Re: Crooked Legs

by **Eightball** May 18th 2013, 2:14 am

A damp glove reached out to the ground and supported Plague as he pulled himself into a sitting position. He pulled off his gloves and set them next to them, revealing deathly pale fingers and a savage cicatrix. He had once endured a capacious amount of pain. His ivory face looked off in the distance, an orange flame reflecting off of his features from the fire.

"The heist."

He left at that and there was a long pause. He was still and almost lifeless. It was very hard to tell whether or not he was deep in thought, in pain, or spacing out again. Perhaps all three. The crackle of the fire was all that could be heard, and a faint siren of a police car could be heard. The officer had been found. Regardless of regulations pertaining to metahumans, the law for killing a police officer was life in prison at the very least. Add that to his numerous crimes, and Plague was an all-around dangerous man.

"Soon."

The doctor turned toward's Mirshann, the entire matter washed from his mind.

"What are you exactly, my dear?"

Plague was thinking like a specialist again, and the entire science of it still intrigued him.

by **Chellizard** May 18th 2013, 5:57 pm

Her eyes flicked over his hands when he took off his gloves. The sign of the scar made her rub her own arms. She, too, was scarred. She almost always wore long gloves, or the long jackets she had piled on the floor. Blinking a bit, she watched him silently, enjoying the silent company. It had been a long time since she had just sat with someone. Especially someone as quiet as she was. A small smile curled over her lips, and she sat in peace. Ryzo's big form laid down by the fire, his coat drying while he relaxed, one eye open. His gaze was watchful over Mirshann, the Elf who saved his life. When Plague spoke again, she looked to him, but not his hands. She made sure to keep her eyes away from his hands, to let him keep some privacy. She, too, heard the siren, but it meant nothing to her. She was still foreign to the bells and whistles of Earth and it's cities.

"Okay," she said, nodding. Her attention peeled from Plague and back to the fire just as he turned his gaze upon her. He would see soft, stoic features etched with a soft smile. Not only upon her lips, but reflecting in her eyes with dancing flames. Her ears perked up a bit, and her eyes flicked back to him as she adjusted her sitting position. "I am.. a great warrior." she said, not exactly grasping his question to the full extent. Or rather, the context he meant it in. He had asked her species, her race. She had given him her job title. She cocked her head to the side and then looked back to the fire. "And what are you?" she would ask, her hand moving to scratch Ryzo's back softly.

by **Eightball** May 25th 2013, 3:23 am

Plague was intrigued. She was, after all, a beautiful specim--friend. That was for certain. No reply returned from within his silver mask as she replied. However, her next question caused him to pause and the question began to echo within his mind. He lost his composure and he braced himself for the painful reminiscence. But it did not come.

"I-I..I..."

What am I?

He'd been asked this question before, but never like this. He'd had it screamed at him in anger, he'd had it asked of him from shock, he'd had it whispered from fear. But never with kindness and interest. He was taken aback. What was he? Memories began to flood, and a shiver ran down Plague's spine. His control and calm had slipped. But this time the memories did not remind him of his pain or vividly reenact it. Instead, strangely, he remembered a past life. Of who he was. He was once a doctor, his namesake. He was once happy. He was-

"A gentlemen. I am a gentlemen."

He surprised himself as he said the words, and he quickly hobbled up to his feet.

"I-I have to go somewhere."

He grabbed his coat, hat, and cane and hurriedly donned them. Briskly, he limped away from the fire and Mirshann and went for the door. The cane tapped against the marbled floor, and he swung the doors open, revealing the pouring rain and amplified the sounds of it's shatter against the city streets. He stumbled out into the rain, making his clothes yet again soaking wet, desperate to get to the place he needed to go.

by **Chellizard** May 31st 2013, 3:40 am

Her eyes were bright with the fires reflection. The damp, mostly dark room was filling with warmth. The rain outside was beating down, creating a wonderful musical rhythm to accompany her soft breathing. Ryzo's soft breathing. Plague's silent form. She flicked her eyes to glance at him while he stuttered. Her form shifted, a soft scratching sound rubbing across the dirty concrete. Her feet, dressed in beaten running shoes, shifted before she peeled them off to let her toes warm by the fire. Stretching them out, she waited for his reply.

