Scadrial Thread

[I think I am here. he/him]

13 minutes ago, Sorana said:

A seeker. She'd never told anybody before. Never. But between all the soothing and rioting, she'd chosen the wrong words.

"We should hurry. The exit to our right."

Brillin nodded, ignoring the revelation that Attayl was a Seeker. there was a time to contemplate on such things and this as not it. this was the time to worry about how they were going to get out of this alive, not why someone had been hiding powers from them. Rusts, he was happy that they were in Depot 9, now he knew the directions to the train station when he left this warzone.

"We have to be quick. Right now they're distracted by Mr. Party Crasher over there." There was a hint of bitterness in his voice.

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

17 minutes ago, Sorana said:

"The parlor."

Attayl repeated, her panic subsiding. The parlor. Hastily she thought about the Alleys close by.

"I know a good way there. Without using the larger streets."

Now that she was calmer she realized, that Brillin had wrapped an arm around her shoulder, had left it there. He she smiled at him shyly, unsure what to make out of the gesture, but not moving away either. Maybe he would take her with him, when he left the city?

A seeker. She'd never told anybody before. Never. But between all the soothing and rioting, she'd chosen the wrong words.

"We should hurry. The exit to our right."

@ZincAboutIt

@I think I am here.

 

Nerin nodded, motioning to their other companions, who had also backed up towards the edges of the depot. Plenty of people were leaving now, some running, most slipping out quietly. The lines had been drawn in the sand, and it was time to decide where everyone stood.

"Brillin's right, we need to go. Now."

I hope Jeb left some wine out, she thought, trying to ignore the blood that painted the toes of her shoes slick and red. 

@Dr. Dapper @Emperor Stick

[+Sorana she/her]

Attayl led them through the streets, her steps hurried. All around them people screamed, ran away from the dancing hall. She was quiet, stayed close to her companions and only spoke up to tell them a new direction.

He was dead. She would have to look for someone else to work for, or leave as soon as possible. Brillin, but if he declined. Maybe Nerin? She knew she was a Seeker, maybe Attayl could argue that she was useful, that she was a valuable asset. It was such a beginners mistake. She should have claimed to be surprised, to be ignorant to his powers and that what he did was impressive. She should have. She hadn't. She should leave them alone, go back to the slum, find a place where they hadn't heard of her yet, another octant maybe. But she stayed, because she knew them, because alone was even worse than together. If the parlor managed to stay out of the most conflicts, then maybe she had a future there. Or she left. Brillin, but if he declined? Maybe Nerin? She was a Seeker...

Her thoughts ran in endless circles, around and around, repeated each other again, as she considered each option a second time, a third time, again and again and again.

She was about to step into another alley when she saw some figures standing there, waiting for them. They wore no obvious gang-sign, but that didn't count for much. Either they hid it, or they were independets, using the hour.

@I think I am here.

@ZincAboutIt

@Dr. Dapper

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

Nerin followed Attayl in a slight daze, mind carefully skirting the edges of what she'd just seen, what she'd just heard. Lance had saved her life - she should be grateful. She was grateful. But that sound. It kept playing in her mind, wet and brittle and thick. Lance's fine black shoes coated dark red. Red on the dancefloor. Red on the toes of her boots, on the hem of her skirt.

'I owe you a dance.'

Nerin stumbled into Brillin, mind still foggy and reeling. They had stopped - why had they stopped? Then she saw them - three men, all varying degrees of ragged and street-worn, silhouetted in the mist.

"Rusts," she moaned quietly, checking her brass reserves. She was running dangerously low, and a quick smoothing of her skirt confirmed her fears - she didn't have any more vials on her. 

@Sorana @I think I am here. @Dr. Dapper

[I think I am here. he/him]

21 minutes ago, Sorana said:

She was about to step into another alley when she saw some figures standing there, waiting for them. They wore no obvious gang-sign, but that didn't count for much. Either they hid it, or they were independets, using the hour.

 

10 minutes ago, ZincAboutIt said:

"Rusts," she moaned quietly, checking her brass reserves. She was running dangerously low, and a quick smoothing of her skirt confirmed her fears - she didn't have any more vials on her. 

Brillin cursed quietly as he saw the three men. No, not now, they had just escaped and now they had to deal with this.

Quickly he removed his arm from Attayl, stepping only a little in front. There was no way they could fight these men. Brillin had no fighting skill, and he certainly didn't have that sort of personality. Maybe if it was another night, he would've emptied his pockets for these criminals, coins were worth less than his life, in the end. But there was one thing Brillin did have, regardless of whether he liked it or not. He had his looks. Sighing, he knew there was only one thing to do, despite how much he hated it.

