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Post by mugenginga on Dec 16, 2010 23:41:17 GMT -5
(OOC: I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO START THIS SO I'M JUST MAKING SHIT UP GO ME! I figure HS can drop by with this set up as it is. XD)
Cain or Atsuro would be better at this than me...
Seth had a laptop open and was looking several things up on the Island's internet. A bunch of papers with Ancient Hebrew written on them were scattered to his side. The ink was still wet on the top sheet, indicating he was actively writing. Abel had been gone frequently ever since Atsuro had left. He hadn't explained why, seeming more inclined to keep it to himself, but Seth could guess. Abel was on some kind of revenge path, and while Seth thought it would be more practical to ally with the "Great Demon King" and his General, he knew it wasn't his place to question his King's decisions.
Right now he was attempting to find any data that had been recorded on the Court of Bel and purge it from the Island's systems. He wasn't having much luck, which had sparked his earlier thought. Of course Cain or Atsuro would have been better for this, but Cain wouldn't be back for years and Atsuro had finally managed to get out. As the only normal human left among them, Seth wasn't angry about it. He was glad Atsuro was safe, and trusted he would be happier in the rest of his life anywhere but serving the King of Bel and his Court.
On the table to the other side of his paperwork, which had been written the way it was as a sort of "code" (Seth had not found many people could read Ancient Hebrew, demons among them surprisingly enough), sat his COMP. It was open and two demons were indicated for summoning with a simple press of a button. It was plugged into the wall so the open screen wouldn't drain the battery. Seth planned on discussing with Abel further options in regards to demons later. While the COMP worked as a quick method, it would be better if they set up individual contracts so a greater number could be controlled. Frequent conversations with Cain had revealed that this was how he had controlled more than two demons at once. Abel would argue, of course, but the fact was the demons were loyal to their King... not the "Prince of Bel".
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Dec 17, 2010 21:46:25 GMT -5
Naoki had come to the hotel in a form he was quite honestly unaccustomed to. The only reason he was in this form was for masquerade purposes. It would be impossible to walk up these stairs in his demonic form without causing a panic. He was walking in the direction of the collection of rooms, one of which completely vacant, that the Court of Bel had rented for the duration of their stay in this dimension.
Naoki had considered against coming to the hotel. Abel quite likely still wanted his head, and while he was aware Abel hadn't been visiting his hotel room lately, there was still always that risk. He was perfectly aware for his reasons for coming here. His king had been right; he'd taken a shine to Seth. He could understand what it was like to be dragged into something like this, even with how hazy his memories of that time were now.
He walked to the door of the room he could sense a human presence from. He did not sense Abel. Unless the demon king was masking his presence well, he was not here. Naoki took a deep breath and then knocked twice on the door to Seth's room. Now he was just hoping the Prince would be willing to talk.
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Post by mugenginga on Dec 17, 2010 22:47:47 GMT -5
Seth managed to break the tip of his pen with how hard he'd pushed down in surprise at the knocks. Ink all but exploded outwards, and he jumped up and with a sweep of his arm attempted to remove the paper from the desk. It worked, but only because the paper stuck to his hand due to the ink. He grimaced and quickkly picked up the ink that had already bled through the top sheet with his shirt. Dark grey with a huge black spot on it now, and the entire room smelled of ink. He looked down at his hand with a somewhat flat grimace and then towards the door. About ten seconds had passed.
He didn't know who that could be. Abel wouldn't have knocked... if he had, he would have said something. He didn't think it could be Atsuro, but no one else they knew would knock. Demons would march right in, correct? He looked down at the COMP on his desk and picked it up. No one that wouldn't attack or would have any reason to visit would knock, not without words. That left one of their many enemies. He gave a swallow and prepared to confirm the summoning of demons as soon as whatever it was came through the door... he didn't say anything.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Dec 17, 2010 22:55:27 GMT -5
Naoki narrowed his eyes at the continued silence. Seth was in there, but he was not answering the door. With the recent attacks on their court, it was only right to be that cautious. He waited another few seconds, then knocked twice more. When Seth didn't come to the door again, he spoke up.
"Prince of Bel, please open the door. I wish to talk."
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Post by mugenginga on Dec 17, 2010 23:11:56 GMT -5
Seth's eyes widened at the voice, and he almost dropped the COMP. He tightened his grip around it for a second before giving a solemn frown and closing it. He didn't turn it off, merely hibernated it. Turning it off would alert Abel, and if Hitoshura was there to kill him... he couldn't stop him. He'd told Atsuro he couldn't die, but he thought he could if someone did it right. He had to have a body to heal, after all.
The Prince of Bel put the COMP back on the desk and smeared the ink on his arm more by wiping it on his upper shirt. He walked towards the door and hesitated before he grabbed the handle, switching to his other hand. There had been a delay that may have had Naoki wondering, but finally the knob turned and the door opened. Seth was looking him straight in the eyes, but he could feel the skin on the back of his neck prickling up. His pulse, however, was mostly under control.
"If His Majesty returns while you're here, he'll kill you."
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Dec 17, 2010 23:47:05 GMT -5
Naoki was silent as the door finally opened. Even with how well Seth was controlling his pulse, there was fear there. Naoki's face did not change when Seth spoke.
"I'm aware of that," Naoki stated. "I would like to come inside, if it would be alright. The things I wish to discuss should not be done where others can hear."
Naoki was also aware that Seth would quite likely be even warier at that. That was also only natural. Honestly, Naoki would not put it past Seth to do the smart thing and turn him away here and now. It would be less dangerous that way.
