"Bravo, Fox," a sing-song voice floated out of the surrounding darkness. "A rather uncharacteristic show of intelligence." Nevur couldn't tell where the voice was coming from until something seemed to emerge from the shadows.
It was a small female shape that seemed to glow with an eerie green light. Its ears were pointed and its eyes were a solid black. It hovered in the air, flitting around the group of heroes.
Some of the others were attempting to follow Sly Fox's advice, and some seemed to be succeeding. The greenish creature didn't seem to care for this. It laughed at their attempts, a malicious grin on its face.
"Awww, are the heroes afraid of their own minds. Don't you want to see what you REALLY are." Its laughter was like bells which were played with the bones of the dead. Nevur watched as the thing floated back and forth among them, ridiculing each in turn until it crossed in front of him.
"And what of poor little Nevur," it said with mock pity, "The others MAY escape to other parts of their mind, but that's kind of hard to do when you don't even have one." Nevur didn't like this. His hands clenched in anger, and he felt the overwhelming desire to tear the thing in half.
"You didn't think you actually had a mind of your own did you?" It laughed again, floating in a circle around him. "Poor Nevur doesn't exist, so what else would appear in your place but your creator?"
"He does SO exist!" Nevur heard Carly's protest in his head. The green woman floated down, whispering in Nevur's ear.
"Imaginary friends only last so long," she hissed, "She'll grow up and then she won't need you anymore. You'll just fade away into nothingness." She floated away from Nevur, the same infuriating smirk on her face as she started to torment the next hero in her path.
::Who was Neko/Xena of the duel minds, as the figured prattled on Neko stared past it until its fury built and it rose its hand to strike her. The slap echoed acrossthe mind scape and Neko ignored it. Anyon who followed her gze would see why, Blue Steel of all peopel was standing a few feet away noding toward Neko. Deft she looked at her tormetor.::
"Kinda hard to torment somone who is quite asued of themselves, my mental problesm come from a split mind but both of us are stuborn as stone, thanks you that man, Blue Steel, you want to rip us apart you got to take on Blue, and that wouldnt be healthy."
Nekos real mind strength, Blue Steel smirked and raised his sheild.
Blue: Well i'm waiting...
AE # 67087: Journey through the Looking Glass - Save the World
LLX VirtueVerse! - Check out my crazy Toons
This is the size of group that we have balanced AVs for, 6.
-Positron 06/07/06 07:27 PM
It took a while before Lobe focused on himself, given the amazing array of developments his companions had gone through. When he did finally look down at the mirrored floor he was greeted by his own face, at ten years of age. He then discovered that his body had changed to match. He was now 6 feet tall and 250lbs. "Wow!" he said, watching the mouth of his younger self form the words in the reflective surface. He even sounded younger.
Then, as he watched, scores of purple welts and bruises began to appear all over his body. As each one appeared Lobe reacted as if it had just been inflicted, crying out in pain with every contusion. Finally, his face having taken on a pleading look, he beseeched, "No! Please Pa! I'm sorry. Please stop Pa I didn't mean to....Pa?" Lobe then collapsed on the ground and curled into a ball, jerking spasmadically as if he we being repeatedly struck and sobbing uncontrollably.
Helsing was still in a ball when the blood that covered him dissapeared. He also had gone back to what he really looked like. He stared glow with those ever-present blue-flames. He got to his knees and roared. He riped his shirt clear off and his glasses shattered, revealing his glowing blue eyes. His arms, chest and back were completely tatooed(and that was how he really looked). He tucked his bants into his boots and threw his gun away. "It's time to really fight..."
Taking notice of Helsing, Cywhite let himself flow into action. His keen, calculated knowledge of a mindscape gave him an edge only in time, the more empathetic heroes had the "muscle" here. The image of Cywhite flashed and suddenly appeared with it's back to Helsing, blocking his direct line of an attack.
"Don't be foolish. You have no power here, no streangth. Your rage, your conviction, your temper: they will only come to harm you here." Cywhite spoke in his unrelentingly strong electronic voice while his eyes, well, ocular sensors, followed the figure he did not recognize. Something made him think of Ivory.
"The figure with the black, empty eyes and the pointed ears flitted and appeared in front of Cywhite. "What was that? What did you just think inside that artificil dome of yours?" Cywhite's mind worked much like a human's, onlyuilt differently. "I see. Indeed I see now. A shame you don't seem to have a darker side. So honest, so innocent, so unbelievably naive, so vulnerable.
Cywhite was unwavering and his voice reflected this. "Whatever you are up to, I won't stand for it. If you try something malicious you well know there is enough streangth of heart here to defeat you. We are beyond your influence."
Cywhite knew he was lying. An enraged Helsing, a confused Sly, a crippled Lobe, Neko split between two equally stubborn halves. His best bet was the psychic and perhaps, he feared, Rebecca Morningstar herself if this wasn't her doing. He thought of ivory.
