It's a bird.
Snow Castle - Parlor (Gwenafer; Gliosem; Phantom; Jackson, Adam, Marie, Nick; Megumi, Rin)
"Gods, that can't be much fun..." Gwenafer commented after Phantom's explanation. "...Sorry."
She tapped a finger against her own metallic eye socket, clearly contemplating something as she listened to Gliosem's soothing tune. "I wonder if the mages back home... nah, it wouldn't be the same thing..."
The room seemed to grow colder for moment, probably as a side effect of the winged woman's spell-song. Gwenafer shuddered slightly, drank some more of the beverage she'd been given to warm herself, and took a bite from the fish-shaped cake. Once the performance was over, she threw a glance at the teenagers, letting out a chuckle at Marie's and Jackson's comments, remembering her own first awkward experiences with that sort of thing.
Meanwhile, Rin had finally woken up.
"Well, good morning..." Gwenafer said, hurrying over to the admiral's side. She briefly looked up at Megumi, and scratched the side of her head.
"Uh, yeah..." she began, "One of your corridors might be a bit... fucked."
Still a great "screw depression" song even after seven years.
December, 1901; South West England
Alexandra rounded the bushes near her family home, slowing down to calmly approach the front door. The Rosendorn estate was a quaint countryside manor that served as the local boarding house. In actuality, due to Mr. Rosendorn's generosity, it was more of an orphanage and a work house.
Waiting on the veranda was the Old Man. Rugged and weathered and sporting a wiry white beard, the Old Man was quite fit for his age(whatever that may be). He wore a red flannel shirt with a pair of dungarees and a pair of sturdy work boots. He cast Alexandra a scowl as he tapped the banister with tip of the hook that replaced his right hand. "Alice's lookin' fer ya, wants ya fer somethin'" he growled, jutting his thumb towards the door. He sniffed the air, before looking towards the horizon, "Gonna be a storm tonight..."
Alexandra hesitantly glanced over her shoulder, the sight sending shivers down her spine; indeed, the sky was quickly growing cloudy and red. Turning back around, she climbed the stairs and headed through the front door. She was quickly greeted by the matron of the house, Ms. Alice Leeds, as the woman came down from the upstairs.
Ms. Leeds was a stern, but caring woman, who looked to be in her thirties with her ebony hair pinned up in a bun. She wore a white pinafore, dirtied from daily use, over a light green blouse and a dark green, floor-length skirt.
Taking a moment to catch her breath, Ms. Leeds stared at Alexandra with her faint but clearly glowing hazel eyes. "Alexa dear," she said, her voice slightly strained, "I need your help with Susie. Can you fetch me some clean towels?"
Worry crossed Alexandra's face. Susie was one of the resident orphans of the Rosendorn house, and recently she had come down with a fever. "Of course, ma'am. Right away," Alexandra replied, before hurrying off towards the linen cupboard.
Magdalene's Realm (???; Magdalene)
The magician stood a little over five foot, sporting short, bright yellow pigtails and a headband adorned with a black top-hat that listed to one side. She wore a shortened, light-blue lined magician's cloak that had either seen better days or a pair of fabric sheers over a black, cropped, turtleneck halter top. A pair of black, detached sleeves atop magenta arm warmers were held up by cyan sleeve garters. She wore a black miniskirt, as well as black-and-magenta striped leg warmers that covered the tops of her shiny black, gold-buckled high-heeled boots.
Around her waist was cyan, magenta, and yellow rhinestone belt, a fanny pack, and what appeared to be a sheathed short sword lacking a hand guard; the scabbard looking like it was subjected to a Bedazzler. Each of her fingers bore one of eight silver rings; each was the same style but bearing a different band of color in the middle.
Left eye green, right eye blue, the girl grinned like a Cheshire cat as she wandered through the woods. She let out an enthusiastic "Ooo!" when she noticed the sudden bloom of yellow. The girl charged headfirst into the field of flowers, towards the great tree in the center of the glade. She slowed her approach when she noticed the green building being formed; clearly this was a purposefully designed location.
The magician noticed a yellow blossom on the ground moving about. The longer she stared at the flower, the more she realized it wasn't a flower, but in fact, a cute little girl much younger than herself. "Hey there~!" she exclaimed in a sing-song voice, still grinning as she waved at the other girl, "Whatcha doin'~?"
Rozeta Marga ~ Ampelones Dry Docks (Nerea; Arizona, the Midnight Stitcher; Durnem; Speechless Cyborg Girl)
Nerea quizzically raised an eyebrow a the Midnight Stitcher before using her tail to pat the ground, "I presume from a holistic stand-point that one could refer to the world at large as "Earth", though, a more appropriate word might be "Lithos"," she said, "assuming that your world is similar to this one, of course."
She continued to "gaze" at the man, still unnerved by the strange cloak of aether around him. "Simulation..." the empress said quietly, before speaking up, "I suppose that this," she gestured towards her surroundings with her tail, "could qualify as a simulation, though one of my own design, so to speak. And this is most definitively not the "Night-mare Normalcy"." What a most peculiar and frightful name; such a place I would not want to visit, she thought.
The longer Nerea listened to the Midnight Stitcher, and to a lesser extent, Arizona, the more she had to exercise her eyebrow. "I must say, you two are certainly some of the queerest people I have ever had the fortune of meeting," she said, before facing the harpy girl once more, "I am un-familiar with this Japanese you speak of, though, I am under the impression that Japanese and Senjimese are either quite similar, or one and the same, as unlikely as it might seem."
Taking a moment to massage her forehead, Nerea proceeded to ask another question: "Pray tell what exactly a brittle is? It seems to be yet another term whose context I am unfamiliar with." She took a moment to close her eyes behind her opaque visor and collect her thoughts, before continuing on, "I speak the current tongue as a means of being understood by you. Not all speak the same language, after all, as such I am versed in various languages."
The empress shook her head when the Midnight Stitcher asked her about Eldritchians, "Once again, I must state that I am not fully familiar with that term, though, would it not also apply to other-worlders such as your-selves?" she asked, sweeping her gaze to include Durnem and the other girl, "Wights?" Nerea's eyebrow shot up yet again, "that word is a bit... vague in meaning and quite antiquated, if I must say so my-self."
She mentally filed away the word Durnem used, fylin, which she came to understand as the other woman's term for her kind of merfolk. Nerea then chuckled softly at Durnem's self-depreciation, "Yes, you may," she said before adding specifically to the mer-mage, "superficial differences aside, we two seem to be quite similar."
Nerea smiled, and softly laughed, "I say, this is a most interesting discussion on semantics that we are having, as well as an informative learning experience for my-self." She covered her mouth with her tail tip for a moment, hiding a smirk as she entertained a rather naughty chain of thoughts.
Finally, the empress' attention fell upon the shy visitor, who seemed a bit troubled. Observing the motions the person was going through, Nerea found herself mildly amused; was she going to kiss Durnem's hand? She chuckled softly to herself when she noticed that the woman instead sniffed the offered hand.
