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Pipe Dream「Spirit Hunt|Closed」
Amelie
Better Mod
2019 Tounament Winner!
Also, the person who tends to grade things.
Posts: 2,562 
OOC Name: Yuu™
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Post by Amelie on Mar 5, 2021 2:56:41 GMT
Standing atop the point that overlooked the Sea of Blood felt quite… empowering, for the lack of a better word. Not like Amelie needed this feeling at all, considering her current position. Yet, the sensation of freedom the red waters dubiously offered was quite exhilarating, for reasons she couldn’t quite explain. Nor that she cared to, all things considered.
It just felt so well; it was a decidedly arrogant moment, but who didn’t cave in to such feelings every now and then? It was completely healthy to have a sense of self-worth at times! Especially when it came to one’s accomplishments. Sure, it was undeniable that the brunette had tripped along the way; more than once, even. Yet, the trodden path couldn’t be denied.
And the best part of it? It was just the beginning. Deeplane was the springboard of greater things to come; admittedly, plans that had been held off due to unforeseen contingencies… and at least a pair of leisure trips, let’s be honest. But they could —and should— resume relatively soon.
Yet? All those thoughts were beside the point at the moment. Surely, she could throw all those roses to herself in a more comfortable place than this one, and as much as the Cliffs had its own, strange kind of charm, there were other, more charming places out there. So, why was she here? At the moment, Amelie was looking intently at the complex pattern carved into the ground in front of her; it was an elaborate circle, displaying ancient, long-forgotten symbols.
That, despite that, still held unmeasurable amounts of power; or, at least it seemed like it did, if her D-Tector’s permanent state of restlessness was anything to go by. The young woman gave it a look; was it the reason why she found this place strangely charming? It was hard to tell, yet not something mattered in the face of the riddle.
“The All-in-One…” She muttered. It was hard, and she didn’t know exactly why, but the meaning of those strange hieroglyphics became clear to her the longer she gazed into the circle. It’d probably take a fair amount of time to fully decipher, but she had that one resource in spades. At least for the time being.
Wasn’t near this place where she sent Mai that one last time, anyway? In a sense, she was glad that she was doing well. From what she had heard, anyway; it was a casino or something along those lines, right? Maybe she should visit soon. It’d probably be fun! Despite their previous association, it’d be interesting to know her stance in the conflict to come. For a variety of reasons; parting with a valuable resource hadn’t been the wisest decision, but it wasn’t like there were alternatives that realistically existed. One part of her was happy for the blonde, sure, but there was also the fact that… her power was peerless among a good deal of the beings she knew, herself included. It was a blatant declaration of her own weakness; of how, if she pretended for this project to advance, she couldn’t hope everything would turn for the best, as things had failed already, and the fail state hadn’t been pretty.
Sometimes, and despite your own resourcefulness, the hand of destiny had to be forced.
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Amelie
Better Mod
2019 Tounament Winner!
Also, the person who tends to grade things.
Posts: 2,562
OOC Name: Yuu™
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Post by Amelie on Mar 21, 2021 7:46:44 GMT
The task at hand wasn’t an easy one, however. Chances were that appropriately reconstructing the sigil would prove to be a lengthy and complex task, but at least for the time being, that wasn’t a problem. Given what was in play, she’d remain here for as long as it was needed. What other option was there for her, anyway?
They had been warned, anyway. Both of them knew that something like this would come eventually, and while impeding it was probably an impossible thing to do, they had accepted to deal with the consequences of what was about to happen. Had that been the correct decision, in hindsight? It was hard to tell, but it wasn’t like that really mattered at the moment.
In a sense, the responsibles for setting these events into motion were Akemi and Asher. It was true that the duo had saved her life. But was that a cost actually worth paying? Neither of them seemed to regret it, so that’s likely. Yet, the consequences of those actions would be bound solely on them. Hardly fair, but when was life fair?
One could say that the actions Amelie was carrying out the moment were the culmination of the unfairest action ever taken towards her.
By now, more or less the fourth part or so of the symbol had been recreated. Upon further inspection, the brunette was unsure on whether it looked like an admittedly warped Venn Diagram, or something akin to a sun whose rays had hooked ends. It was beautiful, yet unknown; just like the Digital World itself.
The Digital World… was it a blessing, or a curse? Honestly, the brunette rapidly dismissed that question as pointless; just as in recent times, she didn’t have much of a choice in that regard. That had been mostly Rinji’s fault. He had been, funnily enough, the catalyst that, after a long journey, had enabled these events to unfold.
It was sad to admit that Rinji was a name that Amy’s mind hadn’t conjured in quite some time. Who had otherwise been her closest friend and a dear companion had, for the lack of a better descriptor, disappeared without leaving a trace. The event had, no doubt, shaken the young woman’s psyche by an unfathomable degree, and had left her as a distraught mess for more than what she was willing to admit… just to conclude like this. It was kind of sad, wasn’t it? Regrettably, the only real option at her disposal had been to move on and try to forget somebody she held so dear.
