CURSE

Our lives should be ours to control. Do not ask me to bow to your whims. {{Roleplay blog for Ilmari Lowell, an OC affiliated with Mafordan}} Rank - Fledgling Housed - Building Sigma, Room 1

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Ruff Day ~ [{Lynn and Ilmari}]

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Lynn narrowed her eye at the other. Did he really believe his behavior was appropriate? The girl felt like she was arguing with a wall. She choose to ignore his comment about her age. They were starting to get old.

Even though her attention was focused on the man in front of her, she knew exactly what he was trying to do. The cards were too close to the corner of the table for her liking and she was not going to clean up again. 

 “…I apologize but I do not know the name of my species. It is quite difficult for me to remember things.” She slammed her hand on top of Ilmari’s, pinning it down. A few cards fell to the floor but the majority stayed on the table.

“I do remember how toddlers on this planet act though and if you were maybe an inch shorter I would have mistaken you for one at first glance.” Why Lynn was letting this man get to her, she didn’t know. She usually would have dropped the subject and left by now but this man was so irritating, she refused to let him believe he had won.

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So, she didn't remember the name of her own species? That was rather odd in itself. How could someone get along in life without knowing something as basic as that..? It must have been odd having little clue about what you actually were. Perhaps she had struggled with something though, after all, she had said she had memory problems.

"How strange... Perhaps if you described yourself it would be of aid...? Who knows, this creature who is bothering you so much may hold some answers for you?" His words were tainted with an edge of intrigue, and he did sound somewhat conceited. He wasn't actually sure that he'd know anything, but gathering information about the others stuck here would never be a bad thing either.

But as her hand pinned his own down, a slight smirk pulled at his lips. Tilting his head at her he wiggled his fingers under her grip, surprised to find out she was stronger than she looked. Ilmari frowned for a split second. Being caught like that was somewhat disconcerting, and unexpected.

Listening to her speak, he let out a small chuckle, still straining to pull his hand away. "If I was a mere inch shorter? My, I am lucky that I did grow... However Lynn, you would be most surprised if you could see the true nature of things. You know so little, of toddlers, and of me." 

Finally calming somewhat, the black dog glanced down at the cards once more. Whilst he was irritating this person, she was beginning to frustrate him too, and that simply brought out a childish streak in him. She'd stopped him from knocking the cards with his hands for the moment... but still...

Refusing to even look at her this time, he jolted the hand she had a hold of, with hopefully just enough force to lead to Lynn inadvertently push at least a few cards off of the table.

"My my Lynn, you should be more careful. You seem to dislike the cards being on the floor, and yet you knock them off. How silly."

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Arise ~ {[ Ilmari and Bowen ]}

[cyfiawnderdwyfol-blog-blog]

【♝~】           Bowen should have figured that a man who stands by no-wings and tainted angels would have such a foul opinion on Cordula’s way of running things. It was only obvious that the two of them clashed. However, he wasn’t going to sit and let this demon slander her name in the way he did, especially given the threat that Bowen couldn’t voice his own opinions.

This was a shambles waiting to happen.

Keep reading

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Whipping the hammer back and out of Bowen's flesh as he stepped backwards, a smirk pulled at the corners of Ilmari's lips at the satisfying sounds that were made. Yet all too quickly the smirk warped into a grimace of pain. Agony flared up across his chest, burning like a flame. That... that bastard had sliced into him...

A guttural growl left the black dog, crimson eyes narrowing to glare at the other with an intensity that would rival the fires of hell themselves. Refusing to even glance down at the wound, as the blood darkened his black robes, he simply fixed Bowen with his gaze. Whilst no words left him for a good few moments, his posture grew all the more aggressive with each second. His shoulders arched, chest puffed out, fingers morphing into claws. It was clear to see that he was angered, and his ire was to only become more inflamed as he finally spoke.

This idiot had no clue. No clue whatsoever about anything. He had every right to have a view on the politics of angels, especially when working so close with them. Especially when he was so closely involved with one. Ilmari was fully aware that it wasn't exactly a place that he belonged, but hell wasn't his home either. A home wasn't something he had any more. 

Anger beginning to get the better of him, the black dog bared sharpening teeth at the angel, starting to speak. Yet with each word his speech seemed to deteriorate, becoming gruffer, more raspy with each breath.

"I am no demon like those you seem to understand!" Thrusting a hand out to the side, a thin black mist seemed to begin to dance around the fabric of his robe, extending around his flesh. At a glance it might have looked like a simple distortion, but upon closer inspection it could be seen that the fog was actually coming from him, emerging from both his pores and clothes. "If a demon belongs in the pits of Hell I suggest you cast yourself to the flames this very second! The day I fall shall be the day I take you down with me..." 

But as the other brought down their knife, words as sharp as the blade, it was the last straw.

As the knife sunk down into his flesh, a chain reaction occurred. That was it. Ilmari had been pushed over the edge... Letting the hammer in his grip clatter to the floor, he exhaled. The mist that was once slowly forming began to multiply, surrounding him in a thick black fog. The temperature dropped, the mist as cold as the chill of death. Through the mist, a red light emanated, a deep snarl reverberating down the corridor as he grew in size. 

Slowly the fog dissipated, revealing the towering form of a Black Dog. Where once tender flesh was, tufts of oddly soft fur had sprouted. Despite the knife still buried in his form, and the thin line of blood marring a path down his body, Ilmari bared his teeth at the angel, his ears raised to show his aggressive intent. Without so much as a second thought he put all of his weight into pouncing forwards, slamming his muzzle into Bowen's chest with all the power he could muster.

As soon as the male had lost his balance, Ilmari raised his front paws, thrusting them straight down on his chest until he collided with the ground. He didn't feel quite as though he had his usual strength, but hopefully it was enough. Pinning him in place, the dog leant forward, digging cruel claws into his flesh without mercy. 

