the condemned !

     ❇ ❝ Oh, really? That’s great to hear, then! ❞

     ❝ And anything really… I’m not going to be picky and I have the experience needed to apply! … Or at least, I think so. ❞

             “Not being picky would make it simpler.”

      ❇ ❝ Well, I can’t just sit around and do nothing… If I’m forced to stay here a while, I might as well make myself useful. That being said, is there any sort of place that does odd jobs here? Or maybe even a delivery place? ❞

❝True. In most cases, it’s not.❞ He’d admit to that much. It was a dark practice, a thin bridge over the abyss - heretical and wrong and a thousand other negatives. He’s heard them all before, whispered and shouted. Were he back home, he’d never do such a thing in public, with a hundred eyes settled on him. But he’s not home; this world so strange, so new. 

Wei proffered his hand to the undead mouse, which gladly accepts and scampers up his arm. ❝So far I haven’t been chased, tortured or executed. Maybe there are worse things to worry about then a few dead rats. Or, it could be that it’s an accepted thing here. Since I only just arrived, I can only assume.❞ Accepted is perhaps too big of a word. For the moment, however, it fits well enough. Time will tell how accepting.

That look is not quite acceptance, but one far from revulsion; the expression so commonly seen on those who despised the art. Though it fades, replaced in a blink of an eye, he’s seen enough. ❝For instance, this is something you’ve seen before. Right?❞ 

             Since he hasn’t been here too long himself, he couldn’t give out an accurate confirmation, yet he can comment on idle gossip he’s heard from others during his stroll around the different wards. There was that, then there was also that incident that had occurred a bit before his arrival to this place, when he’d supposedly had just missed a time when zombies and ghosts prowled the streets. “From what I’ve heard so far, I think both assumptions are correct.” 

             Taking a moment’s pause to think on it some more, the side of one of his index fingers begins to tap along his chin. “While I haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary just yet, I have heard that many individuals who dwell here have unique abilities... some of which would naturally include raising the dead, I’m sure.” To which, of course, he refers to himself—though he refrains from saying that much, for now.

“Then you don’t have to buy chocolate and dinner for anyone, you can buy it all for yourself~” 

She may have given this a little more thought than was healthy. 

SUBVERSION (part 1)

    ≪❀≫ A SIGH OF frustration leaves his lips as he crosses the threshold of the door into his friends’ shelter. His hair would likely still smell of alcohol, however? With the day as it’d been? He’d wanted to see the other. Having one of his customers out his inhuman features… well, it certainly hadn’t made it any easier.

      But that was part of the reason he’d made his way here. Seeking out Hector’s company. And Cezar’s. And… as always, he couldn’t help but smile at the large flowers decorating the front of the building. It was always a refreshing sensation, entering the shop. The floral helped. “I hope you don’t mind that I popped by unannounced.” Merlin calls in – having been a frequent visitor, he was sure the other would recognize his voice. “I brought coffee! Picked some up on the way. Hope you don’t mind that they’re both mocha though…”

      Probably should have texted before he picked them up. But? It was the thought that counted, right?

      From there, Merlin settles the drinks down onto the nearest open counter. He would wait for Hector to approach now, before going further in. He would hate to invade, even if he was a frequent guest and a friend. Best not to abuse that privilege, especially since the two of them were both… somewhat awkward with people, especially at first. “Any new friends around here?” He calls in, smiling at the thought. Occasionally he would get the meet other new little furry friends around here. Perhaps he would get to today as well?

/ @devilforger

             With an elbow currently propped up atop the counter, his chin rests on the palm of his hand as his other hand is over the very same counter, with the tip of his index finger tapping across its wooden surface, attracting the attention of his small, furry companion who now begins to reach for hand with his paws. In reaction, a soft smile gradually starts to upturn the corners of his lips, though it no sooner disappears as the shopkeeper’s bell ( attached over the entrance door ) begins to jingle—indicating that he has a costumer. Blue hues lock onto the door in question, and soon after, that same smile returns, brighter than it was before, in response to his appearance. “No, not at all. In fact, I’m grateful! We could use the company.” Seconds after his pause in speech, Cezar offers an agreeable bark, to which Hector responds by giving him soft strokes at the crown of his head. “And I was just thinking about quickly stepping out to grab a cup from the cafe down the street earlier, so you’ve done me a favour!” Taking the plastic cup from his gently from his hand, he takes a sip before speaking up again. “Thank you, Merlin.”

