Ramjammer

Friends in the Void.

Sara's suggestion that they explore more of the Campus was met enthusiastically by Rasteva. "Can we? I must say that I've been wanting to explore the area for a while, but I did not want to impede your work." The Raven sidled down the girl's arm to better read the school's directory and the Daemon looked at the map with bright black eyes before pecking at one of the words listed on it. "Here. The Library, I want to go there." Rasteva hopped back onto Sara's shoulder and looked about the halls as she carried them to the Library. They watched the Halls carefully, never forgetting what they had seen on the TV earlier that day. Many Humans and Daemons seemed as cautious as they did and made no effort to impede either them or Sara. Rasteva found this to be somewhat reassuring. Everyone was on the lookout for anything remotely suspicious and certainly didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to themselves.

The Library was as large as Rasteva expected it to be, filled with shelves of books from floor to ceiling. Several people could be seen going about their business. The Daemon immediately spread their wings and took off over the shelves. They felt uncharacteristically giddy for some reason, no doubt a result of Sara's recent accomplishment. Rasteva felt as if they'd managed to overcome a large hurdle with her help. And even though she may have felt that she did nothing at all, it meant the world and more to the Daemon.

The Raven flapped their way towards the Science section of the Library and settled on a shelf filled with Physics textbooks. They looked down pointedly at Sara who was trailing behind and called out to her softly. "These here. Can you help me get a book on Physics please?"

Friends in the Void.

The woman's words filled the Daemon with concern. It should have come as no surprise that some people simply had no desire to follow the laws set out. In all honesty, it would have been surprising to hear that people WEREN'T going about gaining power in an illegal manner. It was par the course for Humanity after all. For every honest person, there were ten liars. Rasteva looked down at Sara pointedly as she worked. She seemed no more interested in having a confrontation with these people than Rasteva was and they thought back to what the Cardinal had been saying earlier. They had proclaimed(quite loudly) that they'd protect their Human if it was required of them. They had even seemed glad to do so. Rasteva wondered if they might ever be so confident again. They couldn't even protect themselves, much less Sara. While the girl assured them that she'd remain careful while they were out and about, there could be no guarantees on the matter. Anything could happen and Rasteva was not sure if either of them were ready for such a conflict.

They resumed watching the girl work, all the while muttering under their breath as Sara lectured them. Rasteva was not really all that interested in shooting the breeze with a chatterbox Daemon or any chatterbox Daemons for that matter. She was right of course, there were many that Rasteva could learn from and they all possessed in some form of the information they needed. But things were so different from how they'd previously been. Before speaking to others had been a pleasure, not a necessity. The Daemon tried to express themselves to Sara and hoped that they came across clearly. "I understand what you are saying Sarah, but this is different...Everything is so different now. Before it wasn't like this. Before I did not concern myself with Humans or really anyone for that matter." They weren't trying to be rude but feared that they may have come across that way. They hadn't been lying however, Rasteva could not recall a time when they'd spent such a long time in so close proximity to a Human. It was new and confusing, and more than a little frustrating. They weren't even sure how so many of their kind had managed to stand it all.

Or why they had first decided to at all.

Shaking off their internal conversation for another time, they inspected the armor that Sara had just completed. She seemed proud of her work and the Daemon felt that it was well deserved. The fact that she'd managed to complete it in only two short days was remarkable, and Rasteva readily complied when she asked that they'd shift forms so that she could put it on them. The leather fit snugly against their scales, and the weight was noticeable. But none of these things were such that Rasteva could not move, or be hindered in any way. The Cobra slithered off of the table and onto the floor. They zipped around the room excitedly, and for a moment Rasteva felt like themselves again. The slithered back towards Sara gazing up at her. "Sara....Words cannot express my gratitude right now. I thank you. Deeply and truly."

Friends in the Void.

Rasteva thanked Sara as she cut the bread down into more manageable pieces for them. They paused and cocked their head, staring up at the girl quizzically. "Sara, you don't need to apologize so often. Least of all to ME, it's alright." The Raven resumed pecking at their bread once they were sure that Sara had been reassured. She apologized often and it was troublesome to a small degree. While they trusted Sara's good intentions and kindness, she was lacking in confidence. Rasteva wondered how they might help her gain more, she'd need it if they wanted to compete with other Humans and Daemons.

