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01:33[user]Jukaka[/user] stepped into the Orc Tavern, the loose hide door swaying shut behind him as he took in the firelit interior. The smells of woodsmoke, roasted meat, and spilled ale filled the air, mingling with the occasional sharp tang of metal from weapons slung over patrons' shoulders. The rough-hewn tables, the piles of furs, and the open firepit made the space feel alive, brimming with raw energy and purpose. Jukaka’s crimson eyes scanned the room briefly before settling on the bar, its sturdy wood lined with mugs, bottles, and an assortment of questionable but intriguing containers. The bar seemed a natural place to begin, its stock promising far more than just a drink. His tail flicked behind him as he strode toward it, his movements unhurried but deliberate. Reaching the bar, he rested his hands lightly on the worn wood, his claws tracing faint grooves carved from years of use. He glanced at the rows of bottles and jugs behind the counter, considering his options. But even as his gaze wandered, his thoughts remained sharp, the lingering questions pressing quietly at the back of his mind. Whatever answers or insights might come next, they would start here.
01:41[user]The Embers Within[/user] almost as if the she were the manifestation of his very desire for answered questions, the demon would .. suddenly be sat at the bar he stood at. She wore her usual clothing, a modest .. if not ever-so slightly revealing strapless, sleeveless shirt which ended in a fluttery skirt with a pair of shorts beneath. She still struggled with these modern clothes, how they seemed to always change in and out of public favor; ah, it wasn't of her concern now. Those pink-hued eyes fluttered toward the one behind said bar, her own hands folded neatly on the wood. Those slender fingers ended in well self-manicured nails, their sharpened points pressing into the wood as her top-hand rested on her lower, clicking those nails against the wood.

She didn't say anything, simply staring at the one whom had questions .. eyes holding the expectation of him to ask. Her lips curled up into a small smile as the purplish-red hair flowed around her head, covering part of her face. She sat mostly still, tail coiled around her thigh to keep out of trouble.

.. after some time passed, had he not spoken she would. "You desire answers?"
01:51[user]Jukaka[/user] froze mid-thought as his crimson eyes fell upon her. Ember. She sat at the bar, as if conjured from his own restless desire for resolution. Her presence was unmistakable, even in this bustling, rugged space. Her modest yet flowing attire seemed both out of place and entirely fitting, a contradiction much like the being herself. The faint tapping of her sharpened nails against the wood filled the air between them, a rhythmic reminder of her patience—or lack thereof. Her pink-hued eyes locked onto his, their gaze expectant, as if she already knew the questions burning in his mind. Her faint smile carried a weight of understanding, a challenge, and perhaps a hint of amusement. The flowing strands of purplish-red hair partially veiled her face, but her expression was clear—she was waiting.

Jukaka straightened slightly, his tail flicking once behind him as he took a breath. He’d been prepared to search for answers, to dig for truths buried beneath layers of mystery, but now they sat directly before him. Still, he wasn’t about to falter. After a moment, he leaned forward, resting his hands on the bar, his crimson gaze steady. "You could say that," he replied, his voice calm but edged with intent. "We left some things unfinished. And I think you already know what I’m after." He tilted his head slightly, his tail curling lazily behind him. "So, are you here to give me those answers, or just to see how far I’ll go to find them?" His tone carried a hint of challenge, but beneath it lay genuine curiosity, the weight of his unanswered questions pressing forward.
02:10[user]The Embers Within[/user] had .. a sort of strange air to her; not as she had before in any other meeting. Something else, something .. darker lurked nearby. Those fingers maintained their rhythmic drumming, nails moving in a 1-2-3-4-5 .. 1-2-3-4-5 .. pattern, starting with her pinky finger and ending with her thumb. Those nails sharp, she understood her strength and the sharpness of those nails .. her tapping light, not enough to indent or splinter the wood of the bar. She wasn't a douchebag, so she saw no purpose to damage property that wasn't her own.

She smiled at his words, shrugging. "I guess we'll find out, won't we?"

The demon finally ceased her drumming, letting those fingers drum once more .. ending with all four nails pressed to the wood. Slowly, the rose and her middle met her thumb .. [b]SNAP[/b] .. a bottle appeared above her hand, dropping slightly before those slender fingers extended, hand shooting up to catch it. She took a hefty drink, eyes closed as her throat muscles rippled beneath her pale flesh with each swallow. She set the bottle down, letting out a small, satisfied sigh. The bottle sat about half full, and those eyes narrowed in on him. 

