Vortex, Equinox, and Nova are bumping as typical of a Friday night. Patrons sip their drinks and sway their bodies to the thrum of bass-boosted music. The bars are busy and alive with the inconsequential babble of conversations being had left and right. A few of the regulars chatted with their favorite bartenders, trying to get a friends-and-family discount that didn’t exist. Bathrooms were filled with people getting a fix of their own personal vices, be it sex, drugs, or a little bit of both.
The bass booms within the chests of the club-goers as three unassuming small groups in dressy, but plain clothes with the crest of the aegis on their person waded through the sea of people, one in each club. They each make their way towards the majority of the mass of people, turning sights on the dance floors. As the clock struck midnight, the trio pulled out an assault rifle each and opened fire.
The majority of the gunfire is directed towards the bar, seemingly aiming to hit the bars, the bartenders, and bouncers in the area— the mass of humans in between the gunmen and the apparent target, however, results in an absolute bloodbath. Shelves upon shelves are shattered, and the dance floor is absolutely littered with bodies. Bullets continue to fly for what feels like eons to those within the madness, but in reality only lasted six minutes. In six, simple minutes, lives were shattered. Lives were stolen. Blood was spilled.
Between the 3 clubs, 92 are confirmed dead. 67 injured.
The things we lost in the fire, broken things, angel wings
It wasn’t unusual for the dynamic duo of Hanako and Kannika to be seen walking around Amaranthine territory. The worked there, after all. It was, however, odd for them to be wandering about the basement levels of The Gilded Siren. A punishment dolled out by the higher ups for sticking their noses where they shouldn’t have been yet again. Basement duty wasn’t all that bad, Hanako thought. Sometimes it could even be fun! The deeper they went, the more their voices echoed off the halls, and Hana thought that just neat.
They were just coming up from the basement when the dark witch spoke, “Hey, Cas... does it smell like gasoline to you?” and the angel in turn cocked her head with a small pout.
“Sorry, Kannika,” she made a show of sniffling, “my allergies have been acting up, I can’t smell anythin-” she paused, a sting of pain in her chest pulled her to her charge. “Something’s wrong, you’re in dan-” and no sooner than when those words fell from her lips, a boom that will never leave the angels memories shook the ground they stood on, blasting the area they’d been patrolling mere minutes ago. Debris hit her in the head and she saw stars. She was too late, always too late.
“Kannika!” the angel screamed , unfurling the wings she always kept hidden in shame. She lunged at her best friend, holding her close as her white and grey wings enclosed around her charge in an attempt to shield her from the blast. She tackled the dark witch to the ground and felt the searing pain of flames licking her back, her feathers burning along with their surroundings. Her mouth was opened and her eyes screwed shut in complete agony, she couldn’t even find the voice to scream in pain. It was everything she could do to open her eyes to see that Kannika was alright.
“R-run-” she choked out, “I’m right behind you.”
The pair would make their way out of the basement, Hana would see her to safety, she wouldn’t let her charge down. Not again. Even if it killed her, she would manage. It was a level of pain she’d never experienced to keep her wings out, to shield kannika from the flames and debris with her own body, but this is what it meant to be a Guardian, right?
That was the last thing she was able to think before darkness ebbed at the corners of her vision and the floor rushed up to meet her face.
Three masked figures step foot into Amaranthine territory and stalk towards a small group— some foot soldiers, an enforcer- not that they know that. Not that they care. The women assume a defensive stance, ready to defend if need be, but the ladies of Amaranthine do not strike without mercy. A grave mistake, truly.
One of the women would shout out, tell the masked figures to back the fuck off and step out their turf. “Back off! I’m fuckin’ warnin’ you, punk, we’ll shoot! One.... two...” three never had the chance to slip past her lips.
One of the masked figures raises their arm to reveal a wand, and no sooner than it had come into vision did sparks fly from the tip. A vibrant zap of purple magic zapped to the woman, hitting her squarely in the chest, sending her flying into the wall behind her. The three others open fire on the masked group but to no avail. Their bullets are sent flying, deflected by a shimmering barrier emerging from the tip of another figure’s wand. The trio stalk closer and closer until there’s nowhere for the women to run.
