The Storm after the Calm [Bounty, DP, Rafael]

[Ambrose Grail]

Thread Title: The Storm after the Calm
Participants: Ambrose Grail, Rafael
World: Soul Society
Death Setting: Damage Permanent
Rating: R
Location: Deep in the Wilderness
Special Conditions: 2x TP due to Christmas Event.
Circumstances: Summoned and deployed by a demonic akki, Ambrose is employed to hunt a beast.

[Ambrose Grail]

Ambrose had been at it all night. There was no telling how much time he had left until the great doors would open and summon him again, so he had to make the best of the time he'd been given to complete his objective. That didn't mean he could afford to be sloppy, though. Keeping himself going without sleep was a minor feat of strength of will. He wasn't skilled in stealth or stalking. Ironically, that was more likely going to be the forte of his target, but there was nothing that could be done about that circumstance. His footsteps through the dense forest's underbrush could be heard from several feet away, so he made no effort to conceal himself, anyway. Odds were, Rafael knew he was on his way in the first place.

The sinner recalled how he'd gotten this far: his dinner, the summons, his arrival and the short journey to make it this far. Something really terrible must have happened in Soul Society, as his welcome was still far from the sunshine and roses one might expect from a peaceful afterlife. Maybe it wasn't so peaceful, though. What would he know? He had been condemned. All these circumstances swirling together made him consider the Sanctus offer. If he could be summoned and employed by the akki nearly at will, was there really any point remaining outside their organization?

His dinner had been a repast fit for a king. In reality, Ambrose had just been testing a few of his creations that had been made to work together, trying them in practice to be sure that he hadn't accidentally cancelled two effects by using the wrong ingredients. He'd known that to happen in the past. Unfortunately, the power he gained from consuming all three menu items at once had somehow made him a target for one of the Sanctus recruiters. Ethereal pen in hand, Ambrose signed in blood-red ink, binding the akki to his promise of giving the sinner no further summons and no special punishments if he only completed this one hunt. Ambrose would relinquish his share of any money he earned as a bonus. He didn't intend on taking any money for this one. Something about the phrasing of "his share" made him feel like zero was the best number.

It was no stroke of mere luck that Ambrose had happened upon Rafael's footprints by which to track him. All creatures had a unique spiritual signature that could be tracked with focus, and powerful creatures were moreso vulnerable to this tracking than the weak. Rafael was no mean creature, so his signature threads stood out against the background of lessers when Ambrose had ample time to hone his spiritual senses and focus. It was only a few hours of tracking him by signature before Ambrose came upon footprints. Whether this meant he felt he was safe to leave them or was deliberately baiting the sinner to find him, only time would tell.

The vegetation began to grow more dense with time, and the night began to turn to day. The tension was growing with each passing moment. He hoped Rafael had had a good night's rest. It would be a shame to face his quarry with either of the two of them at anything less than their best. It wouldn't be a matter of luck, either. Rafael had earned his spot on the bounty board, not merely stumbled his way into it, after all. Ambrose wondered whether the impending encounter was one he was prepared for, or if this moment of calm portended disaster.


Out of Hell posts: 1/100

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and Skills}Physical Strength: 150 (250) (687)
Speed: 100 (200) (550)
Reiatsu Strength: 100
Spiritual Pressure: 400 (500) (1000)
Light Aura: 50
Dark Aura: 50
Instinct: 400
Senses: 150
Energy Sensory: 100
Healing Expertise: 0

Mental
Strength of Will: 2

Battle
Martial Arts (Pugilism): 2
Pain Tolerance: 2
Bleeding Tolerance: 2
Battle Focus: 2
Battle Analysis: 1

Other
Culinary Arts: 4

SPOILER: Click to show

{Items Consumed and Brought With}
Snack Satchel
Coconut Strawberry Cheesecake Bites (6)
Espresso Bean Cheesecake Bites (3)

Opus of Enki, Preserver of Life
Zenith of Amun-Ra, Flight of the Mandjet
Heart of Yin, the Winter Eclipse

