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Post by Dante (Mephis Ferideh) on Oct 21, 2023 20:02:07 GMT -5
Darkviel City, notorious as a den of thieves and outcasts with a shadowy reputation, was the perfect refuge for a fugitive thief like Mephis. However, he had underestimated the fact that it would be the first place people would search for him. Redirecting a slashing strike aimed at his torso, their clash illuminated the area with a fleeting burst of sparks. The city's dark rooftops set the stage for a cat-and-mouse game between a relentless bounty hunter and his elusive prey, and it was evident that Mephis was the hunted one this time. He attempted to slip past the enigmatic elven man, shrouded in black.
Nevertheless, the hunter swiftly seized Mephis by the arm, forcefully slamming him to the ground with an impactful thud, momentarily stealing his breath as his dagger clattered beside him.
With his boot now pressing onto Mephis' stomach, the masked elven man taunted, "You might want to reconsider your stubbornness. You're making this more difficult than necessary."
Mephis retorted with a hint of sarcasm, "You know, nearly everyone who's hunted me has said something along those lines." His words served as a distraction, allowing him to subtly maneuver his tail to inch the dagger closer to his hand. "And you, my dear, don't seem any different from the rest."
In a single fluid motion, Mephis used the dagger to slice across the man's thigh, causing him to recoil and release his boot's hold. Seizing this opening, he sprang to his feet, vanishing into the concealment of the shadows cast by the street lanterns. Though he wasn't entirely clear on how his shadow-blending ability worked, he appreciated its utility.
While the hunter was preoccupied with his wounded leg, Mephis continued to slink deeper into the shadows, reaching the edge of the rooftop. With unwavering resolve, he leaped and grabbed onto the sill of a large window, which appeared to belong to a ballroom. Despite his small frame, the sound of his leap resonated through the night, hoping it wouldn't betray his position to the pursuer or anyone inside. He hauled himself onto the sill, keeping his back pressed against the building. Quietly, he moved toward an open window and slipped inside, momentarily admiring the view of the city, despite his dire situation. Gathering his focus, he abandoned his appreciation, turned on his heel, and made his way further into the building. As he closed the window behind him, he followed the faint sound of music, curious about its source. Eventually, he found himself outside a pair of grand double doors. It was apparent that something significant was happening behind them. He adjusted his horn covers and straightened his collar, then confidently pushed the doors open and strolled in.
Passives: One with the shadows and pass without a trace.
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Post by Delta on Oct 21, 2023 20:28:28 GMT -5
"And then I told him 'well if you wanted his gold so badly then you shouldn't have been digging his brother'!"
The laughter that followed was as natural as breathing. Dante saw many a party guest much like a musician saw an instrument. There was a natural relationship between the two, and with enough drinking and mingling the distinction between musician and instrument became indistinct. Even drawing such lines missed the whole point of the affair and left one bereft of any deeper meaning. He had on a tight fitted black sleeveless shirt and a lacey purple shawl, cream pants, and gold toed shoes. To pull it all together he had a guan headpiece with a cascade of white beads that partially veiled his face.
More frivolities, drunken philosophy, and conjecture were shared by many before Dante disengaged from the nobles. It got boring when he realized none of them were going to do anything interesting like a magic trick or maybe even a trip to the bedroom. Still, he struggled to remain bored as he rotated about and received the same flourish of complements for his attire. It was yet another thing that came naturally to him. My, he thought, I wish more men would dress this way. You'd get the attention of more ladies too if you didn't just wear the same suits.
As the double doors leading into the ballroom opened, the guards posted there nearly fell over from the force of the opening doors. There was a startled gasp, and the music slowed to a crawl as the awkward arrival of the other 'Dante' arrived. It was clear that a scuffle was about to start and sour the mood further, but Dante simply gestured and said to his adoring crowd:
"My beloved! Where hath thou been darling in the night? Have you come to sweep me away? You know that my heart cannot bear another promise! It creaks under the weight of your absence, and I'll soon drown without you!"
Dante clasped one of Mephis' hands, lacing fingers through his. He made an expression of longing, widening his eyes and speaking effeminately to really sell the maiden in waiting bit that he had spun this awkward situation into. Seeing his horns, he recognized who this was and knew he'd be up to the challenge of bullshitting an entire crowd of rich snobs who would probably think this was just a big act.
