Multiple Settings New Oasis: Four Heavenly Kings [Season 2]

[Infab]

Christina Winchester

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis S2 - A4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central - "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

Numerous Members of Every Gang

THE FOURTH SEAL

As Christina awaited the Tiger's response, a glance towards the Serpent group earned Christina a clear view of Karina. Their eyes met, and Christina immediately felt an immense urge to leave. Then, Karina was on the approach, walking through the crowd of gang members and crossing the room to where Christina stood among the Phoenixes. Fuck. Here she comes. I thought she'd be wherever Mom is.

Of course, Christina's luck wasn't that great when it came to personal affairs.

"...Hello, Karina." she responded, her tone neutral. Be professional, Christina. Neutral ground, every gang is here. Don't need to start a gang war over a familial issues. "Eh, didn't hit me as hard as it has for some of the others, but yeah. Everyone's on rough footing after the raids." she then continued, "...Speaking of your 'generous sponsor', how's my mother? I'm sure she wasn't really bothered by what the cops are doing, with her army of lawyers in one hand and Blackwood in the other."

She bumped the ashes off from her cigarette, slipping it back into her mouth afterwards and folding her arms as she glanced between Karina and the Tiger. She wondered where Hitoshi or Charlie was, or even Helva. Daigo was busy nearby. They were far better company. Even Ryoko would be more appealing than having Karina standing here staring at her, that smile plastered on her face as she tried to get Christina to cave to her mother's demands.

Interactions: Breadman , FabulousTrash
Mentions: joshuadim , Roda the Red , Peckinou

 

[angel doe]

JERICHO MADDEN

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis Season 2 - Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

TIME:

February 28th, 2023 || After Midnight

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central — "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

Various Phoenixes

THE FOURTH SEAL

Jericho had never been known for his patience. Ever on the move, being stuck in a room with so many people was starting to get to him and he couldn't stay still. Pacing back and forth with his long tail lashing behind him, he hit more than a few Phoenixes with it. Unintentionally, of course, but regardless of intent... they seemed pretty miffed by it. He muttered a half-hearted "Sorry", the apologetic smile gracing his lips more like a courtesy than anything meaningful. Jericho resumed his pacing not even a minute later.

It wasn't until one of them snapped at Jericho and told him to "sit the fuck down" that he finally stopped, stilling the movement of his extra appendage and settling beside Milo. He pulled his knees to his chest, feet tapping impatiently against the floor while peering at his friend out of the corner of his eye, "Soooo, how long do you think this'll take?"

Rico regretted not staying home, but at least he could talk to someone he knew- and he was glad it was Milo.

--
(teehee if i remember what else i was going to write i'll add it)

Elenion Aura

 

[The One Eyed Bandit]

Yelizaveta Vasiliev

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis Season 2 - Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central — "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

The Royal Court

The Fourth Seal

In her travels, decay had been amongst the closest of her companions. No matter the continent, no matter the nation, no matter the town or city, there were always signs of it. It's approach was slow, but sure, present in every leaky ceiling, every potholed road, and every bribe exchanged behind closed doors. It came for all things, for all places, but it had come for New Oasis especially soon. By any reasonable measure, the bustling metropolis was not an old city. She had set foot upon cobbled streets whose history dwarfed that of the entire city, and yet ruin had come for in on wings so fleet she would have thought the city had been evading it for years.

She fiddled with... Something within the depths of her coat pocket. There was a quick flash of red, but not enough to make out the shape of it. Her attention had been wandering about the meeting the chamber as each of the gangs' reagents established themselves. That was familiar enough, too. The grandstanding and the bids at composure, but she would've been surprised if it was fooling anyone. Their very presence here was a sign enough of their panic, their fear, the ignition of their survival instincts which stayed so deeply buried in their day to day life.

But appearances were still important. They did say that the suit made the man. But then, what did that make her? Her coat older than half of the children present beyond those doors, and her glasses probably cast from the same steel that was rusting on that pipe in the corner. Both, though, were well maintained. The coat, originally cut from the hide of some ursine predator or another, had been diligently patched and mended over the years, and only the faintest impression of a denting was present upon her glasses' frames.

"дураки..." She'd never been one for holding her tongue- in fact, there were people out there in the world who would've scoffed at the idea- but she'd been doing her best. She was here as an employee, after all, and her curiosities for the moment were ones that could be stated though the work of her ear alone, but...

She hadn't been able to help herself. The word escaped her throat as a scoff, and she pushed herself from the wall. Whatever it was in her pocket was shoved back down deep, and as she stepped in from the room's edge, more of her features came to light. Tired eyes, which made her look older than she really was, and the faint lines of a well worn smile at the corner of her lips, despite her currently sour expression.

The woman hovered at the edge of the circle of impromptu thrones, her eyes like baying mouths as she assessed by sight that which she could not have by ear. The bare inclination of a bow served as her introduction, only made distinguishable by the rustling of her coat.

"Your Highnesses. I was... Asked here to assist." Her voice was thick with the accent of the cold, Ruthenian north, but that was not quite all. In her inflections the intonations of other places flicked, flourishes of her travels baked deep into the trembles of her voice. "And... I must bid we take a moment to assess, hmmm? This thing- Your jewel. The center of this city that you call its heart with which you are so fascinated. It is fool's gold. Glimmering and hollow. Ambition should be the pride of any man, any woman, any soul... Worth it's salt, but only should you not fix it upon a mirage."

"So, I ask: What is it that you are fixed upon? Your jewels. What are you men and women of?" Her eyes dotted themselves across the circle of the monarchs and their proteges. "Prestige? Territory? Survival? Purpose? Sitting here in this filth... It should be clear to you that only one of these matters. You are familiar with the adage of beggars and choosers, no? And you are beggars."

"This... Peacock." She gestured at the Tiger King. "Is the only one amongst you who speaks with sense. Did so few of you listen? This is not a war against your kingdoms, it is one against your natures. The font from which you all sup upon your power-" Should the policewoman be believed, at least. "-stands at threat of being shattered. And yet still you fancy yourself over such trifles. A crumbling wreck... You obsess yourself over a corpse... When there is so much more to see."

She loomed behind the thrones of her King, Queen, Jack and Ace. Her glasses framed by the fur trim of her coat, it was plain to see where exactly the namesake that had followed her across continents had come from.

"Find yourself some... Perspective, yes? Our dear Jack speaks like a fool, but is not one entirely. You are... In the shit, as they say. It would be best you start smelling it."

 

[The One Eyed Bandit]

Anna Gardener

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis Season 2 - Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central — "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

The Royal Court

The Fourth Seal

The rubber of her mask felt tight on her face. It was claustrophobic. A year ago, it hadn't been a problem. Even as cheap as they were, each of her masks had felt like a second skin to her, or even a special suit of armor. They were a guise behind which the unsure, mortified Anna Gardener vanished, and somebody who could be trusted to do her work emerged.

Now, they only felt too tight.

Her hair, now overgrown, barely even fit anymore. It fell in a tangle across her face, obscuring her vision even more than the goat-shaped rubber cage on her head already did. It was a problem that had been plaguing her ever since her escape from the correctional facility she'd been held in, and if she really set her mind to it, the issue was one which would've been easily solved. She just... Hadn't. Couldn't. More than once she'd stood in front of the mirror, a set of scissors in one hand and her hair in the other, but she just couldn't stand it. Whenever she looked into that dingy little bathroom mirror, looking into her own eyes no matter how hard she tried to avert her gaze...

Something inside of her felt like it was breaking. She saw her mother, disappointed. She saw her brother, terrified. And worst of all, she saw herself. The faces of the lost. People who she wasn't sure she would ever see again, and as always, it was all her fault.

She sank a little lower into her seat. Her work. She needed to focus on her work.

Hidden by the rubber folds of her mask, Anna's gaze shifted to Luna. They were both here under the same employ, following the same orders. Not those of their Queen and King, but their master in the shadows, lingering at some point beyond the room's stone doors. Anna hardly understood the woman, but she hadn't understood her previous employer either, so that much was hardly a change. Her orders, at least, were simple enough. There were no strange gases and no random bouts of whimsy.

Listen. Just listen. Pay attention. Remember. She needed to know what was being said inside of this room, and it was their job to be her ears. It was much more straightforward work than she was used to, which might have been a relief if she was supposed to be listening to anyone else.

