Loyal Subject?:: Oswald's Awakening:: Night

Julius sat in a comfortable chair, his legs crossed one over the other as he leaned slightly to the left with his elbow resting on the arm rest and his head resting in his hand. His eyes were closed behind his square glasses as the fingers of his right hand tapped lightly against the other arm rest.  Sitting close to his foot and slightly off to left was a lantern that gave off an odd light. A light that was icy blue within the gloom of the room; however, outside of illuminating the area around his boot, the light did not stretch out far. It was a trait that made the light odd, but it did not seem to bother the man who sat next to it. His composure remaining ever calm the whole time.

A bit further to the left a woman in all white sat in a folded chair. Her posture was proper and straight as she kept both feet on the floor and her hands neatly folded in her lap. She would stare ahead with a neutral expression on her pale and thin face as her almond shaped eyes seemed to study the doors ahead with an unblinking.

Outside of the pair, there was one other person that was in the room. It was a young female Cadet that while she had some powers of her own, she was still very uneasy about the situation. As her honey brown eyes looked over at the quiet woman, the girl would flinch lightly. She didn’t like that woman and to be honest…was very worried what would happen if they were to stay here any longer with said guest.

While she had no doubt in the Prince’s skill, she felt she’d be highly ineffective should this situation turn sour. Why didn’t the Prince request Alex to stay here and let her do the greeting of the one that was suppose to come here today? At least with the young man here, he'd have a back-up way better than herself, so why?

...

Prying her eyes off the woman, she would glance at the Prince who remained as chilled as ever despite the circumstances. She didn’t understand how he could remain calm with that woman over there, but maybe that was the difference between someone use to this and someone that was new to the game. She wondered, as her eyes drifted to the table off to the side that held the goblet, would the one coming to here tonight be able to handle this? And on that note what would the person be like that came? Her mind would continue to wonder as they continued to wait.

Meanwhile outside of the room, a short figure would pace the lobby at the end of the hall, his expression moody as his eyes occasionally drifted towards the doors to the area waiting for this supposed new recruit. He still wasn’t pleased with this turn of events in the least as it seems more and more kept piling in to serve the Queen. First that large bunch that rolled in that he wasn’t sure how they were going to survive, when only a few seemed to obey or be on time for that matter. Then that lady that had a kid and now this… A mercenary of some sort. Tch! Mercenary…Could a gun for hire really dedicate himself to such a position as serving the Queen? Or would the shiny coin turn him against them? It honestly was questionable this invite was, but it seemed that the Prince didn’t see the harm and allowing anyone who wanted to try to become a Cadet do just that.

It was down right annoying really. Even more annoying when said Prince sent his strong arm to do greetings while remaining behind in a room with a weak girl as defense and a woman he had been practically forced to turn his back on. He didn’t understand what was going through their leader’s head. Didn’t understand why any of this had to happen. Why was it that what was already working couldn’t just be left alone?

….And all thoe unknown variables only made him grumpier as he continued to wait and steam.

Where the hell was this guy, anyway? He had better hurry it up. Otherwise, he'd have more than annoyance to contend with from the Cadet.

The time ticked on as Alex continued to pace back and forth in the hall becoming more impatient and irritable by the second. He knew there wasn’t a time limit per se for folks to get their behinds in gear and come to the ritual, but due to the circumstances he rather not chance take chances with time. That woman back there…he didn’t know where she was found, but from the moment she was introduced so to speak to himself and the young woman currently with the Prince, he had disliked her. She just screamed trouble... though the only thing she had done was sit and quietly stare at things the whole time. The only thing odd about her was that odd lantern she carried around; however, she seemed pretty compliant when Julius asked her to hand it over. So…what was her deal really? Was she just there to pretend to be creepy or something?

He paused to think on this, but didn’t get far in his thoughts as the sound of footsteps distracted him. Looking over to the side he would take in the taller male with an irritated gaze as he gave him a frown.

“Not that I really give a care, but yeah. You are in the right spot for said meeting. Though I wonder why someone like you would even try this,” Alex would smirk coldly at the other. “You are probably going to fail badly, so you might as well just walk away now. However, if you are determine to go through with this, then come on. I’ll show you your way to misery,” Alex would finish his heated little rant, letting the other know just how displeased he was with the situation as a whole…and perhaps showing a bit of his own stressed nature at the moment.

Regardless, the younger male would turn after speaking and begin to walk away from the other not seeming to look back to see if the other followed. It was only at the door that he paused to check and if he was still with him, the Cadet would scowl and push open the door, allowing the other to enter. Once in, Alex would close the door before he brushed past Oswald and headed to the stairs up ahead. He would go up them and take a spot slightly off to side of the girl that stood nearest the throne.

