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𝙔𝙊𝙐 𝘼𝙍𝙀 𝘼 𝘾𝙃𝙄𝙇𝘿 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘾𝙊𝙎𝙈𝙊𝙎, 𝘼 𝙍𝙐𝙇𝙀𝙍 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙎𝙆𝙄𝙀𝙎. marshall ward of radiant black, affiliated with isola radiale.

[radiantblk]

   MARSHALL WARD ( RADIANT BLACK )

Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe will create itself from nothing.           ╰┈➤ app / stats.

he's radiant black! you know, big superhero, saves chicago occasionally, surely you've seen the limited edition merch.

one of the wielders of the radiants, alien weapons that grant unique powers associated with black holes. marshall's radiant, the black variant, gives him control over gravity.

a thirty-year old man who's a huge movie buff, enjoys pitching wild and unrealistic business ideas, and also isn't above arguing with teenagers.

super devoted to his best friend since childhood, nathan, who was the original wielder of the black radiant.

an alternate version of himself may have gone mad with grief and despair over nathan's death and caused the collapse of his universe. marshall is... dealing with that, he guesses.

trying to be the best radiant black he can be, after nathan passed the title onto him. trying to prove to everyone and himself that he's not that other marshall.

"how do i get them to believe i'm just trying to help?"

[anamnaesis]

tyrias blinks. his strange companion tells him to 'just stab him'- and that's the tamest thing he's ever been asked to do. at least when it comes to destroying. ❝ perhaps i will never understand humans- ❞ he says, soft and rather thoughtful. ❝ if that is what you are. ❞

❝ i am from the distant stars. perhaps that is why ... our methods may differ. but if there is something that i have learned, a 'regular guy' may still fight back for his life. ❞ this human in the black suit was, as far as tyiras could tell, rather frustrated. the last thing he needed was an unknown human becoming hostile. and if he was honest, he was rather tired of death.

as the voyager, he had experienced the wonders of life. he had seen and learned of the value of the lives of the people. and then he was separated from the voyager and the memories ended there ... but he had enough to know that this ... it would be tragic no matter what.

❝ very well, i will trust you when you say that it will not take much to eliminate this other self of yours, ❞ he says, his own black armor manifesting over his body, blade appearing in his hand. ❝ i will do my best to make it quick. you wear a mask. if your double looks like you, i will need to see your face. ❞ a pause then- ❝ although i do wish we could have met under other circumstances ... ❞

[radiantblk]

          'if that is what you are', this guy says, and marshall feels himself shrugging vaguely in answer. he wasn't... not human, but the radiant had done some weird things to him, so it felt odd to answer in such a straightforward way. after all, most humans didn't get an alien language downloaded directly into their brain, or found themselves able to hurl trains with just a heave of their arms. but it wasn't exactly a thought marshall liked to linger on, so a vague shrug it was.

     ❝ I know a little bit about the distant stars, and that's kind of an understatement, but look. The me that... that whatever this is conjured, he doesn't. He's just... ❞ marshall's expression twisted, mouth working as he struggled to speak for a second. ❝ He's just a guy, okay? No special powers, no weird experiences. I mean, fuck, he probably still works at the DVD store. Okay? If you're as intimidating as you look, it'll be easy. Promise. ❞ the thought of what he was ensuring, that killing him would be easy, made marshall sick. but what the fuck else was he supposed to do here?

     and then the stranger was conjuring his own armor, and making... an unfortunately rather good point. right. right. his face. there wasn't exactly a way around that, was there? fuck. this was just getting better and better.

     ❝ Yeah. Okay. You're right. Just don't like... tell anyone. Or whatever. Secret identity and all that. Though I'm not actually sure how much it even matters here at this point. ❞ and then marshall was taking a deep breath, and the dark glass of his helmet dissolved, exposing the anxious tightness in his face and the twist of his mouth.

     ❝ Right, cool, this is me. So let's just... ❞ marshall's form glowed as his feet lifted from the ground, body turning for a moment before he glanced back. ❝ Oh, uh, can you fly? Or do you need help? ❞

[filotiimo]

" The saying 'it could be worse' is something you won't here often in this place. As for that......my guess would be the Stars' themselves, though at times, outside forces intervene to sow more havoc. In hindsight, maneuvering a dungeon is better than battling a clone of yourself."

[radiantblk]

     ❝ 'The Stars'. Right. Well, do they take emails? A post mailed letter, perhaps? I've got things to say to them. Even if they've done worst things in the past, I think I'm still allowed to not like the fact that they keep doing things. What do they even want from us? Or these "outside forces". When was the last time someone tried to stop them? ❞

[filotiimo]

" Yes, I know quite well. Sometimes it's harmless, like a prank you'd expect a pixie to pull to amuse themselves. Other times.....it's dangerous, but the people here have proven to be quite resilient."