Instead, all of this was giving her a headache. There was so much talk of so many things, all of which she barely understood. All of the Kings, all of the Queens, no matter how they dressed their words sounded just as similar to one another as they did inscrutable. She felt her stomach twist further and further the more she listened to it. She didn't want to be here. Whenever her mind wandered, it went to her family. To where they were, to what they were doing, to whether they'd open up the door if she came knocking, or just send her away.

And then there was Akira's face, smiling. Her words rung in her ears, and she forced her attention back to the room. This was finding them. She had to believe that. She had to.

 

[Roda the Red]

Eribelle Statham

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis S2 - Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central — "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

The Kings and their Inner Circles

The Fourth Seal

Eribelle has had time to grow into her relatively recent role as the Ace of the Azure Dragons. Six months and nineteen days, to be precise. It was fortunate that her new status came naturally to the young woman, a testament to her mettle and discipline. However, no task or event under her new title bore a degree of gravitas anywhere close to where she currently stood, her fists neatly lying atop her knees as she stood besides her leaders, and all previously opposing forces just arm's length away, although 'previously' is a word still put into question.

The Ace remained quiet as the kings and queens spoke. As much prestige as she held, she well knew her place in this room, as well as the implicit privilege for those at the top to freely speak their minds first and foremost. Amidst the pros and cons of the implied alliance, it was the Dragon Queen's maniac-adjacent speech which reminded her why she wished to work at his side. Lars' hubris was bothersome and part of his ideals where awfully misguided, but the man possessed both the determination and resources, and most importantly, the right vision to push her goal into a reality, blessing the city with the dragon's dew of peace.

And inversely, the impromptu emergence of an unknown individual was a reminder of the unorganized ways the other gangs worked. "If I may ask, is her claim true?" She asked to no one in particular, her gaze not meeting with anyone else's eyes, just staring blankly at nothing in particular. "I would like for a confirmation, if possible. Otherwise I will find myself forced to chase our sudden visitor away. And if on the contrary, that is indeed the case, I would like to request for the mention of other incoming additions, should there be any." She paused for a moment, her eyes scanning the faces of everyone sitting. "Please do not misunderstand, I am personally supportive of the prospect of a temporary alliance, but I believe that in order for us to work together, we need to be as transparent as possible, and these sudden surprises may be detrimental to whatever trust we might be aiming to build with this meeting."

She bowed politely, her lips sealed shut once more, only to be reopened should the others desire.

 

[FabulousTrash]

Ryo Katsura

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis S2 - A4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central - "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

Numerous Members of Every Gang

The Fourth Well

"Ah, you can just call me Kona. I'm also new with the Tigers."

As if an alias would help hide her real identity. But oh well, worth a shot. Ryo kept her hands in the pockets of her jacket as she gave Christina an awkward half smile. This is what she asked for by making small talk. Though, beats just being off on her own.

"Weird times is one way of putting it."

Her eyes followed the phoenix's gaze as they looked over to the Dragon that had cracked open a few cans of beers. Ryo just shrugged at Christina's comment. She wasn't much of a drinker herself, despite having several bottles of high-end liquor back home. It was mostly for any guests she had over. Which even then, wasn't often.

It didn't take long for a new face to join the mingle between Ryo and Christina. Though Ryo was the out one out, as it was clear the other two had some history between one another. Ryo gave the newcomer a head nod.

"I lucked out and didn't get hit hard. Cops couldn't get much on me in the first place."

The room got gradually louder as more people arrived or strummed up side conversation, talking about who knows what. Ryo kept silent as the other women conversed. It was clear the two had history. She was just a third wheel here.

Hopefully the discussion the kings and queens were having was much more riveting than this, and that it would be over soon.

Infab Breadman

 

[joshuadim]

RYUTARO HASHIMOTO

CS Link

SCENE:

Tigers Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central — "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

The Kings and their Inner Circles

THE FOURTH SEAL

The Tiger King remained standing as others spoke, and what he heard - for the most part - unimpressed him. Too many were concerned with the expectations of the aftermath, which all things considered was trivial in comparison to facing extinction. The Dragon Queen in particular, with his egoist blabbering and overt narcissism, made Ryu stare at Lars with a cold gaze. These fools, and this one was the biggest of them all. He felt a feeling arise in the deepest pits of his gut, one that called upon him to skewer this moron with his blade... it would be so easy...

Do it. Do it. Do it.

Kill them all. Kill them all. Kill 'em all.

The Tiger prodded at the boundaries of Ryutaro's will, testing it for vulnerabilities as he remained attentive. A brief side-eye towards the creature indicated the first time he acknowledged its presence in the room, although before it was difficult to ignore with how much it kept on yammering. And when it became obvious that the Tiger King would not bend to his adorable patron's command for the time being, the creature gave up... for now. Instead, it turned its attention to the others in the room.

"Idiots!" the creature concluded after a perfunctory assessment before returning its attention back to Ryutaro. "Nyokay, quit playin' around, actin' like yer gonna ackshully make a truce with these bozos, n' hurry up n' ice these pretenda's. Right here, right nyeow!"

A silent gaze while a Phoenix, and then another Dragon after, chimed in with their own thoughts spoke louder than words as to Ryu's intentions for all this. Trust me, I have a plan. was the aura from the King's demeanor as he straightened upwards again.

"Unnatural, and yet necessary all the same." Ryu spoke first to Knydah, "If a species does not evolve to meet challenge, it dies out." His gaze returned to the broader court at large: "That is what we face. Extinction. Our enemy is united, ruthless, and committed to this course - and here we are, bickering about what ifs. I choose to look beyond the squabbles of decades past and look towards a bigger picture." He raised a hand and squeezed it into a fist, the strength of his grip causing his knuckles to crack. "That we are better. We are a new people, who should not be subject to the systems and laws of those beneath us. This campaign... crusade against us is simply proof of fear to our very existence."

He then clasped his hands behind his back, and took a deep breath as he turned his attention to the Dragon King: "This is not about territory anymore, nor about quarrels and squabbles." Ryu said, sparing a glance to the Phoenix King. "This is about survival. And everything I have done, and will do, is dedicated to the survival of our people. And this is why I have brought us here - to not only stress the gravity of our situation, but also to understand the necessity of what I propose."

The Tiger continued to make its annoying remarks and quibbles, demanding blood be spilt. But there was always a better way to go about things when it came to playing the game. As impatient as the creature was in getting what it wanted, Ryutaro was a wellspring of composure. "In ancient times, the Ifosian Republic found itself beset by its neighbors. Crisis fell upon them, and in their time of need they appointed one to lead them out of the darkness. One whose vision, and strength, was enough to ensure their survival and in turn destroy their enemies."

Ryu traced a finger along the surface of the table, remaining silent for a moment as he rubbed a small grain of rusted metal in between his fingers. "I will destroy the Board, and their police lackeys. I will ensure the safety of the Entity that sleeps below, and in turn I will secure a future for our kind. But I will do it as the helm, the vanguard, of our united cause to live. What I ask, is to put your weight behind me. With my leadership, we can fight back and win."

Kameron Esters- FabulousTrash WhiskeyMarten

 

[Elenion Aura]

MILO NAGISA

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis Season 2 - Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

TIME:

February 28th, 2023 || After Midnight

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central — "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

Daigo ( joshuadim ), Jericho ( angel doe )

THE FOURTH SEAL

Milo exhaled a thin plume of smoke as he regarded the cigarette burning down between his fingers. "I'm trying to quit," he murmured, though there was no conviction in his tone.

His gaze slid slyly toward the locked door of the meeting room, where the fates of all four gangs were currently being bartered, debated, and—hopefully—kept from blowing up in everyone's faces.

He considered Jericho's question for a moment, then said quietly, "Not sure..." The silence stretched between the three of them for a beat. Milo flicked ash to the floor, watching it scatter. "Guess we'll know soon enough," he muttered, almost to himself, the edge in his tone—the tightness in his jaw as he spoke—nearly betraying his own restlessness coiling inside him.

 

[joshuadim]

DAIGO ASANUMA

CS Link

SCENE:

Phoenixes Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central — "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

Various Phoenixes

THE FOURTH SEAL

"Tch, as long as they wanna hear themselves talk prolly." Daigo commented to Jericho, who had now also flanked Milo. Out of a habit of impatience, he stood up again and kicked another small pebble as he fidgeted from boredom. "Don't give a damn if I'll be honest. Not like leadership ever cares about what we think anyway." A moment of silence passed as Daigo paced back and forward, keeping his eyes fixed on the closed doors that separated them all from the big shots. He knew next to nothing about the other leaders, but if they were anything like the Phoenix King then...

