Across Time and Space (October 2013)

[Kyrie Blaze]

Across Time and Space

-A Glimpse of the Future-

Format:

Single.

Reward:

Choice of +4 EXP, or $1200

Scenario:

By dream or "time machine", you get to see and experience your future. It can be anything you want or hope for. Or will things take a turn for the worst? Will this be what makes you get up day after day or will you fall to despair?

Requirements:

• 1,200 word minimum.
  
• This is your character's perception of their own future--be it dreams come true or an already established reality. This may not be necessarily true in the end!
  
• Length of time is up to you! It can be, minutes, hours, or a few days.
  
• This is meant to be more light-hearted, with all the doom'n'gloom going on. Get as outlandish as you wish!
  
• Most of all...have fun!

This Monthly Event ends on:
Thursday, October 31st, 11:59pm MST.
10:59pm PST (Oct 31st)
12:59am CST (Nov 1st)
1:59am EST (Nov 1st)
6:59am GMT (Nov 1st)

[Hone]

After a lunch, Zax was tired and needed to take a nap. As he lied up against a tree, he fell into a sleep…
“Zaxy, wake up. Come honey! Wake up!” As Zax arose he saw the girl of his dreams, Ari. “Get up honey! We need to get the kids to school! Don’t worry, you don’t have work today. It’ll just be you and me.” She leaned over and gave him a kiss.
Zax quickly arose. He looked around. It was sunny, birds were chirping, and everything was perfect. Then someone walked in. “Good morning, sir,” the gentleman said with a british accent. Then Zax looked closer. Passed the tux and weird voice, it was Koshiro! He was a butler!
Zax got out of bed and walked towards the door. After he opened it kids were running up and down the halls. “Alright, come on guys, settle down.” He went into the kitchen and gave them some poptarts, then sent them off to school. Then Ari walked in. “And by the way honey, George said he was planning on coming over tonight. Are you okay with that?”
Ah, George, his best friend. Zax loved when he came over. He had known him all his life. “That’s awesome! I’ll talk to him in a few minutes. How’s Rai doing?”
Ari looked over. “My Dad? He’s fine. He still has a bit of pneumonia. T’s hard for him, you know. Him being old.”
“Yeah. How about your sister?”
“Yachiru’s great! Still perky as always.”
Zax hated her. She always made fun of him when she came over. He was sure she was a demon.
“That’s good I suppose.”
Then there was a knock on the door. Zax walked up and opened it, and standing there in the doorway was a man who put a gun to his head. “Turn around, slowly.” Zax did so.
“Honey, someone’s here,” Zax yelled nervously.
Ari came in and gasped. She was on the verge of tears. “Kazuya?”
“Who is that?!”
“My ex-husband. We, uh, had some problems.”
The man so called Kazuya quickly pointed to her with the gun. “Don’t you dare tell him what happened!”
“Okay, I’m sorry, just please, don’t hurt him!” Ari cried.
“Koshiro! You can come in now,” Kazuya yelled.
Koshiro walked in with a gun.
“You too, Yachiru.”
Yachiru came in with a gun also.
“Now I will get you back for breaking my heart!”
Yachiru piped up, “And for not getting the right guy!”
Koshiro joined in, “And for bossing me around all these years.”
Then Ari mouthed the words “The sword.”
Zax looked around and noticed a sword at his side. He grabbed it and cut Kazuya’s gun in half, deflected bullets shot by the other two, zoomed over to them, and cut their weapons. Then Kazuya came up from behind. Zax turned around, cut Kaz’s head off, then turned around to take care of the others. “I might spare yall. I might not. He put the sword in the middle of the room. “One of you gets to live, the other dies. I won’t kill yall, no no. You will have to kill each other. Wanna live? Fight.”
Then Ari came up to Zax. “Please, don’t let my sister die.” Then she kissed him. “Alright.” Zax drew a gun and pointed it to Koshiro. “Sorry, you’re fired.” POW! Koshiro fell to the side.
Then Yachiru ran up and hugged Ari. “I’m sorry. He was going to kill me if I did otherwise! I wasn’t really going to shoot you, honest!”
“I know, I know,” Ari replied, rubbing Yachiru’s hair.
Then Zax saw something. Yachiru’s eyes turned completely black, she grew black wings and her teeth became fangs. Ari screamed. Yachiru jumped down from Ari, and laughed evily. “Zax!”
Zax pulled the gun up and shot the demon, but it deflected. Ragh, rar, louah the demon growled. She grew claws and started swatting at Zax. He dodged each one, then all of a sudden, he heard a BEW and there were two holes through the monster. It looked down, looked back up, then disintegrated.
“Zax! You saved me with your laser eyes!” Ari ran up and hugged him around his neck. “You are so brave!” She went up and kissed him again. “My sister was never my sister at all. She was a demon! She was just waiting for the right time to kill me!”
“I’m sorry, baby,” Zax said as he she cried into his shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’m here fo you. I’m always here for you.”
“And that’s why I love you Zax. You’re better than any man on earth.”
“You never told me about Kazuya. What happened?”
“Well, he abused me. It was one relationship my parents put together. That’s how I got that scar you always asked about,” she replied wiping her eyes.
“At least it’s not as bad as my ex. She was a psychopath! She killed all of the males in her family! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because he told me he would kill anyone I told. I didn’t want you to die. I never want you to die!”
“Well he won’t bother you anymore.”
“And honey.”
“Yes?”
“One more thing.”
“What is it?” As Zax looked back down he saw her hand inside him, then he saw her pull his heart out. It was glowing and was still beating.
“I never loved you.”
Zax started to feel weaker and started falling to the ground.
“I was just nice to you so you would kill the demon. Those kids, those kids are Kazuya’s and mine. Not yours. You can get up now, honey.”
Then Kazuya’s body stood back up, picked it’s head up, and put it back on. He walked up and kissed Ari.
Kazuya walked up to Zax. “Don’t-“ Kazuya punched Zax in the face. “-mess-“ He punched him again. “-with-“ this time he punched him in the gut. “-my-“ again he punched. By now Zax was on the ground. “-girl-“ he kicked Zax. “-again.”
“And now, as your ex, I will break your heart,-“ she snapped the heart in half. Zax yelled in agonizing pain. “-rip it,-“ the heart ripped like paper. Zax let out another scream. “-crush it,-“ she crushed the pieces of heart in her hand, causing it to turn to sand, falling to the ground. “- and suck the rest of the life inside your body.” She walked up to him and kneeled. She grew fangs, then bit him in the neck. “Kazuya, you want some, babe?”
“With pleasure.”
Ari got up, blood around her mouth, and gestured to Zax with a ‘go ahead’ motion.
Kazuya got down and leaned over. “Sorry, she always hated you…” he leaned over to whisper the last part. “Brother!” Zax’s eyes widened. He remembered. That’s why he recognized him. It was very vague, but Ari had brainwashed him to believe that Kazuya wasn’t his brother anymore. But what did it matter? His life was at an end. Then he bit into Zax. The last thing he saw as his vision faded was Ari evilly laughing toward the sky….
“Ah!” Zax screamed as he woke up. He looked around. Whew! Good thing that’s not gonna happen…


(And for the prize I would like exp, please.1,205 words by the way)

[Koshiro WarHazzard]

It was a warm summer morning. Koshiro woke with a start. He knew there was something he had forgotten. "Crap. What was it? Damn damn damn......" he thought. He stopped and caught his breath. He looked at the clock. It was half past 6 am..."whew. Only 6:28." He walked into the hall and down to the kitchen. As he got to the kitchen he looked around. It was nice. Small, but nice. It seemed after his fathers company had hit the toilet, life was.....difficult. not everything was bad though. After all, being on the task force that took down barker. Now that turned heads.

It had been 18 years after the events in California. Many things had changed. Koshiro met the girl of his dreams. Married, had a few "rugrats". Most of all he had met with his old pal, the lightning dragon. Between his shotty skills building a generator and the elder dragon supplying some power, well. He managed to bring some power back to this broken world. His old commander Delilah having helped Koshiro build the generator (and having better skills at it) would have seen to building more and actually bringing the worlds power back.
Koshiro had spent 7 yeaes traveling the globe and setting lines of communication back up with other survivors. He and several others that is. It had become a peaceful time. The world was now in full swing again. Cities built, companies making profit. He marveled at the speed in which the human race....just. recovered. It was amazing how they just picked up the pieces and ran.

He looked back in remorse at the day his father was killed. It was sad. He had finally grown to love his father again. Rai had been amazing in training himself and his father. He laughed as he thought about how it all worked out. When barker destroyed the mansion, it really pissed Rai off. And now Rai lived just down the freshly paved road.

A ding went off as the coffee maker was done. The toaster popped and the oven timer went off. The noise suddenly brought the aging man back into the world. He pulled the toast and put some more in. He pulled the bacon out of the oven and began making some eggs. while the eggs starred to cook he made his cup of coffee. He drank his cup down as he finished breakfast.
Just as he set the table, a young boy (no more than 6 or 7 ran into the room and yelled at the top of his lungs "DADDY! YOU MADE BREAKFAST! YAY!" The young child ran to the table and quickly began chomping down his breakfast.
Koshiro couldn't help but smile, "now Sider, you know you shouldn't be yelling this loud on Saturday morning. You'll wake your sister."
just then a young woman walked in. She was no more than 15. "Ugh. Too little to late dad." She groaned and shot a glare at her young brother.
Koshiro smiled again and spoke "Rheya, you know you can't sleep all day. I was thinking we would go to the park, or.." "to pick mom up from the airport." The young girl interrupted.

The mans eyes widened. "Was that today?"
"Duh!"
"Oh damnit! I knew I was forgetting something. Shit, shit shit shit shit....." he would repeat this word as he ran to his room and grabbed his car keys. He didnt bother with clothes he would just wear pajamas. a soft "shit shit shit shit" would be heard as he ran through the kitchen to the garage.
As he passed the happy children at the table, he would look at his daughter "Kaori is in charge while I'm gone!" He yelled as he passed the table.

"Oh come on! Aunt Kaori? She wont even be up before you get back."
The faint trailing voice of the panicking man would yell back "I don't care! She is older and she is in charge!"
The garage door would open and the car screeched out the driveway.

"How long till you think he remembers what time her flight gets in?" The girl said to her brother.
"That was the meanest prank you've ever played Rhey-rhey." The boy replied.

The frantic man called his wife from the car.
"Honey? Hey, I am so sorry I forgot to pick you up. I'm on my way now. I'll be there in five."

"Ha ha dear, you need to quit joking, its going to rub off on the kids."

"What?"

"My flights not left yet Koshiro."

The man hung his head.
"I am going to kill that girl."

"No, you're not dear. Remember. You love her."

The man squinted. "I know....I love you babe. See you in a few hours. Try and get some sleep on the plane."

"Love you too sweetie. Don't kill my kids before I see them again."

"I will surely think about it while I strangle Rheya!"

They hung up and the man slammed on his brakes to turn around.
As he pulled in the driveway again, his children would laugh.
As he walked back in the door, he would not even look as he passed the table
"Oh yeah. Kaori is gonna be in charge for a LONG time!"

The girl stopped laughing and replied
"Oh come on! That's so not fair!"

The man snickered as he left the room.

A few hours later he piled the whole family toward car to pick up his wife. The boy just happy as could be to see his mom again. As they walked to the xar the girl spoke.
"Hey dadday,can I drive?"

The man replied
"Oh! I see, now you want something huh?"

"I'm sorry for the prank daddy."

He held up the keys and smiled
"That's all I wanted dear."

The girl squealed and grabbed the keys, then she kissed her father on the cheek.

"Now. Did you check your mirrors? "

"Yes dad!"

"Seatbe..."

"Yes dad! Seatbelt. Steering wheel. Seat. Mirrors and the car is started. The radio is off and im ready." She interrupted.

"Ok. Then go."

The young girl drove then to the airport and they picked up their mother. His whole family was happy. Later the man and his wife went out for dinner and a movie. They had a wonderful evening. ...until.... they were walking to the car and a man ran up on them with a gun.

"I want all your money and jewels!" He said holding up the gun.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you sir." Said Koshiro.

"Why not?" Said the mugger

"Well...I'm pretty well trained, man, and I don't wanna hurt you. "

The mugger then pointed the gun at Koshiros wife.
He wasn't going to have a second of that. Koshiro shot a light beam at the gun. It melted. He grabbed the man and pulled him close.
"Dont you ever point a gun at her!" He screamed.
He threw the man down.
"Here is 50 dollars. Go buy yourself a haircut, meal and some clothes. Go get a job. And get off the streets. We didnt save this world for you to fuck it up." Koshiro growled.

