Lugubrious

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

Oh! I've been meaning to remove that 'help wanted' thing, but I forgot. Man, it's probably been months. Thanks for reminding me.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

Prince, we just had a conversation about you reacting badly to things.

I'm not looking for any more characters at the moment. Even if it would make sense for there to be one, I would rather that no more staff members be made in any position.

Pokemon: New World

The instant the sun peeked over the horizon, Olivie belted it out. ”Go!” Her shout, acting as the pistol shot to start the race, kicked her Pokemons' three-way royal rumble into gear. Buck, full of energy and enthusiasm, cannoned toward Gespenst to deliver a heavy slam (4/6 EP). However, the Cacnea was, either by virtue of the sun's invigorating rays or its natural ability, slightly faster. The spikes on his limbs extended and he whirled in a helicopter motion with no small amount of force (2/6 EP). His spinning onslaught succeeded in deflecting Buck's body blow and even scoring a sound hit on the Plump Mouse Pokemon's shoulder. For a moment it seemed as though Buck would continue onward and charge off, but he stumbled almost immediately. When he tried to turn around, a substantial limp and a haggard expression revealed him to be in far worse shape than first glance might imply (2/4 HP).

Meanwhile, Verrine took her time. Olivie wondered why she didn't go after Gespenst when he was an closer and open target. Perhaps the Karrablast didn't want to provoke the Pokemon that had been her boss back home in the fields near Central City...though out of respect, or fear? In the end, she lowered her head and began to charge not at Gespenst, but at Buck. The central prod of her horn extended slightly, a noxious red mist around the tip (3/6 EP). Buck could not marshal himself to defend in time, and when Verrine's stinger made contact, she bucked her head to throw him back as well. The Bidoof hit the ground and slumped, unconscious (0/4 HP). A frown settled on Olivie's face to see the Pokemon she caught first laid low first as well, but she made no move to intervene. Instead, she watched as a brief, barely-visible wave of red power washed through Verrine in a split-second. With her Pokedex in hand, she diverted her attention from the two remaining Pokemon as they began to circle. Dutifully, the Pokedex recited, “Fell Stinger. When the user knocks out a target with this move, the user's Attack stat rises sharply.” Olivie nodded, a newfound appreciation for her least-used companion welling in her mind. The shy bug-type evidently hid a mind for strategy and an unforeseen aptitude for battle.

Abruptly the circling ended. Verrine swung her head experimentally, detaching a single pin from her carapace that flew right at Gespenst (2/6 EP). The Cacnea, feeling tired but healthy, opted to take the weak attack head-on. Instead, he recoiled in pain as the Pin Missile pierced his body, for the bug-type move struck doubly as strong as its appearance suggested (2/4 HP). Wrathful that his former underling would attack him directly, even as the command of her trainer, Gespenst put everything he had left into an attack. A single, large spike burst from his flesh just above his eyes, and with this horn extended he rammed into Verrine (0/6 EP). Its point broke through her carapace, and from the wound, orange liquid trickled down the horn and was absorbed (3/4 HP). Gespenst grinned as he felt some vitality flow into him, though Olivie could tell by how he moved that he had no energy left. Verrine knew it too (2/4 HP). She suddenly began to thrash, and while resisting struck her opponent across the face with the full weight of her small body (0/6 EP). Even as he rolled backward and fainted, Gespenst's mad grin remained frozen on his face (0/4 EP). After disentangling herself, and removing the horn still stuck in her torso, Verrine sat down, exhausted.

Though only a few minutes had passed, the sun was now high enough for Olivie to cast a shadow on her Pokemon as she stood up. ”Well, that looked like a blast! I'll go and get you fixed up. Great work, Verrine.” She gave the tired bug a pat on the back and scooped her up into her arms. Olivie held her there as she returned her fainted Pokemon to their pokeballs. Having never been held like this before, Verrine simply lay against her trainer's chest with wide eyes. ”Oof, you're heaver than you look. Is that shell made of metal?” She started back toward the Pokemon Center, wondering if anyone else was up.

