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Code Vein (Closed)

A K A I A

A K A I A

_{The Crow's Nest · Morning
@FunnyGuy & @Daxam & @PigeonOfAstora
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As soon as the shouting began, Akaia started expelling pollen and Licorice took off into the sky. She didn't like the idea of making noise. She never did, especially when in the city. And while she knew full well that Erik and Vincent were plenty capable, especially after seeing the latter in action, she could not ignore her want to hide. Who knew what was out here waiting to find them. Who knew what caused the explosion. It could have been lost, even though the destruction didn't necessarily match the damage they typically left behind. It could have been an accident; Some old gas tank crushed in shifting debris, its fumes ignited with a small spark. It could also have been a trap. Lost and the Provisional Government weren't the only people out on the road and while some strangers were kind, there were plenty, human and Revenant, who took to more vile means to survive. Living usually meant always assuming the worst, especially when outside the walls of the Crow's nest, so when a man stepped out of the rubble to address them in strange clothing and with an even stranger, louder voice, that's exactly what she did. Unfortunately for Akaia, the pollen hadn't finished cloaking her. When he was spotted, so too was she.

"Friend?" She asked Erik in a whisper, slowly becoming completely transparent. By now, she was already backing out of the main road in anticipation of all the Lost the noise was bound to attract.

ᵗʰᵉ Last Avatar.

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_ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ Badgermole Stadium · In collaboration with @canaryrose_________________ _ Chu's confidence became Li's as the more novice girl absorbed everything being said. She wasn't entirely sure what it was. If the heat was getting to her or it was the presence of the King, or if the sound of syllables bouncing along on the smoothest voice she had ever heard was affecting her, but in that moment, Chu's words were the truest ever spoken to her. It was nothing so enlightening as to be a regurgitation of some well-known quote and definitely not a dismissal of her fears. It was simply the truth: Chu had experience and she knew she was good, so there was nothing to fear. They'd practiced. They'd prepared and planned. They'd spent all year beating back the competition to get to where they were now. They were ready. What they did next was only natural. A part of them. A habit. Whatever was making her nervous before was quickly forgotten and replaced with a determination to prove herself worthy of standing next to Chu. "You're right." ····································· When the opening ceremony had finished, the field was cleared and both teams moved to take their place for the toss-up. Two players would meet in the center and the ball would be jettisoned a short distance into the air above them from the ground. It was then that the game would begin as both players attempted to take first control of the ball. The two players in question were of course Chu and the Wolfbat's own Kanna. A renowned player in her own right who'd helped to keep her team's crown in the Stickball world. Kanna strode up to the middle of the field, her stick tucked under her arm and a determined smile on her lips. Her head of shoulder length white hair was tied up by a band that matched the color of her jersey: slate gray and a streak of orange that complimented each other. Piercing gray eyes regarded Chu as if challenging her, weighing her worth well before the game had even begun. She stopped only a few feet away from her and dropped the end of her stick into the dirt so she could rest her hand on the edge of the flat end. She shook her head. “It’s not going to happen, Chu. Face it. You can’t beat us. You can’t beat me and your team sure as hell won’t do it.” She raised a brow and flashed a smirk. “But I tell you what, if you quit and join us, I’ll uh… I’ll let you lead the reserve team.” Kanna pursed her lips at Chu and nodded at her. “That’s a pretty good deal, yeah?” Chu Hua laughed, shaking her head as she set up her stick and got into position. “Sorry, babe. I haven’t played in the minor leagues since I was a kid- not about to start now,” she said, mocking. She took a moment to get her legs properly on the ground, making a small grunt as she adjusted her arms. Her and Kanna had a history, you could say. When they were both up and coming players they had had a very short-lived fling. Short-lived because, as Chu Hua would say, Kanna was a crazy bitch. She was indeed smoking hot, but… absolutely insane. Since then, they had developed a red-hot rivalry on the field and an even tenser relationship off-field. Kanna had singlehandedly been the reason she had rejected a lucrative transfer to the Wolfbats a few years ago, and Chu Hua did not regret it one bit. She enjoyed being the underdog. “I bet you think about me every night, huh? You better get ready to think about me every time you look at your empty trophy shelf, too.” "HA! The only thing I think about..." Kanna began, pulling her stick out of the dirt and grabbing it in both her hands. She settled into a position mirroring Chu's and leveled her face out with hers. A fire had been lit in her eyes. "...Is how much of a disappointment you are in the field... and the sack." The corners of her lips began to turn. Chu Hua clicked her tongue. “I think your mom might disagree, Kanna. She’s a real big fan of my moves. And she's much better than you.” There was a very obvious pause as Kanna took a moment to process what she had just heard. When before she was nearly leaned against Chu’s nose, now her posture was frozen and whatever fire in her eyes had been burning brightly was quickly turned to ice. Her lips had stopped curling and it seemed as though she’d also stopped breathing. Without warning, she dropped one end of her stick and threw a right hook at the girl aiming for her temple. It was fast, faster than most could follow, but Chu was a seasoned player of the game of Stickball. Tracking fast moving objects was the name of the game. She ducked at the last possible second, letting Kanna’s fist connect with her helmet instead of her brain. The dull sound of bone slamming against hard plastic was accompanied by a dumb-founded look from Chu. The game hadn’t even started yet! In a moment’s breath, she tackled the other woman to the ground, turning them into a flurry of flailing limbs. “Ref! REF!” she began to shout. The entire stadium seemed to gasp all at once, and then transform into a wild crowd screaming “FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!”. Meanwhile, Kanna was trying to find her lungs. The speed of the reaction and the force of impact was enough to expel all the air from her chest and the weight of Chu on top of her was keeping that air out. She couldn’t breathe, and began to flail about wildly in a vain attempt to get Chu off who was very successfully pinning her in place. By now, players from both sides of the field began to converge on the two, amidst cheers from the now excitable crowd. Two referees had also dove into the scuffle and began prying them both apart, to which Chu Hua quickly scrambled away and raised her hands in a pacifying gesture. Suddenly finding herself able to breathe again, Kanna immediately opened her mouth. “Get the fuck off me!” “I’m off, I’m off, you fucking psychopath!” Chu screamed back. She breathed hard for a moment, retreating into the safety of her team. “Dude! Ref! Penalty her, this crazy bitch just hit me out of nowhere before the game even fucking started! That’s insane. I can’t play with someone that’s gonna clock me out of nowhere.” She could feel her face getting hot as she gestured to Kanna who was being hoisted from the ground. As soon as she found her feet, she attempted to charge at Chu again, but was stopped by a firm arm across her torso. “You keep my mother out your fucking mouth!” she screamed again, flailing wildly in the other’s direction as her eyes flared with an anger that was typically unlike her despite her character. “Kanna!” The ref pushed her back and kept her in place while the adrenaline pumping through her veins burned off. Meanwhile, Li had by now caught up with Chu and joined the others in forming a protective circle around the girl. They kept some of the other more aggressive players on the opposite team at bay and their own in the back, staying any further altercations. “Are you alright?!” Li asked, stealing occasional glances over at a red faced Kanna. “I’m fine, I’m fine,” Chu Hua murmured, rubbing her head. “She’s just nuts. I told her that her mom was good in bed and she went off her rocker.” It was strange that she had reacted like that- it wasn’t like Kanna. In fact, it wasn’t like any sane person. Jokes about moms were common. Chu Hua loved her mom, but she wouldn’t beat someone up if they impersonally talked shit about her on the field. Was she okay? She sighed, and took a glance at the royal box, where the king and his court looked impatient, whispering. “I just wanna start the game already.”

