. Little did he know that the source of this woman’s discomfort was the very boy attempting to present assistance. How did one act in a situation such as this? It was ironically the first time the Angel had come across another individual puking onto a sidewalk. ”Are you alright?” A foolish question escaped the boy’s lips, one which warranted an answer of silence as sight was surely enough to reveal reality. ”I mean..,” Aiden tried, ”do you.., do you need any help?” The fearsome, unyielding celestial warrior, uncertain and out of his depth. Yes, it was quite ironic. He was prepared to face a cult of bloodthirsty vampires, but one sick young woman caused him to stumble through his words.

Violet held up a hand at the sudden approach. She could see the white cast, even though she pinned her gaze to the puddle of vomit decorating the concrete. She must've looked just as trashed as Thane was. "Hey," she croaked out at last. "Thanks, dude, but I'm all good."

In all honesty, throwing up had made her stomach feel a bit better. Empty, at the very least. That being said, her vision was still spotty and the world was still swerving around her. She needed to close her eyes, calm down. Take her mind off her family and stress and focus on the boy trying to help her instead. 

She planted her hands on her hips and began sucking in deep breaths. They tasted disgusting and burned her throat, but it was beginning to ease the pain in her scalp.

Not entirely unexpected, the woman’s answer was enough to maintain a short, if noticeable distance between herself, and Aiden. ”You’re.., vomiting like.., all over the ground,” he found himself saying, a slender finger motioning towards a rather disgusting puddle which by now had formed itself fully, with gut-wrenching aromas emanating from its discolored surface.

”Ah, splendid, she would not have noticed, without our inquiry,” Lumen added, the Angelic spirit trading his previously soft smile, for a more mischievous smirk. It warranted a small sigh from the boy, but Aiden was not going to argue. He had been singing all the wrong notes ever since this scenario began playing out. 

”Sorry, I haven’t, uhm..,” the boy continued with the grace of a felled rhino. ”What do people usually do in a situation like this?” Claiming to be was far too rich, and Angelic to ever have witnessed such a lowly sight was perhaps not the best way to go about this display. ”I can.., call someone for you?” The statement managed to leave the boy’s lips in the shape of a question, more so than a steadfast suggestion, but at this point, Aiden had essentially abandoned the notion of vigilance, and confidence.

Another deep breath. Inhale, hold...exhale. She repeated the process several more times, until the glow was nearly gone and the world spun in a manner she found tolerable. She found herself leaning on the heels of her feet, and forced her body back into position. Popping an aspirin or two or three sounded incredible at the moment. Then again, perhaps taking one in front of this strange kid wasn't the best idea. 

Speaking of the kid...

"I...uh, thanks." she managed a grateful nod. "But, no thanks. I'm already feeling a lot better. I just...get nauseous." She slowly edged away from the vomit, moving toward the side of a building. 

"And, in situations like this? People usually just walk around the vomiting lady." A chuckle worked its way out of her throat. "But that's just the guys I know, I guess."

Colin’s fingers grasped at thin air, Vitius was gone.

 He frowned at the strip of empty darkness where the vampire had stood. The space had twisted, as if the air itself had swallowed him whole. The portal hadn’t been Samael’s only means of transportation - he had ways to do it that didn’t let people follow him. Or…

 Colin waved a hand round in front of him, waiting for the same tugging, gut churning sensation he’d felt as the portal swallowed him up. Nothing. His frown deepened. Was this Samael’s way of calling his followers back to him? It would make sense. But in that case, why did he leave the door open behind him when he left? It didn’t…

 Colin’s stomach dropped.

For whatever reason, Samael wanted to be followed. He’d laid a trap, and Colin just ran straight into it. Straight after… Kiri. 

Kiri who, first time he met her, had gotten one of their fellow recruits killed. 

Who’d chewed him out for his hesitation in killing a spellcaster.

Who’d almost killed Eliza. 

Had killed Colin’s uncle. 

Was Kiri working for Samael too? 

It would make sense. Someone on the inside, and what better bait than one of their own? There was no telling how many of their fellow hoods had followed after Colin, he’d been the quickest, he was the closest, and-

“I don't think there's anyone I trust more than you right now.”

-even after everything, he didn’t want to see her dead. Afterall, she was a hood. That meant something.

