RBYDark

Urban Shadows - Heebie Jeebies

I'm at work for two more hours. What stat do I roll with?

Urban Shadows - Heebie Jeebies

@rush99999 Just wanna check if I need to roll anything to catch the compass without issue.

Urban Shadows - Heebie Jeebies

Mitra

itra watched Grace fade with the puzzling comment about music, before he shrugged it off the same way he shrugged off his jacket. The message was safely inside - he again offered the item to Kendra. "Hold this please?"

It started with a faint tear down the bridge of his nose. He barely had to pull at it before the layer pulled away: pale green scales replaced the brown skin. The split grew larger; black hair turned white as he peeled the layer of skin from his skull. His left eye blinked, followed by the three right eyes. A thick gnarled horn sprouted with a loud crunching noise from above the right ear, which had elongated and looked more like a fantasy elf's ear than anything human. He shrugged the layer and clothing off his shoulders. He tugged at the fingers on his left hand, until the skin pulled loose and he was able to pull his arm free as if he was undressing instead of shedding his humanity. He repeated the process for the right arm, until both arms were free and tipped with talons rather than fingernails. He pushed the skin and clothing down past his hips, where bony spikes burst forth - or perhaps they were teeth? - and encircled the humanoid-looking torso. Mitra kept pushing, now exposing a chitinous surface littered with large eyes and a pair of small, taloned limbs that bent and seemed to await a target to skewer. The section was much thicker than either leg; how it came from the skin being peeled could only be attributed to dark forces. He kept peeling, a new ring of bone spikes separating this section from a massive tail that flicked the remnants of Mitra's human form from its outline. Spikes lined the spine of the tail, and several eyes stared out from beneath the second ring of bony spikes.

All in all, the transformation had probably taken anywhere between 15 and 30 seconds. The first time, it had dragged out for nearly half an hour of utter agony, of bones breaking and resetting, of skin tearing and blood beading, of nerves on fire as they set new routes that no human nervous system had ever experienced before. Now, it was litle more than an annoyance, something to get over with as soon as humanly possible.

He stretched, reaching well above his head as he did so, and idly picked between his teeth, cannibal-sharp and far more numerous than what should fit into a person's mouth, no matter what kind of person they were. "So," he said, and it was just wrong hearing a human voice coming from something so wildly inhuman. "Care to lead the way? I have a bad habit of crushing doors like this, see." And he grinned, and never had the expression 'ear to ear' been so literal before.

Urban Shadows - Heebie Jeebies

Rolled an 11 for The Devil Inside. I'll write Mitra's transformation next post - he's taking +1 armor (assuming it stacks with his existing +1, for a total of +2) and a demonic weapon (2 harm close - corrosive venom spit)

Urban Shadows - Heebie Jeebies

Mitra

"Wait. 'Mitra'? As in, 'Mitra Singh'?!"

He bit his tongue to keep from replying with the default of 'I don't do political favors' - the spirit had probably recognized him from his mother-in-law's surname (except, wait, he hadn't given his surname, how had she known?), and right now was probably not the time to address his policy towards requests from natural or supernatural beings. Right now, it was time to listen to Kendra.

She outlined the prophecy against Abberline, how each of them fit into a specific category - and made a pun about hell that made him groan. He craned his neck towards the driver still seated in Kendra's car when she mentioned Mortality being missing, but then she very thoughtfully volunteered herself and he returned his gaze to her. Well, as long as she could feign being an ordinary human for five minutes, who was he to object? And then the problems - yeah, those were some significant problems. He wasn't going to lie, for the first time in a long time he could feel the stirrings of fear.

It was more pleasant than he remembered it being. It felt... lively.

Of course, that didn't mean it was pleasant; there was the very real fear of what Ravindra might do if he died, of what forces he might get in contact with on his demise for the sake of vengeance. Or what if the prophecy was referring to Ravindra as the representative of Mortality? Or what if Abberline targeted Ravindra for his association with Mitra? He could feel the demon just beneath his flesh ripple with rage at the thought. It wasn't really a great plan. But it was a plan.

Then the spirit spoke up again before Mitra could (mostly to complain that he wouldn't call it a MacBeth-styled prophecy. Not enough impossibility), and if she was any more venomous, he'd mistake her for a demon too.

