The Forgotten Zodiac

((That works, though it implies multiple generations. Which I'm good with, but it is an implication.))

Lowell slid himself out of the carriage and turned around. He reached back inside and lifted his Siren friend gently until she was in the outside air. "Where to, then?" He carefully supported her leg so he wouldn't stress the fracture. Once Alexander exited the back of the carriage, Dagan nudged both doors shut with his knees, talking softly to the animals inside the whole time.
Alexander stood to let Dagan through then led the way into the castle. "You'll be in two of the guest rooms for now, if that'll suit you. There are some on the first floor, so Virellis won't have to manage the stairs."

((Well, I figured that part of Alexander's plight is his missing father. Who is not dead. So already we have two generations, between the missing father and Alexander. So.))

"That's--...that's kind of you," Vi winced terribly. "And what of our animal friends? Whe-where will they be sta-staying...?" She trailed off as a horse rode up the street towards them, a white-cloaked figure astride it. He stopped his horse nearby and hurried towards them.

"Good evening. Or perhaps morning. I don't know, it's still dark." He spluttered a bit, clearly groggy, but awake enough to see the issues. "Ah. I'm Doctor Monet. Moria called on me. And you are...?" He held a hand out to Vi. His voice was shaky as though he was nervous, though he looked completely calm. He seemed a tad jumpy, though, and talked very quickly.

She blinked. "Virellis. You...can call me Vi." She shook his hand hesitantly.

"Wonderful to meet you. Get her inside, sir," He nodded at Dagan. "Now, um, Alexander...while I can assure you of patient-doctor confidentiality as I always have, I must say, I've never worked on a...uh...Siren. With a broken bone. Do you know what happens when a Siren screams? This will be...tricky. Sir," He caught up with Dagan. "I'm assuming you're her caretaker?"

"Hmph! I'm not an animal," Vi tutted.

"Never said you were, miss. But judging from your appearance, I'd say you're around six years old in Siren age."

"Seven!" She replied hotly.

"Quite. Therefore, if I were to legally treat you, I require a signature from an adult, stating that they take responsibility for you, present and future. It's all tricky legal stuff, miss. I don't make the rules, I just take the signatures and do what I must to make my patients healthy. Now then, sir," He turned his attention back to Dagan as they walked. "As well as your signature, I need your permission to sedate her as I work. I don't want anyone being knocked unconscious by any scream that could potentially occur when I set the bone and cast it."

((Oh. Is he missing? I thought he was alive, but then you killed him off. Then I thought he was dead. But now you're saying he's alive. So we could rescue him at some point.))

Dagan turned and entered the building; Virellis would be treated in her new bedroom, he assumed. "I can sign for you to treat her, but I'm not letting you sedate her without her permission." He looked down at Vi, deliberately meeting her eyes. "Vi? We could try to use something else, instead. I certainly won't force you." Once they reached the room and Alexander opened the door for him, Lowell stepped in and laid the Siren on the bed, before crossing the room to sit next to her on the bed, in case she felt the desire to squeeze all the blood out of his fingers.
Alexander, after situating Vi and Dagan, took his leave from the room. He left the doctor with intructions to do whatever he felt necessary for the noble's employees. "I'll move the carriage toward the stables; I think there's an extra stable; but I'll leave your charges inside for now, if that's okay."

((We could. People think he's dead, but Alexander doesn't agree with popular opinion, as exampled numerous times already.))

Vi blinked at Dagan, then shook her head. "I don't want to run the risk of hurting anyone," She sighed. "It's fine. I'll need sleep one way or another, and...at least this way I won't remember feeling any pain." She smiled slightly. "Sedation is okay. And yes, thank you, Alexander..."

"Very good." Doctor Monet reached into his bag and pulled out a clipboard with the papers already prepared. He held a ballpoint pen out to Dagan. "Sign at the bottom, please. First paper and the third. Don't think anything of the pen; I don't affiliate myself with anyone. Pens are more portable than quills, and easier to manage than self-inking quills. Just so you know." He gently set his hands on either side of Vi's leg, feeling where the bones were and where they should be.

Tricky, indeed.

"Alexander. There you are." Morgan was waiting for the boy noble just inside. He still looked very run-down, but at least he wasn't covered in blood anymore. His left hand was back in his pocket, though he held his other arm in a sling position, attempting to keep it from being hurt any more until Monet was done with Vi. "I neglected to ask, are you injured? You didn't look like it, but even I can hide a wound when I need to..."

((Who has the dad?))

