The Raven King

[Orpheus]

Dusty

There comes a time, in a life, where a person or being simply thinks to itself "What just happened that things got like this" It could range from the more positive notes of how a hardworking minimum wage earner had finally got the promotion he wished without even knowing, to the more dreadful notion of of a cat slipping in the bottom of an empty well unable to find a way back above. at times life simply gives you one too many surprises after the other, good or bad, glorious or horrible, in the end you just end up wondering how it came to be so. how did a bunch of scarecrow fiends attack on a Halloween night? how did a foxchild, a specter, a couple of vampires, a mage and an Faunice, come together in what was once a pleasurable display of lights and whimsy? how did the unlikely group come to meet and fight against such devilish foe? and perhaps the most recent thought of today "How could i die at the hands of a child..?"


Perhaps that was the thought the scarecrow had as he raked upon the cold soil with his immolated hands, the burning agony seething into his flesh as he ounced every bit of strength to struggle against his odds. but like a rat trapped in an adhesive mat, it knew by then that the struggle was impossible, its fate had already been sealed, sealed by a being much smaller and more fragile than itself. It happened almost in a flash, a dark cloudy flash, as Dusty had impaled one of its fellow fiends in the ground it lunged an attack against it, only to hit the cloud of smoke that enveloped the boy. in a fit, the thing decided to throw one of the abandoned stands at the child hoping that the splash would be enough to incapacitate the small thing, only to miscalculate the boys own reflexes and the haze of smoke to confuse his true location. in a blur Dusty quickly propped on all fours and lunged at the scarecrow, circling around it in a vortex of smog as the fiend sliced and stabbed the ground with each successive hit. the scarecrow was enraged by the display, annoyed by Dusty's attempts to distract and confuse. it was all in dusty's favor however, as the spiral of smoke blinded the fiends eyes from a pair of golden slits shining behind the top of his head.


Dusty took the opportunity and stabbed his metal pole deep into the nape of the fiend, the scarecrow wailing in pain as it sliced in the air uncontrollably, reaching out to the assassin perched on his back. Dusty held fast, clenching both his hands as he snarled like a wolf biting down on its prey. The smoke had dispersed itself from all the wailing and madness of the hold, the boy twisting the pole as the scarecrow lost its balance falling to the ground with a thud, as his clothes, his body, lit up into embers and dust, feeding the black cloud inside of the Jomyaku-ko. it struggled, and struggled, almost screaming for help, to realize there is none to be found. soon, his body collapsed on the floor, marks of its fight etched onto the soil as its body slowly burned up into cinders and withered into ash.


soon the boy's glowing eyes dissipated, as his fur started to relax. he had looked around, seeing everyone still in a fight, but understood that they would be successful and will call for help should they do. The Tokoyami, the smoke spirit, had its fill of the beasts as it slithered inside Dusty's robes. with a sigh the boy eased somewhat, shaking his head and his body off the dust the little display he made had given and walked away from his kill.


he spotted the rabbit with the caramel once more, all alone and slumped on the ground. finally, he took the chance to actually do what his mind was itching him to do, and gently tried to pry the caramel off of its back.... which resulted in pry... to a pull... it was stuck on very nicely... until with enough force he was able to break the caramel free from the rabbit, only to find out that the caramel had taken a piece of the plush along with it. in a shocked manner he looked back at the bunny, only to jump backwards seeing what looked to be a flash grenade embedded inside of it


*A trap!?*


dusty had thought... but the flash bang didn't explode. Dusty looked around and discovered that the bunny was of the odd girl's make, seeing as she was able to conjure up the things from a puddle of blood...... from the Faunice.... dusty realized that she was vampiric.. something to note next time they encounter.. either way he realized that she made use of them like supplies, and inside were weapons of sorts. if that'd be the case.. perhaps it was wise to hold on to the flashbang... just in case.


Aidan's attention quickly grew to the bleeding faunice however as he ran towards it on all fours. lunging and pouncing towards the Elk he quickly examined the battered thing. cutm wounded and bleeding.. did the girl even care to take care of the dying man!? he was starting to think he wasn't gonna like the blue haired girl who was currently occupied with a fiend. He didn't have bandages, but his robe will probably do as he took off the ashen cloak wrapping it around the heavily wounded area.. he then binded it with the rest of the rope he had brought, tying a knot on its back as he gently brushed it's neck with his hands..


"Shhhh... breathe slowly... The ashes will help the clotting and the bleeding.. now relax.."


he spoke calmly, like a nurse to its patient as he took out his tuning fork and jabbed his pole into the ground.. with a flick of his hand the fork chimed a small melody near the elk.. it helped soothe the pain and eased it's senses as the bindings kept it from further losing anymore blood than necessary.. Dusty had hoped it was the end of it until.. in his bones another threat was felt.


his eyes sparked a glow as he gazed upon the sky's to witness the pale crimson king fly overhead towards a young girl.. his eyes blinked as if he saw something he shouldn't have seen. his heart almost filling with dread at the very sight of the Raven king. it wasn't his fear that was felt, no his heart shared another being inside of it, and it hid in the crevices of his body, undulating in fear at the very presence of the being. Dusty was almost paralyzed by shock and his Tokoyami's escape... he stood there unable to move... until the King simply vanished.....


it was only him...


Dylan...


and Nona who was currently occupied








[dice]24436[/dice]

https://www.rpnation.com/profile/28686-zer0/@Zer0

https://www.rpnation.com/profile/28686-zer0/

https://www.rpnation.com/profile/19665-overconfidentmagi/@OverconfidentMagi

https://www.rpnation.com/profile/19665-overconfidentmagi/

https://www.rpnation.com/profile/37197-cosmic-cobalt/@Cosmic Cobalt

https://www.rpnation.com/profile/37197-cosmic-cobalt/

 

[Zer0]

- Klaus Milson -

"Country Lane Coffee Shop"​

Mood: Concerned over Blanca, Tired.

Klaus wearily stepped into the shop at around one in the morning with a few agents who had only stopped by to quickly get some equipment and deliver Blanca's robot. He only had less than half-an hour of rest before he was to go back with them to lead another search and rescue mission in the North District, where a mall and a nearby underground station had caught on fire an hour ago.


"Blanca?" he knocked on her door, the remains of her robot in a large box, stamped 'For Blanca only, Do not Touch.' beside him. "You alright? Can I come in?"


If Blanca was unconscious, Klaus would quietly enter inside with the box and carefully place it to the side, and put a small gift-wrapped box on the bedside table with a white flower and a card that said, "Happy Birthday", before leaving with the others.




@Ensig

 

[Maeve Valor]

Serena fell deeper and deeper into the abyss of the scarecrow, but the more she descended the slower the speed became until she finally stopped. The only thing that kept her from falling more was the arms of humanoid figures reaching for her aimlessly. Never had she seen such things in her life and she hoped to never see such again in her lifetime. Not to mention the horrible smell these... things carried with them. Her eyes widened in fear looking every which way only to see faceless heads seeming to stare at her as they moaned in what only sounded like agony. She took notice on how these arms could actually be beneficial to her. She smacked and pushed aside most of the hands leaving one to cling to and then climbed upward using their heads as leverage for her feet. As she was coming close to the surface she saw a red lightning strike and wondered what that could possibly have meant. She shook this off and decided "I'll find out what that was about later. First priority right now is getting myself out of this hell hole. Then I'll figure out what that was." Occasionally she had to keep pushing and smacking unwanted hands away to keep a stead path going. The closer she came to the top the less bodies there was for her to cling to.


