devil may care

"Careful, we could hurt someone with that..." "That's the point!" Hel // SMITE Affiliated with Citta Alveare

[cloudedblades]

"Evidently." Little carried away about punishing people who weren’t even dead yet. Seemed to him that a goddess of an underworld (whatever exactly that meant - he was just guessing, really) ought to stay there. 

Aside from Scientists, anyways.

"If you keep her under control, then we don’t have a problem." Cloud backed off a few steps, then turned away. Deliberately. Specifically. If Hel was going to take her shot, this was the time - and he was waiting for it. "Think you can manage that?"

[helsolo]

Wait, was that it? Was he just going to turn around and walk away now? There wasn't exactly much for them to discuss, seeing as they'd gotten around the biggest issue... Guess there isn't any potential for diplomacy here anymore. As long as he wasn't trying to bait her into another fight...

"Control me?! You think she could possibly-"

"Yeah. I'll manage."

"At least she's not going to try and kill you again. In case you haven't noticed, we're... not the toughest of the gods."

[cloudedblades]

Moodswings, huh?

"People call me Cloud Strife." Which was about all he was going to say. Frankly, he didn’t need her (their?) name(s?), he could just as well give a description instead. 

Still… whether he needed it or not, he probably ought to ask. If nothing else, it’d be easier (and kinder) than calling her rude nicknames behind her back.

"I’ll bite. What’s your name? Or do you each have one?"

[helsolo]

Cloud Strife. Not exactly nice to finally meet him, considering the circumstances. At least there was a name to the face of the human who so audaciously offended-

Oh. Wait. Wrong stance.

"Hel. I'm... We're Hel."

"I'm the Norse Goddess of the Underworld. I'm supposed to care for the souls of the sick and elderly. As for her... she's supposed to punish the souls of the evil, but she can get a little carried away sometimes."

[cloudedblades]

"No kidding. Consider it mutual." Must be weird, having two completely different people inhabiting the same body. He can’t imagine what that must be like. At least they have an easy transition. 

Hopefully, this one could talk the other into some sense. Or something. 

"Look, I don’t want to have to keep killing you any more than you do. Can you keep her under wraps?" Or something like that, anyways. Best he could think of at the moment.

[helsolo]

It wasn't that hard to believe that she had already made an enemy. Charging into a confusing situation with that much condescension would do that for a deity. At least the lack of power made it easy to keep the darkness under control.

"I can't make any promises, but I'll try."

"...Maybe it would be easier to get along if we knew who you were? We didn't exactly introduce ourselves, did we?"

"Now you want to be friends with that f***?!"

"We switched places for a reason!"

Goodness.

[krvlju-deactivated20160827]

       { ♪ };; Clapping her hands together, Sona’s smile only brightened as the other extended her help. She felt sad that such a kindhearted individual was forced to reside in this place against her will, but it seemed the power to change that was outside of both of their hands at this point in time.

     「 THANK YOU--AND SORRY TO HAVE DRAGGED YOU INTO THIS 」         「 I'M PRETTY SURE THEY SAID I LIVED IN.. B-4? 」

[helsolo]

B-4, huh? If Hel remembered right, that meant Sona was living in the fourth section of the city. How far away was that from here? The deity closed her eyes and scrunched her eyebrows in thought. The living areas shouldn't have been too far away... When Hel's features relaxed, she looked less enthusiastic about the endeavor than she had been before.

"Hmm... We should find out what part of the city we're in."

"If we're lucky, we won't have to go too far..."

[cloudedblades]

"Really? You don’t mindlessly kill people? Because that’s exactly what you tried to do to me." Talk about being bad at lying. How’d somebody even come up with that in their head, and not immediately spot the contradiction?

"I want to talk to the other one of you." At least the other seemed - however briefly their contact - to  be a lot less violent. As for what she meant by sorting out the humans’ mess, he’d ask the other one.

[helsolo]

"Ugh. This is pointless."

You swipe at one human for pissing you off, and suddenly everyone thinks you're a mindless killer. The nerve of some mortals, these days. Begrudgingly, Hel let the light surround her. Maybe she could talk some sense into this idiot.

