—Easton City, Skyline—
"Hold on. Jeanne d'Arc? As in, Joan of Arc?!"
The previously formal speaking creature had gained an excited, childlike tone of voice.
It was almost comical to see such an unsettling figure act like an overexcited toddler.
He was only a youngling, technically.
Thankfully he composed himself before he made any more of an embarrassment. He cleared his throat, before returning to his quiet and formal voice.
"I apologize. Such a legendary figure does not go unnoticed. And it is a pleasure to meet you too, Papyr—"
He was cut off by a strange sight down below. A group of humans in strange attire were standing around a puddle of lava, looking like they had run fifty marathons.
He returned his attention to his flying, shaking it off.
"Anyway, it is nice to meet you, Papyrus. I would love to talk more, but I am on a hunt. Now, if you excuse me, I must return to my search."
He briefly wondered if he should add a "Tally-ho" for good measure, but decided to leave it at that.
Thank goodness.
He seemed to flicker somewhat, and suddenly became strangely ignorable.
Then he was gone, having dropped out of the sky and walking amongst the crowd. Somehow they did not seem to notice the 8 foot tall hooded monster, not even sparing him a second glance.
And he ignored them too. His prorities had shifted back to finding whatever this TALOS was, and subsequently, Val'ark.
borkWinterbloom's
Hazel had thought about what she was going to say. She had almost called about five or six times, only to back out as she realized she wasn't sure what to say. After a half hour and most of a bottle of vodka, she finally felt like she could do this.
"Mohan? It's Hazel. Two people have been kidnapped by the Unseelie queen. I'm going to rescue them, with the help of Misty and a boy who talks to birds.
"I'm calling to tell you because I'm hoping you know anyone who can help us. This would hardly be a full expedition or anything, but I'm sure somebody who works for your outfit would be interested in visiting a parallel dimension that runs on magic. We'd have to keep this small-scale, though. It's an infiltration, not an invasion."
Meteorological problems aside, as they are... not particularly important right now, the man walked with a young, elfin woman, seemingly untouched versus her companion. The man cast wary glances down the side streets as they past. The entire city was eerily quiet - for a city that appeared to be Easton, even the middle of the night would be active, if not exactly bustling. Here... the city looked abandoned. Except for the occasional faint flicker of shadow - almost ghostly. A city of ghosts, with the two lost souls the only signs of actual life in the city...
All are significantly abnormal in a normal world... All are significantly normal in an abnormal world.Mongrel
"I cannot, personally, help you. Some things have wormed their way in through the tattered fabrics of the dimensional walls and made their way into a small French town. They've been eating the villagers' souls in their sleep and now they're all in a coma. The French government has requested by assistance in the matter.
"It sounds rather trite..." Mohan slowly replied. "But I happen to know a friend, of a friend, of a friend, who very well may be able to help you. She is called Topaz, one of the crystal bearers, a psychic and sorceress of considerable power.
"I don't know if she can be moved to aid your cause but you will hear from her if she is."
Winterbloom's
"Very well," Hazel said. "Give my contact information to her. Good luck in France, and I hope Simon doesn't die before your psychic decides to finally contact me."
She hung up. Hazel hadn't intended to insult Mongrel. Or maybe she had. She felt frustrated, angry, helpless, frightened -
The boy probably felt even worse, she realized. Maybe she should go talk to him.
No. That was a recipe for disaster, and god knew things were bad enough already. Hazel wasn't fond of children - she didn't like seeing them get hurt, but she preferred to avoid them whenever possible. Misty would have an easier time talking to him.
She poured herself another glass of vodka and downed it in one gulp. Not like there was anything better to do.
Winterbloom's, Back Room
Misty knocked on the door before letting herself in and crouching down in front of Fyodor.
"Hey. Hazel's calling to get help. How are you holding up?"
She held out the small leather pouch she was carrying.
"I brought some runes. Maybe you could try and divine something."
