Personification Life - IC Part VIII [open]

[Tsuyoi Tekikoku]

"Yea, let's get some clothes.", Katya agreed. "To your place? Mine? I need to take a shower either way."

....

Torii saw Yoshi as a human again and chuckled. Apparently, things did sort themselves out. She didn't know what had happened, but she was glad it was over.

Now, maybe, she could look for her sister.

Tsu knocked on torii's door."hey,torii? are you their? we need to talk about something,that's really important...like now." Tsu said in a little serious tone."but im not mad or anything,we just need to talk."

[Torsiedelle]

After a few seconds of silent shuffling, clicking and squeaking signaled the opening of the front door. Torii with a grey-blue left cheek, was smiling, and nodded a good-day to Tsu.

"Yes? What do you want to talk about, Tsu?"

.....

Whoever went out back would find a strange sight. Several of the Dunmer guard from earlier were sitting around, some sharpening swords, and others performing maintenance on crossbows. A small pile of books was nearby, on military history and tactics. They had been studying lateky, knowing that this was a dangerous place.

[Tsuyoi Tekikoku]

After a few seconds of silent shuffling, clicking and squeaking signaled the opening of the front door. Torii with a grey-blue left cheek, was smiling, and nodded a good-day to Tsu.

"Yes? What do you want to talk about, Tsu?"

.....

Whoever went out back would find a strange sight. Several of the Dunmer guard from earlier were sitting around, some sharpening swords, and others performing maintenance on crossbows. A small pile of books was nearby, on military history and tactics. They had been studying lateky, knowing that this was a dangerous place.

"OMG! what happened to your cheek!?" Tsu gasped at the sight of torii's cheek."Did someone Hurt you!? Tell me who's the responsible! No one ever gets to harm you! NO ONE!" Tsu eyes were filled with rage and anger,she wanted to get revenge on the one that did this to torii.

[Tiltjuice]

"Yea, let's get some clothes.", Katya agreed. "To your place? Mine? I need to take a shower either way."

"Whichever works," Dora replied. "Anything you need to be doing? I know I have things on my plate, so to speak."

(OOC - OMG THAT STUPID DOORBELL. I KILL YEW.)

As they neared the lobby, she held up a hand, signaling Katya to wait for a bit.

---

"Anything good on?" Tasia asked, as she handed the requested pair of sweatpants to Natiya. She herself was in a brightly colored tie-dye T-shirt, and black jeans. The contrast in colors from top to bottom was quite jarring.

[Red Star Union]

"Yea, let's get some clothes.", Katya agreed. "To your place? Mine? I need to take a shower either way."

"Whichever works," Dora replied. "Anything you need to be doing? I know I have things on my plate, so to speak."

(OOC - OMG THAT STUPID DOORBELL. I KILL YEW.)

As they neared the lobby, she held up a hand, signaling Katya to wait for a bit.

---

"Anything good on?" Tasia asked, as she handed the requested pair of sweatpants to Natiya. She herself was in a brightly colored tie-dye T-shirt, and black jeans. The contrast in colors from top to bottom was quite jarring.

"Depends what you're into." Sergei said, as he continued flipping through the channels.

[Torsiedelle]

"Oh, Tsu, I was attacked on my way home last night, by Octavian...you know him? But...please, don't worry, Yoshi will stop him, okay? I'll be going after him, too...but, what was it you wished to speak about?"

Torii thought that she could let Tsu speak first. It was important, right?

....

"Well, it's Tora's seventeenth birthday, today, so there's that. Not much else, really..."

As Dora stopped her, she looked around to see everything. "What's wrong?"

[The BranRiech]

Without speaking, Natiya quickly slipped into the pants, looking to Tasia gratefully. She'd probably stay the night, knowing that Rachelle could stay home alone for one night, and Bran and Rylli should be back soon as well, so there wasn't really any problem with hanging out with Tas and Sergei. She looked to the TV and saw nothing that interested her.

"What will we be eating then?" She asked her host.

[Tsuyoi Tekikoku]

"Oh, Tsu, I was attacked on my way home last night, by Octavian...you know him? But...please, don't worry, Yoshi will stop him, okay? I'll be going after him, too...but, what was it you wished to speak about?"

Torii thought that she could let Tsu speak first. It was important, right?

....

"Well, it's Tora's seventeenth birthday, today, so there's that. Not much else, really..."

As Dora stopped her, she looked around to see everything. "What's wrong?"

"fine,but if he hurts you again...im gonna pound him into dust!...but anyways,i wanted to talk about us getting married." tsu's face turned red at mentioning "married"."i thought...we could get married soon..."

