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Title: Between Gods and Monsters Archive Chapter #2
Post by: Tinker on

Halo Thompson was sick and tired of the same old bullshit. Eveyday brought a new pack of assholes with a new crop of problems for her to solve. Admittedly, her line of work was more challenging and stimulating than the average nine to five wage-slave ventures the city had to offer, also the pay was far from meagre and managed to keep her in the lifestyle she had grown accustomed to. The downsides being having to deal with afore mentioned people and their problems, not to mention the high probability of being doused in vomit, blood or shit. . or on bad days all three plus various other unknown vile secretions. 

Take today, for instance, it was common or garden variety possesion. The demon in question was a lower level echelon minion of darkness, the kind of bugger that was a chump change job, the bread and butter of her business, so to speak. The kid had been flip-flopping on the bed, speaking in tongues and causing a godawful stench with her breath from hell, no change there. Halo was more than prepared for the projectile vomiting and the accusation of her mother's various actions of fornication in hell, what she wasn't prepared for was the kid's parents. The stupidity of adult humans never ceased to amaze her, she had EXPLICITLY told them to stay out of the room, regardless of what they heard, but no, they hear their precious little possessed angel howling like hot coals were being shoved up her arse and Daddy comes running. . . .even though Halo had warned them countless times that the possesing demon will do anything to stop the exorcism, that the demon had no shame in pulling countless filthy tricks to convince them to stop the painful process, but no, Daddy had to come running in, right as she was at the crucial point of extracting the demon from the tiny tot's frail form. . . .and it found a nice warm home in Daddy.

Extacting a possesing demon from the housing of a fully grown male is a much more involved and arduous task than it is getting the bugger to move from a small child, and a far less pretty process. Long story short, little girl: fine and dandy in the arms of a very grateful Mommy, shitty little pain in the arse demon: cast back from whence it came, Daddy: prognosis fairly good, still breathing, on life support at the county general with minus an appendage or two, but entirely demon free, and Halo: pissed off covered in vomit, blood, bile and who knows what the hell else but with a fresh wad of cash, more than double the original quote.

Mommy had been kind enough to allow Halo to have a shower at their place and even gave her some of the pretty clothes from her wardrobe, being that her hellspawn husband pretty much devoured or coated every item of cloth covering Halo's athletic body in some odious ooze. She now strode gloomily towards the one destination where she always found herself at the end of a particularly grueling day, O'Leary's Bar and Grill.

Halo breezed into the hole in the wall establishment, the bouncer casting an appreciative glance over her in the uncharacteristically feminine clothing. Her cool cerulean eyes catching the leer, "Don't even think about it, Bruno. It ain't happening tonight, or any other night, for that matter."

She walked past the threadbare pooltable and its players of dubious morals, they hung their heads, avoiding her gaze as she made a direct prowl for the bar, "Its alright, boys, I'm officially off duty", the pool players nodded and gave her a half salute before continuing their game.

She perched on a gaffertape encrusted barstool, her elbows leaning heavily on the bar. She blew out her cheeks in an exasperated sigh, her long fingers kneading the pressure point of her temples. "Hey Hal, tough night?" She lifted her head to come eye to eye with the barkeep, his amber slitted eyes glowed warmly in the half light of the bar. "Yeah, Al, been a shitty one."

"The usual, then?" he cocked his shaggy head towards the limitless rows of bottles housing spirits in varying shades of umber. "Yeah, that sounds great, but go easy on the mixer, in fact just forget the glass entirely and bring me the bottle."

A warm chuckle emanated from the man's chest, "I hear you, girl." Halo nodded and offered him a weak smile, "I need a day off Al, just one would be nice." The barkeep returned with a bottle of rum and set it in front of Halo with a slight flourish, "On the tab?"

"Nah, here", she grabbed a handful of bills from the pocket of the newly acquired coat and stuffed them in Al's skeletal hand, "Just make sure you keep it flowing and when I can no longer move pour me into a taxi."

Al nodded and smiled lopsidedly at Halo, "You got it, Kiddo."

Halo uncapped the liquor and slugged down a mouthful, the warm liquid made a dent in the sour taste the day's work had left in her mouth, both figuratively and literally, She pushed her thick, raven's wing black hair out of her eyes, scanning the room for a suitable companion for the night. Someone to talk crap with and even possibly take home for a bit of carnal exploration, after today she was far from fussy.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

Orion stared with one eye at the dart board on the wall in front of him, his other eye firmly shut tight. It had been just another day for Orion, he had straddled his midnight colored Harley Sportster and drove out of the city to the woods in a small town about an hour from the bustling metropolis. Once out in the woods he did the same thing he'd been doing since he was born, he hunted. He scored a nice white tailed buck that day, all it took was hours of complete silence and stillness waiting up in the canopy of a thick evergreen tree. When the dag gone deer tilted its head up to lick the salt from the salt cube, smash, dropped down and clubbed it between the eyes. He had no intention of keeping anything other than the head, but one spirit or another tended to get pissed when you just left a headless deer carcass behind. So he carried the deer back to his bike and road with it pressed between his back and the sissy bar all the way back to his place in the city. It was only by the luck of the gods he made it back without being stopped by a cop, well a cop catching up to him anyway. Back at his building he carried the fairly unblemished deer up the three stories to his appartment. Once inside the rather spacious setting he brought the deer to his skinning table and beheaded the poor beast with only three swings of his axe. He spent what was left of his day skinning and dressing the deer, fashioning himself a pair of buckskin chaps and mounting the ten point buck's large head on his wall. He then salted and hung most of the deer meat, shredding some and turning it into burgers that he brought up to the rather attractive girl that lived across the hall, forgeting for the millionth time she was a vegetarian. As strange as it might sound, it was indeed the same old same old for Orion. He tossed the dart with practiced skill at the center of the bullseye, he missed.

"Damn it to Hades" spat the grey eyed man in a voice that sounded far too American to be saying something like damn it to Hades. He ran a large hand that was tipped in heavily chewed on nails through his long light brown hair and then through his impressively long and slightly darker beard. He had only taken darts up recently, having finally mastered the art of pool, and though he was better than when he started he still wasn't good enough to match some of the bastards who played darts in the pub, then again some of them probably weren't playing entirely fair. He shook his head, his long mane of hair swaying as he did, and turned with a look of disgust from the dart board. He needed a break, darts was supposed to be fun, so when it became a chore you knew it was time to get another beer.

With a slow swagger he walked up to the bar and folded his arms on the heavy wood, the chains on his wallet and the spurs on his boots jingled with each step of his heavy alligator skin motorcycle boots.

"Give me a Budwiser and a shot of Jim Bean and I'll secure you a place in the stars" grinned Orion, the bartender looked less than amused. "Don't worry I'm really going to pay, you'd be surprised the price a wolf pelt fetches".

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo hadn't the slightest idea how she had managed not to notice Orion, it wasn't as if he were a shrinking violet. With one hand grasping the bottle protectively and the other hand serving to rest her chin upon, she twisted slightly on the repaired barstool to face him a little better, "Actually I have a pretty good notion how much a well cured wolf pelt can go for, depending on the particular species and who's buying", she offered the grizzly looking man a cockeyed grin, "How's it going, fella? Long time, no see."

She took a long swig from the bottle, the rum, sparking a tasty little fire in the pit of her belly and easing the weariness from her bones.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"Not to many species around these parts, and people don't tend to want a coyote hide. That and it isn't entirely legal to sell them, but fuck who doesn't want a nice grey timber wolf pelt to hang on their wall? More of a novelty anymore than actually used for magic though" said Orion as he smiled at the bartender and downed the shot of the whiskey as soon as Al put it down. "Things ain't been too bad, you should see my den, wall to wall covered in furs and mounted trophies, fucking beautiful. How about yourself? You got be rolling in that well earned moo la forcing Satan out of Reagan every day" chuckled the long haired man as he tugged on his beard and screwed off the top of the Budwiser. Orion looked every bit like the type of guy who would have his house full of fur and animal heads nailed to his walls, he wore a thick black motorcycle jacket with a sleeveless denim shirt over it, doubtlessly with a black shirt with some rock n roll band emblazoned on it under all that. He was also trying out his new buckskin chaps over an old pair of blue jeans.  

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

A hollow and lackluster laugh escaped Halo's generous mouth, "Man, you have no idea how much I wish all I had to do was kick demon ass out unsuspecting kids' bodies. Life would be too sweet and the money would be flowing like ambrosia. Admittedly there would still be the steaming vomit of doom to contend with, but at least my sanity would be a little better preserved."

Halo shifted on the barstool, the clinging skirt causing her no end of problems as she tried desperately to sit in a ladylike fashion, she held up a long fingered hand and bowed her head, "That being said, its not such a bad life, it could be a hell of a lot worse. I could be out there behind a fucking computer, slaving away for a faceless corporation. Lucky me, I get to be the vessel of over a thousand years of knowledge and spooky-woo mystical powers passed down from genreration to generation. Yay, me."

Halo and Orion made an odd couple, being that she now sat in an exquisitely tailored skirt and cute as apple pie, button down, red gingham blouse. She looked like she'd just fallen from the pages of a 1950's pinup magazine, or should would have if she wore makeup rather than a crooked smile. She took another swig from the open bottle, guzzling the amber liquid like it were nothing more iced tea, "For example, last week. This fucking kid", she closed her vibrant teal eyes tight, "Reads one too many Lovecraft short stories and thought he was a freaking conduit. What does the little shit do, in all his internet learned wisdom? Thinking he is summoning some otherworld gribbly to, I dunno grant him ownership over South Carolina or some other ridiculously hairbrained notion, he fucking opens a portal to Canaan. I tell you, the clean up job I had to do that day WAS NOT pretty and do you have any idea how much I got paid, its a crime my friend, an absolute crime. Seriously, if I didn't really know what was going on and was blindly following the christian faith, I would swear down it was the end of days."

The bottle found its way to her carmine lips, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and let out an intoxicating sigh, "But enough of my whining, I'm here to drink hard liquor and let off some steam, hell maybe even get into a little trouble."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

Orion listened to the woman's plight with a sympathetic ear, every now and again tilting the bottle of Budwiser in his hand back and letting the cold beer slide down the back of his throat, a little bit of the frothy beverage dripping down into dark brown beard. He didn't have it bad at all, he just hunted and whatever he felt like, Halo was the one who really had it tough, having to go out and fight the evils that be. At least she got paid.

"I'm surprised you haven't made any money the easy way. You know selling the people worthless charms and religious junk to keep the demons at bay. That's how most mystics make their money anyway isn't it?" asked Orion as his stone grey eyes watched a bead of water run down the dark Budwiser bottle from the top, down over the red and white logo, and eventually to the table the drink rested on. He listened to the rest of Halo's tale with a growing grin on his face, laughing heartily outloud when she finished.

"You got be kidding me. I always knew that Lovecraft would cause some shit to happen. Let's just hope some how the Cthulhu doesn't break its literary chains and come to destroy the world. Cause fuck, I haven't even hunted down a white baboon to make a robe from it yet" smirked the biker looking man into his beer as he finished it off and let the bartender pick it up.

"Don't give me a refill Al, hit me with another shot of Jim. Wait here" said Orion as he started to feel through his different pockets until he produced a decently thick wad of cash. "Give me a bottle of Jim Bean black label, I'm in the mood for something extra". The man popped the top off the bottle of Jim and held the bourbon bottle up towards Halo. "Amen to that sister" chuckled Orion as he put the bottle to his mouth and took a sip of the amber colored fire water.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo clunked bottles with the bearded man, then necked a skinful of the gutrot with a salacious slurp. "You know, I had considered going down the easy path with all the nonsensical mumbo-jumbo that the marks seem to fall for, but damn, if I wouldn't miss the thrill of the field work, plus there is no honour in selling trinkets and I'm all about the fucking honour. Its one of those eternal struggles for me, damned if I do and damned if I don't. I was born for this work, I mean yeah, I could just wipe my own memory and implant some nice suzy-homemaker scenario for me to live by, but in all honesty, that just makes me feel queasy. Honestly can you see me baking a cupcakes and breastfeeding a brood of mini-mage?"

Halo chuckled and shook her head, the glossy obsidian bangs bobbed from side to side, "A true honest to gravy mystic is a hard thing to find and that's why when there's a shit storm brewing, they call on yours truly. My services don't come cheap and it had been known for my morals to be bordering on the questionable side, but I'm the gal that gets the job done. Its just like any job, its a pain in the ass sometimes, on a bad day a job at the office only feels like you got dragged to hell and back, in my line of work I get dragged to hell and back on a regular basis."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Then perhaps you need a new line of work."

Sebastian turned to look at Halo.  "Take me, for instance.  Can you really call it an epiphany when you're dripping in vomit?  I think, at that point, it becomes common sense.  You just step back and look at your life and you realize that it is going nowhere but down and you only have so many exorcism accidents left before something with teeth and fangs and no soul reaches deep inside you and pulls out your heart.  Eventually your survival instinct cuts in and you look for other work.  You'd be amazed how many demons are willing to do a little garden variety bargaining.  You'd be equally amazed how many homeless, brainless, clueless idiots are willing to sell their souls for a twenty-sixer of vodka.  I used to use Wild Turkey in a plastic bottle but after a while you just start feeling sorry for the bastards."

Sebastian seemed to be prospering under his new title of 'exchange exorcist'.  He was wearing a brand new pair of black jeans, civil war boots with polished brass rings and a black silk shirt.  Most people carried the black thing too far but on him it looked good.  The Serengeti Vermilion shades and the Rolex were a little ostentatious though.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo turned her attention to the man entirely clad in darkness, "You know what, I tried that once. Got a real nice little mundane job pushing cosmetics to the rich and ugly, hard to believe, but I was pretty damned good at it too. Its a small miracle what a spot of blush and some carefully applied mascara could do to transform the unfortunate looking into moderately palatable. I lasted a grand total of three weeks before the need to slip back into the arcane was nibbling at my bones. I'll bitch and whine about my job but, at the heart of it I love it. I mean where else can you learn a dead language in a matter of moments and come on, even you must never tire of the excitement of the hunt? Besides, vomit comes in such a spellbinding plethora of colours and textures, that alone is a shining perk of the job."

Halo smiled at Sebastian through a mouthful of rum, "Life is actually on the up and up for this mystic, the jobs and cash are flowing quite freely and the prices I'm demanding never seem to be too high. There are a few things I've got on the back burner that should produce some interesting results and a nice little monetary sum too.  And lets be fair here, fellas, how many other professions do you know that allow you to mercilessly kill things with not only blunt objects, but also mindblowing incantations? All my problem is, is that I need a fucking day off just to sit around my apartment in my underpants, with my good friend Captain Morgan, a willing body and reruns of Twin Peaks."

The bottle of rum tipped a healthy dose down Halo's alabaster throat, she stuck out a small hand in Sebastian's direction, "Halo Thompson, disillusioned Mystic to the rich and famous."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Sebastian didn't shake her hand, he kissed it.  "Sebastian Roberts, disbarred lawyer, former demon hunter, current soul stealing bastard and part time incubus.  I'd  be willing to partake in your day off ritual, if I could manage to convince you to lose the underwear and the Twin Peaks reruns.  I'm more of a naked Tales from the Crypt sort of fellow.  Tell me truly, did you really take a run at the pink car?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

It had been an age since Halo had stumbled upon anyone that vaguely resembled a gentleman, Sebastian's kiss caught her completely unawares. The rum dulled her usual razor sharp wit, it took a heartbeat or two for the connection between her brain and mouth to reconfigure, "En chante, Sebastian. If you think you are up to the challenge of a day of slovenly behaviour and drunken fumblings, I think I can settle for Tales of the Crypt", her grin was now more than deviating on the side of booze tinged, the day's event were slowing but surely burning off with the alcohol.

"I didn't tread the path of the pink car, but I did suckle at the teat of Chanel. Can you imagine this face", she smiled her drunken leer, eye half closed, "Pushing eyeshadow and fine fragrances to the masses? It was a beautiful thing, I tell you, but like I said, the lure of the vomit called me back to my true calling."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

Orion downed a mouthful of the aged whiskey, listening to the two talk about shit he had no clue about. He chuckled to himself at the thought of the usually tough exorcist peddling mushed chemical laced animal bits to old ladies, Al seemed to think the situation was just as absurd by the look on his face. Listening to two exorcists go on about the rigors and pain of their careers was probably one of the more entertaining things that Orion got to do, real excitement and adventure just hadn't been poking its nose into his life in an age. The kiss the Johnny Cash wannabe planted on Halo's hand made him laugh so much a mouthful of Jim Bean black label spilt all down the front of his beard. The fact he only attempted to gentlemen act with the kiss and then went straight for the lewd image of him sitting naked watching a high pitched speaking corpse only made it better.

"'Scuse me a moment Halo, need to see a man about a horse" said Orion as he pushed away from the bar, not having to worry about a stool as he wasn't sitting on one and headed for the men's room.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Sebastian chuckled.  "Most would consider me to be one of the lower forms of uncouth swine, if I took advantage of a woman who was under the influence.  I'd have to say I prefer them that way.  Less hassle getting them undressed, less likelihood of them protesting too much when I sneak off while they're dozing in the afterglow and absolutely no need to worry about their wants and needs if they pass out before things get started."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

"I'll keep your spot warm for you O", Halo clapped a large hand on the man-mountain's back as he passed her for the seclusion of a urinal.

"Now see, my fine friend, that's where you are gonna find me hard work. I can get absolutely shitfaced, in fact I am already working on that at quite the breakneck speed, but the very moment i decide that I'm no longer having a laugh riot in my drunkenness, I say a quick little incantation and POOF!! No more beer-goggles. Magic is a wondrous thing in the wrong hands and believe me when I tell you that these are very much the wrong paws."

Halo seemed to have tickled herself with her own shabby attempt at humour as she guffawed between mouthfulls of rum, "Besides, pretty boy. I don't have to be drunk to get naked, that's something that I do quite competently without the aid of intoxicating substances. I think, also,  you'd find that if you weren't up to par you'd find your ass thrown the hell out of my apartment, there is very little creeping out from my bedroom going on."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: SilverMist on

As Orion moved to go to the men's room the door labeled Women's swung open smashing into the man, as it were, it stopped and a gasp issued from the otherside. "Oh my goodness, I'm sorry I didn't see you there...Oh! Hey there! You live across the hall from my sister, I recognize your face." The young lady whom the voice belonged to appeared to be a younger sister, her slim frame garbed in a pair of black capris and a tank top only a few lighter shades. "She says you always give her a laugh, I'm staying with her for a while. She'll probably be upset when she hears I ran you over with the door." The young lady was evidently, very chatty, her eyes were the sage green flecked with gold and sparkled with all sorts of mischief. "My name is..." The young lady paused a moment, before chuckling to herself. "Here I am, making a fool of myself and blocking you from the one thing you want, the washroom, I'll get out your way but if I can buy you a drink to make up for that whole, hitting you with the door thing I'm over there." The younger sister smiled and pointed towards a table at which was a chair with a denim jacket slung over the back. "Alright well have fun in the bathroom I'll be over there if you want that drink." Said the young lady whose caramel coloured hair that had been curled into loose ringlets with a curling iron bounced with each step. There was nothing odd or peculiar about the girl who sauntered back to her table retaking her seat, she looked pretty normal. But, looks have been know to be decieving especially in a town like this.  

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

A low growl emanated from Orion's throat as the door hit him, a predatory sound like the one a wolf makes when confronting a new foe. The huge fist that Orion had balled up was soon let go as he saw who he first took to be his neighbor. The confusion as to why his neighbor would be there was soon replaced with the confusion as to why her sister was. Orion watched the girl with a raised eyebrow and stroked his beard as he listened to her blab on. He really wanted to tell her to get the fuck out of his way so he could bleed the lizard, but Orion didn't just say things like that, even if he looked like the type who would.

"That's alright there, don't worry about it" said Orion with an exasperated sigh at having to listen to the girl ramble on for what had to be full minute and yet still didn't get her name. "Just watch where you're going next time" said the much larger man as he slid past her, cutting his cold grey eyes from her features back to the door to the men's room as he yanked it open, praying to Zeus he didn't knock into any other Chatty Cathy Dolls.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: SilverMist on

The young lady's name was Star, why her parents were so cruel as to name her that was anyone's guess. Though her sister had suggested several times, in jest, that it was because their parents simply just didn't like her as much. She was an obvious little sister, though younger only by a year she just seemed younger because she was shorter. Star got into enough trouble to make up for her height though. She was always into something or other, an adrenaline junkie sort of gal, though she usually looked innocent enough to get away with murder. She was staying with her sister for a while because work had moved her here and she was yet to set up residence. She sat with a beer on the table, certainly not lady like but as one would learn, Star like. The way she sat suggested she waited for somebody but she'd been there a while and no one had come, she shuffled about in her seat as if she would explode if she wasn't doing anything in the immediate future. Seeing Orion was the most excitement she'd had this evening, deffinitely not her usual night.  

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Goosekat on

Carmin Aguilare frequently wished that she was still back in Poughkeepsie, back in a place and time when she innocent and ignorant of lay beyond the veil between worlds, back before she had found her great-great-great grandmothers book of incantations.  But she couldn't go back, no matter how much she may want to.  She was only ten when her best friend and herself had been rummaging through the attic in her grandmothers house.  There they had found an old handwritten book. Common sense told them to put the book back, to not mess with it.  But curiosity got the better of them.  The dark ink was very faded but still legible.  It was written in Latin, something Carmin had been forced to learn in Catholic school.  She turned the discolored pages carefully, listening to them crackle with the unfamiliar movement.  On one page they found what looked like a magic spell, the ink lighter in color than that on the other pages.  Almost as if it had been written more currently then the rest.  This is silly thought the girls, everyone knew there was no such thing as real magic.  It was getting dark outside by the time they had come down from rummaging through everything, the book securely tucked into the waistband of Carmin's pants, hidden under her shirt.  They had gone to Carmin's room and hidden the book them went down to dinner.  After dinner, the girls went back to Carmin's room and pulled out the book.  They flipped back to the page with the 'spell' and together read it out loud by the light of an oil lamp. 

There had been a sudden drop of temperature in the room and then there came the howling, screeching wind.  The girls were scared, to scared to move or yell out.  A twisting, swirling mailstorm appeared in the center of the room and the two disappeared into it.  Carmin was found a week later, wandering in a field near the high school, bloody and dazed.  Her friend hadn't been so lucky.  Three days after Carmin was found, the body of her friend was found in the local river, ripped up and chewed on as if some animal had been feasting on the poor girl.  When Carmin had recovered enough to go home, her grandmother sat her down in the kitchen and poured them both a cup of strong tea.  'Tell me what happened child, and don't leave anything out,' her grandmother demanded.  Carmin had never been able to lie to her grandmother and so she told her everything.  She told her about finding the book in the attic, about hidding it her room, about reading the one page out loud, about the whirlwind that took both her and her friend straight to hell.  There her story ended.  It wasn't that she didn't want to tell her grandmother the rest, it was just that she couldn't remember what happened after that., and she wasn't sure that she wanted to.

She thought her grandmother would be furious, instead she looked almost proud.  'You shouldn't have been going through those old things you know.  But now that you have and you found that book I guess I can no longer deny it.'  Her grandmother sighed and shook her head.  Refilling their cups, she told Carmin some of the family history, history that she had not heard about already.  It seemed that the family held a long line of demon hunters with in it.  The book Carmin had found had been written by her great-great-great grandmother who had been a demon hunter of some repute during her time.  Many people, including the church, had come to her to help drive demons out of people and places that they had chosen to occupy.  The incantation that the girls had read was a way of opening a door between our world and hell.  If someone had the power and the strength, one could 'ride the rails' as it was called within the family.  Her grandmother had never had that much power, but it seemed that Carmin did, or at least would in time.  To 'ride the rails' was to open the way to hell and travel along the corridors that the imps and hell spawned used to get between our world and theirs. 

Not many people chose to do so, but those who did usually wound up helping those who were taken by the imps or demon spawn by mistake.  When someone was taken who wasn't supposed to be delivered to hell, it sent a shock wave of sorts through the fabric of reality.  Thous who are sensitive to such vibrations would feel it and, if they 'rode the rails' would try and bring them back into our world before it was to late, frequently becoming guardian angels of sorts.  Taking the fight to the demons on their own home ground.

That is what Carmin finally wound up doing with her life.  She 'rode the rails' not only to help those in need, but because, as she has said on more than one occasion, it was faster than taking a cab and safer than the subway.  Tonight she had been on her way home from a meeting on Staten Island when two imps had nearly landing right on top of her, dragging a rather bloody and very fiesty man along with them. "Crap," she had muttered as she dodged out of the way.  "Why did it have to be tonight?"  All she wanted to do was get home, have some dinner and crawl into bed.  Know she was going to have to some idiot who had gotten snatched by the stupidest demons every to exist.  At least this guy was putting up a fight, usually when someone got snatched and hauled halfway to hell they were in shock.  This guy on the other hand was putting up one hell of a struggle.  He mangaged to get one arm free from the imps and landed a good round house right in the middle of the things face.  The imp squealed, not so much in pain as in shock and anger.  Carmin was half tempted to let the guy fight it out when the shock wave hit. 

Right then and there she knew she would have to get involved.  "Damn it all," she spat as she pulled a pair of silver daggers from her boots.  "Come here you little fuckers."  She closed the short distance between herself and the closest imp, lashed out with her right foot and connected with its chest.  The nasty thing flew back a good twenty feet but was still standing.  Their victim was now free and she called to him.  "Get behind me"  "Like hell," he snarled as he grabbed one wing of the imp he had already punched.  The mans voice startled her for a moment.  Not because it was aggressive, but because she recognized it.  "Hell.  Daniel what are you doing playing with a pair of imps?" Carmin asked the man.  Daniel was Daniel Montoya, one of New York's finest, a detective with the homicide division and a man she had worked with many times in her capacity as a profiler.  "Don't know, thought I would get some kick by being dragged around by a couple of overgrown bats with bad attitudes," he snapped back.  "What the hell are you doing here?"

Carmin couldn't help but laugh.  Here they were battle two of the stupidest demons every to exist on their own turf and they were acting as if they were going up against a couple of juiced up speed freaks.  "My job," was her simple reply.  "Here.  Take this."  She held one of the daggers out to him.  "It'll work a hell of a lot better on these things then bare knuckles will."  Detective Montoya took the dagger and plunged it into a wing as the imp tried to bite him.  Giving a yank, he ran the blade down the wings membrane a good two feet before the imp pulled away and fled.  The other imp had closed on Carmin and was doing its best to pin her arm against her sides.  She let it get in close, closer than she usually liked the things to get, and plunged the dagger into its neck.  It hissed and spit at her, trying to clap its teeth around her neck in a futile effort to end her life along with its own.  It pushed against the dagger, plunging it even deeper into its own neck in its efforts.  Pussy green-yellow ocker flowed from the wound and over her hand.  She yanked the dagger out and cursed in pain.  "God damn that hurts.  Son of a bitch."

They left the imp lying were it fell, knowing that others would be drawn to the area by its death.  Carmin led Daniel along the rails and up into a back alley a block away from O'Leary's.  Her hand was still burning, and they both smelled like sulfur and brimstone.  "Come one Detective, I'll buy you a drink or two."  She took his arm and got him moving towards the bar.  Bruno took one look at her face and kept his mouth shut, swallowing the usual sexist remarks that he spouted every time she showed up here.  Noses wrinkled and faces were made as the two passed through the room.  She pointed him towards the bathroom and went to the bar.  "Hey Al."  The bartender took one look at her face and burnt hand and grabbed a bottle from under the sink behind the bar.  "Damn kid, when are you going to stop letting those damn creatures drip all over you?" he asked, concerns evident in his voice.  "You know me Al, just can't keep of the rails."  She held the bottle up.  "Thanks."  She went into the ladies room and opened the bottle, pouring a copious amount onto her hand.  "God damn that fucking hurts," she screamed as the pure grain alcohol hit the burned flesh.

