There's no good or evil.

What an amusing little world. Filled with countless souls that serve no purpose. At least, not yet. So give me yours. I'll put it to good use, better than you ever did. -Affiliated with Knight's Vocation- Master to Assassin class Servant Lilith Aensland

[bloodcurdling-beefcake-blog]

His One Fear | Alter Event

As the student limped along, his bum leg dragging behind him as he did. The damn thing still hadn’t healed yet, and he suspected the only way it was going to was if Rukia saw to it herself. She would be so pissed off with that. He gone completely overboard with this shit and now he was regretting every moment of it. He wouldn’t be surprised if the Shinigami wanted out because of it.

Whoa, where the hell did that come from? Was he still worried about that?

…

Yeah. Yeah he was.

“It’s part of who you are Kanji. Don’t you remember?”

The Shadow? Well yeah, he was still around. He became Take-Mikazuchi didn’t he? Well, he had never really spoken up before .Must have been a coincidence or something. An ill-timed one though. Because he was right. Being disregarded for what he was, a high school student with no real experience in this kind of battle, was just as bad, if not worse, then being disregarded just for his girlish hobbies…

It was a simple little submission. He had thought he gotten over such a fear, but in truth, he was just as afraid of it as he always was; Rejection. Being denied because of who he was, what he did, and how he did it. The idea of it hurt, the realization that he could suffer it again here hurt. He missed his friends. He missed the strength that they used to be able to impart in him just by standing alongside them. It wasn’t until now that he realized just how much he depended on it all. He couldn’t handle all this on his own. He was a fool to think he ever could. 

And then the voice was there to comfort him…

“Don’t worry your little head over it. With my hands at the wheel, this Grail War is as good as won.”

So he wanted to take charge of the situation then?

…Sure. Why not? It’s not like he could do any worse than he was now.

[finalerosso]

It was a beautiful cacophony, thought Jedah. There was no trace of the original Fuyuki City amidst the chaos that had swallowed it; it was now a veritable festival of disorder.

And what a beautiful festival it was.

The demon's face was tranquil as he floated through the streets, expressing none of the madness that was roiling beneath the surface of his quiet exterior. It was always there, even before the miasma that rolled over the city, but this event had brought it closer to the top. It wouldn't take much to make it burst out, but pity any soul who happened to be in the area,

"Two souls," he said aloud. "Yet only one body. How curious. I have seen demons collecting souls for their own purposes, yet somehow, I do not think you would fall into that category.

"So what are you, I wonder? Just an unfortunate young man who serves as a vessel, or something more sinister? Share your secrets with me, before I feel inclined to rip them out."

[coerulus-blog]

insanity is a beautiful thing { event/open }

“…”

She watched silently as the city went up in flames.

Everything had gone to chaos, once a… certain change had occurred in the local populace. She wasn’t excluded from this; earlier, a wave of pain had rocked her skull, as the monster buried down deep inside her had emerged from its dark reserves. The next thing she knew, a bright purple flame burned from her eye, equipment vastly modified from their original version, pupils blood red surrounded by a violet hue. Her conscious had been knocked to the back of her mind as the inhuman, cold beast took over her form.

From there, she’d walked to the center of the city, where all the commotion had been occurring— and that brings us to now. Completely aloof to the situation that surrounded her, she viewed it as nothing more than another day’s event. Now that Insane Black Rock Shooter reigned thanks to the shadowy substance that the Grail had released, the destruction was very much a sight to behold.

It was almost… beautiful.

A twisted grin curved the female’s thin lips.

Just then, she felt a subtle presence behind her. Not a moment was spared to hesitate in turning around in the blink of an eye; the stranger would suddenly find the Insane Black Claw pointed at their neck, purple eyes locked on them in a piercing cold stare. “Give me one reason not to cut you down this second.”

[finalerosso]

Who knew humans could be so wonderfully chaotic? This whole... happening, whatever it was, was certainly a turn for the better, in Jedah's opinion. Instead of milling about, they were actually fighting- there was actual bloodshed. And a lot of it, too, definitely an amount more suited for a war.

