Administrator
|
|
Loner, Kazetatsu, Kaze
PLAYER NAME
|
|
Post by Loner。 on Oct 3, 2017 15:12:31 GMT
Ow. Ow. He was back in Eokia right? Malik's head was throbbing, had the jump from one land to another really been that tramatic?
The demi-human opened his eyes.
He was outdoors, surrounded by tall city spires which looked nothing like the sanctuary skyscrapers he knew on sight. The ground was ashy. The air was hot, the sky a sickly hue.
And he... He was even more aglow than he had been while in Sanctuary.
He knew what that meant. This wasn't a place where humans could thrive. Chances were high that it wasn't Eokia. He was drawing on his energy as a natural self defense against whatever ill effects could come from it. Strange that the process was not confined to his human body, but for that he was thankful. The pain in his mind and soul would have been much worse otherwise. He still remembered the pain he'd felt on his very brief venture to the 'underworld' when he'd been even more human. The throbbing in his head reminded him of a weaker version of that burning pain of a world rejecting him.
What was this place?
And the bigger question, how had he ended up in a place he had never before seen, and hadn't known of?
Curiosity got the better of him. It felt wrong, but he had to look around.
|
|
|
|
Post by Spiral Dancer on Oct 3, 2017 19:32:27 GMT
The cities in the Necropolis differ to great extend to those of the human or Eokian world. Not just by the overall darkness in the air but by the overall atmosphere that encircles it's borders. Hungry beasts, boogeymans, insane savages - they all call this city home. No matter what kind of fancy suit they wear to work, at the end of the day they are all beasts praying for the opportunity to pounce on one another and test their strength. Such is the life in this dark world and nobody really objects it...we all like it.
So when something that looks like it doesn't belong on his hellish place appears, one can't help but wonder...how does it taste like?
Malik will feel like someone is watching him from the many dark alleys surrounding him. Not just one set of eyes, but many. - probably bystanders who noticed the unusual aura surrounding the boy. Before the boy could run or panic a heavy hand will fall on his left shoulder, grasping him tightly to keep him in place.
"Not from around here, hm?"
A deep, stern voice speaks out, one that sounds like you don't wanna mess with the owner of it. If Malik decides to see who his "captor" is or who the voice belongs to he will have to tilt his head a bit upwards for the man he is facing is almost 7ft tall. Dark backwards spiked hair with silver ends adorns his big head like the crown of a dark king. He has a set of beastly golden eyes that gaze down on the much younger man with a dangerous glint. He has a freshly shaven face which only gives his devilish toothy grin that much more power or fright. His outfit however just tells a different story. The huge man is dressed in a sharp black and silver suit, a pocketwatch chain dangling from the right inner pocket to the third button of his expensive looking silver vest. He has a brooch of a odd looking black symbol attached to the hem of the suit on the left side. All in all, the man appears strange, as if he's on his way to a business interview and not on the streets in the middle of a monster filled land.
The man will lift his head to glare away any curious bystander who might be looking at them before returning his attention to the boy, still awaiting a answer with that ever so devious smirk on his face.
|
|
Administrator
|
|
Loner, Kazetatsu, Kaze
PLAYER NAME
|
|
Post by Loner。 on Oct 3, 2017 20:41:42 GMT
The young man's shoulder was not going to be pleasant for a demon to touch. The light he emitted, too holy too pure for many lesser chaotic and sinister beasts to withstand being too close. Despite his human will paired with an aptitude for power, a combination which often rotted the minds of human-angel spawn such as himself, Malik had somehow managed to stay on the untainted end of such nature, which showed in the properties of his light, very contrary to this world.
Except for a few dark specks of foreign soul-matter clinging to him. Those he had picked up through contact, mostly fights, with demonic sorts in the physical world. They tended to burn away in time, but there were still a few marks not repaired from his most recent fight with a demonic centipede with the uncanny properties of a Russian nesting doll fused with pandora's box. The residue was part of why he'd ended up in necropolis in the first place.
Malik stopped walking. The way his senses worked in this state he didn't exactly need to turn in order to see something. Anything the light touched was fair game for him to know of, like a network, an extension of himself. Still his attention shifted upwards, his eyes sharp and burning blue among the slightly gold tint of the light that surround his spiritual shape. He did not balk, not because there was nothing to fear, but because such a large man was really not that weird to him any more. His teacher in eokia, Maximillion was just as huge and demonic looking. A handful of the men in the nearby town were at least half giant if not other mixed supernatural blood. The difference in size was not the most intimidating thing of note in this current situation.
"Yeah, Mind telling me where I am?" Malik managed, less scared of this than he was of the Enforcers of sanctuary to be honest. It was probably because he hadn't found out yet, how frightening the beings in Necropolis might actually be.
|
|
|
|
Post by Spiral Dancer on Oct 4, 2017 8:34:57 GMT
The man smirked and slid his hand off the others shoulder, not cause it was hurting but cause he managed to grab his attention. You see, this sharp looking individual isn't a demon in the technical sense of the word. He is more of a child of the night, but if the younger has great spiritual senses then he will notice that no dark matter clings to this mysterious man, only a peculiar animalistic presence. Once their eyes meet the man had to squint against their brightness cause in this place light like that is rare to come by...and it's usually a beacon for trouble. With a wolfish smile the man clasps his hands behind his back, straightens his back and says in his rugged voice
"Before that, mind tuning it down a bit? if you can"
He motions with his eyes to the light surrounding Malik before lifting them to scan their surrounding. Returning his gaze at the boy he elaborates
"You're like a torch in a cave, and you don't want the bats to swarm you...do you?"
He lifts one of his brows and will start walking down the sidewalk, throwing Malik a gesture that he follows along which would be in his best interest given how every beast in their surrounding was watching their every move and probably waiting for a time to pounce. Going on the move is the smart thing to do and the man knows this cause just standing in the middle of this dark city and talking is asking for trouble. Especially with that aura.
|
|
Administrator
|
|
Loner, Kazetatsu, Kaze
PLAYER NAME
|
|
Post by Loner。 on Oct 4, 2017 11:40:22 GMT
The small pulse of dimming is a test on Malik's part. He is trying to see if it is possible to turn down the light. Well he can bring its radiation closer, keep it from casting into some of the dark corners, but the brightness... When he tries to tone that down, and pull back the light, the pounding in his head becomes worse, and he feels needles against his skin. Those are tolerable but Malik knows that this is a sign of worse rejection from this world itself. It would make him more vulnerable, starting to become like a spiritual-mental assault on his being. That was what it had been like the first time he had ended up in a world too hostile to humans who were still living. It was a self defense reaction.
"To hide this, isn't something I've figured out yet." He ultimately answered as he began to walk. He couldn't hide it well when he was in his human body. Being away from it like he was now made it harder. In theory he should be able to bring the light into the unseeable range but that wasn't something he had figured out how to do yet. He'd just have to stick with being visible and hope that deterred most would-be attackers.
His better judgement didn't put up any red flags about following this stranger. It was logically safer than standing still or going off alone with no knowledge of this place to guide his steps.
|
|
|
|
Post by Spiral Dancer on Oct 4, 2017 13:04:41 GMT
The man hums under his breath after hearing Malik's answer regarding the light situation. That's gonna be a problem. As they walk, the man tries to glare away anyone that gets too close to them and while he doesn't appear all that threatening in his fancy suit, there is this primal rage that emits from him like a barrier daring anyone foolish enough to step forward and die. As he leads down the path, the setting of the vibrant city start changing to that of the slums which might prove even more dangerous but in here there is less hassle and crowd. Remembering the young boys previous question he gazes down at him and speaks in a low roar
"Your exact situation is interesting. You do not belong here, everyone can tell that here with a single glance, and yet here you are...in the heart of darkness. So what or who brought you to our little humble Necropolis? Cause It is clear that you did not come here of your own accord"
A light brow lifts up indicating the mans curiosity on the matter. It's not every day that you stumble upon a light-bringer in this abandoned world. Lucky for the boy that he stumbled upon a less hungry beast or else he'd be fighting for his life right about now with all the lesser starving demons.
|
|
Administrator
|
|
Loner, Kazetatsu, Kaze
PLAYER NAME
|
|
Post by Loner。 on Oct 4, 2017 14:37:45 GMT
The more the terrain changed, the more Malik rather not look at it. He knew an especially shady area when he saw one, at least in a normal, physical world city. Many incidents of evil happened in a back alley or shadowed street corner.
In necropolis there was less need to keep evil concealed to the shadows, but it definitely seemed more likely to get jumped by some stronger being.
The news of where he was, well that was disconcerting too. Necropolis? A land of darkness? Yeah definitely he didn't belong, it sure explained why he needed to keep up his glowing defenses. He was definitely the unwelcome invader.