The canine arched his head down, three eyes studying Bowen with a spine tingling intensity. Whilst he could no longer speak, his eyes spoke volumes for the hatred he felt towards the other, weaving the story of his fury better than words ever could. Opening his maw he let strands of thick drool pour from his lips onto the other, surely soaking his clothes with the sheer volume of it. Putting his mouth nearer to Bowen, he growled at the angel, heaving hot breaths right in his face. Inch by inch Ilmari put his muzzle closer and closer, teeth bared and ready to bite into the angel at any second.

He had said there was no way he was going to let Bowen get away with what he'd said... and that still stood. No one should be allowed to spill such vile threats without consequence...

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Ruff Day ~ [{Lynn and Ilmari}]

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At this point, Lynn was considering just walking out. They were getting nowhere and this guy was actually managing to annoy her. She continued to stand there though and stare at the other. 

“You are off by a few hundred years.” She counted her fingers just for show. “Around two hundred and twenty two years off, if I counted correctly.”

Crouching down next to the table, Lynn began picking up the cards previously knocked down. It would rude leaving the mess there. “…I was simply repeating your actions. It teaches children what they did is wrong…obviously you are younger than I thought though, seeing that you are still being extremely rude.”

Cards in hand, she stood up straight and placed them on the table. “…Please refrain from throwing them on the floor for the third time.”

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The girl's sights remained focused on him, and although it was somewhat unnerving, Ilmari still saw it as a challenge. He couldn't quite read her emotional state, after all half of her face was obscured by that mask, but that didn't mean he wouldn't match her stare with an equally burning gaze.

Hearing her comment, the black dog let out a sharp laugh. "Well, in that case your behavioural age does not match your real age!" He raised a hand to his mouth, as if to stifle another brief chuckle. "But my, you are a rather old creature then... Tell me... what manner of beast are you to live so long?" Eyeing her in intrigue, Ilmari took a step closer. She didn't look that old, but then again many creatures didn't show their age- himself included. 

Shaking his head he watched passively as she cleaned up the mess, a mischievous sparkle glimmering in his eyes. "Repeating my actions still makes you just as bad.  Really now Lynn, how does that teach a child a single thing? It just shows their actions to be acceptable... and it reinforces the behaviour..." 

Seeing the cards being placed on the table, a smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. She didn't want him to put them on the floor again but... wasn't that just an open invitation to do so?

With little effort the black dog slid over so he was leaning on the table, a hand cupped around the back of the cards. He was ready, waiting for the moment that he could strike once more. 

Locking sights with the girl once again he raised an eyebrow, beginning to talk. "Well, you believe me to be younger than you initially believed? Simply for my attitude? I do hate to prove you wrong, but sadly, attitude has no bearing on age... even the oldest of creatures can cause mayhem if they so desire..." Slowly, he began inching the cards closer to the edge of the table. "Even when they are told to stop by another... it is somewhat tragic really, but enjoyable nevertheless. So maybe I am old... perhaps I am young... but either way..." He motioned his head towards the cards, which were now leaning dangerously off the edge of the table.

"I am forever, a devil at heart~"

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Ruff Day ~ [{Lynn and Ilmari}]

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A yelp left Lynn when the man threw a card right at her. It hit in her forehead and while it didn’t hurt, it did irritate her. Before she could even blink, her tower was down and the cards were scattered all along the floor. 

Again. 

Who did he even think he is? This…Ilmari, person. Weren’t manners supposed to be taught at a young age? 

She glared at the other in front of her. “…I would have thought someone like you would know how to act.” She picked up the card that was thrown at her and flicked it right back at him, hitting his nose. “Then again, I heard the average human two year old misbehaves quite often.”

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Crimson eyes glimmering with delight at the sight of the fallen cards, Ilmari let out a brief chuckle. He very much disliked being shown up, even if he was the one to initiate the challenge in the first place. That meant the sight of the cards scattering the floor once more, coupled with what he’d deem irritated behaviour from this ‘Lynn’ was a definitely desirable outcome.

But as she spoke, a degree of confusion hit him. Someone like him? What was that even meant to mean? Allowing a frown to cross his features, the black dog let out a frustrated huff.

“And could you please enlighten me to exactly what that-”

His words were abruptly cut off by a flying card slamming into his face. Scrunching up his nose he let out a brief growl of surprise, raising a hand to paw at the wound. 

Huh... that actually hurt.

Fixing her with his gaze he blinked a few times before responding, displeasure easily seen in his expression.

“If you are classing me as a two year old human Lynn, then I believe that your eyesight, your grasp of aging and basic human biology could do with a bit of improvement.” With the corners of his lips twitching into a brief smile, he added. “Although, for arguments sake, considering that you threw a card straight back at me, that makes you just as much of a two year old...”

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Ruff Day ~ [{Lynn and Ilmari}]

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Lynn stared blankly at the man at the table. He sure did talk a lot and she was taking a while to fully comprehend everything he said. Most of what he said sounded like he was talking to himself really and the words that did sound like they were directed towards her, were pretty rude. 

Without a word, she walked towards the table, the heels of her boots clicking against the tile floor. She rolled the sleeves of her cardigan up to her elbows and picked up the cards placed on the table. One or two of the cards were still on the floor but she decided she had enough to work with.

Her long, thin fingers quickly went to work, placing cards down onto the table. It took her a few minutes but a small tower was soon built. She smiled a little, though it wasn’t visible to the other since her mask was still on her face, and turned to him.

“…It isn’t as complicated as you make it seem.” She bent down, picking up one of the missing cards before placing it on top of the man’s head. “My name is Lynn, by the way…”

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Patiently, Ilmari waited for a response, his crimson eyes still burning as he watched the young girl. Time passed, bit by bit, and yet she made no move to respond. Rather frustrated at this, he went to comment once more, only to be interrupted as she stepped forward, pacing over to the cards.

Ah... was she really going to challenge his tower-making skills?

A smirk began to cross his features, there was no way this girl co-

That very smirk was quickly wiped from his face. In a matter of minutes she built a tower, of a debatably better quality than his own. Blinking in disbelief at the creation, he let out a disgruntled sigh. This was ridiculous... what was this girl playing at?!