"There it is again, more clearly now," the figure paused with a cold grin on its fey looking face. "You think if he was here, that he could save you? You have so little faith in your 'friends' around you?" The figure floated tauntingly above Cywhite.
Helsing seemed to be trying to claw past Cywhite to get at the figure. Cywhite was annoyed, but he knew little would have to be done.
"They say anger is poor for a persons skin." he said. Helsing burst into scars, welts and long cuts. Blood sprayed in sheets from the wounds and left marks in a wicked circle around the hero. "If you let your emotions get to you here, they really will get to you. Think before you swing next time."
Cywhite turned back to the figure, seeing something he didn't expect, the machine took a step back in suprise. Standing before them all was a man, chisled in likenes and build to Ivory. His hair was long and white draping over his shoulders, his eyes, no longer hidden by glasses, gleamed an empty white similar to the other figure, his ears likewise pointed. Dressed in a black uniform never seen by any of the heroes, the same triple diamond shape was engraved on the large metal plates over his shoulders. Holding a large, ominous, black rifle, this man who looked like Ivory carried a ghostly glow around him, and he wreaked of blood. When he opened his mouth, all doubt was erased. It was Ivory, his voice was different: it was strong, firm, cold and harsh like the sharp end of a blade. The voice was certainly his by no mistake.
"Where am I and why am I here?" Ivor spoke.
The replay came from behind him, the glowing green figure looking at the impressive man before her. "Your friend thought you could help him, so," she paused, "help him."
The figure laughed a deep, demonic laugh and vanished from sight. Ivory looked down and became aware of his appearance and looked at the others around him.
Kate saw what happened with the idol, and if she saw it, she knew he saw it also, but she heard nothing from him.
I guess he's busy in my childhood memories she thought. Theat Idol must be really powerfull I have to try to forget I just saw that happen.
As She was trying to erase her memories Kate noticed something odd. The new strangers she just met seemed to be staring off into space. Oh no what now? she thought. Then came the darkness.
Kate was seven she was in the hospital. Everyone thought she was insane, heck even she thought she was insane. The voice in her mind was growing, and she could not help the things that she did.
What? what am I doing here? This can't be possible! Kate looked out the window of her cell. Instead of seeing the familure hospital grounds, she though the strangers she had met..and a stranger figure addressing them.
What is going on...and if I'm back in my childhood memories, then that means...
Kate...you really should learn to play nice with me.
Deth realized that they were in a Mindscape and she voiced her thoughts out loud also advising that her knowledge about such things and escaping were a bit limited. Looking around, she saw the young girl, a rather large boy of 10, a tiger/woman shifting, and others she could not figure out.
She noticed that the floor was mirrored, curiousity getting the better of her, she looked down. The scream that she emitted was the volume of an airplane engine. Collapsing to the floor, a build up of darkness was folding around her.
Looking at her, all that is seen is an outline of her. It is like she is a tunnel of blackness. However, blackness does not define it. It is Nothing. It goes on as far as can be seen and further. It is Infinite.
'I am Nothing'
'I am Infinity'
'No, I exist'
'I am Nothing. All that is will become me'
'No, I am all that there is and all that there will be'
'No, I am human. I am a woman'
'I am you. You are nothing'
'I am you. You are everything for all time'
'No, I am neither'
Again, the sceam emanates from the dark form before them. Louder, more resolute, somewhat determined.
'You do not understand. Nothing is what you are and will always be'
' No, Brother, there you said it. If Nothing will always be, then you are Infinity'
'Ah Brother, you see. You said it yourself, Infinity is Nothing'
'I am right'
'I am right'
'Would you both just shut the @$#!@% up? I am Deth Aszicen. I am more than Nothing. I am more than Infinity. I have surpassed you both. I am human. I am female. Without me, you would not exist. I have conceived you and I will end you. Without me, your existence would be null. Do you understand, you are the yin and yang, but without me YOU ARE NOT.
More calmly, 'Now that has been settled, I think that we can all agree, that I am both of you and you are both me. I have decided that although, I will keep your counsel as I know that our existence is inherent upon each other, I will now be in control as I will no longer be your slave. I will call you brother and you may call me sister. However, I have reached my limit and you will torture nor pester me any more. You may squabble all you want about it but I have laid down the law. For the word of Deth Aszicen is the law. Remember, I am Deth Aszicen! Now I have more important matters to attend to that petty sibling rivalries, like breaking some mirrors.'
The voices were quiet but their presence can still be felt about her. The blue and purple smoke begins to come out of the form and begins to take shape. However, there is a light as well. Slowly, her form returns to normal, although the colors on her outfit seem more blended and mixed. Her eyes still contain the smoky colors of before, but a light seems to radiate from them as well. She adjusts her shades on her face and tilts her hat back a bit, almost reminiscent of the Old West. She turns to Morningstar, bows in a polite fashion and upon rising up, a defnitely evil smile crosses her face, 'Let's Rumble.'
