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

[Roda the Red]

CHARLIE HUGHES

CS Link

SCENE:

Searching for the Light

TIME:

Afternoon, Post-Arc 3, June 18th 2022

LOCATION:

Phoenix HQ, South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Charlie, Hitoshi

Searching for the Light

Charlie nodded. "Sounds like a plan, let's go!" The commenced his journey back down to the ground, his movements now sporting a previously lacking vigor. "You're killing me though, Aniki!" Remarked the boy, as the two still made their way climbing down the crane "Hotdogs, soft drinks...And now Ice cream? I'll be eating salad for three days straight! I need to keep track of my macros, you know?" While it was technically an honest, albeit hyperbolic remark, his words held no malice.

After gathering their belongings, as well as gathering the trash they themselves had made into a plastic back, the Phoenixes jumped on their spots in the car , more than happy to begin their journey back into the city, hopefully with a newfound determination to not let its dark vices take a further hold of them. The vehicle's old engine purred and then roared, a cloud of dust and smoke left in its wake as it treaded forward and out of the scrapyard.

Their first stop was at the aformentioned gas station, a quaint little place that found its home at the very edge of the city, a confenient location for the many travelers fortunate enough to escape New Oasis, and those unfortunate enough to go in. The Phoenixes decided to have one last little feast to celebrate their reignited spirits, gorging themselves with ice cream and sweets, and even a couple bags of Craico BBQ Baby Back Rib chips to savor for the rest of the way. At one point, while Hitoshi had to go to the bathroom to relief himself from the undersired pressure in his bladder, Charlie partook in reading one of the magazines laying about, not even bothering to check what the cover of it was, seconds later he yelped as he turned to face the turned page, shocked by the extremely vulgar and debaucherous nature of its contents. He quickly slid it back to where it belonged, hoping no one noticed his minor mishap.

The moon shined brightly over the night sky, a (mostly mentally) tired Charlie waved weakly at Hitoshi from the base of a sandy-white staircase. The man in the car playfully saluted in response, before his hands manipulated the stirring wheel into a tight turn, golden lights from the car piercing through the dimly-lit streets of South District. The two man had said their good-byes, but would meet once again, sooner or later, be it through a desire for companionship, or to join forces in a time of need.

The door to Charlie's apartment opened slowly and with a light creak, the faint blue moonlight seeping through the entrance, casting a shadow in the shape of the place's inhabitant. The rookie wasted no time in locking the door behind him, and getting rid of the layers of cloth concealing his build. Steaming-Hot water rained down from the shower, droplets gently hitting the boy's body as he worked his shoulders with a pumice stone, his extremely long hair reached down to his calves, its thick locks conveniently blocking certain parts from view. The shower cleansed his body from the grim, and his mind from the worries and anxieties.

Now only wearing only a pair of shorts, he sat on his sofa, a towel hanging from his nape partially protected his back from the damp mane draping down the seatrest. An ominous silence allowed him to recall on everything that had taken place throughout the day, from standing guard in place for hours, to the wise words brought upon him by Hitoshi.

"I'm still me..."

He leaned over, his hand scanning the cushions of the sofa, until he managed to grab a remote controller. Pressing on the large red button, the television turned on, baiting the room in the red light of a familiar logo. With a mind finally at peace, he scrolled through the catalogue.

"Oh! Season 2 is out...Oh screw it, let's binge!"

[Scene End]

​

@joshuadim

 

[angel doe]

celestine renee cadieux

CS Link

SCENE:

the giant's web

LOCATION:

picabo park, north district

TIME:

april 16, 2021 | pre arc-1 | 6:15 pm

PARTICIPANTS:

yuto, celestine

the giant's web

Celestine appreciated the way Yuto didn't dwell on the negative, though she knew well enough that it was because there was little he could do about it. It was far easier to ignore it because then it would be as though it never existed in the first place.

Both were quick to move on from the matter and Celestine couldn't stop the smile that formed as Yuto leaned into her touch, "Of course not. We want to avoid those shadow demons as best we can." She agreed as he pulled her along, looking ahead to see where they were headed.

Thankfully, Yuto seemed to be going in the right direction despite the fact he probably had no clue where she lived. As they walked, Celestine gently used her other hand to free his grasp on her wrist and took his hand in hers, walking alongside him.

"Perhaps I should take the lead, Yuto, so we get to my home in one piece." Celeste suggested, but still allowed him to lead her as they walked while she awaited a response.

Caffeine_Obsessed

 

[Elenion Aura]

RAPHAEL SHAW

CS Link

SCENE:

Omnia et Vanitas

TIME:

Pre-Arc 1 || May 2021

LOCATION:

Lab Icarus, North District

PARTICIPANTS:

Raphael, Kisara

OMNIA ET VANITAS

Raph didn't bother trying to read the faded words on the crusted menu.

"I'll have the same," he cooed up at the curmudgeonly man who seemed to know Kisara by (last) name. Raph smiled, all teeth. The chef did not smile back. He had no idea what he'd just ordered. Did he care? No, he did not. Raph was many things. A picky eater was not one of them.

The two of them chatted casually as their meals were prepared. Raph every so often peered over the counter into the kitchen to try and catch a glimpse of what was going on back there. All things consider, he was surprised he'd never been to this spot before. At a glance it didn't look like much, but all the best food he'd ever tasted came from hole-in-the-wall dives like this. There was something to be said for this inverse proportion between presentation and substance. Unfortunately, Raph didn't have the wherewithal or the interest to track that particular train of thought any further.

Besides, here came their food.

Raph peered down at the steaming bowl placed before him. It bubbled up at him, wafting salty, savory vapors into his nose. Smelled good. That was always a good start. He plucked up his utensils and had at it, finding that it tasted as pungent as it smelled. The flavors were almost overpowering. It was no surprise Kisara liked this. She had a penchant for the extreme.

"SO!" Raph piped up suddenly, his mouth full. Taking a beat to slurp down a wayward noodle, Raph swiveled on his stool until he was facing Kisara beside him. He propped his elbow up on the bar, holding his head in his hand. "What's the plan? Are we going straight to cracking skulls after this, or will we take a beat, walk off our meal first, because I'd hate to get a cramp mid-slaughter. ~"

 

[Elenion Aura]

RAPHAEL SHAW

CS Link

SCENE:

Carmine Consort

TIME:

Pre-Arc 1 || 2017

LOCATION:

Outside of Chaturunga Taphouse, North District

PARTICIPANTS:

Raphael, Peyton

CARMINE CONSORT

Raph's eyebrow quirked upward, as his lips curled into a snarl that quirked into a crooked half-smile.

"Mm. You do have a death wish, darling," Raph flirted back. He assumed that Peyton was flirting. If not, well... Raph had already filled his quota for cannibal friends, thank you very much.

