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 Posted: Sat May 25, 2024 8:53 pm
The night was quiet. That was on purpose, of course. It had chosen somewhere quiet where it could find a dark, shadowy spot to take up residence and had settled in to wait. The hum of far off traffic was low here, the hush only broken by the occasional car driving by. The quiet was... strange, though. Unnatural. Like everything that lived here was hiding from it, knowing perhaps that there was a predator in their midst. Something dangerous that might snatch them up if they made a noise.
Lumi didn't care if they knew or not. Not really. It was patient. It knew that if it waited long enough, the short-memory things would forget it was there... and then it would have them. All it ever took was a little patience, and if there was anything it had in abundance, it was patience. Everything came to it that waited... sooner or later.
In a dark crevice between two apartment buildings near the suburban part of the city, a soft yellow-green glow beckoned just out of the reach of the lights by the backdoors. It was like a little bobbing firefly, though it didn't pulse like one of those insects. Instead, it glowed steadily, soft and curious. Come closer... it seemed to beckon. Come see what I am... Small and fragile and helpless... It danced side to side, teasingly, hovering just a few feet off the ground before the deeper darkness.
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Posted: Sun May 26, 2024 2:16 pm
Pan had chosen to go out and patrol, maybe use the time to practice grabbing starseeds from the unwary. Ultimately, she wanted to use the time to train in her own way. And if she stuck to the more suburban areas, there was less chance of stumbling into some well meaning idiot that was out to play hero.
Rolling her eyes at the thought, the corrupt senshi felt something grate against her senses, but it didn't feel like the white moon, so she ignored it mostly. She had her eyes on a small cluster of apartments. Perfect for practicing anything she wanted!
As she approached, eyes open and wary for potential witnesses, she caught sight of an off, little bobbing light. Normally, she would have ignored it. Fireflies were a dime a dozen. But this didn't act like any firefly she knew.
Creeping closer, Pan wondered just how stupid she'd feel once she caught the not-a-firefly firefly.
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Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2024 10:11 pm
The little light continued its little dance, back and forth, back and forth... hardly seeming concerned by the viewer growing closer. Encouraging, actually, if one could assign a feeling to the erratic motions of a little light.
The silence, if anything, grew more profound as the aura of something with power approached. Interesting... This sort was not its usual fare, but it was not going to say no. Not when the tastey morsel was walking its way into it's jaws. The Generals wouldn't like it, but such thoughts rarely intruded on its mind. What did it care? What they didn't know, they couldn't yell at it for.
Stillness. Waiting. Patience.
Come closer...
It was just so... hungry. It was always hungry. For squishy things. Wet and crunchy things. Things it could sink its many teeth into and feel slide down it's throat. Maybe it didn't need to truly eat, not any more, but it still remembered the hunger. The desire. It made the end of its limbs tingle with the need to wrap around something that struggled and squeeze...
A low, barely audible hiss slipped from between its teeth, the only sound in the stillness.
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Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2024 9:35 am
The soft, barely echoing hiss was more than enough to halt Pan in her tracks. Eyes narrowing, she watched the light for a moment before it clicked that she was about to experience a first hand reenactment of a David Attenborough special. And she would not be the one coming out on top if she didn’t smarten up.
“Oh hell no,” she muttered before crouching and letting her hands run over the concrete pavement. A small chunk of broken pavement immediately made itself known and the senshi grinned tightly. It would do for what she wanted. Which was to try and flush whatever it was out of the shadows.
Leaping into action, Pan stood and hurled the rock directly at the light before bolting towards the buildings and the fire escape between that would lead to the rooftops. Rooftops were always better for this sort of thing anyway. Less witnesses for one thing. Jumping for the metalwork, she grabbed and held on, dangling for a moment before beginning to pull herself up.
“Come one, mystery light,” she growled. “Let’s see what we’re working with here.”
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Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 7:10 pm
Blinding pain came out of no where as something small and hard smacking it directly between the eyes. It thrashed and let out a high, keening note as it felt onto its face and into the light, clutching long, spidery fingers over it's face. It rolled back and forth on its knees as it howled and scraped at it's own face, the little dancing light attached to a long, delicate little appendage coming from it's forehead.