“Fuck.” he swore, knotted fingers in hair.

The word didn’t echo, but it felt like it should, the abandoned building so dark and cavernous that, before his eyes started to adjust to the gloom, to make out vague shapes and blotted out colours, it could’ve been anywhere. He had to focus. Even if Kiri was a traitor, Vitius could still come back at any minute. The damage was already done, the only thing Colin could do now was survive.

The bitter ache of his limbs was there, but it was very far away as he hauled himself to his feet, leaning on the wall for support. At some point, he was going to crash, he could feel it, but for now urgency spurred him on. Get away from Vitius, find Samael, keep fucking going.

In the back of his head, a voice, small and about to break, but filled with fire, reminded him, “Jobs not done.”

“Fuck you.” He hissed. Kept going. Another light, blindingly bright, whizzed past the door - black silhouettes etched into the walls, stark and strong, that faded just as quick. He squinted, what was that? He reached the door. He’d find out soon enough.

The door was painted wood, white and shiny at one time, but flaking. It was loose on its hinges, but a smooth metal bar crossed its width. 

Cautiously, he pushed.

It swung open.

 Cold air slammed into his face. Black sky, no stars, light everywhere. Buildings taller than Colin had ever seen, floor hard like stone, not cobbled like a road, but grey and granular and stretching on forever. He thought he’d still been in Duncaster, but clearly that wasn’t the case.

If this was the mage’s lair… what he was able to build… this was so much worse than they could have ever imagined.

In the distance, two figures. Impossible to see clearly, even with the pale glow illuminating the darkness (those lights were everywhere, what were they?). One looked like a young boy, not much older than the youngest of the hoods, the other a woman, hair bright and unearthly.

Lights dotted the windows in the buildings around him, shadows moved, people or monsters or what Colin couldn’t tell. Wasn’t sure he wanted to. Just how many minions did Samael have? 

The woman and the boy seemed like his best bet. They weren’t ghouls, so they were probably vampires, if he followed them for long enough they were sure to lead him back to Samael. Metallic boxes, all different colours and cut with windows and bulky black wheels, (some form of carriage?)  lined the road. 

Quick as an arrow, he darted behind one of them. Crouched down and gripping at the cold, oddly slick, metal for balance, he could tell from here just how rough the strange ground was - what was the purpose of it? It didn’t matter. He had to get closer to the pair. 

Slowly, he began to make his way from one strange metal carriage to another, closer and closer, careful to stay hidden.

”That sounds.., very human,” Aiden offered, before noting his own response. ‘Very human’. The statement lingered within his mind, and for a moment, Angelic arrogance might have taken hold. ”I mean,” the boy tried, once more, ”people can be dicks, right?” The second try might have strung along more fitting tunes, or at the very least, sounded less otherworldly. It was easy to forget that Aiden’s drastic change in species had left lasting psychological effects on the teenager.

”I think I saw something,” Lumen broke what was a short bout of silence, his hand nudging Aiden in response to the realization. It could very well have been a rat. Little more than quick movement whisking by, as if a passing breeze. ”I hope we haven’t been branded a quick meal for some hungry vampire,” the Spirit frowned, his eyes turning to Violet briefly, before shifting back towards an air of vigilance. ”I fear this girl would not appreciate such hostilities, especially not in her current state.”

Despite Aiden’s silence, an understanding between the two was clear. Duncaster was a dangerous place once a protective sunlit shroud gave way for darkness, and prolonged visits to the city’s night-time streets elevated risks of disaster by a large margin. ”I can’t just leave you here, at least let me take you home, or to a bar, or something.” In situations like these, Aiden’s lack of social skills involving ordinary people outside his circle of rich serpents, glowed brightly. ”N-not that I’m asking you out!” The boy raised his hands defensively, ”I’m just saying.., being inside is better at night.”

”This is going even smoother than with Rose. Honestly, if you weren’t gay, you’d forever live in isolation, Aiden,” the Spirit sighed, shaking his head. 

Violet had two questions. First, how old was this kid? He looked fifteen at most, certainly not old enough to be entering a bar. And, while she enjoyed the odd beer or shot every now and again, she preferred her home over any of Duncaster's haunts. 

Second, what was he? He tried to act human, but the way he carried himself, and his strange aura lead her to believe he was anything but. Then again..it was possible he was just uber pure, and hadn't had his aura tainted by color. 