Phoenix Wing (A Fairy Tail RP-Always Open, Open)

Cormorant Sanders – The Sleeping Bear's Back Room, Crocus

By the time the others arrived, Sanders had already been waiting, seated and with fingers folded into a tent, for ten minutes. They came in two groups of two, pushing through the heavy curtain that separated the dimly-lit back room of the bar from the cozy main building. Upon entering, they found the master of Frenzy Plant at the far end of a long table, flanked on either side by an individual standing perfectly at attention. A more detail-oriented person might have known the names that belonged to those guards: Joakim Fortinbras and Jane Putcher, each clothed in the uniform jacket made iconic only hours ago in the brief but furious free-for-all. What the newcomers couldn't tell was that both were almost as tired as their General from the journey back to Fiore's capital from the remote town of Belka. To that end they leaned against the wall at their backs, but allowed no other vestige of exhaustion to seep through. In this moment, after all, appearances were quintessential.

After arriving, the four individuals seated themselves around the table. To Sanders' right sat a stern-faced fellow with short, croppy dark green hair and an air of nonchalance—the 'Pirate King', Salem Monroe. Next to him was a young man with long blonde hair and a flowing forest-green cloak that settled across his broad shoulders. Frenzy Plant's master knew him to be Belial Grimmond, and the mellow attitude he gave off hid a barb of suspicion. Across the table, in chairs next to one another, the two masters of Tough Love placed themselves side by side. Henrik Crane and Morgan de Soto stood taller than average, and their respective years of police work in dangerous inner cities left both uniquely scarred. Sleek mechanical augmentations dotted their bodies, but something far greater than the ambiance of electricity surrounded them; one could tell at a glance that the albino man and the darkly-complexioned, red-haired woman were madly in love. Now, however, they regarded Sanders with seriousness.

He began forthwith. ”Good afternoon. I am pleased to introduce myself as Cormorant Sanders, seventy years young, and the humble leader of Frenzy Plant. I have asked you to join me for lunch here today because, after coming in late this morning and receiving the reports on the Games, I had an idea.” He gestured to the table. Wonderment abounded as everyone discovered that a feast existed where none had before. The pivotal members of Pirate Lord seemed more amused than impressed, and even the leaders of Tough Love, being nonmagical themselves, were hardly taken aback. Sanders continued. ”Please, help yourself as I speak. Let us not stand on ceremony.”

Elbows on the table, he crossed his arms. A note of confidentiality entered his voice. ”So here's the 'scoop'. The Grand Magic Games draw to a close with no winner, but the crowds know who won in their hearts. My guild, Frenzy Plant, topped the charts again and again; if not in points, then certainly in drama and style. Meanwhile...where's all the talk about Pirate Lord and Tough Love? Aren't people impressed with the little phoenix, Merlina? Where's all the applause for Evangeline? It's a shame. So I wanted to make sure there were no hard feelings. And it got me to thinking about the Games themselves. Not a single Jewel of that huge prize is going somewhere, but fame is a prize in and of itself. Wizards, and even ordinary people seeking employment, are flocking to the biggest, baddest guilds. Since the start of the Games, I have received...” From beneath the table, he produced a small stack of papers, and plopped them on the table. The guests paused as the documents hit the wood. ”Fourteen applications. Several of them, such as Private Riona, Corporal Rune, and Private Flint, are already part of my guild. I can only assume they'll continue to roll in, while your guilds, even though you achieved he colossal feat of qualifying for the games, get nothing. It's just. Not. Fair.”

The General gingerly picked up a fork, pierced an olive sitting on his plate, and ate it. He took his time chewing, making sure to get every morsel of flavor. Then he clasped his hands. ”So here's my proposition. Pirate Lord...and Tough Love...shall disappear. But wait, wait a moment! Nothing much is changing. Just that your guilds will be subsumed by Frenzy Plant; you will join us. Think about it! Two fledgling guilds, barely enough resources or clients to maintain yourselves, fall to the bottom of the barrel at the Games. Attending the Games isn't a cheap affair. The hotel rooms alone...fwah! I'll bet you were counting on some compensation from the Games for showing up and doing alright. Alas, the wheel of fate has left you behind...but Frenzy Plant hasn't. People will not join you or come to you for jobs because they don't know your names, and your skills are unrefined. You lack organization and discipline. Enlisting in Frenzy Plant will solve all of your problems.”