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Post by Dante (Mephis Ferideh) on Oct 24, 2023 19:37:05 GMT -5
Mephis had always relished a dramatic entrance, especially when it was of his own making. The startled gasps, the abrupt slowing of the music, and the collective heads turning in his direction brought a satisfied smile to his face as he strode in. However, his amusement was short-lived as he noticed the guards stationed at the door reaching for the swords on their hips. Instinctively, he reached for the dagger concealed beneath his overcoat, muttering curses to himself in infernal. He had completely forgotten that guards would naturally be posted at the main entrance, and he braced himself for the impending scuffle.
Just when it appeared he was about to face off with the guards, a voice echoed through the hall. He pushed his glasses up to get a better look at the speaker, the voice sounding oddly familiar. His eyes widened, and he flinched slightly as a hand suddenly interlocked with his, leaving him with barely enough time to process the voice he had heard earlier. He attempted to sift through his mental catalog of people he had left in the night, but the list had grown too extensive to remember them all. However, with the mysterious figure now so close, he peered through the beaded veil partially obscuring their face and couldn't help but smirk once he pieced it together. Playing along with his part, Mephis raised the back of Dante's hand to his lips, planting a soft, meaningless kiss.
"Oh, my darling," Mephis purred, "I hope you can forgive my less than stellar appearance. An unexpected scuffle delayed my arrival by quite a margin.” He quickly brushed the slight boot print off of the front of his coat along with some dust from the rooftop as well. “It matters not where I've been; what matters is that I'm here now after many restless nights of yearning for your warm embrace. I pray that fate will never part us again, my love. Now, kiss me." Purposefully deepening his voice, he played his role to counter Dante's own performance.
The hand that had been inching toward his dagger now encircled Dante's waist as he deftly dipped him. Mephis leaned in close to Dante's face, then swiftly turned his head so that his long braid concealed the lower halves of both their faces, creating the illusion of a passionate kiss.
"I need to lay low here for a while," he whispered quickly to his companion, "I may or may not have someone on my tail. If you happen to spot an elven man dressed in black with a sizable gash on his leg, that would be him."
Completing the dip, they both rose back to their full height. Mephis leaned in and whispered softly, "So, what's the plan?" He then glanced over Dante's shoulder to gauge the crowd's reaction.
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Post by Delta on Oct 25, 2023 13:10:22 GMT -5
Dante dipped with Mephis and listened to his situation. He logged that information for later. Dante didn't immediately respond to Mephis' inquiry and instead cued the orchestra to switch to a dancing number. Taking Mephis' hand and shoulder, he said, "Well, without inquiring as to the nature of your predicament, I imagine he'll turn up if he's determined enough. So long as they don't have credentials with the right people, the guards can turn him away. Or if he doesn't care..."
He did a twirl in time with the waltz and added, "Well, I doubt he'll spill your blood in the middle of the ballroom. It might be better to wait for him to come and then excuse yourself. Make him think he can isolate you. I trust your skill in misdirection hasn't rusted since we last met, yes?" He grinned and asked, "But now that you're here, I'd be delighted to know what sort of mischief you're up to. Confidence game? Pickpocketing? Did you sleep with their wife?"
Stepping to the tune, he took a bow when the waltz finished and said, "In the meantime, might as well enjoy yourself. You look like you need a moment to recover anyways, so you might as well. The cocktails here are out of this world."
As he was mentioning this, his eyes flickered with excitement, and he whispered, "Oops, too late. I think that's him. Tall, dark, and limping." He gestured to a figure sticking to the shadows, dipping behind a pillar and clearly not meant to be here.
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Post by Dante (Mephis Ferideh) on Nov 1, 2023 15:15:58 GMT -5
Mephis couldn't help but be taken aback by the sudden grasp of his hand and shoulder, but he decided to go along with Dante's lead and joined him in the waltz. It had been quite some time since he had danced with another, and despite the thoughts of the elven man in pursuit racing through his head, he found himself enjoying the moment. The flowing parts of his outfit trailed gracefully behind with each step, but he was snapped back to reality when Dante spoke up again.