SPOILER: Click to show

{Item Descriptions}Name: Soul-synthesized Leather Snack Satchel
Description: A durable leather bag keyed to a specific individual's reiatsu signature. Steeping the spirit snacks in the bag allows for them to be chewed and swallowed more quickly than normal.
Class: 2
Item Type: Utility
Item Power (IP): 800
Offense Type: None
Durability: x2.5 Item Power
Bonuses: A snack satchel is keyed to its owner's reiatsu signature. Only its owner can withdraw spirit snacks from the satchel, all others are denied. A snack satchel can hold up to 50 spirit snacks. While withdrawing a spirit snack from the satchel, its owner can pay 250 reiatsu to consume a spirit snack during a combat post.
Drawbacks: Ryo cost. If the satchel is destroyed, all the spirit snacks it contains are also lost.
Cost: 8,000 Ryo
Crafting Skills: Culinary Arts 3
Donated to Urahara's: No

Name: Coconut Strawberry Cheesecake Bites
Description: A perfect little cheesecake, made small enough to be consumed in a single bite. Coconut, strawberry and graham cracker come together in a wonderful combination of flavors.
Class: 4
Item Type: Consumable
Item Power (IP): N/A
Offense Type: None
Durability: 100
Bonuses: A coconut strawberry cheesecake bite is an uplifting snack. Upon consumption, the bite heals its consumer of minor injuries or reduces critical injuries into major ones, major injuries into moderate ones, and moderate injuries into minor ones. (Critical injuries are crushed bones and flesh, lacerations and punctures up to 5 inches in severity, and fourth-degree tissue damage. Major injuries are broken bones and heavy bruising, lacerations and punctures up to 3 inches in severity, and third-degree tissue damage. Moderate injuries are cracked bones and moderate bruising, lacerations and punctures up to 1 inch in severity, and second-degree tissue damage. Minor injuries are bruised bones and light bruising, small scrapes and cuts, and first-degree tissue damage.)

When boosted by a Gadgeteer, each consumed cheesecake bite counts as two for the purposes of what healing is gained.
Drawbacks: Each cheesecake bite is consumed on use, even in an NDE thread. Cannot be consumed during any combat post.
Cost: 3,000 Ryo each
Crafting Skills: Culinary Arts 2
Donated to Urahara's: No

Name: Espresso Bean Cheesecake Bites
Description: A perfect little cheesecake, made small enough to be consumed in a single bite. Ristretto, espresso bean shavings and graham cracker come together in a sensual combination of flavors.
Class: 2
Item Type: Consumable
Item Power (IP): N/A
Offense Type: None
Durability: 100
Bonuses: An espresso bean cheesecake bite is an invigorating snack. Upon consumption, this decadent cheesecake nibble extends its consumer's stamina by a margin of 1 post. A character with a stamina-type drawback has their current level of stamina extended by a margin of 1 post on consumption.

When boosted by a Gadgeteer, each consumed cheesecake bite counts as two for the purposes of what stamina is gained.
Drawbacks: Each cheesecake bite is consumed on use, even in an NDE thread. Cannot be consumed during any combat post, and no more than two can be consumed per post. In a thread, no more than six can be used effectively; any excess are consumed without effect.
Cost: 8,000 Ryo each
Crafting Skills: Culinary Arts 3
Donated to Urahara's: No

Name: Opus of Enki, Preserver of Life
Description: Drenched in highly concentrated, wild reiatsu throughout, a portion of a perfectly marbled cut of professionally-aged beef is seared with lime oil at high temperature and drizzled with lime juice during the resting phase. Once mostly dry, the beef is sauced with a jasmine honey-based caramel and speckled with small shards of black lava salt. It is accompanied by a salad of arugula, crushed smoked walnuts, and slices of dates featuring irregular pieces of breaded goat cheese that have been baked until crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth gooey on the inside.
Class: 1
Item Type: Consumable Armor
Item Power (IP): 1000
Offense Type: None
Durability: 2500
Bonuses: This meal may be consumed before the beginning of a thread, but its consumption must be tracked in the thread participant's opening post. Once consumed, this meal benefits its eater for one entire thread. The benefits of the meal are that it functions as armor for every location of the consumer's body until its durability expires, and even once its durability has expired, it continues to reduce the severity of injuries its consumer suffers from. Critical injuries are reduced to major injuries, major injuries are reduced to moderate ones, moderate injuries become minor injuries, and minor injuries can be ignored as a result of causing no real harm at all.

