-Architect of Pain-

{Priest's leader, Mercury RP blog. NSFW and 18+ content may be present, follow at your own discretion. ||Please read the rules and my muse dossier before interacting with me, thank you.||

[father-mercury]

[[[ Uhm... hello? Is anyone still alive and active? I've been absent for a few years, all my rp mutuals have most likely deactiveted their accounts but I hope someone from back in the day is still here.

I've returned 'cause I feel the URGE to roleplay as Merc again. I've missed this spiky robot pastor a whole lot, just as much as I've missed the rp community on here.

So... I'm calling out to any Ghost (the band) rp blog, Priest rp blogs (if there are any), or even Horror rp blogs and independent ones. I'm down for any kind of interaction, really. Just hit me up (with a starter or a message) and read my #rules and #dossier to understand my muse better.

I really hope to find and become part of a new nice community and have fun writing together. ]]]

[father-mercury]

"What's your biggest regret and why?"

"I.. have no regrets. Since I joined Tria Prima I have always followed the orders, fulfilled my duties and made my Master proud. Recently I've started to be a bit more... rebellious, I'd say. I have disappointed Him and I've been fairly punished for my misbehavior. However, I do not regret what I did. I'm sure my desire to uncover the truth, to discover my past and try to regain my memories is fair, therefore no mental or physical tortures will ever be able to stop me from doing what I feel is right."

[father-mercury]

I hope this isn't overstepping, sir, but your voice is beautiful. <3

"Ohh, I wouldn't call that overstepping! It is so kind of you to say, thank you very much, dear. I'm glad my voice is of your liking."

[father-mercury]

Bold any fears which apply to your muse.

italicize what makes them uncomfortable.

the dark / fire / the cold / open water / deep water / being alone / crowded spaces / confined spaces / change / failure / war / loss of control / powerlessness / responsibility / prison / blood / illness / hospitals / drowning / suffocation / public speaking / cops / lawyers / the supernatural / the paranormal / heights / natural disasters / insects / arachnids / reptiles / bats / canines / felines / sharks / jelly fish / starvation / dehydration / being underground / death / dying / funerals / electrocution / substance overdose / intimacy / rejection / abandonment / loss / the unknown / the future / not being good enough / being replaced / being the center of attention / being ignored / being lied to / being caught in a lie / scary stories / speaking to new people / eye contact / poverty / loud noises / silence / pity / being touched / love / affection / commitment / marriage / forgetting / being forgotten.

tagged by: @unwillingvessel 💜

tagging: whoever wants to do it and hasn't already

[vaudcville-deactivated20190727]

Mercury knocked hesitantly on the open door of Sulphur's laboratory. His eyes rapidly scanned the room before resting on his companion. "Hey Sulphur, am I interrupting anything?"

Sulphur looks up from his table, eyes fixed on Mercury before he smiles beneath his mask. Mercury hardly ever bothered to come into his laboratory, so he wondered why the man was there now.

“No, you’re not. I’m just working on a new prototype for something,” he replies as he covers said prototype with a white sheet, “What brings you here today?”

[vaudcville-deactivated20190727]

He goes ahead with the disinfecting, making sure it was clean to hopefully combat the infection that had started. Antibiotics wouldn’t really do much for Mercury, so gently cleaning around the area and replacing the bandages every so often could maybe help combat it.

Sulphur listens to what his friend has to say, knowing what the pastor said was half-true. While He couldn’t ultimately hurt them, He could cause them to do horrible things to themselves. Mutilation of a severe kind. He stars to sew the torn flesh back together, hoping that the nerves were damaged enough that Mercury wouldn’t feel it. He knew it hurt, as he had done this to his own body so many times before. So many times in fact that he lost count.

When he was done, he applies a bandage before sitting in front of his friend, giving him a sympathetic smile. Only when he heard his friend’s cracked voice and saw the tears start to well up in his eyes did Sulphur’s smile falter.

“Abomination? No…no. You are not an abomination, Mercury. You are far from it.”

He slips a handkerchief out of his coat pocket, offering it to the man before tilting his head a little. “You are a thing of wonder– even I am amazed at you. You are proof that what we aim to achieve is possible, that the eventual merge with machines is a certain thing.”

He rises to his feet now, gently tilting Mercury’s head so that they were face to face. “Do you think emotion makes you an abomination? Is that what this is? For emotion is an amazing feat, both of humans and well, what we are: Cyborgs. We are unique, you are unique and I won’t stand here and just let you put yourself down.”

[father-mercury]

When Sulphur moved behind him to take care of his nasty gashes, Mercury set his gaze on the floor, staring blankly at it, his body freezed and he didn't dare to move until he had finished. Every single time the needle perforated his flesh, his hands tightened their grip on the desk and his jaw clenched sharply, teeth chewing the inside of his cheeks. The pain was agonizing and his limbs were beginning to tingle; he would have passed out soon. Fortunately, Sulphur moved on applying a bandage around his back and only then did he relax his tensed muscles, hands releasing the sides of the desk, lips parting as he took deep breaths.

Mercury looked at his friend now sat in front of him, his sympathetic smile faltering as soon as that heartfelt woeful word left the pastor's lips. He kept on staring at him, although the tears were starting to blur his vision. How could he explain that confusing mix of emotions that were literally consuming him from the inside? That feeling of being a mistake, an horrendous mishmash of human flesh, synthetic skin, gears, circuits and feelings so humane. A puppet with not a sole memory but a vast knowledge, with no clear past but designed future.

Mercury slowly reached out to take the handkerchief from the other's hand, but merely stared at it as he listened to Sulphur speak, until his friend stood up and tilted his head. The pastor's wet eyes were now set into the other's confident ones. As convincing as his words sounded, the grieving state Mercury was in remained unaltered.

