Fantasy 𝒞𝒽𝓇𝑜𝓃𝒾𝒸𝓁𝑒𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝐸𝓁𝒹𝓇𝒾𝒹𝒶

[Arvios]

Napoleon Mauvieux​

Location: Forest's Edge > Forest (Deeper)

Mentions: Nothingness (Jin Aethor) Guppy Franz (Red) . D O V E (Fiona Shreka) Colorless Spectrum (Shiloh Caswell)

Interacting With: TheImmortalDeity (Hush) JJae (Dominique La'Sar) AI10100 (Abraham Rozant) Songstress (Aries Daina)

As he finished loading up his shotgun, Napoleon gently rested it on his hip, slowly walking deeper into the forest. His hands now fully gripped his rifle, one wrapped around the forestock, and the other with a finger squeezing the rear of the guard, ready on a moment’s notice to shift over to the trigger. The spotted dog didn’t need to concentrate to detect the past presence of Jin and Anika, alongside the splatter of blood not far from here; if he was able to pick up the body of a slain moosebear left at the side of the ship, then other more opportunistic or territorial predators wouldn’t have an issue with finding it, either. Whether they would be brave or foolish enough to approach such a beast's carcass though? That’s the thought that kept Napoleon on edge.
Not to mention the situation that he was stuck in now.

Napoleon had only been in the company of the crew for at least a month or so, and it was quite obvious that he didn’t have an interest in making friends. But even with that said, the priest was thankful to the Captain for letting him onboard, and did his best to play a role in the ship so as to not be dead weight. Having the role of a gunman wasn’t something that was always in need, such as a janitor, or chef. The fact that he failed to act when he was needed most, with whatever the hell happened earlier… He felt a bit guilty, but for the most part got over it within the span of a few minutes. It was simply out of his control. Sure, the alternative to his sleep medication happened to have been Aries' abilities, and she appeared to be a trusted individual by everyone in the Infinity, but he still couldn't help himself to ask her for aid. The less that he was dependent on others, the better. Plus, there were other... irascible points on that end.

When he was just within sight of those still on the ship, his movements came to a standstill, a filtered stare fixated on a generously open clearing. His features appeared distant, much like the drifting clouds that his tired eyes were tracking, but it was quite the contrary; the chirps of birdsongs in the hidden canopy; the rustling of large leaves against the cool, high winds of the stratosphere; the unmistakable free fall of a waterfall towards the opposite side of the island. His ears flicked and swiveled, tuning in to the multiple songs of nature that the island provided for those capable of catching its performance. Nothing out of the ordinary, it would seem. But how surreal, having such a chaotic start to his day leading to this level of calm.

As if in response to this news, he slips one hand into his coat, and after a bit of shuffling, reveals a cigarette that he slips between his black lips. With a similarly pocketed match, he lights the end and takes a long drag, holding the warm smoke in his mouth for a second — he feels his acuminate nerves lose their sharp edge the second the cloud of ash enters his chest. His lungs stagnated for a second, and a slow, heavy breath escaped from the end of his snout. Almost immediately, the scent of the forest is washed in a grey blur of cinder and soil.

Then, the snapping of twigs just behind him interrupts his relaxation.

“Hey,” she called out to the dog with her usual grin set in line. “You wouldn’t mind carrying my bag, would you?”

It was the chef woman. As much as he hated to admit, it was hard to not like someone who prepared the food for the ship. Napoleon was sure that it didn't just pertain to him, but filling stomachs with delicious entrées was a shortcut to just how well one could tolerate strangers... even if they were visibly buzzing, and not dressed properly for exploration.

As if to keep a hardened appearance, the imposing beastfolk eyes Dominique with a line of sight that could have very well frozen the space between them. He takes a passive short step towards her, gently grabs her bag, and slings it over his unused shoulder with a gruff "Woof." He knew Hush enjoyed her presence, so to consider it a foundation between friends of friends... Yes, it was a suitable excuse.

"Did you lose your flats, Dominique?" Napoleon asks monotonously, now clearly aiming his gaze at the set of heels she chose to sport. "Remind me to check the charity services the next time we make port."

"I'll be coming along just in case." He alerted them, giving a small bow of his head to Father Napoleon as a sign of respect. "Er, do either of you... uh, know where the other group is?"

"Abraham," the beastfolk moves to return the greeting with a subtle bow of his own. The way his attention between the crew members transitioned was very fluid, exactly like a well practiced priest might handle different individuals, all clamoring for a few personal exchange of words post-sermon. "Thank you as always for your presence. The Holy Stem forever values those that tends to its roots, seeds, and saplings."

He takes his cigarette with his thumb and index fingers, then points towards the east. "I picked their scent coming from that way." Sensing the slight distress in his voice and mannerisms, the beastfolk drops a large hand over his shoulder, pressing it with a bit of strength. "They will be fine," he consoles simply. Although he hadn't seen them in action, his instincts told him that they wouldn't go down so easily, especially if it came to protecting each other.

"Heyy! Where are you guys headed?" The lady voiced out as she called out to the group .... Just then, she noticed her little sister Hush which she obviously adored. The librarian couldn't help but leap towards her, embracing the young child so very tightly. "I missed my baby! You have some explaining to do!" She said jokingly.

Napoleon's grip on Abraham's shoulder begins to tighten, his eyes fiercely locked to the two young women behind him. He doesn't speak, and instead focuses on the ongoing hug. The beastfolk was able to feel a single quiver in his lips, as if his fangs were about to be on display for all to see. Instead, he bides his time, waiting to see if Hush needed assistance with the interaction. As if his hearing would miss a life or death detail, both of his large, round ears neglected the dangers of the forest, fully raised and aimed at the conversation. When Hush detached from Aries, so did the priest's press on the doctor. Without making a comment to Abraham, the beastfolk paces himself between the two newcomers.

"Aries," he manages to speak curtly, though doesn't drag out his greeting into a conversation. Napoleon simply bows slightly at the woman, wondering if she would be able to feel the build up of heat dissipating from his face. He then looks down to the assassin.

"Anika," he greeted her in an even lower volume, as if his breath might collapse a house of cards. His features relaxed fully, and his jaws parted slightly for an iota of a moment, as his features were about to betray him. He was beyond content that she survived this situation, considering how this was more of an unexplored territory for the girl in contrast to cloaks and daggers. With that fresh on his mind, Napoleon finally turns to Abraham and Dominique, implying he didn't want to force Anika or Aries to answer his following question, his tone much more stern now.

"What happened?" He sticks the roll of lit paper in his mouth again, taking in another drag as if to help him cope with whatever was about to be revealed... Though not before he continues past them, fully expecting them to explain as they explored the thickening forest just ahead.

 

[wigi]

xander walks through the town , he walks into an alley , then towards one of the sewer entrys , he pulls off the cover than he jumps down.
he lands making a splashing noise lifting his pants up so they dont get wet but failing to do so , atleast its not that kind of water.
he wonders the sewers , the noise of people gets less and less muffled as he finally takes a last turn as he sees it , the room where the people meet , the place where the revolution began in this city.
he walks in almost hitting his legs on the table inside of the room , the people argue and talk .
he quickly sees one of his friends a human man with long hair tied in a man bun , the man wears torn clothes and holds a dagger in his hand that he waves aroud when he sees alexander.
"well you're late"
the man says.
"oh shut up will"
xander jokingly says taking a chair next to his friend. as he asks why they havent started yet he's interrupted by the revolution leader stepping into the room.
"speak of the devil"
the man stand infront of the group of people , there where around 40 people in there.
"everybody , sit down , we have some new"
...​

 

[JJae]

Firey Chef

Dominique La´Sar

Mood:

S.S Infinity |

Interactions with: Arvios , AI10100 , Songstress
Mentions: TheImmortalDeity​

The chief cook gladly handed over her bag with a fat grin. “Thank you my dear,” she hummed and fixed a strain of her ravenish black hair that hung in her face.
"Did you lose your flats, Dominique? Remind me to check the charity services the next time we make port."

“No, not that I know of. But-” She sent a flat glare at the spotted dog. “Do you want me to walk around like a fashion disaster? If we are taken by any native living thing on this island I want to look good.”
Her face straightened to a cocking smile. Dominique loved to tease every member. Napoleon joined only recently and even though he desperately tried to keep his distance from everyone, she could always win him over with her food. Which she supposedly gave him plus points. Anyone liking her food was considered a good person already. Besides, she saw Hush relaxing around him… slightly. Or at least seeming to trust the dog. Dom didn’t mind him, then. It didn’t stop her from treating him like she treated everyone else.

“Come on, doggie! You have to agree I look good at least!” She laughed but before her companion could answer, another voice chimed in with its owner adding to their small group. It was no one else but Abraham tagging along. Dom gave them half her ears as she turned to look for Hush. Apparently Napoleon had a plan where to go. They wouldn’t mind taking a few detours. It was for their soup anyway.

Hush had the company of a blue haired woman now. The demoiselle deepend her smile upon Arie’s arrival. After everyone’s questions settled, Dom turned to the forest. The longer she stared into it the deeper it got. Should she take Linsie with them? With Abraham being here now… No. What if they encountered– what was it called? Well, whatever Jin murdered on his alone-tour. If it would have gotten Linsie, Dom could never forgive herself. Neither if anything happened to the cluster of crew members behind her still chattering.
If they wanted to get something done, they had to leave now. She turned to her companions. The group quite expanded. She believed that only Hush and she would go. But the more the better. Dom rested her hands on her hip, giving it a small bump without even knowing.

“Guys! Listen up,” she announced, pointing to the nature whispering behind her. “If we want to finally reach something or,” a glance to Aries as she had mentioned the other expedition tea,. “we need to leave now or never. And whilst Napoleon here leads the direction, I will be looking for some stuff.”
Stuff. Her head had been so full of consuming any intoxicating shit that she couldn’t recall some vocabulary. Herbs, mushrooms, roots- anything she could use as a cooking supply in the next few days before using all the new ingredients up. Dom stretched and pulled her dress a little lower after it slid up a little. Only to venture beyond the tree line.

The aroma of the forest sulled her in, coated her in its unique fragrance. It gave her a clear head, almost as if all the air could eliminate her alcohol in the body. Dom glanced up the trees into their crowns. They tried to reach the sun. Their leaves greener than any green and gleaming in the slowly lower going sun. She sighed before facing the equally colored ground.

At some point she found a few herbs that gave soups a good taste and spared her to use anything from their bought resources. For now, Dom held them in her hand. She crouched down to a tree and unsheathed her dagger to cut a few parts of the outstucking roots. Before those would ever see her counter, they had to be washed instantly.
Dom found some berries, too. Carelessly the woman stuck one in her mouth and chewed on it. Her old master had taught her to taste everything before serving. She found that rule useful for now. Sometimes she fell in pace with Napoleon to drop her collected stuff. Her skull flew red and lies with her operator. So, perhaps we could change side.

Code by Serobliss

 

[AI10100]

R O Z A N T , A B R A H A M
Interacting with: Arvios
Mentions: JJae TheImmortalDeity Songstress
Location: Island​

Abraham gave the priest a small smile, pressing his hand to his chest. "Atree." He responded in kind. He had always held great respect for him. He hadn't had many opportunities to visit the church when they were almost constantly in flight and his bounty did not make it any easier to attend sermons and masses. Thankfully, Father Napoleon was already on board the Infinity and had been kind enough to impart some of his knowledge to the crew. He wasn't that religious of a man but he had to pay respects where it is due. The Church had helped many of them get up on their feet over the years.

He followed where he was pointing, off toward the East. It would be nice to have a bird's eye view of everything or be able to transform into one like Fiona did. Alas, he would just have to make a general mental note of the area and hope that if he received a message, he would be able to get there as soon as possible. A heavy and furry hand pressed against his shoulder and Abraham turned back to Father Napoleon, nodding at his reassurance. "Mhm... Shiloh and Red, they're really good fighters." But that didn't mean there couldn't be any accidents. Not everyone had faster regeneration like Azure and Jin. "I hope nothing bad happens..."

Aries's voice carried throughout the area. Abraham turned to her, observing her for a moment as she practically jumped onto Hush who had only just arrived a few seconds prior to the former. She seemed to have returned to her normal state instead of whatever he had to deal with at the library bathroom. He felt an increased pressure on his shoulder and it seemed that the Father was also observing the interaction. It was always an interesting combination— Hush and Aries. Two people on opposite sides of the spectrum. He wondered how Hush was able to properly function around someone like Aries.

Both Dominique and Father Napoleon had started to make their way into the forest. He fell into step with Father Napoleon as he began to recall what had happened in the past few hours. "Some bounty hunters managed to catch sight of us and ambushed us a little bit after we left port. The Captain went off on another ship and I guess... blew it up? I didn't see what happened exactly. I was kind of doing something else." Abraham fiddled with the hem of his gloves, looking around for a moment. Maybe he should have brought a medicinal herb book. Maybe he would find something on this island while they were collecting supplies. "The Captain fell with the other ship before we were taken here on this island. I guess Azure was just desperate to get out of there so that's why we couldn't find a proper place to dock for the day?" He shrugged. Abraham wouldn't pretend he understood how the helmsman's brain works. Maybe it was too fast because of whatever Marie did. Maybe he was so grief-stricken he didn't consider the positioning. So many variables. The explanation didn't matter anymore though. They were here now and they just had to deal with it.

