Topic: Division on Campus: Pro Human Protest

Knightfall

Date: 2016-12-14 23:55 EST
Division on Campus: Pro Human Protest

~ ~ ~

Time did not pass the same for everyone, especially not for one as metaphorically and literally bound as he was, but it did pass. Thus did he find himself standing on a balcony of Eternal House, looking out over the grounds, towards the Academy. He was more than familiar with the policies that governed those lands, as they were the policies that allowed him sanctuary instead of turning him away. Those policies dictated acceptance of all, with no judgments with basis in race or ability. Though he could stray few other places beyond Eternal House at the moment, unless mitigating forces were in play, he did keep himself up to date - or as best his sources could manage - on the general goings on of Rhydin. He asked questions, not often receiving answers that he deemed complete, and so wondered more on them. It was true that he felt like a ghost, here, often with no more ability than to stare into the Looking Glass mirrors and continually wondering....what was going to happen.

The grounds below the balcony were littered with people, and that was not unusual; usually there was a sort of synergy between the Academy and the Coven, with some staff and students moving seamlessly between both. These days the population of the Academy had far eclipsed that of the Coven, the former drawing from a far wider net of individuals, groups, not as a place they must settle down but as a place they could congregate to learn, make friends - and return from whence they came, should they wish. Today, though, there were more people than were typical on the grounds, and often clustered in small groups near the entrances of buildings. Sometimes people would venture from the groups and go inside to warm up, but not everyone took part in that. Often the more enthusiastic looking ones, those with billboards, or whose raised voices could be heard halfway across campus, staunchly refused to take any kind of 'gift' that the facility could offer. They weren't the type of people that were going to associate with 'non-human' crowds, except perhaps to jeer them, or otherwise antagonize.

It was a strange dichotomy, and one that he was unfortunately used to, people on both sides of an exchange calling out for some sort of justice, more often imagined than real. What was to benefit these protesters, these would be 'sit-in's" The classes were open to anyone, as were the Houses, there was no anti-human sentiment on these grounds - and the only hostility brought there was brought by the protesters themselves. In truth he did not understand their platform completely; did they feel that the acceptance of non-humans were somehow a slight against humans" It was in a way, baffling. Every time he sat before the Looking Glass, the scenarios played out differently, but he couldn't escape the notion that the persecution of diversity was synonymous with the persecution of creativity. Should all strive to be 'human'" Did the notion of it not bring even more ironic hypocrisy to the term, 'inalienable human rights'"

He could do little other than wait upon the balcony as he saw the first altercation break out, his eyesight keen, enhanced, able to see across the Academy grounds despite his relative imprisonment.

((Anyone else who feels the desire to add anything their character may be experiencing or thinking in regards to the Pro Human Movement feel free to join in - but don't feel obliged, I realize this SL is playing out in a lot of places at the moment. I'll be continuing a somewhat linear view on it myself, seen through a few different characters eyes. Feel free to add your characters view or opinions, but don't feel you have to base it off mine - rather base it off the Pro Human Protest SL.))

Dy Hauc

Date: 2016-12-15 22:30 EST
It was a Tuesday, and Rebecca had just finished filing the last of the D5 Waivers into the Academy system. She didn't care what others did in the school, what kind of risks they took with their experiments or 'field trips' or what have you, but she wouldn't have been caught doing it. Normal, mundane life, was exciting enough.

Rebecca was the secretary to the Headmistress of the Academy of Bristle Crios, and she was also a human. Never, not once, had she had a slip in terms of professionalism, never once had the subject of the ongoing Pro-Human Protest Movement been brought up between employer and employee.

And why would it"

Bristle Crios, after all, welcomed everyone - not just people with powers, but anyone at all. Humans, demi-humans, meta-humans, and even those who were not partly human at all, but something else entirely. There was no reason to be protesting, really, unless you were a part of some extremist fringe.