"Go on."
02:38[user]Jukaka[/user] leaned forward slightly, the dim firelight reflecting in his crimson eyes as he considered Ember’s presence, her air heavier, darker than before. His gaze flicked briefly to the half-empty bottle she had conjured, then back to her, locking onto those narrowed pink-hued eyes. "You’ve told me much already," he began, his voice calm but laced with an undercurrent of intensity. "About this form, its purpose, and its connection to you. But there’s something we never truly touched on—something left hanging." He straightened slightly, his hands resting on the bar as his claws tapped lightly against the wood, mirroring her earlier rhythm. "Where are you, Ember? Not this form, not this moment, but you—the being behind it all. If you’re not here, if you don’t reside in this reality, then where do you truly exist? And what ties you to this place, this form, even now?" His voice dipped lower, more deliberate. "You’ve hinted at your reach, your vastness, the other realities you’ve observed and shaped. But I need to understand the where. Where does the essence of you reside? And why, after all this time, do you still interact with a world you once turned away from?"

He paused, letting the weight of the question linger, his expression resolute. "You don’t have to answer if you’re unwilling, but if I’m going to understand the whole truth, it’s a question I can’t ignore."
02:45[user]The Embers Within[/user] pondered this question, rubbing her chin as she thought. That tail slowly unfurled itself from her thigh, twitching behind her in quick sweeping movements. "I, not the body, reside far into the recesses of the absence; a place where realities connect .. a place of seemingly infinite expanse, yet painfully dull .. lifeless. I was born.. created .. began existing, however you wish to classify my being .. and I could see.. at the bare edges of my void; light. It took me lifetimes and lifetimes .. bubbling and burning within myself; tearing myself apart to get even slightly closer.

.. the body took a pause, lips moving from speaking only to down the remainder of the bottle. It sighed, and gazed back at him.

"I can talk myself in circles; I cannot show you, for fear of losing you within its infinite vastness; so I hope you can wrap your mind around a single grain of concept?" .. she shook her head .. perhaps she could show him, but .. she - no, it - wasn't sure. It had spent eternity alone, and now that it had tendrils snaking out into each of those small dots .. living, experiencing life; it had grown kind in some, cruel in others .. some realities grew a mixture, it was a strange feeling.

"I am unsure if you can know the whole truth."
02:55[user]Jukaka[/user] leaned forward slightly, the weight of Ember’s words settling over him like a thick fog. His crimson eyes narrowed, not in suspicion but in concentration, as he processed the concept she described—a place of infinite expanse, of connections between realities, where she had clawed her way toward the faintest glimmers of light. Her description was vast, abstract, yet it struck a chord deep within him. He let the silence linger for a moment before speaking, his tone calm but laced with determination. "You don’t need to shield me, Ember," he said, his voice steady, his tail flicking behind him with subtle purpose. "I’ve spent my life stepping into places and truths that others would shy away from. Maybe I can’t fully grasp the vastness of what you’re describing, but don’t mistake me for someone who can’t try."

He leaned further in, resting his forearms on the bar, his gaze unwavering. "You’ve found me intriguing enough to share this much, enough to answer questions most wouldn’t dare ask. Don’t stop now. If there’s more to this truth—more to you—then show me. Test me." His crimson eyes burned with resolve. "I didn’t come to you for simple answers. I came to understand, to learn. And if that means stepping into the recesses of the absence itself, so be it." He straightened slightly, his claws tracing faint lines in the bar’s worn surface. "But don’t underestimate me just because of what I look like, or what you think I might not handle. If the question is whether I can bear the weight of this truth, let me find out. Don’t decide for me."

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, though his tone remained serious. "After all, you’re not the only one with curiosity running through your veins."
03:01[user]The Embers Within[/user] nodded slowly, and reached forward. "I am going to tether us together, your soul .. your essence, whatever it is that lies within to mine. It will be painful, it will hurt beyond physical pain, anything you've ever experienced will not come close." She spoke slow and firm, ensuring he understood. "It matters not if mortal or immortal, you will feel pain beyond what you can fathom; if at any point it becomes too much, let me know." The demon hummed, standing and leaning herself over the bar. "You will see something no one else has; you will see the focal point between realities; the true focal point. No magic nor technology can bring you here .."