Turning his attention to look at her, he kept his position very close to the table, listening to her speak. Well, what a way to add insult to injury.

"That was nothing but a fluke. I apologise but you may have built that swiftly, but it is not structurally sound." Keeping his sights trailed on her, he subtly raised his foot, hoping the gesture was mostly hidden by his robe. For a second however, he paused, as she reached over to... put a card on his head.

His expression instantly warped into one of abject disapproval. What was she thinking? What purpose did that even serve? Locking his gaze onto her he reached up to his head, taking the card.

“And... what purpose did that serve?” He mused, gesturing to her with the card as he did so. 

But it appeared as though an opening had been presented to him. Without so much as blinking he threw the card at her, with a simple flick of his hand. Yet at the same time he didn’t miss a beat, and nudged the table with his foot, with hopefully just enough force to make her tower collapse. Call him a sore loser, but he really didn't like being shown up.

"Well Lynn, complexity is a matter of perspective. I would say that it is a pleasure to meet you, but given the circumstances and the strange, dingy building... I am unsure if that is the case." Pausing for a moment, he continued to act as if he had done nothing, offering the girl a small smile. "And for introduction's sake, my name is Ilmari."

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Arise ~ {[ Ilmari and Bowen ]}

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【♝~】           Oh, what cruel and piercing words. Now see, if Bowen had let what Ilmari was saying bother him then well, it wouldn’t be that much fun would it. Raising a brow at the other’s laugh, the slightly shorter male let out a scoff of his own.

         ”I shall not be the one backstabbing. To stab a man in the back is merely a coward’s game, and as I have said, that is not my aim. In fact, I was not readying myself to hurt anyone here, unless it was so appropriate." This man was starting to grate against Bowen a little. And by a little, he knew it was a lot. Whether or not he was just trying to get beneath his skin was unknown, however, Bowen had a knack for being able to steel himself. So really it wasn’t all too hard to take the man’s words with a pinch of salt.

Because that’s really all it was. A salty man with a salty attitude to match.

But that was when the other paused. What was he thinking about now? Had he finally added one and one together? Was he finally aware of who he was talking to? Bowen didn’t enjoy putting himself on a pedestal, however being Cordula’s second in command brought a reputation onto him, and one he would plan to uphold for the sake of her organisation.

And that was when Ilmari began to talk again.

Of course, there it was. The slanderous tongue against Cordula’s line of work, her opinions and her values. Yes, this male before him was one of those part of an organisation that were repulsed by Cordula, and in turn she was repulsed by them. No wings, tainted angels… What right did they have to a second chance. They were among the ranks of demons.

But what was this? Perhaps Bowen had not seen the type of demon Ilmari was before, but the fact that he’d be in trouble if he did? Laughable to say the least. Bowen remained silent and let the other have his time, place a hand at his hip to show mild disinterest in the whole situation in itself. He did listen though, listened to the reason as to why a demon like himself would care for the lowest kind of angels, listened to his protest against Cordula’s organisation, it just felt like a one man riot at this point.

However, just as Bowen was about to speak up again, something different caught him off guard.

The other’s fist came in direct contact with the red clad male’s face, knocking him off balance if but for a moment. An audible yelp escaped Bowen as he was hit, one hand clutching to the wall for balance whilst the other was brought to a now bleeding lip. So he really did have a problem. Glancing up, Bowen had no other choice but to listen to the concluding threatening message of Ilmari, the taste of his own blood stinging him a little as the back of his hand tried to stop it from dripping any further from his mouth. Just as the other had finished, Bowen shook his head, a brow raised and a snide smirk creeping at the corner of his lips.

        “You are blinded. Naive. However I shall take your advice, and not endanger myself any further." He spoke with mock sarcasm and a slight tint of bitterness. Oh how he wanted to punch the other back for his words. In fact. He had a better idea. With a simple chuckle, and without a breath of hesitation, Bowen slipped the small knife from his pocket, and with some force, bringing his forearm to hit against Ilmari’s chest in order to back him into the nearest wall, finishing the move by placing the blade of the knife gently against the other’s neck.

        "Leave me to my opinions, demon, and I will leave you to yours. Do not threaten me or you shall be the one regretting it.”

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As the other scoffed, Ilmari let out another brief chuckle. He was going to achieve nothing with either his words or his attitude by now. That angel had dug his grave, and no amount of speaking would save him now.

"I very much doubt that. As you have so stated it is a coward's game- and you match that criteria more than anyone I have ever met. In fact, if you have no aim of hurting other's, do tell me what item you picked? Besides, as I have said you are an incredibly poor judge of who deserves what punishment." 

Raising an eyebrow, he observed the other silently. It was obvious that he disliked his words. It was understandable. Few would freely accept slander to those they deemed their superiors, and as much as he disliked them, Cordula's organisation was no exception. That didn't make the weight his words carried any less important though. He wanted Bowen to know how disgusting that he, and many others, found his actions to be, and that was part of the reason he punched him.

Watching his fist collide directly with Bowen's face brought a smile to his face. It was satisfying, being able to finally inflict some damage on that damned male after all the catastrophe he was a partner to. Finally, he caught him off guard. It was just a bonus that he was on his own and had to battle on his own terms. It often took a lot to truly anger the Black Dog, and years of he and his friends being tortured and relentlessly attacked by these barbarians... he'd had enough. That was why he relished this moment. It was a twisted sort of justice, but it was also a chance for him to perhaps pass some sort of understanding to Bowen. Sometimes words didn't get through to those blinded by ideals. With his smile turning into a frustrated sneer, he bared his teeth at the angel. Fangs gleaming in the light a faint growl reverberated in the back of his throat. That snide little smirk... he wanted to completely wipe it off of his face. As he began to speak the hand that had a hold of his hammer tightened around its handle. Was he going to react...? Involuntarily he growled, opening his mouth to respond.