Once dinner was well and over with, they returned to Sara's home. Even though she was tired, she was in a far better mood than she was the day before. Rasteva flapped around the small apartment as she settled in for bed, though her question did perk their interest. "A new form? Well, I cannot say, I've only ever projected a body of my own design and used that. I've never had a vessel before." The Daemon looked around Sara's room, taking note of the collection of stuffed toys and accessories. She was certainly fond of them, and her interests stretched far beyond what was only functional. Rasteva looked back at the girl and tilted their head. "However, if you'd like we can find a vessel for myself of your own choosing. I never did ask you what kind of Daemon you'd prefer to be seen with." It was not much to make up for what she'd done for them, but it was a start. While Rasteva was comfortable in the vessel they had, they felt that Sara should still pick something she liked. It wasn't as if she could carry a talking Raven around everywhere anyhow. Rasteva settled down comfortably at the foot of the bed as Sara slept, letting their mind wander as they often did.

When morning came Rasteva settled themselves right back in front of the TV and watched the local news. They had no idea what Stocks were or how they even worked, but Humans didn't seem to know either as evidenced by a man in a tie sweating profusely on the screen. "It's a wonder this species even got as far as it did, I simply don't understand." The Raven pulled themselves from the screen just as Sara finished making breakfast. She offered them several small pieces of bread and indicated two jars containing a strange substance. Rasteva read the labels on the jars, not sure what they meant. After deciding that 'Blackberry' sounded less offensive than 'Grapefruit' they watched as Sara spread some of the substance on the bread. It was very sweet and sticky, and Rasteva took special care to not get any on their feathers while they ate. They followed Sara into the other room, holding a piece of toast in their beak. She was looking at the screen with concern and so they turned to listen as well. "Purgers? What is this nonsense?" They watched the news in silence, the man's report filling the Daemon with dread. "As if I didn't have enough to worry about..." Sara's suggestion that they remain vigilant as they traveled was met with agreement. "Yes, you are right. These fools sound dangerous, and I'd hate for any of them to get the jump on us." Rasteva decided to fly overhead as Sara walked to the Campus. They weren't alone as several other Daemons had the same idea. A Cardinal fluttered close to Rasteva, chattering loudly. "Are you looking out for those 'Purgers'? Me too! I'm keeping an eye on my Human so she stays safe! Yep! Nothing gets past me. If she so much as screams I'll be all on them, and they won't even know what happened-Hey! Where are you going?" Rasteva could only handle so much noise and swooped down to perch on Sara's shoulder. Fortunately, they had reached their destination and the Raven let out a sigh of relief as they entered the workshop. "There is a reason I never bothered to socialize with other Daemons too often."

Friends in the Void.

Rasteva stayed dutifully still as Sara measured their current form, thought that wasn't nearly as exciting as the prospect of exploring the room they were in. The shelves were lined with many different fabrics and materials and Rasteva wanted to have a closer look at them along with all the strange tools Humans used to put them together. Once Sara had taken their measurements and set them back onto the floor, the Cobra began to dart all around the room while she worked. Their eyes surveyed everything with interest and soon enough they were climbing onto tables and shelves. They would slither back to Sara from time to time and watch her work. Her focus was intent, and her fingers worked deftly across the materials she had gathered. Stitch by stitch the garment came together, and Rasteva was one small step closer to being able to take part in a battle.

It was some hours later before Sara called out to them, needing the Daemon's input on the garment that she'd made. The Cobra poked their head out of a bin of fabrics they coiled up in and slithered over to the Human. Once they'd pulled themselves up onto the table, the Daemon peered intently at the garment Sara had made. It was finely made, though the Daemon was not surprised by that in the slightest. Staring down at it for a moment, they looked back up at Sara and flicked their tongue. "No, I don't require anything else. I am not overly fond of flashy colors." Sara's prompting that they leave was all that remained and the Daemon retreated into the False Raven before perching on the Girl's shoulder. The Older Human from before bid them farewell and Rasteva could not help giving her a suspicious glance as they left. Sara seemed to be quite fond of her and so the Daemon did not speak out, but they still found her to be odd.