Helsing had stop his bleeding when nis wounds dissapeared. The figure that had caused him pain was looking was still talking toying with what had been Cywhite. Helsing stood up and shook his head. "You think I have no power here? You beleive I am weak? Well, when I'm angry you should run, but that backfired. But, when I concenrate, you won't have time run," Helsing said softly. The flame cover him again, but this time, they were more distinct and less sporatic. The creature appeared appear behind him, but it was also in front of Cy. "You seem to have lost your gun. You have ay of killing me now," the creature chuckled. Helsing grabbed it by the throat and spoke softly again while picking the creature up off the ground, "I don't need a weapon to kill you, punk. I have every weapon ever needed in my fists." The creature cried out in pain as his grip tightened. He tossed the creature up in the air and delivered a barrage of kicks, increasing it's attitude. He jumped in the air, and kicked it with so much fore, he flipped backwards and the creature flew backwards and landed with a sickly-sounding thump. To Helsings surprise, the creature got up and brushed itself off. "Geuss I'm just gonna have to try to hurt you now," Helsing quipped. Before he could attack the creature, it dissapeared into the darkness. "Crap...."
Nevur watched as the heroes defyed the little green woman. The man Helsing even attacked it, though it didn't seem to be actually hurt by the blows. It suddenly popped out of existance and reappeared above their heads.
"You guys are no fun," it said, an almost pouting look on its face, "you're all so stubborn and boring." With that is disappeared again. Something small fell from where it had been, bouncing once on the floor before being caught by the one called Ivory.
He opened his hand revealing a small rubber ball. "Okay," Nevur finally sighed, looking toward Morningstar, "would someone PLEASE tell me what is going on?"
"Morningstar? Miss Rebecca Morningstar?" Ivory spoke in his scarily harsh tone, deep and unforgiving, as he turned his head twords where earlier voices were directed. He then looked at the ball in his hands.
Morningstar stuttered a bit, "I... Isaac. I was just about to call you to let you know I wasn't at the store today I ... I swear."
He had heard the words of Deth answering a previous question of his. He turned to Helsing, shaking his head at the show of brute ignorance. He also noted the notably lifeless, artificial image of Blue Steel. He took in the obvious, confused looks of the heroes around him and took a deep breath.
"This is artificial space, a place where our minds can meet, converse and interact. No doubt you've all noticed differences with your appearence, it's self image: how you percieve yourself but not on a daily basis. Something is bringing out how we most dread ourselves."
Ivory took the ball in his left hand, still holding the large black rifle, and threw it off into the distance where it bounced with a satisfying rubber sound, only to roll back into view of the heroes from the opposite direction.
"The space is small, it isn't what I call limbo and itisn't free roaming. Can someone please tell me what went on?" he asked. Taking the replies and stories of the others quickly, he made a conclusion. "Then we are inside whatever this statue is. Our bodies are most likely within as well. This place is sensitive to our destruction so please," he eyed Helsing fiercly, his lifeless, abyssal pair of white eyes seemed to pulse, "be careful with your thoughts, intentions and emotions. They'll only reflect on you negatively. I doubt more then two of us know how to really fight here, and only one is on our side." Ivory was slowly looking over the room for the creature that had brought him here by means he wasn't entirely sure of.
Cywhite spoke, "How do we get out?"
"I don't know, but I think somebody here does." Ivory turned back to Morningstar who was obviously intimidated by the figure, unmistakeably Ivory but so very different. "And if she gets us out of here alive and without speaking out of line, she will be allowed to help us all further." Ivory's voice became louder. "Listen up, get control of yourselves. We're all adults, we can all cope with what we are seeing and feeling right now. Do yourselves a favor and just concentrate on the moment." Ivory then turned in a circle, still looking for their tormentor, "Listen to me now, I don't know what you call yourself anymore but I know who you are. Our interaction is forbidden and when we defeat you and your tricks, whatever they may be, I will make sure you are punished by the proper authority."
This final statement seemed to catch the creatures attention as the rubber ball bounced from being still, twice and then straight up till it could not be seen. I dark, ominous voice like that of a demon once again rang out, "Oh but I will punish you now, Isaac. Your friends seem so willing to take words from you, I wonder how willing they would be to trust you if they knew you were wanted in two other timelines for genocide." the voice took a long pause, Ivory's throat sunk. "Oh, not so tough any more. How disappointing, the machine seemed so sure you could help, it seems the only thing you can do is take lives."
A small cut formed on Ivory's left cheek, he was obviously attempting to contain his anger.
"We're all adults, we can all cope with what we are seeing..." Nevur listened to Ivory's partial explanation of their situation. He watched as the other heroes took his advice, concentrating on steadying their minds. Some had already succeeded.