Only to  find himself shoved against the wall with a knife to his throat.

Unable to hold it back, a throaty laugh left his lips. The metal was cold against his throat, the threat of it being sliced all too real. Even the arm that slammed into him brought forth a pained hiss, and the thoughts that with such pressure he was sure to be left with a bruise. But he wasn't going to let that stop him- he still had a few tricks up his sleeve so to speak. This petty little knife would do little damage if he decided to shift... but that didn't mean it wouldn't hurt in the mean time. He needed to get out, and swiftly. So locking his gaze with Bowen's, his crimson eyes burned with unspeakable hatred. Attempting to put the other off with his look he continued to giggle, fighting the other's words with his mocking laughter. He just needed a few seconds to throw him off, and hopefully then he wouldn't be expecting a rapid counterattack...

So as he finally drew to a close with his little speech, Ilmari's hand tightened around the hammer.

And...

In the blink of an eye the Black Dog raised his arm, flipping the hammer so its claw was poised ready to attack.  Without mercy he buried the tool into the exposed flesh of Bowen's neck, catching the collar of his shirt as he did so. Yet he didn't stop there.

Whilst he still had a moment he used all of his strength to push in the claw as far as he could, wiggling it around to maximise the damage. It was the only way he’d get the other to back off... he had to show that he was a strong adversary. Then with a mighty shove he slammed his other arm into the other's chest, showing little regard for the knife at his throat.

"They are not mere opinions when others are mindlessly killed for them! They are ghastly, vulgar ideals! Do not raise your weapon to me when you barely comprehend the nature of what you are facing Bowen Grants! This is your last chance to show that you have the smallest amount of sense. I told you not to spout any more vulgarities about the no-wings!"

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☮ ♫ ✖ ☃

☮: : How they keep calm.

       Overall, Ilmari is actually a rather calm person. Generally an instinctive reaction is for him to tug at something- which is normally the hoop of his collar (whilst he does play with this a lot, it’s more of a pulling motion when he’s trying to keep calm). He also attempts to rile up the other party in a sort of defensive way, as an outlet for his own frustrations. Although if it gets too much he will excuse himself with a sarky comment, and spend some time on his own to ensure he doesn’t snap. Usually in this time he’ll first ensure he’s breathing slowly, then he’ll quickly find something else to occupy his mind with.

“I will deal with my emotions on my own watch. Time alone is the key to remaining calm. Often others can amplify our feelings.”

♫: : Favorite music genres.

     Ilmari doesn’t actually listen to much music, however when he does his tastes don’t generally fit into a certain genre. He pretty much just likes music that has a story behind it, that has a more gentle rhythm, and is generally slower.

✖: : A trait they despise in people.

    The main thing Ilmari hates in people is a lack of respect for life. He sees no reason for people to cast aside another’s life for trivial matters. He’s just seen too much death to accept needless killing or people throwing away the time they have. From this, he also very much hates people who show needless cruelty, especially to those who need help from the said cruel party. He might be snappy, but he’s never deeply mean unless someone has really earned it in his eyes.

“Do not stand idle as time ticks by. We must seize the chances we have, and fight for our own futures.”

☃: : Would they build a snowman?

     Yes, Ilmari would build a snowman! However if there were other people around he’d stick more in the background, observing rather than getting right in. Given that he was on his own, or with other trusted people, he might just start to build a snowman. Albeit quietly as he works to make it look as good as he can- he very much enjoys putting detail into things. As we’ve seen with the card tower, he’d hate to build a snowman only to have it destroyed because of distractions from others.

“If the world is silent and covered in a sheet of white snow, I may be tempted to venture outside and make the most of the weather.”

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☭ sup bitch

You’re in for it now...

Battle Theme: Rage Awakened Battle intro: “Keep your wits about you Bowen. Even the shadows will be against you in this battle.”Victory: “... Now step away with what little dignity you have left.”Defeat: “Winning this single battle will never make you a better man. Walk away from this knowing that you are a shame among angels.”Assist: “And yet, you still turn to the ‘demon’ for help? Interesting.”Taunt: “Watch your back angel, or you may join those no-wings you so despise...”Reacting to Taunt: “It will take more than your words to invoke my ire.”Tie: “You battle with such confidence yet you still stand on the same ground as me. Surely Cordula taught you better?”Perfect Victory: “Cross me again and you will find that I will make even your disgusting leader look merciful. Understood?”

[sokumotanaka-deactivated2018121]

Send ☭ for a vs. battle quote to your muse

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Includes

Battle Theme:

Battle intro:

Victory:

Defeat:

Assist:

Taunt:

Reacting to Taunt:

Tie:

Perfect Victory:

You can also put the word “Boss” in front of the symbol and I’ll write it as a boss battle instead of just a generic battle.

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Headcanons!

☠: Their worst habit.

☮: How they keep calm.

♥: How they show affection.

♕: Their most prized possessions.

★: Their favorite celebrity.

☼: Favorite season.

☁: How they feel about cold weather.

☻: Person who could without a doubt make them happy.

☹: A thought that makes them sad.

♫: Favorite music genres.

✍: A langauge they can speak.

✖: A trait they despise in people.

△: Views on lgtbq issues

ツ: A guilty desire of theirs.

☃: Would they build a snowman

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cyfiawnderdwyfol:

【♝~】          “I cannot say I agree with your words, since your bias is so easy to sniff out. I am no puppet. I simply know the right way to look at the world. Perhaps you should try it sometime, demon. Your little group of tainted and no-winged scum will find it better that way.”

"It is rather amusing that you deem yourself the one able to sniff things out, your nose is hardly anything to marvel at... Regardless, your world view is flawed. I know my own view is far from perfect but it is much better than persecuting the worse off for trivial things, angel. Unfortunately I doubt any of our views will alter soon. Particularly in the presence of unconvincing and frankly idiotic claims from an individual such as yourself."

