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Thread Review (Newest First)
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 03-16-2023, 06:03 PM
[Image: image.png?width=660&height=617]


Geezer: I’m gonna cut you off right there.

Geezer walks in and grabs Styx tight by the shoulder.

Styx: Ah.. I knew I’d have to address this.

Geezer: No kidding.

Geezer: Don’t care if you say you’ve changed until I see something more.

Styx: You finished your trial quite quickly.

Geezer: Nah, still in it.

Geezer: Zinnia was straight with me, made it clear that my trial isn’t something they can resolve with a pep talk.

Geezer: Looked me in the eye and said, “Go out there and you’ll find what you need to do.”

Geezer: Couldn’t be any clearer.

Geezer: We need to talk, you and me.

Geezer: Because you’ve hurt me and Charon a hell of a lot in the past.

Styx: This is about your body.

Geezer: This is about everything.

Geezer: Why are you still here? You died back there right?

Geezer: Like, how?

Styx: I’m a master of escaping fate, an entity of defiance if you will.

Styx: It’ll take a lot more than death to kill me.

Geezer: Yeah? Might make you rethink coming back.

Styx: I’m already reconsidering.

Geezer: Hate seeing your smug grin on his face. Can’t believe he let you control him.

Styx: You want to talk to him? You can. He’s the one in control this time.

Styx: I’m simply his vassal handing him over the keys.

Geezer: Explain.

Styx: He’s taking my position, my throne, my power, everything.

Styx: A true successor, whether he wants to admit it or not.

Styx: I’ve been effectively defanged, unable to act without his permission.

Styx: Letting me talk? That’s his choice

Opera: Geezer, I think he’s serious about it.

Geezer loosens his grip slightly.

Geezer: You really lost all your power?

Styx: If I still had it, would’ve struck you down by now.

Geezer: Huh….

Styx: Tell you what, I can make you a peace offering.

Geezer: I don’t want any contracts from you.

Styx: I think this one might be one that appeals to you specifically.

Styx: No conditions, what if I told you I know where your old body is.

Geezer:... You can find it?

Styx: Been keeping it safe this whole time.

Geezer: I could feel it moving but… I thought that was some psychosomatic thing.

Styx: No, your body is very much around and safe.

Styx: Not very active granted, but it’s remained healthy despite the circumstances.

Styx: Would you like to see?

Opera: Geezer…

Geezer: I want in.

Styx: Excellent, I’ll transport you in just a moment. Make sure you have everything you need on you.

Opera: I want to go with him, don’t want any funny business.

Geezer: I’ll be fine. You stay here and make sure Styx doesn’t run off with Charon’s body yeah?

Platino: We’ll keep him safe.

Geezer offers a hand out to Styx.

Geezer: No bullshit?

Styx: I want to make amends and I mean it.

Styx: You’ll see him soon.


 
 
TRIAL OF GEEZER, STRENGTH REVERSED
[Fourth Trial]
CW: None
Perspective:Geezer.


[Image: image.png]
 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 03-14-2023, 11:08 PM
[Image: image.png]
 Opera: Who are you?

Styx: You know.

Opera: Why are you here?

Styx: Charon has given me express permission to confirm my presence.

Styx: And in the case of a couple of you, reintroduce myself.

Styx: You look so shocked.

Opera: Upset actually.

Opera: Don’t have exactly the best history with entities, no offense.

Platino: Yeah, me neither. What happened to him?

Styx: Charon is fine, his resistance to my influence is strong enough that he can boot me out at any point if I’ve crossed a line.

Styx: Be glad your friend is a tough cookie.

Opera: Just stay in line, don’t try anything.

Styx: You wouldn’t want to hurt this face, your threat is empty-

You backhand him before he can finish his sentence.

Opera: Charon can take a hit better than you, keep that in mind.

Styx gives you a genuinely upset look.

Opera: Tough it up.

Styx: I sincerely mean no harm to anyone this time. We… have a bit of a deal now. A peace treaty even.

Styx: So long as I remain here, I serve as an ally to you and the party.

Styx: My collection, my castle, they now belong to him and by extension are yours as well.

He gives a bow.

Styx: You are guests in our kingdom.

Platino: Your castle?

Styx: Ah, you need to be filled in.

Opera: It’s a bit of a thing, we’ll show you when Geezer’s back. Speaking of..

Styx: I know I owe him an apology for certain, I don’t think he’ll take well to my presence.

Opera: Yeah no kidding.

Platino: What did he do exactly?

Opera: Styx gave him a proxy that went rogue.It’s a long story.

Platino: Is that how..?

Opera: Yeah.

Styx: I’ll… talk with him at some point.

Styx: My business here is to introduce myself and.. Perhaps even provide a plan regarding a couple of future concerns.

Styx: No shady contracts, they’re all Charon’s domain now.

Platino: That means…

Opera: He can’t really scam us. Any offer we get will go by Charon’s intent, not his. No funny wording, no loopholes.

Opera: Suppose we can have a look at your wares.

Styx smiles wide. It's unsettling on Charon’s face.

Styx: You won’t regret it, I promise.

Styx: So what are you in the market for?


Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 03-07-2023, 06:39 PM
You give him a nod.

Charon: On my lead.

[Image: image.png]

Styx: Whatever you say.

 You blip together back into reality, the entity keeping hidden under your shadow for now.

Opera: Charon, you okay?

Charon: Me? Mostly. Had a lot to think about after talking to Zinnia. You?

Opera: Doing my best. As much as I can anyway.

Opera: You’ve been so quiet about what happened in there…

Charon: You too.

Opera: I mean… I had a bit of a tough one with them. They’re kind of the reason we all got dragged into that mess to begin with.

Charon: The pocket.

Opera: Yeah. Even if it wasn’t intentional… 


Charon: The pain we went through was very real, things we all live with now.

Opera: Mm…

Opera: I need more than a talk to forgive them over that and like…

Opera: As much as wanna say “It’s okay”, I know that’s a pretty big lie.

Opera: I don’t want to be mad at them but can’t help it, you know?

Charon: Mm. I have a lot of respect for them myself but… can’t say there’s not any hard feelings left.

Charon: Would’ve been nice if they held back frankly. We were all just kids trying to get home.

Charon: Whole experience left me… not myself anymore.

Charon: Couldn’t connect to a lot of the same things after. The kids in town looked at me like a ghost…

Opera: Same! I mean the gang and I still managed to make it work but… everyone else didn’t get it, you know?

Opera: Same thing happened to the other me back there… she didn’t get as lucky.

Charon: Mm..

Opera: Scary to think that either of us could’ve been another husk. Or that there were others like us who..

Charon: Yeah.

Charon: Don’t like to think about that part.

Opera: All those kids…

Charon: I’m feeling a bit raw right now, mind if we skip the subject?

Opera: Sorry..

Charon: You’re fine.

Platino steps onboard the bus, giving you and Opera a friendly little wave.

You return it, managing a tiny smile as best you can.

Platino: Yo, you two doing okay?

Platino: Look exhausted.

Charon: Managing.

Opera: Same.

Platino: That rough?

Charon: They kind of beat my ass a bit.

Opera: They wouldn’t even fight me. Bastard.

Platino: Ah… Manzana’s taking a bit of a break right now.

Platino: She’s here though if you need to talk about anything with her.

Charon: She okay?

Platino: Needs rest. Body doesn’t need sleep but mentally she’s still gotta recharge.

Charon: Same way myself.

Opera: That really a thing for you too? That means you’ve got-

Platino: Contract poisoning. Making pacts with an entity too long’s got a whole list of side effects. Never a fan of it myself.

Charon: What happened with yours again?

Platino: Dunno. We merged but what came out was just me and her. We’re both the original rabbit so to speak.

Platino: Entity kind of just vanished… but we kept that power a bit. How we’re able to cast magic without a scrap or summoning a proxy.

Opera: Huh… you can do that?

Charon: It’s a rare gift for some. Normally magic needs some kind of supernatural source.

Charon: The entity must’ve become that, an oasis of potential to pull from.

Platino: Bit of a flowery way to put it but… yeah.

Charon: So how’d your trial go?

Platino: Me? Good.

Platino: Tiring but.. We had a good talk, all of us.

Platino: Zana’s still a little worried but…

Platino: We wanna help you out. Nobody’s gonna get you prepared better for a job like this.

You can’t help but grin a little.

Charon: Plenty of time to hang out, right?

Platino: Yeah. Geezer too, both of us always wanted a good excuse.

Platino looks directly at Opera.

Platino: And you too of course, lots of new folks to get to know.

Opera: You’re fine, know that you four are all family and stuff.

Charon: Aye.

Charon: Speaking of, I figure that it’s a good time to do this early rather than later…

Charon: I want you all to meet my entity.

Opera: Are you sure you want to do that?

Charon: He’s going to be working with us so…

Charon: I want to get this out of the way.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 03-02-2023, 07:56 PM
A Group Intermission
[Trial Intermission 2]
CW: None
Perspective: Charon


[Image: image.png]

 Charon: So what is this place exactly?

Styx: My kingdom, every crack and treasure included.

Charon: Yes but… how am I here while waiting in the bus?

Styx: You’re your own entity now, you always have access to my domain no matter where your physical form lies.

Charon: Don’t think I like being two places at once but I’ll have to get over that..

Styx: You already practically were, no?

Charon: Maybe.

Styx: Your mind still long ago wandering that desolate land.

Styx: I wonder why you refused Opera’s help getting back home.

Charon: Because she would’ve stayed as long as she needed to..

Charon: Would’ve preferred she went back home after that good… what was it actually?

Styx: In your world? 6 months. Physically? A year. And emotionally an eternity.

Styx: The passage of time is relative to perception, being there aged you to a tired, sad adult no matter how much you tried to return to the joys of youth.

Charon: Mm..

Charon: Why do you still taunt me?

Styx: To build your character, I’m easy mode compared to what comes next.

Styx: I’m not a man of premonition, but I have a good sense for incoming disasters. You’re the king of that.

Charon: I’ve got a migraine, I’d prefer you didn’t.

Styx: Mm… I could ease up for one day.

Charon: Do It and I’ll spare you from fate.

Styx: Oh? What do you threaten me with now?

Charon: A lesson in appreciating the value of the flesh.

Styx: You’ve gotten quite mean.

Charon: Have to be. My line of work isn’t the most forgiving.

Charon: Do you have something to show me?  You usually do.

Styx: No, not this time. Just needed a moment to cool down mentally…

Styx: And perhaps check on you. You were hit with quite the revelation.

Charon: I was…

Styx: Mmm.. how does it make you feel?

Charon: Don’t try to be my therapist if you can help it.

Charon: But… solemn. A little lost and at the same time it feels like the path to resolution is clearer.

Charon: I still need to deal with Esperanto, and very much need to explain to the others…

Styx: Your family?

Charon: Mm..

Styx: At the very least, I’m sure that grandmother of yours would’ve noticed.

Charon: She never commented once.

Styx: Because to her, losing part of yourself doesn’t mean you lost everything.

Styx: You idolize her quite a bit from what I can tell.

Charon: She’s too good to me, but…

Charon: That’s why I worked so hard to return.

Styx: Even when offered so much power. You could’ve become immortal and seeked all the forbidden knowledge needed.

Styx: You’ve seen weapons and disasters that folks across time and space have used to end their realities.

Charon: It scares me how possible it is..

Styx: You weren’t tempted at all?

Charon: No.. I want to focus on saving my people first.

Charon: Because I believe that there’s folks like us everywhere.

Charon: And we’ll do whatever it takes.

Styx: You’ve seen and heard of many like you who failed.

Charon: And yet we won.

Styx: You got lucky.

Charon: Sometimes you have to take what you can get.

Styx: Fair enough…

Styx: I think I want to reveal myself to the others formally today.

Styx: It seems only fair considering our current… partnership.

Charon: Aye…

Styx: Would you be willing?

Charon: So long as you behave.

Charon: You’re potentially an ally too. I’d like to be on good terms.

Styx: As would I. I grow quite tired of our feud.

Charon: Aye.

Charon: If you’re good, I’ll let you join us for supper.

Styx: Maybe, I think I’m more of a solitary dining type.

Charon: Come churro pues.

Styx: I don’t know what that means.

Charon: Eat a churro then.

Styx:... Why?

Charon: You’ll learn with time.

Charon: Think I see Platino coming back, would you like to catch up with him?

Styx: How can you tell the two of them apart?

Charon: I’ve known him since we were kids, plus it’s the ears.

Styx: They’re the same ears.

Charon: You’ll catch on. Are you ready?

Styx: Lead the way.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 02-26-2023, 11:14 PM
[Image: image.png]
 Zinnia: When my time with all four of you is done, I want you to take my polearm.

Zinnia: I am choosing you as my heir.

Manzana: What if I refuse?

Zinnia: You’d like to save yourself and your mother, yes?

Zinnia: Then you need the strength and guidance to do it.

Zinnia: Once Geezer finishes his trial, I’ll have him pass it along. It’ll allow me to stay close to your entire group.

Manzana: Can’t you knock some sense into her?

Zinnia: Maybe…  but I think she’s aiming to usurp me more than anything.

Zinnia: I’d rather not find out the hard way if I’m quite honest.

Zinnia: So with that all said, I have more faith in you.

Zinnia: A challenge from me is a reason to stray further from the light. Her namesake rebelling against her ambition, a reason to cut off from the family as a whole.

Platino: From us it’d be better?

Zinnia: I’d be proof she raised you to have a spine.

Platino: I hate that you’re probably right on that.

Manzana: Same.

Platino: Don’t think I could take her but… if Manzana is in I am too.

Platino: Whatcha think?

Manzana: I want a better plan.

Platino: The others could help us…

Manzana: Maybe.

Platino: I don’t want to run away…

Manzana: I know.

Manzana: I’m going to talk with everyone.

Manzana: Can’t let my mom go off any deeper. Not for their sake or ours.

Manzana: And especially not hers.

Platino: Yeah.

Platino: You think we can really save her?

Manzana:.... I’ll have to think on that but.

Platino: But it’s worth a shot?

Manzana: It’s that or we let it happen.

Zinnia: Well spoken…

Zinnia: I’ve said what I’ve needed to, are you all done?

Manzana: Got a question actually.

Manzana: One in private.

Manzana: After that, you can send Geezer in.

Zinnia: Hmm… okay.

Manzana: You… got experience with relationships yeah?

Zinnia:... Ah. I suppose we can have a little talk there. What do you need?

Manzana: Well… 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 02-21-2023, 10:26 PM
Manzana: You’re going to ask me to fight my mother.

Zinnia: It’s unavoidable that you’ll have to confront her at some point.

Zinnia: I hate to speak in such definitives but…

Zinnia: I feel it coming one way or another.

Zinnia: Your safety and that of your friends will one day be determined by such a task.

Manzana: I just met most of them.

Platino: Geezer’s in there.

Manzana: Geezer’s smart, he’ll figure it out.

Platino: I get that you don’t want to fight her, I don’t either you know?

Manzana: I know.

Platino: But.. I wanna protect those people. They’re good folks as far as I can tell.

Platino: Geezer looks out for you, and Charon’s my friend you know?

Platino: You both got a lot in common, think you’d get along.

Manzana: Not over the nerve he had.

Platino: The contract? Yeah I.. he didn’t mean wrong at all.

Manzana: He’s been through the same shit, you’d think he’d be better about that?

Manzana: I’m so sick and tired all the time and one bad handshake’s all it took.

Platino: I mean…

Manzana: Everytime someone promises me something big it blows up in my face. I’m done.

Platino: I know. But..

Platino: We wouldn’t both be here like this without that, you know?

Platino: I don’t wanna think about a world where I’m alone like that.

Manzana: What do you mean?

Platino: Don’t know if I could’ve gotten through all of our mom’s shit without you.

Platino: Much as the contract did a number on is… it kept us safe you know?

You linger on that for a moment and realize your mistake.

Manzana: It did. You do a lot for me, can’t really thank you enough.

Manzana: And I’m sorry about going off.

Manzana: Whole thing did hurt me a lot, but…

Manzana: Also couldn’t get through all that without you. At all.

Platino: I love you man.

Manzana: ….

Manzana: Me too.

Manzana: I just…

Platino: I get it.

Manzana: Mom’s fucked up, really fucked up you know?

Platino: Yeah.

Manzana: And I know I can be like her too.

Manzana: I got my rough edges, I’m bad with people, I’m scared of my own shadow.

Platino: Not scared of me.

Manzana: Guess not but you’re a lot more than that.

Manzana:I just..

Manzana: I want her to get help.

Manzana: The idea of having to fight her.. If we lose we’re done.

Manzana: And the only way to win… I don’t want to hurt.

Manzana: Because hurting her makes me feel like she can’t be saved.

Manzana: I don’t like to think that there’s people like that.

Platino: Me neither.

Manzana: Because then.. Maybe I’m one of those too..

Manzana:...

You turn toward Zinnia.

Manzana: You’ve gone all quiet for a bit now.

Zinnia: Don’t really have much to say just yet.

Zinnia: Feel confident enough in you two. Truth be told, I think you both need to figure out most of it between both of you.

Zinnia: You have good heads on your shoulders.

Manzana: Is that it then? You wanted us to talk to each other?

Zinnia: Still plan to give you advice, and a gift to make the upcoming trials easier.

Zinnia plants a weapon on the ground, a family relic.

Manzana: What are you doing?

Zinnia: You fixed me up and woke me from my slumber.

Zinnia: I’m trusting you with my life.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 02-20-2023, 04:03 PM
TRIAL OF MANZANA, MAGICIAN REVERSED
[Third Trial]
CW: Existentialism, Discussion of Traumatic Abuse
Perspective: Manzana

[Image: image.png]

 You step in the the room, finding yourself looking at your body in isolation from yourself.

A shadowy rabbit sits across from you.

Your form takes a mechanical spin, more machine than flesh.

The rabbit talks to you in a voice you immediately recognize.

Platino: Ey, looks like we’re dragged into this one together.

Manzana: What did they do to our house…?

Platino: It’s temporary, wouldn’t worry.

Platino: Just don’t get too rowdy.

Platino: Zinnia’s gonna give us a bit of a talk just like the others.

Manzana: Together?

Zinnia: The thing I want you to address is something I think best done as a pair.

Zinnia: You are both split off the original rabbit after all.

Manzana: Mm..

Manzana: Guess that’s true, just try not to get too…

Zinnia: Too…?

Manzana: It gets existential thinking too much about it. Don’t push it too much.

Zinnia: That’s fair. Anything to avoid?

Manzana: Don’t give us the whole “Who’s the real Manzana?” talk, freaks me out.

Zinnia: I mean the answer is both of you.

Manzana: You know that how?

Zinnia: I can see into souls, and you’re both just as validly so.

Zinnia: You share the same memories, the same highs and lows.

Zinnia: Common traumas and common fortunes.

Zinnia: Think you two are lucky to have each other.

Platino: I mean I’m glad we do you know?

Manzana: Mm.. don’t say it enough but..

Platino: Don’t gotta, I always know what you mean.

Manzana: Still… appreciate you.You do a lot for me.

Manzana: Is… that not why we’re here though?

Zinnia: No, unfortunately not as much as I’d love to tell you so.

Zinnia: I’m talking about the big issue.

Zinnia: Hate to put this weight on you but…

Zinnia: Something big is coming.

Manzana: What do you mean?

Zinnia: Your mother’s about to drag everyone into quite the nasty.

THey look over at your body, the third person at the table.

Zinnia: The way you proceed about all this is going to be decisive if she shows her face.

Zinnia: Might have to take that deal from your friend.

Platino: I can take that if I gotta, I trust him.

Zinnia: You’ll also have to learn to make new allies.

Zinnia: Nothing stronger than numbers.

Zinnia: You're special though in another way.


Zinnia: The most qualified to end the strife in your family.

Zinnia: A spade among hearts.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 02-14-2023, 04:36 PM
THE EMPRESS REVERSED
[A Flashback Intermission]
CW: None
Perspective: Opera




[Image: image.png]
Opera: Hey!

Charon: Opera?

Opera: Yeah!

Charon: How’d you get up here?

Opera: Wasn’t too hard, just had to climb up. You know how it is, cat things.

Charon: Yeah… I just wanted some air.

Opera: This high up?

Charon: Yeah. Used to do the same back home with my grandma.

Opera: So uh..

Opera: You wanna meet my friends? Hang out?

Charon: Mm? Right now? It’s pretty late..

Opera: Yeah! Folks are celebrating Darkest Night stuff lately. Even though it’s a weird pocket void and all, people need it..

Charon: I mean..

Charon: I don’t mind I guess.

Charon: But..

Opera: ..Buuut?

Charon: I don’t want to leave Geezer behind. Is it okay if he comes?

Opera: Is he your brother?

Charon: Cousin. We just met but he seems pretty cool and well…

Charon: My fault he got dragged into this.

Opera: Don’t be so hard on yourself…

Charon: It’s true. So like… I don’t want to not go with him.

Charon: If folks are having fun, I want him to join in. Make him feel welcome, you know?

Opera: Makes sense. Lead the way then.

Opera: Rest of your family going to be okay with this?

Charon: Long as we’re still in this part of town, it’s fine right?

Opera: Mm… I guess so.

Opera: I’ll have to talk to my crowd to see if they’re all good for this then.

Charon: Mm…

You scooted to the top of your bunk bed to pester Geezer.

Charon: Hey, you awake.

Geezer looked at you with a tired gaze before sobering up at the sight of Opera.

Geezer: Who’s that? She from downstairs?

Charon: Friend I met recently.

Opera: Opera!

Charon: It’s darkest night right now. Folks are celebrating outside.

Geezer: That’s right.. We’re missing out on that…

Opera: Not today! Wanna go down as a group? Live a little?

Geezer: Maybe. Arabis and Erica aren’t home right now though…

Geezer: Feels bad not asking them.

Charon: That’s true.. She said we’d be staying in our part of town though.

Geezer: True… kinda in the mood for candy right now…

Opera: I’ll make sure we stay safe, just gonna meet up with a couple of friends.

Geezer: What kind of friends?

Opera: Just some kids in the area, Fenton and Hickory. You kinda remind me of one of them…

Geezer: Me? I dunno. Maybe.

Geezer: Not gonna lie, those sound like band names.

Opera: Geezer doesn’t?

Geezer: …Yeah but mine’s cool.

Opera: Okay. So you in or…

Charon: Up to you Geez, don’t wanna do this if you’re not good for it.

Geezer: You kidding? I’m down dude. Take me to the ball.

Opera: You’re a ham, follow me.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 02-09-2023, 05:01 PM
[Image: image.png]
Opera: So what do you want?

They reached over for your gun.

Opera: What are you doing?

Zinnia pressed the muzzle against their own chest.

Opera: Don’t do that.

Zinnia: I’m giving you the opportunity, if you’re still mad and well.. Rightfully so..

Zinnia: You may have that catharsis.

Opera: Ugh.

Opera: Don’t make it that easy.

Zinnia: Why not?

Zinnia: You’ve endured enough.

Opera: I’d feel bad…

Opera: Honestly as much as I want to take it out on you, talking to you like this.

Opera: Hate it.

Opera: Because now there’s a face to all of it.

Opera: A sweet old-timer who’s made a lot of mistakes.

Zinnia: No emphasis on the latter?

Opera: I’d be full of it honest.

Opera: I’ve done all sorts of wrong. This life and others.

ZInnia: Mm…

Opera: I’m not too far from an entity, worried one day I’ll become one outright.

Opera: I dunno.

Zinnia: Fears aren’t without merit, you’ve seen so much. Been through so much.

Zinnia released the gun. You maintained it against their chest.

Zinnia: If you need to take the shot, do it.

Zinnia: Just pass down what I have to say to the others-

Opera: No, you can say it yourself.

Opera: Right now we need you alive so..

Opera: Gonna have to sit on it.

Zinnia: Will you be able to commit later?

Opera: God no.

Opera: But some closure, good or bad, just something would be nice you know?

You removed your gun.

Opera: I guess you’re my weird AU grandpa or something so it’d be weird to shoot you anyway.

Opera: I mean not that that’s stopped me, sometimes family needs a wakeup call but..

Zinnia: You want a truce?

Opera: For now. Maybe working with you’ll help me get through this, I dunno.

Opera: I’m too far from home for this shit.

Zinnia: Then I’ll take that for now.

Zinnia: A truce.

You tuck away your weapon and head back toward the door.

Opera: I need a nap but…

Opera: We’re not finished, alright?

Opera: Putting a pin in this.

Zinnia: Putting a pin indeed… 
 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 02-05-2023, 08:13 PM
[Image: image.png]
 
Zinnia: Noticed there’s a bit of overlap.

Opera: Mm…

Zinnia: Keep ending up in places like back then.

Opera: Got my reasons.

Zinnia: I’d like to hear if you don’t mind talking about it.

Opera: I mean…

Opera: Be lying if I said the whole thing didn’t fuck me up.

Zinnia: Mm..

Opera: I don’t want to repeat that. Nobody who showed up wants to see shit happen again, you know?

Zinnia: Understandable.. I imagine you hold a bit of resentment toward me.

Opera: Don’t want to but…

Zinnia: But…

Opera: I’ll get over it.

Zinnia: Won’t force you to forgive me.

Opera: Yeah….

Opera: One day, you seem alright but..

Opera: I don’t know.

Opera: Wanted to fight you, but think I’d feel bad doing that.

Zinnia: Would you fight me if I were the same as back then?

Opera: You’d be dead right now, that’s the truth really.

Zinnia: Mm..

Zinnia: I don’t think you’re wrong.

Zinnia: You hold a power that’s terrifying, one that perhaps only the witchiest of your group can compare to.

Opera: Bit of a gift..

Zinnia: And just as much a burden.

Opera: Mmhmm…

Opera: Don’t want to become like her..

Zinnia: Rook.

Opera: Mm..

Zinnia: That entity tried to make a contract with you.

Opera: She did.

Zinnia: And you made it out unscathed?

Opera: Mostly. Better than Geezer and Charon I guess but..

Zinnia: Only physically.

Opera: Emotionally I think I’m still stuck there, you know?

Opera: One eye in the past. The other looking ahead.

Opera: But my body’s stuck in the present..

Zinnia: Well spoken.

Opera: I missed people though..

Opera: Know it’’s some convoluted time and space mess but..

Opera: Part of me didn’t want things to end.

Opera: I wanted to keep fighting, just because everyone would leave…

Opera: But… I don’t know really.

Zinnia: How old are you?

Opera: 26 now. Older than the others on the bus by a year or two

Zinnia: Mm…

Opera: They’re all me, right? Like another me.

