A man wakes up after a party and sets off on a long journey to here, there, everywhere. That's about it.
A continuation of 新年少鹏.
A continuation of 新年少鹏.
Polluted Jianghu: 今年恶鲲
- Thread starter Laplace
- Start date
- Created
- Status
- Ongoing
- Watchers
- 61
- Recent readers
- 0
- Threadmarks
- 7
-
Statistics (7 threadmarks, 9.1k words)
User Total Laplace 7
New Year Afterparty
- Location
- boundless optimism
Li Peng woke up and breathed in sterile hospital air. His arms and legs were strapped down with steel cuffs to the bed frame. Tubes plunged into his arms and there was a constant throbbing ache all over his body. "This is bullshit," he said, after a while. "I'm supposed to be dead." Li Peng, bravo, drug smuggler, mass murderer, and probably on the hook for multiple gazillions of property damage of priceless historical artifacts looked to his side.
No one. For a moment he thought that he would see… well, she wasn't here, so it didn't matter. It'd be creepy to obsess over her that much, anyway. The room was barren to an extent that he blinked just to make sure that the walls weren't padded. There was a window and a phone opposite the said window. Hooked on the wall. For the nurses. Steel grey clouds covered the skies. Snow gathered on the windowsill.
Since he had nothing to do Li Peng began to speculate and since he decided soon after that thinking was annoying he began to strain against the cuffs. His muscles were still jello. Sedatives in the drip.
The door creaked open and a nurse came in. "You're awake," he said, withdrawing a syringe from his pocket. The scrubs hung off his muscular frame in a very un-nurse-like fashion. Li Peng collated this data and came to a conclusion.
"Hey, you're here to kill me, right?"
His killer nods. There's something strange about his smile. "Yeah. Lots of people do, you know."
"Nah, not really." Li Peng stared at the ceiling and thought. "When you think about it, it's not you that's done me. It was… what's her name, Yuexia. Ma Yuyue. Do you know her?"
He doesn't quite get it. "No. Why?"
"It'd be… Rude, I guess, for her not to finish me." Li Peng mused. "I mean, she did so much. The museum thing, you know."
"I know. It's on the news. You're on Weibo, Li Peng. You're getting your ass beat on the microblogs."
"I am, am I? Anyway, what I want you to know, that whatever poison you're going to give me wasn't the thing that did me in. It was Ma Yuyue, you got that?"
The death that came dressed in nurses' scrubs shrugged. "I don't care. There's an army that wants you to get deep-sixed. Lots of them are stronger than me, I guess, and they might have more reason to off you than me, but that doesn't matter. I'm here. Not Bai Fu, not Ma Yuyue, not Li Squared. Me, and I'm killing you for me. You can say whatever you want, hold… whatever opinion you have, but I don't care, because you'll be dead and my heart'll rest easy."
It was hard to argue against that. "Oh. That's fair. Hurry up, then. And when I'm dead, you should give her my head or something. I think that'd be pretty funny."
A shadow passed over the window, blocking the light. Li Peng closed his eyes and waited for the beautiful, silent darkness to overtake him. In his heart, he exulted. Farewell, life! I've cheated your counterpart for too long, and I'd like my rest now. I want to sleep until the world ceases its rotation and the sun swallows my ashes.
Glass shatters! Life seized Li Peng's throat and pried his eyes open. "Motherfuck-" Glass shards sprayed over the blanket. "You can't keep doing this to me!" Li Peng screamed as his killer slumped down on him, gurgling red blood from his lips. An arrow jutted out of his throat. Uncomprehending eyes stared back at him. What? He asked, pink foam on his lips. What just happened?
You and me both, buddy. Nobody gets what they want today.
More arrows whistled through the broken glass. Steel shrieks. The archer shot off the cuffs from wherever they were standing. "Nuh uh." Li Peng exercised his freedom by rolling onto the side and staring through the broken window. "I ain't ever gonna move from this spot, asshole." He blinked and all of a sudden the corpse twitched and spasmed. An arrow sprouted from his back and more blood dripped from his mouth. "You think that worries me? Your problem is I want to die. What the fuck are you gonna do? Shoot me? I dare you to do it, shit for brains. You dog's bastard. C'mon. Can you even hear me, or are you just guessing? Let's test that theory. Put an arrow through this dude's eye-"
Before he could even finish the sentence the archer put an arrow through that dude's eye. "Damn," Li Peng muttered, annoyed that he lost the bet. He supposed he should move, now that he could. Before, there was something liberating in the death dive. Like watching a movie. Everything's set. You can't do anything about it, buddy, so enjoy the ride, and thank you for watching.
'Cept now he can control his own fate, so that was all down the drain, wasn't it? It just didn't sit right with him, giving up when he could do something about it. So Li Peng rolled off the bed and shivered from the cold wind. And of course there was blood all over him. "Okay," he sneezed. "What do you want me to do now?"
In response three arrows sprouted from the walls. One after the other they led to the phone, which was ringing now. He picked it up. The IV squeaked after him. The needles pulled his flesh. "Who is this?"
"Hey, kid! It's been a long time.You missed New Year's with me!"
