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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Apr 10, 2019 20:22:08 GMT -5
"Sir, I assure you I have no intention of leaving Percy to whatever devices have his soul hostage," Kelsey firmly, sharply stated, standing up to bring herself at least a little bit closer to eye level with Mort. The shadows that drenched her arms and kept her connected to the tree did not fade in the slightest. "But I want you to know that I'm not doing it because you told me to. I choose to help him because I owe it to him as a friend, and because of the intrinsic value that would be lost if I didn't."
The moment she closed her mouth, without betraying the emotional state on her face, Kelsey ran her tongue along her teeth in confusion. Her fangs had sharped by their own accord, a sure sign that the time was nigh. Not only that, but it seemed that the rest of her front teeth had sharpened as well.
She briefly glanced at Val, then looked down at the ground with a hard scowl. It seemed her brief slip of the tongue hadn't gone unnoticed. "It doesn't matter. We need him back either way."
Then she turned to Ranuen, who had steered the conversation back to the topic of angels. Kelsey doubted that her sudden massacre and assimilation would lure whatever monster had Percy's soul, but there was something else still on her mind. Something that the last two angels she had absorbed had been discussing. Her cold stare settling on Mort again, she continued, "Barring that, have you by chance seen a black dragon in the area? We have quite a few birds to knock out and only so many stones."
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Apr 10, 2019 20:40:16 GMT -5
"Funny you should bring up the topic of dragons, Kelsey."
Mort had noticed something about Kelsey's teeth, but he opted to let it go for now. "No, I haven't seen a black dragon, but I am looking for a dragon. No, Flint, you're not the dragon. I was talking about a full-on dragon, not a halfling brat like you."
That earned Mort a roar to the face from a suddenly-transformed Flint, empty eyes glaring, ice leaking from the sides of his jaw. "Breath mints. Learn to use them," was all Mort had to say, brushing some spittle off his jacket. "Anyways..." Mort adjusted his cravat. "Have you seen a white wyvern? I suspect it may be a Feral Soul."
Val turned to face Flint with a concerned expression, and the purple wyvern returned a similar face. "A... a feral dragon? You... you're kidding, right?" Val's actually concerned. That should be an alarm.
"No... ah, for you two," Mort motioned to Kelsey and Raunen. "A Feral Soul is a term used for a pelt that's succumbed completely to their animalistic side. They're little more than a rabid animal that needs to be put down for the good of everyone. Especially if it's a dragon."
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Post by ColArana on Apr 10, 2019 21:04:34 GMT -5
Ranuen looked in confusion as Mort brought up a new topic. He was relieved that Vutezoth hadn't been seen in the area, but disappointed that Mort wasn't letting them know where more angels could be found to be cut down. But maybe something else could be?
Flint's roar also caused Ranuen to glare. This guy's an ass... He thought angrily. "And no, we haven't seen a white wyvern? Is there supposed to be one in the area?" He inquired, looking around. As Mort explained about Feral Souls, Ranuen pondered. "Wouldn't that thing be making a huge mess if that's the case? Probably wouldn't be too hard to find. And if it's white, it's gonna stick out like a sore thumb. Something like that... No way it could stay hidden for very long. Right guys?" He asked, looking at the group for validation of his suggestion.
He looked back at Flint and Val. "Val.... How bad is it, if what he's saying true?"
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Apr 10, 2019 21:45:30 GMT -5
Kelsey did nothing to placate her angered familiar. If anything, Flint's draconic objection to Mort's taunts amused her, even if her expression didn't show it. At the mention of this feral white wyvern, however, as well as Val and Flint's startled reaction to this news, Kelsey's indifferent expression turned to one of unmistakable annoyance. Ranuen's remarks were pretty much on the money if her nod was any indication.