"Oi rustheads!" Brillin yelled, trying his best at a Roughs accent. He wasn't the best at accents, but the good thing about travelling was that he knew what each one sounded like. he hunched his back, relied on his clothing to hide his unimposing figure. He stepped a little closer so they could see his blue skin colour. he plastered a scowl on his face and curled his hands to a claw. "Find yer' own victims!"

He looked back at Attayl and Nerin, letting his normal face show. He hated this, it only fed the stereotype, only made people think worse of him and his kind.

"This lot is mine!""

 

Edited May 25, 2019 by I think I am here.

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

Clever, Nerin thought as Brillin put on his best Roughs accent. She did her best to look frightened - not difficult, actually, as she definitely was rather shaken.

Nerin caught Brillin's eye as he turned back and quickly mouthed 'Soothing' at him, flicking her eyes towards the thugs in the alley. She let out a little breath, feeling her hands shake a little. There was just enough brass left in her stomach for one big flare - hopefully, she could flatten all but the unease of the robbers and they'd look for easier prey. It would be messy - she'd likely catch Brillin and Attayl in the wake of it. But that was something she'd have to risk.

As Brillin shouted his last, Nerin flared brass, flattening confidence, curiosity, anger, greed, joy - everything but fear. She felt a tiny cry escape her mouth as she pushed towards them, almost falling over with the concentration. The three men in the alley staggered a bit, their positions becoming more hunched and unsure, and they eyed Brillin with real anxiety now.

Come on, Nerin silently willed towards Brillin. One last push. Yell, scream - anything! Her reserves were completely empty now; she'd done what she could.

@I think I am here.

[+Sorana she/her]

Brillin stepped in front of them and Attayl admired his courage to face them down, was grateful, that he didn't leave them here and now. She moved closer to Nerin, didn't need to play fightened, because she was scared, shocked, but kept herself in check for the moment. Panicking never helped in her experience. She looked over her shoulder, made sure, no one approached them from behind. The Alley was empty. She lifted a hand to open a button of her dress, if Brillin failed, maybe she could buy their way - fear. It jumped on her as if she'd walked around the wrong corner, the misstrust, the fear she'd groomed for so many years that had kept her alive suddenly taking over, grabbing her in their cold embrace.

She staggered back from Nerin, pressed her body against the nearest wall and looked around, searched fora escape. It was stupid to stay with them to rely on them. She was better of on her own, it was easier when she only had to care for herself. Brillin was occupied, Nerin watched him intensely and so she took a step towards the other direction, moved slowly away from them.

Something wrong and she knew it, she had trusted them just a heartbeat before, she had asked Brillin if he wanted to dance, she had enjoyed Nerin's banter with Lance, had decided that evening was the best one in many, many years, but somehow it was all gone, all apart from fear, eating at her bones, telling her to run, to flee. Hesitating she took another step, posed to run.

@ZincAboutIt

@I think I am here.

Edited May 25, 2019 by Sorana

[I think I am here. he/him]

Brillin suddenly felt his emotions go blank and only a sharp sense of fear remained. He knew Soothing was coming, Nerin had mouthed it to him, but he hadn't expected such a burst of it. He saw the three men stagger and Brillin was suddenly scared, they would kill him, all three of them. he hunched further and looked to the three men. But, the thing was that the men would be scared too. So it was a matter of who could scare the other first.

Clenching his fists and swallowing his fear, he yelled again.

"So get lost!" He roared, the sound eerily close to something a wild animal would make.

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

As though they were one, the three men all flinched, cowered for a moment, then turned and fled down the alley. 

The combination of relief and flaring her metal made Nerin go weak, and she stumbled, teetering on the edge of fainting. She let herself sag onto the filthy alley floor, hardly caring what she was sitting in.

"That was..." she mumbled, then tried again. "That was clever."

White spots popped before her eyes, and suddenly the damp, wet ground beneath her hands made her think of the blood on the dance floor, and that thick, meaty sound the man's head had made as Lance crunched it into the --

Nerin retched and was quietly, violently ill for a moment. She coughed, wiping her mouth.

"I suppose I shouldn't have suggested the dance hall, should I?" she said ruefully.

@I think I am here. @Sorana

[+Sorana she/her]

Her fear lessened, no that was wrong. But slowly other feelings returned. She stayed where she was, looked at Nerin and Brillin, her body pressed against the wall. She ignored Nerin being sick, something else was far more important.

"What do you want from me?"

She asked fearfully. Nerin was weak, but Brillin, he probably could outrun her. Brilin. He wanted to dance with her, she'd taught him to dance and he agreed. He'd led her outside, when he could have run away easily. Her eyes rested on him for a moment, her face softening. He was new to the city, probably only caught in this by accident. Nerin. She was the larger threat of the two and so she focused on her again.

"Why did you suggest the dancing hall? Did you know that I would agree to that easily?"

