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Welcome, reader, to the latest Character Development Thread! These shared story exercises help budding writers develop their characters alongside the characters of other budding writers.

No formal sign-up is necessary; one can simply jump right in. Just make sure to review the OP and the last few pages first. If you still have questions or need a recap, feel free to join in the discussion thread.


Page ~ Map

On a point of land where two rivers came together sat the center of a large city. As could be expected, a good number of skyscrapers and other such large buildings dotted the landscape. Bridges spanned the rivers, linking the center with the other parts of the city that sat on the other side.

The city's architecture appeared to be all over the place. The buildings on the outskirts looked modern, but as one approached the heart of the city the structures started looking older and older. Even stranger, the oldest building in the city was also the tallest – a massive skyscraper that truly lived up to the title of “skyscraper,” but looked like it was built in the 19th century.

The people of this city came from all walks of life. Some were natives; others were just visiting. There was no denying that the population was quite a varied one. The question was just how varied....

  • Current time: Night (Between sunset and midnight)
  • Current weather: Cloudy

City has been officially closed.

edited 23rd Oct '13 8:05:54 AM by Yomegami

Ryuhza Brother from San Diego County, California Since: Feb, 2012 Relationship Status: Tongue-tied
Brother
#1701: Sep 15th 2013 at 10:52:11 PM

[Hotel ~ 210]

Joseph frowned and shook his head fervently. "Oh, no no, absolutely not. No, you were pretty passive almost the whole way through. I mean, well..." his frown shifted sideways and he glanced up at the ceiling. "...you were a little touchy when it first happened, but hey, I don't blame you; I would have freaked out too if I was... uh," he paused for a moment, trying to think of any way to finish his statement without accidentally calling Rachel mentally disturbed. "-at my breaking point." he finished, then added, "But I think I lost that a couple magicians back." It was a little weak, but infinitely better than his stupid brain's first thought. "Anyway," Joe continued, "all you really need to know is that me and Selena got you under control, you didn't so much as scratch anybody, and you stayed that way for pretty much the rest of the trip."

He looked to the floor and stepped to the side, becoming just vaguely aware of how much water he was dripping everywhere. It still did not yet seem important enough to consider. "As for the trip itself," he began, looking back up at Rachel and readjusting his towel, "give or take some minor details, it went like this: first, a group of some more secret military commandos wearing all-black came in and rescued us after the whole situation down there managed to somehow get worse. I still don't know what they were doing there in the first place, or what any of the other born to kill ballgoofers want with this place, but I guess I should be grateful to them anyway. After all, they did lead us out, and they had the courtesy to not bother us beyond that."

Joseph let out a small sigh, then continued, "After we got out of the bank, we stuck with Adam and his friends, jumped in Jackson's car, and drove around looking for a hotel. I had a whole lot of fun sitting between you two by the way." he said, shooting a droll smile at Adam, and putting a hand against his lower back. "Can't wait to remember that tomorrow morning. Nah," he smiled, "it wasn't that bad. Just a little bad. I'll get over it. I'll get over it now, in fact." he gave a bit of a playfully smug smile, then focused his eyes on the wall behind the bed, slowly narrowing them in strained concentration. After a few seconds, his eyes jumped back open and he said, "There! Done! I'm officially over it."

When he was done getting over it and returned to his recount of the trip, Joe shrugged and said, "Anyway, besides that, it's basically what you see here. We drove around a bit and found a hotel, and we're a pretty good distance away from everything that happened earlier." he hesitated for a moment with his teeth stuck out, then added slowly, "The only thing is... the check-in clerk was pretty weird. The guy has got got some crazy facial hair, and he said a bunch of weird stuff while Selena and Jackson were trying to get us a room. I don't know if he'll really bother us, but you should probably keep a steady eye on him if you ever see him around. I don't know, he just... seems like kind of a creep."

Joseph frowned in a disconcerted sort of way for a moment, then his eyes lit up as he remember to say, "Oh, speaking of Selena and Jackson— and Nick, they're out shopping right now. I'm supposed to look after you and Adam. I hope you guys can tell them I did a good job, even if that means forgetting about the whole... marker-mustache thing." he paused for a split second, then put his hand to his head and laughed, "Just kidding- I'm just kidding." he smiled brightly. "Oh... I'm- I'm sorry. Ah, geez, I should never be this happy. I make stupid jokes and I just can't stop talking..."

edited 15th Sep '13 10:57:23 PM by Ryuhza

They'll turn your world around
Tehpillowstar Giant alien spiders are no joke. from the remains of the Galactic Federation fleet Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Giant alien spiders are no joke.
#1702: Sep 15th 2013 at 10:54:04 PM

[Street]

Fucking wizards.

Ralph, Taggart, Chloe and Loren manage to duck out of the way undercover, but Simon wasn't as lucky, with deep gash caused by a rogue, if malformed bullet (due to the necessary force stopping them making the bullets malformed, unless Tanis is just that good) just barely nicking him on his upper left arm, where his armor did not cover him up. He cried out, both in sudden pain and in rage, but simply dived under cover until all the reflected bullets.

This wasn't going well, but then again, there was a burning car flying at them. Again.