"That really means a lot...but, I think it's better for you to take care of yourself, kid." She gave him another wary once-over. He was tiny at best, and trying to lecture her about safety? What was he doing out and about? 

Giving him a small wave, she began walking further away from her home. She took long, confident strides as if to say 'See? I got it covered.'

”S-sure, will do..,” Aiden attempted, but managed to stumble on his words as per expected. One would be forgiven for mistaking the teenager a completely different person when on the streets of Duncaster. Inside the glass tower of Infinity Enterprises, or when circled by serpents of wealth, he weaved through silver-tongued battlefields with professional grace. However, the boy was now clearly beyond his comfort zone. 

He had not made his way to filthy streets with the intent of helping random girls with stomach issues, but rather, to hunt beasts. ”I’ll just keep going, then,” Aiden continued, thumbing over his shoulder before the boy resumed an earlier stride. 

Perhaps it was better to simply avoid further confrontation. He was, after all, heading towards a lair of murderous vampires. The fact that something so trivial as a vomiting woman halted his progress was, in hindsight, foolish. ”You doubt,” Lumen spoke, ”looking after others is not a sin, Aiden.”

”But it can be dumb,” the teenager mumbled, in response. ”We wasted time, because of this.”

With a small sigh escaping the Angelic Spirit, Lumen shook his head. It was clear that Aiden was struggling. Every moment was a push closer towards a Celestial existence. The boy’s care for mankind, for all of humanity, could very well fade by virtue of his new nature, if he disregarded this drastic shift. ”Over there, we’re not alone!” Abruptly halting further conversation, Lumen revealed a newly arrived party, which was previously assumed a mere rat. However, prolonged patience exposed something far more urgent. It was impossible to deduce their intent, but assuming the worst was what denizens of Duncaster had been taught since birth. 

Aiden spun on his heel, this new threat warranting immediate attention. ”Don’t turn your curiosity into a mistake,” the Angel clenched his teeth. It was far too early to conjure forth Ivory, if combat was imminent. He did not need the blade to fight, however, considering Aiden’s, or rather Lumen’s proficiency in unarmed combat. Even so, if this was a vampire, or a werewolf, the mere presence of something so purely Angelic was often enough to scare them off. ”So, stop hiding, and we can avoid something awkward.”

In The Red Hoods: Rebirth → 5 yrs ago Forum: Advanced Roleplay

Location
🌑 Bounty Hideout, 'The Den'.
🌑 Duncaster Streets.

Interactions
🌑 None.
🌑 Open for collaborations.

"Well if it ain't our lill' Guardian Angel, eh!?" A ragged voice echoed across old, metallic walls. It had once been a bunker, designed with nuclear war in mind, but would eventually find itself turned into something far more practical than mere defense, or the pursuit of survival. Laptops were haphazardly placed on large weapon crates, screens of varying sizes rowing several different venues of the small, and compact hideout dubbed 'The Den' by those who frequented its secluded interior. "Lookin' strappin' as eva', ya' Majesty," the man continued, a gestalt most were likely to avoid on the open streets. Riddled with scars, and obvious proof of experience, 'The Handler' had once upon a time donned the mantel of vigilante, until age finally caught up to him. A worn sofa cradled his rugged shape, and with a large knife in hand, the man playfully spun a sharp tip against his finger. Little more than a grin was necessary to reveal teeth now yellowed with time, and a lack of care. 

"Stop calling me that," Aiden rolled his eyes, and shifted his attention towards the myriad of pictures nailed to bulletin boards hung on sterile, grey walls. 

"Ay, which part? Cause' youse' high n'mighty, aintcha'? And most certainly one of em' richest blokes in th'city," The Handler chuckled before heavy military boots slammed down on the floor. He pushed himself up with a stretch, groaning slightly from the exertion, and pointed the combat knife at a laptop resting on the surface of an ammunition crate. "Y'here fer' some fun, dunno' why, considerin' all o'daddy's money." 

"I have yet to ever grow used to this.., loathsome creature," Lumen pitched in, the creature's arms crossed in disapproval. However, the situation was quite simple. Without The Handler, or Steve, as was a much less intimidating alias, Aiden would have been roaming the streets of Duncaster aimlessly. They needed this man, if they were to actively make a difference. Despite being an Angel, Aiden was no hero, by any stretch of the imagination, which was something he often reminded himself of. He was simply a kid, trying to do good, but with no means of managing the feat on his own. Informants were needed, and The Handler was impressive, despite accommodations and appearance. 