"You say that your name is Blank?" she asked, barely catching what the other woman had said. Though the name seemed a bit peculiar to the empress, it seemed less so in comparison to tall, stringy man nearby. She gave a friendly head nod, "My name is Nerea, by the way. It is a pleasure to meet you, Blank."
edited 4th Jul '17 4:35:49 PM by WillDeRegio
Friendly Neighborhood Lich
Snow Castle - Parlor (Rin, Nick, Adam, Marienote , Gwenafer, Gliosem, Phantom)
A smile spread across Gliosem's round white face as the Admiral finally rose from her petrified slumber. While she was talking with Megumi and Gwenafer, Gliosem turned her attention to the table for now, taking a quick bite out of the fish-shaped bread while the teens were saying their comments.
"I am pleased that you enjoyed it," she said to them with a small giggle. "And that it put you in better spirits, Nick. But Marie, I will have to decline your offer," she added playfully, "as if all goes well, my sisters and I will be looking for a husband in a few years."
After another small laugh, she looked back over at Rin, watching with amusement as she froze the orange. Picking up her own orange, she examined it a bit, noticing the rough, leathery peel. According to Rin's, the fruit was divided into sections, much like many a fruit from Rumia. And so she peeled and pulled it apart in a similar fashion, and once she tasted it, she found that she rather enjoyed the tangy sweetness of it. And in fact, next she held one section in her palm, thinking both of the freezing spell Rin used and the effect of the song she just performed. Perhaps there was an incantation, but this time she merely thought it. Nonetheless, a few wisps of light blue mist formed around the orange slice, causing it to cool down and frost up a slight bit.
Then to Rin she said, "The state of the hallway is a consequence of what happens when destructive magical powers are bestowed upon a child. Magdalene had the responsibility of holding on to so many souls bestowed upon her by her king, and under that pressure she just snapped. ...But what about you? Does sleep paralysis happen to you often? It seems odd that it should occur within a dream though..."
And finally to Phantom, "Well, I came here seeking ideas for dealing with the war being waged all over Orenya. After all, the life of a musician is difficult when the world around them is engaged in battle and strife. And yet..." She looked all around. "Here we are, in the aftermath of battle and peril, utilizing our healing magic," she gestured at Phantom, "our bonding and support for one another," she gestured to the teens, "our hospitality," she gestured in the direction Megumi went, "and our musical talent," she indicated herself, "...oh, and, uh, our... wit and practicality?" she added, remembering Gwenafer all of a sudden. "And we are recovering, moving on, understanding ourselves more."
Suddenly she felt a deep sense of satisfaction within her. Briefly, she remembered how badly she had gotten injured during that fight, and how hopeless she had felt beforehand when her pleas to calm down were ignored. But she had managed, and having the presence of others willing to help came in handy as well. Remembering what Rin said about an infirmary, she had a brief vision as she picked up her teacup to drink from it, of wandering amongst the warriors and civilians who had been wounded or even killed in the battle, her selunor in hand and her sisters following behind. "Inadvertently, it seems, I have already found my answer. So once I leave this place, I believe my next destination will be Kalena, the same moon my song was about. In this dream it is set to be my final destination, and soon it may be time for me to wake up and accomplish a similar thing in the real world."
A pause. "But not yet, of course." After all, she was rather enjoying the tea and the bread, especially. The orange was a bit too tart for her, so instead she offered half of it, partly frosted-over, to Rin. Then she looked back at the Phantom. "Indeed, reincarnating into a Guardian like you would be the more difficult route... but some people will resort to all sorts of drastic measures to become immortal. On Orenya at least, transplanting souls into crystals is an especially popular method - and I am not quite sure how it works, but I imagine if done improperly, it might result in a loss of memories." She shrugged; Ferisen probably knew more about the topic than she did.
Fair...
Abruptly, she reached for the crystal ball she used earlier to check the state of her sisters. When she grasped it in her lap and gazed into it with Ferisen in mind, all she saw was a triangle slowly shrinking. But abstract though it was, she had a nagging feeling that something was not right about it.
edited 6th Jul '17 12:58:13 AM by ladytanuki
Come, my child of the devil. Your mother is calling you. Hear my call in Hell's grand hall, where all our dreams come true.
Magdalene's Realm (Magdalene, ???)
As Magdalene's summoned plants continued to work their magic, it became clear that the structure she was working on was a little, square-shaped house. If it weren't for the fact its walls were made completely out of vines, it might have borne resemblance to any other house one may have found in a typical suburb.
Before too long, the walls were complete. The four tree trunks that formed the four corners grew upwards, before each one bent towards the one just across from it, forming the foundations of a roof in the shape of a triangular prism. More vines started to wrap themselves around the roof's foundations in order to thatch it...only to stop abruptly as an unexpected newcomer attracted Magdalene's attention.
For a few moments Magdalene just gave the newcomer a slightly confused look. Then she blinked a couple times, before tilting her head to one side curiously.
"...How'd you get here?"
Icon by Civvi the Civilian!
Magdalene's Realm (Claire; Magdalene)
The magician shrugged her shoulders, "Dunno. Nodded off for a bit on the job, wound up here," she said. "Name's Claire, by the way," she added with a grin before plopping herself down on the ground.
Claire cast another look around the glade, her gaze falling upon the partially completed house Magdalene was working on. This elicited a whistle of approval from her; "Nice house you got goin' on here," she said.
The Prince of Foolish Relevations
The Eldritch Factory - Heart Forge (Ashleigh, Emriel, Noire)
Watching and listening in silence, Noire finally bursts into a fit of dark laughter after it becomes clear no one else will speak. Leaning forward limply and letting her arms dangle, Noire doesn't exactly look relieved- Instead her annoyance and frustration merely subdued, her tone of voice one of mirthless humor.
"You got your ass kicked by a mega level Digimon knockoff! There's no way you're one of those bastard angels. Can't freaking believe I blew my reveal on you then. Noire Blanc, the Reaper of fuck-ups is more like it... Probably no point in continuing with the wig..."
Grabbing at her hair, Noire pulls- And reveals her true white hair, done as a short bob cut. Holding her black wig in front of herself, Noire glances over at Ashleigh and speaks. "You were alluding to Hell right? There's plenty of artificial afterlives, if by afterlife you mean 'place to put souls'. Nobody has any idea about the natural afterlife, but what few people return keep their souls intact."
Pulling her wig back on and hiding her real hair once again, Noire waves dismissively to the invoked goddess. "You can let her down, I'm not gonna chase someone who clearly isn't worth my effort. If she can't defeat you, then there's no way her species is responsible. However..."
The spears of light turning around, Noire looks over to the central structure. In a blink of an eye, the structure is suddenly skewered by all the spears. The guro Lolita reaper eyeing up the structure, the room shudders for a moment- And fleshy mounds bubble out from where Noire's light spears pierced.
