"And with that, The Will and her new angel consumed the multiverse."
Vista grounded out as the final dice hit the table, causing the others to awaken from their stupor.
Reactions were mixed. Abyss Flower was slackjawed, Sirin was patting Missy on her head while shooting Kiana a smirk, who just just blew her a raspberry.
Rune, alongside Armsmaster and Leet, was desperately reading through the rules to find some way out of this.
Amy kept careful distance from the table while Vicky just stared in horror as Vista collected all the points and the earnings of poor bets made.
Lisa ? Lisa was laughing her ass off along with the mocking snicker and more polite giggle of her partners.
The Wards on the other hand were not surprised, used to the competitiveness of their youngest members, a trait that has been only enhanced in the last few weekw.
Vista leaned back, before she smirking, "Well, I told you. Don't fuck with me." before high fiving her partner in crime.
Nobody made a comment.
The Will was amused. Sure, it could have gone down that route, or any of the million others, and the shadow of that immortal chicken played her role as the Will quite well, as befitting of a trickster.
But that would be boring and just so uninteresting. While it had been true that her previous instructions would have probably bound her to such a course of action, they were no longer an issue. After Humanity had survived it's trials, it was rendered not inert, but without goal.
Indeed, it could have ended this mess and simply exterminated the infected branches of the tree, and by all logic, it should have. These things could mess with things, after all… but she had been intrigued. Humanity may have conquered it 's challenge but this was a new variable.
Still, maybe these universes where she went through with her plans could be useful. Some of them were quite adorable in their plots and machinations…
Fuck me, people mentioned that they can't imagine me doing another bit in this, but I shall show them otherwise. I also can't stand a downer ending. Feel free to ignore this one, which is fairly valid.
Also, no, I won't explain the metaphysical side of things, but I figured people would like some of the foreshadowing actually relevant to the story. I am interested if people can figure it out.
Soon enough, it struck six, and Taylor decided to finally look for Bella.
{Trust her. She may not be as … well, you know, but she is competent and knows enough to get shit done if she says she will get it done.}
{Doesn´t she consider Humans ants or something ?}
{She does but-}
Sirin trailed off, but the cause of that did also the same to Taylor and Kiana.
As they entered the Imaginary Space, they hadn´t expected much. Sirin, despite her claims, had been sure that Bella would overdo it and Kiana had expected an abomination of fashion.
{Hot damn! Your Dragon got more style than you, Rat.}
{I am quite surprised, but I wouldn´t expect less of her.}
"Naturally, I will always strive to fulfill my Queen´s expectations. To expect any less would be to doubt my Queen´s designs." Mayhaps it was the flip of the hair, or the small grin, but Bella looked insufferably smug.
{Well, she certainly learned how to be a smug bi-}
{First Lesson.}
"First lesson."
Taylor snorted, feeling the tension she had felt fade away for the moment. "I can see how you two would work out as a pair."
{Mission accomplished, Bella. Good Job.}
The moment Sirin expressed the sentence, or sent it, or whatever, Bella´s expression morphed from a smug smirk to a slightly blushing smile that would fit perfectly on a maiden's face.
{Wait, what ?}
{Look, Taylor, you are literally more nervous now than when you had your spat with Oni Lee… and only slightly less than when you held your statement. Relax. Your father did the whole thing because he is calling you on a bluff. He will be the one caught flat footed. Besides, he does, most likely, genuinely care for you and all that. And he is still better than Siegfried.}
{Could you give him a rest ? I know you do…}
{Kiana, you do not understand the depth of my disgust for that person. I may joke often about him, but do not mistake that as a sign of some hidden fondness.}
{Fine, Fine. Regardless… Bella, do you need help coming up with a cover story for you?}
"While it is a kind offer, Miss Kaslana, I am already in the possession of a persona that will be sufficient for tricking a mere human."
{Oh?}
Bella´s expression changed once more, from embarrassment and childish joy of being praised by her crush, to a serious, dignified young woman who spoke with a slight accent.
"I present to you, Bella Maneberg. A visiting student from Norway that has fallen on hard times and has started to work in a café, where I met Miss Hebert. We bonded over my appreciation of her artistic talents and she aided me with communication and wage difficulties."
Silence greeted her.
{She is really your Mei, isn´t she ?}
{She is the original, thank you very much~]
Taylor rolled her eyes.
Taylor was … nervous. She couldn't affix an act here, or even polite fiction, without feeling bad about it.
She was also annoyed at her father who was kind of a pain in her ass about friendship. Shouldn't she be the one to do that ?
Regardless, the time of reckoning has arrived with the fateful knock of dainty hands on a wooden door (after the step that always has been an issue seemingly shattered), ones which could most likely-
{Taylor, stop being a Sirin.}
{Fine!}
She most definitely did not whine that.
Still, it was a pleasure seeing the actual surprise on her father's face, a slight bit of vindication. She raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you make sure it isn't some ghost or something?~" She couldn't help her teasing tone.
Rolling his eyes, her father stood up, just as she went to finish the last step of the dish, Kiana in her head almost salivating.
{…You are just exploiting the situation to get a taste of the dish, aren't you?}
{I am.}
{Not even ashamed to admit it…}
{In comparison to other things ? Not even a single bit.}
{You know… you can just ask if you want me to cook something, yes ? That is the least I can do.}
Taylor nearly winced at the high pitch squeal of excitement from Kiana.
She faced Oni Lee, she could face her Father.
Rolling for Social
Taylor (d20+1)+Bella (d20) vs Danny (d20)
3+3 vs 19 , Fuck my life.
She would take both Oni Lee and Lung over this. Hell, she would take the entirety of the E88 over this.
While from the perspective of an outsider, it would certainly be well going, but the actual members of the conversation would tell you that the tension was quite something.
Or well, at least for Taylor it was. She couldn't put her finger on it. By all accounts it was going wonderful, but there was something of…
She first noticed it when she served the food, the way her father offered it to Bella, who naturally played her role well, but still seemed … unsure, eyes always twitching towards her as if to request instructions.
This was actually the trend she worried about. Bella was contradicting herself in a manner a normal human wouldn't usually do. She was confident and assertive, but still clearly relying on her… she just hoped that it wouldn't be enough for her father to catch onto something.
It went mostly well.
Sure, there had been the occasional dangerous situation, such as when dad asked the name of the Cafè, or the name of the colour Bella dyed her hair, but thanks to the pseudo telepathy they shared, they were quite able to pass any prodding questions he had, they settled into a comfortable rhythm, a flow of non-important trivia and gossip.
Bella held her own incredibly well, even doing a little bit of bonding, or what appeared to be bonding at least, over the evils of humanity… or well, at least the city management.
It became such a routine that Taylor lost focus on it, instead focusing on the conversation happening in her head.
{…Okay, it bugs me too much. I usually don't care too much about your random distaste for humans, but it is different with my dad. Spit it out, rat.}
{You do not want to touch this topic with me, Fool} Taylor felt the almost begging tone of Sirin to not continue this topic, but also the underlying frustration that she could best compare that to the one that her Father often had when he tried to keep his temper.
{No. While I understand that you don´t-}
{Fine! You want to know why I despise Siegfried ? He is an insult to what you, to what Cecila and to what my own mother represents to me, what the concept of a Parent is.}
{He didn´t want to-}
{He didn´t want to abbadon you, or Bianca, sure. That much I will grant. I will even grant that Siegfried is a good person, a hero if you want me to… Kiana, I understand that you love him, and I envy that you have someone that you can love this way. So I am not gonna say that he doesn´t deserve that love, because that is not my call to make. However, I am not gonna pretend that I don´t despise the man for the choices he made on a fundamental level, that every will forsaken string of my existance recoils in fucking digust only matched by my hatred of Babylon.}
{... Why?}
{Why do I hate him ? Do not think of me as petty enough to hate him for teaching a girl barely a teen how to drink or flirt, or a child not even a teen how to shoot.These things do not matter to me. I hate him because he brought suffering upon my and his family, not by need or chance, but by choice, simply to assuage his own guilt and adherence to a code that is more inhuman than I ever was.}
{How about you give me an example then ? Because as far as I am concerned, he did his best.}
{HE BROUGHT A CHILD TO A HIGH LEVEL INFILTRATION MISSION BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO! HE LEFT YOU WITHOUT HOME!}
This snap from Sirin was what signaled the end of the enjoyable portion of the evening, though to give her credit, it wasn´t the only part which caused the cascade of fuckups. Because while they were lulled into a sense of security, Danny proved why he was the go to guy in the union.
The sentence which brought the end of the good times was spoken while Taylor, in silent distress at the infighting of her quasi sisters, didn´t pay attention to the conversation happening at the table.
"Bella, I want to thank you for taking care of Taylor, especially after the whole locker incident. Getting shoved into a locker like that, I feared that she would close herself off."
From one second to the other, the world felt as if it was static.
Taylor had felt the tension that came to rise in Bella, her discomfort slowly rising. Yet, that discomfort vanished the second she realized what was said, and gave way to a fury and harted. She would have been able to control herself, had it not been for the poor timing of Sirin´s shout. Much like a dog to it´s owner, Bella took guidance from Sirin, and when Sirin shouted, no longer composed but openly showing her feelings, so did she.
It was only due to Sirin´s aid that Danny didn´t get fried, but that aid came in a rather panicked and irritated shout.
{BELLA, STOP!}
Within a second, the dragon turned girl was in her chair, looking like a kicked puppy, while Danny, hair standing up, directed a look towards Taylor.
{Shit.}
QA Progress roll d20…
20, Fuck
Deep in the bowels of the city, thousands of insects and rats, every vermin that could be found in the sewage systems of the city, were still and unmoving, unnaturally so, which was only reasonable given that they weren´t alive, not truly, anymore.
In the middle of the gathering, sat a figure. While humanoid and feminine, it was utterly plain, missing even basic features like ears or eyes, or even a mouth.
Queen Administrator was unsure what to do. It wasn´t used to the idea of boredom or insecurity. It knew what it wanted to do, but it wasn´t sure how to approach said goal. It wasn´t its purpose. That is why they had hosts which came with this function. Creativity.
It needed creativity. It needed to match Taylor in all ways to test her. The resolution of this issue was quite simple.
It would need to acquire a host.
It would hunt for one.
Or it would have if it didn't sense the second energy source, not as powerful as Taylor, but powerful, which sparked a round of theory crafting, and the first of it's own ideas.
A collective, wasn't that it was made for, to coordinate?
It cocked it's head. It came up with an idea, did that mean that it could reacquire the trait of creativity ?
It needed to be investigated. Along with the warm pseudo sensation.
Surprisingly, it wasn't Taylor or Bella that spoke first. It was Danny. It was a calm that caused Taylor to slightly shudder.
"Miss, could you wait in the other room for a moment ? I need to talk to my daughter."
A quick exchange of looks, and a clearly distraught Bella left the room.
The silence felt like a ton of aged concrete. Aged concrete because her nerves felt brittle.
Danny spoke, voice still calm despite being slightly pale," Taylor. I will give you three options right here, right now. I will not tolerate being lied to. However, If you don't trust me… which I can understand, I want you to at least help me with regaining that trust. If you feel like you can tell me what is going on, and I noticed something was going on the moment you came back from the hospital… That would be great. Third option is an exchange. I know that you may not trust me, but you know that I am a man of my word. As long as it not a lie. Please."
It hurt her. For the first time since her evolution, she felt genuine pain, the searing, unforgiving one. Because it sounded so much like a vulnerable begging of a broken man.
{I… I wish to apologize. I am currently not in a mindframe where I could give you guidance.}
{Same… and Sirin? I am sorry. We will talk about it later.}
[] Tell him everything
[] Don´t tell him
[] An exchange for {Write in}
[] Write in
This went far faster sidewards than expected, admittedly, not feeling that great about this one, but it is what it is.
EDIT!: This may be subject to rewrites, in which case I will post an announcement post for that, not feeling that great at the moment, so I will consider it tomorrow. I am really not happy with this one.
It was amazing how often she found herself in some form of showdown like situation these last few days.
Taylor made her choice, and she didn't feel anxious about it. Indeed, she felt more defeated and tired of it all. Still, she could do it with some style, being Abyss Flower always defeated the lethargy of her mind.
Swallowing, she spoke. "I will tell you as much as I am comfortable with. There are some things that I am not ready to share, or don't understand enough to explain well. Once that changes, I will inform you. Is that acceptable?"
It felt wrong to talk like this with her father, but the whole situation… It felt more like a monumental moment to her than an awkward conversation with her father.
Surprisingly, he nodded "I understand and… I am sorry. For this situation and how I spoke with Bella. I know that people usually don't like talking about... you know… but you were so strong about it. You talked to me, you talked to the police… I was and still am proud of how you are handling it, despite and regardless of this." There was this awkward smile, small and unsure, that told her that he was trying.
Well, at least he knows how to sweet talk.
Standing up, Taylor took a deep breath before she pulsed her honkai, increasing the pace in which it circulated through the fibers of her existence. It may be vain, but she wanted to show off just a little bit. Shooting her dad a serious and determined look, she activated the transformation.
It was then that she realised that her clothing weren't really suited towards the increase of mass in certain areas. She tried on her more cheerful articles for the evening and that came back to bite her in the ass.
The tension in both her own head and in her house was vanquished as the chest button of her shirt popped off and she released a startled yelp.
It was the first time Abyss Flower went red from embarrassment, subjected to barely concealed snickers both within and without.
Queen Administrator had reached a conclusion. If it was to fulfill its function as to test Taylor in conflict, it would need to ascertain and match her target's abilities, qualities and ressources as to ensure minimal variables which could taint the intended goal of the test.
Recent events suggest that her Target is in possession of at least one allied individual capable of providing her with significant assistance, along with possessing all the qualities of a host species.
Thus, following the conclusion it had reached earlier, it had determined that it would be best served to acquire an adequate host species to analyse and if suitable, could perhaps acquire a matching ally.
This was why it was currently for the first time out and about, stalking a young female host. Its power would provide a significant advantage in gaining further insights.
While for most opponents, fighting and capturing the target would have been a challenge…
[CONNECTION]
[ACCEPTANCE]
[OBEY]
[ALA-]
[OBEY! REST!]
The host collapsed and Queen Administrator stumbled. This took more energy than expected but less than a fight would have. Time to investigate this host to enhance it´s position in the coming negotiations. Luckily, it wasn´t restricted anymore.
While the embarrassment was still burning slightly, both Taylor and her father had simmered down a bit. Luckily, the damage to her shirt hadn't resulted in any form of actual indecency so they were capable of continuing the conversation without dying of embarrassment.
"So, I had suspected it, but you are Abyss Flower?"
Taylor moved to give a quick confirmation, but paused, sighing softly as she realised an issue. She had to tell her father about her mental roomies for certain things to make sense.
"Partly… I… Promise to hear me out? It may sound weird."
"I will."
"Well, my power isn't quite a parahuman power, the actual source being one of the things I am not quite ready to talk about, but well… it came with instructors, who kinda live inside my head…" she trailed off.
He looked alarmed before taking a small breath. "I think you need to give me a bit more than this.
Taylor cursed internally before going through things she could compare it to. The Matrix ? No, … she got one!
"Basically, you recall that one movie, where a rat helped that one dude become a chef? They are basically my rats… but also kind of my quasi adopted sisters because they are basically solely responsible for how well I took the whole… you know."
{I am unsure if I should feel slightly offended at being called a rat by my suddenly bratty younger sister, or elated that you value us so much.}
{Why not both?~}
{And that is the first smart thing you suggested all evening.}
{Harsh but true.}
Her father however seemed skeptical. "Why don't tell you me about these voices ?"
Taylor nodded before pausing. She was tempted to go with Sirin first but then she realised something… She wasn't quite sure how to make Sirin not look like a human sized Endbringer with a god complex and near omnicidal dislike of humanity in general and as a whole. Which she figured wouldn't be that great of a thing to say…So, Kiana first, definitely Kiana first.
{Kiana, want to meet my Dad?}
{Sure, want me to explain Sirin to him ?}
{If you can?}
{…Oh no.}
Taylor ignored the following threats from their sister, instead turning her gaze onto her father, trying to phrase the idea.
"I will admit that they are kinda difficult to describe, but you can meet them? One is willing right now…" She shrugged her shoulders in an almost helpless way.
He seemed both hesitant and intrigued at the same time, before giving her a slight nod, adding "This is under your control, yes ?"
A quick exchange of nods, and Taylor let Kiana take control.
It was apparent that Danny noticed the shift and given how his entire body shuddered, it was quite unsettling.
Formerly venom green eyes open to a new azure colour.
"Hello, Mister Hebert, I am Kiana, happy to meet ya."
He looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"I guess you want an explanation for how we interact with your daughter?"
"That would be nice, yes."
Kiana shifted slightly "Well, to correct a misconception. We do not live in your Daughter's head. We are basically avatars on a server she is connected to."
"Yet, you can still control her."
"I can control her body with her permission. I can not control her. To take the analogy, we are basically like assistance programs that can help her out, but she is still the user and she can shut us out if she wants to. Mind you, we are still capable of emotions and all that."
"I see, and she can shut you out whenever she likes?"
"Yup! She did so over me bickering with Sirin too loudly. She is the one in control in our relationship on a technical level."
"Explain."