Still moody, he would cross his arms as he looked over at Oswald. However, when he spoke, it would be towards the man on the chair.

“Well, here he is though I don’t think he’s a good fit for this position at all,” Alex would say causing the young lady next to him to look over at him with a raised eyebrow.

“You don’t say,” she would say out loud before turning her eyes to the man at the bottom of the stairs. Now that Alex was back in the room, she felt at ease and in turn went back to her usual confident self as she studied the man. Well…he looked like he could fight, but she knew looks alone wouldn’t save him tonight. No he would have to prove himself in another way.

Regardless of the younger ones being moody or studious, the woman off to the left of the Prince would slowly turn her vacant gaze to the man that had enter and simply watch him with an emotionless stare. Never saying anything.

Julius on the other hand had opened his eyes when he heard the door open and while the two with him chattered, he would remain silent for a while longer before smiling a bit.

“Perhaps he is fit and perhaps he is not. We will just see how he does,” the young man would say to the pair and then shifting his gaze to the other he would unfold himself as he stood and came to the edge of the stairs.

“You’ll have to forgive my companions for their behavior. Tonight has been a little bit more…tense than usual,” the Prince would tell the other as he watched him with the small smile in play. “In any case, I am glad to see that you have managed to get this far and haven’t been swayed to leave. A strong will is always needed in this line of business, but so are other qualities,” Julius would say his tone warm at first, but then just as quickly the tone would shift as his smile faded.


His tone was commanding and business like. It was true he may not have been his mother, but even so…he did represent her along with those here in the room. So if the other could not follow direct orders, then why waste time with him at all? Regardless, the Prince would keep a cool gaze on the other waiting to see what the other would do.

It appeared the man had high tolerance for rude behavior, either that or he was hiding what he truly felt well enough. The skill was impressive although would not admit this aloud as he continued to watch the other below with a frown. He still didn’t trust him to be loyal at all. Not with the sort of background he had. There was just no way right?

Meanwhile, the young lady near the throne watched Oswald with a curious eye. She supposed she was going to have to get use to various people coming through here aiming to claim the title of Cadet, but seriously why would a mercenary bow to the crown? What was he really after? She had to wonder, but maybe she could accept him provided he was as strong as he acted and his reason for doing this was genuine and not fake. She was curious to see what he would do, but for now she had to wait. Protocol and all that jazz was in play for the moment. So the study would continue as she watched her brother take the floor. The quiet woman off to the side remaining still and focused on the man below.

It was an odd scene, but Julius seemed unphased by it all as he heard the words spoken, not seeming to mind the other addressing him by his first name despite the circumstances and would you look at that? The man seemed to catch onto the game quite quickly. Very good. Perhaps this man was worth testing after all. The thought would cross his mind; however, only a small nod was what the other would get in response to what he had said. As for what happened afterwards, Julius found himself quite pleased that the man did not protest or show any signs of being a rebel as he kneeled down and answered his questions right on cue.

The Prince would hold the other’s gaze easily enough gazing as he gauged the integrity of the words spoken. The Prince was silent for a moment, after the other spoke considering him for a moment with an unreadable expression. He didn’t find any lie in the words, the other’s desire genuine enough, but there was something more than that that caused the Prince to give him a chance to prove himself.

After a moment, the Prince would close his eyes as a light smirk crossed his face.

“So you’ll do anything for family, hm? How interesting...” he would say his tones seeming amused, but he did not expand on the meaning as he simply let the words hang between them. Then reopening his eyes, he would look over at his younger sibling and give her a small nod.

Understanding what he wanted her to do, she would move to get the goblet from the table. Taking it in her hand carefully, she would head down the stairs until she was before the kneeling man. She would give him a light tilt of her head as she took a moment to observe him in more detail now that she was up close, but why she did this was a mystery.

Regardless of the study, she would eventually lower the goblet down to the other before moving off to the stand to the right side of the man as she refocused on her brother at the top of the stairs. If the man was to look into the goblet he would find it had content in it. A strange red liquid that was neither juice or wine.... A well trained eye would know the liquid as blood.

Despite the strange offer, neither the Prince nor the other two in the room seemed to be bothered by it as they simply watched the other’s reaction. The woman off to the left remaining oddly still as well. Whatever the man did, the Prince would remain calm as usual as he spoke.

“The goblet which you hold contains a portion of The Queen's blood. Drink it to see if you can really pay the asking price for entry into this line of business,” the Prince would tell the other in calm tones and then fall silent to watch what would happen should the man take a chance and drink that deadly sweet liquid.

