lealrumination - Tumblr blog

[lealrumination]

Pysis

Reflection World 12

Updating...

[lealrumination]

Ion

Reflection World 12

Manifesting

Curiosity piqued once more, Myo finds themselves at the door to Pysis' Office once again. So many unanswered questions swirl through their head, and many were answered last time they stepped through this door, so many lives they lived but none they fully understand... Hearing the words from Levi herself was an experience in and of itself, as was learning her name and motivations... Myo seeks to do so for the other fragments of paths they walked.

They knock upon the door.

Pysis opens the door and smiles as they see Myo

*Hello, Myo! Welcome back. " They gesture for them to enter.

Myo gives a small wave and enters, a bright smile on their bruise-speckled face. "Hey Pysis! How are ya?"

"Much better than last we spoke. How have you been?" They make for the window bench again

Myo follows them over to said window bench. "Aside from bein' slammed in the face by a flyin' bike, pretty good, thanks."

"Oh goodness! I was going to ask..." They trail off and then divert.

"How can I help you today?"

"I was wonderin' if we could do like... Another dive into the past, if that ain't any trouble for ya? It answered a lot of questions last time, n' it feels like I understand myself a lil' better too."

They smile brightly

"Of course, any time you wish. I'm happy to be of assistance. " *They gesture to the bed.

"Ah, right." Myo makes their way over to the bed, getting themselves comfy. "Thanks again, Pysis. Really appreciate this."

"You're more than welcome Myo."

Once Myo is asleep they suddenly realize they are dreaming, and that a ghostly teal Pysis is standing next to them (what does the dreamscape look like?)

What stretches out before their eyes this time is a scorched desert. The haze of the heat causes the land to appear to distort and warp. Worn, rust covered metal beams jut out from the ground, collapsed amidst large sandstone outcroppings... A land scorned by the sun and flame itself.

Pysis turns to Myo, unaffected by the severe environment

"What do you want to do?"

"First order of business... Find me. The other me... You know what I mean." They laugh and begin walking to a dilapidated structure that appears to have succumbed to the erosion of the sandy winds and fallen in on itself.

Pysis follows them, watching

Myo shifts some scrap, making an effort not to be loud. They follow a deep sense of Deja Vu as they trace footsteps they never took into this abandoned building, rays of the unforgiving sun beam through cracks in its walls and roof, though it makes the areas of shade seem ever darker.

Pysis passes through the piles of scrap as if they did not exist, scanning as well for something.

(Pysis will roll yo Dye to see if they can help. If Myo considers this person to be an aspect of themselves Pysis will be able to see and interact with them

Myo does in fact consider the stranger they're looking for to be part of themselves!

((👍🏻

[6] <the swirling memories block Pysis' vision, making Myo the only thing they can perceive>

There's a shifting amongst the shadows, and the feeling of a piercing gaze falls upon them. A gruff voice calls out, though it is strained and whispery. "Who's there?"

Pysis looks to Myo, remaining silent and waiting for their response.

"Myotis. That name should mean something to you." They say firmly, while moving over to stand in a ray of light.

[19] <To Pysis' eyes the individual before them seemingly emerges from the fog of memory>

"May name is Pysis, I am here to help."

Pysis, you spot him first. A rough figure that slinks from the light-polluted darkness... His steps are heavy and his clothes are covered with fine sand. Again, their frame itself is very reminiscent of the Myo you know, but he is draped in loose, baggy clothes, and a light cloak wrapped around his upper body, obscuring some of his face.

"We are here to help." they repeat.

"How'd you know my name..?" He wanders into the light of the sun, shielding his eyes as the glaring rays beat down upon him.

"Because it's my name too. You got the memories as well, right?"

Pysis keeps quiet, letting them talk

He sizes Myo up, noticing the resemblance. "Yeah... Yeah, guess I do." His eyes remain in a suspicious squint and he lifts a compass from under his cloak. The cover is cracked and the needle spins and flicks sporadically, before setting upon Myo.

He clears his throat. "Most call me Amphis."

"Got a job for me?"

looks at Myo

"Uhhh... No. Sorry." They respond, somewhat perplexed.

"Figures... I walked this desert for years, hopin' to find somethin' to do with myself... That wells dryer than the outside." He looks at the compass once more.

"Do you want me to change that? " They ask both Myo and Amphis.

Myo whispers to Pysis. "This one only ends in one way... It's kind of sad..."

"Do you want me to change that?" They repeat, looking at Myo directly.

"As much as I'd love to... This one already has its best outcome."

They nod

"Then I'll defer to your lead."

"So you said you were looking for somethin' to do?"

"Yeah... I go from place to place lookin' for somethin', anythin' at all." He looks at the compass again as the needle begins to flit and spin erratically once again.

"Where are you takin' me this time..." He mumbles.

Pysis watches this individual and the compass with rapt interest

"Well, sorry to ditch like this but it looks like I've got somewhere new to be..."

"What, you just... Follow that compass? It's broken, ain't it?"

"Yeah, what of it? Closest thing I have to a purpose in this wasteland..."

A set of heavy footfalls echo from outside.

((can Pysis perceive that? ie, is it one of them

((Pysis cannot perceive this one >:)

The pair of bats turn to the direction of the sound as it trails into the distance.

Amphis looks at the needle, which appears to be magnetized in the same direction, and he smiles. "Finally..."

Pysis looks between them both, a bit confused, but says nothing and follows their gazes

Amphis heads outside, following the shoeprints. Though these are much larger than anything he has seen before.

Myo follows behind him.

Pysis takes up the rear, following the two

His gaze sets on a gargantuan cloaked humanoid figure in the distance, vibrant glowing blue tubes wrapping around their form. "Hey!"

[17] <Pysis cannot see what is there, but perceives the presence of something>

"Myo?" They query.

"Archdemon." They whisper.

"Ah..."

<they are thankful all they see is a mass of stagnant burn>

The figure stops and turns.

It stares down Amphis.

Amphis approaches. "You have no idea how long I've waited for somethin' to do..." An excitement fill his eyes as he approaches this giant, seemingly fully aware of what exactly it is.

There's almost a confident smile from behind the helmet of the hulking mass.

And a small level of respect.

"Good luck, Amphis... You never win this fight, but... You finally found purpose. And you enjoyed it to the last." They whisper once more .

Pysis watches with interest and a bit of confusion. They turn to Myo.

"Is there anything you'd like me to do?"

"Nah..." They smile. "He's havin' fun."

And that is where the dream ends, just before the two clash.

back in the office Pysis is still seated on the bench, same expressing of vague puzzlement

"Well... That was weird."

"But I get it..."

"Is that... was that what you wanted to happen?" They ask, voice clearing to certainty.

"I... Have some opinions about it. But every time I live through his eyes in that dream... I can't express the amount of relief and anticipation he feels when he finally finds somethin' to do. It feels wrong to take that away from him..."

Pysis considers this, and nods.

"The choice is always and entirely yours. If you want me to help, make the fight more evenly matched, I can grant you the strength." They smile understandingly.

Myo smiles back. "In any other case, I'd say yes... But this was never about winning or losing the fight. I'm sure you understand."

"I do." <something deep within them resonates with the sentiment>

"Do you mind if I ask a few questions though?"

"Yeah, go for it." They smile softly. "Least I can do after you've helped so much."

"You don't have to a answer what you don't what to." The return the smile.

"I was just curious if the ability to summon your past lives and memories is something you were born with, came into, or is some part of your ESP?"

"I guess technically I was born into it... Though I only came into it recently."

"Because of my ESP... So all of the above, I think?" Scratches their head.

"I see." their tone is calm but their body sparks gently with excitement

"Are you able to summon just your past, or others as well?"

"Hmm... Not quite the past, but I can pull forth alternate possibilities of myself n' others. Ones that could'a made drastically different choices in the past. Or one that ate breakfast when you didn't. It's hit or miss." They snicker.

"Good thing I don't eat then, huh?" They also laugh softly.

"May I... make a request?" Pysis asks tentatively.

"Of course, be happy to help if I can."

"Thank you. I sometimes wonder if the issues with my code will be resolved someday. It cause more problems that I care to admit, and I was thinking... would you be able to tell?" They can't meet your eyes

"I can... Try to pull forth one that's had said issues resolved... And hey, we'll figure it out in time. Just because ya got somethin' a lil odd goin' on, no need to feel bad." They smile.

They look up at Myo with a relieved smile

"Thank you. So, how do we go about this? "

"I just gotta make physical contact, and then I can handle the rest from there. That okay?"

"Yes." They extend their hand.

Myo grabs their hand. They wound their Green Attribute to use Critical Juncture on Pysis, and attempt to pull forth one that has had the aforementioned issues resolved.

Myo's arm plunges into nothing, and pulls out...

((Should I dm you their possible futures?

((Or just what we discussed?

((If you wish to, or we can say that it's a lot and will scramble them too much to decipher if you wish to keep said info to yourself :)

You see a person who resembles Pysis, dark hair and eyes in place of the gentle silver you are familiar with. Their face is set in a wide smile that is all too similar to the Pysis next to you, and large robotic arms extend from their back. You do not recognize the uniform they are wearing, nor the small woman beside them.

<The figure stands in the office, bewildered and staring>

"Where am I?"

"Uhhh... Your office?" Blinks, perplexed.

eyes narrow at the both of them

"Myo...?" They recognize them with a question mark and then look at their old self. With a smile of recognition they grab Pysis.

"I forgot how cute I used to be. "

<Pysis is paralized in surprise>

"Myo, what's going on"

"I have no idea..."

"Oh, I can explain. " The other Pysis releases the other one from a hug.

"But that would cause wayyyy to much burn for this one" They pat Pysis.

"Just know I was expecting this and thank you both very much." They head for the door.

"I... What?"

"I am so bloody confused."

<Pysis nods, still shocked>

"That's just the kind of woman I am dear. I can share one thing with you." They spin to face you in the doorway.

"My name is Ion, and I'm the new Stranger of Irony."

The give you both a mischievous grin and slip into the hallway

Blinks. "Uhhhhhh...."

"Well!"

"I become a WHAT!?" <takes 4 burn>

"Not necessarily!"

