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]

[ She holds herself respectfully still while he works. ]
Thank you for the mending.

—And I don't think we can draw any conclusions, beyond the fact that this is one of the places the demons we slew were returned to—and that alone is hardly surprising.

[backstory]

Unfortunately, not.

. . . I think we should try to find some of our allies while here, though. our angel friend from before... possibly even Loki.

[worthathousand]

[ voice carefully lowered ] I want to find them too.

Who do you mean by "Loki"? [ she never properly met him ]

[backstory]

[ He's sure to keep his voice low. ]

He is married to Yasuragi and graduated. Last time I was here I managed to visit him at a particular location. Although I don't believe that was his residence.

He used to be on my unit, and in that recent game in which Yasuragi appeared, he chastised the person possessing him to halt their behavior.

Loki is absolutely an ally that we could depend upon, I am sure.

[worthathousand]

Ah. So that is his name.

[ Amaranth pauses then, studying Levi's face carefully. Then, she sighs. ]

I believe your conviction that he is a friend. But... he has also made his choice, Leviathan. I do not think we can say that he is an ally—not in this.

[backstory]

I understand your hesitance, but...

While he has chosen to reside in hell, I am confident that he would be. He detests that man just as much as I do. And I believe that if given the opportunity he would help us without a second thought.

When he left... I am confident that he was expressing to me that we needed to wait until the time is right to act. Out of all of us, he will know his way around here and what to expect in a way that we do not. And he may have resources that we can use.

[worthathousand]

[ more firmly ] We don't know that.
However noble he may truly be, he sold his allegiance when he accepted that offer.

That does not mean there is nothing he can do for us. Perhaps he can help us return to our units.
But— [ voice lowered further ] —I won't risk spreading word of Suri's existence.

[backstory]

I really insist. If you need further confidence in his character, the princess will also vouch for him.

[ . . . ]

But... I understand your worry. At the very least we should secure a way out of this place ahead of time or find a place to hide if needed. Would you have me contact him now about these things...? Or have him wait somewhere in back up if we get in trouble?

I simply think it is better to make him aware of our presence earlier rather than later, should we need an out.

[worthathousand]

It is not his character I worry about. If you say his heart is kind, I am sure it is so.

Our phones seem to work here, so I've let Intensity know where we are, and to begin looking for a way for us to return. Do you think Loki would be willing to work with him for that purpose?

[backstory]

[ He nods ]

He would do whatever he could to help. Whether it is with him or through another means.

[worthathousand]

Alright.
Ask him to contact Intensity, then. And perhaps ask if he has any advice for navigating the alleys.

[backstory]

[ !1!!! ]

I will do so immediately...!

[ Dee Doo Dee Doo boop

RING RING RING RING ]

[bevoted]

[ can you believe this actually works

like

what has this world come to that you can just call a demon up on his demon hellphone?




anyways there's a very inconvenienced voice on the other end ]

Who is this and how did you get this number?

[backstory]

[ HE ANSWERED...! ]

Hello? Yes, Loki. This is Leviathan. I got it from you last time I was here.

[bevoted]

[

there's a long silence. ]

You're kidding me. [ he sounds VERY PUT OUT ] What are you doing outside of Imeeji?

[backstory]

Giant monsters tried to destroy the place, so we elegantly defeated them. Then there was a magic hole and I stepped on it with the princess and some others and we ended up in that man's domain.

[bevoted]

Yeah, Impocalypse I saw the recent episo-- why would you just STEP ON A PORTAL?

[ there's some muffled voices in the background, probably asking why he's yelling all of a sudden ]

No-- it's fine, just-- ... where are you?

[backstory]

You watched all of it huh...

[ Whew boy. ]

I'm not sure about the exact location at the moment, but I was asked for your advice regarding navigating the alleyways. But even moreso...while we have some things we would like to accomplish we don't know how to get back and we were wondering if you knew a method of returning. Intensity is on the other end trying to make things work, but I trust your help and advice most.

[bevoted]

..... I might know a guy. [ mutters, sounding less than enthused ]

I can't tell you where to go if I don't know exactly where you are. But I can tell you to keep your head down. Unlike last time, people will actually recognize your face now.

[backstory]

Mm. Yes. We turned our clothes inside out to try and not stand out as much.

The area we are in at the moment is nothing but trash and dumpsters, which I don't think tells you a lot.

Hold on...

[ But he will look around for... anything that might be a location marker.

To Amaranth, in a lower voice: ]

He's trying to figure things out. But it's not easy for him to help us with the alleyways without being here or knowing where we are exactly at the moment.

[ MOM PLS MOM. MOM he is giving you looks like pls can we adopt him back to the clan. ]

[farfromgrace]

[ if you peek outside the alleyway, you can see some signs, mostly neon, largely for clubs and bars—there's one called the Kitty Kat Klub, the Pitchfork, Scarface's, and so on. ]

[worthathousand]

[ voice lowered ]
Tell him that we have illusions as well. It's not just reversed clothing.

[ blease, her dignity demands this ]

And you can tell him our location. Just not any extra details, alright—for everyone's safety, including his.

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ TUGS ON LEVI'S SLEEVE

She has an IMPORTANT MESSAGE!!!! ]

Tell Loki I say hi!

[ the most important of requests ]

[worthathousand]

[backstory]