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Post by The Merry Lambfish on Nov 19, 2014 5:58:36 GMT -5
"I'm not afraid of him," Vesica said, glaring as the man walked off to talk to Minos.
She turned to Alex. "Someone from my world. Robert Fordson: A self proclaimed 'monster hunter' and a complete bonehead. He makes a living by traveling to small communities that don't get as much support from the military. Some of the locals pay him to kill certain monsters inhabiting the area."
She crossed her arms as Robert loud voice reached their ears. "Minos, is it? A little bird told me you were a quite formidable warrior."
Vesica just shook her head in disdain and returned her attention to Alex. "He got a contract on me about a year ago. There were… stories, told about me by some of the locals that had glimpsed me in my 'other form'. Robert was paid a lot of money to kill me, and failed spectacularly. Spent months trying to track me down and ended up wandering blindly into a Velomortis nest. I had to pull him out of there myself. And that... proved to be a mistake." She sighed.
"He may be a bonehead, but he's a particularly determined bonehead. Once he figured out I was actually real and not some cryptid, he made it his personal mission to try and hunt me down."
*****
Tenshi was having a hard time concentrating on anything at this point. The spell was taking its effect, eating away at her own willpower, forcing her into a hypnotic state. The other Celestial turned to leave, but not before beckoning for the Queen of Heaven to follow. Tenshi then heard a clear, sharp command, devoid of any true voice, that seemed to come from within her own head.
"Come…"
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Post by Fainis the Sadistic Pansexual on Nov 19, 2014 14:19:58 GMT -5
Sam crossed her arms. "Sounds like a jackass."
"Yeah," Alex mumbled. They had dealt with their fair share of wannabe monster hunters back home. Or at least dealt with what remained of them. Most did not last very long even against minor Aberrations. It was one of the most grisly parts of the job early on, though people stopped once it became unavoidably obvious that they could not be slain by conventional means. Alex wondered what made this Fordson any different, since it sounded as if he must mostly successful to gathered the sort of attention he had. "How does he manage that? Killing monsters, I mean. And... do you think he'd recognize you like this? Is it okay for us to stick around?"
A low, curious chirp rang out as Plume slunk from behind Sid. The childish reptile had curled up and been asleep the last few minutes, apparently bored after the exodus of the bears or perhaps because the inside of his bulky costume reminded him of sanctuary in a hollow log or stone and activated some sort of primal nesting instinct buried deep within his lizard brain. But the scent of a new human, one he had never met before, roused him. The GAAF brawler had not yet met another human besides the three he knew here. Plenty of humanoids, but never a true human. Dropping to all fours and inching his head forward, his jutting chin swinging so low it nearly knocked off Alex's helmet, Plume chirped again, louder and more brightly, a sort introduction to the newcomer...
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Post by The Merry Lambfish on Nov 19, 2014 16:02:00 GMT -5
Vesica shook her head. "It's fine. He's got no idea that I'm actually… well…" She gestured to herself.
"Fordson owns some sort of advanced technology. I'm pretty sure it's allarian based. I'm not sure how or where he would have acquired it, though."
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Post by Tenshi the Sunkern on Nov 20, 2014 1:40:35 GMT -5
Minos sized up the man. He was... human. No special powers, no talents, no nothing out of the ordinary from what she could see. The disguise she wore bubbled and fizzed, until it morphed into her usual attire as she slowly circled around Robert. The eyes behind the mask narrowed, and Minos's mouth split open, four long fleshy tendrils extended out and began to inspect the man, tasting his clothes, his hat, his hair... A hiss escaped from her mouth as the tendrils withdrew. "She is checking on you, to see if you are worth her time..." Shikeiki was quick to tell Robert. She knew Minos better than anyone else in the room... After all, she had once been her supervisor, but that was a long time ago...
"Well, atleast he isn't hunting down the human you." Mara said, poking Vesica in the chest. "They don't know what you really are like, so they fear you. If you were to prove to him that you are not some monster, but are what I see you as now, he wouldn't try to hunt you. It's a little miracle of the human subconscious... I am sure he has standards against hurting a sweet little girl like you."
"I said... Release me." Tenshi stammered as she swaggered over, nearly toppling head over heels. her body wasn't her own... It was moving of her own accord, and she couldn't stop it...
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Post by Fainis the Sadistic Pansexual on Nov 20, 2014 9:00:39 GMT -5
Alex hooked a set of fingers and ran them through his curly, tangled hair. "I'm not sure that would be a good idea. I hate to start sounding like Sam here, but..."
"Never bet on someone else sharing your morals," finished the woman herself. She looked sideways at Alex. "It's about time you wised up, Shepherd."