"I appreciate the lack of prying on your end, but I'm afraid he would still find a way in. There happen to be quite a few open windows in this hall. That's how I managed to slip in." Dante chuckled softly, his eyes scanning the ballroom for any sign of the elusive elven figure among the wealthy attendees.
Mephis assisted in Dante's twirl, adding his own flourishes before pulling him close once more. "Well, he did try to cut me down in the middle of the street and on a random rooftop, so I don't really think he cares if he spills my blood out in the open. He's quite fast, from what I've gathered," Mephis replied, a mischievous grin forming. "And, no, my skills haven't rusted in the slightest, darling. I've even picked up a few new tricks since the last time we met." He answered with a confident smile. When Dante inquired about what he had been up to, Mephis hesitated briefly before deftly changing the subject. "Well... Let's just say it involves some unsavory family business. Although I suspect his wife had a thing for me," he said with a wink, making it clear he didn't want to delve too deeply into the topic.
As the waltz concluded, Mephis bowed alongside Dante and exhaled a sigh of relief. He turned his gaze towards the cocktail table. "That sounds lovely. I haven't had a moment to truly relax in a long time. I might have to take you up on those cocktails." However, their moment of respite was short-lived as movement behind one of the pillars on the outskirts of the ballroom caught their attention. It seemed that Dante had noticed it too.
"Gods, I guess I'll have to postpone those drinks. His persistence reminds me of someone," Mephis nudged Dante with his elbow. "Though this time, it's not about stolen bounty money, although he's probably still after solars." He joked as he scanned the layout of the room, his eyes settling on a side door that the servers had been bustling in and out of with trays of food and drinks. "Would it be rude to assume you'd be interested in assisting with my little endeavor? I promise I won't run off this time."
As the crowd's attention began to drift away from them, Mephis wrapped his arm around Dante's and guided them into the crowd, using it as a form of concealment. Mephis took a deep breath and made a hand sign with his free hand. With a puff of smoke, 1a clone appeared and started walking towards the side door. Mephis watched anxiously as the clone exited the crowd and approached the door. It seemed to catch the elven man's attention as he began shifting from pillar to pillar, eventually slipping into the room the side door led to.
"Right, now it's our turn," Mephis whispered as he began moving toward the side door. However, when he entered the room, he was taken aback to find it completely empty. His anxiety spiked, and he pressed his back against the shadow cast by an overhead cabinet, 2nearly blending into the darkness, and watched and waited.
1.) Clone Self 2.) One with the Shadows (shadow dancer I)
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Post by Delta on Nov 1, 2023 16:26:35 GMT -5
Dante didn't need to look once Mephis told him of the intruder. It was an amateur move to try to anyways. Cogs turned in his head as he cast the briefest of glances at Mephis' clone. He made a Replicant to go along with it. It would look more natural if Mephis' partner was in his company and perhaps looking for a private place to meet. The mention of adultery on Mephis' part would make the look even more natural in its appearance.
Dante looked about briefly but didn't hide. Mephis' healthy paranoia and the empty space told him everything he needed to know. He pretended to busy himself with something and counted on the elven man to be as silent as death itself. Instead of trying to hear him enter, he simply counted five heartbeats before turning around and saying, "I'm sorry, but you didn't get an invitation."
He pointed an index finger at the hooded figure who probably expected to get the drop on them but instead was met with a thin blue line of lightning. The electricity of his Chromatic Blast conducted itself along the length of steel he was holding, causing some minor burns but more importantly to drop the weapon. That didn't seem to slow down the intruder who instead closed the distance with another dagger. Dante quickly wrapped the purple shawl around his hand and stepped away from the first thrust of the deadly weapon. Wrapping his hand around the other end of the shawl, he tried to give Mephis a brief opening by waiting for another stab to grab the blade.
"If this fabric tears because I was fighting you back, you had better pay for it young man."
The assassin hissed, "Where is he?"
Dante grinned and said, "Sorry, I'm afraid his performance in bed with me was even more disappointing than with your wife. My condolences. It seems we've both been cheated." That should keep his attention he thought.
