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Post by LHudson on Feb 17, 2017 19:11:16 GMT
- NATASHA MCCALL - THE TOWER - TOWN CENTRE - MORNING (BGM) McCall kept her gaze at the windows, some people taking notice of her but most of the inhabitants were too busy to engage in holiday cheer. To be fair, neither did she, but it only served to remind her of the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty that penetrates even the toughest of circles. The sun started to seep through the clouds, only mildly but enough to shut off the inside from the outside. A faint reflection of the young woman now stood in it's place, and the grey background now flooded around her. Her breathing steadied, all sound around her was shut off, and the faint plucks of her guitar strings didn't add anything. "Nat!" cried out someone from below. She glanced and saw someone by the entrance to Tower proper. Male, blue, and familiar. Johnny? she thought to herself, and began lowering herself down to the floor near him. The strings continued plucking as the coat Manuel gave her zipped itself up, and in a matter of seconds, she landed on the floor. She gazed at the man who save her weeks prior, and let out a smile. "Hey Sonar," she muttered out, slightly embarrassed by her choice of wear, and relieved that he was safe after the time apart.
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Post by Adam on Feb 20, 2017 1:00:52 GMT
THE SONS OF CRIMSON TIE-IN
CARMINE | Christian Reid Secure Location, Scarlet City - Night "You been up to much over the past two years?" Christian took a deep breath. He was friendly; that was a good sign. Too often had Foley masked disdain or ill-will behind funny anecdotes and jests. Christian could never be too sure. "For a while... not so much." he thought carefully about his words, "But I've fallen in with a new crowd. Some good people."
ANOMALY | Rory Cross The Tower - Morning Rory stood in the hall of some high-up Tower floor, his back leaning against a wall as he stared into his mobile phone. He wore a black bomber jacket with its sleeves rolled up, over a blue tee, as well as cropped, dark jeans. With a smile on his face he flicked through the local news, his legs crossed as he lounged back. The upper floors were accommodation for Tower agents and therefore - luckily - mostly empty. It had been three weeks since Rory had returned to Heartania and he wasn't sure how to feel. He was overjoyed to be back on good terms with Alf, though understandably Alf's time had been more than occupied with his recently not-deceased brother Rhys, a man Rory could never seem to warm to. Perhaps Rory felt pushed out. Jealous. Perhaps he was justified. In his five years as Argent Mind's sidekick; as Alloy, Alf rarely spoke about Rhys. Rory knew all that Alf had suffered before he met him; his brother, his wife, his daughter, and he knew that Rhys' death was the beginning of the end for Alf... but Rory never got to know much about him. Three weeks Rory had been working with The Tower and he'd keep asking himself the same question; where was everyone? Of course there was Starlass, Argent's latest and greatest prodigy - publicly shamed and exposed by Marshal Maleficus - it made sense that she was MIA, and there was Knight who, by all accounts, disappeared with no explanation one night; never to be seen again. But what about everyone else? For three weeks Rory had been living here and he had spoken to two agents that weren't Alf, and that was Harrington and one of the lab technicians; briefly. He was sure that some of them would have scurried off home to whatever hole they originated from for the holidays to spend the season with family. Family. Fourteen long years he'd spent without a family, since his abusive parents died in a fire. It was Christmas Day. Rory wondered where Alf was. Did Alf even celebrated Christmas anymore? He didn't know. Still... Alf was his family now. His smile as good as gone Rory dragged his finger across the screen of his phone and pulled up Alf's contact. His finger hovered over the call button for a few seconds. " Ping!" It was Backlash. Mason Vance; Kinetic Warden's old sidekick. It'd been years since Rory had spoken to him; years since he'd spoken to Clyde even. Rory had never understood Mason's manner, so patient, so hard to read... but he used to be a friend... despite their prior mentors' differences. It was Christmas Day and Rory was in the mood of rebuilding bridges, plus he could use the company. Send. Rory pocketed his phone and sat forwards, smiling to himself once more. Dutifully, he pulled himself into the nearest lift and sent himself down to the lobby after grabbing a scarf from his room and fastening it under his jacket. Moments later he emerged in the lobby, giving a cheesy finger guns to the receptionist as he passed. He came to the door and waited as the receptionist willed it open. The icy breeze of the wintry city hit him with a surprise as he emerged to find a blond young man and a short young woman with white hair and a coat that was clearly too big for her. His eyes squinted as his hands moved into his pockets. The boy had just left the Tower lobby and it seemed that he girl had just descended from the sky. Confidently, Rory swaggered up to the boy and placed his arm around him, staggering down slightly to his height as he leaned on him. He addressed the girl with a smile and an overenthusiastic tone, fighting against the wind to be heard. "Pleased to meet you!" he held out the hand he didn't hold across the boy's shoulders, "The Tower; how can we help?"
