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In Symphony of Espers → 4 yrs ago Forum: Casual Roleplay




Then...


“Is that it?” Adam Avenir asked, pointing to the green marble-size sphere.

“Uh huh,” Ashley confirmed as she continued to pack several sets of cloths and her most important belongings into a small collection of suitcases and travel bags. The G.E.M.I.N.I. people would be stopping by to pick her up the following day, and she wanted to make sure everything was ready by the time she went to bed.

“Wow…” the thirteen-year-old boy marveled as he picked the item up to get a closer look at its shimmering interior. “And you have no idea who gave it to you?”

“Nope,” his big sister replied. “It was in an unmarked box, sitting on the table along with the rest of my graduation presents.”

Although nearly everyone’s recollections on what, exactly, had transpired during the graduation party were rather hazy, Ashley’s brother, by virtue of being the closest to her, had seen and remembered everything. Ashley had sworn him to secrecy, of course, and Adam had been only too happy to keep the knowledge to himself as a special secret between siblings, something which only served to further strengthen the pair’s already inseparable bond.

“That’s awesome!” Adam declared. “Like, whoever made this thing must have been searching for just the right person to have it, and after seeing how much you love to help people, they chose you! This is, like, your very own origin story!”

“Maybe…” Ashley conceded with a slight blush.

“Come on, show me how it works again!” Adam begged his sister with an eager grin as he held the tiny orb out to her. “Pleeease?”

“All right, all right,” Ashley told him with a giggle. “Just give me a moment,” she added, taking the offered sphere and stepping back into the empty center of her room. Closing her eyes for a moment, there was a bright green flash, and then…

“So cool!” Adam cheered as he took in his sister’s transformed appearance. “You look like you just stepped out of a video game, or maybe a sci-fi movie! And with all those cool powers you have, you could totally be a superhero!”

By this point, Ashley’s cheeks had turned a bright crimson from all the hero worship, but she was still smiling nonetheless. “Well, now that I’m joining G.E.M.I.N.I., I’ll be able to learn how to use my powers to help people, so I suppose that’s sort of like being a superhero,” she reflected. “Although I doubt it’ll be anywhere near as glamorous as what you see in the movies,” she added.

“Still, if you’re gonna be a superhero, you gotta have a super awesome codename!” Adam insisted. “How about Future Girl?!”

“I’m not really a fan of that…” Ashley replied with a frown.

“Then what about Captain Future?!”

“I think that’s already been taken.”

“Tomorrow Lady?”

“Hmmm…” Ashley mused as she found her attention drawn to her brother’s t-shirt, which depicted the cast of his favorite comic series in vibrant colors, with the name “Knights of the Cosmos” boldly emblazoned above them. “How about… The Knight of Tomorrow?”

“Oh wow!” Adam exclaimed, his face lighting up with excitement. “That sounds great! You’re really good at this codename thing, sis!” he added with a grin. “But, then, you’re pretty amazing at everything!”

“And here I thought little brothers were supposed to annoy their big sisters,” Ashley teased as she wrapped Adam up in an affectionate hug. “Thanks Adam,” she whispered before placing a soft kiss on his forehead. “I’m really going to miss you.”

“Me too,” her brother replied as he returned the hug with interest. “You gotta promise you’ll tell me about all your cool adventures when you come home for Thanksgiving.”

“Okay,” she agreed, smiling down at him from an even greater height than usual, thanks to her taller esper form and its rather impractical footwear. “It’s a promise.”



Now...


Ashley couldn’t help but think of her brother as she made her way along the rainy streets to Precinct #11, her hood up and an umbrella in one hand. Although he was safe in Tomasville, the bond she shared with him naturally brought to mind the familial bonds shared by all the inhabitants of Pax Septimus, bonds that would be irrevocably shattered, should she and her teammates fail today. Dr. Moller had sent out one of her typical, unnaturally nonchalant, messages, informing the agents where to meet, and as Ashley replayed that message, a part of her wondered just how much of the doctor’s almost carefree overconfidence was actually genuine…

She always puts on such a brave facade, but…

Ashley shook her head. There was no sense questioning such things now, not when her team, her city, was depending on her to be at her absolute best. Entering the building in question, the young esper made her way to the roof, where she found two of her fellow agents had already arrived.

“Timekeeper, Silhouette,” she greeted with the best smile she could muster, given the circumstances.“It’s good to see you. So, um, have either of you given any thought as to how we might actually go about fighting this thing?”