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Post by Dante (Mephis Ferideh) on Nov 10, 2023 19:15:36 GMT -5
With his back against the shadows, Mephis observed Dante as he busied himself. His eyes darted around, searching for the cloaked elven man from before, but to no avail. The room appeared empty, aside from the two fellbloods. The air hung heavy with anticipation, and the man was bound to make an appearance, given that Mephis' "partner" was now alone. In the blink of an eye and without a sound, he materialized behind Dante. Yet, Mephis wasn't the only one who foresaw his arrival. Dante held his ground, diverting his attention away from Mephis' dark blue silhouette within the shadow.
"I assume you're looking for me?" Mephis planned to spring from his hiding place the moment Dante created an opening, sliding between them to deliver a shallow slash to the assailant's hand. The slash, combined with Dante's shawl, caused the man to drop his dagger. In a swift motion, Mephis caught it with his free hand. Examining the blade, he noticed its similarity to his own. Glancing over his shoulder at the man, he spotted a glimpse of a snake and a blue rose beneath his black cloak—the Ferideh family crest. Although Mephis couldn't recall working with him before, he had been away for about five years and employment was bound to change.
Before he could dwell on it, the man produced another dagger from his cloak and slashed at Dante’s shawl to free himself. "Stay out of this, pretty boy, and don’t you dare mention my wife," he threatened, taking another swing at Dante. Swiftly pivoting behind Mephis, he delivered a quick slash across his back. "Ya know they didn’t say anything about bringing you in unharmed," the assailant joked. Fortunately, Mephis' braid wasn't over his shoulder, so it remained unharmed. However, Mephis wasn't as fortunate, his back now stained red. Distracted by the pain, the man seized the opportunity, grabbing Mephis by the back of his collar and dragging him toward another door on the opposite side of the kitchen. Before disappearing from view, Mephis threw the elven man’s dagger at the lighting fixture on the ceiling, crashing it to the ground and shrouding the room in darkness.
Seizing the advantage, Mephis almost wholly disappeared, his eyes the only visible markers. "That should even it out a little," he joked, slinking further into the darkness before delivering a kick to the man’s chest, catching him off guard and sending him tumbling through the door behind him.
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Post by Delta on Nov 11, 2023 16:12:58 GMT -5
Dante sighed and looked down at the ruined shawl. A shame, he thought. I really did like this color. He winced as the lights went out, eyes barely following the deft dance of Mephis. Dante's eyes narrowed, his Dark Vision giving him clear sight despite the shadow game the assassin and Mephis were playing. He turned his attention to a lantern on the end table and grinned wickedly. The Ferideh noble seemed well enough distracted by his quarry, so he reached for the lantern and threw it at him. The assassin predictably turned and smashed the oil filled vessel with brawn and blade.
"Alright, fine. You can die first."
Dante grinned as he formed a fiery Chromatic Blast in his hand. The assassin's eyes widened with realization as Dante said, "Sorry darling, but I don't approve of intruders who attack my guests." He faked a throw to the left, preying on the assassin's primal fear of being set ablaze. Sure enough, he overcorrected and leapt right. As the flame flew towards him, it swallowed him in brilliant orange fire. Suddenly the assassin screamed in the agony of being burned alive, an arm waving pyre. Dante called out, "He's all yours darling," before rushing out the door, shutting it behind him.
The door thumped as the assassin desperately tried to break out, pounding on the door. It was a miracle that the door was thick, and they had picked such a remote location that it didn't seem anyone had taken notice. Eventually the pounding stopped, and he could hear the thump of something heavy. Smoke filled his nose as it crept through the cracks of the door. He could smell burnt skin and hair, and he had to quickly put his shawl to his face to prevent himself from gagging.
The only miracle the grizzly sight offered was much of the flames had snuffed when Dante opened the door, a wafting wave of rancid death smoke plumed from the open portal. Dante coughed and stepped aside so as to give room for Mephis to step out from the dead end room.
