sword_breaker | Myth!AU

[There's a slight wind to give signs that colder weather was going to hit the city at some point but otherwise the chill didn't faze many much with the sun pouring down rays without any resistance from white wisps streaking across blue. Another busy work day for most people as they packed the sidewalks in order to accomplish whatever the day asked of them to do, some of them heading off towards lunch break even as the afternoon brought along ease in traffic after the rushing around or rather dead still in the morning commutes that always came like clockwork. The towering skyscrapers piercing above while scattered about were busy shops and apartment complexes ranging to the higher end of the spectrum, fortunate for several residents of them being close to where they worked usually.

However it didn't matter much to the man lying face first towards the blue in an alley, red bursts staining his shirt in an act of fatal defiance against the fabric. He wasn't caring about anything anymore. Pools of crimson have congealing into a sticky mess at his side to keep company with the broken body though it was a waste honestly. A barrier of yellow and black tape announcing the crime scene as if the body and the blood weren't enough already to do so. Officers scurrying about to comb through every little thing in order to scrounge up evidence ranging from fingerprints to shell casings while a medical examiner started jotting down notes as though it were a race.

To be fair, it was a race that was ticking away for all of them but yet he didn't exactly have to put so much effort into finding out the who, why and whatnot of this particular case. Never really showed interest in the exact details of a person's death as it wasn't under his job description nor would he if paid enough, more so content enough with the tasks that were scheduled for him to do. He sends a confirmation of his arrival with a quick text before stowing away the smart phone into his back pocket and assessing the fussing police. No doubt Matthieu was going to blow his phone up with messages after getting the answer but that could be ignored.

Passing underneath the tape, the man eased through the scene with no problems coming from the uniformed others. Though that was the point of having such a decent illusion in order to essentially make him invisible, allowing a much easier time accomplishing his tasks without the stupid questions that would be raised at his presence much less what he would do here. He had the slight frown that could've been considered appropriate for the situation but the claw marks and irrevocably damaged right eye would certainly cause a more sinister thought process to occur. Maybe even be considered as a hit man that had down the crime but to be fair he didn't hunt unless told otherwise and certainly not boring humans such as this idiot. Besides a man decked in a suit stood out in this mess with much help to his disregard of everything save for the dead man who certainly was still brimming with the confused energy of a trapped soul. Definitely need to rectify that.

James crouched down right next to the examiner and fished out a knife before making an incision right at the heart before reaching down to draw out the reluctant soul. The reaper was only doing his job and besides no one was going to see him do his work, not the police nor the surrounding crowd of onlookers.

He was looking forward to the break after this one, sneak away towards his usual haunt; a coffee shop that boasted fantastic blends that were more so a necessity at this rate rather than a mere commodity and plus the perfect spot he claimed by the window in order to watch the world keep moving. The energy from the illusion would be easily restored during that. Then it would be another one in midtown before being able to return back home for the day and unwind. That or check with the bar to make sure a friend or two didn't snoop around more than they should. The former was going to be the most probable though so he shows the other idea to the back of his mind before focusing.]

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[Wait...what? That's a lot to sort through, and he stares dumbly for a moment before his expression turns suspicious.]

Yeah, like that's a lot of words. A lot. Like too many.

And dullahans want to call themselves fae. Might as well be on the same intellect level as a troll.

[She doesn't exactly show much care for having thrown that out there and instead takes another sip.]

That's your riddle though. Three guesses...or would you rather forfeit now?

Yeah, well some of us have actual jobs, not sitting around thinking of stupid riddles to trade. Some of us actually work.

[He makes no effort to hide his annoyance, resting his head on his wrist as he leans on the bar.]

'm thinking, calm down.

Watch your mouth. Not all of us have to kill to make a living though lets be honest you don't make a living at all. Probably why the reapers are so amped up.

[She wasn't much better in hiding her venom either. Besides if he tries to leave, it's an automatic forfeit in her favor. That'd be too easy.]

Fine.

Psh. At least some of us go out and do things instead of hiding away and collecting pennies like this. Some of us are real fae.

[He's effectively distracting himself from the riddle though, because he's not about to let anyone bad-mouth his profession.]

Real fae don't try to avoid challenges. Or decide to insult someone much older in a place they cannot hold power in.

So either answer or forfeit. I don't care which.

Ain't avoiding it at all.

[But really, he's not the greatest at riddles, never has been, because they've never been paramount to his race's success. While he doesn't want to lose, if only because he's certain that he's not the biggest fan of this lady, there's still the fact that he's not entirely sure.]

Like I said, 'm thinking.

Oh I'm sure you aren't.

[She was now paying more attention to her simple drink than the company she wasn't fond of having. Tick tock little dullahan.]

