Pact Bound Arthur

He didn’t know if it was magic or just the crazy weather this year, but the freezing rain was NOT winter fun. Arthur felt cold to his bones and even worse around his prosthetic port.

That kind of makes sense. If he’s some kind of creature, he must’ve seen ghosts in his life.

“Oooooo!” The random man was intrigued.

“You sure it wasn’t some reflective surface getting hit by a light source?” Joan’s date asked.

“Very. This wasn’t some amorphous light or anything that looked even remotely like me. This was something very clear and crisp, and also not not a living human.” Arthur said with absolute surety. “And also something I very much hope to never see again.”

He didn’t know if it was magic or just the crazy weather this year, but the freezing rain was NOT winter fun. Arthur felt cold to his bones and even worse around his prosthetic port.

That kind of makes sense. If he’s some kind of creature, he must’ve seen ghosts in his life.

“Oooooo!” The random man was intrigued.

“You sure it wasn’t some reflective surface getting hit by a light source?” Joan’s date asked.

“Very. This wasn’t some amorphous light or anything that looked even remotely like me. This was something very clear and crisp, and also not not a living human.” Arthur said with absolute surety. “And also something I very much hope to never see again.”

He didn’t know if it was magic or just the crazy weather this year, but the freezing rain was NOT winter fun. Arthur felt cold to his bones and even worse around his prosthetic port.

“For her.” Alice thumbed at Joan. “The others have the house nearby. I still gotta take her home.” She suddenly gave Arthur a more venomous stare. “You do anything to her, and I’ll make you wish you could die.” Not only would she lose the only friend she’s got, but if this guy is anything paranormal, Alice might wind up taking the fall for whatever happens to Joan. Either from the police or her parents.

What the Eff?? “Pretty sure dying is something I’m perfectly capable of doing.” Arthur said, not sure how to process that statement at all. “In fact, it’s what I’m trying to avoid doing right now, via freezing.”

He’d begun to think Al wasn’t as close to this group, but that statement pretty much proved otherwise.

“You’ll have to excuse her.” Joan explained after she gulped down her drink. “She has paranoia schizophrenia, or something.”

“Excuse me?!” Alice date looked at Joan in fear. “Why didn’t you tell me before?!”

“Because I knew you’d react that way! Look, she just believes that she sees ghosts and shit!…And she has trust issues with strangers.”

“Annnd how bad are these trust issues?” He gave Alice some distance. Well, that’s one way to get him to leave her alone.

Joan laughed, “Aww don’t puss out! She’s all bark and no bite!”

Alice pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. She gave up on denying Joan’s claim; it was pointless. But she can at least say this: “For fuck’s sake, it’s not like I hear voices that order me to kill the youth or some shit! From what I know, people diagnosed with some form of schizophrenia experience violence from other people more than they inflict violence on others. And it’s because of ignorant assholes like you not listening to your Psychology 101 classes or doing some fucking research! And shitty asylums!”

“Wait, how are you sure that she can’t just be sensitive?” The other woman asked.

He didn’t know if Alice had a mental illness, the Sight, or just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. But he knew absolutely no one deserved the throwing under the bus she’d just gotten.

“He was in a cave I was exploring. He kept glaring at me with these hollow eyes. They were empty, except for glowing irises. I just got the feeling that he absolutely hated me.” It had been part of the trial, Arthur was sure. But seeing Lewis looking at him like that was just unnatural. It had made him think of Pet Semetary, and other horror movies where people came back from the dead wrong and he’d had a severe moment of doubt. But he’d pushed through it, and in the end his fears had been unfounded. Lewis was the same as he ever was.

“I can understand that. I wouldn’t want anyone to give up their life for me.” Arthur admitted. “But here’s the thing. I’m selfish. I don’t want to give up anyone once I’ve found them. Loosing people if there’s anything at all I can do to prevent it is just…I can’t.”

“I’m a big ol’ hypocrite, but yeah, I wouldn’t want anyone trading their life for me, but I’d trade mine in an instant to protect any of my friends, and that includes you.”

“I can understand that. I wouldn’t want anyone to give up their life for me.” Arthur admitted. “But here’s the thing. I’m selfish. I don’t want to give up anyone once I’ve found them. Loosing people if there’s anything at all I can do to prevent it is just…I can’t.”

“I’m a big ol’ hypocrite, but yeah, I wouldn’t want anyone trading their life for me, but I’d trade mine in an instant to protect any of my friends, and that includes you.”

He didn’t know if it was magic or just the crazy weather this year, but the freezing rain was NOT winter fun. Arthur felt cold to his bones and even worse around his prosthetic port.

“For her.” Alice thumbed at Joan. “The others have the house nearby. I still gotta take her home.” She suddenly gave Arthur a more venomous stare. “You do anything to her, and I’ll make you wish you could die.” Not only would she lose the only friend she’s got, but if this guy is anything paranormal, Alice might wind up taking the fall for whatever happens to Joan. Either from the police or her parents.

What the Eff?? “Pretty sure dying is something I’m perfectly capable of doing.” Arthur said, not sure how to process that statement at all. “In fact, it’s what I’m trying to avoid doing right now, via freezing.”

He’d begun to think Al wasn’t as close to this group, but that statement pretty much proved otherwise.