The voice on the other end is jolly. It's cheery and upbeat. Smiling so hard that if it was a human face, it would have ripped its cheeks open in unthinking joy. Li Peng picks the first word that comes to his brain. "Uncle?"
"I didn't expect you to have that bad of a trip. How was J3?"
"You have an internet connection." It comes back to Li Peng. Through the hazy mists of amnesia. Not the memories, but how he talked to his Uncle. "Or were you drunk? Where the hell are you?"
"Lake Baikal. Your poor old man is missing you. I had a New Year's spread all laid out. I even slaughtered a goat. I had to fuckin' eat it all by my lonesome. Can't you spare a thought for your poor old bereaved uncle? Get your ass over here. We'll make up the time."
"Uh. Uncle, you gotta know that they've got me caught, right?"
"Break out, you idiot kid. The Manchurian's already helped you on that, right? Give me some pep, brat."
Things slide into place all at once. "Manchurian? Were you there when I first woke up? What's your tie with Lei Beihong?" The communist. The splitter. The guy that tried and maybe succeeded at conducting a terrorist building in a kilometer tall casino resort tower.
"See, I'd tell ya if you could find me. Lake Baikal. Give me a ring when you get near. I'll cook up a storm."
The line died. Li Peng snorted. He felt confused, annoyed, and most of all, cold. Needles and drips fell out of his arms, dripping blood and the saline solution. He slammed the door open.
One gleaming black visor. One suit of chitinous armor. The sword and eye badge of Zhenyan. They regarded each other for a moment "Oh shit-"
There might still be sedatives coursing through Li Peng's blood but he is faster. He buried a fist into the visor. The glass splintered and broke under his fist, into the face of the mook. Skin teared. Cartilage snapped. Somewhere an eye squished. Then the mook flew off. He hit the roof, the light spat sparks, and then skidded across the floor, screaming and yelling.
All along the hallway doors opened. Black suits filled the hallway. They came out of doors, and they spilled out of the stairwell. They put away their phones and stow away the conversations, and as one, in a single, glorious sound, draw their swords. Bladelight shines in Li Peng's eyes, between his teeth, bared in a joyful smile.
"Well." Li Peng hopped in place, feeling his heart pound fast and strong. His hands in butcher claws. "You know the game."
They screamed and he screamed and it was all a mess of flesh and steel.
BENEFITS (Choose one)
[]- ESCAPE (0/4 -> 1/4 Escape Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
Li Peng charges through the crowd and leaps through the walls in order to escape.
[]- CALL FOR HELP (0/2 -> 2/2 Manchurian's Aid Clock, +0.1 to FUTURE)
Li Peng tests if the Manchurian is here to help or not.
[]- THERE'S SOMETHING (0/8 -> 1/8 ??? Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
Li Peng thinks that the world seems to move in slow motion.
DETRIMENT (Choose two)
[]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN (0/3 -> 1/3 Elite Enemy Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
The Zhenyan troops are calling for their much better trained captain.
[]- MAN HUNT (0/5 -> 2/5 Captured Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
The Zhenyan troops are sealing off the building, calling up reinforcements outside.
[]- KILLYOUKILLYOU (0/2 -> 1/2 Wounded Clock, +0.1 FUTURE)
The Zhenyan troops are cutting Li Peng apart, piece by piece.
No one. For a moment he thought that he would see… well, she wasn't here, so it didn't matter. It'd be creepy to obsess over her that much, anyway. The room was barren to an extent that he blinked just to make sure that the walls weren't padded. There was a window and a phone opposite the said window. Hooked on the wall. For the nurses. Steel grey clouds covered the skies. Snow gathered on the windowsill.
Since he had nothing to do Li Peng began to speculate and since he decided soon after that thinking was annoying he began to strain against the cuffs. His muscles were still jello. Sedatives in the drip.
The door creaked open and a nurse came in. "You're awake," he said, withdrawing a syringe from his pocket. The scrubs hung off his muscular frame in a very un-nurse-like fashion. Li Peng collated this data and came to a conclusion.
"Hey, you're here to kill me, right?"
His killer nods. There's something strange about his smile. "Yeah. Lots of people do, you know."
"Nah, not really." Li Peng stared at the ceiling and thought. "When you think about it, it's not you that's done me. It was… what's her name, Yuexia. Ma Yuyue. Do you know her?"
He doesn't quite get it. "No. Why?"
"It'd be… Rude, I guess, for her not to finish me." Li Peng mused. "I mean, she did so much. The museum thing, you know."
"I know. It's on the news. You're on Weibo, Li Peng. You're getting your ass beat on the microblogs."
"I am, am I? Anyway, what I want you to know, that whatever poison you're going to give me wasn't the thing that did me in. It was Ma Yuyue, you got that?"
The death that came dressed in nurses' scrubs shrugged. "I don't care. There's an army that wants you to get deep-sixed. Lots of them are stronger than me, I guess, and they might have more reason to off you than me, but that doesn't matter. I'm here. Not Bai Fu, not Ma Yuyue, not Li Squared. Me, and I'm killing you for me. You can say whatever you want, hold… whatever opinion you have, but I don't care, because you'll be dead and my heart'll rest easy."