Although no one was crushed, Ralph and Simon were not as lucky, and were both impaled by shrapnel resulting from the car's landing. However, despite Tanis's hopes, the car was not a pinto, and did not explode.

Ralph had a nasty gash with a shard of glass embedded into his upper back where his armor did not protect him, while Simon's injury was much worse, bleeding freely as his old, grizzled face blanched in pain.

Taggart and Chloe cursed, with the latter looking around. Despite the fact that Tanis was right out in the open, out of cover, free to be potshot at their own leisure, Chloe wondered if it was actually possible to kill her. At least, they would have to be creative.

Where was Eriko when you needed her thermite?*

Taggart thought differently. After almost two years of constantly diving into Hell and back, he had no fear of humanoids, whether or not they were cheap, magic slinging cheapskates. He decided that with Tanis out in the open and apparently content at staying where she was, setting other people's property on fire and using them as clunky, awkward (if spectacular) projectiles, it was time to bring out the big guns.

He took out a grenade, and pulled the pin. Chloe, Loren, Ralph and Simon scooted out of the way, behind hard cover so that they wouldn't get hurt from stray pieces of shrapnel. Being smart and actually trained to use grenades, Taggart immediately tossed the grenade at Tanis' feet. He watched the explosive arc through the air. It was a perfect toss, and landed exactly where he wanted it to land.

He ducked behind his own cover, clutching his rifle, but didn't have to wait long for the explosion.

Suddenly, something violently grabbed his rifle and tried to rip it from his hands. In such a sudden movement that Taggart did not expect, much less anticipate, and the rifle was successfully ripped from his hands, its shoulder strap*

digging into his back and shoulder, making him slightly bow over.

In a very quick and practiced movement, he reached for his pistol holstered to his side and fired several shots in front of him.

I rolled for everything using an IRC dicebot. Even when Taggart threw the grenade.

[Stadium]

Cain sensed the sudden incursion by the...thing, and realized that it's power was familiar. Wasn't it the same power that Amu...

Some things had to be investigated.

He still did not trust the knight as far as he could throw him with his own strength, but Amu was up to something and that was the current matter. The Knight could be dealt with afterwards.

"Very well," he answered softly, in his coldly casual way.

edited 16th Sep '13 7:42:16 PM by Tehpillowstar

"Life is eternal; and love is immortal; and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight." - R. W. Raymond
Aqueos Nova here from Los Angeles Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: Californicating
#1703: Sep 15th 2013 at 11:19:02 PM

[Street]

The barrier grows up until it hits above the second floor, and then with no notice, it begins flowing as fast as a river towards the group further down. Yes it was clear it wasn't liquid, as it was flowing on a flat surface leaving nothing behind, and it seemed to simply part around objects it would rather not absorb. In fact should it approach anyone it would touch them, but not hinder their movement. And throughout all of this it continues to grow, odd threat ins disguise coursing forwards.

Marianne follows, running with an inhuman speed and grace intent on knocking out anyone trying to interfere. This was going to succeed hell or high water. And it would seem in less than twenty seconds all their foes would be neck deep in this, and then the fun would begin.

Some quick review. The material is actually the deity, Marianne has only anti magic on here, and the material is saturated with Marianne's anti magic. This material will actually consciously avoid knocking anyone over, though it's not just going to pass on through. It's biologically based, but the cells persay aren't like ones found on earth.

edited 15th Sep '13 11:19:36 PM by Aqueos

Bet you didn't see that coming
Masterofchaos Since: Dec, 2010
#1704: Sep 16th 2013 at 1:36:31 PM

[Hotel-Room 210]

Adam smiled and nodded. "Everything's fine now, Ms. Rachel. Now that we're away from all that drama, we can finally relax." He sat next to her. "My friends and Ms. Rogers won't be gone for too long, so we can all...well..."

Actually, the more he thought about it, the more he decided that maybe it would be best to leave them by themselves. After all, out of all of them, Joseph was worried about her the most. And now that she was back, he would just be kind of...there. Like he was with his friends.

Still trying to maintain his smile, he got off the bed and went to the door. "I'll go downstairs and try to find a vending machine. Do you guys want anything?"

[Residential District-Jackson's car]

Jackson shrugged. "To be honest, I don't know. I mean after that 'only two dead' comment and the goddamn confetti shots, I am truly afraid what else he and the hotel has in store."

"Me too." Nick said. Then he smirked and leaned closer to the front, "But don't worry, with me around," He turned to Selena, "You guys don't have to worry about a thing!"

"...You're not buckled up." Jackson said, quirking an eyebrow, "That's enough to make me worry."

"Sorry, dad." Nick groaned. "...Anyway, joking aside, I say we shouldn't stress over it."

[Restaurant]

John took a few moments to register what just happened. Did he...did they just...vanish? Out of thin air?

Oh God; not only was it late, but now a little girl was left by herself without anyone else (as far as he knew) watching her, and there were Gods roaming around and the street was a possibly a battlefield. Then there was still the issue with his nephew's safety...

He needed a drink.

With a sigh, he turned back to Mika. "Well, I guess it's just me and you, huh Mika?"