"Sulphur, I feel unique in my hideousness", he admitted, speaking quietly, "I don't think emotions make me an abomination, but this.. alternation of real and false. This.. duality of humanity and artificiality both present inside me and that are perennially in conflict. I-It.. drives me insane." His voice cracked as tears finally began to fall and line the black leather of his mask, his eyes however remained locked with Sulphur's ones, "It is driving me insane!", he remarked, screaming panicky as his palms hit violently the surface of the desk, "I don't know who I am nor what I truly am! I don't know where those voices I constantly hear inside my head come from! I don't know if this flesh is really mine! If the..", his hands now moved on his mask, rubbing it vehemently, "...face behind this stupid mask is truly mine! I do not recognize it! I do not recognize it!"

[devilgoat]

A L L H A I L T H E M O I S T P R I S M

[father-mercury]

Are you open for confessionals, Father?

Did something happen, my dear Salt?

[rcloader-deactivated20181104]

The pastor’s gaze followed attentively his friend’s movements as he got closer to the desk and took a seat in front of him. They merely stared at each other in silence for a moment, though it felt much longer. Even their closeness felt a lie, somehow. Salt was sitting there, few inches from him, athough it felt like he was so very distant. Emotionally distant, perhaps. Sensation hard to explain even for one who always knows what to say and how to say it, like Mercury.

He would have given anything to know what was the bot thinking. If he even was, that’s it. Nevertheless, he was willing to give him all the time he needed, hoping to receive a reaction from him in return.

When he replied, Mercury couldn’t refrain a bitter chuckle to escape his lips, his head shook slightly as it bent down, “Why I feel like you view our friendship as a duty? As one of the Master’s will you must obey and fulfill?”, he admitted, sadness and anger both clearly marked his tone of voice. His now wet eyes met once again the bot ones,

“Being close to me is just part of your tasks, isn’t it?”

Salt was incredibly confused, though his expression did not change. He brought a leg up, hooking the ankle on his knee as both legs tapped and wiggled in rhythm. To anyone else it might seem as a mere tick, instead of the closest thing to the bot expressing his agitation. 

“And what if it is?” He finally asked, “what if being close to you is one of my tasks? Do you think I view your companionship as a burden?” He raised a hand, seeming to wipe it across his head as if pushing back his hair. His gaze left Mercury, hating the wetness in the father’s eyes, now resting on the desk between them. A whir sounded in his chest- a heavy sigh.

“You and Sulphur are the only ones I care for; I was programmed to serve and fulfill your needs. You assume that emotions are more genuine than coding. Emotions are only chemical reactions- organic code that makes up the programming that drive humans.” His eyes met Mercury once more. He kept them blank, wanting to try and read Mercury’s own before he allowed his feelings to be seen. Did the pastor’s accusation really hurt that badly? “What about stripping away the facade makes you think my feelings are less real?”

Salt was angry. Yes, angry. Odd. He did not play the silly games everyone else played; all those confusing social rules, those invisible masks that would force him to falsify his meanings to make them easier to swallow. And in his honesty everyone thought him a liar. Even Mercury. If he was liar, then he would lie about the hurt these accusations caused. 

He remained calm and blank, watching the father carefully.

[father-mercury]

Mercury quietly listened to his friend speak, looking at him as if he was staring at an abstract piece of art for the first time. Taking into every detail, every shade and dive into it to find a meaning, the answer behind its facade. The more Salt explained his view on the matter, the more the pastor sensed the genuineness behind those apparently cold words. For his friend, their relationship was really a duty, as he thought, but not driven by emotions. That was the crucial difference. They had a different way to process friendship, to view it and show it, but in the end what they felt towards each other was the same. He knew it already. He was sure that Salt wasn't faking anything, but talking about it directly to him made the faintest of insecurities he had about the other's sincerity to vanish. However, it all only led the pastor to fuel the recent thought he had of himself, that one of being an abomination. Why giving him emotions? Why keeping him human in part? What was the Master's real design? He felt so terribly confused, misunderstood, angry and sad.

"Salt, my dear..", he barely whispered, his voice cracked as soon as he opened his mouth to speak, "I'm s-sorry...", he cried out, shaking his head, before bursting into tears. His back arched downward, bending over the desk, his hands squeezed vehemently the sides of his mask as he sobbed loudly and uncontrollably. He opened his mouth several times, trying to speak again, but all that came out of it was an incomprehensible whining. He lifted his head up a little, enough to allow himself to look at his friend, to see his face and find comfort in his eyes. Salt's silhouette however was unrecognizable, the pastor's sight was completely blurred by the tears.

His body was shaking violently, the weeping seemed near to no end. He squeezed his eyes shut, tears running down the mask, over his cheeks; quivering lips slowly parted and all he was capable to say was: "...go."

[rppanda]

Ask my muse extremely personal questions!

If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be and why?

How do you take your anger out?

Have you ever been severely depressed? If so, why, and how did you handle it?

Who is someone you’ve cut out of your life, or wanted too, and why?

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever worked for?

Have you ever faced discrimination? If so, what was it?

Has someone close to you ever said something that hurt your feelings? If so, what was it, and did they ever make up for it?

Have you ever been hit by someone close to you? If so, who hit you, and did they ever make up for it?

What’s some trauma you have, and how did you get it?

What was the scariest moment you’ve had in public?

What’s the relationship like between you and your parents?

Where do you go to be alone?

Have you ever put your hands on someone? If so, who, and did you ever make up for it?

What’s the craziest thing you’ve done with another person?

Who’s the first person you contact on a lonely night and why?

What’s your biggest regret and why?

If you could pick only one person in your life, who would it be and why?

