{ Video; UN: potentia.regere }

[earlofphantoms]

Merry Christmas~! {Vincent is wearing a Christmas crown (yes, that is a thing) and he is beaming from ear to ear.} May you enjoy the day, keep warm, drink some hot chocolate and exchange gifts!

{There may or may not be a fake skeleton sitting behind him. He steps back, wraps an arm around the skeleton's shoulders and winks.}

If you need company, this house has more than enough to spare! I won't stand for anyone being in the dumps today.

{This might be him projecting, but it will have a good effect, at least.}

Comments

[earlofphantoms]

{They only seek to nip at his heart!}

I would like to see those someday. {He steps through the door, smiling faintly.} Are you traditional about it? Scythe and all?

[somakemelaugh]

[With deceptively large fangs!]

[Earl through the door, he closes and locks it and joins Vincent on their little adventure.]

Oh, I imagine you will if I take to another escort mission they issue now and then. [He tilts his head and grins.] Quite. Would you like to see it?

[earlofphantoms]

{Puppy fangs. Milk teeth.}

I think I could enjoy a jaunt of that nature. {He is very good with a gun (and it's likely he has other skills too).} I would!

{His dark eyes brighten at the prospect and he cocks his head to watch Undertaker.}

How big is it?

[somakemelaugh]

[Skin breaking, blood drawing teeth.]

Maybe I'll take you along on the next one. I wonder who will watch out for your son though? [He has no doubt Vincent is good - deadly, even - with a gun, but he worries. Let him have his concerns.]

[The look on the Earl gets more of a grin from him. Rather than telling him, he pulls his hair aside and reaches to his back under his coat and pulls out one of his sotoba that seems like it shouldn't have been there before. Once he has it out from under his coat, he holds it steady in both hands in front of him and lets it shift forms.]

[earlofphantoms]

{They don't mean to. Unless they do.}

I have faith in him to survive for a short while. We can take precautions and arm the house.

{Traps are such fun when dealing with pesky intruders! And, no, he won't hold the worrying against him. He worries too. It's natural.

He comes to a full stop, expression one of open wonder - and is that delight? - at the size of the scythe (and the fact that it could be so...compact).}

You truly can reap. {The shine of the blade speaks of being well-cared for and his smile softens a bit.} Is it a friend?

[somakemelaugh]

[Which is why he doesn't trust! How is he to know?]

He does have his father's cunning. I will grant him that. My lord has taught him well.

[He trails to a stop a few steps after Vincent, bemused at his shock.] It is a friend to my friends, but I don't use it unless I must.

[earlofphantoms]

{They only bite him if they are confused!}

I plan to teach him more. I prepared his brother specifically and, perhaps, I should have included him.

{It's an oversight that he hopes to repair. The scythe, however, distracts him from the various lessons he wishes to impart.}

I imagine that blade can cut through a person or two. {Or a ship.} Am I in danger?

[somakemelaugh]

[He doesn't know when they're confused!]

Now you have time enough to begin again in that, if you so desire. He may even be agreeable to it.

[But if Vincent is distracted, he'll let him be. He can't help but think of fathers showing off their weapons stash to sons in another place and time, perhaps to teach them how to use and maintain such items.] Oh, no, my lord. It can give you a nasty cut, but I would never swipe it at you. This stays with me always, so your son is in no danger of hurting himself on it.

[earlofphantoms]

{...neither do they. They tend to find it out belatedly.}

He seemed to be when we spoke of it. But I've thought it best to wait until we are acquainted again.

{Because the lessons will be easier to bear - even when they seem cruel. Some of said cruel lessons do include weapons, which is why Vincent asks if he should perhaps start running? No, it totally makes sense.}

I'd worry more about me hurting myself on it. {Inspecting it. Trying to pick it up. It's neat.}

[somakemelaugh]

[See? See! No trust.]

A wise decision. You seem to be doing well enough with him now. [At least from where he's standing. He'll allow Vincent to hold the scythe, and it's no small thing for him to permit this. No one touches his death scythe but him, and, just for this once, Vincent.] Please do be careful with the edges, my lord. It was made to cut more than skin. Not impossible for you to heal from, but I'm not eager to see you in that process, whatever happens.

[earlofphantoms]

{They are getting better at it?}

I hope so. He is precious to me. {He will be very careful with the scythe, sensing deep memories embedded within it. It's also heavy and he shakes his head in wonder that Undertaker can wield it so easily.} Can souls be cut?

[somakemelaugh]

[Nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn- maybe.]

As he should be. [He watches Vincent examine the scythe and has a brief image of the Earl in his mind with spectacles and bright green eyes. What a terrible thought.] They can, but the scythe is more used to release and help collect souls. If a soul is cut, it can still heal, but sometimes it's necessary to subdue someone, like an arrest.

[earlofphantoms]

{No, he decides, this isn't a suitable weapon for him. The scythe belongs, entirely, to Undertaker. Vincent gives a small smile as he returns it to its rightful owner.}

Can you subdue demons?

[somakemelaugh]

[He takes the scythe back in one hand and watches it slip back into its wooden sotoba as he does. It fades away, like sand in an hourglass, as he lifts it to place it back between his shirt and his back where it stays, and he turns to continue slowly down the way.]

I'm not yet sure. I've certainly been able to cause one great harm with it, but I was interrupted in my efforts to slay the beast.