post-impocalypse: a field trip

[farfromgrace]

Vengeance is a Hell that cannot forget the past. Places of violence sometimes waver and reveal their old scars, bullet holes reappearing in fixed tables. It hasn't even forgotten the fall-- white chalk outlines in some of the alleys show bodies bent and crumpled at fatal angles, bodies that if stared at long enough show the pale shadow of wings at their backs. Some of the damned have claimed these angel bodies, hoping for a patron in hell or a weapon against it should they ever stir-- or a favor from Asmodeus, if they bring a waking one to him.

Beyond that, the cramped jumble of a city has the look of a place that belongs in a film noir, the light that's cast from the sky here washes out colors, and at night the fog comes in across the dark water and envelopes the city. So, in opposition to that, the occupied buildings are garish and loud on the inside and with their neon advertisements on the outside, demanding attention and refusing to bow to an environment that seems to want them silenced.

Space suddenly shifts, in a jarring, nauseating way, and you're falling into a landscape that's definitely a city, but not your Tokyo-F.

And land, unceremoniously, in an alley, the portal closing behind you. Nothing special about it, covered in peeling advertisements, full of shadows, littered with broken bottles and crushed cans and other kinds of garbage.

No one seems to have noticed you yet...

Comments

[worthathousand]

[ ....Perhaps she hadn't fought quite as hard as she could have, once she felt the tug. Perhaps she could have summoned up wind to ride away, or tried to dig her blade into the ground.

Perhaps she wanted this.

Amaranth straightens, naginata in hand, and begins taking her bearings. This place looks familiar, doesn't it. And, sure enough, the long gash across her torso is glowing through the fabric of her clothing again. ]

[backstory]

Miss Amaranth...?

[ His own back is staining red with blood and he feels the discomfort, so he automatically applies heals to himself, unsure what is happening. ]

Are you all alright?

[ He'll choke down the lingering sensation of the descent and while he looks a little ill still, his concern and wariness are overriding it. ]

[worthathousand]

Leviathan—
[ Gods, but it's her and a bunch of youths, isn't it. ]

I'm alright.
[ There's a faint line of blood around her neck now too, but it's fine, it's whatever. ]

Do you recognize this place. [ Because she is pretty sure that she does. ]

[asonoficeandfire]

Amaranth?

[do we need weapons out here... he sure doesn't look familiar with the place]

[worthathousand]

Duality.

[ She offers him a brief smile which she can only hope is reassuring. ]

Are you unhurt?
I believe we have found ourselves in the "Vengeance" district of Hell, if the behavior of our old wounds is any indication.

[dragonheartedgirl]

It looks like I should have brought my bow and arrows to that last battle after all....

[ although at least she's never technically unarmed, aibou and heart weapon existing. noting the glowing gash -- ]

Are you all right, Amaranth? It looks like maybe Haku should have a look at that...

[worthathousand]

[ Amaranth tries for a reassuring smile. ]

The worse is over for me, Hiryuu—don't worry. The wound is... nothing new, actually.
I think I just had already concealed it by the time we joined up the last time we found ourselves in this place together. It can't hurt me any longer.

[backstory]

. . . I think I'm going to be sick.

[U-Ugh... Gathering up his barrings after the nauseating experience. That was a very unpleasant ride. He tries to swallow it down though and immediately pulls his whip blade from its sheath. ]

[asonoficeandfire]

[he staggers to his feet after a few moments of trying to swallow the nausea down. that was... unpleasant. he's also dripping a lil' blood from various scars he didn't have time to buy away! that, and his facial scar looks angry red and blistering. fun!

he takes a look around as he straightens, frowning]

Where are we...?

[backstory]

[ Approaching him. ]

Duality...

[ Pls allow your pocket healer to help. He reaches out to rest a hand upon him, pink light temporarily enveloping him as his eyes glow yellow. ]

I think we are back in hell proper.

[asonoficeandfire]

[pocket healer! he really just feels the need to return the favour in one way or another. he blinks a little in surprise, but doesn't pull away. Levi are you going to be okay]

It seems like that... I don't recognize it, though. Are you okay?

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ Only now, having landed and having the wound that Hellfire and Kohime partially reopened, does Hiryuu wonder if maybe she should have thought a second or two more about whether she really should have been stepping on that portal. But--she has always been too curious for her own good, and since the last time they were here--ther impulsiveness has only gotten worse in some regards, hasn't it? And riding off the euphoria of that victory in the last battle.... well... physically she might not be in the best condition (her tummy is just a wee bit unsettled, too) but mentally and emotionally, she's certainly ready, already throwing her very meager second-guesses aside.

