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]

[ not unkindly ] I trust their judgment of your character.
...But you have other obligations now, which none of us can fully control.

I will guide us to your safehouse. And I will give everyone here an opportunity to go directly there.

However. [ a pause ] We also have some mapmaking we have the opportunity to complete, and for everyone's sake, the less detail we give you, the better.

[bevoted]

..... you said you didn't plan this. Now you want to make maps? [ it's more confused than incredulous. this sounds like a stupid plan. ]

[worthathousand]

It's a project we started when the so-called "maintenance" put us here last.

I didn't expect a chance to complete it, but I am here now, and I very much doubt there will be a third opportunity.

[bevoted]

A "project". [ Now he sounds incredulous. but mostly frustrated. ]

... fine. Hand me back to Levi.

[worthathousand]

I'm sorry I can't give you more specifics.

But here he is. [ and she passes the phone back over ]

[backstory]

[ Mom lied and he can't tell how that went. ]

Hello...? This is Leviathan again.

[bevoted]

I'm going to send you something. Use it if you're in trouble. You remember my demon name, right?

[backstory]

. . . Yes. I remember it.

[bevoted]

[ sighs out ] I don't know what hairbrained scheme you've got, but I can't stop you. I just hope you know what you're doing.

Keep an eye on Hiryuu. Take care of each other. And don't get in over your head.

[backstory]

[ IMMEDIATELY ]

I will protect her with my life. You have my word on it.

[ And gentler, in an effort to be reassuring. ]

I promise that we will be as careful as possible. I am thankful for your help and concern, Loki. All of us miss you, and so I am sorry to have caused you to worry now. Please be well and I wish you the greatest of happiness.

[bevoted]

All of you? [ with a little scoff, yeah sure ]

Loosen up a little won't you. You sound like you're about to march off to war. [ which you're NOT doing that RIGHT

... right. ]

I'll see you again soon. Promise.

[backstory]

[ When in hell... =')

Also, how does one loosen up? ]

Then I look forward to it greatly. I will see you when next we meet. Goodbye for now.

[ Annnddddddd. He will hang up. ]

. . . There.

[bevoted]

[ also like two minutes later levi gets a text

it's just straight up a cellphone picture from the page of some book

]

invoke my name when you need me

[backstory]

Leviathan: Thank you. If we need to, I will call upon immediately.

[worthathousand]

What did he say?

—And I'm sorry about the lie. I thought it was a better explanation for our activities than just trying to talk around it.

[backstory]

No... I understand.

[ Even if he is a little sad about it. He sighs. ]

He's clearly worried about us all. But he gave me a method to call upon him should we find ourselves in a situation that becomes dire.

[ And he is immediately transferring the picture on the phone to a piece of paper, in case something happens to their technology here. ]

If we need help we can summon him to our side.

[dragonheartedgirl]

Sometimes you have to lie.

[ It sucks but. Well. They did it sometimes during their travels, and this is probably much riskier than even that. ]

Better for him not to get too involved with this... He really does have other obligations right now, and it would be bad, too, if he got in trouble because of what we're about to do. Shall we try getting on our way, then?

[worthathousand]

[ She studies the sigil with a mix of fascination and unconcealed concern. ]

That is no small bit of power over him which he's entrusted you with.

But.
Remember that using it could be as good as handing Suri over to that man ourselves. Even if the situation seems dire, I want you to weigh that possibility before calling on him.