18 | Female | GEMINI | Vision of Tomorrow
Implements of Tomorrow | Wand, Shield | Arcane | Tune of Tomorrow
Raiment of Tomorrow | Stride of Tomorrow
Light of Tomorrow | Light | Power of Tomorrow
PRO-TEK 4000 Defensive Surgery Implement | Kevlar Coat, Kevlar Padding, Clip Light
[Reveal (2), Purity (4)], Damage (2), Damage X (6), Shield (4), Reflect (4), Heal (6), Major Heal (18), AoE (2), Powerful (0), Piercing (2)

DAMAGE: B | SPEED: E | SENTINEL: C | 750

PHYSICAL: E | ARCANE: C | CHAOS: B | 750
In Grimoiric Heart → 4 yrs ago Forum: Advanced Roleplay


@Lonewolf685


With Olivia being gently cradled in Xolys’s arms and Suzuya riding atop him, the eldritch beast set out across the rooftops of London, paying careful attention to remain close to the rest of the group, should an attack occur, but also ensuring that he traveled on the opposite side of the street from where Lupin and Stripes were leaping from building to building as well. Although Olivia was often blissfully unaware of such things, the far more attentive and observant Master of Xhar’doth had realized that the somewhat misanthropic Stripes actually became weaker when more allies were present. Thus, he would endeavor to give both the feline girl and her wolfish teammate a wide berth during this patrol.

Following Ozma’s lead, the group eventually found themselves at an abandoned shopping mall on the outskirts of the city. Although most would probably consider such a location rather unappealing, if not outright creepy, Olivia unsurprisingly found it utterly fascinating. As they entered the dilapidated structure, her head was a blur of motion as it looked in all directions in an effort to take in every aspect of their ominous surroundings. Indeed, the blonde beauty was so enthralled by the gloomy panorama of urban decay that she didn’t even notice the spell Ozma was casting to seal them within it.

“Goodness! This looks like something right out of a horror movie!” Olivia exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with wonderment. “It has such an unsettling ambiance, I’d imagine dozens of ghosts could probably live here! Or maybe fungus monsters! Or Pageless!” she added a moment later as she noticed a sea of yellow eyes glowing in the mall’s darkened recesses.

Ozma had been saying some rather interesting things about how they were actually searching for someone, and how this mission would be “off the record”, but as thought-provoking as those statements were for the Ethereal Rose, they rapidly paled in significance once the Pageless finally revealed themselves…

“Oh wow! They’re so precious!” the azure-clad beauty squealed in delight. “They look just like giant iguanas! Don’t you think so, darling?”

“Indeed, my sweet,” the eldritch beast replied. “But I fear their opinion of us is far less appreciative…”

A moment later, that fear was confirmed as the Pageless began their assault. Since they were still at a fair distance, Xolys opened with a ranged attack, his swirling beam of unreality adding its destructive power to a hail of magic missiles from Stripes. Still, there were far too many Pageless for this strategy to be effective for long, and so the Master of Xhar’doth readied his many scythed and spiked appendages in preparation for when their foes entered melee range. Meanwhile, Olivia, fully confident in Xolys and Burning Heart’s ability to handle the situation, only hoped she’d be able to have enough time to get a closer look at the reptilian monsters before they were completely dispatched.
In March of the White Rabbit: A Roll-Your-Own Magical Girl Roleplay → 4 yrs ago Forum: Advanced Roleplay



“Eeep!” Connie cried out in alarm as a new arrival made her grand entrance, before calming slightly upon seeing it was only her draconic friend. “O-Oh, h-hi, M-Mayra…” she greeted the monster girl softly, while waving a trembling hand. “I-It’s n-nice to s-see y-you again.”

Mayra went on to explain that she’d be the one to transport them to Bolorton, causing Gaia to raise a verdant eyebrow. “A portal inside you?” the botanical beauty echoed. “Miss Mariette never ceases to impress.”

“O-Oh gosh!” Connie gasped a moment later when Lily ended up singeing her hands. “A-Are y-you o-okay, Lily?” the concerned nightmare girl inquired as she nervously fidgeted with her hair.

She apparently was, as, with characteristic speed, the energetic greenette went from wringing her hands in pain to zapping everyone with a lightning-based agility enhancement. Connie yelped as a static shock jolted her, the mouth of her mask forming a comical jagged line. Thankfully what little real pain there was passed quickly. “I-It only h-hurt a l-little…” she replied when Lily expressed her concern, her arms tightly hugging her shaking body and failing to notice her now frazzled hair.