Yomegami Since: Jan, 2011
#1705: Sep 16th 2013 at 5:51:48 PM

Hotel (Room 210)

Rachel remained silent as Joseph recounted everything that had happened between when she first snapped and now. While she didn't have any real reason to doubt him, she nevertheless looked down at her claws, looking at them from all angles. She didn't see any blood on them, so at the very least that must had meant she had been stopped from hurting anyone (unless someone went through the effort of getting all of it off before she came back to her senses, though she would have been likely to feel that).

She looked back up at Joseph once he was done talking, still frowning slightly. "What do you mean by 'touchy?' Was I actively trying to hurt anyone? I really hope not, because if so...." she trailed off, before burying her face in her hands again. It was apparent that this wasn't her slipping back into madness, if for no other reason than that she wasn't rambling. If anything, it sounded like she was trying to stop herself from crying.

It took her a few moments to respond to Adam. "N-nothing for me, thanks. I can't even eat most of the stuff in a normal vending machine any-anyway."


Residential District (Jackson's Car)

Selena just nodded in agreement. "At the very least, I'm hoping that whatever comes up next is harmless. The last thing we need is someone grabbing an ax and going batshit crazy." She paused for a few moments. I really hope they don't take that seriously.

She chuckled slightly as Nick and Jackson exchanged words. "My hero," she said in response to Nick, with a tone that was decidedly mocking. She then turned and looked out the window again. "We'll worry about it when things pop up. Right now, we still need to find a store. For all we know, we passed one while that discussion was going on."


Stadium (Interior -> Out)

Behind its helmet, the knight wore a very satisfied and rather evil grin. Granted, Uffern hadn't actually made proper clients out of these two yet, but it already had plans about rectifying that. It didn't expect to forge a deal right here and now with either of them; if its attempt with the snake's client was anything to go by, that had a very low chance of success.

It could see the anger boiling up in the woman, and while it had already witnessed what anger did to a person's intelligence, that at least made her a good choice for judging the entity's real power as it made her much more likely to charge the thing head-on. The man, on the other hand, possessed a combination of calm and such a level of power that the results he would provide would be much more telling.

The knight offered a formal bow to its two newest allies. "I am the Hellking Uffern," it said to them, "And I shall lead you to the entity's client." After its introduction was completed, it turned to the ogres. "Stay," was all that it said to them, and shortly thereafter it turned and made its way out of the stadium.

The ogres heeded their master's command and started patrolling the stadium again, though this time paying absolutely no attention to either of the Hellking's allies.


Stadium (Micheal's Mind)

"And two potential vessels join me," Uffern said, reforming its mirror and showing the images of the people of which it spoke, "They and my strongest avatar now go forth to find the entity's main vessel. If you wish to join us, your own desire has a good chance to be satisfied faster. Maybe even one of them could make more use out of that fruit of yours than I ever could."

Icon by Civvi the Civilian!
Ryuhza Brother from San Diego County, California Since: Feb, 2012 Relationship Status: Tongue-tied
Brother
#1706: Sep 16th 2013 at 6:44:24 PM

[Hotel ~ Room 210]

Joseph's smile dulled into a more somber and worried expression. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, trying to think of what best to say. He probably shouldn't have mentioned it in the first place, poor Rachel was under enough stress as it was. His mouth contorted in some strange ways, then finally he shook his head again and said, "Hey- no, no. It wasn't like that at all! It more of a... a self defense sort of thing— but it's okay, and it wasn't your fault!"

Joe gave his hands a quick dry on his towel, then stepped closer and placed them on Rachel's shoulders, showing a look of sincerity in his eyes. "I assure you Rachel, nothing. bad. happened. At all. C'mon, look at me." he said, slowly shaking his head from side to side, "You didn't hurt anybody, and you weren't trying to hurt anybody. You just pushed us away, so we wouldn't hurt you. But again, me and Selena got you under control, and we all made it out fine. Nothing else happened." Joseph smiled, then quickly, and with some alarm, returned one of his hands to holding his towel as an inspired movement of his tail nearly pulled the whole damn thing off. He really would have to get some proper pants back on.

At Adam's suggestion, Joe turned his head to look at him with some confusion. "Well, sure- but, weren't you going to call your friends and Selena? You know, and tell them about Rachel?" He nodded his head towards Rachel, then looked back at Adam expectantly. "I mean, it'd be nice to give them some relief. I'm sure Selena is still worried, even though she said this happened to you once before." he returned his eyes to Rachel at the end of his sentence.

They'll turn your world around
CrystalGlacia from at least we're not detroit (Living Relic)
#1707: Sep 16th 2013 at 9:14:16 PM

[??? > street]

The portal closed up without a trace. Inside, Rafi attempted to walk ahead like normal, finding that his foot went through the gold-outlined path the two stood on. The sharply pitched, fearful barks of Vince's dog, peering down at them from a portal into her master's study far above their heads, broke the eerie silence as even she could sense something was about to go horribly wrong.

"Lise! Get my bag!" The dog ran off to grab it, her fluffy tail trailing behind.

Raphael scurried back to the center of this rapidly shrinking platform, eyes transfixed on the ever-approaching gold line. "What's going on?!"

"The bitch did something to my medallion," he said flatly.

"How the fuck did she end up with your medallion?!"

