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 Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 4:43 am
What:
Words exchanged between the best of frenemies
Who:
Lord Yizhaq & Lady Hayat [Indubitably]
&
Jin-ho Kyon & Blaithe [NeonMace]
Where:
The empty rooms of the Northern Fellowship Base
When:
March 20th, 1411
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 5:15 am
It was, perhaps, his conversation with Lady Sanguine that made him ever more watchful of the few mages he encountered as he walked the halls of the base. Each was regarded with a weary suspicion that was borne from days of shadows following his every move. While none had made it into his estate, the guard noticed them far outside the wall, and he knew he had been followed on his journey north.
Who knew how many of them lurked within the stone passages of what had once been a stronghold of honor. Who knew how many of them masqueraded as fellowship members. First Waldgrave, now anyone.
It was with those dark thoughts in mind that he sought out Lady Estratus' 'assistant,' a man ruled by his heart, rather than his mind. And, as Hayat whispered, the heart was fickle, indeed. Tradition, Honor, Justice. Those were the things a man could rely upon, not his affections.
A tightening of his jaw as he entered the infirmary, speaking with the doctor. While Jin-ho was no longer confined here, he was in fact, confined to the wing, and as the helpful man supplied, currently within the rooms.
A polite knock, to inform of his presence, and Yizhaq opened the door to Jin-ho's room, shutting it quietly behind himself. The male was no longer a ragged mess, of course, but the damage was clear. The rumors circulating the halls were also food for thought.
"Assistant," A musing tone, as he nodded a greeting. "I can see you have much to tell me." After all, there had been no time to speak, earlier in the week, when Yizhaq had collected Chauhn and Clurie, had hunted the pair down with Sloane's assistance. It had been within a day of his departure that Jin-ho had been attacked. "How are you feeling?"
One could presume that Jin-ho had not suffered many visitors. In fact, few knew of his attack at all. How could they, with the status of the Fellowship?
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:19 am
"You were not granted permission to enter."
The first noticeable thing about the room was its lack of features. Its barren walls held no paintings or mirrors; no rugs or anything on the floor. The only items placed inside were the necessities of a dresser, a nightstand and a bed.
On the other side of the room, Jin-Ho had been lying on his back, his gaze lazily fixed on a rock in the ceiling. He had lost the drive for almost everything; his position and rank stripped from him, the first girl he had ever gotten close to betrayed him. Everything had been taken from him in the span of a few hours, and now he was merely a broken and useless man.
On his stomach, curled up and facing the wall, was Blaithe. Her attitude had changed drastically in the last few days, reflecting her Grimm. The personal attack on her, along with her Grimm's change of heart and attitude, she was forced to be calm and collected.
This was easier said than done, but she managed to stay still and quiet as she rested atop of her only hope in the world at this point.
"I'm no longer an assistant, so you're not forced to be so formal." Jin-Ho spat, his tone sour and coated with frustration. This new tone, honestly, quite frightened Blaithe, but it was something she would have to get used to with her Grimm's new personality. She longed for her old Oji as she curled herself tighter on his stomach.
"And as you can see, I've felt better."
Attempting to even just sit up was now a challenge; his left arm struggling weakly to hold his weight while the stab in his right side ached as he moved. Jin-Ho sank down once again, a pained grunt sounding in his chest as he slumped into defeat. Blaithe's head perked up to look at her Grimm; the black, caked on scabs of her attack had started to heal, leaving dark streaks across her glowing face. Worry filled what expression that could be read on her Phasmas features.
Or lack of features. Whichever you will.
Once back into as comfortable a position as his bedding and injuries allowed, Jin-Ho looked into the eyes of his new visitor. "What are you really here for? If it's about Chauhn, I apologize with all of what's left of my heart. He knows. I don't expect to be forgiven by him or anybody, so you can save it."
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:42 am
"I did not request it." An equally biting response, though rather than continuing in that vein, Yizhaq quieted, his hazel green eyes examining Jin-ho's injuries. They said he had been tortured by the cult, and worse. Where, then, was Sage? When he spoke again, his tone was neutral, soft-spoken as usual, though his words were harsh.
"I already told you, I am here for information." For what was he without his ill-gotten title? Nothing more to Yizhaq than a burden and an obstacle, that was certain, unless he could show himself of use through word or thought. It was not that he was insensitive to Jin-ho's injuries, but rather, that sensitivity had no use here.
"When the darkness recedes from Chauhn's heart, I'm sure he'll forgive you, whether or not he should. A pity, really, since I've seen no good come from your influence upon him." Dismissing that topic with a wave of the hand, he continued, "But no, I am not here on an errand for my page. I think you confuse our roles. I am here to see just how much of this is your fault."
It was then that he peeled the glove from his left hand, raising his brows. "You may tell me what you know, or I will take it from you, and your allegiances will be proven." It was not a threat, simply one man informing another of his choices.
Hayat, pale and watchful, she stood on her lord's shoulder, her attention lingering on the subdued Blaithe. She spoke, not to Jin-Ho, but to Yizhaq. "He does not even care for his most important duty, m'lord. This injustice to her must be corrected."