"Losing the Captain has hit some of the crew pretty hard." Abraham added in a lower town, glancing briefly at Aries. "But you know, we can't really just run back without a plan trying to recover his body or something. Who knows if those bounty hunters had like reinforcements and stuff..." He wouldn't have been surprised if the bounty hunters had a fleet alongside them. The Infinity proved to be a slippery vessel and the crew itself wasn't something to scoff at. They were likely extremely wary about the crew. He already had certain plans in play so that he could still distribute some of his earned wealth to the lower class division of the towns they docked in but it seemed like he should revise a few of them to make sure no one got harmed. He couldn't be caught alone and unaware. He let out a sigh. "Maybe eventually but I don't think they're in the right headspace for it either." He muttered with a shake of his head, finding conversing with Father Napoleon easier to be a little bit honest with. Maybe it was because he was frank or maybe it was because he was a priest. Who knows.

When Dominique started to go off on her own to collect her own herbs and spices, Abraham kept a silent vigil on her. He had to keep an eye out for everyone and thankfully Hush wasn't trying to actively disappear into the shadows. When she popped a berry into her mouth, Abraham blanched. Dominique was fine afterward so it wasn't poisonous. But it still didn't stop Abraham from feeling like he was going to have a heart attack. He should trust her more. After all, she was a cook. She likely had information about what was edible and what wasn't. Right? Yeah. For the sake of his own sanity, he would continue to believe that.

"Oh, that reminds me. Were you hurt during that, Father Napoleon? I... didn't see you above deck." Abraham quickly said as he turned back to the priest, fingers already on his gloves in preparation to remove and remedy if something ailed the humanoid canine. Physically, of course. Clearly, he wasn't as good at helping with emotional ailments.

 

[. D O V E]

FIONA SHREKA

A flush spread across Fiona's face when Eiren pointed out the beak on her face. She slightly ducked down and hid the oddity behind her palms, though her arm remained linked with Shiloh's. "I-It won't be on my face forever, I promise!" She explained, noticing the automaton imitate the feature with his hand and sinking deeper into embarrassment. Thankfully, none of the other maidens had seen her in such a state. She knew of their hushed giggles and light whispers that would always adhere to her mind like an unwanted blotch on a cloth.

The scholar regained her composure when the inventor bowed and drew closer. His hulking hammer fetched her attention almost immediately. She internally wondered how it'd feel on her back. It looked like it was heavy enough to snap her into two the moment she'd strapped it on her body. At first, it struck her strange but perhaps there was good merit in becoming fully mechanized - a breakthrough from fleshly follies.

She stared in awe when Eiren entered the ship fearlessly. It seemed like he was entirely unshackled by emotions. Unlike him, she has to deal with them on a daily basis. She could practically hear the muted voices of her parents telling her to keep herself under control. Sometimes, she'd succeed; most of the time, she'd fail and disappoint. Then, terrible things would happen.

Fiona swallowed thickly before tugging onto Shiloh's arm. "We should follow them." She said, watching Red course after Eiren with a flashlight as she led Shiloh toward their trail. Much like the friendly automaton, her fiery friend showed no sign of fear with every step he took, causing her to grow even more conscious of the way she clung to Shiloh. Even so, that was all she could do - be aware.

It was eerie inside the abandoned vessel, an air of mystery hanging heavily in every corner as they trudged further. To Fiona, it felt like a rotting replica of her home, its extravagance smothered beneath the soles of time. "It smells awful in here." She commented under her breath, putting a hand over her nose before perking up. "Oh! Shiloh, my beak is gone...!" She quietly announced, pearl-white teeth glinting as she grinned and hopped amidst the darkness.

Unfortunately, her bout of excitement had caused her to accidentally step on Shiloh's foot. "Oops! Sorry! It's so dark in here, I can barely see a thing. Let's use our phones to light the way." Despite the morbid environment, Fiona didn't lose her verbose personality. She fished out a high-end phone from one of her dress pockets and opened its flashlight function, pointing it ahead for the both of them. It provided adequate light, enabling her to see whatever conundrum lay before them.

The conundrum in question turned out to be a large portrait of the Royal Family. Fiona instantly froze at the sight. The King and Queen stood proudly at each side of the sitting Princess, all three smiling at her. An ugly churn made itself known at the depths of her stomach as a whisper echoed in her head. Instinctively, she loosened her hold on Shiloh's hand before prying her gaze away from the picturesque family. She then settled it on Red, whom she found to be staring at the same piece before looking away just as she did. A part of her wondered if he felt anything when he saw her face. Anger, longing - anything?

"I-I'm okay. Sorry, let's continue." Fiona murmured as she looked at Shiloh, knowing that the man probably noticed her tense behavior. It was fine. Everything was fine. As long as she has Shiloh, everything would be okay.

Wouldn't it?

"What the bloody hell happened here?"

Fiona snapped out of her daze at Red's troubled voice. Alarmed, she scanned the area with her light. What she found immediately made her nauseous as she grew more aware of the pervading stench. "Dead bodies!" She announced. Corpses were to be expected at a site of an accident, but their freshness was mismatched with the ship's downfall. "Their wounds... they can't be from the crash." She added before crouching beside a cadaver. While she wasn't an expert like sir Abe, Fiona has read enough medical books to know that their wounds were caused by something entirely different. "They seem to have died fairly recently from... sword strikes. Isn't that right, Shiloh?" She turned to her childhood friend, knowing full well that he was a master when it came to all things martial.

It was a worrying discovery. Whoever did this to these poor souls could still be roaming the area in search of their next victim. "Sir Brackus, have you found anything?" Hopefully, they could quickly salvage whatever they could and then leave. She cut a piece of the merchant's clothing before slipping it into her pocket and getting up.

Artist: SAELAH_ANDLUS
Code: Ami
Interaction: Colorless Spectrum Guppy Franz Vexumin
Mention: AI10100

THE FACADE

 

[606]

mood

Distracted

location

S.S. Infinity

outfit

Still no shirt

interactions

FentasticFen

mentions

e

Little old me in a big world

azure hitch

Azure was in a grove. Moving from one board to the next with a slight dance step, letting the music take his mind away even if it was just for a moment. The memory of his parents was sad but, it happened so long ago that it didn't affect him as much, at least he was much better at hiding it. When he first lost his parents, he was even more out of control then he is right now. Not just emotionally but had less control of the ship but thankfully, Gramps was there to deal with him. Now that Azure was thinking about it, it wasn't just gramps. He had seen other crew members come and go, some finding a temporary home here on the S.S. Infinity while others died for the ship. He had grown up with this. Shouldn't he be used to loosing people by now?

"We'll get nowhere soon if you're doing it all by yourself, dancer." The familiar voice broke through to the taller male as he looked over to see Solomon, pulling out an earbud and would give a small smile of greetings, his eyes now no longer filled with water tears but still lightly red from the crying before.

"But, we're in one piece. Good job." While before this point couldn't take the compliment before, landing them all mostly safe, he couldn't help actually hear it this time and nodded.

"I uh, thanks. Just waiting for everyone to come back to help me gather supplies," he said, pulling his phone out to pause his music, and staring straight back at Solomon before looking to the forest.

"No one should be by themselves right now. Where's everyone else?"
Azure had to think about it for a moment, knowing there were two groups out in the forest and one here. It was one of those thinking matters where Azure had to put down the boards, untieing his bandana, and used it to whip off his face of any sweat from his face, mostly from not letting his body rest enough.
"Talk to me."

"Um, Red and Eiren are with the two new members Fiona and Shiloh in the forest, I forget doing what. Dom, Hush, Abe, Aries, and Napoleon just went into the forest, probably gathering supplies. That leaves you, me, Jin, who by the way got us dinner for tonight, Marie, Lindsey, and Fang here." He responded, counting the crew members on his hands as he listed them off, hoping he wouldn't forget anyone, mumbling the names to himself once more and counting them again and nodding to himself once he double-checked, his eyes resting towards the forest for a moment longer before picking up the boards he had set down before tossing them over the edge.

When Azure was much younger, Azure had looked up to Solomon, one of the bigger inspirations as to why he worked so hard to build up his own muscles, coming out as trans that year Solomon and Dominque joined. Sol was one of the major inspirations as to why he got his own tattoo in the first place, in fact, he was the one who went with Azure to get his tattoo. It was a memorable moment for Azure, being able to get his large chest tattoo in honor of his new flat chest. Azure hoped in the future that the two might go and get more tattoos together but, now wasn't the time to really think about that, they have to get off this island in the first place.

"So that's where everyone is, since we landed we all haven't been on the ship at the same time. I have no idea what any plans are except, for me to fix the Infinity up." Azure would pull his hair out of the small ponytail it was in, and run a hand through it as he eventually looked down to the gap in the railing he managed to pull out all the broken bits and pieces. "I don't know how long it's gonna take for me to get her in shape to be okay to fly again, I would think maybe a day or two at least, but I haven't checked the underside of her yet either," he added in. Was he rambling on the ship to avoid thinking about his feelings? Absolutely. Solomon was probably right that everyone was why antsy after the loss of the captain but secret, Azure wish for them all to be on the ship just to have one big discussion about what has happened and what was going to come next. At the same time, Azure doubted it would actually happen any time soon, leaving Azure with far too much anxiety than needed.

/* ------ credit -- do not remove ------ */

© weldherwings.

 

[Songstress]

ARIES DAINA

Mention: AI10100 Arvios JJae
Interaction: TheImmortalDeity

The gentle warmth coming from the small hands that cupped her cheek softly, there are still times where she finds it difficult to understand the reason behind Hush's actions, but she lets her anyway. After all, this young scout is someone that she holds dearly.

Growing up, Aries was distant towards others, building this invisible wall to protect her vulnerable heart. Her view for the world lacked color. It was all pale and unexciting. Which is why she grew to love reading books. Adventures, romance, fantasies... it kept her entertained. But there came Hush, someone who she thought was the same as her. Typically quiet and only did minimal conversations. Along the way, she continued on observing the young girl who had her own share of difficulties in life. Aries felt the need to protect her. Having that responsibility gave her life a meaning- and to live and wake up in this world that she found so dull, having someone to care for wasn't so.. bad.

Holding the hands which was still cupping her cheek, she crouched a little bit and gave her a smile. "Hmmm?" There was a bit of silence as the teenager continued to gaze upon her. Hush is really someone that you need to get used to. Like Aries, she was also on the quiet side and would give you insightful stares, but this one was different. Was it the guilt? Perhaps. It could still be something else.

"I'm sorry."

Why? It's not that the scout did something to apologize for. As far as Aries knows, it was the captain that chose to sacrifice himself for the safety of the crew. It didn't take a while for the scout to slip away from her embrace. The young assassin never really liked being doted on in front of others. Hopefully, it was the only reason behind her odd behavior towards Aries.

Drawing the attention of the group with all her glomping and obvious adoration for the scout, flustered, she kept her hands to herself and continued walking towards the thickening forest. It was then that she also noticed Abraham which was walking along them since the beginning. The lady couldn't help but blush as she was reminded by the incident. Still, she tries to act as normally as she can. Though some would notice her glancing at the doctor from time to time but would avoid his gaze when their eyes meet.

With the charming chef having gathered some herbs and bravely picking up berries which did not look poisonous at all, the librarian followed her steps and began placing some in her bag as well. Of course, she went ahead and snacked on those berries too! After all, she hasn't eaten a thing since the fight with the bounty hunters. Just then, a loud grumble came from Aries's stomach. A flush of red appears on her cheeks as she prayed dearly that no one hopefully heard of that. The lady stopped for a while, leaning her hand to one of the trees. There, they can only notice a face of regret.. A regret of missing the chance to gobble up on some food from Dom's kitchen. The lady was clearly not prepared for this expedition... not at all.

Unknown Island | Forest

 

[TheImmortalDeity]

Hush​

The gruff call from Napoleon's commanding maw jolted Hush from her addled daze. Hearing her birthname cast a disconcerting wariness over her shoulders. An unwanted sense of self began to preoccupy her mind. She had warned him about carelessly throwing her name around, not that her fellow crew members were unaware of her identity. The excessive amount of wanted posters fluttering around with her displayed face was sure of that. Still, she would've preferred he kept his mouth shut.

Restlessly, she followed suit behind the beastman. His strides were long, indicative of his size, and while he conversed with the doctor, Hush made it a priority to try and step within the footprints he left in the flattened grass. He was smoking again. Another pet peeve she brought to his attention, only to be thoroughly brushed off. Did he think her opinion on his health didn't matter since she was young? The girl kicked a stray rock. She only cared because the ash clung to her clothes.

Sneaking a peek at Aries, she followed their bashful glances toward Abraham. The two's flirtatious game of cat and mouse wasn't lost on Hush. So much could be discerned by the slightest physical signs, whether intentional or not. It didn't matter. She had no right to pry into the affairs of others. Even so, she couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that gripped her heart unerringly. Another stray rock went flying.