Panic increases.

"Okay. So. That should wear off shortly and then poof! Gone! Problem solved! Eheh."

their form sparks, expression torn between a grin and panic

"Okay, yeah... that sounds like a good thing, right." They look at Myo.

"Unless... I--Ion has an ability to... not?"

"is that possible?"

"I... Hope not?"

"Shit."

"Should we go after her?"

Nods. "Yup!"

They bolt for the door

Myo darts along too.

((Scene? I think what follows is a chase sequence

((Yeee

((We have caused an oopsie!

((I shake your hand, thanks for causing chaos with me :sproutYay:

[+2 Pysis bond]

((+2 Myo bond! Chaos caused and Machinist Myo experienced!

Sister Dear

“- But yeah, I just get little goose guys followin’ me around now. It’s neat!” Cooper smiles as she walks about, Syl standing beside her. They’re both just hanging around, Cooper having just mentioned the little anomaly visits she gets.

"Huh, uh... At least it's not one of the more dangerous beings you could encounter like that-" Syl isn't sure how to feel about the goose thing but at least it's not that demon or something. He does suddenly pause getting an alert about the stranger of Irony's appearance in OPIA. "Shoot, Cooper, we got something in the build..."

“… Pysis?” Without taking out a holopad, she texts them directly. Supercomputer-brain style.

Where’d you last see ‘em?

<....My office.>

Are you alright?

While Cooper is doing that, Syl trying to check the cameras in OPIA to do a full building search for Ion. He's unsure if this will help.

<We're fine, Myo and I, well...>

"Cooper?"

She whips around. Is the voice familiar?

Syl fou- Oh no. Syl turns to look at that person.

Cooper is wrapped in a big familiar hug, though the colors are different. They squeeze her tightly.

"Uh... Is this someone you know?" Syl tilts his head in worry and curiousity...

She makes a surprised squeaky toy sound. The context clues are a little… Confusing. Not returning the hug yet, she looks up.

Ion looks up at Syl and slowly releases the hug. She smiles at both of you and then cups Cooper's face.

"You got young!" Her eyes dance in danger and elation.

<Cooper, the Stranger is me...>

"Got young? Huh?" Syl raises an eye to this strange person about what's exactly that means. "Who are you..."

“Y… Young?” An awkward, nervous, puzzled smile creeps up her face. “I don’t… Uh, do I, kn…” And then Pysis’ message comes through. “… Pysis??”

Their grin is massive.

"I knew you'd recognize me! How could you not?" They laugh heartily.

Syl's face blanks in confusion, he was ready to face a stranger who broke in- Wait, does that mean a version of Cooper chose to make her body look older??? "This is Pysis- Wait, wasn't Pysis trailing the- What...."

Cooper’s eyes briefly flash over to Syl. He gets a message on his holopad.

Pysis told me that they’re the stranger. But they aren’t the same?? Right now?? I don’t think???

With her head still cupped, she looks back at them. “I guess there’s, a lotta resemblance, yeah!” Nervous chuckle. “What… What happened?”

she lets go of your face, still watching it with what looks like regret.

"I can't tell you, it'll cause burn. But I'm not here to hurt anyone, okay."

that's Pysis' voice alright

Syl's ESP is linked with his holopad, so he reads it without even pulling it up. He understands a lot more about what's going on now. "Then you shouldn't leave OPIA, you leaving be a burn hazard to everyone in Fuse city." He's surprised to not have gained a ton of burn see a stranger. "I don't think you'd be accepted in the coda either."

“… Okay. I trust you.” Cooper nods. That look definitely gets her guard down. She goes in and finally returns the tight hug, for whatever comfort that could bring. In the hug, she nods to Syl’s words.

"I'd love to, but will the others agree?" Her tone is soft in Coopers embrace, but here eyes regard Syl sharply.

"I am a member of the Cort of Laughter, after all." [1d6 burn]

Syl, the goof to most of his friends actually returns a gaze just as sharp towards the stranger. He's taking this whole thing seriously. "There's no record of a Court of laughter but we can all come to an agreement after a discussion on what you plan on doing, otherwise, misunderstands may happens making this far more messy than need be." He's in his serious mode, not taking this whole thing lightly.

They cuddle against Cooper, smirking

Cooper pats Pysis’ (?) back while in the embrace. “Syl’s right, y’know. You’re gonna get yourself in a lotta trouble if ya don’t clear things up.” Her tone’s more cheery compared to her companion about this.

deep sigh

"Sorry, but not just yet. If Myo catches up they'll send me back, and then who will save you?"

She reluctantly releases the hug and steps back, face distorted in sorrow or frustration.

“Save who?” Her head tilts. And the confusion only rises in response to that expression. “You… Probably have time, right? Maybe we can explain it to Myo and - well, you, and-“

a gentle smile, and they lean forward and kiss your forehead

"I was waiting for today for so long. Myo brought back the me who watched you and so many others die. OPIA has already lost, but I won't lose you."

[2d6 burn]

Syl's eyes widen hearing that from the stranger of irony. That can't be right! It cannot be. "What do you plan on doing then? Myo can't bring someone from the future, right?" He looks at Cooper, hoping she knows more of the bat since they only barely know each other. "Can they??"

She puts a hand on where she was kissed, not really sure how to feel about that. Any of that. At the same time of Syl looking at her, she looks at Syl, hoping he’d know more as well. “I don’t… I don’t know??? All I know is that they can grab other dimensions of… Themself.” She slowly looks over to Pysis. “Did… your ESP let all of this happen or something??”

"Myo ca only summon figments of others, but..." They grin.

"A figment was more than enough for me to solidify my own existence." There is something like manic pride in that grin, unlike the Pysis Cooper knows.

Syl shifts seeing this version of a person that Cooper knows, his first instinct is DESTROY this copy but his logical side is firmly in place against that. "So, you brute force your way through Myo's power here?" He's unsure about how trustworthy this Pysis is...

she laughs deeply and long

"Brute force? No, I literally just walked away from them." They keep laughing, truly amused.

"I was talking figuratively to stay here...." Syl doesn't get why that amused them in the slightest.

That grin isn’t a great sign. She frowns slightly, allowing the laugh to keep going by its own. “Then… What’s your plan now? How do you, by yourself, stop what’s coming, Pysis? Because just getting out of here and running to wait scheme won’t do anything. I doubt that’s gonna help you, or me, or any of us.”

The laugh devolves into a sigh and they look at Cooper with that same love she sees in Pysis; familial respect.

"I'm not going stop anything, Coop. I'm just here to make sure you live."

They extend a hand to you.

She looks at the hand for a long, long time before looking back up. There’s almost an expression of grief in her furrowed brows. “How? By taking me away?”

She looks at the hand

"No. You wouldn't accept that, would you?" She begins to leave.

"Call me Ion so there's no confusion, and just wait. If you don't die, I succeed."

Syl quickly moves to block Ion with a serious glare. "Where are you planning on going, Ion?" Astral code appears behind him in case he's attacked by Ion.

Cooper huffs. “Pysis-“ And then Syl gets in the way. She goes over to the side, arms out, gesturing with a little “We can still talk this out”.

Ion gives Syl a beamused grin and glances back at Cooper.

"But there's nothing else to talk about. You said you trusted me not to hurt anyone."

Pysis' voice sounds hurt, and Cooper fight to remember its not her Pysis.

It might not be, but it’s still a Pysis, and a Pysis another Cooper cared about. She, herself, looks a little saddened at her hurt. “Yes, but that doesn’t mean that other people will. They’re gonna see you as a threat here, mate. And if you’re gonna defend yourself…”

Syl gives Ion a stern glare seeing that grin. Astral code doesn't trust this paradox in the slightest being an unknown factor in this world. "Cooper is right and they won't know your plan like I said earlier, you just doing things will just cause confusion."

"So, I ask again, Where do you plan on going?"

"Plan? Don't have one." They look Sly in the eyes, expression of amusement and determination.

"I'm just protecting the people I love.

"As for defending myself, that's only just, right?"

"Wait, you just plan on wandering around OPIA.... I'm asking where you're going..." Syl's serious mood is kinda broken for a moment after Ion's statement. He doesn't get why they're just doing that?

she shrugs

"Don't know where I'm going, but here causes too much chaos. Somewhere close by though. "

“Yeah, but…” She turns around, flails her arms in frustration for a bit, and then turns to face them both again. “You’re a Stranger, Ion. OPIA’s gonna have to know that you’re chill. That you’re safe. You… How far do you plan to go to protect us?”

"Do you even know if the fate of this world line even matches yours...." Syl rubbing his forehead steps away from Ion's path. "Just know, If you leave this garden, I will be watching in case you cause trouble in any part of OPIA."

She suppresses a giggle

"I care nothing for OPIA, it has already fallen. As for fate, I will ensure it is broken." Her grin Is toothy. " I'll prove I'm no threat by leaving without hurting anyone, but if you stand in my way..."

"Don't imply threats at me, It would've given me a taste in my mouth tearing apart someone Cooper knows from another world." Syl huffs at that stranger version of Ion, this would've been a fight if Cooper wasn't here and if he didn't know she cares for Pysis. "We have the same goal of protecting the future after all."

"Sure, of course we all have something we want to protect." Her voice is truly sympathetic.

"I'm only here for Cooper, myself--both of us--and a handful of others. I just have few people to protect is all."

as Ion speaks, a pair of robotic arms unfold from her back, extending in placation.

Cooper bows her head slightly. She doesn’t know what to do. Every thought in her head is contradicting each other and it’s awful. The vibes in this place are horrid. And the conversation between her closest friend and , presumably her closest sibling, don’t help. All she ends up being able to do, not really reacting to the arms at the moment, is reach a hand and tug at Ion’s arm.

“… Don’t be stupid about any of this. Okay?”

Ion looks back at Cooper and the hand she grabbed gently squeeze's hers.

"I won't. Just hang tight, kay?"

holographic wings apparat from both arms and harden, and Ion propels herself forward and past Syl.

[17]

Syl feels their back hit the ground and nothing else.

