Juju
PREY-FOR-US
Rank 5 Fixer
Lupine
EGO: Rose-Tinted Reverie
Mushpile Café
Code by Serobliss
-
This section is for roleplays only.
ALL interest checks/recruiting threads must go in the Recruit Here section.
Please remember to credit artists when using works not your own.
Fandom Limbus Company/ Library of Ruina Setting (Wallflower Office) In-Character
- Thread starter Autumn Leaf
- Start date
Mothman
A moth, and also a man
Someone else might have eased off the focus and fear when the first car drilled through the floors above them and into the ceiling. Might have breathed a sigh of relief and gone 'phew, it's over' or 'thank god, we've got time to move', but Calendula knew better than to breathe that sigh of relief. The second she did, she knew it would get worse. While she couldn't see the car that burst through the roof and gently rested against her concrete shield, mostly kept up by the way the above buildings cradled whatever projectile it was, but knew that it could and would get worse any second. She was about to tell Lupine to get moving and that she would follow, the shield overhead with the projectile pressing against her being of a manageable weight. She got as far as glancing to the woman and opening her mouth.
"Get Boss, the VIP, and g-"
That very moment that she was about to prioritize their safety, the front doors, the windows, and entire front wall of the cafe was shattered straight through by a second projectile. It sounded like a vehicle, or at least a massive mass of metal, from the way it scraped against the floor with this high-pitched SKREE as it plummeted straight towards the shield she had tugged out from the wall. She attempted to lower it somewhat and brace for impact, but in the brief milliseconds, there wasn't a way in hell she could have prepared in a way better than what she did. A full impact didn't come, thanks to Honey Locust's E.G.O. starting to spread across the entire room like a plague, but the way it shattered through the front entrance was too much for the little cafe. The roof caved in, storming down pipes, wires, and roofing, as well as the crumpled furniture and corpses from within whatever building was just above them.
"Shit!"
She braces as hard as she can, knowing what the collapsing roof meant for the both of them. What was a difficult, yet manageable, weight from the car resting on the top of the shield, to the entire vehicle attempting to press down on them and flatten them into entrails and viscera. Gritting her teeth, and thankful for the anchors in her heel that still had some kind of hold in the floor beneath her, that let her brace onto the weight that had now gone up by five, no, more likely ten or twenty times than what it was. Her arms and the chassis in her chest whirred and sparked. Her hands and wrists started to splinter, and for the briefest of moments, she cursed the nerves that were still within those metal limbs.
There were two ways the Institute would replace a limb. There was the all-or-nothing approach, of hacking off the arm and just having it replaced by a wholly metal augmentation. Though, the Nurses that oversaw her procedures knew she had an affinity for E.G.O., and it was for that reason the decision was made to keep a majority of her human veins, nerves, bones, and organs. Her skin was laced or removed with durable metal alloys, reinforced with rib-like chassis that supported the internals of her body, as well as hydraulics that let her punch with the strength of a shotgun, or jump with the force of a jet booster. But there was struggle, there were curses mouthed under her breath that Lupine would be more than able to hear, as she struggled against the monumental task before her.
Even she knew that she couldn't hold htis. There was a quick glance towards Lupine, doing her very best to assist in the task (and it was her assistance that was letting her even attempt to get a handle on the situation and not be a pile of metal and goop) as Calendula considered telling her just to foot it. She could get a few precious seconds before being flattened, and Lupine could escape...
Vessels in her veins popped, like firecrackers going off in the machinery in her arm. Her wrists twisted in a way that even her mechanical hands weren't designed to do, and she felt the metal bend, scrape against itself, and shatter. While she had an understanding of her mechanical parts to the point she could repair them, this was heavy damage that, if it kept up, with likely shatter her arms beyond repair, followed by the rest of her. Her eyes shined, and the fog wasn't an issue in the moment. Sparks, and bolts, and rods that shot out of the woman's arms as she tapped into more of her E.G.O., like thin little spider legs she was using to support the lifting mission. They helped for a moment, but one by one began to snap just the same as her fingers were.
Murphy's Law said it could still get worse, and for a moment, she believed it was. When a stabbing pain found its way into her leg, she took the quickest glance she could manage as she looked down to see one of Honey Locust's E.G.O.'s vines stabbing into her calf. They were creeping their way around, following the blood that had splashed over them, the room, the cars, and everything else here in the cafe. Though, just as she was about to try and power through that pain from the E.G.O. and focus up on the lifting, the weight above her head suddenly became significantly lighter.
She breathed out a gasp like she had been underwater for hours. The cement was cracked, crumbling, and covering them in shards of pipe, cement, and viscera that had been caught on it. But now, whatever that E.G.O. had done to the car on the other side, it seemed to be suspending it again and stopping the weight. She gestured to Lupine for her to back up, and get out from the way of the shield, before letting it fall somewhat. It took Lupine's help holding it at the end for just a moment, so that Calendula could rip a few of those thorns out from her body before the thunk of her anchors in her feet shooting back into her heel sounded out, and she dove out from beneath the shield. It crashed to the disgusting floor of the cafe.
Safety. At least for the moment.
Her breath was heaving, and she accepted Lupine's aid to crawling to her feet. The inability to move her arms much at all meant that Lupine had to hoist her up by the shoulders, and it would be a great moment for Lupine to realize that the woman's prosthetics were hefty. Not so weight-intensive that she herself couldn't support it, sure, but she had a trained body that was adapted to always possessing that weight, almost akin to the way knight's train to fight with their armor. With a huff once she was on her feet, she breathed out a quiet 'thanks' to the pale woman next to her and sized upon their situation.
An attempt to raise her arms any higher than a few inches was met with failure. Her metal arms were twisted, leaking blood, with loose wires and metal mechanisms peeking out of the cracks like a broken toy. A grey rib poked its way out of her stomach, twisted from the first impact, and she could tell that even with metal coating on her ribs, that a majority of them had cracked, snapped, or broken.
Bless her heart, before she could fret too much about how she would even move to get out of here, Hydrangea had hopped over the counter with a still surviving VIP. It was difficult to make out the room as a whole as the fog returned in full force, now that her E.G.O.'s influence had faded and dissipated, but Hydrangea's own flower stepped through it like a lighthouse on the ocean. She let out a shaky exhale to at least affirm to herself that it was worth it; her employer and their charge were alive and unharmed.
The woman withdrew a pair of flat discs she recognized fully from a time in K. Corp; HP Tablets. An ampule would have (quite obviously) been quite preferred, but even an ampule wouldn't have perfectly mended her prosthetics. Still, she'd at least have been able to brawl and fight to a higher degree. Still, Tablets meant she would live, and that was plenty for her. There was no objection, only a nod of thanks as she opened her mouth enough for Hydrangea to drop the Tablets in, and as ordered, she chewed on them and spared a glance at the V.I.P.
Just as quickly as she dropped the Tablets in her mouth, Hydrangea praised both her and Lupine for the initiative to take action that was for the sake of the office, rather than self-survival like it seemed some of the other Wallflowers did. To be fair, for all she knew, some of them were streaks of red beneath that car that flew inside... At the praise, Calendula only gave a nod and brief response. "...I follow orders. That's all it is. But you're welcome, either way." She replied between chewing. With that, she let Hydrangea go off to get Honey Locust out of their E.G.O.-situation, and Lupine skipped away to go and free their trapped companion from the wreckage. He was lucky his head hadn't gotten caved in by a tire, but she wasn't about to complain that another ally had survived.
"An exit, yeah..." Cal nodded as they scurried to their own tasks, eyeballing the back wall and approaching it. Her legs were, at the least, functional enough, and she could spare the energy to kick through this one. She could only assume it wasn't particularly thick, there would be a hallway or other business on the other side of it, surely. A glance to the V.I.P., and she nodded with her head for him to back up just a tad. Just as she did, Hydrangea returned to ask how the exit matter was going. She had finished chewing those Tablets by now, and responded as she got a footing. "I got it, just... Was making sure the whole place wouldn't cave in if I smashed this was. Step back."
Arms still hanging limp at her side, she stepped back to throw her momentum into a kick, just as thudding and crumbling overhead caught her hearing.
She turned, Murphy's Law saying that it must have been another car, foe, or other disaster. But thankfully, the speakeasy, bubbly Daisy poked her head and called down the hole that she'd made a way out for them. A half-chuckle, and she eased her posture and discarded the idea of kicking down that wall. "Better exit, yeah." A nod, and she turned to follow her comrades up the hole. It took a bit of climbing, with Lupine behind her to kind of spot her as she got up the rubble with her hands mostly out of action, but she did succeed in getting high enough that she could jump into the floor above them with a huff.
She nodded to Daisy as everyone was up. "Thanks for the exit. The others... Can't imagine it's a good show, out there. Boss?" She looks to Hydrangea, as if asking if they're going to help the others, focus wholly on getting the V.I.P. away, or split the crew down the middle.
"Get Boss, the VIP, and g-"
That very moment that she was about to prioritize their safety, the front doors, the windows, and entire front wall of the cafe was shattered straight through by a second projectile. It sounded like a vehicle, or at least a massive mass of metal, from the way it scraped against the floor with this high-pitched SKREE as it plummeted straight towards the shield she had tugged out from the wall. She attempted to lower it somewhat and brace for impact, but in the brief milliseconds, there wasn't a way in hell she could have prepared in a way better than what she did. A full impact didn't come, thanks to Honey Locust's E.G.O. starting to spread across the entire room like a plague, but the way it shattered through the front entrance was too much for the little cafe. The roof caved in, storming down pipes, wires, and roofing, as well as the crumpled furniture and corpses from within whatever building was just above them.
"Shit!"
She braces as hard as she can, knowing what the collapsing roof meant for the both of them. What was a difficult, yet manageable, weight from the car resting on the top of the shield, to the entire vehicle attempting to press down on them and flatten them into entrails and viscera. Gritting her teeth, and thankful for the anchors in her heel that still had some kind of hold in the floor beneath her, that let her brace onto the weight that had now gone up by five, no, more likely ten or twenty times than what it was. Her arms and the chassis in her chest whirred and sparked. Her hands and wrists started to splinter, and for the briefest of moments, she cursed the nerves that were still within those metal limbs.
There were two ways the Institute would replace a limb. There was the all-or-nothing approach, of hacking off the arm and just having it replaced by a wholly metal augmentation. Though, the Nurses that oversaw her procedures knew she had an affinity for E.G.O., and it was for that reason the decision was made to keep a majority of her human veins, nerves, bones, and organs. Her skin was laced or removed with durable metal alloys, reinforced with rib-like chassis that supported the internals of her body, as well as hydraulics that let her punch with the strength of a shotgun, or jump with the force of a jet booster. But there was struggle, there were curses mouthed under her breath that Lupine would be more than able to hear, as she struggled against the monumental task before her.
Even she knew that she couldn't hold htis. There was a quick glance towards Lupine, doing her very best to assist in the task (and it was her assistance that was letting her even attempt to get a handle on the situation and not be a pile of metal and goop) as Calendula considered telling her just to foot it. She could get a few precious seconds before being flattened, and Lupine could escape...
Vessels in her veins popped, like firecrackers going off in the machinery in her arm. Her wrists twisted in a way that even her mechanical hands weren't designed to do, and she felt the metal bend, scrape against itself, and shatter. While she had an understanding of her mechanical parts to the point she could repair them, this was heavy damage that, if it kept up, with likely shatter her arms beyond repair, followed by the rest of her. Her eyes shined, and the fog wasn't an issue in the moment. Sparks, and bolts, and rods that shot out of the woman's arms as she tapped into more of her E.G.O., like thin little spider legs she was using to support the lifting mission. They helped for a moment, but one by one began to snap just the same as her fingers were.
Murphy's Law said it could still get worse, and for a moment, she believed it was. When a stabbing pain found its way into her leg, she took the quickest glance she could manage as she looked down to see one of Honey Locust's E.G.O.'s vines stabbing into her calf. They were creeping their way around, following the blood that had splashed over them, the room, the cars, and everything else here in the cafe. Though, just as she was about to try and power through that pain from the E.G.O. and focus up on the lifting, the weight above her head suddenly became significantly lighter.
She breathed out a gasp like she had been underwater for hours. The cement was cracked, crumbling, and covering them in shards of pipe, cement, and viscera that had been caught on it. But now, whatever that E.G.O. had done to the car on the other side, it seemed to be suspending it again and stopping the weight. She gestured to Lupine for her to back up, and get out from the way of the shield, before letting it fall somewhat. It took Lupine's help holding it at the end for just a moment, so that Calendula could rip a few of those thorns out from her body before the thunk of her anchors in her feet shooting back into her heel sounded out, and she dove out from beneath the shield. It crashed to the disgusting floor of the cafe.
Safety. At least for the moment.
Her breath was heaving, and she accepted Lupine's aid to crawling to her feet. The inability to move her arms much at all meant that Lupine had to hoist her up by the shoulders, and it would be a great moment for Lupine to realize that the woman's prosthetics were hefty. Not so weight-intensive that she herself couldn't support it, sure, but she had a trained body that was adapted to always possessing that weight, almost akin to the way knight's train to fight with their armor. With a huff once she was on her feet, she breathed out a quiet 'thanks' to the pale woman next to her and sized upon their situation.
An attempt to raise her arms any higher than a few inches was met with failure. Her metal arms were twisted, leaking blood, with loose wires and metal mechanisms peeking out of the cracks like a broken toy. A grey rib poked its way out of her stomach, twisted from the first impact, and she could tell that even with metal coating on her ribs, that a majority of them had cracked, snapped, or broken.
Bless her heart, before she could fret too much about how she would even move to get out of here, Hydrangea had hopped over the counter with a still surviving VIP. It was difficult to make out the room as a whole as the fog returned in full force, now that her E.G.O.'s influence had faded and dissipated, but Hydrangea's own flower stepped through it like a lighthouse on the ocean. She let out a shaky exhale to at least affirm to herself that it was worth it; her employer and their charge were alive and unharmed.
The woman withdrew a pair of flat discs she recognized fully from a time in K. Corp; HP Tablets. An ampule would have (quite obviously) been quite preferred, but even an ampule wouldn't have perfectly mended her prosthetics. Still, she'd at least have been able to brawl and fight to a higher degree. Still, Tablets meant she would live, and that was plenty for her. There was no objection, only a nod of thanks as she opened her mouth enough for Hydrangea to drop the Tablets in, and as ordered, she chewed on them and spared a glance at the V.I.P.
Just as quickly as she dropped the Tablets in her mouth, Hydrangea praised both her and Lupine for the initiative to take action that was for the sake of the office, rather than self-survival like it seemed some of the other Wallflowers did. To be fair, for all she knew, some of them were streaks of red beneath that car that flew inside... At the praise, Calendula only gave a nod and brief response. "...I follow orders. That's all it is. But you're welcome, either way." She replied between chewing. With that, she let Hydrangea go off to get Honey Locust out of their E.G.O.-situation, and Lupine skipped away to go and free their trapped companion from the wreckage. He was lucky his head hadn't gotten caved in by a tire, but she wasn't about to complain that another ally had survived.
"An exit, yeah..." Cal nodded as they scurried to their own tasks, eyeballing the back wall and approaching it. Her legs were, at the least, functional enough, and she could spare the energy to kick through this one. She could only assume it wasn't particularly thick, there would be a hallway or other business on the other side of it, surely. A glance to the V.I.P., and she nodded with her head for him to back up just a tad. Just as she did, Hydrangea returned to ask how the exit matter was going. She had finished chewing those Tablets by now, and responded as she got a footing. "I got it, just... Was making sure the whole place wouldn't cave in if I smashed this was. Step back."
Arms still hanging limp at her side, she stepped back to throw her momentum into a kick, just as thudding and crumbling overhead caught her hearing.
She turned, Murphy's Law saying that it must have been another car, foe, or other disaster. But thankfully, the speakeasy, bubbly Daisy poked her head and called down the hole that she'd made a way out for them. A half-chuckle, and she eased her posture and discarded the idea of kicking down that wall. "Better exit, yeah." A nod, and she turned to follow her comrades up the hole. It took a bit of climbing, with Lupine behind her to kind of spot her as she got up the rubble with her hands mostly out of action, but she did succeed in getting high enough that she could jump into the floor above them with a huff.
She nodded to Daisy as everyone was up. "Thanks for the exit. The others... Can't imagine it's a good show, out there. Boss?" She looks to Hydrangea, as if asking if they're going to help the others, focus wholly on getting the V.I.P. away, or split the crew down the middle.
November Witch
Over great bodies of water, a November Witch roars
Bleeding Heart (Alba)
Status: Concerned & Intrigued
Alba had only come here to get answers. See what EGO or Abnormality they would have to deal with. Something that could do that to the vehicles was obviously going to be a problem. But what kind of problem? How much of a problem? Or, more likely, how temporary of a problem? However, as her hat and eyes crested the top of the stairs, she could see, and make out, just what they were dealing with. Some that were out of their mind, from the way they were talking, it seemed. Alba would have tried to settle this with words, but the fact that they had commanded these creatures to attack before attempting communication meant that equation wouldn’t end up with the result she wanted.
Not only did the people seem strange, but so did their EGOs. They were normally a piece of equipment. But Alba knew that she was one to speak. Hers was also quite odd. Granted it was still a piece of equipment, it was unlike most. Perhaps theirs was similar in some way? Whatever the answer was, there were too many variables for Alba to be confident in this engagement. Especially as a spectral wolf seemed to be able to appear and disappear at will. Or perhaps a command from its owner. As she saw the centi-boar charge towards the two, Alba would reach out, grab Wisteria, and pull her close. The best chance of survival they had was working together.
