What I'm Becoming, What I've Become

[leekspins]

WHO: Adam Taurus, Blake Belladonna, Ejava Tepet, Laharl, Lucifer, Orihime Inoue, Sun Wukong, Weiss Schnee, Zuko
WHAT: A rescue is mounted to retrieve Orihime from the eeeeeeeevil clutches of TEH DEV0L!
WHEN: Sunday, September 14th - Early Morning (Super Backdated)
WHERE: Everglade - Lucifer's Magical Playhouse Mansion
WARNINGS: Anyone near Orihime at the finale will be exposed to hallucinations equivalent to waking nightmares. Watch out for that.
NOTES: Several of the players involved are pretty busy, so the tags will be slow.

The morning air was cool, though the forecast promised that temperatures would climb to the high 80's, if not higher. Everglade had the potential to be spooky, just...not today.

Orihime hadn't slept. She no longer seemed to need rest, which she assumed was due to how frequently her mind drifted off, usually for hours at a time. Sometimes the werewolf or her gracious host would pull her back. Sometimes they wouldn't.

She was lucid now, and the massive beast that had literally dogged her steps in the passing days was curled up on her bed. Orihime stood beside the window, hugging her arms as she stared out into the gray-skied gloom. There would be sunshine later, but she couldn't bring herself to be excited about it anymore. Her world had faded into monochrome, tainted by the inevitable reality that she would soon cease to be the person she was. It shamed her. Optimism and hope had abandoned her the moment she'd taken Adam's life, and she couldn't bear to face anyone else who knew her. It hurt less to pull away than to be rejected by the people she loved, seen as the monster she was fast becoming.

Her gaze fell to the floor, and she pulled away from the window. Little did she know that Lucifer was soon to receive a group of unexpected visitors, pointed in the direction of the mansion by a certain grouchy Espada...

Comments

Team Stealth

[leekspins]

[dramaticals]

[at least they were finally getting into motion here, seriously. he hadn't even thought this group would pull through, but... here they were. adam walked with them all, and they were soon approaching the back of the castle.]

I'm not sure how Lucifer will react to this, but we may have to fight him- so be prepared if it comes to that.

[even though he didn't want to admit it, this plan weiss had devised was pretty smart as well. he agreed with the formation, but he still wished he had been the leader.]

[whiteas]

But don't go picking a fight unless he finds us first. You all know the exit strategy, too.

[ She still didn't trust him, which was one of the reasons she'd been against him leading even if it was a mission for his sake, but she was at least willing to work with him for now and not dismiss what he said. She probably sounded a little harsh right now, but Weiss was on edge.

She eyed the wall of the castle. The quietest way to get up was going to be to just go over it, rather than through it. With a quick look back at the rest of the group, she knew that they were all pretty well-trained and many of them knew her abilities already. ]

I'll run glyphs up the wall. For those who aren't familiar with how this works, the glyphs will hold you in place so you can run up the wall as though it were flat ground. Once we're up, Blake, fire your weapon down next to me and pull me up.

[beareroflight]

[Once they get to the mansion, their group will notice something was absent. At least, if they frequented his castle, they'd know no one could get in unless Lucifer had invited them. Part of his essence was embedded on the house itself, so there would always be a barrier. Today, there was no barrier. At least, not from behind the castle. In fact, it would be easier for them to simply pick the lock of the back door. But, Lucifer doubted they were stupid enough to use such a strategy. So for now, Lucifer had ignored them.

There was nothing special about the house. It was dark, eccentric and mimicked a castle from old times. In fact, it came complete with pointy iron walls and dark circling clouds above the vicinity. They will hear thunderstorms threatening to rain down on them, but nothing descends. No light, no lightning and no rain. They'd also notice the streetlamps around the vicinity were flickering on and off like crazy. Everglade's way of warning its citizen of an impending danger.]

Team Distraction

[leekspins]

[forever_prince]

Laharl never was one for bringing up the rear. Or stealth. He'd been so everlastingly bored with the sneaking around that when they neared the mansion, he decided another path was called for. As the stealth team sneaked in, Laharl just marched up to the front of the place, and took a deep breath, bellowing at the top of his lungs.

"OY! LUCIFER! YOU'VE GOT EXACTLY 2 MINUTES TO GET YOUR SORRY ASS OUT HERE AND FIGHT ME, OR I'M GOING TO LEVEL THE ENTIRE PLACE!"

Such tact.

[beareroflight]

'Noisy. Noisy. Noisy', he thought. Lower forms were always so noisy. Did they truly believe their opinions actually matter? If only he wasn't so intent on giving Orihime away to cause more damage to other people, he wouldn't even grace the wanna-be-overlord with his presence.

Laharl will notice the land quake beneath him as lightning starts to fall from the heavens towards the very place he was hovering over. Then he'll see Lucifer standing on the highest tower of his house with an unimpressed look. Towards him, a finger was extended: Fuck you!

[forever_prince]

Laharl just took that gesture as a good thing. After all, this was the real reason he'd come along. To even the score and make sure his position of Overlord was well cemented. And had nothing to do with Mid-Boss' treatment, nope.

Laharl raised his hands in the air, conjuring several dozen orbs of energy over his head, and with a swipe of his hands, sent them hurtling toward where Lucifer was.