Sara's idle chatter filled the cold air, and the Raven eyed her intently as she discussed the final details of the garment. "Very well then. I will defer judgment to you, Sara. I must thank you for putting forth such time and effort for my sake." The Raven cocked their head at the girl's next question, not sure what it entailed. "Well yes it was good I will admit. But I've never eaten before, I can't say I know what BAD food tastes like." The Raven chortled loudly from Sara's shoulder as she led them through the city. They glanced about with interest, watching Humans and the occasional Daemon go about their business. Everyone seemed to be content with the state of their lives, and Rasteva wondered if they might ever say the same. The Daemon pushed the negative thoughts down for the time being. They had Sara, and she seemed to like them well enough to keep their company. That in and of itself was a good thing, wasn't it? She had ducked into another building, this one filled with people eating. The Daemon recalled Sara mentioning that she was hungry and surmised that this place was where she'd chosen to eat. The Raven perched themselves on the table and picked up a piece of silverware in their beak. The metallic weight was almost like holding a real weapon again and the Daemon enjoyed it a bit. They marched up and down the length of the table as Sara ordered for them, only giving the menu a cursory glance. Rasteva was only convinced to put the silverware down once their food had arrived and they instead inspected the bowl of stew Sara had ordered for them. "Sara I do appreciate your kindness but you know that I do not eat.....This seems like a waste of your money. It could be spent on less trivial things." They knew that Sara was only being kind, as was the case with her. They knew that Human's enjoyed the act of eating beyond just needing too and eating with a friend was considered a popular activity, and so they surmised that this was an attempt to bond with them on some level.

The Raven pecked idly at some vegetables in the stew. They were quite good, and the bread was even better. But the Daemon was having difficulty tearing off pieces to eat. They hopped over to Sara and looked up at her with beady eyes. "Would you mind helping me with this?"

Friends in the Void.

Rasteva let out an indignant squawk as Sara attempted to shove food into their mouth, wings flapping loudly. "Sara please I am fine. I don't need it." The girl was quite insistent and did not relent, prattling on about different types of foods and how good they were. The Daemon let out an internal sigh when the realized that Sara would not relent and finally took the tiny morsel of food. It WAS good, she had been right about that. But still the Daemon felt odd consuming actual food, they weren't even sure how eating worked at all and decided to explore the option at a later time.

Fluttering back onto Sara's shoulder they settled comfortably as she walked towards the campus. The Raven kept a sharp eye out, monitoring passing Humans and their Daemons. They were still unsure as to who could be trusted currently, and made no pains to interact with any Daemons that they happened to pass by. They were also keeping an eye out for Ethan and Betulri should either of them decide to reappear. The way remained clear and the two were greeted by an older Human. Rasteva cocked their head and gave her a critical look. She had known that they were a Daemon without seeming to have any prior knowledge of them coming. They readily chalked it up to the fact that it was not often that people walked through the door with a live Raven on their shoulder, but they committed her face to memory all the same. There was no point in growing lax, even around people that Sara knew personally.

The girl set to work almost immediately, and Rasteva directed their attention back to Sara. They eyed the materials she set in front of them, picking up a scrap of material in their beak. It was a little heavy, but pliable and the Daemon knew it would provide a bit of protection while not forsaking mobility. They hopped towards Sara and took a peek at her journal before bobbing their head. "The snake form is what we shall be working with. I hope you have brought enough materials." A cloud of smoke erupted from the Raven and quickly formed into a coiled snake on the table. From nose to tail Rasteva's form measured close to 8 feet, though Sara would be hard pressed to measure them as the Daemon immediately slithered off the table and onto the floor to have a better look around the room.

Friends in the Void.

Rasteva had spent the night and a good part of the day deep in meditation. They like the rest of their kind had no need for sleep, and so they would often assume a meditative stance to reflect upon the day and others things besides. Several times they had considered rousing Sara from her bed, but decided against it. She'd had a long day and deserved to rest and so the Daemon told her as such when she awoke. "I had only assumed you would be quite exhausted from the previous day, and I know how much Humans value their rest. I am in no hurry right now, take as much time as you need."

