[Open] Intro + April Catch-All

[badsunrising]

WHO: A scrunkly new arrival and YOU
WHAT: Intro and Catch-All for April
WHEN: Throughout April
WHERE: Mostly in Nightwake, with a little in Amberfall



ARRIVAL
[ His head still swims with the memory of the last few moments. The phantom scent of fresh flowers was almost intoxicating. The dazzling bursts of living color and the powerful sense of rebirth were mesmerizing. As if he had been walking through a brilliant dream.

And then it was gone, melted away. He's left only with the moving crowd around him and the feeling of confinement he always felt among walls. A frustrated growl rises silently in his throat. He'd let that vision distract him. He needs to know where he is and how he'd gotten here. He strains to listen among the faint din of confused conversation.

The eventual explanations that come from the one called Olwen do little to alleviate his irritation. He offers skeptical glances toward the bits about a troubled world and seasonal powers. But his most dismissive reaction, a sharp "tch" forced through his teeth, is saved for the line about the necessity of physical touch. What a bunch of nonsense.

As soon as this Olwen is through, he's moving again. His pace is slightly staggered, as if he hasn't moved too much recently. But it's essential to discover how much truth was in Olwen's words. Which means finding others to observe. (Instead of just talking to people like a normal person.) Something he was not especially skilled at doing with any degree of subtlety, being used to doing it in a slightly different form.

Whether he's leaning against a wall and obviously people-watching or staring from behind some restaurant table is entirely up to you!

OR maybe you catch him browsing deeply through books at the Amberfall library while muttering to himself:]

So I'm just supposed to ask a random person to hold my hand?

WINDS OF CHANGE
[ He's gathered enough basic information to learn that he's allegedly been appointed to the Spring season. Whatever that means. Apparently, there were more details to be found at the Spring Guild in Blossomcrown.

After more half-believed explanations, finds himself in the practice area, trying to visualize anything dealing with wind. So far, his focus has resulted in a faint orange-red glow from the amulet beneath his shirt but little else.]

What does spring have to do with wind anyway? Shouldn't it be rain?

[ As he mutters it, a gust smacks him directly in the face, disheveling his already messy hair even further.]

HERE KITTY KITTY
[ He hadn't actually intended on questing. Sure, he'd seen the posters talking about some sort of strange cats roaming about. But his focus had remained on gathering as much information about this place as possible. It was only when he'd noticed his amulet feeling oddly hot that he decided to track down the source of the magical disturbance.

Just when he thinks he's discovered its location, he notices the glow fading entirely from the artifact. Something that's never happened before. Alarmed, he looks around himself to find the culprit.

A light mewl startles him, followed by an inky black creature dropping down from a ledge.

A kitten. His brows furrow in concern, as the animal's fur bristles. Hardly an unfamiliar reaction.]

It's not a good time, cat.

[ He goes to nudge it away with his foot, as he continues to search the place with his gaze. Despite its lack of brightness, his amulet still feels warm against his chest. To make matters worse, any light around him seems to be slowing fading as well. The kitten hisses at the motions of his foot and takes a quick swipe at him.

Sighing in frustration, he scoops the animal from the ground to make a quick exit. Only to watch more lights flash out as he walks briskly. All while the cat yowls in protest.

Sorry if you happened to be enjoying any bright technology along the way!]

Comments

[badsunrising]

What a winning endorsement of one's self.

[forgingfires]

It's almost cute you think that's insulting.

Frankly, its more insulting you're making the assumption I'm an evil villain based on my species versus my life choices.

I choose my path.

[badsunrising]

[ He makes a lot of assumptions about things. He kind of sucks that way. ]

And what is your path?

1/2

[forgingfires]

Long-term?

I shall help my father achieve the glory he deserves as ruler of the Mortal Realm, crushing his enemies underfoot, and making all the other realm and demon courts aware his will shall not be opposed!

[There is even a flare of fire around his hands and a bit of a maniacal laugh at the end.]

[forgingfires]

Short term, family bonding. [Shrugs.]

Maybe determine if it's easier to indulge the Dragon Girl for a century of friendship before we dedicate ourselves to that full time.

[badsunrising]

[ Unimpressed in every way. ]

So you choose to be an evil villain. Like I said, a monster.

[forgingfires]

Yes, but it is my choice.

I could choose to be a hero. To be good. Plenty of demons do.

I've even helped save the world because I didn't want it destroyed and I was so good at it, the Dragon Girl insists I could be a hero.

And I could.

But I decided not to.

[badsunrising]

How does that change anything? You're still a threat to everyone around you. Still a rabid beast that needs to be put down.

[forgingfires]

Rabid- [For a moment he looks offended.]

[Then]

[It Shifts and the grin is wicked as he steps close.]

Oh.

You're one of those.

It has been a minute, but the signs are all there. The generalizations, the trying to downplay agency, words like monsters and beasts.

I know what you are~

[badsunrising]

[ He glares viciously back at him, baring his teeth. ]

You know nothing about me.

[forgingfires]

[His grin widening and his own fangs may have gotten bigger, goldren eyes flickering with flames.]

[And despite the fact he's shorter than Nikki, Red Son has...presence to him. His figure is not the most intimidating by its own, but there is an aura of something old, of a predator and one who knows how to be incredibly dangerous to even the largest of creatures.]