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_ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ Soup Kitchen · @KillamriX88 & In collaboration with @Abstract Proxy____ _ "Look, I just thought maybe you wanted to talk to him cause you're going through some tough shit too." "Why would I want to do that?! I nearly killed him!" He whispered. "How the fuck would talking to him help me? He can't even talk!" "Well I DON'T KNOW... forgiveness? I'm not a brain doctor. I don't know how this shit works! I just know that he's here and when I mentioned you were also here, he started acting all weird, okay?" "I don't even know what that's supposed to mean to me, or why you would even mention I was here but honestly, fuck him, alright? I don't have time to deal with him and our-." "There you are! I was looking for the two of you, I have news." The interrupted boy turned from the smaller girl toward the familiar voice of Vasra. She smiled at them both, the color of a small victory visible in her weary eyes. "Your father has made a marked improvement..." she said, "...but he isn't out of the woods yet." The boy nodded in understanding, the visitor from his past already forgotten. His father was one of the construction workers who had been seriously injured while on a job. The wounds he'd sustained would not have been a simple fix. There had been large lacerations to his entire right arm and immediate treatment would have been necessary to stave infection and save the limb. However, his family was poor and a trip to the hospital was out of the question. A medical bill for a visit alone would have been immense. Instead, he and his partner were transported to the kitchen where word of a 'miracle doctor' had spread. Although hardly a replacement for Upper Ring care, the work she'd done on him was enough to ensure proper healing and that more importantly, he would not lose his arm. Full range of motion, however, was out of the question, so the victory was bittersweet. "Is there a problem? What is all the commotion?" Vasra asked after having noticed that the daughter of her patient was not as invested in the news about her father as her brother was. She was more focused on the commotion unfolding at the other side of the kitchen. The boy turned as well, following Vasra's gaze and seeing again a person from his memory. The last few years hadn't been kind to either of them, but if there was one thing he could acknowledge, it was the fact that both of them had changed. The Weiyuan he knew was gone, replaced by the adult the teen had grown into. It was enough of a difference that he almost didn't recognize him. Then there was the woman next to him who he could also place. A pusher of various illicit items that they were quite good at moving, from what he'd been told. The two of them were buried in their own conversation that he couldn't quite hear. But while he didn't know what they were saying, he could hazard a guess. A boy from his past who was now a man had walked back into his life. There had to be a reason, especially since he was not alone. Besides the other kids who had been with him at the time of the incident, and his younger sister, Weiyuan was the only person who knew about the sins of his past and more than that, he was sure Weiyuan was acutely aware of his presence. He didn't know how the mute would react, but a part of him didn't want to wait to find out.

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_ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ Synergy Storage Facility · @vietmyke & @Theyra______________________ _ "Uh..." Sumire interrupted the group with an aimless wave of her hand and a voice dripping of concern. "T-there's something wrong..." With a few quick taps on her pad and another swipe toward the glass, the information on Jin was dismissed and replaced by a readout of the pipeline. A number of small squares were sitting at various points along its length, marking the current locations of all active Pipe Runners. Around these squares were smaller boxes populated with general information including a picture with a name, a date of birth, the date of a Pipe Runners registration and their registration number. There was also information relating to a Pipe Runner's status, such as duration of current time beyond the walls, number of recent patches made to the pipe and a log of any serious issues they'd recently come across, all of which was infinitely more important to Sumire's job. Sumire, however, was not paying these much mind and was instead focusing on a series of caution symbols appearing in quick succession. They started from the plant and were traveling East toward the storage facility. She looked down at her pad again. "Multiple ruptures along the pipe from a... buildup of pressure that's moving straight toward us..." She looked up, past the glass of the panorama to the distance where the end of the pipe disappeared over the horizon. Interrupting the blue of the sky were a number of pink-hued jets where spirit energy was being ejected into the surrounding air. Newer ruptures continued to appear as the buildup rapidly approached. "...Moving straight toward us very... very fast." If Sumire was any good at math, and she liked to think that she was, she figured it'd be under them within the minute. "Oh holy shit." She turned to the rest of the group just as the alarms began blaring loudly. Behind her, pink spouts burst from the pipe like fingers, clawing their way toward the storage facility. Ignoring the others, Sumire dropped her pad and immediately bolted for Jin, throwing her arms around his body as she tried to tackle him to the ground.

