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

[farfromgrace]

What, you got a job for fallen angels or somethin'? You could tell me.

/3

[dragonheartedgirl]

My mistress has me on fairly strict orders to not spread too many details. Mum's the word, you see?

[dragonheartedgirl]

... However...

[dragonheartedgirl]

... There might just be something in it for you, if you help me out.

[farfromgrace]

Mm, what sorta thing... I mean, if it's you doin' business across gang territory lines I don't know if I can do much for you, but if it's just information you'd pay for... well, we get all sorts in here.

/2

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ ah


as expected, she's not as good at this as yasuragi. or maybe she's much easier than this young woman? ... or perhaps she should not be using yasuragi as her inspiration for hitting on a young woman when she herself looks like an (admittedly boyish) woman.

what

should she do in this situation??? ]

So it's like that, huh?

[ stalling for time to think,,,, ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

... Say, though. What makes you think it's rival gang business?

[ isn't this Clem's territory




did something happen to clem, ]

[farfromgrace]

Just never seen you before, y'know? Pays to be careful. I pay my protection money, but I like to get to know who I'm dealing with. Trust ain't the currency around here, even if you've got a sweet face.

Tell y'what, you can have a drink on me, though. We'll talk about what you're into.

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ oh

levi is going to have an absolute fit. but then again, this is what she's here to do!!!

gonna. continue. talking about this. as if she was yasuragi. ... talking about levi. oh boy this is getting weird, don't think too hard hiryuu ]

Iiiii might have a tendency of biting hands I shouldn't, so my Mistress keeps me on a short leash. But I could tell you a thing or two about myself if you could give me a clue or two to put me on the right track--over a drink--long 's you don't mind taking taking it with a pretty face in an alley.

[farfromgrace]

Why don't y'come along inside?

[ she jerks her thumb at the restaurant. ]

Maybe it doesn't look like much from the outside, but I run a clean establishment, and the new bartender could use the practice.

Hey, Junior! Look sharp and take this lady's order!

1/2

[worthathousand]

[ Oh gods.
She can't just let Hiryuu go in there without backup. Not least because the illusion would fall off.

Amaranth turns to face the remaining group. ]

Give me just a moment—we can't let her get out of sight.

[worthathousand]

[ It's either leave the rest of them unprotected, try to shuffle the lot of them inside without the easy believability of shadows to obscure their faces, or... well, this.
This will have to do: time to be Clem. ]


—Hey Red, what's taking so long?

[ She strides confidently out of the alley, then pauses a deliberate beat, studying the former angel. ]

...Right. Flirting on the job again.

[farfromgrace]

...and of course free drink for you, too, Boss.

[backstory]

[ TRYING SO HARD TO BE A GOOD DOG RIGHT NOW. SO SO HARD.

To the others. ]

. . . I'm going to go too.

[ PLEASE. THIS IS FINE RIGHT? ]

[asonoficeandfire]

[following him a couple of steps]

Wait, Leviathan—

[everylast]

[ hold on this is a VERY BAD IDEA ACTUALLY ]

Wait-

[backstory]

Come on both of you.

[ Marching out after. Look. He will be the best thug you have ever seen thug. HE WILL BE LIKE A BANDIT. ]

Wait up Miss Boss...!

1/2

[worthathousand]

[ LEVI NO, ]

[worthathousand]

[ Alright, it's fine, this can be dealt with—
There's a hasty illusion over Levi's features, shifting them just enough to make him look like a towheaded young blonde woman with ligature marks.. ]

Claw, I thought I was pretty damn clear that you don't leave that position without my say-so.
Get back with the crew.

[backstory]

[ Be bandit like. Ahem.]

Mm! Yes! Well, I thought that I could be of better service to you here, Miss Boss!

[ Looking at his master like it's cool I got this. ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ god she'd better do something shouldn't she ]

Oi, oi! That's pretty big-headed of you, pup, thinking you know better than your Missus.

[ levi we have an hour to do this plz!! ]

Do I need to show you what the pecking order is here, curr?

[ sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry levi she loves you but please ]

[worthathousand]

That so.

[ She lifts her eyebrows and makes very. deliberate. eye contact. ]

But unless you think me 'n Red could benefit from you messin' with my focus right now, I'm going to need you to get back with the crew.

1/2

[backstory]

[ . . . . . . . . . . .

His master just yelled at him. He got mom stared. ]

I... I suppose that I will go back then. My apologies...

2/2

[backstory]

[ Sad trudge back to the alley

He did his best. ]

1/2

[worthathousand]

[ Mom will paff him later.

But also as soon as he's back in the alley, the illusion falls from him entirely, with just the darkened shadows for concealment, which is maybe at least a small hint as to why "Clem's" shoulders relax. ]