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Post by LHudson on Feb 21, 2017 19:48:57 GMT
- BRENDAN FOLEY - THE STREETS - SCARLET CITY
"I've fallen in with a new crowd. Some good people."Foley smiled. "Great to hear. Good to hear that you've really picked yourself up." Foley paused for a second, needed a moment to think. Christian, good guy, managed to climb out of the hole that Foley is happily in. Worked hard, stayed out of the police's sights, and now has a new circle who would maintain his position. On the other hand, Foley knew that he would have a difficult time getting inside the bank, and as selfish as it was Christian could get the job done quick. He had one direction. "Look, I know that you've worked hard to keep yourself off the raider and be with some good people, but..." deep breath, a sigh came out. "...I hate to ask this but I need your help. If you don't want to do it, that's fine, I won't hold it against you and I won't offer anything of the sort again. But it would make things a lot easier if you could help. More than happy to pay." Ball was in Christian's court.
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Post by Jaminx on Feb 24, 2017 23:16:36 GMT
Haley sat in Sasha's apartment the Christmas pudding half eaten and the vodka bottle already polished off many hours ago, a feat that left her feeling more than little bit guilty considering she wasn't even sure they had reached afternoon yet.
"Screw it. So damn dignified like you promised yourself." She grumbled to herself as she flicked through channels on the television mainly to make sure there was noise to attract Hank when he turned up.
"You can crawl your way out of the bottle but the bottle sure ain't leaving you alone."
She stopped the channel flicking as it landed on some old holiday rom-com. Her eyes already filling with tears before they even got to the first bit of romance. It had been a hellish few weeks and among other things she felt lonely. Where was her interesting male lead that she had a bitter back and forth with before realising they were made for each other. The pity party was interrupted as a banging came from the door.
"Sasha! I've come back you need to let me in."
Tear filled eyes filled instead with blackness. A minute later the door clicked slickly open by an unseen hand.
"About damn time woman!" Hank growled as he strolled inside."You shouldn't keep me waiting bitch. Play times over alright."
The door clicked shut as the lights turned out.
"Yes, let's play." A voice sultrily echoed from behind him.
--
Ali had finished her call to the police.
"They're dead. Yes they tried to kill me but its going to be hard for you to believe me." Once those words had left her mouth and she had gone through the rigmarole of what her address was, asking please not to put any sirens up, there was no danger, not anymore. They likely would anyway. She was sure she sounded more than a bit crazy but it didn't matter.
Instead she called through to the Tower. The shakes were finally beginning to get to her. She had killed someone. Not on purpose but they were still dead and she was still coated in both their blood.
"Hello it's um Ali I mean Sanator Hippocratia. I need some help, I know i'm not technically one of you guys anymore but I was just attacked and my power kicked in and they're dead instead of me. I swapped my death for theirs. I don't know how i'm going to explain this to the police.. Oh god. Just if you can send help to explain please do. Thank you."
Ali sat quietly by her front door then until she could hear the sirens a couple of minutes later. She was unsure at this point if she really was alive as she could see figures coming across her lawn. Oh well she would have to answer the door whether she was alive or not. It was the right thing to do after all.
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Post by Adam on Feb 25, 2017 0:03:17 GMT
BACKLASH | Mason Vance Residence of Ali Severells - Morning Mason pulled himself down the street, his sidearm drawn and aiming forward. Behind him followed three men, each also toting handguns. They each threw their car doors shut and pushed forward to catch up with him. Mason sighed, thinking of Rory after having been pulled away to police business. They were supposed to be meeting. It was Christmas Day. Perhaps he could still make it back in time. Mason had been part of the SCPD for seven years now, already an experienced officer when he split from the Kinetic Warden to become Backlash. Mason had patrolled the streets as the Warden's Deputy and seen what Scarlet City was capable of; he knew their police department was horrifically corrupt for many years, and so Mason had taken it upon himself to infiltrate their ranks and attempt to target their corruption from the inside while also cleaning up the streets and collecting information for him and Clyde, and later just for his solo endeavours. But now since he was in Heartania he took it upon himself to take up a position at the HPD. This was his second week, and it was honestly a shock to be around so many honest policemen. "So it's self defense?" grumbled Detective Jones as they made their way down the hall. "'It's gonna be hard to believe me'!" another - Officer Lucas - imitated the suspect with a feigning, mocking tone, "I can't believe I got pulled away from Christmas turkey, for this." "Lucas! Jones!" Mason hissed turning back to scorn them, "Someone is dead. Shut it." "Where's your partner, Vance?" "Spending Christmas with her family. Her dad was injured in the Scarlet attacks but he'll live. Now come on." "Yeah," the fourth man growled, slightly taller than the rest of the men and noticeably older by a good five years, "I'm with Vance. Let's just get this done." Carefully, the police approached the door of the house they'd received the call from. There was a crisp chill in the air, as to be expected from winter, so much that it periodically beat the breath from some of the men. Lucas took a deep and, along with Jones, braced himself against the wall. They pulled their weapons up while Detective Vance moved to wrap on the door. Behind him, the fourth man; Sergeant Hull readied his weapon. Wrap, wrap, wrap. "Miss. This is the police." he boomed through the door, concerned but not cruel, "We need you to unlock the door, step back, get on your knees and place your hands on your head."