If it weren’t so tragic, their demise would almost be comical. The small group never stood a chance against these masked figures. They’re overpowered easily, and taken down in mere moments. Four battered corpses lie on the boundary of two territories: Amaranthine and The Aegis.
The masked figures make eye contact with the only lady left alive. She’s battered, she’s bruised, she’d rather be dead with her sisters- but they let her live. She doesn’t want to leave their bodies but she knows she has a duty to report this. She turns away and runs into the depths of Amaranthine territory to inform her division leader.
The streets just outside of Invictus territory are mostly silent. A car or two passes by, a drunk is passed out in an alleyway, and a small group of individuals saunter casually down the street, speaking casually to each other about nothing much at all. Once the group reaches Sunrise, however, that all changes. Voices quiet, legs still, and the group look to one, waiting for the signal.
That signal, namely, being a metal bat taken to the glass doors, the barrier shattering into a million pieces at their feet. With CCTV compromised and their alarm system having been deactivated, the group enters undetected and unobstructed. The group files in ahead of their leader, chaotic laughter fills the space in a discordant cacophony mingling with the sound of sheer, utter destruction. Bottles lay on the floor shattered, their contents pooling together. The scent of alcohol filled the air, the sound of knives digging into the leather seats, metal tables being bent out of shape— it doesn’t take long for the establishment to be absolutely destroyed from top to bottom.
The group takes their leave, but not before leaving a photograph on the bar.
The slots roll, chips are tossed into pots beyond imagination, and the casino is absolutely bustling with life. Patrons sip on drinks, someone wins a jackpot somewhere, and when a patron brings up to a staff member that it kind of smells like gasoline in here, it’s far too late for them to escape.
A cacophonous boom rings out from the boiler room in the basement, blasting a sizable hole in the floor and sending debris flying in all directions. Two men with The Crest of The Aegis visible on their forearms begin to shoot fireballs from the tips of wands, setting the main gambling hall ablaze. Amidst the chaos and flames, they make their carefully planned exit. The main staircase and most main exits have been doused in gasoline and kerosene, causing flames to erupt and render them inaccessible.
When first responders make an appearance on the scene, they find an unconscious woman on the first floor with The Crest of The Aegis visible on her left side where her shirt has ridden up and a detonator fallen to the ground not far from her hand. She is taken in for medical treatment under police custody.
Over 2500 people were in that casino. Humans, supernaturals, members of Amaranthine, civilians, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers—
We start off the event Saturday, October 16th when the carnival comes to town for the week leading up to Halloween. Indulge your inner child with all the rides, snacks, and games your heart can handle. From bumper cars, to a paintball arena, there’s bound to be something that catches your eye. Just be warned, for when the sun sets, the monsters come out to play. Take a spin in the haunted hay ride, try your luck in a corn maze, and if you’re feeling particularly bold? Try your hand in the House of Terrors. Head down to La Fortuna, the fortune teller’s alley, should you seek the guidance of a mystic. Finish off your trip with more fair food than is probably safe to consume (then again, is any amount of fair food safe to consume?), and end the night with a ride on the ferris wheel. Don’t forget to grab good seats for the firework show!
The dress code is: casual
𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔽𝕚𝕝𝕞 𝔽𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕒𝕝: 10/29
On Friday, October 29th, there will be a Halloween film festival in Han River Park running all day. During the early afternoon hours family friendly movies will be played, so feel free to bring children of all ages to watch classics like Hocus Pocus, Haloweentown, Casper, The Nightmare before Christmas, and It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown . Friends and families alike are welcomed to bring a blanket and a picnic basket, or feel free to order some lunch from the local food trucks and street vendors that will be setting up shop nearby. Make sure to dress warm, and don’t forget to order some apple cider!
Once the sun sets the festival becomes an adults only event, suitable for both date nights and friend’s night out. Cult classic thriller and horror movies will be shown well into the night. Streetlights will be dimmed in a contained area, so we hope you’re not afraid of the dark. Alcohol will be served after 6pm, so order a glass of pint of beer, or perhaps make that apple cider of yours a little boozy (if you’re of age, of course— ID’s will be checked upon entry), grab a blanket and a friend and indulge in the screams of those around you by the river.
We end the week with the event literally everyone’s been waiting for— the masquerade ball.