"Lets just call it some unlucky accidents. I was trying to end up somewhere else." Malik grumbled, not wanting to say exactly how new he was at all of this. He wasn't used to this state of being or getting around in it. Even walking, he didn't need to be walking to move around yet here he was doing it anyway, walking because that was how he was used to getting around the world, and because that was how the stranger was leading him even though it made him more like a sitting duck even as they were on the move.
|
|
|
|
Post by Spiral Dancer on Oct 4, 2017 20:49:46 GMT
"Hm...I assumed as much"
He mumbled under his breath as he continued walking with his hands clasped behind his back as if he's out on a calm stroll. The man found it curious how the youngster just follows him when he gestured it. I mean for all he knows he could be walking in to a trap or something. Rule one in this place is that you trust nobody and nothing, even the wall on the street can turn in to a monster and gobble you up like some freaky drug induced episode.
As they go deeper in the slums so do the screams of the latest victims or brawls going in the neighborhood. This doesn't worry the man since the sounds are a regular around here, even more so than closer to the city. The streets are getting emptier as all the inhabitants are already fighting or drinking somewhere, too smashed to walk the street.
With a few more paces, Malik will notice a really rundown apartment complex approaching, one that looks like it could collapse at any moment if one of it's blocks gets knocked out. Unclasping his hands the man fishes from one of his vest pockets a silver key and stops in front of the worn out and bleached wooden doors of the building that has another peculiar dark symbol on it. Lifting his eyes he throws glances around before inserting the key and unlocking the door. Stepping aside, the motions for the youngster to go in first.
"Don't worry, it's safe"
He hums with a wolfish grin and a twinkle in his eyes. It could be a trap by all means, Malik barely knows this mysterious figure that hasn't even introduced himself and yet he's inviting him to his home. The youngster can always just walk away. If however, Malik chooses to go in he will be presented with a surprising sight.
Contrary to the horrible outward appearance, the apartment complex is actually a elaborate one-house mansion with multiple stories. As he enters in to the foyer he will see pictures and frameworks of the past inhabitants of this place, all nailed to the walls on both sides. Most of the pictures portray a young woman with long dark hair and a silver wolf, always by her side. Going down the hall and to the left is the entrance to the the main room where comfortable armchairs sit all organized around a fireplace. A bit to the back is a couple of shelves with books and a small round table. Bellow them is a off-white carpet of what once was a huge animal, the fur as soft to the touch as it was when it was alive. To the right of the hall is the entrance to the kitchen that doesn't seem as impressive as the living room. It's simple with one side of it covered in a row of appliances such as the stove, washing station and refrigerator, and the other side with rows of drawers and cabinets for the cutlery and glasses. If you follow the hall however it leads up to the other floors.
The overall feel of the living space is dark and dim due to the no-light situation in this world and also due to the fact that all windows are covered in thick curtains. So Malik walking in with that light will brighten up some of the atmosphere.
The man will step inside along with Malik and take off his suit so that he is now wearing his silver vest over a white shirt, the stopwatch still in his left vest pocket. Hanging the suit by the coat rag he will head down the hall and stop at the intersection which divides the kitchen and living room.
"Nobody will see us in here...they might sense your presence but they won't dare knock on that door, so relax"
He motions for the youngster to occupy one of the armchairs if he wishes, if not he can stand or explore the books on the shelf. Titles will range from famous Sanctuary writers around the fields of grim literature, to the memoirs of philosophers and lunatics.
"Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea? juice?"
He asks as he heads in to the kitchen to put the kettle on.
|
|
Administrator
|
|
Loner, Kazetatsu, Kaze
PLAYER NAME
|
|
Post by Loner。 on Oct 5, 2017 14:23:27 GMT
Beings of malice and shadow flocked around the edges of Malik's senses, jumping out of sight as soon as be tried to focus on any one. They were not all beings of form, but amorphous beings who tended to live in the realm of the mind. They kept their distance, thanks to the stranger's warding presence but some of those certainly felt familiar.
The run down neighborhood brought to mind the place of his childhood, with everything wrong with it turned up to a higher intensity. It was a place he'd expected to get scammed, shot, robbed, a place where law enforcement would not often come. He almost expected old peers to come and try to hurt him at any turn.
Paranoia on such fronts was something at least one of the shadow beings clearly wanted. Malik couldn't afford to let something like that find purchase here, so he found reasons to stay calm, and rely on the man who had found him. Malik hoped he was ready to fight or get out of here quickly if things took a wrong turn.
Going into a strange enclosed place however, he wasn't going to trust that at face value. He probed the building with his awareness, looking for any sort of red flags. There were surprisingly few, though there were certainly oddities, things that seemed too good to be true, or too hidden to be known.
Deciding to give it a chance, he stepped over the threshold and into a space so unlike the exterior that he might as well have stepped through a rift. Even after probing the place was the shift a bit shocking.
Relax Malik did not. He lingered in the hall, taking in the new information of the place. It was true this was safer. The mental demons did not stalk here, and there was almost less pressure for him to be glowing like a torch. Almost.