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Post by mugenginga on Dec 17, 2010 23:52:29 GMT -5
It was clear Seth was considering it. His hand twitched, and while he wasn't really aware he'd almost lifted it to rub at his throat, Naoki probably caught it. There was no scar where Naoki had sliced him at, but the ones from before that event trailed up and came up to under his chin. The smart thing would be to turn the demon away, but what good would it do? If "Hitoshura" were here to kill him, there was nothing he could do to prevent it. He'd seen that before, hadn't he?
Seth stepped to the side, gesturing inside to indicate his opinion despite his words, "It makes no difference where we speak."
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Dec 18, 2010 0:17:46 GMT -5
Naoki caught the motion Seth was about to make. He didn't comment on the reflexive action, already knowing the reason for it. He stepped into the room after Seth spoke, not commenting on the words. He didn't need Seth to tell him that. He walked past the beds to the other side of the room, and turned to face Seth again.
There was a moment of silence before Naoki spoke. For once, the demon actually seemed nervous and trying to find words. When he spoke, it was fairly clear that it wasn't what he'd been planning on saying.
"I didn't sense Kihara-san when I came upstairs. Where is he?"
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Post by mugenginga on Dec 18, 2010 0:21:51 GMT -5
"No longer involved in this and not of your concern," Seth said, the reaction curt and fast in coming.
Seth was aware of how defensive and borderline antagonistic the comment had come out as. It wasn't obvious in his stance, but he was aware of it. He kept his eyes on Naoki and closed the door. If he was going to be attacked, he'd stare it in the face. He wondered if "Hitoshura" had figured out or been told about his healing factors. Was he here for torture?
"You came all the way here, knowing that my king is ready to gut you on sight," Seth said, "Why?"
He hadn't missed the topic change.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Dec 18, 2010 0:29:01 GMT -5
So Kihara had left. Perhaps that was for the better. Humans who became involved in these situations became warped. He did not break eye contact with Seth as he continued, and remained quiet even after Seth finished speaking. It took him a few moments to conceive an answer to that.
"...You're a human embroiled in a conflict between humans and demons," Naoki finally said. "I can understand that kind of situation."
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Post by mugenginga on Dec 18, 2010 1:02:16 GMT -5
Seth just looked confused at the comment. It was clear he was trying to figure out the hidden meaning behind Naoki's words. He had risked a massive fight that would probably end up with one (or both, he couldn't deny that) dead... just to empathize with him?! Seth gave a frown and it was evident he didn't trust the words, but the emotion that came in Seth's response was proof that Naoki had caught him off guard.
"I'm sure you've killed a lot of humans involved in this kind of situation. Maybe you even thought it was mercy killing," Seth hesitated and considered his own situation. He gave a light shake of his head, "I can't say I disagree with that."
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Dec 18, 2010 1:12:00 GMT -5
Naoki couldn't help but chuckle at Seth's words. The sound was almost unfamiliar to him; he hadn't laughed in a very long time. He supposed that was what everything that had happened had done to him. He already had difficulty showing emotion when he wasn't lying through his teeth, after all.
"I suppose it wouldn't be completely wrong to call what I've done 'mercy kills'..." Naoki said. "Even if my friends didn't realize that was what I was doing at the time..."
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Post by mugenginga on Dec 18, 2010 1:22:16 GMT -5
Seth's expression hardened as Naoki laughed. It didn't sound... dangerous, although there was a quality of unfamiliarity to it. Seth had to consider memories beyond his current life to realize that it was the laugh of someone who wasn't used to doing so. He was more puzzled by the fact that it wasn't dark. It seemed genuine, a little concerning with what he'd just said... but Hitoshura was a demon.
Seth glanced past Naoki towards the door, willing Abel to remain gone for longer. He rarely came back, but the Prince of Bel would not have put it past his luck for Abel to pick exactly know to check on him. Right now he was more puzzled... more interested if he were to be honest, even if it felt like the interest one would have over a dead body... about Naoki's words.
"Friends?" Seth asked, his word laced with caution.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Dec 18, 2010 1:30:17 GMT -5
Naoki gave a small nod. He could feel some of Seth's caution, but at the same time, the man seemed interested in what he had to say. He relaxed a small bit as he began to speak again.
"Yes, friends. I used to be human... and they had been human too," Naoki said. He shook his head. "By the time I killed them, they weren't much like humans anymore."
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Post by mugenginga on Dec 18, 2010 1:38:23 GMT -5
Hitoshura. Japanese was not Seth's first language. In some lives he'd known it more fluently but it wasn't modern Japanese. He had to stop and think about the words. It was a portmanteau whose meaning came down to human-demon as far as he could tell. A sort of "demi-fiend" if you would. The title had struck him before, but... so he was like Abel? What incidents had forced his decision?
Seth found his knees getting a little weak at the possible comparisons. He fought it for about half a second before he let himself sit down on the bed, still looking at Hitoshura.
"Why did you choose..." Seth hesitated, biting his lip. He indicated the whole room, but there was something in his mannerisms that indicated he meant... pretty much everything, "This? And why are you telling me this? It won't change anything that's happened."
The suspicion was back. Seth still couldn't accept Hitoshura had put himself at this kind of risk just to empathize. Maybe he was stalling for time so he could fight Abel? That didn't seem right though. Hitoshura was showing more... well, emotion then even Cain tended to except in private. Except around people he at least pretended to care about. Seth's eyes narrowed. He couldn't get past thinking there was some ulterior motive to all of this.
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