[open] What a way to start...

[heir_to_ruin]

[Well... okay. Dead. That kinda sucks, sure, but he's been down here long enough to kinda know how things go. Some cute little girl thinks she can just wrap everyone around her finger because they don't know any better. Just using everyone around her. It's disgusting. He's absolutely horrified that he's spent who knows how long practically worshipping this girl.

But that's okay. The man is nothing if not confident.

Which is why anyone that's been keeping an eye on the rooftop stage may find an unfamiliar redhead chatting up the specter guards, all bright smiles and casual charm. Insisting, of course, that he knows a guy.

After getting insistently removed from the area enough times the mask drops a little, amber eyes going hard as he stares at the nearest screen. What the hell makes her so special, anyway? Like she's entitled to everyone's adoration. All he needed was one chance and he could ruin her. All this desperate need to be seen and adored at all times meant one little slip was all he needed.

A moment later the smile is firmly back in place and he's strolling out of the mall proper, heading for the housing district. If she's not at work... then she's gotta be at home, right?]

Comments

[schardynfreude]

I think we can take any help we can get. Even if only temporary. We will never force this on anyone, so it's your choice, naturally.

[phantasmagorial]

[ Rei offers a slightly wobbly smile. ]

That's fine. Really, it matters most to me that you've got a way to protect yourself if you ever need it. That won't go away, even if you decide to part ways with us when we're done here. It's all up to you.

[heir_to_ruin]

[Dammit stop being so nice. Both of you. He doesn't like owing anyone anything. He'll inevitably screw it up and everyone will hate him. Better to just... keep a distance from the get go, right?

Flames.]

Hey, hey- I said I'd help, right? C'mon you don't even know if I'm gonna be any good at this, you might want me the hell out of your hair soon enough.

[schardynfreude]

You should've seen the original lot of us testing out our powers and fighting abilities, such as they may or may not have been. [It's practically a grin out of Chiron.] Unsightly at best. You'll do fine.

[phantasmagorial]

That's right. We're all working things out as we go, so don't worry.

[ She lifts her hand and carefully tugs down her sleeve. ]

If you're really ready, then I can establish the contract right now.

[heir_to_ruin]

["Establish the contract" sounds a lot more final than what they've implied so far but he figures it'd be a dick move to start questioning them again. And like, what was he going to do? Wander around bored out of his skull for the rest of eternity?

Well, whatever.

Rei lifts her hand and he mimics her, assuming there's some dramatic like... hand touch thing that has to happen.]

Let's do this then.

[phantasmagorial]

[ There's no dramatic anime hand touch – just Rei turning her wrist towards him, revealing the black mark on her skin. Almost immediately it's awash in gold light that seems to spill out, washing everything else away in a white that blots out their vision. For a second, it's like the world skips a bit and then everything kicks back into motion with a jolt.

Contract established.

With that, you're free to claim both your freebie starter power and you also have a free Memoria Regain, and a free Idea to use as you'd like! ]

[heir_to_ruin]

[Isn't she kind of young to have a tattoo? Really? Except then there's a flash of light that seems strangely familiar and everything seems to get a bit jumbled up. He actually staggers a step, surprised by the intensity of the whole thing.]

Flames what- [He blinks rapidly, trying to push aside the lingering weirdness. There may not have needed to be any anime hand touch things but since his hand is right there he reaches for her hand, not roughly but still insistent, looking down at the mark on her wrist.]

... almost looks like a crest... but that's one I've never seen. Is that what it is?

[Now he's even more confused.]

[phantasmagorial]

[ His touch isn't rough at all, but Rei still jumps a bit when he takes her hand so unexpectedly. It's only knowing that Chiron is there and he'd have this man's head if things got Weird that prevents her from yanking her hand free and bolting, though. As a career introvert, she's this close to breaking out in hives. ]

I–I, um... I don't know what a crest is...?

[ Helpful! ]

[schardynfreude]

[Damn right Ruin's head would be suddenly quite removed from shoulders should things get Weird.]

Each of us obtain a mark, a tattoo of sorts. It's part and parcel of being one of us, I'm afraid.

[...So does Rei want to tell him it's definitely around his neck and the most outwardly visible one they've seen so far or...]

[heir_to_ruin]

[Wow he just wanted to get a closer look! But when she says it's not a crest but some sort of mark for being one of them he squints a little but releases her wrist.]

Huh... Looks an awful lot like a crest.

[And then he glances over at Chiron before rolling up his sleeves. Cool new tattoo? Okay awesome. Where...]

Does... uh, does that mean it didn't work?

[Cause yeah there's nothing on his wrist.]

