Sooner

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  1. There is a very strong chance that I won't be home in time for this.

    I'll try, but it's not looking good.

    Sorry.

    EDIT: Well... I'll probably BE there, but not necessarily for the beginning.
  2. well.. now I think either T or Grey will win it.

    *sits back and waits*
  3. Quote:
    Originally Posted by M_I_Abrahms View Post
    Just borrowed Brutal Legeds from a friend, so I'll be playing that some for the near future.
    I really wanted to like that game... but I just couldn't. I could not figure out how to control the car, and I finally gave up.
  4. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Dr. Overdose View Post
    I got to just short of the end of the game and just got bored of it.. i will go and beat it eventually... not as good as the first game imho... but i will still get ac3 anyway more then likely
    This happened to me too. I'm in chapter 13/14 and... just lost interest. Like you, I'll finish it sometime.

    FF XIII is engaging... but I guess I keep comparing them to FF VII. Nothing's been as good. They've been good... just not AS good.
  5. Part XXIII

    Norman, Oklahoma
    Caryn had really hoped that time away, time spent learning to be a hero, would have made it easier to come back to the OU campus. It hadn't. It was so familiar it felt as if she'd never left. And everything she saw still reminded her of Ben. There was, thankfully, some distance now, but it still hurt to drive past their favorite restaurant, the street where she would have turned left to go his old apartment, the spot there near the bookstore where they'd first met. She thought, once again, that once they figured out the whole story with the prophecy and what it meant to their lives,she might try to find Ben. At the very least, there were questions left between them. There were things that needed to be said.

    She tried Cerise's phone again, but still no answer. She was aware of Cerise on that day like she'd never been aware of either of her sisters before. She could feel Cerise shining like a beacon. She didn't know where her baby sister was, but there'd be no problem tracking her down. Caryn piloted her rented car around the streets, closing in on her sister's location.

    She weaved through the congested traffic north of campus, avoided the street where Ben had turned away from her and climbed into Ashley's car, but made her way to a narrow residential road. The south end was lined with large Victorian style buildings that had been gutted and made into multi-unit apartments. At the north end of that road, however, were small single family homes, the type that would be owned by a retired couple or a single adult. Caryn imagined she could see the light from Cerise shining through the windows of a neat single story home near the corner. The yard was planted with several old trees overhanging the driveway, and an ornate dream catcher hung from the porch. Caryn parked in the street and studied the house with the eyes of a Hero. Something wasn't right. Something had her nerves on edge.

    She stepped out of the car, graceful and dangerous. Her eyes narrowed. Her sister was in that house. But there was something else. She could feel it's power.. no... his. There was something definitely masculine about that power. It was familiar in a way that made her nerves ratchet up and her stomach turn. Whatever he was, whoever he was, she did not want him anywhere near her sister. Despite the need for discretion, Caryn activated her magical defenses. She stood on the porch for a moment, listening, but all she heard was a faint whisper of melody, a whisper that triggered a memory in her, just out of reach. She shook it off impatiently.

    Caryn readied herself for trouble, wished she had Ahren at her back, and pounded on the front door of the little house. She waited, but there was no answer. She pounded again and she thought she felt some reaction from Cerise inside but she had no idea of that was a good thing or a bad thing. Caryn sighed. So much for discretion. She turned and slammed one booted foot into the door, just under the lock. Before her magically enhanced strength, the door latch did little more than chuckle weakly before giving way. The door flung open and Caryn took a single step inside, pausing to let her eyes adjust.

    She wasn't sure what she expected to see, but an old man standing in his living room wasn't it. Cerise jumped up surprised and happy and shouted out, "Caryn!" but the man took a step forward, blocking Caryn's view of her sister with all the attitude and obvious threat of a rottweiler with a level stare and curled lip.

    Caryn cocked her head and let a confident smile bare her teeth. "Who are you?" she demanded, "and what the hell are you doing here with my sister?"

    However, at the same time, the man barked out, "Who are you and what do you want with this girl?"

    "Rory! It's ok. This is my sister!" Cerise said and darted past the man to fling herself on Caryn. As happy as she was to find Cerise safe, she still got a nasty uncomfortable vibe from the man and she didn't take her eyes off him.

    "Your sister! Well, isn't that wonderful!" he said, but Caryn had the feeling he wasn't nearly as happy to see her as he would like Cerise to believe.

    Caryn carefully extricated herself from Cerise and stepped forward, putting herself between the two. "And who is this, Cerise?" she asked.

