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Azrael was a new proxy at the manor, that Slenderman had recruited. He'd been introduced to everyone but Eyeless Jack, but he's seen him around. Right now, EJ was sitting in a tree, having a light snack (a liver) when he heard cursing and rustling.
A running, panicked man stumbled into view, panting and covering his side, clearly injured from the amount of blood staining his clothes and hand. He debated if he wanted to take care of him or let someone else do it when another person, who just so happened to be the new proxy, followed after the man who stumbled, carrying a weapon splattered in blood.
"Huh." Eyeless Jack thought to himself, watching from above in his spot in the tree. He didn't know Slenderman wanted another Jeff.
The proxy chased after the man desperately, before stabbing him to death with a knife. Now that it was in view, he had no doubt about it that Slenderman had hired another Jeff. Seriously, it was the most cliche weapon in the world, and the (Kid? Man?), looked joyous doing it.
".. fucking bitch, stealing my cigarettes, you practically asked for this," Azrael hissed out as he withdrew his knife, and flipped over the man to grab a box of cigarettes from his hand. Promptly taking one out of the box, and lighting it. A satisfied sigh escaping him as he took a long drag.
Eyeless Jack raised an eyebrow at the scene. He had expected the new proxy to be more, professional. But then again, almost everyone was insane and not the cleanest. Here he was, standing over a dead body all because the man stole his cigarettes. It was honestly sort of amusing.
"Well isn't that just fucking adorable," He muttered to himself dryly.
The proxy seemed to have heard him though, and glanced up in the direction of the tree Eyeless Jack had been sitting in. EJ took quick notice, a grin forming underneath his mask as he noticed the defensive nature that bloomed once again. The proxy had his knife gripped up tightly, with white knuckles as he exhaled the smoke from his cigarette. He stared back at the other proxy with mistrusting eyes as if scoping him out.
"Who the hell are you?" He hissed out, lightly kicking the body aside. The dude barely sounded over the age of 17! Slenderman had to have been running out of people, because damn!
"Eyeless Jack." He replied simply, leaning forward slightly. The empty eye sockets of his mask seeming to bore into the new proxy. Azrael tensed more, not sure if he could even take on the man in a fight with how he towered over him. Even if he was in the tree.
EJ noticed how he gripped the knife like it was his only friend in the world, and smirked to himself. This would be fun.
"You're the new proxy, aren't you?"
Azrael barely relaxed at that. His head was starting to hurt. How the hell did the guy even see him? He didn't even have eyes! Either that, or he needed to wear glasses.
"Yeah," He mumbled, tilting his head as he took in the man's appearance a bit more. He was creepy, but dressed plainly. Black hoodie, pants, few stains on the clothing. Honestly, that was sad, in his opinion. Who didn't wash their clothes?
"What's it to you?"
He snapped out quickly afterward, taking another drag from his cigarette. He couldn't let his guard down.
"Nothing much." He shrugged nonchalantly, hopping down from the tree branch with ease. His boots hitting the forest floor silently. He took a step closer to Azrael, his presence alone seeming to command attention. Luckily, it was just dark enough outside to hide his pale gray skin.
"Just wondering why Slendy recruited someone so..."
Azrael took a step back, glaring at him as he tried to approach. He didn't really trust him. He didn't trust anyone, for that matter. So why would he trust the ridiculously tall, weird talking, stalking man, who was just flat out weird?
"So what, huh? Got something to say, then spit it out,"
Azrael took another drag of his cigarette, more aggressively, and then proceeded to choke on the smoke. So much for intimidation.
"You're too loud." He commented dryly, reaching out to snatch the cigarette from Azrael's mouth, and successfully doing so. "And you're too fucking short." EJ added, bringing the cigarette to his lips. He took a long drag before exhaling smoke.
"You're kinda annoying, honestly," He finished, leaning back against the tree he'd jumped down from.
Azrael would've complained, but he was still struggling to breathe again when he stole his cigarette. His hands resting on his knees as he regained his bearings.
Who did this guy think he was?
"Loud, I'm loud? Bitch, I can show you loud," Azrael suddenly snapped out, before lunging toward the man for his cigarette back.
"nce he took it back, he took another drag of it, and stumbled backwards before he could get gripped up himself.
"And, annoying my ass! You're the one watching me like a creep."
Eyeless Jack laughed humorlessly, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet forest. Azrael felt a chill run up his spine that he shook off just as fast.