It was hard to argue against that. "Oh. That's fair. Hurry up, then. And when I'm dead, you should give her my head or something. I think that'd be pretty funny."
A shadow passed over the window, blocking the light. Li Peng closed his eyes and waited for the beautiful, silent darkness to overtake him. In his heart, he exulted. Farewell, life! I've cheated your counterpart for too long, and I'd like my rest now. I want to sleep until the world ceases its rotation and the sun swallows my ashes.
Glass shatters! Life seized Li Peng's throat and pried his eyes open. "Motherfuck-" Glass shards sprayed over the blanket. "You can't keep doing this to me!" Li Peng screamed as his killer slumped down on him, gurgling red blood from his lips. An arrow jutted out of his throat. Uncomprehending eyes stared back at him. What? He asked, pink foam on his lips. What just happened?
You and me both, buddy. Nobody gets what they want today.
More arrows whistled through the broken glass. Steel shrieks. The archer shot off the cuffs from wherever they were standing. "Nuh uh." Li Peng exercised his freedom by rolling onto the side and staring through the broken window. "I ain't ever gonna move from this spot, asshole." He blinked and all of a sudden the corpse twitched and spasmed. An arrow sprouted from his back and more blood dripped from his mouth. "You think that worries me? Your problem is I want to die. What the fuck are you gonna do? Shoot me? I dare you to do it, shit for brains. You dog's bastard. C'mon. Can you even hear me, or are you just guessing? Let's test that theory. Put an arrow through this dude's eye-"
Before he could even finish the sentence the archer put an arrow through that dude's eye. "Damn," Li Peng muttered, annoyed that he lost the bet. He supposed he should move, now that he could. Before, there was something liberating in the death dive. Like watching a movie. Everything's set. You can't do anything about it, buddy, so enjoy the ride, and thank you for watching.
'Cept now he can control his own fate, so that was all down the drain, wasn't it? It just didn't sit right with him, giving up when he could do something about it. So Li Peng rolled off the bed and shivered from the cold wind. And of course there was blood all over him. "Okay," he sneezed. "What do you want me to do now?"
In response three arrows sprouted from the walls. One after the other they led to the phone, which was ringing now. He picked it up. The IV squeaked after him. The needles pulled his flesh. "Who is this?"
"Hey, kid! It's been a long time.You missed New Year's with me!"
The voice on the other end is jolly. It's cheery and upbeat. Smiling so hard that if it was a human face, it would have ripped its cheeks open in unthinking joy. Li Peng picks the first word that comes to his brain. "Uncle?"
"I didn't expect you to have that bad of a trip. How was J3?"
"You have an internet connection." It comes back to Li Peng. Through the hazy mists of amnesia. Not the memories, but how he talked to his Uncle. "Or were you drunk? Where the hell are you?"
"Lake Baikal. Your poor old man is missing you. I had a New Year's spread all laid out. I even slaughtered a goat. I had to fuckin' eat it all by my lonesome. Can't you spare a thought for your poor old bereaved uncle? Get your ass over here. We'll make up the time."
"Uh. Uncle, you gotta know that they've got me caught, right?"
"Break out, you idiot kid. The Manchurian's already helped you on that, right? Give me some pep, brat."
Things slide into place all at once. "Manchurian? Were you there when I first woke up? What's your tie with Lei Beihong?" The communist. The splitter. The guy that tried and maybe succeeded at conducting a terrorist building in a kilometer tall casino resort tower.
"See, I'd tell ya if you could find me. Lake Baikal. Give me a ring when you get near. I'll cook up a storm."
The line died. Li Peng snorted. He felt confused, annoyed, and most of all, cold. Needles and drips fell out of his arms, dripping blood and the saline solution. He slammed the door open.
One gleaming black visor. One suit of chitinous armor. The sword and eye badge of Zhenyan. They regarded each other for a moment "Oh shit-"
There might still be sedatives coursing through Li Peng's blood but he is faster. He buried a fist into the visor. The glass splintered and broke under his fist, into the face of the mook. Skin teared. Cartilage snapped. Somewhere an eye squished. Then the mook flew off. He hit the roof, the light spat sparks, and then skidded across the floor, screaming and yelling.
All along the hallway doors opened. Black suits filled the hallway. They came out of doors, and they spilled out of the stairwell. They put away their phones and stow away the conversations, and as one, in a single, glorious sound, draw their swords. Bladelight shines in Li Peng's eyes, between his teeth, bared in a joyful smile.
"Well." Li Peng hopped in place, feeling his heart pound fast and strong. His hands in butcher claws. "You know the game."
They screamed and he screamed and it was all a mess of flesh and steel.
BENEFITS (Choose one)
[]- ESCAPE (0/4 -> 1/4 Escape Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
Li Peng charges through the crowd and leaps through the walls in order to escape.
[]- CALL FOR HELP (0/2 -> 2/2 Manchurian's Aid Clock, +0.1 to FUTURE)
Li Peng tests if the Manchurian is here to help or not.
[]- THERE'S SOMETHING (0/8 -> 1/8 ??? Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
Li Peng thinks that the world seems to move in slow motion.