She turned one of her own hands into what looked like bladed claws and stabbed it into the otherwise slimy wall for a good grip for the climb. Once she made it to what looked to be the inside of its mouth she changed the bladed hand into a sword once again and continuously jabbed at the roof of its mouth. (Roll: 3)


Afterwards, she jumped out of his mouth as she turned around stabbing the edge of the mouth and let gravity take over gliding her bladed arm all the way down him to split him in half. (Roll: 1 'OVERKILL')


[dice]24491[/dice]


She did not revel in this victory but instead looked around the area to see what the cause of the red lightning was. She only caught the two seconds of the Raven King'd appearance before Elena and then he disappeared for at least until the next rift. She was about to go to Elena's aid but other Libra members rushed past her. It was only now that she felt fatigued from the battle as she fell to her knees clutching her injured shoulder in pain and looked around to see what more damage came from this battle. The robot she saw earlier laid limp and looked pretty banged up, Chill was badly cut and barely hanging onto consciousness, and Dyani, well it was hard for her to see the Elk in the state he was in with a huge gash cut deep down his stomach. Other members of Libra such as the Faunice that had previously tried to get her attention earlier seemed bloodied up, but still well enough to at least barely walk. Past the scene the world was still in utter chaos distant screams were still being heard, and there was still much to do.


"Nothing could have prepared us for this," she whispered to herself trying to take in everything that had just occurred.

 

[Cosmic Cobalt]

Leoward Dyani Westen

​

CARNIVAL

Pain flooded Dyani's entire body, hitting him much stronger than the first attack. The vigor and adrenaline in the elk began to ebb away and his legs trembled, snapping beneath him and letting his heavy body fall to the ground. Dyani breathed out in struggled, short gasps. Blood pooled beneath him in a crimson puddle. He lifted up his neck with much effort and let out a slow, weak cry. His head fell to the ground, red rivers cutting through his fur and spilling onto the ground. Dyani closed his eyes slowly, trying to will the pain to fade.


Get up! Get up!


All around him he could hear the fighting. He couldn't bring himself to lift his body above the ground.


No, no...No, I'm so sorry.


He felt hands on him. Soothing hands, wrapping something around his wound. He heard a voice. Dyani focused on the voice as hard as he could.


Dusty...


{Dusty!} Dyani spoke to him, letting his voice enter the other's mind, but his voice sounded distant and faded. Dyani's eyes flitted around, finding the familiar figures of his companions. He let out another desperate wheeze. Dusty began to play a nice melody that seemed to meld away the pain. Dyani lifted his neck slightly, looking up desperately. He felt a presence. It was unlike any other presence he had ever known. He felt it deep in his stomach, stabbing through him and causing his fur to stand up. His eyes looked upward.


The Raven King.


Dyani's whole body became still as he watched him. He saw him duck down towards the President's daughter. Dyani flailed, trying to get up to his feet. {No!} He screamed, letting his Faunice voice fill the head of everyone that was around him. {No, no! No!} His hooves slipped and he fell again, his body landing on the ground with a heavy thump. Dyani blinked and he was gone. The Raven King had gone.


Dyani cried out in anguish, letting his body crumple to the floor in defeat. He breathed slowly, remaining so still, he almost seemed dead.

Mentions

@Orpheus (also everyone else in general I guess hahah)

 

[CoconutLeaves]

It had vanished quickly, as soon as it had appeared. As its traces were soon reclaimed by the very winds of the world that had grown silent, she looked up once more to see nothing but the clouds that had seemed so undisturbed. Yet, as the divine being had left, so did the chaos resume. People began to scream and shout once more and ran as if their legs finally started working again. The creatures, so numerous and vicious, continued their assault, and the other guards began to fight once more.


She looked to the others, willing the music to rise up once more, but her grandmother's rousing song could not be mustered. She was tired, from expending so much of her energy to defending her granddaughter. She just couldn't seem to fight right now.


But the world will not stop for her, nor would she allow herself to think so. She began to catch up with the other guards who were still busy fighting the beasts, and pleaded for her grandmother to play her tune. Tired and exhausted, she could feel the soul of her grandmother try to appease the wish of her granddaughter, and at once she could hear the weak sound of beating drums that began to soothe her energy-filled heart yet give a focus in her movements once more.


As the scarecrow continued to fight the guard, she swayed side by side, slowly getting into the song, before once more, with a dash, she took the chance to strike.


It was only when the moon glowed brightest, and the creatures all vanquished, did Fortunata quell the music within her soul. She was seeing colors in front of her, and her movements were much more careless rather than the calculated airy steps she had done thousands of times this night. She was exhausted, and she knew that well.


She looked at the others, the other members of Libra having arrived. Good. She had half a mind to file a complaint at their late arrival, that could have prevented more deaths. She knew that what she saw earlier was out of the ordinary, but the security detail could have been better. After all, the organization was formed to prevent chaos and destruction; the fact that this could not have been done better is just a failure of that pledge.


She watched them tend to their comrades, and wished she could help but did not have any abilities that would mend their bones and fix their wounds. She could only dance and fight, nothing more, nothing less. Thus, she sent a small prayer that their bodies were sturdy and their wills strong, so they may make a swift recovery. She will know the tally of those who perished tomorrow.


But for now, her bones weary, her throat parched, and her body weak, she commenced to leave the zone of battle. She would have to make another report about what happened to add testimony to whoever had to document the event. Yet, as her feet brought her farther away from the circus, did she decide to go slumber in her home. A thought which her grandmother approved.

 

[Ensig]

<Blanca>


-Country Lane Coffee Shop, Blanca's Room-
​

'Looks like it shut down...'


Blanca looked out into the abyss after thinking so. Currently, she was sitting (or perhaps 'floating') in the depths of her mind as her body remained motionless. As for the state of her real body, it was, in a word, 'comatosed' -- although it was a bit different. The first difference was that her body and mind weren't degraded at all while she remained this way, thus lacking the troubles that comas brought with them. The second difference was that Blanca could technically force her way out of her current state whenever she wanted, given the fact that the couple of hours her Soul needed to adjust to the change in bodies (with the short time being due to the similarities between her Main Body and CH4T) had already passed... But she chose not to awaken.


After being forced out of CH4T's mechanical body, she had to experience something akin to moving down a thin, enclosed water slide with a severe lack of oxygen (another way of looking at it would be 'being sucked down the tube of a vacuum', despite the irony such a description would invoke) for several minutes. If she had to stifle a guess, that feeling was her Soul moving back to her main body automatically, and it was something she had experienced multiple times when possessing experimental mechas. Even when the feeling disappeared, she still had all of the mental strain she had gained during time in her machine's chassis, however...


The experience of being inches from being split in two aside, the sight of the Raven King alone was traumatic enough for a life time, so even if Blanca wasn't a Doctor she knew that it was in her best interest to stay put for a while. And so... There she was. Sitting, thinking, dreaming, sleeping... All within the head of her unconscious body, laid down atop her bed. It was in that state that she heard a knock on her door, along with a familiar voice.


"Blanca?" a voice beyond her door spoke, which Blanca identified as Klaus. She was glad that she had remembered to turn off the Muffling Runes that she used to sound-proof her room prior to leaving with Bob a couple of hours prior, otherwise she never would have heard her apprentice. "You alright? Can I come in?"


''Alright' might be a bit of a stretch... But my body is in mint condition, so I suppose 'Yes' would be appropriate...?' Blanca continued thinking to herself as her door opened, her thoughts coming together slowly, like they were a trail of thick tar sliding down a slope. Other than her answer to his query, Blanca also wanted to talk to Klaus about other things... For example, about the idea for a new Mecha she had in mind -- one that prioritized healing capabilities. Or... How she was unable to defend President and his Daughter properly, and how she was sorry.


Other than that, she had also promised that she would talk with him about how they would proceed in his apprenticeship, and possibly even teach him a couple of things only a couple of hours prior. Explaining that she was hardly in the mental state to do so, despite the fact it was such an important event... Perhaps that warranted an apology as well?


Organizing her thoughts, Blanca's eyes opened slowly just as Klaus placed a present, white flower, and card at her bedside table.


"Klaus..." Blanca paused for a moment. The time for explaining that she was fine seemed to have passed, causing her to reorganize her thoughts in a hurry -- with 'a hurry' being a good five seconds as her head churned the appropriate words out. After the pause, and with her eyes meeting Klaus' own, Blanca spoke about the matter of most importance first. "Sorry. I couldn't guard the President and his Daughter properly in the end..."