    "This is Rory! He's my-" Cerise started forward, then stopped talking abruptly when Caryn blocked her with one outstretched arm. "Caryn! He SAVED me. TWICE. He's the LAST person you need to protect me from!"

    Rory stood with his head cocked and a expression Caryn interpreted as watchful readiness. "Caryn, is it? Believe me when I tell you that I want nothing more right now than your sister's safety and continued prosperity."

    "Can Caryn have some coffee?" Cerise asked brightly as she dragged Caryn into the room. Caryn went along, but never took her eyes off Rory. Something was just not right there.

    "Of course," Rory answered, but to Caryn it sounded more like a growl than a gracious welcome.

    They settled at the kitchen table and Cerise regaled Caryn with the terrifying story of her last few days. Caryn was horrified at the danger her sister had avoided, especially when she realized that Chi Omicron was a recruiting house for Carnies and that they had been after all three of them for years, but still... somehow it just seemed a little too convenient that Rory had been right there each time. It didn't ring true for her, and the feeling of the magic that was oozing off him set her teeth on edge. She made a quick note to herself to let Harvey Maylor know about the Carnie threat on college campuses, then turned her attention back to her sister and her strange friend.

    Once the story was done, Rory sat forward and held Caryn's gaze, "So, while Cerise finishes her schooling here, I can remain and help her learn to use her powers to her best ability."

    Caryn felt that teeth baring grin cross her face again. "No," she said firmly. "I don't think so. Cerise is coming to Paragon City with me. Today."

    "Wait! Wait wait!" Cerise protested. "Don't I get any say in this?"

    "No." Caryn answered firmly. "We have to stick together until we figure this out."

    "Rory?" Cerise turned to the old man. "What should I do?"

    Caryn ground her teeth and said nothing as her sister turned to the stranger who made Caryn so very uncomfortable. And something in his attitude suggested he wasn't any happier. Finally he sighed. "I'll miss you, child. But perhaps it would be best for you to be with family."

    "But I-" she started until he held a hand up.

    "Remember what I said. And this goes for both of you and your eldest sister as well. You MUST learn more about this prophecy and you much be at your strongest. If you truly have a demon as your enemy, you must be ready for her." He paused and then the intensity in his voice increased to almost a growl. "You MUST."

    Cerise jumped up and hugged the old man while Caryn rose to her feet. "Of course, Rory. Will I see you again?"

    Rory laughed quietly, "Oh, I think so, child."

    "C'mon Cerise. Let's get your stuff. Just WAIT till you see Paragon City!"

    ---
    Conall watched as Cerise skipped out of the house after her sister while frustration roiled inside him. He had hoped to mold Cerise, shape her, turn her into the weapon he needed against Ciara, but now she was lost to him. He sincerely hoped that living as a hero in Paragon City would toughen her enough. Otherwise, she and her sisters would die, and he would remain bound to Ciara...for eternity. It was intolerable.

    His human face twisted with frustration and rising fury. It could not be allowed. His rage ripped through him and he transformed in a flash to his natural form. His wings - mantling over his shoulders - scraped the ceiling while his tail lashed around his hooved feet.

    Excruciatrix scampers into the shadows and cowered as he tore every item in that small house to shreds, leaving nothing intact. No piece of furniture , no antique item of art, no clothing, not even the appliances were spared his wrath. When he could find nothing else to destroy, he stood, his breath heaving, his head lowered, his eyes burning. He turned his gaze slowly until his eyes found Trix where she crouched in a corner, her wide eyes fixed on him. She hunkered down into a tiny ball at his notice.

    "Burn it down, Trix" he growled. "Let there remain nothing but ash."

    Trix's terrorized cower slipped away and a delighted smile bared her fangs. She lifted into flight, gliding into the center of the house on her dainty wings, then landed lightly on top of the remains of the heavy wooden couch. With no delay she flung fire against the walls, the floor, the ceiling, the piles of destroyed items. The shreds of fabric and the splinters of wood provided excellent kindling and the fire roared up quickly. Conall nodded with satisfaction as the fire took hold. He opened a portal out of the rising inferno. Trix darted through ahead of him, and, without a backward glance, they returned home.
  6. Quote:
    Originally Posted by bamaHulkers View Post
    I really liked the frustration when he was cooking breakfast ! Shoulda stuck a "Kiss The Cook" apron on him
    I have entertained myself all morning with images of Conall ripping said apron to shreds with his claws and then lighting it on fire.

    Conall draws the line at aprons!
  7. I worked on a blaster and a defender. The blaster made 38 and the defender made 26.

    And I had a blast!
  8. Part XXII

    The Ghosts Reborn Base
    Sooner Spirit stood in the entry of the Ghosts Reborn base. She was exhausted. She still wore her costume, though it was dirty and scuffed. She’d pushed her hood back to reveal her long reddish hair, still mussed and sloppy. She clutched a cup of steaming coffee in her hands as if it were a lifeline.

    She studied the wall of photos in a melancholy daze, a deliberate effort to avoid thinking about the present by losing herself in the past. So many photos, so many lost friends. She sipped her coffee as her green eyes traveled from face to face, smiling, serious, handsome, pretty, brave, determined faces. And all of them gone now. She was ashamed to admit that she cared more about some than others, but each of them of had their name written somewhere on her heart, as if it were her job to keep them safe and she’d failed each one when they’d died.

    As they always did, her eyes drifted to two photos and one blank spot. A beautiful blonde woman smiled brashly out of one photo near the top. Cowboy Dream had not been killed by their enemies The Shades of Vengeance. For all practical purposes, she’d died when her husband Ice9 fell in the Rogue Isles. It just took her a little longer to get around to realizing it. A few columns over from CD's photo was Ahren’s. The smiling, handsome man surrounded by brilliant Peacebringer energy had been one of her first friends in Paragon City and she still thought of him as the mentor who had help her become the hero she was. Such a friendly, open, exuberant man he had been, and what a painful blow it had been when he was lost. No one knew what had happened to him, but it had killed a piece of Sooner’s heart to hang that photo. Then... Ahren had come back, scarred, dark, bitter, angry, and stripped of his kheldian powers. [the details of which can be read here: Ahren: The Rise and Fall of a Hero

    She dragged her eyes away from Ahren’s photo to the empty space by Cowboy Dream. Ice9 had died, but he’d returned as well, with the new name Glacius9 and possessed of a Peacebringer’s powers [and more detail about how that came to be can be read here: You can Call me Glacius9. The first time he’d walked through this hallway after his return, he’d taken down the picture of Ice9. His eyes had lingered for a moment on Cowboy Dream, then he’d walked away, leaving that blank spot that no one had filled.

    Sooner often wondered why the difference. Ice9 had died and been revived by Crey science and sustained by a new fusion with a Kheldian. He’d embraced his new life by taking on a new name. Ahren had never actually died and had retained his name even when starting over with no powers at all. Why did the man who HAD died take down the photo, when the man who had not died left it there?

    And now Ahren had been reborn again. He and Vir [formerly known as UPS 2.2 - a change made by the player apparently for the purpose of complicating my life. ] had collaborated to create a strain of nanites like the ones that powered Vir. The administration of the nanites had apparently nearly killed Ahren. Her old friend was slow to adjust to his new abilities, but the tiny machines had healed his scars and strengthened his body. Ahren had been there for Sooner Spirit as a Peacebringer, and then he’d been there for Sooner Magic. The two damaged heroes had been good for each other, and by the time they had both earned their titles as Heroes of the City both had shed that darkness that shadowed them. And now he was starting over once again.

    Which brought Sooner back to the worry she’d tried to distract herself from to start with. Something was very wrong with the youngest Nation sister. Sooner’s ability to sense both her sisters had grown steadily over the time since she'd become a hero. She knew Cerise wasn’t dead, and she was certain the worst of the danger was past. But still... something very serious was happening, and Sooner couldn’t leave her Ghosts. With Neely now gone away to some new world[the events of which can be read about here: Homecoming, the leadership of the Ghosts had fallen squarely and heavily on Sooner and Glacius9. The lives of so many heroes were now in her hands and she was determined not to fail them.

    “Cyd?” called a voice from the doorway.

    Sooner Spirit turned and smiled. Her sister Sooner Magic stood in the entryway behind her. The gaunt and haunted young woman who’d come to Paragon City was a strong, confident, powerful hero now. It looked good on her. “Cyd? Are you ok? You look terrible.”

    “I’m just tired, Caryn, but I needed to talk with you.”

    Sooner Spirit was determined to keep every Ghost as safe as their dangerous lives would allow. And to keep her sisters safe as well, until whatever prophecy ruled their lives was complete, the Nation sisters must stick together. And that meant Cerise Nation needed to come to Paragon City.

    “What’s up?” Caryn asked

    “I need you to go get Cerise.”

    Caryn nodded. “I feel it too.”

    “I though maybe you would. Find her, make sure she’s safe, and bring her here.”

    Caryn nodded. “I will. And Cyd?” Sooner Spirit raised a brow in answer. “Keep an eye on Ahren for me while I’m gone.”

    “I always do,” Cyd answered with a sad smile. “Now bring our baby sister here.”

    ---
    Conall waited patiently in the house that belonged to Akando, still wearing his "Rory Flynn" human form. Cerise had slept like the dead for nearly twelve hours. If she didn't rouse soon, he would have to wake her. He hoped the scent of fresh coffee and food would catch her attention, so he cooked. He was a powerful, cruel, evil to the core demon. He had vast plans that would result in the subjugation of all humans and his complete control of this world. He would crush his oppenents into the dust of the remains of the ones who had fallen before... and he was cooking breakfast for a foolish human girl child upon whom his freedom depended. He let his frustration out in a low growl deep in his throat. He was finishing with a pan of cheesy scrambled eggs when he heard a door open and close. A few quiet footsteps, and then a soft voice spoke from the doorway, "Rory? Where are we?"

    He turned, stretching a friendly smile across his borrowed human face. "Cerise! I wondered if you would ever wake! Are you well, child?"

    She looked wan and haunted, her eyes sunken, her shoulders hunched. But Conall knew her sisters. He was confident she would recover and be stronger for it. "I really hoped it was a dream. I guess not, huh?"

    "I'm afraid it was all too real," he answered with a head shake. He pulled out a chair for her. "Come and sit. I made breakfast."

    "I couldn't eat," she answered, but she shuffled her way across the kitchen and settled herself in the chair. Conall placed a cup full of coffee on the table by her elbow and then, despite her denial, he offered a plate of eggs, sausage, and toast.

    Conall sat opposite her, moving slowly as would an older man who had over exerted himself the night before. "Have a bite of the toast, at least, child. It would make me feel better to see you eat something." He hid his headshake as she obliged him by picking up a triangle of toast and nibbling it. She ate to make him feel better, but not herself. What was WRONG with the fool? "You did well down there, Cerise," he said once she'd started toying with her eggs.

    She looked up at him and her green eyes were shiny. "Do you think they're dead? Stephanie and Ashley?"

    The question startled him so much he didn't answer right away, and a fat tear welled up out of one eye and trailed down her cheek. "Yes, I do. And several more besides," he answered finally.

    She sat her fork down. "...and I killed them."

    He sighed, took a firm grip on his temper, and reached across the table to grasp her hand in his. "Cerise. They were going to do worse to you. I was there, you had no choice."

    "No..." she whispered.

    He abruptly decided that quiet and sympathetic were getting nowhere with her. He pulled his hand away and stood up so fast he knocked his chair over. Cerise startled, looked up at him with wide eyes while her mouth formed a perfect, shocked O. "Perhaps you think it would have been better if I'd been killed as well as you?" he shook his head angrily."I for one am very glad to be alive, and to have you here alive with me. And if that cost the lives of those people... those people who wanted to hurt you and kill me... I think that's more than a fair trade, young woman."

    Cerise blinked up at him, her face paled even further at the first harsh words she'd heard from him. "No, no.. I'm so glad you're ok. You're right, Rory."

    He nodded, letting approval shine on his face. "Good to hear some sense from you. Now... have a bit more of the breakfast I fixed for you."

    She spent more time toying with the food than eating it, but she sat quietly and nibbled. Conall watched her face. The youngest Nation girl was lost in thought, and her emotions were clearly written on her face. She paused suddenly, her fork halfway to her mouth and an expression of hope came over her face as her eyes flicked back and forth in her head. The hope slowly faded away and she sat her fork down again.

    "What is it, child?" he asked finally.

    "I was thinking... about that prophecy thing. I was hoping that maybe.. what happened last night was what it was about. I... had almost talked myself into believing it. But... no... it's still out there." She looked up at him. "Rory, what were they? Do you think what happened had anything to do with my prophecy?"

    He cocked his head at the question. "Since I don't know your prophecy, it's difficult to say. Why do you ask?"

    "Well... my prophecy is all about a demon, called The Beast. And... last night... I thought I saw a demon. But it was tiny. And... I think it helped me."

    Conall's eyes flicked to the shadows of the room where Trix hid and back to Cerise. Then he shook his head. "They were able to make me see things that frightened me to the bottom of my soul. Perhaps that was what you saw. " She considered it, and shrugged. "Tell me about your prophecy and why it makes you so sad."