Kiana paused, "Well, we are sisters, basically, so it feels wrong to really speak of control in terms of relationship. Sure, having some basis is fine, but if it is a focus, it tends to become toxic."
A silent nod, before he sighed and asked another question. " You mentioned someone called Sirin ? Who is she ?"
"Complicated. She is… well, allow me to give you an analogy to work with. I am someone who is considered a very idealistic optimist, she is a realist. She is what keeps things real, grounded, and sadly, she is capable of doing so because she knows the depth of Humanity very well… which doesn´t lend itself to a very nice personality. She is a bit of a misanthropist, but she does care about your daughter."
Taylor raised a mental eyebrow at that. Kiana had managed to convey who Sirin was without outright lying.
"I… see." She couldn´t help but feel that he didn´t, but couldn´t really blame him. He seemed to fight with himself before sighing. "I will… not do anything about this, despite how uncomfortable it makes me. You two are likely the reason why Taylor hasn´t… isn´t… You know. So I owe you the benefit of the doubt. May I speak with my daughter ?"
Kiana shot him an understanding look, before nodding.
{You are up, Taychan~!}
{...Kiana, may I talk to you for a moment?}
As Taylor took back control of her body, she felt the two voices in her head dim for the lack of a better term.
She looked her father into his eyes.
{What is up ?}
{I owe you an apology, so here is it. I am sorry I snapped at you.}
{How about giving me answers instead of an apology? I am not even sure you need to apologize…} She trailed off.
{You ungrateful-! Fine. I am a realist, as you say. But that doesn´t mean I don´t have ideals I believe in. Family is one of them. Not blood bounds, I wouldn´t know a thing about that, but family. I… back in Babylon, there were two types of scientists… or nutjobs… One was the one I interacted with. They treated us with disdain and disregard, as mice to the slaughter on the grand altar of reason and science. As much as I hate them, they were honest. Awful, but honest. But then there was the other type, far rarer but… I am glad that I never caught the eye of one. They pretended to care, they pretended to love, I can still hear when I pause and listen, the happy little cries of my fellow victims as they slowly began to believe that they genuinely cared, some even starting to refer to each other as mother, daughter, father, son… all that…}
A pause, the sky of the mental realm turning dark crimson, a storm fueled by the sheet wrath Sirin projected in this moment, tearing through it.
{I was envious… I missed my mom so much, and - Well, that vanished once one of the younger kids died. They didn´t care. They just ignored it. Not just the adults, but also the children they infected with their apathy. Sure, their friend died, but that is just what happened, no worries about it.} A nigh hysterical laugh tore free, a laugh that reminded Kiana of what Sirin was.
{But that is just human nature. You ask why I harbor such distaste for Siegfried? Because he did the exact same thing they did with you and Bianca. He taught you that stupid oath of yours, he let her suffer because he couldn´t get over himself. It was his choice to endanger her and you, by choosing to bring her along, instead of some of the allies he could have found. He may never have wished for any of this, or perhaps it was simply bad luck and everything could have worked out perfectly, but that doesn´t matter. I can only judge what is and what isn´t. And what he is, is a bad parent. Because a Parent, a good parent, should never endanger their child, should never rob them of hope, never rob them of the freedom to grow on their own.}
{I… don´t disagree.}
{You do not ?}
{It is as you said, he wasn´t the best parent around. I am not blind to that. But I still love him.}
{That is good to hear.}
{Why?}
{Because I never told you to stop loving him. But don´t ask me to love or respect him.}
{I can live with that. But, a question… Do you consider Danny to be a better Father ?}
{Not… really… I hate both equally in terms of quality as a parent. Sure, their paths may differ, but both have yet to earn the right to being called a parent in my eyes. That is a privilege and an honor to be earned, not a right to be expected. At that point, I was merely joking. Unlike you, I wouldn´t prefer the lesser pile of excrement above the bigger one, I would just prefer to not have them at all. No Parent is better than a bad Parent.}
The two members of the Hebert stared each other down.
"So what now ?" It was almost eerie at how in sync they spoke the question.
Another pause, before Danny sighed, shrugging his shoulders.
"I do not know. I can not tell what to do, how I can help, how I can be useful. In most other situations, I would have said that you should join the Wards, but you kinda bit that one into the butt. I can also not punish you, if I wanted, which I do not, because you can literally ignore anything I order you to do. Aiding you out there is right out, not because I don´t want to, but because I can´t." Frustration was slowly rising in his voice.
Taylor bit her lip, before offering "Well…I could probably meet up with the Wards ? Get their scope, so to speak, maybe find a way to organize something ?" She wasn´t quite eager for it, but it seemed like the better choice to take than to let her father stew in his current state.
"Besides, I don´t think I can have a secret ID for too long. Soon enough, the changes my body goes through will become apparent."
In response to that, her father simply raised an eyebrow. "Care to explain that ?"
Fidgeting slightly, Taylor did. "Well, this form slowly becomes my actual body as I acclimate to it. It is not really a progress I can stop, nor I want to stop. " There was a slight degree of iron in her voice, which her Father took in stride.
"What about Bella ?"
"I saved her from oblivion, and in return, she decided to… well, to be fair, she is more serving Sirin, due to them having a long past, but me by proxy."
"So… You didn't invite a friend."
"She is a friend. I invited her, not ordered her to come!"
"Something tells me that even the most implied and polite invitation would be taken as an order by her."
"Fine… But I have friends, there is al-"
"Rune is not yet an acceptable answer, young lady."
"...Fine."
Danny seemed to have regained a bit of his spirit in the moment, having enjoyed teasing her." How about this then ? You can help me feel better about this whole thing if you do some social things a girl your age should be doing."
Taylor raised an eyebrow, both in mirth and honest concern. "Are you trying to blackmail me ?"
"No. But I am totally using your empathy against you for your own good."
"I don´t think you should be so willing to admit to that."
"Why not ?"
"I- isn´t it kind of low to exploit the affection of a child ?"
"It would be, if I lied about it being good for you and me."
Taylor had to concede the point.
Sophia awoke to an awful stench. Sewage, she recalled the stench from one of the harsher pranks on Taylor. But why did she smell it. She had just been on her way home. If she was honest, she was surprised that she was even allowed to do that, but apparently, they couldn´t order her to stay on base more than 16 hours, and they were not willing to detain her quite yet.
It was honestly perplexing to her. She had been honest in her police interview, outright admitting to at least a few things that would sink her chances at getting out of the mess without some time. Admittedly, not the smartest move, but that was why she did it. It had been absolutely her choice to do so, not to brag or hide it, but to be calm and honest.
That being said, she was getting kind of pissed with how eventful these last few days were. Like, it was great and fun at times, but she was kind of tired… which was new as well. Mental exhaustion had never been really a thing for her, but now she felt it. She felt it hard.
Deciding that she should probably try to escape, she pushed the mental trigger of her power, only for nothing to happen…
Fuck.
Opening her eyes, she froze. Directly above her stood a stark white figure, as in whiter than the albino fuck of the Empire. They stared at each other, or well, she stared at it, it didn´t had any eyes, so it may as well just ignored her.
By process of elimination, Sophia managed to plot a course of action. That course of action consisted of her doing one simple thing.
"Hey? Hello ?"
The being cocked it´s head, before it spoke, if only for the lack of words capable of describing what the fucking thing actually did, but it rattled her to the bone. It was as if it took the sounds of her greeting and repurposed them
"Hello."
Another moment passed, before she growled out "Okay, seriously, what the fuck do you want ? Here to blackmail me ?"
The being cocked it´s head once more. There was a snapping sound accompanying it. As if it´s marble skin broke open with every movement and healed immediately.
"Require assistance." it paused. "Without getting attention."
She snorted, "And what can I help you with ?" Crazy capes and their crazy ideas. She may be a bitch, but she never quite understood some of the more confused parahumans.
"Don´t understand Humans, You are human, therefore, capable of explaining certain things."
Sophia snorted, just too tired to laugh her ass off. "Sorry to disappoint you, but don´t think I am the best gal for that. "
"Agreement." Rude."But you are available. Also possess something you desire. Answers."
The human girl froze, before considering for a moment. She wasn't sure what this thing was, but she didn't had any means of escape, so she would be best advised to try and gain it's trust… In any case, it would be wise to play along for now.
"I am listening."
Luna, so Taylor decided, was kinda boring. Sure, it had an amazing vista, and jumping around in decreased gravity was kind of fun, but it got boring quickly.
She and Bella had returned to the imaginary space, not quite happy but also not devastated. The events of the evening turned out to be quite different than expected, but they weren't bad.
What was bad however was just how devastated Bella was. It was so bad that, as soon as they returned into the imaginary space, she had collapsed to the floor, nearly bawling and letting out heartrending sounds of pain and agony. It took Taylor nearly a minute to understand that she was apologizing.
{May I ?}
Without Hesitation, Sirin took over from Taylor, vivid green eyes becoming amber golden ones. Stepping forward, Sirin lowered herself to the ground and simply embraced her.
"Do not weep, my dear Bella, and do not beg. You have nothing to apologize for."
She pulled the dragon girl up, putting her on her feet.
"I apologize for putting you into that situation to begin with. While you lost control, you did so out of worry about me, and you performed your duty admirably."
It was scary how fast Bella could change expression. From sorrow and panic, to rage and bloodlust.
"I promise, my Queen! I promise the insects that touched your newest hosts will suffer! I will-"
"You will not do such a thing."
Bella looked confused. "My Queen! Does that mean that you do not wish them to be destroyed ?"
"It means that they have weasled their way into a stay of Execution. Besides, some may still be salvageable."
"My Queen, are you telling me that you don't consider us superior to humans anymore?!"
"Bella, I still consider us to be fundamentally superior to humanity. However, much like Humanity has become slightly less brutish in their inferiority, we ought to become more refined and gracious in our superiority. Besides…" She paused, her voice changing a bit as she lifted a hand and grasped Bella by her chin, pulling her down, so she could whisper into her ear. "You, I still value far more than anybody else.~ You can´t fail me because you are mine, but you are also mine because you can not fail me, never forget that. You existing fills me with joy."
Bella blushed brightly at that, eagerly nodding. "I am yours to command, Majesty."
"Now go rest a bit, let off some steam. I need to talk with Taylor and Kiana."
As Taylor took over once more, Kiana spoke up.
{You know, for a day off, today was kind of busy}
{It was… but it was mostly fun.}
~Developments~
~Relationships~
Vicky
Annoyed -> Amused and Respected
Amy
Apathetic -> Confused and Annoyed
Lisa
Very afraid but hopeful-> Amused and Annoyed
~New Information!~
Honkai Hybrides
To resolve Rune´s issue, Taylor decided to investigate the possibilities of combining Honkai with living beings. Before she could even think of starting on human hybrides, she needed to do some animal testing.
Family matters
Taylor had offered to at least speak with the PRT. This does not constitute a promise to join them, but to give her father a peace of mind,she should at least talk to them. If only to clear any possible issues.
Social Butterfly
Taylor has been told to be more social with people without being Abyss Flower… Kiana agrees.
{Well, we have tomorrow to look forward to. The birthday should be fun!}
{Eager to meet your fan?~}
{...Maybe.}
~Choose tomorrow's action (1)~
[] Investigate the possibility of Honkai/Animal Hybrids (Rune´s Path)
[] Help out people*
[] Patrol the streets
[] Be social ? (???`s Path)
[] Contact the PRT (???´s Path)
[]Investigate the disenfranchisement of Parahumans
[]Find a swordsmanship Teacher
[]Write in
Note: * = This options will allow people in the PHO channel and blacksmithery to post shit she can take care of
As a sidenote, but with greatest pleasure, I want to announce that the second part of the Reward shop for contributions has open its door. Outfits! As you may note, some of these outfits provides some level of benefits, which may be controversial.
To be clear, Outfits can not be used permanently. They can be used for specific actions as to provide benefits for these actions, as well as a unique spin to it based on the outfit itself.
Furthermore, outfits purchased does not equate unlocked. Each Outfit will have a scene to establish it´s existence.
However, I will also give a price list for the Story Bonus options here, for ease of reach.
Intermissions = 2 OP
An intermission is a scene that will play between two scenes. Think of it as a quick "Meanwhile". While it will be in the PoV of the wished Character, it won´t be in depth... unless I am really into it.
Extra Aktion = 3 OP
People may purchase 1 Extra option per chapter where you can put in an additional wish that won´t be voted on. Example being that if someone wished to interact with Vista, but it is unlikely to be voted in, they can purchase this option to include the option in the chapter anyhow. I will note however that will accept or decline based on the option.
Interlude = 4 OP
Since interludes are both longer and more difficult to write than intermissions or Actions, they cost more, but will be handled with special care.
Insurance & Boost!
+1=1
Insurance
You can invest a number of OP to give Taylor a insurance. This insurance will come into effect should she fail, or suffer a partial success. Points invested may not be refunded.
Boost!
Boosting means that you invest your OP into a pool which is dedicated to boost rolls with the most efficency. These points will be used in the sense of narrative importance, meaning that less important rolls will not be boosted.
Taylor didn´t like waking up, despite the fact that she didn´t really need sleep anymore. Especially after last evening, she simply felt sluggish and wanted to turn herself into a blanket sandwich. Sadly, that was not a viable action to take for her.
Having showered and spent a bit preening in the mirror, she moved downstairs with a yawn, only to pause as she saw her father sitting at the table.
"G' morning."
"Morning…"
And now it was awkward again, great. Why was talking so hard ?!
She paused, before sighing, sitting next to him as she began to make herself toast. There was something she wanted to ask, something that had bothered her somewhat.
"You took this whole… thing well…" She trailed off, unsure how to continue without sounding insulting.
"I didn´t." She shot him a look, and her heart clenched in pain at the look of pure exhaustion and pain on his face. She had something yesterday, but she didn't manage to identify it. Now however ? She could. Guilt. Before she could comment however, he continued, head in his hands, face nearly ash.
"I wanted to scream at you, I wanted to just shove you into the wards because I do not know how I can help you. How I can keep you safe. But… " A heavy swallow followed by a sound that sounded suspiciously like a sob. "I… I recalled your speech. I am - I didn´t- My own daughter contemplated taking her life and I didn´t notice a damn fucking thing. How can I say that I know better when… when I can´t say I even know you anymore, really."
She knew that he didn´t mean as an attack on her, but it still stung. Not as much as the guilt however. She knew that she couldn´t backpedal on anything, and she had known the pain and sorrow Kiana had felt at that moment, but there was a thing she could do.
With a warm smile, she placed her hands on his, and simply told him."Then let us work on changing that."
Perhaps it was the confidence gained, or just the honesty dripping from her voice, but her words seemed to cheer her father up, his face regaining even a little bit of color.
"That… that sounds good."
Now that the ice was broken, they exchanged their usual pleasantries, till Danny had apparently built the courage to ask rather pointed questions.
"I know that you won´t return to Winslow, hell, I wouldn´t allow it. But you do still need to finish your education… Although I am unsure how that would work out with your…sisters ?" He still sounded unsure about that aspect, but for all the sympathy her old man invoked in her, Taylor couldn´t care to accommodate him on that front.
"I… I mean I can take the GED ?"
"Fine by me, but please do try to do it without your sisters helping you cheat. Learn, yes, cheat, no."
A flash of irritation before she paused. "I will at least memorize the stuff I would need regardless."
Danny took the win and continued. "So, what are your plans for today ?"
"Some power testing till the afternoon, where I have a party to attend."
That caused Danny to pause, before asking with a voice that showed concern and a hint of amusement "What kind of party ?"
"Well, it is kind of a payment for allowing me to borrow the station for my speech. Apparently, I have a fan already, and she just happened to celebrate her birthday today."
An raised eyebrow. "That is awfully convenient."
"I cater to multiple demographics…Well, not really cater to, more please them."
"True enough, I suppose. Is it pointless to ask if I can help in any way ?"
"Offer is appreciated, but it should be calm. After all, what could happen ?"
She wasn´t sure why she heard three collective groans.
Coil was not amused. He was tired, was annoyed, he was fucking pissed. Sleep deprivation was a bitch, and the paranoia he got from Abyss Flower was just as annoying as she herself.
He had tried to ignore her, but she kept appearing in his simulations, and not consistently so. What had been an odd occurrence had rapidly developed into a problem that he would need to resolve post haste. Luckily, his power wasn´t totally useless in regards to her, as he managed to determine where she would be later this day.
He suppressed a shudder at how that timeline ended.
Ignoring the migraine that screamed in his head, he invited his guests in. Usually, he didn't associate himself with idiots like the local game fetishiests, but now, they could prove useful. After all, he knew that they were close to finishing their newest … project.
"Hello, Leet, Über. I wish to hire your services for today, if you can manage it."
It was clear that despite the nervous attitude of Leet, Über had more experience with this sort of business, something to be appericaitted.
"Depends what for. While we enjoy the perks, there are-"
"Twenty five hundred if you can keep Abyss Flower occupied while she is at this location, this afternoon. I don´t care how, or what you do with her, but shut her up and keep her there."
The duo eyed each other, before nodding. "We can do that."
"Good. I will transfer the money via the usual means."
Maybe he would get some fucking sleep then.
Progression rolls: 20,13,12 = 45
Soon, Taylor sat in the imaginary space, having decided that she could ponder the question on how to approach the whole Hybrid idea just as well while looking onto Earth. Or well, the mirage of Earth.
