The Escapist Avatar Adventure: An Open RP (Now Re-Opened!)

[Kalastryn]

Rising Dawn: Hangar Miia, Kalastryn​

[color=BA0025].. I remember what you told me about people back at your world, and how they ended up treating you like trash. Turns out, they really, really missed out on earning a good friend like yourself. Well, Kala .. I won't make the same mistake as them. Because to me, you're more human than anyone i've met back at home- .. besides Darling of course."[/color]​

She really doesn't have any idea, huh?

OH FOR THE FLAME'S SAKE ABOUT WHAT?!

...Well, you know better than anyone you can't just forget about what reasons they'd have, hmn?

I'm not forgetting a damn thing, but your right, I know better than anyone the reasons they had to be paranoid of Tieflings, and that really I'm not such a saint. WE can give it a rest now. The whole reason we got into our business back home after that, staying in Stormreach despite being stone cold *dead* if they knew is because I learned that it doesn't qualify as paranoia anymore when your right. I am not like them, so for the flame's sake, stop bringing it up. Don't ask, don't tell. I explain this one.

Breathing out a heavy sigh, Kala did smile at Miia, but it did only so much to lessen what she was about to say."I suppose they did Miia... though their paranoia was not entirely unjustified. In myself I can say with confidence that they were wrong to treat me so poorly... though even I cannot forgive my kind. In the world I called home there were a lot of... unwholesome individuals, and even entire races that few would refute were in fact deserving of the label "monster." My own kind however was... different. It was most certainly possible to be born on the world of Eberron as I was, but Tieflings, the name of my race, exist largely in another plane of existence to Eberron. Think of it if you will like a form of Solar system, but with dimensional travel, rather than sending rockets out into space. I lived on Eberron, and my father... as I learned when I once had met him, did not come from the plane I am about to describe. She says as she clears her throat, gently removing her hand from Miia's.

"The people of Eberron knew very little of Tieflings from anywhere else, however those they had usually encountered came from Shavarath. War is all it's inhabitants understand. If not a conflict between good and evil, then even the militaristic Devils who would rule over all worlds with an iron claw and the anarchic Demons who would rather destroy all creation cannot see eye to eye on which absolute evil to devote to, and ergo oppose each other at the same time as trying to conquer what goodness remains there. The expression on her face says it all about her thoughts on the matter. Her eyes scrunch closed with a scowl on her face, and further down her body her fists have clenched so hard at the thought of it that her nails are digging into her palms. It takes a moment or two for her to calm down before continuing.

"I'm... certainly glad you and I see eye to eye Miia. No one on Eberron could truly call themselves a saint, and while I'll probably never be able to flat out forgive the people around that quiet little town for what they did that night... I remember that they... they weren't bad people either. They were just afraid that I would be, because honestly... if you meet any other Tiefling in existence Miia, I advise you to run away as fast as you can. I've seen the type of destruction they enjoy without the thought of remorse even crossing their mind, and save for my deceased father, I'm the only exception I know of to such evils."

"They had a right to be paranoid... it stops being paranoia when your proven right time and again. I CAN'T forgive them for the death's of my adoptive parents... but I can understand, possibly excuse their ignorance." She says, drawing in long breath of fresh air.

Composing herself after yet again such a long speech, she begins walking toward one of the doors and gesturing kindly for Miia to follow. "Sorry to throw all of that at you. The canteen is this way, oh and a word of warning, the staff tend to make things rather on the spicy side, even if the recipe doesn't call for it. If you ask they tend to tone it down if that's not quite likable for you."

 

[Kalastryn]

Miia giggled uncomfortably, a bead of sweat dropping down her face and the shame taking over Miia's expression.

At the same time, even through Kala's already red skin, the blush overwhelming her face was rather hard to hide.
I'd be a bit ashamed of such a practice too.

"So it was common practice to... well..." she begins to ask, lowering to a whisper as she continues. "end up killing people just to procreate? That's..." she trails off, before clearing her throat and regaining her composure.

"Nothing for you to personally be ashamed of I suppose. People will always try to neatly file people away into categories based upon experiences they've had with individuals or groups they assume are like them... but who on this damn planet, regardless of any traits you can attempt at assigning them, is anything "like" anyone else? With what you've just told me your living proof of that, though I suppose few used to take your word for it? At least if my own experiences are anything to go by." she continues, waving along to start a brisk walk to the canteen.

"Speaking of... I can see why many people would frown on such a practice, but simultaneously it isn't like you all have much of a choice. A race that reproduces sexually but is only capable of creating females? It seems rather antithetical. In this way the law you've described where you simply aren't permitted to do that... admittedly gruesome though apparently necessitated "tradition," is in a way a mass death sentence for your species. At the end of the day they were just doing what nature designed they would require in order to survive as a species, though I do suppose it's still... pretty terrible." She says with a sigh of resignation.

Wow, you are just the worst at playing the role of devil's advocate.
Oh hush now, I was only trying to make her feel better.

"You know I've never actually quite... thought about such things. Not for any sake of religion, but more a reason of my own "species" I'd essentially decided to live in total chastity until the day I die, if possible. With your kind Miia, I would like to dearly apologize that while nature seems to play a lot of games of chance and design hosts of creatures that range from the brilliant to the grotesque- and look no further than the beholders back home for an example of the latter, a species of only females was not it's finest idea. Not because I dislike you or anything, more because of what it then forces on you... it forces a lot on me too."

"Tieflings were humans once, but essentially deals with devils in some long gone empire gave rise to Tieflings like myself. On top of how everyone else looks at us, it's... well it's just plain terrible to even be me. I can give you the history lesson later if you'd like, but essentially we're all cursed. Cursed twice for those as lucky as myself." she ends as her voice practically drips with sarcasm. "For the most part, being a Tiefling isn't too much a state of one's body, but their very soul. That's why even though the deal that made the first Tieflings was made centuries ago, no mixed breed Tieflings have ever been documented. That... might be fine, if it weren't for what happens to Tieflings. She says, wasting no time as she explains.

"Miia, you've spoken with me for such a while. In your honest opinion from what you've seen of me, do you think a person like me deserves to go to hell? Apparently my ancestors disagree. I'm a Tiefling because my ancestors still owe the devils they sold themselves to, despite the fact they're long gone, so it goes down the family tree pretty much forever. I can do what I want while I'm alive, hell as unlikely as it is if I could get it done I could even be named a saint... all that's left for me when I'm done is eternity in a place where it rains fire around the clock. Not to mention that second curse that effects only my family. I'm wearing red at the moment, no? Well I guess it's a color I really have to learn to like, since I start to bleed out from every part of my body if I don't wear it. Devils have sick senses of humor, and I feel bad for whoever had to figure that out first." She scoffs... getting around to the start of the conversation.

"Again this... was a lot to throw at you, but compared to your own kind, you can probably see why my... "love life" is so barren. I'm... not about to put anyone else through that. It might be nice to have family, now that my whole world has been blown to bits and I don't know why... but for numerous reasons, I can't."

 

[Kalastryn]

Amarillo Texas: ARES, Katya

Spoiler: before taking off

"You already have a place in mind then? As far as I was aware the canteen was the only place on- ah. Well, no alcoholic beverages 'kay? If that was awkward, you won't want me to be able to remind you of it occurring in like manner while you were sauced somewhere else, but in Caim's seat being a complete stranger." ARES said with a wink.

"That... is that even legal?" ARES quietly mused to herself about what Katya just ordered. "That's a lot for under an hour... I'm not sure that much is healthy." she said, balking at the meal set in front of Katya. However, she did decide to spend a little bit of time walking about the place. "If you uh, get any abdominal pains later, let me know okay?" She said as she started to mill about the restaurant. Immediately catching her eye was the little girl at the table before she decided to just sit quietly in a corner as Katya got her lunch.
Well this is just great. I should make a mental note at some point of all the grievances I have to file with the accord while designing me... then again, I wouldn't know where to start nor stop. I suppose somewhere on there however, the lack of a functioning digestive system should be included.

 

[Orinon]

This awesome lady collabed with me to write this

Rising Dawn: Canteen Bar
Luke, Boss, Katya, Rugal, Icarus, Agent, Taytum, Cadolbolg

Icarus had just taken a drink it was so rich, the bartender must have over-poured on the Vodka because he could taste the extra alcohol, oh well a drink was a drink. besides he saw the split second frown, he was old enough to make his own decisions besides it was way better than his sister, she was a horrible alcoholic.
That's when a strange tiny creature flew over to him it opened it's maw showing a mouth of crocodile teeth which was surprising when a very soft spoken but excited voice came out
"You smell funny! Kinda like my mother, but more like you hadn't taken a bath in a while."
"Do you need to take a bath? Do you even have a room? The rooms all have nice bathtubs with shower heads. They're big enough to be my swimming pool~!"
"Are you saying I stink? I just finished from a workout but I guess I didn't take much of a bath I just rinsed off the sweat and dried off." Icarus showed the winged turtle creature his hands which were callused, the ring on his right middle finger glowed and suddenly turned into a plated gauntlet, the gem glowed and an audible growl emanated from the gemstone
"Whoah what the?"
Remember how I told you to be careful around Dragons, This creature is has dragon Blood.
"Wait what? Are you a Dragon Little guy?"
The little creature remained fairly calm by the appearance of Icarus' glowing gauntlet. If anything, it reminded him moreso of the items Caim kept in his armory, or Melethia created in her smithing; and it looked magical to begin with. Cadolbolg sniffed the gauntlet in curiosity before answering Icarus' query, "Of course I'm a dragon!
Haven't you ever seen a dragon before? Mother says I'm a dragon. [small]Even if I look kinda like a turtle.[/small]" He seemed a little miffed at that last point, but otherwise maintained his cheerful demeanor, "I'm Cadolbolg, by the way. Mother and Father say I should do the introducy thing before I ask people's name's. What's your's anyways?"