The noble floated among the crowds of fighting people, perfectly serene amidst the flames and chaos that had consumed the city. It reminded him of the fighting in the Makai, those few millennia ago. Countless demons fighting for control until the Aensland family finally wrested it away, with Lord Belial crushing anyone who dared to challenge him. And then that dreadful stagnation, that 'peace' that had driven Jedah to plot in the first place.

Yes, such lovely memories.

And now, with Fuyuki City in chaos, Jedah felt very much at home. Even his thin veneer of sanity was beginning to give way, falling prey to the miasma from the Holy Grail. And so, when the girl with burning, purple eyes pointed her sword at his neck, Jedah only smiled.

"There's a very simple reason," said Jedah, expression never changing from that calm grin. "You can't. Especially not with a weapon like this. I doubt you could do it at all, but... Well, that's not really the object of discussion here, now is it?"

Jedah ran one of his fingers along the edge of the blade, earning himself a small cut. He rubbed his fingers together, eyeing the blood with a casual air. He was seemingly more interested in the small wound than the girl with the weapon.

"And if you tried, I would kill you. So that's two simple reasons. Still, you're welcome to put me theories to the test, as I know you will."

[splendorlove-blog]

play with me? || kv open

[splendorlove-blog]

Well, of course she was happy! She hardly spent time away from his side, and even though it had only been a little under a day since she’d last seen him, Lilith had missed her beloved master! She owed him a lot, and besides just that, she enjoyed his company. Perhaps if she was good and listened to him, he would let her paint his nails again! That was always a fun time!

“Yeah seriously, don’t be stupid!”

She giggled as her head was patted. Such words would probably grant the speaker death, were it anyone but Lilith. She was comfortable around noble, too comfortable in fact, and there seemed to be plenty she got away with. At least, it seemed that way – Lilith wasn’t really aware. She was just acting as she always would.

Man, Jedah sure did like to hear himself talk. Lilith tilted her head a bit as she listened to him, taking in only the words that really mattered to her. Alright, so were they were was boring and full of humans, she’d certainly picked up on that. Couldn’t he just say that? Obviously not. Lilith hardly noticed as she was literally peeled off the other, and eventually let go, lacing her fingers behind her back as she took to hovering over the ground as she spoke to him.

“Ohhh, certainly, Master Jedah. I don’t see how you put up with them really. But we won’t have to do it for long!” A rather dark smile took over her otherwise gentle features at Jedah’s words. So that was the wish then? To end this world? Well, it wasn’t finding Morrigan, but she was certain she didn’t need a wish for that to happen. So she’d go with what her master wanted! Either way, she was fighting for him – it was what she had to do.

“Sounds good to me! So perhaps we should find someone to start off with? Let us try for a challenge, I’d really love to hear them scream.”

[finalerosso]

Stupid? How could Jedah, the great and powerful High Noble, possibly be stupid? He'd have to try very hard indeed to be anything close to that. And normally anyone foolish enough to even suggest such a thing would find their lives cut very short indeed.

Except for Lilith. She was probably the only one who could get away with saying things like that to the demon, but not because he was fond of her or anything of the sort. No, he merely needed her for his ultimate plan; the power of the Aensland family was too great to pass up, and if it was under his control, he would be unstoppable. Lilith was the key to that.

"I will try," he said evenly. There was not a hint of irritation on his face, though his mind seethed with anger.

"As long as you do the same, of course. This is a cooperative effort, after all. Servant and master, two parts of a whole. But I imagine that as long as we do not make an egregious mistakes, this war will be quite easy to win. We certainly can't allow any human to get their hands on such a great power, after all. Who knows what sort of idiotic things they would wish for? Better to snuff them out altogether; it would save me the trouble of doing it later."

