|
Post by HungryHunter on Oct 30, 2018 4:50:40 GMT
Eve was so stunned by the wave of noise that her face momentarily lost cohesion, drooping where it shouldn't before snapping back into a solid human mask. "This is garbage." She said, bemused as the sound drowned everything out. "Falken, I just told you to stop calling me that!" She yelled over the crowd, but he was already gone. "We enter. It's safe, after all." Eve dug in one of her many pockets, fishing out earplugs. "Here." She offered them to Garo. "Don't worry, I've never used them. I don't need to." She simply grew more flesh in her own ears, blocking them partially. The political commentary was going right over her head. Which country's leaders did they not like? She wasn't sure.
"Absolutely excellent. Don't worry my friend, you're just have a great trip. You think any of this could really happen? Ridiculous!" John patted the hippie Gen's shoulder as he turned, ducking out of the tent. He looked around, tents like gemstones in his eyes. It was perfect. It was beautiful. It was everything he wanted and more when he chose this door. He shook his head and is hair somehow unfolded twice as long as it was. A beard matching Gen's grew out on his face, and without his shirt, he blended right in. He could spend a week here.
Oh, who was he kidding, he could spend years here. John was made for this kind of place. No attachments, friendly people, free love. It was all exactly his speed. So why don't you stay? The thought was truly tempting. He could vanish among these tents, live out his days as an untamed sex demon, let his true nature free. He didn't even think of Callis' rejection of his own world when he reluctantly rejected this, walking to the red velvet tent.
All John needed to remember was that he had friends back in the regular world. And besides, this place looked peaceful. They didn't need an authorized people-hurter. That was absolutely required back home. Sacrificing a little comfort for the satisfaction of helping others was well worth it in his opinion. He'd just have to give Camilla one taste of his other skills and get going. "Hello, I'm a visitor and I was told to come here for some relaxation. Am I in the right place?" John ducked to look within the tent.
|
|
|
Post by Vapovile on Nov 3, 2018 5:21:48 GMT
The lackadaisical nature of this Gen made Alex frown in annoyance. There was no way he could get this group of people to tell him information easily. He ignored the man's interaction with Gen, writing it off an inane babbling. "Thank you. Mizuki, we're going to see the coffee shop. The rest of you can investigate on your own accord." He said, stepping out of the tent with Mizuki. The young assassin scanned the strange surroundings...the carefree nature of everyone being totally alien to her.
Alex made his way over to the tent where the man had pointed out, checking to see if there were any strange traps before walking inside. "Hello? Is this the coffee shop?" He asked, Mizuki walking behind. Why was everyone here so carefree?! Didn't they have anything else to do with their lives?!
|
|
|
Post by Kuma on Nov 9, 2018 2:35:23 GMT
As the group entered the Hippie Village beyond the beaded curtain, something inside the Dimensional Waypoint moved. The pile of snow, the one that gave such an eerie feeling to Callis, started shifting and moving. There was something burrowed inside.
Finally, after several agonizing minutes of fuzzy guitar solos, chaotic drums and a bassline so deep half the bar was shaking, the Lionknight performance ended, the group leaving to the backstage. Falken was on the bar, drinking heavily. In matters of minutes he had already opened a tab and was consuming copious amounts of booze. “Don’t let them bloody know you’re freaking out” That was the thought most present in his mind as he did whiskey shots one after the other. As he drowned his problems in alcohol a new band started to set up their instruments. On the other side of the bar Garo was finally taking off the earplugs, but upon seeing the new group placed them back on. -How long do you think must we stay here?- He asked while he placed the plugs. Angelico, who woke up on his own, had used his powers to change his attire, fitting more with the crowd, using a black leather jacket, no shirt and half ripped leather pants. Something nobody had seen until now as he wore clothing over it, were the extensive tattoos covering his chest, with a theme of chains and roses.
He was sweet talking a couple of ladies as the music started again and had to stop, as they screamed with delight -Holy shit! The Hate Dolls are here!?- Leaving him alone and kind of down. He walked back to Eve a bit downtrodden. -Well you win some and you lose some.- Angelico looked around. -I love this atmosphere Signorina Harper, the scent of rebellion, hatred for authorities and even if the music isn’t my thing I can live with it.- The Phantom Thief had a strange expression. -I think this one is my st- But before he could finish talking he was interrupted by a female voice coming from the stage. A well-built woman, with exposed abs and frosted white spike hair, took the mic and presented the band. -Everybody having a good time?- Many cheers answered that question. -Well fuck you bunch of wankers, I’m not!- She snapped at them, garnering some laughter from the crowd. -I’m Martha and these are my mates… nah! My sisters!- The lead guitar player, a goth looking woman with pale skin and black hair did a short riff in celebration. -We’re the Hate Dolls and we’re going to tear this place apart!-
She main vocalist screamed the first line as the music roared alongside here. -FUUUUUUUUUUUCK FRANKENSTEIN!!!!-
The pile of snow had been disturbed, a large hole in the middle appeared and a trail of blood came out of it. A young man with reddish brown hair and blue eyes moved out from the snow and through the dimensional waypoint, attempting to stand up and failing, staggering back to the floor. -I… I admit… I never ex-expected that trick to work… hgh... - He kept crawling away from the doors, into the Dimensional Waypoint.
As soon as Alex crossed the door, the relaxed atmosphere on the coffee stopped. The tent was large and built around a very tall tree, that was exactly in the center of it. All around the tree, there was the counter, with many antique coffee grinders and makers, all in different levels of disrepair. Wooden boards were used as makeshift floor, mixed with sand. There were many patrons and a small band playing on one of the sides of the massive cross-shaped tent. Everybody was silent as they focused on Alex and Mizuki. Fear, concern, and disgust was mixed in the faces of most of them. Behind the counter, there were two individuals who looked pretty much the same, except for some differences in their color scheme. One was dressed in white and pink, while having long pink hair, falling like wavy cascades over her shoulders. The other was dressed in blacks and purples and had shorter white hair. Both of them looked exactly like Haruko and both of them talked at the same time.