Luckily enough for both of them, Raph's hunger for food currently outweighed his hunger for carnage. The latter had been sated well enough for most people's lifetime, only a few hours prior... In any case, listening to the smaller boy grovel still hadn't gotten old. He squinted up at the foodtruck and shrugged. He could do worse at this hour. Peering into the window where the chef was making himself busy doling out the portions that Peyton had so generously offered to pay for, Raph searched for any sign of wariness, a flicker of healthy concern for the pair of bloodstained boys who were currently ringing out at his register.

Nothing.

Raph shouldn't have been surprised. He should've expected as much. It was just another night in the North, after all.

"Do I want to try?" Raph mimicked, making a big show about mulling it over. By way of an answer, he leaned forward—having to bend down at the hips a tick to reach Peyton's level—and took a bite.

"Tuh," Raph reeled slightly as the shock of the freshly fried takoyaki sizzled through him, burning on the way down. He chewed. He swallowed. Then he contemplated, considering the flavor and the texture and the yadda-yadda-yadda before finally giving it a solid meh out of ten.

"Hand me another," Raph commanded, already strutting away from the truck, but not before he flashed the rubbernecking chef a bloodied middle finger for his efforts. With the same hand he snatched the next treat from out of Peyton's hand, mumbling half-coherently that he'd taken too long in producing it for him.

Prick ~

 

[Shugo]

SABLE MELLIVORA

CS Link

SCENE:

TOWER OF POWER

LOCATION:

Maelstrom Tower, South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Charlie, Musai, Sable

TOWER OF POWER

This is no regular hitjob...

Ever since Sable had joined The Phoenixes, nothing was normal or regular anymore, so he wasn't too incredibly surprised to hear that there was a twist to the job. Hearing about how nobody had the element of surprise on their side meant that all of the upcoming fights were going to be straight to the point which was more than welcome news to Badger's ears. The only real guideline that was to be taken into consideration was that they had to play by their opponents rules. This was all pretty cut & dry though once he broke down everything that was being shared. Go into the tower, knock some heads around, and get to the top to deal with their actual target; All of this for one hundred thousand to split three ways. That was a decent chunk of change, and Sable wasn't going to turn down the lucrative offer.

Well, gentlemen...

Musai had, once again, taken the words right out of Badger's mouth, and he was thankful that they shared a similar mindset. This meant less talking, and less talking meant that he could focus on the task at hand. Sable only offered a sagely nod of the head to affirm his own answer to their employers question.

So, when do we start this little game of ours?

Sable rolled the sleeve of his coat to check the time on his watch. The night was still young, so if they were quick & efficient, they could all be back safely before the sun came back up. So long as the district slumbered, the police, or other unwelcome attention wouldn't be drawn their way right away. Not wanting to wait around any longer Badger took the initiative by stepping forward to make his way towards the tower, fixating his gaze towards the apex of the building to offer a challenging stare. All three of them had been given their task, the conditions they were working in, and the standard to meet. What more was there to discuss? Lips part to speak up, while fingers dig the lining of his coat for another cigarette.

"We start now. We'll march right up there, and drag Regulus down from his little throne."

Roda the Red @Kameron Esters-

 

[WhiskeyMarten]

HECTOR MOSES

CS Link

SCENE:

New Royals

LOCATION:

Kaspian's Club, Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Hector, Tri

NEW ROYALS

Little deterred Kaspian’s from enduring decades of chaos in New Oasis. From its humble beginnings as a hidden gem jazz club nestled above a row of sleazy bars, it grew into one of the most renowned clubs in the city. Its guest list has always been exclusive, its dress code has always been unfair, and its wild antics have always been kept inside. Mothers might scold their daughters in their extravagant clothes, “You look like you’re trying to get into Kaspian’s.” Some might say that the club has lost its charm in recent years, but paparazzi still wait outside to snap pics of its clientele, eager to glean any of their secrets.

Kaspian’s has hosted many players of the city’s crime game in the past — pimps, drug lords, politicians — but the guests they anticipated with the most trepidation were always the gangsters. It was an unspoken rule that the monarchs of each gang were allowed unfettered access to the best seats in the house, so the bouncers could only groan when Hector Moses sauntered up to the entrance, a woman hanging off each arm.

Hector Moses — the Queen of the Scarlet Phoenixes, renowned troublemaker, rabble-rouser, and despiser of the high life. Clearly he’d already been out for a while. He’d made some effort to have a presentable appearance…. Some hours ago. His hair had lost its shape and his breath stank of bottom-shelf liquor. His usual coat had been swapped out for the occasion, but the Tiger fur he wore was already stained with various substances, blood being the only identifiable one. Perhaps he was trying to make a statement with it. It didn’t seem like it would survive much more partying. But he didn’t seem to notice, or care. Why he had chosen Kaspian’s of all places was anyone’s guess. A trashy shithole full of rich fucks is how he’d usually refer to it, but maybe he tired of the usual treatment? He had privileges now that he didn’t have before. Might as well make the most of it, right?

”$700, Sir. You have to pay.”

The bartender regretted giving Hector the price of one of their champagne bottles, but he had an inkling that there would be a problem, and there was.

”Don’t you know who I am?” Hector scrambled, starting to climb over the counter. His ladyfriends grabbed his arms in feeble protest, but he was stopped by the manager who had crept behind with a forceful pull of his coat collar before a fight could break out.

”Why don’t you sit down, Moses? We’ll bring the bottle over with some glasses.”

That suggestion seemed reasonable to Hector, and so he let himself be led to the finest booth. As he settled down, he noticed the people around him, and all he could think was ”Who the fuck are these people.” Ever the uncultured, he glared daggers at the ultra-rich who partied around him. It didn’t matter too much, he’d get to know them by the end of the night. Right now, the music was loud, the lights were low, and the atmosphere was in dire need of some chaotic energy that only the gangs could bring.

 

[Tabbystick]

Ayame Kido

CS Link

SCENE:

Teeth For a Tail

TIME:

Post-Arc 3 | June 23rd

LOCATION:

East District | Zenith Tower

PARTICIPANTS:

Ayame, Cillian, Jesper, Jessamine, Keith

TEETH FOR A TAIL

There was a saying - that when heroes got to work, one should expect a lot of cleanup.

The East, though? It stayed tidy - almost suffocatingly clean - compared to the rest of the city. Every now and again, the northern stank would waft its way down to cut through all the chlorine. But it was never enough to truly breathe.

So when an incident occured, one which called for her particular set of skills. Well, all that pent up energy had to go somewhere.

“Fear not, my dearest citizen! For I, the stupendous Raine, the unrelenting downpour, the black maelstrom, the … … shall spare no effort to wrest Roy Wilmore from the hands of the wicked!”

Ayame’s voice let out a booming declaration that didn’t quite match her size. The district’s resident pipe bomb had arrived.

“As for you, Guardian. Your days beneath the spotlight are numbered! For it is my team that shall take the crown this day.”

