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

[bluerocker]

[[Main Scenario]]​

[hr]

Glimmer of Hope

luke's story

​

[hr]

​

When the realization of what Venia was asking of him finally processed in Lucifer's brain, he felt his blood run cold [footnote]or rather, whatever Angels used to substitute for blood, Lucifer was technically missing a chunk of his heart at this point, and given the dual nature of spirit/body his race facilitated, he was a little afraid to ask[/footnote]. Given what the creature had shown herself capable doing, as well as her inquiries, Lucifer felt every sort of natural sense of alarm and fight/vs/flight kick in in core.

Lucifer watched the Material Plane. He walked in it, he sampled it's delights, he tempted mortals, he presented the choice of vice verses virtue; and on rare occasions he was allowed to step in when something sought to end the balance he so delicately facilitated. However, there was one big issue in this particular case:

[color=eca222]"This is way above my paygrade."[/color]

He needed to find The Boss ASAP, try to set this to rights, and extract the Dawn + it's inhabitants from whatever strange little zone they had been thrown into.[footnote]Which brought up another question- was where the Dawn lay even on the Material Plane as he knew it? Had the interference with the leylines enabled a dimensional hop? With the amount of difficulty it took to even get to this strange in-between, Lucifer couldn't really know.[/footnote]

Extending his wings to their full length, Lucifer did a little mixture of a jump and a flap; barreling himself back towards the strange sky and clouds he pushed himself through before, and focused on his teleportation magics once again - earnestly and silently praying that this time, he could push through to a proper destination. Anything was better than being stuck with that thing below him, with it's veneer of innocence and 'forgiveness'. Even the oppressive darkness that Lucifer had escaped moments ago seemed more inviting. The magics swirled and shaped around him, and Lucifer jumped.

 

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

The Escapist Avatar Adventures

[hr]Cloudtop Citadel: Hallways

| David West | Laeta​

[hr]

"...Right, forgot. Magic is weird as balls...Still, I could take him..." David remarked as he glanced around, not entirely sure what to make of the situation.
On the one hand, he had to get his pride back up after earlier, but surely he was above challenging cute creatures to fights to the death just so he could say that he could, right?
It was then she talked about a rabbit with apparent powers over space and time, because of course he did, but considering what just happened to him, perhaps talking to someone/thing with a bit more insight on these matters then himself might be a good call.
"...So does this Losko know-....What's going on with that explosion earlier? I mean, I know a few things about catching rabbits. Country boy and all that..." He then remarked, figuring that finding a rabbit in a place like this shouldn't be too hard.
Especially if Melethia kept putting all those traps in the air vents...
"Just when we find him, can you do me a favor and ask him some things for me? I mean, I know they understand what you are saying but me?..." He trailed off, still trying to figure out how exactly that worked.

 

[bluerocker]

The Rising Dawn: Hanger Bay

Adel | [color=3897E0]

AI Dimitri

[/color] | Anjali | [color=356D60]Garm[/color] | [color=0E59E4]Teri[/color]​

[hr]

An unintentional cry escaped from Teri when Adel stabbed inself in the shoulder, which quickly turned to indignace. With an angry frown, Teri grabbed Adel's hand and gently pulled it away from his now bloody shoulder, admonishing, [color=0E59E4]"Stop that! I'm trying to you keep you alive, dingus!"[/color]

With a frown, Teri began to look over Adel's wounds again, when an idea crossed her mind - if what Adel said was true, and someone really WAS trying to invade his mind, she did have another option. Letting go of Adel, Teri sifted through her pockets, and pulled out a pale gem [http://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Fragment_of_the_Silver_Flame], before placing it in one of Adel's free hands, [color=0E59E4]"I'm gonna want this back eventually - but if you hold onto it, it'll keep your mind safe. Now, will you please stop cutting yourself up and let me help you?"[/color]

Garm wanted to voice the displeasure at the action, but was instead intrigued by Anjali and her magic snake. The combined scents + the strange magics were enough to make him tilt his head in confusion, [color=356D60]"You don't smell like a human. What are you? And what is that thing?"[/color]


[hr]

Airship Rising Dawn
Command Bridge
Angelus | Cadolbolg |

Caim

| Do | Donnell | Major Rhodes | Rugal Bernstein | Titania | Theiss | [color=15650D]Ton Ton[/color]​

[hr]

"'Who might these two be', she says. As if we were but random commoners stumbling into a war meeting. HMPH!"

Caim and Angelus stepped into the light of the Command Bridge, allowing the video to play before the mute carrying the PDA used his device to say,

[color=darkblue]"I am Caim, a warrior of the Rising Dawn; and this is my partner, Angelus. We came here because our children said they learned something important on the base, and wanted to come to this meeting to speak of it."[/color]

Moving back a swath of her hair revealed the turtle-dragon child, who was hiding among the locks as a means of comfort through all of the madness that was happening lately. Ton Ton, on the other hand, was resting on Caim's shoulders, and deftly jumped down to the edge of the table, Cadolbolg following suit with a soft flutter of wings. With all eyes on them, Ton Ton coughed lightly to get the adult's attention and said,

[color=15650D]"um, my name's Ton Ton, and this is Cadolbolg. When the crazy magic stuff happened, we bumped into David; and then were lead to speak to a man I've never seen before. He told us...A lot of strange things."[/color]

At this point, the two reptilian children recounted everything they were told by Vihaan while on the base; from how there was apparently someone masquerading as a member of a Dawn, the name Marlow Alice sparking interest, to how the presumed party being held by Dolores Selmy could potentially be a trap[footnote]I didn't want to re-reaccount everything word for word, so just assume that everything Ton Ton and Cadolbolg heard from Vihaan, the group at the bridge knows now.[/footnote]; finally ending with Cadolbolg saying, "We don't think David did anything wrong - but he might know more than he thinks he does. If we do go get him, we can't treat him like an enemy; or he'll be scared and run away."

 

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

Airship Rising Dawn
Command bridge
Rugal Bernstein | Titania | Major Rhodes | Theiss | Do | Donnell | Caim | Angelus | Ton Ton | Cadolbolg​

[hr]

"And I wasn't ordering you to do anything. I was merely asking if you knew anything of value. But noted, I shall not assume you intellect is above anyone else's in the future..." Rugal shot back at Titania, looking about as pleased with this interaction as much as anyone else back talking him.
"As it stands right now, it could be anything. And that doesn't help us. Sooner we know what it is or can even make a guess of what it is, the sooner we can react and the sooner this situation can be brought to an end before things get any worse, for all of us." He reminded those who have gathered here.
After his little speech, they were soon joined by Caim and Angelus's family, prompting a slight nod of acknowledgement, least before Do showed the tape of David having his little breakdown.
"...What in the-...David's not one of us, but for something to rattle him that much?...Must have been something major..." He remarked as he watched the tape, as well as the reply of David smashing into a wall over and over.

Listening to the recollection of events that Ton Ton and Cadolbolg informed the rest of the commanding staff, Rugal tried to think of he had ever heard of this "Marrow Alice" woman before.
"Well, I don't feel that David could ever be considered an enemy. Besides, for all his talents, he's not exactly-..." He trailed off as he motioned back to the video, now showing him run into that wall for the 5th time.
"...What I'm trying to say is that we shouldn't fear too much. He's never been an enemy of the Dawn, nor do I believe that this is proof he now is. All we are going to do is find David and this "Marrow Alice", bring them both here and we can hopefully get to the bottom of this matter. And I think that we might need to have a conversation with Dolores. I don't know this Vihaan, but this is the best lead we've gotten. It might be nothing, and I'd be personally glad if it is, but if it isn't, we need her to tell us what she knows."

