HOME FIRES MISTS LIFEBLOOD SPOKES
It starts off simply enough...ensuring Shade and non-infiltration. Then, all hell breaks loose.
melody - Monday, March 22, 1999, 11:25 AM ----------------------------------------- Melody knocks on '2 Underhill <2U>.' A man shouts from somewhere nearby, "Come in." You head up the hill, and enter the home. Brick House - Main Room As solid as the exterior, this room is full of enduring furnishings. Oak buttresses a high ceiling, the dark gleam of the wood a striking contrast to the pale cream of the uppermost surface. More of the same decorates the walls, door frames of a deep, rich cherry and pine. The whole house seems to be furnished in a similar fashion, hardwood floors all richly appointed. Here, in the living room, a soft rug is carefully arrayed in front of a fireplace, the rug's soft tan weave matching the floor's pine. The fireplace itself is of grey stone and brick, roughly hewn in artistic similarity to the wood that adorns much of the home. Along one wall is a bookcase, chock full of books, most of which are linguistic works. Over on the left, a dim archway leads into another room, seemingly the bedroom, while on the right, another leads into a hallway. Contents: Gregory Obvious exits: OutStairs Gregory is sitting on the couch, paging through a book; as you walk in, a smile curves his lips, and he inclines his head, politely, "Hello there." You say, "Hey. I just thought I'd drop by." Gregory nods; he smiles, "That's nice." He motions to a seat, "Please, sit...how've you been?" You say, "Oh, all right. My student didn't pan out, unfortunately." Gregory nods; he offers a smile, "That's too bad. I was going to speak to you actually on that. Or rather, your mentor. You ... implied you had one, was curious." You say, "Well, she's in England. What do you want to know?" Gregory shrugs, lightly; he grins, motioning to the couch, "Sit...well firstly, what was she like?" Melody chuckles, as she has a seat. "Well, like I told you once, she had a Godform scar that kept her out of the Shade. I told you that once." Gregory's brow rises, and he nods. "Indeed." He motions with a hand, and smiles, "What else? Tell me more?" You say, "I basically wandered into her house, looking for advice, newly Awake and scared." Gregory smiles, "Oh? That's interesting. What happened then?" As he speaks, he leans back, his vibrant gaze appraising." Melody laughs. "She looked at me, realized what was going on, and dragged me inside and straight into Circle! All I knew was I'd found help." Gregory chuckles; he tilts an eyebrow, and grins, "Circle? You mean the typical coven? Thirteen?" As he speaks, he chuckles, "What happened in Circle? What was it like?" Melody shakes her head. "No, this was one-on-one. And I'm sorry, Gregory, but what happens within Circle is oathbound. I can tell you she midwifed me the rest of the way Awake." More truth. Gregory considers, and smiles. "Mmm. I know most of the ... concepts already." He shrugs, slowly, "How'd you change, due to your Awakening?" You say, "A lot fell into place, for me. WHY people would devote their lives to their gods. I never really understood, before." Gregory smiles slightly; he nods, and considers, "Gods, hmm? Which do you worship, if I may be so bold?" You say, "Worship? My gods don't demand worship, or sacrifice. What they demand is attention and careful living, which is a little different." Gregory smiles, nodding. "Mmm. I see. Similar to me. Who are they?" He sounds curious, as he leans back, crossing his arms. Melody names several from different pantheons, including Hathor and Aset.. Isis in her true pronunciation. Gregory would argue with the 'true pronunciation' part. But he won't right now. He simply nods, slowly. "I see. Interesting. All of those?" You say, "Depends on who's most likely to hear and understand. But that's my personal beliefs. My magick doesn't use that so much." Gregory mms; he nods, "How does 'your' magick work then?" He goes onto this, quietly, as he appraises you. Melody draws her knife and slices her finger. She holds it up, red. "Go back to the source." Gregory tilts a brow, "Blood is the source, hmm?" He nods, considering, "Your blood then?" You say, "No one else's is mine to give." "Good." Gregory leans back, "How would you work with others? Would you get along with them?" You say, "I get along fine with most Traditions, and with Orphans who can handle the idea of using blood. I don't care for Deathmages, but as long as they don't kill around me..." Gregory nods, "Mmm. All right." As he speaks, he smiles, "What are your views on ascension?" You say, "As far as? That's a pretty broad topic." Gregory chuckles, "How do you view it? What is your ... 