Grimoire’s Return. discussion

Bustling with activity all the time, filled with merchants and the like. Vernandi patrol this area frequently.

(so like what time period is this? genuine question)

Julian was light on his feet, his walk a quick, smooth movement. He raked a hand through his burgundy hair, the pale skin contrasting heavily with the sharp red.

kylee wrote: "(so like what time period is this? genuine question)"

(Ehhhh, like.. serpent and dove kind’ve era.)

(never read that..)

(bc pete has a phone and is in a band... i don’t think he fits with this period at all)

(oooofff.... well, if witch hunters are still a thing, i’d say back in the old days for sure.)

(well... shit huh.
guess i’ll use a diff character. rip pete)

(lmao that’s okaayyyyyy)

Alex entered the town square, and looked around.

kylee wrote: "(bc pete has a phone and is in a band... i don’t think he fits with this period at all)"

actually, there were bands back then! They were called a traveling group, though.

(YOU MEAN ALEX)
Julian noticed the distinct emblem and the emerald green of the Verandi, deciding to stay far away. He moved through the crowd like it was a practice, his raven soaring far above him, but always in line with his footsteps.

Alex looked around, then spotted it. A man, walking through the crowd at a lesuirely pace. A raven soared above him, cawing.

“Quiet, Malak. You’re drawing attention.” Julian muttered, leaning against a building nearest him and calling the raven down without a movement. Malak dropped onto his shoulder, almost glaring at him with his black, beady eyes.
“There are Verandi here. I’ll be killed, you should know that.” Julian hissed, his mouth barely moving so he wouldn’t raise anymore suspicion than he already had.

The raven disappeared.

Alex searched the skies, looked around, but nothing was there. The raven just swooped down and didn't come back up. Of course, there could be the fact that the raven was killed, or had a broken wing, but then, that prompted the question: what killed the raven?

There was a witch here. That raven was someone's familiar, and that someone was a witch. Alex started to move through the crowd.

Julian spotted Alex coming his way long before Alex saw him.
“Fuckin’ hell. Malak, stay up there. I need you to keep watch.” He mumbled, and nodded as said raven shot into the air and perched onto a nearby roof. Julian himself began to move. Like a cat. Like oil. Like he has no parts that stick. He slipped between people and carts and stands, finding himself in a far alley. He breathed deeply, trying to regulate his breathing from a frenzied panic to a leisurely sense of casualty.

The raven shot up again, right onto the roof. Alex narrowed his eyes. There was definitely a witch here. And was that familiar watching him? He couldn't tell. Slowly, he reached for the dagger strapped at his side.

Malak watched Alex with his beady eyes, ready to slash the man with his talons if needed. Also ready to screech and cause a frenzy, if the man went for Julian.

Alex moved faster through the crowd, looking around. One of them was a witch. One of the-- He forze. Across from him was a red head, in an abadoned alley, leaning against the wall, breathing hard. Was the man okay? "Sir?" alex called out. He made his way to the man. "Sir?"

(OH SHIT


JULIAN: PANIK)
Julian regained his composure easily, turning towards Alex like everything was fine.
You’re normal. The crowd is just overwhelming. You’re not a witch, Ilyushka.
“Oh, hello.” He greeted Alex, smiling. He pretended like his heart wasn’t pounding because of the sheer shade of green Alex was wearing, like he wasn’t horrified by the emblem of two intersected swords with the Verandi motto.
We vow to protect those who are innocent
And to burn those who dare harm them.
That was comforting to some people? The sight of innocent people, being burned, was comforting? Julian had seen many be put to the stake. Heard them beg and scream.

Alex caught up with the man, who reassured him that he was okay. "Sir, are you sure you're okay? You looked like you lost breathe out there." He looks the man in his eyes. "Do you need an infirmary? I could carry you to the nearest one."

“No, no. It’s alright, I assure you. The crowd is a little overwhelming today, that’s all. You don’t have to worry about me.”
I don’t need an infirmary. I have one solely within my hands. Julian thought.

Alex looked the man's in his eyes. His eyes were almost, but not quite similar to his, a silver grey. "Are you sure? Because it isn't far..." He tilted his head. The man wasn't a witch, he could tell that. But then, why did something tug at him in the core of his stomach?

“I’m sure. I’m alright now.” Julian says, shaking out his burgundy hair, but at the same time, signalling to Malak that everything was fine.

Alex sighed. The man wasn't a witch.

But then, why did something tug in his stomach? Tell him that something was wrong?

Shouts came from the crowd. Alex turned around. People were shouting, and some were...floating? He turned back towards the man. "I need your name."