Blanca bowed her head slightly, her head aching slightly due to fatigue. She had been the reason the defensive charms weren't given to them before their injuries, so a part of her wished that she could have at least stayed standing to the end, even if CH4T was in complete tatters by the end of it. Instead, she was defeated by the Scarecrows before she could even dispatch one... Because of that, sadness dripped from her words.


@Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Klaus Milson -

"Country Lane Coffee Shop"​

Klaus' sighed sadly and his eyes became downcast. He felt sad, because Blanca was sad.


He propped up a chair beside her bed and sat down, his elbows on his knees and his hands together in that usual position he always took whenever he was thinking hard about something. A few seconds of silence passed where the only sounds were the muffled footsteps and hurried voices of agents bringing rescue and medical equipment to the car downstairs.


"They're alive, Blanca." he said finally. "The President and Elena are in the mansion where the best doctors and healers are taking care of them right now. They're alive because you helped and did your best. I saw you through the cameras, CH4T was really cool." he added warmly, hoping his words soothed her a little. "I'm glad you were there."


He paused for a while, trying to think of more ways to comfort her, but the only thing that kept popping up in his head was to hug her or caress her forehead to soothe her pain, but that wasn't proper right now. What if it scared her? Or what if she rejects him? . . . No, he shouldn't do it. Besides, that was what he wanted to do, he didn't know what would make Blanca feel better.


So Klaus decided to just ask, "Are you hurt anywhere? Is there anything I can do for you?"




@Ensig

 

[Gilzar]

Aaron


There Aaron stood, an equal distance between Chill and Serana. He did't know anyones names here, nor did he really care to at the moment. Having a feeling of safety come over him due to his area being cleared amidst the chaos, he holstered his pistol inside of his larger fur coat, then stuffed his hands deep into the pockets of his jacket. This ensured he wouldn't get his fingers cut on anything sharp that might be around, whether it be a broken stand or a loose weapon. For a few moments, he just stood there silently, breathing through is nose as he recovered his breath. His eye brows narrowed into an annoyed stance as he saw all of the dead bodies from the incident, as well as the nearly wounded. The girl he was going to help, whom he didn't know was named Serana, had fallen to her knees, probably from wounds and exhaustion. That Elk on the other hand was being healed by some mystic...and Chill. Well let's just say he'll have better days.


Many would be struck with grief from seeing their comrades badly hurt, or seeing such a battle. Aaron somehow still managed to maintain a calm composure however. He was slightly fearful, there was no denying that. However, the adrenaline of battle had passed and all he could feel now was his normal coldness to the outside world. After viewing the field of battle, Aaron showed no grief. He just simply muttered.


"Better you than me."


That saying echoed through the area, and Aaron simply turned to Chill. His boots clanged against the ground as he approached, and simply looked down upon him. Chill's wounds were bad, in fact in the back of his head Aaron thought he would die from his wounds. He'd seen worse, but most people don't pull through such a thing...but that's just normal people. If this guy really belonged to Libra then he probably wasn't a mortal.


Aaron's red eyes seemed to almost shine from the moonlight, and he stared them into Chills eyes. His body was turned in such a manner that most of his face was visible from the moonlight. When he spoke, his sharper teeth were now visible. "I suppose." He spoke loudly to ensure he was heard. "You want me to help you."


He narrowed his ruby-red eyes that looked upon the world in the way a predator might, and looked at Serana for a few brief moments, then turned them back to Chill. "I however, want you to answer me a question for my services...think of it as a payment."


"Are you folks Libra?"


He honestly had no clue who was apart of Libra and who wasn't. Just a few nights ago he was minding his own business, then he found himself forced into the organization. Yes, he was given an official briefing but they had to cut short his information due to the President's arrival at the Carnival, an arrival he was sure they would regret from now on. So he only knew the mission in other words, not his comrades.


@Zer0

 

[Ensig]

<Blanca>


-Country Lane Coffee Shop, Blanca's Room-
​

Blanca listened closely as Klaus spoke of her contributions and complimented her creation. While she still felt sullen due to her lack of ability, his words soothed her slightly, causing a bright smile to appear on her face. "I'm glad." she said before adjusting her position, resting her back against the headboard and moving the blanket so that it ended at her hips. As she uncovered her upper half from the covers, she breathed a small sigh -- the reason was: her clothing.


She was still wearing the white hoodie she had clothed herself with before leaving in CH4T. Naturally, it wasn't meant for sleeping in, and it made her mildly uncomfortable due to the unnecessarily high temperature it had granted her under the covers. Even with the blankets removed, it was still a bit too warm for her tastes, and she could feel the tank top underneath sticking slightly to her skin from the sweat her body had accumulated while she slept. The thought of taking the hoodie off naturally occurred, but with her mind in its current state, she figured it would probably take a while to accomplish on her own...


"Are you hurt anywhere? Is there anything I can do for you?"


Thankfully, her apprentice asked what he did. "I have a light headache, but... It's nothing serious. As for your offer... Could you please help me undress (my hoodie, as it's too warm)?" Blanca smiled bashfully at the young man, embarrassed that she couldn't do such a simple task herself. That embarrassment spread to her face, causing it to turn slightly red as she awaited his response.


@Zer0

 

[OverconfidentMagi]

Nona Usagi​

Carnival at Central Park

The Rift​

Red blood dripped down onto Nona's face. She'd raised both arms to block the fiend's blow, but there was quite a bit of force behind that swing, enough to have shattered her right arm, bits of white bone poking through pale skin surrounding the injury. Ow that hurt. Her other arm felt numb from the force of that impact. Well, she had asked for it. And it looked like the fiend didn't know how to react when a little girl wasn't splattered across the street after taking a hit like that. Fine with her.


She dropped down and sprinted towards the fiend's legs. It lashed out at her again, barely missing her when she rolled to the side with one of the stuffed rabbits she'd spawned held in her hand. The rabbit blasted apart, and the fiend was blinded by a bright red light. When the flare faded the fiend barely had time to recognize the red-stained white fabric that was the bottom of Nona's dress as it flashed past its face before she dug the hooked end of the hammer into the back of its neck and nearly ripped the fiend's head from its body with a sickening tearing sound.


"Bt! You lose lose lose lose..." She echoed lose until it faded out like the announcer in the fighting arcade game Mars had let her play. She tossed the bloodied hammer to have it land with a thud on the dead fiend's back. The stuffed rabbits that had been completely ineffectual at fighting the fiend when it had been alive were now starting to surround its body and kick and punch its sides, continuing to be completely useless. She stopped before she was about to dismiss them to tear the head off of one and pull a shiny handgun out of its insides. No point not using something fun when it was just going to disappear anyway.


Another flash of red lighting. More uglies to have fun killing? She'd forgotten that the reason she'd fought the fiend had been to gain Dyani's eternal gratitude and/or servitude for saving his life at this point. But nope, not a fiend refill, just one real big ugly. Holy was that thing big though! There wasn't anything around that could even be compared to how big the thing that had just appeared was.


And then it just disappeared. Nona started breathing again a few seconds after it was gone, her mind not understanding how something so incredibly massive could simply appear and vanish without a trace. Her fingers twitched. Huh, she'd dropped the gun she'd been holding. She hadn't noticed. It was a few more seconds before it hit her that she'd been terrified of the thing. Just being near something so incredibly big had made her paralyzed with fear. She felt small. She hated feeling small.


The rabbits she'd summoned from Dyani's blood exploded back into blood that splashed down onto the street, more red drops getting onto Nona's already ruined dress. She picked up the gun she'd dropped and used it to shot the dead fiend in the back before tossing it away behind her. That thing had put her in a bad mood. Elk man better reward her something good for coming to his rescue! But when she turned back to where he'd collapsed she saw that someone was there tending to his injuries. It was the weakling boy. Why wasn't he dead? And now the elk-person would think that he'd been the one to come to his rescue instead of her! She'd gotten involved for nothing now!