Standing up from his seat and looking at the other Rising Dawn Command staff, he then asked "If anyone has any objections to this approach, now would be a good time to tell me..."

 

[NotYetForsaken]

[[Main Scenario]]​

[hr]

Broken World

lucifer's story

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[hr]

"And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray."
​

He left the warm winds of Venia's realm and slipped into the space between space in a flurry of feathers. The leap was difficult. The gravity of Venia's presence pulled Lucifer toward her as he was trying to leave. But like a fish breaking the surface of oil slicked water, Lucifer broke free and flickered into a world. It was suddenly cold. The world was drawing energy from his body. It was dark. There was no light, but his light gave way to a solemn world. A grey world. It was a city, drawn in shallow lines. Grey stone against a grey sky and dust hanging still in forsaken air. Tall buildings of glass and steel memorialized in dust and stone.

The cold bit into Luke with an ancient and forlorn grasp. This world was dead, grasping at Luke for some foreign touch of life. There was no wind. There was no fire, no light, no dark. A world devoid of disparity.

He looked up at the sky and found nothing staring back. Cloud were in the sky, frozen since some ancient cataclysm. Yet there was no moon, no stars, no sun. The universe here was devoid of energy, a literal world past the end of time. He walked forward, listening to the silence around him. His steps didn't echo, the world didn't have enough energy to answer his calls. There were signs of a battle, a flood. Weapons and vehicles were strewn across the city covered in dust, but there were no bodies, no fossilized remains of ancient men. No bones, no dry blood, not even signs of distress.

This world was familiar though, it felt right, it felt like home as vague as it was.

Then he came upon a blade in the street, gleaming bright in the light of his fallen divinity. The sword seemed like the only color in the world. Upon the edge of the sword were ancient Enochian runes etched on in desperate haste. Simple words. Somber words. Words of despair.

"The end has come. There was no fight. Beware the Girl in White."​

The hilt of the sword was wrapped in a piece of a tattered red cloak. It was upon the cloth that there were a few names that were written. It was in a different pen, after the runes on the sword had been carved. These words were in Latin, written by a familiar hand.

"In honor of those who fought until the end of the world, remember these names: NJ, RM, CZ, KC."​

There was residual magic here, protecting the sword and cloth from the curse of death that shrouded this world. Luke could see the phantom image of a warrior cloaked in tattered clothes sitting before the sword. Soft burning flames held in hand to keep the darkness at bay. He planted the sword in the ground here and wrapped a red cloth around the handle. He turned to leave, and as his phantom crossed Luke's vision, he saw that the ghostly figure was an old hero, Lucieon.

"Why do you run?" came Venia's haunting voice as she stepped out of a shattered storefront. She emitted a golden light herself, driving away the darkness. The space between their two glimmering souls, the world seemed not to exist. There was only physicality where the two divine souls shone.

 

[NotYetForsaken]

[[Main Scenario]]​

[hr]

Glimmer of Hope

titania's story

​

[hr]

"Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
​

Titania raised her head at Rugal's sudden commitment to authority. "An old-fashioned witch-hunt it is then," she said as she got up from her chair. Rhodes rose soon after. She had her hands in the pockets of her trousers and her coat hung loosely from her shoulders. Her eyes, while fierce, seemed somewhat distant.

It was no difficult task to discern that her daughter's involvement in the case weighed on her mind. Though from what Titania knew, and the information Captain Donnell passed on, Rhodes was only Dolores' mother in practice. The Lieutenant's true origins were lost to the annals of history, hidden behind a veil of near-east mysticism and romantic religious rhetoric. A DNA test had shown that the green-eyed girl had no more genes in common with her mother than any other stranger. Yet. Titania paused as she thought. The Lieutenant had sisters blessed by the same strange genome as herself. There was something strange in their blood. More than human, and more than just the meta-human divinity that Rhodes carried within her own flesh and blood.

Captain Do spoke up, "I will leave talking to Lieutenant Selmy to the heroes themselves. My team will secure the ship in preparation for any events." The older Vietnamese man strode out of the command bridge, calling up his teams as he did.

If what the children said was true, their story about Vihaan, Balance, and the presence of an unstable continuum... Titania shook her head. She should be able to recognize it if time had been folded even once, if not the hundreds of times that this Vihaan boy claimed. Her role as an observer superseded the effects that such a simple entropic whiplash a timeline state collapse could...

"Tania," Rhodes said, "Go to your daughter."

"Excuse me?" Titania replied, shocked by the terse command. "I don't know what you are trying to..."

"Go to your daughter," Rhodes repeated as she turned around, "I can feel it coming. A tragedy. Go be with your family. I have matters to which I must attend, but I will not allow this to separate another mother from her family."

As the other captains left one by one, Titania walked up to Rugal's side and grabbed him by the sleeve. The man was nearly twice her height she mused. She only barely came up to his waist. It was almost like being with Oberon again. Thoughts for another time though. "Rugal, hold on. Before we go see the Lieutenant. I've got a question. Don't you think it was strange that the Intelligence Captain left just as Angelus and her brood came in? I think Donnell knows something that we don't as well. It might be worth investigating. It would be better than following the obvious lead." She paused and looked around, small embers glittered before her emerald eyes. "For if what the dragon says is true, then such an entity must be playing us for fools, having watched us do this dance for a thousand times before." Though, she didn't see anything strange with the world, for all of the things that are explicitly wrong with it, the basic nature of it all seemed relatively unchanged. Titania motioned toward Angelus, Caim, and the two smaller broodlings. "Let us go find either David or Donnell and discover the whole truth of the matter. I have a strong feeling that this 'Alice Marlow' is not someone we are able to find."

---​

"You don't have to worry," Laeta said as she started down the hallway, "Losko is very fluent in English."

Rediscovering Vettya had revitalized Laeta's mood. Between seeing Saren hurt, watching space-time collapse before her, and having to deal with a man with the emotional depth of a twelve year-old her mood was pretty sour before. But now she felt like she could take on the world. Like there was a way out of this unbelievable mess.

There was a flick of a tail.

Laeta turned around. Vettya "gwa'd". "Hey did you see that?" Laeta said, spinning around.

A flutter of a long white tail vanished into one of the air vents behind them. "Was that a cat?" Laeta asked, confused. She let Vettya down onto the floor and the armadillo-tortoise hid behind Laeta's legs. There was an uneasy feeling in the air, as if they were being watched intently by a pair of unblinking eyes.

"Mr. West!" Laeta said as she started to back off.

A pair of small white paws landed on the back of David's head with a squeak as a white ferret-like animal jumped over his head and sped down the hallway. The lights flickered off in its wake, weaving back and forth over the steel floors.

It looked back. "Help me!"

A sweeping darkness swept past David and Laeta, bringing with it a whirling wind that knocked Laeta to the floor. "Gwaaa!" Vettya said as he nudged Laeta.

"Please help me!" the small white creature said again as it turned a corner. The darkness followed with haste.

