Calliope knew Destiny City well enough to know that there were certain times when one shouldn't walk alone. Late at night when the air was thin and the veil between worlds was little more than a wisp.... Was that how she would describe a night like tonight?
Likely, were she thinking clearly, but the drinks poured that evening had flowed freely, the company was fantastic and the spirits bright. Everything had been so good that she hadn't a care in the world otherwise for anything. She was floating somewhere along on cloud nine, edging closer to ten with the thoughts of a glass of mulled wine at home before sinking into a nice, warm bed.
Somewhere out there lurked something determined to ruin her night, however. Angry and hungry it lurked, waiting for the right moment to strike...
Endejester
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 3:15 pm
It was not unusual for him to wear white, it was however- unusual for him to power up. He hasn’t done it in a very long time.
But, it was right actions of his favorite holidays- and he was really feeling a little ‘daring’ tonight. Somehow the drinking and flirting hadn’t satisfied his need to live on the edge.
The feel of ‘something’ out there was an unconditional prickle over his skin. Vague and hard to pin down except that it was a determined radius. He likened it to some of the online games he occasionally delved into with multi layer maps. Half the time he ended up swearing and searching for an online teutorial to tell him how to get on the ‘right’ layer to fight the baddie. Difference here was that he actually might get to throw some actual blows and not risk someone calling the cops AND recognizing him.
So he stuffed hands into pockets and casually wandered towards that uncomfortable prickle on his skin. Even better he thought was there was a rather pretty person in that same direction.
It was a school night -- or, rather, a school morning. She should have been at home sleeping, or at least pretending to sleep, and given that it was her senior year maybe she should have paid it all better mind. Instead she was out lurking, and what a good night it was to be doing so. There were so many drunks; so many people entirely unaware of what was lurking in the shadows just waiting to drain them of a little extra energy.
Abstracta could have, and maybe should have, called it a night a good hour or two ago, but she'd lingered just long enough to tail someone who looked like they could have been an older version of herself. She lacked the curves that the older woman had. She definitely didn't have the grace to walk in a pair of platform heeled, patent leather maryjanes like that... But they had the same rocking taste in hair dye. That counted for something, didn't it?
She was just about to send her wraith down to do its thing when she felt another blip on her mental radar. Fighting back a yawn she hopped down onto the fire escape, hoping to see some trace of whatever goody two-shoes was following after her prey before they gave her a heads up. She hadn't stayed up this late just to miss out...
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Calliope Clearwater
Calliope paused in her walk, a shiver racing through her the moment she came to a halt. Very few times in her life had the feeling of being watched filled her with this particular kind of apprehension. It was stronger now than it had been seconds ago, enough for a bit of rational thought to seep in past the good feelings and the delightful drinks.
"Should have called a cab, Ci..." Muttering to herself did nothing but emphasize the fact that she was alone. Even softly spoken it felt like the words were echoing in an uncomfortable manner. She cringed, drawing in a deep breath before turning to quickly carry on. She was close enough to home that she could pull it together until she got back...Or she could duck into a hotel if she came upon one of those first; anything to get off of the streets at this rate.
endejester
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 5:10 pm
He could still feel it, moving around , he exhaled, buttoned his coat in case he had to get closer to civs, not that he minded flashing a little midriff, but so many people were just prudes. It was ridiculous!
Maybe… he could get some attention if he just. He but a drunken sway into his step and started singing, off key but enthusiastically the lyrics to “Time to Pretend” by MGMT.
He picked up the volume about the second verse and serenaded the dark feeling with a grin on his face. “This is our decision to live fast and die young. We've got the vision, now let's have some fun. Yeah it's overwhelming, but what else can we do? Get jobs in offices and wake up for the morning commute?”
He spun on a heel, posing for no one in particular He was not at all sure it would make the young woman hurrying a head of him feel any better, predators being what they were. Anyone in the world could be one of those oh so normal looking people whom had worse behavior than an ill trained dog.
But… the irony would be if he distracted, whatever, Than she’d maybe be safer than if he didn’t act the fool. Some things were just, unacceptable losses.
When the caterwauling began she dropped to the ground, heels clacking on the concrete beneath the fire escape. Pale eyes narrowed, arms crossing over her chest if only to keep her hands from curling into angry fists that were likely to take a swing before she could assess power levels or anything else of the like.
"Did you have to be so loud? You're going to wake everyone up and then someone is going to call the cops. Ugh. I was just trying to gather a bit of energy so I could go home. Has anyone ever told you that you ruin everything?" The irritated tone of her voice gave way her youth even if nothing else about her did between the cherubic face and angry pout. She looked very much like she would enjoy nothing more than kicking him in the shins and continuing on her merry way.