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Post by Dante (Mephis Ferideh) on Nov 22, 2023 23:31:19 GMT -5
Mephis danced from within the shadows as he tried to overwhelm his assailant with slashes, nothing fatal; of course, he still had questions for him. His attention fully glued to the elven man meant that he had only noticed the thrown object until it flew past his head. Not surprisingly, the Ferideh enforcer swiped at the flying object out of instinct, completely dousing him in some dark liquid as it shattered against his blade. Mephis didn’t stop his assault on the man and thus didn’t hear Dante’s first threat of death. Though the sound of a spell being charged and Dante’s voice brought the fellblood out of his trance-like assault. Just in time to finally get a whiff of the liquid that covered the man … oil, Mephis quickly whipped his head around to see the flaming energy in Dante’s hand. The sudden light meant that Mephis had fully reappeared, and a look of dread was evident on his face as his stomach dropped, knowing what Dante was about to do.
“Wait, Dante! Don’t-” Mephis tried to dive to stop him but was too late as the flame was lobbed at the elf. All Mephis could do was watch, mouth agape, as the flames engulfing him lit up the entire room. “Mephis! Help me!” screamed the man as the fire began to eat away at his flesh, yet the fellblood was still frozen. So much assaulted Mephis’ senses: the smell of burning flesh and hair, the sting of the smoke in his nose, and, worst of all, his distorted screaming mixed with the whooshing of the flames.
He couldn’t peel his eyes away until Dante rushed past and slammed the door behind him. Even after that, Mephis didn’t move an inch, letting the man bang against the door in a desperate attempt to escape the pain. He had to make a decision with both options being equally vile, let the man slowly burn to death or put him out of his misery with his own hands, adding more blood to his hands. Mephis gripped his dagger tighter, and his face dropped as he knew what he had to do; he had done it dozens of times before. How was this any different? He swallowed the lump in his throat, walked his way over, and just let his body go on autopilot as he drove the dagger into the man’s neck and, another time, into his chest, making quick work of him.
As Dante opened the door, Mephis’ expression was blank as he stared at the charred remains of a family employee. After a second of silence, Mephis finally stepped out of the room, not caring about the singed fabric at the end of his flowy sleeves or the blood staining the front of his overcoat. The facade of flamboyancy had dropped entirely from the fellblood as he turned to face Dante “We need to get out of here or still be pinned on our backs” spoken like someone who had done this many times before as he turned on his heels as if still on autopilot, though a shred of emotion peaks through as he stops and clenches his fists. “Why?” he asked, his voice cracking a tiny bit but not turning to Dante.
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Post by Delta on Nov 23, 2023 19:57:03 GMT -5
Dante pinched his nose and said, “Oh my, a screamer and now a stinker. Well, I suppose that’s one problem dealt with.” When he noted Mephis’ more serious response, he blinked and said, “Oh did you know him? My apologies, I normally don’t extend assassins much courtesy when they are in pursuit of those I’ve taken a liking to.” He snapped his fingers and said, “But you are right, this does look bad. Still, not the first body I’ve had the displeasure of removing.” He knelt down over the body and nodded, saying, “I think I have some threads I can whip up. Have him be seen somewhere else. We can even have you pretend to be chased by him to add some flair if that’s to your liking but…” he regarded Mephis and said, “I’m sorry this has been inconvenient for you darling. I suppose I should have taken into consideration that you might want to interrogate him.”
He stood up and said, “Honestly he was quite underwhelming. An assassin who doesn’t have an answer to magic? Oh well. Don’t fret over the body: I am after all the host, I always deliver exemplary service. He should be easy to dismember and remove. Fire did most of the work anyways.” He gestured to Mephis and said, “I know you hate me right now, but you’re in need of a new outfit. We are similar sized so I’m sure we can get something that’s close to fitted.”
It was clear from how he talked about the body that he didn’t really feel all that perturbed at killing this man. His delightful demeanor and his charming way with words masked someone capable of anything.
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Post by Dante (Mephis Ferideh) on Nov 29, 2023 16:44:03 GMT -5
Mephis ran his hands through his white hair, loosening his long braid slightly, and took a deep breath to compose himself before exploding in front of Dante. "No, I didn't know him. It's just that there must've been a way to resolve this without murdering him like that," he said, finally turning to face Dante as he inspected the charred corpse. Guilt flashed on his face for a split second before returning to his neutral, cold expression.
"He didn't deserve to die like that just because he worked for the wrong people. I cannot deny his intent to harm, but knowing the others sent before him killing me would make more problems for them. Plus, he had a wife." Mephis's eyes widened as he realized the holes in his earlier lie about his wife fancying him, and then he wondered what would happen if he revealed who he actually was to Dante. Would that help or make the situation worse?