“Julian Devorak.” Julian said, panic welling in his throat at the sight of the floating beings behind Alex.
“Holy hell.” He cursed, dashing towards them.

"Nonono--" Alex rushed after him. They, shortly, reached the end of the alleyway, and skidded to a stop. People were floating. People were fighting. There were bodies, and there were witches, and oh god, there was blood. So. Much. Blood.

“Shit,” Julian whispered, his fists tightening. The bodies on the floor, their wounds began to seal. Their blood ran back into their body. And the witches, the ones who were controlling the bodies, all of a sudden paled. Some of them got the bubonic plague. Some of them got chicken pox. Nonetheless, they all crumpled to the ground, and terrorised the town square no more.

"How in the wo--" He glanced at Julian. "You saw that, right? They just, died. And the dead ones..." It went unsaid. He looked back at the scene. Some people in the street just stared blankly at nothing. Alex looked at it. The people that were dead just got up, and walked away, as if it was nothing.

Julian nodded, acting as dumbfounded as Alex was.
“Yes, I did. Surely peculiar. There must be another witch somewhere.” He said, looking around.
(JULIAN’S SMOOTH AS HELL WHAT)

Adrian tightened his grip on his dagger. "You're most likely right. Come, then. Let's hunt the said witch. You obviously have a talent for it." Alex gave Julian a small little smile.

(JULIAN'S POWER)

(HUH?)
“I don’t think they’re here to cause harm.” Julian murmured, heart pounding. The magic he’d done had nearly taken everything out of him. He didn’t show it, though.

Alex glanced at him. "They're witches. Of course they're here to cause harm, what else would it be?" He motions to the scene before them. "Look at what just happened. They kill. They are monsters."

(like, jules sexually confuses Alex obvi)

“But a witch saved those who were dying too. They eliminated those who were causing havoc. Isn’t that a good thing?” Julian asks, trying to get Alex to understand.

Alex puts his hands on his hips. Of course the man was a witch sympathizer. "Who is to say that the witch wasn't the same person who caused this? They could've been forced to do this."

“Nevermind. I haven’t got the energy to argue with you.” He gave up, walking ahead of Alex.
“Let’s go hunt a witch.”

Alex followed him, lost in his own thoughts. "Normally, a witch flees the scene, so we need to search surrounding areas. We can start at the Hanging Building."

“Yeah, sounds right.” Julian murmured, heading that way.
Pasha, I told you to stay away from here. If that was you, I won’t be able to protect you. Please keep yourself safe.

They turned a corner, and started heading west, right for the Hanging Building. "So." Alex said. "What do you work as?" He wanted to get to know the man more, despite him being a witch sympathizer

“A doctor.” Julian said, his pace quick. He had long legs, so this was a perfect expedition for him, despite his sister possibly about to get herself killed.

Alex kept up with his pace. "Oh, really? That's great. What infirmary do you work at? Maybe I could visit sometime?"

“It’s called Brimstone infirmary, I believe. It’s quite a ways away.” Julian said.

Alex shrugged. "I don't care. Being a Venandi mean I get to go anywhere, really. But, maybe I could take you out for a cup of coffee? Some tea, maybe? After this, of course."

Julian nods in confirmation, as they rounded the corner to see a girl, with bouncy red curls and baby blue eyes. She was shaking.

They froze.

The girl stared at them.

They stared back.

Then she fled. Alex unsheathed his dagger and run after her, yelling "excuse me"s to the people the passed. They entered the market square, and Alex looked around. Where was she...where was she....

Julian had climbed the building already, and was chasing the girl from rooftop to rooftop.
“Pasha!” He called after her, terrified. Utterly terrified.
“Why were you with him, Ilya? What are you doing?” The girl -Pasha- pleaded, continuing to run from him.

Alex looked around, thn spotted Julian chasing after the girl. On the rooftops. He smiled. He was going to like Julian, alright.

He was going to like him alot.

He chased after them, then turned a corner. The end to the building was right there, and he grabbed the ladder, and hefted himself up. The girl, peeked over the roof, saw him, and immediately disappeared. Alex grunted and started climbing.

“Pasha.” Julian snarled, seeing his sister reappear on another roof. He dashed after her, taking a huge leap to catch up to her.

Alex was on the roof.He spotted Julian, trying to catch the girl,a dn ran after them. Now, the girl had nowhere to go. He smiled, tightened his hold on the dagger and threw it.

Julian held his hand up, letting the dagger pierce straight through.
“Ilya!” Pasha shrieked, clasping her hands over her mouth.