"My Name is Icarus, and that's really cool but who's your mom? Is it Angelus?"
Cadolbolg tilted his head in confusion at the question, his little mouth turning into an "o" shape at how on point Icarus was, "It is! My mother is Angelus, the biggest, awesomest, red dragon ever~!" He twirled in the air after mentioning his mother and then paused, "Wait a second, I didn't ever tell you who my mother was. Are you a mind reader?"

Icarus Smirked, His Father might have an objection to that statement, He claimed he had met a Red Dragon even greater then someone like Angelus, his Father had even said that She was so powerful Other Dragons worshiped her as he had.
"No No I'm not a Mind reader Its just My father used to be on the Dawn and he had met Angelus, so he told me about her." He looked down as this gem began to glow again.
If this is all true then I should warn you now I can lend you my strength as part of our bond, You can share this power with others however, I wouldn't recommend doing it with this runt, Icarus frowned at that Even though only he could hear his new partner talking, he didn't care for his attitude towards this small turtle-dragon.
The effects would be quite dramatic, its possible it would grow in size, It would be temporary but I wouldn't risk it, however I cannot stop you.

Icarus though about that, it was an interesting possibility, why not test it? Still Maybe he should wait till later. He took anther long drink. Then he thought of something else to ask.
"Hey have you met any other Dragons besides Your mother?"

Cadolbolg paused at the question, then gave a little nod, "I met three others before. One was a big black dragon named Legna. He apparently knew my mother a long time ago, but she didn't like him. I think they fought a lot in the past. And I remember there was this one dragon who could do cool things with his bones, but I never talked to him personally.
And the third one I met not too long ago, his name was Mikhail and he acted like a big baby! I mean, I'm young, but I got, uh... what's the word... Common sense! I think that's the word."
He frowned for a moment, wracking his brains again before speaking one more time, seemingly more excited at whatever thought crossed his mind, "Oh! I know one more!"
The little turtle dragon placed his two foreclaws on his chest, about where he though his heart would be, "A while ago, we all got sucked away to this other world, and our powers got all wonky. But, because they were wonky, we had to summon thingies called Personas. They had names, and I remember mine made me feel really safe and really strong, even if things were really scary.
His name was Lei Zhenzei, and he looked like a big dragon with silver scales, holding two swords and scaring away all sorts of bad guys. Even if I don't see him anymore, sometimes I still feel him right here,"
He gestured to his chest again, before finishing in a quiet, but reverent tone, "I hope to be that strong some day, just like Mother and Father."
Icarus smiled, that was exactly how he felt, his parents were amazing, he could only hope to be as great as they once were. He stood up and looked at Cadolbolg.
"Cadolbolg, I understand your desire for it mirrors my own, and so help me I will see it through, I am Icarus Son of the Raven King.
The Gauntlet Glowed and there was a strange static charge in the air, the causal observer would note the glass was empty save for 3 melting ice-cubes.
"Cadolbolg lets make our dreams a reality together. Great Twilight Dragon lend me your strength"
"BOOST" A deep voice boomed from the gemstone
"This Feels amazing, Cadolbolg come here, According to my partner being a dragon means you'll react strongly if you receive some of this power, even if temporary do you want to see what you could be?"
The Small Turtle approached, Icarus gently placed his hand on the Little Turtles shell
"Dragon GIFT"
"TRANSFER"
Suddenly a rush of power jolted through Cadlbolgs body and he began to grow, it didn't take long until the Turtle dragon was about the size of a large dog, somehow those claws teeth and blades looked a lot more menacing but the Youthful expression helped offset that.

Icarus was amazed for a second before his legs trembled and he was being surrounded by storm clouds, he found himself floating in the middle of a storm.
"What the Hell? Where is everyone?"
That's when a huge Dragon appeared, Its scales black as Midnight, it's eyes gleamed like the moon. The Dragon was huge Its Obsidian teeth were large enough to tear the Young Half angel in two, Its wings spread so wide they could black out the sky, and inside they were dark blue but glittered like a thousand stars.
I am The Dragon of Twilight; The Great Tempest, The Bringer of the Night, And you Young Prince are my partner. I Imagine you are quite enjoying this power I have shown you but understand for now you can only handle a fraction of what I have to offer. There is much for you to learn, but sadly we lack the time it would take for me to fully educate you, but for now understand at least this, as you use the Gauntlet you will send waves out of your power, and while you claim the dragons near you are trust worthy there are those that will challenge you, I know of one such a White dragon we fought long ago this fight ended our lives, and should he be awakened he will seek you and demand to resume the struggle.
"Wait Wait, You two fought so viciously you both died, and your still not over it, Why, what would make you fight that much?"
I thought You would understand after all You know very well that siblings always fight the worst
The blood drained from Icarus's Face at that
"Wait before I go, what is your name those just sounded like Titles don't you have a name?"
I do but you sadly lack the tongue and teeth to pronounce it, so for your sake you may grant em a name you wish.
"Then I'll call you... shadowfest, or Shadow for short
Any particular reason why?
"It's my favorite Holiday"

Icarus woke up on the floor he groaned as he sat up.
"Ergh, I'm fine I just, ergh Ok maybe I should drink some water before I do something stupid" He struggled to get up, leaning on the counter
"I swear It wasn't the Alchohol, My partner just Hijacked my senses." He tried to explain to the bartender.

Rising Dawn Hangar: Mia, Kalastryn, Selena

The Witch had been staying out of general view her injuries were much better after Nadalia's Healing spell, but her left leg was sore and her clothes were more rags then garments. She kept her hat brim pulled down low slightly tilted to the left, in the chaos her makeup had been completely removed showing the old burn scars oh her left cheekbone. she sat shivering holding a large blanket over her shoulders, but it still left her legs exposed, she was starting to regret moving into Icarus's Room, she didn't want him to see her like this, but she needed to get changed she sighed and silently stood up and walked away hoping to go unnoticed, She passed two women she recognized one of them it was Kalastryn. She kept her head down though, she really didn't want to draw attention. Moving quickly she heard quite a bit from the canteen curious she happened to take a small peek and she saw Icarus was there. he had a new cloak this one covered with black feathers, he raised a black plated gauntlet, then she heard him say aloud " I am Icarus Son of the Raven King." He was a prince? a vivid image flashed into her mind, was it a vision? a memory? or both she had seen it before on that dreadful day her fate had been foretold, Icarus resembled the man in her vision, his black wings that dark cloak, the look in his eye, a prince born from hell. She crept away she could feel tears stream down her face. She reached her room, there was now on add large bed like for a big dog she ignored it though and puled open a changing screen and a closet she wanted to be quick, trying to grab a dress and put her makeup back on before Icarus came in, but he looked busy.

 

[Generic NPC 22]

The Escapist Avatar Adventures | Amarillo, Texas | The Big Texan
It's a race!
Katya Rostikova | ???​

[hr]

"That... is that even legal?" ARES asked in disbelief, "That's a lot for under an hour... I'm not sure that much is healthy."

The unfortunate answer was that it was in fact healthy and appeared to be encouraged at this particular establishment given the fact that there was even a Wall of Fame for those who had completed the challenge. It was particularly unhealthy for the average human given the fact that the amount of stress that Seventy-Two ounces of steak put on the walls of the human stomach was particularly high. At worse, the eater would suffer through a bout of the "meat sweats" while at worst the walls of the stomach would rupture and allow the contained gastric juices and partially digested food to leak into the abdomen.

Had ARES-35 mentioned the fact that she had wanted a functional digestive system, it might have been arranged given enough time, the introduction of a few thousand of the B3WP's nano-agents into ARES' system to route the proper nerve connections to the artificial woman's nervous system and coding... lots and lots and lots of coding [footnote]It would require quite an amount of coding that had never been attempted since attempting to describe taste to a machine, even a human-like machine, would have been like describing color to someone with no eyes.[/footnote].

"If you uh, get any abdominal pains later, let me know okay?" The woman asked as she started looking about the establishment.

"[color=CC8899]Sure thing, mom.[/color]" The Rising Dawn's Hacker Heroine said with a grin. The concern that ARES displayed was rather touching. It made Katya think of her own parents for a moment. The Rostikova parents had never paid her much attention until she'd been diagnosed and treatment had started. Piotr Rostikova and Petya Rostikova had blamed themselves for Katya's illness and had dropped much of their business dealing in favor of smothering the young girl with as much attention as they could give her, which turned out to be quite a bit since they were making up for a decade and change of leaving the younger of their daughters up to her own devices.

With the implements of battle [footnote]Utensils[/footnote] laid out before them, the participants waited for the starting bell that would start the most painful endurance match of their life.

DING!!!

As the warriors of gastronomy started slicing into their meaty opponents causing the juices to flow, the gather audience cheered loudly as the glutinous gladiators started forking bloody hunks of meat into their mouths. As Katya started chewing on her first bite of steak, she realized that the crowd had gone nearly silent, a murmur passing between the onlookers as their minds attempted to process what they'd just witnessed.

Looking around, Katya noticed that one contestant had already finished the challenge after only 30 seconds had passed on the clock. The young girl with the black and white hair had somehow polished off not only the steak but the steak fat, not only the shrimp cocktail but the cocktail sauce, not only the dinner roll but the butter that came with it and not only the meal but the plate that the meal had arrived on.

"[color=CC8899]Da fuq?[/color]" The Hacker Heroine muttered as she took another bite of her steak, the nano-agents in her body assisting in the digestive process by breaking the food down as she swallowed.

"We... we have a new record!" An announcer called out, uncertain if what he'd just witnessed was even allowed in the rules of the contest. It did, after all, cost Seventy Two Dollars to enter and he was pretty sure that the contest involved more than just shoving the entire plate in your mouth, "H...h... hey little girl... way to go! What's your name?"

"Ruby Babbage-Lovelace" Ruby said a little nervously as she looked at the sea of uncertain looking faces out in the dining area. Was she one of them professional eaters from Japan? Was she even human? Did that mean she was an alien... an illegal alien? Did that mean that they could lynch her? They certainly hadn't had a lynching in some time.

Sensing that the crowd wasn't looking at her, Katya say there as a steam of black mass started disassembling the meal, allowing the Hacker Heroine to take the nutrients directly into her body.