"This is not the time." Vince glanced down. The platform shrunk to down to support only their feet.

There was a pause, as though whatever force responsible for their current situation felt the need to demonstrate what it seemed to consider 'comedic timing' before tossing them off into the void below. There was no time to scream or utter any sound as the two hit ground almost as soon as they were dropped.

Raphael awoke atop dusty pavement. He rolled over, coming face to face with a young woman in the shadow of a skyscraper.

Out of sight, Vince managed to get himself to his knees faster than his original arthritic joints could, finding that woman, Alice, taking cover. A second later, Lise pulled herself free from the portal that had been trying to close on her abdomen, tumbling onto her master's back with the bag he had her retrieve still in her mouth.


[restaurant]

By the time Helen made it back out into the dining room, Vince and his son had vanished.

She looked at Mika and John. "...Where'd they go?"

Her bartender Regina suddenly came out of the ever-mystical back room, taking her spot behind the bar.

edited 17th Sep '13 4:32:35 PM by CrystalGlacia

"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."
SnowyFoxes Drummer Boy from Club Room Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: I know
Drummer Boy
#1708: Sep 16th 2013 at 11:28:21 PM

[[Street]]

Just as Wilhelm was about to use magic to sever the previously unnoticed shoulder strap, Jonathan screamed that there was a grenade. And he didn't notice the pistol.

A gust of wind blew in the general direction where Jonathan was pointing and the grenade started rolling in the opposite direction, a bit more slowly than before. During that process, Wilhelm was shot in the arm twice. Another bullet punched a hole in his coat sleeve as he tried to spin out of the way.

Man, fuck this guy.

Just before he could try pulling out more cards, more bullets whizzed past him. Jonathan was aiming for Taggart's head. Bianca said Taggart was hers, but Jonathan was pretty sure she'd agree that under the current circumstances, it wasn't worth it at all. Hoping that Jonathan would distract Taggart, Wilhelm put up a bullet shield around himself and Jonathan. Hopefully he'd only need this one until he stopped time again.

edited 16th Sep '13 11:36:27 PM by SnowyFoxes

The last battle's curtains will open on stage!
Tehpillowstar Giant alien spiders are no joke. from the remains of the Galactic Federation fleet Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Giant alien spiders are no joke.
#1709: Sep 17th 2013 at 1:21:50 AM

[Street]

Chloe spotted that Taggart was in trouble, and barked orders to Simon to deal with Wilhelm as she redirected targets to Jonathan, trying to suppress him with SMG fire.

Simon took several potshots at Wilhelm

However Tanis was not in the clear, as Ralph kept shooting at her. Not to mention, that just a moment later the grenade exploded, shooting fragments everywhere at extremely high speeds.

Taggart cried out as bits of fragments sliced below his right ear or embedded itself into his upper right arm, with the force of the explosion making him stumble over and sit down, giving him the leverage provided by his body weight to rip his rifle from Wilhelm's hands.

He was a familiar friend with pain, but was also hyped up on adrenaline from the fight, and kept popping off shots with the pistol at Wilhelm at close range until he ran out of ammo, despite the mage's kinetic shield absorbing the shots both from Taggart and Simon, who was still shooting at Wilhelm, not phased by the explosion from behind his cover.

"Life is eternal; and love is immortal; and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight." - R. W. Raymond
KillerClowns Since: Jan, 2001
#1710: Sep 17th 2013 at 4:09:07 PM

[Street]

Samyaza vanished, leaving behind a glowing orb of energy too weak to enrapture new victims, but strong enough to hold John.

Mary continued to try and keep John out of harm's way while breaking the spell. She first roughly tilted his head downwards, but he just shrugged her off — being far stronger than she — and returned his gaze to Samyaza. She was about to ask Alice for advice, but she'd vanished, somehow moving across the battlefield. Mary knew Alice was fast, but the distance she'd covered was impressive even for her.

Alice noticed the incoming wave of energies, but she'd deal with that soon enough. She needed to get a feel for it, so she could make it light up with her own antimagic like a kerosene-soaked rag. And she didn't have time for that. Instead, she focused on Wilhelm and Amu. Amu felt weakened, but was still a promising target. Then again, he'd resurrected the last time she'd killed him, and she didn't expect anything different. The Eyes and Teeth kept a part of him outside of time. But that man with him, who seemed to be infested with a parasite similar to that of Bianca... she was about to blast him with antimagic when she sensed the cord between him and Bianca. She grinned, focusing on that, and with a single burst of power, severed the cord.

Mary shook John, trying to remember what Alice had said. A shock, like cold water, or a slap to the face... she slapped him, but he literally turned the other cheek. What else could she do? Then she cringed as she recalled how Alice had once freed Isaac from a similar predicament. "Wake you..." the word caught in her throat. She shook her head, took a breath, and tried again. "Wake up, you faggot!"

John tackled Mary, eyes wild. "What did you..." then he blinked as consciousness returned. "Oh." He took a few deep breaths. "I hate mages. Have I ever told you that?"

Alice turned to Raphael, just now noticing him. "Shit, you were trying to get away from this, weren't you? Don't look up, and Welcome to Hell. Metaphorically. For now anyways. Care to join the party?"