DETRIMENT (Choose two)
[]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN (0/3 -> 1/3 Elite Enemy Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
The Zhenyan troops are calling for their much better trained captain.
[]- MAN HUNT (0/5 -> 2/5 Captured Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
The Zhenyan troops are sealing off the building, calling up reinforcements outside.
[]- KILLYOUKILLYOU (0/2 -> 1/2 Wounded Clock, +0.1 FUTURE)
The Zhenyan troops are cutting Li Peng apart, piece by piece.
There are two mechanics- Progress Clocks and States.
Progress Clocks are meters that measure various positive and negative achievements. These include enlightenment into some secret kung fu trick, escaping a sticky situation, filching a diamond, getting your ass beat until you cannot think, losing a hand, getting poisoned, or having a backup show up in inopportune moments. Most encounters and challenges will be resolved through progressing down positive and negative clocks.
States take over from last iteration's Thoughts, and are functionally identical. There are only three- Past, Present, and Future, and each of them correspond to a particular state of mind or facet of personality. Past is Li Peng's nostalgia, appreciation of history and the ability to play off of that. Present is his apathy, acceptance, and ability to take things as they come. Future, on the other hand, is Li Peng's perverse imp, the thing that made him demand that someone shoot him just for kicks.
Progress Clocks are meters that measure various positive and negative achievements. These include enlightenment into some secret kung fu trick, escaping a sticky situation, filching a diamond, getting your ass beat until you cannot think, losing a hand, getting poisoned, or having a backup show up in inopportune moments. Most encounters and challenges will be resolved through progressing down positive and negative clocks.
States take over from last iteration's Thoughts, and are functionally identical. There are only three- Past, Present, and Future, and each of them correspond to a particular state of mind or facet of personality. Past is Li Peng's nostalgia, appreciation of history and the ability to play off of that. Present is his apathy, acceptance, and ability to take things as they come. Future, on the other hand, is Li Peng's perverse imp, the thing that made him demand that someone shoot him just for kicks.
StarSerpent
Upjumped Peasant
- Location
- Cowtown, AB
Ooh a sequel
[X]- THERE'S SOMETHING
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN
[X]- KILLYOUKILLYOU
Don't mind if i do…
[X]- THERE'S SOMETHING
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN
[X]- KILLYOUKILLYOU
Don't mind if i do…
- Location
- England
[X]- CALL FOR HELP
Get backup, then go. We have to make ourselves scarce if we don't want to get our ass kicked and end the Quest very prematurely.
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN
[X]- MAN HUNT
We need to stop being constantly on death's door, it's not healthy or helpful.
Get backup, then go. We have to make ourselves scarce if we don't want to get our ass kicked and end the Quest very prematurely.
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN
[X]- MAN HUNT
We need to stop being constantly on death's door, it's not healthy or helpful.
UrsaTempest
Don't Panic!
[X]- CALL FOR HELP
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN
[X]- MAN HUNT
Hey, having someone to boss around would be nice.
Captain is chosen because it'll make a nice fight. Man Hunt will set the arena. Coupled with Manchurian, they might distract the mook from our fight with the captain. This will be great.
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN
[X]- MAN HUNT
Hey, having someone to boss around would be nice.
Captain is chosen because it'll make a nice fight. Man Hunt will set the arena. Coupled with Manchurian, they might distract the mook from our fight with the captain. This will be great.
- Location
- Singapore
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X]- CALL FOR HELP (0/2 -> 2/2 Manchurian's Aid Clock, +0.1 to FUTURE)
Li Peng tests if the Manchurian is here to help or not.
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN (0/3 -> 1/3 Elite Enemy Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
The Zhenyan troops are calling for their much better trained captain.
[X]- MAN HUNT (0/5 -> 2/5 Captured Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
The Zhenyan troops are sealing off the building, calling up reinforcements outside.
Li Peng tests if the Manchurian is here to help or not.
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN (0/3 -> 1/3 Elite Enemy Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
The Zhenyan troops are calling for their much better trained captain.
[X]- MAN HUNT (0/5 -> 2/5 Captured Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
The Zhenyan troops are sealing off the building, calling up reinforcements outside.
- Location
- USA
But you're not voting for it--there's no x in the brackets.
[x]- THERE'S SOMETHING
[x]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN
[x]- MAN HUNT
THatWhichWillBe
The Squiddly One
- Location
- In The Darkened Deep
[X]- THERE'S SOMETHING (0/8 -> 1/8 ??? Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN (0/3 -> 1/3 Elite Enemy Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
[X]- KILLYOUKILLYOU (0/2 -> 1/2 Wounded Clock, +0.1 FUTURE)
If Yuexia didn't kill us, then we're not going to let these fucks kill us like that. We got a rival!
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN (0/3 -> 1/3 Elite Enemy Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
[X]- KILLYOUKILLYOU (0/2 -> 1/2 Wounded Clock, +0.1 FUTURE)
If Yuexia didn't kill us, then we're not going to let these fucks kill us like that. We got a rival!
- Location
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X]- CALL FOR HELP
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN
[X]- MAN HUNT
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN
[X]- MAN HUNT
[x]- THERE'S SOMETHING (0/8 -> 1/8 ??? Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
Li Peng thinks that the world seems to move in slow motion.