As Dante stood back up, Mephis's eyes couldn't help but keep drifting over to the elven man's leather armor below his cloak, more specifically, the half-burnt crest of his old family. Then his eyes trailed to the man's ornate dagger lying idly next to him, and as if still on autopilot, he walked back and picked it up, stowing it in one of the many empty pockets of his overcoat. He knew better than anyone not to leave anything behind that could be traced back to him. He strolled back next to Dante. "Hate is what I'd reserve for the group that keeps sending these people after me, though I won't lie, I am upset. But what's done is done. Neither of us knows how to revive a dead man."
At the mention of his outfit, Mephis finally took a second to look down at his overcoat, splattered with the man's blood that he spilled. His charred sleeves were noticed next, and he took another sigh. "You are right; this overcoat has seen better days. Though this isn't the first time blood has stained it." His hand hovered above where the blue rose and snake of his family's crest used to lay on his overcoat before shaking his head. "Right, lead the way. I am unfamiliar with this place." As the two began to stroll away, Mephis sheathed his dagger next to the elven man's and tried to brush some of the singes off his sleeves. "You probably have questions, don't you?" he stated absent-mindedly.
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Post by Delta on Nov 30, 2023 10:23:19 GMT -5
Dante got to work lifting the body and gestured for Mephis to grab the other end. One detail he would notice is Dante didn't contort his face in disgust at the smell nor did he seem perturbed by the death of this man, but rather spoke more on Mephis himself. It was as if his enjoyment at his party and his well being were of a greater priority than the killing of this man. Dante grunted as he lifted the poor bastard and said, "Many people have wives darling. Tragedy is a constant in life, and dwelling on it simply leads to nihilistic inaction. Guilt serves its function in brief, but quickly curdles into self-pitying. This wasn't some commoner trying to make ends meet; this was a trained killer whose trade was death. If I didn't kill him, someone else would."
He smiled up at him and said, "Well I wasn't going to pry, but since this situation is distressing to you I must insist on at least some minimal detail to make your time better here. Just because we had a party crasher and a series of unfortunate events doesn't mean we can't leave the evening on a positive note. One thing we have going for us is assassins tend to be frowned upon when discussed openly in court. I doubt anyone in higher social circles will openly speak on the matter so rumor should be easily quelled to only spymasters."
Dante craned his head, gesturing to the spiral staircase leading down and said, "And because I'm a professional master of ceremonies, I have empty space for private matters. Body disposal is something I've done for a couple of folks in need of discretion. It's in my name after all. I suppose if you're of a mind to share, I'd like to context of this peculiar situation you find yourself in. The usuals, the why, the hows, and the love affairs and motives involved, that sort of thing. I'll be of more use the more you give me. And of course, discretion."
He made a sealing gesture with his lips and said, "I have a reputation to keep! If I went around spilling every saucy secret with reckless abandon then it'll be two other poor fools carrying MY body down to be disposed of!"
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Post by Dante (Mephis Ferideh) on Dec 5, 2023 17:19:01 GMT -5
How many years had it been since he had to dispose of a body, 4 or 5 years? Mephis couldn’t remember, but vivid memories of the past flooded his mind as he carried the other end of the lifeless corpse. Faces, a mosaic of both his victims and his brother’s, rushed past him. He had been warned never to look them in the eyes, yet curiosity compelled him to wonder about their stories, the circumstances that attracted Ferideh’s wrath. As he gazed into the lifeless eyes, he pondered the choices that led the deceased to work for his family. Was it coercion, or did the individual willingly showcase lethal skills for gain? And what had Mephis’ parents conveyed before assigning him this macabre task? At least this time, he wasn’t alone in bearing the body’s weight; he adjusted his arms for better leverage.
Dante’s words initially sounded muffled to Mephis, lost in the whirlwind of his thoughts. As they moved the body, he shook off the mental haze. “Oh, my apologies for not being fully here. It’s just that it has been quite some time since I’ve had to do this,” Mephis admitted. “I hate to admit it, but you do make a good point. But I can’t help but wonder if he was forced into this kind of life.” He peeled his eyes away from the corpse, looking up at Dante. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Dante, but you do not feel bad in the slightest?” he asked, noticing the absence of guilt in Dante’s eyes.
