City Streets

As soon as Abeyance stepped onto the black tarmac above the subway and saw the awful black creatures and the carnage they created he immediately rendered himself in red-green, a colour not within the visible spectrum.

He then began drawing his presence within himself, like sealing gas into a bottle. A brittle bottle set on the edge of a counter.

GIVE ME YOUR FACE

Paul looked sideways as Amos came back down the stairs. I guess he isn't a fighter either. The few vermin around the dead SWAT officer's equipment were pushed away, and he'd been looking at what remained with interest. Waste not want not, after all. Even a broken gun could be useful.

As he continued sifting, Paul Barach started to ponder what his plan might be in regard to the Grail, and what everyone else was going to do with it if they gained the power. Paul was a kind, easygoing guy on the whole, but he was no sap. Not anymore.

Paul got back to his feet and rubbed his hands on his apron. Holding the dead SWAT man's helmet in one hand, he succeeded in pulling the head out of it. ''Now we just need some water and we're all set. And probably some sanitizer. Can I even get sick?" Hephestus did not reply.

City Streets

As soon as Nestan banged her spetum on the ground, the slaughter began in earnest. Many of the imps and gargoyles craned their heads at the disturbance, taking off and swooping towards her to put an end to the racket. But the others weren't so lucky. Leon's trees gave them some cover, but they were already tearing and slicing through it like tissue paper. Ross took Nestan's advice to heart, ordering his men to save who they could and use the Sacred as cover. They covered their flanks, doing their damndest to make sure nothing and no-one got through.

But no-one was perfect. A small imp snuck under the guard's legs, leaping through the entrance and bounding down the steps like a jumping jack. It took to the air, wings fluttering as it made a beeline towards Amos' face. Claws outstretched, it was seconds away from tearing it off and obtaining a fancy new mask to play with.

But something held it back. It wasn't sure what. Perhaps it was a whim. Perhaps it felt that slaughtering such a weak, defenceless victim wasn't worth it. Or perhaps it was a sense of kinship. No matter the reason, it hovered in place, waiting to see what its prey would do next. For now, the ball was in Amos' court.

The others moved ahead, swinging at the imps as soon as they saw the whites of their eyes. Setsuko got in some good whacks, and Marcus and Naomi chopped several of them to pieces. The latter even managed to make one of them drop to the ground like a stone, taking another with it as it fell. But for every monster they slew, another took its place. They kept swooping in, one of them even nicking Marcus on the shoulder. They were far from endless, but there was no telling if they could keep it up.

But even as the carnage unfolded below, another drama was unfolding on a larger stage. High above the chaos, representatives and proxies watched from on high, observing the mayhem with keen interest. A small hawk soared above, it's golden eye homing in on the struggle below. A black cat sat atop a broken radio tower, licking its fur as it took peculiar interest in the monkey woman. A hammer crackling with static hovered overhead, and a large golden eye loomed over Naomi, peeked out through a cloud of smog. Each of them carried an alien presence, and all served some greater force. But all of them knew so many Sacred gathered in one place was too great for anyone to ignore.

But there was yet another player amid the pandemonium. A frail young woman sat atop a small convenience store near the bloodbath, swinging her legs over the roof as she watched with glee. Her loose black sweats were torn over the kneecaps, and her purple sweater exposed a knobby shoulder to the elements. A small set of horns jutted out from her skull, propping up her crimson bangs. The rest of it was tied in a scruffy ponytail, floating above a small pair of golden wings resting on her back.

She sat back, watching the whole thing with sharp, golden eyes as she popped open a small bag of chips. But her interest was soon drawn by Abeyance, vanishing into the ether and to safety.

Or so he thought.

"Ya know most of 'em can still you, right? I mean, you do you, but these guys can see a helluva lot more than your dumb ass can." True to her word, a small imp was hovering over Abeyance, giggling as it moved in for the kill. "See what I mean?"

Edited by kkhohoho on Jan 16th 2021 at 1:50:44 PM

Doctor Who — Long Way Around: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13536044/1/Doctor-Who-Long-Way-Around

Streets

Abeyance heard the nearby voice. He hadn't of thought that the creatures could see him, even if he rendered himself in an unviewable colour. Perhaps if he tried something else...