'idea' of it, how would the world be different?" Melody leans back. "This may sound trite..but I hadn't thought about group ascension so much since I left the coven. I owe it to myself and the world to be the best I can." Gregory nods, "ALl right." He considers, "Tell me about your mentor? What was she like?" Melody grins. "Lady Amathera.." she says in a very proper British accent, "would probably adore you. Your decor fits her ideas of right and proper. She believed that appearances were everything, and we were to keep our hair up until we got into the woods. Once there, however, there ere no barriers while we celebrated." "Mmm...would I? Lady Amathera, hmm? Is that her real name? A lady in England?" Gregory smiles. You say, "That's her use-name. If you need to get in touch with her to check references..." Gregory nods, "I'd appreciate that, yes..." Melody takes a pad ot of her back pocket and looks around for a pen. Gregory tugs one out of his pocket, and hands it over to you, "Here you go, madame." He offers a smile. Melody writes down the contact information. "Go through Silvergate. He likes being the gatekeeper, I swear. Keeps him on his toes." Gregory tilts a brow, and nods, "I'll be sure to do that." He looks over the piece of paper, and stores it away." You say, "I'll let them know to expect the check." Gregory nods, "Mmm. All right." He grins, wry, and smiles. "I'll take care of this." You say, "Kinda thought you would. I'm kind of surprised it took you so long to ask." Gregory chuckles, "I like to watch people. THere've been problems here. Caution is best." You say, "It's not a problem. Tracy's been very kind." Gregory nods; he smiles, "I'm sure he has." He considers, and appraises you, "I'll have to get this done. Any questions for /me/?" Melody considers. "Not yet. I' the stranger here, it's yours to make the first move." Gregory chuckles; he nods, "I'll make it as soon as possible." You say, "Well, I guess it's fair to ask what your mentor was like in turn, huh?" Gregory chuckles, "Mine? She was a scholar. Linguist. I had written a few papers in the university and a few linguistic journals. And then odd things started happening on campus. Book burnings, other things. She was kind of testing me, see how I did." You say, "Book burnings??" Melody makes a face. Gregory nods, "Sometimes it's hard. She was seeing what I'd do. Most of them were 'odd' books, but even so. Anyway, I looked into it and stopped it. Then an odd book on egyptian occult popped into my bookbag. Just opened it, and there it was..." You say, "The magick aspect of it, or the religious?" Gregory chuckles, "You cannot unlink those. They're intertwined. The whole language is rich with the religious aspect, you know..." He trails off, "The concept of 'light' is derived directly from one of the words for Re." You say, "Well, doesn't it depend on the translaton?" Gregory shakes his head, "To an extent yes. But the -impression- is there. The entire culture is steeped in such." Melody nods. "Fair enough. So, the book appeared." Gregory nods, "Yup. I read it, and it sparked an interest of sorts. Started getting odd dreams. Y'know. Then, I started having odd impressions when I spoke certain ways, was really odd. Then my mater came and spoke to me, offering me 'instruction'. I didn't even realize what she was offering at first, really." You say, "So your Awakening was planned, then." Gregory chuckles, "To an extent, yes. That's how we work things. It's better to do it that way, then the transition is smoother, and the student does not have the ... problems that sometimes crop up, other ways." You say, "SUch as?" Gregory chuckles, "Well, there's the ones whose minds snap, going insane. Then there's the ones who go into Quiet at the moment of Awakening and never come out..." He trails off, "...then of course, there's the ones who seem fine, but never seem to be able to do more then sense things..." You say, "That's the risk we all run." Gregory shrugs; he nods, "Yes, but this method helps forestall that to an extent." You say, "I grant that. I just don't see how you can do it all the time. Sometimes things just happen." Gregory nods, "Oh, we don't do it all the time. There's some who are awakened other ways. That's just the way we try to do things when we can." Melody grins. "And yours fit the pattern." Gregory chuckles, "Well, yes. I was lucky I guess. My mater is very intelligent, and a strong woman. Most of my...group, within the Order are female. More than three quarters, really. So I suppose I'm lucky in that as well, I don't think I'd have fit in as a Tytali or Bonisagi." You say, "What's the difference?" Gregory mms; he considers, "Tytali are very into conflict. Bonisagi