The Pumpkin King moves in! [open/intro]

Slowly, the Ambassador of Dies Irae opened his eyes, gentle morning light being the first impression that this day had to offer for him. The second one was a searing, pulsating pain that coursed through his chest, the silver-haired man instinctively narrowing his eyes, his brows furrowed, an intense glare locked at his ceiling as he exhaled, parting with an agonized sigh. It had not been long since he had been poisoned by that ... creature, whatever she was, though the healing process had as of yet failed to set in, a fact that, for Johann especially, was more alarming than anything else. The bandages around his chest constricted his breathing somewhat, the wound her claws had left still fresh, and occasionally, still bleeding. Only with some effort did the man manage to lift himself up and off his bed, his head throbbing with every short breath he drew. His joints ached, and his body felt weak. Where Johann had needed very little to no sleep at all, he had the feeling he had slept almost continuously for the past couple of days.

The Ambassador blinked, his tired eyes scanning his room. He was thirsty, but knew that he didn't have anything other than bland tap water in his apartment. Instead, he longed for an Earl Grey, though would most likely have to make the trip to the Mess Hall to get one, a considerable distance in his poisoned state ...

It couldn't be helped. If he wanted something decent to drink, even if it meant agony, even if it meant being seen by his guildmates in this sorry state, he'd have to get up and get it himself. Well, he probably didn't have to get it himself, but he had some sense of pride left in him. A God of Ishgar that couldn't even fetch a tea for himself? Pathetic. Well, it wasn't like the fact that he had allowed himself to be poisoned by that dragon-girl from Rakshasa wasn't already pathetic in itself. Joh felt his anger well up inside him, but it quickly flickered out. He simply didn't have the energy. No matter, there would be some other time.

The Rune Mage, more haphazardly than not, placed the hat that usually complimented his uniform on his head to hide the messy strands of argent-colored hair underneath, throwing his black uniform coat over his shoulders, black silk pants completing the "outfit". Under the coat, his chest, apart from the bandages, was bare. It was anything but a presentable state, but it would be good enough, at least. With not much more thought, the man got up and left into the hallway of the East Wing, the Mess Hall in the East Wing being his destination.

Naturally, he had to traverse the Throne Hall in order to get there. Luckily, it didn't seem like today would be a particularly busy day, the occasional Soldier passing the slumped Ambassador who was happy to be left alone. And left alone he would be, well, at least until he reached the Throne Hall.

A particularly loud noise ripped the man from his pained thoughts, tired, sunken eyes instinctively whipping around to the marble archway at the entrance. The loud noise, a yell, had thrown his already disorientated sense of hearing into yet more diarray, a heavy ringing echoing through his head, the man wincing in response, quickly stepping closer to the new arrival. "Yes, yes, hello, welcome. Please, for the love of all gods, a little less ... enthusiasm would be appropriate", Johann almost hissed, realizing that his tone had not just been not exactly appropriate, it had also made him sound like a somewhat bourgeois old-man. He took a deep breath, a stinging, burning sensation pulsing through his torso. "My apologies. I'm sure you have business with the guild. Can I help you?", he asked in a fashion that had almost become routine for him, though his appearance, of course, was anything but standard, still, however, giving the man a look-over with curious, albeit somewhat dull eyes.

---

Word Count: 676
Word Count Total: 676
Thread Word Count: 1,312