NOIR

To catch a monster, you have to become one yourself. | OC rp blog | icon and sidebar image credit to my pal @inquissien <3 | associated with Isola Radiale, housed in HOUSE 109

[noirdetectiveagency]

[REDACTED] - Detective Noir - The Jack of Spades

Application. Stats. Guidelines. Affiliation.

♠ An independent detective, founder and (officially) sole member of the Noir Detective Agency.

♠ Has died once but came back wrong, his soul unable to rest until he fulfills his task on Earth.

♠ Is always accompanied by a black jackal - where Noir goes, he goes. And unlike Noir who is very prickly, mean and bitter, his dog is kind, caring and playful. However, he seems to like dead people more than alive ones (but will allow to be pet by either).

♠ He reeks of smoke and nicotine and has a chain-smoking habit. Can and will ask you for a cigarette at any given moment.

♠ Noir would never ever ever admit it, and tries his best to push people away, but deep inside he has a heart of gold, and he will never leave people behind who were wronged by the system.

♠ Brother why are you talking like a stereotypical Film Noir detective? Oh wait, it's because he is! Cheesy lines galore!

♠ I advise you to read the content warnings on the blog jic and take a look at his profile to make sure you are comfortable with any potential sensitive subject matter before interacting.

[occultacarne]

Anubis' words do nothing to sway Sebastian. He is amused, in fact. Finds the jackal interesting. For him to feel so strongly about the fact of what he is and the names he has chosen, he wants to push a little more.

It's funny. Anubis was talking about disgrace, talking about integrity, and such when he created his own being. Noir was a dead man walking. Created by the very being who felt it unnatural to be among the dead and walk it. Was that not just as disgraceful?

The hellhound looks up, head tilting as he gathers the emotions behind those words, and quite frankly, Sebastian gives a surprised look, though it's short-lived

"It was part of my lesson as the next line on the throne," he says, matter-of-fact. Having friends, having anything that was deemed a distraction were removed promptly. It was why Ismene no longer stayed with them. He remembers the day she was removed. His only friend at the time.

"Noir, saying all of that and wearing that expression on your face...I'd rather you focused more on Morpheus. It suits you better."

[noirdetectiveagency]

♠ The Jackal realized that this was indeed leading to nowhere. His own ideals and convictions clearly clashing with the demon’s. The type was not unknown to him, the arrogant vampires who mock the concept of life itself, cheats who found a loophole in the system and exploited it for their own selfish means. Nothing good would ever come out of getting involved with Sebastian Everest Armaros, and Anubis didn’t need to pry deep to see that.

Oh how he wished his protégé possessed the same common sense and foresight. Such folly could only lead to personal doom and disaster.

Alas, the heartstrings of a broken child were easily strung, of a broken man who had truly nothing left to lose and who cared little for his own personal well-being. 

Ah, but all the sympathy he could gather for him shattered in an instant, his hands clenching up, brows furrowed in anger.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean, Everest?” Noir hissed at him, removing his hand from Morpheus as he instinctively took a step back. “What the fuck do you even know about me to know what suits me better? No, you’re right, you don’t deserve my pity.”

[noirdetectiveagency]

♠ The detective flinched at the continuous brazenness, jaw locked tight as his teeth ground together. And yet this little, meaningless comment was enough to elicit a soft, pin taint on his cheeks. Shameless, so utterly, utterly shameless! He knew it to not be true, a charming lie, because there was nothing but malice and hatred and ugliness in him. A rotting corpse held together by nothing more than the whims of a god who has been shrunken to the size of a common dog. What a pitiful existence he led, undeserving of such pleasantries and flattery.

But he left the comment open with no response, not feeling particularly suited to flirt back, especially with someone he felt nothing good would come out of. And that laugh of his…that haunting, mocking, laugh…

“He is deserving of attention and care, and are creatures like him not here to be spoiled and dotted on? Are you neglecting your duties as a responsible pet owner, Everest?” Of course he knew this not to be true. The way Morpheus moved around him told him that the hellhound was missing on nothing. And he appreciated the subtle affection given back by the canine. Unlike his own companion.

Anubis was visibly startled when being addressed directly by the demon king, but the intense staring did not subdue because of it. Instead, he kept his eyes locked on the other, carefully moving up from behind Noir, paws tapping gentle and silent. “He may carry a divine name, but he is no kin of mine.” As he still kept his distance, Anubis stood close to Noir on the opposite side of Morpheus, not offering him a single glance. “What a disgrace to name him after a god and burden him with this responsibility. You truly are a demon who knows no shame.”

Names held strong powers, knowing someone’s true name gave them an advantage over someone who concealed it. Divine names specifically carried an immense burden with them; given to a mortal child it was cruelty, taken by an unholy creature it was sheer mockery. Anubis did not blame the hellhoud for it, but he did see blame in Sebastian. They had this debate countless times before since he hated the fact that Noir’s darling had taken on a divine name, but they had worked out their differences eventually.

