Huff and puff (Marcus/Bailey)

[Bailey Oleander]

Bailey waited patiently while Marcus adjusted to the sight before him. He had a warrior's instincts and, with her warning, knew this was a friendly creature, at least for two of them. She was used to similar responses to those who didn't know who or what to expect with the idea that their homeland had an entire area dedicated to them, even if it was smaller now.

The panther didn't attack or bare its fangs at Marcus, its tail flicking back and forth as it regarded the man with bright eyes. There was recognition in the creature's gaze at the compliment, and Bailey suppressed a chuckle at it. After a few moments, Auroth Lin bowed its head in return, eyes still on Marcus until it approached Bailey.

"Well, looks like he approves of you, too." She lifted a hand to rest it on the panther's head. "And it looks like his patrol turned up empty, too." No flame monsters in the immediate area, at least, though they still had a distance before reaching home.

[Marcus Prasad]

Marcus visibly beamed upon learning that the cool Neon Panther approved of him. He always had measured the opinions Animals had of him with more weight than those of other people. Rising to his feet and dusting himself off, the man turned back to the others. He couldn't help but feel alittle disappointed, hoping to see one of these demons that the Monarchs had mentioned before.
Then again, there was something to be said for peace while it lasted.

"Does he have a name?"
Marcus asked, before adding with eyes full of hope.
"And does he appreciate head pats and jowl scritchies?"
He had come to the conclusion that asking about belly rubs might be just a touch beyond the pale.

[Blake Oleander]

Blake just remained on his own silent vigil while Bailey and Marcus discussed matters of Qi beasts. His ears searching for sounds that should not be there, or worse, silence. His eyes cast to the horizon for signs of smoke or trouble. His nose keenly aware of the stench of the land around them.

[Bailey Oleander]

"His name's Auroth Lin." She nodded at the questions, appreciating the enthusiasm. She had been, as well. "I've never had a problem with him, but I think he'll let you know if he does." Sure enough, the panther stared at Marcus with a deadpan feline expression as the queen took her usual spot when riding the beast.

"Though, they aren't exactly pets. They're smarter than normal animals, and quite sentient."

[Marcus Prasad]

"Oh I figured."
Marcus responded when Bailey brought up Auroths Intelligence.
"I mean hell, I Appreciate head pats and jowl scritchies."
He added with a shrug. Then again, the mans own intelligence had proven to be rather suspect in the past.

In fact he would be the first to admit it.

"I just have to wonder.....How? Back in my time Qi was just....a thing certain people could do. How did we get from that to Qi Beasts?"
Marcus wondered if perhaps Barker had a hand in this, or maybe even Striker himself. Or maybe something else entirely?
"Another thing that currently has my curiosity is how on EARTH do you power and maintain a whole ass Energy shield? I mean not even Barker had anything like that back-"

Marcus stopped cold when he realized what he was about to utter.
"-Back in my day...."
Oh god he sounded OLD and it disgusted him.

[Blake Oleander]

"The land is rich with Qi crystals. We decided to create a symbol to defeat our past."

And the stigma that they held toward Qi users. He didn't think he'd ever not feel uncomfortable around them and their kind, or his own abilities. But he hoped that the ones that came after him would not bear that burden, would not have to drink deeply from the well of hatred.

[Bailey Oleander]

Again Bailey smiled at his humor, her own silent way of laughing as she shook her head. She let Blake explain his part, first, nodding in agreement.

"Well, things have changed quite a bit. The land - all of the world that remains, really - is saturated in qi energy from what happened in the past. Sometimes, that affects the land itself, or animals. I believe it also means you'll meet more qi users than you'd think." She remembered her mother telling her stories growing up of a world where they didn't know about people with qi or other abilities. Now, there were entire academies for them.

[Marcus Prasad]

"How about you? Willing to take a Gamble like I did?"

"Qi Crystals huh?"
Marcus parroted thoughtfully. The Implications of Qi crystals as a source of energy made his blood quicken. The sheer possibilities!

"Natch! SO! How we do?"

Maybe it was because of the company he kept, but Marcus always had felt as if he was surrounded by those who had unlocked their Qi potential. Delilah and her Liquid Metal, Raikotsu and his blood bending, Kyrie and her Shadow manipulations. He remembered how often Aryn would burn off his pants with her black fire or the Climactic battle he had with Mathew Amtrum deep within the earth thanks to his Earth bending. Then there was little Lucien Dechain and his Stealth Qi that earned him the name 'Ghost Wolf'. Thinking about it now though, 90% of the people he knew who had Qi had absolutely carried his Descriptor of 'Exceptional Person'. Among the general populous however he couldn't recall a single person with a Qi ability. Hell, Barker had to experiment on people just to GIVE them Qi Powers.