[Swith Witherward]

The man in the passenger seat reached back in a flash and tore the Glock out of the rear passenger's hands and slammed it on the dash, yelling at him in Japanese. Someone had just lost his job at the agency. They all put there hands up and got out, revealing several gun cases and laptops, government issue with pretty much upgraded with everything. But, they were locked, and it would take something like the CIA to hack them. The driver got on his knees. "I will not lie on the ground like a dog." He huffed.

The driver was treated like any other suspect in another other country and barked at until he submitted and could be cuffed. The process was not to humiliate him. Rather, it was to ensure officer safety. But any agent would know that.

Bielefeld police weren't the Gestapo. Once the men were secured in cuffs and had been patted down, they were treated humanely. The officers even rechecked the cuffs a few minutes after things had calmed down just to verify that the cold metal wasn't causing injury to their wrists. They weren't, however, casual. They had a job to do.

What they had were three foreign nationals who claimed to be tourists yet were parked outside of a building known to have troubling residents, and judging by the amount of weapons and tech on their persons, they were either committing espionage for their government or acting for some private organization. They were too well-equipped to be thugs, and all three were the same nationality.

Their identification was run. They were put in the back of three separate units and taken downtown. Their car was impounded. From there, they were turned over to the government rather that keep it at a city level. They were photographed, had a medical exam to rule out any diseases or devices which could be used to self-terminate (or explode themselves, which was a popular option with some groups) and to establish their current health. They were brought to a government holding facility, told they were being held as persons of interest, each given a sterile cell to sit in, and then ignored for a while. Surveillance cameras captured their eventful day and continued to roll to guarantee that no claims could be made that they were mistreated.

Their computers were turned over to be searched for information, because in the Sovereign-State of Bielefeld warrants weren't necessary when national security was on the line. The American CIA would tinge envious green were they to ever behold the technology provided to Bielefeld by the same tech priests who had cracked the Drones' own tech.

Bielefeld did not, however, contact the Urranese government. Not yet. Not until they discovered why three men who appeared to be agents were sitting outside of a building in a SUV with blacked-out windows, and not until they learned the whereabouts of that other vehicle which the Personification of Urran had stepped out of shortly before the take down. Bielefeld liked to have all its ducks in a row when dealing with other governments. And so, their investigators turned to consult the one man that they knew would outmatch their own (mainly because his group had been instrumental in helping them establish their own security protocols.)


Obergruppenführer Friedrich Richter set the phone handset back in its cradle. The corners of his mouth flickered nearly imperceptibly which, for him, was a bemused smile. He slipped on his trench coat and hat and headed downtown.

--

Hans chuckled. "Chrys, I seem to have strange adventures whenever I'm around you. It's much better than my normal job."

He bowed and was about to say something really witty when his mind caught orders from Klaus'. His head tipped. He gave it some thought. "I have to go to work now. I've been asked to locate Yuri." He paused and weighed some options. "Do you want to help me find her?"

After all, Klaus didn't specify that he worked alone.

--

Ogoti had retreated to his own apartment for a nap. It was much easier than the writer continuing to play Ogoti's handler's characters, especially when most of hers were parked anyway. Speaking of that... Klaus and Minerva had already set out to do rounds and might be unavailable for a while. It was tedious, but that's what they did.

[Torsiedelle]

"Oh, Tsu, I was attacked on my way home last night, by Octavian...you know him? But...please, don't worry, Yoshi will stop him, okay? I'll be going after him, too...but, what was it you wished to speak about?"

Torii thought that she could let Tsu speak first. It was important, right?

....

"Well, it's Tora's seventeenth birthday, today, so there's that. Not much else, really..."

As Dora stopped her, she looked around to see everything. "What's wrong?"

"fine,but if he hurts you again...im gonna pound him into dust!...but anyways,i wanted to talk about us getting married." tsu's face turned red at mentioning "married"."i thought...we could get married soon..."

"Oh...that..."

Torii's stomach flip-flopped around for a second. She really wasn't expecting this again. At least, not so soon. She wasn't sure how to say no...or yes...

"Oh...um...well....I don't really know what to say on this matter. I haven't thought much of it in a while...so, you want to get married...soon? Like, how soon?"

[Tiltjuice]

"Well, it's Tora's seventeenth birthday, today, so there's that. Not much else, really..."

As Dora stopped her, she looked around to see everything. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing really. Just have to - actually, maybe handwriting a note isn't a good idea anymore. A girl's gotta keep up with the times and be thoroughly modern, what?" Dora drawled. "Have you got a computer in your place?"

Without speaking, Natiya quickly slipped into the pants, looking to Tasia gratefully. She'd probably stay the night, knowing that Rachelle could stay home alone for one night, and Bran and Rylli should be back soon as well, so there wasn't really any problem with hanging out with Tas and Sergei. She looked to the TV and saw nothing that interested her.

"What will we be eating then?" She asked her host.

"What would please you the most?" Tasia replied, smiling widely.

Hans chuckled. "Chrys, I seem to have strange adventures whenever I'm around you. It's much better than my normal job."

He bowed and was about to say something really witty when his mind caught orders from Klaus'. His head tipped. He gave it some thought. "I have to go to work now. I've been asked to locate Yuri." He paused and weighed some options. "Do you want to help me find her?"

After all, Klaus didn't specify that he worked alone.

--

Ogoti had retreated to his own apartment for a nap. It was much easier than the writer continuing to play Ogoti's handler's characters, especially when most of hers were parked anyway. Speaking of that... Klaus and Minerva had already set out to do rounds and might be unavailable for a while. It was tedious, but that's what they did.

"Yuri? As in the crazy personification? I'm always in for more crazy." Chrys rubbed her hands in delight. "And maybe on the way, you can tell me what your normal job is...?"

Meanwhile, Luce wandered off downtown for some time to himself. As he passed a few other pedestrians, he noticed an abnormally large number of them seemed to be wearing new suits. Curious, he decided to go investigate.

[The BranRiech]

"Maybe a burger or something, if you have burgers, otherwise, I'll just take a Beer or something. Whoever knows I need one after being a raptor and dealing with Tora today." Natiya rolled her eyes. It was an eventful day, full of fighting, making up, an average amount of nudity, and among other things, hanging out with Tasia.

--

Bran and Rylli, meanwhile, since I forgot to post for them and Chrys seems to be leaving anyways, were back home in the Fallout shelter getting ready to change into their normal clothes, only for Rylli to find that her dress hadn't a zipper, and wouldn't be pulled off. Bran realized this too, and figured cutting his way out might work next.

Scissors? Didn't work. Whenever they tried chopping their clothes off, they simply re-stitched themselves . . .

"What the hell is wrong with these things?" Bran asked, severely disliking the situation. Rylli too, was scowling at the now considered ugly dress she was wearing, contrasting badly with her darker skin.

"We did get them from Swith's brother, maybe he knows more? Or we could go to Swith." She suggested.

[Swith Witherward]

At the time, Ray had remained outside. He had refused to go inside of the house mainly because he feared whatever was inside of it, but it gave him some time to reflect upon the experience of being a raptor. Well, it was horrible for him, but what was important was that he had made himself comfortable by sitting around. Better yet, he didn't really have to worry about wearing clothes. At least for the time being.

But when he changed back, he immediately felt a strange wave of gratification and fright. On one hand, he prayed furiously in thanks for being changed back to normal. He finally was back to what he was supposed to be: the effects of his surgery even remained, which gave him some relief. On the other hand, he was now almost entirely naked. He wore a tattered t-shirt and nothing else, and his tail barely could reach around and act as cover for him (him having to yank the damned thing under and over). Worse yet, he was outside, and no doubt people could be staring at him.

...So when he wished that he had some form of cover and decency to cover his Gentleman's Vegetables, it just so happened to arrive. But not really as wanted: it was the racehorse, striking him with incredible force and violence. He had been leaning over, so he felt his spine rupture and detonate in pure pain as the horse slammed against him, splattering both individuals. His spine broke from there: each bone down saw itself crushed underneath the weight, and he was forced down onto the ground.

The final thought he held before his body struck the concrete was the shock of it all. His life didn't really flash before his eyes: he didn't have time. The pain made him numb as he realized what was happening, and he barely had time to acknowledge that he was dieing before his brain shut down from the shock. Ray died once his chin slammed onto the concrete, smashing a few of the fake teeth in his mouth and causing a fracture in his snout.

Ray was dead. He'd never imagined in his entire life that he'd be killed by a horse. It was to be a drunk driver or a weaponized student in college. It was to be a gangmember, a desperate suspect, a crazed individual in his police years. It was to be a monster that his worst nightmares could not even fathom in his modern SPRA years. He'd survived having his ear shot off by a laser. He'd survived two encounters with Glistening Silver. An encounter with an extraterrestrial. A rival agent. A bank robbery shoot-out. A gunfight with his own cousin. Hundreds of examples presented themselves.

But it didn't matter to Ray now. For he was dead, and there was nothing he could do to change that.
---
It was a glimmer of light that made him open his eyes.

The events of the past hour or so were a blur to him...Wait, who was he? He forgot for a few moments....Oh, yes! He was Raymond Jansma. Age 27. Ray regained his sense of self and then kept his eyes open for a few moments, and then studied what was around him. It was...

