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Another day, another bumperino
Double post to note that I added a new original idea! Living Code!
Let's bump this again! Naruto AU preferred, but also open to Star Wars (I can do a different Era than early empire if you'd like!).

Additional Fandoms being added!~


The Raven


Her breath ran ragged as she ran, ducking down random side alleys or turning abruptly along various streets. Rachel did not have any particular destination in mind, simply that she needed to get away from the scene of... whatever that had been. She had to distance herself from the chaos, from the scene and the cameras that were no doubt spreading the horror all across Gotham. From the direction of the shelter, she could hear the sirens of the police as they no doubt investigated the slaughter. She knew that they would be finding that cursed shrine soon enough and that there would doubtless be a search for her. Rachel swallowed nervously as she ducked down yet another nameless dark alleyway. If the cult was back, then Rachel knew that getting arrested would only feed into their desires. She had to get back to her bunker, to lay low and soon. A dark part of her mind worried that one of the Bat's... friends might even come after her. A thought that scared her to her core.

With her goal in mind, Rachel found herself slowing down in the cool air of the night. As she emerged into the light of another street, she turned her attention all about to try to figure out where she'd ended up. The good news was that she was only a few blocks away from the shelter. Which meant... it wouldn't be terribly long before she managed to make it home. The bad news came shortly after that, as she turned her attention towards a display nearby with a few televisions, all showing the local news. To her horror, Rachel saw the image her herself from the shrine displayed fully on the screen. Moments later, a video of herself vaguely running from the shelter. They already had their suspect. Rachel swallowed uneasily as she turned to look around herself, thankful that there were not any others nearby to start pointing fingers in her direction.

"Already blaming us, and it's only been a few minutes. You sure these humans are worth saving? We could show them how the scene would've looked if it had been us."

"Fuck. Off." Rachel answered her spirit, closing her eyes for a moment to recall the best way back toward her safe haven. She knew a couple of alleyways that typically only had homeless people living in them, so... probably her best bet. With a soft swear, Rachel dove back down the alleyway she'd emerged from. Instead of running this time, she set in at a brisk walk. Better to save her energy for running later. No doubt, with her luck, something would go wrong and she'd wind up having to run or fight. Which, given Red's particular activeness tonight, she wasn't keen on the second of the two options. With a long breath sucked into her lungs, Rachel let her mind stretch out around herself, feeling the intentions of all those around her. Hopefully, it'd give her a bit of warning if somebody came for her.
Apologies for the lack of post, work has decided its gonna beat me with a stick lately. Please be excited for one over the weekend if thats okay ^^




Location: The City of Thorinn, Aetheria

She hated the look on Seele's features, that look of pity. She hated that it was directed at her, that she let herself be seen in such a sorry state. Artemis desperately wished she could forge some sort of false display of strength, something to distract from that painful look on Seele's features. Yet, she knew that at this point, any display she could make would look just as hollow as it would be in truth. With a pained look on her features, the Archer decided to simply let Seele see the turmoil going on inside her fragile mind.

As Seele spoke softly, wearing that smile on her features, Artemis nodded softly. Perhaps it would be best for her to head inside and take a moment to relax and think through what had happened. Even as she found it difficult to accept Seele's words, that she'd done nothing wrong, Artemis still knew when it was pointless to try and argue. After all, it had been her arrow that had caused the explosion that ultimately drew the ire of the guards. Still, Seele's attempts to comfort the archer did at least reassure Artemis that she wouldn't be easily pushed away by the group. Yet the girl jumped lightly as Seele stroked her shoulder, wearing a sad smile as she shook her head towards the other. "I know you mean well, but we both know that can't be certain." She said softly in response to Seele's reassurances that nobody else would hurt her.

With that, Artemis turned and made her way back into the tavern. She made her way back toward the table where they'd all sat earlier but chose to take a seat further away from where she had been sitting before. Something just felt wrong about it, yet she found herself unable to put a reason as to why. Artemis sat quietly, listening to her own thoughts for a long few moments. Trying to sort it all out, everything had happened so fast. The tension that had boiled quickly into a fight, Graves' ferocity and clear drive to... to kill. Her own flashes back to that dreadful sewer, it was all a damned mess. Artemis let out a long sigh as she shook her head, wondering if she'd ever truly be okay again.

Fuck this.


Slamming her hands heavily down on the table, the archer pushed herself up from her spot and made her way away from the table. A few moments later she'd return to her spot, a heavy mug of ale in her hands. Without even a hint of grace, she set to downing the mug with reckless abandon. If she couldn't quiet her mind on her own, then she'd find something else to ease her thoughts. Just a bit of alcohol couldn't hurt, right? A light buzz to let her mind relax a little bit. She just needed a little help to bring herself back, that was it, right? Yet even as she thought these questions... a sole thought floated forwards in her mind.

Damn, I'm pathetic...


