[IC] Protectors.

We are the sovereign protectors of Humanity. We are neither Angels or Demons. We were created to keep the war between Heaven and Hell out of the Humans reality. We work and exist in a realm that lays on top of that of the humans. The war is ever going on, but we keep it contained. To the humans, these battles look like basic street fights, bar brawls, gang wars, or normal wars. If we fail or slip up, or if a battle gets too out of hand, the two realities will fuse, and they will see the truth. It's our job to make sure that that never happens. We are also responsible for protecting Humans. If a battle laps into their realm, we make certain that they are protected.
We are not alone. We have spiritual beings on our side. They appear as normal vendors, store owners, or basic workers. They provide us with supplies and aid. They know us and will make themselves known when needed. Now, there are rules. Violating these rules will always end in extreme consequences. Some may even result in termination.

Rules:
- Falling in love with, or having any serious relations, with humans is never allowed.
- No humans shall ever know our true nature.
- In a public space, human protection always comes first.
- You cannot receive assistance from anyone except those who are trusted.
- If a human needs assistance with a life or death matter, you are permitted to provide needed assistance.
- If for whatever reason, a human learns of our true nature, you must ensure that they trust us.
- Never use a human for your own needs. This will result in immediate termination.

[Skinner35]

New York City

Protectors.
This day is as any other. It's been a while since the last altercation, which is either great or horrible. Either, the fighting is finally dying down -which is never the case-, or they're preparing something big. If the latter is fact, then we are in for great trouble. Until anything happens, you are to stay on guard, and continue your duties. Stay vigilant.

If anything is to arise, take action. Keep the peace. You will have assistance beside you at all times. Do not be afraid to act.

Now, there has been word of a Protector who enjoys breaking the rules... If this continues, you know what will happen.

Get to work.

[Shadow Dragon]

Xerces walks through the street, careful not to nick any mortal with his blade. He slips it away, and turns down the street. He looks around, and jumps halfway up a building, and hides in the shadows. Miserable mortals. If only they knew the truth. He turns down a random street, using the roofs as his road. I wonder if they've noticed that I'm gone yet. Who would they send to hunt me, I wonder? He backs into the shadows, and steps out half the city away, standing on a money bin of some kind. The sign says it's a bank, but he has no need for money, so he ignores it. He whispers to himself, "The flames of vengeance are coming, mortals. Are you ready?"

[Skinner35]

Athewale sat in the café, waiting around until needed. He sat there drinking a fresh black coffee. 'Humans may make some stupid decisions, but their food and drinks are phenomenal.' He thought to himself as he sat. He has his sword hiding in a guitar case that was sitting by his side. It had been a while since he ran into a conflict, and he was starting to get itchy. He had also heard about the guy who was breaking rules. While he didn't like the idea of a rule breaker, he admired him for at least doing something.

He really needs friends.

[Shadow Dragon]

He jumps off the building, landing in a light crouch. He walks down the street, shoving mortals out of the way. I need something to fight. He walks around the corner, and sees a rift into one of the realms. He draws his scythe, whirling it around. Please let it be deadly. I need to destroy something. Before those holier than thou Protectors show up. He steps up to the rift, and smiles when a demon steps through. He whips his scythe at it, and it roars, swinging a burning sword and whip. The whip wraps around his scythe, and he swings the demon around, slamming it into the pavement. He spins, flinging the demon back through the portal, and then turns and hides, waiting for the others to show up. He turns back into a human, hiding his magic in a powerful veil.

[Skinner35]

As Athe finished off his coffee, he hears slight commotion, and decides to inspect it. Seeing humans running away from something, he decides to seek out what they ran from. Once he wanders a fair way, he sees nothing out of the ordinary... Except for burn marks on the ground. "Must've been from the rule breaker. Huh, kid apparently has skill." He says aloud as he looks around, nothing too strange. He then begins to walk around the block, almost hoping to meet the rule breaker.

[Shadow Dragon]

Xerces brushes past him, then stops, and stares at him for a minute. He sneers, and turns down a street, then takes off running. Of all the other protectors, why did it have to be him? He looks back at where the portal used to be, and sighs. I do all the work , and someone else comes and tries to steal the credit. He walks into a random bookstore, picks up a novel, and begins reading. He occasionally glances up from his book, looking around for the other Protector. Come on, where'd you go?

[Skinner35]

As he is looking around, he feels someone bump his shoulder, and he immediately turns to meet the strangers gaze. Once the stranger walks away, he realizes, 'Wait... Was that him?' He thinks to himself as he follows, curious as to whom this person was. He seemed to odd to be a human. He needed to know.

[Shadow Dragon]

He hides from the other protector, watching him carefully. He slips out the back, and takes off running. He hides behind a dumpster, and alters his form slightly, making him seem like a sleeping hobo. He watches the back door, waiting for the other one to show up. Why won't they leave me alone? Just because I'm different then them, and have different standards?