What gives you nostalgia?

What’s something embarrassing that you enjoy doing, and why is it embarrassing?

How would you describe yourself?

[father-mercury]

I've been wanting to Rp with you for a while..but I'm too shy to ask 🙈

[[ ohw, there is no need to be shy, dear... I am here, ready to welcome you with open arms! ]]

[father-mercury]

The Ghoul raised his middle finger at the Father, grinning as he flagged him off.

“Ohh!”, the pastor abruptly flinched and stopped dead in his tracks as the ghoul swooped in, interrupting his meditative stroll by flashing his middle finger at him, with no real -or at least unknown- reason. 

His astonishment soon vanished and he decided to play ball with him by moving both his hands to rest upon his chest, close to his heart in a dramatic way, while an exaggeratedly offended expression showed upon his face. 

“To what do I owe the honor of this gesture?”, he ironically asked, head quizzically tilting at the creature before him. 

[the-aether-ghoul-deactivated201]

Aether watched the Father clutch his chest dramatically before shrugging, looking to the side, yawning falsely as his index finger joined his middle one. “Oh I don’t know. Figured it was the correct greeting for someone like you.” The Ghoul tittered with a grin, leaning up against a wall, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched the masked man tilted his head. 

“I didn’t know if a weird android puppet knew how to interact with humans. Do you speak in ones and zeros to one another as well?” He teased gently before offering his hand. “I’m joking, but its nice to meet you.” 

[father-mercury]

Mercury watched the ghoul attentively, eager to catch his every move; a custom process the pastor is used to adopt every time he has the pleasure to meet someone new. And what an intriguing new acquaintance he happened to run into! The ghoul’s teasing did nothing but increasingly amuse the pastor, as well as capture his genuine interest.

“Much to your chagrin, I must inform you that we tend to use a commonly comprehensive language to speak, even among us.. bots”, a cheeky grin curved up his black lips and he stepped forward, catching fervently the creature’s hand in his gloved one, “Jokes appreciated here, but as much as the appellation weird android puppet seems to capture my persona, I would appreciate to be called Mercury.. But by all means, the pleasure is mine.”

[the-aether-ghoul-deactivated201]

The Ghoul grinned, revealing sharp teeth, “Mercury? Like the poisonous metal. That’s pretty funny.” He shook the androids hand. He felt pretty boringly human. “I’m Aether. Though that depends on who you’re talking to I suppose. Ghoul is often the alternative.” Aether shrugged before removing his hand from the others returning it to a pocket.

“What brings you around these halls? Not scared of the warning signs I see.” A claw pointed to the scrawl along a wooden plaque on the wall. “I don’t remember who made it but it says something like ‘Beware the Ghouls’.” A chuckle escaped him again, “Unfortunately we aren’t that scary in human glamour… I guess it’s flattering though even in Ghoulish. Nothing like bot languages though. Very nasal and a lot of hissing involved.”

[father-mercury]

He retracted his hand, moving it to rest on the upper part of his stomach, then he briefly followed the other's claw, turning around to look at the wooden plaque placed on the wall. His head tilted lightly, as he scanned the inscription first, then the scrawl, while humming at the ghoul's words.

"Uhm, I've been walking around these halls a lot, recently.. yet, this is the first time I notice this.. failed attempt to warn outsiders", a guttural chuckle escaped him, as he turned to face the ghoul again, "or well, peculiar outsiders like me, at least. I do not intend to underestimate your.. fierceness." He flashed a cheeky smile, looking intently at the ghoul, curiosity perceptible in his amused tone, "I have never heard ghouls speaking their own language, to be honest. I bet it has a devilish sound, uh?"

[unwillingvessel]

"¿"

Pinn’s eyes landed on the tall figure. They couldn’t help but look him over. He was… odd, but no more odd than the bird twins currently poking around, they supposed- or Pinn themself, for that matter.

“Uh, hey,” they murmured, deciding that they’d better just talk now that they’d stared long enough to make it weird. “…what’s with the bdsm mask?”

[father-mercury]

That long stare they gave him weirded him out a bit, but their subsequent question totally caught him off guard, making him a stuttering mess. “Oh uhm.. I-”, he paused, humming loudly, as his wide eyes stared back at them, “I have never thought about it, to be honest…”, he sincerely stated, clearly embarassed. “Perhaps.. my Master is into bdsm?”, he assumed as a grin suddenly showed upon his lips, “Not that I’m not into it, myself.”

[unwillingvessel]

Pinn took another long pull from their smoke, squinting. What a weird dude. It was kinda cute though, his embarrassment.

“Well, you did just call him ‘master’. That kinda gives it away, huh?” They grin back, wincing a little as well as they stretched a fresh bruise.

“Come around here often?”

[father-mercury]

“Ohh no no! He’s not my Master in that way!”, he emphasised, shaking frantically his hands in front of his face, “…I mean, I’m not His slave or whatever…” he awkwardly babbled, before bursting out laughing.

“And yes, I do come here quite often.. Though, I have never encountered you before. Quite strange, isn’t it?”, his head slightly tilted to one side, a cheeky smile made its way upon his lips as he extended his hand to him, “I am Mercury, pleased to meet you.”

[unwillingvessel]

“Mercury, huh?” Pinn nodded as if to say ‘fair enough’ before taking his hand and giving it a firm shake- as firm as they could with a boxer’s fracture, anyway.

“I’m Pinn. Pleasure’s all mine.”

Had Mercury met them any other day, they would have been much more anxious and closed-off- however, the ember in their pupils flickered a little more than usual today. It seemed that War had begun poking his head out in more subtle ways, including giving them odd bursts of gusto.

