(no subject)

[socrowdedinhere]

 

Ralar: .......He /is/ why I knew I was safe approaching you... *that's as close as he'll come to admitting that his raven is an inriomai* ...I wish I knew for sure, but I have a feeling that it has to do with... well, as you put it earlier, releasing hell. I wasn't appointed city lord here, I asked to be, because a dear friend of mine disappeared, and the clues pointed to this town. ....She's an Overseer. *kind of watching Hellboy to see how much he might know...*

Hellboy: *nods, accepting that as confirmation . . . small frown at the friend disappearing, deepens to a /scowl/ at the last* Then they already have what they need to bring down the Barrier. How long ago did she go missing?

Ralar: About a week before I came here. There weren't many lords interested in becoming city lord of a small town like this, but when Fenway was taken... I volunteers to come here to see if I could find her. I...I fear it's too late for her, but I have to stop the people who took her, even if I can't save her...

Hellboy: A week before...and how long have you been lord now?

Ralar: *voice soft* ...Two months...

Hellboy: *grimaces* Yeah, probably too late . . . but maybe not. The only /known/ way to bring down the Barrier is with an Overseer, from what I've been told by the Overseer in ((CITY)). Obviously, the Barrier's not down yet, so could be there are more steps involved and your friend is being held while they figure that out.

Ralar: Frankly? I hope that's true, if only because it scares me to think such horrors would be so... easy to release.

Hellboy: From what I understand, getting a hold of an Overseer is not easy at all, for exactly this reason. But... *nods* What do you know about that guy Barrett mentioned? The one you don't like.

Ralar: ....I know Szeth is extremely uncomfortable around him. *as is his other inrie, but while he trusts that Hellboy is not an enemy he's long trained himself not to speak of his inrie, so he doesn't even consider doing so now.* My raven. *to clarify who Szeth is* 

Hellboy: *nods* Has he told you why? What he's seen or what he senses?

Ralar: They way he looks at people?  The way he talks? Inriomai have a good sense about people and whether or not they are good. Most people, even if not recognized by an inriomai, don’t bother them, but Straff? He unsettles mine, and that worries me. He’s very guarded about the people allowed on his grounds. He doesn’t take well to be questioned or challenged. He becomes cold and... verbally vicious if he feels you’ve said something to dishonor him. I don’t know, he’s... /too/ defensive of his “honor”, as though he has to defend it lest people realize he has none.

 

Comments

[socrowdedinhere]

Ralar: *can't help glancing at the stine hand now and then, he already knows Hellboy isn’t amin, so...* Would it be rude of me to ask what you are?

[neverasked4this]

*Not from this close, no. A goat-type wouldn't have such a simian face. A monkey/gorilla-type wouldn't have cloven hooves or the bases of massive horns on his forehead. And that's to say nothing of the softly-glowing, yellow eyes.*
Hellboy: *glances down, grimaces a bit as he realizes he's let his hand get visible...the rueful grin on his face is genuine as he looks back up at Ralar* Not at all, though the most truthful answer is - I have no idea for sure. Best I've been able to learn seems to be half-demon, half-human. I wasn't born, I was summoned from what I've been told. I don't remember it. Again...just a baby. But thankfully for me and everyone else, I didn't arrive where the asshole who summoned me expected I would. *shrugs* I've been told time and time again by all kinds of people and creatures what I'm supposed to be, but I say to hell with that. I make my own destiny. If I decide to help people and be one of the good guys, that's my own goddamned business. *not saying as much as if to argue with Ralar before he can even bring it up, just that it's an argument he's presented so damned many times that it just comes out on its own now*

[socrowdedinhere]

Ralar: *half-/demon/?! And yet... he could be chosen by an Inriomai, he has a good heart.* You were summoned here? Another group trying to being down the barrier, or...? *confused and assuming Hell oy was raised in this world...*

[neverasked4this]

Hellboy: *realizes and barks another short laugh, shaking his head and waving his (stone) hand* No, no, nothing like that. Though the answer might just break your brain a little more. I wasn't summoned to this world, though I did get pulled here two days ago by a creature that sensed the trouble and went looking for someone who could help. Funny thing . . . that someone's actually Detective Barrett. I got pulled along for the ride because we'd just finished a joint case and were heading to get dinner when the creature pulled him here. Barrett and I are actually from another world entirely. I was summoned by agents of a military regime that had taken over its own country and was trying by any means necessary to take over the rest of the world. They were known as the Nazis, and that was over seventy years ago now.

