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Post by DanteMGalileo on Nov 10, 2018 15:36:44 GMT -5
"Hmm..."
Val placed her hand on a tombstone, cape hung over her head as if trying to keep the rain out of her face. "... I'm on the right track. must say though... This isn't what I expected." The tall woman stood up, and walked at a brisk pace. "It should be close. At least, if that book wasn't lying..."
Flap, flap.
"Sounds like I've got company. I'd best vanish for now..."
Flap, flap...
"Okay, I've been here for all of five minutes and I already want to fly out of here." Shortly after landing, Percy's wings melted down to reform his torso, and after ensuring Raunen was safe, he pulled his shirt and jacket back on. "Hey, Kelsey... why this place? Is... is it- whoa!" He jumped slightly, noticing that the ground below him was crumbling, unsure of where it would lead. "Keep an eye on the ground. I'd rather not risk falling... wherever."
Come to me. Come to the cave. Come.
"Did... anyone else hear that? Or... Imago, are you harassing me again?" The brunette scanned the area, looking for a source.
No. That wasn't me.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 10, 2018 15:53:49 GMT -5
"It'll be here," Kelsey murmured somewhat ominously, hardly deterred by the unstable earth she had touched down on. She kept her wings unfolded for the time being, raising them over her head like a makeshift umbrella. As she walked through the cemetery, she shot her astral doppelganger a hard frown. "At least that's what the flighty twit in my head says."
"Temper," Tri cooed as he hovered next to her, lounging on his back in mid-air like he was floating in a pool.
"So long as I have your attention... I somehow doubt you'll spill what you and Imago talked about, but do you mind explaining to me what you were doing with Will's sister?"
"Offering my services in exchange for valuable information."
Kelsey raised an eyebrow. "That information being...?"
To that, Tri simply grinned and gave Kelsey a pat on the head. "Play nice, kiddo."
With a frustrated growl, Kelsey swatted his hand away and marched ahead of him. "And you call the dang time angel a cryptic bastard."
"Hey, at least I'm honest about it!"
Opting to ignore her demon for a while, Kelsey looked back at Percy and Ranuen. "So what exactly do you guys intend to do when we find it?"
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Post by ColArana on Nov 10, 2018 18:15:49 GMT -5
Ranuen's head poked out of Percy's pocket as they landed. "Ugh.... Starting to think I really hate flying." He muttered, looking a little green. Or maybe that was just Percy's flight, and the fact that the last time he'd tagged along with Kelsey it had been in the middle of battle. "...Yeah I'll watch the ground. Want me down there for that?" He asked, figuring he'd be able to notice faults in the ground more easily than the others, due to his size.
He glanced over at Kelsey. "Well... I'll be honest. Planning's not my strong suit as I've already told you guys. I'm more reactive so... I guess I'm one of those guys that'll work out what to do when it happens." He mused. A very "in the now" kind of person. He looked over at Percy though as he said something. "Hear what? I heard nothing."
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Nov 10, 2018 18:27:06 GMT -5
"If I run into it, I'll... find something to throw at it. Maybe that'll blind h- blind it." Percy paused. "Thanks for keeping an eye out, Raunen. I'll try not to step on you." Beat. "... It was grey, right? And looked like a mashup of a bunch of other things? And really big? ... Shouldn't be hard to miss, at least."
How much longer do you plan to keep wearing that human skin?
"Not funny..." His eyes seemed to have taken on a slightly glazed look. "Oh, uh. Ignore that. You're not funny, Imago."
What did I say this time?
"So, if it's not you, then who is it...?" Percy shook his eyes, eyes returning to their usual appearance. "I'll go take a look over there." He gestured to a large hole emitting some kind of smoke, a short distance from where they were. "Be back in a few minutes. If there's nothing interesting in there, I'll be back up. 'Sides, that looks like a pretty big hole..."
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 10, 2018 19:16:40 GMT -5
"That's not what she said!"
Kelsey rolled her eyes at Tri, then warily watched Percy wander off. "Watch your step, alright?"
