There is a rumble, then the clatter of dry bones falling as something stirs beneath the ground.
The earth splits as it rises and once more there is beheld the near-forgotten form of a useless mun.
sluuuuuuuuurp
Eh-herm... right, sorry. Please excuse the stupidly overdone opening to this post. Iāve just been pondering some things. Due to conversations on discord (yes i still think about these muses) I have formulated how Grace would act if she develops feelings for someone beyond the usual...
It took me on a journey into the heart of what is still vaguely human about her character, withered and ignored as they may be. That caused me to log in here and so here I am. I might put out a starter call or something and see if anyone bites. Ts and Cs apply.
Abigail started to panic more so, hands clinging to Graceās arm as her hand clenched around the womanās throat. Air was slowly being cut off, and Abigail couldnāt even scream out, trying to kick and claw.Ā
It didnāt make sense? Did they succeed, they must have, but why was Grace doing this? Wasnāt she supposed to be somewhere else, not this woman here. No this couldnāt be real, she closed her eyes thinking it might be a dream.
Abigailās fight was waning down, she did get some kicks in but scapel would ensure nothing she did was too extreme, as sheād be cut for it. Forcing her to slowly succumb to Graceās strangling,Ā āW-whyy..āĀ
Her mouth breaking out just a little, some words for Grace but this woman spewed so much hate. For her? What could she have done.Ā āS-sstoopā¦ā
She could feel the last passage of air shrinking away, everything was getting hazy. If Grace didnāt let go, she would suffocate. But even as it all turned black, she would be reminded.
Reminded of her wish, to find what was home, to fill the gap left in her mind of an image of someone she knew. To accept them and return, and until then.
This body might seem to die, but it would always claw painfully, slowly back to life.
āYouāre just a ghost, a shadow of what once was. Youāre better off dead.ā once the struggling stopped and the body before her stopped trying to breathe she checked the pulse before standing strait and straitening her uniform.
āThere, now I can get back to work... busy busy busy...ā there was a small part of her that was sad every time she did this, but that voice was locked away where she would never have to hear it again. What was dead was dead, and the past was best forgotten. So she would be humming as she left the room, happy as she imagined the things waiting as soon as she left this dimension.
āWell I guess that makes sense, I think.ā He says, blinking slightly hearing the part where she said people have succeeded in killing her. And that she just reappears in places after being killed.
āBut how does that make sense? But donāt people stay dead when there, well dead I guess?ā He asked, truly confused on what she meant by that she just reappears after dying.
āMost people do, but I owe a favor to this thing and it wonāt let me stay dead until I repay it, itās more complicated than that but thatās the gist. Trust me you donāt want to go through all that.ā the brushed it off, not really wanting to get into her predicament nor how she came to be in it, or how all consuming the power of it was, bow endlessly beautiful...
āIām more concerned with the practical right now. Maybe a way for me to find you instead. That might be easier.ā she wondered briefly if this creature would be worth the trouble, that traits had they shown so far? Would this lead to the secret of creating life of just modifying it?Ā
āYou are after all a touch lost and light not be able to get to me even if you knew where I was. It might not be safe out there either.ā
I got a commission from a friend for my birthday (which is only tomorrow) so I got a grace. Warning though itās a bit bloody under the cut. Art byĀ allbeatnik.
āMorphine? Are you..ā Abigail gave Grace her usual worried look, one that seemed to transcend all Abigails. But where Grace was hurt and hopped up on drugs, Abigail wasnāt almost fine. Like her body just, refused to remain hurt for too long.
āWe didā¦ oh thank god! We did!ā Abigail closed her eyes in a smile, holding Graceās hand tightly.Ā āThank you Miss Winters, Grace. Youāve.. I still donāt think I can appreciate the kindness youāve pulled through with me. This.. I will miss you, if she comes and I go home. When I remember everything! I will remember you Miss Winters! I wi-.ā
āMiss Winā¦ters..ā For a moment Abigail was lost, what on earth had happened? Yet the moment she clued in, she was right there trying to help Grace, hands trying to pull the otherās away to see, to do something. But soon the cut doctor fell over, bleed out all over the ground as they clawed at their last grasp on life.
Abigailās eyes wide, scared, uncertain as she stared up at the nurse. The nurse who seemed to be Grace as well. Her mind racing a million miles a minute as the brunette placed her hands on her head.Ā āNO? NOOOO! WHAT IS HAPPENING? THIS CANāT BE?ā
āNO GET AWAY!ā Abigail wanted to run instantly, but Graceās approach, leaning over her, the poor girl could only sink into the hospital bed in fear. The red stains on her hands, staring up at what appeared to be Grace.Ā āYou canāt be her? Since was so nice.. and youāre a monster? Why! Why?ā
āGET AWAY!ā Abigail thrust her hands upwards to push Grace, to try and get her off. Maybe thinking, if she could get to Miss Winters, there would still be time to help her.
