|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2023 8:40 am
 |
|
|
|
He'd seen the attack from his position on one of the rooftops, it had made him pause for just a moment in his patrol. The scene wasn't pretty and had been something that reminded him of other scenes he'd bore witness to. The fact the girl left them there had been the reason he'd decided to follow her though because it looked planned and not like some random act.
That man hadn't moved from the spot and still sputtered and bumbled as they cradled their hands. That had been a smart move, to disable them just in case. Maybe it was to send a message just as a thief's hands were cut off for stealing. Walking past, he paid them little mind as he followed the girl. Later on, if needed, he'd call one of his lieutenants down to practice draining on them before ripping their starseed and cleaning things up nicely. Even if he wasn't one for pulling what felt like someone's soul out, he knew that it would be good for them to learn the skill.
The alley that she'd chosen wasn't terribly far and as he approached, the realization of how young they were hit him. They could very well have been one of his students and even though she'd been the one to cause damage, he was more worried about her. "Are you alright young miss?" Speaking softly and cautiously, he knelt down in front of her to hear better.
Finding out what had happened was still a priority but making sure they were okay had risen to the top of things.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2023 11:16 am
|
|
|
 |
"Did you see?" The girl's voice was grimly resigned, no motion made to try and run, nor to reach for the bat on the ground. Why should she? He didn't do anything wrong, and she was the one who'd messed it up right? Didn't check the area. Got caught.
America took a deep breath and looked up, finding herself with a guy in uniform. Military? No. Band leader? Weird.
It took a moment to realize he'd brought himself down to her eye level and was talking softly. Not asking what she was doing, but if she was okay. America's face crumpled a bit at the kindness, not at all ready for such. "I'm..."
If he'd been stern or accusing like he really should be, maybe it'd be easier to talk. Maybe the world wouldn't look all wobbly and intensely, horribly, sad for that moment. It takes another few breaths to talk around the lump in her throat, give him the rest of, "I'm fine. I just...need to get my bearings, is all."
And then, once more, "Did you see?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2023 1:07 pm
|
|
|
|
Taking his hand, America was pulled up and her head felt a little clearer for it. Being curled up and small wasn't what she ever really wanted or needed herself to be. She was made to stand tall in the face of whatever came her way. Though maybe not all that tall, at least in front of this guy. His hair was taller than her.
Still, she stood firm in front of him, all the more for the surprising words of support, and the offer. She took a long, quiet moment, hands on hips and heartbeat picking up again. Eventually, she told him, "Sir, I appreciate you, but if you're thinking of handing me a gun, I gotta say no thank you. And if this is some sort of gang invitation then...I don't deal with drug stuff. And I won't do any sorta gross initiation things. Like the kind folks always talk about concerning urban youth and all that."
It wasn't a real no at all, though. She was curious as all hell about what he meant. This city was a weird place, and this guy was kinda weird right along with it, now wasn't he?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2023 2:29 pm
|
|
|
|
"So fighting, pain, and working as some kinda energy tax collector?" America nodded to herself after a moment. She should go home and think about it, after a night of rest and with her clearest head on. But she wasn't. She'd just seen a guy summon a sword out of the air, right after he'd caught her in the aftermath of beating and breaking a man she'd been stalking for weeks.
All of this was weird. And hell if she wasn't right weird to match. In her heart of hearts, maybe she'd been hoping for something like this, every since that night in the summer with too many too large bugs coming at her in swarms. Or just a few weeks ago, when she'd set foot in a place that suddenly wasn't any kind of place at all.
In the words of the Honorable Miss Ariel Shellbooby, America wanted to be part of that world.
"Sounds fair enough. I'll do it!" She paused a moment before asking, body already braced, "Are you gonna stab me with that?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2023 3:20 pm
|
|
|
|
There was a brief look of confused betrayal, looking down to see a hand inside her chest, about to rip out...? And there was the promised pain as something new and dangerous was introduced to her...? Heart? Soul? Something core to America's being was flayed open and scored with new geometry. The new laws of her existence were writ over old, giving her more and asking more of her in turn.
And eventually, like wading up from baptismal waters, she emerged from pain, shivering and made new. Her senses began to bloom and she could feel the general in front of her. In turn, she didn't feel the night air nearly as keenly as before. Her clothes were more formal, and they felt right. Like they were made for her to be as she was. To work as she needed.
It was a sort of revelation, to be sure, but there was still a piece of oddness she was struggling with, and she held it up to Chalcanthite. The glow-in-the-dark plastic fangs sure did glow-in-the-dark at him.
"Sir, is this what you meant about a bit random?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2023 9:55 pm
|
|
|
|
It was quite the difference in her attire, not so much a military style but one that was more fitting for an office or working professional. Her "weapon", however, threw him for a loop. "Oh... That is." Coughing slightly for a moment to avoid laughing. "Yes that is quite random, mine was a viola bow much like I use with a normal instrument. I will say that as you get stronger, so will your weapon. What that will turn into is anyone's guess but it will become more effective."
Now that that part was done, it was time to clean up. "Now if you would like, we can handle that previous matter. You can either drain him or, as I did with you, you can sink your hand into his chest and pull that core from him. Either way, it will stop him from drawing any more attention but I leave the decision to you." They'd slip into a coma and he could move them out of view to be found later and considered a casualty from a drunken brawl.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2023 10:07 pm
|
|
|
|
Looking down, she gave the teeth a doubtful look. What were plastic teeth supposed to turn into? Metal teeth? In the back of her mind, the part that was in a constant state of lists and plans and neat little boxes with labels on them, the idea of some kind of unarmed training settled in place. No matter what, she'd make it work.
She slipped the teeth around her wrist, and considered the two options. Both would stop him from drawing attention. But one, it seemed, might stop him entirely. "The core thing, will he like, die? Or become some sort of zombie?"
The thought of sinking her hand into him, just as this general had to her, right away sounded...powerful. Lot more so than plastic teeth, even more than the differences she was noticing in her body, and how it felt to move now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