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Arise ~ {[ Ilmari and Bowen ]}

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【♝~】           The other opened back up his argument with more words that made him sound even worse than before. Bowen wasn’t usually the type to let petty insults get to him, but there was something about the words this other was saying that was already driving him insane.  

        “It is not lying, and nor am I a snake. Do not take my words the wrong way, I am not in any way trying to hurt an innocent. I will use the game to my advantage against those who try to harm other people." He didn’t expect cooperation, he just expected a degree of decency, which neither of these two thought the other had, and Bowen had every right to think so at this point. He wasn’t ready to let people side with this other male, especially if he felt like walking around looking threatening and intimidating was going to get him anywhere.

At least with Bowen’s method, he could figure things out in a civil, and calmer way.

Though he watched as the other fell silent. Did he recognise his name? Of course, if anyone had heard about Cordula, then perhaps Bowen’s name would have been given in passing, but he didn’t realise that people under Cordula were given a reputation. Whilst it felt nice, he could only wonder what kind of information he was told. Actually. You didn’t need to tell him.

’Oh that woman! Foul angel! Making people ingest demon blood! Hating no wings and tainted! Oh no, no no!!'

In fact, that just made Bowen laugh inwardly. People really had no idea of her reasons, and yet no one would give her the time of day. What a world of hypocrites they lived in. Shortly after all this, Bowen hadn’t actually caught wind of why the other was smiling like he was, and to be honest he didn’t really want to know.

However, his interest was piqued at the new knowledge of this man, Ilmari. He claimed he has been called a demon, and that was enough to put Bowen on guard. And demon before an angel could only lead to bed news. Speaking in riddles and anticlimatic sentences again only left Bowen a tid bit more frustrated. An irritated sigh left his mouth as he piped up to speak again, but the words completely left him as the other explained his line of work.

And no, it wasn’t the trinket shop that had him speechless.

That name. That organisation leader. That traitorous, no wing, tainted harbouring angel known as Esa Leight. Ilmari worked under them!? Bowen had known of this organisation. Cordula had a young girl work recon, not that they had heard back from her in a while. A few others who had managed to slip through Cordula’s hands had wound up there too… Those others that got away spread slanderous word about Cordula’s way of work and dealing with things… Lonán, Coralie, Jasper…

All this was enough to make Bowen’s expression form one of disgust.

         ”I should have known. It seemed like you were the type of person to sink to all new lows as to work for such a filthy group of angels. How can you harbour such… Foul angels! No-wings… Tainted… The weak. And now they are even allowing the likes of bad omens, demons within their ranks…! Oh, Cordula would have a field day if she knew of this information." Bowen shook his head, glancing to the side with an expression that was nothing more than a grimace. After all that information had been divulged, he wasn’t particularly sure whether he wished to keep up this discussion with this man. Yet he still had another question.

        “Why do you work for them. You are some kind of demon as you have so eloquently put forward. Why do you care for angels, and for some reason, you choose the lowest to work with. It is sickening."

[reluctantomen-blog]

Shaking his head in disbelief, Ilmari let out a mocking laugh. Did Bowen really think he could defend himself after such a fiasco? There was no way he was about to let him get away with that.

"It is both of those things. Judging by your words you are more than capable of hurting an innocent as you have incredibly poor judgement as to who is guilty. You will use the game to your advantage. That should be where your sentence ended. Don't think your foul lies will slide past me. You wait to backstab someone on your own whim. I don't masquerade as a friend to anyone unless I am. Open your eyes, you are a sneak." This was beyond laughable. He'd known something was off about this man, and as things were piecing together, he was growing more and more irate at his presence. He was going to have to watched him, and watch him with the tenacity of a hawk at that.

Exhaling gently, Ilmari let him have his little rant as he silently stood there, attempting to look disinterested by studying his nails. He'd heard these vulgarities far too many times, especially after joining Esa's organisation, and frankly he was at his wits end. But he wouldn't show him that just yet. Oh no. He'd let it build for a moment, before showing this man that slander of such a degree was never going to be tolerated. But one other word amid the others caught his attention.

Cordula.

That foul... disgusting woman! It was all so clear now, he should have guessed that the other couldn't work for anyone else but her. She'd caused so much carnage... so much death... and worst of all she had played a hand in harming those close to him. Multiple times.

"I should have realised that a snake such as yourself would work for an even more repulsive creature." His words carried a very sharp edge, fury clear to hear. He tried his best to pass of his comments for a few moments, letting him finish his accusations, letting the anger from many circumstances build up.

"Why do I work for them?" The Black Dog echoed, raising his eyebrow as if he was deep in thought. "And I am not the sort of demon you have dealt with Bowen. Not that sort at all. In fact, generally, if you attacked one of my kind I believe you would be in for a lot of trouble..." 

Locking his gaze with the angel’s, he fought back the urge to wring his throat for his statements. This man reminded him exactly of the other Black Dogs. Scorning and reprimanding their own kind for trivial things, that was the real disgusting behaviour around here. But on top of that... having those angels that he called his friends, that he called his lover, being referred to as 'disgusting' really lit a fuse.

"I care for these angels because their own kind has a knack for shunning those who need their help the most. I had known that your angelic politics had some issues, but never did I realise it was this horrific." Seemingly calmly, Ilmari slipped the hammer back into his pocket, making an effort for show Bowen that he was no longer armed.

"You've got this all wrong."

Without hesitation, Ilmari balled his hand into a fist and moved to punch Bowen square in the face with all of his might. Not for a moment did his expression waver, a burning fire in his eyes the only indication that he had struck a nerve. He really couldn't help the action, his arm moving without so much as a second thought. Never would he let those words go unpunished, and he wanted the satisfaction of dealing with things with his own hands.

"I work with the most noble beings I have ever met. I work with them because I have seen their care for life, and found a home where I should not have found a ditch! If I hear the words 'no-wing' or 'tainted' leave your mouth again without it being in a positive light, I vow Bowen Grants, that you will not leave this place intact!"

