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

[Zepherus14]

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Table for Two
Food Wars Fanservice inbound!

Nina's story

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Spoiler

'Meatsack..? Like, why? Was that really necessary? Like I'd hate to admit it, but Faea's right I'm on the slim side, meatsack isn't even that good of an insult...' Nina thought to herself, looking a bit disappointed in Crown's jab, partly for him even making it but also at it not being very effective. She wasn't entirely sure what his deal was, leaning over her as he did. Maybe she had something on her head, brushing her hand against her scalp subconsciously.

Nina would wave goodbye to Nocturne as he slithered off. "Good luck, thank you for dropping by Nocturne!" She called out to him. She looked back to Talavie as she squeeled. "So you've had it before? Good to see you're enjoying it~" She chimed in, unsure why Talavie. "Judging from what's in it, you're not wrong in being surprised Talavie. Several specific techniques were needed to get it this far, that much is clear."

And so came the lore dump which certainly grabbed Nina's interest. The idea of procreating with human women wasn't overly surprising, but the way in which their domains seemed to slowly branch out farther and farther was very interesting in deed. The thought of maybe some 'Keeper of the Grilled Cheese' came to her mind, sparking a smirk to her face, but she didn't mention it.

She was about to ask a question herself when Phillip spoke as the goblinoids entered the room for round two. "So that's what she was planning to do, huh? False sense of security indeed." Nina wouldn't be able to ask what he meant as the smell hit her, almost blowing back her hair as it wafted passed the patrons. The combination of the meat and the soup only caused her to double down on this as she had to wipe some drool from her lip. As much as she'd try to hold off to let Crown have his time to explain the dish, her patients would only hold out so long and about half way through she'd start digging in.

The flavour would not disappoint, easily making Nina stare blankly at the bowl, allowing the flavour wash over her. So tender, it practically melted in her mouth. With a strong swallow, she'd try to get another piece in her mouth before Phillip gave her a light slap to the forehead. "Savor it a bit, no one will be taking it." He scolded her for her gluttony. Having gained back some of her restraint, Nina'd take her time as she chewed the meat more deliberately, acting much like a child being scolded by her parents. "S-Sorry, it was just really good..." She lamented. Taking another bite, she'd look up to Crown, realizing he'd been chatting so much, he hadn't really gotten the opportunity to ask anything of them, Talavie seemed to have at least chatted with Phillip before she'd showed up after all. And it wasn't like she was leaving any time soon with how good this food was! With food still in her mouth she'd asked just that, only for Phillip to stop her again. "And again, you have better manners than this." He grumbled at her, flicking her temple again. "She wishes to ask if you have any question for us. Odd I understand as if you wished to ask, you would have done so already, but..." He trailed off, flicking his tentacle nonchalantly. "No matter. The ingredients on display are enlightening however, many similar to what I've used, yet the depth is leagues beyond them as well. I wish to converse with Ms Lockharte true, but not until after she's shown the breath of her work." Phillip relayed his intentions, being a lot more thorough in his evaluation of the meal set before him. "I suppose that would extend to you as well Talavie, if you wish." Phillip added, watching as the woman more than likely was acting quite similar to Nina, and wolfing down her food.

 

[BlackHarte]

Spoiler: Rugal

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Right to Rule

Rugal's story

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"My name is Julia," she said meekly as she sat down. "Just Julia." The moon was starting to settle into the night sky, reaching high in it's path. The stars above twinkled in a clear sky like the glimmering of jewels. The Etruscan countryside was a land of hills covered with fine grass. There were few trees, and even fewer forests. The houses along the road were mostly stone. There were no rivers and creeks here. A ring of mountains swallowed the horizon like the jaws of a massive dog.

"It's not much, isn't it," Julia whispered, peering out into the countryside. "The soil here is difficult to farm, and the Romans have cut down all of our forests. What money here is made through the hands of artisans or by the force of our soldiers."

She wrapped her arms around her knees, "Mistress Livia has been kind and tolerant to us. I've seen countless governors offer to marry her and spirit her away to some richer province. But she stays here, and fights for us. I know like she seems a little harsh and egotistical, but she's still a kind girl at heart. She's just in a difficult situation right now."

A bell rang. Julia stood up, "Oh! That's for me." She gave Rugal a little bow, "Sorry, my break's over. I have to get back to work." She hopped over the fence and started back toward the village opposite from Livia's estate.

---​

By the time that Rugal woke up, Livia was looking down at him from on top of her horse. Instead of sitting properly, she had her legs cross, balancing precariously on the undulating muscles of her mount using her ankles. Two decorative feathered knives hung from her wrists. "Come on, Bernstein. It's a day and a half's journey from here to Mount Vesuvius. Let's make use of the light while we can."

Behind her was a small convoy. Four slaves, all dressed well, and carrying sacks on their backs and a decorated chest between them. Conspicuously there were no guards with these five women.

Spoiler: Nina

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Table for Two

Nina's story

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"We can chat after dinner," Talavie said cheerfully. She was eating with the same gusto as Nina, but still held a sense of refined manners. She cut her slice of kabande into neat blood-red cubes and tossed each into her mouth with her fork.

"Lockstar," Crown corrected smugly, "the chef's name is Miriam Lockstar." Then he put down his utensils and folded his arms across his chest. "And on the matter of that girl..." he shook his head, "She's quite strange. Lockstar is neither Eldritch, nor Human. She doesn't have a lineage to trace herself to, but she isn't mortal either. Her contempt for humans is severe as well... I have no idea what her identity could be."

A bell signaled the coming of the next course. It was an egg on a silver cup. A gentle mist danced on the surface of the shell.

Talavie cracked it open eagerly, not yet having finished eating her slice of that exotic meat. The insides burst forth with a gentle wave of aromatic fruits. It was a sherbet in a candy shell. The frozen treat was a mix of blue and pink, sparkling with crystals of ice and sugar.

Talavie took a quick taste and squealed. "That's something else!"

It was refreshing, rejuvenating, and light. It cleaned the palette as if by magic of the intense savor and salt of the dishes before. Talavie moved onto take another bite of meat and grinned again, "It's like I'm eating it for the first time again! It's so good!"

Crown frowned, looking at his candy egg. "I... don't know what this is."

"Eat it! It's good!" Talavie exclaimed, "heavens and hells, it makes me feel like a young girl again!"

Crown cracked it open and studied the lavender sparkles and pastel slush. He put his spoon in and dug a little bit out before licking it off the tip. Then he put his spoon down. "It's... good. But, it makes me feel like that I've forgotten something... important."

"Like all your worries are melting away isn't it? It's like I can enjoy something with the whole of my heart once again, like I'm doing something nice-"

"-for the first time." Crown finished. He looked down and took another spoonful into his mouth. "Well, it doesn't seem harmful."

Nina sort of remembered this scent. It was dancing at the tip of her memory. New, and familiar at the same time. A fragrance that was so much like that of a violet. Han anhkhem. The words danced at the forefront of her mind. But.. what did that mean?

Before she could mull on it for too long, another course was served. A series of crackers with caviar and crisped fish skins. Spiced so intensely that it made her eyes water.

"Now this... looks interesting."

 

[Zepherus14]

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Table for Two
I swear this is what's going on right now [https://i.pinimg.com/736x/55/a7/2e/55a72e3802da3f681009b914309d8be9--cat-memes-funny-memes.jpg]

Nina's story

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Spoiler

"Yes Ms Lockstar, my apologies." Phillip replied, glaring at the dumb human behind the screen. Still the new information wasn't wasted, especially when it was revealed Miriam wasn't Eldritch or Human. That alone was odd as Nina had thought up until now that she was merely the hyper elitest type that thought she was all that and more. But she wasn't even that? "Ya, I know first hand..." Nina let out a sigh, resting her head on an open hand, quickly putting another chunk of meat in her mouth to brighten her spirits.

Phillip would watch from beyond the doorway, seeing the goblinoids setting up the delivery cart full of the icy eggs. It's construction was deeper into the kitchen than Phillip's awareness would allow, so he only got to bare witness to it as it was rolled out into the dining car. Like the last time, it took Phillip a bit to realize the situation before him. Most would wonder why such a spice as Stardust would find its way into a world nearly entirely comprised of eldritch beings. Phillip however wondered if somehow this was akin to pufferfish back on Earth. Although toxic, in very minute doses, it could add to the flavour and overall allure of the dish. This hesitation was what stopped Phillip from simply snatching the goods from Talavie immediately as it hit the table. The eldritch here were another breed entirely, although the concentration by his estimate were above what either Talavie and Crown would handle he couldn't be sure if this wasn't planned in some way.

The spiced chips and skins didn't appear to contain any ingredient that could act as a sort of antidote to the purple nightmare and as such before Nina could remember what exactly the Han anhkhem was, Phillip would quite uncharacteristically state with a stern tone. "Don't eat another speck of that dessert Crown, you too Tavalie." If Crown didn't take heed of this and continue to try and eat the next spoonful, Phillip would reach out to grab his hand to stop him. "Holy shit!" Nina blurted out in a hushed voice. "That's Stardust! How-Why is it here?! Isn't that stuff dangerous?!" She shot to Phillip as he quickly scooped up his and their two host's desserts and put them back to the delivery cart with a gingerly care. "I don't know, I didn't see them prepare this. I would have asked before they'd brought it out otherwise..." He whispered, the low rumblings of frustration. Twice he had to deal with this nonsense, it would not stand. 'I guess Crown not knowing what that was should have raised a million red flags, the guy's practically a walking encyclopedia.' Nina thought as she watched the cart continue onto the next table, turning around in her seat, biting her lip. "Excuse me! Mr. Server sirs?" Hopefully drawing the attention of the attendants serving the palette cleansers.

