Who knew that even as a human, she would be difficult to find? That’s what Okina had thought to herself as she scouted out the list of known locations her double seemed to visit often. To begin with, this entire ordeal was a burden anyways...
Dying was something she’d rather avoid— and she couldn’t care less as to where this copy of hers ended up. Really, she was just cleaning up someone else’s mess at this point. But if she could at least make a game out of it, then perhaps that wouldn’t be so bad. At the very least, it would make this bother entertaining for her... and so, Okina moved through the vague glimpses of this woman’s lives she had, ignoring the app’s tracking device.
Ever the busy bee, her copy was.
Such was the struggle of being a human with so much responsibility. Full glad was she that at the very least, this copy of hers was just as industrious as the real deal— but they were still a paltry imitation by comparison, the god thought. The very notion of their existence was disturbing enough. How could there be a human copy of her when she herself was so many different things? For a god of her caliber, her nature as an amalgamation of other beings was simple enough to deal with... but to put that sort of burden on a human?
From the places Okina would pass through— myriads of buildings, all different in form and function— the god found it difficult to fathom how one human could be stretched so thin while still being able to function.
Of course, she had a hunch.
“Aha. There you are.”
Manifesting into a dimly lit bedroom, documents and books were scattered all across the floor. Seated at a desk where the sole light of the room emitted from, was a haggard figure. Her golden hair a mess, clothing askew, and hands clenched against her scalp.
The doppelgänger wouldn’t react to Okina’s words. All that came from her lips was a hushed babbling— panic and confusion within the woman’s tone as she frantically spoke about various affairs. From business to hobbies, the human would speak to herself about the various tasks she had to perform, before immediately questioning herself.
No, but I should be... but what about... why am I... on and on. It was somewhat unintelligible, even for Okina. “What an ugly sight. As I thought— you put on a good mask, but such a chaotic life is too much for you to bear, isn’t it? Yet you’re still compelled to run it... honestly. What a ridiculous human you are.”
The current virus situation didn’t seem to help the confused woman’s state of being, of course, but the god still spurned the other’s existence with her observations.
“Such is why you’re an imperfect fake. To put you out of your misery would be the best option... but, I suppose containing you is fine enough. So long as I never see you again,” Okina exclaimed, opening a door on the other’s back. Her other would pause— only just now recognizing she wasn’t alone in the room— and would turn with wide eyes. “Tsk.”
Without lifting a finger, Okina would cause the doppelganger’s life energy to deplete— rendering the other drowsy... before flying forward and gripping the woman by the throat. It wouldn’t take much to knock her out, and indeed, she soon fell.
And with a look of indignance, the god unceremoniously sealed away her false self.
“... That takes care of that,” she muttered to herself after a few moments. “What a mockery. If they’re to make a copy of me, then at least make one that can function.”
“... To think that I could make such a disgusting face...”
A door appeared at the god’s back.
“But a warped mirror always shows a distortion, doesn’t it?”
And with that last thought, Okina stepped through the door— vanishing.
It was another busy day in the university, and as per usual, Okina had her hands full... or she would, had she not delegated most of her day’s work to her two ever-eager secretaries.
Key word being most. For even then, there were some things she couldn’t put off to others— certain tasks that she, as the figurative god of this university (or rather, the chief of staff) must do herself. Scrolling through a list on the screen of her computer, Okina drums her fingers across her desk momentarily before activating her intercom.
“Mai, send for Professor Clawthorne. Tell her it’s urgent.”
A voice of affirmation responds near-immediately from the other end of the line, and the woman lifts her fingers— before leaning into the back of her grand swivel chair.
It wouldn’t be long now for there to be a knock at her door.