             Despite not being as skilled in analyzing the mood of humans compared to that of animals, it’s clear enough to him that something had been off about his friend; while he has an inking as to what troubled, he doesn’t pursue it, instead offering words of comfort. “You’re always welcome here, so please stop by whenever you wish. It’s never any trouble.” The hand holding the cup then begins to move, and shortly after does his lips press against the lid of the cup. Though before he can take in its contents once more, he’s given an inquiry which causes him to stop before doing so. “Hm? Oh, yes—just one though! He’s a cheerful one, too.” Feet now moving towards the back of the establishment, he promptly gestures to Merlin to follow him. “I found him myself actually, he wasn’t doing too great when I did... but after a couple of days of tending to, he’s made great progress, and I really couldn’t be happier. He seems to have gone through a lot...” Now in a specific section at the back of the shop, there they see a creature alike to a fox, yet his fur is a stark silver to white colour, mixed in with a light blue, the latter colour matching his eyes.

             While he could afford to take breaks throughout the day, they had been shorter than usual if only due to the fact that his shop and shelter had been particular busy today. In spite of that however, his smile remains still ever on his features, greeting and responding amicably to costumers as they came in and out. Time that seem like minutes are in actuality hours, and thereafter does the sun begin to set, colouring the front of the establishment several shades of colours ( caused by the moonlight reflecting through one of the mosaic windows ). He doesn’t keep it in mind however, carrying along, until finally he, unknowingly, bids farewell to his final customer of the day. “Yes, of course. Please feel free to stop by again. Good bye!” As he sends them off, his smile is beaming brighter, and a short wave is given with a light swing of his hand before he reenters his establishment, closing the door behind him. Once he does, a small black pug approaches him and immediately leans in, pushing his forefront paws against his leg, in attempt to gain his attention.

             “Hm? What is it, Cezar? Oh—” Simply by hearing his soft barking, he instantly deduces what the dog is telling him; his eyes widen a bit, as his blue gaze falls onto his wristwatch. “It’s closing time already, is it? ... Already...” He repeats that word, making note of the time consequent to moving back to flip the business sign to closed and shutting the miniature drapes on the door’s window. “Well, today was a busy day, so we should reward ourselves. Come on now, boy.” Starting his way towards and up the stair, a whistle sound follow his words, to further his beckons to his small, furry companion. Once they’re on the second floor of the establishment, he heads for the door of his room, unlocking it with a set of keys tucked away in his pocket. As soon as he opens the door a crack, Cezar manages slip on through, eager as ever. “Alright, alright! I hear you! Understood!” A chuckle accompanies his reply, yet that soon fades away as his eyes set upon an average sized portrait frame resting on top and on the corner of a desk. The picture it depicts him alongside a woman, with Cezar resting atop her lap.

Hector* ( epithet ‘the animal whisperer’ )

BACKGROUND

For this event, Hector comes from a decent family in terms of wealth! His parents weren’t the greatest, as in, they had high expectations for him, but he ‘let them down’, as they say, so now he lives quite a distance away from them.

In terms of what he does as a profession, he’s done research and studies on animal care, and now at the age of twenty four he’s managed to finally accumulate enough to open up his own animal shelter, which is very popular with locals, and well, anyone that comes around.

FACTS

The one thing that perhaps sets his shelter apart from others is that he still retains the ability to speak to animals, hence why he’s called ‘the animal whisperer’ by some.

No necromancy or devil forging of course, but he still has a lot of respect for the dead.

The animal shelter, of course, shelters animals in need, but also offers animal care services. It also has a shop at the front, where he sells a bunch of products for animals.

Speaking of the shelter, if one enters, they’ll be met with a several large bouquets of white flowers ( particularly white lilies and roses ). When asked about them, he simply replies with, ‘I like them.’.

His forging hammer ( which he doesn’t even have at the moment ) and the coin embedded into it have no special properties but are fashionable accessory in the form of a necklace instead. So, there’s the chain, and then there’s the small hammer + coin that serve as two separate decorative ornaments. He’s protective of it, and rarely takes it off; there is a story behind it, but he never talks about it—could it be from a lover? We’ll never know...

He can be seen wearing loose shirts that are unbuttoned at the top a bit, so like nicely tailored poet blouse or something, trousers alike to what he normally wears, nothing too fancy since he works with animals!.

Has this cute black pug named ‘Cezar’ that helps greet costumers at the door! 

THREADS / PLOTTING

The familiarity of the atmosphere when in the church had become somewhat of a comfort to her, albeit vaguely. Semiramis had soon made it routine to journey there at least once every day and spent most of her time listening. There were never more than a few familiar faces that visited the church every day as she did. It didn’t take long for her to memorize them all as her visits slowly became routine. To see the unfamiliar visage of a man as she walks down the path, she slows her pace to pay him a glance.