If it's attacker had been expecting rage or retaliation, what it got was a writhing, wriggling wretch of a youma on knees and elbows, half in and half out of the shadows it had been hiding in. Dull, aqua colored scales covered it from head to toe, save where delicate fins sprouted from its skull before a mass of dark green tendrils. More fins decorated shoulders and hips on what was a relatively humanoid body... one that was spindly and knobby, more bones than flesh.
It kept on its keening as it's thrashing slowed, the sound falling to something more like a whine. Curling in on itself, the revealed youma's scrabbling slowed to simply holding its offended face and the bruised area the rock had hit. Something had attacked it... the Prey? It had lost sight of the food when it had been struck, but it could still sense it close by. Up? The fish-like face tilted back, revealing pale slits for eyes that closed even further against the light. Where was the food? It couldn't see it well with all the light, even if it could feel that it was still nearby. Cover was probably blown though... If the food hadn't run off, it was probably too much of a hassle to take down now that it had been warned.
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Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2024 10:45 am
From her perch on the fire escape, Pan watched in mingled horror and fascination as the little light suddenly morphed into a keening, writhing mess of scales and fins and teeth. Sooo many teeth. It looked like what she’d expect to see if evolution had taken a different path and chosen an angler fish to raise up. It was ******** terrifying. It was all spindly and toothy and the more she thought about what she was seeing, this was plainly a youma. But she felt no auras around that would indicate a General, so this was… an independently acting youma? For some reason, she’d always assumed that youma this size were under some sort of control if they ever left the Rift.
Making herself a little more comfortable, Pan used what light there was to really study the youma. She found herself wondering if it had ever been human since its body was more people than animal. As fishy as the face was, there was still expression there. Amazing, really.
As she watched, she could see confusion. Everything about the creature below screamed of wrongness. It was a monster. It was horrific. It was…
“Beautiful,” Pan murmured. As monstrous as the youma was, she couldn’t help but admire how beautifully put together it was. ******** the shark, this was a true apex predator. And Pan rapidly decided that she wanted to try and talk to it. Sure, youma hated senshi, but maybe she could coax this one into mild toleration. It didn’t seem to like light, so if she stuck by what lights there were, things would probably be okay.
Maybe. Hopefully.
“Oh, you are fantastic, ain’tcha,” she cooed, loud enough for the youma to hear. “A perfect predator.”
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Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2024 7:12 pm
It made a low, whining hiss as it heard the voice from above it, slinking back into the shadows between the buildings. The lights all about its body glimmered in that darkness, but the lure from its forehead was noticeably dimmer than before.
"Bad. Mean." It mumbled, it's fingers still moving restlessly over it's bruised face. "Go away, Food. My hiding spot. Mine!"
This senshi was definitely only a basic, and in most circumstances, it would have considered them prey. Not easy prey, necessarily, not like the other warm, fleshy things in this bright, loud place, but still something it could catch and rend and consume. Even if it had not gotten to do that more than once or twice in its albeit shoddy memory. It didn't have the capacity to wonder why this senshi was out here picking on it, not when it made perfect sense that prey would expose a hidden predator. But that didn't mean it liked being uncovered and assaulted.
So, this senshi thought it was fantastic, hmm? It grumbled to itself as it folded itself up small into the shadowy corner it had been in before, easing it's squint now that it wasn't in direct light. It was good at catching and snatching... good at waiting and hunting. Though, not as good as it would like, considering it had been found out.
"Go away!" It repeated, its tone sulky.
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Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2024 7:28 pm
"I ain't bad, though sometimes I am mean," Pan said soothingly. She hadn't missed the youma calling her food and shuddered. She didn't want to encourage it in hunting her, but maybe there was a way to... unrustle its jimmies.
"I'll go away once I've made up for hurtin' your noggin, gorgeous," the senshi continued. "Were you tryin' to prey on me? Baby, I can bring you food. Will you accept my apology then?"
Tensing slightly just in case she had to leapt from her perch, Pan waited to see if the youma would answer. Sure, she was considering entering into a contract to feed a human to a monster, but maybe she could kill two birds on this one since she wanted more practice at yanking starseeds. Besides, once the starseed was gone, feeding the body to a youma might not be a bad idea. Erasure of evidence and all. And if it meant she knew a youma who might hesitate in shredding her for a few seconds, well. That would just be stupid to pass up.
