Drifter, Shapeshifter (Open on Request)

[ParamountKeymaster]

Spend a weekend in Bonsai, they said. It'll be fun, they said.

Darien wasn't exactly the adventurous type. He wasn't a traveler and he wasn't a socialite. He was the kind of guy who generally didn't stray more than five miles away from home, opting to take comfort in peaceful surroundings. Heck, if it were up to him, he would still be back home in England. He only came to America to get away from the people who were after him. He only came to Dimensional Island because his girlfriend wanted to explore it.

And he only came to Bonsai Village because his friends insisted he needed a vacation.

Well, in that case, they might as well have sent him back to Summer Snow Valley! There would've been a lot less potential for trouble there!

In all fairness, Darien understood what they were trying to do, and he at least appreciated the thought. The full moon was just a few phases away. The days leading up to it were always stressful on him physically and mentally, so in theory, a weekend spent away from the city and in the quaint eastern village seemed like a way to reduce the inevitable stress.

Then again, alcohol had similar effects.

Jen was back at the cottage they had rented. He had told her that he just wanted to walk around alone. That walk led Darien to the Tiny Dragon, where he was currently starting into his second glass of ginger beer.

He tried. He really did. But it was hard to relax when he knew what was coming.

[DanteMGalileo]

"First I get sent after a degenerate, then those... people."

Liderc landed outside the tavern. This part of Nexus was the closest to Ave or Ode, so he figured this was the best place to relax for a bit before going to check on the rest of the place. "But... Just in case there are other angels..."

He winced slightly, altering his very appearance, skin slightly darkening and hair growing out into a loose ponytail, his clothes becoming more casual. I need to learn how to change the stockings better, though, Liderc thought, frowning at the polka-dotted pair. It would work, however.



The shifted prince entered the tavern and made his way to the bar. Ryukyu Robin's is better, but I suppose it'll cost less. Raising a hand, he asked, "Gyokuro tea please... Full set." When it had arrived, the green angel seemed to finally relax... if only a little.

[ParamountKeymaster]

Darien took a deep breath through his nose, paying no mind to the man that had taken a seat beside him. He just sat there with his head in his hand, his other hand gripping his glass and occasionally lifting it to his mouth for a small sip at a time. He didn't want to go home to Jen completely hammered, but good Lord, he would do anything to get his mind off his... affliction.

"Waiter?" he mumbled, staring up at the bartender like a kicked puppy. "You... wouldn't happen to have any soups, would you? Some... what is it... miso, perhaps? Or at least some rice?"

[DanteMGalileo]

Oh, hey. Someone on this island doesn't sound like they're from Aicarme.

Heating the bottom of the teacup with a small green flame on his palm, Liderc, without looking at his neighbour, said, "Yes, it's miso soup. It and rice are pretty popular where I'm from, especially with seaweed. Hey, waiter, get me a big pot of miso with rice and seaweed!"

When the pot arrived, Liderc took a small bowl and filled it to the brim, before taking a sip... And cringing slightly. "Tastes like old rusty metal."

[ParamountKeymaster]

The Brit pushed up his glasses and started vacantly at the pot of soup before scooping himself a small portion. When he took a sip, he barely noticed anything off about the taste. All he really cared about was staving off the alcohol munchies.

Without changing his dull, mullered expression, Darien shifted his eyes towards Liderc, if for no other reason than to acknowledge the man he was sharing soup with.

[DanteMGalileo]

Putting the rather... unsavoury bowl down, the green man raised a hand. "Waiter, I've had early worms that taste better than this. Bring out the red miso."

Ignoring the soup for now, Liderc returned to the tea. "Green tea. Yes, I know, the green angel likes green tea, how predictable... What are you, anyways? The name's... Liderc. Never seen a Pelt with an aura like your's." He's certainly better-behaved than that Flint knave at least.

[ParamountKeymaster]

"_{Wasn't gonna say anything...}" Darien mumbled at Liderc's initial quip.

He then raised an eyebrow as he took a quick swig of beer. "Pelt? Bloody 'ell are you talking about? I'm a hu-umaaan."

There was a slight but still noticeable falter in his voice towards the end. Maybe it was Darien choking on the word. Maybe it was just a burp. It was hard for even him to tell.

[DanteMGalileo]

"Pelt? You mean, you don't transform into another thing? Hmm. I suppose even I can read auras wrong."

When the miso paste arrived, Liderc began adding copious amounts to his. "Makes it taste less like old rusty metal. Normally, it's better thinner, but... I suppose to each their own."

[ParamountKeymaster]

Transform...?

Liderc's critique of the soup fell on deaf ears as Darien cast a distraught look at the table. He could pick up on that at just a glance? Was his condition really so easy for any Joe Schmo to pick up on? Blimey, here he was trying to forget about his problems, and yet the entire multiverse seemed hell-bent on never letting him forget what he was.

Despite the exhaustion, there was a definite anger and frustration in Darien's voice when he turned to the barman and bluntly said, "Check, please."

[DanteMGalileo]

"I wonder how much Hoseki this costs... Hm."

