LHC Official Unofficial CF Archival Thing

[Sariel of Tevet]

What... Just happened? Did he just call me "Scar"? Where did that come from?

"If it was forty years ago, then no... It wouldn't ring any bells," She responded ruefully, "I can't remember anything past three years ago. Sorry."

I had a friend once? I didn't know I could do that...

"As far as I'm aware, I've never been to Obsidian... Nor have I ever met you. Or Giovani." She stopped suddenly, "Wait, what? Who's Giovani? And where the hell did I pull that name from?" She put a hand to her head, frowning. Odd, it felt like there was a memory there, waiting to be recalled, but when she reached for it... Nothing. Scarlet shook her head, "Regardless, I don't remember you, or your talking swor- wait, how the fuck did I know you have a talking sword? ...DO you have a talking sword?"

What. The actual. Hell.

[Sariel of Tevet]

He nod's slowly. "Yeah, but he's a Dick so I mostly keep him Telepathic. So..... okay, this is some wierd shit. Amnesia or something?" He says- tone of voice light and cheerful- but... a frown on his face that he fights back. "But yes. Giovani is my talking sword. He's a Prick."

He sighs, and looks around- then back to her. "You asshole! I am not a-"

He shakes his head. "Giovani, you are a /cosmic/ asshole. You may be one of my few friends, but you are /still/ a Dick."

"So what does that make you?"

"Still less of a Dick than you."

[Sariel of Tevet]

The Dayman noticed the commotion behind him, sensing a ripple in the balance of love, and ceased his endless codpiece lance thrusting. He swaggerd over to the confused duo and placed his arms around them, pulling then in dangerously close. Still avoiding eye contact...he mediated.

"From what I hear...there is a past. Neither of you can remember what happened...and yet....you know so many secret things about each other!"

His eyes began to well up with diamondium tears again as he pushed back and brought his hands to his mouth, containing a royal squee. He filled his lungs with as much air as possible and shouted, "YOU TWO USED TO BE IN LOVE WEREN'T YOU AND NOW YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS IS TRYING TO REPRESS THE PAIN. THE PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIN. OH THE THROWS OF UNROYAL LOVE. HOW DREADFUL. PAINFUL. YOU TWO MUST PERSEVERE! YOU MUST LEARN ABOUT EACH OTHER! REVIVE THE LOVE!"

He began to prance around the duo...

"Hey hey hey hey!"

He took hold of them and placed them face to face.

"Won't you, come see about me? I'll be alone, dancing and you know it baaaby."

He paused to gyrate a bit, swinging his codpiece and grazing the apparently dickish sword. His codpiece began to glow in a way that it never had before...and by some royal (or otherwise miracle)..it began to finish the verse.

"Tell me your troubles and doubts. Giving me everything, inside and out aaaaaand...."

The Dayman smiled at his new somehow sentient codpiece, truly a royal dream come true. He coddled his codpiece and sang:

"Love's strange, so real in the dark. Think of the tender things, that we are working on."

Slow change...may pull us apart! When the lights get into your heart."

"Baby!"

The Dayman nuzzled his singing sentient codpiece close to the reunited duo and invited them to sing the chorus together.

[Sariel of Tevet]

Ephantus gained some distance from Depositron, as others began to lend their own attacks to the fight. Still he kept up his barrage of canon fire. Then he actually payed attention to the lesser beings on the ground fighting their common enemy. THen he noticed the Dayman and his singing codpiece.

"The world is not yet ready for this level of madness mortal!" Ephantus boomed. "Not until my work is done!"

That said he aimed a cannon down at the Dayman and fired.

[Sariel of Tevet]

Scarlet opened her mouth to reply but... Yep. That happened.

She winced as the Dayman began shouting, and cast a sideways glance to Bartholemew, "I'm pretty sure he's just making this up... And would you please stop shouting!?"

Well. Now that she thought back on it a bit, the reason she'd felt unnerved when she'd sensed Bartholemew hadn't been because of his aura. She'd misread it. It was familiarity. She did know him. Damned if she knew how or from where/when. She was about to voice this revelation, when the Dayman took his act to the next level, dancing in a most unfortunate manner.

"I think I preferred the shouting," Scarlet stated flatly. Oh, but it got better. Or worse. Matter of perspective, and all.

Unbelievable. A singing codpiece.