Easton City, Winterbloom's, Back Room
Fyodor was still not really feeling really good, and it showed "I don'T know... I want dad back here and not with this bad woman..." He looked at the pouch and then up to Misty "But... I don't know how to divine..." He sighed, looking up at Misty again "Sorry for causing all this trouble to you..."
"One may feel fear in the face of danger so long as one banishes fear when danger actually arrives"—Joseph's Hideout—
Rine was sitting in the main room, the television switched to the news channel. Kyxe was off training with Ekan, and his copies had gone out on their regular patrols.
He didn't need to send them out, yet he did anyway.
He was on edge. Even after Kyxe's efforts to distract him, he still felt as if something was wrong. Being in several places at once only slightly quelled his anxiety.
As if to confirm his suspicions, an emergency report came on, showing blurred images of a shadowy, winged humanoid...
Anything else reported was missed by him as he ran out the room, summoning his blade.
"Kyxe! Dad! We have to go! A Parasite was spotted in the city!"
After a brief look of confusion and shock, the two followed, priming their weapons and running out of the door of the hideout.
"I thought they were dead! Are you sure it wasn't something else?"
Rine shook his head in reply. "Definitely a Parasite. I know one when I see-"
Skidding to a halt, he looked up with amazement at the sky.
Even the stoic Ekan looked shocked.
"Is that... an angel?"
borkEaston City, Winterbloom's, Back Room
Fyodor did not resist the hug. "O-Okay... but I still shouldn't have followed that raven..." After a while he hugged back "M-Misty? Do you think we can rescue dad and Simon?" Looking at the pouch he added "Can I help you with those runes?"
"One may feel fear in the face of danger so long as one banishes fear when danger actually arrives"Winterbloom's
Topaz was a young girl around in her teens, although very boy-ish, or mannish depending on how you look at it, in her feature, with thick clothing that only enhanced the effect. Handsome rather than pretty. She was a black girl with thick fluffy hair, yellow eyes and a what looked like a topaz gem in her forehead.
"Yeah..." She grabbed her arms, sounding tired and resigned. "I heard you a kid in trouble and I could help."
Winterbloom's
Topaz was not what Hazel expected.
She was younger, for starters. Much younger. Mongrel's description had Hazel expecting an adult, some self-important know-it-all like Reverend Arcane had been.
And she seemed tired. Or maybe she didn't want to be here. If Hazel was in a better mood, she might have mocked her for it, accused her of having something better to do, but lives were at stake.
"There's a fairy queen who wants a human boy. She's kidnapped the boy's father and an employee of mine and is holding them hostage in exchange for the boy. I and two others are going into the dimension of the fairies to rescue them. How are you at infiltration?"
Winterbloom's, Back Room
Misty's ears perked up at the sound of the door opening, and her head ached with the aftereffect of the aetheric announcement (not that she recognized it as such, she just thought it was a headache).
"Someone's at the door. Want to see who it is?" she asked Fyodor.
Winterbloom's
Topaz huffed in thought, looking away. "I'm adaptable, I'm quite able to supplement by power to another spell-caster, can consult an older spell-caster for help at all times and I specialize in a tunneling form of teleportation that can, theoretically, punch through anti-teleportation defenses. Give me time for a ritual or some targeting help, I can cross planes and make it so my entrance isn't announced with a grand parade down whatever-the-hell is Main Street over there."
She sounded bored, like she were just listing traits to be written on a resume. Then she actually looked at Hazel with a determined expression. "Mostly, I heard there was a wolf picking on a sheep, and I don't like that."
Winterbloom's
Hazel looked Topaz in the eye. Then she grinned.
"Nice to see you have an actual personality."
She gestured for Topaz to come inside.
"I planned for Misty to open the necessary portal to Fairyland, but she's never done it before. Maybe you can help her."
Hazel waved a hand at the shelves.
"If you need to prepare or gather any components, do it now. How much experience do you have with the Fair Folk?"
Mab's Castle dungeon
To the naked eye, the beaten, bloodied form of Simon Jones would look like he had been tortured and left to hang from his chains. And he was.
But he was also thinking, feverishly.