And maybe, just maybe, she had been too good at that. Was forsaking those precious memories enough for herself to deserve being the bad person who claimed to be? Doubtful, considering there was also a fair share of painful moments the duo had lived together. Nevertheless… the most painful feeling was the stalking realization that all what the two had lived might as well have been for naught.
She had to make sure that this legacy endured, even though he wasn’t present to witness it. His dream was the only vestiges of him she could attach herself to anymore. She was duty-bound to continue, even if only to cling to that. She wouldn't disappoint Rinji; no matter what.
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Post by Asher on Mar 27, 2021 6:59:34 GMT
For such a large train of thought that the main character of the above posts had, it seemed only suiting for a very specific person to absolutely ruin it.
Admittedly, after leaving the Knights and not taking on much responsibility elsewhere, the young man had very little responsibility in the Digital World. And, as such? Just took to roaming. For the moment, he was walking a 'path' that he had picked out during his routes as a knight, to ensure the area was relatively safe.
Something about the Dark Area felt better than other places to him, anyway. Maybe, it seemed more welcoming due to his spirits having resided there? Maybe, it was because a certain city and a certain person who had heavily built it. It was hard to say for certain, and Asher didn't care to delve too deeply into it. It was just another day, and just another walk to clear the mind.
Or, that was the intent.
A crack of thunder and lightning would surely pull him from the leisurely walk, however. And, turning his attention toward it, a sickening feeling buried itself into his chest.
Something's not quite right.
It wasn't, was it? Was there a fight? Was it an anxiety attack? There was really only one way to find out for certain. And that was to approach the source. What Asher didn't expect, was the source to be his girlfriend. For a moment, he watched her from a distance, slowly tilting head head to the side. What... was she doing?
Unsurprisingly, this instance was not something that lessened the anxious feeling. Instead, it added a slowly increasing concern. But, there had to be a reason for whatever she was doing, alone out here, right? A totally normal reason. That didn't involve some weird satanic ritual, nope.
Another beat would pass, a strange rumble under the earth, before the redhead continued toward her. And finally? The interruption. "Funny seeing you out here." Was funny the right word? No. No, it didn't really seem like it. "Are you waiting on someone, or something?" Why was she alone? Sure, Amy was weird, but whatever she was doing currently seemed a bit weirder than the norm. Most things were weirder alone, anyway.
And, despite a slight feeling that he didn't want to know what weirdness had brought Amy out here, the redhead still needed to add one more question.
"What're you doing?"
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Amelie
Better Mod
2019 Tounament Winner!
Also, the person who tends to grade things.
Posts: 2,562
OOC Name: Yuu™
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Post by Amelie on Mar 28, 2021 0:44:41 GMT
As yet another symbol neared completion, a smile that showed a measure of glee appeared momentarily in what was an otherwise distraught and unstable expression. Still not halfway there but, progress was indeed something she could appreciate. It meant that her task would be done soon; she’d finally be able to sate the maddening craving that had been haunting her for so long.
Maybe then she’d have the courage to apologize. The truth was that this journey ended in with her doing things that, while necessary at that moment, have evolved into some of her deepest regrets. At various points, she had pondered how the twins would act if that secret was revealed, and, in a display of what probably was good judgment, had decided to hold off such a confession for a little later. Would the so-called ‘a little later’ ever come? It was hard to say.
Maybe this was supposed to be some kind of atonement? Maybe this would help her bear with the guilt, or at least forget about its insidious roots. Least to say, the brunette had wholeheartedly embraced the dubious redemption that this quest provided. Way past the point of questioning it, she moved over to the next symbol.
Or… maybe not. It was hard to tell whether his arrival was timely or not, but Asher had suddenly appeared at the scene. How come? To say the least, the brunette was quite startled at the development; she turned to face him, some distraughtness being evident in her expression. “Wh-what are you doing here?” No way to greet somebody, but it wasn’t like she had been greeted in the first place! “I didn’t know you were here. In the Dark Area. I mean.”
That might’ve been a bit on the short side, but the matter at hand was more important than pleasantries by a good margin. Amelie proceeded to turn and kept on working on the symbols beneath her. It was true that Asher’s voice felt distant, and kind of muffled, but she did her best to address his questions. As bothersome as they were. “Not really waiting for anyone. I’m here on my own.”
As she finished saying those words, one of the otherwise eroded pieces of the many inscriptions was fully restored, and the sky responded by crackling violently above the duo. Connecting the dots was probably not a hard thing to do. What about the second question, then? It was only then when a tiny hint of emotion tinged the girl’s tone. “It’s just a small project of mine; don’t mind it. I guess that you could call it a way for me to… emancipate.”
That hadn’t quite been Amy’s voice, had it? At least that last word. It just sounded weird. And not precisely in a good way.