It may have hurt like hell, but pure grain alcohol was the best way to stop demonic burning. 

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"Much better" sighed Orion as he zipped up his jeans. The long haired man turned to wash his hands in the dirty old sink right as someone else entered the bathroom. The man looked like he had been through an ordeal, Orion just walked on past out of the men's room, his spurs making a distinctive clinking sound on the hardwood floor of the bar.

The sound of leather stretching as Orion folded his arms and leaned against the counter next to Halo signaled his return. "Hey I'm back, and I only had to knock into some psychopath one the way in once to get there" he chuckled as he reached for the bottle of Jim Bean that was resting right where he had left it. He leaned his head back and allowed the flavourfull bourbon to roll down over his tongue on its way down. Out of the corner of his stone colored eyes he saw Star sitting at a table by herself. He couldn't help but wonder if the beer on the table was for him, but he really didn't want to go over there and talk to her, even if it meant pushing away the friendly blonde across the hall.

"So? You guys keep yourselves occupied in my absence by talking about exorcising? You know, for as long as I've been around I've never really bothered to learn about the other side. Why don't you guys lay some knowledge on me so I can understand what you are talking about, that way I don't have to go talk to the crazy lady in the tank top to get a conversation I can understand".

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Goosekat on

Carmin came out of the ladies room muttering to herself.  She got back to the bar just as Daniel exited the men's room.  She traded the bottle of grain alcohol for a bottle Stolichnaya and two glasses while still muttering.  "God damn I hate imps," was pretty much the only thing intelligible amongst her rantings.  She notice the others that were at the bar.  A  black haired woman and two guys.  The woman and one of the guys she had seen around town and knew to be exorcists but had never met them.  The other guy, built like a brick outhouse, she had never seen before.  The three seemed to be in deep discussion so she waited for the Detective to catch up with her and then led him to a corner table.  Both still reeking of sulfur and brimstone.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo's eyes lost a good eighty percent of the drunken glaze as she decided that she would rather have a conversation of interest with Orion and Sebastian than wind up a rum stain on the floor of O'Leary's. Damned Orion and his conversational prowess.

"Well my fine, celestial friend. If it is knowledge of how the other half lives that you seek, eh?" From the way the smile was plastered across her lips, it was if the remaining intoxication was entirely settled around her mouth. She rolled her eyes and brought a graceful, long fingered hand to her forehead, "I am so sorry, I can't believe I just said that. I am such a fucking dork. Anyway, I digress."

She took a hard swig on the depleted bottle of rum and eyed the demonic barkeep. Al smiled a mouth full of needles at the Mystic and cast another bottle of Captain Morgans her way. Her grin threatened to split her face in two as the fresh bottle sat snugly in her grasp. "The world as we, the informed, know it is a very different place than the rest of the human population knows it. Granted, I am very much and very sadly a part of that particular vermin problem, but we can't chose who we are born to. I like to think I'm one of the lucky ones, because I've always known this world, my eyes have never been shielded to the others that walk this earth. The one thing that most are blithely unaware of is that the lines between good and evil are so blurred that they barely exist anymore. 'Evil' is being carried out by the pure and innocent , 'Good' is often served by the hand of the corrupt and defiled. You think living in the mundane world is tricky?"

She chugged a mouthful of rum between breaths, her cerulean eyes disappearing as the amber liquid spilled into her gut, "Good and evil is all relative, I guess that's my point. I preform exorcisms, because the possessors have no right to take over the body of another without permission. You don't have to take a body in force like that, they can actually strike up a bargain with the host and live quite happily in a symbiotic relationship. Exorcism is basically like evicting a rather destructive squatter."

Her eyes rested on Orion as she spoke about her work, suddenly becoming quite aware of how much she did actually love her job, her destiny, "But as you well know, O, its not just exorcisms I deal in. That's just what brings the easy money in."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"Trust me Halo I know you don't go around with your crucifix forcing old scratch out of young girls. Well all the time that is. I mean I highly doubt your typical exorcist could force the horrors of Lovecraft back into their Pandora's box" grinned Orion as he placed the empty bottle of Jim Bean on the bar counter, having finished it during Halo's explanation of what was on the other side of the window. Most of what she said Orion already knew, but in a simplified version, however one couldn't be around as long as Orion had been and not at least know a little about everything.

"You're sounding like a follower of Asatru with all that law and chaos shit. Personally I wouldn't trust most demons as far as I could throw them, well less than that. No offence Al, I just tend to think most people born of hell are more likely to screw you than a good god. But what do I know right? I don't have to go deal with them, I just got to go hunting. Speaking of hunting I'm about to go and killed a rat and fry it for some food. How about some wings Al?" asked Orion as he gave the bartender a fake pout.

"So, you think a Faustian deal in return for a home base to reek havoc from isn't bad?" Orion said as he turned his grey eyes back to Halo and Sebastian. "I for one would rather live in a world without creeps taking over kids to go on killing sprees from".

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

"Personally I wouldn't agree to a possession, there's barely enough room for my persona in this body, nevermind inviting another entity. But hey, it works out just dandy for some folks. Very rarely does an agreed possesion result in a killing spree brought about by the human/possessor symbiont, in fact unless you are a trained eye you'd never know someone was housing two separate beings in the same body and add to that its not just demons that have the ability to posses a human body. There is like, shit, a GAZILLION different type of spirits alone, that can posses a person."

She laid a hand on the heavy leather sleeve encasing Orion's arm, "I follow no one in this life except my own intuition and possibly the tiny voice from my underpants on occasion, I've met enough Gods to know better. Its kind of depressing really, realising that even something as powerful as a God has the same petty personality flaws as us lowly mortals, well apart from me of course, we both know I am utterly flawless", she snickered between sips of rum, "Anyway. . before I fell into the pitfall of my own narcissism, I was trying to make some sort of point. In my line of work everyone is pretty much equal, now I know that makes me sound like some filthy flower child that hasn't noticed that it is no longer 1969, but its more just a case that all beings on this spinning rock are scum sucking crud. It could be that I am leaning on the jaded side too, but the blood that has been spilled by my hands is not specified to just one species. I've slain angels and castrated demons, I've maimed minor dieties and preformed GBH on gods, what you are has no reflection on my job, its what you do. Basically an asshole is an asshole regardless of how the came into existence. And let me tell you, this world is just packed to the brim with assholes."
 

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"Sounds like someone has been reading too many nihilist pamphlets" laughed Orion as he ran his free hand through his light brown hair. Rhetoric like what Halo was talking about seemed to be on the lips of every jaded Lestat groupie, but Halo had a firm grasp on reality and was extremely powerful. She had the power to do a lot of good, and that she might not use her powers to the their full extent benevolently saddened Orion, he was a good guy after all. But really who could blame her, in this world there were two types of people, those who did the fucking, and those who got fucked. After being fucked by celestials who think you owe them for years who wouldn't want to be the one to do the fucking for once. That wouldn't change Orion's mind though, he'd been around longer than Halo, and from personal experience knew that the supposed good guys were less likely to stab a dagger into your back.

Orion moved his large hand on top of Halo's and grinned. "You forget what I am, and I'm not an asshole am I?" asked the grey eyed man.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo smiled with genuine affection, "No, Orion. You are the acception that proves the rule and I damned well love you for it", she clunked her bottle to his, raising it aloft, "Here's to acceptions."

The bottle top disappeared between her full lips as she tipped a shot of liquid fire into her belly, "So enough of my adolescent meanderings. I had a pretty good drunken stupor going on before I got all rhetorical and full of selfrighteous bullshit. I came here to get drunk, cause a little trouble and bask in the ambiance of this fine establishment."

Halo allowed the rum to work its own blend of magic on her bloodstream, the last few mouthfuls blissfully softening the corners and blotting out the lingering memory of projectile vomit. She sat with a shit eating grin on her elfin face, she was in good company, had a potential partner for little bit of carnal adventure, three quarters of a bottle of rum and an obscene amount of cash in consequential bills.

She turned to look into the flint gray eyes of Orion, "You know what, right now, right this very minute, life is good. Though only one thing could make this a the perfect Kodak moment", she cast her icy cyan gaze back towards the inhuman barman, "Hey Al, throw some wings this way too would you?"
 

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"You'll need a camera as well," Sebastian said absently.  His attention was divided at the moment.  He had an uncanny knack for spotting cops, along with possessions and souls ripe for the picking.  "And Faustian deals aren't what I handle, Orion.  I'm a broker, not an agent.  I generally trade souls that are already heading for Hell for those who have a chance at redemption.  Personally, I don't think it's much of a loss if the old alcoholic bag lady that spits at you every time you go past ends up in Hell six years early, if that buys an eight year old a second chance."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo grinned at Sebastian, her stupor slowly returning. "No camera needed here", she tapped at her temple with a solitary long finger, "Photographic memory."

She stared at the dark clad man then theatrically blinked her eyes, "There you go, your visage is now indelibly recorded in the photograph album of my mind. You better hope I don't need to use that one day for anything other than fond memories."

Al scuttled towards the crowd of three, brandishing two oversized plates piled high with sauce drenched chicken wings. Halo's face lit up like a gaudy Christmas tree, "Al, you are an absolute doll."

The barman gave Halo a smile filled with sharp angles and bowed delicately from the waist, "My pleasure."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"I wasn't actually talking about anything you did. I'm not quite sure what it is that you do. I come from a different belief system, the one I belong to doesn't deal in soul trades and the like, everyone is headed for the same place, just different levels of it. All and all I think it makes for a more fair after life" smiled Orion as he leaned back a little to look at Sebastian.

"Said old bag lady would be better off converting to my faith, then she'd just end up by a river for a while instead of whatever your hell is like".

Orion was going to continue but the demonic barkeep happened to show up at the moment with a plate of Orion's favorite meal to have that he didn't have to kill himself. "Thank you Al, I'm serious about that place in the stars. Keep serving the wings like these and I'll get you a place right by me" chuckled the long haired man as he picked up a hot red wing and slid the hot meat between his lips, slurping and pulling the meat off the bone with his teeth and dropping the truly devoured wing back onto the plate after finishing. "Nothing better than gluttony" Orion said as he put his fingers in his mouth to suck off the sauce.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo leaned heavily on Orion as she stripped the flesh from the brittle bones with small, white teeth. She was precariously balanced on the stool, almost her entire upperbody resting against the celestial for support. The rum had saturated her system and she was now well past the point of merry and well on the road of wrecked. Sloppily, she mopped at her face with wads of paper napkins, effectively smearing grease and sauce across her face rather than cleaning it off.

"I'm so with you, O, gluttony is like the best of little baby J's seven deadly sins ever, but sloth is good too, I like sloth. . .and sloths are good, they are weird creatures, some only have three toes. Can you imagine having only three toes? That would make it kind rough finding a nice pair a shoes that would fit, huh? I like shoes, shoes are good. Your shoes are pretty, O, they were once alligators, huh? Yup, alligators. . ."

She turned her face up to beam at the big man, her features slack in the mask of a happy drunk, "You know what, Orion, you are pretty awesome, now I hate that word, cos you know, no one actually uses it in the correct manner and it has lost its power, but you, you are awesome, like in the real sense of the word. We should like, you know, hang out and kill stuff together. Sometimes I like to kill stuff, hunting is fun. Sometimes its not fun to kills stuff, though, but lets not talk about that, lets talk about fun stuff, okay?"

She smiled at him without a single inhibition, she suddenly looked very small and very young, a certain innocence seemed to be draped around her shoulders like a protective cloak. At that very moment it was impossible to believe this funny little pixie of a woman held enough power in her to flatten everything within a one hundred mile radius with a single word.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"You underestimate Lust, Halo,"  Sebastian said.  "In all its varied forms, Lust is probably the most universal sin.  Lust covers so many of the others.  Lust for power.  Lust for wealth.  Lust for food.  In the end, it's all Lust."  He took a small sip of his drink and moved slightly, changing his position so that he would be better positioned to attempt to catch Halo if she slipped off her stool.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"Lust for wealth is greed, lust for food is gluttony. It's all just semantics. The point of the matter is I was being sarcastic as the so called sins of the faith of Abraham have no affect on me at all. If I die I run no chance of going to hell or heaven. I should try to get people to convert to my faith, they'd be happier anyway" Orion said as he tore the small amount of sauce covered meat off of another wing.

Orion listened to the random parade of words that marched out of Halo's mouth with a smile, nodding his head in agreement with the rambling.

"You're pretty awe inspiring yourself Halo, I don't know of anyone who can do some of the stuff you can. Well human anyway" chuckled Orion as he wiped off his hand on a napkin and shook his long hair at the innocent aura that seemed to radiate off of Halo at that time.

"Killing sounds good, my favorite thing to do is go hunting. We should go on a hunting trip one of these days, someplace with really big dangerous game".

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"The point is, they are all variations on lust.  And where you go would depend on what you consider dangerous.  Some might consider hunting a hungry grizzly with a pointed stick is dangerous.  For others, the ultimate hunt is going after a great white with just a snorkel and a knife."  Sebastian shrugged.  "Personally, I think my idea of big game and yours will be radically different because our hunting grounds are equally radically different.  You actually kill things.  My trophies are less tangible."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"I was actually talking to Halo. I had pegged you for, and was correct, a nonhunter. I don't use guns, that takes all the sport out of it. A bow I might use if the mood strikes, usually I just use my club, same thing I've always used. But I've killed enough grizzlies and great whites aren't even the most vicious of the sharks. No I'm thinking of something bigger and a lot more challenging. Something that is suicidal to go against would be most preferable. And my entire point was, you're misusing the term lust" Orion said as he wiped at the edges of his mouth.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo scrunched her face up and pulled her shoulders up around her ears, making her resemble a human turtle, "Guys, stop with the smart talk, you're hurting my head and I said talk about fun things. This bicker bicker bicker blah blah blah is no fun."

Her moist lips fell into a childish pout and her glazed eyes became saucer-like, "You're killing my happy little rum-buzz and that's a bad thing. Halo needs her happy place and if you two don't stop with the seriousness I will transfigure this whole damned place into Halo's happy place and you'll both be clad in nothing but leopardskin loincloths and forced smiles, shaking your derriers for my amusement, so you",  she swivelled slightly, precariously wobbling as she moved to look up at Sebastian, "You make with the shushy. You have a pretty face and I would very much like to kiss it and do rude things with your body. Hmm. . you wear lots of black and that is good, mm-hmm, very pretty."

She blinked sleepily at Sebastian her eyes brimming with desire and intoxication. She raised a finger to his lips and held it there as she continued, "So less of the long words and more of the being yummy and telling Halo filthy things and she might take you home and make you do them, okay Mr Pretty Face? And you",  she lurched towards Orion, his broad chest the only thing stopping her from becoming a crumpled heap on the vile floor, "I love you, O you are a very big man, with lots of hair, you're like a . . .a. . .a big hairy guy covered in hair and I love you, yes I do. You're my big hairy friend and I want to kill scary creatures that will try to eat our faces with you and dance in the moonlight to thank the spirits for our hunt and be naked with blood then make a dress out of fur. . . .yes I need a fur dress, a dress made from the skin of the animal we killed. I will wear it when I am sad and it will make me think of you and our hunt, yes. . ."

Her face disappeared in the large man's chest, her incoherent babbling muffled by the denim and leather.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

Orion couldn't help but laugh at the drunken ramblings of the powerful mystic. It was odd to see someone who you knew was obscenely powerful be so strongly affected by something as insignificant as alcohol. But at the same time he knew that at any point she could throw off the throes of the drink.

"That sounds like a fun time. I look forward to the clubbing of the big bad furry monsters and the wearing of their skins" said Orion in a very me Tarzan you Jane sort of way. "With the dancing in the blood and the wearing of the skin. You'll be turning the hunting trip into Halo's happy place in no time like that".

Halo wasn't in her most perceptive state of mind, but she knew what she was doing, so Orion decided if she wanted to go to where ever with the supposed gentleman in black that he wouldn't try to stop her. Besides everyone needed to let some steam off now and then.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Goosekat on

A couple of belts of the Vodka and Carmin was starting to feel better.  Not terrific and definitely not drunk by any means, but better.  The pain in her left hand had subsided to a dull roar and she could use it without wincing, too much.  The skin was red and swollen, not black and crispy like one might expect after being burned so bad.  It looked more like someone had splashed acid on it than set it on ablaze.  And basically that is exactly what had happened.  The two sat there for a few moments in silence, trying to wash the sour taste from their mouths.  Daniel was the first to brake the silence.  "I guess I should thank you for saving me from, what did you call those infernal things?"  "Imps," she responded, making a face to show just how much she detested the foul things.  "The stupidest demons to ever be spawned."  "Right, Imps," his tone making it clear that he was having a hard time coming to grips with what he knew must of just happened.  "Tell me Miss Aguilare, just what in the world you were doing in a place like that?  And what did you mean you were doing you job?"  Carmin poured another drink and downed it one swallow, trying to collect her thoughts.  She shrugged and avoided his eyes, "Just in the right place at the right time I guess."  "Don't give me that innocent crap!  Something is going with you and now apparently I'm part of it.  Just what in the hell did I get dragged into?" 

Carmin took another drink and looked the detective straight in the eyes.  "Do you really want to know?"  She held her hand up, stopping him from answering her question.  "Because if you do, I'll tell you.  Or at least I'll try to explain.  But take a moment and really think this through.  If I tell you what you want to know it will open up a door and expose you to a whole new world, one you can't turn back from.  And it will place you in extreme danger from things worse than those Imps.  Things you would be better off never meeting."

Detective Daniel Montoya took another drink and sat in silence for a full two minutes before answering her.  "I need to know."  He looked straight at her and continued.  "I've long suspected that a good portion of the unsolved murders that come across my desk will never be solved.  At least not in this world.  I need to know what is out there butchering the people of this fair city.  And if there is anyway I can stop it from happening.  You say there are worse things than those bat Imp things that attacked me.  Well maybe there are and maybe there aren't.  It doesn't matter.  I get the distinct feeling that what ever it is you are into, I'm somehow connected to it.  So I don't think that I can keep out of it even if I wanted to.  Someday, sooner or later, I'm going to get dragged in.  It might as well be on my terms."

Carmin gave him one of her award winning smiles.  "OK then.  I guess the place to start would be to introduce you to the different types of creatures that abound in the realms.  There are basically five types of creatures you will run into.  You have your celestials, basically those who fight on the side of good and the light.  Don't get me wrong.  They are by no means pure, innocent and benevolent creatures.  They can be just as cruel and inhuman as all the rest.  But usually they tend to aid mortals, not harm them.  There are hundreds if not thousands of different factions of celestials.  You have your Watchers, those who watch over mortals but tend not to interfere in any way.  Then there are the protectors.  Think of them as guardian angels if you want.  They are usually assigned to watch, guide and protect about a dozen or so mortals at any one time.  And there are the fallen.  Those celestials who for one reason or another have fallen from grace and have been condemned to live as mortal here an Earth.  These are the three main factions that you need to worry about when it comes to those from the heavens. 

You also have demon kind.  If its possible, there are even more types of them then there are the celestials.  You already met Imps.  The other two you really have to worry about are hell spawn and the hounds.  These are usually the only three that you will find freely wandering around the mortal realm.  Other types of demons visit from time to time, but always with a specific purpose in mind.  Some come to claim souls. Other to posses those who are willing to make a deal with them.  You get the idea.  Think of everything that you have ever read about them or seen in the movies and you have the basics of demon society.

The third group are spirits and shades.  Ghosts, poltergeists, shades, ghouls, you name it its probably wandering around somewhere.  Most of the time they are harmless.  Simple souls that have gotten stuck between two realms, not any real danger.  But sometimes they stick around for some reason, usually to get revenge on someone or to right an injustice.  They are easy to deal with.  Leave them alone and they will leave you alone.  Unless they ask for your help.  Then you better do everything in your power to fulfill their request or you will have one pissed off entity haunting you.

The fourth group is the immortals.  This covers everything that doesn't fall into the other groups.  Here we are talking elves, sprites, fairies, leprechauns, etc..  The tend to blend into the mortal population so well that you have probably already dealt with several of them and never even noticed."

Carmin poured another full glass and drank half before continuing.  "And last but not least you have us.  Mortals.  You already know the depravity that we are capable of.  But that is just one small group of mankind.  Among us you have vessel's, people who can channel demons, celestials, and spirit through them.  Most of them become fortune tellers and mediums, helping the living get in touch with the dead.  There are channelers.  Mortals who can channel arcane powers through their own body and soul, whether that power comes from a celestial or a demon it doesn't matter.  All they do it allow the power to flow through them.  Some of the more powerful channelers can direct the power, but most cannot.  And non can retain it for long.  There are demon hunters.  People who actively seek out and try to destroy, or at the very least drive away, demon kind.  Many of this type are exorcists or cleansers.  Those who drive demons out of people or places.  Finally you have those like me.  Mortals who are blessed, or cursed depending on how you look at it, with the ability to aid those mistakenly taken by the Imps and hell spawn.  When an Imp or hell spawn grabs a person that they are not supposed to, it sends a type of shock wave through the fabric of reality.  If one is sensitive to those waves, one can tell just where the innocent victim has been taken.  We frequently travel by means of what we call 'riding the rails'.  It's a way of traveling along the corridors in hell that the Imps and hell spawn use.  Usually we can avoid them, after all, they tend not to want to get into a fight with someone who is carrying  around enough power inside themselves to make a 300 megaton nuclear bomb look like a firecracker."

She stopped to drink the rest of the Vodka in her glass and to pour another.  And to give Daniel time to digest what she had just told him.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"You're wrong, Orion,"  Sebastian said.  "I am more of a hunter than you will ever be able to understand.  I just hunt in a different forest. Now, as far as you are concerned, Halo, I was thinking about dipping you in chocolate and seeing how many licks it takes to get to the centre of the the Tootsie Pop."  He smiled and his teeth were straight, white and even.  He could have been a toothpaste model.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

Orion's eyebrows were twitching like mad by the end of the diatribe that someone was giving some poor soul behind him.

"Sebastian do me a favor, keep an eye on Halo here for a moment. I have a soul to save" said Orion as he lightly slid Halo off of his chest and towards the man in black, giving her a weak smile as he did and ignoring the man's comments. "Sorry about leaving you high and dry Halo I'll only be a minute, unless of course you want to go someplace with Sebastian. In which case I'll talk to you later my fine friend, you know how to get in touch anytime you want to go hunting" explained Orion as he pulled a couple of bills out of his denim shirt's pocket and left it on the counter for the demonic bartender. "Thanks for the wings Al, toss 'em in a box for me will ya?" Orion said over his shoulder as he walked away from the bar.

Orion walked towards the table that Carmin and Daniel sat at, pulling a chair away from another table on the way. "Everything you've ever been told is a lie" said Orion as he placed the chair backwards against the table the two sat at and sat down on it. "Everything that is except what I'm about to tell you. I'm Orion, it's nice to meet you both. I am god. Not the god, a god, and before you ask yes I am the hunter who has a constellation named after him and my father is Poseidon. Now before you start staring and gaping at me let me fill you in on some stuff. I'm only doing this since you seem to be fairly indoctrinated into my world by the way" said Orion as he paused to let what he was saying sink in. "Now you" he said as he turned to look at Carmin with stone grey eyes, "are entirely wrong". He decided he'd let that seep in for a second too. "These judeao-christian crap that someone is feeding you is exactly that. It's crap. JC ain't the only god in these here parts. All gods exist, from Jesus' pop to Thor and Pan. Infact I happen to know Pan quite well. This celestial bullshit? Is again exactly that, there are a fuck load of heavens, every religion that has one has one. Hells? Same shit. You may end up in Satan's care, you may end up in my boy Hade's. And don't for a second think of calling me an angel, I ain't no angel angel, I'm one hundred percent grade A god straight from the loins of the King of the Sea, well one of 'em anyway. And demons? Don't fall for that imp shit, imps and hell hounds, those are all just tools, they ain't sentient. They probably aren't of infernal make either, least not in my opinion. And before you go and talk about angels and demons you should realize that they ain't all the tools of Satan, there are as many demons as there are religions. And not all of them are half bad either, if you liked that drink you got from Al you got a demon to thank for it, since Al happens to be from some hell or another. And if you don't like what I just had to say that's too bad, cause even if you got the power of the sun at your disposal that isn't going to do much when I respawn more than a kid with an infinity lives cheat in a video game".

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo nodded with a neck composed entirely of stretched out rubber as Orion peeled her from his chest, "Okies, Orion. I am with the thinking that Mr Pretty Face can entertain me."

Her slouch landed squarely on Sebastian with a satisfied smirk on her booze slicked mouth, "Looks like its just you and I ,my fine, dark friend. I like your plan, but you would have to lick that chocolate well and truly gone until you found the sacred centre of this Tootsie Pop."

She draped her arms over his shoulders, her rum soaked lips brushing his as she spoke in barely above a whisper, "I like you Sebastian, you get it. Now don't disappoint me, I play hard and fast. Don't let the fact that I am completely and utterly smashed fool you into thinking that I'm by any means incapacitated."

Her breathing came out in slow, heavy pants, "And just so you know, no doesn't always necessarily mean no in Halo's Happy Place."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maltesedragn on

The paper money being placed on the counter squelched in the Werewolf's keen ear.
She lifted her bent head slightly as if interested in this new conversation across the room.Lazily she ran her fingers through her dried and bloodied fur, trying to reform it with no success.   Bending her head down and keeping much to herself she observes the room's inhabitants, like a game of Chess. She Inhales heavily while guarding her Gin, and slinks back into her thoughts.

Arctos could Smell it, in the heavy fog, Drowning her senses like a dead rat in formaldehyde. Slowing the Hunter's pace the cunning Were receded momentarily, still within easy reach of her prey.  Now Arctos could almost taste the sweat from her soon to be victim as he Shuddered in fear behind  a mound of  crumbled stone.

Ever so slowly, she enjoyed this moment- the pulsing of the blood- raging like the rapids of the Colorado River in her ears. The stench of fear in her Soon to be Next Victim.

A Tiny scream escapes the shivering body drenched in sweat, A small plea of some sort?

The Shewolf guffaws at this thought, Knowing that there is No Other WAY.

Arctos take a sip of her Gin and Lime, closing her watchful eyes briefly, then

re-immersed in her memory.

Hunched on all fours, Ragged with misplaced highlites of bleached blond, auburn and dark brown, with a dash of black, Arctos gets ready to ravage her small prey under the light of the full moon.

As she pounces, the full grown mortal screams in Knowing that his death was eminent.

Arctos slashed him to the ground with her razor sharp claws,  knocking him to the ground.  Drawing in closer, Practically tasting the blood.

In a Primitive  fashion, she rips the humans neck to shreds, leaving the heart still beating briefly,  as If it was some sacred ritual.   Arctos tears at the flesh and discards the random pieces of fabric caught between her teeth.  the denim zips and buttons.... spit out onto the debris. 

With the fresh carcass still radiating heat waves under the chilly night sky, she clutches the fresh heart in her sharp claws and Savours the first bite. 

Arctos lets out a sigh in exhilaration, as she continues to savour the organ from her last kill.   

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

I walked down the street my reflection like a ghost in the windows of cars I passed, I walked like I knew where I was going, like I owned the place. It didn't matter where I went, for there would surely be someone there who had been waiting their whole life to be my friend. I'm a ghost of a man, I am what god hath wrought, and I am rotten. But I repent and I resent and it's a cycle, but then again isn't everything a cycle? I moved down the practically empty street, it is dirty in more than one way, litter litters the sides of the road and plastic bags roll down the boulevards like tumbleweeds in a cowboy movie. Not only that, but the people on the street were dirty, bag ladies and the other filthy human types that lived at the rotten core of the Big Apple. But who am I to judge? Age may equal wisdom, and you may learn from your mistakes, but that doesn't change the fact you made a mistake in the first place. I'm not speaking of you of course, I am infact referring to myself, it is just a bad habit I have of saying you when I give an example. But I digress.