 

[BlackHarte]

[HEADING=2]Rising Dawn ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 12:00 PM[/HEADING][hr][HEADING=3]Lt. Dolores Selmy[/HEADING]

Isaac stood awkwardly behind me, shifting his weight back and forth as he kept his eyes glued to his boots. He looked for like a beaten dog than the proud officer he once was. "Isaac, please help me." I said slowly, holding a towel over my front. Taking showers by myself were no longer possible. Moving from my wheel chair to the steel bench that the engineering corp had welded into my shower was a difficult and dangerous task. I shifted in my seat and ran my fingers through my hair. Oil and sweat slicked my fingers. I grimaced.

"Come on Issac," I asked again, "I can't do this without help."

I heard him inch closer, the squeak of his boots against the tile floor bit into my bones, sending shivers up my spine. The air was cold. He slipped his arms under mine and lifted me up like a cat. He held me at arm's length and set me down on the steel bench. The cold made me shudder.

"Did I hurt you?" Isaac asked, alarmed.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. The metal, it's just a little cold," I answered. I gripped the side of the bend and shift myself slightly so that I was completely on top of the flat metal surface. Isaac bowed his head and stepped out of the shower. I gently closed the frosted glass door, but left it just a little ajar so I could still see Isaac. He shifted his weight uncomfortably for a bit and started to leave. "Isaac?" I called out after him. "Where are you going?"

He paused for a little bit, unsure of how to answer. "I'm going to give you your privacy," he answered.

"No. Stay here. I'm going to need you to help me out when I'm done."

He blushed.

"This is one of those situations where we're both adults Isaac. You can look at me, I'm not embarrassed."

"But," was all the response he could muster.

"Isaac," I said, peering through the hold in the door. There was something welling up inside me. I was annoyed, angry. I felt weak and unwanted for some reason. I felt frustrated, I wanted to scream. The cold bit into my skin, the towel tickled my skin and the vague dampness of the shower sent prickles down my skin. I hated it, I hated everything, I hated how light my body felt, I hated how I couldn't move my legs yet I could still feel the cold of the steel on my skin.

I was angry. "Isaac," I said. I knew my voice was hush and tense. I knew that this was how Rhodes sounded when she was upset. How Laeta sounded when she was mad. I knew this was what mad was supposed to sound like, but I didn't know if this was what I was supposed to sound like. "I am not the girl that you saved eighteen years ago. My name is Dolores Selmy. I am not Lola." I was angrier than I had any right to be. "You don't have to feel bad for me! I'm not some weak little ***** anymore okay!? I'm not some delicate flower that needs to be protected, I'm not a doll for passing around, I'm... I'm... I'm my own person and I'm saying that I need help right now! As an adult, as Dolores."

Isaac was staring at me like I was some sort of monster. "Lola..."

"No Isaac! No! I'm not the little fucking girl you fell in love with in elementary school Isaac. I'm not afraid of men, I'm not some scarred little girl who needs you pretend like the reality is... that the reality is." I paused. I didn't know where I was going with this. But I felt sad. I was sad because I couldn't remember anything from back then. I was sad because I had been treated like an inferior version of myself my entire goddamn life.

My name is Dolores. It means to suffer. I suffer. I suffer always.

"God," the words trickled out of my mouth like the last drops in a rivulet. "Look at me. I'm pathetic. I'm twenty four years old. I can't fight, I'm not a leader. I don't have any skills, and I can't even get the boy whose been in love with me for two decades to look at me." Was pity all that I could do? Just for once. I wanted to feel like I was in control of my life. That people would do the things that I told them to, that something would go my way.

I spent all my years listening and obeying. I listened to Rhodes when I was young. When I was a teenager I listened to Dad. When I was an adult I listened to my superiors. My god. I never got to do anything. I never got to do anything.

"PFC Mohsen." Just once. Just once I would like to be the one that's in control. "Come into the shower."

[hr]

[HEADING=2]1:00 PM[/HEADING]

It hurt. It hurt. It hurt. It hurt.

The sheets were cold against me, the ceiling above was bare. The air was cold all across my body. It was always cold. It always felt cold. It hurt. I held myself the best I could. I wanted to cry but no tears would come. I just sat in silence in the darkness of my room.

Isaac left a while ago, apologizing and bowing for all the good it did. I got carried away. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I respect you as a person. Blah blah. They were all the same in the end. I ran my fingers tentatively over my breasts, over the cold wetness that stained my skin with a blushing maroon. These would turn into bruises soon. I traced my fingers over some of the larger splotches. It still smelled faintly of Isaac's breath.

Outside of that the sheets were stained red. It hurt. I had thought at first that it had come today, which would had made sense. It had been about three weeks. But... this blood was different. I was used to a thick dark maroon. Rich blood, old blood. But the crimson between my legs was bright red, and a little pink in places that it mixed with... well...

I wish he had handed me my tissues before he left.

My abdomen hurt badly, not only the surface and the muscles, but something within. I felt... broken.

In the end I wasn't in control.

I'm never in control.

How could I be?

I was used to being on top. I was used to setting the pace. I always knew how to play the part of the willing toy. But... I was crippled now. I lost control. I got hurt. I rubbed my shoulders. Why am I so cold? The chill of the air bit into me even more than before my shower. I traced my finger down to my navel and wet the scratches on my sides and hips with saliva. It would help the cuts heal.

But I had to do something about this blood. I needed someone to help me. I couldn't get up by myself. I couldn't call Rhodes. What would she think? What would I say? I couldn't call Laeta. She would by furious, even more than Rhodes.

I sat there in the dark, in the cold, in silence. I was hurt.

Something must have tore inside of me.

A stitching or something.

I still had fresh wounds.

I shouldn't have done that. I'm stupid.

What did I want to accomplish from doing this? What did I get from this? Did I get some satisfaction from forcing Isaac to sleep with me? Did I really need so much to feel like I could order someone around?

He should have known better. He knew I was hurt. Why did he do what I said?

Because I told him.

Because he wanted to.

Everyone is the same.

When I was young and my name was still Lola, I used to do this all the time. I would sit in the dark of my room, naked and bloody. Cold from all the wet places on my body and sheets. Back then I would ball up and cry. I would cry and cry and wish for someone to save me.

No one ever came. The world was cruel after all. It wouldn't stop spinning just because of some doll.

Lots of people would care if I died. Lots of people cared when I was injured.

No one cares if I'm hurt.

When I was young and my name was still Lola, I would sit in the dark of my room. Holding myself against the wall, buried in pillows. I would sit there in the dark after everyone had left and I would wish that the world would end. That someone would come and swallow all of the evil souls that infested the world.

Humanity had lived too long. That's what I had decided.

When I was young and my name was still Lolita.

I used to wish I had sisters.

People who cared that I was alive. That I was doing okay.

When I was young and my name wasn't Dolores, I would wish I had a father. Someone who loved me more than anything in the world.

When i was young, I wished I had a mother. Someone who was strong, perfect and untouchable.

How did it go so wrong?

My sisters are better people than me.

My father abused me.

My mother is too busy to take care of me.

Why did it go so wrong.

...

...

...

When I was young, and I didn't have a name. I wished that I could be the main character of the story.

I never realized how wrong I could be.

"And I wonder, what kind of Wonderland will you make?"

