|
Post by Vapovile on Sept 6, 2018 0:24:26 GMT
Amelia squinted at Martha when she finished talking, not sure how to proceed. "You didn't decide to attack her? What, someone ordered you to or something?" She asked, frowning at Martha. Caroline moved her head to block Amelia's line of sight once more. "As a matter of fact...yes! I think I can explain what happened." Caroline looked back at Martha, giving a reassuring thumbs-up toward her. "You see...we're both not really human. Think of us as...smart zombies." Caroline paused for a minute at how she just categorized themselves. "Anyway, the people who made us can order us to do pretty much anything, and we have to obey. Like, physically unable to disobey. So what guess happened was that Martha's creator wanted something from your...half sister, and sent them to get it." Caroline observed Amelia's unchanging face, looking for understanding. "So it sounds like Marta was doing that against her will...so could you forgive them?" She asked.
The fire mage closed her eyes for a second, beginning to think. Images of Ashlea's injured body flashed through her mind, then images of the brutal fight she had with Alexis. The sheer fury both of them felt in their battle wasn't anything Amelia had ever experienced before. Was it right to just...forgive one of the people responsible for starting that?! Opening her eyes slightly, Amelia saw Caroline with a concerned look on her face. "...uuuugh. Fine, I forgive you, as long as you regret your actions." Amelia grumbled. Caroline's face lit up as she reached forward, hugging Amelia. "Aaaaaaaw! I knew you could patch things up!" She stated, letting go. Amelia slowly backed away to her original spot, looking down at the ground slightly.
|
|
|
Post by HungryHunter on Sept 6, 2018 4:36:32 GMT
"Of course I regret it! I regretted it the instant I was ordered to do it! You think I like going around attacking innocent people!? That's for bastards like Robin!" Tears threatened to break their dam, and Martha quickly turned to hide them. "We should go. I'm surprised store security isn't already here to kick us out. Fucking Robin! She didn't get the money, did she!?" She turned to Caroline. Not getting the furniture and losing the money anyway would be a great way to earn a punishment. Martha shuddered. Was Marika's son even more crazy than her? What would he do to dolls who lost that much money?
|
|
|
Post by Vapovile on Sept 7, 2018 10:31:22 GMT
Martha's sudden reaction took Amelia aback slightly. Caroline quickly stepped up to address Martha. "Nope! I still have the money!" She declared, motioning to her right boot. "She did try to steal from my pockets, buuuuuut I had a rubber duck in there. Great, right?" She asked, Amelia rolling her eyes. "Cute. Anyway, I'll call security to try fishing out your friend. Do you both still need to do shopping?" Amelia asked. Caroline beamed. "Of course we do! Would you mind staying long enough to get the furniture, Martha?" She asked, giving a warm smile and cocking her head slightly.
|
|
|
Post by HungryHunter on Sept 8, 2018 4:13:44 GMT
"We won't be thrown out?" Martha cocked her head. "...well okay. They wouldn't be very happy if we didn't get the furniture after all that." She sighed and stretched, ready to go before she turned around with a sheepish expression. "...do you have another rubber duck? Jane likes them, and... sorry, they're your ducks, I'm being dumb." She rubbed the back of her head, glad she couldn't blush.
|
|
|
Post by Vapovile on Sept 8, 2018 5:02:33 GMT
"I mean, you all didn't just assault me. It was your...friend...sister...whatever down there." Amelia spat in the direction of the hole in the dock. Caroline's face lit up when Martha asked about the ducks.
"Of course I have more rubber ducks! I probably have thousands in a crate back where I am from." She stated. Amelia cocked her head slightly at the weird phrasing. "Erm...well, if you need help getting your furniture home, I can teleport it to wherever you need." Amelia stated.