Noire herself looking on with some surprise, the 'teal mouth' coos amusedly. "That isn't very polite you know, but it is utterly adorable. Sweetikin and guests, I'm called Eternus because I don't die. Personalities, perhaps, but not my meatsuit. Now what to do..."
The fleshy mounds bubbling out into miniature bodies, each waving mass grows eyes and a mouth. The various eyes settling on the group, the mouths themselves flash a cheeky smile each. With more mass bubbling out for unknown ends, Eternus(?) calls out once more.
"Your goddess is quite exquisitely designed, she doth remindth me of Blackwood. I don't suppose she can create living plant-based organisms? Oh what does it matter, here I am endless faces to your faces! Shall we speak or shall we act instead?"
"The Omniverse is the collection of all possibilities, and all possibilities must eventually come to pass."
Friendly Neighborhood Lich
Eldritch Factory - Heart Forge (Noire, Ashleigh, Emriel)
Emriel had no idea what a Digimon was, but she could tell from Noire's aura (which was so bright that it stood out against the aural signature of the rest of the place) that it was something derogatory. She could not help feeling annoyed... not because Noire was clearly a better fighter than she wasnote , but because she let herself be ensnared by those stupid vines. I could've dodged them if they didn't come out of humi-no nowhere.
Ashleigh, on the other hand, stood there with her arms folded. Unlike Emriel, she had heard of Digimon before; she even remembered Gon making a direct comparison between the Elemental Goddesses and "mega evolution"note . But those arms quickly unfolded when those flesh things burst out from that strange white disc thingy they had encountered earlier. Jumping in surprise, she staggered back until she hit Vertilia's trunk - and here Vertilia gently wrapped a root around her.
Then in response to Eternus's question, Vertilia said, "I can make plant life flourish from a land once barren. I can grow any kind of fruit from my branches." Just as she said this, she reached a branch out toward the space between Noire and one of Eternus's "bodies", from which grew a peach, a pineapple, and several peppercorns. "But if you mean Plant-class creatures, then no. That power lies with Vi Willow alone - and she created me as well."
Ashleigh sounded less gentle, even struggling in Vertilia's grasp. "She is nothing like the Blackwood! The Blackwood is dark and forbidding and belongs to a being who wants to take over the entire dream world." She shuddered... what was the Dark Caller up to now? Last she recalled, the Blackwood had somehow fused with the Otori Jungle of Mystrica, and all but swallowed Misery Manor.note In fact... "You... what do you know about the Blackwood?"
While she was speaking, she spotted her Scanner, which had been knocked out of her hand by one of the fleshy protrusions. Now it was lying on the floor, covered in electric sparks. When Vertilia reached a vine out to grab it, she gave it a thoughtful look, and then handed the Scanner to Ashleigh. "Something seems different about your Scanner. It appears one of your other Mystripets has been... altered."
Ashleigh's eyes widened a slight. "Altered? But how? You do not mean in the way that the Techno Mafia enhances Mystripets, do you?" As Vertilia let go of her, she examined the device for a brief moment, but decided she would worry about this later. For now, she looked back to Eternus, then back at the swordswoman. "Noire, what do you suggest? I am afraid that I have not read of any mutant flesh beings like this in myth, and you seem to know more about how this world works than I do."
While Ashleigh and Vertilia were preoccupied with Noire and Eternus, Emriel held still for a while, and since her arms were bound, instead pointed a foot at a blank spot of wall. Here she whispered. "Okona ka nendria, kuna-ya."translation And as she drew a circle with her pointed foot, a circle of a faint reddish light appeared on the wall, and a disc of an even fainter light within. Closing her eyes for a brief moment, she focused more on her aura, expanding it outward to psychokinetically loosen the vines' grip on her. With that, she slipped out and rolled away along the floor and onto her feet, and leapt upward and forward, all in motions that flowed together. And like a synchronized swimmer diving into a pool, she stretched her arms forward and dove into the portal she had just created, which vanished quietly behind her.
Magdalene's Realm (Magdalene, Claire, Emriel)
The sumiri dancer emerged from a transient glowing red portal in the trunk of the rose tree and dove right into the field of yellow flowers, a couple of which she grabbed as she somersaulted along the ground. When she rose again, she jumped and tossed the flowers she had grabbed all around, sending petals flying as she landed. And as she looked up, she smiled broadly and spread her wings out from beneath her narrow cape. "Ah, sun! Finally!" Much better than that freaky blood-filled place.
As she neatly tossed her ribbon-wrapped braid back behind her muscular shoulders, she gazed around at the place, quickly spotting two girls in yellow pigtails, both even more ostentatiously dressed than she was. Flashing them a smirk and playfully cocking her head to the side, the relatively-simply-dressed yet still alluring ladynote said to them, "Enjoying the view, are we? Though if I were to guess... I'd say one of you planted this tree and built this house, am I right?"
While speaking, her gaze shifted specifically to the younger-looking of the two, for there was a definite match between her aura and that of the trees and flowers... only hers was quite unusually bright, a brightness that could almost rival that of the sun. But since her eyes were more used to bright light than Gliosem's were (the latter liked to travel to Zurem a lot or otherwise stay indoors much of the time), the brightness didn't really bother her.
Come, my child of the devil. Your mother is calling you. Hear my call in Hell's grand hall, where all our dreams come true.
Drummer Boy
[Ritter Clinic (parlor)]
"Goodness! Now that's quite an adventure." If Heinrich were sober, he might have been a bit horrified about what he'd just heard, what with the break-ins and attempted murders, but he didn't seem very concerned about that at the moment, or the goat, who had returned to the parlor and was taking a keen interest in his shirt sleeve. "But love strikes in the strangest ways, doesn't it?"
He stared into the fireplace, still smiling faintly, but he sounded troubled when he spoke again. "Yes, truly... the strangest ways. Well, you've lived a long time, Henry. I'll defer to your experience. Who are the happiest people, the ones who pursue love despite great hardship or the ones who shun it altogether?"
[Ji Estate (Centermost Foyer)]
So he just "liked the way it looked"? You don't just pick a symbol for your family because you like the way it looks! It's too important for that! Or maybe Mazra's just ignorant of the real reason, which is only slightly better.
Seilaan maintained a polite smile throughout the brief tour, keeping all comments to herself. She'd learned her lesson from the sword incident. For now, anyway. But oh was it hard.
"My sigil?" She remained standing and continued to twirl her hair around her finger as she surveyed the foyer. "Well, in ancient times, it was just a circle enclosing the character for ren—unity through common purpose. My ancestors adopted it as their surname to reflect how they saw themselves as one with the common people. As for the fox standing on clouds, that was Ren Yangchao's Witch form, so we added it to the symbol in their honor. But the ren character is still there, next to the fox. It's just smaller than it used to be."
Wait, it was time to give the host a gift, wasn't it? Seilaan stuck her hand into the opposite robe sleeve and it emerged with a hard cake of tea leaves, wrapped in brown paper.