...It was a white room. Filled with benches and bright lights that shinned finely, but not annoyingly. It looked like an indoor stop for a train station, or a bus depot. He'd never been inside of either many times, but after looking around he wasn't sure what it was supposed to be. Ray knew that he was sitting on a bench. Despite the simple, dark green finish on the wood, it felt kind and welcoming. Glancing around once more, there were other people there with him. They looked strangely calm, much like he did. They glanced around with surprised eyes, but none of them made much noise. They all seemed quieted, all of the dozens of people in the massive room.

With no cue as to what he was supposed to do, Ray continued to study the room. A few people were huddled around different corners of the room, all appearing completely different in terms of appearance and fashion. He couldn't seem to hear their conversations, but instead the pleasant calm continued to break through. It was all he could really focus on: it wasn't really a sound at all, but it somehow relaxed him. He felt at ease.

But suddenly, Ray realized where he must have been. He was within Heaven, or something like it. And Albert wasn't there with him.

Knowing this, he became suddenly panicked. His limbs trembled and he began to sulk. Ray choose to go into softening and quiet sobbing, realizing that he might never see Albert again. There were others like him in the giant room. They sat at black metal tables, or at the green benches, or leaned against walls. Others made some attempts to comfort them, but most simply choose to ignore it all. They were all busy with dealing with the situation.

But as Ray cried for his love, a kindly-toned voice would come on the intercom and request individuals to come up to the front of the room: it was where the booths were located, as if they were toll-takers or airport security. In the room, at least four lines were made at the booths, leading into the different booths. There seemed to be no differentiation. Some of those who walked up handled it as if they were going to a better place, others regretted leaving behind there loved ones. Ray wondered how he would take leaving his family. Emma still had to finish High School, and was going through her senior year. Mother and father still held strong: father still went to work at the plant, mother enjoyed the simpler things in her life. How would they feel to hear that their son was dead, and it would be a closed casket? That they could never look upon their son again? The beautiful face that they'd always loved, that seemed to stay the same no matter the changes or aging.

And what of Albert? Ray might see his parents and family, but Albert told him that he'd never see him after death. That Albert would fade from existence in all likelihood, and that they would do best to enjoy their last moments together. Ray had been torn too early, in a way that neither expected. And that was what killed him the most, the singular thought:

"I couldn't say goodbye. Not for even one last time."

This enveloped him until he then heard his own name called by the calming voice, and he shook away his tears and grabbed his baggage. He didn't feel that it was unfamiliar, as if he'd carried it with him for his whole life. Ray's bags brushed against his overcoat as he walked through the room, taking glances around him. The constantly differing faces all over: crying, talking, some even chuckling with others when discussing their lives. Some were soldiers, some were civilians. Some dressed in cloaks, others in turbans, and still others in t-shirts and jeans. There didn't seem to be any similarities, other than the people enjoyed their clothing. Or so he assumed: none were complaining.

But Ray looked behind him, and back to it all. There was a locked door in the very back of the room, that no one opened. Some tried: they failed, and they desperately increased their efforts as their ill-fated efforts to reverse the lock failed. He shuddered at the thought, and Ray turned his head back around towards in-front of him. And so, he entered a small line. There were so many people in such a seemingly small space, but it wasn't uncomfortable in the slightest. He collected his thoughts, and soon he was at the front. A man with a lengthy beard sat in the front, dressed in a white dress shirt and a black tie. Golden pins decorated his shoulders and held down his tie, but they didn't seem outlandish.

"Hello Raymond," the man spoke out as he looked up. A smile covered his face, and it seemed to warm Ray up with a strange sense of euphoria. "The bus waits for you outside. Please hand this to the driver." He then pushed a white slip, seemingly out of nowhere, and it found its way into Ray's palm. But somehow, he felt as if he couldn't move. He didn't want to leave the last connection he had to the Earth.

"....M-My bo-boyfriend....Albert...", Ray muttered as tears poured from his eyes. The man's expression did not change as the muttering stuttered into cries. "....I n-need to see him again! It's not my t-time to go! I didn't ev-even get to say goodbye! I want to hold him again!"

But the man simply smiled. "Raymond: it is your time to go. The bus is waiting for you," the same voice came in. And as much as Ray's brain and heart demanded that he debate this man, that he stay and try to leave, something compelled him to nod his head and go past the booth. He felt something leaving him as he walked past the man, like the others did at the other booths. And they all fed out through individual doors, seemingly grasping onto them and pulling them in.

Through the doors Ray went, and a blinding light awaited him. It kept him flashed for long enough that he had to rub his eyes, and so his vision changed. It was a tranquil road, a simply bus stop with the same kind of green bench sitting there. The door behind him disappeared, and instead a mere autumn day awaited him. The luscious grass contrasted with an open sky, and leaves seemed to carry themselves on the wind, coming from nowhere.