"I'm not doing this for money," the boy raised a brow, his eyes turning to scan a myriad of guns filling the bunker. Steve could equip a small army if he wanted to, and a vast majority of these weapons came from Infinity Enterprises, as was confirmed by their logo. Ironically, Aiden could not wield a single weapon afforded by his company, nor anyone else. Such was a price of his Angelic Pact. However, dressed in a black leather jacket along with matching cargo pants and a hood to hide the teenager's face would likely turn others away from his well-known visage. Aiden's mask did help in this regard, but where it painted the boy incognito, equally so, a masked individual was very peculiar, and warranted attention. Most of the time, he disregarded the mask, and rather maintained the use of a hood. 

"Ain't tha' sweet of ye'?" The Handlar chuckled, "ah, well, better for me, ay'? Gets to keep all y'all earnins' for me lonesome," the man tapped his chest. "S'why I dare say, ya' get first pick!" Again, The Handler smirked, before he reached for a cigar, and promptly held the wrapped stick beneath an ember of his lighter. "Got ya' three Fangers, t'day," he explained, closing the lighter before Steve exhaled a cloud of smoke from between dry lips.

"No Werewolves?" A small grin bridged itself across Aiden's pale mouth, "that's a first."

"Wha' can I say?" Steve extended his arms and shrugged, "sometimes, em' puppies behave." Pinching the cigar between his fingers, Steve exhaled another misty breath, and continued, "drug dealer, trafficker, or serial killer, take yer' pick." 

Pausing for a spell, Aiden considered his options. A vampire drug dealer was nothing new, and it was arguably the least urgent assignment, which someone else would undoubtedly deal with. A trafficker, however, involved far more sinister dealings, and yet, a serial killer found its way to the top. It was an understandable outcome, of course, and Aiden had made his choice. He was unsure of how many other freelancing hunters were of a supernatural origin, but a clear majority maintained pure humanity. Even so, in a place such as this, The Den, it mattered little what you were. As a person, you were measured by your actions, and nothing else. Though Aiden had never seen a Demon before, it wouldn't surprise him if Steve welcomed the alleged creature into his so-called 'Family of Hunters'. Used as a joke, more often than not, if one was to delve deeper into the man's customer demographic, a professional disposition would be found. Steve never spoke of other Hunters, and the man's venue was considered Neutral Ground amongst competing warriors. "The killer, who are we looking at?" Aiden asked, before Steve spun his computer around to show the target's extensive profile. It revealed a picture of the assignment, a beautiful, young woman, along with a respectable amount of information following. 

"Name's Carmella Von Drach," The Handler stated, tapping his cigar over an ashtray, "bitch is old, has a bit of a followin'," he explained. "Er' lill' cult is set up right 'ere, in jolly ol' Duncaster. Abandoned Brewery." Steve moved the computer back, and as his fingers danced across the keyboard, Aiden soon felt his phone vibrating.

"Why is she killing?" The boy asked, reaching a hand into his pocket to lay eyes on the same information now sent to his handheld device. 

"Get this, right?" The Handler's smirk grew wide, "bitch is tryina' appease some Demon shite'. S'what her whole cult's about. Whoda' thunk' those fuckers actually existed, eh?" 

Scrolling down the profile on Aiden's phone, Steve's words were echoed by what was written. "If Angels exist," the boy raised his eyes to meet The Handler's, "it'd only make sense that our opposites do, as well." Turning to leave, the Angelic teenager offered his friend, if one was to call him that, a soft wave. Weightless steps then brought Aiden up a set of metallic stairs, until finally, he opened the door which led into one of Duncaster's countless back alleys. A serial killing Vampire cultist.., one would have hoped to say that this was an oddity, but alas, such was not the case in Duncaster City.

In The Red Hoods: Rebirth → 5 yrs ago Forum: Advanced Roleplay

Location
🌑 Restaurant Duncan.

Interactions
🌑 None.

