The darkness was very welcome to him as the deep shade of the forest covered the sun. Though he could walk in the rays of the star, he did not enjoy it due to the light sting in his skin when faced with heat. But now, under the protection fo the trees, he could walk without pain. A situation such as this was ideal for Erebus to sort out his thoughts.

He had been summoned by his master to come to this place, but for what reason was beyond him. He suspected that Azreal simply enjoyed giving him orders, but if that was so... there wasn't much to be done about it.

Erebus was slave to the God of Death for a crime he did against him in his short mortal life. Summoning Azreal was not to be advised if you are nothing more but a young Mage striving for power. 223 year it had been, and his appearance, let alone his soul, had changed considerably.

His once tan skin was the color of pearl, and his brown eyes had become like blue mercury. Black hair cut messily hung just past his ears, and he was clad in a leather jacket and wornout red corduroy pants.

In a immortal life of servitude, Erebus had taken to walking in any wood or forest he could find. For reasons unknown to him, it comforted him and made him forget, if only for a while, that he was doomed to life like this... forever. And so he walked, the fallen leaves and twigs snapping underneath his boots.

Jex walked cautiously through the trees, chainsaw poised to strike in his large hands. His black hair draped messily over his slightly dulled eyes. Branches snagged his already holed clothing as he stumbled through the forest.

"Why do I have to be poor?"

Just then, he ran into an unsuspecting tree and was knocked to the ground. He quickly gained his footing again with his weapon raised high to strike the offending plant.

Erebus, who was not far off had seen the strange mortal run into the tree and couldn't help but chuckle. He walked over to the man who had decided to do in with the soon-to-be-firewood.

"I suppose you should watch where you're going next time?" Erebus asked, his deep voice seeming out of place with his features.

"AAGGHHF!" Jex, obviously, wasn't prepaired for the voice that intruded on his war with the tree. He shakily held his chainsaw in front of him.

"W-Who's there?" His voice squeaked halfway through, betraying his fear.

There was a tense silence and the forest around them seemed agitated. They faced each other off....until a loud rumbling noise interrupted it.

Erebus raised an eyebrow as his lips twitched into a small smile. He came closer, and leaned against the offending tree.

"What brings you to this neck of the woods?"

"Well, actually, it's funny you should ask that!" A goofy grin lit Jex's face. "You see, I'm kind of poor, so I'm kind of working...and I kind of need the money if my stomach has anything to say about it..."

Erebus nodded. He knew the feeling, but the situation was somewhat different. He crossed his arms acorss his chest and gave the man a good look up and down with his eyes. He looked like he hadn't had a decnt meal in... quite some time, and judging from his curent emplyment, he really was poor.

"Well, sorry to tell you, but I'm not going to be much help." He let out a sigh as he turned his brilliant eyes to the ground.

Jex's smile faded slightly, until it brightened and new hope shone in his eyes.

"Sure you will! I've got to cut down a tree and I've never really done it before...Apparantly my employer thinks these trees are special or something...can't imagine why..."

His voice trailed off and he stood looking at the trees. He observed their leaves and their bark and then remembered where he was.

"Oh yeah! Sorry to drift off there. You could help me, if you want! I think I'm actually getting more than twenty dollars for this job, so if you want to split it for your help I can do that!"

Erebus shrugged. He looked at the chainsaw warily.

"Do you expect me to use that... thing?" He asked, pointing the metal object grasped in Jex's hands. He had never really taken to technology, considering his time of birth, and wasn't really comfertable with it to this day.

The 'thing' wavered in Jex's hands as he looked down on it. How else were they going to cut down a tree?

"I...guess not? What else would we use, though? Because if you've got something that will save energy I'm all for it!"

Jex had a disarmingly wide smile on his face, but his mind was in a panic. He knew he wouldn't last very long if he were to work alone. He didn't even have anything to cart the wood back with.

Erebus had decided to help the man.

Why, exactly? He didn't know. It probably had something do to with the fact he realated to him... Of course, he didn't even know his name.
Hmm... perhaps I should change that.

"Oh... by the way.. I'm Erebus." he said, looking the man in the eyes. Did he have any idea what he was talking to? No... he must not...

"Wow, 'darkness,' interesting name."

"My name's Jex," said man held out his hand, "Thank you so much for helping me. At least now I won't have to drag all of this wood out of here by myself!"

...

"You wouln't happen to have a car, would you?"

Erebus blinked as his face took on a look of puzzlement. He felt this for a few reasons.

One: Jex did not come across as someone who knew latin, but judging from the analysis on his name, he had been wrong.
Two: A.... car? Erebus own a car? Why? He could simply appear from place to place, he didn't need something as... strange as a car. As stated before, mechanical things weren't his favortie thing in the world.