That that extremist fringe, as it were, had come to Bristle Crios, made her sigh in a somewhat cross manner. That drama certainly wasn't needed, here, not in her opinion at least, and there was another thing she could add about this whole 'Pro Human' issue that was going on and that was that...

Suddenly Rebecca had checked out.

When the oily black substance first crossed the threshold of her vision, signifying not necessarily the end to her thoughts, but the end of them being manifested through her physical form, she was in her office, just outside Lydia Tolmay's. No one was there to see her eyes replaced by oily black orbs, and it lasted only for a moment, and was accompanied by a strange rictus grin that seemed to stretch the skin back from her teeth in an unnatural smile.

The world became a bizarre kaleidoscope as she closed up everything in her office, as properly as she always did, and began her trek outside of the main buildings, looking left and right as she exited, and turning towards Mage Hall. The protesters weren't actually bad people, which made it all the more enjoyable for the thing riding around in Rebecca's temporarily mentally suppressed form.

'They talk about angels and fairies getting their wings when people commit noble acts, but what about dragons" What about devils and demons? Don't they all have wings, too' Well, of course they do...' the thing thought to itself, hidden away, safely ensconced in Rebecca's mind.

Rebecca, in body at least, joined a group of protesters in front of Mage Hall. The bizarre grin on her face lessened somewhat, but didn't entirely vanish, and she didn't speak to any of the other protesters - though she did nod along with what they themselves were saying or chanting. She didn't need to speak, and her not saying anything could have easily gone unnoticed - enough others were speaking, and in loud enough voices no less, to drown out anyone who wasn't actively trying to speak over them. In fact, she rather fit in with many of the protesters, who for the most part seemed as though they were placeholders in some greater scheme. Saying nothing, making no waves, and accepting whatever came allowed her to stay there for a long time, unnoticed.

Long enough for her to fade into the background completely.

There was no reason to suspect it was her, when the spells began to fly; it seemed as though Mage Hall itself were somehow lashing out at the protesters, as balls of flame and cinder the size of seeds streaked from windows towards the crowd where Rebecca stood, and when they hit they erupted into vertical columns of red hot liquid fire. The screams around her were immediate, as people began to run - the people that hadn't been touched at least. Those who were unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of the effect were, in most cases, partly burned away to ash - the wounds in some cases fatal; if one of the seeds had erupted and caught your leg, the leg was gone, but if it had caught the brim of your hat, then there was probably nothing left worth healing.

Amidst the chaos, anarchy, and destruction, Rebecca - or the thing riding in her - began to giggle madly.

First responder teams had been dispatched shortly after the sounds of the explosions began to fill the court yard of the quad. As they rushed towards, and out of, Mage Hall, a second volley of energy seemed to build within the hall itself and lash out at the medic teams - purple ribbons of energy shot through with whorls of black crackling power. A quarter of the first response team was driven to the ground in one fell swoop, and it seemed as though another volley of power was charging up when a ripple of energy from somewhere else seemed to blast through the building, the yard, and the people - including Rebecca. All the other arcane energy in the area seemed to wink out at once.

The thing that had been inside Rebecca was gone, and she found herself staring upwards - slightly bewildered and with an overwhelming sense something terrible had happened - into the eyes of a man in blue robes. He seemed very familiar, but she felt so tired just then and wanted to sleep.

So she did.

Fiona ONeill

Date: 2016-12-18 00:51 EST
When security told her that there were protesters at the main gates, Fiona asked what they were protesting. Up until now, Bristle Crios had remained relatively unknown in the community, at least in her own eyes, and she had no idea what they had possibly done wrong. The coven was founded on providing sanctuary and an education to help build up the "outsiders" that most societies would cast-off.

She was informed by the coven security that the protesters were there to boycott in honor the Pro-Human movement and that they wanted access to the grounds. Wondering if the whole notion was ironic, she stood and debated silently. Should those that ostracized many of the good people inside the gates be allowed in to picket and protest their home" She didn't like the answer, but it was the answer that she had for everyone else that asked for permission to come onto the grounds, "Bristle Crios welcomes all." Maybe, just maybe, if the protesters could see that people could live happily in harmony despite their background or genetic makeup, then maybe they would see that there was no need for their demonstration.

