Rubricated Inhibitions

[Coro]

Axel shook his head side-to-side, the honey on his lips flinging off and splattering lightly on the table in front of him. His eyes seemed slightly widened, as if surprised or worried.


"Nononono. You just met me. You gave me some honey and food. We're pretty even, if anything." He offered, his slight pout indicative of his attitude towards someone saying they owed him. He didn't like being in the position of being owed, it was a position of power over someone, and it didn't mesh well with Axel's personality. It always made him feel quite uncomfortable.


"... You're just gonna leave here? But you've got a home and everything. I'm kinda jealous." He asked, also letting his feeling slip for a moment, before inhaling sharply and closing his lips before saying anything else remotely incriminating.


~~~


The sixteen year-old Victor Raiden, who went by the nickname Vent due to getting stuck in one in middle school, led the way through the dark alley.


In reality, he'd gotten used to the nickname, even grown to like it. To him, who had been taking a Latin class at the time, it always made him think of wind. It sounded cool, not like the other kids seemed to think.


"Rose, c'mon. I know you're tired but we ought to keep moving." He spoke up, talking to the girl behind him, his older sister.

 

[Esme]

Cal shrugged, looking around the place. It was a small place, four rooms that were pretty straightforward, white walls all through it, bland stock furniture that was a dime a dozen. She had no photographs, no notes lingering around, no fuzzy warm touches that said it belonged to her. Hell, even the towels in the bathroom were just white. It was as it appeared, a pre-furnished apartment and nothing more. It wasn't a home, not to her.


"I don't stay in one place for very long anyway." She had Zek to thank for that, he, she, it, could track down just about anything when properly prompted.


____________________


"It's so cold though..." She mumbled. She shuffled forward all the same, however, pulling her jacket closer to her. She was always tired when it was cold, she couldn't help it. She was safer tired anyway, at least when she was sleeping she was normal.

 

[Coro]

Axel shrugged.


"It's more than I ever had." He mentioned solemnly, staring at the bottle of honey he set on the table, his eyes wandering from it, up to Cal's face.


".... I'll leave in the morning. It'd be easier for you if you didn't have a fugitive creature in your home." He piped up, shifting his gaze back to the honey mid-way through his sentence.


~~~


Vent nodded, eyeing around the area. He needed to find a place for Rose to be as soon as possible. She needed the warmth.


Passing by two people on the street, Vent caught a strange feeling. One guy with silvery hair seemed to eyeballing Rose. He didn't like it when people eyed her... It made it seem like they were onto her, her and her secret. Their secret.