are researchers at heart, but they don't like interacting with people." Melody seems to be taking mental notes. "They sound very different. Gregory chuckles, "Everyone's very different." Melody makes a somewhat impatient gesture." Gregory shrugs, lightly; he offers a smile, and leans back. "That's how it happened, anyway. My mater took me through the ropes. It was... interesting." You say, "Were you aware of what was going to happen to you?" Ryan knocks on the door. Melody looks up at the knock. Gregory glances up; he's talking to Melody. "Hello, Ryan...Susie." Ryan says, "Hi, Greg. Sorry, didn;t realize you had company. I wanted to talk about that business venture we were starting." Gregory chuckles softly; he nods at Ryan, "Oh...? That's good. It's quite all right. Melody, you've met Ryan, correct...?" Melody nods. "A couple times, yes, including here." Susie glances around, nosey type she is Gregory nods, "Good. His friend there is Susie." He motions with a hand, and nods at the girl, "Susie, this is Melody." Ryan nods, waves. Susie says, "Hi." Ryan says, "Good friend and designer for the ISP we were starting up." Gregory chuckles, "Ohh...that's nice." He nods at Susie, and idly stretches. Susie says, "hi Greg." You say, "Nice to meet you, Susie." Ryan says, "I see now isn't a good time to talk turkey about the financials..." You say, "Hey, I can leave.." Gregory grins, "No..that's all right, Melody." He inclines his head at her with a grin. You say, "No, I'm serious." Ryan says, "Well, while we are hasing this out, Greg, do you happen to have any coffee?" if Susie had pointed ears, they'd be pricked no, someone mentioned coffee Gregory smiles at Melody, "If you want to, you're welcome to, but you do not have to." He chuckles, and asks, "Coffee?" He asks this to Ryan and Susie, and Melody as well. Ryan nods. "Yep. Please." Susie says, "Please." Melody stands slowly. Ryan says, "So... anyway. Melody, it is good to see you again. How are your studies?" Ryan goes to poor the coffee. You say, "Oh, they're fine. Not going as fast as I'd like, but then, I wanted them done six months ago." Ryan comes in with a tray full of coffee. Gregory nods at Ryan, idly offering Melody a smile as fingers rise to run through his hair. You say, "You know how it goes. Read another book.." Ryan starts handing out the coffee cups, playing host. Gregory nods at Melody with a wry grin, "I can certainly agree with you there." Gregory'd play host, but Ryan's taking care of it, so he doesn't, instead stretching in place. Ryan sits, once he has gotten the coffee distributed. You say, "Well, I'll let all of you talk over things. Like I said, money stuff makes my eyes glaze. Besides, I have to start drawing up my class notes for tomorrow." Susie folds her legs beneath her, sitting on the rub Ryan suddenly sets his mug down. "Whoa." Susie says, "What?" A blink, and a frown, as Gregory looks around, "What in heaven's name...?" He glances around slowly, peering quizzically about the room. Ryan sets his hand into his coat for a second, comes out with a small clip which he sets on his lapel. You say, "Ummm..something I said?" Gregory frowns slightly; he shakes his head at Melody, glancing around with a frown. "I take it you didn't sense anything..." You say, "Not a thing. Why? What's wrong?" Ryan says, "Shit." Melody's eyes flash to Susie. Ryan says, "Gregory? Problem." Susie shrugs, glancing between the two men Melody reaches for her necklaces, drawing a small knife out of her boot. Gregory blinks; a frown, and Gregory notes to Ryan, "Uh. Problem." As he speaks, he motions with a hand, "Time to go." Susie says, "Ummm?" Melody is already on her feet, but raises to her toes. "What's going on?" Ryan nods. "Susie? This could be bad.... Susie says, "What could be bad?" Gregory smirks, "Something important." As he speaks, he takes a deep breath, and glances to Ryan, "No. Really?" His tone is droll, and he comments, "We've got to go see." Ryan shakes his head. "Someone just... set off an alarm." Susie says, "Oh, right." Gregory shakes his head, "Not just alarm. The wards are gone. We got to /go/." You say, "Need backup, or...?" Melody blinks at Gregory's last words. "SHIT. The wards to *what?