Prepare for the #LodanRespawn2024 Existing characters may choose to be displace from/have memories of different timelines, thereby allowing returning members the option to retcon their whole character. These changes are the result of the "Unnatural Fog" plot device that is running between now and the Respawn. The plot is simple: no matter where your character is, that place is shrouded in a thick fog that suspends time, but not thoughts or memories, so even if they're repeating the same day over and over again, they continue to remember, so each time feels like a new day. For those retconning OCs; this is where new versions of themselves have the opportunity to replace the old versions. Official lore and tree updates will be announced asap
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Mar 10, 2014 2:37:39 GMT
"Oh? Well, that is good to know. If you're interested in an entertainer job, pass by the theater during daylight time and look for me. I'll get a CAEsAL badge for you and you'll be seen as a worker of our clear business---" Epikuro stopped talking when her ears caught the noise of a cup turning and she spotted the scene of Matches having just ruined Regis' drink. She sighed and rubbed the bridge of her own noise like an older sister forced to watch over her bratty little siblings. "--Matches, I am happy for your enthusiasm, but please behave." As for not shedding their own blood without reason, there were various motives; starting with not leaving evidence, yes, but also because dwindling their own numbers was really stupid and, in the end, there was really a strange type of fellowship between the assassins (and that could be attested as someone arbitrarily getting rid of an assassin was literaly writing their own name into the hitlists of another dozen). Following the idea that there they had the odd disjointed family of people who secretly kill people, then Addison and Stephen had just passed their 'adoption' trial. Fortunately or unfortunately, they were stuck with them now.
Epikuro almost felt sorry for the newbies; just almost - though she was mildly pleased by how polite one of them was acting even considering how casually brash all the others were, it was kind of cute. She watched contently as Stephen gone forward to try and lift Regis' mood. Hm, lovely newbies, yes, up to know she liked the two of them.
"All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." - John Dalberg-Acton
Post by Addison Halloway on Mar 10, 2014 3:48:46 GMT
Addison sat upright at the sudden burst of excitement coming from the table beside him. Matches' voice almost boomed but among the crowd he wasn't even that loud. Poor Regis, he thought to himself though he didn't actually mean it because all he could really see was that she and he would not get along to well. At least not for a very, very long time. Cutthroat maybe, Matches? He certainly intended to befriend as he could make use of the man. All in all, as he sat watching the three, he couldn't help the genuine, soft smile that graced his pale lips. If anyone had studied his face before and looked at him now, they could see the difference between his carefree smile and a real one.
The moment was interrupted however as he brought his mug up for another drink. No, he couldn't be let to show his softness, that deep within him there was actually something humane and it was rare moments like this when it stirred to life only to be shoved back down into the darkness. Another thought struck him as he swallowed around his drink. Was Matches an Ander or was he human? Did he get his name because he possessed magic that specialized in flames or was he a human who worked with fire? If he was ander, maybe he might be able to seek him as a mentor.
To Epikuro, his attention was once again snagged. An entertainer by day? He'd already be doing that, but a place where he could work and maybe make money? That sounded great. He watched Stephen briefly with his offer to Regis, then turned to Epikuro and replied, "I think I would very much appreciate that. Yes, I think I will seek you in the day to put in a more formal application where ever you may want me. Truth be told, I've delved in magic before. I've been a ringleader to a circus, I've performed many different jobs there, but I've never truly acted. Tonight was a sloppy en devour but if I can, I'd like to have a hand in the theater. Maybe become an actor or something, because if there is anything I love most when carrying out my deeds, is to deceive and manipulate. Acting might come in handy for that."
As-nas then smiled crookedly as he looked to Matches. "Maybe one day, you and I might actually get to work together then if you seem so fond of teamwork. Show me a trick or two, eh?"
"Ah I am sorry to see you have lost your drink. May I have the honor of buying you another Miss Regis?" She lifted her gaze to see Triune acting every ounce a gentleman and it felt odd, like a waking dream. Not quite reality but happening in real space and time. She shook her head to clear it then smiled.
"Yes thank you, how kind." She placed the empty mug on the table and shifted past Matches to go with Triune to get a new drink. As she passed him she whispered, "you can forget about that smoke, we're even now bub."
"Women," Matches grunted as he watched her walk away with the new kid. Pushing thoughts of the feisty blond from his mind he channeled into what As-nas was saying. So easily his leering smile returned to his face and crinkled the sides of his eyes. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours," he answered the boy back.
"Ahem," Cutty cut in, "Not all co-op work is intentional. Someone had better break that to the soloist when he returns from the bar. Sometimes when you pick your own targets, you find out the hard way you weren't the only one on their tail."
