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originally posted in:The New Dojo
10/11/2017 1:32:10 AM
158
[b]Reminiscence[/b]
[b]Dojoville, 2:11 PM[/b]
[b]Irina[/b]
"[i]Definition: A story told about a past event, remembered by the narrator.[/i]"
[spoiler]Open to all, including socialization and.. combat, if you find it a necessity to duel an unarmed woman. Fuсking coward. One year anniversary of the edgy asshat- erm, my main, I guess - Irina. Enjoy, ladies ' lads.[/spoiler]
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[i]Irina had almost found herself at peace. Not quite there yet. But she was.. she was close.[/i]
[i]The return to Tatakai had been a relatively short one. The trips to the crippled man's house, Grant, her hero, had went from occurring every weekend to now once a month, whenever Irina could manage to reach the Dojo in a time where it wasn't being invaded, or shot to pieces, or destroyed, or bombed, or replaced..[/i]
[i]As the crinkled leaves fell from the tall, looming trees that shadowed the empty streets, the moderate winds of fall breezing past the shining sidewalk, Irina had taken to a simple, leisurely stroll, throughout the silent part of Dojoville's residential area. To those who had been present at the Dojo in the more recent times, they would recognize the once villainess, turned.. member of the Dojo, was she? A visiter? A supporter? At this rate, it was merely unknown.[/i]
[i]Irina had taken to wearing such apparel that benefited a civilian more than the merciless Huntress that she had once served as. A long, almost Victorian trench coat would coat her body and shield her from the chills of the wind, the ends of the light grey fabric reaching her kneecaps as if still allowing her to maintain a simple amount of maneuverability. The sleeves would roll down to her wrists, of which were hidden intentionally by light black gloves, tightened over her fingers with a certain intensity. She was.. literally unarmed, lest for whatever may have been kept within her jacket.[/i]
[i]Strands of light silver hair, almost white in a certain way, would be parted past her face to reveal herself for the Dojo's members that actually remembered to see. She was as pretty as ever, with a simply noble look: the woman's jawline was sharp, though smooth in a manner, the skin that coated her skull being a brilliant pale white color. The wear of age had come upon the Vileblood, though it wasn't much, while dimples had forned upon her face over the years. Clear, icy blue eyes studied the tiles of concrete ahead of her, as she reached the end of the walkway that she was upon.[/i]
[i]The end of the sidewalk would bring Irina to sitting upon a wooden bench, one that had been painted black, of all the colors that it could have been. Irina didn't mind it, however, but instead rested herself upon the seat anyway, her back pressed against the wooden bench. It was as if she was.. resting. The tall body that was once tense with fear and hatred sparking with a simple calm. It was a truly unnatural thing for Irina.[/i]
[i]There, she began to contemplate.[/i]
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[i]Murderer. Traitor. Liar. Cheater.[/i]
[i]Teacher. Friend. Savior. Mother.[/i]
[i]Irina had a few other titles as well, Vilebitсh amongst them. She couldn't complain, with the situations that she had found herself into.. she deserved all the punishment that she would receive.[/i]
[i]The first act.. a massacre. Dark red flashing across the streets.. a thing within an exosuit that did just as much damage as Irina did would come after her, fooled by the previously kind demeanor. Alongside that creature, so would a Hunter, but he would "change" his views upon Vilebloods during the previous fight to the death.[/i]
[b][i]Sapphire and Lothran.[/i][/b]
[i]The next.. she had found purpose. Her Queen was dead, frozen and rotting in the chilly depths of Cainhurst's throne room. So now, she had a choice: betray her new cause for the Dojo, or fight a war against gods. She called herself a coward for this one.. she chose the Dojo. She chose the samurai, over the heroine of Khalosh.[/i]
[b][i]Tesuto and Zera.[/i][/b]
[i]Then, the furry hunts of the later time of the year. God, she did work in those days, and she met people that she still prized in memory. Though she was sure that most of them didn't exactly like her.. she still kicked quite a lot of ass in this period of time.[/i]
[b][i]John, Jason, Ghiaccio, Sketch, Hovark, Quincy.[/i][/b]
[i]Then.. the ones that influenced her. Her family, really, with what they had done. The old Ranger, the teenager, her past lover, her current one, and even her own little girl, that she loved beyond anything else in the world, and beyond this world as well.[/i]
[b][i]Grant, Alexandria, Athena, Astraeus, and little Mion.[/i][/b]
[i]Irina grimaced to herself as she leaned back once more, gripping her hands together as her train of thought would continue to carry on. Where were they all now? The ones that she hadn't seen, and had survived the turmoil of the recent months.. where could they be, now?[/i]
[i]Well.. she continued to think. Though she'd need reassurance on them, if they came around, anyway.[/i]
English