It took longer than she thought it would.

"What is a gentleman?" a soft patting sound was heard.

She had shifted her weight and was on her knees, one of her hands having patted the concrete floor. She sat there, slowly letting her rump fall to rest on her feet. They were crossed at the ankle, right over left. Her head was cocked slightly; more curious than the cat. As he stood, her head tilted back to watch him stand. She watched him reach his full height, his form towering hers from this angle. He had to go. But why? Was it something she had said? Did she really upset him? Perhaps it was her lack of knowledge on the English language. She cursed herself under her breath, the foreign words falling on deaf ears. He had already walked out of the room, and was in the cold, harsh rain.

The doors opened forced a cold chill to run in and whisper against the flames. They flickered angrily and tried to fight against the wind, but it was no use. The flames flickered and slowly fell to their death in a warm, coal bed. Another patting noise.

She stood up, her bare feet beating the ground as she scrambled to get to him. She rushed to him, her arms circling around of his left one. "I will go with you!" she said, the rain soaking her to the bone while she clutched his arm. She looked up at him with desperate eyes. Ryzo stood in the doorway, a deep whine passing his muzzle.

by **Eightball** May 31st 2013, 4:21 am

Plague froze as her hand caught his arm, and he twisted around and started at the hand and then back at her. A streak of lightning glided across the sky, illuminating his ivory face. A moment later thunder rocketed across the sky, and the emulated voice came from within. They were both soaking wet.

"Do you have any idea, my dear? The things I've done, the horrors I've endured?"

Another bolt of thunder sounded somewhere and a moment of silence passed between them. Plague took his hat off and held it with his cane. He had left his gloves behind, and so pale fingers reached up behind his head and began unfastening his mask. Air breezed out, and he carefully removed the large ashen beak. His exposed skin looked deathly pale, and serious scar ran along the bridge of his nose and down across his cheek. His damp hair was a silvery, bleached color and his eyes were dark and tortured. The exposed inside of the mask revealed an excess of machinery and a regulator-looking device covered his mouth and ran down his chin and onto his throat.

"My life was broken, my dear. My vocal cords were destroyed and my larynz left barely intact.

"The probability that your life will be in danger will increase if you continue to follow me."

His eyes shifted, the first expressions that could actually be seen since she had first met him.

"I cannot guarantee your safety."

by **Chellizard** May 31st 2013, 5:26 am

There was no way to describe all the things that Mirshann felt at this moment. She was afraid, anxious, nervous, happy, excited, and above all, she felt concerned for her new found friend. She clutched his arm, her grip growing only tighter. She had no intention of letting go. The lightning's hot streak against the sky lit up the dark street they were on. The only other life around them was her canine, and he had turned his back to trot back inside. He kept a watchful eye on his savior, though. The thunder crashed through the clouds, forcing her heart to skip a bit while she jumped. The sound was not foreign to her, no, but she was not expecting it for some reason. For once, she had let her guard down. She watched him, her eyes searching his. Bright, cerulean blue locked onto the masks eyes.

His question did not matter, because he had no idea of her life, either.

"I don't care." she said.

Of the few words she learned in the English language like I, do, not, and care. Putting them together like that, as she had heard others say, made her feel a bit weird, but.. at the same time? She felt confident. Because, honestly, she did not care about his past, what he had done, or any horrors. She had made a friend, and intended on keeping it. She watched him, and was about to force his hat back onto his head. She did not want him to catch a cold. His hand shifting, however, brought the curious cat in her back. She watched his elegantly pale fingers whisper behind of his head, and then the mask gave way. She did not gasp, she did not flee. Not even a flash of disgust washed over her face. The rain, however, did.

Her lashes bat softly, another streak of lightning bringing a bit of light into their dark, moody scene.