[x]- MAN HUNT (0/5 -> 2/5 Captured Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
The Zhenyan troops are sealing off the building, calling up reinforcements outside.
[x]- KILLYOUKILLYOU (0/2 -> 1/2 Wounded Clock, +0.1 FUTURE)
The Zhenyan troops are cutting Li Peng apart, piece by piece.
Li Peng thinks that the world seems to move in slow motion.
[x]- MAN HUNT (0/5 -> 2/5 Captured Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
The Zhenyan troops are sealing off the building, calling up reinforcements outside.
[x]- KILLYOUKILLYOU (0/2 -> 1/2 Wounded Clock, +0.1 FUTURE)
The Zhenyan troops are cutting Li Peng apart, piece by piece.
Xilentxium
Existential Crisis Management
- Location
- Temperate Regions
[X]- THERE'S SOMETHING (0/8 -> 1/8 ??? Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN (0/3 -> 1/3 Elite Enemy Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
[x]- MAN HUNT (0/5 -> 2/5 Captured Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
Oh yeaaaah, time to kung fu hustle this. Also remember, Zhenyan ain't shit.
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN (0/3 -> 1/3 Elite Enemy Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
[x]- MAN HUNT (0/5 -> 2/5 Captured Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
Oh yeaaaah, time to kung fu hustle this. Also remember, Zhenyan ain't shit.
The Sound of Steel on Steel on Bone
- Location
- boundless optimism
"Motherfucker HELP ME!" Li Peng roared. They pushed him to the edge of the wall with the windows. He bounced on the walls like Ali, blades whizzing through the air where he ducked through. They got in the way of each other. That was why Li Peng could live. He fought three, four at once, pulling them in front of their fellow's swords, clawing open arms and snapping wrists. Those that fell he kicked away, and Zhenyan had pushed him into sitting on the open windowsill. He lashed out with his foot at their heads, crushing glass and toppling them like bowling pins.
He lept up from the window, turning a backflip over their heads. An arrow brushed against his fingers. Yes! Yes! He's gonna see the Manchurian turn a bunch of blacksuits into shish-kebab. Li Peng's fingers closed around something attached, and when he landed the arrow thudded behind him. There was a key in his hands, and there were no other arrows were forthcoming.
"You fucking shit," Li Peng cursed, trapping a sword thrust in a supinating wristlock. There was a terrible gristly sound, and the guy who owned the wrist fell down sobbing. He weaved a web of steel, key jingling on his ring finger. "When I wanted help," he continued, fending off eight simultaneous strikes to his body, rattling his bones, "I meant now, not later you-"
Li Peng's spine bent like an acrobat's. He saw the floor become the ceiling and vice versa. Then he fell and kicked both legs at the mob. "Seriously," he complained after burying the key in someone's eye, "what the shit? You can fucking shoot these losers, why do I gotta do the work?"
It came out red and sticky. A car screeched outside. No, five. Damn, they must be salty over last time, because it's an army pouring into the hospital campus. And he still had fifty goobers in this hallway to deal with. "Have you considered giving up?" someone hopeful and also stupid asks. He flipped them the bird, backing up and taking a couple of breaths. "Well, I tried."
They charged at Li Peng who ran up the stairs. Three Zhenyan troops came down. He ran into one and the others stomped in his ribs and cracked him over the head with a sheathe. He saw stars and felt their arms curling around his arms. And legs. Half blind, head shooting arrows of pain through his mind, he did what came to his mind.
He thrashed around and yelled like a baby. They fell through a wall together, dazing the motherfucker on his legs. Li Peng kicked him off, back through the hole in the wall. The guy on his arms, he threw against the wall in one motion. Yep, he nodded, still got it. He's feeling good. The sedative is getting metabolized, or whatever. Just good to move around.
A gasp.
The oldhead in the bed stared at him. Something beeped long and low. Li Peng brushed some plaster flakes out of his loose hair (damnit) and sketched a low bow to the revered elder, who appeared to be going through some form of cardiac arrest. Since he was not a nurse or a doctor he walked out of the door and resolved to call a licensed medical professional. Along the way he tried to remember how to do a braid and when he walked out he was still fiddling with his now bloodstained hair.
He stared down at the blade pointing at his neck. "I don't suppose," he started, slowly, carefully, "that you know how to do a braid?"
They didn't but Li Peng was pretty sure that there's more polite ways then stab a fellow. His right hand, playing with his hair, switched to the cold steel, and his fingers, trained for god knows how long, ten years, fifteen, pinched the sword blade. The trooper on the other end put his whole body into it. And Li Peng just needed two fingers. A smug smirk grew on his face. This lasted until he was kicked in the balls. The cold rubber boot made an interesting squishing sensation through the thin hospital shift.
C'mon, Li Peng thought through the haze of double-up pain. Push.
He charged the sword cop through the wall and out into the cold cold cold cold cold it's fucking cold- the ribcage squished and crack under his weight. Rough way to go, buddy. He rolled off the twitching body crying out for something, someone, mother, to kill this son of bitch, which, fair.
Li Peng twirled the key around his finger. A news crew, or a Douyin mob, stared at him. They stared at his blood covered hands and splattered shift. They stared at the cop, twitching in an insect-ish way on the snow, which froze his feet.