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_ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ Soup Kitchen · @KillamriX88 & @Abstract Proxy______________________ _ "Is there a problem? What is all the commotion? This isn't the place for-" The girl turned to start explaining the situation but they were both interrupted. A sound like the crack of thunder broke the ambience of the room and in the span of half a second, their entire world was flipped on its side. An explosion rocked the soup kitchen, blowing out the windows, killing the lights and knocking every loose item to the ground. Tables, chairs and people were flung from one side of the room to the other, landing in twisted heaps amidst a hail of debris. The force of the unseen blast was strong enough to rip kitchen appliances off the wall, moving stoves and toppling one of the large fridges. When the shaking and noise had finally stopped and the dust settled, the once vibrant room full of life and conversation became little more than a dark box filled with a cacophony of panic.

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_ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ Badgermole Stadium · @canaryrose____________________________________ _ A beam of pink light erupted in the far distance, piercing distant clouds and pushing into the sky. It persisted for a handful of seconds before it disappeared, leaving little trace behind save for the circle shaped hole it punched. The commotion in the field paused long enough for everyone to notice, each player and all those in the stands turning to look in that direction. Once it was gone, murmuring from the crowd drifted over the field and a few of the players began to whisper to each other. "What the... what in the hell wa-" The soft sound of a muted, distant explosion cut Li off. "What is going on?"

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_ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ Soup Kitchen · @KillamriX88 & @Abstract Proxy______________________ _ The pitch black was pushed back as emergency generators kicked in, dousing the tossed room in a haze of red light and revealing a world turned upside down. People lay in motionless piles buried under tables and chairs. Parts of the wall and ceiling had collapsed, exposing a steel skeleton and wire vines. Much of the underlying framework had been damaged in the blast, severing important lifelines to the kitchen such as a gas pipe. To make matters worse, a fire had ignited on a small pool of grease that had collected in the corner. The flames were slowly started to spread, as was the smell of gas. Those who could still stand began to pick themselves up off the floor and while most hurried out the doors, some remained to help others. They quickly got to work clearing debris and digging up anyone shouting for help who were buried. Those more seriously injured, having been impaled or blunted by the objects that had been tossed around the room, were carried out. The boy was also standing by now, but was strangely motionless and despite his sister coming up and trying to get his attention, was paying her little heed. Instead, he was staring intently at Weiyuan. "Hey! What the fuck are you doing?!" She yelled again. "We have to geaAAUGH!" He shoved her hard to the side where she landed against an upturned chair next to Vasra. Ignoring her pained grunt, he began marching mindlessly toward the thing from his past. Unbeknownst to him, he'd been gouged from a pipe that was sticking through his torso but despite the blood pooling at his feet, was ignoring it. When he was finally close enough, he attempted to reach for Weiyuan and grab his throat with a single hand.

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_ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ Synergy Storage Facility · @vietmyke & @Theyra______________________ _ Sumire opened her eyes to notice that she was still standing. In fact, despite the effort she put into saving Jin, she really only managed to give the man a more violent hug. The force behind her tackle did little more than push him back a half a step. Thankfully, despite the perceived nature of the danger the build up of pressure in the pipe had been, the resulting explosion only managed to do minimal damage to the structure. The command center was after-all built into the wall itself. They stood over 300 feet above the ground, so besides the glass of the panorama shattering and some objects being tossed around, little else happened. Heat found Sumire's cheeks as she quickly pulled away from Jin and began trying to dust herself off of him. Her pats against his chest was doing little to clear the dust embedded in his clothing but was doing plenty to fuel her embarrassment. "Uh. Wow! Glad you're uh... str-SAFE!" She chuckled nervously. "That could have been extra bo-BAD." As she backed further away and began to dust herself off too, the others in the room gathered themselves as well, checking to make sure they hadn't dropped anything during the commotion. They all seemed unharmed, save for Vyska, who began to scream as her gloves burst into flames and the heat began to eat away at the skin of her hands. At the same time, two other operators were now standing and staring intently at two individuals. One moved toward Sumire, who was unknowingly backing into him. The other began moving toward Theyra. The first grabbed Sumire around her neck from behind and began to squeeze, forcing a surprised but soundless cough from her now gaping mouth as her eyes began to widen. She began clawing at the hands holding her. The second moved to do the same, reaching for Theyra in an attempt to grab his throat while the others were distracted by Vyska's screaming.