"I know how to fix things.." she said, cutting him off for a moment, but she let him continue. She listened to him speak. Her own throat hurt at the thought, but she pushed passed those thoughts and focused on her friend.

"I know how to take care of myself, and I know how to take care of others.." she said, these words being put together easier and easier as she pushed herself. She was putting her intelligence to good use. After all, she was an exceptionally fast learner. "I will be safe no matter what.." she said, and her hands shifted to gently touch his face. She had no words anymore, just a caring expression. "Let me try to fix.. what was broken.." she said, her hands carefully gliding over the machinery to rest just around of his throat. "You have to let me try..." she said, and then her words switched to her native tongue.

"K'olah nindolen hery..." (Translation: Clean these wounds) she spoke, her voice soft while a bright white light emitted from her palms and focused on his throat. She had no idea how much she could heal, but she would try her best. She would try for her friend.. but she was sure she was not at her full potential with her magic yet. Sleeping for two thousand years would do that to someone.

by **Eightball** May 31st 2013, 8:28 am

Confusion muddled Plague's thoughts as he tried to form some form of concentration, but couldn't. So many things were happening at once. A sense of duty lay prevalent in his mind. He still had somewhere to go, something to do. But he could feel Mirshann's grip and for some reason he knew that she wouldn't let this one slip. Her words enforced this theory, and the pure defiance shot down his own logic and left him speechless. The doctor's mouth opened a little bit, a streak of his bleached hair falling in front of his right eye.

He had no idea how to respond. How to resist.

Suddenly her hands touched his face and he flinched, the foreign thing having never graced his insipid complexion. A animal instinct suddenly stimulated inside of him, and he fought it off. He didn't want to hurt her.

She peeled off his machinery and to his surprise her hands emitted brilliant rays of light onto his throat. For a moment, he fought off the need to escape the situation, a typical strangling scenario, but as he felt his vocal cords mending itself he was shocked to hear his real voice croak in years. He couldn't believe it, and he began testing out his real voice.

"I..yo...thank-"

"You know something? You talk too much."

He smiled.

"Seeing as how I only need you for your skills, I feel the need to refocus your energy."

"Don't you, doctor?"

"-you."

Suddenly he realized the situation here. Now he owed Mirshann, and he doubted he could ever forgive himself if he never repayed her back.

"It won't be easy."

by **Chellizard** May 31st 2013, 9:53 am

She did not let her blue gaze fall from his. She held concentration on her face while her hands did their magic, literally. She kept her focus solely on healing him, giving him back something that he had lost. She felt it was the least she could do for him. For her friend. It wasn't until he spoke that she was completely satisfied. She carefully slipped her hands from his throat and offered a smile. The rain was not letting up, and the two of them were soaked to the bone. She was shivering, but it was hidden at first glance from how heavy the rain fell. Cascades fell down her face, forcing her blonde hair to mat down to her skin.

She coughed, her lungs wheezing from all the moisture she had been inhaling, but she would be all right. As soon as she was warm, and dry, she would be all right. She tugged his arm lightly and took one single step toward the door, insisting he follow her back in and away from the rain. It was coming down like cats and dogs. "Please.. you will.." she thinks for the correct term for a moment, and finally settles on one. "...fall ill." she finishes her sentence, lashes batting while she blinked. Another streak of lighting was followed by roaring thunder. This time she was prepared for it. She had her guard up now, but not as solid as she did when she had first met her new found friend with snowy hair.

Tugging one more time, she guided him to follow her back inside. Once inside, she stoked the fire, bringing it to a bigger blaze than before. Ryzo happily curled by the fire, his massive form relaxing on the concrete floor. Mirshann then motioned to Plague with a hand gesture. The gesture was her holding up her index fingering, indicating she was asking for a moment to herself. She stepped to her pile of old clothes and dug around until she found a case. Opening it she acquired her battle armor. Thigh high boots, very feminine, full arm gloves that went passed her elbows, a battle tunic, and skirt. As well as chest plate armor and a specially designed quiver that attached to her battle plate. She turned around, and started to peel off her clothes, keeping her backside to her friend. There was no real place to change, and she needed the warmth from the fire more than anything, so she did not let herself get shy or modest.

