open ♔ august castle socialization

[wynn]

WHO || Everyone! [ota]
WHAT || Shenanigans.
WHERE || Anywhere in the castle, surrounding environs, London, etc!
WHEN || Any time during August [back and forward dated]
HOW || Actionspam

[ The castle can be a happening place, even on more mundane days. This log is for random interactions over the course of this month.  Because not everyone is into parties, ok.  

You are encouraged to start your own threads and tag around, and feel free to threadjack into any on-going threads that aren't specified as 'closed' in the subject lines since people can enter into rooms even in the middle of what's going on. You can also specify 'single thread', meaning you want only one response for all participants, rather than multi-thread, where a number of different scenes/threads can be done as replies to the top prompt. ]

Comments

[reallywicked]

[Is this a riddle? Faye doesn't have time for weird shitty riddles. She also doesn't have the patience for it. She takes the paper, looks it over, and waves it in front of him.]

It doesn't say anything.

[thesleeper]

[A bead of sweat rolls down Phineas's forehead, as he freezes...]
I... probably should have expected that.

Well... I... I didn't plan anything for this, honestly, I was hoping you would over-think it, assume there was something cryptic hidden, and waste days trying to make some sense of it...

[Phineas smiles and laughs nervously... maybe he over-estimated her...]
Well, in any case, a pact is a pact. You have my word, and I'll show you more.. [He looks around.] Let's away to somewhere more private first though, shall we?

[reallywicked]

[She's easy to over-estimate since she acts way more important and practiced than she actually is. But since she's pretty convinced that she's passed his weird little test, she just smirks and shrugs.]

Your place or mine?

[thesleeper]

Ah... Mine isn't too far from here... Follow me.
[He leads her along to his room Laying his books near a table already covered in tomes.]

It's a... bit of a mess, sorry.
[He clears a small area on the floor, and pulls a small book out of his pocket, opening it to a section with a secret recess, and rolling a piece of chalk out into his hand.]

I'm going to have to ask you remain quiet, and pay attention... no matter what you see, alright? My magic isn't for the faint of heart.

[reallywicked]

[Her nose wrinkles slightly at the state of his room, but the promise of more demonstration keeps her within the cluttered space.]

I'll try to contain myself. [She sounds bored, but that's just more of her normal tone. Folding her arms across her chest she tries to find a place to sit that isn't occupied by a million books.]

[thesleeper]

[Phineas kneels down, and references his journal as he traces a strange symbol on the floor in chalk. A brief glance about shows several such seals that have been drawn, brushed away, and re-drawn scattered about the room. He clears his throat as he finishes;]

"Amon - Void before the Altar - Answer my summons. I should like to broker a deal with you."

[After a breif moment, the room seems to darken, as a cloud of brimstone ash swirls in the seal, rearing up, then dissappearing - leaving behind a ebon ram, whose eyes and nostrils flare with fire, with a serpentine tail.]

[Phineas breathes a sigh of relief.] Hello again, Old one. It's been a long time.

Amon: Not so long... This day, you will serve me, mortal. No "deals."

...Very well, be gone then, beast. [The apparition dissapears, and as it goes, Phineas grows a long pair of Ram's horns. He turns and smiles weakly.]

Just like magic. [He then breathes some small amount of fire, to demonstrate - careful not to ignite any books.]

[reallywicked]

[faye was not expecting him to ACTUALLY SUMMON DEMONS. She jumps slightly when it appears but remembers his warning to be still. She's not afraid really- just startled. The exchange is brief and she's actually a little disappointed when the thing leaves. She doesn't have time to voice that before Phineas has gone and grown horns. Curious, she steps closer and reaches out to fun her fingertips along the curve.]

You are just full of surprises, aren't you?

[thesleeper]

So I've been told. [He says curtly. His voice has picked up some of the snarl and surliness of Amon's.]

That [He points at the seal.] was a Vestige. A being of immense power from beyond the yokes of space, time, and reality. They lend their power as a pact, in exchange for... a glimpse of existance... by binding with mortals.

[reallywicked]

So are you...bound? [she arches an eyebrow because really how is she not supposed to make that dirty.]

[thesleeper]

[Phineas sneers at her little.]

Your souls become temporarily stitched together... and no, it doesn't hurt.

Still care to learn?

[reallywicked]

I'm not scared, if that's what you're asking. [Rude. Yes, she wants to learn. She's more interested than ever, actually.] How does it work?

[thesleeper]

[He strums his finger on one of his books.]
Performing the ritual is just as easy as that [He points back at the seal on the floor.] You need only know the symbol of the entity, their name, and their title. This... [He grasps at his horns.] charming addition to myself is 'Amon, the Void before the Altar.'

Now, researching those is a bit more complex, especially considering these entities tend to slightly change their seals and titles from age-to-age... Fortunately some early occultists seem to have been in this world, much as they have in my own, and left behind valuable information, hidden away musty old tomes.

And, fortunately for yourself in particular, I've got a respectable amount of the information decoded already... [He bounces a piece of chalk in his hand.]

[Edit: Also - this feat ]

[reallywicked]

So it's just the right name and the right drawing? Anyone can do that! [Somehow it's less impressive to her. Magic makes her feel special, and to think that any nerd could go figure it out on a whim? It irks her.]

[thesleeper]

Well... Yes, and no, I suppose.

It takes a bit more training to bind more full with the Vestige... And, there are many who will simply refuse to answer your call, if your Ego isn't yet powerful enough to cow their spirit.

Also, the very act of researching and discovering them can take years. [He gestures to all the books piled about.]

[reallywicked]

[She folds her arms over her chest.]

It sounds boring.

[Bratty teenager, hello]

[thesleeper]

[Phineas smirks.]

Harnessing the power of some of the strongest beings in existence, boring?

[He sounds a bit surly, thanks to Amon's spirit, but he's actually a little amused at her impertinence.]

Tell me then, Faye, what doesn't bore you?

[reallywicked]

Spending years reading old books to cast one spell is boring. [She corrects, eyebrow raised.]

See this? [She gestures to the horns and symbol he's drawn.] That's okay. But magic isn't in books. [At least not hers, not exactly.] It's just... there. It's instinct.

[thesleeper]

[Phineas shrugs.]

Inherent magical powers... seem nice, but how do you empower them? And what if they just stop some day? Seems too fickle, for my liking.

[reallywicked]

What if someone takes all your precious books away? Nothing's a sure thing.

[thesleeper]

[He thinks for a moment, tilts his head acquiescingly, and nods.]

Suppose there's something to that. [Then he grins mischievously.] Well... if you're not interested in any of that... [He pushes aside a pile of books, and sets down on his bed.] Ever been with a guy with horns?

[He switches gears fast.]

[reallywicked]

[Oh honey, no...]

Really? [She shakes her head, laughing at him.] God, you're a loser. [Teenage insults for ya.] I mean maybe the fire thing back at the bar was cool. And the stuff with the horns? Yeah, I mean it's kinda hot, but I only came here because I thought you could show me something impressive- not your dump of a room and a bunch of old books.

[thesleeper]

[He gets comfortable, clearly expecting her reaction. He leans back, opens his mouth, and little wisps of flame dance around, before he breathes a large line of fire, blasting the door open, mostly incinerating it.]

Later, then. [He winks, grabs up a nearby book, and starts scribbling away.]

[reallywicked]

[Faye raises her eyebrows, clearly already more intrigued than she was with 99% of the rest of their conversation. But she's not really changing her mind. She gives a little wave and a smirk before heading out to leave him to his ~studies~]