Necromancer

                      “Because you have no other options right now? If you’re trying to flatter me, I think you might have just failed.”

                             You had to wear a mask for moments such as these, especially when his bare skin touched someone both dead and alive; something that he was working day and night trying to achieve himself. Maddox wanted to slice the hybrid before him open right there and then, but instead he opted for the handshake, careful not to linger in that moment. “You mean you don’t automatically trust those that grope you in public?” cue the light chuckle as Maddox gave a small shrug in regards to the comment about his tattoos. “Apparently they make me look --- I think the word was emo. Used to it, don’t really give a shit about what others think. Never have. Got any yourself?

                      “Took them long enough to realize they were sent nothing but whispers. Can’t really blame us, they kinda made it easy. Hope turns people into idiots. Its a difficult spell and your sister can be difficult in ways I don’t want to be dealing with. Absolutely. I’ll die when I’m ready and my work isn’t complete yet so staying away from Cassius is a top priority. Have you seen him?”

                        “She’s ----- playing.” the necromancer offered vaguely, his prominent brows rising ever so slightly towards his hairline while allowing his usually pursed lips to form a friendly smile at the other, as he always did; strangely as he always would. “Might as well stick around then, keep me company because sometimes these games take a while and I think she forgets I need sleep.” for now that was, but that wasn’t a thought that was going to be voiced anytime soon. “Must be important if you’re lingering around.” she would know this was Maddox speak for asking how she was, if there was anything he could do; she just would. 

                              “Sounds like we’re looking for the same person.” Maddox spoke, announcing himself while standing from the step he had been sitting on for a while now. “Didn’t think I’d find you here.” words spoken absentmindedly as his left hand began to twitch slightly; a side-effect of his ongoing pursuit for immortality. 

                            “Just waiting on them to try and leave town, then the barrier spell will begin and panic will set in.” it was as simple as that, though the spell had taken some reworking due to their unusual nature, something that the necromancers magic seemed to be thriving off of. “Now I’m working on what Lyra gave me ---- its taking longer than expected.”

Maddox: I'm helping as we speak, I'm just not allowed near you while you're, you know, more likely to kill me.

                    “Apparently you need to be groped to feel at home, so you’re doing a pretty good job at that so far. Tully ---- I’m Maddox.” a simple gesture of welcome as he extended his hand towards the female, something he never did or would ever do again for that matter. “Me? That’s simple; I’m the town freak, which we could blame on the tattoos but unfortunately those labels you get as a kid really stick with you.”

                     “They could have been a mistake --- no, there’s too much involved in creating them for it to simply be a mistake and too much power. Whoever did this knew what they were doing.” the warlock’s words trailed off momentarily as his gaze drifted beyond what was in the room, to a place that only his eyes could see, a place where his magic allowed his thoughts to wander over endless possibilities; a place he still hadn’t explored to its full potential. Remi’s touch upon his usually untouched cheek brought Maddox back into the conversation, back to Remi and her wicked ways which perhaps could be called supportive if either of them were inclined to think that way. “I’m this close, Remi --- they can’t find out.” of course she knew whom he spoke of, he wasn’t an idiot and neither was she; there were threats to this plan of theirs, regardless of their arrogant nature, they knew those who would oppose. “Hangry, huh? You know, sometimes, just sometimes, you’re almost adorable.”

                 “If I didn’t have to be, I wouldn’t and believe me, I dislike it just as much as you do. Yeah, let’s call it sugar for now. Now, have you seen him or not?”

                      “Good point.” Maddox pointed out while his bushy brows knotted together as though he hadn’t even considered that absurd possibility until she had hastily spoken those words. “I could argue that everything is stupid and made up until someone decided to make a class and hand out degrees but maybe its a bit too early in the conversation for that. Only the idiots, well, and the drunks and the douche-bags --- feel welcomed yet?” 

                    “I know you’d take an interest, your personality suggests that much, just what route you’d take if I didn’t need them is interesting to me I suppose. Think they were created in retaliation to your family and the wolves?” he asked while his mind wandered to the endless possibilities of why such creatures were created and then just left to be, left to run from people like Remi and himself who of course could use them for their own gain. Agendas were funny things and while Maddox certainly had his own, he wouldn’t create such creatures only to leave them to their own devices. Her words, though true, did little to comfort him in the way they intended -- no, he didn’t perceive himself as weak, he never had, but Maddox had his limitations of course and death was without limitations and yet he could not access that sort of power; not yet anyway but he would. “More than skilled --- if that sort of thing bothered me, it’d be top of my list.” Maddox almost laughed at how impossibly perfect Remi was at acquiring what he needed and it was moments like these that he counted himself lucky she had taken a liking to him all those months ago. “They’ll have their uses but no ---- a necromancer, vampire hybrid would be an endless pit of possibilities. Oh, replacing me already, huh?” it was after his words now that he allowed himself to smirk as that familiar glean sparked in his gaze while he shook his head at her question. “Haven’t seen her or him actually. How many games have you got in that head of yours right now?”