[IC] HCL 2: Twisted tinkers' triumph

[kishin asura]

@supertinyking

"Your secret's safe." Asura says with a slightly worried look

[supertinyking]

@kishin asura
"....Good. It's my only..real, weakness. It's the main reason I didn't keep creaming that dragon bastard...." He says, rather..angry. Solaire makes a erherm noise, trying to get people's attention. "..So. Gunner, we're in need of your services to prevent a war. Your payment..will most likely just be the fact you saved millions of lives." Solaire says. "...Ehhhhhh how about no..." I say, shrugging, kicking one of the man's eyeballs around like a hacky sack.
"What?! Are you that greedy as to let so many die due to the fact we can't pay you?" Solaire asks, and Maka's mouth is agape in shock. "If you cared enough, you would find a way to pay me..." Gunner retorts, kicking the eye, it landing into Maka's mouth. She chokes for a moment, before a swallowing sound can be heard.
"..did...I..just...swallow..." Maka begins to ask, and Gunner smiles evilly. "Yep. A cooked, human eye...." He says, and Maka begins to freak out a little, trying to get herself to vomit, and such things. Gunner just rolls around on the ground, laughing at this.

[kishin asura]

@supertinyking

Asura looks at gunner and says "for your sake, I hope you plan on apologising to my girlfriend." Theta walks up to asura and, looking him in the eye, calmly says "for your information, I've found eyes to be a good source of protein. Your girlfriend is pretty lucky if you ask me." Asura leans in and says "perhaps you'd like to experience what it's like to face an angry kishin?" Theta grins and says "dude, you ain't got shit on me." The two stare each other in the eyes for a good while after that

"..............y'know, I thought you'd be a bit more concerned about the fate of countless people. And less eager to pick a fight." Theta says with a smirk. Breaking the silence. Asura goes to say something, but doesn't. Instead, he just goes over to maka

[supertinyking]

@Tyki
"A constant fee, dispite the size seems good. Sorta like a bridge toll..." The Emperor suggests. Tide just sits there, shooting Mute a rather angry look, but he seems to not be able to do much more than that. Delta returns, and she kicks Tide right in the crotch, using a vector plate to speed her foot up. Delta's clothing is rather shredded, and she seems rather angry.

[supertinyking]

@kishin asura
It's at the moment of threatening theta, Asura did something no one should do. As he spoke those words, a loud noise, like an explosion could be heard. Solaire collapses to the ground, his helmet caved in, and a hole blown though it. In the bounty hunter's hands, is held an extremely large revolver, a weapon most would need two hands to wield. Gunner looks at Asura, right in the eyes and speaks these next words.
"You threaten theta again, Maka's head will become a doughnut. Understand me, demon?" He asks, quietly, the veins in his eyes bulging a bit, showing the sheer rage within him. Something about threatening Theta had brought anger of immense scale to life in the bounty hunter..and what Asura would say next could effect the future of not only his, but the future of many people...

[kishin asura]

@supertinyking

".......yes.....I understand....." asura says reluctantly

[Tyki]

@supertinyking

"i suppose it might be suggestable to develop some sort of bartering system because just using items for trade seems to be causing us to... fall out? in terms of dplomatic relations simply because of your lack of interesting things that our traders could want... mayhaps a credit system?" the high general replies as mute looks delta over and tugs her over with klonos, getting a thread and needle out to repair her clothing while she wears it

[supertinyking]

@Tyki
"Hmm....." The emperor says, thinking it though. "That sounds quite the novel idea." He says, grinning. Delta thanks Mute, and Tide just sorta death glares at Delta, so much so he actually manages to move his hand to flip her off..he seems really angry.

[supertinyking]

@kishin asura
"You sure?" Gunner asks him, still quite upset. Maka looks rather angry.
"You have no right to talk to him like thmmmhh.." She starts, before she finds herself sucking on the end of the revolver barrel. Gunner spins the cylinder, and looks over at Asura. "Think it's gonna be the spend round? It's a one in sixth chance..." He says, grinning, hammer already pulled back. Maka's eyes get quite big, as he pulls the trigger...
Click.
"You lucky bitch." Gunner says, before breaking into a cackling laugh. Maka passes out form the worry, as Gunner nearly craps himself laughing.