Has multiple jobs, and is in a high position in most of them
Locations she works at include the university, her talent business, a farm, a local petroleum corporation, and so on. Nobody knows the full extent of her operations or how she can even function doing all of this
Is a cryptid of a person in general. Nobody knows much about her
“I intended to fish for dinner, but it’s starting to look like the fish have outwitted me.” Seimei momentarily closed his eyes as he smiled. Then he gestured to the extra fishing rod that was leaning against his water bucket. “Please, help yourself. Perhaps you’ll have better luck than I.”
Seimei could easily make his way to a nearby restaurant, or hell, even a market if he wanted some fresh fish for dinner. But…honestly, he was just trying to cling to some semblance of familiarity within this strange place. The onmyoji could adjust and adapt, but he still needed a break from being pelted with new concepts and technology.
“Have you been in Spirale for very long?”
“Always surprisingly clever to one’s wiles, they are. Or perhaps that’s simply the instinct they were born with? Who can say. But I’ll gladly try my hand at it.” While a god of many things, fishing wasn’t exactly one of them, per say. And yet, traces of her being held some connection to the sea— so the act of doing so wasn’t out of the norm for her.
Spying the other’s bait nearby, she’d proceed to deftly prepare the rod.
“A year and a half, just about. Far too long if you ask me, though longer still have others suffered this place.” A pause follows, as Okina casts the line out. Glancing at Seimei, she offers him a grin. “Are you new to here, then?”
❝Right, so you’re a mage or something?❞ she breathed out with more grit to her words than a neutral party might possess–she wouldn’t hide her disliking of magic, especially after learning the woman wanted to weaponize the fog.
❝Hang on! You wanna make this stuff do whatever the fuck you tell it?❞ Gripping tighter to her bow was all she could do not to start yelling more profanities and threats. Magic was often hard to deflect, even if she was quick enough to use a flask, so she simply gritted her teeth and edged farther from the wall of mist.
That was, until she heard a muffled cry of ‘”Help! Please, help me!” coming from within the shrouded area.
❝Crap.❞ she said bluntly, her eyes glancing back and forth between the stranger with dubious morality and the known threat of the mist. ❝Sounds I’m not the only one who saw your ‘not-show’...❞
❝Know any other tricks? Maybe something useful against piss-faced demon fucks that might be lurking in there, eating people alive?❞
“A mage? Me? Aahahaha!”
The god can’t help but laugh at the notion of her being a mere mage— although before she could even respond to the other’s further accusations, she heard the same voice cry out. Peering into the mist, Okina would let out a soft sigh.
Oh well. At least this would serve as a decent distraction, now that her current plans had decidedly gone nowhere. “Hm. I’m quite the tricky individual...”
“So come along then, o’ crass archer. Let us annihilate whatever lurks beyond, shall we?” Leading the way from her lofty position in the air, the god moves forward fearlessly through the fog, ready to greet whatever it was out there with a colorful barrage.
“Care to join me? The fish don’t seem to be biting today anyhow. I could use the company.” Seimei remained still with the fishing pole in his hands. He could sense a large amount of energy radiating from this stranger, but unfortunately he couldn’t discern her true nature. However, whether she was a spirit, deity, or something else entirely; it mattered very little to Seimei in this moment.
According to what he’d recently learned, even Gods were forcibly pulled here. Which made Seimei assume that the natural order he was accustomed to was virtually non-existent in Spirale. Like Ren had mentioned; he’d just have to adapt and adjust to the change.
Okina had been passingly examining the onmyoji from nearby while gazing out at the sea, so she was relatively unsurprised when he called out to her.
“Oh, why not?” The god exclaimed, her wheelchair hovering closer besides Seimei before sitting itself down. “It’s a shame I’ve not a rod of my own to partake as well.”
Despite his protest, he doesn’t attempt to jump. She’ll probably yank him back through another shitty door. Besides, while he’s not keen on the idea of duelling someone he cares about for fun and games, it’s clearly more than just a game to her. “I’ve already ‘let loose’ enough for a few lifetimes by now,” he says, rolling his shoulders, taking a few steps forward, “But how can I say no to someone who so politely decided they’d force me into a corner?”