[occultacarne]

"Pet?" Sebastian and Morpheus look at each other. As if the word pet was something foreign. "Morpheus is more than just a mere pet, Noir." Now Morpheus and Sebastian look to Noir. While Sebastian smiles, Morpheus goes back to focusing on the man's hand. "He is a friend. A companion." His most trusted, if anything.

"It may be bold to say, but I did choose the names for my hounds for that reason." Each name carried a strength in it that his three hellhounds carried within them.

He decides to then add a little bit of vulnerability, if only to strike where it may hurt.

"I was only a child at the time. As a young prince, I had no friends until I created them." Morpheus leaves Noir's side briefly, if only to nuzzle his face into Sebastian's palm and unlike with Noir, the hellhound licks at Sebastian's hand. Sebastian returns the affection in kind, petting Morpheus where the hellhound liked best. "He is a good companion."

[noirdetectiveagency]

♠ “Sorry for that,” Noir muttered, gently petting Morpheus’ head as if apologizing to him and him alone. He knew of the bond of companions that transcended the definition of conventional relationships. Anubis too was not a mere pet to him; he was so much more than that. A guardian, a companion, and above all, a friend. But for some reason, he did not think about attributing the same ideals and feelings to Sebastian and Morpheus.

But Anubis took the word before Noir could. “Exactly that is disgraceful. To take something that is neither yours nor yours to claim. But I assume talking to someone like you about integrity is a waste of words and breath.” The animosity the jackal felt was audible in every word spoken, not giving an ounce of sympathy to the demon in man’s skin. To take the name of his friend and disgrace it in that manner felt akin to blasphemy.

And the god did not care about the sob story he spew in order to make himself appear within reason, approachable, relatable even. Frankly, he considered this all to be a waste of time. How Noir could deem an insulting meeting like this as important was beyond him. Lest he forgot that mortals are flawed, and that it was his duty to guide him towards the path of righteousness he was destined to be on. He was about to turn to his friend as say that they were done here, ready to vanish from this conversation without a trace and never give Sebastian the time of day again. But to his demise, Noir was a flawed human.

Sebastian’s words struck something within the detective, who suddenly remembered his own time living as a child, a defenseless being that was thrown at the mercy of people who neither cared for him nor wanted him. Unwanted. Abandoned. Yes, it was hard to imagine him as just a kid for he was sure that the man lived multiple lifetimes already.

His hand stopped on the hellhound’s head, resting there quietly as he spoke. “It must have been hard, huh? Growing up with no one around?” The petting hesitantly continued, “being a lonely child is no excuse for committing atrocities. But even though I hate you, Everest, I understand.”

[noirdetectiveagency]

♠ Seeing Morpheus approach, him brought a false sense of serenity and peace in the face of Sebastian. Despite it being one of his creations, Noir felt no malice coming from him, a canine pure of heart who was taken into this world out of a whim as far as he knew. Noir couldn’t bring himself to direct his bad faith from the owner to the pet. Hand resting on the comfortable spot between his ears, he even shows outlines of something like a smile.

However, that quickly vanished when he shot Sebastian a piercing glare with that shameless comment. The fucking audacity of this guy! “What? Your happy fairy tale marriage not going well currently?”

Meanwhile, Anubis’ initial terror of the hellhoud evaporated the instance his protégé showed him any ounce of care, ears perked up straight while his eyes now focused on the real threatening presence, staring at him, and the very essence of his soul.

[occultacarne]

"Why, of course that isn't the case at all," he says with a genuine laugh. He notices Anubis' eyes and looks over to the hound. "I was simply saying, I'd like to see you look at me with those soft eyes and that sweet smile." And his eyes then move back to Noir with a smirk on his lips.

"You look lovely."

Flirting came as easy as breathing for Sebastian. He was shameless.

Morpheus would like some more pets, and it's evident in how he bumps his nose against Noir's hand for attention. There's no sound coming from the hellhound, but he does show his body language in other ways! His long tail wags, and a paw is brought up as he continues to nuzzle his nose into Noir's hand.

"You will spoil my hellhound with all of the attention you're giving him." Now, with his attention back on the jackal, Sebastian then asks, "I am surprised you haven't approach. I thought you'd be interested, considering he is kin."

[noirdetectiveagency]

♠ The detective flinched at the continuous brazenness, jaw locked tight as his teeth ground together. And yet this little, meaningless comment was enough to elicit a soft, pin taint on his cheeks. Shameless, so utterly, utterly shameless! He knew it to not be true, a charming lie, because there was nothing but malice and hatred and ugliness in him. A rotting corpse held together by nothing more than the whims of a god who has been shrunken to the size of a common dog. What a pitiful existence he led, undeserving of such pleasantries and flattery.