"Don't get me anything...I don't think I could enjoy it." Malik admitted slowly. He wasn't sure how much he could use or manipulate things in this place, since his physiology was currently not flesh and blood.
Slowly he drifted near the bookshelves, recognizing some of the titles. Anything on what he was and how he could get back? He wondered but the examination of titles didn't show anything promising at first glance. "Why're you living here anyhow?" Malik asked. The outside city didn't seem like a place for anyone with fine tastes. It seemed like a place for bottom feeders, and the desperate.
|
|
|
|
Post by Spiral Dancer on Oct 6, 2017 11:01:01 GMT
The man simply shrugged as the younger didn't want anything he offered. What he said is possibly true. Not everyone can stomach what residents of the Necropolis eat and drink on a daily basis. Even rotten flesh is seen as a great meal around these parts and don't let me mention the drinking habits.
Walking over to the cabinets he pulls out a whisky glass and pours himself some liquor from the bottle rack just next to the fridge. He gives it a small swirl and heads back towards the living room just as the boy was examining the book collection. Smiling he leans on the doorway and takes a sip of the suspiciously looking dark liquid in his glass that smells like a sterile hospital. Hearing the question he smirked and said in his gruff voice
"Nobody would expect a hunter to live in the house of a prey"
He let out a low chuckle, unable to hold his composure after the rubbish he just said. He can't really help himself, theatrics is kinda in his blood. Taking in another gulp of the liquid in his glass he calms himself and adds in a more serious tone.
"This neighborhood wasn't always like this. It used to be beautiful, but as technology poured so did bigger and far better looking places, so everyone left and now...this is what remains"
He outstretches his arms as if to motion towards this building.
"Now tell me, where are you from?"
He asks, his twinkling golden eyes never leaving Malik.
|
|
Administrator
|
|
Loner, Kazetatsu, Kaze
PLAYER NAME
|
|
Post by Loner。 on Oct 6, 2017 16:20:08 GMT
"So you're their enemy?" He asked with a tone more observational than questioning. An enemy of demons could be a friend, though Malik wouldn't take the man's straight word for it.
The glowing youth glanced at the man with a puzzled expression. What he was saying, the whole story seemed more typical of a place like Sanctuary than an mysterious demonic society where the residents might not even be human in the most liberal sense of the term. Beautiful? Better looking? Would dark beings even want to live in such a place as defined by human standards of appearances? It was hard to believe they would based on popular religious and mythological representations of evil.
Still Malik decided to trust this man enough to tell him a little bit about himself. "I am sanctuary born. Only got out recently, shit only found out a out any of this stuff recently." He was frustrated about it, not knowing entirely what was true about himself or the world he belonged in anymore. When he thought he knew, something like this ended up happening
|
|
|
|
Post by Spiral Dancer on Oct 6, 2017 18:28:40 GMT
Of course, the usage of the word "beautiful" means different things to different cultures. While a headless corpse is seen as repulsive, to some it's art and you can't really define what a resident of Necropolis means when saying such words. Maybe to the older man, beauty rests in violence and since everyone left this area to the advanced cities there is less of it here. Or perhaps his vision of beauty rests in Sanctuary. You never know with these shady types and quite frankly that's how he wants it to be. His father taught him to be cunning and never predictable.
At the question the man cocked his head to the left, still that devious smile of his never leaving his narrow face
"Hm...well not really. I'm just as every lowlife here, but I have something that most of them don't"
He pushes himself off the doorway and with steady, calm strides heads towards the younger man. That threatening and beastly aura of his only getting bigger with each step he takes as if he's getting ready to devour the light. Stopping next to the shelf he will lift his free hand and outstretch his index finger towards the boy. If Malik hasn't risen any barrier or stepped away form the shelf then he will gently tap the middle of his chest with his sharp black nail. If Malik did anything to prevent the man from doing so he will simply lower his arm back down
"And that is the drive to seek knowledge. My curiosity of the unknown is far bigger than my drive for violence"
He smirks at the boy as if silently telling him that he's here now only cause he's something the man hasn't seen before.
"And you don't seem like you belong in Sanctuary"
He adds as he straightens his posture and takes another sip.
|
|
Administrator
|
|
Loner, Kazetatsu, Kaze
PLAYER NAME
|
|
Post by Loner。 on Oct 6, 2017 21:45:49 GMT
Malik glared at the man as the stranger got closer, watchful warning and alert. Many humans, and perhaps some other beings would have balked once they'd noticed his eyes on them due to the intensity of that stare. Still, it could not match the feral intensity of the other man's aura, backed with what was probably the experience of lifetimes.