[radiantblk]

     ❝ Yeah, like killing your own clone. Because that was totally normal and not mentally damaging at all. Seriously, who's even coming up with these things? Because I've got some major complaints I'd like to lodge. ❞

[vcinglcry]

@radiantblk

"Yeah. It's always Spring here."

The cherry blossoms are pretty. He thinks Yuki did great in deciding that this place would be a perfect home, and it isn't like they could never see the snow or any other season. Spirale had all the seasons, after all!

"There's a keeper here. Though Yuki and I never got to meet them. Don't know what they look like."

[radiantblk]

          ❝ Uh-huh. ❞ marshall fixed a quizzical gaze over his head, at the branches of the cherry blossom tree that stretched above them. ❝ And that's... normal here, I'm guessing. Because apparently that's just how it is in this place. ❞ he couldn't keep the sarcasm from his tone, even as marshall tipped his body to the side to better see around the tree trunk in front of him and the dark-haired man, who'd been here when he'd wandered over.

     ❝ Is there anything here that isn't... magic, or weird, or looked after by some vague keeper that no one's ever seen? Because I'm gonna be honest dude, it doesn't seem like it. ❞

[filotiimo]

" You'd be correct. They're usually bi-monthly, the weird things that happen in this city. But you'll get used to in due time."

[radiantblk]

     ❝ That's... not exactly the comfort you think it is. The last thing I want is to get used to whatever weird stuff is happening here, y'know? ❞

[radiantblk]

     ❝ Insane clones, and now this 'dungeon' or whatever. I'm getting the feeling that these crazy-ass events happen here a lot more often than I'd like them to. ❞

[radiantblk]

something something... dungeon? @guidingstarmira ➔ @starsvein

          marshall truly, truly didn't know how he'd gotten here. everything had happened so fast; all the excitement over this supposed dungeon, marshall's curiosity driving him to check it out, and somehow ending up joining up with two other people and pushing open the dungeon's doors. it wasn't that he didn't want to, he guessed, more like he... hadn't though about it? marshall was relatively sure you were supposed to, like... prepare for these kinds of things. with food and supplies and... whatever. something marshall absolutely had not done.

     not that it mattered now. they were already inside, and the resounding click of the doors closing behind them gave marshall the impression there was no take-backsies here. forward it was, then! tilting his head towards his companions, marshall took a moment to study them again before speaking. the girl seemed curious, at least, though neither of them had spoken much. he hoped the flat expression the man was sporting was just a mellow personality, and not the markings of an asshole, at least.

     ❝ Soooo... we should start with introductions, right? I'm, uh, Radiant Black, and you're...? ❞ marshall gestured at the purple-haired girl expectantly as he flopped down on one of the sand chairs ( and thank god it didn't collapse ) and hoped he came off as less awkward than he felt. this wasn't his first team-up, after all.

[radiantblk]

NEBULA—

a cloud of gas and dust in outer space, visible in the night sky either as an indistinct bright patch or as a dark silhouette against other luminous matter.

for this month's event, marshall ward ( @radiantblk ), mira ( @guidingstarmira ), and veoc ( @starsvein ) will be teaming up to tackle the dungeon together under the team name nebula! a bunch of space-faring folks will surely do great in an underground dungeon!

THE PATH AHEAD:

THE BEGINNING. Sitting Room ✓

ROOM ONE. ???

ROOM TWO. ???

ROOM THREE. ???

ROOM FOUR. ???

ROOM FIVE. ???

THE END. Last Tea Time

[radiantblk]

Dungeon Fortune—OBSIDIAN

Your fiery disposition leaves a strong impression on everyone you meet. You are a warrior, either in body or spirit, or both. You aren't here to enjoy the scenery, you have a goal and will charge straight ahead in order to achieve it. Remember that strength does not need to equal violence. You may work best with like-minded individuals who were also given Obsidian, but that might prove a pitfall should you encounter a situation that cannot be solved with brute force.

[blazars]

Ah, a good opening. "Exactly my point!" He claps on the other's shoulder for emphasis. "I'm afraid you're selling that to the wrong audience, I'm afraid." On that note, the pixie turns their attention towards him — but Phainon has always been ready for that possibility. He could only respond with a sheepish smile.

"As for me, my money's all spent from buying antiques the other day. But how about this —" He puts a pointer finger up. "To make it up to you, I'll come back tomorrow, and we can play for as long as you want! How does that sound?"

Thankfully, that seems to assauge the pixie's need for attention, even though it does fly away with a huff on their shoulders. But with that over, Phainon turns his attention towards his newest acquaintance, the same charismatic polite smile on his face.