As the boar began to charge straight towards them, Alba waited for the last second, until she was sure it wouldn’t have enough time to adjust its course before another slimy hand emerged and sprayed an oily liquid all over the street in front of the stairs. Even if the boar had tens and tens of legs, there wouldn’t be enough friction to overcome this. Perhaps if it had insect legs, it would be different. But the fact it had hooves meant it was at an even bigger disadvantage.
“Down!”
Alba said to Wisteria, using a hand to force the other girl to duck. Alba neglected looking behind her, in hopes the wolf would seize this ‘opening.’ Her hope was for the wolf to abandon its incorporeal form and turn physical just as the train of a boar slid over the edge of the stairs right above them. If all went well, they would slam into one another, sending the boar tumbling down the whole 30 meters to the bottom. Hopefully it would take the wolf with it, but it was possible the wolf could be in the wrong place or be able to recover and go incorporeal again. In case her timing was wrong, and the wolf managed to get ahold of one of them, she had a slimy acidic hand ready to use and keep it at bay.
dreadnought
The enlightened one
It wouldn't take long for Wisteria to arrive at the top of the stairs shortly after Alba did and while the temptation to voice her annoyance over covering the stairs in acid, the four figures that stood ahead of them quickly took priority above everything else as Wisteria began to quickly analyse them while they were still distracted. None of them seemed to have any weapons of note at first glance save from the spectral beasts the three presumed siblings managed to summon via their E.G.O most likely but nothing was set in stone. Said beasts seemed twisted in appearance but that did little to hamper their manoeuvrability as two of them violently fought each other with no harm coming to their users no matter how much damage their beasts took. While she'd never admit it out loud, she couldn't help but feel the slightest bit jealous of their summons with such savage and intimidating designs backed up by more than enough power to boot was something that even she couldn't come up with on the spot, but even so she still had to survive this whole encounter first before she could even think of complaining about anything.
The mini fight between the three siblings finally came to an end once the elder sister finally made her siblings aware of their presence which instantly set Wisteria on guard as she raised her still lit sabre in front of herself as the two beasts sprung into the action. With the wolf taking a more elusive approach to hunting the duo down, Wisteria opted to keep a close eye on it while sending out her vulture to places she predicted the wolf would go to, but alas such a plan was met with little to no success with every attempt to slash at where she thought it was resulting in a simple weave and dodge from the wolf as it dematerialised into the shadows. It wouldn't take long for it to grow tired of teasing its prey as it finally went for a proper lunge aimed right at her neck after she tried leaving Alba's side to take on a more proactive approach to hunting the wolf. Such an attempt nearly earnt her getting her throat ripped out by its fearsome fangs if her vulture didn't manage to intercept the lunge first long enough for Wisteria to realise what was going on as she retreated towards Alba's side in an effort to cover both their backs once more. The vulture wouldn't last longer than a second or two before the wolf's mighty jaw crushed its entire being as it practically popped like a balloon leaving a quickly dissipating mist of paint in its wake while leaving her feeling frustrated over one of her 'masterpieces' getting destroyed so easily.
"And to think I actually thought those beasts looked impressive...Well I'm sure that they can only look even better once they're torn to shreds along with their masters. Would more than make up for ruining my latest masterpiece and I have been pretty starved for inspiration for far too long..."
Her mind was already filling up with all the ways she'd hack up and torture the 'happy' family of three along with the man accompanying them as payback for her ruined painting as her mind quickly became clouded on her one goal of tearing them to bits as she eyed the wolf once more. Or at least the surrounding area of where she last spotted it anyways as it disappeared out of sight once more with only its occasional, wretched howling being a sign that it was still relatively close by. As the wolf started to dematerialise once more as it finally went on the offensive, Wisteria could hear Alba yelling at her to duck down which she chose to follow soon afterwards just in case she was trying to warn her of something she wasn't currently aware off, even if it did mean that she missed her current chance of given the wolf its just desserts.
The mini fight between the three siblings finally came to an end once the elder sister finally made her siblings aware of their presence which instantly set Wisteria on guard as she raised her still lit sabre in front of herself as the two beasts sprung into the action. With the wolf taking a more elusive approach to hunting the duo down, Wisteria opted to keep a close eye on it while sending out her vulture to places she predicted the wolf would go to, but alas such a plan was met with little to no success with every attempt to slash at where she thought it was resulting in a simple weave and dodge from the wolf as it dematerialised into the shadows. It wouldn't take long for it to grow tired of teasing its prey as it finally went for a proper lunge aimed right at her neck after she tried leaving Alba's side to take on a more proactive approach to hunting the wolf. Such an attempt nearly earnt her getting her throat ripped out by its fearsome fangs if her vulture didn't manage to intercept the lunge first long enough for Wisteria to realise what was going on as she retreated towards Alba's side in an effort to cover both their backs once more. The vulture wouldn't last longer than a second or two before the wolf's mighty jaw crushed its entire being as it practically popped like a balloon leaving a quickly dissipating mist of paint in its wake while leaving her feeling frustrated over one of her 'masterpieces' getting destroyed so easily.
"And to think I actually thought those beasts looked impressive...Well I'm sure that they can only look even better once they're torn to shreds along with their masters. Would more than make up for ruining my latest masterpiece and I have been pretty starved for inspiration for far too long..."
Her mind was already filling up with all the ways she'd hack up and torture the 'happy' family of three along with the man accompanying them as payback for her ruined painting as her mind quickly became clouded on her one goal of tearing them to bits as she eyed the wolf once more. Or at least the surrounding area of where she last spotted it anyways as it disappeared out of sight once more with only its occasional, wretched howling being a sign that it was still relatively close by. As the wolf started to dematerialise once more as it finally went on the offensive, Wisteria could hear Alba yelling at her to duck down which she chose to follow soon afterwards just in case she was trying to warn her of something she wasn't currently aware off, even if it did mean that she missed her current chance of given the wolf its just desserts.
Autumn Leaf
Chrysalis, Metamorphosis, Genesis
Mentions: @ All
Location: District 12 Backstreets 'Zone - 04 Border' - 'Cafe Le Soleil'
Zi Hua appeared to be in a much better state, kicking his feet hopelessly in the air while a rubble boulder leaned on his upper body. Granted, only comparably. His arm was still missing, while the other resembled a bulbous, bruised, and veiny banana. When Lupine revealed herself, he let out an excited yelp.
“Over here! Hurry…!”
He grit his teeth, rolling his back to help Lupine lift the rock.
When there was enough space to wiggle, Zi Hua emptied his lungs with a hiss, decompressing his chest and slipped free through the jagged gap. He scrambled to his feet, eyes shining with desperation. Zi Hua panted, swinging the swelling arm like a sack of potatoes. The sickly, bulging flesh looked like it would pop at even the slightest touch, contorting in a painful display with each movement. Yet he continued acting with reckless vigor.
Sunlight broke through the ceiling like a spotlight, shining a ray of hope to the trapped, and battered Wallflowers. An unforeseen hero popped her cheeky head down the newly formed hole. The resident fun-gremlin proved they could get their hands dirty when it mattered. Daisy was followed closely by Snowdrop. Who only silently waved a hand to the below-crew. The man didn’t even wait a second before running up the mound of corpses and ruin towards the exit.
“Ugh… We have to hurry. We might still have time… We have to… help them…!”
Zi Hua said, coughing. He spat out a stream of fresh blood. His hand dug into the ripped suit waistband, popping a few more pills. The swelling reduced notably, but the sickly purple veins advanced further across his skin. Hydrangea signaled to the squad to move towards the new topside exit with a twirl of her arm overhead. Then, her free hand reached out and gripped the man determined to rush past.
“And here I was, looking forward to some pork dumplings." she sighed, "Why the rush? Explain.”
“Aster and Clover... They took them.. Before the cars and I got blown away....”
Her face got serious. “They? Do you mean a yellow-eyed Abnormality?”
“What the…? Yellow-eyed what?” he shook his head, “No, those three freakshows, and their rejected circus attractions for pets...”
“Three….?” Hydrangea’s brow furrowed.
"Outta my way. They're still out there. I am willing, if you dont want to save--"
"They've already wilted. Only Alba and Wisteria remain." Hydrangea said, letting him go. Zi Hua stumbled back a few steps, shocked. Indeed, her connection to her everflower was the strongest due to tenure. She would feel loss in the evergarden, even if they could not.
The client hobbled up between the two veteran Wallflowers, pushing past the stilled Zi Hua to face Hydrangea. The old man shivered like a newborn puppy. “What did you say? Y-you saw it? That yellow-porous creature? Did it dance? To a song you could not hear?” Her surprise said it all. Fear caused his eyes to frantically dance left and right, as his mind fumbled aloud in search of rationality, "It shouldn’t be here. There is no way, it can… Then, that would mean... But, why... Though, it would explain all the...”
Hydrangea looked at the shaking, aged man sternly. “Speak clearly. If you want us to help. What do you know of this enemy.”
“A mental affliction. People who hear its lullaby lose all inhibitions. They act without caution.”
“The rat swarm...” Hydrangea touched the flower at her neck, knowing how it must have shielded them.
“Yes… As for those other 'freaks', this is the first I've heard of them. Whatever they are, it must just be extra muscle.”
Her eyes shifted over to Zi Hua, in his beaten state. Surely, not some ordinary 'hired muscle'. “Wait. Why aren’t you affected?”
“Moonlight Stone.” the client said, flashing a small necklace imbedded with a pearly gem, “But I suspect, this not the true Abnormality. It cannot leave. It won't.. This must be... a servant. Now, I’d love to give you all a full presentation of the special case. But by the time I finish setting up the chalkboard, we’ll be dead. I can play subsitute treach once we escape.”
Her eyes bore into the old man, but Hydrangea reclined to give the client some space. Now was not the time, he was right. The old man pulled down the yellow bucket hat, hiding his eyes as he grumbled to himself. Then, with a huff, he climbed out of the escape. In a few moments, the team was gathered in what remained of the floor above the cafe. Still, they could not escape the sight of corpses. Mangled bodies were strewn about, unfortunate victims caught in the initial car air-strike.
The smoke from the crash, and subsequent structural collapse, was beginning to clear now. The dozens of rats who were entangled in the deception let out angered cries, unfurling their limbs from the gruesome, bloody pile at the center of the alleyway. How long had they been swinging aimlessly at each other? Hoping to trample on. A poor flower. It didn't seem to bother them one bit. They climbed over their dead kin, screaming and groaning when they realized where the true Wallflowers stood. Despite the rampant destruction culling a large majority of the original swarming horde, of at least hundred, a motley dozen or two survivors remained. Their eyes were white, blinded by whatever illusion that spurned them. The physical space occupied by the bodies alone made it so that the rats could not be so easily ignored.
Hydrangea moved to intercept the rushing crowd, before a noise caused the whole alley to freeze.
Her deep red eyes gazed up as the sounds of snarling, and heavy thudding sent vibrations through the gnarled pipes on the aged, industrial megaplex buildings all around. The clattering sounded like an anxious drumbeat.
She could catch a glimpse of Alba and Wisteria standing at the edge of the overpass.
What were they planning? Then, it all happened at the same time, so fast.
A huge flailing shape came into view, which seemed to be a skidding mass of putrid lard. The monstrosity was sliding due to the ooze sprayed before it, sticking to its round belly. The thing veered off the edge of the horizontal stairway, slamming its hundreds of spindly legs wildly. The vicious thrashing smashed into the steel and concrete, tearing away what unsteady rebar foundation it had left. The two Wallflowers would be dragged down as the steps beneath them broke from the main structure. A shadowy feral creature seemed to manifest in tandem, snapping its jaw in frustration as they both plummeted out of reach.
Hydrangea braced as the squealing, giant mutated hoove-footed caterpillar smashed down into the alleyway before them. It dropped in a gory splash, flattening the rats below, and sending what was left of the mob into complete disarray. The entire structure felt like it shook from the sloppy, wet impact. And for a moment, there was a worry that some other portion of wall, or neon signpost would begin to tumble around them. But the shaking quieted without further damage. The architectures of the District had been meticulous, in constructing the vast industrial sprawl to last against even the worst scenarios. The Smoke War was only a glimpse of what it could withstand.
The mound of rank, rancid flesh remained still at the middle of the alleyway, the smashed bits spreading so far it touched wall to wall. A grisly calm that lasted only a brief second or two. The puss-rotten flesh soon oozed and shuddered. The broken body reassembled like some sort of twisted science experiment. It squelched through its rotten lungs, oinking and snorting.
“Do you think you can escape from me, fresh meat? Your silly cockatoo wasn't enough to sate me!” called out a voice from where Alba and Wisteria once stood on the rise overhead. The unhinged girl only they knew, named Yuna, stood at the edge of the shattered platform. She tugged viciously on the ethereal chain, floating oddly in the air, forcing the bubbling abomination to a blubbering stand.
Her elder walked up, "No. That old man. He's the target. You're closer. Get him. I'll finish off your two scraps."
Yuna seemed upset, but a smile formed nonetheless. "Fine. More fresh meat for me!"
The elder curled one of her pale fingers, and yanked the black chain. Her long macabre dress bellowed in authority. The spectral long-earred predator let out a yelping howl, the smokey mass now dancing downward in a zigzag, weaving between the shadows and pockets of sun rays in order to give chase to Alba and Wisteria, mid-fall.
“What are you waiting for? Go!”
The supervisor pointed down the other direction, away from the screeching mass of flesh. It was now pummeling its hooves, building momentum towards the shabbby remains of the Cafe Le Soleil. Tusks reared, between them, wild sunken, bloodshot eyes. The creature was determined to barrel through cement and steel to reach its quarry.
Hydrangea then bolted towards the falling Alba and Wisteria, and the spectral beast closing in on them.
With a swift one-handed cartwheeling maneuver, the blades on her heels spun out like serrated whips. The metal tips snapped out, sinking into the concrete walls up above like twin fangs. The momentum of a graceful topspin of her long, slender legs, yanked the woman high into air between the narrow spaces of the looming urban jungle. Her eyes flashed with worry, seeing the jaw full of hundreds of sharp, glistening teeth opening, ready to snap down on the vulnerable Wallflower agents.
...
Location: District 12 Backstreets 'Zone - 04 Border' - 'Cafe Le Soleil'
Zi Hua appeared to be in a much better state, kicking his feet hopelessly in the air while a rubble boulder leaned on his upper body. Granted, only comparably. His arm was still missing, while the other resembled a bulbous, bruised, and veiny banana. When Lupine revealed herself, he let out an excited yelp.
“Over here! Hurry…!”
He grit his teeth, rolling his back to help Lupine lift the rock.
When there was enough space to wiggle, Zi Hua emptied his lungs with a hiss, decompressing his chest and slipped free through the jagged gap. He scrambled to his feet, eyes shining with desperation. Zi Hua panted, swinging the swelling arm like a sack of potatoes. The sickly, bulging flesh looked like it would pop at even the slightest touch, contorting in a painful display with each movement. Yet he continued acting with reckless vigor.
Sunlight broke through the ceiling like a spotlight, shining a ray of hope to the trapped, and battered Wallflowers. An unforeseen hero popped her cheeky head down the newly formed hole. The resident fun-gremlin proved they could get their hands dirty when it mattered. Daisy was followed closely by Snowdrop. Who only silently waved a hand to the below-crew. The man didn’t even wait a second before running up the mound of corpses and ruin towards the exit.
“Ugh… We have to hurry. We might still have time… We have to… help them…!”
Zi Hua said, coughing. He spat out a stream of fresh blood. His hand dug into the ripped suit waistband, popping a few more pills. The swelling reduced notably, but the sickly purple veins advanced further across his skin. Hydrangea signaled to the squad to move towards the new topside exit with a twirl of her arm overhead. Then, her free hand reached out and gripped the man determined to rush past.
“And here I was, looking forward to some pork dumplings." she sighed, "Why the rush? Explain.”
“Aster and Clover... They took them.. Before the cars and I got blown away....”
Her face got serious. “They? Do you mean a yellow-eyed Abnormality?”
“What the…? Yellow-eyed what?” he shook his head, “No, those three freakshows, and their rejected circus attractions for pets...”
“Three….?” Hydrangea’s brow furrowed.
"Outta my way. They're still out there. I am willing, if you dont want to save--"
"They've already wilted. Only Alba and Wisteria remain." Hydrangea said, letting him go. Zi Hua stumbled back a few steps, shocked. Indeed, her connection to her everflower was the strongest due to tenure. She would feel loss in the evergarden, even if they could not.
The client hobbled up between the two veteran Wallflowers, pushing past the stilled Zi Hua to face Hydrangea. The old man shivered like a newborn puppy. “What did you say? Y-you saw it? That yellow-porous creature? Did it dance? To a song you could not hear?” Her surprise said it all. Fear caused his eyes to frantically dance left and right, as his mind fumbled aloud in search of rationality, "It shouldn’t be here. There is no way, it can… Then, that would mean... But, why... Though, it would explain all the...”
Hydrangea looked at the shaking, aged man sternly. “Speak clearly. If you want us to help. What do you know of this enemy.”
“A mental affliction. People who hear its lullaby lose all inhibitions. They act without caution.”