Spoiler: Mentions

@BluEndings Roda the Red simj26 @CelticHero37
AriAriAbabwa

 

[Beann]

RURIKO & RENJIRO IKEDA

SCENE:

The Welcome Wagon

LOCATION:

East District, Dragon HQ

PARTICIPANTS:

Dorian, Jessamine, Keith, Lloyd, Mirza, Pavel

THE WELCOME WAGON

[A week prior]​

For Ruriko, it was unusual to have her younger brother in the same gang as her — not that she wanted him to join a different gang — but a few of the other veterans had commented how ‘nicer’ and ‘chill’ he was compared to her. She could be nice and chill! Maybe. Regardless, she wanted her baby brother to start off on the right foot. When she initially joined, finding her place in the gang took some time. Luckily, old man Kairong helped her out with some tea and connections. So now it was her turn to be like Kairong! Not old, of course, but with the idea of creating an environment for Renjiro to network…or something like that.

The idea of inviting all the rookies to meet up came to her when she was chatting with her good friend, Pavel. Naturally, he wasn’t too enthusiastic about the premise but with enough convincing, the two found themselves at a nearby convenience store. While searching for suitable invitation cards to pass out to the rookies, they encountered another veteran, Mirza. He at least was more enthusiastic about Ruriko’s idea and as such, she invited him to help orchestrate the whole thing. It was settled that Mirza and Pavel would be tasked with decorations and snacks while Ruriko was left with the responsibility of portaling into rookies’ homes and dropping off invitations.

Spoiler: The Invitation

[Present]​

A portal appeared out of thin air inside the designated meeting room that had been reserved. Ruriko stepped through, holding two tea kettles in both hands — courtesy of Ojiisan. Following her was her younger brother, Renjiro, balancing several stacked teacups. The resemblance between the two was definitely there but it was obvious most of the height and good hair genes went to Renjiro.

“The hell is this?” Ruriko frowned as she set down the two tea kettles next to a disorganized spread of cigarettes and beer. She looked at Pavel with a mixture of confusion and disgust before letting out a sigh — she knew she couldn’t trust him to get actual food! Which is why she didn’t and had also asked Mirza to bring snacks as well. Hopefully, their fellow Dragon would show up sooner rather than later though because so far the welcoming table didn’t look all too appetizing. “Whatever,” Ruriko brushed off the question before gesturing towards her brother, “this is Renjiro. Renjiro this is Pavel.”

After setting down the stacked teacups, Renjiro stood tall with a friendly smile. “Hello! Ruri has told me much about you — some good!” Ruriko shook her head at his comment, choosing to tune out the conversation as she pulled out her phone, checking the time. “It’s almost three-thirty, the hell is everyone?”

“Maybe they didn’t take the invitation cards seriously!”

Slav WhiskeyMarten Roda the Red simj26 Jexon Whells tityanya

 

[Agent23]

VANCE LANGUILAR

CS LINK

SCENE:

Serpents Arc 3, Swamp Fishing

LOCATION:

Royal Clairmore, Remote River Banks.

PARTICIPANTS:

gxxberkit (Rem), WhiskeyMarten (Teddie), simj26 (kisara), Coyote Hart (Peyton)

Swamp Fishing.

As Vance shifted in his bed two things jolted him out if sleep. First his phone alarm became audible as he rolled off of it, second his side was burning in agony enough that he actually had to check and make sure he hadn’t been stabbed. No wound was present, but the boil on his side with a bright red tip told him what had happened. Miranda had finally aged out, which meant her hive was gone with her and she would be birthed again from him in a few hours. Silencing his alarm he would check the notification attached to it.

“On the way to the river now.”

“Well shit” he would mutter as he climbed his misshapen frame out of the bed and tossed on the jumpsuit he had laid out the night before. Its baggy shape would had his frame from most, and made him look rather burly to boot. “What a day to lose air support.” He would think as he calculated time and routes in his head. He was definitely gonna be late, even with the best route and a lead foot, he had to drive nearly thirty minutes distance in fifteen if he was gonna be on time. So instead he went down to make coffee and sent a mental ping to his remaining “bugs”. Tobi was pretty far out, hunting his brunch, so he got the mental image of the dock and the vague direction to head there. Bert on the other hand was still close enough to ride with Vance so he Pinged him to come home.

Pulling his phone he would reply to the text from the other veteran chaperone of this little Dance. “Hit some traffic, be about 15 behind.” he said knowing full well no one with half a brain would believe him, his Mortuary house was pretty much in the woods with no neighbors and only country roads separated him and the bayou they were heading for, thats why the chemicals were dropped there to begin with. His cold storage in the basement was their destination anyway. Still when the coffee was done he would take it and scoop his False teeth in his other hand as he made his way out the front door at a brisk pace.“Burt Cape Fear Style.” he would say earning a half dozen side eyes before Bert skittered himself under the Morticians cargo van and slipped his legs into the gaps affixing himself firmly to the bottom of the vehicle.

The half hour drive was maybe a bit of an overestimation, he had caught a long strip of empty road and managed to make it in 22. Turning into the barely noticeable old dirt side road he would continue on for about a half mile, affixing his false teeth as he did now that his coffee had run out. The gravel cracked and popped under his tires and he would finally pull to a stop beside the vehicle to the left of the Small Pier. At around the same time he arrived the bushes along the edge of the small clearing they were to meet in would rattle and shake as the arrival of tobi coincided with Vance. Another ping would tell the monstrous centipede to keep its distance and stay out of sight.

Getting out of the car he would suck in a last gasp of air conditioning before he walked towards the pier calling out. “Hope i didnt leave you waiting for long, i take it the drive out was alright?” he said smiling warmly, but whatever friendly facade he was trying to build crumbled as the giant spider detached itself from beneath his car and began following behind him.

 

[Slav]

Pavel Orlov

CS Link

SCENE:

The Welcome Wagon

TIME:

Post-Arc 3

LOCATION:

The Azure Dragon's HQ, East District

PARTICIPANTS:

Dorian, Jessamine, Keith, Lloyd, Mirza, Pavel, Ruri, Renjiro

The Welcome Wagon

She should have been grateful he even went out of his way to get the appetizing selection. Cigarettes and beer were a common staple among Dragons. It was insulting to not consider it a good representation of their organization. "What's wrong with cigarettes and beer? I thought you told me to get something that they'd like?" He was also considering bringing donuts but his favorite shop was closed. That idea quickly went down the drain. The cigarettes he brought were mainly for himself, already half way through one. It just gave him an excuse to keep smoking.

His protest was short lived as his eyes landed on the younger Ikeda. He hadn't seen him before and didn't really know what to expect. Pavel didn't think he'd be so.... baby faced. He didn't look like a gang member, he looked like a teenage heart throb. It took all of his might to not break out laughing in his face. Even though Renjiro was slightly taller than him, he couldn't look at him like a man. Part of the reason he agreed to come was to see the new recruits. If they were to succeed him, he had to see what they were capable of. He didn't see much capability in Renjiro... yet. "It's nice to finally meet you Renjiro, I can see that you're much more pleasant on the eyes than Ruri." He reached for a beer from the table, cracking it open to take a sip. The beer was cheap, so it tasted cheap. Luckily, he wasn't here for the beer.