Zinnia: You’re the Judgment of your world. Not by name maybe but.. Spiritually.

Opera: Scares me to think about.

Opera: Wonder if I’m looking at their future.

Opera: Everyday my work’s got me feeling a little less human, you know?

Zinnia: I mean… you are a cat.

Opera: Metaphorically.

Zinnia: Right.

Opera: More I see past the skybox, the more I kinda just…

Opera: Everything feels so small.

Opera: I want to see all of it, but I don’t want to forget.

Zinnia: Don’t think you will.

Zinnia: Your sentiments are what keep you bound.

Zinnia: Every one of you has lost something significant.

Zinnia: Charon’s heart, Geezer’s body, and your sense of peace…

Opera: Mm..

Opera: Feel bad I couldn’t stop all that.

Opera: I can’t let it happen to people, even it takes my whole life.

Opera: I don’t know…

Zinnia: Every world has people like you and your friends, no?

Zinnia: Brave people who just want to protect others.

Zinnia: You’ve got the burden of being one playing many’s roles..

Zinnia: But other worlds are happy to have people like you exist there too..

Zinnia: Let's sit down somewhere…
 
 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 01-20-2023, 11:12 PM
TRIAL OF OPERA, TOWER REVERSED
[Second Trial]
CW: None
Perspective: Opera.

[Image: image.png]
 

 Zinnia: Gun cocked and ready to go?

Zinnia: Hope Charon didn’t tell you I was looking for a fight.

Zinnia: Admittedly I didn’t have plans for two in a row. ..

Opera: Dog told me that’s how you get to know people best, right?

Opera: So I wanna cut to the chase.

Zinnia: Hmm….

Opera: Had to be thinking about it, right?

Opera: Lot of show going on just for a talk.

You looked up to the sky above. Blistering winds, twisted clouds, and an angel you recognize from one of your first jobs.

Opera: If you weren’t looking for a fight, didn’t do a good job of making that clear.

Zinnia: Suppose that’s fair.

Zinnia: I simply pulled from your own sentiment, nothing more or less.

Zinnia: I’m surprised, admittedly. This isn’t the angel pocket.

Opera: Had a lot going on in life since then.

Opera: Whole thing was formative, but that’s where life started in a lot of ways.

Zinnia: Fill me in then, what’s the deal with this?

Zinnia: Help a lost soul understand what I’m looking at.

You lined up your finger with the horizon.

Opera: Spent a lot of time mending stuff in the pocket, but a bulk of folks found new homes.

Opera: When I finished school, spent time helping a chunk of the town with its new locale.

Opera: Nice little village by the mountains. The old locals were a little confused where all these new buildings came from, but folks got along.

Opera: Needless to say, wasn’t all peaceful. Right now we're on the balcony in an old manner, big setup for some Frankenstein stuff.

Opera: Always had a bad vibe personally. The crew working there were making some nasty things. Peeking into other worlds, digging up bodies from cemeteries, playing god…

Opera: At some point, investigators from out of town started showing. Decided that it wouldn’t be right to not check in on things. And well..

Opera: Got messy from there.

You partially holstered the gun for a brief moment, still keeping your hand on it.

Opera: Don’t want to duel you like this though. Wanna fight you fair and square.

Zinnia: Oh?

Opera: Know that being a big orb in the sky isn’t your style at all. I want you at your best.

Zinnia: Think that’d be dangerous…

Opera: You hold back for Charon?

Zinnia: It was a friendly spar, for the most part anyway…

Zinnia: Might’ve been a touch of spite in his swing. Had to accommodate for that.

Opera: What do you want if you aren’t gonna give me that?

Zinnia: To figure out your role in things yet to come..

Zinnia: Admittedly the plan was just those in the family but…

Zinnia: I felt inclined. You remind me too much of others..

Zinnia: Don’t think I could fight you at my fullest.

Opera: Why don’t we go into town, yeah?

Opera: Hate this place, lab could burn to the ground…

Opera: I wanna go somewhere nice if we’re not throwing hands.

Zinnia: Very well then.. Fair enough.

Zinnia: Lead the way.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 01-16-2023, 10:06 PM
[Image: image.png]
 Charon: Don’t know where to start, you’ve been gone a long time.

Zinnia: Recent is good.

Charon: Got my license to operate under a guild..

Charon: Geezer’s managed to get pretty far with knighthood. Works in this region but still makes time to visit.

Zinnia: He’s a good egg.

Charon: He is.. Admire him.

Zinnia: An envy at all? Be honest.

Charon: None, he’s never made me feel any less.

Charon: It’s comforting knowing that if things don’t work out, I’ve got someone to depend on.

Charon: Truth be, think I just want to be able to do more for him.

Zinnia: Guilt?

Charon: Plenty.

Zinnia: You think he holds it against you at all?

Charon: I worry but.. If he’s hiding hard feelings, I’ll probably never know.

Zinnia: Don’t think he does, honest.

Charon: Grandma’s doing pretty good. As much as she talks about retiring, don’t think she can fully commit.

Charon: She “retired” recently but she still goes out.

Zinnia: For some people, retiring just means taking it a bit easier. 

Zinnia: Think you could do that for yourself here and there?

Charon: I can.

Your proxy scooted up close to you.

Zinnia: That right there. That’s what you need right now.

Charon: Been told.

Zinnia: Easier to be nice to people who aren’t you.

Zinnia: But this is a nice compromise I think.

Charon: It’s done a lot for me. Don’t think I could ever go out of my way to hurt it.

Zinnia: What kindness you carry… that’s the real Charon I think.

Zinnia: That proxy of yours too.

Zinnia: Reconnect with yourself through it, think you’ll find the rest of you.

Zinnia: Maybe not in the same sense but…

Zinnia: I think being complete is more than the body you’re born with.

Charon: Honest question.

Zinnia: Oh?

Charon:.. You think I’ll do good?

Charon: This family means a lot…

Zinnia: I wouldn’t worry about it, honestly.

Zinnia: Just be the best you can and you’ll find your way.

Zinnia: You have power, knowledge, and good people in your life.

Zinnia: I’d be more surprised if you didn’t leave a mark frankly.

Charon: Mm..

Charon: Can’t deny the last one.

Charon: I wanna do good for them.

Zinnia: Aye.

Zinnia: I think you’re set personally, I’ve made my judgment here.

Charon: Did I pass?

Zinnia: Think you know.

Zinnia: Whether you’re ready or not, a mentor awaits you soon.

Zinnia: One who’ll push you to be their equal no matter what.

Zinnia: When that time comes, I want you to go beyond them.

Zinnia: I want you to be the one who teaches them something in the end.

Charon: Soon?

Zinnia: Very. You should be on your way but for now do me a quick favor.

Charon: Oh?

Zinnia: Let Opera know she’s next. 

Zinnia: When I’ve gone through each of you, we’ll meet as a group.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 01-04-2023, 09:21 PM
TRIAL OF CHARON, JUDGMENT PART II
[First Trial]
CW: None
 
[Image: image.png]
 You traded blows the best you could.

Facing a foe so fast your eyes couldn’t be trusted after a point.

Strike, parry, counterblow, retreat.

Against someone like them, there was no margin for error.

Even in a friendly spar, you couldn’t give it anything less than your best.

Tank, counterblow.

Knockdown, counterblow.

The rings around your eyes rotating like lens, rewinding you back to that day long ago.

And just like before, it’s decided in a few decisive strikes.

You stand up tall on a pillar of scrap metal and limbs held together by the thinnest fibers of metal.

Your opponent staggers first.

You drag your blade across the ground toward them, its teeth in a perpetual snarl.

Zinnia: That’s enough for now, think I’ve seen enough for now.

Zinnia: I concede.

Charon: Are you alright after that?

Zinnia: I’ll spring back just fine, I wouldn’t worry.

Charon: Feel like I might’ve overdone it on my end.

Zinnia: I wanted your heart fully in on it, otherwise it would’ve been pointless fighting.

Charon: I just… needed to block him out.

Zinnia: The entity?

Charon: Mm, you can tell.

Zinnia: Obviously, his smug energy can be felt a mile away if I’m honest.

Zinnia: He was there last time too, I’d say I’m surprised you’ve kept him around so long but…

Zinnia: I get the sense that wasn’t a choice you had say in.

Charon: Didn’t even realize if I’m honest… not until he started talking again.

Zinnia: And how did he survive? Did you not purge him from yourself?

Charon: Thought I did but, now I’m not so sure…

Charon:... I didn’t quite survive back then, did I?

Zinnia: I’d like to give you an answer but… I wish to hear your thoughts prior.

Charon: All you see is the entity. All people see is him.

Charon: His soul is what’s here…

Charon: Entities are angelic in nature to some degree, no?

Zinnia: To an extent.

Charon: They remove and replace..

Charon: I’m not much different from one of the sleeper agents they leave behind.

Charon: And it makes me wonder… how much staying power I really have right now.

Zinnia: I’m going to ask you a question, and I want you to answer honestly.

Zinnia: Are you Charon Judgment? Or are you all that remains?

Charon:... I don’t really know.

Charon: I want to say so but… I’m scared.

Charon: I…. think I’ve run into someone recently, got in a scuffle or two and-

Zinnia: Mm, I’ve heard. Don’t have to fill me in on that bit.

Charon: You know?

Zinnia: I’ve taken the role of the family’s guardian. I try my best to keep track on things.


Charon: Good to know, anyway..

Charon: One look and they’re ready to ragdoll me. Trying to purge an intruder…

Charon: And the more I think about it, that’s me isn’t it?

Charon: They noticed it before I could. They could see the disconnect from the start..

Charon: A foreign soul with remnants of the original.

Charon: It makes me wonder what others would say if they knew…

Zinnia: Let me ask you this quickly, because I’ve also been thinking of something similar.

Zinnia: You were raised by Erica, yes?

Charon: Mm…

Zinnia: You think she hasn’t noticed by now? You’d be a fool to assume otherwise.

Charon:...that’s true.

Zinnia: Has she cared for you any less since you returned?

Charon: God no, she’s doubled down.

Charon: Scared to let me do anything unsafe.

Zinnia: Mm.. and what of Geezer? Opera? From what I’ve told they both seem to care quite a bit about you.

Charon: Care about them a lot too…

Zinnia: I am far from what many would consider the original Zinnia at this point.

Zinnia: And yet you and the others revere me as the one who holds the title of original Judgment.

Zinnia:  But I think at the end of the day, a person is more than their brain, their nerves, even their soul.

Zinnia: Your actions, the pieces that remain, the way you look at others and the way they care about you…

Zinnia: Would you want to be anyone else besides Charon Judgment?

Charon: No. That’s why I’m asking you-

Zinnia: There’s your answer! There you go!

Zinnia: You’ve left your impact on this world as Charon Judgment!

Zinnia: And no matter what version of yourself you are right now, nobody has any right to tell you otherwise.

Zinnia: And perhaps that’s wishful thinking from me as well… truth be told, I’ve had my own fears.

Zinnia: I want to see him again…

Charon: Arabis? Don’t see why not.

Zinnia: Mm.. I know deep down he’ll be more than happy but..

Zinnia: I also have had the same thoughts as well.

Zinnia: What remains of me is even less than what you may consider the “real” you.

Zinnia: My body gone, my soul shaped beyond recognition.

Zinnia: All that’s left is my lingering sentiments at this point, bound to metal bones and old relics.

Zinnia: I wonder if it’ll be hard on him.

Charon: I really have my doubts. Still thinks of you practically every day.

Charon: And between you and me, the construct body will only encourage him to pick up more hobbies.

Charon: He’ll have to take care of you somehow.

Zinnia: He was always a good craftsman… and he may have been a little too eager when I’m under the weather.

Zinnia: Any excuse to feed me soup in bed.

Charon: May want to consider bringing up anything that needs repairing then. Might be more than worth your time.


Zinnia:...Mm.. that’s very much his line of thinking as well.

Zinnia: Would go out and run errands on snowy days so I’d have to thaw him out after. You know how fiends are..

Charon: Can’t take the cold.

Zinnia: Mm. He’d practically melt afterward though…

Zinnia: Could I ask you a huge favor?

Charon: Mm?

Zinnia: Sit with me for awhile. Catch me up on the family.

Zinnia: After a fight like that we could both afford to cool off.

Charon: Of course..
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 01-03-2023, 08:48 PM
[Image: image.png]
Geezer: We’re here. Everything all good?

Manzana: Mm.

Manzana: Platino’s giving me some details, Zinnia wants to talk to people one on one.

Manzana: Members of the family, and people who were part of the abduction.

Geezer: I mean that’s just all of us.

Opera: We’ve got a couple of crew members who don’t fit that bill so…

Geezer: That’s fair, yeah. None are here with us though, makes it easy.

Opera: Mm! Guess so…

Charon: Any reason?

Manzana: We’ll have to find out.

Manzana: They’d prefer if you went first actually, you two met before?

Charon: In a way…

Manzana: Then you know the drill.

Charon: Any other instructions?

Manzana: Show up ready to spar.

Opera: He just got in a rough fight earlier..

Charon: It’ll be fine, it’s different with them. Zinnia’s a duelist at heart. Best way for them to communicate.

Charon: I’m actually looking forward to this one.

Geezer: He’s got this one, I wouldn’t worry too much.

Geezer: Any other instructions?

Manzana: Mm. Wanted to see you last actually.

Manzana: Said it might get long.

Geezer: Dang, first time meeting like this and they’re already gonna chew me out.

Geezer: I can live with that.

Opera: Guess I’m in the clear then, huh?

Manzana: You and me both.

Opera: What did you even do?

Geezer: Dunno, but we’ll find out.

Manzana: Did want to talk to me and Plat together apparently.

Opera: Anything for me at all?

Manzana: Nothing specific, but you’re included in this either way.

Opera: Guess I’m not special, figures.

Opera: Got mixed feelings on talking to them in general though.

Charon: Feel you there.

Opera: Went through a lot ‘cause of that incident, you know?

Geezer: Yeah.. feel that one.

Opera: Is it bad? Like..

Opera: Can’t blame everything on them entirely but…

Opera: I dunno.

You look directly at them and quietly open up your arms.

The cat doesn’t hesitate to take the hug.

Opera: Thank you… you ready to go handle things?

Charon: Mm… best as I can.

She pulls away.

Opera: You knock things out.

Geezer: Yeah, do what you gotta do. We’ll be here after.

Manzana: Don’t got much to say personally, just be careful out there.

Charon: I will.

You give your whole body one last stretch before you make your way out of the bus.

The door to the apartment is unlocked…

Your chest pounds a bit.

You can’t tell if you’re excited or scared.

The moment you step inside, you’re no longer in Plaza.

You find yourself surrounded by familiar imagery.

A display of memories and the cracked remains of the world you escaped from long ago.

Your proxy is live,you prepare your weapons at your hip.

The old Judgment’s voice echos through the room.

Zinnia: It’s been a good while since we’ve done this.

Zinnia: You’re all grown up. At least in a couple of ways.

Zinnia: About as tall as I was back in my day…

Zinnia: Hopefully you were informed but..

Charon: I’m ready to spar if you are.

Zinnia: Ah! Good! Hopefully you’re prepared then.

Zinnia: Picked a familiar arena, for old time’s sake.

Zinnia: Hard memories for both of us but..

Charon: You want to see me back in that moment.

Zinnia: Aye.

Zinnia: A little reflection is good for anyone.

Charon: Had plenty as of late but… I’ll manage.

Zinnia: Mm.

Zinnia: Your cadence is so different.

Charon: It’s been a decade in my time.

Zinnia: Perhaps so, but I don’t know what you’re trying to do here.

Zinnia: Not a mannerism seen among modern knights.

Zinnia: But not quite homage to those before either.

Zinnia: You’re quite the fan of fantasy I can tell.

Charon: What’s it matter?

Zinnia: Nothing but…

Zinnia: With all the little differences between our current and past meeting.

Zinnia: I simply wonder how the scars of time have healed.

Zinnia: Your posture is strong, but your body is tired.

Zinnia: Your voice cold, and yet there’s a timidness there..

Zinnia: To be vulnerable is not showing weakness.

Zinnia: You’re allowed to be scared.

Charon: Can’t really afford to be as of late.

Charon: It’s a bit tiresome really…

Zinnia: Mm… I understand that.

Zinnia: Something does bother me about the gaze in your eyes admittedly.

Charon: Metamorphosis-

Zinnia: I'm very aware of what that is.

Zinnia: That's expected.

Zinnia: What gets me is... I can't see the same person from back then at all.

Zinnia: Not hiding, not trapped...

Zinnia: Who are you really?

Charon: .... Pardon?

Zinnia: Before I saw a dog and a entity.

Zinnia: Now all I see is the entity...

Zinnia: But now that I bring this up...

Zinnia: The fear in your eyes seems too genuine...

Zinnia: I'm... going to pick my next words carefully.

Styx, are you there?

As much as I can be. I wasn't looking forward to this conversation if I'm honest.

Did you know something?

I had my theories but... I mean you've clearly put it together by now too..

Otherwise you wouldn't be panicking my way.
Styx please...

Don't you find it odd? How different you've become? The fact that your proxy still clings to my power long after you'd done me in?

I mean..

Esperanto's immediate hostility seemed so drastically out of character to Mercury, despite claiming to know them, no?

I shouldn't be here after you'd done me in, and yet here you are talking to what's left.

What happened between you and I back then wasn't you purging me from your mind and body.

Your soul had been claimed long ago in the contract. You overextended.

You are not the original Charon. A pastiche at best really.


Residual feelings, memories, a remnant desperate to stay in this world.

to maintain your sense of person.

If you were still entirely you, you'd be more like your little cat friend. She's more in line with who you were meant to become I imagine.


Zinnia: Charon, talk to me... who's there with you?

Even now that name feels a little detached, doesn't it?

I'll give you credit though, I've never seen a husk cling so desperately before.

Makes me more pathetic doesn't it?

Losing to what amounts to less than a shadow?


Charon: Zinnia?

Zinnia: Yes?

Charon: Give me the terms for our duel.

Zinnia: Are you sure? You seem quite out of it.

Defiant to the end as always...

Charon: I want you to help me figure out who I am.

Zinnia: Then... it's true.

Charon: Maybe. Don't care.

Charon: Hate to call in a favor right away but-

Zinnia: No, you're more than fine. I owe you over two decades of birthday gifts, consider this a start.

Zinnia: I offer you a challenge, nothing but your best.

Charon: Name your terms.

Zinnia: First to surrender. I'll give you a pass or a fail based on your performance.

Charon: Accepted. I toss initiative to you.

Zinnia: Really? Are you sure?

Charon: Done this before, I'll be fine.

Zinnia: Consider it done then. On your call.

Charon: Duel going live, begin.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 12-17-2022, 11:55 PM
EXHAUSTION
[Third Resurrection]
CW: Discussion of Abuse Trauma, Fear



[Image: Forum_Sleepy_Dog.png]

 You make your way out of the safehouse and into the streets nearby, the bus parked as Opera and Geezer exchange a bit of playful banter you’re too tired to make out. You give a tired little wave at the two, Geezer gesturing for you to come on over.

Geezer: You both okay? Kept us waiting a bit.

Opera: It’s fine, we’ve been busy.

Geezer: Pretty much done with maintenance on the tour bus, scoot right in yeah?

You give a little nod, looking over at Manzana who eagerly climbs in.

You follow behind, two of you flopping into seats with audible sounds of exhaustion smoking out.

Opera gives you both a quick look and whispers something over to Geezer. He only gives a shrug in return.

She proceeds to slide into the seat next to you, face with a tinge of concern but giving the two of you a warmth you appreciate quite a bit right now.

Opera: You two wanna talk about it?

Manzana: We had a bit of a discussion.

Charon: Manzana had concerns and my response wasn’t the most appropriate.

Manzana: It was well intentioned, don’t give yourself too much shit.

Manzana: Fact that you can stand me after that’s a miracle frankly.

Charon: I should’ve handled it better regardless.

Manzana: I’m just embarrassed Platino got caught up in it, hates emotional blending…

Charon: Is.. he okay?

Manzana: Course he is,

Charon: I’m sorry…

Opera: Did you two argue-?

Manzana: It’ll be fine.

Charon: We did in a way but-

Manzana: Not really. More just…

Manzana lets out a deep sigh.

Manzana: I’ve got nerves about this job, I’ll leave it at that. Don’t want to say more.

Opera: You sure? Maybe I can help you-

Manzana: No. You’re really sweet and that’s the last thing I need right now.

Manzana: A pep talk on the way to the liquor store isn’t going to make me suddenly open up, no offense.

You don’t take particularly well to her tone.

Charon: She’s just trying to hel–

You’re immediately shushed, first a finger directly toward you, then a gentle hand on your head.

You instinctively rest on her shoulder, you spot the tiniest smirk on her face.

Why the fuck is she so good at this?

 
Opera: That’s fair. We don’t have to talk.

Opera: Not going to tolerate infighting though. Got way too much on our hands for that.

The rabbit’s ears pull back.

Manzana: I just wanted to go on a date..

Manzana: Wanted to do my shift, have a nice night, and tell Platino about it in the morning.

Manzana: Instead I’m seeing ghosts and talking about stealing corpses and worried my mom’s going to find out about this-

Opera: Your mom?

Geezer: Ali. She’s a bit of a walking disaster.

Geezer gives a little wave to everyone.

Geezer: Sorry to interrupt but, think I wanna handle it from here.

Geezer: No offense but… you know.

Opera: Sorry…

He looks over at Manzana, nothing but kindness in his tone.

Geezer: Is she here?

Manzana: Don’t think so, not yet.

Geezer: Can’t count on that to stick though.

Manzana: Never…

Manzana: If she is, I don’t want you to engage with her at all.

Geezer: I know…

Manzana: Last time you two met…

Geezer: Yeah… got way too close.

Manzana: Didn’t have to stand up for me.

Geezer: Didn’t like seeing her scream at you, what can I say?

Manzana: That’s all she would’ve done.

Geezer: Don’t deserve any of that.

Manzana: You both almost killed each other…

Geezer: We’re both walking just fine after that.

Manzana:  I don’t… want either of you hurt.

Manzana: You’re too good to be dragged into this. That’s why I don’t like having you around, hate the idea of something happening.

Manzana: And… as fucked up as it is…

Manzana: I just want my mom to get help. She’s been hurting for so long, you’ve seen her.

Geezer: Doesn’t mean she’s allowed to take it out on you.

Manzana: I know, I just…

Manzana: I’m sorry, it’s a bit too much right now.

Geezer: Yeah.

Geezer: Tell you this. After we see Zinnia? We can leave it at that, pretend nothing ever happened.

Geezer: You go home, play dumb if she asks. We handle our own job, try to stay out of her way.

Geezer: Not gonna force you to do anything.

Manzana: I… I have to think about it.

Geezer: I got a lot of favors in Plaza, home field advantage.

Geezer: If she shows up, we’ll be out and hiding til things cool down.

Manzana: That helps a little…

Manzana: Can we get going soon? Platino’s waiting on us.

Manzana: Plus an associate of mine is coming over, you remember Needle?

Geezer: Yeah, she’s chill. We’ll head out soon then.

Manzana: Good, I just want to get this over with.

Geezer scoots over to get situated at the wheel.

Geezer: That case, we’ll be heading out in just a sec.

The engine rumbles.

Geezer: Seatbelts on, ya’ll behave. ETA, about 12 minutes. 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 12-07-2022, 03:47 AM
THE WORLD PART I
A Brief Intermission...
Perspective: Charon.
CW: None
[Image: THe_World_part_1.png]
 A memory…

Back in that abyss again, or at least what’s left.

 
A world torn up as its people flee. Those who chose to stay rebuild from the ashes of the cult.

There’s a few loose threads, and martyrs to bury.

The corpses of evils to be burned and forgotten.

You walk through from corner to corner, embracing the title you’ve been given.

The reaper, the destroyer, the ferryman at the end of it all.

Nothing scares you anymore.. And you hate it..

But you will see it through to the end.. And you will return to your family when you’re all done.

You drag your blade across uneven concrete, the blood of your last encounter not quite dried.

Everything hurts.

Styx: You’ve gotten quite good at this revolutionist thing, you know that?

Charon: Can’t exactly afford to be bad at it..

Styx: Fair enough. Still..

Styx:  For a child you’ve managed to adapt to a hard setting quite naturally.

Charon: I just want to get home.. Snow’s started.

Styx: Mm..

Charon: Been here for months, I’m just tired…

Styx: Understandable, you’ve done quite a bit of fighting lately…

Charon: Mm..

Styx: I have to ponder what drives you at this point. Most would’ve lost hope by now.

Charon: Holidays. Missed the whole fall season and winter is coming, you know?

Charon: Think my Grandma would cry if I wasn’t back for that…

Styx: Perhaps I can offer you a peek at what they’ve been up to?

Charon: Maybe..

Styx: Only a maybe?

Charon: Right now I’m just.. Angry. Too angry to slow down. If I let myself cool off at all, might not be ready.

Charon: Each fight just.. Keeps getting harder.

Charon: Even though we burned it all down, there’s so much left.

Charon: I’m just glad everyone else made it back okay…

Styx: Don’t think okay’s the right word.

Styx: Until you get back, there’s a dog shaped hole in their heart.

Styx: You’ve changed a lot since then though. Have to ponder.. Can you say you’re still the same dog?

Charon: No. Don’t think so.

Charon: Wouldn’t feel right if I was.

Styx: No.. I think devil feels more appropriate at this point.

Styx: You’ve hurt a lot of people on the path of righteousness.

Charon: I hurt people because they wouldn’t listen to words.

Charon: They made their bed even when they knew what they did was hurting people.

Charon: So I made the hard choice. Cut down them down one by one, until they couldn’t anymore.

Charon: Til all I could feel is recoil.

Charon: Hurt at first but… in the end.

Charon: Don’t think it’s a sin to fight for what’s right.

Charon: If god won’t forgive me for that, I don’t need him.


Styx: Child…

Charon: Now I just want to go home. But… until I know this won’t happen again.

Charon: I’m going to keep fighting.

Charon: Opera stayed behind too. We’re going to do everything we can.

Styx: And how do you return once you’ve done that?

 Styx: The angel is long gone.

Charon: You brought me here, yeah?

Charon: I’ll just find a ride back. 

 Styx: Mm….

Styx: I have to make a confession to you.

Styx: I’ve slowly realized I’m what binds you to this world still.

Styx: If you want out, you need to burn your contract.

Styx: Cut me down and you’ll be back to where you belong. 