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[i]A chill would run down Irina's spine as she sat there, a sudden feeling of uneasiness settling in. Something felt... wrong. Extremely wrong, in fact. An all too familiar scent pierced her nostrils; a scent the Vileblood knew with all her being. It wasn't the acidic, metallic smell of blood, but rather, the heavy stench of death. It seemed to rise up from out of nowhere, blanketing the area the pale woman was lounging in, filling her every breath. That intoxicating smell, so thick and heavy. The sounds of Dojoville were muffled, the honking of vehicles, the rumbling of engines, and the general buzz of the populace sounding so distant and almost muted, and not long after, all Irina heard was the rushing of her blood, the beating of her heart, and her own breathing. When she looked over the street, those icy eyes gliding over her surroundings, she wouldn't see a thing, despite the whole world seeming so far away now, even if she was still sitting right there, on that wooden bench. Something was extremely wrong, that much was absolutely certain now, though [b]what[/b] that something was remained unknown. Seconds would pass, maybe even whole minutes, perhaps even hours, but something did change, eventually. Appearing from thin air, as if walking into the material realm from someplace in between the fabric of space and time, three knights would appear; shades from a different plane. Their arrival was signed by the deathly smell growing thicker, and the air growing heavier, three shadows like smoke, taking form. Their footsteps made nary a sound, their forms tall and hulking, seven feet at the least, with shoulders wide like a truck, bodies shrouded in armour as black as night. The corroded plates were masterfully crafted, damaged as they were, fitted over finely linked chainmail, just as dark as the rest. Draped over their shoulders were capes that seemed to absorb the light shone on them from the midday sun, the fabric tattered and torn, fluttering in the wind like tendrils. A hood hid their heads, faces unseen, not a single ray of light piercing the pitch black veil. The one on the left held a longsword of sorts in his two armoured hands, the weapon six-and-a-half feet in length, the wide, dark blade engraved with blood-red runes and symbols, etched deeply into the corrupted metal, shadows oozing out of the scars within the steel. The edges were chipped and jagged, littered in chinks and other signs of wear -- undoubtedly from years of use and neglect. The guard of the sword was carved into the shape of a rose's head, yet it was dark and cold, leaking shadows, much like the blade itself. The one in the middle was armed with a hammer, six feet tall, the head a good foot-and-a-half long and shaped like a cylinder, even if the front and back were lined with spikes and jagged edges. The shaft was wrapped in black leather, a rounded pommel at the bottom of it. Runes were engraved into the head of the weapon, similar to the symbols on the sword, written in a language unknown and long dead, foreign to this world, even this universe -- to this whole, entire realm. The one on the right, the final edgelord, held a flail in his right hand, left hand loosely wrapped around a dagger. The flail had a block of solid metal instead of the usual spiked ball, carved to be shaped like the head of a shestopyors mace, attached to a ten-inch chain of masterly crafted links, then hooked to a stick about a foot in length. The rod was covered in metal plating for reinforcement, while the head slowly swung in circles. As for the dagger, it was a simple thing, the blade only eight inches long, curving back ever so slightly, the tip jutting forwards straight. It lacked a guard and pommel, four-inch grip wrapped in black leather. As they so slowly approached Irina, each about a meter apart from the other, they faded out of existence every few seconds, every few footsteps, making it more than clear they were otherworldly, perhaps even ethereal. The best choice was probably to run, but the Vileblood would likely stay and fight, though that didn't seem so smart...[/i] [spoiler]woot woot the edgelords are here[/spoiler]
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"What the.." [i]Irina had recognized that terrible stench, having taken to standing upwards. It felt as if she had finally descended into death, as if her life had ended then and there, yet she was bounded to this place still. And for once, Irina felt.. a distinct confusion. Not fear, but confusion.[/i] [i]Then, the three knights would arrive.[/i] [i]With their darkening glares towards her, their outnumbering forces, and simply how foreboding and deathly that they were.. Irina felt as if Death was coming for her, at last, but not the Death of which she knew. No, these walking, "living" nightmares had come to judge her for her sins, perhaps.[/i] [i]With her risen figurine, Irina had steadily begun to back away, that stench of the dead still there. She couldn't win a fight against opponents that she did not understand, and her mortal mind simply couldn't comprehend the figures in their pitch black armor. She expected a sudden teleportation, a surprise attack from all sides, or something that would bring her to her demise..[/i] [i]Though there was a brief idea, but Irina had thought herself to not need to use it. It was selfish, it was unforgivable.. and if this was her "atonement" for her crimes against humanity, then she deserved it.[/i]
