One on One with Lucyfer

[Lonely Star]

Okie dokie! Here we go! You can start the rping.

 

[Lucyfer]

“So, this is Tindrail?”


The speaker was a man with long, blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail. He walked alongside a cloaked woman as the morning sun beat down upon them. They hadn’t arrived on foot, but checked their carriage when they entered the city where the Council made all its decisions. “Never been here before….”


“No?” The woman spoke, casting a glance at him. “I thought I took you here before, but perhaps it was before,” time blurred together. This town had looked this way for a century at least. It had changed with the times, but that change always seemed to blur together.


“Nope, not me,” he said, crossing his arms back behind his head, “You’ve told me about it. I think you disliked a particular noble.”


She pursed her lips and then chuckled, thinking it over. “There’s always someone here I dislike. Someone who thinks my kind doesn’t deserve to live, let alone be in power.” It was cute, considering how profitable her land was. The years that she and Lord Winters had lived gave them a great insight into how to keep things stable.


“So why are we doing this?” The blonde asked, casting his turquoise eyes around the town as they walked along its cobblestones and towards an intimidatingly large building. “I mean, if they don’t care about us….”


“I know the name Apollyon,” she answered him, “Rumors have it that he is the creator of vampires,” the human arched an eyebrow, “Whatever the case, he means no good for this world. As a part of it,” she made a gesture out, indicating what that meant without finishing her thought.


“Right,” the human said. “And I suppose it is to help your reputation.”


“Of course. Next time one of these uppity Council members think to strip me and my father of our rank and land, I can bring this up,” her grin was positively evil, and it caused the human to laugh.


They were approaching the steps at that point, and a man with silver hair saw them. “Excuse me,” he spoke with accent, but spoke well. Both paused, and the man squinted at the face beneath the hood.


As he caught sight of those golden eyes and pale skin, he rose, “You are Lady Winters?”


“I am….” There was a wariness to her words.


The silver-haired man rose and approached, though paused when he saw the man at her side reach into his bright vest. He extended his hand, “I am Daenir Uludin of the Penumbra Woods. I have heard of you,” he explained.


With a look to the human, she reached out and accepted his hand, her nails digging into his palm just enough to make it painful. “Margaret Winters. This is Harold Winters, my successor.”


“Really?” He looked at him. “He looks too human.”


“I am human.” Harry bristled.


Margaret released Daenir’s hand. “Did you have a reason to stop me?”


“Well, if you’re Lady Winters, I was hoping you could point me towards the Council. I’m looking to join the group going after Apollyon.”


She smiled, and Harry said, “Just follow us, kid.”


“I’m over six thou—”


Harry didn’t let him explain, “We’re going to see them ourselves,” and on up the stairs the duo went. Daenir followed.

 

[Lonely Star]

"Well, this is it." Arisu took a deep breath as she stepped into the city. She arrived in the train that ran through a small town north of the city. She walked alone, rejecting the carts that came to take her around the city. She didn't have any more money after paying for the train ride. She made her way towards the great big building in the center of the city.


Cheiko smiled as three people entered the great building. "Hello." She said in a flirty manner to the cloaked woman. "Here for the Demon Quest thing?" She waltzed up to the man who looked most like an elf. "You look like you could take the demon on by yourself." She was floating an inch from his face. She smirked and landed on the ground.


Ryuu woke up in the shade of an alleyway. He jumped to his feet. "I need to get to the Council today!" He exclaimed as he got his cleanest clothes on. "Damn, I wanted to look my best today." He was wearing a dirty tank top and ripped jeans. He grabbed his old sword and started running towards the Council Tower.

 

[Lucyfer]

Margaret lifted a single eyebrow lifted when a fairy approached the trio when they entered the building. It was evident she didn’t appreciate the almost immediate friendliness.


Harold just didn’t like to be ignored. He pouted as attention was paid to first Margaret, and then Daenir.


Daenir had to clench one fist to keep himself from slapping down the creature that got right into his face. “Thank. You.” He spoke through gritted teeth, and then stepped around her. “We’re here for that, so if you don’t mind, let us be on our way.” He noticed then that Margaret had already started to walk on, grabbing Harold and pulling him along with her.


