To All The Beasts Of The Earth

Seraph
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To All The Beasts Of The Earth Nov 14, 2021 14:37:40 GMT

Post by Seraph on Nov 14, 2021 14:37:40 GMT

After the incident with the uncontrolled vehicle, Elia was already feeling that Millennium City was somewhat overwhelming, especially from her own point of view. The largest city in the Divine Appalachian Territory had over a hundred thousand people, a number she had though staggering until she had gone beyond its borders. It had seemed as if Millennium City had that many people all on one street, and the number of them walking around with the touch of God upon their souls was incredible - and yet so few of them seemed to look to His hand to guide them. They'd created themselves a rebellious imitation of their own paradise, and all Elia could think about it were the words of the once-Angel: better to rule in hell than serve in heaven.

She was uncomfortable already, then, as she left the scene of the car accident after speaking with local authorities and paramedics and making sure that people were properly on their way. Nonetheless, Elia knew that her task here was still not complete. There was the manner of the man - or creature - or something - who had stopped the vehicle. It had been a noble act, and yet she couldn't help but be troubled by the fact that he wouldn't say he wasn't a devil. Those who acted against God had been known to pretend they were in His service before, after all.

No, she could not leave that unresolved. He had offered to meet her away from the scene, not wanting to talk to the authorities himself, and so Elia calmed her nerves and walked into the darkness of the alley. She was unafraid, for the Lord was with her. This did not stop a certain uncertainty, however, especially as she caught the gleam of his eyes glowing in the city gloom.

"Don't think y'all ever mentioned your name."

Seraph Elia Lucia

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To All The Beasts Of The Earth Nov 15, 2021 15:27:19 GMT

Post by lowlaville on Nov 15, 2021 15:27:19 GMT

Jacob felt frustration build up as he rushed out of the crowd and into the safety of a crack between two buildings. He felt the eyes of everyone around him, and could instinctively feel the raw emotions of fear boiling from the depths of their psyche. And by the time he had come to a stop in the darkness, he felt his own heartbeat- elevated beyond normal. Without knowing, instinctively, he had fed off of the crowd. All the confidence he'd felt talking to Elia before evaporated into thin air just like that.

Standing there all alone, all he felt was a need to become one with the darkness, and to hide, disappear and forget. And yet he did not move. The animal wanted to run but Jacob had other plans. He was still looking forward to a conversation and he was still a successful business man and a bounty hunter. There was just no way he would let this small incident spook him.

The tail wagged behind him, telling a lot about his mindset to the beholder if they were to pay attention. The relative dark of the alley cast shadows over him, making him a dark gray silhouette with the eyes being the one thing the most prominent about his presence then. It lit up like headlights on a foggy night.
.
"Name's Jacob hunter." He responded to her question, walking forward a step or two so that she could see him better, standing at over seven foot tall, a head like a wolves, and 7 inch long claws on each of his hands. He'd become so much muscular and was covered in fur. Huge canines could be seen when he opened his mouth to talk and from his throat had come a heavy voice. "And you are?"

Seraph
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To All The Beasts Of The Earth Nov 15, 2021 20:25:40 GMT

Post by Seraph on Nov 15, 2021 20:25:40 GMT

He was certainly monstrous. There was a nature to him, like that of a bear, or a panther. Most of the panthers were gone now, even from the hollers of the Divine Appalachian Nation, and any time there was word of one, a few folks would grab their shotguns and see if they could find sign and get rid of it. Panthers were known to hunt people, even children. God's creatures they might be, but God's children protected their own. Bears were easier, in their own way. Mostly, they just didn't want to be bothered. Elia had seen plenty of bears, out there in the wild places, but they didn't invoke that same primal reaction, not so long as people were smart enough to keep away and never trouble a mother bear about her cubs.

She didn't know quite where to place the monster before her on that scale from bear to panther, the question of leaving things be or hunting down the hunter before it harmed someone else. She watched him, and thought about these things, and then he intruded on her thoughts with a voice that was not that of a beast at all, but one of a man. Lower, to be certain, heavy and rough, but it was a voice nonetheless, with a name and a question.