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[i]There was no sudden teleport out of nowhere, no surprise attack from all sides; just the three knights slowly approaching her as they flickered like a light on its last legs, like a candle in the wind. Closer and closer they crept, their figures hunched over, their otherworldly selves even warping the light around them, making the air surrounding the three seem blurry and out of focus, even twisted. As Irina backed up, after she moved around the bench she had been sitting on, her heart would skip a beat when she pressed herself against the building only a few feet behind the bench, the brick wall feeling cold as ice, freezing to the bone. The two shades that were on the sides simply walked by the bench, but the one in the middle... he phased through it, flickering out of existence, then reappearing a second later. In the Vileblood's panic, she might not have noticed the alleyway leading away from the ethereal beings a good meter away, leading out of the street and to a different one. She probably couldn't escape the trio, not unless she called to her dearest Astraeus, but it would allow her a moment to breathe, to order her thoughts, to maybe think up a plan -- but only if she ran. Only if she ran for her life... ...and she'd have to do it quick, because her reckoning was only a few steps away. With the three so close now, so terrifyingly near, the stench of the beyond had gone from intoxicating to suffocating. The black knights were mired in it, reeked of it, exuded it. The only thing that could further prove they weren't human was the fact they cast no shadows, for they were shadows themselves.[/i]
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[spoiler]suffocating people with charred deer smell is my thing cuck[/spoiler]
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[spoiler]uwu[/spoiler]
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[i]Goddamn, Irina ran.[/i] [i]She jolted into sudden action, becoming a blur to whatever mortal bystander was there as she attempted to get into the alleyway. Astra was, in all honesty, the only being that she could even compare to these.. well, things. She didn't understand Astra's full capabilities, but..[/i] [i]As Irina ran, she expected the shadow knights to trap her within the darkness. They were out for her blood, clearly, or out for her alone. If Irina could call upon her angelic lover.. perhaps the woman's capabilities could match these things, whatever they were.[/i]
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[i]Irina would only have to speak her lover's name, that she knew. Her mad dash away from almost certain death left the three knights far behind, their slow, menacing walk paling in comparison to her sprint... and yet, they would share a soft, delighted cackle amongst each other, the noise haunting and chilling, ringing through the Vileblood's head. Only a moment later, and the three shades withered away, their being falling apart into dark grey ash and oozing shadow that blew away in the wind. They wouldn't bother her for a little while, remaining gone, though the signs of their presence were still so very apparent: the lack of sound, the heaviness of the air, the stench of death... not even Irina's feet made a noise as she ran. And then, she finally noticed why the world lacked noise. Time was frozen. The birds and the clouds in the sky were unmoving and stationary; the sun was nailed in place; Irina's shadow was left where it had been when she sat on that bench. She could still breathe, but that was undoubtedly only because of the three hunters' thirst for the kill. It was scary, really, how she was stuck in time with those three otherworldly beings hunting after her.[/i] "Futile," [i]The voices whispered within her head,[/i] "It's futile," [i]They hissed,[/i] "Your death is written," [i]They screamed.[/i] [spoiler]EEEEDGEEEEE[/spoiler]
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[i]Was it a trap to draw in Astraeus?[/i] [i]As Irina stopped after she had exited the alleyway on the other side, she sighed, considering the variety of her options, weighing in her capabilities. No one other than Astraeus could save her now. She could run for a while, yet she would die eventually to the hunters after her head. Or she could accept her fate.[/i] [i]Astraeus. Astraeus. Astraeus.[/i] "Astraeus." [i]She would have to pull in her love against these foes that she did not comprehend. It brought shame to her, and a fear for Astra against these foes, but maybe.. maybe Astraeus could teach her or strengthen her against these beings.[/i]
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[i]The three deathly knights had appeared from the shadows on the street Irina had only just entered, rising from the darkness, taking shape all over again, drawing nearer and nearer... but then, the Vileblood uttered that name. That accursed name. And it had some serious effect. The three hunters froze completely, standing there, uneasiness gripping at even them. Irina seemed to fear them, and they seemed to fear the owner of the name she had said -- with good reason, considering the sheer levels of godmoddiness. A few moments of pure silence passed, the knights starting to move again when nothing happened, slowly and with uncertainty. Their movements were sudden and stocky, as if they were mere marionettes and someone was fumbling with their strings. They closed in on Irina, the duo approaching from the sides; one on the left and one on the right... while the third was probably behind her. And just like that, the stench of death vanished, replaced instead by the sweet scent of roses and violets. That... clean smell Irina knew and loved. Astra finally came to her aid, appearing as quickly as the otherworldly edgelords had, being gone one moment, then materializing at Irina's right side the next, armoured hand grasping at the Vileblood's. She was a welcome sight, for sure, her armour a pleasant contrast to the three hunters, the soft, pure silver feeling soothing to look at. Her pure white wings quivered a little when her ruby red eyes fell on the two approaching shadows, narrowing as a scowl crossed her lips. With her arrival, sound did the same, noises finally returning to the world, Irina getting bombarded by a cacophony of sensations from all around.[/i] "My sincerest, most genuine apologies for being so late, my fair lady," [i]Astraus spoke quietly with that same, cutesy accent as always, her words accompanied by a curt nod.[/i] "I should have known these fiends would come for you, though... I should have [i]expected[/i] it... After all, it was as inevitable as the rising sun." [spoiler]shit reply because it's almost 4 AM yooooooooo[/spoiler]
