"I give in because a wise man knows when he has been bested." Garret answered slowly, standing stock still as the figure approached, growing nearer and nearer until eventually she was so close he could feel her breath on his neck. Surely it would be a simple task to grab her from this distance, yet that would be incredibly impolite so Garret would do no such thing. Besides, he had already yielded and would not dishonor himself by pulling such a cheap trick.

Her questions and phrases were playful, yet somewhat odd, probing almost. Still Garret gave a straight answer. "Expose? I think not, if you recall I simply asked the direction and distance to the nearest town. I admit I am rather lost, and this game of ours has only served to confuse me more." He looked around, not quite being able to tell where they had come from. The shadow of his Roc companion floated across the surface of the ground, that was some comfort at least. His eyes looked back to the figure in front of him, something was off about the woman but Garret couldn't quite figure out what. There was just something about her, about this whole place really, that gave him an odd feeling.

Missile just pinched the bridge of her nose, rubbing her thumb against the side it was against as she stared at the sharkman. "Any other day, I'd insist he do get it. But the pantry might be a little wrecked; the Boar's drunk as a duck downstairs." She just tilted her head, not intimidated in the slightest by Bruce's irritation - if anything she was impressed! Of all the things to finally piss him off, it was about a pastry. "If anything, he should get the pear tart instead. Pears and chicken go together far better than apples and chicken, anyway." Her thumb rubbed against the end of her nose a bit as it wrinkled, still smelling the foul odor from the shapeshifter earlier in the day. The smell had buried deep in her sinus cavity and she'd never forget how badly it reeked. "Not to say the cobbler's not great. It is. But the cobbler he's familiar with-" She pointed a thumb at Kresnik, "-is probably different to the one made here." She smiled lightly. "You know I love the cobbler here, Bruce. Don't get angry."

(Ganti)

"Well, mate." the bard smiled at Ganti, "He could be, but another two coins, and I don't even know who you're talking about" as he strummed his instrument. Ganti returned his devilish smile, and flicked two more coins over towards the man. "We're kindred spirits, aren't we?" She smiled, as she began to rummage through the unconscious strangers things. Ganti bit her lip and frowned in disapproval when, after a few seconds of scouring, she didn't find anything of real "worth"; no money, jewels, or valubles. All he had on him was what appeared to be a broadsword, but was missing its edge. Ganti grabbed it, and strapped it next to her sword. Ganti slumped into the seat next to the man being robbed and sighed heavily. "Well that's unfortunate. Didn't have a whole lot on 'im..." Ganti gazed over to the bard. "So you know that fella? The one with the white hair." she asked, jerking her thumb towards the bar. "He's a bit creepy. I mean, nothing I haven't seen before, but still... Reminds me of an evil god I know." She raised her hands in the air wagging her hands about in a sarcastic fashion, speaking in a mocking voice, "The Evergrowing Shadow! Shepherd of Fire! Bringer of Darkness! Lord Halcyon! What a creep! I don't know how I ended up half married to him." She laughed. "I don't suppose you've heard of him, have you? I don't expect it. He's an Invot thing, and I don't really know where I am right now..... or where Fitz is..." Ganti frowned, looking down towards the table.

“Why couldn’t you save me, my love? Why couldn’t you bring me back to you?...Why?” Suddenly her face twisted to a jaw full of teeth, a bottomless black hole as her torn, broken form leapt at him, a terrible scream issued into the black, “WHY?!”

Alec tried to resist as much as he could but was soon reminded of his weakness as what used to be his wife began to overpower him. "My Angel!... Listen to me!" Alec pleaded to her as he struggled but she would not listen. Her jaws would snap at Alec slowly reach his throat. "Please! Don't do this!" Alec cried, tears streaming down his face. No amount of reasoning could break Alec free of this illusion. No matter how hard he tried to convince himself that his wife is dead, he still loved her and it pains to see what she has become. "Please stop! I beg you!" Alec shut his eyes tightly using all the strength he has to keep her jaws away from his throat... Memories came in like the ocean waves.

"I wonder what does the 'amazing' Dr. Bass want to do with a young lady such as myself?" She giggled in a sweet sarcastic tone. It was a bright sunny day at the park. They sat on a red and white checkered sheet under the shade of a tree. Kid's whizzed on their hover boards, cars hummed smoothly on the streets, and a space craft streaked through the sky... It was a beautiful day.

"Geez Eva, can't you stop calling me that? I am not even a Doctor yet." Alec blushed looking away.
"I know." She whispered softly leaning closer to Alec's cheek. "But soon you will be." like a drop of honey she pecked Alec's cheek. "You are already world famous and you haven't even graduated yet." She smiles wrapping her arms around his body and resting her head on his shoulder. "I feel so important right now!" She giggles. "The 'spectacular' Dr.Bass took some time from his life work to spend time with his girlfriend." She pouted trying to deepen her voice to sound all official but she couldn't keep up the act and burst out laughing.
"Come on! Quit it!" Alec blushed a deep red. "I brought you here for a reason, hmph!" Alec crossed his arm pouting.
"Alright then, silly! Tell me." She looked up at Alec with glowing blue eyes and eye lashes that fluttered like wings of a butterfly.

Cue Music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYqcpTYQ8I4

"I seriously thought about the future and us..." Alec started "I am constantly traveling and working I don't have time for this, so I think we should..."
"Are you breaking up with me?" Eva gasped in shock.
"Wait, let me-" Alec tried to explain.
"Why?... How could you!?" Eva shouted. "After all we have been through, you do this to me? We spent 4 years together! I loved you, Alec! You know I do!" Tears ran down her soft pink cheeks. "You stupid jerk!" She whaled her fists at Alec's arm. "Fine! See if I care! Go do your stupid work and leave me! I don't matter to you any way! You insensitive, stupid, selfish, lame, idiot, loser, jerk, bastard, ass-" Gasp and silence. In her seemingly never-ending strings of insults, Eva was stopped by a small box held in Alec's hand. He cleared his throat and started over.