A short sigh, and Jedah's hands found their way back into his pockets. He just hoped this war would be interesting rather than plain boring, as were so many of the things humans did. Surely a war with so many sides would have some interesting enemies? Maybe some with enough power to even rival a High Noble of the Makai.

But Lilith attracted his attention again with her sudden bloodthirst. Certainly not unexpected from the succubus, and lucky for her, there would be plenty of opportunities.

"Hm, yes, that sounds like a pleasant diversion. Perhaps it would do to alleviate some of my boredom." The noble began to float off, beckoning Lilith to follow. "Come now, we will find some suitable prey. Hopefully it won't be too easy for you."

[redeyeswhiteslicer]

back alley bloodstains [open]

[redeyeswhiteslicer]

The condescension that was slowly and surely beginning to manifest in the atmosphere was a feeling that Valentine had almost begun to think she would never experience again. She was reminded of Double, the shape shifting slime ball who had once served alongside her under the Skullgirl, Marie. That creature, that thing… So obsessed with the Skull Heart and her Trinity… The mere thought was sickening. Painfully sickening. The nurse was glad to have double crossed the both of them. They were nothing. Without the heart for it, Double served no purpose at all, Marie was nothing more than a little girl.

Incessant babbling about theism and higher powers… When was the last time one of Valentine’s operations had gone smoothly? The procedures of soullessly mangling a corpse for its more valuable aspects were supposed to be relatively unseen. There were reasons most operating rooms did not allow onlookers inside of its sanguine chamber. The squeamish, the fetishists, and the theistic were among those reasons. 

“I’m more of a surgeon, not a psychologist, so I don’t have any answer for why other people tend to believe in magical stories and life after death. Those beliefs are nothing more than a waste of time and resources. Worshipping an undead individual in the sky to try and guarantee a position in a favorable afterlife, and hope that one is not sent to suffer? There’s more than enough suffering in this world without such ideas. Every part of a person, soul included, belongs with their bodies. And, as you can see, I’m putting those parts to good use.”

“But, I’m fairly certain that there are ways to bend reality more efficiently than any higher power ever could. It can be as malicious as it intends to be, and yet, I maintain the capability to be stronger than it. I came close to such a result once before, and now that the opportunity presents itself once more, I don’t think I’ll fail again. There is such a small price to pay for the outcome one desires.”

The stranger’s examination of the corpses left behind almost looked reverent, in a sense. A certain fascination with the soul also made itself known. This was certainly the type of individual that one wanted to avoid in a darkened alleyway. Valentine remained wary of him, considering that he had displayed some otherworldly oddities. Mortal abilities only went so far. The absorption of blood was, by definition, outside of such a realm.

“…Don’t say that I hadn’t warned you, then.”

“Feel free to pick apart these bodies for yourself. My experiments with them have concluded. Though, keep them remotely recognizable, at least. Remains without an identity retain little significance.”

[finalerosso]

"Frankly, as a woman of science, your view on the matter of deities and religion in general is going to be skewed towards disbelief. Not to say that it is not worth considering, but science, by principle, is all about observing phenomena and forming theories based around that. Whereas religion is all about faith, believing in that which may not have concrete proof. Hency why proponents of one are often opponents of the other. It is a matter of the physical versus the spiritual, like so many conflicts may come down to."

"Two sides of the same coin," said Jedah, giving a small chuckle. He enjoyed debates like this, hearing what others had to say about such essential intellectual matters.

"But humans will seek conflict no matter what. Matters like religion and science only serve as a catalyst to speed things up. As long as humans can find some excuse to fight and kill their own kind, they will take it, whether it is an idea, a piece of land, or... a holy grail. I find it interesting how you can throw away the idea of a God, yet accept the existence of a magic than can warp reality so easily. Both represent the idea of a higher power, yet one could potentially be in your control, while the other is not. I think that says a good deal about you."

And the woman was absolutely wrong about souls, but then again, how could he expect anything less? Science hadn't done anything to prove their existence, so of course she wouldn't put too much thought into them. And humans rarely had the strength of spirit to do anything with their souls in the first place. A soul had far more power than she could've imagined; Jedah's servant was proof of that. Not that this blue-haired woman had to know.