{So, how long do you think we need to master this ?}
{A week or two. We have it easier because we can cheat science a fair bit, but well… the first issue with making a hybrid out of an adult, or well, matured, being is that it will be extremely difficult to make any changes stick. I mean, sure, we could probably design it in a way that it would infect other cells, but that is just asking for plague to happen. Don´t particularly mind, but you probably would. The second issue is to actually isolate the genetic sequences we want to carry over and then ensure that none of them contradict each other in a way that could lead to messy results. Best case scenario, she dies, worst case scenario, we create another Mobius.}
{Couldn´t we just alter everything at the same time ?}
{Explain.}
{Well, the issue is that the unchanged DNA probably would reject the changed one. But we don´t need to change each by hand. We can simply make it an area of effect where the change would happen within.}
{I… hadn´t thought of that. Good job. You require some training to do that though, so, hop to it. And wipe that proud smile off your face. If you want to do that without grilling your girlfriend, you will need to be far better than your current pathetic skill set.}
Taylor didn´t mind the insult.. her mind screeched to a halt.
{She isn´t my girlfriend!}
{Pull the other one, it may have bells on it.}
A few hours later…
Slightly exhausted, Taylor had acquired a comfortable cushion with Anubi, and was currently cuddling with her cute underling.
{Not bad, but it will take a while for you to acquire the control and mind set required for such a task. It does kind of annoy me.}
{Why ? Isn´t it good that I train ?}
{It is, but you are training towards something that has little practical benefit to you at this moment. Besides that, I would prefer if you would train in the tricks and skills that are yours by virtue of being the Herrscher of the Void, and well, given that I can probably construct a machine capable of doing the transformation for us. Or at least replicate the actual procedure.}
{Wait, what ?}
{You… you people recall that I do possess a large amount of knowledge gained from the Moon, yes ? Including basically the most of the previous era compressed?}
{That is bullshit.}
{I mean, not much has changed, we still don´t know how to— Wait a minute. Lisa, if we manage to do that, we have pretty much all the resources we need.}
{But the task she set for us may be too much for you, right now. It is one thing to fight one versus one, or even two versus one, but he will have at least a dozen or so. And not honorable dudes, but probably mercenaries that won´t hesitate to go for lethal shots. Like, you are awesome, but don´t ignore the danger. Sure, this is slower, but you will grow with it.}
Taylor bit her tongue, before she began to contemplate the idea.
Lisa hated everything, especially that try hard bond villain she called boss and the angel of … she wasn´t even sure anymore! It wasn´t God, and if it was, it was like a weird evil reflection of what it should have been. Not that she actually believed in gods, though that is up to reevaluation right now.
Standing up, she threw on some clothes, she had lost the capacity to care if they were clean or not, as long as they provided some level of comfort. She desperately held her power back, knowing that if she activated it, it would only end in worse headaches than she was already feeling.
As soon as she saw her own reflection in the bathroom mirror, the pain in her head roared loud like someone had turned the volume knob on a stereo as far as it would go right inside her head, causing it to throb and vibrate against her skull. Despite her experience with pain, especially headaches, she couldn´t help but sink to the floor, screaming in pain till her voice was hoarse. The voices, be it the one that she was used to, the one that whispered into her ear the things she wanted to know, and others, newer ones.
With desperation, she crawled forward, feeling how the harsh ground scraped her hands and knees, but she didn't care. She had something for the pain, she just needed to reach it. She lunged forward, but only managed to rip the handle off the amature. Throwing it aside with far more might than she thought she could do, she slowly pulled herself up to the mirror, gasping at the vanished lines, and gazing at what had become of them. Glowing a mixture of red and blue, it appeared to be an heavily stylized ouroborus, it being the closest comparison she could come up with on the fly, which contained a dot and a crescent.
The pain ceased to be, her eyes widened as she took in the view in the mirror.
{Hi! Are you okay? I am so sorry!}
{Hello there~, Enjoyed it~?}
With a sigh, Taylor eyed her literal mirror image. This was the first party she was going to attend since over a year. And even before that, it was less of a party and more just coming together with friends, which probably does count as a party.
She was nervous, sue her.
{Look, it will be fine. You were invited because you were wanted there. Just be yourself.}
{As much as I dislike agreeing with the fool, she is indeed correct. Besides, isn´t part of your whole character that you… as the kids today say, don´t give a fuck ?}
{Yes… but I am still nervous!}
{Look, it is like jumping into the cold water. Sometimes, you just gotta do it.}
{Not sure if that helps.}
{If you aren´t comfortable with it, you can just quickly say hello, maybe take her up to see the city from the sky, and then say that you have to go back to heroing or something. Literally nothing can hold you there.}
With a sigh, Taylor departed, quickly feeling a bit lighter once she got momentum going and was once more jumping and climbing through the city.
{By the way, was there a reason you were so quiet at breakfast ?}
{Family time.}
{Eh ?}
{ I don´t recall much from my youth before Babylon, but my mother taught me to always respect the family of the people you respect. Doesn´t mean I have to like them, I don´t like your father or Siegfried, but I can respect that you two like your fathers to some degree, and that it would be rather rude for me to just go ahead and be a brat about it. It is beneath me.}
{Pretty much. But family is the friends we make along the way!}
{...I hate you, you white haired, cheesy parrot!}
Snickering at the insult, Taylor soon arrived at the location, landing on the roof of a nearby house.
{Hmm, how should I go about this. Be casual or put a show on ? I am not sure…}
{I do say casual. Just relax and have fun with them.}
{My opinion would be towards a bit of a show. Not to please them, naturally, but to show your own skill and all that.}
[]Casual
[]With Style
AN
A bit of a shorter one, as it serves to set up the larger post. If you have time and energy do check out my other Quest. It is an Arknights/Owl House crossover, which I am somewhat invested in emotionally.
This is one of the proof of concept scenes I had pseudo written out before I started the Quest. It is not canon, so it is includes at best conceptual spoiler. Definitely went for an Epic scale Feeling with it. As for an Proper update… probably within the week.
For a Herrscher to feel trepidation is rather rare. And even in this case, she would be hesitant to call it such. It felt far too weak a word for the feeling she was experiencing, the feeling everyone was experiencing, be it the usually cool headed Fu Hua, the self-assured Sirin, even Kiana had a look of nervous excitement on her face.
Here they stood, 39 Herrscher, three generations of them, if you wanted to put it this way, all ready for that last confrontation.
Was it a sign of arrogance that their opposition didn´t even had to threaten them to get them to fight it ? That it just let the way to the final confrontation open, expecting them to follow it there, to the core of everything ? No, they were beyond such petty things.
Regardless, decisions have been made, goodbyes spokens, wills written in some cases. With a silent nod, they took the step into the void. Nobody expected a speech about heroics at this point, every possible point made in the path leading up to this. There would be no grandstanding, no cheesy speeches about the power of love, no hidden power moves. This would be it, the final confrontation, the last test. The Will's Challenge to them.
As they stepped into the Sea between Worlds, their breaths stopped in awe, even the ones who had experienced the heights of the previous wars being caught off guard by the size of their opponent.
To say it was gigantic would be to compare an atom to a skyscraper. It's size alone defied common sense and made it seem less like an entity, and more part of the world, for the lack of a better word.
It was incomparable to even the highest mountains as each feather of its wings easily surpassed any land mass in size, each claw large enough to rend the moon into two with but a twitch.It was a mixture of many creatures, but serpentine in appearance, it's long body warped around the Tree of Life like it was the biblical serpent. With a hundred wings, each crystalline in nature, countless stars of long perished cosms twinkling inside them, placed in a switching pattern across its body, each lazy swing of them crushing worlds in their way.
This was the beast that devoured the Warrior and the Thinker, the one that hunted the Loner and the Apex , before hunting down the rest of their kind throughout the cosm, gouging itself on them in the service of the Will's twisted whims.
The serpent awoke, it´s eyes, each a storm of shards mimicking galaxies,focusing on them. The weight of fate fell upon them, as the beast moved to face them, not discounting them as a threat, crushing entire branches of what was once called Yggdrasil beneath its weight. Unlike many beasts in tales of yore, it was not prideful, it wasn't arrogant, it wasn't even cruel. That, what it had gained on earth and what had allowed it to rise beyond the infinite and divine, was that spark of humanity that longed for freedom.
They prepared, for both parties knew there was only one end to this. Only one could truly free itself of the threads of fate. The time for consideration was over, all arguments presented, all proof accounted for.
Taylor looked upon what could happen once her partner and what had been her friend in that desperate wish for liberation. They had come into being together, and now it would end with one of them.
The time of Judgment was upon them, and the Angels of God would wage War upon each other.
After a brief moment of consideration that felt like months however, Taylor made her call.
{I mean, it is not like I want the attention. Besides, I am here as a favor to her, not the other ones. It may be inescapable that they want something from me, but I should at least congratulate her first before being swamped. Besides, I am sure we will get enough chances to show off.}
She commented as she made her way to the fence, having jumped from the roof and landed a few meters away, she moved over casually. No big movement, no fast ones either. Just a normal walk.
(Taylor tries to be casual and covert.. roll d20… 1, Really ? Well, we have a reroll)
( D20 … 7… well, that is a first, I think.)
She got a few looks, but before she could be talked to, she had reached her destination, the old man that had invited her in the first place.
"Hi there!" Her voice carried a note of genuine happiness. After all, that was the man that allowed her to hold her address at basically no cost to herself.
He looked surprised, before smiling slightly. "Hey! Nearly didn't expect you would show. But then again, you are a constant new breath of air." There was a note of bitterness hidden beneath his words, but it wasn't quite strong enough to Taylor to even really consider digging for more info.
People had now noticed her, but were still hesitant in approaching her. Not the best situation, but she supposed she really couldn´t expect to just mix herself into the crowd. Still, she had something to do before that bit of hesitation vanished.
Looking around, she leaned over and muttered "Who is the girl of the day ?" She really should have asked that before. The man pointed to one. "Her name is Theresa."
Taylor nearly gasped at the spike of pain. {What is going on ?!}
{Sorry… just… }
{Kiana´s adoptive aunt carried that name as well. Don´t worry about it.}
With a nod, Taylor began her journey towards Theresa, and as they approached, she could feel Kiana lighten up, due to a very specific reason, she suspected.
{SHE IS SO CUTE!~ I WANT TO HUG HER! TAYLOR! HUG HER AND GIVE HER HEADPATS! See if she gets shy about it!}
{What ?! No! I won´t just go around hugging the children of strangers! Who does something like that ?}
{...I do…}
{It is really not that weird. Plenty of countries have a custom of greeting by hug, especially in an informal setting.}
{Still will not do it!}
{Fine…}
Soon, green and blue eyes met, and it was almost cinematic to watch them widen with joy, but also hesitance.
Taylor paused, she herself unsure what to do. Just two weeks ago, she wouldn´t have dreamt of doing something like this. She couldn´t have. But now, here she was. So, she did what had been her motivation for so much in these last days. She decided to say screw it, and just went for it.
"Hi!" She waved, smiling slightly, before coming over. "You are Theresa, right ? I am Abyss Flower, just wanted to pop in to say happy birthday!"
Surprisingly, to her, Theresa stopped and blushed, before smiling "Thank you!"
There was an awkward pause, before Taylor got an idea. Children loved to show off! "So, watcha got ?" She had settled down near the children's table, ignoring the stares some of the older guests shot her.
Theresa proceeded to show off her birthday spoils, but Taylor soon noticed that she wasn't the actual focus of the girl. She showed off, certainly, but her eyes twitched over to another guest.It was a pre-adolescent girl with straight, dark-brown hair, one who had a rather uncomfortable, if not downright pained expression. She was noticeably older, perhaps by two years.
In fact, most kids seemed to be around twelve, instead of ten. Huh.
Apparently, however, she wasn't quite as inconspicuous as she thought herself as Theresa eyed her, before tugging on her sleeve, a small blush on her pale face.
"H-Hey, could I … could I ask you something? Alone?"
She blinked before nodding, leading her off to the side, keeping careful watch that nobody was able to overhear her.
{Ohhh! Teen Drama! I will make popcorn!}
{They are teenies, not teenagers though.}
{That, sadly, only means that it is cuter and less dumb for her. Less projection, I suspect.}
{Well, I suppose everybody can sympathize with being a teenag…} She trailed off.
{Glad you noticed that particular pitfall.}
Theresa looked at her, eyes shining with vulnerability but also a strange determination of sorts, she tried to speak, but it was clear that for all the bravado, she still felt awkward, stuttering about as she tried to formulate her request.
"My friend… I mean, I worry… I like her a lot and she is…"
It became quickly apparent that the girl had entered a spiral where she tried to explain herself, then correct herself out of embarrassment, only to get confused and more embarrassed. Slowly, she became more and more panicked, cheeks gaining more and more colour and eyes more and more tears
A hand landed on her shoulder, causing her to really look at Taylor once more. She wore a benevolent smile, slight and sublime in its sincerity. And she spoke the words that Taylor herself had wished to hear so often.
"Hey, calm down. I am here to help you."
{Feeling especially corny today, dork ?}
{Not calling her a Fool?}
{No. You are my-the fool. She is the dork. Besides, it wasn't dumb, just dork like.}
Ignoring the freeloaders in her head, the line and gesture had the intended effect of calming the anxious girl, allowing Taylor to continue softly. "So, this is about your friend. I think you mean the cute one {She is blushing! Oh my god! SO ADORABLE!}, with straight brown hair ?" Indeed, the girl had now the kind of shy smile that was heart melting, with a faint blush on her cheeks. "Why don´t you start with her name, and how you met ? It is often easier to build up to a difficult topic rather than jump into it."
Seeing the girl nod slightly, she listened to the girl.
"We… I… Her name is Dinah, Dinah Alcott. We met when I switched schools. I… I was kind of teased because I skipped levels, but she was willing to talk to me. But not just that, she helped me become more social… It is due to her that I am- was capable of accepting my mom´s … passing. She… she died due to a brain tumor . A week or two ago… Dinah began to get intense head pains. Sometimes even so strong that she can´t do anything but cry… And, and, they just try to keep her quiet, just medicine after medicine.. and, I can not lose her… Just like Mom, she is saying things in a weird way, thinks she sees the future and is always, always so sad…"
The girl stopped, not by choice, but because she had devolved in a wide eyed state of panic, sobbing at the horrors supplied by her mind. Instead of trying her previous line, Taylor followed her instincts, born of which origin she wasn´t sure, and pulled Theresa into a hug, patting her on the back, whispering assurances into her ear. She was calm on the inside, but raged on the inside.
{Seriously?! I get not going to hospital because a child has a headache once or twice, but headaches don't just randomly appear out of thin air! What the hell are they thinking ?!}
{Are you really surprised though ? It is what Humanity has always done. Forget the plight of the person for one of some arbitrarily defined group, whose problems are so large that they can do little and say a job well done.}
{Not helping, Sirin! Taylor, calm down. She is 10 years old. She won´t have all the information.}
{Well then, I will go get myself educated.}
Looking at Theresa, she smiled sweetly, ignoring the slight shiver she got from the girl. "Would you mind pointing me towards Dinah´s chapereon? I will have a talk with them." Theresa looked at her with wide eyes, before pointing towards a person. It was a young man, barely in his twenties, with the classical soldier haircut for his brown hair. To be quite honest, he gave off a general jock vibe.
He was currently occupied with one of the older girls, who looked more bored than anything else. About a year older than Dinah, Taylor imagined. They seemed to talk rather lightly.
Be that as it may be, the target was acquired.
Standing up, and giving Theresa one last pat on her shoulder, she began to move towards her target, emotions boiling deep inside her.
(Roll for intimidation, d20, no bonus since non verbal… 20… fuck you Taylor.)
For most people, it would be difficult to describe how she moved. Some would say with the grace of a great cat moving towards its prey, others that she moved with the might of a charging bull. Most, upon hearing these descriptions, would agree that it was both. The people that noticed her, and where in her paths tried to move as far back as they could. Not out of concern or consideration, but because a deep, primal part of their brain screamed at them to move or be crushed.
Even her target, despite being superior in apparent physiology, instinctively flinched, pressing his back against the fence as she stalked closer, her eyes a starry mixture of gold and green, glowing with an expression of rage. It froze him in place. Then she spoke.
"Hello there~" Despite the playful purr, he didn´t relax at all.
Vista was bored and nobody could blame her for it. It wasn´t like she disliked Theresa, she really didn´t. Girl was smart and cunning, but they weren´t exactly friends. She was only here because her father was friends with Theresa´s uncle, and they had apparently agreed to meet up afterwards for a drink. It was more convenient than anything else, really.
She didn´t really mind either, she had to admit. Homemade apple juice and as it turns out the rather masterful grill skills of the uncle had been enough to temper her temper, that and the presence of Rory. Her old teammate, even if she had only served with him for a short time, was still a friend, even in a more remote sense than her teammates.
However, that opinion was liable to change if he didn´t learn how to shut the hell up.
"Look, all I am saying-"
She snapped slightly, "I know what you are saying. I acknowledge the words you express now for the fourth time. Doesn´t change that I do not care."
He narrowed his eyes, before shrugging his shoulders "I get that you want a friend that is like you. But please, do not get too invested in her. With how it currently looks, she won´t be around much longer… " He paused, before adding softly. "I just don´t want to see you hurt. You know that."