-Alex?- They both spoke as one, jumping in perfect synch over the counter, mirrored one to the other. -What’re you doing here?- They asked. -Last time you came you said you wouldn’t come here anymore.- The walked with relaxed strides, their clothing trailing behind them. -We're so happy to see you.- The duo of Harukos moved closer with the intent of hugging Alex. -Come here and give us a hug.-
Meanwhile, Callis was sitting outside, using a very old tree stump as a chair. His head sunken beneath his shoulders. He was clearly depressed and seriously re-thinking his life. -Are you okay mister?- A young kid with blond hair and blue eyes tugged from Callis' shoulder. He had an air of innocence and peace, a deep contrast to the Beast Knight, who currently looked like a wreck. -You look like you need a hug.- He said with a sad smile upon seeing the disaster that Callis was. The Beast Knight tried to muster the strength to smile, but he couldn’t, his sad scowl staying with him. -If you don’t want a hug I know who can help you.- He added as a beam of sunlight hit his face thanks to the wind swaying the tree branches over them. There was something eerily familiar about this child.
Several tents away John entered the tent Hippie Gen pointed him and he was welcomed by a very tall African-American man, with a wild afro and a bushy beard. -Welcome, brother-friend! To the tent of Camilla!- His smile was infectious, it was like an aura of unnatural happiness was oozing out of him. -You came to the right place, friend.- He opened a side curtain to another part of the tent, a deep perfume flooded the lobby tent. -You go in there, friend.- He pointed at the room. -And Camilla will give you what you need, friend.- He would close the curtain behind John if he decided to enter the room. It was a very comfortable room, filled with red, black and purple pillows, everything had sewn decorations with Lotus Flowers being the main theme.
|
|
|
Post by HungryHunter on Nov 9, 2018 6:24:57 GMT
As the woman on stage began to put her scratchy voice to work ripping into her twisted creator through literary metaphor. "I didn't know she could read." Eve recognized the woman on stage. All that was different were the abundant piercings. "Come on, I want the government's nose out of my business as much as anybody, but this place is a dive." Eve couldn't get the fact that Huntsman would adore this place out of his head. He was made out of all the worst impulses of these anarchist punks.
She gestured to the bartender, looking at the flyers behind him. "Ladies of Ruin: Elyssa Miyata, Ariana Harper, and Rachel Shizuma bring you timeless metal spiced by their world adventures" "Ariana..." Eve mumbled to herself. She was here? She must be a whole lot older to be in a metal band. "I hope you're happy here." Eve drank to her health and looked at the remaining posters.
"Whiplash" "Yamiko: One Night Only!" "Frostfang" "Musashi's Bloody Blade" "Snake-Eyes Black" "The Wild Hunt"
"Fuck this. I hate this fucking universe." Eve slapped some money on the counter, exact change, and stomped away. "I am leaving before I see what some idiot anarchist punk me looks like."
John didn't need to be told he had come to the right place. He could smell that much. It nearly made his tail extend. Aw, he didn't get to use that. That was always so fun. He had to play mundane here. Oh well, he liked vanilla just fine. If sex were ice cream, there wouldn't be many flavors John wasn't open to. To get into what he had personally done would be far too extensive and get the site flagged as pornography, but it was needless to say that he didn't mind near any choice of carnal pleasure. He entered the comfortable room and admired it. He loved rooms full of pillows! Pain to clean, but a delight otherwise. "Hello, Camila? I'm a traveler looking for a little fun. I promise you that it will be just as fun for you, if not more." He debated if he should just strip right now. No, that lead to bad first impressions. Bad enough he had lost his shirt, it made him look weird.
|
|
|
Post by Vapovile on Nov 11, 2018 7:06:09 GMT
Alex glanced around the area when he entered, noticing how everyone in the tent turned their attention him and his subordinate. There was clearly something off about this tent. Their faces showed fear, concern, and disgust at the two of them. All emotions were not ideal for an investigation. Alex lowered his right eyebrow slightly when he saw the two strange Harukos across the counter, who seemed to operate as a unit. Mizuki reached for her daggers, but Alex held his hand down to stop her for now.
Holding his right hand out, Alex signaled for the two to stop. "Stop. You must be mistaking me for someone else. My name is Alex, yes, but we have never met before.” If the two continued to advance despite his warning, Alex would take a step to the side to position a table between himself and the Harukos. He had a strong feeling that they had some kind of close-range attack if they got close enough to him. “Now...isn’t it rude to hug a patron before providing your own names first?” He asked, trying to diffuse the situation. Mizuki looked on with a confused expression, wanting to do the pragmatic route and restrain these two before they became more of a problem.
The two Harukos were especially strange to Alex. How were they different from the Haruko in his timeline? Even after Haruko had learned of his existence, she had written both him and Aria out of her life for refusing to contact her all of these years. The rest of the Miyata siblings had warmer relations to Haruko, as they were younger when Haruko was born and had less say in the matter. While Aria regrets their forced silence...Alex was more distant. He already had plenty of siblings, and adding Haruko would only make her more of a target for the people who want to hurt both him and Aria. It was only for her own safety that she was ignored, at least how Alex saw it...he also knew their father’s reasoning for keeping Haruko in the dark.