Putting an arm around her, he ushered he quickly down the street, and into an alleyway away from the two passing strangers.


~~~


Hope nudged Zeke as they passed by a pair of seemingly homeless youths, based on their clothing's state.


".... Did you feel that?" He asked of his partner, rubbing his chin, a plan formulating in his head.

 

[Esme]

Cal looked at the thing and frowned. "You don't have to do that...You're honestly no problem to me, and you're ah..going to need a mage around if you want to keep blending in." She gestured towards the ring, "That doesn't stay charged up forever. Three days at max, going by the type."


-------


Rose shivered, glancing behind her towards the two strange ones as she was moved into the alley. "They're no good." She muttered.


--------


Zek nodded, tucking hands into jacket pockets. Their gaze flitted down to their smaller employee's face. So it was going to be one of those days.

 

[Coro]

Shifting his weight, Hope smiled, pulling a wand out of his pocket.


"Zeke, do you remember Zaria's magical signature, or at least the magical signature of his handler? They were deployed earlier. Figure out how close they are." He asked of his partner, who was extremely skilled in sensory magic, much moreso than his employer. Hope excelled in numerous magic, but unless he was directly in front of someone, he could barely sense magical energy. But he'd caught a whiff of something interesting from those two. Something he knew.


"We're gonna make a deal."

 

[Esme]

Zek Herald

The Man of Sight

​

Zek simply nodded. He stepped off to the side, pulling a lighter and a smoke out of his pocket. Propping himself up against the wall, he lit it up. Shutting his eyes, he felt himself lift out, a map of the city layout appearing in vague neon lines. From his location, a pulse was sent, all across the board people popped up and faded away. Most, as they should be, were blue. But there were a few, 5, exactly, that stood out. The violet they'd just seen, the silver was obvious. Then there were the two greens, and a red. Strangely, the Christmas pair were close by. He laughed to himself before stepping back to Hope's side.


"Zaria's on the hunt, six streets over, nineteen blocks down. "

 

[Coro]

Smirking, Hope strolled down the street, a dangerous look in his eyes.


"Go get him. Bring him here." He ordered, his voice low and dangerous, as he approached the alleyway the two kids had ducked into.


Peeking his head around the corner, wand in hand, he waved with his free hand. "Hello, kids. How're you doing on this fine winter's evening?" He asked, stepping into the entrance of the alleyway, his face a perfect image of an amiable stranger.

 

[Esme]

---------

Rosemary

The Papilio
​

Rose blinked, looking back. She pulled closer to Vent. He wasn't good, he really wasn't good. She gripped onto the back of Vent's jacket, pulling him slightly back with her. Small movements, just enough so that they were past the box pile on their right. If he was going to do something, she wanted full room to move. It was a lot more effective that way.

 

[Coro]

Smiling, a twinkle in his eye, Hope coughed, clearing his throat.


"To start, I know what you are. The girl especially. You, boy, some of her magic might have rubbed of on you, but essentially I know what you two are doing. You're trying to hide." He began, sighing, waving his wand in the air like a conductor's baton.


"... But you don't have to be afraid of me. You see... In all honesty, I'm trying to protect someone myself. A girl, who's rather special to me. You should understand, eh boy? In this endeavour, I'll need your help. Call it coincidence, call it fate, I need you two now. If you want protection, warmth, and food, help me protect someone else." He explained, seeming all too meaningful.


If they declined his offer, he'd understand. He'd still use them, but he'd understand. A stranger off the street scaring you by revealing he knows their secret, it'd be a rough case. But Hope had no time for games. Zaria was close.


Vent scowled, but what the man had to say about protecting someone hit close to home.


Along with the mention of warmth and food. Glancing from the corner of his eye at Rose, who hid within his arms, he swallowed hard, and bit his lower lip.


"Go on." He said in a low voice, almost baring his teeth at the man with the silver hair.

 

[Esme]

Rose tugged at his jacket again, shaking her head. He really wasn't good, she knew it. Even him knowing what she was was bad. She wasn't sure what it was about him, or her, that made her heart beat like a humming bird's wings. She was afraid of him, genuinely afraid, to the point where she could feel a bit of pain along her back from wings wanting to get out to make escape easier.

 

[Coro]

Vent felt Rose tug at his clothes, but the offer seemed too good to be true.


He took a deep breath, his glare not subsiding. ".... Who are you?" He asked, his skepticism not managing to keep his curiosity and his desire to provide for Rose in check.


Hope's grin only grew wider. "Why, I'm Hope Astrumregis, Headmaster of the Council Academy, a school for mages." He explained, displaying the wand he held prominently in his hand. Motioning as if he was going to toss it, catching Vent's attention, Hope let go of the wand, which floated gently over to Vent, who curiously picked the floating magical instrument out of the air with a hand he took off of Rose's back. Looking at the wand with awe, Vent breathed deeply once more, unable to make a decision.


~~~


Axel sighed, shaking his head. Sniffing the air however, his nostrils flared.


"... Do you smell that? It smells like.... Blood. Human blood." He noted, his gaze narrowing into a worried visage.

 

[Esme]

"Vent..." Rose murmured worried, looking at the wand in his hand.


---------


Cal raised an eyebrow, looking at Axel. She breathed in deep, smelling nothing. She did, however, catch the hint of something evil. She looked towards her apartment door. Standing, she moved quickly, first into the room that had been closed, grabbing a backpack and a coat. Then, to the kitchen again, opening a cupboard and grabbing a few things.


Stepping back in, she threw the coat at the beatle boy, cocking her head towards the door, "We're leaving, and yes you're coming with me."

 

[Coro]

Hope smiled, glancing back to Zeke, out of the alleyway and into the street.


"... How long?" He called out, licking his lips in anticipation.