“It mostly just tickled,” a serene Gaia added, her own verdant tresses also standing on end. “But I can definitely feel the additional energy.”

Alex followed that up with a reinforcement boost of his own.

“My, my…” Gaia marveled. “That was quite the rush… Thank you, Alex,” she told the magical boy with an appreciative smile.

“Y-Yes! T-Thank you!” Connie added, feeling a burst of newfound confidence flooding her no-longer trembling body.

Then, a familiar face stepped forward to offer their own contribution…






The night of the wendigo attack…


With the inquisitive crystal girl now directing her questions to the various other magical individuals who had gathered around, a considerably relieved Angel prepared to make her departure. However, before she could do so, she heard a new voice call her name. Turning in its direction, the heavenly maiden was startled to see the robotic whirlwind from earlier.

Holy shit… Does she know me? I mean, now that I’ve got a closer look, she does seem kinda familiar… Was she at that clusterfuck of a rave?

“I thank you most graciously for your kind words,” the Angel replied with a respectful bow. “However, this humble servant regrets that she must now bid you all a most fond farewell. It was truly her great honor and pleasure to serve you this evening, and she is filled with the greatest joy at the knowledge that by our combined efforts the foul beasts which once threatened this fair city have now been well and truly vanquished! Indeed, when we stand together, with our hearts united as one, there is nothing we cannot accomplish!”

Yeah, can’t leave without spewing some cringy garbage…

With that, the Angel ascended into the night sky, before swiftly gliding out of sight. She only hoped she could come up with a convincing story for her absence when she returned to her family…



One week later…


“Lucky seven!” Angela’s father cheered as he moved his playing piece the relevant number of spaces. “That puts me on Free Parking!” he declared, before scooping up the obscenely large pile of money in the pot. “Hot diggity! Now I’ve got enough to buy that hotel I was thinking of putting on Park Place!”

“That’s wonderful, dear!” Angela’s mother commended.

“Yeah, great roll, Dad,” Angela herself deadpanned, before giving voice to a loud yawn. Indeed, with her tired eyes only a half an inch away from closing completely, the girl looked as though she was about to pass out at any minute.

“Heeey there, my little scrambled egg!” her father said with a frown. “You look a bit worn out. Wanna take a rain check and get some sack time?” he inquired. “After all, we wouldn’t want a repeat of last week, when you took that little nap in the restroom.”

Angela grit her teeth. Although it had been the only excuse she could think of for spending so much time dealing with the Wendigos, she really had been feeling exhausted of late. This was due in no small part to the frequent nightly excursions as the Angel of Hope she’d been making at Chiichuu’s insistence. “Building a positive reputation”, and all that… Thus, she’d been stumbling through her days half-asleep, with every last ounce of her meager reamaining energy being spent keeping her gaming record from taking too much of a nosedive. It was actually rather surprising that no one in her family had noticed until now, but then again, maybe not…

“The sum of the average of the square root…” her little brother was mumbling as he stared intently at the dice, while her mother had returned to painting the houses and hotels to make them look more “aesthetically pleasing”.

“Yeah, uh, if you don’t mind, I think I’m gonna head to bed,” Angela said with a weary sigh.

“Alrighty!” her father replied cheerfully. “You get some shuteye, and we’ll pick this up again bright and early tomorrow morning!”

“I can’t wait…” Angela muttered, eager to get at least some rest.

However, no sooner had she collapsed on her bed, then a reedy voice called her name.

“Angela, there’s an emergency,” Chiichuu informed her. “Your assistance is urgently needed.”

“What now…?” the girl asked from where her face was pressed into her pillow.

“A small settlement called Bolorton has just come under attack by extradimensional invaders,” the Puchuu explained. “A number of Penrose magicals are gathering at a local park to help, and I believe it is only fitting that the Angel of Hope should join them.”

“Yeah, you would…” Angela sighed as she slowly got up.

“You should be pleased. Helping to resolve this crisis will greatly enhance your reputation among Penrose’s magical population.”

“Whatever… Let’s just get this over with…”

…

Gliding down upon radiant wings, the Angel of Hope arrived at the park just after Ronin and Miko. “Warmest salutations, noble champions!” she greeted the gathered magicals with an elegant curtsy. “It is my most sincere honor to join you this evening. Let us together sally forth to the aid of the imperiled and ensure they are kept safe from harm!”

