The Exception, The Guardian, and The Monster

Plat  

Esredes: >On this young evening in the more remote parts of Erden, the crimson knochen makes his landing in the woods near Alise's town, and quickly shrinks himself down to human form, taking the short walk through the forest towards the village his business partner resides in. By this point, he's memorized the way through it and to her shop, and it won't take him long to get to it and push open the door.< >Where are you, Alise? Did you miss me?< >It doesn't matter if you did or not, I'm here.<

Momo  

>Inside, Esredes is greeted by a new face. He spots a man with dark skin and darker hair at the counter. A pair of goggles rest over his eyes, and a large scar on his right cheek. He seemed to be working on a mechanical arm, etching in a detailed pattern. Probably something custom requested. As he spots Esredes enter, he gives off a bright smile.< 

???: OH! Hello there! I didn't expect anyone at this time.

Plat  

Esredes: >....oh.< >You must be the one she works with.< >I've been told you're overly enthusiastic.< >how much am I about to regret everything< ....Hello. You must be Levi, right?

Momo  

Levi: >The man gives an enthusiastic nod< That's me! I don't believe we've formerly met! Well, stranger, welcome to the shop! We've got weapons and gadgets of all kinds! If you need anything custom made, we can do that too! We do not, however, dabble in knochen bones or magic.

Plat  

Esredes: Right, right. I've already been acquainted with this place. Look, do you know where Alise is right now?

Momo  

Levi: Hm? ... OH! >The man chuckles brightly< You're the acquaintance Alise was talking about. Uhh... Esredes! Right? It's nice to formally meet you- Alise was just making us some tea. She should be up here soon. Would you like a cup?

Plat  

Esredes: No thanks. Yes though, you have that right. I'm here on business.

Momo  

Levi: Alright then! >He turns his torso in his seat and starts yelling towards the back< ALISE!!!! GUEST!! 

Alise: >Her voice can be heard from the back, slightly irritated< WHAT? WHO'S COMING THI-oh wait- OKAY, HOLD ON!!! >After a minute or two, Alise comes up to the front, her gauntlets worn as always. However, she carries a tray in one hand with three cups, and the tea pot in the other, the steam blowing out from the opening. She gives a small nod towards Esredes.< 

Alise: Good to see you. Want any tea? 

Levi: He denied the tea. 

Alise: Ah, then give me a moment. >She pours a cup from the pot and glides it towards Levi.< Mind if you give us some privacy? 

Levi: Mh? Ah, no worries! And thank you!

Plat  

Esredes: Ah, hello. Good to see you too. >yes, thank you for that< >a crisis has been averted< See you around. >I'd rather not, but I suppose I'll put it that way<

Momo  

>As Levi stands up, Esredes notices him grasp onto a cane that was hidden behind the counter. He can see that a peg leg is in place of where his left leg should be as Levi leaves the room with his tea in the other hand.< 

Alise: >she takes Levi's place behind the counter, pouring herself a cup of tea.< What's up? Did you check off the list? >He disposed of them quickly...<

Plat   

Esredes: >He takes note of the peg leg. Huh. Missing one. That's got to be inconvenient.< I suppose you're not going to tell him what's really going on here, are you? But yes, all but one. And that last one's days are numbered now. >I'm getting close to him, I can feel it.<

Momo   

Alise: All but one? Ohhh, it's gotta be the hunter with the scar on his shoulder. I got a bad vibe from that one. He's smart and dangerous, a bad combination. That's the guy, right?

Plat   

Esredes: Yes, it must be. He's tricky. Nothing I won't be able to handle, though.

Momo  

Alise: I recommend coming back here tomorrow at around 5 o'clock at night. He threatened us that if we didn't do as he said by that date and time tomorrow, he'd make us. You might find him here. >She reaches into her robes and pulls out a folded piece of paper.< I also have another small list of people when you're done with this guy.

Plat  

Esredes: Oh, perfect. I'll be here and ready. What's the list look like? >are you going to let me see it<

Momo  

Alise: >She holds the list out to him.< It's a small group of guys who "hunt" together. They live in different areas. I got some information from eavesdropping. There should be enough to track them.

Plat  

Esredes: >He takes it and scans its contents for a moment.< Looks good to me. I shouldn't have much trouble ensuring they don't get to hunt together again.