"Your warning, while appreciated, is unneeded. I doubt that there is anything in this city that poses a significant threat to me, and there is certainly no further use in these corpses." He gave a small sigh, brushing his nails along his chin, thinking of the possible ways this encounter could end. There was an option that would end without conflict, sure, but where was the fun in that.

"And while I enjoyed our discussion, there are more pressing matters at hand, I think. Such as the aforementioned holy grail and the war surrounding it. While normally, I would not worry myself with matters of the human world, such an opportunity is too great to pass up."

"So then, can you tell me your name? Or are you a servant? Depending on your answer, I may have to kill you."

[petaledwords-blog]

lost again | [ OPEN ; ]

[petaledwords-blog]

“I don’t go to school so this is the only way I can learn.”

Oh, Ib, you know what your parents said. If the man wants the book give him the damn book. She debated about it - it was obvious there was something unhuman about him but she couldn’t put her finger on it. He could also be one of the higher classed servants and she was only a master. Plus, she had no idea where her own servant was so calling him would be a waste of time.

In the end, obedience won as she handed the man the book. Of course, Ib had a few words to say to as well.

“Do you always harass young girls for books or is it this one time?” She asked as she opened another book, finger tracing down the index. “You seem… Like a man of art. Do you know of Guertena?”

[finalerosso]

"How unfortunate. However, your situation is hardly any of my concern. Perhaps there is someone out there who may feel sorrowful for your oh-so dire straits, but I am not one off them."

Jedah raised an eyebrow as the girl thought over his request, drumming his long, red nails against the table. His patience only extended so far, if she did not surrender the volume soon, he would have to-

"Ah. I am very grateful," he said, reaching to take the book she finally offered. A wise choice on her part. "But I do not 'harass' anyone. I simply put forth my request, whether you acquiesce or not is another matter entirely. And I would mind my tongue, were I you, especially around strangers. Some may not be as forgiving of such insults as I am."

He was about to turn and leave when the girl posed a question, and certainly he couldn't just let it sit. "No, I confess that I do not. He must be an artist of the human world, hence why I have not heard of him. Why, is there something special about his works?"

[splendorlove-blog]

play with me? || kv open

[splendorlove-blog]

Goodness, this was disheartening! No one was replying to her, so clearly it meant that nobody wanted to play with her! She was a fun girl, so of course this made no sense to her. She was ready too, already thinking of exciting games. Her mood was already beginning to dip, and she certainly didn’t want to deal with it. She sighed, shoulders slouching. She was ready to fly off but a sound from behind her stopped her, causing her to call out.

The response of a familiar voice made her light up – of course she knew that he would be here, she simply didn’t expect to run into him so soon! She turned around, hovering a bit over the ground herself, leaning her body forward as if to pounce—

“Master Jedah!”

—and pounce she did, flying towards her Master with her arms spread wide, embracing him once she met up with him. The succubus hung off his neck, the lower half of her body floating up thanks to her wings.

“No, don’t call me Assassin! That’s not my name! Call me Lilith! But finally you showed up, I was getting really bored here you know…none of these people really want to play.”

Lilith continued to hang off Jedah’s neck, but she lowered her body to the ground, pulling down this time. She wasn’t about to let go so soon after being separated from him!

“So what are we going to do now?”

[finalerosso]

Such a happy reaction was to be expected, but even Jedah cocked an eyebrow as the little succubus lunged at him, arms wide open. Surely they hadn't been separated for that long, had they? Or maybe it was just more testament to how attached she was to the High Noble- he had been the one to give her her body, after all. Still, he would have preferred a servant a bit less... affectionate.

But at least her loyalty was unquestionable.