Yeah, let me just give them one of my sappy speeches and they’ll probably die of disguWHATTHEHELL?!!

The usually serene Angel was completely caught off guard by Mayra’s dramatic arrival, and, giving voice to a startled gasp, she placed an elegant hand atop her ample chest in an effort to stop the frantic pounding of her racing heart.

“G-Good heavens…” she said after taking a moment to catch her breath. “That was certainly a shocking and majestic entrance, bold champion,” she told Mayra, her smile returning as she listened to the draconic girl’s offer of providing a portal for their use. “This humble servant thanks you for your great generosity, blazing champion. Truly, your kindness brings such abundant joy to her heart!”

Which, thankfully, is still beating… Fucking bitch nearly gave me a coronary…

The next thing the Angel knew, a bubbly green-haired girl was crying out in pain after shaking the hand of the visibly shouldering new arrival.

What an idiot… Can’t she see the steam coming off her?!

The heavenly maiden was about to offer some healing to the frazzled girl, but a magical boy had already stepped up to take care of it.

Yeah, better you waste your mana on that crap than meeEEEE…?!

The Angel’s shapely form shuddered and her usually tranquil visage took on a look of shock as she felt herself being hit by a pulse of mystic electricity. Apparently, it was some form of power up, curtesy of the ditzy greenette.

“O-Oh, my!” the heavenly beauty exclaimed. “That was quite the jolt! But I am most grateful for this blessing, nonetheless,” she told Lily, once she’d regained some of her composure. This was followed by a far less uncomfortable augmentation from the magical boy. “How very generous of you, kind champion,” she bid Alex with a brilliant smile. “I am truly blessed to be surrounded by such beneficent companions!”

Well, at least this one actually makes me look kinda badass… And I suppose if we’re all doing the touchy-feely sharing thing…

“Please, allow this humble servant to bestow her own blessing upon you all!” the Angel declared, before conjuring her shining staff and raising it high. A moment later a burst of radiant light shone forth to permeate the small gathering with a potent reinforcement augmentation, further boosting the abilities of all present by a significant amount.

“O-Oh w-wow!” Connie marveled. “T-Thank you s-so much!”

“You are most welcome, noble champion,” the Angel replied warmly.

Wait… Isn’t that girl next to her the same green-skinned loser from the rave?

“If this humble servant’s memory is accurate, she encountered your companion at that most horrid musical gathering several weeks ago. I am so very glad to see that both of you made it though that awful night unscathed, and it is my great honor to stand beside you in this coming conflict.”

“The honor is ours,” Gaia replied with a graceful curtsy. “Indeed, it was only thanks to your help that I was able to reunite with my dearest Connie,” she added, placing an affectionate arm around her timid friend’s shoulder. “So, perhaps this time we shall be able to return the favor,” she noted with a smile.

“Y-Yeah!” Connie added with renewed confidence. “L-Let’s all d-do our b-best to h-help each other!”

“Yes, kind champion,” the Angel agreed. “Let us all strive to do so.”

Holy shit… If all this gushy positivity doesn’t stop soon, I’m gonna fucking puke…
In Grimoiric Heart → 4 yrs ago Forum: Advanced Roleplay
@Sonnambula

Celina's gonna bunk with Nessie most likely, izzat ok?


That could work, since Nessie's former roomate was Lucette, who's currently off on a super secret mission.

Silvia probably sleeps in a dumpster, or something.

In Symphony of Espers → 4 yrs ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
Yeah, GM.

You're supposed to be the one showing us how this is done.
In Symphony of Espers → 4 yrs ago Forum: Casual Roleplay
In March of the White Rabbit: A Roll-Your-Own Magical Girl Roleplay → 4 yrs ago Forum: Advanced Roleplay



The night of the wendigo attack…


Listening to Ronin plead her case for Sann’s innocence, Gaia couldn’t help but frown. She liked the small samurai, but felt the girl was just a little too naive and trusting for her own good. Much like my dearest Connie, the verdant maiden reflected as she glanced over to her very worried friend. However, less than a minute later, Ronin seemed to be proven correct as the dark valkyrie reappeared with Justine and Caroline, but while the excitable samurai seemed to think everything was now okay, Miko wasted no time in questioning Sann’s actions. Gaia turned a focused gaze upon the strange winged girl as she gave her reply, some vague explanation of how Caroline needed additional healing in a “place of less chaos”, before going off on a tangent of various complaints.