"Look, not giving you guys a hard time, don't really know what you're hand in making these. But look here." She said, picking up her own dessert, opening it and showing the culprate. "All this purple stuff, that's a spice Phillip is deathly allergic to ingesting." She tapped at the bowl for added effect. "As you can see, it's put him in a rather foul mood, as you can imagine. So would you be able to explain this misunderstanding so we could maybe enjoy the rest of the meal?" Nina finished, using the years of Starbucks complainers coupled with as much tacked as she could muster to bring their concerns forward.

"We should just talk to Miriam Lockstar, she's the head chef, she'd know why this is here." Phillip retorted quietly, slipping from the booth table and crawling his way passed the spiced chip cart as it entered. "P-Phillip?!" Nina gasped, looking between the escaping noodle monster and the goblins and orcs. "Sorry, excuse me. Um... Just hold off serving any of that icecream stuff until we get back alright? Those chips and skins look a lot better, definitely not filled with eldritch Raid." Nina smiled and waved, and then tried to quickly catch back up with Phillip as he pushed his way through the doors to the kitchen.'So much for being subtle...'

 

[BlackHarte]

Spoiler: Nina

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Table for Two

Nina's story

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The doors gave away into the next car - and then the train grew in length. Nina felt lost, pulled on all sides by a sudden wave of terror. Her sight flickered, eyes shining like stars in the darkness. The train-car fell away into a labyrinth - a stone maze that grew in each direction. The walls of the world were crumbling, they were old and worn. Thick cracks ran across the dome of the sky and the clouds were lacking in life. This was a grey silence more subtle than mere death. It was violently melancholy. Waves of crashing emotions brought Nina to her knees, swirling music, dancing lights, sweet smells, and ethereal fingers traced across every inch of her skin.

The world collapsed, swallowed by a darkness more unforgiving than the void of emptiness. She felt the cold grip her, as if it were alive. It grabbed her, tearing away at every piece of her body those invisible hands could reach. The darkness wanted her very life - the warmth of her being - the ephemeral flame she held deep within herself.

Two arms grabbed her from behind. Physical arms, warm arms, living arms. The desolation in this darkness was so great that the pulse of these arms thundered like drums in her ears. They pulled. They drew her out of the darkness - out of the stone maze - out of the haphazard corpse of a broken dollhouse.

"Do you have a death wish!?"

Nina tumbled backwards into the soft and warm embrace of a woman. She felt her weight against her back, the thrumming of her heart, the sweet scent of nectar that wafted from her long purple hair and the gentle and intimate touch of her fingers clasped around Nina's chest.

The woman stood up, letting Nina down to the floor gently. Nina was still dizzy, lost in a whirlwind of her own senses. Even though she didn't understand what it was she experienced, she knew that it was monumental. The woman was a short, lithe, but well endowed. She had brilliant red eyes and purple hair that grazed her bare ankles. She wore a large cloak over a small revealing dress cut high at the hip. From Nina's viewpoint on the ground she could see two guns strapped to the inside of her thighs, just in the way of seeing if she was wearing anything underneath that outrageous dress.

She knelt down. "Are you okay?" She touched Nina on her forehead. Her hands were warm, but that's all Nina could feel. The texture of her fingertips, the hardness of her nails, everything else seemed not to be there.

There was a flicker of recognition in the woman's eyes. "You're one of the people from the Rising Dawn!"

---​

Philip found himself inside of the kitchen, but surrounded by a series of black strings. They were different from Faea's silken web. These were not fibers, but some sort of stitching holding space together. Several drops of golden blood ran down across the threads. On the other side, inside a kitchen held together at the seams, was a red-headed girl. She was hanging from a web of those black threads, her fingers struggled to keep hold onto them as she hung suspended in the empty room.

The kitchen that he had saw before was a reflection. A song sung by the vibration of these threads. This was the kitchen, the last car in the train. It was empty. A sullen and grey place where the only thing of notice was this girl in a chef's uniform. Her eyes fluttered open. They were a breathtaking azure. A color so brilliant and so deep that it carried a physical reflection of an internal melancholy.

There was no door behind him. Only a series of black threads that made up the facsimile of a wall and door. The girl's fingers twitched and tugged against the threads.

The space collapsed and Philip found himself in a kitchen. It was large and full of shining steel. Pristine pots, pans, knives, and bowls. The soft hum of refrigerators drowned out the click of the wheels below. There were about two dozen people working in the kitchen. There were the flash of knives, the whipping of liquids, the sizzling of meat. It was everything Philip expected to have seen.

That girl, the redhead from before, was at the back of the car. She was working diligently and silently, eyes glazed over as if her mind was in some far off place. Her hands danced over the counter, cutting and shearing some strange orange root vegetable. It's thick red blood ran across the counter, pooling in small spiral eddies as they came to rest. There were six to seven massive pots around her all boiling away. There were some empty vials next to her, dusted with the sparkling lavender of Stardust.

 

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

Spoiler: Rugal

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Right to Rule

Rugal's story

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"Hmmm...Well, don't let me keep you Julia. It was a pleasure speaking to you..." Rugal simply said, taking note of what she said about Mistress Livia.
While this was a different time and culture, he still approved of her slaves about as much as he did before.
Alas, it's not like he could really do much about it right now, short of "Cutting loose" and using some of his power to crack a few skulls but experience had taught that was rarely a good plan in the long term.
As such, he merely rested against the tree and waited for the break of dawn...

---

He stirred slightly when he was addressed before lazily opening his human eye and muttering "Ah...so we're off then? Good."
And without so much as another word, he began to follow the convoy towards Pompeii, glancing slightly at both their travelling companions and the heavy load they seemed to be carrying.
"Hm...What an ornate chest...Gift for a friend of yours in the city?" He asked as he attempted to get a better look at it, least as much as he could without bringing attention to himself.
"Also, should it be required, I have little problem with carrying some of the luggage. I spent a long time developing my strength and power, hate for people to think it was all for show..." He then suggested, knowing full well he could handle the burden far better then her slaves could.
"Consider it an apology for my actions last night. Although this is entirely at your distraction, Mistress Livia. I do not mean to impose, merely contribute."

 

[BlackHarte]

Spoiler: Rugal

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Right to Rule

Rugal's story

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"If you would, then that would be helpful," Livia waved her hand and her servants handed the chest to Rugal. It was heavier than he expected. It wasn't clothes or anything. Perhaps it was gold and silver, the weight felt about right. "It is a gift for my grandparents. They live in Pompeii. The weather there is fair and warm which soothes the aches in their bones."

The day was fair, the breeze was gentle, and the summer sun cast warm light on the journey through passing clouds. from what Rugal could remember, the this world was very much like the world that he remembered. The trees, fields, buildings and people all seemed to be relatively normal. There definitely weren't heroes and villains running around everywhere.

They journeyed for some distance in peaceful silence. Livia sat on her horse swaying side to side, letting the breeze caress her hair. Every now and again she would smile and stifle a laugh, as if she were in some secret conversation with an invisible friend. The road the followed ran southward down the coast and the sea was never far off from their sight. After a while Livia spoke up, "We will make a stop in Ostia and stay the night there. That is where I endeavor to reach by nightfall. To reach that city we will have to cross a narrows in the mountains in some hours." It wasn't very clear who Livia was talking to, but she had decided to speak her thoughts out loud.

Several more hours passed and one of Livia's servants, whose name Rugal would learn was Euridice, fetches a series of pastries out of her bag for everyone. They were large pyramid shaped pieces of bread with a buttery outer layer and a rich filling of spinach, rabbit meat, and a generous layer of pheasant liver. Livia ate hers with a grimace, "Did we really run out of salt?"

"Yes mistress," another of her servants answered. she was a smaller girl with long blonde hair that she kept braided in two neat strands that she tucked into her tunica. Her skin was red from being in the sun, but she made no complaints even as her burden pressed angrily into her shoulders and back. Her name was Ortha. "We used the last of it in the feast last night."

"I will have to buy a new block once we reach Ostia then," Livia said as she disdainfully chewed on her lunch. "rabbit is insufferable without salt." She turned toward Rugal, "You should eat as much as you can. A man your size will suffer altitude sickness once we reach the mountains if you don't have enough richness in your body. While I don't doubt your strength as a warrior, I doubt all of those muscles will do very much against the boiling of your blood."

In time the sapphire of the Mediterranean left them and with it the rolling emerald hills of the countryside. It was soon replaced with dry mountains of wild grass. The road turned from cobblestone to dirt paved with clay. Livia's horse protested the uneven footing by slowing it's pace by some degrees.

It was the afternoon when they reached the narrows that Livia talked about. It was a winding road up into the mountains, covered from both side by massive sheer cliffs. A sign ahead warned of the dangers of crossing. There were also several benches and a large barrel in a rest area right before the ascent. Livia looked up at the path and yawned. From the looks of it there was barely room for them to cross in single file.

"You can come out. I know that you are there." Livia said loudly and without much interest.

The earth before the pass stirred and shifting shadows became human forms cloaked in dusty robes. They were large men, burly and ugly with a terrible smell about them. They held barbaric weapons, hammers, axes, and twisted cavalry swords. There were six or seven of them, and by the looks of their eyes and hair they were either Celts or Germans.

"Pay the toll," the largest and ugliest of them all said in stilted Latin. He grinned, his mouth was missing teeth, and whatever teeth he still had seem to be rotting in his mouth. He was a brute, nearly seven feet tall and all grotesque muscle. His weapon was a hammer the size of a man's chest. "Gold or women," he continued.

The other brutes laughed. Apparently their leader had said something humorous.

"I'm afraid I don't have anything to give," Livia shrugged.

The brutish leader pointed at Rugal and spoke in a fluent lowland German, "[You look like you're the big boss of this brigade. Give us either the girls or the gold and we'll let you go on without much trouble. I'd usually just clobber you over the head, but I'll make an exception today because I don't get to see another German around these parts very often.]" He wiped his nose with the sleeve of his padded armor, "[I'd prefer the girls though, all of these Roman whores are so boring. I miss the taste of good hardy womenfolk.]" He laughed.