*" Ryan says, "Do me a favor? Please? Go to my home. If I don;t come back, dial 911. The phoen will take care of the rest." Susie sets her coffee down and gets to her feet, "Sure." Gregory begins to murmur in a soft voice; as he does, he calls out a single word in an odd tongue, and points into the empty air. Ryan smiles, and step out of the room into the kitchen, then out of the house. Ryan opens the door and steps outside. Susie opens the door and steps outside. Gregory opens the door and steps outside. Ryan says, "Melody? Do me a favor... When we get to where we are going, hang back. If something specatcaulr happens, tell Tracy." You say, "Will do." Melody follows Gregory and Ryan at some distance. Ryan smiles the Melody. "Wait here." Melody nods, stopping where she is. Gregory nods after a moment, and motions for Ryan to continue, glancing idly around the area. Ryan steps through the gap in the fence and into the small park. Over in the park, Ryan comes in through the hole in the fence and looks around. Melody watches the pair. Gregory steps through the gap in the fence and into the small park. Over in the park, Gregory comes in through the hole in the fence and looks around. Over in the park, Ryan sighs. "Shit. Over in the park, Ryan mumbles into his lapel. Alisandra wanders east. Melody watches warily, ready to bolt if necessary. Over in the park, Ryan affixes a bud mike in his ear, seems to be waiting fro something. Over in the park, Ryan looks around, reached into his coat, pulls out a gun, and proceeds to start looking a bit less noticeable. Over in the park, Ryan says, "Gregory..." Over in the park, Gregory comments, quietly, "I have the resonance." He mulls, slightly, and comments, "Can you see who did it?" As he speaks, he slips a hand through his hair, taking a deep breath. Over in the park, Ryan nods. "I'll see what I can do." Melody continues to watch. Over in the park, Ryan sighs. "Fuck it. Gregory, If I don;t come back, inform the Council." Over in the park, Ryan says, "Stay here." Over in the park, Ryan jumps into the distortion. Melody blinks, backing away another step or two from the fence. Over in the park, Ryan moves towards the monkey bars and then dissappears. Over in the park, Silence. The park is quiet in the evening. Melody glances over at Gregory, waiting.....for any kind of cue. Over in the park, Gregory motions Melody over towards him, sighing to himself. You step through the gap in the fence and into the park. You say, "What's going on, Gregory?" Gregory chuckles, "Long story. I'm not sure I can do anything." He mulls, glancing at the portal. Then speaks in an odd tongue, seemingly to air, ** Have you seen it before, Fire Brother? Do you recognize it? ** Gregory comments to Melody, "Come on." As he speaks, he heads out of the park. He returns a few moments later, holding a small box, and glances to the portal. Out of the box comes an ornate-looking ring, and a small rug. Gregory speaks to Melody, "Could you please try to keep people away?" As he speaks, he sets down the rug, and takes a deep breath, slipping the ring on his finger, and begins to chant in an odd tongue. ** As is the earth, as is the sun. As is Osiris, as is Re above. The corruption shall be cleansed, the power of Re shall cleanse. ** He chants softly again, as he lifts the ring to the sky, then lets it fall, taking a deep breath as he adds another name to the list, ** Darkness waits. May Nephthys, she of the dark portals, have mercy upon my soul. ** Gregory continues to chant, softly: it takes quite some time, as he holds it in place. Good thing it's nighttime, when no one is at the park. His voice is soft, as he continues to chant, his voice going on and on. ** The light did bind the chaos. Chaos and light. The dichtomies. Re above, and Osiris below, and the space between. ** Out on the street, Elliot walks down the street chatting to himself in a soft whisper. Out on the street, Alisandra looks at the park then moves slowly down the street, unsure she wants to stay. Out on the street, Alisandra goes to the east, carrying a map she has pulled from her jacket pocket. Gregory continues to chant softly, pausing as a surge of latent energy almost strikes, but he continues to chant, feeding energy slowly, infintesimally as he motions with a hand, speaking in that same odd language. Out on the street, Elliot looks up, watching Alisandra walk away. Comments softly to himself. "Strange." Out on the street, Elliot looks about the day. He broods silently. Melody keeps an eye on things quietly. Out on the street, Elliot steps through the gap in the fence and into the small park. Elliot comes in through the hole in the fence and looks around. By the monkeybars...the air seems to waver...something...something... Elliot walks over the hill, a faintly pensive expression on his face. "I'd thought I'd heard the voice of a fellow scholar of language." He seems on a razors edge, sooner observe then to break anything in progress. Over near the monkeybars, you might recognize someone, too. Gregory is there, holding up a ring, and murmuring under his breath. His features are darker, more vulpine than you recall, as he stands up straight. He ... doesn't