I came across a bar, and I sensed within it many presences that at one point would of been a blasphemy to acknowledge as real. My my how times do change. I looked at the man in front of the door, a bouncer his type are called. His lips moved but I didn't listen, I was too busy wondering how one would come into the postion of guarding gods and devils, maybe he was a golem of some sort? He didn't look like a golem, he was tall and large, skin like ebony wood and eyes like the needles of a pine, no not a golem. It mattered little anyway.

"Yes yes that is very nice, but I am not here anymore" I said as I slipped past him and into the bar, he didn't seem to care enough to stop me, why would he I have no power to hurt anyone in the bar. Significantly anyway... I think.

The bar was full with people it seemed. I think it was anyway, it looked like it had enough to count as full. There were gods and generals in the room. I'm sure no one cared much when I entered. I'm not exactly the most exciting looking individual. Voluminous hair so red it almost looked black that hung to my shoulders and was combed back, deep green eyes not unlike those of the portal watcher, the complexion of one who dwelt east of Eden, and at the time I was wearing a red short sleeved shirt with the image of Gidget Gein's unpop art can on it, baggy faded blue jeans with a hole in the ass that my American flag boxers were visible through, and a pair of white sneakers I got at a Payless. And by got yes I do mean stole. So as I said, I didn't look very fancy or outrageous. No one seemed to pay me any mind either, they all seemed absorbed in their conversations. Then I saw her.

She was a daughter of the moon, lost in her thoughts in a way that was not unlike the way I sometimes got lost in my waking dreams. I decided I needed to see into the mind of one with such insight, for it is not every day that one gets to speak with a wild animal and have it say something back. So I crossed the bar, noticing how the air was heavy with smoke and staleness, it seemed not even gods were immune to the addiction of cancer sticks. Gods? Oh how I blaspheme. Anyway, I walked up to the bar and leaned on it, giving the werewolf a smile that showed off all of my teeth, they weren't perfect, but they didn't exactly have toothbrushes when I was growing up. I flicked the shades that I wore up onto my forhead so she could see my green eyes before speaking. People usually appreciated such small acts of intimacy.

"Surely you have been waiting for I daughter of Luna. Just as surely as I have entered this place where the animals drink to converse with you".

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Sebastian twitched slightly.  The beginnings of a theology lecture from the self proclaimed God sent a shudder through his lawyer-soul.  It was an argument he longed to get into, if not for the luscious inebriate in front of him.  "No always means no in Sebastianville," he said.  "Otherwise Sebastianville gets relocated to a back corner of Grey Bar County.  Colour me selfish but I enjoy the idea of being able to walk more than eight feet in any one direction, without fear of getting my ass raped by a tattooed biker named Mavis."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo shook her head with the ferocity of a dog desperately trying to dislodge a tick from its ear, "No, no, no you big silly. You entirely misunderstood me. . possibly? What I was meaning was is there not times when we squeal 'Oh no! Stop! You simply mustn't', when in all honesty the last thing we want, is the perpetrator of the squirm inducing activities to stop."

The bottle of rum dangled from Halo's fingertips as she gesticulated wildly, the amber liquid slopped all down the front of the country girl, gingham blouse. The moisture of the rum soaking past the material alerted her of the mess she had made. She sighed dramatically and heavy handedly placed the bottle back on the battle scarred bar with a resounding clunk, "Oh balls, look what I've done now. Urgh, what a spaz, what a drunken bum of a spaz."

Hamfistedly, she pawed at the splattered booze stains with balled up napkins harbouring the remnants of wing sauce. Her face the very vision of concentration, right down to her tongue peeking out from the corner of her mouth, as she scrubbed away, making more of mess, rather than remedying the situation. She realised the futility of her supposed clean up and stopped to look at the damage done, her pink tongue disappearing back to the confines of her mouth.

Halo froze, the only movement of her slight frame being the heaving of her chest. Her breathing became erratic and laboured as her body increased in rigidity. The already precarious stool rocked beneath her as a visible vibration juddered through her slight frame. The ear offending sound of grinding teeth emanated from behind her full lips whilst her long fingered hands curled into cruel claws, short sharp nails mercilessly digging into the pale flesh of her palms. A guttural gurgle joined the sickening sound of dental enamel being ground to powder. The cloudless day blue of her irises disappeared as her eyes rolled back in her head, eyelids flickering like the wings of a paniced bird. The violence of the tremors coursing through her body increased tenfold, the threat of her toppling to the beer and filth encrusted floor becoming a definite reality. A creamy froth of spittle bubbled past her clenched teeth and dripped spastically from her chin on to the blossoming hot sauce stains. The gurgling gave way to a rising growl, tiny beads of sweat sprung up on her brow and lazily trailed down to mingle with the foam on her lips. The three legs of the barstool no longer able to bear the convulsing woman, allowed her to crash down to the scum laden floor. Her limbs contrated into her body, until she was pulled entirely into a fetal position. A furious scream had grown from the growl as her lean body thrashed in on itself.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maltesedragn on

Arctos took in the seemingly meager sight of this creature with due suspicion. Noticing the deep green eyes, how mortal they seem in this light, and  who could forget the peeping Patriotic boxers, screaming to be noticed. Oh yes, rarely did Arctos unnoticed such minute detail.   

She gazed at his scruffy shoes, once white now covered with life's dust. sniffing his scent almost instantaneously, Arctos flashed her canines wolfishly, and wondered who this creature was. I mean REALLY was. What made this persona beside her tick?

Arctos lifted the glass in her  paw and took the last bit of gin at the bottom, savouring the pungency that is Uniquely it's own. With stealthy eye,  she glanced briefly around the room. Then set the glass down a bit harder than anticipated. 

She winced in fear of shattering the glass, then quickly stole a glance at her acquaintance. Then Arctos reached into her Black Leather satchel and pulled out some loose coin.

With much thanks, Arctos set the money on the counter. Always being conscious of leaving a rather generous tip. For this reason;  You never know who you might be insulting.

The Werewolf turned her head, in response to this Ghost of a man, flashing him a smile full of sweetness and a look that spoke of something else intirely.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

I watched as the cub spoke at length, each movement of a strand of her hair and each time her chest rose in that distinctly mortal fashion it spoke at legnth to me. She watched my eyes, I wonder if she realized how the green in them was the same as the deadly green leaves of the hemlock. She seemed to be looking me over, it seemed I was responding at length to her inquiries as well, she seemed satisfied with her findings.

I do not understand why she did what she did next, she behaved quite unlike the perceptive creature I had just noted, she slipped back into the primordial ooze and gave me a look very much like she would any other sheep. But I am a lost sheep, and to drink of my hearts blood is a curse that not many would be willing to accept.

She seemed startled by the way she placed down her glass, something that told me she wasn't paying much attention to anything but me. How pleasant of her. My green eyes wandered down to her hands as she took a good amount of coins from her night colored bag. I couldn't help but wonder why she didn't just use dollar bills, or any of the other accepted currency, like buttons or sea shells.

"Many extended handshakes to equal the thanks I give, I give in the form of words" I said to her. I was surprised by the way I allowed me emotions to get the better of me and say such sentimental things.  

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"Oh boy" said Orion as he heard the tell tale signs of Halo about to go into a fit, he knew she wasn't going to die but they were not at all a pleasant thing to watch. "Sorry guys if you have a bone to pick about what I've said you'll have to do it later. I got a friend to watch out for".

Orion slid off of the backwards facing chair and rushed to Halo's fallen and frothy side. "She's alright, well alright ish" Orion said over his shoulder to Sebastian as he winced and watched her, there wasn't much else he could do, besides keep her from rolling on the dirty ground like he was.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maltesedragn on

Arctos  Sighed gently and  looked  at the Mortal again.

'I have no wish to ravage you with my canines this eve, so rest your poisonous eyes. I  have eaten not so long ago and am content. '

The Shewolf slid the coin from the counter back into her satchel and replaced it with bills.
Not wanting  to add further insult, with a wink to the Bartender.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"Content is all but what the crow is, and am I not but what follows the wolf? I'm not here for your meal but instead to devour what you have to say whole. But you have spoken the bibles length to me and I have learned much, I simply wished to thank you for your generosity in allowing me to learn from you" I said with a friendly smile, she seemed to be on edge, she seemed to pick up on my thoughts as well. I wondered if there was more to this child of the moon than appeared.

"Tell me" I started, "do you see past the shell of the egg and into the yoke?".

I wondered if the stale stench of the watering hole bothered her, she seemed to have a sensitive nose, why else would she have sniffed at me. I figured it must of as the haze that hung heavy was even beginning to choke me.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maltesedragn on

'How can one Look at an egg as just a shell?  The Yolk is but the Best part.  it's what makes the egg an egg.  With out either part... it's merely 'hollow' and empty.   Like.... humans and blood. It's just blood on it's own and a human is just a corpse without blood to  give it life'

Arctos spoke, and blushed further at the thought of  this 'possible' stench.  Grinning now to herself, she ordered another Gin with Lime.

Now turning to the speaker,  'What is your poison?'

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"I see that your hunter eyes pierce like your teeth, you can see past the curtain that hangs over everything hiding it from the eyes of those who do not seeks to tear away the obscene yellow wall paper" I said with a broad smile, I was liking her more now that she didn't seem to want to leave. But how could you not like a person who wants to stay? Those who would turn away a fugitive seeking asylum never made much sense to me.

"I see that you taste the haze that lays in the air like a miasma" I stated while watching a blush grace her cheeks. She seemed to be able to hear what I said, I briefly considered thinking such terrible things to see if they would excite her. But I seek saving not further damnation.

"Food and drink turn to ashes on my tongue, I do not seek sustenance. To partake in libations is a gift for those not damned". I watched her while brushing a stray lock of darkest red hair from my eyes and back into place, I wondered where she was from.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maltesedragn on

' As you wish' .

Arctos  picked up her drink and took the first sip. 

' Not only have I got keen hearing and sight, but I also love to smell things. Just comes with the territory. These Natural instincts have saved me one or twice.  It's not easy for a Werewolf living amongst humans, however remote the location.  '

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

I couldn't help but chuckle as she said as you wish, because I didn't wish for that. I wished with all my might that I might sup from pitchers of gold and feast upon the most tender of shoots once again. But it was just a figure of speech, a hatter of a figure that seemed to stare through the looking glass right at me, then again he may of just been looking at himself.

"You move more now and speak less, but I can see through the walls you lay and perceive what you mean and truly say. Speak at me and tell how you manage to live in this big rotten apple without trouble. Do you not hunger for the flesh of the sons of Seth? Or do you slake your thirst on vermin now in pestholes away from the prying eyes of man?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maltesedragn on

'How could it be that I would not Hunger for the Sons of Seth. the fresh warm still beating heart from a human is the sweetest bite.  But is not Seth a son to Abraham' ?
 

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"Actually no, Seth was the third son of Adam and Eve. He existed long before Abraham" I said in what was probably the hardest to understand statement of that day. My eyes must of looked blank, for that stirred up thoughts and I was quiet for a long moment before turning back to the murderer.

"I see, do you not fear where this will cause you to house when you pass into whatever is next? Do you not fear the forces of evil? Or do you count yourself as a wolf amongst their ranks?" I asked, I was interested in the answer and I'm sure it showed on my face as I watched her drink her gin.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo's body continued battling within itself as Orion cradled her, flecking him with great gobs of frothy saliva. Her body rattled with the intensity of a trainwreck in the mountainous man's protective arms, her muscles contracted to the point of virtual petrifaction.  Her eyes snapped yawning wide, the palest blue eclipsed with the depthless darkness of her dilated pupils. Soft lips moved wordlessly as if trying to formulate speech for the first time, then she found her voice, clear and light, "Etutu qitrubu, eli baltuti ima' 'idu mituti. Uggae alaksu qabu Urbat ki'am usella mituti ikkalu baltuti."

Her small body slumped in the security of Orion's embrace, sweat drenched and covered in filth from the floor. Slowly her breathing returned to normal, her face serene as if merely napping in the sunshine of a perfect summer's day.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maltesedragn on

The Shewolf bit her lip now and considerd this mortals words very carefully.   Then set her gin down with more skill than earlier that evening. 

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"I've dealt with epileptics before,"  Sebastian said to Orion.  "In your time they were hailed as being touched by the god.  These days, they've just got fucked up brain wiring.  How the mighty have fallen, eh?  Did you happen to catch the gibberish she was spouting?  I speak a lot of languages but obviously not enough to make out all of what she said."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maltesedragn on

'Yes, yes of course Abraham was much later. Forgive the receding Biblical knowledge. Yet isn't it Odd you said Sons of Seth and not Sons of Adam' ?

Arctos could sense Something Very deep about this figure beside her, but did not press further.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"She's not an epileptic" said Orion as he brushed some of the hair out of the fallen girl's face and started to wipe away some of the froth with napkins that had fallen with her. "She was having a vision of some sort. It has happened before. I don't recognize the language though, but it wasn't gibberish, it's never been before anyway". Grey eyes watched Halo, Orion was waiting for her to wake up while repeating the sounds she had said in his mind, she'd want to know what she said.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"Not at all odd, Adam had three sons, but from those sons only one had further offspring. The other two, well they didn't. So all men come from Seth, so sayeth the bible anyway. Although I've since learned much that confuses the issue. But enough of this speaking of time long since lost to all but the dusty old pages of a book written by men who weren't even there".

I watched her watch me, wondering what wormed inside the werewolves mind.  

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"That was an epileptic seizure if I've ever seen one.  Classic grand mal.  Don't worry, I don't think any less of her.  It's not her fault and it's only a problem if she lets it be one.  I know somebody else who lets epilepsy rule her life.  Tragic, really."  Sebastian shook his head.  "Anyway, what she said had a cadence.  I have a gift for languages and she said something, possibly important, possibly meaningless.  I just hope she understands it when she's conscious.  If I can pronounce it properly.  Get much chance to practice your Greek, Orion?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"Why don't you go away?" growled Orion over his shoulder. "You can take your know it all attitude and shove it up your ass. I just fucking said it wasn't a epileptic seizure, clean out your fucking ears".

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maltesedragn on

 The Shewolf felt the curiosity from this Damned creature, in the way he played with his red locks, gazing at  her with his deep emerald eyes.

 Arctos took another sip of her gin, swallowing the entire contents. Then pulled out a wad of bills  handing them to Al.

' How have I come to live without threat in The Big Apple?, Assuredly I have not lived Without threat since my birth. I cannot say exactly when and where or the time or any of that such nonsense.  Only that I became what I am today.... and that I have travelled across continents, feasted upon the sick, the weak, the criminal, and the honest. When needed. Rats and other vermin in times of desperation are essential to survival in urbane centers.

No, Things are never quite what they seem. We both know that.  And I choose to rid this earth from the pariahs of society.  Examining my prey for some time. Observing.... then making my move.  Yes. the thrill of the kill... So exhilarating at times,  the chase,  the Kill, the Passion inside that allows us to do such things does not go unrewarded. 

I haven't always been a Werewolf.  For the first 16 years of my life, I was such a young sweet girl, over protected and naive.  How long ago that was.  IF only I knew then what I know now!  Things might have turned out quite different.  It hasn't been all bad - Don't get me wrong. I've probably done more with my life since I've become a Werewolf, than if I hadn't. '


 Arctos then turned to Al and ordered another gin and a bag of Cheese and Onion crisps.

'Thank You'

Arctos spoke as she grasped hold of the bag and opened it wither her claws. and turned back to the Damned

' One of my Guilty pleasures, What can I say? ' 

She stated with a wolfish grin.

 

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"Then which god has assured you that the rending of the unloved and misunderstood will lead you into their graces? Again I blaspheme but such are the ways of one who wishes to converse without the strains of having to do the dance of the pious around words and phrases that may offend. And for even saying that again I blaspheme. But I fear not, I've had time to fear and no longer does the shadow of that moon hang over me. Rat hunter tell me this, why do you hunt the living? Are you not but a simple sheep in wolfs clothing, or are you some sort of immortal hunter from a myth my ears have not yet been privy to? Do you feel some sort of arousal from the cannibalistic processes of hunting down those who are similar to you? Or is it even more carnal than that and pertains only to the need of feeding? To make others afraid, pleasure does it bring? Pleasure like a star brings in the darkest of black nights? What difference would knowing you were to become a murderer have made. To have fallen so far and learned nothing, that is your failing".

I laughed to myself as I watched her order such mundane food, gin and onion, hardly the nourishment you'd expect a apex predator to eat.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maltesedragn on

'I do not ask favors of anything i cannot touch.  I'd rather rely on my instincts.  Why Shouldn't I hunt the Living? I hunt  for sustenance- How can I expect to live off of crisps? Impossible .  As you said, I do it to keep the sheep inside happy. But I am also a murderer of the Living.   How can One NOT be arroused with the cannibalistic tendancies of the hunt? '

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"Anything can be touched if you read far enough. Instincts are just gut notions that animals follow and humans have a name for but do not follow. Sustenance has very little to do with what lays beneath the layers of skin, for what lays beneath the breast of the earth is just as life sustaining. Understanding how murderer of the flock brings the sheep peace is something I am lacking, could you betray the answer to me murderer?" I asked, ignoring her question about cannibalism and arousal. How would I, a perfectly well adjusted human being, know what sort of pleasures were brought about by the slow tearing back of skin to sup at the blood and still beating organ systems of a man?

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maltesedragn on

 Some do it for revenge, and some do it for sport...... Others out of necessity- For example:weakness in the flock. Sometimes the mere boundary of dominant and submissive roles take place, and must be carried out.  Is it not law in the Animal Kingdom?'

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

I watched her with my dark green eyes for a long time in silence with a very severe look gracing my dark features. Then a smile spread over my lips and I chuckled.

"Of course" I said while smiling and leaning the back of my head on my raised arm.  

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maltesedragn on

'So tell me, IF you and I happened to bump into eachother on the street-  WHY mighten I save your carcass?'

Arctos  could see the frustration creep up on the darkend strangers face and decided to let the subject drop. 

The Shewolf then smiled at the holder of the emeralds and put aside her gin.

'Enough about me, What about You? '

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"I exist, that is about the short and long of it" I told her while looking around the bar room. Someone seemed to be sick, but at the same time was speaking in Sumerian. A most odd occurrence. I seemed to have come to the right place to learn things, but did I even come to learn? Every passing day seemed to hold a new suprise for me. I longed to bring about an end to it all.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo's restful body flinched, her facing crumpling up as blues eyes reapeared in the relative gloom of the bar. She brought a hand up slowly to shield her eyes from what little light was getting into them, "Ooooow. . . . .shit."

She pushed herself up on to her elbows and shakily looked around, slowly realising the difference of her perspective, "Oh bugger, I'm not on my stool, feel like someone has ripped the top of my skull off and taken a shit in it and. . .", she glanced at the filthy floor she was now sat upon, "And covered in barfloor filth."

Halo slowly rose, using Orion for support, until she was standing her full modest height. She placed both hands firmly on the bar and stood with her head bowed as the room slowly spun, "Al, I'm going to the little girls room in about five seconds, please make sure there is something sickly sweet, waiting for me when I get back? A Shirley Temple sounds just dandy right about now."

She looked to both men that had been with her for the duration of the evening so far, "Sorry guys. I'll be right back after I try to pull myself together."

Staggering with all the grace of a dyspraxic chimp, she made her way to the swinging door of the ladies. She pushed the door open with a quick kick from her toes and shambled to the first sink, in front of the vast mirror. She concentrated on the dishevelled image presented to her, shaking her head at her rough appearance, "Christ on crutches, Hal. . .you look like shit."

She closed her eyes and her lips moved in whispers. A gentle breeze toyed playfully with her midnight hair and tugged at the fitted blouse, slowly the breeze twisted around her form and gained speed and velocity until she appeared to be within the eye of a small vortex. The winds whipped her hair up on end and threatened to rip the very clothes from her back. A smile graced her fine lips as the whirlwind finally slowed to nothing at all. Tenderly she peeked her eyes open and looked at the refreshed and cleansed young woman smiling back at her in the filth crusted mirror. She sighed as she brought a hand up to her eyes, pressing the ball of her palm into the sockets, "I look so cute, I just wish there was something I could do to shift this feeling of post vision hangover hell"

She returned to the bar, looking more prestine than when she had first entered O'Leary's and much to her a joy a pitcher in variegated sunset sat at the bar waiting for her. "Thank you, Al. Remind me to install that peacemaker enchantment for free of charge next time I'm in."

Halo drew a long gulp of the childish drink as she settle back onto the barstool between Orion and Sebastian, without looking at either of them she said, "That was a doozy, huh? Haven't had one that big for a while. Must've been something pretty fucking important to take me out completely. Did I say anything of interest or did I just roll around in the leftovers of my rum?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Cosmotological theologian and neurologist, specializing in test free diagnosis.  I'm impressed, Orion.  Tell me are you a lawyer as well or will I be safe venturing opinions in that field?"  His opinion of the arrogant hunter who seemed to believe in nothing so much as his own infallibility was rapidly dropping.  He was nothing more than an impressively muscled buffoon that thought he had a brain and an opinion on every subject that everyone wanted to hear.  He had often wondered whether such people knew they were full of shit or whether they actually believed themselves as well as expecting the rest of the world to do so.

He welcomed the newly cleaned Halo back with a warm smile and a nod.  She obviously recovered quickly.  "I wouldn't know what you said exactly, since I didn't understand it.  I can repeat it fairly accurately, I hope.  Orion will have to vouch for the accuracy.  You'll need to forgive my accent.  I didn't hear enough to pick it up properly."

Sebastian cleared his throat.  "Does 'Etuti kitrubo, eli baltuti ima idu mituti. Uggay alaksu kabu Urbat kiam usella mituti ikkalu baltuti' sound at all understandable?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo felt the quagmire thick atmosphere produced by the men that flanked her, nothing to do with her mystical prowess, any fool with an ounce of perception could feel the frigidity between the two men. This was something she would have to tackle later, if she actually remembered.

"Hang on a minute there fella. Hey Al can you toss me some more napkins and a pen? Thanks buddy."

The demonic barkeep scuttled to the register and produced a black, ballpoint pen. On his way back to Halo he grabbed a further handful of napkins, "Thanks, Doll. The S.T. is fabulous, is there no end to your talents?"

Al smiled at her and tipped an imaginary hat, "My pleasure, Hal."

"Okay so lets get this straight", Halo scribbled down the phrase that Sebastian had replayed for her in a penmanship that was fitting for GP in its illegibility. Her eyes scanned over her writtings, sounding out every word soundlessly. Her eyebrows knitted in concentration as the words played on her tongue and danced through her mind, then the colour slowly drained from her already pale cheeks as the realisation kicked in. "Oh, sweet blood of the virgin. . . ."

 

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Why do I think that, in this particular case, virgin blood is a bad thing?"  Sebastian tried to decipher the handwriting but got nowhere.  Not only was the serviette upside down but it was wrinkled and Halo's penmanship left a lot to be desired.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"How long have you been alive? That's what I thought, when you've had a chance to study under every major medical and physiological scholar since the dawn of civilization than we can talk you arrogant fool" laughed Orion as he got to his feet. If he wanted to he could smite the man where he stood, there would be no consequences, and if the fool managed to kill him, so what? He could just come right back and finish the job.

"Maybe instead of taking so long to get dressed and working on that pathetic pseudo gentleman demeanor you should invest your time in something worth while, say learning when to keep your mouth shut? I wonder, do you keep any brains inside of your skull or is just filled up with shit? Have a nice night, and when you die have fun in hell. Oh and yes I can read your mind you waste of space".

Orion  pushed pass the much smaller man in black, making sure to knock past with a large portion of his solid shoulder as he made his way towards the exit.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo sighed heavily and shook her head, "Jesus, Orion."

She grabbed the large man by the elbow, the strength housed in her body betraying her feminine appearance, "Now do me a favour, say 'See you later, Hal. I'll call you to arrange that hunt if you ever deem to give yourself a day off' You have my number, now use it okay?" She stood on her tiptoes and planted a kiss squarely on his whisker covered cheek, "Now you can storm off."

The disgruntled head shaking continued as she took her perch back at the bar , "Sorry, now where was I?" Her cerulean eyes scanned Sebastian's face for a moment, "Ah, yeah. Virgin's blood. No not good, I take it your not brushed up on your ancient Sumerian, then?"

Halo grabbed the napkin back and wrote out what had come from her mouth in perfect Sumerian hieroglyphics, "This make any sense to you now? You must come across a few Sumerians in you line of work, theres a enough of the buggers and damn, do the ever put up a fight."

She took a long draw on the oversized nonalcoholic beverage, "Basically, if I break it down for you, Uggae is the Sumerian God of Death and Urbat is known as the Dog of Death. . . .the rest, well, lets just say that dark days followed by one hell of a shit storm is a'coming."

Her long fingered hand wrapped across her forehead, thumb and forefinger simultaneously massaging both temples as it became evident that the headache from the post vision hangover was still very much present, "I'm never gonna get a fucking day off."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Sebastian watched Halo grab Orion.  It was probably lucky for him that she did.  The big man had placed himself in a textbook perfect position for a leg take-down.  It likely wouldn't have ended well for Sebastian because although he was fairly certain he could take Orion down, he would have a definite problem keeping him down.

You can only read my mind because I allow it.  And considering you had the chance to study under every major medical and physiological scholar since the dawn of civilization, I'm amazed you never bothered to avail yourself of the opportunity.

Steel hard mental shields slammed down, hard enough to ring the bells of anyone wandering through his thoughts.  He could keep the shields up virtually indefinitely, assuming he didn't need to sleep.

"I speak fourteen languages and I read six more.  Sumerian just happens to fall into the later category.  I'd have to say that line about the dead outnumbering the living is no big threat.  They've outnumbered us for centuries.  Other than that, I'd say we're pretty much buggered, unless Inanna owes you a favour."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

With a mouth full of sugary goodness, Halo shook her head, "Nope, 'fraid not. I've yet to meet a single soul that The Queen Light and Life is actually indebted to. In my line of work I usually find myself more among the grunts."

The proverbial light bulb seemed to suddenly shine from behind Halo's bright cyan eyes, "Though, I am more than passing acquaintances with Hanbi, cos, lets be honest here, its kinda difficult to actually be friends with a God of Evil and Lord of Evil Spirits. You have no idea how much of a grudge the 'bad guys' can hold, I tell you he's still pissed that they used his son, Pazuzu's image in The Exorcist instead of his, psht. . .'evil', hey? There's just no pleasing it sometimes."

Another gulp of liquid sunshine slipped down Halo's throat, "Don't suppose you have any Sumerian connections?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

Do not ever think you can shield your thoughts worm. I am a god after all.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Goosekat on

Carmin watched the mountain of a man approach and sit down.  As he started to speak she poured herself another drink, sat back and let him say his two cents worth.  She was just about to reply when he left to give aid to his female companion who was the floor in the throws of some sort of seizure.  She looked at Daniel and shook her head.  "Self righteous know-it-all's are almost as bad as Imps," Carmin let out a soft sigh.  "But he was right.  Every religion and belief system has their own versions of heaven and hell, not to mention limbo and purgatory.  What I told you was just the very basics, it barely scratched the surface.  I was intending to take this slow, to give you time to digest what I tell you and for you to ask questions.  But know that mister know-it-all has butted in I may not have that luxury.  He did have one thing wrong though, I'm not christian by any means, I mainly follow Bes, the Egyptian god of protection, but there are several others that I pay allegiance to.  After all, in my line of work one can never serve, and be protected by, too many masters."  She stopped talking to let all this information sink into the Detective brain and to allow him to ask any question that he may have.  While she waited, she signalled for a new bottle of vodka, the present one being only about a fifth full by now.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Sebastian felt a buzzing outside his shields, which meant something powerful was trying to get in.  He ignored it.  Eventually they would go away.  "Sorry, Halo,"  he said.  "If I was on any kind of terms with the Sumerians, I'd likely be able to speak it.  Besides, Enki would be more than willing to squish me like a bug if we ever met.  He's not a big fan of people who deal with demons on anything other than a violent level.  Anubis seems to look favourable on me at the moment, if that is of any help."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

"Well, judging by the violence of that vision, you can bet the wife, kids and dog on the fact that whatever is going to happen, I'm gonna need all the favours I can pull in. I get the distinct feeling this ain't gonna confine itself to those in the know with the Sumerians. Uggae is a mean fucker and he doesn't generally care who gets caught in the crossfire. An old God of that power could wipe out a good seventy-five percent of the earth's population and I'm talking the ENTIRE population of this planet. Cats, dogs, human, deity, spectre or oni. . . Uggae can take them all and he will, given half the chance."