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Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2024 7:35 pm
The youma stilled in the darkness in that way it was so good at, shifting fish-pale eyes up at the senshi. It considered the offer, weighing what might be a trick against the benefit of it being truth. It wanted the senshi to go away... if they left and didn't come back, well, then it would get what it wanted. It could go back to its hiding and waiting, and hopefully snag something good before that blazing light rose in the sky again. The chances of that weren't good, but it was patient. If not tonight, then some other night.
But. If this senshi was being truthful, and really did bring it something it could eat... then it would get the other thing it wanted, and it's whole purpose for being out here to begin with. Of course, the hunt was part of the pleasure and it wouldn't get that, but it would still be a net benefit.
"Why?" It hissed, it's voice a low rumble. That was the real sticky point about all of this. Why did the prey want to feed it? The prey had already escaped. Why would it go to the effort? And risk that the youma would try to eat it again? Of course, if it brought food with it, then the chances were high it would be too busy with that food to care what the senshi did. And, since it couldn't bond the youma, there wasn't much danger of the senshi trying to sneak that in.
That was to be avoided at all costs, though... it couldn't have said why it felt so strongly about that. Maybe it was an instinct. Maybe it was some left over, subconcious memory that had lost all context. Had it been bonded before? It couldn't remember. All it remembered was the dark and the stone of the Rift... a few flashes of prowling the above ground, and that time not so long ago when a bunch of officers had ventured into the rift and it had almost, almost caught some of them. But if that had been a few months or a few years ago? No idea.
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Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2024 7:50 pm
Pan considered the question carefully. Why bother feeding a monster, after all? She wasn't in any danger as long as she stayed in the light. And she had no interest in tormenting the youma. So why offer this? She couldn't claim the youma as a partner.
"Well, you're one of the loveliest things I've seen in a while," she began slowly. "Seriously, you're a perfect hunter and I appreciate beauty in odd places."
That was true enough. But more than that, she felt a little sorry for the youma. It was only following it's nature and she'd taken away an opportunity for it to eat. She had the feeling that it wouldn't appreciate pity though. So, next honest reason.
"We're technically on the same side and frankly, I need practice at bodying people. Bringing them to you serves multiple purposes."
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Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2024 6:43 pm
It hissed a long, slow breath between its teeth as it considered that. It didn't really understand needing practice at something... it was either good at a thing and did it, or it was bad at a thing and had no interest in it. Humans were strange creatures though, it could acknowledge that and it gave up on trying to understand the motivations.
"Bring something small." It said finally, letting it's mouth part wider than the faux lips on it's face. It hinted at a seam that ran from where one ear would have been to nearly the other, flashing delicate, needle-like teeth. "Something... tear-able. Breakable. Shreddable." If the senshi could do that, it would be well pleased.
The thought had it shifting in it's hidey hole, settling in deeper and drawing it's limbs in against it's body. Lights flickered down its limbs and then dimmed until only the light on it's lure glowed out of the darkness, bobbing gently back and forth.
"Luminous will wait... it is good at waiting." It said softly, almost crooning in it's pleasure.
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Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2024 7:05 pm
Staring for a moment as the youma, Luminous spoke and re-settled itself, Pan marveled as how perfect of a form it was. Then considered it's request. Something small, huh? She'd have to think about that.
"All right then," she said agreeably before swinging herself off of the fire escape and landing on the ground. "Back soon."
As she darted off intot he night, she forced herself to think about what the youma was asking for. Bodying an adult was one thing, but Luminous wanted something small. She didn't have the stomach to murder a child nor someone's dog or cat. But she did know where a backyard breeder of rabbits and guinea pigs was. Still something that made her stomach churn, but she could at least justify it was she'd eaten rabbit in Scotland. Rabbits were easier on her conscience than anything else might be.
Breaking into the pens and grabbing a couple of the bigger bucks took less time and energy than she would have expected. And gave her a far too intimate look into what was clearly a neglectful situation. Stuffing the wriggling bucks into a sack, she promised herself that she'd call animal welfare on these people. And then she'd be back later for their starseeds.
Within half an hour, she was back and hoping the youma was still there.
"All right", she called softly. "Something small, shreddable and breakable as requested!"
Moving closer she tossed the sack into the darkness where she'd last seen Luminous.