Prompt. Following the explosion, all benders will start to feel strange. Empowered. Your bending skill is temporarily increased meaning you can move larger amounts of your element than you could before. Naturally, this will be highly unusual and not something anyone is used to, so bending control will be very difficult. Additionally, you are so strong that you will begin to bend without meaning too. Motions with arms and legs may effect your element in the nearby vicinity. I will leave when this happens up to you, but it must happen. Your character cannot control it. Weiyuan. Regardless of who is in control, accidental bending will happen. If the alter takes control, bending of glass is unlocked. Jin Wei. as an Airbender, you will see the vague outline of a shadow standing behind individuals who are acting erratically or violently. The two individuals in the command center moving on Sumire and Theyra are these. This is strictly something only an Airbender can see. Everyone else will see a person acting crazy. Vasra. For the first time in your life, you can feel water around you. You don't quite understand why or what is happening until you start to move. Theyra. You're unaffected by the blast, but Vyska sure is acting weird. Chu. Shortly after hearing the muted sound of the explosion, the familiar feeling you get when you bend suddenly grows. Adrenaline or excitement or whatever it is, you cannot control it. To everyone, keep in mind that there may be innocent people around you so consider that in the scene when you are writing. Bending is uncontrollable but wanton use may incur some unintentional harm or death. Lastly, the people who have succumb to a mindless violence can be treated as fodder. You may hit them as hard as you like.

Code Vein (Closed)

A K A I A

A K A I A

_{The Crow's Nest · Early Morning
@FunnyGuy & @Daxam
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Change was a simple word with often devastating consequences. Five letters to herald a shift in the present and usher in a new future that no one was ready for. It was change that had destroyed the world, and in an odd twist, it was change that was the progenitor of the Sidhe; beings so strange and unknowable and wielders of a coveted power who wanted for a return to the days of old. Yet, despite the gifts they were given, they were unable to escape that which they wanted to prevent. Cursed to follow a law of survival where adaptation was the change that granted life and fighting against it meant that you were left behind. Whatever future you had was then after decided by those who wanted to live. This was only reinforced when Akaia was taught that change usually meant danger and so when faced with it, she reacted in ways unthinkable. It left her empty. Heavy.

The letter she'd found tucked into the diorama was this. Heavy again but impossibly so. Cerise was almost ten years of constant good. The only change she knew that had been for the better. Because of it, Akaia was no longer alone living in a vacuum she'd created. She had a family. Walls. Food. A purpose. She had the Commune and they had her. So when she found the letter and read it and understood the ask not to follow, she decided to ignore it. She did follow. She'd scrambled after the girl in the dark and the dirt and through trees and branches in pursuit of a ghost. Cerise had always been better at their 'game' than she was. It was a fact Akaia had come to accept. Their very first meeting was more or less a measure of their stealth and tracking expertise compared against the other and she'd lost. The only advantage Akaia had over Cerise was her ability to cover herself in pollen, but the amount of skill it took to turn a girl as bright as the sun into shadow and erase all trace was not something she had. There had been a trail, but as if her pursuit was expected, the trail was broken early on in Akaia's search. From the start she knew it was futile too. It was impossible to keep track of an object that could clear distances in an instant without touching the ground. It was a lot of the reason why she lost to her years ago and why she knew she was only going to be met with more of the same.

Now, she was simply trying to cope, and helping someone else find what they had lost was her way of 'adapting'. She set to moving forward almost immediately. The letter was tucked into the box under her capsule next to the vestige. Her clothes were discarded for clean ones: Another pair of black cargo pants that tapered into her boots and a dark brown top with a fleece wrap that sat around her neck and hung over one shoulder. It was her temporary replacement for the cape she'd lost that still needed replacing. What she had on now was not similarly treated to work with her pollen. Her staff was also still missing including the blade that had been hidden inside it. Finding or making a new one would take time, time that she didn't currently have so as yet another temporary solution, Akaia decided to pay the armory a visit. She found for herself a dagger that was placed in a sling under her shoulder and one of the Commune's extra 9mms that was pushed into a holster on her thigh. Last thing she needed was Licorice, who had continued its pursuit of Cerise long after Akaia had decided to return.

He'd found his way home before Akaia had finished preparing and was at his usual perch when she returned to her room to replace her oxygen and pollen tanks. By now, the motions she'd forced herself into had done their job and Cerise's absence was a dull ache in her chest that she could partially ignore. A greeting cluck, however, pulled her out of her thoughts and immediately she was reminded of her last remaining thread of hope. Licorice had been the final attempt. A chance to find that which she didn't want or couldn't lose, and while she'd already been given to the throws of her depression, the full weight of Cerise's departure wasn't acknowledged until she knew for sure. It was why the earlier alarm and arrival disappointed her so much and why now, a light was once again burning in her eyes.

But Licorice's answer removed whatever hope she had left and forced her to face the reality of what she'd lost. Cerise was gone. She'd left, covered her tracks so she couldn't be followed, and was not coming back. And that was that.

A sadness overtook her, shaking her with a violence that she was not prepared for. She tried to steady herself with her arms across her chest and her back against the wall, but as her breathing became less even and slowly turned to gasps, she became dizzy and collapsed to the floor. There, with her knees up to her chest and head buried, she stopped trying to pretend to be okay and let herself feel whatever was she was supposed to. Everything welled up from her gut all at once and poured out of her eyes and stained her cheeks and for a while all she could do was sob. She didn't know why it happened or why it kept happening to her. All she knew was that once again, she'd lost someone she loved and in that moment, in her room, she was very much alone.

Sometime later, before departing for the road, the pot Akaia had been protecting all morning was placed carefully on the piano.

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The car ride over had begun without much fanfare. In fact, what had originally been a group of four ended up being just two and so the drive saw both Erik and Akaia in the front seat and on a trip that involved just the two of them. Although rare, it wasn't something that hadn't happened before and because it was Erik, Akaia was more than comfortable. Having already cried most of her frustration out before her departure, there wasn't much left to be said or done. She understood what had happened and had decided that if she needed it, and she knew she would, she could be in her feelings later when others weren't also in need of her.

