We are our own masters

Affiliated with Mardochaios. Housing: N-1, Inner City Ranking: Newcomer Ability: Flame rounds x5 Cooldown: 30 min "Alone, we are but feathers. Together, we shall strike fear into the hearts of men."

[redbellmurder]

"Not all who wander are lost. I suppose that must be true for some of the souls gathered here."

[valoosattendant]

"This ‘Candle’ person must be awfully hard to find, huh?"

[redbellmurder]

"What kind of person do you suppose they are, gosling?"

[dontfuckingwastefood-blog]

Kyoko stood amongst the crowd listening to the man’s speech with crossed arms and a flat stare. She had only been brought here recently, so the severity of the situation eluded her. What had caused such an uproar? Could the sun really have that much power over people? The crowd around her was full of faces of relief and unrest, hanging on every word the leader was saying. How many people had died?

"Does this kind of thing happen often?" she asked to no one in particular. If Thalassia faced these kinds of oddities on a regular basis, it might change the way she felt about being here.

His mention of the walls intrigued her, though. She had been amply warned not to approached them for caution of what dangers lied beyond. The word “demon” had been used, and she couldn’t help but wonder if this world had anything to do with witches’ labyrinths or their familiars. Regardless, she could probably help with their little infestation problem.

[redbellmurder]

"It's doubtful," murmured a woman closer to the walls of the buildings that surrounded them. "There wouldn't be such frenzy if it were normal." Yet the civilians seemed eager to adapt. Or at least, those who had not been into a lap of luxury and knew how to pull their own weight.

[redbellmurder]

"... At long last."

[waawiy]

Anubis finds that even as he grows more alert, the previous exhaustion he suffered has yet to abate. His eyelids feel heavy — not with a fleeting desire to sleep as they usually do, but with a need for it — and his muscles ache terribly. It doesn’t make much sense to him; he’s been doing very little beyond caring for the animals in his apartment, so this weakness feels out of place. Why would he feel as if he’s run for miles when he’s only taken a quick walk away from his apartment?

The breeze feels impossibly good, no matter how meager it is. He raises his ears and murmurs in appreciation, allowing the embrace of the passing air to cool his super-heated body.

"Kaba?" He questions in response to Magoichi’s concerns, though his voice is still dry-sounding from the heat.

[redbellmurder]

Unlike the god-turned-human, Magoichi knew her limitations. While she avoided the military intent on boxing her in, she kept diligent track of her meager resources, living as if she were entrenched in enemy territory: They had struck first, hadn't they? She was merely defending herself now. As such, every minute action had its consequences. Taking Anubis in and sheltering him from the elements had its immediate price as well. There would be less water to go around.

Her lips twisted, wry as ever, like a spool of wire doubling back upon itself. She almost chuckled. Almost. "There is a man in this city, a fool if I ever met one. I haven't seen him since arriving, and I can't help but wonder how he's coping with this heat, if at all." While he was out of earshot, she took every opportunity to speak in jest. If he knew half the things she kept to herself for the sake of his temper, oh, how he would explode.

"You might call him a friend of mine." That was being generous, of course.

[waawiy]

Now that his senses are returning, he can tell that it’s hot — hotter than the hottest day he can remember in Egypt. Of course, the heat is undoubtedly a byproduct of the never-setting sun, but knowing that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow. How many more days are going to pass without any celestial signifier of the time? More importantly, how much longer can the city survive beneath the weight of this immensely hot weather?

Anubis leans tiredly into the cool press of the cloth, pondering their situation with a sleepily grim look on his face. If a desert-dwelling deity is collapsing while in search of water, the rest of the people here are probably far past their boiling point; additionally, with such widespread decay taking place all at once, there must be a back-log of spirits searching for passage into the afterlife. He knows that Hades is here as well, and neither of them are capable of fulfilling their duties at the moment… That doesn’t bode well for the deceased.

"Baraba," he offers in reply, sluggishly turning out his pockets. His sacred feather is safe at home, so the only thing that remains on his person is his house key, which clatters to the ground below as he ousts it. Looks like nothing was stolen after all!