I just love your icons for him XD

[beareroflight]

Seriously. This brat had to learn how to be a proper overlord. Demanding pudding cups was not how it goes. He's supposed to take what's dear from his subjects. Make them all suffer.

"Energy balls. Not bad...", he said with a grin. Then he threw his right arm from left to right, as if he was swatting something. Just when the orbs were about to hit them, they all started flying of towards the direction of Laharl's comrades. "....not good enough. Pity. I thought you were something", he said with a haunting smile on his eternal features.

I only have 7 non-official art ones, so, yeah. :3 Laharl himself is just freaking awesome. :D

[forever_prince]

"And I'm just getting warmed up!" He gave no attention to where his attack was redirected, instead flying up to meet Lucifer head on at rather impressive speed, sword swinging with explosive power wrapping the blade.

awwww that is just so cute >u<

[beareroflight]

"If you want, I can help you.", he said with a measured smile.

He didn't think Laharl would be foolish enough to attack him head on. So, it may have taken a little longer for Lucifer to react. But when he does, dark steel meets Laharl's blade. His face was utterly emotionless. His blade was spiked and inspired unending gloom.

He looked up at Laharl lazily before he shot the brat up in the air with his sword. Then he conjures lightning strikes toward his pale form. Before he disappears from in front of Laharl.

HE IS NOT CUTE. DOES HE NEED TO DROP A METEOR ON YOUR HEAD!?

[forever_prince]

Laharl takes the hit, his form smoking a bit from the shock. However, he doesn't seem at all bothered by it. Of course, the whole disappearing act gets him a bit frustrated.

"Heh... I see how Mid-Boss might have had some trouble with you. But if that's all you got, you'd better run from me! I AM THE GREAT LAHARL! I CONQUERED THE NETHERWORLD AND CELESTIA! I AM THE TYRANT SLAYER! I AM THE MOST POWERFUL DEMON TO EVER LIVE!" Well, second to Zenon at the height of her power...

"YOU'D BETTER RUN IF YOU WANT TO LIVE, YOU COWARD!"

Awwww he's trying to act strong.. so cute XD

[beareroflight]

After Lucifer disappeared, Laharl will notice a giant pyre light up where his comrades were last he saw them. Lucifer had to urge them to get inside the mansion so they could pick up Orihime and so the nightmares would invade their thoughts as well. She's powerful enough for it, but she doesn't know that.

Then he appeared behind Laharl. "Blah, blah, blah. All I hear is, Don't bully me, cause I'm going to cry and throw a tantrum", he said mockingly before running his blade toward's Laharl's side. Patience was clearly not his virtue, specially when he's multi-tasking. "I'm the king of hell. I created HELL"

It's no act... b-baka!

[forever_prince]

Laharl manages to get his sword between himself and Lucifer's blade in time to deflect the blow though it did make him coast slightly to the side from where he floated.

"So you created a currency. Big freaking deal!" And with that, he sent a burning fist directly at Lucifer's face.

Meanwhile, Inside the Mansion...

[leekspins]

[beareroflight]

Orihime will suddenly hear a slight creak from behind her. Lucifer was adept at keeping silent, but he needed his presence to be known to her. He didn't want her to die of a heart attack just because he was stealthy. "Will you be alright on your own?", he asked quietly. After all, there were people coming for her, and he needed to know if she would be fine without his help.

[leekspins]

It was a testament as to just how numb she was to being scared that she didn't even flinch when Lucifer appeared behind her. Ordinarily she would have jumped out of her skin and shrieked. But she didn't. Instead she turned her head, regarding him wearily. In her eyes, she could see his face shifting and melting, but it didn't disturb her anymore. Whether the vision was real or not, he cared, and that was all that mattered.

"I'll be okay," she replied with a quiet smile, inclining her head. "Lycaon-san is with me. He'll make noise if anything weird happens."

Or tear her apart if she went mad and tried to kill him. At least, she hoped he would, if only to prevent her from hurting anyone else the way she had Adam. Had she known what he was about, she might have shown some degree of alarm, but as far as she knew, he was going out to pick up some groceries or otherwise go about his business. She couldn't feel the approaching spiritual signatures. The thing in her head had long ago blotted out that sense, warped it, to make her feel like she was constantly in the shadow of powerful Hollows eager to devour her.

"When will you be back?" she asked, hugging her arms. As dangerous as it was for him to be around her, she couldn't deny that it was good to have someone to talk to.

[beareroflight]

Lucifer felt the pain going inside Orihime. But he was never good with words, he was never good with emotions. Instead, he pulled Orihime close to his chest. His huge arms wrapped around Orihime tenderly whilst one hand ran against her soft hair. "You may no longer see me after this...", he said with a soft tone. This was the last time he would allow human contact against his ethereal form.

"They're coming for you. Be ready", he said embracing her even tighter. This will be the last time he'll spend talking to the nuisance who took over his bed and werewolf.

[leekspins]

There was so much about what he did and what he said that her mind was having difficulty trying to process it all. She'd never taken him to be the sort of person who would hug anyone, let alone hug her. But he did. Her eyes half-lidded as she felt his hand move over her hair, and for a few brief moments, she felt peace in her heart.

The peace didn't last, though, at his cryptic words. "Why wouldn't I see you?" she asked, looking up at him with a furrowed brow. "Who's coming for me?" The way he said it, it made her think an angry mob was ready to kick down the doors and burn her alive for her crimes.

So why didn't that scare her...?