Nero smiles, taunting, anything but friendly.
“Let me fill you in on two things,” Nero says, casually adjusting his mechanical wrist, “First– I really hate being told what to do. And second…” There’s a pause, “Last time ‘god’ came knockin’, I put his ass six feet under.”
Without warning, he draws his gun, firing off a shot at her hovering form.
The god’s position shifts— tilting as the shot’s fired, allowing the bullet to whiz just past the frame of her wheelchair. “Ha ha. Good, good... you’re quick to get into it. You’ve even brought bullets of your own! Wonderful.”
“So let’s see how you fair against a god like me, then.”
Her chair’s position returns to what it was as magic wells up around Okina— and fires off with a ‘bang’ of it’s own... yet instead of one bullet aimed at Nero, it’s countless aimed everywhere.
Immediately her form is partially obscured by the sudden waves of kunai manifesting from close around her body, pink blades firing off from all directions with tighter waves of green blades revolving back and forth around her. Being hit by one wouldn’t be the end, but dodging was made difficult as bullets were fired between gaps.
She wasn’t at all aiming directly at Nero, maintaining a distance always, yet as she moved slightly in the sky so too would the waves adjust.
To any onlookers, it would have probably been a visually appealing sight...
But probably not for whoever was on the receiving end of it.
His face, irate but unfazed, remains so until the very end– when his head tilts and it hardens. It’s not the duel that pisses him off, but the way she presents it. “’Don’t have a choice’?” Nero echoes, taking a few steps forward, voice suddenly much less warm and inviting, “Oh yeah? What’s stopping me from swan divin’ off the edge and flying off, huh?”
He swats his hand in a shooing motion toward the edge, not moving his eyes off her.
“Why the sudden interest?” He asks, not quite sharp enough to think of any potential tie between Okina and the Queen, but suspicious in regards to well, everything else– “I mean, I know I’m cute and all,” he says, with a dry, disingenuous smile, “But I wouldn’tve thought there was anything between us.”
He says the last part without realizing it could easily be taken as part of his bit, still– though he jests, the last comment is genuine. What would Okina, someone he’s met only once or twice, want with him?
“You’re welcome to try. Granted, the only thing you’d be doing is wasting time— mainly yours,” she shrugs, not at all fazed by the other’s shift in demeanor.
“I’ve had my eye on you for a while. So is this not the perfect time, then? ... Though I must admit, I’m confused by what you mean. Why does there need to be anything between you and I to give reason for a duel?” There’s genuine curiosity in her words as she says this, raising a hand to her chin as she looks upon him.
“Have you never simply fought for the sake of fighting before?”
“It’s only natural, even for the humans where I hail from. Haven’t you ever let loose?” While it was true that her reason for dragging him here was mainly due to the Valsharess, that didn’t mean she wasn’t here out of her own desire to fight as well.
Her real intent was to test Nero’s measure, after all. But it wasn’t a lie to say she simply wished to fight for fun as well. “Well, allow me to make things clear, Nero— there’s no ill-will behind this. If you must need a reason, then simply think of it as a trial from god. Do well, and I’ll reward you for your efforts. But if you don’t...”
She raised a hand skyward, and the wind began to howl.
He’s not even surprised at this point. With the number of times he’s been yanked into memories, hallucinations, imprints– the door dragging him in is just another inconvenience to add to the list. Alert from the moment he drops on one knee atop the Ophiuchus tree, Nero rises to his feet, head snapping in the goddess’ direction when she speaks. “Okina?” He says, eyes narrowing.
“You make a habit of dropping in on people unannounced?” Nero asks, a bit of a snark– but otherwise relaxing. All he’s ever known of Okina is kindness with a bit of sly mischievousness mixed in. He’s got no reason to be on guard, though the way she summoned him does make him a little uneasy. “Sorry,” he corrects himself, sarcastically, waving the finger of his healed arm as though shuffling words with his point, “Dropping people in on you.”