[father-mercury]

“Pinn..”, he echoed in a whisper, almost unconsciously, as he quietly scanned their figure. It was his time to weirdly stare at them, taking in every detail, as if he was noticing them for the very first time.

His hand gently and cautiously tightened around theirs, replying to their not so strong grip. They looked fragile in their slender bony body, skin covered in bruises and trails of blood, though the pastor could sense a strength unlike any other coming from them. It intrigued and attracted him.

“May.. I ask you what’s your role here?”

[unwillingvessel]

There it was, the million-dollar question. Pinn sighed, visibly a little disheartened. Explaining their ‘condition’ was always a bit of a chore, but since it was so visible, there was never any way around it.

“I’m a vessel,” they murmured. “For War, the horseman. They’re keeping me here while they search for the others.” Despite their solemn tone, they managed a little smile up at Mercury, the light in their pupils flickering.

“It’s not all bad, though. Get to meet some pretty interesting people.”

[father-mercury]

Mercury noticed the discomfort his question provoked and instantly apologized, lowering a little his head and placing a palm on his heart, “I’m so sorry. It wasn’t my intention to upset you. I wouldn’t have asked if only I knew it was a sore subject to you.”

As he listened to them, all sorts of questions popped up in his head; he never encountered a vessel before, nor he ever heard of one. Well, besides himself.

The pastor smiled back, eyes settled into theirs, “Perhaps we have more in common than we could imagine.”

[unwillingvessel]

That caused them to perk up. Was he a vessel too? Maybe the mask was to cover up the bruises. The thought made them feel bad for teasing him about it earlier.

“Yeah?” They asked, tilting their head, curiosity piqued. He had nice eyes, they noticed, trying not to stare for too long this time.

“…you’re not a horseman, are you?”

[father-mercury]

He chuckled a little at their genuine question and briefly shook his head, “Oh no no, I’m no horseman.. Nor I know any, in all honesty.” He kept on smiling, quietly staring at them for a moment. Mercury had just met them, but oddly enough, he felt like it wouldn’t hurt telling Pinn a little about himself. They inspired confidence.

“I am a vessel too.. or at least that’s what I think I am”, he admitted, turning serious all of a sudden, “It is hard to explain my condition, even considering the fact that I am still figuring out what I really am.. but by now, what I acknowledged is that there are three different entities inside.. this”, he paused, briefly pointing at his own body with his hands, “and I hear their voices inside my head, perennially. Along with my Master’s voice. It is exhausting to say the least.”

[unwillingvessel]

“…sounds like it. Wow,” they murmur, eyebrows knitting together in sympathy. They could barely handle one entity running rampant in their body, they couldn’t even begin to imagine four.

“It… feels nice to meet someone who understands, even a little bit.” Pinn smiles up at him, stubbing their long since burnt down cigarette out on the ground. They pulled their pack out of the back pocket of their jeans, offering it to Mercury.

“Do you smoke?”

[father-mercury]

The pastor’s gaze followed attentively Pinn’s actions, lingering on their thin hand shoving the cigarette stub on the ground, then disappearing into the back pocket of their jeans. As they offered him the pack of cigarettes, the pastor genuinely flashed a smile and looked up at them, pondering a little before speaking. “I usually smoke cigars only, but..”, he approached the pack with his hand and took a cigarette out of it, “…thank you.”

He flidded with it, rolling it between his fingers and lowered his gaze to look at his own hand, “by the way, it really feels nice to have someone who understands.. as you said”, he admitted, sighing lightly, “I have always felt somehow.. alone.” He looked back up at them again, smiling wider, his eyes narrowing as a consequence, “which is odd since I am all but alone inside this body.” He giggled a little before catching the cigarette between his lips.

[unwillingvessel]

Pinn grinned as they listened to him speak, it was rare for them to feel this happy, this full from any interaction they’d get around here. Maybe not everyone was out to get them after all, they thought to themself. They lit their cigarette before passing him their lighter, taking a puff.

“I can’t believe that you just verbalized what I’ve been feeling for years,” they laughed almost gratefully. “As you can probably tell, I don’t exactly look…” they gestured to their face, where a fresh bruise was blooming along their right cheekbone. “…normal. Most people avoid me if they see me. I guess I don’t blame them, but… sleeping on a cot in what’s essentially a closet for two years with little to no human contact…” Their smile had a sad, forlorn look to it now, and they shrugged with a wince.

“It can be a little… damaging.”

[father-mercury]

Mercury borrowed the lighter, gently taking it from their hand before moving it to his lips, lighting is cigarette. He took a long puff as well, then handed back the zippo as a smile curled up his lips once again. It was odd how extremely at ease he was feeling in Pinn’s presence, although they had just barely met. They were special, unique; Mercury was looking forward to getting to know them more deeply.

It was his time now to listen to them talk. His eyes lingered on their cheekbone, scanning said bruise; he couldn’t imagine how much suffering they were enduring and if only he could, he would have gladly soaked up all their pain to put an end to their agony.

He felt his heart ache at the mention of people’s behaviour towards them, along with the heartbreaking condition they had to live in. It saddened him so much. All he wanted to do was engulf their little body with his arms and show them the affection they truly deserved. He hesitated at first, not sure if they would have welcomed a hug from a stranger, but then he moved closer, carefully and delicately pushing Pinn’s body against his, strong arms wrapped around their back.

[unwillingvessel]

Pinn froze, partially in awe that someone actually wanted to touch them, partially in fear that this was some sort of trick, that it was only a facade to hurt them again, just like so many other things in their life had been.

“U-um…” they stammered. They knew that they should pull away, that Mercury was opening up floodgates that he wasn’t obligated to help them handle, but the feeling of being close to someone had been lost to them for so long, and suddenly, they felt almost safe again. Tears started to collect in their eyes as they wrapped their tiny arms around Mercury’s midsection.