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Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2024 3:02 pm
The little light was exactly where the senshi had left it, bobbing lazily in the darkness of the alleyway. It didn't seem to have moved at all, not even to shift positions, but it was probably hard to tell in the dark. Luminous had actually forgotten about the senshi shortly after she had left, time and distance allowing the thoughts to go fuzzy and indistinct. It was startling when they appeared again and threw something at it... though, thankfully, not at it's head this time.
Pale slits of eyes followed the bag with caution, it's head turning just enough to keep it in view. The rabbits inside were not pleased with situation and thrashed about, drawing Luminous' attention into a laser focus. Even the bobbing of it's lure stilled as the small creatures fought their way free, pausing in the strange place to get their bearings. That was when the youma's manner changed.
The lure brightened, suddenly lighting the alley in it's sickly, beckoning glow. The rabbits were caught instantly, going limp and relaxed as their eyes, and pupils, widened. The little light bobbed back and forth and they moved towards it in slow, unsteady hops. Closer and closer... draw towards the little light. Luminous never moved, save for that light, even when the rabbits got within arm's reach. Closer and closer... until one was at it's dark feet, rearing up on it's back legs to put a paw on the youma's knee.
Then the light went out, suddenly and completely. Darkness hid what happened as the sound of scuffling came and a short, sharp rabbit shriek. Then only sounds of... something, wet and scraping.
It was long moments before the sounds stopped, and another few of silence, before the youma slowly emerged from the darkness, crawling hesitantly out of it's hiding spot. There was red about its fingers and mouth, and a pleased sort of expression on it's face, if you could assign human emotions to such a thing.
"Good." It murmured as it stretched it's limbs, waking up the muscles after its long period of stillness. "Senshi brought good food."
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 10:04 am
Pan didn’t know what she’d expected, ultimately, when she’d agreed to bring Luminous food. The rabbits had been her already shaky morals compromising with the rest of her as the best possible solution. She watched as the luring light went bright and then dark.
Well, that had been easy en…
The scream of the rabbit nearly sent Pan flying out of her skin. She’d never heard a sound like that before and when combined with the other sounds, she felt her stomach flop and lurch. What she wanted to do was run away and find some handy bushes to throw up into. But that was stupid weakness and wouldn’t be allowed.
What she did, instead, was stand there, arms crossed tightly over her chest, face pale as silent tears oozed out of her eyes and waited. For the sounds to stop, for her to stop feeling sorry for the rabbit.
When everything finally went silent, she relaxed slightly, taking a slow, deep breath as she wiped at the damp trails on her cheeks. The youma was only doing what it was made to do, she reminded herself. And a bunny was easier to justify than any other creature available to her. Still, reminding herself of these things didn’t really help her stomach as she watch Luminous crawling out of the dark shadows. But even amidst her queasiness, she couldn’t help but admire the youma as the world’s most perfect predator. She knew, in spite of her admiration, that she could end up on the menu just as easily as the rabbit. Luminous could never be a friend, at best she might earn tolerance from the youma.
Provided she kept it supplied with tidbits.
Relaxing further as the youma gave praise, Pan gave a slight smile.
“Well, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Does this mean you’ll accept my apology for the rock?”
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Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2024 7:58 pm
The aquatic head tilted at the question and the youma made a low, gurgling sound.
Rock? It didn't remember any rock, but senshi were weird creatures. It was impossible to grasp what might be going through that fragile, breakable head.
"Perhaps." It grumbled, though there was no heat in the words. Satisfied, it didn't much care any more what the senshi wanted from it. It had gotten what it wanted... the joy of feeling something come apart in it's jaws and hands. It had probably been a waste of the energy the little living thing could have provided if it had been drained properly, but a small sacrifice for a great gain.
"Luminous will return to the rift now, Senshi." It said as it 'washed' its hands together, sliding darkened fingers over each other in restless, scraping motions. "Stay in the light. Don't want to be... hn... eaten, yes? Luminous hunts the shadows. Maybe, the senshi will feed it again, hmm?"
A low chortle left it's throat and for a moment, it let it's mouth part, stretching open the full extent of it to reveal the rows and rows of long, needle-teeth it hid. And then it was gone, teleporting itself back to the darkness of the Rift to leave nothing but the bloodstained remains in the alley it had been hiding in.
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