It was a very short wait, barely enough time to appreciate the wait. The bus soon pulled up, stylized somewhat after an American Greyhound bus of the 1950's. It was a plain white, with silver trimming: nothing quite as overtly heavenly as Ray would have expected, but it had a charm to it. The bus stopped, and its doors swung open. The driver wore an ice-white workshirt, with similar colored pants and a black-trimmed cap, with a black tie and shoes in addition. He emitted a kind smile, and his dark cheeks seemed to bring Ray in. It wasn't forceful, but it was....enticing.

"Good morning, sir!", the man emitted from behind his perfect smile. "Where may I take you today? May I see your slip?"

Ray would have been kinder, but seeing as he was still in a state of withdrawal, he barely managed a nod. The white slip, with a singular golden angel to mark it, was handed to the driver, who looked it over as Ray stumbled to a seat towards the front-right of the bus. Two rows down, he choose one of the many brown and finely-kept seats on the bus. The baggage he carried was put down next to him as he scooted over to the window, and simply looked out. He wished that he could enjoy the scene, but his heart ate away at his chest instead.

The bus eventually closed its doors and carried off, driving down a smooth road through the autumn scene. No music played inside of the bus, but the driver seemed to be humming a tune as he went along. Ray didn't recognize the song, but it was a fine tune. It seemed to echo throughout the bus as it went along.

The land around seemed to stay the same. A few houses could be seen here and there, with people seemingly enjoying themselves. Heck, at one point, Ray could have sworn he'd seen skyscrapers off in the distance, but the rolling hills blocked his view.

And as time went on, Ray slipped into thought. He again longed for home, for people he knew. Not this strange new world. With all of these odd, smiling faces. Why did this have to happen to him? Life wasn't perfect, but it was something to be experienced. And Ray hadn't finished. There was so much he hadn't done, so much he-

"Ah, yes. We're here, sir!", his thoughts were interrupted by the driver. The bus rolled to a stop outside of a...well, it could only be described to Ray as a perfect home. It was absolutely beautiful, heavenly in every respect. Strangely modest, yet somehow far more royal than Buckingham Palace. Ray got up with a blank yet gaping facial expression, and he made his way up with his baggage and walked to the steps. He looked down one final time at the driver, who gave him a warm smile and a nod.

"Have a fine eternity, sir!"

The voice held a pleasant vibe and chime to it, yet it disturbed Ray immensely. Eternity. Trapped on the edge of forever, here. At this dream house, in the middle of an idyllic field.

And as Ray stepped off the bus and watched it leave, he set down his baggage next to the road and sat down. He refused to stare at the house, to inspect the fine wonders of imagination it held inside. And he began to sob.

For Ray was not happy alone.

A long, pale shadow rippled onto the pavement in front of Ray’s toes. His nostrils were treated to a elusive mixture of patchouli and raat rani.

“Disappointing, isn’t it?”

She crouched down in front of him, an oddly pallid figure. Her multi-hued hair hung loosely about her head and shoulders, the sunlight transitioning it into the palest purples, pinks and blues. Her clothing seemed to flow of its own accord irrespective of the air around it, almost an extension of her own being. The diaphanous material was tamed only by golden metal which curled into tantalizing filigree patterns and captured the silks to form modest covering around her breasts, hips and delicate areas.

The creature propped an elbow on her knee and rested her chin in the cup of her hand. The dream house and idyllic field loomed behind her, still inviting and perfect.

Her eyes were focused on Ray’s own. It was impossible to perceive their exact color for it seemed the iris were grey at one moment and cold lavender the next. Looking into them was akin to falling into deep wells that had gazed into the eternity of the cosmos and seen things both breathtaking and grim. There was nothing malicious in her expression, however. Instead, she conveyed a genuine concern for his plight.

She breathed in the rich scent of the autumn grasses and waited patiently for his reply.

[Urran]

Of course all of the agents were in perfect health and they cooperated quite nicely, they didn't want to cause too much trouble. Three FN P90's and one Glock 17 each were all of the weapons that they had in the way of firearms, all silenced of course, and they had a combat knife each. They refused to give up any information other than their names and the agency that they worked for, the UCIA. They did request that there dietary needs be met and they be given something to read. Other than that they remain quiet and cooperative.

[Red Star Union]

"Maybe a burger or something, if you have burgers, otherwise, I'll just take a Beer or something. Whoever knows I need one after being a raptor and dealing with Tora today." Natiya rolled her eyes. It was an eventful day, full of fighting, making up, an average amount of nudity, and among other things, hanging out with Tasia.

--

Bran and Rylli, meanwhile, since I forgot to post for them and Chrys seems to be leaving anyways, were back home in the Fallout shelter getting ready to change into their normal clothes, only for Rylli to find that her dress hadn't a zipper, and wouldn't be pulled off. Bran realized this too, and figured cutting his way out might work next.