"Let them in," Fiona ordered, almost regretting the words as soon as she spoke them. "Inform the campus they are coming. Have all available security monitor as many of them as possible.?

Fiona stayed close to the Houses to keep an eye on the picketers. She shifted quietly from House to House, making sure the small crowds outside of each stayed civil, as well as the coven members themselves. As she moved, she kept trying to determine which of the seven Houses would be at most risk. Warrior House should be immune to the conflict as its House had mostly human inhabitants. She hoped Alchemy House would also stay off their radar since it at least sounded more focused on science. Unfortunately, the Vampire and Werewolf Houses would be at risk, as most humans would see both as a possible threat. The Demon and Eternal Houses might also be up for a fight, depending on if the protest participants wanted to contend with beings from beyond. Mage House was another story. There was no getting around its extraordinary residents.

For awhile, there were no issues. The longer the demonstrators stood out in the cold, the more pitiable they became to Fiona. Eventually she instructed security to allow chilled protesters inside the Houses as long as one guard stayed with them and, even then, they would only be permitted in to the main entry lobbies. While a few went inside to get warm, there were others that refused, holding strong to their determination. Fiona wouldn't have minded, and probably would have even admired their convictions, if some of them didn't have children that they were keeping out in the cold with them. Too quickly, her heart broke, and Fiona asked a guard stationed at each House to pass out hot coffee and hot chocolate to the protesters. She just hoped that their kindness would mean something to the picketers, but little did she know what was already happening across the grounds at the campus.

Blood Sister

Date: 2016-12-18 13:51 EST
Lydia was just coming out of a curriculum meeting for the upcoming year when one of the campus security guards intercepted her to tell her that Pro-Human protesters were approaching the Academy. Sending him off with the campus security protocol orders, she quickly made her way back to her office to start coordinating efforts with her invaluable assistant, Rebecca. When she got to Rebecca's office, she was not overly surprised to find the door closed. If Rebecca was helping someone with a private educational manner, she would often close the door for privacy. But when Lydia found that the door was locked, she felt a pit in her stomach. Something was wrong. Rebecca wouldn't be on break at this hour.

Where was she" She needed her.

Not only was Rebecca's experience and dedication immeasurable, but, as a human, she was able to do things on Lydia's behalf that Lydia was not able to do on her own. Though Lydia tried her best to hide the fact that she was a vampire, even if Rebecca knew, she never let on and never let it inhibit her performance. If anything, she always seemed to be even more helpful and accommodating to complete Lydia's odd daytime requests and errands.

Hit with the sudden fear that somehow everyone had found out what she was and humans were coming to tear down her school and kill her for being a monster, Lydia tried hard not to let panic set in. In her heart, she saw herself as human. She had never asked to become a vampire. Never fully accepting her fate, she still tried to live her life as normally, humanely, as she was able. She was a victim in this, not one of the aggressors the protesters were working against. Part of her wished that her sister was here. Leta always knew what to do in times like this.

It was then when she heard the screams coming from Mage Hall.

Having flashbacks to almost two years ago when an alchemy experiment went awry and a large section of Mage Hall had been destroyed, she quickly raced through the hallways towards the screams. If the protestors were attacking the students, she would do everything in her power to protect her charges. She positioned herself by a window to look out, the sun facing away from her. To her horror, she watched as flaming seeds fell down onto the bystanders from the floors above.

She quickly began to run up the floors of Mage Hall, hoping to find out - and stop - whoever was attacking the protesters. As she ran, she opened the communication device she picked up when she was at Rebecca's office. Quickly relaying orders to the security staff and medical teams, by the time she got to the other floors, she could not find the source of the flaming seeds. From the top floor, she again looked out a window, this time seeing Rebecca in the crowd below, laughing. Her dismay was interrupted as streams of purple energy from the building began lashing out at the people outside. Once the last discharge of energy emitted from the building, she too was hit, knocking her and many of the others unconscious.