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Post by Jaminx on Feb 25, 2017 0:11:09 GMT
Ali opened the door slowly making sure that they could see her empty hands all the time. It hurt to stand without her cane, she was usually fine around the house but the stress of everything was making her joints seize up.
She wondered what they must be thinking when they saw her. She was coated in blood, her face chest and arms a congealed mess. There was a large hole in her shirt at chest height too going straight through the centre of her to reveal more blood slick smooth skin. Calmly she kneeled unable to to really look at their gaze as she put more focus into not falling over as the pain there unbalanced her.
"Valentine is in the kitchen. Its straight down the hallway." Ali spoke as clearly as she could before she burst into tears again. The tears burned and she swallowed them down.
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Post by Adam on Feb 25, 2017 0:43:57 GMT
BACKLASH | Mason Vance Morning - Residence of Ali Severells The men each rushed in, co-ordinated and swift. Their guns raised, Jones and Lucas immediately pushed past the suspect with no time to react to the mess she was. They charged through the kitchen. "Sweet Jesus!!" Mason heard their immediate reaction from down the hall. He heard Lucas' cry and shortly after, the retching and heaving of Detective Jones. With his weapon trained on the suspect, his sergeant danced behind the woman shouted out, "What we got in there?" "..." "We got a body, sir. Hole in the chest. H- Heart's on the floor." "W- What!" Hull exclaimed, shooting a glare at the suspect in disbelief. He huffed and turned to Mason, "Cuff her and watch her." And as quickly as they had marched in, Hull charged through his join his men in the kitchen. "Holy shit!" Not haven spoken since he'd entered the building, Mason took deep breaths as his continued to aim his weapon at the suspect, his hazel eyes wide. They were alone together. "You?" he was in disbelief. He recognised this woman. This was Sanator Hippocratia, the hero. The two barely met before. Not formally. Clyde went into exile a whole eight years before Mason became his Deputy, and the Sanator had been distant from the other heroes since. And when they were all called back to fight the Destroyer Legion ten years ago - when Mason had three years under his belt - he only briefly interacted with Clyde's comrades once and they certainly never exchanged names. Mason never got to fight in the big leagues in that period. Clyde insisted. But he remembered her, her eternally serene manner and her... well her tight fitting nurse's outfit. But Mason remembered her most as the woman who never looked Clyde in the eye. He was perceptive like that. He always wondered what their history was, something scandalous he was always sure. Mason coughed, perking up. He saw her timid frame unable to support her weight. "Can you stand?" he asked, concerned but still authoritative, "Take a seat if you need."
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Post by Jaminx on Feb 25, 2017 1:33:04 GMT
"I can, just about, well I can for a while but my knee will give out in about five minutes. You get used to the pain over the years and after what they see in there no one else is going to care about my pain." Ali replied softly giving a timid smile to the tall dark haired man standing above her. The smile fell quickly as a part of her screamed to shut down, that showing any emotion would get her jailed. Behind that she could hear the screams that haunted her dreams but with a new voice added. A happy voice that chilled her.
"You should probably put the cuffs on. I'm a hell of a pacifist but right now I am covered in blood and I wouldn't trust me."
She held out her wrists shivering a little as the cold from the open front door hit the holes in her clothing.
"I guess I did it in a a sense. Do you know what kind of hero I used to be?" She couldn't stop the words as they came out, it was silly but she needed to talk. The last few months had eaten at her. The fight with Clyde, the pile of dead, the slow healing with Valentine now ripped to shreds in her kitchen. It was a confession, it may well send her to prison but right now she didn't care.