|
|
|
Post by Kuma on Nov 14, 2018 5:11:06 GMT
As Eve left a man, dressed in clothes not fitting this place, stepped in her way. He was young, roughly early 20’s and had auburn hair with shining blue eyes and slightly tanned skin. -You hate this universe?- He asked, with a mysterious expression. The low lights and crowd made it difficult to see details but it was clear his medieval looking clothing was tattered with many spots of blood. -I hate most universes I visit.- He glanced at her. -Which ones did you fall into?- He sniffed the air around her. -Oh, you went to the one with the alternate WWII result? That one is nice.- The Stranger paced around her still sniffing the air, almost as if he was checking the bouquet of a fine wine. -The bathhouse? That one is weird, even for my standards…- He stopped in front of her. -Do you want out of this place? Do you want to find whatever you’re looking for and leave this hall of distorted mirrors reflecting twisted realities?- He extended his hand to Eve. -I’m the Herald of your liberation.-
Falken, who was finally bringing booze for the others stopped on his tracks and let the pitchers of beer fall to the ground as he summoned the Kiryuu Revolver, aiming directly at the mysterious man. -Is this wanker bothering you, love?- He asked and then took a chug from the only pitcher he didn’t drop, his own. -Because I can kill him right here.- Garo appeared from the crowd with an arrow already pointed at the Herald. -Say the word and I’ll skewer him.- Both heard his speech and knew there was something funny about somebody who knew where they went. Angelico ignored all this, as he was still trying to score while listening to the rocking tunes of the Hate Dolls. -I'm your only way out of here Ms. Harper, so tell your boys to lower their weapons and let us talk.-
A new curtain opened, revealing another room inside the red tent. The room was obscured with vapors and smokes coming from herbs and woods. Through this haze, a figure emerged, dressed all in red transparent silk revealing a curvy figure. She was half a head taller than John, had long flowing midnight blue hair and sapphire skin. Each of her moves seemed to be independent of each other as if her body worked under 4 different brains. Yet this wasn’t discordant, but hypnotic. -Welcome to my tent brother-friend, welcome to the land of Camilla.- She sat down beside John, almost weightless, dropping like a leaf from a tree, her silks moving as if they were underwater. -What is your wish Johnathan Chandler?- She asked while caressing his face with the tip of her fingers. -What is your heart’s desire?- She inquired as her fingers slowly traced a line down his neck towards his chest. -Please tell me.- There was something about her, something that could make anyone tell her their innermost desire.
-Who is this Camilla you mention?- Callis looked at the young boy, a strong sense of familiarity washing over him the more he observed him. The blond kid smiled, a big smile with perfect white teeth. -Sister Camilla helps everybody!- He exclaimed with contagious enthusiasm. -You ask for help and she helps! She makes the pain…- He placed his hands in an angle one over the other and fluttered the fingers like wings. -Go away.- Callis looked at the young kid with a puzzled expression. -So she is a medic?- The Beast Knight asked. The kid cutely shook his head. -No, she has… magic powers I guess?- Callis realized that she was the one the raggedy Gen Shishioh of this reality mentioned to John. -I need to go, thank you for your help.- Callis rushed away but he stopped upon hearing the child say. -Wait, wait, what is your name Mes?- The Beast Knight froze in place upon hearing the last word the kid said. Callis turned around and saw the child with fresh eyes. And had a terrible, terrible realization. With a shivering finger, he pointed at the child and asked.
-Your name is Callis Nomene, am I right?-
They stopped, their smiles dimming out. -Aren’t you Alex? Our brother?- They lowered their arms with disappointment clear on their faces. But once he asked for her names they seemed to pep up. -We’re Haruko.- Both said. -But we also are Yamiko.- They pointed to each other. -Once we’re a single Haruko, but now we’re two.- The continued. -Once we’re a single Yamiko, but now we’re two.- They grabbed each other's hand and twirled, their movements letting out a stream of light and sound, almost like visible music floating off their clothing. -Thanks to Sister Camilla we left our pain behind and now we live happy, like everyone here.- They gestured around in perfect mirrored synch.
The patrons smiled, one tall man with black hair and red eyes stood up. -She cleaned my body from technology and my mind from violence and fear.- A young woman with purple hair and glasses stood next. -She took away my sins and my inks and now I couldn’t be happier, I just write poetry, no more lives ruined.- More commented on their salvation and finally, the whole Coffee shop erupted into a single chant -ALL HAIL SISTER CAMILLA, BRINGER OF PEACE!-
Gen woke up surrounded by raggedy pillows. He slowly sat up, while looking around with hazy eyes. -Where the fuck am I?- He asked and a voice behind him replied. -You’re in my house maaaaan, the most rad house in all of the village…- Gen turned around to see the man talking and turned his head back to the front. He peeked again and blinked several times as he struggled to stand up. -Who the fuck are you?- The Hot-Blooded Boxer stood face to face with his dimensional counterpart. -I’m Gen Shishioh, my dude! Who’re you?- Gen's eye twitched as a trickle of blood run out from his left nostril.
|
|
|
Post by HungryHunter on Nov 15, 2018 7:17:05 GMT
Eve nearly crashed into the strange man who appeared in front of her. She noticed instantly his injuries. It certainly didn’t sound like he had been in a simple bar fight. What was this guy? She could see every detail with her eagle eyes, but nothing about him looked inhuman. He was just dressed weird, like the guy who was on stage not long ago. She was trying to decide how to respond to him when her overzealous protectors popped in. She raised a palm and sharply shook her head.
“Back off you two, he hasn’t done anything yet.”She rolled her eyes at Falken, even if it was appreciated. If he cared about people bugging her, he would have offed himself years ago. “You aren’t our only way out, buddy. All we have to do is wait a couple minutes.” She jerked her thumb at the door they had entered through. “Now if you don’t mind, we’d rather not get into a fight in a crowded dump like this. Cause with the combined firepower of the Wild Hunt and the world’s deadliest TI-80, we’d make you into a crater bigger than this building.” The flesh on Eve’s right arm wiggled, giving the Herald a glimpse of the steel underneath.
John closed his eyes to take in only the scent of the room. Camila’s smell sweeped in before Camila herself. Wrapped in incense and a thousand other wonderful things, but at the core of it a woman. John didn’t play favorites; all women were beautiful in the eyes of a succubus. But if he did, Camilia would be making a strong play for that role. The silk! The blue! The way she moved! He eagerly pondered what that movement would feel like against his skin.
He took her hand in his and kissed it, lingering as long as he dared on the sapphire ridges there. “Right now, my desire is you. I desire to have you sing to every heaven with pleasure. I desire to make you feel as gorgeous as you truly are.” He looked into her eyes, fingers leaving a tingle where they touched. He was inevitably taking just the barest hint of energy from her right now, not enough she’d feel anything but that tingle. He couldn’t help it now, every bit of his body tuned for feeding.
|
|
|
Post by Vapovile on Nov 16, 2018 15:15:26 GMT
The two Harukos revealing that the other woman was Yamiko made Alex's eyes widen slightly. This other woman was Yamiko?! She certainly didn't act like the Yamiko he knew of, as that one was a serial killer who delighted in the suffering of others. The bar then erupted into hails for this 'Camilla'. Judging the cult-like environment, Alex was willing to wager that this woman had some kind of mind control ability that put people into a strange stupor. While Alex hated this careless attitude, he had to find information. He nodded his head at the group.