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Post by Asher on Apr 20, 2021 0:39:33 GMT
This meeting didn't seem to be off to a good start. Was Amy disappointed to see him? A small smile sat on the redhead's face. Was it fake? Probably. Could Amy tell? Hopefully not. "Taking a walk." That really was the core of what he was doing, after all! Just a regular old walk. In a kind of random place. "Should I not be in the Dark Area?"
Did Asher really want to hear an answer to that? At the moment, he certainly wasn't feeling welcomed!
For a bit, he'd just watch again, as Amelie continued doing... whatever this was. Eyes lifted up, hearing the crack that came with her newest bit of progress. Okay, so this was definitely satanic ritual territory. At what point was it acceptable for an ever-so loving boyfriend to suggest that she stop?
Oh. Right. Probably right now.
"Mind defining 'emancipate' for me, in this particular context?" She probably did mind! But, Asher didn't really plan on going away too easily!
What was going on here, anyway? What was the brunette trying to solve with weird rituals? And, what happened once she was done with this project? If the area's responses to her current progress was any indicator, it couldn't be good! "Maybe you should take a break from," from what? What was he even looking at? "This," he'd finish, with a sweeping gesture at the inscriptions. "You know, sit down for a little bit? Drink some water." She certainly didn't seem entirely alright. Would resting even help? It was hard to say.
It felt like there were too many questions to try to figure out how to handle the situation. Why was emancipation on the girl's mind? Was summoning a demon supposed to resolve her issues?
Still, smile didn't falter, while waiting for what would probably be rejection to the suggestion to sit. He would just wait, and hope that his girlfriend wasn't about to do or say anything to prove she'd jumped off the deep-end at some point without him noticing. Surely, there was some rational thinking involved here, right?
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Amelie
Better Mod
2019 Tounament Winner!
Also, the person who tends to grade things.
Posts: 2,562
OOC Name: Yuu™
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Post by Amelie on Apr 22, 2021 17:48:40 GMT
While initially not something that Amelie had in mind when Asher appeared, the fact that he had the ability the be fairly nosy was something that was reminded to her soon enough. Distraught tone rapidly shifted towards something a lot more monotone and unamused. “I see. I hope it’s been a good walk then.” A bit on the accusatory side, even? Probably. “You know you’re free to go wherever you want; I just didn’t expect you to be around… this place, specifically.”
What was its name, again? Oh, right. The Cliffs of Chaos; it had the potential to be pretty intimidating, but also supremely cheesy. For some reason, it had always been the latter for Amy. “Were the Cliffs part of your usual patrol route back then, or did you feel original this time around? Would’ve been nice of you had found these in the past. It’d have saved me the hassle of searching for them.”
Did it make sense for him to ask for this process’ meaning? In a sense, it was fairly ironic. To a significant extent, he was responsible for this event happening.
The brunette sighed; this situation reminded her of how exhausted she had been lately. She had to remind herself to not lose focus, because if she did, this could end pretty badly. At the same time, this didn’t seem the most fitting place to explain her wishes, fears, and aspirations, did it? Yet…
“All the things I have accomplished. Everything I have ever done was never truly my merit.” It was frustrating, and distressing at the same time. “There was always somebody stronger, smarter or just more qualified paving my road, or holding my hand. The fact that I’m where I am is little more than dumb luck—and I’m tired of that. I can’t stand it anymore, Asher…”
There were many emotions etched on Amy’s words. Guilt and frustration were the most evident, yet her tone managed to sound ever so slightly pleading. “I don’t want to be a damsel in distress anymore, Asher. I’ll take the bull by its horns. I’m gonna get enough power to carve my own path if I so desire. If I decide to depend on others, it’ll be by choice, not by necessity.”
It had been a situation that had caused no small amount of anguish to Amy on every occasion it came up. She had seen plenty of ‘chosen’ grow and become stronger than her at an astonishingly quick pace; each of them a potential threat if they decided to be one, and one of the reasons why she needed to reach as far as she could, no matter the cost. After all, even friends could turn into enemies with the right motivations.
As yet another symbol was near completion, a look that conveyed the whirlwind of emotions coursing through Amy’s mind was given to her boyfriend. “I won’t stop. I can’t.” Her voice had held out for long enough, but it finally cracked. “That wasn’t even a choice for me to make. You did it, remember? Back then, you were the one who didn’t just… let me go.”
Asher probably remembered that episode more than well enough. Undeniably strange, for sure, but this was the first time it had been brought up in conversation. What would come out of it?
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Post by Asher on May 13, 2021 6:57:49 GMT
Couldn't his girlfriend at least pretend to be happy that Asher was here? Wow. What a weird mood. "Part of it was near here, but not this specific spot." Looking over whatever the brunette was doing, he made a sweeping gesture, "it didn't really involve looking for this stuff, you know?" Weird ritual spots were not, in fact, part of keeping the peace unless someone was sacrificing others on it! Right? That's totally how that worked. Probably.
"Maybe I'd have looked, if I knew you were trying to find something." Or, he wouldn't have at all! ...Okay, Asher was kind of a pushover when it came to (semi-reasonable) requests from the girl. He'd have a hard time doing anything to sabotage her spirits, wouldn't he?