Daenir couldn’t help but be jealous that they’d escaped when the fairy chose to pay him some attention, “Unless you’re also going to it, in which case those two seem to know the way,” and he didn’t want to lose them. He quickly turned to follow after the dhampir and her human partner.

 

[Lonely Star]

"I can find my way, pretty boy." Cheiko mused. She smiled and chuckled. "I've been up and down this building for several reasons." She watched Margaret go. "It's on the top floor. You're going the wrong way." She completely ignored Harold raised her now visible wings.


Ryuu finally reached the tower, panting. As her ran up the stairs he crashed into Arisu.


Arisu shrieked as she was shoved to the ground.


Ryuu got to his feet and ran into the building saying "sorry!" as he went.


"How rude." Arisu rose and wiped off her legs. She picked up her now empty quiver and gathered her arrows. She grabbed her bow and headed into the Council Tower.

 

[Lucyfer]

What the strange fairy had to say went ignored by Harold and Margaret, though Harold did venture to ask, “Uh, are we going the right wa…,” only to trail off when he saw a set of stairs. “Oh.”


“I’ve been here hundreds of times,” Margaret said as she started to climb the marble stairs, “There are many ways to anywhere,” and Harold started to follow her, taking a path none of the others, it seemed, would care to locate. They were not the first there, but Margaret hardly cared about that.


A red-headed man ran by them when they reached the top floor, and shortly after him, in the same haste, ran a blonde woman. Maggie and Harry exchanged a look, then calmly walked after the two and into the room of the Council.


Daenir, it seemed, would be a bit behind. “That’s good to know,” he told the fairy, and then observed the collision not far away. He rolled his eyes. ‘These are the fools they’re sending after me?’ The only one he even considered a threat in this moment was Lady Winters. Humans were nothing to him, and this fairy didn’t seem to have enough brains to destroy him.


“Well, I’ll be on my way then,” he started to walk away from the fairy to get on his way to the top floor, to go on the quest to hunt himself.

 

[Lonely Star]

"Oookay!" She fluttered away and took the fast way to the top. Cheiko smirked at Margaret and Harry when they made it to the top.


Ryuu stumbled up the stairs as quickly as he could.


Arisu passed the worn out red-haired slob on the stairs and calmly entered the room after Lady Winters. "Hello." She greeted, brushing her light blonde hair out of her face, revealing the black markings on her face.


Ryuu barely made it into the room before the Head Council Member stepped forward.

 

[Lucyfer]

The Council was gathered, and waited a while longer after Daenir arrived, clearly hoping for more people to show up. As minutes ticked by, though, it seemed that these were the only people currently brave enough to go forth to find Apollyon.


A man, Marcus Juliard, looked down upon them from his seat, “I recognize you, Margaret Winters,” he said upon laying his eyes on her, “I did not expect to see you here.”


She gave Marcus a smile, though Harry could see it was clearly forced, “My father has woken so that I may be a part of this group, Counselor Marcus. The man with me is Harold Winters. I’m sure by now you’ve heard of him.”


Marcus let his green eyes move over to examine Harold. “Yes…er…he does not seem like yourself or your father.”


“He is human,” Margaret wondered how many times she’d have to clear that up.


“Oh. I see,” Marcus looked away from him, and then to the others, “I am afraid I am not familiar with anyone else here. Could you all please introduce yourselves?”


The silver-haired elf spoke first, letting his blue eyes rest upon Marcus, “I’m Daenir Uludin. I hail from the Penumbra Woods,” he answered. Marcus gave a nod, then looked to the others.

 

[Lonely Star]

Cheiko smiled. "I'm Cheiko Yumi." She turned to the others, clearly done speaking to the council.


Arisu yelped when the attention turned to her. "I- My name is Arisu... Arisu Tamiko." She said quietly. She turned her gaze to the elf, even though he had already spoken. She calmed down and looked at the dirty boy in the back.


Ryuu frowned. "Will you guys be supplying our journey to... wherever we're going?" He didn't bother giving a name before they answered the question.