Vent eyed the man for another second, before taking a step back. Maybe Rose was right.


~~~


Axel blinked a few times.


".... Why? Are we gonna do something about.... The smell?" He asked, a little worried about Cal's plan.

 

[Esme]

"Avoid it. We're going to avoid it." Cal said, "We're dead men walking if we stay."


-----


Rose shook her head, tugging again. "We need to leave."


----


Zeke shrugged, "About three minutes."

 

[Coro]

Looking himself up and down, Axel raised an eyebrow.


"... Alright." He stated, sliding into the coat, the rags beneath hidden by the actually rather nice jacket Cal had thrown at him. Taking a deep breath, he prepared mentally for the worst, his senses twitching. It was like sensory overload. The smell of blood assaulted his nostrils, and a strange noise filled his ears, as if something was breathing in his ear.


~~~


Vent steadied his breath, his grip on the want growing tighter. He stepped forward, holding the wand outward, as if he was handing it back to Hope.


"... We want food and somewhere warm to sleep." He said, as if sealing a pact, his outstretched hand's grip on the wand loosening.


Hope nodded. "You'll have all that and more. Just play along for about 5 minutes. And whatever you do, don't act scared. You are under my protection. I swear... I swear on behalf of the one I'm trying to protect, no harm will befall either of you two. Even if it costs me my own life." He swore, holding has hand over his heart momentarily, before taking a deep breath, swallowing, and turning back into the street, away from Vent and Rose.


"It's been a while, Zaria. Since the last Council meeting. How have you been?" He asked, seemingly nobody in the street, as Zeke was down a few feet, his cigarette still in hand.

 

[Esme]

Rose bit her lip, "He's lying." She said it more for herself than for him. He wouldn't listen to her, he was more concerned with well being over safety. Setting a hand around her neck, trying to keep herself from freaking out fully, she caught something out of the corner of her eye.


It was soft, a warm inviting glow like two little lanterns just beckoning her to safety. She looked at Vent again, tugging on his sleeve one more time. She wanted to go towards it. Like a little becon thing away from this man, it was hopeful.


The voice that came from their direction, however, was not. It was deep, predatory, a growl in the tone that promised nothing short of demise.


"Taunted by promises of things to come."

 

[Coro]

Vent held Rose tighter, not allowing her to levee his grip, as a terrifying light appeared in his field of vision. The voice coming from it made his blood chill, and he bit how lower lip. What was going on? Despite Rose being something else, they'd never been bothered by others like this before. Why now?


~~~


Axel headed to the door, the smell intensifying. Whatever it was generating it, it was close. Frighteningly close. He swore he'd smelled this before as well, at the battle where he'd made his escape from the Bureau.... Someone, or something that had been there was the cause. Maybe he'd find out exactly what had caused the massacre that day....


~~~


Hope snidely shrugged. "Too bad I don't actually care, or I'd ask for some clarification. Oh well." He smugly quipped, glancing towards Zeke once more before turning around, taking the hand he'd floated over to Vent from the boys grip, before turning to face the direction of Zaria's glow again.


"I see the Bureau has you hunting in these parts. Which Kaijin were you hunting, this girl here?" He asked, motioning behind him with his free hand, to Rose, as Vent's arms wrapped tighter around her once more. He didn't speak up, however, almost frozen with fear. What was even happening?

 

[Esme]

Rose narrowed her eyes, looking back at the silver haired man. She was being hunted by the fairy lights? There was no way, they were so warm and inviting and peaceful...A chill went down her spine as a soft purr that was more guttural than human echoed out. From the darkness, a soft, scaled tail moved forward, like a charmer's snake through the air. It brushed against her cheek, the sharp needle like point almost gesturing her to follow as it curled back. It let off the same glow as the eyes, though duller.


Letting go of Vent, she took a step closer to follow it. A small breathy chuckle and a face leaned down out of the shadows, dropping down to her level. A mere inch from her face were the lanterns, glowing inside the sockets of a man who looked positively deadly. And yet, she couldn't force herself to move away


"Oh no, " The tail wrapped it's way around her shoulders, nestling against her neck this time. Though she was looking at him, Rose truly didn't know where it came from. "But I appreciate you giving me such a delightful gift."

 

[Coro]

Hope sneered, pointing his wand at Zaria.


"That's not a gift. That's my property." He uttered. "I'm laying claim to this area, as property of the Academy, and thus everything within this district is part of my personal research. Including anything you had been hunting." He explained. "Isn't that right, boy?" Hope asked, his eyes trailing over to Vent's quaking form.