"Aiden!" She was quite the stunning sight, without fault. Curly, golden locks made their way down her neck in perfect symmetry, with brilliant blue eyes shining like a sun-touched ocean surface. Indeed, the young woman's lithe figure was draped in a dress borrowing the sanguine hue of roses, displaying a frame most would consider athletic. Standing taller than Aiden himself was not a feat anyone considered impressive, but as her arms wrapped their way around the boy's slender torso in a tight embrace, the confirmation was made. 

"Hey, Rose," the young Angel offered, displaying a small if forced smile in response to this most welcoming approach. 

"Ah, Aiden," came another voice, this one belonging to the girl's father, Michael Henderson, the head of several pharmaceutical companies. One ought to have wondered why a manufacturing company for weapons such as Infinity Enterprises wished to gain pharmaceutical allies, and Aiden's skepticism had been clear since the very start of this odd partnership. "I am glad you could join us, son," the man continued, extending his hand to shake the Angel's before Aiden lowered himself to a chair. He needed only look at his parents to note their reaction, with the boy's mother tapping her wristwatch.

"Four minutes late," the woman stated, before reaching for a glass of wine which she then brought to her lips for a sip. "I hope this won't become a habit, Aiden," she raised a brow, and lowered the glass to a wooden table draped in expensive white cloth. 

"That is quite alright, Mrs. Connors," Mr. Henderson retorted, offering the group a small chuckle. He was a larger man, with wealth clearly making its stride across habits and stomach, alike. It would not have been a stretch to consider the man jolly, for that, he truly was. One would have had quite a difficult time in pinpointing a single frown bridging across his thick lips. "We're all here now!" He continued, shifting his attention to Aiden's father who managed a sigh, in return. 

"That, we are," Bradly spoke, "let us order, shall we?" Opening the menu revealed rows of appetizers, entrees, and desserts, all of which were accompanied by a price tag most would scoff at. Forty dollars for scollops as a mere treat before the actual eighty dollar meal, with a thirty dollar side was either less than a drop in the ocean, or an investment one would save up towards, for a romantic date. Yes, Aiden could still recall his first dinner with these specific patrons, his father, mother, Rose, and Michael Henderson. He could still pinpoint the moment he realized that it wasn't a mere dinner. It was a business transaction between two companies, and their products in question sat only inches away, at the very same table. 

"How have you been?" Rose tried, an attempt at breaking the ice which was formed by the esteemed Bradly Connors, and his wife, Samantha Connors.

"Alright," Aiden spoke, tapping his dainty, slender fingers against the cold surface of his chilled drink. In truth, the boy had taken a liking to whiskey, but despite his circumstances, rules still applied. He was considered nineteen, even though he would technically remain sixteen for every year to come. "You?" the boy continued, tasting chilled excellence of a well-stored soda. At the very least, his parents had the foresight of ordering his favorite beverage. At times, it did surprise him how well the Connors couple knew their son, while also dismissing him, entirely. An odd combination, indeed. 

"Oh, you know," Rose chuckled, "work," the young woman turned her attention to the large man at her side, revealing a pearly white smirk. "Because someone doesn't let his daughter have a single moment of peace," she laughed. It was clear that Rose and Micheal maintained a far more lovable relation that Aiden and his parents. Though, it would have been a lie to claim that the young Angel did not cherish the sight. It was a rare display, and solely desired.

"Oi'!" Micheal retorted, "business can't wait, love!" 

Deciding to remain quiet throughout a large portion of the conversations finding themselves exchanged across the table, Aiden nursed his drink, which had been refilled twice by the time his company's appetizers arrived. Though he had been asked by the staff if he'd enjoy a soup, Aiden considered the notion, before declining the offer. For him, taste mattered more so than anything. He could not feel hunger, and he required nourishment much like a rock required water. "So, what about these 'vigilantes' running about?" Michael asked, cutting into the steak now placed in front of him. Despite his lack of hunger, Aiden could not deny the wonderful scent accompanying a well-cooked meal. For him, it could be compared to a perfume, a lovely aroma. 

"If you ask me," Bradly responded, wrapping pasta strings around his fork, "the more of those freaks who kill each other, the better." He turned to look at Aiden for a brief moment following his statement, before clearing his throat. "The vampires," he tried, "and werewolves." 

"Yeah, dad, wouldn't want any 'freaks' on the street." There was no malice in the boy's words as Aiden offered a response, but more a coy quip. 

