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

[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.

[backstory]

[ But mom... ]

Okay...

[ Back to Loki. ]

Miss Amaranth wants you to know that we are also illusioned to look different and it is not just our clothing that is inside out. We thought it was better than the clothes we found in the dumpster.

[ DON'T WORRY BRO ]

From where I am at... it looks like there are a bunch of glowy signs for businesses. There's a Kitty Kat Klub, the Pitchfork, and a place called Scarface.

How dangerous would you consider this part of town and is there anywhere that you feel is best avoided and if so why?

[bevoted]

............. .... [ sorry what, ] You went dumpster diving?

Nevermind. You're close to a contact of mine. Listen carefully. [ and he's going to give Levi directions to some bar in walking distance idk i don't have a map ]

I'll tell her you're coming. Just lie low there for a while until someone comes to get you, alright?

[backstory]

We needed a disguise....

[ Listen it was awful. A-Anyway... pulling out a pad and paper from his MURSE and writing down directions. ]

We can't go there yet, sorry. We have some things...? [a glance at Amaranth] There are some things that we have to do. But once we do those things, we will return there for shelter and safety.

[bevoted]

.... what do you mean you have some things to do? Leviathan, what are you up to? [ he fullnamed you. ]

[backstory]

[ Oh

. . . . . . . ]

. . . I don't think I'm allowed to say.

[ No he was definitely told he's not allowed to say. ]

Umm... since you are a married man now, it is probably not good to drag you into anything...

[bevoted]

Are you seriously trying to use my marriage as an excuse to avoid telling me what potentially dangerous bullshit you're up to?

[backstory]

[ S W E A T S ]

. . . Yes...

[ . . . . . . . . . Whisper voice: ] If it gets really bad and we have to battle to the death do you want to be invited? Surely moth-- Miss Amaranth will be okay with that.

[worthathousand]

[ drags a hand across her forehead ]

Levi, put me on the phone with him, if you must.

[backstory]

[ Oh no...

To Loki: ]

Miss Amaranth wants to speak with you. I am going to hand you over.

[ Handing the phone...over... ]

[bevoted]

What I WANT is for you to stay out of any "battles" altogether-- Levi!! [ SHOUTING AS HE'S HANDED TO AMARANTH ]

[worthathousand]

[ smoothly ] Hello Loki.

This is Amaranth, from LiliS. I don't think we ever got the chance for a proper introduction before you graduated.

[bevoted]

[ ... in a much more guarded tone than he used with Levi ]

No, I don't think we did. Are you the one leading them on this "secret mission"?

not here

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ Ah... he's making the face right now, isn't he? ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ TUGS ON LEVI'S SLEEVE

She has an IMPORTANT MESSAGE!!!! ]

Tell Loki I say hi!

[ the most important of requests ]

[backstory]

[ Oh no she is so cute. ]

I will do the thing.

[ When he gets a good chance. ]

[bevoted]

[ it's okay he can hear her, there's an amused smirk in his voice ]

Hi, Hiryuu. It's good to hear you again.

/2

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ SENPAI NOTICED HER!!!! ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ She leans closer to the phone so he can hear her better! Just in case. ]

It's good to hear from you, too. It seemed like you were having a hard time the other day....

[ With Leyli... well. they all were. ]

Are you eating well? Getting enough sleep? Don't let your husband make you take care of the babies all the time, okay? That's his job too!

[bevoted]

[ hahahaha... fondly, ]

Don't worry Hiryuu, I'm doing good. Ardashir is too. [ you know. despite what happened the other day. ]

And I'll let him know you said that. I'm sure it would make him smile.

/2

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ Ah. He's back to normal then.... Or maybe that's an incorrect way to look with it; rather, maybe it's more along the lines of "Leyli" is asleep. No matter how you parse it--she's happy to hear he's back to his usual faculties. ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

I'm glad you're doing well. We miss you both. I wish we had the time we could come see you.

[ but they're really not even supposed to be here ]

[bevoted]

... we miss you too. I'd like that. [ but... they can't. ]

Ardashir's going to be sad that he missed talking to you. [ twice now. ]