Fallenreaper

Twisted Tales ~ Once Upon a Nightmare

@Fallenreaper Not the scariest retelling in the world, but I don't suppose The Tortoise And The Hare gives you much to work with in that regard. Nice idea making Hare's loss due to nefarious interference. Honestly I wouldn't mind drudging that up as a case to be solved later. Give Hare some closure about the race and stuff. One last caveat before I accept you, though. Fables tend to hide themselves from Mundanes, as some of them share stories of Fables effectively falling victim to lynch mobs because of what the more villainous or monstrous Fables had been known to do to Mundanes and other victims. Otherwise, it's acceptable. Also note that Rolfe and Basil will have been hesitant to hire a Fable, and yes, they'll know exactly what he is well ahead of time. They make a point of knowing who all the Fables in Ravenport are and what they can do, Hare would be no exception to this. They'll hire him but also tell him on no uncertain terms that they'll be watching him closely and that he would be wise to keep his nose squeaky clean while working for them.

@Double

Not without making it up and derailing the original tale, I'm afraid. I wasn't sure how much creative freedom I had and how far I could go with it. At some point, I would've risked the creature feeling less like the original tale one. So I decided to go simple with a dark twist. And I assume there are mundane anthropomorphic animals around as well in the city? I asked this because hiding the fact he's a Fable will be difficult since he's too small to be human and rather furry.

As for keeping squeaky clean, I'm pretty sure someone will frame him for something eventually or some unfortunate luck will happen.

Twisted Tales ~ Once Upon a Nightmare

Hare

Name: Harry Harlan (otherwise known as Hare)
Age: 1 hare year old (20 in human years)
Gender: Male
Race: Fable

Tale: The Hare and the Tortoise

Appearance:

Hare’s an anthropomorphic animal and walks on his hind legs. He reaches the max height comes at about 1.7 foot, or around the average man’s calf. However, that’s never stopped him from living in what he sees as a giant’s world. With a slender built, his paws have pretty sharp claws that have torn through soft soil and grasses when needed. His irises are golden with a large pupil, nearly engulfing the color. Two long ears are perched upon his head with the right one appearing to have the tip ripped off. Though his pelt is forest brown and thin black streaks along the spine, there are hidden scars underneath.

Usually, he’s dressed in shortened breeches, a cotton shirt, and vest. On his head is his favorite flat cap to add a bit of human character to his appearance.

Powers/Skills:

~Powers~
These are from the story.

Sprint: Hare is able to sprint and move very fast in short time spans. His max speeds are up to about 45 mph in about 10 seconds or more. This is when he will drop to all four and goes into an out all out dash. This factor also includes his reflexes and movements.

Limitations: While Hare moves fast, he can’t keep it up forever. Eventually, like every mortal creature, his large stamina will run out causing him to become tired. To replenish and pace his use, Hare needs to be stationary to rest after strenuous activities.

Hearing: Hare has an extremely keen sense of hearing, mostly able to hear anything within a human's range but also includes higher pitches. Rotating his ears around, he could tell where the source originated if it is close enough.

Limitations: It can be difficult to pick out sounds in a crowded place or place filled with loud activity. Close and loud sounds can deafen him, causing him to be unable to hear until the ringing stops. That could take seconds to minutes depending on the duration of the sound. Some distances are beyond his hearing range which will be determined on a case by case situation with a focus on what’s right for the story.

(Based on him hearing the animals cheering Tortoise over the finish line and fact various stories put him at different closeness to the finish line, some requiring heighten hearing to notice. It’s also a natural creature feature.)

~Skills~
These were learned afterwards.

Mental Map of the city: During his time working as a messenger, Hare has committed this town to memory. He often found the fastest routes to travel. So when it comes to finding a location, he’s a decent animal to consult over it.

Parkour: His size is a challenge he’s had to overcome most of his life. In order to make it in a world built for bigger individuals, Hare’s had to learn how to use the environment to his advantage giving him excellent parkour skills. He’s not as good as Monkey from the West, but he prides himself when he's compared to other hares.

Kickboxing skills: After learning how squishy he is compared to most other creatures, especially bigger ones, he’s taken it upon himself to learn how to fight back. Namely in a way that requires a lot of ducking and weaving, then striking out at joints or fragile bones with his powerful legs. While he might not look like much, multiple strikes in the same place can at least cause severe bruising and occasionally break bones.

Personality:

Hare is a quick reacting and clever individual, but he has become more mature thanks to his life after the race. It humbled him a bit. However, there’s a still bitterness to the lost that created a caution toward strangers. Especially those that suddenly warm up to him and ask continual one-sided favors of him.