Post by Stephen Leland on Mar 11, 2014 1:29:46 GMT
Stephen nodded and got up to escort her. They maneuvered their way through the crowd to the bar as he talked "Ah it is nothing. I owe you for not winning the bet for you." he admitted giving her a polite smile. After all, she deserved something for the nice things she had said about him. That was the main basis of his kind treatment. To be frank, He would not have cared otherwise if she had not complemented him. Though her words may not have originally intended to flatter Stephen-most likely they had been to make him look better in order for her to win the bet- they still meant a lot to him.
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Mar 11, 2014 6:02:43 GMT
Epikuro turned her gaze back from Triune and Regis towards As-Nas, right in time to see him giving an unexpecredly soft little grin while he watched the others. "You have a nice smile." She said simply, a casual thought spoken aloud without any hidden implications before she restarted focusing on their talk properly said and paid attention to his requests about an acting job. Oh yes, the many benefits of a cover job, from extra money to offering alibi. "Hmm that makes sense. There are a few different groups that act plays during day, and one will be making auctions by the weekend if I remember well. I'll introduce you to them; make a good impression and you can consider yourself in. As for now... maybe Matches can give you a quick tour around the district since you seem to be getting along," She glanced at the reffered man while speaking "needless to mention, but he likes a good match (in both senses)." She couldn't recall right then if the man was an andersweltler or a human though. To her it didn't matter much since magic skills could be as useful as craftmanship in that kind of work, and the 'workers' tended to be a real mix of both types. She turned back to look at Cutthroat. "Feel free for that, Cutty. I mentioned the contretempts already, and am assuming he's a smart lad enough to do his math... but I guess a more direct warning will not hurt."
"All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." - John Dalberg-Acton
Post by Addison Halloway on Mar 11, 2014 7:20:26 GMT
The magician watched with amusement as Triune went off with Regis. Maybe this night would be entertaining after all if the other boy decided to try his luck with the blond woman. That had him wondering now if she and Matches were something special and if Matches was the overly jealous sort who would go pummel anyone who touched her. Probably not but you'd never guess the lot surrounding him were murderers either. It would be funny still to see the one eyed man try and fight or plead his way with Matches though even though he himself did not hate Triune. Entertainment is all he lived for.
Again the mug was brought to his lips for a drink but it was cut to a small sip as he nearly chokes on the liquid when Matches replies. He brings his sleeve to his mouth to wipe away the spill then looks to the other man with raised brows. An odd phrase but amusing. "Show you my what? I certainly do hope you mean what little skill I have," he said humbly but with a hint of jest. "If that is the case then of course, but in turn I do expect to learn why they really call you Matches," he answered with a small wink.
Epikuro's comment caught him off guard and his brows furrowed for but a moment. "Is that so," he asked with a half smile. "Well, I can't say I hear that often but thank you for the compliment. Hm, I am not sure if Matches would be up to that now or whether he'd rather save his princess from sir knight in shiny armor over there," he gestured with his mug in the direction of Triune and Regis. As-nas leaned back in his chair now feeling all too relaxed considering he was surrounded by people that killed others. "If he'd like to show me the distract, I'd be fine with that so long as he keeps his hands to himself. I'm not quite a woman anymore," he laughed then rolled his shoulder. "Epikuro, what are the theater auctions--Oh, and before I forget. Cutthroat was it? I wouldn't worry about Triune. I am sure he and I will be working together sometime in the near future."
"Yes of course," Cutthroat replied to Epikuro and bowed his head the slightest bit out of respect.
Matches nodded when Epikuro suggested he show the lad the district. As-Nas reply had him fighting to control his laughter. "Don't worry lad, you aint my type. We can swap tactics is all I meant," Taking the cigar back out of his pocket he lifted it to his lips before he remembered that smoking wasn't permitted on this floor and he sighed, putting it back away begrudgingly. "Force of habit..." he muttered to himself. Then his mind caught up with what else the kid said before he moved on to speaking with the others. Matches went cross-eyed for a second. "MY princess? huh-what?" He scooted his mug back and stood, shifting his weight from foot to foot. He didn't want to interrupt the kid while he was talking to Epikuro, but he couldn't let something like that just hang in the air.
