showmall | All the walls of dreaming, they were torn wide open

[The angelic beasts have taken over this town. The walls had fallen. There are no more strongholds, nothing standing between what remains of the people and their terrible gaping maws. Both the army and the vampires had abandoned this place, and all that was left behind were the screams of the masses. What was left of the bodies of those brave souls who'd tried to fight back litter the streets. As the hours pass, slowly, the screams were starting to dissipate. Was the populace starting to die off? Would the city's bizarre new visitor be next?

With the hideous creatures patrolling the streets, making wreckage of anything in their paths, it seemed likely--more-so than ever as the monochrome monster's hiding place is suddenly being torn apart, brick by brick. The heavenly terror is actively seeking for any life forms in the building. It seems like only a matter of time before the only answers will be fight, flight, or death itself.

Just as they would have been forced to choose, however, a flash of green cuts across the horror's supposed neck. As the entire 'head' falls off, a young man with pink hair and spectacles is revealed just behind the creature. In his hands are a pair of thick, twin blades, glowing with some sort of green energy. The beast continues to move, even headless, and so the boy springs into action. Leaping from his current position on the nightmare's back, he bears down on it at full force, slashing again and again at incredible speeds until the horrible bastard finally falls.

Landing amongst the rubble, swords still drawn, the teen calls out.]

If anyone's still alive here, come on out! I'll take you to an evacuation point.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

... um-- oh. Uh. Wow, okay...

[ A deep and deeply-awkward voice speaks up from nearby; the odd individual is scraped up and clearly confused and frightened, but otherwise, they seem unharmed.

They pick themselves up, revealing that they are quite tall-- taller than many of the humans this savior will have encountered, with long, slender limbs that look remarkably frail and a thin tail that ends in a puff of black and white fluff. Horns raise from their head, one bearing a golden band; they look towards Shiho, but not directly at him, pointedly avoiding his eyes even as he scrambles over on spidery limbs. ]

H-hi, um... I'm-- alive, I think? I think so... I don't-- know what that thing... was, but, uh... thank you.

[When he sees the stranger, his first instinct is to tighten his grip on his weapons, eyes widening slightly. But, when they sound perfectly polite, he gives them a proper look over. Scraped up, no weapon in sight--not that that makes them any less potentially dangerous. But if this was all a trick to attack, why not come up with a better story? Faking not knowing those beasts...seemed unlikely.

Shiho hefts one of his swords onto his shoulder, giving them a quizzical look.]

Oh, you're alive. But what the hell are you supposed to be?

[ ... yeah, that's not exactly an unusual reaction to Ranboo, even back home. Though most people aren't usually so... well, rude about it up front. They offer Shiho a sheepish smile, fidgeting with their long fingers in front of them. ]

Uh-- I'm... an Enderman? Mostly. I'm Ranboo.

[ Despite the strange species claim and just how big he is, nothing in the creature's posture spells hostility; in fact, he seems to be curling himself in slightly as if to seem smaller and less threatening, narrow shoulders curled slightly and his head craned down to be closer to eye level. ]

Kimizuki Shiho. Never heard of an 'Enderman'. But, whatever, as long as you're not trying to kill anyone.

[Ran's body language confirms it enough for Shiho. This guy isn't a threat.

Shiho hops down from his perch on the rubble of the house Ranboo had been hiding in, landing by the strange monster man. It makes him realize how tall this guy really is, even curled over. Damn.]

Come on, let's get you somewhere safe.

Y-yeah... thank you.

[ Quietly, obediently, Ranboo steps up and looks at Shiho expectantly, already prepared to follow close behind anywhere he goes. It's not like they have any better options here, and this guy definitely seems to know what he's doing... plus, they didn't bring any of their weapons with them, leaving them pretty much defenseless if anything happens.

Better just to follow Shiho. ]

[Shiho doesn't waste any more time talking; questioning this strange newcomer could come when they were safely out of the city. But with Ranboo's height, sneaking out would take forever. They're way too conspicuous. Shiho looks around, and spots a jeep parked in front of the half-destroyed dwelling. That would have to do.

He gestures for Ranboo to follow him over to the vehicle, before sheathing his swords.]

I'm going to need you to be look-out for a minute. This won't take me long. Just tap me if one of those things start getting close.

Uh-- o-okay.

[ Ranboo would protest more, but those things aren't particularly easy to miss... besides, their strong senses make them honestly a pretty good lookout. Little ambush predator things.

They quickly turn to face away from Shiho and focus on watching and listening to their surroundings; nothing seems particularly close, but they certainly aren't alone in the city. Or... parts of a city. ]

... did those-- things do... all of this?

This city fell to the war between the humans and vampires. Those things never would have gotten passed the walls if the two sides had any real regard for civilian lives.

[His words are laced with vitriol, grudges against either side of the war as apparent as the glasses on the young man's face. He practically rips one of the wires out of the car as he speaks, letting his anger get the better of him momentarily.]

If it isn't obvious, both sides are lying shit heads, so you're better off sticking with me and my friends. You'll probably end up someone's twisted science experiment if you don't.

Vampires? That's...

[ Okay, that's... a new one for them. They've seen ghosts and all manner of other creatures, but vampires... oh boy. They sure do contain a whole lot of blood, too.

The boy's obvious outrage makes Ranboo shrink into himself, deciding against commenting further on the vampires for now. ]

... o-okay, yeah, um... yeah, that-- that definitely sounds like a good idea.

[ The fraidy-Ender takes a step closer to Shiho. Just. For security. ]

[Ironically, he has more of a grudge against the humans than anyone. The vampires aren't the ones that used his sister as an experiment until she died.

Mercifully, Shiho doesn't take long to hot-wire the car, and the engine suddenly flares to life. He gets up and observes Ranboo's height once more.]

Think you can cram yourself in the backseat?

I... can definitely try.

[ Ranboo makes their way over to the backseat, and starts to try and fold themselves up to fit. It's not going to be comfortable, but if they tuck in their long limbs and wrap their tail around their legs to keep it from getting in the way-- their horns catch on the car roof, so they have to bend their neck at a really unfortunate angle... but it works.

Kind of. They're inside the car, anyway. ]

Uh. Y-yeah, this... works.

[Shiho stares a moment. He's never seen anyone look more uncomfortable.]

It'll have to do. Smuggling you out of here on foot will take too long.

[He slams the door and plops himself into the driver's seat, and suddenly they're on Kimizuki's wild ride. It's a good thing he's been driving so long, because to dodge heaven's eldritch soldiers he has to go fast. Which also means sharp turns around all the debris and bodies in the road. Poor Ranboo is likely being slid all around the backseat. But, as one of the horrors tries to attack their little vehicle--and Shiho only narrowly dodges it--it's clear that the speed is worth it's weight in lives.]

[ Well. This is one of the less pleasant trips Ranboo's been on in recent memory, that much is for sure, but it's a whole lot better than being eaten or just torn apart by one of those... things, so they don't complain.

Other than the occasional quiet "ow" as they speed over a particularly severe bump, at any rate.

Their horns do catch on the roof at times, which is also not a whole lot of fun, and their neck aches from craning it. After a bit, he gives up entirely on sitting up at all, and nearly folds himself in half trying to just. Lay against his legs. It kind of works, taking the pressure off his neck, though now his back bears the brunt of it instead.

Cool. Cool, cool, cool. This is fine. ]

H-how far do we have to go...?

All the walls of dreaming, they were torn wide open

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject