Cometh the Big Crying Wheel

[initiates]

Date & Time: Sept 15th
Location: A refurbished castle on the outskirts of Exsilium.
Characters: Anyone at the party!
Summary: Vanadi hosts a party that goes very poorly.
Warnings: Violence, probably! Let a mod know if we should update this.


It’s a lovely night for a party!

The venue at the outskirts of town is, unfortunately, a bit drafty — and actually rather sparsely furnished, as well. In fact, party goers are encouraged to mingle, drink, and enjoy themselves in the courtyard, as the castle itself wasn’t able to be renovated in time, and has proven to be a little bit architecturally unsound. Any explorative guests might find a small hail of dust and pebbles on their heads if they venture too far in — and who knows what else, if they continue on.

But the drinks and snacks both are plentiful and delicious, and the large canvas set up from castle wall to castle wall keeps off the sprinkling rain. The weather could even be described as warmish and pleasant, if one were feeling generous. A group of Exiles plays classic instruments in one corner of the courtyard, having been paid enough to even smile at any Transports that wander near.

All in all, it’s shaping up to be a good night. Until about 10 PM, that is. Come 10 PM, the Misery rolls into town, tearing down the canvas, nullifying powers, and crying corrosive blood everywhere. That’s the cue for all hell to break loose, as the final wave of mind-controlled characters snag their victims and make for the hills — or at least for the UE. The mind-controlled characters will also have the backup of a squadron of 20 of the Masked, the UE's special ops force. The Masked's main goal is to grab those on their list and get away, but they're certainly not above shooting to kill at anyone that gets in their way. They're also highly trained in hand-to-hand combat and physically enhanced by their suits, so they're a good bunch to try to avoid.

But do have a wonderful time until then, won’t you?

Comments

[senseandcecilbility]

[Well, he was...is ready to drag Break out of this mess, but being called by his given (albeit fake) name, grabs his attention.

He does, indeed, draws closer, making sure no terrible things like corrosive blood reaches the man.]

[maddeninghatter]

[ Fortunately your aura shines out like a beacon, Kevin. Break doesn't know what it is, but it's straightforward enough for him to reach towards the light. ]

I've got to find Oz! Oz Vessalius! Can you--

[ He doesn't actually know that Kevin knows. The "Oh god you fool!" business was perfectly in line with "Sir, you're a complete idiot," so he didn't make too much of it at the time. Also, quite honestly, he'd been more distracted by Kevin's embrace and hand-holding and brilliant, other-worldly glow and the feathers...

Okay, no. He is still unable to cope with any of that. All he knows is that concealing his blindness isn't going to do anybody any good, and so: ]

Can you see him anywhere?

[senseandcecilbility]

[Embracing and handholdings, Kevin would have told him, is what angels do.

So it happens that both must share their little secrets to get the job done. Kevin, of all people, knows the importance of Break's decision.

Without questioning Break's request for a single second, he turns around and searches the crowd, but there is no sign of Oz, or Collette, or most of those he knows, for that matter.]

I don't see any of them, sir. They are not here anymore.

[He moves to help Break back to his feet, the corrosive blood marks on the other man making him wince. He must take him away from here so he might heal him properly. Take him alive, that is.]

...I suggest we seek them somewhere else, preferably out of this...[He does not even know how to call it.] this monstrosity's cancelling range.

[maddeninghatter]

[ He allows himself to be helped up, although he is too full of adrenaline to notice his burns, or the way his intricately-embroidered Venetian finery is ruined and smoking.

He starts to protest; but if Oz can't be seen, that's a good thing. Perhaps he's hiding. Or else Gilbert was protecting him, surely. He probably picked Oz up and ran at the first sign of any trouble. Teamwork. He should trust that his friends are capable... ]

Yes, all right.

[ How easily he thinks of them as friends now. He's going soft. ]

...Lead the way.

[senseandcecilbility]

[Kevin's aura flares at the very clear purpose. He looks abnormally peaceful, the last layer of humanity vanishing from his grave and blank expression. Holding Break's wrist, he carefully navigates the man through fallen debris and sprays of corroside blood, though he soon realizes Break's reflexes make the task much easier than it should be. Most of all, he wants to be away from the thing's influence. With his powers back, protection and counterattack must follow.]

We will find them, I promise.

[His voice is now flat and calm, devoid of the range of emotions and colors that have made him sound so much like Kevin. It is a beautiful and clear voice, but it is too bright to belong to this world.]

[maddeninghatter]

[ Kevin's aura is so preternaturally bright, it nearly overwhelms all of his senses. His calmness is contagious. He follows, as if in a trance - although at some point he does slip his wrist from Kevin's hand, instead latching onto his elbow, as it is far easier to follow than to be pulled along.

Finally, when they are out of immediate danger, though not quite outside of the unknown monstrosity's range, Break manages to murmur: ]

What are you?


---and if you say you're just a house steward, I'll punch you in the nose.

[senseandcecilbility]

[As Break latches on his elbow, the angel blinks in honest surprise, which brings some humanity back to his features.]

I'd rather not have my nose punched, sir.

[Always the procrastinator.]