Halo gave the half full jug a good slurp, her cyan eyes flashed dangerously at Sebastian, "Say, what are your plans for say, oooh, I dunno, the next milena?"
A seductively coy smile graced her generous mouth as she continued sucking on the neon pink straws.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maltesedragn on

Arctos could see that  This Mysterious mortal was getting agitated with the current strain of corversation.  She shifted the weight on her feet  and tossed some bills on the counter .

'Thanks Al, You pour the Best Gin this side of the Atlantic'.

'Hi, I'm Arctos, Do you have a name Mortal?'

She looked into his deep green eyes that were searching the room for escape.

'Do you understand it?- The Sumerian I mean. ''

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"I'm not sure, I don't remember much Sumerian, I can make out tid bits. But not enough to equal anything worth a dark crow on an October night or other treasures" I said with a sigh, I have to admit I wish I could understand what the spasming woman said.

"I am spoken to as Cay from time to ebb. A meeting has happened between us frozen one" I said with a wide smile. "How about you, do you understand the words the one spoke of? Though I'm sure we all got the gist".

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maltesedragn on

'Well nice to meet you Cay.

I don't really recall any Sumerian,  but  it sounds  as though this is quite the serious matter'.

Arctos nodded in his direction, wondering if they all weren't just sitting ducks.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"Good to make your meeting as well. I have the sensation that it must be bad news, good news hardly ever comes on the coattails of violent frothy fits of spasms". It was common sense, but aside from that I felt something was wrong, not only that but the look on the woman's face put any suspicions to rest.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maltesedragn on

 Arctos bent her wolfish head slightly, and gazed around the bar, noticing all the inhabitants. 

' You know, you never did tell me what gods you served.  do you have ties with the Darkness, or the Light?   or are you free to roam between all worlds' ?

The shewolf then wondered about what could be so horribly wrong within the universe.
 Gave it another moments thought and ordered some Wings from the Demonic Bartender.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"I just persist to exist, the one I want doesn't want me, the ones that want me I deny. It's very much like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. I think, I've never been between a place like that before. But I'm sure eventually I'd have to gnaw off my arm" I said with a sigh. The chicken wings smelt good, I cursed lightly to myself that after all the time I'd went without food that I could still get so hungry from just the smell of cheep bar food.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"You have plans for me that will take that long to unfurl?"  Sebastian asked with a sly grin.  "I think perhaps I may need to reach deep into the bag of 'A' game tricks.  Of course if there is a thousand year game plan, I may need to start somewhere around the 'D' game just to make sure I keep you interested.  Yes, my 'D' game is enough to keep you interested in the beginning."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

A smutty smile graced Halo's lips around the long straws, "Honey, if you want to keep me amused you'll have to work through the whole damned alphabet."

She rested a small, strong hand on Sebastian's knee, "But in all seriousness, I'm gonna be looking for a 'few good men' to help me battle through whatever the hell, old U-man has planed with his pooch of destruction."

Halo suggestively twiddled the pink straw between strong fingers, "But if we're all still alive afterwards with most limbs intact, maybe then and only then you can show me what you keep in your bag of tricks."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Sebastian hung his head briefly and sighed.  "Why does it always come to this?  The line 'for battle, chose me' was tailor made for guys like Orion, not guys like me.  I'm the kind of guy who sits on the sidelines and takes bets on the game, knowing full well that the quarterback of the home team has just broken up with his girlfriend and isn't going to be playing up to par.  I always know who to bet on.  I got out of the demon war for a reason.  I'm not a front line fighter.  Don't get me wrong, I'm far too attached to this world to let it get trashed because some deity with a chip on his shoulder needs a time out.  I'd just rather not be the one who has to stand toe to toe with him.  I will if I have to but it takes so long to rebuild a body.  I'd miss out on so much fun.  I'm in, but I should warn you that I am not the man you want the fate of the world to be resting on.  I'm far too selfish."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo held a hand to her mouth, keeping the giggle from escaping the confines of her lips, "Oh Sebastian. . . .Good lord, do you know how often I have to deal with these idiotic things on an hourly basis? I tell you I have probably stopped an Apocalypse, on average at least once a week", her aquamarine eyes glittered in the dim bar glow, "Okay, maybe more like once a month, but seriously, this ain't no war. This is a one deity and his dog rampage. I have no problem with getting my nose bloodied and my knuckles scuffed up, actually haven't had a good brawl in a while. What I need from you is more your smarts and your insider knowledge. There are a whole glut load of other realm demons that would be more than thrilled to hand Uggae's ass to him in a sling and I know you have your contacts."

She forwent the straws and slugged the last of the hyperglycemic coma inducing liquid in one swift chug, "Besides, after I have been duking it out with big bads, I get rowdy and need a little release. . .if you get what I mean?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"I do indeed,"  Sebastian said.  "What exactly is it that you need?  And, for the record, no matter how minor the event, it can cause ripples that may end up causing far more of a reaction than expected.  Consider a simple breath.  Normally it has no special power.  but if applied to the neck of a woman who is at the perfect peak of arousal, it can trigger an orgasm.  Imagine that magnified by a thousand times and you can see how dangerous underestimating any divine being can be."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo nodded, "This is true, but you gotta look at it from a couple of different perspectives. What we do on a daily basis and I mean we as people, not in our line of unusual work, but just as living, breathing organisms, causes enough repercussions in the universe. A single mislaid timepeace is enough to evoke a global war or the end of all violence, but where's the point in being so socially aware as to fear every action or word that issues forth from your person? There will be a consequence for whatever action anyone or anything takes, what I'm here for is damage limitation and keeping the balance. Now what bothers me is that Uggae has enough power to actually do this and if he is being fed the juice to formulate plans of death and mass distruction, then I want to know where his watering hole is. I know of only three groups of devout worshipers of Uggae and believe me, the numbers of each group is nowhere near big enough to give him the oomph he needs for this kind of operation, that's where you come in. Get your feelers out, I'm sure some of your clients are well enough connected that they would have caught scent of this way before I started doing the crazy dance down on the floor here. Once we find that nest we can torch it and that's the problem nipped in the proverbal bud. I don't know about you, but I would far rather come toe to toe with a bunch of fanatical humans over an old world God any day of the week. . . .humans are so much softer and bleed a whole lot easier."

She looked forlornly at the empty picher  and motioned to Al with a quick flick of the wrist for a second, "Now, its up to you how you want to deal with this. I can offer you cash, I can offer you a variety of services of a mystical nature and those other services rendered come absolutely free if you can forgo Tales from the Crypt for American Gothic."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"I think you misunderstand my position,"  Sebastian said.  "I don't have clients, per se.  I'm a freelancer.  I was briefly on probation with Moses and the divine law firm upstairs but they had a problem with my sideline.  I still have contacts on both sides of the fence, so I'll put out some feelers and see which ones get bitten off.  Have you considered the possibility of a proxy?  Uggae is just fronting for some other being?  Perhaps as a patsy, so the real source of the problem will be safe to try again later."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

"That was something that had crossed my mind", Halo lowered her face into her waiting hands, her fingertips finding the pressure points of her temples and third eye. She spoke through her hands with suprising clarity, "But that's really not something I want to think about. If someone or something is setting Uggae up as a front guy or even worse, the fall guy, that means that whoever is giving the command and pulling the strings is either very powerful or very smart, or far worse, both."

Al came skittering back to replace the empty pitcher with a fresh one brimming with eye searing sunset liquid. Halo smiled and nodded at him, her clear eyes saying what her lips didn't need to. A satisfied smile spread across her lips as she took a long draw on the neon green straws.

"Its at times like these that I am sorely tempted to bed me a hot rock star and give the big old middle finger to the world of the unknown. Screw using my spooky-woo powers for the greater good, I mean seriously, what the hell is the greater good anyway? Surely its all a matter of perspective? Who's to say that me gratifying myself on an hourly basis with the latest rock god b6y means of enchantment, isn't an act for the greater good?"

Halo shook her head with a sardonic smile gracing her pouted lips, "Ah, if only. Maybe next lifetime, eh? This one I need your help to track down whatever or whoever has gotten this whole shitball rolling. I could probably do it all by myself in a longer time frame, but damn, why not share the love? besides, you've got a damned pretty face and ain't nothing better than a quick rough in tumble after saving the world. . . .for the fifth time."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Jiraiya the sage on

Hello? hello? anybody there? i appear to have lost my way, help me, somebody! oh wait i can see and move, phew! i look up and my angelic wings are not white but not black, they are a beautiful grey, i come from a land in constant war between pure dark and light forces and i seek help to stop them both.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maltesedragn on

The Shewolf  swished her tail slowly from side to side, and stabbed a chicken wing with a deadly claw.  Devouring it in a single bite- bones and all.


Arctos felt the atmosphere change with the arrival of the new resident in O'Leary's.  Lifting her head to take a better look.   

' What do you make to that ? ' Now turning back to Cay.    and filling the claws on her right paw with more wings.   Only to let them dissapear greedily into her  jowls.  She paused breifly as if to  savour the taste of the miniscule portion of meat.

'You know it's too bad that you can't eat.  even just to taste the flavour. You are missing out on so much Cay'.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

It wasn't particularly nice of the wolf woman to rub in the fact I was missing out on a delicious little snack, but since she seemed be dreaming of eating people earlier I couldn't hold it against her that her manners may not have been quite charm school graduate material. So I ignored that part of her question and instead answered the bit I was more interested in anyway.

"I'm not quite sure what to make of its make, it's make is exquisite but who makes its make I'm afraid I am not aware. Speech pours forth from her mind not unlike water through a sieve. I wonder does it know not what it does and is new, or if it has been for ages but has not yet figured out the mechanics yet. Surely you don't come with blue prints when you look like that" I said as I ran a hand through my thick red hair, my dark pine green eyes watching the same mysterious figure that my she-wolf companion watched.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

Almost immediately after the arrival of the winged creation the ambiance of the bar shifted again, this time to an oppressive tenebrous atmosphere. The air became thicker as the acrid smoke seemed to come together to form a heavy miasma that lingered on the lips and nostrils of all who tried to breath it. The lighting of the drinkery seemed to respond as well, dimming to a degree that if it got any darker one could describe it as aphotic. Whether by coincidence or not it was at this time that a new figure entered amidst the gathered patrons. A figure whose demeanor and attire seemed to perfectly fit the now sepulchral bar. Each step that he took seemed to cause the burden of the atmosphere to lift a little, except by the figure where it seemed to be congregating in a vortex.

Lengthy atramentous colored hair fell around his lean chest that bore a tight onyx colored t-shirt in delicate tendrils. His complexion was wan to say the least, and the dark circles around his eyes made his strikingly dark eyes stand out all the more. His face bore the distinct characteristics of being descended from Scandinavians, though his hair was dark and his eyes were too, and he wore a black goatee that hung down a couple of inches off of his chin in a point paired with a thin black mustache that outlined his top lip. On his toned yet pallid arms he wore black vambraces that had just the hint of the tips of spikes protruding from the leather, and on his lower body he wore close-fitting coal-hued jeans and raven colored harness boots. The only jewelery the corpse like figure wore was a simple inverted silver pentagram on a black thong around his neck. He moved across the bar quickly with barley audible steps until he took a seat next to Halo and Sebastian. He didn't look at the two, instead his eyes remained focused on the demon in front of him.

"Blood?" was the only word that escaped from between his cadaverously pale and slightly blue tinged lips. The words rang out more like a question than anything else, and once he spoke them he looked away from the bartender and proceeded to stare at the bartop with a fixed unblinking gaze.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Jiraiya the sage on

 the winged figure stares into the air and speaks to anyone who is listening: "by the way i have a name or title at least. my name is the yin yang protegee, and i bear non here malice, my mission is to save the people of where i am from. the gods of my world are akin to two of your world: God and Lucifer, they are like children in a constant power struggle. i have great power but cant match to theirs, and i really need help to save the millions of poeple who remain in horrible lives. im sorry for intruding in your world but i was thrown out of mine, please help me." at this point the protegee starts weeping to the point where the customers at the bar try to figure out what to do or say.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Five times?" Sebastian asked, eyebrows raised.  "Busy girl.  Would you excuse me for a moment Halo?  I think I see our first recruit."

He slipped off his barstool and headed for the new arrival.  Unseen by mortal eyes, his own wings spread out behind him.  Once they had been black and leathery, like the wings of a giant bat.  When he had broken away from the infernal legions and briefly joined the celestials, they had gone from leather to feather but the colour had remained.  If he made the grade, he had been told, the wings would have turned white.  He hadn't made their grade, so the feathers had stayed black.  So far they had not reverted to leather either, so he considered himself to be ahead of the game.

"Welcome, Yin-Yang protege,"  he said.  "There are those here that can help you but we have a crisis of our own that needs to be dealt with.  Perhaps you would be willing to aid us and we would in turn aid you?  My name is Sebastian.  For convenience's sake, can we call you Protege?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo peered over her shoulder at the newcomer and she felt her temper rising. Why was it that O'Leary's seemed to attract every waif and stray from the streets of every dimension. She had her own crisis to worry about and unless the winged thing had a Swiss bank account there was no way on this green earth was she pulling a probono for some otherworldly outcast. She had her own world to save from destruction and there sure as hell wasn't anyone showing face to cough up the cash for that, just her own sense of duty.

Halo was more than happy for Sebastian to go and talk to the lost soul, she still nursed the vision headache and could do without a whole new set of problems to further enhance the brain searing pain. She raised a hand in responce to Sebastian's suggestions, she found it highly unlikely that anything that self absorbed would want to lend a hand in this realms potential destruction and being that she was the queen of self-absorption, she knew damned well what she was doing.

She cradled her jug of strychnine sweet, little girl drink and pouted. That had to be, like the third or fourth interruption to her getting any action with Sebastian, she thought she must be losing her touch, the guy hadn't even gotten that lewd with her and she was all about the lewdity and crudity. There was a great oppressive feeling settiling on her shoulders, "Jesus Christ, Halo, what is your problem girl? Its hardly time to be PMSing out. . ."

Her thickly banged head shook in dismay at herself, then she realised that the feeling of oppression wasn't coming from within but from the man standing at the end of the bar. She eyed him over taking in his appearance and she found her head shaking again, "Great, this night just keeps getting better and better."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"Thank you" said the figure as he looked up at the bartender who placed the drink in front of him. Two frail hands reached out and grasped the glass between them, slowly the new comer to the bar tipped the drink back, letting the rusty vitae flow down his throat. As soon as he did  the atmosphere seemed to change, subtly moving away from the dark atmosphere. The man himself seemed to be changing as well as he ingested the blood. Though his skin didn't become any darker it looked more healthy, and around his eyes the smokey deep patterns became blacker and more artificial looking, becoming more and more like make up. The long coal colored hair seemed to creep back, becoming noticeably shorter in the back and straighter and more styled in the front. And even the stranger's lips that had been so blue and dead looking were now bright red, seemingly stained from the deep red drink.

The more alive looking he became though the more the air in the bar shifted from a dark gloomy atmosphere to a much more innocent and sad one. The man rested his cheek softly on his fist as he traced a thin pale finger around the rim of the glass that contained the sustaining drink. His face was the definition of sadness, the blank empty gazed sort of sadness that betrayed how deep in thought the person was.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

He stepped inside and immediately noted the atmosphere in the bar.  He could likely do something to match it or bring the light up a touch.  He crossed to the bar, skirting the small cluster of people (but still managing to walk through one of Sebastian's wings) and nodded to the bartender.

"Evening,"  he said, setting a guitar case carefully on the floor and leaning it against the bar.  He made a quick check of his wallet before ordering a beer and a pound of hot wings.  "Do you ever have bands in here?"  he asked the demon bartender, looking around the bar and trying to see if there was a stage.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo peered at the man and continued shaking her head, "No, no music in here except the jukebox and that rarely is switched on. The patrons have a hard time agreeing on which tunes to two step to."

Al grinned at Halo, eyeing her like an embarrassed parent. He noisily cleared his throat, "Sorry fella but she is actually kind of right. We don't have a live music licence, but we do serve musicians. What can I get you?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Jiraiya the sage on

"sebastian sir, protege is good for convenience", Protege says softly and with a light smile. "Of course if any here are willing to aid me in my quest so to speak then i will gladly add my powers to anyone with the group. Needless to say you will have my complete loyalty". protege looks at Halo and says: "I apologise for any intrusion i may be causing but I am only trying to save my people. if i have done you wrong then strike me now, but i promise if you wish to help me you will have my undying loyalty, but to achieve an alliance if you feel it necessary then strike me now." Protegee holds out a hand as a token of loyalty, saying : "Well i have one question for anybody interested, how can i use my powers in service of you folk?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Knowledge is our best weapon, Protege,"  Sebastian said.  "For greatest results we should pool our resources.  Do you have any knowledge of a plot between death gods to destroy your world?  It may be connected to what is happening here."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Just the beer and wings,"  the guitarist said.  "Do you mind if I park myself outside your door and play?  I don't want to cause any trouble if you don't have a music license but outside isn't inside, right?  And I can always steer people through the door."

It was subtle but the keenly observant among the customers detected a slight note of disappointment, if not outright despair.  There was something about the way he touched the guitar, the way he always had some part of his body in contact with the case that let them know there was something very different about this man and his guitar.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

"Fella you can play outside the door, I have no problems with that, but the cops come around to shuffle you on, I'm oblivious to your existence, catch me?" Al tipped his head at the man and offered him his sharp angled grin.

Halo lazily swiveled on the stool, half facing Protege, "Sorry kid, colour me several shades of selfish, but I got enough merde to wade through in my own dimension and there is a whole new crop just about fit to fall right in my lap. Next time I have a spare five minutes when I'm not having to dig my way out of the great Cleveland steamer that is sitting on the chest of this fine city I'll look you up, until that time I'm afraid you'll have to do without this girl's talents."

Halo devoted her attention back to the slowly receding jug of Shirley Temple, cradling it like it was a newborn.  Her cerulean eyes scanned the embodiment of darkness beside her, she noted how he seemed to have shrugged off a portion of the gloom that had been surrounding him. She smiled weakly at him as she rested her forehead against her palm, "The sufferings here, the wait is gone. The streets are filled with a hollow song. Got a new death it lurks outside, follows me home, waiting for me", she shook her head and pressed her palms to her eyes.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

The dark eyed man with the aura of mournful menace around him seemed to brighten up when Halo started to recite the lyrics and he smiled.

"I love Danzig" he started, but as soon as the words found their way out from between his crimson lips he was interupted.

By a car.

A car that flew through the glass window of the bar, sending shards of glass, splinters of wood and the chairs and tables they belonged to, and people flying as it skidded to a stop in the middle of the bar.

Both dark haired men in the bar turned their very different looking eyes to the dust clouded hole in the bar from where the vehicle flew in. Slowly a figure emerged from the thick cloud, one the emitted a atmosphere of power and an archaic evil. The man, if it can indeed be called a man, had the face and complexion of a man from the Fertile Crescent, and wore not a stitch of clothing on any part of his toned body. A long plaited beard made its way to his chest and was interwoven with gold and purple silk, his long hair was dark brown and curly. The difference between him and a normal man that was immediately recognizable was the cobra that danced and hissed in place of a member. The serpentine creature was long and smooth, covered in black scales with a deep purple diamond pattern that ran down its length. The monster made no noise as he entered the bar through the massive hole, none that is except the hissing of the cobra. Eyes that looked like whiteless tar pits scanned the room in the tense moment that followed his entrance.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

The guitarist was in motion at the first sound of breaking glass.  He snatched up the guitar case and rolled clear of the danger zone.  Only when he as certain the instrument was safe did he relax.  "I somehow doubt I'll get that chance,"  he said, looking at Al.  "Thanks for the offer though."  His eyes moved to the hissing cobra.  "I'd likely be that cranky if I had to vomit piss all the time too."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo's shoulders instinctively hunched with the booming of the freshly implanted vehicle landing squarely behind her. She reacted as if nothing so major as someone had dropped a glass, a heavy sigh heaved from her chest as she calmly placed her dust saturated drink on the bar. Slowly, her hands were placed on the bar straddling the jug and she slid from stool.

"For fuck's sake. . . .is it too much to ask for just one night where I can get drunk in relative peace? Is it?!"

She slowly turned to face the harbinger of destruction, "You, my friend have just made one hell of a sorry mistake. Tonight of all nights,you chose to throw a car into my bar?"

Her long fingered hands clenched into fists at her sides, the electrifying scent of ozone crackled across her pale skin, tiny currents of electrical charges danced in staccato along the surfaces of her knuckles, "Now, my fine friend, since you caught me in such a jovial manner, I would say you had the grand total of ten seconds to start explaining your grand entrance before I  create a gapping charred hole in those pretty chiseled abs."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

The figure's dark lips turned up in a sneer as he slowly extended his left arm to the side and made a gesture with his hand, pointing two fingers down. He then proceeded to do the same thing with his right arm in that practiced yet laggard way, but with his two fingers point up. After a moment the creature opened its mouth and uttered words that sounded like a mix between the wind and the roar of a lion heard from miles away, distant yet distinct. All the while his pure black eyes seemed focused on Halo.

"The time of peace above is done, there will be unity. As above, so below. And the below is chaos as above shall become" each word echoed in the chest of its listeners, like the bass of a drum. If the intruder was at all threatened by Halo's words he didn't show it.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Would you excuse me for a moment?"  Sebastian asked.  He stepped away from Protege, so that if anything happened, she would not be caught in the crossfire.

"Greetings,"  he said, giving the being a slight bow.  "Are you here for battle?  If so there are certain rituals that need to be observed.  Can we start with your name and the specifics of the form of combat you chose to indulge in?  Here we have a variety of formats, ranging from physical contests to battles of wills, right on up to the ultimate combat, freelance rap duels."  Sebastian had practice saying the most outrageous things in front of highly skeptical audiences.  He was gifted when it came to making things sound sincere.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

The being's coal colored eyes never left Halo, even as the broken winged creature stepped in front of him, they just seemed to pierce past him. The being didn't acknowledge Sebastian's words, it's also possible it didn't understand any of what the man in black had said either. A steady rhythm started to pulse in the air, seemingly coming off of the intruder who had started to hunch his shoulders while the snake that was attached to him seemed to swell in size and thickness, as well as ferocity. Golden eyes looked around the room as the snake darted its head back and forth, hissing and daring anyone to come within its striking range. The thumping in the air became more and more tangible, and as it did things started to be pushed back by the rhythm. Around the room things started to crash and be smashed against the wall, but the noise was overpowered by whatever it was that the creature was doing.

The creature may of been planning something, or even attacking in its own way, but for the most part it seemed to be just standing there waiting.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Sebastian shrugged.  "Suit yourself,"  he said.  "You had your chance.  Now you get to pay the price."  He stepped aside.  "He's all yours,"  he said, moving well back.

Across the bar, the guitarist had found a table to place between himself and the intruder.  He quickly opened the case.  He didn't have time for the usual care with which he removed the instrument. Likely she would be angry about it, he thought.  Still, it was a time for fast action, not reverence.  He began to play.

The tune immediately called to mind the calm before a storm.  Whatever force was pushing things back stopped when it met the music, creating a ring of stillness around the player.  I wonder how long I'll be able to keep this up?  Not long if he decides I'm a threat....

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

The trademark angst ridden teen sigh billowed from between Halo's lips for a second time in the evening, her clear eyes rolled skywards as she collected her thoughts to speak to the being now presented in front of her. She glared directly into its golden eyes as the entire bar reverberated,"Give me bloody strength", she muttered beneath her breath.

Her hands opened to reveal tennis ball sized globes of raw energy, they undulated and sparked serenely in her pale palms in glimmering shades to match her cool eyes.

"Okay, so thank you for the rather lovely sonic show. We get the point, you are all powerful and can make things jiggle off shelves and smash on the floor, nice one. I'm sure Al is more than thrilled that you have just wrecked his livelyhood. Lets just cut through all the bullshit. You've delivered you message with much style and finesse, who sent you and why here?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

The guitarist continued to play, his nimble fingers maintaining the zone of calm around him.  The strain was beginning to show, however.  Music he could play and had played for hours.  Magic was a little more difficult.  If they take this outside, I might be able to give her some more juice, although I doubt she'd need it....

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maltesedragn on

'What The............'

Arctos sheilded her  Wolven eyes from the flying glass,  as the vehicle  Flew through the window at a break neck speed.   

'Cay, You alright?'

The Shewolf awaited an answer from her aquaintance, hoping he was still safe. 

It was Odd that  such a neutral place as this...... seemed to be coming apart at the seams she thought to herself.   what strange occurences.   This is defineatly not  accidental.  Wonder if it has anything to do with the spoken Sumerian? Arcos pondered that last thought over again,  and looked around  at the debris.




  [/color]

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Jiraiya the sage on

"i dont think it would be a plot between the dark and light gods of my world Sebastian, but they might want to eliminate the humans of my world who are grey so to speak. deep down the gods of either side are scared of human potential, we are alligned to neither side." replies protege.  protege looks at halo: "that is fine with me, i'm glad you aren't an enemy." protege finally steps up and walks towards the demon creature. Protege turns his head and says to sebastian: "no offence sir but i am a guy, as i believe it is said in this world." Protege suddenly looks at the demon thing and speaks in a language which is beautifully angelic but filled with demon like malice. at the same time he telepathically transmits the conversation into english for the benefit of the people at the bar. protege says in this strange tongue: "Are you from the king of darkness or the king of light? perhaps you are remnants of my traitor father hmm? speak now else i will blow you back to the place from whence you came."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

A slow echo filled the room, strengthening as the seconds wore on until it became painfully obvious to all gathered that it was laughter. All who cared to look turned to see the same unnamed creature as before this time with his hands around the neck of Cay right next to the werewolf.

"The delusional angel speaks to its self. He simply says Satan backwards and moves around Yahweh to form the other name. He is pathetic to believe he could kill me. I am from a time and blackness before the so called adversary became the beast to fear. I have not come for the reasons the angel would deceive you to believe. I am here for the reason I stated. To bring a darkness" the words flowed from Cay's mouth but were obviously coming from the creature that held the red haired man by his throat in his powerful hand.

The being seemed finished with Cay and dropped him to the floor where he scrambled behind Arctos, pine green eyes wide.

Again the creature made the gestures, and again the room felt like it was being pulled backwards, this time with exceedingly more force. The very skin of the gathered patrons felt like it was being pulled at, all the while the serpent limb hissed and spat venom at the feet of those assembled, daring anyone to come closer, to fall for the ruse of a double again.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maltesedragn on

All Arctos could do is shield  Cay somewhat from further damage. 

'It's going to be a Long night' the shewolf muttered under her wolven breath.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo watched with abject horror as the scene before her unfurled. She turned to the selfproclaimed protege and screamed in his face the energy shooting off her in vicious sparks, "What the fuck did you think you were doing?! You have NO idea what that is or how to throwdown with it, so why don't you back the fuck up and let someone who knows this dimension deal with it? Haven't you heard of ask questions first shoot later?" She held back the insults that were poised on her tongue, "I will deal with YOU later."

A strong wind worked up around her, billowing her hair up in grasping tendrils. She closed her eyes and and a deep guttural language tumbled from her lips. The globes of energy throbbed and pulsated in her hands gaining more luminance with every word spoken. Her eyes snapped open to reveal white-hot, glowing orbs, her chest heaved in her exalted state. A resonating voice thundered from her feminine lips, "There is enough darkness here, you have stepped beyond the boundaries governed by the old ones. The choice is yours, my friend. Leave now, content with the chaos you have brought or stay and have your ass handed to you by a small female human."