“Y-you… uh… I-I haven’t done this in a long time.”

With that, they were practically sobbing, holding this man they barely knew with all the strength they had in their weak, spindly limbs. They buried their face in his chest, trying to muffle their crying.

“Sorry,” they wept, their cigarette still burning between their fingers behind his back. They were too broken to even be embarrassed, they found.

[father-mercury]

Mercury's eyes squeezed shut as he waited for Pinn to acclimate to their sudden closeness. His free hand began to rub their back up and down, in a gentle and heartening movement, with the purpose of reassuring and encouraging them to let loose.

As soon as he felt them return the embrace, his lips curved up in a tender and relieved smile, whilst his arms carefully tightened around their thin body. Their words proved how such an instinctive gesture of love was what they needed the most and the pastor was clearly willing to let it last as long as possible.

"Pinn, don't apologize. Just let it go..", he whispered in a gentle tone, moving one hand to rest upon the back of the other's head, bringing them closer to his chest, "Cry if you feel the need to. I want you to let it all out and then relax.. Loosen into my arms."

If only his mask hadn't been in the way, he would have moved closer to them, rested his cheek upon theirs and kissed their forehead, even. But perhaps it was for the better. That odd involvement he was so fervently feeling could have led him too far; yet, his connection with Pinn was clear and compelling. In that very moment he promised to himself he would have taken care of them, in every way possible, in every way Pinn allowed him to.

[father-mercury]

🤨 ((if you're still accepting. If not, feel free to ignore ^^))

🤨  Sit down across from my muse 

Mercury was enjoying a break from his duties, sat under a shade three, back against its trunk and nose buried in a book. As he was turning yet another page, totally absorbed in his reading, a rustling noise drew his attention and he abruptly lifted his head up. His eyes instantly met the ones of a woman as she was sitting down right accross him. He wasn’t sure about her intentions nor did he seem to recognize her, even though she looked somehow familiar.

Once the pastor realized he had stared at her long enough, he lightly cleared his throat and quizzically tilted his head to one side, as he gently addressed her, “Hello there?“ 

[moon-lit-heroine]

“Hello there~,” she responded gently and with a kind smile. “My apologies for interrupting your reading, but I had to tell you that I love your hood. Its very well crafted.” That wasn’t the real reason she sat down in front of him like that. Truth be told, she had no idea why she had done such a thing. Sorcha had just felt compelled to go talk to the odd spikey priest. He’d caught her eye once she’d checked into the hotel.

[father-mercury]

Her compliment came out unexpected and a light chuckle escaped him. "Ohh, well.. Thank you very much dear. I am glad you have noticed it and that it is to your liking", he placidly muttered as he gallantly moved the book aside, placing it on the grass beside him, before shaking his head a little, "No need to apologize. It is always a pleasure to make the acquaintance of someone new.. especially when it comes to meet a beautiful woman like yourself."

He looked back at her, a gentle smile printed upon his lips, "Why don't you come sit here next to me?", he asked, as he patted on the ground beside him, "There is enough room for the two of us under this huge three. Besides, I don't want you to sit out there under such a burning sun."

[xxcorpsefucker69xx]

"🤙"

Mary looked at the strange man who just bumped into him. “Watch where you’re going you gimp pineapple.. And watch it with those damn spikes.”, He said while making sure none of the fake blood got onto the man’s expensive looking suit.

[father-mercury]

“Oh fuck-”, the pastor instantly stepped back from the man, raising his hands up apologetically, “I’m sorry.. I was.. I think I was lost in thought. I didn’t see you.”

He briefly fixed his suit while staring at the other, scanning his whole figure, “Please, forgive my clumsiness. I hope i didn’t hurt you with my mask.”

[xxcorpsefucker69xx]

“It’s fine dude, just watch where you’re going next time. Not that you run into a lamppost or something”, Mary chuckled and looked the pastor up and down.

[father-mercury]

“Heh, sometimes I run into them too, you know? But as long as I run into dead things and not people, I don’t have to worry about hurting anyone”, he stated placidly, moving his hands on the mask to fix it as well.

He quietly stared at him for a moment, before flashing a faint smile, “I fear this is our first meeting, isn’t it? I never saw you around here before.” He promptly extended his hand to him, placing the other upon his own chest, “My name is Mercury. I am a Father.. well, a peculiar one as you can see.”

[xxcorpsefucker69xx]

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mercury! I’m Mary,” the young man said and grabbed the Pastors hand, flashing him a smile. “What church do you work for?”

[father-mercury]

“The pleasure is all mine, Mary!” he replied, shaking his hand with enthusiasm, “I am one of the three leaders of a newly Cult named Tria Prima. Perhaps you’ve heard of us.. Or you’ve heard of our Priest-project.” His head tilted slightly, as he freed the other’s hand from his tight grip, “What about you? You’re part of a Cult too, per chance?”

[xxcorpsefucker69xx]

“Isn’t Priest that one band with the two bird boys? I think I’ve heard my father talk about it briefly,” he said and let go of Mercury’s hand. “I’m not really a religious person to be honest, although my father asked me multiple times to join his congregation.”

[father-mercury]

“You remember my fellow leaders but not me? Heh, that’s fair. I guess they are more.. theatrical in appearance than me”, he chuckled lightly, as he retreated his hand too, resting it over the upper part of his stomach. “If may I ask…”, he paused, tilting quizzically his head as he looked intently at him, “Who is your father? Do I know him?”

[xxcorpsefucker69xx]

“My dad’s the third Papa Emeritus, I don’t know if you know him,” Mary said, “Why do you and the other two wear such strange masks, if I may ask?”

