Fantasy New Oasis: Four Heavenly Kings — The B-Sides

[AriAriAbabwa]

TAKAONNA

CS Link

SCENE:

The DEATH of Cinnabun??!?

LOCATION:

North District

PARTICIPANTS:

Takaonna, Celeste

The DEATH of Cinnabun??!?

The Takaonna froze at the familiar voice. She let her limbs droop, slithering across the ground until they reached their 'normal' length. Taka threw her head back with a jolt, as though trying to form an arch with her body. Like this, she heard where Celestine's footsteps ended.

"Celestine..." Takaonna snapped her body back, trudging around to face her. She sniffled. Celestine could at last see the remnants of tears that left clean streaks across her dirty face. Taka's breath quickened and quivered. Her arms shook, and her hands dug into the pavement. "Cin... Cinna..."

She took a big breath, and in one volley, shouted, "Cinnabun is dead!" Taka erupted like a whining child, slamming her fists into the ground like rubber bands. "It barely moves now...!"

@angel doe

 

[AriAriAbabwa]

TATSUO IORI

CS Link

SCENE:

Drunk Walk Home

LOCATION:

Central, Alleyway

TIME:

Post Arc 3 | 1:27 AM

PARTICIPANTS:

Hiachi, Tatsuo

Drunk Walk Home

The skies were beautiful today. The air was a soothing warmth, laden with chirping birds and falling sakura petals.

This was the local Shinto shrine in the Central District, placed next to their police headquarters. It was here that Tatsuo was sweeping the petals off the shrine's porch, humming a delightful tune to herself. She never tired of maintaining this place. It was the closest thing to home, simultaneously providing comfort to so many people. It was perfect for Tatsuo.

It was also the current residence of one Hiachi ito. A young girl who survived a horrific assault courtesy of a Serpent. After recovering in the hospital, Hiachi was stuck in a coma. The only way for her to awaken was if Tatsuo constantly supplied her with the kami from her Potential.

It was much easier to bring her to the shrine where Tatsuo almost always was. She wanted to think the serene nature of the place helped, too.

Once the Miko was done with her chores, she stepped inside the shrine. She went around the back where the guest house was. Tatsuo usually offered it to those in need of temporary shelter—other times, she slept here herself. For now, it belonged to a bedridden Hiachi.

Tatsuo sat beside the girl, checking her temperature. She appeared mostly healthy. It was only a matter of time until she woke up.

Tatsuo brewed a cup of tea, letting it cool beside the futon. Taking a breath, she clasped her hands together and held Hiachi's. Much like that dreadful night, a comforting aura of white enveloped them. She said a prayer. The kami orbited Hiachi.

miki

 

[AriAriAbabwa]

ALICIA MOREL

CS Link

SCENE:

She Has Funny Cars

LOCATION:

Cafe De Lune, East District

PARTICIPANTS:

Passeri, Alice

She Has Funny Cars

"I'm spoiled for choice..." It was rare to hear another Tiger genuinely speak so highly of a place—without political connotations behind every word. The seasonal treat sounded delectable, but so did the assortment of cakes and sweets! Would she ever have another chance to go here?

One of Passeri's topics repeated itself. Having a technical second opinion swayed Alice. "In that case, I'll try the cinnamon pancakes!"

She gave her order to a passing waiter; plus another. "Also, can I have everything on the menu to-go?" The waiter was flabbergasted for a moment. He waited in the chance that she'd add that she wasn't serious, but her eyes showed no turning back. After making double sure, he went to the chef. Alice leaned closer to Passeri. "I'll pay for it!"

With that out of the way, Alice stretched back.

"It's so wonderful to live like this without having so many eyes on me." She rested her head on a hand, staring out the window. She watched some birds fly past—or were those drones? And a pair of people leave a store with bags of clothes. "The last time I did something like this was when Mr. Hat brought me to Central. The worst time of my life also has some of the happiest memories..."

Alice turned back to Passeri, smiling—she didn't want to bring down the mood with her reminiscing.

The One Eyed Bandit

 

[AriAriAbabwa]

Jesper Albrecht

CS Link

SCENE:

The Ties that Bond Us

TIME:

Post-Arc 3

LOCATION:

East District, Noodle Nirvana

PARTICIPANTS:

Jesper, Charlie

The Ties that Bond Us

Nothing was more sobering than Charlie's cool-headed, stern response. Jesper had stepped over his bounds—even he realized that. Charlie had said everything he wanted to ear: admittance to his faults, recognition that Jesper was his friend... It left the heir with a strange unease. Part of him still wanted to lash out and yell; the other leveled with Charlie.

But, as Jesper had argued moments ago, they were still (once) friends.

"You're..." He choked on his words, burying his head into his arms. Now that the anger was gone, speaking was ten times more difficult. Every syllable he tried to utter, his throat clenched tight. Finally, he got it out. "You're right..."

Jesper wanted to believe that he was different from his father; the rich snobs he always saw at the social events he was dragged into. Everything they ever said stuck to him, though—had stuck in every year of his life. Only now did he vomit out all their gloats and sneers. "I didn't mean..." He stopped, but not because it was hard to talk. What good would defending himself be after that tirade?

"I'm..." The word danced on the tip of his tongue. "I'm sorry..." Jesper shot up suddenly, leaning against his seat. His face and eyes were a messy red, splattered with water. Every second, he ran a hand or sleeve over his face, as though hoping to clean every trace of emotion in one swipe. And he still couldn't bear to look Charlie in the eyes.

In the waking silence, the restaurant's TV came on with news. It was the usual programming, then something about the four gangs that he couldn't care less about. But it was their mention that provided a saving grace to Jesper. Finally, he mustered a smile. "I guess... at least... you're not one of them." The TV flashed over the symbol of the Scarlet Phoenixes.

Roda the Red

 

[miki]

Hiachi Ito

CS Link

SCENE:

Drunk Walk Home

LOCATION:

Central, Shinto Shrine

DATE:

Post Arc 3 | 10:42 AM

PARTICIPANTS:

Hiachi, Tatsuo

DRUNK WALK HOME

Being as she was, she was in a fugue-like state. In moments she wouldn’t remember, she heard humming from somewhere distant. Echoing back to her softly. The lullaby was the same as the one her mother sang when she was younger, the warmth of her buzzing tone reverberating from her core. She felt it then, resting on her chest, being lulled to sleep by a rhythm of heartbeats and melodies.

She couldn’t feel it now. It was cold comfort.

As all good things must come to an end, Hiachi’s coma had to end. The kami that orbited her was the signal.

Her blood surged with a breadth of life. It was the precipice: the push her body needed to finally fight for consciousness, regardless of Hiachi’s own wishes to stay in the land of the dreaming. Her lungs forced a sharp inhale, her heart pumped the adrenaline that remained. Her eyes forced open, desperate to absorb the surroundings.

But it was all very understated. Despite how hard her body was fighting, it looked as if she had merely blinked awake. She didn’t even sit up.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Hiachi was alive.

But she didn’t know where she was. The last she remembered, it was dark and miserably cold and wet. Now she was somewhere she only knew from her life before. The walls, the windows, they carried history she had cut off of her back.

Beneath the soft pink was a threat. An undercurrent of malice poised to break through the fragile peace at any moment.

At once, as if she had forgotten she was injured in the first place, she scrambled to her feet and bolted to the door.

Consequently and rather predictably, her leg surged with the reminder of her damage. As she stood at the open door, her leg collapsed on itself and forced her to her knee.

It caught her off guard. She seethed before quickly noticing that her wound was breathing. Chilled against the breeze. She looked at the injury. It was ugly and scathed and red, but not black. Hiachi was far more occupied with how that came to be than the fact it hurt at all.

She looked out the door, seeing the stone and sakura path which lead to a red tori gate. The last remnants of spring fell from the trees, prepared to morph into a green rebirth. They scattered the dirt in large piles. The sky was tauntingly blue.

She hadn’t known what she was looking for, but she knew it had been important to her moments before.

Hiachi looked back at the woman who had been beside her. She had sensed her, but had yet to acknowledge her presence. So there she was, hands folded patient and gentle.

She had no words. Just her overbearing stare, her pupils swirling with resigned despair.

Spoiler

AriAriAbabwa

 

[AriAriAbabwa]

JESPER ALBRECHT

CS Link

SCENE:

The Seven Voyages

LOCATION:

East District, Nona-Me's forst

PARTICIPANTS:

Jesper, Nona-me

THE SEVEN VOYAGES

Jesper had one simple task. As his father so 'kindly' put it, it was to "Eradicate the vermin infesting the forests!"

Which, in normal-person-speak, meant to evict the people living there. Through force.

Obviously, the mega-corporation CEO lacked the time to kick a couple of people out of the land he wanted to buy. Naturally, it fell upon the heir's shoulders to do it. "Good training," his father phrased it.

Jesper thought that was bullshit.

So there he was, in Guardian form, hovering mindlessly through the chilly forest with drones in tow. Not wanting them to get caught in the nature, he had them follow behind like fledglings.

Thankfully, he reached the destination. The cabin of the Gregor family. Supposedly had experience in witchcraft or something; he only briefly read over them. "Time to get this over with..." Guardian hovered over to their door. Impatiently, he knocked.

gxxberkit

 

[AriAriAbabwa]

TAKAONNA

CS Link

SCENE:

Katakiuchi

LOCATION:

Kason's Mansion, Underground, West District

PARTICIPANTS:

,

Katakiuchi

The Takaonna perked up. She hadn't heard this voice before. It called her by her name. Although it didn't matter to Taka what she was called... this girl knowing her real name put her more at ease.

Her intuition paid off. Moments later, the door to her prison slid open. Much like Kason, this mystery voice hopped to the next speaker to lead her over. Was it really true? She slid her arms over to the entrance, and indeed, it was open. She felt outside—it was the hallway Kason led her through moments ago. It was real.

The speaker spoke again, this time filled with venom against none other than Kason. Takaonna had never heard anyone speak ill of him like that.

It was all so strange, though. Why would anyone want to help her? The last people who bothered were her sisters... but they were nowhere here. Staring up at the speaker, she uttered, "Who...?"

gxxberkit

 

[AriAriAbabwa]

Jesper Albrecht

CS Link

SCENE:

Teeth For a Tail

TIME:

Post-Arc 3 | June 23rd

LOCATION:

East District | Zenith Tower

PARTICIPANTS:

Ayame, Cillian, Jesper, Jessamine, Keith

TEETH FOR A TAIL

Fortunately, Jesper didn't need introductions. Surely everybody knew who he was! The Guardian of the Dragons, protector of the streets, punisher of evildoers. The one framed for the bridge to the South being destroyed.

Rescuing a hostage from a bunch of terrorists in skyscraper was going to be a cinch for Guardian. It was practically his thing! Four drones honed in on Guardian's location, fully loaded with ammunition and awaiting his command.

Guardian hovered ahead of the group. "Alright, before you all crowd around me, I expect my team to be securing the most kills or incapacitations compared to the other team. That said, everybody who wants to join me, speak your piece!" Grinning expectantly, he put his arms on his hips.

BluEndings Roda the Red simj26 CelticHero37 Tabbystick

 

[Elenion Aura]

MILO NAGISA

CS Link

SCENE:

Park-Time Recreation

LOCATION:

Pre-Arc 1—2015, June 20th (Saturday)—1:00 PM

LOCATION:

Upper Central, Central Park...

PARTICIPANTS:

Boltius, Milo, Matsuda, Nanami (NPC)

PARK-TIME RECREATION

Milo winced as the wrestling match between Matsuda and Boltius took a turn for the violent, not liking the sound of Matsuda' head impacting Boltius' chin at speed. It wasn't the worst spat they'd ever had by any stretch, and both boys were tougher than they looked. He was probably worrying over nothing, like always. But someone had to. If he didn't look out for them, his friends, then who would?

He glared toothlessly at Matsuda when the other boy came over to hide behind him. If Boltius wanted to retaliate, Milo wasn't going to stand in his way. When Matsuda plopped his hat down on Milo's head, though, all was forgiven. He smiled and leaned his head comfortably back against the other boy's shoulder. Milo suddenly felt a warmth blossoming in his chest. It was probably the whiskey.

"But more risk of... I don't know, something else, right? There has to be some dangers in the middle of the country? Rock falls, maybe?" Milo asked with sudden curiosity, his mind wandering far afield. The implication that Matsuda might actually one day move away for good, that one day their merry band would meet for the last time, did not enter his mind. Even if they separated for a time, some part of Milo knew—felt—that time and the tides of fate would lead them back to each other again.

Without thinking, he palmed the liquor bottle from Nanami's outstretched hand and took another swig, taking in more of the brown, bitter liquid this time. This time it went down smoother, easier.

Without thinking, Milo handed Boltius the bottle. When it was midway between them, just leaving the tips of Milo's fingers, Milo's eyes, growing heavier by the moment, spied some movement on the horizon. Lazily he turned to look, and came to find a most unwelcome sight: a New Oasis Police Officer, in full uniform, staring over at the four of them. High schoolers. Unchaperoned. On public property. Sharing the most conspicuous of liquids.

His stomach was doing somersaults. Please, please, please don't come ov—

"Hey!"

... Shit.

MILO'S NOTES​

— —What he's wearing (X) + His satchel

— —Milo has been working on an art piece for an upcoming competition. He's been focusing a lot on his art over the summer.

— —Milo rides his bike around the city a lot of the time. He hitched it to a bike rack at the entrance to the park.

— —SCENE DESCRIPTION: It's a warm Summer day and the boys, Matsuda, Milo, Boltius, and Nanami have decided to meet up at Central Park in the Central District. A very casual, slice-of-life event

Spoiler: Tags

Doctor Llamabean
@Caffeine_Obsessed

.

 

[Kameron Esters-]

JUSTUS BRADLEY

CS Link

SCENE:

Ice Breakers

LOCATION:

New Oasis Police Department Floor 2 Break Room, Central District

TIME:

Post Arc 3 || June 25th, 2022

PARTICIPANTS:

Sebastian, Chikage, Kyoden, Jean, Tatsuo, Yelena, Inigo, Eric

ICE BREAKERS

Approaching Chikage, the enigmatic and formidable captain, Justus signed with precision, his hands moving fluidly to express his words. ("Impressive as always, captain. Perhaps now, our combined efforts can lead to us bringing down the corruption in the city.") He bows to show his respect to the captain.

After the brief interaction with Chikage, Justus observed the scene with a stoic expression, his orange eyes scanning the room, observing the dynamics of his colleagues. His attention was drawn to Sebastian, the prosecutor who always seemed to have an air of mischief about him. Justus approached him with a firm nod, signing, ("Sebastian, good to see you. Your events bring some much-needed levity.") Justus turns and bows to Yelena before signing. ("Sorry if I'm interrupting you both. I haven't been around in for some time. Safe to say, I'm elated to see you both again.")

Before he could say anything else, Justus felt his right arm wriggle slightly underneath the bandages concealing it. He glances at it and sees his fingers twitching even though he's not feeling it. Justus's right arm. Now that's a piece of work. After that gruesome ordeal with the enemy, Justus found himself with a hellish new limb, a manifestation of roots and metal that burst forth from the bloody stump of his shoulder. It's not your typical prosthetic arm; it's a living, breathing extension of nature itself.

It's quite the spectacle to behold. In the midst of the police station, Justus's unique arm stands out, a testament to the trials he endured and the power he gained from them. It's a silent reminder of his resilience and the supernatural forces that now course through his veins. All the more reason he conceals it the best he can.

Doctor Llamabean Coyote Hart Elenion Aura

 

[Kameron Esters-]

Musai

CS Link

SCENE:

TOWER OF POWER

LOCATION:

Maelstrom Tower, South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Charlie, Musai, Sable

TOWER OF POWER

Musai grinned, a predatory glint in his eyes as he listened to W.L.'s explanation. The challenge was getting more interesting by the second, and the potential payout was certainly enticing. He took another casual bite of his wafer, chewing thoughtfully before responding.

"Well, well, ain't this a spicy situation we got here! Hundred grand for a little tower climb and a tussle with some disciples, huh?" Musai chuckled, the mischievous glint still present in his eyes. "I'm in, Will! Let's give this Regulus a taste of justice, or whatever the hell he's into. And don't you worry about the split, we'll figure that out when the job's done. As long as the cash is there, we're golden."

Musai stretched his arms lazily, cracking his knuckles. "So, when do we start this little game of ours? I'm itching for some action!"

Roda the Red Shugo

 

[Roda the Red]

CAMILA GASPARI

CS Link

SCENE:

Not Thinking Twice

TIME:

Post-Arc 3, July 6 2022

LOCATION:

Nighttime, Streets of Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Camila, Inigo

Not Thinking Twice

Camila smiled, the mysterious man having seemingly taken the bait, or rather, there probably wasn't a need for one to begin with. It seemed like despite the man's stoic, almost intimidating neutral gaze, underneath lied a caring person that helped others. It was a shame, really, that only meant that his days in New Oasis were counted, soon enough he'd find himself with a blade sinking into his back. Regardless, she still smiled at his agreement.

It was then that Camila was caught off-guard by a sudden coat draping over her shoulders, her curious eyes examining the cappucino-colored fabric, followed by a hand caressing it. Felt like a good quality item, not exactly a wage-slave's sweatshop bargain finding. It also had a nice warmth to it, not that she was necessarily cold, but the embrace was somehow comforting nonetheless. She stared back at the man, catching him reveal his name, Inigo. She repeated it in her mind a few times, had a nice ring to it.

Her curious look morphed into a coy smile, giving a few playful steps while circling him. "Hmm, okay then, sounds like a deal, however..." She took a step forward, the distance between their faces being only a couple feet apart. "There's a price to my name, you know? Can't just give it away just like that, even to my savior" She then dove in, sliding into his side, her arms wrapping around his hanging forearm. "I'll tell you over a cup of coffee, okay? And it'll be my treat, or else the deal is over" She then pulled on the arm, guiding Inigo out of the damned alley, echoing footsteps serving as an unceremonious farewell to the dramatically eventful place.

Fortunately for Camila, her knowledge of this particular area of Central benefited her with the knowledge of a convenient location nearby, just a couple blocks away the pair would have to walk through. In the meantime, she took the opportunity to reach for her phone. Quickly heading into her contacts, she placed the device next to her face, and luckly for her, Sylvie picked up from the other side. With a brief few comments, all while keeping her actions in central vague, the rookie Tiger understood his senior's need for a lift. After the call ended, she sneaked a single last text message to the young man.

'Take your time~ '

Their destination, finally arrived at, was an unasuming gas station in the middle of an already closed up shopping area, the warm light from inside the place piercing through the otherwise ghostly atmosphere of the empty night streets. The station also happened to be coupled with a surprisingly nice cafe, it's door ringing gently as Camila opened it.

She took a seat on a nearby table beside the window, her eyes gesturing Inigo to follow suit. "It's not that fancy, but their coffee is actually quite good" She commented, letting her chin rest above her interlocked fingers. Elbows planted firmly on the table.

simj26

 

[Slav]

Jayce Sexton

CS Link

SCENE:

Trail of Hate

TIME:

June 30th || Post Arc 3

LOCATION:

North District

PARTICIPANTS:

Jayce, Deidrest ( The One Eyed Bandit )

Trail of Hate

What a shit show. That could summarize what Jayce was currently investigating. To call it a string of murders was putting it lightly. Every crime scene looked as if a tornado had stormed through. He had a lot of work on his hands. There wasn't a shortage of witnesses, it certainly made things easy in trying to get some details on the perpetrator. He had a general idea of who to look for, that was better than being in the dark. The cop found himself at the corner of a street, standing in one of the locations near the massacre. He hated the North district the most, reminding him of the decay present in the city.

The detective had a tablet on hand, showing a few photos from a nearby traffic camera. The quality of the photo wasn't ideal but he could make out enough details to get a positive identification. As long as he knew which direction his suspect was heading, that was good enough for him. Jayce continued down the street, walking towards a sketchier section of the district. The increase of poverty was noticeably evident, the living conditions almost made him gag. "This place was bad enough... what a shithole." He kept his hand close to his holster. He knew he wasn't in friendly territory. Anything could occur at any moment.

He was confident that the suspect headed in this direction. If he were going to hide, this would be a good place to do it. Most people wouldn't bother coming to the area. That's why he was being extra observant. Any detail that may match the description of the suspect would quickly show itself. With his notes from witnesses earlier, he was positive he could pick them out from a crowd or should he say her.

Jayce knew he wasn't welcome in this section, his eyes scanning over the glaring eyes of every passersby. He didn't care that they weren't fond of him. He didn't like them either. Any excuse to put them in their place was a welcome one. He reached into his front pocket to retrieve a cigarette. A good smoke went a long way in keeping him sane. Once it was lit, he walked into the cloud of smoke he let out, continuing his search. He was determined to find this woman.

"Please make my job easier and just show yourself. A hunter will eventually find it's prey." He mumbled to himself, reaching for his tablet once more. He was in the heart of the district and sadly there wasn't any cameras to be had. Wandering around wasn't going to get him anywhere but he had a feeling something would lead him to his suspect. With how many people were killed, he was confident that more were to come. And when it happens... he was going to be there.

 

[joshuadim]

HITOSHI YAMAKAWA

CS Link

SCENE:

Searching for the Light

TIME:

The Day After Get(ting) Help

LOCATION:

Tommy's (Abandoned) Scrapyard, Outskirts of South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Hitoshi, Charlie

SEARCHING FOR THE LIGHT

Hitoshi let out a chuckle as Charlie offered his own moral support, but also prompting a fistbump as he offered for a vow to be made between the two of them. Over retaining their 'souls', no matter what comes their way. He returned it, his knuckles gently tapping against the rookie's before setting it back down: "Let's." Hitoshi said with a smile, before clearing his throat. "Let's also get down from here, yea? Getting a bit chilly." The veteran joked, motioning his head towards the ladder that had brought them atop the ancient crane.

"We should also get some snacks on the way back, yea? Saw a gas station not too far from here. Sweets always helps with a downer mood." Hitoshi then suggested, "I'm thinking... ice cream, with some chocolate bars on the side. Oh, and a slurpee for good measure. Not sure what flavors they got, but blue raspberry is always a classic." The veteran gave Charlie a pat on the back as he then stood up and made the way towards the ladder.