Elia didn't need to think about it to be polite, and return her name when his was given. "Elia. Elia Lucia." She stared upwards, glancing past the sharpness of the canines into the sharpness of his eyes. "Thank you. For stopping that car. I doubt anyone else will say it, and y'all deserve to hear it said."

Seraph Elia Lucia

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To All The Beasts Of The Earth Nov 17, 2021 15:24:37 GMT

Post by lowlaville on Nov 17, 2021 15:24:37 GMT

"I appreciate that, Elia." Jacob never had someone say anything nice to him when he was a full blown werewolf, part of the reason why he detested the form. It was too primal for the likes of some, and most had fears they themselves could hardly explain. She seemed indifferent to how he looked though, which honestly was a relief. "But you weren't too... shabby either. I wouldn't have been able to get to him before he injured himself... in a panic or something." It was slightly difficult to talk in full werewolf form. See there were pauses and some like growls in between words but it was within manageable parameters.

Jacob sat down on the dumpster right behind him, his clawed legs outstretched, they were as one would expect. Four digit long paws with claws coming out of them. "If there was a god up in the sky, why is he letting people suffer, Elia?" Jacob asked looking up. "Why did I get cursed to become this?" Elia would probably misunderstand his words. Or maybe he was lying to himself and was simply not feeling too hot about himself at the moment, but he was receptive enough to open up to her about feelings he probably had not brought up with anyone else, not Kore or Gerard because, like Kore was literally the Antichrist and Gerard didn't talk a lot usually.

Elia did not turn away from him and that meant something to him, even if this was to only be a passing moment. "Did your god give you powers or were you born with them?"

Seraph
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To All The Beasts Of The Earth Nov 17, 2021 18:35:17 GMT

Post by Seraph on Nov 17, 2021 18:35:17 GMT

He was asking difficult questions, and Elia supposed she couldn't blame him. She wasn't unused to that sort of question, really, although she had to admit this was the first time she'd heard them from someone who looked quite as strange as Jacob Hunter.

She moved into the alley a little further, taking the position opposite him and leaning back against the wall. "That's quite a lot of questions, Jacob. Now... I'm not a priest, and I can't promise the best of answers, but I'll do what I can. A lot of people wonder about suffering, and why God lets it happen. We always learned that it all goes back to Eden. A lot of churches will tell you it's original sin, but ours thinks it's a bit more than that. It's not about sin so much as about understanding. God gave us a paradise, and we didn't understand. We didn't know what we had. We couldn't recognize paradise back then, because we'd never known any different. Eden fell, but God created a new paradise for us in heaven - but we have to know what it is when we get there. We have to really understand - and in order for us to have that knowledge, there has to be suffering here on Earth." Elia shrugged her shoulders, the cape behind her dusting against the wall.

"It isn't always easy, but we do the best with what gifts we're given. All gifts - powers - come from God, whether or not you have them to start with. I was about four, the first time I used mine. Can't say whether or not I had it earlier - sometimes it's like learning to read, you have to figure it out a bit at first." Jacob didn't speak of what he had as a gift, though, but as a curse. She reached out a hand across the alley, for him to take if he wanted, even with the claws.

"God doesn't care what you look like, Jacob Hunter. He gave you a gift so that you could help people. I don't claim to understand all His reasons, but He always has them, whether or not He lets us know what they are. Maybe you're meant to help people understand better about appearances. Or maybe you're meant to help yourself understand that."

Seraph Elia Lucia

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To All The Beasts Of The Earth Nov 19, 2021 9:25:50 GMT

Post by lowlaville on Nov 19, 2021 9:25:50 GMT

He sighed.

