Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Light =&gt; Light: Exotic Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Cold Heritage on 10-12-2022, 18:08:49</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cold Heritage</strong> on <strong>10-12-2022, 18:08:49</strong>
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				For In Character posts for Out of the Dark. Boldly enter Darkest Vancouver, #Shadowfam!<br><br><div class="codeheader">Code: <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="return smfSelectText(this);" class="codeoperation">[Select]</a></div><pre style="margin: 0; padding: 0;"><code class="bbc_code">[floatleft][img width=200 padding=10]http://your image here[/img][/floatleft]<br>[b]NAME:[/b] Your Character Name<br>(Optional)[b]WEARING:[/b] Optional description of what your character is wearing, or a link to their outfit.<br>[b]LOCATION:[/b] Where your character is, or where they end up at the end of the post if there is transition/travel involved.<br>[b]TIME:[/b] In a general sense.<br>[b]CONTENT:[/b] General level of content. Please include a warning about something like violence, bullying, etc., being included.<br>[b]TAGGING:[/b] Any characters and potential NPC's being referenced or directly spoken with in this post.<br>[hr]</code></pre><br><hr><br><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/qcq3vMM.png)</div><br><hr><br><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/yNYUQSe.jpg)</div><br><div align="center"><strong>The Institute of DARKEST Vancouver</strong></div><br>Constructed in the 1920s following the Great War, the Institute of DARKEST Vancouver is currently home to approximately three hundred Shadowhunters. The numbers vary as new Shadowhunters are assigned there or deployed elsewhere in the world, and, of course, the sad reality of casualties. Enforcing the Accords and the authority of the Clave is a tough job, and demons cut the Shadowhunters no slack. Warded against mundane scrutiny, the Vancouver Institute is located close to the Port of Vancouver. It is a place of particular interest to the Shadowhunters of Vancouver, as rogue Warlocks have a penchant for importing forbidden items and materials through the very busy port. It is also very common for cargo ships to have demonic stowaways.<br><br><strong>Important NPCS:</strong><br><br><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/QK49Oko.jpg)</div><hr><br><strong>Francis Whitespear</strong> is the head of the Vancouver Institute. A Shadowhunter of modest combat prowess, Francis excels in administrative tasks and the Institute of Vancouver is a model to the rest of the Clave in the efficiency of its operations and the robustness of its filing systems. Francis has taken initiatives to organize and digitalize all of the Institute's records and knowledge, and he can have virtually any record or tome called up in minutes. This allows the Vancouver Shadowhunters to bring the knowledge of their forebears to bear on any problem with unparalleled speed and accuracy. <br><br>One glaring flaw, however, that mars Francis's leadership is the deterioration of relations between the Shadowhunters and Warlocks of Vancouver. This goes back to when Francis was a young man, and he and the High Warlock of Vancouver, Elias Castle, fell in love with the same person. The love triangle ended in broken hearts and the death of the common love interest. The wounds were left to fester and never healed, and it is reflected in the cold, distant, and subtly hostile interactions between Shadowhunters and Warlocks at large in Vancouver. <br></td><td>&nbsp; &nbsp; </td><td>&nbsp; &nbsp; </td><td>&nbsp; &nbsp; </td><td><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/s24KeQd.jpg)</div><hr><br><strong>Elias Castle</strong> is the High Warlock of Vancouver. He has served in this position since city's incorporation. A bitter and curmudgeonly fellow, Elias has a special personal vendetta against the Shadowhunters because of his enmity with Francis Whitespear. Elias discourages the Warlocks of Vancouver of being too helpful of the Shadowhunters, and he has in the past been accused of obstructing Shadowhunter investigations into 'rogue' Warlocks smuggling contraband into the city through the port. These accusations were dropped due to lack of solid evidence. Elias is considerably less decadent and hedonistic than many Warlocks, leading a comparably aescetic life - although he has a large penthouse apartment for conducting the business of the High Warlock, he lives in a modest apartment with spartan furnishing and is well-known to eat porridge or oatmeal for most meals.</td><td>&nbsp; &nbsp; </td><td>&nbsp; &nbsp; </td><td>&nbsp; &nbsp; </td><td><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/N53pCqx.jpg)</div><hr><br><strong>Reginald Theodore Quintrell</strong> is the head of one of the Vampire clans of DARKEST Vancouver. A relatively young Vampire at a mere 122 years of age, Reginald is a boisterous fellow who is not shy about speaking his mind. Originally born in England, he was Turned in the trenches during the Great War and the experience left an indelible mark upon him. His natural inclination is to work within authoritarian systems which has made him an easy partner to work with for the Shadowhunters. Some Vampires in his Clan feel he is not putting Vampiric interests first with how quickly he acquiesces to the Law, but others do point out how quick Reginald is to demand the Shadowhunters fulfill their obligations. <br><br>Although Reginald does turn his nose up at Werewolves, it is something of an act he affects because he feels it is expected of him. Rather than any outright hatred for Werewolves, Reginald simply considers the whole lot ruffians that are beneath him and his kind. Reginald's ideal solution is to ensure that the Werewolves know to stay out of his Clan's territory and otherwise 'let dog eat dog.' However, Reginald will not shy away from rolling up his sleeves and engaging in fisticuffs if need be - he will smack a snout right quickly, sirrah!</td><td>&nbsp; &nbsp; </td><td>&nbsp; &nbsp; </td><td>&nbsp; &nbsp; </td><td><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/bigxmAd.jpg)</div><hr><br><strong>Nelson 'Dark Claw' Wilson</strong> is the Alpha of a small pack of Werewolves who live South of the Port of Vancouver. He introduces himself as 'Dark Claw' in a bid to sound cool and dangerous because he does not think Nelson sounds very tough. Nelson's pack split off from a much larger Werewolf pack shortly before a leadership change. This small pack is filled with more laid back Werewolves who are regarded as jokes among their own kind for their preferences to engage in water-related hobbies and barbecuing than doing 'real' Werewolf stuff. <br><br>Nelson is a leader of his kind that is not really well known by the movers and shakers of DARKEST Vancouver, and he kind of likes it that way. It means more time boating and fishing for him. Warlock antics at the port often mean trouble for him and his pack, however, and Nelson is obliged to skip out on whale-watching more than he would like to participate in Shadowhunter investigations when his pack is invariably accused of wrong-doings.</td></tr></tbody></table>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cold Heritage</strong> on <strong>14-12-2022, 05:33:40</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/QK49Oko.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Francis Whitespear<br>(Optional)<strong>WEARING:</strong> Humble business suit<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute -&gt; Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Briefing, Shadowhunters dispatched on assignment<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian Herondale, Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo, Michael Brightstar<br><hr><br><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/HRqhyNZ.png)</div><br>It was early morning, a few hours after dawn, when Francis Whitespear summoned Kaspian Herondale, Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo, and Michael Brightstar to the Ops Center of the Vancouver Institute. The Ops Center of the Vancouver Institute was much like that of other Institutes, such as the one located in New York City. The head of the Institute had a projected holo display showing a container ship that seemed at anchor just off the coast, far enough out that it was within international waters. Francis had his arms folded when the Shadowhunters arrived, and gave them all a nod of greeting. <br><br><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/bks2dRH.jpg)</div><br>"I'll keep this brief. We've had eyes on this container ship - the Song of Demeter - for a few days. It halted just outside Canadian waters six days ago, and sat there ever since. I'm told this is odd behaviour for a vessel of its size and type, and that it <em>should</em> be halfway across the world right now. The Coast Guard and Navy were monitoring the vessel until early this morning when they abruptly lost interest. They sent a small vessel out to investigate, and the vessel returned after brief contact with the Song of Demeter. I have eyes on the mundanes for now, but I want all of you to go take a look at the container ship. It's very likely there's something on that vessel that made the Coast Guard and Navy change their minds about doing something about it." Francis told the assembled Shadowhunters. "There's a helicopter being prepped to take you out to the vessel - it should be ready by the time you get to the airfield."<br><br>The Vancouver Institute had access to a handful of helicopters they maintained for all manner of tasks, and a few small, fast vessels for any maritime adventures they needed to get up to - such as excursions to any of the small islands just off the coast. <br><br>Once the Shadowhunters were kitted out with whatever they might deem prudent to take - weapons, certainly, but any other tools within reason they were permitted to requisition from the armoury - there was a Warlock ready to portal them to the airfield. And just as Francis laid out, there was a helicopter ready for them. It was a quick and efficient matter to get the Shadowhunters strapped in and ready to go. The pilot was a Shadowhunter himself, a fellow by the name of Juergen von Mainz. Juergen was quite adept at piloting the helicopter, and the ride there was swift and without incident.<br><br>The Song of Demeter seemed rather dead from the air. It seemed very still in the water, and there were no signs of life on the deck or in the bridge and accommodation unit. The shipping containers were packed tightly in place, and Juergen judged them suitable enough a place to set down. The touchdown was smooth, and the tightly stacked containers proved to a firm enough place for the helicopter. <br><br>"I'll keep the engine going in case we need to take off in a hurry." Juergen told the Shadowhunters once they were ready to get off. The Shadowhunters had a radio headset they could use to keep in touch with the pilot if needed. <br><br>There were obvious avenues to investigate: the bridge, the crew accommodation unit, and below decks. As the Shadowhunters proceeded, there were also a few shipping containers whose doors were open - these stood out because the overwhelming majority of the containers were sealed tightly. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>15-12-2022, 08:34:35</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/9ce98617e7caea3944f7056e038c845a/tumblr_od84mliuPi1vdaxzpo7_250.gifv)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> &nbsp;Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute -&gt; Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Briefing, Shadowhunters dispatched on assignment<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo, Michael Brightstar<br><br><hr><div class="floatright">(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/58/a2/e5/58a2e5a81162c2469ee5b2b540683a99.jpg)</div><br>Some time before dawn he was awoken by some rather enthusiastic licking. Playfully fending off his wolf/huskie hybrid he tried to get out of bed. The puppy was on top of him though trying to get more licks in. “Look Diefenbaker, if you want to go outside and do your thing, then you sort of need to get off me.” he tried to reason with the puppy. That was a no go, so they went to play wrestling. <br><br>His sister Kat felt he was isolating himself lately and by lately she meant the last three years. He had signed up with a single client with an iron tight non disclosure clause about, well pretty much everything. The tattoos were another red flag for her. She had read a statistic that people with more than four tattoos usually never lived to die of old age. So, she stopped at three. He promised her he wasn’t in a cult and her response was to believe him because he never lied to her…but she did get him a rescue puppy that was going to be put down. A kitten would have been easier but knowing her, she did this on purpose.<br><br>Throwing on some sweats he got Diefenbaker out to do his morning business and managed to get a walk in as well. Some of the people in his building who were way too nosy instantly fell in love with the little guy and had managed to work out a system for spending time with him while Kaspian went about his duties as a Shadow Hunter. Mornings were about him and the pup and his workout. <br><br>He got the call just after breakfast, which was had at a diner that probably had been going in the 20’s. It was sort of a hole in the wall kind of place but they made the best eggs Benedict he had ever had. Grabbing a quick shower, he hugged the little guy and told him to be good, whatever that meant to the mind of an enthusiastic young canine. Taking an uber to the Institute he got mentally ready for whatever may be threatening his city today. Waving and nodding to everyone present he listened to Francis.<br><br>The helicopter ride was cool. Magic was all well and good, but there was something to be said for the mundane experience. Nodding to Juergen he scanned the top deck and took in their options. “Maybe we break into teams of two and check out the open containers first? I would rather not have something coming at me from front and back.” he suggested. He was a trained investigator and private eye before discovering his heritage as a Shadow Hunter. When he was investigating, he rarely had his seraph blade out. It tended to set the tone of a first meeting.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyrical</strong> on <strong>16-12-2022, 01:52:49</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/J2E0Een.jpg)</div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16357805#msg16357805)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> zip up denim jacket, gray leggings, brown &amp; gray lace up hiking boots with 2" heels, fully equipped with her battle weapons and assorted belts/sheaths<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Institute -&gt; Mission: Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Briefing, Shadowhunters dispatched on assignment<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian | Melody | Michael | Francis &amp; Juergen (mentioning)<br><br><hr><br>This was Leigh's first assignment out of the Asia region, she had only arrived a short while ago and was currently sleeping in a cot at the institute until she could arrange proper housing. It was comfortable enough for the time and when the meeting was called, at least she didn't have far to go to arm up and sit in on her very first mission briefing. She paid attention to everything Francis told them about what was going on and where they were going. Hearing there were going to be helicopters involved she was over the moon excited and was almost the first one on board with her face glued to the windows for the whole trip out to the container ship. Once they landed and Juergen told them he was going to stay she parted with the others, headsets on and ready to go.<br><br><em>“Maybe we break into teams of two and check out the open containers first? I would rather not have something coming at me from front and back.” </em>&lt;Kaspian&gt; suggested.<br><br><strong>"I agree with Kaspian. We should definitely do this in pairs to watch each other's back. Let's split up to cover more ground. Then rendezvous back here," </strong>Leigh said. <strong>"Let's make the aft a rally point if we lose comms and can't get back to the helicopter for any reason."</strong> She looked around at the faces present and nodded. <strong>"I"m going to go see what's on the Bridge. Who's coming with me?"</strong> As a precaution she took out one of her escrima sticks.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cold Heritage</strong> on <strong>16-12-2022, 05:08:38</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/DVZtN6S.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong>&nbsp; Michael Brightstar<br>(Optional)<strong>WEARING:</strong> All black everything: shirt, pants, boots, jacket<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute -&gt; Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Briefing, Shadowhunters dispatched on assignment<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian Herondale, Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo<br><hr><br>Michael inwardly pleased to be on a mission, but his comportment and expression was all business. He was well-armed if they ran into trouble, but he did not draw a weapon just yet. Instead, he pulled out his stele and drew a Rune to mask himself from mundanes. There was a slim chance that there was still a mundane crew aboard. <br><br>The approach that Kaspian and Kalieigh broached seemed sensible enough. He nodded his head in agreement. <br><br><strong>"I agree with Kaspian. I don't want anyone or anything behind me."</strong> Michael stated. <strong>"Melody, with me. We'll take the open containers on the port side. Kaspian, Kaleigh, you take starboard on your way to the bridge."</strong>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>17-12-2022, 00:27:27</strong>
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				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/cc/CatMoore01.jpeg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> High-heeled boots and close-fitting Gothery; then sensible boots and warmly practical gear - albeit wholly in black<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> A briefing, a helicopter, and an abandoned freighter<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Unappealingly early!<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Enthusiasm and curiosity.<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Francis Whitespear | Kaspian, Kaleigh, Michael<br><hr><br>"Has anything been uncovered about the Song of Demeter's last port of call, its crew, or its ownership?"&nbsp; Melody sounded both hopeful and curious - though also rather diffident as she dared to request additional information from the head of the Institute himself.&nbsp; Still, her stance bore more than a hint of eager excitement.<br><br>For the expedition, she traded her customarily elaborate attire - overtly Gothic even by Shadowhunter standards - for much more practical gear.&nbsp; Flexibly-soled boots, many-pocketed and warm clothes all in black, fingerless gloves... and of course a few armaments and implements stashed here and there.<br><br>During the helicopter ride, she was only a little less eager than Leigh - taking the other girl's overt enthusiasm as an opportunity to let some of her own pleasure show.&nbsp; She, too, spent most of the ride peering attentively out of the windows... though she only went so far as to press a hand against one when the Song of Demeter came clearly into view.&nbsp; At that point, she quickly busied herself with her stellae, activating the <em>Vision</em> rune for a better look before they came in to land upon the apparently-abandoned vessel.&nbsp; Best to try to spot an ambush before it was triggered, after all... and even were one not perceptible, there might be evidence of whatever had transpired on the ship.<br><br>Once aboard, she peered around with alert enthusiasm, as if she might spot a vital clue - or a lurking enemy.&nbsp; Then she nodded quickly, flashing a hopeful smile at her three team-mates.<br><br>"Good hunting, everyone!"<br></div>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cold Heritage</strong> on <strong>17-12-2022, 06:09:33</strong>
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				<div align="center"><strong>GM Post</strong></div><br>Francis was able to address Melody's question, and his face showed a certain amount of doubt and concern. "The records place the Song of Demeter's last port of call as the Port of Saint Petersburg. The ship departed from there only seven days ago. We're still digging into the crew and ownership. Everything seems normal on that front so far - the crew are all mundanes without ties to the Shadow World, and the ship's owned by a shipping company with a fleet of vessels just like the Song of Demeter. I've tasked people to keep looking into this." The older Shadowhunter stated. <br><br>The deck was entirely absent of any activity save for that of the Shadowhunters. There was an eerie quiet as they explored with due caution. There were a total of seven open containers, and the interiors of those containers held roughly the same tableau. The containers had their interior walls decorated by murals made of scratches and flourishes of blood and ash. They depicted spots and dots of varying shapes, sizes, and arrangements, with no immediate recognizable pattern. Some of the spots were as small as pin pricks, and the largest was no larger than a penny. The blood was dried and a few days old. There were no signs of struggle within the containers themselves, and no blood on the floor. <br><br>The bridge was almost entirely abandoned. The instruments appeared to be in good working order, although the radio was turned off, along with any devices that were intended for outbound communications. At the wheel the captain of the vessel sat huddled, very still - to the point where on first investigation he seemed dead. The man had surely suffered from some form of privation and harm: his hands and face were covered with very severe burns. The skin was blackened and cracked, covered with scabs where the cracked skin bled and wept. Curiously, although his exposed flesh was covered in fourth degree burns, his clothing was unharmed and untouched. But there was the slightest rise and fall of the captain's chest as he drew hoarse breaths through an open mouth on closer or Rune-aided investigation. <br><br>The captain's eyes were utterly gone, and the sockets were filled with a dull blackness that was filled with tiny pinpricks of light - it was like looking at a miniature clear night sky located entirely within each recess. And upon his head there was a deliberately carved wound in the shape of a stylized sunburst. To look at it with normal vision simply caused in the Nephilim a sense of vague unease and distaste, but to look at it under the effects of the <em>Vision</em> Rune would induce intense nausea and palpable disgust. <br><br>There was a log book open beside the captain. One page showed notes in neat Cyrillic script on one page. The other was covered in chaotic, irregular Latin alphabet, repeating the same phrase, over and over: 'THE MORNINGLIGHT BURNS.'
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				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>18-12-2022, 09:19:20</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/9ce98617e7caea3944f7056e038c845a/tumblr_od84mliuPi1vdaxzpo7_250.gifv)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> &nbsp;Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute -&gt; Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Investigating the Song of Demeter <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo, Michael Brightstar<br><br><hr>Kaspian never wanted to be team leader or whatever it was called. The whole leader/follower dynamic always irked him. It meant that one person was doing the thinking and everyone else was waiting on them dependant for the answers. He spoke his mind as a situation arose, if it was way too early, like before coffee and he came out with some brain fart, he expected his teammates to point out the error in his plans. <br><br>Looking around at everyone’s faces, no one seemed to think it was bad. Inscribing the stealth rune on his forearm he waited for everyone else’s input. He turned to Kaleigh. “I guess I’m coming with you.” he said easily enough. “Good hunting.” he nodded to Melody. He kept pace with Kaleigh as they made their way to the bridge. “Sorry, we really haven’t had a chance to properly meet yet. I’m Kaspian.” he introduced himself as he touched up the Voyance rune on the back of his dominant hand. It was the first rune he ever got, permanent and made to enhance the Sight. <br><div class="floatright">(https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.1936653425.1381/st,small,507x507-pad,600x600,f8f8f8.jpg)</div><br>He was going to ask if she wanted to play good cop or bad cop when they eventually met the demon threat but the sight of the man huddled over the wheel stopped that. He knew demons laid out traps like giving an obvious victim hoping the Shadow Hunters would focus on that and be vulnerable to attack but a quick scan of the bridge didn’t show him any demons. He headed over to the man and looked for any signs of life as well as some magical traps. Easing him down to a more comfortable position he tried to understand what he was seeing. <br><br>His sister Kat was the doctor, he knew basic first aid. Stupid angelic runes can’t be used to heal humans. He nearly threw up looking at the man’s missing eyes. Normally that stuff rarely bothered him. Pulling off his jacket he tried to make the man comfortable. It was unlikely they were going to get any information out of him. He couldn’t decipher the Cyrillic language on the logbook. Pulling out his smartphone he took a picture and opted for google translate. Yeah, it wasn’t magical and there was probably a rune for that, but Kaspian didn’t know it.<br><br>Turning to his hunting partner he wanted her take. “Leigh…what are you making out of this?” he asks.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyrical</strong> on <strong>18-12-2022, 18:33:51</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/J2E0Een.jpg)</div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16357805#msg16357805)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> zip up denim jacket, gray leggings, brown &amp; gray lace up hiking boots with 2" heels, fully equipped with her battle weapons and assorted belts/sheaths<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Institute -&gt; Mission: Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Briefing, Shadowhunters dispatched on assignment<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian | Melody | Michael | Juergen (pilot)<br><br><hr>... &lt;Micheal said&gt; <em>"... Kaspian, Kaleigh, you take starboard on your way to the bridge."</em><br><br>Everyone seemed to be in agreement with the general plans. It was nice to be part of a team. Leigh was happy that there was a plan, she liked having a bit of direction so that she could be confident in what she was doing and she was very happy to be going with Kaspian, the one that initially set out their paths. She had heard many things about the North American enclaves and some of their rather wild cowboy ways, it was nice to see that those were over exaggerated. <br><br><em>"Good hunting, everyone!"</em> &lt;Melody said&gt;<br><br>Leigh nodded to Melody, <strong>"Stay safe."</strong><br><br>People used their stele's and geared up runes so Leigh prepared her runes of fortitude for the physical -strength/will to face whatever came their way. Then she prepped her rune of protection so that she could resist any attack of the mind just in case they got jumped from behind. <br><br><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/NUuq15w.png)(https://i.imgur.com/8H6Vm8x.png)</div><br><em> “I guess I’m coming with you.” &lt;Kaspian said&gt; easily enough. “Good hunting.” he nodded to Melody. He kept pace with Kaleigh as they made their way to the bridge. “Sorry, we really haven’t had a chance to properly meet yet. I’m Kaspian.”</em><br><br>There was a brief grin from Leigh and she joked, <strong>"Don't be too disappointed that you're stuck with a rookie. I'll try not to trip over my own feet..."</strong> She gave him a wink. <strong>"I'm Leigh and I'm sure we'll have lots of time to get to know each other. The ship looks empty. So I guess let's do this."</strong><br><br>Then they made their way starboard side up to the bridge. She kept focused and professional looking around and up and down and into any cracks on the ship. It was full of nothing but shadows and a maze of corridors or passages. The shift lulled from side to side with the slightest of motions as it bobbed around in the ocean, the size of the vessel the only thing keeping it stable since it seemed to be powered down and stationary as a ship can be at sea. <strong>"I'd rather have my feet on stable ground, I take back what I said earlier about trying not to trip. I'll just be happy if I don't fall overboard or down some stairs."</strong> Leigh said. The gentle motions constantly giving her that feeling like her footing was going to let out at any moment. Once on the bridge itself it was dark and cavernous, instrument panels lighting it up to show that was mostly free of personnel, except for the slumped form of the captain at his station. In the background there was the constant creek of flexing metal as one of the few sounds onboard this apparently vacant vessel. The radio itself turned off emitted no sounds. <br><br>Kaspian investigated the horrendously disfigured captain, bringing him to the ground and wrapping him up in his coat. Because Leigh wasn't using a vision rune at the moment as she looked down on the man and into the captain's eyes she felt a sense of unease and distaste. Quickly she looked around the room again, just in case something else was lurking around.<br><br><em>“Leigh…what are you making out of this?” </em>he asks.<br><br><strong>"Only thing I know of that burns like that is a vampire,"</strong> Leigh said. <strong>"But no vampire I know of would willingly sit themselves in front of a window and invite the sun down on them. Be careful, we don't know that he's on our side."</strong><br><br>Leigh broadcast over her radio, <span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><strong> "Are you all finding anything? We have a captain on the bridge that is burnt up, clothes in tact, eyes... well... he has none, there is something magically wrong with it, you have to see it... There's a sunburst carved into his forehead. Plus we found a log book and some writing... Kaspian has some pictures of it he can send to you... What do you want us to do?"</strong></span><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>19-12-2022, 08:25:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/9ce98617e7caea3944f7056e038c845a/tumblr_od84mliuPi1vdaxzpo7_250.gifv)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> &nbsp;Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute -&gt; Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Investigating the Song of Demeter <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo, Michael Brightstar<br><br><hr>The rookie comment made him chuckle. “I think it’s the other way around about being stuck with a rookie. All of you grew up in this, had years of training and getting used to things that they talk about in the bible as being real.” he says watching her easily inscribe her runes on her skin. One of them he knew, the other he didn’t. “I grew up as a mundane and stumbled across some Shadow Hunters three years ago. They just could not get over that I could see them. I thought it was some weird joke.” He felt he had to be clear about this, he did not have the lifetime of training that everyone else here had.<br><br>“Its good to meet you, Leigh. And yeah, there should be way more people on this ship.” he agreed. Thoughts of finding bodies piled up on each other entered his head. He wondered if there was a rune that could filter that out. He didn’t get seasick or anything but Leigh wasn’t alone in finding their footing on a floating metal popsicle stick. He found himself having to adjust how he moved because at times it was like the ground came up to meet his foot and at others it seemed to be playing keep away. He gives her a quick grin. “Yeah, not being swept out to sea or tumbling down the stairs seems a low bar, but I’ll take it.”<br><br><em>Right, vampire.</em> Up until a few years ago, vampires were either in tuxedos or hanging around college kids on some CW show. Thinking it through a bit more he considers the options. The Shadow Hunters were all Nephilim, a hybrid of human and Angel. Giving a vampire angelic blood might the best thing since sliced bread or it could blow him up like a Martian listening to country music. There were no books he had read on about this or vampire first aid. “Ok, I’m guessing if he was willing to burn himself it wasn’t for the need to feed on Canadian cuisine as quickly as possible. He could have just steered here at night taking an extra few days. This is a desperate action and since vampires have signed the accords, we protect them like we protect everyone else.” <br><br>Keeping him out of the suns rays was a start. “Please don’t be a jerk.” he said to the Russian vampire captain. When Leigh radioed back their findings, he checked his phone. The logs were just that, regular logs a sea faring crew would make. The inscription in English seemed to be a bit too…on point. It was a no-duh situation that the morning light would burn if you were a vampire. And usually, people sizzling like bacon tended to be running around panicking or doing the stop, drop and roll routine instead of recording their most poignant thoughts over and over again in a language that wasn’t native to them. <br><br>Wait, maybe this guy could hear them? “Hi. I’m Kaspian and this is my new friend Leigh. We’re here to help you.” He looked at his phone again and wondered if this guy understood him so he repeated it and had the phone spit it out in Russian. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>19-12-2022, 13:59:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/cc/CatMoore01.jpeg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Sensible boots and warmly practical gear - albeit wholly in black<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> An abandoned freighter (specifically, the on-deck cargo containers)<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Concerned curiosity<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Francis Whitespear | Kaspian, Kaleigh, Michael<br><hr><br>Having eagerly requested that Kaspian forwarded those pictures of the Cyrillic text, Melody was soon thereafter engaged in peering quizzically at the images she had received, frowning worriedly while spending some time zooming in and squinting.<br><br>"My Russian's... well, it's atrocious, if I'm honest.&nbsp; But I'm pretty sure that the Cyrillic text is someone doing their job.&nbsp; It's neatly organised, as you can see, and there's definitely talk of things like leaving the Port of Saint Petersburg.&nbsp; I'd say that what we're seeing there is the ship's log-book being used for its proper purpose.&nbsp; We should get it looked at by someone at the Institute who's more knowledgeable than me, when we get the chance, in case there're starting to be anomalies in there that might indicate the beginnings of <em>how</em> the ship wound up getting from the Eastern Baltic to the Eastern Pacific inside a week... but from what I can make out, everything was <em>normal</em> when that was written.&nbsp; Then... then we switch to the English."<br><br>Glancing around the container in which she stood, she grimaced.<br><br>"All seven cargo units are empty... but they're all, err, <em>decorated</em>.&nbsp; No signs of violence in them, but someone has put patterns of blood and ash onto all their walls.&nbsp; The floors haven't been decorated, and are blood-free... and nothing looks like it's script - runic or mundane - of any kind I've ever seen.&nbsp; It all seems deliberate, but... we can send you a few sample shots.&nbsp; Taking clear pictures of <em>all</em> of this would take quite a while - some of the, err, 'work' is very small.&nbsp; But maybe a more detailed forensic examination could lift fingerprints... and we should check what the ash and blood came from."<br><br>She snapped some shots as she spoke - both wide-angle and close-up to show the fine detail - to send them to the other two.<br><br>"Should we come up and join you on the bridge?&nbsp; Figuring out the meaning of what's been done in <em>here </em>seems like a big job, and it sounds like you've got clearer leads there, though we could start collecting samples here if that makes more sense."<br><br>The query very much included Michael, to whom she looked for guidance.<br></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gamora</strong> on <strong>19-12-2022, 20:41:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/0dcc15c4a9e5626f9beea133eed6fea7/21fe0dff4e08e6f4-e6/s400x600/c843c8d1b101ba2a6b26c381437e380b85008a9e.pnj)</div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Delilah Weaver<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Black leggings, white t-shirt, with a blue plaid flannel overtop. Combat boots - always.<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> At work - Maelstrom Bar<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Wee hours of the morning - still dark out. <br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Just trying to get home<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Ksenia<br><hr><br>The night had been pretty dull, which usually was a nice break for the overworked Delilah. While tips rained from drunken wallets when it was busy, quieter nights meant less bullshit that she had to deal with. Mostly drunken men thinking they can shoot their shot with the bartender, which never worked on her. Despite the normal woes of bartending, Delilah loved it. She had been working at Maelstrom long enough now that she had regulars and for the most part people were respectful. The bouncer at the door would come running at the push of a button, but she never felt the need for it. Years of self defense class meant she could hold her own, and usually her mouth was what got her out of trouble first. She was efficient at de-escalation and confrontation - which was very handy in the industry she worked in. <br><br>The keys jingled on her key ring as Delilah locked up the back door of the bar. She had a few stragglers she had to kick out before fully closing up, but nobody gave her trouble tonight. Jiggling the door knob to ensure it was locked, the brunette placed her keys in the front pocket of her flannel before heading towards the dumpster a couple feet away from the door, deeper into the alley. While she wasn't completely concerned about anybody coming after her in a dark alleyway, Delilah was always watching her surroundings just in case. <br><br>Just as she tossed the bag into the dumpster, movement further down the alley caught her eye. Glancing hesitantly, Delilah was quick to spot what she had seen, and to no surprise, it was two people fighting. Sighing, she stepped towards them, figuring it was probably some drunken assholes she had served tonight. <strong>"Hey!"</strong> she yelled, trying to interrupt the activity, <strong>"knock it off you two!"</strong><br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cold Heritage</strong> on <strong>20-12-2022, 06:32:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center"><strong>GM Post</strong></div><br>The captain cooperated with Kaspian as the Shadowhunter moved him around and attempted to make him comfortable. As all of that was taking place, the captain moved as if he were in no pain or discomfort at all - which might stand to reason, if he was so badly burned as he was. <br><br>"Speak English. Is good." The captain said in a hoarse, rasping voice that was strongly accented with Russian but understandable. "Am not vampire." The captain added. "Dying soon. Is good. Die as man." His empty sockets remained fixed at a point beyond Kaspian. "Crew dead. Should have sank ship but . . . have no courage. Then I see. And I know: we are all made of stars." The captain said. His voice was halting and the words were more forced and came with greater difficulty. "Can you see?" The captain asked, and then made as if to reach out for Kaspian, but then stopped.<br><br>"Not much time. Stowaway on ship. Took us to . . . eighth sea! Traveled into palace in stone, looking for the tomb of Solomon, for his ring. But he say . . . throne of Solomon empty." The captain gave a sigh as related these words, and then grew very still. It was almost as if he clung to life only to pass along this cryptic information to someone - anyone - else. Now, having done so, he relinquished his grasp on this mortal coil and expired. <br><br>Just after he spoke, an alarm began to chime on a nearby console, warning of some readings entering danger levels in the engine room. As neither Kaspian nor Kaleigh were trained in the operation of the vessel, it was difficult to discern the precise nature of the warning, but it seemed like the engine was overheating.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cold Heritage</strong> on <strong>20-12-2022, 06:43:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/DVZtN6S.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong>&nbsp; Michael Brightstar<br>(Optional)<strong>WEARING:</strong> All black everything: shirt, pants, boots, jacket<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Taking pictures<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian Herondale, Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo<br><hr><br>Michael was cautious when he approached the open containers, but found that none of them were occupied. He was concerned that they may have held some manner of contraband and they had missed it being collected, but as he and Melody inspected them it seemed a thorough job was done eliminating any trace of whatever was within. In its place there was a bizarre decoration on each of them that Michael could make no sense of. So he activated a memory Rune, just in case, and then removed a Witchlight and his phone and began to take pictures of what they were seeing.<br><br>When Kaspian and Kaleigh checked in, Melody appraised them of what they found. Michael pursed his lips and considered their next step.