"Excuse me, sir," one newsie said, extending his smartphone. "Do you have any thoughts regarding your destruction of the Palace Museum? On the arson in Lanzhou? Do you feel any shame or regret over this, whatsoever?"
"Give me your boots, your pants, and your jacket."
"Wait no get your hands off me-"
Li Peng now has the newsie's boots, pants, and jacket, putting them on with shaking hands. If the cold won't kill him, then the Zhenyan troops, leaping out of the windows and over the hospital campus walls will.
Well, not kill, he corrected himself. It's the party that wants him now. He'll get life imprisonment if he doesn't disappear somewhere. He vaulted over the first car, leaping from one roof to the other. Does the key have an emergency alarm? Yes. The third car was cut to steel ribbons when a distant alarm, a steady machine BEEP BEEP BEEP rose.
On the other end of the hospital campus.
With a building in the way.
"HE'S GOT A RIDE," someone shouted. "FIND IT. DESTROY IT."
Goddamn.
Li Peng flew.
There was a sound like a cannon being fired, then the sound of bone on steel on bone on concrete. He drove the point of his shoulder, his elbow, all the places where there was only a thin layer of skin on bone through the walls, and in this way smashed a straight line through the third floor of the hospital. He ejected himself out of the exterior wall, trailing a wake of fluttering papers, medical equipment, and computer banks.
One boot came loose. Didn't tie it right, he guessed, but he scooped it out and when he hit the ground he chucked it at the dude about to cut his ride in half. That distracted them long enough for him to hit them with a flying kick.
He jammed the key into the lock and it roared to life on the third try.
BENEFITS (Choose one)
[] GUN THE ENGINE (0/4 -> 2/4 Escape Clock, +0.1 PAST)
Pedal to the metal. He's out of there, with an armored convoy in hot pursuit.
[1.1] {PAST} STYLING (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock)
It's a stupid idea, but it's a cool one. He's going to stay and assert his dominance over these wagie nerds.
DETRIMENT (Choose two)
[]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN (1/3 -> 3/3 Elite Enemy Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
The Captain has arrived. Rep up to her.
[]- MAN HUNT (0/5 -> 2/5 Captured Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
The Zhenyan troops are sealing off the building, calling up reinforcements outside.
[]- MEDIA ATTENTION (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock (or -> 2/2 if STYLING is chosen), +0.1 PRESENT)
Li Peng is blowing up on the internet. This also has the side effect of alerting every shitarse bounty hunter and the actual cops that he's loose.
He lept up from the window, turning a backflip over their heads. An arrow brushed against his fingers. Yes! Yes! He's gonna see the Manchurian turn a bunch of blacksuits into shish-kebab. Li Peng's fingers closed around something attached, and when he landed the arrow thudded behind him. There was a key in his hands, and there were no other arrows were forthcoming.
"You fucking shit," Li Peng cursed, trapping a sword thrust in a supinating wristlock. There was a terrible gristly sound, and the guy who owned the wrist fell down sobbing. He weaved a web of steel, key jingling on his ring finger. "When I wanted help," he continued, fending off eight simultaneous strikes to his body, rattling his bones, "I meant now, not later you-"
Li Peng's spine bent like an acrobat's. He saw the floor become the ceiling and vice versa. Then he fell and kicked both legs at the mob. "Seriously," he complained after burying the key in someone's eye, "what the shit? You can fucking shoot these losers, why do I gotta do the work?"
It came out red and sticky. A car screeched outside. No, five. Damn, they must be salty over last time, because it's an army pouring into the hospital campus. And he still had fifty goobers in this hallway to deal with. "Have you considered giving up?" someone hopeful and also stupid asks. He flipped them the bird, backing up and taking a couple of breaths. "Well, I tried."
They charged at Li Peng who ran up the stairs. Three Zhenyan troops came down. He ran into one and the others stomped in his ribs and cracked him over the head with a sheathe. He saw stars and felt their arms curling around his arms. And legs. Half blind, head shooting arrows of pain through his mind, he did what came to his mind.
He thrashed around and yelled like a baby. They fell through a wall together, dazing the motherfucker on his legs. Li Peng kicked him off, back through the hole in the wall. The guy on his arms, he threw against the wall in one motion. Yep, he nodded, still got it. He's feeling good. The sedative is getting metabolized, or whatever. Just good to move around.
A gasp.
The oldhead in the bed stared at him. Something beeped long and low. Li Peng brushed some plaster flakes out of his loose hair (damnit) and sketched a low bow to the revered elder, who appeared to be going through some form of cardiac arrest. Since he was not a nurse or a doctor he walked out of the door and resolved to call a licensed medical professional. Along the way he tried to remember how to do a braid and when he walked out he was still fiddling with his now bloodstained hair.
He stared down at the blade pointing at his neck. "I don't suppose," he started, slowly, carefully, "that you know how to do a braid?"