What a drama queen… Gaia thought as she tried to keep from rolling her eyes. She’s almost as bad as Sakura…

Of course, her beloved Connie was probably just glad that everyone was okay, and if the Daughter of Mother Earth was being charitable, she might also believe such an explanation and thank the valkyrie like Ronin and Miko were now doing. But something about Sann’s story was clearly off. Something had definitely happened in the Overcity, something more than a simple healing. Still, as the valkyrie had said, everything seemed to be fine now, especially with Justine administering a purification potion to her sister.

Gaia was just about to offer her own begrudging words of thanks, when an annoyed Sann melodramatically voiced her displeasure at the lack of appreciation for her services and warned that she might not provide her help again in the future. Then she took wing and flew out of sight.

Good riddance… Gaia grumbled to herself, before her focus shifted to her dearest friend, who had become quite upset by Sann’s parting comments.

“I-I d-didn’t m-mean t-to o-offend her…” Connie whimpered plaintively as she nervously fidgeted with her hair. “I-It’s j-just t-that w-we a-already ate…”

“It’s okay, little sister,” Gaia told the distraught girl soothingly as she gave her a calming shoulder massage. “Something tells me that sharing a meal with someone like that would not be a particularly pleasant experience. And while everything does appear to have turned out all right,” she added, addressing Ronin and Miko. “I would be hesitant to put my trust in Miss Sanngridr. I believe there was something more to her little Overcity trip that she neglected to tell us, so I think we would do well to watch our backs around her.”

From what Gaia could tell of Valerie’s expression before she and the ex-vampire sisters had departed, the android girl also held similar suspicions. The Daughter of Mother Earth only hoped that whatever possibly sinister designs the dark valkyrie was planning would be thwarted before they came to fruition…



One week later…


Once again, an ordinary evening for Connie and Mia had been shattered by news of an urgent emergency. This time, it was a text from Lily, telling of an attack on a small town called Bolorton and asking if they would go there with her and help repel it. Naturally, both friends were more than a little hesitant. This sounded really dangerous, and was taking place far outside of Penrose. Yet, Connie’s desire to stand with her friends and help those in need outweighed her considerable trepidation, and if that’s what she had decided, then Mia wasn’t about to leave her side. So it was that the two friends found themselves at Penrose Park (or one of them, anyway), along with Lily, Alex, and a handful of Penrose’s other magical defenders.

“H-Hi L-Lily!” Connie called with a shaky wave. “W-We c-came as s-soon as w-we c-could!”

“Pardon my asking, but how do you intend for us to make the trip to Bolorton?” Gaia inquired. “Shall Miss Mariette be providing her assistance this evening?”
In Grimoiric Heart → 4 yrs ago Forum: Advanced Roleplay
@Lonewolf685 Don't worry, Olivia's there to cheer her up!
In Grimoiric Heart → 4 yrs ago Forum: Advanced Roleplay


@Lonewolf685


Olivia listened to Lupin’s reply with an eager smile. “Oh goodness! I hadn’t thought of that! And if he could unhinge his jaw, perhaps he was actually a wolf-snake hybrid?” she mused. “And, you know, some reptiles have the ability to camouflage themselves, so maybe that’s why his disguise was so believable, at least initially,” she added, her lovely countenance taking on a thoughtful expression. “Oh, but does that mean you have experience with wolves, or wolf Pageless, perhaps?” the blonde beauty inquired her eyes seeming to glitter with fascination. “I haven’t been a Magical Girl for very long, but none of the Pageless my darling Xolys and I have encountered have really looked like animals. Although they certainly do have a lot of variety, don’t you think?”

However, before the wolf girl could respond, she was grabbed by another student and literally carried off. Something about night training? “Oh! Um, see you later!” a slightly startled Olivia called out. “It was very nice meeting you! Night training…” the azure-clad beauty marveled as she watched the pair depart. “They must be very dedicated,” she observed, before turning to Suzuya. “Maybe we should try to get some extra training in, too. But not tonight,” she added with a small yawn. “We had a rather eventful day today, and I’m quite ready for a good night’s sleep.”

