Welcome to Gaia! ::

Rep nodded, though he really didn't need to, they all knew the importance of Blue to anything to do with Blue Kingdom. It was the colour of home, of power and of wealth. But it was difficult to focus. The more he tried to concentrate on finding what they needed to find, the more he felt the growing restlessness and energy building in him. He didn't want to be looking for things, surely they had other people to do that s**t for them?

With his attention span even shorter than usual here was no question he'd have missed the sticker, concealed as it was and he was glad they had Jordan with them. "Good s**t." he said, peering at it. "Looks like I remembered it too. Should be around here."

There were a few bars and clubs around on the street they were on, but just a ways along there was the familiar dazzling blue over a casino bustling with people. The only thing that cast any doubts was that the place did not look concealed at all.

"Last I checked, we're awake," Jordan said, and pinged a thought at Ferros who confirmed that as far as he knew, they weren't dreaming.

He stared at the casino entrance, noting a few minor differences, clear as day. It was deeply surreal. "Not sure we can get in the executive entrance here," he commented, bemused. The echo of another self wanted to reach for a key card that he didn't have.

"And," Harrison added, "if its a fake casino that's lured in some real cash- well, that's going to be a lot of suddenly homeless profits."

"Front door it is then." Rep said with a smirk and led the way up the carpeted steps into the casino beyond. No one noticed them at first, gathered around tables and bars, immersed in what they were doing. Some wore fascinating masks and outfits and it was anyone's guess what they were concealing under them.

But something in the atmosphere shifted gradually, a few stolen glances and a few murmured comments and before long they found themselves the center of attention. Many of the people round the tables flittered away, feeling the impending trouble, and security gathered round. Only these guards weren't normal guards, they very clearly had things normal guards typically didn't. Like horns. And tails. And very wicked looking claws.

"Looks like we are in the right ******** place." Rep said with a smirk.

DEMON GUARDS
HP: 75 - Shared HP Pool. Multiple targets.
Autodamage:4

The clientele was a mix of ordinary and exotic, engaged in all the ordinary business of the casino, mostly human-looking, though Jordan had a sneaking suspicion that some of those costumes were either concealing unusual features or weren't quite costumes. Ferros's rumble notched up as he tasted the rise of ambient Fear.

When security filtered out to greet them, Jordan took a casual step to the side to give himself room to summon. The sudden appearance of obviously inhuman creatures confirmed their suspicions and made stealth unnecessary. "I didn't hire these guys," Jordan said, smirking faintly. The casino itself was an echo of that other place, but the staff wasn't; in a way, that was a relief. He wouldn't have felt wholly comfortable fighting guards he half-knew, worrying that other echoes would show up to trip them up.

"Well, you got trouble," one of the demons said, scowling at them. "Escort them out."

Ferros appeared in a swirl of metallic motes, and Jordan gave the guards an inquiring look; one of them, a big male with tightly spiraling horns, took the invitation to start something, launching himself toward them. Jordan swung, feeling the satisfying crunch of a good hit and Ferros's hiss of pleasure as he fed.

HP: 60/60
Damage: 9
Charge: 1/3

Boss HP: 66/75

It had been a lesson he learned early on. It, like most lessons, wasn't nice. You pick somebody. You defend them. You tune out the rest of the battle. Because if you don't, you and the defendee and anybody else you're worried about...all of them get ******** up.

He had sometimes worked with Jordan, mostly with Rep. Even though they were both heavy weapons users, the rhythm between Tracey and Ferros was different. Tracey was longer, flatter, and the way he got swung and cut through the air had a long, weighted balance. Ferros it was all bundled up in that one heavy, crushing end. Tracey leaked shadow: a deep, sweet, heavy poison. Ferros was steam and fire, harder to get close to with the heat, and working with either of them was an intrinsically dangerous ******** dance. It had started out instinctive. Both guys were close, he brought down B0nez's main blade to block a set of fangs about to sink into Rep, and then across to clash against claws a hairs breadth from Jordan. And just like that Harrison was locked into a new rhythm. Two defendees, one, the other, back and forth, heavy in concentration.

HP: 52
Defending: Rep, Jordan

Rep noticed the change in pace, in learned and easy habit. He was used to having Harrison patching up the gaps in his defense, the moments where he had to devote his attention to a swing, where Tracey was stationary or near stationary and he could not bring the full force of the blade to bear on an opponent. He noticed that the other man was covering both him and Jordan, pushing himself harder than normal to be there in the crucial moments for both of them. It demanded more recklessness, less preparation and more exertion and he was immediately concerned.

Between swings against the gathering security demons, pushing back against sharp claws and quick and nimble assaults, he spotted the blows that raked the moon hunter's shield, and so too did Tracey.

the fallen angel agreed. And he could feel him checking the fear they had, that it had gotten past Marie, that the goddess had allowed them what they needed, and the thrill of satisfaction that she had was palpable.

This wasn't their house but it was close enough he had no qualms about a bit of redecorating, if it came to it.

"Ace." he said calmly. "Cover your own ******** a** for a bit, calm your tits." Because he had the shield to spare and he was no good without his backup.

HP: 60
Charge: 2/3
DMG: 5

Boss HP: 55/75

An instant of hurt, and then an instant of guilt as misunderstanding slid into comprehension; of course, and it was a mark of a deeper misunderstanding that he'd had the thought in the first place. Not a good time to be having this conversation with himself. Jordan put it away for examination later.

Harrison fended off a set of claws, the stabbing arc of a spiked tail, and B0nez lit bright with a charge. Jordan grinned, the complex mess of tangled feeling sliding away into something simpler, anticipatory pleasure. He liked seeing them work. "Get the ********," he said, and brought Ferros around hard into a pair of demons who were attempting to split off and flank him.

HP: 60
Dmg: 13
Charge: 2/3

Boss HP: 47/75