For this meal, critical injuries are defined as up to complete blood loss, destroyed internal organs, powdered bones, and fourth-degree burns. Major injuries are defined as major blood loss, destroyed or missing flesh, complex broken bones, and third-degree burns. Moderate injuries are defined as moderate blood loss, crushed flesh and heavy lacerations, broken bones, and second-degree burns. Minor injuries are defined as disorienting blood loss, heavy bruising and light lacerations, light fractures, and first-degree burns.
Drawbacks: Ryo cost. Gadgeteers cannot boost this meal. Multiple purchases of the meal do not stack. 15% of the Offensive Strength of each attack striking the consumer will punch through the armor's protection and be deducted from the Durability of the item.
Cost: 20,000 Ryo
Crafting Skills: Culinary Arts 3
Donated to Urahara's: No

Name: Zenith of Amun-Ra, Flight of the Mandjet
Description: Smoke-infused with extremely concentrated, focused reiatsu to a precise balance, a single portion of lamb loin chops grilled to perfection, drizzled with wild natural honey and a balsamic sauce during the cooking phase. Once rested, is it sauced with an eggplant coulis prepared with fresh basil and parmesan, among other flavor-matched selections.
Class: 2
Item Type: Consumable Weapon
Item Power (IP): 800
Offense Type: None
Durability: 400
Bonuses: This meal may be consumed before the beginning of a thread, but its consumption must be tracked in the thread participant's opening post. Once consumed, this meal benefits its eater for one entire thread. The benefits of the meal are that it empowers and hardens the user's reiatsu channels, filling the veins around their hands and feet with shining light the same color as their reiatsu. This effect allows the consumer to replace their unarmed attack Offensive Strength with the Item Power of the meal until the meal's Durability reaches 0. Each time the eater strikes with an unarmed attack and opts to use this ability, the meal loses 80 Durability.

Before and even once its durability has expired, the meal empowers its user, massively increasing the spiritual density of their attacks. Characters benefiting from this meal partially bypass skin and flex defenses, inflicting 25% of their Offensive Stat's damage regardless of the presence of these defenses.
Drawbacks: Ryo cost. Gadgeteers cannot boost this meal. Multiple purchases of the meal do not stack. After consuming this meal, the consumer becomes plainly detectable to the Energy Senses of other characters and detectors; those sensors treat the consumer as though they had a highly unique spiritual signature and the sensor had an additional 100 Energy Sensory.
Cost: 8,500 Ryo
Crafting Skills: Culinary Arts 3
Donated to Urahara's: No

Name: Heart of Yin, the Winter Eclipse
Description: Double shot glass, chilled and neat. Rim with orange oil and fine sea salt. In shaker, place deseeded white dragonfruit puree, white tequila and ice. Shake until well-chilled, strain into double shot glass. Separately, suspend one drop of piceous sweat into small sugar cube. Place the sugar cube on the tongue and consume the shot before the sugar cube dissolves.
Class: 1
Item Type: Weapon
Item Power (IP): 750
Offense Type: Physical
Durability: 1500
Bonuses: When this drink is consumed, it catalyzes with the seat of spiritual energy in the body and empowers its consumer, semipermanently altering the flow of energy through their dantian and soul sleep. The poisonous energy of the user's spiritual flow is communicated to their victims with every melee strike they make, inflicting a debuff of 2% of the weapon's Item Power to the Reiatsu Strength of the struck entity for the duration of 3 posts.

