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Post by Executus Gira on Jun 3, 2018 3:15:31 GMT
"Y-yes, Ma'am." Both Molly and Demmy said in unison, and both were quick to leave Wisma alone. They were both silent as they went into the kitchen area, and while Demmy did ask for Shih and Read to go see Wisma, Molly had nothing to say. The events of just the past hour or so, no, the entire day had rocked her, and as she started to wash dishes, she dropped the sponge into the sink.
"I'll get that for you." Demmy said.
"Demmy... Are you happy that Heather isn't working here anymore?" Molly quietly asked her.
Demmy looked back at her. The girl's eyes were red, and she was shaking. "I would be lying if I said no, but... you're worried about her even after all that?"
"I have to be worried!" Molly snapped. "That crazy woman Unish could still be running around in this city, and there might still be that assassin! She's a mindful and there's times I really want to tell her to stop being so stuck up but... not here, not where there's so many unknowns, that I'm afraid she walked around a corner, and got eaten by that shapeshifting monster, or kidnapped and-"
"Molly, MOLLY." Demmy grabbed her by the shoulders. "I'm fairly certain Heather is alright. She's been here longer than either of us, and she's too stubborn and spiteful to die. If I had to guess, she's just hidden in a sewer or alleyway plotting revenge..."
"And Alex as well. I haven't seen him since the library, since I... freaked out. What if the monster he went to look at killed him?!"
That, Demmy found herself having to pause, and she lowered her hands. Unlike Heather who she didn't care either way what happened to her, Alex was someone that, while she had teased a little bit, she did somewhat enjoy the company of. He was a harmless, eccentric lover of the odd and dangerous, and it was clear to Demmy that he was highly interested in Molly, and Molly at least wanted to be friends with him.
"He's fine as well. He has Sam by his side, and that woman is just as stubborn as Heather if my limited knowledge of her is correct. Plus, she's so defensive over the poor guy-"
"Demmy." Molly kept her eyes locked on her even as she kept washing dishes. "There's so much strange stuff going on in this city, so many unknowns... I'm scared, and I'm already worried sick over my mother, and if we'll ever get back home. I... I just can't handle worrying like this. I can't."
"Then don't, and have faith and trust in them." Demmy joined her with the dishes. " If you worry over too much, then you'll live a miserable existence. You need to learn to trust that they know what they're doing, and they'll be fine. That's... unfortunately, that's all I can say."
Molly's eyes never left Demmy even as the taller woman went back to focusing on dishes. She wanted to say something, anything, but... she couldn't. Internally, she found herself praying that Heather and Alex were alright, and nothing bad had befallen them.
It was going to be a long night at the Violet Bar, and though Heather's eviction should have earned a sigh of relief from Molly... instead, there was only a dark pit of fear in her, especially as her eyes focused on the bandaged arrow head in Demmy's neck...
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jun 4, 2018 5:02:02 GMT
But the anarchy that had just vacated the Violet Bar was only just beginning. It had only been maybe ten minutes since the chaos of Heather's departure passed before a panicked figure sprinted through the front door of the tavern. He was visibly confused and distraught. He had obviously been sprinting, as a layer of sweat covered his pudgy face, and his cheeks were visibly flushed red.
Breathing heavily and murmuring something to himself, the man began grabbing a nearby chair with shaky, fear-wracked hands and attempting to block the entrance to the bar with it...
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Post by Stage on Jun 4, 2018 5:20:01 GMT
Click.
"If this is a robbery, you're only leaving with a round in your head."
Wisma stood behind the man, pointing the muzzle of a snaplock pistol- which had apparently been hidden somewhere on her person- at his head. A deformed skull, same as tattooed on her wrist, was branded into its otherwise immaculate butt.
"Hands off my property and in the air," she instructed coldly, "and maybe you can walk out instead of being dragged out."
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Post by Executus Gira on Jun 4, 2018 5:29:18 GMT
The noise brought by the man, as well as the whispers and murmurs of the customers, reached both Molly and Demmy. "Um, what's going on? Is Heather back already?"
