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]

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]

[farfromgrace]

the unwound serpent.

i see you are getting into trouble yet again.

[backstory]

[ A hand to his heart. ]

Getting in trouble in hell is probably doing good.

But I think all of us are relieved to see you, and that you do not appear to be in physical distress.

[farfromgrace]

who are these ones.

[backstory]

Oh-- yes.

[ He steps back a little to motion for the others to draw nearer. ]

We all... stepped on a portal and wound up here together. They are from the same program that we have all been placed on.

[ He'll let them introduce themselves. ]

[asonoficeandfire]

[nods in greeting]

Hello. I'm Duality.

[farfromgrace]

that's a little on the nose, isn't it. not a bad name, though.

i am suri, despite what this one says.

[ she jerks her head at Levi. ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

Sorry. I wasn't trying to be too menacing. But--we have to keep our cover. Our other companion here you haven't met before is Horizon.

[ she gestures to the blond man ]

Are you well? How did this come about?

[farfromgrace]

one whose voice carries far? well met.

as for me, it matters not. i was not afraid. i continue. there is little to speak of, on the account of my welfare.

[backstory]

It matters greatly.

[ That she's still here. Is she alright...? What is she doing...working? In a place such as this. ]

We must help you get out of here. Is it impossible to leave on your own? Have you found friends or allies to help you during your stay here?

[ . . . Frustrated, he glances down. ]

After trying to help you before, we had to flee. I am still frustrated and ashamed that it was all we could manage.

[farfromgrace]

they are not wholly bad here. i found a place to go to ground and it was suggested after a while that it might be more comfortable not lying face-down in a dumpster. i am not a good bartender and i sleep in the back room.

i am just... tired.

[everylast]

While I'm just a stranger to you, I am glad that you've found something of a place of stability.

Is it ... a physical exhaustion, or a mental one?