Hadriel IC Inbox

[claritatis]

"You've reached Ignis Scientia. Leave a message and I will endeavour to get back to you post-haste."

Comments

[hotspurred]

[The first thing that Henry loses when intoxicated is restraint. A mere ten minutes is long enough for him to grow bored of searching the streets, which is why, by the time Ignis finds him, Henry has mostly scaled the exterior of one of the rundown shops. Stretching his arm to his limits, his fingers reach just short of the top edge of the wall, too low to get a secure grip. Huffing impatiently, he shifts his footing. Sparing no apparent thought for the risk he's taking, he springs off the wall, leaping for it.

Fortunately he catches the edge and pulls himself up onto the roof with a grunt of exertion.]

[claritatis]

[Hadriel isn't a small place, but via backtracking to the speakeasy and following a couple of likely paths, he spots the man just moments after he makes the leap.

Ignis, being no stranger to seeing people undertaking such antics, isn't overcome with concern so much as agitation that Henry is performing them while entirely inebriated.

... Also, slightly impressed.]

Henry!

[hotspurred]

[As soon as he's standing Henry twists back round to look down over the edge, bracing one foot at the end of the roof and leaning forward. For a brief moment, he wobbles somewhat precariously, a tad overbalanced.

He squints, as if to make sure that yes, that's Ignis below, before he calls back.]

I have lost her! Forgive me!

[claritatis]

Oh, by the Six. [Ignis mutters to himself, pushing a hand through his hair and looking up at Henry with an expression for which 'exasperated' is not a strong enough word.]

Would you come down here?

[hotspurred]

[Henry frowns and steps back, setting his hands on his hips.]

She is not down there.

[He huffs, before slowly turning on the spot, looking out across the rooftops for signs of life.]

[audio]

[tongueamok]

Where is she?

[He's seen the news today, oh boy.]

[audio]

[claritatis]

I'm not Kate's keeper, Carlisle. I assume she's at the clinic, but you'd be better off asking her yourself.

[tongueamok]

She would tell me I am worrying over nothing.

[His voice is sharp, but shaking.]

Have you fought demons before? True demons, Ignis?

[claritatis]

I've spent the last few years of my life fighting daemons. We don't name them as such lightly.

[It sounds like he's moving, heading quickly down a flight of stairs.]

I'm not accustomed to seeing them in the day time, but I don't think that will cause a problem.

[tongueamok]

Do those in your world possess others? Take command of their bodies and minds, turning them against their allies?

[claritatis]

They have no need to - they're quite powerful enough on their own.

[There was a reason it took some time before he'd agree to driving at night. Noct's foolhardiness be damned, Ignis wasn't going to be the one to run them straight into a red giant.]

You're concerned that may be the case here, I take it.

[tongueamok]

It happened here before. D- demons possessing others. They take their bodies, then tw- twist their forms until they are nothing but a perversion of their former selves. They play with their host's memories, their abilities, taunt those who would look to s-s-save them.

[His voice shakes more the longer he goes on, as though he knows this too well.]

[claritatis]

Hm.

[A door opens and closes, and over the sound of quick footsteps the sound of fighting and unholy shrieks begins to rise.]

I'll be sure to keep that in mind.

[tongueamok]

[Ignis says that, but there's something about his stoic response that just leaves Carlisle even more unsettled. Maybe these aren't the same kinds of demons they faced before, here or in his world or in Ignis', but that he's still going out there, that Kate might be out there, that—

He stops his downward train of thought, but cannot bury his fear.]

Right.

[And with that, he hangs up.]

[claritatis]

For--! [Ignis cuts himself off with a sharp hiss and his tongue pressed lightly against the back of his teeth.]

Henry, come down here this instant. I left Kate in bed to come looking for you, and I'm in no mood for this bloody nonsense.

text.

[dedikated]

Got plans for lunch?

text.

[claritatis]

I'd planned to be eating, at the very least.

text.

[dedikated]

Funny.

( don't let the grouching fool you she laughed )

grab something at the orchard? Forgot to bring one.

text.

[claritatis]

I try.

[He is not fooled. He knows what makes her laugh.]

I'll meet you outside. Five minutes?

text.

[dedikated]

( they both have terrible senses of humour and are therefore perfect together. )

Make it ten. Someone just walked in.

text.

[claritatis]

Alright. I'll let Nick know I'm heading out.

action. 👀

[dedikated]

( Well, true to her word, she is there in ten minutes, stifling a yawn as she closes the clinic door behind her. When will the good coffee return to the city, pray tell? )

Busy day? ( Fingers curling into the fabric tossed over her shoulders to serve as protection from the harsh sun, Kate smiles, relaxed despite the bout of flu only a few weeks ago, and that whole business with the demons running around (why is it always demons). )

👀

[claritatis]

Hm. [He leans down to kiss her once they're close enough, lingering for just a moment before he moves away.]

You could say that. I think we're at a loss of what to do about the recent demon-summoning problem.

[dedikated]

( When he leans in, Kate's hand easily finds his, fingers weaving together when they part. Little things that have become second nature to her now, as comfortable as silences shared and evenings spent together.

Her hand tightens just a little around his at the summary. Recent events bringing back memories of poorly made decisions during her last visit, of sitting in front of the Guard leaders as they were then and explaining everything she knew about what happened. )

Can't exactly hold court.

( As has been proven before, time and again. The guard can't really punish anyone without catching flak for it somewhere, and ultimately making things worse. )

[claritatis]

I know. [It's one major failing of this place and the order they try to keep - there are no laws, no rules, only a loosely-held net of morals that hold the worst of them back from killing the rest.

They involve themselves too much, and they appear a police state. Too little, and people ask why they do nothing. It's not something they can win against, they can only hope to do the best they can.

He steps back from her, gently pulling her along with a small, warm smile.]

But let's speak of something else. Work can remain behind the doors we just stepped out of.