"[color=CC8899]Done too![/color]" Katya called out as she tried to take some of the more hostile attention away from the Black and White haired Girl. It might have unfortunately been too late for distraction as someone threw a dish filled with au jus, the ceramic dish hitting young Ruby in the face.

[hr]

The Escapist Avatar Adventures | The Rising Dawn | Medical Bay

Rory Mercury​

[hr]

The Crimson Clad Demi-Goddess eyed the partition curiously even as it eyed her expectantly. Having dealt with many a non-human in the Special Region, the sudden arrival of such a creature, whose appearance might have made a different person think that Haamah was going spring into the air and latch onto their face, brought naught but a sensation of acceptance that such a thing would exist aboard this air ship. Smiling in a manner that was equally as impish as Naamah's tone, Rory Mercury greeted the small keeper of records.

"Greetings in the name of Emloy, Naamah. I was wondering if I could impose upon Blackharte for a tour of this airship. I've wandered for quite a time and haven't come any closer to how a transportation can exist nor understanding who the occupants of this air ship are. Are they all Demi-Gods and Demi-Goddesses? Are they all the chosen representatives of the Gods in this realm?" The Representative of War, Death, Insanity and Justice asked, "They all certainly seem to have powers that they can call upon."

As she spoke, she leaned up against the wall of the corridor, not particularly feeling rushed to be anywhere in that moment. When one had plenty of time on their hands, one did not need to rush any where.

"More to the point, what are you, Naamah? Are you not Blackharte?"

 

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

Rising Dawn: Training Room: Blade, Ryan, Annie, Nadalia

While there was a heartwarming sense of understanding coming from the other members of the training room, Blade was a bit too busy getting reminded of why exactly he was afraid of fire.
For the entire conversation, the Groyvle was running around in the background, constantly taking damage from the fact he was on fucking fire!.
"OWARCEUSFUCKSHITBITCHMOTHERFUCKINGDAMNPISSSHITFUCKINGSONOFAFUCKINGSHITPRICK-FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKK!"
He tried everything, rolling on the floor, patting himself but in the end had to settle for trying to dose himself by taking the water bottle in the first aid kit and Absorb it into his skin in a bid to deny the fire any more fuel/flesh for it to burn.
By the time he put himself out, he weakly stumbled around, his skin blackened before he made a weak cry in his native tongue then Fainted right on the spot.

 

[NotYetForsaken]

Understood Intentions
Location:Outer Superstructure | Rising Dawn
Mavet ve'chaim be'yad lashon.​

Carefree Daughter


"Of me thou speaketh." Naamah bobbed up and down, her skin rippled like water. She smiled. "But of mine being I have already spoken." Naamah spun around, the darkness that made up her body lit up brightly with green ley-lines. Suddenly it seemed as if the lights had separated from her body and that they were in a field of twinkling green stars. "For thine sake mine words I shall repeat. Naamah I am, keeper of records. Of BlackHarte I was born, yet I apart from the Black Beast stand. For mine crimes I was separated. For mine crimes I was to atone. Far from the Black Beast I grew, and now I stand alone."

Naamah's green eye gleamed amidst the projected stars. "Naamah I am, daughter of the Black Beast. Once one, now two."

A second voice boomed from the super structure.

"Unit 002, what are you doing."

"I was passing time," Naamah answered. The lights returned to her body and she scurried up Rory's leg and perched on her shoulder.

Niflheim dropped down. His body was much, much larger than Naamah's. He was more like a hominid and the lights that came off his body manifested as fireflies instead of stars.

"Mistress Mercury, do not let it deceive you. This is Prime Unit Fatima. It was the former morality paradigm of the Collective."

"Naamah mine name is, use it." Naamah shivered with disdain, "It I am not. A she I am. Female I am."

"Enough of your jest Fatima. Do not interfere with the members of this ship. Had I not been on my way to Observe the new anomaly, Mistress Mercury would have been caught in your twisted tricks."

Niflheim stretched his head forward to stare at Naamah,

"Be gone."

"I refuse!" Niflheim reached forward to grab Naamah, but she dodged into Rory's robes.

Niflheim grumbled and backed off, refusing to touch the Hero.

"Not servants of gods the heroes are. Not gods themselves the heroes are."

"There are some servants of 'gods' in the Heroes. Do not make such generalized statements."

"In terms of Miss Mercury's I spoke." Naamah appeared in Rory's sleeve. "Of no personified natural phenomena do they serve. Rather in centralized power they occur."

"They all have Observers."

"By Fates they are guided, dear Mercury."

Niflheim stalked forward down the hallway.

"Shall I show you the vessel Mistress Mercury."

It did not seem to be a question.

 

[Kalastryn]

Rising Dawn: Canteen: Kalastryn, Miia, Ryan, Annie​

A... wedding huh? Definitely the first time the thought of that has crossed our mind. I'm totally not trying to piss you off but... there would be a rather short list of people who would fall for you.

That's fine too... quite honestly I'd be slightly flattered, somewhat disturbed, and incredibly perplexed upon meeting any individual who found me to their fancy.

She thought as they approached their table, Ryan and Annie joining them seemingly by chance... Annie being extremely open about past transgressions.

... she... she WHAT? It's a pretty tempting idea to knock her out myself! Kala thought for a moment as her glare went ice cold, deliberating on Annie's transgressions... at least until she let out a sigh with the Awkward argument unfolding in front of her. That deep breath of fresh air doing little to calm the situation, but her nerves were better for it.

Funny... when you hear the wrong first, you can drown out all the other details... I should try to get her side of the story later... for now, I think I've been silent in this matter long enough."

She opened her mouth to speak, but of course as luck would have it... someone else got the word in edgewise... a person who honestly was not the best of the group to suggest Miia to stay... especially in explaining-

"Your Darling has never dealt with war.... Stop assuming he would of made such choices. Never has he been involved in real world problems like war, witnessing people being raped, tortured, or worse .. trying to cope with the fact in war, friends may possibly die before you. The only issue he faces is taking care of you spoiled girls at a luxurious house, nothing more. While me, and everyone else here has seen horrible things Miia. Things that could possibly break your Darling's spirit. There was no way I would risk the lives of my friends, including yours ... to men whom would not hesitate to mow everyone down for a mad man trying to nuke the dam and everyone. Your Darling is not as great as you make him out to be."

The resulting outburst spoke for itself, but when all was settled the four of them sat ill at ease around the same table. It reminded her of the time when Melethia ran and hid away aboard the Rising Dawn after Kalastryn herself spoke ill of how life was in their old home. Having the wool removed from over one's eyes is often less comfortable than it was when you could believe what you wanted, but it only makes matters worse when you don't even try to be gentle in the attempt and rip it away painfully with such remarks.

"Ryan does have a bit of a point... it's easy, so very easy to claim that no one would ever want to hurt anyone else. At the same time, there are billions of different reasons, from the petty, to the outlandish, to even what seems perfectly justifiable from a number of observed angles, for people to hurt each other. People may enter war willingly, or maybe they came to the conclusion that it was the only way to defend themselves. Tell me Miia, if this "Darling" was being held at gunpoint for whatever reason what would you do? If I felt as strongly for him as you seem to, his attacker would be taking a nap just like that of the imp you whipped with your tail. I would not think twice about it, because at the end of the day people don't always fight for such horrible reasons, they might just have the need, or desire to shield themselves and others from those who mean ill." At this she does gently pat Miia on the shoulder.

"With that said, I know that you and I see eye to eye on how... gruesome that was. Though part of my own perspective, is that I try to see every perspective when I can. I know your probably pretty ticked off at Ryan for... well knocking you out, but in hindsight he may just of saved your life. True that you weren't fighting, and that we foiled the plan to wipe us off the map entirely but... collateral damage is killer in situations like those, and I could hear while I was still in flight trying to get the layout of where to land safely. The most promising location... happened to be right where he brought you. If you weren't even going to defend yourself, he probably saved you... despite the fact that it must have hurt." She explains, an apologetic gaze being directed away from Miia as she scratches the back of her neck.

"Also... don't take this the wrong way, but learn to listen a little better. When you make a first impression it's only natural you want to prove yourself right, but he wasn't speaking ill of you just now. Even though this world seems not to contain many indigenous "interspecies" as you prefer the term, Dragons, Devils, Lamia, they have all been heard of and mentioned in local works of ancient myth. He was merely making a cross reference of your physical traits to one that those from this dimension would be able to relate to, however accurate or otherwise. He never said anything about you being any less of a person while he explained them as a locally understood mythological creature. Nothing to be ashamed of either, as honestly while I assume many humans from this world would be awestruck in fear to meet you despite your kindhearted nature, many actually enjoy stories in which such beings are involved. Although to be quite honest I find it quite distasteful how most every story I have read that involves a dragon, the dragon is slain... in my old world there was an entire country of them, and they were perfectly reasonable people. Even if, admittedly they oft possessed of a "holier than thou" disposition." She says as she holds her chin for a moment in thought.

"You two just try and get a fresh start alright? You can't fault someone for what they don't understand, much less for what they believe they already do that goes against the facts about you. Better to talk it out and educate them than literally lash at them hm?" She concludes... finally turning to Annie.

"That all said... I find it most peculiar that you would be so up front with a fresh face about how you've wronged those I care about. Your honesty does you credit, but it is not the most prudent decision... I do take it that many, many people begrudge you for actions that I do not remember. If you would care to go into more detail at whatever time is most convenient for you, I would certainly like to hear your side of the story. My name is Kalastryn D' Zannifer by the way." she says, looking at the unconscious imp.

"Well, I'm not exactly part of the kitchen staff... but I guess I fit the bill well enough. Anyone else want something to eat so I can pass it along? ... that must have hurt. Hell of a way to get a break from work." She chuckles out the last portion, wincing.

 

[Kalastryn]

[HEADING=2]The Rising Dawn Adventures[/HEADING]
Rising Dawn: Canteen: Kalastryn, Miia, Ryan, Annie, Rugal, Caim​

"Kalastryn D' Zannifer, was it? ... If you aren't like the other then we'll get along just fine. Otherwise, you'll come to learn that I am more of a demon than your own appearance."