 

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

This guy wrote some of this

The Escapist Avatar Adventures

[hr]Rising Dawn[footnote]Will edit if this detail is wrong[/footnote]: Hallways

David West | Laeta​

[hr]

"Oh shit-" David instinctively remarked when the whirlwind hit, prompting him to pull out his weapon before taking aim.
Once he realized he had lacked a target, he then broke into a sprint after the rabbit, personally hoping that it would be one of the slower, fatter ones as he did.
"YEAH! JUST HANG ON! AND I KNOW HOW THIS SOUNDS BUT CAN YOU PLEASE SLOW DOWN!?" He shouted after the rabbit as he barely began to outpace the lights going off like dominoes.
This day just gets better and better doesn't it? He groaned to himself as he pushed past the burn as the rabbit came into grabbing distance.
Well, I say grab, but it was almost akin to a rugby tackle as David leapt at the rabbit before pulling him into his chest for safety while his body slid on the metal.
Before he came to a halt, his weapon was out and he was taking aim in a crouching stance at the darkness as the lights in the hallway went out one by one.
"The Explosion earlier! The really loud one. If you know anything, can you tell me before the manifestation of darkness is upon us?!" He shouted, out of stress and panic seeing how this damn hare could have been running from one of the Old Ones for all he fecking knew.

[hr]Rising Dawn: Hallways

Jenny | [color=087830]Chrysalis[/color]​

[hr]

As the Rising Dawn pulled away, Jenny made her way along the hallways near the medical bay, carrying a few bandages and painkillers in her lap as her wheelchair moved silently though them.
She had been making this arrangement since they won the day in Denver and, while she'd prefer that her friend would just let herself be treated in the medical bay like everyone else, she understood her fears and concerns.
As well as how vulnerable one can feel after a rather brutal beatdown.
Her trip took her to an old storage room that a number of spare staff uniforms among other uninteresting things.
Checking to see that the coast was clear, she held up her hand to her head before sending out a message: "I'm in the Staff Storage around the corner from the medical bay. And watch that leg of yours. Lean on the walls if you need to."
Once she was done with that, she then began to clear an area on the floor as well as using some cloth to set out a sterile area of it.

Must of taken at least 20 minutes before Jenny heard someone come in. They stood in the doorway, leaning their back against the door with their eyes shifting about. She couldn't risk letting anyone else find her here, even though she was disguised.

Adjusting her glasses, she posed with confidence and looked directly at Jenny with a rather annoyed expression. ".. To think you found me out using your psychic powers- pft. Even with my shapeshifting, there has to be some bullshit that prevents me from completely blending in. So, i'm here like you've asked. Just remember, address me as Fox News Reporter Britney Tang, not by my real name."

Britney Tang (aka Chrysalis) made sure to avoid all the equipment and stuff lying about, so she wouldn't get her bare skin scrapped or at the very least, stub her toe onto something. Being close to Jenny, the girl couldn't help but stare at the Gardevoir.

... Wonder why she didn't sell me out. I'm not a hero among these chucklefucks,
and I know for a fact if that asshole from the brig found out she was helping me- Wesker would go after her too. Why is she taking this risk for ...?

Crossing her arms, Britney Tang said with a somewhat grateful but moody tone, "... I, never got around to thanking you. After getting my ass beat, I figured I was good as dead. But, you kept me afloat and those pain killers prevented me from going into a coma, or ... dying. Shit, just thinking about it gives me chills."

Actually, she also began to feel a bit ... sorry for Jenny? Not pity or in that sense you feel too bad, but just that ping of guilt seeing someone in an unfortunate situation like forced into using a wheelchair. Still, she kept her mind off such things and wanted to know what Jenny wanted, a catch. After all, no one was stupid enough to help a criminal out for free unless they wanted something in return.

"It's fine, "Britney". I understand what you are going though right now. I mean-...I'm still kinda going though it myself." Jenny somewhat darkly joked as he lightly tapped on the frame of her wheelchair.
Once the area was prepared, she then said "Besides, it's what I do. Help people, even if they feel they don't deserve it. And with you already trying to blend back in instead of taking some time to recover, a bit of help wouldn't hurt. That being said, might I make a suggestion? Next time perhaps pick out a form that doesn't have the same color hair, skin, clothing and even the same measurements as your old body. Oh, and everyone knows Fox News hires blondes."
With her little barb thrown in and the medical equipment prepped, she then did one of those "Anime Head Tilt" smiles as she asked "Now, is there any bandaging that needs to be re-dressed or do you just want something for the pain?"

 

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

Airship Rising Dawn
Command bridge
Rugal Bernstein | Titania | Major Rhodes | Theiss | Do | Donnell | Caim | Angelus | Ton Ton | Cadolbolg | Nadalia | Miia​

[hr]

"Thank you Nadalia. David might be a bit jumpy right now so be sure to keep him calm. Otherwise, I'm certain that "Iron Skin" form of yours should be able to nullify his attacks." Rugal replied to the Iron Queen as they began to form their plan to resolve the matter at hand.
But as the meeting wrapped up, Titania actually reached out to him about her concerns with one of the other airship captains.
"...Hmm...Getting rather hard to figure out who to trust around here..." He mused as he began to question the timing of her suggestion.
"Well, I guess the best thing to do then is to try and follow all 3 leads then. Rest assured, I have very little intention of harming anyone who is the target of our investigation. Why, even if David was to open fire on myself personally, I would ensure no harm befalls him. The same for the young Lieutenant and the Intelligence captain. As you are aware, this event affected my daughter personally and I intend to get to the bottom of it as quickly and calmly as possible. Now, if you wish to investigate Donnell yourself, be sure to take one of the other Heroes with you so we can all learn from your findings. As for me, I shall visit the Lieutenant and politely ask her what she knows. If there is any problem with this plan, do let me know."

Turning his attention to those gathered, he then added "Whomever you wish to seek out, be sure to use your communication rings if something happens. I would contact David, but it would appear he lost his while evading-...whatever it was he was running from. Exercise caution, it's unlikely they will attack but until we understand what exactly is happening, it would be foolish not to be careful."
It was then that he set off to visit Lt. Dolores Selmy, hoping to finally put an end to this matter.

 

[Zepherus14]

[HEADING=2]The Rising Dawn Adventures[/HEADING]The Escapist Avatar Adventures
Rising Dawn's Main Kitchen
Captain Avanovonov | Lt. Mandez | Nina and Phillip
​

[hr]

Nina stooped down to open of the cardboard box, an assortment of dresses and accessories stored inside. Her brow furrowed as the Captain called Phillip a monster, but let him finish while she started pulling out different outfits and judging what she could work with given her situation. "First of all, I'd appreciate you not calling Phillip that, it certainly isn't nice but I won't dare lecture you on that. Phillip doesn't just wish to cook, he does." She spoke, lifting up a green stripey one piece before scrunching up her face and putting it aside. "He cooks me three square meals, lunch boxes when I go out, and for the last little while I've been selling stuff he makes." She stated, pulling out a couple random bangles, letting out an 'Oooo' before setting them aside. "Pays for all the ingredients he wants and even saves for different appliances and utensils he wants me to buy for him. He doesn't have a lot of experience talking with other people..." She said as her eyes looked across the way to Phillip. Her phone still playing in the back of her ear as it shuffled to a new song from Phillip's own library. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzhPOzZp11o] Despite her little argument with him, Nina was relieved to see the cooks weren't immediately shooing away Phillip. Never had she thought she'd witness such a thing, something in the back of her mind telling her Phillip shouldn't interact with anyone else for both of their sakes and yet she couldn't pinpoint exactly why. Ignoring that for the moment, she smirked as Phillip pulled up a stool to elevate himself, looking on what Mandez had been working on so far to judge where to go next. "But he definitely has a knack for talking through his food."