Invisibility wouldn't work but what about camouflage? He quickly moved from his spot and then rendered himself in colours that matched what was behind him. Then he altered the colour of the air where he once stood, creating a low-res image of himself.

He kept drawing his influence into himself. He could feel the pressure within him build up some more.

GIVE ME YOUR FACE

City Streets, Spinny Sword Boy

"Fu-heck!" Marcus shouted as a talon clipped through his shoulder having gotten through his impeccable strategy of 'swing my swords real fast and wide and cut things into ribbons'.

"You imp things better not be poisonous! Or venomous! I always get those confu—"

But only for a few moments before recovering and renewing his flailing combat fury.

It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.

City Streets

---

Nestan simply loosed the chain and let the store gate close then thrust her polearm at creatures at her leisure. Sure, they had super sharp claws but cutting through the gate was an extra step the imps had to take and that she didn't.
"Lovely," She paid the imp and perhaps a master that heard through them the complement. And the imps and gargoyles, simple and effective hunter-killers, really would have been lovely in the old world. Here they just blended into the rest of the ruin.
The floating, crackling hammer... didn't. Nor did the voice that rang over the field. Nestan did not know whether the hammer was a trick of, say, Paul's. But she could reason that the girl boasting about the imps' sight had something to do with the imps. Not that she could chart a very clear path to the girl. The downside of finding cover was that it covered part of her view. That's what flies on walls were for, but 'seeing' through them mid-battle was still awkward.
"Tell the nice lady 'thank-you', Abeyance," Nestan said drily. There was little chance of him hearing her in the chaos of the battle and she made little effort to project her voice anyway. She commented on the off chance that the girl could see or hear through her imps. And the girl really did deserve a thank-you. She had been nice enough to point herself out and advise Abeyance on what he was doing wrong. If she didn't run away before the priestess could get to her that would just be the icing on the cake.

Look with century eyes... With our backs to the arch And the wreck of our kind We will stare straight ahead For the rest of our lives

Amos

Amos was almost at the end of the staircase when one of the imps suddenly tore down the stairs, making a beeline for his face. For a split-second, his eyes widened and his hand went for his pistol—

And then it stopped.

...hm. Highly irregular. For a moment, Amos and the imp stared at each other in silence. Perhaps I can use this.

Amos gave the imp a frown of slight disapproval. "You do realize it's terribly rude to try to kill someone before you even learn their name, right?" He let out a deliberate sigh. "Then again, I suppose in times like these, etiquette takes a backseat to living."

He gave it a slight smile. "That's what you're doing, isn't it? You want to live, so you're attacking everyone up there. I can understand that. I want to live too." He held out his hand. "In the interests of living, it's always best to cooperate, no?"

"Kept me waiting, haven’t you? Tch. No matter. Dawdle all you’d like. In the end, your defeat remains inevitable."

Paul shook his head at Amos' attempt at conversation. Tossing the decapitated head to the side, he approached the other man and offered him the battered and recently-vacated helmet. "I get trying to make peace or alliances around here, but just in case you should take this. It's dangerous to go alone. Some things and people don't respond to smooth words or making a deal."

After talking to him, Paul walked to the foot of the stairs and looked up. "I wonder what's happening out there? Maybe I should go up." He sighed. "I wish we didn't need to fight. War is a stupid, bloody business."

Setsuko

The creatures seemed endless, but Setsuko wouldn't let that discourage her. She kept swinging, pausing only when the trees burst from the earth.

Leaping back to land on a rising branch, she grabbed some fur from her shoulder and plucked it. The loose hairs became three more Setsukos, who leaped from the tree to resume attacking the imps, kicking them and using them like stepping stones to stay in the air and keep fighting.

The real Setsuko somersaulted towards the woman behind the grate, swinging her staff downward as she landed in the throng of imps. She kept swinging, making sure the imps wouldn't have time to claw through the metal and reach the woman.

Though she seemed to be taking care of them herself with her weird spear, Setsuko nonetheless called out: "Are you alright?" As she kept swinging.

What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?