Vent collected himself momentarily, gathering enough control over his motor skills to nod, and clench his fists, bringing them tightly down to his side in a submissive manner.


"I'll see you at the next council meeting, Zaria." Hope spat, his patience for dealing with the monster before him growing thin.

 

[Esme]

Zaria

Pandinus imperator
​

Zaria stepped forward, setting one scaled hand on Rose's other shoulder. His massive form was nothing short of terrifying, and as he grinned the equivalent of several serial killers worth of smiles, he was nothing but amused. A foolish mortal playing at a gods game. His tailed curled, the needle point resting at the jugular of the girl's throat.


"As luck would have it," He brushed a strand of hair away from the moth kaijin's face. She radiated something of innocence and was nothing more than his favorite type of snack. But he liked to play with his food first, and currently, his food wasn't kaijin breed. Which made it all the more fun, didn't it?


He let go of the child, stepping past both of them as she dropped. Music to his ears, really. But that was the magic of chlorotoxin. Approaching Hope, he straightened fully, "My orders come from something greater than you." He waltzed past him, disappearing as he stepped out of the alleyway as if he'd never been there at all.

 

[Coro]

"Zeke. I want you to clear out the apartment right beside Cal. Pay off any tenants who live there, if there are. Move these two kids in, and make room for us as well. Feed these two and do a full medical check on them, tell me all you can about what type of Kaijin she is, and whatever magical talent this boy has." Hope ordered, pocketing his wand, and kneeling in front of Vent.


"I always keep my word." He said with a smile and a nod, before taking off down the street, heading back towards Cal's place.


Vent tried his best to stop trembling, to not avail.


~~~


Axel sniffed the cold night air.


".... Cal. Do you...." He started, before shaking his head, shrugging. She probably had a plan, she seemed like the capable type.


He hoped she'd fill him in though. Whatever it was, it seemed to be coming quickly.

 

[Esme]

Zeke nodded once. He collected the girl carefully, motioning with his head for the boy to follow. He truly didn't need to do much in regards to the apartment. Hope at one point or another had entertained the thought of gallantly showing up next to Cal's apartment, so he'd done what his job was before it was asked. Which was provide Hope, and his eternal ego, with things as he needed, or commanded it to be done. So naturally, he'd already had things arranged for about a month since he'd been sent out to find her.


------------


Cal narrowed her eyes, looking around them. The street which had been so busy coming in, was empty. There was no traffic, no tvs through windows, hell not even an AC or heating unit running. Mother...fucker.


She pushed the kaijin to his right hard, just as a glowing green tail shot out, cracking into the wall where his head had been not even a second ago.

 

[Coro]

Axel's eyes widened, as the wall split open like an eggshell. Sprawling on the floor, he cursed the magic holding him in a human body for the time being, and ripped the ring from his finger. In a moment's notice, his human form melted away as he took to his feet, the black carapace of his Kabuto form glimmering in the low lights.


".... You were at the battle, the Kuwagata clan's last stand. The smell of their blood is unmistakable. Along with your own foul stench.... Who are you?" Axel asked, eyeing Cal carefully for a moment as his human face melted and his mandibles and horn grew into their rightful places. Piercing insectoid eyes darted around, scanning the shadows for the predator in wait.

 

[Esme]

In one swift movement, the tail retreated, taking with it, a good bit of the wall. One shake later, and the bricks and mortar that it had removed went flying at the pair. The two glowing green lights appeared yet again, almost tauntingly


"Death." Zaria whispered softly. The tail shot out again.

 

[Coro]

Bringing up his arms to block the flying debris from hitting his face, Axel eyed the area where the tail had retreated to with caution, expecting another strike. He wasn't wrong in expecting it, he realized, as the tail shot forward with blinding speed at his once again. This time however, he had been expecting it.


Leaning forward, Axel parried the strike of the sharp, pointed tail with his horn. Feeling the strength of the one striking, Axel's clawed Kabuto feet gripped into the ground, but he was still pushed back. His feet had torn up the pavement from his movement. Taking a deep breath in, he prepared for another attack, not bothering to check his horn for any damage, despite having a strange feeling from where his horn had made contact.