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

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. ]

[worthathousand]

Sorry about that. Shame to be quite so harsh on the fresh ones, but better they learn now than later.

Now.
Sorry to interrupt your date with Red, but we just need to know if one of your old acquaintances came through recently.

Real pale hair... kinda fluffy.

[farfromgrace]

Eh, that one...? They still haven't run off yet or wigged out entirely, if that's what y'mean. They're on shift right now, assuming they didn't bug off to sleep in the back room again.

[dragonheartedgirl]

You put 'em to work in the kitchens?

[worthathousand]

[ ....Oh. Really not sure how to feel about this one. She tries to keep her expression from revealing her strange mix of relief and disappointment. ]

Yeah, that's what I mean. Do me a favor and send 'em out here?
[ with authority ] They're off work early today.

[farfromgrace]

Well, if you're granting clemency, who'm I to say no?

[ louder, shouting to someone inside— ]

Y'hear that, Junior? Early dismissal for you!

[worthathousand]

[ Time to wait. ]

[farfromgrace]

[ it takes them like excruciatingly long to shuffle over to the door. what's time when you are, basically, timeless ]

what.

[worthathousand]

...Suri.

[ Had they told that name to anyone else?
Regardless, even though she's still using Clem's voice, it's her own inflection. ]

We've been looking for you. Will you walk with us?

[farfromgrace]

[ SQUINTS, ]

well.

what is free will to one such as i.

[ that's a yes, probably??? ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ does she even recognize us for who we really are like this

loudly, to help cover the restaurant owner from hearing too much, and


honestly, channeling some chaotic Leo energy as she wraps an arm around suri's shoulder to steer them off and BWAHAHAing]

There we go! Junior, is it, now? C'mon, let's go for a walk, shall we? We're old friends and all; you wouldn't want to miss this~

[ is that pointed enough, ]

[farfromgrace]

[ well. they still have exactly two facial expressions and one of them is "dead inside" so hard to tell if they got it. ]

that somehow makes it sound menacing.

[ and also they still have what is ???probably??? a dry sense of humor. ]

[worthathousand]

Ah, you know Red.
She's just saying she's been missing you.

[ And she'll guide them both back to the alley to rejoin the others. ]

[farfromgrace]

oh.

that's what's going on.

[backstory]

[ Upon entering the alley ]

Miss Suriel...!

[ He rushes back to their sides. Thank goodness they managed to find her and the other two made it back safely. So far things are going surprisingly well.]

We found you once more...!

[asonoficeandfire]

[he's curiously watching them, but keeping quiet for the moment]

Re: 2/2

[asonoficeandfire]

I think it's better to leave them to it, for now.

[everylast]

Wasn't the plan not to separate...?

[backstory]

[ His master yelled at him ]


[ . . . . . . . . . . . ]

They probably won't be too long. Probably...

Maybe we can look around here. We should guard the other end of the alley, too. There must be something we can do still.

[asonoficeandfire]

[... you poor puppy]

Aah, it should be fine as long as we stay in the alleyway? Inside the illusion.

[everylast]

...Mmh.

I suppose I can allow it.

[backstory]

[ Looking around to see if there's anything worth anything in here...

He's hesitant to leave the corner where his master is, but he'll peak out once more and-- ]

Wait.

That's her.

[asonoficeandfire]

The angel?

[backstory]

That's right...!

That is Miss Suriel!