Letter Bee

Royal Rumble!

Alexander Ascot

Alexander turned to the newly-arrived Aram, not knowing what to say, before looking at Michael to see if the latter needed medical aid. Vittorio had given them all a chance to leave, and Alexander, after making sure Alto was all right, was taking it. He can see that things were now going to end in this apartment, one way or another. Going to Michael, opening a first aid kit, and beginning to treat him with it, Alexander would say, "We've won, but why does it feel like we've lost?"

Or rather, like I've lost. I failed to help Vittorio, and I may even have made things worse. What kind of officer am I?

His next words were, "Let's leave now."

@RoflsMazoy@Dezuel@Bartimaeus@Scarifar@Gentlemanvaultboy

Royal Rumble!

William Ascot

Ascot sighed and said, "Andras, you don't get it; if I don't ressurect Vittorio's friends and family this night, then I'll have ceded my initiative to the enemy. And by the enemy, I mean the Half-Demon, various Mephisto's students, unkind people who may have overheard, and technically...Vittorio himself. If I fail now, I will have allowed them to figure out my plans. I know that that Half-Demon's minions are still there, and that he goes to Mephisto's. That means that I'll have that entire school as my enemy soon, especially if they misrepresent my plans to Vittorio as some attempt to hurt him further - they can do that."

He kept his voice even, surprisingly calm under pressure. "So, we're going to have to activate a contingency plan. I say 'activate' because it's cooler, even though it's more accurate to say that we're concocting a contingency plan because I didn't think I'd have to make one." A short nod. "Time is on our side as long as you, Andras, are alive. We can keep drawing more and more cards every day, and I can copy the relevant cards, especially if they're Death Wish. What we need to do now is to keep out of contact with the enemy while making sure that we are protected should we fail to do so. Again, with enough time and cards, we can present the ressurections of Vittorio's friends and family as a fait accompli."

The boy went to Vernon, and kissed him passionately on the lips before saying, "I've made your life in Mephisto's more dangerous, but necessary too. Keep the Half-Demon, Vittorio, and anyone who sides with them off-balance as long as possible; Michael can help. Never forget; I love you, Vernon."

He then turned to Andras again. "I think that from now on, my Mom, Gilgamesha Ascot, will have to drive us both to St. Laurel's; she's the only one powerful enough to handle multiple Mephisto's students. Once in St. Laurels, we'll have to avoid the gardens and grounds, especially the very edges. That's easy for us as we stay in the library most of the time anyway; we have library passes. We also need to make friends among some more St. Laurel's students; strength in numbers."

@RoflsMazoy@Dezuel@Bartimaeus@Crowvette@CavnderOHeart

Royal Rumble!

((Collab post between Crowvette, Letter Bee, DisturbedBartimaeus and Ebil Bunny))

The reply was softer, "Two hours each; that ought to be enough time for the plan. And the boosts can begin now."

A moment later, Cyan's voice came back over the phone.
"I'm sorry, I got a tails. You should gain more strength for the next two hours, but the flip for luck for your friend didn't work," he said apologetically, "Would you like me to try again? I'd need another tail flip thing."

After some time, Ascot would feel as though he was brimming with physical energy, as though he was healthier than he used to be. He would then look at Andras and ask, "So, do you feel the extra luck from my own technique? Cyan's boost didn't work. Whatever happens, though...we need to start now."

Andras looked down at herself for a moment, stretching out and trying to feel if anything was different. "Truth be told, I'm not sure what difference I'd feel to begin with." Andras had a sinking feeling within her stomach. "...Plus, there's a chance that it would have been countered by Erayo's Essence if it tried to apply to me."

'...I completely forgot about my own enchantment. This is not good. It will negate anything the first time it's used against me, good or bad.' Andras grimaced.

Ascot nodded. "Well, while that might negate Cyan's blessing if cast, I can always use Nakama Dedication Method a second time. Can you let me do so?"

And with that, he began to glow once more, and Andras would be enveloped in golden light for a brief period as well, golden light that would boost speed, strength, and luck. He would then answer Cyan: "Sorry for keeping you hanging, but it turns out Andras would not be affected by the first casting of any spell, meaning that you'd have to get heads twice for her to be more lucky. And we won't have the time for that. That said, thanks for your help; I will be sending the $1000 from my own bank account now."