[reluctantomen-blog]

Unease ~ [{Jane and Ilmari}]

[justanothernamelesskiller-blog]

Jane was confused, her perfume? Oh she was probably still smothered in it from her last mission, her last kill was a hard one, and she hadto get up close and personal. Speaking of that… Where was her dress, the heels? She hadn’t checked her face but she assumed it would still be dolled up but then again her hair was in loose waves around her face. All of this was particularly strange, again questions raged through her mind, making her wonder what the purpose of her being here was. However she could understand why this male had a problem with the perfume she was wearing, it wasn’t her taste either but Amanda had sprayed it on her because it was her victims favorite scent. 

“Sorry” came a quick nervous response, Jane met his eyes noting they were a red colour. Hmmm interesting she thought saving that information for later, her own aqua eyes locking his gaze to hers.

Jane continued to study the man as he was her, her fingers played with the knife in her pocket numbly, a habit she guessed. The man in front of her gave her a weird vibe like he wasn’t all human? The longer she spent with the man the more the room started to smell more like dog to her, what was going on?

Jane shook her head minimally keeping her eyes on the male. To her surprise he spoke again, his words were the obvious that she had already gathered but it was nice to put a face to a bed, if that was an ok thing to say.

“Well that was a little obvious no?” Her tone was snippy with a touch of annoyance, “Hopefully we can be out of each others hairs soon then?” Her tone lightened at that, a small smile graced her lips.

His amusement at her name was something she was used too, however the male did not seem to mean it in a bad way. Smacking his arm lightly like a friend would to another friend, letting her smile grow Jane speaks up “Oh shhh you, i need a name like that in my profession” Her voice trailing off a little.

“I do not believe it’s stupid, try finding me and you’ll soon realize that theres too many Jane Doe’s to count or have you forgotten what Jane Doe means?” Her voice lost the warmth it held just a moment ago, a deadly edge coated her words.

Jane could see how confused the male was with her, she revealed in this, it left him open to attack if she felt the need to go with that side of her nature. His handshake was firm and not what she was expecting, he seemed to be a strong man and even stronger willed from the way he grasped her hand. Jane was taught from a young age that the way you shook a person’s hand told them a lot about you, she just hoped hers didn’t give too much away.

“Ilmari” She tasted the name on her tongue, hmmm it was different, “I’m glad we agree, now i’m a woman who lives by rules, do you have any you would like me to follow?” Jane felt this was most certainly important if she was going to be living with the guy, but surprisingly her eyes never wavered from his, her eyes staying open, she had been taught never to look away first….

[reluctantomen-blog]

Sniffing the air again, Ilmari rapidly shook his head in an effort to dispel the smell. The more he breathed, the stronger it seemed to get. The smell crept right up his nose, and if he wasn't careful he'd likely end up sneezing from it sometime soon. But briefly it made him wonder, could she smell a strange scent on him? Even if she did, the woman before him looked human. There was nothing explicitly that could mark her out as supernatural, and being of that origin himself, usually there were cues, things that you could pick up on to indicate as such. At least that meant she'd likely not be able to smell anything. 

Noting that she apologised, he simply watched her for a moment. It was a strange thing to apologise for, and he felt it wasn't really following up on. He’d just have to watch for that smell later on.

"A little obvious, but you also didn't seem to pick up on it." Shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly he ignored her snippy tone. "But maybe we can, but personally I am rather liking this conversation. It's a bonding experience." Despite his blank tone, the sarcasm was easy to hear in his words.

"In your profession?" He echoed her statement, idly raising an eyebrow to the statement. Like they weren't words that would mark you out as someone to be watched. But as she hit his shoulder, he let out a small amused huff. This woman didn't seem to do consistency in her attitude. Taking advantage of the situation he placed a hand on her shoulder, much like a friend too, before leaning down and speaking. "Well I very much doubt that you groom kittens for a living, correct?"

Unable to hide back a small laugh, he gave her a nod. She certainly was good, the venom in those words even making his skin crawl for a moment. But whilst she was good, he was better.

"Too many Jane Doe's to count... but only one who stands before me with such an air of suspicion." Raising a hand he gestured dramatically alongside his words before falling completely stoic once more. This was a serious game that was being played. "Tell me Jane, if you are seeking an alias.... this is a rather poor one. It may be common, but it singles you out just as well. And do remember as far as I know, there is only one Jane Doe here, and now I know your face. You are no longer anonymous in this crowd. So if you are hiding something... I'd advise watching your step. Take that as a simple warning."

Without further explanation, he fell quiet, turning his attention to the handshake. Her own grip was rather sturdy, and she didn't seem to waver too much at his own firm grasp. Squeezing her hand for a second before he broke off the handshake, he continued to eye her suspiciously.

As she said his name, he offered her a small nod, as if to approve of her pronunciation. It wasn't the most complex of names, but there were some that would get it wrong. Yet just as he was thinking about that, the woman's second statement caught him off guard. She was asking about rules he wished to implement? Well, it made sense, given they were to live together, but he was hardly expecting her to be so blunt with it in the first place.

"Rules? Primarily I would highly endorse the rule of 'no killing anyone, particularly in their sleep'. I believe that is a good starting point." Still maintaining her gaze, he smiled in her direction, the toothy smirk designed to be somewhat threatening. He had no clue of the true nature of this situation, nor of this 'Jane', and so he'd try and play things as best as he could. If he could find out her stance on things it would also be helpful...

"Aside from the other general societal rules, I'd quite like you to respect my general living space and possessions." He paused to gesture at his bed. "But you look like a decent woman, and I'm sure being someone who lives by the rules, you understand that there are consequences when you do not."

Still maintaining her steely gaze he let out a breath, wondering how long this was to go on for...

[reluctantomen-blog]

Arise ~ {[ Ilmari and Bowen ]}

[cyfiawnderdwyfol-blog-blog]

【♝~】           This man spoke in riddles, headache inducing sentences and anticlimatic verses. Everything that Bowen had asked for had not been divulged and everything he didn’t ask for had been said. He wasn’t looking for scenarios and what ifs, he was looking for answers and information, which this other man couldn’t seem to offer.