"I'm a healer and my big special power is that I can swap the wounds of one person with the health of another. Sounds great right? I guess everyone always forgets that the wound still exists. That even the one you heal felt all that pain and knows they've given that anguish to another person."
"I'm so sorry. I should have just died. Just taken the pain as they ripped out my heart, it wouldn't have mattered." No tears now. Just hard sad words.
-- "Now Hank you've been a very naughty boy. So naughty you've ended up on Santa's naughty list. Ever heard of Krampus Hank?" The voice seemed to glide around him as he slowly tried to back away bumping into a chair as he couldn't see in the dark of the apartment.
"He puts naughty people away in his big old sack ready to drag them to hell. To burn them, drown them, hurt them."
Hank shivered as long finger nails traced down his spine. He spun lashing out with one hand as the other went racing to the gun at his waist only to be yanked to the floor a heavy weight straddling him so he couldn't move his arms. His breathing was heavy as little air could get into his lungs.
"I've come to make you pay."
The voice was so close that he swung his head trying to slam into it only to meet another clawed hand. His vision was slowly getting stronger in the dark as he struggled. He would get this bitch off of him and then he would find Sasha make her pay. Then he saw it. The black eyes and hard unforgiving skin, the lips that drew back in a nasty smile revealing sharp little teeth that drew closer and closer to his throat.
That was when he screamed in panic clawing his way away to the door. He could hear the thing moving behind him, the laughter the scratch of its claws as it followed, he stormed out the door. Right into the waiting arms of a police officer. Haley had called them not long before, putting on a concerned neighbours voice about a man she had heard bothering Sasha earlier who now seemed to be breaking into the apartment while her neighbour was out. Then she had let him in.
"Gotya. You are in a host of trouble Hank."
"Monster!" He quivered pointing back inside.
"Yeah right. I reckon this one is high as a kite." The second cop rolled her eyes stepping in and turning on the light to reveal the empty room, a little chilly from the open window at the back.
"Lets get him booked for breaking and entering on top of breaking his restraining order again."
Haley shook as she sat on the roof of the building completely naked her fingers nails slowly receding. It had been close to her limit. It was always close to her limit these days but she had managed and when Sasha got back she might even get to feed.
"Merry bloody Christmas." She laughed to herself as she went through the bag with her clothes and Christmas pudding that she had grabbed on her way out. Her smile growing wider as she watched Hank get dragged into a police car on the street far below.
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Post by iCaramelBird on Feb 25, 2017 23:14:21 GMT
- THE SHERIFF -
Scarlet City; a day after Insurgency The shallow streets of Scarlet City only grew darker in the distance, an odd morning mist already beginning to circle its way through every nook and cranny as James stepped off the bus. A punctured tire had already caused enough delay and now he simply wanted to covet himself in his home as soon as possible. Only a few passengers began to slowly flood the streets, scowling and snarling as their whispers soon drowned out behind corners and distance, the rest of them quickly walking and making their way through the city on their own accord. James sighed, he wondered if there would be some sort of cheap motel at this hour, but like many, this was a city that never slept, like its residence at least one eye would be kept open; total fear was instead masked as common sense.
If there was anything he would need right now, it was scotch, the dark bruises and deep gashes were barely healed, and he wondered if drinking was the right thing to do right now. Having basically been exiled from his newfound home, and after the horror he endured yesterday, he barely even recognised himself as he stumbled into the bar, watching the somewhat loud patrons beginning to enjoy themselves as they slurped down the amber liquids in glasses of all shapes and sizes.
The moment he found himself sitting at the barstool, his order only took a few moments before it was in his hands and half-empty as he instantly felt a small sense of relief flood through his body, too instilled with his own thoughts to even begin noticing the young and dark haired boy that sat down on the empty stool beside him, or even until he suddenly noticed the absence of many patrons.
“Rough night?” James asked, taking a curious glance to the clearly tired boy beside him, no older than sixteen from the looks of it.
“Something like that,” The boy simply replied. James went back to his drinks, undisturbed. In fact, it was only until he noticed the two large and domineering men adorned in leather jackets, that his back straightened, no longer hunched over the bar as he stopped drinking, listening as the conversation beside him grew louder, and more hostile.
“You’re coming with us,” One of the men growled as they suddenly dragged at the boy, James only taking a somewhat shocked glance before another one of the men glared at him.
“Don’t try anything either,” The other man growled towering over James who stood up, glaring at him as the barman had already left.