He could feel the bizarre "environment" of Faeland all around him. Unfortunately, its effects were not actually dangerous, or he would have adapted to them already. Maybe he could trick someone into burning him or-
-*the door creaks open*
Speak of the Devil, he thought.
There in front of him, stood the Dark Queen in all her (false) glory, smirking.
"Greetings, my... lady" he began to say. "You... will have to excuse me... for not rising..."
"Messenger boy" she growled, "I grow tired of waiting for your mistress to arrive. Perhaps your severed head will remind her that I am not to be crossed."
"Oh... don't worry... I'm sure... you'll eventually face her" he said, with a smile that actually shocked the Fae Queen. "Either when she rescues me- or when she avenges me."
She snorted. "Hah! How little you know Winterbloom. She was one of us once, did you know that? And she gave up all of this, just to save one child. How absurd."
Simon continued to smile. "Oh, I know... and that fact alone... makes her stronger than you."
Now Mab began to grow angry. She reached over to Simon and yanked his head up by the hair, to look him in the eyes. "What madness do you speak now?"
"People like you, have no idea of the power of good" he said, without hesitation. "You think its just a foolish ideal. But its the very fact that we *care* that makes us go beyond what others would. Do not make the mistake so many others have made, o Dark Queen. It will only lead to your doom."
If Mab's face could have grown any paler, it would have, out of sheer rage at the Traveler's words. She then let go of his head, but not without scratching his face first, leaving his left cheek bleeding.
"How DARE you pity me, mortal! The only reason I don't kill you right now is because I want you to live to see your misplaced faith with your own eyes. Once the exiled one fails, then I'll torture you until you beg for your life!"
And with that she turned around and stormed out of the room.
Simon sighed. He thought he could have goaded her into blasting him with some magic that he could have adapted to, but no dice.
And man, what a Diva this fairy bitch is.
Well, Hazel, looks like its up to you. Hurry up he thought, secretly hoping that his faith had, indeed, not been misplaced.
edited 10th Jul '17 8:59:13 PM by Sijo
Easton City, Winterbloom's, Backroom
Fyodor nodded quickly, wishing a last tear out of his eye "Okay, I'll look with you Misty." With that he slowly got up, waiting for Misty to lead him back.
Fae Land, Mab's Castle, Dungeon
Near Simon Aleksej was also moving in his chains, looking towards him "Haha, you have some guts lad I have to admit."
"One may feel fear in the face of danger so long as one banishes fear when danger actually arrives"Fae Land, Mab's Castle, Dungeon
Simon chuckled back, weakly, not because he felt like it but because he wanted the older man to feel as well as possible under the current conditions.
"OK, now" he whispered, "Don't you try anything like that, OK? Hazel will come for us, and you must not get yourself killed, for your son's sake."
He, on the other hand, had nothing to lose. Except his life, and he didn't fear death.
edited 11th Jul '17 7:48:47 AM by Sijo
Fae Land, Mab's Castle, Dungeon
Hearing that Aleksey's face darkened "If she even so much as tries to harm him then no chain in either this nor the human world will keep me from strangling her with my own hands."
"One may feel fear in the face of danger so long as one banishes fear when danger actually arrives"Winterbloom's
Misty stepped out of the back room.
"Hazel?"
She spotted Topaz. Her eyes flitted to the gemstone on Topaz's forehead. Was this the person who was going to help them?
Misty stood up straight before shyly waving.
"Hi. This is Fyodor, and I'm Misty, Hazel's assistant. If you need anything, I know where to find it."
Winterbloom's
Topaz said a word, something long, complicated, full of too many vowels strung together and then too many consonants getting in on the action. She said it in a questioning tone while rolling her eyes up, as if hearing it for the first time and repeating it back, though she pronounced it all perfectly.
What it was was one the far, far older names for the Fair Folk, used by some pre-human, but vaguely human-ish, races a long, long time ago. Topaz seemed to confer with something before she nodded her head.
"Yeah, I think I might know a few things about the Fair Folk," She said wearily, as if she had just been delivered a long and boring, and inescapable, lecture just then.