<br><br>"I'll stay here to continue documenting what's in the containers. Whoever you found doesn't seem like he's going anywhere, so leave him be for the time being. Melody, go meet up with Kaspian and Kaleigh, then have a look in the crew quarters. I'll join you soon and then we can go below decks." Michael decided. The danger seemed minimal for him to be alone. The dull task suited his methodical personality more than it would the others. Of course, as he said this, Michael was unaware of the warning going off on the bridge.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyrical</strong> on <strong>29-12-2022, 17:07:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/J2E0Een.jpg)</div><div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/NUuq15w.png)(https://i.imgur.com/8H6Vm8x.png)<br><div align="center"><em>activated runes</em><br>fortitude/protection</div></div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16357805#msg16357805)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> zip up denim jacket, gray leggings, brown &amp; gray lace up hiking boots with 2" heels, fully equipped with her battle weapons and assorted belts/sheaths<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Institute -&gt; Mission: Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Briefing, Shadowhunters dispatched on assignment<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian | Melody | Michael | Juergen (pilot)<br><br><hr>Surprised to learn that Kaspian was a discovery and new to being a hunter she raised an eyebrow when he mentioned it. That was going to be a discussion for another time and she made a mental noted to read up on the public records for each of the hunters she had met today. It's not that this was a first meeting, she had been at the institute for a short while already but it was her first time out in the field with them. Getting back into the mental state of being actively involved in their mission it seemed like they were both on the same page about it being weird that the ship was empty.<br><br>When it came to the Captain both of them were perplexed by the situation and Leigh resisted the urge to giggle when Kaspian pleaded for the (possible?) vampire to not be a jerk... The accords should hold, although in her mind Vampires were notoriously willing to skirt the lines of the rules and were known to be often in trouble with local enclaves. She didn't bother telling Kaspian this, he was already on edge it seemed to her. <br><br>Melody had indicated that she wasn't any good with Russian language and reported blood and other strangeness going on with the cargo containers. Leigh acknowledged the response and took a quick look at the photos that Melody had sent to them. At first glance the pictures didn't hold anything that she was able to decipher but pictures often missed important details and Leigh was no forensics expert.<br><br>Michael suggested that Melody join Kaspian and Leigh while he check out things in the containers. Only moments after he had made that suggestion the Captain was speaking to Kaspian and Leigh giving them warnings but before she could report on it the ships alarm's started going on.<br><br>"Michael," Leigh said over the comms to everyone. <strong>"We've got a situation here. There are alarms going off like crazy.... Hold on."</strong> The alarms wailed loudly almost drowning out her voice. She scrambled around the bridge looking at all the dials, readings, and such. Most of it made no sense to her but there was things that looked like heat gauges. <strong>"I can't make out what this is."</strong> She yelled into the comms to be heard over the blaring alarms. <strong>"There's a heat dial and it's showing high temperatures. Maybe it's a pressure gauge.&nbsp; We are in trouble here.. the Captain talked right before the alarms and mentioned a stowaway and something about the Eight Sea..."</strong><br><br>Looked over to Kaspian with a worried look on her face. Off comms she said, <strong>"We might be taking that swim after all..."</strong> She left it to Kaspian to mention to the others about Solomon and his ring, or she would tell them later. There just wasn't any time in her mind for a conversation at the moment. <br><br>Back on comms, Leigh said. <strong>"Should we leave or try to stop this?"</strong> But off comms she was motioning to Kaspian as she tried to help him pick up the Captain so they could maybe carry him to the helicopter. <strong>"Juergen, we are attempting to get the Captain back to the Helicopter.&nbsp; Melody, don't come to the bridge we are heading back down."</strong>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>30-12-2022, 06:39:11</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/9ce98617e7caea3944f7056e038c845a/tumblr_od84mliuPi1vdaxzpo7_250.gifv)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> &nbsp;Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute -&gt; Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Investigating the Song of Demeter <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo, Michael Brightstar<br><br><hr><br>Not having the captain scream in agony as he tried to help him was a large blessing. Kaspian would never get over how doctors and nurses handled that kind of pain being openly displayed around them all the time. “Your English is fine sir.” he assured the man. Anyone who lived in a cosmopolitan city would come across all kinds of accents in their time, it was just a matter of patience and listening for him. <br><br>The man knew he was dying and as far as Kaspian knew, none of them were able to heal him. He didn’t offer any false words of comfort to the dying captain. He nodded to the captain’s finding peace in dying as a man. “I read that somewhere too. We are all made of stars.” It was one of those points of science that may irk the religious out there. He hadn’t heard the official stance of the ShadowHunters on such a philosophy. It would mean that they and the underworlders around them had a lot in common.<br><br>Ok, that last statement had a lot to parse and process. He had never heard of anything past the seven seas. Kaspian listened carefully and committed that to memory. “I can’t remember who said it, the two hardest things to say in life are hello for the first time and goodbye for the last. You’ve managed both in a short span. I hope you are received well where you go.” The alarm broke him out of drifting into sadness, he hadn’t developed that casualness with people’s lives ending that some have.<br><br>He heard Michael’s suggestions and they seemed reasonable. Kaleigh’s deductions about the alarms after what the dead captain relayed to them seemed probably. He left the captain and got up. He was always good in an emergency. “Right, do any of us know how to fix what is wrong with a ship if it got sabotaged?” he asked over comms. He was guessing not; mundane things did not seem to be in the Nephilim handbooks. “Ok, how about we start looking through the crew quarters for anything odd and if we catch sight of the stowaway, we deal with him or her first?” <br><br>He could only give her a small smile when she said they may be taking a swim. “Ok, so lets at least not fall down some stairs then.” Kaspian relayed exactly what the captain said over comms. Just because it meant nothing to him didn’t mean others who were better versed in the hidden lore of this world couldn’t rub their braincells together to make sense of it.<br><br>Helping get the captain’s body to the helicopter he looked around for any obvious entrances to crew quarters. He really hoped what they were looking for in the crew quarters was at least glowy to their special vision otherwise it could take a long time, which the alarms were telling them they didn’t have. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>30-12-2022, 12:28:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/cc/CatMoore01.jpeg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Sensible boots and warmly practical gear - albeit wholly in black<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> An abandoned freighter<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Increasingly-perturbed curiosity<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian, Kaleigh, Michael<br><hr><br>"I'll meet you at the deck door," Melody affirmed over the radio, after sparing a moment to visually check with Michael that he really was all right with staying on his own.&nbsp; She spared a few seconds to make sure that her images were uploaded, just in case anything happened to her phone... then ventured back out of the cargo container into the open (and thankfully less ashen and bloody) air.<br><br>Peering warily around - and up - in search of any threats, she readied her stellae in one hand and her seraph blade (in unextended form) in the other, then set off to post herself at the main doorway between the deck and the bridge tower.&nbsp; It might not be <em>much</em> of a choke-point, but it at least offered some prospect of spotting anyone (or anything) flushed out by two nephilim descending a stairwell while carrying a body, and let her maintain some degree of observation towards the helicopter and Michael's position.<br><br>"I'd guess there'll be an emergency shut-off in the engine room... which seems the most likely source of dangerous levels of heat or pressure," she suggested over the radio - firmly aligned with her companions in <em>not</em> liking the sound of multiple alarms going off.&nbsp; "I think there should be maps posted on each deck to guide people to liferafts and help rescue teams find their way to key systems in an emergency, and so on.&nbsp; But I've no experience of crewing something like <em>this</em>."<br><br>Family outings on the waters of various lakes around the world gave her confidence in telling her port from her starboard... but that was precious little use in attempting to figure out the workings of a vessel of <em>this</em> size.<br></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cold Heritage</strong> on <strong>30-12-2022, 23:23:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/DVZtN6S.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong>&nbsp; Michael Brightstar<br>(Optional)<strong>WEARING:</strong> All black everything: shirt, pants, boots, jacket<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Taking pictures<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian Herondale, Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo<br><hr><br>Michael nodded, indicating he was indeed alright with being left on his own. He carried on as Melody departed to join up with Kaliegh and Kaspian, until the latter pair relayed what they had discovered. What Kaliegh relayed about the alarms seemed more pressing. Michael pursed his lips.<br><br>"I'll head towards the engine room and quickly investigate. Carry on as you deem best for now." The Shadowhunter relayed to the others over the radio. "Be ready to make haste back to the helicopter if you have to. I hope you all know the Speed rune." He said before going silent. They may all need to head out in a hurry and having that Rune would be a great asset. <br><br>Michael took a few more photos before he stowed his phone and made his way down below decks. As Melody surmised, there were maps posted and Michael was able to follow them below decks. He proceeded with more haste than he would like, but the pressing nature of blaring alarms did not allow him to employ as much caution as he would prefer. Honestly, few scenarios he found himself did. Michael reached to his hip and kept his hand ready near the handle of a Seraph blade, just in case.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cold Heritage</strong> on <strong>30-12-2022, 23:49:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center"><strong>GM Post</strong></div><br>The dead captain would prove to be very light indeed. Handling the body showed that the captain showed signs of severe malnourishment and deprivation - how he was alive when they met him was yet another mystery for an already mystery laden encounter. As they carried him the lights in his eyes faded, one by one, winking out of existence until there were only a pair of blackened, empty sockets. <br><br>Inspecting the crew quarters were easy to find. They were not particularly luxurious by any measure, but they were utilitarian and there were bunks for each crew hand. The captain had slightly larger quarters than the regular crew, although that mostly meant he did not have to bunk with three others and had room for a desk to sit at. The rooms for the regular crew consisted of four bunks, a foot locker for each, and little else. A few bunks had a collection of photos or personal curios pinned near the pillows - images of friends, family, loved ones, perhaps, and favourite ports of call. Some foot lockers were unlocked, and quick searches yielded little of interest - they contained perfectly mundane items such as clothing, liquor, and other personal effects. Several had pornographic magazines that were well worn, with dog eared pages that spoke to lonely nights at sea.<br><br>The captain's quarters yielded more clues but little in the way of clear answers. The desk in the captain's room had a vial of fragrant oil, a quarter full, and a mortar and pestle with the remains of an herb of bright green leaves that gave off a strong odour reminiscent of a blend of different mints. There were several whole, intact leaves of this herb in a separate ceramic bowl beside the discarded mortar and pestle. The wall of the captain's quarters was adorned with a symbol daubed in blood that was faded and cracking. The symbol incorporated the stylized sunburst that was carved into the captain's forehead fairly prominently. On the floor before the symbol was a ceremonial knife made of polished hematite whose blade was covered in dried. There were footsteps on the floor of bare feet, beginning at the desk and proceeding up to the wall, made as though someone had covered their feet in a mixture of the herbs and oil. Something magical had transpired here at some point in the past.<br><br>Melody's stalwart vigil allowed her cover many angles and a lot of area, but ultimately nothing emerged to attack the three Shadowhunters above deck. There was only the chill of the morning and the eerie, unnatural stillness.<br><br>Michael's investigation into the area below desk took him further into the ship. It appeared as though there may have at one point been some sort of chemical or oil leak, because there were patches of thick, sludgy black fluid that increased in size and frequency as Michael came closer to the engine room. The mechanical noises grew more oppressive and strained the closer he came to his goal, and the smell of burning oil and metal on metal grew worse in a way that was plainly the result of mechanical malfunction, even to one with little or no mechanical acumen. <br><br>Within the engine room itself the regular lighting was non-functional, and oppressive red emergency lighting cast crimson shadows everywhere. The engine itself was grinding and groaning, with huge parts grinding against themselves in ways they were not meant to. The remains of the crew were littered around the engine, broken and coated in the same black fluid Michael had passed on the way down. And perched on the roof of the engine room was &nbsp;a demon (https://i.imgur.com/Fqj0jjM.jpg). It was coiled tightly, with its long body tucked tightly upon itself, but as it detected Michael, it gave a wet hiss and unfolded itself - long limbs uncoiling from its thick trunk and splaying out. Thick, sludgy black fluid dripped thickly down from its body and limbs, and a slim head on a long neck turned to regard the Shadowhunter. Its body seemed like it would now be too large for it to fit through the door to leave - indeed, that it would be too large to enter in the first place - the engine room, although the puddles outside ruled out this sensible conclusion.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyrical</strong> on <strong>01-01-2023, 18:11:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/J2E0Een.jpg)</div><div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/NUuq15w.png)(https://i.imgur.com/8H6Vm8x.png)<br><div align="center"><em>activated runes</em><br>fortitude/protection</div></div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16357805#msg16357805)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> zip up denim jacket, gray leggings, brown &amp; gray lace up hiking boots with 2" heels, fully equipped with her battle weapons and assorted belts/sheaths<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Institute -&gt; Mission: Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Briefing, Shadowhunters dispatched on assignment<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian | Melody | Michael | Juergen (pilot)<br><br><hr>Leigh helped where she could with the Captain, he was light and very fragile it was no wonder that he had passed away, there was nothing left of him. As they moved through the area, Kaspian was searching rooms and Leigh stayed in the hall to keep vigil.<br><br>Over the comms, Leigh said to Melody, <strong>"We are searching the crew quarters Melody, you can join us if you want. I'm just standing guard in the hall with the captains remains."</strong>&nbsp; Then she gave a quick set of directions on how ti find them. <strong>"Looks like there should be a whole crew on this tub. But not a sign of any of them. Not even a corpse."</strong> It was becoming increasingly evident that the Captain was going to be the only one they found. She poked her head into a few crew quarters that were mostly empty except common personal affects and she called it out to Kaspian to make it easier for him to give attention to the rooms and places in the rooms he was most likely to find anything. <br><br>The sirens were making Leigh nervous with each passing moment. How long did it take to sink a ship of this size? Was it already taking on water? Or was the engine just going to burst into flames? Leigh had no idea but Melody had suggested the maps and emergency shut up so Michael was off investigating that.<br><br>While Kaspian was spending extra time in the Captain's quarters, Leigh checked some crew. Inside she found a couple pieces of adult entertainment and walked over the Captain's room with them. <br><br><strong>"Found some reading material for you, Kaspian," </strong>Leigh tossed the magazine at him, a centerfold flipped open revealing a curvaceous young woman on full display.<strong> "Careful some of the pages are sticky."</strong> She chuckled then got a better view of the room as she stood inside of it with Kaspian. The racey magazine probably laying in the middle of the floor now.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>02-01-2023, 02:25:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/9ce98617e7caea3944f7056e038c845a/tumblr_od84mliuPi1vdaxzpo7_250.gifv)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> &nbsp;Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute -&gt; Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Investigating the Song of Demeter <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo, Michael Brightstar<br><br><hr>Kaspian kept an ear on the radio while he and Kaleigh delt with the captain. They had a duty to each other’s safety and he took such things as sacrosanct—once you lost trust with someone, it was difficult to regain it. Hearing Michael’s order and subconsciously nodded to knowing the speed rune. He had been in way too many fights and played way too many video games to not realize how important speed was. <br><br>There was a sadness to how easy it was to carry the captain’s corpse. A man his height and his station should not be malnourished. It spoke of an awful deprivation before the burning and the dying. The autopsy team would probably have some cold, concise words to fill on a form. And that would be where this man’s story would end. He put that out of his mind for right now and set himself the task of looking through the crew’s quarters. <br><br>He had a few friends with boats, worked a couple of cases for rich people with yachts, it wasn’t a surprise that the crew’s living quarters were somewhat spartan. His mind assembled lists of what the crew had. Nothing spectacular, unsurprising porn from being alone for weeks at a stretch and no crazy dark relics to some demon lord. Which was good in his mind. <br><br>The captain’s quarters were a bit different for him beyond the extra roominess. He had spoken to the man and felt the life go out of him; it was more difficult to be detached. The mint smell made him wonder if the captain was into herbal teas. Of course, from the blood symbol on the wall, the leaves could have more diabolical uses. Taking a picture of the wall and the knife, before wrapping the knife and pocketing it along with the leftover leaves. He had studied the occult for years before becoming a Shadowhunter. Now it was a matter of figuring out how much was bullshit that authors made up and how much was real. Of course, there were situations like this where he had no clues at all what was going on.<br><br>He heard Kaleigh come in behind him and watches as she tossed the nudey magazine his way. Normally his reaction would be to catch it but her words forestalled any such reflex from being carried out. It of course landed with the centerfold on full display. Nudity and the human body were never taboo to him. It was just skin. “I do like my ladies curvy.” he admits. “…but I’ll leave other people’s juices alone.” What? Call him a prude for not wanting to touch another man’s fluids. <br><br>Kaleigh messing with him like that didn’t bother him in the slightest, you don’t mess with someone unless you want to engage with them. This could be a fun friendship. A number of the Shadowhunters were all business and rather religious. Such pranks would be beyond them. This made him smile. "Did you feel that there were perhaps hidden occult recipes within those pages that you had leaf through them?" he teased her.<br><br>“So, do you recognize the depiction on the wall?” he asked. Sure they had seen it carved in someone’s forehead but with the smell of mint it may bring up memory triggers. It occurred to him he should let Michael and Melody in on it too. Sending the pictures of the knife, leaves, mortar and pestle as well as the blood drawing. “This was what I found in the captain’s room. Anyone recognize what he may have been trying to do here?” he says over comms.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cold Heritage</strong> on <strong>02-01-2023, 06:08:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/DVZtN6S.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong>&nbsp; Michael Brightstar<br>(Optional)<strong>WEARING:</strong> All black everything: shirt, pants, boots, jacket<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Encountering the Demon<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian Herondale, Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo<br><hr><br>Michael paused in his advance when Kaspian sent pictures of what was found. It made the Shadowhunter furrow his brow. His eyes narrowed. "Maybe it was the stowaway that did this, rather than the captain." Michael suggested. "We don't have a lot of reason to believe the captain knew the first thing about the Shadow World. Something like this doesn't seem like beginner's stuff." He said cautiously. <br><br>He frowned when he saw the black sludge and took a few images and sent them off to the others. "I'm seeing a lot of this down here. It could just be something from the ship . . . but it reminds me a lot of ichor." Then he stowed his phone and carried on.<br><br>When he got to the engine room, his Seraph Blade came to life as soon as his eyes took in the creature there. "There's a demon here in the engine room." Michael said in a cold, distant tone of voice. He was afraid, because this was a sort of demon he had never encountered before and he was up against it alone. But he was trained for this kind of thing, so he took his fear, bundled it up, and put it into a place in his mind that he locked away so that the emotion would not cloud his judgement. "What's left of the crew is down here too." He let out a breath and pulled out his stele, swiftly drawing the Speed rune on his flesh while keeping the demon in his line of sight. <br><br>"I don't think I'll be able to get away without a fight. I've never seen this kind of demon before. It's responsible for damaging the engine and setting off the alarms." Michael said, his mouth and throat dry. He pursed his lips for a moment. "Get back to the Institute. Ave Atque Vale." The Shadowhunter said, and swiftly drew his second Seraph Blade and bringing it to life as well. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>03-01-2023, 13:54:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/cc/CatMoore01.jpeg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Sensible boots and warmly practical gear - albeit wholly in black<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> An abandoned freighter<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Increasingly-perturbed curiosity<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian, Kaleigh, Michael<br><hr>Melody allowed herself a second or two of silence in which to hastily assess her options.&nbsp; Staying where she was provided a degree of security to an escape route for her team-mates, allowed for a (small) degree of monitoring of movement on a key route in the ship, and permitted her to maintain visual contact with the helicopter and its crew.&nbsp; But 'stand and wait' was not exactly the preferred option for most nephilim in the field, and providing direct support to colleagues lugging around a corpse (and potential other evidence) while aiding a search to proceed more rapidly: that did indeed seem to win out in terms of strategic advantages.<br><br>"If you see anything you don't like coming your way, take off.&nbsp; We'd rather have you sixty feet off the deck then floating in the sea," she radioed to the chopper, hoping that she wasn't overstepping her bounds in doing so.&nbsp; Still, she switched her attention to her investigatory colleagues as she moved to find the nearest map and confirm her best route to the crew quarters.<br><br>"Moving inside now."<br><br>She was most of the way to her destination when Michael radioed in his initial findings, prompting her to momentarily slow her gait.<br><br>"I can redirect if you need back-up," she offered lest he want to change his instructions, but duly carried on to her intended destination.&nbsp; Hearing movement and voices ahead, she quickly radioed her arrival - not wanting to provide an undue shock to supernatural warriors in the field if she could help it - and had just stepped into the right corridor to bring the captain's body into view when Michael provided his much more <em>concerning</em> discovery.<br><br>"Shit.&nbsp; Fighting withdrawal if you can manage it!" she urgently recommended to Michael, before switching to non-radio communication to address the others so that she would do less to distract the man about to engage an unknown demon, boots clomping as she hastened down the gangway to reach the poor mariner's corpse.<br><br>"Run down the stairs, or find open air and jump?", she asked by way of a (somewhat unconventional) greeting.<br><br></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyrical</strong> on <strong>06-01-2023, 23:48:11</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/J2E0Een.jpg)</div><div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/NUuq15w.png)(https://i.imgur.com/8H6Vm8x.png)<br><div align="center"><em>activated runes</em><br>fortitude/protection</div></div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16357805#msg16357805)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> zip up denim jacket, gray leggings, brown &amp; gray lace up hiking boots with 2" heels, fully equipped with her battle weapons and assorted belts/sheaths<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Institute -&gt; Mission: Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Briefing, Shadowhunters dispatched on assignment<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian | Melody | Michael | Juergen (pilot)<br><br><hr>A laugh emanated from Leigh as the magazine landed untouched while Kaspian proclaimed his aversion to another man's seed. <br><br><strong>"Relax, It was free of spunk... That I know of anyways."</strong> Leigh teased as she noticed Kaspian smiling.<br><br><em>"Did you feel that there were perhaps hidden occult recipes within those pages that you had leaf through them?" he teased her.</em><br><br>Leigh thought he was cute so she responded with, <strong>"Nah, I just like the nudey mags. I read them for the articles. Good one in there about how to make homemade Pho."</strong><br><br>Getting back to being professional, &lt;Kaspian said,&gt;<em> “So, do you recognize the depiction on the wall?”</em><br><br><strong>"Nothing I recognize,"</strong> Leigh said with a shrug. She was going to recommend he get pictures but he was already working on it. Michael responded to Kaspian by letting them all know that he was seeing similar signs and stuff in the engine room. <br><br>While this was going on,Leigh was grabbing a blanket off the bed and headed back out into the hall and. She heard Melody suggest that the helicopter hover and wait for them to avoid getting jumped by whatever might be on the ship. A good call given what Michael was about to run into down below.<br><br>When Melody was on her way she radioed ahead, <em>"Moving inside now,"</em> to Leigh and Kaspian. Leigh waited until she heard the motion approaching and called out, <strong>"Down here,"</strong> to give their ally direction on how to find them. Meanwhile Leigh had grabbed the Captain's wool blanket and was headed back out into the hallway. So Melody wouldn't be surprised Leigh said, <strong> "Going to wrap our dearly departed Captain up in this blanket to make it easier to get him back to Helicopter." </strong>She was already bent down wrapping him up when the call from Micheal came in.<br><br><em>"There's a demon here in the engine room." Michael said in a cold, distant tone of voice... "What's left of the crew is down here too."</em> &lt;...There was a moment of silence before Michael added.&gt;&nbsp; <em>"I don't think I'll be able to get away without a fight. I've never seen this kind of demon before. It's responsible for damaging the engine and setting off the alarms." Michael said, his mouth and throat dry. He pursed his lips for a moment. "Get back to the Institute. Ave Atque Vale."</em><br><br><em>"Run down the stairs, or find open air and jump?", &lt;Melody&gt; asked by way of a (somewhat unconventional) greeting.</em><br><br>Confused and not sure what Melody was asking she looked at her with furrowed brows. For that matter she didn't know what Michael meant when he said - Ave Atque Vale? Maybe if she was thinking more clearly she'd have known it right away but it never registered. <br><br>Leigh said, <strong>"Let's go with running down the stairs. Better to be safe... Wait. What are we doing?"</strong> Turning her head towards the door where Kaspian was she raised her voice so he could hear her clearly. <strong>"Grab what you can and let's move... Toss the stuff in here with the Captain."</strong> She was referring to the makeshift body bag that she had just wrapped and tied around the corpse. <br><br>If Kaspian came back to join them she was ready to heft up on one end of the blanket-body bag and start running with it. Whatever the the pair of Michael &amp; Melody decided to do she was along for the ride. Otherwise it was quick trip to throw the body bag into the Helicopter and get out as Michael had instructed them to do.<br><br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Andronica</strong> on <strong>07-01-2023, 04:33:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/ba/fe/52/bafe529b0d464a92ee4fec29aaa5b344.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Ksenia Ashlace (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356551#msg16356551)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Pictured (https://i.pinimg.com/564x/13/24/2a/13242ae1af66355a7f5673b408a7b1f2.jpg)<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Alley by the Maelstrom bar<br><strong>DATE/TIME:</strong> Tuesday, July 4 | Night time<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Violence<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Delilah Weaver<hr> Lydia caught a whisper about possible vampire activity - mundanes being lured from the Maelstrom bar with exsanguination or straight up disappearances in the aftermath, so of course, she had to send Ksenia in to deal with the thirsty Downworlder. Even as the young Shadowhunter pulled her helmet, she grumbled lowly while tucking her hair into the neck lapel.<br><br>"Wish I was taking a nap right now," muttered the off-and-on brunette. She spoke in a pointedly surly manner that Lydia merely guffawed at with an unimpressed expression. There was, however, a notable tweak upturned on her slim pink lips. Ksenia's mother figure reached out to rap hard on the helmet in mimicry of a playful thwack upside her head.<br><br>"Stop whining, K. You're just lucky I didn't send you after that Eidolon last month." No one wanted to deal with those disgusting amorphous blobs.<br><br>With a little grunt of acknowledgement, Ksenia slapped down her visor to bring a prompt end to the conversation. Still grinning, Lydia backed away from the drive and gave Ksenia a wide berth to depart. There was a very faint 'love you' hanging in the air that got drowned out by the motorcycle's loud purr...<br><br><hr><br>Maelstrom bar was packed. And Ksenia spent three hours skulking and then baiting the vamp. An easy spot, the way he hung off almost every man or woman who would give him the time of day and look longingly at them (but really, any viable pulse points). Despite their distance across the pulsing machine of grunge and smoke and neon, Ksenia managed to use a wayward come hither look that piqued the dark haired vampire's interest. His aura screamed a roiling red when they locked eyes. It went like that for the rest of the night until last call when Ksenia sauntered out the side door of the ghost town bar to lure the vamp into a fight. And everything was going as well as could be once her stele came out. <br><br>Until <em>her</em>.<br><br>Ksenia grunted loudly in the middle of wrestling the demon up against the wall of the alley butting Maelstrom. With her blade poised up in her hand towards his neck it looked like the pair were locked in a grapple, though upon closer inspection the glint of the blessed metal would be noticeable. So too would his sickly pale and gaunt face, completed with a very inhuman set of fangs poised to bite into Ksenia.<br><br>She made the mistake of stopping for a heartbeat to look sidelong at the mundane standing nearby. With a hard punch delivered straight to her gut, Ksenia let out a gasp and back peddled between the vamp and blessedly ignorant mortal.<br><br>"Get out of here!" she shouted at the hapless intruder. <br><br>The vampire merely shrugged his shoulders, "Makes no difference to me if I get a little takeaway on the side." His gleeful, sadistic grin marked the look laid heavily into the mundane's presence. Rabid with delight and hunger, he lunged.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>08-01-2023, 22:59:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/9ce98617e7caea3944f7056e038c845a/tumblr_od84mliuPi1vdaxzpo7_250.gifv)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> &nbsp;Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute -&gt; Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Investigating the Song of Demeter <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo, Michael Brightstar<br><br><hr>Laughter wasn’t something you often heard a ShadowHunter do in the middle of a mission. It was a good sound and it broke the rising tension of a ship sent to bomb mode and the possibility of demons aboard. Kaspian was relatively new to this life, he didn’t have all the ins and outs worked out yet. Mostly it was about surviving training, surviving the steep learning curve and surviving the missions. He deflected with humour; it was good to hear people actually laugh at it. Especially when they were pretty. <br><br>Her response to liking nudey mags made him chuckle. “What really? Home made pho?” he says looking back down to the centerfold smiling up at him. The alarms and general blowupidness state of the ship had him look away. “The things I do for the sake of the mission…” he ‘grumbled’. “Ok now you did it. I want pho.” he stated. “I totally blame you.” he teased. His favourite place was Anh and Chi. <br><br>Listening to everyone’s responses at the images he shared made him feel a little better. He hated always being the guy catching up or not in the know. Part of him wondered why they didn’t just mess with the ‘evil’ runes. If a ShadowHunter didn’t get an angelic rune right on his body, nothing happened other than the pain of getting burned from the stele. This looked like a demonic rune, just bigger. So, he did that, he took out his stele and make a break in the drawing. <br><br>If all of a sudden there were explosions and people being sent in all directions like some Michael Bay movie then he would know he was on the wrong track. He heard Melody approaching and Leigh calling out confirming their position. And then, as things are want to do on a mission, things began to turn sideways, laughing at the plans of mice and Nephilim. He nodded to Leigh about wrapping the captain’s corpse up. “Good idea.” <br><br>It was Michael’s predicament that had him pausing, well that and the Melody’s statement when she came into view. Putting the wrapped corpse down he was stumbling around the latin in Michael’s phrase. Sure it was a dead language, much like Sanskrit—it had no more native speakers, but his sister Katherine is a doctor and Kaspian had helped her study. “Not happening Michael.” he said almost quietly as everything began to slow down or he began to speed up, he was just never sure in these situation. <br><br>He complied with Leigh and threw everything in with the captain and was with Leigh. “We need to blur to the helicopter and then find Michael. He’s taking a stand he doesn’t figure he can win.” he said activating his speed rune and beginning the run to the helicopter. “He can call me insubordinate and reprimand me later, but I’m not going to let someone die when we are just down the hall from them.” He wasn’t the leader, so he didn’t have to make all those hard decisions of who lived and who died—Kaspian always chose life.<br><br>“If we live. Pho’s on me.” the speed rune always made him ridiculously hungry.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cold Heritage</strong> on <strong>09-01-2023, 00:51:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center"><strong>GM Post</strong></div><br>Kaspian's stele reacted when it was brought near the symbol. The adamas began to glow, moreso than normal, and the light became so intense that it was painful to look upon directly. Simply closing one's eyes would not be enough to shield them from the light the stele was emitting, and the device itself grew very, very cold to the touch. As the symbol was broken by the application of the stele there was an intense vacuum, as though all of the air in the room was sucked out through the symbol. The sudden change in pressure was quite uncomfortable - much more intense than what happened on an airplane as it ascended. This did not last very long, however, as the symbol ignited itself, emitting an intense burst of heat and light. This burst consumed the symbol, leaving a faint ashen residue in its place. <br><br>The burst of heat and light from the symbol was brief - perhaps a second at most - but it would leave both Kaspian and Kaleigh with a wicked case of sunburn on their exposed skin.<br><br>Air rushed back into the room as equilibrium reasserted itself.<br><br>With the aid of the Speed Rune Kaspian and any who followed him arrived at the engine room to the demon looming over the fallen Michael. The demon held the Shadowhunter by the neck, and as the others entered Michael's Seraph Blades fell from slack hands to fall, deactivated, to the floor. The metallic clink was hidden by the sounds of alarms and whistles and the groans of protesting machinery. Before the blades blinked out they were covered with black, oily ichor, and the demon's body showed some signs of injury: Michael was not taken without a fight, but his efforts alone had not been enough to significantly harm the demon.<br><br>Michael's face was a mask of blood, and his left side was pierced. The wound at his side bled heavily. The Shadowhunter's chest rose and fell faintly, showing dimming signs of life.<br><br>He was discarded as the demon swiveled its head to regard the new arrivals. Michael's body hit the floor like a ragdoll and lay, still and unmoving, for the moment forgotten. The demon launched itself towards Kaspian and swung a slender arm that terminated in a thin hand tipped with long, glistening black claws that dripped with blood. It moved with prodigious speed, easily matching the added alacrity the Shadowhunters enjoyed from the Speed Runes . . . perhaps even surpassing it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gamora</strong> on <strong>09-01-2023, 15:17:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/0dcc15c4a9e5626f9beea133eed6fea7/21fe0dff4e08e6f4-e6/s400x600/c843c8d1b101ba2a6b26c381437e380b85008a9e.pnj)</div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Delilah Weaver<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Black leggings, white t-shirt, with a blue plaid flannel overtop. Combat boots - always.