He pauses, huffs, and then gives her a slight shrug. “It’s a pain in the ass, is what it is. But hey, if you’re having a good time with it, good on you.” A dry statement, to say the least.
“The one and only! Hahaha!”
He seemed annoyed, but otherwise somewhat unphased— which was a little disappointing in a way, but amusing in another. His casual demeanor was rather refreshing, really.
“From time to time,” she laughs lightly in response, happy the boy seems the same as usual. “Though, only when I require someone at a certain place and time...”
Wind sifts through the leaves, carrying with it more mist.
“A pain, you say... that’s a shame to hear. Since in that case...”
“I believe you’ll find the reason why I’ve brought you here to be a pain as well, young Nero,” Okina exclaims in a similarly calm tone, moving to lean forward in her chair to smile down at Nero with narrowed eyes. “See, I’ve summoned you for a duel. One you have little choice but to accept— and one you cannot escape from, either.”
It seemed like finally, Nero would have a decent moment of reprieve. After so many battles, a rest must have been finally nice... but unfortunately, it wouldn’t last long.
Out of the corner of Nero’s eye, he spots something... a green door. It clearly wasn’t there a moment ago, and looked eerily out of place amongst everything else in the garage. And as the boy would draw close to it... the doors would open.
And a great force would begin to suck Nero inside of it.
Momentarily thrust through another space, he’s shunted through yet another door— this one with fog for as long as he can see... and the inevitable green of the Ophiuchus’ tree top, which Nero would find himself landing on shortly after a small fall. And from where he fell, a voice would ring out... a familiarly boisterous one.
“Hello there~ looks you’re doing well,” Okina calls out, looking down upon Nero with a grin. Brilliant flames of magic burn at her back, each a different unusual color, as the god floats while brimming with extraordinary magical power.
“Enjoying what the mist has to offer us? I know I have.”
“For others, I’ve heard this fog is quite stifling— and yet for myself, it’s been rather... freeing. What of you? I should hope for the latter, in your case.”
✖ ———— She was indeed hoping that Okina would take care of the tattooed pest, but beggars can’t be choosers, and the sooner she crushes even one of these enemies underfoot, the better. “Is that so,” she remarks, dryly, taking a step back, arms folding across her chest.
“I am here to offer you entertainment, I suppose. And if this whelp is what brings you the most amusement, who am I to deny you the pleasure?” The Valsharess shrugs, her hand rising to her lips, the point of her manicured finger ghosting her bottom lip. “If that is your chosen prey, then allow me to share the knowledge I’ve… accrued. The sort, it seems, to care deeply for his loved ones. Use their names at your discretion– the tattooed male seems of particular importance. ‘V’… and a ‘Kyrie’. And…”
A smile dawns on her face. Dark and malicious. “The proud facade will vanish in an instant if you threaten to take his limbs. Do feel free to cut them all off, should it suit your tastes.”
The other’s disappointment was palpable— but personal grudges are better left personal. Still, her own offer was out there. Smiling coolly as Val goes on with her briefing.
The Valsharess’ words, as usual, did little to betray her usual modus operandi.
“So your foes flock together, I see. I’ll duly keep those two in mind...”
“His limbs, though? Ah, yes, I do recall him having one peculiar sort...” It was a curious arm of steel indeed.
“That’s all I need to hear. Should the boy not be able to weather my challenge, then I shall take my reward. But if he can— I shall be satisfied enough.” Perhaps even reward him in turn, if she’s pleased. Lifting a hand, a green door appears behind her, and opens. “I already have a suitable location for a trial in mind. The top of the Ophiuchus Tree should suffice... so do keep a lookout if you wish to spectate. Otherwise, I’m to go prepare.”
And she wastes no time, disappearing through the door which in turn would vanish.