She got sight of Misty and waved back at her, quite unsure but hopeful for something in the way of positive interaction with someone else young and female.
Corundum Gem Shop
Located in the heart of Easton's Upper District, Corundum was THE jewelry shop that anybody who was anybody went to fill their their adornment needs.
Which is why the Black girl wearing an overcoat stuck out like a sore thumb. She looked more like a homeless person than one of Easton's elite. As she looked around the display cases, the manager huffed. He would have had her thrown out, but was afraid of being accused of being prejudiced- people were so oversensitive these days, he thought.
Still, he had a security guard keep an eye on her, even as he sent a salesman to "deal" with her.
"Good afternoon, madam" the salesperson said to the girl from behind. "May I help you?"
...Did she just giggle? he thought.
She turned around. She was, indeed, smiling. A rather sinister smile.
"No, it's OK" she answered. "I've made up my mind. I want that" she said, pointing at a gold necklace inset with multiple lapis lazuli stones.
"Ah, a fine choice" the young man said. "I see you have good taste. That would be 25,000 dollars."
By now she was positively grinning. "Oh, I'm not paying for it." And she raised her left arm into the air.
"What do you mean? What are you-"
CRASH!! Her hand fell hard on the case, shattering it into a thousand shards, without her arm suffering any damage!
The next events were a blur. The alarm rang. The salesman gasped and ran. The manager shouted NOOO!!! and the guard reached for his gun while screaming "Stop! Don't move or I will shoot!!"
Still smiling, she grabbed the necklace and pulled it out of the display.
Bang! a shot rang out.
ka-ZING! The bullet bounced off the teenager, hitting a wall instead. By now the other customers were screaming and running away in fear.
The girl dumped her overcoat, revealing a red, sequined bosyduit underneath, as if the robbery were nothing more than a way for her to show off. She started walking towards the exit. It was closed, but she just scratched the glass with her nails and it began falling apart like paper.
The guard tried to run after her, but the manager stopped him. "Don't be a fool, she's a super!" he lambasted the guard. "Let her go- she won't get far before some hero notices her!"
And indeed, that was what Blood Diamond wanted- to test herself against the heroes of Easton.
edited 11th Jul '17 8:45:06 PM by Sijo
Winterbloom's
Hazel's eyes widened, though her sunglasses hid it. She would never admit it, but she was impressed. Was Topaz older than she looked? Was she even human? She had gotten past the wards, so whatever she was, she meant them no harm -
No matter. They had more immediate things to deal with.
"We'll be breaking into Mab's castle. She'll likely have guards and I doubt Topaz can take them all on, so we'll need distractions. Fyodor, can you bring along about ten or so ravens?
"Misty, you're with me. We'll find Simon and Fyodor's father, I could whip up a tracking spell in my sleep. Once we find them, you get them out of Fairyland and to a hospital as quickly as possible."
"Do they have health insurance?" Misty asked.
"I don't know. Get them someplace with universal healthcare, Canada or Panama or something.
"Topaz, keep any guards off our tail, but make sure protecting Fyodor is your first priority."
Corundum Gem Shop
Dynamo Lass was dispatched moments after receiving word of the robbery. Luckily, she lived near the store, so it didn't take her long to show up.
Ray had been breathing down her neck more than usual lately. He was cranky over Ramona's lack of any real success, and he clearly had high hopes riding on this jewelry store robbery.
Dynamo Lass launched herself off of a nearby wall into a backflip (when you couldn't fly, you had to do something impressive to get people's attention). She landed in front of Blood Diamond, hands on her hips and a big smile on her face.
"Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but they won't do you much good behind bars!"
She realized too late that the necklace wasn't diamond. Her smile didn't waver, though it became somewhat strained.

"Certainly!" the angel responded in a chipper tone. "My name is Jeanne d'Arc- but you call me Jeanne d'Ciel" she said with a flourish. She then waited for Papyrus to introduced himself, assuming he would.
edited 27th Jun '17 12:07:42 PM by Sijo