“The rat swarm...” Hydrangea touched the flower at her neck, knowing how it must have shielded them.
“Yes… As for those other 'freaks', this is the first I've heard of them. Whatever they are, it must just be extra muscle.”
Her eyes shifted over to Zi Hua, in his beaten state. Surely, not some ordinary 'hired muscle'. “Wait. Why aren’t you affected?”
“Moonlight Stone.” the client said, flashing a small necklace imbedded with a pearly gem, “But I suspect, this not the true Abnormality. It cannot leave. It won't.. This must be... a servant. Now, I’d love to give you all a full presentation of the special case. But by the time I finish setting up the chalkboard, we’ll be dead. I can play subsitute treach once we escape.”
Her eyes bore into the old man, but Hydrangea reclined to give the client some space. Now was not the time, he was right. The old man pulled down the yellow bucket hat, hiding his eyes as he grumbled to himself. Then, with a huff, he climbed out of the escape. In a few moments, the team was gathered in what remained of the floor above the cafe. Still, they could not escape the sight of corpses. Mangled bodies were strewn about, unfortunate victims caught in the initial car air-strike.
The smoke from the crash, and subsequent structural collapse, was beginning to clear now. The dozens of rats who were entangled in the deception let out angered cries, unfurling their limbs from the gruesome, bloody pile at the center of the alleyway. How long had they been swinging aimlessly at each other? Hoping to trample on. A poor flower. It didn't seem to bother them one bit. They climbed over their dead kin, screaming and groaning when they realized where the true Wallflowers stood. Despite the rampant destruction culling a large majority of the original swarming horde, of at least hundred, a motley dozen or two survivors remained. Their eyes were white, blinded by whatever illusion that spurned them. The physical space occupied by the bodies alone made it so that the rats could not be so easily ignored.
Hydrangea moved to intercept the rushing crowd, before a noise caused the whole alley to freeze.
Her deep red eyes gazed up as the sounds of snarling, and heavy thudding sent vibrations through the gnarled pipes on the aged, industrial megaplex buildings all around. The clattering sounded like an anxious drumbeat.
She could catch a glimpse of Alba and Wisteria standing at the edge of the overpass.
What were they planning? Then, it all happened at the same time, so fast.
A huge flailing shape came into view, which seemed to be a skidding mass of putrid lard. The monstrosity was sliding due to the ooze sprayed before it, sticking to its round belly. The thing veered off the edge of the horizontal stairway, slamming its hundreds of spindly legs wildly. The vicious thrashing smashed into the steel and concrete, tearing away what unsteady rebar foundation it had left. The two Wallflowers would be dragged down as the steps beneath them broke from the main structure. A shadowy feral creature seemed to manifest in tandem, snapping its jaw in frustration as they both plummeted out of reach.
They must think of something quick to mitigate the fall. Perhaps they could catch themselves on a passing balcony, or edge towards a stray apartment rooftop?
Hydrangea braced as the squealing, giant mutated hoove-footed caterpillar smashed down into the alleyway before them. It dropped in a gory splash, flattening the rats below, and sending what was left of the mob into complete disarray. The entire structure felt like it shook from the sloppy, wet impact. And for a moment, there was a worry that some other portion of wall, or neon signpost would begin to tumble around them. But the shaking quieted without further damage. The architectures of the District had been meticulous, in constructing the vast industrial sprawl to last against even the worst scenarios. The Smoke War was only a glimpse of what it could withstand.
The mound of rank, rancid flesh remained still at the middle of the alleyway, the smashed bits spreading so far it touched wall to wall. A grisly calm that lasted only a brief second or two. The puss-rotten flesh soon oozed and shuddered. The broken body reassembled like some sort of twisted science experiment. It squelched through its rotten lungs, oinking and snorting.
“Do you think you can escape from me, fresh meat? Your silly cockatoo wasn't enough to sate me!” called out a voice from where Alba and Wisteria once stood on the rise overhead. The unhinged girl only they knew, named Yuna, stood at the edge of the shattered platform. She tugged viciously on the ethereal chain, floating oddly in the air, forcing the bubbling abomination to a blubbering stand.
Her elder walked up, "No. That old man. He's the target. You're closer. Get him. I'll finish off your two scraps."
Yuna seemed upset, but a smile formed nonetheless. "Fine. More fresh meat for me!"
The elder curled one of her pale fingers, and yanked the black chain. Her long macabre dress bellowed in authority. The spectral long-earred predator let out a yelping howl, the smokey mass now dancing downward in a zigzag, weaving between the shadows and pockets of sun rays in order to give chase to Alba and Wisteria, mid-fall.
“What are you waiting for? Go!”
The supervisor pointed down the other direction, away from the screeching mass of flesh. It was now pummeling its hooves, building momentum towards the shabbby remains of the Cafe Le Soleil. Tusks reared, between them, wild sunken, bloodshot eyes. The creature was determined to barrel through cement and steel to reach its quarry.
The Hooved-Abomination was a heaving, burdensome creature, but it was a mistake to think it slow. It will also easily break through whatever wall stood in its way. How will they try to outrun it, what with their injured allies in tow? Not to mention the client, who while putting up a stoic demeanor, seemed to grow paler by the second. The blade in his shoulder was still stuck. But his shirt was dyed red now, drenched in the leaking blood. There would need to be some careful, yet split-second planning.
Hydrangea then bolted towards the falling Alba and Wisteria, and the spectral beast closing in on them.
With a swift one-handed cartwheeling maneuver, the blades on her heels spun out like serrated whips. The metal tips snapped out, sinking into the concrete walls up above like twin fangs. The momentum of a graceful topspin of her long, slender legs, yanked the woman high into air between the narrow spaces of the looming urban jungle. Her eyes flashed with worry, seeing the jaw full of hundreds of sharp, glistening teeth opening, ready to snap down on the vulnerable Wallflower agents.
The Supervisor wouldn't be able to cross the distance to aid them for another moment. But even those few seconds might be too late. How will they deter the maw of shadowy death, while simultaneously finding purchase among the high-density industrial landscape. To avoid what would happen should gravity embrace them to cement at the lowest level of the alleys below?
...
Last edited:
Juju
PREY-FOR-US
Rank 5 Fixer
Lupine
EGO: Rose-Tinted Reverie
Allyway
Code by Serobliss
ERode
In The Mirror
And as the world itself degraded in the filter of Rose-Tinted Reverie’s delusions, one of the clerks laid down and played dead.
Naw, not exactly.
Regardless of what Lupine made of the world, Daisy wasn’t so stupid that she immediately forgot the situation they were actually in. There was still a giant fatty monster rushing towards them, and they were still stuck in an alleyway with no hopes of outrunning it. As such, what could a girl like her do?
Back flat on the ground, she lifted up her shirt to expose her stomach, as her own EGO shifted overtop her navel. It was a hand-sized imprint, one that split into two but only just. A portal to the same world, a hole that once rejoined would eject an entire form, regardless of size, away. She had used it before, to stab someone with their own weapon and then catapult them into the opposing wall. She could use it too, to turn herself into a trampoline that would carry anyone and everyone up great distances.
And, of course, as a sentient trampoline, she could decide who got to go first.
“Cally, over here! Step on me and I’ll shoot you a few floors up! Zi, you’re next. VIP, third, and make sure you grab him, Zi! Honey after, Snow next, Lupine last! Gogogogo!”
The galactic tattoo fluctuated, eager already to start melding and unmelding. Hopefully they were all quick with this. Surely they all knew that the singular ‘clerk’ lying on the floor was Daisy, even if they had been so thoroughly consumed by the Reverie?
Geez, and she sure hoped that Lupine would actually run away too. Daisy’s entire exit plan was dependent on grabbing Lupine’s ankles while she was catapulted through the air, after all.
Mothman
A moth, and also a man
It gets worse again, for her, and for all the Wallflowers, as some strange, smoky abominations make themselves known. Beasts commanded by their tamers, ones that are difficult to discern as anything beyond a threat. Calendula isn't blessed with the sight of them, at least not clearly. They mix with the fog in her eyes, a drop of inky, jet black that pierces through to at least give the woman a rough area. Without knowing their animalistic form, the only thing she knows for sure when she sees those black smears is that it's nothing that she, or the other Wallflowers, for that matter, need to get in a scrap with. Not in their state, and not with the VIP in tow. Maybe if she was in better state, she'd of jumped down there and tried to wrestle those creatures like she did with bulldogs and wolves back home... But she'd need working arms to even think about that.
Lupine stepped forward, insisting that she would handle the abnormality. Now that was a fucked word she hadn't heard in too long, and one she wasn't keen on thinking back on. Those Nurses, and those things they had, and the things they made them do... Visions of them, of clockwork, mechanical arms as big as a tree, and rooms filled with oceans filled with little giggling beasts that took the shape of limbs and organs, just with fins and these teethy little smiles...
By the time she recentered on the world in front of her, it was harder to make out those inky black beings. Though, the air seemed to change in tinge. Instead of the sooty streets just outside the now open face of the floor they were on, it got more suffocating. It smelled of chemicals, of dirty air, like they were underground. There was foot traffic all around them, and the calm, composed chatter of people all around. It was hard to focus on, and the Fog didn't let her get a good look at anything near them, save her fellow companions who had undergone an appearance change.
Lupine stepped forward, insisting that she would handle the abnormality. Now that was a fucked word she hadn't heard in too long, and one she wasn't keen on thinking back on. Those Nurses, and those things they had, and the things they made them do... Visions of them, of clockwork, mechanical arms as big as a tree, and rooms filled with oceans filled with little giggling beasts that took the shape of limbs and organs, just with fins and these teethy little smiles...
By the time she recentered on the world in front of her, it was harder to make out those inky black beings. Though, the air seemed to change in tinge. Instead of the sooty streets just outside the now open face of the floor they were on, it got more suffocating. It smelled of chemicals, of dirty air, like they were underground. There was foot traffic all around them, and the calm, composed chatter of people all around. It was hard to focus on, and the Fog didn't let her get a good look at anything near them, save her fellow companions who had undergone an appearance change.
Daisy's words reached her before she could think too hard about it, and while her attire had changed from when she'd been stuck looking at the caraoke expert in the truck, it was still certainly the Daisy from then. The idea seemed nonsense, but when she took two steps closer to the voice, it got a little clearer. Out of the hole in the wall, and over to the next building besides them. Only issue, was that they were in an open alley, and the other building's wall was still mostly intact. A few signs knocked off of their posts by the flying projectiles, maybe, but beyond that, there was no simple entry point.
She tensed the modules in her leg for a moment, before breathing out a deep sigh. She'd make it happen, one way or another. If she could've kicked down that wall of the cafe to get out, she could do it in motion from whatever Daisy was gonna do to her. The only thing that would've stopped her was a direct command from someone else, at that point. "Copy. If you need a way up, here." She moves one of her hands down to her belt, where one of her non-fist weapons rested tied in a loop at her belt. It looked almost like a climbing hook, a few loops of rope dangling at Calendula's side during this battle so far. The tip was razor sharp, would stick into a wall without any issue, and the rope would hold Daisy's weight easy. "Can hook it into me, worst case scenario." Dropping it just beside the bubbly woman, and she did as the woman requested.
There'd be time to ask about that tattoo's nature another time. She pressed her foot onto Daisy, where she requested it, and like a shotgun going off, she shot upwards at a slight angle, straight towards the wall. It was harder than she would have liked for her own abilities to twist her body into position for a proper kick, but she managed to get that leg up and ready for impact.
KA-CRACK
It was nothing but cement and plaster, and nothing that she couldn't break through. The wall shattered inward as Calendula's form bellowed inside, and she managed the landing well enough, rolling into the room of a cluttered bedroom of what looked to be a small studio apartment. She'd splintered a perfectly innocent desk into rubble when she flew through the wall, sending it's pieces flying across the carpet and a small futon in the room. Though, there was no sign of a threat much less anyone in the room. Looking back down the alleyway, she shouted down to the others.
"We're clear! Next one, now!" If anyone seemed less than capable of sticking their own landing when she saw them midflight, she'd do what she could manage to brace their fall, even if that probably just meant them using her as a landing spot.
She tensed the modules in her leg for a moment, before breathing out a deep sigh. She'd make it happen, one way or another. If she could've kicked down that wall of the cafe to get out, she could do it in motion from whatever Daisy was gonna do to her. The only thing that would've stopped her was a direct command from someone else, at that point. "Copy. If you need a way up, here." She moves one of her hands down to her belt, where one of her non-fist weapons rested tied in a loop at her belt. It looked almost like a climbing hook, a few loops of rope dangling at Calendula's side during this battle so far. The tip was razor sharp, would stick into a wall without any issue, and the rope would hold Daisy's weight easy. "Can hook it into me, worst case scenario." Dropping it just beside the bubbly woman, and she did as the woman requested.
There'd be time to ask about that tattoo's nature another time. She pressed her foot onto Daisy, where she requested it, and like a shotgun going off, she shot upwards at a slight angle, straight towards the wall. It was harder than she would have liked for her own abilities to twist her body into position for a proper kick, but she managed to get that leg up and ready for impact.
KA-CRACK
It was nothing but cement and plaster, and nothing that she couldn't break through. The wall shattered inward as Calendula's form bellowed inside, and she managed the landing well enough, rolling into the room of a cluttered bedroom of what looked to be a small studio apartment. She'd splintered a perfectly innocent desk into rubble when she flew through the wall, sending it's pieces flying across the carpet and a small futon in the room. Though, there was no sign of a threat much less anyone in the room. Looking back down the alleyway, she shouted down to the others.
"We're clear! Next one, now!" If anyone seemed less than capable of sticking their own landing when she saw them midflight, she'd do what she could manage to brace their fall, even if that probably just meant them using her as a landing spot.
seasonedcat
bloodless
Rank 5 Fixer
Honey Locust
EGO: Thorns of Love
MURDER CAFÉ
Code by Serobliss
November Witch
Over great bodies of water, a November Witch roars
Bleeding Heart (Alba)
Status: Interested & frustrated
Well, her plan didn’t go perfectly, but it went well enough. The centiboar slid but managed to catch itself on the stair’s railing. However, it was so heavy and carried such momentum, Alba could identify the moment the screw started to pull from the foundation of the overpass. The deformation of metal. The screech of it against concrete and itself. This wasn’t optimal. Well, the more she thought about it, the more optimal it became, actually. The collapse would no doubt cause dust and debris to cloud the sight of the humans on the overpass if they came to look for Alba and Wisteria. Though, the only problem now was the ethereal wolf being.
Alba didn’t even consider her rising velocity a problem. That goopy hand she had prepared to keep the mutt at bay would come in handy for another reason. She pointed it up as she felt herself start to plummet. It would shoot up towards the underside of the overpass, at an angle and stick to it, bonding at an almost molecular level. She’d wrap her right arm around Wisteria and hold onto her as their speed started to exponentially increase.
“Hold on.”
She’d hiss at the other. Alba was smart, but not strong. If Wisteria didn’t hold on as well, Alba would lose her grip and Wisteria would be on her own, plummeting to the earth. Hopefully this sudden change in direction would be enough to avoid getting bit.
The angle she had shot the goop at meant she would begin to swing away from the boar and wolf. They would be traveling parallel to the building, following the overpass. The goop would slowly stretch and deform until the two could touch the ground. They had such momentum, Alba had to run quite a few feet to slow herself down. At that point, the long line of goop would retract back to her, and two large hands hung out of her EGO and by her sides, ready to strike at the wolf if it came.
“I don’t suppose you can produce fire or flame?”
Alba asked her partner for the moment. She had a hypothesis about this creature. It only emerged and disappeared into shadow… What if there were no shadows? It was the most obvious solution, so Alba had her doubts about it. But it was something easy they could attempt at the moment… If they had a way to make some sort of combustion happen. She could alter the chemical makeup of her goop to be an oily, flammable mess if needed. She just needed that little spark…
Or perhaps another option could be formed… Alba backed under the overpass a few feet, to a particularly dark area, and when she heard that familiar husky, disgusting dog breath, she’d jump to the opposite direction of it. She didn’t dodge to the left or right because then her window would be smaller. If she dodged away from it, perhaps it would continue a longer lunge, buying her more time. Time to shove a slimy hand into it’s mouth and pump it full of goop. A sticky, acidic substance. Of course, it would burn and eat away at whatever physical thing it touched. But it would also act as glue, hopefully keeping the mouth of the beast closed and buying them time.
dreadnought
The enlightened one
At first Wisteria considered whatever plan Alba was trying to pull off a success given that the two of them were still in completely one piece and if the horrid squealing of the other monster fading into the distance was anything to go by then that was one less problem that they would have to deal with. Something which the world seemed to disagree with as the very foundation of the overpass they were on soon started to crumble and cause them both to go in a freefall that would oh most definitely kill them if neither of them managed to figure out a good way to slow their fall in time. Using her EGO was obviously a no go in this situation for several reasons although there were a decent amount of still intact balconies that were available to latch onto which she tried angling herself towards until a certain comment from one of the siblings got under her skin enough to distract her from her oncoming death.
