[OPEN] between a rock and a...

[hardrocklife]

Who ⬤ Zelgadis and you!
What ⬤ Catch-all for the month: trying out new jobs, rooftop brooding, whatever else
When ⬤ September
Where ⬤ Various
Content Warnings ⬤ Nothing too noteworthy! Drinking, mostly.

Various prompts will follow. Feel free to contact me at pzue / Journal PM / Discord DM if you'd like a starter!

Comments

[divisors]

...

[He moves to sit down on the roof next to him - not close enough to break his personal bubble or anything, though. He's quiet for a moment.]

Do you think it will take long?

[hardrocklife]

[He doesn't give much of a reaction to suggest whether the company's welcome or not.]

Wasn't exactly given a timeline for my contract. Which probably means that it will be.

Did you get offered a contract, too?

[divisors]

Of course. I think every poor unfortunate soul here got one.

[A flippant sort of gesture.]

A nice stick and carrot, for horses.

[hardrocklife]

Seems that way. It's hard to shake the feeling that we're being manipulated.

[divisors]

It would certainly be an easy way to manipulate others to do your bidding, indefinitely.

[A pause.]

Your reward for your contract. Is it attainable?

[hardrocklife]

[He clenches his fist.]

I have to believe that it is.

Whether Tenkohime's capable of it... that remains to be seen. But when every form of magic and medicine in my world has already failed me, I have no choice but to take a chance on her offer.

[divisors]

...Medicine?

[He raises an eyebrow.]

Are you unwell?

[hardrocklife]

... Not exactly.

[He pulls his scarf down, fully exposing the blue-black stone that makes up his face.]

I'm trying to restore this monstrous body to its original state.

[divisors]

Ohh.

[The cool expression drops for a moment, his look fascinated as he leans in closer, tilting his head.]

What was your original state?

[hardrocklife]

[why you gotta lean in, you weirdo.]

Human.

[divisors]

[WHAT YOUR ROCK STUFF IS COOL he needs to look with his nerd eyes]

Ah. I see. [Makes sense.] How did it happen? A curse?

[hardrocklife]

Not in the conventional sense.

["Curses" are a fairly specific category of magic where he's from.]

A sorcerer approached me with an offer of power, and I foolishly accepted, not knowing what he truly meant. He then used a combination of magic and chimeric science to fuse my body with that of a rock golem and a blow demon.

[divisors]

That's rough.

[IS THAT ALL YOU CAN SAY]

And now you're here, in hell. Seems like a pretty terrible set of circumstances.

[hardrocklife]

[wow, thanks.

... it's fine, he's gotten worse reactions.]

It's almost fitting. No matter what I do, I only fall farther... even into the depths of Hell itself...

[He's back to staring angstily out into the distance. But before he can do that for too long, he considers the other man again.]

... And you? What were you promised?

[divisors]

Yes....your dark journey continues...

[Sorry, he does kind of jive with this dark angsty speak. Just a bit.]

Oh, me? Mm. Its something like..."a possibility made real". But I don't really think they can provide me with that. They're not as smart as me, and that's my life's work.

[hardrocklife]

A possibility...? What does that mean?

[divisors]

Like...a calculation. If you calculate it correctly, something may happen that has never happened before.

[hardrocklife]

"Something" like what?

[divisors]

[He puts a finger to his lips.]

That's a secret, my dear.

[hardrocklife]

[in an instant, his blood pressure just skyrockets. weird.]

Ugh...!

Do you always talk in riddles like that?

[divisors]

Ahaha. It's fun.

[And a little grin.]

But honestly. I gave you a lot. In thanks for you telling me about your predicament.

[hardrocklife]

Right. [He sounds doubtful.]

You got a name?

[divisors]

[He considers it for a moment. Wity his name already revealed on the app, its a bit silly to insist on Ruler, but he has been doing that with most to keep distance. Nothing more than a title.]

[But with this guy...he thinks there's less of a likelihood to be known. His world may not sing the praises of Sherlock Holmes.]

...Moriarty. And you?

[hardrocklife]

[Yeah, there's no hint of recognition on his face. He just answers simply.]

Zelgadis.

[divisors]

Zelgadis. A pleasure.

[:)]

Which clan are you a part of?