He holds a competitive nature and has high confidence in himself when it comes to sprinting. Challenge him to a race, he won’t be able to resist showing you that second place is where you belong. This can cause him to have an air of arrogance when he’s achieved victory. It is a double edge sword though because he can become his own worst critic when he loses, self-blaming for his own natural shortcomings and becoming surly toward others. Feeling he’s not worth calling them a friend.

One of Hare’s worse traits is hiding his flaws under his cocky and cheerful mask, even when in deep pain. Only those that are observant or know him well enough would be able to tell that he sometimes feels worthless because he isn’t a winner.

History:
Hare, like most of his family, was raised to become the world’s best sprinter even with the natural born gift. Since he was first able to run, he learned to sprint at high speeds from point A to point B over and over. Sometimes until his feet bled then repeated the next day. Eventually, he grew used to it since callouses grew over his pads.

So it wasn’t much of a surprise when his overconfidence got the better of him and at the age of 16 (hare age-6 months), tortoise challenged him to a race. Thinking it was a joke, he agreed to it. With the race scheduled tomorrow, Hare dashed off to get some practice in.

An hour before the race, Fox met him along the way with a sly grin. The cunning creature’s smooth words fed his ego and lead him to the nearest bar for a drink. They talked about the upcoming race for a bit, but Hare didn’t notice the subtle nod between Fox and the bartender.

He later learned that clever old Fox had drugged his drink. When the race location was determined, Hare naturally took off into the lead and outpaced the slower animal by a vast distance. That’s when the drugs began to take hold. HIs head throbbing and sleep edged into his focus. He thought it was best to take a quick nap before the tortoise caught up. He was so far ahead anyways, there was little chance he would lose. While his body purged the toxins from his system, the minutes turned into hours and he awoke to the sounds of animals cheering on the tortoise. Realizing what happened, Hare bolted up then tried to recover his lost lead.

It was too late. Tortoise crossed the finish line bring a painful dread into his heart, his mind numb to the reality. He was left standing there in shock while the other animals cheered and carried Tortoise away into the air.

Fury rippled through Hare as his figure raced around to block Fox from leaving. A confrontation happened with Hare threatening to reveal what happened, knowing that Fox drugged him on purpose to get the best pay off for bets placed. Fox shrugged, his teeth showing before he lashed out at Hare. The predator's teeth and claws ripped chunks of fur, finally ending in severing the tip of his ear. Frightened, all the sprinter could do was flee for safety.

Hare’s life went downhill from there. His family was ashamed at the fact he had been beaten by a simple tortoise, banishing him from home and any future association. Poor and homeless, Hare sought employment in Ravenport. He turned to the messenger service because they needed pretty fast runners to deliver packages, letters, and more to the residents.

It wasn’t the amount he was used to, but it kept him from becoming someone’s dinner at least. During the course of the job, he learned how to defend himself after someone attempted to ambush him along the way to his destination once. He considers himself rather squishy in conflicts especially after tangling with Fox in his early years.

Around his last birthday, he discovered his meager earnings weren’t enough to support him when his landlord approached him about his overdue rent. With little choice, he noticed the ad for new ‘pups’ at the Wolf’s Den Agency. He felt it was worth a shot.

I hope this works, if not let me know what I need to change while I lurk in a corner and watch.

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

@Liseran Thistle: That sucks, I wish you luck! I know that feeling well.

Twisted Tales ~ Once Upon a Nightmare

@Fallenreaper Probably. I tend not to accept characters before actually seeing them first.

@Double

I wanted to make sure the concept was acceptable before starting the character. No point in starting the character if it wasn't going to be accepted, right? I've had this issue before in a different rp so I started to check what was alright and wasn't before I work on the CS.

Twisted Tales ~ Once Upon a Nightmare

@Double: I'm considering making a character based on the Hare from the Fable the Hare and the Tortoise, would that be acceptable?

Twisted Tales ~ Once Upon a Nightmare

This rp still accepting? I'm a bit interested in joining. >_>

~Chrono Asylum: Devil's Plague

Formaroth Part 2: Throne of Lies

Kiseo and Jain

Location: Marketplace
Time: Early morning, Week 3 and Day 1 after the party.
Collab with: @JaisonJ97 with help from @TheDuncanMorgan

---

Kiseo collected her hooded cloak off the floor, wrapping it about herself and propping the hood onto her head. She glanced into the small hand mirror her mistress kept ensuring all the features of her feline face were tucked away before putting the looking glass away. Her arm reached for the handbasket then secured it into her elbow, fitted so to ensure it would stay. She needed more ingredients for the afternoon meal. Thankfully Dyril was out visiting with Ms. Zerrikan on her ship.