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Calliope Clearwater
She was familiar enough with the song she could hear filtering into the night that she could have sung along were the entire experience not so eerie and downright uncomfortable. She was never going to hear that song in the same light again, depending on what happened tonight... You're about to become a Destiny City statistic, Calliope.
"Like hell I am." She stood firm, turning on her heel to face the two that were about to start bickering or something behind her. Upon doing so she found herself face to face with something stranger than just the two individuals dressed as the poster children for Light and Dark provided the sides were dressed by Hot Topic employees. A key, or something that looked very much like a key, was glowing brightly before her.
"I don't suppose either of you are seeing this?" The words were spoken mostly to herself, although maybe it would distract the others if they overheard... Was she really that drunk or had the spirit of the celebration summoned the sidhe to whisk her away to another world?
With a solid dose of '******** it', Calliope reached for the key, the light of it expanding to envelope her the moment her fingers grazed the wooden shaft. It wrapped around her, warming her as it transformed her into something else; something more.
Brocéliande.
endejester
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 5:43 pm
“Oh… A few people!” ‘Vulpecuale’ said cheerfully. “But I normally turn it into a good time. Don’t worry, I’m pretty big on content though.” He winked and rolled his shoulders in a casual gesture. “Last time I kicked about people wanted a lot more than energy though. Sorry… you can… call me a doubting ah… Senshi.” He grinned, and then hesitated.
“Err…” He hesitated, feeling something new behind him. “Ah.. well, guess I’m not the only one out to crash this party. You don’t have any good drinks anyhow.” He said glancing briefly to try and feel the source of the new warmer feeling. Funny how the powers felt so distinct.
"As long as you know that they weren't lying when they said that." She stuck her tongue out at the moron in white -- or she would have had it not been for the sudden feel of something brighter appearing just behind her, somewhere in the vicinity of the young woman she'd been observing.
"Fantastic. Do you see what you did now? You just made my life even more difficult." Anyone that she would have called for back up would have been just as asleep as she should have been, given the fact that it was a Sunday night (or stupidly early on Monday morning, depending on how one opted to look at it).
"I was going to make this easy on you... Guess not! Now you see me, now you don't! Abstracta's Apparition!" With her magic activated she disappeared from where she was standing, appearing close enough to him to kick him soundly in the shin before using her attack once more in a rapid succession (something she hadn't exactly tried before) to jet her back in the direction of the newly awakened rainbow.
Quote:
The How To: Now you see me? Now you don't. Upon uttering the name of her attack, Abstracta 'disappears'-- or it seems that way, at least. In the style of survival horror Abstracta is surrounded by 'static' (think old black and white television static) and suddenly moves from point A to point B.
Abstracta's magic can be activated instantaneously, although it may be likely to fail until she's mastered it (likely to disorient her during early use). Range: Point A and Point B can be no more than five feet from one another. Magic is used to either gain distance on or put distance between. Uses: 3
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Brocéliande of Cosmos
She had no idea at all what kind of magical bullshit she had just been sucked into, or if it was just a green beer induced nightmare. It didn't seem like a nightmare. She pinched her cheek and it hurt. She pinched her arm -- same results. She might have continued to stand there and scope out her new duds had it not been for the fact fact that the representative of the Dark Side had just started talking trash and using.....Magic?
Calliope, now someone else according to the voice in her head, watched as the young woman shifted through space to wind up next to the guy in white only to disappear again. She saw the static shift in front of her just in time to take a swing with her brand new, shiny key. "I don't think so, shorty."
endejester
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 6:39 pm
He yelped in surprise at the impact and then laughed, actually laughed as he hopped up and down on one foot from the impact. “Oh Honey… if you think this is making it harder you really need to take a good look at life.” He spread his arms. “This, this is just proving we’re alive.” He spun following her or trying as she sputtered in and out of everything like a badly tuned TV.
He gave a quick step chase and prepared to deliver an elbow to a kidney as long as her attention was on the newest member of the evening.
The clonk of the key caught her off guard as it clipped her side before she could properly deflect it. Between the wobble from that and the near instant headache she got from using her magic rapidly twice in a row, everything tilting and swaying and awful, she nearly paused to retch. Instead of giving her enemies that kind of advantage she teetered just out of reach of his elbow before triggering her 'attack' a third and final time.
"You two aren't any fun!" The pout was entirely real and all too clear in the tone of her voice and she was entirely relieved that her last 'jump' had placed her right next to a decorative mirror that she hopped through without further adieu. She'd find one or both of them later after she'd had proper time to plot revenge.... And grab friends.
Right now she was going to go home, power down and sulk.
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Brocéliande of Cosmos
When the girl disappeared again she reached out to grab the flying elbow of the man who'd come to her 'rescue' lease he find himself swinging at air and toppling to the ground. She provided enough support to help him steady after his hopping around.