Roda the Red

 

[Elenion Aura]

MILO NAGISA

CS Link

SCENE:

White Noise

LOCATION:

Pre-Arc 3

LOCATION:

Central District, Paradise Gardens

PARTICIPANTS:

Milo, Jesper

WHITE NOISE

Milo was relieved that Jesper brought up Nanami.

Relieved?

Yes, relieved.

Because now he knew what to do.

All the while over here, Milo had agonized over what to say, what to talk about. He almost turned back halfway through. Because what was one supposed to say, when faced with a long-lost friend? Where does one turn to for the right words, when nothing springs to mind?

So, when Jesper opened their talks with those simple words of solace, Milo could've hugged him out of gratitude.

"Thank you," Milo said, with a little nod and a sad little smile. People who offered condolences were really looking for absolution, after all. That was what Milo believed. It was the only logical conclusion. And so absolution was what Milo gave Jesper, never mind anything else. "That means a lot."

Milo had become old-hat at accepting other people's sympathy. It was second nature. He knew what to do. He knew what to say. It was all practiced, rehearsed, and rehashed. Experience had etched the motions onto the inside of his mind, but that's all they were: simple, mechanical movements. Rote memorization and regurgitation.

He aced the grief test. Every time.

"... This place hasn't changed much from how I remember it." Milo continued, avoiding the second half of Jesper's soliloquy. He wasn't interested in dredging up the past... The irony of that was not lost on Milo. But, no. It would've been a waste of effort in the end. No one—not Jesper, not Boltius or Matsuda—could have helped Milo in those days. And, what's more, there was nothing to be done. No amount of help could raise the dead.

"It's good to see you, Jesp."

Spoiler: Tags

AriAriAbabwa

 

[Elenion Aura]

MARKUS WEISS

CS Link

SCENE:

Sunday Roast

TIME:

October 21st, 2021 || Pre-Arc 3

LOCATION:

Passeri's Penthouse, West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Passeri Park & Markus Weiss

SUNDAY ROAST

Markus stared, unblinking, as Passeri spun her tale. He didn't bother to ask himself if it were true. He didn't care enough to have it verified. It worked well enough as an analogy, and that worked well enough for him. There was just one problem: Markus didn't trust anyone. And the woman currently sat across from him, the one he currently shared a meal with... She wasn't just anyone.

He skewered another piece of meat but didn't take the bite, laying the fork flat against the lip of his dish. He was listening intently. Even so, the next words she spoke caught him by surprise. Not that they were particularly surprising. He knew her vulnerabilities. Her weaknesses. Had calculated innumerous ways to use those weaknesses and vulnerabilities to his advantage, should she try to turn on him. The fact that even someone as enigmatic as Passeri Park had vulnerabilities to be exploited was not the surprise, but rather how openly she admitted to them. Markus, as a comparison, kept his cards close to the chest at all times. The skeletons in his closet were neatly arranged and catalogued, the door shut tight and padlocked against any would be home-invaders-slash-grave-robbers.

But this was something different. He quirked a brow, trying to sniff out what her play was, here. Find the angle, Markus. You always do. Passeri went on with saying the things that Markus had thought for a while now, some of which sounded like words he'd have thrown in her face if ever she'd tried to get uppity. It was ass-backwards.

"... But you do realize that you've got my career- my life, really- dancing in the palm of your hand, right?"

And the truth was? Until that moment, he hadn't realized it... Well, that wasn't exactly true. Of course he knew it to be true. A lot of people's lives danced in the palm of his hand. For many of them, as far as Markus was concerned, that was simply their natural state, the state he had put them in. No freedom. No control. Puppets. And Markus plucking their strings. But even in those cases, he never actively thought about it. It simply was. It was simply the order of things.

And as for the state of Passeri's soul, her career, that he cradled in his hands like a wounded dove? The responsibility of that?

He didn't think about it. He knew it, but he didn't think about it.

When at last he spoke, he only had one thing to say.

"I don't do partners."

Spoiler: Tags

The One Eyed Bandit

 

[Roda the Red]

CAMILA GASPARI

CS Link

SCENE:

Not Quite Pet Sitting

TIME:

Post-Arc 2, January 2nd 2022

LOCATION:

Nighttime, Invaded factory, North District

PARTICIPANTS:

Camila, Dante Aguilar

Not Quite Pet Sitting

Even in a shitty situation, one should always strive to make the most out of it, correct? Camila never considered herself an optimist so to speak. When it came to games of cards, people would often tell you that they are about getting lucky, being given that one perfect hand and strike, make it big and get out while you can, and while that technically is not an incorrect logic, that was not quite the way the tiger saw it. To Camila, a game of cards was all about perseverence, to go through heaps and waves of terrible hands being given, to struggle through the inconveniences and attempting to get whatever small victory you can muster, the perfect hand was in fact a greatly appreciated addition, but depending on it was, in the girl's eyes, what separated the wise survivors and the condemned fools.

The game of cards also happened to serve as a perfect analogy to life, and tonight, Camila was given a bad hand once more. The mission was simple: Bunch of Sable Serpents took over an abandoned factory over at the easter end of North District. Normally the tiger never gave a rat's ass about the activities performed by the other gangs, as long as it didn't affect her, those serpents could overdose on all the cocaine they wanted for all she cared. But it just so happened that someone else wasn't all that disinterested in the serpent's antics. More specifically, a certain drug trafficking mogul of the black market, entirely unafilliated with the chaotic gang, caught wind of the experimental substances that the head of this specific subgroup of the serpents was working on, tirelessly developing a drug that, should her employer got his hands on the blueprints of, could lands him a massive advantage in the market.

Camila was more than eager to get her hands on this job, admitedly it wasnt anything that extraordinary, and the payment wasnt all that good, definitely not worth sticking her neck out like this for. But a good player knows how to make the best out of a shitty hand. Beyond the bills and the pennies lied a prominent figure, one whose getting in the good side of might prove far more valuable than whatever payment he might offer up front.