((16-20 4d4 rounds (DC 25)

Syl looks around to find themselves in an empty garden, shadows roiling all around. [They are trapped in a nightmare dreamscape for (11) round of combat, unless the surpass the escape DC (25)]

Ion gently tapped Syl on the forehead and looks back at Cooper again.

"Se ya'!" They say in her tone of voice, and vanish.

((is cooper also trapped here or just syl?

((just Syl

[+1 bond Cooper]

[+1 bond Syl]

((BTY, Syl is asleep, not hurt

Syl breaths heavily looking around the dream. It's happening again... His friends are being stolen-

Again and Again

WhY ArE YoUr So WeAk!?

((OH i thought she was snatched

((Nope, Ion left alone

((okay great i thought the 'hang on' was literal BAHAHHA

Initially being taken aback by the blast, Cooper's stunted for a bit until she notices Syl on the ground. "Syl?!" She slides over and shakes his shoulders. "Syl!"

Stranger left the garden, Southwing. She writes and sends her report over to all OPIA agents.

Syl's body sudden comes back to action but it's not him but his trusty reflection. "Fool, I control Syl while he sleeps." They up and starts to dust off their wielder.

She frowns. "Don't call me a fool, Attie! Sheesh." She rubs her forehead.

"I was talking about that walking paradox, why would I insult my partner's best friend?" Attie raises Syl's eyebrow.

She sighs. "Don't call my walking paradox of a sibling a fool, either." Cooper deflates slightly, still sitting on the floor as she looks over to where they left. "But I guess they already did what I asked 'em not to do."

"Noted but I wouldn't apply the same view as your version of that person on them, they're similar but not the same person." Attie pats Cooper on the shoulder. They get she sees a lot of Pysis in them. "Syl is awake now thanks to you, he just needs to reset a bit.... that dream reminded him of a lot..."

"No, I... I shouldn't. You're right. It was just... A lot. I don't know. But... Thank you." Her eyebrows furrow as she looks up at Attie. "That dream? What happened?"

"Take your time, it would be a lot seeing a sibling gone in that direction even another version of them, I'd feel the same." Attie doesn't stop giving Cooper some physcial comfort but clearly doesn't know what they're doing. "I'd guess one of your siblings abilities is dream based? They'd have some close to that."

"They just... It's strange. They're so... Fixated on this." Attie's... Trying with the physical. Cooper can tell. She just pats the arm they're using as a sort of 'thanks, but that's enough' gesture. But then she frowns further at that comment. Especially because things connect. "That... That's, bad, Attie."

Attie pulls Syl's arm back and nods, slightly understanding that gesture. "Yes... That's the concerning part of this stranger's abilities." They sighs at learning this.

“… Mhm.” She simply nods. Sighs as well. “It’s fine. It’s gonna be fine. They’re fine! They seem fine!” She hops up to her feet, very strained smile on her face.

"Syl is back-" Syl blinks for a moment seeing Cooper like this and frowns at the current affairs as Astral code fills him in internally. "Gods... Uh, Do you need a hug?"

She wipes the edge of her jacket “Nope!” But her head eagerly nods yes.

Syl gives Cooper a hug, not tightly but goes for a soft one since all that happened. He knows what to do when fighting does eventually occur everything will go to shit. "Myo brought them here, they should be able to get them back where they came, so I will join the team to detain them."

Like a balloon, she deflates again in Syl’s arms with a little sigh. “Yeah, I hope so… You be careful with yourself, okay?” She slowly wraps her arms around him back. “I don’t think I’m gonna be much help…”

Syl is more than able to support Cooper's weights and he nods. "Don't worry, I've gotten strong, I can handle this and I probably won't fight by myself... Uh, do you want to rest in the dorm?"

“Yeah, I know…” She nods and releases the hug. “I’m probably gonna do that, yeah. You let me know ASAP if stuff gets outta control though, okay?”

"Mhm, I will alert you when that happens." Syl gives her a thumbs up as he starts to walk away, knowing what will come next. He needs to detain Ion and clean this mess up.

She waves, bows her head, and makes an awesome - albeit, moody - backflip into a lantern, where she lands face-first onto her bed.

A Killjoy Encounter

Killjoy scans OPIA's surroundings perched ontop of the railing like some sort of obtuse gargoyle. An alert has gone through, something big is happening and everything feels wrong. Things seem to be kicking up around him and ending just as fast, he needs to figure out what's going on, he can't just keep running in blind.

There's an impact and a small yelp from far bellow as a glowing and black mass crashes out of a balcony door and zooms up and past you and into the skies high above, then glides down in lazy circles to land in the center of the roof.

Killjoy's ESP flairs to life around him, trails of light crackle as he jumps down from the railing. He takes a low stance, his reflection manifesting in his hand, a kukri that seems to blur at the edges of reality.

He watches the figure.

Ion takes a deep breath and runs over to the edge of the building, their back to Killjoy. She leans dangerously over the railing, no sign of the wings that bore her up here.

"Whooo! Haven't seen this view in forever!"

(Killjoy has a move for studying enemies, may I attempt to use it?)

(( go ahead

(So far it has been opposed rolls to Do when I have done this, his attempt is a 21)

[11] what do you want to know?

(What do they seem to want to gain from this, because so far this seems to just be a joy ride for them)

((yes

((they have no discernable goal aside from exploring OPIA

"......."

He gets close but maintains a clear distance before speaking up.

"Can't say I ever remembered seeing someone like you here."

She turns to face him and gives a sly grin.

"That's cause you haven't met me yet, Killjoy the killjoy." she giggles.

He squints below the mask, nothing about this is right.

This apocalypse better not involve time travel.

"...That so?"

"Were you causing as much trouble before?"

"Yeah. You should go to therapy, I hear OPIA's got some good ones." toothy grin

"And yeah, that was me."

"Wanna fight about it?" lears

"If you're gonna be a problem, I'm gonna do my job."

"Simple as that."

The ESP starts to ignite back up.

"Oh, I wont be any problem for you." Their tone is mocking fear.

A pair or robotic arm unfurl from their back and alight with bright teal hologram glow

He takes a deep breath. Just another day.

He goes back into that low stance, and kicks off the ground, using the building tension within his body to fire off like a bullet.

The arms whip around and a holographic curtain drops down and hardens

[Killjoy's attack is reflected back at them]

(So he just takes the damage he would have gave?)

((yup

Killjoy grits his teeth and rebounds off the curtain.

God damn it, god damn it. You're doing it again. Focus

Ion giggles wand watches them with an amused expression

Killjoy stares back with an aggravated one.

"Come on, or are you done?" She beckons, inviting his next attack.

He Pushes himself off of the railing and dashes up the walls and goes to drop down with an axe kick!

However, right before he gets close enough for that arm to swipe out, he seemingly blinks back to where he was! Gripping onto his reflection that was lodged in the railing. He instead using this as an opportunity to further study how that move works.

Ion has not moved other than to watch Killjoy. She still stands in her radiant bubble, bemused.

He circles around. Inspecting it for any sort of opening, but I assume he finds it looks exactly the same all the way around.

The hard light hologram extends from the robotic arm on their back and decends from the fingers, draped around them like bat wings. The only visible opening is on their back, which is pressed against the railing.

What's the nearest thing behind that railing?

((open air? idk

(fair enough. )

Killjoy Is going to speed towards her, lower his own gravity using it to push himself off the ground in a leap. As he descends he's going to increase his gravity, lock onto the back of the railing and try to punch her while her back is exposed.

(Is his attack reflected?

(where is he aiming specificaly?

(The middle of where the "bat wings" are coming out of.)

[17]

Killjoy impacts the metal casing built into Ion's back as they suddenly duck and flare their wings, and his attack glances off. The momentum caries him over them and back to square one.

(Does it do damage or just push him back?)

(( the attack is not reflected, Killjoy just glances off as they dodge.

(understood.)

He tilts his head, how has her demeanor changed after that?

Their expression hasn't changed

Her wings furl again and return to their position.

"Nice one."

He immediately resumes the low stance.

"......."

He watches.

"You got a pain of an ability there."

"Awww, thank you." She places a hand to her chest and coos. It's a bit sarcastic.

He dashes in again, the moment more of that incessant demonic sass starts to creep up. Going for another punch as he turns into blur of movement. Fully expecting the curtain to go drop again and instead teleports to Ignis Fatuus that he stuck in the wall below the railing. Where he's just going to shoot her with his echo weapon in that opening.

[26]

A translucent wing comes up and the attack bounces back again, a smirk growing into a laugh on Ion's face.

(So I take the damage I would have dealt?)

((yup

Killjoy swings back, impacting against the wall with a crack as air hisses out form between his teeth. He grips Ignis Fatuus and pulls it out of the wall.

This is not my week.

He swings himself up, re-orientating himself. She facing towards him like a mocking jackass?

Ion looks at Killjoy, concern creeping at the edges of their face

"You want to keep young?"

"No point thinking about the future till, we make sure we have one."

"At this point I'll take the opportunity to live and grow old a blessing, sure as hell don't act like I'm gonna get to."

She tilts her head and gives you a confused grin

"I haven't attacked you once. If you walk away and leave me be this can end without you hurting yourself further."

Killjoy

BOT

— Today at 7:49 PM

Killjoy lets out a low mirthless laugh.

"If you really do know me, you should already know what I'd say to that."

Ion grins with all her teeth.

"Worth a shot, right?"

"You had your intentions clear enough at the start of this."

"If you're causing trouble for kicks I'm just gonna need to live up to my callsign, now aren't I?"

"Trouble?" Her tone is offended.

"I'll have you know I am not causing trouble. I'm having a look around to make sure everything is where I remember. Its like... coming home." He looks out over OPIA, a wistful and calm expression.

"Most homecomings don't involve a building wide alert and screaming."

"Not even Beleth was like that."

"Don't know who that is, but this is on you guys. I just wanted a self guided tour and I'd be on my way. It's not my fault you're all so jumpy." He shrugs, cockily.

"Beleth is a country, swamp full of monsters."

"....you actively goaded me into fight, you clearly wanted this to be part of the experience."

"I know you and what you want. Are you telling me i was wrong." Their attitude is steeped in arrogance.