Who am I kidding? They're all the same. Daigo thought to himself, scoffing aloud. What good is the devil we know if they're just as bad?

"...I should check in on how the old man is doing." he then muttered audibly, turning back to Milo and Jericho. "Have you heard from 'Toshi recently?"

angel doe Elenion Aura

 

[Roda the Red]

CHARLIE HUGHES

CS Link

SCENE:

Phoenixes Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central — "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

Hiachi, The Kings and company (sorta)

THE FOURTH SEAL

Few things made Charlie's stomach churn more than the thought of being surrounded by the gangsters of New Oasis, all within one place, and having to pretend as if he didn't hate them even if it was just for a fleeting moment. How blissful would it have been to sit this one out, and perhaps take a proper rest for once. But the meeting of opposing factions had its its reason, and the outcome of its events was too important for the young man to ignore, not with the responsibility he carried over his shoulders, the one he HAD to bear. That and, well, he wasn't the only one interested in this momentous occasion.

Meeting up with Alice at her place earlier that day, the two made their way to Lower Central together. Their friendship had fractured once, an unfortunate symptom stemming from their life of constant strife, but with time's nursing and a few brave leaps, their bond was reforged once again. It was a treasured blessing that the boy wanted to protect.

However they might feel about each other, it was still best to keep their relationship a secret from their respective sides, lest they were branded with further labels that would make their standing more complicated. Reluctantly, he parted ways with her a cautious distance from their destination.

With arms folded, Charlie leaned his back against the damp wall of the spacious chamber, his eyes bouncing from one corner to the other, scanning the perimeter. Many new faces were scattered around, many familiar as well, both in the form of allies and...enemies would still be the correct term? Some he's seen at a distance, some he's clashed against before, either as a phoenix, or as a masked fighter.

He tapped his finger against his sleeve in frustration, he came all this way, hoping to further understand what the leaders were meeting for, only for them to coup up in some chamber, and expect the rest to act as glorified bodyguards? He hadn't cared much about money for a long time, but the fact it was these people he was protecting for free that stung the hardest. He scoffed, getting off the wall and walking from the purification chamber.

He wandered through the labyrinthic halls and tunnels of the underground system, hoping to calm himself down until things settled in the meeting. He didn't want to be here, but he didn't quite want to leave either. Not when this placed had turned into a oil rig, and all it took was for one tiny ember to set it all ablaze. Amidst echoed drippings and the chitter of rodents, his ears caught wind of a low, muffled voice nearby. Looking for its source, Charlie soon spotted a tiny hold on the floor. Come to think of it, if his sense of orientation was working properly, he should've been right above the kingly meeting. He didn't recognize the voice speaking, but it was easy to judge that, if he got closer, he might actually be able to overhear their conversation. He looked both sides, the coast seemed to be clear, unless he was being targeted by some kind of monitoring potential, a hypothetical scenario with an unfortunately high probability of being real...but it's not like he had gotten this far without taking a risk or two, right?

Slipping his fingers into the small crevice, the phoenix gently tore away at the concrete, making sure to minimize the noise produced. Handfuls of chunks were tore to the side, until he was left with a nice Charlie-sized hole to go down into. Both hands and feet clinging to the walls of the narrow space, he slowly made his way down, doing his best effort to ignore the cobwebs getting caught on his face.

At last his feet were met with the floor, the voices now much more clearer than just a minute ago. He could now make out the words coming from the old, raspy female voice. He slowly and quietly made his way to his left, aiming to find a better spot where the voices were even clearer, should anything quieter fail to go through. Being so caught up on keeping his ear to the wall, it was only when their shoulders bumped that he noticed the presence of someone else in this unexpected location.

"H-Huh? Who're you?" He asked instinctively, though he was still careful enough to only speak in whisper. Judging from the scar on the girl's face, it was easy to discern this wasn't just some random civilian passing by...not like that would make any sense, either.

miki

 

[Beann]

SAMIRA CALRISSIAN

CS Link

SCENE:

Tigers Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central — "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

The Kings and their Inner Circles

THE FOURTH SEAL

With one leg crossed over the other, the Tiger Queen sat perfectly silent as she listened to those gathered within the chamber. Behind her calm smile, she was quite annoyed that she was spending her late night below the surface in some dank meeting room rather than watching the season finale of The Real Housewives of New Oasis. She understood it came with the responsibility as leadership but it would have been more convenient if they scheduled this gathering at an earlier time.

Her eyes passed over those who spoke and those who chose to remain quiet like she did. It was no surprise that Ryutaro took the reins of the meeting, establishing a solid plan but not without question as evident from the Dragon King. An understandable concern but if they were to be successful against the looming threat then there should be no room for doubt once this meeting concluded. She listened quietly as the Serpent King spoke but her attention was drawn to their Jack, a subtle lift of her eyebrow was the only response that was given in acknowledgement to the unsettling grin that was displayed.

Then the Dragon Queen spoke, someone who was more deserving of the title as King in her opinion. However, his long, and egotistical speech was lost on her and she quickly took back her thoughts on the title he should have held. Rather than one of the other Kings or Queens to address him, it was none other than the Phoenix Jack to respond. Samira’s lips curved into a small smile, offering an amused yet proud expression as Yong-Yut offered her own piece. Frankly, it wasn’t helpful to the overarching matter but it was a little funny to hear her call Albrecht a dick.

Samira extended her hand out slightly, spreading her fingers as she inspected her manicured nails while listening to the others speak. An unknown phoenix and the Dragon ace, the former offering some meaningful words while the latter contributed nothing to the point of the meeting. Her hand lowered once Ryutaro began to speak again, giving him her full attention. Samira simply nodded in agreement, his words resolute and sparked a feeling of pride to call him a friend and her king.

 

[Beann]

AELESTRA

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis Season 2 - Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central — "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

Numerous Members of Every Gang

THE FOURTH SEAL

Despite her neutral expression as she walked, Aelestra was a bit on edge. She held her phone out in front of her, her head tilted down to reread the text message she received from her employer.

Hello, Aelestra!
As I told you, we are to meet today.
I am wearing a Kitsune mask! When you arrive, find me; I have something for you to do while we wait!

The directions that were given led beneath the surface. Unpleasant memories of being held underground for years began to bubble up as she followed the passage. Her instinct urged her to turn back around and go home but every time she glanced over to her friend walking beside her, she was reminded that she couldn’t act on her own wants anymore.

Hearing the soft buzz of chatter, she shoved her phone into the pocket of her jacket, along with her hands. The sight of other people prompted her to walk closer to her friend, wary of everyone else. “Crowded.” She breathed out quietly for him to hear. Her eyes scanned over the various faces that she didn’t recognize until she spotted a kitsune mask. Aelestra turned to Briar for a second, taking out a small wrapper and offering it to him. “Grape.” She whispered. Sliding her hand back into her pocket, she approached her employer. Aelestra stood there, saying nothing and waited to be acknowledged.

Lucem gxxberkit

 

[Infab]

Robin Krantz

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis S2 - A4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central - "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

Numerous Members of Every Gang

THE FOURTH SEAL

Robin remained quiet. Expressionless. Motionless, save for her sharp red eyes which moved between each that spoke before her. Of course, the first to speak at the meeting was Ryu himself. He did as expected, put things squarely into perspective regarding the situation and the threat they face from law enforcement in New Oasis. Unity was needed, otherwise the gangs would be broken down bit by bit until there was nothing left.

The new King of the Dragons spoke up next, and raised a good question: What happens after everything is said and done? If we unite and win, then what? Robin, inside, was smiling. We go back to killing each other. Its that simple.

One of the four gangs had to be top dog. There had to be an emperor. An alliance, oh so temporary, against the police wouldn't change that fact.

Then, the ever so cryptic King of the Serpents spoke her piece. Speaking of harnessing the 'sleeping entity' that the police spoke about for the four gangs own benefit. There was logic there. Control the beast, control the city. However, would they do it as a group of four kings, or with a single emperor exerting their rule over all?

