Academy of Villains: Now With 200% More Multiverse [IC]

[Luminesa]

"Ugh, I have way too much work to do these days..." Alexa Auguste muttered, as she walked through the Jupiter, "and my chances of getting it all done on time are slim. If I can find Lev within the next hour or so, I'm sure my chances of getting my work done without my boss breathing down my back will go up. Now if only I could find the dunce..."

The pretty blonde girl walked down the hallway with her hands in her pockets, a scowl painted on her face. She wore a black bomber jacket, a grey, long-sleeved turtleneck under it, black jeans, and black boots, along with a maroon scarf. Her bouncy blonde hair contrasted sharply with her outfit, as well as with her grumpy, beleaguered personality. She had several jobs to do, and one of them had been to get into the Jupiter and to find Lev, her old friend. She had finished the first part of the job, but now she needed to finish it by finding her target. She already didn't like her job, because it involved her interacting with a bunch of annoying teenagers, all of whom were apparently too busy trying to get each other in bed, for her to actually take them seriously.

"If I could just meet with a few people in suits, people who won't give me any crud, that would be great. But noooooo, I have to deal with a bunch of stupid kids...I hate these kids, I wish I could tie them all to a rocket and send them all right to Sirius. Hottest star in the sky, they wouldn't stand a chance...Huh?" Alexa noticed the door to the hangar was open, and she peeked inside. Immediately, she noticed Lev, but she also saw a group of teens around him, and she groaned internally. "Of course they have to be in the room, when I'm on a tight schedule and I don't have time to deal with stupid nonsense..." She walked in the room and called loudly to Lev, "LEV! Hey, you loser!"

[Kingdom of Irhk]

Mentally, Shadow started to organize the informations in a "profile". It was simply his habit: He rarely used it, but he liked to possess the information, to observe the person. A higher demon could be an interesting acquaintance to possess...despite being a dangerous one.

"Well, I'm just a human. I joined so I could make part of the business easier, I guess. And I will follow you then, Ms. Engawa."

That cover had to be kept. It was a good one, justified the fact that people most probably never heard about him, and opened up future possibilities. Shadow hoped it would work as pretended.

"Ah good. I am to take this display with me so as to avoid touching it myself. My lair, if it were, is around the corner." She then picked up the easel and began to carry it back to her room. "There was a rebellion a few weeks ago, so if you can defend yourself from such attacks, I bid you show me later. I personally...well...I ate someone who tried to break into my room. That's why I can use English instead of my native Japanese."

Despite her direct approach on the fact that she ate someone, after she said she was a demon, the phrase lost its impact. As he walked with her to the "room", he kept observing her under the mask.

"I think I can say that I'm good at defending myself Ms. Engawa. And it's a curious ability, to acquire other person's skills after eating them. But directly answering to your question, yes, I can show you later, if you want of course."

And Shadow felt a small satisfaction. He finally started his process of blending in with the crowd of the ship.

[The GAmeTopians]

I had spent the majority of my time at the school sleeping in father's classroom, since I had yet to find an open room. I was now walking through the halls staring at a piece of paper, with a room number scrawled on it.
"You can't stay in here forever, I found an open room in the system for you. You'll have to share, but it's better than staying here." Father had said as he shut the door to his room. I approached the room, and bumped straight into Amelia as she approached the room.
"Sorry!" I gasped.

[Doughertania]

Beatrix Marigold
Triss stretched nonchalantly at the mention of her advice. "Well, I don't wanna brag, but I am pretty good at it." She thought back to the date he had helped set up for Jen and Desmond. That worked out fairly well, though she didn't expect word to get out about that so fast. She shrugged internally, deciding not to look the gift horse in it's mouth.

Derek began to tell her about his problems. Triss sighed a little at the idea of putting her in danger. "Derek, we're in a school for villains. If Anton and the others weren't exaggerating, then it sounds like this place gives us crises with the same regularity I have my period, with about the same attributes. It's inconvenient, painful, and involves a lot of blood, but it's a normal part of our lives that we have to deal with." She laughed a little at her own joke, proud of what her semi-groggy brain had come up with.

"So don't worry too much about danger. Odds are she can and already has taken care of herself. And besides, you work for the League, right? Surely they'll help protect her while she's on this ship, right?"