Once Phillip was ready, he started collecting some of the ingredients he'd need. Hopping off the stool, he rolled across the ground before coming to a rest, his chef's hat fluttering back onto him. Starting with the nuts, Phillip would prep the sweet pecans and pine nuts for roasting, a light oil and salting later they were thrown into the oven. While this was happening, he started to wash an assortment of leafy greens; Basil, parsley and majority of spicy arugula. They'd then be blanched, ice bathed, dried and lightly chopped with the fluidity of a well-oiled machine. Given the volume he'd need for the skins, the nuts would be finished roasting by the time he was done with the veggies, several tentacles shoved themselves into an oven mitt to fish the roasted goodness out. With another flurry of chops, the nuts were broken down into a nice crumbled pile. Garlic and a small amount of the truffles were also processed for accompanying taste before throwing the whole lot into a food processor; salt, pepper and a splash of lemon juice tagging along.

It was at this point that Phillip set the lid down and awkwardly left. leaving a single tentacle slowly extending to maintain its position at the food processor while the rest of Phillip surveyed the cheese. Small tendrils erupted from the lone tentacle as they pulsed the machine, occasionally lifting the lid to push down any sides before repeating the process. Apparently aware of his surroundings, several times Phillip rapidly lifted the extended limb to allow people to pass under it while he decided on a pecorino romano cheese. Letting go of the food processor and grappling the countertop firmly, Phillip rapidly reeled in the limb like a grappling hook. With the cheese in tow, the noodle monster used the generated momentum to twirl up onto the stool once more. The cheese would be grated and gradually added into the pesto by hand tendril until a final consistency was reached. Finally finished, Phillip would give Lt. Mandez a look for approval before a pack of saran wrap was coughed up from within his mass. He'd then quickly seal off the pesto and throw it into the fridge to let it keep while the skins were still being prepared.

While Phillip waited patiently for the next order, another solitary tentacle slowly slinked its way across the outer edge of the counter area. It would stop at a menu, the tip waggling back and forth over it before the menu was snatched and quickly brought back to Phillip and Lt. Mandez. Thrusting the menu forward for the lieutenant to see, Phillip would gloss over the main courses, then stop at the vegetarian menu and any other 'specialty' availabilities for staff whom might not have the same dietary requirements as the garden variety human. Eventually he'd end off by underlining the very bottom of the menu, the space after everything had been listed off, tapping at it with an air of contempt to it. Clearly, something was missing from this otherwise perfect party platter.

 

[Zepherus14]

[HEADING=2]The Rising Dawn Adventures[/HEADING]The Escapist Avatar Adventures
The Rising Dawn Airship: Hallways just outside the Command Bridge
Nadalia | [color=BA0025]Miia[/color] | Hillary the Slime
​

[hr]

"Excuse me, but Hillary couldn't help notice you... Well you look very troubled? Is there anything Hillary could do to help?" An unfamiliar voice called out to Miia. Pivoting to the door she'd just come through to see what appeared to be a metal woman sticking her head through the door. She gave Miia a simple wave and a smile, offering for Miia to step out so they could talk without interrupting the meeting.

In actuality, Hillary had been waiting patiently just outside the doors of the meeting room the whole time. Having followed Angelus there, she respectfully agreed to wait outside while the commanders discussed what their next plan was. Standing remarkably still as she slowly brushed her thumb against the steel figurine in her hands, lost in thought. The thunderous footsteps of a very perturbed Nadalia were enough for the metallic orbs of Hillary to look up and stop like a proper statue. Her featureless eyes following the woman as she strolled right into the meeting. Hillary breathed a sigh of relief before freezing again as Miia came into view. Lacking footsteps, Hillary hadn't heard the slithering lamia from down the hallway. [color=BA0025]"M-maybe we should leave. This doesn't involve us Nadalia."[/color] The woman quietly pleaded as she reluctantly followed. 'So that's Nadalia?' Hillary thought to herself, slowly walking over to the door to observe this strange new person.

Making her way out, she'd find what appeared to be a odd mix between the silver surfer and an adult version of Jazmine from Boondocks, especially when it came to her hair. Two large spherical ponytails came from behind her head, easily the size of her own head. She was unclothed, Miia could see herself reflected off several parts of Hillary's body as the surface remarkably smooth and polished. Despite this lack of clothing, she was still technically nude [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NonhumansLackAttributes]. Trying to judge nationality, Miia might guess she may be something vaguely to Central/Southern America, but it was hard to tell. Largely though, the woman standing before her would be quite cheerful, empathetic and open to hearing out the concerns of others. "Hillary's never seen someone like you before, you don't have legs like Hillary normally does!" She giggled, amused by this fact.

Seeing the questionable captain Rugal exit the command bridge, Hillary's head turned as she called out to him. "Oh! Mister Rugal! Is everything alright, is everyone done in there?" She asked, unsure what the plan currently was.

 

[Silence]

The Rising Dawn

[hr]

Mio | B.C.​

Mio, experienced in the art of bragging, could theoretically easily look through all the little exaggerations B.C used to explain how she got here. Since, however, bragging was indeed an art, this made Mio only like her more. She walked next to her, keeping the posture like she was the captain in charge, and listened.

"Another another dimension? Well, this is just great. Have they ever heard of steering?" Mio chimed in one time, and later: "A monster posing as a beautiful woman? That is truly the meanest of traps. It reminds me of the one time I listened to a siren's song, my crew tying me to the pole so I would not go after her. But seems like we need to capture the siren this time, doesn't it?"

As B.C was finished, she answered her question. "So we never know if it's not just a woman posing as a monster posing as a monster. Before we do anything, we need to question her. Can always still keelhaul her if we're in the wrong. And ..." She looked at B.C., or rather her whole body, and winked. "You got it right that you do not even have to ask me to be your date. Just follow your heart while we are in there, and we will solve this is no time.

 

[bluerocker]

[[Main Scenario]]​

[hr]

Broken World

lucifer's story

​

[hr]

"Look at the new thing I am going to do.
It is already happening. Don't you see it?
I will make a road in the desert
and rivers in the dry land."
-Isaiah 43:19 New Century Version (NCV)
​

Spoiler: Mood Music

Spoiler: Mood Music

Lucifer took a step away from the white-clothed being, recoiling as if he had been struck by a live wire. How the hell did she manage to find him? Was she not trapped in that aetheric prison of gold sand and puffy clouds? After all, when he arrived, she had inquired about his entry. Did she, through some strange process of magic, latch onto his teleportation and piggy back off of that? Or, most insidious of all - was she only lying about her inability to leave, and saw fit to toy with him, like a cat cornering a mouse?

The Fallen Angel's gaze flitted to the Bonfire and then to Venia again, as his mind continued to race over possibilities of what to do. If this creature truly did as she said she could, and was able to end worlds, then fighting her was a foolish task; at best a stalemate, at worst - his end, as well as all potential hope of finding the reason behind the Boss-blockage (and by extension, the whole font of this strange occurrence he sent himself to investigate). Gaze flickering upon the Bonfire again, Lucifer could sense something strange about it, a sort of 'connection', like a network on humanity's computers, he could sense there were more, scattered across many distant lands. If Lucieon the Hero had placed one of these Bonfires here, then perhaps he could use this as a means of returning home - a river's current that returned to the ocean. But, at the same time - Lucifer gazed back to Venia, his silence unbroken - she was able to follow. It was safe to suspect, even using the Bonfire as a point of reference, he would only be able to jump forward, and not back.