THE GREAT LIBRARY OF XALPHINA; WHAT TOMES DO YOU HOLD, THAT I HAVE NOT READ BEFORE?
@hiddenstar
A quiet night, a corner of a library, the heavy footsteps of a deceivingly alone man against carpeted floors. A finger tapped with temporary interest in the fae magic of a glowing flower growing from the very table he leans on. Another book joining piles, very few even legible.
Before he was Chaos, he was Fabro Rowan. A genius, an alchemist, privy to the secrets of few. By the years, he’s felt his sense of self slowly dissolve. A sliver of it persists, and one must keep themselves somewhat solid in mind if he intends to observe what becomes of himself. This developing world he harbors inside of himself.
There are numerous books open simultaneously, displaying all sorts of creatures from various worlds. No sound but the turning of pages, mumbling of words…and the faint squirming of hungry and frustrated beings unable to realize themselves outside their domain.
Who is it that approaches him with such a grand aura…?
“Did I perchance take a book you were interested in?”
It was a half lie, really. It was a rare moment where the goddess came to the great library to read in order to while away the time. Normally she had other venues for entertainment, after all... people always interested her more than books ultimately did, after all.
And such was the case of this peculiar man. There was something peculiar about him... though he held a stern countenance, you know what they say.
Never judge a book by it’s cover.
“Well now! Let’s see...” Taking a random book off the top of Nrvnqsr’s pile, Okina abruptly sits across from him. Yet as she opens the book in her hand, her eyes would look up to the other. “Researching something? If it’s a spell you’re trying to learn, I’m afraid it’s impossible from these books.”
It was already clear that she wasn’t interested in books any longer.
✖ ———— “Please,” the Valsharess says with narrowed eyes, “I dare say you’ll have your hands full regardless of which you pursue.” Four photographs: the white haired boy, his samurai companion, the woman with the crow, and the tattooed son of a bitch. “I think too highly of you to send you after mere rats like a petty footsoldier, goddess.”
“I may despise my enemies, but I know when to acknowledge their strengths. This one,” she says, tapping the photograph of Nero, “Is a brute. But there are buttons to press, goddess– mentally, weak.” Shuffling them in Okina’s hands, she gestures then to Corvus. “Easily overwhelmed. Her familiar is a nuisance. But her body is resilient… as expected from a lich.” Moving on to Zero, she wrinkles her nose. “Whether you find a proud killer or a drunken lout seems to be a toss of the coin. This one… this one would be the one I would try hardest to kill in the dark, aside from the brute.”
And finally, V. She looks Okina in the eyes, a terse smile dawning on her lips. “A frail body belies his sorcery. I have seen every other at their weakest– but this one… this one denies me his breaking point.”
She listens on to Val’s complaints while studying the pictures before her, instantly recognizing three of the individuals. While one is only passing recognition (after all, she recalls the little stunt he and the Valsharess had pulled at her moonlit festival), she still recalls Nero and Zero well enough
The other, she naturally doesn’t know. This city was too big for her to get a good look at everyone, unfortunately... but Okina would keep her face in mind.
“So these four are your most loathed enemies? Quite the rogue’s gallery you’ve accrued. Heh heh...” Perhaps this wouldn’t be so boring after all then.
But if the Valsharess was expecting Okina to select V, she’d be mistaken. “Your grudge against the sorcerer seems to be the greatest, so I’ll leave him for you. This is an ample time to take care of him, after all, while the mist lasts... I could afford to gift you some of my strength, you know. I could even take you right to him.”
“But I myself am much more interested in the boy. He’s piqued my curiosity from before, you know...” The picture of Nero raises, hovering over her hand. “This would be an ample time to offer him a challenge— and a good way to amuse myself.”
Despite her unease, Sera couldn’t ignore the fact that the current threat of mystery mists was more intimidating than the tingly feelings she knew meant magic was nearby. It was her duty to help people who couldn’t defend themselves, at least that’s what she told herself as she scanned the area for the cause of her discomfort.