Momo  

Alise: Much appreciated... >His visits are always so short. Perhaps I should ask him something?< ... Mind if I inquire about something? Unless you're busy, then feel free to leave.

Plat  

Esredes: About what? >I could leave, but I suppose I don't have to yet<

Momo  

Alise: You do the job, and you do it well. That's great for me, but it makes me wonder.... >Just ask him!< You're not just an ordinary knochen... to cross off my list so quickly.

Plat  

Esredes: >He raises an eyebrow, just a little< I've been hunting knochen killers for a long time.

Momo  

Alise: You do it though, as if it was your job... does it happen to be your job in general? I mean... what kind of person did I make a deal with...?

Plat  

Esredes: >You're a little too late to be asking that question, aren't you?< In a way, you could call it so. I'd consider my 'job' to be ensuring the survival of knochen in general. A lot of that involves disposing of our biggest threats.

Esredes: Besides, we've established you made a deal with someone not very friendly to most humans, didn't we? I don't take very kindly to a race that's driven mine so close to extinction, to say the least.

Momo  

Alise: Just wondering... I could see you didn't like my kind, but I didn't anticipate to what extent... Thanks for being upfront though. I appreciate a direct response. >She sighs a bit.< We know so little about each other, and I'm sure that's for the best... but my curiosity can get the best of me sometimes.

Plat  

Esredes: I can understand getting curious. We probably wouldn't be talking if I wasn't a little curious myself. >his gaze shifts down towards her gauntlets< >seriously, why don't you ever take those off<

Momo  

Alise: >Her eyes widen as she notices his gaze. Her hands subconsciously move closer together and she drops her gaze away from him.< ... I guess you want an answer for these?

Plat  

Esredes: Are you ever intending to tell me one?

Momo  

Alise: I suppose you deserve an answer.... For a deal. >She glances back up at him< If I tell you, you must allow me time to explain it afterwards. Deal?

Plat  

Esredes: Deal. I'm listening.

Momo  

Alise: I suppose it would be best if I just showed you.... >She starts to pull off a gauntlet. Underneath is far from overwhelming. It's simply her hand, plain and smooth. She holds it up.< Just an ordinary hand... from appearance.

Plat  

Esredes: >His eyebrow raises again, higher this time. He's not sure he expected it to be ordinary.< And only from appearance...?

Momo  

Alise: >She glances over at the pot of tea. Its steam has noticeably lessened since she brought it in. With her bare hand, she places it on the side of the pot.<> In less than a minute, Esredes can see the steam flowing out through the opening like before, letting out a shrill whistle to let the user know that the water inside is boiling.<> She glances back up at him to gauge his reaction. <

Plat  

Esredes: >His expression stays in place at first, until the steam begins to come out. When it begins to shrill, you'll see the flare of surprise light up on his face before he steadies it back.< Are you... warming the pot... with your hands??

Momo  

Alise: >She slowly moves her hand back and stands up from her seat.< It's convenient for things like that... but it's mostly a burden if I can't even place my hand like so- >her hand rests on the counter. In a matter of seconds, black smoke starts to rise around the area. She quickly removes her hand to reveal a hand print scorch mark in the wood.< well, I can't really give someone a handshake like this.

Plat  

Esredes: >He watches intently, then directs his gaze back on her< ...How is it possible you can do that. >I'm still listening<

Momo  

Alise: Because it's magic... >Her gaze rests on his< ... from a knochen.

Plat  

Esredes: >his eyes narrow< ...You're telling me you're a magic user? >I thought you told me otherwise before<

Momo   

Alise: Yes and no. It's technically magic... and I technically got it from a knochen. But it's my own... I don't use any bones or potions. And it never.... EVER.... stops. >She slowly places her gauntlet back on.< Remember the woman I told you about? Thiessen? During our first meeting.... She's the reason I'm like this. She... DID something- I don't know what. Injected me with something... And I was hoping it would wear off by now- but it hasn't.

Plat   

Esredes: >okay, he relaxes a little at that. That's not what he thought she was saying.< The lady gave you magic. Permanent magic. I've never heard of such a thing being possible. How are you not more uncanny in appearance?

