With My Wings on Fire (SSoDI-N)

[ParamountKeymaster]

"Kite?"

"Hm?" A tall, broad-shouldered Ferro looked up from the sword he was cleaning, turning to the stout Plasmis seated next to him on the log.

"Are... Are we bad people?"

Kite shrugged apathetically. "It's a matter of perspective, really."

Oz curiously stared up at the network of treehouses hanging overhead. "From these people's perspective?"

"Oh, yeah, probably," Kite chuckled, unperturbed, very openly amused by these tiny people's concerns. "But to be fair, given the chaos that apparently plagues this island on a regular basis, I say we're doing them a favor. It's not like they would've lived much longer if we hadn't come around."

"Yeah, good point," Oz mused with a smirk, idly carving into the downed tree trunk with his dagger, blissfully ignorant to the shadows. "I guess there are more dangerous things around here than us."

"For sure. Did you hear about that dragon?"

"You kidding? I saw that dragon! Flew by overhead! I swear, the thing was bigger than ten of you! Prithvi said she saw it touch down just a few leagues southeast!"

"Gadzooks! I'd hate to be the poor sap who pissed off that monster."

"Did you seriously just say 'gadzooks'?"

"Maybe I did. What're you gonna do about, ya tubby fopdoodle?"

"Finish shining up that sword and I'll show you, ya big palooka."

RIIIIIP

Before either of the angels even knew what hit them, four shadowy tendrils snapped out from underneath the log they sat on, wrapped around their wings, and ripped the feathered appendages from their backs in one clean sweep. Effectively hushed, Kite and Osprey simultaneously collapsed, their bodies engulfed in ethereal flame.

The demon girl launched out of the cover of darkness the rainforest provided, pouncing atop the downed and dying angels like a predator going in for the kill. An inhuman shriek erupted from her throat as her cheeks split open in a Glasgow smile, snakelike tongue wildly lashing out. The light that surrounded the angels was rapidly drawn into her open mouth, and once it faded, all that remained of the duo was ash and a few stray red and yellow feathers.

"How's that for dangerous, ya cumbergrounds?!"

Kelsey stood to full height, her face already healed over, the rainforest falling silent immediately after she delivered her line. She glanced around blankly at the wide, suddenly empty landscape of trees and grass, the awkward pause hanging heavily in the air, punctuated only by the odd bird call now and then. Fitting as it was, this deathly hush, it only served to frustrate the demon girl.

"Yeah, see, that's exactly what I'm talking about!" Kelsey eventually snapped, not that she expected a response out of Tri's clammed-up mouth. "What's the point of coming up with all these one-liners if everybody's dead by the time I say them?!"

"To be fair..." a straggler nervously called from behind her, drawing Kelsey's attention to a dash of red hiding in the bushes. "...it wasn't really that funny to begin with!"

Kelsey faced forward again with a hard scowl, raising her hand. The lone angel let out a startled choke. She gripped her fist and pulled her arm back, and in sync, there came a sickly ripping sound and a death rattle from the bushes.

"It's a matter of perspective, really," Kelsey flatly retorted as she marched over to the angel, promptly inhaling his liberated soul as well.

[DanteMGalileo]

"I see we've stumbled upon the obligatory war crimes scene."

Val took a bite out of her burrito as she surveyed the scene before her. Locals boarded up. Somebody probably got killed. The sandy-haired woman was no stranger to cold-blooded murder, but somehow, seeing someone else do it... She took another bite to end that thought. Try to think of something else. Hmm, it's been a while since she had tomatoes. Or sour cream. Or fresh non-game meat. Maybe she'll get another burrito. Assuming that store's still standing. Dammit, stop thinking about this stuff!

Also of note was that despite the humidity and the heat and Val's continued wearing of her armoured corset and cape, she didn't seem hot. In fact, the air around Val seemed just about slightly cooler.

Flint followed behind Kelsey, floating, and cringing at this display of violence. "Hey, hey, hey! You mind if I give ya some criticism?" That's a rhetorical question. "How does this make you any better? Yeah, I'm askin' the heavy questions straight outta the gate. That's how we roll back in Tonbos! ... You're not listening to me, are ya?"

"Nope." Val had the feeling that unless she got a clean shot, shooting Kelsey wouldn't have any real effect. Also, Kelsey as her best chance of finding that damned dragon that killed Flint. "... So. This is the source of your powers..."

Somebody else was watching the carnage. He felt no desire to save the locals from the angels, nor did he feel the need to save the angels from this demonic girl.

[ColArana]

"That line was alright." Ranuen responded, seeming to be unfazed by Kelsey's display of violence. He'd seen worse. Especially recently.... Nope! Not going back there! He was looking around for prey, and hopped off of Kelsey's shoulder, going to his normal height. "Either way. Let's hunt some angels. I have way too much pent up anger to work off right now." He glanced back at Kelsey. "And I doubt that I'm the only one." He looked around, searching for signs of movement or activity, which might lead him to more of the winged assholes that were responsible for so much pain lately.