The mugger took the money and ran.

The woman hugged her husband and kissed him on the cheek. "And that. My sweet man. Is just the reason I married you."

He laughed and replied. "Sure it wasnt the good looks and dysfunctional family?"

They both laughed and got into the car.

"Hey. Mind if I make a stop or two on the way home dear?" He asked

"No? Why?" She said

"I need to see someone. " he spoke somewhat coldly.

As they drove they talked about the life they shared and their plans. They finally stopped at the cemetery and got out.

The grave they walked up to read

"Here lies Malakai WarHazzard. Father, husband, friend."

the beautiful woman held his hand as they stood there.
"I wish you could have met him." He said with a tear on his face.
"He would have hated you!" He laughed.

Later they stopped at Yachiru's place. She was still as silly as ever. But she was all grown up. She was married to Zax of all people. (Opposites attract I guess.) Their kids were going to be so fucked up.

the last stop he made was Sider's house.
His cousin had been there for some time. He was kind of a loner back in the day, but now. Hell. Even old Sider was married. Nobody could quite understand how or why, but Sider ended up with Koshiro's old commander.....Delilah A. Black. Who was actually the towns teacher now.

He waved at his neighbors as he drove home. Rai was out watering his plants, and tending his garden. Ari, happily engaged, was hugging her soon to be husband. Happier than ever.

The sun began to set. Koshiro sat out on his porch and watched. Soon his wife, kids, and sister had all gathered. Rai came over with some beer, sider a bit later, and soon after Marcus showed up with Lucien, delilah too. Matter of fact. Most of his friends from California. They all sat out and drank a bit. Shared some stories and laughed. The sun fully set and after a few hours they left, one by one they went home. Koshiro shook his cousins hand as he left. The last person there was Kaori. He stood. Hugged his sister and went to bed. He snuggled up next to his wife and whispered "its good to have you home".



A second later Koshiro awoke. He was asleep in Rai's armchair. ...in the mansion. His heart sank. He wished it had been true. Right there he vowed that he would do everything in his power to make that true. Even if it meant killing Barker himself.

(I will take the 4 exp please)

[Bastille Amtrum]

Titanium.

Banging, lots of loud banging. Gun fire. Bastille crouched further under the broken cement block of debris. What the hell had she gotten herself into? People didn't even have bullets anymore! Bastille let out an irritated huff. The people next to her looked at her with wide eyes as if confused.
"What? What are you looking at ?" She cursed. They seemed scared of her suddenly, but a barrage of arrows and bullets came in loud succession and both parties were distracted. Suddenly there was large yelling and then it was silent. The two men stood and immediately shuffled away only for their cries to ring out a second later and then it was quiet.

"Come out ......or dont, either way I'm gunna kick your ass" A voice said. Bastille blinked a couple times and rolled her eyes.

"Creativity isn't your strong suit...." Bastille called bitterly before sighing and taking out the knife in her boot....as she did so however, the person stepped around the rocks.

About a foot taller than herself, this girl was clad in a dirty white t-shirt, a pair of jeans with one pant leg missing up to the high thigh, tall matted biker boots, a belt with more pouches then should be technically possible or..comfortable, and obviously a black pleather corset underneath her shirt. She also had a brown jacket with a grey hoodie underneath. There was a logo on the back but Bastille couldn't make it out from this angle. AND WHAT WAS UP WITH HER HAIR? It was up in two messy buns- so messy long parts of them hung down and holy hell was her hair long! It was down to her knees. Bastille just stared awkwardly.
"What you talking about hag, you haven't even seen me dance yet! I reiterate, 'either way I'm going to kick you're ass' " She smirked devishly and slammed the giant lance she was carrying behind her, down next to her. Bastille raised a brow.....that was impressive.
"And If I dont feel like fighting?" She said honestly...she suddenly felt like her enemy had been beaten so why should she worry about fighting the one who'd beaten them.
"You're not with barker-?" The girl said, standing up with a suspicious look on her face. "Are you?"
"And why, prey-tell, would I ever side my force with that arrogant son of a female canine?" Bastille uttered colorfully, standing to look her straight in the eyes. "Where did you get that lance?"
"You could just say bitch" The girl looked confused as she leaned back lazily and scratched her head. "And none of your business thats where..."
"Touche" Bastille commented dryly.
"Speak for yourself...so you new around here?" She said now stretching. Apparently, this girl was also rather fidgety.
"No. I assume not...at least. " Bastille said in a bored manner, watching the girl with the upmost curiosity. Where had she seen this girl before?
"Hah! Thats funny, I've never see you before...." The girl straightened and looked at her counterpart closely.
"Well seeing as I'm usually in God's territory- that might make sense...I was just fighting a battle, or...well I guess that ass must of blasted me out of battle just for shits and giggles....I'm the Voice of the Earth Dragon. Heard of that?"
The girl swung her lance with ease up to Bastilles throat. Bastilles, eyes narrowed- well that was interesting.
"What did you say?" The girl said, suddenly serious and dark.
"by your reaction I'm assuming some part of that was offensive?" Bastille said with her brow still raised- if it could go higher it would.
"My sister is the Voice of the Earth Dragon....and before her was my mother- and while I'm usually pretty easy going to insults- insulting their authority or honor is something I'm not exactly fond of" the girl shot.
Bastilles brows furrowed before they shot back up in surprise....she must be dreaming. Funny, she'd just gotten into a confrontation...how did she wind up in the future?! She hadn't even remembered falling asleep. Was this that bastards ability? That was just not fair.
"..." Bastille was stunned. This...this was her daughter standing in front of her....that's why she was familiar. God she looked like her fathers daughter, 'cept she had Bastilles face shape and nose....as well as curves but who else would those possibly come from? Bright green eyes and a tuft of auburn hair..a very long tuft. Bastille couldn't handle the shock...even with her own finesse and usual detachment from these sort of things.
"So you're just going to sit there and look stupid huh?!" Bastilles daughter just twitched her wrist.
"Evelyn..." Bastille began but-
"IM NOT EVELYN DAMNIT! I'M ARYANNA! Geez- she even dyes her hair blue and everyone still gets us wrong!" She shouted angrily swimming her lance back.
"Oh." Bastille said rolling her lips. Well if that wasn't a fail.....
She just stared forward with a blank look.
"DONT 'OH' ME! Geez if you're going to insult a family, at least get its members right!" Aryanna glowered and huffed.
"I am Bastille...Bastille Amtrum" Bastille said carefully.
"Back to the lying" Aryanna said, once again serious. "as if, my mothers been dead for years!"
"dead....?" Bastille said shocked.
"Yah, she died in a confrontation, sort of, she was kidnapped. Barkers men turned her body against her will power. From what Aunt Kiyr tells me, she got back home and broke out...but apparently that was the plan since once home and back with my father her body worked against her mind and she brutally stabbed herself with her own sword in their sleep. I couldn't even walk yet." Aryanna said angrily, then brought her lance back up to Bastilles throat.
"I can handle some real shitty insults but that was just disgustingly stupid of you!" Aryanna glowered.
Bastille held up her hands and shrugged. "I am what I say...how can I prove it to you?"
"If you were my old lady you'd know why you chose Aryanna as my name. "
"Aryanna was the name of the first girl I ever killed...I remembered the name as she had been particularly innocent through my eyes and was in the wrong place at the wrong time. To honor the guilt and her death by my hand I swore to name any child I may bring or anything I could grant name too...Aryanna. That is how you got your name...Evelyn was your fathers decision." Bastille said coolly.
"Luck guess." She glowered harder.
"I am who I say I am" She said softly and then she smiled. "I also remember that in place of a traditional lullaby I play the violin at night and also hum 'Titanium' or 'Green Sleeves'. Your sister is partial to sleeping during the morning, while you typically sleep in the afternoon. While I gave birth to you both, I was having too many hallucinations so the doctor handed you to your father first... until I could regain coherency. Later is the doctor said that aside from too much scar tissue in the way, I was also suffering from eclampsia. It took me an abnormal three months to recover thanks to the permanent damage done to me by Barkers drugs and the medicine I took from Asiv. You both---"
"ALRIGHT ALRIGHT....gross" Aryanna barked suddenly. Bastille just looked at her. After a moment of nervous glances and fighting back a couple tears- admittedly on both parts....Aryanna looked up and about choked.
"Mum?" She said, her voice rather Americanized, but the way she said that...came across definitely. Bastille just shrugged.
"Yes, wonderful?" She smiled.
Aryanna was at her side the next second and as if coming in for a hug- Bastille went to open her arms. Then lights out.
---
"Sorry....I had to make sure alright?" Aryanna said as Bastilles blurred vision came into view and she sat up in the coffee shop.
"How did you manage to knock me out?" Bastille said rubbing the bruised portion of her neck.
"I know all your moves, that was what proved it to me finally...you moved instinctually the same way...oh and you uh...you teared up."
Bastille wiped under her eyes and found dried blood to her fingers.
"Ah."
"My mothers eyes ...well your eyes I guess...Dad said she couldn't cry, only bleed. Guess I now know he wasn't being metaphorical." Aryanna had a goofy sort of grin on her face as she scratched nervously.
Bastille just chuckled. "Mathew sucks at humor...sarcasm sure, but he was never the witty and educated sort of humorous person"
"I noticed..." Aryanna sighed heavily.
"So I wound up in the future..." Bastille said, sitting up fully. Aryanna just blinked and shrugged.
"Dont ask me how- I've never seen Barkers men do that before...I'm just confused, they said they tortured you- this seems more like a gift." Aryanna said, as if trying to riddle out how this was all by Barker. Bastille seemed more souly concentrated on one thing.
"So Barker is still alive..."
"Yah... barely....Dragons are forming colonies around the world, and the Crows help form new governments and safe havens. Slowly they formed an alliance with some European groups. They came together with some of those from the Gods territory and beat back Barker into remission. Its a slow process to completely destroy his hive, but we are making progress....this battle of course was years ago...We've cornered him to San Diego. Personally, I lead the assault on San Juan Capistrano- I decided that that is where I'm going to build my Dragon Stone."
"Your Dragon stone?" Bastille raised a brow. "dont tell me..."
"Yup! I know you hated the dragons, actually because you were the goddess Sekhmet was the only reason that the gods agreed to help us in the final battle. They followed Ares- dad of course- but they kinda have their own game going on- so we mostly leave them too it. Dad doesn't live there anymore, sure he has a temple but we move around a lot- building colonies and helping were is needed. Hell, Evi and I spent three years living with Uncle Leon and Eurydice...Anyway, but I became a 'Dragon Errant' until I could find a place to set up my Dragon Stone. Basically like Leon has his crystal tower, and David has the Storm fortress....and Dad built his in Seattle once we took it back. He built a giant wall that kinda gets labeled as his Dragon Stone but his memorial is specifically at the northern part of the wall inside a fortress that goes up the side of Mt.Rainier. He had an insane period after you died...that kind of became his project. He's in Tokyo now, doing the same there...he might move his Dragon stone to there I hear. The other Dragons have set up their stones at their major battle sites- since we aren't a country ourselves its -"
"Sort of like setting up your own monument to yourself- the arrogance of those infernal creatures continues...."
"Oi, they aren't so bad. I'm one of them aren't I?!" She defended.
"You dont sound so convinced" Bastille snickered.
"I'm perfectly convinced, but it really is more of Evi's thing....she took back Toledo for you and set up her Dragon Stone there."
"Both you and Evi became dragons?"
"Yah, She's the Resonance Dragon - energy constructs are her thing...and well technically I'm not a full Dragon yet. Like I said, 'Dragon Errant' or next in line to become a dragon. I'm still awaiting a name. But Dad said he'd come home for the ceremony so I'm trusting they'll come up with a good one!"
"Mathew....how is he, your father I mean?" Bastille said, suddenly nervous.
"Uh...oh...well like I said, your death sort of messed him up, so he spends most of his time away from California now, and we traveled a lot, he got better I mean....he's hard to understand but he does alright. " Aryanna looked nervous as if she was trying to defend him.
"In other words he became a reproachful arse..." Bastille let out a grumble before swinging herself off the metal table top and onto the ground. Aryanna uncrossed her legs and hopped down too- standing about a foot above her,....they were inside what looked like a newly renovated Peace Cafe. Bastille felt her insides clench a bit. This was all too weird.
"Yah...well...can you blame him?" She said shyly.
Bastille shook her head and began to wonder aimlessly.
"So what is he doing in Tokyo and you girls here by yourselves?" Bastille said, obviously still used to them being babies...but hey, could you blame HER?
"We aren't children anymore...he's left us alone plenty of times.......and technically we are in Dragon Territory under Uncle Leons uh...hearing-vision so we're fine.....and Evelyn isn't even here, she's in Spain!- Look, mum, I know you've been gone for well..transported here but I can fight and I'm pretty good to boot!" She defended.
Bastille just let out a snort. "I can tell.."
Aryanna smirked. "Plus ..." She held up a Tarot card and Bastilles eyes trained on it for a moment then she looked away and held up her own Tarot card. Aryanna just snickered. "I knew it..."
"Speaking of which, how is Buckingham?" Bastille asked, looking around for some tea and maybe an ice pack.
"He uh....mum, he passed away too. "
"...." Bastille just shot her a sideways glance. "Is...that so?" She bit back the choking feeling in her throat. It was easy to do, she'd done it before.
"He took ill in the Winter of 2021.....passed away shortly after he left office" She said quietly.
"Office?" Bastille raised a brow.
"He ran Toledo for you...and after you died, Maria took it over as a strong hold...She only kept it in your name out of respect for Buck....but he turned it over...then he helped efforts in the British Isles and eventually, after Evi and I helped colonize that area...he built a government. He was officially elected, but then he passed away just after leaving it. There's some new guy I've never met...but Maria said she's keeping an eye on him. You know what that means... "
Bastille just nodded. "Wow." She was astonished. "How is Maria holding up...fine I'm sure, but really"
"What do you mean?" Aryanna asked quietly.
"Didn't he and her..ever..."
"No!no no... actually, I have no clue. After you uh...bit the dust, we lost contact with that side." Aryanna seemed eternally uncomfortable with this chat.
Bastille just cleared her throat and sighed. Well, this was turning out swell.... There was a long pause, until the silence was booming in both their ears.
"Mum?" Aryanna asked.
"Yes" Bastille forced herself to answer, not used to hear her daughters voice like this.
"You....if you go back....you need to live. Look, I'm not complaining, life was great- and all....but you need to live."
"Trust me, I'm making a mental note." She said, it was all she knew to say.
There was a blast. Both girls heads whipped around.
"Lucky me, seems we have a dumb ass picking a fight!" Aryanna was up and sprinting out the door. Bastille was bursting after her. Scooting outside she heard another explosion and voice....and her head up. She fell to her knee and growled angrily.
"Yo! Old lady! you alright?"
"I'm...not....old" Bastille hissed.
"Mum! wake up..."
"what?"