[ I will protect you. ]

"Um... Sorry. About her, I mean."

"She doesn't like you at all."

[cloudedblades]

Given that Cloud didn’t even know she had a brother, he rather didn’t.

"So you’re still going to kill people with them. Like it or not."

And what was he going to do? Keep killing her every time they ran  into each other. Pointless, unreliable, incredibly slow… a lot of people would still end up dead.

He didn’t have an answer.

[helsolo]

"If I have to."

"Chances are, if I do have to kill someone with my bare hands, they probably deserved it."

The way things were going, convincing this blond vigilante of her actual intentions was getting harder and harder. It was slowly starting to annoy her. Why did she have to explain herself to a human, regardless of how powerful they were? She didn't have to answer to anyone in this world.

"...And don't you think for a second I mindlessly murder people. You humans do that all the time. I'm the one who gets to sort out the mess."

[cloudedblades]

Always sucked to be one of the new ones in Hive City, didn’t it? Cloud remembered the feeling. But while he’d avoided too many major fights back then, he’d still had an advantage over the average person, and so did she.

"Still got your claws. She’d tried to rush him with those, after all. He remembered it rather clearly, although it was the only attack she’d managed to get in - and it’d been a failed one at that.

But as in other things, others wouldn’t be so lucky.

[helsolo]

"Who do you take me for? My brother?"

"Sure. I have claws. I'd much rather have my magic, but they're better than nothing."

How else was the goddess of the underworld supposed to back up her own threats? Could she let the evil and unjust laugh in the face of her words as they battled her? Clawing at the human was a one-time deal for her. It's what happens when someone pisses off a violent deity. As if she can be held responsible for that. If anything, she was provoked... according to her, anyway.

[krvlju-deactivated20160827]

      { ♪ };; Well, nothing she didn’t expect; Sona simply wanted to confirm her suspicions. With a grateful smile, she was honestly just thankful that the other had offered to help at all. Answers or not, the musician already felt more at ease with just her company.

     「 THERE'S NO NEED TO APOLOGIZE, IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT 」    「 WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO HELP ME FIND MY APARTMENT THOUGH?  」

  { ♪ };; Rather than continue asking questions about the city’s existence though, she figured it’d be beneficial to ask about the city itself. After all, if she was going to be stuck living here for a while, might as well familiarize herself with the place.

[helsolo]

With Sona's reaction, Hel's worries began to fade, and the deity nodded her head in silent thanks. If the woman had reacted as the goddess had done when she'd heard the news... Oh, but that time had passed. Her banishment had been a hard fact to accept, but she was getting there slowly. It wasn't long before Hel adapted to her new surroundings, or until she was picked to go back home.

"...Your apartment?"

"I could try, sure! I'm still a bit unfamiliar with the city, so it might take us a while, if that's okay with you. It'll be an adventure!"

An adventure, indeed.

[cloudedblades]

Now he got it. Two people in one. There were stranger things, really. Although Cloud couldn’t say he’d ran into many, but he knew enough that it didn’t really startle him that much.

Of course, there was a reason he’d fought her (them?) last time. If you could call it a fight.

"You might not fight me. But you won’t hesitate to kill others, will you?"

[helsolo]

Well, it took them all long enough.

"Normally, I wouldn't, if someone pissed me off enough."

"Killing the unrighteous comes with the territory. Fortunately for you and everyone else, someone f***ed with my powers."

Not being able to kill things really did piss her off. No Decay, no Repulse, no nothing. Just some wimpy healing for allies that didn't even exist. Would have been nice to have some sort of fighting capabilities, but the city had other plans for her.

"She's right. I'm only allowed to heal people. We can't exactly hurt anybody, even if we wanted to."

"Ugh. Don't remind me."

[krvlju-deactivated20160827]

        { ♪ };; In response to the compliment, Sona’s body moved as if she were laughing, yet no sound came out. When she would ‘laugh’, the woman simply plucked a few high strings on her etwahl to allow a sort of twinkling noise to drift through the air, but trying to recreate the same thing now with this keyboard would most likely result in a cross between a a car screeching and fifteen cymbals being slammed at the same time.

