Archon's Blood [8/19] Full Accursed Dev

[18:18] Ardith says, "Uh...Hey, sir."
[18:18] Ardith asks, "How's...how's the weather?"
[18:18] Illaron looks up to the sky.
(Illaron)
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[18:18] Illaron asks, "It seems fine to me. Why do you ask?"
[18:18] Ardith asks, "More uh...More rhetorical. Sleepin' a lot?"
[18:18] Illaron says, "Yes, unfortunately."
[18:19] Ardith says, "Been up north. Workin' on some magitech."
[18:19] Ardith says, "'Course, Aurum's shutting down so that's a bust now."
[18:20] Illaron says, "Unfortunate."
[18:20] Illaron says, "Perhaps you can continue here."
[18:20] Ardith says, "That's the hope."
[18:20] Ardith says, "Oh...I can show you what I got from that last expedition."
[18:22] Ardith unlocks the key back into her room- which is still just as messy as it was when she'd left it for work. What she needs right now is a distraction. This fits the bill.

She presents a set of runes to the Archon.

"Found these. Looked like an old research facility we got 'em in."
(Ardith)
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[18:22] {Item} You drop Zod Rune.
[18:23] {Item} You picked up Zod Rune. Dropped by Ardith. .
[18:25] And so he followed..!

Moving through the cramped house had become easier for the Archon after years of ducking and squeezing through doorways. Of course, occasionally his horns got caught on the door frame, but such was the fate of having Horns, a truth Ardith likely knew all too well.

As Ardith takes out the rune and displays it to him, Illaron's eyes light up like a child in a candy store. He leans in, closely examining the designs on the stone.

"Fascinating. You said you found these in an old research facility?" He lightly brushes his hand against the surface of the runes, as if to admire them.

"I can't tell what they mean right away, but these runes are old. Ancient Illyothian old. Impressive, truly."
(Illaron)
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[18:28] Ardith knows all about getting her horns hung up in doorways. A sad, sad truth. She leaps into the distraction readily, also taking out what looks like a tar covered arm.

Because that's pretty much what it is.

"Nyx gave me this too. I'm hoping to use 'em together to...Improve myself."

Illaron will understand what she means. More than anyone else.

"And actually. I was hoping to ask a favor..."
(Ardith)
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[18:29] Ardith says, "Yeah. That's where I found 'em though."
[18:29] Ardith says, "Deep under ground. Was a research facility surrounded by an old village. Must've been where they kept the fodder."
[18:29] Illaron says, "It's likely."
[18:30] Illaron asks, "And what would that favor be?"
[18:30] Ardith says, "I'm gonna need some real fancy ink to do what I want to do."
[18:31] Ardith says, "I can't think of anything that'd be fancier than making it with your blood, if you'd let me take a sample."
[18:31] Illaron asks, "Ink...? Out of my own blood?"
[18:31] Ardith says, "Yep."
[18:34] Illaron simply stares at Ardith for a brief moment, almost taken back by her request. However, he does not deny it. Rather, it's the opposite. His arm raises, and his sleeve is rolled back. It is put forwards, allowing Ardith to gather a sample if she so desired.

"Very well. If it brings an opportunity to further your evolution, then a little bit of blood is hardly a price to pay. Be quick with it." He states rather bluntly.
(Illaron)
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[18:39] That was way easier than expected. And after the shit day she's had, she fully is ready to either be denied or thrown into a wall. Instead the Archon rolls up his sleeve eagerly. As eagerly as a demon of his stature can get, she supposes.

The fact that he's willing to offer it, and the reason, is strangely heartwarming, even if she knows full well he's not capable of attachment in the traditional sense.

...Is that her future too?

Ardith shakes her head and rummages around in the crate behind her, fishing through her medical supplies for a syringe.

"You got it. Won't need a whole lot probably. Just hoooold still," she encourages. The Accursed knows a little something about medicine, thank goodness, so slides the needle into his arm without worries. Hopefully the veins are roughly in the same spot or at least visible enough.

She pulls back the plunger and takes a phial of the Archon's blood. Unless he decides to reel her in and then smack her as some kind of cruel joke.
(Ardith)
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[18:44] There was no emotional attachment, merely a desire to see how far she would evolve. Would she fully cast off her trappings of humanity, and become something more? Or will she succumb to the madness all who dare to grasp for power fall to.

The veins are spotted easily enough. After all, the potent occult infused blood coursed through them, giving his veins a dark purple tinge. He remains unfazed as the needle is drove deep into his arm and fills with his blood. Even Ardith could tell it was far different any normal type of blood. The amount of occultic mana infused within it was far beyond any Daemon or lesser Demon.

The blood of an Archon was potent stuff, after all.

Surprisingly, there is no telekinetic wave to toss her across the room. No backhand that could shatter bones. Just a low growl as the needle pierced the skin. It seems even Demon's weren't fond of them.

The blood pours into the phial without issue, though the potent mana seems to radiate from within the container.
(Illaron)
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[18:49] Whatever road she's headed down, it's dark and, at best, uncertain. Her future is obscured by fog yet she plods onward into the unknown. A daunting prospect that still wracks her mortal heart with anxiety.

Maybe when she's done that will be fixed too. When she embraces these dark whispers fully; to take, to consume, to devour and make hers. In these moments of weakness they gain purchase and footholds in her thoughts.

Madness? Greatness? So much is still undecided, but as she finishes drawing the blood she holds a potent key for both. Ardith holds it up to the light to appreciate it and the potency such a small needle-tipped vial contains.

Endless possibility. It calls to her much like the ring did and still does when it gets its hooks in the Accursed. Whenever she is weak it gains on her by feet instead of inches.

How quickly she will fall now.

"Thank you...I promise, sir. I ain'tgonna disappoint," she says, her mind already elsewhere. Distracted, heeding voices only she can hear and temptations tailored to fit her deepest, darkest desires.
(Ardith)
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[18:51] Illaron says, "See to it that you do not."
[18:52] Illaron lightly rubs his arm where the needle was inserted.
(Illaron)
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[18:52] Illaron asks, "Now, is that all?"
[18:53] Ardith says, "Yeah...yeah. Yessir. That's all."
[18:53] Ardith says, "Should button up this room."