It would have been quite conflicting.
Still, he remained silent at her explanation. Lips pursed while he debated if there was any proper response. He couldn't necessarily call her wrong for her thought pattern, right? Just because he didn't necessarily agree, it didn't invalidate that she apparently felt that she was insufficient somehow. "I wouldn't call it luck," he commented after a beat, "your drive got you to where you are."
But now, a different statement needed unpacked. "Me?" Bringing another smile to his lips, the redhead stuffed his hands into his pockets. What was she talking about? 'Back then'? When was...
"When Ooi asked for help?"
Don't panic.
"Did you really want me to let you go?"
Do. Not. Panic.
Taking a step closer to Amy, the spirit user would pull one hand from his pocket to reach out for her arm. He really wasn't sure what he planned to do if she even let him touch her, but this felt like a fever dream more than reality! "Just because I did something before, that doesn't mean you're trapped to some sort of fate now."
Or did it?
Should Asher panic?
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Amelie
Better Mod
2019 Tounament Winner!
Also, the person who tends to grade things.
Posts: 2,562
OOC Name: Yuu™
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Post by Amelie on May 21, 2021 23:54:08 GMT
Asher’s explanation was met with a plain, somewhat disinterested nod. “I see. Oh well; it’s not like there’s much point in thinking about what could have been, anyway.” A tense pause followed, before the first relatively good-natured question was uttered. “How have you been? It’s been a while, I think.”
There was the possibility of there being a small current of calm in an otherwise tempestuous mind, or maybe this was just an elaborate trap. All things considered, the likely scenario was that Amelie’s state of mind wasn’t precisely stable. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Being constantly questioned and subjected to argumentation was fairly exhausting. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to ignore him; she didn’t know exactly why, but she didn’t know if she could really stand this situation for much longer. A pretty difficult predicament, wasn’t it?
While the brunette’s expression wasn’t precisely serene, a hint of clear annoyance was shown at the redhead’s following comment. “Drive means nothing in the face of overwhelming power, Asher.” She spat, frustration clear in her voice. “What guarantee do I have that one of the strongest beings in the Digital World won’t just appear at my city’s door and say they want it for themselves? How am I supposed to live with myself knowing that Loire is our strongest combatant, and that I wouldn’t be able to do shit if she found herself in a sticky situation? I don’t want to see my daughter risking her life while I can’t do anything about it. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself after that.”
Useless sentimentalism? Probably, especially considering that Loire was a digimon, and as such, they could come back in case they were defeated. But, what guarantee did she have of that? Expecting an attacker’s mercy was more than foolish. It was consciously careless. “The fact that something like that hasn’t happened yet is no more than a silly lucky streak. Am I really dumb enough to believe it’ll keep on being that way?”
She was tired of being weak. She wanted to be able to dictate her own destiny, and that was a step forward in that regard. The costs? The costs were laughable in comparison to that. Any cost would be laughable if she was able to shed her powerlessness away. Ultimately, she gave a tired sigh. “I don’t expect you to understand, but I think that this is pretty much how I always have been, don’t you think?” An exhausted chuckle followed, followed by an obviously fake smile.
The fact that she was being rational right now didn’t seem like a solace in a situation like this one. In fact, one could say that it only made the uncanny way her eyes looked all the more dangerous. Despite her tame appearance, the unquenchable, predatory hunger in her eyes shone brighter than any disguise.
The question was; when would she pounce?
She shook her head at the next inquiry. “I… I didn’t want to trouble anyone anymore. When I was there, I saw the future; the fate that would befall to myself and everyone around me. It was paved with grisly actions and tremendous sacrifices, both figuratively and literally.” Her tone had shifted to an emotionless, almost robotic tune. “It haunted me for weeks. It’d have been easier for everyone if I wasn’t here. But since you didn’t let me go, then I must do everything I can in order to lessen the oncoming suffering my presence will bring. I refuse to not take responsibility. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself otherwise.”
Progress was coming smoothly. The last symbol was probably going to be completed in five minutes or so. “As pleasant as it was to see you as I was preparing this small ceremony, you should leave as soon as you can.” Those strong words belied a desperate plea. “Once I’m done, this place won’t be safe anymore. I won’t be able to guarantee your safety if you remain here.”
It could’ve been perceived as a threat, if it weren’t because those words were laced with cold certainty, and a fair bit of barely-hidden worry. After all, and despite the ongoing events, it was hard to deny that Amy was still Amy. “Please, Asher. Just leave and don’t look back…”
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Post by Asher on Jun 13, 2021 6:56:32 GMT
Had it been a while? Sometimes, it was hard to keep track, with all the back and forth the two did between Human and Digital worlds. Sometimes, a day for one of them was only hours for the other! That in mind, how long had Amy been working on this project? There probably wasn't a safe way to inquire on that currently. "Been alright. Not much eventful. What about you?" At the least, it seemed Amy had been doing some thinking. For better or for worse was a different matter.