The blood-soaked little girl stomped off in the other direction to either pout or find something to kill, she wasn't entirely sure which, it really depended on what, or who, she encountered first and how annoyed looking at it made her. What she ended up finding was an abandoned food truck, which she pilfered without remorse. It was for making sandwiches apparently, but since she was too lazy to be bothered with putting food together she just pulled out the bin of cucumbers and sat on the roof of the truck eating that. She was still pissed, but at least now she was occupied with food. Oh, she was using the arm that had been shattered a minute ago to eat right now. Was it already healed? She banged her arm against the metal roof of the truck. A flash of pain ran up her arm like she'd hit her elbow instead. "Okay okay, I got it. Five more minutes then."

 

[Zer0]

- Klaus Milson -

"Country Lane Coffee Shop, Blanca's Room"​

"Wu?" said Klaus dumbly.


His mind had gone completely blank. His face turned red as his mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. His heart was hammering so fast, and he looked away covering his eyes so that Blanca wouldn't see the guy thoughts playing in his head.


He had been expecting that she would ask for water, or food, or ask him to run an alchemical mechanical protocol that would help with the after-effects of the possession, but not this!


His imagination was going on overdrive, with a Korean soap opera music playing in the background where Blanca would throw herself in his arms and confess her undying love. And he, Klaus --- who was taller and buffer in his mind opera, complete with a manly beard --- would suavely say that he would cherish and protect her forever and ever. And then they ki ---


"Klaus! " hollered an agent downstairs, causing Klaus to jump and his mind opera to pop, gone. "Could you get the manna lantern in the office?"


"Er-yeah!" said Klaus, remembering that he had an emergency to take care of. He must have looked silly, how long was he just sitting here paralyzed with Blanca waiting?


'. . . Blanca, no, I'm a guy.' was what he wanted to say. But what came out was, "Okay."


And without thinking, without looking, he swiftly pulled the hoodie up.




@Ensig

- Chill Sandell -

"Raven King Aftermath, Carnival, Central Park"​

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Chill looked up at Aaron looming over him. He had been slipping in and out of consciousness since the Raven King's appearance. He was in shock and his eyes were glazed over as he struggled to pull himself together, the pain from his wounds an excellent distraction from what just happened: The Raven King placed the philosopher's stone inside Elena.


But those thoughts were for later, right now he desperately needed medical attention.


"Yeah . . . we're Libra." said Chill candidly, steadily looking into the man's red eyes. He didn't look bothered, but Chill's hand casually drifted to his kama. Something was off about this old man that made him doubt his intentions . . . one thing for sure, he wasn't human.


Interesting.


"C-could you call one of the medics over?" asked Chill, grimacing. The moment he sensed something was terribly off, he was going to lay it on the old man's carotid artery.


@Gilzar

 

[Gilzar]

Aaron


"Don't worry about medics. I'm a doctor." Aaron said in a very calm tone. You could see that Chill was drifting in and out of consciousness...probably because of the amount of blood he'd lost. That or he was terrified of the Raven King...perhaps a bit of both. Seeing a stone enter a young maiden isn't exactly the most settling sight. Perhaps the boy was just simply traumatized.


Aaron then reached into his jacket, and pulled out a series of medical supplies consisting of bandages, potions, needles (With the ends covered in removable wax tips), and stitches that he usually only used for himself. A deal was a deal however, and Aaron wasn't one to break a promise. He knelt down, and began to go to work on Chill's wounds. He bandaged everything that needed to be bandaged, poured potions over the serious wounds, stitched everything that needed to be. His hands moved in almost mechanical motions, years of practice and precision with the human body had let Aaron do this kind of work as if it were like Child's play to him.


"I only asked because I'm apart of Libra as well." He began rolling more bandages. "They didn't bother telling me who my comrades were...too rushed tonight I guess. And I don't like wasting my resources." In all honesty he didn't really care about Chill that much, just rather wanting to gain a few comrades as well as earn Libra's trust. He didn't enjoy being in Libra, the constant threat of danger was something he always tried avoiding. Now, ironically he was stuck in that exact situation. He might as well try making a few friends...


Aaron then let out a slight chuckle.


"That or they don't trust me."


After a little while longer of working his fingers over the wounds, Aaron began to pack up his things, while carefully disposing of the needles and scissors he was using, very visibly trying to avoid the sharper ends.


"Your wounds are stabilized. Do you want any pain-killers?"


@Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Chill Sandell -

"Raven King Aftermath, Carnival, Central Park"​

<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2016_07/Cold.jpg.fe6ebdeb18527acc66ff4275c02194b3.jpg" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="142643" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2016_07/Cold.jpg.fe6ebdeb18527acc66ff4275c02194b3.jpg" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p>

Chill tensed when the man's hand disappeared into his jacket. In his line of work spying and gathering information for the secret society, that gesture was often followed by pulling out a gun then getting shot, but the old man only pulled out medical supplies.


Chill let out a loud sigh of relief, loosing his hold on his blade. "You've got the vibe of a dark predator, old man." he chuckled. "I thought you were going to pull out a suppressed pistol and shoot me."


He stayed still and let the doctor do his work as his gaze wandered over to the others.


Fortunata made a small gesture as if she was praying before she disappeared into the crowd without a word to anyone. She had come out of this battle unscathed despite the odds. Chill was impressed and wondered what that fighting style was, he's never heard of a cloth as a weapon; Dusty, someone he only knew by face and not personally was tending to Dyani. Brave bloke, he had called the scarecrows to himself like bait, taking their attention away from the President and Elena. Dusty's battle tactics were quite something too, being able to create thick smoke and some sort of blinding flash like that, and he could cast healing magic. Chill made a mental note to talk to him about teaming up later.


"I only asked because I'm apart of Libra as well." His attention came back to the old man as he began rolling more bandages. "They didn't bother telling me who my comrades were...too rushed tonight I guess. And I don't like wasting my resources . . . Your wounds are stabilized. Do you want any pain-killers?"


"Yeah, that'd be great." said Chill gratefully. "Thanks. I'm Chill Sandell, I do intelligence and reconnaissance in the field." and he extended a bandaged hand to shake.


@Gilzar

 

[Gilzar]

Aaron


"Yeah, that'd be great." Aaron noticed that Chill was grateful, giving him an odd satisfaction for helping the boy. "Thanks. I'm Chill Sandell, I do intelligence and recon for Libra." Chill even extended out his hand for a handshake.


Aaron's mind wasn't on Chill at the moment, but rather on what he said earlier. Old man, Aaron just glared into the distance for a few moments trying to hide his disdain for that statement. This body wasn't even that old. Sure, he had grey hair but by modern standards a 50 year old body wasn't old. He exhaled some air out of his nose, releasing some stress out of his shoulders. This wasn't even the body he originally wanted to steal...he hated this one out of all the previous one's he'd ever had. There were a few advantages to it, but it was weaker and slower than any other body he had, even with his slightly enhanced speed and strength. For once he had a body that actually reflected his spirit's true age...


His eyes turned back to Chill, and he grinned from underneath his beard. It was a fake smirk, but a believable one. Since Chill was an intelligence agent he'd probably already picked up on how the Old Man comment off set Aaron slightly...maybe. Aaron did pride himself on his ability to lie.


Aaron extended out a gloved hand from his pocket, and shook Chill's hand. It was obvious he was cautious of physical contact, as he hesitated for a brief moment. His eyes looked into Chills once more. "Aaron Winchester."


Then with a slight of hand, Aaron Slipped his hand off of Chill's, revealing he had slipped a few pain killer tablets into his hand while he was shaking it.


"Any idea what the hell just happened?"