"Ooookay, that's creepier than I know what to do with, you all have a nice day/ year/ life, et cetera ad nauseam I'm leaving." She took an involuntary step away from the Dayman and his codpiece, "Not happening." She was sure as hell not going to be singing or dancing with this utter lunatic anytime soon.

"The world is not yet ready for this level of madness mortal! Not until my work is done!"

Scarlet reacted on instinct, tackling Bartholemew to the side to avoid the fire from the maybe-maybe-not-so-friendly mech that had been attempting to level Depositron. Strange... It felt like she'd had to do that before. Pushing her ever-out-of-reach reverie aside, she rolled off the man she may-or-may-not-have known (and dearie me, this is a lot of hyphens!) and shook her head, "Something tells me I won't be forgetting that any time soon... Much as I'd like to."

[Sariel of Tevet]

He sighs, and nods agreement. "A Singing Codpiece. Urge to Destroy region, rising. Urge to Destroy whoever the actual fuck that is, fully cemented and full." He says, as he looks to her, and sighs.

He's a bit disheveled, but shows little to nothing outwardly, as he closes his eyes, takes a deep breath- and flips to his feet, looking to Scarlet to help her up. "Thanks for the save."

[Sariel of Tevet]

The Dayman and his codpiece stopped singing when the duo chose to crash into the ground instead of breaking out into a chorus. The failed attempt at a group wide musical number made him a bit distraught. He began to contemplate his actions, and sat down on the ground, legs crossed, and palm resting against his chin.

"Wait a royal second."

He looked at the two laying about on the ground (still a battleground mind you), and came to a life altering realization.

"These people are peasants! They do not possess the necessary social status to join on my songs any how. I have no reasons to be distraught!"

He looked up as he attempted to rise to his feet, and saw a cannon blast emanating from Ephantus, with nearly no time to react, as his pondering had distracted him.

"I'll save you master!"

His codpiece took control and thrust itself into the path of the blast and took the full brunt of it. It reflected off of the countless dazzling gemstones that made up his matrimonial codpiece and took out the last few remaining buildings in the city, as well as the previously mentioned window washing nun. Who had been filling out an application at a nearby restaurant since she recently found herself without a church, and a job. The Dayman came crashing to the ground, making a crater that only royalty can accomplish, and a fit of coughing somehow came from his codpiece.

Are you ok...master.....

"C....codpiece? Coddy you have to be ok! Nooooooooooo!!!!"

The Dayman raised his fists into the air and let out a royal cry for his comrade.

"You lived a short life Coddy...there were so many things for us to do. So many things...I still wish we could do. But you lived a royal life...through and through. Much more meaningful in your entire three and a half minutes than these peasants could gain in their one hundred years!"

He struck his royal pose and pointed a finger at Ephantus.

"I will deal with you soon enough, you vile machine!

[Sariel of Tevet]

Bartholemew turns, as the man falls. He shakes his head, and then grimaces- letting out a short, hellish scream of agony, as chains burst through his flesh, and his swords gleam- the chains begin to whirr and rev like a Chainsaw.. a Chainsaw cutting in to most of his body, wrapped around him like an outfit, or armor. He bares teeth. "Oh no you don't. You are a Lunatic. A Madman- AND YOU RUBBED YOUR CROTCH ON MY SWORD!" his voice deepens as he begins- and his garments seem to rip outwards in to a shadowy mantle- and yet his body is still covered, by an inky shadow.

"Releasing Control to Level One." He says, in a deep, masculine voice that ripples forth with undeniably masculinity. It ripples forth with all the raw manliness of Crispin Freeman, followed by a howl of rage and pain.

His sword, speaks- an unholy voice that grates down your skin like fingernails on a blackboard. "I WILL FEASTTTTT ON YOUR BLOOOODDD! RUB YOUR CROTCH ON ME WILL YOU!?" It bellows forth, joined by the manly tones of Bartholemew in his enraged combat state. His short temper has gotten the best of him, and through a haze of blood and pain, he blurs for his Target. From his form writhe shadows, unholy twisting tendrils and mouths- teeth snapping, his chains grinding across his flesh. His blood takes to the air around him, and encases his form in twisting, shifting armor, as he launches himself at the Dayman.

[Sariel of Tevet]

I've never been so happy to see something die," Scarlet commented as Bartholemew helped her up, "Eh... That kind of just happened, but you're welcome, I guess?"

She startled a little as the man before her changed, "Um... What?"