The energy consumed her body whole, swathing her in eye-searing blue light, crackling with explosive power as she strode towards the entity with cocky confidence, "You have two seconds to make up your mind before I loose my temper and smear that pretty face on these walls like peanutbutter."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

If the being considered Halo's words he wasn't showing it, he continued as if he wasn't interupted by the powerful mystic making a show of her powers. Eye's like a starless night met the shining ivory eye's of Halo as she started to move forward. The air started to pull backwards with more force, knocking over chairs and glasses, all the while the serpent attached to the creature struck out and spit poison at the one that called its self the protege, eager to show it how a master fought.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

A dazzling smile cut across Halo's face, shining iridescent within in the electric blue light covering her form, "Looks like you chose the second option, joy, I'm just in the mood for a little tango", her head snapped toward the rest of the bar's patrons, "Unless any of you are gonna step up and get your feet wet, I'd highly recommend doing like the children of the atom did, and duck and cover. This is gonna get real ugly real quick."

An unearthly howl reverberated from Halo's centre as she rushed the being. Her hands made contact with its neck and shoulder, knocking it clean off its feet. The scent of scorched flesh filled the air in acrid waves. Halo stood above the creature and attacked a second time before it could gather its senses. She dropped to her knees, bringing her fist down hard on the creature's solar plexus.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

A long terrible laugh like rolling thunder emanated from the creature once Halo's barrage had finished, for the snake appendage of the being had its long needle like fangs pierced into the woman's hip.

"You play into my hands, all who attack do". The words came out with only the slightest hint of pain. Strong defined legs came into the air as the creature contorted its self and launched forwards back onto its feet, pushing Halo's fist up with it.

A muffled his came from the cobra as it suddenly pulsed, then increased in size, pressing down harder with it's jaws as it pushed it's long deadly fangs through Halo. All the while its golden eyes watched the rest of the patrons, waiting for another to strike.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

A feral scream barked from Halo's pain twisted mouth, thrown on to her back as the creature launched itself erect. Her knees slammed into the filth crusted wooden floor with a resonating crack, her electrified hands slapping and clawing at the embedded head of the cobra. Her strong fingertips pried at the glossy, black head, desperate to remove the pulsating creature before it injected her with anymore of its vile venom. The serpent was removed with a sickening, wet sucking sound as Halo crumpled to the floor.

The toxin worked its way through her system instantly, the energy engulfing her body stuttered statically like a television in an electrical storm. The strobing of the energy spluttered out as Halo curled into a ball at the creature's feet, keening and mewing like an injured kitten. She pushed herself up on to her hands and knees as her body violently juddered, her head sagged towards the floor. Spastic tremors shuddered through her weakened body, an infernal gurgling noise rumbled from her very core, "Oh fucking GOD!!!" Halo wailed as her mouth yawned wide, spewing out a torrent of oily, black liquid that sizzled as it hit the floor.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Jiraiya the sage on

Protege looked away in shame. "What have i done? even against the foul creatures of my world i always remained noble even if they did not. ive done the opposite of what i intended, forgive me all." the protege dropped down to his knees and started to sing in a harmonious voice, then stopped. he then said: "From now on my cause comes second if it means i am to abide by the rules of this world, i shall think next time." the protege clasps his hands together and speaks again: "perhaps i am deluded but i will become useful one day. maybe then i wont act like a self-righteous "hero". at this point the left side of protege glows white and the right side glows black. the gap in the middle of the wings is grey and he is surrounded a few inches with a grey aura.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Sebastian looked at the devestation and sighed.  "Al, can you give me an empty pitcher and a sharp knife?  It looks like I'm going to play mohel and Brit milah this boytchik."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Demosthenes on

 The acrid smell of various smokes filled the thick night air. The first kind was found on the clothes of most 11 year old pyromaniacs who feared their mothers smelling it on their favorite Slipknot shirt. The second kind of smoke made its home in bars and bingo halls across the city. Michael's came from the Red Apple ciggarettes he had become overly fond of since his 50 year stint on the blue planet. The final smoke was rare, but becoming disturbingly more prevelant in the current day and age. It was the sulphur mingled smoke of demons being deported.

Micheal wiped his soot and grim covered face the sleeve of his black Mucous Membrane t-shirt, and looked over his shoulder at the smoldering garage littered with the rapidly melting corpses of the gang of demon's last hosts. True it was cleaner to extract the demons before sending them back to Hell, but with the sacrifice of the mortal vessel the damned stayed the damned, and the Angel was ever a fan of the permanent solution. Michael was a fallen angel, but was unique in that he fell from a high place, and only enough to slip down the ladder a few rungs. The angel liked his new job, it was a far cry from living in paradise and playing music, but worlds better than damnation and even mortality.

The shrieks that now pierced the relative serenity of the crackle of the fire were coming from only a few blocks down. Michael waited a moment, running his fingers through his short blonde hair, the small smoldering fire reflecting in his angelic sky blue eyes. The ex Seraphim sighed and a gout of rolling flame encircled him, removing the sweat and grime of the previous battle and restoring the white-hot glow of his eyes as well as the pristine ivory shiny of his wings. Michael looked toward the screams and was gone.

The Angel appeared in another roll of flame, inhabiting the distance between the serpent and the writhing woman. Micheal held forth his arm and instantly his weapon appeared, the silver broadsword shimmered brilliantly, wrapped in the glowing white of divine flame.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo was in the process of her third gut-splitting expulsion of whatever the vile black substance that was flooding from her open mouth was. Her face had now lost all colour, it had gone on the journey of green to crimson and was now settled at deathly pale. Great rivers of sweat were running from her panting form, her face contorted in the purest and absolute agony. 

The floor around her was awash with the thick, black, viscous fluid that was slowly eroding away what was left of the varnish on the wooden floor. She was steadily losing the strength in her arms, with every heave her face came closer and closer to the pools of black vomit. The bite in her hip was radiating sickening waves of acidic fury, the effort of having to keep it out of the filth bubbling from the very pits of her bowels was draining her energy tenfold. She hung her head, her glorious, glossy black hair now matted and sodden with her own perspiration and spewtum. From behind clenched eyes all she could do was desperately wonder why no one had even lifted a finger to help her out of this misery, the protege sang to itself as she felt her life come thundering out of her mouth.

The light of his arrival was blinding and it knocked her backwards, clear of the filth and unceremoniously on her ass. She pushed herself shakily up on her elbows, one hand held to her sickness sensitive eyes , shielding her from the glorious light. She strained through the retina searing incandescence of his flames, praying to anyone that she wasn't going to vomit again, her clear eyes finally resting on the new figure. She felt her heart lighten as the recognition kicked in, her voice came out as if spoken by a tiny child, "Michael?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Demosthenes on

Michael kept his ground, out of range range of the phallic serpent's strike but well within range of the corrosive black venom. The Angel grinned at recognizing the raspy voice, but maintained a locked gaze with the hollow white eyes of the being. "Hey girl, you look like hell". The flat of Michael's blade faced the undulating reptile, reflecting the smaller beast's golden beady eyes in the magnificent weapon's deep blood groove.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

The suggestion of a smile glimmered with hope through the blackness smeared on Halo's face, "Boy, am I ever glad to see you. I seem to have gotten myself in a spot of bother. Mister Snakehips here can't seem to decide wether he wants to kiss me or kill me. I'm not feeling so hot and I've got an owie. Micheal, I wanna go home now."

Halo slowly rose to her feet, gravity threatened to claim her twice as her knees buckled under the shock of having to support her entire weight. On wobbly legs she shambled towards Michael, her hands outstretched before her like a cheap b-movie zombie. Her left hand glimmered slightly, the tiniest sparks of blue danced in her pale palm, "Think you could gimme a hand in dispatching this guy, you know if you've got a spare five or ten minutes?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Goosekat on

"Crap," yelled Carmin as the car came through the window.  She dived over the table and flattened herself on top of Daniel.  They were showered with broken glass and some rather large pieces of the wall.  They lay there, stunned, for a good three or four minutes before digging their way clear.  By this time the creature was already inside and being challenged by the woman Carmin had seen earlier at the bar.  She noticed a couple of other new additions to the bar, including the guitarist.  "Get behind him and stay down," she told the Detective, pointing at the guitarist.  Carmin was about to step to the other woman's side when the other woman suddenly launched herself at the menace.  Carmin was shocked at the power coming off the petite woman.  She shook her head a couple of times and amped up her own energy.  Carmin was just about to strike when the room was awash in a bright light.  As the light faded, she saw Michael there with his sword, protecting the mystic from further harm.  But from what she could see, it may have been to little to late.  "Damn it all to hell," Carmin swore under her breath.  With a dozen steps, she was able to touch the other woman.  "Valetudo quod curatio exsisto vestri , porro vita quod prosperitas exsisto vestri , defaeco vestri somes quod animus of quis ails vos , valetudo quod curatio exsisto vestri."  Carmin laid her hand on the other woman's shoulder as she spoke.  The power flowed from Carmin and into the other woman, clearing the poison from her system and putting everything right.  By the time she had finished speaking, the other woman was no longer threatening to fall flat on her face, but Carmin was.  Healing was not one of her strong suits and what she had just done took most of her energy reserves.  Carmin fell back heavily against the bar and slowly sagged to the floor.  "Crap," she muttered as her ass landed in a puddle of something.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Typical of a bloody Seraphim to show up and steal the limelight," muttered Sebastian.  "Just get it over with, Angelcake.  When things get so bad that I need to take action, it's annoying.  Now that the Celestial cavalry is here, complete with sabre, I'm just going to sit back and relax."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

"DOBIX!"  cried the being, obviously out of patience with the distractions and interuptions.

The word came out like a roll of thunder, carrying with it a deep sound that echoed throughout the bar causing it to shake at its very foundations. Up came his dark arms that were thickly covered in muscle, all the while his tarpit like eyes opened wider and wider, and then down came his arms. As his arms lowered so did everything with it, almost as if he was tearing the heavens down. A wall of overwhelming force pushed down on everyone forcing all the patrons onto their stomachs with crushing force as the dark hair being with the serpent member towered above them all, it's midnight colored eyes flashing with menace and evil as it did more motions with it's arms, practically demolishing the bar around the floored people.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

The single area that escaped destruction was the zone of calm surrounding the guitarist.  The table beside him, half inside the zone and half out, slowly toppled over, unable to stay upright with two of its legs crushed.

The music slowed and stopped.  The player paused for a moment to decide on his next action.  Fight or flight?  He chose to fight but not in the usual way.

You see the world through your cynical eyes
You're a troubled young man I can tell
You've got it all in the palm of your hand
But your hand's wet with sweat
And your head needs a rest
And you're fooling yourself if you don't believe it
You're kidding yourself if you don't believe it
Why must you be such an angry young man
When your future looks quite bright to me
And how can there be such a sinister plan
That could hide such a lamb
Such a caring young man
And you're fooling yourself if you don't believe it
You're kidding yourself if you don't believe it
Get up, get back on your feet
You're the one they can't beat and you know it
Come on, let's see what you've got
Just take your best shot and don't blow it
And you're fooling yourself if you dont believe it
you're kidding yourself if you dont believe it
Get up, get back on your feet
You're the one they can't beat and you know it
Come on, let's see what you've got
Just take your best shot and don't blow it

Sebastian, too, decided to act.  Grabbing the pitcher that Halo had emptied and picking up a large shard of broken glass, he did exactly what he said he's do. 

There was a slight 'pop' as he vanished from his place on the ground near the bar as air rushed into the space he had occupied and a corresponding rush of air away from the place he appeared, right between the being's legs.
He slammed the pitcher over the cobra's head and slashed upwards with the razor sharp piece of glass.  If the gambit worked, he could be back in his place near the bar with the severed cobra-penis in the pitcher almost before the being felt the sting of the cut.

He didn't wait to see the effect of the cut.  He just went back to where he had started, the same way he had arrived.  He only paused to check and see if there was anything in the pitcher when he was safely out of easy reach.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Demosthenes on

As Halo was about to thank the feminine stranger she was flattened gracelessly to the vomit puddle strewn floor, her body came down with and audible and painful thump, her faces milimeters away from a small pond of odious, black spew. Her temper flashed out and the blue sparks that had been feebly flickering in her palm minutes before, had now engulfed her petite form. The energy licked at Micheal's outstretched fingertips, ingniting them to glowing a pure, white-blue. Halo, swiveled her eyes towards the angellic being, "I've had it with this motherfucking snake on this motherfucking plane!....of existence" The last bit was muttered, and if the woman felt any guilt about the pun it didn't show through the conviction and righteous fury she had surrounded it with.

Michael cringed inwardly at the joke, but kept his fiery gaze locked with the being. His massive sword was imbedded in the bar's rotting floor, heavy licks of flame rising from the piece of holy steel. The Angel was able to keep his weight on his weapon, remaining upright as the bar came down around him. Michael took Halo's hand, feeling the gentle surge of power from her fingertips. "Hold on, I'll be back." The ex-Seraphim spread his wings and beat them once, sending the gathered bar room floor dust in every direction, and propeling him forward enough to overcome the exaggerated gravity. Michael came down fast toward the being, leading with his fist. The impromptu Prince Albert that took place below providing more than enough distraction for the Angel to bring his fist across the being's jaw. The sickeneing crack that ensued didn't seem to know if it was born of the sound of breaking bones, or the floorboards beneath the celestial's feet.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Sebastian snorted.  "Sure, now you get into it, after I've already gotten my clothes dirty."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

The being's face turned with the punch, and after it slowly turned back, seemingly unfazed by the ferocious blow dealt by the angel. The attack by Sebastian seemed equally in vain, as the glass didn't seem to be able to piece through the thick scaled flesh of the golden eyed cobra. Which as fate would have it was in perfect striking range of the angel who had decided to attack in melee. But for whatever reason, it didn't strike. Instead the being jumped up high into the air, no longer caged in by the now crumpled ceiling. There seemed to a twitch at the sides of the creatures mouth, almost as if a smile was trying to take hold of the solemn mask it wore.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Jiraiya the sage on

No visible expression could be seen on the face of the protege, his body was still covered in the grey aura even though he was lying down on the floor. He looked up at the fight scene and said: "I said i would not interfere in this fight so i shall not, after all i am not used to this particular kind of fighting, of this earth. But i will lament for an age if i do nothing." The protege stands up in front of those at the back of the bar, those fallen over and spreads his wings behind him. Talking to the customers behind him he said: "Perhaps i cant defend those warriors in front of me but i will do all i can for those behind my wings." from each wingtip facing each wall to his sides a grey shield spreads out, covering those behind the wings of the protege. Thus the protege again spoke: "this grey aura surrounding you will not suffocate or harm, rather the opposite. As i speak it is healing you, if you believe me not then observe your closing wounds. You are free to move in towards the battle, away from my shield so you can walk out of it any time." At this point a smile emerges from the face of the protege.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

The lack of reaction from the barrage of abuse berated upon the being exacerbated Halo's frustration. The healing delivered by the hands of the good Samaritan may have stripped her of the effects of the venom but it would take more than a few choice words uttered in Latin to take the tarnish of the weariness settled in her bones from the battle that had been Halo's day. She watched with growing exasperation as the being ascended high above the remnants of the bar. She shielded her stunning cerulean eyes with heavy lids, concentrating on the elements within her. A great spiralling vortex picked up around her lithe form, her hair undulating in great tendrils like the arms of a obsidian anemone.

The gale of wind threw her gracelessly skywards, her body ragdoll limp as it was hurled towards the sculpted form of the infernal presence. Grasped rigor tight in her white knuckled hands was the Angel's flaming celestial sword. Searing cyan eyes focused on the glistening scales of the serpentine manhood, challenging the golden gaze in its ferocity. The mighty weapon arced upwardly from Halo's hip, a howling battle cry thundering from her chest.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"This is a fight I'm not going to miss,"  Sebastian said.  His own dark wings, normally not visible speard and blossomed for all to see.  There was no point in trying to maintain a veneer or humanity, not after his little teleport trick.  "Hey Anglecake, want to split a box seat?  I'll bring the popcorn if you bring the beer."

He didn't wait for an answer but launched himself skyward, following on powerful rhythmic beats of his black feathered wings.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Goosekat on

Carmin was sick and tired of being bullied by beings from other planes of existence simply because they were in a pissy mood.  As the other world creature sprang into the air, she struggled to get back on her feet.  Suddenly there was someone helping.  An arm around her waist, a hand under her arm.  She turned her head and locked eyes with Daniel.  "I told you stay put," she growled, but not with much conviction behind it.  She finally managed to get to her feet and propped against the bar with his help.  "Thanks, I needed that."  Carmin pushed away from the bar and fell heavily back against it.  Her strength was still lacking after pulling off that cure.  "Shit," was all she could say.  Daniel was still standing there, looking as if this type of thing happened on a daily basis.  He was looking through the now non existant roof at what was transpiring over head.  "I think we need to make this fight a little more fair."  His words were barely audible, a murmur just within hearing range.  "ÉG heimsækja the himinn til gefa mig the styrkur ÉG þörf. ÉG heimsækja the undirheimar til gefa mig the máttur til gera hvaða verða vera. ÉG heimsækja allur er , sérhver hefur been og alltaf vilja vera til hjálp í minn heita. Hjálp þessir þessi fara til stríða gegn this skepna. Taka hans styrkur svo þessi við mega sigra."  A bolt of pure black shot from Daniels up raised arms and slammed into the thing that had so rudely interrupted.  "ÉG er þú ílát. Tómur peningaskúffa þú fylla mig. Komast af með mig eins og þú vilja."  Daniel was hoping this would work.  He had never tried it before, although he had seen his mother and aunts do so many, many times.  If he was right, he would be able to bleed off some of the creatures strength and contain within himself.  For how long, he did know and couldn't even start to hazard a guess.  But he was hoping long enough for the others to prevail or flee, which ever came first.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Lvciferi on

By now the creatures face showed an obvious annoyance at the continued barage against him, he obviously had plans, though whether he completed them or not yet one couldn't tell. Avoiding the sword was simple as dodging out of the way, but when someone was flying up at you like sonic off of a spring that wasn't the most easy thing, but the still unnamed creature managed it. Piercing black eyes watched as the one called Sebastian took flight on raven wings, and followed the melanoid blast until it collided with him.

"Icelandic?" chuckled the creature, showing emotion for the first time. "You think to use the language of banished Vikings to cast a spell on me? I am older than the deserts if the fertile crescent and you think to cast a spell on me in the language of fishermen and witches. You speak of skys and underworlds, of voids. Hah! That is no magic, I shall show you magic"!

"Zien zamran zil zacam vaul o vohim vonpho vomsarg" the words came out thick and cavernous, dripping with vile intent. As he spake them his back started to twist and darken until the hue was that of his eyes. Then quicker than the eye could perceive long inky tentacles emerged from the tar-like substance his back now seemed to be composed of. Seemingly under the control of the being who was now laughing menacingly under it's breath, the tendrils of darkness struck forth, striking with as many as ten at a time on each of the three targets. They reached Halo first, a whole host of the terrible things, some as thin as a wire and others as thick as a tree trunk, all attempting to wrap up the springing hero. The next batch quickly made it to Sebastian, trying to tie up his wings and appendages as another attempted force its self down the winged man's throat. And what appeared lastly, were the ones that moved like snakes attempting to constrict Daniel in their grip, stretching all the way down from the cursed creature higher up in the darkening sky.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Sebastian's flight stuttered but not from the tentacles.  He moved through them as if they weren't there.  He was having difficulty flying because he was too busy laughing.

"You claim age but you try to enchant me with the spells of Satan?  In the language of Enoch?  I used to play at dice with the Lightbringer.  Your spells might affect me if they were cast by the Morning Star himself but from an underling such as you?  You should show more respect to your elders."

Technically, Sebastian was bending the truth but that was part of his purpose.  Lies were part of his arsenal.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Jiraiya the sage on

Protege spoke again: "when this demon is defeated can somebody assist me with knowledge of how to use my powers on Earth? i don't want to break any well established laws or anything. it seems to me that the demons of this world are similar to the creatures of mine." The Protege stays in the same position with his arms spread out holding his shield.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

The tentacles slid over Halo's body with a sickening speed. Before she could even bring the angelic weapon down to complete the arc, she was consumed by their inky darkness. The whip-like tendrils snaked their way up her pale thighs, pushing past her hips to burst from beneath her waistband. Halo learned in mere nanoseconds that struggling against the tentacles was futile, with every struggle they tightened and constricted. She became limp in the grip of the serpentine appendages, their hold lessened enough so that breathing was no longer painful. A solitary molten tar tendril probed persistently at her lips, forcibly tapping against her cupid's bow. She savagely twisted her head away from the invasive tentacle, its brethren tightened around her body, slithering to hold her head and neck  in captive rigidity. The solo appendage again, pushed against her lips. Halo's eyes squeezed shut as she clamped her jaws achingly shut. Wire fine tendrils shot out to pull back her satin lips and ram, suffocatingly into her nostrils. As she opened her mouth to gasp for breath the tentacle lunged into the vulnerable opening. It rushed into the moist, velvet lined cavern, nudging the epiglottis. Halo heaved, clamping down on  the invading tendril, severing the tip with and audible slamming of her teeth. Instantly her mouth was filled with an odious, acidic liquid with the viscosity of plasma. Halo wretched as the foul fluid splashed her tongue, spitting the disembodied tip into the swirling vortex still spinning beneath her captive body.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

OOC: I missed the world of a certain London dwelling mage and felt inexplicably drawn back. The event that follows is the morning after the bar room brawl from hell. If you want to join in, give me a PM and I'll let you in a few secrets as to where this is going and we'll get you involved. Cheers, El Monkey


Halo woke in a shroud of cooling sweat that clung to her pale body as if she were a prime slab of shrink wrapped sirloin.  The rising wave of nausea rolled listlessly in her belly, silently threatening to crash from her mouth in a yawning fury of vomit and bile.  She turned over in the drenched sheets, the rich cotton only further enhancing the skin crawling sensations growing along every follicle of her being.  Gravity seemed to be quite against her, with every valiant attempt to lift her head from the pillow, that old bugger just kept adding more weight to her trembling body until all she could do was wriggle from the bed to fall gracelessly on the cluttered floor.

She lay on the lackluster carpet, her limbs in a tangle beneath her and her nose firmly pressed to the rotting insole of an old addidas superstar. The rank aroma of sweat, filth and sulfur made the contents of her stomach lurch into her throat with an acidic tang. She twisted her naked body to wrench her face free from the odious footwear. The maneuver was successful and the great gulps of air free of pedi-stink were a blessed relief that contributed in the suppression of Halo losing the contents of her stomach all over the bedroom floor.  The serrated bite mark that embroidered her hip throbbed in a ghastly syncopated time signature; every heart beat pulsed dully along each tiny laceration in a sickening flicker of numbing pain. 

Eyes of the clearest cerulean gazed up at the stucco, desperately trying to focus on the tiny valleys and peaks to take her mind far from the chamber of sickness and pain that it was currently locked in. Her dry lips slowly began to mutter a simple cleansing spell, but she couldn’t even muster up the energy to perform a simple card trick let alone an act of the arcane. Her fingertips rested on something cold and distinctly plastic, her pads explored further to find the soft rubber buttons and a grateful smile slowly wormed its way across her pallid features. Her dark brows knitted, creasing her forehead as she focused all concentration into curling her fingers around the phone then lifting the leaden limb up towards her ear. Tiny, crystalline jewels of sweat encrusted her brow in a glittering corona with the exertion of lifting the usually weightless phone to her ear. Her thumb pressed the star button then nudged the number two.  Her breath came in long shuddering sighs, the cramping deep within her belly causing a guttural grunt to groan intermittently between breaths. The ring tone shattered her skull into barbed splinters with each purring chirp. The line clicked as her call was answered and she responded with whimpering sob of relief.

  “Its Halo”, her voice was barley a pained whisper, “I don’t feel too good. . . .help?”

The energy she had so intensely channeled into this one simple act was utterly depleted with the final syllable of her request, her eyelids descended over hazed pools of azure and the pain vanished as the darkness of unconsciousness claimed her in its obsidian embrace.
 

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Demosthenes on

Michael smothered the cigarette with the heel of his bare foot and returned to counting the coin-like pieces of flattened gum that lined the sidewalk. He looked up the the sparse crowd that surged around him, deciding to step upstream to an abandoned bus stop that one of the city's many homeless decided to make a bed. The hobo was up like shot, eyeing the angel suspiciously, he scratched at his unruly graying beard, noticing the man before him was clean-cut and farily well dressed in an open suit jacket, a clean red shirt, and a dark pair of jeans. The hobo thought he might be a model for one of those Ambercrombie and Fitch catalogues he slept on, but the prescence of a shirt and lack of visible pubic hair said otherwise. He finally spotted the tall bottle obscured in a paper bag that Michael held, and licked his lips. "Say friend, you gonna finish all that? Little early don't you think?"

It was noon

Michael took a swig of the concealed beverage and swallowed, letting it wash the taste of nicotine and tar down his throat.

"Here, knock yourself out."

The man scrambled for the bottle and took it in both hands.

"God bless you."

The angel smiled crookedly but said nothing, watching as the homeless man put the bottle to his lips and leaned back, looking confused, he lowered the bottle and swallowed the beverage.

"Wine?" He glared at the man before him with one open eye. "You some kinda faggot?"

"That's the finest mediocre bottle of red in Mickey's"

The man didn't seem impressed "Er, thanks."

"Yea." Michael waited a moment as the bum took another sip. "See ya around Carl."

Carl nodded and raised the bottle. The angel would be two blocks away before the man would realize the stranger shouldn't know his name.

The ex-Seraphim made his way back into the crowd and pulled out the tiny hunk of plastic with numbers on it that he kept in his pocket, and punched ten of them with his thumb. The tone sounded and rang a dozen times before Michael decided to silence it. He looked up the street toward the high-rise penthouses overlooking Central park. She could still be in bed, hungover or next to someone, or both. Micheal slipped the phone back in his pocket and stepped a little faster towards the park.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Simon yawned and would have rolled over if he'd been capable.  He was mixed in the middle of a pile of blankets and a tangle of limbs.  His right foot was asleep and his mouth tasted like stale beer.  There was a pubic hair stuck in his teeth.  Somebody had a death grip on his erection, literally it seemed, given the temperature of the hand.  He could smell blood, urine and vomit.

He smiled. 

It had been a good night.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: 365 on

The sound of his Rock 'N' Roll Outlaw ringtone startled Orion, who happened to be waist deep in the cold waters of Keansburg, New Jersey, fishing off the beach that loomed adjacent to New York. He shoved his spear into the sand under the dark salty water, and pulled out his phone from his breast pocket. He noted the name on the caller id and flipped it open. He was greeted by the sound of Halo sounding about half past dead, and then she made him worry that she might be. He stashed the phone back into the pocket at the front of his denim vest and swore. He didn't have time to ride back into the city, he'd have to leave his bike in the parkinglot and hope no one spraypainted PPP on it. He closed his eyes tight and thought of the apartment building Halo lived in, when he opened them he was in the lobby of the building, tucked away in a corner and out of sight of cameras or people, so he hoped anyway. He took the stairs two at a time, disregarding the looks his appearance solicited from the people he passed, he had no time to slip into a incognito look. He didn't bother to knock on Halo's door, she could always just magic it back up onto the frame, he just barreled through it.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

The small body that housed more than tenfold her weight of centuries of arcane ability lay tangled in sweat drenched sheets on the cluttered floor of the penthouse apartment. The only sign that there was any life in the Young woman's form was the sighing ripples fluttering across the puddle of swamp green puke pooled around her elfin features.

The entire living space reeked of a stomach turning cocktail of vomit, stale alcohol, body odor and some odd, indecipherable stench that had a decidedly chemical tang. Her pale limbs were stretched out towards the door and her normally smooth belly was distended as if she had spent the night cramming buffet shrimp down her gullet. Unconsciousness had such a strong grip on her that the devastation of her front door did nothing to even vaguely rouse her, even when the the containment and screaming klaxon of the unseen security measures she had put into place herself, failed to stir even a raised eyelid.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: 365 on

"Halo!" Orion gasped as he dropped to his knees at Halo's side, picking her up out of the vomit and carefully bringing her to a couch to lay on.

Orion looked over Halo with a confused look on his face, not only was she looking like hell, but like hell stuffed full of holiday ham. The pungent odors of the apartment stung his nose, overpowering his ability to differentiate between them naturally. He went to the kitchen and got a rag, letting warm water from the faucet soak into the fabric. He laid the warm dishtowel down over her head, cleaning her face off with a paper towel he had snagged from the kitchen on the way out. He was confused to say the least, things were strange, and if a god thought things were strange, that definitely meant things were strange. He pulled off his denim vest and ran a hang through his wild brown hair, he wasn't sure what the best course of action was. He just prayed that she'd be alright.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

It was a combination of Orion's tender touch and the lurching roll of the contents of her belly that brought about Halo's consciousness. A weak smile infused with pain flickered on her lips as a gauzy veil of gratitude washed across her bone pale features, "O, you came. . "

Her lithe body bent double, jack knifing horizontally on the couch as a fresh flood of nausea and excruciating cramping took hold of her form. The sickness rattled through her at an alarming rate, her skin blanching to the point of almost becoming transparent, the network of veins and arteries throbbing in bruise coloured shades beneath her tissue thin skin. Her belly waxed and warped, distending before their eyes, the vague outline of a tiny foot pressing through her pale flesh, "Oh good lord, Orion,I think I'm gonna. . "

Her face turned towards the floor and a vile stream of steaming bottle green puke splattered noisily on the defiled carpet.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Simon slipped out of the bed.  Sometimes the price he was willing to pay for things disturbed and frightened him, especially now that he was no longer fully tethered to the netherworld.  He had to walk a very carefully balancing act between piety and degeneracy or the enemies on either side would take notice of his swaying one way or the other and might take steps to eliminate the possibility that he might add his considerable ability to one side or the other.

He'd come to the conclusion that it wasn't actually the action that carried the majority of the weight but rather the motivation that prompted the action.  The orgy of the previous evening had been a hallmark of depravity but it had been motivated not by perversion but rather a desire to save the world.  The death had helped balance the scales but he was still tipped a significant distance in the direction of good.  It made his wings twitch.

He picked up a random cell phone and dialed Halo's number.  He didn't have any real answers but he had a starting point.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

The obnoxious electroclash ringtone tinily resounded from somewhere within the penthouse apartment. Halo's ice chip, cerulean eyes squinted as the noise from the electronic device was the sonic equivalent to driving slivers of bamboo under her fingernails. One small, strong hand grasped at the man mountain's knee to aid the tiny mage to a seated position. Lurchingly, she stood, her naked form now drenched in her own vomit and her belly heavily swollen to an almost full term pregnancy.

"O, make that fucking noise stop, please. . I have no idea where its coming from, but it really fucking hurts."

The song continued for a full thirty seconds as the black Madonna frantically scrabbled through the devastated apartment, shambling, grasping, searching for the source of the noise until it blessedly stopped. Halo fell to a crumpled half sit, her head hung and dark hair plastered to her head with sticky sweat. Her ragged breathing resonated throughout the living space and for the first time she gave into the fear and dread the situation had elicited from her tainted soul, "O, I think I'm in some pretty deep kaka. I think I know what my vision meant. Looks like immaculate conception was in my destiny and somehow I don't I'm gonna be able to track the bastard down for child support."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: 365 on

Orion wanted to rip his hair out in frustration at not being able to find the source of the noise that seemed to be pure torture on Halo's ears. He was thankful when it stopped, though a little annoyed at himself for not finding it. He did a little Mr Clean style cleaning when Halo plopped to the ground, cleaning away the vomit that coated pretty much everything in a flash of bubbles. When she dropped the news on him all he could manage to do was slump to the ground next to her.

"So then, what exactly are we going to do then?" he managed while tugging at his big brown beard, it was all he could think of to do.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo leaned into her ages old friend, "You know, I think I might be a little too far along to consider a termination and I don't have any recollection of social services having any pamphlets detailing on what to do about getting knocked up by an unknown being with a cobra for a knob, so I'm thinking. . ."

Halo's entire body clenched as one entity in a whole body cramp, her guttural grunt punctuated the half formed sentence. Her hand snatched out to grab Orion's shoulder in a death grip, "Orion,  this is not Halo's idea of fun", he grinded her teeth as her pale eyes filled with pain and pleading,  "I think baby snake wiener wants out now. . right now!"
 

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: 365 on

Orion smiled at Halo's colorful tirade, but said smile was soon wiped from his face when she grabbed his shoulder and elicited a noise like a wounded beast.

"I don't think this is anyone's idea of fun! Just hold on, I don't even know what I am supposed to do!" Orion said while trying to keep calm.

He reached over and with a massive hand laid Halo back onto the freshly cleaned floor that was seemingly about to be covered in far more grotesque body fluids than vomit. The big man moved down Halo's body, reaching out to allow her to crush one of his hands. Somehow Orion had managed to never deliver a evil entity baby in his entire time in existence, and he was a little perturbed that the record was about to have a black mark on it. He withdrew a razor sharp bowie knife from a strap on his leg and stared at Halo's engorged stomach. He didn't say anything as he did all that, he didn't know what to say.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo's eyes widened to turquoise saucers, "Orion no! Dear Gods what are you thinking man, let me squeeze the little bastard out, no need for a botched home Caesarian!"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: 365 on

Orion chuckled darkly as he hefted the blade in his hand.

"This ain't to cut it out, it's to stab the little bastard if it comes out all serpenty and wanting to tussle!"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Simon hung up.  It looked like he was going to have to play delivery boy, rather than simply messenger.  The thought annoyed him.  He dropped the cell phone and took a few moments to locate the shower.  Someone had passed out with their head in the toilet.  Simon checked their pulse before showering.  Evidently they hadn't fallen sufficiently in to drown.  He left the man there.

He took a long, leisurely shower before trying to locate his clothing.  By that point others were beginning to stir.  In the end he had to take someone else's shoes but he was able to find everything else.  He smiled at the other participants in the orgy, gave a random one a soft kiss and left. 

He'd give Halo one more call before he knocked on her door.  To do otherwise would be rude.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

The annoying noise started up again, once again sending spikes of agony through Halo's already overloaded senses.  Again it lasted for almost half a minute before lapsing into silence once again.  Almost on the heels of the silence came a voice from the shattered door, one that normally carried the sensation of silk and sex with it but this time carried on a vague hint of brimstone, which did nothing for Halo's stomach.

"Now I see why Orion felt it necessary to be in so much of a hurry that he couldn't even wait to open the door.  I had some news for you, Halo but it seems that you're already one step ahead of my informant."  Simon stepped out of the hallway and the door reformed in its frame behind him.  "How close are you?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"That close,"  Simon said, watching as another contraction hit Halo.  He looked at the bowie knife in Orion's hand.  "You won't need that for a while,"  he said.  "I assume you've done this before?"  He didn't wait for an answer.  Of course the hunter had delivered a baby.  He'd likely delivered dozens in his lifetime and likely a few that weren't entirely human.

The only non-human birth Simon had been involved in had been his own but he had been present at a number of births.  "I'll get some towels," he said, heading for what he hoped was a linen closest.  "Has her water broken?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

**This was my baby, this very thread that seemed to run rampant for a while was my concept and boy was I ever proud. Like many of the unmoderated (and sadly some of the moderated), it lost it's head of steam and fell by the wayside. I tried to resurrect it with all the enthusiasm of a novice necromancer, unfortunately it seemed my necromancy skills were at the very same level too. Due to a handful of reasons (which I won't bore you with details of because I can be nice like that) it dwindled off yet again and I gave up on it in this format. I love my character of Halo Thompson so much that I began writing her her own vehicle in the form of a full scale, chapters and all book, then just recently, one of our more esteemed forum members PMed me asking if I would be interesting in giving the "old girl" one more go, see if I could get her corpse up and about again, since we have a bevy of fantabulous new players on the site. Being the die hard adventurer that I am, I agreed and hence this very long OOC post!!

The universe that the characters of Between Gods and Monsters reside is one where myth lives beside legend, Christian deities co-habit with Norse Gods, fairy tale figures fondle Lovecraftian Old Gods, and  dreams play with nightmares. This is the world in which our scouse friend John Constantine lives (for reference IGNORE the piece of shit Keanu Reeves vehicle and instead track down some issues of Hellblazer). If you have ANY questions PM me, I am actually quite approachable and friendly, and will get you on track, point you in the right direction and fill your daily quota for bad cliches should you need it. As usual, power-gaming is NOT appreciated, but a little more freedom is given here, due to the very nature of the game and of course of its unmoderated format. So come on in, the water is fine, just the right temperature for an apocalypse!!**

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

The small woman that trundled along the dank sidewalk of a back street of a particularly unsavory burgh of New York, for all the world appeared to be a major felony waiting to happen. She was tiny, scraping just past five foot if she were lucky and had the sort of face that just screamed jail-bait. Her void dark hair was messily scraped up into pigtails that only seemed to give her an even more innocent allure. With eyes that were large and breathtakingly, vivid blue and the kind of figure that would have most red blooded, heterosexual men kicking their leg and baying like a cartoon wolf, it was nothing short of miraculous that she had managed to walk through this particular neighbourhood for a full three blocks without being the victim of some sort of unpleasant altercation. It could be because she was incredibly lucky. It could be because she was muttering under her breath like a freshly escaped lunatic from the local asylum...or it could be that she was Halo Thompson, probably the most powerful Mage this side of Merlin.

Halo's small hands were stuffed securely in the front pocket of her hooded sweatshirt, where they gripped her cell phone and apartment keys as if they were talismans that would ward off all evil. Her head was bowed as she concentrated on the movement of her bright red, converse clad feet as they carried her with a hurried conviction to her destination. Every person she passed seemed to recoil slightly from her, as if there was some sort of dark aura about her...or just a really bad smell. This was just fine with her and entirely intentional, tonight was not a night that she needed any extra curricular activities of having to break some jackass' arm or use old majiks to castrate a potential rapist, there was just too damned much to deal with right now...like the upcoming apocalypse for a start.

There was enough for a woman to deal with in this day and age, like how do you manage to squeeze in a quick run to the liquor store for more rum when there's a Twin Peaks marathon on, or when do you find the time to laundry when you are spending the entire week in various positions that even the karma sutra doesn't cover with a winged warrior of Heaven, or trying to keep a pair of misguided parents out of the room whilst you're trying to wrench a grade three Sumatran demon from the body of their youngest son as he howls as if you are dragging his tender ass across white, hot coals. . . without having to track down and slaughter the bringer of the end of all existence, that just so happened to crawl out of your uterus less than seventy two hours ago. It was a bad week for Halo and it was written all over her face.

The mini-mage sharply turned to her left and side stepped the arm of the cracked out prostitute that was sprawled, gurgling something about "punk ass motherfuckers" and let out a soft sigh that almost sounded like relief as her cyan gaze snatched the site of her destination. She was running late, entirely on purpose, in the hopes that everyone had amassed  before her which would mean she could just get straight down to business without having to sit around and wait for people to show up. Small talk and random chit-chat  unfortunately wasnt included in the limitless depth of her magical abilities, nor did she have any real desire to change that either. The door was only a few feet away as was a bottle of Captain Morgan's with her name on it.

"O'leary's, oh how I have missed you, your booze, your hot wings and the best goddamned demonic barman this side of purgatory."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

The average-looking man kept taking anxious glances at the door to O'Leary's, waiting impatiently for...well...someone. He wasn't entirely sure who. He ran his hands through his longish, golden blonde hair as he scanned over the text message he'd gotten from one of his contacts scattered about the city. 'Ur big break @ O'Learys,' it read. It made him giddy every time he read it. His hands flitted excitedly on top of the bar, and he kicked the front of the bar in an impatient excitement. He was broken out of this by the bartender slamming his drink down in front of him loudly. Artemis started, and looked at the demon in surprise.

"If I told ya once, I'll tell ya again. STOP KICKING THE BAR." The bartender had leaned closer to the angel, and despite Artemis' best efforts to get away the bartender had followed him. By the time the bartender had finished talking, they were practically nose to nose, and Artemis' eyes were open wide. He grinned weakly and apologized quietly. "I'm just waiting for someone, and I'm kind of excited about it, sorry." The bartender rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah, you've told me that the last four times, pal. Just give it a rest, okay. That drink'll calm you down." He wrapped his ankles around one another, and took a sip from his beer, thinking about how stoked God would be if he managed to pull this one off...

If I can manage to prevent an apocalypse, and NOT the one that He'd intended, and He found out that I had something to do with it? Hooo, boy, I'll be reinstated in no time! There's no way this could even go wrong... He sighed heavily and took another sip of his beer. It's not like I could ever screw anything up that badly since that earthquake I triggered in San Francisco those years back... He began to gesticulate, despite thinking to himself. I mean, how was I supposed to know that He didn't want that to happen? I just happened to overhear Him saying how he wasn't liking where the city was going to end up in a hundred or so years...why not just get rid of it all together? I was a Prince, I could do that, not a problem...or so I thought. Then I got demoted. Artemis sighed, and thumped his head on the bar, his halo 'tink'ing off of it as well.

Remembering why he was there, however, he sat himself up, made sure his halo was on straight [not that it needed fixing, it was sort of a static thing], and looked over at the door once again, nursing his beer and continuing his vigilant watch for someone that looked like they were trying to save the world.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo Thompson blustered past the hulking doorman, giving the man that looked as if he were carved entirely from well oiled teak a quick nod as her face still sat in an almost child-like scowl. The bouncer seemed to cringe slightly and gave her a quick and weak salute teamed with a thin smile, "Evening Hal."

She waved him off with a single small hand, the gesture both a greeting and a token of her general sour mood. Her glacial gaze scanned the bustling bar, a long and exasperated sigh stuttered from between her full lips as not a single one of the faces she was expecting to be waiting eagerly for her shone out from the relative gloom of the alehouse. She shook her head which caused her pigtails to bob playfully around her elfin features. The atmosphere of the bleakest thunderheads seemed to swirl about her small form as if she were caught in the maelstrom of a particularly cataclysmic storm, unsettling most of the patrons that were within spitting distance of her.

The mage stormed directly to the bar, hopping up on one of the tall stools, immediately the demonic bartender was before her, his sallow face pulled wide in a smile filled with ivory needles, "Well good evening sunshine!"

Halo's top lip twitched in a half snarl, "Not now, Al. Not in the mood. I need rum, wings and a complete lack of any wise ass comments."

The bartender's smile seemed to increase in size and his amber eyes sparkled with a sadistic mirth, "Bad day pookie?"

A second long and pained sigh thundered from her chest as her head dropped to rest her chin on her chest, "Al. . .just get me a fucking drink already."

Al clicked his heels together in a mock salute, "Yes mam, coming right up."

Halo rolled her eyes and rested her forehead on the surface of the scarred bar, a low groan made its muffled way from her mouth and only just out into the bar, "Why me?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

He melted out of the shadows as if he were rising out of the water.  His shirt was torn and there were a number of odd holes in it.  The flesh beneath was once again flawless.  Three days previous it had looked much like his clothing.  Even for a demon, wrestling with the child of the apocalypse was difficult and Sebastian only barely held on to that title.

"Sorry," he said, stepping up to the bar beside Halo.  "Lost him again.  He's either learning fast how to stay one step ahead or he's just so utterly goddamn unpredictable that I can't figure out his pattern."  He set a camera on the counter.  "I took some shots of the scene, just in case.  Maybe you can see something I missed.  Definitely not meal time material though.  Do it either before the wings arrive or well after they've been digested."

Sebastian wasn't going to add that he'd picked up a few souls from the collateral damage.  It wasn't any of Halo's business and they'd been on the verge of death anyway.  He looked at the fidgeting angel wannabe and offered the competition his second best smile.  It's not like Angelface would recognize him.  He'd barely spent a month working for Heaven but in that time he'd expanded their knowledge of demonic tactics and goals tenfold.  They just hadn't seen the need for him to keep his fingers in some infernal pies.  'Conflict of interest' they called it.  Narrow minded ingrates. 

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo didn't move a single inch as Sebastian revealed himself and let his presence be known, instead she sat there, face down on the bar with one arm wrapped almost protectively around her head. She listened as the incubus reported on most of his activities that had occurred during his recon mission and she intermittently nodded when the turn of the tale deemed it correct. The soft thud of the camera being placed on the bar encouraged just as much movement from her but, when the ring of rum filled glass being placed in
front of her sang, she responded by reaching a hand out and curling her fingers around it.

Once Sebastian had finished his brief a series of unintelligible and muffled words emitted from Halo then her shoulders heaved in a deep sigh. Slowly, she rose and turned to look up him, her eyes unnaturally bright and vivid for the subdued light of the bar, "Sorry, I guess speaking through the bar isn't as conducive as I would like to think it would have been."

The tumbler of rum was downed in a single flick of the wrist and was slammed back down, with a finger pointing at it in expectant fashion. She eyed the camera, "So you have pictures of my bundle of joy for me then, huh?"

The piece of technology was retrieved and she begun to flick through the digital images on the small LCD screen. The expression she wore on her face was entirely unreadable and was the standard look she kept for every occasion, "My, they grow up fast don't they? I mean it seems just like last week I was writhing in agony and spewing crude oil all over my apartment as the little fucker clawed his way from my womb. . .oh wait, it was only last week."

The refilled glass was pushed back into her open hand and was drained just as quick, "Now look at him, cutting his own niche in the world, feasting on innocents and causing general mayhem and misery. I'm so proud, this truly is the beauty of motherhood in full effect. You know 'Bastian, its one thing saving the world from apocalypse after apocalypse, but being the very vessel that brings the bringer of the latest apocalypse is something a girl could only dream of, but not me. I get to live that dream."

Halo's dark brows knitted as she squinted at a particularly brutal and graphic image in digital miniature. Her deft fingers flicked the silver buttons and zoomed in closer into the visual of pure carnage. A groan of pure exasperation slipped past plump lips and she shook her head, "He's not just eating them, he fucking reconfiguring them into something else. . .he's building his fucking army."

Eyes of the clearest cyan swiveled up to the incubus, "That's just icky, seriously? I mean we could just sit back and let some other schmuck do most of the groundwork for this and just as his face is being eaten and all hope is lost, we can swoop in and avert yet an other end of days and for once be hailed as the saviors of all man kind? I mean, its not like this is a paid job."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

Having not actually taken another sip of his drink [of which he was severely glad, because he would most certainly have inhaled half of it], he instead slid down the bar to the two figures discussing some very unappealing [and dark] topics. Looking over the shoulder of the man that gave him the fake smile, he let out a quiet, "Hm, that's not what I figured apocalypse would look like." He sat down a seat away from the girl and smiled slightly and nodded. "Though it's not like you really see an apocalypse every day, what am I supposed to know what one looks like, right? I'm Artemis. I don't think I really have to tell you where I'm from or who I work for." He said the last half of that sentence with absolutely not a hint of sarcasm or being an ass; he was just making a point. "I'm here to help."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo couldn't help it, but a smirk crawled across her face as the stranger babbled with an odd inflated sense of self. The most amusing thing about his whole introduction was that he truly believed which meant that the enjoyment of knocking him down a peg or two would be so much the sweeter. She watched him take a seat next to her, her smirk growing all the while then shifted her gaze back to Sebastian before the laughter that was desperate to escape her mouth erupted, "Ask and the Lord shall provide, looks like we've got our schmuck."

The source of unfathomable power slowly twisted on her bar stool and directed her frigid gaze to the newcomer, "This might come as both a shock and a surprise, Sunshine, but I don't have the first fucking clue who you are, who you work for or what fucking sparkly, rainbow farting unicorn you came riding into town on. This. . "

She shoved the gaudily coloured screen depicting the carnage under Artemis' nose, "Is exactly what the start of the apocalypse looks like. Pretty, ain't it. See that right there, I believe that's a human spleen and over there, well gosh darn it if that ain't a freaking lower intestine. And buddy, believe me when I tell you that I have halted more goddamned potential end of the worlds than you could shake a hooker's sex toy at. This is a fucking weekly event for me, the only thing that is different about this one is its my fault. . .kinda.  .sorta. . well, I feel moderately responsible for. So I would highly suggest one of three things, either fuck right off and go back to making merry with your right hand or you could keep up with the weirdness and I can switch the places of your genitalia and your nose for my own personal amusement or you can start spilling on who the fuck you are and how you know what the fuck is going on here."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

Artemis did nothing but shake his head. He could see how she actually might feel responsible for it when she paused before telling him it was her fault. "Look, I just told you who I am, I'm Artemis, so you DO know who I am, and I figured that having a fucking halo floating around over my head is a pretty big clue as to who I work for, all right? No need to get snippy." Imitating Halo's 'cutesy' nickname that she gave him, he continued. "And thanks for the anatomy lesson, Sweetheart, but no matter how many pictures of gore you show me, or no matter how many times you've stopped an end of the world, I know that this isn't The Big One."

He took a casual swig out of his beer like he wasn't in a hurry, then pointed his index finger at her. "I know what's going on for two reasons: one, a friend of mine who heard about the whole ruckus starting gave me the heads-up, and two, it's not like you guys were being too discreet about it. I could hear you from the end of the bar." Before taking the final drink of his beer, Artemis looked at the girl sideways and asked, "So, Satan, then...is he packin' heat?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

A raucous baying that would have been more at home coming from a barn yard donkey punctuated with the odd snort wailed from Halo's open mouth as she jubilantly slapped her thighs. Fat tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air between each barked laugh, taking days old mascara and eyeliner down with them. A bout of hiccuping soon followed the laughter and between the spasms of her diaphragm Halo held up a solitary finger and said, "Fuck . .one second."

The palm of her outstretched hand was instantly fitted with a tall glass of water provided by the insectoid barman, she nodded her thanks and slowly sipped the water as the hiccuping waned. Her electric gaze was directed back to Artemis, "You're one of them, aren't you?  Fan-fucking-tastic, just what I need in my life an other angel. So tell me, Sunshine, why are you Earthbound? You been sent on a mission by the big guy upstairs? He need some groceries or made for you to do a little soul collecting or are you another one of the fallen."

She stared him straight in the eye, noses almost touching and very slowly cocked her head as if she were a curious puppy, "Oh shit. You're a fallen. Which means you're looking for any reason to get back into the old man's good books so you can ascend. . .which is why you're here to help."

Halo withdrew and found a third glass of her good friend, The Captain, waiting for her on the bar. She snatched it up and took a long drink, her eye contact with Artemis never breaking, "Scratch has nothing to do with this. This is something from before even he fell. You know, he gets such a bad deal all the time and he gave us all kinds of wonderful thing like rock and roll music, porn, air conditioning and pop tarts. I keep telling him he needs to hire a new PR exec but he never listens...anyway."

The glass was slammed on the bar, demanding a refill, "You really want to help, huh? Well sell it to me, Sunshine, why should we let you in on the big hunt when I have an Archangel at my disposal. As they always like to ask in interviews for minimum wage jobs, what can you bring to the table?"

She eyed the now apparent glowing corona above Atemis' head and pointed, "Oh and just a quick FYI, we hairless monkeys can't tell heavenly bodies from our own lowly forms unless you turn on the sparkle and neon of your holy glory. So remember that next time and switch it on before you neglect to introduce yourself."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

The scoff that exited the angel's lungs sounded more like a cough than anything else, but more because he hardly even found her snippiness insulting.

"Hon, the only reason I'm Earthbound is because of the fact that I like it here. I like a good drink now and then, and I like the atmosphere. It's an enlightening contrast to the gold streets and glowing abundance of the Big Guy in all his glory, all right? Just like you need to pump your liver full of this shit  until your liver decides to kill itself to avoid the abuse, I like to get shitfaced, too. Gimme a Jack and coke, if you don't mind, bartender." He turned back to the girl. "So, who doesn't screw up every now and again? Nobody's perfect. I've fucked up before too... At least I didn't trigger the start of a fucking apocalypse, though." He shook his head, focusing himself. "Anyway, all I'm saying is that we've all got problems, myself included, so why not take the opportunity to get myself some brownie points, right?"

"As for the real question, what can I offer over an Archangel, here's what, sister: I've got authority over my own actions. Yeah, granted, I still work FOR him, but I'm essentially one of the managers of my division. Archangels have to answer to God's whim; I don't. So, when you go to your buddy and ask him by batting your eyes and shoving your ass in his face, and he says no, well, then you've got me to go to. But skip the batting eyes bit. I'd rather not remember your face when I fuck you."

He rolled his eyes then, "And please, spare me, I got your attention enough just by commenting on what you were discussing, let alone what shoes you might have been wearing, Fleshy. I try not to keep the neon sign going when I'm not talking business." Lifting his drink to his lips, he said quietly while blatantly trying not to be discreet, "And I already had introduced myself by that point..."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo was wearing her full battle grin and was enjoying the banter that she was sharing with this particular celestial body just a little too much to let it quite come to an end. There was no way this particular ex-pat of heaven had the first clue as to who or what she was and for the time being she was more than happy to leave it that way, "So you wanna play with the cool kids, huh, Sunshine? Despite the fact that this particular high school dance has absolutely nothing to do with you Father or his grand scheme for his creations?"

The rum was slowly brought to her lips and this time was almost sipped with a ladylike demeanor, "If you're doing this just for the brownie points, you might be shit out of luck, but on the other hand, if you're doing it because you genuinely give a fuck about this world and us naked apes, we might just have a spot on our all-star super team for another feathered freak."

She pointed at his chest as she sank the last of the umber liquid and never dropped her gaze from his, "But this is not a personal crusade for you, Sunshine. I'm doing this off the clock, because I kind of take it personal that I was the one that ushered in the little fucker that's causing all this shit. I mean I've had a few one night stands in my time, but never have they resulted in something that threatened my very existence and by golly, that sure did burn my ass. And also, how the fuck am I supposed to claim child support when the dude didn't even have the common courtesy to give me a name, I tell you, I could make a fortune on the day time talk show circuit with this, but no, I'm just going to bitch heartily about it as I clean it up."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

Artemis looked incredulously at the spunky girl. "Cool kids? Doll, you're the gothy teenager that has nothing better to do than sit in the corner pining over some guy that wouldn't even look at her twice while you think about how exactly you're going to whine about it - on your blog, diary, and poetry forum you frequent - when you get home. And for His plans and such, I know that there's nothing to do with Him...It does for me though. I mean...there aren't many good parties in Heaven, save for when Jesus is around, so I'd like to be able to attend a couple more keggers by the time the REAL end of the world happens."

Well, at least she's committed, the angel thought to himself smugly. I won't have to worry about her slacking off or getting lazy because she's too fucking stubborn to give up. I can use that.

It was now the angel's turn to lean in and almost press his nose to Halo's, his now fully white eyes locked with hers, smiling. "I know it's not a personal crusade for me, cutie, because if it were, I'd be the one recruiting folks for this, not you. I'm sorry your choice of men isn't all that great, but we can't all choose a winner now, can we?" Pulling away, the angel spoke into his liquor before chugging the rest of it. "Besides. I saw this coming. Not exactly knowing that you were the cause of it, necessarily, but just the fact that this was going to happen sooner or later." Artemis gave Halo a knowing look, and only tapped his glass on the bar twice for a refill.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

"Oh well, thank you for the forecast, oh great and powerful warrior of The Lord. Of course you saw this coming, I mean its not as if there is some asshole every other week trying to wipe out the whole fucking planet. . .oh wait", Halo's eyes became wide in a mockery of her proverbial light bulb of realization stuttering into full glare, "There is some fucking asshole every other goddamned week trying to cause the end of times! Hence why I have a particularly extravagant and costly penthouse apartment that overlooks Central Park. This is what I do, Sunshine, I save the entire planet and usually get the girl in nice bite sized installments on a weekly basis. So, if you knew that this was going to happen, then why in fuck's name has it taken you this long to join in the parade?"