[father-mercury]

The pastor's eyes widened in surprise, "Oh! He is your father? I wasn't aware of it.. nor I thought he had sons, to be honest." He paused, looking him over. Now that he knew, he could see the resemblance between the two eccentric men.

"Why do we wear them, you ask?", he remarked, flashing another faint smile, "It is our image... our Master's design." His smile grew wider as his eyes lingered on the other's odd make-up, "Besides, it is the same as asking you about your blood."

[vaudcville-deactivated20190727]

Mercury knocked hesitantly on the open door of Sulphur's laboratory. His eyes rapidly scanned the room before resting on his companion. "Hey Sulphur, am I interrupting anything?"

Sulphur looks up from his table, eyes fixed on Mercury before he smiles beneath his mask. Mercury hardly ever bothered to come into his laboratory, so he wondered why the man was there now.

“No, you’re not. I’m just working on a new prototype for something,” he replies as he covers said prototype with a white sheet, “What brings you here today?”

[father-mercury]

“Oh, I bet it is something.. great”, he mumbled, awkwardly shifting his weight from one leg to another, repeatedly, as his eyes wandered once again around the room. Only looking at all those tools and machines gave him the chills, or perhaps it was the idea of Sulphur using them on him that struk terror in his heart.

“Uhm, w-well, you know.. I haven’t had the c-chance to greet you s-since I came back, so I j-just wanted to see you..”, despite the effort, he couldn’t repress the stuttering from betraying the placidness of his voice. His discomfort was evident by now, though he prayed Sulphur didn’t notice.

“You’re doing well, I hope..”

[vaudcville-deactivated20190727]

“Yes, I believe it to be something that will benefit us all.”

Oh yes, Sulphur realized why the man was stuttering. He would be too if he were in Mercury’s situation. Surely seeing all the various machines and scary looking tools were enough to make anyone feel the tiniest bit uneasy. The occasional beeps and hisses coming from entities hooked up to thick wires was no help either.

“I am doing well, you could say. I’m sure you’ve spoken with Salt already and he’s informed you on what’s been going on. I’ve been doing my job, converting flesh to metal and so on and so forth. The things I’ve discovered, Mercury. It’s wonderful.”

He looks down at his hands, slipping his gloves off followed by his grotesque mask, setting them on the table. He ruffles his hair, fluffing it now before giving Mercury a reassuring smile. He pats a chair beside him, crossing one leg over the other.

“How was your little trip? Have you found any new converts that I should be looking forward to working on?”

[father-mercury]

“I’m glad you’re doing well.. and to hear you’re enjoying your time here doing your experiments” he stated, flashing a faint genuine smile. Looking at him without that grotesque mask on surely helped the pastor to loosen up and feel less stressed out from the nerve-wracking situation he was in.

When Sulphur invited him to sit at his side, a long deep sigh escaped his lips while his eyes lowered toward the floor. As much as he wished to turn back and leave, he couldn’t run away now. Besides, the constant pain he felt reminded him the reason he came to the laboratory. That condition was excruciating and he couldn’t resist any longer.

He stared back at Sulphur, unconsciously biting his bottom lip in the meantime. One step toward his friend and he would have understood everything in a blink of an eye. Only one step and his most dark secrets would have been revealed. “Guess this is the time of truth, then” he whispered to himself, wincing as a stronger jolt made his body quiver. The pain was becoming so debilitating that his friend’s last questions didn’t even reach his ears.

“Sulphur…”, he cried out, wincing once again, “I.. I need your h-help…”, he tentatively moved away from the doorstep, stepping inside the room, “…please.”

[vaudcville-deactivated20190727]

The way he pastor was acting was unnerving to say the very least, and it raised a red flag in Sulphur’s mind. Fear was in the man’s eyes and only then did he notice that Mercury was holding onto the door frame, knees shaking slightly. What had happened?

“Yes…it is very nice being able to do somrthing to improve my procedures around here.”

Again he goes silent, noting how Mercury whispered something under his breath before the heart shattering sound of his friend’s criss reached his ears.

Almost instantly the bot is on his feet, catching Mercury before he toppled over onto the ground. He helps him walk, scooting his project aside before helping him to sit up on the table. He must be injured in some matter, but from what? Or who? Mercury was the least hostile of the trio, after all.

He slips the pastor’s jacket off, folding it neatly and setting it beside the man. He then steps back to examine Mercury, head tilting to the side as he gives his friend a lookover.

“Might I take your shirt off as well? Or is it something not physical? What happened to you, Merc?”

[father-mercury]

Mercury leaned against the other’s body, grabbing onto it as he begrudgingly allowed Sulphur to take him to the table where he made him sit on.

Careful to not make any quick moviments that would have worsened the pain he was enduring, the pastor slowly moved his arms backward, one after another, in order to let the bot slip his jacket off smoothly and as painlessly as possible.

He felt the other’s gaze on him, although his own was set on the floor, his head hung down in shame. He felt terribly downcast.

At Sulphur’s question, his head shook a little and a bitter faint chuckle left his lips, his gaze however didn’t move. He didn’t dare face his friend; looking him into his eyes felt unbearable. “It should not have b-been.. physical. Or at least… uh”, he paused as another painful tremor shook his body, “…this should have not h-happened.” He cautiously moved his hands on his mask, cupping his own face as he took his time to mentally prepare for what was going to happen. He didn’t even know what to expect, in all honesty. He didn’t dare to watch himself in the mirror after he went too far in harming himself, two days ago. He kept on bearing the pain until it became impossible to resist any longer.

His hands slid down upon his collar and briefly took it off. His fingers then moved to unbotton his shirt, down to the last button, before slipping it off as well.