Drawbacks: Ryo cost. Each skill point a victim has in Poison Resist reduces the penalty they suffer from blows with this weapon by 5% per thread. Debuffs from this weapon, per the norm, cannot exceed 75% of the victim's affected stat. Multiple hits from the Heart of Yin extend, but do not stack the duration of its poisonous effect. Multiple-hit techniques (such as Hundred Fangs) apply the effects of Heart of Yin only once per use. A victim of the Heart of Yin may spend 75 reiatsu to purge an instance of the effect from themselves, canceling its effect instantly.

The presence of this drink's effects can be detected from within 100 feet with 50 Energy Sensory or more, and it has a distinctly bubbly, empty and wicked sensation, though the exact nature of the effects is not immediately obvious. More precise Energy Sensory, such as by a score of 150 or more, can pinpoint the resting place of its power in the dantian and soul sleep. Combined Instinct and Energy Sensory stats of 600 or greater, minus 50 for every rank in the greater of Analyzing or Battle Analysis, can determine the exact effects of this weapon over the course of 5 posts, minus 1 for every rank in the greater of Analyzing or Battle Analysis. Hits dealt directly to the user's dantian or soul sleep can damage the weapon's Durability.
Cost: 50,000 Ryo
Crafting Skills: Culinary Arts 4
Donated to Urahara's: No

[Rafael]

“Again. Again. Again. Again.”

Rafael spoke to himself over and over again practicing the same sequence of strikes one time after another to the point that his body’s joints and muscles almost had to scream at him to stop. He’d been doing the same sequence now for over an hour with the intention of mastering it to such a degree that he wouldn’t even need thought. If he did it enough times then his muscles could memorize it, like a swordsman that would swing on instinct. He didn’t know if he was insane or actually on to something though. What he sought was that singular moment when instinct took over, when his arms would raise or a punch was delivered based on surprise. If he could train his body to attack in a sequence and not just a singular attack then perhaps he’d bring about an ultimate counter to the frustrating habit of the Shinigami employing the technique called Shunpo.

Two hours now since he’d awakened to train before the sun, that was the usual way that Rafael began everyday. Despite being the strongest and the leader of the Outcasts he couldn’t leave his training behind. He knew he could only continue to protect everyone else if his development was pushed forward always and forever. He’d made an open declaration against the Shinigami to leave them all be and yet he knew in his soul that they’d never accept that. In their eyes he attacked them and beat down two of their symbols of power alone. “All of them, all at once. That’s the only way they’d ever leave me alone now.” Striking the open air once again Rafael continues his train of thought although now something felt different.

He hadn’t developed his senses yet unlike Lolth and quite a few other Beast-clan, his were fairly normal compared to them. Sure they’d gotten better than when he’d been a human, but after being a Beast for some long now they felt natural, but not amazing like Lolth’s. What he did have though was Instinct and he’d come to trust in his extraordinary ability to pick things up. Right now he felt like something was close. Perhaps when he’d been human or just starting his second life, he’d have run. Now though Rafael wasted no time rushing along the grassy field right towards the sensation that ran up his spine. Just a couple minutes that retained the darkness of night before Rafael ran into a grove of tall trees and found a single man only a few moments later.

Tall for a Shinigami, muscular if nothing else along with quite a few tattoos across his body. These were the immediate observations that Rafael made through the darkness that was starting to die off with the emergence of the sun. Rafael wasn’t sure if this guy was a shinigami, but couldn’t really think of a reason for someone else to be this far off from the Eightieth Rukongai District without a hunting party to accompany him. This far out in the wilderness there was only one thing to find besides resources and that were Beasts. “State your purpose.” Rafael spoke in his low sturdy voice. The grove of trees was roughly three miles from his home which meant he could cut loose if need be, but he couldn’t let this man get out of the grove in that direction.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats & Skills}Strength: 450 (900)
Speed: 450
Spiritual Pressure: 300
Reiatsu Strength: 50 (25)
Light Aura: 75
Dark Aura: 25
Instincts: 350 (700)
Senses: 200 (100)
Energy Sensory: 0
Healing Expertise: 0