But he left the comment open with no response, not feeling particularly suited to flirt back, especially with someone he felt nothing good would come out of. And that laugh of his…that haunting, mocking, laugh…

“He is deserving of attention and care, and are creatures like him not here to be spoiled and dotted on? Are you neglecting your duties as a responsible pet owner, Everest?” Of course he knew this not to be true. The way Morpheus moved around him told him that the hellhound was missing on nothing. And he appreciated the subtle affection given back by the canine. Unlike his own companion.

Anubis was visibly startled when being addressed directly by the demon king, but the intense staring did not subdue because of it. Instead, he kept his eyes locked on the other, carefully moving up from behind Noir, paws tapping gentle and silent. “He may carry a divine name, but he is no kin of mine.” As he still kept his distance, Anubis stood close to Noir on the opposite side of Morpheus, not offering him a single glance. “What a disgrace to name him after a god and burden him with this responsibility. You truly are a demon who knows no shame.”

Names held strong powers, knowing someone’s true name gave them an advantage over someone who concealed it. Divine names specifically carried an immense burden with them; given to a mortal child it was cruelty, taken by an unholy creature it was sheer mockery. Anubis did not blame the hellhoud for it, but he did see blame in Sebastian. They had this debate countless times before since he hated the fact that Noir’s darling had taken on a divine name, but they had worked out their differences eventually.

[noirdetectiveagency]

♠ Noir’s eyes twitch with the implication that the two of them could even remotely be something akin to friends. They were distant acquaintances at most, and if it came to the detective, he would call them…what were they exactly?

“No need for repetition. Honestly, spare me your woe.” He didn’t care much for Sebastian’s plight, at least he wouldn’t admit it even if the opposite was the case. There was a certain sorrow he carried, arrogance and cockiness, yes, but it was that apparent sorrow that touched something within Noir he really wished didn’t happen. Because it invited him to express sympathy, to hold back on his animosity. And that could end disastrous.

Before he could say anything however, and before Anubis could defend himself, Morpheus manifested himself, even more regal and imposing than Noir remembered, entirely unphased by him; unlike his companion.

Anubis yelped in shock, now hiding his slender figure behind his friend, clearly startled by the sudden appearance of yet another creature. But this one felt different, it felt odd still, but not as deeply evil as the other one.

His little skull head peaked from between Noir’s legs, still hiding, but letting curiosity take the better of him.

And while the jackal was still careful and frightened, Noir stretched out a hand in greeting to the hellhound, “hey there big boy.” Whatever his feelings towards Sebastian were, he could never be mad at a dog, no matter the form.

[occultacarne]

Morpheus pays no mind to the jackal that hides behind its owner. Seeing as to how it is already frightened by his presence, he didn't think it would be kind to approach. Instead, he approaches Noir when his hand is extended. He doesn't lick him, lest he wants to burn and poison the poor guy. He does wag his tail in greeting.

"When will you look at me with those same eyes, Noir? I wish for the same affection," Sebastian feigns a type of innocence.

[noirdetectiveagency]

♠ Seeing Morpheus approach, him brought a false sense of serenity and peace in the face of Sebastian. Despite it being one of his creations, Noir felt no malice coming from him, a canine pure of heart who was taken into this world out of a whim as far as he knew. Noir couldn’t bring himself to direct his bad faith from the owner to the pet. Hand resting on the comfortable spot between his ears, he even shows outlines of something like a smile.

However, that quickly vanished when he shot Sebastian a piercing glare with that shameless comment. The fucking audacity of this guy! “What? Your happy fairy tale marriage not going well currently?”

Meanwhile, Anubis’ initial terror of the hellhoud evaporated the instance his protégé showed him any ounce of care, ears perked up straight while his eyes now focused on the real threatening presence, staring at him, and the very essence of his soul.

[occultacarne]

"I assumed you knew I was coming to you."

It's the reaction from Noir and the god of the undead that tickles Sebastian. The chuckle is low, but delighted, honestly. He finds it amusing to see both of them so startled, one of them with his tail tucked between his legs and those legs trembling.

"Ah, and a shame. Here, I thought we were friends after spending quality time together. Just the two of us." He answers plainly afterward. His gaze meets the jackal with a tilt of his head.

"Ah, it seems Noir's discussion hasn't gone through to you? I quite enjoy existing. Since we already had this conversation," he says, looking at Noir, "I will not repeat myself again. Besides, we are here for a meeting, are we not?"

On cue, Morpheus approaches from behind Sebastian.

[noirdetectiveagency]

♠ Noir’s eyes twitch with the implication that the two of them could even remotely be something akin to friends. They were distant acquaintances at most, and if it came to the detective, he would call them…what were they exactly?