And that wasn’t the only thing that bugged Bowen about this guy.

It was something else. His presence, his aura, something felt off. He’d never met this person but his sheer appearance alone set the angel on edge. He’d tolerate looking like a threat, but he didn’t seem to understand the consequences that lay beneath that.

       ”You wouldn’t mind looking like a threat, however, if you get on the wrong side of something or someone, you are the one that will pay the heavy price. Self-defense is all fine and well until you find yourself crossing paths with the wrong kind of people." Bowen paused just as the other huffed. With a brief grimace, he tilted his head to one side as the male before him asked another question. Surely the answer to that should have been obvious, either way, Bowen answered without so much as a breath of hesitation.

        “Becoming allies with the danger can only let you figure them out from the inside out. If they are truly dangerous then the closer you are to them, the easier it is to find their weakness. Extending caution is a coward’s game, and a game I do not wish to play." Watching closely at the other toying around with the hammer in his grip made Bowen slightly on edge however. He didn’t know what this other was capable of, nor did he wish to find out. Unless this guy was planning on attacking. Either way, Bowen was not in the mood for a fight. At least not yet.

His snark however was only growing tiresome. With a roll of his eyes Bowen chose to sit through the sarcastic replies from the other, only to be told to offer his name and species before he would. Normally a childish response would have suggested that where Bowen had asked first, it was only general decency that they other would respond and answer in a way that was appropriate.

However, even though this was just the start of their conversation, it was clear to Bowen that this man had no common decency. So alas, he answered the other.

       ”If you must know first, my name is Bowen Grants. However you may call me Bowen, if that did not feel obvious enough." He figured to fight snark with snark at this point, this man had already given Bowen a headache. "I am an angel working under an organisation of demon hunters. Now that you know more than you probably needed, it is your turn to present your own information.”

[reluctantomen-blog]

"Only the idiotic would pass off assurance of protection as anything more than that. I am ready to defend myself, and I have not brought anyone harm. My actions display honest intentions. It is far better than being a liar, as I am guessing you are, and preaching a more subtle philosophy. I would rather know that someone is willing to protect themselves, it benefits people far more. Take that as you wish." 

Raising an eyebrow, Ilmari fought back a triumphant grin. My, this man had just walked straight into an oncoming storm. "So you are a snake." He mused, expression turning mocking. The angel had just blatantly stated that he was the sort to make allies only to exploit them and their weaknesses. And that was a foul sort at that. People like him would judge people threats for the smallest of things. "Well thank you for freely announcing that you are not to be trusted. I warn you now- expect little cooperation on my part. Perhaps if you extended some of that oh so despised caution, I would not have the necessary ammunition to possibly turn many potential allies against you with a mere slip of the tongue." His threat was clear, expression remaining solidly passive. There was no way he'd let people trust such a foul being...

Bowen Grants...? The name rang a bell. He knew he'd heard it somewhere before, but where exactly evaded him. Yet as he heard those words, he felt himself bristle, as if there was something negative there. 

"Well really I was planning on merely calling you Sir Grants, but Bowen is also fine by me."

Giving the angel a snide smile, he bared his teeth in the grin for a moment before turning more serious once more. This man was a demon hunter... much like the angels he knew. Judging by the prevailing reputation of the organisation he was a part of, this man would either be the sort that despised the ones he was close to, or he was a sympathizer.

Judging by his attitude, he doubted this man cared much for no-wings and tainted angels.

"Thank you for the information though." For a few moments he remained silent, almost as though he was trying to make the other think that he had no plans whatsoever of divulging his own identity. But finally, he inhaled, and flickered his crimson sights to the other. 

"My name is Ilmari Lowell." He straightened his posture, tone remaining deadpan as he spoke. "Unfortunately you may not find what I am going to say next too favourable. Do brace yourself Bowen." The Black Dog had no plans of skimping on expressing his views here, and he wished to quickly find out if he and this man were to ever get along, or if they’d even be able to tolerate one another.

"I am one of many, and a bad omen so to speak. Many call us demons, other say we are spirits, I even came across one man who assumed I was a figment of his imagination-a trick of the light. But I will leave that to your own interpretation." Beginning to toy with the hoop on his collar once more, Ilmari arched himself in such a way that he assumed a more dominant pose. There wasn't much between them in terms of height, but he just peeked in with that advantage, and planned to make use of it. Although his next words were somewhat playful, sinister connotations were hidden underneath. He wanted this angel to know he stood by his allies no matter what. 

"I also currently spend my days working in what you may call... a trinket shop. However I have another, perhaps surprising avenue of employment. You see Bowen, I am also under the care and employment of an organisation of demon hunters." The creeping sensation of slight enjoyment at taking his time to reveal the information was beginning to sweep over Ilmari, and another small smirk pulled at his lips. The name Bowen... the fact he worked at an angel organisation... things were piecing together. If this man was who he thought he was... well this may quickly turn sour. Not that he wouldn't play around first.

"We're actually a rather well known Organisation in ourselves, one with quite the reputation, as I am sure you may know when things piece together. So tell me Bowen, does the name Esa Leight ring any bells in that empty head of yours?"

[medicalwolf]

Fluff Butt Boogie [Closed: Nawat and Ilmari]

[medicalwolf]

When at first the ears lowered and the growling started up Nawat paused in his approach. His ears perked up high and he kept his body language relaxed and friendly. The three eyed dog was huge, bigger them most quadrupeds Nawat had interacted with.

But hey the growling had stopped and his tail was up high, it was safe for him to approach again. There was the faint smell of human underneath Nawat’s wolfyness, the scent clearer the closer he got. Until they were face to face and Nawat started to sniff away to get a better idea of the giant dog.

In fact he was going straight up doing a full canine inspection. Circling around the massive dog he was sniffing his way up and down, tail continuing to wag as he gave of confident and friendly body language.