Once they returned to their room, Olivia was somewhat surprised when Suzuya elected to sleep untransformed. At first, the ethereal beauty couldn’t figure out why her roommate had chosen to deprive herself of the comfy cushion her fluffy tails provided, but then she realized that Suzuya was probably doing this as a form of endurance training, like sleeping on a bed of nails. Wow… She’s just so amazingly strong… Olivia reflected. Having the ability to be so very comfy and yet choosing not to make use of it... Darling and I will have to train extra hard to be worthy teammates for her, she resolved, smiling at the thought of how much fun such training would be…



Over the next week, Olivia’s time was mostly spent in one class or another, and while she regrettably hadn’t been able to have more than a handful of brief interactions with Wilhelmina and Chinami, she had grown much closer to Suzuya. Indeed, between their chats during lunch and various after-school training sessions, Olivia had learned quite a lot about her roommate. Thus, she felt confident in saying that the somewhat timid girl was her first real “best friend”. Apart from Xolys, of course. It was just a shame that they hadn’t had much time to do anything outside of school-related activities, but Olivia hoped that would soon change, and, as they gathered for another city patrol, she was happily telling Suzuya about one of her most eagerly anticipated potential extracurricular activities…

“…and, so, I was thinking it would be a lot of fun if we spent the night there to see if the rumors are true,” the azure-clad maiden was saying as she smiled up at where Suzuya had perched herself atop Xolys. “You know, like a sleepover! We could even invite some of the other girls, like Helmi, and Chinami, and maybe that wolf girl…”

Her voice trailed off as she noticed that their patrol leader would be none other than Charlotte, or rather, Ozma, a very interesting turn of events for someone who she’d first encountered literally fleeing the responsibilities of being a teacher. Still, if there was any sense of unease at what such a state of affairs might suggest, it was all-too-quickly swept away by the excitement of seeing the renowned “Crimson Comet” in action. Their two new teachers, Maria and Valeria were present as well, probably to serve as evaluators. After Ozma had given a (very) short speech and zoomed off on her broomstick, Maria gave a little speech of her own. Neither was particularly noteworthy, just basic “watch out for each other and remember your training” stuff, and with that out of the way, it was time to begin.

As they moved through the school’s gates, Olivia heard Suzuya call out to one of the nearby girls, the same girl, incidentally, that had carried away the wolf girl after Valeria’s first combat trial. “Pizza?” the Ethereal Rose echoed. “Oh, I think an after patrol pizza party would be a lot of fun!” she declared with a brilliant smile. However, the other girl didn’t seem to agree, saying that they should focus on the task at hand. Olivia had to admit, she was kinda impressed by the girl’s professionalism, but she didn’t quite understand their next statement. “Alone? Um, I always thought eating a meal at a restaurant was more enjoyable with friends…” she added, frowning slightly. After all, the azure-clad maiden had plenty of first-hand experience with the pain of silently dining alone, and she didn’t want Suzuya to go through the same thing, at least, not if she could help it. “We can still go together,” she hastened to tell her teammate with a reassuring smile. “I think it will make for a wonderful reward for a successful patrol, don’t you?”
In Symphony of Espers → 4 yrs ago Forum: Casual Roleplay



After his trip to the arcade, Fable had spent no small amount of time at G.E.M.I.N.I. HQ trying to find out all he could about hauntings, demons, and, in particular, Chernobog. However, he was careful not to alert Dr. Moller, or any of his fellow agents to his search for answers. After all, he didn’t want any of them to think he was losing his mind… The sole exception had been Agent Orion, aka Ashley Avenir, a kind and approachable young woman, who, upon hearing what elements of his story the boy chose to share, was more than happy to help him in any way she could. After exhausting the G.E.M.I.N.I. database, or at least the portions of it they had access to, the pair had decided to try a different path, namely, an occult bookshop that had recently opened in the historic district. Thus it was, that the two untransformed agents found themselves standing at the entrance of a small storefront, tucked between two, ornate art deco buildings, with an elevated railway overshadowing them. This created a gloomy and mysterious atmosphere, even though it was around noon, on an otherwise clear day. Upon the sign above the door, the name “Torvald’s Tomes and Trinkets” was spelled out in elaborate script.

“This looks like the place,” Ashley announced as she gazed up at the sign, which was dimly illuminated by a flickering light. “This area certainly has a unique ambiance, don’t you think?” the bespectacled young woman asked her companion.

Fable took a quick glance over the building, before looking over to Ashley. "Must be a member of the Addams family. He joked. It was unfortunate, and a bit disturbing that the HQ's database held no answers for his nightmare. He had to act swiftly before he's forced to face him again, and concidering it knew about his vice of failures so far? Of course, he ended up humoring his co-worker about his recent blight. The two were the youngest of their team after all, they gotta stick together.