“Look, I’m not doing anything, just don’t-”
Before James could even do anything, he already saw a fiery hand press closer to the boy’s face, watching as he suddenly jumped at the man and pushed his fist away. James watched as he saw the familiar orange hue in the corner of his eyes, barely able to hear anything as fire, more ferocious than he had ever seen before swam in his vision. Bolts of fire came at him and he immediately felt his hands connecting with the flames, the heat making them sweat as the fire was redirected, shock on the men’s faces as the fire fanned back at them, knocking them down quickly as he glanced towards the pale faced teenager. It wasn’t until he suddenly saw one of the men immediately getting back up, a dagger swinging at him as he barely dodged the swings before a punch came his way. Falling back. his face hitting the bar as before he could even understand what happened, he felt a sharp pain causing him to yell out as the dagger stabbed through his left hand, watching as he tried to instinctively tear away from the pain, only causing more flesh to tear away and more pain.
As the man came back clutching his dagger out of the hand and letting the blood flow over the floor, James watched as a barstool smashed over the head of the man, revealing the teenager from the staggering man and as they turn, James quickly kicks at them, another ray of fire smashing into their back and he could see their jacket burn away, scars soon revealing themselves on fair skin.
With his hand bloodied, he looked up in his vision that started to blur ever so slightly, clutching at it and watching more blood trickle through his fingers, he only exchanged one shocked glance at the boy, the pain burning away at him.
Shit.
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Post by Adam on Feb 26, 2017 2:18:32 GMT
BACKLASH | Mason Vance Residence of Ali Severells - Morning Mason stood still as he watched the woman hold her wrists out to be cuffed. He holstered his weapon and slowly he moved forwards and carefully moved her arms behind her back, cuffing her wrists together. As Mason stood behind he spoke, "You didn't want to hurt this person. I believe you." Mason took a deep breath, "It was self defense, and if this person was capable of ripping out your heart bare-handed... well I think using your powers was necessary force. You didn't deserve to die." At least that's what I believe. Still, there's a procedure. I... I'm sorry." Mason moved away and quickly brought a wooden chair over to Ali, placing it down beside her. "Now please, sit down, I don't want you to hurt yourself."
= SPIRIT WAR PRELUDE =
PHOBOS Central Park - Morning Central Park, Heartania. It had been months since the mysterious phenomenon had started, since dark creatures began to take form in the park, when the trees and plants twisted and grew into disgusting, unearthly shapes and colours. While the government had attempted to clear out the abominations that plagued the park for months the forces that controlled the park were relentless. Soon after, they had instead elected to close off the park, leaving it a desolate hellscape. However the park was the residence of one man; the Revenant Titan; Phobos. From the greyed trunk of a twisted tree, wisps of blackness emerged and coalesced, wrapping themselves around each other until they took the form of the black-cloaked man. Phobos looked across the park, watching the trees shift and writhe around as if they were alive. He watched the dark creatures, spanning from the smallest shadows to larger, Lovecraftian abominations dance about, giving no notice to him at all as if he were at home with them. Phobos then glanced up, past the otherworldly canopy of greys, greens, purples and black to the murky blue, winter sky that shone its meagre light. It seemed everything in the city was dark and grey, not just the corrupted park. Phobos stood in the clearing he had found himself and began to muse. It was Christmas Day, he knew that, though he didn't understand what that meant. He had memories, bits and pieces. It was a happy time, a time he had spent with his family, with the special people in his life... and then suddenly it wasn't so happy. He remembered Christmas suddenly becoming gloomy, grey and mournful. Why? He looked across the walls, to the city that surrounded the park; the tall buildings reaching into the sky. He had had no luck in identifying the Ascendant Champion, and thus far he had few no words from his instructors; the voices had been quiet. His mission was to eliminate the Ascendant Champion and destroy any Spirit World anomalies lurking in the mortal plane. Phobos had just defeated his first quarry; a monster known as the Black Bat, large in size, that plagued the skies of Heartania at night. Before he had killed the beast it had nightly rounds of swooping down and abducting people from the streets and caging them in its nest as a source for food. Just two nights before Phobos had managed to track the beast down to its nest and kill it, freeing what remained of its captives. He remembered they had attempted to herald him as a hero, though he never even considered their lives when tracking down and fighting the beast. Only his mission. But now there were no leads, no voices or feelings seeking him to find some dark creature, only emptiness and lost memories. Christmas Day. He was a dead man; he was previously dead. Phobos wondered how long he had been dead before he returned. Who had he left behind? Where they still around? How were they spending Christmas without him? He had no worldly connections, no