Masa con Papas: Proxy's Memory

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

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The Tin Soldier
[Reflection Toward the Future]
Perspective Character: Charon


A Memory: The Light Fades from Your Eyes a little more each time her Proxy cuts you down...

[image description:  A phantom knight with a large blade menacingly looms over, behind her a tower with its ceiling collapsed exposes a large menacing moon. The colors are vibrant and surreal against a haunting night sky.]

You've finished your buisness with a formal rival.

Now that you've had a moment to take a breather from it, you make quick haste to catch up with your colleagues. You can't find Anura around, nor your new ally from earlier but you recognize your friend taking a break on a bench.

Charon: Opera!

You wave out to her, she returns it with high spirits.

Opera: Hey! Got things all covered here. Haven't been here for a full day and shit's already been crazy... 

Charon: Mm... where's the other guy? 

Opera: One of the locals set up a space to keep 'em on hold. Didn't really put up any sort of fight once the big guy went down... you uh..

Charon: Yeah... 

Opera: You gonna be okay? 

Charon: Much as I can be. At least two fatalities since I've gotten here. 

Opera: Nature of the job. 

Charon: Doesn't make it any easier. 

Opera: Yeah well... if you need a hug or something-

Charon: In a bit. The other Rook, you talk to her at all? 

Opera: Yeah she- oh there she is-!

You're immediately surprised with a hug from the cat-like proxy.

You nearly yell. And with that said..

Despite her uncanny nature, you can't feel any hostility from her. Quite warm actually...

Charon: I was just asking about you... 

Rosca: I know! I owe you guys a lot, for real. Opera-

Opera: I'll pass til I know what your deal is. You uh... look a lot like someone we know. 

Rosca: I mean you obviously.. you guys got your proxies on you still? 

Charon: Mm... no idea where it wandered off.. 

Opera: Yep, just one sec uh-

Paige poked his head out from the sheet resting on Opera's shoulder, giving the other proxy a bit of the side eye. 

Rosca: Is this normal or-

Opera: Yeah actually, does that just to fuck with people.. so you're-

Rosca: Part of the "husk". Was at least.... 

Charon: You look different.

Rosca: Same with both of you really..  I... have a lot of feelings about the whole thing. 

Opera: Yeah.. if the cult's still targeting you then we gotta have some common ground, yeah? 

Rosca: Mm... still. I know it's like... it's a lot?

Charon: You weren't the one who-

Rosca: Wait! Let me finish before you go all Mr. Hero, yeah? 

Charon: Pardon me then, continue. 

Rosca: Still so polite after everything...  I guess first off I'm not really happy with the fact that anybody was hurt. Doesn't matter if I wasn't the one calling shots, it's still my hands ripping and tearing.. 

She holds up her claws 

Rosca: Enough that I still look like her... I'm barely a rook at this point, I'm just what's left.. 

Opera: So you're separate from the rest completely or-

Rosca: No, still linked to our old body but can't do anything. I can see and feel everything from this world and yours... 

Opera: ....You know where you're at? We've been trying to track it down and-

Rosca: Scooped up, been in a hell pit all month til now. Can't tell if was a lab or a warehouse but first time I've seen light in a good while.. 

Opera: Someone... stole you?

Charon: One of ours? 

Rosca: Two people. Weird mickey mouse looking weirdo and her bird friend. Wearing a mask or something like that.. might be a helmet? I dunno.. 

Charon:... Was there a name or-

Rosca: Hick or something, the bird I think?

Opera: Oh shit he's here.... 

Rosca: Well, not here but-

Opera: Anything else? You gotta share everything-

Rosca: Mostly Fuzzy. It's hard being too place at once you know... I though guess that's not true for someone here. I

She looks directly at you. 

Rosca: That's not your real body... 

Charon: It's back home, Styx handling things fine. I'm not sure how Im able to really do this-

She immediately grabs your hand and bites it, Opera quick to whip out her gun and take aim. 

Rosca quietly pulls herself away. 

Rosca: I'm not trying to hurt anybody. 

Your friend lowers her pistol, much to the relief of bystanders.

Opera: Explain. 

Rosca: Fiend thing, hard to explain but... there's a operator.

Charon: That would be me, yes-

Rosca: Not this form. What I'm seeing right now is a proxy shaped like you, a king on a chessboard representing you so to speak.

She raises her "nose" for a lack of better word and points toward a tower afar. 

Rosca: That... 

Charon: Castle Styx... 

Rosca: That's where you're really at. That's safety.

Charon: Aye... 

Rosca: Styx took your body, which means he put you somewhere. 

Charon: I'm following.

Opera: You're a proxy, something is the operator that your mind's actually inside of. But Rook's walking around with you.

Rosca: You're using Styx's proxy then as a vessel.. that'd be my best bet anyway. 

Opera: Did he have one of those...?

Charon: He used to have one, haven't seen her since he came back though...

Rosca: Probably been dormant, means you got whatever abilities it has right now. Certainly stronger than you were back then in a few ways...  but still doesn't answer how a proxy body is being projected. Has to be some kind of operator. Maybe his true self..

Charon: And it's in the castle? 

Rosca: Maybe. You seen any tombs, bodies in glass coffins, that sort? 

Charon: Actually yes... 

Rosca: Then something in there is his, that's what's projecting you. As long as that castle's walls are strong, you won't die out here. 

Opera: Immortal... soul?

Rosca: Yeah... 

She tilts her head at you. 

Charon: What are you thinking.

Rosca: Not sure yet. Looking at a few paths..

Opera: Planning things or-

Rosca: Divination type. I got like a natural radar for big things coming. Big part of why we got used for the husk... Can't see the future outright but I can see little threads, inclinations and splits in fate. I'm looking for the one that gets you both out of here..

Opera: Kinda intrusive not gonna lie but... 

Rosca: I know, I just want to help. Know it's probably weird for the two of you though right now.

Charon: Complicated feelings.. 

Opera: Same but I'll get over it. If you're another Paige I'll give you a chance. 

Charon: Probably less of a bastard than he is.. 

Opera: Yeah it's a bit of a shithead sometimes, love him though.

Rosca: I'll do my best, promise. For now... I think we gotta go interrogate that guy.

Opera: Doubt he'll squeal. 

Charon: Probably has a way to self destruct.. 

Rosca: More reason to. Besides, you still got that big ladder sword right? 

Charon: Yeah. 

Rosca: Then you gotta be there most of all.