The boy went up to the door and opened it for Ashley. "So, anything crop up on your end?" He asked.

“Not much, aside from this bookshop,” Ashley replied with a frown. “We might have had better luck asking Binky or Doctor Moller, but I understand why you’re reluctant to bring them into this,” she added sympathetically. The bespectacled girl’s smile returned a moment later when Fable politely opened the door for her, triggering a small chime.

She was about to thank him, when a reedy voice called out, “Greetings, seekers of knowledge! I am Torvald Brellomee, the sage of sages, and I welcome you to my humble bookshop!” Stepping further inside the cramped and musty shop, the two agents would find a wizened, but quite animated man with a long, white beard standing behind a counter, which itself was cluttered with various bizarre items. He was wearing a purple robe with white moons and stars printed on it, along with a matching pointed hat. “Herein you will find manuscripts on a myriad of subjects most esoteric in nature,” he continued. “From the language of the birds to the secret cypher of the Ancient and Arcane Order of Ihoppmennu! So tell me, young seekers, what quest brings you here today?”

Of course, the sudden appearance of the store's eccentric owner left the boy a bit perplexed. But it was rather charming. Just didn't have a sword in a stone in the back from what he could tell. With a quiet giggle, he cleared his throat. "Got any books on demons, or dream magic??" He asked the librarian.

“But of course!” Torvald replied with an amused chuckle. “Among these hallowed shelves, you will even find tomes on demons who manipulate dreams! Yes, yes! From Morpheus to Mujaki, if such a being is the goal of your quest, you shall surely find the one you seek!”

Manipulate dreams, huh? Maybe that's one way the demon was able to plague him. "Thanks." With a nod to Torvald, Fable walked further in to look through the bookshelves, picking out anything that could prove useful in his search.

“Yes, thank you,” Ashley also told the strange proprietor with a smile and a respectful nod. She idly wondered whether or not the man was an esper, a magi, or simply a mundane eccentric. It was always best to be cautious about such things, the young agent reflected, but since Torvald had been nothing but helpful thus far, she didn’t think they had anything to worry about. Following along behind Fable, the bespectacled girl looked over the various manuscripts her fellow agent was gathering. “So, um, when was the first time you started having these… visions?” she asked tentatively, not wanting to pry into things the boy wanted to keep private, but still desiring to help him in his search for answers.

"Well, not sure if you can call them visions. But the first time I saw him was during one of the jobs I worked from Shimr. Y'know, before I joined you guys." Fable explained as he picked out a stack of books. "I didn't think much of it at first... Or really I did, but eventually went to the conclusion that I was overthinking things. What with me being stressed about recent events. Until..." He trailed off with a sigh.

"Honestly, I'm not sure what to make of all this. That's one of the reasons why I need to know more before I'm forced to face him again. I need to know what I'm dealing with."

Ashley thought over what Fable had told her. There was always the possibility that he was simply hallucinating due to stress, but not only was she hesitant to mention such a sensitive subject, but it didn’t really seem all that likely, especially not when the first occurrence was while on a mission. Perhaps he was under the effects of a long-term hex or curse? “If it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me what happened that first time?” the bespectacled girl inquired. “Knowing the exact circumstances of the initial episode might provide some insight as to its origin.”

Once he found an empty table to sit at, the boy set his books down and spread them out. "First time was against a succubus and her dream realm-magic-thing. It didn't appear until I got dragged into that mess." He shook his head, opening one book and flipping through the pages. "Second time I got fully knocked out mid outting by dream sand. Most likely case there is Sandman decided to be a little shit that day, dunno what else could've done it. If the demon isn't just a byproduct of my mental health, then I guess it can only reach me through dreams. Not sure if it has to be magically-induced or not, which can be a huge problem if it doesn't need the help." He rambled on.

Ashley listened intently as Fable described his encounters with the creature thus far. “So, you’ve only seen him twice?” she asked once the boy had finished. “Were there any commonalities between the two instances? Like, you mentioned sand. Was that present on the first occasion as well? And did you happen save any for analysis?”

Fable shook his head. "Sadly I didn't even think to gather whatever sand wasn't dispeled off me at the time. Other than that, I don't think there's any other common theme to these instances besides..." He trailed off suddenly, staring at a certain section of the Demonology book he was looking through.