Muay Boran: 3
Acrobatics: 2
Battle Focus: 3
Pain Tolerance: 3
Strength of Will: 3
Battle Analysis: 3

[Ambrose Grail]

So, Ambrose would find his mark this quickly. At the beastman's arrival, the hellion took an appraising look at him, noting several appreciable features. Toned muscles and an attention to detail, to say the least. Tall, dark and cut. He squished a giddy sensation in his heart when he saw the way they culminated into this grey-eyed man. Handsome, to be honest. Ambrose nodded, and took out the bingo book he'd been given. He read through the target's dossier briefly, and took a relaxing breath. "You must be Rafael," he commented. "My name is Ambrose Grail. I've been put on a bounty mission by something that passes for my temporary employer. You're my target."

Ambrose gave that statement a half-beat to sink in. His demeanor was unusually relaxed, despite the apparent situation. "I've done a little digging around about you," he admitted. "But believe me," he said, lifting one hand to start taking a large, stuffed backpack off his back. A chain attached to his wrist jingled. "It wasn't easy. I don't know if this is the kind of thing you'd understand, but when you look like I do--" he pointed to the blank white mask that identified him as a creature of Hell, "people tend to make judgments first and close themselves off to conversation second."

He hefted the backpack onto the ground gently. His posture and countenance betrayed that he felt at ease, shoulders low and muscles relaxed. He began to unpack-- setting up a pair of wooden tables, and several stones and some wooden bricks in an arrangement that suggested a campfire would go there. "You like meat, right?" he asked, not really expecting a direct answer. "I brought two sirloin tips and some other stuff, and I'm making a spit roast and planning on some hot apple cider with cherry juice--" He took off his mask at this time, revealing his partly-burned but otherwise boyish face. He deposited the mask in his backpack.

Ambrose turned his back to Rafael, leaving himself exposed while he talked. It was clear that he expected no aggression between them at this point and would prefer a conversation. There was something in his behavior that suggested this wasn't a form of showing off or disrespect, but rather the opposite. He was showing Rafael a part of himself that wouldn't normally be shown to someone you had just declared to be your enemy, as if he were extending an olive branch and making an effort to get to know Rafael, rather than simply attacking him on sight.

"--to pair with it. Venison can get dry on the spit, so I'm going to show you a trick I learned. Hand me my knife bag and three apples for each of us and we'll get started..." he gestured across the small wooden standing table from himself, where he obviously expected Rafael to stand and peel apples with him.

Out of Hell posts: 2/50

[Rafael]

Staring down the man in this grove of trees wasn’t something that Rafael had been expecting especially with there being only a single one. At the same time though from what he could tell based on his appearance he was something that shouldn’t be underestimated. His body looked like it had been crafted with as much effort as his own, while suffering through just as much damage and pain. The only difference being beyond the obvious was that Rafael knew his body could handle practically anything and bounce back faster than it was put down. This guy whoever he happened to be was someone who likely suffered quite a lot and kept surviving anyway. Rafael felt like he’d have to respect what he was seeing, but after asking for his purpose he was given a rather rude response. Opening up a book and reading from it wasn’t to be expected and while he typically didn’t take massive offense to such things this was something he’d expect from a small child throwing a fit.

Damn this morning was just full of surprises though, this one actually making Rafael’s expression shift from stoic to angry as his maw lifts up slightly revealing his large fangs. “How do you know my name?” Rafael was more than aware that the Shinigami were going to start coming after him even more than they had in the past. Why wouldn’t they? He went to them to prove a point. Stop harassing me and my friends or I won’t hold back. So of course they had to be idiotic and keep trying to push him around. This guy though didn’t have a zanpakuto and didn’t feel like a shinigami. Rafael couldn’t sense reiatsu, but his instincts told him this guy had a different aura to him then Shinigami so he must be something different.

"My name is Ambrose Grail. I've been put on a bounty mission by something that passes for my temporary employer. You're my target."

“Bounty?”

