[@Ponn][@ERode][@Vertigo]

A mere teenager did not have the power to shove around a mighty esper. However, an emotionally unstable [i]monster[/i] could. Only if they wanted to. Though Amanda seemed to be fine with the small distance between her and the assassin’s accomplice. She eyed the handkerchief with some suspicion. Like a small forest animal, she leaned forward and sniffed at it from a distance. Unlike a small forest animal, her eyes were bloodshot, and the light shining through the shattered window shimmered on her dried tears. She quickly snatched the handkerchief before sliding back into her corner. Amanda wiped under her eyes, but more tears were coming. 

Estelle spoke to Amanda, but she seemed distracted. Her eyebrows raised as if she had been startled by something. She turned her head to look out the window and sighed. When Estelle asked if she had a place to stay, she nodded. [b]”Yes.”[/b]

With some effort, she stood up. Her arms were wrapped around her father’s torso, with the handkerchief hanging between her fingers. She fought back her tears before making her way towards the exit. An exit that the pounder was no longer blocking.

“[color=#ff0000]M[/color][color=#ff2000]a[/color][color=#ff4000]g[/color][color=#ff5f00]i[/color][color=#ff7f00]c[/color][color=#ff9f00]a[/color][color=#ffbf00]l[/color] [color=#ffff00]D[/color][color=#ccff00]r[/color][color=#99ff00]e[/color][color=#66ff00]a[/color][color=#33ff00]m[/color] [color=#00ff40]P[/color][color=#00ff80]r[/color][color=#00ffbf]i[/color][color=#00ffff]n[/color][color=#00bfff]c[/color][color=#0080ff]e[/color][color=#0040ff]s[/color][color=#0000ff]s[/color] [color=#ff00f8]w[/color][color=#ff00f3]o[/color][color=#ff00ee]u[/color][color=#ff00e9]l[/color][color=#ff00e4]d[/color] [color=#ff00da]n[/color][color=#ff00d5]e[/color][color=#ff00d0]v[/color][color=#ff00cb]e[/color][color=#ff00c6]r[/color] [color=#ff00bc]l[/color][color=#ff00b6]e[/color][color=#ff00b1]a[/color][color=#ff00ac]v[/color][color=#ff00a7]e[/color] [color=#ff009d]a[/color][color=#ff0098]n[/color][color=#ff0093]y[/color][color=#ff008e]o[/color][color=#ff0089]n[/color][color=#ff0084]e[/color][color=#ff007f].[/color]” Pink Pounder lowered his blade, suddenly sounding somber. [color=#ff00f8]S[/color][color=#ff00f7]h[/color][color=#ff00f7]e[/color] [color=#ff00f6]i[/color][color=#ff00f5]s[/color] [color=#ff00f4]a[/color] [color=#ff00f3]p[/color][color=#ff00f2]u[/color][color=#ff00f2]r[/color][color=#ff00f1]e[/color] [color=#ff00f0]s[/color][color=#ff00f0]o[/color][color=#ff00ef]u[/color][color=#ff00ee]l[/color] [color=#ff00ed]t[/color][color=#ff00ed]h[/color][color=#ff00ec]a[/color][color=#ff00ec]t[/color] [color=#ff00ea]c[/color][color=#ff00ea]a[/color][color=#ff00e9]n[/color][color=#ff00e9]n[/color][color=#ff00e8]o[/color][color=#ff00e8]t[/color] [color=#ff00e6]s[/color][color=#ff00e6]e[/color][color=#ff00e5]e[/color] [color=#ff00e4]t[/color][color=#ff00e4]h[/color][color=#ff00e3]e[/color] [color=#ff00e2]e[/color][color=#ff00e1]v[/color][color=#ff00e1]i[/color][color=#ff00e0]l[/color][color=#ff00e0]s[/color] [color=#ff00df]o[/color][color=#ff00de]f[/color] [color=#ff00dd]t[/color][color=#ff00dc]h[/color][color=#ff00dc]i[/color][color=#ff00db]s[/color] [color=#ff00da]w[/color][color=#ff00d9]o[/color][color=#ff00d9]r[/color][color=#ff00d8]l[/color][color=#ff00d8]d[/color][color=#ff00d7],[/color] [color=#ff00d6]l[/color][color=#ff00d6]e[/color][color=#ff00d5]t[/color] [color=#ff00d4]a[/color][color=#ff00d3]l[/color][color=#ff00d3]o[/color][color=#ff00d2]n[/color][color=#ff00d2]e[/color] [color=#ff00d0]t[/color][color=#ff00d0]h[/color][color=#ff00cf]e[/color] [color=#ff00ce]c[/color][color=#ff00ce]i[/color][color=#ff00cd]t[/color][color=#ff00cc]y[/color][color=#ff00cc].