"A cockatoo? What the hell do you mean a cockatoo! It's a vulture! A vul-ture! Do your shitty pets also feed on your braincells or something whenever you're not backseating them while they do all the dirty work for you. If I could get my hands on your right now I swear I'd-"
Fortunately her rage filled rant would be cut short when she found herself getting swooped up by Alba who she nearly forgot about until now while the state of their current situation finally returned to her mind once more. Frankly she couldn't help but feel embarrassed over getting distracted so easily but she tried her best to hide it as she extinguished her blade and sheathed it before clinging on tightly to Alba's arm so that she wouldn't end up falling out of her grip. Sure it still felt pretty awkward to hold onto her in such a position but when the only over options available to her at the moment due to her earlier blunder were to either end up getting splattered all over the ground or end up as a quick meal for monstrous wolf that was currently on their tail she was happy to deal with a bit of minor discomfort for the time being. Soon enough her feet would finally touch the ground once more which was quite the relief but it wasn't something that she could really savour for too long with the shadowy monster that was approaching them was still very eager to tear them limb from limb if they didn't deal with it fast.
"Thanks for the save and to answer your question-" She went ahead with the show route rather than tell as she unsheathed and ignited her sabre as a demonstration as she continued on talking. "I got this little thing that would look pretty good right now buried in that shadow thing's guts but I'm guessing you got something else in mind for it."
She was a little curious on what Alba's newest plan was looking like but such curiosity could be saved for later when their enemy wasn't right upon the two of them so Wisteria wasted no time in assuming a combat stance once more as she prepared herself to take on the umbral beast. Moving quickly to get between both the beast and Alba as she threw some weird slime into the creature's mouth that while it may have prevented it from using its teeth for a decent while, its claws and overall weight would still make for a decent weapon for it to utilise if she allowed it to as she readied herself to both block and parry such an attack if it came her way.
"A cockatoo? What the hell do you mean a cockatoo! It's a vulture! A vul-ture! Do your shitty pets also feed on your braincells or something whenever you're not backseating them while they do all the dirty work for you. If I could get my hands on your right now I swear I'd-"
Fortunately her rage filled rant would be cut short when she found herself getting swooped up by Alba who she nearly forgot about until now while the state of their current situation finally returned to her mind once more. Frankly she couldn't help but feel embarrassed over getting distracted so easily but she tried her best to hide it as she extinguished her blade and sheathed it before clinging on tightly to Alba's arm so that she wouldn't end up falling out of her grip. Sure it still felt pretty awkward to hold onto her in such a position but when the only over options available to her at the moment due to her earlier blunder were to either end up getting splattered all over the ground or end up as a quick meal for monstrous wolf that was currently on their tail she was happy to deal with a bit of minor discomfort for the time being. Soon enough her feet would finally touch the ground once more which was quite the relief but it wasn't something that she could really savour for too long with the shadowy monster that was approaching them was still very eager to tear them limb from limb if they didn't deal with it fast.
"Thanks for the save and to answer your question-" She went ahead with the show route rather than tell as she unsheathed and ignited her sabre as a demonstration as she continued on talking. "I got this little thing that would look pretty good right now buried in that shadow thing's guts but I'm guessing you got something else in mind for it."
She was a little curious on what Alba's newest plan was looking like but such curiosity could be saved for later when their enemy wasn't right upon the two of them so Wisteria wasted no time in assuming a combat stance once more as she prepared herself to take on the umbral beast. Moving quickly to get between both the beast and Alba as she threw some weird slime into the creature's mouth that while it may have prevented it from using its teeth for a decent while, its claws and overall weight would still make for a decent weapon for it to utilise if she allowed it to as she readied herself to both block and parry such an attack if it came her way.
Autumn Leaf
Chrysalis, Metamorphosis, Genesis
Mentions:
November Witch
dreadnought
Location: District 12 Backstreets 'Zone - 04 Border' - 'Cafe Le Soleil'
The shadowy long-eared predator would be revealed briefly in the flashing of the special saber as Wisteria answered.
When the confirmation was made, their plan was set. In unison, the two acted. As they predicted, the supernatural beast, while cunning, was still a creature beholden to its instinct. A predator always struck where their prey was vulnerable. It leapt from the shadow the moment Alba moved from the light into the darkness of the overpass. Falling for the bait. A flammable glob of goo would be shot out of the hat by Alba in a big sloshing fist. The punch sunk through the wispy, gaseous body. The creature was not so much damaged, than it was caught in the sticky substance. Merely slowing it down, enough for Alba to stare right into the mouth covered in rending teeth just inches away from her face. With Wisteria's blade slicing through, the dripping ooze burst and the artist appeared to unleash a thick wave of pink flame.
The pained howl sounded like a metallic yelp.
Still, the ethereal creature continued through despite the clear damage it began to sustain. Its airy form seemed to ignite and rapidly disintegrate, like a pilot light to a vent of pure methane. Yet, in its final moments, the rigid, boney jaws would close down on Alba.
As the pink fire died out around them, so did what remained of the beast as the jaws vanished into smoke. Perhaps they would share a moment of victory. Or so they believed. From the shadows, the eerie snickering could still be heard. A coldness pettered over. Where could it be? Just when they could feel something breathing down their necks, the buildings around them began to shiver.
Hydrangea finally landed, flipping across the ground with her bladed heels like a whirling blade.
But the shadow had already retreated, bouncing between the pockets of light once more. Why would it leave when it had a chance at a killing blow? Now that they looked, there seemed to be a panic between the two macabre women chained to the ungodly monstrosities. Something was flying up from below. And it was fast.
The EGO shattered the illusion of the world. Or perhaps it pierced the barrier of perception, a bridge to a shared experience. The shimmering kaleidoscope zone spread like a reflective sheen across the worn-down backstreet environment. The open sky closed off as the flashing cries of an alarm siren echoed throughout the long, endless metallic corridor. The hulking mass of legs and spluttering tusks was turned into a cartoonified version. The fluffy, wet thing bent and extorted in an almost adorable way, eyes sparkling with exaggerated glitters and stars. The guttural screams that came from its chest were replaced with chiming chortling giggles. As it lost track of who was its true target, the creature chased after the nearbyrats clerks like an overly excited pet. The clerks yelled in fear joy as it smashed into them and knocked them out. How unfortunate, as it caused the poor employees to spill the pails of blood pink paint they were delivering. For a moment, it seemed almost silly and comical the sheer diminishing of danger.
Everyone had a view into the blissful reality, as was according to how their faithful colorless companion saw it.
One where things still made sense. Where pain and sacrifice could still mean something.
While this happened, the other Wallflowers, injured as they are, made their escape via the Daisy Springboard Express. One by one, they entered the Galactic Railroad, and were sent flying into the apartment floors above. Like little toy barrel monkeys. Soon enough, Lupine and Daisy were sent through the air. Landing into the safety high above the trashing creature that seemed oblivious to the trickery.
Seething can be heard above.
"Stupid, sniveling, rotten...! Wake up! Wake up! The leap frogs are up there!" screamed Yuna.
The impatient girl whipped her arm as though yanking a leash, causing the black chain to squeeze and recoil. The spiked loops began to tighten. The sloshing mass began to let out of a pained cry, slapped into the walls by some unseen force exerted by the action. This seemed to knock some sense back. Enraged, the snorting thing beat its flabby, wet chest into the ground below. It seemed utterly frenzied, mirroring its hot-headed master screaming for murder high above. Its long bumpy spine bent up, tusks pointed at the escaped Wallflowers huddled in the overlooking apartment. Though it could not hold or grasp. It did not seem to matter, in the face of such brutal strength. Row by row, its drove the dozens of hooves into the wall of the alleyway. Like climbing picks stabbing into a cliffside.
The whole building wobbled perilously under the sheer weight and rage. The client was already beginning to drift from injuries, Snowdrop catching him when they slumped. Zi Hua took the other side. He kicked a door down into another room in the apartment. His big swollen arm made a sickly sound, but the man continued with a stern look. "I don't plan on ending up as pig chow. And being bloody, messy mushpile wasn't fun either."
But then, somewhere standing in the bloody alley, a woman announced themselves.
"Ah. So you're the ones who smashed my favorite noodle shop. Then, I simply have to smash you as payback."
In the blink of an eye, a figure appeared in the alley. A crater formed at their feet. But the sound only occurred a second later. The trashing, centipede-like creature was grabbed by its hind legs and began to be dragged. It screeched, hugging the building to no avail as it was being contorted. The hundreds of legs wiggled helplessly, dragged into the dusty divide as it began to spin 'round and 'round. Like a fidget toy, the terrifying figure swung their quarry. The hulking flesh turned into blurred jaundice-hue whirl before it was finally released. A wet plop as it was sent into the sky. The heaving blubbery creature resembled a piece of pizza dough as it spiraled through the grimy daylight.
Straight back to its owner.
The Wallflowers huddling around in the apartment would see the huge mass closing in on them rapidly. Breaking through chimneys, tearing water tanks, and ripping power cables, it clearing the wide space in seconds. A feeling of déjà vu might have set in. But luckily, this time, the huge payload was not aimed at them. Further on it soared, until it passed well overhead.
But the beast bullet would not reach its target. Yuna opened her palm. The squealing creature began to shrink, melding into the tight space beneath her sleeves. "Annoying, annoying...!"
The elder sister, though carrying a calm expression, turned with a desperate quickness. She grabbed the rambunctious sibling by their wrist. "It's them. We must g--"
A fist now closed in on their position, behind it a stone-cold glare. An omen of pure destruction. Long flowing blue hair streaked across the sky like a fluttering tail. The augmentation tattoos on their pale skin glimmered, leaving traces of light, making the entity resemble a fierce blue comet. The mysterious figure capable of hoisting and tossing the massive limbed beast like a toy had jumped, bouncing off the sides of the buildings. They were nearly untrackable in motion. Each step caused all of the windows nearby to shatter into thousands of pieces. So quick that it took a full second later, for the cascade of erupting clattering noise to catch up.
They were not even able to get a breath out, by the time the powerful woman had made it up the 30 meters. In just a split instant. The two sisters were soon engulfed in a cloud of smoke. The entire platform adjoined to the overpass exploded by the collision of the punch, blasting debris and shards of mortar everywhere.
Suddenly, a darting shadow can be seen bursting through the heavy concrete fog displaced by the impact. Shooting right up into the sky. A feathery beast, chained to the hysterically laughing man, carried the three siblings away from the scene of destruction. Diving sharply between the towering scrapers, they were gone.
The smoke cleared away with but a single swipe of her hand.
The powerful gust pushed those below, and even Zi Hua and Snowdrop had to brace each other in the wave of force. The lone figure gazed down, their head tilted heavily to one side. As if the brooding woman couldn't care less. It could also be interpreted as a look of disinterested disgust. Like she had just been disturbed from a nap, and was now in the presence of squabbling insects. A chained book was strapped to her, dangling down lazily from her waist. Then, from the shadows, others dressed similarly to the draping blue-haired woman began to step forth joining her upon the broken edge of the shattered overpass.
The gang of delinquents were covered in those special glowing tattoos. Some more than others. None as much as the baggy-eyed woman. Along with the signature enchained tombs. The unbreakable vow binding one to the law of vengeance. The mark of of one of the five Backstreet overlords, The Middle. The woman who caused all the destruction, scratched her head in annoyance as though deliberating something.
"Oi! is that how you address a Big Sister?" cried one of the syndicate members, cracking their knuckles. But a glare from the woman silenced them.
Her eyes returned to Wallflowers below, straight at Hydrangea. Despite how far apart they stood, her voice boomed to all. "Answer. Liars will face Vengeance. Those smashed-to-bits pair of cars down there, in the ruins of my favorite noodle spot. Do they belong to you?"
For the first time, their usually composed and cheery Supervisor seemed a bit flustered in a social confrontation. With the waved blades retracting back to normal heels, she approached the edge of the rooftop with a courteous bow before speaking. "Technically, yes. However, we were only doing our jobs. You see, our client here got attacked..."
"Spare me. Do you think I am unaware of what happens on my streets?" in the shadow of the glowing sky of the Backstreets, the dark tattoos shone, "It's been a very long time since I've seen that old fart. Is he still breathing?"
Hydrangea looked upwards, to the apartments where the other Wallflowers stood and awaited a signal. Snowdrop placed a hand to the neck of the old man. His eyes had been closed for a while now. Then after a tense moment, stuck up a thumb.
"Good. The Middle always repays its debts." the Big Sister said, turning slightly to one of the inked-up goons. They produced a blood bag and IV from their worn-out fatigues, tossing it down the the Wallflowers below. Even for what seemed a lowly grunt, it was a remarkable display of strength. Zi Hua caught it, and handed to one of the others. Someone with more functional arms could perform the emergency blood transfusion upon the fading client.
Hydrangea seemed relieved, until the Big Sister addressed them again in her booming voice. "Still. For your part in all this, no matter how small. A price must be paid."
"And what price is that?" Hydrangea said, unsure.
"For your Sins..." the Big Sister's hand reached to the chained book, unbinding the big, bulky lock from its cover. "A replacement. For our stolen meals. Our merry lunch plans have been ruined, an unforgivable crime." the book slammed after she finished etching the judgement into the pages. What is written within cannot be undone, and will be seen by all of the Middle. Even elsewhere. Another shockwave spilled out through the alleyway and beyond. "Do not disappoint. The Middle never forgets."
Raising a curious eyebrow, the Supervisor turned her head in a scanning pan. Her prying eyes landed to where Daisy was. There was mention of a fantastic dumpling place around here, hadn't there? Well, here is hoping that glowing recommendation wasn't just one of the mischievous girl's passing jokes, or blatant lies. Or else, they were in more trouble than whatever those monstrosities could ever possibly do.
...
Location: Zone 04 - Street Market Corner
Whatever strange anomaly Alba and Wisteria witnessed previously, when they first returned to the street-level, the people seemed freed from the odd swaying. The sickly, pitiful denizens moved the streets normally again. At least, as normal as they could. Those who did not have a death wish staying a good distance away from the band of Middle brothers and sisters walking in a parade down the street. Though it would be more apt to call it an executionary march. The escorting gang pore daggers into the backs of the Wallflowers as Daisy led them loke headless chickens across the Backstreets in a wayward journey to the fabled dumplings. A sense of animosity building as they rounded yet another empty corner. Despite how the other felt, the Big Sister did not utter a word of annoyance or aggravation. She simply watched with her cold eyes, and closed fists. The Book of Vengeance swinging at her side.
Hydrangea seemed to making peace with their doom, until Daisy began to ring out in fanfare. They had arrived to the fateful destination. Imagine their faces when they walked into a dopey little pizzeria. According to the dual-haired diva, 'dumplings were a secret menu item'.
The corner-side family restaurant was quickly emptied, the few customers within immediately making their exit upon seeing the tattoos. The pudgy owner jumped up and down, shouting orders to his family of sons. They frantically rushed about the tiny floor like startled ants. All available seating was bust out for the big surprise-reservation party. It wasn't clear whether he was sweating due to the heat of the pizza kitchen, or if he feared for the life of all he ever loved. In the end, there were barely enough plastic chairs to seat even half of the moody, raunchy gang. The rest stood, steaming with frustration. After all they've been through, they couldn't wait to bash in these willy, lying Wallflowers. They only held their tongue out of respect.
The Wallflowers were made to sit at a round table with the Big Sister at one end. Somehow, despite everyone sitting on plastic seats, her chair was an embellished throne. Had someone been carrying that around this whole time? Even if there was no rule against it, they would have a hard time sharing words under her stern gaze. In the longest thirty minutes of their lives, their fates came fresh from the oven. A piping hot plate of judgement.
The pizza with special dumpling toppings was placed by the shaking chef before the Big Sister. Even he couldn't falsify a feigned smile of hope when presenting his heart-and-soul creation. Honestly, the 'dish' looked like a cobbled mess. Even the rodent-nibbled trashed out back probably looked more appetizing. An abhorrent atrocity to the very notion of food culture and cuisine. Her expression was hard to read. The Middle soldiers edged closer as the Big Sister lifted the soggy piece of the pizza in her hand, who turned it around her slim, yet tough fingers. Taking a long look at it. Then, a slow, hesitant bite.
The Big Sister only chewed twice, before she turned a hard gaze at those at the table. Violence flashing in the eager smiles of the subordinates. The air smelt of mortis.
Abruptly, her abrasive expression melted away. She put a hand to her lips, in shock.
The Big Sister, the harbinger of Vengeance was blushing. "It's so good...!" raising a fist into the air, "Vengeance has been carried forth! The Middle always remembers! Let's go all out, everyone!"
Hydrangea was in disbelief. Even Zi Hua couldn't stop himself. "Oh, what the fuck?"
But his callous remark was mostly drowned out by the overpowering cheer let out by the Middle. The blood-thirsty gang members veered their mood sharply. They presented a newfound friendly camaraderie to the of circle hostages. Many of them were smiling at the Wallflowers, giving fist bumps and displaying hand signs as they passed to line up to the counter to order. Perhaps this was just because they placed their full trust in their Big Sister. Out of the Five Fingers, the Middle was known to value familial bonds the greatest. Hence the titles alluding to kinship.
A whirlwind of commotion stirred. A towering rack of bottled booze was dragged out to the main floor, and a DJ station was wheeled in front of the little Pizzeria. A curious and dangerous looking crowd was already gathered at the premises. Mercenaries, ruffians, and other subsidiary syndicates, marked by their distinct logos called by the influence of the ruling Finger in these Backstreets. The bustling streetside was caught in the explosive radius of rowdy music projected at 110% volume from the sound towers. A real party began to kick up both in, converting the small family owned business from some cheap restaurant to dead-drop club in moments.
The owner seemed to be sweating more now, as the dumpling pizza orders flood in. His sons working double, no, triple-time.