"I am constantly traveling and working I don't have time for this, so I think we should get married." Alec looks at Eva innocently and let out that cute smile that Eva loved to see on his face. "I want you to travel the world with me, come with me wherever I go. Why wait? Life is too short. I love you and I want you to always be part of my life." Alec opened the box and looked deeply into Eva's eyes, wide open and welling up with tears. "Eva... will you marry me?"

Silenced filled the park. From Eva's previous commotion, she drew attention to herself and Alec and now the whole park is witnessing Alec's proposal. Her head nods slowly, still having that expression of shock on her face. "...yes..." she whispered "Yes..." she repeated slowly smiling and still nodding "Yes. Yes! YES! YES!! YES!!!" She jumped in Alec's arms and they twirled together in the grass accompanied by the audience's applause and cheers. Eva holds Alec's cheeks in her soft warm hands and gazes him in the eyes filled with tears. "I love you, Alec." She whispers to him resting her forehead on his. "I love you, Eva." Alec whispered back. At that moment their eyes closed and like waves meeting with the shore, their lips crashed together and the park roared like the oceans waves with more applause and cheers... It was a beautiful day.

Alec opened his eyes to find himself face to face once again with the monster trying to reach his throat. "You..." Alec growled in anger, his eyes staring back at the monster in menacing rage. "YOU GET THE HELL OUT OF MY FACE!!" With a mighty roar and a sudden burst of power, Alec punches the monster away from his throat and then kicks her away from him. He quickly stands on his feet, "You are not Eva..." Alec looked down at the monster pacing around her. "Eva is dead and you will never be anything like her." He clenched his fist feeling more powerful than ever.

~IN THE BEGINNING~
Time: Second Hour and Second Quarter of MiddleDay

Old Boar's Inn; Lobby
[Locien/Ganti]

Locien would chuckle, eventually leading to a full blown laugh as Ganti's ramblings increased, his tassels thrown back with his merry head. "No mate, he's actually not that bad. Just full of angst and untapped heroism." Locien paused, quirking his head upwards, "That and maybe just a little bit of darkness thrown into the mix." Quickly, his head would be propped under a gloved hand, as if throughly enthralled by the mention of the Shepard of Fire, "But this chaotic, too spooky for you, god you mentioned. Tell me more, for I have not heard this story quite yet. And what is this 'Fitz' you speak of? Sounds quite enthralling, to be honest."

Just as quickly, however, the elven bard's attention would snap to the empty tankard, and then the bar. Smoothly sliding out of the booth (while brushing Ganti aside), he exclaimed, "But first, mate -- booze. Care to to join me?" Without waiting for a response, he would begin to limp his way back to the black stoned surface of the bar...

----

The Old Boar's Inn; Bar
[Missile/Pullo/Kresnik/Locien]

The sharkman eyed Missile suspiciously, his hands uncrunching from the counter top as his gruff voice voiced his thoughts, "Y-you do?" He looked from the dhampir to the dilconius, as if he were trying to detect some sort of joke between them. "Cause I've been hearing some people complaining that my cobbler wasn't that great anymore..." Bruce would look back to Kresnik, and then to Missile, large fingers pressed together as he gave a slight bow, "Sorry, mates. Orders will be coming up. Both of 'em. On the house." Drinks would be hastily stirred, mixed, and placed before them in all of their alcholic glory before Bruce turned to go. However, something jolted him, cause the hulking crossbreed to turn back to Missile. "Did you say that the Boar is drunk downstairs?" If the pink haired woman gave affirmation, Bruce would sigh heavily, putting a large hand to where his forehead would be, muttering under his breath, more than to himself than anyone else, "Guess I'll have to go get him.... -- DAVEY!" The kitchen shutters would open, the cook's eyes peeping out, "One full clucker, with crushed Irish'd butter, and one of mine -- for him." The shark's massive forefinger would point to Kresnik before disappearing behind the swinging door...

...In which Locien would appear, firmly planting himself between Missile and Kresnik, "Allo mates." Turning his attention to the bar, with eyes closed, he began to rattle off an order, "I'd like a double-gutted tent shot with extra sprung juice and three eyeballs." Opening his eyes, a drastically disappointed frown would appear on his face, "Oi, where'd the barkeep go?"

++++

The WildWood; West Hemisquare
[Garret]

Another giggle. "Yes, expose. Brave knight, you wished to know where the nearest place of home is. But out in this wild, wild wood, such shelter is well hidden and does not welcome strangers. More than once has fate tempted those to find those who hide, but alas for the seekers, Death had better placement for their desires. Rarely is such precious information exposed to all those who seek to hide from dangers."

A step of the delicate frame was taken towards the demonblooded knight, "But I sense great honor in you, sir. And for this, I can give your needs under my guidance. But I cannot do so with your friend flying above." If Garret hesitated, she would smile softly, "Your guide is a creature that would frighten many. Do not worry, my dear knight - you will be well." If he accepted the offer, she would fully walk to him, coming so close that she could look directly look to his eyes, "Come brave knight." Her clawed hand would softly grasp one of his, tugging on it as she began to lead him, "Let us go."

However, if Garret didn't quite trust her, questions and riddles could always continue to extract information..."

Missile smiled at Bruce. "It tastes as good as it ever does, Bruce. Sometimes I wish it had more cinnamon to it but I love it regardless." She blinked though and shook her head, straightening up. "No, no, I'll pay for mine and Pullo's, Bruce, you don't need to do that." She picked up her drink and took a ginger sip, shutting one eye as the fabled Smack You In The Head With a Lemon-Wrapped Brick sensation slammed right into her brain as soon as she'd swallowed. Oh, gods, it was a fantastic flavor but the immediate headache after was outright miserable. Oh well.