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[i]It would take a moment for Irina to properly respond, with the terrifically new, paranormal experience finally ending. She had witnessed some particularly disturbing things, things that had reduced her mentality to a poorer state than it was, things that had made her or another of which she loved retreat away. But this was.. a truly different scenario.[/i] [i]She leaned against the clean brick wall behind her, looking up at her savior, oh dearest Astra. She could only look upon the beautiful angel for a few seconds, before bringing her head down, crossing her hands together as a sigh escaped her lips.[/i] "Astra, I.. I thank you. You don't have to apologize for anything - I'd be dead if not for you." [i]It was that thought that brought a certain, quiet shame to Irina. She'd be dead without her lover of an angel, and she knew it. Irina's actions in the past had made her believe that she was the savior in a few stories, particularly Mion's and Panta's, but only because they were children wrapped in terrible situations.[/i] "...I need to know how to stop these.. beings, I will refer to them as that. I can't disturb you every time that I need help with these damned things." [i]It was probably the first time that Irina had even sworn in front of Astra. She had.. well, failed at stopping the vulgarities, but she tried to stop being a hateful bitch due to the angel and her "children".[/i]
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"No need to be so vulgar..." [i]Astra pushed a soft chuckle past her lips, a slight grin spreading across them. Then, Irina felt the angel's left hand atop her head, giving her a soft, gentle pat, followed by a little rub, just to calm her nerves and let her know she hadn't done anything wrong.[/i] "Now then," [i]She spoke up again, her hand retreating back to her side, the woman still unarmed,[/i] "I will deal with these fiendish things." [i]Oh baby, the motherly angel was about to show just how hard she could fuсk things up -- because Irina had yet to see that. She bent her right arm at the elbow, her five gloved fingers flexing a few times, before clenching into a fist, leaving just a bit of space still, strangely enough, though it was for a reason. Her grin widened as azure blue fire flared up from her fist, climbing up to the sky, leaving stone grey iron in its wake as the angel's sword materialized right then and there. Only a second later, Astraeus held a blade as ancient as she was. About seven feet tall in total, it was an unruly mass of metal, too big and too thick to even be called a sword. The grip was about a foot in length, wrapped in white cloth for an easier grip, the silvery pommel shaped like a heart, tip facing outwards. The blade, though... it was a foot wide and an inch thick where it joined the grip, the sides engraved with white runes and psalms, even hymns, littering the beast of a weapon, empowering it. It thinned out the closer it got to the tip, gradually shaping a needle point. Astra effortlessly twirled the utterly humongous sword around, her knees bending as she lowered herself to the ground, shifting her weight onto her toes. Her left hand grasped the guardless grip beneath its sister, bottom of the fingers planted against the bottom of the blade, sword held backwards, pommel facing forwards.[/i] "Watch closely now, dearest..." [i]Minor cracks started forming across the ground as Astra pushed down, her muscles tensing... and just like that, she was off. As fast as lightning, she shot forwards, her near instant acceleration and sheer speed causing Irina to nearly fall over with a harsh gust of wind, the stone ground shattered. Not even an instant later, the two knights who had been approaching the Vileblood from the front were done, falling to their knees, forearms doing the same, while their torsos slowly flew through the hair, the force having sent them up. Nearly flying out the other side of the alleyway, Astraeus entered actually visible speeds, her boots skidding over the stone as she turned, nearly dropping to her knees, barely remaining standing. She grinned, the third knight still standing there, frozen, hammer in hands. Astra straightened herself, only kicking her right foot up, the metal impacting with the top half of the blade she cut in half only a few moments later... ...and just like that, the final fiend had four feet of corroded steel embedded within his chest, liquid shadow leaking from the gaping wound. He stumbled in such a way that any ordinary human would, before falling over backwards, body thudding as it landed. A second later, and all three corpses had turned to ash.[/i] [spoiler]fukin showoff[/spoiler]