The Headmistress would eventually be found unconscious on the top floor of Mage Hall, beside the window overlooking the site where the protesters had been attacked.

Even as she was coming to, she knew it looked bad.

Eregor

Date: 2017-01-02 01:43 EST
13 December 2016 - Pro-Human Protest Day at the Academy

Though he was far better known in Rhydin as a star of the stage, Eregor remained an instructor at Bristle Crios Academy, and so he had also been at the same faculty meeting on that day when the protests struck Bristle Crios and all hell broke loose.

He had emerged onto the campus grounds to see picketers milling about, shouting and waving their signs. Though there was no violence, some of the protesters were engaged in verbal sparring with students, staff, and Coven members, while others exhorted their "fellow humans" to stand together with them. One of the latter motioned to Eregor. "Haven't you had enough of being kept down by the non-human trash' Or are you just a sheep being led to the butcher" You're human!"

"Am I?" asked the Time Lord, eyebrow raised.

The other man paused for a moment, confusion in his eyes. "You look human."

"Well, I'll take that as an intended compliment, though I could just as easily say that you look Gallifreyan. There's an old saying about not judging books by their covers that you might want to take to heart, my friend, and stop being an embarrassment to your species." Somehow, Eregor managed to keep smiling as the man spat at his feet, though it faded just a touch with dismay. "Children!" he muttered under his breath, turning to walk away from the scene.

Then screams from behind made him turn, to see seeds of flame raining down upon the crowd from the top floor of Mage Hall. Panic set in as protesters and Academy folk alike ran about, trying to avoid fiery doom from above. Reflexively Eregor shifted out-of-phase with local time, stepping between seconds to try and stop the attack...

...only to slam back into real time after only a half-dozen steps, the sudden reversion sending him to his knees in the grass. A voice sounded in his mind. Ah ah ah, Keeper! No spoiling this game!

"Grey," replied Eregor as he stood. "Did y-?"

Oh, I've nothing to do with this today, or indeed any of the delightful 'pro-human' uproar that plagues your fair city. You know me, though, I enjoy a good round of chaos; it's my nature, after all. The voice paused, as if the speaker's attention were elsewhere. Oh, dear, your lovely headmistress is going to be in quite a pickle! She's innocent, of course, but how can she prove it' The people do love their scapegoats! Well, give my regards to your wife....and tell Ebon I said hello. Ta! Then the voice, and the presence behind it, faded away, leaving Eregor to stare up at the Mage Hall, wondering what would happen next.

Tempus Fugit

Date: 2017-01-08 00:41 EST
"This place used to be so nice, and peaceful; I had a little tent - just over yonder," the man had crept upon Eregor, as the Timelord had been talking to - evidently - himself. With Brend, it was always a toss up as to why or how or if even he would be recognized; his face and body both aged backwards and forwards, sometimes according to his will, other times according to his situation, and although that might add layers of anonymity, he was also fairly public in the fact that he was an actor for the Shanachie, a janitor for several production houses such as WHAM and Reilly Industries, and also a janitor and part time instructor (of a general handyman type of Home Economics course) right here at the Academy of Bristle Crios. At the moment, he looked like his 'typical' middle aged self, grey on blue clothing, a long coat, and a rather conspicuous looking mop over one shoulder, that seemed to shimmer like shiny metal in ones peripheral vision.

"I'm most famous, of course, as appearing as a random derelict just inside the would be 'Coven' grounds and offering unsolicited advice to passing heroes," he paused, frowned and rubbed his chin, giving Eregor a once over glance in the process. "I think that was supposed to be part of the narrative, sorry, this gets confusing sometimes. Anyways," he moved around to try keep trying to flank Eregor, while at the same time cheating his body just a little bit so that it opened a space between them, leaving their backs to the action. He gestured, opposite the action. "Try to keep facing that way," he murmured, play to the audience. "And stop talking to yourself, people will start to think you're a madman." His voice dropped to a hushed whisper again, "You're not, are you? A madman' Because in the right situations, they can be quite handy actually." He was just about to say something else, when a bright blue flash lit the area near the sounds of the screams, drawing his attention away.