Next up, surprisingly, was the Queen of the Dragons. The moment he spoke, an urge began to build deep within Robin. It was a simple urge, one Robin was all too familiar with and happy to sate. However, this wasn't the time or place. Besides, Ryu hadn't given her the order to do anything. The urge grew stronger, as words continued to seep from the man's mouth like water from a faucet. Self-absorbed, pompous, holier-than-thou. Oh, and this man is the head of a company too. If he had a certain vice of visiting seedy brothels, he would have been the perfect target for her special little... excursions years ago.

As he continued talking, she began to fantasize about what cutting his heart out would feel like.

Soon enough, though, he ceased his rambling. Of course, he wanted to be the one in charge. Mister Big Shot couldn't be anything less. The Jack of the Phoenixes spoke up next, and her words actually made Robin smile slightly. A jab at the Queen of the Dragons' ego? Most welcome.

However, immediately following her was someone not of the standing leadership of the Phoenixes. Much like Robin herself, in regards to the Tigers. However, this woman talked a bit too much. She sounded almost like the Dragon Queen... but without the same tone. Robin honestly wondered who's old closet they dragged the woman out of. But... she was here. Speaking, for some reason, for the Phoenixes.

Robin rolled her eyes slightly, before gazing about at the others in the room. The guards and other guests. There was a nurse in the back, with the Serpents. Odd looking girl, who had been looking her way briefly. Probably trying to figure out what Robin was to Ryu and the other Tigers delegation. As soon as the girl's eyes met Robin's again, she flashed her a slight smile and a small two-fingered wave.

Maybe I should ask the Boss if I can step out into the other room. Things seem to be going pretty peacefully in here. Strats has things handled, anyway.

 

[Lucem]

BRIAR

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis Season 2 - Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central — "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

Albino Tigers, Sable Serpents, Azure Dragons, Scarlet Phoenixes

THE FOURTH SEAL

In the wake of all the recent revelations and rampages that had shaken up the less than fair city, Briar had taken a bit more interest in gang-related affairs than usual. It was hard not to raise a brow at the mention of god-like entities beneath the earth, Oasis-wide extermination, and the possible death of Potential altogether. Followed up by an emergency meeting between all four of the groups that had been allowed to play gangster until now, those volatile ingredients promised a disastrous reaction.

Briar didn't have any major opinions on the situation as a whole. Until the fires reached his heels and affected him personally, he was content with watching the city burn and seeing what resulted from others trying to stamp out the flames. For now, it was just entertainment, a platform for something interesting that might catch his eye in the future. That was why he suggested that he and Aeletra venture below Central. He figured that something worthy of note was bound to happen at such a large event. But despite there being so many matches gathering around a massive fuse, it remained unlit.

Purgatory was a fitting name for the place. So far, it had just been a lot of waiting. With the big business taking place behind closed doors, the rest were left to sit on their asses and pray they could finally move on. Some of them had even taken to mingling with members of rival gangs, making for a decent sign that there'd be little excitement until the plastic crown-wearing royalty were finished.

Rather than gung-ho police officers, revenge-seeking crooks, or even some primordial being, Briar's biggest enemy at the moment was boredom. And right now, it was quickly gaining the edge in the fight he was putting up little resistance for. Still, it seemed minor compared to what his friend was dealing with.

Aelestra had been sticking close, her usual frosty whispers a bit louder than usual as they brushed against his discolored skin. Her expression hadn't changed much from its usual blank slate, but her discomfort was apparent. Considering the scenery, he wasn't surprised. Being underground didn't exactly bring back fond memories for either of them.

He kept close to her, creating a wall of sorts between Ael and the little groups that claimed their own corners of the stone waiting room. As they walked side by side, he took the offered piece of candy and untwisted both ends above his head, letting it fall into his waiting mouth with a soft tap. He figured the artificial taste would last about as long as patience, the latter growing shorter by the second due boredom and displeasure of encountering the fox-faced hindrance.

Briar didn't speak up when Aelestra approached Akira. His eyes didn't even glance in her direction, it being almost second nature to ignore her presence. But he still didn't budge from his position, prepared to snap out of his lethargy in case trouble or something interesting popped up. With his faith in the second option being fairly weak, he hoped they wouldn't have to stick around much longer.

Seconds passing painfully slowly, he trapped the hard candy between his teeth and crushed it to bits with a harsh crunch.

Spoiler: Tags

Beann gxxberkit

 

[FabulousTrash]

Kanna Katsura

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis S2 - A4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central — "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

The Kings and their Inner Circles

The Fourth Seal

If Kanna could strangle Lars, she would've.

She was the next voice to address the circle, after some back and forth from others. As she rose, the cubes he launched into the walls flew towards her at speed. An open hand awaited them as she caught both of the objects. Her eyes shifted towards her counterpart as Kanna seemingly crushed them in her hand with ease. Her hand opened, the shards falling to the table. A silent warning.

Kanna's eyes returned to the rest of the congregation as she addressed them.

"We, will aide with what we can offer, but on a condition. We must spare the civilians from needless crossfire and blood shed. This place is just as much as home to them as it is to us, and to destroy it would make us no better than the ones going after us."

Growing up, Kanna was always taught to work in service to others. To her, that was the overall role of the Azure Dragons. Protect those who could not protect themselves from injustice and danger. Unlike others at the table, she saw those who had a Potential as a gift, one that should be used for the benefit of others. Of course there are times one has to stray away from that principal and take matters into their own hands. She had done that plenty of times so far, and will more than likely do so for years to come. But to lose sight of that overall principal would be a downfall she could not accept.

Kanna looked towards Ryu, addressing him directly.

"But like the Ifosan Republic, the one who led them to the light was heavily observed by others, sometimes scrutinized for his tactics. Some openly spoke against him, and paid for it with their lives. However, I can assure that will not be the case this time around."

She let her words settle for a moment before taking a seat.

"With that out of the way, what exactly do you need from each of us?"

joshuadim AriAriAbabwa

 

[Breadman]

Karina Zemova

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis Season 2 - Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central - "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

Karina, Christina, Ryo, Various other gang members

The Fourth Seal

"Matilda is fine and dandy, miss Winchester." The Serpent calmly answered. The venom from the Phoenix was palpable. "It took some palm greasing and a few very expensive lawyers, but we pulled through. She would extend the same benefits to you as well. Just pick up the phone." A nice gentle reminder was all she wanted to do. "Either way, very relieved to hear that you have avoided the worst of it." Karina maintained her smile she turned her attention to Ryo for a few moments as well. The woman had picked up rather quick that she wasn't the center of attention for the Serpent, but it would be preferable to keep things polite in current company "To you as well, miss. You must be one of the Tigers if I'm not mistaken." Karina quickly eyed her up. "Very fortunate on your part given what happened to some of your more prominent members. I can't say that I am a fan of your current king and his inner circle, but he seems like he has a firm grasp of the organization already. Post-coup mop up not withstanding."

She glanced towards where the kings were having their meeting behind closed doors. Oh to be a fly on the wall for such a conversation. So many details and so much information that could come into play. Karina wondered if Akira would already have something dug up for just such an occasion.

Infab FabulousTrash

 

[WhiskeyMarten]

HECTOR MOSES

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis Season 2 - Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central — "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

The Kings and their Inner Circles

THE FOURTH SEAL

Hector sat back as the gangs went back and forth. Initially, his arms were crossed nonchalantly, as though he found the meeting to be a chore. By the time Lars and Ryutaro had said their pieces, his fingertips were digging into his arm, and his face wrinkled in disgust. He shot glances up to Sura, who sat beside him, waiting for the fool to speak up. He was tempted to adapt his feelings to undermine whatever opinion Sura held, but despite the others talking of unity, he was sure they’d tear the Phoenixes apart if they smelt enough weakness.

All that talk… It was driving Hector nuts nonetheless. Who did these guys think they are? He was no fan of the previous leaderships — anyone who knew Hector could’ve told you that — but this lot was insufferable. Some of them were due to be shipped off to the care home, most of them needed a reality check.

”Shut the fuck up.”

Hector drove his fist down on the table, using his potential as he did. The room vibrated with a resonant bang, like the tolling of a bell which left a crack along the table.

”Who the fuck do you guys think you’re kidding?” He went back to folded arms. ”Power’s gone to your heads far too quickly for you to last here. Don’t pretend you’ve got all our preservation in mind. You’re nothing but a bunch of opportunists.”

He saw some sense behind the idea of rallying behind one, but not them. Ultimately, it wasn’t up to him, but he was willing to take on whoever he had to, with or without the others.