"So you are saying that, we are, more or less, learning to understand why we want paradise?" Honestly, it did not make sense to him, but perhaps, as Elia said, she was not a priest a definitely did not have the best answers. But there was some affirmation to what she was saying. Her god did not judge people based on their appearances and likely their creed. Rather, it more or less depended humans understanding that they were on Earth to undergo trials- trials that would lead them to higher ranks in heaven. "You know, compared to some of the religions out there in the world, yours sound pretty nice. But I also can't say I've ever heard of it before. But since you mentioned church and original sin I'm going to assume yours is or was part of Christianity."

A hand was offered for him to take. He hesitated, for fear that, his claws may end up harming her or worse, giving her the curse. Still, he did take it, as he leaned forward to stand. And as he did, he would start shrinking to a size that Elia had seen before on the street, claws shrunk and his hand became human. She'd find him standing there with shredded pants, the shirt completely ripped apart from the transformation, and Jacob hoping she'd not see something that would traumatize her for the rest of her life.

Jacob laughed when Elia talked about his appearance. If only she knew. He thought. And probably, more than likely, if she did, then her opinion of him would change. "Well. I wouldn't say my trial is really one of appearances. While it's true I have the appearance of a monster, I think my trial is, more or less, whether I accept the animal inside me or not." Yes, Jacob had other words such as evil or devil he could've used instead of animal but then maybe it would offend this religious girl with a weapon that can cut through steel.

He did wonder about her abilities, wondered what they were. Were they simply super strength that allowed her to do that back there? "I don't usually transform but I just did not think I could do away without transforming. Gave me the strength necessary to do what I had to. Neat trick with the sword back there by the way. Was that a part of your ability?"

Last Edit: Nov 19, 2021 12:56:03 GMT by lowlaville

Seraph
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To All The Beasts Of The Earth Nov 19, 2021 20:36:20 GMT

Post by Seraph on Nov 19, 2021 20:36:20 GMT

Elia gave Jacob a nod at his assumption that hers was a Christian religion, but didn't elaborate any further than that. He took her hand, though, and became a man once more. It wasn't an instant process, but a slow transfiguration, from one thing to another. Perhaps some would have found it abhorrent; Elia merely watched, and held his hand so long as he wanted her to.

He asked about her blade, and Elia gave a sort of shrug that seemed to say that there wasn't really any perfect answer to what he had asked. "The sword was just the strength of God. It's not really a gift, just something I was taught to do. We use the word 'talent,' for it if that helps at all." An invocation of Faith, as all the Seraphim could do. Elia herself had no ability that could sharpen a sword, merely the Faith that God could do so for her. In her mind, it was not a gift as she would have named one, but she also acknowledged that others viewed things differently. Even in the Divine Appalachian Nation, such things were sometimes spoken of as "Seraphic abilities" rather than the more proper "Seraphic Talents." There were clerical talents as well, and particular talents of the Faith healers. Sometimes, such things overlapped. Other times, they did not.

"Some things are harder to accept than others," Elia commented, watching him, thinking about his apparent reluctance to transform. He hadn't flinched from it, nor from her, but still, he had made it quite evident that it was not something he wished to do all too often. "Does it hurt you, when you change like that?"

Seraph Elia Lucia

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To All The Beasts Of The Earth Nov 22, 2021 13:46:01 GMT

Post by lowlaville on Nov 22, 2021 13:46:01 GMT

Jacob studied her expressions and listened to what went on inside of her- her heartbeat or spiking brainwaves or something, a sign that what she was saying did not match how she felt about it. It was never a hundred percent accurate but he was fairly confident in it's accuracy to tell. So far though, she was very calm in watching his transformation, from a wolf to a man, bone shrinking, jaws snapping into place, shortening limbs- signs all of which would be disturbing to someone not acclimated with it.

So came his assumption that Elia was more used to the obscene than he might have given her credit, and definitely more than religious fanatics world across. "So kind of like magic, huh." Jacob nodded at her explanation. More than one explanation existed for these 'talents' and could easily have been one of those, or none of them. "You've a specific name for this talent? Because I'll admit, just 'talent' is far too ambiguous." He asked out of curiosity. But perhaps he was asking a lot of her. She probably was not the authority to talk about such matters.