"Yeah, yeah, you've won me over with your pessimistic ways... but, seriously, Mara, Ves... I wouldn't count of that working. You said this guy was determined, right? I don't like the thought of someone being so determined that they would take lives to get what they wanted, but... it's happen before. It'll happen again." His face darkened and he looked guilty for a moment. He mentally kicked himself for being thoughtless. "A-and I'm just now remembering that you two know that better than most, so I guess I shouldn't be talking. It's just... you never know. This guy could call off the hunt immediately if you showed him what you really are. Or he could get insulted or scared or angry and increase his effort tenfold. I mean, I guess the UCA would be about as safe a place as you could find to chance that, but..."
He glanced at Vesica nervously.
"I wouldn't."
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Post by The Merry Lambfish on Nov 29, 2014 22:50:03 GMT -5
Vesica nodded, watching Fordson converse with Minos through narrowed eyes. "I wouldn't trust him for a second. Fordson's pride is more important to him than anything else in the world. He sees a prize that will grant him fame or notoriety, and he'll do anything he can to obtain it."
Her gaze switched to Mara. "Alex is right. I don't know what his standards are, but I'm not about to find out firsthand."
****
Robert smiled at Minos as he dug into his pocket, not even sparing a glance for Shikeiki. "And am I worth her time?" He withdrew a silver cigaret lighter from his pocket, along with a packet of cigarets.
****
The Celestial smiled to himself as he began to walk silently down the hall, well away from the group as Tenshi was forced to follow.
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Post by Tenshi the Sunkern on Nov 29, 2014 23:14:37 GMT -5
Mara simply shook her head and let out a sigh. "Well, just be careful then... I know of people like that, and they're... hard to reason with." She forced herself to say...
A low growl escaped Minos's throat as she stopped pacing around Robert, acting more like a predatory lion circling a zebra than an actual human. She took a step back, nostrils flaring as she shook her head, tendril- like tongues flickering in and out of her mouth, before she turned and began to walk away. She was heading on a direct course for Tenshi and the Celestial, before she stopped, twisted her body around, and after inhaling deeply, unleashed a booming, ear splitting roar, a sound far too primordial and animalistic to come from any humanoid being, before storming back off after the two Celestials...
"She says... she accepts your challenge." Shikieiki stated, after cleaning out her eardrums. "She will challenge you in your area of preference... Be prepared."
There really wasn't much Tenshi could do in her situation, aside from scream internally as her body moved against her will...
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Post by The Merry Lambfish on Nov 30, 2014 0:55:12 GMT -5
"That's great," Robert mumbled through his cigaret, one eyebrow arching up as he watched his newfound rival storm off to chase a pair of blue haired people down the hall. He blew a puff of smoke. "… Am I supposed to chase her down and tell her my location of choice?"
He gave a helpless shrug, and turned his gaze onto the larger group behind him. As Minos had been before, they were all in costumes of some sort. Must be Halloween.
Then a frizzled blondie armed with a toy flamethrower caught his eye.
Minos could wait. Right now he had prey of another kind.
****
The Celestial continued down the hall, dragging Tenshi behind him as though he had her on an invisible leash. They were now well out of sight of the other group, but a third being was catching up to the duo. The male Celestial turned around, his head tilting to the side as Minos came closer. He bared his teeth and unleashed a sharp hiss.
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Post by Tenshi the Sunkern on Nov 30, 2014 1:03:44 GMT -5
There was no stopping Minos, not even a warning from the male Celestial. It was a warning Minos took as a threat... a threat to her property. Before the male Celestial realized it she was already there, and with a single swipe of her head, Tenshi was bowled over onto the side. That seemed to knock her out of the trance, for at once she tried to get up, saying, "Wait wait! I'm oka-" Only to have a powerful clawed foot smash down on her neck, pinning her there. Minos used her to elevate herself up, like a stepping stool to get any further height advantage over the male Celestial. Her upper lip was twisted into a snarl, fingers flexing as she let out a deep, predatory roar, a warning for the male Celestial to back off of her property, or else...
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Post by Fainis the Sadistic Pansexual on Nov 30, 2014 1:18:45 GMT -5
"Whoa," murmured Oscar, who had stopped chasing Dar for a moment to gaze down the hall that the two Celestials and Minos had vanished down. "Sounds like a scuffle 'bout t' break out."
Dar giggled and tapped his fingertips together. "Indeed it does! So if you'll excuse me..." The slender man's feet began to sink into his own shadow. "I have some eavesdropping to do!"
Oscar swung futilely at the disguised Outer Worlder as he disappeared into the pool of darkness. "Oy, get back here! Ah'm not dun with you yet!"
--
Alex visibly relaxed upon hearing Vesica's decision. "Well, that's good." He cracked a small smile. "Between the three of us, we have quite a few would-be hunters, eh? Your Robert, my Kedos, and I'm sure that Mara here has a few unwanted follow-behinds from her days of being, uh... you know... evil. Sorry, Mara."
Sam cleared her throat loudly. "I believe your stalker is coming this way," she muttered to Vesica.