They didn't but Li Peng was pretty sure that there's more polite ways then stab a fellow. His right hand, playing with his hair, switched to the cold steel, and his fingers, trained for god knows how long, ten years, fifteen, pinched the sword blade. The trooper on the other end put his whole body into it. And Li Peng just needed two fingers. A smug smirk grew on his face. This lasted until he was kicked in the balls. The cold rubber boot made an interesting squishing sensation through the thin hospital shift.
C'mon, Li Peng thought through the haze of double-up pain. Push.
He charged the sword cop through the wall and out into the cold cold cold cold cold it's fucking cold- the ribcage squished and crack under his weight. Rough way to go, buddy. He rolled off the twitching body crying out for something, someone, mother, to kill this son of bitch, which, fair.
Li Peng twirled the key around his finger. A news crew, or a Douyin mob, stared at him. They stared at his blood covered hands and splattered shift. They stared at the cop, twitching in an insect-ish way on the snow, which froze his feet.
"Excuse me, sir," one newsie said, extending his smartphone. "Do you have any thoughts regarding your destruction of the Palace Museum? On the arson in Lanzhou? Do you feel any shame or regret over this, whatsoever?"
"Give me your boots, your pants, and your jacket."
"Wait no get your hands off me-"
Li Peng now has the newsie's boots, pants, and jacket, putting them on with shaking hands. If the cold won't kill him, then the Zhenyan troops, leaping out of the windows and over the hospital campus walls will.
Well, not kill, he corrected himself. It's the party that wants him now. He'll get life imprisonment if he doesn't disappear somewhere. He vaulted over the first car, leaping from one roof to the other. Does the key have an emergency alarm? Yes. The third car was cut to steel ribbons when a distant alarm, a steady machine BEEP BEEP BEEP rose.
On the other end of the hospital campus.
With a building in the way.
"HE'S GOT A RIDE," someone shouted. "FIND IT. DESTROY IT."
Goddamn.
Li Peng flew.
There was a sound like a cannon being fired, then the sound of bone on steel on bone on concrete. He drove the point of his shoulder, his elbow, all the places where there was only a thin layer of skin on bone through the walls, and in this way smashed a straight line through the third floor of the hospital. He ejected himself out of the exterior wall, trailing a wake of fluttering papers, medical equipment, and computer banks.
One boot came loose. Didn't tie it right, he guessed, but he scooped it out and when he hit the ground he chucked it at the dude about to cut his ride in half. That distracted them long enough for him to hit them with a flying kick.
He jammed the key into the lock and it roared to life on the third try.
BENEFITS (Choose one)
[] GUN THE ENGINE (0/4 -> 2/4 Escape Clock, +0.1 PAST)
Pedal to the metal. He's out of there, with an armored convoy in hot pursuit.
[1.1] {PAST} STYLING (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock)
It's a stupid idea, but it's a cool one. He's going to stay and assert his dominance over these wagie nerds.
DETRIMENT (Choose two)
[]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN (1/3 -> 3/3 Elite Enemy Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
The Captain has arrived. Rep up to her.
[]- MAN HUNT (0/5 -> 2/5 Captured Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
The Zhenyan troops are sealing off the building, calling up reinforcements outside.
[]- MEDIA ATTENTION (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock (or -> 2/2 if STYLING is chosen), +0.1 PRESENT)
Li Peng is blowing up on the internet. This also has the side effect of alerting every shitarse bounty hunter and the actual cops that he's loose.
- Location
- France
[X] GUN THE ENGINE (0/4 -> 2/4 Escape Clock, +0.1 PAST)
Pedal to the metal. He's out of there, with an armored convoy in hot pursuit.
[X]- MAN HUNT (0/5 -> 2/5 Captured Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
The Zhenyan troops are sealing off the building, calling up reinforcements outside.
[X]- MEDIA ATTENTION (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock (or -> 2/2 if STYLING is chosen), +0.1 PRESENT)
Li Peng is blowing up on the internet. This also has the side effect of alerting every shitarse bounty hunter and the actual cops that he's loose.
Pedal to the metal. He's out of there, with an armored convoy in hot pursuit.
[X]- MAN HUNT (0/5 -> 2/5 Captured Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
The Zhenyan troops are sealing off the building, calling up reinforcements outside.
[X]- MEDIA ATTENTION (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock (or -> 2/2 if STYLING is chosen), +0.1 PRESENT)
Li Peng is blowing up on the internet. This also has the side effect of alerting every shitarse bounty hunter and the actual cops that he's loose.
THatWhichWillBe
The Squiddly One
- Location
- In The Darkened Deep
[1,1] {PAST} STYLING (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock)
It's a stupid idea, but it's a cool one. He's going to stay and assert his dominance over these wagie nerds.
This is the dumbest choice possible. I cannot understate how dumb this is.
Ergo, this is the only choice we could plausibly make.
[X] {PAST} STYLING (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock)
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN (1/3 -> 3/3 Elite Enemy Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
[X]- MEDIA ATTENTION (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock (or -> 2/2 if STYLING is chosen), +0.1 PRESENT)
It's a stupid idea, but it's a cool one. He's going to stay and assert his dominance over these wagie nerds.
This is the dumbest choice possible. I cannot understate how dumb this is.
Ergo, this is the only choice we could plausibly make.