"I can certainly tell you that you've thought next to none of this through."

"Nope, I did not think of any of this. The person who did.. well that'll burn you." They hiss

"Great."

"Same shit, different demon."

"Do you want to know or not?" They lean back, wings still poised for defense.

"You know what fine, fucking enlighten me."

"I saw the world end, and my Pyromancer decided the losses were too great. OPIA has already fallen. My memories contained the ability to send me back to a time before we lost everything, and so here I am." He flourishes outward, wings and hands spread.

"I am here to save the select few that are the key to the survival of more. Thank Laughter for that."

[3d6 burn]

"On the grave of the god we're standing on why the HELL does this apocalypse need to be so complicated!"

Exasperates shrug "No one promised it would be easy, but that why OPIA exists."

He sighs. Shaking away the haze this information started to bring on,

"Just one thing after another."

"Well, If you'll be excusing me then, you should probably get checked out." With a manic grin Ion flips over the edge of the railing and glides away to another part of OPIA.

Jumping the Bunny

Eden sits with her feet on the ground for once at her usual post. She's less laid back than usual due to the potential stranger around. As far as she's aware the best thing she can do is keep her head down and shoo the public away from the building.

If she ever comes into contact with the stranger herself... She's supposed to either run or hide.

Stranger of Irony

There is the sound of rushing wings out front and feet impacting concrete. A dark figure born on glowing winds touches down in front of the doors and strolls into the building.

Eden averts her eyes from the presence, and quickly ducks beneath the desk.

Her heart starts to beat faster, mostly from panic

Boots click across the lobby, languid and slow, but approaching the desk. They stop close to where Eden is crouched and she hears a gentle tap on the counter.

"Eden?" Asks Pysis voice.

That is not what she expected to hear, at all. "Pysis?!" She asks in hushed confusion

"Are you here?"

The tone is familiar, but wrong

"Y-Yes?"

there is sound of a gentle laugh

"Are you hiding under your desk? What are you doing down there?"

"Hiding, from whatever that thing was... did you not hear the announcement that there's a stranger in the building?" She asks incredulously

"Well, yes..."

again, familiar but off

"Mind if I come around?"

"...Sure" She scooches to the side, expecting them to sit next to her.

the sound of boots rounds the desk and stop. Above Eden stands the Stranger, smiling gently down at her

"Nice to see you again, Eden."

Eden isn't wearing her usual expression, her feeling of shock and confusion are completely visible on her face.

"What... Pysis are you ok?" |That is them... right? it sounds like them... it kinda looks like them.|

"I'm fine, and so is the other me." They join you on the floor, sitting cross-legged.

"The one you know." She clarifies, with a smile.

|What?| Despite the strangeness of the situation, she doesn't feel threatened.

"So... what, you're a different one?"

She nods

"I'm a future them that I honestly don't want them to become. I can't tell you too much without causing burn, but I hope you can trust I don't want to hurt anyone."

She smiles at you, the same way Pysis does

She hesitates, processing a lot of information, before nodding slowly.

The smile widens, and then she leans in close."

"Can I tell you something."They pantomime the tone Pysis uses to ask Eden questions.*

|Egh| Something about that rubs her the wrong way "You can just... not like that."

"Don't force it..."

she nods and focuses closely on Eden's face

"I love you."

That phrase is full of emotion, true affection and a bit of sadness

She looks... very surprised.

|What... is that how current Pysis feels?|

"You might have noticed I'm an idiot, the me you know, so I didn't want to wait. I want you to know what Pysis has yet to realize."

They ramble, sadness evident in their face

She... isn't sure what to do with that.

"I'm not asking you to do anything." They get a bit panicked.

"I just wanted to tell you properly because--" She cuts herself off.

"Because it took you a long time?"

She offers them an out.

she takes it

"Yes." then she laughs

"I'm such and idiot, huh? In any time."

"I wouldn't say that..."

her tone quiets "You're only working with part of your memories right?"

"That isn't your fault."

"No, it is." She rebutes, relaxing against the foot of the desk.

"Just cause I can't recall the first year of my life is no excuse for being obvious to my own feelings. I was--am--a therapist, for crying out loud." They smile in annoyance.

"Still, don't call yourself an idiot."

"Even you must admit I'm oblivious, right?" They look at Eden sideways.

"Honestly? No, I didn't pick up on that..."

"I figured it was just, an eccentricity since you didn't have many friends at first."

she shrugs

"Maybe at first, but by this point I definitely had grown feelings for you but did not know how to approach those, so just pretend they were what I felt for a good friend."

her face goes dark, very unlike Pysis.

"You don't deserve that, me denying you."

"Denying me..." She thinks about the implications of that.

"Honestly, you deserve the best, and I don't think that's us--Pysis I mean."

She stands up and looks over at the door, checking for pursuers

" A fool in love is still a fool. "

"Why do people keep saying that..."

she looks down and smiles

"I can't tell you what to do, only what I think. If you think you'd be happy with Pysis, I'd agree. But having been them, I'm not sure I trust us."

"..."

"You just keep making things harder..."

"First I didn't know, and when I do, you tell me I shouldn't it's..."

"A lot at once" She looks away

she extends a hand down to you

"I trust you, and I trust me. Eden, my feelings never changed. I just don't like the idea of them hurting you--anyone hurting you. I'm sorry if I have."

there is so much sorrow and regret in their voice.

"You just said you didn't trust yourself... so which is it?"

"Pysis. I don't trust Pysis. I'm Ion, and Eden Gambit is more than a friend to me."

The smile is soft

A part of her chest tightens "This isn't how I expected my day to go..."

a low giggle

"I'm sorry, really. I didn't mean to spring this on you before our first date. You don't need to respond, hopefully you'll see me around."

"And... I'll get to see you."

Wow that just made things so much weirder for her.

"Uh... yeah? maybe?"

"Are you not... going back?"

There is so much uncertainty in her tone

"Not if I can help it!" She laughs.

She sighs, she doesn't look happy.

"I don't know what to do..."

"Nothing, if that's easier. I have no intention of foisting responsibility for my feelings on you, and Pysis won't catch on for a few years." They chuckle mirthlessly and sigh.

"Do whatever you want."

"That... doesn't make it easier."

"It feels like if I was interested, then I'd have to pick between the two of you and that's..."

"Really not something I'm looking foward to."

"Then don't worry about it. You and I are the only ones who'll ever know." They wink.

"Now, I should probably head out before Killjoy the killjoy finds me." their tone is playful

"Uh... yeah." She sounds tired.

"Just... don't die please?" She asks, looking up at her.

ION kneels down

"I won't, I promise. Can I get a hug for good luck though?" She tentatively opens her arms.

She's still sitting down, but she leans foward to hug her.

A small part of her wants to cry.

Ion gently accepts the hug and pat Eden's back.

"Thanks Eden."

"You're welcome..." She pauses as something occurs to her "What should I call you?"

"Ion probably." She laughs

She lets the name sink in for a moment. "Ok then, good luck Ion."

she gives Eden one more squeeze and stands up

"See you around." They vault over the desk and trot off.

"Mhm" After they leave, Eden is left to stew in her around thoughts, as she hugs her knees under her desk

Backfire and Flame

Ais stands in the middle of the evacuated hospital lobby, acting as a stalwart first line of contact to stop the Stranger should it show up to hurn any of the patients

She stands resolute

And ready

*A low whistle sounds deeper down the hall. The Stranger emerges and looks around, a wide grin.

"Been ages since I've seen this. Oh!" They look at the desk but see Ais and freeze.

"Hello." He waves.

"Hello. You must be the stranger?"

"That what it says on my name tag." He jokes.

"May I ask why?"

"Why you're here, I mean.."

"To save people." Their tone is genuine and they look happy Ais asked.

"May I ask how?"

"How you intend to save people, I mean."

He considers this.

"Not quite sure yet. Might get in the Derelict's way, might prevent OPIA from starting fights it can't win. Probably wont do either." They glance askance.

"Do you want to stop me too?"

"I can't allow you to take one more step in this direction"

Ais takes off their jacket, and throws it behind them

"Aww, really?" They sound tired and upset.

"But this is where we first met? And you're just going to step on those precious memories?"

"Ah..... If I've met you before... "

"Then.... with that body type...."

"are... are you Pysis? or some form of them?"

"Ding, ding! A version of Pysis, at least. I'm far removed from the one up in that little office, but we are still the same person at our core." They place a gratuitous hand to their chest.

"So you are their memory donor?"

Their face goes blank for a moment, like they'd just gone offline.

"Yes." The say, unconvincingly.

"Ah.."

"Well then what are you, if not that?"

"You're no fun. I guess you could call me the ghost of days to come?"

[1d6 burn]

"Ah. Future"

Ion grins and bows

"I much prefer our Pysis, if I am able to say such a thing"

"How nice of you. Honestly, I prefer them too."

"Either way, if you are the reverse of Pysis, then..."

Ais smiles

"You must be a good fight, no?"

A shiver runs down his back has Ion remembers what happens when Ais fights.

"I'd like to think so." They take a cautious step back.

"Good"

the room gets warmer

"then I can go all out"

As Ais begins to Burn

Ion raises their wings and the shadows at their feet writhe, reacting to the flame.

Ais disappears from vision, appearing directly above Irony's head, and preforming an Axe Kick directly on the undefended portion of their head

And strikes with great force

"Ow!" Ion ducks down and raises their wings into an unbrella barrier, between Ais and her target. The shadows at their feet leap up and take on their form. Five shadowy strangers reach for her.

"Shit" They rub their head.

Ais gets hit by the shadows, taking some damage from their grasp, but staying on her feet, said feet being on top of Ironys head

"Mind getting off." They look up at Ais through their wings.

If you want me too

"Please." They hiss, mockingly.

"ok!"

Ais jumps off Irony's wings, launching to around 10ft away

"Many thanks." He hisses, anger growing on a still smiling face.

He slowly stands and prepares for another attack.

((as Syl and Kill joy run in from opposite directions

Ais runs straight for Irony, rushing directly towards his front

Syl was busy dealing with matters in the hospital but after finishing notices the fighting started in the lobby. He runs in from the direction behind Ais. "Shoot, Sorry if I'm late-" Syl joins combat fully next round.

