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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[Andrei is not hiding. Nope. He's just not behind the bar where James expects. And he's not human, either. There's a decently-sized German shepherd dragging a mop across the room.]

[The reaper catches the dog by the collar around his neck in order to make him stay still before raising a brow down at him. Seriously. He was not in the mood for this sort of thing.]

I would recommend you shift back now. ...know why I'm here, don't you? Is that why you're a dog right now?

[Andrei does not whimper. He was trying to keep a low profile so nobody else came in to talk. Nobody else needs to witness this.

That hand around his neck makes it hard to shift back; he nuzzles James's hand, then pulls away again. He knows why James is here. Being a dog for this isn't going to help, but he's not going to shift back cowering on the floor.]

[Alright so maybe he feels a tad bad for taking out part of his frustration on Andrei but still the kid had been there more likely than not. Still he releases him at the nuzzle and gives a soft scratch on the top the dog's head.]

Go on. I'm not talking to a dog.

[Oh. That's a really good sign. Is James mad, just not at him? He's okay with that.

Andrei sits back on his haunches and slips into his normal form.]

So. Uh. You're here about the other night, aren't you?

With the whole head debacle? Yes. Who do you think found the body? Also Shade was here when it happened.

[Val should know he was here but of course she would bide her time for now.]

You--oh.

Is he--how is he?

[It's not like he wanted Val to do that to the guy.]

...he doesn't have a head so what do you think?

That's not--

I--

[He just wanted to make sure they guy's okay. The mess notwithstanding.]

Is he safe? I know Shade was worried about... a lot of things.

Look, you do not tell Val this. His body is in my apartment right now for safe keeping. I came here in order to get his head back and yell at your boss.

[Speaking of which...]

VAL! I KNOW YOU'RE HERE, ASSHOLE!

[Andrei's reflexes are screaming at him to run. This is not going to be pretty.

Why does James have the dullahan? Why had Val wanted the dullahan's head?

Why did they have to get him involved?

Andrei hides behind James and gets busy mopping the floor again, if still in human form.]

[The fae gives a roll of her eyes before descending from her office and eyeing the pair from the stairs in the back. A smirk playing out on her lips while she heads towards the counter.]

James. How good to see you. And what do I owe the pleasure of your company? Not hassling my bartender I hope.

[She's not stupid. Reapers always had some kind of purpose when it wasn't business hours.]

[There's a grunt at Andrei disappearing behind him but he wasn't who he was looking for. At the sound of her voice, the reaper is glaring at her from the get go. He was not in the mood for this cheeriness. Let alone to answer those questions.

He was here to get that head not chat. So he crosses his arms over his chest.]

Hand it over. Now.

[Just back away and keep working. Andrei is not here to make sides. He is here to make money and stay alive; one of those things is seriously coming into question right now.]

[Oh now this wasn't any fun. She sighs, merely shrugging nonchalantly as she pulls herself to sit up on the counter. Still going to act calm and cool.]

Hand over what? I need specifics.

The head. I know you have it. The body was found at the spot you two decided to camp out for the night. And don't lie because your trash was there with him.

[Val do not test him.]

Andrei knows why I'm here so you should too. So I won't repeat myself.

[No, James, please don't bring him into this. He's not going to deny what happened when asked, but he doesn't want to be thrown at either of their mercy, either. Andrei focuses on cleaning a sticky spot on the floor.]

[Andrei she trusted you. A judgmental glance is thrown over at the shifter before attention is back onto the fuming reaper. Why...oh.

Oh this made sense. She tilts her head in thought.]

You know him...don't you? You're the reaper that he alluded to. See the dullahan made a thing were he said reapers were all the same except for an exception. You.

[She had you under her finger, James.]

So what's he to you?

[...fuck that.]

No. You don't need to know. This isn't something to abuse later on.

[Still not here to chat. Especially over his connections to people.] You done?

[Val is asking the same questions Andrei wants to ask, but with a whole lot more...menace. And James's answer isn't exactly subtle.

He supposes this is what happens when Val matches wits with a reaper. Andrei wishes he could watch at a more safe distance.]

[She pops her jaw, not getting anywhere with the man. Fine. She'll have to found in other ways. So be it.]

If answer the riddle he screwed up on, sure. It's all yours if so.

[There's always a catch.]

Fine. Whatever. Let's get this over with.

[This is what he does for the guy who decided to date him. Why couldn't he have just been lost or something? Nope. Lost his head to her of all people.]

[Andrei isn't even sure what the riddle is. And there's always a catch. What are you up to, Val?]

[No cheating this time. Despite everything, the reaper was a friend after all. She was merely poking around in order to figure out what was going on with him.]

You can get it from doing nothing and everything. The wise and foolish both have it. The more and less you have of it the better and worse you are in life. Time is the only boundary that keeps us from obtaining it. Most take this value for granted. There is NO device to measure it. It governs all and can never be tamed. You gain it by solving this riddle. What is it?

[...Liam he's only putting this much effort because it's you and well it's his job. He sighs heavily and rubs the back of his neck in thought. Can't screw up here.]

Give me a sec to think.