So she was essentially tortured with a method to induce drowning, using Gasoline?! The hell was Rugal doing??
She mentioned your little adventure with personas started shortly afterwards... remember how much of a migraine it was to have me talking to you before that one? I doubt he was thinking straight.
Shouldn't we say as much?
You would really only dig the hole deeper if you did. You'd be excusing such a practice as what was done to her on Rugal's behalf and... well we always call ourselves the "true" you for a reason. Move past it all they can, and if it weren't for the circumstance he might have had more self control but...
At the end of the day some part of him wanted to do it?
Kalastryn was rather deep in thought on the matter, not so much upon Annie's own threat now, nor her past transgressions... simply put she was rather awestruck that anyone could do such a thing.

"All water under the bridge." she says leaning back in her seat with a small grin. "Honestly I wasn't initially there to see the thrashing you described, though I can tell you that the aftermath would needed to have occurred over my dead body. Rugal is a man that... well I've come to respect him for the most part, but I don't think there's a person here who wouldn't agree that's just too damn much. She says, shaking her head, catching a glimpse of him being over at the bar.

"Now... I don't suppose you'd care, but... the "shadows" you described... everyone contended with one of them. When I first met him, Rugal was... well he was far from a great guy. From your experiences with him, hard not to tell you still so. Though... I will tell you he's been trying since then not to be. That shadow of yours though... you remember what it was like, hmn? What it did, and said? Rugal... never actually gained control over his. As a part of his mind before, during, and perhaps even after our little venture with our Personas I won't lie to you that yes... some part of him most certainly wanted to treat you in such a manner. Normally he's a lot more controlled than that if such is the case. She says with a heavy sigh. "Not saying it makes it any more forgivable, and I'm sure as hell not trying to make excuses saying it wasn't really him or any crap like that... but I try to see both perspectives and not take sides. Right now on top of hunting down people he used to work with, your... albeit most welcome arrival happens alongside it. All in all, there are about 5 reasons on this airship right now why in his shoes, I'd probably want to get myself drunk too." she says, casually gesturing to him sitting at the bar.

"There isn't a person out there who comes anywhere close to perfect. I got into this line of work for pretty much the same reasons as yourself, wanting to be a good person after... not being so. I think I've achieved that... so I can empathize if you'd like the rest of the crew to remain unaware of you for just a little while. You could share a room with me if you would like an extra pair of ears at the door. It probably hasn't gotten past you that we aren't operating as independently as usual at current no?" she practically growls at that notion.

"Oh, and if anyone gives you any more trouble, I have a lot of tricks up my sleeve. I can shrink people, I can put people to sleep, I can create and destroy a doorway in my liking from one place to another at great distances... not to mention the classic fireball if they just won't let up... I prefer not to do that at home however." She says with a grin.

 

[Kalastryn]

The Escapist Avatar Adventures | Amarillo, Texas | The Big Texan ARES, Katya, Ruby?

As the entire "competition" seemed to get a bit temperamental on a girl who looked to be no older than 10, breaking dishware over her face, ARES' glare was palpable. If whoever threw that were to look her in the eye at the moment, her eyes looked ready to tear through steel. Standing and stomping over to place herself between Ruby and the nearest... heavy, she wasted no time in expressing the following.

Spoiler: Maestro?

"Sir, I'll keep this quick, I don't know who you are or what all of your problems seem to be with who looks no older than 10 but let me be perfectly clear. I defused a bomb earlier today, and all I really wanted was to kick back and relax after how absolutely strenuous I'm sure you can only imagine that is. However this hostility is really killing the atmosphere in here, so let me just make this clear to just about anyone who would get an idea okay? First person to touch little girl or, god help you myself is in for a stay at the nearest hospital at best. We clear?" She threatens, keeping a rather close position to the little girl and crossing her arms, her eyes pointed like daggers.

 

[Kalastryn]

Rising Dawn: Canteen: Kalastryn, Miia, Ryan, Annie, Rugal, Caim​

Spoiler: Tone music

Kala crossed her arms and fell rather silent at this new revelation. Sure she knew who he was, Miia shouted his name during her outcry at the helipad. A simple name for one with such an... exotic appearance. She only knew one author with a habit of enacting his... creativity upon himself, but didn't he tell her that he was done with mistreating his creations while they were in the persona universe? He certainly didn't mention sending Annie back to her home world, which sounds like a rather horrid fate...

And now he tailored a creation in his own likeness for the express purpose of tearing his eyes out and taking them for himself? Even if amending Annie's situation has been thrust upon him, and at this point she can't simply take it for granted that he would have made amends for it himself with how long it took for him to not make amends, but have fate steer the two of them back at each other... well it doesn't quite matter. Whatever reasons he had for sending her back, it doesn't excuse that he seemingly continued to do wrong when he explicitly told her that he had been attempting to do right. One can make mistakes, but to create only for the purpose of taking from those creations? Taking BODY PARTS no less!

You know, we really should have taken a stance much closer to Miia's side on that whole debacle in hindsight. Him choking her out doesn't seem so defensible anymore now does it?
I happen to agree... someone needs mouthwash, because I can smell the bullshit on his breath at this point. Still... what's done is done. Let's turn our attention towards ensuring it doesn't happen again.

"You know what Miia, I think that's a wonderful idea. At least until you get yourself better accommodated with everything around here. Better than Sharing a room with Wollstonecraft[footnote]This is a reference. Wollstonecraft is the middle name of the Author of Frankenstein, "Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley." I found it more than appropriate. It... well in reference to Frankenstein and authors it would be more serious than calling him Mary or Shelley.[/footnote] there. I have plenty of room. If not for anyone else, then I'm sure I can make some for such great conversation as yourself. She says, making a light chuckle and easing her posture. Sometimes the best mask for your emotions is when you aren't wearing one at all. Right now, despite getting along well with everyone at the table, she does rather want to give Ryan an equal treatment to what she's just heard.

Remember when you showed him what you really looked like back when you first met? First guy to ever tell you you were attractive by any stretch.
...Demi, I agree with you... but I'd much rather not escalate it. At least not now. she thought, although hindsight of that memory now started to send a chill up her spine... and a headache.

Holding her forehead for a moment, she stood up from the table and with a well mannered disposition stated. "Sorry to leave so soon, but I really wasn't that hungry. On the other hand, I've had a headache ever since that missile flew by, so I might want to make a stop at the med bay in case it's more than stress as I had originally chalked it up to. I'll be back to show you to my- *ahem* our, room." She says, taking a brisk walk away and leaving the three of them on... more or less friendly terms. Of course she didn't much have a headache, that was just a bluff to excuse herself...

wondering what Teri would have to say on the matter.

 

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

Rising Dawn: Canteen/Bar Boss, Luke, Rugal, Icarus, Agent, Cadolbolg, Caim, Annie, Ryan, Miia, Kalastryn, Anyone else

Like most days on the Rising Dawn, there was always something going on and in Rugal's case it was no different.
"Well, first off, David was actually Irish if I recall my past experiences correctly. Second, I believe he went to the Medical Wing. Not entirely sure however, but I'm sure you'll run into him soon enough, Shadow." He said to Agent, unaware that it wasn't the Mercenary that they knew he was talking to.
While he had hoped for just a quiet drink to take his mind off his worries, that was before Icarus seemed to advance Cadolbolg's growth by several years before passing out himself.
"...Alright...That happened." He remarked, mainly out of confusion with a slight hint of acceptance, when you been around here for as long as he has, you just stop expecting things to be normal.
Getting up to help the Half-Angel up, he was glad to see that no lasting harm seemed to be done.
"I swear It wasn't the Alcohol, My partner just Hijacked my senses."
"Yeah, well, best not to give it the chance to do the same. Get Icarus here an ice water." He said to Luke as he sat the young angel up back onto his seat.

Glancing at the now enlarged Cadolbolg, he cautiously asked "...Are-...are you alright? What exactly did he do to you?..." as he eyed up the now teenage looking dragon (Well, teenage compared to how he used to look).
"...Are the effects temporary or are the-..."
Rugal's concern for the little Dragon quickly faded as a familiar face unfortunately entered the room, namely Annie Leonharte.
Instinctively, he lowered his profile as he watched the Titan Shifter engage with a few other crew members and notably not him.
...Good, she hasn't seen me. She's too busy with the reptilian one. And exit stage left.
With little more then a polite nod and a tip on the counter, Rugal then went to leave the room as quietly and shiftily as a massive German man with a crimson suit could while Kalastryn spoke to her.
There was a lot of things going on right now and the last thing he wanted was to be grilled for his crimes (Even if he did have it coming).

Rising Dawn: Brig: Doom, Cortex, Wesker, Deadshot Vs. Kazuya

Speaking of terrible people, the Villains were in the midst of listing possible escape ideas while Deadshot keenly listened, fulfilling his destiny of becoming a prison snitch.
[color=b4b4]"Could hardly bust down the wall then jump out? I could make our bed sheets into a parachute."[/color]
"...Remind me again how you got to head MIT-"
[color=b4b4]"Bison."[/color]
"Right, almost forgot about that..."
[color=004d]"...We could always call-"[/color]
"The A-team isn't real."
[color=b4b4]"The A-team isn't real."[/color] The two elder doctors explained, much to their friends confusion.
"...Wait, they weren't?"
Either way, all air was soon sucked out of the room before a small mob of armed men entered the brig, followed by their host for the evening Kazuya Mishima.
Instantly, Wesker knew that this wasn't going to end well, namely because for the first time since they've know each other:

Kazuya was smiling.

