"I hope I'm doing this right." Zephyr mumbled as he finished following the instructions on reaper binding. He stepped back from it once he did the last step and looked in shock at the figure standing inside the marking on the dirt. "Oh wow! This is so cool,I can't believe I did this!" He said excitedly, accidentally hitting himself in the face.
The reaper looked annoyed in his humble opinion but Zephyr was running out of options. He went to the university in the city but he wasn't a very popular person there. He came here as an exchange student thinking that the oppurtunity was great, but he didn't realise that it included being bullied. One would think that 20 year old students would have learned some manners but in this city, it seemed that wasn't the case. "Hello….I'm Zephyr….can you help me out?"
Thatcher glared in a hostile manner as the man seemed to exclaim in excitement. What was so amazing about enslaving another living creature? His fingers twitched, all his instincts pointing to draw out his scythe and cut the human down, but he was unable to. He was bound, after all.
So, Zephyr was the offenders name. He sneered in a hateful way. “I would never do so willingly. But you have done this horrid thing to me, so I have no other choice to do anything else,” he spat, his temper getting the best of him. He was usually polite and soft spoken, but he was unable to in this situation. His life had been flipped upside down. He had every single right in the universes to be angry and upset.
It was like one of those moments in cartoons where the record scratches, Zephyr stopped celebrating and looked at the man in confusion. "What do you mean no choice? This book clearly states that there is a 50% chance that the reaper you summon won't be willing to help you. This is what then, a lie?" He exclaimed. Zephyr had experience with being forced to do things no matter ho much he protested and he vowed that he would never treat others as they treat him, was this a mistake?
Thatcher scoffed sharply. “50%? Oh Gods. Where did you get that book?” he asked, tilting his head to try and peer at it. “I don’t know what else it says in that book, but that part is false. In my culture, binding a Reaper is like enslavement. It’s completely unnatural and punishing.” He looked around once again. Where even was he? Surely he wasn’t in his Sector, he would know if he was. That meant his Sector was unprotected. The Council of Elders would not be pleased at all with that.
"Well, since you're here, can't you just go back?" Zephyr asked, scratching at a cut on his arm, a destructive habit he had. Many of the darker spots on his skin was from him never letting his wounds heal, always picking at the scabs. "You came here because you were summoned, can't I send you back as well?"
Thatcher’s gaze shifted to the cut Zephyr’s skin. He wondered what that was from. But he couldn’t be curious about someone else at the moment, he had to think of himself and his own well-being at the moment. “It’s possible, but it requires a whole different spell and such. I wouldn’t trust that book of yours, either,” he explained in a low tone, brows furrowed.
The book in question was leaning against the roots of a nearby oak tree. Zephyr frowned and went to go pick it up, flicking through the pages. "Y'know, I'm not exactly sure where I got this book. All o know was that I was on the rooftop patio of my apartment and when I was coming down, I had it." He murmured, more to himself than the reaper. "I can try to send you back if you would like to go, I can find another way to solve my problems." He said, a crooked smile on his face as he turned around to face the reaper.
Thatcher’s eyes narrowed slightly. He seemed to be confused in a way. “Why would you do such a thing? And what are these problems that you speak of?” he asked. There was a deep howl heard in the distance and he looked in the direction of where the sound came from. The corners of his lips quirked up in the slightest. “There she is…” he mumbled quietly to himself. He was impressed with her intelligence and how quickly she picked up on his scent.
Zephyr followed his gaze but couldn't see anything, he heard howling but passed it off as a wolf. "You can probably tell I am not a native of those country. I am a transfer student who cane here under the premise of getting a good education so I can bring my sister here to get a good education. But in a city such as this, you will be judged and bullied for everything you do." He said, smiling sadly. "Any work I do in class is mysteriously taken away and the instructors are not able to do anything. At work, I don't get enough customers or tips so I have to work at a second job. Basic struggles but it's unfair. My home is not in a nice place and so it is common that I recieve a bruising or four a couple times a week." Zephyr brushed the cover of the book and put it in his bag, moving around his assignments to fit it.
"I hate being forced to do things for people especially if I do not want to do it one bit. I would never force anyone to do anything for me." He chuckled softly, "especially not anyone of you power." Zephyr slung the bag over his shoulder and dug his hands in his pockets. "How can I send you away? The quicker I do this, the quicker I can get to solving this issue." He looked at him curiously, pushing his glasses up.
