From the outward appearance of Merlynn’s apartment it was hard to imagine someone would live in such a building. Bricks rose from sidewalk to tower several stories tall. Most of the windows were barred and boarded aside from the large balconies that circled the top floor. Hiro let out a quaint whistle in appreciation as he followed the brick up to the roof. “You live here? I figured the famed sister of Morgana would have more of an elegant home.” Hiro pondered aloud. “Hey man you can always sleep out here in a box with Homeless Joe. I’m sure, he’d love the company especially since Lieutenant Danny got gobbled up by that Thermoid last week.” Gloria retorted pushing a fist into her hip. “What’s a Thermoid?” Hiro asked as they walked into the building stopping at a long staircase that disappeared into the distance above. “Nasty sightless shadow creatures that hunt by smelling heat.” Merlynn teased wiggling fingers in front of her face mimicking tendrils. Hiro's face flushed white as terrifying images flooded his mind. “You guys are just pulling my leg, right?” Hiro nervously asked as the girls quickly turned and headed for the stairs. “Uh excuse me young Mistress. The elevator repairs have been completed.” An antiquated looking gentleman that could have easily passed for the stereotypical white old butler leaned forward slightly and directed his monotone voice towards Merlynn. “Sweet! I guess miracles do happen sometimes.” Merlynn giggled as she passed by the man stepping into an ornate elevator lift and waving everyone else in. The old man turned and bowed slightly once more as the lift buzzed and began its ascent.
When the lift finally reached the top, it stopped at a large shutter door. “Home sweet home! Why do I ever leave you?” Merlynn bemoaned as she made a quick gesture with her hand and the shutter door creaked once. Slightly irked Merlynn then repeated the gesture this time with more irritation and the shutter door spat dust as it slammed to the top. Immediately a ramshackle assortment of junk clattered to the floor spilling into the lift. “Wow I assume there’s more junk where this came from?” Hiro asked in sincere amazement. “Excuse me princess, I’ve been a bit busy and this lift hasn’t worked in months. You know what? You can clean this up later Hiro.” Merlynn shot Hiro a snide look. “Still knowing your one of Morgana's creations that makes sense. Everything is junk to her. Never once respected my things. The bitch.” Merlynn mused to herself as she entered her apartment stepping over scattered objects.
The lift had opened in a less used portion of Merlynn’s apartment which she had been using primarily for storage. Aside from the junk that had spilled into the lift, most things she had stored here were of magical and monetary value. A staff imbued with runes with from top to bottom with complex sigils leaned in a corner resting on it a large red gem fastened at its top. A handful of assorted masks and shields from different countries, lay stacked atop an oaken barrel, each glowing softly with a different magical aura. An array of guns hung neatly on the wall ranging from a modern UMP9 to a blunderbuss ripped straight from the hands of a 1760’s Frenchman. Lastly three different longswords rested in a large Chinese vase up to their hilts alongside mundane umbrellas.
“NO WAY! Is that…surely not…there is no way you would treat a legendarysword like Excalibur the same way you’d treat an umbrella!” Hiro exclaimed rushing to the large vase and pulling out a longsword with a simple looking hilt. The blade sang and hummed with energy as he held the magic sword aloft. Suddenly simple runes began to flicker to life on the blade one after another as he lowered the sword slightly into a two-handed grip. The electricity in the room buzzed as the lights dimmed. In fact, the sword itself seemed to be devouring the nearby shadows and replacing them with a brilliant light emanating from the blade itself. “You are not worthy.” A soft stern voice neither male nor female echoed in his mind as the power emanating from the sword quickly dispersed with an audible thunk. “Duuude!” Hiro exclaimed in grin splitting excitement. Before he could test the sword further, Merlynn rushed him snatching the sword away. Suddenly words filled her head. “Worthy One, raise me aloft and call forth my name so we shall bond and slay the wicked, the corrupt, the…” The blade ignited once more this time enveloping the entire apartment in brilliant white light.