Her own warm tone and genuine concern seemed to catch her off guard. That might've been the most human Kelsey had sounded ever since the angels attacked. Bearing that in mind, it really was starting to occur to her just how coldly she had been acting since then. Sure, the incident had left her shaken and she wanted to do something about it, but looking back... maybe she had been a little harsh. A little too hasty to find more trouble. Paul had a point, they still knew so little about what they were getting themselves into, and while her primary motivation was to figure that much out, she had to admit that she might've been a little forceful in doing so.
"Guys...?" Looking around for any signs of the beast, directing her voice at anyone who was listening, Kelsey meekly asked, "Am I doing the right thing?"
"Who said you weren't?" Tri questioned, a surprising amount of sincerity in his voice beneath his usual jokey demeanor.
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Post by ColArana on Nov 10, 2018 19:30:04 GMT -5
At Percy's response, Ranuen hopped down to the ground, bracing and pulling off a proper superhero landing. "I appreciate that. I'd survive, but I still appreciate it." Afterall, it'd still suck to get flattened like that. "And yeah, that's what it sounds like it looked like." He noted. "If Kelsey's gut instinct says it's around here may as well look." Ranuen was, as he said he would, paying closer attention to the ground than his surroundings. Looking and feeling for any sign of weakness. If the ground started to crumble... he'd probably feel it. He'd leave paying attention to the rest of the area on Percy and Kelsey.
"Are you hearing things Percy?" He asked, but glanced up for a moment as Percy headed out. "Alright, don't go too far though." He suggested, overhearing Kelsey suggesting he watch his step. "Yeah, especially when you come back." He joked lightly, and then resumed looking. "Hmm... if whatever it was landed, maybe there'll be some tracks or something?" He proposed to Kelsey. And then Kelsey asked a question, and he paused.
"Huh? ....Yeah. I don't see why you wouldn't be." Ranuen readily responded. "You're pissed off lately. No harm in venting that off. As long as you don't lose your grip on yourself. That's what you've got people like Paul around for." He paused as he continued to check around, for any minute signs that might be missed by his larger comrades. "He's a good guy." He added. "But maybe a bit too idealistic. I don't think there's anything wrong with being a pragmatic realist, Kelsey. If that's what you want to be. That's what this comes back to. Who do you want to be? And is what you're doing now aligning with that? That's the only way you can answer that question."
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Nov 10, 2018 20:19:40 GMT -5
You heed my call. Good child.
Percy stared down into the hole. He inhaled. Stale. Strange smell. Or taste. Whatever. "Here I go..." Conjuring an orb of pink light as a torch, the skinny brunette descended into the hole, bracing himself for the worst...
"Ow." Damn rock.
---
"Okay, I shouldn't be too far..." Val muttered to herself, clutching her gun/cane close to her chest. Something felt wrong in here... It felt like that creature from the plaza last night...
She heard someone approaching. "Crap." She ducked behind a large tombstone, and announced her presence to the new arrivals in the cemetery.
"Hands where I can see them!"
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 10, 2018 20:41:27 GMT -5
"I guess..." Kelsey shrugged somewhat dejectedly, huddling deeper beneath the cover of her own fleshy wings. "Honestly, I wish I could be that idealistic. Maybe then I wouldn't have as many hangups about getting my hands dirty. Because... well, let's just say that I try to be a little wary about how much I depend on the demon blood in me. It can lead me to do some... pretty intense things."
"Psht... You say that like it's a bad thing."
"I don't like hurting people!" Kelsey snapped at the astral projection. Then she took a deep breath and continued speaking to Ranuen in a level tone. "I know my powers lend themselves more to combat than support, but the majority of me... the part of me that's still human would still rather be Mercy than Reaper. I-If that makes sense."
"I don't think this kid plays Overtale or whatever the f*** you're referencing."
"But at the same time... I know what I want to do here. I know what my place should be in this war. For the most part, anyway. And thinking about all the awful things I could do to these angels... things that I have actively considered doing... it just makes me wonder if playing that part and doing the one thing that actually feels right is gonna shape me into something I d-!!!"