She looked up from her drink when Bruce spoke to her and she nodded, making a bit of a face. "He... He asked about someone named-" Bruce shouting to Davey interrupted her and she clammed up, taking another sip of her drink and setting the glass down as another slam hit the back of her head. "Mmmmfff, no, no, no," she put her head down against the table -

Only to be distracted by this new stranger standing next to her. No, wait, he'd been sitting with this strange white-haired man at the booth... "He's a little busy getting the proprietor of the establishment. If you want a drink, you can have a sip of this, I've never finished one." She scooted the Gargleblaster to Locien, raising an eyebrow slightly.

~IN THE BEGINNING~
Time: Second Hour and Second Quarter of MiddleDay

The Old Boar's Inn; Bar
[Missile/Pullo/Kresnik/Locien]

At Missile's answer, Locien's shoulders would visibly sad, his face slowly morphing into one of pure rejectment. However, at the mention of having a sip of her drink, the shoulder's immediately perked up. "A very generous offer, mate. Thankee." A gloved hand would quickly snatch up the small glass, taking a more-than-mouthful swig, greedily throwing the contents to the back of his throat. However, The Gargleblaster was a drink even the most seasoned drinkers would not be able to withstand. The elven bard's head flew backward, toppling his limp frame head over heels out of his barstool and crashing into the wooden floor. His instrument would make a strange sound, the mixture of an off key twang of strings mingled with the odd clunk of a half stung drum. However, his face would be plastered with a drunken grin, his lips mumbling something. If Missile care to know what he was saying, he would repeat it, his voice a whispering giggle, "You could have warned me it was a gargleblaster, yeh little witch."

++++

???
[Alec]

The creature would scream in agony as Alec's foot connected solidly against the creatures midsection, forcibly wrenching her from her death grasp and onto the ground with a solid thump. Incessant growling would come from it as the demi-god paced around it, his words fading into the surrounding darkness. Suddenly, his wife's head would turn a full 180 degrees, her fallen form twisting grotesquely towards him, back now front. "But I am like your wife, Alec." Another terrible shriek ripped from her deformed throat, claws on her hands growing to impossibly, nightmarishly long lengths. "I was never the same after you changed! Never! NEVER!" Claws were swiping left and right, becoming faster, faster, faster. The demigod might be able to dodge the first, then second, and maybe even third strike, but his dead wife's strikes would become to fast. Maybe in the real world, where his godlike reflexes could have saved him, but in this state of mind, he was just a man and he would be gutted just like one. Blood would pour like a river as Alec's innards would rip from his abdomen as Eva would begin to flay her husband, screaming one word over and over, "NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!" Pain would be present and the darkness would swallow him whole, the last thing he would see were his wife's deformed eyes, glaring evilly down on him as her lips screamed the same word, over and over...

But the darkness would be banished as Alec's eyes jarred open, gazing skyward on his back in the middle of a tall, looming forest, the grey barked trees mingling with a ever present mist. hat were covered in ice and the melting remains of a never-ending winter. When (and if) Alec rose from his prone position, he would find himself in a place where winter was dying and the silent, wet comings of spring were creeping into its season. Dead leaves mingled with crusty snow, all mixed together in a frozen mud that could only be brought by the breaking of winter. The trees around him would be incrusted in a brittle ice - clearly continuing to show the ongoing struggle between winter and spring. Around him, there would be no other sound or sight of life. The air would be visibly with every breath, biting into his gouging wound left by his late wife (though even the skin under his clothes would feel icy) as no present path was presented - he would be painfully lost, with no true direction to direct his next move.

(Curse of the double post :c)

[Kresnik]
Kresnik, for the most part, ignored the interaction between Missile and Bruce the Sharkman, tapping his index finger upon the bar as he rested his head upon his palm. The dhampir gazed off into nothing, only to be interrupted by Bruce yelling for Davey the alien cook. "My, for a waterbreathing meal-to-be, you certainly have a strong set of lungs," he muttered to himself. He was amused by the second-hand order for his food, but that amusement quickly faded as the elf appeared by them. "By the Dead Gods and all the thirteen circles of Hell, there's not enough curses in this tongue or any other to describe how annoying you're becoming," Kresnik snapped, glaring at the elf. Whether or not the bard heard him, Kresnik was unsure as the drunken fool fell out of his seat due to drinking something called a "Gargleblaster." What a stupid name for a stupid drink... he thought, crossing his arms as he stared at the two of them. He then quickly turned to look at the other patrons. The Hunter sighed and allowed himself to relax.

"Elf," Kresnik cooed. "Why don't you go and prepare us for our journey." As if to emphasize his point, he took a sip of his brandy. The dhampir's eyes widened in surprise, his gaze turning to his drink, and without hesitation he took a second sip. "Now this is a brandy!" Kresnik exclaimed, mostly to himself, as he looked at the drink for a moment longer. He sat the beverage down and then glanced at Missile and Locien, curious as to whether or not the girl would take the bait of his previous comment.

The diclonius wrinkled her nose a bit, raising an eyebrow at the white-haired stranger to her side as he snapped at the elf that manifested between them. "Friend of yours?" she asked dryly, lacing her fingers after resting her elbows on the counter.

Missile twitched as he took the entirety of the remnants of her drink, starting to protest and then deciding not to as the elf pitched backward, hitting the floor. "... Well, what, the little golden brick painted on the shot glass didn't give it away?" she asked sarcastically, shaking her head and righting the small glass on the bar. Great, just... great. She could manage to drink the strange shot herself if she took her time - made the headache less painful at least.

"Holy shit, he says something other than negative remarks and what did Bruce call it, golden words? Eh." Missile shook her head and glanced at the hunter. "You know, I've been around here awhile; haven't seen anyone like you running afoot." She moved one of her hands back on Pullo's head, returning to gently rubbing his head through his hair to help soothe whatever was ailing him. "Who are you, exactly?"