[kishin asura]

@supertinyking

"..........oh fuck it." Asura's skin scarf slams gunner to the ground. Holding him in place as the rest of his skin scarves get ready to beat the shit out of him.

But before they get the chance, a large gaping maw filled with razor sharp teeth bursts from theta's body and hovers over maka's unconscious body. Ready to rip her to shreds "your move three eyes." Theta says with a grin "your move."

[supertinyking]

@kishin asura
Gunner grins widely. "If I wasn't currently having my kidney's crushed by this guy's scarf, Theta, I'd kiss you." he says. Standing up, Solaire shakes his head, as his helmet falls to the ground, useless. He looks around, his long blond hair reaching down to his back, and a large golden beard on his face. He looks around, and a frown forms on his face. Looking over at theta, he points at her. "Do anything to that girl, monster, I'll turn you to ash in a moment." Solaire threatens...and Asura can feel Gunner begin to get angry, as he tries to escape. Solaire then turns to Gunner.
"You do anything, I'll douse you in flames no magic could ever extinguish." He says, and Gunner's eyes widen quite a bit, and he stops attempting to get out of the scarf instantly. He simply is stuck there, looking at Asura sorta like a deer in headlights.

[kishin asura]

@supertinyking

Theta smiles a bit "hey guys, I don't know if you know this buuuut......." she pauses ".....we may have gotten a little completely sidetracked. Weren't we talking about saving countless lives earlier?" Her intentions in pointing this out were mainly to stop things from getting uglier than they already got. Even then she still had the monster jaws out and ready to shred maka

"She's right." Asura says "we need to get our act together and get ready to stop that war from happening."

[supertinyking]

@kishin asura
@Tyki
"....." Solaire looks over to Gunner. "You'll help us. If not, I'll make sure for each life, you spend a year on fire....."
"...Yes sir." Gunner says, growing skinnier, and crawling out of the skin scarf, before bulking up once again. "There will be no killing during this. Knock them out, break their limbs. But do not take their lives." Solaire says, and Gunner lets out a long groan. "You sound like my martial arts teacher..." He says, as he begins to take off his shirt. "..Why are you taking off your shirt?" Solaire asks. "If I'm not going to be killing anyone, I'll be using my fists..and this shirt is constricting me." He says, before throwing his shirt off to the side, it landing with a odd thunk, like metal hitting the ground. Gunner stands there, rather muscular for what had looked like an unassumingly normal built person when he had his shirt on. With a flex, Gunner's scarred chest bulked up even more, as he smiled. "Ok then, now that I've sacrificed some agility for strength, I should be able to take on most things without killing them..." He says. With a chuckle, he opens a portal, leading them all right into the room in which the Clone Emperor and co were waiting in. The Emperor looks over, jumping slightly.
"WHAT THE?!" He asks, as the bounty hunter was the first to enter, followed by Solaire, Maka still being passed out. Delta prepares vector arrows, and Tide, having slowly regained his ability to move, stands up, growling.
"Such a warm welcome..." The Bounty hunter says, chuckling. Solaire looks around, and let out a hmph. "We're here to help smooth out the complications that arose here....which I'm guessing to be about the unauthorized cloning of your species, general." Solaire says, looking at the male high general. The bounty hunter looks at Tide, and shrugs.
"doesn't seem that dangerous...no idea why they'd be bothered by this." He says, grinning. Tide, taking this as a massive insult, starts to become golden again. "Wanna take this outside?" He asks the bounty hunter, who of course nods yes...before kicking Tide out the window, and following him down the fall. Solaire face palms, and lets out an augh.
"Forgive him...he'd a bit to fight happy." Solaire says. "Honestly, you just made it more bareable in this room..." Delta chuckles, before looking confused. "..You...sound familiar. Do I know you?" Delta asks.
"My name is Solaire, last soldier of the clone empire." Solaire says, shocking both the emperor, and Delta into silence. "..Last..Soldier? But that can't be right..unless...That portal, is that from another universe?!" The Emperor asks. Delta seems to grow rather..nervious, as she tries to avoid looking at Solaire.
"Indeed... Our empire was destroyed by a powerful creature. Our martial strength outmatched both yours, and the sergals combined...and redoubled." Solaire says, grimly. ".....I see. It's obvious that there are dangers we must be ready for...." The Emperor says. He then turns to the high male general. "We must object to your...borrowing of Tide. With this news, of a enemy to the peace running about that powerful, we must remain at full strength at all times." The Emperor tells the general, as many ships enter orbit, civilians and soldiers being brought aboard via tractor beams. The Emperor stands, and looks at Solaire. "..Can you take us to the remants of your empire...I know it may seem disrespectful, but we need all the supplies we can manage now...and there may b-" The Emperor starts, and Solaire already has a portal open. "Though here..." He says, leading the Emperor, and Delta though the portal. The sounds of fighting can be heard from the tower, showing Tide and Gunner have really gotten into their fight.

