( open ) meet me in the alleyway

[ettersberg]

Who: Thomas Nightingale (ettersberg) & maybe YOU
What: patrols in the red light district, other things probably. a month in the life of the last british wizard
When: all of february
Where: olympia
Warning(s): nsfw!! will feature sex at least partially prompted by aphro stuff.

Comments

[poolhall_killer]

[Assessing another is nothing new to Venom. It's happened many times since he was hired at Shades Darker, not to mention the times he's had to assess people both here and back home. Initially, that kind attention was confusing, because why would anyone be interested in him? Lately, it's helped him grow more comfortable in his skin, realizing that he might actually be attractive to people.

Which is why he shyly tucks his hair aside when he notices a familiar individual possibly assessing him. He's outside on a break, taking in some fresh air after being cooped up for hours behind the bar.]

Hello, sir. I hope the night's been treating you well.

[ettersberg]

[ somehow, they seem to run into one another in situations like these more often than not. if nightingale believed in these things, he'd say that fate has a particular sense of humour. ]

Hello again.

[ he inclines his head in a greeting, forcing his throat to work properly despite its dryness. ]

How are you? [ is the night treating him well? nightingale isn't so sure one way or another. ]

[poolhall_killer]

[they do seem to run into each other when certain atmospheres are heavier. He approaches his acquaintance, hands behind his back as always.]

I am well. Just taking a short work break. I didn’t know you patrolled this area.

[This is what he gets for being stuck inside the brothel all night.]

Did you start recently?

[ettersberg]

I did, yes.

[ nightingale considers for a moment, then nods to confirm the point again. ]

Very recently. I wasn't aware you worked here.

[poolhall_killer]

I work as a bartender over at Shades Darker. It pays well, but as you know, I am seeking a different path.

[Work, medical classes, rinse, repeat...]

I'm glad you found this new position. Being a guard suits you.

[ettersberg]

How is that coming along? [ nightingale is genuinely interested, which helps push aside the influence of the red light district and whatever is in the air here some. ]

It's close enough to what I used to do.

[poolhall_killer]

It's going well.

[In return, there's some excitement in Venom's voice.]

I'm learning a lot about the different treatments and situations. But admittedly I'm still working on getting over my disdain for blood, even if it is simulated.

And if I may be so bold, what did you do before?

[ettersberg]

I was a police officer.

[ disdain for blood. that seems an odd quality for a former assassin to have, but nightingale doesn't ask. the only thing betraying his surprise is a slight rise to his eyebrows. ]

[poolhall_killer]

[...

Venom's been befriending quite a few upholders of the law since his arrival. Two attorneys, now a policeman. He feels like he should be proud of his progress. And none of them have moved to have him arrested.
Yet.

The look isn't lost on him as he tilts his head.]

Are you surprised that I'm not into bloodshed?

[ettersberg]

[ nightingale would have been tempted, if he'd considered this is jurisdiction at the time that venom had first confessed to being an assassin. ]

There is some ways between "not into it" and "disdain". I would have figured you more indifferent to it.

[poolhall_killer]

My elders thought I would become indifferent with training, but it never went away. It's one of many reasons why I chose the pool cue as my weapon.

[Killing from a distance meant not having to see as much blood. And less to clean up when he had to take care of the mess.]

I think dressing wounds has helped more than anything.

[ettersberg]

I don't see the connection.

[ between disliking blood and a pool cue as a weapon. to nightingale, a pool cue would most likely be used to pummel someone to death with, which seems intensely bloody, or perhaps to stab, which it doesn't seem particularly useful for. too blunt. ]

[poolhall_killer]

I specialize in billiards magic, so I was able to attack and strike my targets from a considerable distance. I had my associates check to see if my attacks were sound.

[He used to check his own (much to his chagrin), but once he became leader, he left most of the dirty work to his associates. It left only major hits to him.]

[ettersberg]

Billiards magic?

[ that gets a raised eyebrow. ]

[poolhall_killer]

It's my magic of choice.

[Let him produce a billiard ball for you, Nightingale. He flicks his wrist and it forms in his hand in less than a second.]

I worked for years to develop it. It's far from perfect, but it's very handy.

[ettersberg]

What does it do?

[ aside from conjuring billiard balls. ]

[poolhall_killer]

[Mostly conjuring billiard balls.]

I use the balls to strike from different angles, but I can also charge them with more energy so they do more damage. My other spells involve teleportation, however it is over very limited distances. And the rest are reserved for more desperate measures.

[ettersberg]

I see.

[ he does not actually see.

after a moment: ] Would you mind demonstrating? Without killing anyone, naturally.

[poolhall_killer]

[That last part gets a little smile out of Venom. He's happy to oblige as he steps back.]

Of course.

[He flicks his wrist and a small billiard balls appears in his hand out of nowhere. He drops his hand, and the ball stays suspended with a hazy aura around it.]

This is the foundation of my magic.

[He gently hits it with his hand, sending it slowly flying. With some concentration, he summons one that's about twice the size but crackling with black and violet energy.]

And this one is stronger, but takes more out of me. I normally use it to repel more aggressive opponents.

[ettersberg]

[ nightingale watches, gaze intent and focused. he isn't just watching, admittedly: he's also trying to sense any vestigia, the remnant magic always leaves in his world. searching for the practitoner's signare that to the best of his knowledge should accompany any magic. ]

It's very unlike what I know.

[poolhall_killer]

It's unlike most other magics, as well. I developed it after years of trial and error, solely to compliment my weapon.

[Many, many hours were spent at the pool table, studying angles, trajectories, the perfect densities of the balls. He's quite the billiards nerd.]

It was useful in my line of work, but these days I've been considering expanding my horizons.

[ettersberg]

Magically as well?

[ since nightingale already knows about the medical training. ]

[poolhall_killer]

Yes, and not just healing, either. I'd like to learn more about the other types available here.

If only we could teach one another...

[He'd be happy to show others his spells and learn more in return. Maybe even learn how to levitate properly.]

[ettersberg]

[ newtonian magic - the kind nightingale knows - can be taught to almost anyone. it doesn't require any special abilities or aptitude, though some people are better at it than others. control plays a big role.

he could teach venom - but he stays quiet. he isn't willing to take another apprentice with peter still in stasis, and he even if he were, it isn't a decision to be taken lightly. there are oaths. it's like handing someone a loaded gun. ]

I worked with the shamans in Wyver for a short while. It was - educational.

[poolhall_killer]

Oh?

[Wyver isn't very fond of Venom in general due to his affiliations with Olympia, but he's curious.]

What did you learn?