Their eyes meet, he seems surprised. Semiramis, however, offers a small smile only to be met with what she considers to be dismissal. She stops completely. “Do you dislike the sermons? Or perhaps it is my presence that makes you turn away.” Glancing over her shoulder, she waits for a reply.

             His footsteps come gradually come to a halt as her response ( to his dismissal ) comes to an end. After a few seconds pass, his head slightly tilts to the side, offering his rebuttal thereafter. “I’m not entirely sure as to how you’ve come to that conclusion...” With his voice now trailing off, his figure and feet start to shift back, and as consequence, untouched snow spoiling further as he does. His eyes slightly narrow whilst he begins focusing on the back of her head. “Seeing as how we’ve never met.” Thinking back, her choice of wording was curious, and so he can’t help but ask—if only so that he could gauge her reply and reaction.

It wasn’t easy, seeing so many people hurt and scared. It usually never is, but Richter had made it his life duty to protect the people - and that extended here as well. The fact that such a peaceful festival, even if it was one he would have liked to avoid ( for he does not deserve to mourn the ones he has lost ), had ended on a gruesome note was enough to make the Belmont’s blood boil. Should he ever find the person responsible for this, he’d make sure they would pay for their crimes.

But at the moment, all the hunter could do was help the wounded. Maria had always been a little more medical-savvy than him, but Richter knew enough to help people. Wrapping the bandages around one of the individuals, the hunter gave them a kind smile before directing them to another place, one where they can rest until they could see one of the doctors that had made time to help the people that were around.

The voice of another had caused his smile to fade a little and he turned towards the newcomer in question. Ah, so they were still bringing people into this place, despite the fact that they really shouldn’t be. Richter crossed his arms as he looked towards the multiple individuals that sat around, before turning back to the man.

     “We had been celebrating a festival here - one that was      for mourning people who have passed and celebrating life.      Unfortunately, it seemed like someone really wasn’t that,      and the next thing any of us knew, zombie-like creatures      and ghost-like creatures started to wreak havoc among      the place. You’re lucky you missed it; it was a blood bath.”

             Realizing his rudeness, he kneels down—immediately offering his assistance to him and any of the injured individuals around them; while his medicinal knowledge isn’t grand, he can at least assist with any bandaging or quick tonic making to help wounds heal. “Ah—please, allow me to help.” He doesn’t wait for a confirmation from him, instead moving to someone else quite near them in need of aid. As he begins looking over their injuries, he continues to listen to the explanation given to him. “Ghost and zombie-like creatures, you say?” One of his brows quirk up upon hearing those words, and shortly afterward, an inaudible sound passes his parted lips before they begin to press together once more. Though he continues accessing and applying aid to the individual before him, his thoughts linger elsewhere. “... I see... I really am fortunate then, for having missed it.” The statement isn’t entirely truthful, since a great part was curious and wouldn’t have minded seeing creatures like that walk about, but he wouldn’t dare admit that much. What he hadn’t liked about the situation however, was the amount of people who had suffered due to it.

    it had been raining an awful lot since his arrival and while he usually does not mind the rain he has begun to mind it just a little. the cityscape felt a lot more suffocating with it, but he supposes that is just him after all he is from a different time and age. walking around the city with his newly bought umbrella he then comes to a halt when he notices a cardboard box near a trash bin. the people simply continue to ignore it and walk past but he had noticed the small paws and one small head peeking over the cardboard. it angered him that people could simply abandon such small and young animals, though people who could turn a blind eye to it are not any better in his eyes. 

there was, however, one person that stood out to him, the one who actually did something about it or at least tried to. the cardboard was already far too soaked to be able to hold all those puppies. approaching the stranger and the puppies he then speaks up, ‘’ need a hand? ‘’ // @devilforger

             “This place doesn’t let up...”

             By which he means people never fail to prove his speculations about them ( humanity ) wrong, and while he’s not surprised, he does remain disappointed. Troubled by the thought, he couldn’t quite decipher which was worse—knowing that one or several individuals could simply abandon helpless animals, and in such a state or having to witness multiple groups of people pass the now frantically mewling puppies with no concern. Without further delay, he heeds their call by crouching down to attempt carrying the soaked cardboard box they rest in. Unfortunately, such an attempt is fruitless and it dawns on him that the best alternative is to carry them. The decision made, he gently picks up as a many as he could, and with three in hand and three still resting in the box, he frankly doesn’t think—nor want to leave any of them behind, even if for a moment.