adstring_npc | {Animus?}

[At the same moment, everyone's PCD switches on and begins to play- though instead of the usual mixture of ghostly voices, a woman's face appears. She nods at the screen, smiling faintly- blond hair separated into two braids, an orchid ever-tucked behind one ear. The area around her is hazy, flickering.]

Everyone. As has been tradition, it's time for us- you name us 'Animus'- to announce the start of a new event. And as today's organizer, I wanted to invite you all personally to participate, as this will be the last time our city shall suffer.

My name is Aelia, and the event is called 'Ekpyrosis.'

[Behind her- through the holes in the wall, in the air for anyone who cares to notice- the sky begins to turn a dark, unhappy orange. The temperature starts to rise.]

'The final fire that expires the mandate of the world'... for those who would ask. You could call it bad fortune that it was pulled here along with you- worse, that I discovered its nature, and sought to restore it. For those of you who were looking for a way out- this might not've been what you had in mind, but please accept my substitution. But to be fair-

I could not have done so alone. My co-sponsors--

[The view drops; two ruined bodies lie before her. One is barely recognizable as John Mandrake, limbs twisted and blackened by flame, broken spears still pinning him to the floor. The other is Sailor Mars- less singed, but with the dozens of swords and lances piercing her body, rendering it to pieces- no more simply identified.]

--the Summoner, the Archer, were invaluable. I couldn't have named Ekpyrosis on my own. But I have one more request-

[The view pans up, past a serpentine body carved out of dark rock, past human legs merging into it, to see all of Aelia herself; a nude woman seated on a coil of a stone dragon, her own body. From her ear, she pulls the orchid, holds it out.]

Now, my magicians: please mature.

[At three points in the city, despair rises. A girl dies to birth a witch; Walpurgisnacht to match the Ekpyrosis day.

Aelia just nods again, as the feed dies.]

((OOC: Witch information and plotting post here.

Additionally, Ekpyrosis now covers the city, decorating the sky with constantly shifting sigils. As of this entry, the sky bursts, and the fire-flood starts. Like a thunderstorm overhead- just replace "rain" with "fire". :x Staying in the open without protection is quickly deadly.

Aelia will also be around if anyone wants to find her; she won't respond to this post, but offlines are welcome. Warning: she's stronger than Ekpyrosis.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She lands softly at a reasonable distance from the blond haired woman. She looks at her warily. And she keeps silent for the longest time.]

...Aelia.

Why are you hoping to achieve by destroying the city and making us all suffer? [Again.]

[The orchid, the woman-snake makes no attempt to hide from searchers. And when Raven lands nearby, she only pauses, waiting for her to speak.]

It's nice to meet you again.

[Aelia glances back to her.]

What are you feeling now?

[She doesn't answer the first part. It's as if she didn't hear it at all.]

I'm feeling... [Confused? Lost? Betrayed? Angry? - She just shakes her head.] disappointed.

You're Her, right? The one we were warned against?

I never tried to hide it. They warned you, even, not to attract her attention- then when I arrived, you willingly took me with you.

[Smiling- a little chiding.]

I've even warned many of you myself of myself.

[Raven quirked a quizzical eyebrow.] What do you mean 'willingly took me with you'?

You never warned me against you. You warned me against him... Ekpyrosis.

And I did ask you who she was.

[She speaks quietly, almost detached.]

I led you from the old city. You didn't protest.

And you did ask, but I never said I wasn't her. [A small shrug.] Or I lied. It makes no difference, does it?

Why would I have protested? [She thought she'd end up being killed if she stayed there.] What does it have to do with this? You didn't come back with me... Or did you?

Of course it makes a difference. I never lied to you. When I said I would help you, I meant it.

Why are you putting us through this?

[Ignoring the rest of Raven's questions, Aelia pulls the orchid from her ear, touching the petals as she responds.]

Do you still mean it?

[Raven lifts down her hood to look at her.]

Answer my questions, I'll answer yours.

Perhaps.

[Not a refusal.]

[Raven's eyes narrow slightly.]

I'll help you if you tell me how to stop this. How to stop Ekpyrosis and save this town.

This might very well be the best offer you'll ever get from anyone in this town.

Your turn.

You can't. It would send you on a fool's errand.

[Shaking her head.] Ekpyrosis isn't something to be stopped.

[Her hands ball into fists.] There's got to be a way.

You said you'd help me if I asked. So I'm asking now. Help me. Or were you lying too when you said that?

[She turns around. Why is she trying? She closes her eyes tightly.] I won't fight you. And if you're not gonna help me... or kill me, there are people out there who need my help.

Edited 2012-01-08 23:03 (UTC)

Sometimes I lie. [Offers, almost as an afterthought.] But this is an inconvenient time to help, isn't it? It'd be counterproductive to coax the conflagration out, only to coax it back.

Of course...

[When Raven turns, there's weaponry waiting for her- dull and crude, but focused on her nonetheless.]

You seem to lie more often than not indeed.

...Counterproductive? [Raven's eyes flash white as she looks back at her over her shoulder. She smirks bitterly.] I really shouldn't have come here.

[Her body is surrounded in a black glow but she doesn't shoot energy been at the weaponry pointed at her.] Let me leave, Aelia. I said I didn't want to fight you but if you attack me... I won't let you kill me like you killed John and Rei.

Everyone assumes too much.

[Shaking her head.]

'I don't want to fight' said the gnat to the storm. Or I could make you believe again. In the end, neither makes a difference.

It's a bit easy to blame them when you do everything you can to lead them on.

[That actually makes Raven chuckle slightly.] True. Orchid will still be my favorite flower.

You're not the first one who deceived me. You won't be the last. And the reason why I don't want to fight you is not because I feel in your debt for helping me back then. [Not anymore.] It's because I know I wouldn't win.

At least now I know why that burn mark on my skin wouldn't go away.

[Nods.] Too easy. But they do the same with each other, questioning only what they don't agree with.

[Dispels the weaponry without a gesture.] Disappointed that I didn't use you to defend my Ekpyrosis? You're still welcome for tea, if you'd like. The end of a world isn't something to squander.

Why would one doubt those who agree with them, huh? Pretty stupid, yeah. Typically human though.

No. That's not what I meant. [Disappointed in her poor judgement would be more like it. Disappointed she was wrong about someone once again. But she's not going to let this break her like she did the previous times. It's not about her, it's about this world and the people here.]

Maybe another time. When I'm less busy. I'd like to have tea with you. Unless this is a one time offer...

[She shrugs.] And you know, the end of the world awaits me back home. Fire, death, destruction and all. I don't really feel like watching the preview.

[Aelia just 'hmms' a bit.]

Each world dies a little bit differently- still, do as you like. There's no point being alive if you can't die as you want.

If you survive, you're allowed to come back. I suspect I'll be a bit lonely otherwise.

Thank you for your kind permission. [She doesn't try to hide the sarcasm in her voice. Whatever respect she had for the Animus is gone now. Only a slight curiosity remains.]

If I die, your 'friend' Teleos will piece me back together.

You like chaos and death but you dread loneliness? You really are something else.

Until next time. [She takes off.]

{Animus?}

[Offline] Sorry for the edits... I'm tired =.=

[Offline] It's okay! <3

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