 

[Lucyfer]

The blonde one was ridiculously jumpy, Daenir thought. Cheiko at least had enough composure, but that girl startled at everything. The red-head, who refused to give his name, asked instead about supplies. Smart question, but anyone who knew the Council knew what that answer was going to be.


Marcus answered, “You will be given a stipend of 200 gold coins each for the journey. How you chose to spend it is your choice, but it should be enough to get you there if used smartly.” Of course, it would just barely get them there even if used smartly, and no one knew what struggles might be encountered on the road. “I assume Lady Winters can fund the trip on her own, though.”


Harold bristled at the comment, clearly thinking it shouldn’t be their money that handled things.


“I assume I’ll be reimbursed when all is said and done.” The dhampir noted.


“There will be a monetary reward if you are successful,” and Marcus was hoping that she, at least, died in the process. He had a feeling he’d be better off if this red-head did as well. He returned his attention to the red-head. “Now, your name?”

 

[Lonely Star]

"Damn. That's the most money I've had since... well... as long as I can remember." Ryuu said. "Oh, my name's Ryuu Takeshi. What kind of reward would that be exactly?"


Arisu rolled her eyes. 'This guy is rude, and obsessed with money.' She thought.


Cheiko looked toward Lady Winters, still ignoring her 'son'. "You can pay for it, can't you?" She said walking over to her.

 

[Lucyfer]

“I’m sorry,” Marcus finally said, “Are you an idiot, sir, or do you not have a name?” He was not going to continue answering the questions set before him if he was not going to get any answers in return. His eyes followed the movement then of Cheiko to Margaret, and he almost smiled.


Daenir actually laughed aloud at Marcus’s insult towards the red-head, but he put a hand over his lips to quickly stifle it, since he knew he was being rude by laughing.


“I could,” Margaret answered, “But I will not.” Unless it was absolutely necessary, she preferred to put her money into the economy of her own territory. It was yet another reason why her land did so well, and others fell in times of need. “Money shouldn’t be our issue as it is, the venerable Marcus should be informing the towns that are likely on our route of our impending arrival so that we at least get discounted food and rooms, if not free.”


Marcus straightened in his seat under the gaze that Lady Winters shot him. That malice, he swore, was full of bloodlust, “Well, of course I will do that,” he said. He hadn’t actually planned on it, but he supposed it was a good idea.


Harold just smirked at the reaction of Marcus, who was trying not to look so bothered. Who wouldn’t be, though? Harold knew if he were in his position, he’d be worried for his own life. A person didn’t live to be over a thousand years old by chance.

 

[Lonely Star]

Ryuu glared at the Council member. "Are you deaf, or just stupid?" Ryuu shot back at him. "I told you my name is Ryuu Takeshi." He stayed perfectly calm but continued pestering the man with his questions. "What kind of reward will I receive? If I save the world, I deserve to live at least comfortably for the rest of my life."


Arisu stepped forward. "When will we be leaving?" She asked. "And where exactly are you sending us? Do you know where it is?"


Cheiko grinned at Marcus. "That means I should only have to spend my money on armor and maybe a weapon."

 

[Lucyfer]

‘You don’t already have these things?’ Harold looked at Cheiko as Marcus flushed in embarrassment. He hadn’t heard the red-head state his name at all. Harold then looked at Margaret, clearly asking if they could just leave this group behind so that they didn’t get killed.


Margaret ignored his look. ‘Canon fodder.’ She couldn’t say that aloud, but it was certainly what she was thinking.


Daenir was wondering how in god’s name he was going to keep them all alive to be sacrifices. “Should you succeed,” Marcus began, speaking evenly, “You will receive a monthly stipend of 1000 gold for the rest of your lives…except for the fairy, the elf, and the dhampir, who will receive a lump sum of 1,000,000 gold,” funding them for the rest of their lives would become too expensive.


“As you say,” Daenir didn’t argue, and Margaret shrugged, not arguing. She wasn’t poorly off. The million would be a nice addition, though.


“You leave whenever you would like, however you would like,” Marcus spoke to Arisu, “We only know that we’ve lost contact with the city of Durge on the north-western border, and towns have reported to us that they’ve sighed demons nearby, so you should head out in that direction.”


