Afflicted by the past (open to ST members)

'Why... why now!'

Outside of the guild, on the large balcony that eventually lead to the entrance. Was standing Frederick, clamping one of his hands around the railing while his other hand was on his head. That he grabbed so hard as if he was trying to pulled out his own thoughts. A strange sight, especially since Frederick hood was pulled backwards and hung loosely on his back. Revealing a tired face with raven black hair that was waved backwards. However the face had a complicated look what was covered with sweat and eyes that were opened wide.

Fredericks thought's were raging through his mind, memories, regrets and maybe even guilt. The fact was that Frederick is trying to recall every memory he had in his mind, any regret or mundane moment that happened in his life. And as loud as possible, only so that he could quell something else that laid dormant inside of him. An unsatisfying hunger, a gluttonous craving for the source of life itself. It was a plaque that he casted himself into after he lost the battle in the Spooky Forest. It had turned him mad and made him walk around Fiore depleting every living being he'd encountered. Something he thought that was buried the moment Zenshin saved him from himself, yet lately he started to feel the same hunger again.

He tried to ignore it, hoping it was just nothing more then a fluke. But the more he'd ignored it the louder it got. And eventually it started to trouble his mind. Repeating words over and over again. 'Hunger...life force..devour..'
It became unbearable, enough so he had to drag himself out of the guild. Evading everyone he encountered on the way. Afraid that if they came to close he would immediately start draining them.

Of all the people who would track down the former dark lord in his re-surfacing darkened state no-one would have suspected that Marick Lowell, the man who'd fought Frederick on two separate occasions, would be the one to find him first. It wasn't his role as the guild's ace that made him follow his former adversary, nor was it any thought of revenge. All thoughts were cast aside as the older man walked towards the balcony and, without a word, leaned onto the railing and looked out at the skies before them. The Solitaire glanced over at his recent ally and released a quiet sigh as he took in the sorry sight of the man. He looked worn out and stressed, yet it seemed the stress was unrelated to the guild he was now a part of. No...the look of anxiety in his wide eyes showed that is was something considerably less trivial than simply a sudden change of environment.

Marick looked away again, his eyes not giving any signs of...well, anything really. His facial expression gave no hint of any kind of emotion, respect nor hatred. It was simply a neutral one so as not to give Frederick any inkling as to Marick's motives here. "You look rough." he spoke finally, the tone of his voice as emotionless as his expression. He wasn't about to start an intricate conversation with a man of this state. No, his statement was nothing more than that. If Frederick wished to talk, Marick would listen. If not, Marick would simply wait to see what the man did next.

'tch, since when is stating the obvious one of your virtues... Marick Lowell'

Hostility, hostility and arrogance. That's what he was using to everyone around here. To proud and stubborn to even try to reach out to them. And even now when he was struggling with something inside of him, he'd provided the man with nothing more then a sneer, to stubborn to even think of asking for help.

A few moments of silence filled the air after Frederick's words, where in the meantime he slightly glared at Marick from the corner of his eyes. Marick Lowell, a man who'd always stood against him in the past, a man that had every right to hate him and probably even to put him in the ground. And now he was here, standing next to him. Trying to make small talk. Well at least that was how Frederick saw it, he felt as if he was trying to look down on him. So Frederick did the only thing he knew to do when feeling threatened like this, he'd responded with harsh words making sure that he would be hated.

'Shouldn't you'll be protecting Kyll or something... after all she has the bad habit to get herself into trouble.. I can now..'

Frederick's words were intended to sting. Intended to get a rise out of Marick and probably get him to walk away or perhaps let rip on the man. Instead the Solitaire simply continued to look out at the clouds, his expression unmoving for a short while longer. "I think we both know she can more than take care of herself. Certainly more than I can at this point in time." he replied coolly. Slowly he turned his head to face his guildmate relaxed as ever. "Y'know...I'm not here to aggravate you. Hell, it looks like you've been doing enough of that to yourself."

The Sabertooth Ace now turned his full body and leaned his back on the railings, crossing his arms and looking at his former enemy. "But I'm not here for the benefit of my health either. I know you keep to yourself, but lately you've been looking worse for wear...well, worse than usual anyway." He released a sigh before looking at the ground. "We have our differences and our history...but you're a guildmate and you're looking towards redemption. I'm not going to deny you that opportunity." His head rose up once more as he looked back at Frederick's usual expressionless face. "Everyone deserves a second chance...so if there's anything you need...you need only ask."

Frederick couldn't handle these mages and their persistent need of reminding him of the second chance he got, his right for redemption. Even after all his mischief in the past. Why did they keep haunting him with the only thing he didn't deserve?

'Don't patronize me!!' sneered Frederick. Unable to respond to the kinds the guild and it's members had showed him. 'How can you people keep saying that, knowing full well what I've done!'
A second chance, redemption, Frederick just couldn't wrap his head around it. After all he had done, the people that died because of him, the suffering he caused in Fiore these mages here kept believing that he could redeemed.

Frederick continued, at least he tried to. The moment he started a new sentence he could feel a warm liquid coming up his throat. Far enough that he couldn't help then to cough. As quick as he could Frederick smashed his hand against his mouth, trying to hold in whatever was coming out. But without avail. The moment his hand had reached his mouth it was already to late, and the crimson red color of blood dripped between his fingers down his hand.
Another one the rather unfortunate after effects of his own madness, his entire body no his entire being had become so accustomed to power of life force that it had become a need. An addiction. It had turned him nothing more then a drunkard that needed the bottle everyday.
'Tch..' again Frederick let out a sound of displease. And when his throat finally cleared he started to speak again. 'Not that.. your visions... on redemption won't do any good. At this rate I will probably die before that, or worse fall into that madness again...'