"Here is your iced coffee with... eight sugars... and cherry syrup..." The woman at the counter had a dumbfound look on her face as she held the coffee out to the girl. The barista had on a black apron and a tacky black visor. Everything about the woman holding the coffee and the cheap franchise she worked at irritated the girl, except the coffee itself of course. The girl took the coffee as the barista said, " That will be $3.25."

A look of disgust shot across the girl's face. Her voice was elevated and venomous,

"Bitch please! I don't pay for coffee, I don't pay for anything! I'll bet you screwed it up anyway!" The girl picked up her sledge hammer from where it leaned against the counter and walked out the door. The handful of customers as well as the employees where speechless. The few standing between her and the door quickly got out of the girl's path. Just outside the door she paused to look up at the sky and took a sip of her coffee. It was just the way she liked it. She took a deep breath, set her hammer down so that it stood straight up, and carefully set her coffee on top of the handle to balance. From a pocket in her skirt she pulled out a smart phone and tapped the music app which began to play Teenagers by All American Rejects. She grabbed the coffee and hammer took a couple of steps then raised the hammer above her head with one hand and began to destroy all the glass widows in the front of to store. Between swings she would take a sip of the coffee and relished every blissful second. The patrons inside cowered a bit and some called the police. And it made her grin with sardonic glee.

After finishing off the windows she took a stroll towards the docks and had a seat on a bench by the water underneath the evening sky. She had a dreamy look on her face as she sipped her coffee and watched the the sunset play its melancholy glow atop the waves.

Suddenly a loud clap of thunder struck right next to help with a quick flash of blue light.

She threw her hands up to cover her ringing, aching ears, spilling the last bit of her coffee.

When she recovered her sight and a bit of her hearing she realized there was a man sitting next to her. She jumped at the sight of him both mad and startled.

"What the hell?!" She screamed at the man still covering her ears.

He was in a stylish wool coat and jeans. He sat with his head nearly between his legs looking as though he vomit.

He turned towards her with some effort and just stared at her with a grimace of pain across his face. She kicked him square in the stomach and then the man proceeded to hurl and then passed out. He fell off the bench and she prodded him with her steel toed boot and when he didn't move she relieved him of his wallet and cell phone.

Blue and red lights flashed in the waning light and police sirens blared and she took off running in the opposite direction with hammer in hand, leaving the man lying in his own vomit.

She didn't get far before running out of breath. She did hate running. So turned to fight what ever the officers could dish out. Two officers got out of the squad car, one with a gun in hand. One yelled for her to drop her hammer. She gripped it tighter. They approached her from right and left, warning her again to lower her weapon. The officer holding his gun was a step ahead of the other in their slow approach and the other pulled out a tazer.

She was willing to bet her sweet ass that the one holding a gun wouldn't fire on a cute young girl so she lunged at him and thrust the head of the hammer in his rather large gut. Immediately after, ever muscle in her body went painfully tense and she froze and fell to the ground. She was read her rights and arrested on a handful of charges.

After a few boring hours in a communal cell someone shockingly bailed her out.

It was the man who appeared on the bench. He had changed his clothes but still smelled of vomit. They returned her belongings (minus the sledge hammer) and released her. The vomit scented man was waiting on the other side and she cautiously followed him out. Outside of the station he turned and demanded, " Give me my phone!"

She responded with a quick "Hell no!" and a stomp to the top of his foot. And she proceeded to run from him while he nursed his foot. She made it a solid city block before turning the corner and running straight into someone. She fell backward to the ground. "Who the hell... do... you..." Was all she could get out when she looked up to see the same man she just ran from right in front of her.

"Give me the phone!" His tone was more serious but less loud this time.

She was more than a bit baffled. All she could think to say was, "Who are you?"

A grin appeared on his face and he seemed pleased to have finally got her attention and he said, "They call me the time traveler." He looked quite satisfied with himself.

She kicked him in the testicles. And he fell to the ground in a great deal of pain. She pulled out the phone and pressed the power button. A greenish circle lite up in the middle on the screen and the man attempted to complain but he couldn't breath. She kicked him again, this time in ribs. She turned her attention back to the phone and a laser looking ray of light scanned her eyes. She dropped the phone, startled, and kicked the man again.

"That better not give me cancer!" She yelled at him and picked it back up. This time it spoke to her,

"Hello Nieet."

"How does it know my name?!" She demanded, a bit creeped out now.

Yes stared at what looked like a normal smart phone and said, "Phone?"

It responded, "Yes Nieet?"

She was excited now. "Can you take me back in time?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"With your Time Travel Pro app of course."

"Oh, or course! How stupid of me!" She said sarcastically. Now she was getting excited. She had nothing keeping her here why not do a little traveling.

So she asked, "Could you do me a favor Phone?"

"Of course Nieet, what can I do for you?"

"Could you open the time travel thing and take me back in time?"

The man on the ground gave an exasperated moan in protest, he was still in a deal of pain and had not caught his breath.

"Certainly. What period of time would you like to travel to?"

Another pitiful sound came from the man who still held his genitles with one hand while he tried to reach for the phone with the other. She kicked him in the ribs once more.

"Why don't you surprise me Phone? I'm feeling rather plucky right now." She said this while grinning cynically at the man writhing on the ground.

"As you wish Nieet." There was a short pause then Nieet saw the colorful logo for the Time Travel Pro app displayed on the screen. The phone then said, "Opening app... Initiating travel sequence... Setting date for 1751... Warning configuration error!" The screen emitted flashing red lights with the word Warning displayed in 3-D.

"What the hell Phone?" She turned to the man, nearly hysterical. "What is this?!"

The grimace of pain on his face turned into an uncomfortable grin.