To honor the 1 year anniversary of the passing of the city’s biggest philanthropist, the late Yi Hyun, the mayor is hosting a grand charity ball. All residents are welcome to attend, the entrance fee being a donation of $50 or more. All proceeds will be donated to the Yi Medical Group Hospitals to support the staff working tirelessly to save lives, and to help struggling families pay off medical bills for their treatments. There are further opportunities to donate to the cause by participating in an art auction (pray no one breaks a vase, yes?), or by making a donation directly to the foundation.
Regardless of how much you’re able to donate, all are welcome to spend the evening in a land of mystery and wonder. Champagne flows endlessly and the music never stops, spend the night dancing to your hearts content. Don a mask to escape reality for a night, should you care to. Masks are not required, but what’s the fun of a masquerade when you’re the only one with your cheekbones exposed?
The dress code is: formal/black tie optional
Feel free to begin plotting threads! All new muses wanting to be included in the festivities and beginning of the season should submit their powerpoint by Thursday the 21st if possible for acceptance. Muses submitted later than Friday the 22nd might not be included in the first plot drop
Irrefutable evidence. It was staring Jaehwa back in the face and she could almost feel all the stress leave her shoulders and the tension headache she carried over the last month... The dryad eyed her own members, working to ensure that they both remained silent as they traveled through the crown jewel of Aegis. While she had no respect for her border rival, she wouldn’t cause a scene here. It wouldn’t be prudent, she reminded herself for what seemed like the hundredth time... As she made it into the Yi Suite, she motioned for Seojin and Sangki to stay back, to wait to be invited to sit.
“Yi Hyun,” she greeted with a respectfully deep bow.
Hyun bowed in turn, though he eyed the other's companions. "Oh Jaehwa. And guests. Please, have a seat." He gestured to the seats at the table. "Let's just cut to the chase, shall we? You've found evidence against Seo Yoona. What evidence, exactly, did you find?"
Jaehwa was somewhat thankful Hyun was willing to cut straight to the chase, “We’ve gone through your network history and cross analyzed with the internet service provider to find that the signal we saw on our end that hacked through our security camera system definitely originated from here,” she began, steady and easy. “My tech here did some digital forensics as every device and user leaves behind some trace of existence online. The computer used had logins to accounts linked to Seo Yoona.”
To say that Hyun was stunned would be an understatement. There it all was, laid out before his eyes. Proof, with his own tech specialists signature verifying it all... "Alright." he started, "You say the computer had logins to accounts linked to Yoona. What do you mean by this?...Speak plainly, Ms. Oh. Did you find the computer used, and is it Yoona's?"
... Motioning for Sangki to step forward, he handed off the laptop which Jaehwa immediately opened and it flashed with Yoona’s email, her conversations among co-workers and friends and a spreadsheet with numbers for The Aegis. “This is her laptop, is it not?”
"Ms. Oh," he began, "I owe you the most profound apologies... Miss. Seo's actions were of her own volition. She's henceforth a traitor of The Aegis, and we swear no loyalty or ties to her, and I assure you, Ms. Oh, I'll be sending my finest to deal with her personally... Allow my agent entry into the hospital and we'll have this taken care of within 72 hours, max. Far easier to take care of this before she's in police custody, no?"
“You’ll have uninhibited access to the hospital,” she began, eyes boring straight into Hyun. “You have those 72 hours to finish this. However, if you fail to do so, it’s my retribution to deliver... Seventy-two hours, Hyun. No more than that, no excuses, no extensions. Understood?”
"Crystal as ever, Jaehwa. I'll be having my finest in for a meeting as soon as we finish up," he turned to his guard for a slight moment. "Summon Dongchul, will you please? His presence is mandatory, at once. No exceptions."
Some Angels were meant to fall.
TW: blasphemy, coma/light description of sleep paralysis (if those make anyone uncomfy)
Darkness.
Searing heat.
Darkness.
Flames licking at her skin.
Darkness.
Agonizing pain.
Darkness.
Darkness.
Castus felt like air and like a brick, all at the same time.
She felt the searing pain along her back, her arms, legs- but worst of all, her wings. There was pressure on her back and it felt like being pressed up against a grill, she could practically feel her skin sill sizzling. She wanted to scream, but she had no voice. She wanted to move, run, fly, anything to get her away from the burning, but she couldn’t move.