"I guess I understand them." His gaze looked out to the people walking about out on the adjacent sidewalk, before turning them back to Elia. "Fear is born from a lack of understanding...and historic precedence." There were people who would defile corpses in the old days, fearing they might come back as Vampires- such things as stakes through their hearts or slabs across their jaws were all too common. Happened when people are too superstitious.

And then her question came for him, asking whether or not it hurt. Jacob had to give a bit of thought into that, because quite frankly, he never stopped to think in that regard. Pain was there, of course but virtue of his accelerated healing: a cut disappeared before its sensation reached the brain, so all he ever noticed was a feeling that he was probably injured in some way. And the pain of it depending on the severity. "I suppose it does? But after repeated transformations, I've grown numb to it. Brain adapting to it or something."

Jacob felt certain it would start getting weird to have his hand on hers, and he quietly took a step back to lean back against the dumpster, hoping she wouldn't find it offensive.

Seraph
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To All The Beasts Of The Earth Nov 25, 2021 14:49:06 GMT

Post by Seraph on Nov 25, 2021 14:49:06 GMT

Jacob asked her about a less ambiguous name for her talents, and Elia just shrugged. "Faith, maybe." As names went, it was no less ambiguous than "talent," and perhaps even more so. She didn't really have a better answer to his question, though. If she'd had a different name for it, she would have told him, but the Seraphim focused more on what they could do than what to call things.

Jacob spoke of fear, and Elia thought about that. She didn't see fear so much as a lack of understanding, but a lack of trust - or a lack of faith, perhaps. 'I have no fear, for Thou art with me.' When one had trust and faith in God, there was no need to be afraid. People here were... not precisely farther from God, for He was everywhere - but farther from their faith in Him. For most, it was not such a central part of their lives. Faith was shifted, farther out, and became harder to reach for in times of adversity.

Jacob spoke of pain, and there was not much that she could say to that. She squeezed his hand once more before he let hers go, hoping that he might find comfort in that. He might have looked like a monster, but he embraced his pain to spare others from theirs. There was something that she could respect in that, as strange as he might be. "You're a curious man, Jacob Hunter. Do you do this sort of thing often, then?" She wasn't sure if she meant transform himself, as he had spoken of repeated actions, or if she meant save strangers from car accidents, which had also been a prominent factor. Perhaps there was a bit of both, in her inquiry.

He was a mystery, whatever else he happened to be.

Seraph Elia Lucia

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To All The Beasts Of The Earth Nov 27, 2021 8:17:09 GMT

Post by lowlaville on Nov 27, 2021 8:17:09 GMT

The answer, while it did not satisfy Jacob's curiosity nor expectation, it was still the answer he received. It was one with a lot of tell, though. It was telling of what she represented, as she represented someone of faith. The modern society was in large parts, just void of it. Godless? Well, the lack of God was not really god's fault. It was a behavior of man, so enamored with the physical world around them, so caught up in struggles of just living. Even now, people have already forgotten about an incident that took place moments ago.

In contrast, she brought into the picture a contrasting vibe. In a world that seemed to only care about themselves, she showed outward concern for others. Or, Jacob at least. He could classify her as a 'hero' then, he figured to himself. "If you mean transform, then no. I have more than enough strength to do what I do. If you mean save people, not really, I don't go out of my way to intervene BUT if something happens as I am present or that I know of, I won't recline and pretend it is not happening or did not happen. If it is within my ability, I help with things as they come. What about you, though?"

He didn't mind that she moved out of the way of the vehicle. After all, not everyone in the world had the correct physical ability to pull of what he did. But Jacob wondered if she would've come forward to help if he was not there. In that moment, he hadn't been able to get a good read of her, because he was too caught up with the incident itself, but when her help did come he appreciated it.