Like a comet Killjoy barrels into the room, running along the ceiling.

as she approaches, she gets in low to the ground, strikes under the wings to hit them directly in the stomach

Ais is now low

Ion's face grits in pain, rage apparent.

"Enough."

The wings dissipate and long blades protrudes from their arms. They swing down.

Ais swings her body to the left, smoothly transitioning to standing upright, then into falling into a ginga step

Ion grins as she dodges and Ais feels the world slip away.

[21+ 5d4 rounds (DC 30)]

[Ais is asleep for 10 round]

Ion sights Syl and Killjoy as they enter and Ais beigins to drop. He relights his wings and puts distance between himself and all three OPIA agents.

"Well this is getting crowded." He laughs nervously.

"If you just cooperate, this will be a lot easier."

"Yeah, well if you all stopped attacking me maybe I would." He snears.

"Stop looking for a fight then."

"I'm not! I was just looking around, like I said!" He's smiling but the frustration makes Ion's tone malicious.

"You essentially broke into a highly restricted building and went on a joyride. People don't like that.

"Ask Myo about how I got in, they brought me here." Ion puts more distance, getting farther away from Ais and Syl.

"And you run off instead of letting us process the situation."

He moves to make sure he's in the way of whatever route Ion is trying to go through.

Ion banks and starts running as Killjoy cuts him off, making sure a wing is between them.

"I'll stop running if you ask nicely."

"Please stop."

"I don't want any more problems, especially in a hospital lobby."

"Okay." They grin widely and stop short, then look worried.

Killjoy feels something push on their mind, urging him to stop as well [5], but the sensation just causes him to slow down. Ion is stood still, expression of frustration.

"Damn."

"......."

He walks over.

Ion does not move, though he appears to be trying

He looks over to the wings.

Anything that seems like he could shut it off?

<there is neither seam or switch on the wings, and touching them does not yield any information to their function>

internal functions, makes sense.

Ais' eyes open and she gets up of the ground

He looks over, logging the situation change.

Ion's eyes follow Killjoy's movements sharply.

Syl was looking at Ais during that whole moment and backs up when she starts to get back up. "You got hit by that nightmare effect too?" He says while Astral code appears by his side. "So..." He turns to Ion with a serious glare. "You really like putting people in those."

He sticks a hand up at the attempt to talk.

He sticks his young out at Syl, remaining silent.

Gestures for something to restrain the stranger.

Tilting his head at Syl or Ais.

"Oh, come on." Ion grumbles at Killjoy, pouting.

Syl holds out his hands and forms some form of chain out of space? It's actually a type of chain weapon but this will do for this stranger. He walks over with it. "Will this do?"

Does the shoosh motion towards Ion.

He shrugs.

"Sure, fine. Yes that might do it, Syl?" He grins.

Updating....

[lealrumination]

Æon

Reflection World 9

Q&A:

Why are you and Jaws always at each other's throat?

Æon: “We cuss each other out because it lets us know we can still trust each other. The day I call that old man Jaws to his face is the day he knows I've gone soft, and he can't trust me on the battlefield. He knows I'll do what I need to, even if that means cutting a blazing line of oblivion each in front of his face; He won't move an inch. Likewise, the sound of his gunfire is my marching tune. As long as I hear it, I know I can charge forward without a care in the world, but the moment it stops, so do I.”

What's the most personal thing you know about him?

Æon: “I've only ever seen him drunk once. It was the morning after we'd lost a big battle. He'd been drinking all night, and I made the mistake of asking him about his family, and he told me about how his brother got killed. As soon as he sobered up, he gave me a black eye for that. I deserved it.”

Do you two ever get along?

Æon: “Hell yeah, we do! After every fight, we hit the shower together and then the bar. That mountain of a man could drink me under the table 5 times over, but humors me and takes it slow. He’ll full-body throw me at my bunk when I'm done drinking so he can go have fun on his own. Most men wouldn't even bother taking me to my own bed, let alone leaving me there…”

What’s with the chest wraps?

Æon: “Jaw is one of three or four people who knows what is under them. During a demon strike, I was attacked and the demon took its claws to my chest, nearly taking the rib cage with the flesh. It is a large and unsightly scar. I’m not proud of it, because I got it when I froze in the face of danger, and nearly died because of it.”

What was your family like?

Æon: “They were normal I guess. Farmers, honest folk. We lost everything in an attack… some of us more than others. They lost their lives and I lost my world and full lung capacity. Worst top surgery ever! Ha ha…”

Where’d you get that scar?

Æon: “The one on my hip was from my first battle, before I found my partner Nameless. The guy next to me started panicking and then just exploded, completely unprompted. Tore a hole in my side, but I got the fancy sword he’d been carrying.”

What do you carry while traveling between jobs?

Æon: “I walk and hitchhike most of the time, so I travel light. In my pack I've got two blankets, a collapsible cot frame, a tarp and rope for rainy days, a first aid kit, alcohol for cleaning and cold nights, a sewing kit, two thermoses of water, and usually a week's worth of food. I’ve also got part of a fishing net to carry the spoils of a fight. Some weirdo’s will pay well for a severed demon limb.”

Do you keep any mementos of your family?

Æon: “I kept my Pa’s knife, Ma’s sewing kit, and the pack Grammie made for Grand Da.”

Scenes

Doctor’s Orders

The demon is standing in front of them, towering and solid, yet wavering like a mirage at the edge of the fields. There's something underneath it, blood on its claws, blood on its face. It's looking at Æon.

Æon can't move. They're frozen in place as the demon slowly approaches and reaches for them through their dreams. They can't breathe, and it hurts.

All of a sudden, they are gasping for burning breaths of pain and staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling. Tears pour from their eyes and a strangled cry of fear and pain is all they can muster to let whoever is nearby know they are awake and alive.

The ceiling is tiled in white, with fluorescent lighting. They can hear a light fan. The cool air is comfortable. The bed is comfortable, at least somewhat. It's clearly clean, being a stark hospital white. The light beep of a monitor can be heard from the right, and beside that monitor is an IV drip currently connected to their arm. There aren't any other patients to the left or right, just two more beds and a large door with a proportional latch lock. The light clacking of keys can be heard from the front, but you can't see where it's coming from, not unless you sit up.

Æon gasps for air. Was it always this hard to breathe? The clean environment is reassuring even though they've never seen anywhere this free of sand and dirt. The more they look at it, the more unsettling it becomes. Adrenaline rises in their body, and pain be damned, they force themselves into an upright position to look around for their captor or savior.

Clacking away at a computer is a very tall woman. Her long jacket is also white, like a lab coat in leather. Her unkempt blond hair is kept in a high ponytail, she's leaning over the table intensely focused. She hears Æon's movement, and whirls around her eyes gleaming. Emblazoned on the chest of her white jacket is a large red health cross. "Ah, you're awa- *lie back down!*" Her excitement turns to a sort of disappointed anger. "What do you think you're doing!? You are in no state to be sitting like that." She frowns, then sighs. It's clear she's dealt with stuff like this a lot.

Short quick breaths make it sound like they’re having a panic attack, but Æon is just struggling to get a good breath in. They are panicking a little as well. As the woman turns and shouts at them they flinch and their instinct is to run, but Æon just falls over in the bed, the after effects of anemia giving them vertigo. Wide and scared green eyes watch the doctor with a mix of awe and fear.

“Where… s’here…?” they force out through a recently collapsed and re-inflated lung.

She looks at them, and is suddenly filled with guilt.

"Ah. . shi- I'm sorry." She looks down, disappointed in herself.

"Please try to relax. . I know I'm probably not helping much."

She recognizes the question.

"Ah." She looks back up at them, somewhat apologetically. "You're in my truck right now. It's a mobile treatment center.”

Æon’s eyes trace the contours of the space, slowly relaxing. Nothing here feels familiar, but it does feel a lot safer than the family's stone and tarp house. That demon had torn through their cozy hovel lille paper… and they had done the same to Æon. Their chest and shoulders ache and throb, the sudden motions having aggravated the wounds under tight bandages. They bring one shaking hand up to their chest, feeling the barrier keeping in a radiating heat that comes off the wound.

She cringes at that.

"P-please don't touch that? We *really* don't want to aggravate it." She's kind of walking on eggshells around them.

Æon stares at the bandages dumbly and drops their hand, rolling back onto the pillow.

“How…?” *How did you save me?*

She thinks of how to answer that.

"I am a Doctor." She answers simply.

"I did what I could. I . . I'm sorry about your lungs. And . . .for everything else I couldn't save properly.”

“S’fine… didn’t… need ‘em… he he-hack!” Æon tries to laugh but it tickles their lungs and throws them into a coughing fit. It burns and makes breathing more painful, so Æon buries their face in the pillow, trying to regulate their breath enough to stop.

She looks a little worried, and hurries over to their side.

“Ah. Uh. Would you like some painkillers? I don’t usually give them to recovering patients, but your injuries seem to be a lot more painful than normal.” She explains.

Æon gasps and nods, a small wine escaping them. It really does hurt to nearly lose a fourth of one’s body. They calm down and try to hold very still as they watch the doctor. They are taking this very well for a nineteen year old, but this is the outer reaches of the wastelands, the edge of life. This is certainly not the first time they have experienced loss.

“Please…” They ask quietly.

She feels extremely guilty for not using it in the first place but. . It’s the wastes. Gotta conserve what you can. “You okay with needles?” She asks nervously. “Just a nod or shake. You don’t gotta keep talking.”

Their expression tightens at the mention of needles, and an intense debate takes place behind a mask of bravery. After a moment Æon slowly nods and closes their eyes. Anything but dark water and needles is fine, but those are the two things that scare them the most. Demons too now, but that is something that can be faced head on and killed once they are better.

She notices this. Salves? Ingestion? "Alright. Can you open your mouth?" She grabs something from the upper shelf.

Confused and with needles still on the mind they do so. Æon’s eyes remain closed…

"Now please. Swallow this as soon as it hits your tongue." She pours a few drops of something into their mouth.