"Oh! This is good stuff. Well, I mean, it's one of my favorites. Uhm... enjoy. And thank you for your hospitality." She held it out to Mazra with both hands, her smile stiffer than ever.
[Farm]
So that thing was a lot smarter than it looked. Huh. Josef squinted at the drawings on the ground. He wasn't confident that he knew what was going on there, but it seemed like those two things got... separated from each other? "Are you trying to find... these things?"
He looked to Tsadro, brow furrowed. "Someone I trust? I—I feel like I can't know for sure. All my brothers ran into trouble with the people they 'trusted.' It seems like everyone... wants something from me. I mean, in the I-will-try-to-ruin-everything-if-you-don't-give-me-the-thing-I-want kind of way. And I already know I'm going to have to make a big decision right away, because the leader of Ren Island has invited me to visit, and if I acknowledge them, everyone who's still friendly with Kartal is going to be angry, because Ren Island was their colony that just rebelled against them, and—" Josef took a deep breath. "Sorry. You don't... need to know all that. Probably. I—I want to acknowledge Yinha Ren as their leader, but a lot of people in the court still want to throw our lot with Kartal. Maybe about half of them. I guess that's the short of it."
[Blizzard —> Outside Ritter Clinic]
Friedrich bowed his head. She wouldn't say those things if she'd heard what he said to Eva and me, that's for sure. But it comes from a good place. "Thank you. If my niece Eva were with me, it'd be a lot easier. She's better with... feelings. But she's probably in town, wherever that is now. Maybe we can go looking for it if the snow clears up in the morning."
When the clinic's lights came into view, Abadal disappeared.
"I thought I'd be of the same mind as you," Friedrich said softly. "I swore never to forgive Philip, in the name of the people that he turned his back on and so many others that the Republic grinds under its heel. But the Light told the first prophet after her parents offered up her beloved brother as a human sacrifice that the bond of blood will help you understand even the gravest sins of your family, even if it takes a thousand years. I can turn my back on him all I want, but those words just keep coming back and fucking me up." Even Friedrich wasn't sure if "him" meant Philip or the Light. If anyone had asked in that particular moment, he might have said both. "He's my brother's child and he—he's become like my own son after all these years. I just wish I could have been a father for him."
He walked up the porch steps and rested his hand on the door. Head still lowered, he began to mutter an Ibraic prayer, the literal translation of which Iveya would hear as, "God, if you are listening, if you still love me, I am sorry. Gratitude and glory upon you, now and forever." Then he looked at Iveya, his eyes weary. "Belehasa wrote that she learned to forgive her parents for what they did to their son. And I swear to you—those are the most dangerous words in our holy books."
The last battle's curtains will open on stage!
Farm (Fuwa; Vince, Tsadro, Lise; Josef)
Fuwa gave Josef a head tilt towards the others before shaking her head. She pointed towards the picture of the creature and then pointed to herself; more specifically, she pointed a clawed thumb towards her stomach. She "Mer~"ed for confirmation before pointing towards the circle and then towards the soon-to-be monarch's circlet before uttering another "Mer~". After this show of connecting pictographs with their meanings, she decided to apply context to the jagged line by letting off a crackle of electricity across her fur.
She then reached for the circlet, which still lay on the ground, and attempted to pick it up. It was heavier than it looked, but she was able to lift it without any accompanying sparks of electricity, and offered it back to Josef. If the man didn't want it back right now, she would continue to hold onto it; maybe it would stay put if someone had a firm grasp on it.
Listening to the man as he continued, Fuwa drew a line on the ground. The way she saw it, any action one took would result in someone getting angry (or at least that's what it felt like whenever caretaker let her free use of her body). The raiju girl then proceeded to draw a frowning face below the line. She then pointed at one end of the line before flipping her hand to point at the other end, punctuating the action with a vocalization that sounded quite similar to the English word "or". Fuwa finished her attempt at expressing her thoughts by pointing towards the drawn face and shrugging.
Magdalene's Realm (Magdalene, Claire, Emriel)
Magdalene just blinked a little more in response to Claire before frowning slightly.
"That's weird. I thought that since I made this place, no one could get in without asking me first...." she said, more to herself than to her newfound companion. Then she shook her head and shrugged with a small grin. "...Ah well~ So long as you don't make a mess of things, you'll be welcome in my world~"
At that she turned her attention back to the house she was making, before a look of realization crossed her face and she quickly looked back at Claire.
"Oh! I'm Magdalene!" she said happily, "Or some people call me Maggie. Or Mags." Then she turned back to the house she making. "It'll be the best house~ Maybe even better than King Messy's castle. Though that's really nice too...." She tilted her head at her creation-in-progress. "...Anyway, I'll need to-"
Then something else seemed to catch her attention, and she quickly turned her attention back towards the tree as yet another newcomer popped in out of nowhere. As the newcomer approached, another flash of recognition flashed across Magdalene's face. It didn't last very long before it was replaced with a scowl of annoyance.
"Aw, you messed up the flowers."
Icon by Civvi the Civilian!
feeling blue
"It's something I have gotten used to after all this time, there's no need for pity," said Phantom, shaking his head slightly as he addressed Gwenafer, although he did sound somewhat grateful for the sympathy she was showing.
The others told what their plans were, some like Gliosem already had a goal in mind while others were just planning on exploring more of this strange land. If this was really a dream like they claimed, there was little need for him to go looking around for people to help, so maybe staying with a group would be the best option.
Gliosem did point an interesting comment about the wish for immortality others have. Could that be the case for him as well? Was he looking for a way to live forever? It wasn't impossible, he certainly was making good use of all the time he had available for himself now.
"Immortality you say..." He trailed off as he seemed to be getting in deep thought about the subject.
Magdalene's Realm (Claire; Emriel; Magdalene)
Claire smiled and shrugged, "Guess ya forgot to lock the front door, but considerin' my tendencies, I don't think that would've stopped me." She grinned and performed a light punching motion for emphasis. "Don't worry about me, though; I'll just look, not touch. Unless ya want me too," she said with a grin.
The magician cast a glance at winged new arrival, before giving the woman a warm smile, "Why, yes, yes I am," she replied. My, someone works out. Reminds me a bit of Alex, if she wore a dress... she thought to herself as she continued smiling at the sumiri.
"Name's Claire," she told Emriel, tapping her fist to her chest before jutting a thumb at her younger acquaintance, "Maggie here's the gardener around here. My plant based tricks are of the… quick and simple kind," she said, cracking her knuckles before wriggling her fingers, displaying the various rings.
Taking a look back at the house, the magician cupped her chin briefly in though as she crossed an arm across her midriff. "Looks pretty nice so far, Maggie. Though, don't castles have towers and dungeons and stuff? All the ones I've been in have had those." She adjusted her pose by switching arms before tapping her foot lightly on the ground, "I can make towers real quick for ya if ya want," she offered.