"Drive means everything." Was that the truth? Would he be disproved as soon as whatever was happening came to fruition? Hopefully not. But, he was still going to try to find something to soothe his girlfriend. But, what was there to say about the idea of Loire being the strongest combatant for Deeplane City? "Have you pissed off some strong people lately, or something?" Hopefully not. But, there was some truth in the lack of power the city had. But, was it really on Amy to push herself to ensure the city was strong? Couldn't they have numbers, instead of two strong defenders?
Could Asher have done something to alleviate this stress before it got to this point?
Still, this seemed like a lot that Amelie needed off her chest. So, he'd try to let her talk with minimal interruption. Even if it seemed like she may be annoyed with the company that he was providing her with. Could anyone blame him, though? "How you've always been, in what way?"
In the vein Amy was going, did that mean Asher was going to have to take responsibility for letting the brunette become the way she had?
How was he even going to begin to do that?
In his head, he tried to make a quick tally of the levels of spirits he was aware of her having. Two, he was present for. One took part in a fight at the beach. One came with the digivice. Lacking knowledge on alternative lines in Spirit Users entirely, that really left, what? One major form? Unless the first he knew of had been a fraction.
Either way, if this was going where he could assume, unless she was literally summoning a random external monster from the depths of the universe... That likely meant that Asher was severely underpowered for handling whatever was about to happen. So much for saying drive was everything, right?
"And, what happened in that future?" Nose scrunched briefly, trying to keep his frustration from becoming too apparent. "We could have talked about it some before this." Would talking have done any good? Somehow, it felt unlikely. But, at least there could have been some effort made outside of whatever was happening here. The brunette really wasn't acting like herself! Could it have been prevented?
To further the conflict, the redhead found himself frozen at the request to leave. He didn't want to. What type of person, let alone boyfriend, would Asher be if he just left Amy in this state? Yet, there was a certain restlessness that felt otherwise.
Run.
Hands moved to his pockets, shifting his weight from one leg to the other, to cover the discomfort. "What about you?"
Leave.
Just because Asher was willing to risk his neck did not mean his spirits were too keen on the idea of returning to a full state of being deceased any time soon. But, despite pressures set by them, he wouldn't budge. "If I couldn't let you go before," smile wavered for a moment, shifting on his feet again, "why would you think I'm leaving you now?"
Stupid.
What was the point in talking of drive over strength, if he wasn't even willing to test his luck in a case like this?
Amy wouldn't actually do something that would get him hurt, right?
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Amelie
Better Mod
2019 Tounament Winner!
Also, the person who tends to grade things.
Posts: 2,562
OOC Name: Yuu™
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Post by Amelie on Jun 15, 2021 4:11:26 GMT
“Sides this, more or less the usual. City’s been bustling with activity, and that’s great; we’ve ran into some close calls, but nothing that ultimately wasn’t handled.” Nice way to put it, wasn’t it? All things considered, everything was more or less find, even though it had been fairly close to not be. That was the most worrisome thought.
Without a doubt, it was curious how that managed to seamlessly transition into the argument that followed suit. It was admittedly weird for Amy to do so, but she stared at her boyfriend with a deadpan expression. “Come on, Asher.” Annoyance was clear in her expression. “You’re a lot better than that. Dumb idealism seldom works in practicality, and both you and me know that one.”
Ow, the edge. But, at the very least, those words applied to the situation at hand; the young male definitely was onto something, though. “Even if I hadn’t, it was something that was eventually bound to happen. Nobody likes it when the current balance of power is disrupted by a new player. Ever heard of the psycho who just wanted to glass the Dark Area just cause it was a ‘Nest of Evil’? Some people don’t really need to be prompted, or really need a reason to do shit.”
What had happened in the city’s warehouse was… just too hurtful to be said out loud, especially considering it had been no more and no less than a minor security breach that turned into one of the biggest disappointments in Amy’s life. But, in a sense, it had also taught her perspective. If that could happen over something so minor, then a more coordinated effort would be no less than lethal for the city’s continuation. For its sake, and for everyone else who had poured their everything into this project, she couldn’t do any less than to try her utmost best. She owed them that much, at the very least.
From all the possible questions that could arise from the girl’s words, a question regarding her personality was definitely not what she had expected from her boyfriend. “Seriously?” She stared dumbfounded for a couple seconds, before talking again. “I’m not gonna stand with my arms crossed when there’s a possible catastrophe brewing on the horizon and hope for the best. I’m gonna face it head-on, and I’m gonna crush it with my own hands if I need to.” Which, in other words, was her way of saying that she wouldn’t allow herself to be weaker in the face of the future, especially when the warnings about it are glaringly obvious.
