The Void is my Business

The last thing the pinkette remembered was reading a book in the university library, and then passing out, and walking up on a cold dark surface. How did he get here? And most importantly, what was 'here?'

"H- Hello...?" He'd eventually speak up with a light irish accent. "Is- Is anyone... There?" He added on hesitantly, hearing his voice carry out into the voice.

-KryptidRP

Someone in his dwelling. That space nestled in the darkest of places with naught but shadows to greet them. He didn’t use it often outside of his homes that he bounced between as time cycled by. But this place was wholly his own. Not many got here without Some intervention either unholy or magic in nature.

But this boy didn’t belong here. Barnaby had no appointments right now and so this was highly irregular and perhaps even rude.

Eyes formed on the vast walls, following the young man has he walked. They examined every detail of him from head to toe. Small. Pitiful. The world stretched and pulled a room into existence, bringing forth a small office where Barnaby sat calm behind a desk. The room smelled of expensive cigars and cologne, a faded light reminiscent of twilight came through the blinds to shine on the owner of this world. Barnaby was shrouded in his darkness, a single eye staring down the young man before him.

Hearing his name announced by the large man immediately brought Julian’s attention back up to him, comedically after being addressed as a ‘bookworm’ Julian shyly averted his gaze for a moment and fixes his glasses. ‘So he is a Daemon…’ Julian thought to himself, he didn’t need a mirror to know that his face had gone pale, and he was fighting every single nerve in his body to not run. Not like he’d get far anyway.

          As Barnaby repeated the same phrase as before, Julian took another step back, as if the words themself were coming at him. He stared up at the large man, eyeing his jarring teeth and eye. The only real features he could see on the man aside from a suit? Maybe? Honestly Julian was a little fascinated by Barnaby’s appearance, he wasn’t like any other daemon they’d met before. I mean he hadn’t tried mauling him. Yet.

“W- what do I w- want…” Julian repeated, taking a deep breath. Such a trivial question that at first Julian thought nothing of it, but now…

For a moment you could see something enter Julian’s mind, but just as quickly as it surfaced it was pushed away as he shook his head.

“N- no, no.” He mumbles to himself at first. “I- I don’t- want anything, I- I just- I just want to go. Away.” Julian adds, his arms picking up to hold himself again, only to stop and straighten at his sides. He didn’t want to make himself seem any more vulnerable than he already was.

A low hum escaped the entity as he thought. Looking Julian over, it was clear he knew almost exactly what he was dealing with. At least Barnaby thought so.

He leaned back in his seat, drawing a pained creak from the wood of it. It wouldn’t give out. Hasn’t in decades now. Barnaby kept his gaze on the small lad, thinking on what best to do. It was new having someone show up who wasn’t demanding anything. The opposite in fact.

“There’s nothin’ in this big wide world ya want, huh? Maybe a little bulk on that twig of a body. Maybe some guts so you’re not so skittish. Maybe someone of particular interest.” The entity couldn’t manipulate minds in any other way than fear so things like love weren’t on his doable list. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t at least lie about it. “I can send ya away, sure, but I doubt ya want to end up in the bay somewhere. Gotta be very specific, y’know? Can’t read minds here.”

The last thing the pinkette remembered was reading a book in the university library, and then passing out, and walking up on a cold dark surface. How did he get here? And most importantly, what was 'here?'

"H- Hello...?" He'd eventually speak up with a light irish accent. "Is- Is anyone... There?" He added on hesitantly, hearing his voice carry out into the voice.

-KryptidRP

Someone in his dwelling. That space nestled in the darkest of places with naught but shadows to greet them. He didn’t use it often outside of his homes that he bounced between as time cycled by. But this place was wholly his own. Not many got here without Some intervention either unholy or magic in nature.

But this boy didn’t belong here. Barnaby had no appointments right now and so this was highly irregular and perhaps even rude.

Eyes formed on the vast walls, following the young man has he walked. They examined every detail of him from head to toe. Small. Pitiful. The world stretched and pulled a room into existence, bringing forth a small office where Barnaby sat calm behind a desk. The room smelled of expensive cigars and cologne, a faded light reminiscent of twilight came through the blinds to shine on the owner of this world. Barnaby was shrouded in his darkness, a single eye staring down the young man before him.

