aionlogs | nice to meet you (closed)

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nice to meet you (closed)

WHO: Howl and Sebastian
WHAT: A demon and a wizard try to navigate the very weird connection thrust upon them by having the same Legacy. The unexpected happens in more ways than one.
WHERE: The outskirts of the Achamoth entertainment district
WHEN: Evening after the Kenoma welcoming communion (Firaseri 10th)
WARNINGS: None anticipated.

The sun has dipped below the horizon and its lingering light is fading fast. Soon, the entertainment district will come alive, peddling to Achamites a neverending supply of food, drugs, violence and sex. Since becoming an Aion, Howl has partaken in the city's celebrated vices far, far more than he ever did back home, and considering the host of peculiar topics weighing on his mind tonight, he feels some temptation to indulge again. But, no — unlike the typical day, he may actually be able to learn something that could assuage his worries by coming out tonight to meet this particular guest, and for once, he arrives on time at the agreed-upon location.

Howl is dressed in black, having taken a liking lately to the city's favored color. A shawl made from opalescent black feathers is pulled over his shoulders and hangs down past his waist. It matches the feathers on his face and arms. After two weeks of trying to hide the remnants of his last transformation that refused to leave his body, the wizard has mustered enough denial to embrace them instead. And it helps that his companion tonight, the demon Sebastian, never knew him before those changes to his body occurred, relieving Howl of the stress of uncomfortable questions.

A prickle in the back of his consciousness announces Sebastian's arrival before Howl lays eyes on him. It makes him shiver — really going to have to get used to this shared Legacy thing — but he steps away from the brick wall he's been leaning against to look around the darkening street corner, searching for the other man with both eyes and mind.

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Sebastian had taken the time since the welcoming communion to put a bit more effort into blending in while in the city. The adulation of the people was certainly part of it, since it made navigating a bit inconvenient, but it was much more just a part of Sebastian's personality. His preferred way to act among mortals had always been one of being quiet and unassuming, a wolf in sheep's clothing that easily blended in with them. He's perfectly punctual when he approaches, and he wouldn't immediately stick out to most, other than being a bit tall. He's dressed sharply, a bit overly formal, but in a black monochrome that was his personal preference but luckily matched the city's as well. It's only their particular connection that draws attention to him, but it's at least the same for Howl.

There's a light pull of attention that isn't one Sebastian finds completely unfamiliar, though this context is strange. The covenant that tied him to his contractors was one that entwined a soul into a demon's grasp, but that was something he had full control over as a result. The automatic nature of this one was almost unnerving, but he's still an easy calm as his eyes find Howl's. If nothing else, at least his own temperament ran quite cool as a default. He raises a hand in greeting as he approaches, though it's only a short distance.

"Good evening, Mr. Howl," Sebastian offers politely first, and the greeting comes with offering a (similarly black) gloved hand for a handshake. He may not be required to keep up the impeccable manners of playing at being a butler, but he had also found them quite useful. "Thank you yet again for offering your time. I do sincerely appreciate the consideration."

For the briefest moment, Howl thinks he might feel the slightest inkling of discomfort as Sebastian closes the distance between them, but he quickly shoves it aside. That sort of thing is probably going to be happening for the entire evening, whether he likes it or not, and he has to learn how not to get distracted by every little, relatively uninteresting instance of it.

"The pleasure is all mine," he answers back with an amicable affect. Howl accepts the handshake, placing his leathery palm against Sebastian's and minding his own sharp fingernails, as to not scratch him. "Not that I need a reason to come out to this part of the city, but helping a newcomer get situation is a very good reason. You'll have to explore the more sinful parts of the entertainment district on your own — tonight, we're going to my personal favorite eatery. Follow me."

The use of the word sinful was intentional, Howl's eyes seeming to sparkle as he says it. Once they are walking in pace together down the city cobblestones, Howl shoots Sebastian a glance.

"So," he begins. "You're the third demon I've met. The second is here in Horos — 'M,' if you've met him."