They busied themselves with watching the television while she prepared for the day. The Daemon enjoyed TV a great deal, and resolved to project a form with thumbs as soon as they were able so that they could press the buttons on the remote more easily. The current news was playing across the screen, and the Raven cocked their head. Humans really did enjoy being in the know, and certainly took great pains to ensure a constant stream of information. It was all really fascinating to the Daemon and they wondered how Humans had come to be this way. Sara's voice roused them from their musings and they immediately perched themselves on her shoulder. She seemed to be heading to the small cafe from the day before, and the Daemon wondered if it was her favorite place. It certainly appeared that way, as Sara seemed to be quite happy here and so the Daemon surmised that was all that really mattered.

Rasteva was amusing themselves by trying to balance a straw they'd nicked from the counter on their beak when Sara spoke up. The straw fell to the table and the Raven stared at the girl with beady eyes. "No we do not require food, though I know some Daemons eat because they've come to enjoy the taste of food. But as we don't need it, I do not partake. It seems like a waste of resources to me." The Raven picked up the straw in their claws and resumed trying to set it on their beak as they continued to speak. "Daemons do not eat, and we do not sleep either. Our bodies may look and feel organic but they are not so in any sense. I could go on and on about our physiology but I do not intend to bore you. We've lost enough time out of the day as it is." Her next suggestion was met with another stare, though the Raven did agree with her this time around. "Of course, there we can begin to make plans for our future partnership. And I must say I am a bit eager to see it. It has been some time since I last visited a place of higher learning." Rasteva briefly wondered if Sara would take them to the library afterwards and resolved to ask later once their official businesss had been taken care of.

Friends in the Void.

The battle displayed on the screen was quite different from any that Rasteva had experienced. Battles between Daemons were violent and incredibly destructive. There were no rules to be found, they simply fought until one grew too weak to continue and fled, or until one was completely destroyed. The Raven cocked their head, not quite understanding how such a partnership came to be. True there was much benefit to be had for a weak Daemon looking to grow stronger. But what of those already powerful in their own right? Was there more beyond this? Rasteva recalled their conversation on the roof and frowned internally, that was a thought they would have to pursue at another time.

The combatants on the screen seemed to be well in sync with their respective partners, something that both Sara and Jenna had mentioned. They had found a common ground to stand on, and they were both quite obvious. Rasteva pointed a wing at the man with the Guitar. "See here. This one is obvious. Every culture has its own form of music, and during war times it was not uncommon to play something in order increase the soldier's morale. That is what this Human is doing here. You see? The Daemon takes the sound vibrations into their form and that in turn amplifies their power. I'd also imagine that they find their Human's music pleasing to the ear."

The Raven turned to the other man and the prancing Doe, cocking their head in thought as they watched the display. "This one is not quite as obvious, but it is clear all the same. See how this one carries himself with such grace and confidence? He is sure of his own steps and his body's movements. The same can be said for the Daemon that fights for them." Rasteva bobbed their head at the prancing Doe on the screen. "The Doe is a creature of grace and often represents serenity. These two uphold their grace and poise in combat, and keep their heads level. As such they are not prone to startle." The matches were interesting as well as informative to the Daemon. The combatants on the screen had a very good understanding of their partners, and it made them to be quite effective. The Raven ruffled their feathers thoughtfully. While they and Sara had come to an agreement of sorts, both of them still had a ways to go before they could hope to match either of the teams on the screen. The commonality they shared was there, but it was slim at best.

Rasteva suddenly recalled something that Jenna had mentioned earlier that day. According to the pink haired woman, she and Kivash had not reached a true understanding until they spoke with one another. It was through learning about the other that they had come to be in sync. The Raven looked over at Sara and then back at the screen. Up until now they had simply been observing the Human and only recently they had barely begun to interact with her at all. She seemed eager to learn and listened well. It would do them both good to sit down and learn about each other as equals. The Raven looked out the window, the night was moving on however. Perhaps it would be best to let Sara sleep, she'd had a long day and their conversation could wait. Looking back up at the girl, the Raven warbled softly. "Sara, as interesting as this all is, might you be growing tired? I know that we have much to discuss, but that could wait until morning. I will not be going anywhere."