"We're all adults..."
Unfortunatly, Carly wasn't an adult and she did all the concentrating for Nevur. Doing his best to at least calm his emotions, he tried to get Carly to settle down.
"Don't worry Carly," he said, "I know that guy LOOKS scary, but he seems to know what's going on here. We'll get out soon." Carly settled down a little, paying more attention to what was going on.
Suddenly there was a whooshing sound and the group was surrounded by doors. They weren't connected to anything, but just seemed to sit there, a large 'EXIT' sign over each one. The little creature suddenly appeared over them again.
"Very well," it said, "you all want out so bad, let me help you. Here are some exits for you. You just have to choose one." It vanished again in a fit of giggles. Nevur looked at the doors around them. It was never THIS simple.
So this is a place where we can project our minds and what's going on inside them?" Helsing asked. "I would believe so," Cywhite responded. "Ok let me get something out of my head," Helsing said. He looked as if he was in deep concentration when everything around them changed.
They were on top of building in a city other than Paragon. "Welcome to LA my friends," Helsing announced, "but u should be careful. Nothing is as it seems." Suddenly a woman matterialized. She had black and red hair, she obviuosly died it. She was very good-looking, and they saw Helsing looking as he never did before: happy. He approached her, but before he could talk to her, the backround changed back too the mindscape. He didn't move: he just stood there make strange noises - probabaly words suck in the back of throat. He then said, "Lets not try that again." He wiped a tear from his eye. "Now I know why he acts like he does. With a girl like that taken away, I would be an emotional psycho too," Sly wispered to himself.
Contact had been remaining in the background since dealing with the Mage earlier, save for moving to assist Neko. He watched Ivory bark at the others, raised a blond eyebrow above his glasses but remained silent. His mind was well rested now, and he felt strong again.
Could he escape? Yes, he thought so, but he doubted he could take the others with him alone. They would have to figure a certain amount of this out on their own.
Besides, it might be good for them. Everyone needs to learn humilty sometime, especially heroes, he knew that from personal experiance.
Contact looked up from his musing at the wooshing sound. Glacing around at the door he remarked to himself, "Little brat doesn't play fair, see how they do before I go poking around."
Sly didn't know why he whispered that to himself... he HAD had a girl taken away... what the?
He stopped... calmed himself... ok... simple, you're not yourself. You are a mark. Someone.. someTHING is conning you. That robot and Ivory (back again I see) seem to be onto the con, but don't know how to solve it. Happens all the time. Ok... you can solve this... that green freaky kid-demon is in the mindscape... it's not CONTROLLING it... it can't... it's USING it... therefore... ITS IMAGE SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT ITSELF!!
"It's a KID!" Sly suddenly blurted out to the room!! "A little KID!!" Everyone stopped and looked at him, Ivory's eyes narrowed and Sly thought he was the first to follow his thought process... he could only hope, because before he could explain in greater detail the little floater appeared in front of Sly.
... if Sly had seen the small smile that appeared on Contact's face, he might have gained some much needed confidence. However, his attention was focused on the apparition in front of him.
"AM NOT!!! HOW DARE YOU!! I'M NOT a little kid! You take that BACK... kit!" The harsh tone and hateful nickname was suddenly that of Sly's old tormentor, and it stung like the crack if a whip. But Sly flinched around the fear and said. "Nnnnow... now, you PROMISED. You promised we could choose a way... out. It's not right to... break a promise..."
Holding Fox in its gaze, almost willing him to collapse, the little demon almost looked like it was... pouting? But...
"Fine! GO ahead!! The creature seemed to recover itself
Yes
very well then. However there is a catch. You are only allowed ONE question of me. And you CAN NOT ask which door is the right one!! After, you shall only get one choice!! So there!" It seemed to take this declaration with glee... as this last statement lessoned its regained maturity.
Before the others could confer about this, and they obviously wanted to, Sly took a chance he knew he wouldn't get again. Anything anyone might ask the group could be taken by the little miscreant as "the" one question...
Sometimes the simplest solution is the right one... He hoped. Sly opened his mouth and spoke quickly before anyone could beat him to talking... he only prayed he was right....
"Uhhh... which doors are NOT the right way..."
Stunned silence was his answer... the group looked at him in disbelief... either he had saved their lives with a conclusion so simple it was idiotic... or he had doomed them all...
For a minute the little green creature didn't move. It looked at Sly, its mouth hanging open as if dumbstruck. Then, as if coming out of some trance, she began to laugh. She fell backward, floating on her back as she giggled.
"I like you, kit," it said, flitting over to him and sitting cross-legged on his head, "you make stupid comments seem clever." She rapped Sly once on the head and all the doors but one vanished.
"Finally," Nevur thought to himself. He and a couple of the other heroes moved toward the door, but were stopped when the creature spoke again.