<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> At work - Maelstrom Bar<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Wee hours of the morning - still dark out. <br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Being attacked, nbd<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Ksenia<br><hr><br>At this point Delilah was used to breaking up bar fights and this wasn't the first she'd be interrupting in the alley after work. However, as she approached closer, it suddenly became very clear that this wasn't like any normal fight. The moonlight caught the glistening of something between the two bodies, and with her hypervigilance, Delilah noticed it was some sort of weapon. She opened her mouth to curse the two of them out for taking their little bar fight too far, but before she could, the woman fighting the man was punched in the gut, freeing the man from the wall where he was pinned. <br><br>Once again, before she could speak, the woman was telling her to get out of here. Delilah raised an eyebrow, not quite understanding why this stranger was so pressed about Delilah being here, the tone in her voice telling her that this was of concern, not of anger for interrupting. Too confused to react right away, she never did get the chance to run, because suddenly the man was on her. <br><br>Delilah put her arms up in self defense, planting her feet as firm as she could, but this man was strong. Stronger than any she has encountered before. The momentum knocked her to the ground, the impact causing her breath to escape from her lungs, and all she could do was try and push on the man's chest as he leaned over her with an open mouth, hissing with an inhuman set of fangs close to her neck. <br><br><br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>09-01-2023, 22:23:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/cc/CatMoore01.jpeg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Sensible boots and warmly practical gear - albeit wholly in black<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> An abandoned freighter<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Mounting levels of fear (and bad language)<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian, Kaleigh, Michael<br><hr><br>"Aw, <em>crap</em>," Melody muttered in response to the change in plan - but <em>further</em> splitting the team would be inadvisable, and as soon as she made sure that the captain's bundled body was aboard the helicopter, she hastened to reveal and then activate her own Speed rune.<br><br>That done, she took off to add herself to the planned rescue.<br><br>En route, she was rather glad that she was not having to pick a path to follow, instead able to focus on doing her best to keep familiar forms in sight.&nbsp; She had frankly <em>hoped</em> to encounter Michael coming the other way... but how they instead found him was much, much worse.<br><br>"Aw, <em><strong>crap</strong></em>!!!"<br><br>At least he wasn't (definitely) dead.&nbsp; Yet.&nbsp; That had to count as a minor victory, right?<br><br>Hastily flicking her seraph blade into life, she took a moment to scan the area for any signs of magic - tethers, or otherwise - that might indicate something of importance to the demon that would be easier to attack (or remove) than the profoundly unsettling entity itself.<br></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyrical</strong> on <strong>09-01-2023, 23:46:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/J2E0Een.jpg)</div><div class="floatright"><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/NUuq15w.png)(https://i.imgur.com/8H6Vm8x.png)(https://i.imgur.com/GSlBGbE.png)<br><em>activated runes</em><br>fortitude/protection/speed</div></div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16357805#msg16357805)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> zip up denim jacket, gray leggings, brown &amp; gray lace up hiking boots with 2" heels, fully equipped with her battle weapons and assorted belts/sheaths<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Institute -&gt; Mission: Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Briefing, Shadowhunters dispatched on assignment<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian | Melody | Michael | Juergen (pilot)<br><br><hr>With the three hunters at the helicopter they loaded the corpse on board and activated speed runes, making as much haste as possible to join Michael in the fight. It's true that he was sort of the elder and they probably should listen to him.. maybe? But forget that, did he honestly think that they would leave one of their own behind. That wasn't going to happen.<br><br>Leigh was last in the room but still in time to witness Michael's slump body hitting the floor. The down worlder demon was lightning fast and went for Kaspian...<br><br>This is what Leigh's specialty was, close quarters fast combat. Launching herself at the down worlder while it tried to attack Kaspian, she unsheathed her seraph dagger and one rune marked escrima stick while leaping at it. Slice it and bash it! If the little blade and escrima stick had no affect at least the long katana like blade called a Bokatar on her back could be unsheathed next.<br><br>She went all in on attacking the creature. If given a chance she'd call out, <strong>"Grab Michael and run!"</strong>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>11-01-2023, 10:32:03</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/9ce98617e7caea3944f7056e038c845a/tumblr_od84mliuPi1vdaxzpo7_250.gifv)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> &nbsp;Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute -&gt; Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Investigating the Song of Demeter <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo, Michael Brightstar<br><br><hr>As he brought his stele to the demonic symbol it began to react, part of him was surprised it was cold, demonic flames and all that. The intense light may have been a warning to stop but then again, intense light was always seen as an angelic manifestation of power, banishing the darkness, you know, like literally. It was only after he had broken the symbol that he felt some demonic poop had hit the proverbial fan. He was glad as the vacuum started trying to suck his soul or maybe just his will to live that he didn’t articulate the ‘<em>ohfuckohfuckohfuck</em>’ that was going on in his head. <br><br>It was during this brief struggle that only seemed like decades in his head that he saw some kind of tribunal of elder ShadowHunters pointing at a chalkboard with a seraph blade and calmly if wearily stating…”<em>and this is why we don’t mess with demonic symbols on a boat or on your coat…</em>” Why did the elder ShadowHunters sound like the Cat in the Hat? It was a mystery for another day, because he could suddenly breathe again and oxygen in his lungs was one of his favourite things. <br><br>With the business of dropping off the captain’s corpse taken care of speeding towards Michael seemed to take no time at all since they weren’t trying to search for clues. And then there it was, a demon. Was it strange that because of because of literature and movies, he sort of believed in vampires, fae and werewolves to begin with. Warlocks weren’t that much of a stretch. Kaspian just didn’t actually believe in God until he saw his first demon. One could rationally argue cart before the horse here but it was what it was. God and the heavenly host had always been this …how does one put it…a very distant sort of primordial being. <br><br>It set up the universe and gave everyone a stage to fight upon but wasn’t ever actually there. Oh sure, there were the religious people who ‘saw God and miracles in every sunset’ but uhm…yeah, sorry. Anyone who had suffered any great losses in their lives probably had a few questions that the explanation of ‘ineffable’ just didn’t cut the mustard. Demon though, that did do it for Kaspian. It was proof that God screwed up. I mean, who plans for a third of their empowered minions to rebel against them and wreak havoc with your creations?<br><br>So instead of fear or freezing up when he beheld the demon, it actually affirmed his beliefs. Beliefs affirmed he took in his environment, Michael still alive or at least not mostly dead, gross black ichor all over the place, ship still trying to blow up and making the ‘aaahooogaaaa’ noises just to let everyone know it hadn’t changed its plans. And oh yeah, the demon was mad it him now for showing up and also being alive. <br><br>Dodging diagonally forward, he brought up his seraph blade, his was kopis style and the light it emitted allowed him to see the demon’s eyes a bit more clearly. Yup, just hate and the need to kill. Ok. It seemed that no one was going to use their words today in this room. Was it strange that he was used to this…no, not fighting demons, but the struggle to keep surviving. Being dropped off at a church at birth wasn’t an idyllic upbringing. Nuns were mean and didn’t take your shit, other discarded kids didn’t lead with their hearts. There was always fighting for something going on. Demons just didn’t do you the courtesy of pretending to ask for your lunch money as an excuse to hit you.<br><br>Kaspian had heard about all the great tactics that ShadowHunters used to fight powerful foes. He studied them and came to the conclusion that it was a good thing they were invisible to the world otherwise the wolves would demand some recompense for copywrite infringement. Oh, there were fancy terms for the stratagems, but they all basically boiled down to ‘one person harasses’ to keep its attention, the others flank and look for openings. The demon had sort of jumped the gun and chosen Kaspian as its harasser. Who was he to refuse his fate? “Hey buddy numbnuts. Tell me, are you feeling any urge to monologue at this moment so we at least know what you’re mad at this trip topside?” <br><br>The regular back and forth of trying to murder each other cut off any further attempts to goad the demon in ignoring the others. He was hoping someone would scoop up Michael. And then it came to him and he drew his stele dramatically with his left hand. “I know something you don’t know.” he repeated from the Princess Bride. “I’m going to use this to draw the holy power rune on you.” He had just seen what happens when holy power met unholy power it was like matter and antimatter. Hearing Leigh call out he decided to let her be the harasser. It was an odd game of tag they were playing.<br><br>Going for Michael he would try and heal him before just running off. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cold Heritage</strong> on <strong>12-01-2023, 05:38:29</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center"><strong>GM Post</strong></div><br>Melody's search for a tether unfortunately did not turn up anything that would obviously aid in the current predicament. There was gruesome evidence of human lives ended in cruel and brutal ways, and it did not take careful or in-depth inspection to see that some of the more intact heads of crew members bore the same symbol carved on their foreheads. None of them had the peculiar ocular damage that the captain evidenced, however, or the peculiar burns. In a more open area that was the remains of a summoning ritual, but it was only a testament to the location that this demon was brought from one of the Hell dimension on the ship, rather than somewhere else on Earth.<br><br>Kaleigh's efforts saw the demon abort its efforts to strike Kaspian. Its body moved bonelessly to evade her attacks. The intensity of her attacks forced it onto the defensive, and with Kaspian taunting the demon, its eyes flashed with frustration and hate. It did not speak. There was very little to indicate that this particular demon was of a type that possessed higher intelligence - when Kaspian spoke to it and taunted it the creature reacted in response to his tone, inflection, and body language rather than any specific words he employed. Kaspian's taunting allowed Kaleigh to get in what might have seemed like good hits. Kaleigh's blade did manage to cut it when it failed to dodge completely, and the Adamas burned the oily substance that seemed to make up the demon's body, releasing thick, acrid smelling smoke upon contact. Cutting through it was like running the blade through a particularly thick oil - there was very little resistance, and the bright blade came away darkened. Striking it with the escrima stick was like hitting jelly, and seemed less effective than the Seraph dagger. <br><br>Although the demon wanted to go after Kaspian, and to keep the Shadowhunter from interfering with its previous victim, Kaleigh's efforts prevented it from focusing on the male. The demon shrieked in frustration, opening a wet orifice to emit the sound. The full effect of it was dampened by the blaring alarms going off all around them. The temperature in the room was rising palpably, growing unpleasant very quickly, to the point that even without the intensity of combat those present would begin to perspire. If they made it out alive, hydration would definitely be in order. <br><br>Sacrificing defense in favour of attacking when Kaleigh was committed, the demon swung one of its limbs with a wide sweep. Kaleigh's Seraph dagger struck to the hilt in its yielding body matter, forcing a scream that was ear-splitting in its pitch from its mouth. But even as the demon was stabbed, its limb struck Kaleigh in the midsection with sufficient force to lift her from her feet and launch her into a far wall. Thanks to the Runes she had activated she was not subject to mortal damage, but it would still rattle the female Shadowhunter for a moment, and leave her with some bruising that would make further fighting unpleasant but not impossible. <br><br>With Kaleigh temporarily dealt it, the demon turned back on Kaspian, who had his window to heal Michael. The wounds inflicted on the fallen Shadowhunter were quite serious - there were seven deep wounds in addition to others of lesser severity - and triaging him with the healing Runes pulled him back from death's door, not back into the fight. He would still need to be carried out if he was to get out. Being close enough to apply the Rune allowed Kaspian to see how much paler Michael was than normal - he had almost bled out. <br><br>Owing to the damage that Kaleigh had inflicted upon the demon, it had lost its advantage in speed over the Shadowhunters, and moved with speed that was their equal. Its left forelimb had taken several hits from Kaleigh, as well, and although the demon was rather resilient it was favouring that part of its body. It moved to attack Kaspian, intending to rake its claws across the Shadowhunter's body. <br><br>The heat in the engine room was growing oppressive. They were running out of time. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>12-01-2023, 23:21:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/cc/CatMoore01.jpeg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Sensible boots and warmly practical gear - albeit wholly in black<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> An abandoned freighter<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Mounting levels of fear (and bad language), with violence and magic<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian, Kaleigh, Michael<br><hr>"Crapcrapcrapcrap <em><strong>crap</strong></em>!"<br><br>Melody was no longer even aware that she was letting slip a rapid-fire stream of worried and fearful unhappiness.&nbsp; &nbsp;Still, it did nothing to slow her down - instead accompanying the fruitless unfolding of her hasty survey for a way to short-cut the conbat, and a shift of position to better scan the room.&nbsp; That movement allowed her in the process to position herself to better cooperate with her colleagues in trying to deprive the demon of its prize.<br><br>Swift examination complete, and with the fight already underway, she kicked herself into motion.&nbsp; The fact that, even under the <em>Speed</em> rune, she could barely hope to keep up with her foe's motions was quite frankly terrifying... but she had been raised for situations at least <em>akin</em> to this one, and she had a lifetime of training upon which to depend.&nbsp; Ideally, of course, there would have been a clear set of plans in place before they engaged their foe - and they would have most assuredly known what their enemy actually <em>was</em> - but it was clear that it was hostile, it was predatory, and it could be hurt.<br><br>With it now clearly favouring one forelimb and having proved that it could be distracted from its prior intentions, Melody aimed to continue that process.&nbsp; A hard cut to one rear leg on her way past, then the delivery of another strike to that already-damaged limb to even more thoroughly secure its attention - before slamming into Michael and attempting to push on hard and fast away from the creature, with him over her shoulder in her best approximation of a fireman's lift.<br><br>Her intention was to get herself and Michael to and through the door, and then at least a few yards further, before balance and muscles might give out.&nbsp; Straining - even ripping - something in her off-arm was quite acceptable, as a price for bringing him somewhere that might provide at least a few moments of security.&nbsp; The others, she had to trust would join her there, and help with carrying him.&nbsp; That, or she would have to activate a Strength rune and carry him on her own.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Happy to edit if I've failed to grasp the situation or am trying something just plain dumb!&nbsp; :D<br></div></div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyrical</strong> on <strong>13-01-2023, 00:59:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/J2E0Een.jpg)</div><div class="floatright"><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/NUuq15w.png)(https://i.imgur.com/8H6Vm8x.png)(https://i.imgur.com/GSlBGbE.png)<br><em>activated runes</em><br>fortitude/protection/speed</div></div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16357805#msg16357805)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> zip up denim jacket, gray leggings, brown &amp; gray lace up hiking boots with 2" heels, fully equipped with her battle weapons and assorted belts/sheaths<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Institute -&gt; Mission: Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Briefing, Shadowhunters dispatched on assignment<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian | Melody | Michael | Juergen (pilot)<br><br><hr>Being late to the party meant that Leigh didn't see everything that was going on, she just leaped into action when she saw the demon. That's just what you do as a Shadow Hunter... fight, destroy demons and try to keep the down worlders in line. <br><br>As her blade and escrima stick flashed in attack the demon reeled into a defensive position but it moved like liquid easily evading Leigh's attacks. At least it wasn't trying to kill Kaspian for the moment. Viciously Leigh attacked the demon and managed to strike with blade and stick, but it was like slapping at oil. The angelic symbols did seem to hurt it although for some reason that only worked with the blade and not the symbol covered stick. <br><br>Sacrificing it's speed advantage the creature attacked instead of dodging and Leigh struck the demon - a solid blow but in retaliation it's attack landed home sending Leigh flying across the room. The blow to her torso knocked the wind from her and the world swirled, darkness closing in and stars all bursting in her vision. The momentum that flung her into the wall would have splintered a mortals spine and may have injured her severally if she had not been prepared before the fight. Instead the effect of cracking her back spun her ass and legs around and sent her twirling sideways into a bunch of machinery. The heat of the metal singed her jean jacket and she rolled away from it, crawling up to her knees gasping for air. That blow could have been deadly, she needed a moment the whole world was off balance, the heat in the room making it even harder to catch her breath.<br><br>Meanwhile, Melody dove in for the attack, picking up where Leigh had tagged out... If only Leigh had enough breath in her she would have actually gave her professional wrestler's version of a tag out on that one. She would have to see later if maybe the duo could take up a WWE career together. ...Oh the random thoughts that go through your head when you're knocked senseless.<br><br>Shaking her head and getting her vision back, she saw what Melody was attempting to do.&nbsp; She would join her If Kaspian was able to disengage from the demon and flee with them, BUT, If he was not able to get away then Leigh was prepared to whip out her long blade and get back into the fight. <br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Andronica</strong> on <strong>13-01-2023, 03:56:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/44/da/02/44da02de48f15ffc107a76c1a4ab1885.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Ksenia Ashlace (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356551#msg16356551)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Pictured (https://i.pinimg.com/564x/13/24/2a/13242ae1af66355a7f5673b408a7b1f2.jpg)<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Alley by the Maelstrom bar<br><strong>DATE/TIME:</strong> Tuesday night ---&gt; Wednesday, July 5 | Wee hours of the morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Ohhhh fuck (more violence)<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Delilah Weaver<hr> Why didn't the mundie just go on her way when Ksenia shouted at her? Sure, it was that kind of strained shout laced with concern and all, but if anyone else passed a back alley fight they tended to just keep on going. Now not only was the Shadowhunter in the middle of wrangling a hungry vampire but also trying to protect a very mortal, very vulnerable mundane girl who was about to get in the middle of some messy hard-to-explain shit. <br><br>Before Ksenia could bellow another warning, the vamp pushed past her slightly winded frame. She growled contemptuously and reached to grab the back of his receding shirt when he practically glided past and closed the gap with inhuman speed. He pounced on wayward Delilah and she was like a branch breaking in a strong wind under his preternatural strength - not enough to snap bones but she'd be sore in the morning. Like a pall he covered the mundane and his hands planted on each side of her shoulders to pin her down. The vampire hissed impatiently as he drove his face toward Delilah's pale neck with gnashing fangs, a sickly copper scent being almost consuming about his presence.<br><br>Though before he could push down to make purchase with his sharp fangs into pliable flesh, his head wrenched up unnaturally into the shadow of Ksenia straddling behind him. He shrieked defiantly against Ksenia's overt struggle to hold him steady with white knuckles fingers clenching his blessedly long-ish hair. The fistful of the vampire's mane proved enough grip to help Ksenia steer his face up to the side and his neck protruded at the awkward angle from the Shadowhunter looming above and behind him.<br><br>She grunted with effort as she plunged her combat knife into the vamp's neck. The blade was blessed with a fire rune etched into the metal; far more subtle than setting a vampire alight, and all together less messy work. Screeching, the vampire lashed out his arms but he was all sloppy in his frenzy and scraped down Delilah's leather jacket a few times. With another sound of effort, Ksenia shut down his bodily protest with a final twist of the knife in a visceral churn of ghostly flesh. The vampire's raspy hiss turned to a sizzling gurgle... and nothing. <br><br>Ksenia panted hard as she withdrew the knife, then immediately made a huff while she took a knee beside the probably traumatized mundane. Quickly, her strong lean arms pushed the vampire off as all her attention diverted to the young woman while the vampire fell off to the side, reduced to ash soon after.<br><br>Gentle probing fingers wrapped up around Delilah's forearm to help her up. "Hey! Hey, you're good. He didn't get you." She tried to speak reassuringly but the words came out a bit too clipped and hasty. Simultaneous roving of her cool eyes slid up and down the mundane's front to check for any errant nips but the only blood on them seemed to belong to the rogue vampire. "Just..." Ksenia looked sidelong at the vampire's ash pile then back to Delilah. "Let me help you up, okay? Here, take my hand." She nudged with the digits already encircling Delilah's wrist.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>15-01-2023, 10:20:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/9ce98617e7caea3944f7056e038c845a/tumblr_od84mliuPi1vdaxzpo7_250.gifv)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> &nbsp;Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute -&gt; Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Investigating the Song of Demeter <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo, Michael Brightstar<br><br><hr>Battle with the demon was a mutually frustrating experience for Kaspian. He had intensely trained for two thirds of his life on how to strike, grapple and use blades—but that was mostly against bipedal creatures that followed concepts of physics and inertia. Demons were like the Road Runner, they just either didn’t understand they were supposed to move a certain way or didn’t care. When you parry with your blade, hack at his elbow to open up his guard and flow into a spinning elbow that should have shattered his…its? throat, you sort of expect a certain reaction. <br><br>Sure, the demon isn’t going to applaud your well executed moves, but at least there could be some kind of reaction. Nope, its plan, bend its neck in a way that would cripple everyone else in the room and carry on like you don’t matter. There may have also been some kind of language barrier. Kaspian wasn’t so arrogant as to believe that all demons spoke English, he just sort of thought they had some magical universal translator thing going on. <br><br>Maybe it was just dumb?<br><br>Whatever. Leigh took up the fight. She was kinda cool to watch in battle. He never learned to fight with a weapon in each hand, even after countless Drizzt novels making it sound amazing. Getting to Michael was more important than needing to be one of the people that landed the killing blow or anything. The demon’s shriek communicated its displeasure. It had this gross wet quality to it. “Say it, don’t spray it dude.” he called out to it as he was assessing Michael’s condition. Yup, still not a doctor—other than ‘hurt badly seven times’ he had no clue. He wasn’t sure if it understood his taunting, he was just doing his bit to distract it for Melody and Leigh. <br><br>He could feel the hatred directed back upon himself even if he wasn’t facing the demon. It didn’t matter, he could take the hits as long as he could heal Michael. He had no idea how much healing the runes he was quickly inscribing on Michael would heal. Some of it was this being new. He was sure some ‘head of the faction/family’ type could put the exact same rune down and it would be more effective. He noticed how pale Michael’s skin was. Did healing regenerate blood or was Michael going to have to eat iron rich foods and raisins?<br><br>Question for next class. Glad that his fellow ShadowHunter was no longer leaking precious fluids, Kaspian felt it may be time to retreat to the helicopter before the ship got tired of complaining it was going to blow up and just went ahead and did it. That’s when he felt the claw at his left shoulder trying to take a chunk out of him. That was when he also smelled the fetid breath of the thing. They don’t warn you about that in fight class. His head swam and his knees buckled. What a shitty way to go out, fucken halitosis attack. <br><br>Shaking that off, he spun, drew his blade and attacked in one motion. Melody was here and had Michael. Brilliant. Amazing. He wasn’t sure how deep his blade cut in or if Mr. Demon had guts that would just spill out. He did notice it was moving slower. Which was good. Visions of beating the demon to the helicopter and it taking off just as the cacophony reached its crescendo and took said demon to a watery grave flashed in his mind. In order to help further that cinematic narrative, he decided to take advantage of an opening that Leigh provided and just thrust at the side of the kneecap. <br><br>“Ok we should totally run now.” he said needlessly and joined his team trying to escape this ship. Dammit, he never got to inscribe the rune on it. Oh well, next time.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cold Heritage</strong> on <strong>16-01-2023, 01:51:16</strong>
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				<div align="center"><strong>GM Post</strong></div><br>Kaspian's thrust to the kneecap proved sufficient to sever the limb he struck at. The creature shrieked in pain, but the cry was mostly drowned out by the sound of machinery failing catastrophically and the ongoing blaring of alarms. Electrical shorts started to happen, and some lights began to blink on and off as their power supply was interrupted by the engine and other parts of the ship destroying themselves. The demon did not bleed, as such: the wound simply dripped the dark black sludge that covered its body and seemed to make up the thing. The limb on the ground lost all shape and cohesion after being severed from the main body, dispersing into a glossy black pool of thick sludge.<br><br>With their Speed Runes and the demon's wounded state, the Shadowhunters were able to flee from the demon. It pursued them, of course, but they were able to outpace it. The demon's focused totality was on pursuing them, granting further credence to the notion that it was some hitherto unknown type of lower demon with mental faculties scarcely above those of an animal. A pipe burst behind the Shadowhunters as they speed towards the upper decks, and the demon was blasted with scalding steam. It shrieked in inhuman, infernal pain, and its pursuit was further slowed by this set back. <br><br>As the three fled, more pipes burst behind them. Lightbulbs burst as they experienced surges, plunging the ship behind them into darkness. <br><br>The helicopter waited at the appointed place. The pilot waited coolly and professionally for everyone to get on board and strapped in, and there was a sudden jerk as he abruptly gained altitude. There was a sharp jerking that caused the helicopter to shake violently for a moment, before its ascent continued.<br><br>On the area of the deck the helicopter previously occupied, the demon stood, glaring with impotent and unreasoning hatred at the helicopter as it flew away. The helicopter turned and began a course towards the shore, and the ship began to explode and tear itself apart just as they reached a safe distance. The explosions that wracked the ship were particularly violent, breaking in into five large chunks. Perhaps the violence of these explosions and the huge fireballs the produced would in some way mitigate the ecological damage, consuming fuel, oils, and other combustibles that would otherwise contaminate the ocean. But that was a concern for mundanes. <br><br>Michael was unresponsive for the return flight, and the pilot radioed ahead so that there was a Warlock ready to portal them all back to the Institute. Michael was pulled from the helicopter and placed onto a stretcher by a pair of Shadowhunters who specialized in healing and they went through the portal first. Kaleigh, Kaspian, and Melody got a once-over from a medic Shadowhunter as well, before they were allowed to go through the portal. The medic Shadowhunter traced a healing Rune onto each of them, just to be on the safe, and it was expertly drawn - as perfectly as any non-Angelic hand might render it, ensuring the utmost functionality. <br><br>The portal disgorged the three Shadowhunters into the infirmary of the Institute. Michael was being worked on by several medics, and more were on hand to give the trio on their feet a more thoroughly examination if they needed it. Francis was there as well, but he stayed out of the way of the Infirmary staff and allowing them to do their jobs, standing to the side with clasped hands until he received the go-ahead.<br><br>"I'm quite glad to see you all made it back. I had a bit of things from Juergen, but I'd like all of you to get your reports in as soon as possible. Once you're cleared by the infirmary staff, grab a shower, get cleaned up, and then get yours thoughts and impressions down while they're still fresh." Francis told them, impressing the urgency of the matter on them while - hopefully - not being too pushy. His pleasure at them all coming back alive and relatively unharmed was genuine, however, and it showed in his body language and eyes. He looked over at Michael, and it was difficult to if the mask of Shadowhunter emotional control slipped or if it was a trick of the light as Francis's expression changed. Then whatever it may had been was gone, and Francis looked back at Kaleigh, Kaspian, and Melody. "I'm eager to read those reports, but I don't think it's premature to say: well done. Strong work." <br><br>With that, Francis gave the trio a nod, and left them to their own devices, entrusting them to get the work done in due time without badgering them.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gamora</strong> on <strong>18-01-2023, 15:40:45</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/0dcc15c4a9e5626f9beea133eed6fea7/21fe0dff4e08e6f4-e6/s400x600/c843c8d1b101ba2a6b26c381437e380b85008a9e.pnj)</div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Delilah Weaver<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Black leggings, white t-shirt, with a blue plaid flannel overtop. Combat boots - always.<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> In the alley, freaking out <br><strong>TIME:</strong> Wee hours of the morning - still dark out. <br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Confusion, panic, violence <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Ksenia<br><hr><br>The strength of the man, the way he creened towards her neck, the copper smell of his breath, and the distinct bright fights hanging past his lips all added up to show that this wasn’t a normal alley fight. Violence was rarer in this part of town, but not unheard of. But a man looking like this? It was like something of a fairytale. Delilah almost thought she was dreaming, but the heavy crushing weight of his strength was enough to remind her that this was very real. No amount of defensive training could have prepared her for this. <br><br>Delilah’s arms shook, her muscles trembling trying to keep this man up and off of her. And just as she was about to give in, her muscles no longer able to help her, the man’s head was yanked back, neck exposed, and a glowing knife plunged into his neck. Blood spurted from the wound, skin sizzling from the contact of the knife, the smell of burning bloody flesh filling her nose. The blood sprayed from his neck and mouth, covering Delilah in droplets all over her front. However, she couldn’t seem to turn away, staring wide-eyed as the man thrashed and bucked in the other woman’s grasp before turning to ash right in front of her own eyes. <br><br>All Delilah could do at first was stare at this woman, chest heaving from the blow, still trying to catch her breath and figure out what the hell was going on. It wasn’t rare to render Delilah speechless as she was a bit on the quiet side, but she didn’t know what to say, let alone what to do.<br><br>It took her brain several long seconds to catch up to what the fuck this woman was saying to her, the nudge of her fingers against her wrist partially snapping her out of the shock. She looked down at the pile of ash, half of which was on her, then back to the woman, before nodding and taking her other hand, allowing her to pull her to her feet. Delilah was clumsy for a step or two once upright, but quickly regained her balance and blew out a shaky breath. <br><br><strong>“That was not a normal man,”</strong> she stated, looking down at the pile of ash again, gesturing to it, panic starting to set in. It was then she remembered the knife, and gestured to it in the stranger's hand, as well as the tattoos that inked along her skin. <strong>“Why did your knife glow like that? And what’s with the tattoos? Are you in some sort of gang?”</strong> The questions rolled off her tongue so quickly, breathing rate increased, heart beat hammering. <br><br>Then the panic attack began. Delilah lost the ability to control her breath, reaching out desperately with one hand to grab onto the woman, feeling as though she was about to crumble into non-existence if she didn’t hold herself up right. With the other hand, she clutched her chest, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks. <strong>“What is happening?”</strong> she asked breathlessly between attempts at breathing, needing answers to what she had just experienced. 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Andronica</strong> on <strong>19-01-2023, 01:13:38</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/44/da/02/44da02de48f15ffc107a76c1a4ab1885.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Ksenia Ashlace (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356551#msg16356551)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Pictured (https://i.pinimg.com/564x/13/24/2a/13242ae1af66355a7f5673b408a7b1f2.jpg)<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Alley by the Maelstrom bar ---&gt; Vancouver Institute<br><strong>DATE/TIME:</strong> Wednesday, July 5 | Wee hours of the morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Post-fight clarity<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Delilah Weaver | Closed <hr> Thankfully despite the absolutely crazy tumult of the vampire fight, the mundane wasn't screaming hysterically after the body was shoved off unceremoniously. That did kind of lend Ksenia to worry initially about a much, much worse shit storm brewing behind the scenes of the brunette's frantic eyes. For now she focused on taking her trembling hands to pull her up steadily. The declaration about the vampire made Ksenia nod involuntarily with a jut of her chin.<br><br>"He was on something for sure..." She trailed off her excuse when the torrent of questions poured uot. Ksenia set her jaw after the mundane pointed out the vamp's other-ness. Next, the runes that peeked from her sleeve ends and the boat-neck of her shirt. Her knife, too. Delicately, Ksenia slid her hand back against her side to pin the blade into the sheath on her belt. There was an involuntary flex of her fingers marked inky black from the <em>Precision</em> rune on the back of her hand trailing down past her knuckles to curl between her thumb and forefinger. "Ah, sort of," murmured the Shadowhunter. She drew an inward breath then pushed it out the side of her mouth when it suddenly came to a grating halt. A needful hand reached out finding purchase on Ksenia's arm. <br><br><em>There it is</em>, Ksenia thought with a soft gulp at the expected breakdown. But suddenly, she drew herself in to the shaking mundane. She couldn't resist the urge to protect her, to want to scrub all that nastiness from the mundane's distraught mind. Without prompting she shifted her feet and closed the gap a little more into a half-hug where her hand splayed out between Delilah's shoulderblades, holding the stranger close as glassy tears rolled down her cheeks. Honestly, Ksenia was at a loss for what to do. This all would have been way easier if she was with the others.<br><br>A slight pall covered her vivid eyes while Ksenia tried to console the mundane, coming closer still to wrap her other arm around for a more traditional hug if she wasn't met with resistance. Reassuring squeezes issued into Delilah's back where Ksenia locked her hands, and poked her chin out beside the mundane's head to stare past her down the dark mouth of the alley. <br><br>The stranger's words nagged at Ksenia's mind. <em>How could she know? No, not unless...</em> <br><br>"Let's get you out of here to somewhere safe, then we can talk." Half truths and little white lies. <br><br>How would she explain what the mundane saw? Or this whole fuck up to Lydia? What was the protocol? It was about to become a problem for near-future Ksenia.<br><br>"Sorry," whispered Ksenia, her brow furrowing in genuine remorse. No other solution sprang to mind but this: she needed help from someone who could make this right. A warlock, maybe Theo? Ksenia felt an inward chill crawl up her spine about having to call on him, though she'd leave that decision to Lydia along with whatever verbal lashing was in store. Still holding on to the panic ridden brunette, the Shadowhunter gingerly slid the blade from her hip sheath again and danced it around the back of the mundane. The hilt of the enchanted knife jutted hard into the back of the mundane's head.<br><br>----<br><br>The girl didn't weight a whole lot to Ksenia, so getting her out of the alley and onto the thankfully ghostly streets wasn't too hard. She only had one helmet which wasn't ideal, but readily secured it to the mundane's head and made sure she was strapped in before commencing a hellish fast ride back to the institute. Ksenia could only pray the others weren't still up to witness her grandest of fuck-ups.<br><br>---<br><br>The rumble of the motorcycle chugged down to nothing when Ksenia rolled down the side entrance where Lydia saw her off only a handful of hours ago. She killed the engine and leaned back into the still unconscious mundane sharing her seat. With a final breath to steel herself, Ksenia took out her stele to activate her Psychic Link rune that Lydia shared the twin rune for.<br><br><em>Need your help down here. Come quick.</em><br><br>Only a moment later while Ksenia was gingerly lifting the mundane off the bike, Lydia was out in record time. The immediate look of concern was at once wiped away and replaced by that face of exasperation.<br><br>"Ksenia--"<br><br>"I didn't know what else to do. The vamp attacked her and.."<br><br>"And what?" Lydia interrupted, moving unnaturally fast to come in with an assist as they both shouldered the mundane's body with care.<br><br>"She saw him." Ksenia's eyes met with Lydia across the brunette's slumped shoulders. Her blonde mentor huffed.<br><br>"But no one else saw you, right? We'll deal with her memory," Lydia assured her. <br><br>Ksenia's boots pressed firm in the ground at the door's threshold, speaking more earnestly. "No, Lydia. She <em>saw</em> him."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gamora</strong> on <strong>19-01-2023, 14:58:58</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/0dcc15c4a9e5626f9beea133eed6fea7/21fe0dff4e08e6f4-e6/s400x600/c843c8d1b101ba2a6b26c381437e380b85008a9e.pnj)</div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Delilah Weaver<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Black leggings, white t-shirt, with a blue plaid flannel overtop. Combat boots - always.<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Leaving the alley | Institute infirmary <br><strong>TIME:</strong> July 6, mid morning. <br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Doin a confuse <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Ksenia, Lydia<br><hr><br>Panic wasn’t something that Delilah had ever experienced before her mother passed. Sure, she got worked up and anxious about some things, but it had never been like this. Since her mother’s death, anytime anything seemed out of her control, it felt like her entire life was spiraling away and she’d never be able to land on her feet again. And this experience felt just like that. Delilah had no idea what the hell was going on. All she knew was she thought she was stopping a petty bar fight, but in reality she was interrupting something totally different. Now she had this strange woman who was covered in tattoos and wielding strange weapons staring at her after killing a strange man and turning him into ash. Strange. That was the one word she could think of that fit this situation perfectly. That, and terrifying. <br><br>The moment the woman closed the distance, Delilah melted into her touch. It had been a damn long time since anyone hugged her - the last time being her mother’s funeral - so she welcomed the embrace with open arms. Whatever it was about this stranger, Delilah felt safe with her. After all, she had just saved her from whatever kind of creature that was that had attacked her, so there was no reason to be wary, right? Though she didn’t have much time to think about it, trying her best to swallow down the panic and try and regulate her breathing. Delilah’s arms came up and around the other woman, wrapping tightly around her waist and gripping onto her jacket, trying to ground herself.