    "Well... there's the whole 'trust your enemy though he will kill you' thing,'" she said and Conall blinked in pure surprise. "What enemy? Why should I trust him? ESPECIALLY if he's going to kill me?"

    "That's the prophecy?" he managed to ask.

    "Well, no. That's kinda like a part of it, though. There's this demon called The Beast and, like, a thousand years ago or something my family did some sort of magic thing and now she's trapped and she'll never go free until there are three sisters born to the clan ó Floinn, but... I'm the third sister. And she doesn't seem to be free and none of us understand what's goin on."

    "Cerise, demons are horrible, evil, cruel creatures. If you have one as an enemy, you'd best understand why and what you can do to save yourself. You need to learn to use your power, and you need to learn how to win free of her. You have to." He stood and paced about the small, neat kitchen. "Can you tell me more?"

    "I can sing you a song." Cerise smiled and stood. "This is how I was taught the story, anyway." She rested her left hand on the back of the kitchen chair and began to sing. She stood straight and tall, her red hair falling loose over her shoulders. Her voice was a light and pretty alto and the melody in its odd minor key took Conall back to his first years of existence in the British Isles.

    To the clan ó Floinn The Beast came, covetous and greedy.
    The evil craved the light of the daughters ó Floinn greatly.
    To work its most foul will on the world it would steal their might.
    But ó Floinn would not surrender, the warriors joined the fight.

    The brave men ó Floinn met The Beast, fought The Beast, and tried.
    The warriors ó Floinn charged The Beast, attacked The Beast, and died.
    The Beast drew closer, the grandfathers and the boys took arms.
    Bravely they fought, bravely they fell, and still The Beast came on.

    Celach the strong, Cahan the swift, Carra the fair
    The magical daughters ó Floinn
    Celach the brave, Cahan the clever, Carra the bold
    The courageous sisters ó Floinn

    The daughters ó Floinn were to be the prize The Beast sought.
    Three fair sisters with power blazed, with that power they fought
    The Beast. They drove it back till to its home it fled.
    The sisters together could overcome The Beast’s might in warrior’s stead.

    With the last of their magic and power The Beast dread they bound.
    A solemn pact by the daughters ó Floinn made to seal The Beast down.
    Never again would three sisters born to the line ó Floinn every be.
    This pledge the clan made lest The Beast once again roam free.

    Celach the strong, Cahan the swift, Carra the fair
    The magical daughters ó Floinn
    Celach the brave, Cahan the clever, Carra the bold
    The courageous daughters ó Floinn
    Her voice faded away and she settled back into the seat.

    Conall smiled at her. "Your voice is lovely," he said. "But that just confirms that you MUST learn more. Child, there is so much potential in you. You must learn to use it. You must find out more about this prophecy. I have some small skill in magic, Cerise, I can help you-"

    Conall and Cerise both froze as a loud, demanding knock pounded on the door. And again. Conall took a pair of steps towards the door, between whoever was there and Cerise. No one should know they were there. That made whoever was on the other side of that door a threat. He made a quiet gesture to Trix where she hid away to stay put. Then the door thudded open and Conall had a moment to decide whether or not to attack his enemy standing in the doorway.
  9. Sooner

    Mids' Update

    TY TY, Kid!Oh! I think I found all my builds that I lost with the hard drive crash. Yay!
  10. Sooner

    Good Bye

    I hate you. Secretly.
  11. Part XXI - just a bit of a wrap up here.
  12. Part XXI

    The stately street just off the OU campus known as Little Greece was lined with beautiful houses and filled with beautiful young men and women enjoying the full fraternity or sorority experience. The street was quiet and peaceful as the sun sank slowly into the fiery horizon. The flurry of activity spreading out from the Chi Omicron Sigma house stayed hidden beneath the surface.

    As Cerise fled, shepherded by her guardian demon, the young Carnival of Shadow recruits were initially thrown into disarray. The young men who had been under mind control were suddenly free. Many of them fled, a few of them staggered away, heads in hands, And some of them became furiously violent, attacking the surprised young women around them. In the first minutes after their Ring Mistress died, things were spiraling out of control. It was a situation that could have caused the Carnival of Shadows a significant amount of embarrassment. However, one level headed young lady escaped the basement and called the one remaining Ring Mistress - Jessica - still recovering in the hospital. Jessica wasted no time checking herself out against medical advice and contacting her superiors in the Carnival. By the time the campus was fully dark, the first fully powered Carnies were on the scene, expertly erasing memories of what had happened. A potential disaster was laboriously being brought back under control like a giant ship slowly turning to avoid the iceberg looming ahead.