”Deluded.”

He fell back to silently judging.

 

[Kameron Esters-]

Musai

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis Season 2 - Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central — "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

The Kings and their Inner Circles

THE FOURTH SEAL

Musai leaned against one of the ancient stone pillars, a toothpick dangling lazily between his lips as he observed the meeting in the center of Purgatory. His mismatched eyes—a dingy yellow sclera framing a cherry-red iris on one side and pitch black on the other—flicked between each of the Kings as they spoke. The Tiger King’s booming declarations and self-important demeanor elicited a faint smirk. Khydnah, the Serpent King—or perhaps thing was a better word for her—was more intriguing. Her calm, cryptic suggestions hinted at a mind that thrived on schemes, and that earned her at least some begrudging respect from Musai.

Still, he didn’t trust anyone else in this room, for that matter. And how could he? In the months since Sura’s hostile takeover of the Scarlet Phoenixes, trust had become a foreign concept. Brotherhood and loyalty, once the heart of the gang, were distant memories buried beneath Sura’s regime of dominance. The gang was now a sprawling, militarized machine, efficient and feared, but devoid of soul. Musai couldn’t lie—there was an edge to this new order that made him thrive, but the transactional nature of it all left a bitter taste. Everyone was just a pawn now, a tool in Sura’s grand design, and those who stepped out of line found themselves ground into dust.

Musai shifted his weight from one sandal-clad foot to the other, the loose fabric of his beach shirt swaying slightly. His gaze settled briefly on the Phoenix delegation. Sura wasn’t here, but even his absence carried weight. Every Phoenix in the room knew better than to embarrass the gang under his watchful eye. The unspoken tension among the ranks was palpable, everyone wondering who might be the next to fall out of favor. That unease had permeated the South District, a constant reminder of the gang’s transformation from a family into a fearsome army.

His eyes turned back to the circle of leaders at the table. Lars’ tirade earned a bemused shake of Musai’s head. The man had big dreams, sure, but his arrogance was a recipe for disaster. Khydnah, on the other hand, spoke with a measured cunning that made Musai wonder if she might be the only one in this room with an actual plan. And Kanna? She seemed like she was hanging on by a thread. If her quiet pragmatism was any indication, she might not last long in a room filled with louder, sharper predators.

The Serpent King's suggestion to use the Sleeper as leverage rather than simply destroy it struck a chord with Musai. The idea wasn’t without merit, but he doubted these so-called leaders would ever manage to work together long enough to see it through. This wasn’t unity—it was a room full of snakes, each waiting for the right moment to strike.

Musai watched Hector’s outburst with a simmering frustration that he couldn’t quite hide, his mismatched eyes narrowing as he leaned against the cold stone wall. He could barely stand the sound of Hector’s voice these days, and not because of the anger in his tone. No, what grated on Musai’s nerves the most was Hector’s hypocrisy—spouting off about the Phoenixes’ future while having done nothing to secure it when he had the chance.

Months ago, Hector had painted himself as the one to bring about a new golden age for the Phoenixes, and for a moment, Musai had dared to believe in him. But then Sura happened. Out of nowhere, the man had walked in, flipped the gang on its head, and stolen the crown that Hector was too indecisive, too weak, or too arrogant to take for himself. And now Hector had the nerve to sit here, slamming his fist on the table and calling everyone else deluded?

Musai’s jaw tightened as he flicked his toothpick to the ground, grinding it out under his sandal. Deluded? That was rich coming from the guy who let the Phoenixes fall into Sura’s iron grip because his promises weren't nearly as strong as he was...

 

[Kameron Esters-]

K̴H̸Y̷D̷N̶A̸H̷

CS Link

SCENE:

The Fourth Seal

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central - "Purgatory"

TIME:

Arc 4

PARTICIPANTS:

The Kings and their Inner Circles

The Fourth Seal

Khydnah’s hooded form remained unnervingly still as the room spiraled into chaos—raised voices, declarations, and self-righteous tirades colliding like tidal waves crashing against jagged rocks. She let them speak, let the arrogance, insecurity, and desperation spill freely into the stagnant air of Purgatory. It was a symphony of folly, a cacophony she had anticipated from the moment the meeting was called.

When the noise finally waned, her voice slipped through the silence like smoke, deliberate and measured. "̷S̸o̷ ̴m̴u̶c̸h̶ ̶s̷o̵u̶n̸d̷ ̷a̴n̴d̷ ̶f̵u̵r̸y̷,̶"̶she began, her amber eyes glowing faintly from the shadows of her hood. ̷"̷A̴n̴d̴ ̷y̴e̴t̶,̶ ̴n̵o̷t̴h̶i̸n̵g̵ ̶h̸a̴s̴ ̴b̸e̶e̴n̵ ̴s̷a̶i̵d̷ ̴t̸h̴a̵t̴ ̸c̸h̷a̷n̴g̶e̷s̴ ̸t̷h̷e̷ ̴f̴u̵n̸d̶a̴m̸e̵n̷t̵a̶l̶ ̷t̴r̶u̸t̵h̶:̶ ̶w̵e̸ ̴w̴i̴l̴l̵ ̷a̴l̶l̵ ̴p̸e̴r̸i̸s̶h̸ ̴i̸f̶ ̴w̷e̵ ̴d̶o̷ ̴n̴o̷t̶ ̷a̴c̵t̶ ̴t̷o̴g̵e̸t̸h̸e̷r̷.̴"̶ Her gaze swept over the room, landing momentarily on each of the leaders before moving on.

"̴I̴ ̶h̷e̶a̵r̸ ̸p̶o̷s̴t̶u̶r̶i̸n̶g̸,̵ ̸d̷e̴m̸a̷n̶d̶s̷,̴ ̵a̵n̵d̷ ̸d̵o̸u̴b̷t̵.̵ ̵I̴ ̵h̷e̸a̴r̵ ̸e̶g̴o̵s̶ ̵f̷i̸g̴h̶t̶i̵n̷g̵ ̷f̵o̶r̵ ̵a̶i̶r̷ ̷e̸v̷e̵n̸ ̷a̴s̵ ̵t̷h̵e̶ ̷c̴i̵t̸y̴ ̷s̵e̶e̷k̷s̶ ̵t̸o̸ ̸b̸u̴r̴y̸ ̴u̴s̶ ̷a̶l̶l̸.̴ ̷B̸u̸t̷ ̶I̶ ̵d̶o̸ ̶n̵o̸t̴ ̷h̸e̴a̶r̵ ̷s̴o̷l̸u̵t̸i̶o̸n̷s̶.̸"̷ She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. Her attention briefly lingered on Lars, then Ryutaro, before shifting to Hector with a faint curl of her lips—an expression devoid of warmth. "̸T̵h̴e̴ ̴f̴u̵t̸u̸r̸e̴ ̷y̵o̴u̷ ̶a̷l̸l̸ ̷c̵l̵i̴n̶g̵ ̵t̸o̷ ̸i̶s̶ ̷i̶r̶r̸e̵l̸e̸v̸a̵n̶t̸ ̷i̵f̵ ̷y̸o̶u̷ ̸d̷o̵ ̵n̷o̸t̶ ̶s̶u̶r̴v̷i̶v̸e̸ ̶t̸h̵e̵ ̴p̶r̸e̶s̷e̸n̷t̵.̵ ̸U̸n̶i̸t̶y̸,̷ ̷t̴e̵m̶p̶o̵r̴a̷r̷y̷ ̴o̷r̵ ̶o̵t̸h̶e̵r̴w̶i̷s̶e̷,̴ ̵i̸s̴ ̶n̶o̵t̸ ̵a̶ ̶m̸a̶t̶t̴e̴r̵ ̵o̷f̶ ̴p̸r̸e̴f̷e̴r̵e̵n̷c̴e̶.̶ ̶I̵t̸ ̶i̷s̸ ̴a̴ ̵m̶a̴t̷t̴e̶r̴ ̶o̵f̷ ̷n̸e̴c̴e̵s̶s̴i̴t̸y̷.̵"̵