<br><br>Delilah nodded at the woman’s words, feeling as though going with her would be the best bet, especially if it could provide her with some answers on what the hell had just happened. But then she heard the quiet apology, followed by a stinging in the back of her neck that caused her to flinch. And suddenly, everything went dark. <br><br>—<br><br>The first thing Delilah noticed when she started to wake up was the soft whispers she heard around her. At first, it was almost peaceful, the silence something she would take in gladly. However, it didn’t take more than a couple of seconds to remember what had happened, and Delilah’s eyes shot open and she jolted upright. The movement caused a sharp pain to throb in her head, the brunette reaching up to grasp her temples with a groan, squinting her eyes shut. <br><br>GIving herself a moment for the pain to dull, she eventually opened her eyes again and looked around, blinking rapidly to adjust to the light of the room. Immediately, her eyes set on two figures. One of a woman she didn’t recognize, and the other the stranger that she had met in the alley. Confused, she glanced around the room, noting she was most definitely not home, nor in a hospital or anywhere she recognized. <br><br><strong>“Where am I?”</strong> she asked, brows furrowed in both concern and confusion. She felt far too out of it to panic, almost as though she was drugged. Maybe she was. Delilah didn’t know these people or know what they were capable of, but all she knew was she was alive, feeling like shit, and entirely confused. But she wasn’t scared at the moment. At least, not scared of them. 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Andronica</strong> on <strong>20-01-2023, 01:38:57</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d0/dc/92/d0dc92c15b16a3c5a862b98103af0eac.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Ksenia Ashlace (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356551#msg16356551)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Combat boots, black jeans and a grey tank top<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute infirmary<br><strong>DATE/TIME:</strong> Wednesday, July 5 in the early morning ---&gt; July 6, mid-morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Damage control<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Delilah, Lydia <hr> Her head was like a buzzing hive once Lydia helped her bring the mundane into to a secluded part of the infirmary where one of the lingering healer Shadowhunters could assess her; initially with blessedly few questions asked. Lydia was adamant to her fellow senior Shadowhunters to keep attention minimal on the brunette while they went about treating the small blunt trauma wound on the back of the girl's head, followed by carrying out a more thorough diagnostic. <br><br>"She'll be fine, right?" Ksenia asked. She was practically hovering at the bedside where the Shadowhunter healer stood over the yet unnamed young woman. Lydia looked sidelong at her.<br><br>"The blow to her head wasn't strong enough to cause any serious damage but she'll have a headache for a couple of days. There's not much else I can offer beyond basic treatment until I finish my assessment." <br><br>Ksenia nodded. Nervously she folded her hands into the crooks of her arms and jut them into her sides like she was trying to stay warm. "Of course. Yeah." Another wary nod followed. Lydia moved beside her covertly and gave a small reassuring touch as she passed to join the older Shadowhunter at the mundane's bedside. It was safe to say Ksenia didn't get much sleep the morning of the vampire attack or for the rest of the day, really. Eventually, the stubborn young hunter consented to take a seat near the bed where she ended up falling asleep in the early afternoon without any hindrance from the rays of sunlight streaming in from the vaulted windows. <br><br><hr><br>"She's awake!" Ksenia said in a soft but earnest voice. The older blonde woman appeared from nearby to see the girl was indeed coming around. It was she who answered first.<br><br>"You're in the infirmary of the Vancouver Institute. You got hurt, but it was nothing serious." Her answer was unexpectedly vague and a little on the ominous side, banking on the mundane not being able to piece things together fully. Though her expression had considerably softened compared to when she first lay eyes on that limp form off the back of Ksenia's bike. The younger Shadowhunter stepped close to the bed but didn't immediately sit at the edge - just in case she put the stranger on edge as Lydia's gentle interrogation continued. "Do you have any family who are missing you right now?" The blonde cocked her head ever so slightly when pitching her earnest question. Maybe a way to get the important bits out before her memory was wiped and they could drop her off at a safe spot--<br><br>"Lydia." Alric, the Shadowhunter healer who got the mundane set up the previous morning had returned to beckon Lydia over for a private chat. He looked well put together with his cropped sandy brown hair combed to the side and wearing a plain, perfectly fitting black shirt and pants. <br><br>"I tried to clear her mind earlier this morning like you asked, but something got in the way." Lydia's pensive brow begged him to go on. "It's some kind of strong magic... blocking me. A warlock spell, specifically, that much I can tell. But I can't circumvent it."<br><br>A huff rolled past Lydia's pursed lips. She looked back over her shoulder to Ksenia, who took the opportunity to sit at the end of the mundane's bed, then turned back to the healer. "So you're saying it can't be done, Alric?" she clarified. He nodded back. Another small sigh followed the first. "We have to let Francis know she has the Sight."<br><br>Alric dipped his cropped sandy brown head. The fainest peek of his pink tongue darted out to moisten his lips. "Already done..."<br><br>While Lydia was discussing the particulars with the healer, Ksenia carefully moved in toward the not-so-mundane's bed. Ksenia noted the pained squint and temple rubbing from a moment ago and immediately killed the harsh fluorescent light looming above the bedside in lieu of softer mid-morning sunlight. <br><br>"How're you feeling?" Ksenia asked earnestly. Lydia mentioned the others went on an eventful mission yesterday while she slept - Francis hadn't called her up for it - and made a mental note to get the cliff's notes... after she made sure the mundie was okay.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gamora</strong> on <strong>20-01-2023, 15:32:30</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/0dcc15c4a9e5626f9beea133eed6fea7/21fe0dff4e08e6f4-e6/s400x600/c843c8d1b101ba2a6b26c381437e380b85008a9e.pnj)</div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Delilah Weaver<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Black leggings, white t-shirt, with a blue plaid flannel overtop. Combat boots - always.<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Institute infirmary <br><strong>TIME:</strong> July 6, mid morning. <br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Doin a confuse <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Ksenia, Lydia<br><hr><br><strong>”Institute?”</strong> Delilah questioned, having no idea what the woman was talking about. She had lived here her whole life and had never heard of the city having an institute. Though before she could question any further, the older woman asked her if she had anyone to contact. In her exhausted state, Delilah opened her mouth to say her mother, but quickly shut it, the realization breaking her heart into a million pieces. Her mother was no longer here and she had nobody. Swallowing thickly, she shook her head, knowing there wasn’t going to be anyone looking for her, apart from her boss, who she didn’t care for that much anyway. <br><br>Delilah wasn’t able to probe any further as a man appeared in the doorway, beckoning the older woman over, who she now knew went by ‘Lydia’. The man looked sophisticated, so she assumed he was some kind of doctor. Though she couldn’t hear what they were saying, she knew they were talking about her given Lydia’s glance over in her direction. <br><br>Her attention turned to the other woman then, the stranger from the alley, as she moved to sit on the edge of her bed. Immediately, relief flooded to her pounding head when she turned the light off, leaving the only light in the room shining in from the window. <strong>”Thanks,”</strong> she said, offering a grateful smile. <br><br>At the question of how she was feeling, Delilah gave a shrug. <strong>”I’m okay,”</strong> she answered, though she wasn’t exactly concerned with the throbbing in her head and more concerned with what the hell was going on. <strong>”That man,”</strong> she began, referring to what happened in the alley, <strong>”am I imagining things, or did he really turn to ash?”</strong> Part of her thought this was some awful nightmare she’d wake up from soon, but it all felt too real for that to be true. <strong>”I really don’t understand what’s happened, where I am, and why I’m here.”</strong> Panic began to rise in her chest again, but Delilah did her best to try and keep herself calm. She needed answers, and she wouldn’t get them if she started to lose her shit.<br><br><strong>”And who are you?”</strong> Delilah asked, having not even gotten the name of the person that saved her from…whatever the hell happened. 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cold Heritage</strong> on <strong>21-01-2023, 05:29:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/sTBpBUf.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Alexander Greyhallow<br>(Optional)<strong>WEARING:</strong> Black boots, black trousers, black shirt, black leather trenchcoat<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> DARKEST Vancouver Institute Infirmary<br><strong>TIME:</strong> July 6, mid-morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> An injured Alexander is brought to the infirmary <del>so that you may all bask in his tales of triumph</del> to be treated for injuries<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Open; Alric, Lydia mentioned<br><hr><br>In the main, it was a good day for Alexander. He had gone out on a sanctioned mission with several other Shadowhunters, all of whom returned in one piece. The mission was an unqualified success: a rogue Warlock that had evaded the authority of the Clave for months had finally been run to ground and apprehended. The team of Shadowhunters had defeated the Warlock and its demon minions, taking the Warlock into custody and seizing evidence that would ensure and open and shut case. Alexander was sure that the orgy of evidence was such that he could successfully prosecute the case. <br><br>Of course, there were downsides. Clouds to every silver lining. One of them was Alexander had missed pancake day at the commissary. The second was that he had been stabbed three times, set on fire, and then a scorpion demon had caught him with its stinger, injecting him with demonic venom. The Runes on his body and his robust Nephilim constitution had kept him alive thus far, but they were at their limits. Alexander had his arm over the shoulder of a fellow Shadowhunter, who was honestly basically carrying Alexander entirely by the time they got to the infirmary. <br><br>Alexander was basically drug through the door and brought to one of the beds.<br><br>"Hey, Alric! My man!" Alexander called out in a slurred voice as he was pulled past Alric and Lydia, showing a lack of decorum at interrupting their hushed conversation with his greeting. As a frequent guest at the infirmary, Alexander was quite familiar with Alric and vice versa. In fact Alric and the other healers were no doubt more intimately familiar with Alexander's body than many people in committed relationships were with their partner's body. It was a good thing for the infirmary they did not have a punch card for frequent visits. Alexander's would look like . . . not Swiss cheese. That was insufficiently porous. Something with a lot of holes in it.<br><br>Although Alexander wanted to lift a hand to wave to Alric, the hand connected to an arm not draped over another's shoulder was devoted to holding shut a wound at his side. It was a game attempt to keep his blood inside himself, where it belonged, and honestly he was not succeeding. That was not just his problem, but also the problem of the poor unfortunate responsible for cleaning the floors: Alexander had tracked blood all of the way from the entrance to the infirmary. A weak giggle escaped Alexander's mouth as he imagined Francis finding the blood trail before someone cleaned it up and fretting over getting the crimson liquid out of the floor before a stain set in. Of course that would not be Francis's primary concern: but Alexander's mind was addled by blood loss and the effects of the demonic venom in his system.<br><br>Alexander had done a good job in keeping calm, inducing bradycardia in himself through a mixture of willpower and shallow breathing. Still, his skin was pale and clammy, and the blood vessels on the back of his hand and on his neck had turned black instead of blue. <br><br>"Thanks, Dima. Truly, I mean it." Alexander said to the Shadowhunter who helped him in. "I just want you to know . . . if I don't make it, you can have my stereo."<br><br>"You do not own a stereo." Dima replied matter of factly, the terse words softly spoken and without emotion. Only after the words were spoken did Dima realize the error of his action. But it was too late. Dima had made one of the classic blunders: indulging Alexander's glibness on any level.<br><br>"Damn, you're right. Sucks to be you." Alexander quipped, and another weak giggle escaped his lips. Dima's perpetual frown faded from sight at the giant Shadowhunter turned and plodded away, making room for a pair of healers to look over Alexander. "Dima! Wait! It's quesadillas for lunch at the commissary! You gotta bring me some! Dima, buddy!" Alexander called out to Dima's back, which was as impassive as it was massive. Thus: Alexander did not entertain even the faintest sliver of hope that Dima would bring him quesadillas. <br><br>The healers were examining him, and Alexander had his jacket removed and his shirt cut off. He lay his head back, passive as they worked to stop the bleeding. One of them injected him with a magical anti-venom, and the feeling of it coursing through his veins was like having ice water shot through him. It was not exactly a bad feeling, relatively.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>21-01-2023, 21:21:24</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/9ce98617e7caea3944f7056e038c845a/tumblr_od84mliuPi1vdaxzpo7_250.gifv)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> &nbsp;Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute -&gt; Container Ship<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Investigating the Song of Demeter <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo, Michael Brightstar<br><br><hr>Even after hacking off its leg at the knee he still had no idea of what kind of demon he was fighting. He felt that was somehow wrong. If you were going to try and kill something, you should at least know its name. It was during the running for his life towards the helicopter and perhaps after the third pipe bursting explosion that Kaspian decided he was going to create his own bestiary. Yeah, yeah there was databases and holograms, probably a danger room he hadn’t discovered yet where this was already done, but he remembered best when he wrote it down himself and he was a fair artist, so his book would be pretty.<br><br>Looking down at the demon glaring back he really didn’t feel all that bad for the evil bastard. It was a jerk with no redeeming qualities. The fireballs and destruction were like right out of a movie. Part of him wondered if there was a rune to heal the oceans or nature in general. It would seem thematically congruent since God made everything and all that, another search for the database. <br><br>It was pretty quiet on the trip back. Michael still looked bad but he was breathing. Landing, teleporting and then the medic. I guess you have to check for any black goo entering the Institute. His sister was a doctor so he was cooperative with the medic instead of trying to rush them. The healing rune burned into his flesh and he felt better in a rush. It even got the kinks out of his back from being flung against the ships walls. He nodded to Francis and headed off with Leigh and Melody to document their experiences. <br><br>It was hard to miss Frances’ reaction to Michael’s condition as several medics tended to his injuries. It must be hard to send people into battle and see them come back like this. You feel less guilty if you suffer the dangers with them. Kaspian left it alone since Frances shifted gears back to professionalism. “After we get this down, who wants to head out for some pho? My treat.” he asked Melody and Leigh.<br><br>Typing out his report was pretty simple. He told the truth, which was pretty basic and included the pictures he took from his phone. Part of him wanted to name the demon; something like Steve or Reggie so it was a bit more personal. Sadly, Reggie didn’t have a lot to say so it was difficult to get a proper handle on naming him. Kaspian did jot down to look up the demon subtype and buy himself a sketchbook along with some pencils for his bestiary. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyrical</strong> on <strong>22-01-2023, 16:32:29</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/J2E0Een.jpg)</div><div class="floatright"><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/8aKntzm.png)<br><em>Enkeli: Angelic Power rune</em><br>First received upon initiation: signifying angelic bonds</div></div><br><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16357805#msg16357805)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> zip up denim jacket, gray leggings, brown &amp; gray lace up hiking boots 2" heels, equipped with dagger<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Institute<br><strong>TIME:</strong> close to lunch? maybe later?<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Institute<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian | Melody <br><br><hr><br>The return to the institute was not one of celebration, Michael had fallen, they had returned with a corpse and more questions than answers. Leigh entered the institute with a feeling like a dark shadow loomed over everything. Back home she had never encountered anything like this, it was usually very straight forward. There were infractions, justice was dispensed. Evil happened, the shadowhunters resolved those issues. Any investigations that took place were straight forward and she spent most of that time simply accompanying senior hunters around as back up and occasionally using her well placed downworlder friendships to help out. This felt so much more different, something was off and she didn't like it. <br><br><em> “After we get this down, who wants to head out for some pho? My treat.” &lt;Kaspian&gt; asked Melody and Leigh.</em><br><br>Leigh turned to Melody and nodded than back to Kaspian. <strong>"I"d be down for that. It must be getting close to lunch or after. I didn't have breakfast yet. Let me go put my stuff away and get changed. Give me maybe thirty minutes and I'll be back out."</strong><br><br>Leaving the room she went to go shower in the locker rooms, change, and wrote up the report which only took a couple minutes to wrap up. After that she went out into the common areas of the institute to find the others, if she didn't run into them somewhere else.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Andronica</strong> on <strong>24-01-2023, 03:18:00</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d0/dc/92/d0dc92c15b16a3c5a862b98103af0eac.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Ksenia Ashlace (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356551#msg16356551)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Combat boots, black jeans and a grey tank top<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute infirmary<br><strong>DATE/TIME:</strong> July 6, mid-morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Damage control<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Delilah, Alex, mentioning Lydia and Alric<hr> A look of mild comfort passed over Ksenia's face when she saw Delilah deflate slightly, less pained and anxious than before. Her mouth turned upward in one corner to a half-cocked smile that felt infectious from the stranger's thanks. It was still a whole lot to take in that reasonably couldn't be summed up in a quick heart-to-heart on a gurney in a place the mundane didn't know. She gently shook her head and tipped her head towards the mundane. "No, what you saw was real. He was a vampire. They turn to ash when they're burned like that. Internally anyway, to minimize the mess." She patted her hip where she previously kept the rune etched knife for emphasis.<br><br>Ksenia took a deep breath and went on. "My name's Ksenia. It's going to sound crazy and if you need to tap out just say the word but I -- we, live here at the Institute. Sort of like a family. It's a place for people like you who can see these things that others can't. We call it the Sight. Basically, we go out and keep Downworlders like that vampire from harming regular people who wouldn't know what he really was. Think supernatural spec ops." She trailed off slightly with an affected chuckle to try and add some levity to thee situation, but also to provide a pause for the mundane to chime in or to take a break if she needed to, understandably. Behind her there was a commotion as the infirmary door was flung open and a literal giant Shadowhunter named Dima was carrying in a med bay regular: Alex.<br><br>An inward groan squeaked out through Ksenia's clenched jaw as she looked between the most blatant example of a Shadowhunter fresh from the fray. This would truly be a trial by fire for Delilah if she didn't pass out from shock already. Ksenia snapped her attention back to Delilah just to check, of course, and went on with a grimace through Alex's very loud exclamations to explain. She wasn't sure if he was out of it enough to notice her or the very new face in the bed nearby.<br><br>"That's Alex. Kind of goes <em>through</em> problems more than around them but he gets the job done really well. He'll be fine soon when Alric gets him patched up." Ksenia tossed a curious look back to the infirmary doorway where Lydia and Alric's private conversation had been interrupted. She saw the older male Shadowhunter was visibly putting a hand to his face in exasperation, muttering something quick to Lydia, then followed the trail of Alex's blood to his latest patient.<br><br>The blonde turned back towards the girls at the bed.<br><br>"And you met Lydia. Lady with the kind of sour look right now. She's my adoptive mom." 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>24-01-2023, 12:10:10</strong>
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				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/cc/CatMoore01.jpeg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Sensible boots and warmly practical gear - albeit wholly in black<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> An abandoned freighter<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Post-terror relief<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian, Kaleigh, Michael, Francis<br><hr><br>That unsettling <em>lurch</em> right after the helicopter's take-off had Melody more than a little worried - not just for the heart-in-mouth anxiety of the moment itself, but for the potential implications of further trouble to come.&nbsp; She had, after all, been on enough trips to mundane cinemas to know just how important a trope "bad guy hanging from the helicopter" really was, with "terrifying monster boarding the escape craft" certainly not to be forgotten either.<br><br>Seeing the entity still on the deck - and looking decidedly frustrated - thus came as a marked relief... and for a moment she allowed herself to slump back in her seat.&nbsp; Then the combination of muscles and joints protesting about carrying Michael and the sight of the man himself served to dispel that brief surge of positive feeling.&nbsp; Racking her brain for anything that might be more use than the standard healing rune, all that she could clearly come up with was <em>Sangliers</em>.&nbsp; Potentially vital, of course, given how badly wounded Michael seemed to be... but she was well aware that she had found it in the course of her searches for 'obscure and rarely used' runes precisely because it was not regarded as at all <em>wise</em> to employ.<br><br>Magically transferring blood from one body to another was not for the faint-hearted, even when both donor and recipient had a little of the strength of an angel.&nbsp; And for her, it would be the first-ever attempt.&nbsp; What would happen if she got it wrong?&nbsp; How much control would a user have over the size and rate of transfer?&nbsp; Visions danced through her mind - some of the milder ones entailing making herself pass out while giving Michael several pints more than his circulatory system had room to hold...<br><br>But she kept <em>Sangliers</em> at the forefront of her thoughts, while fearfully watching Michael - desperately hoping that he would not deteriorate far enough that it seemed necessary to try using it.&nbsp; That hope was, thankfully, met, with the chopper managing to land and their companion reaching the care of dedicated medics.<br><br>Still, she delayed a moment, trying to make sure that she grabbed the attention of someone nearby - primarily those not presently focused upon the near-dead Shadowhunter, though if they were to hear her as well it could be a good thing.<br><br>"I might be wrong - but I think that the demon might have tried grabbing the chopper as took off.&nbsp; <em><strong>Check</strong></em> the landing struts - but be careful!&nbsp; It seemed to spread, or at least be associated with, some sort of contaminant.&nbsp; Dark ooze of some kind.&nbsp; I don't think any of us have seen anything like it before - like the demon or the ooze."<br><br>Then she allowed herself to be bundled off through the portal, to thereafter blink somewhat dazedly at the safety of the Institute, and at her superior praising their work.&nbsp; It hadn't actually occurred to her that things had gone <em>well</em>... though if Michael survived, she would feel much more inclined in that direction.&nbsp; Ingrained habit did at least mean that she managed to mumble an acknowledgement and some gratitude for his words.<br><br>Kaspian's query took a few moments to register, resulting in the (artificial) redhead blinking dopily at her companions.&nbsp; "Pho?&nbsp; Uh... oh!&nbsp; Sorry.&nbsp; Vietnamese noodle soup, right?&nbsp; Sure.&nbsp; That would be good.&nbsp; And... thank you.&nbsp; Both of you."<br><br>Her mouth opened as if to add more... then she closed it again, instead raising a hand in self-conscious farewell.&nbsp; Time for a shower and a change of clothes indeed, and to at least knock together the framework of her report.&nbsp; Given how <em>different</em> that hunt had been, she was not quite sure what state she would be in once the adrenaline finished wearing off....<br><br><br></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gamora</strong> on <strong>24-01-2023, 14:46:53</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/0dcc15c4a9e5626f9beea133eed6fea7/21fe0dff4e08e6f4-e6/s400x600/c843c8d1b101ba2a6b26c381437e380b85008a9e.pnj)</div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Delilah Weaver<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Black leggings, white t-shirt, with a blue plaid flannel overtop. Combat boots - always.<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Institute infirmary <br><strong>TIME:</strong> July 6, mid morning. <br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Stressing out<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Ksenia, Lydia, mentions of Alex<br><hr>Delilah had mixed feelings in hearing that what she saw really did happen. Did this mean all the stories were true? Vampires? Werewolves? Demons? Did they all exist? Part of her still believed this was some crazy realistic dream and she would wake up any moment in her bed safe in her apartment. But an even bigger part of her knew that wasn’t the case. All Delilah could do was just watch Ksenia as she spoke, the woman’s eyes wide with surprise, lips parted slightly as though she was about to say something, but no words seemed to escape. This was all so much to take in.<br><br><strong>“Downworlders?”</strong> she questioned, having never heard that term before. It was more so making sure she heard her right, rather than asking if it was true. It was more than clear now that the world that she had once known was a falsey, and apparently for whatever reason, she had this ability to see things normal people couldn’t. But why now? Why hadn’t she seen them before? There was so much she wanted to ask, but before she could put out another question, there was a commotion by the infirmary doors, capturing her attention. <br><br>A man, who looked very much hurt, and maybe even intoxicated, was whisked in and taken to a bed. Under any normal circumstances, Delilah might have found the man’s intoxicated-type state entertaining, but right now she was too busy trying to process everything. Delilah nodded at the description of this man, Alex, which had her raising a brow. <strong>“How many of you are there?”</strong> She had originally thought it was just the three of them, maybe in a small shack somewhere on the outskirts of Vancouver, but now she wasn’t so sure. <br><br>She glanced over at Lydia at Ksenia’s description and nodded again. <strong>“How come I’m only knowing about this ‘SIght’ thing now? I’ve never seen anything like that before.” </strong> As much as this was to take in, Delilah just needed to know everything. Even if the weight of it all was heavy on her chest. <br><br><strong>“I’m Delilah, by the way,”</strong> she added quickly, giving them both a soft smile, but her gaze fell on Ksenia rather than Lydia. Introductions weren’t on the front of her mind at the exact moment, but it would be good for them to know who she was (if they didn't already). Maybe then Delilah would feel less like they were strangers. <br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Andronica</strong> on <strong>24-01-2023, 15:40:18</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d0/dc/92/d0dc92c15b16a3c5a862b98103af0eac.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Ksenia Ashlace (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356551#msg16356551)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Combat boots, black jeans and a grey tank top<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute infirmary<br><strong>DATE/TIME:</strong> July 6, mid-morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Damage control<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Delilah, Lydia | Open <hr> Much to Ksenia's surprise, the brunette didn't go into shock at everything she was being told. It wasn't like the Shadowhunter had any experience in talking people down, anyway, considering her own strange induction into the world within a world that the mundanes simply weren't aware of. However, she smiled slightly in a way that made her lopsided smirk become a little more toothy in the moment while she continued on, picking up from the unanswered question prior to Alex's loud, proud and bloody entrance. A small shrug of her shoulders indicated the casual manner in which she and others like her considered the terms. "Downworlder is what we call anything that fits the supernatural bill, like werewolves or demons. Even Fae but they're kind of a whole different story for another time."<br><br>Ksenia pulled a face and looked around the room in contemplation to get some figures running in her head. "Here in the Vancouver Institute it's dozens at least, sometimes way more. It can be a revolving door because of the portals that keep us connected to other locations." Before she could go on, Lydia's booted steps closed the gap with soft thumps on the polished near-pristine marble floor. <br><br>"Nice to meet you, Delilah -- and that's what we're trying to figure out," Lydia interjected smoothly. Her arms crossed over her chest just beneath her bust in a relaxed position. Despite peering down her nose at Delilah and Ksenia both as she hovered off to the side, she didn't give off a particularly matronly or rigid aura. More calming than anything else. "We suspect your Sight was blocked by warlock magic until a certain time. Exactly when, I'm not sure, but the condition was clearly met for you to see that vampire yesterday morning. If there are any significant dates that could be a clue. For now, though..." Lydia looked quickly down to the floor then back to Delilah with an incline of her head. "You can stay with us here at the Institute until we get to the bottom of this. There are plenty of rooms." Her blonde ponytail swayed when she moved her attention over to Ksenia who was now smiling a bit wider than before.<br><br>"Take Delilah with you for a change of clothes and something to eat." Lydia skirted her warm eyes sidelong to Delilah in a nonverbal query to ask if she was up to it, then scrunched up her nose as her attention fell back on her stubborn daughter. "And take a shower. There's still vampire dust in your hair."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gamora</strong> on <strong>24-01-2023, 16:17:27</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/0dcc15c4a9e5626f9beea133eed6fea7/21fe0dff4e08e6f4-e6/s400x600/c843c8d1b101ba2a6b26c381437e380b85008a9e.pnj)</div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Delilah Weaver<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Black leggings, white t-shirt, with a blue plaid flannel overtop. Combat boots - always.<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Institute infirmary <br><strong>TIME:</strong> July 6, mid morning. <br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Taking on this new life one shaky step at a time <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Ksenia, Lydia<br><hr>Dozens of them. So maybe this wasn’t some shack after all. It definitely looked sophisticated and modern, at least in the infirmary. And considering they just dragged in an injured man, they must be more than equipped to deal with this sort of thing. Delilah didn’t bother asking how long the institute had been here because she didn’t exactly want to know the answer. It freaked her out that dozens of people with a deeper purpose in life had been living here all this time. That, and the fact that vampires, werewolves, demons, and some sort of fairy type creature existed as well. <br><br>The woman’s attention turned to Lydia as she explained her assumptions to why this had happened. Oh good, Warlocks existed too. Now she wanted to know what else written in fairy tales and fiction existed. But what was more troubling was knowing that she did in fact know a Warlock, because it had done something to her head to prevent her from living in this demon hunting world. That bothered her the most, making her stomach churn and chest pull tighter. <br><br>Delilah blew out a shaky breath, swallowing down the lump in her throat. Now she wanted to cry all over again. <strong>”Well,”</strong> she began, pausing for a moment to consider what the hell she could say to this before finding the perfect words. <strong>”That’s fucked up.”</strong><br><br>All things considered, the once Mundie now Shadowhunter was handling things fairly well. Maybe it was the fact her life had already folded and crumbled underneath her when her mother passed, so this wasn’t much different. And in fact, it wasn’t even worse. However, she couldn’t help but wonder why this started happening now all of a sudden. Her mother had been gone several years, so it couldn’t have been anything to do with her. Was her mother keeping secrets from her during her entire life? But those questions would have to be answered another time. At the thought of food, Delilah’s stomach rumbled. She didn’t know how long she had been in here, but definitely hadn’t eaten for quite some time. And she hoped that eating would help alleviate some of the nausea. Though she had a feeling most of it was from the chaos of this new life she just discovered.<br><br>Carefully, she pulled back the bed sheet that had covered her and swung her legs over the side to stand up. Her head hurt like fuck, but didn’t let it show beyond squinting slightly. She was steady on her feet, though felt a little bit weaker than usual. <strong>”I could use a change of clothes,”</strong> she agreed, giving Ksenia and Lydia a smile. <strong>”I’m still kind of freaking out here, but I do appreciate your help,”</strong> Delilah added sincerely. Though part of her wished they had just delivered her to her bedroom and left her there to think it was all a dream. Maybe then she could just go back to life as it was and never know any different. But she was thankful for the help, regardless. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Andronica</strong> on <strong>24-01-2023, 16:52:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d0/dc/92/d0dc92c15b16a3c5a862b98103af0eac.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Ksenia Ashlace (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356551#msg16356551)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Combat boots, black jeans and a grey tank top<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute infirmary<br><strong>DATE/TIME:</strong> July 6, mid-morning or so<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Time to fight the hunger<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Delilah, Lydia | Open <hr> For all intents and purposes, Ksenia thought Delilah was handling things really well. Though she did grimace a bit in unison with her when Lydia came to be the bearer of yet more vague news which wouldn't have done much to quell a likely already racing mind. Still, getting a breather from the infirmary ought to be a nice things, right? Ksenia pitched forward from the edge of the bed when Delilah began to stir and pull the blanket back. The Shadowhunter waited just beside the bed with a hand out in offering, just in case it was needed, but would pull it back if the dark haired woman could stand on her own without running the risk of shaky legs. <br><br>"Yeah, it's a lot, I know. Sorry. We can talk more about it after we get something for you to eat, I swear. Whatever questions you've got I'll try to answer."<em> Even if that means it adds ten more questions to the list of what-the-fucks.</em> Her voice rang with the utmost sincerity when answered back, hoping to provide a small amount of reassurance to Delilah. After all, her world was quite literally just pitched upside down and she was thrown headlong into it without any family or friends that they knew of to help orient her. So, Ksenia felt a small urge to be that rock for her - condescending she was also the one to blame for literally killing a vampire in front of a would-be mundane. Her cheeks bloomed slightly pink at the thought of such an amateur turn of events. Still, Ksenia trudged on pushing open the door of the infirmary to let in the ghostly hue of the hallways witchlights and candelabras. It was a unique mix of Gothic and modern, and entirely of different proportions than one might expect from an outwardly dilapidated old cathedral.<br><br>Ksenia made a pointed effort of walking somewhat slowly down the hall so she could stick close to Delilah, just in case she felt weak after being bedridden for a day. Shadowhunters clad in predominantly black outfits from head to toe whizzed past them going about their own business: briefings, missions, duties of their shifts within the institute and the like. Thankfully there weren't too many stares burning holes into Delilah's somewhat displaced form.<br><br>After a few minutes of silence, Ksenia piped up. "I think it's waffles today at the mess. Or maybe it's closer to lunch by now. We'll find out soon though."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gamora</strong> on <strong>24-01-2023, 19:23:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/0dcc15c4a9e5626f9beea133eed6fea7/21fe0dff4e08e6f4-e6/s400x600/c843c8d1b101ba2a6b26c381437e380b85008a9e.pnj)</div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Delilah Weaver<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Messy and winkled black leggings, white t-shirt, with a blue plaid flannel overtop. Combat boots. <br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Institute infirmary <br><strong>TIME:</strong> July 6, close to lunch <br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> The grand tour and a meal&nbsp; <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Ksenia, mentions Alex | Open<br><hr>Delilah was thankful for Ksenia’s outstretched arm in case she needed it. While she wasn’t completely steady and felt like crap, she held herself upright without issue and didn’t need that support. But knowing it was there was a comfort. <br><br>At the promise of Ksenia answering all her questions, Delilah chuckled lightly. <strong>“You’re going to regret promising that,”</strong> she joked, following the woman towards the infirmary door. On her way passed the man that had just been brought in, Alex, she glanced to see how he was doing. More so being nosy than anything else. What these people were doing to him as medical care wasn’t normal human stuff, and she would ask Ksenia about it later. <br><br>As they stepped into the hallway, Delilah was a little taken aback from the dark yet modern vibe. Her eyes darted around the empty space, glancing at all the stranger light fixtures and very clean aesthetic of the Institute. She didn’t have much to say at the moment and was just taking it all in. A couple people, Shadowhunters she guessed, dressed in black combat type outfits had walked by. Immediately, Delilah inched a little closer to Ksenia, as though she was trying to hide from prying eyes. Thankfully the people were clearly preoccupied with whatever it is they were doing and didn’t pay any mind to her. <br><br><strong>“You guys really like the dark and broody vibe, huh?”