"That was close! You could have lost your money or something worse out there. May I ask for your name?"

[radiantblk]

           marshall was under the impression that he'd just been saved, somehow. how, exactly, he really couldn't have said, but it was a vague feeling that made him squint after the faerie as it meandered away. the same odd relief that he felt when whatever joker he was fighting that day missed hitting him in the helmet by just that much. it meant that when he turned his attention back to the mysterious stranger, marshall returned that polite smile with a slightly confused one of his own, a hand coming up to awkwardly rub at the back of his neck.

     ❝ Uhh, thanks... I think? I actually didn't really know what I was doing there. ❞ the supernatural were rogue sun's wheelhouse, not radiant black's, and marshall was at least partially willing to admit he'd been in over his head there. ❝ But hey, I've watched enough movies to at least know that one. Giving up your name and all that. ❞

     ❝ But, uh, you can call me Marshall. Thanks again, dude. Does that happen often or something? ❞

[shadeandsuffering]

"Oh was that annoying to you? I barely talk to most people as is. So my baaaaaad." Still he unfortunately had a pretty good point. Odds were if she didn't do anything the two of them were probably not going die. And waiting here meant less an early demise and more just more of a social hassle. A very annoying situation for an introvert queen like herself, but one she needed to step down from in order get back to where she belonged.

Her apartment. Where it was dark and nobody else was.

"Fine fine fine. I'll help you out as best as I could. Don't expect much from this frail maiden though alright?~~" As if she probably couldn't handle most of this alone. If her powers weren't just stolen right from her the moment Lich did wake up here.

"What's the plan then? Are we breaking open the door or something?"

[radiantblk]

           marshall rested his forehead against the cool metal of the elevator's door, grumbling wordlessly under his breath as he listened to the other person draw out her responding sentence in a way he was sure was meant to annoy him. ugh. this really did suck. for a single moment, he pressed his skin hard into the stainless steel, letting the faint pain pull him back from his irritation before slowly turning his head and fixing the girl with an unamused look.

     ❝ Frail maiden. Right. Of course. ❞ a deep breath dragged itself into marshall's lungs as he turned fully around, arms crossed across his chest as he eyed the girl. she did look frail, but a few weeks living in the city had taught him that definitely didn't mean anything. instead of biting back anything more annoyed, though, he simply jerked a thumb towards the unlit panel behind him.

     ❝ Well, none of those are working. Not even the help one. And I don't know about you, but I haven't been here long enough to make any friends who could come bust us out, so this, ❞ his phone, screen dark where it sat in marshall's hand, was waved absently, ❝ is pretty much useless. So unless you've got a better plan, breaking down the door it is. ❞

[lanshiang-a]

Ada Wong laughs alone, on stage, not making it a priority to get out of the proverbial spotlight for just a guy. She couldn't quite see him clearly from far away, but his voice carried enough to generate a picture in her head of an awkward kind of fellow.

"Well then, a duet of an act between me, and myself. Wouldn't that really be something else- two of me?"

Wouldn't that be something, she thought, dryly. She hid the sarcasm behind a too-proud voice that could absolutely have been on stage, as not to give away the secret too soon. It just sounded like an inside joke, or like she was just shy of "funny" in the head.

"It happens to be that every time there's an eclipse in this place, new bodies turn up. I'm really wondering if the dead will stay dead is all."

The lovely woman on stage tucks a length of black hair behind her ears and balances her weight on her hip.

"What do you think?"

[radiantblk]

           aaaand cue the philosophy questions. damn. marshall wasn't good at those, either. it really was just his luck that a random, beautiful woman was going all shakespeare on him in the kind of theater he didn't even want to be in. he kind of wondered if being punched in the head by one of radiant black's many enemies wouldn't be better, honestly. at least he knew what to say in those situations. when his head wasn't knocking against the inside of his helmet, at least.

     ❝ I mean... I guess that's how we all got here, right? ❞ there was a tilt of his head as marshall stepped forward into the light, rather than continuing to be some spooky shadow talking from the darkness. ❝ And I don't know about you, but I definitely wasn't dead before I showed up here. ❞ freaking out about the u.s government hunting him down, maybe, but definitely not dead. ❝ So I'm not really sure what you're talking about, if I'm being honest. ❞

     ❝ Unless you're seeing zombies I've somehow managed to miss the whole time I've been here? ❞

[phasmaul]

Why this 🥷🏿 so mad 😭😭😭

[shadeandsuffering]

"Worse things could've happened ya' know. I heard there was a couple that got trapped in one of these babies for hours and they died together. A real heart throbbing scene to tug on those strings."

