[b]The man before Alon... Well... He was different. Beyond different. He was bizarre. But he held a kind of weirdo charm, like something from Alice in Wonderland.[/b] [b]He was, without much effort, 6'3 and thin, but still decently muscular. He had tanned skin, not quite like Alon's, rather more caked by the sun. To crest his head was long spiky blonde hair that poked out in all directions. But that's where the normal stuff ended. Next came the eyes... Yellow pools with pupils like a cat's... And of course the jaw. A metal augment, with sharpened teeth that was held in place by two clamps running up his cheeks and down his neck. From there, was a metal neck, eventually hidden by a white t-shirt. His attire was strange too, a tacky olive green fur coat with a massive hood over his previously mentioned shirt. And of corse baggy jeans and massive fur boots. Upon his lower metal jaw and still intact upper lip was a simple smile. He wasn't very attractive... But he wasn't unattractive either... Just very plain... Besides the otherworldly commodities.[/b] [spoiler]https://i.imgur.com/mZui5GQ[/spoiler] [i]"Damien... Damien Lordan. Lance told me about you... And some others... And Lana said she thought you were interesting... I like interesting... So I figured I'd come find you eventually. Just happened to be passing through."[/i] [b]It was highly unlikely he was just 'passing through', but he wasn't about to discuss that.[/b] [i]"I see your point. I don't know... I have hero story syndrome... I hear the tales and suddenly I assume you don't struggle like the rest... Burdens, right?"[/i] [b]He shrugged, his hands buried deep into his large coat pockets as he spoke, the wind ruffling his hair, revealing a bio-sensor right above his right temple, grafted into his skin.[/b] [i]"Well, besides that, it's a pleasure to meet you."[/i] [b]Damien padded forward, slipping his right hand from his pocket, which was covered in long hands of cloth... Much like Lana. He extended the hand, his eyes narrowing to slits.[/b] [b]And the more Alon looked, the more he realized the presence he gave off wasn't magical or psionic. Damien wasn't a mage or telepath... He was simply a man with plenty of burdens... And so, such burdens leaked out spiritually.[/b]

[i]That was when he finally linked the presence to something familiar; his dark arts. Dark magic, elder magic, evil tomes, necromancy. They all fed on negative emotions, burdens... the practice irked him. And even though this man didn't practice it, the vibe he gave off was similar. One of uneasiness; of extreme burden, hardships, pain, and sorrow. Extending his hand out, Alon smiled as he shook Damien's hand.[/i] A pleasure to meet you too, Damien. You seem like an interesting man yourself; and coincidentally, I like interesting too. [i]The grin of a boy lit up on his face; as much as he was wise, the vestiges of a child still lurked in Alon's eyes. The boy was an anomaly to him, someone that couldn't be taken at face value like the stories did. As much as Damien was intrigued, Alon was too. The bit saying he had met Lance and Lana brought him a bit of peace, and soon the mage was taking this encounter quite seriously; he'd always disliked the way the dark arts felt. Being around this man would help him, in a way. Hopefully.[/i] You say legends bring you to this Dojo... I can tell you many of them are gone. Dead. I lived in the same time they did, fought beside them, and I'm honoured. But I don't understand why you'd seek me, of all people. Lana holds her secrets, Lance has his history. I may be interesting, but not so much so that you'd take the time to talk; although, I am grateful for the opportunity to meet you. I guess I'm just saying your reasoning seems... odd, to me. And as a man who seeks knowledge, that makes me curious. Most wouldn't give me a second thought. [i]His eyes wandered down, but immediately came back up to his; he scanned his yellow irises, searching it seemed. Alon could feel his aura of burden, and with his eyes he looked for it's source.[/i] It's an honour, though. [i]Alon bowed, smiling as he came back up. The formalities made him uncomfortable at times; but there was always exceptions.[/i]