"Ohhhhkay, I've... offended you somehow?" he guessed. Studying her, she was kinda familiar, but like in the way a barista's familiar when they're off the job and out shopping somewhere. That didn't tell him much, really. "But perhaps we can discuss it another time. Or at least after I've delivered my message." He capped this message off by loading the shotgun with a single shell and then offering it Kendra. "I take it I should enter using my other form - and if so, you may need this more than I do. At least if you're trying to pass as a normal human. Can't imagine a normal human arriving unarmed. I fully expect it back once he's left, though."

Urban Shadows - Heebie Jeebies

Mitra

Mitra raises an eyebrow, taking a moment to process all he'd been told. A wizard, huh. That might explain the name and the need for a lair. He's starting to feel excessively foolish for his concern in the first place. His initial assumption might still be right, but it seems increasingly unlikely.

And a plan. He was expecting her to go into some detail, but she surprised him by introducing herself first. He didn't know what to make of her comment about visions - should he be concerned? Then it occurred to him she was possibly an oracle. Oracles had visions, didn't they? Often uncontrolled, he'd heard, and usually somewhat distant into the future. That actually brought up a concern: whatever plan she had, she had no way of knowing it'd work. When she was saying the plan was risky, she meant it.

He brings his free arm up to his side, as if he's reliving a gunshot. Just because he'd stated he could tank a shot, it didn't mean he wants to be shot. No, he wants to deliver this damn message and get home and maybe make popcorn with Ravindra as they settle in for the evening to watch some movie of questionable quality. Abberline wasn't in his plans. But he supposes it's too late now. And now Kendra wants to know his deal. He has little trouble sharing it - most people don't believe him until he tears through his skin and skeleton (which, incidentally, is why the shotgun's kept in the car and not in the house. He doesn't need the extra intimidation factor in scaring off intruders, many of whom don't even know demons are real until he's clawing at their bodies).

"Mitra." If Kendra's not comfortable sharing her last name, he sees no reason to share his. "I serve Paimon, King of the West and Ruler of 200 legions of spirits. In return for my servitude of delivering messages and tracking down demons, he has seen fit to grant an... alternate form." For some, serving King Paimon might be seen as a reason to brag and to hopefully impress the listener; Mitra simply relates the information like he's ordering a burger as a fast food restaurant. He eyes Kendra carefully. "How 'risky' is this plan of yours?"

OOC

To summarize: the one 'pulling his strings' most directly is Paimon, and he's more likely to trust the plan if he can be persuaded that he won't be seriously injured or intentionally put into harm's way, at least no moreso than the others will be.
Mitra is asking, in his own way, What does Kendra worry might happen?

Urban Shadows - Heebie Jeebies

@Guardian Angel Haruki Er, may I post before you as well?

Urban Shadows - Heebie Jeebies

Banged out something quick so I don't hold things up again. Hope it's enough.

ETA: "Hey, you look human. Quick, pretend you're human, she'll pretend to be a ghost and I'll pretend to be a demon." -Mitra upon learning of the prophecy

Urban Shadows - Heebie Jeebies

Mitra

Mitra was about to answer when the ghost shows up. And apparently recognizes him. Confusion creases his brow before he takes the worst possible choice - he brushes it off. Seems the ghost will explain 'later', though he doesn't appreciate her 'warning'. He's a fairly reasonable and hardworking individual, especially for someone who's for all intents and purposes soulless. He couldbe a far worse and less reliable individual, he's heard the stories and knows he's walking a tightrope.

And as for the comment about shooting someone...

"You've heard the expression 'don't shoot the messenger', yeah? Not many take it to heart. So I just have this to ensure I don't get shot more than once. It's empty right now, see?" And he does open the barrels so this mystery lady and ghost can see for themselves. He only gives them enough time for that, though, as it sounds like his target's in trouble. If nothing else, he'll be in trouble if he fails to deliver this message.

"So, you're not Misty. I have a message for her." He nods towards the building. Abberline. Figures. So his target's not a regular human either. Abberline probably has bullets for her. They might be holy. "I can take a shot or two, if that helps. Is she tainted?" He's not willing yet to put all his cards on the table, but he may as well find out the odds that the hunter is prepared for someone like him right now.

Urban Shadows - Heebie Jeebies

Man I go to bed and miss all the fun.