"Oh, hush, you know what he meant," Samantha nudged her son, dark eyes glaring at her kin with a sense of embarrassment filling them.

"Do I?" The Angel asked, clicking his short nails against the still chilled glass, "what would you consider me, dad?"

There was a slight pause that lingered across the table, but Bradly Connors had a response to his son's charged question. "A miracle, of course." 

"Yes," Samantha added, "a miracle." It would not have been farfetched to point out that Aiden's mother, Samantha Connors was more of a snake than Bradly could ever hope to become. Every word dripped with venom, and while Bradly's focus remained on the numbers, hers was on public relations. One could imagine the lies and deception Samantha was privy to. 

"Well, then, let's all raise our glasses, and toast," Michael spoke up, "to Aiden, and the miracle that saved our dearest son." 

"To Aiden," Samantha raised her glass, followed by her husband. 

With a deep breath, the Angel's attempt at changing the subject, if even by a simple margin, turned his eyes towards Rose. "What's your opinion of these 'vigilantes', Rose?"

"Hm," the young woman considered his question, a finger moving towards her chin. Much like her father, she had developed the habit, when in thought. "The Police have a lot of restrictions. Vigilantes might have their use, even if it's a slippery slope." 

"While the less vampires are about, the better, they should leave the Police work, to the Police! We're the ones who arm them, for crying out loud," Bradly pitched in. 

Following a prolonged exchange on the subject, Aiden turned his attention to the clock. He had been suffering through this dinner for the past two hours. If he excused himself, it would have brought ruin to the entire purpose of making his presence known, in the first place. It would have been as if he never even came. However, once dessert plates found themselves empty, relief eventually washed over the boy. This nightmare was coming to an end. "It was lovely seeing you again, Aiden," Rose spoke, as the group was moving towards the elevator. "Perhaps next time, we could try a dinner without the..," Rose cleared her throat in the silence of her whispered words, "extra scenery." 

Feeling a hot sensation traveling towards his pale cheeks, the Angel paused in his steps. She had never been this forward, before. It was clear that the young woman was far more invested in this arranged relationship than Aiden was, and most certainly more so than he ever would be. "S-sure," he managed a stuttering response. 

"Perfect," Rose smiled, offering their peers a quick glance, before noting that every back was turned. It was then that she brushed her lips against Aiden's in a quick, soft kiss, freezing her fiancé to the spot. 

"Oh, wow, if you could crawl out of your skin, right now..," for the first time since dinner started, Lumen spoke. "Maintain yourself! Move your legs!" The spirit exclaimed, a hand moving to slap Aiden's shoulder.

Snapping out of the trance which he had been put under due to Rose's kiss, Aiden picked up his pace and followed her into the elevator. An awkward dinner with an awkward peak, for sure, but at the very least, he was now free. This was further elevated when he saw Charles waiting in the lobby, ready to take the Connors family home.

In The Red Hoods: Rebirth → 5 yrs ago Forum: Advanced Roleplay

Location
🌑 Aiden's Car.
🌑 Restaurant Duncan.

Interactions
🌑 None.

"It's not in the way that you hold me..!" Captivating lyrics flowed through the loudspeakers in Aiden's vehicle, caressing the sense of sound as Duncaster embraced sight with every mile. The boy was often chastised by his father for finding comfort in the front seat, an otherwise trivial manner most would consider less than an issue. However, as had been established, it was quite clear that Bradly Connors unearthed more disappointment in his son, than pride, as if the disposition was a conscious stroke. Those of wealth did not equal themselves with peasantry, a phrase the man had repeated more than once. As such, seeing Aiden's butler donning the position of driver at his side was considered distasteful. A proper passenger ought to have remained in the back. "It's not in the way you say you care!" Tenebro's hit single 'Hold The Line' continued to stream through the loudspeakers, and pale lips moved in motion with every word.

"It's not in the way you've been treating my friends..," Aiden sang, gently tapping his dainty fingers against the armrest.

"You changed your tune, Master Connors," Charles spoke, the elderly gentleman who had been seeing to the boy since Aiden's birth. Truly, the now teenaged heir to Infinity Enterprises considered Charles his family, more so than any of whom he shared blood. 

"Nah, I'm still feeling like shit," came confirmation from the lad, "but, you know, if I'm going to hell, might as well enjoy the ride."