They do. As the tasteless substance enters their mouth, Æon opens their eyes. They look at the nameless doctor with confusion, unsure if this takes the place of or precedes the needle.

Soon, a warm feeling flows through their body, as the pain melts away.

"There . . . I won't give you much more though. It's really rare, so I can't waste much of it. And I don't want you to become reliant on it too!" she stutters her way through this sentiment.

Æon barely hears her as relief washes over them like a sandstorm, clouding their find with a welcome fuzziness. They nod as their eyes droop and they begin to slip out of consciousness. The pain had been keeping them awake, so without that the fatigue begins to take over.

“Thanks… Doc…?” They look confused and offer a calloused hand.

“Æon… s’me…”

Ah. Right. Names. "I'm Aleks." She smiles, gently shaking their hands. "That's a hell of a name." The gentle beep of the heart monitor can still be heard.

"M'h...." They nod.

"Thanks... Aleks…”Æon collapses into a deep sleep of fever dreams mixed with burn hallucinations.

Welp. Back to work. She goes back to updating their files, and updating her research.

"Sleep well Æon." She says gently.

When next Æon woke they were feeling much better and insisted on sitting up in the cot. Getting used to their new state of being and regulating how much activity was the difference between therapy and overdoing it was going to be hard for them.

“I feel fine Doc… really. Barely breathless.” They say softly, still adjusting to the necessary volume.

“Pain is… good too.”

"Good, good." She writes in a digital notebook.

"I'm glad you're feeling better." She looks up, smiling at them brightly. "We still need to do some physiotherapy.”

“Exercise… I can do that.” They move to stand up.

She gently helps them up, and gets them over to her open space set up for just this purpose. The truck rustles slightly. "Remember, don't be afraid to ask for help. We need to take this slow to make sure you recover properly.”

“I'll be fine.” Æon uneasily stands and walks around, the only injury having been on the upper half of their body. Moving isn't the issue, though, it's that Æon cannot get used to not being able to move as much as before. After a certain point, their breathing becomes shallow and labored as they struggle to take deep enough breaths to provide the oxygen their body needs for the physical output they exert.

“I feel… like a ger… geriatric bag… of bones… in the desert!” They bend over, hands on their knees.

“That’s certainly a colorful way to put it.” She giggles slightly, offering them a hand. “Don’t worry. We just need to get you used to the new capacity, and exert it to make it better at doing its thing.”

They take the offered hand and sit down with a grunt of discomfort.

“I need… to… go get that… demon… I refuse… to life in fear.” Their hands shake.

“So your plan is to die?” She asks, with full piss and vinegar.

"Because if you don't wait and *heal* then that's what will happen.”

They shake their head.

“I would… like this. I’ll get… get stronger… I have to.” Æon looks at the floor sternly.

“I’m gonna… kill that bastard.”

"Do you have too? I'm not sure if it's even still *alive*." She's clearly exasperated. "God what is it with you wastelanders and *needing to get revenge* or some shit.”

Æon looks up at her with a curious and suspicious expression.

“Dr Aleks… have you ever… lost some… one. Been unable… to fix… something?”

"Of course. I'm a doctor." She scoffs.

"Especially in the wastes, you need to get used to losing patients. And that's not counting . . .my life before this career choice.”

“Then you should… understand.” They snap.

“We wastelanders… get revenge… payback… because there's no… nothing else out here. If you can't… fix it… you make sure… it doesn't break… again. If you… lose something, you make… sure you don't… lose… anything else the same… way. No graves… in the wastes… because we can… cannot spare… the resources to mourn.” Æon gasps after that exertion of breath, glad they’re already sitting.

She frowns. It's clear she . . . dislikes this philosophy. "Do you know why this world is like this?”

"Because none of these fools can even make the choice to share. We all just fight and fight over scraps, ignoring the fact that if we worked together we'd be able to create a world that's better for us all.”

“Does… it… matter?” Æon pants.

“Not my… fault… just my… life.” they sigh.

She sighs as well. "It isn't your fault, no. I understand this want for revenge. But. . . I ask you to put yourself above it. Not to lose yourself in it.”

They shake their head.

“If I die… there’s no one… to get my revenge. I’ll get strong… and be careful… its my goal, not… my death.” They have a determined look in their eyes, that of someone dedicated to improving their situation.

"Then here's a prescription for you. Get people to work with." She sighs. She needs a smoke.

"Everybody needs somebody to pick them up sometimes. And. . I believe the soul is helped when you pick somebody else up." She smirks.

Æon looks up at her. They are in the wastes, near the ruins of Æon’s home, the only land they have ever known. The nearest thing resembling civilization is the battlefront, two day’s travel west.

“Not sure… that’ll work out… Doc. There’s only… you and me as… far as the eye sees. Plus… Pa always said… humans are… cut-throat assholes… when resources… are scarce.”

Good thing she isn't exactly that.

"There are still good people. Besides, if you'd like, you can travel with me for a bit." She doesn't want to hold them back or anything.

“If you’re offering.” They shrug. Æon does think Dr. Aleks is strange for their altruism, but wherever Pa flew into a ranting rage about how horrible people could be Gramie did say some folk were nice, so it’s not too strange.

“I need… to take care of the… mess though.” They look in the direction of the unseen remains of their house and farm.

"In what way?" She's confused as to what purpose going back home would take.

“Gotta… clean up… gather whatever is… salvageable. Waste not want not in… the wastes. Hehehe.” Æon laughs softly.

“That and… my parents' personal… effects.” they say on a more somber note. “Their wedding bands… should help cover… your fee.”

"Fee?" She asks, confused. "I don't need anything for this. I don't do this for money. Though donations are appreciated." She giggles slightly (hopefully) clearly joking.

Æon gets the joke but still shakes their head.

“Gotta… pay it forward.” They gesture to the truck and medical equipment.

“This can’t be… cheap, and I… have no need of the rings. Better… sell them and keep in touch.” They give Aleks an honest smile.

"I see. . . you're a good person. That means you owe me nothing, except being true to yourself. I would appreciate the help." She has some more thinking.

"If you'd like, you may learn to help me maintain it?" A thought comes across her mind like a flash of lighting. 'I could use a nurse'. Where did that come from? Ah she needs to respond.

"If that is the case, then I'll accept it.”

They shake their head again.

“You don’t like… our revenge. I can't live… freely without it. Thank you, but… no.”

She looks guilty. "I see. . . I can't force you to do anything.”

"I'd still like to remain in touch. Or try to.”

“I’ll try Doc.”

Æon collected what was salvageable from the farm, covered the well for whatever unfortunate soul may someday stumble across the ruins, and left with Dr. Aleks. They stayed with her until they were strong enough to defend themself and set out to find work as a mercenary.

Shot Through

Months later, Æon knocks on the door to a now familiar triage truck. Their pack rests next to them, drug all the way since carrying it on their back would have been worse for the dripping hole in the side of the body. A shining blue sword is held in one hand while the other presses a blanket over the injury. They wait patiently and sheepishly for Dr. Aleks to answer the door.

A slot on the door opens. “Excuse me, do you n- *Kid?!*” Surprise, hope, and joy fill her voice. Then she looks down at the wounds. “Not again.” She sighs, like a disappointed parent. The slot closed, but you can still hear the face palm. The door opens slightly after, and they are ushered inside.

“Hey, Doc. Sorry to surprise you like this.” They enter the truck and carefully set Nameless aside with their pack.

“Had a bit of an accident in the raid last night. I couldn’t stop it so I thought I’d come give you some business.”

"It's fine, I'd rather me than some other random quack." If you care to notice, a lot of this place has been shifted around. There are only two patient beds, and where the shipping container originally ended there is now an actual wall. It's also been expanded somewhat, with some new tech here and there. She fusses over Æon, beginning the process of dressing their wounds after instructing them to sit on the bed.

“Nice to see things are going well for you.” They sit down and hold very still as Dr. Aleks addresses the gunshot. It didn’t hit anything vital, but is far too close to some crucial arteries and organs for comfort. Æon is clearly a bit woozy, but they appear to be doing far better than when the two last parted ways.

"so. You're doing better. I hope." She worriedly tries to make conversation, distracting them from her actions. She mumbles to herself: "Oh. Yep. That's deeeep.”

"Lets get you onto the bed so I can start prepping for surgery. Can I do that?”

“Yeah, whatever ya need.” they follow her directions and lay down, removing the lightly damaged leather jacket, trailing scarf, and the chest wrapping. Once cleaned, it doesn’t look too bad.

She puts up the screen, then hands them a small phial of something. "This is going to taste bad. Please drink it all.”

“Can’t be worse than the drinks the old man orders at the bar.” They laugh and choke it down with a sputter.

“God's no! This shit’s way worse.” Æon wines, but fishies it all.

“it’s supposed to be.” She sighs. The painkiller activates within their system. She gives it a few seconds. Then begins to work. “Can you feel this?

“Keee! Yeah… a bit. It’s fading though. Wow, could I get some of that stuff? It’s rancid but that would be so useful.” Æon half jokes as they relax, eyes closed so they can’t see what happens.

“Good.” She begins carefully removing the bullet. “And I specifically designed it to taste bad so you don’t want it.” She frowns.

“I might have more of it, but I still don’t have much.”

“I’m kidding. Mostly.” They sigh.

“Gods, between you, the old dude, and Boss, it’s like my parents never left.”

She hears that. God she really does need a fucking smoke. Is she. Crying?

“O-oh.” Shit how does she respond to that?

“Well, you remind me of me when I was younger. So, that makes sense.” She offers a shaky smirk. It’s clear that had an effect on her.

Eyes still closed they turn to face her.

“Sorry if that makes you uncomfortable, and if you ever meet them please don’t tell. The old guy would never let forget it and Boss might actually get offended. They’re both such wussies for such big men.” Æon smirks cheekily.

“Heh. That’d be funny.” She thinks. She should be honest. “It didn’t make me uncomfortable. It actually made me happy.” She says sheepishly.

“Don’t know why it would. I’m a certified pain in the ass.” They say almost proudly.

“That’s… actually kind of *part* of the reason I got shot.” They offer less proudly.