City Streets

---

She duplicated... Nestan had been watching the imps (naturally), the hammer, and empty sky and ground for signs of more surprises. The monkey queen delivered when there were suddenly three of her.
"I am." the priestess answered, a ghost of a smile showing under her hood. She kept stabbing too. "I should be asking you that though. Are you able to create more copies? There's a girl who needs a visit. You must have heard her."

Look with century eyes... With our backs to the arch And the wreck of our kind We will stare straight ahead For the rest of our lives

Naomi Hughes

Above. You're being watched.

I know.

Naomi paused in her slaughter upon catching sight of the large eye looking down at her, and she swallowed for a moment in fear. Raising her sword, she plunged it down through several imps as she herself dove towards the ground—aiming to strike her blade into the earth to cause a tremor and a pulse of flame before plunging her hand against the ground and scrabbling about for any signs of plantlife.

If there were any root systems alive, she'd channel Ignael's spirit through them—commanding the plants connected to rise up from the earth and to ensnare as many imps as they could for her allies' benefit. If the ground was dead, however, she'd move on—continuing to focus on battling the imps as Ignael meanwhile travelled through the spirit plane to converse with the giant eye above.

“Speak your name, O Great One. I appeal to you. Are you a demon, an angel, or a deity other? Show mercy to me and my dear Host, grant me an answer to my Question, and then I shall depart in peace.”

The great Seraph in all his holiness was aware of his status only a little above Mankind, and compared to a God of gods he was beneath them. But so was Naomi, and she could flee—and now without his God to protect him, he now could see no reason not to do so himself if it came to it.

Edited by Enirboreh on Jan 19th 2021 at 2:59:02 PM

bork

City Streets

The demons and Sacred kept tearing into each other like savage warriors, neither giving an inch as the battle raged on. Even as the monster's numbers depleted, they kept charging forward, a gargoyle scratching Setsuko's arm while a persistent imp bit Nestan on the knee. But even as they seemed to get the upper hand... they stopped.

Not all of them. A tenacious gargoyle kept prowling around Abeyance, trying to sniff out what he couldn't see. It could make out a few ripples or blurs in their camouflage, but it wasn't enough to confirm it's suspicions. A few remained around Setsuko and Nestan, too engrossed in the mayhem to tear themselves away. But the others stood still. Their eyes flashed, as though receiving a signal. And then... they vanished. They flew or slunk away in a blur, rounding the corner or soaring over the buildings. Apart from the few stragglers, they were gone.

With many of the demons fleeing the scene, so too did their audience. The cat jumped down from the tower towards the nearest rooftop, leaping to and fro as it made it's exit. The eagle and hammer both flew away, dissapearing over the horizon. Only the eye remained, but despite Ignael's plea, it gave no answer. Perhaps because it had no answer to give.

Or at least not on the mortal plane. To Ignael alone, it didn't say much. But it was enough to convey their heavenly grace. "I SEE NO REASON TO BESTOW SUCH AN ANSWER UPON THE LIKES OF YOU. ALL YOU NEED KNOW IS I WILL NOT LAY NOT A HAND ON YOU OR YOUR MORTAL WARD UNLESS THEY POSE A THREAT. THOUGH IF THINGS CONTINUE AS THEY ARE, THEIR MERE EXISTINCE MAY BE THREAT ENOUGH."

All that was left was the girl. She shot up from her spot on the rooftop, clapping her hands as she squealed with glee. "HELL YEAH! Talk about a show! I mean, I knew you guys were something, I just wasn't sure what! Gotta say, I'm impressed! But I don't think I'm the only one, yeah?" She pointed up towards the eye. It was still looking down, gazing upon them in judgement. For now, it stayed its' hand. But there was no telling if or when it would make a move.

"Not sure what their deal is. I mean, I got a pretty good idea, but I'm not sure, ya know? Think maybe they were scouting things out. I mean, you guys know we're not the only game in town, right?"

---

Subway

As Ross and the others kept dragging down the survivors down the steps, the imp's eyes flashed, lighting up the tunnel like a lantern. But it didn't flee. It fluttered over to Amos' hand, sniffing it before setting down gently on his wrist like a falcon. Perhaps it sensed a kindred spirit. Or perhaps it sensed the power lurking within. And the source of what held it.

But either way, Amos had a little black Ace up his sleeve. And that was the least of it. If Amos was able to connect with this demonspawn so easily, perhaps he could forge other such connections. If he was willing.