For the time being, while their client seemed to be catching up with the Big Sister between a smoke, the Wallflowers would be able to enjoy this little taste of 'peace' under one of the infamous parties hosted by the Middle. Though they were probably still sore and bruised, wrapped up in patches in the aftermath of their gruesome battle. The iron stench of blood clinging to their immacuately, for the most part, flower-imbedded uniforms.
A regular level of existence, here in this City.
November Witch
dreadnought
Location: District 12 Backstreets 'Zone - 04 Border' - 'Cafe Le Soleil'
The shadowy long-eared predator would be revealed briefly in the flashing of the special saber as Wisteria answered.
When the confirmation was made, their plan was set. In unison, the two acted. As they predicted, the supernatural beast, while cunning, was still a creature beholden to its instinct. A predator always struck where their prey was vulnerable. It leapt from the shadow the moment Alba moved from the light into the darkness of the overpass. Falling for the bait. A flammable glob of goo would be shot out of the hat by Alba in a big sloshing fist. The punch sunk through the wispy, gaseous body. The creature was not so much damaged, than it was caught in the sticky substance. Merely slowing it down, enough for Alba to stare right into the mouth covered in rending teeth just inches away from her face. With Wisteria's blade slicing through, the dripping ooze burst and the artist appeared to unleash a thick wave of pink flame.
The pained howl sounded like a metallic yelp.
Still, the ethereal creature continued through despite the clear damage it began to sustain. Its airy form seemed to ignite and rapidly disintegrate, like a pilot light to a vent of pure methane. Yet, in its final moments, the rigid, boney jaws would close down on Alba.
The teeth would easily pierce the reinforced uniform. But it would not be a lethal blow.
As the pink fire died out around them, so did what remained of the beast as the jaws vanished into smoke. Perhaps they would share a moment of victory. Or so they believed. From the shadows, the eerie snickering could still be heard. A coldness pettered over. Where could it be? Just when they could feel something breathing down their necks, the buildings around them began to shiver.
Hydrangea finally landed, flipping across the ground with her bladed heels like a whirling blade.
But the shadow had already retreated, bouncing between the pockets of light once more. Why would it leave when it had a chance at a killing blow? Now that they looked, there seemed to be a panic between the two macabre women chained to the ungodly monstrosities. Something was flying up from below. And it was fast.
Just moments before... @ all
The EGO shattered the illusion of the world. Or perhaps it pierced the barrier of perception, a bridge to a shared experience. The shimmering kaleidoscope zone spread like a reflective sheen across the worn-down backstreet environment. The open sky closed off as the flashing cries of an alarm siren echoed throughout the long, endless metallic corridor. The hulking mass of legs and spluttering tusks was turned into a cartoonified version. The fluffy, wet thing bent and extorted in an almost adorable way, eyes sparkling with exaggerated glitters and stars. The guttural screams that came from its chest were replaced with chiming chortling giggles. As it lost track of who was its true target, the creature chased after the nearby
Everyone had a view into the blissful reality, as was according to how their faithful colorless companion saw it.
One where things still made sense. Where pain and sacrifice could still mean something.
While this happened, the other Wallflowers, injured as they are, made their escape via the Daisy Springboard Express. One by one, they entered the Galactic Railroad, and were sent flying into the apartment floors above. Like little toy barrel monkeys. Soon enough, Lupine and Daisy were sent through the air. Landing into the safety high above the trashing creature that seemed oblivious to the trickery.
Seething can be heard above.
"Stupid, sniveling, rotten...! Wake up! Wake up! The leap frogs are up there!" screamed Yuna.
The impatient girl whipped her arm as though yanking a leash, causing the black chain to squeeze and recoil. The spiked loops began to tighten. The sloshing mass began to let out of a pained cry, slapped into the walls by some unseen force exerted by the action. This seemed to knock some sense back. Enraged, the snorting thing beat its flabby, wet chest into the ground below. It seemed utterly frenzied, mirroring its hot-headed master screaming for murder high above. Its long bumpy spine bent up, tusks pointed at the escaped Wallflowers huddled in the overlooking apartment. Though it could not hold or grasp. It did not seem to matter, in the face of such brutal strength. Row by row, its drove the dozens of hooves into the wall of the alleyway. Like climbing picks stabbing into a cliffside.
The whole building wobbled perilously under the sheer weight and rage. The client was already beginning to drift from injuries, Snowdrop catching him when they slumped. Zi Hua took the other side. He kicked a door down into another room in the apartment. His big swollen arm made a sickly sound, but the man continued with a stern look. "I don't plan on ending up as pig chow. And being bloody, messy mushpile wasn't fun either."
But then, somewhere standing in the bloody alley, a woman announced themselves.
"Ah. So you're the ones who smashed my favorite noodle shop. Then, I simply have to smash you as payback."
In the blink of an eye, a figure appeared in the alley. A crater formed at their feet. But the sound only occurred a second later. The trashing, centipede-like creature was grabbed by its hind legs and began to be dragged. It screeched, hugging the building to no avail as it was being contorted. The hundreds of legs wiggled helplessly, dragged into the dusty divide as it began to spin 'round and 'round. Like a fidget toy, the terrifying figure swung their quarry. The hulking flesh turned into blurred jaundice-hue whirl before it was finally released. A wet plop as it was sent into the sky. The heaving blubbery creature resembled a piece of pizza dough as it spiraled through the grimy daylight.
Straight back to its owner.
The Wallflowers huddling around in the apartment would see the huge mass closing in on them rapidly. Breaking through chimneys, tearing water tanks, and ripping power cables, it clearing the wide space in seconds. A feeling of déjà vu might have set in. But luckily, this time, the huge payload was not aimed at them. Further on it soared, until it passed well overhead.
But the beast bullet would not reach its target. Yuna opened her palm. The squealing creature began to shrink, melding into the tight space beneath her sleeves. "Annoying, annoying...!"
The elder sister, though carrying a calm expression, turned with a desperate quickness. She grabbed the rambunctious sibling by their wrist. "It's them. We must g--"
A fist now closed in on their position, behind it a stone-cold glare. An omen of pure destruction. Long flowing blue hair streaked across the sky like a fluttering tail. The augmentation tattoos on their pale skin glimmered, leaving traces of light, making the entity resemble a fierce blue comet. The mysterious figure capable of hoisting and tossing the massive limbed beast like a toy had jumped, bouncing off the sides of the buildings. They were nearly untrackable in motion. Each step caused all of the windows nearby to shatter into thousands of pieces. So quick that it took a full second later, for the cascade of erupting clattering noise to catch up.
They were not even able to get a breath out, by the time the powerful woman had made it up the 30 meters. In just a split instant. The two sisters were soon engulfed in a cloud of smoke. The entire platform adjoined to the overpass exploded by the collision of the punch, blasting debris and shards of mortar everywhere.
Suddenly, a darting shadow can be seen bursting through the heavy concrete fog displaced by the impact. Shooting right up into the sky. A feathery beast, chained to the hysterically laughing man, carried the three siblings away from the scene of destruction. Diving sharply between the towering scrapers, they were gone.
The smoke cleared away with but a single swipe of her hand.
The powerful gust pushed those below, and even Zi Hua and Snowdrop had to brace each other in the wave of force. The lone figure gazed down, their head tilted heavily to one side. As if the brooding woman couldn't care less. It could also be interpreted as a look of disinterested disgust. Like she had just been disturbed from a nap, and was now in the presence of squabbling insects. A chained book was strapped to her, dangling down lazily from her waist. Then, from the shadows, others dressed similarly to the draping blue-haired woman began to step forth joining her upon the broken edge of the shattered overpass.
The gang of delinquents were covered in those special glowing tattoos. Some more than others. None as much as the baggy-eyed woman. Along with the signature enchained tombs. The unbreakable vow binding one to the law of vengeance. The mark of of one of the five Backstreet overlords, The Middle. The woman who caused all the destruction, scratched her head in annoyance as though deliberating something.
"Oi! is that how you address a Big Sister?" cried one of the syndicate members, cracking their knuckles. But a glare from the woman silenced them.
Her eyes returned to Wallflowers below, straight at Hydrangea. Despite how far apart they stood, her voice boomed to all. "Answer. Liars will face Vengeance. Those smashed-to-bits pair of cars down there, in the ruins of my favorite noodle spot. Do they belong to you?"
For the first time, their usually composed and cheery Supervisor seemed a bit flustered in a social confrontation. With the waved blades retracting back to normal heels, she approached the edge of the rooftop with a courteous bow before speaking. "Technically, yes. However, we were only doing our jobs. You see, our client here got attacked..."
"Spare me. Do you think I am unaware of what happens on my streets?" in the shadow of the glowing sky of the Backstreets, the dark tattoos shone, "It's been a very long time since I've seen that old fart. Is he still breathing?"
Hydrangea looked upwards, to the apartments where the other Wallflowers stood and awaited a signal. Snowdrop placed a hand to the neck of the old man. His eyes had been closed for a while now. Then after a tense moment, stuck up a thumb.
"Good. The Middle always repays its debts." the Big Sister said, turning slightly to one of the inked-up goons. They produced a blood bag and IV from their worn-out fatigues, tossing it down the the Wallflowers below. Even for what seemed a lowly grunt, it was a remarkable display of strength. Zi Hua caught it, and handed to one of the others. Someone with more functional arms could perform the emergency blood transfusion upon the fading client.
Hydrangea seemed relieved, until the Big Sister addressed them again in her booming voice. "Still. For your part in all this, no matter how small. A price must be paid."
"And what price is that?" Hydrangea said, unsure.
"For your Sins..." the Big Sister's hand reached to the chained book, unbinding the big, bulky lock from its cover. "A replacement. For our stolen meals. Our merry lunch plans have been ruined, an unforgivable crime." the book slammed after she finished etching the judgement into the pages. What is written within cannot be undone, and will be seen by all of the Middle. Even elsewhere. Another shockwave spilled out through the alleyway and beyond. "Do not disappoint. The Middle never forgets."
Raising a curious eyebrow, the Supervisor turned her head in a scanning pan. Her prying eyes landed to where Daisy was. There was mention of a fantastic dumpling place around here, hadn't there? Well, here is hoping that glowing recommendation wasn't just one of the mischievous girl's passing jokes, or blatant lies. Or else, they were in more trouble than whatever those monstrosities could ever possibly do.
...
Location: Zone 04 - Street Market Corner
Whatever strange anomaly Alba and Wisteria witnessed previously, when they first returned to the street-level, the people seemed freed from the odd swaying. The sickly, pitiful denizens moved the streets normally again. At least, as normal as they could. Those who did not have a death wish staying a good distance away from the band of Middle brothers and sisters walking in a parade down the street. Though it would be more apt to call it an executionary march. The escorting gang pore daggers into the backs of the Wallflowers as Daisy led them loke headless chickens across the Backstreets in a wayward journey to the fabled dumplings. A sense of animosity building as they rounded yet another empty corner. Despite how the other felt, the Big Sister did not utter a word of annoyance or aggravation. She simply watched with her cold eyes, and closed fists. The Book of Vengeance swinging at her side.
Hydrangea seemed to making peace with their doom, until Daisy began to ring out in fanfare. They had arrived to the fateful destination. Imagine their faces when they walked into a dopey little pizzeria. According to the dual-haired diva, 'dumplings were a secret menu item'.
The corner-side family restaurant was quickly emptied, the few customers within immediately making their exit upon seeing the tattoos. The pudgy owner jumped up and down, shouting orders to his family of sons. They frantically rushed about the tiny floor like startled ants. All available seating was bust out for the big surprise-reservation party. It wasn't clear whether he was sweating due to the heat of the pizza kitchen, or if he feared for the life of all he ever loved. In the end, there were barely enough plastic chairs to seat even half of the moody, raunchy gang. The rest stood, steaming with frustration. After all they've been through, they couldn't wait to bash in these willy, lying Wallflowers. They only held their tongue out of respect.
The Wallflowers were made to sit at a round table with the Big Sister at one end. Somehow, despite everyone sitting on plastic seats, her chair was an embellished throne. Had someone been carrying that around this whole time? Even if there was no rule against it, they would have a hard time sharing words under her stern gaze. In the longest thirty minutes of their lives, their fates came fresh from the oven. A piping hot plate of judgement.
The pizza with special dumpling toppings was placed by the shaking chef before the Big Sister. Even he couldn't falsify a feigned smile of hope when presenting his heart-and-soul creation. Honestly, the 'dish' looked like a cobbled mess. Even the rodent-nibbled trashed out back probably looked more appetizing. An abhorrent atrocity to the very notion of food culture and cuisine. Her expression was hard to read. The Middle soldiers edged closer as the Big Sister lifted the soggy piece of the pizza in her hand, who turned it around her slim, yet tough fingers. Taking a long look at it. Then, a slow, hesitant bite.
The Big Sister only chewed twice, before she turned a hard gaze at those at the table. Violence flashing in the eager smiles of the subordinates. The air smelt of mortis.
Abruptly, her abrasive expression melted away. She put a hand to her lips, in shock.
The Big Sister, the harbinger of Vengeance was blushing. "It's so good...!" raising a fist into the air, "Vengeance has been carried forth! The Middle always remembers! Let's go all out, everyone!"
Hydrangea was in disbelief. Even Zi Hua couldn't stop himself. "Oh, what the fuck?"
But his callous remark was mostly drowned out by the overpowering cheer let out by the Middle. The blood-thirsty gang members veered their mood sharply. They presented a newfound friendly camaraderie to the of circle hostages. Many of them were smiling at the Wallflowers, giving fist bumps and displaying hand signs as they passed to line up to the counter to order. Perhaps this was just because they placed their full trust in their Big Sister. Out of the Five Fingers, the Middle was known to value familial bonds the greatest. Hence the titles alluding to kinship.
A whirlwind of commotion stirred. A towering rack of bottled booze was dragged out to the main floor, and a DJ station was wheeled in front of the little Pizzeria. A curious and dangerous looking crowd was already gathered at the premises. Mercenaries, ruffians, and other subsidiary syndicates, marked by their distinct logos called by the influence of the ruling Finger in these Backstreets. The bustling streetside was caught in the explosive radius of rowdy music projected at 110% volume from the sound towers. A real party began to kick up both in, converting the small family owned business from some cheap restaurant to dead-drop club in moments.
The owner seemed to be sweating more now, as the dumpling pizza orders flood in. His sons working double, no, triple-time.
For the time being, while their client seemed to be catching up with the Big Sister between a smoke, the Wallflowers would be able to enjoy this little taste of 'peace' under one of the infamous parties hosted by the Middle. Though they were probably still sore and bruised, wrapped up in patches in the aftermath of their gruesome battle. The iron stench of blood clinging to their immacuately, for the most part, flower-imbedded uniforms.
A regular level of existence, here in this City.
Last edited:
ERode
In The Mirror
That was the thing about the City, the reason why, despite everything, Daisy could never truly hate it.
The reversal of fortunes was as swift as the spinning of a coin, after all, and so long as you were willing to flip it to begin with, something interesting could always manifest. Who knew that the Middle would have arrived? Who knew that Hydraganea would turn to Daisy to handle it? Who knew that Daisy was bullshitting through absolutely everything, as she strode through the Backstreets with impossible confidence and poise, pointing out historical details of the district that she made up even as reality itself challenged her facetious claims. Whether through the brewing killing intent of the Younger Siblings or the imposing pressure of the Big Sister, the girl with a streak of gold through her hair remained almost in lock-step with her, as if to say that she had no intentions of running if the Big Sister decided enough was enough and swatted her head clean off her shoulders.
Perhaps it was the confidence that stayed the Middle’s hand. Perhaps the woman she was hosting simply didn’t care. Perhaps, the coin simply hadn’t settled yet.
And when it did?
Daisy continued on as if she had always expected it to land on a ‘heads’.
When one lived in the Backstreets for long enough, one understood that there was no meaning in judging by visual appeal, after all. Taste superseded all else, and in terms of fusion, it was near-impossible to get pizza wrong! The conception of dumplings, of course, manifested from the standard combination of ground meat and chives, with the pizza sauce mixed 50-25-25 with soy sauce and vinegar. To top things off, the elastic-y dough was pan-fried rather than risen in an oven, a slurry of corn starch added to give it that pan-fried dumpling vibe. Perhaps some would call it an atrocity still, a cardinal sin to be mixing cuisines inappropriately.
Daisy, however, knew that fortune favoured only the bold, and it was only through venturing past the domains of common sense that new horizons could be reached. Wasn’t that why the cannibal-chefs of District 23 were so well-regarded? Even as the atmosphere darkened, she locked eyes with the poor chef (His name is Guido. Because Daisy decided he looked like a ‘Guido’.) and grinned.
The Big Sister took one bite. Chewed twice. And saw the same horizon that Daisy did.
…
Perhaps she had no real idea of family, not when she readily abandoned the Rats she had broken bread with in order to slip on the uniform of a Fixer. Perhaps she had no sense of self either, a chameleon who only co-opted the act of happiness and joy. Perhaps she would always be a fake, a charlatan, a liar running on the edge. But if it was a party?
“TURN UP THE MUSIC!”
Someway or the other, Daisy had climbed up onto the top of the DJ station, a bottle of booze in one hand and a microphone in the other. Taking one deep swig of the bottle, she sprayed it all out from her mouth with the chutzpah of a legend, onto the seething crowd of before her. Alcoholic mist, tinged with a fake-idol’s saliva, formed a rainbow over them all, as she drew the microphone back to her face.