So he didn’t recover any of the sand, huh? Well, that was unfortunate. However, something in the book he held seemed to gain Fable’s interest, and Ashley leaned over to get a closer look at the page in question. “What is it?” she inquired. “Did you find something?”

He didn't answer yet. He was too busy reading about not the god of Bad Fate,

But Baphomet, a goat-headed demon representing balance in various occult and mystical circles. He already knew about the whole "Demons in Dreams" had mostly negative meanings behind it, but he never thought about there being a good omen to something he was afraid of.

But then, what did it mean for him?

"I think...that's him." Fable finally answered passing the book to Ashley before sitting back against his seat. "Is it bad this only gives me more questions than answers?" He asked her.

“I think more questions will ultimately lead to more answers,” Ashley replied with a reassuring smile, before returning to the task at hand. “If memory serves, Baphomet was also often used as a stand-in for the devil, or simply as a generic symbol of evil. I think the very first instance of the name comes from the crusades, when crusaders, mishearing the name of Muhammed, thought their muslim foes were calling upon some form of demon. So, essentially, its creation was just a big misunderstanding that took on a life of its own. Anyways,” she added, adjusting her glasses. “I don’t know if that matters or not, but you mentioned that this creature talked to you in its second appearance. Do you remember what it said?”

"Hah, for whatever reason Not-Devil knew about my current streak of screw ups. I think he was concidering giving me advice or something, whatever he meant by 'his wisdom being wasted on someone like me'. Y'know, before he tried to crush me to death." He grimaced. Ironic something like Baphomet would appear with a Not-God of a Behemoth planning a business trip to Pax.

Or maybe it wasn't? Hell if he knew at this point.

“Hmmm… If he only appeared in your dreams, perhaps he really is a manifestation of your subconscious fears and insecurities,” Ashley mused. “Not that I think you’re simply hallucinating,” she hasted to clarify. “Just that mystic means were employed to place you in a dream state and then manipulate, and possibly even magnify, its contents. The real question is, who, or what is responsible? You said the first instance was the result of a succubus’s spell, while the second occurrence involved presumably mystic sand. This would seem to indicate that the two were not related, and yet, what motive would someone have for, essentially giving you a bad dream? If someone wanted to take revenge on you, I would imagine they’d be more direct, trying to physically harm, or even kill you. Then again,” she continued. “If this was someone who wanted to get back at you for your role in the succubus’s death, then they may have chosen to use similar means, possibly in a sinister effort to gradually erode your sanity. Oh, and you were untransformed at the arcade, so it would also need to be someone who knows what you look like outside the esper state. Do you happen to know of anyone who might meet those criteria?”

"I don't..." Fable's eyes then widened. Something crossed his mind. "It couldn't be. Could it? Not even sure they would willingly work with Jan knowing she was a monster, but how else would she get away with it for so long?" He thought outloud to himself. He then furrowed his brows, looking back to Ashley. "I'm not that confident about it, but I believe there are some suspects in mind. The owner of Dante's, the succubus' old hunting ground. That or one of her old coworkers." He explained, standing up from his seat and grabbing the set of books to get them checked out.

“Okay then, in that case, I suppose investigating this restaurant is the best place to start,” Ashley declared. “Although, if they know what you look like in your mundane state, then maybe I should take a look myself?”

Oh right.

"Well, as far as I'm concerned they didn't see me untransform before I left. But I don't know who else it could be. I won't stop you if you wanna follow me there though! Might need the back up..." Fable clarified.

“All right, if you’re determined to go, then I won’t try and stop you,” Ashley replied. “But I’m definitely tagging along. Whoever used that sand on you did so when you were out of the esper state, so someone knows that you and the Timekeeper are one and the same, and if that person really does work at Dante’s, then you should have someone there to watch your back.”

With their mind made up, they set off.

“Come again!” Torvald waved to his departing customers before turning to someone at the front counter. “How about you sir? Have you found a book to quench your thirst for knowledge?”

Sitting in front of the counter was a large man with a floating grace to him. He almost seemed to hover on the stool he was sitting on, and his wig swayed just a bit too much with every bob of his head. He was reading a book on poltergeists and had a few more books picked out on urban disasters and haunted business establishments. ”Oh you bet!” The unusual character said. ”I think I’ll take all of these.” While Torvald punched the books into his register, the eccentric man pointed at the GEMINI esper’s backs and jerked his hand back. ”Those kids are pretty cute. A shame none of them stay that way.” His rubber lips curled into a smile.
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