With a wide grin that bordered fatally on the side of being genuine she slapped a hand hard down on to the angel's knee and gave it a good squeeze, "And for your information, Sunshine, I was a cheerleader and the homecoming queen in High School, isn't that just a pisser?"

Halo signaled Al with one hand and called out, "Yes please, Al and one for both of my fine male companions whilst you're at it."

She turned back to Artemis her eyes blazing with mischievous mirth, "As much fun as I am having with you in this pissing contest, Sunshine. We do really need to get down to business, so I need to know a few things about you so we can figure out exactly how you are going to fit into our band of Merry Miscreants."

The glasses appeared on the bar and were quickly replaced with a handful of bills, "Its super fantastic that you are an angel and all, but I need to know what kind. You've already made it clear you're not an Archangel and if you were I would have heard of you. So what exactly are you and what's your skill set, your finishing move? Fatality, animality, babality or hey, do you have one of those friendship moves?"

 

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

"Oh! Ohhhhh!, I see what this is!" Artemis laughed sardonically, and pointed at her knowingly. "Blame my knowing that this was going to happen on ME!" The angel laughed again. "All right, fine, I'll humour you. You know WHY the big guy never really bothered having anyone mention it to you guys, despite how we knew what was going on?" An uncharicteristically evil smile slithered across Artemis' face, and he said sternly: "It's because He knew that YOU were here cleaning up something that wasn't HIS problem!" He left a little pause to give it time to sink in.

"In any case, the reason that we're getting involved now is because I'm a bit of a free agent, and knowing that He doesn't give a flying damn, I'm deciding to do something about it. Besides, I've never done a black chick before, and if the world ends, well, that's just not gonna happen, is it?" He looked surprised quickly. "Oh, a cheerleader,  huh? You know what, that actually makes sense, I've heard they're total cunts, too. Is it just a high school thing?" As the drinks arrived, he immediately picked it up and drank his thanks with a nod.

"As for what I am, you ever heard of the Principalities? In case you didn't know, and I'm not trying to be a smartass here, but I'm essentially handed the reins of guys under me, and I've got free jurisdiction about any divine acts I feel are necessary. You remember the whole David and Goliath thing? That was one of our guys, got a fatty promotion that day." The angel looked a little proud of himself. "I can also kick a fair amount of ass too, if it comes down to it, and my super is down to forward, down to forward, light, medium, and heavy punches."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

"Pfffffffft. . Some of my best friends are angels", Halo rolled her eyes in an over dramatic rendition of Maurice Sendak's Wild Things rolling their terrible eyes and gnashing their terrible teeth as the angel's proclamation came to a close, "Do I know anything about the ranks of angels? Sunshine, I know more about you pretty orbs of light than the Vatican does.  I mean you say you have more freedom but I know how far down the angel cake food chain you are, you rank what, seventh in the holy order? So what, New York is your jurisdiction? Well, I have to say, bang up job you've been doing. I mean, I am only making a small fortune dealing with events that clearly come under your area of expertise and hey you get to take all the credit for it too..now that's not very Christian of you, is it?"

Halo Thompson's cool, cyan eyes glittered magnificently in her maliciousness, "But, like you said, its all His great plan, right? And it's so totally not that you did something to piss him off and he kicked your sorry ass from your golden perch at all, right? Of course not, you're just like God's gun for hire and hey, you can go adventuring and get XP points and who knows even level up as you're just kicking back and enjoying all the finery that Earth has to offer. That's cool, I can totally get behind that, I'm all about enjoying said finery myself and a little ass kicking on the side for fun and profit never hurt nobody, right...well except those that are getting the ass kicking, but we don't have to worry about that, since we are the ass kickers and not the ass kickees."

She swiftly clinked glasses with him before the last of his Jack and coke was swilled away and downed the rum in one solid gulp, "And I heard your order has some pretty fancy under garments, don't suppose you could lend a gal your golden girdle for a night or two, I bet that looks smoking hot with a pair of marabou slippers and red lipstick."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

OOC:  Will post more when I get the chance but FYI Sebastian's 'second best smile' is NOT a fake smile.  There is actual significance to the fact that it is his second best......

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Sebastian eyed the angel.  "Tell me, at exactly what point did you start bending the truth?  Little white lie here?  Slight exaggeration there?  How long does it take for a principality to start lying?  You'll have to forgive the amusement.  You see, your claim to being celestial is subject to doubt.  I'm far from it but I can duplicate that halo without even straining a metaphysical muscle."

A bright silver halo appeared over Sebastian's head.  It remained silver for a few seconds before cycling through a full rainbow of metallic colours.  It paused briefly at a colour the resembled lead before melting away.  "I can do the same thing with horns too," he said.  "But those tend to tip my hand too early.  Are you going to help or are you going to blame the infernal free angels yet again for something we had no hand in and something God seems content to allow to roam free?"  He turned to look at Halo.  "Do we really need him?  As something other than cannon fodder, I mean."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Grimoire on

"That's a nifty trick. Is it useful for wardrobe change as well?" The disembodied voice would have been slightly jarring to most. The assembled were most definitely not most, after a short pause the voice continued, as though just now noticing Sebastian's disfigured attire. "No, I suppose not." And with this second quip also appeared a girl on the stool beside Sebastian. Not so much that she appeared with a pop, or that she materialized there but it was just such that she seemed to have come to be there while one was blinking or happened to be glancing in the other direction...At least that's what it felt like. The young lady who intruded their conversation was of small build and in a word...White. Her skin had past pale and transcended into luminous. Her hair which in long tresses hung down her back and cascaded over her shoulder was a corn silk normally only seen on small children and the only thing that tipped one off she wasn't an albino were the large ice chip blue eyes that took in the group as if she had been in the conversation all along. Her lithe and athletic frame was wrapped in a pair of jeans faded and worn out in the knees in such a way it was clear she'd worn them to hell and back not just bought them like that. The white t-shirt that stretched over her upper half bore no labels but on her dainty men�s size 5 feet were a pair of white converse that looked like they'd just been taken out of the box with the stars up as she hovered, cross-legged, an inch off the bar stool. Not the most unique of traits but she made it look casual, like anyone could do it, like Jesus walking on water or Superman flying. This was Andellion, or for people who prefer to keep it to a couple syllables Andi, and she was quick to say so.
"My names Andi," she came to the realization long ago that telling anyone her full name was just asking for a few good bastardizations.
"And this, is Kaleb" She said motioning to a raven that was most definitely albino and had previously gone unnoticed against the shield of her hair. She took a drink of her pint with all the grace and demur of a trucker, downed a near three-quarters, wiped the head from her upper lip and continued.
"I'm a Valkyrie and we're here to help." She waited a moment.
"Do I have to wait for the razzing like an initiation or can I skip straight to defending my candy-ass for you professionals?" There was a slight, not-so-placeable accent to her speech.
"Cause I can brace for impact if that's the way it's done around here." She let a smile crack the corner of her mouth

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

The source of the world's newest threat was about to answer the question that was posed by the incubus, but the revealing of the fourth party member deleted the words that sat on her tongue. A haphazard smirk sat on her full lips as her polar opposite dished a new portion of sass into the already brimming pot, "And cavalry has arrived."

Al had given up on refilling Halo's glass and left the bottle in place of the drained tumbler. A small hand reached out and tenderly grasped the neck of the bottle as if it were attached to a lover. The liquid warmth was swigged and cyan eyes remained trained on the newest arrival to the motley group, "You've already gone through your baptism of fire, Andi. I think you've taken enough backtalk from me to last at least seven life times, your hazing was over after you stopped my head from being caved in by a titan's club. That kinda thing will win you brownie points every single time."


The thick base of the bottle clinked dully with the pint that was in the hand of the luminescent woman that now hovered opposite her. Halo's head cocked towards each of the men that sat in her close proximity, giving introductions as she went, "This is Sebastian, incubus, repossession agent and scum of the earth, also known as a practitioner of the law", she grinned up at Sebastian, "And you know I mean that in the most loving way possible. He's been tracking my baby boy for me, but the kid has it's Mama's smarts and keeps eluding him."

Her ethereal eyes flitted to the angelic presence, "This here is Artemis, I don't know him from jackshit, hence the ritual verbal assault. He seems to be able to hold up his side pretty well, despite the handicap of being a Warrior of the Lord and also seems to really want in on the whole saving the world deal, so he's either way he seems like he might be an asset, whether it is as a team player or pretty winged cannon fodder. . we'll see."


The smirk grew in size until it was almost lewd, "And you know me, which surprises me that you came all the way out here to help me clean up this whole mess or did that old cycloptic fuck, Odin, demand you come out here and deal with me, again?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Grimoire on

Andi easily polished off the rest of her pint tapping her glass gently for a refill while she swallowed, chuckling lightly at her old comrades words.
"Well it's always good when they can take it as well as they give it," The valkyrie said with a wink.
"It's a pleasure to meet you boys. I hope you both can keep up." She said with a good natured grin. She then let her expression turn back to business.
"It was indeed Odin who sent me. Seems your little boy is makin quite the name for himself. I'm supposed to come help out with the retroactive abortion and also you know, make the gods look good. But I heard it was you and I was here as quick as I could be. Though I am supposed to waggle my finger at you-" She said holding out one long slender finger and waving it at Halo in a disapproving manner. "Bad Halo, bad girl getting knocked up by the forces of evil. Don't do it again. Now that that's over with, was that a killer birth or what? I hear the regular fleshies are hard to push out..."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Add to that the fact that she got laid what, four days ago?  I'm starting to loose track."  Sebastian shook his head.  "Chooser of the slain, eh?  Plucking worthy souls off the battlefield?  I usually wander amongst the wounded, granting last requests, so to speak.  Well, it's good to have some talent in the cavalry.  Especially since it's air cav."

Normally he'd make a pass at the young looking woman but she was a Valkyrie and was likely nearly as old as he was.  A little professional courtesy had to be extended, from one soul collector to another.  "Can I offer you a refill?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Grimoire on

Andi smiled with all the glory of Valhalla and sat up proper on her inch of air above the stool. Her previously ordered refill barely kissed the bar before she'd downed it, leaving it once more empty and available to be refilled. "Why yes I believe you can now sir, but only if I can offer you one in return." she gave a glance over to Halo, then back. "And this is generally where I'd ask you how goes buisness for you in the only recession proof industry there is cousin, but as I've come to learn, time is of the essense for fleshie types. No offense present fleshie type." 

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Delighted," Sebastian replied.  "In honour of present company-" he nodded to the angel, "- I'll have a Virgin Mary."  He chuckled.  "I asked for that when Moses asked me if I wanted anything during a meeting with him, Clarence Darrow and the late JC.  You should have seen the look on his face.  It was a foolish idea, in retrospect.  I fully expected to get zorched."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

"You know, if I had actually gotten a good night of debauchery out of the deal of being the Mother of the Apocalypse, maybe I wouldn't be so hellbent on catching the little fucker and being it's end of the world. The truth is", she threw a glance laced with enough venom to poison an entire village in Sebastian's way, "I didn't get laid in order to produce this bundle of joy and you know that just fine and dandy, you were there at the conception, you fuckwad."

A long a guzzling pull on the rum washed some of the bitterness from Halo's tones as she shifted her focus from the incubus to the Valkyrie, "What actually happened is I got bitten, not even in the lady parts. This thing smashed through here and caused merry hell with Al's fine establishment, in the chaos, his raging serpentine erection and I mean it was literally a bastarding snake, bit me right on the fucking hip. I think that was when I was given the gift of the thing that is decorating our streets with the entrails of its citizens."

Her fine nostrils flared and a second drag on the bottle was siphoned down her waiting gullet, " Either then or when he got all hentacle on me and encased me in fucking black wormy things. . .let's just say, it wasn't the kind of first date where you think its going to lead on to bigger and better things, like introductions to your parents."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

"Oh, haw, a Mary joke." the angel sneered at Sebastian. "I never get tired of those, I tell you what," he continued, sarcastically. After finishing off the rest of his beer, Artemis sighed and grumbled, "She was a bitch, anyway. The Catholics are so about her when really all she did was have all the terrors of childbirth without any of the benefits..." His eyebrows raised and his eyes slid over to Halo, hoping he hadn't offended her unintentionally. "Anyway, just because He's God doesn't mean He's not got a sense of humour, either, Sebastian, so don't worry, you'll be exempt from zorching for that." He turned to the bubbly Valkyrie and nodded at the drink that she just arrived. "Next one's on me, pleasure to have you aboard. I'm getting the next round for you guys, too," he nodded at Halo and Sebastian, "so don't worry about it."

He looked back to Andi and smiled. "I'm Artemis, like the little one said. And I make for good cannon-fodder, don't you worry about that, Halo. That's the handy thing about being a good old-fashioned bible thumper; The Big Guy favors the meek and all that jazz."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo felt her right eye twitch and her top lip curl slightly up on the left side as the fallen referred to her as the little one she was several nanoseconds shy of getting away with the tick, betraying her usually cool exterior and revealing the comment had hit a nerve. She couldn't quite place her finger on the ability that ever angel she had ever come in contact with, that managed instantly root out the direct line to the zone where all her annoyances lay, but sure as shit, it seemed each and every winged servant of the Lord, no matter how far removed they were from Him, so long as they still sited Him as their master, they managed to find every single nerve and play it like their goddamn harps.

She poped and cracked every knuckle in her hand, trying desperately not to rise to the bait that the heaven cast had thrown directly under her nose and the satisfying crunch of each applied pressure was so far managing to keep that tempting smell from wafting teasingly up her nostrils, "You know, Sunshine, I thought the whole meek thing was more a matter of patience, humility and a certain degree submissiveness? I wasn't aware that being a cocky fucker was something The Big Guy viewed as rewarded behaviour? Maybe the rules have changed since you were last up there, though, huh?"

Halo grinned feeling somewhat vindicated for the height reference then slapped and hand on to the angel's knee, "But booze, in my general direction is a sure fire way of lessening my contempt for your existence and getting it on to the road of just plain old apathy,add to the fact that you're willing to throw yourself in the line of fire, well gash darn it, Sunshine, I might even start to learn to be civil towards you."
 

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Sebastian snorted.  "Of course God has a sense of humour.  He created Man, didn't he?  Biggest joke this side of offering Kali a tampon."

"Get him," he said to Halo.  "Welcoming her aboard as if he's been in on this thing from the ground floor and has some degree of authority.  Let me give you another clue, since you've been sitting the first few rounds out.  This isn't going to be a fight where the holy choir of cheerleaders are sitting on the sidelines crying 'Holy, Holy, Holy' every time you get a first down.  You're going to get your wings dirty and I mean bloody messy dirty, not just a little smudged.  If you know anything about me and my kind, you'll know we aren't stand up fighters.  The fact that I'm in this up to the elbows should tell you everything you need to know.  You're not going to get any brownie points for jumping in at the eleventh hour because nobody is getting brownie points period.  There are your choices.  Literal bloodbath or go blow Gabriel's horn."

He turned his head to look at Halo.  "I just realized. Put into the vernacular, if this thing out their is the Anti-Christ, that makes you the Anti-Virgin."  He tried to keep the smirk off his face but it just wouldn't co-operate.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Grimoire on

Andi laughed, a hearty and good natured sound. She slapped the bar to emphasize her amusment. "Oh y'all are too precious. You should have used your loins as a hell gate sooner m'dear." The Valkyrie joked with a playfull wink in the vertically challenged mage's direction.

"I'd bust your balls aswell but they seem to have it covered so I'll just say it's nice to make your aquaintance, as a bitch to the old gods it's always amusing to run into someone who's a bitch to the new. And since you so kindly are getting the next round, I'll get yours." Andi offered, and then raised her glass. "And to you all, ves heill."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Blood in your eye,"  Sebastian replied.  "And everywhere else you look.  Okay, so we know he's building an army.  Of what, Frankenstein?  Or more correctly, Frankenstein's monsters, since the monster didn't actually have a name.  There isn't a whole lot left for him to be raising zombies from his kills so my only guess is that, given that Halo seems to think he's building an army, he's taking the best pieces he can find to build his own perfect warrior." 

The incubus looked at the angel.  "Even handle one of the holy lances?  I had the unique pleasure of seeing Michael use one on one of my kind.  Left a scorch mark on the hardwood that nothing would get out.  That was all that was left when he was done.  A scorch mark.  Do you think you might be able to get your mitts on one?  Just make sure they have their own retrieval plan, since if you get taken out I sure as Hell won't be able to pick it up and return it. They made damned sure my visitors pass didn't cover the armoury."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

Artemis nodded at Sebastian in a sort of 'I-know-what-I'm-getting-myself-into' way as he spoke, grinning widely at his Kali joke, then raising an eyebrow. "I'm just introducing myself to the cute miss here, and I mean 'aboard' at least for the time being, while at the same time giving the Little One more reasons to actually keep me around on this thing. Besides, I don't think she's out and out said that I'm needed. But I'd still like to help. And you know what? I don't care if I don't have some angelic cheerleaders on the side singing 'holy', because if the end of the world happens, that's all ANYONE is going to be doing up in heaven, and I'd much rather not have to deal with that right at this moment, especially if it isn't supposed to happen right now. Besides, you can't get brownies without doing a little baking..."

Realizing his explanation didn't really make much sense when he said it out loud, he shook his head then moved on.

"Anyway, I'm not afraid of a beating. Just because of my...demotion doesn't mean I can't take a beating and come back from it. Hell, Little One here could probably throw me into a wood-chipper, Fargo-style, and I could come out of it all right...Granted I'd have to take a nap or eight, but I could still weather a good amount of bleeding. As for the Lances, there's actually a bit of a broken failsafe on those things. They can't actually be used against other angels..." he looked ashamedly into his drink and finished quietly. "Fallen or not." He took a large draught of his drink before continuing. "Anyway, I can't say I'm surprised about what you saw with the lance, seeing as how you're a demon and all. And don't get me wrong, I don't have anything personally against demons. You seem like a cool enough guy from what I know of you. Just stating a fact."

Artemis then grinned wide and laughed out loud. "Hah! So if she's the Anti-Virgin, then that means I might have a chance, right?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Up to her,"  Sebastian said.  "But be prepared to stand in line of the the chance just to step up.  Out of curiosity, what is with the Greek god theme lately?  We had Orion and now Artemis.  Not the original one, mind you.  She had much better legs and quite likely a much better right cross."  He rubbed his jaw for a moment, then chuckled.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

Artemis looked baffled for a moment, then raised his drink to his lips before saying around it, "I'm a lefty."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"She used a bow in her left hand,"  Sebastian said.  "Used it to put an arrow in the head of the real Orion when he was swimming.  Speaking of whom, have you seen your midwife?  I'd like to ask him if he's willing the show the scar.  You know, put up or shut up.  Knowing him, shut up wasn't likely to be an option.  Damn that boy could go on.  If you wanted an opinion, he'd give you one since he usually had two or three to spare."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo noisily cleared her throat as she watched the banter being volleyed back and forth between the conflicting sides of heaven and hell. Her dark brows knitted as they both seemed to bond over one topic, "I sure am just tickled pink that both of you gentlemen, and believe me when I tell you that I use that word in the broadest sense of the term, are finding my situation in all this somewhat amusing and also as a shoe in to discovering my underwear colour preference, but I would like to point out that I am, in fact still in the room and can hear that frat boy like guffawing. The way you are both headed, neither of you will be hanging my particulars from the moose head back in your frat houses."

The bottle that housed her own personal salvation was swung to her lips and chugged with a deft expertise, "but before I do steer the conversation back around to the topic we actually need to be discussing, I would like to make it clear I have sampled both of your sides already, fellas, so I might not even need either of you to add my collection of 'Mystical and mythical beings I have bedded'. On the other hand, I do seemed to get quite roused by either insane acts of bravery or out and out ultra violence and hey, the night is still young, but I digress. . "

The startling sapphire of the mage's gaze returned to Sebastian as her tone noticeably changed to a far more business like demeanor, "You pretty much have my boy pegged. He's amassing parts from every person that he's eating and from his healthy appetite, I'm guessing he is amassing more than just one warrior and instead going for an all star team. I'd also be willing to stake a very large amount of my previous pay cheque on the fact that the kid has a very particular palate, did you get any details on his vics?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Very messy is the one thing I noticed but I wasn't looking for commonality.  I was trying to track, rather than predict."  Sebastian kept a straight face in light of Halo's comments.  Just because she'd had his side didn't mean she'd had anything like him.  "Just out of curiosity, is he brewing his boys on the inside to be shat or vomited out as needed?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

Artemis put down his drink and began to gesticulate as he explained his thoughts.

"I can see that being the case, but the more he holds inside himself, the bigger he's probably going to get...and a gigantic, hulking bag of flesh isn't exactly going to go unnoticed after a certain point. I can also imagine that he'd want some sort of protection, especially knowing he's got somebody out to stop him, too...so I can imagine he's probably splitting the difference between the two: keeping some bodyguards around, while still amassing more for what could possibly be a really really big bad."

Artemis leaned against the bar and listened to what other ideas might come about.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo shook her head and her face contorted as if her rum had suddenly curdled in her mouth, "That makes no fucking sense what so ever, either of your ideas. I mean, he predates Gologtha, so I am hoping were not dealing with a bodily secretion army, I mean shit. . the smell alone would be the end of times. And the whole hanging on to the parts within, like a humanoid marsupial. . I dunno, that's all a little bit too Doctor Who for me. I've seen this kind of thing before, granted, never on this kind of scale, but there a few old world beings that can flesh craft and this is what junior seems to be doing. No poop, no puke and certainly no saving for later. Its more like he's going to the hardware slash grocery store and stocking up parts as and when he needs them. We just have to find where he's taking them. . we also need to find out exactly what kind of army he's building."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"That is assuming his gullet isn't an extra-dimensional space," Sebastian said.  "Like the place our wings go when they're inconvenient.  Only internal.  Kind of like a hooker I used to know.  I thought it was all just talent.  Turns out she was from some other plane of existence and was the end orifice of a feeding organ.  It explained a lot of things, including where a few of her johns disappeared to."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

The angel nodded in agreement with Sebastian. "I think I know that girl...besides that, we really don't know what exactly he's capable of, or what he's planning." He turned to Halo and got her attention with a quick snap of his fingers, ending with an index pointing towards her. "You said he's been moving a lot, right? And I don't think he's really trying to take his time with this, either. This little fucker is making a move, and he's making it fast. So I can only imagine that he's already got a significant amount of resources on his evil little paws."

Artemis thought for a second, then began to speak again, his hand running through his hair in thought, still looking at Halo. "You're a mage, right? Is there no way that you might be able to do some sort of tracking thing to find him? I mean, I don't know what you've tried so far, I'm just seeing what options we might have is all."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Sebastian cleaned his throat and stepped out from between Halo and Artemis.  He figured if there was anything that would set the mage at the angel's throat it was likely to be the 'snap and point' to get her attention.  "Want me to get a body bag?" he asked.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

Shaylee entered the building and made her way to the bar. It had been a long day. The city had been an adjustment but the past year she had adapted. It wasn't the same as living in the remote countrysides.

She ordered a vodka cooler and her pale green eyes surveyed the bar.  She came from an eternal race. But her glamor protected her from the eyes of mortals. They say her as a mortal and not who she truly was.  She was one of the Dark Fae. Her glamor hid her pointed ears and dark skin coloring. She was a creature born in the dark. Though she had relatives who were born of light. She had however been cast from the fae realm due to a past indiscretion. The punishment had been banishment cursed to roam the mortal world.

As she drank her sweet drink she noted a group of people gathered around a table in the bar. She did a double take at the fact that their aura's shone with a mystical aura.

She remained silent however and silently observed. it had been over a decade since she had seen anyone that carried even the remotest bit of magic within them. They were not fae but they were most decidedly otherworldly.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo stared at Artemis, her glacial gaze unblinking and she nodded in response to Sebastian's half joking question, "You know, Sunshine. I might be a relative babe in arms compared your timeless and grizzled ass, but don't you think after spewing this creature from the ancient Netherworld from my lady hoo-hoo and watching it attack a fucking God before scurrying off to leave a visceral trail of destruction and pain in his path, that I might, just fucking might have even considered that?"

The grind of her teeth was almost audible as she somehow managed to keep her voice down and her fists clear from Artemis' face, "I have tried every fucking bastard spell, ritual, chant and evocation that I have ever known to track junior and I have turned up squat. I have googled him, fuck I have even scoured Craiglist to find him and nothing."

She jabbed a solitary finger at the angel's chest as her voice lowered to a threatening growl, "So how about you throw out some more fucking ideas, Captain Obvious, rather than tell us how to utilise our own special skill sets?"

The bottle of rum was slammed to the point of being almost entirely drained, Halo's cool eyes still burning with an infernal fury, "And next time you click your fingers to get my attention like I am some sort of fucking dog, I will make sure your genitalia and nose trade places quicker than you can say 'Hail Mary, full of grace.' Anyway. . "

Her composure seemed to return as quickly as it had slipped, "Yes, he's moving fast, but not hastily. He knows what he wants and he going directly for it. He has to be hiding out somewhere, somewhere he can not only build his army, but also keep them, so a studio apartment on the upper east side is entirely out of the question, a place in Queens on the other hand, isn't entirely out of the question."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Better place to start looking than, say, Hell's Kitchen,"  Sebastian said.  "Don't let Whitebread get you down, Halo.  I'll give you a backrub after all this is over.  Now is it just me or are dark fae just way too rare to just come wandering in here by sheer chance?  Then again, we are where we are.  If there is a centre of the universe for coincidence, we're standing in it."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo perked up a little in her seat, her neck craning to scan the entirely of the bar to try and get a view of who Sebastian was talking about, "Your sider sense were tingling, eh, Sebastian? And a back rub, if you include aroma therapy candles and wale song in the bargain you might just have a deal."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"I can't swear to the whale song but I know I can get my hands on the candles,"  the incubus said.  "Would you settle for wolves?  Up against the bar, wearing an illusion to make her look about five nine.  Dark hair.  Nice tan.  Blends in well.  Watch her move though.  It's dead give away if you know what to look for.  Flexible and passionate people, the dark fae.  Just don't nibble on their ears unless you mean it.  You think it's an erogenous spot on a Ferengi?  It zero to two hundred in three point six seconds, even if you're trying to take your time."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

Shaylee could feel the gaze of them on her skin. She watched from the corner of her eye as she drained her drink and asked the bartender for another one and two sugar cubes.

The bartender was happy to comply but raised an eyebrow as she droped teh sugar cubes in after she had taken two sips.

The dark elf picked up the cooler and gently swirled it watching the fizz from the drink and the sugary cubes dissolved into it. She took another sip and sighed it was about the only pleasant thing in the mortal realm. It wasn't mead or blood wine, or the tears of of babes but it did the trick to help take the sting of living in such a dark and bleak world devoid of magic.

She focused behind herself letting her keen ears listen in on the goings on at the table that contained the unusual rabble.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

"Okay, look, I'm just saying what you may or may not have done, I'm just seeing what you know, so you don't have to be a cunt about my suggestion. I don't know what you have or have not tried, and dog or not, you're still being a bitch. I'm just making suggestions, all right? Fuck."

Artemis drained his drink and slammed it onto the table with a loud bang, drawing the attention of various bar-goers. "I don't know as much as you do, but I'm just seeing what's been tried, so you don't have to be a cunt about the whole thing, okay? I could easily be doing something else, so be glad I'm trying to help you rather than accelerating the end of the world, all right!?" The angel slapped away Little One's hand and glared at her.