It was then that Amu turned to them. "Raphael," he said. "If you're considering that maniac's offer, you don't know her." He conjured his glaive with a snap of his wrist. "Care to help me dispatch that psychopathic midget and the rest of these anti-magic fanatics?" Several stray bullets lodged in his body, but instead of blood, dark smoke came from the holes, until his robe (and presumably the body underneath) stitched itself back together. He seemed oblivious.

Samyaza, hidden in the skyscraper, contemplated her next move.

edited 17th Sep '13 4:10:40 PM by KillerClowns

Masterofchaos Since: Dec, 2010
#1711: Sep 17th 2013 at 4:15:43 PM

[Hotel-Room 210-Hallway]

Oh. He almost forgot. He gave a small chuckle and pulled out his cell phone. "You're right...that's the first thing I should've done. I'll be back in a second." Before he went out, he looked back at Rachel, "When you too are done, Ms. Rachel, I want to ask you something."

He closed the door behind him, and dialed Nick's number.

[Resident District-Jackson's Car]

Nick blushed in embarrassment. "I..um..." he cleared his throat and scooted back to the backseat. "S-She's right. Yeah. St-Store first Jacky."

His cell phone went off, to his surprise. He quickly answered it. "Hello? Adam? What is it?...She is? Th-That's great! Awesome!" He smiled brightly, "I-I'll tell the others right away! Thanks, man!" He hung up. "Jackson! Selie! She's back to normal! Rachel's back!"

Jackson's eyes widened. "She is? ...That's great!" He turned to Selena, "She's back, Selena!"

[Hotel-Hallway]

When he got off the phone, Adam walked away started to look for a vending machine-one he hoped was just a normal machine.

phantom1 Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#1712: Sep 17th 2013 at 4:31:38 PM

[Room 201]

She heard footsteps outside. Was it another guest or something else, she grabbed a pillow, and a phonebook from her room, and opened the door just a bit. The figure looked human, a regular kid How old is your character? she sighed with relief.

edited 17th Sep '13 4:48:53 PM by phantom1

Yomegami Since: Jan, 2011
#1713: Sep 17th 2013 at 4:45:47 PM

Hotel (Room 210)

Rachel let her hands fall into her lap once Joseph elaborated, though she still didn't look even remotely relieved. "Even s-so, you're saying I still had to be 'b-brought under control.'" She paused and took several deep breaths in an attempt to keep herself calm. "Like I-I had to be tied up and lead around like some sort of animal."

She stopped there once Adam spoke up. In response to his request to speak to her after this, she looked up at him and nodded. As soon as he was gone, she went back to staring down at her lap.

After some moments of silence, she turned to face Joseph. "You-you should probably finish your shower now. I don't mind the f-fact that you're wearing nothing but a towel, but the others m-might."


Residential District (Jackson's Car)

"Well, that's great to hear. Good thing our treatment, such as it was, worked again," Selena responded, before frowning slightly. "Though, you probably should have kept them on the phone for a little while longer. We could have asked them if they wanted anything in particular."

She shrugged. "Then again, Rachel's probably not in the best of moods right now. Maybe we can call them again when we reach the store."

Icon by Civvi the Civilian!
Ryuhza Brother from San Diego County, California Since: Feb, 2012 Relationship Status: Tongue-tied
Brother
#1714: Sep 17th 2013 at 5:33:21 PM

[Hotel ~ Room 210]

"Hey, watch yourself out there Adam!" Joe called after the boy as he stepped out of the room. "If there's any sign of trouble, just run straight back here." When he had gone, Joseph's eyes lingered on the door for a few seconds longer. It was difficult not to be nervous.

He sighed, and turned his attention back to Rachel, then sighed again. "Rachel..." Joseph said, laying the name out in a long and sad yearning. "Come on, I can't just leave you like this. Besides, the others won't be back for a while." He slowly dropped down to his knees, so that he was looking up at her at a slight angle. "Listen, the only reason we had to get you under control is because the whole basement went pitch black. Like a whole smoke cloud of black, and something... like, I dunno, something really horrible rooted it's way down there. We had to get you out of there— we all had to get out of there. It's just that you weren't in any condition to move by yourself, so..." his large mouth drew into a small smile, "all I did was... I put my arms around you," he demonstrated the motion in front of himself, "I held you close to me, and we walked out of there."

Joe made a bit of a rocking motion, as though he were walking his invisible companion. If anyone were to step into the room just then... "Well," he shrugged, "actually, that guy in the robot suit ended up manhandling us out of the room about halfway there, but you weren't as touchy from then on out." Joe then frowned slightly and shook his head, concern in his eyes. "Honestly, there's no reason to blame yourself for any of this. You were out of your mind, and... I don't know, I feel like we were neglecting you." he put a hand to his chest, "If anything, I feel partially responsible."

edited 17th Sep '13 7:43:03 PM by Ryuhza

They'll turn your world around
Masterofchaos Since: Dec, 2010
#1715: Sep 17th 2013 at 5:55:16 PM

[Hotel-Hallway]

Just when Adam was about to head to the vending machine, he heard a door creek open. Oh God, I'm being watched...? He nervously turned his head, before seeing a girl peek at him. He believed that was the same girl from the restaurant, but he left so abruptly he didn't get the chance to know her properly.