[ParamountKeymaster]

Kelsey sighed and ran a hand through her hair, marching a few yards away from her travelling companions without making eye contact with any of them. "Just gimme a moment. I need a break..."

She stopped at the base of a tree, sat down in a huff, leaned on her knees, and steadily started to catch her breath. Her expression was difficult to read. At a glance, it seemed completely cold and apathetic, staring at the ground beneath her with a resounding hollowness, but up close, there was almost certainly a twinge of regret beneath the surface. Regardless of whatever she was feeling (or maybe because of it?), Kelsey didn't feel inclined to respond to the questions and comments surrounding her. Sure, she heard them, and she honestly wanted to believe that she had grown numb to every point being made, no matter how obvious it was –to herself in particular– that the carnage taking place was still a matter beyond her comport zone. The fact was that she just didn't want to answer to any of them because she didn't have any good answers. After all, when did she ever claim she was better than these monsters?

"Okay..." With a heavy exhale, Kelsey sat back against the tree and started mumbling to herself. "How many was that? Twenty-four? Twenty-five? I think I lost count like eight souls ago. Probably have all four classical elements at my disposal at this point." She mindlessly clenched and unclenched her fists, staring into the canopy. "Why do I feel so tired and yet so awake at the same time? It's weird. I didn't expect to feel this lightweight after a binge like that. Hm... I wonder how strong I am now. Is my strength just increasing to a point where my own body feels like a feather?"

She held a hand up to her face, twisting and turning it so she could study it at every angle. Her nails extended into claws. Her skin turned ruddy, the color stopping at the risk. Then it turned a deep violet. Tiny quills extended from the back of her hand. Her fingers fused together, creating two long digits, then separated into four again. Her palm split open like a grotesque mouth. For a while, Kelsey just sat there and experimented, hardly fazed physically or emotionally by the metamorphoses she was near effortlessly putting her hand through.

"When will enough be enough? ...Why am I even asking this? Tri's probably not even listening at this point." She finally shifted her hand back to normal and let it drop next to her thigh. "You already know when this will end."

After another second or two, Kelsey's eyes narrowed. She could very clearly see a shadow creeping across the branches above her, but she chose not to attack, instead biding her time and studying this figure out of morbid curiosity.

[DanteMGalileo]

"Mhm..." Val finished off her burrito. Clearly, she wasn't going to get any answers out of Kelsey at the moment. "By my count, I'd put you at thirty." She walked over to Kelsey, briging her cold aura with her. "So. This is your true power. Not what the archdemon gives you, but rather, you claim the powers of your victims..." Beat. "Not like I'm gonna judge you on this killing spree too much. I've had to put a few bullets between eyes myself."

Flint floated up to the two girls, shuddering slightly. "Jeez. I ask one question, and no answer? I'm just tryin' to help. Consider me the big bro ya never had. That can turn into a kickass dragon." He chuckled, before letting it die off. Awkward! "So, uh..." Flint floated in place, next to Val. "... Can I set up a little no-angel zone when I go back in? Because damn, most of 'em piss me off. Can't imagine the meatling's having a good time either..."

Val's attention turned upwards, and Flint followed, the sandy-haired woman's eyes narrowing. "... Hang on. I think I know who that is. Flint. Sniff and identify."

Flint complied, and winced when something hit his nostrils. "Blech. Yeah, I'd recognize that stench anywhere. Hey, you, faker, get down from there and lemme pound ya!"

The figure from above gave a quick, mirthless laugh. "Come down? With that demand? By the grace of the true king, you're even denser than I thought."

[ColArana]

Ranuen nodded at Kelsey, and walked a bit away from her, spinning his sword lazily in one hand. "Yep. Take your time. Gotta leave some for the rest of us, right?" He suggested with a grin. The grin faded a little as he saw the look on Kelsey's face, and he remembered the conversation they'd had in the graveyard. "If you.... want to leave the rest to us Kelsey.... You know you can." He suggested, slightly more somberly.

Then Ranuen sensed something. A presence. He turned around looking sharply about. Where...? He noticed Kelsey experimenting with her abilities, and watched her for a moment. That look on her face. It wasn't elation and it wasn't sorrowful. It was.... how could he put it. Apathetic? "Kelsey.... Are you okay?" He asked seriously. Then saw a flicker of movement above her, and half-lifted his blade. Above us... He thought. Kelsey hadn't reacted yet though, so Ranuen took a moment.

He still wasn't used to seeing Flint's... ghost... thing? "I appreciate you sticking around by the way." He mentioned. When Flint yelled up at the figure in the tree, and received that response, Ranuen brought his hands together and cracked his knuckles. "Hey! If you don't come down from there, I'll pound ya!" He pitched in after Flint.