His handshake would be firmer normally, but he's taking just as much care to avoid Howl's sharp nails, though it's at least something he can sympathize with a bit. Sebastian's appearance was only a mask to cover the real one, and part of that was indeed covering naturally razor sharp claws. It made handshakes a bit of a delicate affair, but it at least has him handling this one well. He withdraws his hand, and as Howl starts to explain, he can't help but chuckle at the word "sinful".

"Ah, yes," he starts to answer, and the twinkle of delight is at least mirrored partially with a little amusement on Sebastian's end, "I have heard a bit of such establishments. My retainer was at least patient with me and was kind enough to answer many a question I had about Achamoth. The entertainment district did come up, naturally."

There's certainly no opposition to the district in his answer, but he doesn't seem overly interested either. Like a fair amount about him, it's a somewhat placid neutral. It serves as a contrast to how it piques at the rest. It's easily felt, but it's not something he really tries to hide either.

"Third, my, my. Most are quite lucky to meet one. Or unlucky, depending on your point of view." There's humor in his tone, since he feels fairly certain it's not the latter. If it were something Howl considers unlucky, they wouldn't be strolling along like this. "I have met M, yes. We had quite an interesting conversation, in fact. Who was the first, if I may?"

It's polite and conversational, but he's definitely trying to pry. With how it was phrased, clearly Howl had encountered a demon before coming here, which did at least explain his manners well enough in Sebastian's view. But that's quite interesting too. At least with Sebastian's sort of demon, encountering his kind wasn't something he imagined that someone would walk away from with any sort of positive opinion.

At the prying question, Howl hums and touches his chin with one clawed finger. Normally, when people ask him about Calcifer, he has no choice but to speak carefully, juggling the restrictions of his contract's "gag order" and vying for an almost codeword-like manner of communication. It's so bothersome that he usually doesn't bother attempting to talk about it all. And yet, something feels sort of... comfortable about Sebastian's question. Is it because he's a demon too? It's easier to speak on his contract with a person has deduced some part of it. Maybe that's it, although Howl had not got the impression that Sebastian had figured anything out like that. Or maybe this, too, is an effect of the Celebrant's influence?

"His name was Calcifer," Howl says slowly. The words feel oddly unrestricted in his mouth. "And he was my dearest friend since childhood. Ah, but he's not here in this world. Gone, like everyone else I ever knew."

That last statement is accompanied by a soft, vaguely sad smile. He's not trying to bring down the mood, but there's no way around the tragic loss of his world, or Sebastian's, or any of them.

At that moment, Howl starts to veer from the center of the sidewalk towards an upcoming doorway. Light shines out from its curtained windows, and a painted sign hangs above its wooden double doors. Howl reaches for the doorhandle and pauses, allowing Sebastian to enter first.

"They know me here," he adds, "so there might be some excessive enthusiasm from the staff, whether our Shards are covered or not."

The care of saying Calcifer's name isn't something Sebastian thinks anything of, since he's not suspicious enough to read more into it. He has his own assumptions, and for him, just admitting to knowing a demon at all would be very dangerous for any mortal. As Howl continues his explanation, that gentle sadness is contrasted with an open surprise from Sebastian both in feeling and expression.

"A friend, really?" he questions, though it's almost rhetorical. It's just a concept so baffling to him that he's taken aback, just as he had been when Misa had declared herself his friend the other day. A demon was so naturally the enemy of mortals that it's hard to imagine any staying friends with Howl for so long. For another purpose, perhaps...?

He's briefly focused on the thought of what a demon could want from Howl to play at such a long game that he just misses the beat of reaching their destination, but he's quick to refocus. He follows after obediently, and is similarly lightly surprised to have the door held for him. That is more of a force of recent habit, though, so he just laughs gently at himself as he enters.

"Noted," he says as he passes by, though his attention quickly turns inside to take it in, "It is still something I am getting used to, but I shall handle it as gracefully as I can."