Eventually, Dominique's wily shenanigans captured her curiosity. What. There was a moment when the provocative woman went to bend for some berries, her skimpy black dress curling dangerously against her exposed legs. WOOSH. In a burst of speed, the petite assassin sprinted for her, blocking the encroaching view from the men behind. Awkwardly, Hush's deft hands went to Dominique's waist, discreetly pulling the garment back to an appropriate level. A close call.

Her fears were far from finished. As the cook meandered to another berry bush, Hush's heart began to race. Her yearlong experience as Red's cohort warned her that those berries were poisonous. Incredibly so. With an 'accidental' bump, Anika pushed Dominique away from them. "Oops," she said unconvincingly. Travesty avoided. Or so she thought.

Aires began to join in, acting like this forest had become an all-you-can-eat buffet. Not even the Infinity's airhorn could match the same frequency that Hush's internal screaming had reached. The cutthroat's sly antics to ensure the two didn't drop dead went on for a good while. Enough for the once-green leaves to gradually transition into a somber brown and for the lush trail to shift into a path made of mud and mire. The trees began to tighten, travel becoming burdensome as the brush assaulted either side of them. Where were they headed?

Shadowy silhouettes trepidatiously lurked along the perimeter of the woodland trail. At first, their presence was hardly noticeable, sticking to the shrubs and hedges that hid them from view. Then, as more began to join their ranks, their cautious nature was gradually discarded. Were they wolves? An anxious uncertainty swept over Hush. Her first response was gently tugging Father Napoleon's sleeve.

"Wolves," she explained, though her voice carried uncertainty. "Continue normally. Do not provoke them." Her tone was low. The pack wouldn't attack a large group they thought was stronger than them. "Stay close to me," she commanded the others. Though young, she had seniority as the crew's scout. It was her responsibility to keep them safe. And so, she would.

Interacting: Arvios Songstress AI10100 JJae

 

[Nothingness]

Quartermaster

Jin Aethor

Mood: Focused / Confused

Infinity - Gym

Interactions ||
animegirl20


Mentions ||
Hecotoro

"What do you mean wha--" Just as he attempted to calm the situation between him and Lindsey before she would decide to fire, the sudden wizzing of a paint ball speeding passed his shoulder nearly had Jin jump in shock and fear. Aside from Napoleon, and Eiren, Lindsey was one of the greatest shots on the entirety of the crew, so when she had missed him, there was no doubt that it was on purpose and a way to put fear into her prey, and it was working! With each shot fired only missing by mere inches, the last few had only been mere centimeters from his cheek, the sheer speed and heat alone had Jin practically feeling the hairs on his cheek had been shaved off. His expression the entirety of the time had been that of concern, shock and fear as Lindsey approached him, only stopping when she had stood in front of the taller male. The barrel of the weapon had been pointed at his face, the heat from the gun itself sending shivers along his spine, that was until she spoke. Listening to her words was almost as though he were listening to a repeated tape recorder from when Hush had spoken with him earlier, other than the extra details and threat.

The fear was soon replaced by that of a stern and yet at the sametime that of guilt, sure he knew well enough that he wasn't the only one that was suffering inside, plenty of the crew were most likely concerned for the Captain, although did they have the same experience that he had with the man. Did they owe their actual lives to him. How was he supposed to just step up and take charge in an instant and act like everything that just happened was real and that he wasn't just living a nightmare at the moment.
Even when Lindsey had dropped her gun and told Jin to relay a warning to those who had left without permission as he did, he kept silent with his own gaze focused towards the floor beside the two of them. Unable to bring himself to speak up against her at the time, his thoughts about what he could've/should've done, how he could've/should've acted, all of it was pressing down on him like a giant anvil pressuring him into the floor till he had been flattened.

Luckily as Lindsey went off to speak with Fang after, Jin had believed that he was at least going to be able to be alone with his thoughts and calm himself even if it was only slightly. This was not the case. Moments after she had made her way towards the exit of the gym, the sudden turn and following threat that came after had his eyes widen in place, his grip around his blade's hilt tightened till his own blood began to drip and seep around the handle. 'Don't bother coming back, cause I will shoot you dead on arrival.'? Did she think he feared death that much that she could threaten him with something like that, the amount of times he had faced death head-on, even if he knew he wouldn't stand a chance far outnumbered the of the times he was certain of his own victory. There were times when the Captain had to forcibly pull him out of a battle just because he knew Jin would end up dying in the process if he had continued the fight. So the fact that Lindsey had threatened to kill him for leaving without a word spiked up an anger that he hadn't even known he had been holding in this entire time.

Rather than speak with Fang after Lindsey had finally taken her leave for quite some time by this point, Jin proceeded to leave the gym only to give a slight pat onto the Janitor's shoulder leaving a clear bloody handprint of his shirt. Aside from Hush trying to give him peptalk, and now Lindsey, the threat had pushed passed a limit that he was not going to simply let slide so easily.

Marching up the staircase towards the upper deck where everyone's quarters had been, Jin made his way towards Lindsey's room only to grip the knob and open the door. Even if it were locked, his frustration alone had been enough for him to twist and forcibly tear knob off, if not, then the knob would be fine, either way, he'd be leaving another obvious bloody handprint on it due to his continuous clenching of his fists and the handle of his sword.
After opening her door and viewing her doing whatever she had been doing at the time, rather than be shouting or making any kind of unnecessary comments, he would only start off by calling her name. "Lindsey." Speaking in a low hushed tone of voice, immediately after, rather than continue to speak, Jin tossed his sword in a quick motion as though he were throwing a javelin. Although he was not as great as a shooter as some members of the crew, his own ranged combat capabilities should not be scoffed at. Similar to her last shots towards him with her gun previously, he threw his sword to be nearly jab her into her head only to end up stuck beside her into whatever solid object had been there to stop the momentum of the blade, leaving the sword's freezing cold hissing aura to be brushing next to her face the entire time. Whether she would look at him or not did not matter. "If you really want me to take charge that much. If you think I'm some sort of a machine that can just take care of anything at the simple press of a button, fine. I'll take charge and take care of anything that needs to be done. But. Don't you ever dare try to threaten me, or the crew, ever again. Whatever gramps told you when he took you in, I don't care. If I have to, I will tear you apartit and feed you to the beasts, even if it means everyone else wants me to leave after." With that said, he'd left his sword stuck into whatever solid object had been holding the weapon before closing her door with a light and gentle click.

While it did not clear his conscience or calm his rage completely yet, he at least was able to voice his opinion on the matter before heading back to his own quarters for some rest.

Code by Serobliss

 

[Hanarei]

Marie Caldewell​

|Location: S.S. Infinity Deck -> Halls -> Lindsey's Room

With Hush's meek-seeming acknowledgement and pulling away she nodded giving a thumbs up in response. Her way of being pleased by what was said. She had to admit the Hush girl was a bit strange. Always felt like she gave her funny looks. Perhaps she liked her outfit? Maybe a love for her creative inventions? It was hard to tell really, probably some sort of admiration for her. She did seem like a weird girl over-all to her. Perhaps she was secretly a robot wearing a small girl's skin overtop the metal? The very idea sparking a certain deal of fasination for Marie even as silly as the idea might be.

Marie glanced at Azure as he commented about improvement. She blinked tapping her finger to her chin as if appearing rather meek and clueless at his comment. Her violet eyes glancing at him as she seemed to be at least pretending to take in his words like a curious child hearing something for the first time. A simple nod of acknowledgement as he spoke as if picking up what he was mentioning though in a way that any careful thought would likely being taken in one ear and instantly leaving the other. Marie had the art of playing ignorant for the sake of validating her experimentation down to perfection.

"Ah... I see I see... yes... yes... I mean the output itself was only a mild modicum tinge bit higher then norm type of affair boost I'd say. I mean that's not even including the acceleration that the ship the ship so I mean calculating those values I think there is a fair assessment that the norm would of not be a good trajectory. I mean crazy I think is not worrying about the risks and troubles that might arise from not finding ways to evolve oneself in both a physical and metaphorical sense... and by oneself I mean the ship. Ya know, ya know?"

Marie nodded as she finished what was mostly rambling nonsense. Her normal way of getting around justifying her experimentation despite the risks and dangers. She had learned throwing in nonsense while suing a few bigger words often was enough to throw most people off her scent when she didn't have a particular strong case for why she did something reckless. Not that she felt there wasn't justification at all for what she did. While their quick escape could be questioned if it was really needed to escape safely, it at the very least didn't hurt to ensure they got away safely with a much lower chance of being tracked.

"Naturally! A bit of ship work like this ain't nothin' for an enginee like me. It might not be fun bits and bobs inside but its all needed to get the job done. A simple list is easy enough, just hope yer' good at reading chicken scratch. I won't llie my handwriting is a bit sore to the eyes. Just don't wander off too long then!"

The engineer gave a little wave as she watched him shuffle off leaving her to her own devices. A typically terrible choice given the idea of 'not making any modifications' went though as of the moment she wasn't particularly invested in creating anything. Not that she wasn't known for spontaneously coming up with ideas. Something as Azure's time away dwelled on it had only grown that much more tempting as her mind began to shift thinking up new ideas. Many very unconventional and outlandish. Her eyes glancing at the ship.

"Thinkin bout it... make an augments suit... make liftin' this thing up solo... ah... mark man, part machine! That's a rad idea I gotta work on for certain. Though... explosions that would lift this baby up quick... hmmm explosive bursts of energy... gunpowder... Lindsey!" She muttered to herself making a mental note of it smacking her hand into her fist. The engineer shuffled her way back up. The idea fresh in her mind leaving behind her post waiting for Azure. If there was one person who she knew had the same excitement for creating 'fun' things it was Lindsey. It tended to be more of the violent type, but that just meant more bang or energy! Yes a nice little idea she thought.

Marie shuffled through the halls heading towards where Lindsey's room was. It seemed like the best place to check first for the girl given what had happened earlier with her storming off. She had seemed rather distraught though she figuring being in ways much like herself she was probably having some fun messing with something. Ah, what kind of crazy thing could she be screwing around with? The idea filled Marie with excitement. As much as she liked creating things of her own whim she also enjoyed seeing other peoples creations. Lindsey was great at making interesting stuff as well! What she hadn't expected however was Jinn stomping off leaving the room just as she was about to walk up to the door. The girl glancing at him curiously. Her eyes blinking looking at his expression then the door. Her index finger pressing against her lips almost as if to stifle herself from making a noise thinking of the implications as a soft blush lingered on her cheeks and a little giggle. The girl not hesitating at all to swing open the door without even knocking.

"Aye! But Oh? Did I come in at a bad time? Was he confessing his love for ya and doing that dramatic walk away to look cool shtick? I swear I hear him talk about you through the vent sometimes. Then again I think he utters about a lot of people half the time. Though maybe it's someone else... dunno hard to tell I think gloomy and I think Jin half the time. Might just be me."

She spoke glancing back where Jin had left and shifting over to Lindsiy. The girl touching her chin as she seemed to be in thought. Her mind having drifted away seeing briefly the exchange having disrupted her thought process.

"Darn... I came to you for some reason.... then again I think I was trying to do something else before that.... Ah well... how's it goin? Need me to bring him back to man up and confess his feelings for you for fun, or perhaps anything I can do to help ya with? Got any cool creations you need a fellow expert to help create a great test with... maybe using Jin?" She asked Lindsey with a warn smile.


Interacting: 606 animegirl20
Mention: TheImmortalDeity (thumbs up!) Nothingness

 

[Arvios]

Napoleon Mauvieux​

Location: Forest of the Floating Island

Mentions: N/A

Interacting With: JJae (Dominique La'Sar) AI10100 (Abraham Rozant) TheImmortalDeity (Hush) Songstress (Aries)

“No, not that I know of. But-” She sent a flat glare at the spotted dog. “Do you want me to walk around like a fashion disaster? If we are taken by any native living thing on this island I want to look good.”

Upon hearing Dominique's words, Napoleon instead chose to be silent so as to reflect on her perspective. He understood what she meant, in a sense, just as he had seen devout followers — the Beastfolk would swear upon the World Tree itself, may the Divine Roots forgive him — who dressed in their finest silken suits and cashmere coats during a sermon, as if the World Tree would think of them any better. Of course, this was in the higher echelons of society. But every time he was a witness to similar indulgences, such histrionics reminded him of a proverb that was revocably absent in such circles:

"Even a crown adorned by the purest drops of Amber Ichor; the deepest periwinkle of Eternum jewels; the most hallowed of Holy Stems that cleanse us from Sin; The World Tree will not acknowledge it, as all comes from Thee. Worship not the glint upon the eye, but the origin of that which is of all — for when the mortal heart and immortal soul return unto the soil, the Pillar of the Deep will not forget."