He didn't move to grab the cigarette again, instead, he just stood there, his empty eye sockets seemingly staring at Azrael.
"I'm not watching you like a creep, you stupid shit."
"Yeah, yeah sure, who else just watches someone kill a man for cigarettes quietly, right?"
He hissed out as he finished the cigarette off, putting it out against the corpse below him. While at it, he took the rest of the cigarettes from the pack and put them in his pocket, although making a slight grimace at the blood left on the box. Better yet, at the blood staining his hoodie now. He felt like a hypocrite for the words he thought of prior.
EJ, of course, noticed the slight grimace at the blood left on the cigarette box and raised an eyebrow slightly. Again, something even more amusing to poke fun at!
"You're weirdly squeamish for someone who just stabbed a man to death."
Azrael just huffed a sigh at that, rolling his eyes as he snapped his fingers and the body disappeared. Huh. That must've been why Slenderman recruited him. He's got magic, apparently. Either that, or he's drunk as fuck.
"That was adrenaline talking," He mumbled, feeling his stomach flip as he noticed the blood on his hands. "You got any water so I can wash this off?"
It was an odd sight, considering he just threatened to fight the man. He had to have been on something.
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small silver flask, not offering it directly but holding it loosely in his hand.
"Water? Out here? No. Got vodka though. Cuts the stench of blood better than water anyway."
Azrael seemed to brighten a bit at that, and took the flask. Of course the kid would be excited at vodka, hell, anyone should've been.
"Eh, better than water anyway.." He murmured as he then cleaned the blood off his hands delicately. Then he chugged the rest of the flask in one go before giving it back.
"Woah, is that 100 proof? 'Cause, holy shit, that's strong for once!"
Eyeless Jack watched with a small smirk as Azrael drank the vodka down. He took the flask back and slipped it back into his pocket, noting the fact that the kid just drank the rest of it. Fuck him for that, but whatever.
"100 proof is easy for me, my tolerance is pretty high," He shrugged, watching Azrael with an odd curiosity.
"Dude, that's the maximum proof. You're crazy." He said with a grin, seeming to loosen up a bit finally as he pulled out another cigarette (as well as his phone, and glanced at his phone.
"Ah, shit, I gotta start heading back to the mansion."
"Slenderman's, right?"
"What fucking ever, you coming?" He said as he turned around, taking a quick glance at the man as he began to walk without waiting for an answer.
And before he could go too long in silence, the proxy murmured,
"The name's Azrael, by the way."
EJ let out a hum at that, just so he knew he'd heard him. That meant a lot to the kid, probably. He seemed to be the antsy type.
He fell into step beside Azrael as they walked back to the mansion, his presence a silent and somewhat intimidating companion. He probably warded off any other person trying to ruin their silence. As they walked, he kept glancing at Azrael out of the corner of his non-existent eyes, studying the younger proxy's much more relaxed posture.
Azrael, in short, was unpredictable so far. It was without a doubt to him that he had a short temper, but he also seemed easily pleased. But, he also seemed to have addictions. But, what proxy didn't? They all were crazy in the head somewhere. Even if that meant he was just a fucking BITC—
As they approached the manor in the woods, he put out his cigarette. Jack noted how easily Azrael seemed to slip back into his comfortable routine, putting out his cigarette automatically before entering the house where smoking was forbidden. It showed familiarity and obedience that surprised him.
Of course, it seemed the only person Azrael obeyed was Slenderman himself. Considering it was his mansion, obviously he'd respect it. That would take anyone by surprise, though.
Opening the door, he saw Hoody and Masky conversing at a table. Azrael preferred to ignore the chatter. No wonder he hadn't had a chance to talk to Azrael this whole time. The kid stayed to himself. It was so weird, seeing the kid's life from this angle.
"I'm uh, gonna head to my room. We just finished setting it up a few days ago, so, uh, yeah." The younger proxy huffed out, before going up the stairs. He paused though, turning back around to look at Eyeless Jack.
"I got a few bottles if you wanna drink later tonight." He murmured, the invitation silent, but not unwelcome.
Eyeless Jack paused mid-step, his head turning towards Azrael as the proxy invited him to drink later. A flicker of something that might have been surprise crossed his featureless face before he nodded almost imperceptibly.
"I might take you up on that."
Azrael grinned lowly, before walking up the stairs, expecting his new.. friend, in a few hours.