[redbellmurder]

Taking note of Anubis' belongings - of which there were few - Magoichi wrung out the cloth once more before re-applying it to his poor heated forehead. As dark as Anubis' complexion was, she could see his skin take on a flushed tint. That wasn't a good sign. "It won't get much better, seeing as how the sun won't move." Yet in spite of her words, she rose and lifted a thin sheet off the ground. Smacking off the dust that had settled upon it, she began to wave the sheet up and down, generating a modest breeze that would at least evaporate the beads of sweat upon them both.

"I wonder how he's faring..."

[violencied-blog]

Reaction time slowly but surely snapping into play, he held his hands up to catch the object pitched at him, gaze instinctively searching the drape of shadows slightly to his left. “Yeah, I figured. Just not used to the heat like this, is all.” Fingers lacing around the flask, he fully turned himself toward the voice, expression mildly flat, yet still hinting to a tint of curiosity. “Thanks for the drink.”

[redbellmurder]

Her first response was to shrug, as if her actions were anything but a charity. She hadn't done it for recognition, but if the man felt indebted to her for it, so be it. She wouldn't turn that kind of favor away. Not when she knew so little.

"It's important to stay hydrated while everyone else is in a frenzy." Someone had to keep a clear mind. Otherwise the city would spiral further and further into a state of irreversible chaos. "You're not on the run, are you?" She could not have been the only one to openly defy the regime.

[waawiy]

For lack of a better term (and if one can excuse the pun,) Anubis was dead weight against Magoichi’s shoulders. He sagged like a sack full of wet clothing, his skin damp with perspiration which dried quicker than it could cool down his body. Typically he was no stranger to taking naps in the daylight, but one could dehydrate so long as the sun never set; he would realize that once he awakened.

The press of the cloth against his forehead garnered a slight twitch of his ears, followed shortly thereafter by the fluttering of his eyelids. He came out of his deep heat-induced sleep slowly, his unfocused eyes only half-opened by the time consciousness began slowly bleeding back into his sun-fried mind.

"… Kabara?" He mumbled, confused by his unfamiliar surroundings. He’d only intended to nap until his strength came back… What happened?

[redbellmurder]

Even as Anubis bore down on her, numb to the world around them, she had continued to carry him like a sack of potatoes instead of a delicate bride, if only so she had one hand free to draw upon any troublemakers. A woman like her, cursed with good looks, was prone to attracting all sorts of nuisances. And if people had been bold enough to try and mug the poor fellow before, who's to say the fools she scared off earlier wouldn't be back with a vengeance (and numbers)? Thus had been the need to keep a hand free.

Of course, having made it to her little hideout without incident none of that mattered.

"I found you passed out on the streets about to be robbed blind." She made no mention of how many men had been surrounding him. Even if he had woken up, the odds had not been in his favor. "Did you have anything on you?" Imagine the look on those thieves faces had they turned Anubis' pockets out, only to find lint.

"I suppose it doesn't really matter. You should be more careful," Magoichi chided, sounding just a touch more stern than motherly, never mind the way she dabbed at the sweat upon his brow.

[waawiy]

Anubis, being neither strong nor depraved in this human body, is slumped in the shade and soaking up as much of the temperature difference as he can.

Maybe stepping out to find water for his stray animal refugees wasn’t such a great idea.

[redbellmurder]

Happening upon Anubis and a trio of vulture-like thieves, Magoichi drew her weapon as a bluff and aimed at the would-be criminals. They backed off at the sight of an armed foe, dispersing into the alleyways like vermin. With a scoff, she holstered her revolver and knelt down beside her unlikely acquaintance. "Heat exhaustion..." She hoisted him off of the ground and tossed him over her shoulder.

Magoichi took him to an abandoned building where the sun's rays could not reach and allowed him to rest in the coolest corner of shade. She set out what water was available to them after she moistened a handcloth and placed that upon his forehead.

She was no nurse, but she had to care for her men.