Looking back at Amelia, Caroline began to walk toward her. "That would be wonderful! Again, I am so sorry for what Robin did to you. How about I make it up to you? Here is my number..." Caroline pulled a small rectangular card from her pocket and inserted it into Amelia's, taking her aback by the boldness. "...and you can call me later to go shopping! Does that sound good, oh mighty dragon?" She asked, giving a warm smile. Amelia stood still for a moment. "Uh...sure, I will give you a call later. Hopefully I still have a job later..." Amelia mumbled under her breath.
|
|
|
Post by HungryHunter on Sept 8, 2018 6:32:37 GMT
"Oh, you like them too... guess it's a bath person thing." Martha scratched her head, wondering who needed a whole crate of rubber ducks. She didn't even like baths. "Yeah, yeah, shopping. Let's get looking. And hey, there's no reason to rush. I'm sure Marika's already forgotten we left. We can look at cool stuff too. Like, I don't know... ducks." She shrugged, walking back out into the store. The thought of that crater Robin had left in the floor was troubling her, but it was also like a weight was lifted off her chest. She didn't have to watch the klepto anymore and Raven had vanished with her. Maybe she could just relax for once. "You coming? I'll lead you to the bath section!" She called back.
|
|
|
Post by Vapovile on Sept 8, 2018 22:37:36 GMT
The group spent the next several minutes walking around Vorpals, looking at the different departments and picking out the needed furniture. Once they checked out, Amelia teleported the items to a field where Caroline had placed her Kaspa gate at.
"Ok, that looks like all of it. Do you need any further assistance?" Amelia asked. Caroline shook her head. "I believe that is all! Thank you once more. We still on for Saturday?" She asked, Amelia shaking her head. "Sure. I will meet you at the mall. Alright, I should get back to work. Goodbye!" And with that, Amelia teleported away. Caroline picked up one of the chairs and smiled. "She took that well. Right this way!" Taking a step forward, Caroline disappeared into the Kaspa, prepared to deal with Arachne and the others once more.
|
|
|
Post by HungryHunter on Sept 9, 2018 17:34:08 GMT
---
The arena smelled of sweat and blood. Fists struck flesh over and over, forming a rhythm almost song-like to Dan's ears. He watched the combatants fight like an excited puppy, nearly bouncing up and down as he waited his turn. It wasn't just the delight of combat that he anticipated, although that was certainly a delicacy he looked forward to. No, he had another sin pulling him. His wallet was empty and he had a child to feed. He was tired of playing bouncer to shady clubs and bodyguard to small-time politicians and gangsters. Something steady was what he needed.
Beside him was another fighter, although unlike him, she didn't look it. Slender to the point of being skeletal and with a blind eye, she didn't even dress up. A worn out band shirt and jeans with holes made her just look like a beat-up teen. "I think we're getting in. These guys are scrubs." Alexis eyed the competition with her one good eye. Dan had to agree. Most of those here were young, nervous looking. Mid-sized fish from small ponds who were just now realizing that there were thousands of people out there who were bigger and meaner.
At the back was a classic example. A redhead who couldn't be far out of her teens, dressed up all in white (Dan knew she must be used to fighting in a regulated arena by this factor alone. Nobody wore white to a real fight.), shuddered every time she looked at Alexis. "You've got an admirer back there." He jerked his head back. Alexis did her best to look casual, but the young woman clearly spotted her and went red when she turned. "Huh. Maybe she's thinking we kinda look similar." She stroked her chin, taking a glance at the tall girl in pink next to the redhead. "Maybe she's another long-lost sister and you're actually a triplet." Dan suggested, making Alexis burst out laughing.
|
|
|
Post by Vapovile on Sept 13, 2018 5:52:12 GMT
"I would certainly hope she's isn't a triplet, I'm the one that should have known the most." Came a tall red-headed woman next to Alexis, wearing a simple black t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans. Angela laughed along with her daughter at the joke Dan made. "Who knows, maybe you have a fan? Perhaps they might even want your autograph." Angela joked, motioning toward Alexis. She had come to this arena to watch Alexis's debut and cheer her on, perhaps even offer some pointers. They had drug along Alexis's younger brother Aiden, but he was currently off hanging out with one of his friends.