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[i]It was something, seeing Astra cleave through the foes as if they were just slices of butter against a knife, or in this case, hulking bodies against a terribly magnificent, yet large sword. Irina could only stand and study the onslaught of the three shadowy edgelords.. not only did Astraeus have the factor of fear benefitting her wrath, but her superb speed and strength turned her into.. one of the finest killers that Irina had seen in a while, probably because she was stuck in the Dojo's shitfest constantly.[/i] "What.. were those things, anyway?" [i]When Astraeus had finished the job for good, Irina had approached the woman, studying the ashes with a solemn, silent stare. That silence would only break as the Vileblood would release a sharp breath, suddenly wrapping her arms around the waist of her angelic savior and sighing, the cold wind leaving her lips as the distress faded from her body.[/i] "...Thank you, though.. I don't understand. Would they use me as a hostage for you to surrender? Or just kill me off to degrade your mortality or something? If so.. Well, if being an idiot would defeat them, we're in the perfect place." [i]Irina would try to joke, referring to the Dojo, though the angel could still hear a faint embarrassment in the Vileblood's voice. She was clearly not the type to ask for help.. lone wolf edgequeen. [/i]
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"Those things? Hmm..." [i]Astra's voice faded into silence as she thought, thinking about how she'd explain it... She was still fumbling with the language the people here spoke, still inexperienced with it, not quite used to it just yet -- and she couldn't explain in her own tongue either, because nobody in this realm probably understood it. Her silence dragged out, left hand slipping off of the grip of her sword, right hand simultaneously moving it to her back, fitting it sideways into an unseen sheath right in between her two fluffy wings. Then, she gently wrapped both arms around Irina's shoulders, tugging her a little bit closer to herself, a smile on the angel's lips, all genuine and nice.[/i] "Ah, yes... They are corporeal, for starters; spiritual. In essence, they are simply the souls of restless cadavers, of carcasses that lacked a satisfactory death... though, that is not entirely true, either..." [i]The woman paused again, her wings twitching and fluttering as she thought some more, her eyes fluctuating from their previous ruby red to a much softer bubblegum pink.[/i] "Mmh, a part of their soul, yes. The part that failed to pass the border between the material realm and the Aether, or the Infernal, or even Limbo. It becomes vengeful and filled with hatred, angry and frustrated at the fact it could not transcend, and was thus left to roam, without even a body. They tend to invade the worlds of others when they find out how, as such, hoping only to pilfer their bodies." [i]Astra slipped her right hand up to the top of Irina's head, lightly scratching at her scalp with only the tips of her index and middle finger, gently and even a little motherly in her actions. The lady kept a smile through her entire explanation, though she wasn't... quite done yet.[/i] "Usually, [i]that[/i] is the case, but when one can commune with the souls of the dead, those who have yet to pass and those who wander, could very well employ these shades."
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[i]Irina was drowned out by a distant silence as she honed in on the explanation given to her by her angelic savior and lover, only having to slightly look up at her while Astraeus spoke of the beings, their seemingly twisted origins, and what bounded them in the realm of mortals and men. Least, to the mortal realm, and not ascending past those gates to whatever they faced in the afterlife. As Astra drew so close and comforting, Irina did find it a tad bit difficult to listen effectively. The aroma, that beautiful face, those light pinks eyes.. well, it drew Irina in, as if she was a bug pulled in by light.[/i] "So you mean that these.. shades.. could have been brought upon me by one who would initially contact them? I'm.. actually fuсked, then." [i]Irina seemed a little sarcastic, but she did sigh, pressing her head against Astra's armored suit, her forehead against the pauldron. She wrapped her arms tightly around the angel's waist, the cybernetic muscles tightening around Astra's hilt while the Vileblood simply went quiet.[/i]
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"Technically, yes, but I am afraid that it might be... my fault, sweet lady." [i]Astra almost nervously coughed, so uncharacteristically on edge so suddenly. Normally, she was all self-assured and practically shone with confidence, but now... Regardless, she continued her little ministrations, holding Irina close and just gently scratching at her scalp, those glorious wings slowly unfurling, gently wrapping around the Vileblood to encase her in warmth and softness.[/i] "Uhm, you see, worlds have cycles. Every realm does, and they all eventually end. When a cycle ends, another starts anew, again, and again, infinitely so. The place where I originated from is currently in its second cycle, and has been for several million years, but... the humans, they worship me as a protective deity -- the only deity, in fact. I always... liked humans - your kind is cute, to be frank - so I got involved with them, guiding this cycle along how I saw best, but... the genuine deities fail to approve; they're jealous critters and have only grown spiteful towards me. They cannot even dream to snuff me, but the people I care for, such as you... In short, it might just be the gods trying to satisfy their own jealousy and envy." [i]Angel mama pissed off some gods and the gods decided to strike for the things she loved. Her lovely smile turned into a scowl, and Irina, close as she watch, could just hear the barest mutter of "should have killed them in their cribs" leaving the lady's lips. She pushed a quiet sigh past her lips, head slowly shaking as an apologetic look crossed her sweet visage, the pink of her irises shifting into an equally as apologetic blue.[/i] "Sorry to drag you into my affairs."