“On the back”, he confessed in a whisper, all his agony reflected in his faint broken voice, “the back hurts.. tremendously.”

[vaudcville-deactivated20190727]

“You…the Master, made you do this, right? As he makes both Salt and I engage in destructive behavior, I’m sure he does the same to you when he is displeased.”

He looks at the wounds, finding them to be infected as well as more gashes than anything. It was horrific, and if left untreated could be something horrible. He hums to himself, finding a needle as well as some thread. He would clean it and sew it up for now until he figured out a way to repair the damaged flesh.

“You’ll be fine. The next time this happens, please come to me. You are still human, Mercury. There is only so much that I can cure.”

[father-mercury]

Mercury swallowed hard, his throat felt extremely dry, his breathing was labored. His body shivered several times ever so slightly as the damp air made contact with his exposed skin. Both hands moved on the table, clinging onto its sharp sides as another long shaking sigh escaped his lips.

"I do this. I do it willingly", he stated in a calm but solemn tone, "the Master only whispers inside my head to make sure I know how keenly disappointed in my behavior He is. What I do is admit my misconduct and punish myself for it."

A strange rustling caught his attention and he instantly lifted his head up. Soon he noticed the needle and the thread Sulphur was now holding, before his gaze slid up on the other's face, directly looking at him for the first time since he entered the room.

"Sulphur... why am I like this?", he innocently asked, his voice sounded incredibly weak, broken by the tears that were starting to fill his eyes, "Why am I this... abomination?"

[unwillingvessel]

((a doodle for @father-mercury!!! i never draw anymore but i like these two))

[father-mercury]

[[ ohhhhh goshhhhh! This is the c u t e s t thing everrrr!! Thank you so much dear @unwillingvessel 💜 ]]

[xxcorpsefucker69xx]

"🤙"

Mary looked at the strange man who just bumped into him. “Watch where you’re going you gimp pineapple.. And watch it with those damn spikes.”, He said while making sure none of the fake blood got onto the man’s expensive looking suit.

[father-mercury]

“Oh fuck-”, the pastor instantly stepped back from the man, raising his hands up apologetically, “I’m sorry.. I was.. I think I was lost in thought. I didn’t see you.”

He briefly fixed his suit while staring at the other, scanning his whole figure, “Please, forgive my clumsiness. I hope i didn’t hurt you with my mask.”

[xxcorpsefucker69xx]

“It’s fine dude, just watch where you’re going next time. Not that you run into a lamppost or something”, Mary chuckled and looked the pastor up and down.

[father-mercury]

“Heh, sometimes I run into them too, you know? But as long as I run into dead things and not people, I don’t have to worry about hurting anyone”, he stated placidly, moving his hands on the mask to fix it as well.

He quietly stared at him for a moment, before flashing a faint smile, “I fear this is our first meeting, isn’t it? I never saw you around here before.” He promptly extended his hand to him, placing the other upon his own chest, “My name is Mercury. I am a Father.. well, a peculiar one as you can see.”

[xxcorpsefucker69xx]

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mercury! I’m Mary,” the young man said and grabbed the Pastors hand, flashing him a smile. “What church do you work for?”

[father-mercury]

“The pleasure is all mine, Mary!” he replied, shaking his hand with enthusiasm, “I am one of the three leaders of a newly Cult named Tria Prima. Perhaps you’ve heard of us.. Or you’ve heard of our Priest-project.” His head tilted slightly, as he freed the other’s hand from his tight grip, “What about you? You’re part of a Cult too, per chance?”

[xxcorpsefucker69xx]

“Isn’t Priest that one band with the two bird boys? I think I’ve heard my father talk about it briefly,” he said and let go of Mercury’s hand. “I’m not really a religious person to be honest, although my father asked me multiple times to join his congregation.”

[father-mercury]

"You remember my fellow leaders but not me? Heh, that's fair. I guess they are more.. theatrical in appearance than me", he chuckled lightly, as he retreated his hand too, resting it over the upper part of his stomach. "If may I ask...", he paused, tilting quizzically his head as he looked intently at him, "Who is your father? Do I know him?"

[unwillingvessel]

"¿"

Pinn’s eyes landed on the tall figure. They couldn’t help but look him over. He was… odd, but no more odd than the bird twins currently poking around, they supposed- or Pinn themself, for that matter.

“Uh, hey,” they murmured, deciding that they’d better just talk now that they’d stared long enough to make it weird. “…what’s with the bdsm mask?”

[father-mercury]

That long stare they gave him weirded him out a bit, but their subsequent question totally caught him off guard, making him a stuttering mess. “Oh uhm.. I-”, he paused, humming loudly, as his wide eyes stared back at them, “I have never thought about it, to be honest…”, he sincerely stated, clearly embarassed. “Perhaps.. my Master is into bdsm?”, he assumed as a grin suddenly showed upon his lips, “Not that I’m not into it, myself.”

[unwillingvessel]

Pinn took another long pull from their smoke, squinting. What a weird dude. It was kinda cute though, his embarrassment.

“Well, you did just call him ‘master’. That kinda gives it away, huh?” They grin back, wincing a little as well as they stretched a fresh bruise.

“Come around here often?”

[father-mercury]

“Ohh no no! He’s not my Master in that way!”, he emphasised, shaking frantically his hands in front of his face, “…I mean, I’m not His slave or whatever…” he awkwardly babbled, before bursting out laughing.

“And yes, I do come here quite often.. Though, I have never encountered you before. Quite strange, isn’t it?”, his head slightly tilted to one side, a cheeky smile made its way upon his lips as he extended his hand to him, “I am Mercury, pleased to meet you.”

[unwillingvessel]

“Mercury, huh?” Pinn nodded as if to say ‘fair enough’ before taking his hand and giving it a firm shake- as firm as they could with a boxer’s fracture, anyway.