[socrowdedinhere]

Ralar: *takes all of that in. There’s a clear look of surprise at first and then he’s just processing...* Well...who or whatever brought you both here, I am glad for the help. Darnell...he seems like a good man. *even if he is afraid of Szeth and no longer trusts Ralar because of the bird.*

[neverasked4this]

Hellboy: He is. And don't worry, he'll come around sooner or later about you and Szeth. Probably sooner, knowing him. He's almost too good for his /own/ good sometimes. *looks towards the gate* Speaking of Barrett, he should have caught up by now . . . unless he went looking for Terris. *looks at Ralar* Tell you what, I'll stay here and keep an eye out for him. Why don't you go inside and put together a letter of what we know so far? Give it to a courier you trust and have him run it to Lady Rei at the church in ((CITY)). She's aware of our presence and needs to know that another Overseer is already involved in things.

[socrowdedinhere]

Ralar: *nods and stands.* I will return shortly, then. Is there anything I can have sent to you? Food or drink?

[neverasked4this]

Hellboy: *lopsided grin* A big tankard of beer sounds really good right now, if you've got it. Or ale or mead or whatever you people drink here.

[socrowdedinhere]

Ralar: *smiles and nods* I’ll have something sent out. *he’ll leave*
J’har: *a little bit later a girl comes out with a large mug of ale in one hand and a pitcher of it in the other. She approaches Hellboy, mildly nervouse and infinately curious. Her master “warned” of the odd appearance and assured her the big guy wouldn’t hurt her.*

[neverasked4this]

Hellboy: *has settled on a stone seat, half watching the gate and half just enjoying the garden, gives the girl an engaging grin* Hey there. Don't worry - I only /look/ mean and ugly. I'm really just ugly.

[socrowdedinhere]

J’har: *soft snicker and steps up to set the mug and pitcher on the bench beside him.* I don’t think you’re ugly.

[neverasked4this]

Hellboy: *grin softens a bit* Thanks. *offers his left hand, the right concealed once more* Call me Red. You?

[socrowdedinhere]

J’har: *oh, uh, wait, sorry, offering her left hand is a bit awkward, and she’ll shift their grip from handshake to more of a clasp.* Lyra. Pleased to meet you, Red. *she’s blushing softly now with how awkward that moment was, but she’s getting over it.*

[neverasked4this]

Hellboy: *brow goes up a bit at the shifting of their hands, but okay…when in Rome…* Lyra. Pleasure's mine. And sorry about the hand thing, but . . . well . . . *shifts his right hand out from inside the cloak* - figured this one would have been /more/ awkward.

[socrowdedinhere]

Lyra: *brows go up* Whoa. Looks like rock! Isn’t that heavy to wear? *wait, that’s—* Wait, is that your arm? *she looks maybe 15, so if Hellboy recalls what Terris said about j’har, the girl is probably only 10...*

[neverasked4this]

Hellboy: *grins, marveling at physical/developmental age difference* Yup, it's my arm. *goes ahead and shrugs the rest of his arm free, holding up the hand and opening and closing the fist* It's heavy, but I'm a pretty strong guy, and I'm used to it. It came into this world with the rest of me.

[socrowdedinhere]

Lyra: *starts to reach for his hand, fascinated, but will pull her hand back when she realizes what she’s doing and how rude that is.* Wow.

[neverasked4this]

Hellboy: *shifts his hand closer, an invitation* It's okay. I don't bite.

[socrowdedinhere]

Lyra: *presses her palm to his, then slides hwr hand along his hand and wrist.* Is it really stone? Can you feel with it?

[neverasked4this]

Hellboy: *shrugs* I feel pressure. I know /something's/ there. It's like if your arm goes to sleep, really deeply asleep. As the blood /just/ starts to come back but before the pins and needles pain starts in, you can kind of feel pressure, you can feel /something/, but it's not like when your hand's normal. That make sense? *it's hard to describe - he /does/ have more sensation than that, but that's the closest he's been able to convey it to others* Advantage is, I don't feel pain. Mostly, it's just good for pounding monsters and punching holes in walls if I need to.

[socrowdedinhere]

Lyra: Monsters? *he fights monsters?*

[neverasked4this]

Hellboy: *a beat, then small, crooked grin* Don’t worry about it, kid. Forget I said that.

[socrowdedinhere]

Lyra: *chuckles softly* I can’t forget something like that.
Amun: Lyra. *calling for her*
Lyra: *soft huff and calls back even as she stands.* Coming! It was nice meeting you, Red.
Ari: *slips over to sit by Hellboy*
*Darnell is just arriving too.*

[neverasked4this]

Hellboy: Nice meeting you too, Lyra. See ya! *eyes Ari - he came from a direction other than the gate, what's he been up to - but won't say anything till he's sure Lyra is out of earshot…and by then, Darnell's approaching* Any sign of Terris?
Darnell: *frowning* None I could find. I'm worried. *to Ari* You find anything?