“No need for repetition. Honestly, spare me your woe.” He didn’t care much for Sebastian’s plight, at least he wouldn’t admit it even if the opposite was the case. There was a certain sorrow he carried, arrogance and cockiness, yes, but it was that apparent sorrow that touched something within Noir he really wished didn’t happen. Because it invited him to express sympathy, to hold back on his animosity. And that could end disastrous.

Before he could say anything however, and before Anubis could defend himself, Morpheus manifested himself, even more regal and imposing than Noir remembered, entirely unphased by him; unlike his companion.

Anubis yelped in shock, now hiding his slender figure behind his friend, clearly startled by the sudden appearance of yet another creature. But this one felt different, it felt odd still, but not as deeply evil as the other one.

His little skull head peaked from between Noir’s legs, still hiding, but letting curiosity take the better of him.

And while the jackal was still careful and frightened, Noir stretched out a hand in greeting to the hellhound, “hey there big boy.” Whatever his feelings towards Sebastian were, he could never be mad at a dog, no matter the form.

[occultacarne]

It would be wrong to say he wasn't surprised to see a text from Noir. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary. At least to Sebastian. It felt like something that Noir would send. An angry face and a strange symbol. He doesn't reply. He wasn't one to text back. He preferred speaking in person to anything else.

Noir wanted something, perhaps?

He doubts it, but he's gone in just a thought, and shortly, reappears a few feet from where Noir and his friend are.

"And here I thought that by you sending me a message, you missed me."

Humming, the demon tilts his head to the side. "Decided not to hide this time?" Golden eyes move to look at Noir's friend.

[noirdetectiveagency]

♠ Noir knew that with Sebastian, he always needed to be on his guard no matter what. Which was difficult when he couldn’t fully gauge the extent of his abilities or intend. There were plenty of opportunities for the man to kill him, yet he didn’t. Sure, death held no power here - not that mattered much to him - but it was the act of it that held meaning, not to mention the gratification it could carry.

So when Sebastian suddenly appeared close to them, Noir yelped out of surprise and shock that he had let his guard down more than anything else, his hand instinctively reaching for the handle of his gun. Likewise, Anubis, due to his size, jumped behind instead of in front of him, eyes wide with terror. And when the jackal saw who it was, the burning in his sockets intensified, yet his body language revealed that he was scared. Under any other circumstances he would tower over him, but now he felt so, so very small and helpless.

Oh, the stench of death clinging to him, so unnaturally made his insides churn with disgust. This was not a being that should exist, yet here he was, walking among the living.

“Holy fucking shit, a little damn heads-up would’ve been lovely, Everest.” Then he continued, a red tint painting his cheeks, “hell would freeze over before an atom of my body would even consider missing you!” Noir was so ready to give him a quite angry lecture about manners and courtesy, two things he himself did not possess. However, that should not be the focus of their meeting, no, his irritated expression shifted to the trembling dog by his side, who by now gathered enough courage to face the demon in front.

Of course, the condescending comment didn’t help.

The jackal let his tail hang low while putting on a brave face, his hind legs shaking. What was he even supposed to say to that? “You do not belong here, fiend,” glowing eyes were transfixed on Sebastian, trying to muster the courage to look into his very soul, ears perking up to catch the faintest of heartbeats, “I was told you are not here by choice but by birth. It feels like a cruel fate has been bestowed upon you.”

[noirdetectiveagency]

dog 2 dog communication @occultacarne

♠ “How can you be so fucking stubborn?”

This charade had been going on for hours at this point with Anubis blipping in and out of existence and Noir desperately trying to manifest him again. His last encounter with Sebastian had given him food for thought and he decided - despite his animosity towards him, which had not changed - to at least lend him an ear. Because he had been right in pointing out Anubis’ hypocrisy. His biggest crime to Noir wasn’t the fact that he was a spawn of Satan for all he cared, it was the fact that he was harming innocent people, that he was ready to go out of his way to harm those he deemed unworthy of protection. And despite everything, that was the biggest issue the detective took with the guy.

The fact that he was not human came secondary, even if it to some degree added a certain layer to the whole mess.

“You will accompany me when I go see him today.”

Silence. Even the smoke from his cigarette had died down despite the tobacco being lit, Noir taking a casual drag to force his friend. “You cannot hide forever. What if he betrays me? What if he attacks me and holds me captive? Takes my glasses away from me and locks me up in his torture basement? I thought it was your damn job to protect me.”

A deep huff echoed through the room in a clearly displeased tone accompanied by a small puff of flickering smoke. Then more silence before the jackal finally manifested, his eyes glowing dull with his ears folded backwards. “I do not trust this creature.”

“Believe me, neither do I. But I feel like sooner or later I might get in trouble when dealing with him, and I’d be pissed off if you didn’t come to rescue me. God of the Dead my ass, can’t even look after one lil’ sheep.”