"That, I would say, was Atticus," the words drawled out as the blue glow faded from the sky and courtyard. "Speaking of which, I loved you in the Wizard of Oz." He cast his glance back to Eregor, his look sincere. "Really."

Ammy Spiritor

Date: 2017-01-08 02:03 EST
13 December 2016 - Afternoon - Equivalent Exchange

Ammy was about the campus of the Bristol Crios Academy that day as well. Though she was not of a good, cheery mood that she usually tried to force herself to be in as a student and even more so as an instructor. She'd faced an attack at her shop earlier that day by protestors and she'd worn rather long sleeves and a cloak to conceal much of the injuries she'd bandage up. She could not however do much about the bandaging with her head or muzzle, so some very public evidence of her own physical harassment at the hands of protestors was plain to see.

She'd been out taking readings on solar radiation in the courtyards for her experiments with the Solara Radium she'd been struggling to discover and work out the new alchemy. She'd been very, very wary seeing the groups of protestors within the grounds of the academy. A place she'd hoped to have a bit of safety in from the madness the world had turn into had now become an open invitation to that madness.

The Lupinossai Alchemist skirted around the pathways as she took her samples, watched and kept an eye on the signs. A small group near one of the exits of Mage Hall caught sight of Ammy and had noted her very non-human appearance. She made a swift retreat as rocks, jeers and a few souls with liquid-bravery in them stepped from the group to seek her out. Confrontation was the last thing she wanted on the school grounds especially connected to her name. The Academy was still very aware of the Daemon Kraken that came to play in the Mage Hall eliciting the lengthy closure and renovations. An incident often placed upon her and her class.

The small group of four that came for her were not leaving well enough alone, seeming to want a little sport with someone they viewed as weak and injured. Ammy gave a soft muttered curse and even a small prayer to her daughter for guidance as she turned her back to the four fools and walked away faster, her mind sorting out a myriad of options that were trifling and only mildly discomforting for her would be assailants. Nothing was coming to mind that wouldn't end in more black marks against her. So she kept walking gauging and betting upon their intoxication to do them into a stupor. She'd led them on a drunken little parade beyond Mage Hall to a viewing garden near the Combat Hall.

By this point the small hunting group was growing fickle and bored with their prey and decided to end the charade. Ammy heard the click of a gun being brought to bare. Several things happened in a disorienting fashion she wasn't sure what to make of the events. She tried to turn, defense spells already spinning up in her mind, the corner of her eye saw the flashes of light at Mage Hall as magical attacks went off. What could have caused the students to defend themselves" The question lowered her mind a little, her defense spells dropped and the gunshot shattered her contemplation as something hot and searing sliced through her belly. She clutched at the bleeding wound as another shot rang out sending more pain through her shoulder.

Blood sang in her ears as she held desperately on the humane thread to bear it and leave the drunk idiots be. Her ears caught the voices quip about wavering aim and ruining such a good hide with too many holes. She was merely something to be hunted for sport. Something beneath someone that viewed their fragility a superiority. The hammer of the gun was clicking back once more, readying another round of hot pain for her, but Ammy would have no more of it. She'd been polite and none violet with the protestors earlier today. They'd only slung rocks and taunts. These fools used firearms like spoiled toddlers with no concern for the consequences. Her thoughts cost her more pain and blood as her left leg gave way from another wavering shot crashing into her thigh.

Both of her hands soaked in blood she stared hard at the four drunken protestors.

"Think your clever, getting courage out of a bottle to shoot an injured woman with a gun" Think you have balls and guts to live day to day' DO YOU THINK YOUR SPECIAL" YOU WANT TO BE SPECIAL" FAN FREAKIN' FANTASTIC!" Ammy said with a growl that erupted into an enraged roar that echoed over the school campus.