"I'm just trying to help, and I don't know what you've fucking tried or not, so give me a shitting break, all right?" Artemis waved to the bartender and held up his glass, slamming it down once again, accentuating it with a loud "FUCK!"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Any rage that his words or the swatting of her hand may have cause was instantly replaced as the angel's frustration rose. A smirk danced lazily around Halo's full lips with the last barked obscenity. She reached out and took a sizeable pinch of angel cheek between thumb and forefinger, her lips pulled into a perfect pout as her voice rang out in an even squeaker tone, "Oh aren't you just the most adorable little fallen pumpkin when you get your wings all in a twist, Sunshine? You;ve been far from home for a long time and you're not used to having your nose smacked with a rolled up newspaper by us fleshie types that are utterly beneath your contempt, are you?"

The pout teased into a smile as she continued to pinch his cheek and waggle his face in the way your least favourite auntie would, "And my goodness, if you're not just positively darling now that you are pickled with booze and trying to hold your end with all three of us tearing you a new glory hole."

Halo released his cheek and stroked it with a remarkable tenderness with her knuckles, "You're in Sunshine, not only can you take the verbal assualt, but you also like to get hammered, which grants you the nearest thing to acceptance that I issue and who knows, you keep that fiery temper up in the field and commit a stupid act of bravery, you might just get a glimpse of the interior of my bedroom."

The hand at Artemis' cheek dropped and snatched up the bottle of rum to polish off the contents in one satisfying slurp, "And yes, angel cakes, that means we will fuck."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

Artemis snatched away the Little One's hand again, snarling at her and talking quickly. "Alright, you cunt, just because I'm fallen doesn't mean I don't have any self-respect, so don't you fucking DARE think that you can make me feel like any less than I am me." The angel practically growled at this point, and clutched his now full beer mug to the point of breaking. Cracking filled the air for a slight sentence until he began to speak once more, finally letting go of her hand.

"Smack me around all you like, but I still deserve to be at the VERY least respected. A fuck-up or not. If you don't want my help, then I'll go the fuck away, but don't come screaming to me and crying, because I'll be to busy praising the Big Guy when that happens."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Incredulously the infernal terror of Halo's wrath didn't even peek its nose over the surface, instead her smile grew allowing the fallen to still grasp hold of her wrist without any grievous bodily harm, "Well hot damn, Sunshine. You have a set! Not only that but you just confirmed for a second time as to what you really are, shit, it might just be the booze talking and loosening your tongue but, this whole fire and holy vengeance temper is exactly what I have been baiting you to see. This wrath of the holy is a beautiful force to have on your side and like I said, Sunshine you're already in and I don't work with assholes I have no respect for."


The perfect smile that sat on her full lips never wavered, much like her gaze as she held it fast to Artemis, "Nor is the offer of a fuck just given to any old tom, dick or harry."
 

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

The angel raised a brow, and didn't move much as he spoke. "I'm not in this for the fuck. Sex with you is just a perk, Little One."

He turned away from Halo and sipped his drink deeply.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Grimoire on

"Oh damn you've been demoted to perk of the job Halo. Like the benefits package, pay for your own dental, pay for your own health but hot damn you can stick it in what used to be a hell mouth! Careful, there may still be teeth." Andi said as she tried very very hard to keep from bursting out into hysterics. They were all sooooo...Touchy. She'd hate to see how Artemis handled breakfast hall with the Valkyries if Halo got under his skin that easily. She leaned over the table looking at the angel consollingly.
"Respect comes in many forms dear heart, just becasue we respect you doesn't mean we won't bend you over on a regular basis. Fuck lemme tell you how often I get bent over by the other Valkyrie's but you just gotta ram right back...Fuck, that came out wrong didn't it?" The Valkyrie paused her large eyes glancing upwards as she mused how that would seem.  
"Shit I'm starting to sound like you Halo. Next thing you know I'll be talking no clothese pillow fights and the -" She put on a sultry pout and pushed her chest forward batting her eyelashes as the next line came out in a breathy tone. "Interior of my bedroom." The obvious mockery of her inverted counterpart made another brilliant smile crack her face and she laughed inspite of her self, sitting back on her inch of air, putting back a good portion of her pint. She sighed contentedly smiling warmly at Halo petting her cheek with the back of her cool pale fingers.
"Anti virgin indeed." She winked.
She then turned back to Artemis. " The point of the matter is, we razz but we cover and protect eachother when needed. It's a much more effecient brand of respect. Hell it can even be mistaken for liking ya. But please darlin, I have a tape measure, you don't have to go breaking poor Al's cups to prove you're a big boy.  We'll respect you more sans hissy fit.  Besides, your anger just encourages us." She finished her drink noticing Artemis's still dower expression.
"Oh come on, give us a smile Mista Gwumpy Pants. Halo just offered to bone ya, that'd put a grin on whole teams of men. Infact I think it has." She giggled poking the pint sized mage in the ribs.

"BUT! Irrelivant to whether your panties are in a twist. If you can't do it with Magic and the Interwebs fail you, always try the old Fashion way. I could inquire ever so nicely on your behalf to borrow some of Skadi's hounds. I'm sure even if he doesn't leave some sort of trail magic can trace that he leaves a putrid scent of some sort that the pups could pick up on. Sides that they're so darn cute and fluffy."
After offering Andellion flagged down the bar keep holding out a crisp bill, it seemed everything about her was in gleaming order.
"Can you tell the dear young thing at the bar, that her next drink is on me. Thanks." She said nodding towards the shielded Dark Fae that sat, nursing a sweet drink like it was her last hope. 

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"You think I haven't tried that?"  Sebastian asked.  "Trust me, if there is a demonic trick for following somebody, I've tried it.  And did you have to clue the angel in on how the razzing works?  I was going to see how long it took him to find a word to replace 'cunt' since he seems intent on wearing it out single handedly.  Not that he'd be able to in the literal sense.  Halo would break him."

"On the other hand," Sebastian continued, "I'm going to see if we can raise the female percentage on this little universal rescue crew.  It will improve Arty's chance of scoring because I doubt he's got the chops to meet Halo's stated specifications." 

How he moved the distance between where he was and where the dark fae sat was a mystery.  One second he was mocking the pseudo-fallen angel, the other he was standing beside the newcomer.  "The conversation is much more interesting if you're part of it," he said in a voice that was just above a soft whisper.  It slid across her skin like a physical sensation, full of sensual promise.  "Come join us.  I can assure you, we're the most interesting people in the bar."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

The dark Fae had accepted the drink that the Valkyrie had purchased for her. She had ordered a sex on the beach this time. She pounded back her vodka cooler and sipped the sweet beverage when Sebastian wandered up.

With old seeing eyes she gazed on him as he whispered. She could feel the magic in his voice dark and seductive. She let out a little sigh and felt a pang of homesickness as she met his smoldering eyes.

She let go of her glamour just the slightest bit when she whispered her response back her voice was rich and soft like a velvet spun from the darkest fibers of midnight. "You seem like one large happy family. I would hate to interrupt the merry making. Pray tell why would I be of interest to you and your companions?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Of all those present, only you are able to draw my attention," Sebastian said, his eyes half closing at the touch of her voice.  "You might find our conversation of interest, because if will likely lead to excessive bloodletting, some serious violence and perhaps some very kinky sex.  If none of these things pique your interest as a participant, perhaps you might be interested as an observer of events that will go far beyond the point of earth shaking, right up to earth shattering."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

Shaylee cocked her head she ran her fingers over the front of her shirt. Her pale green eyes sparkled at his words. "Your words are tempting. I must admit that your offer is interesting. I've found myself rather bored as of late. If what you say is true dark one, I would come along to see what comes of things."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Sebastian stroked his fingers across hers.  "Trust me, you will be anything but bored."  He pulled away only slightly, not far enough that it would be out of her reach.  "I am Sebastian.  Join me freely and of your own will and I will show you wonders."  He gave her his second best smile.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Grimoire on

Andi chuckled to herself as she watched Sebastian speak with the Fae, her finger tips running down the front of his shirt like waterdroplets.
"It would appear, Kaleb dear that we are the odd one's out. Aw well we can always hope for an orgy." She chuckled, when out of the corner of her eye and the edge of her hearing something caught her attention. Her large blue eyes turned to the warm motherly glow of a small box, bolstered near the ceiling and angled so all in the bar may worship her eyeseering beauty. A television. Upon it a woman stood infront of a building just being put out by fire fighters, a notice at the bottom informed her this was Susan Torres - Breaking News, and along the bottom in red ran the words 'Family of Five found Murdered and Mutilated.' she could barely make out the words coming from the woman's lips do to the chatter in the bar.
"Yo, Halo." Andi said commanding the girl's attention and nodding towards the newscast.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

"You may call me Shaylee." The dark elf replied as she reinged in her glamor wrapping it tightly against herself once more.

She followed Sebastian back to the table and took a seat beside the woman that had bought her a drink. "Thank ye for the drink." Shaylee replied in way of greeting as she tiped her drink and gave a nod in the Valkyries direction. "Your friend Sebastian has asked of me to sit at your table for a spell.  He tells me there is the promise of much adventure and entertainment if I get to you you better. My name is Shaylee Ankou if you would have me as a companion it would suit me just fine."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"That would be Andi who bought you the drink, Artemis who is trying his best to look like a brave soldier rather than a beaten puppy and Halo, who bore the creature who's handiwork we are witnessing on the news, without benefit of clergy or, for that matter copulation."

Sebastian looked up at the screen.  "She looked better as a blonde, back when she was Sue Torry."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

"A pleasure to make your acquaintances." The dark elf replied giving a polite nod. "Im afraid I'm a little out of the loop. I hardly ever pay attention to mortal affairs. Please enlighten me on the latest melodrama this is plaguing mankind."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Sebastian looked at the petite mage.  "Halo?  You want field that one without getting too into hyperbole?"  He had yet to take a seat and began rubbing Shaylee's shoulder.  "Don't worry, I'll get to you soon enough, Halo.  I'm trying to make our guest feel welcome before we begin the traditional verbal savagery."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo clapped her hands and giggled with an almost child like glee as the angel threw her trinket of sexual promise back in her face, "There we go, Sunshine, now you're getting the nature of the game!"

A second and less girlish laugh rang out with all the grace of a braying donkey as the Valkyrie upped the ante with her own flavour of mocking that was finely honed after years of friendship, fat tears lazily rolled down her face as her breath hiccuped in squeaky barks between the laughter, "Oh man, Andi. See, this is why you need to get earthbound more often. If you can convince Skadi to even allow us on pup to try and trail junior, at this point we basically need all the hel p we can get."

Her eyes followed Sebastian as he silkenly bamfed his way over to the one who had obviously caught scent of earlier, her gaze never shifted from the smooth talking former denizen of hell as she continued the dialogue, "And it looks like our resident is to swell his ranks", a wide grin split across her elfin features, "Oh my, Fruedian slip, much?"

The pocket sized source of tremendous magical power was harnessed back in to the root of their being gathered in the bar by the Valkyrie's command to the TV set. She watched as the images flickered across the clear sea of her cyan eyes and nodded with a soft sigh, "Oh, Momma is so proud of her little hellspawn. That's my boy alright and he's still keeping to his fairly limited hunting ground, he's gotta be holed up somewhere close."

The arrival of the fae wrenched her attention from the censored images of death and destruction, she gave a small wave then a killer all purpose smile, allowing Sebastian the tedious task of introductions, "No worries, Sebastian. I actually prefer the massage after the venture into the killing fields, rather than the physical pep-talk you're delivering right now. Basically, Shaylee, that fun and frolics you see up on the old cathode god up there is the product of my loins. He's a cunning little bugger, as he destroys life he also creates new life from the parts he doesn't consume and all in the name of obliterating everyting we know and love, including ourselves. WHat we're trying to do is stop the little bastard. . oh wow, he really is a little bastard. . no wonder he's so pissed, Daddy fucked off and Mommy's trying to kill him, talk about issues."

Halo signaled for another round for the all new and improved Doom Patrol, "One thing though, doll. Don't worry about your glamour, we're all kinda on the different side in here. I'm the only human of us and in fact, in the bar, so don't feel like you gotta hide all your pretty darkness for our benefit. Besides, I have the feeling that we're all goning to be so covered in shit and gore by the end of all lof this, there's going to be no telling us apart, anyway."

The shake of her head caused her pigtails to dance merrily about her face before she shrugged almost apologetically, with her palms upwards, "But seriously, The Vatican will be having a field day with this. The end of the world came from a vagina."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Reminds me of a South Park episode.  Pope comes along and declares a bleeding statue of Mary to be bleeding not from its ass but from its vagina and his statement was the blood coming from a vag ain't no miracle."  Sebastian sighed.  "I miss romping amidst the clergy," he said, more to himself than anyone else.  "They've lost their sense of humour.  So, what's next.  Andi goes and looks for a hound?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

Shaylee watched the box of images. "That could prove interesting to follow. I don't know how much assistance I would provide but I offer my services. If it gives me a chance to flex my skills and use my scythe then I am in."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

Sebastian's hands stopped for half a second.  "Scythe?  You mean you're a reaper?"  He chuckled.  "Should I clear some space and get a little Jell-O so Andi and Shaylee can grapple it out for the title of Grand Gatherer of Souls?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

"I doubt that's necessary. There are more than enough souls for everyone. Besides I cull the ones that call to me. Reaping is only one of the things I do Sebastian. it just happens to be one of the more enjoyable hobbies I have." The elf replied. "And as for the Glamor, I think it best to keep up for now. I wouldn't know the full effect my presence would have on a mortal. It likely wouldn't be... Pleasant." She finished.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

Artemis looked confused with the fae, then pointed a thumb over to Halo. "I actually don't think it's gonna be a big deal here, seeing as Little One's the only mortal here, and she's had the Antichrist pop out of her vag and start tormenting the city in its hellish pursuit to destroy it, and everything else following that. I'm pretty sure she'll be all right, hon."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Grimoire on

"And we don't want your pretty face lookin' like this -" Andi said flipping her eyelids over and making an extremely grotesque face.
"As for the Jell-O, I didn't wrestle you Sebby-dear so you'd feel all left out. Though I don't need an excuse to roll around in Jell-O. Oh sweet ambrosia..." Andellion looked off with a whimsical expression on her face but then quickly returned to reality.
"Oh I don't have to run anywhere we all went wireless ages ago, though trying to teach Odin how to use T9 was a laugh...And Thor kept shorting his..." The Valkyrie removed a pearly white hued blackberry and her thumbs moved with inhuman dexterity reserved for mythical creatures and Asians.

Skadi - Can I take the hounds for a walk? Need them to hunt down hell spawn. Plzzzzzzzzzz :)
~<3 ANDELLION - Captain of Valkyrie Unit XII

"But Skadi is a quick gal...She'll get it."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

Shaylee raised an eyebrow at the casualness of birth of the Antichrist. "We will see what happens. Once I get more comfortable I may. I've done enough to gain the displeasure of my people. As far as mortals are concerned wedon't exist. Its one of our best defenses. If we manage to get into an area that is less populated it might be possible."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

"I figure that's probably for the best," Artemis said, rubbing a finger under his nose. "There's probably going to be a lot of security around the area, what with all the chaos going on in there, so I can only imagine they've got it cordoned off, so if we waltz in there looking like a bunch of things from stories -Little One excluded- I'm probably not going to be able to get us in there."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

"Agreed. Shall we be leaving then? Or do you guys have a plan?" The reaper asked thoughtfully.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

The fallen angel raised his finger and spoke. "Uhm...I've actually got an idea that might work...I know we don't really have anything to go on at all for the time being, so maybe we could actually just head right through the barricades without drawing too much attention?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo pointed a solitary finger at Artemis, poised to continue the mocking. Her mouth opened but was devoid of any sound as she quickly reconsidered his idea, "You know, that's just crazy enough, it might work. I'm sure I could whip something up to make us appear official and all, and I even have a few friends in various departments of the law and. . .oh. . .shit on a stick."

Her cerulean eyes dropped to her crimson canvas clad feet as she recalled the last interaction with several of her connections and the small fact that when they parted it wasn't exactly on the best of terms, "Okay scratch that, I could get us in, but if any suspicious are raised and I'm not aware of it, like some local burg cop calls top brass and I don't catch it, basically, we're fucked."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

Artemis beamed, delighted that his plan would actually work out [if the rest of the team accepted it as a good idea, granted, but he wasn't gonna look a gift horse in the mouth]. He dug into his pockets, fervently looking for something as he spoke.

"Actually, Little One, there won't be any need to worry about calling any of your contacts. One, it's a little short notice for that kinda thing, and two," he pulled a leather billfold out of his back pocket and let it fall open, revealing a heavy-looking gold badge, and an FBI ID card, and finished his speech, "I'm agent Adam Moore, FBI. I flash this baby and boom, we're in."

While the rest of the party was looking at him incredulously, he shrugged one shoulder. "What? I told you guys I liked it down here."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo's eyes dropped from the angel's face to the freshly produced wallet, back to his face then down to the wallet, this cycle happened a good seven or eight times, all the while her jaw hung slightly agape, "Wait, no. You're a spook? That's not. . you gotta be. . .fuck off. . ."

She picked up the official identification and searched it for every anti-counterfeit device she knew they had then double checked for any magical jiggery-pokery. Her long fingers skimmed the surface of the gilded shield and she shook her head as her disbelief furthered, "Holy shit, its really real isn't it? Like real real, not my kind of real where I can conjure shit to look real, taste real and be entirely convincingly real, this is certified actual real. Well, fuck me sideways, Sunshine, I'm thoroughly gob smacked."

The mini-mage scrutinized the photo id on the card and she chuckled softly to herself,  "Well hot damn, Criminal Investigation Division, huh?  Are you kind of at an unfair advantage to all your fellow men in black? Like you got that whole angelic mojo going on that can sniff out human bullshit? Damn man. . ."

The pigtails swayed comically as Halo continued to shake her head, "Well I guess this will be just dandy to get us in, why the fuck didn't you think to being this up earlier? I would have been much easier on you if I knew you could get us past the velvet rope with a flick of your credentials."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

The angel looked at the table through the bottom of his glass, smiling. "Yeah, it's really real, and well, a guy's gotta have hobbies. As for the whole human bullshit thing, that doesn't really come with the territory, seeing as how I'm doing a lot more of the actual crime scene thing and less of the dealing with people, and corpses aren't always the most talkative fucks, unless...well, you know, there are extenuating circumstances." He looked up from the table and at Halo, an inquisitive look on his face.

"And as far as I can recall, you were too busy giving me shit about being an angel or whether I could hold my own in a firefight and not how I was going to get our asses closer to finding that little bastard shit of a son of yours, doll." A wry grin stretched across his handsome, practically androgynous features."Besides, I also didn't know where exactly we were supposed to be going until that little thing came on the TV, either, so I didn't know if my playing the 'Official Business' card would get us anywhere.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

"Huh, I guess I did get distracted by the halo and the harp and went for you with the tenacity of a pitbull on PCP, but you gotta admit, you winged warriors are just so gosh darned sweet prey for a gal like me. The holy holy against the jaded hairless monkey is a never ending source of japes and hi-jinx. I mean, you know you're trouble when God Himself sends down one of his finest as a playmate, just so it keeps me out of his hair", she pointed at him with a new and softer measure of playfulness in her voice, "But don't go thinking this gets you off the hook, you're still very much in the firing line for my inflammatory roasting, not only because you're the new guy, but also because you came in with a typical angelic attitude. Some might call it prejudice, I like to call it well informed caution."

Halo dropped her feet from the cross bar of the stool and begun swinging them like a kindergarten kid pumped up on a dozen pixie sticks, "Yay! So what's the plan, Agent Sunshine? Five is a pretty big team for f'beee guys to travel in, how we gonna play this with the local flat foots, what parts do we get to play? Ooh! Ooh!! Ooh!! Can I be the slightly jaded and cynical FBI chick that no matter what insanity I view I always have to break it down to entirely illogical logic and science? Please?! Can I, can I, huh?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Grimoire on

Andi's phone buzzed against her hip as she chuckled at Halo's antics. When she removed the device the screen bore the optomistic message.

Andellion - The hounds have been itching for a hunt, I can give you two, I'd give you three but you spelt "Please" Plz. Unamused. They'll be ready for you when you arrive, but remember dear, this is a FAVOUR.

-Skadi

"And looks like we have our pups. If you can make a couple of giant wolves look like bloodhounds or german shepards I may be able to get in as the animal unit with em." Andi offered with a smile as she responded to her superior's text and slid the phone back in to her pocket. "As five is a mighty large team."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

Shaylee listened. They were such an energetic bunch and eager making jokes and jabs at each other. She was the first to admit she didn't fully understand human humor but this would be a definitely learning experience. More than likely she would be stuck playing the role of the 'straight guy' in this drama. "If it helps I can merge and travel though  the shadow and meet you on the inside. Being born in the court of darkness and nightmares does have its advantages.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Grimoire on

"Oh that is cool I like you more and more by the second." Andi said with a grin "Though I could of course do the same and 'bamf' my way in, and then you guys could catch up with our loveliness inside."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

"It sounds reasonable if that makes things more convenient." The elf replied.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

Artemis shook his hands widely in front of him, showing his thoughts on the idea. "Woah, ladies, the enthusiasm is great and all, but the fact of the matter is that the whole area's too heavily guarded to just pop in unannounced. There's also the little fact that if you don't come in with me, and if anyone sees you with me after we get in there, that's gonna seem a little suspicious..." His train of thought moved elsewhere as he looked at Halo. "...Unless there's a way you could make it seem like they were there the whole time, or something."

He scratched his square jaw in thought. "I really don't think the size of our team is going to be a major problem. If anything DOES come up, I can always just say you the rest of you guys are federal CSI guys." The fallen jabbed a finger at the TV, now showing an advertisement for some body wash. "You saw what they were dealing with. I'm sure they'd like all the help they can get. Oh, and you can do what you like, Little One. Just as long as we get in there, that's the important part."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Oh ye of little faith,"  Sebastian said.  "You forgot who you share a table with.  Am I not a granter of wishes and a maker of bargains?  Something as simple as a fake ID that would stand up to cursory inspection wouldn't cost much more than just a taste of a soul, the merest lick, so to speak.  A kiss would be the easiest way to acquire such a taste.  Not that I'm demanding a make out session for such a simple request.  No more than a brushing of the lips would be required and you will have your FBID.  Not that I'd turn down more the chastest of kisses.  I am after all, an incubus and I'd like to mention that sometimes a taste of me isn't enough.  Much like the other kind of Lays, one is never enough."  He winked at Artemis.  "Too bad you have yours already.  I would have made your toes curl."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Grimoire on

Andi laughed, this evening was all quite amusing and fun for having to track down the bringer of the end. "Oooo Angel on Demon, now that's the stuff of fanfiction, you'd make little fan girls everywhere cream their hello kitty panties." The Valkyrie chuckled. "Sounds pretty sound."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

Shaylee stood there looking Mortified. Its going to take some time to adjust. There guys are definitely different form the kinfolk you used to hang out with."

She composed herself and cleared her throat. "Does someone have transportation or are we going by foot?

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

Halo noded with almost a little bit too much enthusiasm, "Are you asking me to pull some Jedi mind trick on the local constabulary, Agent Sunshine?", her voice took on a deeper timbre as her small hand waved enigmatically in front of his face, "These are not the droids you are looking for."

Her grin reached new widths and she nodded again, "Oh man, hells yes I can implant memories and fuck around with cop minds, why that almost makes the whole thing fun!And another thing, don't listen to Sebastian, I can make our merry band of miscreants look the part, credentials and all, enough to fool the boys in blue without demanding the union of heaven and hell the x-rated version."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: CrowsEye on

"Whatever it takes, Little One. Besides, once we get in there, we've really gotta keep an eye out for whatever her little shit of a son is planning on doing. That's part of the reason I want us to try and go in there all at once. Proper backup and all that." Artemis turned towards Halo, his own halo bobbing a little with the movement. "It'd be preferrable if you could make it so that when we go in and come out...or not, rather...they remember it like that ANYWAY. I come in, come out, too. I'm gonna need the rest of you guys to be forgotten. No offense or anything to you guys, but it's not exactly a fantastic career decision for me to bring in a bunch of people who are impersonating government officials."

Artemis sat back in his chair, his heel bouncing excitedly off of the floor, anxious to actually get this moving, anxious to get his plan moving, anxious to 'start baking those brownies', as he'd out it earlier. He waited for other folks' input, trying his best to keep the shit-eating grin he wanted to wear under control.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

The dark elf looked thoughtful before responding. "Will there be an issue if I remain silent. My knowledge about about security procedures and how to blend in would be rather limited. I'm still learning how humans interact. These law officials act much like the royal guard one would assume?"

As much as Shay didn't want to admit perhaps her time spent living more in the rural areas and avoiding people had put her at a slight disadvantage. She wasn't going to let it get her down it just meant she was going to have to learn hands on as she went.

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Tinker on

"No problem at all, Shaylee, I totally dig the strong silent type, besides, I think the rest of us will more than make up for your silence. Fuck, its like you pretty much walked in on a convention of 'I love the sound of my own voice united', self important fucks, much?", Halo offered the elf a smile that offered a good humoured genuineness that couldn;t be mistaken for anything else.

The pocket-sized sorceress turned back to the heavenly host and nodded, "I can totally do the whole mind wipe thing of a fleet of cops and civilians, this won't be the first time I have and I highly doubt it will be the last. There was this one time I had to alter the memories of the entire of Fire Island, good times, my new found feathered friend, good times indeed."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

Shaylee smiled and chuckled. "It just means you guys are close. Despite your barbs you enjoy each others company regardless of what you say. If that was not the case there would be more bodies laying about."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"You don't need to strain yourself to cover me,"  Sebastian said.  "I can be quite unseen when I want to be and quite frankly, I have that supernatural hotness that makes teeth sweat, knees buckle and loins go all squishy.  Besides, I can chat up a few of the constabulary and see if there are any that need a little career boost."  He grinned.  "Or they're just bored and want a quick grope and fondle.  You know they type.  Working late for the sixth day in a row and hubby has gotten pissy about how his dinner is never on the table when he gets home."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

"I will accompany you if you shall have me." Shaylee replied calmly. "There is much I still need to learn about the mortal realm so I will try to be supportive but you will have to forgive me since I am still experiencing many new and odd things. I guess its how you say... A learning curve?"

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Feel free to ask any questions you have,"  Sebastian said.  "Just don't assume the answer is 100% correct or applies universally.  Humanity is an odd bunch at the best of times."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

"I am not sure about fighting. I have seen human use unusual weapons I myself use either sword or bow or fay magic will those be of any use? My experience with most humans comes from watching from afar or their delightful picture box. I've found that to be rather informative if not a bit confusing."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"Don't believe everything you see on the one eyed staring God,"  Sebastian cautioned.  "Much of what you see is meant to entertain.  Think of it as a series of actors, performing on a very small stage.  Your sword and bow will likely draw more attention than you'd appreciate in most cases, so for the moment, stick with the magic.  Few will recognize it and that is a good thing.  When we get a chance, we'll introduce you to the quaint concept of personal firearms.  You might consider them cheating but then again, you might just decide you've fallen in love."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

The elf nodded again "I will take that into consideration. What about knives? Are they too something that would draw too much attention? I only ask because most of my magic is defensive or glamor based. It is meant for misdirection rather than killing."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: Maxx on

"The number of people in this city who try to kill each other with knives would boggle your mind,"  Sebastian said.  "I know what you mean, though.  I'm not exactly a killer when it comes to magic either, unless somebody specifically asks me to be.  Contractual obligation.  That sort of thing."

Title: Re: Between Gods and Monsters
Post by: LadyJallyn on

Shaylee didn't want to put all her cards on the table. She had earlier mentioned she was adept at using a scythe  but let them think whatever when it came to what she could really do. She was not familiar with all of mans weapons but she was a quick learner. It was better to let them lead the charge and show her how things would be done. Truthfully it would make her job as a reaper easier. The would likely be racking up a body count and she would be there to clean up. It seemed at least for the time being that it would be a mutually beneficial relationship.