On the balcony outside the ball

[form-of-man.livejournal.com]

Jason Blood steps out, a slight smile on his face as he takes the air on the luxurious balcony. He raises a brow, not bothering to see if the ghost has followed him--he can feel him, after all.

"'Curiosity' doesn't cut it, little ghost," he says, out loud. "Tell me, what do you here? Why seek you to observe mortal matters?"

Comments

[firefrank.livejournal.com]

"Call me Ash," he says as he follows Jason onto the balcony.

"I have not witnessed such a concentration of metahumans before. It interests me."

"Also, one of the normal men, a costume wearer at times, has a strong connection to death. I am investigating him. A vison has warned me that he will be important in the near future. I need to be involved somehow."

Ash has a low, throaty, scratchy voice. If he spoke inside, even a whisper, it would be heard.

[form-of-man.livejournal.com]

"I don't believe any 'costume wearer', as you put it...and I have my strong suspicions as to who you mean...could be considered 'normal'," Blood says wryly.

"Tell me more about this vision. I sense a great disturbance in the aether... and perhaps you hold the key to my reason for coming here this night."

[firefrank.livejournal.com]

"I saw many people watching two men wrestle. In the audience were many costumed people, some meta, some not. The man I am following was one in the audience. The vison held on him a bit longer, giving me a better look."

Ash coughs, then clears his throat. His eyes narrow, but the firey glow of them brightens.

"Who are you, magician? And who and what is your companion? I hesitate to tell you more about me, without knowing about you."

"I overheard your introduction to the other man, but knowing that you are Jason Blood means little if I haven't heard of you before."

[form-of-man.livejournal.com]

"A grin. Of course. My enthusiasm has made me unseemly."

He takes a short, gentlemanly bow, somehow antiquated.

"My name is indeed Jason Blood, and I am a magician who has been alive for many centuries...it is the fact that I have a special connection with fire that brought you to my attention so quickly."

He shrugs uncomfortably.

"As for my companion, he is the demon Etrigan...I am his mortal cage, and have been so for most of my long life."

Of course, once he mentions Etrigan, he realizes that the rhyming demon... seems to be distant in his mind, and he cannot hear his thoughts.

Demon...what is this blur in our connection? What do you?

No answer.

He shakes his head to clear it. What Ash is saying is important.

"What do you know of the two men who wrestled, the focus of this vision?"

[firefrank.livejournal.com]

Ash frowns, and the embers of his eyes seem to flare slightly.

"A demon. That is a dangerous being to have skinriding you. They are untrustworthy at best. Be forewarned that I am a Christian, and your demon is automatically my enemy."

"But you seem to have him well restrained, at least. And that explains your connection with fire to my satisfaction."

With a smirk, Ash mimics Jason's bow. He even tips his helmet, which is stenciled "FDNY" and "ARMSTRONG" on both sides.

"I can sense your feelings, Mister Blood, and they tell me that you are not an evil man, regardless of whom you carry. I will answer your questions about myself and my vision."

"I didn't recognize the men wrestling, but both were very powerfully built. Also, they were not seriously fighting. The raw emotions of the vison told me they felt no hatred for each other. I believe the vison was of a contest of some sort. Regretably, I did not veiw their faces. I might recognize them from their builds, but I doubt it. One of them had a beard, and moved with a limp. I felt power over fire upon him."

[form-of-man.livejournal.com]

"Etrigan is no one's friend, and indeed I am proud to have called him my enemy for the past few centuries."

Blood smiles, then becomes serious as he listens to Ash's vision.

"In that case, with you and I working together, it shouldn't be difficult to find this second man..."

He ponders for a moment.

"I suppose the question is this: why do you believe this vision is so important?"

[firefrank.livejournal.com]

"Beats me. I never know. I just am compelled to follow up on my visions. They get rather horrid if I do not."

"You asked me earlier why I am not in the spirit world. My visons always concern the living. I usually see people in trouble and track them down. Then I attempt to help them. It is my mission in unlife."

[form-of-man.livejournal.com]

Blood nods.

"It seems to me that the group of costumes and metahumans might indicate the Justice League. Anything else, I can't say for certain... but let me hunt out a few hunches, eh?"

He smiles tightly at Ash.

"I have your astral scent, now. I shall communicate with you if I find anything else."

[firefrank.livejournal.com]

"Fair enough. I, also, can track you."

"Well met, Mister Blood. Good night."

Ash walks back into the banquet room, not bothering with the doors.