But that would have to wait. As soon as the imp settled down, Kisaragi came rushing down the steps, hands crackling with electricity as he spotted the imp. "GET AWAY FROM HIM!" He was one step away from firing a blast, and the only thing stopping him was his own natural hesitation. The imp hissed, but it didn't budge, clamping down on Amos' wrist as its claws gripped it like a vice.

Edited by kkhohoho on Jan 21st 2021 at 11:35:01 AM

Doctor Who — Long Way Around: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13536044/1/Doctor-Who-Long-Way-Around

Amos

Amos blinked in surprise as the imp fluttered over to him and set down on his wrist. Then, a slight smile crossed his face. "Well. Seems we've forged something of a bond." He lifted his wrist, bringing the imp closer. "You follow my instructions, and I'll keep you alive. Does that sound good?"

Then one of the Sacred from earlier—Kisaragi, he assumed—dashed down the stairs shouting at the imp to get away. Amos frowned, shifting slightly so he was partially blocking the imp. "I'm fine, you know. If it wanted to kill me, it would've done so by now. As is, I have likely made my first friend in this apocalypse, and I'd be loathe to lose them so early."

"Kept me waiting, haven’t you? Tch. No matter. Dawdle all you’d like. In the end, your defeat remains inevitable."

City Streets

---

Nestan, to her private embarrassment, had missed the eagle until it flew away with the hammer, and she never saw the eye and cat until her allies began to move out of the subway and settle on walls or in between rubble. Well, no one said there wasn't more to learn. Prying eyes was the reason she stuck to the basics only and that worked just as well with one observer or many. She even kept the imp that bit at her knee from falling sick.
They were summoned. The imps retreated and melted away just as the roof girl began to babble some more. Nestan silently let her chatter and had more allies: tiny fruit flies, fleas, and ticks sneak to the girl and just find a spot to hang on. They wouldn't attack, just watch. A summoner that could call up infinite bodies could be useful.

Look with century eyes... With our backs to the arch And the wreck of our kind We will stare straight ahead For the rest of our lives

Setsuko

"Uh," Setsuko replied, smiling back a little nervously, "Three's kind of my limit right now. And I don't think that girl's a threat."

Then the imps faded away, leaving only said girl. Which, to Setsuko, just confirmed that she wasn't evil. Even if she hadn't helped them, that didn't mean she was an enemy. Setsuko began to walk over to the girl, seemingly ignorant of the scratch to her shoulder, as though she hadn't even felt it.

She heard the girl point out the obviously evil floating eye above them, which just further cemented that she wasn't out to get them. "Hm. I bet that evil eye is behind the monsters."

Punch it. Wukong said. Setsuko hesitated a moment. You can totally take it. Punch it.

Tightening her resolve, Setsuko leaped towards the trees, along with her three clones. At the apex of the tallest trees, the four Setsuko's jumped up, the three clones grabbing the real Setsuko as if forming a mid-air cheerleader's pyramid.

Then the clones, threw Setsuko, as hard as they could, towards the flying eye, before dispelling as Setsuko simultaneously kicked off of them. Setsuko drew her staff and prepared to thrust it directly into the thing's giant pupil.

What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?

Paul stepped back as the other Sacred came down the steps, electricity arcing from his hands. He glanced from the man to Amos, and a terrible thought flickered through his mind. Whether it was from his "guest" or himself, it didn't matter. Who to help? If I assist Amos and that thing is a spy or he turns out to be difficult later, I will kick myself here for saving him. But if I help Zappy-guy, the others may turn on me and questions will be asked. Which way will help me towards my goal?

It wasn't even a coherent stream of thought, just a momentary conflict of ethics. He came to a decision quickly, and this time he did feel the gods' hand influencing him.

He stepped back and watched.

Edited by Booky on Jan 21st 2021 at 4:42:21 AM

City Streets

Marcus did a flourish of his blades as the demons retreated, giving a nice cocky wink at the sk-eye.

"Yeah, run! Ain't never faced some blades like this, huh?"
Hm. Careful with that ego, a boastful braggart doesn't live long.
Marcus rolled his eyes and dismissed his swords and looked over at the watcher girl.