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Post by The Merry Lambfish on Nov 30, 2014 2:32:53 GMT -5
The Celestial began to change, forming a physically smaller figure. His hair grew in length before their eyes, and changed in color from a Celestial blue to a light blond. His body became the body of a she, and the Celestial clothing became a long white dress of fine silk. The being's glaring red eyes became green as she spoke.
"It's my star daughter!" she protested, her soft voice nothing like the terrible roar that had come from Minos. "I found it and it's mine now."
Her voice fell to a tempting whisper. "The star daughter is ghastly, and needs to be cleansed."
****
"How wonderful…" Vesica mumbled, as Robert made his way to the group.
"Sorry, folks!" said the man. "Forgot to introduce myself." He took off his hat with a flourish and took a bow. "Robert Fordson, at your service."
"I am Groot!" replied Groot.
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Post by Fainis the Sadistic Pansexual on Nov 30, 2014 2:45:24 GMT -5
Alex put on a smile and tried not to look nervous for Vesica's sake. "Good to meet you," he lied. "Alex. Alex Shepherd."
There was nothing but cold silence from Sam for a moment, but a tug on her sleeve enticed her to introduce herself with a roll of her eyes. "Samantha Harwell."
"So," started Alex slowly, racking his brain for a topic that would interest the person who may or may not want his friend's head as a trophy. "That was pretty bold back there. Walking right up to the... well, the whatever she was and challenging her to a fight like that. Sure not something I would have done. Her, her boss Persephone... that whole crew scares me."
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Post by Tenshi the Sunkern on Nov 30, 2014 3:12:11 GMT -5
"Everyone who works with Persephone is... something else." Mara said, knowing she talked about herself as well. "But to dare challenge Minos to a fight... You must either be very brave... or very, very foolish."
"I would say the latter." Shikieiki was quick to inject her opinion in,"given the circumstances. Even in the farthest reaches of the Underworld, Minos has carved a name for herself, a name marred in blood and terror, a name forged back during her days under my watch, and solidified over the past several million years. She isn't invincible... but she is the closest thing to it I have ever seen, and the closest thing to an insane murdering machine."
_______________
Minos shook her head, teeth bared as she gripped Tenshi's neck tightly in one clawed foot. The Celestial grasped for breath, but the grip was far too strong, and she could feel the bones there cracking, threatening to break if Minos increased her monstrous grip any further. Minos took a single step forward, eyes burning beneath the mask like blazing embers as she snarled at the Maluvor. The message was clear, even for Ranukada... Tenshi was Persephone's property, and by extension, Minos's... and she would be taking her back, even from that which all demons and Death Gods feared....
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Post by The Merry Lambfish on Nov 30, 2014 4:16:51 GMT -5
"So they say," Robert smiled at Shikieki. "That's exactly why I sought her out. If her reputation is anything to go by, she'd make a fantastic challenge. And what's life without a challenge? Without risks? Without thrills, or fun, or pleasure? Live for the experience."
He brought his cigarette to his lips and took a drag. "So, your outfits? They are for Halloween, right?"
Vesica rolled her eyes. "No, of course not, this is just the latest fashion trend."
"Ah," Robert nodded, turning his attention to her. "Don't believe I got your name?"
"Vanessa," she replied coldly.
"I see. Well Vanessa, Sam," he winked at the muscled woman as he spoke. "This new 'trend' suits you both."
****
Ranukada's eyes seemed to change color in an instant, as though a second lid of impenetrable darkness and dropped over them. "It doesn't like to be left out." She took a step forward, and her dress and hair began to billow and toss as though swept by wind. "Does it want to join in?" she asked.
She didn't wait for an answer.
Minos was seized by pain unlike anything she had experienced. Physically she was fine, but her soul had been assaulted by an invisible wave of nether. Like the blades of a thousand knives they tore and cut through the fabric of her soul. Despite even her power she couldn't help but stagger at the pain as her very life-force was attacked; it was as if every nerve receptor in her body had fired up all at once. Then, as though the grasp of nether upon her soul was a giant's hand she was flung towards the far end of the hall...
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Post by Tenshi the Sunkern on Nov 30, 2014 4:28:52 GMT -5
Minos rolled along the ground like a ragdoll, the whole time Tenshi still locked in her grasp. One clawed foot sliced into the floor, halting her tumbling, and allowing her to catch herself. Once stopped, she let go of Tenshi, allowing the Celestial to grasp at her neck and stagger away, heading for shelter... But her eyes weren't on the Celestial...
No, they were solely on the Maluvor.
One foot stamped into the metallic floor, slicing through it and denting the floor, then another, Minos lifted her head into the sky, and let loose a deafening bellow. Her right arm began to glow a darkish blue hue, and as she locked eyes once more with Ranukada, she fired it, a beam of destructive properties akin to that used by Salavance himself. The Maluvor lept to the side, but was caught in the splash explosion, and as she flew, Minos was upon her in a flash, maw wide agape and twin scythes materializing, one in each hand, as she attacked Ranukada...
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