She peeled off her oversized hoodie, and then the simple shirt that was underneath of it. Taking the articles of clothing off revealed many scars on her back, arms, sides, and the like. She truly was a warrior of sorts. And it was also noticeable that her enemies enjoyed attacking her from behind. Cowards. Her front side had just as many scars, if not more, though. She pulled on her battle tunic, and fastened the side straps, then slid into the skirt, her pants falling around of her ankles. The panties she wore were simple white cotton, a pair she had gotten from one of Frank's girlfriend's at a superstore. She had more of these somewhere. The skirt came to just below her mid thigh, keeping her covered properly. Her boots came to the hem of her skirt, and were simply slip on's. She did not wear her gloves, but now she looked much more Elvish. She simply changed and dressed quickly.

As soon as she was, she turned and stepped back toward Plague. She looked like her warrior self, her pointed ears showing more now than before from her very wet hair matting down to her head. "Get warm.." she said to him, pointing to a spot closer to the fire for him to sit at if he wasn't already seated. She joined him, or sat by the fire on her own. Ryzo's large self huffed and rolled onto his back, sprawling out to enjoy the fire's warmth. She sat for a moment in silence, listening to the rain grow soft, and gently ease up.

by **Eightball** May 31st 2013, 10:54 am

He allowed her to pull him back to the room, still shocked that in one moment he could be so easily remedied from his transfiguration. How was it possible? It was scientifically impossible. Again he was reunited with the crackling log fire. He eyed the dog for what seemed the first time. He dropped his regulator, top hat, cane, and jacket on the floor, and then suddenly remembered he left his mask on the flooded streets. As he looked up to go retrieve it, his eyes suddenly widened as he observed Mirshann remove her clothes and expose her underclothing. His jaw dropped and he remained speechless.

"W-what... are you doing?" he stuttered, his words lost in his surprise and amazement.

She held no sense of insecurity or self-consciousness, which was strange because that was exactly what the doctor felt as he tried to avert his eyes awkwardly. He felt out of place, and continued to fidget with his fingers in a way to disperse his focus. He also looked down at his black waistcoat and the white collared shirt and the silver black striped tie that was tied with it, wondering why he did not bring any sort of battle wear or have anything else to change into. Instead he dried himself by the fire. Spotting an abandoned umbrella in a corner, he walked over to it and picked it up, observing his find. Returning to the fire, he was relieved to see that Mirshann was finished changing.

"Ah yes. Just--just a moment. I must retrieve my mask."

He opened his umbrella, coincidentally also jet black, and he walked out into the thunderstorm. As he bent towards the ground and picked up the damp mask, blue and red lights blinded him from the street. Sirens resounded through the heavy pouring rain as six police officers emerged from the cars, using their car doors as protection. They each had a gun in their hand pointed straight at him. A leader emerged from the closest car, confident and unhindered by the downpour.

"You are under arrest for the suspected murder of a police officer."

Another police officer produced handcuffs, and Plague's mind scrambled for a fight or flight.

by **Chellizard** June 3rd 2013, 6:49 am

"Mmn.." she had hummed in reply to him stepping out into the rain. However, the sirens did not pick up her attention until she heard the sound of car doors opening. The sound was familiar. Frank's car had made the sound when he got out of it, or slammed it behind of Mirshann when she rode with him. But, this time, the sirens accompanied the doors being opened. She stood up and looked toward the door. Bright lights were shining in, and nearly blinded her. She rose her right hand to shield the glare, and focused on the backside of Plague.

What was going on?

Ryzo rose from his laying position, his form taking a defensive stance. A low growl passed his muzzle, his fangs barring to show his hatred for the bright red and blue flashing lights. He could comprehend their presence, and when they barked their words, his ears laid flat. Ryzo was pissed. Mirshann was about to his level. Instead, however, she drew her bow and muttered a single word.

"Awaken," she commanded.