Of course, as it usually was when out exploring in the ruins of the world, one wasn't allowed the luxury of time to dwell on thoughts of missing friends. Shortly after heading out, a series of explosions from the nearby city vibrated the air around them both. What caused alarm however, wasn't the explosions. There was a louder thud above them, like something heavy had landed on their van and suddenly, there outside the windshield and upside down was a Vincent. Erik's hard brake brought the vehicle to a violent stop which threw Akaia against the strap of her seatbelt and sent Licorice into the windshield. The bird left a small crack in the glass pane.

When Akaia had finally recovered and found her lungs, she glanced up at the Revenant through the hair that had fallen in front of her face, her pale eyes studying him in utter disbelief. "What...?" She muttered. When he'd failed to turn up at the time of the Van's departure, it was assumed Vincent had been accosted to the medical bay to be chastised by Poppy. If there was one thing Akaia knew about her fellow Sidhe, it was that if you were in need of medical care, you were going to get it... or need more of it. If 'So Hot So Dumb' wasn't already in hot water with Poppy for breaking the window, leaving without her consent ensured that he sure as hell would be when they returned. Suddenly, Lysandra's description of the man was surprisingly apt, especially the second half. "P-pah-pee?!"

Licorice had by now recovered himself and had immediately turned to face Erik. As if the drawing wasn't enough, now it was this.

ᵗʰᵉ Last Avatar.

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Synergy Storage Facility @vietmyke & @Theyra Jin wasn't being subtle and Vyska was quick to notice. However, the look in her eyes wasn't one of judgment or ridicule. She well was aware it was impossible to know what people in positions of power wanted. On top of it, to find yourself suddenly surrounded by not one but two of these individuals had to be setting off some kind of alarm. Vyska had lived with similar scrutiny all her life, and not just from those in the Lower Ring. Those in the Upper Ring often approached her in much the same way, they were just better equipped to express it. They were also usually wrong about her. Jin was not completely off. As Reman approached the group, Vyska peeled her eyes away from the Pipe Runner and turned to give the newest face a nod. "Right on time." She said, flashing him a smile just as a lighter finally found the end of the cigarette in her mouth. She leaned forward a bit and helped coax the flame onto the end. Once it was lit, she took a drag and then pulled it from her mouth between two fingers before gesturing with it at Jin. "Mr. Xuoshi. This is Jin Wei. We will be riding with him today." She then motioned toward the girl between them, smoke now billowing from her mouth. "The energetic one is Sumire." "Hello!" There was another salute. "And you've met Jack." She finished, pointing at the man standing next to her who was replacing the lighter in the folds of his jacket. "Mr. Xuoshi." Jack stated, simply. He reached for a handshake as Vyska took another pull on her cigarette. "It's nice to see you again. "I do believe that is everyone." At this point, Jack was handing her the jacket she was to wear, as she was already beginning to remove her cloak. "So... I know the visit is sudden and some of you may be wondering why we're here. I want to take this moment right now to assure you that no one is in trouble." A folded cloak was deposited into one of the larger pockets of the jacket. Surprisingly, the fabric, although appearing to be rather thick, folded well and didn't take up too much space. "A large part of my taking over the company from my father is getting a feel for every aspect of the job and seeing where things can be improved. This includes Pipe Running." In a quick, fluid motion, the jacket was opened and pulled over one arm and then the other. It sat comfortably around her and looked plenty adequate to weather the harsher environment beyond the walls. "Just like every part of SynEn, you do important work. Work that could cripple the company if done improperly or not at all. For that reason, I'm grateful. For what you do and again for taking the time, even if it wasn't your decision." She took another drag from the cigarette. "Mr. Xuoshi is here to discuss the possibility of expanding their operation. More than just security or a tool that is easily lost. We know there are often gaps in the coverage of the pipe and when spread too thin, many of you are left to defend your stretch of the pipe by yourself. We're hoping to change that and seeing what you do in person, experiencing it first hand, will give us a better idea of how to do it. Even more so if our guide is the 'most senior' and 'safest' of the Pipe Runners working for me." She smiled again at Jin. "We'll be in your hands." "Did you have any questions for me before we head out?"

ᵗʰᵉ Last Avatar.