[color=9f2b68]"Kept you waiting...didn't I, Old Friend?"[/color] He said before he had a fold out chair brought over for him to sit on as he looked into Wesker's cell.
"...Friend?...I don't recall our last meeting having that term be used."
[color=9f2b68]"Well, you have to admit, after all your last bumbling attempt to take over the world has given me, I guess it might be an accurate statement. After all, you did notice when Bison's old "Emergency Fund" went missing after the fall of his last empire...didn't you?..."[/color] he smirked as he motioned to his men, the spoils of being on the winning side of that conflict.
"So is this the part where you expect me to talk? Being frank, I know this isn't about Bison or saving the world. This is just a means for you to vent out some unresolved anger issues. Or have you been drinking in your own delusions of grandeur?..."
Even more out of character was the part where Kazuya actually laughed at that statement, so much so even his own men were slightly unnerved.
[color=9f2b68]"Delusions of grandeur. Good one, judging me while you yourself aid a mad man in turning the entire United States into North Korea!"[/color]
"While that might be true, at least I do my own dirty work. How much longer do you think you can keep up this act? If you get the Rising Dawn as your enemies, then I doubt there is much your little corporate boy scouts can do against them."
[color=9f2b68]"Perhaps, but this is neither here or there. For now, I think you and I are going to have a nice...friendly...chat..."[/color] The CEO suggested as he looked up to one of the brig cameras, smirking into the lens before they all went offline.
[color=9f2b68]"...Now then....Can I get you anything to drink?..."[/color]

 

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

Spoiler: Meanwhile

[color=6c1504]Master Bison Santa Monica Congressman Vincent Vega[/color]
Location: Sleep-4-Less Motel [http://pre07.deviantart.net/e849/th/pre/f/2012/269/d/7/dirty_apartment_concept_by_opengraphics-d5fy08h.jpg], Denver, Colorado

[color=6c1504]"-WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY CUT ME OFF! DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO?! GAH! USELESS!"[/color] Bison-..."Vincent Vega" shouted into the phone before hanging up, not at all pleased about the fact that Fox News cut him off mid transmission, once the world was his, they would be the first to be removed.
This was just one of the many reasons he was stressed, they were nearing the final phase of his plan and now the Rising Dawn was clearly on his tail.
But it wasn't the fact they sacked Black Mesa that put him on edge, he was also in the home down of his main rival in the election and he was trying to keep a low profile, hence why he was living in a dirty old motel that cost less then the internet connection he used to broadcast to Fox via Skype.
It was then there was a knock on his door, prompting some slight hesitation, sure he could just use his mind reading powers to see who it was, but what if they had some kind of mind reader detector or something?!
Pulling out a Second Third Forth-hand 9mm pistol, he then made his way to the door before undoing the latch and slowly opening it.

[color=6c1054]"If this is Room Service, it's okay. I-i fixed the mircowave myself..."[/color]

 

[Kalastryn]

Rising Dawn: Canteen: Kalastryn, Miia, Ryan, Annie, Rugal, Caim​

As all eyes in the canteen fell upon Miia and Ryan, Miia felt a hand gently placed on her shoulder. She was taking a "brisk walk" to the med bay, and really didn't have much time to get out of average earshot before being called a hypocrite.
"Miia... let the man choose his own battles would you? And my my, while your strangling him at this point, are you defending my morals or flirting with him?" She says as she takes a deep breath, and a step back.

"Ryan, I stepped away because I am actually getting a tad disturbed from what you described... to the point of a slight physical pain trying to wrap my head around it. Also, I was going to ask Teri her opinion on scale for how bad that actually is as far as what authors do... Honestly, I really don't want to hate you. With what you just described though, do you have any idea how hard it is to hold respect for someone who does that sort of thing? Honestly, I'm a firm believer in leaving water to run under the bridge but well... She says, tapping her chin for a moment, before her voice turns cold enough to chill bones, at least to those who knew what she was talking about.
Talk to him on this one... don't go overboard, but you could say it better than me.
...Gladly!

"Misha... Yoruichi... Chrysalis... "Peacekeeper..." an odd thing for anyone to name their child in hindsight, Saya... Taokaka... Lucy, and your own name too. Guess that's the other version of you whom you stole your fancy eyes from? When we first met, you were so very open about telling me what fates you condemned these poor unfortunate souls- your creations to. Until now I never had the good fortune of meeting Annie, but I guess she didn't cross your mind at the time. Now you told me you had to defend yourself against that other "Ryan," but even if that was the case you didn't have to go back and butcher him for his eyes. Also with your previous confusion, "Wollstonecraft" is the middle name of the author behind the story of Frankenstein. I found the title appropriate, after all right now I'm looking at someone who makes life, with the stroke of a pen. Then as demonstrated with that profound list of names, conducts their misery without much remorse. She says as she then begins to calm down.

I told you not to go overboard!
Hey, honesty is honesty... define "overboard" again?

She takes a deep breath and sighs heavily, looking almost physically exhausted for having to say all that. "Look... you called my a hypocrite right? Let me address that shall I? First off, I'm all for saying that people can change and start doing the right thing no matter how much they've done wrong. Yeah, I see Rugal, and myself as a bit of an example of that, and NO I don't overlook what he did to Annie. It's just not entirely my business, but I don't think he's remorseless over it either, and if you hadn't ripped her from this world before he could get his head on straight and not have 4 more people whose faces remind him that he might just be hell-bound at this point currently on the Rising Dawn then maybe he could have tried his damnedest to amend the situation.

She rants, briefly turning to Annie and saying. "By the way, if and when you feel up to confronting him on that, you have me on standby if things get rough. He might be romantically involved with my best friend, but since your in no way obligated to forgive him for such an atrocity, I sure as hell know that neither am I. Even if I try... so very hard not to condemn people..."

"Which... brings this around full circle. Honestly Ryan what pisses me off isn't that you've done wrong in the past. Those names? I can forgive those, especially since I understand that for the most part you didn't know what effect you were having on them, at least I hope not... and you tried to make amends with them. What angers me though, is that you lied. First of all you never told anyone that you were at all involved with bringing Annie into our affairs, or rending her from them as it is to my understanding. You told us you slew this other version of yourself out of self defense, which I believe... but if you honestly want to right what wrongs you've done as you told me before, why do you still EXPLOIT them like this?! You gave life to a person who looked just like yourself, and in this case you actually had to kill him with your own two hands... and then you go back and dismember him so that you can take what strengths you gave him for yourself? Am I the only one that finds that exceedingly morbid, overly grotesque, and a tad disrespectful?"

Rubbing the bridge of her nose, she does say one more thing before finally making her exit. "There's my piece, and now I want to ask you for yours. However, you certainly seem more than a little agitated, so I'll give you some time to think on it. Training room, 2 hours from now... tell me why, alright? Have a damn good answer by then... but tell me why you do this?" She says before running out of the room to make preparations.

I didn't expect him to have a fight on his mind... this changes things a bit.
Well then, let's go get to reading, we're preparing for just a plain out fight right? No point in getting anything else ready, everything in that book that burns or shocks or freezes or-
I don't know nor care if the feeling is mutual... but I still don't want to kill him. Miia is going to be sharing a room with me remember? We should see if Teri can be on standby first.
Okay, you would "say" you don't want to kill him, but is that really-
Yes. I'd be a "hypocrite" if I said such a piece about trying not to hate him, only to give into it no? That and, more importantly I offered for Miia to be roommates with me... can't much look her in the eye if she knew that I killed someone we both know.

 

[Sithmorack]

Rising Dawn: Canteen/Bar Boss, Luke, Rugal, Icarus, Agent, Cadolbolg, Caim, Annie, Ryan, Miia, Kalastryn, Anyone else​

This day was turning out to be a fantastic one. Not only was he being fed constant information but he also learned about Authors. The thought made him think about who his author was. It would be humorous to him if he consumed his creator. At least, he assumed he had a creator. Most of the people aboard the Rising Dawn did. It only made sense that he had one. He barely even heard Rugal's words on David. "Well, I just enjoy messing with David really. It annoys him quite a bi-." Rugal was already gone after having witnessed Cadolbog's situation. Speaking of which, he had a specific memory of Cadolbog from the racing tournament. Apparently the not-so-tiny-creature-now had scared the living shit out of the mercenary.

It was only then that he truly began listening to the debate between the crew mates. It truly was a miracle how they all even managed to work together if they distrusted each other this much apparently. Ryan's actions had merely reminded him of why he had taken Alex Mercer's side in the whole situation in the first place. Humanity, at its core, would always be selfish and fearful above all else. Though the apparent fight Ryan offered peaked his interest. He hadn't truly seen any of the members fight and it would be a good way to gauge an Author's powers. Arguments about morals almost managed to make "Shadow" laugh. In the end, the strong crush the weak, whether that strength is through intelligence, raw strength, or some other form didn't matter. Though he'd definitely follow them for now.

Rising Dawn: Training Room 2: Kalastryn, Miia, Ryan, Annie, Agent​

It had been rather easy to follow the group there. His abilities making the tracking process far easier. He hadn't really hidden that he was following them. Casually strolling behind them at a certain distance once it was time for the fight. Though his companion seemed to be overly excited. [color=9966CC]"Do you think there will be explosions?!"[/color]She whispered to him. He gave a short sigh before he answered. "Maybe." [color=9966CC]"Blood?"[/color] "Depends." [color=9966CC]Will it at least be cool for sure?"[/color] "I can't say." She huffed before finally going silent. By the time the two followed into the room after them the two fighters were talking.

He didn't really care for most of the conversation. Most of it a repeat of the previous conversation. Kalastryn pressuring Ryan. Ryan giving excuses for his horrid acts. If he had to be honest, Agent had already condemned Ryan. He had no respect for the author and his weak ways. In the end though he couldn't judge Ryan too harshly. After all, his method wasn't any better than Ryan's at accumulating strength through "morally right" means. Though he was deeply interested to see how the battle would go.

