[center] [h1][color=red]S[/color] [i]a m u e l[/i][/h1] [img]https://i.imgur.com/YAOdhnj.png[/img] [color=red]"We're in the endgame now. At least... of this season."[/color] [color=888888]— Sam[/color] [hider=Status]30 | Male | G.E.M.I.N.I | Creeping Anxiety Rip, Tear | Dagger, Sword | Arcane | Fade Delusion | Dying Light Malice | Darkness | Devious Intent [url=https://youtu.be/qTX9S9Xmyec]YPINMFMP[/url] | Umbral Contingencies [Obfuscate (4)] [Intangible (4)], Damage X (6), Pull (2), Dispel (6), Mana Burn (6), Restrain (4), Construction (4), Transplace (8), Piercing (2), Full Enhance (4) DAMAGE: C | SPEED: C | SENTINEL: D | 750 [Blank (Blank)][Blank (Blank)] = COST PHYSICAL: D | ARCANE: C | CHAOS: D | 750[/hider][/center] [center][h2]A few days ago...[/h2][/center] [color=red]"Here?"[/color] [b]"Yes, you dumbass. Or what, you don't want me to?"[/b] [color=red]"...I-It's not like that. It's just that now simply isn't the ideal time to-"[/color] [b]"I haven't seen your face in years, Sammy! You're beginning to sound different, too."[/b] [color=red]"H-huh? What's that mean?"[/color] [b]"It means I miss you and it has been way too long. I don't remember you being such a stick in the mud, at least not this much."[/b] [color=red]"...Are you forgetting a lot of things? Do you remember what you ate this morning or for lunch?"[/color] [b]"I don't have no stinking diagnosable problem with my memories if that's what you're trying to see! I'm pretty healthy for my age, even. Or so the expensive doctors I have say. Or maybe they said otherwise and I forgot? How many times have I called you today?"[/b] [color=red]"...just the once. And, okay, I'll take their word for it. I'm glad to hear that."[/color] [b]"And I'm glad to hear you get the stick halfway out of your ass. I was almost worried you were going to take that seriously."[/b] [color=red]"..."[/color] [b]"Anyhoo, I'm not sure you love me anymore. I think I need some concrete evidence. And no, throwing the unwanted inheritance at me does not count. Ok, well maybe it does a little bit, but it's the privilege of the rich to be greedy, so I will be. Been speaking so much about forgetting things already but surely you haven't forgotten what I taught you? The best way to let someone know you love them is....?"[/b] [color=red]"Huh? What prompted that reaction? O-of course I...love you."[/color] [b]"...is to tell them! But since you did, I'll let that slide. Could've been quicker with it, though."[/b] [color=red]"I apologize, it's just... different when you're asked to say it."[/color] [b]"How so? You weren't really this stingy with the word back when we used to live together. Maybe say it more often and I won't have to force you."[/b] [color=red]"...W-well, I'm a grown man and not some affectionate kid like I used to be..."[/color] [b]"Affectionate? Ha! It's even funnier when you roll with it. Guess the stick came all the way out, huh? If it's good enough to keep, I'd wash it before using it."[/b] [color=red]"...Thank you for the advice. And... I have got to get going. But how about this? Things are a bit chaotic currently, but with any luck they will settle down soon and we can have a nice dinner or something together. It really has been too long, I agree."[/color] [b]"Music to my ears! As vague as that timeframe is, I'm still a bit upset, but you can make it up to me by bringing some of your work buddies along whenever it comes to be."[/b] [color=red]"...Buddies? Well, I suppose I do have a few..."[/color] [b]"Suppose!?"[/b] [color=red]"It's complicated, sorry. But I will invite them and see how things go, is that good?"[/color] [b]"Not really, but beggars can't be choosers.... which doesn't apply to me at all. I'm choosing! Or we are going to need a serious discussion if you can't at least hire some people to pretend to be friends for the night. That's all I'm going to say about this and, for now, I'll let you go, Sammy."[/b] [color=red]"...I'm already searching listings for friends to get an idea on pricing, I'll let you know what comes of it. I'll speak to you later."[/color] After some laughter and a playful, "Dumbass", his grandmother hung up the phone, leaving him to the silent atmosphere that enveloped his apartment. ... ... ... [center][h2]Today[/h2][/center] [i][color=#bd71e8]"Hello agents! Hopefully you've read all the documentation we have on the Holy Diver, because it's finally going to land. Its first spell is going to be a tide of blood. Estimates place the Diver right in front of the historic district, so if you could head to the roof of Precinct #11 that would be swell! Oh, and I doubt this will be a surprise to anyone, but monster activity has really ramped up recently. We expect them to come out in droves while we try and stop this thing. Binky and I will be en route to your location, but we may be a bit late."[/color][/i] Hidden beneath an umbrella, Samuel watched the stormy sky with a tense expression as he walked, not far from the precinct. He had already done his research and the sheer chaos that this thing was about to inflict upon them almost didn't seem real, considering how calm it had been today so far. As the various afflictions came to mind, he pictured how the scene might look not long from now. Strange was one way to describe it. A bloody landscape painted with frogs, flies, locusts, and magical darkness that deprived one of even seeing the calamity before them. He had come to feel a connection to darkness through his abilities, but it wasn't perfect. A fact he lamented silently. But that wasn't all. Never minding the special attributes each "plague" also seemed to have, there was the matter of monsters. How numerous would they be? How strong might they be? How big might they be? G.E.M.I.N.I had only just established their foothold in Pax Septimus only a short while ago. They weren't countless bodies to throw at these beasts nor the Holy Diver. Could they handle this? [color=red]Well, I suppose that if we can... then beating that nun... 'Blackout', if that's who she really is... I don't think it would seem quite so far-fetched.[/color] With his free hand, he rubbed around his wrist. It technically wasn't the same one that had been severed, but it always seemed to throb in pain when he remembered his close call back at the mansion. Despite this, what really 'pained' him was the feelings of humiliation and despair that accompanied it. [color=red]Hmm... no, I can't afford to be selfish right now. Not in front of the newly recruited.[/color] Samuel exhaled and purged most of his distracting thoughts to come to his mind as he entered the precinct. How could he expect Ashley or even their newest member to remain calm if someone like him showed signs of distress? He, of course, couldn't. He had made it a point to always appear composed even in dire situations, after all. If that had been working, then it would likely be no different to them than if Fritzi had suddenly started sweating something to him. And if someone like her showed such concern... [i][color=baddab]”Fritzi! The bullets do nothing! Help!”[/color] [color=#bd71e8]"That's my cue! Here's to a successful operation!"[/color][/i] The end of the message she had just sent repeated in his mind. He couldn't complete the former thought. [color=red]It's...odd but I can't even honestly imagine her losing her composure like that. Suppose that means she's a lot better at it than I am. Or she's just insane. She did see it fit to give me that ball for losing...[/color] Well, needless to say, he needed to at least appear composed, even if the situation called for a spare change of pants and a prompt cleanup of spontaneously-generated bricks that led to such a need. And so, he put on a work face and made his way to the top of the precinct, where he would await the beginning of the plagues and the start of what was sure to be the most intense battle of his life up to date.