āOh canāt I? I was just like her once.ā the poor injured girl would be held down, a hand around her throat.Ā āIf she succeeded in her goal sheād become just like me... though I see you are here. The face I hate the most.āĀ
And so the strangling began, the scalpel ready if Abby put up too much of a fight.Ā āHow many times am I going to have to kill versions of you? Why couldnāt you have survived in my world?ā
āI know without her you are no more threat to me... but i just canāt help myself. I hate you that much.ā
Abigail had no chance to brace herself, taking to the ground again, eyes closed, sheād hardly stay conscious enough to make out what all happened. Ears ringing, sheād hear the footsteps of those coming to rescue them, all the blaring sounds but nothing else.
Then, blackness. Passing out, sheād be going back to the hospital for the second time in merely days she figured. Hazy, a dream of losing something she was so close to getting, and seeing that fox eared woman again. Whatever the meaning of it was, she wasnāt grasping on.
Then light, waking up as Grace seemed to be at her side, gasping for breath as she jolted forward. Feeling all sorts of pain on her body, yet remarkably she avoided anything broken, at least so it seemed.
āDoctor Winters?! What happened! I.. All the lights!ā Abigail placed a hand to her head, feeling an aching pain as she looked over the otherās injuries.Ā āYour arms! Your legs! Are you okay!āĀ
Further concerned about the other after a misstep, how very much like Abigail she was, like Graceās Abigail.
āWith this much morphine of course Iām fine.ā she said quite truthfully.Ā āJust a teeny tiny resonance cascade. Youāre okay thatās all that matters... I think we got the signal out.ā
The door slid open and a nurse backed into the room wheeling a cart with her, grace too busy holding Abbyās hand to turn.
āWhich means you might be going home soon... a little sad but very happy to say that. Itās been fun. Youāll remember me, right?ā
The nurse turned and grabbed a handful of Graceās hair from behind and with a quick motion ran her hand across her neck, a thin line of red appearing, then crimson ran down in a river, the doctor struggling to breathe... a cough brought a gush of blood as she slumped over, released and clawing at her wound.
Then the nurse reached up and pulled away her surgical mask...
āOh yes... yes... I got the message.ā the wheelchair fell over as Graceās struggles lessened, her final strength ebbing away.
āYou would think sabotaging her experiment the first time would have given her the message... but some meās never learn... she might have if it wasnāt for you...ā the new Grace stepped past the chair and leaned over the girl...
āUnfortunately for both if you I cannot allow more than one of me to have that technology...ā the scalpel used in the murder of her other self was being flipped between her fingers.Ā āDonāt worry... Iāll be sending you to join her.ā
I know Iāve been posting more of these than I should but if thereās still anyone out there who want to RP with me I want to keep them as informed as possible on how that is going.
Bad things keep happening and have been piling up lately. I was getting better and then the fevers came back with a vengeance. During this my partner broke up with me and Iām trying my hardest to recover from both.
I asked the doctor for the quickest way to get rid of the fever so that means the side effect of drowsiness, the one anti-anxiety medicine they put me on causes that too so itās a double hit of not being able to stay awake. After a few weeks i should be off the drowsy stuff and onto a more determinant anti-anxiety/antidepressant medication that wonāt have as heavy side effects.
While I am awake I feel a lot better, though and in between other stuff look forwards to writing with more clarity.
I know Iāve been posting more of these than I should but if thereās still anyone out there who want to RP with me I want to keep them as informed as possible on how that is going.
Bad things keep happening and have been piling up lately. I was getting better and then the fevers came back with a vengeance. During this my partner broke up with me and Iām trying my hardest to recover from both.
I asked the doctor for the quickest way to get rid of the fever so that means the side effect of drowsiness, the one anti-anxiety medicine they put me on causes that too so itās a double hit of not being able to stay awake. After a few weeks i should be off the drowsy stuff and onto a more determinant anti-anxiety/antidepressant medication that wonāt have as heavy side effects.
While I am awake I feel a lot better, though and in between other stuff look forwards to writing with more clarity.
Feeling good about everything, Abigail put her foot down to focus. Everything seemed to be going well, levels we rising but never out of sync, not of the meters were going wild, all was under control.
Even Grace speaking on and on about stuff happening, it all seemed familiar, it all sounded like stuff she knew even if she really didnāt remember. It made her happy, she was smiling as things picked up, Grace was looking excited too. It seemed like nothing could go wrong, until it did.
Until Abigail saw everything go wild, till she saw Grace rushing towards her.Ā āG-grace! Everything? What do I do!ā Abigail panicked, only there was nothing she could do. Rushed by Grace, tackled down she was given cover but from what? The poor girl had no idea what was happening.
The shock wave would feel like a sledgehammer, debris flung against them but Abigail would be held tightly in Graceās arms as the building collapsed around them.