“Oh, shut it Cal, slay the damned blah blah we get it.” Merlynn shushed the sword as she sheathed it back into the vase its powerful emanation snuffing like a candle. She then turned to Hiro furrowing her brow in sheer annoyance. As Hiro shrugged still wearing a grin Merlynn rubbed at her temples. “Hands in pockets if you can’t keep them to yourself.” Merlynn sighed loudly as she made her way out of the room and into the adjacent kitchen. Abbey, Gloria, and Hiro followed in suite with Abbey and Gloria continuing into the den. Hiro stood awkwardly as Merlynn set water to boil and retrieved her cigarettes from her tiny kitchen window. She then gestured with her off hand causing the window to open halfway and lit her cigarette. After a long drag followed by a satisfied exhale, she then reached into the cabinet pulling out a bottle swaddled in cloth.
Hiro then watched as she poured a shot of golden liquor into a glass handing it to him then turned up the bottle chugging a few large gulps. “What’s this?” Hiro asked quaintly. “Glorious Booze. Specifically, Balvenie Doublewood aged a beautifully seventeen years.” Merlynn smiled as the liquor began quickly working through her system. She then blushed a bit followed by a hiccup. Hiro swirled the golden liquid a few times before committing to downing it then upon doing so he quickly realized that alcohol didn’t agree with his composition. His whole body twisted like wringing out a wet cloth then snapped back to his original form if slightly plumper and greener. “Oh, please don’t get sick.” Merlynn pleaded watching Hiro twist and contort then reshaping over and over. Finally, he snapped out of it becoming completely intoxicated with a slack grin on his face. Showhat are we gonna do now brain?” Hiro asked with heavy breath. “ The same thing I do every night, Pinky.” Merlynn sniggered taking another quick swig from her bottle before replacing it in the cabinet. “Huh?” Hiro swayed in confusion as Merlynn walked off laughing.
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Merlynn danced around her apartment collecting items while jamming to heavy metal music, her headphones bumping with each base drop. Bits of silver, pinches of aged herbs, and jars of handmade poultice all stacked haphazardly on her arm, teetered as she continued grooving through the organized mess of her apartment. Abbey and Gloria sat in the den posted up on a large memory foam bean bag couch, PlayStation controllers in hand and thumbs beating furiously into buttons. Hiro watched in amazement as they played, never having seen such a thing. “What’s this?” He asked sitting down beside Abbey. “It's Tekken! One of my favorite fighting games ever!” Abbey replied in a bubbly voice. Gloria grunted then stood suddenly, her eyes glued to the screen. “You're not getting me this time bitch!” Gloria shouted as a resounding ‘KO' roared onto the screen. “Bitch!?! Okay rematch I’m pulling out my main!” Abbey barked in embarrassment. “What’s a main?” Hiro asked full of intrigue. “It’s the main character she plays as, Lili.” Gloria responded with a dissatisfied grunt.
Hiro nodded then sat quietly watching the next match. As the match began Abbey wasted no time in thrashing Gloria’s character achieving a perfect in the first round. then a drug out blow for blow match with Gloria emerging the victor. Finally, the last match came, and Hiro could not believe his eyes as Abbey started a combo from near the beginning of the match till the final blow cementing her victory with another perfect. Hiro sat stunned unsure what to say till Gloria broke the teeth gritting silence. “Aaaahhhhuuuughhh damn you!” Gloria screamed in a blood curdling rage. Hiro flashed a few shades of white as Gloria turned several shades of red. With the tiniest of squeaks Hiro spoke up. “May…may I try?” He squeaked meekly. Suddenly Gloria’s rage dissipated in a puff of steam. “Sure, here you press these to move your character and change how you attack. You press these over here to attack. Pressing certain combinations will do throws and other stuff. Have fun!” Gloria instructed Hiro pointing to each button as she explained them. “Who should I pick?” Hiro asked as he flipped through each character selection. “Whoever speaks to you most, I guess. Each character plays different for the most part aside from throw combinations, everyone has those.” Abbey answered as she selected her character. Hiro nodded choosing his character as well. “Yoshimitsu? Erm well how to say this, he’s not an easy character to grasp.” Abbey said weakly with a smile as the match began. Abbey danced around Hiro’s character as he tried several different combinations of attacks and directional input until the first round came to an end with Abbey claiming victory. As the second round begin a light flickered in Hiro’s eyes. What happened next was unprecedented. “Yoshimitsu wins…perfect!” the screen called out triumphantly. “What…just happened?” Abbey asked her voice rattled. “Looks like you just got your ass handed to you.” Gloria leaned in with a wicked smile. “Final Round…FIGHT!” The screen called again pulling Abbey’s eyes back to the fight. Abbey poured in every strategy and technique she knew however she could not touch Hiro's Yoshimitsu. The match came to a nail-biting end with Hiro being victorious once more.