Momo  

Alise: I don't know. The changes started to happen, and they they just... stopped. I... >She starts to look a little uncomfortable< I don't know why. If I knew, I'd be looking for a way to cure.... this! >She gestures at her gloves.< I don't want to live like this.

Plat  

Esredes: So you can't control it at all? Your hands just constantly set whatever they touch on fire?

Momo  

Alise: >She nods a bit.< Anything... everything.... Levi made these gauntlets for me so that I could keep myself protected... but it's really to protect others.

Plat  

Esredes: ...I see. >he's quiet for a moment.< You weren't lying when you said this Thiessen liked to mess with things that didn't need toying with.

Momo  

Alise: Humans... knochen... none of them are safe from her. She's a monster... The things she did to the others- >Her face grows pale and she covers her hand over her mouth.< Ghh.... I can't even imagine what she does to knochen.... what she did to the one who's magic mine came from....

Plat  

Esredes: >SHE SOUNDS LIKE A MONSTER< What a truly horrid example of your species.

Momo  

Alise: >She slowly sits back down.< .... I'm only here cause one of her... "experiments" went wild. It caused a riot... Levi saved me, he helped me escape. Since then, I've been warning people about her, telling them to travel in groups... and I suggest you warn any knochen as well.

Plat  

Esredes: The knochen I know usually travel in groups by default. But you're right. They need to be aware of this menace.

Momo  

Alise: ... you can't tell anyone about this. About my hands. People can't know that there's way to obtain this kind of magic. It's dangerous, and I just want to live a peaceful life.

Plat  

Esredes: Hah, certainly not. I can't even imagine the horrible things they'd do with permanent magic like yours, even if it was uncontrollable.

Momo  

Alise: >She looks away, with Esredes distinctively noticing a glimpse of fear in her eyes. This is probably the most emotion she's revealed to him so far.< I can.... and I'd prefer not to think about it...

Plat  

Esredes: >It is, and it surprises him. His neutral expression drops to a frown.< Perhaps we shouldn't talk about it.

Momo  

Alise: >She slightly shakes her head.< ....it's been a while but... I am glad I got to talk about it... Thanks. >She sighs and takes a sip from her tea.< Any other questions you have? Preferably none about my hands.

Plat  

Esredes: Hm, that was the main one I had. On the subject of hands, though... I can't do anything with fire, but I could show you something.

Momo  

Alise: >Her eyes widen a bit at the comment.< Show me something? Like what?

Plat  

Esredes: Just a little showcase of the perks of being knochen. >He raises his left arm up at chest level, resting the other one under it, calling attention to his hand. Alise will watch as it begins to turn a deep shade of red and a lighter shade of gold, and the skin shifts texture. His fingers lengthen and large, black claws form on the ends of them. When it stops, Alise is staring at a hand that looks inbetween a knochen and a human one- in such a way that is easy to find gross and disturbing. He curls the fingers up, then opens up the palm at her.<

Momo  

Alise: >Her eyes drift around the hand, observing it's details.< .... That's a hell of a lot cooler than my hand.

Plat  

Esredes: >he smiles a little amused smile at that< It certainly is. I wouldn't ever feel safe if I didn't have claws at my disposal. It's like having a weapon on you at all times. Though perhaps it's for the better humans lack them.

Momo  

Alise: You best not show that when Levi is around. He'll wanna inspect your hand and make me a pair of gauntlets that look like that. >She smiles a bit< Although I wouldn't mind. Transforming hands are a lot cooler than setting things on fire all the time... literally.

Plat  

Esredes: Wouldn't that just make people give you even more strange looks?

Momo  

Alise: I don't mind the strange looks. I mind the fact that I can't give a proper handshake... I can't touch a tree without starting a forest fire... I can't even walk through the grass. >She props up one of her legs to the table, revealing the metal shoes with the high heel.< The same thing happens with my feet.... It's irritating that I just can't touch anything other than hard metal.

Plat  

Esredes: It must be. That's an important sense to have be so limited.

Momo   

Alise: >She sets her leg back down and sighs< You're telling me.... well... thanks for showing me your cool hand trick. Just from that glimpse, I can tell you're a pretty fierce looking knochen. Glad I'm not pissing you off.

Plat   

Esredes: Heh, if you want to put it that way, you're right. >he lowers his hand back to his side. It makes its way back to being a normal human hand.< That being said, you've certainly told me a lot more than I'd expect you to.