even seem to notice Elliot. And continues to murmur softly. Melody stands between Elliot and Greg. "Stop." Elliot looks to Melody. "Well, if you wish I've no problems with that." He smiles ironically. "But Gregory's twisting of fate attracted my attention. What's up?" Melody makes a shushing gesture. "Sleeping ears." Gregory continues to chant: he might as well be in another world, as he motions with a hand towards ... nothing? His words are quiet, as if he's speaking to himself, and he stands up straight, again casting a gesture towards the air. Elliot nods. He lets his gaze settle on the monkey bars. Elliot looks to Melody. "I can help him." You say, "No. No interfering." Elliot pulls out a leatherbound book from his satchel. He opens it, and with a fountain pen begins making very spirally and kryptic symbols on the page. His mouth twitches. "Whatever" He says smoothly just before he breaks into his own form of chant. Melody's hand twitches. "I said, no interfering. In any way. I meant it." Gregory continues to chant, softly: his voice rises slightly, as if the ritual is growing more difficult. ** Thy will be done, and /my/ will be done. By the Lord Re above, and by Osiris below. The light shall shelter the darkness: the darkness but mere shadows, scattered by the Light. ** That odd tongue again, now audible again, as he remains staring at the portal. Elliot makes a holding symbol on his page. He looks to Melody. Shrugs. "Let whatever's coming through there have him then. You help him... if you can." He gives a thought. "You don't trust me." He says. Is it because I'm some stranger?" You say, "Just...stop. Now's not the time for this. Nor the place." Elliot shrugs. "Sure. No problem." Melody eyes Elliot warily, then says "If you don't stop now, I will hurt you. I mean it." Elliot looks on the monkey bars with some intent. "So much for manners then." Elliot says, "Can you feel that?" Gregory can: he doesn't speak though, his voice drones on quietly, softly uttering his words as he seems to reach out with his hand, an odd glimmer perhaps on his ring as he chants on, shaping slowly, it seems, unable to help-- caught up in the casting. Elliot spins on his heel and attempts to roll out of the way. Gregory sits in front of the bars, chanting. Elliot comes up behind him and starts to help...for a moment the chaos level in the portal falls.... and falls...far faster tahn Gregory was pulling off. But then, there is a flash of silver that Elliot catches out of the corner of his eye. Breaking off the spell, he can just jump clear before Mel's knife comes down. In the portal, the chaos level jumps again, bowling Gregory backwards slightly as Elloit's incomplete spell recoils on him. Gregory staggers back, and lifts a hand to his head: he turns, and appraises the situation. His voice rises slightly, as he calls out, "Stop!" It's deeper than it was, and ... as you watch, does his face grow less vulpine, gaze less intense? Elliot wheels around. "You silly bitch! Don't you see, can't you see that I was helping him?" For the moment...the gate holds. Melody is standing knife out. "I don't know who you are, asshole, and I have my orders and I will fulfill them. So unless HE gives me the OK for you to fuck around with what he's doing, you keep your mouth off me or I'll give you cause to have several more to use!" Elliot nods. "My apologies. Your threats of death serve nothing to your aims. Your acting out of duty. I can understand that." His voice comes again, "Stop. Melody, he /was/ helping. I don't know him well, but a friend was looking into him." Gregory's voice is firm, and he offers the woman a thankful smile, then turns to Elliot, "You do seem to be better than I at such things." Melody steps back, frowning openly now. The smile from Greg doesn't diminish the frown more than about half a watt. She's seriously irked. Elliot looks to Gregory. "My linguistic friend, you seem to be in trouble. Could you call your gaurd dog off?" His lips twitch an a parody of a smile at Gregory's compliment. "Natural for my kind." Gregory tilts a wry brow, "She's hardly a guard dog. You seem to have experience in such. Together, we might have a chance. What can you do, Melody? You have any experience with primal energies?" Behind Gregory, the gate that he hath wrought begins to crumble. You say, "No, but if you guys are going to make kissyface, make it fast.." Gregory sighs, and takes a deep breath, then turns, and begins to chant again. Melody says, less angrily, "If either of you can draw Essence, I'll let you use mine." Elliot sits down next to Gregory. He opens his book again and takes up the pen. Flipping the page there is a moment of reflection on his face. Then he