After chugging it down, he crushed it in his hand, stepping closer to Renjiro. He tossed the drink into a trash can, taking a draw from his cigarette as he did so. Pavel's mouth let out a cloud of smoke in Renjiro's direction, the veteran studying him. At some point, he had gotten uncomfortably close to the younger Ikeda, not saying a word. He suddenly pinched his cheek, grabbing at it. "Hm...." No words escaped his mouth as Pavel continued to study him. He lightly backhanded him in the abdomen to test his core strength, backing away once he completed his assessment.

Once a few moments passed, Pavel stopped stroking his chin, finally speaking up. "Are you in a boyband?" That was the only conclusion that Pavel had come to about Renjiro. His soft skin, lean build, and pretty face, everything indicated that he was in a boyband. "I would say you're not Dragon material... but Ruri is in the gang! There is hope for you." He gave him a jovial smile, obviously pressing his buttons. "You should eat a few protein shakes, it'll fatten you right up." Without looking, Pavel had grabbed and opened a beer with one hand, bringing it to his mouth. If all the newcomers were going to be like this he was going to have a field day.

Spoiler: Tags

WhiskeyMarten Roda the Red simj26 Jexon Whells tityanya Beann

 

[angel doe]

celestine renee cadieux

CS Link

SCENE:

friends who slay together stay together

LOCATION:

the tucker's house, north district outskirts

TIME:

post arc 3

PARTICIPANTS:

teddie, celestine

friends who slay together stay together

Celestine smiled weakly at Teddie as he patted her on the shoulder, the warmth from his hand rather comforting at the moment, "Sure..." There wasn't much else for her to say, truthfully, so one word at least acknowledging she heard everything Teddie said seemed good enough.

As he and Eliza continued to converse, Celeste vaguely nodded along, her brain not catching up to everything discussed until they were at the door, "Wait... A game? What-" She quieted before finishing her question, however, when Eliza continued. Celestine took note that they would be gone a couple of hours and that there was food in the fridge, that there were toys for Carly.

"Alright... Well, have fun, and be sure to stay as safe as you can," Celestine accepted Eliza's brief hug, leaning into it, and waved goodbye to Teddie. They left moments later.

Celestine stood in front of the door, staring outside even after they had gone. It was Carlisle's cooing and wriggling that brought her back to the present and she smiled, "You stay here and play, I am going to clean up. I will be done before you know it." Celeste situated Carly on the ground, making sure she had plenty of toys, before getting started.

The first thing Celeste did was call someone to fix the door, perhaps that was a bit overboard, but she couldn't help it; she worried about their safety despite knowing how capable they were. While they were on their way, she spent that time cleaning the floor so Carlisle didn't get hurt as well as disposing of the broken TV. Celestine went as far as organizing their fridge and clearing out anything that was expired, among other things.

[ insert cleaning montage here ]

With the door fixed, Carlisle washed up and changed into fresh clothes, and the house as clean as Celeste could get it, she was able to give the little girl her full undivided attention. She lay on the ground beside Carly, watching fondly as she played with her blocks, "Mama said there is plenty of food in the refrigerator, I will make you a snack in a couple of minutes- How does that sound, sweetheart?" Celestine cooed softly, smiling.

Celeste wasn't sure how much Carly actually understood, but she liked talking to her- the babbling and giggling from the child that often followed her words brought Celeste so much joy; it wasn't often that she felt this happy.


WhiskeyMarten

 

[tityanya]

Doriɑn Evɑns

"I don't trust anything, or anyone, below the sun"​

Scene: The Welcome Wagon
Time: June 27th
I am here: East District, Dragon HQ
With: Jessamine, Keith, Lloyd, Mirza, Pavel, Ruriko, Renjiro​

┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓

Dorian was scared near out of his damn mind when the envelope appeared in the apartment he shared with his sibling. One second, he was playing video games on his computer. The next, he was reaching for his water which had a letter leaned against it. To say he had jumped ten feet backwards was an understatement. His chair rocketed backwards from the force he pushed himself away, crashing into a wall. “Fuck,” was all he uttered as he stared at the letter. After a moment, he was 80% certain it wasn’t going to immediately blow up.

He warily approached it, nudging it with his finger first as though it would bite. When it didn’t, he gingerly took it into his hands and opened it. He blinked once. Twice. Squinted at it closely. Was this…a joke? He laughed a little to himself, looking into the face of the Ugandan knuckles. Who had sent this? There was no indication of who the invitation was from–only the meeting location and time. Dragons HQ. He frowned a little bit at that–was this a formal request? Or some kind of prank?

Or maybe it was a test. See how many people saw the silly invitation and dismissed it out of hand, certain that it was meaningless. Well, it wasn’t like it would hurt him to show up to their own headquarters. He didn’t have anything better to do on that date or time, either. And he certainly wanted to see whoever it was that had the idea of making a meme invitation.

So the day of, Dorian set out to the Dragon’s HQ. He still had no idea what this meeting was for–was it a silly little get together? A secret test? A prank? Whatever it was, he made sure he was at least dressed nicely for it. A black button up and some slacks. Not overdressed if it was a casual party, but not underdressed if it was a serious meeting.

As he approached the front door, he took a deep breath to steel himself. It was always a little nerve-wracking to go into the headquarters. He felt like he was being called back into the office again at school. At the front desk, he presented his invitation. He could see the secretary’s face almost curl up into a smirk. He gave her an easy-going smile, brilliant and blinding. “Feel free to laugh at it. I did too once I realized what it was,” he told her, and she indulged in a full smirk at the silly invitation. “There’s a meeting room reserved today, which is probably for this,” she said, and gave him directions to the room. Dorian went along on his merry way, navigating the hallways of the building.

He smelled the room before he got there. Well, more specifically, the cigarette smoke. His nose twitched and his mouth curled for a second before he smoothed his expression out again. He loathed the smell of cigarettes. Too many bad memories associated with them. He sighed, already kind of wishing he could go back home. Or maybe that he was wrong and that the room was the one next door Dorian peered at the room number, and then hung his head sadly. Nope, this was very much the correct room.

Dorian took a deep breath, trying to get as much clean air into his lungs as possible before entering what was probably a smoke trap. He knocked politely on the door before pushing it open. "You should eat a few protein shakes, it'll fatten you right up." A voice inside spoke. Without even looking, Dorian let the door fall shut in his face. What the fuck was that? If anyone had seen his face as the door was slamming shut, they would have seen a pale white, shocked face, like he had just seen a ghost.

After a moment of shell-shock, he took a step to the side so he wouldn’t be in the way of the door. Should he wait to be invited in? Was this secretly a witch trying to fatten them up like Hansel and Gretel? Was he overreacting to an inane comment? Whatever the case was, Dorian wasn’t sure he wanted to enter the room alone.

┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛​

((ooc: lemme know if there's anything I need to fix!))
((Outfit))
((King of the Clouds))​

Normal Speaking Voice
Siren Voice

Slav WhiskeyMarten Roda the Red simj26 Jexon Whells Beann

 

[Roda the Red]

CHARLIE HUGHES

CS Link

SCENE:

The Ties that Bond Us

TIME:

Daytime, Post Arc 3

LOCATION:

Noodle Nirvana, East District

PARTICIPANTS:

Charlie, Jesper

The Ties that Bond Us

Charlie's stiff muscles were released from their titanic pressure, his heartrate plummeting to half of what it was in but a moment. As certain as he was about his words, not regretting to spew them even for a second, they undeniably carried a terrifying risk of only making things worse, to unearth a deeper wrath from the dragon. But in a moment of welcomed clarity, Jesper was able to see reason, and apologize in return, instead.

Losing all the strength in his body, Charlie simply fell back on his seat, letting out a deep sigh of relief. "No...It's okay, Jespy, I get it" He looked down lifting a hand up to his head, his finger running through his blue locks as his nails scratched his temple. "I think...I think I jumped the gun just now..."

It was terrifying, to say the least. To get a glimpse of the disdain and contempt from someone he sincerely considered to be a friend. Charlie was sure he wanted to cut the tier altogether, but the execution proved to be far more intimidating than the theory.

Charlie's heart then sunk once more, reality finding its way into the conversation once more. By the way Jesper spoke, he had a particular set of emotion towards the Phoenixes, none of them positive. "Y-Yeah...I-I try to stay away from the Phoenixes as much as possible...T-They can be pretty problematic sometimes"

He needed to distract himself, whatever was at hand could work. He then noticed the bowl of Tonkotsu Ramen in front of him, still intact for the most part. He gripped onto the edge of the bowl and raised his chopsticks, and an instant later, he was voraciously attacking his meal. Biting at the protein and mushrooms, as well as slurping the noodles like his life depended on it. He brought the entire bowl to his face, making sure that not a single drop of that broth was spared.

He gently slammed the bowl back on the table, the delicious meal healing his body and calming his soul. "I...Need some time...To think things over" He looked at Jesper in the eyes once more, smiling bashfully "I won't go live with you, but...Maybe we can still see each other" He paused, placing one hand palm-down on the table, the other one placed atop the first. "I promise you I'll contact you once I've made up my mind."

AriAriAbabwa

 

[Coyote Hart]

PEYTON XIONG

CS Link

SCENE:

Meet and Grit

LOCATION:

The Third Eye, Central District

TIME:

Post-Arc 3 || Morning of July 8th

PARTICIPANTS:

Peyton, Keith

MEET AND GRIT

Peyton flinched when the rocky road ice cream was knocked out of his hand. There was dejection in his eyes as he looked at the mess-- the half-melted confection oozed out onto the sidewalk. But there was also a happy, giddy feeling that rose within him. This was absolutely delightful. Keith's anger and cruelty were great, in fact Peyton felt like he could get addicted from it. Then, as he stared at it, a woman picked up the carton of ice cream from the asphalt.

Peyton had momentarily forgotten that there were other people in the line with them. He had been too fixated on getting to know and agitating Keith and Keith alone. In all honesty, Peyton felt a tinge of annoyance towards the bystander's interruption. He was so close to having Keith lose control, yet these bystanders had to ruin it. But with Peyton's simpleminded brain, the annoyance was slight at worst.

"Yeah, I'd hope that nobody tries to ruin the event!" Peyton said to Veronica. He weaseled his way underneath Keith's arms so that they draped over him, as if they were good friends, "Besides, it isn't that hard for different gang members to hang out without trying to kill each other!"

Peyton spoke from experience with that. He was still able to get along well with Darius and Ten when he was in the Dragons, and even now after he had left the Dragons, he still got along well with a few of the more open-minded members. But that certainly didn't extend to his developing rivalry with Keith.

Most of his attention was still focused on Keith even as he spoke with Veronica. They were getting close to the entrance of the Third Eye. Peyton already could make out the text of the sign that was posted next to the doorway. If he was going to break Keith, now was the time.

Peyton also noticed just how clammy and sweaty Keith's skin was. Was he overheating in his gloves and long sleeves? Rather suddenly, Peyton grabbed onto one of Keith's hands, "You're going to have heat stroke like this! Let me help!"

With one yank, Peyton pulled off the gloves and after a blink of surprise, he stared at Keith's digits. They weren't the same color as Keith's skin. Rather, they had a glorious red color to them. As he was used to all manners of chimeric potentials, Peyton just stared at it, mouth agape and eyes wide with awe, "Wow! Your hands look so cool, Keith!"

Roda the Red

 

[The One Eyed Bandit]

Passeri Park

CS Link

SCENE:

Overcast, In Saline

TIME:

Post-Arc 3, July 7th [Noon]

LOCATION:

Clemency Private Hospital, Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Passeri, Eric, Dagger, Kiwi, Dante, Pei

Overcast, In Saline

"Mmm... I think mine would be more like a star, don't you think? Or maybe that's a bit egotistical... How does a flower sound?" Passeri greeted Eric with a smile like porcelain. The deep red of her eyes only seemed to accentuate the lack of it him her skin. While she'd always been a pale woman, right now there was hardly any difference between her and her bandages. Her skin's usually rosy glow was gone, her blood still in at that grocery store, stains upon a concrete floor. She was as pallid as a corpse.

"Speaking of, these are lovely." There was only a slight, gentle crinkle as she took the bouquet into her hands. "You've got a good eye. I guess I made it obvious from my wardrobe, but I love this colour. It's just a shame that the hospital smell's gone and covered up the aroma."

Even with her nose nestled into the crowd of flowers, the hospital's trademark, sterile scent was all that she could detect.

"I'll have to ask for a vase later, but in the meantime... How've things been? We haven't talked since back at the soup kitchen, have we? I guess it's been a busy month for the both of us." She could hardly imagine just how much a public servant like Eric had on his plate at the moment, considering the state of things.

"Bit touch and go for me, as you can see. Mummification aside, you wouldn't believe the amount of wrenches that an earthquake throws about." Or how little sympathy foreign sponsors had for such a thing. "It's actually a nice break for me, this. I haven't been able to just lay around like this in years, you know?"

Gentle eyes made for gentle lies. She set the bouquet of flowers aside.

"I've been watching sitcoms... Soap operas... This one ad that plays every fifteen minutes... Have you ever heard of Happi-Ohs? They're New Ohasis's favourite cereal. Or at least that's how tagline gohes." A faint chime wormed its way into her words; A rough approximation of the cereal's iconic jingle. "Not that I've tried it. I'm only allowed so many carbs, you know? I try to keep the budget open for ohts and pohatohs."

She talked, smaller and smaller. There was an elephant in the room, she knew. Who was sitting in front of her? Eric, or Detective Evensen? Elephants were terrified of mice. Perhaps, if she went small enough, she'd frighten it away.

