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

[asonoficeandfire]

You healed me, so I'm better off.

[backstory]

I think healing wounds to scars is just one step of that process but--

[ He rests a hand on his head. ]

I do have faith in your ability to get up and keep moving. But please be careful.

[ His hand falls away and he becomes serious. ]

This place is crawling with gangs. And if you do something they do not like they can and will attack you.

[asonoficeandfire]

This isn't nearly enough to keep me from moving. I've had worse.

[that's not reassuring, is it]

I'm not going to stray from the group. I don't know this place, so I'll leave it to you.

[backstory]

I will try and protect others as best as I can.

Moreover, if we are here, this might actually be a good opportunity for us. There is something I would like to do.

[asonoficeandfire]

Mm, I can fight if we need it, but beyond that, I'll just follow you.

What do you want to do?

[backstory]

There was someone we met here before.

. . . I have been wanting to come back to this place ever since then to see if I could find them again.

[asonoficeandfire]

Would it help us get back?

[backstory]

Possibly. But I confess I am interested in helping her and seeing if we can engage more individuals like her.

I believe they might be invaluable allies and possess information and power that would allow us to fight back more.

[asonoficeandfire]

Mm, that's fair. We need all the help we can get.

I don't know much about the information network with people, that's more Intensity's area. I'd like to know more, though.

[backstory]

What do you know about this place so far...?

[asonoficeandfire]

This place or Tokyo-F?

[backstory]

This place specifically. Vengeance.

Are you familiar with the magic street drawings?

[ Chalk drawings.. ]

[asonoficeandfire]

No, I've never been here, and I've just seen a photo or two, but not of drawings.

[backstory]

[ He nods. ]

Because you were on the other side, right...?

Scattered through some of the back alleys are magic drawings. You might have trouble realizing it at first, but... if you look closely they are actually wards meant to keep angels trapped inside of them.

[ Nngg. ]

Last time we were here, Amaranth, my master, myself and a few others worked to free one of them but were attacked by group of individuals. And the angels that are trapped here... I believe that they have all fallen into despair and barely want to move.

But it is possible to talk with them and have them see reason. They do not like this place anymore than we do.

[asonoficeandfire]

Oh. Is it possible to free them?

[backstory]

Mm.

[ He nods. ]

It's possible to free them. But getting them to want to be helped is the harder part I think.

[asonoficeandfire]

I see. We should look for them, then.

[backstory]

[ He gives a short nod. ]

Honestly, if we are here. I think that is our best bet. I would very much like to find our angel friend from before.

[asonoficeandfire]

Mm, I only know that a group of people found and talked to an angel before. Was that what you meant?

I don't know any details at all, only that it happened.

[backstory]

[ He nods. He basically knows the jest of it then. ]

I can fill you in on the experience.

[asonoficeandfire]

All right.

[backstory]

[ He got you he will fill you in on all the things ]

[asonoficeandfire]

[thank you friend]