He positioned himself facing the representatives of Pirate Lord. ”Consider this, too. Frenzy Plant is not ignorant to the workings of smaller guilds. We know your quest: to find the demons that cursed you and end their miserable existences once and for all. Join us, and your mission is our mission. When the opportunity presents itself, the full power of Frenzy Plant will stand with you, just as it will for Hyun Sasithom when she decides that it's time to reclaim her kingdom.” Sanders gave a slight smile. It held compassion and understanding—perhaps too much understanding. He spoke of the secret mission of Pirate Lord as it was only the tip of the iceberg.

Salem noticed this, and grew wary. After swallowing a piece of beef, he crossed his arms and said, “Sounds like a pretty great deal, mister. But what's the catch? Maybe we don't care about 'organization and discipline'. Maybe we like being small-time. We're not unrefined...I can tell you that. Our business is our own. What makes you think we want to throw in our lot with a bunch of army stiffs like you?” He tossed his fork on the table, and the clink pierced an otherwise dead silence.

Sanders tilted his head slightly, and heaved a deep breath before shrugging. A moment passed before he replied, his voice oddly calm. ”Are you aware of the Frenzy Plant policy on Slayers, Mr. Monroe?

The silence grew thick, and after a second, the old man continued. ”History tells us that Slayers, despite being powerful, are doomed to become what they seek to kill. Among Slayer magics, Devil Slayers are particularly virulent. In fact, we find demons as a whole to be especially...repugnant. We have a demon-possessed boy in our care now. We hope to free him from his affliction so that we might exterminate the parasite once and for all. Still, it's a better situation than Devil Slayers. You can never tell when one's turned wrong. First it seems as if they have control over themselves, then they start...killing people.” A horrified expression appeared on his face. ”Eating them. Expunging the magic from their bodies and feasting on what remains. The stuff of nightmares. That is why the Frenzy Plant policy on Slayers is a very...ah, how shoul I put it? Binary one.” The eyes of the two men of Pirate Lord were darker than night. Sanders rested his head in his hands. ”We want what's best for you, gentlemen. For the world. That's why we do what we do. The reward for cooperation is immense. Steadfast allies, war-forged friends, income, renown, meaning in life, protection, self-betterment...I can't fathom why you'd say no!”

He leaned back in his chair, wearing a warm smile. He glanced at everyone present in turn, his sincerity writ upon his wrinkled features. ”Look. This isn't some conspiracy or evil scheme. I'm not some conniving trickster or double-dealing psychopath. I'm a man of the law—and an employer offering the best chance of your lifetime: the chance to be a part of the greatest guild in Fiore and beyond, and to do what's right. If you want to do right by your members, this is the plan for you.”

Some strategists turned to chess to visualize their battlefields. To Sanders, the act seemed a bit cliché. Like a professional poker player, he studied their faces. Everyone, from their knowledge of Frenzy Plant, could substantiate his promises. As a guild, and especially as an army, Frenzy Plant lived big. But both sets of guild representatives had their doubts. Tough Love's leaders looked unnerved, while the men of Pirate Lord bore the appearances of men balancing guilt, anger, reason, pride, and indeed their futures—all on a mirror's edge. If Sanders had to describe the situation, he would compare it to someone stacking weights on both sides of a judge's scale. The balance was almost perfect; the result could go either way. The slightest addition to either side might cause it to fall. Frenzy Plant's General had played the odds all his life, but he was not a gambling man. He never made a bet he couldn't win. A slight reverberation entered his voice as he played his final card. ”I'm an old man, folks. After my travels, I would like nothing better than an afternoon nap. So if you wouldn't mind, I would like your decisions now. It's not binding, so you know. We'll go over the details later. All I want is: are you interested? A simple 'yes' or 'no.'"

