Strange Cellarfellows

[littlekreen]

Though the creatures toiled away on the central axis the world also trundles on. The building they used was old and though the interior had changed the exterior lay very worn. This mostly a problem that they could not spend long outside unsupported so their efforts were minimal and relegated to nighttime that their labor did not draw too much notice. Occasionally a resident would break a window and replacement proved a matter of critical importance. An occasional gush bringing unwanted eyes of mages sniffing for the strange gout of energy. Diffused and subdued under the veil and the location made random wanderings by mages particularly hazardous.

Rumors sprouted underneath them in with the virtue of simply being good stewards of the building that they made a reputation for themselves. Though they hadn't given a name to the tenants one was made for them through gossip. Gangs tried to assert their territory. Entering the building at night to encounter the creatures that had paid for the building in gold. Bullets exchange for woe as the Jinhai's clothing sprout holes leading to darkness engaging attackers. After a curt conversation while carrying one by the neck proved something of a boogeyman. After a chat on one of their cell phones agreed not to interfere in each other's business. Soon named 'hollow men' more after the poem than anything as the dust-bleeding Jinhai sent intruders packing with a few dark purple handprints and courtesy bag of intact bullets.

Though detectives eventually came to look at the call of gunshots the humankind they'd hired as steward kept the stranger places of the building from them. The residents of no particular goodwill toward the police either. Immigration came and went but simply found empty rooms where apartments once were. Records meticulously kept pertaining to cash payments for rent of no forwarding addresses. As for more ardent pursuers of the state, Jinhai reorganized labyrinthine passages from within to protect their tenants. They were loyal to Rome and to Humankind but neither to the State nor to Heaven. The Ratoraskr a simple necessity to prevent further degradation. Though they still paid their taxes. The mages that did show up Myrkul decided simply to refuse to see them and locked such beings outside.

Outside the building rather a void to them as space comparatively devoid of natural energies. Veil atop it an obstruction to flows at near exclusion -- at least from their estimation. Though the building Jinhai maintained sustains a controlled environment the field of magic there was a thing partly cold and metallic to the touch. The wild energies interacting with something very foreign with an intense hostility for chaotic natures. Though the natural flow could pass inside their walls kept much of the efforts inside. Though ever on the look for leaks concreting ectoplasm inside as a result. This was what Molly sampled.

[littlekreen]

The tenuous truce came and went uneventfully between the local criminals that considered the building in their territory. Much to their credit in those greedy eyes, the creatures had no interest in any sort of moralistic crusade and permitted 'deliveries' on their turf. Their power, while something also of value, the creatures guarded quite more ardently. Strong objections occasionally made against those engaging in violence on the property met with 'discussions' to which both parties maintained a cordial relationship.

Though the apartment building garnered police attention with the occasional interest in strange reports involving the area and rumors of the truce among cholos. That took the heat off of other less neutral habits of the citizenry to which point neither party made efforts to dispel. Though eventually through repeated observation of clandestine nightly maintenance found something other than illicit substances of their interest. Just nightly arrivals of metal and mechanical scrap instead of drugs the expected given the connection. Lacking any related evidence or even meets between any of the cholos enforcement dropped their interest in the building's strange habits. Left with wary curiosity passed their suspicions on to the MCU along with a being in what resembled a pastel blue space suit replacing a window in the dead of night entirely unlit.

Residents warmed to cold creatures through daily habits about the building through nothing else than their unoppressive demeanor. That led to occasional questions absent any ire to which these thick shirted individuals in overalls were evasive but not vindictive. Inhuman, even to the simplest dweller, led many to question Los Jefes' about themselves or the nature of the unseen. They remained evasive about much of that or lacked knowledge of new developments but answered objectively otherwise. Most pertinent questions went as to Los Jefes' assessments of threats for which many worried about spirits cursing them or places. The notion repeatedly said to some that if any wraiths or ghosts attempt to enter the building, the hulking supervisors could shoot them, led to mixed emotions in many. On the one hand, these deadly spirits were not stories like the news now debated but that their new building owners were calm and ready to defend them.

Though people talk, and any good criminal keeps informants close to potential enemies, so the word of this particular thing made its way back to the gangsters. Violence and murder as unavoidable consequences of their life the recent destabilized veil created problems for such places. A spacious basement with a violent spirit and creatures that could shoot them? A particular reluctant caretaker called to get what they needed from Los Jefes. The monotone voice in reply was wholly ignorant of the threatening tone used to garner their service. Jinhai asked for nothing but a means of secure transport and scrap metal as payment.

Knowing pause left a smile where neither could see them, "And what if there should be a mess inside, eh? Do you expect me to clean it too?"

"We have no need for additional carbon. Only metals of various types for repairs. Any remaining ash from processing will be appropriately disposed of. Deliver to the rear garage." Answered an unmoving monotone with a cold phrasing that tended to defy eavesdropping by its nature.

The predatory fellow's instincts said these creatures would have no qualms about a dead body. Especially if unrecognizable when contacting police was something they clearly didn't want to be doing. The Jinhai, as a creature lacking such impulses, took the offer at face value. He was right, of course, as Jinhai did not consider a dead body to be humankind anymore. Dicta only covered the will of the living. Something the dead or undead were no longer part of.

Smooth voice restrained its hostility, sensing they could not see it, not that they did not care, "We'll drop by to pick you up to dispose of my pest problem. Be ready by noon tomorrow. We'll bring some scrap for you too."