"You should consider, however," it said, keeping its perch on Sly's head, "whether or not you trust me to keep my word. After all, I'm sure you've all realized by now that I'm not a graceful loser."
All eyes turned again towards the remaining door, now with a hint of suspicion. "Never easy," Nevur thought wearily.
Sly only then realized his mistake. However much a child made up rules... they almost always changed them to suit their needs.
Plus, nothing was more devious and vindictive than a child beaten at it's own game... from sulking to laughing to an outright tantrum was not unheard of.
His only consolation was that now the team were at LEAST all aware of what kind of mind they were dealing with... he believed that was a fact the creature had hoped to avoid discovery...
Sly also realized for probably the second time in his life how much he hated kids...
Although, at least Baby Genius had a cute nanny... He allowed himself the brief smug thought... but what am I gonna do THIS TIME...?
OOC: For open bbs role-play there are a few rules I thought were common place and understood by all, I am apparently mistaken.
1. In your post you may include the reactions of other players to only a minimal amount. This minimal amount is no more then stares, looks, movements and superficial emotional reactions and always in a general fashion.
DO: "Members of the group chuckled to themselves; her comical routine of dancing and prancing about had brought smiles to many."
DO NOT: "Mr. Crowley was obviously amused by her antics, shaking his head and laughing, he told the group he was a frog."
The difference is that in the first you state that some onlookers may have a certain response appropriate to the situation in the second you actually choose the response of the other character. You never make a choice for another players character, especially if you don't fully understand that character's train of thought.
2. You may include the dialogue of characters other then your own, but only when the dialogue is accurate to the character's own habits. Generally, this is something you avoid simply because the end result is you are playing a character that DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU.
DO: "Ms. Sharp agreed, and proceeded to tell those around her the story of her capture."
DO NOT: "Ms. Sharp said, "I was captured and it was bad. I am obviously a goat." The party now knew everything inside her mind."
DO: "The man in the black cloak gave a nod and agreed"
DO NOT: "The man in the black cloak said "Yeah, I completely agree with you! I love the taste of minced cat on rice!"
The difference is that in the first, you derive the information from previous posts and allow it to be entered into the "in character memory" of everyone present and you do so without making large decisions for the other player's character. In short, you do not risk putting words into their mouth that they might not actually say. Sometimes you don't want to give their actual response because you don't know that it's the one they will give... when you want to say they will agree, perhaps the character would rather disagree vehemently.
3. If the current story appears to be on an arc, aka things are happening in sequence, there appears to be a certain set of NPCs and the location has been cemented into the story until a change can properly be made at the pace of the story itself, DO NOT change the path of the arc.
DO: "The party of intrepid heroes had just arrived in the fabled city of Glendwynedale, but all was not right. She felt an evil presence in the air that concerned her and immediately voiced her thoughts, 'this place is not safe, and we should leave at once.'"
DO NOT: "The party of intrepid heroes had just arrived at the fabled city of Glendwynedale, but all was not right. She felt an evil presence in the air that concerned her and immediately took action. In a flash of light she had teleported the entire party to the white sandy beaches of Hawaii where they all had Jell-O shots."
The differences should be getting more and more obvious. In the first you leave it open that you dont want to be here, obviously this is part of a story arc which means GO WITH THE FREAKIN IDEA. NEVER alter a location simply to tell a portion of your own character's story. ONLY change a location to further the story and ALWAYS give the player the option of staying behind if the change of location is not imperative to the arc. This kind of change in location is typically the result of the ending or beginning of a new arc. (AKA the decision to change locations to Steel Canyon in our current arc)
4. NEVER KILL ANOTHER PLAYER'S CHARACTER.
DO: ...
DO NOT: EVER KILL ANOTHER PLAYER'S CHARACTER.
NEVER!
NEVER EVER!
It is ok to, sometimes, badly wound another player's character... but very rarely. Always give them an out such as the damage not being real, easily healed, superficial, or sometimes maybe the healer is right there... it's also acceptable for comical value as long as not entirely at the expense of the wounded character. In any case, always make sure that it won't have an adverse effect. NEVER KILL ANOTHER PLAYER'S CHARACTER. NEVER.
5. PAY ATTENTION. Read the posts before you, read the posts entirely, read the posts twice. If you dont know what's going on, if you dont pick up the traits of the characters and the NPCs around you, you wont be able to give a valid or valued post to the open thread... and NEVER KILL ANOTHER PLAYER'S CHARACTER. The point here is that you have to know what is going on and you have to know what the NPCs are capable of (if the NPCs have been described in detail. The general rule of thumb is that if you don't know what you are talking about, don't open your mouth.