They descended the spiral staircase and entered a dimly lit hallway lined with countless doors. Focused on the task at hand, Mephis didn’t answer until they reached the bottom. “Well, it’s not the law that I’m concerned about. I am a thief, after all, and I used to be substantially worse. I appreciate your discretion, but I’m not going to divulge my entire past, as I need those cards close to my chest, but I’ll reveal some of my hand.” Glancing around to ensure their privacy, he sighed and began, “So first off, my name is not actually Dante, but I feel like you already knew that. It’s Mephis Ferideh, and my family runs a criminal organization that operates out of Moonglade. For quite some time, I was a part of the ‘family business’ until one fateful day, I took a chance and left, and I’ve been at the top of their shit list for the past five years.” Saying his own name felt strange, though he had shared it with another fellblood just a month ago.
Following Dante into a door near the end of the hall, Mephis found an almost empty room with spare furniture and lanterns. Setting the body down, he continued, “Ever since I had taken the name, Dante, they have been sending people after me, not to kill me but to bring me back so my parents can kill me themselves. To them, I am just another loose end and a thorn in their side but one they want to deal with personally.”
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Post by Delta on Dec 6, 2023 20:47:14 GMT -5
Dante decided carrying the body and holding a conversation as invested as this one required more of his concentration than a corpse's weight would allow, so he created a Replicant to carry his weight for him. He blinked when he mentioned his lack of remorse and said, "I don't think I've ever met someone with empathy for their would be assassin, but marks for good character." He puts his hands behind his back and pondered, saying, "I grew up in Darkveil. People have been killed for far less. To me killing an assassin is just common sense, though immolation isn't usually the norm."
He smiled and added, "That and my instinct from our brief reaction seemed to be correct in a way. Taking you in to be killed by your parents? It seems that this man would have even less pity for you had this been a successful mission for him. It's rather unfortunate for him that he crashed my party. Exposing him publicly on the ballroom floor would've been marvelous! Oh having his face seen in public in the midst of such dark work~"
He took out a little black book, scribbled something down, and tucked it away.
"So... given your crime family history, would that make you a prince of crime in this hierarchy? Well, ex-prince of crime. You must have siblings if they are already trying to kill you. Otherwise killing their only heir seems rather counterproductive."
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Tradesfolk
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Post by Dante (Mephis Ferideh) on Dec 26, 2023 22:17:34 GMT -5
Mephis wiped the small amount of sweat from his forehead and sighed heavily. Then, he side-eyed Dante as he wrote something down in a small black journal of sorts; curious about its contents, he stepped back into a shadow in hopes of gaining some perception from the darkness. Though it was closed just as quickly as it was opened, and in that instant, Mephis emerged once again, burying his curiosity and paranoia for later.
Trying to quickly shift Dante’s suspicion of what he was doing, he swiped a piece of cloth that had been laid across one of the tables. Then, he squatted down next to the man’s head, ripped a square off the cloth, and gently placed it over his face. Despite his curiosity surrounding the dead, he hated staring at their faces for too long; this one was no exception. With a sigh, he stood back up, trying to brush off some of the still-warm blood from his overcoat. “I have killed people for far less, Dante. If my father ordered me to take care of someone, I would do it, no questions asked. I was efficient, silent, and deadly, though it didn’t matter as most of my victims were unfortunate people with no ways to defend themselves.” he paused and quickly glanced down at the cloth-covered face before returning his gaze to Dante “I could’ve been him … I was him, that is why I am able to feel bad for his situation”
Mephis managed a half smile at the mention of his family’s hierarchy, though it quickly returned to his neutral expression “How very astute of you. Yes, I do have siblings. I was the middle child of six siblings: An older brother and sister and then younger twin brothers … I had one other brother, but the incident that allowed me to leave ended with his demise.” he tried to swallow the lump in his throat as he sat down at one of the chairs that littered the room, he doesn’t exactly remember the minute before his brother’s death. It was all just a blur, but he’s about 60% sure that it was his hands that left him bleeding out on that apartment floor
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