 Charon: …..

Styx: You won’t miss me, nobody will.

Styx: It’s all downhill from here kid, least for me. 

 Styx: I won’t go down quietly though. I want you to understand.

Charon: I know. Don’t expect you to.

Charon: I’d like one last deal.

Styx: Oh?

Charon: When I’m done, when all my work here is closed and I’m ready to go home. We’re going to fight anywhere you’d like. 


Charon: I want you at your strongest. 

Charon: But until then, you’ll wait.. 

Charon: A truce til it’s time to settle it.

Styx: What do I get if I win?

Charon: All of it. My power, my soul, all the spoils of war.

Charon: What you do with it all after well… I expect you to do the right thing.

Styx: Such a good client. Hesitate to call you such at this point though.

Styx: You’ve proven to be so much more.

Charon: I don’t want it to end this way but…

Styx: But it’s the only option I think. 


Styx: Consider it graduation, should you succeed.

Styx: The apprentice becomes the master…

Charon: Maybe…

Styx: The way you hold the blade… it’s as if it’s part of your soul.

Styx: Your blood, bone, and fangs all in each swing.

Styx: I admire that.

Charon: Know you’re big on that sort of thing. Weapons as an extension of yourself…

Charon: Least I could do is prove I’m listening to you here and there.

 
Styx: You do well.

Charon: You’ve done me a lot of wrong but…

Charon: We’d all be dead without you so…

Styx: A simple thank you works.

Charon: We’ll see…

Charon: Keep walking with me, I’m not done yet.

Charon: Til I am.. I want to be with a friend, you know?

Styx: I can do that. Just this once…

Charon: One final time..
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 11-28-2022, 07:03 PM
CW: Discussion of Trauma
[Image: image.png]
Charon: I’m going to put everything on the line to-
Manzana: You little-!

Manzana: You’re really offering a contract to me? Like you’re one of those cons from another world?

Manzana: You’re fucking serious. Doing a fantastic job making me feel good about all this.

Charon: I… pardon?

The tone in her voice was distinctly Manzana now, any trace of Platino gone.

Manzana: I don’t think this is funny. I don’t know everything about what you and Platino said to each other online but I’m pretty sure he’s let you in on what kind of shit we've gone through with this.

Manzana: The calzones on you…

Charon: I didn’t think it’d strike this hard of a nerve…

Manzana: It does! I’ve spent so much time with this sort of thing and it still freaks me out.

Manzana: I… I don’t know what you even are anymore. You’re a dog, you’re a fiend, you’re a hero in another world..

Manzana: You and your friends don’t exist in reality anymore. At least Geezer I know is a real person… you…

Manzana: I don’t even know what you are.

Charon: Too many things at this point.

Charon: I’m amazed I haven’t mutated in a way that’d caused me to fall apart…

Manzana: But you still want to make a contract? You know that shit changes both you and the person who signs if you aren’t careful.

Manzana: What if your whole being collapses? Do you really want to end up like most of these drafters? Stuck as a ghost in the heads of people?

Charon: I… thought I had something going on for a moment.

Manzana: What were you even going to offer?

Charon: I was planning to give you access to my magic, I can tell you hold back.

Charon: I think.. You could be the one to stop Ali.

Manzana: Me? She’s my mom.

Manzana: I’ve got the gun but she knows I won’t pull the trigger. I hate it but…

Manzana: Had plenty of chances if I wanted out but…

Manzana: Part of me’s scared.

Manzana: And part of me, even with everything… wants her to just be okay.

Manzana: She’s a real bastard but… I want her to be fucking normal.

Manzana: I want to see her live her life normal. She’s got something wrong with her, you know?

Manzana: Coughs a lot after work, eats alone in a dark room, tosses and turns every night.

Manzana: She deserves whatever she gets coming most of the time but… I dunno.

Manzana: Caring about someone who’s hurt you… I don’t know if you’d get that. You and your little family having figured out how to be happy and all…

Charon: Wish it was that simple. Grandma Erica’s done me dirty and right now I’ve got a ghost in my head trying to make amends.

Charon: Can’t blame them entirely though and I know it’s not the same but…

Manzana: Ghost?

Charon: His name is Styx. My fault we met in the first place but…

Charon: Left me injured for life and with a limp. Geezer without his original body..

Manzana takes a good look at you.

Manzana: The prosthetics?

Charon: Originally just braces of sorts. When you’re part fiend, sometimes your body develops a bit slow in spots. Limbs weren’t functional enough yet so we used some add ons to supplement..

Charon: Styx’s contract stunted it, caused the metal to grow in a bit…

Charon: Steel nerves and wires bored into my flesh and bone. We modified it overtime but…

Charon: Sorry. Derailing.

Manzana: It’s fine, had no idea….

Manzana: Haven’t noticed a limp much but you’re a bit slow walking so..

Charon: Try to cover it with my posture. Don’t like people feeling like they have to help me out too much.

Charon: Need to use a cane at times though, especially in this windy area.

Manzana: Mm…

Manzana: I get what you mean…

Manzana: I refuse to sign a contract but…

Manzana: Platino and I want a promise.

Charon: A promise?

Manzana: Mm. Opera said you love making those and you tend to keep them.

Charon: I can do that.

Manzana: Save whatever contract you're going to make for someone you know who’ll get the job done.

Manzana: Find a way to take down Ali… if you can even deter her, I’d be willing to stick around.

Manzana… we’ve been keeping your friends waiting. Sure Geezer and Opera are done working on the bus by now.

Charon: Mm..

Manzana: If I need to back out, I will but… I’ll do as much as I can.

Manzana: Just… stay safe. I know your side of the family loves to play tough but...

Charon: Promise I will.

Manzana: Thank you... that's what I need to hear.

Manzana: Let's get going then.
 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 11-20-2022, 02:16 AM

A NEW DEAL
[Second Resurrection]
CW: Abuse Trauma, Fear



[Image: image.png]


 You make your way out of the little headquarters, a little sensitive to the morning light at first.

Whatever metamorphosis you’re going through hasn’t made you any bigger a fan of sunlight. You bring your cane for good measure.

Though you haven’t been as dependent on it lately, you know that after that fight the walk will do you in without it.

Greeting you as you exit is a white haired rabbit, your cousin with an unusually warm smile and a friendly wave.…

Charon:... Plat?

Platino: Mmhmm! Asked if I could get some time with you before we head to the apartment.

Platino: We got a little time so… you know?

Charon: Mm..

Platino: You alright?

Charon: Just… admittedly a bit surprised to run into you. Everything else too.

Platino: Ah, yeah I wouldn’t guess you’d be just a person away, yeah?

Charon: Mmhmm. Small world.

Platino: Wasn’t exactly free to talk much about my family. Could shit talk my mom but her rep’s too tight to name her and all.

Charon: Makes sense. Miserable..

Platino: Becoming friends on the same board though for similar shit? That’s wild.

Charon: Not as big a coincidence. Parents are sisters in the same line of business.

Platino: Right, kinda bound to bump into each other one day,

Charon: Way I see it, family is too weird for the overlap not to happen.

Platino: Bugs me how much they do though. Makes me wonder if mom put me through everything to one up everyone else…

Charon: You’re free now at least.

Platino: I wish.. She’s got me and Zana contracted pretty regularly. End up taking it just because without her stepping in I’d be hell crunched.

Platino: My negotiator a lot of the time, you know?

Charon: You can’t find someone else?

Platino: Could find work sure, but couldn’t get clients to agree to paying my flight, bedding, even materials as easily. But…

Platino: I don’t wanna talk too much about that you know? Just glad to be hanging out.

Charon: Same.

He takes a good look at you, up and down.

Charon: Everything okay?

Platino: You really just have that proxy chilling in public like that? I’m guilty of that in my own way. Split from you or..

Charon: No, not in any meaningful sense… but I wanted to give it more time out. Get some fresh air and all. See Opera doing it all the time.

Platino: Yeah, she’s a sweetheart as far as I can tell.

Charon: Admire it really.

Platino: Her and Manzana talked a bit earlier, can’t believe she nearly popped us last night honestly. No idea how someone can carry that kind of heat without being a little on edge….

Charon: She’s tough, wouldn’t have had half her restraint in a lot of the same situations.

Platino: Yeah. Warm voice, sad eyes. You’re kinda like that too. Maybe a little more… tired? Guess that comes with folks like us.

Charon: You’re never all there anymore. One foot in the past…

Platino: And an eye that sees everything coming. Remember you used to love that show back then.

Charon: Some things die hard.

Platino: Suits you really.

He goes quiet, eyes very contemplative of his next words.

Charon: Talk.

Platino: Thinking. Timing of everything gives us both some bad vibes.

Platino: The four of us all here, this whole angel world thing rearing its head, Zinnia.

Charon: You need to elaborate on that, genuinely seems really important considering how much overlap there is here.

Platino: I know, I guess just.

Platino: We’re both so fucking scared right now….

Platino: We’re actually bleeding over pretty hard right now.

Platino: Getting hard to tell who’s thoughts are who.

He opens his arms out as if requesting for a hug, only to back away when you approach.

Platino: Sorry…

Charon: Plat?

Platino: She rejected it, doesn’t like being touched by most people.

Charon: You’re fine…. Whatever happens, I’ll keep you two safe. I’ll keep everyone safe-

His cadence is suddenly replaced by a distinct harshness

???: You can’t fucking promise that. You think you can but if my mom gets involved…

Charon: Plat..

???: I’m sorry… We’re both here right now I think…

Charon: You don’t need to apologize..

???: I just..

???: Want a promise.

???: If this whole thing goes to shit, bail.

Charon: It won’t reach that point-

???: Listen to me, I know how my mom operates.

???: Not a single one of you can take her head on directly. The cleanest possible answer here is someone takes the bullet in a 1v1 and pray to god she’ll let everyone else walk out intact.

???: If you take her own in a group, she will slaughter every one of you. She has these rules in her head and the moment you threaten her pride she will treat you like livestock.

???: Grouping up on her is the biggest mistake you could ever make.

???: Please just…. 

 They were practically whimpering at this point.

Perhaps you could….

Maybe?

It worked for you…

Charon: Wouldn’t be fair to keep going without addressing your worries.

Charon: And… even if we’re all still new to you… I do think people want you around.

Charon: I refuse to let anyone get hurt so…

Charon: I think your concerns should be voiced and addressed before we go any further with our plans.

Charon: A plan to fall back on is something we need. If it comes to the worst, it’s better to retreat and fight another day so…

Charon: I have an offer, one I’d bet everything on.

You hold out your hand. The two of you feel a familiar haze and the faintest hiss of a radio static.

Their eyes widen at you.

Charon: Negotiations are open.

Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 11-16-2022, 04:31 PM
[Image: image.png]
Bucket: What are our terms here? I desire to see them pinpointed precisely.

Ali: I fund the job and a little more for your resistance effort. All the loot will be added to my library. You’re allowed access to any information discovered that may be beneficial to you.

Ali: Especially of the god killing variety.

Bucket: And how do I know I can trust you on this?

Ali: Because I personally enjoy having a contact for everything.

Ali: And I know you’re long away from being out of the woods.

Ali: It’s a 50/50 anyway. You might get out of all this with your freedom best case scenario.

Ali: And if you don’t? Well… I can arrange something more.

Ali: You’re family after all.

Bucket: Don’t want to hear that from you.

Ali: I got you out of that shithole, nothing town. Could get you way more.

Ali: I’ve seen your work since, you’re a bit of a master of your craft.

Ali: Not fair that you’re stuck on the run.

Bucket: Let’s see how that job goes first.

Bucket: I do wonder why you seek this.

Ali: Seek what?

Bucket: Immortality has been on the mind forever for you.

Ali: It’s a gift you’ve got.

Bucket: Gift is a strong word…

Bucket: And it’s conditional at most.

Ali: An opportunity nonetheless. Surprised that bastard hasn’t cut you off.

Bucket: It has its reasons, vile ones.

Ali: Never would’ve read it that way but.. The obsessions of gods aren’t relevant to me.

Bucket: You think you’re beyond that?

Ali: Beyond anyone, given the right tool in hand.

Ali: Can you say that for yourself?

Bucket: A knight shouldn’t see themselves as above anyone frankly. Disconnecting yourself from your humanity is a betrayal of our origins.

Ali: If you cling onto the old way, sure.

Ali: But our kind is dying. The knights, the guilds, the very family name we’ve had so long.

Ali: So much of this world is run by monarchs and the people are useless in the face of them.

Ali: Community guilds shattered, witch circles forced into basements and hidden taverns.

Ali: The power of the average person has dwindled.

Bucket: Then it’s only natural to empower them, no?

Bucket: We build archives and libraries, armories for the average person to revolt against the oppressor..

Bucket: Our kind take care of the community’s needs and are taken care of in return.

Ali: Tell me this, when’s the last time a town has resupplied you to compensate for the favors you’ve done for them?

Ali: Or offered you a job in exchange for bed and essentials?

Bucket: There’s been plenty of individuals willing to step up-

Ali: Has it been consistent?

Bucket: No.

Ali: They’re not reliable. People are too inherently selfish and cowardly to be reliable to make big changes.

Ali: Empowering them only does so much when all it takes is one little display to send them hiding and begging for their lives.

Ali: The Gallows Effect. Are you familiar?

Bucket: Mm.. The practice of rounding up knights and executing them in the public eye to discourage any political opponents in regions where gods and government are particularly hands on….

Ali: You know it’s still *very* legal in most regions? It may not come up, and certain gods may not practice it but..

Ali: It’s still very much a tool many gods keep in their pocket, just in case.

Bucket: And what do you plan to do then?

Ali: Become greater than any god on this mortal plane. True immortality, a champion who cannot die.

Ali: I can’t trust anyone else in this world to get it done right, so I’ll oversea it myself to the end of time.

Ali: You’d be more than welcome to join. Be a waste of talent.

Bucket: Then consider it wasted.

Bucket: I’ll take the job but I’ve had more than my fair share of eternal youth to be quite sick of it.

Ali: I’ll go talk to my legal worker to start working on forms. We’ll oversee them together.

Ali gets up from her seat.

Ali: If you have time, I’d like to spar some and perhaps dinner after too.

Bucket: On the condition that I can take my comrade.

Ali:Really now?

Bucket: Bern is essentially for me to operate at my fullest. She’s a loyal comrade and part of the negotiation with full pay and compensation.

Ali: To think you’d rely on such feeble magic…

Bucket: She’s my proxy, adopted or otherwise.

Ali: I see.

Ali: In that case, do understand that I will not tolerate underperformance on the job.

Ali: If she causes issues, you’re the one responsible.

Bucket: You’ve vouched for me before, don’t see why it’s different.

Ali: It is.

Ali: You’re the only one who understands, whether you know it or not.

She marches out of the tent.

Ali: I’ll return shortly. Grab your reading glasses if you need them.

You wait until she’s fully out of view. You look over at Bern who’s been in the background this whole time.

Bucket: Hey-

Bern:  You didn’t have to stand up for me like that-

Bucket: I do, not for you. For her sake.

Bucket: I want to make sure everyone knows that she bleeds.

Bern: Wow uh..

Bern: Huh.

Bern: Still.. Should be the one speaking up more.

Bucket: She dismisses anyone who hasn’t impressed her. You’re not missing anything.

Bern: Then I’ll have to do my best on this job, right?

Bucket: Do it for yourself first. She’ll learn overtime. She’ll hate it but…

Bern: But she’ll have to admit I get the job done, yeah?

Bucket: Exactly.

Bern: Mm…

Bern: Thanks. Sorry I didn’t get much in.

Bucket: You’ll have your time, I’ll make sure. Until then, do your usual.

Bern:  Mm.. I actually caught a few things while you two were talking. Something about her posture is really off…

Bucket: Not surprising. Can you write it down for now? I don’t think we’ll have much time to share.

Bern: Sure thing. You doing okay yourself? All that looked intense.

Bucket: Me? I’m fine so far. After dinner.. We will see. Would you like to come to that?

Bern: Maybe… think she’ll go for some big ticket place?

Bucket:  Absolutely.

Bern: Strongly considered.

Bucket: Mm…

Bern: You going to be okay though, for real? Not just toughing it out?

Bucket: Always is with her. I’m just a professional at this point.

Bucket: But for now, consider us employed…
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 11-12-2022, 05:37 PM
[Image: image.png]
 
The two of you seat yourselves at a table in the middle of the tent setup, Bern tries make herself look busy and pretends to examine equipment, keeping an eye on the conversation.

She’s a smart cookie, being present yet in the background to make the observations you may have missed in the moment.

Ali shuffles through he coat pockets for personal belongings.

Bucket: Is everything alright?

Ali: It’s fine. You need a card spread? Smoke? Do you still do those?

Bucket: Not really, both have rotated out of the realm of interest for me.

Ali: She takes her hand out of her pocket.

Ali: Good, for the best.

Ali: So, the auction.

Bucket: Mm. Intelligence has told me much about an upcoming auction in a region not too far fromTaverne.

Bucket: Are you familiar with Plaza?

Ali: Mmhmm, one of my daughters came from there. Bit of a construct sanctuary, attracts a lot of attention overseas for its tourism.

Bucket: Exactly..

Ali: I saw the details. Equipment from another world beyond our wildest imaginations. Potentially a good spot for the Judgment armory.

Bucket: You mean for Your armory?

Ali: Same difference, no offense but Erica does a piss job with hers.

Ali: Basically a storage room for poorly maintained gear. With how long our family’s been in the business, should be an open archive for the people.

Ali: Instead it all drowns in the odd chance a wanderer passes by and happens to be in desperate need of a knife.

Ali: Pity really. For the best that the family relics are no longer in her possession.

Bucket: Do you know where they are?

Ali: I have tabs on them…

Ali: Regardless, this is an opportunity to add. Nothing makes for an active guild more than a library for the community.

Bucket: Right..

Ali: But this isn’t just about that either. It’s about who’s involved in the auction.

Bucket: A few people Spit has in her pocket are going to appear. She has quite a few wealthy advocates keeping her cult going.

Ali: Mm…

Bucket: Reason to believe that this info is a detriment to the world should it be in her hands. Arms of the inhumane nature, modifications for warfare, and potentially the key to immortality.

Ali: Saw the footage leak your insider managed their hands on. A truly undying body..

Bucket: Something that should never be in the hands of anyone looking to weaponize such a concept. Frankly debatable of such a thing should exist at all

Ali: Have to say, not sure who you met to get in on it but you’re one lucky dog. I’ve seen your plan, it’s interesting. Assemble a crew alongside your contact, get an invite to the auction one way or another, have a secondary saboteur team ready to burn the place down if your heist fails.

Ali: Though I have to say, I’m curious why you picked me over other immediate family. Erica would help, no?

Bucket: Erica is… someone I rather not risk being compromised for this job. Should the cult find her involvement, it’s troublesome for a large number of important people. I don’t wish to risk that…

Ali: You mean the kid?

Bucket: Mm…

Ali: He was in that footage you know. Makes me wonder how many little things your side of the family’s been trying to keep under wraps. Feel like whatever experience lead to that would’ve been one you’d have all more to say on.

Bucket: I’m not even entirely sure, Erica’s very familiar with it however.

Ali: As am I, even if not directly so..

Bucket: Mm…

Ali: So, who are the invites here?

Bucket: A number of those involved in this incident, including my mother’s pupil.

Ali: Ah, the rabbit.

Bucket: Is that what he is?

Ali: Mm. Erica and I were both involved in a mentoring program at Plaza around the same period, nothing too special. During that we each manage to find ourselves a diamond in the rough.

Ali: Well… don’t know if I’d call hers that. He’s got the maturity but his potential is so low. Hero category but a weak one.

Bucket: Hero category?

Ali: Those in the family tend to be easy to assign into three styles: Hero, Nemesis, Courier. Category Virgil’s parents came up with to examine our family on a historical level.

Ali: Hero types are straight laced. They’ll perform well, have an honest career, and retire at a relatively normal age for their species.

Ali: They’re certainly rare in recent history though. You had the makings of one but your potential is… too high, lets put it at that.

Bucket: What does that make me then?

Ali: Nemesis. The blood knights of the family. You, me, and your mother all fall into this. Monsters on two legs. Generally have the most notable potential among the family. Hopefully you won’t waste yours.

Bucket: Right…

Ali: You might be a inbetween but your abilities are absolutely of the nemesis variety.

Bucket: And what if the courier type you mentioned?

Ali: Soft types, destined to retire young and unremarkable.
Ali: Your um… Charon was it?

Ali: Is absolutely one of those. Falls back on weak lesser magic, reliant on equipment to keep up…

Ali: His eyes say a lot more and he certainly has the potential but…

Ali: He’ll fumble over his own two feet.

Bucket: Think it’s a bit unfair and cruel to count him out so fast…

Ali: What’s your point? Am I wrong? Erica chose to not train him despite his interest in maintaining the legacy.

Bucket: Stop talking about him.

Ali: What can I say? Your kid’s got a little bit more potential if set right but at this point? Too much of a softie to go in this world.  Granted, my kids need to toughen up too but at least the rabbit’s shown her work.

Bucket: You’ve never been good to your students…

Ali: I’m preparing them for the world, you wouldn’t be alive without me.

Bucket: I’m on the run *because* I took your job recommendation…

Ali: You didn’t have to.

Bucket: You pushed for it..

Ali: You took a god’s offer before a month passed. That’s on you.

You start standing up from your seat.

Bucket: I-

Ali: You what?-

Bucket: I thought that you had my best interest. You always spoke about wanting people to walk out living an easier life than you did. I wanted to believe that all the hardship was genuinely to put me on the right place and-

Ali: And it worked. Nobody knew what that god of yours was up to. You took the job too early, found out too late. I told you to take a year contract to gauge the scene and you were too excited to play hero for a crowd to notice the red flag.

Ali: All you’re proving is that nothing I ever taught really stuck.

Ali: Erica left you too trusting for your own good. No wonder it went to shit.

Ali: Same thing’s going to happen to your kid, worse even.

Ali: Fragile, reactionary, fights with his heart first and brain last.

Bucket: Enough-

Ali: He’ll fight tooth and nail for every win and barely scrape by each time.

Bucket: He won’t be a knight anyway, Erica has actively-

Ali: He has his license Bucket, he trained and registered and took the exam at the continent’s biggest proving ground in order for every guild in the continent to recognize him.

Ali: You think he’s going to do better than you?

Ali: Kid needs a cane to walk by the end of each day.

Bucket: …When did this all happen?

Ali: I have access to a lot of money and info, that’s why you came to me.

Ali: I know where and what every member of this family is up to.

Ali: Tell you this, kid could be a pretty damn good witch if he cleaned up his work. My kid could put him on the right track fast. Also pretty soft but she’s got so much talent there.

Ali: Did everything I can to make ure she works with the best tools, the best crew, got her education.

Alli: You? You know even with being on the run that you haven’t done enough.

Bucket: Bringing you in was a mistake…

Ali: One you’re going to grin and bare if you want this job funded your way. If you don’t I’ll figure out my own plan. I can get whatever info you’re keeping in your pocket from somewhere else you know?

You sit back down and take a deep breath.

She looks at you with a smug grin.

Ali: That’s better. Hard lesson of the day for you. You want saying power at the adult table? You make sure the cards in your pocket are bigger than anyone else’s.

Bucket: Let's start over then...
 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 11-02-2022, 06:35 PM
INTERMISSION: Master and Disciple
Perspective: BUCKET JUDGMENT

CW: Abusive language and behaviors.

[Image: unknown.png]

 
 
You are Bucket Judgment, the true Heir of Judgment and Champion of Solitude…

At least you were…

These days you wander around the continent, slaying cults and leaving behind happier towns.

A true nomad hero, the Blanc family back home would have something to say.

Today you’ve got a lead.

You’ve dived into a big nest, something that could make all your efforts go to waste…

Thanks to a contact, you’ve made discovery that overseas someone has found access to a undying body and equipment beyond your understanding.

A science project from another world.

The cult’s you’ve been fighting have deep pockets. Folks would be able to pick up much of what’s there and potentially bring it back home to cause issues.

And if what you’ve heard is true, the odds are looking rough. You need an investor. One who’s own potential interests are too petty to be a danger by comparison. Too isolated to sell it off to the cult that’s burned down many lives.

You stand in the tent, holding your best posture with your assistant with you.

Your former mentor and aunt, Ali Judgment.

She approaches, giving you a grimace.

Ali: After all these years, you’re a renegade. Not surprised.

Ali: Better fit anyway, you were a wild card when we trained.

Bucket: Good morning, Ali.

Ali: So it is, now that I’m here.

She examines the tent set up, taking a look at your collection of arms, books, and your allies trying not to catch her gaze.

Ali: So this is your grand resistance… suppose classical knight guilds weren’t too different.

Ali: Can’t believe you had the audacity to ask me to be the one to visit you… I was across the globe. I have quite the schedule.

Bucket: Certainly was a bit of an endeavor for a infamously busy person such as yourself.

Ali: Mockery or flattery? With your tone I can never tell…

Bucket:  Depends on how this exchange goes.  I believe you understand that I’m looking for assistance?

Ali: Mm. And what’s with the getup? Certainly a lot less refined than I remember.

Bucket: Things have become difficult, the years of evading Rein…

Ali: Heard a rumor. The pilgrimage thing seemed like a lie.

Bucket: Never bothered to check in?

Ali: Don’t need to draw more attention your way. Don’t have a glamor to hide my face as well as you do.

Bucket: I’m certain you have a courier.

Ali: Don’t want to risk them getting box’d by a god.

She looks over at the young salamander next to you.

Ali: Who’s that? Adopting dropouts for your little cause?

Bucket: Proxy actually. Student was sacrificed for some experiment, one that involves fiendish material.

Ali: Ah… a host.

Bucket: Mm…

Ali: Dangerous one at that..

The salamander holds out her hand.

???: I don’t bite, long as you’re willing to play nice.

Ali refuses it with a dismissive gesture.

Ali: Don’t trust creatures like yourself. Anyone wearing another’s flesh is one to take caution of.

She was glared down.

Bucket: Didn’t you consider a plan like that yourself? You did pick up a number of powerful candidates…

Ali: They proved more… useful as themselves.

Ali: And frankly I’d rather not have to explain to my children why I’m suddenly a rabbit or a bear.

Bucket: You are certainly something….

Bucket: Her name is Bern, I hope you try not to forget it.

Ali: You named that thing too? You’re setting yourself up for heartbreak.

Bern: Don’t talk about me like that.

Ali immediately gives her the glare again, a hiss across the room this time everyone could feel in their skull.