Information. Usually people were after information. Everybody close to - She felt cold when she remembered, when reality hit her. She had nowhere to go. They wanted to go back to the parlor and then - she had no idea. She knew she had trusted them, had laughed with them, but now she asked herself how much of that had been real, and how much Nerin had influenced her, until she wasn't herself anymore.

"Please."

she begged instead, stared at Nerin.

"I know nothing about his deals. He made sure to keep me out of it, that even when he handed me to someone else everybody knew it was useless to question me."

Her eyes flickered over to Brillin again, wondered whose side he would choose, or if he just left them altogether, now that Nerin had stopped her soothing. The thought hurt. Even though not everything had been real, even though she, no they had been influenced, she had enjoyed the time with him, with them. But now - it was over, the soother out of brass. Now both would show their true face, the only question was who would hurt her first. Fear, still so much fear clouding her thoughts, turning and twisting them around and around.

@ZincAboutIt

@I think I am here.

Edited May 25, 2019 by Sorana

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

Slowly, dizzily, Nerin got to her feet. There was a note of panic in Attayl’s voice, though she could do nothing about that now.

”I didn’t want anything,” Nerin said, voice harsher than usual. “I just wanted a nice rusting night. I wanted to dance! Show a visitor a night on the rusting town.” 

She motioned to Brillin, who still stood a little ways off. Then she turned back to Attayl. This is who she really is, Nerin thought. Frightened, anxious, untrusting. Stupid girl - you never believe your own Soothing for truth. Nerin could see the distrust plainly in Attayl’s eyes, could almost hear her thoughts.

‘How much of it was real?’ All of it. Nerin wanted to scream. It was all real! She could no more conjure thoughts than she could fly. But no one thought of it like that, no one believed a Soother. What had Lance said? A Soother could never have an honest face?

”I just want to go home,” she said bitterly. “After that you never have to see me again.”

@Sorana

[+Sorana she/her]

Attayl was about to agree, to turn around and leave, but the honesty behind Nerin's words caught her by surprise. Burning bronze she looked at her again. No, that was her. Her true self.

I just want to go home. I wanted to dance. I just wanted a nice rusting night.

She stood there, stared at Nerin, and somehow saw herself. It was strange, almost disturbing, how similar they were in some points, and how different in others.

"Nobody only wants to have a nice night with me."

Her voice was quiet, sad.

"Half of them want to have some other fun and the other half is looking for information."

She knew the bitterness in Nerin's voice too well, because it was her own, her own frustration at people never looking past her being a whore, never seeing who she was. She flared bronze, just to make sure, and there was nothing. This was real, true. She didn't know how soothing really worked, but she knew enough that Nerin couldn't create something, the fun, the joy it had been real. She'd only taken her mistrust, her fear. Was it real without them?. Attayl didn't know and she had a hard time to care about it. She looked over at Brilling and a smile ghosted over her lips.

"I know you leave tomorrow, but still - should you ever come back one day, it would be nice if you dropped by and danced with me."

Slowly, carefully she took a step away from the wall. She'd lost everything. There was no place to go, no place to hide. And so she jumped. If she fell, she would fall anyway. Take a step towards Nerin, extend your hand.

"I'm Attayl. And it was a good idea to go to the dancing hall."

Unconciously she pulled up her shoulders, made herself smaller, harmless. And so she stood there. And waited.

@ZincAboutIt

@I think I am here.

Edited May 25, 2019 by Sorana

[I think I am here. he/him]

Brillin stared at where the criminals had run off to, his shoulders moving to their normal positons, his posture going back up to being straight, his scowl turning into a frown. And finally as the Soothing was stopped, he suddenly felt what any normal person would. Sudden disgust at himself, how he had acted. And, above all, nervousness. he was in an Octant in the midst of a gang war.

He turned to Attayl and Nerin, his face back to normal. He sighed.

"That was a new experience," he said steadily. He let out a chuckle, shaking his head and looking down. She had asked for him to dance with her the next time he came. Like he could find her, wherever she was, whichever gang she was in, and they'd greet each other like old friends. he just wanted to rusting out of here.

"I'd love to, Attayl." He looked up to her sincerely. Because he did want to dance with her, among the music and doing the Waltz, but he hoped he wasn't the only one who realized once he left this city, he wouldn't be returning for a long while.

"And it was a good idea to go the dancing hall," he looked back the way they'd came. Depot 9.

"But what can you do?" he said, distant.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Quote

You guys are going fast...

 

[old man moomba he/him]

Quote

Let's just say that Abejn followed.

Aben stayed quiet, sword drawn. His pipe trailed smoke, which mixed with the mists. Shakily, he took the pipe out of his mouth and blew a stream of smoke into the sky. "Blood and bloody ashes!" he swore, "That was a bit intense. Who knows what'll happen now..." Aben trailed off.