Henrik and Morgan looked at one another. So did Soren and Belial. Sanders watched them all. Tough Love's leaders were the first to look his way with resolution in their eyes. ”Yes,” Morgan told him. ”We're still a bit confused, but this is too good of a chance to pass up. To be honest, even if we're a close-knit bunch, we're a bunch of losers. The Games proved it. We need some winners to set us straight.”

Next, Sanders turned his expectant gaze on Salem. With visible reluctance, the Pirate King gave a nod. Sanders beamed. ”Splendid! It may be a bit early, but I am glad to be the first one to call you: comrades. I will look forward getting to know you. We'll be in touch.” He rose, and gave a bow. The meeting was over. Accompanied by his subordinates, Sanders moved out into the main area, then toward his room on the second floor. He stopped in the stairs to observe the backs of his guests as they left the Sleeping Bear. The house, he thought, always wins.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

It would behoove us, I think, not to talk too much about politics. Very little has the potential to be more divisive.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

Abel Fulgurate
@Eklispe

A few seconds of scanning the sky went by before Abel spotted a dot he could only assume was Krysanthe. He observed, though he couldn't imagine how, that the girl's launch sent her far higher into the air than his own. Given the whoops carried to him on the breeze, though, she seemed to be enjoying it far more than he had. He looked on when, in the middle of her descent, she began to eject bursts of water from her ornate boots that each stalled her momentum enough to make her look as though she was walking in the sky. Abel marveled at the simplicity and the efficacy of it compared to his own technique, his muscles burning all the while. In a jiffy the two hunters-in-training were reunited, and the guardian's heart soared far more than it had while he had to see Krysanthe's face adorned with a lively smile. After taking a split second to focus, he returned the expression, then replied, “Well, there's a ruin of some sort where the tokens were placed during the ceremony. Though we might go there.”

Navigating down the tree, though not easy, proved to be far less of a task than descending from the heavens in one piece. Seldom was Abel so glad to be back on the ground. While no stranger to heights, given his station on kingdom's wall, he just couldn't shake the inexplicable terror that welled within him to be suspended in space. It felt like being abandoned and left to die. Suddenly realizing the needless morbidity of his thoughts, Abel shook himself to clear his head. No doubts or depressing sentiments needed to be entertained in this place, distracting from the Emerald Forest's beauty. Beneath the canopy, where the dappled sunlight fell upon the earth's brilliant green grass and plants, the wood seemed straight out of a fairy tale. Something cheesy welled up in Abel's mind, and he spun his partizan into walking-stick position before saying, “Shall we?”

Minutes later into the forest hike, the pair happened upon a great cleft in the ground running diagonally across their path. The ravine extended out of sight in either direction and at least sixty feet down. Various creeping vines slithered down from trees on the gorge's precipice into the depths of the earth. When Abel peered down, he could see a glint at the bottom that most likely signified a stream. He fixated his attention on the chasm's opposite side, noting it to be several feet higher than the one upon which he and Krysanthe stood. Feeling like he knew the answer, he asked, “Across, over, around?” as he leaned on the Ampere. The thought that he should be talking more, and trying to get to know the girl, crossed his mind. Trying not to frown in contemplation, he began to ponder exactly how to go about doing that as he waited for an answer.

Phoenix Wing (A Fairy Tail RP-Always Open, Open)

@Caits I was potentially thinking of a scenario involving Pirate Lord and Tough Love. They're both NPC guilds, right? I mean, Pirate Lord was made by a player, but I daresay that player's been absent for quite some time. Perhaps I could take control of them?

Phoenix Wing (A Fairy Tail RP-Always Open, Open)

@CirusArvennicus, Hyun's getting-down problem (and that of the entire tower) was solved in the same post it occurred. There is not only no need for Trinity to lend any help, but it's physically impossible, since the tower is now on ground-level.

Phoenix Wing (A Fairy Tail RP-Always Open, Open)

<Snipped quote by Kal-El>

I'm fine with a Devil Slayer. In fact, I strongly encourage that one. Because we don't have any.

@Zarkun

There's also the two members of the now-defunct guild Pirate Lord.