Bern backs off.

Bucket: You really went and used the scary eyes on her?

Ali: It’ll be fine. Now, shall we talk business?

Ali: You need my funding, and I have a lot to gain from this investment. 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 11-01-2022, 05:36 PM
[Image: unknown.png]

Mercury: Charon, you doing alright?

You’re back in reality.

Charon: Honestly? Better than I’ve been in a long time…

Mercury: No kidding, aura's hella smug right now. More than usual..


Mercury: No pain?

Charon: None at all..

Mercury: Good, good. Was watching you and uh… your snake friend.

Charon: Styx.

Mercury: Right. You two talk to each other. Never heard a dialect like his before but his voice kinda sounds like yours otherwise…

Charon: It’s a result of contract poisoning… you make a deal with an entity, you become more like them overtime.

Mercury: Yeah… you been okay with that?

Charon: To be frank? More than I should be but…

Charon: I feel calm..

Mercury: Yeah, can tell. Maybe a bit too much? You’re stabilized for now either way. No idea how long, wouldn’t count on it being forever but…

Charon: But enough time to get a gameplan going, yes?

Mercury: Mmhmm! Should talk with the other fiendish folks around here about it.

Charon: Others?

Mercury: Ah… you haven’t figured it out? I mean…

Charon: Esperanto?

Mercury: Mmhmm.

Charon: Makes sense. Something about our fight felt…. Too personal.

Mercury: You took losing pretty bad, no offense. Know you can be hard headed about that but you were full tilt from what I’ve heard.

Charon: Still sorry about that…

Mercury: Happens, no big deal right? Anyway, I think they're-

Manzana knocks on the doorway. Everyone turns their attention toward her.

Mercury: Oh, hey. Just wrapping up here.

Manzana: Actually… I think I have something I’d like to share. But… I’d like to keep it family only for now. Opera too just as a witness.

Manzana: Ran into some complications the night before this, meeting up with someone today about it.

Manzana: Wanted to do it in private but… I think someone else here would have a better clue on how to address it.

Charon: What do you mean?

Manzana: Zinnia…

Manzana: They’re around. Not too sure about them but… perhaps one of you can resolve this?

You look directly at Mercury.


Charon: Merc...

Mercury: You need to go, I get it. We'll get back to this later but...

Mercury: You do what you gotta do kid. Proud of all of ya'll who've grown up so strong.

Mercury: You're gonna do good out there.

Charon: Nothing less.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 10-29-2022, 07:28 PM
[Image: unknown.png]
 

 
You follow along, finding yourself struggling to keep up in places the further you go. The world begins to become darker, a misty remnant of the castle before.

Charon: What are you up to.

Styx: Nothing just…

Styx: If you are to take my throne, I want you to be ruler of your own fate.

Styx: I am giving you the keys to choose who you are, the castle and all.

Styx: When I one day truly do fade… you are the lord who will guide souls.

Charon: Mm…

Charon: What if I don’t want to be?

Styx: My power will still be yours.

Styx: Your friend waits for you out there….

Styx: I am removing your limiters.

Styx: The power of seeing all, and knowing everything… it’ll consume you if you tap too deep but.. I do truly trust you to do fantastic things with it.

Styx: Your fiendish aspects, proxy, your true self will all be intertwined and what happens there is truly yours to figure out.

Your eyes become heavy

Charon: You’re not dying on me, are you?

Styx: Not quite yet I don’t think, but I earnestly do fear this job is my last so…

Styx: I am preparing you for the worst, so you can be your best….

Styx: Make your friends proud Charon….

Mercury:  Wake up….
 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 10-26-2022, 05:46 PM
[Image: unknown.png]

Styx: Happy to revisit something nice today?

Charon: Mm, admittedly I needed that-

You turn to look at him. You’ve never seen him so rough.

Styx: What’s the matter?

Charon: You’re hurt…

Styx: Had worse, just a scratch really.

Charon: Let me take a look at you.

Styx: I’ll be fine.

You reach for him only for the snake to avoid you.

Styx: Don’t. Esperanto put some sort of mark on me. Fear if it’ll spread on contact-

You ignore him and get a good look at his wounds.

Charon: Really chunked you…

Styx: I’m still here but…

Styx: Yes…

Styx:I ’ll recover with enough time but.. I don’t think I’ll survive a rematch.

Styx: Honestly, I think I only lived because they wanted me to…

Styx: Their cursed proxy did a horrid number on me.

Charon: Styx…

Styx: Don’t worry much about it for now though. I just…

Styx: Fear that this could be my last rodeo. I don't think I can keep performing fake outs.
 
Styx: It's been a long time since I've thought about the possibility of truly fading from the world.
 
Charon: You're serious.
 
Styx: I've been hurt many times, and that last beating really did push me to my limit...
 
Styx: So...
 
Styx: I think it's time to max out our hand here.
 
Styx: I've taught you plenty, but not everything I'd like you to know yet.
 
Styx: Your foes ahead are strong, and your newfound rival wants to teach you the hard way.
 
Styx: You will sink or swim, a knight's true trial.
 
Charon: The Nemesis method...
 
Styx: Right.
 
Charon: Considered cruelty by today's standards, only the classically trained go through such hardship..
 
Styx: A old ally of mine went through this herself. She was the strongest knight I've ever met but..
 
Styx: She was full of hurt. And I imagine it shaved a few years off her life at that.
 
Charon: It pushes you until you either rise to the occasion or retire.
 
Charon: My Grandmother and her sister both went through this. I'll endure too.
 
Styx: It's abusive.
 
Charon: I know.
 
Charon: I'm going to make sure they know too.
 
Styx: Always have a response.
 
Charon: Learned from you.
 
Styx: As you should.
 
Styx: Your friends are waiting so...
 
Styx: I'd like to grant you one last gift until the next meeting but...
 
Styx: Just... come with me...
 
 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 10-23-2022, 07:10 PM
[Image: unknown.png]



 
Erica: What’s that over there?

She points to the big wooden sword left on the side of the porch as you two exit.

Charon: Just been training some more…

Erica: With that big nasty thing? Seems a bit much…

Charon: I mean… I wanna look good the first time people see me.

Charon: So I think if I could lift a big enough sword, I’ll get noticed anytime I walk to a new place.

Charon: That’s worked for plenty of knights, right?

Erica: Yeah, got me there.

Erica: Still… thing is so beat up. Where did you find it?

Charon: Armory. Looks like a lot of work went into it so…

Charon: Maybe that could rub off on me, you know?

Erica: If you say so.

You walk on over to it to show off. You make a few broad overhead swings. Erica gives you a puzzled look.

Erica: You got the technique down but.. You’re kinda thinking too in the box with that.

Charon: The real thing’s dangerous so… can’t really make mistakes there.

Erica: Guess not.

Erica: It’s a good look on you for sure.

Erica: Not what I would’ve picked for you but… exotic weapons like that are fun.

Charon: Really?

Erica: Mm.. granted, you know what they say about those types.

Charon: The path of most suffering..

Erica: Nothing comes easy, especially not a big ol’ sword like that.

Charon: Maybe not…

Charon: But when I become a knight, I wanna make it special.

Charon: When people think of the name Judgment, I want them to say good things because well…

Charon: Because It’s your name!

Erica: Maybe. Truth be told, we’ve done a lot of wrong behind the curtain.

Erica: For every great hero, there’s a heck of a lot of drama.

Charon: I’ll change that too.

Charon: Even if you won’t train me, I’m going to make it happen.

Erica: Can’t really stop you if you want it that bad…

Charon: And… maybe we’ll find you-know-who?

Erica: We don’t talk about you-know-who because you got no clue who that is.

Charon: I think I do… and… I get why you don’t want to tell me.

Erica: Oh?

Charon: The knight in solitude, B-

Erica: What about?

Charon: They’re my uh… I mean.. Is there a word for it?

Erica: Probably. But I can’t confirm or deny anything.

Erica: Whoever asked me to raised you wanted me to promise never to confirm.

Erica: Granted… it’s only going to get more obvious as you get older.

Charon: Things like web texture, hair, fiend canines, pigment changes…

Erica: You know the answer you want to hear, and you know the one that’s obviously true.

Erica: Hopefully? One the same.

Erica: That said, wouldn’t advise going to Solitude of all places.

Charon: I know, went “missing” and all…

Erica: Mmhmm. Their god doesn’t look kindly on us. Pray we don’t have to deal directly. Buck’s gotten into some deep stuff..

Charon: We should save them then, right?

Charon: Like… they’re family and all.

Charon: And… I know you keep in contact.

Erica: I mean… I want to.

Erica: But everyone else gets put at risk if we’re too obvious. You, me, even your dozen cousins.

Erica: I’d lay low.

Charon: For now…

Charon: But… when I become a knight, I’ll go out there and save them too. Whoever they are in the end.

Erica: Mm….

Erica: You got a big heart, keep that.

Erica: Don’t think we can do much anytime soon but..

Erica: If you manage that? You’d be doing a lot for me too…


 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 10-21-2022, 06:33 PM
There's many moments you can't live without, moments that embody everything you are or ever will be..

The time you shattered a god...

[Image: unknown.png]

And brought down the stars too.. You risked your entire existence and made it out a stronger person.


[Image: unknown.png]

Despite being the validation you sought out, it wasn't what drove you...

[Image: unknown.png]


Nor was it the legacy you inherited...

The burden of being the last remnant of a time you never experienced yourself..

You can't help but wonder why Styx clung onto this host more than any other sometimes....

When you really think back, what kept you going...

Was the hope to make it back with Geezer.

Live life with your grandma, as long as you have the chance to left....

It's silly but....

[Image: unknown.png]



Erica: Back from work kiddo.

Charon: Grandma? You're usually out til morning...

Erica: Easy night, town let me off. Got us some goodies.

Charon: Oh?

Erica: Imported cola, the kind with real sugar.

Erica: And some food from the streets. We'll unpack those soon.

[Image: 20190616_154743.jpg]
Charon: R-really?

Charon: Is it a special day? I didn't forget something right...?

Erica: Mmm... not yet but...

Erica: Thinking about everything. Getting older, figure ya'll need as much time with me as you can get.

Erica: Especially with your cousin moving in.

Charon: Geezer, right?

Erica: Mmhmm. Picked him up under a mentorship so he's gonna be learning a lot of the family trade but....

Erica: He's pretty mellow. Think you two will get along pretty well.

Erica: Figured it'd be best to take him in as easy as it'd be to toss him over to Uncle Virgil or your Great Aunt.

Charon: Mm... is his room ready? I can help if you need me to.

Erica: Appreciated, but I've got it covered....

Erica: Anyway, why don't we go over to the porch, get some food together and keep talking...
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 10-19-2022, 12:32 AM
The Cloak
[First Resurrection]
CW: None

[Image: unknown.png]

 
After wrapping up a much needed fall breakfast, you make plans with your cousins and Opera to go into town.

But… you want to make some preparations before.

You approach Mercury as soon as she finishes up with her plate.

She’s got good takes when it comes to a lot of supernatural growth and right now you could use some of that.

You give her a little gesture. She returns it.

Charon: Merc.

Merc: Charon, you okay?

Charon: It’s… can we talk quickly? Have a bit of trouble on my hands right now.

Mercury: Mm, is this about..

Charon: Somewhat. The fiend imbalance, the entire sudden shift in proxy…

Charon: I’d… like to get some advice on the latter. You’re a bit of an expert.

Mercury: Could say that. I’m filled in on a lot of it. Know a good bit so… fire away.

Charon: What do you do when something shifts so quickly? I imagine that’s had to have happened before..

Mercury: At least once before we met. Bit of a jarring thing when it happens.

Mercury: Makes you panicky, sudden shift in project of ego is one of those things where well..

Charon: You worry that you’ve become someone else.

Mercury: Mm.. and in some ways you do.

Mercury: But that’s normal for everyone in life. Difference between most folks and you is that it’s way more obvious on the outside.

Mercury: Especially the fiendish parts. Creatures made of unfiltered emotion and will. We all are but you’re like…

Charon: It’s corporal with us.

Mercury: Exactly.

Charon: What if it’s something awful? What if… you can’t recognize yourself anymore after a point?

Mercury: Honestly? The fact that you’re worried means your heart’s working fine.

Mercury: You’re scared of losing yourself yeah?

Charon: More than that…

Charon: I’ve realized this is going to be a crucial point for me.

Charon: A chance to rebuild myself in a lot of ways both physically and emotionally

Charon: I’m terrified of becoming someone appalling by the end but..

Charon: I think I can also become better, more whole.

Charon: I’ve neglected parts of myself for so long… proxy’s made it clear that it’s been bottling up quite a bit.

Mercury: I mean, really it’s you doing it too.

Mercury: Your relationship with it is symbiotic, least it’s supposed to be.

Charon: Mm.. Opera’s situation seems so peaceful by comparison. She could have it out in public all day without issue.

Mercury: I mean you can too, no?

Mercury: Just… picture it as part of your life..

Charon: Mm..

Mercury: Picture it as part of you, the same way everything else is.

Mercury: Your family, your friends, every moment for better or worse.

Mercury: Focus on the parts you want to build off of, your dreams, and everything you’ve overcome…

You nod, closing your eyes.

Mercury: Just… let it breathe for a bit. The proxy is just as much an organ as the heart and lungs.

You feel a cloak start to wrap around you, very gentle and assuring as it coils to your body.

Charon: I think I see-

Mercury: Shh… let it keep going.

Charon: Sorry..

Mercury: I want you to imagine something small, something close that feels right.

Mercury: Picture a memory that gets you through anything….

A memory…
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 10-12-2022, 11:50 PM
[Image: unknown.png]
 
You return with everything and set up on the table as folks gather around.

You do your best to keep a low profile, avoiding eye contact. You catch a glance of Fenton talking to everyone as they gather, Opera taking a quick look over. You barely manage to look away in time but you’re pretty sure she noticed.

Footsteps your way.

She’s approaching, you wince just a little.

Opera: Morning.

Charon: Morning…

Opera: Need help there? Saw you bringing in the syrup…

Charon: All done for now. Should be ready to eat soon. I… hmm..

Opera: Yeah. Got filled in. Styx, the new guy, fiend stuff.

Charon: Mmm.. bit overwhelmed if I’m honest.

Opera: Nobody can blame you for that. Anything I can do for you?

Charon: Hard to say really. Admittedly feeling pretty ugly right now.. Snapped at Geezer earlier.

Opera: Really?

Charon: I apologized but…. I haven’t done anything like that since back then.

Charon: Even after talking to Fenton I just…

Charon: Helped, but I already feel heavy again.

Charon: Promised it wouldn’t get bad but one day in I’m already falling apart..

Opera: Not your fault, whole thing is just rough timing.

Opera: And if you need to back out, you can but…

Charon: But?

Opera: It’d feel wrong not having you I guess.

Opera: You and Geezer were my best friends during all that….really was excited when I found out you both were here together.

Opera: Always makes me happy knowing everyone from back then’s doing pretty well these days. Much as we can….

Opera: Can I uh….

Charon: Hmm?

She makes a gesture for you to turn toward her.

Opera: Let me see.

Charon: Right…

You follow along, not enough to face directly toward her but giving her the opportunity to get a clear look.

She places a finger down gently on your face. Your brain can’t decide if you’re irritated or comfortable the moment contact is made.

Opera: Huh….

Charon: Mm.

Charon: I haven’t seen myself but.. I can tell it’s bad.

Opera: the eyes… d
You return with everything and set up on the table as folks gather around.

You do your best to keep a low profile, avoiding eye contact. You catch a glance of Fenton talking to everyone as they gather, Opera taking a quick look over. You barely manage to look away in time but you’re pretty sure she noticed.

Footsteps your way.

She’s approaching, you wince just a little.

Opera: Morning,

Charon: Morning…

Opera: Need help there? Saw you bringing in the syrup…

Charon: All done for now. Should be ready to eat soon. I… hmm..

Opera: Yeah. Got filled in. Styx, the new guy, fiend stuff.

Charon: mm.. bit overwhelmed if I’m honest.

Opera: Nobody can blame you for that. Anything I can do for you?

Charon: Hard to say really. Admittedly feeling pretty ugly right now.. Snapped at Geezer earlier.

Opera: Really?

Charon: I apologized but…. I haven’t done anything like that since back then.

Charon: Even after talking to Fenton I just…

Charon: Helped, but I already feel heavy again.

Charon: Promised it wouldn’t get bad but one day in I’m already falling apart..

Opera: Not your fault, whole thing is just rough timing.

Opera: And if you need to back out, you can but…

Charon: But?

Opera: It’d feel wrong not having you I guess.

Opera: You and Geezer were my best friends during all that….really was excited when I found out you both were here together.

Opera: Always makes me happy knowing everyone from back then’s doing pretty well these days. Much as we can….

Opera: Can I uh….

Charon: Hmm?

She makes a gesture for you to turn toward her.

Opera: Let me see.

Charon: Right…

You follow along, not enough to face directly toward her but giving her the opportunity to get a clear look.

She places a finger down gently on your face. Your brain can’t decide if you’re irritated or comfortable the moment contact is made.

Opera: Huh….

Charon: Mm.

Charon: I haven’t seen myself but.. I can tell it’s bad.

Opera: the eyes… do they hurt?

Charon: No but… it doesn’t feel comfortable either. Like adjusting to new frames…

Opera: Look like little halos.. Kinda like hers honestly.

Charon: Ah…

You feel yourself sinking in your own flesh.

Charon: I don’t feel like I’m quite all here honestly..

Charon: No clue where I start or end….

Charon: Maybe I’m becoming something awful.
She shakes her head at you.

Opera: Still pretty different. Never really fit quite right, always could tell she was something awful underneath.

Opera: I just see you.

Opera: Maybe a little scared and angry but… you don’t really let yourself do that.

Charon: Don’t want to hurt others.

Opera: You won’t.

Opera: Don’t know how your whole fiend metamorphosis thing is going to work out but…

Opera: Think you’ll be you no matter how it turns out, you know? Just more growing.

Charon: Never really stops…

Opera: Nope. Plus it’s pretty, whoever you got in your life right now is pretty lucky.

Charon: Not really seeing anyone currently..

Opera: Really? Geezer is…

Charon: He never told me that…

Opera: He was going to bring it up later yesterday over Pizza but.. You know.

Charon: That’s fair….

Charon: Wait..

Charon: Are you telling me something?

Opera: I mean…

Charon: Who?

Opera: Someone special… think I wanna keep quiet til we all are done with this. Ya’ll are invited to the Opera house.

Charon: Very punny.

Opera: Had to listen to you and Merc kill every noun on this earth last night, I’m allowed.

Charon: You are..

You turn to face her properly. She returns a tiny grin.

Charon: Don’t understand how you do it. Everyone really…

Opera: Do what?

Charon: Everyone’s been so good to me, think I’d pick a fight if I had to deal.

Opera: Think everyone would throw hands with themselves really. ‘Sides, we get along just fine.

Charon: That’s true. Think you’re more like Geezer than me frankly.

Opera: I wish, I’m so short…

Charon: Same…

Opera: Not gonna get any bigger without breakfast though, shit’s getting cold.

Charon:  You’re 25, no? Think you’re done by now.

Opera: Never too late to become tall.

Charon: That…. Opera…

Charon: No…

Opera: I mean… Fenton told me you might get a inch or two from this whole vampire thing so maybe I’ll get lucky too?

Charon: That’s not quite correct. Biologically I’m more akin to a silkworm with inherited  mimicry meant to look like a dog. I’m more likely to lay eggs than die from UV radiation-

Opera: Nerd!

Charon: Yeah…

Opera: Heh…

Opera: Sit down with me and eat up. I wanna go see the festive stuff in town today.

Opera: Zana and uh… Platino? They’re  gonna be there too if that’s alright.

Charon: Yeah… could use that.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 10-06-2022, 12:19 AM
 
[Image: unknown.png]
 
The stack of flapjacks standing before you is perfect in every form.

This is the ideal breakfast for a cold day in fall.

Charon: You’ve really outdone yourself with these…

Geezer: Cute…

Fenton: Like them?

Charon: Mmhmm. You really didn’t have to…

Fenton: Tis the season, darkest night is rearing up and we have some time to appreciate the season.

Charon: I’d assume the prep work would be more intensive… hard to celebrate when you’ve got a potential doomsday timer.

Fenton: It will be, but we’ve got plenty of hands on board and a few backup options..  We can afford little things like this.

Geezer: You mean bombing the place?

Fenton: Mmhmm. Don’t want to resort to that but.. It’s potentially dire enough.

Charon: Honestly I’d be tempted to… anyway what’s keeping breakfast held up?

Fenton: Just-

You hear someone approaching the entrance, the dialogue becoming clear as it gets closer.

Manzana: You’ve never seen the prequels?

Opera: No! There’s only one movie back home.

Manzana: No….

The two fiddle with the door knob.

Opera: Shoot, forgot keys…

Geezer scoots on over to unlock the door.

Geezer: Gotcha covered, what’s up?

Opera: Juice, coffee, milk.. Breakfast things.

Manzana: Covered the expenses, sorry about yesterday…

Geezer: No biggie, I’ll be back to full after visiting the shop.

Manzana: Surprised you’re walking so soon after that..

Geezer: Fenton’s good with machines. Anyway hurry up, don’t want it all getting cold.

The two shuffle inside and start laying everything out on the tables. Fenton finishes with handling plating, stacks of pumpkin pancakes for everyone.

Opera: You’ve really outdone yourself with these…

Opera: So cute…

Fenton: Hehe, well you know.

Opera: Let me grab the others, excited to try these… you really didn’t have to…

Fenton: It pays off when I see everyone happy…

Opera rushes up stairs to call the others.

Charon: Earning your praises.

Fenton: Got to hear them again. Never mind that…

Fenton: Charon, mind grabbing the syrup and napkins? I can uh… explain the fiend thing to them while you do.

Fenton:  Figure it’s best for them to not worry.

Charon: Mm… it’d be appreciated.

Fenton: I got your back, we all do.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 09-29-2022, 03:13 AM
[Image: unknown.png]
The two of you walk back into the place, smell of pumpkin pancakes filling the air the moment you open the door.

You spot your friend working on plating, Geezer giving him a little salute to catch his attention.

Geezer: Yo Fenton!

Fenton: Geezer! 

Geezer: Talk to me, how’s breakfast looking?

Fenton: Practically done, just-

He gets a look at you and stumbles, startled immediately. You avoid eye contact on instinct.

Fenton: Charon..?

Charon: Mm. Morning.

Fenton: You uh.. Got a little something on you.

Charon: Very aware, may need your assistance here.

Fenton: I’d say, how old are you?

Charon: 24? I don’t see what that has to do with anything..

Fenton: Ah… you seem a bit late but it’s still in the typical window.

He takes a closer look at you.

Fenton: You bit someone.

Charon: Mm… got in a scuffle with Esperanto.

Fenton: Really?  I’m surprised…

Charon: What do you mean?

Fenton: Known them for a couple of years, met them when doing a favor for Erica.

Charon: You’ve kept in contact with her?

Fenton: Mmhmm. Oddball, not entirely sure what their deal is but they’re not the type to start fights…

Charon: Have a hard time believing it after the past 24 hours.

Fenton: I mean… what was it over?

Charon: Seems to doubt my capacity to handle the job, or at least our mystery employer here does…

Fenton: Huh…

Geezer: You know anything about them?

Fenton: Little bit. Unfortunately not at the liberty to out their identity for safety reasons..

Geezer: What’s that mean?

Fenton: Being targeted by someone, very selective on who’s allowed to know..

Charon: You can’t tell us?

Fenton: No, would be risky to them… but I can promise you they’re a friend.

Fenton: And I wouldn’t let them put you in danger either, not that I think they would..

Fenton: Anyway…  your current problem… might be going through an awakening of sorts.

Fenton: Fiend hybrids like us go through a bit of weirdness with age you know? You ever had the urge to feed before?

Charon: Occasionally, I try not to… can count the number of times on my hands... Rather not drink blood if I can help it since… you know.

Fenton: Once a fiend starts drinking regularly, becomes harder to go without it.

Geezer: Explains a lot actually, never Charon or Erica drink before.. Except maybe the one time where you bit whatshisface. You went kinda berserk.. ..

Charon: Hence why I try not to.

Geezer: Yeah…

Fenton: What were the other times?

Charon: Mm well… had a former partner who was quite into the idea..

Geezer: You’re going to talk about that here?

Charon: Not going into graphic detail if that’s what you’re worried about..

Fenton: Mm..

Charon: Never had it change me this much before however, not off just one heat of the moment bite.

Fenton: That’s because the circumstances for an awakening are.. Little precise?

Charon: Oh?

Fenton: Gotta bite someone in a bit of an extreme, someone who’s got some fixation on you and pushes you to a state of special tension.

Fenton: A rival, a nemesis, anything of that sort.

Charon: Mm…

Fenton: Esperanto isn’t anything close to normal so… that checks out..

Fenton: Granted, nobody’s seen their true form.

Charon:... What do you mean?

Fenton: They’re an illusionist, you noticed right?

Charon: Mm..

Fenton: Have that eye of yours, the angel poisoned one..

Charon: Could see that much but couldn’t gaze past the magic at all.

Fenton: Really? Terrifying..

Fenton: But it sounds about right for them.

Charon: So… what is this awakening exactly? Heard things here and there but no concrete answer.

Fenton: Aye, the inconsistencies between people.

Fenton: But the origin comes from first generation fiends. They show up, target someone they have a grudge against, and then when they do the job they move on…

Fenton: But if you feed on someone in the heat of the moment? Might lead to places.

Charon: Don’t exactly know them..

Fenton: No, but they tend to play into their opponents… insecurities to put it bluntly.

Charon: Ah…


You can’t help but grumble under your breath at that.

Fenton: Don’t take it personally when I say that-

Charon: I didn’t.

Geezer: Charon..

Charon: Just.. moment. Sensitive.

Geezer gives you a little nod.

Fenton: The awakening tends to play into existing feelings and escalate them. Us fiends are well…

Charon: Emotional.

Fenton: Absolutely.

Fenton: Awakenings for first gen fiends are very cathartic but…

Fenton: For someone like you or me? Hectic. Parts of you that are or aren’t start clashing until they balance out, the fiend side becomes passive, or it becomes the primary you.

Fenton: It’s healthy but… upsetting until it resolves.

Geezer: How long is it going to last?

Fenton: Variable. Few days, a week, maybe two?

Fenton: Could potentially overlap with our schedule the entire time…

Fenton: You’re a spider variant, right?