With this new information now on the table, Kelsey dropped her head into her claw-tipped, shadow-covered hands and took a few steps away from the group. Her head was pounding, be it from this new hindrance or her horns growing in against her will; either one wouldn't surprise her. So on top of the angels and whatever unknown entity had Percy's soul, now there was another dragon to deal with, as if Vutezoth wasn't enough of a daunting opponent. When would this conga line of hostile parties end? How many psychopaths and killers would she have to cut down before the multiverse finally gave her a break? And in what convoluted way would this wyvern tie in with all the other hair-pulling events taking place around them? Knowing Kelsey's luck, this wyvern would probably turn out to be Mallory or something ludicrous like that, because why not? She hadn't seen him a few days, and people around here seemed to have a habit of turning into monsters when she wasn't looking!
"F*ck me..." Kelsey snarled under her breath, muscles throbbing, bones aching, blood steaming. Why did everyone insist on making her job harder?! "F*CK ME!!!"
The branches of the shadow tree reached down and wrapped themselves around Kelsey, engulfing her in darkness. The tangled silhouette that engulfed her rapidly changed shape, from a perfect human-shaped cocoon to the image of a multi-tentacled monster. A roar of frustration rang out from the writhing black shape, recognizably Kelsey's at first, quickly morphing into a chorus of inhuman screeches.
The darkness collapsed in on itself, detaching from the tree and draining back into the demon girl's aura before fading away almost entirely...
Kelsey stood before the assembled group with all of her demonic traits and then some apparent. Her snakelike eyes glowed a sharp, cold blue, emanating not just from her irises, but also from her sclera, which had practically become one and the same. Burgundy horns curved out from atop her head; those familiar with the rigid projections could easily tell that they had undergone significant growth. Her ears had extended into small points, while her nose had flattened slightly, resembling a bat's. Rows of sharklike teeth filled her mouth. Inch-long claws tipped her fingers. Two enormous, leathery wings extended from her back. Long, jagged spines lined her arms. Every inch of her skin had turned a ruddy salmon color, though it seemed to shimmer as her black aura flickered around her like flames. If there was one thing that hadn't changed, it was her infuriated expression directed at Mort.
"Is there anything else I need to worry about, Mr. Isaac?" Kelsey asked bitterly, venomously. "Any other monsters conspiring with the powers that be? Any assassins that won't truly die until everyone I care about lies dead with them? Maybe little Timmy fell down the well again? HEAVEN KNOWS IT HASN'T PUNISHED US ENOUGH."
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Apr 10, 2019 22:26:39 GMT -5
"Eep."
Despite his draconic nature, and being bound to this demonic girl, Flint couldn't help but cower behind Val, his tail, wings, really most of him still sticking out from behind his sister's smaller frame. Val shot Flint a chastising look, but really? Whatever the fuck Kelsey was doing? Yeah, it was freaking her out too. Both siblings took a few steps back, eager to put at least a little distance between what in the nine realms and fifty hells was going on with her??
"Flint..." Val said to her brother. "Is this... something you heard about?"
"Nope. I'm cluele... whoa!" When the shadows died down to reveal the... thing that was his master, apparently, Flint got in front of Val, cautiously eyeing Kelsey.
Mort watched this demonic transformation with a bored expression, like it was just something he saw every day. He didn't react to Kelsey's new demonic appearance, and he merely frowned at her tone. "The only monster around here now is you, it seems. Do try not to kill your... criminal and mouthy friends." He shot a look at Raunen, Val, and Flint, paying them no further mind than the air, as he pulled out what appeared to be a grenade. "Oh, don't give me that look. This isn't going to hurt you. Unless you breathe it in too much."
Mort threw the grenade to the ground, and at once, a heavy smokescreen burst. Val and Flint ducked down, still keeping their eyes on Kelsey, for any sign of a reaction...
And when the smoke vanished, Mort was nowhere to be seen.
"... He got away again."
"... Bloody hell."