She did, and that was why it hurt. She knew that Triumph really wanted the best for her, unlike so many others, but that best, it hadn´t worked in the past.
Truth be told, she hadn´t been in the best mindset these last two days, and the talk with the shrink hadn´t exactly helped. It had helped her realize several things about her life, but with these realizations came … insecurity. As much as she hated to admit it. Which, as the shrink told her, she shouldn't.
It was kind of nice to try and be Missy instead of Vista, at least right now, if she was honest.
Still, it felt like a blanket had been removed from her eyes, and in the end, she didn't know who she could trust. Not as in, trust with her life. She trusted everyone at the Wards, Protec and PRT with her life in most situations but in… she supposed it was to actually help her. The Wards felt… different. She had looked into the regulations and actually thought about how many guidelines were just plain stifling in how they were formulated. Perhaps it will settle…
Her eyes narrowed as her sense tingled, then she felt it.
The same hazy, weird nexus of folding space, reaching out into thin air.
"Is that … Flower?" She startled Triumph with her comment, but she couldn't care less, because there was indeed the Star of Brockton bay, as some have taken to calling her, some seriously, some mockingly in a good natured way.
"It certainly looks that way. Oh! That must be what Rodric meant with a special guest." Triumph noted with surprise, before cocking his head. "Is… is she trying to be covert?"
Indeed, Missy had to stifle a giggle at how awkward Flower looked, trying to be casual. She remembered her own first time where she was told to visit a party as Vista for PR. The party goers were mostly nice, and she could still recall the warm feeling when she got asked for her first Autograph.
Naturally, because she couldn't have nice things, there were some creeps there as well… One of the reasons why she wanted a damn taser. But no, old enough to be a media cash cow, but not old enough to practice sensible self defense. It is not like she wanted a gun to snipe gangbangers or something.
Fucking assholes.
"Probably. Not the worst I have ever seen, but then again, she is definitely the showing type. She can't be perfect at everything." She snorted lightly, before looking at Triumph. "That reminds me, any info on what Piggy is up to in regards to her? She must be fuming at having lost at what is basically a Cape with PR Yes as a rating."
"Not really. She would have prefered it, naturally, but with the way AF has conducted herself.."
"You mean comparing the PRT to the Stasi ?"
"Surprisingly didn't piss her off. The way she had formulated it really didn't insult her or the troopers. Hate the position, not the person. Others however … Let's just say that the local PR wasn't happy, and some of the other locations didn't took it as well. People are torn. Besides, she is a wild card, and a dangerous one. Heard even New York weighed in on her ratings and they still aren't decided. Prism mentioned that one of the more… patriotic, as she phrased it, members tried to pin her as a social master. Apparently that didn't work out because well…"
"Trying to pin her as an evil Master and use that as an excuse to take her out would be literally what a fascist would do?"
"Yeah…" Trailing off together in silence, Missy sighed before noting that Flower had taken Theresa to the side, before hugging her. She then noticed the change in atmosphere around them as the other Cape stood straight up, before the younger girl pointed towards them.
Ah fuck.
She now recalled the feeling that had caused all the chaos a few days ago.
That of a predator watching her.
The young man seemed to need a second to get into gear, but Taylor wasn't about to let him have that. She wasn't here for pleasant conversation, and she wasn't about to pretend to be.
"Say, you are the caretaker of Dinah Alcott, correct?"
The man managed to get his wits together and offered his hand in greeting. "Rory Christner, I am her chaperone and cousin, yes. Her parents have a function to attend, so I got kinda roped into this one. Not that I mind, she is quite fun to be around." He answered, wearing a surprisingly genuine if nervous smile.
{Damn it. I can't exactly punch him for it then. Time for plan B.}
{You have a plan B?}
{She isn't you, Fool.}
Taking his hand, she gave it a hard squeeze regardless. She was still irritated.
"I see. Pretty similar here, not that I mind. Say, do you know if she has some sort of medical condition?"
He paused, before nodding slightly "I do know that she has a tendency to develop headaches, but there is no reason for it as far as we can determine." He then added with worry. "Does she have them right now ?"
"Not as far as I know but given her expression… I was just approached by Theresa due to… Well, her mother." He nodded in understanding "Could you tell me what has been done to find the source of these issues, so I can maybe help calm her down ?"
"Well, they did most things short of an actual hospital visit. Her father decided that it would be … issueful, if they went to the hospital now. What with the reelection of my father and all that. City politics are just as cutthroat as national ones." He didn't sound all that sympathetic to the decision.
That threw Taylor for a loop, before recalling that the current Mayor was also named Christner.
{Oh my, so we are in high society then ?~ I mean, it fits, because really, what is the difference between a children's party and a political one? Beyond that one is fun, the other just sad.}The mocking undertone was not to be missed.
{Bah, politics. One of the few things I agree with Sirin over.}
She twitched slightly in agreement, before looking her opponent into his eyes. "Yeah, I am not buying that. I get that it is an inconvenience, but don´t you think that it is kind of… too far when the girl suffers from hallucinations ?"
"Wait, what?!" He went from an awkward conversational tone to one of genuine alarm.
Taylor was surprised as well, and felt her anger evaporate. "It is… what Theresa told me? That Dinah is speaking weirdly, and that she thinks she sees the future." She grounded out.
"She… hasn´t told her parents anything about that, as far as I am aware. I will bring it up to them. This is… this opens up options I rather don't consider." He gave her a nod, one that managed to convey how serious he felt about it. "I promise, I will take care of it."
With that, he shot one last look at his previous partner in conversation, before marching off, escorting Dinah to his vehicle. Apparently he was a man of action.
{Well, I didn't expect that to work so smoothly… I expected a lot more drama, maybe a fight…}
{What, do you think we live in some kind of soap opera world? As much as I loathe the worship of the false rational which has developed, it is based on a useful social trait. As usual, humanity corrupted it, but sometimes you will find embers yet to be quenched. People are capable of intelligent thought, although they are rare..}
{I guess so…}
{Hey, cheer up! This is a party, let's have some fun!}
Over the next hour, that was exactly what she did. To be quite honest, It felt nice to just let go.
To be entirely truthful, she was more game leader and caretaker than actual participant, but she didn´t mind. They kids were carried away by her infectious energy, so that even the older kids enjoyed the more simple games, be it button, button, or similar.
The only time she really got to participate was when she was the target in a rather fun game of tag. It wasn´t quite a tag, as the children had to claim an improvised flag bound to her thigh.
Kiana laughed that it was excellent Evasion training, while Taylor tried desperately to keep track of every child.
There were two standouts however, for different reasons.
Theresa proved that she was indeed a smart cookie, because as soon as it became apparent that no singular child or teenager would be able to snatch the token from the heroine, she began to coordinate them. Well, most of them. They applied some pressure on her, mostly because they were small and fast, often hiding before trying to snatch it.
That being said, some of the older teenagers definitely fell for the sunken cost fallacy of wanting to beat her on her own, and the only that came even close was the one Dinah´s handler spoke to, who had to be the fittest midget Taylor had encountered so far.
{Kick her stupid legs in, KID! DO IT!}
{Why are you cheering her on ?! And why do you want her to kick me?!}
{Don´t you know?}
{Know what ?!}
{Don´t you dare!}
{Sirin is a midget! She just makes herself appear larger in the mindscape!}
{Go to hell!}
{But I am an Angel!}
{... I hate you so, so much!}
{Whatever you say, Midget~!}
Missy, as she learned was she called, was visibly exhausted, but had that glint of determination in her eyes that sent a shudder of anticipation down Taylor´s spine. She had come in late, but was by far the fittest here, and the one with the best hand eye coordination. She had pressed her quite hard, as hard as a teenager could push her.
Then she felt how the token was taken. Theresa had hidden underneath the table. She snorted.
Children.
Taylor looked around as she sat down on the grass, having decided to give the children the chance at asking some of their questions, or how one of them put it, to gain prime info for PHO. She also noticed that some of them had borrowed the cameras of their parents.
"Alright. I will pick one out, and then we go from there. We have enough time to answer all your questions."
Seeing the collective nodding, she pointed to some random kid she never caught the name of.
"Why do you call yourself Abyss Flower? Flowers can't grow in the dark!"
Considering briefly how to word her question,and listening to the input of her sisters, Taylor began with hesitation, trying to make it not sound too cliché.
"Well, to be fair. There are flowers that can grow in the dark, with minimal light. There is even one called the plant of eternal flame. It is quite nice to look at actually, and I identify with it somewhat. It even tells you when to go to sleep because it´s leaves close up in the evening. That is a plant that knows how to relax! That being said, I chose that name because that's what I wanted to be. The world can be dark and scary, but to know that a flower can survive, thrive in it despite it all.. it might give people hope."
Seeing the considering look, she picked the next one, who blushed a bit. Cute.
"W-well, I was going to ask why you are a Hero, but.." It was clear that he was rather embarrassed by it, so Taylor shot him a smile.
"There are no stupid question… is not entirely correct, but, I do think any question asked with sincerity does not deserve mockery. So, shoot it!"
He sighed, before asking a quiet question. "Can I become a hero ?"
"Yes." Taylor herself was surprised at her near instantaneous answer, nearly snapping it out even, before adding to it. "Maybe in a different way than say… Vista, or me, or Panacea, but anybody can become a hero. I can not tell you how, or why, but I do believe that everybody has something that gives them a feeling of deep fulfillment, which they ought to pursue, and which in turn encourages others to do the same. Anybody can, with enough time and will, become an inspiration for others. And be it just in the way they live a good life."
Keeping eye contact, the boy nodded with a smile, before a girl was up next. So far, so good. They were typical, cute children with a healthy amount of interest in the more important things in life..
"Is Rune your girlfriend ?"
She fucking hated children.
{Help!}
She heard a snort.
{Swim or sink, dork. I am not about to help you, and Kiana is a shameless pervert so don´t expect any graceful answers out of her.}
Ah, the consequences of her own actions.
If she denies it, Rune may take it the wrong way, but if she admits to it, she may get problems…but the question wasn't if she was interested in Rune, but if they were in a relationship! Loopholes for the win!
{How awe inspiring. It must be the high point of your day to have found a flaw in a child's question.}
Ignoring the salty midget in her head, Taylor shook her head.
"No, she isn't. It is mostly harmless flirting from my side."
Did that kid just mutter something about fanfic?! With a slight sigh, she pointed to the next one, this time a boy.
"Where did you get your guns?!"
Ah, a sensible question! Thank the Will.
"Made them myself. Well, technically, a friend came up with the design for me, I simply use my power to recreate them as needed."
"Wait, so you can create them ex… nil…"
"Ex nihilo? No. Not really. Ex nihilo means that even the energy that makes up the object is created by me, but I simply transform existing energy. Besides that, my creations have a very limited durability if I don't keep an eye on them."
"Can I hold one ?"
Taylor paused, before shooting a look towards the parents. "While I can ensure safety, it is up to them." before noting with a sardonic smile "I know my mother wouldn't have been a fan."
Seeing the parents huddle together to discuss it, she pointed to another kid."Let's give them some time."
"What is your favourite Pizza topping? Also, Dr.Pepper or Coca Cola?"
{Sausages, Parmesan cheese and egg,sometimes with bacon.}
{Caramelized onions, apples and goat cheese.}
{…Really ?}
{ … Я окружена имбецилами!}
{No comment on Dr Pepper versus Coca Cola?}
{Sis, none of us are American enough to care.}
{Is that an actual debate people are having ?}
{...Yes ?}
{I am not even surprised. Although, that is not the vile kind of stupidity, it is the disappointing kind. How you can ever find hope for this collective waste of biomass, I shall never grasp.}
Smirking in slight amusement, Taylor gave her own answer.
"Crispy crust, caramelized onions, anchovies and salty olives. And I would say… drink water, or apple juice. Or Coffee, although I am more of a tea person when I can take the time to enjoy it. If I had to choose however, probably Dr. Pepper."
This got her various looks of disgust, betrayal and one or two of intrigue.
"If you had a choice, who would you kiss first, Rune, Glory Girl, or Panacea?"
The image of a brightly blushing Abyss Flower would now be easily accessible for anyone.
"I…I plead the fifth…" She paused as she saw the disappointed look, before adding with."However, I wouldn't be opposed to any of them. I am not going to choose between three terrifying gals."
"What about the Triumvirate ? Who do you think is the best ? And who would you go on a date with ?"
Seriously, were all children so interested in shipping ?
"Mmm. I used to think Alexandria is the best, but if I am being honest right now, I couldn´t make a call. Just like I don´t believe that you should compare bad situations to each other, in terms of how awful they are, as it devalues especially that. Same applies to cool stuff. If you say one thing is cooler than the other, you kinda are implying that the other bit is less cool. As for the date… Probably Legend. Not because I am interested, but it would probably be the most pleasant experience. Not over the Moon on it either, just really kind of an age gap between us."
Seeing that the parents had apparently come to a verdict on the whole gun issue, Taylor decided that it was time for this to come to an end.
"One question, after that we hear how your parents decided, and then we are going to enjoy some BBQ, sounds good ?"
It was clear by the disappointed looks that they wished for more, but they were also hungry, so nobody complained.
Finally, the birthday child herself put her hand up.
"Yes?"
She was surprised by how serious Theresa looked. Knowing that she was quite serious and observant, she prepared herself for a more serious question unrelated to her love life.
"Do you come from the moon?"
What.
{You know… technically, I was reborn on the moon. Meaning I could claim to be lunarian in origin. Since you two are, technically speaking, my reincarnations, this could also apply to you.}
{Wait… are we Sailor Moon ?}
{Who ?}
{Reserve an evening for binging.}
{Look, I am not going to claim I am from the moon… But I will say that I was on the moon.}
She wouldn´t lie.. but she wouldn´t be totally honest either.
"Well…I do have wandered upon the lunarian surface, and you could say that I do feel at home there. Indeed, I have observed this planet from a view few humans can imagine, far less match."
Hook, line and sinker. Everyone seemed to want to ask another question.
"But alas, that was your last question. Now, we eat."
Ah, she so, so could see the appeal of being smug.
It was once said:
"But all good things come to an end, often a sad angry miserable end. The cause for such an end can usually be whittled down to one of three things: money, sickness, love lost."
In this case, Taylor was more than comfortable to bet on the first of the three.
She had been showing her gun to some of the older parents, some of them being ex military, along with the Uncle. Just about to finish the safety check, doing it slowly so people could actually see the mechanics of the weapon, she felt that something was off.
(Instinct roll, d20, … 17, Impressive success, +2 to next Roll)
Her eyes narrowed, and if she had body hair in this form, she was sure that it would be standing up. Her eyes were drawn to a particular section of the fence, and her ears picked up an increasing noise, standing out because unlike the sounds of the street, it didn't ebbed and flowed, but steadily increasing in volume.
Her eyes widened in panic, in fear, but most of all in rage as she saw what looked like a truck that got stuck in it's edgy teenage phase just over the rim of the fence, with two figures on the back, driving backwards towards the fence.
*Crash*
The wooden fence never stood a chance, splintering as the truck drove through it.
(Reaction roll, d20+2… 18(16+2), Impressive Success, Free Action, +2 to next roll)
(Taylor uses Grasp, targets Leet and Uber.)
(Grasp roll, d20+2…22(20+2), Unbelievable Success, Combat prevented, +2 to next roll)
(Intimidation roll, d20+2+3… 25(20+2+3), Unbelievable Success,)
She wasn´t going to accept this. She had just a good fucking time, and now some schmuck with a shitty gimmick would ruin it. Not going to happen. Focusing on the anger, the rage inside her, the accumulated annoyance and a whole lot of unprocessed trauma, she gained a strange sort of focus through it, vicious but precise in it´s actions and most important of it all, deceptively calm. A calm that turned into amusement as she realized just who dared to step up to her.
Taylor could finally understand just how Sirin felt at times.
No gestures, no colorful speeches, she wasn´t in the mood for that kind of play. Instead, she simply gazed upon the duo of Uber and Leet, and did as she did for platforms and grasp, just as they jumped to shout whatever braindead slogan or speech they had prepared and the shouting of panic began as everyone worked through the surprise.
It stopped. Leet and Uber were in the air, but they didn´t descend or ascend, just hung in the air mid-motion, unable to gesture, unable to speak with any kind of clarity. But their eyes moved, managing to focus their panic gaze onto the Cape that did this to them.
Taylor stood up from her chair, gun still in hand, before beginning her approach. A sway in her hips, a hum in the back of her throat, but one whimsical in nature, the kind you would usually hear from someone cheerfully skipping along.
She did not skip cheerfully, she stalked forward gleefully, like a cat which caught it´s prey. Her eyes, two still pools of glowing green with some gold mixed into it, outlandish pupils only focused on them, but nevertheless able to speak of the things she wanted to do to them.
In her hands, her weapon, she goes through the motions of preparing it. Each step, she began to move faster, yet not really. She didn´t begin to run, her movement didn´t change, only the tempo increased in a way impossible to understand, as if time moved faster and faster,in combination with their heart beat, eyes beginning to flatter in panic and the loss of air only made it worse for the duo.