Unable to stifle a chuckle, Charles maintained his attention on the still rain-soaked road. "Ah, that is quite ironic coming from you, Sir." 

Shaking his head, Aiden joined in on such festive reactions. "You never know, Charles. Dad really wishes he was the Devil."

Situations like these did cause the older man to grunt in approval, but voicing such a fact was quite dangerous for a butler. Indeed, he was technically hired by Bradly, not Aiden, even though such an issue could be rectified if the patriarch of House Connors did decide on such an act. Aiden had discussed the scenario, already, where he claimed that upon such finality, he would simply hire the man back. The boy was, after all, nineteen. He possessed his very own wealth, and could do with it as he pleased. "Well, Master Connors, here we are," Charles stated as he parked the car outside of Restaurant Duncan. 

Truly, the building was a monument in itself. One would be foolish for assuming the whole complex a mere restaurant, however. Indeed, the penthouse was a building housing several businesses, with Restaurant Duncan offering its services on the top floor. Aiden would be willing to admit that high altitudes had become a norm, for the young man. Views stretching their way across the cityscape were more common than not, in his daily routines. "I'll see you soon, Charles," Aiden spoke, placing his slender hand on the door before pushing it open. "Think of me while you enjoy TeneFlix and a glass of whiskey.., a long sigh escaped the young angel's lips, "and I will try to survive this hellish meeting."

"You will do splendidly, Master Connors," Charles offered his charge a soft, if understanding smile. "Lady Rose is at the very least pleasant."

"It's my parents that I dread," Aiden finished, before offering his butler a quick farewell. They had previously made their way to the Connors Mansion for a change of clothes, which put pressure on maintaining adequate time. He would grant them that much, at least, even if a full suit stretched its way outside his preferred form of attire. 

"Do you think they'll be aggravated? We are.., three minutes late." Lumen stated, his dimly radiant form making itself known as Aiden stepped through the lobby. It was as one might have suspected, architecture which would click against heels, with every step. Marble floors rowed the entryway, along with pillars of the same shape holding up an oil-painted ceiling. If Aiden wore anything but his soft canvas shoes, the boy's presence would be brought to the forefront, the moment he stepped passed guarded doors. 

For one used to such sights, this presentation was considered part of the scenery, but it did not pass Aiden by, to appreciate the dedication and professionalism which had been poured into its construction. "They can kindly go and fuck themselves," the boy offered, his eyes meeting the Angel's, before turning to view the lobby receptionist. She only noticed his arrival once the teenager found himself in front of the large counter.

"Oh!" A surprised expression forced itself to her features, the receptionist attempting to gather her bearings, rather than focus intently on the screen in front of her, as she had previously done. "Sorry!" She tried, "Mr. Connors, correct?" 

"It's almost as if you caught her sleeping," Lumen chuckled, rubbing his chin. "What do you think she was looking at?"

"Yeah," the boy offered, managing a small grin as he turned to Lumen, before shifting his gaze back to the receptionist. He was not going to chastise the poor girl, even if it had been within his nature. High heels and hard soles were likely the first indications which she had learned to react to, when those large, blue eyes were studying the likely myriad of numbers on that computer screen. 

"I will notify Restaurant Duncan of your arrival, Sir! Please, head on up to the top floor, and they will show you to your table," she finished, appearing somewhat uncertain as she spoke to the young Celestial. However, when she earned a 'Thank you', followed by a pleasant, soft wave, the receptionist managed a breath of relief. It did not require much thought to imagine most of her interactions. Wealth offered with it piranhas, and it often robbed those it had claimed of humility. 

Stepping into the elevator, Aiden offered the girl one last, and playful wave before the metallic doors came to a close. "She's new," he uttered, leaning against a polished wall. He had been to this venue often enough to know their receptionists, but this specific young woman had not presented this occupation, during any of Aiden's previous outings. Restaurant Duncan was, after all, his parents' favorite spot, and they were well aware of Aiden's condition, as one might say.

"And quite lovely, wouldn't you agree?" Lumen pitched in, revealing a somewhat more mischevious personality than he had displayed, earlier. This was nothing new, and Lumen was far less rigid than he sometimes advertised. It all depended on the task at hand, and as it was, Aiden did not assume the role of an anxious mess. Inevitable acceptance of the situation had seen to that.