That comment certainly triggered something within the god, puffing up his fur to appear taller since that ability had been taken away from him, eyes glowing with more intensity. Rude or not, his protégé was right, what kind of guide was he if he didn’t go out of his way to protect the one person he pled allegiance to?

It was the same thing every time.

“I despise vampires.”

“He is not so by choice.”

“A monster is a monster no matter what coat he donnes."

“Less theatrics, more movement.”

[occultacarne]

Morpheus, blazing gold hues, looks up at Noir. It's as if Morpheus can tell the uneasiness, guilt, and other emotions that noir is feeling. Whether a hellhound or a normal dog, all animals just knew without needing to be told or have it be seen.

"Looks like you have much to think about regarding your...circumstance."

Sebastian had poked a nerve. An area where it'd get Noir thinking and walking briefly down memory lane.

Ah, Sebastian is curious. Wants to see. Alas, that power was not returned to him.

He smiles, posture straight and relaxed.

"It is a good thing I do not quite care what you think of me, Noir. You may think me a monster."

He smiles sweetly at the other. Morpheus eventually moves to where he's now sitting right by Sebastian's feet.

"Mm, it looks like my Dove is on his way home," Sebastian says as his gaze moves to a few of the drawn curtains.

"Will you be staying to greet him, or are you about to head your way?"

[noirdetectiveagency]

♠ Sebastian might’ve been a lot of things, but the most prominent of them was irritating. He was so irritating in fact that the hairs on Noir’s neck stood up with his shameless words, like a cat buckling its back to appear bigger, hissing at the predator much bigger than itself.

Instead, Noir got up wordlessly, cigarette still burning between his fingers before he took it back to the corner of his mouth. There was no way he would admit to his inner conflict, less the conflicted feelings he had towards his friend. Maybe it was a good thing Sebastian didn’t care; or maybe it was a dangerous one.

“I’ve got what I came here to do, I’m not one to overstay my welcome.” And meeting one of these freaks for now was more than enough. Still, he couldn’t quite deny that he was curious to see who it was that voluntarily associated himself with the likes of Sebastian.

As a farewell, Noir nodded at the other man, grabbing one of the pastries adorning the table as he made his way towards the door, “but I’ve got my eye on you, Everest. I may think you’re a monster, but don’t think I’m easy prey.”

And with that, he left this cursed abode. There was a lot he’d need to discuss with Anubis.

[blightsbite]

The question hangs in the air as Vanth lets a silence stretch between them. It is with seeming indifference that he crosses a leg over his knee, supports his elbow atop a metal chute venting air from the building below to the roof he dwells upon, and rests a pale cheek against his knuckles as though viewing the hunter in the alley down the length of his nose. His eyes do not even blink at the man's smart comeback, leaving their red glow uninterrupted. ❝ When you ask me like that? No, not one bit. ❞

❝ Actually, your malice tooootally stinks. I can smell it from here. ❞ It's not completely untrue. While Vanth could not literally sniff out the man's disdain, he is an expert at reading body language to survive. Only a peek of his pursuer had revealed enough of his unspoken judgments—that Vanth was a monster lurking in the dark, something to fear and hate. Having been a monster for so long, Vanth knows how to spot resentment better than any other human emotion. After all, it's all he's ever been: resented. Vanth can't say he really blames him, either. ❝ I kinda figured... ❞ Vanth flicks a pebble off the rooftop, hoping that its faint clatter will startle this stranger. ❝ Maybe you'd grow tired enough of listening to me if I ran you around in circles, or that it was just a coinky-dink that you were right inside my shadow. But I gotta give you credit—you're persistent. I'd be more annoyed if I wasn't so flattered. You really wanted to see me, huh? ❞ He shifts his posture, straightening his back and bringing his hands over his lap as though this time, he's truly listening. ❝ So I'll ask you again. What do you want with me? Are you hoping to hunt me and mount my super evil head on your stupid mantle? I'm all ears. ❞

[noirdetectiveagency]

♠ Oh so he was a damn smart-mouth, huh? It just begged the question if he was all talk or not, but Noir was not entirely opposite to finding out. After all, he knew the type. His thoughts jumped to Eros, and his eyes narrowed at the other man as he tried to hide the twitch of his eye. This vain, cocky, flashy attitude pissed him off; they would’ve gotten along pretty well together. And that only pissed him off even more.

“I’m nothing if not persistent. If you tried to scare me off I must disappoint ya, it takes a little more than that.” It took a lot lot more to scare off a guy who did not fear death in the slightest, rather pursuited than avoided it. A stupidly foolish sentiment, one he wore openly on his sleeve.

The detective scoffed when the pebble hit the ground with a pleng, his body moving as only his coat swayed gently in the wind, lights reflecting in his glasses.