"Yes, of course, how foolish of me to even consider that," he said, patting the girl's head. "I was curious as to when we would finally reacquaint ourselves as well, but I am pleased to see it has not been too long. Truly, having to inhabit this meager plane of existence on my lonesome would have been a horribly dull thing. It is inhabited by little other than humans, and the mere thought of having to co-exist alongside them for any length of time is almost too much to contemplate."

The demon gave a grunt of irritation when he realized Lilith was pulling him lower down, and attempted to peel her arms off with as little ceremony as possible. If he made too much of a spectacle out of the act, she would probably think he was angry or something of the like, and become deject and sullen, and that was no way for the servant of the High Noble Jedah to act.

"Yes, humans can be terribly soporific, can't they? But then again, none of them really seem to realize the true power of Darkstalkers like us. They don't know the fear. At least, not yet."

He finally managed to disengage himself from Lilith's grasp, running his fingers through her hair once more. "There's a war going on, isn't there? So we are going to win it, of course. And then we'll wish for this world to stop existing."

[splendorlove-blog]

play with me? || kv open

So she’d been summoned to this city to serve her master in Holy Grail war? Naturally, Lilith would serve Jedah as she was needed, but it seemed so odd to her. She understood that winning the war meant having a wish granted, but what wish could someone like him possibly have? Perhaps they were here to grant her wish. To see her sister Morrigan, to figure out how to be more like her, to make her existence more perfect, more stable. Only then would Lilith truly be at peace.

Would Jedah really come here for her sake however? How kind of him! Well, Lilith wouldn’t worry too much about that. The grail war was something she would fight in if she had to, bending to her master’s will and fighting for her own amusement as well. It wasn’t really her main concern right now. What was her main concern at the moment was to find something to do. She couldn’t find Jedah, she couldn’t find anyone, and she was getting bored.

And a bored Lilith was no one anyone wanted to be around.

“Hello? Is anyone out there? Come on out and play already, I’m sick and tired of walking around! Please?”

Lilith huffed and placed her hands on her hips, rocking back and forth on her heels. It seemed as though there was no one else around in this part of Fuyuki City, and despite how tired she was of flying around, she’d have to continue moving ahead if she wanted to play a game anytime soon. However, a sudden sound behind her caught her attention, and she turned around, her wings turned into blades at the ready. Maybe this wasn’t exactly the kind of game she’d been hoping for, but it was something.

“Who goes there? Go on, show yourself! Let’s play already!”

[finalerosso]

Something changed in the air.

Jedah turned, looking left and right through the cool night air, wondering if anyone else in the area had noticed the shift. However, it seemed like he was alone in his revelation, which was a bit troubling. He had no way of knowing what had caused the change, and yet... he did not feel as if he were in danger.

But he rose to his feet all the same, drifting through the crowds of people. They seemed to part before him, a wise move on their part, he mused. Was it a conscious thing on their part, or did their natural instincts warn them of his presence without even noticing him? Certainly he was to be feared and respected, but how would they know that merely by looking at-

No, no, he was getting distracted. There was something far more interesting going on elsewhere in the city, and Jedah already knew he would have to find it.

His search led him into quieter parts of the city, far from prying eyes. Perhaps it was a bit sinister, but Jedah was a High Noble, what did he have to be afraid of? And indeed, what he heard was actually more heartening than anything.

“Who goes there? Go on, show yourself! Let’s play already!”

Jedah let a smirk alight on his lips before answering. "Very well then. Even if you've forgotten to say 'please,' I suppose I can oblige."

He moved out into the open, still hovering slightly above the ground. "Hello, Lilith. I suppose I should not be surprised to see you here, but it is still a pleasure. Or should I call you 'Assassin' now?"

[petaledwords-blog]

lost again | [ OPEN ; ]

Despite being here for a few days, Ib was still very much lost. She wondered if she should find a place for her and Garry (and their servants if they wished to stay with them) and during her adventuring, she fond herself lost. However, she did end up finding a library and after a few minutes of getting a library card, she rented out a few books and a giant dictionary.

