Prepare for the #LodanRespawn2024 Existing characters may choose to be displace from/have memories of different timelines, thereby allowing returning members the option to retcon their whole character. These changes are the result of the "Unnatural Fog" plot device that is running between now and the Respawn. The plot is simple: no matter where your character is, that place is shrouded in a thick fog that suspends time, but not thoughts or memories, so even if they're repeating the same day over and over again, they continue to remember, so each time feels like a new day. For those retconning OCs; this is where new versions of themselves have the opportunity to replace the old versions. Official lore and tree updates will be announced asap
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Jul 20, 2015 3:17:14 GMT
OPEN TO Max Early evening. It had not been long since the streetlights of the Theater District were turned on, and the movement around didn't change from what it was like at daytime still. At one of the buildings located more at left, groups of people of circus-related professions were gathered for practice, begginers getting a better hang on the business and veterans both avoiding turning rusty and occasionaly showing off. Since it wasn't exactly a stage presentation, lacking a larger amount of colorful things and fancy outfits, the audience that came to watch was quite reduced - but some still came to watch.
Edelweiss was among those people, wanting to check on Max's job choices and figuring there was as good as any of a place to start. Sharing the bench with her was a large man, progressively more drunk at each gulp of his cheap beer bottle, who kept catcalling the acrobat girls and whom the redhead seemed to be ignoring for the moment.
The high-flying tricks of the circus were beginning to appeal to Max. Something about being way up high, looking down at everyone standing an eternity below, she liked it. So, she had been learning some of the techniques for entertaining in the air. She still wanted to continue her knife tricks, but there weren’t any people who did knife tricks in the air. Perhaps she could be the first; she’d just have to master both trades first.
On this specific night she was learning some of the high-flying basics, just really close to the ground instead. There was a swing hanging a meter or so off the ground, and Max was taking turns standing and hanging off it while juggling props. She was still at a basic level, being restricted to bouncy balls, but she was learning quickly.
The young blond was dressed like the other female performers, much to her distaste, and couldn’t help but feel like the distant catcalling was directed at her. She did her best to ignore it, but when she was off the swing letting another person have a go, they really dug under her skin. Surely someone would do something about him. If not, she’d be tempted to do something herself, despite having moved on from that life. It was never too late to head back for a visit.
"I only go out to get me a fresh appetite for being alone." -Lord Byron
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Jul 20, 2015 4:44:19 GMT
By the time Max went down from the swing, Edelweiss was patting the drunkward man's back and talking in that 'you drank a tad too much, buddy.' fashion that was used to pacifically yet emphatically expell someone from a stabilishment.
Spotting the blond girl, the redhead waved to her in greeting and "Hey Max, help me take this one out here?" Her tone was friendly, but the retired assassin might still recognize that serious glassy look in Edelweiss' eyes... or well, Epikuro's, since it meant she was actually there at work at the moment and not just for a leisure break.
"All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." - John Dalberg-Acton
Hearing her name, the blond girl looked over to see Edelweiss of all people watching her. Glad that she hadn’t noticed the red head while actually performing, it only took her a moment to catch the look in the leader’s eyes. Max would be more than happy to help with this annoying guy; she even carried her dagger for just in case situations.
Walking over to the duo, Max smiled a little at the man. It was a faux smile, one she had been practicing, but it was on her face all the same. “Need some help sir?” she asked. Her guise was far from perfect, but hopefully the large quantities of alcohol in his system would help with that.
"I only go out to get me a fresh appetite for being alone." -Lord Byron
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Jul 20, 2015 5:40:25 GMT
Moving to stand up, the redhead stuck herself under an arm of the man's and had Max take the other side, so that they could crutch-carry this unpleasant and drunk wobbling creature away. They carried aforementioned drunk man to a bench two corners away from the circus training grounds, meanwhile he slurred almost unintelligibly about 'tasty acrobat lasses'. Once actually sat on the bench he fell asleep, and Edelweiss gave him a couple friendly pats on the base of his nape before turning around to leave, letting the sod to 'sleep the alcohol off'. Max, being the only who was close enough for such, might catch a glimpse of something glistening in the redhead's hand while she patted the man. A thin, soft metallic line smoothly going in in the first pat, and being pulled out in the second slightly tinted reddish. A needle, straight and polished, of the length of an adult's middle finger, was held firmly between Edelweiss' own pointer and middle fingers for just a fraction of second more before being slipped away from view.
Target: Robert Baker Crime: Man-eating Status: Eliminated
"Best of luck when you wake up, buddy." Which would mean never, as that man would not be awaking anymore. The Grim Reaper is a prick indeed.
The younger entertainer was a bit confused when Edel (or Epikuro in this setting) lifted the man and dragged him off, without much help from Max although she did try. After setting him on a bench, she watched the guild leader’s movements with curious eyes, wondering at just how she planned to ‘take care’ of his man.
And then her eyes darted to the faintest gleam of metal shining in her hand. A needle? That was an odd tool to fight with, and Max wasn’t sure how one small jab could kill a man. As they left the man, slumped over on the bench, the look of curiosity was still on Max’s face. She wanted to ask but wasn’t sure if she should.
"I only go out to get me a fresh appetite for being alone." -Lord Byron
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Jul 20, 2015 14:47:54 GMT
Edelweiss grinned a bit as she noticed Max's curious look.