"I see...well, it's nice to meet you, Haruko and Yamiko." Alex nodding his head at them in acknowledgement. "So who is this 'Camilla'? Your leader? Friend? God, perhaps?" Alex asked, remembering the directions the strange man gave them for where Camilla was. He looked over at Mizuki and motioned toward the exit. "Mizuki, would you go check on John? I believe he could use some help." He stated, Mizuki nodding her head and moving toward the exit. She considered all these people strange as well, they almost seemed like a hive mind with how devoted they were to this woman. A glare looked down at the ground for a few seconds before she composed herself once more, thinking about her own past.
|
|
|
Post by Kuma on Nov 20, 2018 1:49:12 GMT
-Kukukuku… Crater? Kukukukuku. I’ll teach you some respect! Kukukukukukuku- The man started chuckling upon hearing Eve’s threat. His sinister laughter echoed in the room and overtook the music, currently a song called “Sapphire Flame” by the band Disgusting Bastards. The lights dimmed as his blood-curdling laughter kept getting louder and louder. His injured body shifted and changed, the revolting sounds of bones breaking and fixing themselves to a new height accompanied his chuckling. His increased size broke his tattered clothes away taking the shape of a large woman, taller than anybody in the room with a cascading mane of wavy red hair falling over her shoulders and reaching her waist. A kaleidoscopic aura of energy surrounded her body and Falken’s sensors started blaring inside his head. His hud read:
[Detecting Chaos Energy - Proceed to dodge]
-EVERYBODY DOWN!- Falken shouted, jumping towards a concrete pillar and taking cover behind it. Garo, who didn’t have any love for the Cyborg, recognized that if he was getting scared then the situation was dire and imitated Falken, jumping towards the nearest cover, in his case a broken jukebox. A wave of energy surged from the cackling woman, multicolored beams of light disjointed into a cacophonic blast of color and sound. Any regular human unlucky enough to be caught by the blast would vanish into nothingness. Angelico used his powers and warped behind a low wall, leaving a trail of rose petals behind him. Yet he didn’t move as fast as Falken and Garo, his arm being outside cover as the blast passed over him. For a moment nothing happened, but then, without warning, his extremity warped into a mass of twisted flesh and bone.
-AAAAARGH!- Angelico fell on the ground grasping his deformed arm, that leaked blood and fluids on the floor. The woman with fiery hair looked down on them. -I WANTED TO CONVINCE YOU, BUT IF YOU WISH TO BE ENSLAVED, THAT’S WHAT YOU WILL GET!- She roared, her mere presence distorting the air around her. Everything in the room was twisted and warped, like chocolate melting under the summer sun. Nobody apart from the interdimensional travelers survived the wave. Her form flickered and she turned into a tall man, shorter than her current form, with white hair slicked backward, dark sunglasses and a stylish red cane. He was dressed in 19th Century Victorian nobility clothes.
-That is not what you want.- She said with a low wispy voice, her eyes fluttering as her body kept moving in the same hypnotic motions. It was almost as if her arms and fingers left smoky afterimages behind them. Her hand slowly reached to the side of his face and caressed his cheek. -I see your pain brother-friend, I see your suffering…- Camilla made a dramatic pause before adding. -I… see… your… hunger.- She smiled still caressing the side of his face. -I can’t take that pain away for good, I can leave you free and pure.- Her other hand also grabbed the side of his head and her eyes brightened up, rapidly shifting colors. -Will you allow me to take that pain?- She asked, her eyes focused on his. For a moment there was a shadow of pain in her face and a couple of her hairs turned grey. Nothing too noticeable if John was too immersed on her hypnotic wiles.
-Yes, that’s my name.- The child said, looking at Callis with his big blue eyes. The Beast Knight took a step back, tripping on a root and falling on his ass. -Are you okay Mes?- He asked the child as he moved towards Callis, who was backing out like a man seeing a monster coming for him. His back hit against a tree and the child finally caught up, his big blue eyes giving him a worried look. -Are you alright? You look pale.- Callis grasped the tree trunk behind him and attempted to stand up, staggering back to the floor. He couldn’t stand seeing the kid, he looked just like him, but lacking any of the animalistic traits. The kid extended his hand towards him to help him up. -Do not touch me!- No hair or claws. Callis, currently in one of the worst mental states he had been in years couldn’t avoid slapping the hand away and running towards the forest, leaving behind a very confused child. -I better tell Messa Camilla about this.- He muttered to himself before sprinting towards the red tent, running as fast as his short legs could take him, unlike his dimensional counterpart this kid Callis lacked any of the enhanced physical attributes granted by his mixed heritage. His zeal to reach the tent as soon as possible made him ignore his surroundings, going in a direct collision course with the incoming Mizuki.
-So different Alex, do you want a coffee?- They asked as one, smiling and hugging each other in perfect unison. They moved, synched up, towards an empty table. -You can wait for your friend here, we have freshly baked blueberry pie if you want to grab a bite with your coffee.- The rest of the patrons slowly lost interest and returned to their meals and beverages.
Gen Shishioh looked at his dimensional counterpart with utter contempt and disgust. He was seeing a crooked mirror and he didn’t like his reflection one bit. A splitting headache and the pungent smells around him weren’t helping his mood either. -Ya’re Gen Shishioh? Ya’re fuckin’ skin and bones.- Main Gen was quite buff, even after living on a diet of wild fruits and dinosaur meat, mostly thanks to exercising, even if he was a bit haggard. But compared to this universe’s Gen, he looked like a bodybuilder. -Yeah man, I’m Gen, the raddest, chillest dude in the village.- The Hot-Blooded Boxer scowled. -Ya ain’t Gen Shishioh.- Hippie Gen smiled. -No man, I get it, you’re confused, but I can assure you I’m Gen… What can I do to prove it?- Main Gen looked at this dimensional doppelganger for a moment, his eyes narrowing into pensive slits as if he was considering his course of action. Finally he hit the base of his fist on his open palm. -I got it! I know how ya can prove ya’re me!- Hippie Gen smiled and gave a thumbs up. -Coooool, just tell me what can I d-
His words were interrupted by Gen’s fist punching as hard as he could. The sound of broken bones and broken teeth echoed in the tent as Hippie Gen went down like a sack of potatoes. Gen cleaned the blood dripping out of his nose and spit on his counterpart unconscious body. -If ya’re Gen Shishioh, ya would’ve taken that like a man.- He looked around, still confused. -There is somethin’ really fuckin’ weird in this dimension.- Gen moved towards the exit peeking out the tent before turning back inside and kicking his downed doppelganger. -Somethin’ fuckin’ freaky.- He left the tent and scanned the area looking for the others.