"Atree, Arborauda," the priest would mutter upon mentally reciting the line from memory, then placing an upright palm with curled fingers over his heart; the other hand immediately wrapped over it, as if to shape the contour of a trunk and canopy. His motions were graceful, his arms perfectly parallel to one another, while his palms were congruent as if they had locked into a natural position — clearly it was something he had practiced thousands of times, considering how he did this while tracing his gesture with a smooth, grey line in the air from his cigarette. The shuffling of the bag's contents he was now burdened with roused him from his thoughts. It wasn't until he had heard her next asseveration that he had finally anchored himself back to reality.

“Come on, doggie! You have to agree I look good at least!”

Napoleon continued his hike, visibly pacing his strides. Aside from the unmistakable sound of a kicked pebble launching into the wild brush from behind him, the only other distraction was the crunching of twigs and foliage that dared impede their trek. After a few awkward seconds of what could have been perceived as him completely ignoring her question, all one would have heard from him was a "Woof." Thankfully as a means to divert this conversation, albeit dully so as to set the mood, Abraham takes the lead in explaining what had just transpired within the last few hours of daylight. His final words impart him with a solemn outlook on the matter.

"Losing the Captain has hit some of the crew pretty hard." Abraham added in a lower tone, glancing briefly at Aries. "But you know, we can't really just run back without a plan trying to recover his body or something. Who knows if those bounty hunters had like reinforcements and stuff..."

The priest fell silent during the well detailed explanation, feeling a rising dread from the pit of his stomach. He does his best to keep his impassivity. Instinctively, he takes another deep huff of the cigarette, the dragged embers transforming the majority of white into ashen remains. How? How did this happen? Would he and Anika have to abandon the crew in order to seek out a comfortable life, away from the shadows of those demons? He takes a subtle glance back at the girl, who had a provoked expression, Napoleon's ears flicking as she kicked a second rock outside of their makeshift trail. He would have to discuss this matter with her... privately, at some point. And the sooner, the better. He felt his jaws tighten under a closed maw, but instead inhales deeply, delaying the release of the smoke after a few seconds.

"All we can do is be guided by the Divine Roots... Following them will lead us back to its most hallowed grace. And if the World Tree allows, may it collude with the righteous, and allow us to reconvene with the Captain. Thank you, Abraham." The priest says this without turning back, all while casting his sight into the earth. Not because he was searching for an arboreal means of divination, but because he struggled to maintain a positive outlook. He felt his words may incite comfort. If not for himself, then at least to the doctor and to the others within earshot, who more than certainly deserved a ray of hope. Considering that two out of the three bounties were in this company, he would have to do what he could, the way he knew best. These were good people — while some had... certain quirks, or were just loudmouthed, and a reason that he'd have to dope himself with sleeping meds, it didn't change the fact that no one on this ship deserved this fate. The dire topic didn't last much longer past this thought.

“Guys! Listen up,” she announced, pointing to the nature whispering behind her. “If we want to finally reach something or ... we need to leave now or never. And whilst Napoleon here leads the direction, I will be looking for some stuff.”

She was right... The shadows cast by the sun overhead were beginning to darken, as if the inevitable dusk was beginning to stir from its slumber. It was at this point that Dominique had wandered off into the growing thickets, plucking herbs, and foraging roots — obviously culinary supplies for her adept craft. He almost expected for Abraham to do the same for remedies and medicines, but perhaps he had different concerns. Then, Napoleon cocks his head slowly in a very canine manner, his tail now stiff and raised with a slow wag. He stops his movements and observes the chef reach down to a very low shrub. He focuses on what she was reaching so lowly towards; a bushel of questionable wild berries. But as she does so, his shielded gaze begins to trace from the succulent fruit, to... a-hem, another, similarly luscious piece of flesh. But in a silent flash of movement, his view is obscured before his eyes could fully consume the fruit that they attempted to pick at. The barrier was none other than Hush, causing Napoleon's frown to deepen slightly.
The spotted dog immediately diverts his gaze, his snout still aimed at the bushel. Whether she noticed his sinful advance or not was unclear, but he paid it no mind. He convinced himself it was but a curious gander, like the occasional toddler who would eyeball him as their first Beastfolk committed to memory. And... had there been a more perverse intention, he was a mortal sinner, and the best he could do was pray for forgiveness. The World Tree would understand. As both Napoleon and Abraham observe Dominique, and soon Aries merrily attempting to eat berries, the doctor catches his attention once more.

"Oh, that reminds me. Were you hurt during that, Father Napoleon? I... didn't see you above deck."

The priest — now fully distracted from the antics between Anika's solo battle against Aries' and Dom's potential funeral — is suddenly reminded of the twinge of pain on his lower back and head. The pain had receded a bit, but he knew that it would strike back with a vengeance with just the right bend of the spine, or tap of the head. Napoleon pondered the question a bit, not wanting to be an inconvenience for the man. He knew that those healing abilities used Abe's own energy, and perhaps it wasn't a good setting to use while they were out in uncharted lands, especially for something a bit more manageable. Still, something told him he had to be in tip-top shape. Something was beginning to make him unsettled...

"You're like a hound with a keen nose for injuries, aren't you, Abraham?" he jested quite monotonously, a similar curl of a smile attempting to form as if he was in welcome company. "No point in hiding it from you, but yes... I hurt my back and head from the crash." He pauses to palpate the exact sites of injury, letting out another "Woof" once he does so as if to say here. Considering the hurry that he was in from the sudden chaos, he never got a chance to properly assess the severity of the wounds. Truth be told, he wouldn't be surprised if he was walking around with a minor concussion and sprained muscle.

The uneasy feeling from before began to settle from a transient thought, to one that was now fixated upon heavily. Napoleon's ears would swivel and flick, scanning the area once more for sounds that meant danger. His black nose would sniffle, first lightly, and then more audibly, attempting to catch the scent of whatever was giving him this response. But the heavy smell of tobacco polluted his most keen sense, crippling it too quickly, and too soon. But he was still able to hear it — or rather, should he say them.

"Wolves," she explained, though her voice carried uncertainty. "Continue normally. Do not provoke them."

Napoleon looks down his sleeve and nods at Anika's suggestion. Seeing her — the youngest on the ship — as the spearhead of the group was something that he felt he would never get used to. Though the way that the tiny girl's orders resounded so heavily, it was difficult to doubt her experience. Anyone who would dare go against her would be questioning the hell that she lived through, the price being a stolen life that could never be regained. Having her by his side definitely helped calm his nerves, yes, but he also wished that he could help alleviate some of that weight. No one should have to have such a responsibility at such an age. No one should experience life from a permanent perspective of an assassin, or the sugarcoated version being a scout.

"Be careful," Napoleon insisted, fully expecting for her to stay on track, focused on securing the path ahead.

Napoleon's ears are continuously on full alert, his gaze honing in on every rustle or snapping branch. Coming from a beast lineage that utilized it, pack mentality was something that was bored into him deeply, just as powerfully as the World Tree had ingrained itself into his life, and the world itself. It was something he couldn't fully escape, something that he pushed against since the betrayal of those he thought were his family within the Iridescent Canopy, but his instincts would always remind him that they were there. He knew that attacking one would incite a risk of immediate conflict. The spotted dog knew that they were being sized up, and could practically understand their thought process: Power through numbers and coordination. Were they responsible for the bloodshed earlier? Will surprise and numbers work where brute strength failed? Will they react in fear if we approach? Who is the weakest link? Who is the leader? How can this system of order collapse?

Regardless of their thoughts, Napoleon would be ready to protect his own pack. He had failed once before; it would not be happening again.

As the group continued alongside their welcoming committee, the air began to turn stale, as if they were about to exit the forest into something entirely different. Napoleon couldn't help but notice the sound from the creatures... unnatural gait. If he singled one out, he knew that they were indeed both wolf sized, and quadriplegic. But he wholly understood the doubt behind Anika's speculation. Between this realization and the change in the atmosphere, he felt his own fur begin to stand on edge, gripping the sawed off shotgun to his left flank with a finger on the trigger. An audible click signaled that the safety was off, though left the Eternum crystal's function active. Napoleon would place his finger pad directly on the glowing Eternum fragment, muttering an almost mute prayer for their safety in passage.

"Aries, stay between the good doctor and miss Dominique," he dictated as he guided her forward with a tight grip and a heavy paw. "Do not lose sight of the person in front of you." At this point, the forest was becoming quieter, with only the sound of the surrounding beasts becoming spontaneously closer, as if by mistake or by test. Now taking the rear position, Napoleon removed his sunglasses, placing them inside his coat as if to help him see better — as if he actually felt in danger. The forestry was oddly becoming sparse, possibly opening up into a clearing in just a few minutes time.

 

[Colorless Spectrum]

Shiloh Caswell

The feeling of Fiona closer to him had melted whatever worries he held at that moment. It reminded him that he was there to protect her, and he knew well why she clung to him. It was never for a reason he truly wanted. "You're not worthy of her." His own voice echoed at the back of his mind and reminded him of his status. The child of a family whose social status could only be described as holding on by a thread, or perhaps it already was after what he had done.

Shiloh was quick to turn in the direction of the Watchman, responding to the greeting with a curt nod. Vacant, and distant, those were the only things he could show. His resolve to his duty was encased in fragile glass, if Fiona were to ask him about his feelings he would kneel in utter confession. A further disgrace to his father, who has seen him as a disappointment since he was born.

"-follow after them." Right. No more distractions. He thought to himself as he took a step in rhythm with his companion. He held her hand tightly, not to the point of it being painful but to give a sense of security as they entered the ship. The stench had already pounded his sense of smell even before they reached the door. He knew the stench too well but never dared to speak up. "Oh! Shiloh, my beak is gone...!"

Shiloh had always found it endearing, the way Fiona picked herself up in any situation given to her. He held the softest smile behind his eyes, thankful that the darkness could keep it hidden from the person he admired the most. He felt something weigh on his foot before the woman apologized for the little incident. "It’s okay... Shame, I kind of liked the beak. Reminds me a bit of the first time we met." He teased before he took out his own source of light, the very same as Fiona's, now basking under the eyes of the Royal Family— Their portrait.

He felt her hold loosened, once he looked down it was gone. Fiona's warmth was now a ghost in his palm, and as much as he wanted to reach out she had let go first. The canvas, then to Red, Shiloh was sure that those were the only thing on her mind at that moment. The imagery of the King and Queen had made his stomach flip upside down, evoking a memory that would haunt him to the end of his days.

“What the bloody hell happened here?”

He followed Fiona to where Red was, he immediately looked over the body just as she asked him a question. “They are, these marks… It seems whoever did this knew how to use a sword well, not to mention that some of these wounds were impaled into them.” He stood up and scanned around the area with his own light, although it didn’t provide as much as he wanted. “We’ll have to tread more carefully if we still want to continue, or take what we can from here and leave before whoever did this comes back.” He suggested frankly before he laid a hand on the hilt of his sword that never left his side, except for when he’s bathing and sleeping of course.

“Or we could also deal with them if we ever come across them, which I’m hoping will not be the case.” If it ever comes to it, he isn’t afraid of brandishing his blade to protect Fiona or Eiren. He knew well that Red is capable of protecting himself, but that doesn’t mean that he’ll leave him either. “Stay right here by my side, if we’re going to continue searching this place, Fiona.” He whispered to her all the while looking straight into her eyes. His voice pleaded despite not being a request.

“So, what do you both want to do?” His gaze landed on Red before switching over to Eiren, awaiting their directions. He stood still with everyone as they were surrounded by the graveyard of guards and merchants. So much death that could have probably been prevented if they had not stepped on this cold place.

Interactions: Guppy Franz Vexumin . D O V E

 

[animegirl20]

LINDSEY

Interactions: Hanarei
Mentions: Nothingness
Location: Bed room

Lindsey left the gym and headed straight to her room with out looking back Jin. Once she reached her room she glanced around at everything. She still needed to fix somethings that got damaged when the ship crashed. She walked over to a shelf to grab some tools. She then stopped what she doing when she felt a presence near by smiled to herself having a pretty good ideas who it was. Lindsey turned around when he called her name and the moment she did a sword flew deadly close past her and hit the the wall behind her. Well wasn't everyday she was taken by surprise but she kept her face neutral. She looked at him and stayed silent as spoke. Then when he finally left she crossed her arms and started laughing.

"My that almost terrifying....I should get him mad more often."

She thought about what he said and her face fell for a moment. It's not like she hated anyone on the ship or truly wished harm on anyone, threatening in her mind was the only way people were going to listen. Of course she also had temper problem so that was also part of it. Also she just couldn't take when people did stupid things that would put them in obvious danger and then she honestly felt like no one respected her title half the time.

".....Maybe I'll set his room on fire."

Lindsey stepped away from the wall and looked towards the sword. Welp what was she suppose to do with this? It's not like she could touch it......or could she? Before she could decide what to do her door flew open. She turned around to see Marie. Who had just seen Jin leaving her room though the reason Marie thought it was made Lindsey look at her in panic confusion and blushed slightly.

"Love confession?! That wasn't-"

Marie cut her off before she could finished and Lindsey crossed her arms with and eyebrow raised. She then walked over to Marie and looked her in the eye.

