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

[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.

[worthathousand]

Good.
Keep it close. And if you can assist in making your clothing look nondescript, it will make my work disguising us that much easier.

[ a breath ]

As for allies.
The last time we were here, we established a connection—with one of the fallen Heaven spirits. They call themselves "angels."
We broke them out of the darkness of their self-pity, and helped them escape the gang that guarded them. But then we were separated.

[ Read: had to fight for their lives to escape said gang. ]

[everylast]

One can only hope that we meet with those angels before the members of that gang, then.

[worthathousand]

We will likely see many as we travel: each figure outlined with chalk is one of them.

But the one who has been freed, and who I believe would never swear themself to the lords of this place, is the one I hope we can find. They are called Suri.

[everylast]

[ He nods, listening intently. ]

Do you have an idea of where to find them?

[worthathousand]

The first step would be to find the chalk outline we broke, which once outlined them.

From there it gets harder. We may need to try calling them like one might any spirit.
[ a pause ] Does WILD CITY have tracking abilities, among your animal talents?

[everylast]

[ Shakes his head. ]

Unfortunately not. I've only gained the ability to strengthen the WILD CITY members around me - as well as a single marked individual - and to gain increased speed under motion.

[worthathousand]

Alright.

I might propose offering Leviathan that enhancement, since sensitIV's abilities provide primarily resilience rather than additional combat ability.

Does WILD CITY know you're here, yet? It seems that our phones do still function.

[everylast]

While I don't question your battle tactics, would it not be more prudent to give the ability to someone with already strong combat ability to enhance them even further?

[ please learn to minmax amaranth im not giving the +STR buff to the healer ]

...No, they don't. At the least- They haven't contacted me.

[worthathousand]

[ tell that to the healer who put all his stats into STR. ]

I think you should reach out to them so that they at least know you're unharmed. But for now, I've let Intensity know—he's on future is now, and acts as an information hub and coordinator.

[ a pause, debating whether to go on ]
He thinks of himself as more or less in charge of our rebellion, so he's a good person to know, but you shouldn't feel obligated to swear loyalty to him.

[ moving right along ] As for tactics.
I'd agree with your assessment if this were a situation where I had my choice of soldiers, but as things stand, each of us needs to be combat-ready.

[backstory]

...!!!!

I have EXCELLENT Combat ability!!

[ HOW DARE ALL OF THIS ]

[worthathousand]

[ shhhh honey it's okay, mom's getting you a +STR buff ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

I wonder if my aibou could....

[ it has an animal form... but... it's still technically a part of her soul, right? ]

... If nothing else, it might be able to traverse the city separate from us and come back to let us know if it found anything.

[worthathousand]

That's your Heart Soldier companion?
It's a good idea, but I admit I'm a little concerned about the possibility it will lead others back to us.

Is there a way for it to dematerialize early, if it's spotted?

[dragonheartedgirl]

I'm not sure... I haven't used it very much, so I haven't really figured out all of the nuances. It might be better not to, just in case...

[worthathousand]

You might as well test it over a short range, while we wait for Levi to finish contacting his former unitmate.

[dragonheartedgirl]

Uhm... alright.

[ she closes her eyes and concentrates--considering the task at hand, searching, hunting, tracking--and moments later a soft red glow forms into this fine creature--a wolf of sorts, about as high as her hip. ]

[worthathousand]

[ A blink, taken a bit aback. ]

Perhaps try sending it just around the corner, with a request to abort the task early when it is halfway to returning.

[ a pause ] It's quite a beautiful companion, by the way. What is its name?

/2

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ oh. well. she seems slightly embarrassed. ]

Uhm... I haven't... that is, I still need to give her--him?--a name. It's hard because it changes shape depending on the task... this is actually the first time I've seen this one...

[ Her aibou just yawns as though to say it's fine waiting and gives amaranth a small sniff-and-wag out of curiosity ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ Yona picks up one of the smelly pieces of clothes that they opted not to use before and offers it to the wolf to sniff--which it does, sneezing several times in the process ]

Sorry... wait here.

[ She proceeds to the corner and throws the stinky shirt down the cross-alleyway before returning. she bends down to put her face at eye level with the wolf. ]

I want you to go around the corner like you're going to get that, okay?

[ The wolf's ears prick forward and its tail gives a small wag. Before it starts trotting off out of sight, though, she adds-- ]

But come back before you get it, and especially come back immediately if you see anyone. Okay?

[ The wolf makes a soft wuffle and then--lopes off down to the corner, disappearing into the next alleyway. And now... they wait. ]

[farfromgrace]

[ your dog is a good dog, and, in fact—

not too long later, it returns, sans shirt. ]

[worthathousand]

[ watching intently ]

Hm.
So it can end the task early. But can it disappear early?

...Also, if you'd like help with names, let me know. Such a loyal companion certainly deserves one.

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ to the aibou, ]

Good job.

[ She pats it on the head. it dissipates--although it's hard to tell if that's really disappearing before the job was complete or after. ]

If you'd help me name her, I wouldn't mind at all. ... Actually, just a little--she reminds me of you when she looks like this.

[worthathousand]

[ a surprised chuckle ] Am I like a wolf?

...Though in that case, perhaps "Tsubaki" wouldn't be a bad name. It's what my home province is called—after the flowers that grow there.

[ any resemblance of the language to Earth's Japanese is purely coincidental, ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ uh oh did she offend?! ]

Sorry! I don't meant it badly. Just.... Well--when I think of a wolf, what comes to mind is a creature that's fierce and noble and deeply protective of its pack, at home in its element and not a force to be trifled with.

[ NEVER FORGET THAT TIME SHE WATCHED CARDINAL AND AMARANTH FIGHT TO THE DEATH IN THE HOUSE OF MIRTH WHILE SHE HID BEHIND A CHEST... ]

This particular one being covered in flowers... It seemed appropriate, but maybe it wasn't... I'll stop talking now...

[ now. that she's realized she's rambled rather defensively... she's an embarrassment to herself. ]