Spoiler: Tags

Interacted: Roda the Red
Relevant:N/A

 

[Jexon Whells]

Lloyd Sorvocah

CS Link

TIME:

Post- Arc 3: June 27th

SCENE:

'The Welcome Wagon'

LOCATION:

Azure Dragon HQ, East District

PARTICIPANTS:

Dorian, Pavel, Jessamine, Keith, Ruri, Mirza, Renjiro, Lloyd

The Welcome Wagon

When Lloyd opens the envelope and takes out the invitation card, his face could not help but express a degree of disgust. 'This is supposed to be a serious invitation? That must be a joke, right?' he thinks to himself. He turns over the card to see if there is anything written on the back, but it seems to be vacant of any writing. Now his face fills with confusion. He understands that it may be something lighthearted and not a serious meeting, but this seems a bit much. He sighs and lays the card on his coffee table. Then he goes over to his desk to grab a sticky-note, writing down the date and time to stick onto his wall calendar. 'It seems best to take the invitation serious, though, and not to think of it as some sort of joke,' he thinks as he shakes his head lightly.

On June 27th, the date of the invite, he makes sure to leave more than on time for the meeting. It's still before the afternoon rush-hour, so he does not expect much trouble getting there. Once he reaches the Dragon HQ, he goes over to the reception, taking the invite card from his jacket pocket to show the secretary. She snickers at the sight of it, which prompts Lloyd to ask, "Is this a joke afterall?" The secretary waves her hand dismissively and responds, "I am sorry, I couldn't hold my laughter. The invitation is serious. There is a room reserved on one of the upper floors. You'll know where to be once you see it." Lloyd sighs softly, putting the invitation back into his jacket pocket. "Thank you, and have a nice day," he says with a small wave as he heads for the elevator.

Once Lloyd reaches the right floor and the elevator doors open, the smell of cigarettes assaults his nose. It is not a smell he is unfamiliar with since he works at one of the Azure Dragons' pleasure places, but he did not expect it in the HQ. As he moves through the halls, he finds Dorian - who is still unfamiliar to him - standing in front of the meeting room door. "Are you also here because of the invite? Let's not keep them waiting," Lloyd asks Dorian as he approaches. Although he notices Dorian's pale complexion, he doesn't pay it any mind. Lloyd doesn't know Dorian, so he does not know it is abnormal for him. Lloyd opens the door and steps inside, scanning the room for how many people are present, and if there are some familiar faces. Though there is no familiarity with anyone in the room, he does sense a slight confrontational tension in the air. Or perhaps it is just the cigarette smoke.

Lloyd then reaches into his jacket pocket to show his invitation card again. "I got this invitation several days ago, and the kind secretary pointed me to this room. I am going to assume this is the right place with the assortment of drinks and... snacks on the table." He pauses at the word 'snacks' when he says he the packs of cigerattes on the table with the drinks, which after further observation seem to all be alcoholic. Quicly he puts the invitation card away to empty his hands for a possible handshake and says, "My apologies, where are my manners. I am Lloyd, Lloyd Sorvocah."

Slav Beann tityanya WhiskeyMarten Roda the Red simj26

 

[Divon]

Orion Stellaris

CS

SCENE:

Post Arc 3, June (xx): Epinephrine On-The-Go

LOCATION:

Stellar Medicine Pharmacy, West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Tatsuo Iori AriAriAbabwa || Circe Velis @BluEndings

EPINEPHRINE ON-THE-GO!

The rapid slap of sneakers on concrete was the second indication that something had went very, very wrong. The first being the last vestiges of his lunch getting knocked out of his mouth when he'd been roughly pushed to the side of the entrance of the Stellar Medicine Pharmacy.

As he stood there flabbergasted, the thief was getting away.

"I," Came a meek voice from the barred counter, "They just--" she tried again, shoulders slightly hunched as tried her damnest to look as if she actually cared that happened. Orion couldn't blame her it wasn't exactly part of her job description. But neither was it his. The only difference they had was that his damn husband OWNED this business so it can be PERSONAL at times.

Orion just nodded, allowing a wisp of a sigh to escape from his lips, as he spun on his heel to check how far the thief had gotten.
"Did you atleast see what they'd taken?" He asked over his shoulder, eyes scrunched and hand hovering over his sight as he scanned the streets for--oh he really should've gotten a better look at the thief rather than contemplating about not finishing his lunch.
"Not exactly, hopefully not important...?"

He snorted quietly. "For your sake--" 'And mine' "It better not had been some Vicodice."

________

Did he get away?

Sweat pooled around his armpits as the hood of his baggy hoodie flapped uselessly behind him. It was just so lucky or maybe it was a fault in the establishment's part, that they left the backroom so unattended. Or he should really give himself some credit too, he was pretty sneaky; being shorter than most helps with being unnoticeable.

He glanced behind him to check if the guy he had bumped into during his escape was in pursuit...

"Shit, out of my way!" The thief snapped as he almost bit down on his tongue when he full-bodied a woman with long dark purple hair.
He spun to the side to try and recover some momentum as he passed the woman, whose finely tailored clothes now may have a few creases and some grease stains on it.
Fortunately for the thief, the plastic case that stored the medication he stole was still in his grasp.

"I'm in a hurry here!"

 

[miki]

Little Red

CS Link

scene:

Clipped Wings Cannot Rebirth

location:

The Roost, South District

date:

June 20, 2022

participants:

Pei, Helva, Charlie, Eleanore

Clipped Wings Cannot Rebirth

It was hard to pinpoint exactly what Red was expecting when she chose to stab him in the guts. But it certainly wasn’t this.

That scream—his name, certainly. Pei. The now dead man before her. It didn’t alarm her. She knew it was from that rookie boy. It was an amateur's cry, the reaction of someone who couldn’t understand it yet.

What did alarm her were three pinches that ricocheted on her hind legs. Her irises forced her pupils into small dots, her instinct jerking her several feet forward.

But the pinches followed her. She winced as she felt a sharp impact behind her knee, causing her to fall halfway forwards. A barrage of bullets were hitting her—four by four, pinch by pinch.

Before she could think about it, she ran. She would think about betrayal later, when she wasn’t being pinched. Pinched. Winced.

What she had planned quickly fell apart as she hit a wall of darkness with a THUNK! and was knocked back by the velocity of her own speed. The back of her skull hit the ground, and blood rushed to mend the impact: thump. thump. thump. But her lungs were emptied of air, and her limbs sprawled out from her body.

For the first time, perhaps ever, Red was panicking. She didn’t get knocked down, not like this. Everything she hadn’t known was catching up to her—everyone else was on the same page about something she was not.

There was only one explanation.

She was being ambushed.

thumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthump

Red breathed and breathed and heaved and seethed as her anxiety swirled into heated adrenaline. She picked herself up off the ground, cracked her neck and shoulders, before readjusting her machete in her hand. She would end this; their lives would end tonight.

She raised her machete with full intent to kill, but before she could take another step, everything went dark.

…

…


…But she wasn’t asleep. She couldn’t see her own hands, but she was awake. She knew it by the thumpthumpthumpthumpthump-ing of her veins. This was just an illusion.