@Zer0

 

[Orpheus]

Dusty

The room was unkempt as ever with the dust flying everywhere around the small lightly lit library. smoke wafted from almost all corners of the room as it added ashes to the dust that sprawled upon the wooden furnishings and cabinets, flying about like snowflakes with a sparkle from the light of the morning sun. incense had been placed in a few small areas, giving amber lighting to the perpetually untouched books and parchment as a few small candles were placed upon the corners of a small wooden slab in the very center of the room. the slab was metal and bloodied, swaths of red cotton piling up inside a mason jar on the side coupled by cleaner balls of cotton right next to it. an aluminum tray held metal tongs and clamps, along with a dozen curved needles and what looked to be a line of thread. on the other side was an odd jar holding odd glowing worm like things that undulated along with multiple others, and a bowl of hot water with a damp cloth hanging on its edge


The platform was spread out to lay Dyani, unconscious from his wounds and back in his normal human self as of the moment, looking face up at the ceiling as he slowly breathed every so often. next to him was Aidan, tending to the wounds he had suffered during the sudden encounter with the fiends as he slowly picked up a few, and quite bloated, glowing caterpillar like things and placing them inside a tray on his left hand. the worms were busy nibbling around on the Faunice's newly stitched abdomen, secreting an odd, slick, substance as they continued to engorge themselves around the darker areas of the cut, their glow starting to fade. They looked very similar to the ones glowing in the jar. Dusty was slow, but rhythmic in his pace as he let the worms take their fill before picking them up and moving them over back in the tray, by his right was an even more curious looking terrarium, jammed with dead sticks and leaves covered in silken threads. with a pair of tongs on his left hand he quickly swathed the slime covered wounds and took out the caterpillars into his tray his tail swaying ever so slightly in his duty, the quiet room giving him ease in his work.


"C'mon you little fatso's eat up"


he muttered as he spilled the contents of his tray into the terrarium and swathing the slime from the tray with cotton and splaying it onto his wounds.

https://www.rpnation.com/profile/28686-zer0/@Zer0

https://www.rpnation.com/profile/28686-zer0/https://www.rpnation.com/profile/37197-cosmic-cobalt/@Cosmic Cobalt

https://www.rpnation.com/profile/37197-cosmic-cobalt/

 

[Cosmic Cobalt]

Leoward Dyani Westen

​

LIBRARY

Dyani was only slightly aware of his surroundings, softly floating in his murky conscious and vaguely aware of outside sensations. He knew that he had transformed back into his human state some time ago, but he wasn't sure when. Time was just as blurry to him. He heard voices, just faintly in the distant. He shifted and murmured slightly in his sleep.

LIBRARY

LIBRARY

LIBRARY

He felt the bizarre sensation of many squirming but tiny bodies all over his wound. Normally, Dyani would have jumped up, screamed, and proceeded to flip out, but Dyani lay still as his skin tightened in minor disgust. It seemed to be working though, as he was feeling a bit better. His wound was stitched up, and now only a throbbing pain was left behind in his torso.


Dyani suddenly reached out and grabbed Dusty's arm. His fingers tightened, almost digging into the skin. Dyani's eyes only barely opened and his voice was hardly above a harsh whisper.


"Dusty..." He murmured. "Dusty. Thank you so much." His hand then loosened and fell back at his side.

​

DYANI'S ROOM

"Hey, thanks for the meal. I could get used to being waited on." Dyani grinned. The only response was a playful snort and the door being shut.

DYANI'S ROOM

DYANI'S ROOM

DYANI'S ROOM

Dyani's hands ran along the stitched wound on his side, courtesy of Dusty's handwork. He lay in his bed, propped up by a couple of pillows and swathed in blankets. His fingers traced the outline of his wound. It was going to scar. It was definitely going to scar. He tried to imagine it in his head. A large, big, ugly scar he was going to have for the rest of his life. Dyani stared hard at the floor, studying the pattern of the dappled light coming in from his window.


He was silent for a moment before he turned, dug his head into his pillow, and cried.


Big, angry sobs racked his whole body, his hands balling up the bed sheets in his hands. All he could think about was what he should have done. He shouldn't have left the President and his daughter. He should have been by their sides the whole time. He shouldn't have acted so reckless. On the battlefield, he really believed that he could do it. He had overestimated himself. He thought he could take whatever was thrown at him. His first big, important mission, and he screwed it up. His fingernails dug into the mattress, hot tears streaming out of his closed eyes.


Things hadn't really changed from all those years ago. He still had failed to protect somebody that had to watch over.


After a few moments, he calmed down. His pillows were damp and his bed cover was wrinkled. He took a few long, even breaths. He began to scold himself.


Come on, knock that off.


I just needed a moment.


Well, you got it. Now stop.


Give me a second.


Nope, you're done. Pull yourself together.


Dyani wiped his face on his arms, frustrated at his outburst. He ran his fingers through his hair, patting it down and trying in vain to make it look neater.


You can't do stuff like that. Remember, you gotta be the one that keeps his cool. The joker. The guy who always has a smile no matter what. What would people think if they saw you like that?


I know. It's just hard.


That's not an excuse. Dry your eyes and cut it out.


Dyani leaned back on the pillows, exhaling a long sigh. He then turned his attention to his meal, scarfing it down at an inhumane speed. Eating always made him feel better.

MENTIONS

@Orpheus

 

[Maeve Valor]

Serena walked down the halls of the Milson's mansion on the top floor. She now had a sling over her shoulder and arm from the wound she got just under her shoulder blade. She was thankful for being a vampire at the very least because she regenerated a lot quicker than she would have when she was previously human. Continuing down the hallway she walked into the observatory room and immediately walked up to one of her favorite places in the mansion. A small balcony that she could look out at to really good picture at the humans so oblivious to what's really out there in the world such as the existence of Libra. At least that was until the Raven King showed up and the Rift was unleashed. This time looking out at the balcony she didn't see humans oblivious to the world; instead she saw a world in havoc.


Serena thought back to the team of Libra members who were in the squad with her, how most of them became severely injured including herself. She heard later on that everyone survived, but she still felt bad that she couldn't help more. She felt bad most of all for Elena. This is why she never got close to those who were in the mission with her. She felt bad for letting her down.


"We all need to get stronger..." She said to herself finally trying to find strength in recognizing her weakness. She knew she needed to get stronger, but did not know where to start. She had gotten many years in training, but apparently with this battle it all meant nothing. Well at least I survived. She thought to herself which was a change from being pessimistic.


She could not stop thinking about the others though. But now she wondered who the others that were there were since she had either never seen them before or only saw them once or twice.


She sighed and leaned on the balcony resting her injured arm and the other one on it continuing to look out as she wondered how in the world could she get stronger to ensure the success of future missions instead of barely passing like the last one.

 

[Zer0]

- Chill Sandell -

"Raven King Aftermath, Carnival, Central Park"​

"Yeah, The Raven King just tied a Gordion knot." said Chill, impressed and surprised at the pills in his hands. He popped one in before asking Aaron to help him into an ambulance, where he got red tagged by a medic doing triage.


Chill was unusually light, like supporting someone made of cotton inside. His weight shifted as he moved. Sometimes his feet were heavy and sometimes it was his torso, but he was light enough to be easily supported with one arm.


"If that wasn't the philosopher's stone that he just placed inside the U.S. President's daughter, then I'm going to eat a kettle." said Chill gazing into the distance where Lily Milson was patching Elena up while medics and healers were preparing to transport the President. The air of their immediate area was blurry and shimmering with protective enchantments.


"You know what that means, and I hope I'm wrong, if they can't take it out without risking her life? We wouldn't be able to destroy the stone. And now everyone knows who has it . . . the factions will be after her now."


Chill sighed. "But that's just me imagining the worse case scenario, we don't know what's going to happen yet. So! You mysophobic?" he added in a lighter tone, looking at Aaron's gloves.


@Gilzar

- Worst Case Scenario -

"2nd November, 3:00 a.m., Milson Manor"​

"You're certain it's the stone?" said the U.S. Vice President anxiously. "It's really the philosopher's stone?"


"Yes, all the tests proved positive." said Mr. Milson, calmly.


A few members of Libra and a couple of representatives from the U.S. government were having a private meeting in the music room of the Milson Mansion. A warm fire was cackling in the fireplace, it's orange glow illuminating the strained face of the U.S. Vice president.