</strong> she commented, half teasing, half being serious. It was kind of funny seeing how everyone she had seen so far dressed so similar. <br><br>It was almost surprising to hear they ate regular food like waffles. For some reason Delilah had been worried they’d eat military packaged food or something completely unnatural altogether. Maybe these people weren’t so different after all. In Ksenia’s case, she seemed nice enough. And considering she cared enough to drag an unconscious Delilah here, she probably wasn’t someone to worry about. <br><br><strong>“Hey, how long was I out for anyway?”</strong> she asked curiously, having not gotten around to that question yet, as they entered the mess. There were plenty of other people around, though, so Delilah stepped even closer to Ksenia like she had before when the two Shadowhunters had passed them in the halls. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Andronica</strong> on <strong>29-01-2023, 02:02:31</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d0/dc/92/d0dc92c15b16a3c5a862b98103af0eac.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Ksenia Ashlace (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356551#msg16356551)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Combat boots, black jeans and a grey tank top<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute mess hall / corridors<br><strong>DATE/TIME:</strong> July 6, mid-morning or so<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Time to fight the hunger<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Delilah | Open <hr> An amused chuckle rolled off Ksenia's slightly pursed lips as they walked to the mess hall, guided by the more experienced and significantly less traumatized of the two feminine figures. Kay admired how Delilah moved with relative confidence despite being in bed for so long from that bump on the head - which she felt awful about - and enjoyed taking some respite from all the new mind bending discoveries that were rapidly accumulating to... just real talk. It felt natural with Delilah and she put her guard down even though Ksenia never met her before yesterday morning. <br><br>"Heh, yeah. No surprise here but we do a lot of our work in the night time when a lot of those things that go bump are out. Unless we're heading to a glamoured club or something run by warlocks. Mundanes can't actually see all those things the way you do, so..." She swivelled a bit on her hip to peer sidelong at Delilah with a raised hand motion, "it's pretty easy to go around without raising too much suspicion."<br><br>Before continuing to answer Delilah's questions as promised, Ksenia outstretched her hand to push open the black doors with frosted interior leading to the mess hall. It was a giant room with yet another vaulted ceiling and rows of tables - plus the requisite hot tables in the back. Immediately an assault of well known smells would be thick in the air and more than enough to make most people come back for seconds.<br><br>Without skipping a beat Ksenia carried on, "You were out for a little over a day. I was getting kinda worried you wouldn't wake up." A strong desire to steer the conversation elsewhere made the Shadowhunter plug at typical fallback topics. "So, what's your go-to breakfast? We can scrounge it up and chill long enough to maybe scratch the surface of all your questions, until the others get here." Lydia passed on news that Ksenia's core group of friends returned from a mission that morning so she suspected she'd run into at least one of them soon in the commons or personal quarters - and she had to mentally prepare for it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>29-01-2023, 17:07:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EBTzr3bUEAA9uYM.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> &nbsp;Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute -&gt; Pho place<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Early morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Investigating the Song of Demeter <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo<br><br><hr>Melody’s guess got him thinking too. “Yeah, I don’t want any demon goo being tracked into the Institute--or, you know, on me.” he nodded with her. “I’ve never seen anything like that. I think I read that lower demons were all just generally gross in one way or another but didn’t think I needed to categorize it at the time.” He checked his shoes and himself when they stepped off. He glanced at Melody and Leigh too, its hard to see your own back. He mentioned it to the pilot to check for remnants as well.<br><br>Leigh agreed to the offer of pho. “Sure, I should probably do that report too before heading out. Thiry it is.” he agreed with her. Melody was less sure of the offering was. He nodded to her easily. “Yeah, the noodle soup.” They had other kinds of dishes of course but he wasn’t going to try and remember the menu since she seemed interested. He was about to ask what she was thanking him for, they all saved each other from that demon, but it was a crazy morning. “You’re welcome, and thank you. See you two soon.” he said and turned towards his room. <br><br>First things first—he needed a scalding hot shower to get the bits of black goo off of his skin and hair. Showers also relaxed him, which he needed after the adrenaline rush of explosions and combat. Then of course there was that captain who died while he and Leigh were trying to save him. It should be old hat by now, three years of this and he still reacted, still needed process. His reaction was human…no, it was mundane. <br><br>What a horrible word to describe the vast majority of the Earth’s sentient inhabitants. They didn’t even get human or like children of Adam and Eve. They were all just basic. Yeah, another thing he probably wouldn’t be adopting into his psyche. The water felt good. He needed this. The simple ritual of cleansing his skin and washing his hair drove out some of the emotion and let him wind down from that coiled spring feeling he had. <br><br>He hated typing out reports. The only things he liked typing out were his stories and even they had to be written in pencil first on a pad of paper before he committed them to type. He had spent some time figuring out the voice to text thing and invested in a quality software. He dictated while he was dressing, he was usually pretty good at picturing things in his head. <br><br>The main elements were easy enough, he didn’t go through a blow by blow of the battle—he did go through some of the thoughts in his head and his impressions of all of this. His stomach made itself known and he left his report at about eighty percent done. He headed out feeling clean again. Checking his phone for the location he made sure they were open. When he saw Leigh and Melody he smiled and said, “You know its only a few blocks. Want to walk?” The fact that he didn't have a car and he couldn't drive&nbsp; had nothing to do with it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyrical</strong> on <strong>29-01-2023, 22:47:24</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/CZyPeeA.jpg)</div><div class="floatright"><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/8aKntzm.png)<br><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size"><em>Enkeli: Angelic Power rune</em><br>First received upon initiation: signifying angelic bonds</span></div></div><br><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16357805#msg16357805)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> (see picture) white summer dress, white tennis shoes, purse w/ Nephilim dagger<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Institute -&gt; pho?<br><strong>TIME:</strong> close to lunch? maybe later?<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> lunch with some of the gang?<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian | Melody <br><br><hr>Report was filed, straight and to the point - Leigh included the images, descriptions of what she found and added a set of citations which included her own opinions on how she felt during the fighting. Black goo creature was a new one for her so she didn't have a lot to add outside her personal experience with it. Since nothing was sold, it was mostly presenting a lot of facts and timeline of when she found stuff or found others finding stuff.<br><br>Then she took a long hot shower and got changed. It let her muscles relax and gave her time to decompress. Now she just needed a distraction to let it all go mentally. Hanging out in the world of the mundanes for awhile would be relaxing. She practically bounced out to join her new friends. The airy short white dress flowed over her curves, sitting in place loosely as she made her way out to meet them. It would have been a modest dress except for the deep plunging neckline revealing the top of her tanned cleavage and the shortness of the tennis length skirt. It wasn't designed to be a sexy outfit but when you were as fit as the shadow hunters were, all your clothes looked good on, as was evidenced by the way Kaspian pants and shirt fit his body... She couldn't wait to see what Melody was wearing. Did that make her a perv? Maybe a little, but she didn't care... Her colleagues were hot and she enjoyed it. Once they were all together and Kaspian made the offer to walk, Leigh was on board with the plan, she had her walking shoes on and ready to go. <br><br>Along the walk to the restaurant Leigh would say, <strong>"I've been dying to explore the city. Since I got her I've spent all my time familiarizing myself with the institute."</strong> She was gawking like a tourist as they travelled down the road.<strong> "In Phnom Penh, I spent most of my time out among the mundanes and downworlders. It feels weird being here and so out of touch with the locals. I don't even know where to start. Do either of you know any of the locals?"</strong>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>02-02-2023, 14:15:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/cc/CatMoore01.jpeg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As pictured<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> The Vancouver Institute<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Late morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Post-terror relief<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian, Kaleigh, Open<br><hr><br>For her part, Melody's transition to being 'more herself' entailed not just a shower and a change of clothes, but the setting-aside of sensible practicality in favour of her preferred form of social armour.&nbsp; True, the boots were stompy enough and freedom of movement sufficiently great that she could certainly fight if required, but her attire put her quite firmly at the Gothic end of even the Shadowhunting spectrum.&nbsp; &nbsp;Still, it served to put her at ease, and thus helped her to build upon the initial framework of her report to create something worthy of submission to the official record.&nbsp; She had, after all, directly <em>seen</em> rather less than her colleagues, at least until the closing battle, so for the most part she could provide a rather simple (if illustrated) report of strange graffitti.&nbsp; Only towards the end did it escalate from "horrifically grim depictions of stars" to "otherworldly horror of a like hitherto unseen..."<br><br>In light of that ending to her work, it was perhaps no surprise that her thoughts were <em>elsewhere</em> as she moved to join her colleagues... nor that she double-took upon taking in Kaleigh's outfit.&nbsp; Then she cracked a grin, and inclined her head.<br><br>"Hi.&nbsp; If you're dressed to blend in with where we're going, then I fear that I might scupper that effort if I reveal myself!&nbsp; But going in search of food certainly does sound good.&nbsp; And walking sounds fine to me.&nbsp; But I can't really claim to know any of the locals, unfortunately.&nbsp; I'm still adjusting to the city.&nbsp; And to its inhabitants.&nbsp; I've not been here for long, either.&nbsp; But you, ahhh, you grew up among the mundanes?"&nbsp; Her glance included both her companions, given the little she had heard about them.<br><br></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wolfling72</strong> on <strong>06-02-2023, 02:57:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/7/79/Tieran.4.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Kiara Skye (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16395091#msg16395091)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> white crop top, yoga pants (https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1dSowpDXYBeNkHFrdq6AiuVXaM/High-Waist-Pants-Patchwork-Leisure-Sports-Loose-Yoga-Pants-Women-Wide-leg-pants.jpg) and white classics<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> The Institute's Main Kitchen<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Thursday July 6th, 2023 | Just before 5 PM<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Cooking and listening to music<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> <span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">OPEN</span><br><strong>MUSICAL MOOD</strong> I Don't Think About You -Kelly Clarkson (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx9mF1KJr0s)<br><hr><br><div align="center"><span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">Oh, you tore me to pieces<br>Turned my strength into weakness<br>I didn't want it all to fall apart<br>So I decided just to play the part</span></div><br><em>The rising scent of various spices filled the air, as did the husky contralto of the well developed form busily bouncing from counter to stove top and back again. Food, in various stages of preparation bubbled or baked or roiled in a concert of harmonic convergence. In the oven, chicken breast tenders baked on two flat sheets beneath their layers of olive oil, thyme, rosemary, and oregano. On the stove top, a large soup pan contained a flavorful chicken broth for Pho Ga just in case someone (besides her) wanted to try the Vientamese version of chicken noodle soup.<br><br>After a moment, Kiara settled at the table and resumed shucking ears of corn. The water for them was just coming to a slow boil and had already been salted. She didn't know if anyone would join her for dinner but, well, she had been thinking of her mother during her earlier workout and that usually meant she had to cook it out. So, she'd started the Chicken Broth well over an hour ago and was going to use half of her seasoned tenders for the meat. The home made banh pho (flat noodles) she'd fiddled with earlier in the morning after soaking&nbsp; jasmine rice for what seemed like FOREVER were set aside and ready to be added whenever.<br><br>Egads, so much preparation for food that hardly no one would eat!!<br><br>After what seemed like forever, the young woman opened the over door only to be attacked by the scent of perfectly seasoned chicken. Removing the baking sheets and placing them on racks to cool, Kiara reached for two small cake pans filled with a homemade chocolate cake batter and slipped them into place. She had an excellent peanut butter icing recipe she wanted to try...Finally, though, she resumed her spot at the table while she waited for her corn on the cob to finish. Perhaps someone would come and see what all the fuss was about?</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>06-02-2023, 09:48:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EBTzr3bUEAA9uYM.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> &nbsp;Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute -&gt; Pho place<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Noonish Wed July 5th<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Heading out for some lunch with new friends<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo<br><br><hr>When Leigh and Melody came down he had to make it a point not to stare. His sister Katherine was drop dead beautiful and it annoyed him when people leered, so he tried not to be a hypocrite about the way he conducted himself. The plunging necklines and form fitting clothing didn’t make that easy on him though. Still, there were far worse things than being in the company of two beautiful women.<br><br>He answered Leigh’s question first. “I grew up here not knowing about all of this…” he said gesturing around at the institute instead of her angelic tattoos. “So yeah, I have a sister and all kinds of people—like regular people, I still keep in contact with. I’m still getting to know the various vampires, werewolves and fae…” why did he want to add in an ‘oh my’ at the end of that. “I’m happy to introduce you to my friends and acquaintances. We can start with Donman, the guy at the cash when we get to the pho place.” <br><br>Kaspian felt it was hard to get to know the other supernatural races. Every time they showed up it was like they were performing an investigation where someone in the crowd was under suspicion and were about to be taken in. Why didn’t they attend a vampire mixer or a wolf barbeque…he was pretty sure that Fae had formal balls and warlocks…yeah that was harder. What do you do for fun in a group setting when you can literally warp reality? Bowling? He mentally shrugged and added to the list of things he wanted to ask people when he got a second with them.<br><br>He smiled at Melody’s concern. “Scupper?” he shakes his head loving the different terms people had for things. “Don’t worry, you aren’t going to scupper anything. You aren’t the first goth in Vancouver that got hungry and wanted to eat. I mean you’ll likely get your share of looks.” he said because she was a striking woman. “And yes, I grew up among the non super powered people.” he knew that wasn’t enough, because his surname was sort of a big deal although he never saw anyone come forth to claim him. “I was dropped off at the Cathedral of our Lady of the Holy Rosary when I was a few months old and grew up there until Kat and I were adopted.” <br><br>He gestured towards the door since his stomach was becoming impatient again. “How about you two? What is it like growing up around all of this?” He didn't make himself invisible outside of his weapons. It would be problematic to suddenly become visible and decide to order food. "Were you learning about vampires instead of drawing with crayons?"<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>06-02-2023, 10:26:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://stories.isu.pub/50266227/images/69_original_file_I0.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> &nbsp;Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> A ‘major’ case-&gt;Vancouver Institute<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Thursday July 6th, 2023 | Just before 5 PM<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> On a 'big' case then hopefully some diner <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kiara, Open<br><br><hr>Before being discovered as a Herondale, Kaspian was Kaspian Zhou, private investigator. Even after becoming a Shadow Hunter, he didn’t exactly dissolve his business. People had his name and number or one of the two thousand cards he printed up…what, you got a special on bulk orders and he was so going to be the next Sam Spade with the cool office and beautiful receptionist who had her own tragic backstory. What? a guy could dream of having a movie life.<br><br>That didn’t exactly play out like in the trailers, but he still got calls from time to time, people always needed help. Today it was a six year old girl who called him early in the morning. She was very sweet and a bit sassy. Her name was Morgana and she lost her cat Arthur. He sort of felt he was being punked but how do you turn down the near tears about losing your bestest friend ever? <br><br>He should have known it wasn’t going to be an easy case when he asked Morgana where she lived and she answered ‘I live in my bedroom.’ <em>Of course you do.</em> It took a few hours be he found King Arthur…she corrected him that it was just Arthur but then hugged Kaspian in thanks and was going to head to her piggy bank, that was actually a pink little piggy. Although Arthur led him on a merry chase—where he had to use super speed and jump from one tree to a roof, he wasn’t going to take money from Morgana. They worked out their payment in a peanut butter and banana sandwich exchange. <br><br>He decided to jog the twelve odd kilometers back to the Institute. It was his workout day after all. As he got closer he could smell something amazing happening around the kitchen area. Heading inside he waved at some of the instructors who just gave him those ‘badass’ looks barely nodding. He shrugged and headed to the kitchen and saw a new face or one that he didn’t recognize anyways. Glancing at all the food his eyes took it all in. “Hi. I’m Kaspian..” he warmly smiled at the pretty lady responsible for all of&nbsp; this and then his stomach made its own introduction. “Any chance you’re willing to share some of this?” <br><br>Would it be too much to ask that she didn't hear the noises his gut made?
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyrical</strong> on <strong>07-02-2023, 01:31:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/CZyPeeA.jpg)</div><div class="floatright"><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/8aKntzm.png)<br><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size"><em>Enkeli: Angelic Power rune</em><br>First received upon initiation: signifying angelic bonds</span></div></div><br><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16357805#msg16357805)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> (see picture) white summer dress, white tennis shoes, purse w/ Nephilim dagger<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> streets<br><strong>TIME:</strong> close to lunch<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> lunch with some of the gang<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian | Melody <br><br><hr>In the moments before they left Melody mentioned her own choice of attire and asked about growing up among the young... Kaspian talked about it and his personal experiences of growing up adopted so he had strong ties to the mundanes. So while they were all walking to the restaurant Leigh brought up the subjects again partially in response to Kaspian as well.<br><br>Leigh said casually, <strong>"In Alicante life is pretty mundane, just with different history lessons as you can imagine. But by like the age of twelve you are sent to Shadowhunter training if deemed appropriate. By that age you've already learned a lot of basics about combat, downworlders, and stuff like that. Depends a lot on your family too."</strong> She turned to look over at Melody. <strong>"We keep close ties to the downworlder community in Cambodia so when I was twelve and started traveling to where my parents were stationed I was indoctrinated into that mindset. I spent a lot of time getting to know them, shopping in their markets, frequenting their shops. As I got older I even went to their parties and counted many of them as friends.. But to answer&nbsp; your question Kaspian. No, I didn't learn about vampires instead of drawing with crayons. I was drawing vampires with those crayons."</strong> She let out a laugh remembering playful memories as a child. <strong>"Actually, my first memory is of drawing a Leograph with my crayons and coloring it. It's sometimes called a Chinthe. Which just means lion but there is a downworlder demon that inhabits the bodies of lions and uses them to attack mundanes. It's relatively common, a sort of demonic beast. Not like your typical downworlder. It's more like the creature we met today. No language or anything, just a source of malevolent violence. Much easier to banish though." </strong>There was another group of downworlders that the Keo family was particularly close to but she opted to leave them out of the conversation for now unless someone choose to ask about it.<br><br>Leigh realized she was talking to much, she took a few steps ahead to turn and to walk backwards for a moment while looking at both Kaspian and Melody.<br><br><strong>"How about you two? What's your earliest memories. Or what was it like growing up in your case, Kaspian? Being all mundane must have been different? Did you know that Melody here is a Fairchild? She's sort of Shadowhunter royalty."</strong>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cold Heritage</strong> on <strong>07-02-2023, 04:32:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/sTBpBUf.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Alexander Greyhallow (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16379290#msg16379290)<br>(Optional)<strong>WEARING:</strong> Black boots, black trousers, black shirt<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> DARKEST Vancouver Institute Kitchen<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Thursday July 6th, 2023 | Just before 5 PM<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Food uneaten? Not on Alexander's watch!<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Open; Kaspian Herondale, Kiara Skye<br><hr><br>Should Alexander <em>really</em> be up and about right now? No. Were the infirmary staff willing to put up with more of him? Also no. So Alexander was turned loose from the infirmary and now he was everyone else in the Institute's problem. Nobody had come through for Alexander and brought him quesadillas, and his lunch had been a sandwich, some juice, and a few apple slices. In all honesty the quesadillas that the Institute commissary made were not the greatest, but they were better than a dry ham sandwich with a thin slice of dry ham, a rumour of mustard, and a Kraft single. It was something, and Alexander was not completely ungrateful that he got that, but neither was he a happy boy whose stomach was filled with quesadilla and salsa. <br><br>Unlike Kaspian, and really, unlike himself, Alexander entered the kitchen in a stealthy manner. His intention was reconnaissance. He made no sound as he entered, disturbing nothing, and his footfalls made no sound to betray his presence. All of his movements were soft and seamlessly, without any sudden or jerky movements to draw the eyes. A ninja master would simultaneously be green with envy and afflicted with a case of terminal priapism at just how absolutely stealthy Alexander was. If they could distill Alexander down into a liquid and pour it onto a stealth bomber it would be like something out of a science fiction author's wettest dreams of the far future.<br><br>So it was that Alexander approached the baking sheets left to cool, unguarded and unattended - but then who expected subterfuge in their own home? - and Alexander pilfered not one, not two, but three chicken tenders for himself. Was it immoral? No. All was fair in . . . food and eating. Probably. The point was that as Alexander finished that third chicken tender, he did not feel particularly bad about the ramifications for Kiara's recipe. So while Kaspian was a noble man, asking for permission, Alexander was favoured by fortune for his boldness. Those tenders could not be uneaten. <br><br>"It's pretty good stuff." Alexander said from behind the two of them. "Those tenders? Yum yum." He made a chef's kiss gesture with his left hand. "So whatcha making, K-bud?" Alexander asked Kiara with a stupid, cocky grin. "Sup, K-man?" The Shadowhunter said in equally familiar, casual manner to Kaspian. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wolfling72</strong> on <strong>12-02-2023, 20:27:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/7/79/Tieran.4.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Kiara Skye (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16395091#msg16395091)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> white crop top, yoga pants (https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1dSowpDXYBeNkHFrdq6AiuVXaM/High-Waist-Pants-Patchwork-Leisure-Sports-Loose-Yoga-Pants-Women-Wide-leg-pants.jpg) and white classics<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> The Institute's Main Kitchen<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Thursday July 6th, 2023 | Just before 5 PM<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Cooking and listening to music<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> <span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">Kaspian Herondale and Alexander Greyhallow</span><br><strong>MUSICAL MOOD</strong> I Don't Think About You -Kelly Clarkson (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx9mF1KJr0s)<br><hr><br><em>Kiara was deeply involved in her singing and food preparation. It took a LOT of effort to be sure that all of the disparate foods were finished at the same time, and only a keen eye could gauge just when everything should be removed from the heat. However, she still recalled her father's words of wisdom which meant that she kept her head on a swivel as she watched for <del>intruders</del> potential meal companions. All of this meant that it should have been impossible for anyone to sneak up on her, BUT somehow TWO young men found their way to her quiet space and scared the holy hell out of her.</em><br><br><span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">"Good LORD!"</span> The words slipped from her on a soft shriek as a delicate hand rose to pat her rapidly beating heart. Dark eyes snapped quickly toward the fit young man who had just announced himself in a roughened baritone, a smile lingering on his mobile lips. <span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">"Uh, hi Kaspian. I'm Kiara. You can call me KiKi. Just arrived, not long ago."</span> The words were a staccato blast of information and interrupted by ANOTHER friggin' masculine voice. Immediately Kiara turned her gaze to the young man behind her, as a smile found her lips and lingered there.<br><br><span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">"Dammit, Alexander! I needed those!!"</span> Turning on one small foot, Kiara, shifted her stance to keep both young men in view. She jerked a thumb in the chicken tender thief's direction. <span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">"I met <strong>Mister Stealth is my middle name</strong> when I arrived."</span> The grumble of Kaspian's belly interrupted her story time though. <span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">"Never mind. I have all the fixings for Pho Ga plus corn on the cob and about a tray of tenders, as I need the rest. Chocolate cake is in the oven.&nbsp; Let me sort some noodles for you, and you can have at it."</span><br><br><em>The next few minutes were filled with setting her actions to the words spoken. Two bowls were filled with the gingery tang of chicken broth, finely cut green onions and thinly sliced tenders. No more than a minute later, both bowls were filled with homemade rice noodles, and a few small bowls filled with garnishes and toppings were placed on the sideboard. Pointing out the additions, Kiaara offered,&nbsp; </em> <span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">"There are bean sprouts, sliced jalapeño chiles,&nbsp; lime wedges, and Thai basil. No idea where they keep sticks, but I have my own. Corn on the cob is done too. Help yourselves."</span> <em>Finally, she picked up one of the bowls, pulled out a pair of chestnut, hand-carved chopsticks, and took a bite.</em> <span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">"This came out much better than I thought it would! Not bad for the first time..."</span> <br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>12-02-2023, 21:01:21</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/cc/CatMoore01.jpeg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As pictured<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> The Vancouver Institute<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Late morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Curiosity and embarrassment<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian, Kaleigh, Open<br><hr><br>Melody almost always approached first encounters with more than a small dose of trepidation: Shadowhunters and Downworlders alike tended to have a <em>reaction</em> to her surname, once they figured out what it was.&nbsp; True, the hyphenation her parents had bestowed upon their children granted a degree of protection, but dealing with inferences and connotations was all too common a feature of her life.&nbsp; She had grown up with it, of course, but what people thought it <em>meant</em> had rather substantially changed over time.<br><br>That Kaleigh put a positive - or at least prestigious - spin on it was welcome, if embarrassing.&nbsp; The happily curious smile she had worn while listening to the other two froze, a blush colouring her pale cheeks.<br><br>"Ahh, err, hrr-hrrm.&nbsp; Umm.&nbsp; <em>Royalty</em> is definitely putting it strongly.&nbsp; And we're a very, umm, distant branch of the family.&nbsp; We only occasionally got invited to the main mansion...."&nbsp; She hesitated, realising that she might be digging herself a rather deeper hole than she had started with.<br><br>"But, ahh, yes.&nbsp; It, err, had an impact on my childhood.&nbsp; We travelled a <em>lot</em>.&nbsp; My parents... diplomats, I suppose might be a way of describing it.&nbsp; In theory, every Institute works smoothly as a component part of a greater whole.&nbsp; In practice, there are tensions and disputes - from simple disagreements over conclusions reached or approaches taken, to more personal and petty ones.&nbsp; Or disputes over status and recognition.&nbsp; Inside the Institutes, and with some of the Downworlder organisations, too.&nbsp; Mum or Dad going off to neet Warlocks or Vampires - or to chase a demon, of course - was just part of growing up, for me."<br><br>"You see, having an, err, Fairchild or two to send along to have a word - quiet or stern or whatever - to try to smooth things over... that appealed to quite a lot of Insitute Directors, over the years.&nbsp; So my family moved around a lot.&nbsp; It's how I picked up just enough Russian to be marginally useful on the ship: we spent enough time there for me to learn enough to get by.&nbsp; We didn't really put down roots anywhere, but I got to study in a lot of places, and see a lot of sights... but I've never really felt I had the sort of <em>home city</em> I read about in books, you know?&nbsp; So, ahh, having a local restaurant where I can count the staff as friends... that's never something I've experienced, myself."<br><br></div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>13-02-2023, 13:47:24</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EBTzr3bUEAA9uYM.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> &nbsp;Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> On the way to the Pho place<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Noonish Wed July 5th<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Heading out for some lunch with new friends <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo<br><br><hr>Leigh was first to answer and she grew up in that magical place Alicante that was hidden from mortals. The sheer magnitude of that undertaking was amazing to him. They had to not appear on satellites, somehow either have their own power source or not appear to draw much from the local grid and then there was the whole underpinnings of society—garbage collection, hydro and the other infrastructure concerns. Maybe the answer to all of that was ‘magic’ but he really wanted to see a rune for some of it. <br><br>He wondered once again about the Herondale family and what they thought of him. Did they believe he was an imposter whose parent had somehow managed to snatch one of their rings? Where they just waiting and watching his behavior to see if he did actually act like one of them? He let his stray thoughts go and listened to Leigh. He smiled at the thought of her drawing vampires and her parents looking at her work for accuracy.<br><br>“So your first drawing was an infernal lion that ravages the mundanes…huh…I think mine was a fire truck.” He shook his head. He had read about the various family lineages but hadn’t gone into any great depth with them. Melody didn’t seem like the type to expect people to treat her differently, so pretty cool for royalty. She didn’t seem stuck up or anything so he left it at that. “Growing up was.. sort of tactical. There were new faces fairly often. The nuns expected everyone to get along but we all came from some pretty broken families. There were a lot of fights over the simplest things—it didn’t help that even as a child I didn’t like bullies.”<br><br>“It wasn’t like setting up alliances and playing politics, more like avoiding setting people off or appearing weak. When Kat showed up, she was a year younger but looked tiny almost. We got adopted at the same time because she refused to leave without me. And then it was night and day—the family who adopted us were well off. They loved her to death. I sort of grew up with the security guards more than not. Then at ten I saw my first werewolf. It was just walking around and I was expecting it to be some movie shoot but no one else noticed. I followed it, because she thought no one could see her, I guess. And watched as she talked to someone then it got violent. That’s when all the karate and kendo started being taken more seriously.” <br><br>He turned to Melody when she began to stammer. “It’s ok. You can’t choose your family. I still haven’t met any of mine.” He listened to the being a child of angelic diplomats. Somehow it made him feel better about the whole thing. “That is a relief actually. I thought everyone was perfect or something. Its good to know everyone is still human with regular gripes and ego issues. I’ve been having this growing dread that I was never going to fit in, but that sort of took a weight off my shoulders.”<br><br>He gave Melody an easy smile. “I’m happy to introduce you both to the people I know. Donman…he just goes by Don because its easier for everyone—looks like a bouncer but he’s a pretty good cook. His sister Constance is one of those high energy talks a mile a minute types. She’s pretty funny.”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>13-02-2023, 14:16:34</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://stories.isu.pub/50266227/images/69_original_file_I0.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> &nbsp;Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute kitchen<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Thursday July 6th, 2023 | Just before 5 PM<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Sitting down to eat <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kiara, Alexander, Open<br><br><hr>Kaspian’s attention was equally divided between the spread of food and Kiara. It took him a beat to notice Alexander all in black predating upon said food. He was good with putting faces to names so he wanted to call him Zander or …Alex. He was pretty sure they had not been on a mission together yet otherwise more than his name would have filtered into his head. So far, likes to dress like a vampire and hungry were mentally penciled in.<br><br>The soft shriek from Kiara almost had him take a step back. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. And Kiki it is. Well, in case no one has said it yet, welcome to the Institute.” It was curious to watch man in black steal the food. He had grown up with kids like that in the orphanage. They would steal some food then head to a spot no one really went to and gobble it down. Kaspian was expecting a smoke bomb and poof, Alex would be gone. Nope, he just ate them right there on the spot. Dude had balls. If he tried that around his sister in the kitchen, he was pretty sure she would chase him around the table with a knife.<br><br>After being referred to as K-man, he had to rethink this whole had they been on a mission together thing. Maybe they had and ninja boy was in disguise? Or maybe it was just in the beginning and Kaspian was insanely concerned about screwing up that all the people he went with sort of blended together? “I’m good Alex. Yourself?” He didn’t have some cool way to brake up the name so he just went with simple.<br><br>Kaspian’s interest grew at the mention of pho. “Pho you say? One of my favourites.” He could eat it every day. He had in fact when he was poor for a few years. He listened to the rest of what was being prepared. “Tell me you are going to sit and eat with us.” he asked of Kiki. “You are sticking around, right Alex?” Alex, like himself seemed to be hungry, like a man that hadn’t eaten in a number of hours. <br><br>Turning back to Kiki. “That all sounds amazing. And you have an instant fan in me if this is how you work out your nervous energy. Me, I just spar—this is way better.” He took a seat and made sure he and Alex could both see Kiki instead of someone having their backs to her, that would be rude. He leaned in and scented the food before picking up his chopsticks and rubbing them together for a few seconds out of habit. “I can just tell this is going to be so good.” And then he let his hunger have its way with the food. After a few bites he could tell there would be thirds and maybe fourths.<br><br>He managed to not just tip the bowl and slurp the food down like some cartoon. “So, Kiki. Where did you come from?” he asks, wanting to get to know her better. “I’m kinda boring. Born and raised here. Haven’t done all the globe trotting that everyone else has.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gamora</strong> on <strong>13-02-2023, 23:02:29</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/0dcc15c4a9e5626f9beea133eed6fea7/21fe0dff4e08e6f4-e6/s400x600/c843c8d1b101ba2a6b26c381437e380b85008a9e.pnj)</div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Delilah Weaver<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Messy and winkled black leggings, white t-shirt, with a blue plaid flannel overtop. Combat boots. <br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Institute infirmary <br><strong>TIME:</strong> July 6, close to lunch <br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> The grand tour and a meal&nbsp; <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Ksenia | Open<br><hr>Glamoured club. Warlock. Mundane. So many words that surely packed a hefty definition that she knew nothing about. Sure she could imagine what a Warlock may be like based on fantasy novels and movies she has read and seen, but based on the circumstance, they probably weren't accurate. It was just a lot to take in, among everything else, and she didn't really even want to ask for an explanation at the moment. Maybe she should sit down first before getting into the thick of it.