A blue light crackled like electricity from the phone and before she could do anything Nieet here a clap of thunder and her stomach lurched forward and her in her skin she felt a cold prickling sensation and her head spun in every direction and all she could see was a white blue light. Suddenly she felt that she was falling. She dropped the phone and grabbed blindly in front of her. Her right hand made contact with what felt like a metal railing and she grabbed at it frantically. She hung to the railing with her feet dangling beneath her. She couldn't see clearly but she could tell where ever she was was poorly lit. She smelled something foul that burned her nostrils and throat when she breathed. There was a heat radiating up towards her from somewhere below. Her sight slowly returned and she saw a metal cat-walk, the guard railing of which she clung to. It appeared to be a factory of some sort. It was dimly lit by some green glow. She noticed that the phone ended up on on the edge of the cat-walk just out of her reach. It looked as though it was about to fall of the edge. She glared at it furiously and asked, "Phone?"

It lit up and responded, "Yes Nieet?"

"I fucking hate you!"

The phone's light dimmed almost completely off, "I'm sorry Nieet..."

"Pitiful!" Was her only response. She looked down and saw a massive vat of a glowing green liquid directly beneath her maybe thirty feet below.

She carefully reached up with her left hand for the top of the railing. It was cold and wet with some gel but she gripped it tightly and pulled herself up slowly. It was no good her hand slipped and she fell jerking the cat-walk with began bouncing slightly from the sudden movement. She held the grip of her right hand but it was slipping. "Stupid future guy." She mumbled out loud before she lost her grip and fell into the vat. She closed her eyes peacefully her long pigtails flowing in front of her face she held the arm that lost its grip before her and she plunged into whatever the glowing liquid was, her hand was the last part of her to disappear. The phone fell from the catwalk just after Nieet was fully submerged. Before it sank it spoke, "Configuration error resolved... Initiating travel sequence... Date set for 1751... Transporting in: 3, 2, 1... Warning contamination breech!"

A spark emitted from the phone and grew until it engulfed much of the liquid in the vat. Then A loud clap of thunder was heard.

Nieet once again felt strange sensations and her head spun.

What the hell?! She thought once it was over. She was lying on what felt like wet dirt. Her vision was gone again but she heard a bustle of people. She was still covered in the glowing green stuff. She could feel the sun overhead. She wiped her eyes clean and the first thing she saw was a wooden sign that read the Old Boar's Inn. She was feeling kind of thirsty. So she got up and noticed the phone lying on the ground. She was still mad at it but picked it up any way. With a sigh she turned to walk into the inn... Then she paused and screamed, "Where the fuck is my hammer?! I can’t walk around in broad daylight without a hammer!”
She was likely drawing attention to herself in the middle of the street where she stood as her tone was loud, exasperated, and unreserved. “Ughhh! Stupid f-ing human garbage future guy!” She threw her arms down and stomped around a bit. She was still dripping wet with the green liquid she was submerged in. Looking at the phone in her hand she realized that it was also to blame. She pulled it close to her face and screamed louder than before, “PHONE!!!”
It responded in a stuttering and broken electric sort of voice, “Y-Y-Y-Yes N-Nieet?”
“Find me a hammer! A big one!”
“Yes N-N-Nieet.” Strange patterns of light flashed on the screen and the phone chimed, “Processing-ing-ing-ing… T-There appe-e-ears to be an arms dealer a-a-a few blocks from your c-c-current lo-lo-lo-location.”
Nieet turned to her right and began walking.
“The d-dealer is i-in the other d-d-direction N-N-Nieet.”
“Shut up Phone!” She her volume a bit lower now. “I go wherever I want!” Her voice became sarcastic and she asked mockingly, “What the hell is wrong with you anyway? You can’t handle getting a little wet?”

If she was left unchecked Nieet would wonder around looking for a sledge hammer until she found one. She would likely circle around to change direction, doubling back toward the supposed arms dealer. But she would take her time doing so to make it seem that she wanted to go the way she started out and to spite the phone.

[Kresnik]
Kresnik's eyes narrowed dangerously at the Diclonius's crack, his pupils contracting and dilating as if to emphasize his annoyance. "Having golden words is my specialty," the dhampir sighed, taking another sip of his brandy. "As for me... I'm just a man passing through, collecting jobs along the way. All in all, this world bores me. You, however... you smell human, yet your scent is quite different. Who are you?" He asked, easing himself against the bar as he sat the brandy down. His eyes turned to look at the man that the young woman was treating. He smelled nearly human, yet he smelled just as similar to his elven companion. "As for that half-blood next to you, who is he?" Kresnik inquired further, his annoyance at small talk becoming something more akin to genuine curiosity.

The diclonius smirked a bit as the stranger's eyes narrowed - oh, she loved it when she agitated people! She never knew what to expect next and it was a fun game to play when bored. Though, this man seemed bored just sitting there - he was bored of the Playground!? She stared at him, slightly aghast - there were so many things to do, so many sights to see just in the Lows! "I'm just a woman who decided to stick around the tavern with the bard that simply enchanted me." She chuckled and tucked some of her hair out of her way again, starting to grow irritated with it. "I'm certainly human, though not your average brand." His remark about smell didn't phase her - it seemed a variety of folks in the Playground had a keener sense for it than she. "He's the Inn's primary bard." She resisted the urge to snap out at the "half-blood" comment - Pullo didn't talk about the people he came from much, but if her and Nikita's knowledge about stereotypical fantasy worlds said enough, it was that half-bloods weren't welcome in many communities. "I ran into him on the same night we both ended up in here, about six months ago, and we've just sort of been having adventures ourselves."