"Alright Marie I need you to seriously listen to me. Jin was not confessing his feelings and I do not want you to go get him to confess and feelings that I promise you he does not have.......though I do wonder when the hell he's going to come back for his sword. "

Lindsey said as she glanced back towards it. She then looked back a Marie. Not wanting Marie to get anymore weird ideas in her head about Jin. Lindsey changed the subject.

"Anyway I was actually just going to fix up somethings that got damaged during the crash. "

Lindsey walked over and sat at her desk then crossed her legs.

"Unless you got and idea of something fun we could do."

coded by kaninchen

 

[Guppy Franz]

Gaberial De'Sardet
"Red"
Interactions: . D O V E Colorless Spectrum Vexumin​

Red's mind was currently running with thoughts, a mix of confusion and frustration gnawing at him as he processed the vague information he had discovered so far. Everything about this place was just wrong, senseless. Pieces were missing the moment he stepped foot aboard this rotting corpse of a ship and now a whole new mystery presented itself to him the moment he found these decaying bags of flesh at his feet. No, no this didn't concern them. This ship, these dead merchants and their guards, none of it affected him or the crew. All they needed was to strip and loot whatever they needed and find the captain before it was too late. Still, though, Red couldn't help but drive himself crazy with questions and scenarios of what could have happened. No matter how badly he wanted answers, he couldn't...

As his irritated, and curious mind continued on, a long breath escaped him as he forced himself to slow down his thoughts. His eyes slowly rose back to the portrait of the Royal Family and fell onto the Princess. For a moment nothing gnawed at the back of his mind, and a slow wave of calmness washed over him. One step at a time. After a moment of silence, he redirected his attention to Shiloh as he inspected the bodies, deducing the causes of death and nodding in agreement as he advised caution for the duration of their task. It was the sensible thing to do. These merchants had been dead for some time, but even so, their killer could still be close by. This is a Royal Guard vessel, so perhaps whoever was behind its demise was also behind these deaths. Was there a secret of sorts they were trying to protect? Whatever the case, caution was needed not just here, but on the whole of the island.

Red glanced over to Fiona and arched a brow in curiosity as he noticed her cutting off a piece of clothing from the dead merchant. It was a strange action, but he held his questions and looked back to Shiloh as he asked for Red's opinion of how to proceed. Holstering his pistol, but keeping his saber at the ready, he looked up to the stairwell below the Royal Family's portrait and let out a small breath. "We move on with our sweep of the ship. Though the dead here is an ominous sign, we have a task to complete," he said before looking back to Shiloh, his gaze hardened with a determined glint. "We will not return empty-handed, Mr. Caswell. So, if whoever is responsible for this remains, we will make quick work of them and return to the Infinity so we can hasten its repairs and locate our lost captain," he stated before turning towards the stairs leading to the next floor and beginning his climb, his dim light showing a path up the stained marbled steps. At least these stairs felt sturdier than the ones from the cargo hold below.

A chill went up his spine as he passed the portrait hanging above him, the painted eyes seemingly staring down at him and making the hairs on the back of his neck stand. Red hurried his way up the stairs to escape their lifeless gazes and reached the next floor without issue. As expected, the next level of the ship looked no different than the rest of the ship. Cluttered furniture and debris littered the floor, and the walls were rotting and falling apart, but to his pleasant surprise, since they were closer to the top deck, the ceiling above them was slightly broken. Either caused by the damage from the crash or decay from the time that has passed, but now they allowed slivers of light to slip through the holes lining the ceiling and light up the hallway before him. Without a second thought, Red began his march down the hall, sword in hand and his eyes carefully scanning his surroundings.

The sound of old wood creaking under his boots after every step was all Red could hear as he traveled through the ship. He came across a few rooms, but they offered little reason to inspect, either being barren or having caved in under themselves. After passing a few more rooms Red came to a stop in front of a closed door. Glancing up at the plaque above the door frame, Red ran his hand across the surface to clear a layer of dust. "Navigation," Red muttered to himself, his interest piquing. As he went to open the door a frown came to his face as it barely opened, colliding with whatever was blocking it from the other side. A long sigh escaped him as he sheathed his blade, and braced his shoulder against the door, silently counting to three before pulling away and slamming into the door with all his strength in one quick motion.

"FUCK!" Red shouted through gritted teeth as he stumbled back from the door, gripping his now sore shoulder. He glared at the unopened door through his crimson eyes and marched forward, lifting his leg and aiming for the center of the door. "Wretched whoreson!" he barked before crashing his foot into the wooden surface, the frustration and anger of the day behind the attack. His anger quickly turned to surprise as a cloud of thick dust filled his vision, the sound of wood cracking and metal hinges squealing filling his ears as he took a few steps back. Through a fit of coughing Red waved his hand to clear the cloud of dust before him. "Bloody hell-*cough*-I hate this accursed-*cough cough*-ship!" he declared through his coughing before finally being granted mercy as the dust began to settle. As his vision was finally returned to him, he was greeted with the sight of the door now off its hinges, being slightly propped up by a fallen shelf that had been blocking it.

After a moment of silence Red quickly realized his display and cleared his throat, standing taller and patting down a layer of dust on his coat sleeves. "Well, okay then," he said as he once again composed himself, though a heavy frown rested on his face as he ran his fingers through his long hair. Not only was it wild and in dire need of fixing, but now was thick with dirt and dust clinging to every strand of his fiery-red hair. A slow breath escaped through his nose before stepping forward and shining his dim light into the dark navigation room. Books, scrolls, and other types of equipment were thrown about the room, a picture of perfect chaos that would drive any perfectionist mad. After another moment of further inspection Red entered the room, stepping over the defeated door and beginning his investigation.

The room was thick with more dust, and the humid air forced Red to loosen the collar of his buttoned-up shirt. The faster he wrapped things up here, the faster he could leave this damned place. With a sigh he cast his light over the fallen material, searching for anything that may be of importance. Soon he came across a rather large book, a manuscript of the ship's past and future journeys. With a new point of interest discovered, Red picked up the heavy book and slapped it down onto the table, waving away MORE dust that floated into the air before opening the book, looking for the most recent route the ship had taken. After several pages, he finally came across the final date logged into the book. Red's confusion only grew as he read the information. It had been a few years since this ship's last voyage, obviously, but this wasn't right. According to the log, this ship should have been in a completely different region, far from its current location. What was even odder, was that its departure had never been recorded, even though every action this ship took was recorded in this book. Furrowing his brows in thought, Red couldn't wrap his head around it. Did... someone steal an entire ship of the Royal Guard? If so, then why? And how?

No, no it was too insane to imagine. No one would be stupid enough to pull such a stunt, right? A frustrated sigh escaped him as he rubbed the temple of his head, processing this new bit of information. Before he could finish any of the thoughts running through his head, his light caught the glint of something crammed between two shelves in the corner of the room. Chewing inside of his cheek, Red stepped away from the book to investigate the hidden object. Even though this old book only frustrated him more with questions, perhaps he could at least find something of value. Shining his light onto the source of the glint he quickly recognized it to be a small chest. Though covered in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs, he could tell it was finely crafted. As he reached the abandoned chest, he freed it from between the shelves and wiped away the filth covering it. It seemed to need a key for it to be opened, but Red had other ideas. Unsheathing his sword, Red aligned it with the lock and jammed it into the keyhole. With a quick twist of his wrist, a loud click filled the air as he broke the lock.

Wasting little time, he opened the chest and tilted his head, finding no coins or jewels, but a single, faceless book. A small frown of disappointment slipped across his face, but his curiosity won over and took the contents into his hands. After opening the book it was clear that this was someone's personal journal. Inside were jotted down thoughts, ideas, and even a few coordinates. What was peculiar though was the odd, yet somehow familiar drawings sketched into the pages, depicting strange creatures. Instantly he recalled Dominique's pet in the kitchen. Were these... dragons? There was no doubt these creatures looked similar to Linsie, but they were depicted to be a much larger size. After flipping a few more pages, he came across a folded-up piece of paper tucked into the pages. Before he could take a look at it though he paused as a low creaking came to his ears. Looking down at the floorboard below his knee, Red's eyes would widen with realization as it began to sink under his weight.

"Shit!" he hissed as he attempted to quickly rise from the ground, but before he could get away the floor caved in below him, and felt gravity bring him crashing down below. Red collided hard with the floor below, the breath being knocked from his lungs and his vision becoming dazed. A groan left him as he lay on the ground, a mumble of silent curses leaving his lips as he slowly regained his head. "I hate this ship," he muttered with slight venom before directing his gaze upwards to the hole he fell through. Another low creak reached his ears before a loud crack followed it. His eyes snapped open in alert as he saw one of the shelves from above falling down toward him. Acting on instinct Red rolled out of the way and narrowly avoided the heavy object as it crashed into the spot he was in. The shelf smashed through the wooden floor and into the lower level of the ship below him. After catching his breath and avoiding another near-death experience, Red simply laid on the floor, his dim light barely providing enough light to illuminate the room he fell into.

"I really hate this ship."

 

[AI10100]

R O Z A N T , A B R A H A M
Interacting with: TheImmortalDeity Arvios JJae Songstress
Location: Island​

Abraham hummed noncomittally in response to the priest. Perhaps some part of him wished to believe that a higher force would allow them the reprieve of at least being with the Captain and recovering his body. However, another part of him wondered what good it would do to them to have a corpse. Maybe by some miracle, the Captain was very much alive but even with his extremely limited experience and knowledge in the medical field, it was extremely improbable. But it didn't matter. He was there to be along for the ride and provide them with any healing that was necessary.

It would seem that in Dominique's carelessness or haste, she had completely neglected the fact that she was wearing a dress that left little to the imagination and that her actions would reveal her underclothes to the people behind her. Mainly, himself and Father Napoleon. Abraham looked away to respect her decency almost at the same time as Hush moved herself to cover the chef and fix her clothing. It wasn't anything Abraham wasn't used to seeing— having to heal many people using only his powers often led to him seeing naked bodies. Or missing limbs.

He swallowed, shaking his head and pressing his fingers against the bridge of his nose. There was no need to unearth memories now, even as the imaginary stench of illness and injury flooded into his brain.

He brought his gaze back to the people in front of him and almost had a heart attack seeing that even Aries had started consuming random berries in the bushes. She was a well-read person; surely, she would know the difference between poisonous and non-poisonous berries, no? However, Abraham had to watch as Hush began to hurriedly "accidentally" prevent them from eating certain berries which made Abraham think that maybe he had a little too much faith in both Dominique and Aries and their ability to scavenge. Praise be to Hush. He really didn't wish to work on curing poison. Those were always rough for both himself and the patient as it required him to force the poison out of their bodies while making sure it had damaged nothing.

Father Napoleon admitted that he was suffering from a back and head injury and Abraham gave him a small yet lopsided smile. "The crew needs to be in top shape all the time. I haven't been able to properly examine... everyone after the crash yet." Maybe that should have been the priority but majority seemed to have been fine and didn't come forward with their ailments. It was not his fault if people actively hid it from him. "Oh, we can call for a rest and examine it right now if you want...?"

Unfortunately, however, the world did not seem keen on providing them respite. The hair at the back of his hair stood up as if warning him that something had been watching them. He watched as Father Napoleon's ears started to move to spot some form of sound he could not pick up. It wasn't soon after that Hush had come over and warned them that wolves had begun to stalk them through the woods. They had not made their move yet and Hush was right, it was unlikely that a pack of wolves would attack a group beyond their ability to defeat.

Hush had been quick to take over the leadership and defender position. Perhaps to some others, it would be embarrassing to be protected by someone younger than them but Abraham deferred judgment to her. There was no doubt in his mind that she knew what she was doing and would not lead them astray. Father Napoleon had taken out his gun, preparing for a battle that Abraham hoped would not come. Abraham somehow felt like his hopes would be dashed by this predicament.

Abraham slipped his left hand out of his gloves and pressed it against Father Napoleon's back. The sheets of fabric that blocked him would prove to make the activation of his powers difficult but not impossible. "I can't do much on the go." He said, eyes looking between his own group and the silhouettes moving across the woods. "But hopefully this is enough." The surge of energy transferred from himself to Father Napoleon would temporarily alleviate the pain so that he can focus on the task at hand.

Abraham fell close to the rear of the group with only Father Napoleon behind them. He kept his senses aware of the priest behind while keeping an eye out for the other members. As the sun itself had begun to set, it would be even more of a struggle to see. Creating light from their phones would likely just grab attention anyway. Instead, he prepared his knife, feeling the push and pull of eternum against its counterpart. If a battle were to commence in this unfamiliar area, Abraham simply wished that they would be able to get away with minimal injury.

 

[JJae]

Firey Chef

Dominique La´Sar

Mood: slightly scared, mostly trying to stay calm

Forest|

Interaction: TheImmortalDeity // AI10100 // Arvios // Songstress
Mentioned: 606​

Dominique La`Sar leashed her grin as Hush came to the “rescue”. The chef had done a lot of unnameable things to the crew. Nothing like stabbing or being a menace- well, not entirely. But she had an admittingly problem with her liquor. Late nights of her parting in her kitchen or sometimes losing a cloth piece or two were the usual drill. Besides, she had nothing to hide. But she appreciated the younger girl for all her efforts nonetheless.