"Mum, you have to wake up now!"
"Ari- love I'm standing right in front of "
"Mum! wake the fuck up!"
-----
Bastilles eyes fluttered open....she couldn't sit up, her body felt heavy. Fuck her head was splitting.....something.....something was wrong. This wasn't home or any place she knew. She felt air rush into her lungs and she found herself pushing out of the water. She'd been drowning. Breathing heavily, her eyes looked up towards the ceiling and then back down at the water....

She wasn't in Kansas anymore.....




word count: (because i fucking give up on trying to color the words)
2,641 boom! EXP please

[Lucien DeChain]

{OOC: Takes place in a future where the school re-opens, run by the survivors. An unknown length of time in the future...

I'm using this monthly as a device to write about something that I don't usually write. Sorry if it's boring.

WC 1280. EXP Please}

Lucien had never been fond of titles. Strange how they always came to him. He'd much rather have his actions speak for themselves, rather than have a reputation precede him from the words or letters that followed his name. He thought back to those times, where his name was a mile long. Maybe then, he saw the novelty in it, but it was such a hassle to go through introductions.

And now, another title was added. His first day among the staff at the recently-reopened Public High School 259, and, at the door of his new office, he saw the nameplate, shining back at him in large friendly letters.

“Lucien DeChain, Guidance Counsellor”

His face twisted into an expression that was half of a smile and half of a grimace, and he opened the door.

A blank room stood before him, with no windows, flat white walls, a wooden desk, and multiple chairs and couches. A bookshelf stood along the wall, filled with a mixture of books and pamphlets. Pacing towards the desk, Lucien hoisted the briefcase on top, and opened it. Inside was a collection of items from his travels, mostly keepsakes that he just couldn't part with. They had been with him this long, why not keep them around? Books went on the shelves, papers and pencils stacked and lined up in order by type, colour, weight and function.

A knock at the door made him blink, pausing momentarily while holding an especially ornate black pen with a pointed tip. ”Come in.” He called, continuing his task.

From behind him, he heard the door open, and a person slipped in to the room.

“So, I see you're adjusting nicely to the new position.” Came a female voice. Lucien turned, smiling, to face his friend.

”I still have so much work to do, though. I'll have to clean the couches, organize the books by title and subject, polish the furniture, wipe the walls, there's still dust from the drywall....” He was lost in thought for a moment, before stopping himself and turning his attention back to the woman before, Delilah Black, recently hired as the P.E. Teacher. Scars ran over her exposed arms and neck, the newer ones starting to fade into a similar colour as the older ones. After all, it had been quite some time since they'd been at war. The threats of life were more few and far between nowadays.

Her face twisted in concern. “Lucien, not everything has to be perfect... Does it...?” She replied, taking a step towards him.

Lucien shook his head and smiled, trying to assuage her concern. ”Don't worry, I'm not having a relapse. You know it's been over a year since I've felt any compulsion. I just want to make this space comfortable and welcoming to everyone who comes in here, and if it wouldn't have felt comfortable to me when I was this age... It's not good enough.”

Though his OCD was gone, and as thankful as he was for that, he still kept similar habits of cleanliness and organization, not because he felt like something bad would happen otherwise, rather, to just keep himself from slipping into bad habits. Like messiness, bad hygiene...

“I see,” came the reply from Delilah. “That makes sense. Just don't go overboard, or it might seem uncomfortable for others.” She smirked.

Lucien leaned against the desk. ”I'll try to keep that in mind. How are you doing so far? Lots to do?” He asked, wondering if she had an office space as well, or if her work was mostly going to be planning the courses.

Delilah let out an exasperated sigh. “I'm just preparing for my first few classes. Mostly everything was done over the summer, but there's always those kids who won't participate no matter what, and I need to find a contingency plan for that.”

Lucien nodded. He had thought of similar situations, where students would just not cooperate no matter how much he tried. And, even now, he knew he wouldn't be able to give up on those kids.

”There's always going to be those, yes. But, look at us, Delilah. Former gang members, gang leaders even. We were those delinquents. So, just act as though you were dealing with yourself, I guess that's a good a plan as any.”

Delilah nodded, eyes downcast. She must have been thinking about those times. He wanted to help her, too, because he knew what she had seen. Adjusting to this domestic life, it must have been difficult for her, too. But, necessary as it was, a small part of Lucien missed the way it was back then, the rivalling gangs , the constant war for survival..

Lucien suddenly gasped. ”Oh, Delilah, you'll have to excuse me, I have an appointment in a few minutes.” He said sheepishly, as he began to circle the desk, making sure everything was perfect.

Delilah smiled and nodded. “That's fine. I've got my own affairs to attend to.” She answered, making her way to the door.

“Lucien?” She spoke quietly, just before leaving the room.

Lucien paused, and looked up. ”Yes, Delilah?”

She turned around, and grinned.

“You're gonna do great.”

And with that, she turned and left., closing the door behind her. Lucien stilled for a moment. After a second, he smiled and continued his preparations.

A few minutes later, another knock was heard from the door. This time Lucien was ready.

”Come in.” He said, using a plain blue ballpoint pen to write on a piece of lined paper.

The door opened a bit more tentatively than it did before, and a figure stepped in.

“Mister DeChain? Is it ok if I come in?” The boy asked. He looked about 15, with white hair. One of his eyes was striking blue, while the other was black.

”Of course, feel free to come in anytime.” He smiled, gesturing with his hand to one of the couches. As the boy entered, Lucien went back to his writing. Though this did technically count as an appointment, Lucien didn't really need to do anything. This boy and him, they had an agreement, and no talking was required in this case. Just a safe place. A comfortable place. And Lucien was so glad to be able to provide that space for this boy.

The boy sat down and pulled out his books, and began to do his homework. It was only the end of the second day of classes, but there was still homework being assigned, it seemed. After about an hour or so, Lucien was about ready to head home, when the boy packed up his things and left without a word. That was fine by Lucien, he didn't need to say anything to that boy. He knew that he would open up when he was ready for it.

Heading out of the school, he waved to another familiar face, that of Kiyr Barrial, the new music teacher. She smiled back at him, with that smile that reached her eyes. She was going the opposite direction, so they only passed by each other, but Lucien was sure that he would be seeing her more, too.

Heading out of the building, he took a moment to look at the landscape, a far cry from what it was before the bombs, but still so much better than the rubble that it had once been. Buildings, structures that were more than semi-permanent, were being erected. People were getting back to thriving. It was turning into a city again. And quite a beautiful one, if Lucien had any opinion on the matter.

He took a deep breath, exhaled, and started his walk home.

[Mitsuki Park]

OOC: Set in the future, post-Barker.

She wasn't quite yet used to the quiet, still mornings; the calmness was almost unsettling, as if there were an underlying deceit hidden beneath the gentle murmurs of the wind. She thought coming back to Chicago would quiet her heart from the night terrors she's been having ever since setting foot in California- but instead, it got worse- not in severity but in frequency, even in the midst of her older brother who stood as a pillar of strength and security in the midst of Barker's times. She was subject to nightmares she couldn't even remember; ones that had her waking up to cold sweat and voiceless screams. She refused to go on medication; she disliked drugs that made her drowsy or just had her feeling unlike herself, so she lived with it. Life went on, anyhow.

She stared at the sleeping boy nestled carefully in the crook of her arm, his face buried against her side while he breathed steadily. It had been years since she had taken him under her wing and their relationship had developed into one of a mother and child. He was mute, but whether it was by choice or because he was born that way was something she didn't quite know, even with all the time they spent together.

When it was time to get up, the two went on with their morning routine. They had breakfast in near silence, the pups (who were now fully grown) and Skye providing background noise. They washed up, she dropped him off at school, and then she- herself- had her own business to attend to. As the government within the States started up again and the educational system was put back into place, Mitsuki finished her studies as a medical student and now gave seminars at universities nation-wide with a few other physicians and engineers, mostly about frugal and emerging technology and its relation to pediatrics, medical ethics in relation to 'children' and their autonomy, and several other specialized arenas in the health field.

Luckily, the seminar for that week was at University of Chicago- or at least, what was left of it. It went on longer than the allotted time, which was a good thing in her eyes- lots of questions were brought up, which, rather than satisfying the up and forthcoming doctors, opened doors for more. After it ended, she decided to walk back home instead of taking the public transportation that was introduced back into the city; she didn't have to worry about picking up her little boy because her brother always spent time with him after school. He was the only father figure in his life...and so they created a very interesting and odd family. Eight dogs, a mother figure, and a father figure.

But as she drew closer to her home, she saw a familiar silhouette standing by their front door. It was interesting because Skye normally barked whenever he felt a stranger's presence too close for comfort, but from her heightened senses she couldn't hear his vocal chords echoing through the home. But when she recognized the figure she came to a complete stop- what was he doing here? No wonder Skye didn't bark. He was someone from California; someone Skye had the pleasure of meeting. He never barked twice at the same person unless the person was a threat the first time around.

He turned, as if he knew she had been staring at him, and offered her that smile that plagued her whenever she closed her eyes. He always came and went; just like how she had her own business to attend to, he had his that kept him rooted in California. She could not ask him to abandon his post and leave with her, but at the same time she couldn't stay; after finding her father who was still alive in Japan, she wanted to take him to Chicago to Reita; and she left without promise: would she return? She didn't know. But he had promised her that they would see each other again.

And here he was.

He was without luggage, which to her meant that he would be taking his leave soon. She wasn't sure how he had gotten here; planes were in use again so that could have been an option, but it wasn't a popular form of travel because of safety regulations that made the public uneasy. Their reunion was albeit awkward; Mitsuki wasn't sure how she was supposed to react in this sort of situation. In fact, she didn't even understand what she was supposed to feel. Does she smile?

Instead, she blinked. And in that flash of a moment, he moved- taking long strides to get to her before enveloping her in his arms. She sunk; it had been a long time since she felt this sort of comfort- and out of instinct, her arms wrapped around him in response. She didn't know what she was supposed to feel- but she felt something, even if she couldn't place quite the right word on it. Relief, maybe.

