if he was being perfectly honest, he never spent this much time around anyone – not even his own family when they were alive. of course, back then, things were different and he was more focused on avoiding his family. things hadn’t changed that much over the years, but he also didn’t know that much about humans -or himself- really. “i see.” it wasn’t like he could say much else; he never experienced anything like a cramp before. so… while he was mildly curious, he wasn’t going to let that curiosity get the best of him. at least for the moment.
“you should know by now that you don’t have to hide the truth from me.” the blonde hadn’t deciphered a tell for him, really had no way of knowing when he was lying. though she hoped that meant he didn’t lie to her that much, it could easily mean that he lied a lot.
“well it’s obvious to me you’re not on good terms with your past either so i was going to let you do it on your own time.” she shrugged her shoulders. she wasn’t sure what he was going to take her to see, so she was interested to find out. “where are we going?”
there where was simple; it was once burnt down, but he’d been planning on rebuilding it. not in the way it was years ago, but in a design more akin to his own liking. he had many storage buildings for what he enjoyed, but a real home – not just a hotel – was something that he needed… even if the half-demon would never admit it.
“my family home.” or what was left of it at least. not that ky would admit that it was a major step forward for them. he never told anyone about his life before… well his current situation (aside from the people who knew). so for him… this was either going to be the best decision he’d ever make or… the worst.
“doesn’t it ever get old?” he asked, leaning against a wall. “you know, waking up day after day, and doing the exact same thing?”
@hellfirebound / x ‘ Listen, I ain’t the type for some simple SMALL TALK. ‘
‘ Yes, I know. You’re a man of action – I can respect that. In-fact, I can even agree it’s needed. A reason to why I’ll keep my mouth shut… from here on out. ’ It was a lie, a major one at that, but he was at least attempting to be decent… even if it wasn’t going to turn out well for him in the long run.
Brows are drawn into the pinch of a frown, and eyes bear steely flecks of v e x a t i o n; whether this can be accredited to thinning patience or a BRUISED EGO is anyone’s guess. Regardless, the sorcerer’s frustration is becoming most apparent and he despises it; to lose composure is to lose control and for a master of the mystic arts, this simply won’t do.
“ If your goal is to enlist my help, you’re making a very POOR case. ”
What Ky should have done was stopped long before he got in this situation. Going to Strange for anything was trouble and this just proved that point. What he should have done was kept his tongue in-check and stated what he needed. Instead, he chose to voice a number of insults towards the man in numerous fashion.
“Oh, that’s right; I remember why you were not my first choice on the list, Strange. Your so called …parlour tricks are far worse than second rate,” he said, arms folding across his chest. “I just thought you’d enjoy a chance. Pardon me if I chose… poorly.”
Tentative truces practically made up every relationship in his life anymore, but some of them were more or less tentative. Some were stable enough that when he needed someone to watch his back on a mission even he found especially creepy, they could be relied upon not to stab his back while it was turned. And if they were the spawn of evil, well. He and Daimon had built a museum together, so that didn’t always predicate a whole hell of a lot in his warped little world.
Which was why he had called on Ky to help him with a quite substantial case of verified spiritual activity – ranging from possessions to fox fire to wight sightings all from actual sources and not just terrible Reddit threads – out in Kansas, in the middle of nowhere, deep into winter when the sparing trees were bare, the ground was split and dry before the frost, and it reminded him way too much of every terrible ghost story he’d heard as a kid in the next state over. It was also, he’d confirmed, a large enough anomaly that it was something he needed not to be handling alone, or even try to.
Wong actually threatened to find his ghost and put a curse on it if he got himself killed and made the other Master deal with the issue, he was that creeped out by it himself.
So far, all they’d found was a lot of empty earth and a few flares where phenomena was gathering; a fairy ring of black mushrooms in an aspen glen that was attracting bats and other creepy crawlies they had to brush off their clothes and keep out of their hair, and a scarecrow stand with only the bottom half of the scarecrow left and a green-eyed great horned owl perched on the top beam, watching them uncaringly even when they were examining the remains of the scarecrow.