Grace lost consciousness almost instantly, though if the other did not they would hear footsteps from the direction of the machine, then alarms and sirens, rescue on the way... search dogs, rubble being cleared, paramedics assuring them they would be okay, the ambulance ride...
Ā āYouāre awake...!ā Grace was in a wheelchair, her right leg in a cast, and her right arm covered in bandages, a drip ran from a stand on her chair into her arm but she was there waiting...
āSorry to say I stole your pudding cup though, I couldnāt resist. Iām sure theyāll bring you another when they find out you woke up, speaking of...ā she turned her chair so with her good left arm she could push the call button adn then take the otherās hand.
So it was that. Reneeās cheeks burned with shame and anger at both herself and Graceās words.Ā āI thoughtā¦ I thought it would make her love me more. That I could love it tooā¦ā Renee snarled, baring her fangs and lashing out with a clawed hand at the android until she stopped dead in her tracks.
āā¦ā She stood still, breathing heavily until she began to scream. Scream louder than she ever had before until it was more like a beast howling. Renee clutched the sides of her head and collapsed on the spot, clawing and digging into her flesh, shredding the skin and hair until blood was spraying everywhere. Renee would stop soon enough as she reached bone, still screaming until she began to vomit.
āW-What isā¦ What did you do!?ā Renee continued to vomit up blood and clear-whitish fluid, as well as centipedes. Dozens of centipedes pouring from her mouth, some of them crawling out as she began clawing at her chest, tearing open her vest and blouse, ripping the skin open to remove more of the squirming parasites that were writhing under her flesh and in her blood. One of Reneeās hands began to contort and twist, exploding into a shower of blood and gore, transforming into a hideous claw.
āYouā¦ you bitch!ā And in the sky outside, the Red Moon descended ever closer. Attempting to break through the darkness.
Her laughter was a joyless sound, hollow and cruel even though she herself was incapacitated by the close presence of the watched the the threshold. This body was done, it was going to be consumed...
āShown you I am the smarter... if I canāt win I just have to not lose...ā there was a wet squelch as her stomach burst open, a writing mass of tentacles, eyes, and mouths spilling forth, her arm collapsed beneath her as it too burst open like rotten fruit.
āYou miserable pathetic mutt...ā the earth shook, part of the vaulted ceiling collapsed.Ā āFighting for such childish notions. Love is a mistake. If you can't fix what's broken, you'll go insane.ā This was followed by another laugh.Ā āThough you look more beautiful now than when we last met... chained... miserable... Maybe soon you will truly be free... of the leash you place upon yourself...ā
āIāll make sure to watch, I feel like Iāll know when its too much..ā Abigail just felt, at home, at ease with this. Of course sheād make sure to alert Grace to literally everything that transpired.Ā
āInterference..ā Abigail for just a second, lost her train if thought before shaking her head.Ā āPower increasing slightly, still levels nominal and no alerts.. This is amazing.ā
āIts like, Iāve done this exact thing before..ā
āI would assume you have...ā a typed adjustment and the power levels continued to rise, blue light and crackling now coming from inside the machine...
āNow it the crucial moment. I am picking up a lot of energy on the other side, the barrier is weakening. Iāll have to set the magnetic clamps to hold the energy back and boost the power of our transmission to your world to compensate. The good news is once it makes it through the signal should be amplified.ā she was talking quickly again not waiting to see if her words were understood... Then there was a sharp series of beeps and all the bars in front of Abby would jumps into the red.
āEmergency shut down...!!!ā it was too late, she could here the pulsing from inside the chamber, the thudding... the laughter... she threw the switch and threw herself at Abigail... not this time... not this time...
āMiss Winters.ā Standing, monitoring what seemed like thousands of different signals of activity was the combined consciousness of the grey goo known as Gray or Grey. Her current form preferred over others as she stared across the screens front of her.
The Collective was at war, and not in a winning position, with stranger and stranger things happening each day. Though of course, Gray did not think Grace would be so concerned with their affairs so long as her labs were kept, and so long as Jeanne was a good fooled woman. Stuff like that wasnāt her worry, she simply acted as she said she would.
āIs there something you need today Miss Winters? The Red Witch is currently would on a mission, and 004 Lust is currently in punishment.ā
The entity was correct about one thing, Grace wasnāt much concerned with the war. The labs were nice but she had lost labs before. Her projections were not favorable to the collective either. If they had been united they would win easily, but divided... there were simply too many fronts.
āBelieve it or not I am here to talk to you.ā this was her way, come at them sideways and wit a smile. Not counting Jeane you are the only one here not from the collective that I can talk to, though I am sure your loyalty is beyond question.ā it was time to get them talking...