Part of him was indeed curious what kind of person - what kind of creature would wed someone like that; another part just knew that it must’ve been either a pitiful soul, or a dangerous one.

“A beautiful image, one I wouldn’t mind bringing to fruition, but not my intention tonight.” Even if he wanted to, he knew that his own strength would’ve not been enough to bring down someone like that with his own hands. He might’ve been foolish, but he wasn’t entirely an idiot.

“Besides, I’m not really a trophy hunter. Material things do not interest me. No, I am indeed here for you.” 

There was little care for his own well-being or life when he averted his gaze, hands casually sliding into the inside pocket of his coat, thinking if the other wanted him dead, he would’ve killed him some time ago already. And if he changed his mind, he was the last person to care. Gloved hands grabbed and slid out a lighter and a cigarette, which he pressed between his lips after smoothly brushing it over them. Flicking the lighter a couple times, the detective continued, “I visited your home not too long ago. Beautiful place, if a lil’...cliché.” A flame illuminating his face, before sizing down and extinguishing after its purpose was fulfilled. “I wondered who else might’ve lived there. What kind of person could it be?” His words were followed by a deep inhale, a puff of smoke. “I just wanted to look you in the eyes, that’s all.”

And then decide if I should kill you or not.

[occultacarne]

"Mmm, and yet here you are. Though I suppose perhaps he favors you." If he brought someone that was meant to be dead back to life, so to speak. Or perhaps this was his trial as well? Either way, Sebastian was familiar with death and how it ran. For some, death was inevitable, and for others, people managed to cheat it, or they were just lucky.

"Either way, I do not believe Anubis should feel the way he does about me. I am the way that I am naturally." Sebastian takes his seat close to Noir, but not too uncomfortably so,

"perhaps one day I will meet your friend now that we have that cleared out the way."

[noirdetectiveagency]

♠ Noir grimaced, feeling foolish to acknowledge that Sebastian’s words rang true, his posture now tense once again. He hated that the guy was right, hated how he rightfully pointed out the hypocrisy, hated that it felt like he was betraying his friend. There was a purpose he needed to fulfill and Anubis granted him a second chance for it.

“He doesn’t favour me either,” the detective muttered under his breath, averting his gaze when his host sat closer to him, palm of his hand resting gently on Morpheus’ head, the other resting clenched up in his lap.

Images from a moment that should not have been flashed before his eyes, a weird mixture of nostalgia and guilt flowing through his entire body.

“He just didn’t know what to do with me…” 

Noir remembered how the scales did not come to a halt, shifting from one side to the other, stuck in an endless loop. His heart was neither free of sin nor entirely rotten, now buried somewhere he had no access to and waiting to be either absolved, or eaten.

Sebastian had a point. While Noir himself had prejudice against vampires because of personal reasons, Anubis’ disdain stemmed from pure pettiness and arrogance. Which felt very uncharacteristic for the jackal. 

“Perhaps. Once I’m…if I get back, I’ll have a word with him. That does not mean I don’t see you for what you really are, Everest. Monster by choice, monster by birth -  it doesn’t matter, still a monster to me.”

[kosmogrl]

not a caller not a texter but a secret third thing

[kosmogrl]

don’t contact me. ever

[occultacarne]

Morpheus seems to like it. He allows for Noir to scratch beneath his chin. His tail wags continuously doing so. It may give off the impression that he often gets some pets from Sebastian, too! Definitely from Vanth, for sure.

"Mmm, I suppose vampires are beings that defied death," he muses. "My father was born a vampire, as far as the stories have been told about him." He didn't know much about Caspian aside from the fact that he was no ordinary vampire.

"I did not know your god was so discriminating."

[noirdetectiveagency]

♠ Noir didn’t stop the petting-session with Morpheus even one bit, finding that it calmed him, made him more relaxed in this situation than he should’ve been. He tried to be on his toes due to Sebastian’s presence, but felt less threatened now.

Even if he wasn’t quite sure why the other was sharing so much unnecessary intel about himself. Maybe he was just self absorbed enough that he liked talking about nothing more than himself?

“A vamp by birth, huh? Not made?” Those were the stories he had heard of most, people who were turned into vampires for many reasons. Most of them connected to power and prestige. It was unheard of that someone was born one; even the vampires that he knew had children, had them before their turning.

At least in one aspect he had to agree with the guy. Anubis was discriminating, hypocritical even, so much so that the topic had been a point of discussion for many times already. “He’s not my god!” By definition maybe, but over all Anubis was his friend first before anything else. A moment of silence fell over him, wanting to defend his friend, but also knowing that it would make himself look bad. “He’s just…it’s his job to guide dead souls into the afterlife. Everyone, after they die, takes the trial of the scales. It’s petty, but he takes pride in his work. If someone cheats, he gets annoyed.”