Missile straightened up again, tapping her fingers against the bar. "But if you'd like a name, you go first. I insist; after all I did ask you first." She grinned lightly and tilted her head, glancing at the glass - one of her vectors lightly scooted it roughly six inches away from Kresnik's hand before lifting it into the air and setting it right back where he had set it to begin with. But as always, the strange paperthin arms were invisible.

"So you leave strangers to die alone out here often?" He asked slowly, warning bells ringing in his head. Surely there had to be some sort of actual civilization around here. Though if what this woman, this creature really, was saying was any indication it was entirely possible that they don't take well to strangers. Something else she said raised a red flag in his head. That he would have to part from his companion.

While he didn't really know the young Roc he knew that she was for sure the only thing that didn't want him dead. That knowledge alone caused some kind of attachment to his companion. As he thought about it, a high, feminine voice sounded in his head.

Go with her. I can always find you. If you require my aid, pray to our father.

'You can talk!' He thought wildly, he knew of few creatures capable of telepathy and Rocs weren't one of them. Though being that she was somehow a divine Roc might have something to do with it.

Of course I can. We are both servants in our father's brilliant radiance. Now go Garret Llewellyn. 'Tis safer with them then roaming about these wilds.

With that Garret allowed the woman to grasp his hand. "Very well, take me where you will."

[Kresnik]
Kresnik kept a keen eye on the woman as she spoke, noticing her subtle winces at particular words. Her surprise at his boredom was entertaining, but he found her profound dislike of the word "half-blood" interesting, as she looked as though she was about to say something about it before continuing with their conversation. When all was said and done, Kresnik took distinct note of his peripherals, noticing his glass sliding away, rising, and then sitting back where he had left it. The woman had simply glanced at his glass, and from there it moved. Were it not for his keen eyes, he wouldn't have seen the strange motion of... something. The folks here are strange. Kresnik thought, trying to distinguish the strange motion. In the end, he gave up, for not even his sight could see the source of motion. Perhaps it was his imagination, he wondered. No amount of training and battle experience can see what just isn't there, he chastised himself, hating the distraction.

"My name is of no consequence," the dhampir sighed, grabbing his glass and downing the rest of the brandy as though it were a shot, sitting the glass within the same, fluid movement. To him, it was a slow motion... however, to others around him, it would seem swift and unnatural. "I am, however, a simple Witch Hunter. For now." Kresnik added nonchalantly.

Alec stood up with one hand covering his wound trying to prevent blood loss, but it didn't matter much. He was lost in the middle of nowhere. He sighs letting out a small cloud of is breath. "I guess there's no use asking where I am." Alec muttered looking around. All he could see was trees surrounding him covered in snow, no trails, no markers, nothing distinguishing one tree from the other. "If I walk in one direction long enough, I might find something..." He thought to himself and began his long trek. As he walked, blood slowly dropped to the ground marking his path...

How long has it been? Minutes? Hours? No one knows, not even Alec. Nothing has changed in this monotonous trek. With each step Alec felt weaker and fainter, vision becoming blurry, body feeling numb. Finally he collapsed, and with his face to the ground, he can see a drop of blood ahead of him and in front of that another drop, and another. He lifted his head weakly to see the trail of blood he left behind and the same trail ahead of him. "I've been walking in circles the whole time." Maybe its because of blood loss causing his mind to slowly slip into delusion, but Alec couldn't help but chuckle at his miserable self. "This must be a joke." Alec muttered his mind slipping into unconsciousness. "Is this my end?" He thought. "Is this what death feels like?... Will I... finally see... Eva...?" With his dear wife being the lost thought on his mind, Alec shuts his eyes and faints. Will he survive? Will someone save him?....

[Nihil]
In the deep emptiness of space, high above the Crossroads, appeared what seemed to be an astral storm. Time and space, unified as one within the blackness, swirled and folded in upon itself as strong, dry static etched key areas of swirling, folding void. Appearing above the Crossroad's atmosphere, still several hundred miles away, was a large ship. A ship that could rival planets in both size and mass. A ship that brought the thing of nightmares, a being beyond comprehension and logic. A ship that held power. At the nose of the ship, in the open vacuum of space, stood a white clad entity, whose face was masked. Armed crossed, back straight, shoulders squared, and chin held high, this powerful entity looked down upon the world. The world, the planet, was absolutely large and beautiful. It was dotted with many, many lights that were mostly artifical. It reminded him of the first visit to Earth... the beauty of the mighty blueberry awed him up until its final moments, where he mocked humanity and brought down upon them their own moon. Still, he missed the planet, but swiftly forgot about it as he stared upon this new world.

"It truly is a pity that We're going to conquer this world," Nihil sighed, knowing quite well that no one could hear him. Then again, not many people would try and stand atop the ship, unprotected, while traveling through hyperspace. "Then again, not everyone is God." He jested, quickly forming a plan of action. As a being exposed to magic, exposed to all forms of energy, Nihil's demeanor quickly became serious. "This planet... it is connected. A nexus for the Primordial Chaos that made up the Omniverse... connected to every living, breathing thing. It is far richer in magical energies, of life energy, than any world We have been upon. A very, very sharp contrast to the Twilight Zone. Even its electromagnetic field is stronger than Our own planet's." Nihil muttered, analyzing the planet. His head tilted as he studied the planet further. "Yes, this planet shall do nicely for Our plans."

With that, Nihil turned from the ship's nose and toward the window of the Bridge. Not many knew it, but the window was unique. As he drew closer to it, the window vibrated rapidly, as though someone had increased the amount of bass needed for a Death Metal band. Nihil had visited a Cannibal Corpse concert, once... it was a rather unpleasant experience for those wishing to start a mosh pit in his presence. Regardless, the closer he got, the more it vibrated, and when he got close enough, he poked at the window. The window rippled, and as it did, a hole formed and slowly grew larger. When it was large enough, Nihil stepped onto the Bridge, closing the window with a wave of his hand. "Hyper-Molecular Glass... it reacts to high frequencies and is sensitive to touch, though it possesses a memory of its own allowing for swift restoration properties. A genius idea..." Nihil applauded, mostly himself, for creating the window. "Nevertheless, it is about time We began our conquest. After all, this world is quite special..." The dearmadta walked himself into a teleportation pod and commanded the ship to teleport him onto the world; though with no real destination in mind, Nihil decided to take his time. After all, he is God, so why not take the time to visit sites?