Claire glanced over at the patch of damaged flowers that was irking Magdalene, "I can do flowers, so let me fix that for ya real quick." Grinning, she leaped into action; one of the rings on the magician's left hand started glowing before Claire rather forcefully placed one hand on the ground. A rippling green shadow crawled across the ground towards her target before erupting into a frenzy of vines that covered the area and sprouted large lavender flowers. Her work done, Claire turned back to grin at Maggie, "See what I mean?".
edited 21st Jul '17 5:40:48 PM by WillDeRegio
[Snow Castle (Parlor)]
Marie gave a small sigh. "Oh darn...oh well; hopefully whoever you find treats you well."
Jackson got up from the table. He still felt slightly nervous around Megumi—this was, after all, the same woman who drugged Rin—but he quickly realized that he probably had nothing to fear. She did try her best to save his life during the fight, after all.
"I'll be back shortly." he said, following Megumi.
"See ya, buddy." Nick said, giving a two finger salute.
"Don't feel bad, Ms. Rin!" Adam said, "What happened threw us all off guard. Besides, you could've gotten even more hurt in the fight."
Marie didn't really know Rin, so she just stayed silent. The tea smelled really good, though...
Sorry for the shortness.
Friendly Neighborhood Lich
Magdalene's Realm (Magdalene, Claire, Emriel)
Emriel looked a bit annoyed when the flower girl said she was ruining the flowers... but at the same time, she just had to smile and shake her head, as she remembered how she herself used to tease Amiluet while she was tending the family garden, and the latter often did in fact complain about her ruining the flowers. Especially when the older girl regrew the flowers with some sort of magic. Definitely an Amiluet thing.
In fact, as she watched, she withdrew a crystal ball out of a miraculously well-fastened pocket at her hip (otherwise with all the running and tumbling about she had done it would have certainly fallen out), and from there spotted Amiluet... or not. Instead she saw a shiny, amber-colored asteroid of some sort. Her eyes widened. She's woken up! Damn... I'd have thought she'd be the last one up. Looking further, she saw Gliosem drinking tea in some sort of building and... a triangle? What's Fair up to? That's not Eldarien, so she's obviously not awake...
Finally she looked over at the two blondes. "I'm Emriel, of the Four Bardic Sisters of Drenlin. I'm sorry about your flowers..." and here she threw her hands up, "I've gotten so used to tossing flower petals around that sometimes I forget they may belong to others."
Turning on one foot and propping the other against her shin, she gazed over the single patch of purple flowers Claire had conjured. "So flower-conjuring, huh? The flowers look rather nice. There's just one little problem though." After pressing her finger to her chin for a moment, she raised her hand then made a fluttering gesture outward, right at the flower patch. "Yana tonda-ya!" And the lavender color of the flowers faded into yellow.
Satisfied, she turned around to face Maggie. "There, is that better? I can tell just by looking at you that yellow's your favorite color. Hmm, now about that... castle, you say? Could use some shadeleaf on the roof to protect the place if it rains, perhaps on the walls as well to soften it. Now where are we going to find some though..."
Just as she was saying that, several of the leaves of the of the lower branches of the large tree she had emerged out of grew, until they were about as long as Maggie was tall.
Come, my child of the devil. Your mother is calling you. Hear my call in Hell's grand hall, where all our dreams come true.
Yukijou-minato ~ Snow Castle [Main Keep 1st Floor ~ Parlor] (Megumi, Rin; Gwenafer; Gliosem; Phantom; Adam, Jackson, Marie, Nick)
As the Admiral chewed on a slice of orange, she narrowed her eyes at what Gwenafer had said. Her prior guest had apparently proven to be quite troublesome; more than a "brief scuffle" as Megumi had put it. Rin gently sighed before having her eyebrow raise up in curiosity when Gliosem pulled off a chilling technique of her own.
"It seems a bit irresponsible for someone of such high authority granting one as young as Magdalene with such great power," Rin stated to the sumiri. "Then again," she continued, thinking about her own country's Imperial court, "when circumstances work against you, there might be no other choice."
Rin paused for a moment to glower at her orange before continuing on with Gliosem's questions. "I... Hmm..." the Admiral was at a loss for words, scowling fiercely before taking a deep breath. She didn't want to admit that the sleep paralysis she had suffered from was a frequently reoccurring thing that caused her sleep to become quite intolerable. "Yes," she finally answered with a grim frown.
Still in the room, Megumi humbly passed Gliosem's praise towards her master with a simple gesture as she consciously hid her injured arm from further inquiry; true, the injury hurt, but she had endured worse for her master. Turning away from the others with Jackson in tow, the pair left the room.
Meanwhile, Rin directed her attention towards Adam. "I understand your concerns, however, as an Admiral, I still should have been there. Instead I was inconvenienced by that accursed malady," she said, crossing her arms. She then sighed and reached for her tea to take a sip.
Yukijou-minato ~ Snow Castle [Main Keep 1st Floor ~ Parlor Kitchen] (Megumi; Jackson)
The maid escorted her mechanically inclined charge through the side pantry and across the hall to the parlor kitchen. Once there, Megumi turned to the young man, and bowed, "Thank you for lending me your aid. While this might seem a bit trivial, there is something that I'd like you to take a look at," she said to him, before turning about face to retrieve something from a cabinet.
Moments later, Megumi was setting a decently sized wooden box on the table. Upon closer inspection, the box was a bit worse for wear, toting scorch marks, slightly charred ofuda, a lid made of newer wood, and a rudimentary system of clamps, bare wires, and metal bits jury-rigged to the "appliance" as it could dubiously be called. "This," she said, "is a rice cooker that R&D provided after they absconded with and broke my stove-top one." She paused to scowl with great disdain at the box, "It is an evil, temperamental little thing, and I was hoping you might be able to make it a little less... volatile."
[farm]
Tsadro studied the second drawing, then looked at Fuwa. "Trying to understand what he's going through? I used to help chiefs through situations like that. Being thrust into power, making difficult decisions, all of that. It makes a difference..."
"So... you're dealing with all this bullshit without an advisor." Vince looked sideways, making an attempt at levity. "Christ. And I thought the Onakalis were bad." He looked back at Josef. "You sure there isn't anything I can offer you? Not even a proper seat, or a drink, or a walk? The house is just over there." He motioned to the farmhouse on the other side of his pasture. A quick look. Yeah, still there.
His small livestock seemed to quiet down. Not seemed, if one took a look, actually did. The crowds, once healthy for pens the size of the barn's footprint, had thinned to about half. His herd of cows even slipped away into shadows in the fog, their hooves and voices distant. Clouds covered the sky in uneven layers, leaving the sun to find the lighter patches. Even Lise had quieted down from her usual cheery self, though she still sat against Josef's leg.
edited 5th Aug '17 5:49:31 AM by CrystalGlacia
"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."