「If I’m going to be staying here, I might as well catch up on my studies so Mother and Father don’t scold me for slacking.」

Among the books were a few art-related ones that the young girl was flipping through as she leaned against the wall of the library. She was so lost in her book that she didn’t even notice a shadow looming over her until she finished the book.

Crap, was this person a servant or a master? She didn’t want to waste a command seal by calling Gamzee but if she needed to she would have to use it. That, or she could just throw a book at them if they cause any trouble.

For now, she’ll just give them a blank and empty stare.

[finalerosso]

Could a human have something to teach a demon lord? Probably not, but Jedah still had a weakness for books. He quite missed the endless bookshelves of Castle Dohma, each volume a cornucopia of treasured knowledge, passed down through the ages. There would be no such books here, in a public library, but maybe there would at least be something of interest. Maybe some tidbit that might be useful when he finally decided to do away with the human world.

Or maybe a subject more suited to the refined tastes of a noble.

And his search led him to this young girl, who currently had the only art-related book in the entire library that Jedah was interested in. And finally, she looked up, prompting the noble to give a smug grin.

"That book you're holding. I should like to have it, if you would be so kind. Whatever need you have for it cannot possibly be greater than mine, after all. And I am a very busy man, so expedience would be appreciated."

[redeyeswhiteslicer]

back alley bloodstains [open]

[redeyeswhiteslicer]

By the time Valentine had finished up the last of her dissections, the strange man had already come closer. Definitely too close for comfort. He sounded otherworldly, the way he addressed her movements and behaviors. One human taking apart another? From her experience, most humans never referred to each other as humans, but people. If this stranger was, in fact, something other than human… As long as he wasn’t anything like Double, they just might be able to reach amiable terms. 

The way that he examined the vial of blood was just a little disconcerting. For someone so used to dealing with bodily excretions, the handling of such liquids by the other being sent a shiver down the blue haired woman’s spine, a feat that very little creatures could boast about. Though, the ranting about souls immediately began to dampen her mood. His speech, his mannerisms, the way he appeared to carry himself… Oh, what Valentine wouldn’t give to put this guy in his place.

Instead, she continued her silence as the last pieces of equipment were all safely tucked away in their proper places, bonesaw taking its position at her hip, just in case. The count had come up one vial short, since that remaining extraction still lingered in the other’s hand. At least, not for very long anyway. Crushing the little vial wasn’t much of a loss for Valentine at all. What managed to gain her attention, however, was that when the glass hit the ground, there were no crimson droplets to accompany it. Wherever it went, she did not want to, nor did she need to, know.

Hopefully, the ninja nurse could deal with his incessant banter long enough to leave the alley relatively unscathed and without suspicion. After all, exiting a dark alley with blood all over one’s clothing was not a presentation that one wanted to make. Especially with how Valentine’s fashion choices were, any blood fetishist or late night role playing sicko would have an absolute ball. She stood herself upright, hand grasping the hilt of her bonesaw, addressing the other with a bit of a glare.

“You can stop with the spirit talking. I’m afraid religion has always been a subject I never really cared for. Who needs a deity to heal their body and spirit when most people have the ability to heal themselves? It’s absolutely absurd. And when we die, that’s it. That’s checkmate. And there’s almost nothing we can do about it.”

“Now, I think we were on the subject of my blood vial. I don’t think it’s any of my concern where that blood went. If you need it, take it. Who am I to break patient confidentiality? Besides, one measly vial of blood isn’t that hard to regain. The bodies here still have plenty more. Though, I wouldn’t stick around, if I were you. The smell of a dissected carcass tends to attract unwanted company.”

[finalerosso]

This woman wasn't fearful, for right now, at least. But it made sense, given the grim efficiency with which she cut and separated the bodies and their parts; surely a person any more squeamish would've shown some reaction besides that focused indignation that characterized people who didn't know their place. They were simply angry that they had been under the heels of others for so long.