“Ey-” she breathed when Hush pushed her forwards. “Okay, okay!” Dom patted her dress to get rid of any leaves or dirt that already found its way to her. “I am going, no need to hurry me Hushie,” she said with an amused smile. A forest with all the possible ingredients, except them berries she had never seen before and had some sour taste to them, brightened her mood all along. Almost allowing her to forget about the captain, the crash and that bottomless thirst in her throat. No water or juice could help her. Dom knew what her body demanded, what her head told her to get. But the crew needed her and not some drunkard chef singing on the wrong tunes.

Her gaze fell upon Aries following her stead. Oh shit. Dom coughed and came to the side of the blue haired woman with a half grin. “Hungry, ay? Lucky for you!” She went for her bag that was carried by the priest? Father? How had he introduced himself back then- Gods, she really had to manage her alcohol one day. Well, at least she knew his name was Napoleon. That was all that mattered. Or was it Nicholas? There was a reason Dom used to call him doggo or doggie. Simply because Nicholas sounded better in her head, despite knowing that his name was Napoleon. She didn’t even knew where that came from or why it mingled with her clouded mind.

Dom slightly regretted drinking so much on the market now as a headache pounded against her skull. Nasty shit. She decided to simply ignore it and wait for it to go away on its own as she grabbed for the snacks she packed. Dom took them with her because either she or Hush would’ve gotten hungry at some point and it wasn’t safe to say she’d find something edible in the forest. Had she known so many were coming… She wasn’t failing them, was she? No, she couldn’t. Once they needed rest she could cluster a meal together with ease. At least that was what she told herself despite only having roots and herbs collected in her bag. A meal without meat wasn’t a meal. There were exceptions and many recipes to create a vegetable only course. They were fun, too. Since she could mix so many things together. But with herbs and roots? Barely anything could be done with them alone.

The chef handed Aries the box of snacks. “It’s not one of the steaks I prepared earlier, but something to keep your stomach from crying.” At least until I find something better. She debated adding a sorry, too. It simply never rolled over her lips. Not that she had the chance to do so either way. The air changed around them. As if it was filled with electricity and fire. Her own groaned in her bones, creeping towards her. Dom simply shut the door to the monster resting inside her. She wouldn’t harm her friends. Not again. Never.

Hush swiftly jumped into a leading position, giving a few orders or rather advices. Wolves. Ugh, how she despised them. Not only would they steal her hunted prey when she hadn’t been a member of the Infinity, but she also carried a scar on the side of her stomach from a past encounter with one. It wasn’t huge, just two dots on her body now, barely visible. Dom had other things to be looked at whenever she chose more revealing clothes. Her past bed warmers hadn’t noticed either.
“Do you think wolves taste good?” That could be the solution to her no-meat-no-meal issue! Dom glued that half grin on her lips. Panic or sudden movement might provoke them and she didn't need some panicking members now. She had an irk to find out if wolf meat had a sort of kick or not however fighting in her dress like that? That’d be too handy. When she said natives attack them she didn’t mean some scavenger mutts tearing her apart. Her gaze flicked to Abraham healing the slightly humanoid, to tall grown dog with clothes. Did he hurt himself? Was her bag bothering him?

Not that a Dominique La’Sar would ever admit it, but she might have done too much. Poor them. They didn’t have to come~ She could’ve managed alone. Why did she even ask if someone wanted to come? With an elegant extra step she caught up with the two males and gently took her bag again. The two were taking care of this expedition, their senses probably running on the highest rates. All the chef had to do was not to add as a dead weight.

“I can use this walk for training!” Dom claimed. “Carrying my bag would be a good start. Abe, my hard working doc, once we get some space from our friends I can mix some things together? So, don’t worry about healing later on, I got you.” Just like Azure, Abraham needed more food than others. Plus, she guessed a lot of them were hungry anyways.

Code by Serobliss

 

[Songstress]

ARIES DAINA

Mentions: AI10100 TheImmortalDeity
Interactions: Arvios JJae
Grumble. Grumble. The berries were merely doing anything. In fact, it made the aching in her tummy worse. Perhaps eating acidic foods with an empty stomach was not the right move. Now that she recalled, she has skimmed through some books about ingredients that can be found in the wild, though, she didn't find them as engrossing unlike contents about astrology and -of course her fascinating novels.

That aside, she did remember reading about this odd looking berry that they have gathered. Her brows furrowed as she tried to search for its name in the back of her mind. What was it again? The fair lady continued to walk, examining the yellow berry that she was holding in her hand. Then, a sudden realization hits- the faint struggle in her face disappearing. Ohh..Physalis! She muttered loudly to herself. Her gaze then landed towards the charming cook who was still munching on the exotic berries.

Dom coughed and came to the side of the blue haired woman with a half grin. “Hungry, ay? Lucky for you!”

"A-are you okay?" A worried tone in her voice, gently patting the cook on her back. "Be careful not to eat the stem and its leaves.. aside from the berry itself, the rest are poisonous." Aries worded. It was a good thing that she was able to recall this 'Golden Berry' that she once read. Well, she was always noted for being an intelligent person, as with just one look at things, she never fails to remember. Added to that, being a bookworm has its benefits.. no? Although despite having a good memory, it wasn't really that hard to differentiate this certain ingredient from the others. Just with its husk that encases the berry itself, it was unlike those other fruits that she has seen in the public market. Fortunately, both of them avoided having intake the poisonous parts of the fruit, not to mention it was fully ripe when they saw it... for eating it unripe would eventually lead to poison. A dreadful scene, especially for Abraham.

Sweats trailing off on the side of her face, the feeling of hunger was getting a little harder to bear. With the odd rustling behind the bushes, Aries was too occupied on herself that it was affecting even her survival instincts. Normally, she would have felt the presence of danger a bit earlier, being the observant woman that she is. Grumble. Grumble. Just then, Dominique began reaching for her bag which was currently being carried by the beast folk. Such brave soul that this chef has. The librarian has at least an amount of respect for the priest to not be too familiar with her actions. But, Dom was different. Still it was one of the charms that Aries became fond of.

“It’s not one of the steaks I prepared earlier, but something to keep your stomach from crying.”

The librarian's eyes glistened, as she was greeted by the tasty snacks. Joy and Happiness. Even a tear would nearly escape her eyes. My Savior! These words echoed on the back of her mind. Dominique was like a hero in disguise. A hot mess? But even still, a glowing aura accompanied the chef as she started offering the packaged foods. "Thank you!!" A large smile forms in her face, jumping towards the cook and embracing her. Tearing the packets apart, Aries began chomping on the snacks- no hint of any manners as she was too hungry for that.

Biting and munching, the group continued on with their expedition, but the sun was beginning to set. Licking the bits of food left on her fingers, her stomach who was once lonely was finally content. Just then, she felt the piercing gazes behind the lush trees. With Hush in the leading position, her attention also shifted to the priest who seems to have taken notice of it as well. Wolves? Hearing Hush's announcement gave her a bit of concern.

The blue haired girl was not the type to explore the outside world that much. For the years that she has been in the S.S Infinity, the lady avoided partaking in any activities that required her from leaving her nest. Thus, encountering beasts and other creatures weren't her forte for they are much harder to predict than humans.

"Aries, stay between the good doctor and miss Dominique,"

She felt the weight on the priests paw which was resting on her shoulder. Though it did give her assurance in safety. As far as she knows, the captain was not the type to let in some members who had nothing to contribute. Her trust for their abilities was enough to keep her moving.

She gave Napoleon a nod and followed his orders. Still the beastly stares was unsettling, but she maintained eye contact and followed their every movement. Having lost the core of Infinity, it would be too much if someone else's life would be taken once again.

Unknown Island | Forest

 

[Vexumin]

EIREN BRACKUS
STATUS: OPERATIONAL | UNPHASED
LOCATION: ROYAL GUARD SHIP

The barrel that Eiren had been looking in was not entirely useful, but he figured that the container in and of itself could be useful to hold onto.

After finding some spare rope that would not threaten to snap on him as he used it, he strapped portions of it about the top and bottom of the barrel before connecting the two sections, working himself together two shoulder straps for the wooden receptacle.

“Didn’t find anything of interest here, but I can carry what we find,” he says to the others before he starts grabbing intact boards and whatever metal bits he could find.

He seemed particularly interested in the corpses that were found. Fresh bodies. Not something that would have been expected aboard a dilapidated ship, but it would be noted for the machine. He approaches one of the bodies and grabs the collar of its shirt before lifting it from the ground.

It was the cadaver of a man, sliced apart as the others had noticed. Eiren was not bothered by this. One thing about being made of metal was that blades had less of a chance to find purchase across his armor-like body. What bothered him most was the carelessness of the killer in this case.

”Ruined the uniform. How careless. They could have been worth a fortune in certain markets.”

Eiren hums, releasing the collar and letting the body drop once again the the ground.

”A pity. Could have earned quite a sum for them. Whoever did all of this did a real nasty job.”

Eiren knew how he would handle all this in the first place, but going into such things was utterly pointless now. What is done is done. Those he was with had reason to fear what had done all of this. What if the killer was still near? Still bound to the island somehow.

A good potential prisoner, at least until they know just what had occurred here. Eiren didn’t bother sharing these thoughts. He had already thrown about a body as if it was nothing, the last thing that he wanted was to bring unease to his compatriots.

He returns to gathering a few boards, his arm rising and easily placing them into the barrel on his back.

“I hope you all will forgive my… heartlessness in this situation. However, I believe that we should continue with what we are currently doing. Though I also think that we should make our searching brief as well. Get what we need before returning to the Infinity and reporting our findings. Our crew is strongest as a whole after all.”

Eiren’s gaze shifts back to the corpses. The lights of his eyes locked upon their wounds for a few moments before he looks back to those about.

”Should we encounter any dangers, I would suggest that you both utilize me as a shield. I can be fixed With ease. You all can’t.”

As he says this, he suddenly hears snapping and crashing. It all came from the same direction that Red had moved towards. He turns and begins walking, following the path that the hunter had taken. A busted door and a hole in the ground was all that he found. He enters the room, carefully walking around the hole before looking down.

Another hole and Red laying beside it is what was found. Further down was a bookcase that had actually fallen and crushed one of his rats. That was a shame, but it didn’t seem to bother the automaton too much.

“Red, are you alright? No punctures from stray wooden splinters? You haven’t fallen on any sharp metal, have you?“

---

Interacting with: . D O V E Colorless Spectrum Guppy Franz

 

[TheImmortalDeity]

Hush​

As the party cautiously traversed forward, the forest's canopy thinned. The setting sun's rays bashfully shone with a gentle orange hue as the star neared the distant horizon, carelessly revealing the downtrodden path ahead. As they delved deeper toward the floating island's core, it became clear that the woodlands were rotting from within. The once-lush trees turned into spindly imitations covered in deadwood, resembling giant graying pillars protruding into the air. The vibrant foliage now ran amuck with parasitic fungi, and the lively trail transitioned into an apathetic marsh that gripped callously at one's every step. A thick fog washed over the travelers, and restlessly treading amidst its cover, the wolves incessantly pursued the group.

The lackluster scenery continued without respite. Walking along the barren wildlife, it became evident that going further wouldn't net anything of worth. As soon as Hush showed signs of stopping, an uneven pitter-patter of swampy footsteps sounded behind them. Their exit was routed, their assailants still shrouded behind the dense mist. The tense atmosphere and stagnant air caused uneasiness to creep into Hush's mind. However, she retained a stoic display. Looking ahead, the fog had begun to disperse, unveiling a bog, eerily inviting them like an oasis of death. "Be vigilant," she ordered, drawing her knife and revolver. Steadily, she guided them into the clearing. If the World Tree destined for them to dispatch the wolves, fighting them in an area bereft of trees and a favorable view allowed their firearm-heavy team a likely victory.

Retaining deft and soundless movements as they walked, the steady ripples in the standing water undulated to the bogland's edges. A visible continuation of their path appeared on the other side of the open space, outlined by surrounding trees possessing unique glimmering crystals embedded in their bark. Along the perimeter, the familiar canine-like figures began to emerge. It started with one, then two, until the creatures multiplied into a crowd of indiscernible shapes and sizes. As they unveiled themselves from the cloak of fog, horrific visages greeted the interlopers.

The alpha stood tall at the front of the pack with its chest puffed out in belligerent arrogance. At first glance, the monster appeared wolfish. It stood on all fours, its muscles taught, and the majority of its body covered in oak brown fur. That was where the resemblances ended. The upper half of its face boasted human features, having a shapely nose and pasty white skin. The lower half of its face retained a wolflike jaw, giving the beast an unsightly underbite. Unnaturally placed limbs, such as hands attached to their shoulders and hind paws replaced by human feet, twitched sporadically like they didn't belong on the haphazardous abomination. Unhinging its jawbone, a long, salivating tongue lolled from betwixt rows of sharpened teeth. It emitted a giddy cackle as its crazy radiation green irises fell on its prey.