Kelsey jumped back a step when a voice called out from nearby. Immediately, almost reflexively, Kelsey raised her arms and summoned shadowy tendrils from the base of every headstone around her, teeth gritted, eyes ablaze, ready to strike at the slightest provocation.
"Well..." Tri chuckled at his companion. "At least you did as you were told."
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Post by ColArana on Nov 11, 2018 4:40:52 GMT -5
Ranuen stopped his search to approach Kelsey, giving her a reassuring smile. "I think you're doing great Kelsey." He told her. "Nothing wrong with getting your hands dirty. I get it that you don't always want to, but there's nothing inherently wrong with it." He paused. "You've got others to count on. Percy. Me. If you want to keep your hands clean, let us take the fore for you. I'm used to it, and I feel Percy probably is too. Either way. I don't think idealism has anything to do with it. You're pragmatic.You're realistic. You see a solution, an opportunity, you leap on it. I think that's a pretty good trait. Better than floundering because the solution may ruffle some feathers." He commented. "But if you dislike relying on those demon powers, or sullying your hands... You can always ask me. I can't speak for Percy, but hell. Send me in. I'll do what I can, even if I don't know if I'd do quite as well as you."
Hearing Kelsey snap a bit, and admit she'd rather support than hurt, Ranuen pondered this awhile. "....Honestly? No matter how good you think you are at hurting people, that doesn't matter. What matters is where your heart is. If you don't like hurting people. Can't stand the taste of ash and blood in your mouth? If what you think of when you think of fighting is protecting people? Then protect them. Focus on support, and keeping the people you care about alive. No matter what kind of powers you have, you'll never bring out your full potential if you're fighting with the wrong motive. If you're not a killer, there's nothing wrong with that. If you're not an aggressor? Nothing wrong with that either. Figure out what kind of person you are, and fight from that." He suggested. "I saw you fighting out there, and it was amazing to watch. Truly. Which well.... makes me really excited to see you fight in the way you're most comfortable."
But as Kelsey continued Ranuen pondered a little longer. "Whatever atrocities you've planned.... Well. Do you feel guilt welling up when you think about that?" He asked. Ranuen didn't want to decide for Kelsey. It was wrong to do so. To lead Kelsey down a path of self reflection so she could reach her own conclusions as to who she was. That was Ranuen's aim here. "Whatever you've considered, or feared, remember this above everything Kelsey. You do not have to bear everyone's burden. You do not have to shoulder the responsibilities of everyone. Percy, me, Paul, Scott. Everyone here, is willing to carry as much of their share as they can. If you don't want to do something, or fear what it might do to you, there's no shame in passing it off on someone with fewer problems with it than you. You can keep your hands clean, and nobody will begrudge that to you."
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Nov 11, 2018 12:48:26 GMT -5
...
Val let out a sigh of relief, seeing as it was nothing more than the demonic girl from last night at the plaza, and... something small and preachy. "Okay, you can put your hands down," she said, walking out from behind the tombstone, her gun lowered. "Thought you were somebody else."
The shadowy tendrils did not seem to phase Val. "What are you two doing here?"
Before she could get an answer, a blood-curling scream erupted, seeming to originate from below the ground. Val clutched her gun, pointing it towards the ground. "The hell was that?!"
From the hole in the ground, a grey, three-clawed foot emerged. It was followed by a second, identical foot. From the darkness of the cave, a pair of eyes, one red and one blue, was visible. Following the claws was a long neck, a draconic head attached to it, topped off with a pair of horns, covered by a purplish mane, seemingly made of cosmic dust...
The beast emitted a low growl, but it didn't seem angry...
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 13, 2018 19:27:19 GMT -5
Kelsey narrowed her eyes at Val, trying to scrutinize this girl, determine if she recognized her, and just figure out what her deal was. Her shadows stayed right where they were all the while. She wasn't taking any chances. Not when she had no idea who this girl had been lying in wait for.