Khydnah straightened, her form towering despite her frail frame. Her hands emerged from her robes, long, bony fingers adorned with ancient jewelry, gesturing as she spoke. "̴S̵o̴m̶e̷ ̶o̵f̶ ̵y̵o̷u̷ ̶s̵p̴e̶a̸k̵ ̸o̸f̵ ̸t̶h̵e̸ ̷S̶l̷e̷e̴p̶e̶r̴ ̴a̶s̴ ̷a̶ ̶t̷h̸r̷e̶a̵t̷ ̷t̶o̷ ̸b̶e̷ ̴d̷e̶s̵t̸r̵o̷y̷e̴d̵.̸ ̵O̷t̵h̸e̴r̴s̶ ̴a̷s̵ ̷a̸ ̶t̸o̶o̷l̸ ̸t̵o̴ ̵b̶e̴ ̴h̶a̵r̴n̸e̴s̷s̸e̶d̶.̸ ̶B̷o̵t̷h̴ ̸v̷i̷e̵w̷s̵ ̸a̶r̶e̸ ̷c̴o̷r̵r̵e̵c̷t̴ ̶i̶n̴ ̸t̷h̵e̶i̶r̷ ̵w̸a̸y̵,̷ ̵b̵u̵t̶ ̴o̷n̶l̴y̵ ̸o̴n̶e̷ ̶t̷h̶i̴n̴g̷ ̴i̵s̸ ̷c̶e̴r̷t̷a̵i̵n̶:̵ ̷i̴t̷ ̵c̵a̵n̷n̵o̴t̴ ̶r̶e̴m̴a̷i̴n̴ ̷d̵o̸r̵m̶a̴n̸t̶ ̸i̷f̵ ̶w̶e̸ ̵c̵o̷n̴t̸i̷n̵u̵e̸ ̸a̴s̴ ̶w̸e̷ ̸a̷r̵e̵.̵"̸

Her gaze hardened, voice lowering to a near whisper that somehow seemed to fill the entire chamber. "̵I̷f̴ ̸y̶o̶u̸ ̴c̴a̷n̸n̸o̶t̷ ̸p̵u̵t̴ ̸a̶s̸i̷d̸e̸ ̶y̶o̷u̸r̶ ̸s̴q̴u̶a̶b̴b̸l̸e̵s̷ ̷a̸n̵d̴ ̸a̴r̸r̴o̴g̷a̸n̷c̶e̵ ̶t̵o̸ ̴e̷n̶s̸u̸r̷e̷ ̸o̴u̴r̴ ̵s̶u̵r̸v̸i̴v̴a̵l̸,̴ ̶t̸h̸e̶n̶ ̶n̸o̴n̸e̵ ̵o̸f̷ ̶t̷h̴i̷s̴—̵n̴o̶n̴e̸ ̷o̷f̵ ̴y̶o̴u̵r̸ ̶p̸o̵w̸e̵r̴,̷ ̸y̵o̵u̵r̸ ̵p̷r̷i̸d̷e̵,̸ ̷y̶o̸u̴r̸ ̵g̵r̸u̷d̴g̴e̸s̸—̴w̷i̸l̸l̴ ̷m̴a̵t̸t̵e̴r̵.̶ ̸Y̷o̷u̴ ̴w̷i̶l̵l̶ ̴b̷e̵ ̸c̶o̴r̵p̷s̴e̸s̶ ̷i̴n̷ ̷a̸ ̵f̴o̵r̶g̷o̴t̴t̶e̵n̵ ̴r̵u̵i̷n̶ ̴b̷e̷n̴e̶a̶t̷h̸ ̷a̶ ̴c̶i̶t̷y̷ ̶t̸h̴a̵t̷ ̶n̴e̸v̷e̶r̵ ̸e̷v̷e̷n̵ ̷k̸n̵e̴w̴ ̵y̵o̸u̴r̶ ̸n̸a̴m̶e̷s̸.̸"̶

She leaned back, allowing the silence to stretch, the impact of her words left to reverberate. Then, almost as an afterthought, she added, "̴B̶u̵t̶ ̵i̸f̷ ̵y̷o̷u̵ ̴s̵t̸i̴l̸l̴ ̶i̶n̴s̸i̶s̵t̶ ̶o̸n̴ ̶k̸i̷l̶l̶i̴n̷g̵ ̸e̴a̷c̸h̷ ̴o̶t̷h̴e̸r̴ ̸o̵v̵e̴r̴ ̸s̸c̶r̸a̷p̷s̴,̶ ̵I̴ ̶h̷a̴v̵e̵ ̵n̶o̵ ̴d̶o̸u̷b̶t̷ ̵t̸h̵a̵t̶ ̶t̴h̵e̵ ̴S̴e̷r̶p̵e̵n̶t̷s̷ ̸w̵i̷l̷l̵ ̸f̵e̴a̷s̴t̸ ̸w̸e̸l̷l̵ ̵o̶n̴ ̸w̸h̴a̷t̵ ̵r̶e̷m̸a̴i̸n̵s̸.̷"̵ Her lips curled into a faint, predatory smile, a glimmer of amusement in her cold, amber gaze.

joshuadim FabulousTrash Elenion Aura

 

[gxxberkit]

AKIRA TSUCHIYA

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis Season 2 - Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

TIME:

February 28th, 2023 || After Midnight

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central — "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

Henry; Aelestra, Briar; Rude, Vita; Darius; everyone else

THE FOURTH SEAL

Hmm. Almereian. That’s the language the little bored-looking lady to the side of them spoke. A fascinating language, shame that Akira was much more of a biologist than a linguist. Though, a language she was fluent in was body language, and it didn’t take a professional social psychologist to read the absolute suspicion in the girl’s mannerisms. Something that the man in front of her appeared to be heavily lacking in. How lucky that that girl was here to get things straight with him.

Then: Graad. Akira probably could’ve guessed, but confirmation for anything was great, regardless of the fake name he gave her. That was expected. She could put two and two together later. “An immigrant, hm?” There was a soft chuckle behind her mask. “I’m an immigrant, too. I guess they aren’t too uncommon here, are they? That’s an interesting part of Amestria, the cultures!”

Just as she opened her mouth to prod further, she felt a looming presence. Well, presences. Though they were together frequently enough that they could practically be one presence. The shorter of the pair always had a way with being glued to Aelestra’s side unless Akira specifically requested him gone. It wasn’t surprising that he was here, too.

Oh, well! Aelestra was here: that meant it was time for a little detour from the regularly scheduled programming. Ignoring “Yegor’s” offer of his hand, Akira took a step back. “Unfortunately, something has just come up. I’ll be right back!”

She spun on her heel and began walking away, expecting Aelestra and her little partner in crime to trail behind her. It was only a few paces before she deemed them far enough. Leaning in, she whispered close for the taller woman to hear. “Do you see him over there? Butcher?” she asked, gesturing towards her other fighter, Rude, where he was nearby Vita. “You’re going to fight him.” Her eyes flicked to Briar. “And don’t worry! She’ll be fine! Give her a little boost if you want to.” Akira directed Ael’s attention to an emptier section of the purification chamber. “Now, go stand over there. Don’t start until my say so!”

Next was Rude and Vita. She appeared right in front of them, holding a clipboard to her chest. “Butcher, Marzanna!” A gloved hand pointed towards Aelestra from across the facility. “You remember Frigid, don’t you? Doesn’t matter if you don’t; Butcher, you’re going to fight her! Go stand across from her until I say otherwise.” Then she turned to the graverobber. The clipboard was pushed into the woman’s grasp, the fox lady putting distance between them as soon as the item switched hands. “Take bets: who will win, the warmonger Butcher or the ever-elusive Frigid? Betters should give you names—or pseudonyms—and gangs, and a minimum of ten Amestriyen!” Her voice lowered to a whisper as she leaned in. “If things go awry, I trust you’ll be there to make things even more interesting!” Winking, she disappeared again.

A bag rustled as she popped up beside Darius and handed it over to him. “Mr. Contamination, I’m taking bets! Go over to Marzanna”—she pointed towards Vita— “and make sure all the money she gets goes into the bag! No refunds, okay?” She left before letting him respond. It was sort of a stupid job to give him, and she didn't want to hear complaints!

Then, Akira was in the empty-ish area she had indicated earlier, waiting patiently for her little gladiators to join her. The ever-present smile on her kitsune mask almost seemed to grow in the face of her prospects. A better Akira might’ve had a more solid reasoning for this than ‘fun,’ and maybe this one did, but it didn't seem to be her main motive. After all, a girl of a similar face to the one behind Akira’s mask was currently miles above her head, doing all the intricate plotting and putting their one-and-a-half-degrees to use. This Akira needed something relaxing to even it all out.