To dream is my right
Eight Wings Library - Amethyst Wing:
The scholars turned their heads one by one to Ferisen as she returned to her body, forming a semicircle and holding their lanterns between themselves and her... yet staying distant. From the ceiling above her four spiders descended on their webs, each the size of the palm of someone's hand, coming close enough for her to see the golden patterns in their bodies and then waiting. "We do not believe he is ready, we should not reward you yet.", the collective voice of the archivist said, "But your survival matters more. Stay still and silent, and know that as soon as the young man speaks to us you are free to follow your way, and your friend will have a body to call her own again."
And so so they drew closer, and the webs covering them seemed to darken and spread. The light they brought grew dim and sharp, and their features faded from view. They were not scholars, but the darkness of night, and their lanterns were each violet star gazing from the dark.
"On the solemn heart of this silent tomb. On this solemn night, fading for your light", chanted the revolving darkness, where the shapes of mouths, hands and eyes formed and faded like a feverish dream. One of the spiders lowered itself to Ferisen's head and began to walk slowly on her hair, looking for a place from which she could start weaving. Rupturing the surface of the dark starlit cloud, emerged a woman covered in a thin veil of web, bearing a small shard of crystal in her hands, the same one Ferisen had left behind.
One by one, the other spiders began to walk on Ferisen's hair as well, slender legs ruffling her hair slightly as they walked. The maiden, white against the darkness to the artificial night, kneeled before her body and carried the crystal to Ferisen's forehead with delicate fingers, pressing it gently against her third eye. "Fear not the night, young heart of glass", she recitated behing her veil, hand shaking a little as one of the spiders approached to bind the stone to circlet the others wove. "Fear not this tomb, the spider's lair."
Stepping back, she joined her hands in prayer, while the violet stars around rose further from the ground and the earth itself seemed to vibrate. "Now you restless lie, hiding in your shroud. Under violet starlight, fearing for your life." The unseen chorus chanted, and the spiders climbed down from Ferisen's head and up the maiden's blue and white robe, "But the valley so dark wove your silken crown, and our hands so cold usher the light of dawn", the chorus said, and with those words the violet light flashed through the webs, including the circlet woven into Ferisen's hair and attached to her head, finally reaching the crystal and filling it with...something, dampening its pull, yet tying her to the crown allowing her mind to exist between the crystal and her body without being eternally bound.
"Who wandered is now whole, what was broken has been bound. A servant is reborn. Guard us from flame, guide those lost in hate, prepare Tagui for the truth before he sees it." The maiden said, and the illusory night disappeared to reveal the scholars as motion slowly returned to Ferisen's limbs... but with it, came something else, a command foreign to her, and the circlet of web seemed to grab her head tight. And, perhaps more shockingly, the webs around the library seemed to glow with shifting auras, all flowing towards the Ruby Wing and an ardent aura in there, pulling her there with more and more force. But not controlling her yet, and not keeping her hands from tearing the crown down if so she wished, and if she was willing to take the risk.
Eight Wings Library - Ruby Wing:
As Ferisen sang, despite all reasons to not break into a song, Tagui turned his eyes to the red window. Normally, he wouldn't be able to see clearly without his glasses. Normally, the red stained glass would make stargazing impossible. Logically, the fact the Library had been transposed to an alien wasteland would have made it pointless to look for a star he knew. But there it was, bright and clear: the Imperial Beacon, symbol of eternal law. Lord, bless my sight so I may understand this madness I am trapped in.
In that moment, he felt the Emperor's fire move him, like his body was made of a thousand of compasses that now all pointed in the same way, or his soul was the sky after dawn. You will pierce each lie.
"I will follow her.", Tagui said, leaving the table he was sitting on and using a nearby cabinet to give himself support, "Pass me a walking stick, priest! I will discover what this was all about, and you will tell me what you know on the way. And Ruka, you have explanations to give as well."
The Red Priest merely nodded, grabbing a black cane that was just beside him, leaning against the wall. "And what are you going to do? Beat me 'till I bleed the truth? Burn one book for every question the blues don't answer?"
Gritting his teeth, Tagui answered "I feel tempted to. What will you do if I simply try to crawl my way there until the floor is stained with my blood? Because withholding a cane won't hold me back from going after Ferisen."
Chuckling, the priest threw the cane for Tagui, and said "Nothing I can tell will match what you will see soon. But I will follow you, as this land isn't holy anymore."
Tagui grabbed the cane, and the veins of its wood glowed orange like embers for a moment when his hand touched it. "I shall see.", he said and walked out of the room, radiating heat like a small bonfire, and pulling Ruka with a small yet perceptible force.
feels kinda awkward, fitting the long ritual in a single scene, but it will have to do. The binding is meant to stick Ferisen to her body without making irreversible changes to her being.
edited 23rd Jul '17 6:04:04 AM by EternaMemoria
"The dried flowers are so beautiful, and it applies to all things living and dead."
Eight Wings Library ~ Ruby Wing ~ Medical Chamber (Ruka; Tagui)
Ruka gave Tagui a worried grimace; the man was scaring her. So this is what the Chief Archivist was worried about... she thought to her self as she carefully skirted around the man's fierce aura. She followed him out of the room not by the force of Tagui's summons, but of the small kernel of hope that there was something she could do. The ghost quietly gulped; she'd have to tread carefully so that she didn't inadvertently trigger a massive conflagration.
Warily eyeing the walking stick of probable catastrophic doom (she'd seen the damage a wizard could unleash with a mere twig), she braved the heat to draw to conversational distance with Tagui. The fact that it was affecting her concerned her greatly; prior experience had taught her that mundane heat, say that of a volcano, had absolutely no effect on her spectral self(her physical body was a completely different story, hence the armored suit). Non-mundane fire on the other hand...
"So, uh, you— you wanted to ask me some things?" Ruka timidly asked of Tagui, clearly afraid of him.
edited 24th Jul '17 10:14:51 AM by WillDeRegio
Graveyard
Armory Knight's response knocked Caleb out of his daze. "That's not-" he stammered, "how did you-, you know what, no. I'm dropping this right here."
Sitting upright, he observed the Sentinel and Patches, tensing at first but relieved when nothing came of it. In the meantime, the Anti-Soul Behemoth's words reverberated in both his and Half's minds. Caleb asked Why won't they listen? Whereas Half asked What are you trying to say that isn't being heard?
Both saw the towers of glass and metal appear: Half simply looked up then resumed his original position, Caleb managed to hear Moreena say she was going there. His legs started to tense as if about to stand, but then his brow furrowed and he brought his hand to is mouth, "hmm."
When Freidrich came back to check on Gabe, Caleb shook his head and turned to Armory Knight again, "So, who exactly are you? I doubt Armory Knight's your real name."
You say I am loved, when I don’t feel a thing. You say I am strong, when I think I am weak. You say I am held, when I am falling short.
Friendly Neighborhood Lich
Graveyard - Misery Manor Ruins (Friedrich)
Still in that mysterious trance, Friedrich found himself walking towards the still, circular, quartz-rimmed pond in front of the ruins of Misery Manor. At first when he peered over it he saw his own reflection, as if he were gazing into a mirror. And in a way he was, as the pond was in fact called the Mirror Pond. Here he smiled. I was hoping to bring Sinistrina with me through this pond... and he gazed over at the three ladies in black for a moment before gazing back into the pond, ...but this is a dream world, so hopefully she'll get some other chance to see the world of the living here. And at the very least, her soul will be in that world.