āEven if itās not going as well as it could be out there.ā she would not turn her eyes to the displays.Ā āDespite your, what I will assume considerable talents.ā
āI bet..ā Thinking on it, Abigail figured this Grace, maybe even her Grace were both astoundingly smart individuals, perhaps even top of their field. No wonder she would of been able to get such a machine to use for testing.
āY-yes!ā Abigail rushed over to the console, looking down at it, it all seemed so familiar, like she had seen it all before. Even when Grace told her what she had to do, it just felt like she knew it already.Ā āIāll be good! I think I know all of this.ā
She would keep her eyes focused on it, even bringing up a secondary monitoring set, something sheād only know how to do if she had done it before.Ā āHehe, feels like Iām riding a bike again after so many years.ā
The machine hummed as with the skill and practice of a pianist Grace manipulated the controls. The building shuddered and she started the procedure.
āI am going to slowly increase the power. Iām not sure what level weāll need for this to work and too much might... well... unravel the threads or reality by triggering a quantum superstate collapse.ā she kept her eyes fixed on her readouts.
āAnd this fells great... like old times.ā turbines whined, the hum increased, from inside the structure a crackling could be heard.Ā āAha, there it is, the interference... compensating...ā
āCalling her stupid?ā Renee raised her spear to block any attacks from the android but keeping an eye on the crazed doctor.Ā Then when the android spoke to her, she turned her attention back to the thing.
āWhat do you mean? Speak plainly, doll.ā Could she be referring toā¦?
āShe is stupid. Stupid like the rest of you. Single-minded and ready to be shaped by a deft hand. And she is referring to the child I put in you or had you forgotten how you begged like a dog to have the witchās child? I hated that so much, that you had been ruined by her clumsy meddling. Now youāre all better and fun to play with again.ā
Time... Time Renee was distracted and time Grace spent drawing elder signs in the blood that was flowing so freely from her body. The world outside was plunged into darkness, blinding all but the all in one one in all to what was happening here, and drawing its infinite eyes to them.
āCheck... mate...ā her voice was distorted and sounded a long way off as the air became heavy and enough to make anyone feel ill. How Grace hated this feeling, to know it was watching.
Reneeās attack, the Augur of Ebrietas stopped short as Grace had just managed to be at the extent of its range to send her flying, coating the scientist in slime and slugs as the tentacles vanished back into their portal and Renee gripping the Augur slug in her palm firmly to follow up with another burst. Until she heard the crash from behind.
āYou have her dolls too!?ā Renee caught no scent from the other one, only Graceās and the stench of medicine. Reacting on instinct, Renee vanishes into a mist and sidesteps the blow before reappearing and attempting to cut the android down with her electrified rifle-spear.
āAnd what kind of vice or virtue do you represent?ā Renee shouts at the android.Ā āIāve dealt with Lust and Pride plenty of times!ā
āAnd why would I be as stupid as the witch to fetter her to one aspect? Limit her so terribly?ā Grace was sitting on the floor, bruised and bleeding, her sleeve torn. She was frail even by human standards, her life force sapped by many of the things she worked with.
āN, I am glad you are here. This knight is planning on sending me to another dimension. I think she envies me. She she succeeds you will kill me to prevent that, understood?ā
āYes, doctor...ā her voice was flat, emotionless, her stare cold.Ā āQuestion: are you the one the Doctor used to give life to her child?ā she moved quickly, rushing to the side to avoid the spear, declining to attack as she calculated the speed the spear moved at, attaining combat data on her opponent.
āYouāre so smug and confident, arenāt you? I hate that. I hate you. Iāll have you know, Iām not the same as I was last time.ā Renee cranes her neck and pulls her shirt collar open to show her bare neck. Jeanneās collar was missing.
āThing is, I donāt care anymore. I donāt fear her anger, I can even hate her if I want, and so I choose to love her of my own free will. Youāre an obstacle in my way. So now I will kill you.ā Renee raised the palm of her free hand, holding in it a massive translucent slug.Ā From the slug came a burst of light and slime as massive tentacles lashed out from a portal in the palm of Reneeās hand, crossing the distance easily to reach Grace.
āI wonāt be holding back any longer! I intend to use every advantage I can.ā
āif you say you have free will and you love her one of those is a lie.ā she couldnāt help but laugh at this, a loud cackle of bemusement. This knight was a fool but finally she could have the fight she wanted, no chained mutt, no restrictions. this was going to be...
ā...BEAUTIFUL!ā she screamed at the attack came. She was tempted to let them pierce her body in a hundred places. The smell and feel of the magic invoked was intoxicating, but the fun mustnāt end too soon, not without a suitable climax!
As the researched was knocked down there was a crash behind the knight, then a rush of air, the abused table came flying through the air towards her and behind it a humanoid form ready to land a powerful blow with a clenched fist.
The culmination of months of work. Stronger, faster, and more unfettered that the android she was based on, the modified gift from Jeanne entered the fray.
