Those Who are Dead are not Dead (Catch All)

[redlightgreenlight]

Characters: Valdis and OPEN
Date: Month of October 2015 (2016 in game)
Location: Various
Situation: Various
Warnings/Rating: Various


The departure of the Chihuelans could be called a relief, the tension seemed gone from the city and the Kedan seemed more accepting than ever of the Foreigners. Though her teaching hadn't been utilized, she was certain that they hadn't seen the last of the Chihuelans and that the Justicar and her forces would be back someday, but for now she was thankful for the rest. Now they could focus on the other problems plaguing Keeliai, such as the cultists and the sinking of Tu Vishan.

Comments

Bakura | Early October | The Dojo | CW: ?

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis had admittedly not had time to consider the disturbance she had felt around Bakura's soul while the Chihuelans had been here. But now that they had departed, she had begun to consider possible ways to figure out what was truly going on. Her thoughts kept circling back to the Shadow Realm. She didn't know anything about the place, only that both Bakura and Solomon could use it and that it affected the soul. She also suspected that it was tied to the Ring in some way, the darkness that she vaguely remembered was similar to what she had felt from the Ring.

Somehow she didn't think that Bakura would take kindly to the fact that she was checking up on him. He didn't seem to believe that people had reason to be concerned about him, or perhaps he simply took it as an insult, she didn't care to speculate on it. The last of the patrons had left the Dojo when Valdis headed back toward Bakura's office, knocking gently on the door and waiting for him to decide whether or not he felt like talking.

((After the sleep thread with Raine, for my own timekeeping))

[denyamenti]

Bakura's looking better this afternoon, less like he's ready to drop from exhaustion and more like he just needs a sane amount of coffee. The static buzz in his aura has calmed too, although it's still visible for those who know to look for it.

He glanced up when Valdis knocked on the office door, pausing over what looks like a hand drawn map of the city, and an open piece of paper creased with folds next to it. "Hm?"

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis slowly pushed open the door, her eyes moving over the papers on his desk. She was tempted to ask what he was doing, but she hadn't come to pry into his work, only the nature of the Ring and the Shadow Realm.

"Do you have some time to talk?" She asked, moving into the room but remaining near the door.

[denyamenti]

Bakura creased the top of the folded paper down, considering Valdis, then gestured wordlessly to the chair opposite his side of the desk, though the whole office was small enough that the setup hardly felt formal. "About?"

[redlightgreenlight]

They might have been getting along lately, but that didn't make Valdis any less wary when it came to Bakura.

"The Shadow Realm," she said, crossing the short distance to the chair and sitting down, watching him carefully for any reaction to the subject.

[denyamenti]

A half-beat pause, but little changes in his posture, indicating he's not standoffish to the idea-- at least until he knows a little more about her aim.

"That's a broad topic," he replied. "Anything in particular?"

[redlightgreenlight]

"I told Anton and Wan that I didn't remember anything about what happened in the Shadow Realm, but there are certain things you never forget."

She shifted, leaning one elbow against the armrest of the chair and crossing her legs.

"And I didn't think of it until recently, but the feeling of the Shadow Realm and the feeling of the Ring are similar. Are they connected somehow?"

[denyamenti]

"Those are some important people for you to lie to," Bakura observed neutrally. "Considering how highly you value their opinions."

There's a more deliberate non-reaction this time, still trying to vague her intentions here. "The Items can work like gateways to the Shadow Realm," he replied. "Because shadow alchemy was what created them; dark magic and sacrifice."

[redlightgreenlight]

"That is true," she inclined her head, "But they didn't need to know."

Especially not Wan, it would only have hurt him more.

Bakura was unusually still, but she was relieved that he seemed willing to answer her question despite whatever thoughts were going through his head. The idea that the Ring was like a gateway to another plane was concerning, but not as concerning as the other part.

"Sacrifice?"