He figured he had some time to spare before talking to Rachel again.

"Hi, there!" he said, smiling, "Why are you so nervous?"

[Residential District-Jackson's Car-In front of Supermarket]

Jackson and Nick glanced at each other, then back at Selena.

"You don't really sound all that glad that your best friend is back." Jackson said, "I mean, if that was my friend, I would be jumping for joy." Finally managing to find something that resembled a supermarket, he parked.

"Well, she did say it happened before." Nick said, before shaking his head, "But still, Selie. Do you ever worry that, one day, she'll snap and...well...it's permanent?"

edited 17th Sep '13 6:29:29 PM by Masterofchaos

phantom1 Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#1716: Sep 17th 2013 at 6:18:48 PM

[Hotel-hallway]

She crept out. "Well this is a very strange place, and I'm very far from home, and I had someone promise me they would send me home, but they sent me here." Sorry for giving you backstory from the story she is from, is that allowed? getting so worked up in front of a kid.

SnowyFoxes Drummer Boy from Club Room Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: I know
Drummer Boy
#1717: Sep 17th 2013 at 6:22:33 PM

[[Street]]

Again? Wilhelm fucking died again? Bianca gritted her teeth and kept running. She was nearly at the fight when Jack spoke to her.

Somehow, the rune circle on Wilhelm's body has been... deactivated, Jack told her, Jonathan, and Amu. If he pulls out more cards now and escapes, he'll be able to live. He'll have a high fever and will need to hide better than he did last time he was in trouble, but he'll live.

Got it. A foot-long blade slid out her wrist over the back of her hand as Jack directed her to a spot where she could easily take Wilhelm's place in the battle, without yet exposing her to the current mayhem. As soon as her own bullet shield was erected, Jack got rid of the one he was maintaining for Wilhelm until the link was severed.

All right, you moron. Jack spoke only to Wilhelm now. She's taking over here. As soon as you feel able, I'm going to help you make one last card draw so you can get out of here. But for now, stay down.

Wilhelm nodded and fell to his knees. His glasses were steaming. That couldn't be a good sign.

Jonathan had been taking advantage of the bullet shield to be more prudent with his own shots at Taggart's group. They weren't exactly staying still, so he wasn't going to get a fatal shot unless he was very lucky, he pulled the trigger, aiming at Simon, who seemed to be the biggest problem at the moment. Jonathan was pretty sure the bullet would find it's way to Simon's chest or arm.

Bianca couldn't add to his firepower just yet—she was still adjusting to having to pay the shield so much attention. And what would she do if any anti-magic got to Marianne? Her special abilities as the partner of the Executioner were useless here in a world without Threads, but Marianne was still her primary power source. And since the primary drain was the bullet shield, perhaps it would do them some good to take away the enemy's weapons.

Simply because Taggart was closest to her, she decided to start with him. The smell of decay filled the air as she tried to make whatever the rifle was made of disintegrate into large flakes. If he tried shooting it, he would only speed up the process. Soon, it would be nonfunctional.

edited 17th Sep '13 6:57:37 PM by SnowyFoxes

The last battle's curtains will open on stage!
Yomegami Since: Jan, 2011
#1718: Sep 17th 2013 at 6:24:15 PM

Hotel (Room 210)

"Out of my mind," Rachel repeated, "Exactly my point. I was trying so hard to not let you, Adam, or anyone else down there see that side of me, and...and..." She buried her face in her hands again. "God!"


Residential District (Jackson's Car -> Outside Supermarket)

"Yes," Selena replied in response to Nick's question, "If only because there's a chance, however unlikely I think it is, that the cause might be what Rachel seems to think it is." She stopped there and frowned. This was really one of those things that Rachel should be telling people herself, and she felt like she'd be stabbing her in the back if she told this group now. Nevertheless, Nick and Jackson were trustworthy enough, and they'd be wondering just what that something was if she kept quiet.

"Before you ask," she continued, "the cause Rachel's suspecting is some odd form of split personality disorder, with the 'second personality' being your typical zombie. She seems to think that the P-virus is constantly nagging at her to go insane and start behaving like the zombies do." She sighed. "I don't think that's the case. More likely, it's some form of PTSD, considering her freak outs just seem to consist of her going near catatonic, like what happened back at the bank." She sighed again and frowned. "Either way, the girl's in desperate need of a therapist or a psychologist or something. Unfortunately, unless the P-virus outbreak is dealt with there really isn't a way to get one for her."

She looked out the windshield at the store they just arrived at. "And that's that. Now that we've found a grocery store, we might as well get the shopping done." She unbuckled herself and got out, but waited for the others before she made a move towards the store.

Rachel...?

Icon by Civvi the Civilian!
Ryuhza Brother from San Diego County, California Since: Feb, 2012 Relationship Status: Tongue-tied
Brother
#1719: Sep 17th 2013 at 8:14:29 PM

[Hotel ~ Room 210]

Joseph shook his head in confusion. "Why? Were you afraid that we were going to care? Well sure we care! Geez Rachel, we don't want to see anything happen to you. I especially don't want to see anything bad happen." He frowned, sitting back on his knees with his hands flopped at his sides, his large eyes staring at where her face would be if her hands hadn't been blocking the whole thing from view. "I care about you Rachel. Viruses, freakouts, whatever. All I want is to make sure that you're okay."