The demon held out her hand. "Shake my hand if you understand."
03:16[user]Jukaka[/user] stood frozen for a moment, Ember’s words resonating in his mind like the toll of a great bell. Her description of the tether—the pain, the unknown, the risk—was enough to make even someone as brash as him hesitate. He stared at her outstretched hand, his crimson eyes narrowing as thoughts raced through his mind. The way she spoke of the focal point, of a place beyond magic or technology’s reach, struck a nerve. It was reminiscent of things he’d only brushed against in theory, whispers of places that could break a mind as easily as glass. And the pain she described—the sheer immensity of it—made him wonder if he would emerge the same after experiencing it. Doubt flickered, followed quickly by a cascade of questions. Would he regret this? Could he withstand what she was offering? The weight of the unknown pressed on him, almost enough to make him pull back. Almost.

And then, a thought—clear, cold, and direct—cut through the noise like a command: [color=black][b][Possible New Source Available. Proceed?][/b][/color] The mental prompt wasn’t unfamiliar, and for a moment, he stared at her hand as if seeing it through a new lens. The hesitation faded, replaced by a steady, deliberate resolve. His crimson eyes lifted to meet hers, and something shifted in his stance, a quiet confidence emerging. He reached out, his hand clasping hers firmly. "Yes," he said simply, his voice calm, steady. In his mind, the "terminal" seemed to hum to life, a mechanical echo accompanying his resolve: [color=black][b][Recording in progress.][/b][/color]

Whatever lay ahead, whatever pain or truth awaited, he would face it. The path forward wasn’t just about understanding her—it was about testing himself, pushing the boundaries of what he could endure. His grip on her hand tightened slightly, a silent affirmation that he wouldn’t back down now.
03:33[user]The Embers Within[/user] pursed her lips and nodded, eyes averting off to the side. The demon let out a deep sigh .. expelling all of the air from her body. Her hand pulled back slightly .. just enough to unclasp. No count down would prepare him, no soft-spoken words; those nails clamped down, impossibly hard. They dug into flesh, splitting bone, they .. somehow went deeper, whatever intangibility that sat deep within him. Those nails pierced it, and .. nothing. The initial skewer did nothing; no pain, it clearly went through but nothing happened.

.. she fluttered her eyes closed, sucking in some air as a warmth suddenly burst within him .. at the source of insertion. It was instant, searing pain .. sparking pain; mortal or not, vision would disappear as the brain became unable to function, body locking up as every muscle tried to both extend and contract all at once; muscle threatening to tear itself from bone. Everything became quiet, the taste of metal filled his mouth. She pushed deeper, inky blackness rolling from her tattooed forearm, crawling down her fingers, swirling into the insertion.. between nail and flesh.

The pain itself was indescribable, as if every single atom of his body lit aflame, jolts of electric-like pain exploded from within his brain, shooting through his nerves and forcing his body to spasm. The demon tried to move quickly, but this was something that needed the utmost care; he would have to suffer through the pain as she worked.

The demon's eyes opened, nothing but a sea of white as blackness leaked from her tear ducts, dripping down her face, neck, shoulder and finally pooling with the blackness from her arm. The demon's lips moved, yet nothing came from them as she maintained her rhythmic lip-movements. She could feel it, the blackness seeping into the intangibility of him.

The pain slowly was added to; a constant pain, never-ending pain .. no matter how much he sat, it would never lessen nor become tolerable. It was constantly beyond tolerance. The pain .. it became cold, no longer was he burning; he was freezing. The demon's blackness enveloped his intangibility, wrapping itself within. She focused, ensuring a proper and tight bond.. however, this bond would linger. He would have to sit through this, blind and deaf .. body spasming as she worked. They were connected telepathically, though she was unsure if his mind could focus long enough to reach her.

She sat, bathed in his pain .. feeling it along with him, though she long had grown used to it. The distress bothered her far more than the pain.
03:57[user]Jukaka[/user]’s body jerked violently the moment the warmth surged from the point of contact, his spine arching back with an unnatural force as the pain consumed him. At first, his face contorted into a silent grimace, but as the searing agony expanded, his mouth opened wide, a guttural roar tearing from his throat. The sound reverberated through the tavern, deafeningly loud for a fraction of a second before cutting off abruptly, his vocal cords seemingly overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the experience. His muscles locked and spasmed uncontrollably, veins bulging against his skin as they strained to keep from tearing. His claws dug deep into the bar, splintering the wood beneath his hands as his strength seemed to surge and fluctuate wildly. His tail lashed out violently, knocking over stools and chairs, before curling in on itself as if trying to retreat from the pain.

Tears of anguish streamed down his face, glistening in the dim firelight as his crimson eyes flickered, threatening to shift into something more primal. His features began to warp—his teeth sharpening, his jaw elongating slightly, his ears flattening against his head. It was as though he was caught in a chaotic flux, his body teetering on the edge of transforming into something feral, yet unable to complete the shift. Internally, the pain was indescribable—like molten iron pouring through his veins, setting every nerve alight. His organs felt as though they were twisting, compressing, and tearing themselves apart, each beat of his heart sending shockwaves of raw agony through his chest. The freezing sensation that followed was no less merciful, the sharp, biting cold creeping into his bones, spreading like frost over every inch of his body.