Despite knowing this, Red was frozen. Even though she knew that the shadows were just shadows, there was something about the darkness that made it impossible to run. Like the covering of a chicken’s head, Red was incapacitated.

With nothing left to defend herself with, Red bore her stubborn conclusion proudly. “What is wrong with you people!? What did I ever do!?” Her debased shout echoed across the walls of the Roost, ignorant to the irony of her statement.

Spoiler

thebigfella mechanicalmania Roda the Red Peckinou

 

[Elenion Aura]

MILO NAGISA

CS Link

SCENE:

Meeting 101

LOCATION:

Pre Arc 1, April 24th, 2008

LOCATION:

South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Jesper, Milo

MEETING 101

Milo smiled a little, then a little more, his cheeks tinted with a hint of pink. He came to find that, like most humans, he liked it when people liked what he did. On hearing his own name pass through the other boy's lips, Milo nodded. The drone, the drawn one, hovered lazily in the air between them.

When Jesper asked his next question, Milo's brow furrowed.

"Uh..?" He paused, as if searching for an answer that never came. He did not know. As if on cue, Nanami reminded them both of his continued presence.

"Damn straight, he can!"​

Milo's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, both because Nanami said a curse word, and because he was confidently claiming something that wasn't true. Was it?

"N-.. Nanami—" A flustered Milo began to protest, but Nanami continued.

"This guy here can make anythin' yer heart desires... For a price, o'course."

Nanami smiled his fox's smile at Jesper as Milo, mouth agape, stumbled over the best way to refute such a notion. He wasn't going to use his Potentiality exploit anyone..!

 

[WhiskeyMarten]

MIRZA KARTAL

CS Link

SCENE:

The Welcome Wagon

LOCATION:

Dragon HQ, East District

PARTICIPANTS:

Dorian, Jessamine, Keith, Lloyd, Mirza, Pavel, Renjiro, Ruriko

THE WELCOME WAGON

“Are you sure you have everything your friends will need?”

Mirza’s mom grabbed him by the shoulder as he turned to leave the kitchen, opening his backpack with her other hand to rummage through its contents.

“Yes, I’m sure. And I’m sure we’ve made far too much, but I’ll make sure the leftovers don’t go to waste.”

The Kartal family’s kitchen had been filled with the warm aroma of food for the past day, as Mirza and his mom prepared a variety of snacks for the meeting. As soon as he had been designated as one of the Veterans in charge of snacks, he took to one of the district’s best markets knowing he could make something great out of it. Sure, he could’ve gone with a bowl of chips, but aren’t the Dragons worth far more than that? He had a great opportunity here to meet some of the new talent.

The bag barely zipped shut, full of Tupperware, plastic plates, and cups. Mirza grabbed a plastic bag off of the table, filled with some bottles of various juices he’d also bought at the market. Finally, he held his hands out for his mom to stack some more Tupperware in his arms, filled with homemade desserts. He didn’t know exactly how many would show up but considered the possibility of others in HQ being attracted to the gathering. He had made sure to account for everything - sweet dishes, savoury dishes, meat and vegetarian alternatives, food with nuts packaged separately to stuff without. Being an HP, the buffet was hardly strenuous to carry but was quite the sight.

“Alright, I must hurry, I can’t be late.”

“Tell me what they think! Love you!”

“I will. Love you too.”

Mirza nodded, thanking his mom on the way out as she held the door open for him, and he hurried off.

“Lovely to see you.”
“Oh, your garden’s really coming together.”
“These? All homemade, yes. She’s a terrific cook.”

Walking through the neighbourhood, despite the rush he couldn’t help but stop briefly to greet the people he saw every day. He couldn’t check the time though, so he was always quick to get away before a conversation could start. Luckily, he wasn’t far from Dragon HQ, and from years of passing through, he remembered every pathway and building, soon finding the meeting room, watching the door shut behind someone as they walked in.

Not late. That’s good.

Mirza silently approached Ruriko. He wasn’t one to announce his presence. Everyone deserved his individual time, starting with the one who invited him along.

“I apologise for not being here sooner, but I brought…” His eyes drifted down to the table of so-called "snacks", distracting him from his speech, but his expression remained unchanged. “I brought food. Let me go put it on the table.”

Mirza turned his back to Ruriko and Pavel, and with one motion, he pushed the cigarettes and beers to the very edge of the table. Craning his head back, he muttered a few words to Pav. “We don’t smoke in here.”

One by one, the table grew busier with plate after plate being laid out. A variety of cooked and baked dishes, and piles of fresh fruit. He set the juice and cups out together, so anyone could help themselves.

“Help yourself, please, everyone.” He turned back to Ruriko. “How many more are we expecting?”

 

[Elenion Aura]

MARKUS WEISS

CS Link

SCENE:

Penguin Socks

TIME:

Pre-Arc 1— Early Spring 2002, ~4:00am

LOCATION:

Car, South District > Tales and Tails

PARTICIPANTS:

Yong-Yut, Markus

Penguin Socks

Markus peered up out the window at the cartoonish sign that marked the entrance to the zoo.

The zoo. It had been years since he had visited one. Memories of the last time flooded back; the scent of popcorn and cotton candy in the air, the cacophony of children laughing and animals baying in the summer heat, the sight of his mother smiling. He was snapped back to the present by Decha's question and Chet's playful banter.

He peered over and down at Yong-Yut by his side, her silver eyes sparkling. Her excitement was catching, it seemed, as Markus felt a familiar flutter in his stomach. He chuckled at Chet’s teasing.

"The lions." He said with surety to Decha. Then, turning back to Yong-Yut, he nodded once in the affirmative, and meant it.


The path leading up to the first exhibit was lined with thick greenery, creating a canopy overhead that filtered the sunlight into dappled patterns on the ground. The buzz of conversation around him felt distant as Markus' focus narrowed in on the sight before him. The first exhibit was dead ahead.

It was the flamingo enclosure.

In the center of a wide pond, a congregation of tall, elegant birds stood gathered all together, their elongated necks bowed as they dipped curved beaks into the water, which teemed with algae and other soggy greenery that he couldn't make out. Markus puzzled at the sight. They had two good legs, he reasoned. Why not use them? Were they trying to show off their balance or something?

"They're pink on account a' what they eat. Makes 'em pink. They're white normally." He said to Yong-Yut matter-of-factly, never taking his eyes off the flock.

There was something peaceful about them, something calming in their slow, deliberate movements.

Pink feathers flashed out of the corner of his eye. Turning, he spied a large flamingo spreading its wings and taking off from the group, gliding swiftly over the surface of the water. He considered then, what it must be like to fly.

Markus' mood suddenly darkened. He'd had enough of the flamingos. Huffing, he stuffed hands in his pockets and trudged down the path, eager to see what was next. Stupid birds.