"Let me check." Demmy left Molly to do the dishes, and glanced a look out into the main diner area. "Some crazy dude is trying to bar up the entrance, and Wisma's about to blow him up." She whispered back to Molly.
"Oh... oh no.." Molly dropped her sponge again. "I can't... I hope it doesn't end in violence, I really hope not."
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jun 4, 2018 5:33:33 GMT
"W-wait! D-don't shoot me, please!" The man stammered out, quickly dropping the chair and raising up his hands. "I-I don't wanna go back out there! There's something weird going on!"
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Post by Stage on Jun 5, 2018 4:19:18 GMT
"Weirder than bursting into my bar and pawing my stuff?" Wisma demanded. Her face was blank and her voice as deadpan as ever, but somehow she still gave off the impression of being annoyed.
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jun 5, 2018 4:37:33 GMT
"Y-yes!" The man shouted, still keeping his hands in the air. He let out a panicked sigh as he resigned himself to explaining his entire story.
"I w-was working as a bouncer f-for this house, because they had hired me to watch over their place, right? B-but then I noticed there was some weird shit going on in there. Th-they mentioning something about a kid and something about completing a ritual o-or something like that! Then next thing I knew I saw a creepy light start shining I-inside the place out of nowhere! I got the fuck out of there shortly afterwards! P-please, you have to believe me! Whatever they were up to w-was nothing good!"
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Post by Executus Gira on Jun 5, 2018 4:45:28 GMT
"A... creepy light? A ritual, a kid?" Molly muttered. She was trying to piece everything together the man was saying. "Maybe someone's hosting a party or something?"
She stopped when she noticed Demmy's face. It had grown strangely solemn and emotionless, and her right eye had closed shut. "Molly... I doubt this is some kind of party. And, I fear for Alex's well being if this is what I think it is."
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Post by Stage on Jun 5, 2018 5:06:05 GMT
Upon the description of the strange light, the enormous lebran woman became visibly interested. She ceased eating and spun in her chair to face the scene, not bothering to hide her surveillance this time. Her dark eyes glittered with grim intrigue.
Wisma thumbed back the catch of her pistol. Her eyes burned cold like glacial ice. "If they hired you to guard them, they don't want to be caught. If they don't want to be caught, they won't take kindly to you running off to blab. If they don't take kindly to you running off, they'll look for you. And you decided to lead them to my building and my costumers, so you've got one chance: get out. Go find the guards. Or their allies. I've got two that visited them today. They can tell you the way."
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jun 5, 2018 5:11:32 GMT
"You don't think I didn't tell the guards already?!" The man yelled as his red face became even redder. "Th-they just laughed at me! I wouldn't be surprised if they think I need to go in a loony bin!"
His breathing became extremely spastic. "I-I-I just came in here because I thought it'd be safest! J-just let me hunker down here, please!"
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Post by Stage on Jun 5, 2018 6:00:54 GMT
The first visible signs of exasperation showed on Wisma's face. "You're becoming an eyesore, so if all you want is a place to bury your head in the sand, I can lock you in a storage closest. It's that or back outside, understand? You can tell the guards your story again when I call them to pick you up in the morning."
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jun 5, 2018 6:05:31 GMT
The man's face fell into one of cold distraught. He seemed unsure of how to answer the choice Wisma had given him for the longest time. He stood there, monolithic, paralyzed and trembling with a mix of fear and frustration.
That was, until an eldritch glow tinged the interior of the Violet Bar orange with its light.
"Aaah! There it is again!" The man shouted, before he sprinted past Wisma and attempted to dive behind the bar...
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Post by Executus Gira on Jun 5, 2018 6:24:42 GMT
"What... What the...? Molly stammered, observing the glow that seemed to radiate from outside the Violet Bar. It was oddly beautiful and soothing to the eyes, yet... it felt wrong somehow. "I'm starting to doubt this is a party as well, or someone's pranks."