1/2

[maddeninghatter]

There's something about you that's....

[ He casts about, clearly reaching for the right words. He settles upon: ]

...awful. Terrible. Too much--muchness.

[maddeninghatter]

[ Still conscious of that sensation of being polluted in contrast to Kevin, he lets go and hangs back--to find that there is something brushing against his face. Something soft. Feathery. He reaches up, to touch it. ]

--nnngh!

[ It can't be! ]

[senseandcecilbility]

[Yup, it is a true to God wing. It twitches and withdraws under Break's touch, the feathers smooth and beautiful.

Kevin gives him a puzzled look. Terrible and awful are not adjectives he ever sees applied to his angel form. Not by humans, at least. They do not offend him, but they confuse him quite a bit.]

You are a strange man, Xerxes Break.[He comments, with something close to fascination in his voice.]

I...I am an angel.

1/2

[maddeninghatter]

[ Break himself originates from a time that is a generation earlier than the (faux) Victorian, and he lapses into that vernacular from time to time. Terrible: inspiring terror. Awful: full of awe.

Thus he stands, sightlessly staring at this angel's light. It's complete madness, that he should be standing here, in the presence of an angel, but looking back on everything, it all makes a certain sort of sense... ]

[maddeninghatter]

[ .......except: ]

So you're The Angel... Kevin?

[ There's a hint of a suppressed snicker. ]

And why are you, erm, you know...

Why are you so useless~! ☆

[senseandcecilbility]

You know, Mister Break...

[He considers replying, or not replying. But he has a better idea, which consists in whacking Break's head with his enormous wing. Let's test the blind man's reflexes, shall we?]

[maddeninghatter]

[ His reflexes are excellent, but they're certainly not honed to avoid feathered appendages. ]

Ugh!

[ You'd think a wing would be nice and soft, but it really... isn't. ]

[senseandcecilbility]

[Good.

He reaches for Break's forearm and keeps moving forward, finally feeling the return of his powers. The wing disappears, and so does most of his aura.]

Naturally, there is not an angel called Kevin.

[maddeninghatter]

[ Wryly: ]

Of course. There wouldn't be an angel named--

Ah.

[ He stops short, tilting his head to one side. ]

Your light's gone out.

[senseandcecilbility]

[That "wouldn't", what is the meaning of it? Kevin lets out a short, self-depreciating chuckle.]

The real Kevin Cecil is a much better person than I will ever be. [He doesn't even like gambling, imagine that.

He stops with Break, and when he speaks, he sounds genuinely apologetic.]

The light is a little distracting, isn't it? Horrible and awful...[He adds with a smile.] We have left that thing's influence, Mister Break.

[maddeninghatter]

The real Kevin, hm? A better person?

[ He laughs. It's hollow. ]

I say, anybody whose claim to goodness is better than that of an angel-- Well! He's probably a crashing bore~!

[ He's curious if the wings are gone, too. He claps Kevin on the shoulder - the left one. ]

Do you see them anywhere?

[senseandcecilbility]

[He was about to jump in the other's Kevin defense even if, maybe, he might be a little of a bore, but the clasping hand on his shoulder erradicate any resemblance of rational thought.

Kevin startles with a loud shout and pulls away from the man's side, clutching his shoulder in a protective and yet sadly useless gesture.]

D-don't!

[maddeninghatter]

What--?

[ He hadn't noticed, but perhaps Kevin too had been hit by the burning acid--? His own burns are quite painful if he thinks about them, so he... doesn't. ]

I say, are you injured?

[senseandcecilbility]

O-old scar.[More like a missing limb and three thousand years of trauma.]

It is sensitive.

I can now... treat your injures. [] Which should include that kick he gave him.]

[maddeninghatter]

[ --how odd. He'd never have guessed that a divine being could possibly be injured, and surely not scarred. ]

Er...

[ Then, with a wave: ]

Never mind about that, we've got to look for Oz and Collette. And Gilbert too. He's with them, probably. Do you see anybody?

[senseandcecilbility]

[You can tell that to my almost sib and former coworker.]

I do not see them. Though you should reconsider my proposal. It will take no time and should make your search more efficient, I promise.

Besides, they would scold me if I do not do something about your state.

[maddeninghatter]

[ This news makes him doubly anxious, and he's about to refuse again, but--

Kevin (who isn't really) has a point. Collette would be distressed to see him hurt. Gilbert too, probably. Refusing is nothing but vanity, nothing but his own conviction that he ought to suffer for what's happened.

Punishment doesn't work that way, Kevin had said to him. An angel's words...

He considers all this in the blink of an eye. ]

--fine. Go ahead. Be quick about it!

[senseandcecilbility]

[Again, quite aware of the weight of Break's decision, he fishes the crystal ring from the silver collar around his neck and slides it on his left ring finger, since apparently Exsilium is keen on symbolism.]

It only works as much as you want it to.[He warns him with a wry smile.] It seems sentient weapons enjoy their irony.

[He gently touches Break's chest, and now that warm and bright aura is not only floating all over the place, but directed straight at him. Its healing properties, still unpolished, are not as powerful as they might become one day, but they touch all levels, physical and unphysical.]