Derek considered this, but he still seemed worried. "I get that this school has a lot of danger, and it's not that they don't try to protect the students here... But it's not the first time I've found myself attracted to someone I've met in the field, and the first time that happened, it didn't end well for her at all..."
His mind jumped back to the night when he had watched his girlfriend, Andela, die in his arms because of being hit by a stray bullet fired by his archenemy. Right when the two were considering moving from the front lines of the League's Asian branch to a safer and more behind the scenes department, she had been taken from him in nearly an instant, and not with a heroic death either. No, she had died stupidly, and he still blamed that on himself. "My last girlfriend died in front of me... Not just in front of me, but in my arms, because of a bullet that was meant for me. I don't want to risk going through that again."

Beatrix Marigold
Triss stayed silent as she listened to Derek in a show of respect to the fallen. He was asking an important question that didn't have one clear answer. Is it better to love, knowing that you're potentially putting the ones you care about in danger? Or is it better to live life alone, never bringing others into the crosshairs but with a constant feeling of loneliness? It was a question better left to philosophers. But for Triss, whose heart ruled the mind, the answer was obvious.

"I'm so sorry for your loss Derek," she said softly, looking up at him with her golden eyes. "But the world's a dangerous place, especially for those of us with powers. Even if you aren't the one to put her in harms way, she's involved in a school for villains. Whether from heroes, criminal organization, or something else, you know that disaster is part of the job description. At least if you're by her side, you can help keep her safe yourself." She gave a small smile. "Besides, you and her against the world sounds much more fun than going solo."

[Charlia]

"So the doctors tell me," she cracked. "And pretty much everyone else."

That's because you are crazy.

"Shut up, Amy. You know you love it."

Yeah. Yeah I do.

"Hmm... Talking to yourself..."

The Hatter smiled.

"Another thing we have in common. I'm starting to like you more and more, even if you might be from a boring place."

"But I'm not talking to myself," she said, truly puzzled. "I'm talking to Amy. You know, Amelia Moffat... the narrator? Well. That's not her real name. But she won't tell me what her real name is, so I've got to call her Amy. Can't you hear her?"

[Sunken Island of Rhinomuraena]

Sorrow crouches, grabbing the mask, then puts it on. He stands up again, turning around to the boy. "What's your name, then? I'm..." His voice trails off, and his eyes look far off for a second.

"You are...?" He mimicked the open sentence, wondering at the end of it. "Is a host not to get their guests first? Is it not the way of your country?" He asked.

Sorrow flinches, then looks back at the boy. "Sorry. I'm Sorrow. I'm... not used to talking to people."

[Unified Free Lands]

Lev

Lev heard Alexa's voice and smiled, looking up and quickly approaching her. "Hello again, Alex... Long time, no see," he said, sounding slightly less focused on his work and more happy to see her again. He noticed that she was looking annoyed about something, and he guessed that this was because of having to come back to the Academy instead of working on her own with the League's main branches. "I assume you aren't happy about having to work with a school full of kids who... Don't have the same intellectual ability," he added, knowing that she was the smartest person here. "I'm not going to keep you waiting any longer... I called you because I need help with keeping Hell in check and the interns that work under me are completely incompetent."

Mercury

"Uh, I haven't seen her, but then again, I was dead a couple days ago so that kind of explains it..." muttered Mercury, picking Saira up and trying not to fall under her weight. She managed to start flying, although she couldn't get that far off of the ground. I need to practice more... she thought, blushing slightly from the close contact. Why the hell am I blushing? She's another girl...

[Luminesa]

Lev

Lev heard Alexa's voice and smiled, looking up and quickly approaching her. "Hello again, Alex... Long time, no see," he said, sounding slightly less focused on his work and more happy to see her again. He noticed that she was looking annoyed about something, and he guessed that this was because of having to come back to the Academy instead of working on her own with the League's main branches. "I assume you aren't happy about having to work with a school full of kids who... Don't have the same intellectual ability," he added, knowing that she was the smartest person here. "I'm not going to keep you waiting any longer... I called you because I need help with keeping Hell in check and the interns that work under me are completely incompetent."

Mercury

"Uh, I haven't seen her, but then again, I was dead a couple days ago so that kind of explains it..." muttered Mercury, picking Saira up and trying not to fall under her weight. She managed to start flying, although she couldn't get that far off of the ground. I need to practice more... she thought, blushing slightly from the close contact. Why the hell am I blushing? She's another girl...

She sighed. "Sounds like fun. I can tell them everything they're doing wrong and make them shape-up...unless you mean you need me to do something else," she answered, ignoring the stares the kids gave her, since she was such a random presence in the room.