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Soup Kitchen @KillamriX88 Prompt. Weiyuan and Chua-won enter the soup kitchen to find a large room filled to the brim with energy and conversation. While the outside is currently and is expected to remain cast in shadow, the interior is well lit by stark white fluorescent tubing in the ceiling. The lack of windows creates a space that feels crowded and claustrophobic but a part of that can also be blamed on the unusually large crowd that's been drawn to the dining hall due to the anniversary. The air is a little warmer than some may like and the smell is unpleasant one moment and the next, tastes of the food that's being served at the other end. It's confusing and at times too noisy, but compared to the world just beyond the doors of the kitchen, this is a temporary slice of a better life for most. Stretching around the tables that have been situated in the center of the room is a rather long line that is moving somewhat briskly, thankfully. Anyone who isn't able to stand and wait in the line is seated and served by volunteers. Everyone else is or was crowded around a particularly important looking figure with a stethoscope around her neck who is currently engaged in conversation. As the two enter, no one seems to take notice, save a girl who's sucking the juice out of a bottle in her hand. A short child of around 11 years of age with messy red hair that's pouring down either side of her dirty face from a hat. Her clothing, a sleeveless red jacket over a stained blue shirt and blue jean shorts, is ragged but still holding up. She pulls the bottle from her lips and looks them both up and down but says nothing. @Abstract Proxy Sonam by this point had already expelled all the relieved air from her lungs. Although arriving only a little later than expected, to see Vasra in the kitchen and already in her work was a weight off her chest. There was very little Sonam could control outside, even when considering she was a lot of the reason why the nights outside were so dark. But here, whatever light the doctor brought with her could be preserved. In here, there was a safety to being surrounded by the people that needed you most and in the Lower Ring, it was never more true for the Doctor than when she was in the soup kitchen. Already she was being absconded by those whose lives she touched. Families held together by an uncompromising determination. Bodies held together by her more honest touch. Broken minds found purchase in her warm eyes and genuine smile, a smile that would fade for the briefest of moments before finding its way back to her lips again as another would come to greet her. She was as a boat without a sail in an ocean that was eager to swallow her and yet, she continued to paddle forward. By the time Vasra had made her request, Sonam had already stepped to the side of the serving station with an extra bowl in hand. She thread herself through a small crowd still waiting for their food and found the Doctor near a table with a few empty seats. Already the doctor was considering those afflicted who were expecting to see her. "I haven't had a bite to eat today, and it would seem that I have new patients waiting for me here." "There's always new patients." Sonam replied. "I mean look at the crowd now. Remember when it was just a handful?" Sonam knew tending to them all was not an easy task and it was any wonder how the woman still had the energy left or the determination to continue to work in such conditions. Sonam was doubtful the single bowl of soup she'd brought would be of any help, but she'd set it down at a table and made a show of guiding the doctor to an empty chair before picking up her bag and moving it a little closer. She then sat opposite her, and while she was happy to see a benevolent face, hers was a mixture of vigilance and apprehension. Her eyes continued to shift over the crowd, reading as best she could the intentions of a sea of strangers. She noted a small bubble of space between the pair and the next set of ears and took advantage of the small isolation. "They've doubled the price." She began, holding up a hand as if to stop any thoughts on the matter from reaching her. "Don't worry. It's been handled and there's no change for you but... you gotta be careful. Things are looking a little dangerous, Vasra. People know. More people than should and I get that it's important, believe you me. This means a lot to you and to them and it's the easiest money I've made, but there are walls closing in. As much as I love pretending to help here to get this stuff to you, I'd hate to see yo-..." Eyes of exhaustion were regarding her words carefully. An exhaustion that had been battered into submission by a will trying to find the right in all the wrong. Things like this weren't meant to last and Sonam could only chew on her lie for so long. "You need to get some rest, Doc."

ᵗʰᵉ Last Avatar.

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Synergy Storage Facility @vietmyke "You can all stop saluting me." Vyska began with a smile. She gave the Pipe Runner a greeting nod. "I know interrupting your day isn't ideal but I want to thank you for your willingness to take us along with you." She then gestured to the man standing a little behind her. "You already know who I am. This is Jack. Head of security, here to further complicate matters. He'll be following me around whether or not I dismiss him." "That's not true." The introduced man stepped around Vyska and reached for a handshake. Although his sharper features and flat stare came off as imposing or too serious, the small smile on his lips softened his features just enough to be approachable, at least in that instant. "I do hope you don't mind but I will be tagging along. And before you ask, she has come prepared." In the crook of his left arm was a cognac leather jacket that didn't look like it would fit. He himself was wrapped in a tailored dark gray suit and tie while Vyska wore something as dressed up if not more. A dark cloak obscured most of her attire but underneath was a thin golden tinged shirt that was flexible and breathed quite well. Her black pants were flared slightly at the top and tapered toward her boots where they were tucked in. They were of a light but durable material that provided protection against the elements without sacrificing her freedom of movement, or the impression of her wealth. "Jin's got some helmets for you too!" Sumire, who was standing a little off to the side, was tapping her head with her knuckles when suddenly, the light in her eyes changed. "Not that it's dangerous!" There was a nervous laugh as she continued. "'Cause he is such a safe driver. We take safety very seriously here." She was nodding now, her eyebrows made to look as serious as she could manage and was giving Jin a reassuring thumbs-up from under the tablet in her arms. Eyebrow raised, Vyska looked over at the glass panorama that was still populated with information on her ride. Just under the logged patches to the pipe was another number representing logged repairs to the vehicle registered to him, along with the total cost. It was not small. "'Safe' huh?" She said with a smile, giving Jin a knowing look. Her hand slipped under the cloak and fished a small rectangular shaped object from an invisible pocket. With careful fingers, she opened one end and pulled from it a cigarette that was placed between her lips. "Not to worry Mr. Wei. We're not here to talk about that." She replaced the packet as her eyes fell expectantly on Jack, who was busy searching his person for something he could not find.