Joe waited for a moment, glanced down at his chest, then climbed to his feet. He rose up slightly, but not to his whole height, and tightened his towel's grip round his waist. Then after dancing his claws in the air, he took a step forward, then moved ahead almost directly onto the bed. He reached out with his arms and slipped them under her own arms. Then, Joseph, still wet though he was, hugged Rachel for the third time that day.

They'll turn your world around
CrystalGlacia from at least we're not detroit (Living Relic)
#1720: Sep 17th 2013 at 8:50:56 PM

[street]

Ooh. Arcane healing from Beyond. Yes, that was definitely something he wanted to muck around with when Amu's puppeteer has the inevitable hissy fit.

"I don't deal with noncorporeals, and that goes for that mate of yours up there that's been holding onto your strings."

Several meters away, Vince managed to locate his son. Faster than he thought he would, actually, but Raphael seemed to be in something of a standoff, so he thought it best to... keep out of sight.

He knelt down around the corner of a building and set his bag down, carefully enough that his supplies wouldn't rattle.

As he watched, he pet his dog with one hand with the hope that she would calm down enough to stop whimpering, and checked his revolvers over with the other.

From what he could remember, even the flame rounds would probably just tickle that man in the blue hair he dealt with on that island. Of course, what else was there to do.

edited 17th Sep '13 8:52:42 PM by CrystalGlacia

"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."
KillerClowns Since: Jan, 2001
#1721: Sep 18th 2013 at 4:02:27 AM

[Street]

Amu turned to Raphael and said, "how disappointing."

Amu seemed about to do something about that when a wicked idea came to Kokabiel. <Amu, do not forget the debt I am owed.>

Amu replied, <certainly. When you're done trying to destroy this world.>

Kokabiel replied, <obviously. But I doubt you'll have an opportunity to repay it soon. Your allies look to be withdrawing. That being, there in the card deck. Its host will soon fall again. You should protect him... and take this opportunity to rid him of the parasite that enslaves him, and in doing so, pay your debt.>

Amu suppressed a laugh. <I can tell the difference between symbiosis and slavery.> Then his fist clenched. <But damn you, you have one thing clear.>

Amu waved a hand, and Wilhelm's deck flew out of his pocket. Then it — and Jack — vanished without a trace. <They will stay for now.> He then hurried over to join Bianca and Wilhelm. "I'm sorry I didn't ask for permission, but I can't let Alice destroy those cards," he said. "We will have need of them later. Now, can we deal with that bitch?"

By then, "that bitch" had fled to a new location. She watched for now, hoping Amu's strange action would cause havoc among the group.

[Unreason]

Jack beheld the City as the Eyes and Teeth saw it. The past, stabilizing with alarming speed. The future, forming so very slowly, so full of possibilities. The time lines, discordant and chaotic, some stretching moments into hours, others crushing hours into instants, intertwining and separating. And, thankfully, he could still communicate with those within the flow of time — Amu had been too hasty.

And there was the Eyes and Teeth itself. It was not within Unreason, for Unreason was merely the border between the comprehensible realm of the City and the infinite and eternal Void it called home. Nonetheless, the merciful veils of space and time were thin here, allowing Jack to behold it in detail. Eyes and Teeth — from the glimpses of profane chaos that could be seen through the thinnest potions of the veil, the twisted geometries and hideous energies certainly did resemble such. Though it was mindless, Jack could feel how much it... using the words of human emotions for such an inhuman being will have to suffice. It hated him, envied him, feared him. (How could a mindless being feel these emotions? Western Amalgamated had paid for an entire psychiatric wing, thankfully small, devoted to those who had glimpsed the Eyes and Teeth, and been foolish enough to contemplate such questions rather than putting them out of their mind.) These emotions were too pure to have need of cause or justification, beyond the original sin: that Jack had dared to exist. They fed upon one another, and fed one another, a hideous loop without beginning or end.

Its instincts told it that could not harm Jack, that Jack was to be held here, not destroyed. And it hated those instincts. As it hated so much else. Hatred defined it, consumed it, destroyed it from within even though it could not be destroyed.

Not that it mattered. Simply killing Jack would mean nothing. Jack would have existed — and thus, for the Eyes and Teeth, would continue to exist, in those moments of time. Its past, present, its countless unborn futures, and those paths untouched, all were the same. The only true satisfaction it would have, or so it dreamed, was if Jack, and for that matter, every creature that had ever dared mock it by their very being, from the lowest rat to the most transcendent of beings, ceased not only to be, but to have ever been, cleansed by nothing short of the obliteration of time itself. And if ever it was truly and fully unbound permitted to pierce the veil — for even its trick with Wilhelm had merely granted it an infinitesimal window — wreaking such utter destruction of time was well within its power. It would weave paradox upon paradox into time, feed upon the energies the chaos caused, and eventually consume the collapsing reality until it ceased to have ever been.