Yizhaq's gaze dropped to the markings on the phasmas' face, his own expression softening slightly. "What of that, scribe? Who has harmed her?" Surely, her injury was more important than the rending of his flesh.
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:20 pm
Jin-Ho watched the man as he drew closer. Yizhaq's harsh words and biting tone would have, at one point in time, hurt him deeply and make him feel shamed, but now the mage had learned that words alone could no longer bring any lasting pain; only regret. And regret was definitely what he felt when it came to Chauhn, but not because of this man who felt the need to lecture him and question his intentions.
Once the fault card was played, his expressions hardened, the healing scars on his face tugged at his skin. Despite how uncomfortable it was, Jin-Ho continued to glare at his visitor, his anger beginning to burn through.
"I've been informed of Lady Waldgrave and her betrayals, so don't think I'm unaware of what this is about." he said, his tone equally as biting. What was left of his honor, scarred and beaten, could only handle so much more of the abuse. He could understand where they were coming from; why such accusations were cast, but even still it was a personal attack.
"While you may not believe me, I am completly loyal to the Fellowship and our leaders. The same Cultist who attacked me died by my hand."
And then the little birdy spoke.
The mage's glare became focused on the glowing Hayat perched ever so carefully on Yizhaq's shoulder, her lies slithering from the mouth that acted as their home. Blame after blame, Jin-Ho could feel his anger and frustration bubble up from the empty pit of his stomach. He never intended for anything to happen to his Plague. She was one of his most prized possessions, even if now she was a bit of an annoyance.
"You wish to accuse me of her injuries, as well?" he inquired, his voice strangely calm against his inner rage. He cupped Blaithe up into his hand, forcing himself up as he gently lifted her off of his stomach so as not to crush her. "She was attacked while I was unconscious, and that horrid creature is now out of our midst," he grunted, his side burning. His eyes, now cold and set in dark circles, looked away from the two before him.
It was clear that, at this point, he no longer wished to speak.
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:42 pm
"That answers nothing, and I have no interest in hearing you speak, if you're not going to say anything of value." His eyes flicked briefly over the man's face, before falling to his injured arm as he stopped, near the head of the bed. "You foolish, irresponsible little man." The laugh came, a soft, humorless chuckle as he moved to the head of the bed. There was nothing that angered him quite like self-righteous assumption.
"Yes, boy. I assign responsibility to you for any and all harm that comes to those under your care, as I should." He did not shout, but his words were clipped, full of a cold sort of disgust as he spoke, quickly and quietly, his narrowed eyes bright shards of anger. "That is what it means to be a Grimm, or any person of rank. Perhaps," Here he reached out, as Jin-Ho looked away, to grip the former-scribe's shoulder firmly with his barehand. "You have been allowed to grow far too big for your undeserving britches."
The flash then, of memories and emotions, anger, fear, shame, pain, it rushed by as he discarded them for solid impressions. There. The cultist, her strange surreal manner of speaking, her death. A familiar face. Felicity, Jin-Ho's female companion. Betrayal. Blaithe. Sage. Anger. Shame.
A slow inhale through white, clenched teeth as he released the biting grip of his fingertips, and stepped away from the bed, organizing the mental and emotional blast into something that he could use. After a moment, he spoke again, softly, almost to himself.
"Ah, I see it now." A mirthless smile. "So, that's where your little friend has run off to." The clash of emotions at the Festival last fall made sense now, the sight of them in Imisus, that dreadful little flower that Hayat despised. "Claudia, the caedos, and... Felicity, wasn't it?"
A pause then, as he forced the disgust from his voice and face, schooling his expression into one of neutrality. "Interesting." Pulling his gloves slowly back onto his hands, and adjusting their buckles, he moved toward the door. "I will further caution you, boy. Do not stand in my way, when the time comes to show your loyalties. I will cut you down, if I must."
Glancing toward the windows, he raised a brow to see those crows, lingering hungrily, their beedy eyes locked on the former assistant. "Beware the crows, Jin-Ho."
There was work to be done.
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Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 11:13 am
A scowl formed on the injured man's face, irritation getting the best of him. "Why ask for an answer, or even ask the damned question, if you weren't even going to consider the reply?" he spat bitterly. Just how was he to blame? It wasn't as if he could actually have done anything while unconscious and injured.
Like adding salt to the wound.
Jin-Ho didn't pull his shoulder away as the hand reached out, despite the undesired touch of someone who was being ridiculous beyond all reason. He focused instead on the pain in his side and his arm. The mage knew what was happening, it was no surprise. Strange how the man had to do so little to do it, though.
"She is no friend of mine, and I do not wish to hear either of their worthless names," he growled, his expression contorted between fury and pain. "And you have nothing to worry about on my part, I would rather be here, in pain, than see you once more."
As his unwanted visitor finally showed signs of leaving, speaking little, the mage turned his head and ignored the warnings of the mouthy neusance.
He just wanted to be alone.
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