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Badgermole Stadium @canaryrose The girl nodded at Chu, her eyes bouncing from the star, to the box and then to the opposing team. It was obvious despite her efforts to hide it that nerves were trying to get the best of her and for reasons that were clearer to some. The season had been rough on her. The first few games saw Li mostly on the bench and when she did get some time in the light, she'd fumbled some of the plays. An earlier game that ended in a tie would have been an easy win if only she had been more focused but she found herself struggling. And it wasn't like the team wasn't supportive of her. They'd reassured her plenty that many started much the same way but like them, they could see in her potential. The improvements she made and how much better she was now than when she started. However, all Li could think about was how she relied so much on the woman next to her to carry. Chu had been a hero to many, not least of all to Li and so when she joined, she'd promise to prove herself an asset and not a liability. It had been a fight every time she was on the field but this time it was different. He was actually here and she could feel the weight of his presence on her shoulders like the heat of the afternoon sun. She shook her head in an attempt to rid herself of instrusive thoughts and focused on Chu's rallying. "You're right." She began, her eyes focused now on the woman who had entered the field and was making her way to the center between both teams. Jie Xiao, a renowned singer, was to sing the nation's anthem at the start of the game. A tall and lithe woman with pale skin and long flowing brunette hair that cascaded down to her mid back. The sun glinted against striking green eyes and golden flecks tied to her neck and wrists and drew deep shadows in the folds of her gown that danced around her thin frame. A black and white striped fabric that seemed to encircle her like a wave leaving just enough to the imagination. She strode to her spot in front of a waiting mic. "It's just you know... the King. And the crowd. And the anniversary. And the other team and their trophies and for spirit's sake everyone in the Wolfbats is so hot and so damn good. They've got Kanna too." Jie took in a deep breath, parted her lips and sang a note that sounded like velvet on silk wind. A soft, pleasurable sound that felt as though she were whispering something sweet in the ear. A secret for every person in attendance. The beginning of the song of the Republic. "How are you so calm?" Li turned to look at the star stickball player, her neck craned up ever so slightly. There was an ounce of awe in her eyes behind a well of nervous determination.

Code Vein (Closed)

A K A I A

A K A I A

_{The Crow's Nest · Early Morning
@FunnyGuy & @khosmik
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Akaia had been ready to return to her room to make preparations to leave when Erik stopped her. She'd already dismissed whoever it was outside and with Vincent having jumped through the window to greet the strange individual, she felt the issue handled. Besides, there was little she could offer if there was a fight, especially now.

"And what are you growing in the pot? A brand new staff?"

She shook her head. "Share tree." She said, finally looking up at him. Whatever excitement had found her only moments before was already drained from her face, replaced by the same distant look in her eyes she was carrying around before. She sniffled. "I grow with no magic. Like Share." Her eyes then snapped to the door and she nodded toward it. "Stranger outside is tall and smelly. Not Share." The information was relayed flatly with the tiniest hint of disappointment.

She remained there as her eyes returned to look up at him, as if she were waiting for instructions.

ᵗʰᵉ Last Avatar.

Book One: Control.
_{347 AG. Ba Sing Se. Midday.}
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Lower Ring @KillamriX88 The day's light struggled to reach the narrow paths cut between towering structures. Every building cast a shadow impossibly wide that seldom left the streets and for many districts, entire lives were left in perpetual dark just out of reach of the sun. Warmth was not freely given, especially in the lower levels and with a haze in the air suffocating the oxygen that lingered too long in the city's depth, every unfiltered breath was an ice knife that tasted of sewage. It was bearable for some but unpleasant for most and a constant reminder that the maze of steel and concrete surrounding them all was the only home they had left. This was as good as it was going to get. Celebrations of the anniversary had begun mostly muted, isolated to the privacy of homes or the dive bars on every street corner, but eventually, the festivities, if one could call it that, spilled out into the streets. Some took advantage of the added commotion, pilfering what they could off unsuspecting or drunk individuals. Others kept to themselves, content with continuing on their way to a destination known only to them, sinking into the background noise of the city and refusing to partake in a day they took no pleasure from. Some didn't move at all and instead chose to remain huddled or wedged into the black space they could find. Folding themselves into an edifice where they could suffer in silence. A pile of trash or needles or waste marked the small patch of dirt or concrete they couldn't even call their own. Still some looked beyond their cage. A group of those more in tune to the happenings of the wider City had found themselves gathered around the cracked and stained glass that marked the front of a Zen den. Neon lights illuminated their faces, each one expressing a delight as they studied the monitor on the other side. Shinobi News was broadcasting a game from the Middle Ring. Their Airship was currently hovering above the stadium and their cameras trained on the crowds gathered just outside. A familiar name to some was being shouted in unison while those in the picture had hoisted a portrait of a star high enough for all to see. Those who weren't watching were whispering. The soup kitchen was open and there had been talk in some circles that a very practiced doctor of some renown frequented the place. But if a party or a bowl of soup or a high was not worth chasing in the now, there was also talk of something else brewing in the Underground.

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Synergy Storage Facility @Theyra & @vietmyke "Miss Moon!" An excitable voice called out to the pair from across the control room. Turning around, a golden haired woman and her shadow eyed the smaller figure approaching them both. Her white locks danced gleefully around her bobbing frame as she cleared the distance between herself and the visitors. "Welcome! Welcome! I do hope the flight over was pleasant and the air here isn't too much of a nuisance." She said with a smile. "It's not at all..." The woman began, looking over the rest of the room and panorama beyond. "This is not my first time in the Lower Ring and truth be told, I've become quite accustomed to the smell." There beside the trio was a 180 degree lookout with an uninterrupted view of the dry landscape just beyond the walls of the city. Large pipes jutted out from the walls below them and stretched into the distance, disappearing as they curved around mountains in the far distance. On the glass panel was a digital readout with squares hovering over seemingly insignificant sections of the vista. Although slightly lined up, one was painting the side of the mountain and another seemed to be riding the horizon. Each one had a name attached, a status and a distance from the storage facility and every now and again, each of them would move slightly, tracking whatever it was that no one else could see. However, One of these highlighted areas was significantly closer than the rest and judging by how quickly its position on the panorama changed, it was closing in fast. "It's Sumire, correct?" "Yes ma'am, it is!" The girl replied, saluting. "Pleasure!" "Pleasure." The woman smiled and then nodded toward the approaching dot. A miniscule thing in a sea of sand kicking up an angry cloud of dust behind it. "Is that our ride?" "That is correct! Jin Wei is his name." Sumire began tapping the pad in her hand and then swiped across the screen toward the glass of the window. An image of a man with ashen air appeared alongside a plethora of information that began populating the space next to his face: Time of service, infractions against him of which there were none, a tally of survivors apprehended and threats subdued and a much larger number of patches to the pipe's infrastructure logged. "One of your most senior Pipe Runners and the absolute best at what he does, ma'am. That's a Sumire guarantee!" There was another smile from the woman as she checked the time readout that seemed printed on the skin of her wrist. "I'm looking forward to meeting him then. As I'm sure our business partner is as well. He should be arriving shortly."