She frowns at the joke. “Speaking about that. Please stop getting shot *quite* so much. It makes me worried. And I don’t know. You’re not *quite* so much a pain as you say.”

“If the old man can clear the field sooner than next year, I wouldn’t have so much trouble. He chewed me out plenty for this one, even took his time carrying me off the field to lecture me. It shouldn’t happen again, but only when I’m working with him or Boss.” They pout.

She worriedly looks. “Why is that man even still working if he can’t do his job.” She sighs.

“He can. Like I said, it was at least *partly* my fault. I ran out before the signal.” Æon sighs heavily.

“He’s trustworthy, I’ll vouch for that.”

“Ok. Ok. Good.” She nods, satisfied in that answer. “Please, stay safe. I’m putting my faith into you to stay safe. And. . . If you ever need backup. Call me.”

“Yeah? Cause I bring you *sooo* much business?” They joke.

“I’ll be fine Doc. Got my partner and the Boss looking out for me. The old dude too, if we’re getting payed.” Æon gestures vaguely in the direction of Nameless.

“I mean it. I’m not just some . . . Quack. I can handle myself.” She frowns. Then that frown turns into a smile. “And no. It’s cause I actually like you kid.” She ruffles their hair affectionately.

Æon laughs.

“Bold confessions when your forceps are in my gut. Plus I’m pretty sure you’re too old for me Doc.” They joke and try to flatten their already fluffy, messy hair. The top of the auburn strands have been bleached gold after only a few months in the relentless sun. It’s good camouflage.

She laughs with them. “I’m pretty sure kid disqualified it in *that* context.” It’s clear She appreciates the joke.

“Good.” Æon grins and lets out a bored sigh, eyes still shut tight.

“How’s it looking by the way? Do I get to keep the side of my body?”

"You're fine, for now at least. I removed the bullet, now I'm patching up this wound. Mind if I give you a full checkup?" She says, keeping a relaxed voice.

“Yeah fine.” They shrug and dare to look.

Theres a screen between them and the wound.

*When was that put up? Was it there the whole time?* Æon relaxes.

“You expecting to find something else? Maybe that rock I ate last week?” They joke.

"No, I just know that if you don't trust your medic with this they probably didn't do a good job. Or. Gods forbid *do you have a medic*?" She asks worriedly.

“Tehee.”

"Please tell me you do!”

"I will neither confirm nor deign the presence of a medic" They hide behind the curtain.

"Welp. If you don't, you do now." She sighs.

“Really?” Æon looks back at her.

“You don't need to…”

"I want too." It's clear she legitimately wants to. "Somebody needs to patch you up when you get shot. Which happens a lot. *Apparently*.”

“It doesn't happen that much…” they grumble and pout.

“Im just getting used to using Nameless and actually having people I can trust.”

"If it happens enough for you to joke, it happens too much." She jokes. "How *is* that sword treating you?”

*Nameless vibrates*

"He says he treats me 'like a god damn prince'." Æon translates.

"I say he treats me pretty good. It's kind of nice to gain a reputation as the nameless swordsman of oblivion.”

"Namless swordsman of oblivion. Yeah. Cool title. Still going to call you Kid." She giggles.

"I thought as much." They fakes a grumble.

"That old shit calls me Twink, and Boss calls me boy. I guess calling people by their given name is kind of a special thing, huh Doc?" They grin.

"You sure? I can call you by your name if you want." She giggles. "Æon? How does that sound?”

"Mmmmmm.... no, Kid is fine." They turn their head to look away.

"I'll be honest it makes me trust you a little less. That would be like me calling the old dude Jaw. I think if I did that he'd refused to work with me again.”

She full on laughs. "Yeah. Feels off somehow." She snaps her fingers. "Wait, is his name Jaw?”

"Yup. Big dude with a bigger gun that's as tall as I am. You know him?”

Hmmm. Maybeeee? Probably not. "Might have patched him up one time or the other.”

"Cool. Nice to know you get around and I'm not your only patient." Æon chuckles.

"I mean, I have more than one bed for a *reason*." She giggles. She enjoys this back and forth.

*Æon likes playing into it as well. There's only 4 people in the world they're comfortable being casual with, and the confined spaces of the medical truck they called home for a few weeks is the closest thing they have to nostalgia.*

“Really? And here. I thought you finally found a date. Darn it, guess I'd better return that bottle of alcohol in my bag.” they tease.

"God. A date. Could you *imagine?*" She laughs to mask the pain. "Yeah, It's tough to meet somebody out here, so don't expect Momma to find girl anytime soon, will ya? Might as well crack that booze before it goes bad.”

"Well, as long as I've got my Doctor's approval, I don't see anything wrong with having drink tonight." They give Dr. Aleks a wide, childish grin.

"Now now. In moderation." She chuckles. "I think I've got something nice in storage. Beside the rubbing alcohol, of course." A wink, smirk, and finger gun all in one. "And yes, you *should* be fine.”

"Great! No problem about moderation, I found out I'm a severe lightweight. One drink is more than enough for me. Next question, am I good to get up?”

"Give it a minute." She stretches, sanatizing them, and then removing the curtain. They now have bandages on the wound.

"Thanks Doc, great work as always."

*Æon sits up and carefully reapplies their chest wrappings. More of a safety blanket than a necessity, it's something they picked up as a habit. Every time they come to visit Aleks, Æon will stick around for three to four days before heading out for their next job.*

They pull a dusty bottle out of their pack.

"Won this off a bet with some of Boss's crew. They'll probably never play with me again after that, but more's the better. Sorry lot of jackasses.”

"Thanks for being a good patient. And what'd you play to win this thing?" She takes the bottle, dusting off the label.

Æon pauses and hands over the bottle.

"You probably don't want to know.”

"Ah. Maybe not." She thinks. "I've got some Cards around here *somewhere*? We could play that?”

"Sure, but I don't have anything else to trade with. Unless you're interested in some of these." They rummage around through the net attached to the side of their pack filled with concealed objects. There's much clanking sounds and Æon pulls out something that looks like shrapnel.

"Yeah. No. We don't gotta trade or bet. We can just hang out." She gets up, shuffling around before pulling a pack of cards from a cabnite. "Aha! Here they are!”

"Okay." They shrug and put the demon bits away.

"I don't think I've ever played a zero stakes game. Does it play by the normal rules?”

“Yep. It’s just practice, so you can be a lot more ballsy.” She smirks, dealing the cards.

"That sounds like a scam." They grab some (beakers) glasses out of the cabinet and join her at the small table.

She giggles at the beakers. “I have actual cups, but those work just fine. And would I really scam you?” She uncorks the booze. “Here, let me see if it’s poison first.”She pours it, then takes a sip.

"I know, but I like these. They fit your aesthetic." Æon grins.

*The label has long since worn off the bottle but the seal was tight and unbroken. The liquid is rich and pungent, with a sweet, burning aftertaste.*

“Ah. That’s. That’s some goooood stuff.” She shudders. “Great find kid.” She snickers, giving a thumbs up.

“And yeah. I guess they do.” Memories flash across her vision. A miriad of images from her past. Shackles. Flames. Plague. Her vision begins to swim, before it stabilizes on the person in front of her. She has a present. More importantly, they(Æon) have a future. *Across the table Æon flips their cards up, show off their lack of a poker face, and takes a sip of the drink. The small adult sputters at the flavor.*

"You know what, keep the bottle after this. As part of you fee." They smile.

“You don’t have to drink it if you don’t want to. I’ve got some soda around here somewhere.” She laughs internally at that lack of poker face, confused as to *how* this kid managed a win. “Alcoholic soda, If you fancy.” She always keeps them stocked after their first meeting. Same place too.

"Only if you're insisting." They jump up to retrieve one.

“Yeah yeah.”

Æon grabs one and comes back to look at their cards again.

"Alright Doc, house rules?”

A Drinking Bastard

The first time the two met was during a large-scale mercenary enlistment. After the battle, those that were left all gathered together to drink it out at the bar. It was a large party, and everyone was celebrating, but Æon said they did not drink, and opted to leave early. When pressure to drink and ask why:

“I'm too pretty to be drinking with these low life scum.” Æon flourished and flipped off the room as they left. Boos and fuck offs filled the bar as they went, some of the jeerers with a strange look in their eyes. Jaw could see this, and he didn't like it.

After most of the drinking party had dispersed, Jaw took a bottle to where Æon's cot was. The kid was rolled up in a thin blanket and shivering. As he approached, a long, blue blade was suddenly shoved in his face as Æon sat up in bed.

“The hell you want old man?” They growled, clearly having expected someone to follow them.

He holds up the bottle, unopened.

“Cold night, this will warm you up.”

“Fuck off.”

He tossed the bottle into their lap. “I have no interest in twinks.” he growled back, miffed that his goodwill was being refused, but understanding why.

Æon did not break eye contact with him until he had walked away a good distance then they grabbed the bottle, tucked it under the blanket, and curled up again.

“The next day, Æon shoved the half-empty bottle into Jaw's hands.

“Thanks.” they muttered and walked away.

The two would not see each other again for several months, but ever after, Æon would only drink if Jaw was present.

Marching Tune:

They say you never hear the shot that takes you out, but Æon had. It didn't register in their mind that that's what had happened until they were face down in the sand, and the burning sensation was spreading throughout their gut. They had fortunately fallen in such a position that they were able to just barely see the glint of sunlight off of the snipers scope.

<Come on, stand up and get him!> Nameless thrummed in their hand, goading them to stand up and fight.

“Nope, I'm not moving.” Æon held perfectly still, barely daring to breathe.

<What? Why not? Come on is just one good swing, and they're done for!>

“I don't trust them to miss again.” Æon did not even risk tightening his grip around the over-excited sword.

It felt like an eternity passed before the next gunshot rang out across the battlefield. Æon flinched involuntarily before they registered that they had heard that shot as well. In the distance came the soft thud of a body falling out of a blind.

Æon breathed out a shaky breath of relief and spent another minute laying in the dust, trying to collect themselves. Sound of footsteps coming up behind them was followed by the gentle prodding of a steel-toed boot against their back.