The Raven


The night must've been a particularly violent one for Gotham, Rachel found herself musing quietly as she ducked down yet another decrepit alleyway. As she grew closer and closer to the blessed oasis of the night that could only be provided by free tacos, her mind was continually assaulted with the same emotions and surface thoughts. Fear, pain, anger, and then... silence. She knew what those emotions meant, she'd felt them all before too many times in this cursed city. Somewhere nearby, people were losing their lives. Snuffed out by the cruelty that ran in the city's veins, likely more innate to the way Gotham operated than anything else in this damnable place. A long sigh left her lips as she shook her head, eyes closed for the briefest of moments. A couple more streets, that was all she needed to make and then she could forget about all this tragedy for a little bit. Well, not really, but she'd be able to push it to the back of her mind at the very least.

"Sure about all that?" Came the specter's voice again, earning itself an ancient gesture using only Rachel's middle finger by way of a response.

"Seems pretty endemic to this place. I could silence it all, you know." The voice said again, causing Rachel to pause her walk.

Closing her eyes, she dove deep into her subconscious. Reaching out for that serenity she'd longed learned to hold deep within herself, to form a cage for the monster currently haunting her every step. As she did, Red threw a variety of inappropriate curses and threats her way amidst a series of demands to not be locked away. Yet, after only a few minutes, Rachel's mind was quiet once more. The technique was useful but temporary. Often times more of a hassle to perform than the temporary respite it provided from Red's constant attempts to seduce her into a more demonic way of seeing things. Giving a little shrug, Rachel then turned her attention to the path ahead to finish off her trip to the shelter. As she approached, not even five minutes later, Rachel immediately knew that something was horrifically wrong. The typical line out front was missing, and the door sat closed. The volunteers who usually were outside with a smile on their features, welcoming any into the building, were missing. Slowly, Rachel made her way closer as another key detail registered with her.

The Silence.


In a swift move, Rachel yanked open the front door and stepped into the shelter. As the heavy door slammed itself shut behind her, Rachel froze in place with eyes wide in horror. "W-what..." Rachel stammered out, taking a step back as she looked about the cafeteria-styled central lounge. Yet, instead of the typical bustle of hungry people tucking into their free food... only chaos filled the room. The scent of blood and death reeked all about, with bodies littering the floor and tables. Sitting amidst drawn-out circles and makeshift alters, the killings were clearly part of some twisted ritual. Rachel slowly pieced together that the thoughts and emotions from before were those of the homeless and volunteers who now lay lifeless on the floor. In a fraction of a second, the girl found herself bent over as she lost her lunch from the pure horror of the scene before her. Somehow, the girl found herself being drawn further into the cafeteria, eyes still wide in horror.

Then she froze, staring at the stage that sat at the far end of the shelter. Where typically volunteers would get up to make announcements, or use a projector to play some film. Yet, it was now covered in those same crimson paints. The ritualistic markings were... horrifyingly familiar to Rachel. Even as her gaze fell on the image in the center of the altar, she already knew exactly who had caused all this chaos. The Cult of Trigon. This fact was only further cemented by the picture of herself sitting in the center of the altar, with inscriptions dedicating these sacrifices to 'The Raven', hoping to bring her back home, to their embrace. The room about her seemed to shutter, as her mind filled once more with vicious noise. The remnants of those who had been slaughtered here, and the meddling of a certain being within her own mind. "Beautiful. They did this for you, Rachel." Came that very voice, even as Rachel's breaths became more ragged, and tears welled up in her eyes. Panic settled in over the girl's mind, enveloping her even as Red slowly strode about to sit calmly atop a corpse draped over the edge of a table.

"They want us to come home, you know, to fulfill our duty." Red whispered a deviant grin upon her features as Rachel's tortured gaze drifted towards her. "All this... tragic loss of life, 'tis meant to be a gift. Their pain feeds us and gives us strength. Their fear breaks our chains. Their rage unbinds the power deep within us, so we might... become more." Red said softly, that grin turning steadily more demonic even as Rachel noticed a figure approaching from behind the main altar. A man wearing the robes of the cult, and brandishing a bloodied dagger as he approached. He spoke, but words did not reach Rachel's ears, anger flooded through her very being... and too late did she realize the mistake she'd made.

"Did I say us? Oh, I meant ME." Red growled out, surging forward to meld into Rachel. The last thing that the girl heard before everything faded black was a single, whispered promise. "I'll take care of him for you."

When Rachel finally managed to claw her way back to the surface, she was standing on the altar now, her jeans stained a deep red. The broken form of the cultist lay before her, and the midnight-black shadow of her soul self slowly edged its way back into her form. She staggered back, shaking her head at the chaos before her. "W-what did you do..." She whispered, yet heard no response from Red. Her body shaking, she slowly turned from the scene and made a mad dash for the exit. She needed to leave, to get away. As she dashed out of the building, Rachel spotted the nearby assembly of news trucks already recording the building... and her. In the distance, she heard police sirens growing closer and closer.

I have to get away... I... this can't be happening again. The girl thought quietly to herself, old memories slowly resurfacing from the last time she had encountered the cult.

And of the hero who saved her before, yet wouldn't be able to save her this time.

First post up ^^!

EDIT: Fuck I realized I just double posted I'm so sorry y'all.


The Raven


"I was wondering when you'd grow tired."

"Of what?"

"Your little birdcage. You know, the one built by that other little birdy... damn shame you let a clown beat me to him."