You.

Are a coward.

When I kill someone, I know I'm choosing to do something evil. Even in self defense, I choose to snuff a life. That is an evil act.

Do you?

How many demons have you killed? Or at least wished to die wholeheartedly?

How many people have you murdered, cheered for their death, and you tell yourself they're rabid beasts, monsters, irredeemable, so you can tell yourself you did the right thing?

[badsunrising]

[ A sharp growl echoes in his throat, as the words bring back memories that tear at his mind. Screaming. Pleading. Words that had fallen on ears too deafened by madness and despair. ]

I'm no coward!

[ Something snaps within him and he's lunging for Red Son before he even thinks. ]

[forgingfires]

[Red Son is quick. He has had literal centuries of training, both martial and fire, with practice, and his own demon physiology.]

[He grabs Nikki's outstretched arm, a hand slamming into his chest as he spins to flip him over his person and slam him into the ground with a lot more force than should be possible with his size.]

[But not enough force to potentially break a bone, at least in a normal human.]

[badsunrising]

[ His amulet flares to life under his shirt, glowing a brilliant orange-red and giving off a deep sense of power, as he continues to glare. The move doesn't surprise him. He knows the power of demons and the very slim likelihood of him being able to match it, even if it pisses him off to no end.

But having the wind knocked out of him does at least knock some sense back into him, reminding him that he's about to start in a fight in a place occupied by others, where collateral damage is very high.

He snarls defiantly, as he coughs out a breath and rolls onto his knees and palms, scratching his nails against the floor. ]

I don't have to justify myself to you.

[forgingfires]

[Red Son lets him go after the slam, straightening up, arms crossing behind his back. Back straight, holding himself with perfect posture, and the picture of calm say a single measured breath.]

You don't have to justify yourself to me.

Its yourself you're lying to.

After all, rabid dogs? The only option is to put them down. You can justify yourself as good and right.

But when its not a rabid dog, when its a person who makes a choice. There is always that chance you misunderstood. Always that chance that there was something good to be salvaged. Always a chance that you killed someone who did not deserve to die.

I may be evil.

But at least I'm honest.

[badsunrising]

[ He takes his time getting back to his feet, concentrating hard on not going for the demon again, even as he grits his teeth. The glow beneath his shirt lessens ever so slightly. ]

Obviously I didn't misunderstand you. There's nothing in you to be salvaged.

[forgingfires]

You are just petrified aren't you?

Why isn't there anything to be salvaged? Because so far, all you know of my crimes is I have killed people at some point.

And I also helped save the world.

Is every murderer unable to be salvaged? Once one life is taken, that's it?

Is that why you lie to yourself?

[badsunrising]

You just told me repeatedly that you're evil and that you murdered people. What more do I need to know?

[ Every murderer is a monster. He is a monster. Just a monster who also happened to make a promise. Or two.]

[forgingfires]

There are degrees to black and white. I'm evil, I'm a villain.

But I also have standards.

Like whenever I kill someone, there is a reason. Perhaps not a good one.

But at least its a reason to do with them. Not what they were born as. The worst death is one that had no reason to even do with you.

There's a training floor. Supposedly it keeps people from dying, but...eh. I haven't stressed tested it.

[badsunrising]

[ He just looks absolutely disgusted by this point. ]

I don't care about your reasons or your warped sense of agency. And I care even less about your need to show off.

[forgingfires]

I don't have a warped sense of agency. I have simple agency and it disgusts me when people choose to ignore it because of their own cowardice.

You're holding back because there's people around. You're not near scared enough for it to be for your life.

Its an invitation because you'll never figure out a way to kill me in a fight where I won't be held back. But in a fight where something has to constrain me, you might just figure out weaknesses to exploit later.

Plus I want you to hate me for me and not because I'm a demon.

[badsunrising]

[ He gives him a skeptical look. ]

You do realize how much like a trap that sounds, right?

And I can hate you for both.

[ It's called multitasking! ]

Don't think you can manipulate me so easily. I understand your play now.

[forgingfires]

Its not really a play when I spelled it out.

If I wanted to kill you, I would do it now. I'm the one without moral qualms, aren't I~?

And you can't hate me for both. As long as you hate me for being a demon, that is all you will hate me for, because you blame everything of me on being a demon. Its the lowered mental faculties of the speciesist, you just can't multitask.

[badsunrising]

Is that what you think? Well, let me correct your severe misunderstanding. I hated you just for being a demon before. You've since given me plenty of reasons to hate you personally.

All you've done is confirm what I already knew.

[forgingfires]

And what do you know?

[He steps closer again, teeth on display, confidence and danger.]

What do you really know about demons? I'm a rabid dog? As I recall, you're the one who lunged at me without a plan, while I quickly kept you from hurting me, and knocked you off your feet without breaking a bone, putting you in a prone position to make it ill advised to continue the fight.

I was calm and controlled. I have done nothing without a clear thought.

You acted wild. You have chosen to hate for no reason then because I'm a demon.

Because that's all you 'know.'

Is that all you had for the person you've murdered? Because the way you're reacting...

There is someone who you've killed where that was the only thing you knew.