Finding the source of magic left her shocked, considering her eyes had landed on a woman floating and on fire. A split-second of panic set in as she contemplated whether the person was a friend or foe, but soon enough Sera raised her bow with an arrow notched and aimed high. Better ready than dead.
With a deep exhale, she prepared to call out to the sorceress before being interrupted.
❝That’s good ‘cuz I’ve had more than enough of magic.❞ she replied with downturned lips and narrowed eyes. ❝Freaky lights and shite’s not my thing.❞
Lowering the bow in her hands, though still keeping it by her side in case a clear threat appeared, Sera quirked her brows. Recalling what the stranger said before addressing the archer, she tentatively asked, ❝You said something about an experiment before… were you trying to get this freaky fog to clear?❞ Even with her skeptical expression, her tone was laced with hope.
“Hah.” Letting off a breathless laugh, the god found herself slightly disappointed. An attack would have at least been a welcome way to sate her mood— though, she supposed conversation would be fine enough. “Unfortunately for you, ‘freaky lights and shite’ happens to be one of my things. But I’ll pass on those for now.”
Her chair turns, bringing the god to look down at the archer from her position as a sigh lets slip from her tongue. Just a bow...? Hm.
Though she briefly considered venting in the traditional Gensokyo way when looking at Sera, Okina decided against it. Instead, she’d address the elf’s question.
“Now why would I want to do that? If I’m right, it will clear in due time on it’s own. What I was hoping to do was harness it.”
“Yet try as I might, I can’t seem to bend it to my will. A shame, really. This fog is such a wonderful foundation for chaos, after all...”
✖ ———— “Recycling,” the Valsharess muses, and laughs bitterly. “Ah, once again I find myself wanting for an illithid to dominate the mind and make it my own. The Underdark has an abundant amount of allies worth keeping… so long as you keep them in check.”
She grinds the heel of her boot against the concrete, and shifts, giving Okina a scarlet-eyed glance. “This is not simply idle curiosity. I offer you some… playthings. Thorns in my side who grow steadfast while I make efforts to root them out.” Reaching into her cloak, the Valsharess pulls out a printed photograph, which she spreads between her index and ring fingers to reveal three others beneath. “Whether their minds be broken or repurposed, I could not care less. But I find myself wanting to watch a goddess work her magic… to crush the unworthy underfoot.”
“An offering, you say...” She scoffs somewhat, taking a look at the photograph before her. “I’ve my doubts any sort of repurposing I deign upon these individuals to last outside the mist... so, crushing will have to do. And if you’re so keen to watch, then I may just show you the usual sport of my homeland. Though...”
Okina squints, before her gaze shifts back to Val.
“I trust these individuals are worth my time?”
“As I am not one to often do another’s dirty work, I should at least hope this won’t be as simple as swatting flies. I’ve my own reputation to bear in mind, after all.” Whether they could actually fight back was all she cared about.
It wouldn’t be much fun if they went out with a whimper, after all.
Submerged within the shroud of mist with no fear for the consequences, the secret god hovers mid-air above a street. From her being, magic overwhelmingly surges— manifesting physically as multicolored flames upon her back.
She had heard that people who venture into the mists seem to regain the full prowess of their abilities back, or lose their powers... and Okina had hoped to use such a state to her advantage— provided fate was kind to her, which it had been so far.
Yet with a hand outstretched, mist swirling around as if stirred by an invisible force, annoyance quickly would occupy the deity’s demeanor.
“Hmph. I should have known it would have been no good.” Even with her full might, Okina found herself unable to tap into the mist to discern anything from it. That in and of itself told her a couple things, but it wasn’t anything too helpful. “This experiment was a wash.”
“So if you were expecting a show, then sorry to disappoint.”
Calling out to the sole onlooker nearby, Okina speaks with a sharp tone.