Thir'ku Mal'rak had awakened. The shimmering, iridescent bow was light in Mirshann's grasp. It floated in her grip, but never left her hand. She barely applied actual touch to the beautiful weapon. One of the police officers, surprised by the bows presence, pulled the hammer back on his gun. Another officer, who looked a bit young, was startled by a simple yew bow becoming such a weapon. His finger squeezed, and a bullet flew out of his gun. It skidded right passed Mirshann's head, clipping a bit of her hair from her cranium. Now she was annoyed. They had started the battle, and she would end it.

Or die trying.

"HOLD YOUR FIRE!" the Chief officer commanded.

"Put your hands up where we can see them! You're under arrest!" they demanded.

Mirshann drew an arrow from thin air and tugged it backward, allowing it to notch within the string. There did not appear to be one, though, save for a thin line of iridescent light. Posing with her feet shoulder width apart, and hips centered, she dared the men to speak again. Begged them to, really. She let her arm shift from man to man, waiting for them to make their move.

One spoke. The Chief Officer again.

"LOWER YOUR WEAPON!" he shouted.

The rain was creating a blanket between Mirshann, Plague, and the officers. She did not aim directly at her target, instead, she pointed her arrow toward the sky and muttered a simple command,

"Guide my shot.." she said, her aim upon the Chief Officer. The arrow took a swoop straight up and then curved back around and down toward the officer. It struck him straight through the hand, pinning it and his weapon to the door of the car. Mirshann had another arrow notched, and this time she wouldn't waste showing off.

"No.. you put down your weapons.." Her accent, vaguely Russian meets Icelandic sounding, likely startled the other men not flipping out over the arrow. The Chief Officer was in too much pain to bark another command, and his blood ran red into the streets.

by **Eightball** June 3rd 2013, 7:09 am

Plague looked, surprised, as officers cuffed him and dragged him to the car. As they got inside, Plague looked up to see Mirshann drawing her bow and once again miraculously killing the Chief Officer. Police officers got out of their cars and pointed their guns at her with the doors for cover, except for Plague's car. He heard the man call on the radio for backup. And still, the doctor did nothing, his eyes wide with confusion.

The officers in the front of the vehicle started the engine and in a moment the car was speeding through the rain, escaping the scene.

"You're going away for a while, you piece of trash. And we'll get your little girlfriend, too. You won't go around killing people anymore."

Plague made no response, and instead stared into space. He heard the officer address his partner in a less voluminous tone. "These metahumans are all the same. Taking what they want and destroying the rest, it's a shame New York didn't catch onto it sooner."

Somehow he had lost his conviction, something had suppressed his violent instincts. It was strange, and for the first time he felt like he was connecting with the man he once was. So long had he thought that the young gentleman within him had died. And herein he was beginning to resurrect.

The irony was that fate could have it so that when he was gentle would be faced with criminal trial and punishment thanks to the Metahuman Acts of the government legislature. If he didn't have high-security imprisonment for life, then he would likely receive the death penalty. Plague shifted, feeling his wrists throb from the handcuffs.

"To where are we going?" He said innocently. The response was less then polite.

"Don't play dumb with me, you know well enough where you're going. And you're going to regret killing every citizen you ever killed. We're in touch with the British government, and we know about the killings you've done there. You're on the next flight straight to London tomorrow."

The officer's words suddenly struck Plague and he remembered something. Somehow he'd already known, but such memories seemed decades, even centuries, ago, that time had sent them straight into the depths of his mind. He had forgotten and forsaken his home country long ago. But he remembered it nonetheless.

I'm British.

by **Chellizard** June 3rd 2013, 7:44 am

Another arrow had left her hand. This time it killed the Chief Officer. His blood was now staining the streets, and the others made their move to grab Plague. Why hadn't he fought? They grabbed him roughly, taking his umbrella and throwing it to the ground. It snapped in half, and broke. It was old, afterall, but there was no need to handle it with such anger. But, they put cuffs on Plague and shoved him into the back of a squad car. With sirens blaring, the vehicle took off.

They had taken him. Even with one of the officer's dead, they had taken him away from her. Her only friend.

She stood there, a bit dumbfounded, and lost. The rain was washing over her, making her armor glisten in the headlights. She did not know it yet, but tears were streaming down her face. She blinked away the rain and cupped her hand over her eyes, shielding them from the harsh downpour. Just when things had started to calm down. Just when she was finding a purpose for staying in this god forsaken world.. they took him away. Blinking away the rain, it finally hit her. She wasn't blinking away rain, it was tears. She slowly lowered her hand and looked to the other officers. They were crowding around of her, and more cars pulled up. She gave them all a chance to draw their weapons, and then anger took over.

She was not going to let them keep him.

"Ryzo!" she called.

Ryzo's massive form came toward Mirshann's side, his shoulder coming to nearly Miri's waist. His large paws padded the wet concrete, and soon his black fur was glistening wet. His yellow eyes glared at his new enemies, and so did Mirshann. She was done giving them a chance. She drew another arrow back and let it soar into the next victim, then the next, and the next. She took out four men without hesitation. No mercy. Nothing but anger was coursing through her. Guns were fired, and with luck on her side, she wasn't hit at first. But then, blood dripped to the ground. Her adrenaline kept the pain away. She had to get to him before it was too late. She notched three arrows and selected three targets. "Guide my shot!" she shouted, thunder masking her words from the other's ears.

Two of her targets had crouched and were reloading their guns. The other was holding his gun shakily, waiting for her to make another move. He shot the moment her arrows were let go. This bullet grazed her left arm. If the man was a better shot, she would have been dead. The three arrows came swiftly, piercing the three men in the chest. They fell to the concrete, and the arrows all vanished, leaving no trace of what killed them. Mirshann whistled, and Ryzo nudged between her legs and started to run. Grasping onto his neck, he reared back, let out a wolfish howl, and started off on the trail that Plague's scent was in. Ryzo's nose was a powerful one.

by **Eightball** June 3rd 2013, 10:28 am

The police station wasn't particularly very far, but neither was it actually too close. The ride was at least five minutes long, and as they got out, and yanked the doctor out of the police car. Plague felt a strange sense of deja vu. But he couldn't place it. As they dragged him into the station, Plague's prints were scanned and his DNA sampled. Then they took him straight to the interrogation room, where he was cuffed to a desk. A new figure arrived at the scene, a vicious-looking man in a suit. He sat down opposite to him, relaxed and confident. Plague knew he wouldn't be given any mercy.

"Hello."

He took a look at the doctor with a cheerful smile and the look of interest. The man looked down at the file in front of him. "I'm Detective Wilson."

"You've got an impressive track record here. Various governments have recorded some of your crimes, a fraction no doubt, based on your vicious M.O.s and eyewitness accounts. We've just managed to pull some of them. You've killed, stolen, kidnapped, and severely injured. You've severely injured many."

Plague was beginning to regain his wit, and he countered. "You can't speak to me without my lawyer here." The U.S. government was famed for the protection of rights.

"Oh, but we can. We're allowed to conduct an interrogation because, unfortunately, you have an accomplice. We also need a tad more evidence to connect you as the masked man."

Plague gave him an ice-cold stare and kept his mouth shut. The detective sighed.

"You know, in these times of chaos and metahuman nonsense, I find it very hard to find a dedicated cop that doesn't have conviction. I myself worked my butt off to get where I am today. And you know what? It certainly wasn't by playing the nice guy. All we need is a confession and some help with your accomplice here and we'll be on our way. It might even get you out of jail early. Who doesn't like the Get Out of Jail Early card? Or of course you could go out the hard way, which is a lot bumpier."