    Jessica, pale and weak, but thriving under her opportunity to show that she should have been the Ring Mistress all along, gathered her preferred followers to her and asked them the most important question still to be resolved. “Where is Cerise Nation?”

    ---
    The late Akando had enjoyed a small older home not far from the campus. It was immaculately neat and decorated with handmade artistry ranging from weavings, paintings, rugs, pottery and heavy leather and wood chairs and a matching couch. It was a distinctly masculine environment and there was no doubt of his Native American heritage.

    But on that evening, as the long, strange day faded into darkness, Akando’s home provided much needed shelter to the girl he’d tried to manipulate and the demon who had been responsible for his death. Cerise had gone quiet and compliant. As Conall found her much easier and very much less irritating to deal with that way, he made no effort to rouse her. Instead, he tucked her into bed, closed the door behind her, and contacted Ciara Banenighe.

    "My Conall," she pouted, "Why do you appear to me wearing the appearance of a human?"

    Conall found that distance made the harpy more bearable. He was able to keep his sneer from twisting his face as he swallowed an angry response. "I do not want the girl to see me otherwise," he said. "She trusts me. She sees me as her savior and friend. If she saw my true form, that would no longer be the case."

    Conall watched as Ciara toyed with a glowing red sphere. She tossed it casually back and forth, and her eyes flicked to it frequently. She was pleased by it. He noted it and put it aside for later consideration. "My human servant is dead, Conall," she said after a long pause. "What happened to him?"

    "The Carnival of Shadows had targeted the girl. They are very dangerous indeed. Your human was killed when the conflict between your interests and theirs began to come to a head."

    Ciara cocked her head at him and smiled. "I know you, my most dangerous pet. Did you kill him?"

    Conall's gaze never wavered from hers. "No." Conall did not give her the opportunity to pursue that topic further, instead he directed her attention elsewhere. "The Carnival will not release their interest in the girl, especially after the trouble tonight. She will remain in danger from them."

    Ciara waved her hand as if shaking off a troublesome fly. "I will deal with them. You see to it the girl remains safe... and use that trust, Conall. Use it and make sure she keeps drawing on the magic."

    "Yes, Ciara. I will," he answered.

    ---
    Ciara was pleased enough by the results Conall had achieved with the last of the daughters ó Floinn that she didn’t argue about the loss of her human servant Akando. Whatever he'd said, she knew he was responsible for the death. However, Akando had been less and less useful of late, and with his death, her obligation to his family ended. Oh… she would have to punish Conall, but it would be a token punishment only. And perhaps she could make use of the human called Benjamin Tenkiller she had captive to replace Akando.

    However, at that moment she had other concerns. The Carnival of Shadow’s interest in Cerise Nation could not be allowed to continue.

    By midnight, one of Ciara’s imps had arrived at a lavish party. It took the revelers over an hour to find Vanessa DeVore and drag her away from the pile of beautiful young women and handsome young men who had been entertaining her. But once Vanessa’s attention had been gained, the leader of the Carnival of Shadows and the captive demoness launched into an intense negotiation. In the end, the Carnival agreed to give up all claim to Cerise Nation and her sisters, and Ciara promised to deliver to the Carnival three young women of at least equal power. Since the Carnival was strictly interested in the depth of power possessed by the Nation sisters, any girl with equivalent power was acceptable to DeVore. And when the three terrified young ladies were delivered to Vanessa’s DeVore’s door, the leader of the Carnies was imminently satisfied with the results of that arrangement.

    ---
    By dawn the next day, the reports of a massacre at the Chi-O-S house had been dismissed as a particularly tasteless prank. No one remembered that Ashley or Stephanie had ever existed, so no one wasted a moment wondering why they had disappeared. Jessica recovered and accepted with good grace her orders to leave Cerise Nation alone. Why would she not? She owed the red-headed ***** a debt of gratitude. Jessica’s future as a powerful leader among the Carnival was assured now that Cerise Nation had eliminated Ashley and Stephanie for her. As far as Cerise’s pet demon… well…. Jessica sincerely hoped she never would meet that particular monster again.
  13. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Sokyoku View Post
    I saw a Sheriff John Brown. Undead, actually, which i found to be especially fitting. Marley fans oughtta know what i'm talking about.
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Major_T View Post
    He didn't shoot the deputy.
    But it was in self-defense!