Open role-play is a group of people getting around a camp fire and telling a story, improvising their role and their situation as it comes to their turn to play it. Give players a chance to respond. Never tell the whole story yourself. Be long winded, have lots of detail, give lots of dialogue. It's ok! Just give the other players a chance to respond. Remember, these rules... they aren't really rules, they're just guidelines. Some are bent, and broken without the play group ever giving a flying monkeys bootockles. But if you're unsure, follow the rules.
I fully expect to be flamed for this by... someone. It's going to happen, it always happens when you throw down rules. What I'd rather see, however, is some constructive addition or amendment of what I've put down. Have more? Go for it and post it. Etiquette is IMPORTANT when you are dealing with other people. Remember that a lot of us really love to write and we really love the character's we have developed. We tell their stories and adventures, we even sometimes pretend to be them and play out those stories. It's fun, it's why many of us role-play! Just remember that when you are going to be taking action for/on that character. You wouldn't want your neighbor to come over and repaint your car to their likings, it's your car. Don't come over and redefine another player's character, it's their creation.
OOC: Funny... I've never really RPed on a forum like this before... never HEARD there were rules, but always assumed EVERYTHING you said was just... I dunno, understood! 
I agree with it all and thank you for giving us a little reminder!
Now let's get back to this scene and find out what will happen next!! 
speaking of characters cehck out my index
http://coh.lurkerlordx.com/Neko.html
AE # 67087: Journey through the Looking Glass - Save the World
LLX VirtueVerse! - Check out my crazy Toons
This is the size of group that we have balanced AVs for, 6.
-Positron 06/07/06 07:27 PM
Ivory saw the doubt on the faces around him, but he was only searching for one. So many here he did not recognize, Contact was his best bet, an empath, a psychic.
His head began to hurt, he stunk of blood and the scent was washing over him like a foul gas, thick... and familiar.
Ivory made eye contact with the high profile pschic and asked quietly, "Can you tell? Is it trying to decieve us with that door?" His voice was quieter, but the change in volume only seemed to bring it closer to resemble the booming tone of their tormentor's voice when it spoke from the shadows.
Contact paused for half a second before he gave only the slightest shake of the head. Ivory felt doubt, could Contact be wrong? Could it be possible that the little demon was actually showing them the door out?
The little imp flashed from Sly's head to nearly touhing noses with Ivory.
"What are you thinking? You don't believe me? I'm not lying, I have morals. I made the rules and I lost, it's only fair that I keep my end of the deal."
Spectres like the one in front of him always existed in two places at once, if not more. He had gone a long time without doing "battle" with one but his luck was up it would seem: at least in the past he got to face them on a level playing field.
"You can hear our thoughts as though we were speaking, you can travel freely within this space and you can manipulate it to a certain degree." Ivory paused for a moment before resuming, "But something is wrong. You don't control this place do you? You've just been here long enough to change the decor, like a squater."
"Or a prisoner." Deth spoke to herself suddenly through the battle inside her own psyche.
Ivory had his thought completed for him. The councils, the triads, this thing didn't fear bringing him here simply because it had nothing to lose. It hadn't brought in others before because it had no images to grab at, after the group had sought refuge inside, it had more then enough imagery to grab out into the world, but likely not often.
"I understand now," Ivory spoke, his voice a cold chill on a man's spine, "you can't leave. You've been here long enough to change the drapes, learn a few tricks, even find the way out. You must have been in here for several thousand years to recall this." Ivory wanted to vomit, his own stench was becoming overpowering. But it brought back memories.
He was standing before a deep red sun, the ground for miles was cracked concrete and steam. The bodies of thousands lay black and charred everywhere. White feathers with a ghostly glow fell from the sky like snow. Long feathers, when they came to rest their stiff features revealed them to be metalic.
It had been so long.
Over the way a park, grass still green but stained in patches with blood, sat amidst teh sea of concrete and street lamps, steam and ash. There stood the image of himself, long white hair, black uniform, glowing eyes that seemed to be leaking their glow into the space around him. The large black rifle lay beside him, standing upright on the ground. A long, black sword penetrating his chest. At the other end, a monstrous form, black and red all over, surrounded in a green light, it held the sword and it's massive dog like face with demonic horns sprouting from the temple looked to carry the emotion of relief.
Ivory had witnissed this once before. He began to remember. The form was Gideon, a powerful spectre. It had been charged with the task of capturing Ivory, long ago. His eyes began to tear in the mindscape while his memories swept over him.
He spoke, "Gideon wasn't the enemy." His voice cracked like that of a man near death. "He was their only hope. He was a demon hunter."
Ivory came to, unsure of whether or not his thoughts, his memory had been revealed to the others, he simply stared through his dead white, glowing eyes.
He didn't seem to care, he finished what he was sure he had been saying out loud. "They sent him to bring me to justice. To stop the killing, the massacre... my massacre."
The blood stench had all but knocked him to his knees now. Ivory turned to look at the door.