Of course, the U.S. government was also known for being one of the most ravaged of the metahuman situation, and as a result, law enforcement and the trial process was getting more and more fierce. The sacrifice for protection of rights for safety and security seemed like a worthy venture to them, especially after the destruction of New York. With the condescending tone, and the growing feeling of danger, Plague began to regain his killer instinct and just as the detective stood up, he twisted onto the desk and used the momentum to kick him straight in the jaw. Quickly he snatched the keys from the detective's unconscious body and un-cuffed himself. Officers who heard the commotion quickly came rushing to the door, but Plague quickly dispatched them with a well-placed jab to the jugular vein and a kick to the solar plexus. Throwing them across the room couldn't hurt either.

He leaped across the station, avoiding gunfire, and quickly overpowering surprised officers. In a moment, he was into the evidence room. Quickly grabbing his mask, he bolted out a window and away from the station. In a moment he was on the street again and he walked calmly on the sidewalk, keeping an eye for any more police.

by **Chellizard** June 6th 2013, 2:55 pm

Was she too late? Had they taken her friend forever? She felt more tears, hot, but lost with the rain, spill over her eyes. She blinked them away furiously and pressed her heel into Ryzo's hip. She urged him to run harder, faster. She had to reach Plague before the men did. Her furry companion lunged forward, his massive paws padding and skidding along the slick, wet concrete. A few teenagers, the looked like rag-tag punks, were walking with hands in pockets, and a girl had an umbrella. There seemed to be five of them. they all looked up when they heard a howl. Ryzo's large form then leaped up and over the crowd, Mirshann clinging to his neck. The rag-tag teenagers all looked up and watched in awe as the massive beast landed on the hood of an oncoming car and kept going. They had no idea what was going on, but thought, just for a moment, that they were all on drugs. Some serious drugs.

She reaches the station shortly after, and more police officers were in her way. In the way of getting to her friend. She stopped Ryzo by hugging back on his neck, forcing him to skid to a stop. He barred his claws and used all the traction he could muster before he fell onto his side. Mirshann let go just before Ryzo fell and jumped, lightly kicking off of his back. She was launched upwards into the air. As she rose up, she drew her bow and pulled back. There were five men, and so five arrows were also drawn back. She licked her lips and muttered her spell. "Guide my shot," she said, the words passing her lips just before she let the arrows fly. They all rained down quickly, piercing the men through the heart.

One by one, the bodies fell. Crumpling to their knees, or falling onto their backs. Mirshann's form landed, gracefully, just as Ryzo collected himself. The familiar padded to Miri's side and panted. "Let me see it all," she demanded, and looked up toward a window. The angle was a bit skewed, but she could see Plague, her friend, striking and downing men quickly and efficiently. Smirking, she drew an arrow back and let it fly toward the window, shattering it to let Plague out safely. She then let another arrow fly through the window. It did not kill this time. This time, it pinned Detective Wilson, by the collar of his shirt, to a wall. Coincidentally, the arrow had struck through a piece of paper that said "Stop" and the words on a sheet behind it on the bulletin board said "following me." With evidence searching, the Detective would likely find this later and hopefully put the two pieces together. It was all coincidence, though.

Mirshann's companion hoisted her back up, and rushed off after Plague. The gunshot in her side was finally getting to her. Blood was staining her clothes, and it dripped down her side and onto Ryzo's fur. But, she pressed on and caught up with Plague. Slowing down, Ryzo bumped into Plague and then headed into an Alley. Mirshann was faint, more pale than usual, and her eyes kept rolling into the back of her head. She could barely hold onto Ryzo. Too much blood loss. Her grip slipped and she fell, her form thudding sharply on the cold, wet ground.

by **Eightball** June 8th 2013, 7:56 am

Plague stared upon his mask as water droplets hailed upon from the sky. The rain was beginning to die down a little. Stuffing it somewhere on his person, Plague turned to see the mangled form of Mirshann barely holding to her large dog. He watched as she slid down the side of her companion, exposing the bloodied fur. Red stained the sidewalk as it mixed with rainwater and soaked into the concrete. As holes were seen in the fiery rainclouds above, the blackened sky exposed how much time had transpired.