Thatcher’s head tilted as he listened to Zephyr’s story about his life. Zephyr seemed so pure… Reapers were practically made to protect people like that from persecutors. All to make the world a better place.
“All of that and you would still prefer to send me back to where I came from and try to figure out your impossible issues… How kind of you,” he drawled, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I’ll cut you a deal, hm? Because you seem so helpless to me, I’ll lend you a hand. Only because you obviously need it and because of the moral compass is Reapers are supposed to follow. But you need to let me out of this thing,” he said, motioning down at the sigil that needs to be broken in some way.
(I feel I may have made Zephyr a little too pure. Is that a problem? I can change him up a bit because he is still a new character and doesnt have that much of a bio)
"Hmm? What kind of deal?" He asked, blinking curiously. "Would it harm you in any way? I dont want you to do anything if you feel pressured to do so." He rambled, running a hand through his messy hair.
(That’s not a problem at all! but if you want to switch it up you can)
Thatcher clicked his tongue softly. “I’ll help you. But you’ll listen to me. Those people who have wronged you? By bringing me here, you understand that they are going to die by my hand. Are you prepared to accept that, Zephyr?” he asked. His head tilted to the side slightly. “After my help, you must release me immediately. Use the spell and break the bond. The only reason I have offered to comply by my will is because your soul is good.”
"Is there a way to solve this that doesn't involve them dying?" Zephyr asked, a little tentative about agreeing to a horrid deal such as this
Thatcher shook his head. “No. I would say mortally wound or scare them, but that would be exposing the Reapers and that is unlawful. You should have known the consequences and terms of binding me to you before you did so. You’re lucky that I am even willing to offer my help. Accept that rare deal or cut me free from this,” he stated. His arms crossed over his chest as his brows raised, impatient for a decision.
"Well, it's better than nothing." He remarked, bringing out the book and flipping through the pages once more. "I accept your offer." He said, not looking up from the book
Thatcher nodded his head with a soft huff. “Very well. You need to break this sigil for me to even begin to start helping you,” he stated in a level tone, motioning to the markings around him on the ground. His eyes narrowed at Zephyr when he seemed to be lying little attention. How did he appear to be so calm at the moment? Didn’t the mortal know what he was getting himself into?
(I just realized something XD, Zephyr is the type of person you scream at in horror movies 😂😂)
Zephyr looked up and fixed his glasses once more. "Hmm? Oh, sorry." He muttered and erased part of the markings to let the reaper out. "I was just reading up on Reapers but there isnt much info." He frowned
(omgg lmaoo i love that sm)
“Of course there isn’t much info,” Thatcher stated as he stepped out of the sigil. “Reapers have been around since the beginning of the world, but we are a secretive and introverted species. Most of us prefer to live in solitude and do our jobs, myself included.”
"Interesting, so does that mean there are other magical creatures such as fairies and witches?" He asked. Zephyr closed his book and pointed. "I live that way if you will be staying with me." He stated and out the book back in his bag.
“Of course there are. They are in all of your urban legends and stories,” Thatcher started. “So are us Reapers, but most things in those stories are made up and purely imaginative.” He looked over at Zephyr. “That would be how it goes, yes. I have to stay by you. Though we should have some more company..”
There was another howl, though it was closer this time. It didn’t sound quite like a normal wolf or dog. It was much more deafening and doom-like. Almost like a bad omen.
"What is that? It was far away but it seems to be far more closer now." Zephyr said, looking around in a panic.
Thatcher chuckled in a deep tone as he looked in the direction it came from. “My hound. She’s almost here,” he started. “You’ve heard of hellhounds, haven’t you? Those three headed, dog-like beasts that protect the gates of Hades’ Underworld. Well, in my younger years I found what would be a runt of a new litter. That’s her, my young Nike.”
"Your young Nike? Is she like your child or something?" He asked, pushing his ever-falling glasses up the bridge of his nose once again. "I have heard of hell hounds but I didn't know they all had three heads, I assumed Cerberus were special." He geinned
Thatcher shrugged his shoulders. “Something like that. Sometimes I see her as a daughter, other times a little sister. Either way, I’m her caretaker,” he stated. He looked over at Zephyr at the Cerberus comment. “Oh no, it’s deeper than that. Most hellhounds have three heads. Cerberus is just the most well known and first noted hound.”
"The more you know…" Zephyr trailed off. He looked in the directions of some.bushes and felt there was someone, or something, watching him from there. "Hello?" He called out, unconsciously shifting closer to the reaper.