Rafael exclaimed unaware up to this very moment that there was such a thing. The shinigami always seemed like the sort to push others around and deal with their own problems if nothing else. So now they were just putting a number on his head as if he were a typical criminal. All he could picture now though were the western cowboy movies that he’d seen while still human and how bounties from that era had been so prevalent. Rafael was alert now and had enough information to know that Ambrose was here to beat him and likely kidnap him, or just kill him outright. What he didn’t know though was regarding the mask on his face that Ambrose pointed to. “You’re not like the others with white masks, you can talk well and look mostly human.”

Rafael was unaware of Hell and the species that grew in the dark down there. He knew the concept and name obviously, but hadn’t learned that it actually existed nor what came from it. So to him Ambrose was a Hollow or something else like them since they all had white masks as well. Over the next two minutes or so Rafael just continued to be dumbstruck and confused. How was Ambrose telling him one minute that he was here to claim the supposed bounty on his head and then the next setting up a spot for them to share breakfast together like friends. This was something new, strange and just downright weird in his opinion and yet his code as a martial artist wouldn’t allow him to attack Ambrose before his foe was ready.

Well that theory didn’t take long to debunk, whether or not Ambrose would have already told him something different actually seeing him take the white mask off his face, that right there was all the proof needed to know he wasn’t like those things. Still that didn’t mean he wasn’t a problem nor just strange, why sit down and eat with someone you were hunting. Rafael could understand respecting others of strength and even getting to know them, but to him that was something to be done afterwards. Once they’d proven themselves and earned his respect. To a normal person this would easily come off as a potential danger should the food be poisoned, but to Rafael even if that was the case it wouldn’t matter.

For now though Rafael would go along curious about how this would play out. This had the potential to be memorable, much more than just practicing his sequences for the hundredth thousands time. Getting the applies from the bag was somewhat hard though as Rafael’s massive hands dwarfed everything just like normal. He’d managed after a couple of seconds and then tossed the bag lightly next to Ambrose. He wasn’t sure if this guy was going to stab him or if the bag actually had knives inside, all he knew as he sat was this might be something worth remembering.

[Ambrose Grail]

"You have big hands," Ambrose commented, watching Rafael and waiting for him to take a position opposite to him at the table. "But you're obviously a martial artist, so I know you also know how to be gentle and firm at the same time. What we're doing now is my art, the art of preparing a meal for someone who is important to you." He took out a pair of paring knives from the bag, and demonstrated for Rafael the proper way to hold one. "Like this," he said, ready to correct his opponent's form if he needed to. He kept a close eye on what Rafael was doing, but his manner was appraising, not hostile.

"I'm sure you're curious about why I've chosen to pursue you in this way. Even for a denizen of a place as estranged as Hell like myself, I know that this isn't normal. You've chosen not to voice that curiosity, so I suspect you're still examining the situation. That's wise and shows that you have experience with unexpected situations, and you've also chosen to respect my ways. I want to tell you how much I appreciate that." He began peeling the first apple in front of him, showing Rafael by example what to do. "Keep the cut close to the surface, like I'm doing here... the goal is to keep as much of the apple intact as possible. Control is very important, just like the balance between aggression and self-restraint."

He gave the beast clansman time to work out the best method for himself, but was ready to provide advice, and to encourage him to not use his own claws. The tools were an important part of the process. "Anything has the potential to go wrong in a conflict. Someone could slip and get hurt. Someone could go too far and do something they cannot make amends for. There are too many variables to prevent this kind of thing from happening, so it's important that we understand each other. By working together, soul to soul, we may achieve that kind of communication. We may not, too, but we'll have shown each other that we tried, so there shouldn't be any hard feelings. And perhaps more importantly, we'll have had a meal and time to reflect before we commit to what could be our final conflict.