There was a visible flinch in Livia's retainers. Livia held out her hand to quell their fears.

Livia's face contorted in mild revulsion. "Do they think that our esteemed guest is the leader of this party?" Livia dropped down from her horse and landed on her bare feet. Her jewelry rang like wind chimes when she moved.

"Little girl wants to fight? Or does she want to be fucked first?"

"Rugal Bernstein, there will be no negotiation. The large one will die by my hand. Protect the girls, or murder his lackeys. While I would not usually ask this of a guest, this is an insult beyond suffering." Livia drew her daggers from their holsters on her wrists. They clattered to the ground, and with her jewelry ringing like wind chimes, Livia rushed forward at the leader of the bandit group.

 

[Zepherus14]

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Table for Two
A fairly apt example of what Nina went through, minus the alchemy power gains [https://youtu.be/sUXZFfZmerE?t=38s][footnote]While Phillip just feels like John Travolta [https://www.reddit.com/r/ConfusedTravolta/comments/3uok03/mrw_i_cant_find_the_light_switch/][/footnote]

Nina's story

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Spoiler

Nina was unresponsive as she was pulled back from the brink of whatever mad world she'd mistakenly stepped into, her body covered in a light sweat due to the unknown stress it had seemingly taken without knowing. It greedily absorbed the warmth of her savior, shivering as if it was trying to deal with the mixed signals it received from a shaken mind. Unseen within their confines, to say the scene was in disarray was an understatement, her body was left seemingly unscratched but her mind had taken that full brunt of damage. And yet, as her head leaned forward looking down at her chest and the arms still holding her up a single thought slowly stirred within her mind. 'When did I get purple highlights?' Like a jigsaw puzzle or more simply a jar of oil and water, everything started to settle back to its original place after its vigorous agitation.

Packets of information came at varying rates as she slowly awoke from her hardship; sights, smells, tastes and temperatures. All of them came back as unorganized shotgun spray of information without a time stamp of relevance involved, but each soon found their own place stitched within Nina's pea soup of a mind. A consequence of this was her realizing she was now on the ground, but without knowing why or how, at least not at the moment the woman asked if she was okay.

"Uuuuuh..." Nina groaned, trying to make sense of whatever bullshit she'd just experience while also trying to remember who this woman was. Something in the back of her mind said she'd seen this person before, but she definitely wasn't anyone Nina had seen on this train prior. Right around the time the endowed woman recognized Nina, so too would Nina's own road of rememberance finally be repaved. "Y-You're that lady, from the kitchen. With the... thousand somethings..?" Nina mumbled out, almost unaudible with how soft she spoke.

Nina coughed, taking in her surroundings a bit more as she tried to piece together what she was doing last. "What are you doing here? Why are we-" That purple! That colour! It was the same as that stuff, that dangerous stuff! "Stardust!" She exclaimed sluggishly, almost with a slur as she attempted and failed to reach up to the woman. "You were the one that had it last time! You, you gave it that other time. P-please, you gotta help!" She asked, sounding surprisingly more coherent like this conversation was acting like a focal point for her recovery to grasp. "It-It's in the food, people ate it, it's gonna hurt them! Can't you stop it?" Nina pleaded with her, attempting and succeeding to get her arm up to one of the woman's knees as she knelt down over Nina. "Please?" Now looking far more sober than she had not even a minute ago, even if the lack of strength in her grip betrayed her overall wellbeing.

[hr]

Phillip gave brief pause as that strange space appeared before him and so quickly disappeared. As a being of eldritch nature, peeking beyond the veil wasn't a surprise. This however felt different, something so intrusive and spontaneous, the comparison to what he presumed Nina felt on a daily basis. The fact there hadn't been many layers in this space to begin with also led him to feel this was significant in some way, but that was for another time.

Surveying the kitchen, Phillip would make note of the ingredients the chefs were using, the techniques they employed, and most of all Miriam in her entirety. He would sculk forward, slithering across the floor with purpose while affixing his oversized chef's hat to his 'head'. The other chefs there would need to be removed, they had no need to be there as Miriam was Phillip's target. Despite his diminutive size, the chefs within would feel this foreboding presence from him. Although he wasn't of this dimension, not of their color, it didn't stop the underlings there from recognizing the monster that had entered their temple of the culinary arts. "What are you cooking?" Phillip ordered sternly, not raising his voice but giving the impression no response but a clear answer would do. "And you?" He would demand of the next, making his way down the line of the two dozen or so chefs one by one until he was on the other side of them. "You are all to leave, now. I will ensure nothing is ruined, no dishes misplaced, or orders unfilled." He stated, already reaching for various instruments he would need for such a task, including a pair of sheers. "You need not go far, but I will speak with Ms Lockstar in private, and I will call you when we are finished." He ordered them, systematically taking over each of their stations until he was looking quite a bit like that traincar of webs before. "Also tell the human, Nina, outside with the yellow hair to come in here when she's ready. She'll be up in a minute or two."

With the shears, he would cut the webbing lines within the room of Faea's creation. Unlike Nina he wouldn't be making the same mistake as her and methodically clear the entire room until there was only one left. "In private..." He mumbled before snipping that one too. "Now Ms Lockstar, explain to me why you have that acursed spice. Why, in a place where all but two person would find such a spice lethal would you use Han anhkhem!? Are you ignorant to its effects on eldritch entities as a whole? Is there some unknown agent that would neutralize its effect coming in another dish, because I don't see it in this car? Or was I wrong to think of you as chef to learn from much like those other 'chefs' of the 1021st?!"

 

[BlackHarte]

Spoiler: Nina

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Table for Two

Nina's story

​

[hr]

Miriam just cast a expressionless gaze at Phillip. There was no life in her eyes. Her movements continued, smooth cuts and skillful tosses. She mixed vegetables and spices and set everything in pots without so much as answering. Her limbs moved as if controlled by strings, her body was a puppet work by a ghost.

Where Phillip did not mesh with the colors of Anazorzia, Miriam lacked any color at all. She was ill-defined, like a hastily constructed prop on a set.

The other chefs seemed to be of the same nature. As they left, leaving Phillip to work their stations, their existence simply vanished. They never reached the car on the outside of the kitchen.

Miriam picked up a fresh bottle of Han Anhkhem and uncorked it, dumping all but a little bit into the pot of stew. The glittering lavender exploded in a bright shower of glittering light that mimicked the stardust it was named after. There was an audible silence as Miriam finished preparations.

But then she turned and finally acknowledged Phillip. She had similar eyes to the entangled girl from before, but she lacked the bottomless intensity in hers. They were a flat blue, as if colored over in pastels. "Guests should remain in the civilian cars," she said meekly. "I'm sorry sir, but could I ask you to return to your seat?"

---​

"Whoa whoa whoa!" Mnemosyne cried as she hugged Nina tightly, shoving the blonde girl's face into her bust. "You have had way too much to drink haven't you? Come on, we need to find your master." She held Nina's struggling head hard against herself and leaned over to Nina's ear and whispered, "If you make a scene now, they're going eat us, okay? Calm down and follow me into the restroom."

Nina glanced around the car. They weren't in the car in the back anymore. This car was far more lavishly decorated than the one she was in previously. The floors were marble and the lighting fixtures where brilliant blue crystals. The patrons weren't of the same human-type that Nina had seen in the back cars. These monsters were truly monstrous. They were huge hulking beasts made out of living worms, ancient books with bramble limbs, shifting amalgamations of fluid flesh.

There was one that yawned and sired rolling eggs out of her toothed genitals. It ate lazily the meat using arms made from interlinking human hands.

"What is that you are holding, Mnemosyne?" a great spiny clam asked. It bristled with fleshy tentacle-like appendages topped with eyes. It's quivering voice physically hurt Nina's ears. She could see the color of it's words, a horrific and violent pink that dug angrily into her eyes.

"Oh, it's nothing. A breeding puppet of my sire, lost from having too much fun or wine." Mnemosyne laughed, lying as best as she could to the eldritch horror.

The clam stirred and spoke again, "A breeding puppet? Bring her here so I can try her out."

"No!" Mnemosyne replied, holding Nina even tighter, "She's still young! My sire would be most disappointed if she became worn from suffering your awesome prowess. We must decline."

"HA. HA. HA. Well put. HA. HA. HA." The monster laughed. Its exaltation sent waves of undulating pain shooting through Nina. It was like her body was being assaulted by color, she felt tainted, as if the idea of herself in her own mind was being devastated instead of her physical body. Nina was used to Phillip's eldritch nature, but these things were a completely different type of malevolent existence than Phillip was. In a strange sense Nina knew that they were different colors.

Mnemosyne picked Nina up and moved quickly dodging the meandering bodies of the other patrons in the ballroom car before rushing through the door that lead into the inter-car rest area. Mnemosyne threw Nina into the women's restroom and slammed the door behind them. and let out a sigh before collapsing. She pressed the palms of her hands into her eyes. "God, that could have been really bad."

"Okay, now calm down girl," she ran her fingers through her ankle length hair, smoothing out the neat strands, "Why in the world are you here, and what the hell do you mean that there's Stardust here? Stardust doesn't exist in Anazorzia. It's from Shuwa, there shouldn't be any here."

