Night 21

[passingships]

I've always thought souls were the most fascinating things - even more so when they lacked tangibility. Yet, having been shown the physical - or perhaps I should say spiritual? magical? - form of one, I find myself even more intrigued.

Those eyeless men so many have warned about: at least one of their souls is crimson, braided with shadow. Perhaps that will mean something to someone. Perhaps it will not. If the former, I'd like to know what it means to you or whether, perhaps, you see them in a different light.

It seems that red is the basic colour of the soul and the darkness is rot. Has anyone seen aught to contradict this?

Comments

[angel_of_death]

I can't promise I'd understand a word of it. You might have to explain it to me.

[passingships]

That's fine. Although if you can already read and write that is good enough.

Where would you like to meet?

[angel_of_death]

The gardens and the town are both good places. I can meet you in the town square at first light in the morning.

[He was feeling better than he had at the end of the day, but he was still under strict bedrest. He wasn't even allowed to leave the room.]

[passingships]

Very well. I will meet you then. Who shall I look for?

[angel_of_death]

Do you know what a lighter looks like?

[passingships]

Depends on which century said lighter is from. Or world.

[angel_of_death]

[Well... he probably should have thought of that. Damned illness, fogging up his mind. But no matter. He could still describe it.]

A 1941 Zippo with a brushed chrome finish. Do you know what that looks like?

[passingships]

I'm acquainted with that brand, yes. I'll keep an eye out for someone with that, then?

[angel_of_death]

Yes.

Time skip to Day 22 (i'm lazy)

[passingships]

'Find me at first light,' they had said. Shougo made his way to the town square as the sun's pale fingers crept over the walls, throwing cold shadows and intermittent warmth across each dwelling. Perhaps he was too early, he mused to himself as he leaned against the stone well, hands in pockets. The hours he kept were not like most others. Even here, with day and night stretched beyond their normal frames, Shougo was reasonably certain he continued to sleep no more than a few sparse hours at a time.

No matter. If he was early then he would wait for his contact. He had brought a book - the book - with him to read. Shougo thumbed through the pages and settled on a chapter. Thus he remained and would remain until the town roused itself from slumber.

[angel_of_death]

First light. Early in the morning yet, Walter made his way outside.

The smell of breakfast clung to his clothes; fresh bread, sweet fruit, and clotted cream. He wore the servant's uniform this morning, fingers clad in insulated grey gloves cradling and rotating the chrome lighter in his palm.

There was a man outside already, and in the dim light of the dawn Walter could see him reading in the distance.

He waited until he was actually near to speak up. "Are you the bloke with an interesting book then?"

He kept the tone light. Conversational.

[passingships]

Shougo raised his head, dark yellow eyes flitting over what the younger man held in his hand. He nodded and gently shut the book, clasping it over his lap.

"I am. And you're the man with the lighter," he replied just as lightly. "Shall we find somewhere more comfortable to sit?"

[angel_of_death]

"Where would you suggest?" The butler was curious. Here was a man he knew essentially nothing about, save for his interacting with a bloke who was decidedly not trustworthy.

Pocketing the lighter, he clasped his hands loosely behind his back, waiting for a reply.

[passingships]

"How does the garden sound?" he suggested, one eyebrow crooked questioningly. Peaceful, discreet - and Shougo had rather fallen in love with the abundance of nature contained within.

[angel_of_death]

"It sounds fine." Plenty of space, a modicum of privacy, plants that didn't hate him. The garden was rather a good choice for speaking at length.

His arms draped back down against his sides, and he shifted, body language indicative of a readiness to move. "Shall we be off then?"

[passingships]

"Yes." He strode off without another word, clearly expecting the younger man to follow. He seemed in no particular hurry but his pace was brisk.

"Do you have a name I can call you by or shall I call you 'Zippo'?" he asked over his shoulder, humourously.

[angel_of_death]

"Well, considering your relationship with a certain sneaky someone..." He smirked, an edge of dark humour. "...who, for all I know, might be listening in through you," or the book, he mentally added, "I think I shall have to refrain for now. I shall extend the same courtesy to you, of course."

[passingships]

"Zippo it is then." He chuckled and turned back around. "Call me whatever you wish."

"So, what do you know about this 'Akari'? You seem familiar with him."

[angel_of_death]

"That alias was given to him by someone I know. It is neither the real name of the man being used as a host, or the one that acts through him. The someone who gave him that name was once enthralled to him, and they got on rather well, but when he finally worked up the strength to break from Akari's control..." The humour in his features dampened, transitioning to an annoyed expression. "'Akari' was petty about it."

[passingships]

"Ahh... I thought as much. It isn't the sort of name I would expect attached to someone in a place so foreign," Shougo mused. This Zippo's friend must be Japanese or of Japanese descent. "By 'enthralled' do you mean that he succumbed to the lure of their blood?"

[angel_of_death]

"Yes. You might say the blood is an extension of Sorrow's power, a tiny fragment of his essence flowing through those he taints. Swallowing it has an addictive effect that... appears to force a person into being susceptible to sexual advances." For a brief moment, his upper lip curled, his countenance hardening.

"That's how he applied it, at any rate."

[passingships]

"Yes, I did notice that when I had some. And he also warned me before I had it. He said I might come to hate him." Perhaps if he were anyone else, perhaps. But Shougo felt he possessed a slightly different mind to most. The ability to distance himself from an issue and consider it logically.

He glanced over his shoulder, noting the hard expression on the younger man's face. Anger, subtly shown, but anger nonetheless. "The one who named him 'Akari' - a friend?"

[angel_of_death]

"...A friend, now more. And the sort of gentle soul that remained concerned for them even free from the blood's effects. So yes, I get a little cross about the way he was and is still being treated."

Having said his peace on that, the young man settled. "So, he's bedded you as well?"

[passingships]

Shougo nodded. While he noted the information, he did not assign it any particular importance. It had no relevance at the moment. "It wasn't very memorable," he said aloud, gesturing dismissively with one hand as they left through the town gates. "Satisfying, but not memorable. I don't mind the need, even if it does sometimes get a little irritating not being able to focus on my reading."

But if it did grow that unbearable, he could simply go back to Akari for satisfaction. Love or affection did not factor into the equation.

[angel_of_death]

"They feed on sexual energy, and can taste emotions." Though by the way the man indicated the experience being merely satisfactory, Walter suspected quantity and not quality was the objective.

"Did he mention that to you?"