---

Heels clicked a rapid beat across the tiled floor and echoed loudly through the hallway. A tall woman strode down the hallway with purpose and vigor, eyes staring straight ahead. Her serene demeanor never once changed, not as approached a pair of armed guards standing in front of a large vault. Certainly not as she flashed her ID and not even as a low voice began to emanate from the sheathed blade at her side.
"Why do you toy with them so? They have made their intentions clear L'Écuyer, there is no need to waste our time further. Much less is there a need to keep them alive." The Woman's eyes flicked towards the sword as she strode to the back of the vault. The room was brightly illuminated and a pane of bulletproof glass lined the back wall. "I am not toying with them, Tasosael. You know well and good that everything that I do has purpose."



The woman stopped in front of the pane of glass, eyes focused on the object within. A black orb floated above a small pillar, seeming both liquid and solid as its surface stayed in constant motion. The woman smiled softly, a serene expression on her face. "Look at it Tasosael. The power to level cities, shape worlds and devour stars." The sword at the woman's side rattled and a long shadow burst from it to level itself with the glass. A deep voice emenated from the cloud, sounding less than amused. "Yes, all of that power and it's just sitting here unsued. You are aware of how worthless this is in its current state? If you're not going to give it to me, at least sell it to someone that will make use of it." The woman clucked her tongue at the irate Daemon, her voice patronizing. "For all your ambitions and focus on the picture at large, you have forgotten the small details my Dear." Tasosael let out a low growl, growing even more irritable with the Human. "And for all your ambitions, you seem to have grown complacent L'Écuyer." The woman frowned slightly at the smoke cloud. "Who among us here deals with negotiations on a day to day basis? If you had an ounce of sense you'd know that bringing a potential competitor to your side means offering them something they might want in return." A gloved hand pressed gently to the glass, the woman looking through it at the orb. "They know that we have it, and they want it returned more than anything in the world. We will wait Tasosael. And they will come, of this I'm sure." Tasosael let out a low grunt, retreating back into the woman's sword. "You had best be right L'Écuyer. You know full well how impatient I can become." The woman smiled softly, eyes flickering back towards the object behind the glass. "Now, what did I just tell you? Everything that I do has a purpose."

Friends in the Void.

Sara was right. She and Rasteva would be working closely together for the foreseeable future and so it stood to reason that they needed to find a common ground. The woman's admission that she wasn't a fighter wasn't a surprise. It was clear as day after all. And though Rasteva was in essence the exact opposite, they could not hold it against her. For what reason would she be fighting in the first place? Before meeting them, Rasteva was sure that her life was a relatively peaceful one. The Raven grumbled, ruffling their feathers. They seemed to be spending too much time focusing on the past and what could have been when their focus should be on the future.

Glancing down at the pamphlets and then back up at Sara, the Daemon nodded. "You are correct, we must find a common ground if we are to be fighting side by side, though I am not sure how..." Sara's next statement did pique the Daemon's interest however. Rasteva was not overtly fond of clothing. Why would they be, Daemons did not even need clothes to begin with. But despite that they could not deny that she had some skill and they thought of the jacket she's made for her Teddy Bear. Even though it had fallen apart in the fountain, it was still finely made. The attention to detail was incredible and a sign that the girl had deft hands. "Hrmmm. That is true, I have seen some of the things you make. Perhaps you could make items for me to use in combat, and then I might infuse them with my own power? It is not much but it's a start." Rasteva recalled their original form, a towering suit of armor wielding an equally massive Glaive. They doubted that Sara had the means to produce such things now, but farther down the line......

But that would have to wait quite a while.

The Daemon continued to eye the pamphlets, some of the pages had large colorful photos of Daemon's fighting side by side with Humans. Some of them seemed to even look the same in appearance despite being completely different creatures. The Raven cocked their head, gears turning in their mind. Was this what Sara was suggesting? What Kivash and Jenna were doing? The Humans and Daemons in the photos seemed to be enjoying themselves a great deal and Rasteva wondered if they could find that much enjoyment with Sara. Flapping across the room, the Raven eyed the girl's laptop intently. "Sara, help me with this. I wish to see one of these battles for myself. Perhaps if we watch an ideal partnership between a Human and a Daemon we might learn even more."