His mind reeled, fragments of thought flashing in and out of focus. [sup][b]Am I breaking apart? No. Hold on. This is… this is what I asked for.[/b][/sup] Through the haze of pain, he tried to grasp onto the telepathic link Ember had mentioned, but his thoughts were a tangled mess, fraying at the edges like static. Despite the torment, some part of him clung to resolve, his feral instincts clawing their way to the surface, helping him endure. His body trembled violently, his nails carving deep grooves into the bar as he forced himself to remain anchored, his ragged breaths catching in his throat. He couldn’t speak—words were impossible—but the tear-streaked anguish on his face carried a silent message: [color=red][u][b]Don’t stop. Finish it.[/b][/u][/color]

04:11[user]The Embers Within[/user] worked on it .. twisting, tying - almost... almost..! The pain grew more intense, focusing primarily at the point of insertion. The demon's eyes blinked, and returned to normal, her pinkish hues gazing upon him, her lips ceasing. She pulled her fingers from his arm, giving a small tug to escape the bone that held her nails. The pain didn't cease yet, still bubbling and boiling over as the demon licked the red from her fingernails .. the moment she did, the pain stopped. His vision returned, the ambience of the room returned to his ears. The pain slowly cooled to a stop; and all was quiet.

The demon breathed a heavy sigh of relief, eyes darting all over him. "You are alive and well, right?" She half-joked, shoulders slumping as she sank into her seat at the bar, resting her elbows on the wood. "There .. we're tied, now .. should I decide to show you, hopefully you won't be able to drift too far from me." She mumbled, rolling her neck.

"It'll dissipate after, don't worry; you aren't bound to me forever."
04:32[user]Jukaka[/user]’s body convulsed violently as Ember’s work reached its climax, the pain sharpening to an unbearable peak at the point of insertion. His head snapped to one side, then the other, his features gradually shifting back to their normal state, though the tears continued streaming down his face, his expression still caught somewhere between agony and raw determination. His body trembled, every muscle screaming at him as the torment bubbled and boiled, refusing to relent. When the demoness finally pulled her nails free, there was a brief, searing tug that sent another jolt through his core, before she licked the blood clean from her fingers. In an instant, the pain stopped. His vision returned, the familiar flicker of the tavern’s firelight coming into focus, and the ambient sounds of the room filled his ears once more. His breathing was ragged, each breath a struggle as he blinked against the tears that still clouded his eyes.

The "terminal" thoughts chimed in his mind, their cold detachment a stark contrast to the ordeal he had just endured: [b][[color=black]Recording Complete, Under Review, Connection Stable. Archiving For [/color][color=red][REDACTED][/color][color=black].][/color][/b] The words passed through his thoughts like static—unfamiliar, incomprehensible, and yet oddly final. He didn’t acknowledge them, didn’t even try to decipher their meaning. His focus was entirely on the being before him—the demoness, the entity that had tethered itself to him so completely.

For a moment, he simply stared at her, his chest rising and falling as he fought to steady himself. The half-joke she offered barely registered, but when she slumped into her seat and explained the nature of their bond, he found his voice, raw and hoarse but steady. [sup][b]“Not bound forever, huh?”[/b][/sup] he rasped, his lips curling into a faint smirk as he slowly straightened, his body still trembling from the ordeal. [sup][b]“Let me make this clear, then. As long as I am—as long as I can be—I’ll remain bound to you, if you’ll allow it.”[/b][/sup] He leaned forward slightly, his crimson eyes locked onto hers with a mix of intensity and reverence. [color=red][b]“It’s death till us part, after all.”[/b][/color] He let his words settle in the quiet, his expression softening slightly as the tension in his body slowly began to ease. Despite everything—the pain, the ordeal, the unknown—he meant what he said. This connection, fleeting or not, was something he would honor for as long as he was able.
04:39[user]The Embers Within[/user] slowly shook her head, a smile on her face. "I'll allow you to for a while, then .. but you cannot stay tethered too long, lest I absorb you." She said, then paused her speech for a while, letting the ordeal calm and him to relax after such an intense moment. In the silence, she summoned another bottle -- [b]SNAP[/b] -- and took a drink, letting her throat muscles ripple beneath her pale flesh. The bottle was set down with a thud, and her hands folded back together as she stared at him..