And with that, he held his hand over the Mirror Pond and spoke. "Bring me someplace safe."
At those words, Friedrich's reflection disappeared as ripples spread out across the pond's surface, and a new image came into view. Some sort of warehouse with a strange sort of contraption in the center of it. Looks abandoned at least... and if there is hidden danger, I have the shadow of the dead protecting me.
Clear in his intent, he stepped into the pond - into not water, but the misty depths of the very image within it. As those mists concealed him, the image became real, and as it faded in the pond, so did he.
Soon after, it vanished as well, the mists dissipating into nothing, the quartz stones vanishing into a fine crystalline dust. All the other zombies hanging around the ruins faded away into nothing. And finally, every last piece of the ruined manor transmuted into the same spiders that initially formed it in this dreamspace, spiders that, seemingly all at once, disappeared into cracks in what was now plain asphalt.
Safon Warehouse
Friedrich emerged out of a mirror on the wall, stepping forth and looking around the place. The lights seem a bit much... but otherwise it certainly seems safe. That device in the middle though...
The strange mess of odd technologies was entirely new to him, such that he found himself gazing over it, only wondering what it was for.
Eight Wings Library (Tagui, Ferisen, Ruka)
Ferisen was a bit surprised that the archivist did not ask for her input at all before starting the ritual - without warning, the place turned dark, and these weird eight-legged crawly thingsnote descended on spider threads at... her head? Though her spectral form froze, her body didn't, as her grip on it was still weakening.
But as the scholars chanted, she began a chant in her own mind, just as she had done before arriving at the library. Simlo-ya, sen wati da neira. Simlo-ya, tali nave-nai ri latria. Simlo-ya, miri sarbo tae nai. Simlo-ya, sio mihi-yama loia mafa-ya.translation This she chanted as the spider-weavers navigated the strands of her hair, which happened to be the color of amethyst.
That was when she felt something pressing against her third eye. Realizing it was the crystal she had picked up (that, interstingly enough, had a triangular shape), she opened her eyes and saw the veiled woman speaking those soothing words, much like she herself had done to Tagui earlier with her song. In that moment, she had to wonder how Tagui was feeling, whether his worries had been eased, and how Ruka was handling the situation. But more importantly, she had an idea. If all else fails... if all falls to chaos, I know just what to do, grim though the outcome may be.
When the process was complete, Ferisen had a nice little circlet of spider thread holding her crystal in place. At this she had to smirk a slight. Well, at least this way Glee and I will match. But as she regained control of her body, the circlet squeezed her head all of a sudden, as a force from the wall spiders themselves pulled her towards the Ruby Wing. And with it, she remembered how the last part of the scholars' chant mentioned a new servant being reborn. At this, she felt a flash of anger, one all too similar to what she felt when she realized Tagui had been probing her mind. And yet, in her induced calmness, it dissipated quickly. The archivist had said that she and Ruka would be free to go once Tagui talked to him, didn't he?
And so, with a quick and weary "thank you" to the archivist, she followed the push to the ruby wing. Along the way, though, she grabbed the cart with her latria on it, grasping its handles as firmly as her feeble hands would allow and giving the cart a slight telekinetic push with the newfound energy the circlet had brought to her mind.
But just before she entered the Ruby Wing, she felt something. A gust of wind? Warm wind, perhaps. No, hot wind. And not actual wind either. Like the sounds of the latria, it defied substance. No, this was a gust of intention. Burning, forceful intention, tinged with the same anger that had flared up inside of her twice now. Is that the...
No. It had an aura. The same aura she saw around...
For just a brief moment, she saw a vision of a very bright red light. A light of truth, or one of delusion? If Tagui was planting another seed, would it bring up a disaster, or a misunderstanding? Though the webs were still pushing her forward, the "wind" seemed to be pushing her back. Momentarily she looked back at the entrance to the Amethyst Wing, where she remembered something the Chief Archivist said.
"All we ask is a favor, with no... strings attached."
She felt the spider threads wrapping around her head. Well... obviously that was a lie. But then she thought of why they had asked the favor. The tale about the djinn, who, as she realized, could probably reduce something to a state similar to that which the library was in. The archivist had dismissed it as superstition, of course, but what if...
"We expected Tagui to come, but either late enough to finish our work, or blinded by overuse of his powers."
"If the place is not deserted in this realm, we may be able to find help for both of you." Those words of Tagui's seemed louder now that she knew he was approaching now.
"Seeing the library in its current state, with the scholars in a shared trance, could make Tagui panic... and this place is a single spark away from ashes."
And that's another lie. What Tagui feels is clearly not panic. She remembered how the scholars disappeared for a moment before re-materializing. It was as if those spiders were possessing them, that those scholars' frail existences were held together but with a fine thread, the same thread now encircling Ferisen. Once again she felt that tinge of fear she had felt back in the Field of Souls when she realized her soul had nearly become locked inside her latria, all because she was too busy logically analyzing the situation to even realize. Where, in the wake of that fear, she ended up stabilizing herself by using her own soul as a fine thread between the latria and the crystal that was now pressed against her forehead. Even the portal she opened back in the forest was stabilized by a fine thread, one that Tagui broke by planting that seed in her mind. With something so fragile, the slightest bit of fear could shake it, and the scholars knew this all too well.
"It is happening to you as well, we see. Your fear is turning our attempt to repair you against its intent, giving reason for you to feel even greater fear."
Ferisen shook her head. But fear has its purpose. While Tagui's careless mind-probling sent us to the Field of Souls, through it he discovered purpose, in the place that he feared would be his demise. And it was my attempts to quell my fears that made me lose track of my own soul, such that I nearly became a prisoner of my own instrument. Fear is ingrained into the minds of all mankind, and has been since the beginning of time itself. Fear of death is what allows us to live. Fear of the unknown is what motivates us to seek knowledge. And fear of powerlessness is what motivates us to be free.
Still feeling that airless wind, she opened her eyes and looked down at her latria, speaking firmly, but perhaps more to herself than into it - if the two were any different. "I made it explicitly clear that I wish to retain my free will. If I am to enter the ruby wing and keep Tagui there, I will do so of my own accord." She remembered something Tagui had said. "The lure of fantasy is the traitorous siren's song. Spun on fine glistening threads, it holds things in a delicate balance, creating a false peace that is easily shattered. If I am to serve as a cushion for when this fantasy falls, I shall not risk falling along with it."