Dagan took the pen from the doctor and signed easily, smiling slightly at the doctor's explanation of the pen. "I don't really care either way, so long as you don't have anything against us personly." Once he'd signed, he handed the papers back to Monet and glanced over at Virellis. "How're you sedating her?"

Alexander shook his head curtly and looked over Morgan, gaze catching on Morgan's left arm. "I'm fine. You did your job excellently." He paused briefly before continuing, though his guard was intelligent enough to know what was coming next. "I will need an explanation for your left arm. While I'm sure I won't have any problem with it, it is important for me to know exactly who I'm giving sanction to."

((I dunno. Monet is not a permanant character, just so you know.))

"Simple injection," Monet pulled a small case from his bag and opened it, revealing a needle. "I can give you the serum to wake her up, too. And before you show concern, I'm a licensed doctor with zero death counts on my head. I'm very careful with who I treat. If I thought I would be unable to do it, I wouldn't have come here." The actual injection was swifter than Virellis could notice, just a quick prick to the wrist. She was drowsy in seconds and asleep in ten, barely even breathing. "Just help me secure the setting, yes? I'm going to have to pull the bone back in place so it'll heal properly..." He moved down to her foot, inspecting her leg for a moment more before standing up again and rummaging through his bag more. "Here we are." He drew long wooden planks from his bag, which wasn't nearly large enough to accomidate such things.

Magic, of course. Monet set the planks on either side of Virellis' leg, but they weren't strapped on tight just yet. "Right. When I give the order, you're to hold those against her leg so I can secure it. Alright?"

((-coughcoughTimeLordTechnologycough-))

Morgan watched Alexander for a long moment, then sighed. "Alright. Come to the washroom with me. Don't ask questions yet, just come on." He led the way to the nearest washroom, where a large mirror stood in the corner. Morgan positioned Alexander in front of himself.

"Whatever you do, don't look directly at my hand. What I'm about to show you...has been the death of many. You can't look at it directly, do you understand? Watch the mirror and the mirror alone." When Morgan was sure that Alexander wouldn't be an idiot about this, he withdrew his hand from his pocket. Once again, the illusions broke and the gnarled nature of his hand and arm revealed itself. Black. Twisted. Ugly. Morgan raised his palm and faced it towards the mirror.

The eye on his palm opened and looked around, fixing its gaze on Alexander. Glowering. Furious.

((That's fine; he's more boring than your usual keepers.
TARDIS BAG I WANT ONE PLEASE?))

"Right." Dagan, mostly unfazed by Monet's never-ending sources of innovation, hurried to do as he was instructed. He rested his hands on the boards and prepared to tighten them against her leg on the doctor's order. "What're we waiting for?"

Alexander, to his credit, kept his mouth shut to the washroom, despite how ridiculous Morgan's request sounded. He nodded his way through Morgan's instructions, eyes closed as he briefly rehearsed them in his head. Before Morgan removed his hand from his pocket, he had already fixed his eyes on the mirror. When the young nobleman saw the eye in Morgan's palm, meeting its gaze through the looking glass, his posture tensed, and his breath hitched audibly. "Morgan. What the hell is that?"

((Yuss.

I DUNNO. IF ALEXANDER WANTED ONE, IT WOULD BE EASY TO BUY ONE. IT'S LIKE COMMON MERCHANDISE.))

"You to be ready." Monet tutted. He placed one hand against Vi's thigh and braced himself. He gave a sharp tug and snapped, "Now, do it now!" Over Virellis' loud, unconscious moan of pain. At least she wasn't screaming in her sleep. That would not be good.

Morgan sighed through his nose. "It's my hand, Alexander. You've probably never even heard of such things as these before, but...well, let's start from the beginning. When I was a boy no older than you, I came home one day to find my entire family...suffering. Not quite dead, not quite alive. In such a state that they couldn't die just yet, but they could never be fixed. They survived, yes, but they suffered so very much. I tended to each and every one of them for three years. My mother, father, and two siblings. I...will spare you the details. The point is...I wanted their suffering to stop. I wanted them to be free...and something came to me and offered me what I could not refuse.

"Not only would I be able to end their pain in a way that wouldn't cause more pain, but I would be able to seek out and kill the ones who did such things to them. Strength. Courage. Alexander, I made a deal with a demon for courage and strength. I was foolish...so very foolish. In return for the gifts of courage and strength, the demon...placed part of himself in my arm. His eye. It poisoned my entire arm and will eventually destroy the rest of me. But his eye, this eye that I own now...it can devour souls in mere seconds. Sometimes it doesn't work. It can't eat the souls of young children or the pure-hearted, or those guarded by things I can't ever understand. But...most of the time, all it takes is mere eye contact. In return for the souls it devours, it gives me more time to live. Already, I expect to live for...oh, two hundred years or so. But at the same time, I fear that it will turn me into the very thing that did this to me in the first place."