"You're strong, I can tell. Today, I may not walk away from this engagement. You might be the last person to taste my food... to experience what I've put my soul into." He spoke while he worked, still giving Rafael more apples if he needed them, and cutting up the apples he'd peeled into wedged slices. After a while, he retrieved a bundle of cherries from his bag, and showed Rafael how to quickly remove their pits. "The pit has a bitter flavor that we won't like in our roast, so we take them out." The task took a while longer. Ambrose's hands worked swiftly, with fine control and even endurance. He'd done these kinds of tasks hundreds or thousands of times. "Feel free to ask any questions you might have, I won't hold back. And yes, once we've dined together and we've given the food a chance to settle, we will very likely fight. It's not my intention to end another life today, but I have to prove to that thing that I fulfilled my end of the bargain."

Ambrose took a deep breath. His face said that was saddened by the future, when he knew that the two of them would inevitably come to blows. He couldn't expect Rafael to give up here. He had felt the man's spiritual signature traveling toward him at high speed for over a mile. There must have been something out there that he was working to protect. At the same time, Ambrose had to fulfill his end of the contract. There was no second way around it, this time.

The sinner took out the sirloin tips, and used a second kind of knife to cut deep into the belly of the muscle to create a pouch that was wider within than it was at its aperture. He cut with the grain of the meat as much as possible. Then, he filled the meat with half of the apple wedges and half of the cherries, and tied up the roast, paying particular attention to ensuring that the aperture he'd cut was securely and tightly closed. Juices would still bubble out of it, but most of them would keep the roast moist. When he was done with the first one, he had a tubular round of fragrant meat ready for the spit. Ambrose gestured to the second sirloin tip, "Would you like to try that one?"

Out of Hell posts: 3/50

[Rafael]

Although the size difference wasn’t something that many people would be able to handle Rafael had for the most part cooked for himself throughout his entire human life, not to mention the time that he’d been alone when he started this life as a Beast. He wasn’t unfamiliar with cooking some very basic things in order to survive and peeling apples while something he hadn’t really done in the past wasn’t impossible for him. In truth the hardest part of going along with what Ambrose was asking happened to be the size. He was working with something that while expertly made was small enough that in his hands was like a childs toy. The biggest surprise though even more so than someone seeking to eliminate him just randomly bringing out food was the mention that Hell existed.

Rafael looked up and stared down Ambrose for a moment, his gray eyes possessed no pupils and yet it would be more than clear that Rafael had to wonder if what he just said was the truth. He hadn’t come across anything or anyone claiming to be from the depths of Hell before. If what he said was true then that brought up an even bigger question for Rafael. If Ambrose was sent to Hell then why did he seem to be one of the more behaved and honest individuals he’d ever met. “You’re not the first one to come seeking out a battle with me and you won’t be the last one either. You are without a doubt the nicest though, which is quite surprising.” Rafael finished peeling the second apply and placed it down in front of him like the first only to then right away start on the third now sure that Amrbsoe was going to keep his word and wait for the food to be done.

“You may have come here to get my head, but you don’t have to worry. Not only will you be unsuccessful in getting me head, but you won’t die either. I don’t kill those that have the backbone to attack me.” Although he didn’t put it into words it would be obvious that Rafael enjoyed combat. Due to his appearance though not many would stand up to him let alone actually fight him or push him to the point where he could struggle and get better. He didn’t know if Ambrose was strong enough to push him, but he was at least honorable and brave enough to give it a try. He was going to fight him with everything he had, but wouldn’t let him die either since he could only hope Ambrose would come back to try again later. Little did he know though that Ambrose couldn’t die whether he wanted him to or not as Hell deemed him one of its.

Rafael had to wonder whether or not Zadora would be better suited in his position. He was certain she’d gotten much stronger recently, but she still was far beneath him in comparison to how strong he’d become. He didn’t know anything about Ambrose when it came to combat so he couldn’t wish for anyone else to have come across him besides himself. Zadora was just the best suited for this task of preparing food. She was the best cook he’d ever come across and made sure everyone in the Outcasts was well fed every night. The white and black tiger of lightning was amazing in virtually every way to Rafael and now just hoped that he’d get to see her again later today after handling Ambrose. Hearing that Ambrose would answer questions though snapped Rafael back to reality. He had a few things he wondered about.

“If you were sent to Hell? Then how’re you here now? Do you know who put the hit on my head?”