Casually, the Mao pushed her way through the doorway. Her feet silently trod down the stairs to the first floor as she continued out the Inn’s entrance. The streets were bustling with workers to merchants, each one making a living in the only way they knew how. Others sought their daily meat or bread.

Kiseo paused by the fruit stands. Her hand reached for the top fruit, then applied slight pressure. The insides held slightly firm indicating it wouldn’t spoil within a few hours. Pleased with the finding, the feline-woman placed the fruit onto the counter with about three others. Ensuring the vendor spotted them, she paid then slipped them into her basket. She turned to leave.

Little did Kiseo know that she had gained a shadow. From a nearby alleyway, Jain was watching her as he had done for the past few days. Ever since he saw her at the party the Mao servant had triggered something in his memory; he knew that the Mao were slaves of the Elves and to see one walk so freely in Formaroth was a strange thing indeed. He also knew of their abilities, and that to have such a creature on his side would be a great asset. He had been waiting for days to get the opportunity to talk to her alone and it seemed he would finally get his chance. He waited for her to walk by before grabbing her arm and pulling her into the alley.

Kiseo’s balance was disrupted when she felt her arm seized then her figure tugged to the left. She managed to catch her balance when the man let go, but the basket fell from her grasp. The contents spilled onto the ground behind her. Without thinking, her figure flinched and her teeth bared through black lips. They curled back as she hissed softly at the assailant.

Seeming to realize her behavior, Kiseo’s eyes widen in surprise. Her figure began to retreat back into the alleyway and started to scattered her basket’s content.

Jain looked on with a cold gaze that could make a cat's hair stand on end (well it did) at what was happening before him. Realizing he had startled the Mao, he moved to calm her down.

“Calm yourself, Mao” Jain said in a hushed tone “I meant only to talk to you.” Jain realized he may have been a bit rough with the Mao, however, he wished for this conversation to remain private, a conversation between an easterner and a Mao would gain a lot of attention if done in public. He picked up one of the fruits that had fallen to the ground and reached out to offer it to her. “It is an odd sight to me to see a Mao walk so freely without her master nearby”.

“Who is you?” Kiseo backed away more, edging toward the alley’s exit.

Her fur remained on end. The strands puffed out to make her appear larger than she felt as her eyes stared at him harshly, trying to pin him in place. Her arm curled protectively about her before she paused about two feet away from him. When he picked the fruit up, she tilted her head at his words.

“I always run errands for my Lady Dyril. Most humans tend to avoid me, purely because I am not… how do you say it? Nor-normal? The same as them,” Kiseo struggled with her word choice but quickly recovered.

“What do you want?” She didn't reach for the fruit offered to her.

When Kiseo didn’t reach for the fruit Jain shrugged his shoulders and proceeded to take a bite out of it. “I am Jain Surya, a...let say an associate of William Flin. While most ‘humans’ will avoid you I personally find you very interesting, in particular, your abilities as a Mao. Tell me would you be interested in running some errands for me in exchange for...let's say your freedom” Jain said with a smirk, confident that it would gain the Mao’s attention.

Kiseo studied him for a moment. She seemed to debate internally over something before she spoke, breaking the silence between them. Her head shook at his offer.

“I must decline. I believe you misunderstand. She hasn’t treated me in an ill way and I willing serve her,” her lines rehearsed, but honest in her feelings on it.

Jain looked at the Mao with disappointment, (Marid giggled in the background of his mind).

“Are you truly content with being a slave for the rest of your life? I am offering you a way out, I have very influential allies who can protect you if you are afraid your master may come for you, all I ask is that you help me in with some tasks that only you can help me with”.

“My mistresses explained when we entered Formaroth soil, I was lawfully free. I chose to serve her because she is worth it. Free is not always good for those who have always lived without it. Especially when one has no purpose beyond it,” Kiseo pointed out, her figure bent down to quickly pick up the fruit and spilled goods.

It was obvious she wanted to escape from this man’s presence.

“It seems you are very attached to your mistress…. That is good to know. Very good indeed” Jain said with a twisted smile as he walked toward Kiseo reaching out and placing the half eaten fruit in her basket. “I mean, it’s fine if you don’t want to help me. It’ll just be a shame if something were to happen to your poor mistress if you didn’t.” Jain’s smile disappeared replaced with a dark look upon his face. “ A real shame”.

Kiseo’s figure froze in mid-action. Her hand out reached and rested on a peach, unable to pick it up. Her head whipped up to stare in disbelief at Jain. “You have no reason to bring her into this,” the Mao protested, her voice submissively quiet.