A few minutes more, and Cyan would find his funds added to online. Now it was Andras' turn once more.

Andras took a deep breath. She usually drew her daily card alone, but she also had rehearsed in case she needed to do it in public. Covering Perfect Alexandria with her hand, she mumbled to herself, "Gods of Light and Dark, of Mind and Heart, and of Death and Life; open my eyes to the true power of the Root, and grant it within my hands." Slowly moving her hand down from Perfect Alexandria, a golden square of light materialized within her hand.

Opening her eye, she mulled over the new card. It would let her draw more cards, which was good for what she was planning to do. But she needed another bond to make it castable.

Ascot figured out what Andras needed, and looked around to see if that Kitsune Girl was near; Vernon was currently answering a phone call. Should Masami be there and not fighting yet, he would call her over, saying: "Hey, milady! Can you come here over for a moment? Andras needs your help!"

Masami had followed the group for a bit, but ultimately had felt unincluded, not saying much and staying to the background, until she had been called. She had about to head back to the Midnight Tournament, but she turned as Ascot shouted to her. Apparently her help was required. She walked over, as she did so asking what was need of her. "Hello! What's up?"

Andras stepped forward. "Masami! You're relatively new to Rhea, so... Perhaps you'd want a friend to help show you around town?"

Masami recieved the kind offer with a smile, and a feeling of warmth. "Sure! That'd be great if you could help me out with that!" she said.

Andras returned her smile. "Perfect!" With a energetic step forward, Andras hugged Masami. "Thank you so much, Masami!" She said in a singsong voice.

Masami's smile widened as Andras stepped forward to hug her, also widening her arms to greet the gesture warmly. Her tails and ears stood on end as their embrace met, as Masami realized she was not only hugging a complete stranger, but also someone known as a Demon. But she didn't care. The hug felt good. As she loosened her arms from the hug, she whispered in Andras' ear, "Strawberries.."

Andras looked away in embarrassment. "L-Let's leave that out of this, shall we?"

Ascot would frown, and say: "Andras, I don't doubt that your intentions are sincere, but can't you be more up-front?"

Turning towards Masami, he would say, "We'd be welcome to spend more time with you, now and in the future, but Andras should have said that she wanted a hug not just because she obviously finds you beautiful, but because close and willing physical contact allows her to cast spells better, and we need that for the plan to ressurect an enemy's dead friends and family so that he won't be an enemy anymore. Sorry if you feel decieved, although the original concept was to be up-front with you from the start."

Stepping out of the hug and still flushed from Masami's comment, Andras sighed. "Well, Ascot's right, but that's only half of it! I do need more anchors for casting spells, but that's only tertiary to the fact that I want to be your friend, Masami!"

'Is it obvious that I find her beautiful? What's Ascot doing, saying that right to her face?!' Andras thought to herself.

Beautiful?? Masami thought with a blush. "I-i'd be happy to become your friend." she said, looking to Andras, then to Ascot. "Both of you."

The boy then gave a deep bow to Masami, saying, "Thank you."

Then to Andras, he smiled and said, "Let's continue."

Andras gave a quick smile to Masami. "I'll have to find you after the tournament so we can exchange phone numbers, but I've gotta do this first." She waved as Masami bowed slightly and walked back towards the tournament.

Grabbing the card she had just drawn, she reached out with her newfound reserve of mana and focused on casting the spell. "Oracle of the metal plane's secrets, come forth to me." Tossing the card forward, it burst into rays of white, black, green and blue, before coaslescing into a magical automaton.

Andras didn't like that she had to disassemble the Oracle to draw more cards, but it was necessary at the moment. "I'm sorry, but I need your knowledge right now." With a gesture and a small commitment of mana, the Oracle's form suffused into three new cards for Andras to use.

Andras studied the new ones. Two of them were alternate anchor points for mana... The other was a destruction spell. "This isn't good, Ascot. None of these cards can help with your plan."

Ascot nodded, "Can you drop said cards, then? Or would that be impossible?"

"W-Well, I might need these later. I can carry many more spells than I have right now." Andras fanned out her spells, looking at them in her one hand.