Scissors? Didn't work. Whenever they tried chopping their clothes off, they simply re-stitched themselves . . .

"What the hell is wrong with these things?" Bran asked, severely disliking the situation. Rylli too, was scowling at the now considered ugly dress she was wearing, contrasting badly with her darker skin.

"We did get them from Swith's brother, maybe he knows more? Or we could go to Swith." She suggested.

"Yeah, I think I could go for burgers." Sergei said. He couldn't find much on the TV, so he got up and looked out the window.

[Erucia]

A long, pale shadow rippled onto the pavement in front of Ray’s toes. His nostrils were treated to a elusive mixture of patchouli and raat rani.

“Disappointing, isn’t it?”

She crouched down in front of him, an oddly pallid figure. Her multi-hued hair hung loosely about her head and shoulders, the sunlight transitioning it into the palest purples, pinks and blues. Her clothing seemed to flow of its own accord irrespective of the air around it, almost an extension of her own being. The diaphanous material was tamed only by golden metal which curled into tantalizing filigree patterns and captured the silks to form modest covering around her breasts, hips and delicate areas.

The creature propped an elbow on her knee and rested her chin in the cup of her hand. The dream house and idyllic field loomed behind her, still inviting and perfect.

Her eyes were focused on Ray’s own. It was impossible to perceive their exact color for it seemed the iris were grey at one moment and cold lavender the next. Looking into them was akin to falling into deep wells that had gazed into the eternity of the cosmos and seen things both breathtaking and grim. There was nothing malicious in her expression, however. Instead, she conveyed a genuine concern for his plight.

She breathed in the rich scent of the autumn grasses and waited patiently for his reply.

Ray's limbs shook as he continued to sit. He ignored the voice for a few moments, but he was unable to when the voice's holder crouched down in front of him. He looked up into her eyes with his own, still smearing his fur with salty tears. His right leg continued to jitter back and forth, as if it demanded something to do. He was obviously incredibly uneasy, and the creature's entrance only allowed him to focus it on another being.

But....it was odd. He couldn't feel malice to this creature, even without a realistic mindset. She seemed to be....friendly. Just like all of the others he'd met here. Perhaps she was another angel? No, she looked different. Maybe she was another kind of angel, or someone. He couldn't quite seem to recognize her, but he wiped at his nose and eyes with the khaki-green sleeve of his coat and went to a response.

"...D-Disappointing...Yes...", Ray wallowed in his own personal pain when he attempted his response, although he tried to set aside his tears for now. He didn't know if he should embarrass himself in front of the being. "I c-can't enjoy it if I'm not ha-happy..."

[Swith Witherward]

"Yuri? As in the crazy personification? I'm always in for more crazy." Chrys rubbed her hands in delight. "And maybe on the way, you can tell me what your normal job is...?"

Meanwhile, Luce wandered off downtown for some time to himself. As he passed a few other pedestrians, he noticed an abnormally large number of them seemed to be wearing new suits. Curious, he decided to go investigate.

"Ja, the crazy personification." Hans gestured towards the raptors' gate. "Come on."

He wasn't too certain how to best answer Chrys' other question. I'm second in command of a host to rival hell, would be the correct answer, especially if he was looking to impress in order to get laid. Hans wasn't. He'd rediscovered friendship, which was something that he'd lacked for too many centuries of duty. It was a nice feeling, and an almost precious thing to him. Honesty would be best, but modesty never hurt anyone.

"I hench. That's my normal job. Klaus wants something done, so I do it or I delegate it to others. Sometimes I don't have anything to do, especially when there's peace. In war, I'm very busy. Mostly, I keep an eye on things and I crop up at times when he can't be there personally."

[Urran]

Yoshi left Torii's room and shuffled down the hall to shower. He was excited because one week was almost up and then he could wear his hair like he wanted too again. Other wise his "mother" would make him cut it. He wanted to do something nice for Swith but what could he do for a goddess that had everything. If she wanted something, she could just have it. Or so it seemed to him. But that could wait. He freshened up and put on his black hoodie and jeans, the only real western clothes that he had. If he was going to see Octavian, he may get into a fight and his kimonos provided too much for Octavian to grab hold of. His jeans and hoodie were much sleeker and better suited. He didn't want to fight, only chew him out and threaten him, but if it came down to it he needed to be prepared. His heart was in his throat as he approached the apartment that the prince was said to inhabit. He knocked hard on the door three times, very uncharacteristic for him.

[Tiltjuice]

"Ja, the crazy personification." Hans gestured towards the raptors' gate. "Come on."

