Gathering: New Guest Reception

[concierge]

The black sign positioned in front of the Dining Hall's main entrance reads:

New Guest Reception
TODAY
6 PM - 8 PM

All guests welcome

In the Dining Hall itself, the chairs have been pushed up against the walls and the long dining table turned into a buffet stocked with finger foods. At the far end of the room is a small bar serving beer, standard cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks.

Comments

[malachai]

"I'd think you'd have to be alive to live without knowing things, and technically speaking, I'm not."

Nick wondered about that sometimes. What it meant that he'd died not once, but twice? Unfortunately, anyone that could give him answers wasn't here and even if he was home, they weren't talking.

[dogchasingcars]

"Oh?"

Now that...that was interesting. Very interesting. After catching a grape in your mouth, you swivel fully toward the young man. You'd heard people talking about vampires (ha, ha, ha!) and other supernatural creatures skulking about. You wonder what the story is here.

"You look pretty lively to me," you continue. "But I'm sure I can arrange otherwise, if you like."

[malachai]

"You can try," Nick shrugged, "but chances are you won't be too happy about what you find if you succeed. I've died twice already, and all it's done is piss me off more."

Because something about this guy set his internal warnings off like a divining rod to an underwater aquifer, Nick felt his eyes go silver and the always dangerous tint of red at the edges of his vision. It'd been Hallowe'en since the last time he felt the demon's powers spike inside him. This time, he was starting to wonder if fighting it would be wise. Something about this guy was just not right.

[dogchasingcars]

Dying twice, what an adventure! What you wouldn't give to know what it's like to die, to meet your maker (Hel-loooo, Father Lu-ci-fer!), live to tell about it, and taunt the insipid masses with first-hand knowledge of their impending doom.

"Tell me all about it," you whisper. Needing to know, you step closer to the young man, probably closer than he would like but you've never cared much for that stupid societal personal space proclamation.

[malachai]

Nick didn't move out of the creepy thing's push into his personal space. It wasn't like he couldn't push him out of it again, or bind it if he tried anything. But something told him that if he took this guy to Azmodea, they'd welcome him with open arms as a brother.

"Wish I could," Nick said with a shrug. "Dying's kind of a personal thing, different for everyone. Not even mine were the same both times. I doubt it'd be the same for you anyway. I'm immortal, and cursed with it."

[dogchasingcars]

Being immortal. The idea fills you with utter glee. Why, if you could become immortal, the chaos and confusion you could spread would be limitless. This young man has knowledge, knowledge you're thirsting for, thirsting like a poor, lost nomad in the desert.

"How'd you do it?" you almost snarl. "Become im-mort-al."

[malachai]

"Only two ways I know of," Nick said with a shrug. "You can be betrayed by someone you love and plead to Artemis for vengeance. In return, she gives you strength and immortality and you promise to fight against creatures of darkness to protect humans. Though I should warn you, she doesn't grant that much anymore."

He was, to his knowledge, the last Dark Hunter she'd created and she hadn't been supposed to do it. She promised Ash she wouldn't make anymore Hunters years ago.

"The other way is to be born the last of a cursed race of demon with only one other being in existence capable of ending your life. Probably too late for that one," Nick commented.

[dogchasingcars]

Well, this is getting you no-where. Scowling, you mutter, "I suppose neither of those ways is. in. the. cards."

Although the realization is disappointing (you had begun to formulate plans upon plans of all the wonderful things you could do while immortal), you quickly shrug it off. No need to get mired down over something that wasn't a possibility, anyway.

Still, you are curious. "What's she like, Artemis?" Sounds like she has style.

[malachai]

The headcase uttering Artie's name sent Nick straight into full-on protective mode. By some miracle, he felt the surge in his powers a second before they hit critical mass and he was able to keep from shifting into full demon form. He saw the red haze color his vision, so he knew his eyes flashed yellow. He didn't know whether or not his skin went red and black, but it could have.

With a deep breath, and then another, he was able to contain himself enough to speak. "She's a little strange to most mortals," he said with a shrug. "Has trouble with modern speech, a little selfish, not a lot of patience, but basically a decent woman."