[redbellmurder]

Still a wanted criminal since the day she stepped foot upon this city. Incredible.

No matter the heat, the proud Saika Crow will beat her blackened wings and soar.

"At this rate, only the strong or depraved will remain."

[violencied-blog]

"…" There’s nothing more he hates than heat that is about as stagnant as an abandoned pool. Humidity is awful, especially not good for someone who boils both inside and out. "Should have brought a water bottle."

[redbellmurder]

"You'll live," came a voice from the modest shadows. While the sun reigns, there are only so many spaces for birds and humans alike to hide. Without so much as an explanation, she tosses a canteen his way, its contents jostling from the momentum. "That's man's greatest ability, after all. Tenacity."

[waawiy]

… Is she laughing? He can’t help but wonder if she finally understood his pun — what else would be that funny? 

Well, she seems to be in a good mood,  so maybe it doesn’t matter. For the most part, the company he keeps isn’t terribly jovial; it’s refreshing to see someone react in that way because of him, though he wouldn’t openly admit it.

"Oh-kay," he declares enthusiastically, eager to show that he understood. "Ask, Magoeeechi.”

[redbellmurder]

"... Shall we have a look around, Anubis? Perhaps learn the lay of the land."

[redbellmurder]

"I pity those who die for want of a cup. How long until this city turns itself inside out...?"

[lanvalendearing]

฿reaking point | event open

"Stop this!"

Natalia tore the tear gas instrument out of the hands of a soldier nearby. “Do you not see the condition these people are in?! You fool!” she tosses it away, grasping the man’s collar. “We are not meant to do this! We are armed to protect, not to harm!” She found herself almost screaming. This was a horrible, horrible outcome she couldn’t have imagined in her most wild nightmares.

"I will find a commanding officer, and they will answer for this cruelty! Lay down your arms, and attempt to find supplies for these people!” Her hands trembled as she shoved the man away and marched on without looking back, bow drawn and readied. I will find our general himself if I must! I will stop this!

[redbellmurder]

Perhaps it was foolhardy to observe the military within its element, but Magoichi had taken to spying upon the collective that lorded itself above the commonfolk. She regarded their senseless cruelty with disdain and wondered if one or two dissenting voices would truly be enough to turn things around. So far, she was not convinced that the passionate princess would be enough.

Still, she followed after Natalia among the rooftops, ducking behind smoke stacks and other obstructions. A wanted poster or two had taught her the reason behind her warrant for arrest, and as laughable as the situation was, Magoichi did well not to make herself an easy target. She was, after all, a proud Crow, soaring well above all this madness.

Did she bear grudges like her namesake? Well, she certainly remembered their faces...

As Natalia broke away from the main force, Magoichi took to the ground and marched among the shadows. She hated being forced to skitter about like a rat, but what else could she do when her firearms were starved?

[waawiy]

He’s glad to see her smiling, subtle as it may be. A smile of his own breaks out in response, more shy than uncertain in nature, as he nods his head once in agreement.

"Kaba," he replies. Then, after hesitating for a moment: "Ma-go-eeeee-chee.”

… Close enough?

[redbellmurder]

A look of genuine surprise crosses her features, lifting the lid of her eyes and rousing her from her perpetual state of scrutiny. Silence follows.

Magoichi glances off to the side as she raises her hand to her lips. Stifling a bout of laughter, the lady of iron bows her head forward.

"Yes, that's right," - she looks back as soon as her composure is regained - "Should you have need of me, ask for me by name. It won't be long until I've contacts established within this city."

[childofthewesternarmy-blog]

"Please. You’ve proven useful in the past. That’s all."

[redbellmurder]

"Recognition. I suppose that's all I should dare to ask for. Anymore would be unseemly."

[childofthewesternarmy-blog]

"Hardly. I learned that well enough during the last war. But I will find a path to walk. Let it be known now that I should not have to squint to see you following behind when I step foot upon it."

[redbellmurder]

"Were you always this fond of me? If I didn't know better, I'd think you missed me."