Charon: Yes..

Fenton: What’s your breath type?

Charon:... Web.

Fenton:... Rough then. Chance you might cocoon for a few days at some point. Metabolism might also pop off… and you might be a little more…

Charon: Volatile.

Fenton: Mm…

Charon: I… don’t think I’ll be a good fit for this job.

Charon: They sabotaged me. Wasn’t on the invite list, baited me into biting.

Fenton: They’re the type to make people sink or swim but… don’t think they intended that last part. Seems like a bit of a ridiculous gambit.

You can’t help but glare at him briefly, watching his face sink immediately before backing off.

Fenton: Sorry…

Charon: Likewise..

Fenton: I’ll talk to them, Mercury too.

Fenton: Both of us know them better than anyone else here. All this seems off as hell…

Fenton: Honestly though, if it comes down to it I’ll vouch to have them removed from the heist. After everything, think I’d prefer you were there.

Your ears perk up.

Charon: Are you sure?

Fenton: Job’s gotta get done one way or another, but think we’d all miss you. Worst case, you’ll help me in the workshop.

Charon: Did talk about collaborating like this one day…

Fenton: Still up for making good on it?

Charon: Maybe… I’d like to. Feel like screaming but…it gives me some assurance.

Fenton: For now just get situated, we’re just waiting on Opera and Manzana to finish their errands.
 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 09-26-2022, 07:28 PM
[Image: Cooldown.png]

You wake up by the shore, drenched and thrown aside..

Your cousin looms over you nonchalantly.

Charon: Geezer…?

Geezer: Yeah, sup.

Charon: Should you be standing up like this right now?

Geezer: Stable for now, can’t do anything too extreme til I get a more thorough repair job but… Fenton is Fenton. He’s good at making things work in a pinch.

Charon: Mm..

Geezer: Gotta wonder what happened with you though. Look like you got roughed up hard but when I checked up on you well… not a scratch. You wanna explain?

You get to your feet, checking yourself. Your prosthetics are just fine despite the destruction of them earlier, and your injuries have healed completely. The only proof of your earlier fight is the now dry stains on your face.

Charon: Got in a scuffle with one of the crew. Esperanto.

Geezer: Who?

Charon: That’s exactly what I want to find out..

Geezer: That’s not uh… whoever Mercury was getting all kissy with last night, right? Don’t want to be killing the buzz on that but..

Charon: That’s Rosario, she’s fine. Esperanto is the weird abstract looking one, you can’t miss them.

You can’t help but snarl a little.

Charon: Next time I see their face I’m going to put them in a coffin…. Spineless.

Geezer: You’re looking a bit aggro there…

Charon: Can’t be helped frankly. Everything about their presence irks me, and their weird fixation on Styx isn’t helping.

Geezer: Okay, I think I missed out on a lot…

Charon: Mm, Styx is back-

Geezer: He’s what?! Okay no, this is-

Charon: It’s fine this time-

Geezer: No it’s not! Charon-

Charon: Let me talk-

Geezer: How? Why?!

Charon: Don’t you fucking cut me off.

He goes quiet, more than a little hurt by your response.

Geezer: Charon…

Charon: I’m… sorry. I’m just… I’m dealing with a lot right now and I don’t know what to make of it anymore..

Charon: Feel tired, heated…

Geezer: No kidding dude, even your face. What happened there?

Charon: My face…?

He fishes around his pockets for a phone and passes it along.

Geezer: Check your reflection.

You take a look at yourself on the screen to see eyes so dark they’re practically bleeding over, the red and blue having their glows now overlap.

Your teeth have turned into a rosebush of fangs…

Though much remains intact you struggle to recognize yourself

Charon: I don’t know if I can do this..

Charon: One night and I’m falling apart..

Geezer: Look..  we got all sorts of folks inside who can take a look at you. Someone’s gotta know something.

Charon: I don’t want them to see me like this… didn’t want to yell at you either…

Geezer: I mean.. Everyone here’s facing a lot of shit we thought we were done with.

Geezer: Some asshole dug it all up.

Geezer: Shit’s got me still fucked, you’re allowed to be stressed dude.

Geezer: Just calm down for now. We’ll take you in, get you something to eat, figure it all out.

Geezer: …

Geezer: Charon?

Charon: Mm.. sorry just..

Charon: Can we really do that?

Geezer: Yeah. Let’s get you dried up though, I think folks would be pissed if we ruined the floorboards.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 09-17-2022, 07:04 PM
[Image: MOSHED-2022-9-17-11-58-4.jpg]

CW: Discussion of Death and Violence.


You're back in that pit again...

A dream, or a memory...
 Geezer: Charon, you okay?

Charon: Not really..

Geezer: What’s up?

Charon: Overwhelmed right now…

Charon: Check out some books on the occult one day, end up burning down a city the next…

Geezer: Feel that…

Charon: Rotting every part of you just to make it to the next day…

Charon: I’m sorry you got dragged into this..

Geezer: It’s okay dude… We made it this far, right?

Charon: Mm… don’t know how much more we’ve got in us.

Charon: Killing’s hard Geez, really is.

Geezer: I know…

Charon: Even if these people had it coming…

Geezer: They did…

Charon: That’s the thing right? Each time makes a little more sense in your head like…

Charon: Fuck…

Geezer: It’s what’s gotta be done. You remember what Grandma said?

Charon: If someone comes for your leg, you make sure they never walk again.

Geezer: Because if you let them get back up, they’ll try it again. Could be you, could be someone else.

Geezer: If we don’t here and now, they’ll just find a fresh start and do it all over.

Geezer: Corny shit but..

Geezer: Remember this from something I watched growing up.
Geezer: “Not a sin to fight for what’s right.”

Geezer: “Some folks won’t ever listen to words.”

Geezer: Paraphrasing of course. Thought that shit was so cool but…

Geezer: Think that’s the truth.

Geezer: Don’t make our stand now, might never get to again.

Geezer: Can’t afford to lose, so we won’t.

Geezer:.... Charon?

Geezer: Ah shoot uh… are you crying? Uh…

Charon: Sorry….

Geezer: Let me get you something-

Charon: It’s fine, need this right now…

Charon: Guess just… I don’t know..

Charon: Wish I was as brave as everyone else you know?

Geezer: Literally never seen you break a sweat during a fight, fuck are you on about?

Charon: All just pretend, doing it so nobody else worries.

Geezer: Yeah? That’s pro stuff. Putting on a face when you could die… that’s not easy at all.

Geezer: Nobody’s going to give you shit for being stressed. Not me, or any of our friends.. Think Hickory’s got a lot of respect for you too at this point and they don’t listen to anyone.

Charon: Except Fenton.

Geezer: Yeah but like, those two are like… you know.

Charon: Gay?

Geezer: Yeah, that.

Charon: I mean… they always got each other.

Charon: And we got all our friends we made on the way.

Geezer: Yeah.

Charon: Corny but… it’s something to fight for.

Geezer: Exactly, you get it.

Geezer: Not just about the killing…

Geezer: It’s about famil-

Charon: Shut the fuck up dude, I will cut you.

Geezer: We’re a family dude.

Charon: Oh my fucking god….

Geezer: Hey, got you smiling.

Charon: You did…

Geezer: You feeling better now?

Charon: Little, yeah…

Geezer: Always got your back.

Charon: Yeah…

Charon: We should check in on the others…

Geezer: Yeah, know Opera isn’t doing her best right now. You good for that?

Charon: Mm…  let’s keep it going. 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 09-13-2022, 08:30 PM
CW: Physical violence, injury, destruction of mobility devices.

[Image: unknown.png]

 
Without hesitation, your proxy swoops in and jabs them full force, catching an expression in genuine shock in the moment.

You send them crumpling onto the beach.

Charon:  We’re past that point.

Charon: Hands up.

A mist begins to form around you and Esperanto, the world a stage melting over. It’s hard to say if you’re in the middle of reality.

Your proxy looks back at you with a confident look, stronger than you’ve seen in a long time… it makes you feel happy.

Esperanto: Hardly sporting.. proud of you.

Charon: Excuse me?

Esperanto: You had every right and you pulled the trigger. Boss will be happy to know. 

Esperanto: Truth be told, I reported everything from last night that I could. There was a bit of hesitation but…

Esperanto: I assured them I’d make you a fine addition with a little polish.

Charon: Who is this boss? Why are you so invested in this?

Esperanto: Just someone who was asked to help tie loose ends from a long time ago, including yours

Charon: You mean Styx?I hadn’t thought of him in god knows.

Charon: You spent 5 minutes poking at my head, now I’m hearing him crystal clear again. If you were tying loose ends, you’re lousy at it.

Esperanto: An oversight.

Esperanto: Let me get rid of him, you’ll never have to again…

Charon: To be honest with you? I’m not sure I want to. I think…. Things will be different-

Esperanto: Don’t tell yourself that.

Esperanto: I know his type. You give him a single inch and he takes a mile.

Esperanto: You don’t need him.

They make an attempt to approach. You draw your weapon.

Charon: Back off, I don’t like how you’re looking at me.

Esperanto: Do you really trust him?

Esperanto: The amount he’s put you through.

Charon: I know.. I’m very aware and I can’t get too comfortable around him but..

Esperanto: But you know what he can do.

Charon: I’m willing to take that risk.

Esperanto: Baffling… I’m giving you an out and you’re protecting him…?

Charon: It’s my call on how I want to handle this. If the team has to take me off the job for their sake? So be it. But I want that vote made by people whose input I value more.

Charon: You’ve done nothing to merit my trust so far, and it honestly has me only questioning this job.

Esperanto: Really going to make this difficult… Well…

Esperanto: In that case I’m giving you a fair warning. Don’t complicate this.

Charon: No chance.

Before you can fully register what happens next, you’re sent crumbling into the ground by the full force blunting of a giant sword. 

Esperanto: Please stay down. It’s for your best.

You refuse.

Your proxy lifts you off the floor. Your entire body is in agony.

Esperanto: You’re really going to make this a big deal?

Charon: It’s all I’m good at.

They take another swing, this time the sharp end crashing down. You manage to catch it with your bare prosthetic hand, it digs in deep into the palm.

You take the opportunity to yank them in for a counter blow to the throat. It staggers them hard though not to the extent you were hoping for.

They quickly bounce back and return a headbutt.

You trade your own in time.

It seems to have more of an effect. You use your free hand to cling on and bite deep into the shoulder.

Blood is drawn.

The taste of it fills your throat.

Your entire body flickers and howls with a primal flame.

The sword digs deeper, burrowing into your mechanical wrist.

The Proxy dives in to push back. You pummel for your life.

Esperanto grabs you by the chest in return and pulls you in for a knee to the face.

And another..

And another…

And another…

It takes everything in you to keep conscious through this.

Eventually you recall your Proxy, the sword shatters your left arm into metal fragments and wire. You’re tossed directly into the dirt.

They place a foot directly on your remaining arm.

Esperanto: Where is he? I don’t want to be doing this-

Your proxy reappears and football tackles them off of you. They manage to grip the proxy and steer it directly into the ground like a bull flung by the horns.

You take this opportunity to grab a fragment of your shattered arm and jab it directly into their side.

They wheeze intensively, you finally land a blow that seems to have impact. You dig your hand deep into the void, your fingers around the handle of a short blade.

You’re cut short..

They grab your arm by the mechanical joint and immediately break the hinge with their bare hands. Your hand goes limp, the weapon falls back into the abyss it came from.

Your proxy swoops in to save you from their grip only to end up in a stranglehold.

You’re out of options.

You can’t trade in any meaningful way.

Your proxy is pinned.

You have no way to hold a weapon.

All you can do is bite and kick and scream until your lungs give out.

Esperanto’s grip tightens around the Proxy’s neck.

You can feel that tightness.

Esperanto: Right now you’re in a world you don’t have a lick of control over.

Esperanto: You may be walking but you never truly woke up.

Esperanto: You only  hit me because I let you hit me.

Esperanto: Any little moment of advantage? I gave you that.

Esperanto: I’m not asking anymore, where is he?

Styx: I’m right here.

The devil slow claps as he enters the room.

Styx: Couldn’t have the guts to throw hands with someone your size?

Styx: Pity.

Styx: In a fair fight, my bets would be on the kid.

Styx: Respect him a ton even if we don’t see eye to eye often.

Styx: Me personally? Not having much fun watching this, neither are you for that matter.

Styx: Put him down.

Esperanto drops you onto the floor, you don’t have anything left in you to stand back up.

Styx: Good dog.

Esperanto: I’m lost, what’s your angle?

Styx: Nothing. Don’t got all that much love for the cuss personally but..

Styx: Made a deal to protect him.

Styx: So go ahead, have at me. Not much left to kill really.

Styx: But don’t figure you’re the good guy after all this.

You move your mouth but your throat can’t make a cohesive sound.

He looks right at you.

Styx: You did your part, now stay down yeah?

Styx: When the time comes, you’ll be a better devil than I’ve ever been.

Styx: Happier one.

Styx: For now just sleep, yeah? Things will be good when you wake up.

Styx: We’ll settle this out nice and easy…

Styx: Talk to you again soon.

You black out.
 
 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 09-04-2022, 07:09 PM
The Path of Most Suffering
[Fourteenth Reading]
CW: Mentions of fear, death, verbal abuse.
Perspective: Charon Judgment

[Image: JESUS_CNADLES.png]

 You finally wake up.

You no longer feel Styx’s presence. Wherever he is right now, he’s cut off communication with you.

You look around in your candle lit room.

You see a gift left for you, a note attached.

“The boss left you something, a gesture from someone close to you.

Wash up, put this on, meet me outside

-Esperanto.”

You unwrap the present. A fresh change of clothes with a coat.

You recognize the material as being laced with fiend silk, famous for its ability to protect the wearer from a variety of supernatural ailments and attacks.

You need to confront Esperanto about last night.

With Styx’s warnings of an intruder, you have to wonder what exactly they’re looking for.

You follow the instructions without a moment of hesitation. You could be playing into something dangerous, but you’re surrounded by allies.

Still, you wonder why someone outside of all this has been brought in. Rosario isn’t part of the original group either but… her vibe feels like a natural fit at least.

Esperanto is odd, distant, a little menacing to be frank. Someone hired by this mysterious person who’s gathered everyone.

Whoever this is seems to be aware of who you all are. They didn’t invite you with Geezer, so it’s very likely they had no idea where you even were. Maybe they got lucky and nailed two birds with one stone.

It’s a bit odd though, this had to be someone with knowledge of the angel pocket in detail. Maybe they’re Hickory? One of the few folks from back then who seemingly isn’t here. Fenton made it more than clear they’re fine.

What if they’re in a dangerous situation? What if they’re collecting info for this heist and can’t compromise their location?

You’re a little worried now admittedly.

The fiend silk? Erica? Arabis? This doesn’t make sense…

The stitching is certainly the latter’s work, he must be in contact in some way but…

Erica is way too hands on to not be here herself if given the offer.

Did they know you’d be here all along? How’d they get this over so quickly? A few folks in your group are capable of warping from the Judgment House to Plaza quickly enough.

Opera? No, she doesn’t seem to know who’s in charge and isn’t the type to keep this sort of thing hidden.

Fenton? Maybe but… you haven’t really spoken to him either.

Nobody in your family has the capacity to do that themselves…

You get the outfit on, it’s a comfortable fit. It wouldn’t be too hard to have someone figure out your measurements if they’re in contact with folks who were able to track you and Geezer down.

Doesn’t matter, you’ll find out soon enough.

As you make your way toward the nearest exit and spot them outside as promised…


 
[Image: Those_who_further.png]

Face to face...

Charon: We need to talk.

Esperanto: We do.

Charon: What do you want with me? Can’t imagine this is standard protocol. The flashback, the dreams, whatever you’ve done to my proxy…

Esperanto. I thoroughly background check those involved in this, but since you’ve appeared without any info given I have to be extra cautious and well…

Esperanto: Certainly are someone of interest. You’ve been through quite a bit from a young age.

Esperanto: More than most could even imagine in their life.

Esperanto: Gives me more reason to make sure you’re suited for the job.

Charon: I’d like to think given I’m just as personally motivated to follow through with it as the others, I have more right than you.

Esperanto: Maybe. You’re certainly a promising one for being so early and yet..

Esperanto: The choices you made have me concerned. You’ve made deals and contracts that make me doubt your decision making down the line.

Esperanto: A knight is risking a lot with each client, and I don’t know if you’re suited to this occupation frankly.

Charon: I’ve done my work, I deserve to find that out myself.

Esperanto: We’ll see. I’m watching you closely over the next couple of weeks, don’t disappoint.

Charon: Who are you to make the call anyway? How’d you get a hold of something like this?

Esperanto: A secret for now, all you need to know is that I’m fulfilling a favor long owed. It really doesn’t come down to me though, honest. I just report what I see and well… if what you display doesn’t wow? I will strongly suggest against your involvement.

Esperanto: Though with that little devil in your head I can’t help but already wonder..

Charon: If you need to observe anything, do it the normal way.

Esperanto: Can’t really trust you with that, you’re far from honest.

Esperanto: Lying to yourself even, that poor proxy’s been feigning courage even harder than you.

Esperanto: The form it takes now is the truth. Timid, insecure, not long for this world…

Charon: Back off.

Esperanto: If you want to prove me wrong, show some teeth. Not that it matters, I know everything you’re scared of. All it takes is one good look into your soul.

[Image: Misery.png]

Esperanto manages to grab you faster than you can react, a deathly vision mirrored in your eyes. It pierces your mind and body like wet paper to a scorching knife. No matter how hard you try, you can't break through the illusion at hand... It takes everything within you to not scream...

Esperanto: I can see every fear, every intrusive thought, and every crack in your foundation…. You’re an anomaly really. One eye sees the world and the other sees the truth, and anytime you look in the mirror you can’t deny what you see.

Esperanto: Thankfully we have plenty of time to fix that…

Esperanto tightens their grip on you.


Esperanto: When we’re done, you’ll cast away only ignorance and that vile squatter’s magic. You won’t need to hide behind that little shade anymore. When I’ve purged you of all that dead weight, you’ll know who you really are.

Charon: Leave them out of it.

Esperanto: Of all people to defend… you’ll be the death of you and everyone you love…

Esperanto releases you. The visions clear up, you feel reality start to ground you again.

Esperanto: That’s enough from now, really managed to keep a poker face through all that..

Charon: Didn’t have to go that far….

Esperanto: I think I did, it’s only going to be harder from here. I’m not apologizing for what I said, not until you prove me wrong.

Esperanto: Spar with me.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 09-03-2022, 09:11 PM
[Image: Cyber_Crunch.png]
Opera: Hey so….

Manzana: What’s up?

Opera: Sorry about earlier, turbo protective of folks and you well…

Manzana: Bad first impression, I know.

Opera: Literally the only reason I didn’t bop you on the spot is because you looked so… guilty.

Opera: Makes me wonder why you did the act to begin with.

Manzana: I mean… real answer is my mom.

Opera: Need you to uh… explain that one?

Manzana: Long story, but gist is there’s a huge family feud between my mom and her sister. They have some decades old beef that I don’t see any end to.

Manzana: Well… besides one killing the other really.

Manzana: One of those.

Opera: Huh… think I heard someone back there talk about Erica. God I don’t know if I’d be ready to meet up with her..

Manzana: Any reason?

Opera: She’d be like, 70 or 80 now or something. When we met we were all time displaced teens and all that..

Manzana: Weird… can’t imagine her young. When you got that old time cowboy vibe it just… weird.

Opera: She’s literally always been a cowboy so…

Manzana: Did she grow up on a farm or…?

Opera: Don’t think so! Small town type but looking at her entire family? Might just be a personal interest.

Manzana: That.. hmm..

Mazana: Makes it less scary, honestly.

Opera: She could still skin you alive.

Manzana: We’ll see. Anyway…

Opera: Anyway…

Manzana: Anyone associated with her makes my mom flip her shit. Curated the hell out of my friends when I was learning under her, didn’t want any “bad influences''.” Working with Anyone tied to my aunt is asking to get stabbed on the streets.

Opera: Sounds intense.

Manzana: Used to it. So… what’s your deal? Not in the same line as business as the others I think.

Opera: Me? I just investigate all sorts of hauntings and curses across the country really. Back where I’m from there’s not really witches the same way you think of.

Manzana: Really? Must be pretty far out.

Opera: Mmhmm! Don’t like traveling alone but thankfully I got my little buddy with me.

Opera’s coat unfurls a little to reveal the head of a bat-like creature.

Manzana: A proxy?

Opera: Sorta? I mean guess yeah but… he’s different from what a lot of you folks have.

Manzana: No kidding, can get a lot out of just a look…

Manzana: He just been there the whole time?

Opera: Mmhmm! Rarely ever isn’t out.

Manzana: Doesn’t ever get tired?

Opera: Nope!

She stops to scratch behind the bat’s ears, causing it to crackle affectionately.

Opera:I mean has to sleep and all that but just always with me.

Opera: All you magic loving folks say he’s special and I gotta agree on that. Bit of a bastard but..

Manzana: Does he have a name?

Opera: Mmhmm, Paige Bailiff.

Manzana: Why Bailiff?

Opera: Mom used to put on a lot of daytime court stuff back home, always thought the word was funny as a kid.

Opera playfully presses her nose against the proxy’s. He sneezes in response.

Opera: He’s a sweetpea, always gonna be by my side.

Manzana: Cute….

You reach out to pet him, he pulls back, clearly less than comfortable with you..

Manzana: Ah…

Opera: He’s a bit shy, don’t push too much yet.

Manzana: Figured, never been good with animals.

Opera: Just gotta spend more time around them, they mellow out.  When we get back you two can get familiar with each other, maybe let you feed him treats.

Manzana: Mm..

Opera: What about uh… Platino? He uh… talked through you last night?

Manzana: He’s my proxy too, we share control of this body but lately I’ve gotten him a blank so he can do his own thing more. You’ll meet him properly at some point.

Opera: Excited! And uh.. I’m guessing that means we’re going to see more of you then?

Manzana: Maybe, we’ll see. Did promise to help but how much time I can give is a little tricky.

Opera: Busy with work?

Manzana: With everything really. Going to do my part in this but I have a lot of contracts to fulfill and can’t risk getting caught with any of you.

Opera: But… you’re walking to the convenience store just fine with me?

Manzana: Nobody recognizes me out of uniform.

Opera: Kinda doubt that, you uh…

Manzana: Mm?

Opera: You got like.. A lot? Like…

Manzana: Pick your next words wisely.

Opera: Like… you got big white hair…

Manzana: Tie it back after work.

Opera: You got those heart eyes? Those real? They’re really cute.

Manzana: Get asked both of those things plenty, answer’s yes.

Opera: That’s so cool though….

Manzana: …Right.

Opera: I’m guessing you’ve been exposed though. Hearts got that glow.

Manzana: Plenty, occupational hazard.

Opera: Charon says that a lot too…

Manzana: Bit of a running joke for folks like us. Without a little gallows humor you’d never get far.

Opera: Mm… I guess. Little bit poisoned myself but it’s pretty minor…

Manzana: For the best really..

Opera: Mm…

Opera: You can tell me if you need me to back off at any point also.

Manzana: You’re fine.

Opera: Wanted to get to know you a bit more but, I know it can get annoying.

Manzana: Treating it as a job interview, got every right to know about who you're working with.

Opera: Guess so.

Manzana: Plus it’s easier if it’s you,  no offense to everyone else but you’re the coolest person I’ve talked to so far.

Opera: Maybe, compared to who?

Manzana: Geezer.

Opera: I think he’s cool…

Manzana: He’s a dweeb, just a well dressed one. Charon’s nice but he gives me tryhard vibes. Platino likes him though and I figure I’ll be working with him on any equipment we’ll need for the heist.

Manzana: Seems to be a bit of a retrofitter though, self taught one too from the looks of it. Going to have to teach him to clean up his work. Got potential, listened to me ramble about soul packeting for a hour so that’s nice…

Opera: You two are nerds.

Manzana: Paid nerds, big difference.

Manzana: Mercury’s cool but she’s… hmm.

Opera: What?

Manzana: She’s got the energy of an aunt coming over for Christmas. You know the type. Nice but… eh. Sort of thing makes me nervous.

Opera: Mm..

Manzana: Not her fault.

Manzana: Rosario called me a bunny, I’m not a fan.

Opera: But… you are?

Manzana: No, it’s about the energy. I’m a rabbit. Bunny would be… I guess Platino maybe.

Opera: That really a thing?

Manzana: Mm. And Esperanto only showed up briefly but I don’t like their vibe. Reminds me too much of my mom in a bad way. Haven’t talked to Fenton yet soo…. congrats, you’re the coolest one here.

Opera: Do I win anything?

Manzana: Maybe. Let’s bring back juice and coffee like we promised and we can keep talking over that.

Opera: Yeah, I’m down. We can split the fee..

Manzana: I’m covering, that’s final. I shot your friend, I gotta make up that much.

Opera: Fair enough, I’m not great on cash right now anyway.

Manzana: Easy. And… appreciate you for hearing me out a bit. Think I actually needed that.

Opera: No prob, really help?

Manzana: Yeah… really did.
 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 08-20-2022, 12:19 AM
[Image: NO_MORE_TOHO.png]

 You follow the other rabbit as she leads you back inside to the main room. Opera is half knocked out on the  bar setup. The smell of breakfast being cooked from the other room makes your ears perk up a little.

Manzana: That smells good…

Mercury: Yeah? Fenton’s pretty good at what he does.. Pretty sure he cooks for him and his partner.

Mercury: They’ll show up sooner or later, busy handling some stuff with the job coordinator.

Manzana: Job coordinator? It’s not any of you?

Mercury: Nope. But it’s someone I trust enough to know that we’re in good hands.

Mercury: Granted, there’s some choices I’m wondering about…

Manzana: Like what?

Mercury: There were a bunch of other folks who didn’t get brought in somehow. In general I’m not sure why we’re not trying to track things down before the auction happens.

Manzana: As someone who has a little insight into these events, the amount of security around them is incredibly high. Many sensitives keeping watch, storage is kept incredibly tight and hard to track to begin with. The rich refuse to part with their payday so easy.

Mercury: Feel like calling potential world enders and a corpse a payday is…

Manzana: Mm. I don’t particularly care for working with them myself. Most of the time relics like these are tossed at folks like me to tinker and tear apart until we can reproduce and streamline them.

Mercury: Define streamline here.

Manzana: Marketable. Most of the time it’s quite a bit of nothing but as I’ve been informed.. Immortality is a new one. They’ll fuck it up somehow for sure but I don’t think I like the idea of people with deep pockets and power living forever.