"Heya, what's up with you?"

It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.

City Streets

"Oh, not much. 'Bout the same as you. Woke up, got a bunch of fancy new swag, wound up with a big spooky voice telling me about the end of the world and stuff. That about cover it?"

She scratched her back, trying to get at a sudden itch above her posterior. "Sorry 'bout that! Guess this sweater's a bit too stuffy, huh? But yeah, name's Jezebel. Heard about a sweet gig 'round these parts and figured I'd see what's up! Too bad that's when the killing and stuff started. Was gonna help, but then I sensed you all comin' up to kick some demon ass! Figure I might as well get a front-row seat, ya know? But I guess they all had the same idea."

As Jezebel kept rambling on, Setsuko smacked the eye square in its big golden pupil. It howled in pain, cursing under its breath before fading into the ether. Jezebel hovered above her spot on the convenience store, whooping and hollering up a storm. "WOO! You go girl! Seriously, that was killer!" She settled back down, popping another chip in her mouth as her wings fluttered on her back.

"Don't think they're gonna be too happy though. Like, don't quote me on this, but I'm pretty sure that thing was from Gaea. Been making a name for themselves in the north part of town. Probably a sure bet they've got a Sacred too. I mean, how else could they pull something like that off? But hey, can't fault them for getting a head start, ya know?"

Suddenly, her eyes flashed a bright gold, sharpening like golden blades on the whetstone. I mean, we're all gonna have to kill each other at some point, right?"

---

Subway

It was about a solid minute before Kisaragi let down his guard. His eyes were still crackling with static, but he lowered his hands, surrendering the imp to Amos. "If that thing starts tearing our throats out, then it's on your head. Got it?"

He raced back to Ross, helping him bring the remaining survivors down into the tunnels. He glanced at Paul, almost with contempt. "You just gonna stand there or what?"

Doctor Who — Long Way Around: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13536044/1/Doctor-Who-Long-Way-Around

City Streets

---

Nestan nodded at Setsuko actually managing to punch the eye, even if the monkey queen couldn't see it, and shuffled out of the store, taking the back way though after having gnats check the route.
"No," the priestess gave 'Jezebel' a simple answer without raising her voice or looking up. Nestan purposefully exposed her back to the girl and took in the sacred and the soon-to-be-used imp and people carcasses.
"Does anyone need a wound treated?" she asked the others. Bandages were largely a thing of the past, but she could find cloth or use webbing to bind wounds these days. And they technically weren't out of combat but time was time.
Gaea in the north... In her babbling, that girl had said maybe helpful things. Not necessarily true, but rats had the run of the town and she could send them with a few gnats to gather more information.

Look with century eyes... With our backs to the arch And the wreck of our kind We will stare straight ahead For the rest of our lives

Subway-Paul

Paul returned Kisaragi's look with a flat, empty one of his own. "I don't like fighting. It's the first resort of the bully and the idiot. And I didn't think he was in any danger." He moved forward, gently assisting the people where he could and marking who had something broken or worn that could be mended.

As he helped, he cast another glance up the stairs. Perhaps I should have gone up. Perhaps just standing aside is the wrong idea now. He sighed. But I'm supposed to be making things, not destroying them. In response, he felt the God stir in anguish, a feeling so strong it was almost a thought- That Is Not Who I Am

Paul shuddered. It had not been a pleasant sensation. The emotions and responses of a God were both immeasurably human and completely alien. For the briefest moment, he again considered leaping up the steps to die in battle, then wrenched himself away and focused his mind on the theological implications of their world as a distraction.If I am the host of a God against my will, am I an infidel to others who demand faithfulness? After all, how can I not believe in a God that lives inside me?

Edited by Booky on Jan 29th 2021 at 6:08:06 AM

Amos

"Yes, yes, I get it," Amos said dismissively, waving his free hand. "It won't be a problem." He looked down at the imp. "Right?"

The imp, in response, climbed up Amos's arm and sat on his shoulder. "I'll take that as a yes."

The commotion from above seemed to have stopped, so the fighting was likely over by now. Not entirely sure what to do with himself, Amos started following the survivors to...wherever they were headed.