<br><br>Delilah half stepped in surprise in hearing she was out for over a day. Thankfully, she stayed spry on her feet, but she definitely fell a step or two behind after hearing that answer. <strong>"That long?"</strong> she asked in surprise, the question mostly rhetorical. It was just shocking to hear, and she made a mental note to call her boss as soon as she could to let him know she wouldn't be in for awhile. Even if she left this place, going back to normal life wouldn't be possible knowing there were creatures in the night that she could suddenly see, and had no ability to protect herself from.<br><br>At the question about breakfast, Delilah simply shrugged, too caught up on her own head to even think of an answer. <strong>"I'm not picky, I'll eat anything,"</strong> she answered, trying her best to fake a smile at Ksenia, while in realty her whole world was tumbling down around her and she kind of wanted to curl into a ball and cry. But based on the way people seemed to carry themselves around her, that would probably be frowned upon. <strong>"I'll have whatever you do."</strong><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cold Heritage</strong> on <strong>14-02-2023, 08:06:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/sTBpBUf.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Alexander Greyhallow (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16379290#msg16379290)<br>(Optional)<strong>WEARING:</strong> Black boots, black trousers, black shirt<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> DARKEST Vancouver Institute Kitchen<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Thursday July 6th, 2023 | Just before 5 PM<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Food uneaten? Not on Alexander's watch!<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Open; Kaspian Herondale, Kiara Skye<br><hr><br>"I need them too. Lost a lot of blood." Alexander said, with an affected expression that questioned if Kiara's reaction was truly warranted. Alexander felt that it was not. But he did not push the issue. When she referred to his stealthy ways, he put an arm in front of his face and did his best Christian Bale impression. "I'm Batman." The voice was gravelly and deep, perfectly growly. <br><br>"Yeah, I'm here to eat, K-man." He answered Kaspian, and pointed finger guns at the other male. <br><br>In point of fact, Alexander did not know where chop sticks were kept, or even if there were any. He did, however, know where forks were kept and got one for himself. Not because he could not use chop sticks - and although it was a fact he was probably less proficient with them than either of the two Shadowhunters present he would never admit to it - but because he preferred a fork. There was nothing else to it. Alexander watched as Kiara made two bowls. She took one and then Kaspian got the other. Perhaps this was intended as punishment for his 'thievery.' He narrowed his eyes for a moment - to say 'so that's how it is, huh?' - and then just fixed a bowl for himself - adding more tenders to his bowl than Kiara had to either of the other bowls. Roughly one and a half times as many. <br><br>He remained standing while he ate his soup. The only fixing he added to it was some beansprouts, because he liked the crunch. <br><br>"Unlike K-man, I never ate this stuff before. Tastes good, but what do I know, K-bud? Mostly I just eat whatever they put. It's what you'd expect from a kitchen that has to cook for big numbers fast." Alexander related to the other two. Which was to say that the food was not often very good. But it had a minimum quality and it was there. It was always edible. And since Shadowhunters were trained to suppress their emotions so that they did not cloud judgement nobody complained if the eggs and bacon were crunchy and brittle and tasted like nothing at all. <br><br>"So, how you two liking the lifestyle? Pretty cool, huh?" Alexander tilted his chin up at Kaspian and Kiara, alluding to how they came to be Shadowhunters practically as adults rather than being indoctrinated at a tender age to be child soldiers against the forces of darkness. Alexander ran his tongue over the skin under his lower lip. "Bet you both thought Anne Rice was full of it and Twilight was a crock." He chuckled to himself. <br><br>Alexander did not eat his food like a cartoon but he did finish faster than Kaspian. How? It was a secret technique passed down by generations of Shadowhunters in an unbroken line - no that was not it. But whatever the truth of the matter, Alexander was starting on seconds before Kaspian did. "I was born and raised here too. Like, here here." Alexander twirled his fork around, to indicate that he meant the Institute. "Born and raised a Shadowhunter. Even have a tear jerker backstory and everything." He chuckled again and chewed a mouthful of sprouts. "Missed out on stuff like Happy Meals, hockey . . . didn't taste a drop of maple syrup until I was a man grown." The Shadowhunter poked at a chicken tender piece that was tangled up in some noodles. "I bet you both got up to all kinds of Mundie shit. You guys probably had Happy Meals, Kinder Surprise, played hockey, watched cartoons." He was just a little bit envious at the childhood experiences he imagined them having. Then Alexander let out a breath. <br><br>"Like what did you do on your twelfth birthday? Cake, pizza party, bowling maybe?" He guessed haphazardly. Alexander was not really about to share his - after banishing a Raum demon he spent the night in the infirmary fighting off the effects of its venom. Not the greatest time for anyone. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wolfling72</strong> on <strong>14-02-2023, 11:46:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/7/79/Tieran.4.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Kiara Skye (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16395091#msg16395091)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> white crop top, yoga pants (https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1dSowpDXYBeNkHFrdq6AiuVXaM/High-Waist-Pants-Patchwork-Leisure-Sports-Loose-Yoga-Pants-Women-Wide-leg-pants.jpg) and white classics<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> The Institute's Main Kitchen<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Thursday July 6th, 2023 | Just before 5 PM<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Cooking and listening to music<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> <span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">Kaspian Herondale and Alexander Greyhallow</span><br><strong>MUSICAL MOOD</strong> I Don't Think About You -Kelly Clarkson (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx9mF1KJr0s)<br><hr><br><em>Kiara was silently losing what little bit of calm she'd managed to grab hold of by burning off nervous energy in the kitchen. Two young men-- handsome, fit young men-- were currently eating her food and saying words in her general direction while she slowly tried to make syllables make sense....or something. Not that she was shy, right? How could she be shy? It was an impossibility!! No, she was unsure how to make words that made sense. <br><br>As usual, Alexander startled a laugh from her due to his spot-on impression of Christian Bale as the Dark Knight, but nothing escaped her for long moments while she fought off a giggle or three. Then there was the influx of information, the staccato beat of <strong>words</strong> from her companions, a flurry of queries, and random bits of trivia and asides. She ate steadily while her gaze ping-ponged back and forth for a few minutes before finally finding something to say.</em><br><br><span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">"I was born in DC, Kaspian. Raised there til I left home at 14. That's when the truth about my father's bloodline came out. Carstairs,"</span> she all but growled before her gaze shifted to Alex. <span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">"He started training me at age 8.&nbsp; MCMAP."</span> Dark eyes rolled in her head before she rose and began preparing new bowls for Pho, adding the rice noodles last and placing all three on the table before jerking her head at the chicken tender thief. <span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">"Sit. You standing up makes my inner good girl scream that I am exhibiting bad manners."</span><br><br>After resuming her seat, Kiara picked up the new bowl and pondered how to answer some of what Alexander had said. <span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">"My early life, before my father came home? I had birthday parties and shit. After though? If I was not in school, I was training. Martial Arts, Stick fighting, Knife fighting, tumbling, problem-solving, and learning to see while blindfolded. It wasn't until the Clave showed up at my door that I found out what all the training was even FOR."</span> Again, she rose from her seat to check the cake in the oven. The rising scent of rich chocolate filled the air, and a bright smile twisted her lips into a pleasant expression for a brief moment.&nbsp; <span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">"Anybody want some corn on the cob??"</span><br><br>No matter how they answered, Kiara filled a platter with a few ears, grabbed the unsalted butter, and strode back to the table. Setting it down, she went on with her ruminations. <span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">"However, my dad used ta say I had the sight, strong in it. Must have been right since I never needed the rune the younglings get to accustom them to using it...or maybe it was my age?"</span> One small hand rose to cup her chin. <span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">"Anyway, I always saw things that supposedly weren't there. Always knew the world was bigger than most people thought. So, no, I wasn't all that shocked to learn that demons and the rest of 'em were just as real as you or me."</span><br><br>Finally, Alexander's final question caught her up, and a small frown graced her lips. <span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">"My twelfth birthday? My dad took me to the mountains and left me for a whole weekend with nothing but a canteen and my knives. Pretty sure it was the Appalachians. I had to build my own shelter, keep myself in food and obscure my trail enough that he couldn't scent or see me if he came looking. Then there was the paper I had to write up after, detailing everything I had done wrong. We repeated that lesson for uh...four months?"</span> She shrugged. <span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">"Anyway, happy meals are stir-fried shit, and no one should be forced to go bowling."</span> Grabbing an ear of corn, she settled back in her seat and glanced at both men. <span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font">"I've been a few places, know some languages, know how to fight but ain't ever been on a real hunt outside of training. This is my first posting. So, what can y'all tell me about it?"</span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyrical</strong> on <strong>18-02-2023, 15:36:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/CZyPeeA.jpg)</div><div class="floatright"><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/8aKntzm.png)<br><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size"><em>Enkeli: Angelic Power rune</em><br>First received upon initiation: <br>signifying angelic bonds</span></div></div><br><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16357805#msg16357805)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> (see picture) white summer dress, white tennis shoes, purse w/ Nephilim dagger<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> streets<br><strong>TIME:</strong> close to lunch<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> lunch with some of the gang<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian | Melody <br><br><hr>The modesty and obvious blush coloring the pale cheeks of Melody was adorable though Leigh would never accuse the woman of that. In fact, Leigh was a bit worried that she had crossed a line because not all families were equal in a society that had a very rigid class structure. So Leigh decided it was best to keep her mouth shut and just let the woman talk for a bit. It was interesting to hear that Melody had a lot of travels due to her parents diplomatic assignments. <br><br>Okay, so Kaspian talking about bullies and what sounded like kids fighting over scraps was heartbreaking. Leigh wanted to reach and touch him or something but she held back and listened while they were all walking. <br><br>Kaspian said he'd be happy to intro them to the staff at the restaurant a big guy named Donman and a high energy woman named Constance. <br><br>Leigh raised a brow and looked at Kaspian, <strong>"So you haven't met any Herondale's yet? That must mean that I now more of your family than you do. If you want company the first time you meet them, I'd be happy to join you. It shocks me that they haven't come and plucked you out of the institute yet. Your family has quite the past. Did you know that you have downworlder blood in your family line? If I remember correctly there's a whole family story there that you might want to look up. I mean if you haven't already."</strong><br><br>Off in the distance she could see a small restaurant and Leigh pointed to it. <strong>"Is that the one we are looking for? Time for you, Melody, to make some new mundane friends."</strong><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>19-02-2023, 05:55:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://stories.isu.pub/50266227/images/69_original_file_I0.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> &nbsp;Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute kitchen<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Thursday July 6th, 2023 | Just before 5 PM<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Sitting down to eat <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kiara, Alexander, Open<br><br><hr>Alexander was definitely the most human of the Shadowhunters he had met from this institute. Actually, he shifted that around in his head. They were all human, but Alexander seemed more in touch with the mundane parts of himself. Usually everyone was so serious or took themselves very seriously. He snorted at the Batman impersonation. Part of him wanted to ask if they felt Batguy was like…weeny for a superhero since most of them went beyond what mortals could do. “That makes two of us…three if we are counting our hostess Kiara. Grab a chair.” Kaspian could deal with a lot but there were rules to breaking bread. You all sat down at the table was one of them. <br><br>Finding the chopsticks because he did know where they were he got a set of Kiara as well and some napkins for all of them. He brought out some spoons too. If he were with his sister, they would slurp down some of the broth, because you gotta love the broth, but since he wasn’t, spoons would have to do. A few bean sprouts and some lime juice went into his. “Thank you.” he said to Kiara and then chuckled at Alex’s remark about just eating what is in front of him. “Ok, that is totally a polite way to go. But I figure if it is going into my mouth, I should generally like it.” <br><br>He listened to Kiara describe her upbringing. Marine martial arts were no bullshit. What she described was like one long and rather extended bootcamp. It seemed that if you had the blood of an angel in you, the training found you one way or another. “I’d like some corn please.” he responded after swallowing. He thought about his own experience with the ‘sight’. It was a werewolf and it scared the shit out of him…and the entrails out of someone else. It’s the day things changed for him, like really changed. <br><br>“Of course, if you can’t cook—you are at other people’s mercy. That is why I learned how to cook.” he states. “Ok that and I was broke for three years.” You learn to roll with the punches life throws at you and get back up. He thoroughly enjoyed digging into some home-made pho. Kaspian managed to get about half the bowl into himself before Alex’s question about liking the lifestyle came up. “It’s been a rather steep learning curve. I was used to the martial arts and became a private detective…so the searching for people I’m good with. The powers are definitely a rush.” He thinks about the allusion to the ‘real’ supernaturals. “Honestly, I really loved Anne Rice. I met her in a mall once and she signed my Queen of the Damned.” He considers the Twilight saga. “Yeah…uhm, that was a harder pill to swallow. I was with her until Bella needed to be a vampire so she could be ‘super hot’…not to address the power disparity between her and Edward, but she just needed to be better than a supermodel all of a sudden.”<br><br>“No…no happy meals. The Cathedral of our Lady of the Holy Rosary were on a ..budget. The couple that adopted me from the church were ridiculously rich but they were against all the fast foods…and some of the slow ones too. It was all about having our own garden and everything being organic.” That and the what seemed like a hundred supplements to take care of what they were missing. “Maple syrup was on the menu…from our own trees we had to drill into. Made some pretty good batches if I do say so myself. Although you would be amazed at how much sap it took to handle one breakfast.” <br><br>He nodded to the hockey and cartoons. It was a long lineup of superheroes and loony toons. He thinks about the twelfth birthday question. “So…Kat would have been ten…we didn’t have a birth certificate so our adoptive parents just made our birthday the same day, the day we came home with them. Kat wanted to go to a petting zoo. So we went there. She wasn’t as quick as some of the goats liked and a few started bucking her then chasing her around until I caught up..’ the memory made him smile. She was very cross at the goats and they came off her list of cute creatures.<br><br>After relating his own tale he listened again to Kiara’s. His own adoptive parents pretty much ignored him since they really wanted to only adopt Kat. She wouldn’t let that happen so they got a twofor. Kiara’s father seemed to want to produce a super soldier or something. “I’m pretty sure I would never survive four months in the mountains.” he easily admitted. “I’m glad you’re here though. And not just for the cooking.”<br><br>He turned back to Alexander. “Your turn bud.” he prompted.<br><br>He shrugged at Kiara’s question. “I ..don’t have anything to compare it against. I got here three years ago and have been on an extended crash course in all things supernatural, learning about glyphs and of course fighting within a unit. I can tell you that I like it…not an easy thing for someone with a few authority issues.”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cold Heritage</strong> on <strong>19-02-2023, 07:04:22</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/sTBpBUf.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Alexander Greyhallow (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16379290#msg16379290)<br>(Optional)<strong>WEARING:</strong> Black boots, black trousers, black shirt<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> DARKEST Vancouver Institute Kitchen<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Thursday July 6th, 2023 | Just before 5 PM<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Food uneaten? Not on Alexander's watch!<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Open; Kaspian Herondale, Kiara Skye<br><hr><br>Alexander played around, digging the tip of his spoon at the bottom of his bowl. He shifted his weight this way and that, then looked off to the side and pressed his tongue onto the inside of his mouth. "Uh, so, I was gonna spare you both . . . but you forced my hands here." The Shadowhunter said after a weighty pause. "Demon took a piece out of my ass, and after spending a few hours on it on the hard, unyielding surface of the Infirmary bed . . . I'm not gonna be about that for a while." He made a face and motioned with a finger at the chairs. He obligingly turned, and sure enough there was a large, blood-stained hole in his trousers over his left buttock. The edges were frayed and absolutely the result of a demon biting Alexander on his cute patootie. Bandages covered the wound so he was not just flapping in the wind. The Shadowhunter turned his front back to the pair and gave them both a wink. <br><br>"Should've given you a chance to draw one of the vision enhancing Runes." He said with a chuckle and took a cob of corn. Alexander was not especially fond of corn in any of its forms, but true to what he said about eating what was put out there, he ate. <br><br>Although the answers that Kaspian and Kiara gave him about their childhoods deflated the Shadowhunter and he blew a raspberry when they were both done. His disappointment was immeasurable and his way was ruined. The dark blond male's eyes looked over both of them and he shook his head slowly. "You know, you had - <em>have</em> -&nbsp; a choice. If they didn't tell you that . . . that's fucked up." He told Kiara solemnly. "Your dad's a piece of shit for putting you through that stuff if he meant to you get into this life without living it himself. It's a terrible burden and responsibility. One I choose glady. I mean, don't get me wrong, there's days I wish I could've had a super soft birthday party with a pizza party, ice cream cake, and a bouncy castle. And I'm not like my buddy Dima, who is probably even now cloistered up somewhere praising the Angel for yet another day where he got to smash some demon with his hammer. There's a reason we do this and it's so mundie kids get to be . . . kids. One of them, anyway." Whether or not this statement was completely truthful for the Nephilim at large, it was true for Alexander and fairly important to the male for how emotional he was about it. <br><br>He sniffed, and then looked embarrassed. And he was, for getting so hecked up about the honestly rather poor childhoods that Kaspian and Kiara had. He was ready to smirk and chuckle about them doing stupid kid's stuff like . . . catching fireflies or pulling a girl's hair to let her know you liked her or picking up frogs and whatever else mundie kids did. But here he was getting all emotional about it. Alexander took a breath. <br><br>His eyes fell on Kaspian and he gave the brown-haired male a nod. At least the K-man had some good to say. He got maple syrup and there was a certain iota of justice in the world, perhaps. Perhaps his day was not completely ruined as Kaspian shared the memory of the petting zoo. Then Alexander did smirk and give a light hearted chuckle. <br><br>It was a bit of a surprise when he had to divulge his 12th birthday. Alexander was tempted to downplay the events or to beg off, but he supposed it was only fair. And Kiara wanted to know what Vancouver was like. <br><br>"Alright, I'll dish too. My 12th birthday . . . I got up like 4 a.m. like any other day. Did a bunch of physical training, ate gruel for breakfast, did some Rune classes, had something really sad for lunch - but, y'know, I had a lunch so I can't complain - then did sparring in the afternoon, followed by a practice hunt. They're awesome." Alexander said with an unfeigned and completely genuine endorsement and enthusiasm. "So like the idea that they set up a training ground that's totally warded so mundies can't get in, and demons can't get out. Then they let out a kind of lesser demon in the area, let it get settled, and then lil' Shadowhunters go in and hunt 'em down. It's so cool. You can probably relate - like when you finally stopped using a rubber or wood knife and got to handle live steel for the first time, only like, times a thousand.<br><br>"Of course there's veteran Shadowhunters along to step in if things go sideways, but it's the closest thing to a real hunt they can give you. I got to hunting down some Raum demons. I banished a few but one of them got me. Spent the evening in the Infirmary battling the venom." Alexander's enthusiasm dampened and he shook his head. It was an ignominious end to an otherwise triumphant day. <br><br>"Like I said, never been anywhere else so I can't compare, but I've hard the old timers talk about it and Vancouver's kind of in the middle. Not too soft, not too hard. I've heard there's some Institutes in South America where things're just super chill and the Shadowhunters there are constantly partying, not just with themselves but actually with Downworlders." Alexander betrayed his prejudices as he related that, conveying the factoid as if it were something both scandalous and distasteful. "But it's not like Chechnya or Russia where they're warzones against demons and vampires." <br><br>He went for a second cob, disposing of his first in the compost. "Warlocks are the number one threat here. Their High Warlock does nothing to keep them in line and hold them to the Accords. 'Rogue,'" Alexander paused to make air quotes with his fingers as best he could while holding a corn cob, " Warlocks come in through the docks all the time with contraband, summon demons they can't control or just don't want to, do all kinds of messed up shit to mundies . . ." Alexander paused to work a bit of corn stuck between his back teeth. "After that it's Werewolves. There was an Alpha that was just strong enough to keep all of the Werewolves under his thumb for a while, but not good enough at keeping his affairs in order. A pack completely feral Werewolves came up across the line a few years ago . . . normally that's Werewolf housekeeping, but Francis had to sent a team out to handle it. Only one Shadowhunter came back, but the job got done." He sniffed and ate some more corn. <br><br>"I'm biased, since Francis practically raised me like his own, but I think we got it good here. He's super, super focused on getting paperwork and reports done on time and properly but it pays off when you can look up info on a demon with a thirty second search on a terminal in the war room, rather than having to go hit up a Silent Brother and spend days in the stacks reading books that were ancient when they came across the ocean from the Old World in wooden ships. Michael told me when he was over in Spain that he just had to go into situations blind because it was a choice between researching what he was up against or letting the target get away." Alexander shrugged his shoulders. "On the other hand, sometimes I feel like we get buried in information. There's so much of it right at our fingertips we get oversaturated in it. Just because we can look up some 12th century Shadowhunter's account doesn't mean we need to."<br><br>He paused to clear his throat. <br><br>"So, when's that cake done?" Alexander asked, turning back to asking the <em>real</em> questions.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Andronica</strong> on <strong>20-02-2023, 16:38:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d0/dc/92/d0dc92c15b16a3c5a862b98103af0eac.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Ksenia Ashlace (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356551#msg16356551)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Combat boots, black jeans and a grey tank top<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute mess hall &gt; Bedroom<br><strong>DATE/TIME:</strong> July 6, mid-morning or so<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Time to fight the hunger<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Delilah | Open <hr> Admittedly, Ksenia wasn't all that hungry despite keeping her long vigil at Delilah's bedside. She was, however, none the less tempted by the smells coming in through the mess hall. Despite the Shadowhunters inability to perform magic in the way warlocks did, Ksenia was sure there had to be some sort of sorcery going on to conjure those delicious three square meals and snacks. But she didn't want Delilah to feel awkward about the meal so even though her stomach barely gurgled she decided to go in for something hearty.<br><br>"A full day and then some. I was getting kind of worried until Alric told me you were coming to. I'm glad you want to eat though, it's a good sign." Ksenia smiled back over her shoulder at Delilah. When she did she could practically feel how overwhelmed Delilah was and for good reason - it practically waded off her in a thick aura. Kay made a snap decision to hurriedly tool around the open hot table and gathered up a few warm chicken salad sandwiches, and tucked a large bottle of water under her arm. Rather than spend too much time out in the open mess hall, she had a different plan come to mind.<br><br>Ksenia proffered up the two wax paper wrapped sandwiches with a lopsided grin. "Gourmet lunch, I know," she chuckled amid the din of the hall. "But I figured you would appreciate a shower and a quiet place to eat so you can kind of... absorb all this. Let's head back to my room." Her idea was hurriedly followed up with a point towards the corridor they came from. Once again, if Delilah obliged, she would be led down the slightly Gothic hallways toward a wing on the far side of the institute that housed the bedrooms and ensuites. Ksenia lead the brunette past the spaciously separated rooms to one on the left where the particular wing terminated and shoulders her way in with the sandwiches.<br><br>Inside her bedroom (https://i.pinimg.com/564x/78/7d/cb/787dcb1ff80a84505f0c136a0270f365.jpg) was a large bed with matching side tables and a chaise made up the bulk of one half of the room. The same Gothic accents permeated the room even with Ksenia's own little touches, and there was a great view of the city below from a bay window on the far side, nestled between two short bookshelves.<br><br>Kay placed the two sandwiches and water down on a side table near the entrance, then let out a low breath. "Feel free to check my closet for something new to wear. I think we're close enough in size. And," she jutted her thumb at the sandwiches. "You could probably use something to eat even if it's just glorified cafeteria food."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>20-02-2023, 22:24:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/cc/CatMoore01.jpeg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As pictured<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Lunchtime excursion in 'mundane' Vancouver<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Late morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Curiosity and embarrassment<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian, Kaleigh, Open<br><hr><br>"Don.&nbsp; Constance.&nbsp; Right."<br><br>Melody's muttered response rather better fitted someone trying to lodge important elements of a briefing in her memory than a simple excursion to grab a little food.&nbsp; But she quickly conjured up a nervous little smile, nodding.<br><br>"I was able to help?&nbsp; Heh.&nbsp; That's good.&nbsp; Really, I'm glad.&nbsp; Though I'm, ahh, sorry to hear that your childhood was so challenging.&nbsp; I apologise for complaining about mine!"<br><br>Then Kaleigh received her own bashful smile.<br><br>"There are a few stories of Downworlder blood among the Shadowhunters, at least if you go digging... or are at the sort of events where people try to blacken the reputations of other lineages."&nbsp; Melody shrugged amiably, even as she rolled her eyes.&nbsp; "Of course, some of them might actually be <em>true</em>.&nbsp; A few generations back, one side of my own family - <em>not</em> the Fairchilds - apparently had a union or two with 'scandalous' partners.&nbsp; But not in my direct line, for good or ill...&nbsp; But, ahh.&nbsp; Sorry.&nbsp; I'm stalling.&nbsp; Onwards to lunch!"<br><br>Doing her best to look hopeful, Melody ventured another smile at both her companions.<br></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>25-02-2023, 05:57:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EBTzr3bUEAA9uYM.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> &nbsp;Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> On the way to the Pho place<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Noonish Wed July 5th<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Heading out for some lunch with new friends <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow, Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo<br><br><hr>He nodded to Melody. “Of course, you were able to help.” he says. “A lot of people I’ve met here have…” he considers it for a moment. “I’m guessing a lot of pressure to represent their family in the best light. Everyone is pretty indifferent about fighting demons any given day, no psychiatrist to talk to about nightmares you’re having. It’s just part of your every day existence. Its like everyone has to be tough, stoic, badass and very competent all the time. At least that what it seems like.” It was difficult to explain that even after three years he always felt like the new guy because they all shared these expectations. Ok not everyone, but a lot of them. <br><br>He shakes his head at Melody. “Why would you apologize? We’re all just sharing our not so normal childhoods, not competing. What you went through affected you.” He didn’t mean to come across as some hard luck case. He listened to the talk of the ‘mudbloods’ messing with the pedigree of the honourable houses of angels. Once again, he wondered if like everyone had a ecclesiastical lineage based on if they were in the first batch of ShadowHunters created by Raziel and every generation had to maintain some kind of standing to get into Heaven. <br><br>Seeing Melody roll her eyes made him smile. He was glad that not everyone was some serious prick walking around with a stick up their ass. He chuckled at the perceived air quotes in ‘scandalous’. Walking with the two pretty ladies Kaspian couldn’t help but smile. This was a great way to end a mission. He was going to check on Michael later but right now he was actually enjoying himself like an hour after meeting a demon.<br><br>Leigh’s question brought him out of his little reverie. “No, I’ve never met a Herondale in person. There may have been one on one of the conference calls but …yeah, you probably know way more about my family than I do.” he easily admits. “Sure, I’d love company if they ever show up and say hi.” He had been here three years, any thoughts of reuniting with a cousin or an aunt had been leeched out of him. <br><br>“I sort of felt that ..” that what, he didn’t pass their standards? There was no point in trying to make friends if you didn't let them in. “They were keeping their distance or maybe asking around to see if I’m like a teenage embarrassment that no one wants to claim because they got their act together now and it would be a lot of explaining to their current family.” It would be difficult to suddenly explain a grown ass man and where they came from. What do you do? Get a room ready? Introduce them to their new half brothers and sisters? <br><br>Turning to see the restaurant Leigh was pointing at he smiled and nodded. “That is the place.” he agreed. The hostess watches as Kaspian holds the door open and greets him by name. “These are my friends, Leigh and Melody.” he looks at Leigh and Melody, “This is &nbsp;<span class="bbc_u">Constance</span> (https://iv1.lisimg.com/image/20211865/640full-olivia-liang.jpg).” She smiles at both of them and gestures for everyone to follow. “Hello. Follow me.” she says. “You two know him from…school?” she asks. Kaspian nods. “Yeah, we all go to university together.” he didn’t like lying to his friends but its not like the truth was an option.<br><br>There are menus at the large table. “I’ll get everyone some water. Want anything else to drink?” she asks the two ladies not every bothering with Kaspian. “Don will be out in a second.” At which point as if summoned <span class="bbc_u"> her brother</span> (https://photos.hancinema.net/photos/fullsizephoto1198150.jpg) comes out of the kitchen and nearly does a double take. Kaspian makes introductions again. “<strong>Ah..school friends, like you’re working on a project together. I’m Don, I hope you have good appetites.</strong>” he smiles.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyrical</strong> on <strong>25-02-2023, 23:18:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/CZyPeeA.jpg)</div><div class="floatright"><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/8aKntzm.png)<br><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size"><em>Enkeli: Angelic Power rune</em><br>First received upon initiation: <br>signifying angelic bonds</span></div></div><br><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16357805#msg16357805)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> (see picture) white summer dress, white tennis shoes, purse w/ Nephilim dagger<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> streets<br><strong>TIME:</strong> close to lunch<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> lunch with some of the gang<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian | Melody <br><br><hr>It struck Leigh as slightly funny that Melody almost seemed panicked or embarrassed by the idea of complaining about family. <br><br>"In my house, complaining about family is just part of dinner conversation," Leigh chuckled as they walked along. She knew they were probably talking about different things but she wanted to lighten the mood a bit.<br><br>Then she had pointed out the restaurant and Kaspian confirmed it at the location. Going inside, Kaspian introduced them to Constance &amp; her brother. Leigh smiled politely and thought about introducing herself in a few different Asian languages to see if they spoke any of them but knew that most people didn't see her as Asian so she skipped over it. Even if they didn't speak the same languages she knew how to say hello and ask for basics in several languages including Vietnamese, Lao, Chinese, and Thai - all major languages in Cambodia. It was just being in another country made that a bit awkward and she suspected that her accent probably sounded more British than Khmer, not to mention that they may not speak any Asian language at all. The brother seemed to do a double take at Kaspian and company so Leigh chuckled as he made mention of working on a school project. <br><br><strong>"Anatomy...,"</strong> Leigh said. <strong>"I'm trying to get Kaspian to pose naked for an anatomy project.</strong>" She nodded a couple times and pointed to Melody.<strong> "She's going to take the pictures, I'm thinking a full 3d body scan image but he's kinda shy."</strong> At which point she couldn't help but giggle. <strong>"Sorry, I'm only trying to embarrass him... It's nice to meet you both. Kaspian has told us good things about your restaurant."</strong><br><br>... As soon as the bother and sister left Leigh would turn to Melody and Kaspian to say, <strong>"I was going to lead with the threesome joke but I haven't ruled that one out yet."</strong> She grinned and hid herself behind a menu.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>26-02-2023, 00:48:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/cc/CatMoore01.jpeg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As pictured<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Lunchtime excursion in 'mundane' Vancouver<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Late morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Curiosity and embarrassment<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian, Kaleigh, Open<br><hr><br>Melody's relief that her nervous rambling had not upset her companions (nor driven them to amused derision) was so evident as to verge on the palpable.&nbsp; But actually <em>entering</em> the restaurant promised a welcome change of focus to safely mundane topics, along with an introduction to Constance (and her equally-pretty brother)... only for the conversation to take a thoroughly unexpected turn.<br><br>From smiling and nodding politely to each of Kaspian's friends, Melody soon found herself arching a brow and cocking a head at Kaleigh.&nbsp; Identification as a nude photographer was so thoroughly unexpected that she could not help but wonder if this was some sort of 'social media' meme or popular-culture reference that she had failed to pick up during her occasional forays into 'normal human' aspects of the world.<br><br>Then Kaleigh's serious facade broke, providing the Goth with welcome confirmation that she could relax - allowing herself to laugh softly, shaking her head as her lips quirked into a lop-sided smile.<br><br>"I'm sorry.&nbsp; We can't take her anywhere, can we?" she asked Don with dry-toned sympathy, taking the risk of doing something to (gently) return Kaleigh's teasing.&nbsp; "But I promise that we <em>are</em> here for food.&nbsp; I'm looking forward to trying it, after Kaspian's recommendation."<br><br>Then, after his departure, Kaleigh left her blinking in surprise once more...<br><br>"I am scared to ask whether I should know of a <em>specific</em> 'threesome joke' that you might feel tempted to use..."<br></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>26-02-2023, 05:13:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EBTzr3bUEAA9uYM.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> &nbsp;Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> On the way to the Pho place<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Noonish Wed July 5th<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Heading out for some lunch with new friends <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Melody, Leigh<br><hr>He snorted about the whole complaining is part of dinner conversation. He and his sister did rib each other a lot when they got together, so that seemed to be similar enough. Don could see that Dom was having a difficult time between Leigh and Melody. They were just way too attractive to casually walk in with. He cocked an eyebrow at Leigh’s mention of anatomy. He thought she was going to try and pass herself off as a med student. He nearly turned red when she went on about the posing naked. <br><br>“Full body scan you say…always with the naked…” Kaspian says good naturedly regaining his composure. He wasn’t shy. Constance cracked up. “My friend Tiffany is like that. One second, you’re eating sushi and the next she is wondering who this taste is reminding her of.” Don chuckles at the situation. “<strong>Oh, you two are going to be fun. By all means keep trying to embarrass him.</strong>” He gets called back into the kitchen. “<strong>Excuse me…I’ll be back.