Sebastian will have to channel that grace quickly, because as soon as they step inside, a trio of hostesses rush over, their faces alight with adoration. Howl greets them with wide arms and a wider grin as they huddle around him, casting the occasional curious glance at his unknown companion.

"Master Howl! It's been too long!" one hostess coos. She's a pretty young woman, with a thin petite frame and long, wavy black hair. All three hostesses are wearing ornate black masks over the upper half of their faces, a popular fashion accessory in Achamoth. And aside from covering their faces excessively, all three of them are otherwise immodestly dressed.

"You'll forgive me for ignoring you all for as long as I have, won't you?" Howl murmurs pleasantly as he gives the girls a half-bow, and then turns to gesture at Sebastian. "This gentleman at my side is Sebastian Michaelis. I'm showing him the best of Achamoth tonight, to help him acclimate to the city. Is that table I like open?"

This all but confirms to the girls that Sebastian is a newly arrived Aion, and they quickly disperse in a flurry. One of the girls, more curvaceous and sporting golden-green curls in her hair, leads them deeper into the restaurant. It's a dimly lit establishment, but not quite a strip club; mostly clad in black but sporting gaudy flourishes here and there in the form of wood carvings and colored lights.

They're lead to a secluded table in the back of the main room, shaped like a semi-circle. Smiling, Howl thanks the hostess as he takes his seat, and once she's gone, he looks to Sebastian inquisitively to gauge his first impression.

Edited 2022-08-23 14:37 (UTC)

It might not be surprising for a fellow Celebrant, but Sebastian slips into the role with an ease that shows this is perfectly natural and comfortable for him. This is Howl's territory, so he takes the secondary role, but the hostesses are all met with a warm and gentle smile as they fawn over their regular first and foremost. As he's introduced, his hand comes up to his chest as he dips into a shallow bow that matches Howl's well. Even without the polite affect of his speech, the impression that Sebastian gives off is still very much one of a gentleman first and foremost. He had planned to give further greeting, but as they quickly head off, he just laughs gently and softly instead.

"It sounds as if you were well missed, in fact," he comments as they head to the table. Sebastian looks around in open curiosity to take in the surroundings, including both those working here and its clientele. The further they go in, the more his smile and mood tilts towards the amused, but especially so as Howl is recognized by one or two others.

It really is much like being a celebrity. Though Howl is the focus of attention, he can't help but wonder what that might feel like for himself in the future, or if he would even want such a thing. He's so used to being associated with a heavy level of secrecy, since strictly speaking, his time around mortals was meant to be forgotten. As soon as his contract with Ciel had been finished, then the butler named Sebastian Michaelis would no longer exist, so wider recognition wasn't ideal.

Here in Horos, though, such a thing hardly mattered. That's what he's considering as he settles at the table and offers thanks of his own to the woman that had brought them.

"I can see why you favor this place," Sebastian says wryly once he sees Howl's eyes on him, "One can never complain for lovely company, and it seems the people here would say the same for you."

"I have a feeling they'll come around to your unique charms soon enough," Howl says with a laugh, although he's enjoying the compliment more than he lets on. Settling back into his seat, the folds his hands on the table and studies Sebastian curiously.

"I sense..." he begins slowly. "I sense that you're feeling a bit... mystified, is it?"

At that moment, a server trots up to their table, carrying a large bottle and two frosty glasses. Despite being as scantily dressed as the hostesses, this person is not clearly male or female — which itself seems to be the intended eroticism. They seem to be just as familiar with Howl as the rest of them, having brought the wizard's preferred label without him having to ask.

Howl nods his head to the server, quietly asks them for "his usual nosh," and waits until they are out of earshot to look back to Sebastian.

"... If that is the right word. 'Mystified,' that is. I can't tell about what exactly, but you don't seem to be uncomfortable in our current surroundings." Now, his gaze is soft and sympathetic. "Is it what I said earlier? About my old friend?"