"Ugh...Fucking hell..." Chanted a defeated Camila, her eyes reflecting the pearly-white light of her phone's screen, and a thin line of smoke coming out of her lit cigarette, weakly held between her fingers, her rear rested atop the hood of her car, parked just one block away from the target factory.

Now, you might be wondering, why is Camila's mood so down in mud, if supposedly she knew how to turn this crappy deal into a convenient opportunity? Well, even if she was offered all of the gold safely guarded within the safes of HQ, the veteran would have never accepted such a job, should the entire weight of the operation fall on her shoulders, she was no fighter, nor did her abilities allowed her to move around unnoticed. Heading in on her own was nothing short of a suicide mission, and it just so happened that no riches held any value to the dead. Luckily, another Albino tiger was up for the task, whether it was out of their own volition or through obligation, Camila could not care less.

Unluckily, however, the information that she had gathered on her soon to be partner in crime held discouragement in spades. Man was a young rookie, extremely wet behind the ears and little-to-no work or credits to his name, and naturally as well, neck-deep in debt.

Once again, this job was unfortunately disproportionate regarding the risk/reward ratio, and yet she was expected to pull the weight of both herself AND a kitten wearing diapers? Might sound harsh, but Camila has rarely ever had much positive to say about working with newbies. Most of the time they would be either boisterous and cocky, ready to overestimate their abilities first chance they get, or a wreck of nerves, ready to go into full panic mode the very moment there's any sort of miscalculation or danger in sight. Now, admtedly Camila has had her experience with competent newcomers in the past, such as Sylvie, but they were still a dime in a dozen.

But, in the end, whether she liked it or not, she had to wait for this rookie to show up, and hopefully he won't be too much of a hindrance.


Haze-

 

[simj26]

Kisara McDowell

CS Link

SCENE:

The Frog in the Well

LOCATION:

North District | Collapsed Worksite

TIME:

Post-Arc 3 | June 22nd

PARTICIPANTS:

Rem, Kisara, Deirest | Melody, Anguo, Areith

The Frog in the Well

She had had a weird week. This was Serpent turf, and the dregs tended to get stuck here, the same trash that she wouldn't even have bothered sinking her teeth into. It still didn't explain the sudden surge of strange people approaching her, asking queries such as 'Do you feel comfortable in your own skin?', and other similarly confusing questions. At some point of time, when she was just picking up a burger from one of the Burger Knights that still dared to operate in the district, they had even made the mistake of doing the same thing.

Their speaker took a fist to the face as an answer. It barely even felt like punching the air. They scattered like rats in the sewer, dragging their hapless colleague with them into one of the many alleyways of the Serpents' district. She hadn't the time nor the will to chase after them. Strange as their questions had been, she had no interest in weaklings. Cult or otherwise, her interest was only piqued by the strong and introducing her fist to them might bring something interesting her way, she reasoned.

This body laying in front of her was not what she had in mind for the term 'interesting', however. When her companion drew the cloth back from the corpse, she winced and looked away. As used as she was to violence, she was still not particularly good with mangled corpses. She choked back the urge to throw up. The bodies she had seen were usually still normal, in appearance, even in the very unsterile environments of the labs that Sang and Raph lingered around in.

"You know her?" She asked her companion quietly, not acknowledging the shouts from outside, yet not fully ignoring them. Her left hand sparked erratically. If she had to levy upon the other guests her displeasure, she would do so without guilt. From the sound of it, they were simply either curious, or were going to be splayed across the floor if they got past Sackhead.

BluEndings The One Eyed Bandit miki thebigfella
gxxberkit

 

[BluEndings]

CHARMY DEVLIN

CS Link

SCENE:

[Thawtless Dial]

TIME:

Pre-Arc 3, December 24th, 2021

LOCATION:

Devlin Residence, West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Charmy Devlin, Kazue Kaneko

THAWTLESS DIAL

Warbling and warbling.

In this dark, filthy hole that served as a cocoon for the drunken women’s indulgence, Charmy could just barely glean a warmth second to the alcohol in her veins. The words—or ramblings—couldn’t be parsed by her mind in this state, but she understood that it was important she at least heard them. Her hand had taken up glass and brought it to skin, all in the hopes that she might maintain this uneasy awareness. The red that coalesced and trailed was the finest manifestation of the someone she used to be.

The two lonely women couldn’t have been further apart, but tonight there was a shared glow, or at least a flicker, Charmy liked to imagine. An ember of something from the past maybe, or just a measly smoldering echo of a future escaped. Their realities were concrete, and could not be rejected. Just in the same way the barriers that had divided them had not been overcome.

The words that followed were not the one’s she wished to speak.

Her lips pursed and trembled in front of the bathroom mirror—a room she hadn't realized she entered. It continued this way until those reckless words tumbled out like a capsizing skyscraper.

“Back then,” she whispered, “I… I don’t know which one of us pulled away first, but… I”—

The eyes that were reflected back at her were finally beginning to look like her own.

—“I chose to lean on him... I don’t know if that… I don’t know if it was because I felt you were beginning to pull away… or if that just caused part of it…” Her drunken stupor was losing out to a new frothing dejection. “I-I wanted to—instead of—I didn’t mean—”

A deep breath, but more of a whimper really.

“I don’t know i-if you will, and… I didn’t know then either, but I… want your help.”

“Please help me, Kazue.”

“Out there… somewhere… is a kid of my own.”

“I need to find them.”

Spoiler: Mentions

@azenmannumber2

NAVIGATE

 

[BluEndings]

HIFUMI BAE

CS Link

SCENE:

[Legacy Lost]

TIME:

Post-Arc 3 | June 13th, 2022

LOCATION:

Zhànzhēng, East District | Silverlit Grounds

PARTICIPANTS:

Hifumi, Deirest

LEGACY LOST

It was a nauseating blend of elation and fright that gave Hifumi the extra hop to his step.