Phoenix Wing (A Fairy Tail RP-Always Open, Open)

Frenzy Plant's Elite

The sensation of penetration and a splash of red, illuminated by the sunlight filtering through Indigo's fog wall, were all Hyun needed. Her opponent, a seasoned warrior in his own right, wasted no time in letting go of his weapon with one hand to snatch the swordswoman's wrist, but even if her thrust got caught in Jake's muscle and was stymied because of its thick edge, the damage was done. The disadvantage afflicted upon him by having an arm that agonized him with its every movement was catastrophic. He spat out some retort as he yanked her arm away, pulling her knife out as he did, but Hyun felt absolutely certain that the fight was hers.

The same could not be said for Indigo and Plum. Having overextended to try and siphon away Hunter's magic power, Plum took a full-force battering to the head, leaving her dazed and staggering. One forceful twist later and the double was thrown to careen into the original, taking her aback in the process. Before either could recover, a magical binding ensnared both of them, tying them together like captured pirates to the mizzenmast. Its very touch sapped the strength from their bodies, far faster and more effective than Plum's own vampiric power imparted to her by Nosgoth. The underdevelopment of that tomb, do to its magic always feeling distasteful and unladylike to Indigo, was a crucial mistake but one that neither Librarian could help now. Only a second remained before Ammy would begin her onslaught—no matter how unconventional the weapon, sitting ducks made for splendid targets. An unspoken urge passed between Indigo and her double, who hissed, “For you...I'll take it all!”

She heaved herself forward, not much but just enough to spin herself into forward position, blocking Indigo with her own body. The scythe of Ammy Silver fell again and again, its blade quickly severing Plum's wings to prevent escape before moving on to the rest of her, and it carved her up. She slumped, bleeding from a dozen wounds. Just like Nolan did with Straw, Ammy held nothing back, perceiving Indigo's double to be nothing more than an expendable fake and not worthy of holding back. Her eyes grew dark, and closed, while a final gasp slipped from her lips. ”Bring me back fast...please,” she whispered, so only Indigo could hear, and was gone.

With her back to her double, Indigo couldn't glimpse her face, and only because of that managed to keep herself from throwing up. Still, she could feel the cold settling through Plum's skin, and it made her feel incredibly sick. After she dry heaved, however, her eyes grew hard. Before she could say or do a thing, however, some kind of wave passed through the tower. Instantly, the air inside normalized, magic weapons disappeared, and the vile rope binding her dissolved. She looked at Hyun, who had been poised to nullify Ammy's magic, but the swordswoman shook her head. Quite unable to speak, Indigo collapsed against the wall of the tower, shaking. She laid her hand on the book Nosgoth, and the body of Plum disappeared as well. With her disabled, Hyun took her place, glaring at the wizards of Dragon Fang. ”Cease fighting at once. There is some sort of disturbance. Anyone who touches Indigo dies.” Leaving it up to her enemies to determine if she was serious or not, Hyun made haste to the tower door. She hopped out onto the knuckles of one of the earthen hands, staring up at the arena, which lay not too far away. Her expression of contemptuous, contained anger did not change. ”The royal family...?” A flick of her wrist cleared most of the blood off her dagger. From this distance, she had to strain to hear, but hear she did. ”The event is over. It's a draw.” The normally blank tone of the duelist turned bitter. She spotted Zander, Owen, and the others down below. There seemed to be some sort of problem with Dmitri and Scarlet, but she would have to confront that when she got down. ”Hey! Get us down! Indigo is unwell!”

On the ground, the rest of Frenzy Plant's Elite was just as flummoxed and irritated as Hyun. Owen distracted himself by creating a few magic circles in an octagon beneath the tower. At his command, more giant rapier blades arose, shooting skyward to stick in the bottom of the tower. Zander wielded his ruby blade to fire a narrow aurora at the earthen hands, carving through both one at a time. When he got all the way through one, it fell apart, and when both were done, the Howling Djinn's Keep sat on the rapier blades. Of course, they began to bend dangerously, so Owen quickly lowered them back down. The tower descended like an elevator, a little faster than the fencer would have liked, but not dangerously quick. It settled in the middle of the street, and Hyun hopped off. Knowing the objection about to burst from her, Zander cut her off. ”I know, it's disappointing. But it's the second-best outcome that could be had. Let us rejoice that the victory went to nobody else, for nobody else deserved it.”