|
|
|
Post by HungryHunter on Nov 20, 2018 3:58:39 GMT
Eve snorted when the strange man before her began to laugh. “I kill big arrogant buffoons like you weekly. I can’t even justify giving myself a bonus for doing it it’s so routine.” Eve’s hand came apart and she raised her cannon right at the transforming creature’s head, only stopping when its aura filled her vision. “Ah, fucking hell.” Eve glanced for cover, but her sluggish legs would never carry her swift enough to it. Eve crumpled to the ground, folding herself into the smallest possible space, legs and arms defending her skull. The blast tore over her and she felt searing agony. She smelled vapor that was her own flesh, an experience far worse than the pain.
She straightened her legs. She found herself standing. Good, she still could. A skeletal gauntlet fell to the ground and she looked at her arm to find her flesh so thoroughly burned away that her connective tissues were gone. She couldn’t see the extent of her damage over her body and she was already turning off her nerve endings to avoid fainting from the nervous knowledge of it. Her companions could see it however. Parts of her skull, most of her arms and upper back, and the fronts of her shins and tops of her feet were denuded of flesh, scoured down to the steel.
Eve hunched forward, eyes sinking into their sockets as she gave up any semblence of humanity. “You motherfucker…” She snarled, a metallic rumble. “No civilians. Falken, no need to hold back.” She raised her cannon and fired. The few strands of tissue still connecting it to the rest of her arm snapped and the metal tube flew back into the bar behind her. “FUCK!” Eve looked down at the stumps where her hands were. Strands of flesh were waving desperately, trying to keep her together, but without anything to eat she was limited to the mass she already had and it just wasn’t enough. “Garo, eyes! Fumi, keep Angelico out of this! Falken, cover fire!” Eve fell backwards over the bar, landing in a clumsy heap. She had no time for dignity, she just needed some level of cover.
“Huh? Of course it’s what I want. I’m not a selfish lover.” John was having difficulty thinking even before he got in here with his hunger. Now there was only one thing on his mind. He felt incredible when her hands cupped his face, fireworks going off in his nerve endings. “Of course you can take my pain.” He put his hands on her hips and began sliding them down. “That’s what this is for.” He leaned in to kiss her, ready to start draining her energy through lip contact.
|
|
|
Post by Vapovile on Nov 22, 2018 1:21:09 GMT
Strangely enough, it appeared that the Haruko duo ignored his question about who Camilla is to them. Were they hiding something here? Given the strange way everyone was acting and how Camilla was able to put these people in a state of euphoria, it was clear that she was at least the leader of this group. He made his way toward the table and pulled out a chair, nodding to the two Harukos. "Before I agree to accept your generous offers...what is the currency here? I don't wish to unwittingly scam you, after all." Alex said to the two.
If the Harukos said his food was either free or they take cash, Alex would agree to take some coffee, but politely decline pie. He would then carefully watch them make the coffee, paying special attention to their hands and if they put in anything besides the coffee. He didn't trust that they wouldn't try to drug him, after all. He wouldn't be able to tell if they drugged the pie, as that was already made.
---
Mizuki slowly approached the tent Camilla was in, unsure of how to approach the situation. Diplomacy had never been her strong suit, but turning violent here would only complicate matters. Her eyes then darted to a small boy running toward her, her instincts kicking in and sidestepping his advance, holding her right leg out to trip him up and grabbing his right arm on the way down, putting her left knee on his back and holding his right arm up so he can't use it.
"...why were you running at me?" She asked, looking down at the strange boy. It was second nature for her to disable anyone who was running directly at her, as that was how to survive where she was from. It didn't matter that this appeared to be a young boy, as the Hidden World was full of people who were much more competent than their age would suggest. "...I take it this was an accident?" She added, trying to give the boy a way out if this was a mistake.
|
|
|
Post by Kuma on Nov 22, 2018 3:56:12 GMT
-No need to tell me twice!- Falken started unloading his dual barrel revolver. Each cannon could load a different type of ammo and the combination created the shot. In this case, one of the chambers was loaded by red Magma rounds, while the other one had blue Lightning rounds. The AI in charge of mixing the ammunition proclaimed
[Best Match: Exploding Bolt]
A large blast of darkened brimstone was spewed out of the barrels. The combination looked like a dirty thunderstorm. The stormy sphere combined with Eve’s shot moving towards the target. As this happened Fumi, who had turned into smoke to avoid the blast, reformed and flew towards Angelico, materializing and offering her tiny shoulder as a support. The Phantom Thief of the Rose was in shock, barely noticing what was happening around him, the unbearable pain on his arm blocking his thoughts. Garo, following Eve’s instructions, shot two arrows aimed at the Herald, but both of them veered off course thanks to Falken’s massive blast. The Herald, currently sporting a Vampiric form, turned into a vaguely humanoid formation of red mist, avoiding the incoming attacks and reforming meters away. Falken used that time to change his cover and reload his gun, now with orange Flame bullets and green Wind bullets. Garo readied to arrows and crouched. Falken and Eve's combined blast exploded against the wall making the whole rumble tremble and shake, with dust falling from the roof.