 

[Generic NPC 22]

The Escapist Avatar Adventures | Amarillo, Texas | The Big Texan
The Biggest, Largest, Most Texan Looking Mofo in the Restaurant
Katya Rostikova | Ruby Babbage-Lovelace​

[hr]

"Sir, I'll keep this quick, I don't know who you are or what all of your problems seem to be with who looks no older than 10 but let me be perfectly clear. I defused a bomb earlier today, and all I really wanted was to kick back and relax after how absolutely strenuous I'm sure you can only imagine that is. However this hostility is really killing the atmosphere in here, so let me just make this clear to just about anyone who would get an idea okay? First person to touch little girl or, god help you myself is in for a stay at the nearest hospital at best. We clear?" ARES-35 said to the biggest, largest most Texan looking mofo in the restaurant. When one considered the damage potential between the two, it was almost comical. The only way that the biggest, largest more Texan looking mofo in the restaurant would have anywhere close to the damage potential that ARES had in her little finger was to not only strap a bomb vest on his chest but to launch him from the sixteen inch guns of a Navy Battleship. Given the genie like [footnote]INFINITE COSMIC POWER...[small]itty-bitty living space[/small][/footnote] exterior that ARES presented it was almost a cinch that her threat would fall upon deaf ears... however... the part about the disarming of the bomb on the other hand... that struck a chord within the group of The Hills Have Eyes rejects.

"Hey you was one of them there girls that was ridin' on that there 'nu-cu-lar' missile with that guy what saved us all right?" the biggest, largest most Texan looking mofo in the restaurant asked(?) as his menacing face turned into a happy and, strangely enough, toothy grin, "Hey y'all! This is one of them there women folk that was ridin' that missile with that hero dude, Wanderer!"

There was a bit of sputtering that came from Kayta's seat as to who it was that was actually the hero. Having been "one of them there women folk that was ridin' on the missile," the Rising Dawn's resident hacker heroine had quite a different perspective on things. The sputtering caught the attention of the biggest, largest most Texan looking mofo in the restaurant who grinned at Katya and her decidedly un-Texan looking apparel.

"Well I'll be a fat ole prairie dog stuck ass up in a gun range, there's that there other girl!" the biggest, largest most Texan looking mofo in the restaurant exclaimed, "Hey! Let's get these there women a round a drinks to show how appre...appr... thankful we are that their friend Wanderer saved us!"

"[color=CC8899][small]God, I'm stuck in a Nickelback music video.[/small][/color]" The more culturally attuned young woman muttered as she waved off the offer of drinks, not wanting a repeat of the Canteen incident that shall never be spoken of again, ever, "[color=CC8899]Nooo thanks there, pard-nah! ARES and me already had a few cold brewskies up in the sky ship! Plus, you know, a few Buds would just ruin my partially digested bicycle seat sized steak.[/color]"

The biggest, largest most Texan looking mofo in the restaurant glared at Kayta for a moment. It was apparent that her attempt at local linguistic mannerisms was just a taste offensive to the man who, it should be noted, sounded nothing like an actual Texan in the way of speech.

"Is you makin' fun at the way I speak, lil missy?" the biggest, largest most Texan looking mofo in the restaurant asked as he stalked over to where Katya was seated. For every step that he took, Katya could see the vibrations caused by the man's heavy steps traveling through the floorboards, up the legs of her table and causing her glass of water to ripple.

SLAM!

The man slammed both of his extra large, prairie oyster sized hands onto the table and inched his head closer to Katya's, his beer and whiskey smothered breath caused the young woman's steak filled stomach to flip flop. The man gave her a good dose of stink eye, and breath, before he started laughing once again.

"I love it when you yanks try to fit in," the biggest, largest most Texan looking mofo in the restaurant said in the least Texan sounding way possible as he gave Katya Rostikova a good slap on the shoulder, "Now, stop your there kiddin' around and drink up what drinks us Texans offer you or is you not a true 'Merican?"

"[color=CC8899]Heh... heh... heh... maybe one?[/color]" Katya conceded as she looked over at ARES, hoping that these continued incidents of drinking would not grate upon their newly formed bond, "[color=CC8899]Then ARES, Ruby and I have to get going.[/color]"

Ruby? Yes, the 8 year old girl that was still sitting in her chair who looked more than slightly confused about the situation. Her presence at a restaurant without benefit of parental figures was enough to give Katya pause but her presence alone was setting off alarms in B3WP, though the colony of nano-agents that resided within Katya's body didn't say anything. B3WP was unsure as to the nature of the sensation that it was feeling and it had opted to keep the alert silenced until it could discover the nature of this adolescent since any mention of this would set Little Miss into a round of Fifty Queries which would, inevitably draw the ire of the biggest, largest most Texan looking mofo in the restaurant.

"[color=CC8899]Oh and ARES can't drink. She's the DP for tonight.[/color]" Katya said as she walked off to the bar with the biggest, largest most Texan looking mofo in the restaurant.

"DP eh? I didn't know that you and them Rising Dawn folk had those sorta parties!"

"[color=CC8899]Designated Pilot.[/color]"

"Oh."

Finding herself alone and covered in au jus, Ruby started attempting to wipe the greasy substance off of her face and clothing, looking a bit sad and rather pathetic. Looking down at her side, she saw that her grimoire had also been slathered in the stuff. The sight of her more beloved gift given to her by her most beloved parents was enough to make her cry.

[hr]

The Escapist Avatar Adventures | The Rising Dawn | Medical Bay

Rory Mercury​

[hr]

The sensation of Naamah crawling under her robes, the sensation of semi-organic materials pressed up against Rory Mercury's bare skin was enough to cause a shiver to run up the spine of the Demi-Goddess. Despite the fact that she was immune to all sort of physical assaults, she was not immune to the feeling of unfamiliar, almost oozing masses of strange materials using her body as roost and vantage point. The cheeks on the black haired, ribbon covered young looking woman flushed brightly red until Naamah finally found a perch on Rory's left shoulder, on the opposite side of where the Giant Halberd rested on Rory's shoulder.

"

[b]Shall I show you the vessel Mistress Mercury.[/b]

" Blackharte stated without expression.

Still under the influence of the "ooky" sensation that Naamah's touch had imparted upon her, Rory could only nod as she followed the larger Techno-Organic Mass. The ship, as it turned out, was not as large as the Oracle of Emloy had been led to believe but there were so many rooms and spaces that were connected by a maze of corridors that in her confusion, the wandering priestess had been walking a large circuit around the perimeter of the Airship.

" Thank you for this tour, Blackharte. This ship dwarfs any building I have ever visited. It's even larger than the Imperial Palace, the largest building in the world where I come from." Rory said as she looked around curiously at the ever growing list of things that had not existed the last time she'd visited the Earth.

" I young woman named Alpha told me that it is the job of this ship to traverse the world and protect the innocents from those who would do them harm. Is this true?" Emloy's Apostle asked with genuine curiosity. Seeing as how Justice was one of Emloy's aspects, assisting with such a group would be of interest to the young looking loli. If this was the purpose of such a group, it would also appeal to the War and Death aspect of Emloy as well.

" How are the members of your group chosen? Is this something that they volunteer for or are they conscripted?" She continued asking with unbridled curiosity, " and where do they all come from? I noticed a few non-human members on this ship. The last time I visited Japan, many years ago, no one had ever even seen an elf.[footnote]Tuka Luna Marceau to be exact.[/footnote]

This begged a more important question: Was this the Earth that Rory Mercury, Tuka Luna Marceau and Lelei La Lalena had visited so many years ago or was this an alternate version of the planet? Though the concept of alternate dimensions was not an unfamiliar concept to Rory, who was at one time a Goddess, there was such a similarity between the Earth visited decades ago and the Earth that she was currently in that they appeared to be one and the same. It would be up to Blackharte, and his access to historical records, to answer this question: Had Rory once visited this planet previously? If so, how would she feel about saving the United States, a country who once had tried to kidnap her and her friends in order to establish a claim on the natural resources of the Special Region. How would she feel about China, a county who had once expressed a desire to send half its citizens through the Arnus Gate?

The laughter emanating though a set of double doors indicated that they were passing by the Canteen. Peeking her head inside, Rory could see the gathered group of crew members as they enjoyed their meals, drinks and company. She noted briefly the presence of the Lamia, a race of non-humans not unfamiliar to Rory Mercury and Emloy, nor was this individual Lamia unfamiliar to Rory either. She had bravely placed herself upon the body of an enemy soldier. As naive an action as it was, it was not an action taken by those who did not lack sufficient courage to stand up for their ideals. She made a note of his "Miia's" location and would look in on her later. They had much to discuss, the Servant of Death and the Meat Shield of Life.

Continuing on, Rory listened to Blackharte's explanation of the ship's layout and the group's history. Smiling inwardly at the exploits that the Techno-Organic mass recounted. If all this was true, had she found a place she was needed? Or did they also have no need for Gods in this world as well?

 

[Kalastryn]

Rising Dawn: Canteen: Kalastryn, Miia, Ryan, Annie, Rugal, Caim​

"Allow me to show you how much hatred I have to bear wielding these accursed eyes
... and you just happened to push my tolerance meter, Kalastryn."​

Before even regarding what Ryan had said, she turned to Miia (wisely waiting at a safe distance) and nodded grimly, even apologetically as Miia did... her best at least, to hide the effects she feels from the madness of the moment. Turning back to Ryan however... she had a number of things to say before this started.

"Are you trying to be poetic?" She asked, seeming actually rather genuine at this point, her arms folded and tapping her fingers on the shoulder of her opposite arm. "You know if anything, I actually find that answer... somewhat acceptable. I wasn't ever disgusted at you, merely your actions. However those seem to have been undertaken with some degree of noble intent... at least recently. But justifying the means with the ends they've acquired is the coward's way of circumventing morality. Hm... perhaps that's harsh, I understand that there are many, many things that have the potential to tear your average person to shreds that I've had to deal with for most of my life... on and off of this vessel. I don't have any delusions of perfection so great as to say that I could honestly expect you not to take what advantages you could to stay alive, and keep others the same..." She says, closing her eyes in an almost apologetic nod... but her tone does shift the moment she opens them.

"But let me pose one more question, could you not have just altered your own eyes to the form they are now, or is it not that simple? You speak of them being very enabling to allow you to assist in saving lives, but must you have taken them from a corpse you had wronged... or could you not have found any other strength? What pisses me off isn't even that... but the fact that you weren't entirely honest with me. When someone tells me what I take to be the truth, I expect it to be the entirety of the truth, and nothing less." She says, chastising him with that icy cold voice.