[spoiler]Did the pic work?[/spoiler] [b]Damien returned the bow, his more inspired by the Buddhist ways, a fist crumpling into an open palm before he bent down. Damien had found solace in many things... Religion had been one of those for a time... And he still thought himself as a Buddhist, just a very bad Buddhist...[/b] [i]"Well, I'm a curious guy... And I can appreciate a good talk. If you aren't as interesting as you say you are, I can at least judge for myself. Besides, I'm not stupid... Mostly. I can tell when I've found something good..."[/i] [b]Damien chuckles slightly and looked around at the decimated tree... The destruction reminding him of his old pupil and Ronin.[/b] [i]"Damned to think it I guess. Besides, I'm always up for training and learning... So... I figured I'd come to the experienced side of the table."[/i] [b]His hand eventually returned to its deep pocket, his head tilting slightly so that his right ear was visible... Or what was left of it. It was horribly scarred and maimed.[/b] [b]The thing was, Damien was a prodigy. Bio-medical and weaponry were his greatest assets. He was so good, he could rebuild limbs and bodies, even crest consciousness in previously empty flesh... But his augments and scars were his reminders... So that when his attempts to drown out his past were... Over... He had something to remember himself by. He refused to loose himself.[/b] [i]"Besides, Lana says good things about you, and I value her word implicitly. If she's fond of you, I can put a little faith on the table. Other than that... All I can say is... I disagree. You are one of the legends, if you choose to believe it or not."[/i]

[spoiler]No ( ._.)[/spoiler] [i]Alon shrugged with a smile, laughing lightly. It'd been a while since someone had took interest in him; he was more used to working in the background, never in the spotlight; in his line of self-driven duty, he knew the spotlight was the worst place to be. Yet, the stranger's attention made him feel... wanted, in a way. It was weird; he'd never considered himself something great, only someone who did what he needed to and managed to stay sane and alive while doing so.[/i] Well, I hope whatever I hold or whatever I am satisfies your thirst for knowledge. And experienced...? [i]Listening intently to whatever he said, the mage was suddenly sucked in with whatever knowledge Damien contained as well. The prosthetics and metal ligaments... it intrigued him. Damien obviously held an interesting story, and a knowledge of things beyond his wildest dreams... making an ally was the best decision. Besides, a little information wouldn't hurt. Although, hearing he was a legend put him off guard. Up there with those who he admired... who came with him to such a place and took the spotlight he loathed so much... only to be taken from his life. And the more he thought on it, the more it made sense; in a way, he was one of the only surviving "legends" of his time. One who made a mark without recognition, or reward. One who worked in the background with the greats, and now... he knew he was the only one. But it still put him off; he loathed the spotlight. With a sigh, he just nodded.[/i] I...I-I guess so... I'm not sure though... but you seem convinced, so sure. [i]His humble nature was apparent, and a shy smile creeped across his face.[/i] So tell me, Sir Damien. What is it that you'd like to know? I will try my best to inform you with whatever I can.

[spoiler]Strange... Works for me[/spoiler] [i]"[u]Sir[/u]...? Nah... Damien only please. Then I'll do my best not to call you wiz..."[/i] [b]He responded, deadpan, his humor generally lost to most. Damien wasn't a naturally rude person, just abrasive. Few understood his sarcasm and dry complex.[/b] [b]With a shuffle, he withdrew a small cardboard box from his pocket, flipping open the lid and pulling out a cigarette. Damien's second sin... An incredible addiction to smoking. It's why he had metal lungs...[/b] [b]With a snap of his fingers, a small flame appears on the tip of his left index finger. He moved the flame to the paper roll and waited for it to light, eventually letting out a puff of smoke.[/b] [i]"I guess... I just wanted to see you for myself. Got nothing else to ask really... I e found this place only gives more questions if you go around looking for answers."[/i] [b]He coughed slightly, the cold and smoke dragging on his airway.[/b] [i]"Such a funny thing... I had questions... And now... I don't. So interesting how meeting someone eliminates the unknown. Pffft..."[/i] [b]He looked down at the small box in his hand, suddenly remembering something.[/b] [i]"Wait! I got one...!"[/i] [b]He paused a moment before a stupid grin formed across his strange mouth.[/b] [i]"You smoke?"[/i]