"Sanguis rotumus dutwama unrath! Polyvima necosma metum!" She canted, blood soaked fingers outstretched, she curled and rolled her furred hands outward.

The gun fired again, sinking lead into her chest as it fell from the fingers of the protestors. All four of the protestors screamed in agony as they backed away from the bleeding alchemist. Their skin bubbled and boiled, bubbling off of their bodies as their clothing smoked away from their burning hot bodies. Soon all that remained of the four protestors was skeletons of solid diamond with sinews and muscles of gelatinous ruby like stone. Every organ within them turn to a precious stone yet moving, living and working. Any that got around them could hear very, very faint screams of perpetual torture as they became fantastical if not horrific effigies of living sculpture standing in their last minutes of perfect stupidity.

Ammy slowly pulled herself away from what she'd done, her golden eyes not able to bear the horror she'd inflicted on the self righteous idiots. She would be found, lying among a patch of nightshade and blood root, breathing slowly as she painfully willed her body to reject the lead bullets and began the long healing needed.

"I once was human. I once was human. I once was human. I even wanted to be human again, once. What was I thinking?" She said crestfallen, the sunlight upon her area darkened.

Knightfall

Date: 2017-01-11 01:56 EST
The figure atop House Eternal had vanished as the first true signs of conflict had arisen, his incorporeal image dispersing into the cold breeze, soundlessly pulled apart. It was far from the only manifestation of the mysterious lord of House Eternal active on the grounds of Bristle Crios, however. Upon his arrival at the would be Coven years ago, he had performed the Fisher King Rites, binding himself to the land; there was little and less on those grounds now that he did not sense in some way, feeling the goings on rather than outright knowing them.

The grounds of both the Academy and the Coven had been covered with a thick, if transient, obfuscating fog which was accompanied by the soft rattle of chains. It's presence had not arrived early enough to mitigate the initial attack, but it acted nonetheless to prevent any further harm to be cause - to anyone it encountered. Those bodies that had been changed by the alchemist never felt the exploratory tendrils through the fog; the tendrils which took the shape of translucent chains, and stemmed from the center of the seemingly mobile fog bank ran up the statues legs and coiled around their waists before releasing them and leaving them alone.

The bank curled and coiled around the form of the fallen Lupinossai, Amaterasu, as if forming a protective circle to hide her from hurtful eyes. It wasn't long until the fog had crept beneath her and above her as well, taking advantage, perhaps, of the fact that she was otherwise preoccupied with healing herself. Whatever the reason, or through whatever auspices, the bank of fog had soon formed somewhat of a bubble around her, and the sound of chains clinked and clanked mutely within it.

Then something changed. Movement, or something like it; a disorienting sensation, as though the the bubble of fog were moving - with whatever entities were inside it. It would be more accurate to say, however, that the beings within the wall did not move at all - the world outside the fog did. Whatever the case, brief flashes of the world outside appeared through the ball of fog as bits of it were 'blown away' by the wind, albeit quickly replaced.

Everything around the ball was clouds, as though the fog had taken flight, imparting brief glimpses of clear blue, then suddenly, towers. Endless numbers of towers stretched into the distance, rising from a fog bank below and climbing into another one above, only a middle section of them visible. Then the wall of fog was back again, and the towers were gone, the only reminiscence a brief chorus of clanging bells that had accompanied their appearance, so softly that they almost escaped notice.

Then the bells were gone, but the smell of smoke began to fill the air, at first a hint of sulfur, then the somewhat cleaner smell of pure wood smoke, which lingered only a moment as one side of the fog bank died away to reveal that 'outside' the fog was a room, strangely lit, and filled with large mirrors numbering seven. In the middle of the room, towards the point which all the mirrors faced, arrayed in a circle as they were, sat a throne. Upon the throne sat a suit of armor, which given the layers of dust and webbing had clearly not moved in sometime. To the right of the armor, a figure stood, or more accurately, appeared suspended in mid-air without sign of string or other mundane aid. The figure appeared legless, the space they should have occupied instead filled with a similar fog to the one that surrounded Ammy, yet more translucent. The figure turned it's head to regard the intrusion, it's white garb offset by brilliant red hair which seemed to float and dance above it's head as though it were either underwater, or in a powerful windstorm.