"Oh no you don't. You are a Lunatic. A Madman- AND YOU RUBBED YOUR CROTCH ON MY SWORD!"

"Technically, he danced his crotch onto your sword-- I just double checked with his narrator," Scarlet corrected absently. Something about this scenario seemed... Odd.

"I WILL FEASTTTTT ON YOUR BLOOOODDD! RUB YOUR CROTCH ON ME WILL YOU!?"

"You know, that last exclamation really took the punch out of the threat." Apparently she was now providing commentary. And not even getting paid for it!

Wait a sec. I've seen this before. It was raining... The ground was black... Shiny. Like obsidian... Bloody hell, I have been there before. With him.
Her vision blurred a bit, as the memory came back stronger than reality, the two overlapping in her mind's eye. She collapsed.

[Sariel of Tevet]

Dorian scratched his head. "Sooo...wait. What's happening?"

Haley snorted and turned to face Bartholemew, who was advancing on the Dayman and assuming a pretty kickass blood demon form. She pointedly ignored the fainted Scarlet and deposited her sniper rifle back to wherever it went when she wasn't using it. "You know," she started, leaving Dorain confused for a moment before realizing she was talking to the demon. "Back when Project: Midnight was in full swing, they used to tell me stories of you, Hellhound. 'Invincible', they called you. An idol to which we should aspire."

She interrupted her story by spinning the chambers on her revolvers, advancing a single step at a time.

"And we did - oh we did. You were my hero, a formless, uncatcheable killer - but here you are. I don't know if I'll ever get this chance again, so I'll say now what I've always wanted to say to you." She aimed both firearms at the bloody mass of Bartholemew. The display indicated that they had been loaded with SSS+ caliber anti-demonic hollow-point rounds loaded with holy water and bits of angel dust. "You ruined my life, you son of a bitch!"

She unloaded twelve rounds at more or less point blank.

[Sariel of Tevet]

Name: Bartholemew- Release Level One
HP: Oh GOD WHAT THE FUCK?! IT HEALS ITSELF!
MP: .....OP. Well, okay. Not really, but hey. More of a Rage-Meter than an MP Meter.
Abilities: Ludicrous Physical Strength, Regeneration, Fuck Physics, Reality Warping (Moderate in this state- He will be tougher when he's a Boss than when he is a PC. Feel free to note this IC, there is an Explanation, at a later date.), Fear Factor, Shifting Shape, Eldritch Abomination Mode. One Release Level before Final Form- he skipped straight to Fuck you Mode for Dayman to get it over quick.

Battle Music: Opening Phase; www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6duljByuCo

It turns- as the bullets rip in to it's form, and it shakes- they look like they hurt... and then... It howls out, and heals the holes- smoke curling around it's form, as it turns from Dayman... and it's voice ripples out, as the first six rounds hit- and the last six are cut from the air by it's twin blades as it turns it's charge to where the /real/ fun is at, it seems. "HMM!? WHAT IS THIS! PAIN!?! MY WORD, IT IS! AAHHAHAHAHA! YESS! Project Midnight? Apologies, I've never heard of it- is it a cult? Or another one of the Super SOldier Programs I so /LOVE/ DISMANTLING!? DID THEY TRY TO MAKE MONSTERS?! Yes, of course they did - why else look up to ME?!" A laugh, as it ripples... then it seems as if the thing.. shatters- and pieces fly about like so much broken glass, as a counter to the womans no-doubt-inevitable second attack.

It begins to reform, of course- the chains and blades the first things to exist, the rest following shortly. "Yes... More monsters, is that it..? When will they learn... Ahh- but you wish for my head? Good! Come at me! Strike at me! EARN THE RIGHT!" As the smoking holes from the six bullets that landed home slowly close- and seem unable to fully seal. Indeed- they seem to have inflicted actual damage... which is the reason for his grin. The reason for his sudden elevation in mood. They hurt him. And he /likes/ that. He spreads his arms wide- and shadows begin to spread from his form- dancing, laughing smiles and teeth that seem to ripple from him, as he crouches- and charges her, head on. He's fast- unspeakably so.

[Sariel of Tevet]

"HEY!" Cale called after Haley, "don't just ignore me like that!"