That was when inspiration struck. If her focus was turned upon him and not his fellows of the Dawn and the strange zone they were trapped in, then perhaps he could make himself useful as a distraction. The Dawn, Chaotic and messy as it were, was full of clever and powerful people, and the airship was able to jump dimensions and worlds when running at full capacity. They needed time, and he could grant it, as long as he was able to keep his cool...

Finally deciding to break the silence, Lucifer crossed his arms and put on a slightly exaggerated pout, [color=eca222]"Are you really surprised? You told me you were able to destroy worlds. Nobody really wants to be around someone who can do that. Besides, what gives you the right to do so? What authority do you have to end such things? Take this place,"[/color] he swept his hand over the barren land, [color=eca222]"I take it this was your doing? Why? Do you take pleasure from this?"[/color]

 

[bluerocker]

[HEADING=2]The Rising Dawn Adventures[/HEADING]The Escapist Avatar Adventures
The Rising Dawn Airship: Command Bridge
Angelus | Caim | Major Rhodes | Nadalia | [color=BA0025]Miia[/color] | Rugal Bernstein | Captain Do | Titania | [color=15650D]Ton Ton[/color] | Cadolbolg
​

[hr]

As all the adults began to decide where to go, Cadolbolg bravely raised his little claw, "Me and Ton Ton will go with Nadalia to find David! He might get scared if he sees her first, cause she looks strong! We could be uh... Diplo...diplo..."

"Diplomats, my little one." Angelus gave Cadolbolg a litle scratch behind one of his horns, pride clearly showing on her face, "I do feel that is a good idea," she looked to Nadalia, her expression shifting to a wry smile, "No offense to you, of course; but perhaps an aggressive approach would not be sufficient to catch a spooked hare. I can assure you my little ones will not burden you - their appearance belays their strength."

Ton Ton waved his little lantern in acknowledgement and puffed out his little chest, [color=15650D]"We'll good, promise!"[/color]
Following that, he mounted up on Cadolbolg's back, and the duo fluttered after the Queen of Ash.

Caim stretched lazily, his PDA intoning,

[color=darkblue]"That leaves us with Donnell. Where is his workstation and his private quarters? Those would be the first sections I'd check first."[/color]

---

Meanwhile, back with Nadalia and the Cuties, Ton Ton announced to his co-worker, [color=15650D]"I'll try to contact David over our communicator rings first - he might just tell us where he is!"[/color] A moment of silence later, Ton Ton 'sent', [color=15650D]"Hey David - can you hear me? Some serious stuff is going down, so Mr. Caim and Ms. Angelus sent us to regroup with you. Can you tell us where you are?"[/color]

It wasn't the entire truth, but at the same time, it wasn't a full lie either; a vagueness of language Ton Ton deemed mostly acceptable.

 

[Silence]

The Rising Dawn

[hr]

Anjali​

"I am ... undead, I think." Anjali responded to Garm, looking at him curiously with red glowing, hollow eyes. "I do not know more. And this is, I think ... a spirit. It can do small things, but it can not harm people, I think. At least when I did it previously, it did not do anything."

The snake swirled around Adel, then came back towards Anjali, stopping right above Garm. "I do not know much, my apologies. I just came here a day ago .. and I was invited to a party, but I don't think it iss happening yet. What are you, wolf? I have not seen one who could speak before, even if I heard some storiess ... "

 

[Silence]

The Rising Dawn

[hr]

Diana | Blade​

"Tssk tssk tssk, Blade." Diana said, pulling Blade by his collar and stopping him from walking further. Her grip was quite strong, stronger than one might have expected, even if she was quite toned. "Are you sure you are working for the right organisation? You seem not much more than a grunt. With ideas, maybe worth considering ... at other times. So how do you expect me to impersonate you if I do not know how to talk like you? Do you even have an invitation? It usually works like this.

I mean sure, if you want to go the high risk route, I could go in on my own. But I also could just be your plus one, what do you say? I could even look a bit less perfect, if you wanted it. Or I could just be your shadow, following your every move ... how much time do we have to wait on the party to start, anyways? I do not see any preparations made yet, and if I stuffed you in a fridge to impersonate you you might even be frozen or just free yourself by the time the party was starting.

So what do you say? Be less talkative unless the situation calls for it, let me do the thinking, and you have an attractive party companion, your trophy wife, so to speak?" It was spoken, showing how little regard she had for him in her tone of voice, but he might notice that she was actually quite helpful, not letting him trap himself into a corner, and hinting at what might be if he did not go with her plan.

 

[NotYetForsaken]

[[Main Scenario]]​

[hr]

Glimmer of Hope

titania's story

​

[hr]

"..."
​

Spoiler: Caim and Angelus

Titania took two steps back as Rugal left. She bit her lower lip, her heart was full of a vague anxiety. Something felt wrong. "Did he just... blow me off?" Titania lost her balance and staggered. Her heartbeat was fast, her palms were damp with sweat. There were beads of the stuff on her brow now too. She felt off, she felt weak.

The Queen of the Fae... no, the small Major shook her head and gave an exaggerated and animated sigh. Nothing was going to plan. Even as her eyes brimmed with the power gifted to her by "God", she could not help but feel helpless in the enormity of the situation at hand. She was a toy in some grand board game, a doll bandied around by an entity that was so immense that her divine powers were nothing to it. She closed her eyes. The darkness was soothing. Embers darted in and out of her vision.

She found her resolve in the gentle darkness of her own mind. Titania steeled her heart and opened her eyes again, turning away from the bright embers that illuminated the truth of the world. The edges of her vision darkened and the strings of causality vanished from view. There was nothing left but the mundane. A normal world with normal heroes.

This is the stage.

She turned to Caim and Angelus and gave them a nod. "Follow me, I will lead us to Captain Donnell's office." She swept down the halls and threw her crimson mantle over herself. It smelled of violets.

---​

Titania led the two partners to Donnell's office. She was unsure how had been so confident that this was where the office was, given that she had never been here. But the plain steel door was labeled with a boring simple sign. "Intelligence." It said.

There were voices within.

"Stay quiet."

A male voice said. It was deep and it resonated through the door. The voice unsettled the three outside, as if it was the voice of some sort of monster. More mechanical than human.

"We will be discovered."

"Do you think this is easy?" came a female voice. It sounded young. "I'm trying as hard as I can."

"I saved you. You are indebted to me. You will do this for me."

The older male voice sounded upset.

"Now stay still."

"Don't touch me there!" the woman yelped.

There was a hard crash.

"This will hurt. But it will be over quickly. There are others outside, please comply."

Titania hit the terminal on the wall and forced the door open with her authorization card. There was a sweeping darkness as a shadow tore through the air and into the air vents in the ceiling.

Captain Donnell was sitting on her desk, a small black blood-stained ball resting gently in her hands. Her shirt was off and she had an open would just above her stomach. She blushed. "Major La Fey. How can I help you?"

"We have some questions, Captain." Titania answered. That's the understatement of the damn century.