“I think it sounds like fun. And I think you can see the Aurora from parts of Japan, so maybe it could be a two birds with one stone trip.” Arthur pointed out. “I’d love to see where you grew up. There doesn’t need to be science museums trips, we have those here. The would be about seeing all the memories that shaped you, and what they’ve grown into. And that’s all it needs to be.”

He glanced at her out of the side of his eye. If she thought what she said was sappy, this would take the cake.

“Vi, you’re really important to us, and getting to know you better through knowing Japan? I don’t think Lewis or I could think of a better use of our time. We don’t need special outings for our interests, because what could be more interesting than you?”

Ack, that can be taken the wrong way. Divert! Divert!

“And Lewis doesn’t have any childhood memories of his own, you know? So sharing yours with him…it would be really special. Giving a piece of yourself to him to help fill that gap.”

Despite the increasing bite of the air now that the sun had mostly set, Vivi’s face was warm and rosy. Anyone else would have sounded overwrought and corny but– Arthur said it all with such sincerity that it made her heart trip over itself.

“Geez–!” she laughed– maybe a little breathlessly, who’s to say? “Are you King Arthur, or Prince Charming?” She just about could have pulled him down for a very ill-advised kiss right then and there, but she restrained herself– there’d be a time and place for that in the future and now, out of nowhere, wasn’t it.

“I think we’ve been doing that from the day we met him, already,” she said, leaning on his arm. “But I really do want to share that with the two of you. And hey–” she shook him slightly, playfully, hoping to dispel some of her own fluster by being goofy. “What if I wanna take you guys to see things you’re interested, huh? It’s too late, I’m already scheming on it and you can’t stop me!”

{ Send “En garde!” to challenge my character into a playful swordfight }

“You caught me at a good time, Arthur.” Vivi finished her daily derby training but couldn’t get rid of the extra adrenaline pumping through her body. She had the idea of going on a quick jog around town but Arthur’s sudden proposal sounded more fun. Plus, it give her a glimpse at the mechanic’s own sword skills. 

With a snap of her fingers, a icy mist encapsulated her hand extended upwards. It formed into the shape of her metal bat, then dissipated all at once. There in her hand was her signature bat decorated with spell tags. “I have a bit more steam I’d like to blow off before heading home. Don’t worry though, I won’t go full throttle on you.”

This sword, while roughly the same length and weight, had blunted edges that wouldn’t leave more than bruises if he connected. And honestly he wasn’t all that sure he would. Vivi was very good in a fight.

“I have a feeling my full throttle is more like your quarter throttle anyways.” Arthur joked. “Unless we Danny Kaye-Vincent Price this. But I want to get better and the only way is to practice against someone that’s good.”

He didn’t know if it was magic or just the crazy weather this year, but the freezing rain was NOT winter fun. Arthur felt cold to his bones and even worse around his prosthetic port.

“Most of us are.” Alice’s date mumbled quietly to himself.

“Oh! And…” Joan’s date pulls away, giving her a “one moment” gesture. He goes over to a secret compartment and pulls out some packs of beer. “We’ve got drinks!”

Everyone except Alice hooted in excitement. The red-head just closed her eyes in dread and frustration.

Joan’s date cracked open one beer for each person. The random woman offered one to Alice.

“I don’t drink. It tastes like shit to me.” Alice said.

And that wasn’t an option, not between leaving his friends and Uncle Lance and his other job.

“Uncle Lance would make me fix the trunk by myself, Lewis would give me the ‘I’m not mad, ,just disappointed’ face, and Vivi.” Arthur shuddered. “Nope, not going there.”

He wasn’t sure what Lady Bronwyn would say, or if she’d even care, but he had a feeling she wouldn’t approve.

“Though, you could contact an Uber. Or your pals.” The man kept the extra for himself.

Joan snickered, “I guess you and Al can be Sober Buddies!”

“Hey! You NEED me sober, remember?” Alice said.

Joan finished her swig, “Well duuuh, I’m just making a joke!”

“Hey! Chant the chug!” Alice’s date shouted.

“Are you the designated driver?” He asked ‘Al’. It was good to know the group had one. Common sense though it may have been, too many groups didn’t.

He didn’t know if it was magic or just the crazy weather this year, but the freezing rain was NOT winter fun. Arthur felt cold to his bones and even worse around his prosthetic port.

“Most of us are.” Alice’s date mumbled quietly to himself.

“Oh! And…” Joan’s date pulls away, giving her a “one moment” gesture. He goes over to a secret compartment and pulls out some packs of beer. “We’ve got drinks!”

Everyone except Alice hooted in excitement. The red-head just closed her eyes in dread and frustration.

Joan’s date cracked open one beer for each person. The random woman offered one to Alice.

“I don’t drink. It tastes like shit to me.” Alice said.

And that wasn’t an option, not between leaving his friends and Uncle Lance and his other job.

“Uncle Lance would make me fix the trunk by myself, Lewis would give me the ‘I’m not mad, ,just disappointed’ face, and Vivi.” Arthur shuddered. “Nope, not going there.”

He wasn’t sure what Lady Bronwyn would say, or if she’d even care, but he had a feeling she wouldn’t approve.