Hmm...Choices:

The Prince would hear the statement, but for the most part say nothing as he simply considered the other with a calm gaze. He was curious about this one for reasons he did not make known here as he simply watched the rest of what happened in silence.

While the whole transformation bit got a frown from Alex and caused the young lady next to him to back away a bit, the Prince didn’t even flinch as he instead waited to see if the other would stand or fall from the process. When the other remained standing and even seemed to be able to speak properly, Julius nodded in approval as he watched the other.

“Get used to the unpleasantness for it will become a close companion for you along the road,” he would say and then turning back to his chair he would move over to it and sit resuming his laid back position from earlier.

As he did this, the quiet woman off to his left stood and began to move down the stairs, her almond shaped eyes completely locked on the mercenary as she moved.

“Family is an honorable thing to fight for, but in order to become a Cadet you must learn to fight for a different sort of family.  Can you do it?” Julius would say as his eyes shifted from the man to the young lady that had moved away from him when he had changed. While the young lady had remained eyeing the man a bit after his transformation, she would quickly snap to attention as she felt eyes upon her and looked up at her brother.

So…she would have to play after all. Alright. Steadying herself for whatever was to come, she would signal that she was ready.  Julius would nod back, but not move as the woman came to a stop a respectful distance away from the man.

“Hello. It is a pleasure to meet you, Oswald,” she would say as she gave him a pleasant smile. “I hope we can enjoy our time together,” she would say as she gave him a bow. At this point, Julius moved his foot bringing it close to the lantern before nudging it lightly. The item would tilt and fall to the side, the wind from the fall enough to put out the blue flame and in turn the very light in the room.

As this happened Alex step forward a bit to watch what was going on below. He wasn’t sure what that lantern was about, but without its light something was happening to the woman that seemed to stick out like a sore thumb below. What was this?

The darkness seemed to consume everything, but the one thing that was illuminated was the bowed woman who would remain still for a while and then slowly she would lift her head to look at the pair before her, but something was horribly wrong. The face had shifted into something else and bloodlust hung heavily in the air.


“Stay… stay with me …FoReVeR!” she would say in a strange distorted voice before her crazed grin would crumple and she would hunch over holding her head apparently in pain. She would continue to struggle a bit longer before leaning her head back and letting out an unearthly scream as her body seemed to bulge and bubble before exploding as dark liquid came out of her and splashed to the ground. That dark liquid would then pull itself together quickly forming a large and strange creature in the room that reeked of death The giving a grin of malice, the creature would let out a piercing meow that rocked the very room before moving to attack its prey….

Bakeneko Lvl 3:

Chat Log:

Lisa Lamecia Support:

Forgot to put this in the spoiler:

And -6 SP

Ice Boost | Increases Ice Damage output by 25% | Passive | Tier 2

Alex would give the other a scowl as he rolled his eyes at the mercenary comment. He didn’t believe that stuff until he actually saw it. However, Julius seemed to be a bit more understanding than the younger male as he gave the other an amused smile not giving any hints on what he may know of the night life of the city.

As for his loyalty statement, the Prince would close his eyes for a moment as he pushed his glasses up on his face, the small smirk still in place.

“Well then, it looks like I don’t have anything to worry about then,” he would say before falling silent as the real test began.

On the lower floor, Lisa took a step back into the back lines as the demon came forward to devour them. Staying strong, she geared herself up to help the other.

Bakeneko Lvl 3:

The demon was laughing like an insane manic as it came in to destroy the man that was now down before it unconscious. It was practically drooling with anticipation as it thought how delightful it was going to be to have another soul in its belly. Raising its paw once more to bare sharp claws, it truly did look like the end for the other; however, at that moment trio in the room would act.

"The lantern, Alex," the Prince would say getting a nod from the other who moved to collect it. As he did this, the Prince would take action as he got up from his chair. Using his persona, he would quickly intercept the swipe from the cat with a strike from his persona that sent the cat reeling back a bit. Leaving it no room to recover, the persona would quickly follow up with another heavy strike that caused the creature to screech in pain before it was falling over and shifting into a blue flame.

As it took on this form, Alex who had moved down the stairs would open the small door to the latern causing the small flame to be sucked right in it along with all the darkness in the room. As the door to the lantern was closed, the room reverted back to normal, leaving silence in the room as the persona vanished and the prince came down the stairs to join the other two who were near the unconscious man.

The prince would stop a few paces away from the other and look over at Lisa, who gave him a nod suggesting that the other would be okay with rest. Closing his eyes, he sighed lightly at the turn of events. He had hoped for better results, but he supposed not everyone was up for the job. In the end, the man would keep his life for now. Though what the future held for him now was unknown.

Regardless, he would help the other two get the man to a location he could rest better.