(semi-open)

[debtor]

Date & Time: January 15th, or whenever
Location: somewhere in the creepy castle/hotel/museum
Characters: Allen Walker, Howard Link, Rosette Christopher, Chrono, and anyone else in the castle who feels like dropping by at any point.
Summary: SOUL SHENANIGANS and whatever else your heart desires. Open to castle antics.
Warnings: ALLEN WALKER IS FINE

[Allen sure is super unconscious suddenly.

And gray. For some reason.]



[And you may have heard someone screaming "I'M FINE" repeatedly at themselves near the castle grounds a short while ago, strangely.]

Comments

[debtor]

Mm. I'll wait.

[Fiddling with his spoon, for a second.]

...I don't really know much about demons or contractors. But I'm very glad you two have each other.

[soul_sister]

Mm. There's not much you can't make it through if there's someone you can fall back on.

[debtor]

[A quiet nod, expression a bit distant.]

Someone to pick you up again. You fight for each other, right?

[soul_sister]

Of course. That's what you do for the people you care about.

[There's a pause, one moment after the next, thinking on her own words. She asks, a bit hesitantly:]

Hey... Allen?

[debtor]

[Blinks.]

Hm?

[soul_sister]

There was one part that... I don't think you were aware for but... And you may know this already or have an idea and I'm just going to feel silly.

[There's a certain rambling awkwardness, that honestly comes from needing to talk to people about things they didn't want her to know... but in the end, it's too important NOT to share.]

While I was in there... If I'm guessing right, Mana was helping me find you.

... I thought you probably would want to know.

1/2

[debtor]

[He freezes up at Mana's name, eyes widening.]

[debtor]

[He unconsciously raises a hand, almost touching his scar, before stopping himself.

He's not shocked by what she's saying. He believes it wholeheartedly - or wants to. It wouldn't be the first time Mana has appeared...

But it's strange enough hearing it from her.

He's not really sure what to say. He drops his gaze.]
I--

...Thank you for telling me.

1/2

[soul_sister]

It's... really nice, I think, to have always been loved.

[soul_sister]

But fair warning I'm going to kick that half mask idiot in his teeth.

[debtor]

[Even if he can never be certain how Mana really felt about him, he knows that he loves Mana, and that will never change, and that's what matter...

He keeps these thoughts to himself, as always.

...Half mask idiot, though...




OH.

He wouldn't stop her if she tried but EVEN BETTER:]

Rosette, stay away from that man entirely.

[soul_sister]

Why? Don't you think I can take him? Because I can take him.

[debtor]

It's not worth trying, trust me! That man's a devil, someone like you should especially avoid him...

[soul_sister]

[WHAT DOES HE EVEN MEAN SOMEONE LIKE YOU!!!???? He obviously doesn't think she could handle it. There's only one thing to do in this situation.]

Oh! I'll avoid him entirely!!

[debtor]

[SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAAAAAND]

Really, Rosette!! I'm serious!

[soul_sister]

So am I! I've got a fist with...

[A pause.]

What IS his name?

[debtor]

[RUNNING BOTH HANDS DOWN HIS FACE.]

General Cross Marian. He's my master. I appreciate the sentiment, but it's really no use...

[soul_sister]

Right! A fist with his name on it.

And just because you've given up on divine retribution doesn't mean that I- ... Wait, how'd that bit happen?

[debtor]

[He just. No. What if Cross flirts with Rosette, he can't let this happen, PLEASE GOD...]

--Which bit?

[soul_sister]

[There's no good odds on Exsilium surviving.]

How'd he get to master status?

[debtor]

It's been a long time... After my father died, he took me on as an apprentice, so I could become an Exorcist.

[soul_sister]

... Ah... So it's a bit like Father Remington.

... I kind of hated him at first too.

[debtor]

Father Remington...?

[soul_sister]

My younger brother was born with the power of God. His touch could heal anyone.. anything... except himself. But it took a terrible price from his own health in turn. There were whole weeks when he couldn't even leave bed.. much less the orphanage.

Father Remington used to come by from the Order and kept trying to adopt him, but I'd make Joshua run away with me. I figured they'd just stuff him in some creepy lab and run tests on him forever. They promised to help him learn how to control it, how to fight...

... It was really selfish of me...

[And this is, for most people, where the story ends. Instead, she takes a deep breath.]

So, a demon came and took him away. The demon put a demon's horns in my brother and ... he... went crazy. Or at least, he wasn't himself anymore. Joshua used the power to freeze everyone and everything in the orphanage in time. They're still there, just scared looking statues. The only reason I wasn't frozen as well was that Chrono saved me, but we couldn't stop Joshua from being taken away.

Of course, the effort nearly killed Chrono too. So... I did what I had to do to save him, so we could both go looking for Joshua, you know, that we'd both be strong enough.

Father Remington, in the end, he took me in, instead. Taught me how to fight.