Just what had he signed up for again? Oh right, the war on the spooky thinks. FEAR, and some other s**t. All the little nasty things in the world that used people as prey. Things that saw him as food and fodder. Marcus was always striving to survive, to get by on whatever he could. He craved to make himself better, stronger, wiser. He wanted to give himself that edge and now standing at the edge, Marcus was given a task. Find that which was his, to find his weapon. No hints to how, no clues as to what kind, nothing. Just a goal, a task, nothing more, nothing less.

The stairs, the dark, all of it was like a recipe for some misbegotten accident waiting to happen. Would he have to solve some riddle, fight a beast with his bare hands, or would it be as simple as pulling out a pre determined weapon from a weapon’s rack? As the stairs ended the glow of the single torch strained his eyes for a sort while pupils adjusting to maintain his ability to see as much as possible. Just what was this place. A room, empty? Was this yet another test? Did this place have a sort of test fetish? If it did, Marcus guessed this was college now in the educational sense then. He’d come this far, leaving now would be like dropping out. Quitting the game after pouring just that much effort into it.

That wasn’t him, it wasn’t an option.

He would march on, determined to see this to the end, whatever end that may be. Eyes now focused to the dark, Marcus could see what made the room look wholly unique. The very wall itself. As if a stone mason had carved out a place for just a set purpose, indents in the wall gave rise to the understanding of just what he was seeing, tablets of stone placed in a way for either examination or some kind of use.
Still leery, and wondering if it was puzzle rather than riddle now, Marcus stepped closer to examine the tablets. Something about them seemed…different. Each one was different, individual if in one way or another. His task was to find his weapon, did these tablets hold the key to a door? Another room where his actual weapon could be found?

As his hand brush against the cool rock of one, Marcus felt a sense of disgust over whelming him. Moving his hand quickly over, he suddenly got a odd buzzing in his ear. Thinking it to be a fly, he removed his hand- It was all quite. The sensation of disgust, the buzzing, it was gone as soon as he stopped touching the wall. Curiosity got the better of him. A single finger went out to touch a new tablet and this time-

He got the idea. The third tablet gave him a cold chill, the next, a silent hum, one gave him a feeling that he really should stop just touching them all, another gave him the feeling to touch them all. Yet none of them provided much insight. Just vague feelings, emotions, noises in the back of his head. Nothing..substatial. Just what the heck was he-

A small purr as his fingers ran across a tablet. It was louder than any sound before it, and it felt pleased to have been noticed? He…also got the impression he had a really nice looking a**. Okay. That was so far, the weirdest feeling yet. Still, Marcus was curious. The markings on the stone looked like a grin, smaller indents in the stone itself jagged like fangs. Removing his hand, the felt a sense of loss, like he had to touch it again. When he did the reaction was different, it was almost demanding to be touched. Why did this tablet react so loudly, and in such a varied manner? Purring one moment, loud and demanding the next.

Experimentally, Marcus let his fingers trace the edge, and he got the impression this was just what to do. A tug and the tablet came free with a small crack that echoed in the otherwise silent room.

Mmmmmm…..Now that is a real man’s touch.

What.

Oh baby don’t you act all surprised, you knew we were going to be together in the end didn’t you?

Marcus looked at the tablet wearing his best pokerface to stop himself from showing his confusion and…awkwardness. Was this thing..hitting on him?

Oh I've been lonely while you were away. At least you're here now my fine assed friend.

Marcus was dumbstruck. It was. It was hitting on him.

"Errrrrr- what?"

Oh you. My sexy little hunter, didn't they tell you? Oh I suppose not, I don't think they ever do. My name is Desiderio, but feel free to call me whatever pet names you like.

Creepiness level was skyrocketing. "Uh- I'm Marcus? Pardon but-"

Yesssss?

Oh god it was like talking to a creeper on the bus late at night. "Look I'm just here to get my weapon, is this some kind of-"

Baby what just what do you think I am?

A burring liquid sensation came across his hands and Marcus shut his eyes from the pain. An image flashed in the back of his mind, a young man his own age, but pale as sheet, and fangs that glowed and radiated a distinct sense of schadenfreude at his confusion. All the features were vague, hazy. All but the grin and the sense that his mental pain was good, fun and amusing. As the second passed, Marcus opened his eyes and realized the tablet was gone, but in his hand-

Ahhhh, it's been so long since a real man handled me.

"What the ******** was that."

Nothing, nothing. Let's just get out of here. Rather stuffy you know.

Marcus came to a conclusion. He had found his weapon. And it was ******** nuts. "What the ******** is this?" The curved blade chuckled in his mind.

Oh Marcus baby, this? This is the start of a beautiful friendship...with benefits.