"This is Gideon's prison. He wants us to open his door so he can leave after all this time." Ivory spoke, almost composed. "We can't open that door."
Contact cleared his throat and steped forward, "Of course its trying to decieve us, but I have a feeling that the door would indeed lead us out of here." Contact crossed the room to stand with the rest of the group.
"However, it bears noting that our gracious "host" neglected to say where it exits TO," he turned his attention to the imp.
"Why so anxious," he questioned the imp, tilting his head slightly to the side and watching it carefully from behind his dark glasses. "You try so hard to convince us that you are in complete control of this domain, but the truth of the matter is, that we could have the same amount of control that you have. It is simply a matter of accepting this place for what it is."
To illustrate his point, Contact reached out with his mind. Raising a hand, the doors all returned with a 'woosh' and then fell back through the floor with the same 'woosh.'
"Its a metaphor, you see? It follows rules only because we expect it to. Our host is as weak here as we are." Contact turned his back on the imp, hoping to illicite a reaction so he could better probe the little beast. If he could get its bile up a bit, its defenses would weaken considerably.
"That doesn't change the truth of Ivory's statement however. The path presented will indeed allow our host to leave," he glanced at Ivory, "And who could tell what the consequences of that would be?"
Contact adjusted his glasses and waited for the proverbial other shoe to fall.
"Consequences?" the thing yelled, flitting to the top of the door and perching there like a gargoyle. "You know nothing of consequences. All you smart little heroes, always showing up here. You, Gideon, Statesman. They always come in, messing up my world with their twisted thoughts!"
The little green girl almost shook with anger as it glared down at the heroes. "You humans are all so mixed up. You never seem to know what you're thinking or what you want to think. You seem to forget that, with the exception of Ivory, I didn't bring you here, SHE did." It pointed at Morningstar.
"Smart, smug heroes coming to my world. You manipulate it with the subtlety of a sledgehammer and you don't even know you're doing it. It's like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. Yes, I want you OUT!! I want EVERYONE OUT!! Even the ghostly ones who disappeared long ago. They won't stop screaming at me." It covered its ears for emphasis.
"This was my place," it continued, "I made my own games, made my own friends. You come here and you won't even play. You're all so intent on figuring everything out, all you do is think boring thoughts. Well, I HATE YOUR BORING THOUGHTS!!!!" Then she fell silent, glaring down at them from the top of the door.
((ooc: I actually had intended to communicate that the name (I think the thing deserves a name by now :P) of the little beast was Gideon, a demon hunter that had a relationship with a long dead past of Ivory. After all, story is always much more fun when there's a relationship between the hero and villain.))
The loud booming voice from teh shadows, the impish child of a nuisance flitting around the heroes tauntingly. Ivory felt as though he was catching up with the others in realizations about this place. The twisted demon hadn't brought out the worst in the heroes, their fears, secrets and dread; it was the place. The prison, trapped similarly to their host, was cursed. No matter how you changed your environment, no matter what you created for yourself, no matter what form you took through concentration, eventually you would look at the mirrored floor and see a part of you that you had always denied to exist.
What kind of Spectre, what kind of rightous demon hunter glorified for his own accomplishments, would admit to his true self being the persona of a mischievous child? The heroes weren't forced into the forms they took by Gideon, they were but another victim of the prison.
The realization brought much relief to Ivory, recovering from his episode, but it didn't put him closer to finding a way out.
"He's had a taste of the world outside of his own. If we leave him here alone it would only be a matter of time before he could reach out and bring another person here and I doubt he would stop before his bonds were broken." Ivory spoke. "We can't leave without killing him."
Ivory's speech was interupted by Morningstar, a sly grin across her face she said, "Gideon, if I recall correctly, Ivory was at one time the enemy, a scourge. So if you had brought him to justice, why is it he walks free and we find you here, a prisoner for eternity?"
The impish persona cringed, its eyes almost seemed to spark red for a moment, and a cut formed over its bare chest, black blood trickled for an instant before the cut sealed itself.
Some of the heroes looked at the spot around Helsing, the tell tale signs of when, moments ago, his own emotions nearly tore him to ribbons.
Little a child hated more then being yelled at or criticized and certainly it never wished to be ganged up on.
[in the kitchen of a farmhouse]
A short stocky man, in his 50s, stalks out of the room carrying a broken broom handle. On the floor lies a sobbing boy, covered in whelts and weals. The boy is 10 but is the size of a full grown man and heavier than most body builders. In walks a girl, cautiously checking the hallway her father had just walked down. She is younger than the boy and of normal size for her age and gender. She shares the same complexion and hair colour as the boy, although where his eyes are a deep, soft blue, her's are hazel. She kneels at her brother's back and reaches out her hand to stroke his hair, "It's alright Gabe, he's gone, father's left."
Gabriel flinches at the contact of his sister's hand. "Shhh, shhhh, it's just me, Kat," Katrina soothed him.