Hiryuu wobbles a little getting to her feet, little spatters of hissing magma blood dribbling onto the concrete below her, but--it's not nearly as bad as it could be, and Heroes Never Die anyhow. ]

So this is where it leads?

[ Not too surprising.... She looks around at the little group getting its bearings in the alley way--and is quite heartened to see she is not only not alone, but among some very friendly and familiar faces. Faces that might know exactly what she's thinking... as it dawns on her--and excitement grows-- ]

Do you think we're far enough off the radar we could go visit "a friend?"

[backstory]

Master...!

[ Brushing dirt off her clothes, checking her over, doing some auto heals as one does for their master. ]

I was thinking the same thing, but hold still first.

[ Must fuss ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ Levi her clothing is covered in ash and blood and god only knows what else. Why are you... ]

I think my clothes are more or less done for already, Ki--Haku.

[ Listen, you get to go back to your treasured nickname here, where she doesn't want anyone to know your REAL name. ]

Especially if it turns out we have to do more fighting....

[ She will, however, hold still for healing. ]

[everylast]

[ He really has no sense of self-preservation.

There wasn't an immediate answer as to why he followed into the portal. Was it some heroic sense that the battle that had torn apart their city wasn't over yet? Was it because he, himself, had been torn apart in the battle and he wanted to act in vengeance? He doesn't know.

With a quick glance around, he doesn't immediately recognize many of the people who also followed, not yet reaching out from WILD CITY and WC accessories much. ...Now is, really, the only time to do that, though, isn't it? ]

Do any of you recognize this place?

[ to ... Whomever.

There are a lot of scars on a war-torn, forsaken body, but most noticeably blood leaks down his face as the one that's marred his eye unusable reopens. ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ Hmm. This person is newer, isn't he? ]

We're in the alley ways of Vengeance's hell. Some time ago, when Imeeji had--an accident--we ended up split between this place and the Liar faction's side. Haku, Amaranth, and myself have all been here before.

[everylast]

[ Listening closely, he nods along as she explains. ]

I have some awareness of those, from the ... guide.

[worthathousand]

Hiryuu put it well.

[ a quick but polite bow ] I am Amaranth, of LiliS.

If we are fortunate, we may be able to find allies in these streets, but it is at the risk of angering whatever gangs make them their territory.
What is your name, and are you armed?

[everylast]

Allies? On this side? I wasn't aware of allegiances outside of our own cage.

[ He responds to the bow with a nod of greeting. ]

I am Horizon, of WILD CITY. I'm equipped with a lance.

[asonoficeandfire]

Ah... I haven't been to this side of hell, but the others have.

I'm Duality, of future is now.

[everylast]

I am Horizon, of WILD CITY. If only our meeting were under better circumstance.

[backstory]

[ The others have already done a good job of explaining things. He merely rests a hand upon his shoulders to help seal those wounds back up. ]

Here. I know none of us have had a chance to rest yet, but we start out better than partially wounded.

[everylast]

[ The wounds didn't hurt, and the most of them were pre-imeeji that he has no memory of. But ... it's appreciated. ]

You have my thanks.

ONWARD →

[worthathousand]

[ A good thing that she could illusion them all a shelter, given how long they've spent gathering themselves. But at least now they are well-prepared.

Amaranth calls everyone over. ]

I'm going to use a LiliS ability to make our clothing look nondescript, and ensure that the path we're moving through is always shadowed enough to obscure our faces. But if we encounter danger, I might change my face to this— [ she demonstrates, then changes back ].

Now let's see if we can relocate where we saw Suri last. Hiryuu, could you send your aibou to scout a bit ahead? Not too far—just enough to give us some warning if there's going to be trouble.

[ With that, Amaranth uses Through the Looking Glass to change everyone's clothes to appear dark-colored and dingy—going off her memory of the sorts of things Clem's gang wore when they encountered them—and, true to her word, deepens the shadows of the alley. Though the shadows do indeed help hide their appearance, they're also wholly illusory, so it's no harder for them to navigate than before. ]

Re: ONWARD →

[backstory]

[ He'll peek out beyond the ally as the aibou scouts ahead, then, to see how many people, if there are any at all, seem to be about at least from a quick glance. ]

It might be best if we keep our heads down and move casually. If someone does notice us sneaking, it'll draw more attention.