[X] {PAST} STYLING (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock)
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN (1/3 -> 3/3 Elite Enemy Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
[X]- MEDIA ATTENTION (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock (or -> 2/2 if STYLING is chosen), +0.1 PRESENT)
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
- Pronouns
- She/They
These two are mandatory:
[X] {PAST} STYLING (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock)
It's a stupid idea, but it's a cool one. He's going to stay and assert his dominance over these wagie nerds.
[X]- MEDIA ATTENTION (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock (or -> 2/2 if STYLING is chosen), +0.1 PRESENT)
Li Peng is blowing up on the internet. This also has the side effect of alerting every shitarse bounty hunter and the actual cops that he's loose.
but otherwise fuck the past imo:
[X]- MAN HUNT (0/5 -> 2/5 Captured Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
The Zhenyan troops are sealing off the building, calling up reinforcements outside.
[X] {PAST} STYLING (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock)
It's a stupid idea, but it's a cool one. He's going to stay and assert his dominance over these wagie nerds.
[X]- MEDIA ATTENTION (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock (or -> 2/2 if STYLING is chosen), +0.1 PRESENT)
Li Peng is blowing up on the internet. This also has the side effect of alerting every shitarse bounty hunter and the actual cops that he's loose.
but otherwise fuck the past imo:
[X]- MAN HUNT (0/5 -> 2/5 Captured Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
The Zhenyan troops are sealing off the building, calling up reinforcements outside.
- Location
- USA
[x] GUN THE ENGINE
[x]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN
[x]- MAN HUNT
[x]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN
[x]- MAN HUNT
THatWhichWillBe
The Squiddly One
- Location
- In The Darkened Deep
I think it's good that we cleave to the past, at least a little bit. We saw what happened when we abandoned the past entirely; it was the plot of the entire last quest, lol.
StarSerpent
Upjumped Peasant
- Location
- Cowtown, AB
[X] {PAST} STYLING (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock)
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN (1/3 -> 3/3 Elite Enemy Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
[X]- MEDIA ATTENTION (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock (or -> 2/2 if STYLING is chosen), +0.1 PRESENT)
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN (1/3 -> 3/3 Elite Enemy Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
[X]- MEDIA ATTENTION (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock (or -> 2/2 if STYLING is chosen), +0.1 PRESENT)
[X] {PAST} STYLING (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock)
[X]- MAN HUNT (0/5 -> 2/5 Captured Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
[X]- MEDIA ATTENTION (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock (or -> 2/2 if STYLING is chosen), +0.1 PRESENT)
[X]- MAN HUNT (0/5 -> 2/5 Captured Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
[X]- MEDIA ATTENTION (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock (or -> 2/2 if STYLING is chosen), +0.1 PRESENT)
UrsaTempest
Don't Panic!
[X] GUN THE ENGINE (0/4 -> 2/4 Escape Clock, +0.1 PAST)
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN (1/3 -> 3/3 Elite Enemy Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
[X]- MEDIA ATTENTION (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock (or -> 2/2 if STYLING is chosen), +0.1 PRESENT)
I've had enough playing around. Time to, you know, actually escape.
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN (1/3 -> 3/3 Elite Enemy Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
[X]- MEDIA ATTENTION (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock (or -> 2/2 if STYLING is chosen), +0.1 PRESENT)
I've had enough playing around. Time to, you know, actually escape.
- Location
- Singapore
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] GUN THE ENGINE (0/4 -> 2/4 Escape Clock, +0.1 PAST)
Pedal to the metal. He's out of there, with an armored convoy in hot pursuit.
[X]- MAN HUNT (0/5 -> 2/5 Captured Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
The Zhenyan troops are sealing off the building, calling up reinforcements outside.
[X]- MEDIA ATTENTION (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock (or -> 2/2 if STYLING is chosen), +0.1 PRESENT)
Li Peng is blowing up on the internet. This also has the side effect of alerting every shitarse bounty hunter and the actual cops that he's loose.
Pedal to the metal. He's out of there, with an armored convoy in hot pursuit.
[X]- MAN HUNT (0/5 -> 2/5 Captured Clock, +0.1 to PRESENT)
The Zhenyan troops are sealing off the building, calling up reinforcements outside.
[X]- MEDIA ATTENTION (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock (or -> 2/2 if STYLING is chosen), +0.1 PRESENT)
Li Peng is blowing up on the internet. This also has the side effect of alerting every shitarse bounty hunter and the actual cops that he's loose.
7734
Trust and verify.
- Location
- Philmont
[X] {PAST} STYLING (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock)
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN (1/3 -> 3/3 Elite Enemy Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
[X]- MEDIA ATTENTION (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock (or -> 2/2 if STYLING is chosen), +0.1 PRESENT)
"Hello folks. I'm Li Peng, and welcome to Jackdaw."
[X]- CAPTAIN OH CAPTAIN (1/3 -> 3/3 Elite Enemy Clock, +0.1 to PAST)
[X]- MEDIA ATTENTION (0/2 -> 1/2 Media Attention Clock (or -> 2/2 if STYLING is chosen), +0.1 PRESENT)
"Hello folks. I'm Li Peng, and welcome to Jackdaw."