"How curious. So many humans believe in a higher power, I wonder, is it because they themselves feel insignificant? Does the belief in something greater than themselves, the belief in an after life, and a creator, and other such ideas, enable them to survive for that much longer? My original theory was that those with a greater degree confidence were less likely to be theistic, but it seems there is hardly a correlation between the two at all. The real answer must be much less simple. I can only wonder what lead you to your way of thinking."

"There is indeed a higher power, but it is much less benevolent than people realize, I think."

Jedah glanced down at the rows of vials and bags, painstakingly arranged in neat rows. One of the few productive uses for a corpse, and perhaps the only helpful thing their ex-owners has done in their existence. Not their lives, of course- their lives were already over.

"But you do not believe in an afterlife, either? Then would you believe me when I say that the soul does not wither away when the body expires?" The noble floated over towards one of the corpses, kneeling down beside it, but still not touching the ground.

"Of course, under most circumstances, a soul without a host cannot help but dissipate after a time; most of them do not have the strength needed to survive. Those ones are of little consequence, and of no use to me."

Long, red fingernails trailed across the opening Valentine has made in the corpse's chest, drawing stray drops of blood along with them. Jedah shuddered for a moment, inhaling deeply at the sight of such gore. His form came loose for just a moment, sending a small stream of crimson leaking from his body and to the ground, where it vanished without a trace.

"This one is no exception," he said, rising to his feet again. "And I think it should be said that I did not need that blood, I merely wanted it. Just a taste, to get a feeling for the life that was once led. One may never know where a useful asset might be found in piles of bodies."

"But sometimes, you may find them around the dead, instead..."

A small chuckle as Jedah slid his hands back into his pockets. "I'm afraid that I must remain here for the time being, however. Your presence was merely serendipity, and it hardly matters to me if others should arrive. I only hope that I am not counted as 'unwanted.'"

[redeyeswhiteslicer]

back alley bloodstains [open]

If there was anything to be said about this secretly war torn city, it was that people would stop at nothing to get ahead. Lies, deceit, slander… Every option, every viable pathway would be taken at least once if it ensured a complete victory in this war. Even for Valentine, who should really be taking heed of the Hippocratic Oath, could manage to toss her medical vows into the biohazard bin if it meant getting a wish. She’d come so close before, and the Skull Heart was practically within reach… But that was the past. Now, there was nothing that stopped her from being reunited with her fallen friends, the former members of the Last Hope.

Which is why on this particular day, if one were to walk down a few specific back alleys, they would find the nurse picking apart a few dead bodies, obviously dumped here by some wannabe Jack the Ripper. Blood all over the nearby walls, victims marinating in their own body liquids… Why, Valentine felt right at home. She wasted no time preparing her equipment beside the corpses, methodically picking apart organ after organ and dumping them into separate, sterilized bags. Bundles of tissue such as these, having luckily been without a blood supply for less than twenty four hours, would make a decent amount of money when sold to the right people.

The woman’s white uniform quickly took on fifty shades of red, darkened coagulations making appearances in the midst of semi-fresh life force. A few samples of blood, some jars of organs, and three body bags later, most of the corpses had been picked clean. Valentine was rather methodical in her procedures, so precise and unswerving. As she reached over for one of her scalpels, however, the shadow of a nearby figure came into her point of view. A civilan, no doubt, judging by their standing there without a hostile reaction. A law official would have made their presence known, and the perpetrator of these deaths wouldn’t have hesitated in adding Valentine’s name to their list of victims. She paid very little attention to the other person standing there, opting instead to impart just a few words as she cut apart the final sinews and extracted the last of the spinal fluid.

“…You know, medical professionals don’t usually have a crowd for their operations. If you’re trying to cope with haemophobia, I can spare a few pills. If you’re looking for conversation, you’re better off talking to these bodies. Or, if you’re looking for trouble, you should look somewhere else. You wouldn’t want to be a part of this procedure, now, would you?”

[finalerosso]

There was something about the human world's sun that left Jedah feeling drained, which was both curious and irritating to the noble. Surely a Darkstalker of his power should be immune to its influences; he was not some lowly vampire or other denizen of the dark, he was a High Noble!