"Hello, love," she murmured against his chest, her head slowly tilting up with her chin resting against him. His response was a smile; not just with his lips but with his eyes- the one characteristic that she always found herself falling into. Abnormally normal, as she liked to call them.

When they finally moved inside, he asked her questions- how was the boy doing (because the boy was someone she brought from California); how was her father, her brother who was always fiercely protective over her, and her two "body guards" that were with her during her stay in the sunny state? She answered them almost methodically- that they were all doing well, that they would be surprised to see him in town, etc. He asked how things were in Chicago, and she responded all the same- well, improvements were going on, and her Qi was still useful but otherwise she opted not to use it. He asked about her fighting, and she merely shook her head; there was no reason to fight anymore, but her brother still kept her on her toes. The school systems that were brought back into place weren't enforcing corporal punishment, but Reita still taught the boy everyday after school on self-defense. The list went on.

Come back with me.

Before she even had the chance to ask questions herself, his comment produced a small smile. She parted her lips, but he cut her off a second time, as if already knowing her answer-

Let's start a family.

She stared at him and let out a soft sigh. In her mind, she already knew her answer...but a part of her decided she should probably dwell on it for a couple more days instead of responding out of instinct. Going back to California meant getting back into the swing of things; she wasn't sure how the school system was being set up there, but it seemed like corporal punishment was being introduced back into some of the bigger high schools. She didn't know if she wanted little Akira to grow up in that kind of an environment.

"How long are you staying?"

A week, he said.

"A week but no luggage?"

He chuckled in response and gave a light shrug, to which she smiled herself and shook her head.

...

"Don't abandon them."

Not for me.

This was a conversation that could not be avoided. Despite spending every waking moment together, murmuring sweet nothings and mundane everythings, she knew eventually it would come down to this: that their love for each other fell short. They both knew that having the other was not a necessity- just a strong, infallible desire. But a desire not enough to have priority over all else; he was needed in California, and her responsibilities in Illinois were increasing, keeping her rooted in the area for at least the next five to ten years. She was part of an administrative team that was training and raising up the next generation of physicians in the midwest, not just in Illinois but also the surrounding states. And he? He was part of the reformation of the entire southern half of California; one of the key players, from what she remembered.

His voice was muffled as he spoke into her hair: I love you, still. She let her thin lips curve into a soft smile, her thumb absentmindedly running over his knuckles. His words were not needed- she knew from his actions alone how far his love extended...literally.

"I love you, too," she responded, giving him verbal confirmation- just in case. He murmured something else into her hair; she didn't catch it but she already knew the one-syllable word that was spoken. Something like a promise the two made long, long ago.

A soft chuckle, then affirmation:

"Yours."

OOC: EXP, please.~

[Mathew Amtrum]

The sun had long since fallen for Mathew Amtrum. His hair was no longer even salt and pepper but a stark Gray. His face and torso a mess of scars, at least the parts that were still flesh. He was more metal and Qi than man now. His right arm had been taken by Barker during the battle that was now known as the end and beginning of war. In it's place was an arm made of metal, powered and made by his own Qi. The left arm had been taken by Blaze during the betrayal and before his death. Blaze's betrayal had been not unexpected, but it had made things shakier with his young apprentice Kiyr. Unsurprisingly, but in the end her loyalty shone through, whether it be because of her view of him as a Father or because of David's own aggression and escalation against Mathew and his plan.

Leon had put up a good fight when Mathew had come to take his life. Giving him the honor of a death against a stronger opponent. Mathew's hand went to his side feeling the metal plate that made up a good potion of his left side. It still ached under the metal. Closing his eyes he clenched his jaw to hold in the pained sound as he readjusted the hooked in his side that kept the place fused in place. That said nothing of both legs which had been lost in the resulting wars as he tried to purge the world of it's monsters. As he tried to make a better world.

And there he sat in his office, broken but not finished. Trophies of his past littering the office. The armor of Aries, The Earth Dragon Coat, Barker's Skull, Unfettered's eye patch. None of them brought him comfort or joy. All he could see was the next enemy that threatened peace.

He dropped the pen that he was using to write a letter to his daughters, both of who had moved away for school, deep in their protected territory. His hand moved up to his mouth just barely covering the hacking and wheezing cough. The metal hands unfeeling cold. Unable to experience even the warmth of the blood that now coated them. He stared at it, proof that his treatment wasn't going well. Doctors told him he shouldn't even be alive now with how advanced the cancer was. They didn't know him though, he couldn't die yet. He had too much left to do. He needed to make the world a better place. And there were some jobs he just couldn't entrust to people. Not even Levi and Rai, for all of their achievements, they were not him. And they might get it wrong. He needed to finish this letter, and then he would need to figure out the next plan of attack. Rai's task force believed that a terrorist cell had infiltrated the city, but they seem to be able to block Levi's Qi sense, leaving it to him to try and figure out what target he would pick to hit if he was them and hope that they could find and subdue the threat before innocent people could die.

With another hacking cough his body shook and trembled. Nowhere near as strong as he pretended to be. But he needed to be invincible. The majority of people didn't even know about the cancer. Just Bastille and his apprentices and his doctor. The letter was explaining the situation to his girls. He was just tired, he didn't know how much longer he could go. He was already pushing himself when he was out of steam, and he could feel it. But he was an Elder. He was a symbol. He needed to be what the people needed him to be.

He felt her approaching down the hall before the door creaked open. To her credit Bastille was as silent as a mouse, but he could feel her everywhere inside the house. It brought him comfort to keep everything stone. Not just because there may be another attempt on his life. He turned to face his wife, no longer was she the young fiery rose that she was in youth. Her own hair was streaked with grey, wrinkles lining her face. Some from age, some from stress. Many from frowning at him and the other Dragons. The eyes though, they still held that fire and passion that he fell in love with. And she was more beautiful now than ever. He couldn't imagine where he would be right now if it wasn't for her. She gave him so much strength. She kept him grounded. He never realized how much he needed her when he was younger. He put on the old goofy grin he always gave her as he tried to stealthily wipe the blood off his arm to the side of the chair.

"You are up late my love, can't stand having me gone for a few minutes?"

He winked at her but clenched his jaw into the smile to keep from coughing. Bastille's look, well, she knew. She always knew. But she didn't call him out on it.

"It's time to rest Mathew."

She said in a firm, but gentle tone. Like a steel rod clad in velvet. He shook his head at her, denying her statement.

"No, I can't rest. I need to finish my work."

He blinked, looking down at the papers he had around his desk. The letter to his girls. The maps, reports, pictures of known enemies. So much work to be done. Too much work, he didn't know if the others could handle it. He needed more time. He went back to his letter as Bastille slowly and gracefully made her way to him, standing behind him and leaning over his shoulder reading what he wrote. Leaning in to plant small kisses on his neck. A distraction, but a silent show of affection. She understood how important this was. She didn't always agree with him, but she supported him. She knew she couldn't have him all to herself, and he loved her for that understanding. No one could see what he saw, but she was the closest by a mile. He saw a perfect world, a better world. Without the pain and horror that they experienced growing up. People just kept screwing it up! They kept fighting it. He didn't understand why they couldn't see what he saw, it was so obvious!

He finished the letter with another coughing fit, this time his hand not being fast enough to block all of the blood, a few droplets splattered on the letter.

"Fuck!" He exclaimed too loudly, too angry over the small amount of blood on the paper. Bastille just shushed him and moved over to his front, pushing him back gently against the chair as she climbed on top of him.

"It's time for rest Mathew."

She crooned again, leaning in to kiss up his neck. Mumbling something into his flesh about how he used to be warmer. He closed his eyes and allowed her to kiss his neck, enjoying the momentary distraction, but unable to turn off his mind. Rai's report is the one he needed to go over next. Levi was requesting more troops to secure his sector. Kiyr had questions about soil composition to the north where one of the old bombs had hit. Too much to d-.

His eyes shot open, looking wide eyed at Bastille as pain ripped through his body. The old dagger he had given her slid into his ribs where it was still flesh, just missing his heart. He could kill her, but he couldn't. Not her. He promised, she could do this. A tear streamed down his face, partly from pain, partly because he was afraid. Not of death, but that his work would go unfinished. That everything he had given would be for nothing.

"Shhhh." She crooned, trying to comfort him as strength left his body. "It's time to rest my love." Her soft lips pressed against his, blood seeping between their lips as his world began to darken. Her touch felt distant, her features blurry.

"Rest now my love. You did it, the world is saved. I will join you soon..."

Words of comfort echoed in his mind as the world continued to turn black. Doubt filled his heart, but she was like him. She saw what he saw. She surely wouldn't lie to him. A trembling breath was the last act of Mathew Amtrum as he lay slumped in his chair. A letter to his daughters his last great work.


OOC: Word count 1441 words. I will take the exp please

[Kazuya Hikari]

After he had finished training his troops and his early morning training soon after, Kazuya had returned home and after taking a well-deserved shower, had decided to take a nap. Nestled inside his futon, his eyes feeling heavy, before he knew it, his eyes had closed and he had fallen asleep...

----

["He's waking up."]

["Are you alright?"]

Three heat signatures formed in his vision, two men, one tall, bulky, and tough looking, his arms firmly folded across his chest, the other lanky but toned with an easygoing attitude, his hands held in his pockets, and a young, gentle looking woman kindly smiling, a haggard, distant look could be seen on Kazuya's face, his eyes cast lightly in shadows and appearing completely blank.

["We should let the boss know. Ayane, go tell the boss he's awake."]

["Okay."]

The young woman getting up and disappearing from his line of sight, the young man would move over to Kazuya's bedside, a lighthearted smile on his face.

["We found you unconscious on the side of the street in front of our headquarters. You wouldn’t wake up despite any of our efforts. We were all terribly worried.]

["So he’s awake."]

A female voice would call out, as the young man would look up and immediately straighten up, bowing lowly to the young woman that had spoken. Turning his head slightly to the side, his eyes would widen in shock, it was...

"E... Emily...?"

Kazuya would mutter hoarsely, his voice just barely audible, but loud enough for the young woman to hear, a frown appearing on her face as she strode over to him, her arms tucked beneath her chest. She was identical to Emily in every way, even in hair color, except her hair was much longer, about waist length, while he had remembered Emily's hair had been much shorter.

["Emily? No, my name is Kaori, but... that's my mother's name. How do YOU know her name? Who ARE you?"]

["Hey boss...? C'mon, think about it. Who hasn't heard of your mother's name? She IS the wife of your father, Kazuya Hikari, the CEO of Hikari Industries and the third boss of the Hikari-gumi, the most powerful bio-tech company and Yakuza gang respectively in all of Japan."]

["I suppose you have a point Shinji, but still... Who are you? What business do you have passing out in a place like th- Hey!"]

Kaori turning to face him again only to see him struggle to sit up, after looking over at Shinji, beforehand however, she nor the others had not noticed his eyes had flared not only at the mentioning of his name, but also what had been said after. Just when and where the hell was he!?

The tall bulky man stomping over to stop him, only to be knocked back clear across the room after placing his hand on Kazuya's shoulder and he had reacted instinctively, flinging his arm outwards. Even when he was out of it, he still hit like a freakin' tank. Slowly swinging his legs out to sit on the edge of the bed, clad only in a pair of loose black pants and muscle shirt, though his head was bowed, his voice, albeit still hoarse, would be more audible than before.

["I'm a traveler... And I don't know how I ended up here..."]

["Boss..."]

Both Shinji and Ayane looking over at Kaori, she would regard him with a cool but deep thinking look on her face, her arms still tucked underneath her chest, the tall, bulky guy stomping towards Kazuya after regaining his balance, only to be stopped by Kaori as she held up a hand.

["Stand down Daigoro. I don't care if you dropped from exhaustion or were abandoned here. This brings disgrace on the Hikari-kai! And as second lieutenant and local boss of the Hikari-kai in the Kyoto region, I, Kaori Hikari, take possession of you! Now traveler, stand up!"]

After he had taken a bath and cleaned himself up, he would walk out of the building clad in a navy blue hoodie and pants with gold flame designs, the hood up to hide his face from view, red sneakers and a black muscle shirt, only to stop dead in his tracks, his eyes wide in disbelief. Kyoto... looked exactly as it had been before Barker had bombed the world. All the buildings had been rebuilt, the streets repaved, and even plants and trees had been planted and bloomed.