The Herald, calmer than before, knocked his cane twice on the worn out the wooden floor and spoke. -Sorry, excuse my recent overreaction.- His voice was cold and collected. -I’ve been having quite the bad day and your negative to my offer has taken me over the edge.- He didn’t smile, but his posture seemed to be more relaxed. -Allow me to introduce myself, I’m known as “The Herald” and I come from another universe.- He explained. -I was tasked by a colleague to watch over this building and this dimensional waypoint.- He looked around until he found a chair that wasn’t completely destroyed, thanks to being behind a large concrete pillar. He picked it up and sat down. -Let us talk, I can help you bypass the security system if you want to leave and I can help you acquire the item you’re searching for, as it not in the purview of what I have to protect.- He smiled for the first time, revealing sharp vampiric fangs. -I only require a small favor from you.- Garo looked towards Eve, who had thankfully landed behind the bar, where they kept their snacks and might have been indulging on them. -Harper-dono?- He asked, wondering what would the Shapeshifter course of action be.
At first, Johnathan would feel the energy moving towards him, filling his body and curing his wounds but soon the current started to reverse. She wasn’t taking her life-force, she was forcibly pulling out his demonic essence. -I can cure you or your taint brother-friend, I can make you pure and clean.- Her fingers turned into iron rods, securing her grip as she started trying to pull out the demon out of Johnathan. -Don’t resist… the pain will only last for a moment.- She kept talking in a calm tone as her arms got as hard as her fingers.
Gen rushed out the tent looking around like a man possessed He knocked several people off their feet as he ran and he knocked out a couple more with well-placed strikes as he traced a chaotic path crossing through tents and disrupting the whole camp. Familiar faces were all over the place, an Arthur Cromwell doing ice sculptures, a dimensional doppelganger of Crow Cementerio who was taking hits from a gun-shaped bong and many more. His maniacal dash bore fruits when he encountered Mizuki and saw how she knocked the kid down.
-Messa, you’re hurting me!- The kid protested with a weak voice, barely able to breath with her weight over him. -Sorry, I wasn’t looking, I was going to meet Messa Camilla, there is a man who looked like he needed help.- The kid proclaimed as Gen got closer. -Yo, Ninja Girl, this place is fuckin’ messed up, find yer boss and let’s fuckin’ leave.- The Hot-Blooded Boxer was still kind of heavy-breathed from all the running and a small line of blood still dripped out of his nose, but his eyes were clear and his tone steady. -I don’t know what kind of fuckin’ voodoo crap is happenin’ here, but I ain’t want any of it.- Gen crouched to see the kid more closely. -And leave the kid, he ain’t an asshole, that much I can tell.- He stood up and looked around. -Where’re the other motherfuckers, I don’t have time to fuckin’ run all around lookin’ for them?- He asked.
-Currency? What’s currency?- They asked at the same time, tilting their heads to the side with a confused look. -Never head that word before.- They wondered while pressing her cheeks with their index finger. -Don’t you want the coffee and the pie? I don’t know what’s currency is, maybe is something from where you come from not-Alex?-
|
|
|
Post by HungryHunter on Nov 23, 2018 1:14:18 GMT
Eve could only hear Falken’s attack as she scrounged behind the bar. Clumsy tendrils ripped open bags all around her, pouring the contents into her mouth. She couldn’t convert it into her own tissue as readily as Huntsman would, but her stomach was in overdrive making the change. Luckily, there was a lot of jerky. Meat made meat. She peeked out when the shooting stopped. The fist she left lying on the ground clenched.
“Apologize to the dead, monster. We are not the ones who need to forgive you.” She snarled, but she nodded for Garo to step down. She clumsily jumped over the counter and knelt to retrieve her arm. Her body was migrating flesh from the areas least necessary to her arms, allowing it to connect with new tendons, but leaving her face an iron skull. Every bitter instinct cried out for the destruction of this abomination, but her reason held her in check. It had demonstrated its superiority, whatever it was. They could possibly beat it, but they wouldn’t do it without blood spilled on their side, possibly even deaths.
She made a show of ignoring the vampiric gentleman as she walked to Angelico. “Garo, I need a quick decision. If we need to remove this arm, do it quick.” She grimaced at the sight. Most of what she saw she couldn't even recognize anymore. “Alright, creature. What is your favor?” Eve glared out from shining sockets, shoving her anger deep.
John felt good as Camilla’s energy began flowing into it. Better than good. His energy drain was like sex and feasting on a favorite food rolled into one feeling. He channeled enough to heal his collarbone before the tides turned. He could tell instantly that this wasn’t like what he did. Back when he first met Tilda, he had let her feed on his blood to nurse her back to health. This wasn’t like the feeling he got after her feedings. This was something deeper. She was trying to carve away some intrinsic part of him. A look of horror dawned on his face.
“Wait! Stop! HEY! HEEEEEEELP!” He tried to pull away, but her fingers dug deep into his arm. The physical pain was nothing, drowned out by the terror of what was being done to him. His tail escaped through the slit in the back of his pants and turned. “When I say to stop, you stop!” He snarled, tail spearing forward for her elbow. The arrow tip could piercing the flesh and bone of a regular human, but he had no idea what it would do to her. Panic was making bile rise in his throat. Would anybody hear him?
|
|
|
Post by Vapovile on Nov 26, 2018 2:07:21 GMT
Were these two serious? Did they seriously not know what currency was?! It took immense restraint to not show Alex's frustration on his face. "Currency is...something you give in exchange for something else. It's how a market works. Like...you need supplies to make coffee and pie, yes? So you pay someone who can give you them. And to keep buying more supplies, you would charge something from customers?" He tried to explain. How did they not know the basics of how a free market worked?! Was everything subsidized by the government here?! "But if you don't charge anything, some coffee would be nice, thank you." He stated, still trying to wrap his head around the culture of these backwater hippies.
---
After the initial shock of knocking down a seemingly helpless boy, Mizuki looked up at Gen with a blank stare. "And how can YOU tell that he's not an 'asshole', as you say?" Looking down, she debated with herself on letting the young boy go. If he was after her, he would have pulled something by now. She released his arm and was about to chide him for running at people...when John's scream echoed from inside the tent.