[ParamountKeymaster]

"I'm fine..." Kelsey mumbled back to Ranuen, her words utterly empty. She appreciated his concern, but she couldn't let her own emotions and hangups get in the way. She had to be strong. She had to be the strongest. Not for herself, but for the people counting on her to be the thorn in the angels' wings. It was a difficult balancing act, trying not to be selfish, but being unable to be entirely selfless either.

The figure in the tree spoke up in response to Flint calling him out. "Hm. You know this guy?" Kelsey asked in a subdued, indifferent tone, as if this was just a casual crossing of paths. She didn't really seem to care who this newcomer was. Either that or she had abandoned any hope of this being a potential ally and was mentally preparing herself to shoot first and ask questions once his soul was consumed.

For now, Kelsey settled on tucking her arms behind her back, letting them sink into the shadows between her and the tree she was sitting up against. On the branches above, dark shapes stretched out from the crevices in the trunk and writhed towards the man like so many black snakes.

[DanteMGalileo]

"Shadowy tendrils. Yawn, how quaint."

The man in the trees simply moved in response to Kelsey's shadowy tendrils, his footsteps audible as tree branches were moved. At last, he jumped down, making a perfect three-point landing, looking up at the three figures before him.

He looked badly-aged, with pale skin, a patch of burned skin around one eye, and a wild mess of dark hair, a white streak running down one side. He wasn't dressed for this weather, clad in a long purple coat and faded pants. Mort shot a glance at Val and Flint, making a 'tsk' sound. He wasn't phased by Raunen's threat, nor of Kelsey's tendrils. Instead, he walked a few steps closer to the group, stopping a few feet away.

"So," Mort stated. "Flint. Val. How's life?" Flint's empty eyes narrowed and a growl escaped his throat, but Val made him back down.

"You. Why are you here?" Val's tone was demanding, the icy aura around her marginally intensifying.

"Investigating. I don't believe I have anything to say to you, or your ghostly brother. Now, what are you doing here, Valione?"

BANG! Gunshot to the air as a warning shot!

"Don't," Val said through gritted teeth. "Call. Me. That."

"I see your attitude over your real name still leaves much to be desired," Mort dryly replied, watching the magical bullet explode in midair with a bored expression.

Val snarled, and now it was Flint's turn to play straight man as he kept pushing her gun down as she tried to point it at Mort.

[ColArana]

Ranuen's response to Kelsey's answer was nothing more than a skeptical look that suggested he didn't believe it. But that was a topic to pursue another time. As the figure dropped out of the tree, Ranuen ran front and center in front of everyone else. The party tank, if nothing else, taking in his look. He didn't look like an angel at least... But he did seem familiar with everyone present. Or at least Flint and Val.

As Mort approached, Ranuen did not budge. ....In position that is. His face contorted in absolute rage when he made the jab at Flint. "You--" But Val cut him off. It seemed she knew who he was. "Val, who the fuck is this?" He asked, glaring daggers at Mort. Flames flickered in and out of existence along Ranuen's blade, not by conscious decision but out of sheer emotions. Fire was the element of passion and rage, and in times of both, Ranuen's abilities could go a little haywire. Val's warning shot only encouraged him further.

"Investigating what?" Ranuen asked angrily.

[ParamountKeymaster]

"Oh great. Another smart*ss," Kelsey mumbled, leaning forward and resting her arms atop her legs. Both arms were pitch black, misty wisps of darkness rising out of them and into the shadow of the tree like the strings of a marionette. The dark tendrils extending from the branches continued to stretch outward.

Her emotional state (or lack thereof) did not change as Val and Mort exchanged quips. She didn't even flinch when Val angrily fired her gun in the air. Kelsey could only sigh and cast a deadpan frown at Mort. "You probably have more experience with this one than I do, but I don't think it would be wise to piss her off. She has enough to rage about without you pushing her buttons," said the girl who had assimilated Val's dead brother's soul.

Kelsey's eyes briefly flicked towards the horizon. Through the foliage, a golden glow shone from the west. The sun was getting low. It was only a matter of time before the demon was loosed, and God help this island when it was.

Turning her attention back to Mort, the girl drenched in shadows and bloodstained pajamas continued, "Then again, it wouldn't be wise to piss off anyone in this company. So... how about we trim the fat and start with what we oughta call each other?"

[DanteMGalileo]

"Let me put a bullet in his eyes, once and for all!"

"No! I mean, what if he's the one? What if that ain't the real thing? This chucklehead ain't worth it, sis."

Val regarded whatever the hell Flint was talking about as a point, and exhaled to calm herself, lowering her gun. Once she was at least not wanting to blow Mort's head off anymore, she turned away from the older man. "This thing that calls himself a man is Mort Isaac. He also has the tiniest sliver of respect and pity from me for managing to raise Percy- wherever he is now- to adolescence without assistance or going completely mad in the process." She looked over her shoulder, and Mort shrugged, an odd mixture of expressions on his face.