Man, that sure sounded a lot less cooler when she said it herself. It wasn’t like she could do much about that, though. She had to admit that being questioned so thoroughly wasn’t making her feel any better, yet steeled her resolve nonetheless. Maybe this was supposed to be a weird joke coming from the hand of fate itself, but if it was, might as well indulge into it. “Deeplane is going to be a major player in one of the biggest conflicts of the entire Digital World’s history, Asher. I don’t have to spell it out, do I? There’s no such thing as ‘Law of War’ in this world; we’ll be fighting a conflict for our very survival against a foe that wants to utterly eradicate us. You can make a guess regarding what is likely to happen if we’re less than fully prepared for what’s coming.”
Maybe Asher’s visit hadn’t been a bad thing, after all. It had been a test to her resolve that had also managed to ground her otherwise scattered psyche, or at least that’s what the brunette liked to believe. “Talking about this wouldn’t have accomplished anything. This is something I need to do if I want to have a fighting chance to ensure my city’s continued survival. It’s true that it’s gonna take its toll on me, but that’s something that I have accepted as a necessary sacrifice.”
Steely conviction contrasted with genuine concern for the redhead’s welfare. Was he truly not leaving? The plea in Amy’s eyes screamed at him silently as she moved on to finish the last glyph. “I have made my peace with this choice. I’m staying.” This wasn’t going to end well at all for him, yet… as thunder crackled in the sky and a massive pillar of unadulterated energy careened from the skies, a simple, yet sad “Thank you.” could be heard coming from the epicenter of the event.
The energy began to mold itself into a seemingly endless amount of tendrils that sprung around in every possible and impossible direction, just as a disk-shaped crown formed itself high in the sky, anchoring the digimon’s structure to a focal point. A massive monster that inspired both awe and dread.
With any luck, Asher would be quick on his feet, because the thing’s rate of expansion would ram him inadvertently if he just stood where he was and watched the show. Sides that, however? The massive digimon stood idle for the time being, almost as if Amy had evolved into an admittedly eldritch statue.
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Post by Asher on Jun 16, 2021 23:26:59 GMT
Asher likely didn't understand the stress of being in charge of an entire city. While he could do his best to be a support system for Amy, it really wasn't the same as experiencing it. Should he have tried harder? Could he have? Instead of being a Knight, should he have offered to help the city directly?
He wasn't strong enough to have prevented this, anyway.
"Dumb idealism has its charm," the redhead countered. He wasn't being careful enough. But really, he was just backing himself into the corner he was defending, wasn't he? "And, I think it can work when it needs to. Just, how often does it really need to?"
Strength was going to win over ideals. Friendship and heroism did not always come out on top.
Could he argue on the tangent about psychos and new players? Not really. The brunette had some points. If only they had a bit more sanity behind them and a lot less crazy. He was used to the girl loving the sound of her voice, but wasn't it a little off today?
Cheesiness to her words aside, Asher could only try to keep expressions of disproval at bay, doing his best to maintain a smile. He was such a fake. This conversation was putting him more and more on-edge by the second, and only an idiot would smile about it. Perhaps, he wasn't faking the idiot part. This was an impossible-to-de-escalate situation, and he was trying his best anyway. And his best was pretty darn awful! Talk about disheartening.
He really had to pick and choose his battles here. It seemed pretty important for any chance at getting through to her. "What conflict?" Was there actually something valid to be concerned about? Was there a reason for panic and rush? Asher wasn't qualified for any of this. He barely had the capacity to act like a normal person, himself! He was an actor, not a...
...What did this situation even need? Psychologist? Asher wasn't even qualified to figure out an answer for that.
Was this the cost of being a spirit user?
Somewhere deep down, he knew the answer.
"But, why?"
Why couldn't any of this just be easy? No sacrifices, no whatever ominous shit was happening. Something simple.
Nothing was simple.
And Asher was frozen.
It was a brief freeze, however. In the crack of energy, fractal code suddenly warped around him. Another moment and Antylamon was bouncing backwards, until it could safely stand without touching the monster in front of them. The level gap was laughable. She didn't even need to think about it to know there was no even footing to be found between the two spirits. "You're going to get us killed."
But, the comment wasn't directed at the monster that had stolen Amy's place. It was meant for the rabbit's host.
It certainly was lucky that the eldritch abomination hadn't immediately proven to be violent. The Beast quickly doubled over, covering her face. "Jesus." They were losing their composure a bit, weren't they? The digimon gave a wheeze before uprighting itself. "Don't." They were rather lucky that Amy's spirits couldn't really hear. Unless it was a new improvement with this form.
After all this time, Asher still didn't really have control over his own spirits, did he? Then again, did Amy have any over hers? How long was she going to stand there for?
The beast took a deep breath, hands dropping to its sides. Whether it was Amy or not, Asher wasn't letting his spirits pick how the rest of this encounter was going to go. Ears were ringing, but the spirit user stood firm for the time being, looking up at the statue-esque monster.
This was stupid.
But there might still be hope for a decent outcome. "Amy?"
Would the monster do anything?
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Amelie
Better Mod
2019 Tounament Winner!
Also, the person who tends to grade things.