Morgan pocketed his hand again and murmured a few spells, turning his arm back to normal looking with well-placed illusion spells. He said nothing more, deciding to let the information already given soak in.

((NONO, I WANT ONE. FOR ME.))

"Shhh," Dagan tightened the boards against the Siren's leg as instructed by the doctor. Once the doctor had strapped them down, he released the boards and reached up to brush the hair off Vi's face. "How soon does should I wake her up? Or, do we just leave her in the drug wears off?" He dropped his hand from his friend's forehead, watchign the doctor from his response.
Alexander nodded slowly, still looking away from Morgan's arm carefully. "I... see. Thank you for telling me." He turned and exited the washroom, propping the door open with his foot so Morgan could get out as well. "You'll really live that long?" He frowned slightly, then nodded; and, when he spoke, it showed how completely he was focused on the wrong thing. "Can I renegotiate your contract? If you're going to live that long, I may as well hire you for my kids. I'm technically engaged, so you have somewhat of a guarantee. And, if I don't have any, I'll have paid you in advance anyway."

Monet continued to work on fastening the boards, casting the leg before saying anything else. It was a simple procedure, but he had to do it to last. "Wait for the drug to wear off. She'll need help eating and drinking for a week, until she can sit up without pain. I can send you some crutches in a couple of weeks, but she could require walking aid for the rest of her life. I'm not certain how well Siren bones heal..."

Morgan blinked at Alexander, then laughed. "You know, I've only ever shown one other person my hand before. And she...well, she didn't like it. She wouldn't stop crying," He chortled, shaking his head. "Sure, Alexander. If I don't die by other means - I can still be poisoned or killed in battle, you know - I'll gladly take up the position of guarding your kids."

((PLOT-HOLE ELIMINATION MATH TIME! Okay, Alexander is how old? 16?

If Alexander is 16 now and Morgan was 16 at the time, allocating for at least a ten-year time difference, that makes Morgan around 26 present. Alexander and Cousin (Morgan's) were both around 6 at the time of the tradegy of Morgan's family. Considering that Morgan hid it for three years...-drawing conclusions from previous character statements-

Okay. Morgan was 13 when Finnigan Sr. struck his family. Alexander and Cousin were both 3. Morgan hid the mess from everyone, including extended family, and took care of his father, mother and two siblings himself. Cousin probably found out about aunt/uncle/siblings when Morgan showed her his hand. She was six-seven at the time, and Morgan was 15-16. Fast forward 8 years, Alexander was 14 when his father went missing. (Morgan joins the Vatican at age 19, 3-4 years after killing his family). 2 more years forward, and he meets Morgan. Ages 16 and 25-27, respectively.

If Xanders is NOT 16 and is, in fact, 12 or so...that throws monkey wrenches in my ideas of Morgan, because his age would have to reel back at the same rate as Xander's. Instead of 25-27, he'd be 21-23. Which may not seem too major, but it's important, because of the Vatican. Which is more likely to be accepted into their ranks, a 19 year old with a demon pact, or a 15 year old with a demon pact?

(And yes, this is very important. If I can't sketch out a clear timeline of the past occurences and have everything make sense, I either throw a fit or give up on trying to make things a legitimate story.)))

((Alexander is 16, at least. He can be 17 if you prefer, but he is definitely 16. I have some ideas about Finnigan, Sr., Alexander, Morgan, and how to save Morgan from the demon slowly eating his soul. The procede as follows (I'm just typing the notes on my phone):
Finnigan, Sr., shows down with Morgan. he has the demon arm of illusion/soul ensnarement. After Morgan kills him, the demon shows up. The demon is annoyed that Morgan killed Finnigan, Sr., and wants to kill him. Then, at least, he will have both of his arms and can find two, more helpful minions to take his flesh. Alexander, immune to the demon's magic because he was born under/through it, steps forward to prevent the demon from killing Morgan. Demons are obliged (by magicalness) to fulfill contractual obligations, and Morgan has a contract with Alexander extending through Alexander's great-grandchild. The demon can do nothing to that would interfere with that contract. The demon takes his arm back but makes Morgan immortal.
I'm sure I left plot holes in there because these are just my cliffnotes, but anyway.))