"Charming as ever, I see," Mort dryly responded. "I'll answer his question about what I'm looking for if you answer mine." Mort's open eye was looking directly at Kelsey now. "What happened to my son? And put away the tendrils, Miss...? It's considered impolite to threaten people you just met."

[ColArana]

At least Val was providing some answers. That was something that was at least a little bit positive. But Mort and Percy....? Ranuen's eyes suddenly filled with a subtle sympathy. He was grateful to Kelsey for trying to focus the topic down to cut through Mort's evasiveness.

As Mort brought up what happened to Percy Ranuen looked aside for a moment. How was he going to respond to it. But... if what Val said was true.... "Percy got his soul ripped out." He stated miserably. "After getting turned into some star dragon thing." He wasn't sure... how else to explain it. He hadn't been there-- Kelsey had been and she could probably explain things better than he could. But the least Ranuen could do was open the floor to Mort, and give him the answer he was looking for. Ranuen's irritation with Mort hadn't faded, but it had been replaced by a certain amount of sympathy for him. Probably wasn't an easy thing to hear about your son.

[ParamountKeymaster]

"Who said I was threatening you?" Kelsey responded flatly. The tree behind her had turned pitch black from top to bottom, thrumming like a malevolent beast ready to ensnare anything she commanded in its wriggling branches.

So... this was Percy's adoptive father. Kelsey wasn't sure what she had expected; given the nature of their relationship, family resemblance was a nonissue. Nonetheless, as she studied this strange little man, she could see it. But even this information did not earn any empathy from her. She briefly contemplated whether this empty feeling was on account of her boiling archdemon blood clouding her sense of pity and kindness, or if she simply, genuinely did not like Mort.

Setting these questions aside for now, Kelsey looked up at Mort with a cold, unfeeling frown, scrutinizing him for a moment longer as Ranuen provided an abridged answer to his question regarding Percy. Once that was out in the open, Kelsey took a deep breath, looked to the golden horizon again, and continued for him with a distant tone, "The conglomeration of angel and demon power within Percy overwhelmed him. Turned him into a de... a monster of cosmic power." She didn't expect these people to understand what she knew Percy to be, and it was for the best that they never found out. "I confronted him on the matter. Followed him to an alternate plane where this island was in ruin. There, his soul was abducted by some unknown force, leaving the demon he shared his body with to take control."

She turned back to Mort, her eyes narrow and glowing an icy blue. "My name is Kelsey. If you want someone to blame for the loss of your son's soul, let it be me. Because at this time, we know not who or what else is to blame besides my arrogance and ignorance."

[DanteMGalileo]

"..."

Mort studied Kelsey and Raunen with an emotionless face as he took in what they said, only breaking it for a brief moment to scowl at the monstrous tree. After he seemed to have processed what he heard, he closed his eye and sighed. "... I see." Was he internally grieving over his lost son, or did he genuinely not care? Hard to tell.

He focused on Kelsey, eye looking directly into her's. "I am not going to blame you for the loss of my son's soul. However, I will hold it to you to get it back. I don't care how many demonic rages it takes. Get. It. Back."

Mort had gotten uncomfortably close to Kelsey, and while they knew that this girl could defend herself, Val and Flint still felt obligated to get him off her. Flint pushed the one-eyed man away, and Val pointed her gun at Mort for good measure. "Hey, chucklehead, lay off her or I'll send ya to the emergency room."

Well, Flint was emotional enough for both of them, Val figured. Lowering the point of her gun towards Mort's nether regions, she addressed Kelsey instead, turning away from the repulsive man. "A... what now? You said something before monster."

[ColArana]

Ranuen looked back at Mort with an honest gaze. Ranuen was shit at lying. There would be no doubt that he was telling the truth to the best of his abilities. Mort's stoic gaze didn't upset or surprise Ranuen. People grieved in different ways. At his next proclamation, the swordsman nodded. "Right..." Then paused, and looked at Kelsey. "Can that be done?" He asked her, curiously. He figured of all of them, she'd know better than others the ways to reclaim stolen souls.

"If it is possible though... Obviously we'll get it back! And we won't rest until we do!" He declared. He was going to have to talk to Kelsey about her self-blame for this later. He didn't blame her. Sure he didn't have the whole story, but he felt she was definitely taking on too much blame here. As Val started to ask about Percy, Ranuen tried to cut her off. This wasn't a subject that Kelsey probably wanted to discuss if she was changing it so hastily.

"Mort, you seen any more of those feathered freaks around here? We're doing a bit of a purge down here. Maybe it'll draw out whatever went after your son." He suggested, in a ploy to change the subject from Val's line of questioning.