Abbey stared on in disbelief, her mouth agape. “Beginner's luck?” Hiro suggested rubbing the backside of his head with a nervous smile. As Abbey’s face dissolved from shock into anger the controller in her hands creaked and popped from the sheer force she was exerting. “Hey Abbs chill on the controllers those are not cheap.” Gloria snorted with laughter. Upon those words the controller snapped in half with ease as Abbey turned red furiously fuming. “HIRO WOULD YOU COME HERE PLEASE?” Merlynn’s voice rang out from her bedroom. “Ohhh you got so lucky. Go on now git before Abs here puts the breaks on you.” Gloria giggled as she plopped down beside Abbey producing another controller and giving it to her. “Come on, let’s play Stardew Valley and go terrorize the villagers.” Gloria spoke to Abbey in a calming smile as Hiro slowly and stealthily slipped away.
Merlynn’s room wasn’t more than a few feet from the den however her voice sounded far off when she had called for Hiro. As he approached the door, he noticed it slightly open and could hear awkward noises coming from inside. With a hard gulp and blushed face, he shakily reached out for the doorknob when suddenly he heard a moan. With a lecherous grin on his face, he shot forward with newfound courage only to meet immediate and shocking resistance. He recoiled with a shriek as his body quivered from the jolt he received. “My bad! Forgot to lower the ward.” Merlynn’s voice snickered behind the door. As Hiro regained control despite his flustered face, he heard a soft chime ring. “You can come in now.” Merlynn giggled abruptly spurting snorts. Hiro hesitated only once then strode in like a man with a cause. “You madam are a dick.” Hiro scoffed cursing as he squinted in the much dimmer light of Merlynn's room. He then made a gesture of touching his eyes and without a word his eyes shifted in the darkness. The room suddenly became much clearer to him now with his eyes adjusted to low light vision. In front of him stood an elaborate wardrobe inlaid from top to bottom with runes. To his left he saw a queen sized oaken carved bed, its comforter and sheets a wild mess with various precarious articles of clothing crumpled up in the folds.
To the left of the bed hugging the wall was a long dresser with so many odds and ends on it he wasn’t sure if it was all magic related or not aside from the few empty liquor bottles. “Balvenie, I’d almost assume it’s all she drank.” Hiro smiled thinking to himself. To the right of the bed hanging on the wall was Merlynn's trench coat and steepled hat. In the corner sat an odd-looking shrubbery atop a simple bedside nightstand. “Hey, shut the door would ya?” Merlynn’s voice rang out from further away. “Where are you?” Hiro called as he stepped further into the room. He then noticed the wardrobe was sitting at an angle and could feel a breeze coming from it. Upon further inspection he realized that the wardrobe was a functioning hidden door that led into a descending stairwell. “Merlynn if you plan on killing me, I swear I’ll haunt you somehow. Creepy stairs leading down into creepy darkness.” Hiro muttered to himself as he descended, his footsteps clanging against the metal stairs with each step.