Then, after, she’ll get back to snooping around.

Coyote Hart (mentioned: Peckinou ) Beann Lucem Nobody Special BriiAngelic WhiskeyMarten

 

[Nobody Special]

BASH HIRABAYASHI

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis Season 2 - Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

TIME:

Febuary 28th, 2023: Post Midnight

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central — "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

The Kings and their Inner Circles

The Fourth Seal

He felt like he was in debate class.

Brass eyes locked onto a random corner in the chamber that held what were undeniably some of the most important people in New Oasis. To this day, it still confused him as to how he had ended up with a seat of his own at the table.

His gaze shifted to his new King– the one who stepped up when he couldn’t. Judging by the way she carried herself, he was right to let her take the lead. He wasn’t ready. He knew that better than anybody else. He shouldn’t be here, sitting with this coop of big-word-spewing royals. He should have still been Snake’s mighty ace, running around cracking heads with–

…He blinked. Now wasn’t the time for reminiscing over stupid shit. He was the Queen. He was the fucking King at one point, as short as that had lasted for. He must have some potential to have made it this far, right…?

This whole meeting annoyed him. One second, things were calm– then they would get heated. Then, calm again. He had already taken a mental note of who to watch out for, and so far, the Dragons and Tigers had the most tallies in the bunch.

A cigarette had quickly found itself lodged between his teeth as he continued to silently listen– a new trait he wasn’t aware he was capable of before the past couple of months. Without regard for anybody else in the room, he used his free hand to shield the bright flame of his lighter from any draft that may blow in to interfere. He dared somebody to comment on it. If blatant insults and table-punching was sanctioned in this room, what harm would a little smoke do?

“You fuckin’ done?” He opened his mouth to speak to the one with the eyepatch, a column of smoke rising to hit the ceiling of the room as he gestured to the small dent in the table they all sat at.

“Normally, I’d say fuck all ‘a you and the Serpents would do our own thing. But I learned that movin’ solo ain’t always the best option. Y’need… friends every now and then ‘ta get shit done.”

He glanced over at the Dragon’s new King before taking another long drag, blowing the fumes towards the roof again as a small gesture. “Not that I think ‘yer our friends.”

He rose from his seat, rubbing the bridge of his nose while trying to think of what he hoped were the right words to say.

“We ain’t got a single fuckin’ clue what this… Sleeper thing really is, or what the thing's capable of.” He glared at the King of the Tigers, seemingly biting his tongue for a brief moment before admitting what he said next. “As much as I hate you, and ‘yer piece of shit gang, ‘yer right. We don’t gotta be at each other’s necks right now.”

He’d surprised himself with the way he was speaking. He couldn’t be the only asshole sitting there without any input, though. Right?

“We deal with this shit together, or they'll pick our asses apart one by one. Plenty ‘a room ‘fer everybody ‘ta fuckin’ eat afterwards.”

WhiskeyMarten joshuadim FabulousTrash

 

[Haze-]

Nina Aguilar

✦ SCENE:

Season 2 - Arc 4: [The Fourth Seal]

✦ TIME:

February 28th, 2023

✦ LOCATION:

Lower Central District; "Purgatory"

✦ INTERACTIONS:

Retsu, Tak/Pei (Mention)

✦ LIMIT BREAK RANK:

Flimsy++

✦ how many seals???? (four, perhaps???)

The world we live in is a continual, unchanging state of affairs. Uninterrupted, things fall in line, like clockwork. For eons and eons, witnessed by every speck of stardust born on the firmament, a trillion, million times over, it has been an unchanging state of affairs. Some things go on repeat, time and time again, they wind back to start their song again. Doctors have to crack the ribs open to get to the heart. The cameraman has to tirelessly adjust the set pieces to make sure the lighting is correct, that it hits things just right.

And Nina has to be late for work, has to have overslept.

‘It was gonna be a harmless nap’, she said— ‘Only 30 minutes’, she’d convinced herself.

Now here she was. Dashing through the fresh scars of the lower central district like a madwoman, howling wind crashing against her ears, kicking the legs as hard and fast as she could against the pavement, twirling around a lightpole or two, hopping over the occasional bench, all while keeping her suitcase from flying out of her hands. It was like going uphill against an escalator pushing the steps down at lightspeed.

Would’ve been less of a dramatic sprint if only she’d bothered to learn how to drive (as she should have years ago), but a little cardio never hurts every once in a while.

“P—Eh—PEEEEI…B-B-Boss! I’m— guh— almost the-t-THERE!!!” — It truly was a wonder, a thing of watching lightning get caught in a bottle, the fact that she hadn’t lost her job just yet. It wasn’t luck, wasn’t pity either— she knew that. Maybe her boss just really liked seeing her struggle with her schedule.

She was breathless, pale, sweaty and bug-eyed— but her legs didn’t lose the rhythm even once, she was still sprinting at the exact same top speed from when she first started, a couple blocks back from the meeting site. She could already see the finish line up ahead. A purple, twin-horned guided missile, she was only a blur of motion as she slid into the entrance, not even bothering with the bouncers, only yelling out a half-assed (and incomprehensible) explanation over her shoulder — “I’mreaverfromtheazuredragonsigottagoi’mlatemokaybye!!!!”

Some turned to look, some others barked out at her, uselessly, another— some gloomy suit with glowing yellow eyes— could only whip his head to gawk at the entrance as she whizzed past them.

“The fuck?”

“Someone’s in a hurry…”
…
…
…

“Where have I seen that girl before…?”

---

Rushed steps echoed down the halls of Purgatory. Panting, wheezing for air, wincing at the thud of her shoulders bumping against others, but Nina did not stop moving. For every blink she took, she was only met with a new scowling face, another piercing glare, as she passed them by. She saw a quintet of redheads huddled together, each looking as if they’d come from the same womb, each of them mouthing the same — ‘Huh?’ — as she passed. From her corner of her eye, there was a tall, ominous woman clad in a black raincoat, her stitched face twisted into a sickly grin as the twin-horned blur flew by.

It was a cacophony of unintelligible noise, a rainbow-vomit spectacle of sights. But she wasn’t there to sit still and admire it all; she was late.

She sidestepped through the sea of bodies, ducked and dodged her way forward, and finally she saw the finish line once again. There they were. A robot, an imp, a samurai cat, and that annoying ass nurse— they were all there. And she was likely going to get an earful for arriving late — “B-Boss!” — Nina called out, waving the suitcase over her head — “I’m here! I brought the—"

It wasn’t until she leaped over the next obstacle in front of her, out of force of instinct, that she realized it wasn’t an obstacle at all. It was a poor woman simply laying back, apart from the shitshow, just enjoying a drink. And Nina had just planted her entire foot on top of her stomach as she attempted to vault over her.

Her momentum was immediately cut short, her foot twisting and catching on the edge of the ancient, dusty stone— gravity was working against her, and she fell face first into the ground, sliding a couple inches forward with her legs kicked up. The suitcase clacked and twirled against the floor, springing open, one too many d-pads and Polystation DualSense’s flying out from its contents — “Controllers…” — It was going to be a big Playhouse, after all.

Looked fancier if she brought them in a suitcase too.

After the shock wore out on her, Nina sprung up, whipped her head around in a panic. She had a long, red scratch-mark running down her face, blood trickled down one of her nostrils — “I-I’m so sorry, ma’am!” — The rookie bowed— no, prostrated. Full dogeza in front of the woman, banging her forehead against the floor in a show of regret.

“I was runnin’ late and I…Uhm—I…” — Sweat started beading up her forehead, the words had entirely left her. Nina was, for all intents and purposes, fucked.

So, she did the only thing she thought could get her out of this situation.

She groveled.

“S-Sorry…”

Elenion Aura thebigfella

 

[Nobody Special]

RUDE

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis Season 2 - Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

TIME:

Febuary 28th, 2023: Post Midnight

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central — "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

Akira, Aelestra

The Fourth Seal

“Winner!”

His handheld console had screamed that same word at least a dozen times since he’d set foot in this… place. He gazed blankly at the screen, looking down at his defeated opponent on the ground. The character he controlled struck a triumphant pose, slamming their weapon into the ground with a bright smile. If only he could experience that same feeling right now…

Rude didn’t get any service in this place. Because of this, he had just been beating away at mindless computers since he sat down. It was something to do, sure, but it was nothing like engaging in combat with the real deal. Computers could try to mimic it as much as they liked, but nothing compared to crushing a living, breathing, thinking person. That was where he got his true satisfaction from.