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[i]Irina would keep her silence, at least until Astra had apologized.[/i] [i]A slight cough was heard, before the Vileblood found a short laugh escaping her throat. It was cute, as it began a cycle of chuckles, as Irina herself merely smiled in her own melancholic, quiet way. Though of course, that sad calmness would only arrive when she was alone, or with an individual that she deeply cared for.. and dearest Astraeus was no exception to that at all.[/i] "...Sorry?" [i]She repeated after Astra, another burst of quiet laughter following that. She was batshit, sure.. but she did have a cute laugh, for a grown woman.[/i] "Don't be sorry, dearest. Just means that we'll.. primarily you, to be brutally honest, have to unleash your wrath upon these guards. I wish that I could help, except I'm just.. this. I'm not an angel, nor a shade between the spectral world and the grasp of death. I may be abnormal, but.. I wouldn't be of use." [i]Shades, angels, gods and men.. it made the Vileblood's head hurt a little. She released not a laugh, but a sigh, as she looked up at Astra only then. Icy, sharp blue would meet the warm light pink as the eyes found each other, the Vileblood awaiting anything from her lover.[/i]
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[i]The laughter just made Astraeus confused, her right eyebrow rising up high in curiosity, head cocking to the right, so cutely tilted. Just like Irina with her laugh, the angel could be strangely cute, inexperienced with this realm and its people as she was... Her confusion faded as quickly as it had blossomed up, swiftly replaced by a wide grin at the Vileblood's suggestion. She liked it, for sure.[/i] "Mmhm, yes, show these prissy deities the power of the Legion; our unified strength," [i]She quietly uttered to herself with an eager nod, "our unified strength" undoubtedly referring to the exact same Legion she had mentioned -- her very origins. Her grin widened, the grip her left arm and two wings had on Irina tightening ever so slightly, the armour that shrouded Astra's body fading, replaced in almost an instant by the soft, comfortable, stone grey robes she usually wore when not planning on murdering something... she'd do exactly what Irina had said, no doubt, but not right now, not instantaneously. Currently, she just spoiled her little psychopath with warmth, softness, and little scratches.[/i] "The thing I, personally, find absolutely laughable is that the deities... they came after me. You see, while cycled repeat for every world, they still remain different and unique: never will there be two identical cycles. The fundamentals change and shift. In the current cycles, the gods only spawned once the adorable little sentients started feeling the [i]need[/i] to have them. Belief is power. When enough beings believe something hard enough, they will find it to be true. The gods and goddesses might not have many followers anymore - if at all - but they still exist, if mostly weakened. Even a mere mortal such as you, sweet lady, are capable of snuffing them with the right tools -- tools that exist on the astral plane. There is, however, one that remains superb, though him, we will ignore and spare..." [i]Astraeus' grin turned into a fond smile, her mind obviously shifting to the particular deity she mentioned, even if no names were dropped. It wasn't a smile that suggested she was in love or whatever, but rather, it spoke about friendship... which was strange, to say the least, considering she was the exact same person-angel-thingy that decided to genocide all the deities in the previous cycle.[/i]
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"Alright, alright, so.. let me get all of this straight." [i]Irina had taken to laughing a little more, a final chuckle leaving her lips. She was practically upon the taller Astraeus now, biting her bottom lip a little with the tip of her pearly white teeth. Though of course, she'd speak a little more.[/i] "There are tools.. I shall assume weapons, in this case, that grant one the capabilities of killing these gods, who are being little pissаnts and ticking you off.. And we'll ought to acquire these said weapons, and kill these said gods for said reason, except for a longtime friend because he's an alright guy.. ...is that close enough, my love?" [i]Irina couldn't stifle a laugh this time, that wide smile stretching to her pale cheeks. That was how she could understand the current situation, anyway.. in a slightly sarcastic, yet surprisingly accurate, manner - yet without a flurry of insults to accompany it, of course.[/i]
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[i]Astra let out a frankly adorable giggle, her lips spread in a wide, delighted grin, pretty face practically beaming with amusement. She ran her fingers through Irina's silky, ivory hair, unable to help herself but to fawn all over the little psychopath, eagerly patting the top of her head, just demurely indulging herself on the feeling of the Vileblood's locks stroking over her fingers.[/i] "That's the general gist of it all, yes, though allow me to correct two minor faults." [i]She paused for just a second, using that short time to slip her hand down, tentatively booping Irina right on the tip of the nose. Astraeus was acting so uncharacteristically sweet and playful, it was heartwarming for sure.[/i] "You need those tools - weapons, yes - to harm mostly everything in that realm. It might be odd, but I shall try to explain... As with the wraiths, earlier, they cannot be harmed by physical means -- they are only spiritual. Everything sentient has both a physical body, and a spiritual one; their consciousness, really, which resides on the astral plane. If you were to snuff their physical form, they would soon reappear, but if you snuff their spiritual form... The gods [i]can[/i] appear physically, but mostly, they are only spiritual; ethereal; living within the astral plane. As such, to end them, you need such specialized gear: runed weapons amply work, but offensive sorcery does, too, as it does not take a physical form unless specifically crafted and woven to... And that, brings me to your second fault, despite it barely being a mistake, but rather, just a wrong assumption." [i]The little angel lightly booped her little lady on the nose again, her wings twitching and quivering just enough for Irina to feel it, wrapped up within them as she was.[/i] "And I just so happen to have plenty of both."
