Comments | adstrngndumlog: Come hell or high water

knew_anyway in adstrngndumlog

Come hell or high water

Dec 19, 2011 23:47

Characters: Nathaniel/John Mandrake (knew_anyway), and Aelia Laelia Crispis of the Animus (adstring_npc)
When: December 19th
Where: A secluded building in the northeast quadrant
Rating: PG-13?
Summary: Nathaniel summons his first Animus on his attempts to help the city become a nicer place to live. It sort of works.

( This sick world will know I was here )

nathaniel/john mandrake

Comments 41

adstring_npc December 20 2011, 08:19:05 UTC

It was silent, at first. But even the stillness wasn't calm, wasn't a suggestion that nothing had happened. Something had been summoned, and the air protested; it was as if everything had been pulled from the room, that the atmosphere itself had emptied and fled from the presence called to it. That it was still possible to breathe, that the candles remained lit could only come as a surprise.

The floor glowed, seemed to ripple, like it couldn't decide whether to remain still, to break apart, to turn into something else entirely. Testing the constructs, wild and utterly contained.

A woman pulled herself from the floor- from the wood, from the stone and earth beneath it, from some other place entirely. A long braid was splayed on the floor, brushing along one of the lines of the circle, as Aelia pushed herself up, shaking her head, as if dispelling the last dregs of sleep. Her legs were still caught in the floor, but she ignored it, wrapping her second braid back around her neck, the first now settled comfortably over her chest. An ( ... )

knew_anyway December 20 2011, 08:27:47 UTC

He took a deep breath. Demons often came in the form of people, strange people. He was prepared.

As the exhaustion from the summoning slowly started to settle in, Nathaniel tried to get a good look at her, but he wasn't quite able to. Something about her appearance was odd- strange, but he couldn't put his finger on it, and he instinctively tried not to. It was frightening, but the familiarity of it was comforting.

His hands tightened, and he nodded in return. He didn't reply to her words, but they seemed to put him at ease, somewhat. By addressing him as John, it seemed that she didn't know his true name. That would make things somewhat easier. Nathaniel looked down at the markings. Everything seemed to be holding up so far.

Finally, he spoke in a low, calm voice.

"Are you Aelia Laelia Crispis, entity of the Animus, the one who resides with the other spirits in the Inner City and speaks to us in the beginning of the events in Adstringendum?"

adstring_npc December 20 2011, 08:38:36 UTC

She tilted her head at him, considering him, considering his words- before nodding once.

"'Animus' is a term visitors give to several of us, nothing that any of us chose, but by your definitions- yes, I am."

She still seemed disinclined to stand, but likewise didn't mind staring up at him. Her smile was gentle, soothing- entirely insincere, and entirely open about being insincere.

knew_anyway December 20 2011, 08:54:07 UTC

"Alright."

He could live with that. He'd gotten the confirmation- and while she seemed odd, compared to the other spirits that he had summoned, Nathaniel didn't think much of it. She seemed content enough, even though she was bound to the pentacle... but then again, she was another being entirely, wasn't she? And it was more than likely a relief to be away from the others.

He didn't crouch to meet her eyes, simply remained looking down at her from where he stood.

"I have several questions that I would like answered."

Thread 41