And he was surrounded by just that. So, the game would have to do, for now. To keep him from killing somebody in here. Just as he tapped the button to start a new game, a familiar voice called out to him and Vita, who he was lounging right next to.

The Fox Lady, again. He still wasn’t sure how he felt about the mystery woman, but she always gave him people to fight, so sticking around her wasn’t half bad. And, right on cue, it was happening again. This time, though, it seemed like he wouldn’t be able to send his opponent to hell.

No, he didn’t remember Frigid. She was right— it didn’t matter to him in the slightest. His interest was piqued the moment the word ‘fight’ hit his ears. He briefly stared at the taller woman before rising onto his feet, switching his console off mid-game and setting it down near Vita for safekeeping.

He reached for his trusty weapon, which was obediently propped up against a nearby wall until it was ready to be used. Lifting the heavy tool with ease, he quietly sauntered into Aelestra’s line of sight– his dark eyes fixed onto her, like those of a famished beast that had just found its prey.

He knew he was being used for entertainment– or perhaps for an ulterior reason, but he didn’t really care. It was finally time for some PvP.

Beann gxxberkit

 

[AzaleaWonderland]

Boba LaVeau

http://www.google.com

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis Season 2 - Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central - "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

Numerous Members of Every Gang

The Fourth Seal

White orbs bounced between the sea of gang members. A girl with fidgeting wings covering her eyes maneuvered through the crowd, steps filled with purpose but directionless. Reaching down, the girl pulled a lollipop from her purple briefcase-like backpack. After tearing the wrapper off and stuffing it back into the bag, she promptly tossed the pink champagne lollipop into her mouth. The white stick spun about as she enjoyed the sweet treat. Having sweets on her was a must, especially when things were this dangerous on the street. On one end of the spectrum, it's nice that her previous jobs haven't caused much waves. But on the other, her name hasn't gotten out at all, how are people supposed to know to worship her as their Ruler if they don't even know her name? Oh well, this was no time to focus on her destiny. This peace meeting had to go well. Without an agreement, their gangs were practically waiting to fall. Without the money she earns, what would happen to her siblings? Lose their apartment? Live on the streets? Be forced to go back to their parents? With a loud crunch, the girl broke the sucker in half. Anything but that, she would do anything to avoid that shit.

That's why she needs to keep careful tabs on the conversations in this room. Of course, the kings have a final say, but if a gang fight breaks out, the chances of coming to an agreement drop drastically. She almost found it funny, this place, crowned with the name purgatory... yet, with the amount of kindling in this room, a substantial spark could turn it into a hellish inferno. So, naturally, she plans to prevent any possible clashes. It's a rather daunting task, but it's better than simply resigning yourself to the whims of others. After all, letting others be the sole director of her fate is not a very royal thing for her to do. The girl popped her sucker out of her mouth before slowly spinning, scanning the room. To her left, she finally found the one she was searching for. A serpent and one of her gang members were speaking along with a third voice that sounded a bit familiar, but she couldn't pinpoint where she heard it before. Either way, their interaction sounded strained, perhaps a past conflict. That or that's just how they speak, but with how bad it'd be if this powderkeg went off, the girl decided to skirt around the safe side.

The group was around fifteen steps away. The girl put one foot in front of the other, slowly approaching the group. One thing she loved about regal movements is the amount of time they gave her to collect her thoughts
1... The serpent called her Miss Winchester 2... Who do I know by that name 3... out of the prominent people Nao told me about 4... Christinia Winchester Winchester Winchester 5... Shotgun...
The familiarity teased her brain almost laughing at her failure to recall before it hit her like lightning.
6... Packs a punch! 7... She's a pretty dang good bruiser 8... Okay, now I know something at least 9... Let's ask her for help 10... but the serpent could insist on helping too 11... if we make it a question about Phoenix things. 12... she could use that as a reason to brush 13... the serpent off 14... Alright, Boba, you ready? 15.. you know it!

Boba's last step was purposefully loud, a subtly way of announcing her arrival into the conversation, at least for the brief moment she needed. She pulled out her sucker before speaking, "Pardon my intrusion. I don't mean to take up too much of your time. I merely wanted to make a few introductions while waiting for the world to end or a truce agreement to be reached." Boba performed a curtsy, "I go by the alias Empress. I wanted to use Queen but you can see the potential confusion that could be caused by the unfortunate naming scheme of our leadership..."

Her head physically turned towards Christinia, hesitantly turning away before swinging back around. "My apologies, I don't mean to be rude and steal you away from your wonderful company. But if you could come and give me some pointers with Phoenix..." She glanced at the other two before continuing, "Stuff... I'd greatly appreciate it. Of course, in private. Ideally the sooner the better. And if you could also share a few insights about close-range combat, that'd also be amazing. Though, I understand the desire to keep such things to oneself. Either way, your help would be greatly appreciated." Boba decided to stick around until a few more pleasantries were shared so as not to appear rude. However, she focused on listening around the room to keep note if any loud arguments started. Hopefully, it doesn't make her miss something important.
Breadman FabulousTrash Infab

 

[Elenion Aura]

RETSU KUSANAGI

CS Link

SCENE:

New Oasis Season 2 - Arc 4: Scene 1 [The Fourth Seal]

TIME:

February 28th, 2023 || After Midnight

LOCATION:

Center District Purification Chamber, Lower Central — "Purgatory"

PARTICIPANTS:

Various Dragons

THE FOURTH SEAL

There she was, minding her own business, nursing a lukewarm brew as the melodrama unfolded around her. Seriously, this is like the stuff you'd see at a two-bit high school drama club performance. Still, life was good—or as good as it could get in a musty place like this. She let the beer can sway lazily in her hand as her eyes drifted closed, mind wandering through a pleasantly tipsy haze. And then— WHAM!

Her entire body jolted forward as something—or, more accurately, someone—planted a foot square into her stomach. It wasn’t a hard kick, really. More of a misstep. But it was enough to shake up some of the carbonation sloshing about her gut. Retsu's eyes flew open as she bolted upright and squinted down toward some purple-haired rookie sprawled face-first on the dusty floor.

For a long moment, she just stared, blinking slowly as her brain chugged sluggishly toward a finished thought. The beer can dangled from her fingers, not a drop spilled. Priorities, am I right?

Her face broke into a wide, lazy grin, "Well, well, would ya' lookie here?" She drawled, watching as the girl slammed her forehead down against the stone with enough force that Retsu half-wondered if she'd knock herself unconscious, even as the apologies kept spilling out.

Retsu cocked her head, smirking as she crouched, leaning her elbows against her knees. She rested her chin in her palm as she watched the poor girl sweat buckets in front of her. The apology was nice and all, but honestly, Retsu couldn't really be fucked about it anymore.

Finally, after letting the poor kid squirm a moment longer, Retsu let out a low, exaggerated sigh and rose to her feet, downing the remaining contents of the can and discarding it like the first. She loomed there for a second, towering over the girl's prone form. Then, in the next moment, she scooped her up by the back of her jacket—like a lioness nabbing her cub by the scruff—and plopped her unceremoniously onto her feet.

“There. All's swell," Retsu said cheerfully, giving the rookie a couple of firm pats on the shoulder to knock off some of the dust. The next words out of the girl's mouth, if there were any, fell on deaf ears. Retsu didn't seem to notice—or if she did, she didn't care. She was already eyeing this unfamiliar pup with mild curiosity, her head tilting to one side.

“Hm," was all she said, before leaning in slightly and giving the rookie an exaggerated once-over. “Hm..."

Whatever it was she was searching for would remain a mystery, however, as Retsu's sharp ears picked up a snippet of conversation nearby—something about a bet.

An impish grin split her face, and without warning, Retsu snagged Nina around the neck, locking the girl into a playful—but firm—headlock, like an overgrown kid sibling. “C'mon, rookie," she said, dragging the girl along with her, “We're gonna make some new friends."

Together they reached the group placing bets, and Retsu fished around inside her bra with her free hand, producing a crumpled note.

“Put me down for the creepy guy," she announced to the bookie, slamming the bill down onto the clipboard with authority. She was feelin' lucky tonight.