"You were in this work line till a short while ago, so you may ask. We're still being followed though, so keep your voice low and speak any questions while we continue walking."
She hadn’t realized they were being followed; which made her really wish she had her cloak instead of the acrobatic clothes. It seemed she’d be stuck in the sky blue outfit until they had a chance to return to the theater.
Speaking low as requested, she found her question. “How would that kill him?” It could have been phrased been, but Max was still working on her syntax skills. Hopefully Epikuro would understand what she meant.
"I only go out to get me a fresh appetite for being alone." -Lord Byron
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Jul 21, 2015 2:54:28 GMT
"Well, usually, having something fully piercing through the connection between the skull and the first vertebrae is already enough to kill or cause tetraplegic paralysis at least." She explained as if was talking of the weather, and it was better if it seemed she's actually talking of anything trivial like the weather so hopefully Max wouldn't be bothered by the tone. "Added to it, 'that' was a long enough one to reach the trachea, and it's from my 'special set' so if marrow damage wasn't enough, the puffer fish poison would finish the job anyway (I rather favour that variety since it has no color)."
"All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." - John Dalberg-Acton
It made sense to the younger girl as Edel explained it all, surprised that she knew so much about anatomy. Not to mention the poisons; which was a new topic altogether. She appreciated the veteran’s light tone, wishing she could do the same thing when talking about heavy topics. As they continued to move, Max couldn’t help but wonder about something else, but didn’t want to outright ask given the supposed follower. “Are we almost there?” was the question she picked out, instead of the more obvious ‘where are we going?’
"I only go out to get me a fresh appetite for being alone." -Lord Byron
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Jul 21, 2015 14:33:50 GMT
"Almost." She nodded, "Once we go forward more, we'll reach the archways. It's better to work over there." and added with a shrug. Keep it casual, till just a little more, just a corner ahead.
"Say, Max, I didn't know you had someone who disliked you this much. Care to share? Or perhaps it's just a creep who particularly approved of your new uniform?"
"All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." - John Dalberg-Acton
Archways? That made sense. She nodded to Edel’s shrug as they continued, but the next question took her by surprise. She bit her lip for a moment, processing the new information. “The second, I guess.” The blond was so very tempted to glance over her shoulder now, but she knew better. Picking up the pace a little, she wanted to get to where they were going and fast. Then she could see this creep and figure out what was up with him.
"I only go out to get me a fresh appetite for being alone." -Lord Byron
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Jul 22, 2015 16:00:43 GMT
Once they reached the first archway, Edelweiss walked up to the shadowed side one of the lateral columns and double-jumped (Speed I) to reach the arch's top, lowering her body away from view behind the large banner advertizing CAEsAL that was placed in its front. From where it was possible to watch without being seen. Max could follow suit on her own skill or get a free piggyback ride from the redhead - in all fairness the blond girl might not be all that light, but compared to carrying Stephen around she was as light as a feather.
A couple minutes later and two other figures approached the archways, seeming a tad surprised for not finding anyone else in sight. One of them had a knife only-half hidden stuck on the belt. The other was seemingly unarmed.
"Where did she go?" "Did that guy take her already?" "Drat it... The'must be here somewhere still." "Come on golden sweetpie, don't be shy~" One cooed while looking around. "Dump that ginger stick and we can show ya what heaven feels like~"
Following behind Edel, Max inspected the column before concluding that there weren’t enough handholds to climb it, so she hitched a short ride with the red head. She hid in the shadow of the archway and watched the men as they approached.
Their words disgusted her. Max scrunched up her face, scowling. She sincerely hoped that Epikuro would give them a painful death and not something gentle like the needle the other man received. Looking towards the guild leader, she asked a question at a volume below even a whisper. “Do you need help?” She was so very tempted to say ‘can I help?’ but, well, retirement meant giving up the career.
"I only go out to get me a fresh appetite for being alone." -Lord Byron
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Jul 23, 2015 2:27:49 GMT
Hearing that question, the redhead looked back at Max with a slightly amused smile. "Hmm, we'll see." Not exactly need for what she had in mind, but she could use some minor assistance.
She couldn't recall any of those two being on the cellar's board nor in her personal list, but that didn't matter since she wasn't about to let two stalkers and confessed abusers (also very likely rapists and possibly pedophiles judging by how young Max looked to those who didn't know her well) to freely wander her District and leave alive. This would be a slower, more heartfelt work than the last too. Nevermind being called a 'ginger stick', that was even a little funny, but because the one those thugs were bothering was one of her guild workers. And no one should mess with her workers while she's around.
So for starters she slipped a set of 3 needles from under the sleeve. Shorter than the one she used before, but still as long as someone's pointer finger. And threw the first 2. High precision from as literally high as they were on that archway was a no go, so it's not like she could aim to something like 'the junction between the skull and first veterbrae', but she could still aim for the throat in general. Each needle sunk half way in... in the same guy, who let out this strange cat-coughing-hairball gasp and passed the next five seconds trying to find what the heck was wrong on his neck before finding the tip of the needles sticking out and awkwardly pulling them off. The second man turned his attention back towards his colleague trying to see what the heck was happening. It then became a panicked fit as he took the knife out and started pointing it and staring at everywhere except above them, while the one who had been needled suddenly had a dizzy spell and slid to his knees still coughing.