"When we first met, I began to trust you with astounding alacrity. Not because you told me that my true form was beautiful, where so many others had made me believe that simply being a good person was some grand defiance of what I should be upon seeing it. I never cared about that, I've been comfortable with my own form, even if I often mask it to keep others with the same impression of comfort. I trusted you so quickly because that list of names was everyone you told me you had wronged at that point... but if Annie mentioned Personas and being sent away before I seem to have arrived, why exactly was she omitted? Did you feel as if it wasn't wrong to enact your will upon someone else?" she asks, quite genuinely as she tilts her head to one side and taps her chin, deriving the answer for herself as the chill returns.

"Well I guess if that were the case megalomania is a *****, but I'm glad you can admit it and that you've gotten over it. Say... she was the last one to suffer that arrogance, and so far that seems true. So far, that is. Can you honestly guarantee that you've moved past using the living breathing things you make as toys, later discarded? Have you made anyone else since then that I'm not keen on? Because honestly I'd like to see how they would take that information, they probably aren't going to just be able to swallow their pride on the matter with a grain of salt, since after all the next time you grow bored of them their story ends... you don't really have any idea how that feels do you?" She asks, though at this point even the shadow seems to pose that question genuinely. Sure their voice was cold, and they probably put Ryan in hot water if he should choose to answer what with Annie in the room at present time... but where before she seemed to be speaking maliciously, in this case it only seems... serene?

"To be honest I guess I don't either. I can empathize, since for the longest time I thought someone had me on strings like that, guiding many if not all of the decisions I made with an unseen hand. Then the dimension with that Persona BS brought me some clarity. Turns out I may not have been brought into existence by someone like you, nor fated to go to hell by the same type of person... but that's just how it was. Well I also died, but nevertheless you seemed absent from our encounter with an eldritch abomination I would loathe to describe. Scared off? I don't blame you, after all it did manage to kill me." She says, giving her wings a lengthy overhead stretch to emphasize.

"That all being said, I don't even know why we're here. Sure I might make some judgments based on what you told me just a while ago, but I'm really not interested in a fight with you. If you never called me a hypocrite and sure enough called out for a fight with me, all I was going to do was go and talk to someone about it. Still, if your absolutely sure you want to do this, I will hand you the first strike. Don't tell me you want to fight me, start it." she says, tapping her jaw for emphasis.


"Besides, I've got reservations going into this, if push comes to shove you can kill me twice before next Sunday provided I can return in that amount of time... just keep in mind how this makes you appear. This never had to come to violence, and it still doesn't, but go ahead and make that choice for yourself. I'm simply giving you an outlet for your anger if you can actually stand what comes afterwards." She concludes, standing with her back straight hands behind her back, giving Ryan his last chance to back down.

"Also... one last thing. If you hit me, and lose... your going to personally tell Teri where you got your eyes from. See, I'm certain I'm not the only one who would have an opinion on the matter. When I stepped away, that's all I was going to say. At very least, you'd get an opportunity to say it yourself." She says, waiting either for him to walk out of the room, or for the sting of a fist colliding with her face.

 

[Kalastryn]

Spoiler: Death Battle (shrink ray edition)

Rising Dawn: Training Room 2: Kalastryn, Miia, Ryan, Annie, Agent​

[footnote]I've decided to contain the rest of these in spoiler tags to cut down on clutter... They tend to take a while and be... rather large. Also, for the sake of your inboxes only relevant quotes are involved. So sorry...[/footnote]

"Call it a specialty." Kalastryn replied almost immediately, except from what Ryan could see, her lips didn't move. In fact her voice didn't come from that direction either. The Kala that Ryan was looking at seemed instead to simply crumble into shards of some clear crystal material that then evaporated, before from the left of where they would have started this off, Kala materialized from thin air.

Spoiler: Optional Accompanying Music

"Magicians always have a trick up their sleeve and I'm no different. It's a good thing you didn't actually go through with that, or this would have gotten pretty serious." She says, putting her arms out to the side in a shrug.

"There are so many different weapons people could name nowadays. If you include magic like my own, the possibilities for hurting people are endless. Too often though, persuasion is omitted from such lists. However, confronting someone over what they've done is in the end only going to make them more and more bitter over the fact that you had the audacity to call them out on it. One of the worst obstacles to logical thinking is a little thing called "confirmation bias." Everyone wants to be right, and telling them that their wrong only makes them get bitter and defensive. There is no better way to make them get the point, than to nudge them towards understanding it themselves." she says with a smirk.

"Look, that being said I wasn't trying to make you feel like complete dirt alright? Only that you're sort of nearing the line. You asked what makes me so special right? Well, what does? Why am I any different? Why stop for me when if it were... anyone else you would have welcomed it to continue? Hm..." she says rubbing her chin.

"I'll tell you what, if you don't want to act like this then don't. I didn't make you "feel emotionally compelled" I simply knew that you aren't so terrible as you were acting. The complication though, was that you recently were acting pretty terrible... no one wants to admit that, so I gave the illusion of confronting you with it... when really at the end of the whole thing I was testing whether or not you could even stand it yourself. I'm pleased to see a response to the negative. So your right, being a "Megalomaniac" isn't your style. Being perfectly honest I've practiced nearly every individual school of magic extensively... even the less than wholesome. Necromancy isn't anyone's cup of sunshine infused tea to discuss, but I find it defensible... if used for only good causes. In the past, even reading some of what it can do to people made my stomach churn, but I found ways to use it without being so destructive. You've screwed up. Several times in fact. But... god-like power or no you are a human being, and while it hurt people despite your initial intentions for them assuredly not being so bleak, and I'm sure your own comprehension of their reality not always on par with the validity of their real worth... well, a good cause you can find in that mistake is to learn from past experiences and move on with more caution. Human beings... as well as any creature of sentience for that matter are entitled to making mistakes, no matter how grievous. The divide between a forgivable mistake, and one that is not, is drawn between whether or not those mistakes are ever attempted to be amended." she says, giving a subtle glance over towards Annie.

"That being said... while I don't exactly see why we have to actually get hostile with it any longer, we are in the training room and this little philosophy 101 lesson on how to not make a horrible first impression talking about that corpse you desecrated for power last week having interrupted me getting any lunch..." she says with a yawn, at this point being quite a bit more darkly (yet still well meaning) sarcastic than anything else, the words being harshly chosen... but not carrying the same chill as before necessarily. "Still up for throwing down? Not as seriously as you probably thought you would have beforehand, but working off a little steam?"

 

[Kalastryn]

Spoiler: Death Battle (shrink ray edition)

Rising Dawn: Training Room 2: Kalastryn, Miia, Ryan, Annie, Agent​

Spoiler: Kala's prepared spells

[footnote]Putting this here now rather than at the start of this, because I had an... elaborate trap in mind. It had to do with the clone, and Ryan was smart/good enough NOT to give it a broken jaw. Now that there isn't any risk of giving that away... I can be a bit more forthright about what's up the wizard's sleeve.[/footnote]
Level 0:
>Ghost sound: Level 0 spells aren't usually too impressive, but this one is rather handy. It's rather short range compared to many more potent ones, but it allows Kala to make a number of Illusionary sounds at a location of her desire within approximately 55 ft.
>Touch of Fatigue: A touch attack that causes the recipient to become fatigued. Slowing They lose 2 dexterity, and 2 strength... basically a bit less nimble/fast and less... strong. Most notably however, they become too tired to run or charge so you wouldn't be moving very quickly after the delivery of this effect. As a level 0 spell this isn't initially very impressive, and Kala would have to defy a weakness of wizardry and get close in order to utilize it. However, it has scaled with her level, and now lasts approximately 72 seconds. (1 minute, 12 seconds.)
Level 1
>Shield: Creates an invisible disk, the size of a Tower shield (meant to be able to conceal the full body of those holding them) made of magical force energy. Shields normally interfere with spellcasting, but the shield conjured into Kala's hand by this spell will not, and the protection it provides applies to incorporeal touch attacks. This means that while the shield cannot be used as a weapon, even an intangible force Like... Ryan's fist, trying to pass through it will have to bypass it's protection.
>Magic Missile: A spell more or less invented by D&D, and if not, the infamy of it's unerring accuracy in this rendition isn't deniable. At Kala's current level she can throw the maximum achievable of... 5 missiles per cast which... honestly Magic missiles deal pathetic damage, however if you ask any DnD player they will at least be able to vouch for it's infamy of never missing
>Sleep: Makes you do exactly what it sounds like.
>Ray of enfeeblement: Possibly the worst one she's preparing at the moment at this level. This is in that wizardry school of "necromancy" mentioned earlier. Essentially it's a beam of negative energy, and if it connects it- at her current level, can sap away anywhere from 6-11 strength from whoever was unlucky enough to get struck with it. This can't leave them entirely powerless, but it can go damn close to it, the limit it can drain one to is literally ONE
Level 2
>Spectral hand:Again with that Necromancy school? Why must it be so devastating? Well... in essence this spell isn't too horrid, but it offers synergy. Essentially Kala has to hurt herself a minute amount to summon a disembodied hand (think of the Addams Family) that can deliver any of her "Touch Attack" spells for her... like touch of fatigue, but any others as well. The hand is incorporeal so it isn't really even solid, much like Ryan so even if Kala's hand would be whooshing through the air if she tried to touch him, this stands a far better chance, and can do so while Kala is at a safer distance. The hand is extremely frail, only possessing the number of HP that Kala loses in creating it, but defensively it has a few perks. It's small size gives it a benefit where it is very evasive, so if it needs to dodge any attack like a fiery death barrage for example, it takes half the damage it normally would even if a normal person subjected to the same attack would have failed to get out of the way. Succeeding, it takes nothing, whereas most D&D characters would still be nicked for half anyway in their rule set.