[Taigawa]

"Ah good. I am to take this display with me so as to avoid touching it myself. My lair, if it were, is around the corner." She then picked up the easel and began to carry it back to her room. "There was a rebellion a few weeks ago, so if you can defend yourself from such attacks, I bid you show me later. I personally...well...I ate someone who tried to break into my room. That's why I can use English instead of my native Japanese."

Despite her direct approach on the fact that she ate someone, after she said she was a demon, the phrase lost its impact. As he walked with her to the "room", he kept observing her under the mask.

"I think I can say that I'm good at defending myself Ms. Engawa. And it's a curious ability, to acquire other person's skills after eating them. But directly answering to your question, yes, I can show you later, if you want of course."

And Shadow felt a small satisfaction. He finally started his process of blending in with the crowd of the ship.

"It's a bit more complicated then simply eating someone. I need to absorb the soul of my victim to do that. This means destroying their body to access it. If, say, I were to devour you for example, I would not get your abilities. I would instead gain some of what you know instead, like the knowledge of the languages you know. However, your soul essance would remain inviolate within me. Anyone with a way to access that could bring you back with the right skills. Not that I'd do that to you mind, just a clarifacation, if you will." The demoness reached her room's door and opened it. The TV was still broadcasting news in Japanese, and there were caligraphy scrolls on the walls. Various decorative objects hung from the ceiling, and a few banzi trees and ornate pottery vessals were placed throughout the room. "Welcome to my room."

[Charlia]

Mercury

"Uh, I haven't seen her, but then again, I was dead a couple days ago so that kind of explains it..." muttered Mercury, picking Saira up and trying not to fall under her weight. She managed to start flying, although she couldn't get that far off of the ground. I need to practice more... she thought, blushing slightly from the close contact. Why the hell am I blushing? She's another girl...

Poppy wasn't expecting to see Mercury with Saira.

She hadn't seen Saira for a good while, and had become worried... and now to see Mercury holding Saira and... blushing... red...


Poppy's own face grew green with anger, and a thick green shell began to cover her skin, her hair and eyes turning purple as thick vines sprouted from her body, dotted with bell-shaped purple flowers.


Belladonna.


Also known as 'deadly nightshade'.

[Unified Free Lands]

Lev

"Maybe later, but there isn't time for that now. We have to act fast and keep the Underworld in its place by deposing its leaders," Lev replied. "They're going to backstab us if we don't give them a big setback, but if we want to make sure that they don't turn on us, we have to cover our tracks and blame it on somebody else. The League doesn't know what a threat the Underworld is, but they don't understand... They've never been thee and seen how powerful they are."

Mercury

"Oh crap," muttered Mercury, seeing Poppy and realizing what this looked like. "This, uh... It's not what it looks like, I was just carrying her to the hangar because there's a mission," she blurted out quickly, backing up. "And I'm only blushing because... It's warm in here? Yeah, it's pretty warm in here, I wasn't blushing because of... You know. We weren't... doing anything..."

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

"Hmm... Talking to yourself..."

The Hatter smiled.

"Another thing we have in common. I'm starting to like you more and more, even if you might be from a boring place."

"But I'm not talking to myself," she said, truly puzzled. "I'm talking to Amy. You know, Amelia Moffat... the narrator? Well. That's not her real name. But she won't tell me what her real name is, so I've got to call her Amy. Can't you hear her?"

The Mad Hatter frowned at that, and then nodded again, his face doing a complete shift in mood. The smile was slightly... off.

"Oh, yes. I know completely what you're talking about! Except... mine doesn't call himself 'Amelia'... and he hates that Moffat guy."

What the hell are you talking about!? Mathew thought at the stranger inside his head.

What? Have you not heard the third guy in our head? That one that talks about what we do?

No! Of course not! I'm not that... crazy... right?

I'm pulling your leg, mate. This bitch is bat-shite crazy.

Makes me like her more, of course.

... Have I told you how much I hate you?

Repeatedly.

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

Mercury

"Uh, I haven't seen her, but then again, I was dead a couple days ago so that kind of explains it..." muttered Mercury, picking Saira up and trying not to fall under her weight. She managed to start flying, although she couldn't get that far off of the ground. I need to practice more... she thought, blushing slightly from the close contact. Why the hell am I blushing? She's another girl...

Poppy wasn't expecting to see Mercury with Saira.

She hadn't seen Saira for a good while, and had become worried... and now to see Mercury holding Saira and... blushing... red...