"And you can't get it out?"


"No, it's replaced her heart and is fused to her arteries, her lungs, the nerves of her thoracic vertebrae, and it's spreading to her bones."


"Is she going to die?"


"No, it actually saved her life. She's good as new, her wounds have completely healed with barely any scarring. The stone is enhancing her physical and biochemical composition, what we saw in the operation room could be the stone turning her immortal."


"This is a nightmare . . . Elena has just turned into the biggest, come-and-get-me goldmine in the history of mankind. The Deathwings, and the Elder Thirteen, not to mention the Assassin's Guild and the Grandwitch will be after her now . . ."


"What do you plan to do?"


"I'm not going to kill her, if that's what you're afraid of! If she could even be killed now . . . Dylan, Libra is one of the few organizations that I can trust. You have to find a way to get the stone out of her, or we'll be looking at the possibility of World War III. . . ISIS in on the move, just yesterday three terrorist cells have disappeared from the Philippines, Africa and Iraq, and I'm certain they've moved either here in Helsalem or in Washington."


"I understand. Rest assured, Mr. Vice President, I'll do all that I can."


(OOC: Anyone can be a part of this as someone who's actually there or eavesdropping)

- A Dark Meeting -

"4th November, Time unknown, Place unknown"​

"Can't believe father is allying with a walking corpse . . ." drawled a lady disdainfully, looking down her nose at a dark handsome young man sitting on a throne.


"Good morning to you too, Jormungand --- oh, I forgot, you go by Amy now." laughed the young man coldly. The vampires prowling in the shadows laughed with him. "What kind of a dragon queen goes by the name, Amy?"


"What kind of a vampire gives himself the name 'Drake'?"


The man on the throne stopped laughing, his cold eyes dangerously gleaming red.


"Did you want to be a dragon? Jealous perhaps of our wealth and our power?" said Amy, sneering. "Everyone knows about your fascination with dragons, Drake. But I'm not here to open old wounds . . . let's put the past behind us and get to the point. The Philosopher's stone, how do you plan to take it?

- Word on the Street -

"Following days Later"​

"The end is coming! The angel of death has appeared heralding the coming apocalypse!" yelled a crazy beggar man in the streets of Helsalem.


"Media says it's all a publicity stunt for a movie coming up next year; Yeah? What's the movie called?; The Raven Prince; Huh, nice title, hey I saw a roleplay in RPNation with a title almost like that."


"This is really awesome special effects, look at that thing it's so huge!"


"Did you hear about the gang war that broke out on Halloween? Yeah, some gangsters dressed up like scarecrows went around the city killing people, it was a massacre; Yeah, the whole city is in mourning . . . There's never been anything like this before; Who's the culprit?; I heard it was some terrorist; Really? I though it was some mafia boss; You think it could be ISIS?"


"They were real, I tell you! I am NOT crazy! They weren't human and I saw people just like us fighting them! I'm telling you it was like a Harry-Potter-Percy-Jackson-Kekkai-Sensen thing!; What? Get out of here; It's the truth! Why do you think the ministry is all hush hush about it?"

 

[Gilzar]

Aaron


"Mysophobic?" Aaron raised an eyebrow, and unfixed his eye from the window of the ambulance to look at Chill. Oddly enough, he actually started laughing a bit at the statement. "Yes, let's just put it like that." He chuckled, eyes glaring back out the window. His attention right now was fixed on the girl...."If that's really the Philosopher's Stone then why the hell did they put it into President's daughter? Safe keeping?"


"And to answer your question from a medical perspective...." Aaron glared back and saw both Paramedics were at the front, ignorant of the conversation. Once again his faced turned back to the window, eyes fixed on what the teams were doing as the Ambulance's engine was fired up.


"If that thing is really lodged in her chest I doubt there's a safe way to take it out...from my experience supernatural objects tend to get clingy when they enter normal Human bodies..." Truly, if it were up to Aaron he would just burn the girl to ashes and get the stone, simple as that. The destruction of the Philosopher's stone is far more valuable than that of any life, regardless of rank or creed. He wasn't going to be vocal about that opinion...the people he worked with now probably didn't like the simple, easier, less prone to die way of doing things.


"My guess is that things are about to get a whole lot more interesting. So we should probably heading back to the manor, where everyone else is traveling. Plus we could read up on this 'Raven King' and the Philosopher's stone...Maybe there's more to this than meets the eye."


Aaron then walked to the front of the Ambulance, and told the driver to go to the library. They starred at him in a shocked manner. "Dr. Winchester..."


They both awkwardly looked at each other. "Isn't the patient in critical condition? You know, the condition where we put people in ambulances and take them to hospitals?!"


"Yes, yes, yes... but he's fine now, I stabilized him. Look, just trust me here, take us to the manner right over...this address. I have all I need to treat him, this is very urgent."


The paramedics, though they gave Aaron very questionable looks, nodded their heads and turned the ambulance to the Library. It was only a few miles away...


In just the nick of time later they had arrived, and the paramedics took out Chill on a stretcher. Aaron waved them to him, as he held the manor door open for them


"Just set him on one of the tables up in the library. Yes, like that, very good. You can leave..."


Once the paramedics left, Aaron began unstrapping Chill from the stretcher. By now the painkillers probably should have taken effect...


"You should be able to walk now...take it easy...nothing rash now." His eyes turned to the other side of the room, where he could see a faunice working on an injured man. This looked to be the very same kind of faunice that was at the carnival, which meant he was also apart of Libra...great, just when he thought his work was done. Aaron trotted on over to Dusty, making his presence known by loud footsteps. "I'm a doctor. Don't worry." Aaron said to not cause any alert.


He approached Diyani beside the table. Diyani, whom he didn't know the name of at the time, looked to be in pain and just as bad of shape as Chill was. However, it seemed that the faunice was taking care of the wounds with some kind of healing power? "Do you want my assistance? I have pain killers on me..."


@Zer0 @Orpheus @Cosmic Cobalt

 

[Orpheus]

Dusty: Meeting the doc

Turing around the Yomko had been greeted by an odd elderly man, almost intimidatingly tall by Dusty's perspective yet, from what he knew of old men, may be a friend rather than a foe. nevertheless he cautiously replied to the man as he placed a hand near Dyani


"You are a doctor?"






The old man was also a doctor, he wondered of old men become doctors as they age, and if that a natural thing for the elderly humans. he scanned the man top to bottom, taken aback from a noticeable firearm on his effects, he'd have hesitated at first but, seeing as the primary threat was over in the first place, and Dyani's conditon...


"Alright, he's stable for now.... i stopped the bleeding... i need to take him someplace safe to treat him"


Dusty was in no position to start getting awkward about meeting odd people. there was a faunice dying as of now, and he could only wonder as to where the vampire girl went. the focus was on the elks well being for now.


"Are you fom Libra?"


the Yomko asked

https://www.rpnation.com/profile/10500-gilzar/

@Gilzar

https://www.rpnation.com/profile/10500-gilzar/

Dusty: A talk with the Patient

"You certainly did a number on yourself, those cuts were deep, your lucky your guts didnt spill out"




In any other circumstance the Yomko would've stuttered in even trying to talk to the man, he didn't know him much and Dyani thanking him was a slight overwhelm to him. he didnt need any thanks, honestly it was thanks to the old man that helped both of em here that he was even able to address his wounds. nevertheless, this wasn't any normal social situation, right now the Faunice was his charge, and he was the doctor as of this moment, he learned that from the professor. he took out the last caterpillar and swabbed the rest of the slime on to the now cleaned wound, placing the larvae in the terrarium as he took out a bandage roll.