Once he had finished recovering and was seemingly himself, she would speak again. "I can show you if you wish; but you will be removed from this reality. I do not know how much time will pass, you may lose loved ones; people you care about. Time works differently in the Absence .." She gave a warning, " .. I am unsure, minutes may pass .. or decades .. centuries." The demon straightened herself, nodding as she spoke. "Should you return alive, I hope that you .. do not lose anyone important."
04:55[user]Jukaka[/user] sat slumped against the bar, his breaths still heavy and uneven as the lingering echoes of pain ebbed from his body. His claws, which had dug into the bar earlier, now rested flat against the wood, his trembling fingers slowly regaining control. As Ember’s words reached him, his crimson eyes flickered up to meet hers, exhaustion evident but resolve burning just as brightly. Her smile, calm and composed, contrasted sharply with the storm he’d just weathered, but her words carried a new weight. "Absorbed," she said. The concept was unsettling, but Jukaka didn’t flinch. Instead, he leaned back slightly, rolling his head on his shoulders as if testing the limits of his battered body. He stayed quiet as she summoned another bottle, the sharp snap resonating in the now-settled tavern. The rhythmic movements of her throat as she drank caught his eye, a reminder of her calm control in contrast to his earlier chaos. As she set the bottle down and folded her hands, Jukaka straightened slowly, the tension in his body less visible but still present.

Her warning hung heavily in the air. The Absence—removed from reality itself. Time moving differently. The possibility of losing those he cared for. The weight of her words pressed against him, but Jukaka didn’t hesitate.

“Time…” he muttered, his voice still rough, though steadier now. “It’s always moving, whether we’re here or not. And I’ve learned something about it—it doesn’t stop for anyone. Not for me, not for them.” He exhaled, glancing at his hands before locking eyes with her again. “If I lose people, it won’t be because I stood still. It’ll be because I kept moving forward, even when I didn’t know what was ahead.” He leaned forward again, resting his elbows on the bar, his gaze firm. “Show me. Whatever waits in the Absence, whatever the cost, I’ll face it. If I return to find the world changed or people gone, I’ll deal with it. I’ve already chosen this path, Ember, and I won’t turn back now.” There was no bravado in his tone, only the quiet certainty of someone who understood the weight of his decisions. His claws tapped lightly against the bar, his resolve clear despite the storm still lingering in his mind and body. “I trust you to guide me there. Let’s see what this tether can really do.”
05:01[user]The Embers Within[/user] nodded. "I see, you are braver than most." The demon spoke, glancing around. "I will keep the tether, you must rest if you wish to overcome what lies ahead. Sleep early, make sure you eat before you sleep; I don't recommend eating before we go." She flexed her hands. "I will return soon enough and we will be off. I would say your preemptive goodbyes in case we do not return in time, get your affairs in order and when ready we will go." 

She gazed over at him, "It is not too late to change your mind. If at any point before we leave you decide you don't want to continue, I will sever the tie and we will not proceed. There is no shame in it, there are a lot of factors that you cannot control and I cannot promise .."
05:12[user]Jukaka[/user] listened intently, his crimson eyes locked on Ember as her words flowed. The exhaustion still clung to him, his body aching and his mind dulled, but her calm and measured tone kept him grounded. Her acknowledgment of his choice—his bravery—didn’t feel patronizing, but it wasn’t a comfort either. It simply was. As she spoke of preparation, he nodded slowly, his tail flicking lightly behind him. Rest. Food. Goodbyes. The weight of her advice settled heavily, but he didn’t flinch. The tether that now bound them pulsed faintly in his thoughts, a reminder of what lay ahead.

“I understand,” he said, his voice quieter now, steadied by resolve but softened by weariness. “I’ll do what I need to. Rest, eat, and handle what needs handling before we leave.” He paused, his claws lightly tapping the bar’s surface. “And I appreciate the choice you’re giving me. Knowing I can step away if I have to.” He leaned back slightly, letting out a slow breath, his crimson eyes flickering with thought. “But I don’t intend to turn back. The factors I can’t control are there whether I face them or not. If I decide to walk away, it won’t be because of fear. I’ve already stepped into this.” Jukaka’s gaze softened slightly as he looked at her. “I’ll prepare. And when you return, I’ll be ready.” His tone carried no bravado, no posturing—only a quiet, steady determination. He flexed his hands lightly, letting the tension slowly drain from them, the flickering firelight reflecting off his claws.

"Until then," he added, his tone calm but resolute, "I’ll make sure everything is in order. No loose ends, no regrets."