Kayla finally caught up to him, and started pulling his arm in the opposite direction. "Look, maybe this is normal around here, but things are getting really out of hand. Let's just-"

"Whoah!" He interrupted, "this guy has great taste in music!" He drew his bow. "But anyway, I can't leave just yet. This mummy just blew me off. And I don't take shit from mummies." He loosed several arrows in Haley's direction, some aimed at her, some aimed at Bartholemew, and some not even aimed at all. "I'LL SEND YOU CRYING BACK HOME TO MUMMY!"

[Sariel of Tevet]

Everything was fuzzy. So, so fuzzy. But one thing did ring clear in Scarlet's frozen mind: "Project: Midnight."

She snapped her head up with speed only a demon could possess, "You... You were a part of Project: Midnight?"

Where do I know that name from? And why do I get this sick feeling in my stomach at the name? I think... They might have been my enemy once. I remember running with Bartholemew... But everything's so hazy.

"You ruined my life, you son of a bitch!"

"No, wait! Don't do- ... That." Scarlet grimaced. Yeah. This was familiar, "Oh, dammit," She turned her eyes to Haley, "What. Did. You. Do?"

Her eyes flickered back to Bartholemew. Yep. He still regenerated.
"Well, this is not going to be pretty."

She saw her chance, grabbing the shadows that he gathered around him and dragging him back, "Easy there, Hellhound, this can't be good for your skin-" He charged forward, dragging her with him and heading straight towards the fool of a woman who dared attack him.
"Oh, no you don't; I wasn't done scolding you! Honestly, some things never change!" She teleported the both of them via shadows just before they made contact with Haley. They were now facing the other way.

I liked it better when I was a total amnesiac. This is bullshit.

[Sariel of Tevet]

The Dayman watched as Bartholemew devolved into insanity. Something that was quite common amongst vagrants mind you. The average flock of hobos go into fits of insanity atleast three times a day. It is what happens when you only live on a steady diet of clams and garbage you see. Garbage, of course meaning anything not cooked in a royal kitchen. It is no wonder why Batholemew was acting so cranky. His lower class tummy was surely in upheaval. The Dayman knew what he must do.

He jumped up onto the back of Bartholemew, who had just presumably returned from the shadow realm with his shadow friend and were now facing the opposite direction. The Dayman latched onto a shadow tentacle and attempted to assuage the beast.

"Where had the two of you shadow demons taken off too? A little R&R perhaps? I knew it was true love! I just knew it! Bart and Scarlet sitting in the shade. K-I-....do poor people kiss in the same manner royalty does? Oh no matter!"

The Dayman reached a hand backwards above his head and held it.

"Let's do something about that tummy tantrum shall we! Do you need to burp?"

He brought his hand down vigorously upon the back of Batholemew and attempted to burp him, in order to quell the tummy monsters in the way that his mother always had when he was a child. Tummy monsters are taken quite seriously in the kingdom. Some royal families even have tummy monsters exorcised entirely.

However, it would seem as if his work was to no avail as the tantrum continued and a stray dancing shadow tentacle knocked The Dayman onto his royal butt on the ground. He rose and pantomimed dusting himself off, for you see dust does not actually attach itself to royalty. Social status keeps you clean, not bathing. Only peasants are required to do that.

"Well well."

The Dayman put on his pondering face once again and raised a royal eyebrow in the direction of his new foe.

"It seems as if you do not have a tummy monster after all, because my burping attack would have surely settled that dispute. The only other reasonable explanation is that you have assumed your final form. Then I suppose....I SHALL HAVE TO ASSUME MINE AS WELL."

The Dayman began to disrobe. Unzipping the dimension shattering royal deep v neck that already did a poor job of keeping his rippling, mighty royal chest in line. He draped it over his shoulder and began to undo his pants next, kicking them off of his ankle and into his hand in perfected form. He dropped the clothes into his infinity belt and placed his royal purple cloak in last.

He took a deep stance and began to yell, or scream as you peasants would call it. There is a difference. As his royal lungs began to filter out lower class air at an increased rate, his blood began to pump faster and faster. His naked, codpiece and belt clad body began to glow with a faint purple tint. Every inch of his muscular core, his sparkling hamstrings, bedazzled nine pack (yes, nine pack. Royal parties are held with nine packs, which is why they are much better than peasant six pack parties. Royal abs simply evolved over time to keep up with the change) abs began to harden, his already generally glistening chest became a sexy water fall of perspiration that evaporated immediately because of how attractive his lustful royal body was. This created a fog above his wonderful chest. It served no real battle purpose, but merely reminded all involved just how hot he truly is. His back and shoulders, unshackled, became so muscular and perfect that his Mom with a arrow and heart tattoo disappeared entirely of its own accord because it was afraid of tarnishing the perfection that was The Dayman's final form body.