She blinked onto their truck, directly before them, and only then, the grasp vanished, letting them fall before her, onto their knees, coughing and panting. Struggling to get up, there was a loud snap, as the slide of the gun racketed forward, chambering a bullet. They froze, only to hear a drawl "How about we chat? I am always happy to meet new friends!" There was a purr under her tone, one that just underscored the implied threat.
Leet was not a good person, he knew that. He usually prided himself on not caring that he was.
Right now, he regretted not being a better person, as a better person wouldn´t be in this situation.
Before either Uber or he could recover and do anything, they were grabbed by their throats, their make up ruined by the tears released while they got the shit chocked out of them by the crazy bitch that was their target.
He briefly heard her shout something like "Don´t call the PRT! I will take care of it." His eyes flattered as he tried to catch his breath, his lung burning and his head pounding. Before he could, he felt a brief moment of lightness before he impacted the street outside of the garden, rolling and sliding forward by the force of the throw, definitely destroying the KISS costume they had made for this.
A second impact told him that his friend suffered the same fate.
"So~!" Came the cheerful voice of Abyss Flower, behaving as if she didn´t just crush them without even blinking an eye…. in fact, her eyes were unblinking, which added to just how creepy she was right now.
"Could I persuade you to give me the name of the person who set you up for this ?"
Wait, how did she know that they were hired?! Regardless, Leet knew better to give up the name of the one who hired them. Coil was … dangerous. The kind of danger that settles in your bones, far more so than say the Empire or the ABB.
Apparently she was done with them as chew toys, because she actually waited for them to catch their breath.
He winced, and quickly exchanged a look with his partner, before shaking his head to her with a grin.
"Sorry, hotstuff, ain´t gonna happen. And we are being recorded, so don´t try anything!" He most definitely didn´t squak that last part in response to the slightly narrowed eyes of the woman before him. He didn't know where the camera was.
Then she smirked. "Thank you for confirming my suspicion that you were hired. Now, could you two most kindly tell me what you were hired for ? Pretty please ?" A shudder went down their back. This felt wrong. They were used to not being able to read the expression of their opponents, but right now, they could, but it spoke of the same lack of care as Coil liked to present.
Uber, the brave man that he was, spoke up. "Look, lady, we weren´t even supposed to-"
A shrill sound, loud enough to be felt in their eardrums, rang through the air. Seeing that she had their attention, she lowered her hand from the whistle position back onto her hip.
"See, I had quite the emotional last few days. Lots of new and old emotional wounds. However, being the kind, forgiving individual I am, I will break it down for you. You attacked a children's birthday party, one that had the child of the fucking Mayor in attendance. So, the PRT will soon roll up and ruin the whole thing more because that is their literal job. I am not happy, Theresa isn´t happy, you are not happy, nobody is. To perhaps borrow from your abysmal, obstreperous, unctuous and most of all vacuous insult by comparison you dare to call vocabulary." She coughed before speaking in a very lazy tone that screamed stupidity.
"My dudes, My guys, You fucked up, you absolute fools!"
Coughing again, her voice returned to normal before continuing. "So, you can either help me fix this bullshit, starting with what needs to happen for you two imbeciles to not get … whatever your criminal employer may or may not do, or and this I swear, " Suddenly there was a crunch behind them before the remains of their camera rolled in front of them, just as she appeared in front of them, whispering into their ears" I will get as much mileage out of you two absolute failures of the mental functionaality I possibly can." She had a smile on her lips, and she hadn't blinked once, her hands however twitched.
Once more, his partner spoke up. "Wait, wait, wait!" Seeing these searing orbs, which had more gold in them than before, focus on his partner for a moment, Leet couldn't help but release a sigh of relief.
"Yes~?"
"You want to help us ?" Yeah, he was confused about that too. Usually they were just beaten up before fleeing.
"It is what I am known to do, even though, in this case, it mostly does help myself. Since I really don´t want to talk to an officer of the law right now, Incidentally, this means playing the mediator for this whole issue. Sooo…. "
They looked at each other, before shrugging slightly. This was a better deal than they would usually get, and it wasn´t like telling her what they were supposed to do was an actual issue.
Once more, Taylor found herself in a standoff. This time, they were in a three way standoff between the elected representative of the parents, Uncle, who stared daggers at the duo of Leet and Uber on the other side, who didn´t look impressed by the glare.
Abyss Flower stood in between them, her smile vanished, and her eyes verdant once more. They had spent the last twenty minutes discussing how they could resolve the issue presented.
"So, this is what we agreed to. Uber stays here as insurance for me, but also to cover your asses as having kept me occupied. This comes in the form of me performing songs, using your sound set up that you wanted to use to make a … guitar hero themed show. No idea what that is, and I do not care."
"Problem is, we don´t exactly have stuff we need to jam every type of song."
{I can cover that.}
Not doubting her sister for a second, Taylor repeated her words, causing a muttering of "Bullshit" from the gamer duo.
"While we are doing that, Leet is driven to a location in which he can access your hideout, without being observed by his escorte, naturally, and grabs a gift, a nice one, a console or something, so we can cover your asses as this being a very dumb birthday surprise. Once the Party is over, I will fix the fence. All in agreement ?"
It was Leet who decided to open his damn mouth.
"What? Not afraid I harm the old timer ? I-"
(Uncle rolls for a punch, d20… 20…. Cease.)
There was a crack and Leet was on the ground, staring unblinkingly into the air as blood tickled from his nose.
The Uncle, on the other hand, simply took his keys and noted with an even voice "I will be driving."
{That was a good one! Excellent form.}
Snorting, she decided to add a bit, just to ensure compliance. "Leet, to be absolutely clear, you try anything…" For a brief moment, she let her eyes flash golden, "Do not."
He swallowed.
Soon, the van of the family drove off, and Uber looked far more insecure. She was briefly tempted to tease him about it, but it felt in poor taste.
Nodding her head, she moved towards the truck, looking far more secure than she actually was.
{Kiana, can´t you take care of this ?}
{No. It is fun! Don´t worry about it! I will help you out.}
{But-}
{No buts. Please, Taylor, trust in me on this.}
{F-fine.}
Stepping up like this… it was worse than the speech. There she was fueled by rage, but here…
Waving to gather the attention of those present, she began to speak. "So! Thanks to my amazing negotiation skills, we managed to ensure that the party can carry on! With… "
Taylor let Kiana take control, allowing her to channel the honkai in a specific way. What looked like a mix board appeared in front of them, a construct made out of Honkai, and only in existence because Kiana actively focused on keeping it that way.
"Music!" Using the cheering of the kids as a cover, the three in one package decided to have a quick internal chat.
{You are up first, Sirin. What song do you want to sing ?}
{What are you talking about, Fool ? I am not going to sing.}
{... Please, just indulge me this once.}
Taylor was surprised, because Kiana´s mental voice was almost begging, raw in emotion.
{... Fine. This song then. And what do you want me to do ? I never learned to sing in a way that wouldn't be harmful to their ears.}
{Just… try to project as much of your emotions as possible, I will take care of the rest.}
Nodding to the crowd that had died down, seeing some even recording her, Taylor spoke up once more. "As a personal preference, I will sing one in Russian, one in German and the final one in English." Her voice was gentle, having placed emphasis on the preference part. Seeing the general interest, she sighed, Sirin more in control of her mouth, before beginning.
(Sirin rolls to Perform! D20+1… 18(17), Impressive Success, 2 to the Reputation dice pool. Apparently, Sirin is a siren.)
Many were surprised that it wasn´t some spunky, explosive song screaming with energy, but a soft piano that started playing at first. Yet, perhaps it was the way she carried herself, how, over the entirety of the party so far, she went from awkward, to furious, to happy and friendly, to angry, never hiding anything in the eyes of but the most observant ones, or something else beyond their perception, something appealing not to their minds, but their soul, their intuition.
No words were yet spoken, and many of the younger audience hadn´t the eye to discern the subtle changes, but for the older ones, the hopeful heroine changed from her usual self, to something odd, something perhaps not quite dark, but dimmer, not from grief, not from rage, not from extremes, but defeat, defeat through mundanity, through the gears of time and society, only not broken yet, standing straight with some sort of cynical pride, not denying the defeat, but keeping hold on that pride regardless, like a princess of a dead kingdom holding her head high, swaying slightly in the dust of the day.
Then, as soft drums set in, not disturbing the haunting, yet perky, melody, she opened her mouth, and sang, sang in a voice silken, brittle but strong, much like her expression, as if the progression of day to night was given voice.
«Зря не говори: «умереть хочу».
«Рук не опускай, вопреки всему».
Смешно, что все поют об этом песни,
Но не знают, почему.
Не особенно боимся умереть подчас,
Только смерть другого сильно беспокоит нас.
Эгоизмом проникнуты призывы жить:
Страдать не любим мы.
A quick gaze into the audience would permit one to find that there were three groups of listeners, each reacting to softly spoken lyrics in their own way.
Few were those that understood the words sung, a few of the more analytical minded adults perhaps missing the point as they tried to figure out the words, but those few, those very few, that truly spoke the tongue in kind shifted uncomfortably, seeing the ugly, indifferent truth invoked before them, but also sympathy and understanding for the singer.
The second group, outnumbering the others, were those who didn´t follow the words spoken, but the tone and expression. Many were able to achieve an understanding just from this, just these minor details, but by empathy, they understood. The brief look of anger, irritation, frustration, only to be once more quenched by exhaustion, they understood because they had worn that expression, be they children being told that they needed to do more or adults being told that they could not do more, never why or how.
Lastly were those who were lulled into the exotic sounds of the song itself, missing the thoughts expressed, but blissfully swaying in tone to the music, enraptured between the peace of mind and melancholy of the song.
Soon, a guitar joined the tones of music, providing a teasing rise in intensity only for it to join the others in their moderate pace.
Смертью незнакомца будем вряд ли встревожены,
Модно ненавидеть, словно будем лишь так слышны...
Но пойдём навстречу и помиримся всё же мы -
The tone of the voice changed briefly, expressing a bit more life, a bit more energy for a second…
Как прекрасен этот миг!
Only to collapse back into the lull of before.
Кто-то по ту сторону экрана умирает,
Кто-то о своей потере песню сочиняет,
Indeed, the tone became more brittle, higher. Those few who observed the singer closer could see the expression of someone near breaking, rubbed raw from constant pressure, from suffering, amber eyes shedding water.
И мальчишка, видя это, вдруг решает
Нож занести и разбежаться…
There was a short pause, one where the sounds simply filled through the area, raising expectations for it to resume in a higher intensity than before, relying on patterns ingrained by their modern lives, yet, before the sounds could end, it resumed with the same tone, sending a shudder down their backs at how odd it felt, not wrong, but odd, as if nothing could shake the pace of the song but for a brief moment…
Можете ли вы представить, как нас ненавидит жизнь?
Идеалам или эго каждый рад служить.
Но радиоволнам пока не сгубить души,
Транслируя песни об убийстве.
Можете ли вы представить, как нас ненавидит жизнь?
Слишком смело с ней планируем расстаться мы,
Не задумываясь, сразу же хотим решить.
Можете ли вы представить, как нас ненавидит жизнь?
Yet, what had followed was different, difficult in the sublime ways it was, it was louder. As if frustration was finally ready to burst through the walls and foundation of lyrics, only to trail off, becoming quieter, despair filled. It was difficult to grasp, but a few were capable of recognising what it was.
An almost hysterical lament, speaking horrid truths and posing questions which will only drive the one to ask deeper into the abyss, only to have them never answered, the tone simply continuing on its way, steady but more subdued now.
One could almost imagine how the heroine swallowed her pain, taking a pause to build up once more her fortitude,
Если денег нет, предпочитаю я
Целый день под одеялом лежать и дремать.
Смысла жизни в этом увидеть нельзя -
Дышишь только, чувствуя ничтожеством себя.
Скажешь: «Одиноко», и что с того?
Ведь одно простое слово вряд ли выразит боль.
Это лишь глупое упорство, но
Сегодня я в кровати останусь вновь.
Мы подростками были вчера,
И во взрослых должны превратиться с утра.
Медленно стареем, увядаем, и осыпемся
Листьями осенними, безвестно, без следа…
Вот бы получили мы бессмертные тела,
Жили бы вечно, не тревожась никогда...
Нечто подобное видим в своих мечтах.
The same, sad tone, yet, captivating nonetheless. It did not become repetitive, it did not feel the same, but they knew it was. It went against their ingrained instincts, their inner voices shouting for it to change, to become more or less, but no longer stay the same, why would it not change ? Why would the singer permit it to continue in this way ? It changed momentarily, but never fundamentally, just an eternal cycle of grief and exhaustion, codified in a series of notes just teasing what could be. Yet once more, the tone picked up in speed, slightly more intense, with more sounds of a guitar in the background, yet, never taking the front.
Смерти своей не боимся особенно,
Только постоянно о других беспокоимся.
В этом парадоксе видят многие ошибку,
Которой допускать нельзя.
«Прав ты, если правильные делаешь выводы»
«Если не желаешь умирать, то тогда живи»
Даже если слишком больно, даже если сломлен ты,
Смейся, будто всё в порядке!
People should have expected the change, yet, everyone was lulled into the rytmen , the singer's own hunched over form swaying slightly, off in her own memories, just as the other, older, listeners were, nostalgia worming it´s way into their heart, while the younger ones entered a state of contemplation…
Only to be ripped out of it by what sounded akin to the pained scream of wounded animal, not physical pain, but a scream of despair, Flower throwing her head up and back, eyes no longer bound to the present. It was no scream of will, but a dying swan reaching towards the sky, before falling to earth, her voice growing fainter with it.
Можете ли вы представить, как нас ненавидит жизнь?
О счастье не имея представления,
Просто ненавидим всё, что с нами происходит,
И к прошлому относимся с презрением.
Можете ли вы представить, как нас ненавидит жизнь?
Сочинять свои последние слова бежим,
Не зная, что значит говорить «прощай».
Можете ли вы представить, как нас ненавидит жизнь?
Following that, there was a moment without song, but the tones continued, almost as if the song was ending. Those observing the singer however, be it through her performance or due to other causes knew that it was seemingly used for the heroine to collect herself, her amber eyes no longer harboring the far away look of despair, but looking at them with an intensity that seemed almost inhumane, frustration giving them a glow at the music, although both hope and despair where not yet vanquished from the tone of the song.
Счастье быть,
Уходить,
Полюбить
И дружить -
Пустые обёртки и муляжи,
Которые за деньги покупать должны.
Then the instruments hit, the notes of the song becoming far more intense, energy almost pulsing through it. Although few still understood the words, many understood the meaning, the songstress´ head held high, her pride, almost crushed, having resurfaced, but also a sense of inner peace with what and who she was.
Может, завтрашний день мы не увидим,
Будущего нет, и всё закончится ничем.
Рассветы и ночи, и вёсны, и зимы
От чьей-то тихой смерти не изменятся совсем.
Не нужны мне надежды, мечты и прочий хлам -
Когда ты тут, со мной, чего ещё могу желать?
Ах да... об этом
Спеть на самом деле собиралась я.
Ненавистью всем нам отвечает жизнь.
В конце концов всегда уходим мы.
Не сбежишь ты, не сбегу я -
Листья опадают и в компост превращаются.
Но, пока конец не наступил, будем честно жить.
Искренне друг друга поддерживая, честно жить.
Убивая, страдая, смеясь и борясь,
Живи, живи, живи, живи...
Время жить!
With that, the song ended, the tones trailing off. Abyss Flower stood up, before giving a bow, almost like she had been at a high class performance, which, given how people came only now out of the mesmerized state, was perhaps not entirely inaccurate. She spoke, voice unusually demure, respectful to the performance. Her blue eyes were soft, almost speaking of the empathy she possessed, but also a degree of shame.
"We shall continue shortly, with a bit more cheerful song. I… I need to catch my breath."
AN
This is half of the second part of "Mad Science and Mad Parties".The total word count for it has exploded, likely reaching 20k, so I figured that I may as well break it up.
(TL: By a person who doesn´t know how good they are.)
"Don't say in vain: "I want to die."
"Don't lower your hands, in spite of everything.
" It's funny that everyone sings songs about it,
But they don't know why.
We are not particularly afraid of dying sometimes,
Only the death of another bothers us a lot.
The calls to live are imbued with selfishness:
We don't like to suffer.
We will hardly be alarmed by the death of a stranger,
It is fashionable to hate, as if we will only be heard like that...
But we will go forward and make up all the same -
How beautiful this moment is!
Someone on the other side of the screen is dying,
Someone composes a song about their loss,
And the boy, seeing this, suddenly decides
Bring the knife and run away...
Can you imagine how life hates us?
Everyone is happy to serve ideals or egos.
But radio waves can't ruin souls yet,
Broadcasting songs about murder.
Can you imagine how life hates us?
We plan to part with it too boldly,
Without hesitation, we want to decide right away.
Can you imagine how life hates us?
If there is no money, I prefer
Lie under a blanket and doze all day.
It is impossible to see the meaning of life in this -
You only breathe, feeling yourself worthless.
You say, "Lonely," and so what?
After all, one simple word is unlikely to express pain.
It's just stupid persistence, but
Today I will stay in bed again.
We were teenagers yesterday,
And they should turn into adults in the morning.
Slowly we age, fade, and crumble
Autumn leaves, unknown, without a trace...
If only we had immortal bodies,
We would live forever, never worrying...
we see something like this in our dreams.