"Listen kid, don't let that sassy little siren fool you, she aint no princess, and she definitely aint my-" he jerked his thumb over his shoulder and looked back with his eyes to make sure he was pointing in her direction. What he saw was the petite little killer smiling at the new guy and mouthing the words thank you - again - at the upstart. His words died off and his face turned an extra shade of red. He plunked himself back down on his stool and swiped up his drink angrily, raising it to his face and taking a long swig to hide his agitation. When he sat the mug back down he gave a satisfied smack of his lips in appreciation of the refreshment. "Like I said, that's no princess, and don't be mistaken, Regis is nobody's... never is... the cleaver." At the bar Regis gave a heartwarming smile at Triunes manners. "My my weren't you raised all noble-like! Not many of the sort in our line of work. Might not want to let too many hear you talk like that. They might not take you serious. Except for me," she added giving him a wink. "I've seen what you can do." She accepted the new drink and turned to shoulder her way back out of the masses crowding the bar for the bartenders attention. She reached through them to grab Triune's arm and try to pull him out of the fuss as she weaseled her way through.
Coming out on the other side she sobered her expression a little and spoke more seriously. "Really, aside from that little slip up with the witness, I think you are a clever wit, and good at what you do. You don't have to thank me for pointing it out to the others."
Post by Stephen Leland on Mar 12, 2014 0:44:56 GMT
"It does not really matter to me on whether people take me seriously or not. But I suppose I could not hurt to be a little less formal. To be honest I tend to get like this when I am somewhat nervous" he said wish a somewhat shy smile. "I appreciate that you take me seriously though." he added, looking at her with appreciation. As she tugged him out of the crowd he resisted the urge to snatch his arm back. He was not use to being touched, even more so by a woman. But she was just helping to lead him out of the rowdy crowd or drunks, no need to overreact. She did not remove her hand from his arm though once they made their way through the crowd. Maybe she had just forgotten. All this flattery was going to make him blush. "No need to complement me Miss Regis, it might go to my head. My skills are not worth bragging about. There are probably many in this group far more skilled then I." he said in amusement, giving her one of his rare, genuine smiles.
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Mar 12, 2014 1:58:59 GMT
"The theater auctions are like auditions in a way." Epikuro calmly drank the remainings of her drink and settled the empty mug back over the table. "But there are far too many acting groups... well, this is the Theater District afteral. Fact is, as things are now the groups are disputing actors for their plays instead of the actors disputing for a role. I'll introduce you to the ones present when you come by; you'll be requested to demonstrate some of your acting skills and as long as you're not absurdly terrible you should receive quite a few offers. Choose the one paying the highest, or that offers better benefits, what fancies you better - literal auctions, but for jobs." She seemed to be distractedly looking through the cup's glass for a moment while speaking. Somehow, the theater auctions annoyed her. Surely it not like the clear side of CAEsAL would be able to empty the slums and offer everyone in Lodan a wage, and anyone with a brain would laugh at that overly utopian concept, but they could and in some cases needed more workers than came for them. Still, lots of people still hesitated in looking for them for the simple fact the number of Anders working was unnacounted - no one wanted to unknowingly have an Andersweltler as coworker or roommate, right? Even if the choice was starving - even if all of them needed to eat everyday and breathed the same air to live. And she found that a huge idiocy.
Sigh... At least watching the others interacting brought her good mood back to her. She caught the very end of the chatting between Regis and Triune while the petite assassin girl leaded the newbie back towards their tables. "There will always be someone more skilled than each of us at some point, be it past present or future. But it's fair to consider you are good enough to be here." And not dead for failing the first mission they sent him. "And as time goes, there'll always appear a new tip or trick to be learned or an ability to be improved. As long as one make good use of what they have available and do what they must." Carpe diem - 'seize the day, put very little trust in tomorrow'. That line of thought (along some other ideas and the manner she handled the organization of CAEsAL as well) was part of what granted her assassin alias Epikuro; it felt kind of nostalgic to think of that, but some things never change.
"All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." - John Dalberg-Acton
Post by Addison Halloway on Mar 12, 2014 2:46:33 GMT
Matches' sudden interruption surprised As-Nas and for a moment all he could do was blink at the other man while he went on about how that was not his princess and how the woman was a siren. This put a smirk to his lips and he rested his cheek on the back of his hand while listening to Matches. However, when he saw the man look to the accused woman, his eyes also followed and then snapped back in time to see the shade of red on Matches' face. What had gone on between the two, he wondered quietly to himself. The venomous attitude that was there fore a moment had him in a soft laugh. From this, the magician could guess that perhaps Matches had a thing for Regis and either she let him have it then burned him, or didn't let him have it then burned him anyway.