But despite his high standing, Jedah still sought solace in the shadows of the city, taking brief respites to recover his strength. The sun would not destroy him, but it was still a nuisance to deal with. But there was something in ths alleyway- no, someone. And a scent that was all too familiar, and all too pleasing. There was blood, and there was a lot of it. It was too much for Jedah to ignore, and he began to hover towards the source of the scent, hands in his pockets. Perhaps there was some dying human nearby that could provide ample entertainment. At least, until they expired. But even then, in death, a human could be useful in ways they couldn't hope to comprehend. Hopefully this one had some value to it.

Alas, the only living human in the alleyway was still alive and well, though it was she who was spilling blood everywhere. Cutting out organs, filling vials with various fluids; she seemed to be one of a medical profession, though exemplifying the more grisly side of the job. After all, someone had to collect those precious commodities the mortals needed to extend their lives in case of accident or emergency.

Still, he couldn't help but chuckle as the woman finally spoke.

"Please, there's no need for threats, especially ones you cannot hope to see through. I am merely an observer; I have never seen one human take apart another so diligently, after all. At least, not one that they did not kill themselves. Did you end the life of this one? I suppose it hardly matters."

He reached down and plucked a vial of blood from the ground, holding it up against the sky. "I had always wondered why that, in modern times, humans only consider the physical aspect of their remains to be of use. Perhaps it is because they have to way to utilize the souls of others? Religions preach of the strength of spirit, yet they are either unwilling or unable to harness it. Which leaves only me."

There was the sound of shattering glass as Jedah crushed the vial in his hand, letting the glass fall to the floor. But the blood was nowhere to be seen, as it was absorbed into the demon's body. 

"Hm. Apologies for not asking permission, but then again, I would have done it regardless. But I suppose I'll put it to better use than you ever could."

[finalerosso]

Not quite His world [Intro/Open]

What need did a demon have for objects made by human hands?

A Holy Grail, wishes, a war, masters, servants, none of this held any particular meaning for Jedah. And why would it- these were all human affairs, and therefore not worthy of a demon noble's time and effort. Wishes were the vain yearnings of fools too lazy to do anything for themselves, war was a terrible fracture to the balance of the world, and concerning masters and servants... Well, as far as Jedah was concerned, he would be the master of all. Soon, anyways.

But this was the human world, so anything that happened here would hardly be a concern. They could all fight away in their futile war, wasting what little time mortals had to exist in the realm of reality. And when the time came to end it all, jedah would still be there, ready to pick up the pieces and put an end to this miserable little world. It would be an improvement, in his opinion.

But at the moment, there was nothing for Jedah to do but while away his time, waiting. Surely something interesting would happen soon, if he waited long enough. For the moment, he sat alone, in a table at some cafe in the city, complete with umbrella to shield him from the sun's cruel rays. His red eyes watched the passersby on the street, judging each and every one of them by the worth of their souls. Most of them were worth almost nothing, though there were a few that were of interest. They might have a place in the Majigen, if he could find a way back to it.

And then there was someone walking past that caught Jedah's attention. Quite a noteworthy soul, and certainly one he couldn't just let pass by.

"You," he called out, pointing straight at the person with his long, red nails. "Come here. I have a question suited for someone of your standing." 

Jedah beckoned them over, crossing his legs and tenting his fingers in his lap. Even the way he sat screamed 'arrogant,' not that it bothered him.

"Tell me, do you believe in good and evil? If so, what makes a man one or the other? I'm curious to hear your view on the matter."

[finalerosso]

WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST HUMAN MEMORY?

"Even the most un-advanced of automatons must be able to see that I am anything but human, so I shall assume your choice of words is something of a blanket term."

"As for your question... All I can recall is something about books. Events that long past are hardly important, regardless. It has been several millennia since that memory, after all."

[herrbelial]

[citystomper-deactivated20150523]