---​

Spoiler: David and Laeta

"Watch out!" When David looked down at the creature in his hands he realized to the a sudden and grim drop in his stomach that what he was holding was not a rabbit. The darkness came rushing down the hallway, thick black tendrils of shadow covered in slick green lights. The creature struggled, flipping it's long white tail back and forth as it tried to break free from David's grasp.

What he was holding resembled a cat or a ferret more closely than a rabbit. It had white fur and red eyes, with two forward facing ears and long arm-like appendages that hung out of its ear canals. Two large golden rings hung in the air around its ears. It broke free from David's grasp just as the darkness reached them.

Huge spears of dark metal struck and pinned the creature into the wall, tearing its small body apart into red bloodless chunks. The spears kept coming in an rain of violence, attacking and tearing at the creature until what remained of its white fur was hidden wholly beneath living metal.

"You could have been hurt David West," it said as it turned the corner in the hallway.

The darkness turned its attention to the creature anew, dropping the carcass of its previous body to attack the new one.

[b]"Monster."[/b]

The darkness growled, sending a rippling mass of blades at the small white creature.

"My name is Kyuubey," Kyuubey said politely as the tendrils ripped its body to shreds.

Kyuubey kicked open an air vent and dropped down from above. "Unfortunately, you managed to catch me David. I must chastise you for ruining my plans." The darkness shifted and struck again at the white ferret, but Kyuubey dodged the attack this time by pivoting its body away. "You have mistaken me for someone else, and in your rash actions have almost tripped into your own demise. Should you perish, I am certain that Laeta will not take kindly to my advances. So I will ask you to keep your meddling to a minimum."

"Do not listen to it, David West."

The Darkness said as it swirled around the small white creature.

"This is the trespasser. The interloper which has caused our world so much damage."

Kyuubey looked up at the swirling mass of shadow and metal. "I am not. I neither lie nor do violence. It is not only against my nature, but also against my capabilities. I am simply here to see one of my employees and offer a contract to her younger sister."

The darkness grew, unsettled. An undulating sea of violence and spite.

Laeta rounded the corner. Kyuubey turned to look at her. The darkness lashed out, sending another volley of spears toward Kyuubey.

"Help me! Help me Laeta!" Kyuubey cried.

[b]"Die!"[/b]

---​

Spoiler: Nina and Phillip

Lt. Mandez gave Philip a smile, "You are a skilled cook, but you still have a lot to learn about being a chef I see." He pointed at Captain Avanovonov who stood in the back next to Nina, watching the two interact carefully. The giant man's mustache bristled every now and again when he wrinkled his nose. "The menu is his, through and through. As good as we are at cooking, none of us can make deviations from his vision."

A young woman approached Mandez, her clothes were different from the rest of the uniforms. Instead of the clean cut blue and grey, she wore a uniform of deep maroon. Instead of knives across her breast and back, her insignia was a star captured by a golden circle.

Mandez snapped to attention. "How can I help you?"

"I have the spice that Avanovonov requested for. Here is your allotment." the woman handed a small purple vial to the lieutenant before turning to leave. She was a peculiar person, Phillip found. As much as the cooks in the kitchen were okay with putting up with Phillip being there, this woman seemed to actively be ignoring Philip, his aura, his being, and his eldritch nature.

In fact.

She felt off-puttingly eldritch herself. She had long purple hair that ran down to her calves, tied back in two neat ponytails. She walked with a strange sway in her hips, exaggerated, and her skin was so white that it was almost translucent. She had a satchel, and the things within smelled. Well, they smelled familiar to Phillip. Not familiar in the sense that he had worked with those reagents in the past, but familiar in that it reminded him of places that were not here.

"She give you the heebiejeebies too little guy?" Mandez said under his breath as he sprinkled the light lavender spice over the sizzling pig skins. The smell exploded over the stoves as he did, filling the air with a oblique fragrance. It was familiar and new at the same time, and with each hit, it made all the other flavors and smells in the room stronger, as if they were being experienced for the first time. "I don't get who she is, or what this stuff is... but the Captain swears by it. We can't let you add anything to the menu, but if you want to can go help Orrin over by the sauces. He's bound to be welcoming of several dozen extra hands with how much stirring and thickening he's doing right now"

Captain Avanovonov looked down at Nina and shook his head. "Don't think that I call him a monster because he looks strange. I call him a monster because of his abilities." The woman in red passed them, her long hair hung in the air as she walked by. She cast a sidelong glance at Nina.

Then she was gone.

"I mean the same when I meant some of us are monsters as well." Avanovonov said as he looked backwards at the fleeting silhouette of the woman come and gone. He held up a vial of purple dust in his hand. "This is han anhkhem, meaning 'stardust'," he said softly, "a spice from somewhere far away. It's a purifying agent. In ancient aeons, it was used to exorcise lands and people of evil spirits. Some legends go so far as to say that enough could kill a god. All I know is that the stuff makes flavors bloom." He closed his fingers over the vial.

"The party begins in an hour, little lady. I would take this time to rest. After all, my menu will be quite the event to remember."

---​

Spoiler: Luke

Venia stepped forward, her light rippling forth from the place where her feet touched the black ground. The world around them rippled and grew light. The darkness and cold faded, replaced by that feeling of mimicked kindness. The sky above was golden, a reflection of that gold aetheric sea that they had been on several minutes ago. The liquid light shone on the grey world, restoring color and life to the buildings, the air, the metal and stone. And soon, the phantoms of those that used to live here were walking again. Transparent ghosts, after images of the events that occurred here on these streets.

There were men and boys, mothers and daughters. There were old men and old women, children too young to walk and also the weak and infirm.

There was suffering. There was strife. Tanks rolling down through the streets, fires raging. Soldiers were coming in waves under a rain of fire and poison. People fell where they were, reaching out. They were hoping, wishing, wanting for mercy. Death was abundant, cruelty was common.

Scenes of violence, awful crimes. People debased for entertainment. Family turned against family. The able abandoned the weak. This world was alive, but it was in pain.

"a shu balu i orre," she said. "i gas'he lu bondu mor iche ohn orr i hondu libre eiffe."

She paused, twirled around and played with her dress. She opened her mouth again, but this time borrowed the voice of all the ghosts around her. They spoke in once voice, ringing and echoing through the city ruins like a choir.

"I was called here in my youth. It was one of the first worlds I saw," Venia said, holding he hands over her empty breast. "What I saw here was pain and suffering. A world wrought by the insane jealousy of my sisters. What I did was deliver them mercy." She pointed up at the sea above them, "My nature is simple. I am like a sponge. I absorb sin and pain wherever I go. It leaves others gentle and pure, and puts the stresses and hurt they have endured inside of me. But, here, this world. There was only pain."

She walked forward and sat down on a car, watching the ghost of a soldier assault a young girl. She held out her hand and the memory froze. "This world had lived too long. The amount of suffering had reached a point where I could not absolve them. Their cycle of hate and vengeance self-perpetuated in such a way that it would spiral out of control. Eventually all things would die in violent outburst." She gently stroked the girl's face. The ghost's expression was frozen not in fear or terror, but in vengeance. "Instead of absolving the sins of this world. I gave it all of my mercy, and they rejected it. They did not want to be forgiven. They were an evil people at heart." She paused.

"We were all evil people at heart." She continued. "So instead of taking on their sins. I took on all of them, more than just their hurt, but also their vengeance. I consumed it all, and to my surprise, there was nothing left."