"Surprised huh?"

A voice would come from Kazuya's right, as he would turn and see Kaori standing off to the side behind him, a familiar looking slight smirk gracing her face, and it would take Kazuya a while before finally realizing why it looked so familiar: it was his trademark smirk.

"You can thank my father for restoring Kyoto, and all of Japan for that matter, back to its former beauty. After returning, he, along with one of my grandfather's top assassins, Chihiro Amuri, his partner and now one of his senior advisors, Dillon Kyne, and his troops, stormed the headquarters of Barker's men and defeated them single-handed, driving them off the island permanently. My grandfather then emerged from underground with his Yakuza gang, and officially became the most powerful Yakuza gang in all of Japan. So even though His Imperial Majesty the Emperor is the apparent ruler of Japan, his son having ascended to the throne when he passed away about ten years ago, the title is mainly used as a figurehead, as the real leader was my grandfather, and now my father."

Stepping over to stand beside him, as Kazuya would turn his head back and look up at the blue sky above, not a cloud in sight, a light breeze would gently blow, rustling the edges of his hoodie, his gray pupil-less eyes hidden by his hood on his head.

"My father did more than just take back and restore Japan to its former appearance though... He gave me back my mother."

"... How?"

"... After defeating Barker's men and driving them out, he utilized the laboratories they had built and worked to develop a serum along with the surviving Hikari Industries scientists... that would restore my mother's body and and bring her back from the dead. During that time, he had gone to London, England, and dug up her coffin and brought her body back to Japan, keeping her preserved inside a special tank he had salvaged and repaired from the Hikari Industries laboratory. Despite being advised against it by someone he deeply cared for and loved, whom had stated he wouldn't know the possible side effects including the psyche of my mother, he still went ahead with his plan, and worked day and night to develop the serum, though she still helped him despite her advice against it, since my father had done everything in his power to help find her children, and she wanted to repay his favor, and he succeeded after years of painstaking research and work. Last I heard, she was still living in Tokyo by herself, her children having gone off on their own, except for the oldest and adopted daughter, Elena, who occasionally stays in Tokyo. She and Dillon have been around each other for a long time, but they still bicker and squabble like there's no tomorrow. My father visits her frequently, from what I've heard."

Kazuya didn't need to ask who the person his future self had deeply cared for and loved was, he already knew. Kaori would be unable to see that his eyes had turned downcast as he carefully stared into empty space. Though it was clear a part of his future self, despite having Emily back, still loved her, while he loved her fully.

Eurydice...

"... Were there any side effects?"

"Just one. My mother's alter ego, Kari, separated from her after previously fusing with her and reappeared, and though she surfaces more frequently now than in the past, my father's mere presence is powerful enough for my mother to fight back and suppress Kari. You... remind me a lot of my father. You even look familiar to me for some reason, but I can't figure out how or why... I don't even know why I'm even answering all your questions, a complete stranger, but I feel you are trustworthy for some reason."

"... Thank you for taking me in."

"Huh? That came out of nowhere, but you're welcome. Your name is Ryuu right? Any friend who enter our headquarters even once, we show them hospitality until the end. So until you decide to take up your journey again, you can call this home."

Kaori turning to look behind her as she heard her name being called, she would give Kazuya a slight bow of her head, before heading back inside, leaving him by himself once more. Staring up at the sky, he knew what he had to do.

As night fell and everyone had gone to sleep, a lone figure would quietly slip out of one of the rooms and head out of the building, but not before pausing in front of one of the rooms. Slipping inside, he would stand beside his daughter's bed, watching her sleep peacefully, before reaching out and gently brushing away a few stray strands of her hair from her face, as she would shift slightly in her sleep.

Goodbye Kaori... You've grown up into a beautiful and headstrong young woman, just like I always knew you would.

He'd then quickly but quietly leave the headquarters, and begin his trek to the capital city of Japan... Tokyo.

The journey made easier by the fact he could fly using his fire Qi, he made it to the capital in just one day, and by the time he walked into the city, it was already evening. Kaori had spoken the truth. Tokyo had been restored to its former state, the streets, the buildings, even the electronic district of Akihabara was filled with everything technological. Striding along the sidewalk, his face hidden by his hood as usual, his attention would be caught by one of the giant electronic billboards located on the front of one the buildings. Stopping dead in his tracks and staring up, he would find his older self staring back down at him, an advertisement for Hikari Industries playing.

Abruptly turning away form the advertisement, he would continue to make his way down the sidewalk, his destination already in his mind. His old apartment. He even still had his old key. A few minutes later, after riding the subway, he would head out of the station and turn off the busy streets and into the quiet suburban area where his apartment was located. Climbing up the familiar stairs, he'd stop in front of the door, and pulling his key out, would insert it into the slot, and turn it.

----

His eyes slowly opening, though sunshine was visible through the blinds of his window, no birds could be heard chirping. Immediately bolting up in bed at this realization, he would quickly look around, only to realize instead of waking up in his old apartment room, he had woken up in his room in Long Beach. He was back in his own time. Cradling his head in his hand, had it all been just a dream? If it could be a reality... it'd be a reality he wouldn't mind coming true.

(OOC: Total word count without BB coding and this out of character note, 1,903 words. And money please.)

[Dillon Kyne]

Dillon once again found himself alone, wandering the streets of California with a package of heroin in a satchel and an empty pipe in his hand. The sound of his footsteps hitting the concrete echoed through the air as he made his way into an empty alley. The thick clouds above him made him want to do nothing more than smoke some of his supply, and so he took a seat behind a dumpster and started packing his pipe. He spent the next ten to fifteen minutes smoking himself to the point of nearly passing out, as his body collapsed on the wet, nasty ground beneath him. He wondered if he'd ever find somewhere he belonged as much as he did with his family in Ireland as his eyes grew heavy and gently closed.
________________________________________________

Within what seemed to be a second, he found the feeling of his surrounding to be much more comfortable, as the smell shifted from garbage and must to a strange combo of fabric softener and women's perfume. The numbness in his body slowly faded as his eyes fluttered open and revealed a foreign apartment that was clean, or at least clean by his standards, with working lights and everything. He'd grab the pillow next to his and bring it up to his face, taking in the distinct smell of perfume with a smile. He wasn't sure if he was having a very vivid trip, or one of the most realistic dreams ever. All he knew was that he wanted to know where he was, and what was happening.

Letting his legs hang off the side of the bed and leaning forward a bit, he'd rub his face to help him wake up more quickly, only to find that he was a bit more hairy than he had been when he passed out in the alley. To test his dream theory, he got up from bed and punched the wall, which definitely hurt a bit, and so a bit of confusion and panic rushed through him. He ran out of the bedroom and searched for a bathroom to get a full understanding of what he looked like. He wasn't himself, or at least not the self he knew, and he had to see the changes with his own eyes.

After a couple of doors led to nothing but a closet and a hallway to more apartments, he eventually found the door to the bathroom. It looked like someone had recently taken a shower, as the distinct smell of froo froo shampoo filled the air and the mirror was still fogged up. He ran over to the mirror, wiping away the condensation to see a much more grizzled and older version of himself looking back. The shock that was just coursing through him changed to amusement as he laughed at the hippie he had become. Long hair and a Ted Bundy beard actually sort of suited who he was, but he couldn't bring himself to keep the beard. Locating a facial hair trimmer from under the sink, he'd trim his face down to something more befitting of his younger self, and grinned back at his improved older image. He had to admit, he aged way better than his father had.

As he was putting everything away, he took the time to wonder exactly who had been in the apartment with him before he woke up. It was definitely a woman, but who was the question. He'd walk back to the bedroom he woke up in, admiring how complete it was. He actually had a nice bed, a dresser with a wide screen TV, and a closet filled with clothes. When he walked over to his dresser to find some clothes, he found a written letter with a lipstick kiss on it. Reading it over, he realized that the woman in his bed was nothing more than a stripper. What gave it away? Probably the fact that the note was written on the back of an advertisement for a strip club, and she said to come visit her again soon.

With a sigh, he'd crumple the note up and drop in on the ground. The dresser seemed like a bad idea, now, and so he looked through his closet for an outfit to wear. Unfortunately, everything in the closet was dress clothes, but he got the feeling that this was normal for his older self to where. So, begrudgingly, he'd put on a white button up shirt and a black dress jacket, accompanied by a pair of black dress pants and gray and white checkered socks. He felt odd and uncomfortable in the outfit, but that didn't change the fact that he looked damn good wearing it.

He searched through most of his apartment trying to find a stash in a place he'd normally put it, but the only things he could find were a number of empty alcohol bottles near the trash. Things were adding up to a scene that many of his friends and family had gone through, but he couldn't bring himself to believe that he actually went through it himself. Picking up a stripper, drinking - and possibly smoking - until there was nothing left in the apartment, and sleeping until well into the afternoon. Could he have actually been through a major break-up in this weird future? If so, than with who?

Now that his journey to find mind-numbing substances had come to a halt, he actually took the time to look around his living room. Most everything was something you'd find in everyone else's home, but a couple of photos in picture frames caught his eye. He walked over to where they were sitting and picked them up. One had him, an older version of his brother's fiancee Brianna, and a late teenage Liara in it, with each of the girls hugging him with big ol' smiles. The other seemed to be a recent Kyne family photo, with his grandparents not present in it, and his brother seemingly standing as the head of the family. Both Dillon and his brother were standing next to Brianna, so his mind started to wander.

He couldn't help but think that maybe he and Brianna somehow ended up together, which made him almost sick to his stomach. Not because she was a terrible person or anything, since she was far from it, but because he never thought he could actually steal a girl from his brother. There was a drunken moment where he woke up next to Brianna in the past, but she had told him time and time again that nothing happened. Still, it nagged him whenever he thought about that night because Liara was born almost exactly nine months later.

As if the world were reading his mind, the cell phone in his pant pocket started vibrating and ringing loudly. Pulling it from his pocket, he saw that it was none other than Brianna calling him. Swallowing the tension in his throat, he'd answer the phone without saying anything.

"Dillon?... Darlin', are you there?..."

He didn't know what to say. The last time he had spoken to her, at least as who he was mentally, she had made it clear that she pretty much hated his guts for being involved in Pierce's imprisonment, and now she was calling him darlin' again? It was weird, to say the least, but if she was calling him it was probably a good idea to just roll with it and get to the bottom of things.

"...Yeah, I'm here, Bri. What's up?"

"What's up? That's my line! We thought you were dead!"

"Dead? Why would you think that?"

"Well, after you and She Who Shall Not Be Named broke up for the millionth time, you stopped responding to our calls and texts. We've been worried sick!"

Bringing his phone out in front of him, he'd go to his missed calls and texts, seeing that Brianna, Liara, and Pierce had been trying to get a hold of him for almost a month. The inclusion of Pierce, and Brianna's "She Who Shall Not Be Named" statement made him realize that his fears were just in his head. With that figured out, he'd place the phone back next to his ear.

"Sorry to worry you all. I-... I think I'm alright. Drank myself near to death, apparently, but other than that I'm fine."

"Jesus, Dillon, you can't do this to us. We care about you too much. Liara's been crying ever night for a week. You're like a second father to her, dammit..."

"Wow... Um, give her a huge for me, and tell her that I'll call her tomorrow. I've gotta do a few things tonight."

With a sigh, Brianna's disciplinary tone shifted to one of understanding. "Fine... You're lucky that I can't stay mad at you, but you better keep your word."

"I will, Bri, I promise." His phone would then start to beep, indicating that someone else was trying to call him. He'd look to see who it was, laughing a bit at the name "Ms. Bitchalot" before finishing up his conversation with Brianna. "But, I've gotta go. I think she's calling me."

"Alright, stay safe. We love you." -click-

Taking a deep breath, Dillon would once again press the "Accept Call" button before bring the phone back up to his ear. Since he didn't speak right away, there was a good ten seconds of silence between the two of them before the woman on the other end finally broke.

"Hey..."

"Hey yourself."

The air was thick with an awkward tension, even though the two of them weren't even in the same room. He may not have known who was on the other end, but he knew that there was a history between them, and right now they weren't on the greatest of terms.

"So, what do you want?"

"Can we-... Do you wanna have dinner so we can... talk or something?"

"I guess. You wanna just come by my place?"

"Yeah, I think I'd like that."

"Alright. I'll see you then." 