At least that was how the jackal had tried to explain it to him once.

“I was at the scales once, I’ve seen the hungry glow in his eyes.”

[blightsbite]

Hmm m m... Hm hum ... Through the bends and narrows of Crimson Lane, a melody haunts, luring the curious. It hangs tenuously in the corridors with no discernible source, wrapping its target like it were some hungry serpent. From all sides, the winds themselves seem to sing this lone hunter's ballad, until abruptly, it stops. And the air stills. ❝ Up here, ❞ calls a voice from above. The songster reveals himself first as a pair of glowing blood-red eyes, looming over the edges of a nearby roof. When the viewer's sight regains focus through the dark, the rest of him takes shape: a spill of long blue hair, legs thrown over the eaves of a building facing the alley, and a combined expression of disinterest.

❝ You're tailing me... aren't you? ❞ He leans in slightly, narrowing his gaze. ❝ Why? ❞ @noirdetectiveagency — i wasn't bothering anybody until u got here.

[noirdetectiveagency]

♠ The haunted melody that rang through the streets told him two things: 1. Finally, he was close to finding who he was looking for! 2. Fuck, he was close to finding who he was looking for…

Humming that would freeze the blood in his veins were he alive, humming that carried a deep, heavy, foreboding feeling across a light tune and carefree notes, humming that felt too cheerful to fit the dark, looming situation. There were monsters prowling these streets donning the skin of humans, mimicking the very thing they prey upon. A degenerate practice, but one that fit a dishonourable beast.

Noir remembered his very first meeting with Sebastian and immediately remembered the petrifying feeling, his body tensing up for a moment too long when he caught a glimpse of those threatening red eyes, well aware that he was allowed to have been found.

Eyes narrowed as the detective barely moved his head to look upwards to the newcomer, undoubtedly the source of the song he had heard, huffing, as if angered.“Would you believe me if I said I was simply curious?” There was no doubt in his mind that this was the person he could successfully avoid all this time, having felt the smell and presence in the castle before.

[occultacarne]

Sebastian takes a seat in the opposite chair of Noir and watches, intrigued. It is rather cute how Noir is so careful. So cautious.

"He has been with me since I was a child. My very first creation." Morpheus and his siblings.

The hellhound doesn't move, but instead, his tail does wag happily at getting some attention.

True to his words, Morpheus is extremely well-behaved!

"I am aware you have a companion, yourself. Is your friend shy?"

[noirdetectiveagency]

♠ The hound’s friendly nature, despite the circumstances, gave Noir a sense of security, in the back of his mind still knowing that he could turn against him at any point. Those teeth were made to do unspeakable things after all. And especially after hearing that it was one of Sebastian’s own creations - a thought that sent a shiver down his spine and every fibre of his being - he knew to be cautious and alert.

His hands moved careful, petting the dog’s face, down to his chin where he gave him a gentle scratch.

A small smile even spread on his lips for a moment when he saw the genuine reaction of contentment on the creature, almost forgetting that his owner was a beast.

Bringing up the topic of his own companion made the detective flinch for a moment. Oh, he really wished for his own dog to be here…

“I told ya, he doesn’t like you. Doesn’t like things that defy death in such an unnatural way.” Sometimes he thought of him as a hypocrite for tolerating and creating a revenant like Noir himself, but loathing everything that did not get resurrected under a god’s gaze. This was a topic of discussion they have debated over many many times with either side not seeing eye to eye with one another. Noir was thankful for what the jackal did for him, still was, and probably always would be, but he could be so stubborn sometimes.

Like he was being now.

“Vampires are something he likes to avoid. He’s not shy, just stubborn in his principles.”

[lesstalky-morenappy]

Yes, he was destined to great things! He must be. King was overwhelmed by emotions now that someone seem to FINALLY and PROPERLY understand him. And someone who maybe could provide answers to who he was. "This sounds... FANTASTIC!" Maybe he was also meant for a similar job? He glanced from Anubis to his human and then back. Maybe Luz was his human, just like this guy. Once he went back to Luz, he would definitely play that he has to guide her as a lost soul to the afterlife. "Hmm, I don't know. The Demon Realm is... Well. Have you ever heard of the Boiling Isles? The Titan?" Luz had crossed from the Human Realm to the Demon Realm, so it could also be that multiple places like these existed. And maybe this place, Spirale, was yet another one. He also avoided mentioning that despite being the King of Demons, most people in the Boiling Isles did not treat him as such, and all obeyed Emperos Belos instead.

[noirdetectiveagency]

♠ Anubis’ eyes lit up with King’s joyous expression, his own tail wagging happily. It were those canine instincts he could not always entirely control, allowing them to slip every now and then, especially when presenting as a smaller canine as he did now. Involuntarily so.