Jain’s smile returned when he decided that he had her where he wanted her. “Who said anything about me bringing her into it? I’m saying you will if you don’t help out a poor fellow like me with a small errand.” Jain stepped uncomfortably close, staring into her eyes with a cold menace. “So unless you really just want for your mistress to wake up dead one fine morning in the sea…. I would really consider helping this stranger by listening to what he has to say”.

She eyed him, fear and worry poured into her core. The man’s body language showed no lies. He was serious about hurting Dyril causing her anxiety to rise. It was betrayed in her tail as it curled close to her leg, wrapping about herself protectively. Part of her wanted to call his bluff, but her protectiveness of her mistress won out.

“Your ‘errand’ does not hurt my mistress in any way, consequences or otherwise,” Kiseo hissed, her arm moving again. This time rapidly putting in the fruit as she stood upright.

She fully intended to inform Dyril about the threat. Her mistress would know what to do and how to handle it, at least she hoped. Her eyes studied him to memory while she waited for him to continue.

“I need you, little Mao, to work for me on the side. I require someone with a certain level of skill when it comes to stealth. You being a Mao already have such levels of skill and instinct, better than most trained Formarothian spies.”

“And you’ll leave my Mistress alone?” Kiseo asked, confirming what she hoped.

“Like I said l little Mao”, replied Jain without a smile, he had what he wanted, he didn't need to intimidate her any further. “I won't be the one harming your poor mistress.” A subtle grin appearing on his face, satisfied with himself.

Jain approached the Mao and took the peach Kiseo just placed in her basket and took a juicy bite out of it, looking the Mao in the eye. Before asking her, “what is this fruit? I don't think we have these in our homeland.” ignoring the Mao's surprised face, her hair standing on edge.

“A peach, I believe. And they are native to mine,” Kiseo answered, her eyes broke contact with Jain and lowered to the ground.

She inhaled than added, “If that is all you require from me, may I leave? My mistress will be waiting for me and I have to prepare her lunch shortly.”

“That is all I need from you, for now,” Jain said as he turned around and walked away into the alley, taking Kiseo’s peach with him.

The Return of Salem

Location: Sklyar’s apartment
Time: Afternoon (4pm)

---

Skylar didn’t have to use his magic to enter his domain. Over the last few years, he had designed it within his own mind and prepare it for when he brought others into it. He only expended his energy in three instances. When he brought in others into his domain, entered another’s dream or altered theirs against the subconscious’ design. Depending on the amount used, he had collapsed into a dreamless coma-like state. He was careful to avoid such instances.

However, today he needed the comfort.

He drew onto the familiar sensation of his magic. It embraced him like an old friend and edged into his core, creating a settling comfort. There it bloomed within his veins then dragged him willingly from the conscious world into the dream one. His pain forgotten for the moment.

With some effort, his mind’s eye opened to his own emotional state. He awed silently at the symbolism surrounding him. It never ceased to surprise him what often greeted him on entering.

Skylar looked downward to see where he stood, noting the smooth and flawless marble stairs. An ocean lapped at his heels causing him to glance over his shoulder. A shallow and vast sea of water spread across the horizon to meet the darkness above. The dull rumbling drew his vision back to the front. Ahead of him stood a swirling galaxy close enough that tore apart the stairs end, leaving nothing in its wake.

It all reflected his personal conflict and how he felt about it. His mother’s attempt at thievery had brought an issue he had hoped to avoid into focus. While it appeared minor to an outsider, for him it was a heavy topic.

To a dreamer like himself, it was all too clear how to solve this or risk it becoming something worse.

Casually he stepped upward, scaling the stairs to the end. Pieces of rock, ice, and more pelleted him slightly along the way. He flinched at the impact, silently enduring it all, knowing only faint bruises would show up where it connected. Skylar slowly came to a stop at the disappearing edge then peered over it.

When the hour ended, Skylar’s eyes opened. His magic dissipated into the air as he sat there a moment longer to collect himself. The silence passed in fading time until he couldn’t stand it any longer. Slowly he began to push upright, his feet finding purchase under his figure and steadying himself. His hand pressed against the door for balance.

After finding it, Skylar walked toward the kitchen area. His hand tugged open the built-in refrigerator then he leaned inside. He snatched a cola can as his fingers cracked the tab. It came open with a soft hiss before he chugged a quarter down. Skylar’s foot snapped the door shut, sealing away the fridge air licking at his back. He finally noticed the open window where he assumed the cat had likely used earlier to enter.

He let out a soft sigh as he turned to shut it and prevent any more unwelcome visitors. The day had been miserable enough already.