“THIS IS A DIRGE FOR THE SINNERS!”
Today, for this occasion? For the Middle that she figured would be nice to be friends with, even if they were a bit nutso? For her Office that she figured were either deciding to kill her or promote her for the swing of emotions she had tossed them through? For the dumpling soup that she’d never eat and the dumpling pizza that she manifested through sheer will and arrogance? She’ll even use 20% of her actual singing capability!
And 20%, coming from Daisy, shone just as bright as a mist of alcohol in strobing lights.
November Witch
Over great bodies of water, a November Witch roars
Bleeding Heart (Alba)
Status: Annoyed & impatient
It looked like this plan went much better, when compared to her last one. The wolf was hampered by her goop, and even set ablaze by a quick-thinking Wisteria. Through the deluge of heat and flame, the spectral being continued towards her. Granted, Alba had assumed this would happen, and therefore, it was still a part of the plan. The massive jaws closed into her head in slow motion. A jet of slime shot from her hat, impacting the floor and twisting her to the right, attempting to dodge. The bad news was that she couldn’t fully escape the wrath of the ethereal being. The good news was that instead of biting down on her skull and neck, it was her left shoulder, back, and chest that took the hit. The serrated teeth managed to pierce her uniform, and Alba was glad. It would give her an excuse to not wear it again.
Though she felt the teeth sink into her flesh, and start applying pressure to her ribs. Just as she thought they would snap, the thing vanished, letting her breathe a sigh of relief. A layer of slime would drip down and out of her hat, filling the wounds, and starting to mend them. A disinfectant sludge that would clean and harden there. A little pain would be all she had to deal with. And if Alba was honest, it was something she didn’t exactly mind.
She was a little disappointed when the trio vanished and left, however someone else just as quickly took their place…
‘Who the fuck is that.’
But Alba kept that to herself. She was aware of how volatile this situation was due to how flustered her manager seemed. Speaking of which, why was she here and not with the others? Maybe the flood of enemies had died down or were being managed by her coworkers. But somehow, she doubted the breakwater of employees could stand up to a tsunami of enemies that big. Perhaps she had found the source then? Or maybe the others were dead. All possibilities. But they didn’t matter at the moment. She had no choice but to follow along with whatever her boss wanted.
…
Apparently, the others were alive and well, very high above them atop a building. As they had all come down to lead this group of ne’er-do-wells to a restaurant. Alba just wanted them to find someplace they could eat already so she could head back to the office and her little research room. This annoyance had run its course, and she was done with it. While the threat of annihilation was suffocating in the air, Alba had planned to offer her services to these people if her own teammates failed to be useful and find a nice eatery. Whether it would work was up in the air. But because Alba had no control over it, she simply decided to cross that bridge when they got to it.
Thankfully they never did.
Actually, now that Alba thought about it, it was probably an unfortunate thing. Blaring music. Rowdy, yelling people, and clouded judgements. Yep. This was not the place for her. Once it was seen that they weren’t all going to die and the party started, Alba stepped outside. She pulled up a map and was intent on setting out to walk home. Their job was finished, so she was now free to go back to the office. At least, that’s how Alba saw it. If no one intervened, she’d simply start on the long walk back.
Mothman
A moth, and also a man
Juju
City Streets
So much happened, even just after they had jumped up the way into the apartment buildings. She grit her teeth as the others made the leap up, but in due time, the VIP and all the other Wallflowers that had been along for this retreat had made their way up to safety. Though they were faced with the matter of the creature they evaded with the Daisy Springboard starting to scale its way up the wall of the entire complex, it wasn’t long before a voice broke out through the fog and turned all the Wallflower’s attention to it.
She wasn’t ready to call them a savior. Murphy’s Law said that, despite this stranger having bounded their way up the building to absolutely eviscerate the threat at hand, those fists would be turned upon them in due time. She didn’t get a look at the figure in motion, and could only sense this suffocating, overwhelming presence overtaking the entire City block. It was shocking to put the pieces together that the Middle had rescued them, for whatever possible reason it might have been. She mentioned knowing their VIP, who now that she thought about it, they hadn’t gotten any proper information about just yet. Not that they needed it, as pawns, to be fair.
The VIP was being seen to for medical treatment by someone more able bodied quickly enough, which left the matter of what felt like negotiations between the Big Sister and Hydrangea… One thing led to another, and before long, the group had rendezvoused in the midst of this swarm of Middle family, and Daisy was leading them to some apparent dumpling joint that was to die for. It felt like taking the walk down death row on the way to the guillotine, as Murphy’s Law reminded her that the worst thing that could come to pass would, unless something worse waited on the other side of the way.
It was about the tenth time that Daisy started to blabber on about nothing that she resigned to it fully. That they were fucked, well and truly, and that the Big Sister’s patience would run out at some point, and they’d be nothing but guts and mush in the wind by the time she was done. Out of the frying pan, and into the fire…
But before she could think about who to bequeath her broom to in the afterlife, Daisy’s voice went from ‘lying and peppy‘ to ‘excited and relieved’ as she proudly declared that yes, of course, she’d known that the place was right here the whole time. A bigger load of shit she’d never heard before, but Cal had no reason not to just nod along and follow them inside.
Cramped Restaurant
Setting up an area for such a large group proved difficult, and while Cal seemed ready to forfeit her seat at the table to a Middle member, she was practically shoved down into one as a Middle Little Brother insisted that all the Wallflowers sit beside the Big Sister. A silent condemnation of the matter at hand, and she did little else but wait on the matter.
Her creed wormed its way back in, telling her that maybe getting the Wallflowers to run was best. That the worst thing to happen right now was for the Big Sister to despise the dish, and for her to crush them into paste with ease. But, thankfully for everyone, before Cal could sort those thoughts out in her head, the Big Sister had been delivered her food and took a bite…
They were safe, for the moment. The woman blushed in appreciation of the dish, and the others in the restaurant cheered in excitement for the woman’s approval. ”Thank goodness…” Cal breathes the words out under her breath, loosening her posture in her chair just a smidge. A giant woman like her sitting atop a plastic chair barely even works out, but if she‘s conscious about not letting all her weight down, it’s alright. A Little Brother raised a hand out to her for a double fist bump, but Cal could only gesture to her poorly functional arms as a ‘sorry’ for not being able to return the gesture. The Little Brother settled for clapping her on the shoulder instead.
In the coming hours of festivity, a few rowdier members of the Middle had insisted she drink. Again, she was forced to limply wiggle her ‘arms’ and shake her head.
“Nonsense!” One of the Brothers calls out, popping the cap out of a massive whiskey bottle and stepping closer to Cal. “You could be missin’ all four, and the Middle wouldn’t let‘cha go without letting go!” Play on words intended or not, Calendula merely sucked in a breath before supposing it wouldn’t hurt.
”Why the hell not...? C’mon.” It took her crouching to a knee and tilting her head back, even for a tall man to pour alcohol into her mouth. She took it like a champ, and there was an uproar of cheers when the woman had taken down the entire bottle in some fifteen seconds. She comes back to standing with a small smirk, licking some of the stray whiskey from around her lips to the best of her ability. “If you ain’t impressed, I can do more, easy.”
…
…
Time passes, and by the time the Middle seems satisfied, there’s a pile of at least a dozen various sized bottles clattered to the ground near Calendula. She was always alcohol tolerant, but the old ‘Chief’ as she’d have been back then wouldn’t have managed such a feat without her newer augmentations. By the time it’s done, she’s buzzed, but that’s about it, and the Brothers throw in the towel on actually getting her hammered, but cheer her on for being such a shotgunner just the same.
Eventually, she excuses herself from that group, who start to pound back bottles in an attempt to one-up the cybernetic woman. They‘d all be blackout drunk by the end of the night.
It’s hard to navigate with both the fog and the chaos of the amount of people, even with some of them now outside, and the fog to pair with it. But she does eventually make out Daisy by her flower, and finds Lupine in much the same manner. Unless the woman is overwhelmingly busy with other business, Calendula approaches and gets in her peripheral, before turning her gaze down to the shorter, pale woman. They’re two sides of a coin, as far as appearance is concerned. Calendula is massive, with dark skin and a few tattoos running up her ruined arms, not to mention the metal filling her limbs is a charcoal-y black color, whereas Lupine, save her glasses, is much smaller, and all whites and greys.
“Hey.” She starts, stepping a bit closer to the side of the establishment so others can get past her. “I ain’t a talker, but I’m under twelve bottles of this and that. I’ll be quick.” Nervous isn’t the right word to describe Cal as she gets to the point. More like… Unfamiliar, with interactions like this. “Thanks, for the help.“ Her eyes glaze downwards and sweep over her arms. “I’d be dealing with a lot more damage than just this, if you hadn’t stepped in. Fixin’ em back at the Office’ll be a pain, but… I can fix ‘em. For a gal that looks as thin as you do, I wouldn’t have thought you’d had it in you.“ She chuckles and looks Lupine up and down. She realizes then she doesn’t have much else to add, and just wanted to make sure she expresses her gratitude.
dreadnought
The enlightened one
As the monster dissipated into thin air after what she could only presume to be its defeat, Wisteria would finally let out a sigh of relief that she didn't even know that she was holding onto for so long as she extinguished the flame of her blade. While the chance to personally get back at the siblings was pretty tempting right about now, there was still the client along with the rest of the wallflowers to worry about right around now with how long its been since she last checked on their condition. Speaking of checking in on her colleagues, she'd turn around to get a good look at Alba after the bite she endured from the creature's last ditch effort at wounding one of them as she sheathed her blade.
"Guess it could have been worse but with that mutt out of the way we should be good to regroup as long as-"
Nothing else that needs dealing with happens was what she was about to say until her ears were assaulted by the sound of a building shaking on what may have been its last legs before that too was replaced by a loud boom from something suddenly impacting the street which would have her searching for the sources of such a disruption until she noticed that Hydrangea ended up coming to them instead of the other way around. There wouldn't be much time for questions however as a familiar centipede/hog like creature was sent flying through the air like a discus back towards its owner which would leave Wisteria blinking for a moment or two just to confirm that everything she was seeing right now was real and things would only get even more bizarre once a horde of what appeared to be members of The Middle who were currently gathering around their leader who seemed to be at the centre of the commotion once she got a closer look at the impact zone she arrived in. of course she was on edge for the whole encounter as her hand hovered over her sheathed sabre which was ready to be unleashed at any moment if the situation devolved that far but luckily for everyone things seemed to remain civil for now while The Middle dealt them their 'punishment' and a rather light one at that.
As minutes went by with an increasingly irritated band of Middle members just in front of her, Wisteria could confidently say that they were all screwed if they didn't arrive at a suitable location any sooner and with it being much too late now to simply book it and cut her losses she could only put her hope in whatever trust that existed in her co-workers that someone will finally put her worries to rest via dropping them all in front of some classy restaurant like the ones she was used to visiting with her family. Of course though this was the backstreets where such luxuries were probably non-existent, but that wasn't enough to excuse the meagre looking pizza place that the group was led to and if the confused and irritated looks of The Middle members were anything to go by then the food they served here would need to be a hell of a lot better than the first impression she got from this place or else death would probably be the least of their worries.
Once the rest of her colleagues along with the woman members of The Middle kept calling her as 'Big Sister' sat around the table the pizzeria staff cleared up for them all that was left to wait for was for their order to be prepared and their verdict to be declared and frankly she didn't have many high hopes for what her reaction would be so she simply took out her sketch book to finish up any leftover work of hers before their punishment was delivered. A punishment that luckily never came to be as the Big Sister somehow took a liking to what she could only describe as an insult to pizzas citywide but if her taste buds were really that easy to pleas then who was she to complain as a sigh of relief escaped her lips. However once the pizzeria switched into party mode, courtesy of The Middle members, she couldn't help but groan over what was likely to become a painful headache once morning rolled around. The ear-splitting noise along with the members' energetic behaviour also made drawing down her own interpretation of the beasts the siblings from earlier had under their control a whole lot harder to complete along with all the other distractions surrounding her ranging from Middle members asking to get a closer look at some of her art to others edging her on to put down the 'stupid book' and have some real fun. The final straw would be one of them bumping into her on accident, causing her drawing arm going right across the page and ruin the whole thing in the process. An act which would usually lead to heads rolling in any other situation instead was followed up with her snapping her pencil in two before asking/ordering the closest Middle member to give her the strongest drink they had on them so that she could drink her frustrations away.
"Guess it could have been worse but with that mutt out of the way we should be good to regroup as long as-"
Nothing else that needs dealing with happens was what she was about to say until her ears were assaulted by the sound of a building shaking on what may have been its last legs before that too was replaced by a loud boom from something suddenly impacting the street which would have her searching for the sources of such a disruption until she noticed that Hydrangea ended up coming to them instead of the other way around. There wouldn't be much time for questions however as a familiar centipede/hog like creature was sent flying through the air like a discus back towards its owner which would leave Wisteria blinking for a moment or two just to confirm that everything she was seeing right now was real and things would only get even more bizarre once a horde of what appeared to be members of The Middle who were currently gathering around their leader who seemed to be at the centre of the commotion once she got a closer look at the impact zone she arrived in. of course she was on edge for the whole encounter as her hand hovered over her sheathed sabre which was ready to be unleashed at any moment if the situation devolved that far but luckily for everyone things seemed to remain civil for now while The Middle dealt them their 'punishment' and a rather light one at that.
As minutes went by with an increasingly irritated band of Middle members just in front of her, Wisteria could confidently say that they were all screwed if they didn't arrive at a suitable location any sooner and with it being much too late now to simply book it and cut her losses she could only put her hope in whatever trust that existed in her co-workers that someone will finally put her worries to rest via dropping them all in front of some classy restaurant like the ones she was used to visiting with her family. Of course though this was the backstreets where such luxuries were probably non-existent, but that wasn't enough to excuse the meagre looking pizza place that the group was led to and if the confused and irritated looks of The Middle members were anything to go by then the food they served here would need to be a hell of a lot better than the first impression she got from this place or else death would probably be the least of their worries.
Once the rest of her colleagues along with the woman members of The Middle kept calling her as 'Big Sister' sat around the table the pizzeria staff cleared up for them all that was left to wait for was for their order to be prepared and their verdict to be declared and frankly she didn't have many high hopes for what her reaction would be so she simply took out her sketch book to finish up any leftover work of hers before their punishment was delivered. A punishment that luckily never came to be as the Big Sister somehow took a liking to what she could only describe as an insult to pizzas citywide but if her taste buds were really that easy to pleas then who was she to complain as a sigh of relief escaped her lips. However once the pizzeria switched into party mode, courtesy of The Middle members, she couldn't help but groan over what was likely to become a painful headache once morning rolled around. The ear-splitting noise along with the members' energetic behaviour also made drawing down her own interpretation of the beasts the siblings from earlier had under their control a whole lot harder to complete along with all the other distractions surrounding her ranging from Middle members asking to get a closer look at some of her art to others edging her on to put down the 'stupid book' and have some real fun. The final straw would be one of them bumping into her on accident, causing her drawing arm going right across the page and ruin the whole thing in the process. An act which would usually lead to heads rolling in any other situation instead was followed up with her snapping her pencil in two before asking/ordering the closest Middle member to give her the strongest drink they had on them so that she could drink her frustrations away.
Juju
PREY-FOR-US
Rank 5 Fixer
Lupine
EGO: Rose-Tinted Reverie
Cafeteria Party?
Code by Serobliss
Autumn Leaf
Chrysalis, Metamorphosis, Genesis
On that mopey, gray market street, the daylight above shying away to the beam emitters pulsing over the drunken crowd, even Daisy at 20% appeared like a bona fide idol. They cheered and swayed in response at whatever stage antics the dual-haired employee thought appropriate. Even the DJ seemed impressed. Was she a natural, somehow? Or maybe the crowd was too pumped with chemicals to probably even care. Not even batting an eye when the hyper pop-idol shlock had suddenly overtaken their brain-melting dubstep. The whole impromptu event looked to be open-invitation. The stream of sudden party-goers across the Backstreet got so large that the roads became walled off by bodies. Cars that unfortunately got caught in the tide only got dogpiled, the hectic, foamy-mouthed ravers climbing over them. The vehicles were turned into mobile dance cages, with makeshift poles created out of stolen pipes. And their owners made to endure the loss. Despite the festive mood swirling in alcohol and drugs, the employees should be wary as to not be entirely swept up in the atmosphere. Most of the party were composed of the meanest, toughest, and bloodiest of the local syndicate. Or even worse.
Foremost, The Middle seemed to dictate the mood. So long as they were happy, it was okay.
The little nun found somewhere secluded to avoid the cluttering of sweaty, sour-smelling bodies. While everyone partied below, they had climbed up a few floors above the pizzeria and was swinging their little legs off the side of a concrete balcony. Who it belong to, it didn't bother them. Glowsticks were in their tiny clawed hands, swinging lazily as they watched Daisy singing and spraying misty rainbows. "Encore... Encore..." they whispered there all alone, with about the same energy as a sleepy child. There was no way anyone heard their words. Even if there had been anyone sitting next to Snowdrop.
Stray pigeons seemed to gather around, perching on their head, shoulders, and arms with little resistance.
...
Within the restaurant, the pizzas were being wheeled out by the dozen. The Middle seemed to be supplying 'Guido' with whatever he needed to fulfill their demands. The poor fat chef and his sons were barely able to keep up.