Sebastian does take a moment to settle himself as he sits more comfortably and very slightly less rigidly. His formality is second nature to him at this point, but it at least seems like he's capable of relaxing. A little. So he laughs easily, if softly in return to Howl's own and gives a bit of a helpless shrug. Clearly this isn't the sort of establishment that's completely unfamiliar to him, though perhaps not in this particular aesthetic.

As Howl asks, Sebastian's wry expression shifts in turn to one that's a little more contemplative. He knows an answer, but the server coming to do their work does give him a moment to consider it further. Their appearance also catches his eye briefly, but more in a sort of curious interest than anything else. It's all about the same to him, after all, so long as they're nice to look at, naturally.

The answer comes with thoughtful hum first, but he nod after a moment. "Surprised, certainly, but 'mystified' is not too bad a word either. A mortal calling a demon a friend while knowing what they are is near unheard of. Or at least it certainly is for you to have known them since childhood. An association with a demon rarely lasts so long in the first place."

His years long arrangement with Ciel had been a bit of an odd one, and that was only four. He hadn't been expecting it would end up going past five, if only because of Ciel's personality and circumstances, especially just before all of this mess.

"You did you fear this Calcifer?" he simply asks.

Howl's eyes grow wide, making his smile look distinctly giddy.

"Fear — Fear him? Fear Calcifer?"

Howl can't help it. He bursts into laughter, earnest and genuine in his amusement, and clearly not laughing at Sebastian but at his question.

"Oh — if Calcifer were here —" Howl stutters through the end of his laughter. "Oh... I can hardly imagine what he'd say, hearing you ask a question like that. Ahh..."

The hearty laugh is evidence of something that's becoming more and more apparent as their night goes on: Howl is regaining some of his usual energy and mirth. Why is still unclear, even to Howl, but their conversation so far certainly seems to be contributing to his in good spirits.

"To give you a proper answer, no... I never did fear Calcifer, not even at the beginning. It was I who sought him out, you see... Ignoring all the common knowledge and warnings of how dangerous demons are, and how unwise it was to..."

To contract with them, he was about to say. But Howl stops — because he was about to say it. How... odd? That should be impossible. The smile on his face wavers ever so slightly, and unavoidably, the end of his trailed-off sentence leaks out of his mind.

The laughter gets Sebastian's expression to tighten, though it's in confusion rather than any offense. He's met people that are more intrigued by demons than afraid of them, but fear was always present too. There was a part of it that Sebastian had always felt was something deeper and more instinctual for humans, after all. Even if their rational mind might absolutely want to call forth a demon, there was some animal part of them that would still shy away once they met them.

He wonders if perhaps this Calcifer had simply been of a similar inclination as he was now, and Howl had never seen its true being. After all, the form that he was taking was no more a reality than Sebastian was his name. It was simply more pleasant for humans to talk to a handsome visage that matched their own rather than a black mass of countless eyes and mouths.

...Or perhaps the demons of Howl's world were more docile. It's strange to consider, and it has him more inclined to believe the first idea more.

But catching that unsaid sentence, Sebastian is drawn away from his own thoughts on the matter. He cants his head lightly as he finishes the sentence himself, though with his own term for the process, "How unwise it is to form a covenant with them?"

All amusement is gone from Howl's face now. He knows Sebastian likely sensed the second half of his incomplete statement, but this doesn't explain how close Howl had been to saying it himself. And now, in this uncomfortable pause, it is starting to dawn on him that this looseness, this comfort he's had discussing Calcifer thus far, has been there since he was waiting out on the street corner.

"...Yes," he says slowly, looking down at the table with furrowed brows. "Yes, I... I made a contract with him, when I was just a child. We had a contract."

There it is again. The chains around his tongue are... simply not there. For over a decade, they have always been there, ever-present and unassailable. It is almost paralyzing in its miraculousness, to the degree that Howl cannot believe it, and yet...

"He was — he was about to die. I caught him as he fell from the sky. I was just curious if the stories about shooting stars were true, but... He said that if I let him go, he would die, and he begged me... he begged me to let him go. But I didn't want to. So I..."