Its allies were hardly any different. Though none were quite the same as the other, each had abnormal extra human appendages that shivered and shuddered in anticipation of their hunt. Shards of eternum crystal jutted asymmetrically from their bodies, clinking together whenever the nightmarish creatures took a step forward. Reminiscent of hyenas, they laughed and cooed behind their leader. While it was difficult to discern, each wore a collar around their neck. Hush wondered if something far worse owned these unruly pets before quickly dissuading the thought. One problem at a time.

Suddenly, one of the creatures leaped into the air, its powerful legs allowing it to soar. It dove directly for Hush, snapping its teeth frantically as it neared her. Before it could take a chunk out of her arm, the assassin's knife entered its ear, the tip of the blade protruding from the other side of its head. It fell without a sound. This signaled the start of the battle between the two groups. Surging forward, rows of mutated wolves began to stampede toward them, the stillness of the bog lost in the splashes of carnivorous desire. "Watch my back!" Hush surprisingly yelled, shooting down another creature with a silenced bullet to the skull. They'd have to hold formation until a path was cleared.

Interactions: Arvios AI10100 JJae Songstress

 

[The Grand Fool]

CODE BY SEROBLISS

Timothy Drokblood

Half-Orc Mixologist

The darkest nights always have the moon, and the most isolated ships have their havens. In this ship, the S.S. Infinity, the haven is located deep inside its hull. It's a dimly lit, tavern setting, something that bespeaks a small town more than a giant ship. Its oaken tables wedged into the floor, its counter made of a dull white wood, currently being wiped by a strong, green hand. A towering man, just over seven feet, sighs as he polishes the counter. His mind strays far from the mundane job he performs. Threads of worry dart through his mind. His longtime friend, the captain, is gone, and as far as he knows dead. Not that he believes it. Edward was always an iron anchor in the current. Never bowing or moving. His not being there seemed to take a chunk out of the ship. Right about now, Edward would be spending time with the half-orc over an Ancient Mariner, talking about his worries, his plans, his 'children'. A dark chuckle escapes from the man's lips. Edward was always going on about creating a place where the lost and the searching could thrive together. In fact, he built a whole ship around that ideology. The half-orc thinks back to when he was just a runaway slave with his sister. That was years ago, and now his sister had grown up, and he had a greying beard. Sighing, he gets up, walks over to a barrel, and pours himself a shot of whiskey. He walks over to one of the tables and sits down, tracing a carving on the table. He chuckles as he reads the names written there. They were the names of the crew. Many brave men and women. Two of them are crossed out. Azure's parents. Nobody knows if they are dead or rotting in some dungeon. Death would be a better fate for them. Looking up, he saw the very first name, the captain's name. After that was his own. Timothy Drokeblood.

Timothy looked up at the ceiling of the bar, memories flittering behind his pale grey eyes. The battles they've been through, the joys, the sorrows. The children he had seen raised. This ship was its... its own clan. A family of unbreakable bonds. He chuckles darkly again. Edward loved that. Now that Jin is trying to fill in some massive boots, he can only watch the boy. He had no desire for any position other than this one. He had his fair share of fun in his younger days. Now he lazed around in the bar, making drinks, drinking drinks, and just thinking. When one gets old, memories feel like stories, and reliving them brings back the taste of being young and strong. Standing up, Timothy downs his whiskey before heading to the room behind the bar. He didn't have a reason to mope around. Edward wouldn't want that. He could almost hear the old man. "What you doing? Moping? Ha, get your ass back to work."

Barrels upon barrels were crashing against each other, total havoc caused by the crashing of the ship. Sighing, he picks up a barrel of whiskey and tosses it to its groove in the side of the room. Twenty-three barrels of whiskey, fifty-four barrels of vodka, thirty-six barrels of scotch, forty-two barrels of brandy, thirty-one barrels of rum, twenty-nine barrels of beer, thirty-three barrels of hard cider, fifty barrels of ale, twenty barrels of tequila, forty-nine barrels of bourbon, thirty barrels of gin, sixty barrels of wine, six barrels of champagne, and seventeen barrels of root beer for Hush. It wasn't a full stock. There were supposed to be at least fifty to a hundred barrels of each. Then again there were the private stashes of the crewmembers. That would probably add up to ten extra barrels. He could probably have them hand it all over, but then again, they should keep it for when they're out if they don't get back to a port to restock. He grabbed three barrels, one wine, one beer, and one ale, and brought them behind the bar. He uncorks and taps them. Grabbing a tankard, he takes a drink from each one. Sighing. It was good to have a tolerance to drink. The wine was disgusting as usual, but the beer had a nice nutty taste, and the ale was as smooth as he could wish. A stray thought of keeping a couple of barrels for himself quickly got discarded. The crew would probably need it more. There was nothing worse than a sober crew. Sitting down again, his stomach growls. Standing up, he grabs a shirt from under the bar and throws it on. Now to see if the cook got anything good to eat, he thought.

 

[Hanarei]

Marie Caldewell​

|Location: S.S. Infinity Deck Lindsey's Room

Marie blinked as she looked at Lindsey seeing her reaction after her little rambling. She looked on curiously, her expression not quite seeming to buy into it though she was nodding in. Even worst, it seemed almost as if Marie was coming to another conclusion. The gears in her head turning as if working to form another embarrassing 'revelation' between the two. One perhaps only a woman like Marie with her out there imagination could imagine. a possible mutual interest between the two crewmembers. A pairing on the ship that seemed almost outlandish but also made sense a real true ship....

Lindsey's sudden shift in topic to his sword had diverted her strange thought process as much as it did the conversation. Marie's eyes shifting over to the weapon. The blade that seemed to make anything around it or that touched it freeze. A very curious weapon to say the least. It wasn't hard for such things to gain her attention. Marie wasn't exactly the type who was very good at focusing in on one topic. Unless she had a project deadset in her mind to complete, there was little hope to keep her lingering on one topic for so long. Her eyes darted over the Lindsey as she spoke once more diverting her attention.

"Oh yeah, the repairs... I was... there was somethin'... eh... it, was prob nothing too important I'm sure." She spoke shrugging a bit seemingly forgetting the whole exchange with Azure. It wasn't a very smart idea to leave Marie on her own for too long if you needed her help. If her hands were idle, chances were she was going to eventually drift her attention elsewhere. She glanced at Lindsey as she walked over sitting on her desk crossing her legs. Her fellow inventor saying words that were perhaps the most detrimental for anyone seeking to get some work done around a creative mind.

"Fun? That's my middle name... at least I like to imagine so if I was given one."

Marie slowly sauntered over towards Jin's left behind sword. Like a predator towards it's prey, or a seductress to her potential suitor given a lot less tact in her step then one might expect. Her eyes were locked on the blade glancing over at it as if observing it as she approached noticing how the cold had seemingly seeped out from it where it was left pinned. Her eyes glancing at it from a short distance as if in thought. The fact it seemed rather troublesome only sparking that much of a desire for her to want to mess with it. The engineer venturing over closer to it as he talked.

"That be Jin's sword, ain't it? Mighty rude for him to leave his sword stuck wedge in your room like that after ya gave him permission to enter. A gentleman would make to pick up his stuff before he... ah ah cold cold!" She called out as her hand reached out to touch the handle only to feel the icy cold emanating off it nipping at her fingers. Her eyes seemed to light up more realizing it as the smile on her face turned into a grin. She straightened herself out as her grin faded as if putting on an air of serious once more. Her hand lifted up into a fist as if to clear her throat before starting again.

"Ah... anyways... as I was sayin', I think it's only fair we return his blade to him. It's clear its a little hard ta' pick up as it is... but I do got a solution. How about a rig up a coil system to grab hold of the sword, and ya rig up a projectile system ta 'hand' the blade back at him? The blade will freeze to the coils, but introduce a few hundred.. thou... well a lot of volts into the metal and get it nice and hot while the pressure from the other end builds up that when that cold finally gives way to the heat.. well... he is going to have one heck of a catch to make! Might be a little bulky to account for his armament there freezing but nothing you couldn't handle holding, figuring you wanna be the one ta 'hand it back' to him."

Marie spoke as she stepped back tapping her chin once more looking at Lindsey giving a little shrug dropping her more serious act once more. Her posture becoming more relaxed shifting her weight to her left leg placing her lef thand on her hip.

"Though I'm up fer somethin a bit simpler fun if you rather. Just an idle thought seeing it. Could just repurpose it into an ice cube maker if you wanted something a bit less fun. Up to you First Mate, ya are the ladiest of ladies in charge!"

Marie spoke giving a playful little salute with her right hand. Perhaps the most not serious gesture nor way of wording things though that was just simply Marie. Being effectively a long term 'stowaway' she did have some semblance of the structure of command... and more importantly who might potentially be willing to mess around and do something very fun being stuck on the ship.

Interacting: animegirl20
Mention: Nothingness 606

 

[. D O V E]

Fiona Shreka
TW: Implied Grooming
​

Fiona continued looking around as the men spoke among themselves. It was a strange scene, indeed. The carcasses and their weapons littered the room in patternless positions, dismissing the notion of infighting. The locations of some of the wound sites also struck her as odd. Just as Shiloh had said, the perpetrator had impaled the victims with a sword, though the angle suggested that it came from above. It was as if the sky cracked open and rained sharp blades. She shivered, glancing at the ceiling as though the same thing might happen to them.

A whisper pulled her thoughts back to the ground as she whipped her head in its direction, meeting the pleading greens of her childhood friend. “Shiloh…” She murmured his name, almost unconsciously. Much like the elements of their surroundings, it was incongruous to find the firm-faced man with any hints of desperation. Yet, here he was now, pleading for her to stay by his side. It felt like seeing a crack in a solid stone, revealing the tiniest sparkle of the gem within. Fiona pursed her lips and kept silent; eventually, Shiloh’s attention wandered off to Eiren and Red with an inquiry of their next action.

The first to answer had been Red. The senior member of the group suggested they continue the search, following it up with an assurance that they can handle whatever had caused the tragedy. At the corner of her eyes, she saw Eiren lifting a body and inspecting it for loot, trailed by a comment regarding the killer’s rashness. Fiona couldn’t help but look at the roof once more, the same dread crawling through her veins as she bit her lips. Eiren, Red, and Shiloh - the three of them could easily dispatch whatever danger might dare come their way. All of them were brave and strong; they could protect her.

So, why did their presence suddenly feel heavy and suffocating?

Another voice crackled and cut her thoughts short; this time, when she turned, she found herself squinting at Eiren’s illuminating eyes. He had volunteered himself as their shield. “What a… thoughtful and practical offer, sir Brackus, though I pray none of us will get hurt-”

A loud curse permeated the room from upstairs, stringing a couple of crashes and other concerning noises. Quickly, she took a hold of Shiloh’s arm and began heading for the sounds, dragging the man with all her might as they trailed after Eiren. Her mind rampaged with anxious thoughts as they ascended the staircase and passed through rotting rooms and corridors, eventually entering through a broken doorway.

She found the inventor looking down a hole, calling after the ship’s hunter. Fiona audibly gasped as the automaton went on about splinters and shrapnels, rushing to his side before crouching down and peering at her friend’s fallen form. “Ri-!” She choked on her own spit. “Red!” Panic laced her voice as she focused her flashlight on him, silently praying that he was still breathing. After failing to determine whether he was still moving or not, she shifted to look at Eiren and Shiloh before handing the latter her phone.

“I’m going to check on our friend. Follow after us, okay?” Fiona said with misty eyes before her form became engulfed with a flash of bright light.

The flash disappeared and left a white monarch butterfly with golden adornments in its wake. It fluttered its wings as it slowly spiraled to the fiery-haired hunter, the light from Eiren’s eyes and Arden’s phone like a halo behind the insect. As it came closer, another pulse of light occurred and the teary face of Fiona replaced the view.

“Red! Are you alive?” She sniffled, tears rolling down her cheeks as the newly formed bug antennae on her forehead drooped.

The scholar let her eyes examine the red-haired for any injuries until her eyes fell on the parchment in his grasp. The confusion on her face grew when she found an unbranded book lying beside him, oddly spaced from the toppled bookshelf and its scattered contents. “What’s this?” She murmured with a deep sniffle before opening the book.



When the Princess was young, there was a great man who’d tell her many tales. She remembered how he’d walk to her side whenever she sat alone in the royal library, the threat of loneliness long gone when he’d open his mouth. For her, his tales were an oasis amidst the barren desert that was her responsibility. One could even say they were glimpses of freedom.

“Oh my sweet Princess, have you ever heard of the tale of Pandora?” The man asked as they sat side by side, the towering shelves surrounding them.

“Pandora?” She echoed, innocent eyes fixated on his silhouette as it drew closer to whisper in her ear.

“She’s someone just like you.”



Pandora, as she had learned, was a woman whose curiosity led to her opening a forbidden box and unleashing all the evils into the world. It was an act so simple yet had shattered the world as she knew it, exposing its fractures and underlying ugliness.