The ship obeyed, sending Nihil to the world below... but wherever at, not even the ship would know.

Missile had to fight a grin as he seemed to ignore the glass moving - did he not notice or was he not - mff, no, how did he move that quick? She scowled a little, leaning back on her stool. "Well, that's rude." She frowned at him, shaking her head and turning back to rest her arms on the counter as she waited for the sharkman to return. "Well, Hantā, if you want to pretend to be mysterious, feel free, but I'd rather talk to people want to enjoy themselves in a place so full of interesting places to see."

The glass once again lifted up into the air, turning a bit in the unseen fingers holding it up, before it rested itself over in the dirty glasses bin on the other side of the counter for the bar. "I do hope Bruce isn't having too much of a hard time with the Boar being as drunk as he is," she muttered under her breath. Admittedly, she was rather worried about the owner of the tavern - she'd never seen him anything but stone sober. Well, maybe not entirely - he probably drank at least somewhat on the job, it was a bar after all, but the last time she'd seen someone drunk to tears, it had been a woman in a bar on Earth - a lovely creature broken-hearted by loss. Nikita befriended the dear and had made sure she'd arrived home safely - but not long after that, they'd fallen through the portal in Dr. Stein's office and now here they were.

Missile whistled a bit, shaking her head and looking over her shoulder at the rest of the bar. "Glad to see people are coming back in after that show earlier."

~IN THE BEGINNING~

The Old Boar's Inn; Bar
Time: Second Hour and Third Quarter of MiddleDay
[Missile/Pullo/Ganti/Kresnik/Locien]

As the small banter between both Kresnik and Missile continued, Locien moaned softly. A dark, inaudible mutter passed through his lips as he staggered unevenly to his feet, nearly falling in the process. However, a stomp from his lame leg corrected his drunken struggle, falling once again between his newest companion and the two lovers with a loud belch. “Whew! Gotta love a gargle blaster!” The elf’s head would immediately fall into crossed arms. This, however, would only last a moment, as he spoke in his drunken manner once more, “Though,” An accusing finger jabbed itself in front of Missile’s face from the folded arms, voice muffled due to his covered face, “I don’t appreciate that sass, love.” A sly, charismatic smile would then slowly emerge from his arms, slowly rising as he himself rose, obviously getting a kick from something unknown. “It’s quite rude to give to a bloke without giving your name first.” The bard would heavily plant himself on the bar stool that been neglected, now fully entrenched between Krenik and Missle.

His hat’s bells would tinkle as he looked between both hunter and freak, before looking back to the diclonius, “Don’t mind dark and brooding over there - he tends no like to give details about himself, and he makes a terrible drinking mate.” Smoothly reaching over the counter (but not before glancing in the direction of the swinging doors), Locien produced a small silver flask from the depths of his loose upper garment, “What’s your poison, love?”

++++

Old Boar’s Inn; Kuroda’s Quarters
Time: Second Hour and Third Quarter of MiddleDay[/center]
[Chad/James]

Normally, when people fall into the arms of a blackout, most only remember the ink that swallowed them. However, Chad would only experience the dream of dreams - all of his wishes would have been granted, anything considered insanity would be allowed and all that was wanted, was had.

…At least until the man of the future felt a stinging slap across his face, wrenching him out of his blackout and pulling him back into reality - in which, he found the face of a very unpleasant kitsune. “Wake up, shōniaisha!” A displeased “tch!” sounded off to Chad’s left from another source as the present kitsune, the one Chad would recognize as the one he had attached his lips to, ignored the hushed outburst.

From a quick glance, Chad would be able to take in a few details - the forest-in-the-room would be clearly around him. The grove of cherry trees gave off a pleasant aroma, clearly announcing that this was no normal room. No true piece of furniture would be present, only the natural foliage. Well, except the golden block that Chad found himself fully swallowed by, only his shoulders up exposed to the bare air; of course, it was a bit drafty since he would realize that not an article of clothing was on his person.

If he looked left, he would see his cowboy companion and another kitsune, dressed in a traditional kimono. James didn’t seem in any immediate danger, but any other detail would be lost as a hand roughly grabbed him by the chin and yanked his eyes to gaze back into the auburn haired fox’s, “Why are you here, shōniasha?!”

If Chad held his tongue, another vicious slap would find itself on the man’s opposite cheek, “Answer me!” The chin would be released in a frustrated state as the voice from the left spoke again, “He’s not going to answer you if you keep beating on him, daughter.”

++++

???
Time: Second Hour and Third Quarter of MiddleDay[/center]
[Alec]

Darkness crept onto the edges of his vision, causing him to fall to his knees and promised a merciful blackout. But Fate had decided not to bestow such a mercy upon Alec. Only more pain and blood would be given, flecks of his bodily liquid spilling on to the melting, mixed snow. Thoughts would be dark for the demigod, as something crept up on him. However, this was no metaphor. A dark presence walked with a demanding air, the strides long and purposeful; yet the steps were impossibly silent. It chilled the air, making the already harsh environment unbearably freezing. The once quiet space began to filled with the singular flapping of a bird, and the distant cry of a crow. If Alec did not look behind him, the being would come closer and closer until it was directly behind him. It stooped to his fallen form. A pure white bill peaked over his shoulder, into his field of vision as a voice, as cold and smooth as ice, crept into his ear, “Ah, Alec Drop Bass. I was wondering when I would find you…”

If Alec made a move to escape, to look behind him, or anything along the lines of defense or survival, the demigod would find himself staring at the unknown figure. He would be clad in a dark coat, the dark form pacing forward with an umbrella in hand. His mask’s eyes would glint strangely as his cold voice continued to chase the widower, “Tell me, Alec, do you feel dead?”