The situation was an odd one, and delicate in a concerningly dangerous manner. He had walked thin beams, and breathed within maddeningly silent walls, to cultivate a stunning sense of balance. And even in the face of such tedious training, the circumstances in front of him here were more suffocating than any tightrope. He had reaped plenty enough assumptions from the woman’s earlier push, and wasn’t too thrilled with his odds. If things truly turned sour, his efforts would have to exceed his confidence.

Yet even with the looming anxiety of his mind, and the tottering intruder, Hifumi could not help but feel the slightest bit of jubilation as well. After all, it felt like lifetimes ago that he had the opportunity to share even a drink with another person within these walls. This was his time-honored home. A place he once frolicked with his siblings, and carelessly enjoyed with a family that used to be whole.

They were memories he chose to sacrifice to distraction.

“Your seat.”

He pulled a chair from the humble table set, and gestured at a leisurely, undemanding pace. It was no secret his every intention was to avoid doing something that might startle, or upset. Though the caution did little to stall his hospitality. The sitting space was only the beginning. In level sequence, he had lit a soft scented candle for the table, and taken some folded silks to vigilantly drape over the guest’s person.

“A small reprieve from the Moon’s chills.”

He idled briefly to confirm minimum commotion, and then vanished behind a neighboring wall.

“The tea will be just a moment.” He hummed, plenty audible through the thin divider.

“You called me a fairy. Did you happen to be looking for some on this silver night?”

NAVIGATE

 

[BluEndings]

ZANE RIDDLE

CS Link

SCENE:

[PECKING ORDER]

TIME:

Post-Arc 3

LOCATION:

South District | DMV

PARTICIPANTS:

Zane, YY

PECKING ORDER

Finally a sliver of a more typical Zane had creeped its way across his eyes. They were dragging themselves from one end of the room to the next, like a predator with nothing but hunger on the mind. This clamorous wretch rank of the same vicious air as he had in the past, even if only for that brief moment. Though what exactly he was trying to take in was unclear, just the slightest bit concerning.

“I don’t doubt you for a second.” He waved. “‘Bet the asshat still had plenty gas in the tank to crumple shitbags like me ten times over, but that’s exactly the beef.”

“Wanting or not wanting don’t mean squat to a bunch of wise guys who got their mind set. I’m a stubborn bitch myself, so I can smell out fellow raccoon piss like that yellow bear does honey.”

Again his eyes took in the surroundings.

“I’m saying some nitwits are gonna start some shit and wave your buddy around like a flag.” He grumbled. “You wanna crush a faction that uses someone as a symbol, how do you think you go about squashing ‘em?”

Two fingers.

“Beat every last one of them, or disempower their god.”

Spoiler: Mentions

gxxberkit

NAVIGATE

 

[BluEndings]

FOUR-EYES & SAD SACK

NPC

SCENE:

[The Frog in the Well]

TIME:

Post-Arc 3 | June 22nd

LOCATION:

North District | Collapsed Worksite

PARTICIPANTS:

Rem, Kisara, Melody,

Deirest |

Areith

THE FROG IN THE WELL

Collapsed Worksite | Outside​

Melody, Angúo (NPC)

“...Maybe we should go back.”

Sad Sack had nodded like a bobblehead on a janky road, with some added vigorous pointing towards the strawberry woman. Their fingers danced between arrows and approving thumbs, all the while peering directly towards the flanking individual that could be described as nothing less than spine-chilling.

And Sad Sack’s spine did chill; almost as expressive as an animated cat.

There was undoubtedly something terribly wrong with the person they had the grueling task of keeping out. Maneuvers of that sort left ‘impressive’ and entered ‘I’m in a horror moving with a wacky inflatable tube man from hell,’ and it wasn’t a revelation that caused them any joy. In fact, the exact motions had caused the bagged guard to fully flatten against the door, and its corroded hinges gave away like crumb cake.

“—just my job.” The newly slumped bag whined.

Collapsed Worksite | Inside​

Rem, Kisara, Deirest

Unlike the two in front of her, Four-eyes did not take the shouting anywhere near as graceful. On the contrary, she had practically folded inward as if in response to a bomb, or physical altercation. It was a reaction that had resulted in her, otherwise centered, eyes to flash away from the two she was speaking to and briefly down at the ground. Luckily, her composure was just as easily earned back with a benign brush of her hand against her hair.

“T-That’s part of what I wanted to mention.” She replied. “I think someone is targeting us—the group of Serpents Sad Sack and I are a part of.”

Her eyes dashed over to the not too distant door that had yielded.

“But there have been a couple victims I haven’t recognized.” She pointed to the fresh example. “Even without her head, I’m certain she’s not one of ours. I couldn’t say whether she’s a snake or not though.”

By this point, a sad Sad Sack had crab crawled their way closer to the standing three’s vicinity, but hadn’t let out so much as a peep. They accepted their prone condition in silence, but continued to offer the intruding guests two palms that very pathetically pleaded “step back.”

Though expression remained concealed, it was no secret the fluttering frown they would have shared.

“This place was built on a landfill.” Four-eyes continued, loud enough for all. “If the head is around, it’s probably found its way into where the gaps in the floor meet the trash.”

NAVIGATE

 

[The One Eyed Bandit]

Passeri Park

SCENE:

A Murder Under Starlight

TIME:

Pre-Arc 1, 2013

LOCATION:

West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Passeri, Corvo

A Murder Under Starlight

The stun gun fixed to Corvo's waist brought with it a spec of hope, and of faith. She, truth be told, knew frightfully little of the business. Just like she'd assured herself just a few moments ago, she was a Tiger in name only, so what was and was not a proper tell of a hired thug's confidence was a bit beyond her, but being armed and ready was surely a good sign, right?