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Post by ColArana on Apr 11, 2019 23:00:31 GMT -5
Ranuen could see Kelsey getting angry. Furious. Frustrated. He didn't know if he could do anything, but he figured he would at least try. Ignoring Flint's concern, and Val's stepping back, Ranuen walked toward Kelsey instead. He glared at Mort as he called Kelsey a monster. "She is not you jackass!" Ranuen snapped back at Mort. Then looked at Kelsey. He was surprised at her demonic appearance and it showed on his face. Still. It was only surprise on his face. Not fear. He walked towards her slowly and reassuringly. "Kelsey. It's alright. It's going to be alright. We'll... figure out a way to make it right. Okay?"
Indeed the only fear Ranuen felt was for Kelsey. Not of her. He tried to walk close enough to Kelsey that he could reach out and place a hand lightly on her shoulder. "Don't listen to a word that guy said. You're not a monster. You're fighting in the best way you know how." He suggested to her. "I trust you." He added.
Mort's smoke bomb went off, and with Ranuen's back to it, the smoke washed over him, causing him to cough a few times. "Ugh... That asshole..." He growled out, but paid Mort's departure no further mind. He just looked at Kelsey. "It hurts like hell. I know. But that isn't who you are Kelsey." He tried to assure her.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Apr 13, 2019 11:34:29 GMT -5
Kelsey was not the least bit bothered by Mort's insult. What did get her to aggressively flare up was when Mort pulled out the grenade. A smoke grenade, sure, but the fact that he was slithering away was just as infuriating to her as any imminent threat. Almost immediately after Mort went up in smoke, Kelsey waved the chalky screen away with a gust of wind, then stared angrily at the resulting empty space. Then came the aggravated snarl and a stomp of her foot powerful enough to crack the earth beneath her with a brief, thunderous tremor.
After that, Kelsey dropped her head into her hand and took a series of deep breaths through her gritted teeth. She was honestly surprised that she wasn't more outwardly furious about the coward's retreat, but then again, what would she have done had she been pushed into a rampage? "Sh*t hole..."
Kelsey didn't look up at Ranuen. As the mage reassured her that she wasn't the monster Mort accused her of being, she could only stare down at her clawed, ruddy hand with a flat expression of indifference. "I don't know about that. For what it's worth, though... I think I'm getting used to it."
She tried not to think about anything Mort said. She didn't care. One way or another, she was going to get Percy back regardless. Anything that got in her way was mulch as far as she was concerned. The angels, the dragons, Armageddon itself... Let them come. Kelsey would reach her breaking point sooner or later. There would be nothing left to regret when she did.
With her ice blue eyes staring into the darkened sky, Kelsey started marching back into the rainforest, her shoulders tense but her wings slumped. Despite her more level-headed emotional state, none of her demonic features receded. "I wanna finish cleaning this place. I've left Paul and the others unguarded for too long."
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Apr 13, 2019 12:55:58 GMT -5
"... Erm. Where is he, even?"
As Kelsey moved, Flint's draconic form floated behind, prompting Val to follow. "I'm not going to lecture you. I'm just.. what are you planning? How do you intend to bring down an army and get back Percy's soul?" She wasn't trying to be rude. She was just trying to find a method. It just seemed hasty! "Look, I'm not saying you're not strong enough, it's just that... can one person handle two dragons and an entire army?"
"... Hang on." Flint's blank eyes narrowed as he glared at a tree. "Hey, Kelsey. Weren't those last two talkin' about a dragon before ya cut 'em down? A big dragon. Might be my killer, might be the feral one."
He inhaled, pulling his head back. "I'm gonna see what this does."
With a roar, the purple dragon charged at the tree as though it had offended one of his great ancestors. There was a yelp, as a green-skinned, winged person fell. Before she could slither away, Flint placed a talon on her back, cutting off her flight path.
"W-Who are you!? Unhand me! I am Colonel Prithvi, and I answer only to Commander Sha- agh?!" Flint's talon tightened on her, growling.
"Found one."