 

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

Spoiler: Rugal

[hr]

Right to Rule

Rugal's story

​

[hr]

The trek was rather modest, least by Rugal's standards, and he certainly had little issue carrying more than his fair share of the load.
Even without his transformations, he was still a man able to tear apart military tanks with his bare hands, he even borrowed a length of rope to create a crude backpack.
He kept to himself for the most part, silently watching and observing the world around him (as well as Livia's somewhat strange mannerisms).
The peace and quiet was actually a nice change of pace, though even then, he found himself longing for his loved ones so they might know this calm instead of the random daily insanity of the Rising Dawn.
Even watching Ortha and Euridice go about their business without the looming threat of some god awful demon god or a CEO with more love for profit then his/her fellow man/woman seemed a bit alien in comparison.
When he was offered a bit of lunch, he addressed the Mistress's concerns with a story (And some gentle bragging):

"Several years ago, back when I was a younger and brasher man, I traveled the world in search of those who could train me so that my power and legacy would transcend the limits of a mortal man. Many of those teachers prided themselves in superhuman feats of endurance. Daily treks up a mountain dragging boulders. Meditation sessions lasting days while deprived of food, water and in some cases many of my senses. And that's before we get to the countless advances in the art of warfare, all of which failed to even slow me down. So while I do thank you for your concern, I assure you: There is little this mountain can throw at me I cannot weather."

And so he kept his pace, there didn't even seem to be much sweat coming off him as he did so.
This was until they happened upon a (rather poorly planned and executed) ambush by some cocky, most likely literal bastards, prompting more annoyance then anything else from the formed King of Fighters.
"Oh, are we really doing this?...come now, can't they find faster ways to get themselves killed?..." He groaned to himself as he carefully laid his backpack on the ground and calmly walked to the front of the group, more out of obligation to protect his convoy more so then out of any desire to fight.
When he was addressed by the leader of this lowly raider party, he merely folded his arms before replying "[...Your German is terrible. Your forces are weak. Your tactics are those of children posing as men. And the only thing keeping you alive right now is that fact that I honestly do not care enough about your life to end it this day. Now, can you please just get out of the way? It would take longer to get your blood out of my outfit then it would for me to kill you all.]"

His threat didn't seem to defuse the situation much, nor did Livia's temper as she went to engage them.
"... *Sigh* Alright, seeing as we're apparently doing this-"
But before she could really close the gap much between her and the bandits, a blur of crimson filled her vision before she found herself running into Rugal from behind as he effortlessly blocked her path with his body.
"I'll take care of these ones. You can do the next one..." He spoke bluntly before issuing a simple challenge to attackers.
"[Alright then...Seeing how insistent you are, how about we make this sporting with a wager, hm? Carried among us is a chest containing gold and sliver, as well as some supplies and personal effects. They can be yours as well as the womenfolk and all you have to do this:]"

After he had explained the stakes, he took a moment to crack his neck before channeling his energy, causing a slight red aura to radiate from his body.
His fabled Slashing Aura was active, albeit in a weaker form that comprised his entire body rather than just his limbs.
Even a slap across the face now would possibly shred someone's hand clean off before it could even touch his flesh.
And yet, his stance didn't change as he stood there, arms crossed, feet firmly on the ground and making zero attempt to do any form of defensive maneuver.
And with a smug grin on his face, he said:

"[Get your strongest warrior. Give him your biggest weapon. And hit me as hard as you possibly can.]"​

 

[BlackHarte]

Spoiler: Rugal

[hr]

Right to Rule

Rugal's story

​

[hr]

"Livia plays tough and rough, but that's just for show. Out of all of us, she's the most delicate."
​

Livia shrieked and tumbled down onto the ground, her knives clattered to her side as a cloud of dirt and dust settled on her colorful tunica. "Mistress!" Ortha rushed to Livia's side and held onto her master's hand. Livia looked up at Rugal, blue eyes burning.

"I am fine, help me up." Livia commanded. Ortha did as she was bade.

The brute leader stared at Rugal, who was standing still like he was some sort of maniac. "[You are joking,]" he said after some thought, "[you must think me stupid.]" He motioned towards one of the other bandits, "[Bring the great spear and give it to Grendol. This strange man will learn a lesson about foolishness.]"

The brute named Grendol, who was a massive hulking beast of a man sauntered up, a twelve foot spear in hand. All things said, he was actually quite handsome. He was young with dirty blonde hair and fair skin, but had muscles and form to match Rugal's own. He held the spear in both hands and braced himself, keeping a good distance away from Rugal.

And then he charge, spear in hand.

A scream pierced through the tense silence. Livia's horse neighed as a bandit struggled to mount it.

"Ortha! Kleo!" Livia screamed. While Rugal was setting up his show of force, four bandits had tackled Livia to the ground. They sat on her small frame, holding her head down in the dirt. Two more held her arms down with as much force as they could muster. Another pair had grabbed the two handmaidens Ortha and Kleo from behind and held blades to their necks.

Grendol stopped his charge with a pivot the moment before impact and dashed backwards to the main group.

"[Honestly,]" the bandit leader said, "[Do you take me for a fool? No man gambles unless it is a sure thing. Only children and women take such poor chances.]" He pointed at Livia, struggling beneath the weight of four grown men. She was trying to scream, but the weight on her chest stopped her from drawing breath. All she could manage were short gasps for air as tears rolled down her cheeks into the dirt. "[Anyone would know from her appearance that she is the Viper of Etruria. A dangerous fighter to be sure, but quick to anger and easy to take by surprise. Without the use of her poison blades, she is nothing but another young girl.]"

The bandit leader took several steps back as he kept his eyes trained on Rugal, "[Now, unless you want these fine girls to find themselves in the afterlife, I would suggest you let us be on our way. I'll consider the toll collected and let you pass now. But don't take too long to think, since I hear that a person can only last two or three minutes without breathing before brain death starts to occur. And honestly, girls who aren't brain dead tend to be more exciting.]"

"Get off of Livia! She's going to die!" the cry came from the oldest girl, Eurydice. She was pushing against the man sitting on Livia's chest with all her might, but he wouldn't so much as budge. The bandit grabbed her by the throat and ran a short knife down her tunic before pressing the cold iron on her chest right above her heart.

"Silence." He said. "No like kill. No worry. Come with us. Good life."

The fourth handmaiden was holding onto the chest that Rugal had left behind like her life depended on it. She was afraid, but refused to let the heavy burden leave her hands.

"[If you kill one of us, we kill all of them. It'll be a shame too, since they're all so comely. Just turn around and leave, right? Easy.]"

 

[Zepherus14]

[hr]

Table for Two
One of those moments as a writer where you wish the big bad will just shrug and give up!

Nina's story

​

[hr]

Spoiler

Not to be outdone, Phillip would keep up with his promise even after the chefs vanished from existence with a noteworthy level of skill. The attention to detail and understanding of his ingredients at a fundamental level put him up with the higher echelons of the culinary world, but it was his multitasking that was clearly his strength. Keeping tabs on when things needed to be flipped, seared, roasted, sauteed and chopped for the 24 some stations in the train car was clearly something beyond what normal human could dream of doing.

Between the flips of unknown meats and cheeses and watching Miriam, Phillip scanned his presence out into the surrounding area. The vanishing chefs had left without telling Nina to come into the kitchen and Phillip found it odd he couldn't spot her. He could see the outskirts of the dining car from here and knew that Nina was right behind him before the vision took him, but now she seemed to be elsewhere? She couldn't have gotten far, she knew where he was.

He had other matters to attend to in the meanwhile regardless. As much as it pained Phillip to admit, Miriam's actions were similar to what he'd seen in some of the garbage Nina would sometimes watch on her computer. Mushy heartfelt pleads for a loved one to come back to their senses after being controlled by some foreign entity. Drivel the lot of it was, but he couldn't overlook how this appeared especially after the vision of a more awakened Miriam being bond by strings beyond their view.

Thusly, when Miriam asked for Phillip to return to his seat he replied in turn. "Yes, you could ask me, and you have. But, I can't while your team has vanished nor while you still wish to serve that." Phillip said, raising a tendril from his mass to point towards the pot Miriam had finished. He would then let out this long drawn out groan. "Also, you are not Miriam Lockstar. I have seen her talk with Nina, I know her voice. This is not her." He stated with such a lack of enthusiasm it was almost palpable. Sure deep down he wanted Miriam to be able to show some of her recipes and techniques, but this was quickly becoming a situation Phillip would love Nina to take over. "So would you do all the guests a favour, put the pots away, release Miriam if you could and get out of the kitchen?" He requested, almost sounding tired as he said it.

[hr]

"Mmph!" Nina's muffled cry was barely heard underneath the smothering of Mnemosyne's chest. She'd attempt to resist initially until she heard the whisper, not getting much headway as she was still weak after the experience she'd just lived through. She did however turn her gaze at the room she had only put to memory now. Where were Crown or Talavie, or even Nocturne or Faea for that matter, even the room was different than where she'd been moments ago.

This was beyond what she was used to for her little episodes, normally they'd play out much the same as standing up a bit too fast and seeing the black spots dot your vision. Black spots to which even Junji Ito himself would find alarming, but she couldn't remember the last time she'd been displaced this far away. Hallways may expand and contort, creatures appear, ooze and amalgomate, and in all fairness, the denizens of this car were not unlike the one creature that had appeared behind Ryan the day prior. It was that they were real and that she had been moved that really caught her attention, and caused her wince as the clams words seemed to literally finger flick her in the face with every syllable.

Oddly enough, while the diffences in colour underlined Phillip's own docile nature, his influence still allowed her to bare the brunt of the damage the clam caused her. Her mind bending and fracturing only to pull itself back together like a splashed puddle in a deep ditch on an unconscious level. It was her experience alone with the little chef that allowed her to keep her sanity in this abyss even against such titans.

The little beads of crystaline silk affixed to Nina's hair clattered against the floor while Mnemosyne carried her to the bathroom. Still not fully there, Nina would be unable to keep herself from awkwardly falling to the floor as she was thrown inside, making a couple footfalls before skidding to a halt. "Ow-Owww..." She groaned, laying there a moment before attempting to get up to at least her hands and knees. She'd manage to do so as her purple haired double locked the door, keeping one hand planted to the floor while another cupped her pounding head.