Taking out the green sending stone, Liderc seemed to reach into it, pulling out what appeared to be several yellow gemstones, with a few green ones mixed in. "Three Diopside and ten amber should cover it." Their bartender, with a rather flabbergasted look, took the gemstones.

[ParamountKeymaster]

Darien blinked at Liderc in confusion. He was paying for food and drink with those? How much were those worth?? Moreover, was he trying to cover both of their bills?

Well, it felt wrong to ask and more wrong to assume, so Darien reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. Following a sickly hiccup, he asked, "No, but seriously, how much do I owe...?"

[DanteMGalileo]

As the waitress returned with a green gem and most of the yellow ones, the green angel pointed towards Darien. "Pay for his, too. Keruv's treat." That got the green man back just a few of the yellow gems, and multiple red gems. "Hopefully Serapis Caladrius isn't too mad about the tab I've built up here..."



But something seemed off...

"... What's that feeling- Oh, god, please tell me that isn't what I think it i-"

A clawed, sickly green hand with what appeared to be feathers on it reached its way from under the bar floor, grabbing Liderc's seat. The pale angel , watching the seat sink into the floor, had no choice but to take flight, shifting his clothing back to his familar uniform. Damn it, I needed the break...

Summoning his spear with a flourish, he yelled, "Anyone who can't fight, get out while you still can! Those who can... Stay if you want, I guess."

A misshapen humanoid creature crawled its way out from the floor, as if it was a spirit, though its form seemed oddly physical. Its skin was a dull, sick shade of green, its arms oddly overlong and seemingly also its wings, covered in mossy feathers. Where its feet would have been were bird-like talons dripping blood, and its head was dominated by a giant, serrated beak. "You think you can intimidate me, man-eater? Come on. Let's go."

The creature roared, splattering Liderc with a black, slimy material, apparently corrosive if the burns on him were any indicator. "Great. It's an acidic creature. And I just ate..."

[ParamountKeymaster]

"Um..." Darien once again stared at Liderc, taken aback by the angel's display of generosity. He felt bad that this stranger was sticking his neck out for him, even if was just for a few drinks, but far be it from him to hot express gratitude. "Blimey, uh... Th-Thank-"

And that's when the clawed hand reach up out of the floor and grabbed Liderc's seat.

"CRIPES-!!!" Darien jumped back, toppled to the floor and scrambled behind the edge of the bar. From there, he watched in terror as the green-skinned angel took to the air and the grotesque creature pulled itself up to confront him. What was that thing?! Why was it after this guy?! What the absolute almighty fricksicles was going on?!

Liderc was ordering the bystanders to get out while they could. The door was on the opposite end of the tavern. Darien pondered making a run for it... but... he had held up against tougher-looking opponents before. And besides, Licerc had done him a kindness. The least he could do was repay it.

Dang it, charity would be the death of him someday...

Darien reached deep into his jacket pockets, deep into the infinite space Patrick had provided him, and whipped out two pistols. It was probably best not to open fire inside, so he'd have to lure that creature outside somehow. Maybe he could... No... Or maybe... No... If he caught its attention, he could just run and... Okay, wait, what the plan here? What was he supposed to do once he was out of the tavern? For goodness sake, how was he this blooming flummoxed after just two drinks?!

[DanteMGalileo]

"Aim for the wings... That's the only thing that'll take this thing out!" Liderc pointed to the creature's odd wing-arms. The pale angel winced, some of the acid burning his wings. "D-Damn it... I utterly despise acid and all who deploy it in combat."

The creature took flight, despite its wings not moving and the rather low ceiling of the tavern. I need to tire it out... Can't risk setting the bloody place on fire, either...

Summoning what appeared to be a short naginata, Liderc started taking complicated motions in the air as if to evade it... But the bird-creature simply followed the paler angel in the simplest rout, conserving its energy. It opened it serrated beak, spewing acid...

But it wasn't aimed at the angel needlessly tiring himself out.

[ParamountKeymaster]

"Wings. Got it," Darien murmured mostly to himself, punctuating this note with a stiff nod. The moment he looked up, the Brit let out a high-pitched yelped and jumped aside just in time to dodge the spray of acid.

A quick roll across the floor later, Darien lifted himself up on one knee, pushed his glasses up, and paused to scrutinize the scene before him. Seemed Liderc was trying to tire out the monster, but if that was the case, it didn't look like it was working out that way, and it was clear to Darien that the angel was hurt as well. Perhaps a new plan was in order.

Once again, Darien came to the conclusion that getting it outside was the best course of action. Less property damage, at the very least.

He noticed his beer mug on the floor, dropped in the commotion...

As the two continued to squabble above him, Darien tucked one of his pistols away, then took a running start before sliding across the floor, swiping the glass, and springing to his feet on the other side. He immediately followed this up by leaping up, spinning around in midair, and flinging the mug at the degenerate. Upon striking the beast in the back, the mug shattered into a thousand tiny, jagged pieces.

"Oy! Ugly!" Once he had its attention, Darien pulled his second pistol back out, twirling it in his hand as he shot the degenerate a smarmy look. "Your mum was a vulture and your dad was road kill! No wonder you're such an anomaly, eh, ya skanky git?!"