Poppy's own face grew green with anger, and a thick green shell began to cover her skin, her hair and eyes turning purple as thick vines sprouted from her body, dotted with bell-shaped purple flowers.


Belladonna.


Also known as 'deadly nightshade'.

Saira waved, smiling. "Hi, flower! How are you?" she asked, tilting her head as she saw her looking angry.

Lev

"Maybe later, but there isn't time for that now. We have to act fast and keep the Underworld in its place by deposing its leaders," Lev replied. "They're going to backstab us if we don't give them a big setback, but if we want to make sure that they don't turn on us, we have to cover our tracks and blame it on somebody else. The League doesn't know what a threat the Underworld is, but they don't understand... They've never been thee and seen how powerful they are."

Mercury

"Oh crap," muttered Mercury, seeing Poppy and realizing what this looked like. "This, uh... It's not what it looks like, I was just carrying her to the hangar because there's a mission," she blurted out quickly, backing up. "And I'm only blushing because... It's warm in here? Yeah, it's pretty warm in here, I wasn't blushing because of... You know. We weren't... doing anything..."

"Of course not! We were going off to the hangar, right? I just didn't want to walk..."

[Galnius]

"You are...?" He mimicked the open sentence, wondering at the end of it. "Is a host not to get their guests first? Is it not the way of your country?" He asked.

Sorrow flinches, then looks back at the boy. "Sorry. I'm Sorrow. I'm... not used to talking to people."

Ananias laughed, waving off Sorrow's seeming insecurity. " Sorrow huh? That is an interesting name. Is it a family name or a nickname? I'm Ananias by the way. It apparently means friend. They banned me well, as I am friend to all scalawags, thieves, and fun hunters of any ilk. "

[Charlia]

"But I'm not talking to myself," she said, truly puzzled. "I'm talking to Amy. You know, Amelia Moffat... the narrator? Well. That's not her real name. But she won't tell me what her real name is, so I've got to call her Amy. Can't you hear her?"

The Mad Hatter frowned at that, and then nodded again, his face doing a complete shift in mood. The smile was slightly... off.

"Oh, yes. I know completely what you're talking about! Except... mine doesn't call himself 'Amelia'... and he hates that Moffat guy."

What the hell are you talking about!? Mathew thought at the stranger inside his head.

What? Have you not heard the third guy in our head? That one that talks about what we do?

No! Of course not! I'm not that... crazy... right?

I'm pulling your leg, mate. This bitch is bat-shite crazy.

Makes me like her more, of course.

... Have I told you how much I hate you?

Repeatedly.

"Hmm, yours is a guy? That's funny, I thought everyone had the same narrator! I guess not, though..."

Of course not, Mad. I can't write everything.

And goodness gracious, if I had to narrate for Edward and Bella, I'd probably drink bleach.

"Hmm?"

...You don't know?

Well. Aren't you a lucky girl.

Poppy wasn't expecting to see Mercury with Saira.

She hadn't seen Saira for a good while, and had become worried... and now to see Mercury holding Saira and... blushing... red...


Poppy's own face grew green with anger, and a thick green shell began to cover her skin, her hair and eyes turning purple as thick vines sprouted from her body, dotted with bell-shaped purple flowers.


Belladonna.


Also known as 'deadly nightshade'.

Saira waved, smiling. "Hi, flower! How are you?" she asked, tilting her head as she saw her looking angry.

Lev

"Maybe later, but there isn't time for that now. We have to act fast and keep the Underworld in its place by deposing its leaders," Lev replied. "They're going to backstab us if we don't give them a big setback, but if we want to make sure that they don't turn on us, we have to cover our tracks and blame it on somebody else. The League doesn't know what a threat the Underworld is, but they don't understand... They've never been thee and seen how powerful they are."

Mercury

"Oh crap," muttered Mercury, seeing Poppy and realizing what this looked like. "This, uh... It's not what it looks like, I was just carrying her to the hangar because there's a mission," she blurted out quickly, backing up. "And I'm only blushing because... It's warm in here? Yeah, it's pretty warm in here, I wasn't blushing because of... You know. We weren't... doing anything..."

"Of course not! We were going off to the hangar, right? I just didn't want to walk..."

