[IC] Of Shadow and Flame: Beginnings

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"Good thing I am not a man." She said as she kept walking.

[Felicity]

"Irrelevant!" The Fiery Warrior declared. Just as decided, He deposited his current charge into the arms of the apparent 13-14 year old despite any objections and marched over to pick up Vixen, slinging her over his shoulder in a firemans lift, making sure to keep a hold of her legs and resisting Bobbys baser urge to smack the womans rear. You are a terrible person Ozymandias directed towards himself. "So, weren't we going to have a walk 'n talk?"

[Hiss13]

Before Nagi could retort at the ridiculous comments being flung around, the loudmouthed one pushed the unconscious girl in his hands onto her. Seriously, I look like I'm 13 here. What if I lost my damn balance, idiot?

Resisting her urge to say that to at the boy, she attempted to hang the girl's body over her free arm and sighed.

"This isn't a matter of what you feel you are owed. I can guarantee from experience that people who have someone to feel gratitude to are willing to go to the ends of the earth to at least express it and sometimes, it doesn't end well." She gave a melancholic look to the woman who was being manhandled. "Take it from someone who has experienced that. It's better to accept the gratitude of someone you saved rather than reject or defer the payment. Save her the trouble. She is just one of those good people who lives in the world outside of our darkness, after all."

"On another note, can someone get the other girl who blue-hair here had said she saved? I kinda have my hands full here."

Edited April 3, 2015 by Hiss13

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"I would suggest unhanding me at once." she gave the man one warning, he hopefully wouldn't need another. She wasn't certainly not happy being grabbed by someone she didn't even know, and was even less happy about him grabbing her from behind. Hopefully... he listened otherwise, he would soon be a pin cushion.

[Felicity]

Bobby shook his head. "Not gonna happen Madame, and before you try anything, I'm willing to bet I'll be able to incapacitate you faster than you can do anything whilst i'm like... this" Bobby used his free arm to gesture to his general attire. "I certainly feel far better, stronger and all around faster for sure. So, until I find out how to stop my current state of being, i'm afraid you're coming with us." Ozzy didn't know how quick this woman was but seeing as she was literally in his grasp and because he truly was feeling stronger, he felt confident he could prevent any funny business.

Ozzys control over the situation put him in quite a jolly mood, he felt far too calm after what had happened just now, nearly dying and all. He wondered vaguely why that was the case.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

Clearly not happy with his answer Vixen immediately transformed a portion of her body, any part that was touching a fleshy bit of the man holding her. It flash froze becoming solid ice which she then extended into thousands of needles of ice. She wasn't trying to injure the man too badly, just... persuade him to let go of her.

[Felicity]

Bobby yelped in pain, dropping Vixen as fast as he could in an attempt to get away from the many little pricks of ice that traced along his shoulder. "Holy fuck!" Bobby exclaimed, his voice a few shades higher than before. "I was trying to find a way to show my gratitude, you don't have to stab me several hundred thousand times!"

[Yash]

Krys could hear people talking outside. It seemed to her as if the beast had been killed. She struggled to her feet and walked towards the opening. She could see the group now. It seemed to be that Flamehead Guy was carrying her saviour like a fireman, while that loud girl was being supported by a really young girl. Krys stared at Firehead. "What are you doing to her?" Krys asked loudly, trying to understand the bizarre situation. "That is the lady who saved my life. Why are you man handling her?" Krys stumbled towards to the group worried about her saviour.

Her worry was for nothing, as the boy suddenly dropped her and backed off, abusing and saying something. It seemed that the lady was fine. Krys walked up to her and said, "Thank you for saving me. I couldn't ask you before, what is your name?"

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"Don't... touch me. Or pick me up...don't even think about touching me again either." Vixen said rather coldly. The ice disappeared as quick as it formed, since it would only remain if she focused on it. She dropped maintaining it... she had made her "points".

That was when the girl from before ran in, Krys. "I am fine, however this buffoon apparently doesn't think very highly of his life." she said pointing at Bobby/Ozzy.

[Jory]

"Yes, someone should probably go get that other girl you mentioned. But, like I said: I don't do carrying people." Bark turned to watch the interaction between the man who was speaking in far too grandiose a manner for these troubled times and the woman who was as cold as her magical abilities. Poor fool's obviously never heard of an 'Ice Queen' before, he thought to himself. Immediately after, the woman froze her arm to punish the man's unwanted advances. Bark laughed loudly at the interaction, his guffawing leaving him short of breath and with a tear dribbling out of his eye. "Oh, man, I've never seen anything quite like that!" he said as he slowly moved closer to the more interesting group. "And whatever-your-name-is," he added, addressing Ozzy. "Next time a woman tells you to unhand her you should, especially a magical one. It's times like these when you'll find that people don't like being touched by strangers."