"Why in the world are you here, and what the hell do you mean that there's Stardust here? Stardust doesn't exist in Anazorzia. It's from Shuwa, there shouldn't be any here." Nina would take a moment to collect herself, if nothing more hoping that maybe delaying her answer might allow her a moment for her head to stop spinning. "Kinda wish I knew why myself. Just kinda showed up here? Um... I was getting ready for the party and then, I woke up here? It's kinda like there's a chunk missing that's just not there." Nina said, not looking up from the shroud of yellow hair the practically blanketed her. "Phillip also doesn't know why we're here, even if the people here thinks he's my master." She then looked up, brushing away the braids of hair from her face. "But frankly that doesn't matter, and neither does that Shuwa. It is here, Phillip confirmed that shit is in the food. He went to the kitchen to figure out what's going on and I followed after him and then... the whole... everything went all screwy and now I'm here with you?" She said, looking around the room a little more coherently. "Where even am I right now? This doesn't look like either the dining car or the kitchen, I couldn't have gotten that turned around?"

 

[BlackHarte]

Spoiler: Nina

[hr]

Table for Two

Nina's story

​

[hr]

Miriam suddenly burst out crying. Tears flowed down her face like a waterfall. "What do you mean I'm not the real Miriam!?" She grabbed onto Phillip and held onto the two tentacles closest to her. "I am Miriam you big meanie! Feel me, touch me, and know me." She pressed his tentacles onto her cheeks. She sniffled, cheeks red and eyes brimming with tears.

"I try really hard to be professional okay? It's not okay just to dismiss me like that! I cook a lot! I do a lot! No one ever recognizes the work I do! It's totally not fair, not fair, not fair!" She collapsed to her knees and broke out into another series of uncontrollable wails.

The pots bubbled as one of Philip's tentacles dropped in a cup of golden Mercy. The Stardust and Mercy drifted down and settled in the bottom of the pot. The color turned from the brilliant lavender to a calmer powder blue.

Philip bristled. This spice he knew. Or'i Gashi, Dreamsugar. No one in literature knew where it was from or how it was made. This was less of a spice and more of a Philosopher's Stone. A material that manifested the dreams of those who ingest it. Was this what Miriam was making? What was the golden liquid that was in the cup in the first place? But to have Dreamsugar in this much quantity... even a dusting was hard to come by. To have this much, nearly a kilogram of it.

"I'm always the one who does all the heavy lifting, the jobs that no one else wants to do and now I'm being talked down to by a customer!" Miriam sobbed, rubbing the tears from her eyes with her hands. A trail of golden blood ebbed from her wrist where she had cut herself open with a chef's knife earlier. Her shoulders shuddered. "You have to believe me! I'm the real Miriam!"

---​

Mnemosyne sighed, exasperated, "This is the ballroom car. The first car in this train, you're a ways away from the demigod car in the back near the kitchen." She shook her head, "This place is full of progenitors. It's not good. I'm only here because my father is old-man Knowledge and he had me looking after my younger sisters." A image flashed into Nina's mind of a living book that traveled around on legs of thin sinuous branches. She knew instinctively that this thing was Mnemosyne's father.

"Usually I'm the only person on a plane that has access to Stardust. To think that it would show up here, in Anazorzia, without my knowledge," she clicked her tongue in annoyance, "It pisses me off!" The images in Nina's mind fluttered to a lush jungle. A blood moon hung overhead as great feathered dinosaurs slept in heaps that resembled mountains. Around them a species ofbeautiful gleaming purple flower was blooming in the red light. They let loose a mist of drifting powder, twinkling like the stars above. Women danced in the field wearing white robes, catching the falling dust in great woven blankets. Mnemosyne was sitting high on a tree, the wind here was warm and humid. It was pleasant at night. The trilling of nightbirds and the chirping of insects were calming. The jewelry that the native women wore jingled like wind chimes. This world was called Shuwa. A blonde woman climbed up next to Mnemosyne. Her name was Syl, she cracked a smile and they talked about the gentle peacefulness of this world, and how it was nice to be so far from the difficulties of modern life. Mnemosyne agreed.

Nina had to shake her head. Her visions were getting so much more vivid now. It felt like she was elsewhere.

Mnemosyne looked at the elder god outside dancing in the void. It's streaming light caressed the train as it ran through the cosmos. Nina saw an ancient world, a darkness so deep that nothing seemed to exist. There was a young girl with red hair and eyes so blue that they seemed to be as deep as an ocean. She held her knees up to her chest and cast a sad look at the man who stood beside her.

I can make this place into anything I want? She asked the man in black.

Anything, he answered. He put his hand on her back and gently kissed her forehead. His mannerisms were like a father's, but slightly off. Almost like it was forced.

Then can there be light? The little girl asked, holding her hands together.

A light blossomed into existence. Long ribbons of physical light reached out around the cosmos and illuminated the darkness with stars and galaxies. A small orb-like creature sat in the cup of her hands. It chirped at her. It's so pretty! the girl exclaimed.

You made this, the man said and he reached down to touch the small creature, you gave it a purpose. You should also name it before you set it free.

Its name is Hope! the girl said excitedly as she stood up. Show me what else I can make!

The man in black smiled as he picked up Hope and set it free to drift in the cosmos. I cannot create, that is your job and your journey. Go on, little Miriam, and show me what kind of world you will make.

"Oi!" Mnemosyne said at Nina, snapping her fingers in front of the girl's face. "Anazorzia to hero, where did your mind wander off to?"

The god outside drifted away from the train. The ribbons of it's light lost their intensity as it dipped back into the aether from where it had surfaced. It seemed content, as if it's purpose here had been fulfilled.

"If you're feeling sick, just stay here while I go stop that Stardust from circulating. It'll be really bad if it gets to the children's car!"

 

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

Spoiler: Rugal

[hr]

Right to Rule

Rugal's story

​

[hr]

"..."

Well...that wiped the smile from his face now didn't it?
"[...It's nice to know that you do have some brains in that head of yours. Really, I mean that. I only regret that you can't see the type of mistake you are making right now...]" He calmly said as he took stock of the situation.
It was far from ideal and he could already imagine how upset Livia would be when this was all over, if anything that would be more unpleasant then what was about to happen to these poor fools.
Taking a moment to remove his jacket and dress shirt, he dropped them both on the clay road, took a deep breath and said:
"[...I gave you all a chance...I really did...]"

First priority was securing the hostages, so he began with Livia. (Wouldn't do to keep her waiting, would it?)
With several quick motions from his hands and feet, he sent a series of 4 "Sonic Boom" projectiles [https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/streetfighter/images/5/57/Th_charlieownzoring.gif/revision/latest?cb=20100715021804] towards the ones holding her down, hitting hard enough to dislodge and stun them long enough for him to get to the servants.
Turning to Ortha, Kleo and their respective attackers, he leap up into the air before his heel down upon the skull [https://www.fightersgeneration.com/nz3/character/terry/special/terry-cvs2-crackshoot.gif] of the one holding Ortha.
Upon landing, he then stuck the raider holding Kleo square in the face with a "Burn Knuckle!" [http://www.fightersgeneration.com/nz3/character/terry/special/terry-cvs2-burnknuckle.gif], ramming his Ki infused fist with full force regardless of if his skull could take it not.
This left Eurydice, who was too far away for him to properly close the gap but he had means around that.
Quickly turned back around to her before firing a "Ryuugeki Ken!" [http://www.fightersgeneration.com/characters3/robert-2k3-fireball.gif] from his leg, the blast of Ki energy nailing her assailant right in the face.

Once he was done there, he turned back to the ones attacking Livia, wanting to finish them off before they became a problem again. (Least if Livia hadn't beaten him to it.)
Infusing his Slashing Aura into his legs, he lashed out at those 4 with a series of "GENOCIDE CUTTER!" [http://www.fightersgeneration.com/nx9/char/cvs2/rugal/a/special/rugal-cvs2-kicksuper3.gif] strikes, tearing them to ribbons where they stood.

And before the blood could even finish settling, he turned to their would be robbers again before plainly asking ["Now then...You want to let us pass or would you rather I kill you all for wasting my time?"]
After that little boast, he took a moment to apologize to his host for his risky action.
"[sub]Apologies, that ruse usually works, least in my time...Least you might get your killing blow now, Mistress...[/sub]"

 

[BlackHarte]

Spoiler: Rugal

[hr]

Right to Rule

Rugal's story

​

[hr]

[[Bad End Flag]][footnote]A flag occurs when a Labyrinth is close to ending. The next decisions will be critical![/footnote]​

"[Fucking idiot!]" The flashes of steel were as fast as Rugal's own attacks.

"Eurydice!" Livia gasped as the man pressing her down suddenly found himself evacuated from the location. Livia scrambled forward and caught the falling body of her retainer before she hit the ground. She threw her body around the larger girl and took the impact of both their falls on her knees.

Grendol held his spear out at Rugal and fell in front of the brute leader. His eyes were steeled toward Rugal. "[We never wanted it to come to death. To kill is a crime against the Gods themselves.]"

"[Damn right! Cut and run dammit! Grab whoever's still capable of breathing and let's go before Dis arrives!]" The leader's calls were frantic and fearful - but in a way that wasn't quite referring to Rugal. He tossed the unconscious bodies of two of his lackeys on his warhammer hand hoisted them onto his shoulders before taking off at a full sprint.

The other bandits scattered in similar fashion, grabbing who they could and what they could. Grendol retreated with his eyes on Rugal, "[You are not from here. I can see this now,]" he said plainly, "[You may have German blood in your veins, but you are as foreign to our ways as a lion is to that of a dog. Stain yourself with the black blood of your crimes, but not us.]" Then he turned and joined his compatriots in hasty retreat.

This left Rugal with Livia and her entourage.

