Exotic Almond

5 minutes ago, Ancient Elantrian said:

Elan flinches a little at the sound of throwing up. "Let's... let's keep going." He says, patting the soldier on the back and handing him a plastic bag like you would find on an airplane.

"Thanks... guess I don't have what it takes to be a soldier. Not that I wanted to. Anyway this way to your new cell."

15 minutes ago, Ancient Elantrian said:

 

Elan nods. "You good? I think I have a bag here... somewhere... If you need it."

"I-I'll be fine. I'm just *hurk* new here."

5 minutes ago, Edema Rue said:

Tal gasped in shock, and suddenly he was thrown back to another time. A terrible time. A beautiful time. 

***

"How does it feel?" Tal murmured gently.

Ace shook her head. She was curled up tightly, as if trying to hold herself together with only her hands. She looked so vulnerable, the way she had when he'd first met her. "I'm not a poet," she muttered. "Words are your thing. I don't...I...it's so cold." Tal immediately reached over, pulling a blanket on top of her and holding his arm around her. She just shook her head again. "Not on the outside," she whispered. "It's like a piece of my heart is gone."

"This was a mistake," Tal said. "Look, we can find a way to undo it or something. We'll find another way to beat him."

Ace shook her head. "No, no we--we can't." 

"Ace..." Tal whispered, tucking a a strand of hair behind her ear. "I didn't--I shouldn't have--" But that was a lie. He knew exactly what it would do and how it would feel. She was more a piece of him than his own hands. He knew what would hurt her. Why hadn't he stopped her?

"Tal," she said. "Tal. I chose this." She looked at him, and she smiled, and it broke his heart. "You can actually save them."

"What if I can't?" Tal asked. "What if I hurt them instead?"

"I trust you," Ace said. "More than that, I know you. We'll get through this. Both of us."

Tal nodded. There was a long moment of quiet. "Ace?"

"Yeah?"

"I think I like it."

She blinked. "Like what? Me?"

He grinned at her stupidly. "No, I love you. But..." his grin fell away. "I feel what it feels. I feel the hunger. And the satisfaction."

She didn't pull away. She didn't look at him with disgust or mock him. "I know," was all she said. "It's awful, isn't it?"

Tal nodded, letting her fall into him. He didn't tell her how badly he wanted it. He didn't tell her how good it felt to have something that made him feel alive, even if that something was terrible. He didn't tell her that when the magic flowed through him he wanted to break the whole world. He didn't tell her that when it laughed in his mind, he laughed with it. He didn't tell her how badly it hurt to stop. He didn't tell her any of it.

***

Tal gasped for breath, then sank back into his mind.

***

Stars, it hurt.

She never said how much it hurt.

It wasn't just cold. It was lonely, and it was dark, and for the first time he could remember he was really, truly alone. 

Was this how they lived?

Every day, alone?

It was as if every reason he had for living was gone.

It was as if all the light in the world had been sucked away.

And the guilt.

Oh, stars and spirits, the guilt. 

He'd hurt so many people. He'd killed so many people. 

And he'd enjoyed it. He'd fed on it, let it sustain him, found ecstasy in their pain and terror. 

He'd found his greatest pleasures in their pain, then thought enough of the wretched creature that he was to mourn the deaths of people he claimed to care about. 

Tal wretched, then again. He started coughing. Ace...why me? WHY ME?! Why kill a hero and leave me alive to hurt all the people she would have helped?

Something inside him snapped, then. Burst and broke, letting loose a flood of emotion that could never heal. 

And ever so slowly, Tal slumped to the floor. Motionless.

He wasn't a hero. He never had been.

But he was trying.

And maybe, on some other plane, that was worth something, because he saw her there, wreathed in light. And she reached for him. And he wept.

***

A small velvet bag slipped from Tal's coat. It clinked on the ground. Inside it were dozens of keys in every shape and size, more than should have been able to fit inside. Room keys, waiting for a new doorman.

 

Quote

He will be missed.

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

She stood, and I’m assuming Lundyn, Pic, and Elan did too. She kept the one hand in Pic’s, and the other arm hung awkwardly.

"O-ok. Follow me, and don't look to the right. A spoiler box would need to be used in an online forum. That's how bad it is."

Quote

Never broken the fourth wall before thought it would be funny, but yeah maybe trust him.

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

“Well, thanks… I think.” She put her free hand to where a pocket would have been. Since there was no pocket, her hand slid a bit, then she made a sad look and put it back by her side.

"Do you... need anything? Like, another cell maybe." He looks at the corpse and almost vomits. "Yeah, follow me to another cell."

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

“Who’s ’they’?”

"The MCS. Where we are. They said all magic is bad and that the only reason the mistborn are left is because of their value. You seem... nicer... than that."

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

“Yeah. I’m not.”

"But... that's not what they said."

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

 

Quote

'kay. I completely missed that. Sorry. I will say this next guard will be a bit more receiving.

"Uh. What do I do now? Umm, you don't seem very murdery."