Margaret nodded, “Understood.”

 

[Lonely Star]

Arisu nodded starting to feel fear creep into her. "How many demons do you think there are?"


Cheiko shook her head. "I haven't gone on any dangerous missions before." She said.


Ryuu nodded happily. "Not bad." He said with a smile. He turned to the group. "When do we leave?" He asked not caring about any other questions anyone else might have.

 

[Lucyfer]

Marcus shook his head at Arisu’s question. “How many doesn’t matter,” Harold answered her, glancing over at the other blonde human, “We only need to strike down one. Apollyon. The others will be at a loss without the leader.”


To that, Margaret nodded her agreement.


Ryuu inquired about leaving, and Daenir said, “We should leave as soon as possible. It’s still morning, we have plenty of daylight left.” And it was never as safe to travel at night, even if the only threats in this area would be bandits or something of the sort. “I don’t suppose you all have horses or something, do you?” He felt he was going to be disappointed by all of them.


“I have a carriage, but yes,” Margaret said, “Harold and I have horses we’ll be using over the carriage,” the carriage was too slow and too large for the journey they were going to make.

 

[Lonely Star]

Ryuu chuckled. "Yes, a poor man living on the streets, I must own a horse." He said sarcastically.


"I have a horse staying in a small town, not too far from here." Arisu said. "They all love me there. We can buy all the supplies we need for a great price there."


Cheiko frowned at Daenir. "You would be upset if I told you I've never ridden a horse in the 75 years of my life, wouldn't you." She said. She laughed. "I can learn!"

 

[Lucyfer]

“You’ll just have to buy a horse with the gold you get,” Marcus stated to Ryuu’s words. Arisu seemed to offer everyone a cheap way to acquire one if they didn’t already have it, and Marcus just shook his head. He made a note to prepare to mobilize the armies for defenses, since this group didn’t have a hope in hell of succeeding.


It seemed there were no more decent heroes in the world, just slobs from the street and others looking for a bit of gold and glory.


Well, and the Winters, who would lord this over his successors’ heads forever. At least two of them would get killed. Marcus might sleep easy.


“Whatever,” Daenir said as a comment to Cheiko’s words. She could fly. Perhaps she didn’t need the extra haste that a horse offered. “Let’s go to that small town of yours and get supplies,” he spoke to Arisu.


Harold nodded his agreement. Marcus motioned to another counselor, and he rose and walked down. “He’ll pay you the 200,” Marcus noted. Margaret walked on ahead to collect that, as did Harold. The two then waited for all the others, since it seemed like they were off to a small town to get supplies.

 

[Lonely Star]

"Damn." Ryuu said through gritted teeth. "How much is this all gonna cost? Even with the discount?" Ryuu started listing off the things he would need to buy. "I need a horse, food, armor, maybe an new sword..." He trailed off. "HOW AM I GONNA PAY FOR ALL THIS WITH JUST 200 GOLD?" He asked, not really knowing how much 200 gold would buy him.


Arisu stepped up to the counsel members to receive her 200 gold.


Cheiko took her gold and turned to Arisu. "Where is this town?"


"The nearest town to the west." Arisu replied. "There aren't many cities or towns out there."

 

[Lucyfer]

Ryuu’s outcry went ignored by the jurors and by his companions, it seemed. Marcus only said, “You do not have to do this at all,” with a roll of his eyes. Volunteers were asked for. Ryuu was free to leave if he liked.


Daenir moved to receive his gold, “I have some things to pick up here,” he noted to the group.


Margaret also said, “Our horses and things are at the east entrance, but we can meet you at the west one if that is agreeable?”


Daenir nodded, “That sounds good to me,” west they were going, and so the west gate would be the best way out of the town. He did wait for the others to see if that would be fine by them or not.

 

[Lonely Star]

Ryuu complained under his breath. "Yeah, that's fine. " He muttered, as he snatched the small bag of Gold out of Marcus's hand.


Arisu nodded in agreement. And started walking down the stairs.


Cheiko didn't get to agree with the plan before it seemed it was what was going to happen.