Stratocracy

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Stratocracy>

*In a flash of sheer rage, bites your nose*
You make me sick!

@Etcetera

*Looks down at you after you do*
Is that true? I definitely don’t feel your belief in that either.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Stratocracy>

*Grits my teeth together and smashes my thumbs into your eyes*

@Etcetera

*Lets you press against them for a moment as I speak, even though as you apply force it feels truly like I am more and more immutable*
I believe in someone else’s conviction. A belief that you are worthy.
*Grabs your other wrist, forces your arms to the side and lets your fall forward into a hug from me*
And if she believes it, so do I.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Stratocracy>

*Fully forms in front of you with a near-insulted expression and punches at your stomach, which initially stops at the border of your aura as if at a solid object, but with additional effort pulls away from the skin and flesh, leaving solid bone that connects with you*

@Etcetera

*Gently grabs your wrist and softens the contact with me as the swing lands*
There’s your hint about me. The word that makes me tick.
*Leans in close to you*
You know what my conviction is, right now? What I believe in?

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Stratocracy>

*My voice echoes throughout the area*
Mmmmmhm—
*Four sharpened nails scrape across your abdomen in the darkness*

@Etcetera

*They tear at my shirt, but not at my skin*
You’re so broken that you’ll never have what you need. I would love to see that no longer be the case, though. Misty, you lack true… Conviction.
*The tangible pressure around me manifests visibly now, as it does for you even without a current physical form. It shifts from absolutely transparent to a crimson red aura for me, and for you, it radiates multicolored shades of lighter yet dull blues and greens*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Stratocracy>

*A drop of water falls from the sky and hits the ground, which ripples like a still puddle and becomes reflective of its fading surroundings as the circle of movement extends in all directions*

@Etcetera

There’s only one metric of strength I believe in, and honestly, I don’t think you have the ability to measure up. At least, not without help…

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Stratocracy>

*Blows away like a vapor in the wind, sticking my tongue out at you*

@Etcetera

Man, weren’t you talking about being weak? What’s this?
*Paces in a small circle slowly*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Stratocracy>

*A blood wall thickens between the both of us into a black ooze*

@Etcetera

Of course, you could always prove something else to me as well.
*Reaches a hand out in your direction welcomingly, palm open*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Stratocracy>

*Slices into my hand with my nail and the blood gushes out to form thick, scabbed-over walls above and around you*

@Etcetera

*Stands up again, shifting back to, and remaining locked on your exact position despite the loss of a direct line of sight*
So in case it wasn’t obvious, I’m a little special. I might be willing to help you figure it out though, but you’re going to have to earn it.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Stratocracy>

*Catches you with two fingers by your nostrils and slams you into the ground, cratering it in the shape of your body*

@Etcetera

Two steps forward, but I would say… One step back. Still progress.
*Glances to the side where I last spoke to Midnight*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Stratocracy>

*Uses the opportunity to drive my fist into your waist*

@Etcetera

*Exhales quickly through my nose in the moment of impact, then leans closer*
You’re a little warmer.