"raise your hips..."




he asked of Dyani as he padded the incision on his abdomen with a gauge, damped in a bit of betadine. he took out some tape to fasten it in place as he wrapped around the bandage roll tightly and firmly around his waist. drying off the sweat from his noggin, he firmly tied up the bandage, cutting it with a pair of siccors as he heaved a sigh whilst falling backwards




"Honestly you better think for yourself when your in a fight, no ones gonna like it if you don't take care of yourself first.."




with the deed done, the boy washed his hands with clean water from a bowl. as he started to relax Dusty took out a long flimsy pipe, lighting the open end on it and slowly inhaled

https://www.rpnation.com/profile/37197-cosmic-cobalt/https://www.rpnation.com/profile/37197-cosmic-cobalt/@Cosmic Cobalt

https://www.rpnation.com/profile/37197-cosmic-cobalt/https://www.rpnation.com/profile/37197-cosmic-cobalt/

Brandon: Balcony Interloper

As Serena pondered upon the balcony roof top, the serene view vast in its scope and the wind cool as it wafted in her hair, something else had been making its own activity below the overlooking balcony. The sounds of dirt and crags started to form on the bottom of the veranda, increasing in intensity with the passing seconds with a faint glimmer of a voice chiming in the rhythmic scratching every so often. it almost sounded like a rat scurrying about the walls of cement, snitching its way closer and closer as the voice started to sound more like a heave of frustration.




"Damn... mansion, i always get lost somewhere, its like it was made to keep me out of it somehow..... "




the voice slowly became alot more audible, the voice of a man as he inched closer and closer to the balcony. all too suddenly a hand appeared from the bottom of the border, slapping its palm on the alabaster fencing of the balcony. what followed was the image of a disgruntled male, hair unkempt but down as his glasses needed some slight readjustment. his hair was almost grayish in tone, with a sharp point of thick eyebrows to boot, but what stood out more was a pair of yellow eyes that shined from his pale complexion.

"Finally... top floor.. hmm..?




perhaps he was a little to carried away from his little exertion, or perhaps he merely didn't see. but the moment he tried to look towards the balcony, all he could see was the crimson in Serena's eyes.




and perhaps it was a little shocking




perhaps it was the right thing to do




but after a pause of staring back at the vampire..... he gave a slight sniff..

https://www.rpnation.com/profile/7020-maeve-valor/https://www.rpnation.com/profile/7020-maeve-valor/@Maeve Valor

https://www.rpnation.com/profile/7020-maeve-valor/https://www.rpnation.com/profile/7020-maeve-valor/

https://www.rpnation.com/profile/28686-zer0/@Zer0

https://www.rpnation.com/profile/28686-zer0/

 

[Ensig]

<Blanca>


-Country Lane Coffee Shop, Blanca's Room-
​

"Ah--" Blanca, not expecting such a speedy response, let out a slight noise as Klaus pulled off her hoodie without delay. Once it was removed, Blanca wondered just why he had acted so quickly in her slow-minded state. Perhaps he actually took his time, but her sense of time was off? Or... Maybe it was actually that her request was more sudden than his action, thus causing his reaction to speed up? Not being able to decide which it was, Blanca looked at Klaus, who had yet to turn his face back to her, and spoke with her usual kind, almost motherly voice. "Perhaps it is sudden of me (to request your assistance in such a thing), but you may look if you'd like (as you've only removed my hoodie)... After that ('that' as in 'you fetch the Mana Lantern' as was requested of you), perhaps (we could) even more ('more' as in 'speak about other things') would be permitted (by the agents, as we have much to speak about)?"


Note: Poetic Perversion Ahead. While Suggestive, I've kept it within the limits of the rules (I think).

Unbeknownst to her, however, the young man hadn't removed just her Hoodie.


The grey threads that bound her bosom in the form of a tank-top, formerly pressed closely to her skin due to her hibernating state up until now combined with the slightly-raised temperature of her machine-filled room, had been clutched by young Klaus in his haste to comply to her request. In her addled state of mind, the change in temperature between her long-sleeved clothing and her bare white skin didn't register as anything more than 'a temperature acceptable with a tank-top on' -- which was an easy enough mistake to be made, even without her state of exhaustion.


Indeed, there had been times that she had gone for days without wearing a shirt at all, only to notice when she was about to put on protective gear to create a new machine. Thankfully, no one had entered her room during such times, much to her appreciation.


Thus, in the room filled with the mechanical humming of Webster, several other Mechas, and mechanical curiosities scattered along the floors and desks, Blanca now sat upon her dark-grey bed shirtless. Untouched hills, whiter than even the purest snow, clear of veins and impurities alike due to their bearer's ghostly nature, raised and fell with every quiet and lightly-labored breath. Men across the world saluted without knowing why, only to be jeered at by their female companions -- who also didn't know the reason for their sour mood.


Atop the wintry hills that would send chills across the skin of man and maiden alike sat what could only be comparable to cherry blossom trees. They bloomed the fairest pink, and struck a calm temperance with their presence alone, with one per pristine, cold hill. Perhaps it was due to their bearer's room, with the furthest presence to the outside world, that such a wonders of nature remained soft despite growing to adulthood. They had been hidden away through the centuries, never being seen by daylight nor anyone who would disturb them. Whether in their bearer's life or un-life, no one had seen such wonders.


Poetic Perversion finished.

Before Klaus could turn his head or reach, Blanca continued -- but only after giving a moment for gears to turn in her mind. With her tired state of mind, she hoped to give a proper conversation, one that would continue without lengthy pauses, so she moved to the next subject as quick as she could, but... Unknown to her, a couple of their teeth to broke off of her mind's 'gears' as she opened her mouth, causing her to skip her introduction to her desired change in topic: apologizing for being unable to speak about Klaus' apprenticeship; instead, she moved straight to the middle of what would have been her explanation for wanting to speak sooner than later. "I've heard that it is best to do such things ('such things' being 'organizing teacher-to-apprentice plans') early on, so... "


@Zer0

 

[Zer0]

-Chill Sandell -


" Milson Manor, Library"
​

"Thanks, Aaron." said Chill, relieved that he could now rest in a safe place. The Milson Manor was heavily protected by ancient enchantments and two guardian spirits named Black and White. It was unplottable on maps, and nothing can fly in or teleport in and out without Mr. or Mrs. Milson lifting the enchantments.





To the common folk who drive through the country, they only see the mansion as a grand boring place with a few gardeners and the Milson family going about their days as usual before they are suddenly reminded of some urgent appointment and then hurry along their way. The same thing applied to other Espers even if they were pressing their noses onto the window. The only way anyone was able to get in was if Mr. or Mrs. Milson gave them the address.


Chill closed his eyes sleepily . . . not even the busy sounds of the healers and medical staff bringing more injured agents into the library were able to fend off sleep, and he drifted off into a deep heavy slumber.




@Gilzar


(OOC: The two beings in the picture are the dual guardian spirits of the Milson Manor)

- Klaus Milson -

"Country Lane Coffee Shop, 2nd Floor, Blanca's Room"​

When Blanca said it was okay to look, Klaus interpreted it as 'she was wearing something decent underneath'. So he looked.


Blood spurted from his nose and he toppled off his chair. By the heavenly gates of Valhalla, never before had he beheld such splendor!


"I've heard that it is best to do such things early on, so... " said Blanca


"Definitely --- I mean, no!" Klaus shielded his eyes with the hoodie still in his hands, but couldn't help sneaking another glance, and then quickly looking away again. She was so beautiful. "Blanca, please put something on, I'm not that kind of guy, but I'm about to lose it!


"I really, really, like you, and I'm glad you like me this way too, but I don't want to sleep with you yet." said Klaus in quick succession, his tomato-red face still covered. "I've been researching dating tips and one thing guys get wrong is they rush into intimacy with their girlfriends and that becomes the focus instead of caring for each other, so when the hard times come they break up, since intimacy is too shallow to hold relationships together --- I don't want that to happen to us. You're really beautiful, but I'm really serious about you, so please cover yourself."