    /threadjack

    T and I have a level pacted duo: Ms. Heckler and Mr. Koch.
  14. I should be there.

    If Vega wants his spot back as MM lead, it's his. If not, I'll be glad to step in.
  15. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Red Valkyrja View Post
    I'm sure that that will become evident as the story progresses, Ice. }:>
    Indeed....

    *evil laughter*
  16. Part XX

    Chi Omicron Sigma house basement
    Conall turned his body sideways so he could look up the stairs at the new threat and down at the mass of enemies below. Cerise backed down to him and instinctively put her shoulders against his. The narrow staircase was filled with the red light from her magical blades. “What do we do now, Rory?”

    “Now we fight, girl.” he answered. He glanced back over his shoulder at her wide green eyes. “And fight like you mean it, or we’re both done for.” The surprise in her eyes told him that perhaps his tone sounded more like his natural voice and less like the kindly Rory, but if that was what it took to make the ignorant fool move, he would forgive himself for the slip.

    Ashley focused her gaze on Conall, and unleashed her ire on him, not surprising given that she knew that he was the real threat there on the staircase. They both knew that if he fell, Cerise would belong to the Carnies. The psychic attack tore through his defenses felt like hot knives slicing into his brain. He ground his teeth and hunched his shoulders. The blonde harpy was indeed far more powerful while wearing her mask and the pain was nearly unbearable. The Ring Mistress sank her psychic claws deep into his skull again and he realized that even though she couldn’t defeat him, she might well rip his human mask off as the pain of her attack made it difficult to maintain his control over his form. Moments later he felt the fire ease inside his skull and he recognized Trix's touch. So, his little imp was still hidden below, helping as she could. Still, if Cerise saw his human facade slip even for a moment, that would complicate his relationship with her and damage her trust in him. So, time for another performance.

    As the pain struck him again, he cried out and brought a hand to his forehead. He stumbled a bit and cried, “She’s killing me!” He turned to Cerise again and let the pain show in his eyes. “I’ll hold them off, child, but you’ve got to get her out of my skull!”

    Still the stupid red-haired child hesitated, and Conall stepped up his manipulation by uttering a ragged scream with the next attack from Ashley.

    ---
    Rory's scream tore through Cerise’s very soul. The tough old man was down here because of her, hurting because of her. And she suspect that if they lost this fight, Rory wouldn’t survive. She set her grip on the knives and charged Ashley. The blonde was slow to refocus her attention, but when Cerise’s blades skittered across her porcelain mask, those red glowing eyes focused their full intensity on Cerise Nation.

    The first psychic attack ripped through Cerise like fire. She let out a cry, and then dug down to that store of determination that had served her well her entire life. She made up her mind right then that she and Rory were walking out of that basement and out of that house. And no rich, stuck-up, blonde bimbo was going to stop her.

    “Out of my way, Ashley!” she cried and slashed at the blonde.

    “You’re not leaving the party now, are you?” Ashley laughed. “Oh no! I simply can’t let you leave until you’ve joined the masquerade!”

    Cerise felt that mental energy strike her again, and abruptly she couldn’t move her feet. “Get out of my head! Let us go!”

    “Oh, you silly thing!” Ashley laughed, dancing back out of Cerise’s reach. “Surely you don’t think after all the time we’ve put in to getting you here that we’re just going to let you leave before the party really gets going? We haven’t even brought out the punch and cookies!”

    That invisible mental attack ripped through Cerise again, but she suddenly realized there was more magic in that fight than her own. Something was soothing her, protecting her from the attack. She didn’t know who her friend was, but she was profoundly grateful.

    “Let us go!” she demanded again, slashing wildly with her magical blades. “I’ll never join you now, and it doesn’t help you to hurt Rory... he’s just an old man!”

    Ashley laughed, the bell-like sound warped by the mask. “Oh! You really don’t know what he is, do you?” She clapped her hands like a child excited by a pretty wrapped gift. “Oh.. This is delightful!”

    Rory spoke from below, his voice ragged, "Child, you can't talk your way out of this! You have to fight her if you want to leave here under your own will!"

    “I know he’s my hero, my knight, my guardian angel! This is the second time he’s come to save me, and he and I are both walking out of here, right now!”

    “Cerise!” Rory called to her, “Quit talking and hit her!”