Another nod. "Can you draw more, then? I'm not sure what would happen if I copy the Oracle card right now."

Andras shook her head. "I'm out of ways to draw until tomorrow."

Ascot sighed, "Then I'll copy the Oracle Card."

And with that, he mimicked Andras' motions, using the power given to him by the God of Stories as well as his intimate knowledge of Andras' stories, hoping against hope that he would manage to draw three more cards, which he showed to Andras once they had appeared.

As he did so, the boy sighed. "None of these cards are Death Wish..."

Andras laid a hand on his shoulder. It's unfortunate, but the Root is impossibly expansive. Finding a specific spell is extremely difficult.

Royal Rumble!

"Alright. I won't get involved. " Vernon had decided to write that second part down on the reciept. Then handed it to William. It just seemed more intelligent that way. it read; In Vernon's hand writing. Sniper`s in position, also. MAy we build a love triangle? HE goes your school. I may have a fetish/kink for Heroes.

@CavnderOHeart

Posting in OOC as this will be only a one-liner: Ascot would thank Vernon, and then tell him that he'll accept polyamory if Cyan is willing and only if Cyan is willing.

Xcom RP; are the masses interested?

As the title says, I've been toying with a couple of different ideas for an Xcom RP. However, I was wondering if there was any interest in one, as I've had ideas that never gained steam before. So, is there interest, or is this a pipe dream?

@Zarkun

Potentially interested.

Royal Rumble!

William Ascot

William Ascot sighed as he smiled at Vernon once more, saying, "The Gods don't really mean anything bad; 90% of them don't, at any rate. They mostly leave the world alone except to grant powers to people to keep holding off the Ancient Evil, which in turn is based in another dimension, is equal to the Gods, and I think that any power that can take down the Ancient Evil will need to be something powerful enough to destroy entire universes, including this one. That sort of power is very dangerous; even if you can withstand the temptation to use it badly, it attracts weirdos who can't do so."

He finally reached a nearby food truck that sold ramen, and paid for bowls for himself, Andras, and Vernon if he was willing. The boy would then eat, not so fast that he'd be considered crass, but not so slow that he wouldn't finish the bowl in less than twenty minutes. Then, to Andras and Vernon, the boy would say, "I'm glad to have you guys as my friends, as my nakama. Or would you guys prefer 'True Companions'?"

And with a smile, a golden aura of light would envelop Ascot, causing him to faintly glow. This light would cover Andras and Vernon, and the small band of friends would feel stronger, faster, and luckier.

William Ascot, re-invigorated, would then say, "Once you're all done eating, we need to begin the combinations of cards needed to bring Vittorio's loved ones back; to save time, I will also need a card to transport Vittorio and his hospital bed to this place." Facing Andras, he continued, "I will ask nothing dangerous of you; it's not my right. But you will need to draw that spell called Death Wish six times; I can then imitate those cards with my own powers. After that, you need to spam healing spells at me so that my body won't give out from using those cards; even then, there will be a period where I'll be sent to the border line between life and death."

He continued, "Do not worry about me; the fact that I proposed this plan in the first place shows that I have the determination to survive long enough for further healing to take effect." Turning to Andras, "This is going to be an undertaking worthy of the Demon Lady of Despair, an undertaking that will make stories and epics and inspire others to paths of heroism and I dare say, compassion."

A smile. "And remember, we'll need to teleport Vittorio to this place if we don't want to do a home invasion of Mephisto's; Mom is willing to drive us there, but that might be held up by traffic." A frown. "And I don't trust the half-demon, either."

Then the young man would notice Masami's presence, and say, "I hope that you're not shocked by my talk; nevertheless, you'll see a miracle the likes of which has never been seen." Turning to Vernon, Ascot continued, "I know this is going to be hard for you, but please don't interfere, Vernon. Instead, go call some old contacts to try and prevent that half-demon from getting out of this place and getting reinforcments."

Considering how Vernon didn't heed his plea to stay with the healers, William Ascot knew he'd have to start now and present what's going to happen as a fait accompli.