Raine | Early October (After Bakura thread) | CW: None

[redlightgreenlight]

Her talk with Bakura had been enlightening in a disturbing way, and not just because of Zorc. She was lucky that both Zorc and the Void had been sleeping while she was in possession of the Ring, but that didn't mean that the two dark entities didn't know of each other. Bakura had, after all, dropped them in the Shadow Realm, as had Solomon Wreath.

Of a less concerning, but equally disturbing, nature was the truth about Bakura's past. Raine was closer to Bakura than anyone, and though Valdis didn't want to assume that she knew and wouldn't, she felt that talking to Raine was the logical next step, especially because Bakura valued Raine's opinion far more than he would ever value hers.

She had left a message for the healer at the Guild with one of the woman's helpers. It had simply said, Meet me in the Sky Sector gardens, we need to talk.

[ruinsprofessor]

Raine did not take the note in the best way, choosing to frown down at it for the better part of a minute before sighing, and nodding, and thanking the healer who had passed it on.

It really wasn't worth making a point of, though. As high-handed as the gesture was, Raine also recognized that Valdis did not seek her out for purely social reasons. Therefore, Valdis must necessarily have something important to discuss, and, based on their previous interactions, it likely had to do with magic, whether it be light or darkness.

Thus Raine put in an appearance in the aforementioned gardens at the specified time, politely blankfaced, staff in one hand and jacket folded over her other arm. "Valdis?"

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis was sitting cross-legged on the ground, hands resting on her knees with the palms facing up and her eyes closed as she focused inward. The Void twisted and turned in the shadows, staying well out of sight, almost hesitant to come near where she waited. Perhaps it was afraid, that was good, but she needed to speak with it. Part of her was afraid to offer it any in, to call out to it or reach for it in any way not related to using it's power. It was a dangerous creature, one that she had recently begun to see more as a parasite than an actual part of her being.

Raine's approach did not go unnoticed, but it wasn't until the woman said her name that she withdrew from her inner consciousness and opened her eyes.

"Bakura told me about what happened to him," She said quietly, not looking up at the healer.

[ruinsprofessor]

That rang a great deal of alarm bells. Raine stilled, all extraneous movement ceasing abruptly, and her eyes narrowed a little.

There were many things Valdis could be referring to, it was true. However, the weight she put on those few words struck Raine as a little concerning.

"A lot of things have happened to Bakura," Raine said finally, carefully neutral. "What specifically are you referring to?"

[redlightgreenlight]

Despite the fact that she hadn't seen the light mage in awhile, the woman hadn't changed one bit. Raine was still wary of her, but in a cold manner, so the name she had given the woman so long ago still stuck quite well.

She inclined her head in agreement of Raine's observation, Bakura had been through quite a bit, "His deal with Zorc and the reasons for it."

Bakura's last words led her to believe that Raine knew of Zorc at the very least, so she was giving nothing away.

[ruinsprofessor]

At the least, Valdis spoke as though she knew that Raine knew what she was speaking of; breaking Bakura's confidence would have raised a whole new host of problems. Raine sighed at the name, and sat on one of the other benches, setting down her jacket and staff. "I can only assume you wished to speak to me about something related," Raine said. The temptation was to let herself relax, let the worry show through, but Raine knew neither Valdis' motives nor what she wanted, and so she kept herself still and cool. In a moment she turned one hand over, palm-up, inviting Valdis to elaborate.

[redlightgreenlight]

Raine didn't seem surprised by the name, so Valdis knew that she had been correct in her assumption.

"I am concerned," she said as she uncrossed her legs and finally lifted her eyes to look at Raine. "Though both entities were silent during the time I was in possession of the Ring, now that I know the nature of Bakura's bond with the demon, I worry that Zorc and the Void might be aware of each other."

[ruinsprofessor]

Ah. That was... troubling, to put it lightly. Raine recalled that the Void, though she knew little of it beyond its parasitic nature, definitely had something of sentience, to judge by how it had acted when the group of them were trying to save Valdis from it.

