Desperate and Ravenous (Strange)

[Ringmaster]

Little angel go away, come again some other day!
Devil has my ear today, I'll never hear a word you say.
He promised that I'd find a little solace and some peace of mind.
Whatever! Just as long as I don't feel so desperate and ravenous.
I'm so weak and powerless...

Ringmaster hesitated.

He didn't want to leave... not just yet. Even with the scavengers already coming to make quick work of his victim's entrails and whatever was left of the flesh, making the already hard to recognize human form even harder to pick out, he didn't want to leave. He just... he had to stay in this clearing for a few minutes. He had to say his goodbyes.

The male walked to the center of the area, kneeling down and looking up, pointing his maw towards the sky. The thoughts reeled through his head, and his eyes glazed over.

She would hate him for this. If she was still here, and she was still... herself... she would hate him for this. She would loathe him, revile him, spit on him. And he wouldn't blame her. He'd made a promise to her, albeit a silent one; a promise he would never kill again, so long as she was his. Even if she was gone now, he felt like he'd broken it. Like he'd forsaken her.

The male let out a long, low whine, lowering his head and burrying it in his bloodied hands. He hated himself, but... the thrill was calling to him, the old job of torture and maim and kill, all for the hatred of the human race. But he'd been a human, could still become one if the right word was said.

So why did he love it so much?

"Forgive me."

[Dr. Strange]

Put to rest what you thought of me.
While I clean this Slate with the Hands of uncertainty.
So let Mercy come and wash away what I've done.
I've faced myself to Cross out what I've become;
Erase myself and let go of what I've done.

Strange knew he had to find Ringmaster.

As much as he hated to involve the wolf-man in matters pertaining to magic, the Sorcerer Supreme knew that the only way to get through to Fyrelia - once they found her - was to use those she cared about. She loved Strange, and she loved Wong, both in her own special way. But Ringmaster was her mate, her best friend. He had seen the ways her eyes lit up whenever she spoke of him; he had noticed the way she gravitated towards Ringmaster when he walked into a room.

He needed the wolf-man because there was no one on this earth that Fyrelia loved more. If they were going to try to recover his apprentice's heart from the darkness that had taken over her, then Strange needed Ringmaster. He and Wong could only do so much, after all.

That was why he was in the clearing. He had tracked Ringmaster to this particular spot and, after covering himself with a spell to keep his scent to himself, had managed to cast another spell to keep himself cloaked until the right time. Unfortunately, the right time seemed to be just after Ringmaster had murdered a human male; it made his stomach roll to see the blood and carnage, but Strange couldn't bring the man back.

But he could use him.

"So this is the man I gave my apprentice away to," Strange's voice was cold, heavy with a sense of regret and pain. His stone-blue eyes were hard. "It is nice to see that while Wong and I are struggling to find and rescue Fyrelia, you are out murdering members of our race. For pleasure, it seems. It is nice to know where your heart lies."

He knew those words would, hopefully, get the wolf-man riled up. He needed Ringmaster riled up. That would get him out of this homicidal depression, and back to the man Strange knew he really was. Hopefully, this would get Ringmaster on their side, and ready to rescue his wife and children.

[Ringmaster]

Ringmaster stiffened, his good ear pricking up, towards the sound of Strange's voice. Slowly, hesitantly, his head raised, and he gave the tiniest of snarls.

"Shut up," he growled, voice showing how weary, how utterly tired he was. He hadn't slept for two nights straight, merely snagging whatever sleep he could before the nightmares terrified him back into the realm of the waking. "Leave me alone."

He could feel the fear in his stomach, the fear of Strange and what he could do, but didn't dare let any of it show. If there was one thing his instincts could tell him, other then to kill, it was that those who wore their fear on their sleeves were weak. And those who were weak... died.

"Like I could help, either way. What am I, compared to you?" The wolf-man stood to his full height, looking down at the man. "What am I, compared to any of you? I'm as helpless as one of my victims, but moreso. I'm like a damned kitten. I have no hope."

[Dr. Strange]

Strange felt his chest tug slightly at the broken tone in Ringmaster's voice; he knew exactly what the poor wolf-man was feeling. It was the same helplessness he and Wong were experiencing, and had been since Fyrelia had been taken. However, unlike Ringmaster, the pair of them knew that there was a way to find and free the demoness.

"Then perhaps you should just surrender," the tip of Strange's cape started to flutter as the Sorcerer Supreme spoke, "Wong and I have discovered a way to save your wife and mate, but maybe you don't want that. Is that why you haven't been helping us?"

For a moment, Strange had no idea what he was saying, or what he was supposed to be getting at. But then there were whispers, in the back of his head; Agamotto was trying to help him, trying to tell him exactly what to say. And that made his eyes brighten slightly.

"After seeing this carnage, I can see why you would want Fyrelia to be taken and turned." He glanced at the body of Ringmaster's victim, "After all, if she was... like you, then she would have no qualms with what you are doing here. In fact, in her current state, I have no doubt my apprentice would join you."