[kishin asura]

@supertinyking

"Darn it. The fighting already started." Asura mutters "at least it's between the two of them." Theta says

[Tyki]

@supertinyking

"it is understandable, however i must request to come with you so that i can establish a way gate on the other side should you choose to inhabit the ruins if only to allow for easier access to trade, especially food for new settlers." the high general replies, mute standing before he holds a hand out for her to stay which she does reluctantly. "we can discuss the agreeable standard while we're there" the high general replies evenly, grabbing his coat and pressing a button to turn it into a full suit of armor stylized to look like a trench coat, the shimmering of an energy shield being the only thing that gives it away.

despite being told to stay, mute ushers delta towards the portal wordlessly, telling her to go in her own way

[thewizardguy]

Sitting atop the mountain, a figure in black mused. It had been so long since he had had a good think.

Where, did he muse, lay the origin of morality? Was it not strange, that one being would feel for another, would fear for another, would protect another? Was it not ridiculous, that one would place one's life on the line for another? What was this force, that had so infected reality, that would cause the powerful to acknowledge the weak?

Did it lie in the heart? But it did not, for the heart was a fickle thing. It went on flights of fancy, jumping from one thing to the next, turning love to hatred, hatred to love.

Did it lie in the brain? But it did not, for the brain was a logical thing. it cared only for what could be measured, for what was to one's own advantage.

Did it lie in the gut? But it did not, for the gut dominated those things closest to nature. And nature is a brutal beast, an arena of life, where only the mightiest may live to see another day.

This morality, this compassion, this strange addiction to the pleasure of others... where did it lie? What was it's secret? What was the answer to this mos intricate of puzzles?

Of course, the answer had always been there, just waiting for him to find it once more. For morality was not an emotion, it was not a thought, it was not an instinct. It was none of these things. Morality was an illusion. A deception placed over reality, a concept drawn over objective truth, veiling the path best walked. It was a veil that clouded the eyes of the mighty, and shielded the weak from their wrath. It was a delusion, an imitation of reality, coloured by foolish beliefs.

Morality lay in the eyes.

Chuckling to himself, Alucard stood, spreading his wings as he stared down at the plains far beneath him, through the clouds and snowstorms, through the petty veils that would bar his vision. For what a pretty pair of eyes he had spotted, so far below him. Filled with the fiery glint of determination, shrouded only by the clouds of morality. A hazy flame, burning bright, and yet the light of it's power forever dimmed.

Unwitting of the gift it would soon receive.

Smiling, Alucard stared down at Mithias, as he engaged on his quest. Then, as if he had merely been snow on the wind, he vanished without a trace, nothing more than a foul reek in the air.

[thewizardguy]

A palace, constructed from the bones of beings from every race known to this world. Braziers lit in the skulls of giants, flames fuelled by the souls of innocents, surrounded by demonic magic. The floor was covered in a thin veneer of dried blood, painting whatever the original material had been a dark red colour. Corpses hung from great meat hooks on the ceiling, many of them tortured to death, some of them not quite dead yet. A visage from the deepest depths of hell, all leading up to the Obsidian throne upon which sat Bur Durrac, one of the Great Lords of Darkness who would lead his armies of demons across the face of the galaxy.

Boring.

An infinite plain, seperated from the concept of space by the very laws of reality. No horizon, simply an infinite stretch of land. No sky, for infinitely far away the land looped back up, the same plain visible far above, mirroring the one below. Farmers walked to herd small groups of spider-like creatures, milking them for the strange green extract they produced, the main source of drink in this waterless, oceanless, rainless reality. Small farmhouses dotted the land, interspersed by large obsidian pillars, chanelling posts for the great magic that retained the stability of this peaceful realm.

Boring.