They were on their third phenomena of the night, meaning Stephen was down on his knees wondering how the hell the cold earth below could have burned so profusely when there was nothing to burn, and no evidence that anything had been used as kindling, when something at the far end of a seemingly endless sea of empty field caught his eye. And it sure as hell didn’t give him the warm-fuzzies.
“Uh, not to. Alarm you. But can you see that?” he asked, not bothering to even try to put his measly flashlight on it, given the distance. And he also didn’t really want to alert whatever it was that they might know it was there. “Because it sure as hell looks like a dog, but if my middle age eyesight isn’t total shit, it looks about the size of a horse. And that. That could suck for us.”
If Ky was being honest, coming out here wasn’t on his to do list. He would have enjoyed spending the night alone and pretending the rest of reality was tens of thousands of miles away.
Unfortunately for the both of them, Ky had agreed to come along, but only due to the fact he was promised it would be worth his while. Of course, he’d been trying to stay out of trouble. Burning buildings and breaking into places could only last so long and Ky never was one to change his methods of what what one could call amusement.
So for a time, he kept his distance; several steps behind Stephen and made sure he was out of the other’s way. Their first event of the night wasn’t too interesting, but as the night had gone on he started to think there was something more at work. Something… that maybe shouldn’t have even been there in the first place.
Ky had checked his phone again; glancing down to see if he’d gotten anything new and to look at the time. It was then he heard Stephen ask the question. He clicked his phone off, glanced up, and took a step forward.
It looked like something, but as to what? He couldn’t quite put his finger on. The size of a horse was an understatement. Ky thought it was just a bit taller – maybe more feral than one and that spelling trouble was one way of putting it…just not exactly the best.
“If we stay still; totally still, we might be able to avoid it coming closer.” Or not. In truth, Ky wanted to investigate, but with limited information on what they were dealing with? Well, he wasn’t going to take any unnecessary chances… especially when he had someone else to worry about. “And hope it doesn’t spot us.” Or try to rush them as Ky believed the creature would if things decided to take a turn for the worst.
however, he was about to say highly improbable. ky already hated that ‘everyone’ knew about them already. it was like his entire private life was broadcasted on both earth and hell. disgusting – there was a reason he avoided relationships at any cost and that reason was people interfering…. like they were doing right then.
“i just don’t like…” he adjusted his leather gloves as he spoke. “people… at all.”
rock formations mix with the aroma of rotting vegetation, the hybrid being, part-human and part-fox deity, dropping down from a higher ledge with ease as others begin to secure the site. it hadn’t been abnormal for multiple vault personnel to be on site at a find of this kind– especially given the unknown nature of it. any texts related to the artifact that had been uncovered were vague about its power, merely alluding to something of a dark nature. but it had offered enough of a trail for the archeologist to follow. securing it before the cabal got their hands on it was the priority, figuring out the rest could come later.
“we’re on a timetable. malcolm wants this excavation completed by morning.” she suspected it was less malcolm and more the council but the facts remained the same. “let’s go, get a move on!” she ushers, prompting various people to move past her into the cave system and begin preparations. she’d found where the artifact was hidden, extracting it was another story.
a breath is released, soft steps taken as she makes her way outside and leans against one of their vehicles until senses ignite. within moments, body dissipates, a misty cloud in its wake as sydney reappears behind a man. except, there was something strange about him. he wasn’t what he appeared, just as she wasn’t. “want to tell me who you are and what you’re doing here?”
locating the artifact was easy; they had done all the heavy lifting for him by tracking it down. all ky had to do was watch, wait, and then obtain what was rightfully his when the time was right.
a waiting game where the stakes were high and he simply needed patience. to say it would have been easy would be an understatement. it never was when ky had to bide his time; simply lingering until the deed was done.
he thought getting into a closer proximity to the artifact would make things go far more quickly. that way, he could speed up the process, and get out of there before anyone realized what he’d done.
unfortunately, the thought of getting out of their quickly (with-out any outside interference) was thrown out the moment someone appeared behind him. interesting was one way to put it, but not exactly the best – still, he was going to be decent. it was the least he could do in this sort of situation.
“let’s say i’m here for that,” a gesture was made in the general direction of the artifact, “and while you may want to put up some resistance… i can assure you i have a valid claim to it’s ownership.”
Hellfirebound 