Lucidus Magus - The Pluma Inn ~ Room 317 ~ The Communion

[Strict Envy]

The Pluma Inn - Room 317

Manson's room during his stay in Lucidus Magus.

 

[Strict Envy]

The door of 317 gridded against the floor and it was forcibly pushed open, adding the quarter circle that had become more visible over time. In came Manson, a shadow of a man - dark and tall, hollows underneath grim eyes that were buried under unkempt hair, and clothed in a wrinkled black suit matched with a tie. He'd lost track of time, but the incoming darkening of the sky was signal enough that his guests would be on their way. It'd been a long time since he'd played host.

His steps were silent, almost ghostly as he made his way across the room, depositing his camera on top the bed. His first destination was his mirror. His reflection had always bored him, but this wasn't always. Today Manson felt he'd need to salvage what he could of his current self, the dead-like man who roamed aimlessly for years, absent of care or sympathies. There wasn't much the salvage after all. Still boring.  

[mini megitsune]

A knock on the door.  

[Strict Envy]

Manson's gaze remained on his reflection for a second longer after he'd heard the knock, but that was that. The man stood up from the wooden seat slowly, walked to the entrance way moving his long fingers through his hair as he did so, and opened the door so that only so much as a head could fit.

"Hello." He said simply.  

[mini megitsune]

Aziz and Mahli both bowed slightly in unison. "Hello, Its been a long time," Aziz smiled at Mason. She took in the man's unkempt appearance and noticed how much more tired he looked since their last encounter. "This is Mahli, he has been the one to orchestrate all of this." Mahli stood silently at her side, betraying not even the slightest of emotions.  

[Strict Envy]

The door was opened whole, allowing entrance for Manson's two guests into his room that aside from the lights around his mirror remained dark and shadowy like the man who stayed in it. Manson's hand went out to Malhi, before stepping aside so that the guests could take their positions wherever they pleased. "So it's you I owe. Thank you." He said, studying his god of the moment.

Words were not the easiest, but they weren't impossible to come by.

Manson turned the ceiling lights on and already the setting had lost its tint of drama. "Aziz, a suit's a good look on you." Manson returned to his seat by the mirror, turned it so that it faced the other too, and then relaxed, crossing a leg on his knee. "But I'm not going to distract from the elephant in the room. Tell me how this will work."  

[mini megitsune]

Mahli shook his hand briefly before striding into the room and standing solemly in the center of the room.

Aziz grinned, she stepped past Mason in the doorway and stood across from the mirror in his room. Her own reflection unfamilar and foriegn, as she had not worn formal Ater Nox garb in what had seemed to be far too long.

"Thank you, and before we begin there are a few matters that should be clarified." Aziz looked to Mahli as he pulled out a black envelope from his jacket pocket and held it out for Mason. "The letter contains the details of this arrangement, along with a bit of compensation." Aziz paused and circled around the chair Mason sat in, facing him. "Do you understand the consequences of this? Once done, it can never be reversed."  

[Strict Envy]

Manson closed his fingers around the envelope, gave a nod to Mahli and slowly proceeded to open it. From his expression, it was obvious that interest what on the near future, past the event of reading was looked like a few too many pages.

He let a second stray as he looked into Aziz's eyes, listening to the last words of her sentence and then went to pulling out the document. The envelope was placed on the vanity, it's black brightening up the wood that had seemed so dark just moments before and eyes fell onto the letter.

Reading word for word became skimming and soon pages were turned till all was set beside the envelope. "Forever is perfect for me. Don't let me down."  

[mini megitsune]

Mahli smiled behind them both, amused and giddy with anticipation. He came up behind Aziz and helped her out of her suit jacket. Aziz grinned at Mason, glad that he made the right decision.

Once done with her coat she revealed her bare arms to Mason. The delicate patterns of scars and magic burned bright against her skin. She reached into her pants pocket and pulled out a handful of black sand. It morphed into a small curved dagger.

Aziz nodded to Mahli who set down her coat on a chair and quickly regained his place by her side. Mahli took the dagger from her hand and held it out for Mason. He only need but a taste of blood on the dagger to receive his reward. A sacrificial oath. Blood for Magic. It was simply really, if you aren't born into it, you bleed into it. Dark magic emitted from the dagger, its glow insidious and inviting.

Mahli looked at Mason, grin still hinting on his lips, "The deeper the desire the more powerful the magic. If the desire is too weak the magic will overwhelm you."