"Does a leader in your time act with such reckless abandon and disregard? Do you torch your own cities to achieve victory? Do you water fields with the blood of your friends?" Livia's voice carried the weight of a sovereign. She was consumed in equal parts by anger and anguish born of both hate and love. She held Eurydice's head gently against her thighs as she held her hand over a sickly on Eurydice's chest. Pink bubbles frothed from between Livia's pale fingers.

Eurydice looked up with a blankness on her face. Her eyes were glazed over and her breaths were so faint as to be non-existent. With each labored heave of her chest, the wound make sick sucking noises as air whistled in and out through the gaps in Livia's grip.

Kleo and Ortha knelt down next to Livia, unsure of what to do. Ortha put her hands over her mouth to hide her shock, "She's drowning in her own blood..."

Eurydice coughed.

"Be still, calm your heart so the bleeding is not so free."

She put her hand on Livia's hand and shook her head slightly. A word danced on her mouth, a soundless name floating on pink iron foam. Dis.

Dis was a handsome man robed in black. His body sparkled with the shining of distant stars. He held in his hands some fruits. Apples and pomegranates. The ground beneath him shimmered with glittering gemstones. It was unsure when he arrived, but he was here and his presence was absolute.

The spirits of the men Rugal murdered flickered in the light of the setting sun as they took their places next to him. Dis was not a cold nor cruel man. His presence was not malevolent or frightening. His presence was reassuring, a sleepy contentment that eased the pain of those suffering.

Livia's eyes widened, "It should have been Mercury..."

Eurydice smiled. "No," her voice was almost inaudible, "Dis deus meus est. Deus Galiarum totarum."

"Don't speak." Livia commanded. "You're not dead yet. It's just a puncture wound! You'll recover, I'll make you recover!"

"It has been... wonderful, Livia. Really."

 

[Zepherus14]

[hr]

Table for Two
"You of all people should know better than to think I'm just gonna take that."

Nina's story

​

[hr]

Spoiler

Phillip stiffened as Miriam began to wail with sorrow, completely caught offguard by this reaction to his words. Social interaction and interspection was an extremely new concept for the noodle monster, this last day and change was nearly all of it he'd personally done. Nina would have her moments sure, but this was way outside what she'd normally do.

Even when it came to the Dreamsugar, he wouldn't know the name or its history unless it was bestowed upon him by some outside force, but he would understand on a fundamental level its properties and what it could be used for in cooking. Needless to say, what it could do compared to Stardust was night and day. It was what he'd been hoping to find in the chips or icecream dish before he'd stormed the kitchen. Why hadn't Miriam just come out and say this was her plan?

"Then tell me why you didn't have that golden fluid in the dish or the one immediately after to counteract the Stardust you put into the sherbet ice egg? Why have you made such a mess of that countertop?" He said pointing to the counter she'd let the blood from the vegetable cut prior swirl and come to rest on. "and not at least bothered to clean it? I might not be the chef here, but you chose not to answer me earlier for something so damning. So please explain yourself, what is this dust, these open wounds? I am listening chef." He stated, concisely laying out his complaints and wishing for her to talk.

[hr]

"How did I get that far away? I was following right after Phillip?" Nina muttered to herself, wondering how the hell she'd gotten so lost. It had been a straight line, how did she manage to literally turn around and go all the way to the other side of the train, she couldn't have been much further from her destination without getting out of the train itself at this point. As Mnemosyne continued her explanation, a vision flashed in Nina's mind, a weird bookish fellow that skipped leg day that without any explanation was labeled as Mnemonyse's father.

Then again, another vision this one more intense as it wasn't merely just a picture, but an entire scene playing out in her mind like a memory. Nina winsed as her vision became clouded, she may have wondered why Mnemonyse's memory wasn't in her own perspective, but she wouldn't have time to ask as the visions became even more aggressive. She felt herself fall forward, towards and through the floor into the darkness of the environment outside the train and into a new vision. This one felt even more invasive than the previous two. Where as the others had appeared much like a spontaneous memory in her mind, this one felt almost as real as... that maze of stone!

"Oi!" Mnemosyne voice brought Nina back to the train, apparently the feeling of her falling to and through the floor was all in her mind? The snapping fingers in front of her face caught her off guard. "Anazorzia to hero, where did your mind wander off to?" "Hmm? Holy shit!" Nina jumped, clearly out of it as Mnemonyse suspected.

Realizing she wasn't in any immediate danger, Nina blew a sigh of relief, a bit too preoccupied with all that'd happened to notice the goddess leave the realm. She almost felt a bit nuisance, the wave after wave after wave of stimulus in such a short time pecking away at the resistance she unknowingly had, like a death by a thousand paper cuts. Her mind felt unfocused once more until it was finally given a point to charge headlong towards.

"If you're feeling sick, just stay here while I go stop that Stardust from circulating. It'll be really bad if it gets to the children's car!" Those words prickled Nina like a cactus. As Mnemonyse was likely making her way to the door, Nina grabbed the sink to help get herself to her wobbly feet. "You hold the fuck on." she scowled. "If you don't want me to come with you then just say it. Don't just put me under all that mental strain and just chalk it up to me being unwell. I don't need you to show me your dad looks like a book or feather dinoland or whatever that was about Miriam while we need to stop that Stardust and I have a pretty bad headache. Like I get it, I'm just some plain old human that has no powers, no training, no heroness; I'm practically a plaything to anyone on this train. But I expected more from you at least, you've seen where I come from unlike everyone else. I'm not some dumb sex crazed animal, I have feelings, ideas, and goals, not a limp of meat or a bloodbag with legs either. So if you're too proud to work with me, fine! We can work separately together so that we can fix this mess! Now how do we stop it?" Nina proclaimed, taking her hand away from the sink to point at Mnemonyse and managing to stand firmly despite how shaky she'd been moments ago.

 

[BlackHarte]

Spoiler: Nina

[hr]

Table for Two

Nina's story

​

[hr]

Miriam wiped the tears from her face with the base of her palms. Streams of golden blood trickled down her forearm and dripped onto the floor in bright chimes that echoed through the lonely kitchen. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said as more tears streamed out of her large blue eyes. Her shoulders and chest heaved with the exertions of her sobs. "I've haven't even served the pallet cleanser much less anything with Stardust in it... I was preparing to make bleeding dream cake with the volshya[footnote]the red carrot-like vegetable. It's sweet with subtle citrus bite and grinds well into powder. The juice is often used to make sweet fondues.[/footnote] and the Gashi, which is why I'm letting the volshya bleed out!"

Philip took a quick second survey around the kitchen. Indeed, there were no left over materials for making that Stardust infused dish.

She collapsed to her knees as more of her blood streamed out of the cut on her wrist. "My blood neutralizes the poisonous properties of the spice. So I'm the only one that can prepare it. I was collecting my blood to mix with the Stardust. That's why I have this wound."

[hr]

"What in the world are you talking about!?" Mnemosyne screamed back, "I don't know where you're getting this idea that I'm showing you memories or some shit, but I'm not! Like I fucking care if you're human or not. I'm half-human! I don't give a damn! We have to stop the kids from eating any of the Stardust first, the rest we can worry about later!"

Mnemosyne opened the door and rushed out, long purple hair streaming behind her like an acrobat's ribbons.

The room was dark. Mnemosyne leaned back into her bed frame and felt the cool wood on her neck. Two hands ran through her long hair and soft lips grazed her forehead. There was an older girl here as well. She was beautiful beyond beautiful but at least twice her age. White hair and shimmering green eyes, smooth brown skin and long elegant limbs.

Mnemosyne pressed her hands against the older girl. She didn't know who it was, but her presence seemed familiar. Her hands sank into her flesh. She was surprisingly soft, like she had no muscles underneath her skin. She squeezed, delighted at the feeling of flesh between her small fingers.

You're so beautiful. Just like your father said you'd be.

She nuzzled Mnemosyne affectionately again, pulling her into a gentle embrace.

Oh, if only I could have been there for you and your sister. I wish this wouldn't have happened. Your father can be so cruel.

Mnemosyne opened her mouth to speak, but no words would come out. Her throat was as dry as cotton. Instead she made a soft whining sound and gently nibbled on the older girl's bare shoulder. She purred.

Come away with me, my sweet darling. You don't have to stay here. You're not like the others. Do you want to come with me to another world? Somewhere beautiful and gentle, where the people of the world don't see us as cattle to raise?

Mnemosyne didn't know what she meant, but she wanted to be with this woman longer. Forever. There was something calming about her smell, her heartbeat, and the warmth of her touch.

Mnemosyne left behind her bed, her family, her world. The ease of familiarity ebbed away like blood draining from a wound. She found herself adrift in space, a place between worlds. A thousand glimmering stars shone in the night sky before her, a realm of infinite possibility. The woman that held her eased Mnemosyne into this exotic new realm, holding her small head against her bosom. Her heartbeat drowned out the din of eternity and put the little girl at ease.

Then they found themselves in a field of flowers on a warm world an infinite distance away from her bed on Anazorzia. The moons above them were so bright that Mnemosyne ducked her head into the older girl's body to shield herself from it's silver-red rays. All around them petaled flowered bloomed, casting dust into the sky, drifting high above all things.

The aroma was intoxicating, beautiful, intense. Each breath felt like she was being reborn anew.

Distant chimes of bells rang through the flower field. Far away in the flower field were dancers in sheer white ribbons, dancing under the gaze of twin moons.

Mnemosyne, the older girl said, if you ever feel scared or overwhelmed. If your father wishes you harm, or anyone else would make your heart ache with fear, remember me and remember this place. If you reach out, it will receive you. If you are here, then nothing can hurt you, be it man or horror.

Mnemosyne held tightly onto the woman and wordlessly nodded. This place felt safe. This smell was nostalgic.

