( closed )

[affal]

WHO: Makoto, Howl, and Dionys (?).
WHAT: Two young men investigate rumors of the other veteran Aion in Achamoth.
WHERE: Dionys' brothel, Achamoth.
WHEN: At some point during the Aions' first few weeks in the city.
WARNINGS: Potential NSFW mention as befits the location, though this is more of an information-gathering mission. Will add more if they become relevant!

When Makoto had first arrived in Hell, he had found himself surprised at how... normal it seemed. In many places one might even call it "idyllic." The rolling countryside could have been found on the silver screen of any Victorian drama, and J's mansion had been the very picture of a Roccoco palace. Even with this unexpected mundanity, he had learned to never allow himself to be lulled into a false sense of security. Hell was not "hell" on its own justification — it was what it was because of the demons that filled it.

He can't help but wonder what that makes Achamoth, under the same principles. Both architecturally and socially, it seems to be a shoring built to hold aloft a tower created in the glory of their God. Be they the bodies wrought in stone, wood, and steel that form its body or those of flesh and bone that comprise its lifeblood, devotion is all that he can read of this place. So when he finds himself standing in the street a short distance from the address he had been given for Dionys' brothel, he ponders the use of the "devotion" she practices. The lascivious shapes of the figures twining and spouting water from the construction of the many fountains out front speak little to the Regent's message of war, though perhaps he still finds himself rankled by words exchanged days ago that still stick beneath the skin.

Makoto might seethe, but he does so quietly and efficiently. He's made himself a clever engine of spite.

He had dropped by planning on approaching the doors and requesting an audience with the brothel's master, who he'd been told is the only other veteran Aion in the city besides Xishen. A simple plan, and one he wasn't entirely certain of, but it was the summary of all of the advice he had been given about speaking with Dionys. He has been standing his distance away from the building for a short time, and though he's not at risk of giving up just yet, he still finds himself discontented with the outline of a "plan" he has in mind. It was only a matter of time, though. Soon he would tire of inaction and strike forward to see where the evening might go, hinging on improvisation (in his opinion, the far less useful cousin of premeditation).

Comments

[galdorleod]

[ Howl is not one for brothels, despite his intense and almost unconditional love of women. Aside from sex work being viewed quite differently in Ingary, the sex itself is not really what Howl is after whenever he banters with the lovelier half of the population. His flirtation rarely ever gets that far to begin with anyway, with either the woman making her lack of interest clear, or Howl himself losing interest when feeling fails to register that empty space in his chest.

But he walks through Achamoth on this day with a particular location in mind: the best of the best of brothels in the entire city, according to the rumors. Its existence came up the very first time a local noticed the Legacy symbol carved into his arm, as part of the gossip surrounding the other Aion who was already here prior to their arrival. People spoke of her in words suggesting an incredible air of mystery. So... As apathetic as he is towards such institutions, how could Howl resist his own curiosity?

He isn't sure what he's expecting as he approaches the gaudy building, but Makoto probably isn't it. The young demon looked especially dashing on the night of the dinner, but Howl had been too much of a quietly suffering emotional mess to give him a proper compliment. Today, too, he looks noticeably well-dressed, but it's overshadowed yet again by Howl's reasons for coming here. ]

Fancy coming across you here. [ It's been at least two weeks since they shared stolen apples beneath that tree outside the ruins. Smiling mildly, Howl gestures at him in greeting... and prays that Makoto doesn't bring up the humiliation he suffered at the Regent's public dressing-down. ] Let's see — "M", was it?