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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Keeping out of trouble sounds great to me. That's part of the reason I like it here. For tonight, I don't mind the quiet.

[A slow night every once in awhile isn't such a bad thing. He doesn't mind helping Shade get comfortable.]

Boss lady's playing games with a customer, I think. Are you here to see her? Could I get you something while you wait?

Well Val tends to stop any trouble that does try to brew. I don't think I've ever seen an actual fight in here for years. Quiet's good though.

[He drums his fingers, trying to think before sighing to himself.]

Nah. No need to bother her. But whose the victim this time?

Also a cinder would be fantastic right now.

The only things that brew here are the one she allows.

[Pun intended. Andrei grabs a glass and heads to the tap.]

I'm not sure. Some new guy in from out of town who doesn't realize he's in over his head.

Lucky for us, we know better, right?

She doesn't exactly seem keen on fights as she is selling alcohol though. Just sayin'.

[That calls for him to lean back in his chair look over at the owner and the guy she was talking to. He sort of looked like some kind of biker. Weird.

Val didn't seem too happy about him. Unseelie? That's the only general type that ever got her that tense looking.]

He sure doesn't. Know anything about him? Especially since Val tagged him?

Oh yea absolutely. Boss would kill me if I ever did anyway.

Fights cost money, in repairs and medical bills and reputation. Alcohol earns money. And information. It's all math, no magic.

Who, new guy? He's a dullahan, I think. Val seems awfully eager to test him. I haven't seen one around here in years, so I guess I'm not surprised.

There are some myths you just don't mess with.

[Not that he's one of them. Mercifully, he's under Val's protection, because he specializes in infiltration and information gathering rather than brute strength. What he does do, he's terribly good at, though: Andrei tops off the glass with an expert minimum of foam.]

Well you're not wrong. More profitable to make sure the fights are out of the bar and on the streets than under the roof. And information is always handy. Though that's your job besides from looking pretty and serving drinks.

[Just a small tease, Andrei. However he has to stop himself from making a loud noise at the answer.]

A dullahan? As in headless horseman that kills people dullahan? He's a blacklister.

[This is said in a hushed yet urgent tone. Where the hell was a reaper? Don't they follow these kinds of people? Gods why did he decide to come in today?]

[Andrei smirks despite himself.]

But I like looking pretty. And I'm good at it.

[Okay, maybe it's time to be a bit more serious.] That's why I left him with Val. She can handle the situation. You know we deal with blacklisters, Shade, if only long enough to keep an eye on them.

I never said you weren't. Just making an observation after all.

[Oh no this was bad. Very very bad because knowing Val, she had more than a bone to pick with an Unseelie especially one that decided to take her up on a challenge.]

Really? That is the single most stupid thing I heard. Reapers keep an eye on blacklisters, not bartenders.

Bartenders can help keep an eye on blacklisters. Especially if they're as high-class as Val.

I don't. That's why I'm over here with you. [Grinning, he sets Shade's drink in front of him.]

So, what's new with you? You must be keeping busy if you hadn't heard about the blacklister.

Andrei, there's reason those people are on the blacklist in the first place. Val is strong but that doesn't mean something can happen. Plus if a reaper finds out...

[Honestly he was wasting his breath on this so he relents and takes a sip. Fantastic. Still issues here.]

I hear about many blacklisters. Matthieu has been making sure that they're known in the division and all. I've been ferrying his butt around to do so.

The big guy up top made us do a meeting.

Have you seen Val when she gets angry? I'd be more worried about the dullahan.

Seriously, Shade, she's got this.

...unless you know something that would help her out.

Um yes. Not at me mind you but at other people hell yea. However she still doesn't need to be messing with blacklisters. Come on that's like bad all over the place.

But fine, whatever. Wait...ugh why would I?

Hey, talk to her, not me!

Look, if she's in trouble, shouldn't you, I don't know, warn her or something?

She looks pretty busy right now, Andrei. I don't think she'd care for an interruption. Business and all that jazz.

I thought she could handle herself. [Make up your mind, Andrei.]

She can! You're the one who's worried!

Hey it's my actual job to worry about these kinds of things ok? [Seriously cut him some slack in that department.] What I'm trying to say is that Val is going to draw attention more likely than not. And I'm not meaning from other blacklisters. Reapers or at least some of them take these aggressions seriously.

[He leans in after taking another sip.] We both know two who do. Especially Boss.

Your boss? Here?

[James is great on a good night, but this... is not a good night.]

Not right now. He's out hunting. But that won't last forever.

[Andrei hopefully catches the meaning of hunting after knowing both the banshee and the reaper now for a bit.]

Right.

But you have the night off? Have your recent hunts been all right?

Well...Matthieu ended up through a window at one recently. It was an indoor office one and all so that was fine. Terrible mess but we fixed it before the morning people showed up. It made the loudest crash though and just glass everywhere. That dude didn't stand a chance against two reaps.

Seriously?! What were you after that was strong enough to do that to him?

What on the hunt? Demon thingamajig. It was rather nasty and seems that there's a rather diabolical necromancer out and about. At least was. We don't know where they are right now.

A necromancer? Can't those be a bit of a problem for you guys?

Is that what brought the demon?

Nah they don't stand a chance against us. [Forget about the Ryder incident. So did not count.] But yea depending on their strength they can make peeps into demons. Nasty business.