Over where the girl in white was standing, the pink-haired one perked up and tapped her friend on the shoulder. "She's noticed you! Come on, go talk to her! You know you want to!" Melody encouraged, her eyes filled with determination.
|
|
|
Post by HungryHunter on Sept 14, 2018 3:32:02 GMT
“Mom, I’m not even in the league yet.” Alexis rolled her eyes. “I don’t have fans.”
Dan awkwardly shifted when he remembered Angela was there. Hanging out with a friend’s mother made him feel very young and stupid. More awkward, however, was the woman beside the one that looked like Alexis. She also looked oddly familiar. She looked like Haruko. Was she another Miyata that Dan just hadn’t met? None of the others had pink hair though. He figured she had a different mother, explaining for that. Besides, this woman didn’t look like the other Miyatas. She looked like Haruko. It must be a coincidence. Dan thought, shrugging. “Just a coincidence I guess.”
At the back of the line, the woman in white stiffened. “No! I can’t! It’s weird!” She clasped her hands together like she was playing. “I’ll… I’ll fight her! They allow sparring at these events outside of the regular tests! She’ll accept, it gives you a chance to show off.” She nodded desperately. "Yes, that's how we'll do this. Could you distract Dan? I don't wanna talk to him."
|
|
|
Post by Vapovile on Sept 16, 2018 3:58:11 GMT
"Well, you certainly have at least one fan." Angela smiled as she motioned to herself, reaching her right hand out to hug Alexis for a second. Angela recalled her own days of tournament fighting, though that was mostly limited to the dueling club at Gateway. Her gaze then fell upon the strange girl Alexis and Dan were looking at. She did seem strangely familiar...maybe they came from a similar region?
Melody grinned at the girl's response. "Suuuuuuure! Let's not talk to the sadist, that would be weird. Let's try beating her up!" Melody let out a few chuckles, nodding her head. "But that's your call! I'll distract Danny boy while you talk to her!" And with that, Melody darted behind the girl and began pushing her toward Alexis.
|
|
|
Post by HungryHunter on Sept 16, 2018 20:06:40 GMT
“Mooooom, nooooo!” Alexis covered her face when Angela hugged her. “Just you being here makes me look soft, let alone-” “You! I challenge you to a duel!” Alexis started at the announcement, looking up to see that the young woman she had noticed was now standing right next to her. “Oh, that’s why you were checking me out? Well then, I accept!” She couldn’t get any initial read on this chick’s powers.
She had a sword at her hip, but that didn’t really mean anything. She could be anything from a mystic weapon user to a ki-based martial artist to a mage. “You know you can’t use that in here, right? If you’re thinking this is like the Gateway arena cause they talk about that on TV, nah. That’s unique magic, never seen before or since.” She pointed at the sword at the girl’s hip. “Oh… right.” Her opponent unhooked her belt and put it in a basket by the arena, beside her phone and wallet.
Dan was surprised by the swiftness with which she was snatched up. Very few other people had gotten into duels. He hadn’t made a move on anybody himself out of mere ethics. They all looked so young and scared he didn’t feel okay with singling any out. Maybe one would approach him? Ah, our approach to picking women up at the bar. That works out so well there we might as well try it here.
|
|
|
Post by Vapovile on Sept 18, 2018 5:09:31 GMT
Angela cocked her head slightly when the strange girl challenged Alexis. She gave a small wave to the two of them, glancing over at the sword she put down into the basket. Why would someone show up here with a sword...? That fact, coupled with the bizarre choice to wear a white outfit led Angela to believe this girl had little experience with professional fighting, or even amature fighting. "Well, that was sudden. Good luck, Alexis!" Angela said, leaning back slightly against the wall.