He then addressed Vixen. "Listen, lady, I don't know who you are. And if you want to leave I won't try to stop you. But someone as skilled as you knows the value of knowledge, and that's something this youngster seems to have in spades. It's one thing to know the layout of a city, but it's another entirely to know its inner workings. You and me are two of a kind, albeit with vastly different social tastes. So why don't you stick around for a bit? If you get fed up with all these idiots," he said, gesturing to literally every single person around him except Takeshi, "-then I won't blame you for leaving. Deal?" he asked, not even bothering to proffer a hand to shake.

[Hiss13]

As Vixen was breaking free of Bobby's grasp, Nagi noticed a girl, who she assumed to be the one Vixen had saved, approaching the group.

After Vixen had broken free of Bobby's grasp in quite a quick manner and replied, Nagi turned back to face her. "So, tell me. Are you going to accept that girl's gratitude or are you going to allow her to force herself to do whatever it takes to get you to accept it?" Nagi's expression turned grim as she molded it into one she used for intimidation. "Because if you choose to reject it, I guarantee you that I will beat you into the ground until you accept it."

[Chevaleresse]

Takeshi returned Bark's handshake before he processed how the man had referred to him. "Hey, I'm not scraggly." He said it in an almost pouting tone. "I'm not a kill thief, either; I was here first. I didn't expect magical people to start crawling out of the woodwork like that." Takeshi looked about at the group and returned to a somewhat more businesslike tone. "Anyway, I've got food and shelter at my place. I wanna talk to everyone here, including you, wing guy-" this last was called out in his direction "-and I'm sure a lot of you have questions. I'm Takeshi, by the way. I prefer that over 'Mr. Scraggly.'" He waited for the group to indicate their willingness to follow.

(Basically, just make one post if you could. It's hard to keep up atm.)

***

"The contract is fairly simple. I provide the service of unlocking your latent potential, and in turn you agree to protect me and any other Mediators in danger to the best of your ability." His tail flicked again. "Don't worry, you'll learn to tell the difference. Takeshi and I have a good working relationship; he will educate you." Astros looked at Dexter intently. "Do you accept the terms of the contract?"

***

There was some assorted whispering around Gavriil's bed. He was surrounded by a number of people around his age, though they lacked his rather imposing build. They all quieted down when one girl, possessed of blue hair, blue eyes, and a fierce expression, made a sharp gesture. "I see you're awake," she said matter-of-factly. "How much do you remember about the journey here?"

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"I can be showed that gratitude by her not doing something that reckless again. And the name is Vixen." ((said her name in response to Krys by the way.)) she said staring straight into the eyes of Nagi. Definitely one who knew what she was doing, but one shouldn't make a threat they couldn't follow up on. This girl, was strong, but certainly not stronger than herself. And Most definitely near the end of her possible transformation time. It would be unwise fro her to pick a fight with Vixen now, one that she couldn't win. And yet she did all the same. "It would make it no more genuine if it came to such measures. Besides... you and me both know you aren't in a position to take me on... assuming no one here sides with anyone. But, you need not worry about that... I have no issue with it, her gratitude. But, I would rather not force you lot to depend on me, and I would rather not depend on you. Too many complications in the long run, You will understand, I am better off alone." a coldness still permeated her voice. It showed how much she wasn't fond of this...that she was only going along with it, because she felt she had no way out. "I stay for now... but this isn't permanent."

[Jory]

Bark clapped his hands in response to Vixen's positive answer. "Excellent! Let's go tell Mr. Scraggly over there what the plan is, shall we?" he said with a large smile. He turned and strode toward Takeshi, clapping him on the shoulder. "Well, Scraggeshi, you'll be happy to know that I'm coming along!" He then leaned in, stage whispering to the teenager, "And I'm bringing babes, man! Baaaaaaabes!" He chuckled at his own joke once again. "So, Takescraggles, where's this hideout of yours? Is it some kind of secret base? Maybe a bunker underneath an old subway station or something?" He gasped in mock excitement, bringing his hands to his face. "IS IT A TREEHOUSE?"

[Pixl]

Gavriil opened his eyes, slowly. His vision was blurred, but he could make out the shapes of a group of people around him. There was also a dim buzzing sound in the air. Gavriil's eyebrows furrowed as he gradually regained his functions. He was, of course, not completely himself, but he could at the very least perceive the world around him more clearly. The shapes became people, and the buzzing died down. Then he noticed a girl, around his age--they were all around his age, now that he thought about it, but he could not bring himself to look away from her--with very distinctly blue hair and eyes. Gavriil was mesmerized by them; the girl was the most pleasant thing he could look at now, despite her expression. Her tone and choice of words did not indicate that she had any fondness of his recovery.

It took a moment to register her words before he could answer. "Ehh... About... the journey, here?" Gavriil asked as a method of reiterating the question to allow himself more processing time. "I remember being left for dead in a field... accepting my death... being picked up..." His voice trailed off. That was clearly the last instance he could think of. For someone of Russian background, his English was very good, and his slight accent did not detract from any comprehension of it. This was due to part of his upbringing in the mafia; they had him educated on a colorful variety of subjects, all intended to help him with his missions, English being one of them.

The boy looked around again. All eyes were on him. He was slightly uncomfortable from this, but he managed to ask, "Where... am I?"

Edited April 4, 2015 by Pixl

[Felicity]

Bobby figured he ought to first ask the question Ozymandias was evidently too proud to ask. "Before that can I ask how to NOT do this?" again Bobby gestured to his whole still transformed appearance. "I'm starting to get Dizzy and tired, not a fun combination..." true to his words he did look quite pale, his fiery hair now looking lquite dull in comparison to when he first transformed and his face looking as miserable as someone with a case of the black plague.

[Cyaloom]

As Dexter suspected, being able to use his inner powers had a cost: in this case, having the role of protecting the Mediators, perhaps even with his life. Dexter thought he was destined to be one of those magical people. He was the only one who saw the beast that day, after all. His father's death came to mind again; it was like an open wound. "I thought that there was nothing I could do; it had to happen. But now I have the possibility to prevent such things from happening again..." he thought.
On the other hand, this contract would have changed his life completely... Dexter was refraining from living a dual life. His mother was far away and didn't seem to care this much about him; his dreams and ambitions seemed the most important thing: he could never try to realize them again.

"So you are the mediator who unlocked that guy's potential... Takeshi... This is an important decision..." he whispered to Astros, while meditating... so many things, so many thoughts were inside of Dexter's mind. He was feeling overwhelmed.

After some minutes, Dexter said with an unsteady voice: "I'll... accept the contract."

He was sure that, in the end, it was the right thing to do. He was born to be one of those people, as he already had the powers, and it would have been a shame to waste them... And the price to pay (not realizing his ambitions and living a normal life) was honest. He wasn't living a normal life anyway. His father's death was just one more reason to accept the contract and help to prevent such things from happening again.

With his eyes of different colours, he stared at Astros with a serious and resolute look. Despite his voice being unsteady, he was firm and determinate about his decision.

Edited April 4, 2015 by Cyaloom

[Hiss13]

After Vixen gave her answer, Nagi contemplated it for a second and sighed. "I guess that's the best answer you will probably give so I will live with that. That being said it wouldn't be prudent to stay in my transformed state for too long."

She snapped her fingers on the hand that was holding the unconscious girl and a light formed around her before shattering to reveal her original form--a twintailed girl in a trenchcoat.

"I am glad to see that you aren't so far fallen as to reject her gratitude." Nagi gave a longing and peaceful smile. "On the other hand, I would advise against underestimating someone you just met as you can see, looks can be very deceiving."

At that moment, Bobby began to complain about his dizzy spell. "Idiot. You shouldn't be in your transformed state unless there is a need for it and that need passed long ago. Cancel your transformation before your stamina is completely drained."

Edited April 5, 2015 by Hiss13

[Felicity]

Bobby sighed, his brow furrowing in frustration and offence at being called an idiot. What had he done to deserve that? "I hate to reiterate this but I don't know ho-" and with a small puff of smoke, or so Bobby like to imagine, he returned to his much darker, less luminous self. He immediately felt relief as his head cleared, freed from the strain he had been dealing with. "Well that solves that problem"

[Chevaleresse]

Takeshi's expression was one of bemusement as he was quiet for a few moments. "It's nothing too special. It's pretty much an ordinary apartment building, except no one lives there any more. I may or may not have. . . customized. . . the inside a bit."

Guiding the group through the streets, Takeshi cut through a number of alleyways and abandoned buildings. At one point, while heading through a cavernous warehouse that had obviously been neglected for a long time, he spoke to the group behind him as he moved. "If you're wondering about why I'm taking this kind of path, it's because I'm trying to not run into any of the factions. I said this was my territory earlier, and for the most part people respect that and leave me alone, but people get all kinds of worked up when beasts rear their heads." The entire way, he idly hummed a few songs to himself, occasionally slipping in a few lyrics. "Windmill, windmill, for the land, turn forever hand in hand." It took about twenty minutes to arrive at their destination.

The building matched Takeshi's description fairly accurately. There were a few attempts at graffiti adorning the walls, though they were fairly small. Inside, he flicked a light switch on, revealing his "customization;" he had created a much larger dwelling by knocking down walls and putting up a few crudely-constructed ones in different places. The main area consisted of two sofas and several mattresses strewn about an entertainment center with a few different things haphazardly placed on the shelves, and a cheap television. "It's nothing fancy, but I like it. If you need a place to sleep, pick a mattress or drag one into the other apartments. I'm sure you wanna talk first, though, so fire away." He moved to the end of one of the sofas and sat down, awaiting the questions.