Perhaps this was her Purgatory. Devoid of all senses but her pain for failing yet another charge— no... for failing her friend. no. for failing her soulmate. She was destined to waste to nothing in this realm of darkness to atone for her sins, to feel the flames of hell on her skin until she was mad in agony. Unable to scream with her tongue cut out, unable to move, limbs tied to a bed of hellfire.
Kannika...
Tears pooled in the corners of her eyes as she thought of the brilliant woman she’d grown to care for over the years. The witch was a pagan, an oddball, and a loose canon, but Castus loved her no less for those things. She had a brilliant smile, a peculiar sense of humor (and oh, Castus would sorely miss ‘meme reviews’ with her), and a heart of gold. Bravery and determination she’d never seen before, traits she’d hoped to adopt from the other as time went on. And Castus didn’t even know if Kannika had made it out alive.
Please, Lord... is she alight. I must know. she prays to a voice she’s nearly forgotten, one that had not answered her call in nearly five years, I must know if she’s safe. If I saved her. emptiness. burning. quiet. If she lives... please... please keep her safe. That is my only request. I will spend my days here, condemn me to hell, but please keep Kannika safe. Give Kal one last assignment. She’s a heathen, right? A Pagan. You never would have let me escort her to the Heavens anyway, so let Kal take her to hell when her time comes. Put her under his care.
Tears fell freely as she wept, silently, unmoving, but with unparalleled anguish in her heart as she begged and pleaded with The Creator to help her. Help her. Help Kannika. Help.
And then the pain stopped.
Darkness became blinding light.
She was met with The Creator.
“Do not celebrate yet, child. This reprieve is merely temporary.” His Divine voice echoed in her mind. Castus’ eyes could hardly adjust to the blinding lights of The Heavens after being surround by nothing but a dark void for so long, and His booming voice disoriented her. “You are not yet welcomed into my Domain. You have yet to complete your task, and it appears you may fail.”
Hanako blinked up, shielding her eyes with her hand as she looked upon Him, “May?” she inquired with excitement, hope in her tone, “Does this mean that Kannika is alright? She’s safe!?”
“For now. Your actions saved her from the fire and destruction. You finally managed to keep a Charge alive. Unfortunately, you’ve killed yourself in the process. I give you a nearly indestructible body, molded with my own hands, and you managed to get hurt in the singular way you can be harmed.”
This was not the first time The Creator spoke down to her, patronizing her for her shortcomings. This was, however, the first time she ever felt spite and resentment towards Him. The first time she ever felt like she could voice herself against Him. Kannika’s courage had seeped in to her veins, and before she knew it, she spat.
“You gave me a broken body and a Charge that could never be saved. You made me feel like less of an Angel because of how you made me. They call me the Angel of Death! Because of you!” her emotions and convictions were strong, and she had nothing to lose. She was already condemned to a life in purgatory. “You knew I could never save Kannika’s soul. It was a mission I was doomed to fail from the beginning. If she didn’t die, I’d have fallen from Grace from the weight of our sins, and you knew this. Didn’t you.”
The Creator was silent.
“You knew. You knew. You knew and yet you have the gall to sit, Almighty, and blame me for this. My wings are charred black. I know what this is.” tears streamed down her face as she lashed out in sadness, mourning, anger, “This is the last time I will ever see this place. This is the day I fall. And if that’s so, I cannot leave without saying Thank you. Had you not condemned me to fall, I never would have met Kannika. Or any of the amazing friends I’ve made.”
“So go ahead. Strip me of my Grace. There’s nothing left for me here. But if you condemn me to a life of that hellish Purgatory, you owe me one thing: Kannika stays safe. She’s dumb. She’s reckless. She needs protecting. Please. Ask Kal to keep an eye on her for me. I know you can.”
The Creator remained silent.
He grinned. And then He spoke.
“Very well. Some Angels were meant to fall, Castus. You’re one of them. Broke my heart to see you try so hard, but I’m glad you’ve accepted your place on Earth, even if it means you cannot forgive me. I return you to your self-proclaimed Purgatory, and if you awaken you will be purged from Grace. Farewell, child.”
“Wait-” she choked out, the light around her already beginning to fade and the burning, god, the burning creeped back, “Wait, you didn’t promise! You never promised Kannika would stay—”