[i]Alon shook his head with a laugh, smiling at the man. He may not have had questions for the mage, but the mage sure had questions for him; yet, oddly, he felt this wasn't the right time. Maybe later he would... but for now, Alon just wanted to learn more of his mannerism; speech, body movements, language in general. It was clear that Damien was a good person now... just a mysteriously curious one, at that.[/i] No, I do not smoke. I try to stay away from nicotine and all that. It'd be a shame to survive so much only to die from a simple object... although, if you do have a cigar on hand, I might give it a try. I've only ever had one, though, it's been a while. [i]Smiling warmly, he felt the warmth from him finding not much of a receiving on his end; the cold, deadpan man in front of him seemed void to such things to him. It reminded the mage of other's who he crossed in his adventures; other's who dealt differently, died differently. Damien's presence alone made Alon feel better, no matter how much so it irked him.[/i] I have a question for you, actually. What weapon's would you say you're proficient in? I mean, we do go to the Dojo; you must have a means to defend yourself if you've survived this long. I'm a mage, so obviously some form of magic. Mainly by some, I mean most. But, more on you, before I get carried away again.

[i]"Hmm. Weapons... I really like firearms. In fact I collect them. Back home, I used to be a prodigy of warfare, so they said... I made a lot of guns and other things... But now I'm a kind of collector. But, I'm good with rifles, sidearms... The like. Good with my knives and swords too... And especially good with my teeth."[/i] [b]Damien suddenly lets out a very long tongue, with a pointed tip, tuning it along his lower jaw before retracting the massive muscle. He was right though... The teeth were sharpened for a reason... And it probably wasn't to eat fruit.[/b] [i]"Not a magic user... But I do has a few gifts too... But I got to have secrets, so I'll leave that to your imagination."[/i] [b]He grins, eyes twinkling with mischief as another puff of smoke exits his nostrils, the ends flaring slightly as the smoke burns his air cavities. Such pain used to be a bad sign, but Damien felt it every time... And it just grew to habit.[/b] [i]"What about you? I know your a mage, it weapon wise, what are you packing?"[/i]

Weapons? Oho, I have weapons... [i]The mage grinned happily, recalling the collection of items he used or didn't, had loved and had hated. He found himself proficient enough in each weapon category; firearms, blades, polearms, daggers, anything that could kill he could usually figure out how to use.[/i] One does not simply rely on one tactic alone to win a battle; to survive, you must adapt. Change, predict, and prepare. I do not solely rely on magic since the moment I did that I'd be at a loss. You could say I'm a jack-of-all-trades. Although, unlike those commonly referred to under the term, I am highly proficient in most that I do if I can say so myself. [i]His teeth frightened the mage a little, a nasty side thought of Damien taking a chunk of his existing arm out plaguing his mind. Thankfully it left as quickly as it came, and the mage idly moved his hands in flowing motions like water; and out of the corner of Damien's eye, he could see crystal clear water snaking up from the ground in the shape of a coil. Alon's hands seemed to shape it's destination from afar, and soon, many of those strands of almost seaweed-like strands of liquid rose from the ground like the ocean floor itself. With a calm wiping of his hand through the air, the water froze; like little snakes protruding from the snow, the small spirals stayed still, a beautiful if not eerie form of art.[/i] As for magic, anything you can name I can accomplish at some degree. Elemental manipulation, bending, runes, tomes, sigils, artifacts, rifts, summoning, etcetera etcetera. Alchemy is more scientific, though, one could say it's magic. Though, the rest will stay a mystery as well. [i]The mage liked the game he played; the veil of mystery couldn't just be one sided, and Alon felt well reciprocating his own words.[/i]