"I-" -click-

Dillon didn't need to hear anymore. Even though he hadn't experienced the break-up first hand, he still felt a bit of negative emotion when he was talking to her, and for him, that meant that he was probably pretty pissed off. His bond with his older self was weak, but he shared the anger. He'd never had a girl break up with him, always the other way around, so this was something new. He wanted to see her face to face, and confront her about whatever it was that they broke up over this time. If Brianna was right, this was seemingly a regular thing for the two of them, so he wanted to know who was worth all of the trouble. Even if this was nothing more than some weird vision or whatever, it felt real enough to warrant answers.

He spent the next hour or so cooking some cheap spaghetti and meatballs for their dinner, and as he was getting finished setting the table and everything, he heard a knock at his door. Making sure that he looked his best, he'd slowly walk toward the door. He'd stop and look through his peep hole before opening the door, but all he could see was long brunette hair covering a woman's face. She was looking down at the floor beneath her, probably because she was in the wrong for this break-up. Taking one more deep breath, he'd turn the handle and open the door.
________________________________________________

But, instead of opening the apartment door, he found his hand grasping an old meat bone that was on top of the dumpster that he had passed out beside. Shaking his head to try and clear all of the thoughts and visions, he'd drop the bone and look down at the puddle beneath him. Kneeling down, he'd look at his younger self with a quick sigh before standing back up. Even if it was just some weird trip, it felt more real than almost anything he'd been through recently, and he'd never forget it. But for now, he'd walk out of the alley and pack himself another pipe's worth of heroin. This was obviously some good shit, and his little vision trip had worn out his buzz. Lighting the pipe, he'd grin to himself as he walked down the streets once again, wondering what the future truly had in store for him.

(OOC: I hope it's cool that I posted this today. Had the urge to post something. Anyway, I've got 2081 words without coding and OOC stuff, and I guess I'll take money. Dolla Dolla Bill, Ya'll!)

[David B.]

David lay, staring up at the ceiling. He could feel everything. The wind rolling through the sky, the bugs in the yard, the birds sleeping. His powers had grown exponentially over the past few months. Sometimes….he couldn’t shut it off. He tried…but it would wake him up in the night. He had no more time for training, either. To learn how to use it. He tried to center himself. To steady his breathing. He could feel Scarlet resting in the window, watching him….he tried to ignore her. Ever since returning from Kiyr, she had talked non stop, wanting him to spill his guts. He loved how, now that he wanted to be alone and not talk to anyone, everyone was suddenly interested. Olesya. Kiyr. Scarlet. Even Mathew wanted to be his buddy. He closed his eyes forcefully….and fell into a deep sleep.

David sat up a little. He felt his head- some light bruising. Looking around, he appeared to be in a collapsed house. He sat up fully, groaning a bit. He would turn and look around him. To his right was a body- buried under the rubble. It appeared to be Leon Sudeki's. Behind a desk, which was groaning under the weight of the roof, he could just make out the body of Mathew Amtrum. He was...old. Probably in his forties or fifties. David looked down at himself- he was old as well. He glanced around a moment, then stood- he remembered now, what had happened.

Long ago, he and Mathew had a conversation in his old home in California. He told Mathew that someday he would kill him. Mathew, ever the plotter. The man who liked to take credit for single handedly ending the war with Barker, which only gave birth to a larger conflict that had lasted for most of their lives. Just a few short months ago, they finally won. They were victorious. Well, he never trusted Amtrum since. He knew that if he had decided that Mathew needed to die, Mathew probably decided it months before. David had been forced to design this day- the downfall of the big three. Mathew always counted on himself...on his ability to take a punch to see him through. So today...David had collapsed the Castle onto them all, and protected himself in a sphere of air.

He was to be the one to live.

He grunted, hands outstretched, as he lifted the rubble around himself and started to walk for the door. Turning back, halfway, he lifted two items- a pipe and a splint of wood with sharp edges, and stared at the bodies of his fallen brothers. The Elders he had shared power with since they started this war. They were trusted him to meet with them, to discuss the final stages of the war. What they didn't know was that the war was already won. He had won if for them yesterday. The Dragons were now moving to form a unified, Global government. He had intended the Crows and the Gods and...everyone to be there. But David....David and his Dragons were the only ones left. And two many times had Mathew and Leon come back with their grins to show the world....they weren't really dead.

He flung the items forward and watched them plunge into the skulls of the Earth and Lightning Dragons, doing so at angles that would make it appear that they happened during the collapse. Sure now that they were dead, he turned his thoughts forward. Coldly. Calculating his next move, his next threat. If there was one thing he could thank Mathew for, it was for awakening the thinker in him. Before he had been soft...a squishy inside and light, carefree out. Now...he was a machine. Doing what he had to in order to free the known world from all threads, present and future. He glanced into a pane of glass. Cold, dark eyes looked back. Eyes that seemed not his own. His arms were covered in a varying degree of scars, and his muscles were larger. More powerful. He was truly a king. Truly an Elder. He embodied it now more than ever. He marched from the building, out into the public eye where men were racing to lift the beams off the building. He walked out of the rubble, using the air to shift some aside. Men ran forward, clapping fists to hearts.

"Elder! The others, are they-!?"

David nodded grimly. The building behind them was crushed under more air and collapsed further in David turned back, slightly startled, and sighed.

"The other Elders are dead....We will retrieve their bodies and continue on. Set up government and get civilization back on track. Youichi- you and seven hundred men stay here, get this place clear and secure. The rest of this arm of the Core will return with me to base. We have a lot of work to do."

Not just that...but his wife was at the base, and his fourteen year old son, as well as his older daughter. He couldn't wait to see them again, to push his mind away from the terrible thing he had just done. His next steps- kill Barker, the old man was still rotting in his cage. Next, expand his government. He thought to himself a moment- when he first awoke....when he first sat up in that building....what had he been thinking? He almost didn't recognize himself....but why? He looked back down at his hands, stained in blood. He looked back up at the men rushing around him....the fire....the storm-

David sat up in bed, a voice echoing in his mind-

"The future isn't written in stone..."

David thought that Mathew might have a thing to argue about that....he brought a hand up to his sweaty forhead, wiping away the liquid there and trying to calm his racing mind. Did he...really plan to do what he just saw? Would he kill so ruthlessly, so cold bloodedly? He knew who is wife was, in that world- Olesya. Perhaps....perhaps being with her would curb that coldness? Though she had shown...so much progress....perhaps he needed someone warmer. Someone who would grow the love in him. He loved Olesya...but ever since she-

He threw the covers off his form and stood, walking over to a mirror. His body wasn't old...wasn't scarred. Wasn't torn from years of battle. His eyes didn't feel that chill. Didn't carry the same weight. He flexed his fingers- no blood. No desire for murder. What should he do? Who should he tell? He turned his eyes to the tiny Dragon, who was resting on the window pane.

"It will be a long night, Stormbringer."

David smiled.

"Yes. A long night."

Scarlets tiny metal head turned to him, tilting in question.

"You and me have grown apart, Storm Dragon. I do not like this."

David turned his eyes to the floor....then back to the mirror. The dragon slowly brought her head back to the window....then she lay down, almost defeated. David stared at himself, then let out a deep breath.

"Scarlet...?"

She brought her head back up and watched him for a moment.

"Yes, David?"

The sound of her voice made him smile, and he turned back to her.

"I want to talk to you....about these dreams I've been having."

Scarlet sat up straighter, her eyes sparkling, as the Elder moved forward to sit on the bed next to her and explain everything.


OOC:

about 1300 words.

Money please

[Delilah A. Black]

Delilah found herself sitting at the baby grand piano in the center of a dark stage, the only light of which was situated on her. The mechanic blinked at the sudden onset of this place, as though she had just woken up to find herself here. A dark chuckle resonated from her left, and the raven haired woman's head swiveled at the sound, frowning.

This was familiar now. The stage was the favourite arena of the Woman, the dark little doubt of self that inhabited Delilah's mind. This was a dream. If she reached out with her mind, she would be able to touch the spongey fabric of her dream.

"What do you want?" she snarled at the surrounding darkness. "I've already dealt with your bullshit enough; we both know I'm not buying what you're selling."

The chuckle renewed, this time seeming to come from all angles. The mechanic was unswayed. "Ah, dearest Lilah~. So stoic. It's rather endearing, you know.

"I'm not selling you anything, Little Crow Queen. I have some information for you."

Delilah scoffed, "Please. You're not a personality with it's own ideas and thoughts; you are me. You have nothing to offer."

"Part of you I might be, but I am the part you blatantly ignore." The Woman's voice had become a modicum sharper, more direct than her usual purring tones. She moved into the light, slashed kimono riding far too high on her thigh to be considered decent, long, pin straight hair fluttering behind her like silk, cat like eyes and sharp teeth glinting in the spotlight. A great and terrible beauty. "We both know that the paths of the warrior and the demon tend to intersect. It was at one such intersection that YOU thoughtlessly and blatantly ignored a possibility, as you are wont to do."

Delilah frowned at the mere concept that there was something she might have missed, apt to dismiss the claim...but curious in spite of herself. "Like what?"

The Woman grinned at her then, sashaying forward and slipping onto the piano bench beside Delilah. "I'll show you~."

Deft hands lifted the cover that hid the beautiful, ivory keys from view. The Woman's spindly, taloned fingers laid delicately against the keys in a manner so similar to Delilah's that the raven haired woman shuddered.

The woman began to play.

The Road Ahead

The moment the Woman's fingers touched the keys, light and colour bloomed just off to the right of Delilah's vision. The colour and light suddenly filled her vision in a completely panoramic view, as if she were standing in the scene itself, present and yet somehow apart.

The world had moved on. Buildings were running again. Men and women were going to work, had rebuilt the majority of their lives. A newspaper fluttered past her face, caught in the breeze; the date read March Eighteenth, Two-Thousand and Thirty Eight. Twenty five years in the future, give or take a few months.

The sight caused excitement to bloom in her chest at the sight of...normalcy playing out before her. People walking their dogs, headed to work, playing with their children. They were zooming in, although briefly, on a little family of three, a white haired man who--

Oliver?

He was older, handsome as well. Perhaps thirty, if her math was right. He picked up his child, a son with a combination of the red hair of his wife, complete with a stubborn streak of white. The girl wasn't much more than ten, if that, but she eagerly hugged her father goodbye, darting back into the house as Oliver gave his wife a loving kiss.

There was something...off about this scene. Something inherently and profoundly sad that she could not place her finger on. Tragic, even.

Images flickered on the sides of the main vision, altered from the timeline she was currently looking at, a series of events leading up to the current frame involving Oliver. Friend after friend meeting their untimely ends, all the funerals she was present for, back in the war. Her scars, mental and physical. Crying for all that she had lost. Oliver and her growing distant as he aged, she being preoccupied with leading and he with not being led.

The timelines caught up, showing two films happening side by side, like a split screen. Delilah, now almost fifty, strands of white peppering her ink black hair and falling into her bespectacled face, kneels at a headstone in a grave-yard. The script is in German, though Delilah can read it fine.

-=Here Lies Jonathan Winters=-

'Unfettered' At Last.

Missed more than he will ever know.

November 25, 1990 - March 18, 2035

It is clear that Delilah is weeping, as she delicately touches the headstone in front of her with just her bare fingertips. In the other screen, Oliver is walking down a sidewalk for a long stretch before coming up to the gates of...yet another graveyard. The same one.

The mechanic stilled as she watched the scene play out; Oliver discovers his mother at the very grave he was here to visit himself. He says something and the mechanic stirs abruptly, wheeling around with old, practiced ease, but alarmed nonetheless. The older Delilah and Oliver stare at each other across a yard of space for a good long moment in silence. Oliver finally breaks from his rigid posture and stalks forward, to pull his mother into a tight embrace.

The scene advances from there. After a few hours of what Delilah can only assume was reminiscing (there is little to no sound that the mechanic can hear), Oliver takes her back to see his family, a privilege the ex-soldier is evidently not used to having. Just as they're within a block of the house, however, there is a bright flash of light in the distance that draws all eyes towards it; a mushroom cloud follows, as do several more bombs.

It begins all over again, starting with the deaths of Oliver, and his young family.

Delilah's body is not found where the Oliver's was, after the buildings collapse and anarchy is restored to an orderly world. She is found, once again, at the grave site of 'Unfettered', a bloody gash in her neck and a lesser injury to her left knee. The burgeoning green grass is painted with her blood, a simple phrase;

NO CROWS ALLOWED

--Delilah jolted awake in her bed with a gasp, ripping the sheets off of the bed in the process (something was touching her and that was enough). She took several deep breaths, refusing to believe it was tears running down her face as the full force of the dream engulfed her mind.