And he knew that was true. He had seen the death and destruction Dormammu's favorite General had left in her wake. He had seen, with his own eye and Agamotto's, the blood she had shed, and the lives she had obliterated. If Fyrelia had been nearby when Ringmaster had committed this atrocity, there was no doubt in Strange's mind that she would have joined him.

"She's like you, when he has her. Powerful, blood thirsty... merciless."

[Ringmaster]

Ringmaster practically roared, the fur on the back of his neck standing up and bristling. Strange had gotten him in an already bad mood, and now he was just making it worse and worse. Ringmaster didn't even bother to think it over, didn't bother to figure out what all of this was about, or why Strange was even there. He was just angry.

"Do you think I would dare to come near you, after that?" he snarled, showing just how torn he really felt. "Do you think I would dare to look you in the eye? I lost her, because I am weak. Because I couldn't protect her if I wanted to, and Leral... Leral, I wanted to. But I couldn't. And I ran, like some scared pup."

The male growled again, his eyes flicking towards the carnage he had created. They purposely stayed away from Strange's face. "You don't know what it's like, the Madness. You're not yourself, under its influence; not much more then a hungry animal. You smell a human, and you hate... hate them for crimes they didn't commit, perhaps never even thought of committing, and you have to kill. You have to rip and tear and gorge yourself until all that's left of them is barely enough for the ravens.

"You think I would want that for her?" He let out a whine. His voice had slowly gone from enraged to depressed, his ear and half-ear pinning back. Ringmaster was torn, broken inside. He knew what this man was saying, but he would never dare to think anything that was being implied... even if, subconciously, he had been accusing himself of all the same things. Every tiny bit of him was blaming himself for what had happened. "Do you think I would want her to be something she's so definately not? I'm a killer. I don't regret it... but I'm not proud of it, either. And I would never... never wish to see her like me."

[Dr. Strange]

Strange heard, and had to admit that, while he understood what Ringmaster was saying, he had never felt anything like that. Yes, he had felt the tug of Dormammu's dark magic; he knew what it was like to be tempted by powers that would give no need for self-control. He had never given into the darkness, however; that was why he still remained Sorcerer Supreme.

Waving a careless hand, the man allowed for a sort of mirror to appear next to him. Within the reflective surface, Fyrelia and the demon Dormammu had created to be her daughter were playing together, sitting on the floor of their master's throne room. Despite the obviously loving look on his apprentice's face, Strange couldn't help but feel a sense of disgust as he glanced at the scene; Dormammu had sunk lower than ever to keep his creation.

"We have located Fyrelia, Ringmaster," Strange said quietly. "And, as much as I hate to interrupt your life to ask, Wong and I require your help in saving her. He has complete control over her, over her mind and her memories. But we think we can break through, with your help."

Then, the Sorcerer Supreme snapped his fingers; the mirror rippled, and the scene shifted and changed. Now, Fyrelia stood amidst flames and smoke, a cold smile on her face. Bodies and blood were everywhere; on the ground, in doorways... even hanging out windows. The cause of their deaths was obvious.

"Magic is a powerful opponent, especially to those who cannot wield what it offers, but... sometimes magic isn't the only answer. And to save Fyrelia from Dormammu, and even herself, there is no other option. We need... I need you to come with us, to the Sanctum.

"I have discovered what Dormammu is using to control my apprentice, but you have to be the one to shatter it. Magic cannot touch it, and I highly doubt Fyrelia would let me get close enough. Not when she's trying to rip my throat out."

[Ringmaster]

Ringmaster barely shuddered as the mirror appeared, his eyes locking on Strange's hand as if the other man was going to strike at him at any given second, the fur on the back of his neck raising out of instinct. The use of magic still put a fear in his belly, something he simply couldn't force himself to overcome, even if his own mate relied so heavily on it. He didn't know what it was in him that made it seem so abhorrent, but, frankly... he didn't much care.

He'd seen just how much it could be used against him.

But as Fy's name was uttered, the wolfman's eyes immediately shifted towards the mirror, now fixated on it. Or, rather, her image within it. Yes... yes, she could still stir warmth within his long-frozen heart, and his dull eyes gave the smallest glimmer of light. Even as the scene changed to something horrific, even as the same beautiful woman he'd known was shown to be the cause of so much destruction, he simply could not tear himself away from her power.

Leral, he loved her.

It took him a moment or too to realize his hand was reaching out for her, and when he did he quickly dropped it, finally managing to shift his gaze to the forest floor, a low whine escaping his maw. So much repressing of his emotions had nearly made him forget just how much... just how badly he'd missed her. Ringmaster couldn't stop the rough sob that escaped him.

It was then that Strange's words finally registered, and the wolfman looked back up to him, red eyes now glistening with tears. He didn't know exactly what was being gotten at; if anything, he was the worst choice of all.

"...and you think she would let me get close without killing me?" he said, voice cracking. "I don't... I don't know if that's the best plan."

[Dr. Strange]

Strange saw how Fyrelia's very image affected Ringmaster, and knew that his apprentice had chosen correctly. Even if she had not stayed with Wong - probably the best choice, given how they were always an on-off thing - and Ringmaster was obviously not a healthy man, he did love her; his love for her was blind, and true. It would have warmed Strange's heart, if their situation wasn't so... dire.