For someone that got trapped in an elevator with one other person Lich managed to maintain an air of composure compared to most people put in a situation like this. And the +1 that was with her seemed to be trying to find at least one way out while the primal beast stood there, shrugging looking out the window and the long way down they still had to go.

"...I'm lying by the way. We might be the first ones though." She said, smirking as they shut their eyes yet again.

"So look at the nonexistent bright side of the situation, not like we can go anywhere can we?"

@radiantblk | s.c

[radiantblk]

           it was like everything in this godforsaken fucking city was trying to inconvenience him, specifically. like marshall didn't have enough problems already. sure what was getting stuck in an elevator with a complete stranger? why not! let's just roll with it, why don't we! the thoughts were loud in marshall's head as he proceeded to smack every button on the unlit panel beside the door, teeth grinding as they did... nothing. no lighting up, no annoying ping. absolutely nothing. fantastic.

     ❝ We're not going to die in an elevator. ❞ not this elevator, at least. marshall couldn't speak for future elevators, especially in his line of work, but whatever. ❝ And you know, ❞ his head turned, dark eyes narrowing on the... person. god, why did everyone have to dress so strangely here? ❝ We might even get out of here faster if you helped instead of just annoying me. ❞

     if he had to go radiant and burst out of that window just to escape this fucking elevator, marshall was going to be pissed.

[anamnaesis]

yes, tyrias had heard the voices from the stars telling him to destroy, to be destroyed. and so he had done so- devoured, coaxed another to devour the self that had split. when the deed was done, he had fed. consumed the body and regained his other flesh. and now? he had learned from it, too.

emotion was overwhelming, wasn't it? but it was something airi wanted him to learn. would she smile at him if she knew, now?

but he could not dwell on such things- not yet. certainly later, when the city returned to normal. if it ever did, at least. and he couldn't ignore the person who had landed in front of him. clad in a black suit not so unlike the armor he favored- a young man from the sound of it.

he asked tyrias to kill his other self. ❝ your kind will never cease to surprise me, ❞ comes the weapon's voice ⎛ because he is a weapon from a distant galaxy. he is a weapon, but he is still ... does he deserve personhood? ⎠ , low, measured.

❝ but you are unable to remedy this on your own. i see. ❞ tyrias had learned this, too- that he could not simply devour his other self. the bright eyed alien voyager who chose to coexist instead of destroy. someone else solved that problem for him. and this man needed the very same. ❝ it is an odd request. i have seen the people of the skies fight to their last breath for the chance to live. i did not understand before ... but the other me ... he understood. and now, i, too - ❞

he is a weapon. he is tyrias, destroyer of worlds. this will not be the first time he has killed. it will not be the last. but he knows that he can no longer do so in the same cold way as before. there is less distance now that he knows emotion.

❝ i do not know how to be gentle. it will hurt. i will rip and tear until your body can no longer fight back. and when you regain your body, you will remember that pain. ❞ there's a sadness in those words. a guilt that he knows will weigh heavily on him when it is over. ❝ if you wish it, i will do so. i am a weapon still. ❞

[radiantblk]

           ugh. okay. leave it to marshall's luck to stumble upon someone who unironically uses the word "remedy". and, seriously? a "your kind" line? what kind of b-list movie villain was this? maybe he should have done some recon before asking this guy for help, fucked-up mindset or not. but too late for that, he guessed. marshall was getting this over with as quickly as possible, weird emo ( that's still what it was called, right? ) guys be damned. he'd just have to wing it and hope it all went okay. probably. hopefully.

     ❝ Okay, cool, so glad we're on the same page here. But listen— ❞

     and then marshall was frowning, face scrunching up underneath his helmet because sorry? rip? tear? a groan just barely escaped from his mouth as he raised a hand to press to the glass of his helmet, head ducking as he took a deep, fortifying breath. because that? that did not sound good. how had that even come up? couldn't a guy ask another guy to kill him ( sort of ) without talking about fucking... ripping and tearing? was nothing sacred anymore?

     okay. maybe he should wind this back a little.

     ❝ Okay, look, with all due respect— ❞ which may be none, it wasn't quite clear to him yet, ❝ —you need to calm the fuck down. I'm talking about a normal guy here. ❞ and what a shock that still was, seeing a version of himself that had never touched the radiant. any radiant. how had that even happened? ❝ You can just... stab him, or something. There's literally no reason for, ❞ marshall waved his hand at the other man vaguely, a noise of frustration bursting from him, ❝ all that. Okay? Got it? We got a deal, or what? ❞

[radiantblk]

     ❝ Don't eat batteries, kids. I promise there's way better stuff out there. ❞