***

"Excellent. Since Takeshi has allowed me to use his dwelling for this purpose, may I ask you to follow me there? The reaction to gaining one's powers varies from person to person and is rather unpredictable, so doing this in a safe, secure location is best." The cat's eyes glinted in the moonlight. "Just follow them if you lose track of me." Astros gestured at the group following Takeshi with his tail before heading in the same direction.

[Felicity]

Bobby took the opportunity to rest with Takeshi's offer as he walked to a mattress and promptly belly-flopped onto it, sighing into the soft padding. One would have thought he had gone to sleep if it wasn't for the muffled yelling of a question. "So why the fuck can I turn into an anime version of a fiery hell demon and why did Ozzy get much more real?" Bobby turned his head so he could actually speak without going through the new bed. "Don't get me wrong, Ozymandias is me, but it's the first time that persona drove me to an action I normally would NOT have taken, like getting the fuck up with that thing still in the area."

[Jory]

Bark unstrapped his shotgun and sat on one of the sofas. He placed his weapon on the floor leaning on the arm of the couch then sat still for a few minutes, apparently staring off into space in an uncharacteristic silence with his hands firmly clasped underneath his chin. I'll let the boy handle this one, he thought to himself as he looked around the room using his peripheral vision. Both of the experienced girls had come with them, though one had come under protest. I wonder if any of them know who I am, he pondered. He dismissed the notion immediately, stopping himself before he waved a hand as if to actually wave it away. They're all so young. I doubt any have even met the Protectors other than Scraggles, and even if they have my story is almost a decade old at this point. Bark looked across the room toward Vixen, his curiosity piqued. Is she a Loner, or something else entirely? he wondered.

[Sutoratosu]

Faust stayed to the doorway of the room, arms crossed and slouching against the wooden framework. It wasn't like he had wanted to take up the invitation, by all means, he just wanted to get his damn supplies and go home for the night. The police sirens that had begun to close in after he watched them all leave, however, had possessed much different plans... plans that he hadn't been too keen on sticking around to hear.

"Guess I'm not leaving the projects anytime soon..." He thought to himself, passing a lingering glance over all the crazies in the room. "Whatever- I'll just have to live off Ramen I guess... hell, maybe I'll even be able to do something nice with the savings this week..." He paused after looking at the fiery haired man sprawled on one of the beds. A mammoth blur had apparently decided now was an excellent time to look for a new home on the German-Man's-Glasses Market. "Like maybe buying actual Glass Cleaner" He removed the specs, taking the bottom of his shirt and going to work evicting the little trespaser. "Or maybe I can just do something crazy all together and try to live off of electricity... how many car batteries would I need though? Hmmm...maybe I could do it in small batches with 9-volts...Or maybe visit the City Power Station everyday...Yah, I think that one would be the most plausible..."

[Chevaleresse]

"Well, that's up to a psychologist to answer. Transforming might make you braver if you know what's going on, since someone who's transformed can take a HELL of a lot more punishment than the average human, but it doesn't actually affect your personality. As for the first part, well, didn't your Mediator explain this whole thing to you? Or are you a wilder?" Takeshi noted Bark's firearm. He wasn't a big fan of people with guns being around him at all, especially since he wasn't sure he could react fast enough to transform before a shot landed in him. He stood up for a moment and headed over to a small closet in the corner of the room. "I'm still listening, don't worry," he called to Ozymandias(?) as he shuffled about in it.

[Felicity]

"I dunno, what I do remember of all of this" Bobby was getting tired as he waved in his bodies general vicinity for the third time in recent memory "and the thing that made me do what I think was a contract is fuzzy. I think I went to a new place for role-players, I was in the right place to really nail Ozymandias, my usual character. y'know? Anyway, some guy comes up and offers me power in exchange for protection. I figured it was just a little sub-plot people had cooked up for themselves so i went along with it. Then I woke up feeling a hell of a lot better than in recent memory. That said, I didn't have flaming attire, as cool as it looked." as he commented on his prior appearance wistfully, the flames as the bottom of his trousers partially transformed for a split second, flaring up brilliantly unbeknownst to the owner who wasn't looking at them. "That said, could you tell me what I apparently missed? My new room-mates also been weir- ohhhhh" Bobbys eyes widened as he pieced together how his new room-mate who had appeared a couple of days after the whole incident and was probably linked in to all this. Jackass hadn't told him anything. "Right, i'm a moron..." the downtrodden young man mumbled to himself.