The landline phone rang, catching his attention. His figured paused near the shelving unit and picked it up. Cradling it against his shoulder, Skylar listened to the voice over the earpiece. He couldn’t help but smirk when Kristie’s voice addressed him.

“Sky, you’re home? I was about ready to leave a message on your answering machine,” She sounded terrible like her flu had moved into her throat and decided to settle there.

Skylar tried not to flinch while he lied to her, “Yeah, I got off early.”

He took another swig of his drink before he continued.

“You sound like you’re eating gravel, you know that right?”

“Oh shut up, I do not. I’m still getting over the flu asshole,” he could sense the mirth in her tone.

It made his grin wider. He set down his drink, ignoring it for the moment.

“So, why did you call?”

She sighed, subtly hinting to another reason other than the company. He could feel her forming the next words and silently waited to judge his luck.

“Well, you see. I was hoping to be better today, but instead I got worse. Now I can’t stand long enough to DJ at Tavern tonight.”

“So you need me to do it?”

“I’ll let you use my gear and split the cash with you. Please? I really need this favor.”

Skylar bit his lip in thought. His mind toyed over the positives and negatives before finally making up his mind, his heart taking the wheel in this. He was never good at leaving a friend hanging out to dry. It got him into more trouble than it was worth sometimes.

“Sure, but a few questions.”

She interrupted him, “I’ll give you the details when you get over here. And yes, I got a gothic costume already picked out for you.”

“You don’t even have my measurements, how do you know it will even fit me?”

“Last Halloween. I kept the measurements when I had to tailor your suit when we went as vampires of the masquerade. Remember? I joked your-”

“I’m not sure if I should be creeped out or impressed,” Skylar answered, recalling the adult joke and preventing it from being conjured into the conversation.

“Anyways, just get your ass over here. We need to make sure it fits and you need to make some mixes before eight tonight.”

“See you shortly.”

Skylar hung up then finished up his can before leaving the apartment, locking the door behind him.

~Chrono Asylum: Devil's Plague

Xx---------------------------xX
Experimental Team
Xx---------------------------xX

Location: Innocence, the floating island- experimental division (medical ward)
Time: Morning

---

Cade pulled up on the metal bar.

The chill penetrated into his skin and drove him onward. With each lift, the asylum fought the pull of gravity and rose his chin over the bar. Then he lowered it back down, allowing his tendons and muscles to slacken in rest. He repeated it about ten more times before he let go. His feet dropped to the floor with a soft thump before turning to the woman observing him nearby.

Noticing his attention fixed on her, the medical doctor paused in her writing and tossed him a towel. Cade caught it then began to wipe away the sweat collected on his bare skin. Taking a seat, his thoughts wandered over the last four weeks since their little ‘adventure’. Samad had, at least tried, become less of an asshole when working with him. Something he was grateful for, but he didn’t expect it to last much longer. Old habits were hard to break after all. Everyone appeared alright, having came out out of it for the better. Everyone, but him.

It bothered Cade since that day. His concern festered and ate away at him, despite his attempts to ignore it. Even with their broken link, he knew Samad could sense it and some times caught his partner looking at him. Apprehension to know what troubled him laced Samad’s usually cold eyes. It made him shiver thinking about it and realize he could share it in words. That meant facing it existed, but he just wanted to forget it.

His peripheral vision caught he woman dismissing him, his inner attention broken when she waved him off toward the exit.

On his route out, Cade tossed the towel into the nearby hamper. His arm tugged his shirt off the hanger then over his head to return his modesty. When he entered the hallway, an order rang into his head.

Bean Sidhes, SenDep, and the Experimental Team, you are all required to report to briefing room A23 immediately.

Cade sighed while he adjusted his course from the cafeteria to the briefing room. He didn’t look forward to going on a mission, but he couldn’t fight the orders. It was hard to see how this was better than death sometimes.

---

Location: Briefing Room A23
Time: Morning

---

Samad’s eyes looked at the arriving teams. His eyes were seeking Cade among their numbers, but found no trace of his partner causing silent disappointment. Casually he leaned against the wall beside the door as he debated on what to do. A deep, worried side of him wanted to seek out his partner. Cade had been acting uncharacteristically distant and strange ever since the incident with Angel’s Red Doors. The Lost Number’s words echoed in his head about facing fears to help move forward, but sometimes taking a step backwards. What fear could’ve left his partner in such a sorry state?

The question nearly haunted the Iranian’s thoughts continually. It seemed when one took a step forward, the other fell back. A anger rose in Samad’s gut over the fact before he pushed it back down.

“I don’t suppose any of you have seen Cade today?”