He wasn't too certain how to best answer Chrys' other question. I'm second in command of a host to rival hell, would be the correct answer, especially if he was looking to impress in order to get laid. Hans wasn't. He'd rediscovered friendship, which was something that he'd lacked for too many centuries of duty. It was a nice feeling, and an almost precious thing to him. Honesty would be best, but modesty never hurt anyone.

"I hench. That's my normal job. Klaus wants something done, so I do it or I delegate it to others. Sometimes I don't have anything to do, especially when there's peace. In war, I'm very busy. Mostly, I keep an eye on things and I crop up at times when he can't be there personally."

Chrys trotted along, feeling secure with her new comrade. The experience in Japan had earned Hans her respect; so, too, did his description of himself. Henching, in her opinion, was an ancient and honorable thing to do. It had all the marks of subtlety, with a possibility of hurting people who needed hurting, and having fun while doing it, in wartime. In peace, it usually meant pranks in her experience. She wondered if licking Katya counted.

"Sounds great!" she chimed, and then paused before asking a follow-up question. "Do you like...tricking people? Playing practical jokes?"

---

"Maybe a burger or something, if you have burgers, otherwise, I'll just take a Beer or something. Whoever knows I need one after being a raptor and dealing with Tora today." Natiya rolled her eyes. It was an eventful day, full of fighting, making up, an average amount of nudity, and among other things, hanging out with Tasia.

"Yeah, I think I could go for burgers." Sergei said. He couldn't find much on the TV, so he got up and looked out the window.

Outside the window, there wasn't much to see. Tasia flicked on the radio/stereo in the kitchen, frowning slightly at Sergei and Natiya. They're suddenly sticks in the mud. What happened? I thought I was doing all right.

A thought began to repeat itself in her mind, almost like a compulsion, but she resisted it. Pulling out a pair of beers from the fridge and setting them on the counter that divided the small apartment into kitchen and combination sitting room/den/dining room, she waved cheerfully to the pair. "Help yourself!" she invited, as she reached behind herself and tugged the container of burgers out of the freezer.

The place filled with the scent of cooking meat.

[The BranRiech]

"Hey, Tas! You want some help in there?"

Natiya was stood at the entrance to the kitchen, leaning against the wall with her Beer in hand. She knew how to make burgers, and wondered if Tasia had any eggs in her fridge as well. "Alright, I'm going to need cheese, bacon, and eggs. Do you have those?" She asked. "You keep making the burgers." The girl grinned. It was an idea she saw at a restaurant once.

[Tsuyoi Tekikoku]

"fine,but if he hurts you again...im gonna pound him into dust!...but anyways,i wanted to talk about us getting married." tsu's face turned red at mentioning "married"."i thought...we could get married soon..."

"Oh...that..."

Torii's stomach flip-flopped around for a second. She really wasn't expecting this again. At least, not so soon. She wasn't sure how to say no...or yes...

"Oh...um...well....I don't really know what to say on this matter. I haven't thought much of it in a while...so, you want to get married...soon? Like, how soon?"

"maybe in a few weeks...i dont know...it's up to you..i can wait for a little longer,i dont care i just want to make sure your happy..that's the only true thing i care about,your happiness" Tsu nervously shook,she began to think of herself as a idiot for talking about this.

[Torsiedelle]

"Oh...that..."

Torii's stomach flip-flopped around for a second. She really wasn't expecting this again. At least, not so soon. She wasn't sure how to say no...or yes...

"Oh...um...well....I don't really know what to say on this matter. I haven't thought much of it in a while...so, you want to get married...soon? Like, how soon?"

"maybe in a few weeks...i dont know...it's up to you..i can wait for a little longer,i dont care i just want to make sure your happy..that's the only true thing i care about,your happiness" Tsu nervously shook,she began to think of herself as a idiot for talking about this.

"You're really looking forward to it, aren't you, Tsu?", Torii asked. "How excited are you?"

Tsu had brought up a subject that actually made Torii feel a little uncomfortable nowadays, but she thought that Tsu was probably excited for it all. She wanted to know.

.....

Katya shrugged upon hearing Dora's question.

"I have a laptop. Why?"

[Swith Witherward]

Ray's limbs shook as he continued to sit. He ignored the voice for a few moments, but he was unable to when the voice's holder crouched down in front of him. He looked up into her eyes with his own, still smearing his fur with salty tears. His right leg continued to jitter back and forth, as if it demanded something to do. He was obviously incredibly uneasy, and the creature's entrance only allowed him to focus it on another being.

But....it was odd. He couldn't feel malice to this creature, even without a realistic mindset. She seemed to be....friendly. Just like all of the others he'd met here. Perhaps she was another angel? No, she looked different. Maybe she was another kind of angel, or someone. He couldn't quite seem to recognize her, but he wiped at his nose and eyes with the khaki-green sleeve of his coat and went to a response.

