Both she and her brother had hung around in Orchidia. Their last job was simple and paid enough for them to rent a place in the outskirts for a couple of weeks. She wasn’t sure, but it looked like Victor had recovered from that fight faster than she had. It wasn’t a surprise. The demonic beings affected him less for he had a powerful one within him. It had been a while since she had spoken to Lucifer. He either had been dormant or chose to keep his interactions limited to Victor. Michelle couldn’t tell, but was curious. That morning, she decided to ask. “Have you been able to use his power yet?” she asked plainly without meeting his eyes, as she lifted the coffee cup off the table and took a sip.
Laying Low [Victor Garrett]
Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:52 pm
Both she and her brother had hung around in Orchidia. Their last job was simple and paid enough for them to rent a place in the outskirts for a couple of weeks. She wasn’t sure, but it looked like Victor had recovered from that fight faster than she had. It wasn’t a surprise. The demonic beings affected him less for he had a powerful one within him. It had been a while since she had spoken to Lucifer. He either had been dormant or chose to keep his interactions limited to Victor. Michelle couldn’t tell, but was curious. That morning, she decided to ask. “Have you been able to use his power yet?” she asked plainly without meeting his eyes, as she lifted the coffee cup off the table and took a sip.
Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:55 pm
Naturally, this was not a topic to broach on a fine morning as Victor sat enjoying the dismal spoils of their mediocre tasks. They couldn't really spare the cash to purchase decent coffee. He resisted the temptation to spit the coffee back into his mug. The warm liquid left a taste less bitter than the one her question conjured.
'No.' he responded, coldly and in a monosyllable. Very few souls chose to continue a conversation after being met with such iciness, but Michelle wasn't one to be deterred as easily. Besides, in all fairness, his answer gave her the temerity to probe deeper, it wasn't like he could do anything too sadistic to her in the forseeable future... He did lack the capabilities. Maybe a threat could work... 'At this rate, you'll be the first to know when he does.' he added darkly.
Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:55 pm
Michelle couldn’t help but scoff at his comment. “Don’t be so sure. You may have dealt with fire before, but the devil’s fire is different. You won’t be able to control it as easily. I’d be surprised if you could sustain a flame on your first day,” she said flatly. It wasn’t her intention to insult or deride him, but she had genuinely started to question Lucifer’s motive. The two had been wandering aimlessly and their encounter with the demons at Orchidia hadn’t progressed anything significant either. The only reason she had subdued herself and gone through so many changes was for her brother. What good would all those lead to if the devil was planning on tricking her and killing him at the end of it irrespective? No. She wouldn’t have it. The only way they even had a fighting chance was if Victor learned to take control and suppress the monster from within. So, she goaded. “Maybe if you got off your ass and trained your body, he will think you are ready?” she said.
Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:56 pm
Her seeming mothering irked Garrett no end. There was a time the two got along, now it seemed they accompanied each other out of habit and convenience. They were still rather efficient as a team, when it came to doing their jobs however. When she decided to take the liberty to goad him, he finally pushed the coffee cup away so hard that it slid across the table and went flying towards the kitchenette. The saucer narrowly missed his partner. The clinking that followed the smash beckoned silence. 'You think the solution to every damn problem is to train, don't you?'
Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:57 pm
“Well… I’m not the one with a powerful demon inside me and yet, I can cast at least elementary spells,” she replied. Again, her words weren’t to show him up. Although, she was certain it would definitely fuel his rage. That was partly her motive anyway. She knew he wouldn’t eventually channel at least part of the displeasure towards the devil within and accelerate the process.
“Training certainly doesn’t hurt. In case he refuses to share his power, then all the more reason you need to train your body to defend yourself,” she said, as she picked up the broken pieces of the saucer. “How long do you think your secret will remain a secret? When people learn the truth, they are going to come after you, either to use you or to kill you,” she added. Michelle had been worried about it ever since their admittance into the Red Hades guild. It was too smooth. For a secretive group, they welcomed the two of them without much questioning. She had a feeling it was Lucifer who had arranged it, which meant there were people out there who knew the secret.
Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:57 pm
He wasn't too fond of his rage. It became tougher to remain in control when emotions took over this way. This was a rare sight. Helpless was never a word he'd thought he'd have the dishonor of wearing. He wanted to throw more slurs and slanders, but her poise stole that joy from him too. He sighed and watched as she gathered the remains of the dish. Much like she insisted on gathering the remains of his shattered ego.
He shrugged when she leveled the threat of death. 'With all your training if all you have managed is the basic spells, I think any of your assumptions about the power I WILL gain are worthless, besides, why do you care at all?' As per his usual traits, now that her company had begun seeming cumbersome, he needed to use some tactic to push her away. This relationship had been the least physically gratifying and yet had lasted longer than most others... Whatever it was.
Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:58 pm
Victor knew that she was capable of more than just basic spells prior to the change that was forced upon her by Lucifer. And ever since that change, she had managed to grasp the new style and element rather swiftly. His comments did not prick her insecurities, for she didn’t have one in this regard. So, she simply chose to pretend like she didn’t hear him say that and moved on to the original topic that was under discussion. She also couldn’t tell him the truth as to why she cared. So, she skirted that question as well. “You stumbled upon something extraordinary. Now it is up to you to make something out of it. You know the saying… ‘Necessity is the mother…’” she trailed off.
Michelle really didn’t want to put it into actual words. But what she essentially wanted him to understand was that Lucifer would never share anything with him unless it was absolutely necessary. And for it to be necessary, he had to put himself in danger. Surely, the devil wouldn’t wish for his host to die while he was still within.
Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:58 pm
It wasn't just her demeanor that puzzled him. What he also didn't understand was how she lost her much more favorable wind magic for this healing variety. There were a lot of unanswered questions and he had opted not to pry into her life, simply because for the most part despite her nature, she had extended him the same courtesy. When had that changed? He groaned inwardly for allowing these insidious changes to go by unchallenged. It had to change today. 'Not to mention, we never exactly discussed how you ended up with what you have now... care to enlighten me, it'd only be fair to return the favor.'
Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:58 pm
Her attempt at dodging his questions was spotted and it would seem that had only made him more curious. Maybe she should have given him a run of the mill generic answer to shut him up. She could try that now. As she pondered what reason she could give him, he himself gave her an idea by bringing up the change in her magic.
“I care because when we go out on more missions—ones that are more dangerous than tailing a coward like we did a few days ago—we need to be able to handle it. And now that my offensive magic is crippled, you need to step up your game. As for what changed in me… we all have secrets. I don’t ask you how you got that demon inside you, do I?” she retorted.
Trying to avoid any more pointed questions, Michelle quickly turned away from him and walked towards the door. “I’m going for a walk,” she announced before opening the door. Unfortunately for her, before even she could take a few steps away from the cottage, she was stopped by a Rune Knight. He seemed rather young to be a Knight, but looked very motivated. It would seem he was there to inquire them about the recent demon attacks and he wouldn’t let her leave for her walk. She walked back in and took a seat reluctantly as he allowed himself in.
“I have a few questions,” he said, looking at the two of them one after another.
Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:59 pm
Was she working undercover? Trading secrets? He wouldn't put it past her. Still slightly prickly and riled, he donned a well stitched robe and walked out while tying the knot of the sash that went across it. He overheard the man's statement about having some questions. The demon bearer quickened his pace. Either on instinct or out of habit he found his fingers curling onto Michelle's shoulder, somewhat protectively and in something of a challenge. 'Do you know him?' he asked, unfettered by the man garbed in the garments of a Knight. Victor had long since stopped worrying about the authorities, he had a way with them anyways.
Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:59 pm
“No. He is a Rune Knight,” was all that Michelle said when Victor asked if she knew him.
The man spoke politely, but with an unnerving authority. He asked them several questions about their fight against the demons. Soon, it was apparent that those initial questions were just to confirm if the two he was dealing with were the ones he was looking for. Once he had confirmed that, his questions changed direction towards what they did for a living and about the two others who had fought with them.
From his line of questioning, it would seem the Knights had caught wind that it wasn’t just the good guilds who had fought against the demons. It didn’t look like they had any idea as to who was associated to which dark guild, but they surely suspected something along those lines. Michelle was no snitch and she hoped Victor didn’t put the other two under the bus; not that they knew anything incriminating against them.
Once the questioning was over, the Knight left and Michelle left for her walk without a word. The two needed their space to cool down. There was no point fighting unnecessarily.
Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:59 pm
Interrupting all of this, was the Knight who wanted to ask some questions. He wasn't keen on providing answers, mostly to see if Michelle betrayed any hints of her role in this matter. She didn't. The Knight, while slightly suspicious of the two, had not asked about any of their more notorious exploits, at least not outwardly. It did seem like he knew that they weren't of noble intent.
He seemed to be keen to learn more about their fight against the demons and the ones that fought alongside. The Garrett decided to mock the man and remained rather tight lipped as though he was haunted by the fight. It was hopefully a good way to throw him off the scent about Lucifer, in case that was an ulterior motive. He knew that Michelle was right in saying that if word about the archangel got out, he'd have a much larger target on his back, than the one he wore now by doing the small time odd jobs for the Hades' members. After the conversation was complete, the man left and so did the two of them, back towards the cottage.
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