Hydrangea managed to find a small empty space in some leather booths, watching the crowd from the peaceful (relatively) lounge at a distance. It seemed the supervisor was deliberating a thought internally, watching the other Wallflowers while waiting for the client to finish their business.
Her pleasant pan face changed after a moment, a frown rippled across her pale face. Hydrangea raised one of her wrists to her glossy black lips, whispering into the suit cuff. There was a muffled response from an in-built mic, then a quick sign-off. Hopefully Lupine had better luck dealing with a certain uncooperative employee. Alba was not adjusting well to her role as a subordinate. No matter her history before, there were different rules in the Backstreets than a Nest. Hydrangea leaned back with a long sigh. The field report was going to be an arduous, and absolutely miserable write-up.
"Do you Office folk ever smile?" the Big Sister said, curling around Hydrangea from the flank. Behind her was the client, rubbing his wrinkled head while dragging a lit cigarette. By the troubled look on his face, the noise did no positive part in aiding his recovery process.
The blue-haired woman looked down at the meeker Hydrangea. Not quite from the height as Calendula. Nor did they seem as hefty, with bulking musculature. In fact, bones jutted out of her frail-looking body. Indicating that the raw displays of strength came mostly from the tattoos hidden halfway behind the worn-out fatigues. Hydrangea saw in her hand was an extra bottle of unopened beer. "Loosen up, will ya?"
The Wallflower Supervisor put up a hand, "Sorry, I'm still on the job."
"Not a request." she said, popping the cap off with a thumb, "Booze loosens the lips. Makes a person more honest. It's a tradition here."
"Hm. Fine. But if we're being honest, I hope you don't mind me prying a bit." The Big Sister nodded their head. Hydrangea continued with a polite smile. "It's rare for the Middle to be so courteous to non-family."
Her eyes drifted over to the old man. For the first time, the Big Sister seemed to hesitate. The tall, slender woman took a swig of the bottle, buying time before coming to a response. "This old geezer was my..."
The client sighed, slumping down into the leather lounges with a rough grunt. Cigarette smoke trailing from his lips. "I took this one in a long time ago. When they were just a red-faced crybaby. Now look at the little cub I raised. A serious big-wig. A Big Sister."
"After all this time, you still tell tall-tales exaggerating your achievements. Leonthart." she said, placing a firm hand on his injured shoulder. Pushing a bit of weight down. "While you were holed up in that Office all day, it was your daughter who cooked, cleaned, and taught me."
"Ow, ow... and who paid for the roof, you rascal...!" the man whined, through a warm smile.
Hydrangea raised the bottle and took a respectful sip, bowing her head. "I apologize. My team was unable to prevent your injury. This is a failure on our part."
He grunted, slipping off the silly yellow bucket hat and placing it down. The veteran fixer sucked his cheeks, loosening his collar. "Ah. This is simply the nature of the Backstreets... Plus, my disguise was probably lacking."
"Which begs to question. Why didn't you rely on such a powerful ally? Surely, there is no one stronger in the Backstreets. Why turn to an Office?"
"Zone 05 is where one of the major L Corp branches was." the old man took another huff of the cigarette, turning it to a little red-hot nub, "In other words, a former Nest. When L Corp fell, a new Wing has since come to claim the riches stored within. O Corp. The Middle, as powerful as they are, cannot so easily move in."
"Even if he had begged. I cannot do much. Just as how my little brothers and sisters hold their anger when I am calm. I must wait for my elders. This is the way of the Middle." the woman made a grand gesture towards the party around them, "It is how we hold control and maintain loyalty. We place all our faith and hearts in those around us. Just as any good family."
"I see..." Hydrangea said, sipping again, "So how did you end up in the Backstreets, if he is from a Nest?"
The old man looked troubled by the statement, gazing up to the ceiling with the smoke drifting to hide his face. The Big Sister seemed hurt by his silence. The woman took one long drink from the bottle. Crushing it between her fingers.
"I never belonged in the Nest, with them." answered the Big Sister. "We simply went our separate ways."
After an uneasy silence, the client finally spoke up, "It was not my decision. You know that."
"Even so. What is done, is done." The Big Sister said, stepping back, "The past cannot change. You should know this better than anyone, old man."
Hydrangea was content with just listening to the drama, sipping her beer quietly. Until she was dragged back into the conversation. By a cold remark. "We still have to discuss your little debt. Wallflower Office.. "
The woman immediately tensed, curling her manicured fingers apprehensively. "Ah. Pardon. Debt? We repaid the lunches, didn't we"
"That debt is being repaid. But not yet the other. We saved Leonthart, due to an old debt. But as for saving you, there is still the question... You are right earlier. The Middle does not mettle with outsiders. I must answer for these actions. A debt must be collected."
The Supervisor flashed her brightest smile, "Well, our Office can offer monetary compensa--" a crack of knuckles alerted Hydrangea.
Clearly, the Big Sister did not have the patience for another round of deception and highly exaggerated nonsense. Daisy provided more than enough of an experience in that regard. Moving a strand of hair from her eyes, the feminine supervisor stared into the menacing blue eyes. Her dainty form betrayed something oddly sinister. "This... isn't going to end well for anyone if we go down this route."
The Big Sister tilted her head, revealing teeth, "Are you threatening the Middle?"
The old man intervened just when it felt like conflict was going to break out, raising a hand between the burning bridge between their eyes. "Wait. I still need them. I can offer information. On O Corp. Regarding the Wing Blockade."
"Curiosity has been circulating the Backstreets." There was a menace in her voice, "A Wing would never go against their own self-interest. What do you know?"
"I'm sorry, I cannot discuss all the details here..." he said, making sure to choose his words carefully, "But I can say that the incident has weakened their security team in the north block. When this is all over, you can use this knowledge to make a move before the Thumb."
The woman looked over to Hydrangea.
"You must be important for him to risk his neck like this. Fine. You can go." her eyes fluttered back to the client, "I've repaid my debt to you today, old man. A life for a life. Don't expect me to be so kind next time should you stir up trouble in my streets."
The Big Sister waved her hand at the both of them with a sigh, turning her head. The thin lips pulled back into a smile like a wild beast. The Big Sister locked eyes on a rowdy table where Zi Hua had made his little domain. She winks at Hydrangea before getting up. "It's tough being a 'big sis'. Can't ever catch a break..."
The young man was proudly flexing his arms after just slamming the tattooed hand of a Middle member down. The horrific injuries suffered before were completely mended. It was like he was brand new. The surface clattered with the force, with him bouncing up with in victorious bravado. The crowd immediately started to boo. Perhaps if he had been humble, things would have gone over differently. After all, there was no strict rule against it. But Zi Hua seemed to be taking the Wallflower's guarded status for granted.
"Haha! Fair and square. Hand it over!" as he took another wad of cash from the disgruntled face, "Anyone else wish to test their strength against the almighty Zi Hua?"
The young blonde female gangster let out a string of curses, rattling slang terms bizarre to anyone not involved in the buzz-words associated with the ever-changing socialite underground. With an annoyed kick, she joined the other Middle members who had already been defeated. In a growing line off to the side of the table. Zi Hua jeered back by posing his arms into another haughty position, dousing his lips with beer. The sour sentiment was palpable in the air. No doubt, if they were allowed to, someone would have already written these slights into the Book of Vengeance. Where punishment was always greater than the crime.
Hydrangea made a pained expression. Either he was unaware of the grave he was digging himself into, or Zi Hua simply didn't care. Both cases, there was no excuse other than stupidity. Worst of all, even if it wasn't her mess, she'll have to clean it up nonetheless.
She took another drink while sinking back into the seat. There was no need for meddling, just yet. After all, youth was the ideal time to be taught harsh lessons.
When the Big Sister appeared before him, suddenly throwing herself down on the plastic chair at the other end. Zi Hua's cocky smile immediately vanished. She raised a fist, in it the hefty chained book. The pent up rage was released by the losers belonging to the Middle. The air inside the restaurant began to be filled by a chant for justice.
Despite her gentle expression, there was a bloodthirst in her eyes as the blue-haired woman rolled up a sleeve. "You don't mind if I play too, right?"
...
Last edited:
Mothman
A moth, and also a man
Lupine took conversation, even after a near death experience for all of them, like shooting the breeze with an acquaintance, she learned. It was probably just who she was, and even Cal could put together that Lupine… Saw the world differently than most, even if she wasn’t sure exactly how.
Lupine boasted her muscles to her period of time wrangling Abnormalities. What line of work she had that had her doing such a task was beyond her, but she wasn’t about to think about it. She’d had her fair share, too, but she wasn’t ‘working’ with them in the same kind of way Lupine had. The word ‘WAW’ didn’t mean anything to either, and she almost assumed it was just like Lupine going ‘wow’ rather than some kind of classification.
“…Somethin’ like that.” It didn’t feel like she had done anything worth praising. The job was protecting the VIP, and she protected him the only way she could figure to, in that moment. At least Lupine got the sentiment of doing the job right, she supposed. A Middle member bumps past her, holding a bunch of mugs of alcohol, and Cal loses her focus for a brief moment because of it. She mumbles a sorry, looks back to Lupine, and continues after a few moments. “Well, sorry for underestimating you. I’d be lying if I didn’t get worried when you braced under that concrete.” She gives a (mostly forced) chuckle with her comment that comes just as Lupine flexes her muscles to show off she’s stronger than she looks. She thought the girl was gonna pop like a berry under the pressure, but she should have given both Lupine and Hydrangea, for hiring her, more credit.
The cheery Lupine faded away as she mentioned her arms, and the woman’s eyes trailed down as Lupine’s own did. Had she not been there to watch her arms shatter, and parts of them go inside out? It felt odd that she was only clicking as to her damages now, but Cal wasn’t about to comment on that. She isn’t sure how to respond to the concern from Lupine, ready to brush it off, before the woman grabs her arm and gently lifts it to get a better look.
She sucks a breath in through her teeth. It’s more from surprise than actual pain, but she would be lying if she said her arms were in a condition that being touched didn’t hurt.
Lupine grabs the arm that houses the core of her E.G.O., an unharmed part in her otherwise disheveled and twisted arms. It’s a copper-colored gear about the size of her arm from one end to the other, a couple of inches thick. It’s normally shielded by the plating on her arm, but now it’s out in the open air. There’s text etched into it, but whether or not Lupine can make out the gear at all, much less the writing, with the way she sees things is anyone’s guess.
She stares at the gear herself for a moment, before looking back up to Lupine as she insists she should be resting. “Ah, tell me about it… But I can’t exactly excuse myself until we all head back. And hey, they’re fine company, and let me drink a helluva lot more than I thought they would. I’ll manage.” A shrug follows her words, before she takes her arm back from Lupine, slowly but surely. “Dunno how I’m gonna fix ‘em, but that’s a problem for tomorrow’s Calendula to solve… Boss said those tablets she slipped me should at least help with the organics I’ve got in there.”
It’s about then that she hears Zi Hua boasting to the other Middle members. They’re close enough to the table he’s at that she‘s able to see the man tooting his own horn, as well as the stack of fucking cash he’s piling up. Is he an idiot? An insane person? He looks crazier than some of the blokes she spent time with in the institute, for gods sake, and she immediately pinpoints him as the next example of Murphy’s Law. Before a word can escape her lips, the Big Sister plops down across from Zi Hua with her Book of Vengeance at the ready… Oh, he’s so fucked.
“Gah…“ She mumbles, Lupine still in earshot. “I’d put Zi Hua in his damn place if I could… I’d fold him like a napkin if I could arm wrestle him. Seriously, swindling money from the Middle? He’s insane…” She shakes her head and supposes that, at this point, there’s nothing she or anyone else can do. The Big Sister has her sights set, and while she considers for the briefest of moments stepping in and trying to intervene, she can’t find any way that would make sense to be worth stepping in.
…Zi Hua’s dug his grave. He gets to lie in it, unless the Wallflowers are ordered to step in.
Lupine boasted her muscles to her period of time wrangling Abnormalities. What line of work she had that had her doing such a task was beyond her, but she wasn’t about to think about it. She’d had her fair share, too, but she wasn’t ‘working’ with them in the same kind of way Lupine had. The word ‘WAW’ didn’t mean anything to either, and she almost assumed it was just like Lupine going ‘wow’ rather than some kind of classification.
“…Somethin’ like that.” It didn’t feel like she had done anything worth praising. The job was protecting the VIP, and she protected him the only way she could figure to, in that moment. At least Lupine got the sentiment of doing the job right, she supposed. A Middle member bumps past her, holding a bunch of mugs of alcohol, and Cal loses her focus for a brief moment because of it. She mumbles a sorry, looks back to Lupine, and continues after a few moments. “Well, sorry for underestimating you. I’d be lying if I didn’t get worried when you braced under that concrete.” She gives a (mostly forced) chuckle with her comment that comes just as Lupine flexes her muscles to show off she’s stronger than she looks. She thought the girl was gonna pop like a berry under the pressure, but she should have given both Lupine and Hydrangea, for hiring her, more credit.
The cheery Lupine faded away as she mentioned her arms, and the woman’s eyes trailed down as Lupine’s own did. Had she not been there to watch her arms shatter, and parts of them go inside out? It felt odd that she was only clicking as to her damages now, but Cal wasn’t about to comment on that. She isn’t sure how to respond to the concern from Lupine, ready to brush it off, before the woman grabs her arm and gently lifts it to get a better look.
She sucks a breath in through her teeth. It’s more from surprise than actual pain, but she would be lying if she said her arms were in a condition that being touched didn’t hurt.
Lupine grabs the arm that houses the core of her E.G.O., an unharmed part in her otherwise disheveled and twisted arms. It’s a copper-colored gear about the size of her arm from one end to the other, a couple of inches thick. It’s normally shielded by the plating on her arm, but now it’s out in the open air. There’s text etched into it, but whether or not Lupine can make out the gear at all, much less the writing, with the way she sees things is anyone’s guess.
She stares at the gear herself for a moment, before looking back up to Lupine as she insists she should be resting. “Ah, tell me about it… But I can’t exactly excuse myself until we all head back. And hey, they’re fine company, and let me drink a helluva lot more than I thought they would. I’ll manage.” A shrug follows her words, before she takes her arm back from Lupine, slowly but surely. “Dunno how I’m gonna fix ‘em, but that’s a problem for tomorrow’s Calendula to solve… Boss said those tablets she slipped me should at least help with the organics I’ve got in there.”
It’s about then that she hears Zi Hua boasting to the other Middle members. They’re close enough to the table he’s at that she‘s able to see the man tooting his own horn, as well as the stack of fucking cash he’s piling up. Is he an idiot? An insane person? He looks crazier than some of the blokes she spent time with in the institute, for gods sake, and she immediately pinpoints him as the next example of Murphy’s Law. Before a word can escape her lips, the Big Sister plops down across from Zi Hua with her Book of Vengeance at the ready… Oh, he’s so fucked.
“Gah…“ She mumbles, Lupine still in earshot. “I’d put Zi Hua in his damn place if I could… I’d fold him like a napkin if I could arm wrestle him. Seriously, swindling money from the Middle? He’s insane…” She shakes her head and supposes that, at this point, there’s nothing she or anyone else can do. The Big Sister has her sights set, and while she considers for the briefest of moments stepping in and trying to intervene, she can’t find any way that would make sense to be worth stepping in.
…Zi Hua’s dug his grave. He gets to lie in it, unless the Wallflowers are ordered to step in.
Juju
PREY-FOR-US
Rank 5 Fixer
Lupine
EGO: Rose-Tinted Reverie
"Hallways"
Code by Serobliss
ERode
In The Mirror
“THANK YOU ALL!”
How many songs had she cycled through now? Five? Ten? High off the intense emotions of the crowd, Daisy had gone absolutely batshit, and even though her voice itself remained crisp, her clothes were soaked through with sweat. Brushing strands of sticky hair away from her face, she waved at the ground of ridiculously dangerous gangsters as if they were her adoring fans, before shouting out to them all once more.
“Middle Sisters, I think I’ve warmed the crowd up enough for y’all! Whoever wants the mic, catch! And blow ‘em all away!”
And with that, as if performing a bouquet toss at a wedding, the eccentric liar, the perpetual bullshitter, the gizzling gabsmacker spun around and threw her mic high up in the air, allowing fate and gravity to decide who next took up the mantle of vocals. The crowd followed the mic with their eyes, and by the time it fell, Daisy had disappeared amongst them, cutting through the pizzeria to steal some slices of the Backstreets’ latest bestseller before beelining towards a familiar sourpuss.
“Yo ho, Wist,” Daisy said, bumping hips against the heavy drinker. “Didja try these yet? Surprisingly addictive! Didn’t think you’re feeling so social today as well! Most o’ the time, you’re like, huddled up against a corner or something scribbling away, right?”
With surprising deftness for someone who had been drinking on stage for the last hour or so, the excitable Wallflower folded up her pizza and chomped down on it, letting out a squeal of delight at just how right it tasted.
“Tell me the truth here, one of the Brothers caught your eyes, right? Trynna do the ‘lonely girl drinking alone’ thing to tug at the emo-strings and catch his eyes? Totally get you! Strong, tattooed, and family-orientated is such a rare thing in the City! So, which one? Slickback redhead? Office-worker sourpuss? Oh, what about that dashing sea wolf over there? Oh woah, look at that one's abs! Bet that'd give you some artistic inspiration, eh? Eh??”