"...D-Disappointing...Yes...", Ray wallowed in his own personal pain when he attempted his response, although he tried to set aside his tears for now. He didn't know if he should embarrass himself in front of the being. "I c-can't enjoy it if I'm not ha-happy..."

She lifted her head from her chin and settled onto the road, crossing her legs into a lotus position.

"Not happy. That's a sad state, no pun intended." Her voice conveyed compassion rather than scorn. "You have everything you need here. A nice house, glorious scenery, and things to captivate your imagination. You'll never age, never feel physical pain, and never have to worry about anything dark and dreary. Yet, you're not happy."

She waved away a curious bluebottle and then folded her hands in her lap. "I come here whenever someone from Bielefeld dies. I come to see who it is. When I come here, it's with trepidation. Who knows who I'll find? Sometimes it's an elderly soul that's arrived to finally savor a long rest. Sometimes it's an infant taken from the world too early. Today, it's you, Ray. I found you.

"Your tears and my trepidation are ladled from the same cup, the contents of which are pure love. We both believe we've lost the chance to be with someone we dearly love. I come here fearing that Cornelius has arrived in the one place I can't forever dwell, and you sit here knowing that Albert won't be able to join you. How can there be peace when the one person you most dearly care about isn't here to share this magic with you? Am I far off in my guess? I'm usually spot on when it comes to emotion."

--

Hans peered at Chrys from the corner of his eye and then slowly rotated his head to focus on her entirely. "Practical jokes? You're asking one of Klaus' men if we like pranks?"

A boyishly mischievous grin answered his own question. There wasn't much to do in his camp. Plotter had plots, Swith's group had hedonism, and Ogoti was all about being little Florance Nightingales when not inflicting the world with plagues. But what did War have? More war. More battles. More death and destruction. Klaus had taken a step in the other direction (much to Atosh's disapproval.) Hans world was confetti and creme pies, and riding around in impossibly small cars while wearing odd, tasseled fezzes. Pranking people was a favorite pastime.

"So," he ventured with more than a little excitement in his voice, "Who is our target?"

[Erucia]

She lifted her head from her chin and settled onto the road, crossing her legs into a lotus position.

"Not happy. That's a sad state, no pun intended." Her voice conveyed compassion rather than scorn. "You have everything you need here. A nice house, glorious scenery, and things to captivate your imagination. You'll never age, never feel physical pain, and never have to worry about anything dark and dreary. Yet, you're not happy."

She waved away a curious bluebottle and then folded her hands in her lap. "I come here whenever someone from Bielefeld dies. I come to see who it is. When I come here, it's with trepidation. Who knows who I'll find? Sometimes it's an elderly soul that's arrived to finally savor a long rest. Sometimes it's an infant taken from the world too early. Today, it's you, Ray. I found you.

"Your tears and my trepidation are ladled from the same cup, the contents of which are pure love. We both believe we've lost the chance to be with someone we dearly love. I come here fearing that Cornelius has arrived in the one place I can't forever dwell, and you sit here knowing that Albert won't be able to join you. How can there be peace when the one person you most dearly care about isn't here to share this magic with you? Am I far off in my guess? I'm usually spot on when it comes to emotion."

Ray listened in to her talk, and discovered that the creature was not here to hurt. In fact, he was slightly comforted that he knew why she was here, and that someone had come to comfort him. But she was indeed right. Ray had literally everything he'd ever need: his imagination could turn perhaps anything in this world to what he willed, even though it was all already beautiful. His instincts could be satisfied without harming anyone. He could do what he loved without there ever being a need for what he did. He never again had to worry about eating when he didn't want to, or even perhaps doing basic, menial things like bathroom breaks and sleeping. If that was what he desired, of course: this was Heaven.

But without the one crucial element he desired, Ray would never truly be happy here. Even if he could form an image of Albert from his memories, it wouldn't really be Albert. It'd be the hulking shadow of the man he loved, whom would simply go off of the memories that Ray held of him.

And so, when the woman finished her sentence, it all hit home for Ray. Unable to contain his emotions, he simply began to sob uncontrollably and forcefully. It was a loud sort of wailing, the effects of an incredible loss multiplied by a dozen. Ray couldn't think of anything other than his sorrow: he might as well have gone to hell, or simply faded off into nonexistence. It would have been a better ending than being stuck here.

[Red Star Union]

Sergei grabbed a beer. It wasn't vodka, but it'd do.


"You don't really need to put anything special on my burger, but if you're feeling generous,n the ideal thing for me is ketchup, mayonnaise, lettuce, onions, and a tiny bit of mustard." He said. It was noticeable that seriousness had left his voice.