If Howl still had his heart, it would be pounding in his chest. Maybe it still is, somewhere, in the dust left behind by his obliterated world. With no heart to contain it, emotion is filling his entire body, from head to the tips of his toes and fingers. A sudden and urgent feeling of both wonder and shock, beginning to creep towards the border of delirium.

"This is impossible," Howl suddenly blurts out, clutching his forehead. This is too much — how, what is...? Is it because Sebastian is a demon? No, he'd spoken to M before, alluded to it all, but at the time he still...

Sebastian watches as Howl goes through processing this revelation, and at first, his expression is that of confusion, naturally. It's inherently unlike his own contracts from the start, but the source of Howl's actual distress is one he would never guess. It wasn't his right to impose restrictions in the first place, after all, nor would he. He would love for a human to speak freely of their sins, because it would only drag them down further into mire he craved. Where Howl's tale of making his contract sounds like one that could be in a fairytale, the ones that the demon across the table from him struck were only those born from the worst, darkest places of humanity.

Though that's not the only thing that strikes him. Despite the fairytale-like nature of it, the core of the story itself and how Howl speaks about it shocks him, really. A human caring enough about an injured creature to foolishly trust it wasn't surprising. But the soft emotion that comes with the story is what makes Sebastian think that perhaps Howl was friends with a demon. Even knowing of the different sorts of demons that may exist between worlds, it feels an impossibility. He can think of no other reason that a demon wouldn't have used that human weakness to save themselves and then cut the human down once they could. There mere thought of it is...

But whatever he may feel about that, it's lost in the absolute torrent of emotion that Howl unintentionally pushes Sebastian's way like a flood. Dull as his own perceptions of emotion are, the way Howl feels it so strongly is akin to turning on a flood light in a pitch black room. It really is bright in its intensity, and Sebastian's expression turns near pained in the face of it.

"You really feel things extraordinarily intensely, don't you," he can't help but to hiss out between lightly gritted teeth. He realizes his rudeness though, and with a click of his tongue, shakes his head both to dismiss it and to attempt to recompose himself. "I do believe you have lost me, though. It is... a strange story for a covenant, certainly. But what about this is so impossible?"

As exasperated as Sebastian feels about having to partake in Howl's overwhelming emotions in this moment, imagine how Howl feels. He's been like this for most of his life, and never able to tell anyone about it, or how it happened, or why. And yet, here he is, he's doing it — somehow, it's happening —

"It's true!" Howl cries suddenly, his hands balling into fists against his forehead and then thunking down loudly in the table. It might seem that he's completely ignored Sebastian's question and is talking to himself, but he picks his head up and stares directly at the demon sitting across from him. With eyes wide and lined with tears, and his mouth spread in an odd mix of a joyous grin and a flabbergasted grimace, he does not even notice the handful of restaurant employees who have noticed his escalating outburst.

"The contract! No, more of a curse it was, to us both!" he continues. "Neither of us could tell anyone! So that our wagers could each be protected — so that neither of us could seek help in getting out of our agreement!! But look — look at me, talking to you about it, right now! I could kiss you!!"

And Howl really seems to mean that. If there wasn't a table between them, Howl might have grasped his face in his hands right now, if only to have some outlet for the joy and disbelief overflowing inside him. His crazed grin lingers on the demon for another beat, and then he turns and looks directly at the gawking employees — one of whom is their androgynous server from a few minutes ago, holding the food Howl ordered but unsure if they should interrupt whatever it is that's going on.

"Well! What are you waiting for, my dear?! Bring it here! We are celebrating tonight!!"

The server slinks over, relieved to have been given some instruction. As they do, Howl gleefully pours champagne into his and Sebastian's glasses. He can feel the demon's confusion and annoyance, but he doesn't care. He'll explain the rest of it soon enough, answer whatever questions he has. This is incredible!