Flinging open the tent's door flap, Mizuki saw the scene between John and Camilla and dashed forward, grabbing the back of Camilla's dress with one hand and placing one of her daggers to the leader's throat with the other. "...and just who are you, and what are you doing to this fool?" The young assassin asked with cold professionalism. "And no sudden moves...you don't want to test me." She added, moving her head enough to glare at John. Of course the idiot inccubus got into trouble. Mizuki turned her head toward Gen, remembering the boy. "You! Seize the boy now!" She called out, knowing that he was going to try and run off to get help.
|
|
|
Post by Kuma on Nov 28, 2018 2:16:39 GMT
-Unhand me!- Camilla shrieked upon being threatened by Mizuki. The leader of his community was accustomed to being threatened and she wasn’t accustomed to Gen Shishioh. -Sorry, busy now!- Gen replied to Mizuki’s order as he dashed into the room and attempted to drop kick Camilla in the face, closing the distance with a jump. His feet seemed to make contact at first, as his target was surprised, but in a split second, she puffed into blue smoke, leaving Gen trailing forward and hitting the side of the tent, buckling one of the supports. He fell on the ground but broke his fall and quickly stood up. -Fuck, I really need to punch somethin’.- Gen looked around as the voice of Camilla echoed around them.
-Violence is never a solution, I only wished to take his pain away.- Her seductive tone continued, growing almost supernaturally alluring. -I’m not a bad person I just want to help people… I want to take their pain away.- A ghostly visage of her body floated over them. -I can take your memories and the pain related to them from you.- She gestured towards Mizuki. -I can take your wounds and your pain away, just like I did to the other Gen Shishioh.- Gen sneered while showing his bloodied knuckles. -He might fuckin’ need it more than me… that and fuckin’ dental work.- The specter levitating over them showed the faintest hint of a scowl, before returning to her calm and seductive demeanor. -I only want peace for others, I’ll take their pain and strife.- She smiled. -I only want to help.- Camilla extended her hands towards them.
-Pay?- They asked with a cute yet confused smile. -What’s that?- The duo got to work, meticulously picking coffee beans and grinding them in large vintage crushers. They brewed the coffee through several layers of thin cloth, that drained into a transparent crystal cup with an iron frame around it, like a cage protecting the glass. The two of them walked in unison each of them using a hand to carry the platter. They served it as one. -I hope you enjoy your Coffee, Not-Alex.- And with that they left him, returning to the central counter to clean up.
-Unlike your merry group, there is another set of intruders who’re actually trying to take something important and under my purview.- The Herald started explaining. -I need them taken care off.- He tapped his cane twice and the whole group suddenly was on the Dimensional Waypoint again, the door they opened closing on its own. -As you see I've got a humble.- He made a pause to smirk. -Amount of control over this place and I could easily trap you inside it if I pleased, but right now I prefer we work together.- The Herald wasn’t revealing something. He was truly wounded, as the previous skirmishes had been depleting his energy. Only being inside the Waypoint was allowing him to give this facade of power. Even worse, the Gainen Medal being carried by Gen and the Gainen Energy hosted by Callis made it impossible for him to use his dimensional warping powers on the others, so he needed Eve’s team to help him.
Garo, who lowered his bow when Eve asked was still alert, his steely eyes locked on the Herald, ready to shoot at the first sign of danger. Falken was also focused on the enigmatic stranger, but not out of readiness, but out of curiosity, as something told him he had met the Herald before.
|
|
|
Post by HungryHunter on Nov 28, 2018 7:23:09 GMT
"Garo! Angelo's arm! Remove it or not!?" Eve snapped. She didn't like being ignored and the arm was still a twisted growth attached to Angelico's shoulder. It needed to be either treated or removed, and time was of the essence. "Now, as for you, Mr. Herald, I have an answer for you." Eve pulled a roll of paper and a pen from her coat pocket. She quickly scribbled something out and showed the Herald the paper. "I, Eve Harper and those under my command, hold to slay the thieves inside of the laboratory of Doctor Lazarus in exchange for free passage through it." There were spaces for both to sign. "This is just a guarantee for us." She smiled, handing the extradimensional abomination the pen.
"You are my hero." John looked at Mizuki with lovestruck eyes for an instant. "Er, sorry. Business first. Thanks Gen, good to see you up!" John stretched, feeling his recently healed body sing in harmony. It still demanded more, but that would have to wait. "I understand your desire. I feel that passing every hurting human on the streets. And if you only took the pain from those who consented, I woudln't begrudge you. But you tried to steal a part of me." Claws sprang from John's fingers and six slimy wings from his back. "Now that part will punish you." John lunged with blue fire dancing on his claws, taking a vicious swipe at her shoulder, hoping to disable her crushing grip.
|
|
|
Post by Vapovile on Dec 3, 2018 20:33:36 GMT
The strange unity in Haruko and Yamiko's actions were bizarre to Alex, as the Haruko and Yamiko he knew couldn't be more out of sync. He nodded his head when they served his coffee. "Yes, thank you." He picked up the glass and looked into it. Putting his nose above the cup, Alex took a sniff of the steam coming out of it...and smelled perfectly fine coffee. The color didn't seem to have anything amiss either. After taking a few sips, Alex stood up from his chair and grabbed the cup.
"I apologize, but I must be somewhere else. I'll return the glass when I'm done with it." Alex said to the Harukos, giving a small wave as he exited the tent. His attention was pulled by a metallic sound nearby, which unbeknownst to Alex was Gen hitting the metal pole. He began to walk toward the tent Camilla was inside, scanning the area to see if there was anything amiss.
---
A deep scowl spread across Mizuki's face when Gen ignored her orders, opting to sprint at the woman to try punching Camilla instead. Mizuki then saw that Camilla was able to teleport, appearing elsewhere in the room and trying to say she was trying to 'take away pain'. The young assassin gripped her daggers even tighter as she looked up at the village leader. "You want to take my memories...my pain, away? Why? So I could become another mindless drone milling around this village?" She asked, motioning her hand toward the tent's exit. She shot a disgusted look at John when he addressed her, but continued.