              「 THANK YOU 」 「 HEL IS A LOVELY NAME AS WELL ♥  」

        { ♪ };; There were so many questions that needed asking that.. Sona couldn’t really decide which to ask. Perhaps confirming her suspicions first would help to eliminate revolving any future plans around false information though, and so she settled for asking the question which answer was probably the most obvious. 

「 IS THERE A WAY TO LEAVE THIS PLACE? 」

[helsolo]

Upon seeing Sona's reaction, Hel could only assume the newcomer was laughing. Chang'e usually acted the same way as Sona, except the faerie usually had her rabbit laughing with her. The goddess seemed well on her way to making a new friend in this strange new city. Don't screw this up, Hel. You can do it.

...Oh. Oh, dear. The goddess's cheery expression faltered once she read Sona's question. It was a question Hel wished she had an answer for herself. She fidgeted in place, trying to buy herself some time before having to explain the inevitable.

"Hmm... I'm sorry, but I don't think there is. No one's ever given me a real answer."

"I think the people in charge get to choose who comes and who goes."

[helsolo]

[ Ugh, tumblr mobile just follow-glitched on me. ]

[cloudedblades]

She.. had been talking to somebody else, just for a moment, during her first meeting. As if there’d been a voice. Had he heard something…?

"Who are you talking about?"

[helsolo]

"Well... Technically, I'm talking about me."

"I'm Hel. I, uh... Well, see for yourself."

Darkness swirled around the goddess as her form changed, her essence of light corrupting into one of malice and darkness.

[ Now, you will know pain. ]

"Get it now? We're the same person. Now, f*@# off. I'm not dumb enough to fight you again."

[krvlju-deactivated20160827]

        { ♪ };; Confused as to why the other was the one now stuttering and apologizing, Sona quickly brought both of her hands up in front of her and shook them side to side, signaling that it was alright. The stranger seemed to be reacting rather bashfully though—but truthfully, Sona was a bit thankful that her first run-in with someone happened to be with the nameless resident; she would take bashful over violent any day of the week, and she had seen some rather intimidating individuals along the way.

        { ♪ };; The DJ had all but forgotten how it felt to carry a keyboard. After establishing a connection with an instrument, she was able to move it around simply by willing it to do so, but considering she had nearly attempted to murder the musical row of keys before her.. it seemed it would take a long while to establish any sort of positive emotion towards the electronic device.

        { ♪ };; Nodding her head in response to the other’s inquiry, questions of her own began flooding in now that she actually had someone to converse with. Etiquette was always important no matter the situation though, and so she decided to start off with some small talk.

            「 MY NAME IS SONA; AND YOU ARE?」

[helsolo]

A smile broke out onto Hel's face again as the other woman eased her worrying mind. All awkwardness aside, things had gone back on course. The newcomer seemed to have collected herself enough, and the goddess was ready to give whatever help she could. It probably wouldn't amount to much, but it was better than leaving a stranger alone and helpless in this place.

For now, it was time to get introductions out of the way. Words flashed on the woman's helmet, and Hel nodded in acknowledgment.

"Sona? That's such a pretty name!"

"You can call me Hel. I'm still a bit new here, myself."

The way Sona communicated piqued Hel's interest. Funny memories of a talking rabbit and a dancing faerie came to mind. Perhaps Chang'e might be interested in an outfit like Sona's? The goddess would have to ask when she returned from her banishment... if she ever returned at all.

Ah, but back to the matter at hand. There were questions to be asked, and answers to be given.

"So, how can I help?"

[cloudedblades]

helsolo

So people did come back. Absolutely confirmed, then. Even if she had a new look.

"You think a disguise is going to save you?"

[helsolo]

...Oh, boy.

"Um... I should probably explain things, shouldn't I?"

"I told her you wouldn't help if we got violent, but she wouldn't listen..."

[krvlju-deactivated20160827]

           { ♪ };; G u l p .

           { ♪ };; Sona was very… unused to getting called out on her tantrums. She tended to have them in secret away from the eyes of others, but it seemed this time she had gotten so fixated with the problem at hand that she disregarded the fact that she was currently in a bustling city where hundreds of citizens resided. Woops.