"They'll eat her alive," came a response from the boy, before the elevator doors slid open, where he was immediately met by the soothing touch of piano strings. Taking a step forward, he felt the soft foundation of a carpet beneath his feet, and it did not take long before a waiter greeted him at the entrance. For an elevator to be the front door for a restaurant would likely have been considered odd, but not for this forum. Not for the upper class, and most certainly not for a scene which had been repeated far too often, for Aiden's tastes.

In The Red Hoods: Rebirth → 5 yrs ago Forum: Advanced Roleplay

Location
🌑 Infinity Enterprises.
🌑 Aiden's Office.

Interactions
🌑 None.

One could likely attest to a less than sublime workday, if observation of Aiden’s encounter spoke clearly, enough. Indeed, as the boy closed his computer, with another sigh escaping his lips, the teenager paused for a moment’s clarity. Perhaps Lumen was correct when speaking of freedom. A bench in the dark stretches of an abandoned subway appeared far more appealing, as dinnertime with Aiden’s esteemed future wife drew ever closer. He had met the girl, and she was far from a horrid sight. A polite young woman, raised well by her father whose wife had tragically passed, a handful of years prior. Claiming that she deserved better was nothing which had passed Aiden by unsaid. 

“Let’s go,” the porcelain-skinned teen uttered, rising to his feet before weightless steps brought him closer to the door. 

“What are your plans, Aiden? The thought is tearing at you.” Lumen proposed, the celestial creature tilting its head as four identical eyes met in a shared exchange. 

Though a pause lingered, the teen would eventually speak. However, avoiding Lumen’s gaze was not an action which passed the angelic spirit by, unnoticed. “I don’t know, yet,” came an excuse, one which conjured forth an expression of sympathy upon Lumen’s features. 

Moments breezed by, a warm hand finding home upon Aiden’s cheek, which was accompanied by further intimacy, as Lumen wrapped his arms around the boy, whose emotions were locked within a slender chest. Aiden argued that there was little room for them in a place such as this, where every emotional reveal could, and would be used against him. Clearly, this elevated the embrace which Aiden returned, his arms tightly wrapped around Lumen’s identical frame. “Your doubts are conspiring against you.” The angel’s soft voice trickled into Aiden’s ear, moments before their shared embraced reached its natural end. 

“What, exactly, are our biggest problems, Lumen?” Came a question from the teenager. He had abandoned his previous path towards the door, and rather turned to once more gaze at the window. Duncaster was even more beautiful after a blanket of rain, where the following dispersion of clouds shone upon the city as if a second chapter, where darkness faded. “There are people out there struggling to survive, and I’m bitching because..,” he tried, clenching his teeth.

“Because you live in a gilded cage,” Lumen added, “but a cage, all the same.” No matter how one aimed to view this boy’s specific hardships, a consistent point of interest would remain his age. Aiden was but nineteen. A child, still, in the eyes of many. In truth, there was a morbid sense of relaxation closely related to Aiden’s previous illness. He would have been free of a life controlled by others. A slave draped in the most expensive silk, was a slave all the same. The requirement for food had been stripped of him, and immortality was granted in lieu of slow, deadly aging.  Indeed, Aiden could wander the earth, if he so desired, in pursuit of ever-lasting knowledge, without fear of an unfortunate demise, and yet, he chose to remain shackled. “Comfort can be found behind bars, as well,” Lumen continued, his presence lingering at Aiden’s side. “Fear, it strangles you.” 

“Yeah,” the teenager confessed, along with a shake of his head. “I’m afraid, because if I walk out that door, and decide to never return..,” silence struck, and the boy’s obsidian gaze maintained its glare at the unmoving obstacle keeping him where he was. “I don’t know if I’ll regret it..,” Aiden finished, his tune fading with every letter. 

“No matter the creature, nor the intent, fear of regret is true for us all,” Lumen stated, a response that earned another exchange. Dark eyes met, before finally, Aiden turned on his heel pulled the door open, where he then proceeded to leave his office. This dinner he had been assigned was going to be awkward, and most certainly a trial. However, it was a duty Aiden had yet to escape, and yet to confront. He inhaled a sharp breath, and started towards the elevator. The boy had kept his driver waiting for long enough.

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