The Woman's meaning was clear; something that she had overlooked was one, simple thing she had always known deep down, but had not realized the full scope of until now.

There would always be another Barker.

The worst part was that she was certain that it was...someone she knew. Just a sense from the dream, but the final message at the grass around her feet had been quite clear. She had been sought out, and outright murdered by some one who knew she could be a threat. Seeing Oliver dead, though...had really taken a lot out of her. Dying in the way that he had, with Delilah unable to protect him. She had no doubt in her mind that her Qi had saved her in that circumstance--

No, she said firmly to herself. This would NOT be considered the future. Not if she could prevent it. Not if she could protect it. And she had to...if she was the only one left, then if not her...who?

((OOC: Word count =1280 , EXP Please.))

[Arthur Woodson]

The city was in ruins. Buildings that had once reached out toward the sun now crumbled and lay in heaps. The fires had long since gone out. The cries of the dead no longer echoed in the air, but could still be felt as a chill creeped up her spine. There was a clearing in the destruction, a small spot untouched by war, by hatred, by pain. In the center of that clearing knelt Anna. Hands pressing against the bloody body of Leo, trying to stop the bleeding with a compress being pushed into his chest. But the blood continued to flow from his eyes. His tongue ripped out and burned. He sang a hymn of death.



Crows flew over head, circling like buzzards as others perched on the rubble. Unable to venture into the circle of peace, but their screams filled the air. Clamoring for his flesh, her flesh, for flesh. Their presence was almost overbearing and the circle of peace continued to shrink under their cries. Looking up in a panic at the crows that seemed to blacken the sky she saw them feasting on the bodies of the dead, ripping out muscles and charred skin. Until the most unbearable sound filled the air.



A roar so inhuman that is made her blood turn to ice. Crows took to the air. Some fleeing, others rising to meet the threat. A winged beast from legend, A dragon flew through the sky breathing out breaths of lightning. Buildings erupted in flames again around her as she dove her body down on top of Leo. Crows struck by the breath fell from the air in smoldering heaps. Still, no matter how many crows were struck down more attacked the Dragon. Clawing at eyes, at scales, at the wings of the beast. Heedless of their own deaths, and the Dragon cried in pain, but did not stop it's onslaught on the city.



Cowering as rubble and bodies flew around her, Leo unable to protect her this time, but rather the other way around. She shielded his body with her own. Her eyes glued on the battle in the sky. Dark storm clouds rolling in from seemingly nowhere. Lightning crashing through the sky. One bolt striking the Dragon and sending it crashing into the buildings below. A shadowy figure watched from above. Unnoticed by crow or Dragon. Her eyes met the man's eyes and the world around her shifted. Moving both in reverse and ahead. The Dragon and the Crows fought a Hydra. The Dragon ripping the throat out of one head as two more sprang into existence. Crows pecking out the eyes of the newly formed heads and taking the brunt of attacks from the fire it spewed. Men and women swarmed around the battle, hacking at the Hydra with blades and pipes only to be knocked aside with ease. Many of the bodies lay dead, never to move again. But others rose from the ground, twisted and grotesque creations. Unholy abominations that were an affront to God. And those abominations attacked the Dragon, coming to the aid of the Hydra that had been their enemy only moments before.



The armies around the Dragon's feet tried to hold back the wave of monsters but for every one that was felled two more took it's place. Just as the Hydra around which they swarmed. The figure still stood on the roof watching everyone from above, still cloaked in the darkness and hidden from the world. Only Anna's eyes seemed to be the only one to see the man as the various monsters and beings ripped each other apart. The darkness was spreading out from around him. Tendrils of it infecting crows and the Dragon along with the Hydra. But it was all unheeded in the chaos and confusion.



She tried to scream, to yell a warning, but no sound could leave her lips, and she could not run out of the circle. If she left the circle then she knew that Leo would die. And his breathing was already weak as it was. Biting her lower lip as the battle raged on until the Hydra fell under the combined attacks of the Dragon and the Crows. The abominations laying dead and spewed about the cityscape. It was then, and only then that the Dragon and Crows seemed to take notice of the man on the roof. But by the time they finally noticed him the darkness had already spread far and wide. The city was being swallowed by shadow. The dragon and crows began to drown in the darkness until she was alone in a sea of black. Leo's body vanishing from under her as she fell through an endless void. And oppressive silence pushing down against her from all directions at once.



Somehow she regained her footing, but all sense of direction was lost. There was no up and no down. Left and right were things of the past. The void simply was, and she was not alone. She felt eyes on her, watching her from every direction. She couldn't stay where she was, running away as fast as her feet could take her the feeling of being watched followed. Persisted even as a sense of hopeless dread echoed through the void. She ran for what felt like years until a sound reverberated through the darkness, threatening to shatter it like glass. Her name being screamed by Leo. She ran to the voice, her heart skipping a beat as she saw him in the distance. Still battered and bloody. A bloody baseball bat now in his possession. The blood was still fresh. Her vision zoomed in on the blood dripping off of the metal bat. A vague sense of confusion over who's blood it was flickered in her mind before he was grabbed by a tendril of shadow that seemed to be spawned from the void itself. He tried to beat it away from him with the bat but they continued to pop up, grabbing him from all directions. Another silent scream as she ran closer and closer, even as he yelled at her to go away. To save herself. Even now memories of her first vision of him surfaced. He needed her help. He was her responsibility. She dove to try and tackle him away from the tendrils of darkness that threatened to consume him as it consumed the world, only to be caught by the same tendrils.



They slid over her body, tightening on her limbs as they tried to pull her away from him. He let out a pained yell as he pushed himself, inching closer and closer to her as she outstretched a hand for him. The darkness pulling harshly on both of them, trying desperately to keep them apart. But for a moment, one sweet tender moment their fingertips brushed together and the crucifix around her neck began to glow with a blinding light, pushing the darkness away. Dissolving it into dust, spreading out further and further until both of them were released. Falling to the soft grass of a park. Both her and Leo clutched each other tightly for many moments until they were disturbed by the sound of someone clearing their throat. The sound was distorted. Impossible to tell if it was male or female. And the figure that stood before them was always shifting. A man with a scar, a woman with raven hair, a man that was almost a wolf. So much pain, so much hate, so much longing could be felt from the figure as it cycled through more strange faces faster and faster. Her eyes were unable to keep up.



It wanted to use her. To protect her. To destroy her. To hide her. It needed her. It feared her. It hated her. It loved her.



She gripped her head trying to make sense of everything, trying to make the figure stop shifting. To decide on what it wanted. She felt her head pound and throb, blood dripping down a crack in her forehead as her head threatened to split apart. A brilliant light seeping out of the crack, threatening to destroy and wipe away everything. It was so bright she couldn't stand to look at it least she be turned to ash. She heard Leo scream as the world went black and she passed out.

OOC: 1395 words and I would appreciate the money.  Please and thank you.

[Kyrie Blaze]

( Theme )

Blue eyes opened to a world spun of silvers and grays and charcoals. She hadn't remembered falling asleep in the shadow plane, but there she was, anyway. The blonde stretched with a yawn and tucked her legs beneath herself. Though it was a cool place, she was never bothered by it; she never got cold, here. And yet, she felt a slight chill. There was something else that was weird. She wasn't "upside down" from the normal plane of existence. Before she could slip from the shadows, though, as she looked around...she saw David and a young girl. She was perhaps...seven years old? Perhaps eight. David bent and kissed her forehead, giving her a hug. Though she couldn't make out the colour of her eyes, she knew they were a sharp, startling blue. The thing that struck her, though, was the young girl's facial features. She could see similarities to her mother...to herself. And there was definitely David there, too. Something, however, was off.

Her heart sped.

"Let's go tuck them in, Bianca. And you as well." With a hand on the young girl's shoulder, they moved through the house with the sound of the ocean upon the rocks not so far off. Kyrie moved with them, entranced. Upon entering the living room, David clapped his hands and grinned. "Alright, my two favourite trouble-markers, let's head to bed. It's story time."

The two boys - one four with blonde curls and ice blue eyes, the other six with dirty blonde hair that was straight and oceanic eyes- jumped up and ran to attach themselves to their father's legs. He took a few exaggerated steps to hear them laugh before Bianca spoke up.

"Dad..? Can we...fly upstairs?" The hopeful note to her voice, the longing, caused the older man pause before he smiled, softly.

"Of course."

David's qi thrummed around them and soon all four of them were hovering and floating. The two boys chortled and laughed as they flew up the stairs, the blonde pulled with. The laughter and chuckles, the light in their eyes. David settled himself on one of the twin sized beds in the room and floated a book over. The three children piled on his crossed legs and curled close. Sheltered in their father's arms, the three young children all listened as the story was told. Another chapter out of a large book. One that, in Bastille's words, taught the trio...not that Dragons were real, but that they could be killed. Too soon, it seemed for Kyrie, watching and just...absorbing the sight before her, the book was lifted from David's hands and set back upon the shelf. The boys were tucked in.

"Good night Tristen. Sleep well, Tyson." Tucked in, snug as bugs in a rug, David brushed his lips upon their brows and scooped his eldest little girl up and left the room. The light was flicked off, and the glow of the nightlight came on. The door was closed--but left open a crack. Crossing into the third room, he made short work of tucking Bianca in and rubbed his cheek against hers.

"G'night, Bee. Sweet dreams."

She smiled, quietly. The little girl with her straight black hair always had liked that she shared the nickname with Youichi. "Love you, Daddy."

"And I love you, too, sweetheart. Sleep."

Repeating his exit, David moved back into the third room, the door of which was located between the staircase and the rooms of the children. He paused, breathing a slow sigh as he looked and stepped forwards...towards a crib that a tiny mechanical Dragon was perched on. Her scales glinted in the lamplight and her gaze lifted, glittering with keen intelligence.

"She sleeps, still." Scarlet purred out as she looked down again at the baby.

The yearning was impossible to ignore, now. Kyrie materialized from the shadow as David was partway between the door of what was obviously the master bedroom and the crib.

"Davi--"

Before she could even get the word out, the blonde found herself locked down in place by the man's qi. She couldn't even move, let alone breathe.

"You're not her. Show your true..." David trailed off, seeing the terror in her eyes. Likely hearing, too, the rapid thrum of her heartbeat. She went sheet-white. These things were hard to passably act...let alone match so perfectly...

Before she knew what was happening, she was released, only to be caught again. This time by arms that pulled her close and tipped her chin upwards. His lips crushed themselves to hers in passion...and a desperation that she couldn't comprehend as she responded to him. She poured herself into the kiss like water for the man that kissed her like he was seconds away from dying of thirst.

The petite blonde gasped as he broke the kiss, starved for air. She was enfolded and cloaked...and she tipped her head up as she reached up to brush her hands over his jaw and cheeks, her fingers brushing the skin and... His hands caught her hips to lift her and bring her over to the crib. And to Scarlet, who quaked. The tiny Dragon's eyes lit up, flashing in indescribable joy and yet...a knowing. Kyrie reached out and gently stroked her side, causing her to let out a stuttered purr. Her hand slipped away so she could look down at the baby sleeping--peacefully, still, not at all touched by the echoes of violence that nearly escalated a few moments ago.

"...her name is Kyrie..."

A deep sadness that was tempered only by vast love coloured his tone.

Kyrie twisted to look up at him, her heart pounding in her chest, beating faster and faster and faster. Her eyes were wide-- "David, wh--"

She was cut off by another kiss. This one soft and long and sweet, as though he was trying to put off answering her for as long as possible, because...

He pulled back, forehead pressing to hers and keeping his arms banded around her.

"You are dead, Kyrie. But you live on in her..."

It was hard for him to say the words. And then, she understood his desperation. She understood, as well, what had been off. The sadness in Bianca's eyes was fathomless, turning her from what Kyrie could easily see should have been a happy and carefree girl to a girl with a hole torn through her heart. As soon as he said she was dead her body began to unravel and dissipate. His arms passed through her as he choked out the last words, his voice hoarse and husky. Kyrie tried to cling to him, tried to tether herself to his warmth. To stay.

"I love you, Kyrie. Always."

But she faded, pulled back--




Sucked back in to...her seat? Kyrie blinked, leaning back. However, before she could blink to look around - indeed, just as she opened her eyes - a voice rose from her forward right.

The voice, while she had only heard it less than a handful of times before, was still kind. And one, despite that, she recognized immediately. "This is your life, with him."