With nary but a thought, Voidwalker moved from world to work, dimension to dimension. There was nothing to see, nothing to do. Like a looking glass, she stared at every one of them, leaving no trace besides the startled individuals who had seen her. Some had attacked her, some had spoken to her, others had simply stared. All were left behind. Nothing could catch up to her, nothing could contain her. She was untouchable, unmovable.

And yet, with all of existence opened before her, not a single thing could hold her interest. She was sick of it, sick of these places, sick of these worlds. Of the pathetic beings in their pathetic lives, scurrying to survive, to conquer, to kill. The mighty and the weak, the righteous and the malignant, the genius and the brute. They were all nothing, they were all worthless. A page flipped on a book, an image flashing by in the camera.

All of them were expendable.

Another diorama formed itself. It was a gathering of strange characters, gathered from around the Multiverse. A knight of the sun, a clone specialist, a murder taking place before her eyes. A mixtrue of auras and personalities, a group of powerful beings in the same room, each one clashing more than the other. Normally, she would simply have disappeared once more, leaving these individuals in the proverbail dust. But something made her reconsider. Something about these people had caught her interest.

Could it be, she had once more found something to amuse herself with?

[Wraithblade6]

@kishin asura
@Tyki
"....." Solaire looks over to Gunner. "You'll help us. If not, I'll make sure for each life, you spend a year on fire....."
"...Yes sir." Gunner says, growing skinnier, and crawling out of the skin scarf, before bulking up once again.

@supertinyking

"Hello Everyone!" The portal behind Solaire, Maka, Asura, and where Gunner had been pops out a feathery paladin with a belch. "I had just gotten back when I saw you all going into another portal together. Thank the light I just made it through. Well well, look at this place. You certainly have made some fuzzy friends. What's thi I heard about saving a world? Oh... Hey Solaire. I brought your helmet with me. I also fixed it up. Here you go!" He holds out the fixed scrap of metal with a smile.

[Wraithblade6]

Protecting the universe, no... protecting all universes, reality itself. Was that his job now? Had he become so powerful? Unkillable? Did that make Mithias a god? The vampire walked over the grassy fields in the night on some planet, somewhere beautiful. He folded his arms behind his back and looked up at the moons. The air smelled like Juniper due to whatever plantlife was here. Right and wrong was not his to decide. That was for real gods to battle out. Mithias though about Drac and about the value of family and why it had made the man so fearful and angry as to spontaneously kill someone, a daughter. Granted, the girl was wicked and her father had been a multiversal terror... It was really tough to decide. So he didn't. Leaving lifeforms to their discrepancies and to find peace on their own was the way. Besides, Mithias was only one being, limited to existence in one time, one location. Would death not free him from such confinements?

As he walked under the twinkle of stars, he realized, he was enjoying it. Something kept him tied to reality, and it was his love of others. Mithias really did care for Bug and his family, and really did delight at the turning of evil into good, emptiness into love, and even his dear darkness into light.

"Are you certain you don't care to have your own body Aono? I am glad to have you, but if you wanted to be free, I'd find a way." He mused to his other soul. "Maybe you know what should or shouldn't be done in the universe, because I am probably blind." It was always nice to have someone to talk to, even if he never said much back.

[supertinyking]

Solaire puts his helm on, it reflecting the sun in a brilliant shine. Among them now, with the emperor, Solaire, and eclipse, was the dead remains of the former clone empire. The soil stained red with the blood of millions upon millions of souls lost to the sith lord of old. Metal torn to ribbons, stained and rusted with the blood of innocence.
"..This..is the carnage wrought by this..monster?" Logar asks, his eyes widening. He looks around, at the many skeletal remains strewn about, their flesh long sense picked clean by scavengers. The smell of death and decay would be strong enough to be smelt though the portal still open. Soon, however, metal begins to rustle, as the emperor and co spun around, expecting an ambush. What awaited them would be a welcome face to anyone who had known him.
The fallen emperor stood among the wreakage, reforged into a warrior surpassing his past self. His body now stood even taller, reaching 20 feet tall. His body was laced with thick muscle, and his eyes were pure white, but one could feel his gaze.
"..What brings you to this world?" He asks. "..We come to help rebuild." Logar says, and the fallen emperor smiles. He holds out a hand, and Logar takes it, commencing one of the manliest handshakes ever, the force of it causing a small crater to form underneath them.