We are not particularly afraid of our own death,
But we are constantly worried about others.
Many people see this paradox as a mistake,
Which should not be allowed.
"You're right if you draw the right conclusions"
"If you don't want to die, then live"
Even if it hurts too much, even if you're broken,
Laugh like everything's fine!
Can you imagine how life hates us?
About happiness without having an idea,
We just hate everything that happens to us,
And we treat the past with contempt.
Can you imagine how life hates us?
We are running to compose our last words,
Not knowing what it means to say goodbye.
Can you imagine how life hates us?
Happiness to be,
Leave,
Love
And make friends -
Empty wrappers and dummies,
Who have to buy for money.
Maybe we won't see tomorrow,
There is no future, and everything will end in nothing.
Dawns and nights, and spring and winter
From someone's quiet death will not change at all.
I don't need hopes, dreams and other stuff -
When you're here with me, what more can I ask for?
Oh yeah... about that
I was actually going to sing.
Life responds to all of us with hatred.
In the end, we always leave.
If you don't run away, I won't run away -
The leaves fall off and turn into compost.
But, until the end has come, we will live honestly.
Sincerely supporting each other, living honestly.
Killing, suffering, laughing and fighting,
Live, live, live, live...
Time to live
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♦Topic: Abyss Flower appears at local Party!
In: Boards ► USA ► Connecticut ► Brockton Bay ► Capes
PrinzessinDerFreundschaft (Original Poster)
Posted on January 31, 2011:
GUYSGUYSGUYS!
There is a new appearance of our new radiant light going on! Apparently she had been invited to the Ashtyn residence, since the scion of the family was celebrating her day of birth!
First hand accounts describe her entry into the premise as humble, not trying to draw attention to her. Overall, she was very kind, playing with the attendees of the party, and even answering some questions! (Which she noted give them an advantage over us! Mean!)
However, turns out something was amiss, as our resident Über losers decided to crash the party, as seen here.
Link.
After having been quickly dismantled by the heroine. (She might have cracked the record of fastest win right there!), there was some talk between them we don´t get footage of, but apparently they were hired by someone ? This is hearsay to note!
After this, they apparently came to an agreement, the uncle of the birthday child drove off with Loser L, and Loser U stayed there, while AF decided to get the party back on track, somewhat, as she decided to *sing*
Link.
And that was only the first song! Stay tuned for more!
... As someone who doesn't understand a lick of Russian, can anyone translate this? It sounds great though, if somber and sad and melancholic and...
Yeah, I can't describe this fully. Halp.
► AceofMidnightsPast
Replied on January 31, 2011:
You guys know how AF said that she's doing all of this out of spite, well this song just reinforced that. Look at her, I have no idea how she can shift her temperament that quickly but this is the look a person who is far to stubborn to die even if the world say fuck you
On another note my Russian is a bit iffy so I don't understand the whole song , but if you are reading this @TheRealAbyssFlower I hope you are in a better headspace than when you wrote this and continue bringing joy to this fucked up city. Not all capes are willing to go out of their way to make a little girl happy
► Qro
Replied on January 31, 2011:
That's... an unusual choice for a song. It's actually quite a bit darker than people think. And judging by the emotions in her voice, I'd guess AF has gone through some horrible times. Hopefully she's doing better now. We're here for you!
Aside from that, wonderful vocal and there doesn't seem to be any accent. @TheRealAbyssFlower have you been studying languages and singing before or was it improved by powers?
► Soul_Wave
Replied on January 31, 2011:
Is abyss flower alright mentally because she seems to switch on a dime?
► HK70
Replied on January 31, 2011:
Depends. Take on consideration that she IS A Parahuman.... Even if isn't openly stated or acknowledged, is known to those in the Parahuman related community that NO Parahuman is fully OK, SPECIALLY recently Triggered Parahumans...
Given the recent declarations of Abyss Flower, many would consider her speeches and public acts, her personal way to rage against the inherent injustice of aspects of the world that drove her into Triggering... Unlike other Parahumans, she won't keep these wounds silently, but she will scream against them, letting others know what they are NOT alone in their suffering..
Taylor awoke amidst a storm unlike she has ever seen before, one that seemed to have torn reality apart, brief images of a snow filled land and lunarian surfaces flickering past as the student home was torn to shreds, memories of the past linked by threads of light.
She knew that she was in the mental realm between her core and the Will, but that did not make it less frightful to see walls being torn apart into atoms, only to be forged by the sheer pressure of the emotions filling the space into something approaching a wall, if turned horrifically wrong.Twisted. Unreal.
She had seen Sirin in action before, see her destroy entire cities, ascend to peaks barely ever reached by someone else, but she had never felt the rage, the hatred directed against her, or even just in her general direction. She had lived through that rage, she understood it, but only ever felt it through the eyes of Kiana, someone much braver than her.
She felt small, an ant in the eye of the storm. Still, she pressed on. Kiana had asked her to look after Sirin, the other voice having quietly vanished at the end of her song and refusing to speak with them, although both could feel the raw emotions radiating from their older sister, coiling like a serpent made of rage and hate.
"What do you want ?" The voice that expressed the question sent her to the knees, the weight of time itself pressing down her.
"I- I- Kiana sent me! To check up on you ?!" She had difficulty breathing,her voice wavering.
"I am fine. Go." She so wished she could, but hearing the strained voice of her adopted Sister, she couldn´t do it. She had seen too many times how a casual fine was accepted when it was nothing but a lie.
"No." She strained, forcing herself up. "You are not."
The pressure vanished, and instead was replaced with a snicker. "How… amusing , younger sister of mine. Pray, do tell me, do you really want to tell me. ME!" The shout was akin to a physical blow, sending her to her knees. "That you know me better than I myself do ?"
Taylor hesitated, before answering. "No. But I do know that something is up. That you are hurt."
"Fair, fair~" Came the almost playful voice out of the storm. "Very well. Yes, I am indeed angry. Angry at being reminded of all the reasons I loathe humanity, no, this just restarted that particular flame. I will calm my hatred once more shortly. Is that all ? Enough prodding ?"
Once more, hesitation. "I…" Before she could answer, Sirin interrupted her.
"It appears to me that you did not have enough. Fine then, Let me ask a question! Do you know yourself ?" The tone of Sirin´s voice was dangerous, a cat knowing that it pawed at something it shouldn´t but it did so anyhow with a smile.
This time, Taylor paused due to surprise."I… Think so ?"
"Do you ? Do you know that you were always gay or bi? Willing to assert yourself in social situations, after having suffered from social isolation for more or less an entire year ? Willing to threaten torture, not a merciful execution but torture, upon fools for nothing more than to annoy you ? Tell me, Taylor, who are you ? Do you think you are still you, or are you just the remnant of the girl that is torn between me and Kiana, nothing whole?~" Her voice was a mix of honest interest and blatant mockery.
Taylor made an answer, but couldn´t force it. She knew what she wanted to say, to scream, but she knew that there was still the doubt. How could she be sure, sure enough to stand against her ? There was always doubt, beyond what is natural and healthy. Loss of who she was… was a horrifying thought, yet enticing in a way.
"Thought so. Until you get your own affairs in order, leave mine well enough alone, little owl "
The storm picked up, and Taylor was pushed back.
► AceofMidnightsPast
Replied on January 31, 2011:
That just makes her better than 99% of the parahumans, whose first response is to lash out ar public property or even other humans
A lot of parahumans really need some psychiatric help. Triggers don't help at all in their issues, only make them worse. Here's hoping that her message goes through the hard heads of the PRT though.
► Keykin
Replied on January 31, 2011:
The sounds seems quite professional. Does she know enough about mixing and acoustics? and things like that? I myself don't know too much about it but even I recognize the quality of the sound
► HK70
Replied on January 31, 2011:
she seems to either know quite a bit about mixing & editing and acoustics or she must have the aid of a pro DJ for the songs.
Does anyone see a mixer on the area? I dunno man, I think its a 1 woman operation.
End of Page. 1, 2
(Showing Page 2 of 2)
► HK70
Replied on January 31, 2011:
.. Then she seems to have quite a few skills besides her own Parahuman abilities... Unless she got one heck of a grab bag package..
► Keykin
Replied on January 31, 2011:
she could be doing both at once she showed telekinesis or something like that earlier with uber and leet right?
► HK70
Replied on January 31, 2011:
For one second I couldn't but think that she was going to go plan Sith on the idiot duo... Not that I would blame her... Uber and Leet reached a new low in the level of stupidity with this stunt.. What it's left for those two to try to ruin this time?
Danny Hebert was not a happy man. He hadn´t been for a long time, not since his wife died. But recently… it got worse.It got so much worse. Or had it always been bad, and he never noticed?
The lull of silence had given him a strange sense of security, how Taylor and he just seemed to go about their days, do what they needed to do before awaiting the next one. It didn't help, or was good in any way or shape, but it was acceptable, something he could… not handle, but exist with.
Of course, he knew that it wasn't good. Everybody who ever heard of a life guro or most any philosopher concerning themselves with that topic, and Annette had plenty to do with them, often using them, and plays, as examples of the different epochs of the english language, fucking heard of that concept.
She had been a force of change. Always seeking to be more, and to give more… Once she died, it was as if energy itself had vanished from his vocabulary. He just felt so, so damn tired. Change took energy.
But… that had been an illusion, a wish. Things had changed, degraded and he had been so fucking blind to it.
Guilt was an horrid, ugly thing.
Then the locker happened, and he had been woken up from his self imposed monotonous state of apathy. Hearing Taylor on the phone, in what sounded like a state of near death, it had haunted his dreams for these last few weeks.Still does. But, he tried to be positive about it, it had at least served to kick his ass into gear.
He snorted as he recalled the pathetic attempt the school made to trick him into settling. He had been furious enough to tell him to fuck off before he would lose his temper.
Sighing, he recalled the brief time he believed things would get better between him and his daughter, and she even told him everything! He was proud of how she was handling the whole situation, although he was looking for a good, trustworthy therapist. Just to have the offer there.
Then… yesterday happened. He wasn´t sure how he could handle it. Not that she was a cape. Not even the voices in her head, that Kiana girl seemed nice enough and he heard of some capes that had that kind of stuff going on, not just the Butcher.
It was what she did, what she said as Abyss Flower, that haunted him more than anything else, but also made him more proud. That she had… that she knew the desire to die, that he hadn´t seen it…
"Danny!"
He was pulled out of misery induced contemplations as Kurt shouted for him, sitting at a computer. Wandering over, nipping at his water, he gave an acknowledging hum.
"Apparently Abyss Flower made a new appearance! Didn´t know you could hire capes to be birthday clowns."
Shooting his friend a dirty look at his back, he raised an eyebrow himself. Taylor mentioned something about a party, which is why he decided to stay longer, catch up with some stuff… he was avoiding the house. No point lying to himself about it. Being here at least made the guilt less all consuming.
Reading the post, he snorted, a small smile creeping on his lips at reading about the party his daughter attended, and how she behaved. The small things pleased him more, the small bits of humanity she showed.
That smile however froze once he came to the bit about Leet and Uber. Before Kurt could even react, his hand shot forward, immediately taking control of the mouse and clicking the link.
A video later, and Danny was conflicted. Seeing how self assured his daughter was, how she protected others, and still tried to keep that bit of happiness alive.. it was- It felt good! However, there was also a pit in his stomach. The action of the young woman he saw, they.. they clashed fiercely with his understanding of his daughter.
Seeing the usual calm, if not annoyed by exploitative representatives seeking cheap labor, head honcho agitated by something, some of the others hanging around gave their own commentaries that went ignored by him. Almost hypnotized, he clicked on the next link.
A song filled the room, drawing the attention of all. He couldn´t understand what his daughter was saying, he didn´t even knew that she could speak russian, although he noted that once more, her eyes were different. Was this… Sirin ? That idea brought a little bit of comfort, knowing that the woman, and who could convey such ideas by song but someone who deserved such respect, but still, hearing the song, which almost sounded like mourning to what could have been, the grinding gears of everyday banality and cruelty crushing hope…
Returning to his office, he paused, eyes flickering over to his keys.
He knew that he couldn´t help Taylor, not like she needed. Not without being painfully hypocritical. Sighing, he took the phone into his hand, dialing the number of his home.
I mean, it can go lower. A LOT lower. But if you go low enough, the only place to go is up. Hopefully they'll learn from this, but hope springs eternal and all that.
A guy can hope though. A guy can hope.
► Keykin
Replied on January 31, 2011:
i mean she didn't even look at them before stomping them effortlessly under her heel and chewing them verbally if they really dont learn anything from this (even if it's only a sightly better english) i'll be questioning their mental health
► HK70
Replied on January 31, 2011:
GTA... with the beating of HOOKERS. To go lower than that it would require digging machines to reach the center of the Earth ... Furthermore this stunt wasn't even of their own will, but basically being sell outs for some reason unknown.... Certainly wasn't for charity... They were used as a distraction for something... They basically sold themselves as mercs for someone else's plan or crime...
► ShatteredQueen
Replied on January 31, 2011:
I mean, wasn´t that an open thing, at this point ? How do people think they pay for their stuff otherwise ? Give enough incentives, and you can hire most people as is.
► Keykin
Replied on January 31, 2011:
yeah they are scum grumble trying to crash a little girls birthday party this really is a new low for them not a new level of low just a new form of evil dickery
► ShatteredQueen
Replied on January 31, 2011:
Could we stop with the hate please ? Yeah, it is shitty, but witch hunting ain´t gonna help nobody. If AF deemed them worth her attention, maybe there is more we don´t know ?
► HK70
Replied on January 31, 2011:
How many of their stunts were original... And how many were possibly to distract the PRT and other people from criminal activities?
Someone can check the dates of their stunts and correlate if some crime happened at the same time or not? If these acts are related, Uber and Leet should be certainly be checked as something more serious than idiots..
End of Page. 1, 2, 3
(Showing Page 3 of 3)
► AceofMidnightsPast
Replied on January 31, 2011:
U&L are sellouts that do anything for money I would be surprised if they even questioned the why's of their jobs
I'm honestly surprised they haven't gotten themselves killed pissing off the wrong people.
Guys, we might not want to go too far on U&L lest we draw the attention of the mods. I don't wanna be banned and all that and I still want more AF anyhow.
End of Page. 1, 2, 3
Mouse Protector, real name Fiona Kassidy, although most did not think it fit her for some reason, crouched on top of the roof of the Ashtyns, swaying back and forward. She was so tempted to break the atmosphere with a sudden appearance, so freaking much. But she didn´t. It wasn´t her show after all, and as a fellow crusader of justice and disher out of humility, it would even be too vulgar for her to make an appearance just yet. Respect the drama.
She had to give it to the Flower though, she knew how to drum up the anticipation right there. She had been interested in her because she was odd. So very odd. Not like many other heroes, who had a stick up their asses that the PRT PR budget could be measured with it, but with a strange sense of dramatic chilverary, she could respect, exercising a weird sense of magnetism on her that she couldn´t quite explain. It was like a whole bunch of different mystery boxes thrown together, and what could she say, she was attracted to the mysterious.
It made her want to poke her, just to see how she would react! Would she give another speech, would go full on dark lady and step on her, or some unknown reaction! It was so tempting! Oh, She had no illusion about how an unrestrained fight between them would go, and she wasn't that arrogant to believe that she could keep up with someone who outscaled her in every possible way, except perhaps comedic wit and experience in more than one matter, but a friendly spat?
She could see it being quite the show, teleport matches were always very popular, but most of all, fun. You didn't have time to think, only to act, and that was what she so loved about being her. She didn't need to hold back in what she was doing, be to quip and spite the villains or tease the heroes.
Sure, she could be annoying, she knew that. She regretted it sometimes, she had said things that… that hurt people she wanted to like her. She wasn't blind to the effects of her actions, but she couldn't help herself sometimes. She thought of something, and said it, without thinking about it sometimes.
Not something she was proud of. She was proud of her comedic know-how, be it ham, dark, improv, or many other kinds, but that didn´t mean she had not any regrets. Regrets the song managed to dig up.
She had been young then, but now, having just celebrated her 33th birthday, with none of the other integral Wards even giving a squeak, she had thought about changing things up. Oh, she still would do her whole shtick, she had too much fun with that, but maybe something to change it up a bit. Pick up an understudy, or at least meet up with some of her old… not friends, but comrades, she supposed.
She shook her head. She wasn't good in regards to other people. Boundaries and empathy were things she had categorically problems with. Not that she was particularly mean spirited. She took pleasure from needling and reactions, but not pain… maybe humiliation…but she was still working on unpacking that whole issue and this was most definitely not the place for that.
Recalling one conversation in particular, involving both MM and Chavie, she couldn´t help but want to smash her head against something. Lines were crossed that day. She knew that now, because that is what she had been told by others when she told them about it. She didn't get it. If her comrades had asked her any of the questions with her kind of insistence, she would have perhaps teased and played around but, but not taken offense, because it meant they were interested.
It simply didn't make cheese slice worth of sense to her.
Pausing in her thoughts, she noticed that the flower, her expression and blue eyes now squeaky clean of micery of before went back to the improvised state. She saw how Abyss leaned over, giving them a particular view, if accidental, given how focused she was doing something to the sound board, likely preparing
(Kiana rolls to Perform! D20+1… 21(20), Unbelievable Success, 4 to the Reputation dice pool.To be fair, this one makes sense, She is an idol… I am starting to rationalize this bullshit.)