[Shit, he really had to come up with an answer, because he's not liking the odds of everything right now. It's not the easiest, his thoughts are a bit frantic trying to piece everything together, but in the end he takes another sip of his drink, letting the burn flood across his tongue before he answers.]

Knowledge.

[She looks bored as she slowly turns her glass in order to make the mint leaves twist and turn amongst the ice and water.]

Hm...wrong. Two left.

[Shit. That's not what he'd wanted to hear at all. He furrows his brows and feigns more interest in his drink as he tries to come up with something, anything, else.]

Experience.

[Gods she loves it when people start to squirm and writhe under the weight of her challenges and the hint of nerves was starting to be evident in him. Look at who was the better fae.]

One more.

[Shit shit shit shit. Okay this is dumb, why is he doing this anyways. Not like they'd entered into a contract, and what the hell would be the advantage of a sealing charm anyways, especially at the cost of his pride.

With a roll of his eyes, he shakes his head, pushing his glass back on the counter and fishing out some bills to place next to it as he stands.]

Nah. Think I'm done with all this for the night. Got real work to do.

Then you automatically forfeit.

[She raises a brow at his attempts to leave but that wasn't going to do at all. Not in her realm. Getting up to stand, she reaches over to place a hand on his shoulder before exerting enough force to place him onto his ass.]

Stay. I didn't give you permission to leave.

[A freezing charm behind the counter flares at the command to be directed at the dullahan. Let that sink in. The other patrons quieted to watch the commotion.]

Since you decided to lose oh so not gracefully, I win by default. Now you never said what the 'or something' was. So I get to choose. And well I'll be having that head of yours.

[Liam you fucked up bad.]

[What

The blow has him on the floor and instantly he's primed to attack back. No further does he keep up the human facade, instead letting flesh warp and form distort as he bears sharpened, chipped teeth in a furious challenge.

Whatever she's saying too, it fills him with anger because he's never agreed to that and fae or not, he's willing to fight to protect himself. Damn others of his kind and damn all other fae, and damn the reapers for that matter. He's already on the blacklist, and this is just self defense.

But he can't move very well, and it's like being a wounded, cornered animal. He's still ready to strike the best he can, though.]

I'm sorry what was that? Sounds like you don't have any arguments for why I shouldn't. Thank you so much for agreeing with me.

[She shows no concern over the disappearance of the glamour and takes her time strolling forward to place a firm boot into his chest. Leaning down, she lets a silvery sword appear in her hand.

The entire bar was no filled with whispers and the laughing as much as jeers from a couple patrons. Val was the voice of the bar and she had decided to provide them all with entertainment whether or not they actually wanted it.]

Pleasure doing business. Though...no not really.

[She edges the tip of the blade across the line of his neck before applying enough pressure. Whoops. Looks as though someone has lost their head.]

[There's a deafening noise as it happens, because this is a violation on only the deepest and most intimate terms. He's screaming now, the noise harsh and horrible and filled with as much rage as could ever be possible, and certainly if he could get a grip on her leg she would be dead. She will be dead, as far as he's concerned, the moment he's able to move, because he's not going to ever let this pass, not until he's gotten his revenge.]

Well aren't you quite the catch? All fun and noise. Now where was that spunk earlier? You gave up on the challenge but not this it seems.

[She leans down to smack his cheek with the broadside of her sword, still smirking proudly at what she accomplished. The screaming was merely a small annoyance.]

But since I'm so kind, have the sealing charm anyway.

[Using a marker from her back pocket, she marks underneath his mouth. Peace and quiet. Then she's grabbing ahold of the head, stand victoriously over his body.]

Looks as though you were in over your head. Bartender, we have a body to rid of. And no names. Just boss, dear.

[Now? Andrei looks at her, squeaks a little, and blinks. He's going to need a more compact, muscular form than this. Nothing too obvious, though--he merely shifts smaller, rearranging muscles to make them stronger.]

Um. Rid of? How?

Dump the body out back. The alley will do just fine for him.

[Such an angry head that she had her hands on now. The sword dispels from her hand in a pulse of light before she slips behind the bar to place the thing on the back counter.]

Is that going to be an issue?

No.

[He knows better than to make it an issue. The body is far from happy, but Andrei gets his arms around the torso and begins to drag it outside.]

Good. The charm should remain on him until we move tonight. After that, he's no longer our problem.

[She won the challenge. Well more so made it so she won for sure. That's all that mattered other than keeping Andrei relatively safe with no names.]

[Val plays by her own rules. Andrei usually isn't bothered by that. And he'd probably be a whole lot more worried if not for Shade's revelation about this guy.]

You're not worried about him wandering into something, or back inside?

[Well that was rather unusual. Andrei wasn't this keen on making certain that things were handled and not nearly so questioning.]

I've got this. It's not my first rodeo. We're covered.