[reluctantomen-blog]

Licking his chops absentmindedly as the wolf approached, Ilmari cast a flippant gaze to him as he began to sniff away, quite contentedly getting a good whiff of him. Giving the air a good sniff himself he wrinkled his nose, catching a strange scent beneath that of the wolf. Just what was that...? It was so familiar...

That was it. Human. The wolf had a whiff of human about him.

It was too strong to be the lingering smell of someone who’d come into contact with him, and the way the smells melted together... it was almost as they were one. How interesting... he could draw no conclusion's about this creature's species just yet, but there was an inkling that this was definitely another fantasy creature. But no matter the species, he couldn't help himself relax into the meeting. It had been a rather long time since he'd really had a run in with another beast that wasn't a black dog, at least in this form. Regardless of what happened, the canine looked friendly, and he highly doubted that he'd be able to do much damage at that size if he wasn't.

So, for now this meeting was worth trusting.

A little tentatively his tail began to wag, slowly swishing through the air. Crouching down he padded around carefully, reciprocating the full body sniffs. He kept his body language rather loose, curving himself around to smell the other, this time a little closer to his rear as he moved by.

[reluctantomen-blog]

Ruff Day ~ [{Lynn and Ilmari}]

[somberink-blog-blog-blog]

Since her nap was interrupted and there were a few rooms she missed while wandering around, Lynn decided to continue exploring. She believed she was by the infirmary at the moment. Was it anything worth looking at? Probably not. With that, she walked down the hallway, unsure how to feel about how silent it was. 

After a few minutes, she found herself standing between two doors. If she remembered correctly, the door to her left was the bathroom but she wasn’t sure if she had ever checked the door to her right. Shrugging, she went inside. There was no harm in looking, right?

As soon as she stepped into the room, she paused. There was a man she didn’t recognize sitting at a small table, playing with…cards? It looked like he was building some type of tower. Lynn stood there, wondering if she should make her presence known to him or not. She looked around, trying to find something worth staying for first. 

That lasted for a good minute or two before the man at the table let out a loud yelp, startling her. She turned her attention back to him only to find him, the table…and the floor covered in cards. Lynn was about to open her mouth to speak but he spoke first, throwing her off. Causing needless destruction? All she did was walk into the room! “…I am afraid I do not know what you mean…? I was not the one who knocked your poorly made tower over.” It wasn’t supposed to come out as an insult, but it was the truth.

[reluctantomen-blog]

Eyes blazing with uncanny anger for such a trivial action, Ilmari locked his sights on the female, disbelief written all over his features. Without so much as letting his gaze waver, he reached into one of his sleeves, pulling out a card which had somehow made its way in there. Lifting it into the air, he gestured idly with it as he began to talk, clearly frustrated.

"You do not know what I mean?"

His words were blunt, dripping with venomous anger. How could this girl be so vehemently rude? She not only had to surprise him, but had to go as far as to mock the tower he'd spent some time on. It would have been fine had he taken it apart at his own will, but something about it being shattered upon near completion was far, far worse.

"You walked in here, without so much as an indication that you were there... I do not take kindly to surprises." Finally breaking his gaze with her he let out a sigh, placing the card carefully on the table. For a few moments he remained silent, gathering the cards that he could, and placing them in a neat pile. "I suppose... you are not... entirely at fault. But do know that you seem to have a knack for scaring the living daylights out of people when they're concentrating."

Running a hand over his hair he turned to face her, his expression somewhat calmer. Although, it was easy to tell that under the surface- frustration still remained. 

"My tower was not poorly made. At all. In fact it was very well constructed given the materials. I do doubt that many people, including yourself could do a better job." His tone was incredibly defensive, his arms folding together.

"But seeing as you've interrupted me regardless, is there any reason you're here? And perhaps, if it is not out of the way, a name to put to your destructive influence would also be appreciated."

[reluctantomen-blog]

Ruff Day ~ [{Closed for Lynn}]

Being trapped inside a building was beginning to take its toll on Ilmari. Time seemed to drag, and with every passing moment he was becoming increasingly restless, pacing the length and breadth of the building with impatient vigour.

Until, he had decided to stop off in the Games Room. If anything, there had to be something there that could take his mind off of things- especially given that there seemed to be nothing else to do. Rummaging through the various shelves and compartments bore little fruit. There were books, but he’d quickly noted that there were pages ripped out of them- and there was no way he’d start a good read only to be left hanging. Yet just as he was going to give up, he stumbled across something.

A dusty deck of cards.

Gently he dusted down the box, tracing his fingers over the aging cardboard. It seemed as though these hadn’t been used in some time. Taking a seat at the small table, he spread them out across the surface, eyeing them suspiciously. All too predictably, he found himself faced with the most ridiculous deck he’d ever seen in his life.

Kings and Queens were replaced by a seemingly endless stream of Jokers, several of the cards drawn on to look like different numbers. It was a nightmare to even look at, and it would make playing many card games a more than arduous task.

Still, at least there was something he could do with them.

Glancing around the room to ensure he was alone, the Black Dog fully turned his attention to the cards. Delicately, he picked two of them up, softly resting them together in a triangular formation. Bit by bit, he began to build a magnificent tower, the caution and precision he was extending seemingly uncharacteristic of someone of his appearance.

After half an hour of endless work, he was down to his last two cards. Now on his feet he reached up, going to place them right at the top.

But something moved in the corner of his eye.

A surprised yelp involuntarily left his lips and he whirled to find who had walked into the room unnoticed to him. Only to find that the vicious movement caused his braid to whip through the air, destroying his magnificent monument in one foul swoop. Around him the cards cascaded in many different directions, decorating the room in a way they were never meant to.

And here he never expected to engage in a game of 52 card pickup.

Turning his gaze from the girl to the cards frantically his usually stoic expression had warped into one of exasperation. He should have known this was going to happen... he should have... Taking a deep breath Ilmari attempted to calm down, steeling himself for the impending conversation.

“Is there anything in particular that you are here for, or do you simply have a taste for causing needless destruction?”