Friends in the Void.

Rasteva eyed Sara's outstretched finger before flapping onto her soldier. The woman's insistence that they stay was all but obvious, firmly backed up by her shutting the drapes. The Daemon felt relief wash over them as Sara reassured them that they were still welcome to stay with her. Her resolution to learn the ins and outs of combat were also met with relief. She was still as unsure as she'd ever been, but was willing to take a step in the right direction. And if Sara had resolved to give her best effort, then Rasteva would too. They knew that it would not be easy for either of them, but neither would the two of them be alone through it all.

The Daemon glanced down at the girl when she seated herself back on the bed, settling themselves more comfortably on her shoulder. Her suggestion held merit after all. They had in front of them all the information required to make their lives easier, and so it stood to reason that they would make use of it. Fluttering down to the bedspread, Rasteva eyed the pamphlets with interest. Each one was titled differently and seemed illustrate on different subjects. They picked the one titled "Daemon Battling" up with their beak and hopped towards Sara where it was immediately deposited into her lap. "This one here. It should have most of what we need to know. But it would not hurt to find other sources of information." The last thing the Daemon wanted to do was ask Kivash and Jenna, and they hoped that Sara was of the same mindset. After the day's most recent embarrassment they had no desire to face the smug Cat and their flashy Human.

Sara's question only brought the Daemon more grief, though they could tell it came from a place of caring. Ruffling their feathers in an attempt to shrug off the Human's question, Rasteva kept their voice even. "I am well enough all things considered. I am not hurt, and will live. That is all that matters." The Raven's eyes turned back to the pamphlet they had set in Sara's lap. "Come, let us read this and see what we might learn."

Friends in the Void.

Rasteva was at a loss for words. They had already felt terrible for abandoning Sara, but they had no idea that she took it as personally as she was now. Her tears only made the situation worse, and the Raven shuffled nervously on the bed. What were they supposed to do? They had no idea how to comfort an upset Human, and in all honesty was the last person to be attempting it.

Ruffling their feathers gently the Daemon stared up at Sara. "Yes. Yes I understand...." The Raven ruffled their feathers again, mind in turmoil. Letting out a soft sigh, the Daemon flapped up onto Sara's knee and stared at her intently. "Sara. Listen to me. You are not at fault here. I am." The Raven looked down, shame filling them once more. "If I hadn't lost my body to begin with, we'd not be here currently. As it stands I could have done many things differently without getting you caught up in my nonsense." Rasteva thought back to the woman's offer on the roof, but instantly pushed the thoughts aside. "You are right in that I expect different things from you. I have only ever known victory and the thought of anything other than that does not sit well with me." The Daemon looked back up at the girl, their beady eyes regarding her intently. "But that doesn't mean that I should have treated you the way I did. I knew what was at stake, I knew that you were untested in battle and I gave it not a second thought. So great was my desire for power at any costs. Perhaps in a way I am deserving of this body."
The Raven stretched their wings, settling down on Sara's knee. "As it stands I've no desire to find another Human partner." The woman's smug face flashed in the Daemon's mind, and they shook their feathered head. "I know the exact kind of person that waits for me out there. No good will come of siding with them, of this I am certain. And I....I truly do not wish to leave you to fend for yourself Sara. You deserve better than someone like me. I know this well. But if you would allow it, I'd like to remain with you." The Daemon stared up Sara with pleading eyes. "I am small, and I am weak. I am angry....And I am LOST. Sara I do not know what to do. I am not even sure if I will ever be as I once was.....But I would rather try to regain what was lost to me at your side than at another's." Rasteva knew that their original power was being held somewhere. And they knew that to get it back all they needed to do was ask. But in doing so they would lose their soul. And all of Sara's hard work and her tears would be for nothing at all. Letting out a soft sigh, the Raven hopped from Sara's knee and flapped towards the windowsill. "You do not need to answer now. I will wait. And know that whatever choice you make here will not be questioned. If you no longer wish to have me here, then I will leave without question."