"Kept me waiting, haven’t you? Tch. No matter. Dawdle all you’d like. In the end, your defeat remains inevitable."

Setsuko

"Oh, hey, it worked." Setsuko mused, falling back to earth as the eye vanished.

Told you.

Setsuko rolled her eyes as she landed in a crouch, landing surprisingly quietly and unharmed despite smacking the pavement at terminal velocity.

"Thanks." She said to the girl, "Also, who are you? And why are we gonna have to kill each other? I think I missed that bit when I was hitting the eye in its... eye."

As she spoke, she slung her staff over her back, looking back and forth between new girl and Nestan.

Edited by kagescorpionakki on Jan 29th 2021 at 9:39:19 AM

What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?

Marcus started laughing at the last bit of Jezebel's remark and summoned his blades just to show them off.

"Yeah I guess but that's a long way off. Hey, we might not even need to fight if we can agree on something together."
Don't rely on it. My plan isn't exactly popular.
And away the swords went as Marcus tapped the side of his head.

"So what's your god-parent then?"

It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.

City Streets

The girl flipped over the roof before flashing her wings, fluttering down with a grace that betrayed her shabby looks. "Hey, not saying anything you don't already know! I mean, that's how I knew, yeah? Had a big booming voice pop in my head. Telling me anything and everything. Like everything before all this crap was some crazy dream, and it's only now we're waking up."

She pointed to her horns, eyes lighting up as she twirled her tail like a whip. "Though mine's kinda gotta bad rep. I mean, everyone thinks Lucifer is the devil incarnate, don't they? Probably why I look the part. But most people don't know ol' Luci was a Roman sun God! Don't believe me, look it up. I mean, not like you can, but them's the breaks, ain't it?"

She floated back up, tossing another chip before catching it with her tail and popping it in her mouth.

"So! Case your Gods were a bit too tight-lipped, the whole reason we're in this mess is cuz all those fuckers are dead and gone, and the ones lucky enough not to get vaporised are sitting pretty in our noggins. This city's all that's left standing, and the only thing that can make things betters is the Holy Grail. But the only way you can get is with the power of all the different Sacred. So either you get everyone to sit down and make nice, or kill em like Highlander and absorb their power. You do any of those things, the grail's yours. But hey, maybe it's me, but I don't think all of us could settle on breakfast before figuring that shit out."

---

Subway

With most of the survivors secured, Ross and Kisaragi rushed down the steps and into the tunnel, the other soldiers and survivors carrying as many as they could. "C'MON, MOVE IT PEOPLE!" They carried them over to a makeshift infirmary further down the tunnel, surrounded by ragged green curtains hoisted up on sticks and metal poles. A few stretchers lined the curtains, but it was mostly rugs and blankets.

A few nurses attended their patients, but half of them weren't out of school. It was all they could do to keep everyone from bleeding out or dying on the spot. They still had patients from the other day, suffering from other injuries or an illness they didn't have the means to cure. Bags under their eyes, hair long and matted, and clothes soaked with blood, it was a wonder they hadn't collapsed from exhaustion.

Laying a wounded soldier on a blanket, Ross shot back up and stepped through the open curtains, barking at Amos and Paul and anyone else who could give a hand. "Don't just stand there! "We got a few more up there we gotta bring down! Nurses could use some help too. You wanna earn your keep, then you'd better damn well make yourself useful!"

Edited by kkhohoho on Jan 31st 2021 at 9:41:30 AM

Doctor Who — Long Way Around: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13536044/1/Doctor-Who-Long-Way-Around

City Streets

Abeyance decided to stop playing hide and seek, although he hesitated before finally releasing his built up influence. There was only other Sacred nearby, so they should be safe so long as he didn't focus on them too hard.

However, he did find himself focusing on the expository demon girl that was now talking to the party. She mentioned the gods being dead (which was known), Lucifer being a sun god (which wasn't known), the fact that this city was the only place left (known), and a Holy Grail that you could only obtain by either killing everybody or making friends with them (unknown).

Abeyance felt a sickly feeling when mass murder was mentioned. Was it something the colour desired?

"What's stopping you from trying to kill us now?" Abeyance asked, although he didn't look at the demon girl. He just stared off into space.

GIVE ME YOUR FACE