Mercury: Death’s one of the few things in this world that they can’t dodge.

Manzana: Exactly. That should never change.

Mercury: Mm… 

The rabbit shifts her eyes over to check on Opera.

Mercury: You doing okay there?

Opera: I’m tired….

Mercury: You want us to drag you to your room?

Opera: No…

Mercury: Fair enough. You met Manzana here yet?

Opera: Mm? Not really.

She turns to get a good look at you. You’re a little nervous after earlier.

Opera: Hearts…

Manzana: Pardon?

Opera: Your eyes, they got little hearts. They’re glowing and everything.

Manzana: Mm…

Opera: You’ve gotten the rough end of a contract. 

Manzana: It’s not so bad these days…

Opera: Mm… It’s one of those things that gets easier overtime I think.

Opera: Not always because you feel better but like…

Opera:  Because you’ve grown used to it. You learn to live with a lot of it.

Manzana: Mmm.. Take it that you’ve got a bit of your own?

Opera: Only a little. Managed to cut ties with things early enough that I’ve been better off than most.

Opera: Though I think everyone here’s got a little something going on at this point.

Manzana: I’ve noticed.

Opera: It’s nice though. Not everyone going through it but…

Manzana: Everyone around you understands.

Opera: Exactly.

Manzana: I can appreciate that honestly.

Opera: How long?

Manzana: Me? Uh… 17 I think

Manzana: I started messing with contracts earlier than that, but 17 is when I got deep enough in one to mark me. Left me with a proxy and all.

Opera: 15. Started messing with magic since Middle School but I got deep into stuff around 15 and that’s how I met everyone here.

Manzana: One of those generational things I think. Witchcraft became way easier to get into over the past couple of decades.

Manzana: This region’s always had local circles but I remember a huge boom when I was around 10.

Opera: For me I just didn’t have much else going on. Small town life.

Manzana: If only.

Opera: What about you?

Manzana: Grew up half my life on the streets, then got picked up by a knight from overseas.

Manzana: Got me housing, education, work. Didn’t let me have anything free though.

Opera: Ah, one of those?

Manzana: Yeah….

Opera: That means you’re uh…

Opera: A squire right? That’s what they call folks like that?

Manzana: No, never was really given any sort of title like that. Not really a knight either.

Manzana: Witchcraft’s more my thing.

Opera: Another one for the pile. Between you, Charon, and Fenton we got enough to run a lab.

Manzana: What’s that mean?

Mercury: She’s calling you a nerd.

Your ears flop down a bit.

Manzana: Nerd…?

Opera: I mean… you’re a cool one! You’re like…

Opera: The popular mean girl who secretly likes anime. You know?

Manzana: I don’t know what that is…?

Opera: Like, you’re cool but you got a secret geeky side.

Manzana: Maybe…

Opera: That’s a lot of my friends though.

Manzana: Huh…

Opera: And you’re cooler than your cousins so…

Manzana: That’s really not hard.

Mercury: It’s not? But we love them anyway.

Mercury: Speaking of, you two mind doing me a favor?

Opera: What’s up?

Mercury: Just remembered we’re out of juice and coffee. There’s a convenience store down the street.

Opera: On it! You want to come Manzana? Want to talk to you a bit more, get some air too.

Do it.

I was going to…

Manzana: Yeah, sure.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 08-13-2022, 07:53 PM
Dr. Strangelove Part I
[Thirteenth Reading Intermission]
CW: None
Perspective: Manzana Judgment.

[Image: unknown.png]

You’ve had a lot thrown your way in the past 24 hours. Zinnia, your first date in god knows how long, your cousins dragging you into their horseshit.

But now it’s quiet.

You take in the air around you as the sunset cracks the edge of the ocean. You’re a bit photosensitive so you can’t really be out for long but… these little moments are your favorite.

You don’t get to enjoy the peace for long.

Your phone starts to ring at you. Your body drags in defiance as you check the caller ID.

It’s Needle from work, probably important.

You put on your best face despite being exhausted.

Manzana: What's up?

Needle: Hey! Wanted to check up on you. You left the lab early..

Manzana: Had plans, sent you a heads up the week before.

Needle: Ah! Forgot about that… everything go okay with that?

Manzana: Yeah…

Needle: You sure? You sound tired.

Manzana: Kinda had a bit of a busy night. I…

Should probably explain, might be good for you honestly.

I don’t need to say anything...

*Yeah but like… you know.*

What?

Today was supposed to be a work day.

Oh shi-

Needle: Hello? You still there?

Manzana: Yeah, just handling some things. Went on a date last night an-

Needle: Wait, a date? For real?

Manzana: It’s not a big deal or anything…

Needle: It is! I haven’t seen you on a real date ever! What’s their name? Are they cute? You stayed the night with them didn’t you?

Manzana: I’ll give you the details in person but no, we wrapped up a little before midnight and then I had a bit of an impromptu meetup with a relative who’s in town.

Needle: Is your mom around? She usually is a bit more planned out than that…

Manzana: No, my cousin…

Needle: The cool one? You gotta introduce me properly sometime.

Manzana: I wouldn’t call him that but…

Needle: Course not, if you know someone long enough they stop being cool. Are you staying with him right now?

Manzana: Sort of. Him, his brother, a few associates. Seems to be some sort of meetup, potential business prospect.

Needle: Is he dragging you in because he wants a favor? How much is he paying?

Manzana: He’s not…

Needle: Better not be anything big.

Manzana: Hard to say yet but… there’s a reason you called right?

Manzana: You didn’t call me just to hear all the details of my night.

Needle: Well… yes and no?

Manzana: Okay.

Needle: Wanted to check up on you mostly, but also wanted to ask if you took some stuff home with you.

Manzana: What stuff?

Needle: A couple of relics.. The construct husk and polearm? Took those back for tinkering I’m guessing?

Manzana: The… um…

Needle: Zana?

Manzana: Right, fuck uh…

Manzana: So the restoration process went in a bit of a surprising direction, have Platino on observation duty.

Needle: Wait, did you reactivate it?

Manzana: Something like that. It’s a little tricky to explain but…

You can Invite her over, I’ll explain while you figure out stuff.

Are you sure? This isn't really on you...

*Yeah. Kept an eye on Zinnia just fine, they’re pretty chill. One of those old smug but sad types. I’ll cover you.*

Manzana: Honestly if you don’t mind could you drop by? Plat can relay anything for me, I need to figure out how involved I want to be with this job.

Needle: Easy. I’ve just gotta handle a few things over here first but I’ll be at your place in the afternoon.

Manzana: I’ll see if I can be there for it, no promises.

Needle: Mm. You don’t need to rush if you’re spending time with family right now.

Manzana: I mean… we’re not really that close or anything.

Needle: Still, you could use a break. Don’t see you do anything like that ever.

Manzana: Mm…

Needle: When you’re wrapped up we should meet. Really do want to hear about how that date went.

Needle: Need to know if you’ll be taking more nights off.

Manzana: We’ll see…

Needle: If you ditch me I’m going to offer your roommate to hang out with me instead.

Yes please.

Needle: Thinking of a horror film. He likes spooky stuff, right?

Manzana: Sometimes.

Needle: I mean he lives with you so…

You hear a dorky little snort from the other end. It’s adorable.

Fucker.

Hehe…

Manzana: I didn’t hear that…

Needle: Hey, I’m a fan too. That look you’re going for? Nailed it, suits you perfect

Manzana: I had to design or commission a lot of it myself so…

Needle:  Maybe you’re willing to take up a job for a little dragon who needs a new wardrobe? Could be fun….

Manzana: We’ll see…

Manzana: I’ll try to be over at some point but like I said, no promises.I’ll see if they’ll let me take some time to handle things. You keep me updated if anything else comes up.

Needle: Will do. See you in a few hours. Have fun alright?

Manzana: Mm, see you..

You wait until you hear her hang up.

You gotta loosen up you know

Mm… It's hard to.

You gonna actually show up?

We’ll see…. Don’t think she needs to be dragged into a mess like this but…

You hear a knocking on the doorway behind you. You turn to see Mercury peeking out, giving you a little wave.

Mercury: Did you spend the night out here? Hopefully weren’t sleeping out in the cold.

Manzana: I’ll be fine, don’t need sleep anyway.

Mercury: I mean I used to think that too bu-

Manzana: As in biologically speaking. Angel poisoning.

Mercury: Ah… my bad. Anyway I wanted to see how you were doing, offer breakfast. You kinda kept to yourself a lot last night. You’re Geezer’s friend, right?

Manzana: Cousin technically, same with Charon too it looks like.

Mercury: I can see it. Into the whole magic thing too or…?

Manzana: In my own way. What about you? Friend, collaborator, babysitter?

Mercury: Bit of all three really. Anyway… you want to come inside? Fenton’s making pancakes…

Manzana:... Yeah. I’ll bite.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 08-10-2022, 05:58 PM

[Image: unknown.png]

Charon:  Never seen this room before.

Styx: That’s because this entire castle is a labyrinth of secrets that I’d rather those who wander it find for themselves.

Styx: This place belongs to you now, It’d be your best interest to learn it in and out.

Charon: I’ve done what I can, I just… never realized how extensive it was.

Styx: Of course it is, this place is made of the stone of many worlds and the mettle of thousands.

Styx: While the main facilities are certainly easy to get around, only the truly dedicated can map out the entire thing.

Styx: If you truly are my worthy successor, my greatest opponent, the one who outwit me in the end…

Styx: It shouldn’t take you long.

Charon: Are you saying we’re destined rivals?

Styx: No, you’ve killed me.

Styx: You’ve effectively outplayed me in the ultimate game. You are the new Styx, embrace that.

Charon: I don’t think it’s a name I’d like to claim personally.

Charon: Nor do I want to continue your line of business.

Styx: A pity.

Styx: I wonder how good you would’ve been at keeping to a contract.

Charon: I consider what you did fairly questionable at best and incomprehensibly immoral at worst.

Styx: Even if I never went back on my end of the deal?

Charon: You only kept your end because everything you did was in your favor.

Styx: Hmm…

Styx: It’s true, had to make a profit. Unfortunately our agreement didn’t work out for me in the end.

Styx: Alas. My time is limited, nothing matters anyway.

Styx: I only wish to leave a mark of legacy.

Charon: And how do you propose that?

Styx: By making sure that my usurper is better than me.

You two reach the end of the tunnel. A hall of humanoid figures behind glass cases can be seen going deep in.

Styx: Welcome to my true collection, the proxies of those who came and went.

He gestures to you to walk ahead.

You do so with reluctance, keeping your eyes and ears following the snakey rabbit.

Charon:  You’ve had an awful number of clients.

Styx: Amazing really. Many of them were smarter, faster, better fighters than I’ve ever seen.

Styx: A lot of them like you. Perhaps some more noble, some less but they had a common soul to speak.

Charon: Reincarnation?

Styx: No, I’m sorry to say that you aren’t that special but… you certainly have something about you.

Styx: You’re the one who took me down and claimed my throne, my castle on a hill of dreams.

Styx: What you are now certainly isn’t a dog. I’m not quite sure you’re a fiend either.

Styx: A hodgepodge of other people’s memories and experiences and traumatic affairs... Your friends and family and the horrors you’ve encountered.

Styx: And worse of all, you’re me. The best of me and everyone who borrowed my crown.

Styx: I know you already carry quite a weight with the legacy your tribe and name place on you, so I’m sorry for making it more difficult.

Charon: Don’t get the sense that you are.

Styx: Not entirely so, no… just…

Styx: I suppose I’m curious about you... You have no reason to remain mortal.

Styx: You will live a long life, you have the potential to become more powerful than I ever was...

Styx: You were offered ascension back in that little world you saved. To be its hero, its god, immortal flesh and the finest blade… to create a new place free to mold to your liking.

Styx: Could’ve been the greatest king to ever exist.

Syx: And yet…


Styx: You choose to stay mortal.

Charon: As much as possible for someone like me at least.

Styx: I don’t understand...

Styx: Why did you abandon all that?

Charon: I missed home.

Charon: I missed the moments I had with my grandma.

Charon: Waking up early to talk to her before she heads out to work…

Charon: Splitting some beans and coffee…

Charon: I missed my bed, and going to the bookstore, and the nice family who ran the magic shop.

Charon: I couldn't just give that up I don’t think.

Styx: That’s a disappointingly simple response.

Charon: Don’t believe me?

Styx: I’m just… frustrated really.

Styx: Outdone by a country boy who loves his family.  Ego crushing.

Charon: Do you want an apology?

Styx: Tempting but… I think I’m going to suck it up this time.

Styx: Physically you’re an oddity, a destroyer in the shape of a small dog.

Styx: You have more in common with the angel you knocked down and sooner or later you will likely grow out a halo yourself but…

Styx: Maybe that child never left.

Styx: In your heart, you’re still very much in that moment to this day.

Styx: Perhaps it’s for the best. My climb to surpass my humanity ultimately lead to very little good. Just prolonging the death of many sad swordsmen who were braver than I could ever…

Styx: All these husks left behind…. Soon I may join them.

Styx: I don’t really want to.

Styx: And I certainly don’t want to have to add you to the ones here anytime soon either.

Charon: Don’t plan to.

Styx: You can’t guarantee that… but I get the sense you still have plenty of time left.

Styx: I only fear what’ll happen to your comrades. I have had premonitions about the upcoming heist and I dread that it may be worse than either of us were prepared for…

Charon: We’ll make it work.

Styx: Can you be so sure? Your friends may not share your strength in the end.

Charon: They don’t…

Charon: Because they’re even stronger.

Charon: You are too in your own way I think. Whether I like to admit it or not, I needed you back then.

Charon: And for all the harm you caused me… I couldn’t imagine a world without any of it happening. Without everything I saw, all the people I met.

Charon: So in a way, I should thank you.

Charon: Whether intended or not, many were saved by your scheme in the end.

Styx: ….

Charon: Are you alright?

Styx: Processing. I came expecting nothing but anger and resentment toward me.

Charon: Think I’m too tired for that anymore.

Styx: Mm…

Styx: May I ask you a question?

Charon: Go for it.

Styx: I have no idea how much more time I have left.

Styx: I don’t get the sense it’s very long…

Styx: When my time comes, I hope I get a fresh slate.

Styx: If you ever encounter me in another life, be kind.

Styx: Set me on the right path… It’s a lot to ask for but….

Styx: Maybe I just need it at this point.

Charon: I’ll do my best.

Styx: You promise so easy…

Styx: I feel our meeting is wrapping up for now…

Styx: I have more to talk about but… tonight was a pleasant surprise.

Styx: For as proudly as you claimed being a devil, you’re terrible at it.

Styx: But that’s okay.

Styx: Because you’re good at being you.

Styx: Hold onto that….

Styx: We’ll meet again soon. See you tomorrow night...

Charon: See you tomorrow night.
 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 08-04-2022, 12:58 AM
 
THE EMPEROR PART I
CW: None

[Image: unknown.png]


You’re back in your castle.

Your beloved proxy keeps you company.

It’s nervous. You offer it a hand.

You comfort it to the best of your ability.

This entire experience fills you with dread and a bittersweet nostalgia but…

It makes you happy to have someone close by right now.

Styx: Personally I think the new proxy suits you.

Styx: Though I have a soft spot for the old one. Perhaps it’ll find its way back.

Charon: Mm… I see you’ve disrupted my dreams again.

Styx: A necessity, one you’ll grow to appreciate.

Charon: If you say so.

Styx: Are you irritated?

Charon: More… hmm. I don’t know how to put it.

Charon: I know what happens next from here.

Charon: I’m not looking forward to reliving it.

Styx: I’m on the same boat myself, for my own reasons.

Charon: I feel like things are a little different going back.

Styx: Retrospective does that.

Charon: Not just that either. My memory is not 1:1 with the emotions I’ve felt in those moments. It feels like people are missing…

Styx: Side effect of exposure to angelic types. They rewrite your past and your future without you really realizing why.

Styx: But you’re a little too self aware, I think. You’ve seen further more than anyone should.

Styx: It hurts me to see that child making friends, because I know he doesn’t get to grow up.

Styx: What lingers in his shell is delusional, a devil clinging onto fragments of the original. 

Styx: Or perhaps in denial? Either way, it’s sweet that you hold so dear a self that no longer exists.

Charon: If you don’t have anything more to do than taunt me, piss off.

Styx: I promise I have some business with you, urgent to address.

Charon: Is that so?

Styx: Looking further in, it’s hard to gauge if we truly have an intruder.

Styx: May be more akin to a curse really.

Charon: Elaborate.

Styx: I can’t find a connection to anyone, even if it’s clearly originating from our earlier encounter with… Esperanto was it?

Charon: Mm. So we’re not being invaded?

Styx: As of now? I can’t immediately confirm that.

Charon: But we’re very much not safe either.

Styx: No.

Charon: What should we do then?

Styx: Personally? Confront them in the morning. Whatever sorcery they inflicted earlier needs to be addressed directly. It’s certainly had a massive effect on your psyche already.

Charon: Mm…

You give the proxy a concerned look. It presses its muzzle against your face.

Charon: It’s… never really behaved like this before.

Styx: Certainly affectionate. Tell me Judgment boy, are you hiding something?

Charon: Does it matter? You can see everything.

Styx: You’d think, but despite being of my own contract your proxy certainly is.

Styx: Or perhaps wearing it right on its sleeve after all..

Styx: Whatever influence I once had on it seems to be gone.

Charon: Does it no longer carry your power?

Styx: No, because that’s been yours for the last decade.

Styx: Struck me down and took my soul for yourself. Frustrating.

Styx: Would be funny if in 100 years you were the one dealing contracts instead.

Charon: I have my doubts.

Styx: You are a fiend, you’ll live to see those days so long as you make no missteps.

Charon: Hmm….

Styx: Up to you really. Maybe in that time I’ll have been reborn. Maybe I’ll strike you down and it can become a cycle of its own.

Charon: I really doubt you’d want to be reborn into this world of all things.

Styx: Mm… I’ve considered it more than you’d think.

Charon: Really? That’s something new.

Styx: I’m very capable of sentiments and attachments. Perhaps that’s why I’ve managed to survive as a fragment in your mind rather than fizzling out altogether.

Charon: I doubt you care about me that much.

Styx: Certainly more than you or I want to admit.

Styx: I know you wouldn’t be talking to me like this if you truly hated me.

Charon: You’re making a massive assumption.

Styx: I don’t think I’m entirely wrong though.

Styx: Tell me, could you forgive me in another life?

Charon: I’d have to think about it, but on principle I’d at least make an attempt.

Charon: Are you planning to die on me?

Styx: Not quite yet, but I do have to move on sooner or later.

Styx: I think I want to be a rabbit next time...

Charon: I can tell. I’ve seen your true form plenty of times and yet you cling to that corpse.

Styx: One I had a complicated relationship with for certain.

Charon: Your old friend.

Styx: My greatest servant.

Charon: You refuse to let his image die.

Styx: Mm… can’t be helped really. I did really care for him but…

Styx: I don’t think I’m capable of being kind or loving in the way most prefer.

Styx: If I’m not getting a strong reaction from someone I genuinely feel unnoticed.

Charon: You must be furious right now then.

Styx: Heartbroken! You’ve become so cold mannered. I’m really disappointed.

Charon: I’m just tired, I’ve had enough of this for a lifetime.

Styx: Mm…

Charon: I am curious about things however.

Styx: Oh?

Charon: I’d like to hear you talk about your feelings, if you wouldn’t mind sharing.

Styx: A tempting proposition..

Styx: As reluctant as I am to say, you’re certainly my second favorite. The bookworm nephew I never had.

Styx: Is nephew the right term actually? I know things can be complicated.

Charon: I’d rather not be seen as any sort of relative but… masculine terminology is acceptable.

Styx: Mm.

Styx: I became very attached to him, my old friend. Did everything within my power to keep him alive, to fulfill my promises so that he could perhaps one day become king.

Styx: Anytime he was on the verge of death I put him back together.

Styx: He never went a day empty handed.

Styx: But… I know he resented me in the end.

Charon: Understandable.

Styx: You’re so cruel…

Charon: I prefer honesty. I am curious though… what was your connection to him?

Styx: Initially? A client in need.. But I think I grew to envy him.

Styx: Grew to envy his capacity to make allies and tough through anything.

Styx: He loved and was loved back… not necessarily always the romantic kind, though there was certainly that too.

Styx: Admittedly you and your friends remind me of him...

Styx: I’d like to show you something, if you’re willing.

Charon: It’s against my better judgment to take an offer from you at this point…

Charon: But with such a rare moment of sincerity I feel I should offer you this moment.

Styx: Thank you..

You look him directly in the eye.

Charon: If you give me any reason to doubt you however, make peace with your preferred god immediately.

Charon: I’ll gut you where you stand.

Styx: Harsh, but merited. Very well then.

Charon: Lead the way.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 07-14-2022, 09:37 PM
 [Image: unknown.png]


Charon: What do you mean?

Opera: A number of folks with that name seem to be causing a bit of a stir around here.

Opera: Don’t look like a trouble maker though. I mean, I respect it! But..

Opera: I’d lay low.

Charon: Wish it was me but… just got here today.

Charon: Still trying to get used to this really. Not for too long though.

Opera: Planning to get out?

Charon: Soon as I can, me and my family.

Opera:  Can’t blame you, place sucks;.

Opera: Honestly looking at you though, and don’t take this as a bad thing but…

Opera: I can’t see you being a troublemaker. Not enough to cause problems with the church at least. Familiar with them?

Charon: Yeah, got it explained actually. Really that bad?

Opera makes a face at you.

Charon: What do they do?

Opera: Everything. They’ve got access to so much supplies that people are stuck depending on them…

Opera: Plus… they’re able to keep the angel in check. People think they've got some holy magic and jump onboard.

Opera: Anything they get their hands on is property, including people. You join, and anything from limbs to blood to actual souls are treated as stock.

Charon: Scary…

Opera: People are trying to do their best to sort of break it up though…

Charon: You?

Opera: I wish… I’m just trying to get some heat off me.

Opera: Been targeting me for a good bit…

Opera: How’d you get here anyway?

Charon: Uh… summoned a ghost? Told me that someone needed my help so I went for it and well…

Charon: …next thing I knew I was here. You?

Opera: Same? Kind of?

Opera: Was with my friends checking out a recent haunting. We LOVE spooky stuff like that, even if it ends up being fake a lot… people in costumes avoiding taxes or something.

You couldn’t help but laugh a little.

Opera: I’m serious!

Charon: For real?

Opera: Yes! Always the whole “You kids and your darn dog!” rant you know? We weren’t even doing it on purpose, you’re just bad at being ghosts!

Charon: What would make them good ghosts?

Opera: Being dead? I dunno. Anyway it makes the small town life a bit more exciting. Otherwise it’s a lot of sad talks by creeks and not much else.

Charon: I can relate.

Opera: Not surprised, can pick it up on your accent.

Charon: Really?

Opera: Yep. Got a good ear, you’re a country boy…

Opera: ¿Y algo más? Soy curioso….

Charon: ¿Oh?

She smirks.

Opera: ¿Tú me entiendes?

Charon: No.

Opera: Güey…

Charon: Jaja…

Opera:  ¿Estás jugando conmigo?

Charon: Más o menos. Understand you just fine but I’m kinda bad at actually speaking it..

Opera: Yeah… My grandma tries to keep me up to speed but…

Charon: Not really a lot of chances to use it?

Opera: Mmhmm!  So I forget little things. When it comes up it’s like…

Charon: ¿Como se dice….?

Opera: Exactly! And you get looked at like you’re dumb for not remembering!

Charon: Oh my god….. Yeah no my grandma gives me the death stare for it. She’s really good at it…

Opera: Same. Scares me… she’ll be watching one of her novelas when I get back from school and she’ll look over and just… ugh.

Charon: Yeah… love her but I never want to be on her bad side…

Opera: She was some sort of fencer so she’d kick my ass. My famous Grandma Alle, got to compete across 3 continents.

Charon: Mine is a knight, pretty handy with a gun too.

Opera: A knight with a gun….?

Charon: Yes…?

Opera: Aren’t Knights a fairy tale thing? Like, slay the dragon, save the kingdom?

Charon: Maybe a few hundred years ago but… no they’re still around.

Opera: Guess we must not be from the same world then… amazing how much is consistent though. Like…

Opera: We got two languages in common? What are the odds?

Charon: It’s pretty odd, huh?

Opera: Yeah! Feel like if I looked too deep I’d give myself insomnia…

Charon: Same, never stops me from doing it anyway.

Opera: Rabbit holes like that just make me shiver…

Charon: Can’t blame you. So uh…

You look over at her hand. There’s a shadow dangling from it, sinking into the floor a little.

Charon: What’s that you got there?

Opera: This? Oh! Um… Allow me to introduce you!

She pulls it over herself, the shade forming into a large white sheet. She gives it a look over.

Opera: Don’t be shy, say hi!

A little mammal-like head peaks out. It gives you a wave.

Charon: Who’s that?

Opera: My proxy- call him Rebel, he’s been with me forever…

Opera: Just always had him really? Not sure why, usually you gotta work toward it or make a demon pact or something… but I love him very much.

Opera: What about you? What do you got there?

You realize your hand’s been wrapped around something this whole time.

Charon: I’m uh… not sure actually!

Opera: Well, pull it out!

Your fingers dig into the void and yank. A large forked metallic weapon appears.

Charon: Oh yeah… I can do this um… I just got a proxy today and mine can make weapons, I guess? I don’t have the best control of it yet… not even sure where it is either… It’s pretty cool though, right?

Her eyes widen a bit. She seems a bit off…

Opera: Huh…

Charon: You okay?

Opera: Just thinking right now…

Charon: About what?

Opera: Just give me a moment.

Charon: Sorry...

Opera: No just um… one moment?

Your eyes shift away, you don’t know what you did exactly but you’re terrified that you might’ve upset her.

Opera: So… I’ve seen something like that before.

Opera: In the hands of someone kind of bad I guess…

Charon: Ah…

Opera: But I don't think you are! It’s a style of sword that I’ve got bad associations with..

Opera: If you have it though, it’s probably a common thing in some worlds.

Charon: Maybe. Never seen one like that before.

Opera: Ah… huh.

Charon: Product of this weird angel stuff?

Opera: Probably..

Opera: It’s kind of a good look on you. I can tell you’re pretty green but… you look comfortable holding it.

Charon: You think so?