"Don't worry, Matches, she's not my type," he grinned wide. "I like them a bit more...feisty and when they show some sort of emotion. I like them when they have a sense of humor too and I mean no offense to the miss but she does not seem like she has any to spare." Addison looked to the two returning to the group then to Epikuro before he glanced back at Matches. "I wouldn't mind swapping tactics. I'll be blunt and say it. I want to learn to use fire but this isn't a place to talk about it." His words died down and he let Epikuro explain the theater auctions to him. One brow furrowed and the other raised as she finished and he found her seemingly lost in thought. Odd though, in a large city he never suspected there to be a shortage in any job--especially in a theater. Lodan truly was an interesting place. The corners of his lips lilted into a small frown as he reached out to gently touch her arm. "Are you alright? Something seems to be bothering you." The brown haired man withdrew his hand almost immediately after and then smiled wide. "Hm, maybe fresh air would do us all well. Why don't you and Triune join us for the tour around the district? Are you alright with that, Matches," he asked as he looked to the man he'd been conversing with moments ago.
This wasn't the proper place to discuss arson so Matches simply nodded just once in response to As-Nas remark. After all, if they were going to broker a trade, he expected to get some insight into the other man's bag of tricks as well.
"Epikuro is right," Regis remarked, ignorant of the previous discussion about herself. "Have a little faith in yourself, and keep both eyes open around everyone else. Might learn a thing or two..." She hopped back up on her seat and raised her drink in the air. "I suggest a toast, to killing off these beers and welcoming three new peers," She accented the word killing, and raised both brows meaningfully.
"Cheers," Cutthroat answered her toast, lifting his own mug and plunking it against hers and holding it out to the others.
avatar stock used: Falln-Stock.deviantart.com for model | OokamiKasumi.deviantart.com for the background
Post by Stephen Leland on Mar 16, 2014 16:44:05 GMT
Stephen nodded in response to Epikuro's words. "Cheers" he said as he lifted his glass with the others. A tour around the town? That might not be the best of ideas. Originally he had planned to buy the drink then leave. Now they wanted to tour the town. What was there to even see. This place had nothing that great so see in his opinion; the streets were always dirty and littered with trash and this would be the hour when the drunks would be shambling about outside. Not his idea of a 'relaxing tour'.
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Mar 16, 2014 17:08:57 GMT
"Yes, I am fine. Thank you." Epikuro sighed, but her reply to As-Nas was pretty tranquil. It was true enough. "You might see soon enough, Lodan has a few contradictions imbued in its foundations. A couple of them mildly to moderatedly annoy me..." She looked between her own completely empty glass and Regis making a toast, then chuckled. "...while others can be quite joyful. Cheers." She tapped a coin against the glass, making it produce a light dinging sound.
Next, she glanced at Triune, and "I know that look." she couldn't help but give another (this time soundless) chuckle when noticed the face the lad was making at the prospects of taking a tour. Watching people's reactions was one of the most involuntary habits the job taught her, but it was also highly amusing when in casual situations. "Believe me, I had about the same reaction when I was a novice myself and the former leader decided to take me to 'see around' - mainly considering I had lived in here for ages already. But it won't waste as much time as you expect, and what you'll be seeing now might be useful later." No, Triune, it's not going to be simply a 'relaxing tour' - relaxing is opitional, but consider it a quick work trip if you may. One needed to know the useful and tricky spots of the place they worked in.
Post by Stephen Leland on Mar 17, 2014 1:20:51 GMT
After a quick swig of the distasteful beer he set it down on the table, not wanting anymore of the horrid stuff. The woman had a point, it might do him some good to look around the town, at least for a business stand point more than the scenic tour As-Nas made it sound like. The patrician sighed "Fine, I will join you all on this tour for a small allotment of time." but if they tried to make him explore a junk yard, they were on their own. There was no way he would go into some place that filthy unless his life depended on it, maybe not even then. He should get home soon anyways. His father no doubt would question why he was out so late. There was always the classic excuse of a lady friend but his father would want proof and there was none to show so. Plus, having the image of being a person who stayed out all night with a woman was not really one he wanted.
Post by Addison Halloway on Mar 18, 2014 0:44:46 GMT
Addison grabbed the top of his mug to raise in chairs then drank the rest of the little contents left in his mug before setting it down. He would likely have to wait for the others to finish their drinks before they set off but as Epikuro and Triune exchanged words, he couldn't help but wonder what this tour would entail. Halfheartedly, he'd expect to be let on into secret passages or rooms that littered the district in order to allow for spying, information gathering, or easy access of getting around. However, he wouldn't be surprised if all that was kept in the dark either because what right did he and the other lad have into knowing these secrets so early in. No matter, the green eyed man sat back feeling relaxed as he awaited for his companions. "I am ready whenever the rest of you are," he vocalized.
Shoutbox
Welcome to the Shoutbox - If You Have Discord, Ask to Join the Discord Server