As soon as it's attention was garnered, the fog bank once more closed, with purposed speed, and when it dissipated for the last time, it went completely, leaving the Lupin deposited in a room alone. The fire was well banked, a hearth full of smoldering embers topped with two pieces of still green hardwood that would be all night in burning. When the world outside the fog bank had completely cleared, the rest of the room had become visible as well. She had been lain on a couch facing the fire, an empty armchair on either side. The small table was drawn up close to the couch, less than a foot away. It would have to be pushed away to get down off the furniture. As it was, there was a pot of steaming liquid and a tray of some sort of cookie or biscuit; treats infused with canijen, recognizable to any who had spent time in Eternal House.

Never a place that could be said to resonate with peace or tranquility, which could be found almost no where on the grounds that day anyway, the House Eternal did at least radiate safety and security.

If somewhat too late for some.

Fleetwolf

Date: 2017-01-11 23:31 EST
((Music played and sung: Radioactive - (Cover) by Lindsey Stirling & Pentatonix, Lyrics by Imagine Dragons))

Crimson red eyes glow as they fall upon the open gates of Bristle Crios. Amidst the snow, the cold and the slight fog swirling about in the dying afternoon, stood a solitary Lupinossai of slate gray fur, bedecked in black leather pants and a corset trimmed in red and white. Shi appeared feminine and indeed wore hir shimmering blue hair long to the mid of hir back but still not the envy like hir fair red head mate. Long has it been since the Lupinossai's paws walked the grounds of the Coven much less the grounds of the Academy. Yet, shi was summoned by name and like all Eternal Creatures, a full name brought hir hither and only one thing knew hir full name. House Eternal, haven and shelter years ago during the flames of the Ebony Knight.

The summon was synonymous with the burning hot pains shi felt in hir body as the bonds shi shared with Ammy rang true the reason for the call. Shi did not enter yet as hir senses flared and fluttered. Something faint hovered before the gate. A slight field shi could see crumbling and decaying as time ticked away. Shi gave a small tug to hir blue goatee and hir hands soon possess hir black violin, silver trimmed with silver strings and hir bow with unicorn hair.

"Ammy, love, I am coming." Shi breathed out in the cold.

The violin hummed as shi played and sang walking through the gates, and traversing the grounds.

I'm waking up to ash and dust, I wipe my brow and sweat my rust, I'm breathing in the chemicals.

Hir eyes fell upon the stirring crowd of Watch, Campus Security and Staff members investigating a cordoned off area. Talk of flaming seeds burning people buzzed about. Fine dusty ash peppered the snow with contrast, yet as shi walked, something sickening and decayed cloyed at hir throat and chest. It wasn't the smell of fire, wood smoke or burnt flesh as shi expected such a crime scene to have. No, this was worse. The feel of rot, deterioration and a visceral affront to the very fiber of nature and magic seeped into hir. Hir red eyes narrowed more as shi continued hir trek, seeing and contemplating as shi sang on.

I'm breaking in and shaping up, Then checking out on the Prison Bus, This is it the Apocalypse.

Shi heard the conversations swirl around hir, hir presence and song blending into the presence of the grounds and the madness, lending clarity, sympathy, courage and resolve where shi went. Death. Death. Shi heard the reports of dead among an attack from the school. Shi felt the stirrings of the grounds, of many pin points of magical energy on the campus, each one a student, faculty member, coven refugee or investigator. Shi felt even the cold confusion of the few protestors still about.

I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones, Enough to make my systems grow.

Welcome to the new age, To the new age, Welcome to the new age, To the new age.