FURTHERMORE!! (this is a lot to explain for a hand) The hand treats it's stat bonus to AC (armor class... basically how hard you are to hit with physical attacks like throwing punches) as Kala's intelligence which is the MAIN stat for wizards to derive their spellcasting from, even though normally anything under the sun has to derive that defense from it's Dexterity. This thing... it's going to be hard to pin down. So through that mouthful of an explanation, basically it's a very hard to pin down flying disembodied hand. It can deliver spells for Kala that she would normally have to touch someone in order to inflict, even if she's at a safer distance. She has to inflict a small bit of damage on herself to bring it into being, but it isn't anything major for something that can touch Ryan and otherwise just isn't solid in general MOVING ON!
>Invisibility: Kala and anything in her hands are then invisible. However, attacking at all at this point will make the effect dismiss itself early.
>Scorching ray:A favorite of Kala's. Fires a salvo of three fiery rays that are... moderately damaging if/when they connect.
>Glitterdust: This, in essence, fills the air with a cloud of glitter. The usefulness??? Well, it's very sticky, so even if you were to become invisible with it on you... you wouldn't be hard to find. Also, It can cause blindness to those caught inside it.
Level 3
>Ray of exhaustion: Exhaustion and the previously mentioned fatigue are... pretty bad effects as defined in D&D. Suffice it to say if this connects, you'll be moving at half speed, even while walking, and the previous inability to run also applies. Instead of a -2 to Strength and Dexterity, triple those losses to a -6. This could last for up to twelve minutes
>Vampiric touch: Well, isn't this lovely. This one just plain sucks. The life out of you that is. Anywhere from 10-60 HP can be taken from the target (Ryan) and injected into the caster of the spell as "Temporary HP" lasting about an hour. This cannot kill him, but if this were to go to the rather frail Spectral hand it's usual HP of 1-4 can become effectively anywhere from 11-64
>Haste: Hey Ryan... remember when you described in detail how your Sharingan allows you to predict your opponents move in such a way as it being like slow motion, but you still need to have enough reaction time to get out of the way? I'm starting to suspect Kala came very well prepared for this fight... Haste essentially makes you move muchfaster. It increases your movement speed by 30 ft (D&D and your board game setup, let's say... 30 ft per second.) and this applies to Kala whether she's flying or walking and even makes you fast enough to get a free second attack in if attacking with actual weapons (though it doesn't allow double casting spells.) the perfect opposite of-
>Slow: Alright even if she wasn't actually pissed off she seemed more than ready to act like it. Basically, take however fast you can measure your current ability to move, and cut it in half. Then round down to the nearest increment of 5 ft. Haste being the perfect opposite of this- and vice versa, they can remove each other.
Level 4
>Dimension door: Creates a portal between two points of Kala's choosing. These don't necessarily even have to be anchored to a solid space either... anyone up for an infinite fall?
>Bestow curse: This is of course treading territory of spells she doesn't like using. Necromancy is a hell of a thing. This spell is PERMANENT unless removed by magical means... and she can do some nasty things with it. In addition to the usual examples of -6 to yada yada stat or what have you... if you piss Kala off enough, she could get creative and make her own curse! FUN! (The only real drawbacks there would be to this are A) Kala doesn't really like using this. Oh, and B) it's touch ranged, so she has to get in close... or a little friend can instead.
>Remove curse: ... she isn't a heartless wretch... what more is there to say about this one?
Level 5
>Shadow evocation: This spell just sort of seems unfair... but then, it's not like wizards manage to learn these quick right? Essentially, it allows her to materialize any evocation style spell from spell levels 0-4. It's actually only about 1/5 real, but it's... convincing. If you don't manage to recognize that a: fireball, lightning bolt, jet of flame from her hands, or scorching ray cast curiously off beat from the usual cooldown, is fake then it is just as devastating as the real thing. if you're wise enough to recognize that the ball of explosive death is a fake however, it's deadliness drops proportional to how real it actually is... so it's pretty pathetic if you catch on to it being fake in individual castings.

>Mind fog:This spell is an illusionists best friend. It doesn't look like much other than a thin bank of mist, but breathing it in isn't good. Basically? Consider your mental resistances SHOT it's a -10 to anything requiring you to use wisdom or willpower while in the fog, and for a short bit of time thereafter.

>Telekinesis: Well Kala is a wizard, not a psychic, but this spell is close to what you would imagine. Being able to pick up and throw things/people... and even though she can fly, she can use it as a means to compensate for brute strength when attempting some tactics usually reserved for the stronger members of a group, such as bowling you over onto the ground and even holding you there without much fuss... this is a fun one. The drawback is that it doesn't last long, see this isn't a spell that's instant and then on cooldown like a fireball, it's a continuous effect, but not inherently long lasting. She casts it on herself to gain telekinesis, and then can only maintain it for as long as she concentrates on using it... to a maximum of 12 uses.
Level 6
>Contingency:This one was essentially wasted when Ryan did not strike Kala's clone. It has a very long casting time for a combat scenario, but it basically allows you to chain it together with another spell. Basically, it makes one circumstance Kala describes set off another spell. So for example... punching the clone opening a Dimension Door out the bottom of the airship... just an example ^.^'
>Forceful hand: Creates a 10 ft tall hand with outstretched palm and fingers that continuously places itself between Kala and whoever she designates, then proceeds to force them back to the maximum extent of it's range and prohibit them from passing.(Basically summoning the hand of Gandalf( YOU SHALL NOT PASS!))

Spoiler: A brief thought

If one could read Kala's mind, there was what could be akin to a conversation going on inside of her mind. Each time Demi speaks accompanied by a groan, and the thud of striking one's head on a hard surface. Though in such a drained and languidly slow manner that it was almost more akin to just gently tapping one's head against a wall.
We were so close to just moving on from this weren't we?
...yes...
But I just had to let you speak for a moment, didn't I?
...[small]yes.[/small]
Do you think you can leave the talking to me for a little while here?
...That sounds like a good idea... sorry
Well... we both know we didn't mean anything that harsh by it... noble intentions are how some of the worst mistakes are made.
Isn't that the truth.
At least you put on a good act while we were pretending to really be mad about this.

All in all when Ryan disappeared, did Kala expect a "surprise" attack? Yes. Yes she most certainly did. Did she even make an attempt to get out of the way? No. No she most certainly did not. Honestly after a sarcastic comment like that she deserved whatever came her way. Only to find out what was more surprising is that no such attack came. He simply reappeared about a minute later and was apparently mirroring her own tactic, as far as she could tell.

"You know I'll have to apologize for that, I uh... acted like a sarcastic little ***** a moment ago, and I'll say as much as certainly not blaming you for this. If you have a trick up your sleeve, then feel free to hit me with it... I uh, kinda earned myself a swift kick to the chin what with... well putting my foot in my mouth." she says... or rather stammers out at this point, before gritting her teeth and taking Ryan up on his invitation. She stretches out her wings and jumps toward him, using them as a slight bit of extra propulsion before all that would touch Ryan is-
an outstretched index finger.

 

[Kalastryn]

Spoiler: Death Battle? (shrink ray edition)

[HEADING=2]The Rising Dawn Adventures[/HEADING]
Rising Dawn: Training Room 2: Kalastryn, Miia, Ryan, Annie, Agent​

Alright, I think I get a brief understanding of what that "Susanoo" is... but I'm lost on what the hell a "genjutsu" is.
Wait, when he pointed out "the difference between him and us" he pointed out never allowing his "Shadow" to hurt anyone, and him being personally responsible if he did... he, does get that's the same thing right?
Probably not the best time to point that out... but if he doesn't, we'll let him know soon.
Right... not the best time when we're in the middle of a fight. Wait a minute, are we even?
I was referring more to the fact that he's a bit of an unpredictable emotional hurricane and drawing attention to that, contradicting him, might prolong it. Honestly I'm not sure either.

"Hey there." Kala's voice parroted... from behind Ryan, Kalastryn not moving a muscle. He might just roll his eyes and dismiss it as a trick, if he didn't also receive a tap on the shoulder. Whirling around to see- a disembodied floating hand Kala turned around and, well just laughed. If she was going to get out of this, she was going to exhaust as many magic tricks as she could to talk her way out of it before either of them got hurt.

"Well, I'm glad something really good came out of all this for you then. Can't say I had the good fortune of meeting another "Uchiha" as it were, but if you ask me the color doesn't matter too much... blue flames though, now that brings back some memories. Had some significance back home, "The Silver Flame" was a religion back home that worshiped a supernatural silver blue fire that apparently no evil creature could touch. You could probably guess their opinions on me." She says with a shrug. "Odd then that Slindis and Melethia ended up being my best friends, since Slindis is a paladin of their faith... most of them would rather run a sword through my throat than shake my hand... good times, good times. Honestly if it were blue, I'd be running right about now." She says with a kind hearted chuckle.

"Honestly though, I'm glad it's any color but blue. As much as they were into slaying evil, most of them didn't ask the necessary questions. Like how pretty much everyone knows- or used to know, that they were responsible for the distinct lack of lycanthropy on Eberron. She says with a wince as she continues. "That wasn't a good time to be any sort of shape-shifting race, those got lumped into the genocidal purge too. They basically made a political move in making everyone paranoid of every existing strand of lycanthropy- even those that had no ill effects on the hosts mental functions, which existed... to the point where it was pretty parallel to a time in this world's history that I'd rather not explicitly mention." she said, with a shiver running up her spine.

"That... being said, you want to... I don't know, just both calm down and finish getting whatever meal it happens to be time for by now? Again I'd like to apologize, shadow or no shadow saying what I have to escalate this wasn't called for. Still though, we could just both take a deep breath and step away with neither of us having hurt each other. To amend what I said before with knowing how people think, well scratch that. I knew before you even said it that you weren't the type of person to hurt anyone if you didn't have to, case and point being when I met Miia. Hell, I'm glad you found a new strength out of all of this but being honest no matter what either of us say or do neither of us really want to be here right? She says with a chuckle and a roll of her eyes, doing everything she can to tone down the serious atmosphere, because she really doesn't want to be here.