[/color] [color=#ff00cb]I[/color] [color=#ff00ca]a[/color][color=#ff00c9]m[/color] [color=#ff00c8]m[/color][color=#ff00c7]e[/color][color=#ff00c7]r[/color][color=#ff00c6]e[/color][color=#ff00c6]l[/color][color=#ff00c5]y[/color] [color=#ff00c4]h[/color][color=#ff00c3]e[/color][color=#ff00c3]r[/color] [color=#ff00c2]s[/color][color=#ff00c1]i[/color][color=#ff00c1]n[/color] [color=#ff00bf]e[/color][color=#ff00bf]a[/color][color=#ff00be]t[/color][color=#ff00be]e[/color][color=#ff00bd]r[/color][color=#ff00bd],[/color] [color=#ff00bb]h[/color][color=#ff00bb]e[/color][color=#ff00ba]r[/color][color=#ff00ba]e[/color] [color=#ff00b9]t[/color][color=#ff00b8]o[/color] [color=#ff00b7]g[/color][color=#ff00b6]e[/color][color=#ff00b6]t[/color] [color=#ff00b5]t[/color][color=#ff00b4]a[/color][color=#ff00b4]r[/color][color=#ff00b3]n[/color][color=#ff00b2]i[/color][color=#ff00b2]s[/color][color=#ff00b1]h[/color][color=#ff00b1]e[/color][color=#ff00b0]d[/color] [color=#ff00af]i[/color][color=#ff00ae]n[/color] [color=#ff00ad]h[/color][color=#ff00ad]e[/color][color=#ff00ac]r[/color] [color=#ff00ab]s[/color][color=#ff00ab]t[/color][color=#ff00aa]e[/color][color=#ff00a9]a[/color][color=#ff00a9]d[/color][color=#ff00a8].[/color] [color=#ff00a7]B[/color][color=#ff00a7]u[/color][color=#ff00a6]t[/color] [color=#ff00a5]i[/color][color=#ff00a4]f[/color] [color=#ff00a3]s[/color][color=#ff00a3]h[/color][color=#ff00a2]e[/color] [color=#ff00a1]w[/color][color=#ff00a0]i[/color][color=#ff00a0]s[/color][color=#ff009f]h[/color][color=#ff009f]e[/color][color=#ff009e]s[/color] [color=#ff009d]f[/color][color=#ff009c]o[/color][color=#ff009c]r[/color] [color=#ff009b]m[/color][color=#ff009a]e[/color] [color=#ff0099]t[/color][color=#ff0098]o[/color] [color=#ff0097]r[/color][color=#ff0097]e[/color][color=#ff0096]m[/color][color=#ff0096]a[/color][color=#ff0095]i[/color][color=#ff0094]n[/color] [color=#ff0093]o[/color][color=#ff0093]u[/color][color=#ff0092]t[/color] [color=#ff0091]h[/color][color=#ff0091]e[/color][color=#ff0090]r[/color][color=#ff008f]e[/color][color=#ff008f],[/color] [color=#ff008e]I[/color] [color=#ff008d]c[/color][color=#ff008c]a[/color][color=#ff008b]n[/color] [color=#ff008a]b[/color][color=#ff008a]u[/color][color=#ff0089]t[/color] [color=#ff0088]o[/color][color=#ff0087]b[/color][color=#ff0087]e[/color][color=#ff0086]y[/color] [color=#ff0085]h[/color][color=#ff0085]e[/color][color=#ff0084]r[/color] [color=#ff0083]c[/color][color=#ff0082]o[/color][color=#ff0082]m[/color][color=#ff0081]m[/color][color=#ff0081]a[/color][color=#ff0080]n[/color][color=#ff0080]d[/color][color=#ff007f].[/color]

MDP did not answer Ashley, and continued to watch the exchange between Estelle and Amanda. Fritzi was quiet for a time, then a long, tired sigh escaped her lips. 

[color=bd71e8]”I already told you the dangers of letting the patrons live. Is there a reason you’re asking me again? Are the remaining ones particularly cute? Maybe ask one of them if they’re into middle aged women for me?”[/color] Her tone shifted when she heard about the daughter. [color=bd71e8]”So he does have a daughter? We had some inconclusive evidence… Finn really stepped in it this time, didn’t he?”[/color] She not-so-cheerfully chuckled. [color=bd71e8]”In a way, I guess this works in our favor. Saves us from having to get permission to enter his house.”[/color] She cleared her throat. [color=bd71e8]”Agent Orion. We do not have the facilities to safely hold Dante’s daughter. Her father was a sandman, and her mother is more than likely a succubus. Regardless if she’s one or both of those things, she will be very dangerous if her powers manifest. She could move through walls, or curse Timekeeper again, provided she isn’t the one who did it from the start. Question her maybe, take her out for an ice cream if you must, but she’s not going to forgive us for today. If she doesn’t run straight to the Hand, she'll join Maverick Alternative.”[/color] What little joy was present in Fritzi’s voice left.