"Molly." Demmy's voice came as a shock to the woman. Her voice had grown cold and dispassionate,while surprisingly soft, with none of the jovial toying or slight haughtiness Molly was used to from her. "I would recommend you stay behind me. What is outside, is something you want no part of."
"A-Are you sure? How do you know?" Molly asked, also taken aback by how formal Demmy's speech had become. "Is it Heather?"
The taller woman stepped between the shorter girl and the door to the main lobby. "If it were Heather, I would not be doing this. What is coming... is something far worse than Heather could ever hope to be. It is not human, or anything of Aether, for that matter. Nothing that should be in this city, or anywhere near here."
Molly's mind was starting to race with questions once again. Just what was Demmy talking about? What was outside, and how did she know something she couldn't even see? None of it made any sense to her, no matter how hard she tried to think on it...
Yet, as her mind raced with countless questions and no answers, she failed to notice that a slight breeze seemed to begin to blow through the Violet Bar, causing Demmy's long white hair and uniform to begin to flutter...
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Post by Stage on Jun 6, 2018 6:18:07 GMT
As the panicked man shouldered past Wisma, the bar owner responded by turning and ramming the butt of her pistol into the back of his head. Instead of leaping behind the bar for cover, he nearly cracked his head on its corner falling.
"Read, lock him up," Wisma ordered, tucking the pistol into her waistband. "Shih, Chance, Vale, please guide out guests to rooms with doors."
Her pale eyes glanced at the unearthly light outside. "And no windows."
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Post by Executus Gira on Jun 6, 2018 6:35:16 GMT
"Yes, of course!" Both Molly and Demmy responded again. The breeze that seemed to flow through the bar didn't quell or intensify, just remain in place. Now Molly noticed it, and looked around as Demmy began to escort several of the confused and worried customers upstairs to available rooms. Was there... a window open? As far as she could tell, there wasn't one...
"Hey, I don't have to go hide in some stinky old room!" A tall black haired girl with blue highlights brought Molly's attention over to where Demmy was. "You can't just boss me around! I'm royalty! Can't you tell by my ornate dragon covered dress?"
"I don't care about your dress or your family history." Demmy's words cut into the girl. "The owner said you come upstairs, and unless you have a death wish, I suggest you follow her demands."
The girl crossed her hands over her chest, even as Demmy began to push her up the stairs. "Pissants like you are an annoyance... but to entertain your weak little mind, I'll play along. But really, how bad can whatever's out there be?"
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jun 6, 2018 7:39:31 GMT
Outside, the eldritch light was becoming ever so brighter. With each passing moment, it seemed as though the light was becoming more blinding, tearing through the windows in a terrifying display. In an abrupt change of events, however, the light suddenly began to die down. It seemed s though nothing had happened after only a few seconds time.
That was, until the screaming began.
It was evident that something terrible was going on. The hustle of people fleeing through the city streets was quite audible, and shapes could be seen running about outside through the windows of the bar. But, not evidence as to what exactly was going on made itself apparent....
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Post by Stage on Jun 6, 2018 20:03:29 GMT
In the moments before the shrieking started, a petite Chinese woman tried to corral the massive lebran into joining the rest of the guests.
"Move!" the short-haired, short-tempered Shih snapped up at the much taller woman. "Boss says all customers have to hide. You're a customer."
The stranger smiled down at the waitress. Her smile was not kind. "That is where you're wrong. I have yet to pay for anything here. I am not a customer."
"Guest then! Hurry and-"
Shih trailed off as the screams began to vibrate the windows. Her angry visage crumpled. "Fine. Suit yourself. Everyone else, follow me!"
The lebra woman walked around the tiny server as she began guiding the other guests to safety. She pressed a hand against a window.
"Aren't you going with the others?" a flat voiced asked her.
Wisma, carrying the saber from her office and adorned by a musket and blunderbuss in addition to her rifle, joined her at the window.