The latter pages of the journal depicted the thoughts of a man plagued by obsession. It spoke of a tremendous desire for the throne, a taboo longing for the girl fated to inherit its glory, and hints of a nefarious scheme. The entries began two years ago, becoming madder in nature with every flip of a page until her numb gaze could only focus on certain ones.



“Shit. Shit. SHIT. I am starting to lose my mind in this damn place. Hundreds of islands the ship could have crashed into and it chose this wretched site. The damn assholes, trying to be Brackus’ travesties, just lumped their fucking abominations in here to multiply. I swear to the fucking Tree, I kill a dozen of them every SINGLE night yet more still come! It never ends and it’s driving me insane! I need to keep myself right if I want any chance of getting out of here alive… One of my students said keeping a journal helps… Let’s see if that works.”


“It’s been almost a year since I got stranded in this hell. I wonder what my sweet princess is up to now… maybe with that damn girl again. Arden. The nosy brat has been interfering with my plans. I should kill her when I get back… but how? I can’t go back to the Capital. Not like this. The Royal family has hired the De'Sardet against me. Pretentious fuckers. They esteem themselves as nobility when in truth they’re nothing but dogs who willingly get their hands dirty for a pretty penny. I can kill them… just need the right opportunity.”


“She could have been mine already! MINE! If only those foolish adventurers didn’t get in my way all those years ago… I could have been sitting on my throne right now instead of spending my days here in this treacherous slump. Still… I rest knowing that the damn couple will be spending their days rotting in a slavery camp somewhere. Reduced to cogs forevermore by the pompous monarchs who’d rather let them suffer than admit their erroneous judgment…”


“THE DAMN HOWLS I HEAR IT EVERYWHERE! FUCKING DOGS! DIE! DIE! DIE!!! THEY NEVER END! I NEED TO GET OUT!”


“Ship… I hear a ship docking hehe… could be merchants… escape? Yes. YES! I will find her. She will be mine. MINE!”



The book hit the ground with an echoing thud as Fiona’s hand shook with fervor. “T-This is…” She whispered through quivering lips, cold sweat covering her petrified features. She began stumbling back as if her legs had minds of their own, distancing her from the book and its revelations - towards the embrace of the shadows.

Her back collided with a cold and uneven surface; when she turned, she found herself staring face-to-face with a haunting pair of ocean eyes, platinum locks, and soft countenance. The Princess, herself.

“NO!” She screamed in fear, prying herself off the wall and looking around, desperate for her eyes to fall on anything but her. The light from above revealed what hid around them to her frantic gaze. There were crates containing supplies for the demands of the hulking vessel - the findings they came in here for. On the walls, however, were numerous portraits of the Crown Princess - the reminder of the freshly formed crack in her perfect world. The figures all stared at her, their brightly painted eyes boring deep into her soul and saying a thousand words in their stillness.

Fiona saw their lips curl upwards ever so slightly, mocking her.

“Please make it stop!” She pressed her hands against her ears as though it would silence the shrill shattering of her world’s facade. When the mask fell and revealed the ugly truth, the monsters of today's revelations leapt out and reached for her neck. At first, it was painful and suffocating, but eventually, she found peace as everything faded into black and her body began its descent to the ground.


Interactions: Colorless Spectrum Guppy Franz Vexumin
Mentions: Azure's parents lmao

 

[Colorless Spectrum]

Shiloh Caswell

"Alright," he replied with a bit of reluctance, while they do need things to bring back to the ship, he wasn't eager to the idea that there is a possible danger to Fiona at any moment. Needless to say, he was glad to always have his weapon hanging by his hips. If anything happens, he was ready. The priority is Fiona's safety and everything else comes second, he reminded himself.

His eyes remained on the looming portrait before they left the room. There was a chill that went down the back of his spine as he remembered what happened to those that have a bounty on their head as he does.

"That is... duly noted, Sir Brackus." Shiloh said curtly to the Watchman, "Although I hope that wouldn't be the case while we are here." The idea of using the automaton as a shield was something that was logical but also absurd to the bodyguard at the same time. He then wandered off, just a few steps, to look over the bodies and find what he could, alongside some more boards that can help with Azure's work.

A loud thud could be heard before it was followed by two loud crashes. Shiloh was quick to follow Eiren and Fiona, only to find them staring at a hole that had swallowed Red whole like a starving beast.

“Red, are you alright? No punctures from stray wooden splinters? You haven’t fallen on any sharp metal, have you?“

“I’m going to check on our friend. Follow after us, okay?”

"FIONA-" And she was gone and left only a light that robbed him of his sense of sight. A deep sigh left his lips, "Oh Tree." That was all he could say as he picked up the boards and placed it on Eiren's barrel. He followed after Fiona and jumped, bidding the automaton an apology.

When he saw her, not too far from Red, and held on to a book. Shiloh was about to offer his hand to the hunter, but the thump from the spine of the book hitting the wood caught his attention. "Fiona?" He picked up the book and looked over the page that he had opened. The handwriting was unique, and the way the words were written was familiar but its content? That was not.

He didn't need to see every everything, only certain paragraphs to realize what it was all about. Darkness had enveloped the woman who always smiled at him so brightly and all he heard were her cries. Once again the journal found itself on the floor.

Shiloh reached out to her, it felt like his fingers were on fire. His boiling blood coursed through his veins weaved with revulsion. He felt like an egg that was on the verge of bursting because of the heat as he caught Fiona in his arms.

"I'm here..." He held her tightly as he whispered, a tear falling down his cheek as he thought of the owner of that journal. All memories that he had of his mentor, the advice, the admiration of skill, had become tainted by the black ink that was used to write his every thought. All respect that he held for the man was replaced with a deep-seated loathing.

I won't let anything happen to you while I'm by your side. He thought to himself as he adjusted how he carried her. "I'm sorry for not being able to help you, Sir Red. I-" He looks over to Fiona and wondered what to say. "I think it's best that we go now, and it seems the Holy Tree favors us tonight. It looks like all that we need is just here."

Interactions: Guppy Franz Vexumin . D O V E

 

[Vexumin]

EIREN BRACKUS
STATUS: OPERATIONAL | CONCERNED
LOCATION: ROYAL GUARD SHIP, LOWER DECK

The book. The book that caused two people worry beyond belief. Or perhaps it’s one person worry over the contents and the other worry over the one that read it. Whatever the case, Eiren found that both times the book had been placed on the ground, those gathered about dismissing whatever truths it told, or fearing them.

Eiren himself takes a moment to look over the page the book was left on, but all he needed to see was a single word. A single name. His bright gaze doesn’t make any changes in response, in fact he didn’t react at all to the name, but he knew that it could spell trouble should someone recognize the name he shared with his creator.

With a foot, he kicks close the book before grabbing it and tucking it into the barrel on his back. It seemed like simply storing it for later viewing, but the automaton was determined to keep the book to himself if at all possible.

Nevertheless, from what he could make of his scans of the page, whoever this journal belonged too, it was possible that they were still here. What else could have done all of this to the men found here? It seems as though the writer has fallen to some manner of madness, perhaps. Or he was looking too far in to all of this.

The only thing that bothers Eiren the most of it all was the mention of abominations. Memories of his previous life do not seem to recall such creations. He could only fear what was being done in his absence. Under his own name no less.

With journal safely tucked away, Eiren turns to Red, extending a hand that the man might return to his feet. Surely a fall such as what he had endured would have been rather harsh on the spine.

“I suggest we depart. We have materials, but night will soon be upon us.”

In truth, Eiren was eager to return to the ship as well. He did not enjoy being away for too long, especially after having read the contents of the journal. He could only wonder if his work still plagues this island. If so, it was important that they leave as soon as possible.

---

Interacting with: Guppy Franz Colorless Spectrum . D O V E

 

[Arvios]

Napoleon Mauvieux​

Location: Deep Forest of the Floating Island

Mentions: N/A

Interacting With: JJae (Dominique La'Sar) AI10100 (Abraham Rozant) TheImmortalDeity (Hush) Songstress (Aries)

“Do you think wolves taste good?" ..... "I can use this walk for training!” Dom claimed. “Carrying my bag would be a good start..."

Napoleon shook his head at the comment. Namely because he still had doubts, further pushed by developing evidence, that these truly were wolves. Second, he was becoming even more uncertain whether they would be able to get past them without conflict. Treating this walk like an exercise... Unless she was disregarding the seriousness of their situation, he was very impressed at how composed she was behaving. Larger, more capable groups have succumbed to similar prey tactics, and becoming panic stricken was the easiest method to cause disorder. Preventing such an instinctual reaction was not easy, especially considering that fear worked much like a disease; once inflicted, it was easy to spread.

He was grateful when Dom took the bag for herself. While the supplies she had gathered weren't heavy per say, he definitely did enjoy the minor increase in his range of motion now, not having to worry about spilling its contents. It would be a sight to see — having to react in an iota of a second, only to have their prizes from this expedition become one with the forest again.

"I can't do much on the go." He said, eyes looking between his own group and the silhouettes moving across the woods. "But hopefully this is enough." The surge of energy transferred from himself to Father Napoleon would temporarily alleviate the pain so that he can focus on the task at hand.

Napoleon gives a thankful nod at the doctor, not minding his prior reaction. He feels the man's now bare palm press against what would have been his coarse fur, had his coat and shirt not meddled. He was aware that Abraham's ability would be far more efficient otherwise, the warmth much more alleviating, but knew that they were very limited with methodology as things were. With every step, the pain begins to fade away like a bad memory — but based off of the growing restlessness of their surroundings alongside the steepening darkness, it seemed like a new one was all but inevitable.

Soon, the air became much more stagnant and heavy, as if a full breath might invite a cough from one's deepest reaches of their lungs. The greenery that was once so common was replaced by a festering death, leaving only pale, arboreal skeletons of what used to be a mighty forest. While the coming nightfall was not an issue for Napoleon, the looming fog most definitely was; it seemed to linger around like a mounting dread — silent, but ever present. He's distracted by his paws for a moment, now soiled with a grim form of decay, but he continues to follow Hush's lead. As she calls out orders and arms herself with her own dagger and revolver, Napoleon reaches to his side to arm Duskringer with his bayonet with practiced deftness. Then, the white veil parts, revealing the theater of war within the bog.

Once his eyes meet those of the beasts — no, of those abominations — Napoleon feels his heart skip a beat. He expected anomalies, some minor evolutionary deviation from the island's biome, but not whatever the hell this was. The unmistakable eternum shards, the collars... the human appendages. It was the pure essence of horror that managed to somehow steal his breath, his maw still slightly agape at the sight as if the fear was planning to make a return for his soul next.

"Watch my back!" Hush surprisingly yelled, shooting down another creature with a silenced bullet to the skull.

It wasn't the sound of the splashing in the quagmire, or the incessant cackles that the creatures would howl, or even her unusually boisterous command that snapped Napoleon out of his consternation; it was a blur of movement coming at him from straight ahead. Still holding his sniper rifle, the Beastfolk fully bares his fangs and tightens his grip, plunging the now-present bayonet into the air where it connects with one of those creatures. The sound of steel slicing into flesh resonates soundly, the giddy laughter now a whine as the thing is carried through and slammed into the wet floor below, squirming under Napoleon's weight and strength. After a good twist into its gullet, his ears swivel and flick, fixating on another making its way around to his back. With a throaty growl, he momentarily disarms Duskringer and raises Moonshot from the hip, deactivating the eternum fragment and firing a buckshot head on; an explosion of gunpowder, and blood, flesh, and bone are scattered instantly along tainted waters, the remaining body twitching and seizing until it desisted shortly after.

With a few seconds to spare before another wave came in, Napoleon re-arms himself with his rifle. His eye on the scope, six shots ring out; one of those things falls while airborne, like a pigeon during open season, the second and third are immediately downed with merciful shots cracked through their skulls as they prepare to lunge at Hush's side. The fourth shot whizzes past another, barely missing a shot to the belly; the fifth shot, accompanied by a heavy grunt and muttered profanity from the priest, isn't as lenient and finds its target. The final bullet downs another preparing to lunge at Dominique or Aries from their backside — it was difficult to tell who, considering how huddled they all were at this point. But it persists towards them, leaking a trail of bloody bile along its maddening path, the eerie cackling rushing towards them.

Not willing to risk missing the bayonet strike, Napoleon raises Moonshot once more; another crack of gunfire thunders through the dead forest, but the abomination weaves, all of the buckshot leaving ripples over the water's surface. As it closes in, its uncanny hyeneid laughter transitions to a snarl, its mandible stretching wide like a viper. The edge of its maw meets Napoleon's forearm, but the attack doesn't last long; with a guttural and wounded growl, the Beastfolk fires a second, now point-blank shot at the creature's chest, spraying chunks of red meat across the bog. It instantly ceases all movement, and Napoleon quickly pulls it's ensnared front row teeth from his arm. Blood immediately begins to flow from him, his once yellow and white spots now stained crimson, but he tries to pay it no mind, instead clumsily reloading Duskringer with a shaking hand. His main concern was that their numbers didn't seem to have gone down at all — there was no time to seek medical aid. This was definitely a matter of do or die.