"Oh, its simple. You either eat the fruit, or you don't."

Now Bailey was explaining that the world was FULL of them?

"Well. Never was one to walk away from a challenge...."
"So do I peel the skin off or just pop it in my mouth? What would it taste like?"

"Its more like... A remedy. You eat it whole."

"That's Legitimately fascinating. I mean we were only JUST Scratching the surface of what Qi was capable of back in my time. I mean I was LUCKY I knew someone who knew enough to write a damn book about it and what I didn't know STILL could fill three warehouses."
Mentioning how Leon had given him the book, the man couldn't help but flick his eyes to the Gloves Blake wore before raising his hand up to his face.

"HOW DO I EVEN CONTROL THAT!??!?!"

"Like I trained you, deep breath, treat it like a muscle, remember how it felt and force it to happen again. Likewise to stop it from happening.

Slowly Marcus called his Qi forth, gathering it within his core before consciously moving it to his shoulder and down his arm. As he collected his Qi into his hand, the Monarchs would no doubt notice how it began to shimmer like wet asphalt on a hot summer day before it began to crack, with the fissures spreading out across his fingers and palms like spider webs, spilling a strange bright light out. His smile would turn significantly wolf-like just before he flung his arm out to the side and snapped his fingers in one fluid motion, creating a fireball explosion of tremendous force and heat with a loud:

KRAK-BOOM

That would echo across the hills and valleys that surrounded them. Fortunately the man had the foresight to aim his blast somewhere empty, not wanting to Risk hitting Auroth or the Monarchs.

"That Marcus, was Qi. The fruit has caused your Qi to awaken."

Qi use: 1/29



{{OOC}} Quotes provided by This thread right here! {{OOC}}

[Blake Oleander]

Blake couldn't sense or feel Qi, not having a natural Qi ability himself. He could still remember the relief he felt when Bailey had scanned him only to find that he himself was Qiless, much to her surprise. However he wasn't blind, and was generally alert having grown up in this world of danger, molded into a warrior since he could walk. When he realized what Marcus was doing his muscles tensed, his gaze shifting to the man before the explosion rocked forth.

"What?"

[Bailey Oleander]

Between Bailey's affinity with energy itself and the fact that she would rather not go through additional training for poor reflexes, she laid a hand on Auroth to stop the beast. She felt a knot of tension form between her shoulders as she looked to Marcus.

"What's wrong?" He seemed stable enough before. Perhaps it was the shock fading.

She also keeps his leg healed and bound even though her RPer has been forgetting to tag every post!

________________

Ability #3: Weaving a web of energy, Bailey is able to temporarily hold broken bones or minor wounds together.

Qi Uses 11/25

[Marcus Prasad]

"Just.....stretching a muscle you guys."
He explained, his grin growing rather impish after noticing their reactions. All this talk of Qi has finally jarred loose his memory of that day, when he scaled the Dragon Tower and was presented by Leon himself with a Gamble fruit.
"Sorry, I shoulda said 'Back-Blast Clear first'."

Still, something didn't feel right. It was like someone flicked a switch in his Core that set him back to factory setting. He couldn't even feel the Darkness aspect of his Qi, which was more than alittle concerning.
"Still, something feels off. Might be a result of being on ice for so long but it's like, I'm back to square one? If that makes sense. Anyway......"
He turned on his heels and began to walk towards Aurora with a jaunty step.
"So I'm Guessing the rest of the city is powered by Qi Crystals as well yeah?"

[Blake Oleander]

Blake grunted at the explanation of it being him simply stretching a muscle, but kept his thoughts to himself.

"Yes."

[Bailey Oleander]

"It's possible. It might be a mixture of time and how the world has changed." Bailey gave Marcus a concerned look, not convinced, but let his explanation slide for the time being.

[Marcus Prasad]

"Well ya know guys, not too late to put me back on ice, just saying."
He teased, noticing the sudden awkward tension between them. It wouldn't be the first time, and certainly wouldn't be the last that someone had thought that the man had lost his mind. It certainly didn't help that the energy he carried with him his whole life was chaos pure and simple.

"Relaaaaaaax~. I told y'all I'd help you out with your demon problem didn't I?"
He said, hands held outwards in supplication. That wolf-like smile never leaving his face.
"I am, if nothing else, a man of my word."

[Blake Oleander]

(Oh my god I didn't see this tag that I was up)

Blake nodded, he hadn't really considered putting the guy back on ice or anything.

"It's everyone's problem. But if Virgil trusts you, I trust you."

He said with a firm nod. Virgil had never steered him wrong before.