Finally, there's an explanation, and to Sebastian's personal surprise it's... Not one he finds lacking, exactly. The way Howl's emotions wash over him is still something he dislikes, but the annoyance at least ebbs away. The contract that Howl had been pulled into was very much unlike the ones that Sebastian would form, but it gives him an objective understanding. Naturally escaping the curse of a covenant would be room for celebration. Of course, if it were more similar, Sebastian would certainly be feeling more sympathy for Calcifer than Howl.

"Well, that does explain it," he says more coolly, with "it" naturally being Howl's outburst. "I am surprised that you have only had it dissipate now... Though from the sounds of its terms, perhaps they were not so ever-present as the sort I strike. I do not make wagers, personally, but I can see how a vow of silence on the matter would make it fairer."

It's not an uncommon arrangement, just not Sebastian's particular preference. The contracts demons formed tended to fall into the category of wagers or wishes, so it's not a surprise in that sense. And actually, if it were a contract of wager, it makes a bit more sense to Sebastian that a demon might befriend a rival, especially if the terms of the wager were relatively low. He's curious about that, but as a champagne flute is filled, he takes it delicately.

For a moment, he just twirls the stem of it between his fingers before he breathes out a single-noted laugh. The remainders of his frustrations slip away, and he raises the glass to Howl with a light smile.

"Then to your newfound freedom, Mr. Howl," his smile turns wry as he offers, "May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live."

"To newfound freedom!" Howl declares loudly, clinking the edge of his champagne flute against Sebastian's and partaking in a long, indulgent sip. The champagne is dry without tasting bitter or excessively alcoholic — a crisp, refined selection for either a celebratory night out or a regular brand that Howl always orders here. Tonight, it just happens to be both.

After his long sip, Howl sets his flute back on the table and immediately refills it. It's going to be a good night.

"Not the kind of contract you'd normally form, you say?" he remarks curiously. If he can talk about this broad topic now, without any limitations, then he is going to. "The covenant of silence is very much a standard component of magical 'locks' in my world, whether they be binding two-way contracts or one-way curses. It is much easier to craft a method of removing such locks if you know what it is that they imprison, you see."

Howl holds out the bottle, offering to refill whatever portion of Sebastian's drink he has downed by now. "I've learned that demons can operate quite differently depending on the world that an Aion comes from, of course. Are the contracts you'd forge more unbreakable as a matter of course?"

As the toast withdraws, Sebastian's sip of the champagne is much more modest. In part, it's just his strict manners at work, but it's just as much how acrid it tastes on his tongue. He can tell that it's perfectly fine, as sommelier is one of the many, many areas of expertise that Ciel had forced him into. It's simply the difficulty of some things in this human form merely being approximations, and taste was one of the most difficult to refine. As such, he simply holds up a hand genially as a refill is offered.

"How interesting. Silence is somewhat implicit in the sort of covenants I tend to strike, though it is more for the contractor's side of things. I am not able to exist in the human realm so easily as your Calcifer seems to have," he explains coolly, but as he continues, his voice does soften. In Achamoth, he's not particularly concerned about the locals overhearing, honestly. His impression is more that they might love the darkness of his contracts, but of course, who could say for Howl? The softer tone is more to match the shift in conversation.

"The Covenants I strike are those of desire. Any wish a human can have, I could grant." Could. A fact that still bothers him, but he hopes that's not the piece that Howl picks out through all the rest of this information. "Should they wish to be the king of an entire realm, win the heart of the one they love unrequited, or live in luxury, surrounded by money and treasure from all over the world, then they need only call upon me. There is very little I would have to reject."

He takes a sip of his champagne at this point to punctuate the conversation. It's a larger drink this time, but still modest. Sebastian sets it back on the table with care, and his attention is drawn to the bubbles in the glass instead as his smile shifts to one that's more enigmatic.

"I will come to one who commits a great sin against God out of their desire for my power," he says coolly, though what a 'great sin' could be is intentionally left up to the imagination, "So as you can imagine, they are not inclined to speak of their transgressions. Nor am I inclined to, since there is no benefit, really."

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