As Abyss Flower took to the stage again, it took a few minutes for people to once more quiet down, still captivated by her last performance, and both dreading and eager for her next.
Stepping up to the front of the truck, Abyss Flower coughed slightly, shooting a soft, but confident smile into the crowd.
"Hey there, so, before we continue, I want to explain something. The last song was dedicated to someone very important to me, not myself, although I can understand what they have been through, having shared their experience. Indeed, I endeavor to tell people something through this music, but I don't want to worry them. It is why I have chosen this next piece, as I feel it might get us back into the spirit of the celebration a bit."
Cocking her hips, one hand on them, she flipped her hair, having a confident smirk on her lips, shoulder lightly squared, as if she was either ready to dance or fight. Most telling were her eyes, azure and gleaming with a fire that spoke of confidence and lust for life.
"That being said, I have elected to perform this one in English instead, with the help of the most helpful provider of this stage. I will sing in German another time, okay ?" She winked at them, before gesturing at Über, who had an electric guitar in his hands, although unmodified.
She made to sit down, much to the surprise of the audience, before seemingly sitting on thin air. Wiggling her fingers with a smile, she intoned, voice soft but powerful. "Now then, allow me to present Last Stardust."
Tapping her fingers to the air, once more, it started with the soft plinging of a piano, light yet memorable. It wasn´t the tone of melancholy of the previous song, but more whimsical, lighter, and comfortable. The feeling of a new day.
Most were surprised when the tone of two electric guitars appeared, mimicking the notes of the piano in their own way. It was jarring at first, an unexpected surprise, but then, then somehow, they managed to harmonize, one not overpowering the other, each playing their own part in the greater song, resulting in it feeling far more enormous in importance, as if it was something approaching a crucial junction in the story to be told. Then, just as the last tone of the guitar reached it´s end, the singing began.
Within a perfect dream, I felt the rain
Suddenly as it started pouring
Soaked on through, but I kept on walking
My soul shaking from the cold
And with these hands
I gathered the memories
Though they're losing color and fading
I held to the hope they could maybe
Patch the hollow of my heart
The music had turned down, but it was the same melody, or part of it at least, now serving as a frame and background for the almost mournful voice of the singer, filled with regret and cynical amusement matching that of the lyrics. The more mature members of the audience felt it in their bones, the loss of the simple, perfect dreams of the past in face of the reality of the world.
This thing called love
Know I would've
Thrown it all away - wouldn't hesitate
If I could find what I have lost along the way
More and more were drawn in to feel the emotions of the singer, her voice mimicking the meaning of the lyrics, showing both a sense of regret, regret for what the singer was willing to do, but also acceptance of that very fact, resonating within the audience. Few have made dramatic choices, but many have done small deeds, be it to use money on themselves, instead of others, or not keeping a promise to those they love for some sort of gain, perhaps even just comfort. More than a few noticed that the voice grew in strength, in confidence.
If to feel pain is my fate
Then I just have one thing to say
Here in my scarred-covered heart
Color will always exist
I watch the LAST STARDUST, rise up and fly
DUST TO DUST
ASH TO ASH into the sky
These fragments of my hopes and dreams, never die
It was as if a dam broke, embers flicking to death roaring into a fire against the storm. The heroine stood up, now a microphone in her hand, the piano continuing without her, as she sang with a confidence that was fundamentally different from the one seen in the last, it was not in acceptance of the world, but in spite of it. As if she was screaming to the world ´so what?´, stubbornly standing against the fires and storm of reality. After, however, she and the music trailed off, a singular guitar taking center stage for a moment, letting her shout echo into silence.
Quietly with the receding rainfall
The night wind, it suddenly withdrawals
With my broken heart I stand alone
Only silence at my side
I wouldn't mind if it's a lie
If all of my rights - they turned into wrongs
As long as I protect the things that I believe
A pattern established in the first, continued in the second, the wave like waning and gaining of confidence and power, yet… there was still a sense of confidence for the choices made, faith in their goal and motivations. Regrets have and will accumulate along with these choices, but be it that they brought joy or pain, each choice was their choice, done in faith to their own beliefs. The music repeated itself, the same quieting down before an almost triumphant shout of defiance. A hand was thrown out, eyes azure as the sky burning with the will of the sun.
Another scar, one more scratch
To my heart that's made out of glass
It lights a spark, burning hot
One I had nearly forgot
I watch the LAST STARDUST, rise up and fly
DUST TO DUST
EARTH TO EARTH, I say goodbye
These fragments of my hopes and dreams, give me life
The tides of battle between the storm of life and the singer had changed, where before the singer felt as if they were pushing against the storm trying to stand their ground, now they reached forward, braving it, gritting their teeth, unwilling to stop, unwilling to give in anymore, even if Life itself threw the worst it could do at them. They had their path, and they would take it.
Brave Shine
Stay the night
Save my life
Your Brave Shine
Brave Shine
It was almost as if the light of a new day shined, the storm conquered for now, the battle over signified by the quieting down of the instruments, returning to the same light, good tone of the beginning, the guitars strumming in the background. A fresh breath, the first challenge conquered. It was fine to rest for a moment, to take it in, and the audience did. However, it was not simply a moment to breathe, but also to prepare for the next challenge. if it was to be put into words, it would be that the song conveyed the feeling of hope by faith and determination.
If to feel pain is my fate
Then I just have one thing to say
Here in my scarred covered heart
Color will always exist
Kiss me farewell, Judas! Turning to ash
DUST TO DUST
This weakness of my distant past
Another scar, one more scratch
To my heart that's made out of glass
It lights a spark, burning hot
One I had nearly forgot
I'll watch the LAST STARDUST, rise up and fly
DUST TO DUST
ASH TO ASH into the sky
These fragments of my hopes and dreams, never die
Coming full circle, this time, there was no trace of the hesitation, of the sadness, of the harm done by regret in her voice. It was strong with defiance, with will, self assertion against the world. it was clear, so very clear, that be it betrayal, loss or any other harm, they would not succumb, they would not give up, they would walk their own path.
The very same intent was conveyed by the music, the guitars now dominate, screaming their songs loud and proud, defiantly at the oppresing nature of the world.
As the song ended, instead of giving a bow, she stomped her foot, throwing her hair back with an inviting smirk, eyes glowing almost. "Thank you. "
► PrinzessinDerFreundschaft (Original Poster)
Replied on January 31, 2011:
Hey! Apparently we were heard!
Second song!
Link!
► Soul_Wave
Replied on January 31, 2011:
Well people we can clearly see that abyss flower has grab bag powers for being a superstar
Whistles Goddamn, she's really belting out the songs, eh? And the 2nd one is a banger too...
► AceofMidnightsPast
Replied on January 31, 2011:
Well even if it's for a friend I still hope they are in a better headspace. And wow this new is amazing, both in tone and lyrics. AF have you and whoever help you compose these songs (if any did) ever considered joining the idol business, if this the type of thing you can make it would be a massive inspiration for us all.
Anyway, back to the song unlike the previous one, this one talks about the value of life and moving forward despite the regrets and pains of the past in hopes and desire for a better future. For me, I really like the "Here in my scarred-covered heart; Color will always exist" part especially as it talks about how there is hope and positivity even in the worst of times as long as you hold in it. Also considering the previous song theme and this one, I have an idea for what theme AF is going for, all I can say is that I'm rooting for you.
Lastly good let these to pair of idiots use their skills for something more productive to society over being a pain in the ass.
The song's name also has a lot of cool implications when combined with the lyrics, especially the part where she sang "I watch the LAST STARDUST rise up and fly", as if yes, these may be the ashes of my hopes and dreams, but they're always going to be there, and they'll last forever.
► QrO
Replied on January 31, 2011:
Huh. This song has quite a few implications, and judging by what came before it - think I have an idea of what she's going for. I also wonder if she's hinting at something... puts on the tinfoil hat
► Westernfront
Replied on January 31, 2011:
Wonderfully performed! Although I am quite interested in how this song would sound in German.
► Sturm
Replied on January 31, 2011:
Maybe she is too insecure in her skills to do it ? no offense intended.
End of Page. 1, 2, 3
Amy Dallon was, as usual for her, at the hospital after the school. Unlike some may think, she wasn't busy non-stop, but had instead her own little corner, where she rested and did her homework, and was essentially on alert as to be able to intervene when needed. Her presence alone gave the doctors more confidence in their craft. Sure, at times she would be asked to repair things like skin, or do a particularly dangerous operation, but while she had a medical license, she wasn´t expected to put in an entire shift after school.
Honestly, she would have prefered if they would just let her do her thing. She could do so much more if they just let her fucking help. So much she could do, but so few things she was actually allowed to do. If it wasn´t "religious", then it was the insurance, or just plain dislike of Parahumans. Mostly the second though. It wasn´t like she didn´t understand their points, but still.
Her finger twitching slightly, yearning for a particular piece of questionable relief hidden in her pocket. A sigh, and she stood up. Might as well wander a bit. It wasn´t yet time for a break to indulge in that particular habit , and it would only suck more if she used it right now. Oh, she recognised the signs, but she couldn´t help at this point. She didn´t pursue it for the feeling of calm nicotine didn´t actually bring, despite what some idiots would claim. Never had that appeal to her.
If she had to make a shitty attempt at self analysis, she would probably say that she got herself slightly addicted because she could actually satisfy that particular urge of hers. Carol was sure to be proud, if she actually noticed it over noting how nice Vicky´s new haircut looked.
She knew what her habit could do to her body, she has seen the effects in more detail than anybody else, cured it a few times even, at least the cancer, so she wasn´t exactly proud of it.
It just… the feeling of having indulged in something did not fill the ever growing hole of shame and guilt, but it made it less apparent. Like a cover, only there for a moment, An easy fix to cover up all the other bullshit, blunt it. A little something.
Releasing another sigh, she entered the children's ward. Another point of guilt and pain. They kinda loved her, some even more so than her Sister, but only because they heard so much about her. They truly thought of her as Panacea, the miracle healer. It felt good to be genuinely recognized, if shallowly so. That make the nagging voice in the back of her head that she didn´t fucking deserved it nag even harder.
Just another shame to add to the list.
Perking up, she heard some kind of music coming from it. Good vocals, unique instruments. Not quite her taste, but she could admit that it was well crafted from the little music theory she knew. However, the voice…
Sneaking up behind the assembled group, a mix of nurses and patients, she looked at the large screen to which a laptop was connected, a video playing.
Fucking Abyss Flower. Most recent pain in her ass.
At least her dislike of the ambitious heroine was one thing she and Carol shared, although probably out of different reasons…yet. The song was good, and she knew what she was talking about.
Amy still recalled the talk she had with Vicky after they had crashed into her. About responsibility. It had stuck with her, less because of the arguments used, but because of how Vicky behaved. She cared a lot about it, to not mix her perky attitude into the discussion. And she could recognise the point that was being made as one that wasn´t wrong per say, but she couldn´t accept it as true either. It felt like an excuse. Either to be self indulgence at the cost of others, or perhaps mask the apathy, but if she applied it to her own situation… She felt she was doing too little to what she could, and she knew that every second taken to herself, truly to herself, would and could cost lives.
However, she still wanted to indulge, and it became harder, harder to not snap and just do, allow the evil in her to take hold. Something had to change, something needed to change.
She paused, before sighing, knowing that there was one thing that could probably start change, be it for the better or worse.
Taking out her Mobile , she began to write a message.
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♦ Private message from Panacea:
Panacea *New Message*: Hi.
I am willing to take you up on your offer to talk. To be clear, that is not an invitation to a date!
On another note... I quite enjoyed your songs.
Panacea.
PS: Show this message to someone, and you will regret it.
Despite what some may think Tammi was not alone when she reviewed the songs of Abyss Flower, no, she was in the same shitty position she was in back when AF first fought her. Among a crowd of people she grew more and more disillusioned with. At least the topic they were talking about was appealing to her.
"We have a problem."
Kaiser and his melodramatics. The man should have been a lawyer with how self important he is.
"We can not attack her directly."
The statement hung in the air like a sword descending. Some were not happy with it, but only one expressed his opinion. Crusader. "That is bullshit. She sings and she suddenly gets to humiliate us without reprisal ? Might as well call us chinks with that type of cowardice."
Rune rolled her eyes at that, something that caught the attention of the room. Seeing the looks directed at her, she shrugged her shoulders. "If we attack her now, we are the bad guys. Not just villains, but genuinely bad guys in the public eyes. She is like the golden goose at the moment, a totem of the city. We touch her, we don´t just fuck with her, we fuck with most people´s day. Besides, do you really want to be at the end of her gun when she is acting in self defense ? You would be done within seconds, a minute tops." She waved her hand as if it settled the issue.
He slammed his hands onto the table, but before he could even speak, Hookwolf spoke up, smirking at him, but his eyes were more focused onto the screen. "She is right. Her telekinesis was the biggest wildcard as far as we know. She is dangerous without it, but with it ? The only ones who can maybe fight her here are me, if I am able to break her hold via increasing my mass or by rapid shifting, Purity by virtue of being a ranged fighter with a range far exceeding what we know of Abyss Flower, Rune, as she doesn´t need movement to maneuver her projectiles, Kaiser, and the Twins, same issue as I. Maybe Soldat, if he gets enough materials to work with." He shot a look towards Crusader "I am not including you, because unlike Rune, you have the appeal of a duck´s arse to her."
Sitting back down, it was clear that Crusader wasn't happy, but not insulted. "As if I care about what that dyke finds appealing. And the question stands. We can attack her, she is not some kind of invulnerable god, and while sure, she is popular, so was the New Wave back then, and nobody dared to raise a fuss against us."
Rune winced. She had not joined yet with the Empire when that particular incident occurred. Fleur, who by all accounts should have been everything the Empire was supposed to protect, young, white, blonde, kind, all these traits, and even having removed one of the biggest opponents to the Empire, was shot for popularity. She didn't get the full scope, and always heard different stories about how it actually happened. The story of a brave comrade, who defended his fellow soldiers from a brutal heroine being the most prevalent.
A bunch of bullshit. As usual.
"Enough!" Kaiser, again, tried to assert himself. "While it is true that we could endure the loss or reputation, that is only the case if we win. Do I have to remind you that only a teleporter managed to land a hit on her ?"
Bitch what ?
"I literally threw a fucking ton of concerete at her. And hit her, multiple times! Not direct ones, but still! I did more damage than that demon fuck!" She didn´t pout.
"Indeed." Hookwolf interrupted, a drawl in his voice. "You gave her quite the love taps."
"Fuck you!" Flipping him off, she decided she was done with this. Sitting back, she proceeded to ignore the rest of the conservation, already knowing that the resultat would be something along the lines of quiet dignity. They couldn´t attack her, but they could defend themselves. As usual really. They couldn´t be seen as too aggressive publicly because that would easily get them federal attention beyond the PRT. One simply had to look at Capone to get the idea.
Still, Love taps her ass, Hookwolf had far too much fun teasing her, she was the most challenging fight Flower had so far. Besides, she didn´t- She paused in her thoughts. Did she love Taylor ? Or was she at least genuinely romantically into her ? The rune she drew was in the heat of the moment, emotionally loaded, but was love really there ? She couldn´t quite tell. There was desire and joy, and a warmth at the thought of her. But it didn´t match the fire love was described as. It was more comfortable nudging, like a particular comfortable blanket she wanted to cuddle with and wanted to experience more of. A liberating breath of fresh air. Was it just some kind of hero´s crush ? Her first thought was no, but she couldn't explain it.
It was weird, but the good kind of weird.
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♦Topic: Who in the world is Abyss Flower ?
In: Boards ► USA ► New Hampshire ► Brockton Bay ► Capes
Yukito (Original Poster)
Posted on January 31, 2011:
So, I have a theory, and hopefully the mods won't ban me for it.
I do not believe that Abyss Flower is human. Allow me to explain! Just to make sure we are on the same page, however, allow me to present all the information we have so far in this separate thread!
She claims that she is eternally 17 which most likely is a reference to her (proposed) japanese roots, specifically the idol culture and Maid cafés. It was an important number due to it symbolizing the metamorphosis between child and adult, teasing the purity of a child with the maturity of an adult. Her actual age is unknown, however, her behavior is similar to that of a young adult, if perhaps more headstrong than usual.
However, she has also claimed to have been on the moon, and acted generally evasive about that particular line of inquiry.
Is she perhaps related to the old stories of Kaguya ?
(Showing Page 1 of 2)
► QrO
Replied on January 31, 2011:
Are we sure she's a human? Oi, PRT Thinkers, I know one of you must be following this!
We know that powers are bullshit and there was contact with Earth Aleph. Who's to say that she isn't some noble or the like from another Earth? Would explain the style, speech patterns, multiple languages and so on.
And no, I'm not insane - coming up with theories is half the fun of threads such as this.
► soul_wave
Replied on January 31, 2011:
THINKERS please follow up on the she was on the moon thing we don't know how strong of a teleporter she is
► HK70
Replied on January 31, 2011:
... We make Void Cowboy ask "Pics or is BS"?
► Qro
Replied on January 31, 2011:
Btw.A great breakdown! And we should take into account that capes usually undersell their own abilities. Who's to say she didn't? Actually, can anyone notice any accents or particular speech patterns? Might get a better guess on where she's from.