His body glowed with an unprecedented shade of purple as the sexy force of pomp flowed through his royal veins, and he began to lift up into the air at will.

It is a good thing I had the foresight to make my grandfather's scepter a part of my body, so that I do not need to wield it to control my full power. I just wished it didn't have to be a suppository.

He clenched his cheeks and shuttered, and continued yelling with increased royal concentration. As his final form reached its climax, so did the remaining female civilians. The cries of thousands of instantaneously impregnated poor women shrilled its way through the air, nearly pi times louder than Bartholemew's battle soundtrack, which it immediately placed itself ovary. The Dayman wishes that you do not ignore the reproductive organs pun. That took quite a bit of doing.

Satisfied with his form, The Dayman began to sense the area. He smelled holy water and angel dust coming from the still smoking revolver of Haley.

"Hmm. Fantastic idea, my bandaged vagabond! Anti demon weaponry it is!"

He reached into his infinity belt and procured two massive iron swords. They were forged with angel dust, and the tears of an angel (they used the little sister of the forgemaster to create the angel dust, as is customary) which were much more potent than holy water, as they are collected from the crying swordsmith as they work. They had Latin edged along the blades, which were supposed to contain exorcism enchantments, but rather they read "I'm with stupid", because the forgemaster was not too happy with the family who commissioned these swords.

"Ah yes! One more thing. So that you sacrifice will not be in vain old friend!"

The Dayman placed a sword between his arm and side as he rummaged through his belt, and produced a bottle of water. Which he began to pour on his codpiece.

"Your sacrifice has now been blessed! I should have ordered the extra demon resistance when I bought you, but Diane swore it was just a scam. No matter, this is much more poetic! Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarge!"

And at long last, The Dayman closed his eyes and began to swing his swords wildly, mostly in the direction of Bartholemew with no regard as to where they really landed.

[Sariel of Tevet]

Mhenlo and Vidaar stopped kicking and shooting balls when the Dayman started singing, Bartholemew went full demon, and the Dayman entered his "final form"

"Can we not do this right now?" pleaded Vidaar, dreading the thought of having to fight Depositron AND deal with Bartholemew and the Dayman at the same time.

"Ignore them," said Mhenlo. He dropped into a defensive stance and began casting, whispering a combined prayer to Huo Zhan and Feng Ming, creating a dome of blue energy around everyone except the Dayman and Bartholemew (because they were fighting, and the purpose was to keep them out) to protect everyone from any stray blasts or bricks (because apparently Depositron was still giving Stormfront a literal golden shower). He then turned to the motley menagerie of maniacs that were his "party" and asked the important question. "What now?"

[Sariel of Tevet]

"Now is not the time, kid!" Haley swung one of her guns round to level at Cale, but had to leap away from his wild arrows. "Fine, I guess now is the time."

"Uh. Haley..." Dorian tried. He'd been keeping his eyes on the out of control Depositron.

She wasn't listening. She fired another volley of SSS+ rounds at Bartholemew to back up the Dayman before focusing all of her attention on Cale. Never liking to fight range with range, she opted for the simpler approach and simple tackled the poor kid.

Unfortunately, everyone but Dorian had seemed to forget about Depositron, who was just now beginning to swing back around. He was not looking great. Pieces of his were falling off and crashing into the city. Molten gold oozed out of cracks like thick blood. The relentless assault of spears and balls and lasers and other robots and the spinning had all but torn the Capitalist machine apart. So for his last hurrah, Depositron was going to destroy the Socialist invaders, even if it meant his end.

""Catastrophic... system... failure... Initiating core shutdown as per emergency initiative 2682209... I die, so that capitalism may... live..."

"Price Freeze!"

Depositron halted suddenly, mere feet from the infighting group. "M...Master?"

There, above everything else, appeared an older man in a dark suit with white hair and a billowing cape. He had his arms crossed and frowned down at everyone. "What a mess. This is why the working class remains so poor: you can't seem to stop bickering amongst yourselves long enough to actually pull yourself out of the poverty around you." Then he regarded Depositron. "And you are the biggest disappointment here today, Depositron." His voice rumbled low like thunder in the distance. "I would expect my greatest creation to handle...this rabble."