[Skinner35]

As he walked around, he didn't notice anything off. But he felt like he was getting close. He didn't think that the kid was a threat, but was ready if he was. With his hand on the latch to the guitar case, he continued walking. He hadn't seen another protector in a few weeks, and he was starting to think that something in the city was wrong. The sight of another Protector reassured safety, but he needed to confirm it. "Hey Rule Breaker. If you can hear me, I don't want to fight, I just want to talk. You're the first Protector that I've seen in a while. Just come on out." He said in a gruff, yet assuring tone.

[Shadow Dragon]

He steps out of the shadows, and sighs. "What is there to talk about? I broke the rules, so I need to die. But I'll resist, and many will suffer. So why don't you want to fight? I'm "unbalanced" and "dangerous". Why shouldn't you attack me?" He puts a hand on his axe handle, and it begins softly glowing an orangish yellow.

[Skinner35]

He chuckles softly at his remark. "Oh cmon. We have bigger things to take care of." He says as he sets the case down beside him. "You can be whatever you say you are, but you are still a Protector. I aint hunting you down. The big guys haven't told me to." He then looks around, to ensure that there are no civilians around. "I think that something bad is going on, and I need all the help I can get. I don't care what rules you've broken. We can deal with that later. As for now, we need to find out what's going on." He says as he extends a hand for a hand-shake. "Once this is over, I'll act like we've never met. Deal?"

[Shadow Dragon]

He hesitantly shakes, his other hand clenching involuntarily. "What kind of bad thing? Like....someone/thing is coming?" He puts one hand to his axe handle, it's warmth comforting him. "What do you want from me? And, what makes me so....broken to the others? What's wrong with trying to stop humanity from killing itself off? I'm giving it something other then itself to fight."

[Skinner35]

"That's the thing. I have no idea. This much inactivity for this long is essentially a bad omen." He says as he picks up his case. "All I want is your help. Others see you as broken because you've probably done something that they didn't like. If you can stop humans from killing each other, then I support it. But, when you become their opponent, that's when I have a problem. But hey, we're all learning." He turns and walks towards the street. "You coming? We should go see if your friend from earlier came back."

[Shadow Dragon]

He laughs softly, and shakes his head. "If you reject my methods, then I have no reason to help you. This is the whole reason I exist, to give them something to fight other then themselves. As for what I've done? The things they could tell you, and the things I could, would give you plenty of reason to assume that I was in the fellowship of the Devil. So why should I come with you? I'd be walking into the house of my enemies, and that prospect does not appeal to me in the slightest."

[Skinner35]

"I don't reject them. I just may not agree with them. Again, we're all learning." Athe then stops and looks back at him. "If you have a problem with walking into the house of your enemies... Then you should quit being a Protector. Or a least stop lying to everyone by calling yourself one. Now, shake off that hard edge and let's get to work." He then continues walking.

[Shadow Dragon]

He laughs, a short, mocking sound. "Quit? Why would I do that? Again, I don't follow your rules. You can't take my powers, or my title. Maybe my life, but how many would die in the process? Just because my methods are unconventional for you, doesn't mean I care about what you think. Get to work? On what? Protecting these foolish humans?" His eyes glow, and he draws his scythe. "I think not. They don't deserve my protection. I'll cleanse this world with the flames of vengeance, and only the strong will remain. This is my power, my reason for existence. I am a Protector of War. And I will fulfill my purpose." His human disguise flickers, briefly showing his true form. He grasps the handle of his axe, and the blade begins glowing.

[Skinner35]

"Kid, drop it. We all need allies right now. It's better if we get along, at least for now. Did that truce mean nothing to you? Do we need to do a pinky promise?" He says semi-seriously. "Cmon, we don't need anyone else hunting you down."

[Shadow Dragon]

He snarls. "I am not a child! I won't get along with you by only acting the way you want me to act. I am a warrior. I am here to balance out the world. If you want to stop me, you're welcome to try. But don't stand there and insult my very existence! You don't know what I've done, or what I could do if I really wanted to. Right now? I'm going to go start a war on imbalance. Good luck finding, or stopping me, oh great Protector." He spits out the last words like they cause him physical pain. He is wreathed in a mantel of flame, and he turns and walks away.

[Skinner35]

"I call everyone kid. Called God kid one time... Didn't end well." He says as he shakes off the memory. When he looks back up, he sees the Rule Breaker walking away. "Welp, suit yourself. All I can say is that it would've been easier to side with me. Whatever." He says as he turns and walks back to the street. If that "Protector" is going to blatantly defy the rules, then he doesn't deserve the title. He, at this point, is equal to the Demons and Angels that they fight. Scum.

[Shadow Dragon]

He turns and hurls his flaming axe at Athe, the blade spinning through the air. He rolls to one side to avoid counter attack, and stands up. He pulls out his scythe, and growls in anger. "Side with you? What made you think that I would ever join you? What would be so wrong with a fused world? The mortals could openly declare their allegiance, and the war on earth would be over." He holds out a hand towards his axe, and gestures. The axe glows white hot, and it seems to roar in the eager anticipation of battle.