He lifted a hand, passing it through the sides of gray hair on an otherwise brown-haired head. He seemed older. Kyrie stared at him, her throat locked down with tears.

"Be careful. You have so much to give the world. Why should you throw away your life?"

Upon the screen...

She was there in a white-washed room. There was steam from a couple basins of hot water. She was in pain. Tremendous pain, but she pit her will against the physical agony and focused. Focused and pushed. She didn't notice the needle being slipped into her vein--didn't notice the flurry of activity around her. Sweat shone on her brow, but the only thing that mattered was the source of her pain and what she had to do to relieve it. The wind, even indoors, sped in through the window, bringing a voice that helped her dig deeper into her reserves of strength that were running dry. But the weakness that was sliding over her didn't matter.

Kyrie's head tipped back, her shoulders relaxing somewhat - because the words she heard were of love and encouragement, telling her he was moments away - as she pulled in a deep breath to push through the pain. Just once more. Maybe twice. She had done this four times, previous. She could and would do it again.

"...David...I love you..~"

And, as she breathed her last, her fourth child and second daughter breathed her first.

Kyrie's ultimate penance: for all those lives she took, her own--given to bring the girl she would never know but already loved, unconditionally, into the world.

...I love you all, so much...

In her seat in the movie theatre, Kyrie's blue eyes were wide and transfixed even as the screen faded to black. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest. But more than that...

'It is worth it.'

Her gaze turned, resolutely towards the man--the man that seemed kind, even as he claimed to show her her own future if she continued down this path.

She gave a measured blink. "Regardless of whether the future is certain or can be changed...you have no power over it. Just dreams."

By her tone it was no insult. She knew first-hand that dreams were powerful, and controlling them required much power, indeed. He smiled and at the edges of her vision, the theatre began to crack. It shattered to fragments as he placed his hand - in a fist - over his heart...and gave her a bow.

( Theme )

Kyrie's body gave a jerk as she woke up, eyes wide and searching--sweeping the room. A pair of arms tightened around her, and a warm breath was expelled into her hair and the nape of her neck.

"...shhh, love..~" David sighed his satisfaction when the small blonde in his arms sank back in and reached up to stroke her hand against his forearm. "A bad one..?"

Kyrie closed her eyes and absentmindedly rubbed her cheek against his arm, warm and sheltered and safe. She gave a gentle sigh and then slowly shook her head.

"Just a recurring dream, again. The Dream Manipulator we encountered the first year we met. I was younger in it." The arms curled around her a little more. Just in comfort, not because he thought the blonde felt threatened. Kyrie sighed, then shivered, and went limp as one of his hands came up and threaded through her hair. Her eyes closed. "...mmnnm...it does not bother me, though."

She was nearly lulled back to regain the sleep she had woken up from when the front door opened and a boy of ten darted in with a yelped yell, still in his pajamas.

"Mama!" He dashed towards the two on the couch with his intense blue eyes lit in laughter, his hair jet black. Kyrie laughed as she shrank back, David taking the brunt of the 'attack' before her own arms reached out to encircle the boy. She pulled him close, kissed his cheek soundly, and then began to tickle him.

"Got you, Darien~! What are you going to do, now? Huuuuh?" She laughed, her cheek pressed against her son's. His laughter was quickly joined by two more--twins. The girl and boy rushed the trio and soon it was an all-out tickle war in the morning light that streamed in through the window.

The dream was forgotten as both parents got the children to settle a little. Kyrie shifted to her feet from where she had clambered down to on the floor, on her knees. She moved to go and scoop up the tiny baby girl as her children clung to her. She pressed her lips to the downy cheek of the baby she held to quell her crying. The blonde rocked in slow, dancing steps towards the door, humming.

"Shall we go have breakfast, little loves?"

A tiny mechanical dragon peeked her head from her eldest son's top. Kyrie gave her a brilliant smile and crooned, softly. Darien was extremely protective over her, and she him--and all of their children. Kyrie glanced over her shoulder as she turned from her and David's room, giving him the same smile.

"And then Mommy has to go help everyone rebuild some more and make decisions~" As an Elder, as the Elder she had become, it was important that she continue to help shape the new world. Even eight years after "winning", there was still so much work to be done. So much more she could do for everyone. So much more they could do. "But when we all get home this evening, we will all spend some time on the front porch swing together and watch the sun set before bed. Okaaay~?"

The jitter of excited agreement made her beam. And even despite being an Elder...just the thought of curling up with David and Scarlet and their kids in that swing, all cozy and cuddling and whispering secrets to one another...

She looked forwards to that the most.

Always.




Kyrie's eyes slowly cracked open in the moonlight. She uttered a shivered sigh and turned on her side, looking up at the crescent moon before sleep curled around her once again. She tugged the blankets up and under her chin.

'...dreams...worth it...'

Always.

. o O ( Word count: 2245. EXP please. <3 )

[Player 1]

"I'm just saying, he sounds like a major toolbox!"


A seagull squealed in the air like a natural censor at the insult, as Player 1 sit on the edge of a dock, reeling their fishing line in slowly and without any natural thought it. The ocean was almost too bright, too sunny, but the bleaching of the world still didn't seem to whiten anything in regards to a certain tan ginger in a too small for them now. The tiny little lady next to them on the other hand was pretty washed out by it, but that just served to make her hide in plain sight from the statement even better. Kiyr was always about that hiding in plain sight thing, right?


"Well... you know..." She stammered lamely.


"No, I totally do not know. I mean, he does all these things like leading on all the ladies or getting you branded and everything else under the sun and that's like whoaaaaaaa huge butt alert. The biggest butt. Awesome lady like you don't need no dudes who can't be all about the yous. Well, even not awesome ladies don't need dudes who can't be all about the yous. No one needs that. Even though it's super hard to find the cool dudes in post apocalyptic society."


Player 1 nodded to themselves, getting up to their feet. Up being a key word; puberty had been really super accomodating for the midget, and between the huge diet and the growth spurts even Chase now had to look up a bit to reach their eyes. But not for the insane amount of high fives doled out. Now literally the highest of fives. "That's okay though, I'll totally become a cool dude for you Kiyr!"


"No way." Kiyr stated suddenly and evenly, the words getting away from her. "Are you even male? I still have no clue."


Player 1 just laughed at the questioning of its gender. It always made it laugh. Especially since puberty had done very little to dispel any doubts regarding it. If anything, it just made them worse. Was it an overly androgynous male? Or an overly androgynous female? The eternal baby face and lack of ability to grow a beard, however saddening, also meant nearly every tell was off the table. Even their voice, while deeper, could still really go either way. Their teenage years were indeed going to be confusing, but never really for Player 1. "If you want I can show you~" A sing songy voice should never accompany those kinds of statements, and only served to further throw things into question.


No. No go. At all. Arms crossed, never. Too gross. Player 1 just laughed harder at that, before tugging its raincoat back down. What once had been oversized had become absolutely constricting over the last two years, forcing the now overly tall and overly androgynous person to try and stretch out in it to create some space as they reeled in the line. "Well, I don't think anything else is biting today. Sorry Kiyr!" 

And with small and not so small talk dropped Kiyr seemed to jump back into things just fine, picking up the packed cooler of the days catch. "This is still a good amount for today, thanks. I'll go pick up the eggs later."


"Alright, I should be at the shop then."


"Fish and Bug, or one of the others?"


"Nah, Fish and Bug. I have it open on Sundays now too. Because reasons."


They nodded and parted ways with a lot of theatrics and bubbliness from Player 1 and what was usually polite indulgence from Kiyr. But that was their dynamic always, so it still felt like an old game for the both of them.


The shop, or at least that one, had indeed been kept open on the usual day off for reasons. Good ones. With the mass expansion of the Player 1 emporiums in the last year and the hard monopoly it held on the barter and trade market and actual economy, someone in Dragon Territory had started counterfeiting the Player 1 Funbucks™. And that simply would not fly.


And as it approached the store with fishing pole slung over shoulder, one of the employees came rushing out of the shop to greet them with some important and very super relevant news.


It seems they'd finally caught the rat, the cheese of the current Sunday bargains too good for them to resist. They'd managed to "corral" and "detain" the person in the basement store room. Which was way too awesome! Best employees.


"Oh man, everyone is getting a raise!"


All too excitedly Player 1 ran into the store, hopping the counter and practically leaping down the stairs into the dark and very damp store room. Dark because there was like maybe one light up in the stairs themselves, and damp because this was where they held all the fish not yet on display up in the shop. Well, and the furniture and other items not yet shipped to Player 1's Furniture Warehouse or Player 1's Custom Crafts. Yes those are actual shop names. Maybe you can judge when you single-handedly restart the economy and have an in-house monetary system that eclipses any other unified currency in value.



Yeah, that's what I thought.


And indeed, down there was the dude. Hands bound behind his back and slightly roughed up. Man, it looked like they totally threw him down the stairs! Those employees, they always know how to do the job right.


With a bloodied face, the counterfeiter tried to shy away from the all too bright thing that had just landed at the bottom of the stairs. "Please, I'm sorry, I didn't do it-"


"Man, you sure are roughed up! You really didn't think through where you were going to try this, did you?" Player 1 didn't seem actually too put off by how badly the guy had been beaten, looking him over slightly before rolling him over from his stomach to his side to face and look at Player 1 as it talked down to the male. It squatted, bringing itself down to almost eye level. Still above the bound person, but closer at least. "I mean, if this place was dragon owned, you'd be having your arms ripped out right now! Well, if they didn't just kill you outright, I mean."


It spoke as if it were gently scolding a child.


"I didn't-"


"You know, I've spent the last few years really improving my craft, so I can tell right away when I'm talking with a fellow craftsman! Like those gouge cuts on your hands from where you used a 40 millimeter flat chisel to cut out the flat on the metal." That smile refused to leave its face, even as they man languished in his silence. "I mean, you really paid some attention to detail in your fakes, I have to give you that! If I wasn't using a non-standard size for my gouges, you probably could have gotten away with it!"


"You don't- You don't understand! I needed the food, there wasn't any-"


"I mean, it's really hard to tell the difference between a one ninth and a half inch blade and a one tenth inch one. I can't fault you for not being able to tell! Even more so not being able to get your hands one if you could. That's just how it goes though."

The man started to sob. A literal fraction of a mistake, and he'd been found out. He gambled his life and this time he lost out.


Well, not quite.


"But you put out some really good work there, and I'm a businessman at heart. Well, no, I'm a scout at heart, but the merchant's still pretty big in there. Like 32% merchant. And when someone does anything and they don't pay, you need to get your payment in other ways otherwise you aren't running a business, you're running a charity." It laughed at its own joke, ignoring the plight of the bound man beneath it still. "It's pretty lucky for you I'm not a Dragon, huh? Otherwise that would definitely be your life instead of just your hands."


"Y-you're going to cut off my hands?!" Oh god no, the fear was back. The fear was back completely. That hatchet was there for a reason and-


"Oh gosh no. That would be so counterproductive! How am I supposed to sell hands? Who would buy that?" Gross! "No one I want in my stores, that's who."


Player 1 readjusted that cocksure grin. "I'm going to employ you. Well, not technically, it's more like a kind of slavery way? You know, since I won't be paying you and expecting you to either work, eat, or sleep until I feel like you've paid off all the stuff you tried to steal out from under me, but hey! It's not chopping off your head and stringing you up for the stragglers outside as a message of what happens when you try to subvert the mighty hand of the free market economy, right?"


God, what a title that would be. Like, screw the Lightning Dragon, I'm the Mighty Hand of the Free Market Economy here to beat you doooown.


That would be amazing.


Anyways, Player 1 stood up to full height. "You'll start work tomorrow once we've moved you to the crafts workshop. I'm expecting a lot more good work out of you, you know!" It clapped its hands, before walking out and leaving the man to mourn where his life was going for the next while. After all, P1 had that egg order to go handle now. There was still way too much to do with the day, not even counting maybe hanging out with the other big players. Networking was always important.


He had made his choices, and the consequences certainly could have been worse. But at least now they wouldn't be deadly.


A good economy always lets you pick yourself up in the end.

[Word count: 1660! Yeaaaah! Monies plox.]

[Kyrie Blaze]

Loved reading, everyone~~ <3 Good job, good turnout!


+4 EXP
Zax
Koshiro
Bastille
Lucien
Mitsuki
Mathew
Delilah

Cashing in $1200
Kazuya
Dillon
David
Anna
Player 1

(Please note I will add the cash rewards asap. <3 Boarding time.)

If one of my lovely staff members would grant me my reward I will love you long time. <3