redrighthanded | IC; Duplicity Inbox

I know. I could sense you fighting against it.

[ He'd seen glimpses, the struggle before the haze took him again. Even before Jacob and Gilia had spoken on his behalf, he'd known he was warring against his nature. But the city had its ways of overwhelming them no matter how strong their will.

Even so. His eyes lower at last. He says he's not angry with him, but. He doesn't know all of it, yet. ]

I could have stopped you, I think. But not without hurting you further. I knew what the price would be to end the madness set upon you, and I thought it would be easier to let it run its course where it could do the least harm.

[ Now, he can decide if he's angry with him. ]

[ He is angry, but not at Anduin. The stone of his hand scrapes against the table as he makes a fist capable of crushing one of the bottles on it into powder. He stops short of doing that, though. ]

You shoulda stopped me. [ Lifting his gaze back up, he fixes his attention on the younger man. ] If there's a next time, I want you to do it. If you say you can. I need you to.

[ He was afraid he might say that. Though his expression is grim, there's steely resolve in his eyes when they lift to meet Hellboy's, and he nods once. ]

I understand. I hope it won't come to that, but I'll do what I can. You have my word.

[ That resolve is reassuring in more ways than one. Seeing it, Hellboy feels a little better about believing Anduin about his wanting to help instead of just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. There's a hardness in his gaze that suggests it's not the first time he's had to take the more painful road out of a situation. ]

Good. [ It doesn't feel particularly good, though. Mostly it just makes him feel sick. He sighs and rubs his hand over his face. ] Is that what you wanted to talk about?

One of the things, yes.

[ Relaxing ever so slightly, he nods towards Hellboy's side. ]

I also meant to ask how your wound is progressing. When I tried healing you that night, I feared I might have complicated matters.

[ Hellboy doesn't so much relax as let the weary lines of his shoulders pull him back down. He gives a small shrug. ]

It's all right. Usually I can walk it off. This place has messed with that somehow. [ He tugs a bottle over in front of him, inspects it, then sets it aside. ] What's your magic made from, anyway?

From the Light. It's divine in nature.

[ A faint wrinkle appears in his brow. ]

I didn't want to assume what you were, but...I suspect perhaps something about you runs counter to that.

[ Still looking for a bottle he hasn't emptied, Hellboy gives a wry grunt of amusement, gaze flicking back to Anduin. ]

Yeah, guess that makes sense. My father was a demon. Probably like mixing oil and water. Here, try it again. [ He holds out his left hand, palm up, towards the young king. ]

[ Anduin looks skeptical for a moment, before nodding and extending his own hand. Something in the air stirs, a glimmer dancing around his fingertips, before slipping across Hellboy's palm as delicately as he can manage.

Half-demon or no, he doesn't want to hurt him any further. ]

[ It's a pretty little thing, Anduin's magic, and Hellboy watches with interest as it blooms and reaches for him. When it comes into contact with his palm, however, it feels like a knife slicing across his skin. A thin ribbon of smoke starts up and he hisses, pulling his hand back and shaking it like he's putting out a flame. When he opens it again, there's no injury, and he opens and closes his fingers experimentally, eyebrows raised. ]

Huh. Yeah. Good to know.

I was afraid of that.

[ With a sigh, Anduin draws his hand back, and that strange energy in the air fades. Instead he reaches for something at his side, before drawing out a small bottle and setting it on the table. ]

Herbal ingredients only. This shouldn't have any adverse affect, beyond tasting rather terrible.

[ If the Light can't help, it's hardly the only option he has. ]

[ Hellboy reaches for the little bottle, eyeing it thoughtfully before opening it and giving it a sniff. ]

What kinda herbs? [ He doesn't wait for an answer before tipping it back. If there's a reason why he shouldn't immediately swallow everything given to him, he hasn't found it yet. ]

[ Well that level of trust is reassuring. He thinks. ]

Nothing out of the ordinary. A minor healing potion, the sort I was given to recover.

If the Light managed to hinder your healing in any way, this may help.

[ Either reassuring or stupid. Hellboy sits for a moment to wait and see if it does anything weird, but it mostly just feels warm. Or maybe that's the booze. He looks down at his hand and curls his fingers experimentally. ]

I guess it helps. At least it isn't blowing anything off. I oughta ask you for the recipe.