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

 

Quote

Understandable. Seeing your friend turn feral and kill someone is probably traumatizing.

Another soldier rushes in. Considerably greener than the other. "Oh rusts. This is bad. St-stay where you are!"

Quote

Did I miss some hint at what Aventine wanted to do or overstep some boundary because if so I apologize and we can rewind.

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

 

Quote

Metals or Following? because I totally did not expect anyone to follow him.

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

Her eyes widened and her hand tightened on Pic’s.

@Cash67

Almond runs off in a random direction on all fours in blind rage. Not even looking back. "I'll kill you all! You'll all die for this!"

Quote

Man. He's angy. Also, there's your metals Aventine.

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

She grabbed Pic’s hand and was grounded by Elan’s arm around her. “I won’t be able to do that either.”

Almond springs up, fully demonized (that's what I'm calling it now) "You nasty horrible man. Perish!!" Almond overpowers the man with the element of surprise biting and clawing like only a caged animal can. The man screams in pain before dying.

Quote

Don't wanna be too descriptive in case it triggers something for somebody.

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

She stared back. “What did they make you do?”

"Brother. He was a coppercloud. Useless. Look when you do this as long as I do you just forget the pain. I'd suggest getting rid of those attachments to others. You'll get paid decently."

Almond visibly angers and begins to demonize.

Quote

get ready for an escape

@shortcake @Cash67

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

“I couldn’t. I couldn’t kill my friend.” 

"Huh, weirdo." He focuses all his attention on Aventine.

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

She made a face and looked at the guard. “There’s no way you let us out, is there.”

He chuckles "Nope. You're the mistborn right? So, why didn't you do it. Guards are treated much better here you know."

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

“Wasn’t there a magic suppressor?” she muttered.

"Umm, no. He broke it? Please help mister guard!" Almond leaps up to get on his knees as if to beg.

Quote

Almond isn't good at lying.

2 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

“Well, there goes that,” she muttered.

"Let us out! Elan is turning into a demon-king with power over plastic and cabbage patch kids!"

Quote

Door still open. He never closed it.

@Ancient Elantrian

1 minute ago, Spark of Hope said:

She paused for a moment. “I don’t have metals, so I can’t do much. But Rui’s ready and willing to help.”

She narrowed her eyes. “We should get our clothes, though. I do not want to leave here without my jacket.”

The door opens and a mistborn soldiers walks in. "I've been assigned to keep you in here while the breach is suppressed. Do. Not. Move. Ever."

Quote

I swear this isn't a "convenient protagonist gets what they need" type thing.

1 minute ago, Spark of Hope said:

“We can’t protect you if you’re away from us in a corner.”

 

"Ok. That alarm... it means security breach. The doors will probably open soon. This will be the best time to run if we can, magic isn't suppressed in the halls because of their 35 other mistborn soldiers."

Quote

I did, but, I was rushing to leave. They wouldn't have said more than "Shut up." or "Keep walking" though.

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

She looked up. “Almond, come over here.”

"What?" He walks up.

Quote

I'll let this sweet moment happen before the drama

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

“Showing that they don’t control us. And that they never will.”

" *sigh* fine. I guess it couldn't hurt. And for what it's worth. If I'm mysteriously gone one morning. I'm glad I met all of you. I got to be free, if even for a little while." Suddenly an alarm starts blaring as the lights start flashing red.

1 hour ago, shortcake said:

Lundyn pulls at the fabric on her back, ripping a large enough hole for her wings to fit through. Finally...

 

Quote

I know she's not harmless but they don't.

1 minute ago, Spark of Hope said:

She smiled, but still stayed fetal. "Thank you, Elan. What about you guys, Pic, Lundyn, and Almond?"

@Cash67 @shortcake @Exotic Almond

"What's the point. They'll just kill me regardless of whether you do it. They've taken my staff, I can't do anything without that. I needed inside help to escape last time and last I saw she was shot as I fled." 

Quote

Hint: Not useless without staff, more backstory stuff soon.

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

“How could you do this…” she asked quietly on the way back.

He saw the red in her eyes and the tears on her face.

"I can't believe they found me..." Almond repeats over and over in grief not responding to any attempts to rouse him.

Quote

Ok officially go time. Gotta present stuff! Be back in probably 1-2 hours.

Just now, Ancient Elantrian said:

 

Quote

You're the most powerful entity they've contained they had to come up with an entirely new category just for you. I'm not sure that's a good thing though. (They have an extractor)

1 minute ago, Spark of Hope said:

She set him on the table, no longer able to hold the tears back. She began to quickly pace, one hand over her mouth and the other supporting her elbow.

"It appears we were wrong about you." He waves to the guards "Take them back to the cell. We'll need to study that one later and the otter might be a good bargaining chip." Aventine and Almond are taken back to the cell.

Quote

I've gotta go soon, Almond is despondent in the corner, won't respond to anyone. Ya'll can continue to RP in the cell but I'll be back soon.