And with that, she wrenched the silky circlet right off her head, casting the threads aside, but keeping the crystal in place, where it remained stuck to her forehead for a while. Though her entire body quivered in sudden weakness, she managed to reach her hand out to her latria, gripping one of its glass pipes as tightly as she could. Feeling again the latria's tugging at her soul, she let go of the cart and spoke. "Loia la kado, bobo, wati... niru-ya, niru ka kute-no orea. Sai mirusen la mihi, sio tei-bi tali... tsate-ya!"translation
On the last word, she slammed the palm of her free hand into her forehead, jamming the crystal right into her third eye. Perhaps for a moment she felt the crushing pain from the impact, but with her very sense of spiritual awareness severed, the impact left a numbness that negated it. Though she had been fighting it for so long, she surrendered this tug-of-war to her latria, which played a victory tune of sorts into the temple of the Ruby Wing. Still clutching her forehead, her body sank to the floor, shivering every so often.
edited 25th Jul '17 1:30:14 AM by ladytanuki
Come, my child of the devil. Your mother is calling you. Hear my call in Hell's grand hall, where all our dreams come true.
Mr ship
[San Francisco~1989-Safon Warehouse/Lauren]
Lauren finally made it back to her warehouse grumbling to herself as she did. "Goddamn hippies wasting my time."
She walked further into the warehouse noticing that she forgot to turn the lights off when she left. Then she noticed a small person standing next to the machine in the center.
Acting quickly she put her sniper rifle on her back and pulled out her submachine gun. quietly she sneaked behind the figure and put the gun to it's head.
"You have five seconds to tell me what you're doing here before I paint the building with your blood."
To dream is my right
Graveyard
"You should keep some blood for me on that bottle in case it is needed. Tainted blood has its issues, but it is better than nothing, and I bled enough today." Niru said, tapping lightly her lips with one of her fingers while she looked at the bottles. "In fact, I painted a significant area of this wasteland red during the fight. Do you think anything could grow on...", she said, her voice fading into silence as she spoke. "No, of course not."
"So... souls. They can just... float around disembodied where you two come from, like they were... matter? I am uncertain if I should be amazed or scared, but I feel inclined towards the later."
She then turned to the phantom city, or part of a city, where they were headed. "Where I live, that is what a soul is like. Neither here nor there, out of view, but not out of the picture. A memory so strong it will remember itself after the world forgets, a fight for life so fierce it can't be ended by death. It is not something you can just hide in a bottle."
With those words, she smiled. "Depths, I don't even have to pretend I am feeling all spiritual now. But we should start moving now, smiling and talking about nice things isn't healthy when you are in the land of the dead."
edited 24th Jul '17 3:14:51 PM by EternaMemoria
"The dried flowers are so beautiful, and it applies to all things living and dead."
Friendly Neighborhood Lich
Safon Warehouse (Lauren, Friedrich)
Before Friedrich knew it, there was a gun pointing at the back of his head, right underneath his plumed hat. But neither did he flinch nor panic. Especially when he heard that same echoing ticking sound he had become aware of before, and looked down to see that his pocket watch was intact once more, though right now it seemed to be pressing into his chest. But its hands were unmoving, and its face completely crusted over with the black tar-like substance. Still, as a precaution, he moved a hand to the hilt of his sword.note
"I am a doll," he spoke coldly. "I don't have any blood. I came here seeking a safe haven, but shoot and it shall be one no longer."
As he spoke, a tendril of shadow leaked out the bottom of the sheath and crept up his back, pressing itself against the mouth of Lauren's gun.
edited 24th Jul '17 9:38:08 PM by ladytanuki
Come, my child of the devil. Your mother is calling you. Hear my call in Hell's grand hall, where all our dreams come true.
It's a bird.
Graveyard (Crater -> Temple) (Moreena; Sinistrina, Antoinette; Niru)
"To the souls then," Moreena replied to Sinistrina, and drank from the goblet. She would have preferred fresh blood, willingly sacrificed, but the taste was still very pleasant. "Perhaps I should pay that queen you mentioned a visit someday..?"
Next, she turned to Niru, raising an eyebrow. She wouldn't have expected such a reaction from a fellow goddess.
"In my world, the lines are a bit less clear," she explained. "These souls..." - She waved a finger towards the bottle in the undead girl's basket - "...do seem a bit more physical than I'm used to, but appearances don't always mean much. Just look at us."
Moreena glanced over at the buildings in the distance, and stayed silent for a few moments.
"And yes, I suppose we should get going."
After a quick flash of darkness, the three unusual women and their zombie girl companion found themselves standing on the sidewalk of a wide street, flanked by the empty husks of what had once been impressive spires of metal and glass. The flashing, ghostly images of the Graveyard were more vivid here, more real almost; Flowing banners, enormous information screens, propaganda posters haphazardly hung on walls and lampposts, warning of "spies and traitors". Crowds of people, hurriedly moving along beneath the gaze of mechanical eyes affixed to the buildings. The occasional group of patrolling soldiers, with looks of either worried anticipation or grim acceptance on their faces depending on their age, and faintly glowing runes etched onto their automatic rifles.
Further ahead, the street ended in a large plaza, right at the base of the enormous structure of black marble and dark crystal that the group had spotted earlier. Moreena gestured towards it.
"Here we are."
Snow Castle (Gwenafer; Gliosem; Phantom; Adam, Marie, Nick; Rin)
"Oh, and, uh, our... wit and practicality?"
Gwenafer smiled. "You're welcome," she said, giving Gliosem an exaggerated salute of sorts.
She took another bite of the fish-shaped cake - which wasn't really all that fish-shaped at all anymore - and threw a glance at the orange. Is everyone here a mage except me? Next, she looked up at the winged woman again, with a look of disbelief forming on her face.
"Wait, you're going to the moon?" she asked. "That's a thing people can just do in your world?"
Still a great "screw depression" song even after seven years.
Rozeta Marga
Her shoulders relaxed a little more as one of the strangers offered a warm smile to her. They knew of her nature. yet they did not care about it, that was calming, if a bit weird. But certainly a refreshing change of pace from being shot at by frightened people. Or by machines. Or mauled to near death by...
She shook her head. Better not think about it. Not for now.
One of the fish-ladies stretched her hand at her, presenting herself as Durnem. She looked at Durnem, then at her hand, not sure of what to do. Finally, curiosity beat her wariness. She grabbed Durnem's hand with both of hers, eyed it, and brought it close to her face. It felt... soft, sleek, with a few less squishy spots on the fingers. It reminded her of that one time she had fished up and eaten a fish. She then sniffed the hand. It smelled of... salt, or maybe fish?
That's when a thought came up. This fish-girl, Durnem, had give her her name. Wouldn't it be fair to give her her own name? But... she didn't have a name. Nothing she had come across gave her the idea of what her it could be. She was a blank slate, not even knowing exactly what she was.
An idea sprouted. A blank slate... Perhaps, it could be a beginning.
Without letting Durnem's hand go, she barely opened her mouth. Her throat felt sore, and her voice was little more than a whisper. After all, it had been a long time since she had even needed to make a sound. Still, it was clear enough so that Durnem could hear.
"B-Blank. I...I'm Blank."