Hyun put away her weapons and crossed her arms. ”As you say, Commander Louvier.” She disappeared back inside the tower, ignoring the Dragon Fang wizards as she helped Indigo to her feet and allowed the sorceress to lean on her. When she emerged again, Owen had already done the same for Dmitri, and Zander was holding Scarlet in his arms. The soldiers began to walk, and Aqua and Vert followed behind.

As they approached the stadium, a figure could be spotted sprinting out. When it grew close, it revealed itself to by Xyster, beaming from ear to ear. Owen and Dmitri suddenly remembered their pledge of dedication, and Owen at least reddened slightly. Xyster slowed up and clasped her hands behind her back, her one remaining eye full of joy. The soldiers stopped in front of her. ”You guys,” she said at last, rolling her eye. ”Always gotta put me on the edge of my seat. You were amazing! All of you! I was cheering you on the whole time, just like you said, Zander sir. And calling me the heart of the team...” Common knowledge dictated that Dullahans, being undead, couldn't blush. Xyster proved them wrong. ”Makes a monster like me really happy! Really, I'm so happy to be a part of...this.” With nothing else she could say, she moved to the side, and as the soldiers continued on, she fell into the procession. All the while, her nigh-unnervingly wide smile never diminished an inch.

Then the firebird appeared. She landed in the path of the soldiers, blocking them with an aura of blazing multicolored flame. Not a single member of Frenzy Plant looked kindly upon her as she asked if she could help. ”No.” The answer was plain and simple. To allow some upstart from another guild to tend to Frenzy Plant's wounded would be a grievous insult not just to the individual, but to the army as whole. Soldiers took care of their own; it had been that way since the first day, with the witch Tsubano alone tending to her comrade's wounds.

Fleo Plector – Phoenix Wing Stands

Surprise flitted across the dusty woman's features. She opened her mouth to say, ”That's it?” and gagged instead. The realization that she'd been holding her breath hit her while she gasped, but Fleo couldn't be blamed. The main event of the final day of the Grand Magic Games had been the most exciting one yet. Previous battles proved themselves to be interesting, but nothing came close to capturing the imagination and setting hearts beating as this massive free-for-all. The sheer scale of the royal rumble alone was enough to make the history books, she felt. A sudden and inconclusive stop to the Games made her wistful, but if there was some sort of subterfuge afoot, it couldn't be helped. Besides, with the amount of power being tossed around in this event, someone was bound to get seriously hurt sooner or later.

She started to clap, but when nobody else joined in, she did it anyway. Once satisfied, she addressed the Phoenix Wing audience members closest to her. ”Was that amazing or what!? And an appearance by the King and Queen! Wow!” Very clearly, she could barely contain her hype.

Nero the Genie – Arena Stands

A quiet moment passed before Nero heaved a bored sigh. ”Aww! Just as things were starting to get interesting. How am I supposed to grant anyone's wishes if nobody loses? Desperation and vengeful feelings are what gets work done around here. Maybe I'll pay the guilds a visit anyway, nyeheheh!” Though she didn't quite understand what he was going on about, Eve laughed along lightly. The Dark Mage's arm, situated around her extremely portly midsection, gave her a light squeeze. ”C'mon,” he said, smiling as he stood up. ”Let's get outta here. Fun's over for the day.” Obligingly his companion heaved herself to her feet. She took a moment to turn and set down the hinged divider for the two seats her massive rump had taken up, for which Nero waited patiently. ”Always so conscientious,” he teased lightly as he held her arm out. Eve clasped his slender hand in her own, and the couple began to leave.

For a moment, the little salmon-haired girl who'd sat on the opposite side of Eve from Nero didn't realize that her friends had gone, having been lost in a daydream. Few seconds later, however Ayame snapped from her reverie. "N-nero! Evie! W-wait up!!" She hopped from her seat and sprinted after her friends, not anxious to be left behind. Having already reached the aisle, the other two members of Miracle Eye stopped walking to let her catch up, and together the three set off into Crocus.