Momo   

Alise: You would have found out eventually, and there's really no point in lying to you. Besides, if we're gonna keep working together, I'd like for there to be a bit more trust between us.

Plat 

Esredes: Hm. I suppose you have a point. >he pauses a second.< It wouldn't even matter how much I told you the specifics of what I do, would it? You act as if you would accept all of it.

Momo 

Alise: the deal has already been made. I'm not going to withhold names from you if I find out more about you. I'll accept with what kind of person I made a deal with, especially with how well you're doing. You might just be the one to find Thiessen.

Plat 

Esredes: I'd certainly like to. >another pause.< I don't often act alone. I have resources and information networks.

Momo 

Alise: Resources, huh? You make more deals like this with humans?

Plat 

Esredes: Not with humans. What I mean is I know a lot of knochen. And a lot of what they know eventually gets passed on to me.

Momo 

Alise: I see... so you're pretty high up... >she smiles, only slightly, but it is a smile.< I guess I'm pretty lucky to have met you then.

Plat 

Esredes: Indeed I am. >he pauses, yet again< Does the word nochmal mean anything to you?

Momo 

Alise: Mmm... only rumors. Like, it's a faction of knochen that have banned together to wipe out humanity. I hear some of the older folk tell it to kids to scare them, make sure they don't wander too far from the village.

Plat

Esredes: So it has made its way to some of you. It's definitely more than a rumor, but its best it stays that way.

Momo 

Alise: you're telling me it's real? >She looks him over< ... you're not one for jokes, so it's probably real then....

Plat 

Esredes: It's always been real. It's been the reality I live under much longer than you've been alive. >pause< Humans obviously don't like us. A lot of knochen don't like us either. But it's something of an unprecedented situation amongst the knochen species.

Esredes: You see, we're meant to be rather solitary creatures, keeping to ourselves, tending to our territories. We usually only band together into a tribe and nothing more. But the faction is much larger than a single tribe. It's a collection of like-minded knochen with a common goal, able to work together and accomplish much more than any of us would as individuals or small groups. Such a thing is somewhat contrary to our nature. And it makes things much more terrifying for your species. Those children should be afraid.

Momo 

Alise: >she simply stares up at him a bit longer before nodding< I see... humans are kinda driving you guys to your breaking point... to be honest, I sympathize with you guys.

Plat 

Esredes: Pretty much. We're all going to die out one by one if we don't stand together as a species. And yet still, a lot of knochen think humanity is worth saving. That it should be protected over our own. That magic should be practiced by them freely. Can you imagine having so little care for what you are?

Momo

Alise: They don't see it like that.... also, Y'know I'm helping you kill my own kind, right? It's because, the way I see it, we're not all the same. There are plenty of humans like me who simply want to survive and live a normal life. Then there are humans like Thiessen or the hunters who thrive off of knochen. Some knochen can see that too, which is why they defend us.... but I don't think they should defend all of us.

Plat

Esredes: They really shouldn't. It must be like protecting a band of rats and not knowing which ones might infect you with disease.

Momo

Alise: Rats, huh? I guess that's one way to put it. Everything is just.... so complicated. There's a lot of gray area. Your faction sees things in a little more black and white... which I don't think is too bad. Makes life simpler.

Plat 

Esredes: I suppose it does in some ways. I'd rather not risk infection, especially when the chances are high. But that's enough of knochen politics.

Momo  

Alise: >she nods lightly< ... thanks for telling me. I feel like I understand you and your cause better. I'm cheering for you guys, but not entirely. I'd prefer to continue living, if you can believe it.

Plat  

Esredes: Oh, that's understandable. Well, try not to worry. I told you your village was safe. And that ripples down through a lot of potential attackers.

Momo  

Alise: Thank you... >she glances outside a nearby window< It's getting late. You probably have somewhere to be. Or you could stay the night. We have a guest bedroom.

Plat 

Esredes: I'll take my leave. But this has been an interesting talk, to say the least.

Momo 

Alise: It has... thanks for dropping by. >She smiles slightly again< Take care of yourself, and take care of those people on the list.

Plat 

Esredes: Hah. >he also smiles a bit< With pleasure. And speaking of that, I'll be seeing you again tomorrow.