"W-what happened?!" he exclaimed. It had been a crazy day, upon which numerous occasions he relied upon Mirshann to steady himself in his vulnerability. But now it was his turn to support his new friend, and this time he knew what to do. He bent down and lifted up Mirshann and carried her away. They had to relieve themselves of the law enforcement. Ryzo looked at him encouragingly and followed him as he went away. After finding a deserted alleyway with a canopy overhead, Plague set her down and hurriedly left to the nearest convenience store. Coincidentally, finding it closed, Plague hastily broke in with ease. Getting the materials needed, he returned quickly. Taking off some of her armor, he cleaned the wound, disinfected it and then dressed it with the proper bandages. He did his best to keep the wound dry. He turned to the streets and simply stopped. He watched carefully, like a hawk, for enemies and waited for Mirshann to wake up.

"I-I implore you not to die, Mirshann." he whispered.

He didn't know what to feel. So long had he gone without emotion, and unhindered by humane restrictions. But somehow this more than human woman had resurrected of who he used to be, the man he now shadowed. It was hard, but also relieving. He didn't know whether to consider it a good or bad thing.

His past, however, scarred and crossed out what was trying to return, and Plague found himself rejecting everything he was feeling. The life he had sculpted for himself had no room for such passionate feelings. He couldn't become soft, otherwise the event that had just transpired would have become much worse. He was a dangerous man in danger, and because of that he couldn't allow such things in his heart. It would endanger both himself and the one he allowed into his life. He was a broken man, and for that he was incompatible with woman altogether.

by **Chellizard** June 13th 2013, 2:48 pm

It's dark.

"Hello?"

An echo bounces all around. The room is dark, and the only sounds in reply is coming from whomever is breathing. But, who is breathing?

"Anyone?"

Another echo. This time, there's a reply. "Yes, I am here."

"But... who are you...?"

Silence. Hesitation, maybe. Definitely pondering the question.

"I am you," said the voice. Oddly enough, the voice was right.

The room began to fill with light, slowly, surely. But, the light was at the end of a tunnel. What is that saying about dark tunnels with lights at the end? Something about death, right?

Hesitation again. The sound of someone standing up. The someone, the who, clutched their side in pain.

"Ow..." they murmured, brows furrowing in distaste.

"What...?"

They asked, looking down to their hand. Blood. Blood on their hand. Blood on their clothes. The clothes of a warrior.

"Who am I?" the voice asked again.

"Mirshann Rosin. Princess Mirshann Rosin." There was no hesitation this time.

"And my purpose?"

"Your purpose?"

"My purpose. What is it?"

"You mean our purpose?"

"... Yes."

"To live."

Mirshann walked forward. She had no control over her legs. She did not fight the steps forward, but she did not force them. Did she? She felt as if something was bringing her toward the light. Something, someone... someone? Was it someone?

The light at the end of the tunnel was bright, but the closer she got, the more she saw. She saw a dark alleyway, rain, and the sign of a rising sun. The rain seemed to be clearing up. Was it? Who was that?

"Who is that?" she asked, her eyes watching the picture at the end of the tunnel.

"Your someone. Your friend. Our friend."

"Our friend?" she asked, but corrected herself. "My friend?"

"Yes, my friend." she said, and smiled. A genuine, bright smile. She reached toward the picture, and the light engulfed her.

The rain had been slowing up, and the sun was just peeking over the horizon. Warm pinks, oranges, and purples were speckled against the sky. The sun's warm embrace slowly shooing away the clouds, and a rainbow was streaking across the sky. The gorgeous morning was also accompanied by Mirshann's eyes slowly fluttering open. Bits of rain still spitted against her face, dripping from the fire escape over her head. Her eye lids felt heavy, alike to thick iron doors that needed a full man's strength to open. She struggled to open her eyes and could only groan in pain.

The pain, however, was no as bad as she had endured many years ago.

"... Friend?" she asked, looking to Plague with heavy, tired eyes.

She had lost a lot of blood, and as such, was going to be groggy and weak until her body replenished the loss of blood. She would have to go easy on herself, but she was too stubborn for that. She pushed her hand down to the floor and attempted to stand.

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