"...S-Saira?" Poppy rasped, and then--

Mercury

"Oh crap," muttered Mercury, seeing Poppy and realizing what this looked like. "This, uh... It's not what it looks like, I was just carrying her to the hangar because there's a mission," she blurted out quickly, backing up. "And I'm only blushing because... It's warm in here? Yeah, it's pretty warm in here, I wasn't blushing because of... You know. We weren't... doing anything..."

Signs... of guilt...

Poppy's face twisted in rage, and several clusters of berries began to burst through her skin as the vines reached out for Mercury.

[Kingdom of Irhk]

Despite her direct approach on the fact that she ate someone, after she said she was a demon, the phrase lost its impact. As he walked with her to the "room", he kept observing her under the mask.

"I think I can say that I'm good at defending myself Ms. Engawa. And it's a curious ability, to acquire other person's skills after eating them. But directly answering to your question, yes, I can show you later, if you want of course."

And Shadow felt a small satisfaction. He finally started his process of blending in with the crowd of the ship.

"It's a bit more complicated then simply eating someone. I need to absorb the soul of my victim to do that. This means destroying their body to access it. If, say, I were to devour you for example, I would not get your abilities. I would instead gain some of what you know instead, like the knowledge of the languages you know. However, your soul essance would remain inviolate within me. Anyone with a way to access that could bring you back with the right skills. Not that I'd do that to you mind, just a clarifacation, if you will." The demoness reached her room's door and opened it. The TV was still broadcasting news in Japanese, and there were caligraphy scrolls on the walls. Various decorative objects hung from the ceiling, and a few banzi trees and ornate pottery vessals were placed throughout the room. "Welcome to my room."

His process of blending in was going rather well. As he talked, he organized the information he got methodically in his mind.

"I hope that you don't mind if I take off this mask, Ms. Engawa."

And then, with a touch in a pressure point near his ear, the mask loosened up. He took it off, revealing a face that could be called handsome by some people, even with the scar over the left eye.

"That's better. Well, thanks for the invite and for the clarification about your very particular and interesting abilities, Ms. Engawa. Do you need any help hanging your painting?"

[Unified Free Lands]

Mercury

"This isn't what it looks like!" Mercury repeated, placing Saira on the ground and backpedaling through the air. "We didn't do anything, I'm just taking her to the hangar!"

She was caught by Poppy's vines, and she winced as they tightened around her arms and body.

[Kractero]

She gets up, sitting in the seat directly behind him. "Well...is this close enough? Or is there a closer seat?" She blushed to herself.

"I would be fine too!" He answered, going up to his feet and opening the door for her to go through.

"

"Well, there isn't... Unless you want to sit in my lap," he teased, "I wouldn't mind." His tone was somewhere on the border of playful and serious. He was only playing around, but he would let her if that's what she wanted.

She smiled as she stepped out the door, turning down the hallway and starting to walk.

Gela knew that he was being sarcastic, but for him to mention it that he must've wanted it in some way...

So she did, lowering herself onto his lap.

---

He followed her, eyes wandering slightly downwards to her butt before he felt a peck on the back of his head. His damn parrot.

[Sunken Island of Rhinomuraena]

Sorrow flinches, then looks back at the boy. "Sorry. I'm Sorrow. I'm... not used to talking to people."

Ananias laughed, waving off Sorrow's seeming insecurity. " Sorrow huh? That is an interesting name. Is it a family name or a nickname? I'm Ananias by the way. It apparently means friend. They banned me well, as I am friend to all scalawags, thieves, and fun hunters of any ilk. "

"Sorrow's... my real name, but not a family name. I wasn't banned, exactly..." Why am I telling this guy about myself? Why am I doing this... Sorrow puts a gloved hand on his fabric-covered throat. His mask shifts an almost invisible amount.

[Charlia]

Mercury

"This isn't what it looks like!" Mercury repeated, placing Saira on the ground and backpedaling through the air. "We didn't do anything, I'm just taking her to the hangar!"

She was caught by Poppy's vines, and she winced as they tightened around her arms and body.

Poppy's eyes were glazed over with white. She was infuriated beyond all thought, and it showed.

One of the vines began prying Mercury's mouth open, while another one sprouted a cluster of the deadly berries on the end.

[Kractero]

"Yes, I will," Zalae responded, standing up. "I'm taking her too. There's a safehouse in Denver where I can use an experimental teleporter to get to the airship directly."