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"...Well.. I suppose that you'll have to outfit me, then. I cannot say that anyone else, other than two good friends, have gifted me with such providing gear. Now.. I can make that number three, thanks to you." [i]Irina would allow herself to be cloaked within the thick blankets of Astra's cloaking wings, another cute burst of quiet laughter escaping her light pink lips as Astra would press her finger against her small, perky nose. She would simply stare up at her loving Astraeus with an extensive grin upon her pale face. This would be an exciting affair, to hunt those who would dare try her and her lover.[/i] "What would you have though, my lady? Hopefully, weapons that would be more appropriate to a dexterous fighter, such as I? You are beyond my speed and strength, yet compared to the denizens of the Dojo, I am beyond their comprehensions of speed."
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Edited by Nibber Schipper: 10/31/2017 12:43:14 AM"No need to thank me, darling... ...but, yes, I do know what type of weapon would benefit most of your skill and style. Not to alarm you, but I have been keeping an eye on you ever since we, ah, became an item, you know -- perks of being capable of moving within the threads of realms, I suppose..." [i]Astra's voice trailed off towards the end of her sentence, becoming a simple mutter to herself. But that was fun to know. Irina had been getting stalked by a probably immortal, god-slaying, dimension-hopping, time-traveling, monster-killing angel. Nice indeed, eheh... Regardless, said angel lightly booped her lover on the nose again, only to reluctantly, even begrudgingly, break away. She took a good few steps back, her wings furling up on her back once more, nestling close to her armour and the sheath of her sword in between both extra limbs. She carried a grin on her lips as she slowly brought her hands up, bending her arms at their elbows, and just like that... she clapped her hands exactly three times in rapid succession, the air rippling around the motion with every clap, until on the third, the previously colourless ripple turned gold. As if appearing out of thin air, two paired swords materialized in between the two woman, floating at about chest height for Astra, meaning that Irina had to look up to them, considering the sheer amount of difference between the two -- Astra being a super tall angel mama, Irina being a slightly less super tall psychopath... mama. Aaanyway, back to the swords. They were both identical to one another as far as Irina could see, each kept within its own sheath, surprisingly ornate in design, yet a bland, rock-like grey in colour, lightly engraved with blood-red runes and symbols, their meaning unknown to the Vileblood who received the swords -- though she could certainly make a guess, or ask Astraeus. The twin blades were each about three-and-a-half foot long, give or take an inch or two considering the fact they were sheathed, both with a cruciform guard, shaped like a Catholic cross and engraved with runes much like the sheaths. The four inch grips were finely bound in rust brown leather, topped with a heart-shaped pommel identical to the one on all of Astra's weapons.[/i] "I think these should suffice, my fair maiden... They served me perfectly well during my, ah, crusade of sorts, so I hope they are the same for you. Treat them with care, and you will find that they shall cut through any hide, any armour, you may face -- no physical protection shall withstand the edges of these blades, I assure you. Even the very soul of whatever you might cut shall be rendered asunder, as they exist on the astral plane, too." [i]Oh baby. It would... probably be for the best if Irina gave them back to Astra after their murder spree was done. Because otherwise the Vileblood could one-shot literally everyone and everything in the Dojo. Which, now that I think about it, wouldn't even be that bad. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)[/i]
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"Those are.. wow." [i]Irina was beyond astonished, by the twin blades that the angelic being had brought into manifestation, her icy blue eyes staring up at the sheaths that held back their blades before her being, as both of her cybernetic hands would reach out towards their hilts. Her metal palms, coated by synthetic flesh and gloves of course, would rush against the heart-shaped pommels of the weapons, her fingers tightly bounding against the two swords and their leather, her grip agreeing with the rust-colored texture that wrapped itself about the weapons. After testing them, Irina would offer to take them on her own, reaching out for the holsters of the weapons themselves.[/i] "The swords don't happen to have names, do they? All of the best ones do. The ones with the most dedication put into them, anyway." [i]It was simply a belief, really, and one of the many that Irina could accurately agree with. From the blades of legend to the common edges that would be kept by a soldier, a sword with a name tended to show a sign within someone, that they took pride in their combat, and usually, that they were dedicated to the act of swinging blade-to-blade. It was just something that Irina thought of.[/i] [i]She had also thought of how Astra watched her, ever so much. For that, she was truly happy, though a little worried as well.. Astra could see Irina at her best, yet her worst as well. But that was beside the point. Irina was basically a godmod Arthur Dayne now, which is badass.[/i]