Opera: Mmhmm! Suits you. Anyway, sorry about that, just…

Charon: It’s okay, I was just more worried I hurt you or something…

Opera: Nah… anyway um…

Charon: What’s up?

Opera: I should probably go right now, not good for me to be out in public this long. Gotta find shelter for the night.

Charon: Ah… I mean my friend and I uh..

You point to Erica behind you, she tilts her head in confusion.

Charon: We got a place right now if you need somewhere…

Opera: Maybe… I’ll consider.

Opera: Do want to see you again though, felt nice talking to someone.

Charon: Yeah, of course! When?

Opera: I’ll find you…

The world starts to return to normal.

Opera: Meet you soon!

She vanishes. All that’s left is a dirty alley and Erica behind you.

Erica: Hey kid, you gonna be okay? Couldn’t tell much of what went on…

Charon: Mm? Yeah…. Just made a friend I think.

Erica: You can talk to me about her while we walk back.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 07-04-2022, 09:07 PM
 
THE EMPRESS
(CW: Mention of Cults)


[Image: unknown.png]

 Erica: We got a little time before Grandpa Arabis comes back so I’m gonna take you around town for a bit, hope you don’t mind walking. Nowhere specific, just get you to scope it out. Feel the life in motion. We did the same for Geezer so only fair.

You didn't get much chance to look at the area around while you were quickly walked toward the library...

It's bigger than anything you've ever seen.

You're a little intimidated, if you're quite honest.

Erica: You ready?


Charon: As much as I can be...

Charon: Usually go out with a cane but I can try my best to catch up.

Erica: A cane? Like for walking?

Charon: Mm.. Prosthetic limbs, had a birth defect growing up because of some fiend stuff I think… I can walk around but it’s hard sometimes..

Erica: Ah, yeah that happens with hybrids sometimes. We can keep it short. My dad had some troubles like that too… missing a leg.

Erica: Course our kind can slot in parts pretty easy.. with some caveats.

Charon: Blood, right?

Erica: Blood. You gotta be drinking blood regularly. Doing so will cause the uh… your body will sort of fill in the blanks? Could make parts out of random wood and rock chunks if you know what you’re doing and it’ll function like the real thing.

Charon: Mm..

Erica: Otherwise you’re SOL. Also once you’re on the stuff you tend to get more hungry and the fiend part of you becomes more active.

Charon: Heard about that, neighbors of mine told me that one of my relatives had issues with it. Was always hungry . Took forever to get back to weaning off of it.

Erica: That’s the trick, isn’t it? Really hard to get your hands on it without tons of money or willing donors, a bit tricky to store and maintain a fresh quality for it, you know how it is.

Erica: My sister back home says you could probably find a town willing to pay you in blood in exchange for protection. Honestly not a bad idea..

Charon: Your sister?

Erica: Yep,the younger sibling

Charon: What’s her name?

Erica: Ali. She’s like you a bit I think, soft but with gutsy eyes.

Charon: What’s that mean?

Erica: Like… you look bookish but I feel like if it came down to it you could get in a real scrap. She’s like that a bit. Maybe a bit more the latter but not really something she wanted.

Erica: Both of us are aiming to keep the family business running and all you know?

Erica: Don’t think she’s super fond of it but the idea that she wouldn’t because she can’t hurts her more.

Charon: I can kinda understand that I guess…

Erica: Yeah. She’s really hard on herself over it but I know she can do whatever she really decides she wants.

Charon: Mm…

Erica: And I’m sure you can too.  Looking at you though, you’re probably a bit indoorsy.

Erica: But I think you could pick it up. You in this too?

Charon: Mmhmm… Maybe. I guess I’m in that same boat too you know? Like… I think I do kinda wanna but..

Charon: Don’t want to not do it because I can’t. I want it to be my choice I guess…

Erica: Mm..

Erica: How much training have you gotten?

Charon: My gr-

Charon: Pardon um…

Charon: My caretaker’s never really pushed me but I dunno..

Charon: I feel like it might be good for me.

Erica: Yeah: How’s that?

Charon: See the world, meet people…

Charon: I guess I just want to know some things really.

Erica: Like?

Charon: Hmm… I mean I can’t say too much.

Charon: Time paradoxes and that…

Erica: Yeah, fair enough.

Charon: But… maybe being a knight helps?

Charon: If I can go anywhere, I can find out what I want to know.

Charon: THat’s how it should work at least…

Erica: Yeah, in theory I guess.

Erica: Hope I figure out the answers for myself…

Erica: Studying for the job honestly feels like a curse sometimes…

Charon: Mm…

Erica: According to my folks, it literally is.

Charon: The family curse…

Erica: Anyone who takes the mantle’s destined to fight something beyond what they can understand…

Erica: Crapshot whether you win or not.

Charon: I’d be in danger too?

Erica: Mm.. Maybe. Maybe it’s all phony.

Erica: Wouldn’t sweat it yet though. Maybe this is the worst of it for both of us.

Charon: Would be nice if we just got back safely..

Erica: We plan to! At the very least we want to take you and Geezer back first. Still got stuff to do here ourselves…

Charon: You have a plan?

Erica: Yeah. There’s wells to help you get in and out. They’re a little hard to get to and the local church is constantly there when they’re busiest. They’re how this place gets a lot of its resources..

Charon: Do they just snag it up?

Erica: Yeah… they try to keep a grip on everything. This part of town is probably the safest from them just because there’s nothing they think is worth harvesting.

Charon: Really?

Erica: Yeah. We’re far away from any rifts and wells, there’s not really any major industrial nonsense here, and well… to be frank people don’t like them much around these parts.

Erica: Still set up all sorts of propaganda though.

You see signs and monitors above, all sorts of strange iconography on posters around.

Charon: If it’s so far out, how does it run?

Erica: Answer is poorly.

Erica:  A lot of folks have to go deeper into town to get work.

Erica: And we got scavenger teams gathering whatever the cults manage to ignore.

Erica: Luckily we got a train system… no idea how it happened though.

Erica: Place is put together like a bunch of toy blocks slotting in and accidentally making some words…

Charon: I mean… maybe we got lucky?

Erica: No such thing as true luck, but we’ll take what we can get.

Erica: Anyway, whatcha think?

Charon: I mean it’s big.. Maybe a bit too big. Some of these places are so huge…

Erica: Yeah, felt the same way at first.

Charon: Can’t even imagine what a real skyscraper is like…

Erica: We’ll get to see something like that at some point maybe, if you stick here long enough.

Erica: Not that we want any of us to be gone too long..

Charon: Mm….

Erica: Anyway I know a shortcut, we’ll head back. Sounds good?

Charon: Yeah!

You follow along as best you can, surprisingly able to catch up just fine...
Though she keeps an eye on you the entire time... You appreciate it in a way.

You're not sure how she manages to tell anything apart. Even with this world being a patchwork of various other places, every arrow alleyway feels exactly the same to you...

At least until you see something really odd..

Erica: Hey, watch your step there.

 
[Image: unknown.png]

She stops you abruptly. You take a moment to glance ahead.

It's a lot of glass panels floating about, transparent little oddities like a tv screen. They're much like your own, the kind you'll eventually get more than used to...


Charon: What’s going on there?

Erica: My guess? Bit of weird magic.

Erica: Can’t tell what kind. Looks like a rift but… too controlled for that.

You get a glance of someone injured on the opposite side.

Charon: See someone there…

Erica: Careful, you got no idea who or what's hiding there.

Charon: I know but... I think we should help them out.

A closer look lets you make out a silhouette, someone cat-like in appearance but not particularly tall. Someone around your own age perhaps? They seem like they’re having it rough. Various floating shapes and transparent fragments float about. They warp the world around them like a funhouse mirror.

You take a step toward it.

Erica: What are you planning to do?

Charon: Can’t just leave them there…

Erica: Wait til whatever they’re doing clears out first…

Charon: Really? I mean I guess but...

Erica: Kid please..

Charon: I’ll be fine just…

You reach a hand through.

Erica: Charon!

 
[Image: unknown.png]

The world slides around like a abstract puzzle. The floor becomes a looking glass to someone else’s reality and the walls and sky meld until you can't tell them apart. The cat looks at you with surprise, eyes unsure what to make of you.

Erica watches from the other side, a nervous wreck.

You give her a gesture assuring you're okay.

She gives you a sigh.

You face what's ahead of you.


Charon: Hey… Are you lost?

???:  Not really…

Charon: That’s.. Good.

???: You stepped through…

Charon: I guess…?

???: Did it hurt?

Charon: Not really…

???: Usually it does… this place keeps intruders out…

Charon: Oh…

???: How’d you manage to make it through?

Charon: I just… stepped inside.

Charon: Those little tears, reminded me of the ones I can make.

Charon: I mean.. I’ve made them a couple of times. Don’t really understand…

???: Your power’s like mine..

Charon: Maybe…

Charon: You don’t look like you’re doing good…

???: I’m not…

???:  You?

Charon: Not too bad all things considered? Just got here today.. Like… in this world.

???: Mm…

???: What’s your name?

Charon: Charon…

???: Last name?

Charon: Judgment…

Charon: You?

???: Opera.

Opera: Heard that last name a few times around here… guessing you or someone related to you’s a bit of a troublemaker.

 
[Image: unknown.png]

Opera: Hopefully that’s not you though.

Opera: Cause if it is, you’re in a lot of danger. 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 05-27-2022, 07:09 PM
[Image: unknown.png] 

You're taken through many alleyways, avoiding the main streets as much as possible.

You've never been in a place like this, every sight and sound you make out so alien to you. Your first time away from the woods you grew up in really.

Mercury is mostly quiet, only on occasion grabbing your wrist to nudge you the right direction. You're a little distracted. 

Erica gives you an assuring look every once in a while to make sure you're okay. 

Eventually you make it to a building, one that's taller than anything you've ever seen. It doesn't look like much until you're brought inside, a maze of bookshelves and old décor. There's more people here than you've ever seen at once. 

Erica: You haven't said a word, what's up?

Charon: A lot to take in...

Erica: Feel you. Great though isn't it?

Charon: Yeah! Bit busy though.

Erica: You get used to it.

Charon: Geezer is here right?

Erica: Should be.

Mercury: He's probably in the study room, he’s been going through books like a maniac for the past week. Kid’s adapted to this like a pro honest.

Erica: He's A huge nerd. 

You got that impression.

Charon: What kind of stuff you got here? Like, books and all.

Erica: Bit of everything I think. Feel free to look through some stuff yourself too! We keep as much handy information as we can here for folks to soak in.

Mercury: Arm yourself with knowledge and all. We gotta protect ourselves however we can from the local rule and being as independent as possible is a crucial part.

You give the two a nod.

Charon: Got a lot to catch up on..

Erica: You’ll be fine, you give me the same vibe as Geezer.

Charon: What's that mean?

Erica: Bookish, type of kids who do good on a test you know? Think you're a bit more soft spoken though, not a bad thing.

Charon: Maybe...

Erica: Gonna give you both time alone I think, don't wanna distract.

Charon: Will you both be here still after?

Erica: Yeah, at least I will.

Mercury: Same probably unless something comes up.

Mercury: When you’re done, we can gather with the others and eat something alright? Hopefully your grandpa will be back before supper gets cold.

Charon: Mm. I'll be back soon.

Mercury: Of course, kid. Do what you have to do.

You take a deep breath and go through the halls toward a little section ahead where the towers of books wrap around a clearing filled with tables and stain glass walls.

It doesn’t take long to spot him. You give him a wave.

He takes a moment to process, eyes widen as he recognizes you.

Charon: Geez!

Geezer: Charon?! Holy shit, they found you?!

Charon: Guess so!

He runs up to you.

Geezer: Oh my god! Legit thought we lost you!

Charon: What do you mean?

Geezer: When that weird ass demon showed up you made some kind of deal with it and just vanished, you know? Asked it where you went and it dragged me in too but when I woke up you weren’t there!

Charon: I’ll be honest, had no idea it could do something like that…

Geezer: Like, fuck…

Charon: I’m just glad you’re okay… sounds like you’ve been here a bit though.

Geezer: I’m managing fine, been researching non-stop. Looking for a way to break out of here.

Charon: I’m not even sure how this happened.

Geezer: I got a pretty good idea myself actually.

Charon: Oh?

Geezer: You used a pact radio, yeah?

Charon: Mm! Made it myself with some guides from the local witch shop.

Geezer: Right. So turns out those transmissions are vulnerable to hijacking real easy. You just wanted to talk to a ghost but you had no idea where it’d come from.

Charon: Right.

Geezer: But now we’re here, in this other world with cults and angels and all that right?

Charon: Mm.

Geezer: So I don’t know how filled in you are on all this, but this place is hella cursed. Big ass angel is sucking stuff up from other places and dragging them in here.

Geezer: Think what happened, it jacked into our transmission and pulled us in right?

Charon: But… we talked to the ghost, no?

Geezer: Yeah but, a ghost on its own can’t really do that.

Geezer: Ghost can however muck about with the transmission.

Geezer: Odds are it knew about the angel and brought it directly to us.

Charon: Why us though?

Geezer: Who knows. Apparently there’s some algorithm to it.

Geezer: Big thing is a disproportionate number of folks dragged through are rabbits and fiends right?

Geezer: And your family’s got tons of fiends including you.

Charon: And you’re a rabbit… I think?

Geezer: Yeah.

Charon: Why would it do that to us though?

Geezer: I dunno. Get the sense that there’s some sort of scheme going on.

Geezer: Would be hella cautious if it shows up again.

Charon: Mm..

Geezer: Tell me, you got a proxy?

Charon: Yeah!

Geezer: Figured. Seems like most folks dragged in here end up with one. Apparently when you’re spirited away like that it kinda just happens.

Geezer: Bonus if you made a contract like you probably did. We’re in a heck of a mess…

Charon:  Sorry…

Geezer gives you a pat on the shoulder.

Geezer: It’s whatever, we’re gonna get out of here.

Geezer: And we’re gonna help everyone else too. There’s a big plan cooking up to get people home.

Charon: Is there?

Geezer: Yeah. That’s what Erica’s told me and looking into it? Super possible but you gotta be smart. She can fill you in on things.

Charon: Mm..

Charon:.. Have you been okay? Like..

Geezer: What do you mean?

Charon: You’ve been here for a good while..

Geezer: Yeah, I made it work.

Geezer: Community here is nice actually. Still gotta avoid the Church’s wrath but people are careful around these parts.

Charon: What’s the deal with them anyway?
[Image: unknown.png]
Geezer: Cult, really worships angel stuff hardcore. Tons of iconography and fear mongering around them. They recruit people, make them give up everything if they want to ladder up in the ranks.

Geezer: Mind, body, soul. Gotta dedicate all that but… they also control most of this place’s resources you know?

Geezer: So folks who are tired of the struggle will give in.

Geezer: They say those who prove themselves all the way though are given immortality. Scary honestly..

Charon: Yeah?

Geezer: Yeah. They made a system of wrangling everything and everyone valuable they can in mass when the angel dumps stuff into this world. Means they got the best supplyline and dug up all sorts of horrors from beyond.

Charon: Why don’t we just snipe them then? Take the stuff before they do?

Geezer: Hard to, they’ve got machinery and muscle and all that. People just gather whatever they don’t bother with.

Geezer: They shut down any competition with them too which makes it hella hard.

Geezer: Everyone hates them at this point.

Charon: Mm…

Geezer: We’re in the part of town that they haven’t been able to really lock down though, we’re safe for now.

Geezer: Glad I found you though, really was worried you were gone.. What happened?

Charon: Not sure? Guess I just got warped in after you did.

Charon: It’s my first day here…

Geezer: I can tell. You’ll get used to it.

Geezer: And like, if Erica is here then we have to find our way out eventually.

Geezer: She’s our grandma in the future so…

Charon: Yeah.

Geezer: She ever mention any of this to you?

Charon: Never. Scares me thinking about that.

Geezer: Mm. Means she knows something.

Geezer: Anyway I’m gonna put my reading down for the day, show you around and get you familiar with the people here. Sound good?

Charon: Sounds good.

Geezer: And don’t worry about what happened earlier, okay? We got this.

Charon: Really think so?

Geezer: Yeah. We’re gonna make it out just fine.


 
 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 05-17-2022, 06:36 PM
The High Priestess Part II
Cw: None

[Image: singing_robots.png]
 The three of you eat lunch during your ride and talk about mostly nothing. Arabis sets you up with something to wear over your PJs so you won’t stand out on the streets as much.


A bright red cloak with a good pair of witching glasses.

You’re attached to it pretty quickly, you think it’s cool…

You’ve never left your hometown, much less been on a train so while you don’t want to say it, it’s all very exciting for you.

Admittedly not the circumstances you’ve wanted to do this in but the start of an adventure for sure.

You watch the view out the window, the sights so surreal and different. A big city, hills, and a whole lot you’d never see in the small woodland covered town you’ve spent your whole life in.

Erica tells you that she’s in the same boat herself, though she’s “Already had enough of city folk” in the few weeks she’s been here.

 
[Image: unknown.png]

Eventually your ride ends up at the station, the patchwork of tiles and metal chunks making up the roof under the hazy red sky.

Arabis: Here’s our stop, are you children holding up alright?

Charon: I think so.

Your legs are a little wobbly standing up afterward but you manage your footing.

Erica: Craving air, got a little motion sick that time.

The tall spider offers a hand to both of you. The three of you head your way out quickly.

Arabis: Mm.. we’ll get our rest soon enough.

Erica: Yeah, could use some sleep after all that honest.. What’s the plan after this? Find an Inn? Dinner?

Arabis: I’m going to have Mercury take you two kids back to the library to see Geezer. Have a errand or two to handle myself.

Erica: You’re gonna leave us with the rabbit?

Arabis: She has a name… but yes.

Arabis: Just while I handle an errand briefly. I’d take you two but I was requested to be alone.

Charon: We just met and you’re going off already?

You give him the saddest eyes you can.

Arabis: I’m very old child, I’ve known the time before that look existed..

Arabis: I will not be moved so easily… and I assure you that you are going to be in good hands.

Arabis: Speaking of, where is she…. Did we arrive too early?

 
[Image: Hell_no.png]

You look over in the distance and see a white rabbit with an oversized weapon in one hand.

She carries it like a toy. You can’t help but wonder if it’s even real. There’s not a single sharp edge on it’s ladder-esque blade.

Charon: Is that who you’re talking about?

Arabis: Yes she is.

Arabis gives her a wave immediately.

She waves back with her free hand.

Mercury: Hey! Here like you asked me to be! How many refugees you manage to find?

Arabis: Only the one, this child here..

He points to you.

Mercury: Yo! Love the hood. Got a lot of style for a kid.

Her eyes are hard to make out under her mess of slimy bangs. What little glance you can get is dissonant.. There’s some other presence behind her otherwise warm smile.

Mercury offers you a hand. You awkwardly return the gesture.

Mercury: Gotta teach you how to shake properly. People get weirdly heated over that. What’s your name?

Charon: Charon Judgment.

Mercury: Ah!

She looks up at Arabis.

Mercury: More family, huh?

Arabis: Unfortunately, I don’t particularly like how frequent this is becoming.

Mercury: I’m sure it’ll work out. You want me to take him back?

Arabis: Soon, and Erica as well.

Erica: I wanna stay…

Arabis: I’ll return soon enough as I said. We’ll catch up over dinner but for now I think we’ve picked up too much heat in the eye of the local church.

Erica: Promise you’ll at least stay safe, I don’t want you coming home all hurt again.

Arabis: I won’t, I assure.

Arabis looks at you directly.

Arabis: The two of you have a job to take care of each other right now. I don’t want anyone leaving the other behind.

Arabis: Though we’ve known each other for only so little time, protecting one another is the Judgment way. I assure you that you will be in good hands for the next few hours. Besides, Geezer’s been looking for you and you can’t leave him waiting long.

Charon: Guess you’re right. Don’t get hurt out there.

Mercury: He’ll be fine, guy is a bit of a folklore hero type and has done a lot to prove it.

She squats down to whisper.

Mercury: Plus if you stick with me I’ll show you how to use a knife. Stuff’s essential around here.

Arabis: I can hear that but… yes that would be good under the current circumstances.

Charon: Wait, you’re both really okay with that?

Erica: This place is dangerous, if you’ve never been in a fight before you’re going to need to learn how.

Erica: And I can tell with just one look you’re green as a pepper.

Charon: I guess I can give it a go.

Mercury: That’s the spirit. Anything before we go our separate ways for now?

Arabis: Mm… child has a proxy, make sure he knows how to make the best of it. Make sure he keeps his hood up too. While he’s difficult to identify at first glance, he’s very much a fiend if you look too closely.

Mercury: Ah…

She gets a good look at your face.

Mercury: Glowing eyes and a couple of markings but otherwise yeah, he passes  from a distance.  We’ll be careful.

Arabis: I’ll be back just before dark. The three of you stay safe.

Erica: You too! Don’t take too long!

Mercury gives you a little pat on the shoulder.

Mercury: Come on, we got plenty to cover.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 05-15-2022, 07:52 PM
[Image: unknown.png]

You’re riding in the train with your time displaced family.

It’s as fresh as it was yesterday.

Erica: So you ‘re obviously some kind of future kid right?

Charon: I guess so.

Erica: And I get the sense you know how I am down the line. That means we’ll make it out of this alive for sure.

Arabis: Perhaps.. Though a few things to consider here.

Erica: What’s that?

Arabis: For starters, it is difficult to say if it’s our future or another’s. He could very much be more of a what if than a what will come.

Erica: Yeah but like… look at us.

Charon: I guess the resemblance is there….

Arabis: Even then, he might be related to another you rather than the specific you here.

Arabis: Regardless, we shouldn’t meddle too much in each other’s lives outside of here.

Arabis: There’s a good chance we’ll have to purge our own memories of him after we’re out of here should too much future animation make its way through.

Charon: I mean if I messed up I’d be unpersoned by now, right?

Arabis: That's also why I find it more likely you’re a what if rather than our future descendant. Which means your version of us is possibly doing the same thing with another you…

Charon: Well… we’ll take care of each other no matter what.

Erica: I mean yeah, family is family.

Arabis: And lucky you’ve got your new friend there.

You look over at the tall floral figure you’ve manifested merely moments ago.

Erica: Yeah, fancy that you and your… brother?

Charon: Cousin.

Erica: Right. Lucky that your proxies kinda just showed up as soon as you got here. Being is a angel scorched hellscape awakens all sorts of stuff but it usually takes some time.

Arabis: It’s quite solid for one your age too. Proxies attached to children like yourself are usually less defined and more… wispy?

Erica: I’d say more of a blob of colors but yeah.

Arabis: How long have you been meddling in witchcraft?

Charon: I mean I’ve always been a fan but only really started getting into it a couple of years ago. Wasn’t allowed to go to town alone til I was 12.

Arabis: Your caretaker I’m assuming would go with you?

Charon: Yeah… even then I mostly stayed with a family friend and her kid. Bunch of birds who settled down in town. Apparently they traveled a lot before then…

Erica: The Blancs?

Charon: Mm..

Erica: Used to play games with them all the time. We’d hang out with some cola and chicken and spend all night doing long sessions. Nice to know they’re doing good… and that our families are still friends.

Arabis: Mm… you’re probably pushing what you’re allowed to ask and answer so I must insist you stop before we see a time paradox before our eyes.

Erica: Ah yeah… sorry. Anyway, that proxy. Does it do anything yet?

Charon: Um… yeah I think? How does it work…

Arabis: Imagine its arm as your arm.

Charon: Okay…

Arabis: Let yourself feel that… think of it as part of you.

You get a vein cutting chill through your body.

Erica: Let yourself feel the first motion that comes to mind, don’t worry about anything else.

Your hand feels like it’s digging through cold wet clay suddenly.


Charon: That’s weird…

Erica: Means it’s working.

Charon: What is that?

Arabis: Just keep going.

Your fingers burrow deep into the sensation until you clash with something sturdy and metal. It’s a handle..

Charon: I’ve got something….

Arabis: Open your eyes kid…

You do so. The proxy’s hand has torn open a rift in the air around you and dug its hand in deep. Glassy geometry surrounds both you and your rose new friend depicting windows into less stable realities. You’re spooked for a moment, they start to flicker and crack.

Erica: Relax kid, just keep doing what you’re doing.

Arabis: Mm. You’re almost there.

You can see the object on the other side of the rift. You grab the handle and pull it out with a hard yank.

Out of the glass panel comes a lance, small enough to carry with one hand. The proxy reaches out to pass it over.

Arabis: There you go…

Erica: It makes.. Weapons?

Charon: That’s good right?

Arabis: I’d say so personally, yes.

Erica: Feels like it should do more than that for how strong it looks…

Arabis: I’d say it’s too early to call. A Proxy’s abilities are rarely what they initially seem. Besides, an arm on your beck and call is frankly always useful in a place like this.

Erica: That’s true, folks always scrambling for ways to defend themselves.

Arabis: It’ll be good for defending yourself and Geezer. Anyway we’ll arrive at the library soon enough.

Erica: Get comfy til then. Maybe think of a name for your friend for a bit.

 
 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 05-08-2022, 07:33 PM
The Magician: Reversed
CW: None
[Image: unknown.png]

Styx: Must’ve been quite exciting, meeting so much family so suddenly. 

Styx: If I recall, the day before this it was practically just you and your Grandmother, yes?

Charon: Mm… I have to say I didn’t anticipate you to be interrupting my memories like this.

Charon: But I really should’ve.

Styx: I’m surprised I’m still here. To be frank with you though, I myself may just be a memory as well. 

Charon: I’ll be honest, I’m getting really tired of the ambiguity.

Styx: I’ll phase out soon enough. I’ve sensed something of interest.

Charon: What would that be?

Styx: There’s a visitor probing you for info, looking for something more. 

Charon: Esperanto?

Styx: Likely, if that’s even their true name. Whatever method it’s using, I can detect others. 

Styx: They may not trust anyone.

Charon: Mm… 

Styx: We can’t converse too long or it’ll notice something’s off but… well…

Styx: Just keep dreaming as planned and you’ll likely make it through just fine. 

Charon: Planning to do some sleuthing?

Styx: Perhaps, I can’t afford to get caught however. 

Styx: If it knows I’m still here, it’ll erase me on the spot. 

Styx: So if things get messy, I will have to throw it your way. 

Charon: Mm… as always you ask someone else to fight for you.

Styx: In this case it’s your battle too… 

 
[Image: unknown.png]

Styx: They’re dipping into the memories of everyone else as well. They're looking for something more than just me or you…

Styx: Your friends are caught in this as well.