The girl asked what they were doing there. Kelsey wasn't too sure how inclined she felt to answer that, but she wasn't given much of a chance to regardless. The roar immediately caught her attention, prompting her to scramble back a few steps as the monster emerged from underground, its presence and chimeric form easily recognizable.
Without missing a beat, Kelsey redirected her shadows. Until further notice, though, she did not aim to strike. Rather, she took on a defensive stance, letting the tendrils encircle and shield her and Ranuen...
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Post by ColArana on Nov 13, 2018 20:49:42 GMT -5
Ranuen tensed up, glaring at the woman who had emerged from behind the gravestone. How had he missed that? His focus... it had been so driven on Kelsey, he had somehow missed her entirely. Damnit Ranuen, this is how you get killed! He snarled to his own mind, eyes staring up at Val as she approached. "I could ask you the same thing." He returned. "We don't have to tell you anything, when you're here without a reason too."
His senses having been heightened now by his own admonishment for missing Val earlier, Ranuen did not miss the bloodcurdling scream, nor the the talons and draconic head that emerged from the hole. "Ah shit... Kelsey, isn't that where Percy went!?" He snapped in alarm, spinning to face the beast, still in his small form. It was possible the creature hadn't noticed the ant-sized speck on the ground, and if so... if so, Ranuen might have the element of surprise if things went south. Which he expected (and somewhat hoped) that they had. Kelsey's shadow tendrils were encircling them both and Ranuen backed up towards Kelsey, to allow her to weave her shadows into a tighter net if she so chose, requiring her to cover less ground to shield herself. I'm not gonna let Paul down. I said I'd keep an eye out for Kelsey and I'm going to. And for Kelsey too. I told her that she could count on me. And so... His eyes were sharp and alert now, trying to keep an eye on both Val and the creature that had emerged.
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Nov 13, 2018 21:08:38 GMT -5
The beast exhaled through its nostrils, mismatched eyes scanning the creatures before it. It gave a low growl upon seeing Val, one of its eyes twitching slightly. It either did not notice Raunen, or deemed the tiny one no threat. And then, it looked at Kelsey. Its jaw opened, then shut. It pulled the rest of its body out, letting out... a whimper?
It was limping, dragging its right-back talon behind it. Its movements seemed slow compared to last night. Its aura felt different. Rather than rage, it seemed... shy? Afraid? Confused?
The beast extended its feathery wings and prepared to fly away, only to stop and yelp in pain. It lay down, biting its bad talon, as if something was stuck in it...
"... Okay. That's enough." Seeing that this beast was calmer than it had been the night before, Val lowered her gun and walked to it, although it became clear that the cave it emerged from was her destination. "This cave... it's said to lead to another world... Maybe...?"
Before she could clarify, Val had vanished into the cave, paying Kelsey, Raunen, and the monster no heed...
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 13, 2018 21:30:37 GMT -5
Another...? Kelsey raised an eyebrow at Val as she passed by, but ultimately decided to drop it. She had her own business to tend to. She didn't have time to fret over whatever this girl was up to.
Turning back to the beast, Kelsey easily picked up on its calmer, more hesitant behavior. Her shadows kept still, refusing to retreat completely but still showing no sign of impending attack. She didn't approach, maintaining a defensive stance, but her expression and body language were by no means aggressive. For now, she was just going to wait and watch what it did.
Eventually, Kelsey spoke up in a low, firm, but gentle tone. "Hey, big guy. Remember me? I don't know how well you can understand me, but I don't wanna have to hurt you."
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Post by ColArana on Nov 14, 2018 18:16:30 GMT -5
Ranuen stared at the beast. Then at Kelsey. "....Did you.... Is it...?" It recognized Kelsey and it was.... afraid of her? Cowed by her at the very least. Val had just gone right past them like nothing else even mattered. Ranuen let her by. The beast had his attention. Seeing it cringe back, he tried to get a closer look. Ranuen approached quietly, slipping out of the protective net of Kelsey's shadows if she allowed him to, and ventured closer to the beast. It seemed injured. Ranuen was going in to get a closer look.
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