"Thank you. Alexander knows where you are, if any further service is required." Dagan accompanied Monet to the door of Vi's room, though the doctor likely knew the palace better than Lowell did. "Thank you for all your assistance; it's much appreciated."
"No dying, then." Alexander reached the outside of the building and moved toward the place Morgan had been staying by before they'd gone inside. He wanted to be visible for the doctor, when Monet was done with Virellis. "It'd be extremely inconvenient anyway. I'll just count on you not to get poisoned or stabbed."

((SIXTEEN IT IS.

My issue is that it doesn't have to be the entire arm again. It could just be a third eye on his forehead, or not even an eye at all. Like a gaping, ugly mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth on his chest...I'm saying it would be unusual for a demon to give up both his eyes.

For that matter, a demon wouldn't have to give up anything in order to put something like that on someone. It could just conjure things and put them on people. Secondly, this whole contract thing would have to be elaborated on; Morgan would not want to look through a stack of paperwork for any reason. He would not thoroughly read or discuss the terms of any 'contract' because that stuff is boring.

Third, If the demon can do nothing to interefere with a contract, then he can't just break off the one between him and Morgan. That would be interference.))

"Of course. Feel free to call again," Monet nodded, smiling again. "But...do try to stay intact, yes?" He chortled before moving off to find Morgan and Alexander.

"I suppose so. Just understand the risks of having me as a charge. Especially since you know...there are some that would condemn me for such practices. Some who would hunt me down and attempt to either kill me or cut off my arm due to its demonic presence. I doubt anything much will happen unless I draw attention to myself, but it's still a possibility--" Morgan stopped talking as the doctor emerged from the palace.

"Ah! There you two are. Come here, Morgan, you're injured too." Monet pulled a roll of bandages from his bag.

"I already took care of it, doc." Morgan shook his head. "I'll be fine."

"Are you certain? You were practically covered in blood when I first got here..."

"I'm sure. I'll be okay. A little arrow won't stop me, honestly." Morgan chuckled. "Just get your pay and scurry on home."

"Hm. Very well then. I fixed the Siren. Good as new. I'll be sending complimentary crutches in a couple weeks, but she's not to try to get up and walk before they arrive. She may require the aid of a cane after the leg is healed. Possibly for the remainder of her life, but...well, I did what I could."

((The contract is broken, officially, upon the death of Morgan. Also, didn't Morgan do this to find the people who mauled his family? Now that he's found them, the contract could be suspended. Like a Djinn, he has to obey the exact wording, not the meaning.
The Morgan/Demon contract would be verbal. The Morgan/Alexander contract would probably also be verbal. Alexander is just reaching to try to keep Morgan alive. I'm really just trying to rid Morgan of having his soul eaten, without cutting his lifespan, which I think would be interesting later on.))

Before Alexander could reply to Morgan, Monet arrived. Since it was hardly a subject to discuss in front of the doctor, the noble let his reply stay silent until later. "Thank you, doctor. It's much appreciated." He glanced Morgan over again, but shrugged. If his guard wanted to refuse medical attention, that was his business. "I'll have your payment delivered in the usual manner. Thank you for your assistance."

((Yes, but shouldn't it be illegal to intentionally attempt to murder Morgan?

Even more interesting is the fact that Morgan's overconfidence and strength will take a serious blow. That was part of the contract. Morgan will be like any other person. Plus a snide attitude and lack of manners.))

"You're welcome, of course. Feel free to call if anything gets infected, Morgan. Self-treatment isn't always the most reliable of things..." Monet tutted, walking back to his horse. By now, there was enough light for him to easily climb into the saddle and ride off into the sunrise.

Morgan watched him go, then let out a sigh. He didn't really have much else to say; he turned and walked back inside, deciding that getting some breakfast would be a suitable decision.

((Legal doesn't matter. Contractual does. The demon hasn't agreed to any form of contract that requires him to obey the law.
Plus immortality. Plus extreme magical power. Plus anything else you want to work in. Plus also, if you want him to be more special, the demon could just talk Alexander through doing it. Because Alexander is half-demon. And I have no idea what that means about him.))

Alexander nodded at Morgan as they reentered the building, but took a different turn quite quickly. "I don't have any appointments today, so I'm going to go get some sleep. If anyone important needs me, you know where I am." With that he headed straight off toward his room, with every intent of sleeping for the rest of the day.

((Old laws. There should be some form of law set that demons are bound by.

Half-demon Alexander. So the full demon can't kill Morgan because Morgan is a verbally-bound contractor for Morgan. To protect him and his kin. The full-demon can still beat Morgan up, but the killing blow would be magically blocked and unsuccessful. THAT would be interesting.))

"Sweet dreams," Morgan waved slightly, knowing full well that the rest of the morning would be slow and very wearying.