friends... but there was this one place, where people were happy and joyful, where people didn't judge. A bar. He looked back to the city and marched forward, his cloak, hook and mask turning to smoke around him as he passed the threshold of the park gate, leaving him clad in black combat trousers, boots and grey winter coat. As he had learned, he needed money to sustain himself in this world; to spend on food and clothing, and so he made his way to work at the bar. APOLLO | Jay Hearne Central Park - Morning Jay wandered and pushed through the twisted, wicked foliage of the haunted park. For weeks he had felt like he was being followed; like he was being watched, and along with that came a feeling, a haunting feeling that he couldn't shake; a dark presence. But now Jay had had enough and wasn't willing to let this presence follow him; he was going to track and down and end it. And so Jay had at long last tracked it here; a place of great darkness that seemed to shine even blacker on this Christmas morning. It wasn't just the dark creatures that manifested here, there was another presence. Perhaps... two? A roar erupted from the ground as the very shadows below him lurched to life. From the ground emerged five black beings that twisted and turned as they metamorphosed into the tall, familiar shape of a hooded archer; his own dark reflections. Jay gasped as the first lunged at him, its dark claws oozing and dripping as it attacked. Jay clenched his teeth and jumped back, narrowly dodging, and as he did he gave a quick flash of light; his civilian clothes instantly replaced with his radiant, white costume, mask and hood. He was Apollo. Jay skidded as he landed and quickly reached forward with his left hand. Clenching his fist, the spectral white bow materialised in his hand with another flash. A second creature dropped to the ground and pounced towards Jay, moving wildly like a feral animal. He thrusted his bow forwards and collided it against the airborne creature, the two smacking into each other. Jay winced as the dark claws scraped his left wrist, leaving purple scratch marks across his skin and a burning pain. He pushed forward and forced the monster away, staggering it as another made its move, charging him on two feet. Jay reached forward with his right hand, meeting his left that continued to grasp the spectral bow. He clasped his right hand shut and quickly pulled back, the blue spectral bowstring suddenly appearing in his grip. Drawing the bow, a white projectile manifested in the path of his hand, a light arrow. Release. Light shot into the closest beast, decimating it as it turned to smoke with a groan. Jay smiled, drawing another arrow and eliminating the second charger. Things began to slow. The remaining three now surrounded him, turning around him as they periodically remerged with the ground to change positions. These creatures were indeed dark, but left Jay only with a tingle. They were the work of a greater darkness. 3, 2, 1. Swiftly Jay spun around, rapidly firing arrows into the forms of each of the remaining creatures while they waited to attack, dispatching each of them. What caused this park's darkness? Where did the beasts that seemed infinite in number come from? All around him, despite seeing nothing, Jay could feel the surrounding presence of smaller darknesses, waiting to strike. That's when he felt it; the presence he had been tracking. A black blur darted across his vision, leaving a rustling in the trees. He had to give chase.
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Post by Jaminx on Feb 26, 2017 16:34:10 GMT
Ali sat down heavily on the chair her leg beginning to twitch in a way that she wanted to hold tight but couldn't with her hands behind her back.
"Thank you and don't be sorry lad as I said I wouldn't trust me right now. Whats your name?" She was beginning to get back to herself, the normal slight numbness that allowed her to keep moving even if her head was still full of pain.
"You don't have to answer." She added a beat after her manners following a little further behind.
--
Haley had got dressed and out of her apartment after watching Sasha through the fish eye lens on her door return home and go through a tearful interview with the police that radiated glee and satisfaction. A little knock at her door not long after had revealed a plate of cookies and a note that just said thank you.
It was a nice action that she boxed away in a tub but she couldn't get over the feeling of her skin crawling at her actions, of the emptiness of her apartment combined with the emptiness of her life. She needed a quick burst of energy to feel alive or at least feel drunk enough that it didn't matter but the appeal of drinking alone again so early in the day had worn off. Instead she trudged her way through the city in a reasonably seasonal outfit in the fact that her tank top under the coat had a picture of two puppies kissing under mistletoe and she had added a red Christmas bow to her coat.
She stepped into a bar she hadn't been in before drawn by the sounds of music and people. It was her first stop but she doubted she would stay long before finding another bar. Being around a crowd this long with all their inhibitions down was like sitting at an all you could eat buffet while starving yourself. She needed them but it was too much all at the same time.
For now she strolled up to the bar tender squeezing in beside a couple of burly brothers who were competing in stories about who had broken the most bones over the years. Their buddies just shook their heads as Haley half listened to them.