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Post by ColArana on Apr 13, 2019 17:04:56 GMT -5
Ranuen winced slightly at Kelsey's stomp, cracking the earth beneath her, but didn't break eye contact. He looked at Kelsey as she made her statement about being a monster. "....Just remember then. Don't go so far that you become what you're fighting against." He warned her. "...It's more common than you think. I'll do everything I can to keep that from happening, and I know Paul will as well. Just remember that. Don't lose sight of who you are and who you want to be." He cautioned her. He was worried for her. Worried that her path might take her into one that would oppose the group one day. And he did not want to see that happen. For her sake and for Paul's as well. Being a monster was about more than just how you looked or how strong you were.
When she stated her line about cleaning the place, Ranuen nodded. "Sounds good."
As Flint took the angel from the tree, Ranuen walked over to the creature coldly, and placed the point of his sword on the angel's wing near the shoulder. "Hello Colonel Prithvi. Perhaps you can direct us to your commander then, so you can get their permission to answer to us." He hissed. "If you say no, I might be so distraught that my hand slips. And that would be very unfortunate wouldn't it? I understand you angels are quite sensitive about your wings, aren't you?"
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Apr 13, 2019 19:21:12 GMT -5
"Don't worry..." Kelsey mumbled, eyes narrowed, voice low, intense, but also almost remorseful. "I know what I'm fighting for."
She glanced back at Val, her expression softening just enough not to make her look angry that Val was asking these questions. She certainly wasn't. They were legitimately good questions, and Kelsey would be hard pressed to say she had satisfying answers to any of them. She was more frustrated with the circumstances than she was with Val. "But I'm not just one person. Metaphorically or... maybe even literally at this point. Even still, I'm not gonna act like I have a completely solid plan down, if only because so many new variables keep throwing themselves in that I'm still trying to work around. When it comes to getting Percy back, I have no leads, but the further I dig myself into this chaotic weave, the more possibilities I'll unearth. The dragons... well, I'm on a steady incline to matching Vutezoth's strength, that's for sure. As for the angels..."
Kelsey paused, mulling over her jumbled thoughts, trying to piece her intentions together cohesively. Before she could get them out, Flint spoke up, bringing the topic of dragons back to light. Kelsey offered him a brief nod and a low "Yeah," remembering the conversation between the last two angels she had assimilated. She had wanted to mention it before, but simply couldn't find a good point to bring it up.
Flint charged into a tree next to the one Kelsey had been sitting against prior, knocking a female Prasino out of the canopy and subsequently pinning her beneath his foot. Kelsey observed this with a sort of curiosity –perhaps also a hint of reserved amusement– and casually approached the captive angel.
"Well now. A colonel. That's a new one." She knelt down next to the angel. "How long have you been watching us? C'mon, one measly little question isn't gonna destroy your credibility."
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Apr 13, 2019 19:53:48 GMT -5
Prithvi spat on the ground, landing near Kelsey's feet. Despite her own fears, she glared up at the four disgusting creatures before her. Filthy things, born with the fluids of another being on them. These things were below her, they were even below the most measly Ferro. This island would be all the better once the locals were all properly subjugated under Paradiso rule, a proper sovereign!
"... First of all, how dare you address me so casually, you gutter-born filth." Gotta give her credit, Raunen's sword and Flint's talons were close to her wings and she didn't show her fear. "You are not the commander, nor do you seem worthy of Sir Shamash's time, so no. You won't get his location from me." A pause to glare i particular at Kelsey. "Especially you. You destroyed his ship and killed some of our best men."
Flint's talon tightened around her wings, causing Prithvi to groan and grit her teeth. Val joined in, pointing her gun at the angel's head. Clearly, if she was gonna die, it was gonna hurt. "I'd watch yer mouth, greenie," Flint growled. "In case they don't teach ya math in angel school, yer outnumbered here."
"You wretched beast...!! But to answer your one question..." Prithvi glanced at Kelsey, hate in her eyes. "I've been watching you ever since you killed Osprey and Kite. Mind you, I don't consider them a big loss, and Paradiso sees them as only two casualties..."