"You're not taking these people's pain...you're taking away their sense of purpose. And while I don't care about the people you've taken...you are still in my way." Touching her right hand to her face, Mizuki's white mask appeared on her face once more, the assassin beginning to slowly walk toward Camilla. "So I will give you one chance...tell us what we need to know, or I will rip it out of you by force." She stated, already knowing that her conciliatory gesture is probably a trap.
|
|
|
Post by Kuma on Dec 6, 2018 5:20:27 GMT
The Herald smiled, picking the piece of paper and signing the contract with a smile. His calligraphy was very elegant and baroque. -We have a deal.- He turned towards Angelico and pointed with his head. -As a show of good faith, I’ll fix your friend’s wound I so carelessly inflicted.- Garo turned towards him, glaring at the Herald, who as he walked, shifted into a new form. He was a tall buxom woman with blue hair and dazzling green eyes. Her skin was dark olive and smooth, almost as if it was made of marble. She was dressed in loose semi-transparent fabrics surrounding her body in a very Arabian style. This form lacked feet and she floated, like a ghost or a mirage above ground. Looking down on Garo, who kept his scowl at full blast, she spoke with a delicate and velvety voice. -Please, ask me to fix your friend.- Garo looked at the Herald with a puzzled expression. -What?- The Herald new form smiled behind the veil covering her mouth and asked again. -Please, you need to ask me so I can do it.- The Archer looked at Eve, confused, and shrugged. -Fix him.- He said while pointing at Angelico.
-Your wish is my command.- She snapped her fingers and the Phantom Thief of the Rose’s arm was surrounded by ribbons of light and then those ribbons shattered like glass, revealing a completely healthy arm with only faint scarring. -There, that should do it.- The Herald’s body exploded into a cloud of blue smoke before turning into another shape. A young man with innocent silver eyes and spiky white hair. He was dressed all in white, blue and silver. One of his arms had armor from the knuckles to the shoulder, styled as a silver oriental dragon. -If that’s all please follow me, we’ve pests to exterminate.-
Camilla didn’t listen to Mizuki’s rousing speech as she was busy dodging John’s attacks. Curiously she didn’t avoid Gen. -BITCH!- He screamed as he threw his fist directly to her liver and he simply phased through. -FUCK!- Gen attempted to drop kick Camilla, but once again she seemed undisturbed by his attempts to harm him. Jonathan's slashes were another story. -We can solve this like- She was interrupted mid-speech as she flew away from the range of John’s claws and blue fire. Gen, on the floor after the last failed attempt, noticed what was happening. -She is scared of yer attacks! Fuck her up!- The Hot-Blooded Boxer stood up and prepared himself to attack. Once he saw the next attack coming from John he decided to jump kick on her face, his foot phasing through her face. Gen’s theory was correct, as incapable of seeing, John’s claws reached her, drawing blue blood out from the 3 wounds he inflicted.
-AAAAARGH!- Her scream was like a thousand nails scratching a chalkboard. A shockwave of disruptive energy surged from her body, like layers upon layers of glass being broken, with a crystalline echo behind them. The floor beneath their feet shook a powerful tremor.
Moments earlier, as Alex came out from the tent, he saw the streets, or better put, the passages between the tents full of the people Gen knocked out on his mad dash towards Camilla’s tent. Most people were on the floor, grunting with pain. There was a single individual standing. Shuffling his feet and walking more like a zombie than a man. It was Callis. The expression on his face was one of utter and complete despair. He looked more like his actual age than ever before, tired, covered in dirt, wounds, and blood. He had the eyes of a man lost. Alex wouldn’t have much time to ponder the extent of the psychological damage the Beast Knight was suffering as the ground started shaking and a large chasm opened, long and deep as if a gigantic invisible claw had slashed the ground, another two chasms opened parallel to this one. Thankfully none under Callis or Alex, but many of the individuals downed by Gen fell down into them. Callis, still out of it, kept walking towards the nearest abyss.
|
|
|
Post by HungryHunter on Dec 8, 2018 7:21:43 GMT
“Then it’s settled.” Eve rolled up the contract and placed it one of her many coat pockets. She watched the Herald heal Angelico with interest. That was three forms she knew the powers of now. “Are you alright?” She eyed him carefully for any signs of odd behavior. If his answers satisfied her, she turned to her temporary boss. “So, give me a rundown. What are we dealing with here?” She loaded her cannon while she walked, ready to fire at a moment’s notice.
John felt blood splash his fingers and the tug of flesh on his claws. He did not relish either. Even if he did, he wouldn’t have much time to celebrate, as the shockwave she released sent his light body tumbling back. He dug his claws into the earth to stop himself and jumped back to his feet. He gave her no respite and lunged immediately, wings throwing him forward. Blue flames poured uncontrollably from his palms, making sweeping streams when he swung his claws for her other arm, seeking to create wounds that were crippling but survivable.
“Why can I hurt you?” He wondered out loud, continuing past her body to attack the back of her knee with his newly muscular tail. “ Perhaps it’s because demons are the natural enemies of the gods? You do seem to have a touch of the divine in you.” He hoped to get her attention for Mizuki to attack from the front. Hopefully she would have more luck than Gen. “Not me though. I’m only the natural enemy of people like you.”
|
|
|
Post by Vapovile on Dec 18, 2018 23:10:41 GMT
A glare spread across Mizuki's face when she saw that nobody was paying attention to her. She watched as Gen and John attacked Camilla, some of their attacks passing right through. Her curiosity was piqued when Gen's attack phased through her head, but John's attack managed to strike home. Before she could help in the attack, Camilla's ear-piercing scream reverberated throughout the area, causing her to pause for a second. The ground shaking made her pause further. "...what just happened?" The young assassin asked nobody in particular. Shaking her head slightly, Mizuki dashed forward, leaping into the air to try and deliver a horizontal slash to Camilla's front, attempting to open a larger wound while John distracted her.
---
Outside, Alex folded his arms across his chest when he saw the crowd of people gathered around the nearby tent. "What...happened here?" He asked out loud, hoping someone nearby would answer. He watched as Callis slowly moved toward the tent nearby, but before he could ask what was going on, the ground began to shake and 3 large chasms opened up nearby. He instantly sprints into action and opens several portals in the abyss, trying to wrap chains around as many people and possible to stop them from falling down. Alex then jogged toward Callis and placed his hand on the Beast Knight's shoulder. "Mr. Nomene! You do realize you are walking toward a pit, correct? I would advise you wake up." He firmly stated, keeping his hand on Callis's shoulder to pull him back away from the pit if his warning was ignored.
|
|