“You alive, Twink?” Jaw's familiar voice.

“Fuck you old man.” If he wasn't such an infuriated companion, Æon might have laughed in relief.

“You're welcome.” their savior grumbled and began to advance across the now cleared field.

Æon pushed themselves up to follow and immediately pitched to the side, nearly falling on to Nameless.

“Oh shit…” They breathed heavily and looked down at where the bullet had pierced them. It was non-lethal, clearly nothing vital had been hit, but they've been laying in the dirt too long and had lost a lot of blood. Anemia was already setting in and Æon wondered if this was it. There's no way they'd make it off the battlefield and to triage, let alone be able to continue the fight.

Then Jaw picked them up by the scruff of their scarf and began duffle-baging them back to camp.

“Ow! Shit, what the fuck man?” Æon shouted in his ear, slung over the man's shoulder.

“Useless Twink.” was all he muttered as he headed back towards the triage tent.

“I'm not fucking useless.” Æon grumbled, a bit delirious. “If you'd taken out that sniper before I charged, we wouldn't be having this problem.”

“Then don't fucking charge until I've had a chance to clear the field. If I'm not shooting, you better drop low and don't move an inch.”

Æon didn't even have the strength to argue.

A Pair of Mugs:

Some rookies to the battlefield once picked a fight with Æon after a particularly successful battle. They had heard Jaw call them a twink, and began jeering and propositioning. Standing for none of this, Æon pulled out Nameless and began running them down, swearing that if they said another word they were going to see first-hand what oblivion looked like. The barkeep, in desperation not to see their establishment destroyed by the obliviating sword, approached Jaw in a panic.

“Sir, please control your partner!”

The big man spit his drink out.

“Partner? The hell do you take me for!”

“The fuck!?” Æon screamed from across the bar, a hapless young mercenary tucked under their arm. “Partner, my ass! That old man's the only good guy in this bar. I can't drink with the rest of you ‘cause you're all assholes and idiots!” They emphasize their words by tossing the young mercenary out the door with a swift kick to the behind, before rejoining Jaw at the bar.

“Fuck, if there were some hot guys or pretty girls around, I for sure wouldn’t be drinking with your ugly mug.”

No one has the confidence to mention the mercenaries they’d just thrown out were fairly young and nice looking. Jaw just smiles and rubs Æon’s hair, eliciting another string of half-drunken slurs.

Pour One Out for Partners:

Æon was late to the fight. They weren't the only one of course, they were part of a detachment that had fallen behind. When the detachment finally arrived at the battlefield, the fight was already over. The rest of their group sat around in tents and blown apart building ruins, utterly dejected. It had not gone well, and as Æon wandered around trying to figure out what they should do next. they heard someone discussing the casualties. More specifically, what caught their attention was the mention that someone had taken out the ‘big guy’. Æon rudely pushed aside the tarp flap of the tent and stuck their head in.

“What big guy?”

“Oh geez! I think his name was Jay… John or something like that. He wasn't much of a talker, but the older guys recognized him.”

Æon's heart sank, but their expression did not change.

“Well… shit. Where was he?”

The rookies gave them directions to where Jaw had been posted up.

Arriving at the site, Æon would have preferred to see his bloodied body. But instead there was only his empty cloak, a pile of gear, and a light dusting of Ashes already being carried away by the wind.

“Well shit.”

The job a bust, and another familiar face gone forever, Æon set about scavenging the man's remains. He collected his gear, his guns and ammo, wrapped them all up in some of his cloaks, and attached them to his own pack. The man's big gun, his partner on the battlefield, was far too heavy for the Æon to carry. It was as tall as they were, and twice as heavy, so the most they could do was wrestle the thing into an upright position. It looked lonely standing there by itself in the dust so Æon pulled the man’s cloak out of the pack, and wrapped it around the top of the barrel, just below the suppressor, letting the cloth flap in the gentle breeze like a flag at half-mast.

The laborious work done, Æon sat down in the sand with their back to the gun, a totem marking the place where Jaw had fallen, and pulled out the bottle of alcohol they had promised to bring.

Æon wrenches the cork out of the top and throws it as far away as they can with all their might, then upends the bottle directly into their mouth. Jaw had always warned them that they were a lightweight, and should never drink more than they could handle. But he wasn't here to stop them now. They down half the bottle in a single go before the burning liquid leaves them in a fit of coughing.

<You… you good buddy?> Hummed Nameless, very concerned for their wielder.

“I'm fine.” They sputter. Æon took a smaller sip from the bottle this time and cradled the lukewarm glass in one hand.

“Fuck. Shit fucking damn it!” Their knuckles go white as they tighten their hand around the bottle, as if willing it to shatter. It stubbornly does not, so Æon takes another revenge gulp of the liquid inside.

<You're not looking too good.> Nameless hums obviously.

“Makes sense, I feel like shit.” Æon sighs. He looked into the bottle and gives a sniff as the alcohol began to make them tear up. Their head is already fuzzy.

“Damn it, you idiot, stupid old man. Why do you have to go and get yourself killed like that? Didn't even have the decency to wait for me. What am I going to tell XX? I didn't even get to see what bastard took you out, who am I supposed to take revenge on for you? You better not come back and fucking haunt me. This is your own damn fault!” Another swig.

“Fuck you, Jaw…”

Long after the sun has set Æon, finally, lets the empty bottle fall from their grasp. It rolls across the sand and clinks against the base of the gun, still propped upright. Æon flops backwards and lets their head rest near the bottle, staring up the shaft of the gun to where the stars are beginning to grace them with their presence.

“Look at that.” They point up at the stars.

“There's that constellation… and another one… Man, they sure are spinning fast tonight. Is it a meteor shower? Look Jaw, the sky is dancing!” They giggle, head swimming, stomach churning. Drinking all that alcohol before they'd had a chance to eat anything was a bad idea. At least if they get sick, they won't be wasting a day's rations.

<You look like hell.> Nameless vibrates in their mind. Æon puts a hand to either side of their head.

“Don't do that. You're making it worse.” they wine.

<Tough luck, just don't throw up yet. I've got something to tell you.>

“Make it quick.” Æon struggles to sit up and reaches over to their pack, pulling out one of the blankets. The night may feel warm, but it's going to get cold fast.

<Alright, alright, just listen up. You might feel a lot worse after I finish talking, so snuggle in.>

They do.

<All good? Great, now listen up. Do you know where reflections come from?>

“The fuck is that?”

<Me. I'm a reflection, that crystal shard you picked up and then I came out, and boom! We’re partners!>

“Yeah, no… I don't know.” Æon wonders what the sword is talking about.

“The stars I guess. You look like you come from the sky.”

“Aww, shit, buddy really. You flatter me, but that's not the point. No, we don't come from the sky or the stars. We come from people just like you who lived in different worlds and fought a similar battle. Personally, I was the nameless hero, fighting on the front lines with my beautiful blade that had no name. Because people remembered me as the nameless hero I got to become a reflection, and fight alongside other nameless heroes like yourself. You've done good for our legacy, kid.>

“Is there a point to this?” Æon fights a growing wave of nausea as their head swims and their burn spikes.

<Yeah there is. Previous world's buddy. This isn't the first time we've done this. This isn't the first time you've done this.>

They're not making any sense. Æon groans and ducks under the covers, willing themselves not to be sick.

<To be blunt, you have been reincarnated 9 times already. Same as your buddy. This world is coming to an end, I can feel it, which means you guys will be reincarnated again. Your friend Jaw's already gone on to the next one world, and he's probably waiting for you over there. What I'm saying is this isn't the end. You're gonna see him again, but don't count on him looking the same.>

“... Okay.” Somehow that does make them feel better. But it also makes them feel really sick. They throw aside the blanket and crawl a little ways away to throw up in a place where they can easily cover it with sand and not have to smell it all night.

<Oh geez! Don't ever drink like this again, m’kay?>

Æon breathes out a sigh and looks back up at the stars that are finally beginning to stabilize in their orbits.

“Sure, just so long as no one ever dies on me again.”

[lealrumination]

Navigation

Character List

Timelines

[lealrumination]

My Art Fight card

I'm being selective about what version of these characters I'm offering, restricted to what's on the card and website

[lealrumination]

Ion Satirize: [Reflection]

Race: AI

Age: 1

Gender: Genderfluid

Orientation: Pan

Occupation: N/A

Partner: N/A

[lealrumination]

Ion Satirize [FLOWC]

Race: AI

Age: ??

Gender: Genderfluid

Orientation: Pan

Occupation: Pyromancer of Irony

Partner: Myo Aznar

[lealrumination]

Carium Isa [FLOWC]

Race: AI

Age: 3

Gender: Cis-Male

Orientation: Gay

Occupation: FLOW Agent

Partner: N/A

[lealrumination]

Pysis Vellic [FLOWC]

Race: AI

Age: 2

Gender: Agender

Orientation: Demi-Pan

Partner: Eden Gambit

[lealrumination]

Characters

Characters and their stories will be associated cannons and their names should be linked to the start of their story threads.

Pysis - [FLOWC, REFLECT, World 12 & 13]

Ion - [FLOWC, REFLECT, World 12 & 13]

Carium - [FLOWC, REFLECT, World 12 & 13]

Shivar - [FLOWC, REFLECT, World (All)]

Kavo - [FLOWC, REFLECT, Larkspur AU, World 10 & 12]

Veronica - [FLOWC, REFLECT, Larkspur AU, World 10 & 12]

Keith - [FLOWC, REFLECT, Larkspur AU, World 10 & 12]

Æon - [World 9]

[lealrumination]

Timelines

FLOWC - A realistic take on the characters and where most of them originate. This is the most cannon timeline for fan AUs.

REFLECT - An optimistic timeline in which things did not go as badly for certain characters. Events occur between cannon timeline and FLOWC.

Larkspur AU - A timeline specific to the Larkspur, wherein Dane is a dog boy.

Mafia AU - A timeline specific to the Larkspur, wherein Veronica took over the mafia instead of just walking away.

WORLD# - Previous world AUs and characters. It's a bit too complicated for more delineations, so if you read anything that contradicts itself, no it doesn't.

[ To be continued...]