Strange shuddered at the very thought, closing his eyes. He didn't know why he wanted to get Ringmaster's help, but he did know that he needed it. Fyrelia was going to be in Dormammu's complete control, but Fyrelia was still in there somewhere. If she loved him half as much as he loved her, then there was hope she would be able to resist Dormammu long enough for Strange to destroy the necklace.

"All we need you to do, Ringmaster," Strange said, glancing over at him; the image of Fyrelia disappeared, as did the mirror, "is to try to distract her. Your mate is still in there, somewhere. Magic can't stifle everything, even if Fyrelia is a creature of magic. She's got enough knowledge of my magic to know how to fight his complete control off."

He moved then, stepping towards Ringmaster. Strange held his hand up, and the image of a silver-chained, amber necklace appeared in his hand. "This is the focus of his magic. All I need you to do is to try to distract her, or get through long enough so that Wong or I can easily destroy it. That's all we need you to do, Ringmaster."

[Ringmaster]

Ringmaster had to force himself not to flinch away when Strange stepped forwards, simply nodding at the other man's explanations, listening intently, hanging on every word. He still didn't know... still didn't know if this would actually work, if this was actually a good idea.

But he was desperate.

And in love.

God, he would die for her. Would have died for her at their disaster of a ceremony, if his feral side had not taken hold, all the survival instincts he had forcing him to run as fast and far away as he possibly could. And he wasn't going to let something like that happen again, even if that meant that she herself would be the one to kill him.

"I'll... I'll do it," he said, voice quiet, and raspy. "I'll help you." His good ear flicked, and he licked his lips. This was going to be dangerous. This was going to be dangerous... and he didn't care. Maybe he wanted to die; maybe that was it. But, Goddess, he couldn't even decipher his own feelings.

It was then that a thought hit him, and he looked back up to Strange from the forest floor he had been contemplating, his red eyes glinting dully. He didn't know if he was going to regret this, but... it felt necessary, as if something would be missing if he didn't.

"...call me Christopher."

[Dr. Strange]

When Ringmaster agreed to help him, Strange visably relaxed. He knew it would be better now, that they actually had a chance of saving his apprentice because the one she loved was going to help them. He knew Dormammu; he knew how his magic worked. But he also knew Fyrelia, and he knew what she would do for those she cared about.

And she certainly cared about Ringmaster.

She cared about those pups that were growing inside of her. She loved her mate, and she loved the thought of being a mother. As her master, as her friend, he would stop at nothing to give her mate back to her, and to allow her the chance to be a mother, and raise those pups.

But then Ringmaster tore him from that train of thought with one simple act - giving his name over. By now, Strange knew how Ringmaster was about his real name. Fyrelia was the only one who was ever allowed to call him by his real name, to notice him as anything more than the actor he truly was.

And now he was giving it to Strange.

The Sorcerer Supreme swept his arm back, moving his cape away from his person. With a gentle look in his eye, he extended a hand, offering it out to the silver werewolf. The act was noticed, and returned.

"Stephen."

[Ringmaster]

"Stephen." Ringmaster gave the smallest of smiles, his expression soft, but his eyes still dull. Perhaps they could work together better, now; perhaps this would help their relationship. He didn't know, exactly, how the other man felt about him, though he'd always imagined Strange not liking him so much -- perhaps that was the pessimist in him, planted by his father's constant disapproval. Or perhaps it was Ringmaster's own inadequacy.

He turned away, eyes resting on the body, and gave a visible shudder. "I... I'm sorry, that you had to see that," the wolfman said, quietly, looking back to Strange. "I'd been getting better. I swear, I'd been getting better. I'd... I'd stopped, for her..."

Ringmaster gave a whimper, averting his eyes, looking at the ground. His ears drooped, and his posture lowered slightly; a signal of submission. "Perhaps I've just become a beast... maybe that's what the Church turned me into. But I swear, I'll do anything within my power to get her back."

[Mercy Strange]

Strange listened quietly, his eyes trained onto the wolfman before him. He did not dare to look over to the body that had, once, been a fellow human being. He did not want to think about the violence that had struck this beautiful, holy place only an hour or so ago. This was a place of memories, a place where two lives had intertwined to become one. And that was how he wanted to remember it.

Stepping towards the center of the clearing, Strange raised one hand, and starting to murmur words of a spell long since forgotten by the everyday sorcerers. The wind picked up, stealing the stench of death and bringing with it the crisp smell of pine trees. The clouds darkened, hinting of the rain that would soon clense this area of the blood that stained the earth.

The body disappeared from where it had fallen.

"Nature will clense this spot," he murmured, stone blue gaze shifting from the darkening sky to Ringmaster. His form flickered once; his clothes then changed, back to his normal outfit. His cape fluttered once. "The next time you return - with Fyrelia - it will be the same as you left it on that day. It will be free of death and blood, and a safe home for you two and your children. That will be my gift to you."