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

Do you...want us to go?

[There's no transforming into an adorable form this time. James has every right to say no.

He and Shade can go to his place and eat the one pizza. Andrei can freeze the other, or just eat it as leftovers for the next few days. This...this is a mess, but one that it's his job to work out.]

[His answer comes in the form of a stiff nod. He's not at his best, still sore and angry about what's happened, but there's also the realization that he can't monopolize the reaper's time. This whole 'relationship' thing is a lot newer to him than he'd like to admit, but he's really trying.]

's okay.

Alright then.

[That settles that then. He gives Liam's hand a squeeze before finally departing his side for a bit in order to look over the haul Shade had dumped onto his couch. Everything is scooped up and taken over to the kitchen in order to get sorted and put away.

He still wasn't thrilled over everything but they were playing nice so far. Then it's back to the living room and taking his place at the loveseat.]

[Still awkward. Like a ton of awkward all over the place. This was going great. Not.]

Ugh...so do you play video games or anything? [Look at him, Boss. Trying to be nice.]

Shade brought Halo. And Destiny. And...a few puzzle games?

[He circles the table and breaks out the beers. One each. Even one for Liam, if he likes the flavor.]

Er-

[Alright, this is definitely awkward. He's trying though, really trying, but there's no good way to answer that question.]

Haven't...really stuck in one place long enough to really try any of them.

[Huh please don't overwhelm the poor man already. He's half tempted to rub his temples at the possible addition of more problems but he was giving them the benefit of the doubt. It'd be good for to be some good terms between all of them...despite what had occurred at the Wisp.]

Maybe you should watch them for a bit. If it strikes your fancy, they'd be happy to share.

[If anything, the reaper was overseer and strategic retreat point for this time. Though he was hoping that it wouldn't come to that too often.]

Oh well that's totally fine. Um I brought mostly shooters with but yea there is a puzzle game or two in here somewhere. Just chill out and me and Andrei can show you how it's done. Besides co op is always better in these games or at the very least definitely Halo.

Halo, then?

[He likes Halo, even if he isn't great at it. The in-game co-op should be good for showing how it's played, too. None of that online ridiculousness. People call Andrei an animal, but he's met some truly horrific players online. No reason to spook Liam any more than they have to.

(Or him, because yes, he is still all nerves.)]

Er, yeah, probably would be best.

[Alright, he's out of his element now, and he can only give a weak nod to Shade's suggestion because what in the world is the banshee even talking about? It's a little embarrassing to be so out of the loop.]

[He takes that as a cue to step in before the two idiots decide to overwhelm the dullahan once again but albeit in a far less hostile inducing manner. So standing up, he coaxes him over in order to sit with him. The reaper shifting them enough so Liam leans on him to get him to relax further, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.]

They aren't the best at it despite all of their talk.

Hell yea Halo would work. Maybe we can do some of the campaign. That or Warzone. Might even wander over into big team battle because I heard the new map is in.

[He's in the zone now and nothing is going to stop him from not focusing on gaming. Things worked out in the end anyway. So he's up and popping in the right desk before powering up controllers.]

[Andrei doesn't sit on the couch but curls up next to James's feet. His beer and his controller sit on the coffee table in front of him; he takes two controllers and passes one up to James.]

So you're going to show how it's really done, James?

[It's easier to relax with James around, even if he's still not one hundred percent with everything going on. Hell, the three might as well be speaking another language at this point, so he's more than content to rest against the reaper and let them continue on.]

Think you should, whatever it is.

Shouldn't I give you guys a chance to warm up?

[There was no complaints in the shifter deciding to take up the place by his feet other than the fact that that placed him rather close to the dullahan that hadn't or rather still wasn't completely enthusiastic about everything. He leans over to place a kiss to Liam's temple before taking up the controller.]

I suppose it'd be better if you saw someone that was actually good.

Good? More like unfathomable. Half the time I think you've found some way to enchant the damn game to do whatever the hell you want. That or you know conventional cheating but that's a lot more obvious after all.

[Still MCC was being loaded up and he decides to go with the third game for now. It was a classic but not as much as the second or the first for that matter.]

That's why we want you to play.

[James can actually get them through some of the more difficult aspects of the campaign. Andrei is getting better. ...slowly.

At least Shade has his profile saved.]

[Alright, this is all still really weird and it's all still so incredibly new. James says it's alright though, and he has utmost trust in James, if not the others. So he rests himself against James' side, staying close enough to be protective but still trying to make an effort to be part of the group.]

Show me then.

Can do.

[A brief pause to press a soft kiss to the dullahan's cheek, both to show that he appreciated him making an attempt after everything but also to ground the man. He wasn't too blind to notice that a claim was being made on him. Though Liam had every right to do so for their relationship. Even if no one was making a move to challenge it per se.

He selects himself to be the party lead and gets the other two sync up before hitting start. It was a while since he actually played this one since newer things had released. Hopefully he still had it.]

[Now this was the kind of a night that he had planned for. You know except for the addition of the blacklister and the rough start really. But gaming with his friends hell yea.]

Man, you always get to be Chief.

That's because he's better at it.

[Andrei gets dibs on the Arbiter. He always plays as the Sangheili regardless, but the Arbiter is his favorite.]

[Alright, now there are words that he's not quite understanding, but he's at least making an effort. It's not like he's never seen video games before, just that his lifestyle hasn't really lent itself to having a lot of free time to indulge.

Chief is...a type of person? A person? He'll figure it out.]

[The first cutscene is done and over with soon enough. The screen was split in half and then the bottom one in halves again. This made things easier on James to focus and the real reason why he dibsed Chief.]

I miss the DMR already. We should try to do a LASO run a some point. Isn't there an achievement for that?

I think there is but it might be for doing all of the campaigns. So you know one through four. ODST isn't thrown into it but still LASO two is going to be the bitchest of the bitch to attempt. It was awful just doing legendary co op and here you're a glutton for punishment wanting to do that.

[Whelp James was leading them the right way. The screen was flashing blue and there was the AI's voice.]

You should tell your girlfriend to get better reception.

You're going to have a much better player if you want to run a LASO, James.

[Maybe Liam will be better at this than he is. Andrei's along for the fun, not the difficulty.]

Hey, after five, that shouldn't be a problem, right?