++++

???; Jeannot’s Lab
Time: Third Hour of MiddleDay
Jeannot/Fitz

The vigil would be complete. From the depths of Jeannot’s machine, in all of its weaving of muscle and flesh around a skeleton produced from gods know where, there it would be: a specimen of perfect human, untouched by disease or age, almost an identical image of Fitz’s original body. If all went well, and no other further calibrations of the machine or magical application, the body would be Fitz’s to take…

However, if the misplaced god were to enter the soulless body, all would seem well at first. Everything, from the general movement to the general feeling of being in a new body would be perfect - Jeannot had truly protected his art. …Or had he? The soul thief would begin to notice it first, though Fitz would soon catch on. Something was very, very wrong. The body would begin to spasm in the limbs and neck, parts of the flesh would begin to burn away at the sheer entity of Fitz’s natural power. Then, all at once, the body would explode with power, splaying the constructed shell across the walls (and Jeannot) as the god’s power broke free, creating a confined mini explosion that would result catastrophic events. The lab would be half destroyed or badly damaged, some of the machines completely rendered useless, Jeannot hit by flesh, blood, and bone fragment and Fitz would once again be without a vessel…

++++

The WildWood; Western Hemisquare, 7-2
Time: Second Hour and Third Quarter of MiddleDay
[Garret]

She tugged playfully at his hand, the fair woman, “Very well.” She would repeat the word, in a whisper, a mischievous smile playing at her lips, “Very well.”

The red clad woman would take meaningful steps, as if a horse on parade, showing her legs with each stride, questions flowing like a babbling brook. “Brave knight, you trust so easily - why is this? Is because you are truly brave, or throughly foolish? Are you even brave as you think? Are you as nervous as you look? As stiff as your stance, or are you simply stanch due your calling? Are you hoping to find rest in this land? Do you want to flee from it as fast as you found yourself in it?”

She would stop suddenly, innocently looking him with her large eyes, turning to him, her body (possibly) uncomfortably close to his, “Do you like holding my hand?”

++++

The Wildwood; 10-5
Time: Third Hour of Middle Day
[Nihil]

The self proclaimed god would successfully teleport to his chosen planet, appearing from thin air and into a field. However, this field was made of a plant Nihil had never seen, its stalks thick and rigid, easily towering over him as if they were trees. To the touch, the would resemble something of plastic, but would easily malleable if the self-proclaimed god felt the need to test their strength. However, he would find that it was not brute force that would cause them to bend, but the gentlest of touches - only then would they part to make room for those who wish to pass by.

Regardless of the plantlife, he would quickly realize his engineers had conveniently placed his white form on a previously trampled area of grass. All around him, it would be virtually impossible to see anything beyond a few feet. However, some landmarks would poke from over the tall stalks. To the north, the tips of buildings, perhaps a tower or fortress of some kind. This construct would be mixed with the tips of mountains and nothing more. In any other direction, there would be nothing but purple sky. The promise of possible civilization beckoned.

However, if more was to be demanded, and if the Malefane could get a better vantage point, more would be promised: to the west, the unusual checked pattern of The Crossroads was painted across the land - a large forest with another field in its wake stretch across the land. In the horizon, an unusual spiral projected ominously. To the east, a grand tree would be looming over the horizon, with a similar checkered pattern of forest and field stretched before it. To the south, more of the trees and forest. Finally, to the north, mountains and the grandest city the immortal might have seen, was before him. Its walls hugged its base, slowly building its peak.

The conquest had begun, but to where would he go?

++++

The Lows; Umbra District
Time: Second Hour and Third Quarter of MiddleDay
[Nieet]

Nieet’s outrage was, honestly, unnerving. Her sudden appearance in a normal solemn area of The Lows gathered much attention. While this wouldn’t be normally a problem, there was an issue - she was doing all of this in the middle of the street. Vehicles and beats of burden moved around her, some drivers screech and swearing at her, while others threatened to completely run her over in the sheer apathetic attitude of The Lows - they had places to go, and they weren’t about to stop for a ranting loon. Dust would be kicked up all around her as some modes of transportation literally brushed by her, causing dirt and other ground-like substances onto her person. If she wasn’t paying attention, a large animal would most definitely have defecated on her head.

All in all, no amount of screaming and ranting at her newly possessed phone was going to get her anywhere. Unbeknownst to her, many dealers that posted their whereabouts on a database were more than likely dead or out of business. She would have to find some other means…

Luckily, fate smiled on The Crossroads’ latest arrival. Across the street, a stranger called to her, “You! Crazy lady! Come here, I can help you!” It beckoned her out of the street, juuuust one problem - the sea of vehicles that laid between Nieet and the stranger…

Nieet was never very fond of traffic laws and rarely obeyed them and was certainly not one for self-preservation. However something was off. It would seem to any observing her that she was not fully aware of the danger she was in nor did she seem to be doing anything about it. It would seem that way because it was very true. Nieet was undergoing a serious physiological change that she could not exactly feel it but the change did have its side-effects. One such side-effect currently left her with a very warped sense of spatial awareness. She could not, for the literal life of her, tell that she was in danger and was only vaguely aware of the bustling street she was in the middle of.

She did however notice a shady looking character shouting at her, “You! Crazy lady! Come here, I can help you!”

She shouted back at him enthusiastically, “Shut up dick-wad! No body yells at me! I’m coming over there but you better have a sledge hammer!!!”

Nieet would being walking briskly across the street. And no amount of danger would motivate her to stop. She would make it to the other side or die trying…