Boteg turned away from the window, suddenly surprised to see Ciri and [i]it[/i] behind him.

Pink Pounder stood like a statue, his back to the smoldering diner.

The remaining gang members watched Boteg, save for the shadow wizards, who had just squashed the last of the fires before recovering their unconscious homies. 

MDP’s mouth was slightly open. Her eyes wandered over the carnage inside.

Amanda sniffed, ignoring her surroundings and just trying to get outside without dropping her father. She looked like a silhouette by the open door, with daylight spilling in all around her.

Fritzi gave one final order.

[color=bd71e8]”She needs to be eliminated, with extreme prejudice.”[/color] 

[hr]

[@The World][@Nakushita][@TaintedMushroom][@FamishedPants]

Asher emerged from the smoke wall that still permeated the main hall. It smelled and tasted like shit, but the shotgun wielding pyromancer wouldn’t show it. If he was going to show his discomfort, it would have been for his smoldering hands. But that was like, weak. 

Marrie on the other hand was taking things a bit more seriously. She fired up her magic senses and gazed at the large machine in the center of the room.It became evident immediately that it was a generator. The magical energies inside the machine were set up to create a “perpetual motion machine” that turned a turbine and powered the church. Though the machine required mana to function, and it wasn’t clear where the machine’s supply was coming from. There was a magical battery of sorts. There were interfaces on both ends of the machine to take and expel mana, which was stored inside the machine like a battery. Whatever was used to charge the generator, or what the generator could be used to power magically, did not appear to be present. As rough as the generator looked on the outside, it had to be a new-er construction. The bolts that held it to the ground hadn’t rusted yet, and some of the floorboards had been reinstalled, possibly to run wires or pipes under them.Was that why the construction workers were here? But then where were their tools?  And where would they get parts to make something like this? It didn’t seem like any of the nuns were making use of this machine. 

[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/40b268e9-9477-4d81-97d6-81ce4b87c2d3.png[/img]

[color=tomato]"Now I really feel popular."[/color]

[color=888888]— Mika Fang[/color][/center]

Mika sighed. Himiko and Justin stuck to her flanks as she approached the podium. She’d have preferred if they spread out a bit, but was relieved that Justin had Himiko’s attention for the moment. It meant that she could let them speak amongst themselves without giving them her full attention. She was sure the danger had passed, but Justin was proving to be useful by protecting Mika from another annoyance. She’d smile if she could get Angelie’s severed head out of her mind. 

Once they arrived at the podium, it was apparent that the papers on top of it had not been placed in any deliberate fashion. They had been shuffled and flipped through during a quick search. Though the pages appeared to be some nearly incomprehensible babble, exactly the sort of thing that might make up a mad esper’s diary. 

[indent][i][color=tomato]BLADE DIARY

Duke Rhinecliff ain’t so suave.

Jesse James is named after those team rocket losers.

Ayana is a parody of herself.

Get bent, Jenny!

Crystal looks familiar.

If only the grand magistrate had time for Ananta Aroa.

I thought we were done with pokemon losers, but Chloe Rothschild has a snubbull.

Dunking on Kate would be too easy, pass.

I cannot mock Emily, wherever she is.[/color][/i][/indent]

Mika thought about recording the page, but wouldn’t have been surprised if none of them actually existed. She also doubted it was a cipher, given how many other pages there were. Sometimes, insane people just rambled about insane things. 

But the podium had another curiosity. It was quite wide and had a trap door on the back of it. This might be where the microphone or a speaker could be stored, but when Mika opened it up, that wasn’t what she was greeted with.

Behind the trap door was a stone engraving that took up the entire space inside the podium. There were depictions of various animals. Wolves, bears, foxes, squirrels, snakes, even an antelope and a moose could be found in the engraving. It was difficult to tell where one creature ended and another began. None of the animals looked happy, almost as if they were all conjoined into one massive suffering mass. The stand out, literally, was a small pointed beak from a song bird. Beneath the beak was a narrow trough that led into a hole, which presumably led even deeper into the surface. In the bottom of the engraving, someone had chiseled a message: “BloOd fOr tHE bLOoD gOd pUDdy!”

She raised her eyebrow and looked to Himiko.