"I'm soo..soo..orry," Gabriel apologizes in a ruined voice.
Kat, love, compassion, and pitty crafting her face, reaches around to hug him from behind, "No, no Gabe. There's no reason to be sorry. You didn't do anything wrong."
"Bu..bu..but I killed mom," the words were said with such self loathing Kat knew Gabe was thinking of suicide again.
"No! You didn't kill mom." she stated with such resolve that she felt her brother jerk with reaction. She needed to get him off of that track before he could harm himself in self hatred. Only through Gabe's stupendous endurance did he survive the last attempt to kill himself and she didn't want him to try again.
"How can you know? You were too young to remember," Gabe challenged in the same self destructive voice. His many bruises and whelts were already visibly smaller.
"You were with Grandma and Grandpa the night ma was killed," she admitted. Grandpa had told her the night he died in the hospital. He had called her to his bedside to share a last few words with her after Gabe, Peter, and her Father had already withdrawn into the hallway. He had told her that someone needed to know and that he was trusting her to use the information wisely. She didn't understand at the time why it was a secret but it had been Grandpa's dying wish that it remain so until a time when it was most needed. She had kept her promise but now she felt it was time to tell her embattled brother in order to keep him alive. Whether she was doing him a favour or not, since he would just be subject to her father's drunken beatings, remained to be seen. She knew, though, that she couldn't bear the thought of life without her brother protector, her best friend. Besides, when their oldest brother, Peter, had moved to Vancouver for work, he had left the care of Gabe in her hands, and she knew he would no more wish to see Gabe dead than she.
Gabriel inhaled sharply, "Really?" he asked, a painful hope present in his voice.
"Yes, really. Remember when Grandpa died?" Gabe nodded in agreement. "Well he told me after you, Pete, and Father left the room. He made me keep it a secret until I felt I had no choice but to tell you; although I don't know why." The change in her brother's voice, heart-wrenching as it was, made her sigh with relief.
"But, then why does pa hate me and say I killed her all the time?"
The betrayal and sadness in Gabe's voice was too much for Kat's 6 year old mental toughness to take, "Ohh I don't know Gabe!" she said, voice breaking and tears springing to her eyes at her brother's predicament and her father's refusal to give the love his son so desperately craved.
"Kat! What's wrong?" Gabe asked, concern dripping from him as he rolled into a sitting position to hug his sister.
Unintentionally, Kat had triggered her brother's overprotective gene. Coupled with his simple mind's inability to focus on more than one subject at a time, the result was that the problem with their father was forgotten for the moment. Gabe also had troubles connecting events, which was why, where most people would automatically attach Kat's sudden tears as a response to his pitiable situation, Gabe assumes a bee stung her on the foot. Sniffing, and smiling fondly at him she says, "Nothing Gabe. I'm alright. I just stubbed my to is all." She hated lying to him but she didn't want to get him started down his dark path again so made this rare exception.
"Well, you should be more carfeul. You could get gangrene." Gabe admonished, very seriously.
Kat's laugh brought a smile to his face, "Oh Gabe sometimes I wonder if your left lobe knows the right lobe is there," she teased. At the blank look on his face she laughed again and suggested, "Let's go outside and play in the hay!" Gabe brightened at the idea and rushed past her. "And no cow tipping this time!" she shouted after him, running to catch up.
[Now]
The wounds on Lobe shrink until they disappear. He grows until he regains his former size and then sits up. Blinking rapidly, he looks around at everyone, taking in his surroundings. When he sees the green girl floating in the air his face breaks into a large smile. Getting up, he walks over to her and says, "Hello nice miss. You are awfully pretty. I'm Lobe."
Sly was brought out of his delirium when Deth abruptly stood up to look around... and his head slammed into the floor... she seemed... different... but as he rolled over and his mind focused to what was going on around him he suddenly lost all concentration...
There was Sylvester Trotter looking back him, in grubby street clothes and skinny as a rake... No styled outfit... no shades... no hat... just a dirty orphan who wasn't good enough for anyone.
"Oh crap..." was all that could escape his lips. But Sylvester knew something was up... because, while this might be the version he most feared about himself to ever surface... he had long come to grips with this past and realized it meant... nothing...
Suddenly Sly was back... he shimmered once in awhile to the orphan boy, but overall remained firm...
"That's it... somebody is messing with our minds. I don't know if it's the magic inside me or just that I'm totally self-involved with my image, but I can... feel that."
He looked around at his new friends... "Think... focus... this might be how we FEAR our minds are... but someone is reaching in our heads for just that... FEARS. About truths we don't want people to see... if not, than I would look like a Greek God who makes girls weak in the knees.... TRUST ME..."
That blow to the head must have done something to me... he thought as he fought for control of his identity now, failed, then recovered again...Usually I let someone else figure this junk out...