Julian quickly stopped talking when the entity raised its voice, his entire mouth and throat went dry, and he could feel his nose beginning to burn up. Their movement made the boy take a step back, but only a step, still keeping his large eyes trained on the shadowy man. The empathic and people-pleaser side of him was very tempted to apologize for his stuttering. It was something he struggled with on a daily basis, but usually he was able to control it better around people he knew. In this instance however, he couldn’t even control his own body.           When the entity asked to address himself, he looked away for a split second, contemplating if he really should say anything personal to this- man. What if they were a daemon? Or some new kind of abyssal entity that was stirring trouble. He certainly fit the profile. Knowing he couldn’t stay quiet, Julian took a shaky inhale and opened his mouth once more. “I- I’m Julian. Julian R- Reeves.” He spoke slowly but with much more volume, obviously trying very hard to minimize his stuttering. A- a- and I just want t- to… to umm…” Julian pauses, recalling the man’s words. ‘you’re in my territory now and most don’t leave here unless I say so’. Julian swallows dryly, saying he wants to leave right after the man had stated he wouldn’t be going anywhere until he explained why he was here would be ignorant, He was stuck in his head with his mouth partially hung open, trying to find the right words to say while anxiously between the large man and the ground.

Barnaby simply listened, taking a small drag of his cigar before breathing out the tendrils of black smoke that blended with the rest of his form. He had no need to breathe any more but old habits died hard, honestly.

While this young man sparked the tiniest, most insignificant bit of pity in him, the entity held fast. Kids make mistakes, yes, but most children and teenagers didn’t quite end up in his own pocket dimension with no magic or power to their name. This case was to be judged on its own.

“Julian Reeves.” Barnaby echoed the name to himself as he began, having gotten tired of waiting for a proper answer of the how, “Well, mister Reeves, I’ll give you a little education since ya seem like the bookworm type.” Another drag and another small plume of black smoke that flowed between his fangs.

out of instinct, she pushed and clawed against him, though that’s quickly stopped with the warm blanketed feeling.  whimpering and refusing to make eye contact, the poor dear looked like she’s been alone a while.

in truth, she wanted to prove something by living by herself out on the streets.  what was she proving?  that she was strong enough.

too bad it didn’t work out.

Stepping inside his home, Barnaby carried the bundle of a child to the sofa before gently setting her down along with the blanket. His dark façade faded to his more human appearance, don’t want to scare the kid after all. Kneeling down so he could be at eye level with her, Barnaby tilted his head to the side.

The last thing the pinkette remembered was reading a book in the university library, and then passing out, and walking up on a cold dark surface. How did he get here? And most importantly, what was 'here?'

"H- Hello...?" He'd eventually speak up with a light irish accent. "Is- Is anyone... There?" He added on hesitantly, hearing his voice carry out into the voice.

-KryptidRP

Someone in his dwelling. That space nestled in the darkest of places with naught but shadows to greet them. He didn't use it often outside of his homes that he bounced between as time cycled by. But this place was wholly his own. Not many got here without Some intervention either unholy or magic in nature.

But this boy didn't belong here. Barnaby had no appointments right now and so this was highly irregular and perhaps even rude.

Eyes formed on the vast walls, following the young man has he walked. They examined every detail of him from head to toe. Small. Pitiful. The world stretched and pulled a room into existence, bringing forth a small office where Barnaby sat calm behind a desk. The room smelled of expensive cigars and cologne, a faded light reminiscent of twilight came through the blinds to shine on the owner of this world. Barnaby was shrouded in his darkness, a single eye staring down the young man before him.

Who knew the ever expanding darkness of the void could be so empty? A rhetorical thought of course as Julian held himself, both out of comfort and the rather cold atmosphere. He paused in his tracks though when he felt the all too familiar feeling of being watched. He looked into the black expanse, failing to spot the prying gaze of the eldritch entity watching from with in the darkness itself.

Just when he was about to contiune onward however, the boy barely had enough time to react as the world around him abruptly shifted. With in the blink of an eye he was no longer in the empty abyss but an- office? He looked around, curious but still very obviously disoriented and confused.

It wasn't until his eyes settled on the large looming entity sitting at the center of the room did his bright blue eyes widened with fear as his body went completely frozen.

He didn't say anything until he'd registered that it had asked him a question, to which the young man shakely responded.

"I- I don-.. I don't know." He said, eyes glued to the entity's singular eye glaring down at him. "I- I don't know- know how I- I got he- here..." Julian stutters, unable to keep himself from doing so.

“Hmm…” A deep hum came from the entity before his lips pulled back in a growl, a heavy fist hitting the table as he leaned forward. “Stop cowerin’ and speak straight! I don’t have the patience for cowards. ‘Specially intrudin’ ones.”

There were technically many ways one could appear here. Some did so by one’s magic alone, others could use ritual circles to summon Barnaby to them, and others could use such circles and summoning spells to teleport themselves here. No matter the case, Barnaby was a man of most formalities so a heads up was preferred.