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

[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. ]

[worthathousand]

[ oh right that fight to the death sure did... happen with witnesses... ]

It's alright, really! If it bothered me, I would tell you as much.