begins. A swirl, a spiral, a symbol, all to strengthen Gregory's efforts. Letting Gregory set the chant he begins to mimic it in his own language, playing a melody if you will. Everyone settles down to try and work on the gate and...things start to seem okay and... Melody grasps her necklace and points her blade out, pointfirst. She mindwards the place temporarily. Ryan comes flying out out of the portal. For a second, no one would recognize him. Probably because he looks like he just stepped out of an episode of "Shaft!", dressed in a white suit, no shirt, gold chains hanging off of him, and his hair looks slightly like an afro. He lands on top of Elliot. Melody spins and blinks. Ryan says, "Geez." Ryan says, "What the fuck!" Ryan looks sutiably pissed. Melody doesn't look much happier. Gregory halts his casting, and notes, with a sigh, "What the hell happened to you? It's very nice, but not exactly the modern era?" Elliot is bowled over by the disco king himself. He wrestles away, scrambling for anything. You note that Ryan's voice seems a bit deeper, til her clears it. Ryan reaches for the ground, spins and rolls. Ryan looks about, stands up. Ryan dusts himself off. Melody eyes Ryan. She lets others make the smart comments. Ryan says, "What in bloody blue blazes are you idiots doing?" Elliot stands and remains silent, watching the interaction instead of make some blunder of ettiquete. Lord knows he's done enough in that area already today. Gregory smirks at Ryan, "Trying to keep the portal there so you could get the hell back?" Ryan says, "Well. I was trying to get to the Realm. I guess this will do for starters..." Ryan looks at Elliot, back to Melody. Melody crosses her arms. "I was just told to keep him safe. And I tried." She gives Elliot a withering look. Gregory comments, "Well. Ryan, meet Elliot. Elliot, Ryan." He shakes his head, dry. Ryan says, "Elliot. Nice to meet you. Hmm. Infinite chaos, I was going to try to find you today..." Elliot tosses Melody an apolagetic glance. He nods to Ryan. "Hello. It would seem that fate had it's laugh today. I've been looking to meet with you." . Ryan says, "Wonder what the odds of me landing on you were. Low, I believe. Approximately 600,000 o one." As you chat, the gate that Greg built continues to wither. Ryan sighs. "Greg, what should I do." Elliot smiles. "Like minded I see. But we have some more work to do I believe if we plan to steal away with the proverbial treasure." Ryan looks at Greg. Gregory chuckles, softly; a wry brow curves his lips as he glances at Ryan. Melody rolls her eyes. "Well. Since I'm not longer needed." Gregory notes to Melody, "I don't know /who/ is needed...please stay, hmm?" He mulls, looking towards the portal. Melody stops midway to the entrance. Gregory motions to Melody, "I could use your help?" He smiles, "Come here, please?" Melody comes back, a little reluctant and a lot wary. Gregory nods, "I'm almost out of my primal energy. I'll need it, at the -least- to relink the portal...will you help?" You say, "I already said I would." Ryan says, "Tick tock, folks." Gregory nods, and murmurs something, closing his eyes. Melody offers her hand. "Hermetics." Elliot stands by, ready to help when needed. Gregory nods at Melody, a wry smile flickering over his features, and pats her shoulder, "All right...hopefully I and Ryan can find the place." Melody looks a lot tired when Gregory's done. "Don't waste it all in one place." Gregory begins to chant softly, his hand patting Melody's lightly before beginning to walk, etching out an odd circle upon the ground. Odd, huh? Melody sits down for a minute, watching warily. Ryan sighs, "Computer, locate realm, signature stored as per request of Gregory, search, go." Well...this seems to take a while... Elliot goes and checks up on Melody. "how do you feel?" A long while. Ryan waits for his computer to let him know the score, and Flock of Seagulls goes through his brain. "And I ran... I ran so far away...." Melody shakes her head. "Well enough." Elliot nods. He looks again to Ryan and Gregory. Melody rises to her feet, watching the pair anxiously now. Ryan says, "Melody. Elliot. Watch for black hats." Ryan says, "If they show up, shred them." You say, "So noted." Ryan says, "Gratzi." Elliot nods. Elliot smiles to Melody. "You use your knife as a concentrative element?" You say, "Among other things." Elliot says, "I've a special fondness for them as well." He removes a krys knife from his satchel and places it in his jacket." Melody takes a deep breath. Melody smooths down the hair on her neck. Elliot once again reaches into his satchel and pulls out a horrific mask. He dons it.
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