 

[simj26]

Jessamine Darkness

CS Link

SCENE:

Teeth For a Tail

TIME:

Post-Arc 3 | June 23rd

LOCATION:

East District | Zenith Tower

PARTICIPANTS:

Ayame, Cillian, Jesper, Jessamine, Keith

TEETH FOR A TAIL

She understood one thing and one thing only right now. There was too much talking, and too little acting. She tugged at her necktie, and adjusted her jacket irritably. They had been given the instructions, and all these people could do was chatter on about…competitions? Were they whacked? Were they stupid? Did they watch too many tokusatsu shows? Ugh. This was such a hassle. Don’t they feel stupid? Don’t they feel silly? Don’t they feel a little ashamed? They weren’t heroes, they were gangsters. They were criminals.

Far be it for her to criticise them, though. She was in their presence, and she was about to do the same job they were doing. She eased her hands into a pair of fingerless gloves. It was, technically speaking, what the streets would call a ‘smash-and-grab’. Smash through the opposition, and grab the VIP. The forceful eviction of the other occupants of the building was balanced precariously between first priority and second priority. She realised, perhaps a little too late, that her talents, however, demanded that she be participating more in the former, despite dearly preferring the second. Going wild was her love and life, but getting the job done was what she needed to do to, at least, look a little more presentable to her peers.

She also realised that, with the other two breaking out into prose and poetry about how cool they were, the rest might follow suit. She had to step in, now. She clapped her hands together, the sound slightly muffled by the leather of her gloves. “Are you quite done? Compete all you want, but I cannot be the only one who understands what we need to achieve, yes?” She brushed her long, auburn hair behind her shoulder with a dismissive flick of her wrist. “Secondly, this isn’t…what is it that you play at those high school gyms of yours? Dodgeball? Basketball? I don’t have time to waste watching you pick your team members. You!” She suddenly directed a finger at the red-headed man. “You’re with me. We are proceeding up to the second floor. The rest of you can come over after you're done with your first floor and clean up and…” she made a face, like she had bitten into something rank and sour, her voice shifting ever so slightly from her usual tone,“increase your fuckin’ K/D scores or whatever, I don’t fucking care.”

She started towards the building, waving Keith over as if he was a puppy. “Come along now. We’ll do introductions on the way up.”

@BluEndings Roda the Red @CelticHero37 Tabbystick AriAriAbabwa

 

[Elenion Aura]

MILO NAGISA

CS Link

SCENE:

Blank Canvas

LOCATION:

Pre-Arc 3: September 30th, 2021 - Just before 11pm

LOCATION:

Outside Red West, South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Milo, Hector

BLANK CANVAS

He peered out the window as their journey came to an end, destination in sight. It didn't look like much, he thought. What's more, it looked deserted. Good. The best case scenario would be a quiet evening that passed in relative silence. After which both men could get on with their lives and stop pretending not to loathe each other. Then again, Milo wasn't sure how much pretending was going on in the first place, or whether it would last the night.

As Hector extended his hand, Milo hesitated a moment. The thought of shaking the dread Phoenix Queen's hand gave him pause. How much blood had those hands spilled? How much more would they spill, if the man was never stopped? And was Milo culpable, for not ending him when he'd had the chance, for failing when it had truly mattered?

"Mm." He took the hand and shook it. Once. The seatbelt clicked and Milo was out of the car, hands stuffed into his pockets as if he couldn't bear the sight of them right now. As if, somehow, they had betrayed him.

"... Enough." Milo answered. He had learned to fight from a young age. Appearances and personality aside, he was still a child of the South, a child of Phoenixes no less. Fighting was like a pre-requisite to living under such circumstances. "Do you?" He threw the question back in Hector's face as he tapped out a cigarette and lit it up, letting the smoke curl from between pursed lips.

 

[Elenion Aura]

MILO NAGISA

CS Link

SCENE:

A Pleasure To (Not) Meet You

LOCATION:

Pre-Arc 3 |

LOCATION:

Raquel's Warehouse, South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Raquel, Milo

A PLEASURE TO (NOT) MEET YOU

He raised an eyebrow at her proclamation, trying to read between the lines of her seemingly playful banter. Her words were sugared with a sarcasm that made him wary, though he tried his best not to show it. "Bonding? With you?" he mused aloud, amusement and skepticism mingling in his voice. "Don't take this the wrong way, but... I'm not sure that's such a good idea."

His gaze was steady, but inside, his mind raced. What game was she playing at? He knew from the intelligence he'd gathered to date that Raquel wasn't the type to play nicely just for the sake of it. She was a dangerous, wily, and unpredictable actor, one who Milo would do well not to underestimate. There was sure to be an angle, and knowing Raquel, it was probably something horrible that lurked just below the surface of a pretty mask.

The dramatic snap of her fingers did little to ease his nerves. Milo instinctively tensed, half-expecting some form of immediate threat to spring forth from the shadows. But instead, all he got was that confident grin of hers. Just what on earth was going on inside that mind of hers?.. Actually, on second thought, Milo thought he would rather not know the answer to that question.

In any case, his curiosity got the better of him, despite his reservations. "Alright, alright, I'll bite," he replied, leaning forward slightly, in case he needed to duck or roll out of the way of any oncoming projectiles. "What's this 'foolproof bonding experience' you've got in mind? I just hope it doesn't involve any more of Hector's body parts."

Milo allowed himself a small, private smirk at that jab. She probably didn't appreciate that, Milo thought with some smug satisfaction.

 

[Elenion Aura]

RAPHAEL SHAW

CS Link

SCENE:

Dissonant Ichors

TIME:

Pre-Arc 1: December 21, 2020 -- Dusk

LOCATION:

Alleyway, East District

PARTICIPANTS:

Darius, Shen, Raph

DISSONANT ICHORS

Across the sprawling East District, chaos reigned. Glorious chaos!~

The city was in turmoil. The cacophony of alarmed shouts and clashing weapons reverberated through the narrow streets and alleys. Shopkeepers scrambled to save their wares, parents clutched their children close, and Azure Dragons mobilized to protect their homes and interests from an unforeseen calamity of giants.

In the midst of this frenzy, a silhouette raced against the backdrop of the setting sun. With every leap, twist, and roll, he delved deeper into the heart of enemy territory, transforming the once-pristine cityscape-turned-battlefield into his own personal playground.

Raph launched himself from a low-hanging balcony, using it as a springboard to propel himself onto the tiled roof of a nearby tea house. The ceramic tiles slipped beneath his feet, but he half-scrabbled, half-danced over them, using his momentum to leap to the next rooftop.

Below, the chaos intensified, but Raph reveled in it. The rush of adrenaline, the thrill of the night air running red with blood—it was intoxicating. He grinned, all teeth, his eyes alight with glee, as he descended, landing haphazardly on the ornamental ridge of a temple's roof before sliding down through a waiting snowbank below. He popped up to his feet, dusting some flakes of crunchy snow from his shoulders, before wheeling around on his heels, coming face to face with a man pinned to a wall.

“Well, well, well..." Raph cooed, taking a closer look at the man's face. “Strung up and left to rot? Tuh, sad."