"Woah, woah woah, let's not be too hasty now.." He said as he took a few steps toward the man, his left index finger pointed to him. "What is this about a safehouse? For whom? And a teleporter.. An experimental teleporter??" He would look between the three with a look of bewilderment painted on his face. He would look back to the man and cross his arms. "We will not be going anywhere until you explain yourself and what exactly is going on. You can start by explaining the aircraft. Or possibly this school you mentioned.. Both are at the top of a good sized list of things that need to be explained."

"You're not in a position to really argue," Zalae responded. "I would like it, Mr. Lepida, if you would just cooperate. You're company, Mrs. Smith, has already applied to join the airship, unless I'm mistaken. I believe that Nyctalis here would come with me as well. And for the school, and aircraft? The aircraft, was in fact, not the one you were following, as it is coated with stealth-enhancing materials. It houses a special school, known as the Academy of Villains. There is a safehouse the school has provided around here, and in it is an experimental teleporter that is one hundred percent safe to use." Not necessarily true.

[Luminesa]

Lev

"Maybe later, but there isn't time for that now. We have to act fast and keep the Underworld in its place by deposing its leaders," Lev replied. "They're going to backstab us if we don't give them a big setback, but if we want to make sure that they don't turn on us, we have to cover our tracks and blame it on somebody else. The League doesn't know what a threat the Underworld is, but they don't understand... They've never been thee and seen how powerful they are."

Mercury

"Oh crap," muttered Mercury, seeing Poppy and realizing what this looked like. "This, uh... It's not what it looks like, I was just carrying her to the hangar because there's a mission," she blurted out quickly, backing up. "And I'm only blushing because... It's warm in here? Yeah, it's pretty warm in here, I wasn't blushing because of... You know. We weren't... doing anything..."

"How do you expect me to do that? From the sidelines? I mean, I guess, but it's going to be a lot of work...And I already have other things I need to do. How do you want me to pull this off?" she asked, annoyed. Revolutions were a lot of work, especially considering all the other stuff she had to do.

[Taigawa]

"It's a bit more complicated then simply eating someone. I need to absorb the soul of my victim to do that. This means destroying their body to access it. If, say, I were to devour you for example, I would not get your abilities. I would instead gain some of what you know instead, like the knowledge of the languages you know. However, your soul essance would remain inviolate within me. Anyone with a way to access that could bring you back with the right skills. Not that I'd do that to you mind, just a clarifacation, if you will." The demoness reached her room's door and opened it. The TV was still broadcasting news in Japanese, and there were caligraphy scrolls on the walls. Various decorative objects hung from the ceiling, and a few banzi trees and ornate pottery vessals were placed throughout the room. "Welcome to my room."

His process of blending in was going rather well. As he talked, he organized the information he got methodically in his mind.

"I hope that you don't mind if I take off this mask, Ms. Engawa."

And then, with a touch in a pressure point near his ear, the mask loosened up. He took it off, revealing a face that could be called handsome by some people, even with the scar over the left eye.

"That's better. Well, thanks for the invite and for the clarification about your very particular and interesting abilities, Ms. Engawa. Do you need any help hanging your painting?"

"It is not often that I deem one worth inviting to my room, but you're an interesting sort. This painting is not dry yet though, so it will remain in situ for now." She moved to easel to face the window so the sunlight could reach it. "That should take only a few more minutes to be ready. Now, Where did you get that scar from?"

[Unified Free Lands]

Mercury

"Leave me alone! I don't want to die again!" shouted Mercury, struggling against the vines. There were tears in her eyes now, because she really had no way to prove that she hadn't done anything wrong. "What do you want? Money? My gadgets? I'll give it to you, just leave me alone..."

Lev

Lev shrugged. "Doesn't matter how, I just need someone to make it happen and the guys who work for me are only going to get themselves killed, or worse. Look, you care about Johannesburg, right? You're from there, after all. That's going to be one of the first cities to go if the Underworld decides to stab us in the back and invade Earth."

[Galnius]

Ananias laughed, waving off Sorrow's seeming insecurity. " Sorrow huh? That is an interesting name. Is it a family name or a nickname? I'm Ananias by the way. It apparently means friend. They banned me well, as I am friend to all scalawags, thieves, and fun hunters of any ilk. "

"Sorrow's... my real name, but not a family name. I wasn't banned, exactly..." Why am I telling this guy about myself? Why am I doing this... Sorrow puts a gloved hand on his fabric-covered throat. His mask shifts an almost invisible amount.

Ananias lounged apathetically, manipulating Sorrow's senses at random. "Interesting, interesting. So what do people do here? My first three days were quite dull. Any suggestions?"