(I will be posing late in the day tomorrow or not at all, weekends are hectic)  

[Strict Envy]

As the coat slid down the length of Aziz's arms, Manson followed each revealing inch till he was looking at the entirety of the dark art, luminous and bringing life to the dark room as if the magic underneath Aziz's skin had a mission to enchant the eyes of the photographer.

And then the blade, a concoction of thin air and dust: small, yet long, radiate, curvaceous, and sexy like a woman of desire, the forbidden catalyst for all that Manson could recall caring for, drew in all of his attention. Unblinking eyes were set on the object, Manson mirrored Malhi's smile, exposing a row of strait white teeth, a rare show.

The dagger was taken and then laid in the palm of his left hand for a closer look before it was assumed in a grip once again. Manson held it up. "Blood then?" He asked, already aware of the answer and drew the magnificent blade down on his right forearm, dragging and extending the deep and bloody line. Although a drop was sufficient, he wanted to remind his two guests of his dedication. His lips held together tightly even through he wanted to breath and his eyes were open even though he wanted them shut them. And then he stopped at his wrist, slowly lifting the blade and holding up the bloody object. It was more bright than ever and so was the gape underneath the red filter of a waterfall from Manson's arm.  

[mini megitsune]

Aziz giggled as the blood dripped off of the dagger in Mason's hand. She was impressed with his show and his capacity for pain. She held her hand out to Mahli who laid his atop hers obediently. They both began to murmur indistinct spells and the room began to turn dark except for the blade, Mason's blood, and Their piercing eyes.

The dagger returned to sand and began to swirl around Mason's arm. With each swirl more and more sand would pierce into his open flesh, becoming one with him.

Mahli laughed loudly, the sound foreign and booming in the heavy atmosphere of the room. He knew it was in this painful process, they would potentially gain a brillant ally.

Aziz gazed intently on Mason's arm, infusing her own magic into him. The sight horrific and beautiful, she felt her own scars grow hot with the curse of dark magic.  

[Strict Envy]

Pain. It was instant. He expected just his butchered arm to hurt, but the pain was an unfocused element that took place from within Manson's own body. Manson yelped and then instinctually lowered his chest into his knees, pulling his arms around him. His hands grappled onto his ********." He groaned and stood from the seat as the room dimmed mysteriously, an unforeseen aspect of the ritual. Still holding himself as if he'd fall into pieces if he were to let go or loosen his grip, Manson fumbled in the darkness and knocked down his own chair before hoisting himself onto his bed where he laid on his back, drowned into the comforter which was soaking in his own blood. His legs which were bent over the edge shifted, twitched, and adjusted as the pain would take over his will to be still.

Manson now stared into the ceiling, fixated on an invisible point in the darkness with an empty look on his face. It was quiet, void of even the sound of Manson's breathing as he took it the pain in, accounting for every sensation for his memory.

Meanwhile, this magic sand in the black of the room that glittered with no source of light, proceeded to patch Manson's arm as it brought him the pain. Random parts of Manson's body also followed this fashion of luminosity, and although slight and short, in this darkened room, the whites of Manson's eyes and his forearms glowed powerfully as if yellow bulbs laid behind and underneath.

And then it was over. Lights flickered and returned to function. The sand had disappeared with the switch and Manson's arm were now recovered.

Manson let the event sink in and engrain forever in his memory as he adjusted to the new sensation that was now his new body with no indication that'd he'd be picking himself up anytime soon. He smiled, the whites of his teeth obvious. "Not too bad." He whispered the ironic comment.  

[mini megitsune]

Aziz grinned widely at him, impressed. Mahli's face returned to its usual impassivity. They both walked towards Mason cautiously, still unaware if a backlash might occur.

Aziz touched Mason's arm, her hands cold. She traced the sealed wound with her fingers, admiring the handiwork. Mahli's jaw tightened at the action. Aziz flashed a look in his direction and Mahli immediately relaxed.

"I'll admit you handled that much better than most. I am glad to have you as my adversary." Aziz spoke whimsically still gazing at Mason's arm. She let go of his arm and walked over to Mahli. He grabbed her jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

Mahli walked over to Mason's side and bowed slightly, a peace offering and a farewell. Aziz spoke over Mahli's shoulder. "Business has been a pleasure, but offer matters require our presence. Once you are able, please meet us in at the Aureus Laus, twelfth floor. We gladly await your call."

Aziz and Mahli both nodded at Mason, and turned out of the room. The door clicked behind them and they were off.