Oh? Are you an alchemist?

[ His eyes brighten in curiosity, suddenly looking a little less severe than he had moments ago.

After all, he knows little of the man across from him other than what he's learned from Jacob. And the hope is there that out of this mess, something positive might still emerge. ]

[ The expression makes him look younger and isn't unattractive in the least. Hellboy finds himself feeling glad to see it and lifts a shoulder in a shrug as he offers the little bottle back across the table. ]

Call it a professional interest. Though most of the stuff I keep around is because of what it keeps away, not what it heals. Holy relics and things like that. Fought off some guys with just a silver button once, that was pretty interesting.

Really? I knew there were certain creatures that could be kept at bay with silver, but a single button? That's remarkable. Do you suppose it had additional properties that would have enhanced--

[ He trails off after a moment, clearing his throat and straightening slightly where he sits. ]

Ah. I apologize, if I'm asking too many questions.

[ The smile that crooks up the side of Hellboy's mouth is genuine, albeit tired. For a second there Anduin had reminded him of some of the guys he'd worked with, all excited at the chance to work something out.

He waves his stone hand dismissively. ]

Hey, don't apologise. It's weird stuff. The buttons used to belong to a guy who fought off the devil, they had been blessed with some holy power. Pretty sad I lost them, to be honest.

[ He pauses and frowns, starting to rise to his feet. ] Crap, I should have offered you a drink. You want one?

Aha. I thought as much.

[ And he smiles brightly for a moment, satisfied that he'd been correct after all.

When Hellboy moves he wonders if something had perhaps gone amiss, though his reason is quickly made apparent. Another drink? When he's already had so many?

Well. It's not his place to judge. Perhaps he had a higher tolerance than most. ]

Yes, thank you. That's very kind of you.

Sure.

[ Preoccupied, Hellboy doesn't ask him what he wants and heads over to the bar, his hooves heavy on the wooden floor, tail swaying behind him. Getting the drinks requires a little persuasion on his part that he's good for it after already sinking so many, and the fact that Anduin is a Dominant likely swings things in their favour when the bartender rolls his eyes and accepts Hellboy's money as if it's soiled with something.

Hellboy accepts the treatment with no more than a faint tightening of his expression and he doesn't stick around once he's got a bottle of beer in each hand.

He sets one down in front of Anduin, then makes himself comfortable again. He raises his own drink in a brief toast before draining half of it in a single pull. ]

[ Watching Hellboy move towards the bar reminds him again how startling similar he is to those beings from his own home. Half-demon, he'd said, and that should raise so many alarms all on its own. The demons he knew were evil, corrupt beings that did nothing but cause pain and anguish as they went.

Despite his imposing stature, that sense that normally rang out in him at the presence of danger remains silent. Whatever else he might be, he's clearly struggling just the same as any other person here. Perhaps more so, given his status.

When he returns, Anduin tilts the bottle in kind before taking a small swig himself. ]

You said professional courtesy. What profession would that be, if I may ask?

Paranormal investigator. [ Hellboy says it like someone might describe themselves as a lawyer or a farmer, then realises he might have to explain it a bit further. ]

When people get into spooky stuff they can't explain -- ghosts, monsters, vampires, things like that -- I help them out. I used to be part of an agency that took care of it. [ His expression goes a little dark and distant. ] Now I'm mostly.. freelance.

[ The way he says it, the way his eyes sudden lose focus as if seeing something long past, Anduin doesn't need to ask for clarification. Something happened, something terrible, and it does little good to bring it back to the fore simply to satisfy his curiosity. ]

That would certainly explain having a collection of holy relics lying about. But it sounds a very noble cause.

[ Another shallow shrug. ]

Sometimes. Sometimes it's just survival. [ He eyes Anduin thoughtfully, able to give it a bit more care now they're past the most uncomfortable stuff. ] You're -- what? A healer? Medic?

A priest.

[ Among other things, less important in the moment. ]

I understand the word has different connotations elsewhere. In Azeroth, it is someone who channels the Light through faith. A healer, a shield, and a source of guidance to the people.

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