"Please....Master...I just....help..."

"Help? HELP? Are you asking me, Dow Jones, for a BAILOUT?"

"N...no...I..."

Dow Jones extended a hand. "You have failed me for the last time. Market Crash!" He pulled his fingers into a tight fight, which then caused Depositron to collapse violently - then he thrust it downward, and Depositron smashed into the ground, away from the fighters, and exploded, raining molten gold down over the city.

"Now," Dow Jones growled, regarding Haley and the others. "I'm afraid you've cost me a valuable machine."

"You destroyed him," Haley barked.

"Perhaps. But it was you and your kind that broke him so."

"Look, I barely know these jerks." Haley holstered her guns amiably, making a great effort of not looking at Bartholemew and the Dayman. "I'm willing to just walk away if - "

"You will do no such thing!" Dow Jones extended both arms as a wind seemed to whip up. "You have cost me Depositron. You have cost me a bank! YOU HAVE COST ME MONEY! Me - Dow Jones, the Economancer! You do not take money from me!" He seemed to glow with whatever power he was gathering (Haley assumed it was greed). "For that end, I will eliminate all of you filthy, lazy, underclassmen! Alteration Zone: Economic Landscape!"

The gathered power suddenly burst out and enveloped the whole city in a bright green flash...and then was gone. Nothing seemed to have changed. Even so, Dow Jones began to chuckle. "You're in my world now - a world where the economy reigns supreme and the will of market dictates your strength!"

"Is that what this is?" Haley pointed to a number inexplicably floating above her head: 238.

"Correct, Windborne Haley. That is your power level." He glanced around at everyone else, whose numbers were beginning to appear. "A handy judge of your relative...hmm." Dow Jones seemed to suddenly realize something. "You said that you barely know these jerks, yes? In that case, I cannot initiate the full extent of my plans just yet."

"Why...why not?"

"A team must be united - or at least familiar with one another."

"Wha..."

"Very well! I believe in fair play, so I will grant you this boon: I shall allow a reprieve. A brief respite from your recent battles with Depositron and each other." He snapped his fingers and a large building fell from the sky and landed on top of the crashed Depositron. The large lettering read: Dow Jones' Super Food Court. "Inside you will find any kind of food you can imagine (for a price of course). This food should fully restore your stamina, magic, and heal any wounds you may have sustained. You will also find a large table with enough chairs for all of you. So go! Eat, drink, and get to know your teammates! Know them well, for you will all be fighting together against me shortly!"

With that, Dow Jones disappeared, leaving everyone looking bewildered.

"Uh." Haley glanced around. "So...shall we eat?" She didn't wait for a response, but awkwardly wandered in. The Food Court was much bigger on the inside (which was impressive, considering how large it appeared on the outside. She chose a kiosk at random "McJohnson's Burgers" and ordered a number 2 combo from the greasy-faced underpaid teen employee. The food looked like it had been bathed in grease. She handed him some money and took a seat, waiting for the others.

"Is...is this a good idea?" Dorian asked.

Haley shrugged. "I'm hungry." And bit into a fry.

[Sariel of Tevet]

"Call me crazy," Kayla remarked as she helped her brother to his feet, "but I don't think that this sort of thing is normal here."

Ignoring her observation, Cale asked, "Was... was that mummy coming on to me?"

She stared at him for moment before replying. "I... she... in a manner of speaking, I guess?"

"Gross." He looked around and saw that , assumedly while he was being tackled, he had dropped the remaining half of his bagel. "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!" he cried, throwing his hands into the air in dramatic fashion. "I have some words for that mummy!" With that, he stormed off into the food court.

Kayla sighed. "If we didn't look almost exactly the same, I'd question whether or not we were really related." Even so, as she entered the building, she couldn't help but feel like she was used to this kind of behavior. And not just from her brother, either. Perhaps another family member?

After a trip to a kiosk entitled "Metro," the pair acquired eleven-inch sandwiches for five bricks of gold each (Cale had evidently been hiding some in his pack), and made their way over to the tabel, taking a seat across from Haley. Kayla immediately began eating, but Cale pointed at the woman in front of him.

"My name," he stated in a serious tone, "is Cale Efrun. You killed my bagel."