Looking over at Dan for a second, Angela motioned toward Alexis and the other girl. "So, do you plan to find someone to fight? Or do you want to watch my daughter defeat this newbie?" She asked, a smile growing when she finished her sentence.
|
|
|
Post by HungryHunter on Sept 18, 2018 6:12:30 GMT
"As much fun as watching Alexis is, I need to get a fight of my own. That's what gets you noticed here." He searched the crowd, but the taller woman from before was nowhere to be seen. "Maybe I really will just have to pick on one of the small fry." He shuffled his feet. It didn't feel right, but he did need a proper fight.
Inside the arena, Alexis and her opponent squared off. Up close, Alexis really could see how similar they were. She focused on ignoring it as the arena's timer ticked down. "3... 2... 1... go!" The instant the word left the speaker's mesh, Alexis blasted her opponent to the other side of the ring with a stream of flame. She bounced off the ropes and dropped to her knees, catching herself only with her hands. "Sorry, kid, but-" A blinding flash was prevented from blinding everybody around by a polarizing forcefield, but Alexis herself wasn't so lucky. Fists began raining on her while she couldn't see, backing her into a corner.
|
|
|
Post by Vapovile on Sept 18, 2018 9:44:50 GMT
Watching Dan shuffle his feet uncomfortably, Angela rolled her eyes once and spoke up. "Well if you're not impressed by the current offerings...I suppose I have a few minutes to spare before Alexis finds a real challenger." She stated, motioning toward a nearby arena. "Though I am going to warn you up front...I am pretty strong. I am the one who taught Alexis all she knows, after all." A smile appeared on her face once more, Angela thinking of how Alexis had taken a fondness to training, while Ashlea wanted nothing to do with it. Fortunately, Aiden was also taking a liking to training, driven by his own desire to surpass Alexis. Her eyes squinted slightly when the strange girl in white managed to turn the tide, beginning to punch Alexis.
|
|
|
Post by HungryHunter on Sept 19, 2018 16:59:25 GMT
"Hm? Uh... sure." Dan hid an excited smile behind his hand. Alexis had mentioned how tough her mother was many times. Alexis herself with a delight to train with, and she said her mother was even stronger. It didn't hurt that she was gorgeous. He knew she was married, but fuck it, he could fight married women all he wanted. He picked an arena and hopped in, leaving his wallet and phone in the basket beside it. "Ready when you are." He stretched on the ropes, limbering up before the fight.
Alexis took a few more hits before twisting to the side. She felt a fist graze her stomach in passing and flicked up her foot. She heard the crack of a successful hit and grinned. "Broken nose? Broken tooth?" She wondered out loud, finally able to blurrily see that she had kicked her opponent right in the face. "Whiplash, help me out!" From darkness a creature vaguely like a dog lunged, digging its teeth into the girl's calf. She hissed through her teeth and dropped her elbow on its head, forcing it to release.
"Alright, come on. That's enough. Let the white mages patch you up." Alexis recalled Whiplash to her side and patted her horns. "No. I'm not done." Her opponent shook her head. "Alright then, don't say I didn't warn you." Alexis held tight to Whiplash's horn and dove into her own shadow, emerging in that of her opponent. Her fist was flicking out to strike, but before it landed, an elbow snapped back into her nose. With a sick crunch, Alexis felt blood spray across her lower face. "How!?" She gurgled as she stumbled to the side. Her opponent didn't answer as she juggled Alexis off the ropes.
|
|
|
Post by Vapovile on Sept 29, 2018 14:29:33 GMT
Dan's awkward expression made Angela smile in anticipation. "I will be right there." She called over, placing her ornate purse on one of the baskets. The purse had multiple layers of security to stop any would-be thief from stealing it; a teleportation crystal inside that would summon it to Angela's side, a small lock on the top that would only open to Angela's mana, multiple reinforcement spells to make most blades useless against it, and many other features. She casually climbed into the ring, not bothering to stretch.