His mind snapped back to reality, though, as something shifted through the darkness, a hiss and a cat came out fleeing, definitely spooked by Jacob's animous presence. "Ugh, I feel naked like this, though." He admitted, embarrassed in ragged clothes and absolutely ruined shoes. "I do want to continue this conversation, but can I just go and get some set of clothes before that, though and maybe if you want a drink or tea perhaps, then we can talk over that." He hoped Elia would understand. He was already self conscious of himself after the full transformation after all.

If she agreed, then he was going to run to a corner store or something, buy a pair of jeans, some shoes and a shirt, nothing too fancy or difficult as before, just a very casual look with his hair lose over his shoulders, the same as before, and in a few minutes, meet her at a place of her choosing.

Last Edit: Nov 27, 2021 8:18:35 GMT by lowlaville

Seraph
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To All The Beasts Of The Earth Nov 27, 2021 23:41:47 GMT

Post by Seraph on Nov 27, 2021 23:41:47 GMT

"I can't say I've ever seen anything like that happen before," Elia answered, when he asked her about whether stepping in was a common thing for her. "I fight devils, when they come up. But things like... whatever that was, back there - those just don't happen where I'm from." She still wasn't entirely sure what had caused it, to be fair, but it was certainly not something Elia had any experience with. Maybe if she had, she'd have reacted differently - done something more to stop it. She wasn't sure what, though. She supposed that was why God had made sure that Jacob was there as well.

Jacob's next comment brought her back to a stark and embarrassing reality - Elia had been focused on herself not being bothered by Jacob's transformation, but she hadn't thought about how he might feel about it, especially given his ruined clothing. She murmured a quick "Oh, of course," and let him separate to make himself presentable again, arranging to meet up with him at a small coffee shop visible from the alley, chosen because she didn't know where anywhere else was.

Elia took a seat at a table to wait patiently, which gae her some time to puzzle over the offerings of the coffee shop. Coffee in the Divine Appalachian Nation was served either as "black" or "with milk," and the sheer array of... everything... was almost as overwhelming as the city beyond. She refuted the stress of it entirely, deciding instead on simple chamomile. Something to calm her nerves would probably be... very much appreciated, right now.

Her hands cradled the cup when it arrived, feeling the warmth against her skin, and she looked up as Jacob arrived, fully clothed once more, indistinguishable from any worker Elia might have known, in a much quieter place in a much quieter city.

Last Edit: Nov 27, 2021 23:42:01 GMT by Seraph

Seraph Elia Lucia

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To All The Beasts Of The Earth Nov 30, 2021 15:33:12 GMT

Post by lowlaville on Nov 30, 2021 15:33:12 GMT

He looked fairly casual when he walked into the coffee place, and Elia could spot the difference, if she were paying attention. He stopped by the counter and got himself a regular black tea. Her choice of a place was just on the other side of the street from the alley, though. Quite understandable though as she was clearly new to this part of the world. That did rouse curiosity as to where Elia came from but Jacob decided not to press on it, because she'd have to come out with that herself.

Besides, Jacob only met her, he was not nearly desperate enough to actually have that information.

The strong aroma of coffee though, hung well in the air of the shop. It was an addicting smell, one that Jacob felt even more strongly than humans did. He hated it. But perhaps more than most because, for the better half of his life, Jacob had had stuck to a routine, no smoking, no drinking and certainly no meat of any kind, and really anything that might strengthen the animal in him.

"Thank you for waiting." He took the seat opposite from her and sat down the cup on the table. "Sometimes it's a bit frustrating that they don't sell everything at one place." He took a sip from his tea, it had a dark reddish color almost going black. "But I don't have to do spontaneous shopping on the fly either, and honestly, I'm a sucker for simple styles. Aside from the suits I wear for business occasions go around in something like this, nothing too fancy, just casual."

Yeah, he WAS heading towards one of his meetings, after all, before he got caught up in that incident. "Oh god, I've missed the meeting!" He laughed to himself before taking another sip. "That's fine, though."

