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]

[ firmly ] We stay together.

I can't keep you disguised if you're out of my line of sight. And Vengeance is a place that respects strength—so keep your weapons ready, and move confidently. Levi is right when he says that skulking about will draw far more attention than acting at home.

[backstory]

[ Just kind of preening... ]

We merely must blend in. It should be simple enough.

[farfromgrace]

[ out of the alleyway, you can go left, right, or across the street into another alleyway. is there a business or landmark you want to go to?

people in the street are walking by, briskly, for the most part, although there's a handful loitering or smoking outside of the various establishments.

several hawkers are advertising special deals on food, drink, or entertainment. ("entertainment"? ]

[worthathousand]

[ Can Amaranth, Levi, or Hiryuu recognize anything from the last time they were here? ]

[farfromgrace]

[ you have the sense at least for what district it's in—a lot of seedy clubs and bars, although there's still a few more upscale establishments. The whole city is a mishmash of upscale and sleazy, so it's no surprise.

actually, it's not far from where you originally found that angel... it was sort of in the back alleys of this district, albeit some blocks away. you're pretty sure it was near a restaurant that served some kind of heavily-spiced food.

there's a few chalk outlines around now, even, all empty. ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

I don't think we're too far....

[ ah. but. look at these other chalk drawings..... more angels? In a hushed tone, ]

There's so many. But... I don't think any of these belong to Suri.

[ Should they keep going and leave these or...??? ]

... Do you think we could manage to take them all with us?

[ Now she's just being GREEDY.... ]

[worthathousand]

Ah, look closely—they're all empty now, instead of just faded out.

But... perhaps if we're able to find Suri, they'll know how to convince more of their kin to join us.

I do think I recognize some of the streets, here, at least: if I'm right, then we're lucky, and Clem's territory isn't far.

[backstory]

[ Inspecting one of the magical drawings on the ground. ]

. . . If they are empty, doesn't that mean they escaped?

Or else were taken somewhere else.

[asonoficeandfire]

Who is Clem? A leader of some sorts?

[everylast]

She had mentioned a gang they had made contact with...

[worthathousand]

Clem is the woman whose face I might borrow.
And yes—she leads one of the gangs here. She and her people don't take kindly to anyone looking to ally with the old Heaven, but they're not without their sense of honor.

...Unfortunately, all these empty outlines most likely are from those angels who chose to join our enemy, based on what Suri told us.

[dragonheartedgirl]

Seeing as these are empty, we should probably hurry. Who knows when the Production crew will realize we're missing--if they haven't already.

[ Her aibou hasn't returned so ]

It should be safe to proceed.

[ move out??? she gonna try to go forward unless she gets stopped. ]

[farfromgrace]

[ no one is stopping you! honestly this is an area where people try not to pay too much attention to each other. it's polite, you know. discreet business. someone might kneecap you if you stare at them.

there's loud dance music playing somewhere nearby, and a mix of smells that range from "delicious" to "horrible." ]

[worthathousand]

[ In that case, they'll continue to travel in as close the direction as can be remembered, making sure to be attentive to any warnings from the aibou. ]

[farfromgrace]

[ the aibou manages to warn you off some stuff that would certainly have waylaid you a few times—muggers, brawls-in-progress, that sort of thing.

eventually, though, you find yourselves in definitely-familiar-territory—especially apparently by how people react to Amaranth's disguise. these are definitely the alleyways you were in before, although there's little to distinguish them from each other. it's hard to find the right exact one, but even though there's a few chalk outlines around... none of them contain a familiar face.

you never did figure out where they got off to... but they certainly haven't returned. ]

[backstory]

. . .

Nothing.

[ His brow knits, before glancing to the others in their small group. He keeps his voice lowered. ]

I know we are trying to avoid others, but what if...we approached someone? If I asked someone about the empty chalk drawings or the incident from before, I could perhaps take on the guise of a clueless dolt and ask if anyone knows what happened at that time?

[asonoficeandfire]

That doesn't sound entirely safe, but if you think it'll help...

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ THIS IS THE BOY WHO COULDN'T HANDLE DUMPSTER DIVING


OR BUGS. WHAT IF THE DEMON HE MEETS IS A BEETLE-DEMON?

how does she veto this without hurting levi's feelings? ]

Well... approaching someone... isn't a bad plan in and of itself, but...

[ frantically looking at mom like please. help. ]

[worthathousand]

[ CHILDREN, ]

...Yes, but perhaps there's a safer method.
If you play the fool, Levi, you'll likely just invite trouble onto yourself.

Hiryuu, you're the only one of us with a unit ability that might actually make a conversation like that safer.
If I change your appearance, would you be comfortable using Heart Soldier's mental influence power to talk to someone? Maybe the story can be that we're hunting down a rogue angel on behalf of Clem.

[backstory]

But--

[ . . . . . . . NNGGGGGGGG Quiet mumbling and grumbling. ] Why wasn't I placed on Heart Soldier??

[asonoficeandfire]

[... awkward shoulder pat??]

Amaranth is right. This place doesn't look like it'd be good for that sort of disguise.

[worthathousand]

[ pats his shoulder gently...
Sometimes you're For Fite and you get placed on a soft aesthetic unit and the struggle is very real. ]

/2

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ to amaranth ]

I don't have a problem with that. Better to emotionally manipulate someone so we don't have a threat to contend with than having to cut someone down.

[ these are. pretty gray morals coming out of her mouth, she knows--but if these are their options, then this is the better route to take. and besides, it'll wear off in an hour and the target won't be any worse off in the long run. ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ to levi ]

Here, hold this for me.

[ She hands to him--not the spear that Duality made for her, but her Heart Weapon, which she summons up. ]

I know you'd rather put yourself in the most danger here, but I need you to be watching my back in case something goes wrong. Is that all right?

[ Hopefully from this perspective it's a reasonable compromise ]

[backstory]

[ . . . . . . . Well of course he takes it. This item is incredibly important. It's a part of her after all. And he will always handle her with the most respect and care.

But having her do something dangerous doesn't make anything easier.

There's a quiet pause for just a moment before he finally nods. ]

. . . I understand.

I know you can do it, and so... I will be sure to guard you should anything go wrong.