[Sariel of Tevet]

Bartholemew howls out a cackling laugh as the Dayman transforms- then blinks as the Orgasm cries shriek out loudly. He sighs, and the battle music pounds out louder- and changes.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5-QnBc58XM

He begins to laugh- and darts in... noting how clumsy his foes wild sweeps and strokes are, he simply dodges most of them- parrying and thrusting only rarely, due to the overwhelming size of his foes blades compared to his, and the sizzling pain they cause upon even striking his blades. A pain that makes him laugh, as their dance begins- blades clashing with rythm and speed.

His foe has no footwork, it seems, as they clash and dance for a few moments more- and then his foe pauses to sprinkle holy water on his crotch. A blink- and then bullets rip through his form, seemingly blasting away his arms, legs, and leaving holes in his torso that make him howl out- then collapse in to shadows on the ground.

Shadows that don't stop moving.

Shadows that pulse, and /live/ with a Vibrant, organic, hellish energy. What blood has been spilled this fight flows back towards him.... and he begins an ominous, evil laugh- before he is interrupted by, of all things... Economics. As the figure continues to speak, he sighs- and begins to try and recompose himself for this foe.

And so it is that a shirtless hunk of a man that is indeed Bartholemew rises from the ashes, swords sheathed at his sides. He wears blackish red pants formed of shadows, solidified and transmogrified blood, and magical energy. His chest is ripped in more ways than one- he is practically made of scar tissue, and he too bears the legendary Nine Pack. He cracks his shoulders- the revving chains on his body replaced.

Replaced by... an honestly beautiful full body tattoo, of a series of rose thorns chained with skulls at intervals, across most of his body except his head and shoulders. Those with amazing observation powers might somehow notice that they match exactly where the chains revved on his body. His music fades, and a few burning holes finish closing at various vital areas. He looks around, with a broad, smiling face. "So. How about we kill each other later, team up to kill that fuck soon, and get something in our stomachs now?" He suggests, as he spreads his arms wide and starts walking towards the food-place.

He casts an eye to Scar, and frowns. "Scar, you okay..? C'mon, let's catch up- I've been lookin for you a while, you had me scared sick."

[Sariel of Tevet]

Scarlet watched the proceedings with a dropped jaw. Honestly, what else was she supposed to do? With a price freeze and a market crash, Depositron was no more.

Additionally, Bartholemew and the Dayman seemed to have calmed down. That was a relief. Now if she could just get her memories back and a way to remove the giant red mark on her face from all the facepalming she'd done the last several posts, she'd be good.

"Form a team? With these people?" She pondered aloud, "Hmph. He says he believes in fair paly, but I'd say he still has a hell of an advantage."

"Scar, you okay..? C'mon, let's catch up- I've been lookin for you a while, you had me scared sick."

She turns her gaze back to Bartholemew and gasps, "You... Your tattoo..." Trembling, she raises her left hand, showing the back of it to be adorned with a stylized rose, growing freely from a skull.

Scarlet blinks a few times, then sighs, "Alright... Okay. Food. Talking. Maybe teaming up with lunatics. Gods, it's been a long day and it's not even half past noon." Still grumbling, she followed Bartholemew into the food court, "I wonder if they have tea? He did say "anything" so...Eh, whatever." She waited in a random line for a random food joint. She wasn't that picky. Once she had her food she wandered over to where Haley sat and plunked herself down in a random chair. Apparently there was a discussion about dying bagels going on.

This... is gonna be awkward.

[Sariel of Tevet]

With the Dayman and Bartholomew duking it for reasons he did not want to know of, Blake turned his interest over to Haley, Cale, and Kayla and possibly clear his head of the recent plate of madness pie that forced down his throat. His Daemon, Armaros soon followed, taking the form of a knight in the same black steel armor.

"Master... I believe now would be a good time to empty the purse a little, hmm?" Blake looked up at his Daemon with a raised eyebrow, quickly chuckling at the sight of many bricks of gold fitted into the back of his shield...
"Good move. I think we'll need all of that gold."

Laughing at their good-while-it-lasts fortune, the two take a trip to a kiosk entitled "Mimi's" leaving with boneless bourbon chicken with some white rice. Armaros brought a bag of barbecued ribs as well. Making their way over his soon-to-be-acquaintances' table, Armaros sat down and turned to Cale, who was getting at Haley for "killing his bagel".

"Excuse me... Is this your bagel?" He asked, showing the man an eaten bagel.