Erebus shook Jex's hand and inwardly shrugged. He supposed that he shouldn't use any powers infront of this man. He didn't really want to scare him out of his wits... but he promised himself that he wouldn't go to too much trouble for him, either.

"So...car? Yes, no? We're going to have a hell of a time dragging all the wood back to the city if you don't."

Releasing Jex's hand, Erebus shok his head.

"No, I don't have a car... or any other means of transprtation for that matter... I.. suppose we'll have to carry these back to.. where are we taking these to?" He asked. Why did I get myself into this... stupid mortal tendancies...

Wonderful, Jex thought, I'm going to pass out by the time we're done.

"Huh? Oh, where? I'm not quite sure, I've got the address somewhere in here..." he dug his hands into his jeans and pulled out a few cents and pocket lint. "I'll find it...it's somewhere in the higher end of town, though..."

Erebus was simply... imdifferent. He watched as this man Jex dug through every pocket on ever article of clothing he had until he found a small grubby peice of paper.
"So I suppose we can get started now?" Erebus questioned, looking up a the tree.

Where did I put it? Where did it go..."AHA!! Take that, you little piece of paper, you!"

Erebus was now looking up at the tree, uncaring and waiting.

"Uh, yeah, I suppose so...so...are we gonna use the chainsaw or something else?"

"You can use that... thing.. if you want to. I'll just help push." Erebus said, still leaning on the tree.

Well this is fun, Jex was inclined to think. Here we are in the middle of the woods discussing different ways to cut down trees. With a chainsaw and...nothing, great.

They were both looking up the tree now, perhaps they were gazing into its leaves to discover secrets, but that's to be doubted.

"You know, we should probably cut off the branches and all...they're pretty big branches, so they're sure to cause damage when they fall..."

And still, they stood there doing nothing.

"Who knows, maybe a few will be enough, and we won't have to cut down the whole tree..."

Erebus nodded, but neither moved.

"I can't climb trees...I've never really tried...would you mind giving me a lift?"

((I suppose calling Azreal to help chop down a tree would be a little foolish, but it is tempting!))

Erebus gave him a bored look. "Fine"

With that, he hoisted Jex up as high as he could... which was pretty damn high.

The suddenness of being lifted startled Jex. He was already tired and hungry, but the quick change in positions caused his blood to rush to his feet.

He grasped the trunk, trying to settle himself and get his sight back.

Then he looked down. Goodness, he was a long way up.

He looked down, noting that his chainsaw had dropped and Erebus was looking on expectingly.

"I guess this isn't a good time to tell you that I get sick from hights, is it?"

Why I ever put up with these jobs is beyond me. I always get paid so little for the amount of work I do.

Erebus handed up his chainsaw and Jex cut off a few limbs from the high tree. Once that was accomplished, he was let down and they proceeded to drag the limbs out of the forest.

"So..." The quietness was unsettling, he tried to strike a conversation, "What were you doing here, anyway?"

"Thinking." He asnwered simply. It was the truth, but there was more than that as well. Not that he was going to tell a mortal. He wouldn't belive him. Even if he did, he didn't need someone elses problems.

Thinking. Alright, I suppose that's a good a reason as any, but why not Redway Park? That's secluded and not as far out. Gah, I'm getting myself worked up over nothing. Maybe he lives closer or something...

"Thinking? Would I be intrusive if I were to ask what you were thinking about? It sometimes helps if two people work on a problem rather than one."

Gods, this log is heavy...

Erebus took the log from Jex as if it weighed no more than a pillow without even missing a step.

"I... I was thinking about my life." Or lack thereof...

Jex stared in misbelief. Erebus was now carting all of the wood that was cut back and didn't even seem like he was breaking a sweat.

"Oh...life. That's always an interesting subject, I suppose. It's a little broad, though. Almost everything on the earth has it, and everything that has is, loses it...though I doubt that's what you meant."

They were going up a hill now, and Erebus showed no signs of tiring from the weight of the wood.

So, after an internal debate, Jex broke down and asked, "How is that possible? You don't even look like you're straining yourself!"

Erebus stopped and looked back at the man. He seemed so small, so... what was the word? Breakable. He couldn't blame the guy for not being able to carry much. But as for himself, well...

"I'm in good shape." He said simply, then kept walking.

"And, yes. The subject of life is very broad indeed."

Well, it made sense that he worked out. Jex wasn't questioning that. He didn't, what was the word..look like he should be able to carry so much without being winded.

Jex only shook his head.

"Yup, it is." Now Jex was nodding his head. You know, that way that someone nods their head when there's an uncomfortable silence and that person doesn't know what to say and is only agreeing...one of those nods.