IC INBOX ( KENOS ).

[redsoil]

█ To Commune with Set is to stand barefoot in an endless, scorching desert. The sun illuminates all, scalding the shadows themselves out from underneath whomever enters his dominion; the arch of gentle, distant, waves of sand mask the precarious chasms, towering dunes akin to mountains. The sense of vastness, timelessness, is of particular notice, lending itself to the alien, eldritch quality of his mind. There is a dark storm in the distance, and you know intimately that this divine being is far from benign. You cannot bargain with a force of nature. You can only survive it. COMPATIBLE WITH: Exalt, Iconoclast REPELLED BY: Advocate

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[redsoil]

[ Who knows what kind of things he'll come to regret. For now, all he has to do is outpace them! <3

When the wordless request arrives, he directs Makoto to the most open path that is possible to take — the one with the least amount of turns, corners to disappear behind, and the long alleys which will leave him fully on display as he walks through the Last Dance's sprawling alleyway communities and patrons. Not because he seeks to humiliate the young demon, but because he also maintains the neutrality of a location that ultimately is a neutral setting, rife with citizens from both Springstar and Highstorm, and many a Shardbearer as well.

Handing him all the secret connections and dark corners to slide unseen in? Nobody will ever receive such information from another, they will earn it with their own patronage and presence, if they so desire it. The dark, smoky-laden den that Set prefers to spend his time in is draped in dark veils, starry metals sparkling in the dim firelight cast by bronze lantern — the Seven Black Oaths is a lounge that serves as waypoint for secrets, occultic allure and heady, mind-numbing hookah smoke.

And Set, lounging resplendent and barely-clothed as ever ( except, that by his culture's standards — he is! ), awaits his fellow and the surprises that are in store for him. ]

Oh, you come with more than I expected — ! M, what is all this?

[ He presses his hands together in a resounding clap, eyes brightening as he leans forward out of the comfortable sprawl he'd been in. ]

The whole of the alleys are the Last Dance, artist and erudite alike love to come here and comingle their passions to create all sorts of alluring features and showings. Nothing has much permanence, save for a handful of old haunts — like this one! I believe most individuals with restrained mien and secrets come to love it for what it offers them. A grand place to sit back, observe and become anonymous. I could speak for hours on it! Come sit, tell me all about what you have planned!

[affal]

( the path, however straightforward and pedestrian, is accepted graciously — makoto is certainly not one to expect or demand one reveal well-earned secrets without at the very least offering something in exchange for them, and as he would trust that set would similarly not offend him with such a demand, he doesn't make one in turn. as it is, he enjoyed his stroll through the Last Dance's more common route, colorless eyes glinting in the low light like that of a nighttime animal catching in a beam of light. makoto, having always felt estranged from the concept of home, drifts through as he had felt on the streets of tokyo, in the dirty alleyways of the slums of Hell — he feels, by nature, faintly misplaced and transitory, a near-constant tourist even where he should feel that he belongs. it's not always a bad thing. it can offer the faint sense of wonder and appreciation that one can get when a stranger in a strange land, even if he has never truly put down roots in any one place to feel content. peace. belonging.

perhaps if J hadn't thrown him into datenshou's brothel, that might have been different. but Hell is no easy place to survive, and he had decided it a suitable enough crucible to forge his ward into something that could weather it. now, makoto understands his master's decision, even if he still loathes him for it.

if makoto will spend some of his free time in these shadowed, smokey corridors, better learning the landscape and those that frequent it, then that's all to be considered in future. for now, he joins set, setting what he had brought along with him down nearby. )

You'll see soon enough, ( he replies with a feline grin. )

Later, then. I'd love to hear you recount some of the more interesting curiosities you've seen here. ( as for what he's brought... patience, set, patience. ) Before I show you, I wanted to explain to you more about the Hell I come from. For context, you see, so that you might better understand my perspective. Now, my version of Hell is but one of many, ( he's already discussed similarities and differences with sebastian, and he's certain any other demon might claim theirs unique from the two they hailed from as well, ) but it has laws which I quickly had to learn to live by.

The first, and by far the most important, is that it's not physical strength or prowess that defines a powerful and highly-ranked demon. For one to be immaculate in their appearance and demeanor, to have others fear and respect their name, to be utterly unshakable in the face of those who might try to outwit or faze you... that is what defines the royalty of Hell. The perception of their power is their power.

( an image of J flickers through his mind, but he does what he can to dispel it, wanting to focus. )

Though these are little more than taxidermied laws here in Kenos, I thought tonight to offer you the chance to try your hand at learning and applying a different skill set. And you needn't worry about any mistakes, for I will be there with you, every step of the way.

( though this will be his first time in this position, having always been one on another's arm up until this point... how exciting. )