Charon: I’ll do what needs to be done if what you say is true.

Charon: This truce is temporary though, I want you out when we’re done here. 

Styx: Mm… perhaps. 

Charon: I’m evicting you.

 
[Image: unknown.png]

Styx: You’d toss a face like this into the street?

Charon: A face you stole. Nasty snake creature.

Styx: I’d say borrowed more than anything. 

Charon: When are you returning it? 

Styx: Hard to say, nobody to give it back to as far as I know. 

Styx: It’s been a long time. 

Charon: You have an answer for everything. 

Styx: And you always want the last word in.

Charon: With someone like you? I have to. 

Styx: Mm… you’re not wrong there. 

Styx: Also do have to state, never commented on it but.

Styx: I’m curious where you’ve got that accent. 

Styx: Do me a favor bruv, say aluminum. 

Charon: …. 

Styx: Silent suddenly? A shrink would have a field day with you I think. Didn’t think our time together would be so…

Styx: Formative? Is that the word?

Styx: I digress. Certainly not the youth from the woods I remember. 

Charon: If it works, it works. 

Styx: It’s a bit of a leap. 

Charon: Harder to get work when you’ve got a tinge of the country in your voice. Learned that the hard way… 

Styx: Unfair isn’t it? One too many soft consonants and your opportunities dwindle. 

Charon: Can’t say I like it. 

Styx: Mm… well that’s left me satisfied I think.

Styx: We’re pushing our luck, I’ll go and investigate. You just continue what you were doing for now.

Styx: When the time comes, I’ll call you over. 

Charon: I don’t like where this is going if I’m honest. 

Styx: You won’t! But you have little choice in the matter.

Styx: Anyway, good luck to you. Hopefully we’ll both make it out of here intact.

Charon: Can’t say I feel the same. 

Styx: Harsh but understandable…

Styx: See you soon.

Charon: Mm… 

 
THE HIGH PRIESTESS
CW: None
 
[Image: FCtDO3o.png]

You’re back.

Where were you again?
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 04-23-2022, 06:42 PM
THE MAGICIAN PART II
(CW: Mention of Cults)

 
[Image: Meeting_Your_Ancestors.png]

Erica: So, things to catch you up on.

Erica: This isn’t the world you started off in, some kind of weird mish mash pocket world made of pieces of others.

Charon: So sort of a chimera of parts from different places?

Erica: Kinda, yeah. You know what an angel is, kid?

Charon: Bit of a contested thing, supposedly they’re big entities that jump between time and space right? They abduct and replace things quietly without people noticing a lot of the time.

Erica: Mm. This place has one and is widely agreed to be the origin of it. One with a bit of weird behavior frankly.

Charon: What makes it so weird?

Erica: It’s a hoarder. Hoarding angels aren’t exactly a thing that’s been documented before but this one is just stockpiling things in a pocket world and playing ant farm. It just pops in and out to drop stuff up, stir around, and goes back out.

Charon: Is that how you got here?

Erica: Yep, me and my grandpa were out in the woods when something started making our radio go screwy. Grandpa had a bad vibe right away so we tried to duck in the basement but before we could it just.. warped us here.

Erica: Now we’ve been stuck here for a couple of weeks trying to make the most of what we can.

Erica: Place is hell cursed though, ain’t a fan of the folks who’ve taken charge.

Charon: What’s up with them.

Erica: A lot honest. They claim to be a church for the sake of giving others hope but it’s really just a scheme to line pockets and get free labor in hopes of “ascending”.

Charon: Ascending?

Erica: That’s what they call it. It’s honestly kind of some body horror though. You’ll see what I mean when we get to town.

Charon: Noted.

Erica: Anyway we found a few groups who are free of their control but it’s getting harder for them. Cult actively punishes anyone who wants to live outside of their law or wants out of the pocket.

Charon: How exactly do you power grab in a place like this?

Erica: Control multiple vital resources and own plenty of muscle really, same way it usually works with these folks.

Erica: Tell you what though, whoever goes in all the way comes out super different.

Erica: Can’t blame a lot of folks for taking their offers, when you’re desperate enough you do what it takes to survive but…

Erica: I dunno, it all rubs me wrong.

Charon: I get you. We got a bit of a cult problem back in my home… I’m guessing since we’re related though it’s the same bunch.

Erica: Spit?

Charon: Spit.

Erica: Yeah… can’t say I’m a fan of her either but at least I can avoid her fine and if one of them shows up on my lawn a shotgun will fix things pretty fast you know?

Charon: Mm.

Erica: Course I get the feeling you’ve never had to do that yourself.

Charon: No, not really.

Erica: For the best….

After a long walk down the seemingly endless train station, you find a tall insect-like man standing at it’s end.

You recognize him, it couldn’t be…he reminds you of a monster from a family fairy tale you read..

He has a very gentle look to him.

Erica: Grandpa!

The spidery figure turns toward the two of you, a little smile at Erica and a look of confusion at you. You approach.

???: Who’s this? Did you find another lost one?

Erica: Sure did, he spawned directly in front of me!

???: Did he come through an angel hole?

Erica: Nope! Just kind of showed up?

He focuses his attention directly on you.

???: The resemblance… are you a child of Judgment?

You give him a nod.

Charon: I am. And I guess you’re…

???: Arabis.

Charon: The original Judgment… just like the fairy tales. You’re here?

Arabis: I never left! I’m surprised you’ve never seen me before… and I feel reluctant claiming that title, there’s others who could’ve taken it up just as well..

Charon:  No… never mentioned once that you were alive so long.

Arabis: Mm, well here I am! Tell me your name child?

Charon: Charon, Charon Judgment.

Arabis: Charon. Do you have anyone with you/

Charon: No, but I’m looking for my cousin…

Erica: The rabbit who we left back in town, the two of them seem to have been both sucked here together but landed at different points.

Arabis: Ahh… I can take you there, I’m already on the way to town.

Erica: We left him a communicator actually. We’re a little out of radius but once we’re on the train we’ll be close enough to tell him to meet up with us.

Charon: You left him alone?

Arabis: It was in a safe area, he’ll be fine so long as he doesn’t stray out.

Erica: A nerd like him? You know he wouldn’t

Arabis: That’s uncalled for…

Charon: He always read more jock to me.

Arabis: He’s quite bookish from what I’ve seen. Anyway, we can cover your fare and take you back to him.

Charon: Really? That’s not too much?

Erica: You’re family right? Gotta stick together.

Arabis: It should be arriving soon, the train. What do you say?

You give a nod.

Charon: I’m down.
 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 04-21-2022, 05:15 PM
THE MAGICIAN PART 1
CW: None

[Image: unknown.png]
 
Faster than you can process, you find yourself in a train station standing in front of a stranger with eyes as red as yours. She has a look of surprise but only in the slightest.

Something about her is incredibly familiar.

???: Another kid from nowhere huh?

???: You’re the second one I’ve seen this week. Usually folks show up through one of the gateways. That’s how my grandpa and I did anyway.

???: You might be someone we need right now anyway.

???: Anyway, say something yeah? What’s up?

Her tone is familiar, she couldn’t be…

???: I’m willing to help you out kid, talk to me.

Charon: Kid?

???: You’re a kid ain’t you? Until I get a name I’m gonna keep calling you that.

Charon: Charon, Charon Judgment.

???: Seriously? I guess you did look kind of familiar actually…

Charon: Oh god, are you saying…

???: I’ll let you finish.

Charon: Is your name Erica..?

???: Bingo, hit the nail on the head.

Erica: Erica Judgment. I can’t say I was ready to meet a future boy like that… Guessing you know me at some point?

Charon: Absolutely, you’re… wait can I-

Erica: Don’t say anything about the future, I don’t wanna know too much and then watch you disintegrate out of reality you know? Gotta say though I can absolutely see the resemblance.

Erica: Also gotta say you’re absolutely green if you just have your proxy out like that.

Charon: My proxy?

Erica: That ghost behind you, you know what that is right?
 

[Image: unknown.png]

You look over. A tall mesh of rose and metal hovers behind you with a watchful aura. It parrots your little movements with a nonchalant look about it.

Erica: That is yours right?

Charon: I.. I guess so. Didn’t have one before I don’t think though….

Erica: Could be this world, it does weird things like that to folks. It’s got a pretty look going on so that’s promising.

Charon: You think so?

Erica: Yep. These things are supposed to be manifestations of inner self and potential and all and yours looks warm as a light.  If you just got it like this that means you’re hella off to a good start.

Charon: I guess so.

Erica: You should probably give it a name. Something that sounds strong you know? Giving your proxy a name is good luck they say.

Charon: Oh god I got no clue… Um….

Erica: Just go with your gut.

Something strong…

Something cool…

Extreme is a pretty cool word.

But… you want to also give a sense of endurance and wit.

You have no idea how long you’re going to be here so…..

Charon: Extreme Retention.

Erica: Going hard off the bat huh?

Charon: Is… is that too much?

Erica:  Nah, that’s perfect. Knew a kid who discovered his and went pretty hard. Called it Sixth Ranger. Uh…

Erica: Actually, you might be who he was looking for. Weird rabbit boy with long hair? Said he was with his cousin at home and suddenly woke up here. Called his hair pretty and he got offended.

Charon: Geezer?!

Erica: Yeah! He stuck around in town, decided to relax at the library while me and my grandpa quested out here. You know how it is?

Charon: He’s safe then?

Erica: Yeah, should be. He’s in a part of town where the church’s stranglehold isn’t too bad.

Charon: The church?

Erica: Yeah, we got a lot to fill you out on. We should probably find my grandpa first though.

Charon: Mm! I’ll help you out. What’s he look like?

Erica: Tall, big hair, has a couple of horns on one side of his head? I mean they’re technically mandibles but…

Charon: I can help out with that.

Erica: Nice. Walk with me and I’ll catch you up on stuff. There’s a lot you gotta learn if you wanna survive in this world. 
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 04-04-2022, 04:36 PM
One Last Time, From the Beginning..
(The Thirteenth Reading)
CW: None


[Image: small_sad.png]
 
After the party dwindles down you realize how exhausted you are.

A long emotional day.

Nerves about the future.

Having your past pried into pretty intensively.

Unfortunately for you, those aren’t things you can avoid on this job and are not over yet.

You find yourself standing in the middle of the ocean.

You’re dreaming you think but…

But you hear a voice, and in your head it’s way too clear.

Styx: That bastard really dug me out of my grave. Can’t say I’m happy frankly.

Charon: You’re still here?

Styx: Unfortunately. Not sure if I’m the real thing or just an imprint though frankly.

Styx: Have to say you remind me of some reluctant allies I made back in the day though.

Charon: Is that so?

Styx: Only a little. Though I think the guy I contracted back then had a better grip on the proxy than you by your age. You’re just a fledgling really after all these years.

Styx: I think we’ll change that though.

Styx: You have a lot that’s unresolved I think. Weirdo with mind powers absolutely was right on that and I think opened a gateway or two for you.

Charon: Don’t know if I want to meddle with something like that right now..

Styx: Your Proxy is pretty weak as is. As skilled as you think you are, being able to manifest that kind of power would be a massive boon.

Charon: I’m aware, I just don’t know if I want to take the fast track to power considering what you did to me last time.

Styx: This one has no bargain attached, I exist here as nothing more than a way to fulfill a subconscious need.

Styx: Now the question is… are you ready?

Charon: Not really but I don’t think you’ll let me skip on this.

Styx: It’ll be good for you.

Charon: But will it be good for everyone else?

Charon: As much as it’s tempting, power as a concept is not something I desire.

Charon: What I desire is the knowledge that whatever I take will be something that helps me protect others.

Charon: I’ve been offered so much “power” and “true potential” in my life that I’m tired.

Charon: I don’t need to hear it.

Charon: So unless what you offer is the ability to ensure we’ll be safe, to keep the people I love and value alive, I don’t need it.

Styx: If that’s what you want, I’ll give it to you.

Styx: Your wish is my command. I just hope that’s truly what you need right now.

 
[Image: The_True_Magician.png]

Your memories swim in toward you. Meeting your cousin for the first time, building that horrible mess of a ritual because you wanted to seek the truth.

You told him what you wanted to see is your full potential manifested.

A proxy that will lead you toward the forbidden path of knighthood your grandmother was afraid you’d take up.

You are Charon Judgment, the runt of the litter of the legendary Judgment family.

The newest a lineage of heroes who protect the people. One who through the power of bonds will knock down evil rule and save the meek.

And though you’ve never known your parents, you know from whispered conversation that the best way to meet them would be through taking up the mantle yourself.

As selfish as it is, the choice of knighthood would be one that’d eventually result in meeting, even if it’s the path of most suffering in the end.
You tinker away all day, creating the devices that’ll manifest your new friend from the void. Can’t be helped.

You make a mess but you’ll clean up before your grandma can see it.

You hope it all goes well.

Your cousin who’d been in his room getting acquainted with his new home strolls in.

Despite first impressions, the two of you hit it off well.

 
[Image: fsfsfs.png]

You both love games, he’s surprisingly bookish himself, and he doesn’t seem to mind your dorky ramblings about witchcraft and otherworldly presences.

He gets situated with a bowl of chips and a baseball bat in one hand as you start the ritual.

The room changes tinges, flickering between a bath of red and blues.

You assure him this is normal…

Unfortunately that’s not a good thing.

 
[Image: The_Fool_Finished_small.png]
 
THE FOOL
CW: None

Geezer: Christ, what is that?

Charon: It’s fine.

Geezer: Thing is hiding its eyes, can’t trust anyone hard to gauge like that.

???: Now that’s just rude, I’m here to grant the two of you wishes and you’re already counting me out?

???: He’s actually right though! You shouldn’t trust a face you can’t see lies in! Gotta say though, your tribute is weak. Amazing you managed to manifest me at all. A potato with a bit of cheese and blood? Not even that of a noble, though I suppose fiend is almost as good as little as it is.

Charon: Name?

???: Irrelevant, I’m the homunculi you summoned.. And a starved one at that.

Geezer: Get the vibe we really shouldn’t.

He stands up and raises his bat.

Charon: It’ll be fine Geez, just-

Geezer: Stay back, I don’t want you shaking hands til I hear more.

???: I’m just the messenger.

Geezer: Look like a con artist to me.

???: Spell never said you’d like what you see.

???: I do got a message from someone though. Someone who might be in your interest?

It looks directly at you.

???: Someone in the family who needs help right now.

Charon: ... Help?

???: They’re desperate really, could get bad. Can’t let you go unequipped though. Pick a card….

???: Who do you want to be today?

Three cards are laid out in front of you.

The Fool, a card of fresh beginnings.

Judgment, a card of rebirth and resolutions.

And the nameless card, Death itself. A card of drastic changes.

You find the design of the latter quite elegant in its own way.

Something about it makes you a little envious really, it’s calm nature and tall stature are something you find yourself… frankly lacking as an edgy kid.

It makes you feel safe despite its surreal nature.

Charon: That one.

???: You’re sure going big there, think you can handle real power like that? You got the energy of an Executioner, a real destroyer of worlds vibe in your future but…

Charon: If they’re waiting for me? Yeah, I need it.

???: Then it’s final. Good luck Mr. Reaper, let your trip be pleasant. No Regrets.

You’re pulled into the void instantly. 

No Regrets.
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 04-02-2022, 09:36 PM
The Promise
[Twelfth Reading]
CW: None
[Image: unknown.png]

You and Manzana gather back with folks inside. There’s a brief meeting to fill in everyone on the nature of this operation.

The organizer is someone you are familiar with but wishes to remain anonymous for the safety of themselves and those supplying them for this heist.

They assure you they are an ally you already are familiar with though.

Your mind assumes it’s Hickory, after all Fenton is here but…

When you ask him about it it’s denied.

Still it’s really nice to see everyone get together again. Old friends and a few potential new ones mingle.

You and Geezer do your own fair share. You can’t help get overly sentimental at least once but your cousin manages to ground you.

A few folks get a bit flirty, good for them.

You should really enjoy what time you have ahead of you but… you can’t help but feel nervous about the whole thing.

Last time there were plenty of losses.

This time you’re many less.

You may not be fighting a war with a cult but…


You don’t want to lose anyone else.

In the midst of it all, Opera pulls you aside for a moment.

 
[Image: unknown.png]

Charon: Is everything okay?

Opera: Mostly just… lot on the mind. Can kinda tell you’re in the same boat.

Charon: Really?

Opera: Maybe? Honestly it’s hard to tell a lot when it comes to you,

Charon: I get that a lot…

Opera: Used to be a lot more open about your feelings and now… you’re just so quiet. Geezer  is hella different too, lot more calm and mature than I’d ever think from the kid I met back then.

Charon: It’s been a long time no? Over a decade for both of us.

Opera: I know but… bleh. Bugs me more than it should. That’s no really the point right now though but-

Charon: You can talk about it a bit if you need to you know. We’re all friends here.

Opera: I guess… feels like meeting strangers for the first time with some though, been a minute.

Charon: I understand completely there..

Opera: Used to be taller than Geez and Fenton but now they’ve got me beat!

Charon: I think Geezer has everyone beat frankly.

Opera: Everyone’s got jobs now and… I guess my life still revolves around that incident. I’m still in the pocket mending things and chasing out remaining members of that cult you know?

Charon: I’m not much better myself, still investigating it some to this day.

Opera: Really?

Charon: Where I come from there’s a bit of a cult problem too… quite the bad one actually. A few escaped folks found themselves slipping from one to another as a result and are looking to repeat the same troubles.

Opera: Ugh… I’m still sorry about everything.

Charon: What happened wasn’t your fault.

Opera: There was another me that lead the entire thing.

Charon: Not entirely willingly…

Opera: She gave up her body to some weird horrible eldritch thing and let it run wild until there wasn’t anything left of her… that’s horrifying you know?

Opera: Scary to think that you can fuck up that bad…

Opera: To give up on life like that…

Opera: Become a tool of one of the worst things you’ll ever see.
Opera: Got guilt to this day.

Charon: You don’t blame me for the things that happened back then did you?

Opera: You were like 12 and being manipulated like hell by some nasty folks.

Charon: 14 actually… you were only a year older.

Opera: Oh! Well you know what I mean…

Charon: Still made things harder for people than it needed to be.

Opera: I mean… at the end of the day you always made the good choice you know?

Opera: You never chose power over other people.

Charon: I was a devil in my own right, and I certainly still am.

Opera: The devil? You call yourself that?

Charon: What do you mean?

Opera: You’re too sweet for that really. More misunderstood than anything. Like…

Opera: Well, like a monster under a bed.

Charon: I don’t think I follow.

Opera: Monsters hiding in a room scare people right?

Charon: Right..

Opera: But why are they hiding to begin with? Maybe they’re just as scared.Or maybe they’re shy and just wanna be friends.

Charon: Except when the monster finally comes out we call it a sleep paralysis demon.

Opera: Yeah well.. My point stands. You’re not really the devil at all. Maybe A devil but I can’t see you being deceitful you know?

Opera: You’re too honest.

Charon: Promise me you’ll follow your own advice too then. You didn’t do anything wrong.

Opera: You know that’s hard…

You drop the formality. Your voice turns soft with a tinge of the countryside.

Charon: Then at least do your best. You’re a good person, always have been and always will…

Charon: And you’re a good friend. Nothing’s gonna change that…

Opera goes quiet for a bit.

Charon: Are you okay?

Opera: Shit dude…

Opera: You’re going to make me get all tear-eyed like that you know? I mean I knew I’d cry at least once tonight but..

Charon: Oh my god, I’m sorry…

Opera: You’re fine! I guess just… I appreciate it you know?

Opera: I wanna talk to a few people, plan to catch up with Geezer next but..

Opera: I’m glad for sure we talked tonight and..

Opera: I’ll do my best if you do yours. Can we promise that?

Charon: Mm…

Opera: On your pinky, I wanna know it’s legit.

Charon: Really?

Opera: Never too grown up for a pinky promise. Just hold it out

You follow along.

Opera: We’re gonna make it through this, and when we’re done we’re gonna celebrate like this again.

Charon: Of course.

Opera: Thank you..

 
[Image: unknown.png]
Posted by ThreadLurkingComorant - 03-30-2022, 06:11 PM
THE WITCH Part 2.
(THE ELEVENTH READING)

CW: None


[Image: two_sad_witches_2.png]

  
After a moment, Platino’s smile fades back to the tired face from earlier.


Charon: Welcome back.

Manzana: Mm… if you don’t mind I’d like to scoot outside for a little air, you mind?

Opera: Charon?

Charon: That’s fine. Outside?

Manzana: Outside. Have a lot of thoughts and a plenty to discuss.. and a good amount of apologizing while I’m at it.

Charon: Mm… Geezer didn’t seem mad.

Manzana: That… makes me a little annoyed I’ll be honest? But that’s something to talk about with him.

Manzana starts toward the entrance, you follow behind.

She walks out of the hidden nook your building’s in and toward the railing at the edge of the boardwalk. She fixates on the moon for a long moment before letting out a big sigh. You join her.

Manzana: You know, I didn’t think I’d get caught up in something like this today but I had an omen appear earlier.

Charon: An omen?

Mananza: A messenger showed up and warned me something was coming. I’m guessing you know what that something is?

Charon: I do… mostly anyway.

Manzana: So spill the details, why should I care? Pitch it to me,

Charon: We’re about to attempt a heist on a cult relic that found itself in the hands of an auction, a relic that can potentially compromise the lives of everyone.

Manzana: And that is?

Charon: Immortal flesh, a body that contains the secret to living forever and a powerful one at that.

Manzana: Like a philosopher’s stone?

Charon: Mm…

Manzana: What makes you so sure this is real?

Charon: Witnessed it in action myself, thing is a nightmare in the hands of anyone. It’s laced with massive amounts of fiendish materials which…

Manzana: Which allows it to inherit the traits, right.

Charon: You familiar with the concept?

Manzana: There’s been studies before and I’ve been able to get my hands on logs but it’s not exactly easy to find enough pieces of a fiend, let alone an entire one willing to give up their body to science.

Charon: This one had access to hundreds.

Manzana gives you the side eye.

Manzana: That’s really unlikely, the resources needed to track fiends down at all with how rare they can be? You’d need funding from a god.

Charon: They had access to something worse. Angels.

Manzana:... I really don't want to believe something like this but go on.

Charon: Angels tend to abduct things from everywhere across time and space, they’re envoys of reality. This angel was hyper fixated on certain things and one of which happened to be fiends.

Manzana: Like an eldritch horror collecting vampires…

Charon: Essentially, yes. The cult managed to gather fiends and recruit or collect them for their bodies. The cult operated under giving fiend based augmentations or entire bodies to those in its highest positions and offering pseudo immortality… but the leader wanted more and grafted many onto one form.

Manzana: Huh…

Charon: It’s a ton to follow but everyone in that room fought to prevent operations from going full scale and is willing to fight one last time to prevent a revival of such.

Manzana: And that body is truly immortal?

Charon: We killed it in every way we possibly could and it’d heal up consistently. Only way to stop it is to rip out the soul of the pilot and destroy it so that nothing is left inside.

Manzana: So what’d you do with it?

Charon: Bury it in the abyss with most of the cult’s relics we deemed too dangerous but… someone managed to find a way in and dig it up… and if they dug up the body? They probably found other things just as awful in there. We need to confirm what they have and destroy every piece.

Manzana: You just left it in the hole?

Charon: In fairness it was a pretty obscure spot.. More than likely was rediscovered by accident. The whole place was in a private realm of sorts.

Manzana: Angel pockets.

Charon: Mm, you familiar?

Manzana: Of course I am, angels have a tendency to create little pockets in between existence where they just store things they find interesting and keep them for later. They then tend to spit those people and places back out wherever they happen to be but… it doesn’t sound like the angel ever did.

Charon: Because the angel is dead.

Manzana: Did the cult kill it?

Charon: No, I did..

She gives you a smirk.

Charon: Why are you looking at me like that?

Manzana: Because there’s no way, you’re green as hell and it shows.

Charon: Green…?

Manzana: Your gear and your posture. You’re wearing old lost tech that wouldn’t stand a chance against modern knight gear and your stance is way too casual. You should have your guard up, you don’t know me.

Manzana: Tell me, what kind of rigging does that arm have?

Charon: It’s a alloy designed to minimize how much impact I take when guarding and-

Manzana: That’s where I have to stop you, right now modern metal work for knighting gear is based around parry tech. If you can’t put someone in disadvantage for slamming into you, it’s not worth it. With something like that most attackers can stick in your face pretty easily.

Charon: Maybe that’s what I want.

Manzana: Then you’re a fool, nobody wants to be fighting at point blank. Everyone’s got claws or massive strength or acid or something that makes CQC miserable. It’s good for sporting sure but you need to be the scariest person around to justify that. You practically need a acual death touch to justify it.

Charon: I have my reasons for it. I have a discharge to parry with anyway.

Manzana: Discharge?

Charon: Circular Discharging.

You hold out your arm to her, she takes a closer look.

Charon: Cast a spark and then suck the shreds out of a living creature on impact. It’s a low energy cost for high reward.

Manzana: But the range is pretty low, no?

Charon: It is.

Manzana: Then how do you plan to confirm anything off that?

Charon: I carry a scythe on the field, one that I can keep hidden on my person quite easily.

Manzana: And you have it on you?

Charon: Of course I do.
[Image: coolworld.png]
You pull our your weapon and hand it over.

Manzana: That’s cute actually…. I like it.

Charon: Cute?

Manzana: The retro aesthetic but with a sleekness to it the railing guard, the sturdy parry friendly shell….  There is a problem however….

Manzana: A scythe feature would be a tad flimsy since it’d have to unfold, no? Unless it’s motorized which has its own issues but would at least get field work done fast enough..

Charon: Motorized…

Manzana: You’ve never done that?

Charon: Not on something this compact.
[Image: unknown.png]
She looks at you smugly. You can’t help but wince.

Manzana: Tell you what, I’ll take up the job and show you what a real rig looks like.

Charon: A real rig…

Manzana: Like no offense, your work looks clean and you’ve got a pretty good sense of aesthetic but I’m gonna show you how to really get the job done.

Charon: You that good?

Manzana: Mmhmm. I’ll bring my stuff in tomorrow. I wanna talk to Geezer first and make sure everyone’s in the clear but… consider it done. You’re my apprentice now.

Manzana: Besides, Platino would be happy to get the chance to hang out more I think.

Charon: Thank you…?

Manzana: Don’t, I’m gonna make you work til you cough blood.

Manzana: I'm in.


You didn’t ask for this. 
 
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