           { ♪ };; A bit mortified with her first impression, Sona’s helmet depicted a sweat drop as she embarrassingly put a hand behind the back of her head.

「 SORRY 」

—her helmet read.

         { ♪ };; She supposed the other was right though, and so the maven bent down in order to flip the keyboard so it was right-side up again. She’d nearly waved her hand in an attempt to move it, but swiftly remembered that this wasn’t her keyboard and so it wouldn’t move at her command. Close one.

[helsolo]

Whatever response Hel was expecting, it sure wasn't symbols and words from the woman's helmet. Her eyes widened in intrigue as memories of Mercury showing off his new outfit. It only took her another second to think of how embarrassed the other girl must have been after being intruded on. Hel's hand quickly shot up to her mouth as she stammered out an apology of her own.

"O-Oh! Don't be sorry! I-I shouldn't have intruded on your thoughts...! I mean, uh... Um..."

Hel leaned over to help pick the instrument up, only to find the other woman had already brought it right-side up. Feeling embarrassed herself, the goddess kept her mouth shut, leaving a few seconds of awkward silence hanging in the air before speaking again.

"So... You're new, right?"

[krvlju-deactivated20160827]

        { ♪ };; No soundboards, no turntables.. nothing! Not only had she been tossed into some random city never heard of before, but the plain keyboard her personally customized one had been replaced with was malfunctioning as well! Frustrated enough with all the holes in place of her memories, Sona stomped her heeled boots into the sidewalk. Overcome with annoyance, she decided to take her irritation out on the instrument; smacking the keys a bit to see if that would get it working before eventually flipping the entire device onto the ground.

[helsolo]

A loud crash garnered the goddess's attention. In the direction of the offending noise was a woman who was obviously upset. The deity could only imagine what was going through the other's mind... assuming the other woman was one of the city's newcomers. Thoughts of her own ran through Hel's head, no doubt thoughts that others once had directed to her on her arrival. With her mind set, Hel made her way to the strangely-dressed woman and the commotion, hoping her voice would give the newcomer some notice.

"Ohh... Now, what did that thing ever do to you?"

"I know you're probably confused, but you shouldn't be so reckless with your things..."

[helsolo]

respawn timer [open]

[pyranoscopy-deactivated20150222]

It would indeed appear that there had occurred an incident involving another individual, though with whom exactly, Flannan was not sure. She thought perhaps to ask, but she was almost afraid to press further inquiry about this bad-tempered woman and her apparent psychopathic tendencies.

"Uh, hm… There’s a certain saying I’m thinking of… ‘You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.’ Yeah, being nicer would definitely help ‘er out. Can’t tell ya I care at all for those typa people… I really hope she wasn’t beating on you, ‘cause that’s just uncalled for.”

The person before her certainly deserved no such treatment; she did not seem very confrontational, or otherwise fond of wantonly provoking ire. Flannan held no sympathy for those who committed insensate acts of violence. She’d seen enough dictators and warmongers to last her a lifetime.

"Potions you say? Maybe they ‘ave ‘em around here somewhere, but none that I know of. You could go for a few bevvies instead, to take the edge off, yanno? A cold beer or two and you’ll better in no time.”

That was what her father would have said, anyway, not that she condoned excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. More often than not it merely exacerbated the situation.

"Orrrr we can find you a pharmacy and get a pain reliever over the counter. Probably safer.”

[helsolo]

If she wasn't still in pain, Hel might have laughed again. Even if she wanted to hurt her, she couldn't. She could yell and scream as much as she liked, but causing harm was impossible. Right now, though, her darker self was still silent. Whether the darkness was being quiet to save face or if she had been knocked out by the impact remained to be seen.

Hel winced at the mention of beers, her usual smile skewing at the thought. They weren't exactly the consumables she'd been hoping for. She shrugged off the thought, though. Her new acquaintance seemed to have good enough intentions. Medicine did sound like a wonderful alternative, so long as her mana pool felt empty.

"I'm not sure how well medicine will work, but I guess it's worth a shot!"

"You wouldn't mind helping me with that, would you? I'm still new here, and I don't exactly have a map of the place."

Oh, if only Ra or Aph were here. If only anyone else was here. This new banishment was not doing Hel any favors at all.