Posts: 2,562
OOC Name: Yuu™
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Post by Amelie on Jun 18, 2021 0:28:57 GMT
A dry giggle escaped Amy’s throat. “Ever told you’re really stubborn?” In all fairness, it probably took a fairly stubborn person to be the brunette’s significant other! “I’m tired of this, Asher. I’m even beginning to sound like a dramatic asshole!” At least self-awareness was something good, right? If only the young woman was going to be a little farther than that. “When did it work for you? I really hope you have something better than ‘plenty of times’ or another stock non-answer.”
It was funny, this whole interaction mostly felt like a very tantalizing waste of time; almost as if Amelie just couldn’t just ignore the distraction her boyfriend and focus on the task at hand. This conversation was as fruitless as it came, yet somehow didn’t feel completely devoid of purpose. She had to admit, though; even amid her admittedly frayed mental state, she could tell that something felt very off about Asher. She couldn’t quite place what that was.
Did it matter in a situation like this? She felt like it didn’t. Soon enough, this whole gathering wouldn’t really matter. A lingering doubt about what’d be of him after this sprung every now and then, but was quickly silenced by the importance of the task ahead. Her impending ascension would erase any doubts from her mind, or at least that was the promise that constantly intruded her thoughts.
Hopefully, that voice would shut up after the deed was done. It was proving to be fairly annoying, and not in an endearing way like Asher. “Everything will be clear soon enough. Maybe you’ll understand the situation better once it comes to pass. Until then, what you’re hearing might as well be rambles.”
Could he be blamed, though? As it stood, the whole deal was just a tad too outlandish for a normal person! Nonetheless, as the following events unfolded, outlandish might as well be the best descriptor to what was happening. A veritably titanic digimon had appeared amid the Dark Area out of the blue and, at least if one judged it by its appearance, it didn’t seem to be friendly at all.
Movement nearby wasn’t unexpected, given that such an event would no doubt come to the attention of anyone decently near the ritual’s epicenter. As of right now, Vexmon just stood perfectly still in the exact same place where it had spawned… but that wouldn’t last for long. From one moment to the next, in a fairly impressive display of speed despite the abomination’s bulk, the digimon’s tendrils moved around, as if stretching a body that had been dormant for way too long.
To anyone under and near her, however? The erratic movements could lead any casual observer to believe the creature was senselessly thrashing everywhere, especially judging by the heavily damaged terrain in the wake of its limbs.
It was probably unsurprising, but Asher/Antylamon’s presence was completely ignored by Vexmon. In fact, the digimon seemed to irradiate an aura of dread around it; as it stood it was hard to tell if it was directed at them in particular or just something innate to it, but they’d feel almost intrusive thoughts of hopelessness and insignificance.
Was it Vexmon’s way to tell them that they were a speck of dust, and fundamentally beneath its notice? Hard to know at the moment, for sure.
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Post by Asher on Jul 25, 2021 5:49:01 GMT
"Just a few times." Or daily. Usually, when talking to Amy. Or literally anyone else. But it was fine! The people that told him that were still talking to him fairly often! So, they must be fine with the stubbornness, right? At least, it felt like a good assumption. "Dramatic, yes," the redhead commented with a snicker, "asshole, maybe not quite yet." Then again, it probably took a lot to look like a proper asshole in Asher's book.
But there was a pause at the request for an example, where he simply smiled. "Now you're being picky. I'm letting you be the dramatic one in this conversation, and if I start giving you examples, we're both going to sound dramatic. Can't have that." It definitely wasn't a way to avoid properly answering. Nope. Not at all.
Was his distraction enough to deter the brunette from finishing something risky? It was looking unlikely. There wasn't much point in stalling in a place like this. Chances were, nobody else would come. And it was painfully clear that Asher, alone, would not be enough to convince Amy to stop what she was doing. Especially since she wouldn't even pause her tasks.
He would have much preferred to hear her ramble further. Anything, really, if it meant that future events wouldn't unfold. But they did. And here they were. A small rabbit. A huge abomination. An insuppressible internal monologue about his mortality.
Calling the situation unfortunate would be an understatement.
Speaking to a creature that couldn't hear obviously would not yield results. So, instead, he would soon find himself subjected to the thrashing about. Luckily, it seemed that the idea of dying from that of all things was enough of a reminder on how to move, so the rabbit quickly began making some distance between itself and the tendrils of doom.
They'd been here before.
For a moment, the spirit user's vision warped. Tendrils became chains. Aberration became a cloaked figure adorned in golds that had appeared only in his nightmares. Hopelessness weighed on the spirits. On Asher. This wasn't a new situation. This was reliving a nightmare.
We weren't like this.
In the layered flashback, there was a small click! which caught the redhead's attention. Totems and fragments of collected spirits flickered in front of him, pieces suddenly clipping together into a singular item.
Change the ending.
Where many digivolutions brought light to their flavor, it never really made sense in this line. Instead, the rabbit was cloaked in a haze, void of light. And when it dispersed? The hallucination came to an end. Mervamon stood in the Beast's place. The level difference left something to desire, but it was still a notable improvement.
It's the best we can do.