November Witch
Over great bodies of water, a November Witch roars
Bleeding Heart (Alba)
Status: Annoyed & Angry
Alba was still on relatively high alert. She figured those three had fled far, judging from their reaction. However, one could never be too sure. Especially with the mystery of the rats being controlled by something. It didn’t seem to be the doing of those three they’d tussled with though. She tapped her lip, deep in thought as she walked. The click of her heels on the ground the only sound to break the silence of the empty street around her. It echoed off the walls like gunshots in the silence, piecing and sudden, though not nearly as loud as the real thing.
But a sudden voice called out, breaking the silence like a siren blaring out in those familiar facility halls. She whirled around, ready to defend herself, only to see the harmless Lupine behind her, doing her best to catch up… She’d only walked a few blocks, surely the girl had more cardio than that… But then again, she didn’t know exactly what the group had dealt with in that building… So maybe she was just that burnt out. Alba let out a sigh and stopped. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot as she waited for the other to catch up, only to find her a heaving mess practically bowing to Alba as she leaned forward on her knees.
“Just Dr. Alba is fine.”
The girl said in a monotonous tone. Alba listened to her go on with what she had to say. She rolled her eyes and scoffed as the other brought up the party and Zi Hua losing. Typical, unproductive behavior by lowly pests. What was the point of celebrating? If they celebrated every time they won a fight, it would drain them of precious time and money. However, she assumed her boss and the others were mostly there because the other group was keeping them there, more or less. Maybe she was just lucky to slip out. Another thing, why send Lupine to get her when she literally had a coms device on her? It let Alba get farther away before needing to turn around and walk back. Damn inefficient. Was she really this vacuous? Or was she just too caught up in talking to someone important to spare even 2 seconds to tell Alba to return? That seemed really unlikely.
“That dunderheaded fool.”
Alba started to walk back towards the pizzeria. As for the panting Lupine, a large goopy hand emerged from the hat, and scooped the girl onto it so she could rest while Alba made the walk back. It was cool and wet, but it didn’t stick to Lupine’s skin or clothes. It felt watery when touched, but when she pulled away from it, her skin would be dry with no residue from the slimy substance. She’d continue the walk back mostly silently unless Lupine addressed her directly. Though it would be clear to most she wasn’t in a good mood.
But she never looked to be in a good mood in the first place.
Once they arrived back at the pizzeria, she’d set Lupine down outside and deactivate her EGO for the time being. She’d enter the place once more, find the farthest corner away from everyone, and pull out her tablet once more. It was time for her to continue her hypothesis on the strange thing affecting all the rats back at their original meeting place. And possibly trying to find information on those three people who’d attacked them earlier…
dreadnought
The enlightened one
It wouldn't take too long for one of The Middle members to come back with what looked to be a somewhat expensive wine from a brand she actually recognised which made her curious over how a simple thug like him could have gotten his hands on something actually half decent. Regardless of its quality though, Wisteria wouldn't hesitate to down the bottle as Middle members around her chanted "Drink! Drink! Drink!" in obnoxiously loud voices that further fuelled her current spite driven drinking session as she downed every last precious drop of alcohol that she could get out of the bottle. Such a display would earn her a couple of impressed approvals from the growing crowd that was watching her drink but none of that would exactly register in Wisteria's drunken mind as she ordered for another bottle to be brought over, not even giving a second look on what exactly they came back with as long as it didn't smell or taste funny in her eyes. She wouldn't be the only one drinking herself into a stupor either as the small crowd around her soon got swept up in their own excitement and started a mini drinking contest among themselves to see who'd be the last one standing among them.
After a couple of rounds of drinks Wisteria's surroundings would start to slowly blur into one messy picture as the blob of a crowd around her grew and shrunk over time from what she could only guess was due to more and more Middle members drinking a lot more than their bodies could handle. Something which that even she herself was starting to relate to as it became harder and harder to indulge in another drink after she found herself getting locked in a staring contest with the bottle in front of her. The still functioning parts of her mind kept on calling out to her to take yet another sip of the magical, worry melting drink in front of her but her body hardly had the strength to do so which left her in quite the deadlock that she wasn't breaking out of any time soon. At least that was until a familiar voice managed to pass through her ears, despite her wasted state, with the latter half of what she had to say would leave the artist stumped at first with her mind becoming somewhat clear for the first time in a while before such clarity was lost once more as drunken fury replaced it.
"What...the fuck...did you just say? Are you trying...to get what little...of a mind you have...get smashed...to pieces!"
She attempted to say/threaten as she waved around the bottle she had been staring at for so long haphazardly. Unfortunately for her though most of her response was slurred together and hardly carried much of the venom her regular insults usually packed either which would have made it pretty hard to actually take her seriously in any capacity. It wasn't like such a handicap would dispirit her in any way though if her squint/glare directed towards Daisy was anything to go by. If only both her insults as well as her death glare was aimed towards her and not her imaginary body double that she was staring off to at Daisy's sides then her threats may have been taken half seriously to anyone watching in on the current spectacle.
After a couple of rounds of drinks Wisteria's surroundings would start to slowly blur into one messy picture as the blob of a crowd around her grew and shrunk over time from what she could only guess was due to more and more Middle members drinking a lot more than their bodies could handle. Something which that even she herself was starting to relate to as it became harder and harder to indulge in another drink after she found herself getting locked in a staring contest with the bottle in front of her. The still functioning parts of her mind kept on calling out to her to take yet another sip of the magical, worry melting drink in front of her but her body hardly had the strength to do so which left her in quite the deadlock that she wasn't breaking out of any time soon. At least that was until a familiar voice managed to pass through her ears, despite her wasted state, with the latter half of what she had to say would leave the artist stumped at first with her mind becoming somewhat clear for the first time in a while before such clarity was lost once more as drunken fury replaced it.
"What...the fuck...did you just say? Are you trying...to get what little...of a mind you have...get smashed...to pieces!"
She attempted to say/threaten as she waved around the bottle she had been staring at for so long haphazardly. Unfortunately for her though most of her response was slurred together and hardly carried much of the venom her regular insults usually packed either which would have made it pretty hard to actually take her seriously in any capacity. It wasn't like such a handicap would dispirit her in any way though if her squint/glare directed towards Daisy was anything to go by. If only both her insults as well as her death glare was aimed towards her and not her imaginary body double that she was staring off to at Daisy's sides then her threats may have been taken half seriously to anyone watching in on the current spectacle.
Euclid Leaf
Metamorphasis, Genesis, Metastasis
November Witch
...It was never truly quiet. Not enough to drown out all the pounding drum and bass beats and screams of drunken joy. But soon enough, Alba would find her own groove. This was not her first time being surrounded by chaotic frenzy. It doesn't nearly match to the blarring haze of a trumpet. If only the same could be said about her search. Finding relevant information regarding mysterious attacks, especially those adjacent to Abnormality cases, felt like trying to search an ocean for a specific fish. There seemed to be no end to the abnormality-sighting reports sent to the Hana Association responsible for issuing jobs for Fixers. Even with her unique tablet able to access databases containing tracking data of signed contracts, there was not much in the way of anything unusual. Jobs were being taken by the typical sources. No disappearing trails.
The only curious thing of note was not direct information itself, but implicit observations. The constant shifting of data regarding the incident earlier today in O Corp territory suggests that the Wing must be pulling some big strings in order to keep the truth hidden. Though much of it has been redacted, there were some social media posts that seemed overlooked. Perhaps they were not considered threatening to the prioritized state of information security. They were personal posts recounting stories of hearing odd animal noises while walking around the Backstreets. While strays are not entirely uncommon, it is rare to hear things of less domesticated or scavenging creatures adapted to the urban landscape. Faint squeeling noises similar to cattle, and the thumping of hooves. Even a story about large paw marks found in the mud on raint day. Most could be dismissed as bizarre rumors, or the madness that instills those living in the City... but seeing what she has seen today, perhaps there is more merit to these tales.
It would need to be looked into further, later. From a private non-trackable input.
While reviewing the recordings in her tablet of the rats she dispatched in Cafe Le Soleil, there was something she couldn't shake off. In the moment, it seemed completely random. However, now seeing it again, the rapidly moving eyes almost seemed rhythmic. Was there a pattern. Somewhere? Even at drastically reduced playback, it was hard to track the direction of the darting pupils. Any attempts to view the sound file in the recording, would only produce an eerie white noise.
Suddenly, a memory would strike Alba. Of a time in her past. It was not something held in containment in her own department, but something she has heard rumors about. Mental hypnosis or psychometric control was a staple for most Abnormalities. However, the altered state of the recording was unique. There was an Abnormality in the shape of a musical instrument that had this effect on audio recording equipment.
But what was it's name? For the life of her, Alba wouldn't be able to remember.
The emergence of a voice would interrupt her small thought session. A whisper into her ear.
"You didn't strike me as the type to be scrolling social media posts about cats and dogs." mused Hydrangea, who brushed her shoulder with a long nail before sitting down across the table with a smile. Folding her long legs neatly. Somehow, she had moved behind Alba in complete silence. Though, this could be attributed to her signature heeled EGO.
@ everyone...
"I hope you've all had your fun! Lunch break is over, everyone. Back to work." The supervisor made a quick call-out in the transponder in her sleeve. They would know their position at the back of the pizzeria via their evergarden flowers. No directions necessary. Except maybe for those who made the age-old mistake of drinking on the job... a little too much. Those too inebriated to even form sentences. They might need some help.
The supervisor instantly returned her attention back to Alba. "That big fancy hat is good at keeping others from peeping over your shoulder. But not this serpent, who does not understand privacy. Sorry. Hm, well, maybe not." she shrugged, "I'm assuming there is a reason you've buried your head in that icky digital muck." her eyes narrowed, "And I do hope that reason will excuse your act of insubordination. You abandoned us back in the cafe. Not to mention trying to sneak away mid-job, just now."
The client coughed, snuffing out a third cigarette. He sat down near Hydrangea, "So, this is the famed researcher you told me about? Why isn't she... wearing the same uniform?"
Turning, still keeping her eyes on Alba, Hydrangea spoke with a bright tone, "That, is still a matter of contention. One, which I'm heavily reconsidering. Regardless, yes. This is our very own member of L Corp's Information Team. If it's figuring out the nature of any abnormality, then we have no better expert."
The man grumbled. "I have no doubt about the nature of that Abnormality. It's those three..."
"Indeed. So, I hope you have some valuable information regarding that strange posse. Enough to warrant leaving us for dead in the rubble..."
Her tone was normal, but the way she worded her phrases seemed more pointed. Hydrangea was always good at hiding how she truly felt. No doubt, there was a storm rumbling beneath the pleasantries. With a grin, she awaited an answer while the others slowly converged from the local area.
...
Meanwhile, a loud cheer erupted inside the Pizzaeria.
From the corner of her eyes, the supervisor saw a bloodied Zi Hua being flung across the room like a wet towel. A rumbling roar of a crowd followed directly behind, as the Big Sister raised a victorious fist. The man scrambled there in a pile of broken plastic chair limbs. Once more, his arms have been ripped clean off. Two-fold, in a singular defeat. The man held a blank expression until his dazed eyes stumbled across her curious smile. Hery eyes twinkled with boiling anger. Hydrangea knew Zi Hua didn't feel pain quite like the rest of them. He may have been foolish idiot, but even he understood that the Backstreets, and their vicious inhabitants, only saw merit in opulent displays of glory.
In order to avoid further punishment, he made a show of groveling on the ground and twisting his face in mock-pain. A few Middle members strolled up and began to kick his writhing body, laughing gleefully at his cries. But then, the wave of fuming gangsters lined to have a taste of personal vengeance started to split in half. The Big Sister moved like a steady blade between the parted bodies, letting out an annoyed huff upon reaching the mess at the end. The crowd watched with absolute silence as the elder enacted judgement. The Big Sister stared down at the armless man on the floor coldly. Like the a stone-faced statue awaiting an offering from a postulating pilgrim at a temple.
"I am the strongest of these Backstreets. Big Sister, Jenny. Remember it well. Should you ever be foolish enough to cross my family again." flipping her long hair with a bored sigh, "Let's not make this any harder for either of us. Hand over what you have taken in poor taste. Though you had not broken a rule. I cannot allow someone to openly disgrace my family. Consider it part of settling this act of vengeance."
Then, with a click of his tongue, Zi Hua sat up with a deadpan. His display of pain went up in smoke. The man jabbed his chin down to his waist. A pair of thugs approached, digging their hands proper into his waistband. He squirmed in discomfort, until they pulled out the was of winnings tucked away. He had hoped they would overlook it in the rush of the moment while kicking him around. But alas, as it has been said, the Middle never forgets.
Zi Hua would join the table a little later than the rest, standing off to the side with a dejected look. Armless, yet again. And nothing but shame to show for it.
...
Last edited:
November Witch
Over great bodies of water, a November Witch roars
Bleeding Heart (Alba)
Status: Interested & Confident
Alba sighed in annoyance, as her scrubbing skills led her nowhere. Scrubbing the internet for information on abnormalities was something she was used to. However, sometimes there really was just too little information available freely. It just meant she’d have to ask around and see if any of her coworkers were more technically inclined than she was. While Alba understood the basics of searching places she shouldn’t online, anyone worth their salt would be able to deny or access or worse. Track it back to her. But if worse came to worse, she’d take up learning it herself. After all, she wouldn’t have to rely on anyone else, and would simply make her more of a valuable employee. But that took precious time. And it seemed like time was becoming something of a rare resource these days.
Alba didn’t acknowledge the other as she heard her speak and felt the brush on a finger on her shoulder. After the memory hit her, she was rewatching the footage, attempting to see if there was any sign of any instrument in the background anywhere. However, with the main focus being the man on the ground in the recording, she doubted it would pick up anything.
“That’s exactly what I want.”
She told her boss, still not even looking up or showing that she acknowledged the other. She listened to her boss go on and pondered only momentarily why the other apologized. There was no reason to, after all. In a public space, Alba always assumed someone would be watching what she was doing. While there wasn’t much to do about that, she could at least make sure that the audio from the recording was routed to her comms device so that this possibly memetic noise wouldn’t affect anyone else here. And grant her a tinge more privacy than she would have otherwise. Besides, Alba would often do odd things, just to make people change their perception of her, or keep them guessing. After all, having an unpredictable opponent would always make one more cautious.
When her boss went on to mention her acts of dissertation, Alba simply shook her head with a chuckle. Was her employer really this dumb? Surely not? Anyone with a brain would understand her actions. Perhaps she had to spell it out for the other…
“I guess I’ll have to spell it out for you. When you have an infestation of little ants running amok in your house, do you kill the worker ants, or the queen to solve the problem?”
She asked, letting it seep in with a moment of silence. She finally raised her head enough so that the brim didn’t hide her eyes and her gaze met Hydrangea’s.
“It’s clear to anyone that those annoying little rats were being controlled by something, as were the civilians. There was no sign of them stopping. It was clear they would overwhelm us in a battle of attrition, so the only logical step was to find the queen ant, so to speak. I was confident in my abilities, so I saw no reason to pull valuable resources from protecting the VIP. That being said, I left to search for the source. I have an idea of what abnormality may have caused it. But at this moment in time, the name escapes me.”
She put one leg over the other, set the tablet down and crossed her arms. She felt as if the point she made was crystal clear.
“As for the reason I left minutes ago, I very much hate all of… whatever this is.”
She gestured towards the party, drinking, and atmosphere of the pizzeria.
“I had two goals when exiting the building. To get away and clear my mind with a walk. And to make sure no one in this area was experiencing whatever was messing with the rats at the previous establishment. Unfortunately, before I came upon anyone, you sent Lupine after. Which, may I say, is a drastic misallocation of resources. If you sent a messenger after me, a tactic that predates even smoke signals, when you could have just spoken to me directly over the comm system…”
She was silent for a moment.
“Well, I shudder to think what this company looks like behind the scenes.”
Alba replied. Blatantly honest and without the use of a filter. Something that always caused her strife no matter the situation. However, it is also what the intelligent individuals around her valued. She wasn’t afraid to say what needed to be said to whoever needed to hear it. Though whether it would be more welcomed or irritating in this situation was up to Hydrangea.
“However, going back to the original engagement, aside from the peculiar rats, there were three people atop the highway. It was one of them who turned our vehicles into multi-ton wrecking balls. It seemed as if they were able to summon abnormalities, Ordeals, or some sort of creature to fight for them. I didn’t sense an EGO from any of them. Two females, one male, and they referred to one another as siblings when speaking, so I didn’t catch a name. It’s where the shadow canine and abomination of a boar came from. The taller woman and shorter woman, respectively. I’m not sure if they are connected to the happenings with the rats and civilians, but it’s not something I can rule out either.”
With that, she presented all the information she thought was important to her boss. Despite how Hydrangea looked at her, she didn’t waver, and felt no fear. After all, what did Alba have to fear? A slight smile was on her lips, and her gaze met Hydrangea’s, not at all intimidated or put off by it. Perhaps the reason the two often butted heads was because there were some similarities between the two? She gave off a confident set of emotions at the moment, but Alba was also good at hiding what she wanted to. At the moment, it was annoyance, and perhaps a pinch of disgust with the other for assuming Alba’s reasoning was flawed. It might not seem like it to strangers, but to those that knew her, there was always a reason Alba did something. Never, did she do something for no reason…
Euclid Leaf
Users who are viewing this thread
Similar threads