“I’m Pinn. Pleasure’s all mine.”

Had Mercury met them any other day, they would have been much more anxious and closed-off- however, the ember in their pupils flickered a little more than usual today. It seemed that War had begun poking his head out in more subtle ways, including giving them odd bursts of gusto.

[father-mercury]

“Pinn..”, he echoed in a whisper, almost unconsciously, as he quietly scanned their figure. It was his time to weirdly stare at them, taking in every detail, as if he was noticing them for the very first time.

His hand gently and cautiously tightened around theirs, replying to their not so strong grip. They looked fragile in their slender bony body, skin covered in bruises and trails of blood, though the pastor could sense a strength unlike any other coming from them. It intrigued and attracted him.

“May.. I ask you what’s your role here?”

[unwillingvessel]

There it was, the million-dollar question. Pinn sighed, visibly a little disheartened. Explaining their ‘condition’ was always a bit of a chore, but since it was so visible, there was never any way around it.

“I’m a vessel,” they murmured. “For War, the horseman. They’re keeping me here while they search for the others.” Despite their solemn tone, they managed a little smile up at Mercury, the light in their pupils flickering.

“It’s not all bad, though. Get to meet some pretty interesting people.”

[father-mercury]

Mercury noticed the discomfort his question provoked and instantly apologized, lowering a little his head and placing a palm on his heart, “I’m so sorry. It wasn’t my intention to upset you. I wouldn’t have asked if only I knew it was a sore subject to you.”

As he listened to them, all sorts of questions popped up in his head; he never encountered a vessel before, nor he ever heard of one. Well, besides himself.

The pastor smiled back, eyes settled into theirs, “Perhaps we have more in common than we could imagine.”

[unwillingvessel]

That caused them to perk up. Was he a vessel too? Maybe the mask was to cover up the bruises. The thought made them feel bad for teasing him about it earlier.

“Yeah?” They asked, tilting their head, curiosity piqued. He had nice eyes, they noticed, trying not to stare for too long this time.

“…you’re not a horseman, are you?”

[father-mercury]

He chuckled a little at their genuine question and briefly shook his head, “Oh no no, I’m no horseman.. Nor I know any, in all honesty.” He kept on smiling, quietly staring at them for a moment. Mercury had just met them, but oddly enough, he felt like it wouldn’t hurt telling Pinn a little about himself. They inspired confidence.

“I am a vessel too.. or at least that’s what I think I am”, he admitted, turning serious all of a sudden, “It is hard to explain my condition, even considering the fact that I am still figuring out what I really am.. but by now, what I acknowledged is that there are three different entities inside.. this”, he paused, briefly pointing at his own body with his hands, “and I hear their voices inside my head, perennially. Along with my Master’s voice. It is exhausting to say the least.”

[unwillingvessel]

“…sounds like it. Wow,” they murmur, eyebrows knitting together in sympathy. They could barely handle one entity running rampant in their body, they couldn’t even begin to imagine four.

“It… feels nice to meet someone who understands, even a little bit.” Pinn smiles up at him, stubbing their long since burnt down cigarette out on the ground. They pulled their pack out of the back pocket of their jeans, offering it to Mercury.

“Do you smoke?”

[father-mercury]

The pastor’s gaze followed attentively Pinn’s actions, lingering on their thin hand shoving the cigarette stub on the ground, then disappearing into the back pocket of their jeans. As they offered him the pack of cigarettes, the pastor genuinely flashed a smile and looked up at them, pondering a little before speaking. “I usually smoke cigars only, but..”, he approached the pack with his hand and took a cigarette out of it, “…thank you.”

He flidded with it, rolling it between his fingers and lowered his gaze to look at his own hand, “by the way, it really feels nice to have someone who understands.. as you said”, he admitted, sighing lightly, “I have always felt somehow.. alone.” He looked back up at them again, smiling wider, his eyes narrowing as a consequence, “which is odd since I am all but alone inside this body.” He giggled a little before catching the cigarette between his lips.

[unwillingvessel]

Pinn grinned as they listened to him speak, it was rare for them to feel this happy, this full from any interaction they’d get around here. Maybe not everyone was out to get them after all, they thought to themself. They lit their cigarette before passing him their lighter, taking a puff.

“I can’t believe that you just verbalized what I’ve been feeling for years,” they laughed almost gratefully. “As you can probably tell, I don’t exactly look…” they gestured to their face, where a fresh bruise was blooming along their right cheekbone. “…normal. Most people avoid me if they see me. I guess I don’t blame them, but… sleeping on a cot in what’s essentially a closet for two years with little to no human contact…” Their smile had a sad, forlorn look to it now, and they shrugged with a wince.

“It can be a little… damaging.”

[father-mercury]

Mercury borrowed the lighter, gently taking it from their hand before moving it to his lips, lighting is cigarette. He took a long puff as well, then handed back the zippo as a smile curled up his lips once again. It was odd how extremely at ease he was feeling in Pinn's presence, although they had just barely met. They were special, unique; Mercury was looking forward to getting to know them more deeply.

It was his time now to listen to them talk. His eyes lingered on their cheekbone, scanning said bruise; he couldn't imagine how much suffering they were enduring and if only he could, he would have gladly soaked up all their pain to put an end to their agony.

He felt his heart ache at the mention of people's behaviour towards them, along with the heartbreaking condition they had to live in. It saddened him so much. All he wanted to do was engulf their little body with his arms and show them the affection they truly deserved. He hesitated at first, not sure if they would have welcomed a hug from a stranger, but then he moved closer, carefully and delicately pushing Pinn's body against his, strong arms wrapped around their back.