"Hey could I have a double vodka, please." She called out to the bar tender flashing them a lopsided smile.
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That's clamtastic!
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Post by VirtueNco on Feb 26, 2017 18:10:00 GMT
SONAR | JOHNNY ANDERSON -- Tower Exterior -- Johnny half-stared as his dear friend landed from her early morning flight, not registering her greeting as his mind swam. Bad timing. Bad timing. Bad timing.He shook his head, not wanting to worry Natasha, and gave her a forced, lopsided smile. "Bit chilly for a sightseeing tour, isn't it?" he joked, knowing he could always fall back on humour to bury his misgivings. "Looking for a new album cover photo maybe?" Johnny was interrupted by a new voice from behind him. Looking over his shoulder, he spotted a man he'd seen wandering around the Tower from time to time, but never really bothered to meet. As he was about to greet him, he was shocked when the stranger walked right up and put his arm around him, as if they were old friends reuniting. Never one to turn down a friendly face, Johnny's gloom left his thoughts for a moment as he wrapped his arm around the stranger in a similar fashion, locking them in a sideways embrace resembling a family photo. "Figured I could enjoy a bit of minty fresh air, you know? It was going well until this one came along and took my breath away." Johnny gestured to Natasha with that, knowing the cheesy line would probably get on her nerves. He received a handshake with his free hand, winking as he introduced himself. "Sonar, Tower Operative, and I figure you're the same? Got a cool superhero name for yourself there, friend?"
= SPIRIT WAR PRELUDE =
THE EYE | FOURTEEN -- Central Park -- He'd been on the trial for weeks, and finally fruit was bearing. Rumours were spreading across the city about new faces since the Battle of the Citadel. A white-clad archer, someone the Eye himself had witnessed in action from afar, was roaming the streets, though very little was known about him. He wasn't affiliated with the organisation calling themselves 'The Tower', yet he showed all the behaviours of a hero. The fact he seemed to appear and fade away at will, however, was what intrigued Fourteen. The archer was like a ghost, by many accounts, and ghosts were very interesting compared to the usual. Then there was the matter of the blood red moon, the strange phenomena that occurred almost immediately after his accomplice, Sin Shaman, disappeared at the strange relic's touch. The Eye hadn't heard back from her, but the uncanny timing seemed too close to be a coincidence. There were rumours about that of course, though far less since social hype on the matter died down, but many included urban legends about the cursed park. The Eye, naturally, knew the park was manifesting magical properties long before the blood moon, but that didn't mean it wasn't worth investigating. With a few sightings of mysterious activity in the area, including possibly the white archer himself, the spirit decided it might be time to revisit Central Park. On arrival, he was greeted by hostility. Strange creatures had emerged from the unnaturally dark shadows flooding the area, charging the Eye with ebony teeth and claws bared. With his power he had dispatched them quickly, but reasoned that should they attack again, they were at best an inconvenience and at worst an indicator of his presence. So, he took to the air, floating on one of his disks as it dashed through the canopy. He could've sworn he saw a white streak below him among the darkness. Suspicious.Bringing his disk to a slow pace, he waited behind the nearest bushy treetop, to see if the bright spot would show itself again.
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Post by LHudson on Feb 27, 2017 0:35:16 GMT
- NATASHA MCCALL -THE TOWER EXTERIOR - HEARTANIA"Well..." Natasha was about to continue answering before a third person entered the mix. Older than the two, judging from his voice tone, and much taller. Johnny seemed to be fine with the interaction, though she wasn't too sure how to move. She was inappropriate gear, and the wind was making her hair waving, sometimes hitting her face with force. She plucked a string from her guitar, and the sound kept her hair behind her head. "Well, I've been shut in my home for some time, and since I'm going to be around for a while, I thought I'd get to know the place a bit more. And hey, Christmas." She wanted to address both of them, hopefully didn't want to come across as rude. "Sorry for the clothes," she added. She looked up to the sky; it still maintained it's overall tone of hope and melancholy. She looked back down and took a good look at the two men. "So...you two up to anything?"
- CLAUDIA KRAMER -TOWN SQUARE - HEARTANIA
( BGM) The point of no return had crossed.
Across the square stood the interim courthouse that would house Claudia's hearing, surrounded by photographers waiting to see what had become of Claudia in the few weeks since her brother was killed. Vultures waiting for their time, and a few hundred yards away stood a cloaked girl preparing to walk through it all.
She thought about running, running away and attacking the people who killed Jon, but as Ben said the curse was also a blessing. It was holding everyone back, and she needed to buy as much time as she could. With a deep breath, she started her walk towards the courthouse.