Then they were afraid of me. She said, inside of Luke's mind. They resented me for taking away their pain and their sorrows. They wanted to be angry, to be afraid.

"I wouldn't allow for it," she shook her head, "a ime ludo dorre." I was born to stop such things.

"So I did what I had to do. I erased all the pain in this world. Devoured it, and turned it into my Mercy." She motioned above to the sea of golden light she had brought with her. "Everything of this world, all of its energy, its people, its thoughts, and its power became mine."

She looked at the sword in the ground. "There were those that came from outside to try and stop me. But I couldn't see why. It wasn't just, I didn't know what was just, so I asked Balance. She knew what was just. Balance told me that cleaning up after my sisters was a noble task. So I did so. I consumed everything they had destroyed. The lives they ruined, the people they killed. All of the tainted souls and bitter sins of this world I took into myself... but in doing so, nothing was left in this world."

She closed her eyes, "I still remember the faces of those heroes that came. How bravely they fought me. With blade and magic, carrying a doomsday weapon they thought would end me. 'A causality weapon' that Mage in Red called it. Now they are inside me." She motioned once again the sea above, "As with countless other worlds destroyed by my sisters. I am freedom, I am hope. I am mercy. I end worlds that exist in only conflict, Lucifer. I consume worlds that are dying as well. I consume all and return all to one. And now only several worlds remain, but they are locked behind father's accursed barrier."

The more she spoke through the ghosts, the more angry she began to sound. As if all of their emotions were boiling up through her frail chest. It started raining. Droplets of the liquid light came pouring down over the city and dissolving the ghostly apparitions. Venia stoop up and started walking toward Luke.

"Do you not wish to embrace me? To know peace at the end of the world? To know rest at the end of time?" She smiled, "a uenia i, a o ainne." I am Mercy, and I love you.

 

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

[hr]Rising Dawn: Hallways

Jenny | [color=087830]Chrysalis[/color]​

[hr]

"Duly noted. Now, sadly, I can only do so much myself. While I am a doctor, I'm not the kind that you might need. Thankfully, there is a fully staffed medical department, as you are well aware, and if it makes you feel better, I'll gladly stay with you. I understand that you are frightened after what happened and I want you to know that I have zero intention of letting you get hurt like that again..." Jenny reassured her before raising her hand slightly, prompting a few of the medical supplies she had on hand to glow before they began to rise off the floor.
"That being said, we need to get some wounds of these cleaned up. Biology might not be my forte in medicine but I would be correct for assuming that the blood is meant to be inside the body, right?" she joked once more as Chrysalis was given a medium-high quality patch job, seeing how she had neglected them so.
"Now, I would offer you a ride, but there is only one seat on this thing. Are you able to walk on your own or would you like the assistance?..." She then offered as she started to pack up, planning on leading her there herself.

The Rising Dawn

[hr]

Diana | Blade​

"....uhhhhh..." Blade droned as a slight blush appeared on his face, while he was clearly one of the denser males Diana had the "Pleasure" of running into, he at least seemed to understand that she was kinda coming onto him. (Least before she got to the part about threatening to stuff him in a fridge)
"[sub]How did you know I hate-...[/sub] *Ahem* uhhhh...You know-....ummmm..." He rambled on as he weighed up the options (and consequences) and realized that, as her instructor, maybe it might be good for him to let her take the lead.
"...Y-yeah...Sure! Sure, I mean, Jenny won't mind anyway. Just-...Right, less talkative, uhhh Okay then...Lead the way..." He nervously smiled before motioning her onward, feeling rather glad to not be in a ice cold fridge or freezer right now.
"And, uh....don't let Hiryu know...or at least tell him it was-...sorry, shutting up."

 

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

Thanks for the help on this

The Escapist Avatar Adventures

[hr]Rising Dawn: Hallways

David West | Laeta​

[hr]

"...I am literally incapable of doing a single thing right today, aren't I?...god fucking dammit..." David bemoaned as he watched the creature he had "Saved" get rather painfully impaled against the wall by the incoming darkness.
Wiping some of the blood splatter off his face, he heard the voice of the creature say something, right before another cat-like creature seemed to crawl into view.
"...Didn't you just-...how am I not tripping balls right now" He stammered as he pointed to the cat then back to where the last cat had been rather violently skinned and finally back to the cat.
Needless to say, this made the part where he started talking about how he "Meddled in his plans" rather calmly before getting slain again by Blackharte rather confusing.
"...I-...what?...What the hell do you mean employee? The hell kinda business are you running? Wait-..." He trailed off right as Blackharte was about to kill him for the 3rd time.
"WHOA-WHOA-WHOA-WAIT! Ask it about Alice Morrow! Just do it, it say it can't lie. Is Alice Morrow an employee of yours? Fucking answer me, I have that ***** in my skull for some reason and lord knows it doesn't take a smart man to know this shit is connected somehow!" He then shouted at Kyuubey, figuring that he might be able to finally get a straight answer as to the mayhem that had been straining his sanity all day.

 

[BlackHarte]

[HEADING=2]Rising Dawn ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2:00 PM[/HEADING][hr][HEADING=3]Lt. Dolores Selmy[/HEADING]

There was a knock on the door. Most of the semen and blood had dried at this point, but the saline musk lingered somewhat in the room. I closed my eyes. They hurt.

"Lieutenant," came a strong gentle voice. A man, Eastern European by his timbre, Japanese by his accent. It had to be Rugal. There was no other. "Are you decent?"

I had to stop myself from laughing. I was so pathetic. My stomach still hurt so badly that I couldn't move from where Isaac had left me. Though the external bleeding had stopped, the bruises on my sides and below my navel were still spreading. At this point, I was really just waiting to die. There was nothing sexy about being injured. There was nothing sexy about being at the edge of oblivion. It was cold and lonely, just as dad said.

"You can come in," I said. There was no point now. No point. Who cares. I want this world to end. The thought lingered in the back of my mind. It was like a the flicker of flame on a new match, shimmering in the uncaring cold of a winter storm. There was something nice about that thought. No. Not nice. It was attractive. I wanted it. An end. A murderous vengeance, to bring a apathetic world to the same sobbing wreck that it had reduced me to.

The door opened. I looked up. It was Rugal.

I tried my best to sit up, but the best I could do was prop myself up on my arms. My legs lay uselessly on my bed. I brushed my hair out of my eyes. "How can I help you?" I said as calmly as I could. I wanted empathy, pity. I wanted someone to pick me up and hold me close. I tell me that they would kill for me.

I wanted to feel powerful, to feel needed. To be irreplaceable. But more than that, I wanted other people to feel uncomfortable, for them to look at me and advert their eyes. To frown in pity or scowl in fury. I wanted them to not only feel because of me, but feel strongly.

That's why I made no attempt to cover myself, or to even acknowledge the state that I was in. No. I was going to act like nothing was wrong. This way I would look strong. I would look powerful, standing up even in the face of great adversity. People will admire me, and those that don't will pity me.

I smiled. Sincerely, I smiled. It was unconscious, an old muscle memory from when I was a child. "Please, don't be shy. Come in. Turn on the lights if you would. I've been laying here in the dark for quite some time."

A small white ferret landed on my bed next to me. It looked familiar. A stuffed animal? I thought. Did Isaac leave this here?

It blinked.

"You really should put on some clothes," it said matter-of-factly, "you will become ill if you stay exposed like this."