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Post by ColArana on Apr 13, 2019 20:23:18 GMT -5
As Flint tightened his talon on her wings, Ranuen pushed his sword in just a little. The tip of the sharpened steel began to heat up. It wasn't igniting, but it was definitely going to make things uncomfortable. "Gutter born filth." Ranuen repeated snarkily. "And what, praytell, does that make you, who lie under the feet of that filth?" He challenged. "If we're filth, then you're even less than that. That arrogance of yours is going to get you into a lot of trouble." He stated, turning his sword tip just a bit in Prithvi's wing.
He smirked darkly at the Colonel when she stated Kelsey's achievements. "Well isn't that a shame." He hissed. "Some of your best men? Really? I guess that makes the lot of you all pretty sad and pathetic, doesn't it, if that's all it took to kill them all." Ranuen's words sounded cheap, even in his own mind, but everything about the last day or so had pissed him off and he really wanted to make this angel squirm. Even if he had to try and take some cheap shots to do it. And this one had been watching them for awhile. "Not a big loss huh? I suppose they'll have to say the same about you, if you intend on keeping your mouth shut." He warned.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Apr 14, 2019 12:33:04 GMT -5
Kelsey folded her arms, drummed her fingers along her bicep, and let out a low sigh, looking to the side with an expression of disgruntled disappointment like the dog just peed on the carpet yet again. This kind of stubbornness wasn't surprising, and Flint and Ranuen's harsh interrogation methods didn't seem to bother Kelsey. There was an easy way around this, of course, but morbid curiosity led her to try a different approach.
"I don't care about your commander's present location," Kelsey calmly stated. "He's gonna come to us either way. Truth be told, he seems to believe we are worth his time. I'm just trying to figure out what I can do with you..."
She rested her chin on her hand and mentally flashed back to the night of Seeker's ambush at the club. The night this whole farce started. "Let's try to be civil here, shall we? My hands may not be clean, but I'm not above reasoning. What would it take to change your mind? I could guarantee your continued existence in exchange for insight. After all, if those two jokers were just casualties, what would that make you, Colonel?"
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Apr 14, 2019 12:50:34 GMT -5
"What would that make me?"
Prithvi actually laughed, humourless and mocking. "Maybe my mom would miss me. Maybe. Assuming she's not addicted to vinegar again." This angel seemed amused by Kelsey and Raunen's implied death threats, rather than scared. "And to Paradiso, to the Serapis? Just one more casualty on the list, albeit one that may merit a funeral. Maybe. My house fell from favour generations ago." Such self-loathing and bitterness.
Flint's talon tightened, and Val's gun got closer to Prithvi's head, the sandy-haired woman unamused. "If you're trying to make us let you go out of pity, you're not getting either."
Another quick, mirthless laugh. "Pity? That thing? We consider pity demeaning, something you give others below you. I don't want your pity." A smile danced upon her lips. "Go ahead, kill me! Kill me like you did those buffoons! Kill me like you did all of my friends! Maybe my house will reclaim its status with my death!? Go on, kill me!"
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Post by ColArana on Apr 14, 2019 13:11:51 GMT -5
Ranuen's expression was actually disappointed. "You angels... are a lot more human than you let on." He murmured, a hint of the edge taken out of his voice. But only a hint. "That doesn't bother you? An ignoble end, and swiftly forgotten. To leave no impact behind. A completely and utterly pointless existence." Kelsey's attempt to bargain with her, as well as her statement about her house caused Ranuen's mind to start working.
"Then perhaps we can help each other out." He commented offhandedly. He relieved the heat from his sword blade but didn't move it. "You help us, and perhaps we might find a way to improve your house's standing a little bit. Make your name worth something again." He suggested, looking at the others. Vinegar wasn't working here, so maybe some honey? Ranuen was trying to abate his anger with the thought of even greater carnage down the line. Besides... Killing this angel now, like this? That wouldn't mean anything. She was clearly already planning to die. That... wouldn't slow his anger. It'd just be giving her what she wanted.
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