"Since you're the one who needs to prove yourself here, I'll let you make the first move. That fine with you, Danny boy?" She asked, a sadistic smile briefly flashing across her face before she made it into a more pleasant one. Angela briefly turned her attention toward Alexis's fight, frowning when the girl managed to hit Alexis from out of Whiplash's teleport. Did she study Alexis at Gateway? There were certainly many spectators in the various tournaments Alexis attended, so that was probably true. "One of the pitfalls of fame, I suppose..." Angela muttered to herself.
|
|
|
Post by HungryHunter on Sept 30, 2018 20:22:29 GMT
"Well, alright then." That was never a good sign, being told you could attack first. Usually it meant your opponent had well-backed confidence. Luckily, he didn't have to hold back. With the white mages everywhere, even the most grievous wounds would be repaired. He sprang off the ropes, energy swirling across his arm. "Precision Sledgehammer!" He roared, bringing down his elbow where Angela's neck met her shoulder. A good hit from this could tear muscle and cripple an entire arm. The strange girl's fists kept rattling Alexis, blinding flashes keeping her on her toes. Another flash came just as her vision was recovering, but instead of eating another hit, Alexis whipped out a tendril of darkness to wrap around the young woman's neck. It pushed her back and tightened, giving Alexis a moment to breath. Lenses of darkness defended her eyes now, withstanding the flashes her choked opponent attempted.
"Give up, kid, you're not getting out of that." More tendrils spread from her body, wrapping around and restraining the struggling light-bearer. She thrashed, but the darkness did not break and barely even wavered as she blasted forth light. "Seriously, knock it off before I start breaking bones! I'm being really nice going for submission instead of-" Her opponent flashed so brightly that even with the lenses over her eyes, she couldn't see through it. It suddenly vanished and Alexis felt something pierce her chest front and back, puncturing her lungs and other organs. The thing that had bitten her torso fell away, letting her flop onto the ropes.
The thing was pure white, shaped like a ball covered in lashing tentacles. Each tentacle was tipped with a flickering flame, a tantalizing lure to creatures of the night. A gaping mouth mindlessly opened and shut. "Never assume your enemy is helpless." The girl said. "Come on, you taught me that." She stepped back as medics rushed in and Alexis lost track of her in the haze of pain and blood loss and healing magic.
|
|
|
Post by Vapovile on Oct 2, 2018 1:30:30 GMT
Angela's attention seemed split; more focused on the beating Alexis was taking on the next ring over. Dan's predictable punch was sidestepped by Angela, who then followed up with a grab to the back of Dan's neck to hold him toward the other arena. "You seeing this? Alexis just...lost." She stated in disbelief. Just who was this girl? After a few seconds, Angela tightened her grip and moved to slam Dan against the arena floor holding her other palm out. "Oh right...we're still fighting. Let's make this quick, shall we?" She said with a sadistic smile, launching a fireball only a few feet from Dan's body. It wasn't powerful enough to do any real damage, but the concussive force behind it should batter Dan significantly.
|
|
|
Post by HungryHunter on Oct 2, 2018 5:23:08 GMT
Dan tried to swivel the moment Angela sidestepped, but she grabbed his neck before he could. He went limp like a kitten in its mother’s jaws. The crowds had begun gathering around their cage, including the recruiter. From his grin, Dan got the feeling he knew Angela. “Huh… I should ask her if she wants to fight when I’m done with you!” Dan was ready to kick out at her when she smashed him into the ground. He heard the fireball flare up and rolled.
The blast still threw him hard into the cage wall, dropping him smoking and bruised to the floor. He jumped to his feet, drawing a cheer from the crowd. “They really want you to fuck me up.” He rolled his neck. “And you’re going to have to to keep me down!” Dan still had to look good even in a losing battle after all. And just maybe enjoy himself. He flared up his aura all over his body. He couldn’t keep this up for long, but he wouldn’t last long anyway. He threw a single vicious punch for her face, entirely expecting her to move her head to the side. If she did, he’d snap his elbow out for the side of her head.
|
|