Seraph
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To All The Beasts Of The Earth Nov 30, 2021 21:32:58 GMT

Post by Seraph on Nov 30, 2021 21:32:58 GMT

Elia gave Jacob a dismissive it's nothing gesture as he thanked her for her patience - the least she could do was wait while he changed into something more comfortable than the tattered rags he had been left with. She noticed that he had opted for tea as well, rather than coffee, and wondered what his opinions were on the overwhelming array of coffees, but wasn't quite sure she wanted to draw attention back to them. She'd found a small table in a corner near the shop window, and determined that the city was much easier on her when viewed from this slight remove. Even the coffee shop was busy, though, with more people going in and out than Elia was used to seeing anywhere but church.

Jacob seemed to be trying to explain his sense of fashion, and Elia listened politely but offered no comment. Fashion out here seemed as variable as anything else, and Elia had no room to comment on any of it. She wore the same armor at all times, unless she was sleeping - and sometimes even then, if she was afield somewhere there might be devils. It was, perhaps, best not to comment on this at all, in light of earlier conversations. Elia sipped tea quietly, and said little, until Jacob's demeanor changed as he recalled a missed engagement.

"Oh, I'm sorry, have I made trouble for y'all? I won't mind if you need to-" He seemed disinclined to leave, however, and so she supposed the meeting must be well and truly missed. Hopefully he could reschedule at some point. "Are you sure it's all right? I'd hope folks would understand, but if they don't know about..." A hesitance, an indirect reference to his gift and the trouble it had caused him. "Well. I hope they'll understand, regardless. Was it something important?"

Seraph Elia Lucia

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To All The Beasts Of The Earth Dec 1, 2021 14:54:30 GMT

Post by lowlaville on Dec 1, 2021 14:54:30 GMT

"Mm. No no it's fine. No need to worry about the meeting. I'll explain it to them later on. As for my friend who I was supposed to go meet today, I'm sure she'd understand." Work was the last thing on his mind right now and Kore could definitely wait until tomorrow. The people he worked for, the bounty board and the law enforcement already knew about his condition and they were more or less accepting of what he was even if they'd never actually met the animal in person. That would altogether be something horrific. She was hesitating, considering his feelings, and that was a gesture he appreciated, especially from someone he's only met that day.

"Would your duty permit you to sit here and have a chat with me?" Jacob wondered, because she looked like someone who wouldn't get out much...or had friends. In a manner of thinking, that was kind of depressing. Of course there was a chance that he was assuming too much about her from the looks.

"I hope you don't mind me asking though...do you have family and friends or were you brought up by your...religion, church or something?" More assumptions made on his part, but he hoped at least something hit home. It would definitely explain her unwavering devotion. In his mind, no matter how much faith someone had, everyone had their wants, preferences and everyone had their sins they hid. But perhaps she was different. That's what he assumed.

Seraph
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To All The Beasts Of The Earth Dec 1, 2021 15:26:08 GMT

Post by Seraph on Dec 1, 2021 15:26:08 GMT

Jacob's inquiry about duty received a rather confused look from Elia. "My duty is to protect and serve. If someone out there were getting attacked by a devil, then no, my duty wouldn't allow me to sit here having a chat with y'all while they got killed." From the way he had reacted to the car earlier, Elia felt like Jacob would probably understand that much, at least. The rest of it was more complicated. If the Church required her, then Elia would serve the Church. That was what she was here for, after all. It was as much her work as any other job one might have chosen.

He inquired about her relations, and Elia considered her answer. "I have... friends." The Seraphim could not have families. They could not.

She's so little though. Elia's eyes fell closed, a memory, tiny hands reaching out from a blanket - not hers to hold. They never would be. They never could be. She was a Seraph. Her duty was to God and the Church. Her eyes reopened, slowly, and she shook her head slightly, an unspoken apology for woolgathering in such a time.

"I was raised in the Church since I was four. I was not alone... nor was I unloved." That brought back the whispered smile, memories of good times. "My life has been a kind one, I think."

Seraph Elia Lucia