    Ashley laughed again. “Your hero guardian knight angel sent you up here all alone to fight me, though, didn’t he? And even if you don’t know, believe me when I tell you that he understands that I rule this house because I have the strength to hold it. He knows I'm the biggest badass in this fight, and yet... he sent you up here." She shook her head. "The only way you two are leaving is through me... and that means you aren’t leaving. He's going to die screaming, and I'm going to hurt you, and enjoy doing it, until you are screaming for me to put the mask back on you.”

    She lifted her hands to her mask, and Cerise shrieked at the pain raking through her mind. The pain eased for a moment, the Ashley cocked her head. "Him first." Cerise heard Rory cry out again, a ragged, hoarse moan, low and deep. He stumbled into the wall behind him and the look on his face was so full of pain that Cerise imagined she could see flames flickering around his eyes. He ducked his head, groaned again, and choked out, "Kill her.... now, child. Now!" With a last groan like a wounded animal's growl, he crumbled.

    At the sound of such distress from her hero, Cerise’s last shreds of reluctance vanished. She opened herself fully to the magic swirling around her and leapt up the last few steps, her blades flashing. Ashley began backing away, step by slow step. Her psychic fingernails scratched at Cerise again and again, but Cerise was moving on pure determination. The pain was just another goad. She whirled and darted, feinted and slashed. Ashley was putting more energy into evading than attacking, and that gave Cerise the opportunity to push her attack. She began to really believe they would make it off those steps.

    Ashley oozed bright red blood from a half-dozen shallow wounds and continued giving ground slowly. Cerise pushed her way forward past a blinding headache from the repeated mental attacks. She would not be aware until much later of the blood leaking from her nose, eyes, and ears. When set foot on the landing at the top of the stairs she felt the corner of her mouth twitch. Ashley backed away again while Cerise stood firmly at the top of the stairs and smiled triumphantly. “You can’t stop us!” she cried out.

    “You’re not leaving us, Cerise! The clowns haven't done their show yet!” Ashley leaned forward and Cerise instinctively braced herself. “Now get back down there like a good little pledgeling!”

    A wall of psychic energy struck Cerise and she started to stumble back. It pushed at her, tried to make her fall. She knew if she fell she would tumble down those steps and into Rory. She took a step back, dizzy, and caught herself on one hand. She glanced back at Rory where he was struggling back to his feet, and that was when she saw something that nearly distracted her from the larger fight. A tiny red-skinned demon hovered at the foot of the stairs on delicate membranous wings. It cocked its head at Cerise and lifted a tiny clawed hand. Red energy sank into Cerise, soothing the burning, biting pain in her brain. Then, before Cerise was even certain she'd seen it, it flitted out of sight.

    Cerise shook her head, glanced at Rory again. She couldn't let him get hurt, or worse, trying to help her. She turned her gaze back on Ashley and her green eyes narrowed. There was just one way out.

    She drove herself forward, pushing herself at her enemy. She slammed into Ashley like a linebacker and they both tumbled to the floor. Cerise didn’t allow herself to think about her actions. Ashley would never let them go and Cerise had to stop her. She let the magic guide her attack. She lifted both hands high overhead and plunged them down, yelling out a wordless battle cry as first the left then the right sought and found blood. The points pierced Ashley’s skin and tore into her chest. The left blade bit high up under the shoulder and blood pumped from the wound, but the right... that shimmering red blade of light plunged smoothly though skin and muscle and bone with a moist tearing sound and thunked into the floor underneath. Ashley had time for one single shriek before blood began to ooze from her mouth and nose. She coughed once, then again, spraying a fine mist of blood out over Cerise, then she went still.

    All was silent for a moment, then a chorus of horrified protests arose from below, and Cerise realized that with Ashley gone, the mind-controlled men were finally free. The blades vanished as Cerise covered her face with her hands and let out a long horrified wail.

    Before she could give in to the wave of emotion, Rory charged up behind, grabbed her by the elbow, and lifted her to her feet. “We have to go. Now.” His voice was as calm and emotionless as if he were explaining they were going to be late to a movie, but it did the job. Cerise raced out of the Chi Omicron Sigma house on his heels, never noticing the tiny imp flitting out of a basement window and climbing into the sky.
  17. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Riverdancer View Post
    Heh, unlike some, Ice can back up his proclamations with links to proof
    He is extra awesome that way.
  18. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Uncle_Thirsty View Post
    I'll see your two years and raise you four. I think...
    O_O

    Duuuude....

    ....I remember you.