Her breathing slowed as her focus switched to the front door, walking past people on their way to their business or whatever plans they had for the day, taking no notice of the woman who had contributed to a major event earlier in the month. The photographers waited patiently for their prey, and as she got closer, they soon got it.
Soon her vision was clouded, obscured by the noise caused by the questions and the flashes of the cameras. It was all a haze, though she was able to make out some of the questions they asked.
Did you collude with Jonathan Kramer to ensure Achilleus' defeat? Are you planning to surrender Doctor Cooper's implant? What do you think of the accusations that he conducted illegal operations? How have you been coping with the events? Who else knows of the allegations directed at you?
Standard affair, and it didn't bother her too much. She didn't say a word, she didn't give them what they wanted. What they got was an emotionless woman heading towards the next chapter of her campaign with no plan. Her breathing was controlled, and soon she got inside the doors, and into the main room.
There were reporters inside the courtroom, less intrusive but still writing their notes on their first impressions. She kept her eyes forward, and soon she sat down at her designated spot. She looked at the table in front of her, and soon the committee took their seats.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming. Today we are here to question Claudia Kramer, also known to the press as 'The Chaser', formerly holding the leading seat of the aforementioned unit during incumbent High Chancellor Jonathan Kramer's tenure. I ask that you keep your questions and responses factual. Are we ready to begin?"
Claudia looked at the committee, and nodded.
"Right, let's begin."
- DR ADRIAN COOPER -TOWN SQUARE - HEARTANIA
The crossing was short, his head kept down, his eyes staring at the target. He sat down and observed a nearby swarm of photographers working on Christmas Day. Felt sorry for them, but at the same time they were in the right place. The key was twisted on the case, and the ticker inside clicked. Cooper walked away, ready to initiate the next step.
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Post by Jaminx on Feb 28, 2017 1:22:13 GMT
L found herself outside of the cafe where she had given Twelve his sticker and met some interesting brothers a few months ago. She let her mind drift back to the sickly sweet cake and the conversation, one of her first with people who were as abnormal as her and Kay from the general population of the world. It wasn't open. Everything was shut off to her today. A city of windows to stare in and shop old memories from. She took a little something from the bag strung over her shoulder and slipped it through the letter box landing with a clank in the mail basket on the other side.
It was a small thank you with no note. She smiled then and began her journey once more. She wished she could wander through the park again, trace the path to where they had made snowmen together but instead she moved on to one last stop before she made her decision. One last memory to examine.
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Post by Adam on Mar 1, 2017 1:32:39 GMT
ANOMALY | Rory Cross The Tower - Morning Rory cracked a smile as Sonar accepted his hand shake, picking up on the young man's accent. "G'day mate!" he joked enthusiastically, badly feigning an Australian accent fearlessly, "Name's Anomaly. Love the accent, berr'its a bit chilly for you this timma year, ain't it, mate?" He looked to the woman, answering her, "Interesting question! I'm just minding my own business off to see a pal, unfortunately there's a mighty strong correlation between "hero" and "orphan". Who'd have thunk it?" There was a pregnant pause. Rory's eyes darted back to Sonar, "Crikey! I'm mighty sorry for bein' such an unco, didn't realise this was ya' sheila." He pulled his arm away from Sonar and placed both up, comically admitting fault.
PHOBOS The Two Aces - Morning He was occupied cleaning glasses when a young woman came and sandwiched herself between two rowing gentlemen at the bar. "Hey could I have a double vodka, please." He stopped what he was doing as the young woman's voice seemed to penetrate past all of the hustle and bustle of the lively bar. He placed his glass and cloth down and immediately reached for the nearest bottle of vodka, pouring a double shot for her swiftly. He was good at this. It was satisfying to have something non-violent to enjoy, and he'd craved that longer than he was aware. He placed the shot glass down beside her and seemed to almost grin; his face softening. His lips parted slightly as he spoke, "That's... 8 dollars. Holiday discount."
BACKLASH | Mason Vance Residence of Ali Severells - Morning "My name?" Mason replied, "My name is Detective Vance. Um... Mason." It was her, he couldn't believe it. Mason knew she was innocent - that this was a tragic misunderstanding - but he also knew he had to bring her in. He wondered if she had ties with the Tower, with Alf. Mason still hadn't reached out to Alf, despite Clyde's encouragement so who knew really? Mason sighed, knowing that Rory would be waiting on him. Rory was the closest thing he still had to a friend, and Mason needed some advice on his next move, before Christmas Day was up. He had to speak to her.
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