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Soup Kitchen @Abstract Proxy The more she visited, the more difficult it was for her to pretend she didn't want to be here. It was even harder considering she was no longer on the other side, and the difference that simple distinction made was not an insignificant one, especially to her. Back when the roles were reversed, the simple gesture of giving meant the world to her. So much so that to this day, she could still vividly remember the details of her first bowl of soup, especially considering she wasn't there to receive any. An act of kindness so small and yet so heavy a thing she felt it in her chest. And the warmth, pouring off the woman like a calm breeze off desert sand. Then there was that twisting feeling in her gut eating away at her subconscious. A warning or a reminder that things like this weren't meant to last. Not anymore at least. But she could still remember, and that had to mean something. She handed a bowl to another pair of outstretched hands and her efforts were rewarded with a smile and a look of gratitude from a tired set of eyes. "Thank you." The old woman managed to say. Sonam flashed a return smile. "Let me know if you need another." She replied before straightening up and turning around. She could feel that warm pressure building in her chest again and a sensation that was becoming less and less unfamiliar but pleasant all the same. Maybe she's not so dumb after all.. The kitchen was rather busy today. Most of the tables had been filled fairly early and she had to assume it had something to do with the celebration. Luckily for the volunteers, preparations had been made for the extra mouths. Bowls of hot soup were being handed out at a steady pace while empty stomachs were being filled just as quickly. As people left the hall, more entered and for a while it remained at capacity. Despite this, the atmosphere remained jovial. Hunger turned to laughter and desperate faces became a genuine smile. Stories were shared of lives lived and pieces of themselves were passed to one another as if an invitation to share in the weight of their burdens. It was always a wonder to Sonam how a place like this continued to exist under the muck of the city. Just outside those doors, all the rules changed. You could never be sure of anything. Every person you passed became a question and every building a place to hide. Around every corner was a threat or an opportunity and if you weren't watching where you stepped, the City itself could swallow you up. But in the tiniest corner of the Lower Ring, a bubble existed where everyone lived for one another. A taste of a time long past, she was sure. Yet, even when inside that bubble, old habits died hard. Amongst the sea of familiar faces were a myriad of new ones. Although hardly a cause for alarm for most, especially here, for the overly cautious it was a change that was impossible to ignore. Rumors had begun to spread of a kind heart in the Lower Ring who was particularly skilled at healing, and if things kept up, it wouldn't take long for those rumors to reach the wrong people. Sonam checked the time on her watch. "She should be here soon." She said to herself, looking around. A little pouch around her waist hidden under the folds of her outerwear began to feel a little heavier.

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Badgermole Stadium @canaryrose Although celebration of the anniversary end of the Great War was taking place in all rings, the events of the Middle were without a doubt the most anticipated. A large scale parade had been planned that was to encircle the entire ring, followed by a concert and afterparty that was to last long into the night. The excitement could be felt by all and was dwarfed only by the excitement of the Pro Stickball match that was to precede everything else. Crowds had gathered outside Badgermole stadium, all of them eager to spectate a most anticipated match between the Middle Ring's finest and that of the undefeated Wolfbats of the Upper Ring. The rivalry between the two had been heated for years, but while the two always went head to head in the Nationals, the Wolfbats always seemed to take the trophy, beating out their competition handily. It wasn't until Chu Hua Yuan had joined the underdogs that things began to change. The gap between the two teams had begun to close until at long last, the Badgermoles lost to the Wolfbats by only a single point in last year's game. Although a loss, to the runner-ups, it felt like a win. Everyone expected them to overtake the champions and finally bring the trophy to the Middle Ring, and everyone expected that Chu Hua Yuan was going to be the one to do it. Throngs were outside cheering her name, wearing her face and hoisting posters of the star into the air. Everyone else was already headed inside and finding their seats.

C O N C E P T S ᵇʸ ᴱˣᴵᵗ

post1

Code Vein (Closed)

A K A I A

A K A I A

_{The Crow's Nest · Early Morning
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She'd heard everything Erik had said. Understood the mission as well as she possibly could and had even taken a moment or two to study the... drawing. But it wasn't until the alarm went off that her mind became truly anchored in the present. Everything before then had been a haze. What replaced that haze now was an unknown that was all too quickly turning into a hope. Light suddenly returned to her eyes and as she straightened out and turned toward the front door, her lungs pulled in its first full breath of air for that day, eliciting a gasp from the Sidhe.

She was out the door of the strategy room and sprinting after Vincent in the blink of an eye, following him down the hall and stopping only when the man had jumped through the window after having already tried the door.

Oh...

She refused to follow, not willing to risk her life at the hands of what was soon to be a very angry Poppy. Instead, she tried the latch on the door herself and after only a moment of fiddling with the mechanism, and with one hand still cradling the pot, she undid the latch and bolt and pulled the front door open. The disheveled and unfamiliar sight of Indigo immediately killed whatever burning hope had blossomed within her and already, a well was opening up in her gut. Her tired eyes regarded the stranger coldly, as if to blame her for the absence.

"No Share, Win-sent." She said, shutting the door.