</strong>” <br><br>Constance has to go and greet someone at the door. “This is the family table; we’ll drop by when things slow down a bit. Kas can make some recommendations about his favourites.” she says and heads off to get them their drinks and some water. Kaspian watched them leave and was about to say something when the whole threesome topic came up. ‘<em>Yup, I’m just going to be red forever.</em>’ he thought to himself. He could just tell if he asked Leigh not to make a threesome joke, she would not only go forward but elaborate much more than she was going to in the first place or deciding to do something like sit on his lap to sell it.<br><br>Men are rather visual creatures so he had to actively try to stop picturing a threesome. “Well at least I got good taste.” he says deciding to go with it instead of just blushing. “I think it will be safe to say that you’ve both made a strong first impression.” he states leaning over and shouldering the hiding Leigh. “As far as what is good…he’s still working out his shrimp rolls and the congee is more of a mush…but the pho and the vermicelli are great…same with the garlic squid.” <br><br>Constance dropped some water and a jug on the table. She looks at Kaspian. “Extra large beef and brisket.” she says getting that one out of the way since he wasn’t looking at the menu. “And what would you two like?” she asks them.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyrical</strong> on <strong>26-02-2023, 20:56:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/CZyPeeA.jpg)</div><div class="floatright"><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/8aKntzm.png)<br><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size"><em>Enkeli: Angelic Power rune</em><br>First received upon initiation: <br>signifying angelic bonds</span></div></div><br><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16357805#msg16357805)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> (see picture) white summer dress, white tennis shoes, purse w/ Nephilim dagger<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> streets<br><strong>TIME:</strong> close to lunch<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> lunch with some of the gang<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian | Melody <br><br><hr>As to the issue of what joke, Leigh was referring too, she giggled at Melody. It was just too easy to get this pair worked up and Leigh was going to have fun with this.<br><br>Laughing and looking over at Melody, Leigh said, <strong>"I don't know what you're talking about. I was referring to the number three combo... "</strong> She pointed at the menu and it just happened to have Pho in the listing. <strong>"But Kaspian is right, I think I'll try the pho and vermicelli but can I have that latter to go please,"</strong> she said speaking to Constance.&nbsp; <br><br>She waited after that until everyone finished ordering this time and for Constance to leave them at the table. The cute boutique nature of the restaurant lending itself to a relaxing feeling, she savored all the delicious aromas and hum of conversation. It felt good being among people just living their lives oblivious to everything else.<br><br><strong>"As much as I'm looking forward to this food, what's the real plan here?"</strong> Leigh said. <strong>"Anyone have any insights or thoughts about that thing we ran into? I came up with nothing when I was doing my report. After dinner maybe we should hit up a downworlder club and ask around a bit. See if anyone rumors are floating around?"</strong> She was asking because they seemed to be at a dead end with the case and it was troubling her. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gamora</strong> on <strong>28-02-2023, 15:01:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/0dcc15c4a9e5626f9beea133eed6fea7/21fe0dff4e08e6f4-e6/s400x600/c843c8d1b101ba2a6b26c381437e380b85008a9e.pnj)</div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Delilah Weaver<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Messy and winkled black leggings, white t-shirt, with a blue plaid flannel overtop. Combat boots. <br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Institute infirmary <br><strong>TIME:</strong> July 6, close to lunch <br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Time to reset<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Ksenia | Closed<br><hr>For a few moments she faded out all of the sensory overload the mess hall brought and she fell into a half dissociated state. The memory of that thing, that vampire, lunging at her seemed like a vivid nightmare instead of something that actually happened. And she really wished that she could just wake up and be back in her own bed as if none of this had happened. But the gut sinking dread she felt was too real for her to even hope that this was just all in her head.<br><br>Bouncing back to reality as Ksenia turned back toward her with the wax wrapped sandwiches, she offered a smile as best she could, wanting to be polite and not seem like she was self loathing. But God, was this hard. <br><br>However, on hearing that they were going to get some quiet isolated time, she felt a wave of relief wash over her. <strong>“Thank you,”</strong> she murmured, blowing out a breath and following her back out the door and down the darkened hallways once more. <br><br>Soon, Ksenia led her to her room and she hurriedly stepped inside, not at all surprised by the decorations. The room looked nice, but it was just as gothic and moody as the rest of the place. She glanced around, taking it all in before turning to Ksenia. <strong>“Even your bedrooms are dark, it’s quite the aesthetic,”</strong> she teased lightheartedly, now feeling more at ease being safe with just her, rather than out in the open with a bunch of people she didn’t know who all looked rather intimidating. <br><br>Delilah nodded at the offer for clothing, making her way over to the closet and glancing through. Her own clothes felt dirty and grimy from sweat and blood, which she hadn’t really noticed until the offer to change came up. Choosing simple black leggings and an oversized hoodie, which was likely not worn very often given the collection of black and leather clothing that she knew was the usual choice in this line of work, she made her way back over to Ksenia. <br><br><strong>“This okay?”</strong> she asked, a bit sheepishly. Delilah hated being a burden on anyone, having grown pretty independent since losing her mother. <strong>“I think I’ll shower and change first, then eat.”</strong>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Andronica</strong> on <strong>01-03-2023, 01:45:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d0/dc/92/d0dc92c15b16a3c5a862b98103af0eac.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Ksenia Ashlace (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356551#msg16356551)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Combat boots, black jeans and a grey tank top<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute &gt; Ksenia's bedroom (https://i.pinimg.com/564x/78/7d/cb/787dcb1ff80a84505f0c136a0270f365.jpg) to the bathroom (https://i.pinimg.com/564x/00/9d/05/009d0502597faa4e2174bbdd472ecece.jpg)<br><strong>DATE/TIME:</strong> July 6, almost lunch<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Decompressing... sort of<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Delilah | Closed <hr> <br>A little smirk tugged at the corners of Ksenia's mouth when Delilah pointed out the decor; not that she found it offensive in any way. Delilah was right. "Yeah," Ksenia shrugged her bare shoulder caps with dismissive amusement at the observation and began to incline her head to look around. "It's kind of the vibe here." Two decades of that sort of aesthetic predisposed her to having no real qualms with the gothic architecture or choice in furnishings. Plus, the bed was <em>ridiculously</em> comfy.<br><br>Kay watched as Delilah took to the closet her hostess made available to her for whatever her rummaging desires might be. When she emerged with her choice of clothing, the Shadowhunter merely nodded. She didn't have an eye for fashion considering much of her wardrobe consisted of 'dark and darker'. "Sure, looks good. If the sizing is good, feel free to poke around when you something. I don't have a super varied wardrobe but there's a lot in there so it may as well get put to use." The offer was sincere as her tone indicated. Then Ksenia paused where she leaned back against the table and wrung her fingers delicately around the ornate edge to hook them underneath. A lock of hair slipped free of her tight ponytail to frame her face. She simply looked at Delilah, pale eyes swimming around her before darting off awry. A few awkward heartbeats passed until Ksenia came out of her reverie with a big inhale.<br><br>"Right, shower time!" She clasped her hands together then nodded her head to indicate yet again it was time to play follow the leader. Poor Delilah was probably fed up with the impromptu tour. Ksenia extended her arm over to a door on the far side of the room parallel to the large curtained window. Cutting through the room on a diagonal, Kay gingerly swung open the door and left it wide for Delilah to inspect: a simple arrangement of all the luxurious amenities on a marble floor that flowed into matte chevron tiles. A black rimmed mirror hung under two old fashioned bulb lamps giving off a good amount of light. Lacking both a tub and a window meant the spacious room came off more spartan in design. More industrial, but still very much a mood.<br><br>Still, it was the kind of bathroom a college kid could only dream of - and, as Delilah would probably find out, the glass shower walls triggered a frosted feature as the temperature went up.<br><br>"Fresh towels are on the rack there. Shampoo and stuff is on the ledge. If you need anything let me know, I'm sure we have it around." Ksenia offered up a small smile to try and be welcoming. Then she backpedalled on her heel a few steps to let Delilah pass. "I'll just wait out here." She walked over to her bed and sat on the ledge, proceeding to remove her boots.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>01-03-2023, 14:01:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/cc/CatMoore01.jpeg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As pictured<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Lunchtime excursion in 'mundane' Vancouver<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Late morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Curiosity and embarrassment<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian, Kaleigh, Open<br><hr><br>"Uh-huh."<br><br>Melody was quite clearly <em>entirely</em> convinced by Kaleigh's claim to have merely been referring to the menu... but her dry reaction was quickly followed by a flashed smile, a soft snort of laughter accompanying a quick head-shake.<br><br>Fortunately, it seemed that cheerful teasing was very much the norm for interactions involving Kaspain and the staff - and the Goth offered more than one gratefully happy look, before finding herself expected to actually place an order.<br><br>"Oh!&nbsp; Err, well.&nbsp; The pho was particularly recommended, so... I'll try that, please?"&nbsp; It seemed as if it might be a safe bet, and it <em>was</em> the specific thing she'd been invited out to sample...<br><br>Once they were left to their own devices, she cocked her head and slightly pursed her lips in response to Kaleigh's query.<br><br>"Mmmm.&nbsp; Whatever it was, it didn't seem to be sentient.&nbsp; That would imply that it was either there as a side-effect of something else - a dumb critter following its nose (if it had any approximation of one) towards prey - or that it was deliberately <em>brought</em> by someone else.&nbsp; Perhaps there might be rumours of someone employing dangerous new hunting-hounds or assassins - but would we be at all likely to manage to hear such things?&nbsp; Of course, even as a long shot it might be worth a try: that thing was... frighteningly dangerous."<br><br>Frowning pensively, she momentarily bit her lower lip.<br><br>"Hrmmm.&nbsp; The... <em>goo</em>... or slick, or slime, or whatever you want to call it.&nbsp; That might be a 'calling card' of sorts.&nbsp; We don't know how long it lingers, or if it leaves stains after it evaporates - or soaks in, or whatever it does.&nbsp; But 'weird black ooze' or 'black stains appearing out of nowhere' might be indications that things of that sort of have been in an area.&nbsp; And those, I can imagine causing rumours even if the critter itself hasn't been sighted."<br><br>"But I <em>suspect</em> that it, ahh, got on board wherever it was that the ship went - or was taken - before it appeared offshore here.&nbsp; It might just be wishful thinking on my part, but this might be a case for applying Ockham's Razor: the vessel somehow passed from Point A to Point B without seeming to cross the space in between, and it also 'lost' time while very strange things happened aboard.&nbsp; It might be a simpler explanation to say that the hitherto-unknown entity boarded the ship while it was wherever-it-went, than to say that it was put on board before or after its time elsewhere."<br><br>"If there'd been indications of sentience from it, then I'd suspect it of having been in some fashion responsible for transit in at least one direction - there or back again - but what we saw seemed to suggest 'just' a predator without planning or, ahh, portal-related capabilities.&nbsp; Thankfully.&nbsp; It was terrifying enough as it was!"<br></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gamora</strong> on <strong>01-03-2023, 14:45:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/0dcc15c4a9e5626f9beea133eed6fea7/21fe0dff4e08e6f4-e6/s400x600/c843c8d1b101ba2a6b26c381437e380b85008a9e.pnj)</div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Delilah Weaver<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Hoodie and black leggings.&nbsp; <br><strong>LOCATION:</strong>&nbsp; Ksenia’s room <br><strong>TIME:</strong> July 6, close to lunch <br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Time to reset<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Ksenia | Closed<br><hr>As much as she teased the decorative vibe of this place, she didn’t hate it. It was actually really pretty and sleek, it was just amusing that everywhere was the same, especially given the line of work. She was glad Ksenia didn’t seem to take offense to her teasing either. Delilah was lighthearted always, even in tricky situations, such as this one. Though it almost seemed easy to relax around this woman. For whatever reason, she trusted her. A lot more than she probably should, but Delilah chalked it up to the fact she had saved her from a monster trying to suck her blood. If she had wanted her dead, she would have let the vampire get her. <br><br>Delilah glanced back at the wardrobe for a brief moment when Ksenia mentioned she could take anything she wanted. She would probably have to eventually, unless she was able to head back to her apartment to collect a few things. And while Delilah was no fashion expert and often wore leather jackets and combat boots, her wardrobe really wouldn’t vibe with the rest of the Institute.<br><br>As she glanced back to Ksenia, she noticed the woman staring at her. It wasn’t uncomfortable or intimidating, but delicate. And it made heat start to rise in Delilah’s cheeks. She cleared her throat, shifting her position awkwardly, which was followed by Ksenia’s clap of the hands as she gestured for her to follow once more.<br><br>Relief washed over her when she realized it wasn’t a communal bathroom. She wouldn’t exactly feel comfortable being alone in a place where strangers could walk in. Delilah wasn’t a prude by any means, but did prefer to keep herself clothed in front of people she didn’t know. She slept around enough to not be embarrassed by her body, confident in her looks, but that didn’t mean she wanted anyone to see it. Plus, she didn’t trust anyone here besides Ksenia. And the idea of being away from her right now wasn’t something she wanted to experience. <br><br>The bathroom was pretty much as she expected, the aesthetic matching the room. It looked cute, though, and she liked the lightbulb fixtures that tied the vibe together. <strong>“I think this angsty vibe really suits you,”</strong> she teased, offering her a smile before stepping into the bathroom, placing the clothing on the bathroom counter. <br><br><strong>“Thank you,”</strong> she said sincerely after Ksenia gave her directions on where she could find everything she needed to get cleaned up. Then she closed the bathroom door behind her as she walked over to her bed to remove her boots. <br><br>Delilah didn’t bother locking it and made quick work to undress and get into the shower. She allowed the water to heat up a little before completely stepping under the stream, the hot water feeling therapeutic on her sore muscles. She had really hit the deck pretty hard when that vampire attacked her. <br><br>Reaching up to the back of her head, she was surprised to feel no wound there, despite the fact remembering she had most definitely smacked the shit out of her head. Regardless, she carefully rubbed her fingers along her scalp, cleaning the area well and just enjoying the warmth of the water. The shower’s cool feature of frosted glass the hotter it got was interesting, and Delilah was curious about what other cool features this place had. <br><br>She took a while in the shower, longer than she normally did, just enjoying the feeling of something familiar. Eventually, she called it quits, stepping out and drying herself off and drip drying her hair before pulling it up into a messy wet bun with the elastic she had on her wrist.&nbsp; The leggings and hoodie fit perfectly and once she hung up her towel and gathered her dirty clothing in a pile in her arms, she stepped out of the bathroom back into the room. <br><br><strong>“Is the frosted glass some kind of magic? Or do you guys use normal technology too,”</strong> she asked curiously, half teasing, but half being serious. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Andronica</strong> on <strong>01-03-2023, 15:59:20</strong>
			</dt>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d0/dc/92/d0dc92c15b16a3c5a862b98103af0eac.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Ksenia Ashlace (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356551#msg16356551)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Combat boots, black jeans and a grey tank top<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Vancouver Institute &gt; Ksenia's bedroom (https://i.pinimg.com/564x/78/7d/cb/787dcb1ff80a84505f0c136a0270f365.jpg) to the bathroom (https://i.pinimg.com/564x/00/9d/05/009d0502597faa4e2174bbdd472ecece.jpg)<br><strong>DATE/TIME:</strong> July 6, almost lunch<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Decompressing... sort of<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Delilah | Closed <hr> Ksenia didn't really take showers in order to unwind and relax. So when Delilah stepped into the bathroom as the Shadowhunter proceeded to remove her combat boots, she was certain the other woman would be out in only two minutes flat. However, the thrum of the shower pulsing down filled her ears like a distant buzz for what felt like a while. Ksenia felt a twinge of concern creep up through her chest as she sat at the edge of the bed and stared towards the closed bathroom door, but eventually figured Delilah had a very rough start to her time at the Institute. She probably wanted to unwind doing something decidedly, well, <em>mundie</em>.<br><br>In the time Delilah spent showering, Ksenia removed her socks and somewhat unceremoniously pulled out the band holding her hair back up in a high, tight pony tail for practicality during her day-long vigil in the infirmary. Her stormy eyes canted to the sandwiches she brought into the room which prompted her stomach to gurgle hungrily but she wanted to do the polite thing and wait despite how ravenous she was beginning to feel all of a sudden. She pushed off the edge of the bed and walked around to the nightstand where she dropped her hair tie into the top drawer, then surged her fingers up her temples and along the crown of her head all the way down to her nap. A low sigh escaped Kay's lips as she massaged out the tension under her wild, long mane. Like Lydia observed, there was still some vampire ash caught up in her hair and she grimaced as she felt the sandy texture. Then, she finally heard the shower stop coupled by the tell-tale plod of feet on the tile.<br><br>A smirk flicked up when the brunette came out. "Those clothes look good on you," commented Ksenia, who was sincerely glad her wardrobe could get some use being shared. "Nah, warlocks can do magic," she explained with a chuckle, "so that's just magical plumbing. Our Institute Head had all the amenities caught up to this century like a decade ago."<br><br>Looking back to the open bathroom door, Ksenia wasted no time in peeling off her grey tank top. She crossed her arms to her hem and pulled up with on swift movement that left her fit upper body bare besides a wide sports bra - again, fashion was hardly her forte. Tousling her hair once more, the Shadowhunter strode past Delilah and into the threshold. <br><br>"I'm going to grab a shower. You're probably starving so go ahead and start eating without me!" The words trailed off as she disappeared behind the door which didn't quite latch in her wake. Ksenia removed the rest of her clothes and consigned them to the counter, then hopped into the shower for a regimented two-minute cleanse. She paused nude in front of the wide circular mirror to catch a glimpse of the myriad more sigils in various shades of black to grey in defined spots on her body, then wrung her inked hand to scrunch her hair into a state of dampness that accentuated her natural waves. A moment later she strode out with her dirty clothes tucked under her arm wearing only a white towel. She made a detour at the closet to drop her clothes in the lidded wicker hamper and then joined Delilah.<br><br>"So, do you feel any better about... everything? I know it's a lot to take in." Ksenia asked as she took a seat on the chaise.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gamora</strong> on <strong>03-03-2023, 16:27:13</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/0dcc15c4a9e5626f9beea133eed6fea7/21fe0dff4e08e6f4-e6/s400x600/c843c8d1b101ba2a6b26c381437e380b85008a9e.pnj)</div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Delilah Weaver<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Hoodie and black leggings.&nbsp; <br><strong>LOCATION:</strong>&nbsp; Ksenia’s room <br><strong>TIME:</strong> July 6, close to lunch <br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Time to reset<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Ksenia | Closed<br><hr>A light blush lit up Delilah’s cheeks when Ksenia complimented that the clothes looked good on her. She didn’t mind compliments, but when it came from Ksenia, it made her heart skip a beat. Thankfully, the answer to her question was a good distraction, and Delilah glanced back at the open bathroom door where she could still see the frosted glass. It had dissipated a little, but was still frosty from the hot steamy temperature still lingering in the room. <strong>“Makes sense I guess,”</strong> she replied with a shrug. It did seem like this kind of place would be ahead of its time with technology, but there had to be some sort of magical aspect thrown into this place to some extent. <br><br>Delilah turned back around to face Ksenia, about to ask if they worked with Warlocks often, but when she turned around, the woman was pulling her top over her head, leaving her in just her sports bra. As much as she wanted to turn away to be polite, she couldn’t help but eye the tattoos all over her body, surprised to see how covered she was. She was able to see her neck and arms before, but these tattoos were over her torso as well. And she imagined it didn’t stop there. Delilah also noted that the muscles on her abdomen were as strong and taught as her arms - and it was a damn good look on her.<br><br>Realizing she was staring, Delilah tore her eyes away and looked over to the bed to avert her gaze, hoping Ksenia hadn’t caught her staring. She simply nodded at the instructions to eat before her, and waited until she heard the door click behind her to relax. However, the click never came, and Delilah turned to see it was left open a crack. Not meaning to peep, but given the location of the jarred door and where she was standing, Delilah saw Ksenia’s bare form staring in front of the mirror. Heat rose to her cheeks even stronger this time and she tore her eyes away quickly. <br><br>Sighing at her own awkwardness, she made her way over to the table by the door and grabbed a sandwich and bottle of water, folding up her dirty laundry and placing it under the table, not wanting to put it next to Ksenia’s sandwich, but having nowhere else to really place it. <br><br>Making her way back over to the bed to sit, she sat on the side closest to the bathroom door, pulling herself back towards the headboard, making herself comfortable against the pillow propped up. She was careful to not make a mess as she opened the sandwich, taking a small bite to start. It equally made her stomach happy and churn, and she knew she really had to eat to feel better. After the shower, she was already exhausted again, despite having been asleep for over a day apparently, so she hoped something to eat and drink would help wake her up.<br><br>As she was about two bites into her sandwich, Ksenia emerged, much faster at showering than she had been, but that didn’t seem like a surprise given the army vibe this place gave off. She looked up at the door as she heard it open, not expecting to see Ksenia clad in just a towel. The bite she was chewing was swallowed quickly in surprise, causing her to cough for a second, gaze falling on the woman’s bare but tattooed skin. She watched as she moved towards the closet, tossing her dirty clothes away, and taking a seat on the chaise. It took Delilah a brief moment of delay to realize she was asked a question before clearing her throat, placing the sandwich down, and grabbing the water to take a swig.<br><br><strong>“Honestly, not really,”</strong> she admitted. <strong>“Less scared, I guess, knowing what’s going on. But there’s still so much I don’t know and don’t understand.”</strong> Emotion was strung in her words and she did her best to keep herself in check, letting out a soft sigh. <br><br>Wanting to change the subject off of her, she looked back over to Ksenia. <strong>“Your tattoos,”</strong> she said, gesturing with a nod to the dark ink layered across her skin, <strong>“what do they mean?”</strong>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>04-03-2023, 22:16:08</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EBTzr3bUEAA9uYM.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> the Pho place<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Noonish Wed July 5th<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Heading out for some lunch with new friends <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Melody, Leigh<br><hr>Kaspian cocked an eyebrow without looking at the menu. He didn’t wait for Constance to leave. “You were referring to the steam ground pork balls combo?” he said not believing her for a second. “I call shenanigans.” he stated and lightly shoved her shoulder. “What’s next? You are going ask what a Suck, Bang and Blow is like…you know, the tequila cocktail..” he said just as innocently as she did. “It’s pretty good by the way.”<br><br>Melody’s reaction was far more subtle but it was like screaming for a Brit. Constance didn’t even try to keep a straight face as she wrote it all down. “I hope all of you come by more often. He’s been so serious lately.” Constance wasn’t wrong, the last three years had changed him in some ways. <br><br>Listening to Leigh’s idea about hitting a club made him smile. Half of his instructors would have suggested that they go to the library and do some serious studying of the lore that they had. Glancing over to Melody he listened to her line of reasoning and nodded. “I do think it was brought by someone else. It didn’t seem to have a plan other than just kill us. It would have been better for it if it tried to just jump overboard if it had some grand design it wanted to enact.” <br><br>Hearing out more of Melody’s hypothesis had him considering as well. A number of creatures could teleport or open gates easily enough. Leaving someone behind to clean up was more than fair while the main villain of their story, heretofore known as the ‘big bad’ in his thinking, time to go home and take a nice bath after a job well done. Probably with scented bubbles.<br><br>“I totally buy that we didn’t meet the mastermind behind it all and that he or she ported out before we got there with whatever cargo they were having transported. No offense to Chuck…yeah I named gooboy Chuck, because gooboy seemed disrespectful. But he really wasn’t carrying his weight back there other than being mad at us.” <br><br>Turning back to Leigh he said. “I like your thinking. This could affect many of the downworlders just as much as anyone else. Going to a club and not blaming them but seeking their aid could help our relations with them.” It didn’t take Constance to return with all of their food. <acronym title="Enjoy your meal.">"Thưởng thức bữa ăn"</acronym> "Thanks Constance."<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyrical</strong> on <strong>05-03-2023, 17:13:42</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/CZyPeeA.jpg)</div><div class="floatright"><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/8aKntzm.png)<br><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size"><em>Enkeli: Angelic Power rune</em><br>First received upon initiation: <br>signifying angelic bonds</span></div></div><br><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16357805#msg16357805)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> (see picture) white summer dress, white tennis shoes, purse w/ Nephilim dagger<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> streets<br><strong>TIME:</strong> close to lunch<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> lunch with some of the gang<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian | Melody <br><br><hr>Leigh had worried that Melody might not appreciate her humor but thankfully Melody seemed to be rolling with it all. Which was good, because Leigh's default was humor when she was nervous or making friends with new people. She often suspected that was why the downworlders seemed to like her but occasionally some of the more stiff upper lip types in the Shadow Hunters didn't always appreciate it. This pair she was with seemed to be cool with it, at least she hoped so.<br><br>Melody gave her opinions on the situation with the slime demon goo thingy they ran into. Leigh was nodding and listening, Melody had a lot of valid points. It also raised a lot of questions about who or what had the kind of power to make that stuff happen. <br><br>Chuck... Leigh actually giggle snorted a bit just as she was about to take a drink of water. She gave Kaspian an evil glare because she almost shot water out of her nose when he said it.<br><br><strong>"It's a big play for someone,"</strong> Leigh said about the situation. <strong>"That kind of magic feels like a high level Warlock or a team of them would be needed to pull a demon through a portal or potentially move a whole ship through one and have it pick up a passenger along the way like Chuck. No matter how or why, that take serious moves. If the person doing that is here in town, someone in the downworlder community will have heard rumors. It's like having a new mob boss moving into an area... maybe no one knows them but everyone knows something. Mover and shakers like that make noise that can't be avoided. Eventually the word gets around."</strong> <br><br>A few moments later the food arrived and Leigh was happily devouring some of the best and most authentic Asian cuisine she has had since arriving in Canada. She couldn't help but make happy little sounds as she ate like a woman possessed. Note that if given half a chance she's try to stab a bite off of Kaspian plate. Melody would be spared her ravenous appetites because they had ordered the same thing. Instead she'd offer a bite off of her stolen food to Melody. <strong>"Food is better when it's stolen,"</strong> Leigh would offer to Melody.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Andronica</strong> on <strong>07-03-2023, 01:40:36</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d0/dc/92/d0dc92c15b16a3c5a862b98103af0eac.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Ksenia Ashlace (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356551#msg16356551)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> White towel &gt; Grey jeans, loose black t-shirt<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Ksenia's bedroom (https://i.pinimg.com/564x/78/7d/cb/787dcb1ff80a84505f0c136a0270f365.jpg) <br><strong>DATE/TIME:</strong> July 6, almost lunch<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Decompressing.<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Delilah | Closed <hr> Ksenia nodded slowly when Delilah gave her the unfiltered truth. It wasn't a shock by any means, and the Shadowhunter had a better sense of time and understanding than some people might give her credit for in these sensitive situations considering her own strange upbringing in the fold of both thee Shadow World and the Institute. Her lips pursed to form a terse line for a few seconds and held that pose while Delilah sighed. What was there to say? Ksenia definite had no intention of slinging an obnoxious one-liner at the mundie like 'don't worry, it gets easier' or some shit she would find on a motivational poster.<br><br>Visibly, she seemed to perk up when Delilah turned the conversation around to the various tattoos in shades of grey and black strewn across her visible limbs. Kay smiled slightly toothily and at once dove in with an explanation, obviously a bit excited. "This one is precision," she began to explain and offered out her hand towards Delilah to get a better look - it was on her dominant hand that wielded the flame inscribed dagger, thick inky calligraphy that curled her knuckles and jutted down her index finger. Then Ksenia's free hand travelled up her open palm, which she closed into a fist to show the back of her hand leading to her wrist. "Voyance, it helps attune our Sight to anything that's supernatural, glamours, that sort of thing. Like when you saw the vampire for what he truly was."<br><br>Kay circled her splayed arm to travel to another rune and began to recite them as she followed the sigils moving upward to her throat and chest."Strength, stealth, courage, invisibility, psychic link, protection..." The Shadowhunter pulled up her knee so the cap crested the edge of the bed where the chaise met the duvet. Though in her seated position with one leg crossed under her body, there was no risk of getting <em>too</em> revealing with the newbie unless Delilah was on the floor in front of her. "And there's a few more but mostly I use the ones up here. Over time some can fade so you need touch-ups, just like tattoos." Ksenia was sitting up stalk straight at this point. Suddenly, she looked past Delilah in thought for a few seconds before refocusing on her. <br><br>"Do you think you're up for an extended tour, or do you want to recoup here for a while?" Ksenia asked earnestly in a soft voice. Regardless of the answer that came, she pushed off from the chaise and made a bee-line to the closet opposite the bed. Nudging it open fully with her knee, then letting it shut behind her with a soft whoosh, there was a slight commotion of hangers inside as she picked out an outfit. A moment later Ksenia emerged wearing a loose fitting plain black t-shirt over a pair of grey, form fitting jeans. She tucked the front of the hem into the waist of her jeans off kilter, causing a slight tug on the soft black fabric across her chest and angling down toward the corner that was tucked. Ksenia's still damp hair had been quickly finger brushed and pulled over her right shoulder.<br><br>Bare feet plodded silently across the carpet back to the foot of the bed. "I could show you how some of these work," she said, shrugging her shoulders. As if a demonstration in angelic runes was the most casual thing like grabbing coffee or reading a book. 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gamora</strong> on <strong>07-03-2023, 14:19:40</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/0dcc15c4a9e5626f9beea133eed6fea7/21fe0dff4e08e6f4-e6/s400x600/c843c8d1b101ba2a6b26c381437e380b85008a9e.pnj)</div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Delilah Weaver<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Hoodie and black leggings.&nbsp; <br><strong>LOCATION:</strong>&nbsp; Ksenia’s room <br><strong>TIME:</strong> July 6, close to lunch <br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Time to reset<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Ksenia | Closed<br><hr>The ink splayed across Ksenia's skin, as expected, meant more than just some sort of decoration or way of expression. For a second, she thought maybe they were some other language of the Shadowhunters, just something to inspire them to work hard or make them feel proud. But by the way Ksenia was speaking of them, it sounded like they actually provided whatever they meant. <strong>"Wait, so they actually give you, like, powers or something?"</strong> Delilah asked curiously, sitting up a little more to lean closer to where the other woman stood on the other side of the room to get a better look of the ink. She definitely hadn't forgotten that she was half naked, but the interest of the ink, or whatever it was, was more distracting at the moment. Or at least, she was forcing herself to make it more distracting. <br><br>Delilah watched, intrigued and eyes wide with interest, as Ksenia showed her each one, describing what they were for. Her eyes narrowed slightly at the one for the Sight. <strong>"If that helps with your Sight, how come I could see the vampire?”</strong> she asked curiously. Delilah didn’t have any actual tattoos of her own, Shadowhunter or human, so she was confused on how all this could be happening. Granted, she was already confused enough, so maybe her head was just having a hard time wrapping around anything else.<br><br>As Ksenia stepped into her closet to change, Delilah tore her eyes away and picked up her sandwich to take another bite. Even though the closet was blocking her view from anything, she didn’t want to accidentally see something she didn’t want to. Or rather, something that Ksenia didn’t want to show, because Delilah was not a prude and would absolutely look if it was polite to do so. How could she not? Ksenia was a smokeshow, there was no doubt about that. <br><br>Thankfully, Ksenia emerged from the closet dressed just as Delilah had the sandwich half eaten. She placed it back down and took another swig of water, wanting to take her time as she was feeling a little queasy from the food hitting her empty stomach. <br><br><strong>“Do you think we can stay here for just a little bit longer? Then go on the tour?”</strong> she asked, a sheepish smile pulling at her lips. Delilah was exhausted and just wanted a break from new people for a little bit. And being here alone with just Ksenia was the most relaxed she’s felt since waking up in this new world. At the offer of learning about the Runes, her eyes light up in excitement. <strong>“I’d love to see how they work.”</strong>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>08-03-2023, 12:16:51</strong>