"Delivery," No less than two weeks later, the usual mail courier stopped by Alexander's room. He, as usual, said nothing and kept his eyes low, merely setting down the tall package by Alexander's door and hurrying off. Morgan's voice called out to him from the other end of the hall, and he nearly started running--only to walk straight into Morgan himself, who had thrown his voice intentionally.

"Hold on now. You forgot your tip," He said with amusement in his eyes.

"Y'darn magic-man, always scarin' the livin' daylights outta me!" The courier yelled at him. "I 'ought to teach you a bit of respect, young man!" He hit Morgan's arm with a long box, which Morgan deduced held a cane or pole of some kind. Judging from the rattling.

Morgan just laughed, shoving a silver piece into the man's hand. "See you later, Tobias."

"That's SIR Tobias to you!" He snapped, shuffling off. Morgan, in the meantime, inspected the package and its contents carefully before opening the door to Alexander's room.

"It appears the crutches for miss Virellis have arrived," Morgan smiled, stepping inside without much thought. If he was interrupting something, so be it. "Shall I deliver them myself, or did you want to come along?"

((Yes. The probably mean no killing Morgan while he has your flesh, since the demon would take that first.
Alexander is part of the demon's flesh (sort of his kid). So, a contract with him is binding for the demon.))

"Thank you, Sir Tobias!" Alexander called after him. He glared back at Morgan, as he always did after his guard teased the courier. "When he has a heart attack, I will expect you to find me another messenger. Another, trustworthy messenger." He stepped out into the hallway and started toward Virellis' room. "I'll come. I'm paying fo rit, so I deserve some fun, right?"

((Waitwhat. What is this? WHAT IS THIIIIIIIISSS?

EXPLAIN

EXPLAIN

EXPLAIN

(in other words, I'm very confused at this point and you should break it down for me like I broke down the timeline.)))

Morgan grinned. "Sir Tobias is younger than he lets on. I doubt a heart attack would get him. Not for a few long years yet. I only startle him so often to keep him on his toes. Being a courier for Nobles is a risky job. If he were to be jumped, he'd be well capable of getting away. But only because I pretend to do it so often. He has a reflex for it now." He knew his mock logic was flawed. The spellbound guardian only liked to have fun where he could.

"Delivery!" He announced as they arrived at Virellis and Dagan's room. "For the...eh..." Morgan squinted at the label in mock reading. "Lovely, swooning miss Virellis. May Morgan find you as attractive as I did."

"...swooning? Honestly, Morgan. If you're going to make fun of me, at least use some tact." Vi rolled her eyes, sitting up in bed. "Are those the crutches? Gimmie, I gotta get out of this stupid bed!"

"Absolutely not! You mocked my...mocking. Apologize," Morgan demanded.

"What on earth has gotten into you today? You're not normally so childish!"

"I found something important last night." Morgan shrugged.

Virellis glared at him, but he wasn't lying. But he certainly didn't seem intent on telling what that something was. Instead, she threw a little honey over her voice, dropping her soothing magic into it. "Morgan, please give me the package. You know I need it," She tempted, staring at him with her soft eyes. But he just blinked right back at her, with a look that said, 'nice try, but that trick doesn't work on me twice.'

((Magic rule says 'no suicide' or something. Killing Morgan when Morgan is part you would be suicide. So no killing Morgan when he has a demon arm. But, if he had no arm, he could not fulfill his contract with Alexander. Who is demon spawn. So, if Morgan has a contract with Alexander, the demon can't break it, because Alexander's dad was possessed by the demon when Alexander was conceived. Make sense?))

Luckily for her, Dagan came in just behind Moran. With surprising skill, considering his honesty and uprightness, he slammed into the guard, apologized fervently, and walked away... With the box mostly in his possession. "Wouldn't finding something important make you nicer, not nastier? Vi, you'll need to visit Brutis soon. He's threatening to come visit you, and I don't really want to deal with that."

((Yes. I get it now. Thank you. xD

Yeah, that makes enough sense to work with. It'll probably be changed by the time we get there, but you know. This is a good start.

Also, he found something 'important'. That would be the caretaker for Isabella. o3o))

"Nasty? Me?" Morgan laughed. "You don't want to see me in a bad mood, definitely not."

"He's such a child," Vi rolled her eyes, prying open the box. She quickly pulled out the crutches, using them to get to her bag. She pulled out her makeup and quickly applied it, looking more human-like with it on. "Come on then, Dagan, I want to go see the city," She said as she pulled on a simple summer dress over her nightgown. "We may as well get away from Morgan while we've got the chance."

Morgan just grinned at them all the more.