"Just another glorious night in Destiny City, so it seems. Never thought I'd wind up on this end of the spectrum of strange, though. Can't complain about the duds.... Or the company, unless you're going to try and attack me now too?"
endejester
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 7:10 pm
“Aw man…she cut and run so fast! Do you know how LONG it’s been since I tossed on this gear?” He shook his head and laughed as he stumbled back to his feet with her hand grasping his elbow.
“WELCOME to the party.” He said throwing his arms wide. “Great color palate. Nice key!” He added looking at least slightly more serious and impressed.”
“I’m pretty sure since you give more ‘warm fuzzy’ feels than ‘ creepy someone is playing psycho music in the background’ vibes that we’re on the same side. Well, that and they don’t tend to wear a lot’a white.” Ve waved a hand at her own new wardrobe.
“Congrats! You’re ah… a super hero! sorta! Call me Vulpecuale… at least when I’d dressed like I’m going to start singing Abba.”
He flicked at his coat collar and did a little shimmy.
“What about you? Universe make you feel a bit crazy just now? Tell you a name you couldn’t have made up if you were on some really fun things mixed with a lot of alcohol and a dash of Tolkien?”
She ignored his antics for a moment, eyes focused on where the young woman in black had been only moments ago. Static and then she'd disappeared completely as thought it were a regular thing...
Then her attention was on him again, head shaking slightly to chase off the last lingering feeling of strange from having seen what the mystical youth had been capable of. Calliope believed a lot of far off things, especially while drinking, but few had involved anything so strange as the belief in magic.
"Oh, sweetheart. I know I'm on some fun things mixed with alcohol right now. I don't know if you saw how cute my dress was before I cut to the wardrobe change, but...Brocéliande, and it was more like a soft, sweet whisper in my ear."
None of this made sense at all. Every bit of it made her feel as though she should be out drinking more.
"Vulpeculae, you say? Sounds foxy. Did you pick that yourself?"
endejester
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 7:42 pm
“No no… It’s a bit too ironic with my actual last name.” he chuckled. “And I admit I didn’t focus nearly enough on what majestic fashion you were sporting before, I was feeling her creeping around and it’s a bit distracting. Reminds me a bit of like… ants… like evil ants. I figure that’s how whatever does this to us makes sure we do our… job I guess.” He shrugged.
“I mean, I know I was looking pretty fly before I decided I was not seeing nearly enough action this evening and suited up. But… ooo… so you can drink huh?” He looked suddenly more interested.
“I can mix a VERY nice cocktail if you want to sit down and discuss what the hell all this sort of means, I’m just going to admit, I’m a little out of touch with this creepy city.”
He tapped blue shades down his nose a little further and peered at her over them. "Public places even if we both dress down for the occasion. Sign of trust and all that."
"I can, and have, been drinking this evening. It's late enough that most places have filtered right on through last call and are pushing all of their wayward souls out onto the streets for the evening." Probably for the best, in that case, that they'd managed to chase the little vulture of a punk off.
"Speaking of this creepy city... Tempting as the offer may be, I don't follow boys home on the first date. Especially not when firsts include magic and other oddities. Rain check, maybe? We can wear something a little less eye-catchingly matchy -- go somewhere nice with the night is still fresh."
As tempting as it was to just keep drinking now she had a feeling she'd regret it in more ways than one come morning. "Ever been to a place called the Cat's Paw?"
endejester
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:35 pm
“Do I know the cat’s paw.” He laughed. “Yes, Yes I don’t there’s a club in this whole city I haven’t been in at least once.” He admitted. “I’mma power down, I don’t feel anyone and last I checked there weren’t cameras.” he said tossing a look around them, windows and streets alike, to be aware of witnesses.
“I mean, it’s not gonna do a lot of good if you want to meet and you can’t recognize me for s**t.”
One moment he was in that odd white, uniform, the next he was wearing a tight white t-shirt and painted on black skinny jeans with worn out boots painted with white roses.
He shoved a hand through his hair and then asked casually. “You gonna mind if I smoke?” He fished out a pack of Cloves from his back pocket and wiggled them back and forth, half offering half asking.
"Wonderful. Then you won't have a problem meeting me there Wednesday night. Say... nineish?" Her brow lofted as she looked to him, fingers twitching with the urge to pluck one of the cigarettes from the offered package. It was an awful habit; one that she'd shaken years ago, but the almost instinctual push was still there on drinking nights. It was enough that she almost didn't notice the fact that he'd powered down, or that he was suddenly more familiar now than he had been moments ago.
"I don't think I'd have a problem recognizing you. I've seen you around here and there before -- like this, at least." She waved her hand in his direction, making a gesture to his civilian attire. "How did you do that, by the way? Wardrobe shift and all?"