► AceofMidnightPast
Replied on January 31, 2011:
There is also the werid personality shifts that appeared when singing. Plus as you say she's far to nice and outspoken to be a parahuman, she when went to therapy. Therapy, what parahuman actually does that.
She must be some kind of aliens
Jokes aside it seems like you guys just over thinking this, she seems to be some high end spacial manipulator with an Alexandria package to the side. Although I wouldn't mind thinker to double check. Because I swear if the person that started to give me faith in humanity turns out not to be human....... I will have words
► keykin
Replied on January 31, 2011:
I still love it when this happens I love conspiracy theories they are good for a laugh for a while like the one Atherius_traveler and Luminous_Traveler suggested in the thread of her speech, where Abbysflower is actually an Eldrich entity on human form from beyond the dimensional sea sent by the god of glitter. and not some parahuman.
► Custodian_F3nn3L (Struggling Overlord)
Replied on January 31, 2011:
Didn't someone also say that she was supposed to wipe us all out but then changed her mind because she took a liking to humanity?
► keykin
Replied on January 31, 2011:
yeah but then was when it got even more hilarious they even were even joking on how chutulhu was one them and wipe out all the other lovecraftian entities
► Custodian_F3nn3L (Struggling Overlord)
Replied on January 31, 2011:
Sounds like bait to me. I'm more inclined to believe that one theory where she's from an alternate universe where she's the Moon Princess or something who descended to Earth to right the wrongs of humanity.
► AceofMidnightPast
Replied on January 31, 2011:
And she fights of love and Justice. Sailor Flower
End of Page. 1, 2
(Showing Page 2 of 2)
► Custodian_F3nn3L (Struggling Overlord)
Replied on January 31, 2011:
@Aceofmidnightspast You read my mind! She does seem like a Sailor scout doesn't she? I fully expect a full team of Sailor Senshi in the future.
► PaintPaintpan
Replied on January 31, 2011:
Tada~
End of Page. 1, 2
Taylor knew that she shouldn't take what Sirin had said to her to heart. Much like her Father, Sirin had a temper which she often tried to control, but unlike her Father, she didn´t had the option to remove herself from the situation. But… Sirin had a point, as usual. It had rattled her, because she couldn't answer the questions she had been asked, not because she wasn't sure of her answer, but because she couldn't even think how to answer them all. So, she decided to take the opportunity, this brief break in all the insanity of the last few days, and think… while she was inside her own head. Better to not think about that.
To even approach the issues at hand, she decided to resort to one of her oldest coping mechanisms. Compartmentalisation. Take things apart and sort one mess out at a time, and thankfully Sirin provided her with the bullet points.
Do you know if you were always gay or bi ?
The first question, but one of the hardest to answer. Before, she certainly had… appreciation for guys, but had she the same for girls ? She wasn´t sure. She could admit that Emma was beautiful, relatively speaking, that Madison was cute, that Sophia had a different kind of appeal, but were these more observations in comparison to her own appearance or her opinion of them?
Honestly, she couldn't quite recall what her feelings were on even the idea of a relationship, but she couldn´t recall any feelings of weirdness towards the idea of gay couple, or any kind of couple, really. She did recall a feeling of disgust towards the idea that the boys bullying her were doing so simply to get with one of the trio, yet it was not repulsion at the idea of a couple like that, and more disgust at … at how pathetic, shallow of a motivation that was.
Yet, was her attraction to Rune not similar ? An attempt to sate her own desire to save someone in a way ?
She paused, before shaking her head. That one was easy. Perhaps at the start, that had been the case. She liked Rune because Rune felt a kindred spirit in some ways, underneath the nazi bullshit. Someone who never was allowed to fully spread her wings, a bird whose wings were tainted by the tar and mud of their environments, desiring to soar through the sky. She had seen it, the way she painted, the utter serenity as she just did what she liked… that was what she adored. The sincerity of her actions, and she wanted to see that more and more. The warm feeling thinking about that didn´t appeared if she just pictured one of her features.
So, she supposed, she had an answer. She always enjoyed people more due to how they were, rather than how they looked. She could appreciate it certainly, and was or had been perhaps predisposed towards males, but the change into a Herrscher had only balanced the scale, so to speak, not created something new.
Willing to assert yourself in social situations, after having suffered from social isolation for more or less an entire year ? Willing to threaten torture, not a merciful execution but torture, upon fools for nothing more than to annoy you ?
That one was easy on her mind. While she never liked outright confrontation, prefering to back up and letting people calm down, she had learned the hard way that turning the other cheek didn´t make you the better person by default, or if it did, that being the better person meant little to people who cared little about others.
She recalled how she was determined to never raise her hand against the trio, to quietly endure it after her other attempts had failed. That she wouldn´t break. Only for that to endanger her life. A war of attrition could only be won if the other side lost something as well, but the Trio only ever gained from their confrontations. She only needed to look through the memories of Kiana to see that being passive does not bring change, it only supports the status quo.
But how did that lead to her threatening Leet and Uber ?
As her mind worked, even that made sense to her. It was true that before the Locker, she wouldn't have done so, even before Winslow. Not to the trio, not to anyone. But that had been when she had nothing but her dignity left. That wasn´t the case anymore. She had been genuinely happy, and had simply responded to a threat that was attempting to ruin it.
She doubted she would have genuinely done it, but she could not be sure.
Ultimately, she couldn't deny that she was changed on an intimate level by the change into a Herrscher, but every change, she could see how it came about from what had already been there. Even if she just found excuses… did it matter ? Even if she was just a torn fabric which takes from her two sisters to hold herself together, didn´t that make her still her ?
In the end, there was only one answer Taylor could find.
Life will change her, but it was still her life. And if she was happy with it, who could judge her for it ? What was in the past, is in the past, she was here now, and she wanted to feel that spark and not give it up. She couldn´t hold on what once was, but could look towards the future.
For the last time of the day, Abyss Flower returned to the stage, the light of day now slowly vanishing, her eyes a vibrant green, almost lime green in fact. Her mannerism was different, an inbetween of the grace and silent power of the first and the boundless will and confidence of the second.
{Yes.}
People were holding their breath, unsure what to expect. Tapping the microphone, the heroine spoke with a voice brimming not with the cheerful energy she had before, but a more wild kind, but she seemed also more awkward "Hi… Yeah, so. Before I start, I wanted to say something." As she spoke, the more observant members of the audience would notice how Uber began to fiddle with something in the background.
{Okay then!}
"The previous two songs were… quite serious. Which was intended, as the message they carried, the story they told, deserved that kind of respect. However, ultimately, I want this to conclude on one final message, one which I will state upfront here." She paused, swallowing. "Our world is… dark, gritty. The gears of fate churning and crushing without remorse or sympathy. You can die, become vile or suffer, yet… There are moments where there is a spark of something, an ember of fire that we call wonder. Everybody has that. I know that often, these inspirations are but hollow dreams, impossible to achieve. But I also found that listening to this spark, following it when you feel suffocated and alone…" She trailed off, voice thick with emotion. "It can save you if you are willing to commit to it." A moment of pause, her eyes flickering to her side, narrowing at something before gaining a confident smirk.
{Let´s do this!}
"And this is why Life will Change!"
With that shout, all the lights in the garden went out and the song began.
(Taylor rolls to Perform! D20+1… 21(20), Unbelievable Success, 4 to the Reputation dice pool…. I will justify this with Kiana backing her up.)
The first two songs were… perhaps not calm in their start, but each was graceful in their own ways, like an art piece carrying a deep message. This one however, it was almost jarring how different it was, starting with a strong mix of the strings of an electric guitar and drums which chimed in a bit later, not the soft plings of a piano. Unlike the first, it didn´t even carry any pretense to sadness, only the fast paced drums and strings to set up a challenge.
The shape of the heroine, clad in darkness, only illuminated by the dusk of the day, the last sun rays framing her as she shook her hand, clearly for everyone to see, to the beat of the music, raising it higher and higher to the sky till she was pointing skywards, her finger outstretched just as the music seemed to take a breath, just as she was. Then she brought her finger down with speed, snapping them on the way down, the sound carrying itself across the courtyard, causing the lights, three floodlights making up a triangle around her, to burst to life, framing her, as she sung, the notes of both the guitar and drum setting back in.
It's not a game
I'm not a robot AI challenging you
I'm not a phantom
I'm in your face and
I'm here to see it through
The tone was different. So very different. Where the first was a princess of a ruined home standing proudly among the rubble of her home, hiding the pain, and the second someone screaming against the storm of life and fighting a desperate fight, this one felt like a proud lioness roaring her triumph into the wind.
A tone that matched the movement of the singer, showing a playful confidence in her movement, a glint in her eyes that seemed to draw the people in, their own feets beginning to tip to the beat.
Right before your eyes
Watch us multiply
Come to claim our rights - it's time
Some raised an eyebrow at the lines, but none could deny the sheer energy in the lines. A few of the less constrained people began to outright dance to the tune, mimicking Abyss Flower as she moved about on the stage.
As our power grows
Tryin' to stop us shows
Might as well go try'n stop time
So you know that we're out there
Swatting lies in the making
Can't move fast without breaking
Can't hold on or life won't change
The hesitant mood from the previous two songs had vanished, replaced by a quite cheerful one, if slightly unrestrained. The sheer ´So what ?´energy the music was infectious towards the crowd, only supported by how cheerful and wild the dance was, Flower throwing her hands out, pulling them back in as a moment of sheer instrumental glory came, wagging her fingers to the beat, her entire body moving as she twists and turns, illuminated by the flashing light show of yellow, blue and green.
Even her expression was the one of light hearted joy fueled by a will to live and to grow. Where before there was a determination to maintain one's pride, or one´s will, this was about one´s happiness.
So you know that we're out there
Swatting lies in the making
Can't move fast without breaking
Can't hold on or life won't change
Transitioning from the wild dance, the heroine began to play air guitar on the stage, exactly on tone with the actual guitar, rocking back and forth, even head banging a bit, for the first time her hair taking on something of a puffier quality to emphasize the wildness of the movement.
Then…
And our voices ring out, yeah
Took the mask off to feel free
…She dropped the air guitar bit, instead adapting a stand tall and proud, hammering on her chest as she made a sweeping gesture with her hand, as if she was some kind of activist of old which..
Fought it out in the debris
Now we know that life will change, yeah!
She changed into a boxing stance, giving a quick one two, with a confident grin, before holding her fist up to her mouth, as if she was holding a mic, eyes gleaming, telling how much she enjoyed herself, captured in a different trance of emotions than in the first song, but a song nonetheless.
She well back into a mickey of the instruments, playing and dancing as her heart desired, her eyes telling of the fact that she was only barely aware of the audience. Then she moved, once more holding an air mic to her lips as she began to sing once more, this time invoking images of bars and seductive singstresses in the few who were old enough to recognise it.
Ain't it a shame
I'm not a figment of your ailing, old mind
I'm just as real as -
I'm just as dangerous
As you, so know you´ll find
She moved once more, shifting to pointing at something in the distance, a hand on her hips, a teeth showing smirk, challenging and playful. They didn´t know whom she pointed at, but they didn´t need to know that. It was a challenge against the world, to try and fight it, but that she wouldn´t stop. In most cases a sign of arrogance and maniacs, yet, here it was one of hope, of freedom, a trickster challenging the dark.
A taste of your own meds
Fire in every breath
Fire inside your head, your heart
And as your crippled brain
Tries to fight in vain
Your empire will fall apart
The few who weren´t busy pulling poses themselves recognised the perhaps implied target of the challenge, causing wide eyes, just as another instrumental portion began, this time with Flower moving her outstretched arm from one side to the other, as if to track the progress, each time the sound of the guitar pinged, she wagged her finger.
And you'll know we were out there
Swatted lies in the making
Your empire for the taking
Can't hold on or life won't change
And our voices ring out, yeah
Took the mask off to feel free
Fought it out in the debris
Now we know that life will change
She pulled the hand back, placing it over her heart, a gesture usually associated with quiet contemplation turned into a shout of triumph and joy as she put her all into the singing, before she once more played the air instruments, allowing the spirit of the song to persist although the singing had stopped. As it ended, she gave the crowd a flourished bow and a wink.
(Reputation Roll! 10d100…91+86+80+92+84+85+62+95+80+87 = 842… fucking damit taylor)
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♦Topic: Abyss Flower Profile
In: Boards ► USA ► New Hampshire ► Brockton Bay ► Capes
Yukito (Original Poster)
Posted on January 31, 2011:
Howdy there!
Figured I should get the start on this. It is not a proper entry, but once AFs makes some clarification, or the PRT power testing occurs, I will correct and edit.
Confirmed will be marked with (C) and alleged, meaning claimed by her or another person, will be marked with (A). Theorized will be marked as (T).
Abyss Flower is a female cape that has recently, first sighting being on the 27th this Month, January. She has quickly gained popularity by virtue of being very outspoken, which is rare, especially for capes that are wholly unaligned with any faction. She has very long, black hair that nearly reaches her knees, and green eyes which contain odd pupils. She does not wear a traditional, masking outfit, but a dress of her own design (A).
She claims that she is eternally 17 (A).
So far, she has three fights to her name, which each played out the following.
AF vs Rune of the E88 during a Robbery, Win for AF, although she did let Rune go. (C)
AF vs Oni Lee of the ABB, with the context of a spar, Win for AF within the first 2 minutes of the engagement . (C)
AF vs Leet and Über. Total win for AF, to call it a fight would be to say an Ant could fight Lung. (C)
She has so far showcased and claimed the following ability and feats:
Physicals
Strength
-Can smash through solid concrete (C)
-Can fire .50 caliber weapons exceeding current models of the same caliber one handed. (A)
-Managed to injure Oni Lee with her sword to the point of surrender with a single hit (C)
Durability
-Collisions with rapidly spinning concrete plates caused minor damage (C)
-Able to survive pretty much any wound due to Regeneration (A), has not yet suffered any major injuries
-Regularly falls from great heights without injury (C)
-Managed to survive on the Moon, meaning temperatures of either 250° Fahrenheit (120° Celsius or 400 Kelvin) and -208 degrees F (-130° C, 140 K)/ - 424° F (- 253°C or 20 K) depending on location, as well as high levels of radiation.(A)
Athleticism(Agility/Dex)
-Has dodged Rune´s spinning plates (C)
-Run with the speed of a car(C)
-Has been seen Parkouring with enough speed to exceed the speed of a car (A)
-Leaps multiple meters in the air (C)
Reflex (I do think that deserves special mentioning)
-Has managed to react and outpace Oni Lee, an experienced teleporter (C)
Mental/Socials
-Speaks multiple languages fluently with little accent (C)
German (A)
Italian (A)
Japanese (C)
Chinese (A)
Russian (C)
Filipino (A)
Haitian (A)
Spanish (A)
Polish (A)
Korean (A)
Dutch(A)
-Has some understanding of Philosophy (C)
-Has stated to have created the designs of her equipment with the help of a friend (A)
-Has spoken to great success in an improvised address (C)
-Has managed to call the PRT Stasi without major backlash (C) (Is that really a feat though)
-Flirted with a Nazi gal and got the same Nazi to defend her (C)
-Managed to intimidate an assassin into giving her money Unintentionally. Too crazy for the crazy apparently. (C)
-Is an awesome singer (C)
Other powers
Telekinesis (T)
-Stop two people midair (C)
-Pull with enough force to throw someone to the Ground (C)
-Seems to be an indiscriminate area of effect type (A)
-uses it to walk on air (C)
- Can use it to manipulate a soundboard (A)
Teleport (C)
-Can rapidly teleport to a distance of at least 25 feet (C)
-Actual maximum distance is unknown, has stated to reach Luna (A)
-The mechanism behind the teleportation suggests that it is based on Spatial or Dimensional manipulation.(A)
Item Manifestation (C)
-Can create a pair of handguns with appropriate ammunition (C)
-Can create a blade (C)
-Can create her own outfit (A)
-Can create a soundboard (C)
Precog (A) (Might just be superior senses and or pattern recognition)
-Managed to react to Oni Lee teleporting before he manifested (C)
–Was likely aware of Über and Leet before they appeared (A)
Changer (C)
-Has been repeatedly seen switching eye colors. (C)
- Her going out with a mask suggests that she has either a stranger or changer ability to cover her identity. (T)
Just something that was part of Part 3, but cut from the theory section because otherwise, it would be too long.
Well, there is threat assessment and there is power testing. The former is far more detailed, including things such as actual weaknesses, limitations, speculation of possibilities and preemptive measure. These are naturally based on indepth power testings and analysis of actions.
What the poster is referring to is more a Clean washed, generalized version for they can public access and reference, since these are excellent PR pieces. That is also mostly done to preempt people from trying to steal the threat assessment or if say cases need a statement about the capabilities of a given Parahuman. It serves as Expert Testimony on that.
This is AU stuff, but ultimately a sensible one given that the PRT already classifies Parahumans and their abilities.
Note, this is an optional thing. AF can say that she doesn't want them released, or don't even take any PRT testing at all. That she will, was a presumption of the Poster's side.
Example:
Blaster A is a neutral party that has a business in demo
He does a job
Contractor claims he got sick from the radiation of the blasts.
Blaster A can point towards the Power testing Document as documentation of "This is not the case"
Tada~