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

Nerin took Attayl’s hand, tenuously. Something had changed in the girl - not much, but enough. A shadow of a smile flickered on Nerin’s mouth.

She noted the distant, unsure tone in Brillin’s voice, the adrenaline in Aben’s. He had his sword drawn - when had that happened. Nerin sighed, then spit against the alley wall. Her mouth tasted foul, and her skirt was filthy, and she had no brass left in her.

”What can you do indeed?” She sighed. “Let’s go get cleaned up. We can all figure out what to do once we’ve had a bit of time to think.”

@Sorana @I think I am here. @Dr. Dapper

[+Invocation]

9 hours ago, Sorana said:

Millet stared at the man, slowly backing away. One step, another one. His eyes darted over to hus dead men, then he turned around, his back stiff, deliberately walked out of the room. A few followed, but most, those belonging to the Farriers, or those now choosing their side stayed, looking in awe at Lance.

Lance winked at the remaining men. "So how was that for a show? This is the power the Farriers hold, abilities beyond compare in this world. Those of you who are still choosing an alliance should make up your minds now...unless you wish to experience, firsthand, what I can do."

[+Sorana she/her]

 "I'd love to Attayl."

Attayl smiled brightly at Brillin, happy that he still wanted to dance, that at least this hadn't changed. Maybe more had been real than she'd feared.

Nerin shook her hand, tenously, but she took it. And so she smiled at her as well.

"Getting cleaned up sounds great."

She hesitated. Maybe she could follow them to the parlor, and then - spending the night on the street didn't sound appealing.

"I have nowhere to go."

Her voice was diminueshed.

@I think I am here.

@ZincAboutIt

@Dr. Dapper

=====================

The assembled listened to his words. Behind them bystanders were still pushing out of the doors, fleeing the room. For a moment nothing happened. Then a huge, burley man stepped forward.

"We are the Deadleaves. We will follow you."

His men murmered their agreement. Those opposing the Farriers had probably left a while ago.

@Invocation

Edited May 25, 2019 by Sorana

[+Invocation]

Just now, Sorana said:

The assembled listened to his words. Behind them bystanders were still pushing out of the doors, fleeing the room. For a moment nothing happened. Then a huge, burley man stepped forward.

"We are the Deadleaves. We will follow you."

His men murmered their agreement. Those opposing the Farriers had probably left a while ago.

Lance smirked. Nothing like a solid murderfest to gather allies. "You will not regret that choice, my friend. It may leave you in a...unique position soon enough."

[+Sorana she/her]

5 minutes ago, Invocation said:

Lance smirked. Nothing like a solid murderfest to gather allies. "You will not regret that choice, my friend. It may leave you in a...unique position soon enough."

A woman stepped up to him.

"How can I join? I was one of Millet's, but he's weak. I'll follow you! Tell me what to do!"

Behind her, the crowd cheered their approval, then they fell silent, waited for his reply. It was like a test. Were the willing to accept them, would they show of their strength as well, or did they accept them easily? Many faces seemed thoughtfull, waited to see what he would tell the woman to make a decision of their own.

[+Invocation]

1 minute ago, Sorana said:

A woman stepped up to him.

"How can I join? I was one of Millet's, but he's weak. I'll follow you! Tell me what to do!"

Behind her, the crowd cheered their approval, then they fell silent, waited for his reply. It was like a test. Were the willing to accept them, would they show of their strength as well, or did they accept them easily? Many faces seemed thoughtfull, waited to see what he would tell the woman to make a decision of their own.

"I appreciate your enthusiasm. First, go take a spike from the active railway next door, each of you who wants to join. You'll have to bring that back to us as payment for joining. Then all you need to do is find us. Find someone who has our symbol on them, show them the spike, and tell them you want to join. Let them know that you followed Mouras's instructions. Good luck to you, and I hope to see you at our home soon. If you have any more questions, or wish me to judge your spike to make sure it works, I'll be over at the bar having a drink."

The crowd scurried off to follow the instructions. 

[overlord stick]

Rudo walked over to Lance. "Well, that certainly got people's attention."

@Invocation

Edited May 25, 2019 by Emperor Stick

[+Invocation]

Just now, Emperor Stick said:

Rudo walked over to Lance. "Well, that certainly got people's attention."

@Invocation

"Yes it did, as it was intended to. I am very good at grabbing attention," Lance said, smirking and sipping his drink.

[overlord stick]

"As evident by you're habit of window-smashing. You know, paying for it can be a real pane."

Edited May 25, 2019 by Emperor Stick

[+Invocation]

1 minute ago, Emperor Stick said:

"As evident by you're habit of window-smashing. You know, paying for it can be a real pane."

"The windowsmashing is merely a...transparent play of drama."