These flowers are called Ankhem Hessai[footnote]Eternal Stargazers[/footnote], she said. Even though you can't remember who I am, just remember these flowers, Mnemosyne. For as long as I live in your memories I will never fade, my sweet daughter.

Mnemosyne whined again, clutching tightly to the woman's robes. And then she was in her bed on Anazorzia, tucked tightly into a gentle sleep. A blooming purple flower clutched tightly in her hands.

When Nina burst out of the bathroom to follow Mnemosyne, she was already bounding pass the next car over, ducking and weaving through uncaring patrons of all sorts of descriptions. She stopped and turned around waving frantically at Nina to hurry up. Nina could see that the children's car was three cars down from this one, and the serving car was already there.

There was no way Nina or Mnemosyne could get there in time unless they could get teleported down the length of the train.

 

[Zepherus14]

[hr]

Table for Two

Nina's story

​

[hr]

Spoiler

Nina was entirely stunned, what did Mnemonyse mean she wasn't behind all those memories? She felt a lump form in her chest. Had she really just accused this woman of fucking with her like that when she was innocent? The half human bit really caught her off guard, somewhere in the back of her head she'd figured even if Eldritch did it with humans, they would still turn out nearly full eldritch and not a 50:50 split.

As her purple haired look alike ran out of the bathroom, Nina would follow after her, or at least she would have tried to. Once again another vision took her out for an unknown about of time. This time it was, Mnemonyse's childhood, her mother and how she gained her ability to jump dimensions. It was kinda sweet if not for it pulling Nina away from what she was needing to do right now!

Case in point, as she stepped out from the bathroom she'd see that Mnemosyne had already cleared a busy traincar of patrons already in the time it'd taken to clear the bathroom door. Nina held her head for a moment, these constant intrusive interruptions made it difficult to keep her focus. She couldn't understand why but she could see the children car and... she couldn't make it, they wouldn't make it! Her mouth felt dry, what was her name again? 'Fuck Fuck Fuck!!'

"Mnemonyse! Jump, teleport or whatever you do! They're already at the kids! We can't make it there running! GO! I'll get there as soon as I can! They can't eat that Sherbet!" Nina cried out, whatever little nugget of motherly instinct nestled deep within her coming to a head as she realized it was do or die now. Either they get there this second or the kids would die! In the back of her mind she hoped maybe Nocturne or Faea might hear them and come help too, but she couldn't depend on them alone either (even if Faea would have heard them this whole time). She just hoped the eldritch here were a bit more sociable than the ones in the previous car, they seemed to be given how Nina was ready to inform anyone that confronted her on this, but it was clear the goblinoids that had been manning the cart hadn't taken heed of her before or were there multiple carts? She couldn't really know just yet, but she'd start heading towards the children's cart regardless praying to see something that could help her. 'Please be okay Phillip!'

[hr]

"Here, you're liable to drip that into some of the food if you keep those open." Phillip said in his own way as he reached into one of the cabinets and pulled out several clothes. One was offered for Miriam to dab her tears with, while Phillip took her free hand and bandaged it. If she was paying attention, she would notice he was wrapping her wrists in a similar technique to wrapping a cheese wheel. As an eldritch being himself, this was probably the closest Phillip could get to caring for another, or at the very least at his age.

As he worked on her, he continued to keep up with the dishes he'd promised to keep tabs on, unsure if the 'chefs' that had left would even come back. "Regardless of whom made the pallet cleanser, you are the chef here knowledgeable of the ingredients available on Anazoria. Raw Stardust has been fed to patrons here, which will kiil them if something isn't done. Attempting to make this blue powder you have within them is, possible but not for all of them." Phillip stated, finishing off the wrapping with a stiff tie to the back of Miriam's wrist. "You're kitchen has this extremely dangerous spice in a place where every single patron is deathly allergic to it and Earth panics over a simple Arachis hypogaea. Where is the antidote Miriam, we don't have time." He stated sternly, not angry with her, but his tone certainly held with it the implication he wanted a simple answer. 'We don't have one', 'It doesn't exist', 'I don't know' anything instead of this beating around the bush nonsense. Nina's absense was really starting to get on Phillip's nerves, how could she get so lost?

 

[BlackHarte]

Spoiler: Nina

[hr]

Table for Two

Nina's story

​

[hr]

Miriam looked up at Philip. Her eyes welled over with tears. "There is no cure for Stardust poisoning," she said meekly, "once begun, the process of ending cannot be undone." She put her hands on her thighs, her eyes downcast. Her cheeks glistened with the stains of newly passed tears. "The reagent does not poison the body in the same way that you understand. It is the idea of the individual that begins to die, their memory in others first, and then of themselves. Eventually no memory of the person from before will remain. In this way, to incorporeal creatures without a physical body to backup their identity, it is a death sentence."

"I know that it is dangerous to people of my colors - the colors of wonder - but I know I myself would be safe in handling it. I took little caution, for none are supposed to be here, in the kitchen, except those willing to lay down their lives for the sake of this last supper."

She looked up at Philip, her eyes gleamed. It was like she was suddenly a different person altogether. They were beautiful, infinite orbs of the most brilliant azure. There was a latent power in her that Philip could not deny. "It is too late then, I would bid you leave the rest of the cooking to me and the other staff." She inhaled sharply and blinked the moisture from her eyes, "I will make this a masterpiece. A meal worthy of dying for."

[hr]

"If I jump now, there's now way I can get back! Do you know how fast this train is actually moving!?" Mnemosyne called out as she slammed the door to the next care. Two arms shot out of the doorway like vipers. On grabbed onto Mnemosyne by the cuff of her coat, and another latched onto Nina at the neckline of her dress.

Then the two arms snapped taught and pulled.

Suddenly they were moving through space as if water. Physicality melted around the two women, matter washed across their skin and light rippled through their bodies.

And as suddenly as it began, it ended. They were standing in a new dining car. Instead of the patrons before, these eldritch creatures were all... smaller. They were teens mostly. Humanoid more than not, but all sporting some sort of strangeness that gave away their otherworldly heritage.

Two explosions echoed through the car. The cart carrying the purple eggs fell over, two twisted black wounds had been punched into it's side by Mnemosyne's hand cannons. She cleared her throat and pointed her guns at the ogres and goblins serving the dish. "Cease and desist!"

"I was wondering where you went," Crown said. He straightened up and adjusted the cuffs of his suit. "It was strange that you just vanished like that."

"It helps to have ears in all the right places," Faea mused as she licked her fingers, leaving gleaming droplets of wetness on the silk strands still on her fingers. "Now, what is this racket about? I was very much looking forward to finally having something sweet."

The windows blackened as a living shadow swept over each surface of the car. Grim red eyes opened up, gazing in all directions at once. The darkness sang madly with the clanging of chimes.

"Good grief father," said a blind girl sitting in the booth next to where Nina was standing. She looked to be thirteen or fourteen. She had long purple hair and fair skin, a thick bandage lay over her eyes. Her dress was made out of ribbons, each inky black and indistinguishable from one another. They sat on her skin so tightly and so closely that it seemed to melt right into her body. She swung her legs over the side and stood up, the ribbons that made up her dress unraveled and reached out to the floor below to secure her footing. "You are so loud."

The girl turned to Mnemosyne. "Excuse me miss, my name is Cuelle. This living shadow is my father Nocturne. He wants to know why you just shot the serving car, and why you have causality weapons on this civilian train."

Mnemosyne balked and put her guns down by her feet and raised her hands over her head, "My name is Mnemosyne I mean no harm. These guns are the property of my organization. We work to preserve peace across multiple worlds. I was here visiting my father when I was made aware of poison in the food card I shot."

Crown whistled, "She's a big shot!"

Nocturne chimed again.

"He says, 'I am Nocturne, the first of my lineage. My domain is that of the dark. My given name is Nightmare.'" Cuelle translated.

Mnemosyne bowed, "Primal Nightmare I am honored to be of your presence. I am Mnemosyne, fourth of my lineage of which I draw from Primal Knowledge. My domain is that of lost memories. My given name is Violet Amnesia."

The darkness began to recede, letting in light from outside once more. Two warm chimes echoed throughout the room.
"'Violet Amnesia, I have seen your color and determined it to be truth. I am honored to be of your presence,' he says."

Faea looked endlessly amused, "Nina, don't tell me that Violet Amnesia is a friend of yours! I didn't know you had connections to people in such high places!"

 

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

She helped with this!

Origin Plains: Rising Dawn Landing Zone: The Criminals Formally known as the Bernstein Cartel

While everyone else was trying to make sense of the strange turn of events, some of them were taking it a bit better then others.
It had been a long time since Doom had felt grass.
I know that's a weird thing to say but between working in an underground weapons factory, hiding from the world at a Twitch Livestreamer's house, becoming someone's unwilling Jesse Pinkman and spending the rest of his time locked up on an airship, it felt so off when he sat up from his cell bed to find himself...in a field? In the sun?
[color=004d]"....huh...Doom isn't counting sheep..."[/color] He muttered to himself as he slowly stood up, realizing that he felt a lot less like crap then he did before.
Then it finally hit him.