He would concern himself with the appearance of this form later. For now, he had to figure out how to handle the situation presented. The Mega would dash forward, where it had previously been trying to keep its distance. It seemed that for some reason, he was trying to reach out to the main body of the creature. Preferably, without being crushed by tendrils along the way. Touching crazy space monsters was a bad idea. But, Asher never really had any good ideas anyways. "Amy? Are you in there?" Could the creature speak? Could it comprehend?
Was brute force all that Asher could do, to get through to it?
He could only hope that somehow, Amy would return to normal.
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Amelie
Better Mod
2019 Tounament Winner!
Also, the person who tends to grade things.
Posts: 2,562
OOC Name: Yuu™
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Post by Amelie on Aug 24, 2021 3:16:10 GMT
It wasn’t hard to tell that the brunette’s patience was wearing thin. Not like she had been particularly patient in this encounter, anyway. She huffed in irritation, pretty aware that the current conversation was frankly going nowhere. “Whatever. Suit yourself.”
Maybe, at the end, she had managed to disregard the words that, while aggravating to an extent, also had a strange compulsion to them. Was that attempt at distraction successful? At this point, it was hard to know, especially considering that Amelie had stopped being Amelie and had become a rampaging aberration. Or something to those effects, really; the present situation couldn’t be called clear by a long shot.
Completely unconcerned by what surrounded it, Vexmon’s began to inexorably advance into the Dark Area, leaving a trail of even deader terrain where it passed. By now, it was mostly certain that the ex-Andiramon, now-Mervamon was completely beneath the abomination’s notice. Advantageous, right? Or worrisome, considering that the digimon hadn’t even stopped to assess the newly-evolved digimon as a possible threat.
Of course, it was fairly obvious that the words uttered by Asher would fall on deaf ears as well; none of the brunette’s forms had been able to hear, and while powerful, this was not an exception. Flip side? The fact that the Mervamon had striven so hard to be noticed paid off. While still moving towards an unseen target, a concentration of energy began to pulsate on a seemingly random body part, even though a keen or battle ready eye would probably discern that, once formed, the energy blast was aimed directly at Mervamon’s location. The whole deal was relatively slow for a digimon of Vexmon’s level, but it was probably in Asher’s best interests to get away from his current location as fast as he could.
Another detail that would become fairly noticeable as Vexmon abandoned his initial spawning spot was that the leftovers of the ritual were still pulsating with the purple lightning that had fallen moments ago. The crackling energy arced between the ritual site and the digimon’s form, creating what could only be described as a small, yet growing tempest.
Time was certainly growing short. What would Asher do next?
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Post by Asher on Oct 31, 2021 4:59:10 GMT
Of course things could never be as easy as the young man wanted them. In a perfect world, he'd have been able to talk his girlfriend to her senses, and they'd either go home or spend the day in Deeplane, getting her settled down. In the real world? Yeah, that wasn't happening. Instead, he was outmatched even in newest form, and, frankly a little too dumb to try to figure out a good way to fix the situation on his own. Add some salt to the injured ego, while we're at it. Was he really so insignificant to this monster that it wasn't even going to pay attention to him, despite digivolving?
He was in over his head.
Especially when the deaf creature had apparently noticed him just enough to fire a warning shot. Or, he'd at least like to think that's what it was. Dashing to the side, Mervamon barely missed being struck with something that would have probably destroyed his chance at bringing Amy back to normalcy. Considering if he died, he'd do no good to either of them.
Sliding to a stop, the spirit user gave a deep breath. Just chasing Vexmon wasn't going to do anything, was it? But now that he had a chance to stop, and not because a certain narrator brought attention to the ritual spot, he'd noticed the new potential problem that was forming where the aberration had once been. He really couldn't catch a break, could he?
What was he to do? The spirits within had gone silent, providing absolutely no insight on their own. For the first time in far too long, the redhead felt... alone.
And, for the first time since the spirits had appeared, Asher didn't want to be.
"I," the man mumbled to himself, lifting his snake-arm that really made no sense whatsoever. It had a name, didn't it? Was it sentient? It was a bad time to question things, but it was also a bad time to not know anything about the form he was in! How unfortunate. Either way, if it was capable of its own thoughts, they didn't seem to be directly connected to him in the way that Antylamon was. Being a spirit user was suffering.
What he was about to do was stupid, wasn't it? Problem-solving surely wasn't his strong suit. "Don't know what I'm doing here," he added, still talking to himself. If his spirits weren't going to, and Amy's were deaf, it wasn't like he had someone else to converse with! Either way, Medullia's mouth dropped open, a faint glow forming in the back of its throat. This was likely not going to do anything. But Asher wasn't going to be able to keep up with anything happening around him anyway, so what was there to lose?
At the very least, maybe it would help calm the tempest. Or it would worsen it horribly and then everything was gonna be his fault! Not an appealing prospect, really!
A second later, an energy beam blasted out from the snake's jaws. Its target?
The ritual site, itself.
But, was it going to do anything?
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