@Crowvette@CavnderOHeart

Alexander Ascot

Alexander couldn't help but attempt to reason with Vittorio once more as he forced himself up; he was an adult and had more endurance than most of the fighters here. The Officer would say, "Why Alto?! You have not given us any proof of why he is to blame! And please don't say it's evident in his face or tone; you know full well that's not enough evidence! Present us with actual hard facts about him having something to do with your loved ones' killer before we do anything!"

@RoflsMazoy@Dezuel@Bartimaeus@Scarifar@Gentlemanvaultboy

Royal Rumble!

Latest version of Ascot's potential power upgrade at the end of this Story Arc:

Determined Soul Transformation Method - By bringing himself to the border line of life and a hero's death, William Ascot has proclaimed his willingness to sacrifice his life for a cause that is worth it. Once he has returned to the land of the living, Ascot can now turn his body into a ghostly form much like Vittiorio's. As he directly transforms his body into the essence of souls, this is less and more vulnerable than Vittorio's Astral Projection. Less, because it can stay incorporeal and invisible indefinitely, as well as fly, and more, because it cannot shift into a semi-corporeal form; Ascot has to turn back into a full human in order to interact with anything that isn't ghostly.

Anti-Magic, Mana-Absorbing Sticky Foam, and attacks that can harm Spirits can also harm Ascot's ethereal body, and any damage caused by them manifests as burns when Ascot transforms back into a human. And of course, too much damage can kill Ascot permanently, sending him over the border of a heroic demise...

Royal Rumble!

William Ascot

"We'll stop it if you agree to leave us alone to our own plans," William Ascot said, glaring first at Adam, then at Bertand behind him. He knew he and his group can take Galbrek's minions and bodyguards, but the boy knew Andras, at least, was tired. The crowd, hopefully made friendlier to them by Ascot's Narrative Role of Familarity, would also be a factor, as well as the other contestant in the Midnight Tournament. The advantage was going to them, but wasn't quite with them. But Ascot can feel time running out; his brother might get himself killed trying to arrest Vittorio, thus necessitating more card tricks from him and Andras.

"Indeed, let's go eat," he would say warmly to Andras. "Then we can begin card work. Can I cast Nakama Dedication Technique just before then, though? We're going to need every advantage we have."

Then Vernon attacked Galbrek's female bodyguard with a thrown piece of ice, and Ascot metaphorically froze again before turning around to his boyfriend and saying, "Why did you do that?! There was a chance they would have retreated!"

Now we'll have to spend valuable energy fighting! The boy said as he drew the sword given to him by his mother; the perfectly ordinary sword that will have to be supplemented with whatever he can scrounge up.

Then as quickly as it escalated, the situation was defused as Aegus Reister and his companion (Euphoria Reverie?) entered the situation. Bowing deeply to the young lady, William Ascot said his thanks: "Your help is appreciated; the person here," he gestured towards Galbrek, "was the instigator of this entire situation. I myself merely wanted to see a friend plus help avert a grievous tragedy elsewhere."

Turning to Vernon, the boy said, "Vernon, let the medics heal you. Don't resist them, please. I and Andras need to go to eat as well; we're hungry."

The young man finally went to Andras' side, further saying, "I'll pay the entrance fee and the food; it's the least I can do."

He then handed over the required sum of cash to Euphoria, and said: "Thank you for your time."

@Crowvette@CavnderOHeart

Alexander Ascot

Alexander's head was un-helmeted, and so unless someone stopped Gillam's spray of acid from hitting it, the officer would be in for a world of pain. Thankfully, Michael Angie proved up to the occassion, allowing the Officer to continue his charge, a charge that risked his life. He would not notice Alto and Aram jumping into the fight, although part of him can tell that a collapsing cieling was no longer a problem. But that also meant that Vittorio had more tentacles ready, and so he'd have to fight better and fight smarter; he'd already spent four shots of Mana-absorbing foam at Vittorio; he had eight more that he needed to use to pre-empt attacks.

@RoflsMazoy@Dezuel@Bartimaeus@Scarifar@Gentlemanvaultboy

World of Darkness: City of Angels

Dropping due to incompatibilities in playstyle; I deeply apologize.

Exalted: Lullaby of a Dying Realm

Sorry about this, but I am dropping; you can kill off Albert if you guys want.

Edit: Sorry if this reply or the reply on Discord was rude; just depressed lately.