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[spoiler]literally who[/spoiler] [i]Irina's reaction to the swords brought a wide smile to Astra's lips and a delighted twinkle to her eyes, which promptly fluctuated into a merry, emerald green colour. Her wings twitched and quivered, wrapping around her own body. She was happy that her little psycho was so pleased and excited about the twins, their identical hilts somehow a perfect fit for her two synthetic hands, flawlessly matching with every groove and seam to allow for an absolutely faultless grip. When her two limbs wrapped around the sheaths of the swords, she'd find them to be made out of fine, hardened, black leather, reinforced by beautiful embroidery of sleek metal, hugging the leather tightly to create a tough holster for the delicate blades within. As suddenly as the weapons had been summoned, the Vileblood felt something bubble up from the deepest depths of her very being; an innate desire to draw her new swords, to look upon their blades, to truly feel their weight.[/i] "Why yes, they do have their own names... I think they would be Aurum and Argentum in your common Latin; Gold and Silver, fitting for their twinship. Do not mix them up, sweet lady, lest you want to earn their ire." [i]She did mention something about treating them well and that they'd cut through anything, before... It seemed that the swords were conscious to some extent, their efficiency being dependent on how Irina would treat them. Treat them well, and they'd do good. Treat them badly, and they'd do awful, undoubtedly.[/i] "...though, I suppose you cannot know which is which, since I doubt you understand the runes..." [i]Astraeus slightly cocked her head to the right, wondering how she'd explain this... Finally, she simply walked over to Irina, joining her at her left, hands gently wrapping around her wrists.[/i] "This," [i]She began, lightly tugging Irina's right wrist up,[/i] "Is Aurum." "And this," [i]She continued, now tugging Irina's adjacent wrist up,[/i] "Is Argentum."
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"Aurum and Argentum. Perhaps we should line the sheaths with strands.. golden weaves and silver. Color coding, if they would appreciate that." [i]Irina's eyes stared upon those swords, her mouth left slightly gaping as she would study the sheathed blades, still holding onto their firm, comforting grips with those smooth, synthetic hands. She stroked their hilts with her thumbs as she pressed their prints against the leather, a widened smile creeping across that pale face with every growing second.[/i] "...Oh, Astra. I don't know if you should trust me with such tools. They are fantastically designed, and so perfectly crafted and suited for a swordsman. But.. I almost feel unworthy to even grasp their hilts. ...Can you remove their sheaths for me, dear? I simply wish to peer upon their blades. And.. if you don't mind, perhaps you could find me a dagger to wield as well, if I was disarmed in the midst of combat?"
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"Modifying their sheaths? No, no, that would be an insult to their creator, and the blades themselves would not approve, either. As I said earlier, fair lady, do not earn their ire, lest you want to find their edge turn on you." [i]The mood got just a little gloomy for a moment, at least until Astra's hands slipped down Irina's arms, fingertips very lightly trailing across her clothing, sliding down her body, after, then clasping at her waist while the angelic lady pressed a big, loving smooch on the Vileblood's left cheek. She just seized the little moment to show some affection, how sweet.[/i] "A dagger, also? My, what a needy thing you are..." [i]She laughed quietly, playfully, her wings quivering as she kissed Irina's cheek again, right on her jawbone by her ear. Then, the woman broke away, hands returning to her sides as she slipped over to her lover's front, granting her first request, clearly. Her delicate hands gently wrapped around the hilts where the sheaths met them, her ten digits extraordinarily careful as she slowly pulled them away from Irina, inch by inch, bit by bit, treating the swords and their scabbards with respect -- something that was a tad odd, considering Astraeus murdered deities for fun. Regardless. Perfect, silvery blades were revealed slowly, shining in the sun, shimmering and glimmering, though the air that surrounded the metal was pitch black, almost as if the light about a half centimeter around the swords was being sucked up, leaving it black as the abyss. Still, they were fine piece of craftsmanship, with razor-sharp edges and sharp tips, free of any chinks or blemishes, perfectly symmetrical.[/i]