"I think not."
"Your funeral."
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jun 6, 2018 20:33:13 GMT
It was at this point that signs of what exactly was going on began to manifest. The screams of panicked people became intermingled with the sound of what could only be described as some kind of monstrous war chant. It was obviously conflict was occurring; the sound of steel clashing and the cries of fallen warriors hung in the air. Smoke had begun to rise over the city, and flames visibly were licking several of the buildings at this point.
Through the chaos, it became evident as to what exactly was the cause of this disaster: monstrous creatures, shaped like men, marching through the city streets. It seemed as though several dozen of these heavily armored, man-sized creatures with red skin, shields, spears, and bows were marching through the city streets, systematically slaughtering anyone and everyone that got in their way. The guards confronted the monstrous warriors as best they could, lashing out with swords and spears, but they were quickly overwhelmed by the soldier's strength, defenses, and sheer numbers. Their guns seemed to be slightly more effective, slaying several of the warriors, but more seem to fill the gap, and once the red man-like creatures raised the ebon shields, their ranged attacks simply bounced off their defenses.
In the distance, a shape blanketed in smoke rode upon a swirl of flame. This figure seemed to be speaking something, for their voice could be heard on the wind. Yet, no understandable words were heard; it sounded like gibberish of some kind, yet clearly the soldiers on the ground understood...
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Post by Executus Gira on Jun 6, 2018 21:40:41 GMT
The inhuman screams and chants that came from outside reached Molly's ears as she came back down to see if there were any other guests or customers to bring up. She saw Wisma and the lebran at the window, and could see what was occuring outside... and a wave of fear and terror overcame the girl.
This... This was beyond anything she had ever seen or experienced before, being stuck in the middle of an actual war, a war against strange, demonic creatures. What were these things? Why were they here? Would... they kill everyone and everything in here?!
"Molly." Demmy's voice caused her to turn back to see her friend walk up beside her. "All the guests and customers are safely secured."
"Demmy, Alex... Alex is still out there, and so is Heather!" Molly quivered. "I-I have to go and save them, see if they're okay but... this is..."
"You will die if you tried to go and rescue them. Such is the frailty and folly of humanity."
Demmy turned back up to the stairs. "Molly, if Wisma asks where I am, tell her I am going after a stray customer who jumped out the window. I will not be gone long, but stay in here, and stay safe for me."
Molly's eyes widened. "No... What are you... You can't! You'll die out there as well!"
"Oh you of little faith." A tiny crack of a smile etched onto Demmy's face. "If I do not go, then who would rescue Alex or Heather? Besides, I told you I would reveal my inner secrets, and now... now is that time." Despite the heavy weight in her voice, it was strangely hypnotic, soothing to Molly. "Trust me, I will be fine. Those demons, those hellspawn out there, they cannot kill me."
"Demmy... Demmy, what are you saying? What are-"
But it was too late. The taller woman was already up the stairs, and had moved toward the nearest window. With a flick of her hand, the window opened, and Demmy vaulted herself out, leaving Molly to watch in disbelief and horror...
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Post by Stage on Jun 7, 2018 5:00:53 GMT
"Soldiers of Lloxt," Mussurana whispered to herself as she felt the awful screaming and vile chanting vibrate the glass. "Just like the devil I slayed on Matta."
Wisma turned from the window when she saw the shadows of Read and Shih, finished hiding the guests.
"You two," she began coldly. "Help me bar the door. No one gets in. No matter who it is."
The tiny Chinese woman hesitated, but gave an affirmative nod after she saw her taller companion agree instantly, tangled, black hair swaying like a shag rug.
"And one of you go get Vale," Wisma instructed. "She's big. She'll be able to move some big loads. Tell Chance to stay with the guests. They seem to like her."
"I will go."
The bar owner glanced at the lebran.
"I have changed my mind about staying with the others," the gigantic Pientan explained. "And surely you need all available hands here."
"Fine," Wisma shrugged.
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