Hir tracks covered, swirled and cleaned by a light dusting of fresh snow as the weather bent and cared for the passing of its tender. Fleety was sure several on campus and the coven grounds knew of hir arrival and return. A fog had swirled over the grounds that was not natural and to hir sense now and then a very faint clatter of chains heard. Shi could feel this was linked to a powerful Eternal on the grounds and shi did well to modulate hir song spell to not interfere or interrupt the fog.

Ohohohohohohoh, I'm Radioactive, Radioactive. Ohohohohohohoh, I'm Radioactive, Radioactive.

Fleety saw amid the fog as magics swirled, touched, caressed but nae mixed or overwrote between hir and the other Eternal, shi caught glimpses of four figures that were once mortal humans. The life energy and the magical energy coursing off of the curses on them was distinctly Ammy's. Fleety's jaw took on a slight, stiffened set as shi walked past the fog enveloped souls now in torture. First, hir wife, then shi'd sort out the mess.

Reaching the coven ground and the rough area of House Eternal, shi faced more fog and winding paths, hedges, gardens and trees. Hir sight and senses knew the truth of the House. Shi stayed where shi was, resolute and raised hir voice with that song.

I raise my flag and don my clothes, It's a revolution I suppose, We're painted red to fit right in. Whoa- oh.

I'm breaking in and shaping up, Then checking out on the Prison Bus, This is it the Apocalypse. Whoa-oh.

I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones, Enough to make my systems grow.

Welcome to the new age, To the new age, Welcome to the new age, To the new age.

Ohohohohohohoh, I'm Radioactive, Radioactive.

Ohohohohohohoh, I'm Radioactive, Radioactive.

All systems go, Sun hasn't died, Deep in my bones, Straight from inside.

I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones, Enough to make my systems grow.

Welcome to the new age, To the new age, Welcome to the new age, To the new age.

Ohohohohohohoh, I'm Radioactive, Radioactive.

Ohohohohohohoh, I'm Radioactive, Radioactive.

Hir voice died down and the violin went still in the waning light of the wintry day. Once where it was fog and merry confusion to keep those not needing to enter away, the front door of House Eternal was there. Before hir. Shi bowed hir head and knelt in respect to the entity.

"I, Fleetian Wolf, Platinum Fang, Servant of Paladin, Spark of Lupinoss, bade entry and acceptance once more. I seek court my fair lady, Amaterasu, Goddess of the Sun, Light of My Heart, Injured Dove in Madness. I bear no malice on these grounds or in thine house." Shi stood and placed hir hand on the door and entered.

Within the House had many passages, doors, halls and foyers, but before hir was an older door, not used often by what shi felt in the magic of the house entity and shi knew the house had accepted hir and brought hir to the one in need. Fleety opened the door and stepped inside to find Ammy lying on the couch, breathing laboriously, her clothing splotched red and bearing four holes from gun shots. On the wood floor lay the misshapen lead rounds rejected from her body.

Shi quietly stole to her, the table softly moved, lifted her up and and sat on the couch, holding her with gentle ease. Shi held her for a while, time forgotten within the room for two so old in time, souls beating as one since creation. Once those golden eyes opened a smidge, they'd see the red eyes of one who vowed to always be by her side in sickness, health, life or death. A stroke of her fiery red hair, shi fed her the cookies and made her sip the liquid. Shi could feel what still pulsed in her mind even as she mended herself. Better a half awake dream of fantasy while healing than a nightmare of what was done.

"The sun vanishes from time to time for the darkness to reset the clock of time and beast, but it will shine again just as radiant and clear as before." Shi kissed Ammy's forehead and would await for the day to end and a new one to rise.

Eregor

Date: 2017-01-12 21:23 EST
"Well, thank you," Eregor replied to Brend, though his eyes too were drawn to the bright blue flash. "It was a good production....and no, I'm not a madman, just responding to a voice in my head from a cosmic irritant." He paused for a twin heartbeat. "That may not seem a convincing argument. Ah, well. Shall we assist' Or would that get in the way of things?"