“The Boiling Isles?” The jackal’s ears perked up with curiosity, pondering for a moment before shaking his head, a little sad to admit that he in fact, did not. “I am afraid no place comes to mind. It must be a far away place from the ones I have learned to know so far.”

“But the Titans I know. We are not very well acquainted, but we are not hostile either.”

The fact that King was from a place Anubis did not know implied that they might even be talking about two separate entities, so it would be wrong to compare the two. The Titans he knew were creatures one needed to fear, mighty, powerful beings of unimaginable power who rarely if ever gazed upon a human. Same as they did to other gods. “Please enlighten me, my King. Are those Boiling Isles part of your kingdom?”

[gracesavestar]

OKAY, THAT KIND OF RESPONSE TELLS HIM ALL HE NEEDS. he did, in fact, sound like an absolute raving lunatic. was this how he came off when initially woken up on the hail mary? the more he dwells back on those moments... i guess it's better nobody was there to see that. that hardly stems the flow of his immediate fluster of thoughts, taking in a deeper breath before releasing it all to ground himself. no matter the case, he had been through this before, as much as he might not have wanted it to in the beginning, meaning he would be better prepared... right? ❝ A stroke would at least explain whatever一 ❞ he gestures toward, well, the entire island. ❝ 一this is, ❞ he finishes, scratching his temple a little thereafter.

papers in his hand shuffle as he looks down at them, a finger tabbing through as if looking for any of his works that would explain anything. calculations that add up to it being earth in contrast to the positioning of the stars pointedly opposing those findings, a makeshift drawings that only a junior high science teacher could produce. and that wasn't to mention the miniature diorama of tau ceti he had been given set at his feet.

❝ But you do know of Earth. ❞ that was a big takeaway from what the stranger says, at least in grace's mind as a pen is tapped against his cheek. that means we're in the milky way. most likely. probably...? he writes it down anyway, just in case. ❝ That's a start. That others also know about it, ❞ he carries on, a turn to glance at the rudimentary equipment again, as if in thought to take another gander through it with a hope that he had simply miscalculated the origin points of where to look through.

for now, he elects to stave it off, looking back to noir properly instead. he wasn't wrong about having other problems, but it wasn't as if he was going to dump all of that on him for a second round of ranting.

❝ Yeah. Uh. Sorry about that earlier thing. The one where I kinda went off? Not about you but at you. ❞ it is the least he can do to apologize now that he had taken some time to breathe in and out, his eruptive outburst to the situation a valid one but, in that very same breath, a little overboard. maybe it was the fact it was far too reminiscent of waking up without understanding where he was to truly shake off and keep his more rational mindset from the get go. ❝ I'm Grace. And I'm new here. As you've probably already guessed. ❞ a few seconds of silence pass. ❝ ... you really don't know if we're on Earth or not? ❞ might as well double check!

[noirdetectiveagency]

♠ The detective grimaced at the strange conclusion; yeah, of course he would know earth, what the hell kind of question was that? Whoever that was, he seemed deeply distressed, flailing his papers around like a maddened lunatic blabbering about a discovery he supposedly made. But Noir was aware that not everyone was given grace in their most desperate time, himself being the best example of it, so he decided to give it to this man instead. Even if he felt a little taken aback by his outburst.

“No hard feelings,” he shrugged, “‘tis not every day you wake up and suddenly find yourself not on Earth. Don’t know if anyone can ever be fully prepared for this kinda thing.” Noir himself had been confronted with a lot of shit in his lifetime, enough to fill out a whole encyclopedia of misery, yet somehow waking up in a strange place as this had been one of the more tame experiences. Here he had some peace and quiet from the madness and hostility of the world, if it wasn’t for crazed vampires and their horrid brethren, and little responsibility to bear which back home was crushing him under its weight. No, here, he could close his eyes and breathe in and out, feel alive for once.

His dark eyes wandered to take a proper look at the guy for the first time when he introduced himself, purple tinted glasses gently sliding down the bridge of his nose as if he wanted to get a proper view of him. “Pleasure, Grace who is new here.” The silence that followed felt awkward in a way, not entirely uncomfortable, but enough to make him consider if he should introduce himself back. Grace broke the silence for him, fortunately.

In response, Noir shrugged once more, letting a gloved hand comb through his own hair, “from what I’ve seen and experienced, pro’ly not. But I’m no scientist or astronomer, I don’t know about these things.” He knew the order of the planets, he knew that they all orbit the sun, and he knew that there were places outside of the reach of the human understanding, but knowing more was not necessary to his work, so he never pursued to acquire this kind of knowledge. Finding himself in a situation like this, made him wonder if he should have. “You look like you’re the one who should be able to figure out, Grace who is new here.” And after a moment of consideration he offered him a hand, “I’m Noir, by the way, detective Noir.”