[phantasmagorial]

Oh, no, it definitely worked! It just seems to be in a different place for everyone... I'm not really sure why.

[ With her now free hand, she gestures to her own neck. ]

Yours is around here... it looks like a choker, almost...?

[schardynfreude]

It's got a few interesting points. [Super helpful!] Yours is certainly one of the more visible ones, I think.

[heir_to_ruin]

A choker?!

[He looks back and forth between them like he's expecting them to say it's a joke before he pulls out his phone to use the selfie camera to take a look. At first he looks confused and a little pissed off. But in an almost playful kind of way.

Then he's pulling the collar of his shirt wider to see the line that arcs down over his chest. As realization sets in annoyance fades into dumbstruck horror... Then he seems to remember they're there, stuffing his phone back in his pocket, something dark and ugly taking over his features, enough that he has to bow his head and scrub a hand through scarlet curls to be able to drag his expression back under control. He doesn't manage carefree flirt but he at least manages sheepishly neutral.]

Damn... button my shirt and I'll look like a girl. So uh... ahem what else should I know about? Any other surprises?

[phantasmagorial]

[ Whatever reaction she was expecting out of him, it sure as hell wasn't that. She's seen people have to take a moment when it comes to their memories which is understandable but... all that? Because of the Executor mark? It has her a little worried, no matter how much he tries to mask it – in fact, the harder he tries, the evident Rei's concern becomes in contrast. ]

I... I don't think so? [ She sounds a little flustered. ] None like... that at least?

[schardynfreude]

...We can find you a scarf, something stylish to cover it. [Distressing that it was clearly recognized, and more than that, but something negative in Ruin's past life.]

We tend to take to a park a few levels above here as a training ground, should you wish to test out your abilities.

I'm so sorry y'all

[heir_to_ruin]

Having it symbolically around my neck is bad enough without making me wanna claw my skin off.

[Like it's sweet you guys wanna make it less traumatic for him and all but... he doesn't like things around his neck. Something something vulnerable.]

Abilities? See, now that is definitely more interesting than shitty tattoos. [Hah! Yeah definitely. Mmmhmm... Hi Chiron, if he doesn't flirt he's legitimately going to freak out at this point. So he's just going to offer his arm like a proper gentleman, even if the wink is anything but proper.] Lead the way~

[phantasmagorial]

[ He might be trying to brush it off now, but Rei still looks a little guilty. There's no point in harping on about it, though. ]

Ah, there's a train we can take to get us up there, so we won't be going anywhere dangerous just yet...

[schardynfreude]

[Chiron can see through the attempt to dramatically change the subject and appear Okay, blatant as it is, but he will delight in it nonetheless. His golden eyes light up, a smile curling on his face as he takes the arm in proper response. Pats Ruin playfully about the bicep.]

I'll show him the way, Rei, not to worry. I'll make certain nothing terrible befalls our new friend. There is, after all, only so much trouble we can find between here and the station.

[heir_to_ruin]

[He's sloppy and out of practice. It's fine.

It is actually fine because Chiron is indulging him and he can't help leaning gratefully into the contact. Yeah, see this? Is fantastic.]

Yeah, it's fine. Don't worry about it, Teach. We've got this~

[Well she might be tiny and adorable but she is leading them and teaching them things so, it's fine if he calls her Teach, right?]

[phantasmagorial]

[ Despite everything, Rei giggles a bit. ]

You'll be in good hands with Chiron. He always takes care of the rest of us, so I'm sure he'll take care of you, too.

[schardynfreude]

You positively flatter me, my dear. Just make certain not to sell yourself too short. Well, shorter than you already are. [chiron]

You'll see we're hardly anything as fancy as a cult at all, Ruin. Mostly, hm...ages are a difficult thing with the dead and amnesic of us, but if I had to guess, mostly teenagers running amok and trying their best. Most of the time.

[heir_to_ruin]

[Chiron indeed. Ruin nudges him a little and glances back at Rei, half expecting her to be ready to destroy the other man. Small white haired girls make him nervous okay. ]

I dunno. If you've really got teenagers trying their best that sounds pretty impressive.

[schardynfreude]

[His chuckle is a nice rumble in his chest.] It would be a feat to stop them at this point. The real problem, at times, is...focusing them. Getting them on the right track. Not to act out on a whim.

[heir_to_ruin]

[Oh... a very nice rumble indeed. Don't mind him leaning in a little closer...

Only to flash a sheepish look up at Chiron and chuckle awkwardly, free hand coming up to ruffle his own curls. Wow. He's definitely not a teenager that just does whatever he wants anymore. Definitely more mature than that. For sure. Haaaa]

I dunno, sometimes you've gotta follow your gut...?