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				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/cc/CatMoore01.jpeg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As pictured<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Lunchtime excursion in 'mundane' Vancouver<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Late morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Curiosity and embarrassment<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian, Kaleigh, Open<br><hr><br>Letting slip another snort of laughter, Melody shook her head at her companions... while inwardly wondering if she might have to put in some mental preparation in advance of future excursions with them, to better cope with the banter!&nbsp; For someone generally accustomed to either passing wholly-unseen by mundanes or having them <em>look but not speak</em> courtesy of her appearance, playfully teasing interactions with unfamiliar 'normal people' were rather challengingly novel.<br><br>Fun, too, but a bit daunting!<br><br>Still, there were rather serious matters in hand, and it seemed wise to focus upon them - though not without keeping a wary open for any mundanes, especially Kaspian's friends, coming close enough to overhear their decidedly unconventional conversation.<br><br><br class="clear_left">"Given the, err, very <em>strange</em> nature of what we saw... well.&nbsp; That would suggest that this is either a new approach to magic - a recent discovery, perhaps - or something old and hidden.&nbsp; Perhaps <em>outlawed</em>...?&nbsp; I could imagine that if something like this had been discovered in the past, there might have been a great deal of interest in suppressing knowledge of it.&nbsp; Preventing further exploration of something that... well.&nbsp; That is <em>that</em> dangerous, and that leaves whatever the heck that goo was in its wake."<br><br>"That... the goo could be relevant on a couple of fronts.&nbsp; Both as a way to track its presence, and perhaps, if it lingers or stains things, to track where it has <em>been</em> summoned... and in whatever effects it has on what it touches, or what it is given the chance to soak into.&nbsp; A lot of people would love to be able to conjure up a demon that dangerous -&nbsp; but doing so becomes a lot less appealing if it's easy to tell when and where it was used, or if it infects or warps or corrupts areas in which it spends time.&nbsp; Fabulously dangerous killers have obvious uses; those that leave highly-distinctive calling cards wherever they go are rather more problematic."<br><br>"Sorry.&nbsp; I think I might be going in circles a little, while thinking aloud.&nbsp; But I think that if this <em>isn't</em> a wholly-new discovery, there should be records of at least some elements of it <em>somewhere</em> out there.&nbsp; And if we could find Warlocks who were willing to discuss lore of, err, <em>strange magic</em>, then they might well be able to provide us with something.&nbsp; Or we might find records of it in the Institute, of course, if someone previously managed some sort of investigation into this.&nbsp; But either way, I think it's safe to say that this magic has not seen remotely widespread use in recent times - or else we'd have heard about it.&nbsp; Likewise, for the 'powerful enough to make a tanker vanish and then reappear on the other side of the world' side of things."<br><br>Then she registered the food-theft - blinking at Kaleigh before letting slip a startled laugh.&nbsp; "It is, huh?&nbsp; I shall have to bear that in mind in future..."<br></div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>09-03-2023, 08:11:07</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EBTzr3bUEAA9uYM.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> the Pho place<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Noonish Wed July 5th<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Heading out for some lunch with new friends <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Melody, Leigh<br><hr>Kaspian was unfazed by the ‘evil glare’. Making someone laugh is pretty much medicine for the soul. No one needed that more than the Shadow Hunters as far as he was concerned. Plus, the giggle/snort was kinda funny. He paid attention to what was being said as he finally got something warm into him. <br><br>Leigh points about it being a big move totally resonated with him. “Yeah I don’t believe this is someone having a bad day or acting out. This would take …well you both said, some serious moves and using a magic difficult to track doesn’t suggest some newb who just discovered his grandpa’s spellbook in the attic.” He says and uses his chop sticks to bring some noodles to his mouth. “I just have no idea about the motivations going on here. What’s the end goal? Do they just want to take over some faction…” he stops guessing because the possibilities could go on and on. “So…yeah my vote is still with downworlder nightclub investigation.” <br><br>He starts eating again when Melody begins to hypothesize. He liked the idea of recently discovered magic and then shook his head. It was always the bad guys that discovered the cool shit. “Ok so…telltale goo. I like it. No one expects you to track them via their minion’s goo trail.” He shrugs when Melody apologizes. “Hey I get it. My head is going around and round trying to make sense of all of this too.” <br><br>He was pondering the idea of some forgotten magic finding itself in vogue when Leigh filched his food. He was thinking that this may be tied to some ancient evil that someone had buried or shunted off into a prison dimension when on top of brazenly stealing right out of his bowl, the culprit decides to brag about it. Luckily Leigh was right beside him. Putting a large calloused hand on Leigh’s bare thigh and leaning in, he grinned at her.&nbsp; <br><br>“I share food with very few people. But if you want some…just ask.” he let her know getting almost within kissing distance. His free hand decided to take her up on her own advice and take some noodles as he leaned back to his seat. It took him a second to realize his hand was still on her inner thigh before he removed it.<br><br>Looking at Melody he shrugged. “She has a point. This is really good.” <br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyrical</strong> on <strong>10-03-2023, 02:35:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/CZyPeeA.jpg)</div><div class="floatright"><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/8aKntzm.png)<br><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size"><em>Enkeli: Angelic Power rune</em><br>First received upon initiation: <br>signifying angelic bonds</span></div></div><br><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16357805#msg16357805)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> (see picture) white summer dress, white tennis shoes, purse w/ Nephilim dagger<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> streets<br><strong>TIME:</strong> close to lunch<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> lunch with some of the gang<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian | Melody <br><br><hr>Melody made several excellent points and apparently was just as puzzled as Leigh at this Stranger Things style interaction they had that day. Kaspian like the rest had more questions than answers. <br><br>Of course, Leigh had to go and steal food and make it all light-hearted again. Maybe she had a bit of an issue focusing on only one thing at a time? Was it really her fault when she was seated next to a hot red head woman and a drool worthy man. She just couldn't concentrate with all this sex appeal going on and here she was seated there like a milk maid in her summer dress. Next time she was going to need to up her game some.<br><br>Kaspian's hand ended up on Leigh's thigh as he leaned in to confront the pilfering foodie, coming within kissing distance... <br><br><em>“I share food with very few people. But if you want some…just ask.” </em> &lt;Kaspian said&gt;<br><br>Okay, it was hard not to smile, when he was just sooo close and he smelled sooo good. Leigh wore a little half smirk on her face and noted the delayed removal of his hand on her thigh. No complaints from her about that, she was still buzzing from the adrenaline of earlier and had abundant energy she was itching to burn off. If they had been alone she probably would have crossed her legs and trapped it there but this little restaurant was very public. Instead she just gave him a playful wink. ...but damn he was some cute. <br><br><strong>"Better when stolen remember? Asking for permission is just not nearly as fun."</strong> Leigh nodded a few times and turned to face Melody. <strong>"I don't think Kaspian is going to like me much. I'm a touchy feely sort of person and food theft is just part of the vibe."</strong> She shoved her chair a little closer to Melody then looked around really quick before she reached under with a hand and attempted to place it on Melody's thigh. <strong>"Do you like touchy feely people? You could try my other dish. I got two different meals to take some home. But I like sharing."</strong> There was an emphasis on the sharing part while she asked very casually pretending like she had not just tried to put her hand on the leather clad thigh of Melody.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Andronica</strong> on <strong>11-03-2023, 20:46:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d5/63/d7/d563d7184b58e0f28fd9a196e5cb13b8.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Ksenia Ashlace (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356551#msg16356551)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Grey jeans, loose black t-shirt<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Ksenia's bedroom (https://i.pinimg.com/564x/78/7d/cb/787dcb1ff80a84505f0c136a0270f365.jpg) <br><strong>DATE/TIME:</strong> July 6, almost lunch<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Decompressing.<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Delilah | Closed <hr> An eager smile filled Ksenia's cheeks to bursting and made little formerly unseen dimples come to the fore. "Sure, we'll go out later when you're feeling up to it."<br><br>Ksenia took a cue from Delilah's playbook that seemed pretty comfortable - being perched up at the headboard munching the cafeteria sandwich. Lydia wasn't what could be called a strict parent outside of training sessions and missions but there was no memory Kay could scramble to recall even shreds of where she felt this wound down. She never ate in her room with anyone else. Snacking in the common area or library while she and Melody shared their companionable silence was as close as she got to... this.<br><br>Turning to the side table at the door, Ksenia swiped her sandwich then rounded the bed. She launched herself up onto it with little effort. Thankfully the bed was also sturdy enough that it didn't even budge at the sudden weight drop where the Shadowhunter nestled comfortably on her designated half. She didn't look at all displeased about waylaying the tour as she ripped open the parchment neatly in a ring around the sliced halves of sandwich and propped it open like a book having its spine broken. With a little twist of the wrist one half came free and she peeled down the wrapper to take a bite.<br><br>Ksenia let out a small moan of contentment at how good it tasted after her vigil. "Mm.. I really needed that," she grumbled after the bite was swallowed. And like a light switch, she flicked her damp head in Delilah's direction with a shrug. "The Voyance runes amplify what we can see so...it just makes your natural Sight better, fine tuning it to pick up on more difficult glamours, spells..." Ksenia waved her Voyance rune bearing hand in a whirling fashion for emphasis as she rattled off the explanation. Kay took another very generous bite of her sandwich that was, admittedly, on the messy side. She simply wiped at her lip with her thumb and gingerly laid the mostly consumed sandwich half on the duvet while she sat up. That smile from before resurfaced.<br><br>"Hold on," said the Shadowhunter - as if Delilah had much choice - and slid out of bed. She made a beeline to her jacket and withdrew something from the pocket. Coming back to the bed, Ksenia perched at the edge and unfurled her fingers to show the short, knotted piece of metal across her palm. It looked a bit like a small blunt knife without a discernible edge. "Some of the runes I told you about are temporary so they need to be activated with this; a stele. It doesn't hurt or anything. I'll show you when we go to the training room later." While Ksenia said this, the stele in hand began to feel warm and emitted a slight glow against her skin like it was reacting to its owner. Her hand extended farther out offering the stele for Delilah to take if she was comfortable.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>12-03-2023, 00:19:41</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/cc/CatMoore01.jpeg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As pictured<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Lunchtime excursion in 'mundane' Vancouver<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Late morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Further curiosity and (a lot more) embarrassment<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian, Kaleigh, Open<br><hr><br>Nodding pensively, Melody furrowed her brow as she tried to work through possibilities.<br><br>"I'm thinking that the lost time - and the indications that something <em>removed</em> the crew as well as the cargo, and did <em>that</em> to the captain's body - suggest that the ship didn't just pass through <em>a</em> portal, but instead got taken somewhere... then deposited near us once events had, err, finished unfolding aboard...&nbsp; But I'm really curious as to what drew that critter to the engine room.&nbsp; Or was it put directly in there, with a specific intention of it wrecking things, or of guarding them after the system had been rigged to overload: either way, of that thing being there specifically to ensure the ship blew up?"<br><br><br class="clear_left">Still looking decidedly thoughtful, she reached out to take advantage of the repeated invitation to 'steal' food... but had only just managed to snare a morsel when she felt contact on her thigh.&nbsp; Clearly having entirely failed to predict that it might be about to happen - perhaps because she was musing upon the possible implications of a tanker being portalled to spend some time in a villain's hide-out, or even sent into Hell itself - she was duly caught thoroughly off-guard.<br><br>The resulting <em>squeak</em> of surprise was, fortunately, very much on the quiet side... but was clear enough to her companions at the table.&nbsp; There was also a distinct twitch of her leg in response to the touch, providing Leigh with the sensation of muscles moving beneath the tight sheath of black, but she otherwise managed to avoid any awkward reactions.&nbsp; Given the potential for startled Shadowhunters to produce Seraph blades or activate runes, her response was blessedly mild - and she even avoided choking on her purloined provisions, too!<br><br>Blinking in surprise (and still holding a part-nibbled morsel), she blushed delicately.&nbsp; "I'm not used to, ahh, this sort of after-action debrief," she noted, finding temporary refuge in dry humour.&nbsp; "I'm wondering whether it might be advisable to wear armour to future, umm, meetings."&nbsp; She accompanied her words with a wry smile, in hope of affirming that she was merely startled rather than mortified.&nbsp; "Or might a very short skirt be more appropriate?"<br></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>15-03-2023, 01:51:17</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EBTzr3bUEAA9uYM.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> the Pho place<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Noonish Wed July 5th<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Heading out for some lunch with new friends <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Melody, Leigh<br><hr>Ok so this lunch was not exactly turning out like he thought. Kaspian was figuring it would be introducing Melody and Leigh to his friends. Don would likely flirt with Melody because he likes gothic ladies. Constance would just mess with all of them because she was like that. He figured there would be some awkwardness at first and then after/during the meal, everyone would sort of loosen up a bit.<br><br>Putting his hand on his co-worker’s bare thigh and getting up close and personal about a pilfered bite full of pho was not on any of his lists of possibilities, and yet they were here. He knew Constance was going to tell his sister and within a few hours there would be a phone call of some kind. Now he was dealing with her smirk so he smirked back. “Right, going forward I’m just stealing your food with your blessing as the extra secret ingredient.” <br><br>Kaspian blinked about the whole not liking her because she was touchy/feelie. He easily shrugged. “I guess we’ll have to see. I’m sure it will all work out in the end though.” He listened to Melody’s musings about the engine room. “I think you are right; it was ordered to do so because someone understood ships well enough to realize if it wrecked it, the ship would sink and then finding any evidence would be problematic at best and probably most of it would get degraded in the salt water.” <br><br>He chuckled at her attempted food theft. “Ok, we should make a rule when we eat together. We bring our plates closer together so we each get practice stealing the other’s food.” He nodded about this being a different sort of debrief. “I think I like this more. It always feels like I just need to write it down and say the words so I can leave. Now we are actually deliberating over what happened.” He shakes his head at the armour comment. “No. If there is no threat of some hot noodle landing on you, how are we going to get better at this?” <br><br>“I vote for the short skirts.” he said. “I promise to wear shorts to make it all even.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gamora</strong> on <strong>15-03-2023, 23:28:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://64.media.tumblr.com/0dcc15c4a9e5626f9beea133eed6fea7/21fe0dff4e08e6f4-e6/s400x600/c843c8d1b101ba2a6b26c381437e380b85008a9e.pnj)</div><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Delilah Weaver<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Hoodie and black leggings.&nbsp; <br><strong>LOCATION:</strong>&nbsp; Ksenia’s room <br><strong>TIME:</strong> July 6, close to lunch <br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Time to reset<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Ksenia | Closed<br><hr>Delilah nodded her head in understanding. It made more sense that these Runes were to enhance your ability, rather than give those abilities to you, making it possible for the Mundane to dip into the world she was apparently part of. Her head was still spinning with the possibilities of it all and she still didn't quite understand why she was seeing all of this now, and hadn't before. Maybe she picked up something at the bar? Talked to the wrong folk that maybe put a spell on her? Because apparently Warlocks existed. Regardless, it was too much to think about at the moment, and she focused back on Ksenia.<br><br>The brunette watched Ksenia carefully as she got up to grab something, returning with something small in her hand. It looked like a pen almost, but with a strange clear crystal like tip. The end wasn't sharp, so it probably couldn't hurt anyone, but it looked similar to a small weapon like a knife. Delilah watched in awe as it started to glow in the other woman's hand, lighting up the skin around her palm.<br><br>As Ksenia handed it over to her, Delilah hesitated for just a moment before reaching out and taking it in her hand. The metal, which she expected to be cool, was warmer, which she guessed was from the light. The lit up tip stayed glowing her several seconds as she held it before dulling out, and Delilah took that moment to lift it closer to her face to inspect it further. It was a rather intricate and the handle almost looked like a work of art. <strong>"It's pretty,"</strong> she said, referring to the handle, and handed it back over to Ksenia. <strong>"And so are your Runes,"</strong> she added, gesturing to the ones visible on her skin still through her new outfit. Realizing the compliment she gave, Delilah blushed slightly and cleared her throat, leaning over to the bedside table to grab a drink and take another bite of food. <br><br>Wanting to change the subject, she held up her almost finished sandwich before speaking. <strong>"Once we're done, maybe we can check out that training room?"</strong> she asked with a small smile. Despite still being tired, Delilah was now super intrigued on how these Runes worked and all the other magical elements the Shadowhunters seemed to have. Besides, she'd never be able to rest right now. She felt like there was too much adrenaline still running through her veins. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyrical</strong> on <strong>18-03-2023, 21:25:19</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/CZyPeeA.jpg)</div><div class="floatright"><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/8aKntzm.png)<br><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size"><em>Enkeli: Angelic Power rune</em><br>First received upon initiation: <br>signifying angelic bonds</span></div></div><br><br><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaleigh "Leigh" Keo (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16357805#msg16357805)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> (see picture) white summer dress, white tennis shoes, purse w/ Nephilim dagger<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> streets<br><strong>TIME:</strong> close to lunch<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> lunch with some of the gang<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian | Melody <br><br><hr>The muscles in Melody's legs were fantastic, Leigh was taking the few moments that her hand on the woman's thigh to appreciate just how good a shape she was in. The meal in this restaurant was fantastic but she much preferred the company at the table. Thirsty is what the mundane's called it and and Leigh was feeling it, she could just drink down all over Melody and Kaspian if given a chance. Was it actually a possibility? She had no idea, but it was worth a try. Maybe she could date both of them? Leigh tried not to get ahead of herself and chuckled when Melody mentioned that maybe net time she'd wear armor or a skirt. <br><br><strong>"Short skirt would look fantastic on you,"</strong> Leigh said as she took a long look into Melody's eyes. <strong>"We should try on each other's clothes sometime... soon."</strong> She emphasized the last word a bit.<br><br>She wasn't able to tell if Kaspian knew what was going on or not so Leigh shifted herself a bit in her chair so she could reach out and put a hand on Kaspian's thigh if he let her. Now it would be obvious with her arms outstretched to either side that she had her hands in both of their laps. <br><br><strong>"Shorts would be adorable on you, Kaspian."</strong> Leigh turned her head to Melody.<strong> "Don't you agree?"</strong> She turned her head back to Kaspian and grinned devilishly. <strong>"You know I really like the both of you, you're so fun. I can't wait to go clubbing tonight with you both..."</strong> She thought for a moment about her next words. <strong>"Just thinking out loud here but maybe we can all get to ... um dance together or maybe take turns dancing with each other? Am I being too metaphorical here?"</strong> She laughed. <strong>"Let's just get out of here so we can go get ready before I say more stupid stuff. Melody do you want to go get ready together? I'd love to try on some of each other's outfits. I bet we can find something just right for tonight."</strong><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>21-03-2023, 16:27:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/cc/CatMoore01.jpeg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Melody Fairchild-Harrow<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As pictured<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Lunchtime excursion in 'mundane' Vancouver<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Late morning<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Further curiosity and (a lot more) embarrassment.&nbsp; Also nerdy speculation.<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Kaspian, Kaleigh, Open<br><hr><br>Melody's latest squeak was a little louder than the last - and was accompanied by a marked widening of her eyes.&nbsp; Beneath the table, her muscles responded to the kneading exploration, pushing back against Leigh's probing fingers.<br><br>"I, ahhh...."<br><br>Blinking rather dazedly, she cocked her head as colour tinged her pallid cheeks.<br><br>"I am starting to think that armour might be advisable as a general policy," she noted dryly, before her lips quirked into a wry smile.&nbsp; "And I am also wondering if 'going for pho' might be some mundane-side euphemism of which I was hitherto unaware...."<br><br>A soft chuckle accompanied an inclination of her head.<br><br>"Food-sharing sounds good.&nbsp; Though I have precious little notion of what any of this might taste like - or really <em>be</em>.&nbsp; But, ahh, I think I might be too much of a coward to rush into... dancing.&nbsp; But swapping clothes?&nbsp; Really?"&nbsp; She arched her brows at Kayleigh.&nbsp; "I think that I <em>might</em> have worn something white and flowery as a child, when attempts were being made for me to blend in among the mundanes while out and about in a city.&nbsp; But it hadn't occurred to me to try anything like that nowadays.&nbsp; It'd be... quite a departure for me!"<br><br>"But <em>both</em> of you want short skirts, huh?&nbsp; I can bear it in mind.&nbsp; Though... as far as 'in mind' goes, I'm still musing on our mission.&nbsp; If we're presuming that whoever was responsible was behaving rationally, then there are a few stages to consider."&nbsp; One hand waved distractedly in mid-air, while her gaze drifted off to the middle-distance.&nbsp; Apparently it was hard for her to set aside the Shadowhunting side of existence, at least when she was trying to figure something out.&nbsp; Still, she retained enough presence of mind to nibble intermittently as she spoke - mostly from her own food, but also sampling the other offerings.<br><br>"The ship wound up in our world.&nbsp; That means that either it <em>had</em> to - it was an inevitable end-point to whatever process had taken it <em>elsewhere</em> for a time - or else that someone with the power to move it felt that it was preferable for it to be here than to be... anywhere else.&nbsp; Secondly, it wound up near us: that might just be happenstance, as the end of the process... or it might have been a deliberate design.&nbsp; Third, multiple steps were taken to ensure that it was difficult to investigate what had happened to it.&nbsp; Conceivably our being sent to the ship triggered a reaction that would not otherwise have occurred... but it certainly seems as if steps had already been taken to render the ship definitively beyond recovery.&nbsp; Not only was it set to have the engine room detonate, a guardian was put in there... or was drawn from wherever it originates by something horrific and powerful that had already happened in there, I suppose."<br><br>"But that's a lot of trouble to go to, isn't it?&nbsp; If they had, for example, the knowledge and power required to put the Song of Demeter wherever they wanted in the world, they could - for example - have put it broadside-on in the teeth of a hurricane somewhere far from shipping lanes.&nbsp; Maybe even put it straight to the bottom of the ocean, without bothering with any <em>sinking</em>.&nbsp; Instead... it appeared within helicopter-reach of the shore, in reasonably calm waters.&nbsp; And it stayed intact long enough for us to spot it, organise a trip, board it, and - just about - effect an escape.&nbsp; But why bother?&nbsp; With the whole effort, and with doing it <em>in that fashion</em>?"<br><br>"So... I'd surmise that either someone was aboard the ship when it, ahh, <em>returned</em>, and that they departed before we arrived... or else that there was another visit before our own.&nbsp; In the first case, it might be whoever was aboard the ship that was the vital 'cargo' that the Song of Demeter had been used to transport.&nbsp; In the latter, if people waiting on this side had to travel to the ship and get things, then they might have had to use vehicles we can hope to track down...."<br><br>Biting her lip, she ducked her head again.<br><br>"Sorry.&nbsp; 'Dancing' might be a safer topic, in some ways.&nbsp; At least to discuss out here.&nbsp; But I think we can say that there's at least a significant chance that whatever... organisation or operation did <em>that</em> to the Song of Demeter has some sort of presence in the region.&nbsp; Not necessarily the city, but... somewhere along this coast, close enough to be accessible from the ship.&nbsp; Which <em>might</em> mean that asking questions about black goo could have us poking at some threads that are <em>active</em> in the local region, rather than just being a matter of rumour or ancient lore.&nbsp; Or... can either of you spot holes in my chain of reasoning?"<br></div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>22-03-2023, 12:58:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EBTzr3bUEAA9uYM.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> the Pho place<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Noonish Wed July 5th<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Heading out for some lunch with new friends <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Melody, Leigh<br><hr>Kaspian had no clue what was happening on the other side of Leigh. He was having lunch with two stunning women after battling a demon. Leigh liked to push people’s buttons being flirty, so he pushed back. Between learning about angel magic, missions and just maintaining his friendships there really wasn’t a lot of time to do things like…date for instance. Trying on each other’s clothes was a conversation he really didn’t have a comment on so he took the opportunity to get more of his lunch from the bowl to being inside of him.<br><br>When he felt the hand on his thigh his eyes widened in surprise. He had his share of female interest growing up but glancing over and seeing that Leigh had a hand in each lap was not something he figured was going to happen. He had to swallow before he could get a response out. “Well it is pretty warm, so shorts would be good.” He had no idea of Leigh was being serious here or just sort of messing with him again. “I haven’t been clubbing in years. I’m looking forward to it.” <br><br>He finished his bowl while Melody gave a rundown of her considerations about the subject of their morning operation. Well this stopped being about eating together and making some introductions as his thinking cap came back on. “I have to believe that they were behaving somewhat rationally. There are way too many possibilities that are out there if we are going to consider the irrational end goal.” he began. It was hard to think with Leigh’s hand on his thigh so he returned the favour and put his hand back on hers.<br><br>“From everything I’ve read about demons, our world is always the end goal. They have their duchies in hell that they rule over but we always represent new territory they want to annex.” Sometimes it was to spread fear or whatever they were into but also just because like any human nation, more land was better especially with the crazy amounts of people on the planet they would rule over. “I’m not sure why it ended up near us, I have to go with happenstance here. If they wanted to succeed without any kind of opposition or conflict, then why not just have this ship veer off course and go down in the middle of the ocean where it would be difficult for anyone to respond to its presence?”<br><br>“Unless they needed something from us. Then I can see it being deliberate.” he amended. What that may be was once again a complete unknown. It could range from angel blood to some relic to fulfilling some criteria for a ritual. “I totally agree that it wasn’t meant for any of us to investigate and get some kind of meaningful answers from the short time we had. I don’t know if a lunch is long enough, but when we get back to the institute maybe someone will have more ideas on the pictures we sent and the evidence we did gather.” <br><br>“The Captain we met seemed to regain his sense of self right at the end there. I think you’re right in that the Song of Demeter had served its purpose and someone was cleaning up after themselves. Us getting out there was not something anyone would plan for. It would have to involve an understanding of our individual motivations and capabilities” there were obvious ‘givens’ with Shadow Hunters, like trying to save people or combat aggressive demons, but a ship was a big thing and they could have gated in via warlock if one of them had such a friend, instead of flown in with their helicopter. Too many variables if they had more time to look.<br><br>“No, I think your reasoning is solid. I just think we need more facts to rub together to see a larger pattern.” He had to get some club clothes. Three years of Shadow Hunting meant his wardrobe had become functional outside a few birthday and Christmas gifts.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Andronica</strong> on <strong>25-03-2023, 01:38:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d5/63/d7/d563d7184b58e0f28fd9a196e5cb13b8.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Ksenia Ashlace (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356551#msg16356551)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> Grey jeans, loose black t-shirt<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Ksenia's bedroom (https://i.pinimg.com/564x/78/7d/cb/787dcb1ff80a84505f0c136a0270f365.jpg) <br><strong>DATE/TIME:</strong> July 6, around noon<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Decompressing.<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Delilah | Closed <hr> Ksenia smiled in a small lopsided way that highlighted the fainest of dimples in her cheeks when Delilah commented on her stele and then her markings. The silvery adamas objects were usually crafted to look delicate, deadly and intricate just like their runes. She wholly appreciated the artisanal quality in both, and seeing an almost-mundane express the same feelings made her warm up a bit inside with an unknown feeling that circled her stomach in a slight knot; not unpleasant but unexpected territory to be sure. <br><br>"Yeah, no problem." Ksenia's body made a deeper indent into the comfortable duvet where she sat propped up against some firmer pillows about a foot apart from Delilah. She didn't want to risk crowding her. The other young woman's appetite too, expectantly, was probably a bit bird like despite not eating for a few days. There was no way the Shadowhunter could fault her when a whirlwind of emotions probably weighed down that empty stomach like a stone - so she contentedly nibbled on her own sandwich beside her, totally uncaring of crumbs despite her usual clean nature. She took a pause to wash down a big bite with a swig of water, then sighed softly.<br><br>"Lydia is probably going to have a room made up for you by tonight, too, so we have all afternoon to get you kinda used to this place. At least as much as you're willing to take in on the first day. Promise I'll do my best to answer any questions and not to be too overbearing with it. It's just been a really long time since this was new to me," admitted Ksenia, almost a little sheepishly. She quickly took another bite to keep herself from rambling, then placed the last corner of the sandwich down on her night table. Her hands came up to knit behind her damp hair as she nestled into the pillows and threw another polite smile Delilah's way.<br><br>Honestly, it was hard to stop talking around Delilah. Something about her made it so easy to open up and the normally focused hunter felt like she was treading strange waters.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cold Heritage</strong> on <strong>31-03-2023, 04:13:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center"><strong>GM POST</strong></div><br>Time: July 6, Evening, after sun set<br>Location: Club Malefique<br>Mood Music: Vampyrean - The Hunger (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16YaMMwutI0)<br><br>The sun had set over Darkest Vancouver, sending most of the mundanes into the security of their homes and beds. Others who remained about - the shift workers, the gangsters, the nightlings - still had no idea what walked among them. This was the time for the Night Children: the Vampires. The blood drinking Downworlders were behind Club Malefique, the number place for Downworlders to cut loose and be themselves. Although the primary clientele was Vampires, the Fae, Warlocks, and Werewolves were admitted into the club's gothic chic interiors. The club was within a repurposed industrial warehouse, with a huge ground dance floor with multiple bars - most of them conventional wet bars serving alcohol, but one for the fanged crowd serving blood of various types: animal and human. Above the ground floor, there were catwalks connecting various V.I.P. sections where the terminally stylish and dangerously cool sat in plush couches, partaking the peculiar pleasures of the night that only the Downworld could offer. The upper areas were accessed by guarded stairwells, and admission was very strictly restricted. Wards of various sorts prevented would-be up-jumpers from getting past the stone-faced bouncers.<br><br>Dim lighting and red strobe lights played into the gothic atmosphere of the club, and a DJ up on stage was spinning club remixes of Type O Negative. The DJ in question was a Vampire whose stage named was DJ Rotteliebe, and he was dressed in a fairly impressive Tom Cruise as Lestat cosplay. <br><br>Outside, a lineup of mundanes and unlucky uncool Downworlders wrapped around the block, hoping to get inside. A pair of Vampire bouncers, dressed in black suits with wraparound sunglasses and earpieces, stood impassively. There were moans of dismay whenever a V.I.P. skipped the line and were granted entry into the club, while the hopefuls were ignored. <br><br>It was at Club Malefique that information had the best chance of flowing from Downworld to the Shadowhunters in unofficial channels, but, of course, getting in and getting anyone in the know to talk to them was a challenge in and of itself.<br><br>Thus far, the Shadowhunters' own resources had uncovered some promising leads about the strange symbols painted in blood on the Song of Demeter, but it required coordination with the Institutes in Berlin and Moscow. Finding the requested tomes and having them copied for perusal in Vancouver was an ongoing process. Inquiries about King Solomon and research on that front were proving as intriguing as they were alarming. Apparently King Solomon was not a figure of myth, and his subjugation of demons&nbsp; exceeded the seventy-two commonly known named demons of lore.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Bowen</strong> on <strong>02-04-2023, 02:30:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/bf/46/6a/bf466aa7a36ffd98922ebed8fd6b49fb.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Kaspian Herondale (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16356305#msg16356305)<br><strong>WEARING:</strong> As picture<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Club Malefique<br><strong>TIME:</strong> July 6, Evening, after sun set<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Heading to a vampire club <br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Open<br><hr>He still had no real clues about the events that happened on the Song of Demeter. There were hopeful leads but they were waiting on some inner institute collaboration. Now was it him or was King Solomon a ShadowHunter? Just saying. He spent the day working out, meeting his sister Katherine for dinner and listening to her woes. It was good, it felt like what he always thought of as ‘normal’ in the world. Mom and dad were trying to set her up with someone who was the second son of one of Bloomberg Billionaires Index. His simple reaction of ‘was the first son married’ had her smiling. Apparently she asked the same question with a little less sarcasm and yes for the record, the first son was married.<br><br>This of course led her to ask about his personal life since she’s not heard of anyone in like three years and he countered with he was going to a vampire club tonight. She translated that to ‘goth’ and shrugged. It wasn’t like he was going to bring her home to the parents. He didn’t try to dissuade her from thinking there was some goth girl he was interested in, it was easier than explaining that no, he was trying to use the vampires for their gossip on a demon lord.<br><br>They made plans to spar on the weekend and parted ways. She in her Porsche Boxster and him walking back to the Institute to change for tonight. Now he had spent a few years of his life being a thief professionally. Which to him meant if he didn’t steal, he didn’t eat. He was actually really successful at that; Gavin was a good mentor. Looking at the club as he approached was pretty typical for a high-end club. They limited access and the two doormen were not of the human variety. <br><br>There were plenty of other ways in for those that were so motivated. Now did he wait for everyone or did he just make it in himself and figure the senior ShadowHunters had everything in hand?<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Out of the Dark: General In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cold Heritage</strong> on <strong>02-04-2023, 06:02:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/JhK4kwq.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong> Alexander Greyhallow (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347468.msg16379290#msg16379290)<br>(Optional)<strong>WEARING:</strong> Black boots, black slacks, black dress shirt, black longcoat, black sunglasses<br><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Club Malefique exterior<br><strong>TIME:</strong> Thursday July 6th, 2023 | Evening<br><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Alexander inserts himself into a Vampire-related excursion<br><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Delilah Weaver, Kaspian Herondale, Ksenia Ashlace, Melody Fairchild-Harrow<br><hr><br>At some point during the day Alexander was going about his own business when he got wind of the excursion to a Downworlder nightclub to seek out information about the events on the ship Song of Demeter. Naturally, without being invited, Alexander inserted himself into this matter without consulting anyone or any concern that he might not be either welcome or suited to the task. Those were simply not things that crossed Alexander's mind. <br><br>So when the group got underway, Alexander was there, dressed up like a dapper all-black clad stylish fancy lad. He had really nice black leather boots that were well polished and caught the light just so. The black slacks he wore complimented his legs and backside extremely well. The same was true of the black dress shirt, which fit him perfectly and the lines emphasized his inverted triangle body type. Over all of this he wore a well cut black longcoat, and a pair of black sunglasses completed the outfit. If anyone needed to ask why he wore his sunglasses at night no amount of listening to Cory Hart would be sufficient to educate them on the matter. <br><br>He saw Kaspian outside of the club, and naturally approached the other Nephilim. Alexander made finger guns at Kaspian after scoping out the former thief's attire. "Siiiiiick threads, K-man." Alexander said with affably if perhaps overly familiar. Then his tinted gaze went over to the long line and eventually the pair of Vampire bouncers and he gave a low whistle. "Looks like this is the place to be for everyone who's fangin' and bangin', or wants to be." The quip was equally jovial, although there was no disguising the undercurrent of disdain that so many Shadowhunters from birth seemed to have. For Alexander's part it was so deeply ingrained that he was not even aware of it. The duties of the Shadowhunters had him see fangs first, people . . . maybe later at some point?<br><br>"So what's the game plan, m'dude?" Alexander asked, tongue pressed out his lower lip. "Place's bound to be warded up tight, so sneaking in's going to be a pretty tall order. Dunno about you but it's been awhile since I practiced my stealth Runes." He made an exaggerated and affected look of regret that was belied by the fact that he was genuinely not at all sorry about it at all. "Fighting our way in's a no go: we don't have the Law on our side and besides that any Downworlder with anything worth knowing'd go into hiding and never talk to any of us in the next century." Alexander gave a sad shrug because he sincerely enjoyed fighting and was good at it. <br><br>"You know, I think between us we could charm our way in. You've got that sort of scruffy bad boy je-ne-sais-quoi about you, and of course, I'm #gorgeous." This final pronouncement came without any sort of ironic self-awareness, but a perhaps alarming amount of confidence and certainty in the veracity and factual nature of the words.
			</dd>
		</dl>
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