Mentally, she apologized to the red-haired woman. She hadn't meant to think of her as a thug.

"Let's!" Still wearing her chipper veneer, Passeri followed along with Corvo's gaze and started down the street. The gentle, yellow wash of the studio's lights faded into the night behind her, and soon only the still night surrounded the two women.

"Um. It is a bit of a walk, though, sorry. I should have mentioned that when I called you." She'd been in such a hurry. With how the West was, you never really knew how long you were going to be able to keep your bank account plush. A minute or two could have been the difference between buying a meal for the night, and her debit card declining at the register.

"Do you... Go on walks like this often?" The night's quiet nipped at her like the bugs that filled the air. Small talk, like this, was the closest thing to repellent that she could think of. "I do." She used to she hadn't been on one in weeks. "I think it's nice, how quiet everything is. At least around these parts. It makes the city feel not soooo...?"

What was the word she was looking for? She wasn't sure. This wasn't much more than idle rambling.

"Suffocating? It all feels like a bit much, sometimes..." Not that she knew any better. She'd never left New Oasis's borders in her life. Even the rest of Amestria may as well have been a foreign nation, to her. "...You know?"

AriAriAbabwa​

 

[WhiskeyMarten]

HECTOR MOSES

CS Link

SCENE:

You Know The Rules, And So Do I

LOCATION:

Some Park, Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Eric, Hector

YOU KNOW THE RULES, AND SO DO I

Hector’s blade met air as he lunged toward the cop, baring his teeth as he elicited a growl. The flash of light threw off the continuation of his attack as he blindly swung again against nothing. He blinked rapidly, focusing on the blurry shape of a person beyond the tears and spotty sight.

”Ahh, I remember now. You must be really obsessed. Some glutton for punishment, eh? It’s your lucky day.” Contrary to his confrontational nature, Hector actually began a small retreat, seeing the missiles of light form. Looking down at the felled beast at his feet, he kicked it over. It had stopped convulsing, emitting a few twitches but nothing more. It didn’t respond when Hector drove his hands into it, picking it up. It was an awkward thing to handle, but Hector had HP strength on his side. Irvine slid out of the metal skewer, detaching from the beast in a bloody heap, and the beast was quickly flung towards Eric.

That wasn’t supposed to be an attack, of course, as Hector followed in a sprint, but rather a meat shield to soak up the brunt of the missiles. He racked his brain, trying to remember how their last fight went, but after hundreds of them, they start to blur. That puny scar should’ve been a gouge deep enough to make this guy’s head fly off his body, but at least he has the opportunity to make things right now.

While there was a gap between them, Hector responded to Eric’s ranged attack with his own. In a quick motion, he swiped his hand back and forth three times, each time flinging a jagged dart Eric’s way.

”Getting mixed messages here, you don’t wanna lose again, but here you are looking for trouble. You seen what I did to those guys?”

 

[Roda the Red]

ERIC EVENSEN

CS Link

SCENE:

Overcast, in Saline

LOCATION:

Clemency Private Hospital, Central District

TIME:

Post Arc 3 || July 7th, 2022

PARTICIPANTS:

Passeri, Eric, Pei, Dagger, Kiwi, Dante

Overcast, in Saline

Not even the skies entertained the idea of a cheerful day, a veil of ghostly grey enveloping over the landscape, as far as the eye could see. Eric did not care much for the color above his head, however, as the mask of comedy that latched deeply into the skin of his face found itself weakened and shattered, the mask of tragedy peeking through the cracks.

A dear friend of his found herself in the receiving end of a tragedy, a merciless assault from an unknown figure, one that to this day still freely roam the streets of New Oasis, free from retribution, a luxury that unfortunately many criminals were blessed with in this hellhole of a city. The location of Passeri's hospitalization was kept a secret from the public, most likely to avoid having any picture's taken of her dire physical state. As always the assholes in the entertainment industry were willing to go to great lengths to protect their beloved branding. Fortunately, however, Eric was no civilian, and was equipped with a few more resources than the average person. All it took was a couple calls and an itty bitty case of mild blackmailing to have the right person spill out the name the Detective was looking for.

"Good afternoon, I came to visit Passeri Park" His voice was dry and emotionless, same as always, although now lacking that nigh-imperceptible playfulness that only the keenest in his inner circle might be aware of. "Oh, and you are?" Asked the nurse in charge of the receptionist desk, most likely aware that not quite anyone was allowed to visit a public figure like the famous singer. "Evensen...Detective Evensen" He pulled out his badge and held it in front of his chest, he felt neither the need or the desire to explain himself any further. Luckly the nurse was in the same page. "Oh, I see, well then I will tell you right away"

The door to Passeri's room was knocked twice gently, it's doorknob finding itself turned shortly after, regardless if an answer was given from the other side. Slowly opening, Eric got a progressive glimpse and his friend laying in bed, and the deplorable state she found herself in.

"Finally found ya, you pretty hid well, Pas" Eric sat down over the white chair left beside the bed for whatever guest decided to visit. He smiled as usual as his eyes locked in with her ruby-tinted irises, a nostalgic sight that the detective lingered on less that he would have anticipated. "Just cast a bat symbol in the sky so I can find you easier next time, okay?" He asked whilst his hand raised forward, offering a small get-well bouquet of varied lilac flowers.

For once, he hated to jest, it was the last thing he really felt like doing. But a serious greeting would have been quite the uncharacteristic sight, damning evidence of how much her state caused him distress.

Eric could never let others realize just how much the things around him truly affected him.

The One Eyed Bandit simj26 thebigfella gxxberkit