[Street]

John managed to get a hold of Kokabiel's core, which had found its way reasonably close to their hiding spot. He and Mary then started to maneuver their way towards the skyscraper, dashing from cover to cover until they were near Alice. "Where'd Samyaza go," John asked Alice.

"I wish I knew," Alice replied. "Be ready, it's probably planning something."

edited 18th Sep '13 4:49:34 AM by KillerClowns

Tehpillowstar Giant alien spiders are no joke. from the remains of the Galactic Federation fleet Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Giant alien spiders are no joke.
#1722: Sep 18th 2013 at 7:32:48 AM

[Historical District Street: Offensive Theatre]

When Taggart realized that his rifle was decaying in his hands and dropped it in surprise, letting the weapon hang on its strap. Goddamnit, the rifle was expensive. Forced to rely on his sidearm now, he drew it out again, pissed off at the person who ruined his gun.

Keeping his head down, he made a quick sweep of the battlefield. While the opposing side did not do anything to give themselves easy advantages such as hunkering down, barracading the skyscraper's entrances and being out, exposed and as easy as cane toads to take potshots at was a relief to know. The fact that, like cane toads, they were impossible to stamp out due to their bullshit wizardry, turned the urban battle into an ammo-draining war of the patricians. There was no way they could keep this up for very long. Taggart already had more empty magazines than full ones, and he had a bad feeling, an intuition fostered by years of experience with diving into Hell and back, that there were battles to fight as of yet.

Pulling out sounded like a tactically brilliant idea, but with the newcomers and their "anti-magic" (More magical bullshit to him), that they might have an advantage that he hadn't spotted during the firefight, one that could tip the scales. Was it worth the risk?

He looked up and saw Bianca with a large, foot-long blade and he decided to fall back to a more defendable position, taking the risk of being shot at by Jonathan as he shimmed behind cover to join his friends, than being in an extremely disadvantagous melee situation.

Chloe spotted Bianca's approach and considered her options. She was beginning to run low of ammo, and Taggart was bleeding and probably needed Ralph to take a look at him. However rushing in knives flailing seemed fundamentally flawed especially since she had a gun. She reluctantly decided that waiting a few precious seconds was worth making the right decision.

Hopefully.

edited 18th Sep '13 7:35:30 AM by Tehpillowstar

"Life is eternal; and love is immortal; and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight." - R. W. Raymond
SnowyFoxes Drummer Boy from Club Room Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: I know
Drummer Boy
#1723: Sep 18th 2013 at 10:31:48 AM

[[Street]]

"N-no—"

"It's all right, Wilhelm." Bianca made her best attempt at a soothing voice, even though she was lying—the bullet shield was becoming far too costly to maintain. "He just wants to make sure the anti-magic doesn't get to it."

He barely even heard her. Jack didn't know what was happening, but he was afraid, so he screamed. Wilhelm could hardly bear it.

It wasn't looking good. The bullet shield had to go soon, the shots Jonathan had been getting in weren't enough, and there was an incapacitated Wilhelm to account for. It was time for something bold.

The shield weakened; bullets would slow down until touching the target and then fall. Marianne told Bianca she had one minute to significantly reduce enemy firepower. Bianca swiped her wrist blade at Taggart and stepped forward as he retreated. She had to get closer to destroy the other weapons.

Jonathan aimed for Simon's head and pulled the trigger.

The last battle's curtains will open on stage!
Masterofchaos Since: Dec, 2010
#1724: Sep 18th 2013 at 1:32:48 PM

[Hotel-Hallway]

"Oh, so you're waiting on someone..." Adam said, "Have you tried calling them? This place has a pretty good reception." Which was a relief; he was planning on calling his brother after this. There was no doubt Nathan was worried sick about him.

[Residential District-Outside Supermarket]

Nick didn't know what else to say. He knew that Adam, his dad, and uncle John had PSTD, but he never seen it like how Rachel displayed it. Then again, she had a virus, so maybe it somehow did something to her brain.

Nick got out the car first, Jackson following behind. As soon as they got to the door, Nick quickly opened it for Selena. "Ladies first."

[Restaurant]

John shrugged, "I have no idea. They just...vanished." He looked again at Mika, knowing that he couldn't leave her by herself. And he had no idea where her friends were-or if she had any other living relative.

For the time being, he decided to stay in the restaurant, at least until he was sure the outdoors were safe.

"May I have some sweet tea, please?" he finally asked.

Night The future of warfare in UC. from Jaburo Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
The future of warfare in UC.
#1725: Sep 18th 2013 at 3:38:43 PM

[Stre-RENEGADE INTERRUPT]

Linna settled to her feet lightly, cat-like after a jump despite the seventy-kilogram armored suit she was wearing. And directly in front of Jonathan as the gun discharged. The bullet hit the hardsuit's blank faceplate with a whang and bounced off the curved plate, deflecting off to the side.

"That wasn't very nice." Linna lashed out, knocking the gun from Jonathon's hand with enough force to have possibly hurt him, and turned away from him for now, headed for Bianca and Wilhelm with the nanocutters unspooling from her arms as she went. "Kid, you should have stayed away!"

Wilhem and Bianca had about three seconds to react before she'd crash into them, fillet them with her nanocutters, or both.

edited 18th Sep '13 3:39:54 PM by Night

Nous restons ici.

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