@Ensig

 

[Maeve Valor]

More thoughts swarmed her mind thinking "Maybe I should try different training techniques? Maybe I should incorporate new maneuvers into my battle. Or perhaps-" This brainstorm continued silently through her mind. In the distance she heard debris falling from the side of building from the old cement. She thought it was just the wind, but this soon changed when she heard the sound getting closer to her. She turned slightly to the side to get a look at who was trespassing her "spot" and saw a young man whom she also not seen before at the edge of the balcony having climbed it for some reason. She did a quick once over of the young man; from what she could tell because of the way he looked such as the unkempt hair and the casual clothing either he was a busy workaholic or very lazy. To Serena he seemed pretty normal but the only thing that tipped her off to thinking he was maybe of a different species besides human was because of plainly noticing the bright glowing yellow eyes. Aside from all this, she came to the conclusion that it didn't really matter. For now all she positively knew was that he climbed up the balcony for God knows what reason and he was in her territory... sort of. She knew it really belonged to the Milsons, but she liked this spot and no one ever really came there except for her. After a moment of them silently observing each other he gave a light sniff.


"Go climb a mountain, it's probably taller and will give you more exercise," she said sarcastically. "I don't care what could possibly encourage you or give you the idea to climb up here instead of taking the stairs. Either way, this is my spot to think. So you're options are to get lost or entertain me by proving why talking to you is worth my time." She held a hand out to him for leverage for him get over the edge and added one more thing, "Oh by the way, the name is Serena, and good luck with the latter if you plan on going that route, I had a pretty cruddy day," she scoffed at him and was going to use her other hand that wasn't being held out to grasp the edge for balance readying herself to help him over but the pain in her shoulder reminded her that she couldn't.


@Orpheus

 

[Gilzar]

Aaron


Now he was alone...in a strange manor. This place was not the norm for him, too big...too decorative. Too many sharp objects. What was even more odd about this place went by this place every single day on his way to work yet he never would have imagined that the inside of this place would be as eye-appealing as this. Was magic involved, or just a very clever design? Honestly, at this point after what he'd seen if it was magic he wouldn't be shocked...these people were full of surprises.


"Are you Libra?"


Aaron looked at Dusty quietly, not trying to interrupt his work. "Yes..." He muttered softly. It looked like he had gone above and beyond stabilizing this man's wounds. Behind the monotone glare that Aaron carried himself with, he was actually impressed. Was this just talent, or years of practice? Whatever it was, it didn't matter. Patient was saved, and Aaron wasn't needed anymore. There were other things going on, and Aaron wasn't about to waste his time on someone who really didn't require it. Turning his back to Dusty, he walked away to the bookshelves, grabbing the few books he could find on the philosophers stone, as well as on the rift.


"I'm Aaron, what's your name?" Aaron asked curiously, he might as well get to know his comrades.


@Orpheus

 

[Ensig]

<Blanca>


-Country Lane Coffee Shop, Blanca's Room-
​

Blanka blinked in surprise as she watched Klaus fall to the floor, blood trailing out of his nose in a magnificent arc as he did so. Moving past her bewilderment, she quickly took on an expression of concern as she recover and hide his face behind her hoodie. As he peered around it, she couldn't help but wonder if the nosebleed was an aftereffect of some sort from the battle.

"Definitely --- I mean, no!"

​

"E-Eh...?" Blanca's eyes widened slightly at his reply. 'So... It's not right to start early?' Blanca's pale face took on a red tint as she discovered her mistake. For an apprentice to correct their master's mistakes... Blanca's confidence as a teacher took a severe blow with just that. His objections wouldn't just end there, however.

"Blanca, please put something on, I'm not that kind of guy, but I'm about to lose it!"

​

Blanca's face reddened more at his comment, and she let out a light "Fue...?" as a rare expression of embarrassment combined with panic showed clearly on her face. 'S-So Tank Tops are no good either...? Just how long have I been...' Blanca covered her chest, unknowingly pressing them further against herself in an attempt to hide 'her Tank Top' as she came to her own conclusions. 'T-that's right... Klaus was at that age... I had even come to that conclusion earlier... To make such a mistake again is--'

"I really, really, like you, and I'm glad you like me this way too, but I don't want to sleep with you yet."

​

"-- Eh? Ah... T-That..." Blanca's entire face became bright red at his words, leaking odd noises as her fatigued mind tried to make sense of what he was saying. 'So... Erm... Perhaps his 'like' is 'like as a teacher'? Then, maybe 'sleep' is just 'be this close'? If that's the case, then he's simply referring to my clothing once again, but... Then why does hearing it make me...' As Blanca's mind went further and further into dismay, her heart's beating, usually calm and collected, surged alongside a feeling she had never experienced before.

"I've been researching dating tips and one thing guys get wrong is they rush into intimacy with their girlfriends and that becomes the focus instead of caring for each other,"

​

"G-Girlfriends... C-Caring for..." As steam seemed to rise from her head, Blanca's mind fell into an even deeper sate of confusion as it tried to decipher what the young man was talking about. 'Perhaps he's simply using the dating tips he had investigated -- likely because he's of the age to be interested in such things -- as advice for our situation...? Then, in that case, I'm the 'guy', and I'm being too 'intimate'?'

"So when the hard times come they break up, since intimacy is too shallow to hold relationships together --- I don't want that to happen to us."

​

"I-I see... S-So, then..." At that moment, Blanca's fatigued mind became convinced of Klaus' meaning. Her conclusion for this conversation was: 'If you become too careless, then our relationship as master and apprentice will dissolve; because I don't want that to happen, please be more aware of the fact that I'm a man!' In her current state of mind, that made more than enough sense. And so, even though her face had turned the deepest crimson it had been in both her life as a Ghost and as a living Human, she made an expression of understanding coupled with embarrassment as her student 'lectured' her.

"You're really beautiful, but I'm really serious about you, so please cover yourself."

​

With just those words, however, her expression lost all sense of understanding, and simply became one of complete embarrassment. Her eyes, glowing a light yellow in the dimly rit room, swam around the surroundings as she attempted to find a place for them to settle -- one away from Klaus. Quickly, she turned her entire face away from him, muttering to herself. "E-Eh...?! Klaus thinks I'm...B-Beautiful...?" In her head, she knew that he was simply saying so as a method of persuading her to take more care in her attire -- as to further his point. He even stressed how much he wished to remain her apprentice, and yet...


*Ba-thump*


Clutching her chest tighter (an action which caused them to practically spill out of her grasp altogether), Blanca meekly looked back at Klaus. In response, her heart sped up its pace. Looking away, it calmed down slightly. It was as though it were a metal detector designed to speed up whenever she saw him... 'H-He only said that because he wants me to be more considerate of his presence! It's nothing more!'


Convincing herself so and taking a deep breath, Blanca forced her mind to bring together a proper response once again. "I-I understand (so I'll pay proper attention from now on)..." Blanca turned back to face Klaus, her restless heart overworking itself under his gaze -- even if it was still hidden behind her hoodie. "I've never been in a relationship like this (i.e Master & Apprentice), so... Um... Even though it was embarrassing (to hear you reprimand me, I appreciate it)... I thought (that it would be alright to continue as I was,) that you would prefer it like this (i.e for me to continue acting as I had been)..."


Blanca looked down at the covers over her legs, fidgeting slightly as her mind struggled to continue formulating conversation. After a moment's rest she continued, now with a kind smile and a gentle tone. "To hear that I was wrong was (a shock, but thank you)... (It's) a relief (that you spoke up so soon)..."


"A-Also...!" Blanca looked up to face Klaus, only for her complexion to redden again. To recover, she turned her eyes away, looking at the wall beside her instead. "For calling me beautiful, (even if it was only to further your point) thank you..."


Mustering her courage once again, she forced her eyes back to Klaus to return his complement as a show of thanks. "I also think that... Klaus is...Quite handsome..." By the end, her words had turned near-silent, almost drowned out by the sounds of machines around her. With her heart threatening to burst from her chest, a sudden thought occurred. 'Because it's unrelated to a point, wasn't there no need to say such a thing...?'


There was a momentary pause before the pale ghost looked away, laid down in her bed, and pulled her covers over her head in a hurry, as to hide her embarrassment. And like that she remained quiet, hoping that her heart would stop its incessant throbbing.


((-Throws up sugar internally-))


@Zer0