"Shut it. I just need some air."

With a small shrug and a callous grin, the red-robed girl seemed to dissipate into a shadow in the shape of a raven before disappearing. Rachel let out a long sigh as she shook her head free of that girl's words. Her eyes drifted shut as she whispered soft words, taking a moment to calm the emotions that had flared in response to that thing's harsh words... and a reminder of the past. It wouldn't be long before she opened her eyes once more, taking a look around the dimly lit station that had been her home for so long. The cement walls were barren and lonely, but that was the life Rachel was forced to live. Anything worse and... well, there were certain luxuries you couldn't afford when you had a roommate in your own head.

Especially when that roommate was a demon that wanted to end the world.

With a light shrug, Rachel scooped up the pair of keys sitting in a little bowl near the safe house's main entrance. Then ensuring to adjust her bangs to cover the red jewel in the center of her forehead, and pulling the red hoodie close around her form, Rachel yanked open the heavy steel door. It was still a long few minutes of walking through dilapidated tunnel after dilapidated tunnel, a saddening standard for this part of Gotham. Reaching an arm out, Rachel danced her fingers along the wall of the tunnel and for the briefest of moments could've sworn she could feel the myriad of emotions of those who had once passed through these very tunnels. The girl yanked her hand back in shock, eyes widening lightly at the new experience. "Noisy, aren't they?" The familiar voice cut in from behind her, yet Rachel refused to even acknowledge the source as she mentally forced Red down.

Within ten minutes, Rachel was free of the labyrinth. She stood at the bottom of the stairs leading up from the abandoned tunnels to the surface, taking the time to collect herself. This part was always the worst, given the proximity of her exit to Arkham. She could feel every thought, every emotion ripping through the shattered minds of the inmates behind those walls. Though the worst, perhaps, were the ones who were coherent in their thoughts. Rachel shuddered at the memories of what she'd felt from those... animals, before shaking her head and lightly slapping her own cheeks. Control. She needed to control herself, she couldn't let their thoughts give Red any more food than she already had. So, with a final smack to her cheeks, Rachel refocused on the task at hand. She ran. Dashing up the stairs, she surged out onto the streets of Gotham like a bat out of hell. Then putting the Asylum to her back, Rachel continued to run down the sidewalk in the crisp air of Gotham's Night.

She didn't stop until the dark whispers, the screams, and the hunger from the Asylum finally left her mind. To say her mind had finally quieted was... a bit of an overstatement. The never-ending cacophony of emotions within Gotham never went away, but at least they stopped screaming in a desperate bloodlust. Rachel slowed to a casual walk, taking the time to turn her attention away from the inside of her mind and towards the world around her. Gotham may not have been the most beautiful of places, but it was certainly better than an abandoned subway station. No matter how homely Jason had made it for her. However, that thought was soon shoved down deep inside her psyche. It was dangerous, any memories of that boy.

The sacrifices we have to make. I can help you embrace those emotions, all you have to do...

Rachel bit back a harsh retort as the voice in her mind trailed off, letting her offer float upon the wind. Rachel knew how that statement, she'd heard it over and over and over again. All she had to do... was give in. To let the beast inside consume her, and invite forth the end of everything else.

No, she wouldn't be giving in.

Rachel slowly refocused herself as she turned automatically down another alleyway, making her way towards the same shelter she'd been frequenting as of late. It was a relatively small shelter, sitting comfortably on the ground floor of a residential building in Bristol, about three blocks away from the Asylum. It was, after all, Taco Night at the shelter. She'd be a damned fool to let her own fears keep her away from Tacos. Red be damned. Still, even as Rachel made her way down alleys and streets she knew entirely too well, she kept a wary eye on the shadows. Knowing that there were any number of threats that could be skulking on her path; Cultists, Lowlifes, or men dressed like bats.





Temple of Trigon, Gotham City

"Our Acolytes are in position, High Father." Came the youthful, energized voice from the shadows surrounding the central chambers. A smaller-framed figure, dressed in a deep crimson robe with his hood up to hide his features stepped quietly into the torchlight. Before him, standing before an altar painted in the mighty glory of their lord, stood the High Father. Dressed in matching robes to the young man reporting, the High Father was substantially larger and his station was marked by the staff her bore. The High Father turned slowly, speaking to the junior member as he did.

"They know their tasks?" He asked, voice booming with confidence and easy command.

"Yes, High Father, the messaging has been prepared and the Acolytes have their roles. The rituals will be brief, but a message will be sent."

"Good." Said the High Father, an ominous tone creeping into his voice as a sickening grin was visible under his features hood. "When she sees the calls, sees the love we have for her..." The man said as he raised his arms above his head as if offering something to a higher being. "Our lost little bird will know the truth. She will come home to us, and take us together into Salvation." The man said, even as the younger of the knelt down.

"Shall I give the order?"

"Yes. She has been away for far too long."
I have a GM thing I need a couple of guinea pigs volunteers for. If not I'll just have it done as a background thing, but be cool to get some people in on it.


I know I haven't posted yet (working on getting that reminded by tomorrow night), but I would be happy to hurl Raven into things
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