[color=004d]"...Doom is-...outside?..."[/color] He said to himself as he noticed the rolling hills, the distant forest and the lack of a blood-encrusted odor lingering in the air.
And the only thing that could make this better was him noticing all his dear friends slowly waking up nearby.
Wesker was the first to arise, quickly noticing his change of surroundings more so then his friends as he remarked "...Where am I?...What's going on?"
Cortex soon followed suit as he rolled himself onto his back before glancing up at the sky above, suddenly feeling-...a lot less angry at the world (and a certain Changeling) then he was before.
[color=b4b4]"...Guys, I thought we were in prison?..."[/color]
"Yeah...So did I..." Bruiser remarked as he stood up, noticing that he was back in his prime with no scars, all his internal organs in place and even with both his arms back!
"...Wait, we're not in prison?"
[color=6c1504]"YEAH BITCHES! YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD TAME THE BISON?! AHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"[/color]
Ah yes...Bison was a LOT more happy about this turn of events considering how much he enjoyed not being incarnated.
Running up to Cortex and Bruiser, he gave them a big awkward hug as he bragged [color=6c1504]"See?! It's just like I said! Everything went JUST as a I planned! Now, all we have to do is contact the Super PACs I set up-"[/color]
"...Bison..."
[color=6c1504]"-Wire the money to my hidden accounts in South America, finally put the down payment on that fancy Yacht we all wanted to get-"[/color]
[color=004d]"..Uhhh...Doom-Doom thinks you should-"[/color]
[color=6c1504]"Oh! and I FINALLY figured out the name of it! "Descending Dusk". That'll show those meddling Rising Dawn bastards who's boss, isn't that right Caim?...Caim?...Caim-...."[/color]

The embarrassment didn't get to sink in for too long as Bison found himself locking eyes with the resident Swordsman.
And realize that, while they were out of prison, they were still barely 20 feet away from the airship.
And he just explained their backup plan in front of the people they were meant to be escaping from.

[color=6c1504]"...And-...we wouldn't-....do any of that...we-...just-....like to-...talk about our...wild dreams and desires while we-...walk back to our-"[/color]
"I'm going have to stop you there, Mike..."
[color=6c1504]"What is it, Al?"[/color]
"No reason, I just had to stop you from talking..." Wesker confessed as he adjusted his glasses before calmly putting his hands behind his head and getting on his knees, Bruiser quickly following suit.

"ahem."

Angelus, who had been enjoying a comfortable nap with Caim at her side, lifted her immense red head to regard the quintet of prisoners that were now bowing down before herself and her sword-wielding companion. With a huff of her nose she murmured, "We all awaken in a field with our prisoners attempting an escape. Not my favored form of circumstances."

She roused to her full height, truely imposing herself over the former A.I.M. members and looked down upon them with tiny yellow eyes. It was interesting, the first sight of the Dawn and these dangerous individuals immediately sit down and shut up. What was most interesting was that one she might considered an archenemy at one point, Bruiser, now whole and hearty, laid down is many arms without a fight. It was... equal parts intriguing and disquieting. Were they planning something once they were brought into the Dawn? Or perhaps, to be optimistic, he realized the futility of their dance of life and death? As she regarded them, she spoke aloud, her voice taking on the best authoritative edge she could manage, "However, your course of action is a very wise one. We will be returning shortly to the Dawn. Caim, herald another of our group to assist with restraints."

Caim huffed but nodded and complied, wandering over to the larger gathering of people along the way, the words

"I've no idea what Inuart sees in these people..."

echoing from his PDA as he walked away.
But as Caim walked away, there was something he could have sworn he had heard: [sub]"...More than in your sister."[/sub]
Even in their current situation, staring down a murderous dragon and her even more murderous pet, Wesker's underhanded remark did force some chuckles from his fellow prisoners, namely Cortex as he stood there half-way between sobbing from fear and sobbing from laughter.
[color=b4b4]"PFffff-....ah-...*sniff* Uhhh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."[/color]
Caim whirled around on the spot and power-walked back to the group, his expression furrowed as his PDA 'shouted' back,

"What did you just say about Furiae?!"

"Caim..."

"No, Let him talk. The hell are you on about?"

"That you can judge a man from the company he keeps, but also from the company he has kept."
Cortex looked like he was in pain as he knew each unwilling chuckle he made dug himself a deeper and deeper grave.
[color=b4b4]"Pffff-...He's saying, not me! Just-......heh-....Sorry, sorry, I laugh when I'm nervous....ohhhh..."[/color]
[color=004d]"...Can someone explain the Joke to Doom?"[/color]
[color=6c1504]"....I could be ruling the world right now...From a Golden Throne, surrounded by strippers dressed like me and all while the entire human race bows before me...And instead I'm here..."[/color] Bison lamented while Wesker stared down the Swordsman, only for Doom to interrupt with [color=004d]"...You have stripper clothing? Is that the joke?"[/color]
Caim glared back at the scientist, the PDA on his hip answering,

"If you think I judge him sorely on his company, then you are mistaken. Inuart has a lot more to answer for than associating with you lot. Think of it this way - you five? If he were a garbage fire, you're but another stick thrown on top.... Besides, it's clear he never deserved her anyway. Not after he got her killed."

He looked ready to leave, until another question crossed his mind,

"Why [b]do[/b] you care so much anyway? I thought he was another soldier or something as far as your cartel was concerned."

"It's almost as if we have lives outside of work. Real question I'm wondering is why a 10000 year old dragon would care so much for someone who's-...oh, Ohhhhh, now I get it. You're *her* pet. Yeah, bet she'll even take you out to get put to sleep and replace you with a new mortal once you get too old to give her back scratches." Wesker jeered back, right as Cortex practically wet himself from pants shitting terror as well as the amusing mental image of Angelus in a human pet store.
[color=b4b4]"Ohhhhh man...this is actually how I die....PPFFFF, ohhh, imagine if she had a leash and everything! HAHAHAHAHAH!"[/color]
There was a moment of silence, save for the sound of the breeze whirling through the air. Angelus tried to break the silence by starting with, "Caim, you know that isn't-"

However, she was unable to finish the sentence, as Caim was already running towards Wesker, expression livid and sword drawn.
Wesker didn't move from his kneeling position, least not until Caim was about to land the killing blow.
All his momentum stopped dead as he noticed a bleeding hand holding his sword a scant inch from Wesker's forehead.
"...Go on...listen to your master and let us be on our way..." He snarked back as he calmly stood up without releasing his hold on the weapon.
[color=6c1504]"Oh crap, are we fighting?! Listen, this man doesn't speak for me! I'm TOTALLY pro-....Whatever you call your-...."Partnership". I'm-i'm-i'm a progressive dictator!"[/color] Bison panicked as Cortex's laughter turned to actual crying.
[color=b4b4]"Ohhhhh, please don't hit me in the face. Not the face again..."[/color]
[color=004d]"WILL SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN THE JOKE TO DOOM! HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW!"[/color]
Angelus looked on helplessly between the duo - as much as she wanted to intervene, her claws and fangs could easily pierce metal and bone, and her tail was thick and heavy enough to swat the both of them at once. Instead, she attempted to appeal to reason again, her 'voice' entering Caim's mind - "You know he is only attempting to rile you up, Caim! You know the truth for yourself. Stop this at once!"

However, all she sensed back was rage. Caim was truly affronted, not only from the implication that he was her servant, but Wesker's attempts to debase their bond, the barbs he lobbed against his sister and...of course, the core of the whole debate - Inuart was on his mind. An unholy cocktail of sore spots, each pressed very firmly by Wesker's words. As such, when his sword was held in Wesker's hand, Caim lashed out as he knew best. He brought up a foot and firmly planted it into Wesker's torso, relinquishing himself and his sword from the doctor's hold. Taking a step back, Caim readied another strike, this one coming in from the side.
"Oh please..." Wesker remarked as he got ready to counter, grabbing the sword effortlessly in his hand once more-

[HEADING=3]"GRRRAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"[/HEADING]

While all this was going on, Bruiser had sat there, waiting to return to his cell but it appeared now that he was getting into the fray.
Roaring as he charged at Caim, even startling Wesker as he turned his head to see his friend getting ready to strike.
What really took Caim by surprise was how Bruiser stuck not him with a Dynamic Punch but rather-
"!?!?!?!?"
The last thing Wesker knew, all the air in his lungs had been forced out of him and he was now embedded in a Wesker-sized dent in the side of the airship, looking rather shocked and dazed before his body peeled off the side of the ship like a post-it note and flopped weakly on the ground.
"...He's done. Take us back to our cells."
[color=6c1504]"Bruiser, what the hell-"[/color]
[HEADING=1]"YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, DO YOU!? DO YOU?! HUH!?"[/HEADING]
While Bison's sense of courage was never his strong suit, even he had one he still wouldn't be able to find the courage to explain his problems with being a prisoner here of all places but as Rugal would have said: "The threat of pain is a powerful motivation."
While his friends picked up a frankly stunned and rather in pain Wesker, Bruiser merely glanced back at Caim and Angelus before silently handing himself and his friends into some of the security staff's hands.

 

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

Origin Plains: Rising Dawn Landing Zone: Adelheid Bernstein

"........?!"
The second he could wake up, Adelheid did so with a start as he practically jumped to his feet and got ready to defend himself, his instincts kicking in long before his brain did.
He was so caught up in his fight-or-flight response, the fact he wasn't a half-assembled cyborg anymore seemed to be lost on him as he tried to figure out where he was.
""YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, DO YOU!? DO YOU?! HUH!?"
The yelling got his attention as he quickly crept his way behind cover, trying to figure out the source.

That when he realized he had to leave this place as soon as possible.

He watched as Bison attempted to fix the glasses on Wesker's face, only to pause as if he had "Sensed" something as he scanned the area for the source.
Adel could still remember all the battles and killing he had done in Bison's name, a mere look on his face bringing it all flooding back.
A cold sweat started to break out as the first thing on his mind became getting the hell out of here before he went back to being Bison's slave.
So he did the first thing that a mentally unstable person most likely shouldn't do: Attempt to steal a car or some form of transportation.
Keeping out of sight and mind from the awakening crew members, he sneaked into the airship's hanger bay before looking for anything he could use to escape.
"Come on, doesn't anyone here own a car or a bike?!" He fretted as his search proved somewhat fruitless, least before he managed to find one of the transport shuttles used to bring people to the Rising Dawn mid-flight.
Now for the hard part: Figuring out how to fly this thing before someone noticed he was here...