Since he could not deter the man, Malik slipped a short distance away. He didn't think the guy meant to harm him with such contact, (he'd already had many chances to harm malik) but he didn't know for sure what the large man's intent might be.
"You don't look the part either. Trust me, if I belonged somewhere I wouldn't have stumbled here. Wouldn't have ended up wandering like this." Malik pointed out grimly. He'd been human enough for sanctuary once upon a time, but now he was too inhuman for that place, and at the same time human enough that he didn't feel like he fit anywhere else he'd been either. He shrugged. If he didn't make any fatal mistakes first, he'd get it figured out eventually, and find a niche for himself.
Malik drifted further out of reach slowly, not walking and not actually touching the floor. He wanted to keep a slightly more comfortable distance between himself and the man, to give himself time to react to anything else he might try. "Guess I'm one-a the unknowns huh?" He probed, trying to gain more knowledge of the stranger's motivations.
|
|
|
|
Post by Spiral Dancer on Oct 6, 2017 23:53:23 GMT
He missed this so much. Casual banter between two powerful beings feels so much better than all of the brawls he's been in. There is nothing special in a fight, it's just about who has the most fire power and speed but in situations like these, it's all about strategy and playing around the matter. The one with the most wit and cunning wins this deadly game of cat and mouse and that makes it even more entertaining. To the man, there is nothing more refreshing than a good calculated conversation since he's practically starved for it due to the fact that in the Necropolis it's all about the fighting and not about the talking. Oh well, guess he really doesn't fit in this society.
He watches the boy move away from him which made him feel like a predator. However, contrary to his aura, the man holds great composure over what he does and says so he's not a slave to this savage place.
At hearing the others words, the man simply said, still standing by the shelf.
"I guess I could say that we both don't seem to fit our current surroundings. But my situation is favorable since I am in my element here while you..."
He pauses the give Malik a scan from toes to head, not missing the fact that he stopped walking and is now mildly floating around the living room.
"Are a trapped bird"
He gulps down the rest of the liquid and gently lowers the glass on the round wooden table that is next to the closed window. Turning to face the assemble of literature, he lifts his arm to grab on to one of the books from the top shelf and bring it down. At a glance Malik will see that the book seems old, it's once vivid green cover is now filled with dust and age while the title will elude him as there seems to be none printed on the cover.
Twirling on his heels to face the boy once more, he starts flipping through it as he spoke on
"I remember the writings of a scholar who once spoke of light bringers. I have yet to see one..."
He pauses to give Malik a glance
"...well, until now"
And returns to flipping through the pages
"But I believe the place you are looking for is beyond this darkness...somewhere where the goodies dwell"
A light chuckle threatened to break through at the usage of the word "goodies" but he restrained himself. Finally reaching the chapter he is searching for he lifts the book up and turns it around so that Malik can see the content of the pages he has landed on. It looked like a map to the corner of the Necropolis where something like a exit appears to exist. The man gives Malik only a second before he slams the book shut and put's it under his left arm.
"Unless you feel like you have some unfinished business here"
(I'm shooting in the dark a bit here regarding the policies on how one gets from one realm to the other, hit me up if I mistake anything)
|
|
Administrator
|
|
Loner, Kazetatsu, Kaze
PLAYER NAME
|
|
Post by Loner。 on Oct 7, 2017 3:43:56 GMT
Was he a trapped bird?
Although Malik wasn't used to this place, he'd felt more trapped in sanctuary to be honest. He had ties to that place which had held him there. Here there were less. He just hadn't tried to leave yet, so he didn't know if there was anything blocking him from leaving, or trying to keep him here.
He hoped there wasn't any such thing.
"you haven't seen light yet. A legit one'd set this place on fire." Malik had actually met one once, cleaning up on the heels of a necropolis foray into sanctuary. That had been a being of light, much larger and brighter and more competent than he.
If seen side by side Malik would probably look like the dim one.
Malik actually smiled at the man's terminology. "If everyone's all good that's gonna be a bore." He noted. "I'd probably not fit there either but who knows." He'd have to experiment a bit next time he found a place he was welcome to be.
If he had a reason to stay around, Malik would have wanted to, but he'd come on an accident and as soon as be left this estate he'd be a target once more.
Better stave off exploring till he had a better idea of what was what in these realms.
The map Even briefly seen offered some, help, those it didn't show what was actually beyond necropolis. The Astral planes were complicated to navigate, and constantly shifting, especially for
Those who had no way to navigate. "Thanks for helping me out" Malik still thanked the man. He braced himself to leave, figuring he'd find his way somehow.
|
|
