What, The Hell..? [Liltotto/Mazda]

It was somewhere in the early AM hours, a period where almost nobody was up and out in the city - a period that Liltotto specifically watched for as she was moving in, even the busiest cities had their dead hours at some point. Least there didn't seem to be any weird crowds doing business after dark. Dressed in a jacket and armed with a flashlight hanging off her waist, she wasn't walking around for a leisurely stroll - she was searching for the origin of that weird smell she'd been picking up, be it throughout the city, even in her old friend's home. She had a hard time placing how she felt about the smell, so for her own sanity she settled on a simple description til she knew what the hell it was.

Between the scent of the sea, that of the people who lived here, that one smell stuck out like a sore thumb, no matter how faint it was, that skin-crawling, odd, weirdly familiar even? Scent. The amount of possibilities drove her crazy whenever she noticed it, now deciding to cautiously satiate her curiosity when nobody else could see her or get in the way of her tracking. She finally had time, it was whatever at this point.

Hoodie pulled up to disguise herself better, she meticulously followed the scent, changing directions ever so often to ensure she was following the strongest scent. God, she was playing bloodhound again, twice in one week, off the clock even! Ugh, it always felt annoying to do; curse her senses, she wouldn't have even noticed anything odd to investigate in the first place without them.

The stronger the scent became, the more her skin crawled. It bothered her at some instinctive level, at least she was sure the feeling was 'bothered'. Definitely didn't feel pleasant!

Soon she was absolutely sure the source of the scent was nearby, nauseatingly close. She wasn't sure if it was that feeling, or the feeling of anticipating making her feel goosebumps, but she'd sigh aloud; if she didn't know it'd just keep nagging her, not like she wouldn't find out later, so why not now?

Well shit, here goes nothing...

"I know you're out here, so come out!" She'd call out in a stern tone, but soft enough where she wouldn't alert anyone sleeping in any buildings nearby. She was trying to pin someone down, not wake up the entire damn neighborhood.

If they're a Vandenreich member or a citizen, just a wee chat on why they smell so fucking weird. If it's some freaky ass hollow or demon that slipped in, blade in the brains. Easy.

Another piece was here. It was not difficult for one such as Mazda to discern that much; after all, there was no mortal form for him to be constrained by, no difficulty in sensing what was, by nature, another like him. Some likely would have been more subdued, more subtle about these matters, but Mazda was not one who cared even the slightest bit about such things. After all, his word was law, his understanding of all things absolute.

He did not make mistakes.

"And for whom are you searching, exactly? Simply seeking out anything which meets your fancy? Or do you seek something more familiar?"

By his very nature, it was not especially difficult for Mazda to simply appear as though he had always been there, his expression proud and composed as always, though with the faintest degree of something resembling...acknowledgement? It was difficult to say, given the inhuman intensity which his eyes always carried.

A sharp gasp came from Liltotto with the sudden appearance of another, quickly turning to see the source of the voice. Though upon seeing who or.. What, it was, she wasn't sure if she should feel relieved, or keep her guard up. Whoever she was looking at, he was definitely the oddity she was tracking.

"Shit dude, you scared me!" She'd breathe, hand on her chest for a moment, before a look of dawning was on her face, "Did you just fucking.. Teleport?"

That was the only way she could reasonably describe how he appeared; didn't come out from any buildings, wasn't hiding anywhere, he just blipped right on in. Then, it honestly begged the question: was it her who found him, or him who found her? Regardless, she was a little annoyed, "To answer your question, I didn't know what the hell I was looking for, but it seems my efforts have led me to... Mysterious magic man with questionable social skills."

Yeah, she could tell this guy sure was... Something, but she had no reason to hold her tongue, "Either way, I was only assed to be up because I caught wind of something skulking around, so I wanted to check out what that was. The 'what' is... Half answered, I guess, but now I want to know: Who are you, and what are you doing? And whatever your deal is.. Make it quick, i'm hungry and like, nowhere is open right now."

She'd utter a gentle, 'fuck'. Her hunger pangs were more annoying than disruptive, but she didn't feel this would take much longer, then she could just go home...

"How I travel is not your concern."

Mazda had been biding his time as to how he ought best to interact with a piece of the Soul King, one who could potentially serve as something of a helping hand, but he quite quickly was seeing that this was far from what he ought to do. This cretin's demeanor was one that he would not abide in his presence any more than was necessary. But, perhaps unfortunately, it would be quite necessary.

"I am Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord, the mercy which outshines sick truths. The guiding hand of both the Vandenreich and the mortal realm. I think it quite ill-mannered that you simply demand my name and that I quicken myself for your benefit. I think you ought answer who you are, little one, before my patience becomes tested."

Though the general nature of Mazda's voice did not change from its usual smooth baritone, there was an undeniable change in his tone, a firmness to it that indicated he had little time for any games.

She gave the man a chance to give his answer, quietly picking apart his words and her own stance. Oh boy - he was one of those really self-important guys, and by how his presence felt, a powerful one: Her absolute favorite combo. Maybe not at his caliber, but she's dealt with people like him before. She was by no means scared, but this conversation would go absolutely nowhere if she kept up the casual talk with her heart on her sleeve. Giving professionalism at like three in the morning while her stomach was whining was not a position she imagined herself being in again, but here she was.

"Apologies, I did not know I was in that kind of company..." Her expression and tone barely changed from the usual bored and listless look, but she was rolling her eyes on the inside, "Liltotto Lamperd, Sternritter. A pleasure."

She'd stress what little drop of sweetness she could muster into that 'pleasure', continuing on with the same level of visible calmness, however she was minding her words and watching her company closely, "I had detected an unfamiliar presence about the city and had decided to investigate on my own. I was unaware a man such as yourself was within the ranks of the Vandenreich, my apologies."

Remorse, honesty, and politeness - that was what she figured someone like him would want to hear, at the very least to keep him satisfied and talking.