"Start from the beginning, then," Raine directed her. The worry was impossible to hide completely now, showed in the way she pressed her mouth into a thin line, laced her fingers together in her lap. "What makes you think they are, and what are the likely repercussions for you regarding the Void?"

Vergil | Early October | Sky Sector | CW: None

[redlightgreenlight]

She hadn't seen Vergil since he had come to her about finding a violin, she hadn't known how to find one then, but she had since acquired a beautiful one, made especially for him at her request. It hadn't been cheap to commission, but she hoped that it would bring him some of the joy that he so greatly needed.

"Vergil?" She said as she knocked on his door.

[walkthedarkpath]

Vergil was actually home, not at either of his jobs. He opened the door, a nice smell close to sage and vanilla came out. Calming smells, he had candles burning, he preferred candle light, always had. His hair was down and he was dressed simply. He looked surprised to see her but he stepped aside.

"Good evening Valdis." His home didn't feel as empty as it had before, books laid all about, Dante's sword mounted to the wall with Nelo ANgelo's across it. Deadly weapons as decorations. ANd Sansa's commissioned coat hanging by the door. "I was not expecting company, do forgive the mess." He means his books everywhere.

[redlightgreenlight]

He seemed better than he had the last time she had seen him, and by the looks of his home, he was settling in.

"It's fine," she said as she entered. After a brief glance over at Dante's sword, she turned to look at Vergil, "I have something for you." She held out the black case that protected the fine violin.

[walkthedarkpath]

Being around Jackie and Michaelangelo had done wonders for him, something he had never really bothered with in his younger years was allowing himself to be close to anyone. The other two were just wonderful for him. They helped build him back up even without knowing it.

"You do?" His tone almost as if he doesn't believe her and yet, he closed the door for her then saw the case. "...how did you manage it?" He knows whats in that case, its easy enough to tell, as he took it from her hands. This was one of the few times, he wold ever be seen without gloves, His hands are more frail than Dante's his fingers just a little longer. Identical they may be, but there were tiny differences, like the way Vergil can't hold weight like Dante can.

[redlightgreenlight]

She had never compared Vergil to Dante, the two of them might have appeared similar on the surface, but to her eyes, there were far more differences than similarities. She released the case as he took it, "I had it commissioned," She replied, "It sounds fairly nice considering the artist had never made one before."

[walkthedarkpath]

Maybe that was part of why Vergil didn't hate her, like he normally might one who had been so close to his twin. No expectations.

"It must have cost a great deal." He spoke looking back concerned as he said it. He had an issue with being in debted to people, but this was not something he could refuse. It was a connection to his past he wanted. Opening the case he gave one of those rare brilliant smiles at the beauty of the instrument. He could almost remember the sound of Dante laughing when he had first played as a boy and utterly botched it. They had been so young, and the bad times had not come.

"Thank you." He spoke a touch softer. "It is beautiful." Lifting it out he looked over both the violin and the bow. Looking to see if there was resin for the bow.

[redlightgreenlight]

"I think it was worth it," she replied, smiling as he smiled. It lit up his whole face and for a moment, she was reminded of Dante. He would have been ecstatic that Vergil had smiled. She knew the man well enough by now that she knew to draw a smile from him was rare. She knew enough about violins that she knew he needed resin, and luckily she had been able to acquire some and she now held it out to him.

"Here."

[walkthedarkpath]

He actually looked to her with that calm smile. "Thank you, Valdis." He motioned for her to sit down once he took the resin from her, and worked it across the bow like it was second nature. Only after he was satisfied did he lift the violin. checking the strings very quickly.

He would wait until she was sitting before he would start playing for her. Years without playing and he had not lost his touch. Even when he knew nothing, trapped inside Nelo Angelo the sound of the insterment played by others in Mundus' court had found him peace. It was what he needed.