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Post by Iole on Jun 16, 2009 4:34:40 GMT -5
::Iole swallows::
I know...
::She places her arms around Oliver, doing her best to keep him calm as he watches everything he believed he had achieved crumble away::
Just rest for now.
::But worse is yet to come. She knows he's not going to like this, but their options are limited. The impression she had gleaned off of Alicia told her that she was hell-bent on finding them both, even at the expense of the grander scheme. There was something personal there. And Iole would never be able to forgive herself if Oliver was harmed from being dragged into that world of monsters, her world. She'd have to travel far and wide, jumping from world to world to throw Alicia off her trail. Oliver was in no shape to do that. She fights back tears as she rests her head on his shoulder::
It's alright, I'm here and we're going to be fine. We can worry about this another day when we're safe and far away from here.
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Post by Oliver on Jun 16, 2009 15:00:05 GMT -5
Oliver jerks slightly away from Iole's touch, all the kind worlds in the world right now wouldn't make him feel better. His world has just crashed around, once again, it's as if it would of been better if was never pulled from that rubble then to see this new perverted world.
"Don' wanna rest, Iole." He slurs out through angry tears. "An' it's not a'right." He sighs in frustration, it appears that she just doesn't understand, "T'e 'ast six years of my life have been a'lie. A horrib'e lie. I hope t'at t'is is all just a product of the drugs..." His voice trails off as he looks out the window again.
The car is deathly quiet for a few minutes, till Oliver speaks up again. "Stop t'e car."
Connolly curiously looks back with the corner of his eye to Oliver. "We got the entire city on our tail and you want to stop the car? Whatever the hell for and no."
"Stop it or I jump out." Oliver growls.
"What, have you gone loony-"
"I SAID STOP IT!" He screams as he grabs Connolly's shoulder, the surprise causes Connolly to swerve in the road before screech to a smokey stop. Before Iole or anyone else can react, Oliver ejects himself from the car, stumbling out into the dark street, somehow mustering the strength to walk with atrophied muscles. He limbs quickly off into the darkness by the time the others are able to react and get out of the car, except for Violette who is still clutching her head in pain.
"What the hell is he doing." Connolly asks, more curious and surprised then anything.
"Vant me to go after him?" Sid asks, trying to see where he wondered off too in the dark.
To Iole's recollection, the area around them looks familiar then it hits her, the graveyard is near here.
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Post by Iole on Jun 16, 2009 15:36:59 GMT -5
Give us a minute.
::Iole follows him quietly, letting him vent whatever feelings are going through his head right now. And she can feel there are a lot of them all confused and jumbling together like a swarm of hornets humming angrily around his aura. She knows how he feels. It seems that in their time together here in the city they've lost their innoccence and everything they believed in. He has seen the very cause he was fighting for turn on him, and she had killed another human being in the grip of rage. But she can't find the words to say right now. Sure everyone says they understand, but do they really? And she knows from experience how antagonizing that approach can be. So she just watches in silence as he reaches the stone angel::
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Post by Oliver on Jun 16, 2009 15:59:58 GMT -5
Oliver collapses in exhaustion on the plaque of the statue, panting and crying heavily, burying his face into the cold metal.
"I'm sorry mum." he wails through tears. "I'm sorry, I tried. I wan'ed to make ye proud... is a'l I did an' I jus' tur'ed it all bad." His fingers scratch at the names engraved. "I foug't so hard to 'ake t'e... our wor'd better... hate me... ye son's a fool..." He staggers back to his feet and walks around the statue till he comes to the edge of the graveyard hill that overlooks the Crest and much of the city. In the distance, below, the quiet night has been broken by screams, gunfire, sirens and terror. Bullhorns blare, commanding civilians to stay inside, ignore the sounds, assuring them that this is all in their best interests.
"Ye wa't to kill me, city!" Oliver screams into the night. "We'l here I stand!" He falls to his knees in a cry and sobs of self-pity and hate. "Here... I stand."
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Post by Iole on Jun 16, 2009 16:07:17 GMT -5
::Iole steps softly behind him, her boots making soft crunches on the cold grass::
You know better than anyone your mother could never hate you.
::She looks out at the city with a distant look in her eyes::
I wish I could say it's alright. That things will work out somehow. But the truth is, the world might never be the way we want it. There will probably always be tyrants and monsters that prey on the weak.
::She lays her hand softly on his shoulder::
But the only time we ever really lose is when we give up. We can never stop trying to reach that world. Because when we do, what do we have left?
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Post by Oliver on Jun 16, 2009 16:20:04 GMT -5
Oliver continues to cry for a few moments before he speaks. "T'en I lose... I'm tired of fight'in... I 'ost it all... a'l I got now is t'e ghost of my dead friends an' comrades t'haunt me for my fai'ires..." He leans over and buries his head in the grass, hands clawing at the soft dirt and grass as if he's trying to slowly bury himself. "I'm a monster... a brok'in monster... 'eave me - I'm not worth you... jus' let me die wit' my city."
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Post by Iole on Jun 16, 2009 16:31:50 GMT -5
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJnjcX8skXk&feature=related::She gets on her knees and rests her chin on his shoulder, putting her arms around his waist:: You are not a monster. You're the bravest most selfless person I know. You were willing to leave behind everything you cared about to create a better world you wouldn't even be able to live in. What kind of monster would do that? Heroes are not saints. They're not perfect. They make mistakes. They fall, they bleed, because when you scratch them deep enough they're no different than anyone else. What makes them heroes is that they do not quit, even when... no especially when things are darkest. ::She gets up and tries to pull him with her:: Come on. I want to show you something. ::It takes awhile to coax him into coming, but eventually she gets him back to the statue:: I wrote this when I thought I had lost you. I wanted what you did to be remembered somehow. ::She points to the underside of the open book in the angel's hands where the words she etched into it with her claws still stand out plain as day: Oliver Fray Tipp; Son, Patriot, Lover, Martyr:: I don't care what the world is saying, or what you're feeling right now, you are my hero.
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Post by Oliver on Jun 16, 2009 17:05:48 GMT -5
Oliver wipes away his tears as he traces the carved words with his finger, following their rough surface with tiny circles. The words send shivers down his spine, reading the words on his rudimentary epitaph. It's strange and foreign, yet disturbingly comfortable. "Is funny... now t'at I see t'is." He states, looking up the statue then over to Iole. "Nev'r t'ought about w'at wou'd be written w'en I'm gone; ye surround yeself wit' death an' never t'ink past just dying. A great Burmecian once said, 'to be forgotten is worse t'en death'. W'en t'ey told me about Reynard, I fe't everyt'ing I did up until t'en wou'd just be bastardized an' forgotten, become anot'er statistic after I die." He runs his hand over the engraving then steps back, breathing in to calm himself, then rests his hand on Iole's back, running his hand up and down it. "Don't ca'l me a hero t'ough. T'e hero died at the palace. Let him be remembered here, t'ink is time I go an be remembered somew'ere else, wit' ye." He turns and hugs her for a brief, fleeting moment. "I've cried a'l I needed too." He puts his arm around the small of her back ushers her along with him, though limping and slow. He takes one last look back to the statue. "Bye mum." Before heading back to the car.
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The LPA
Experienced Novice
?Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.?
Posts: 142
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Post by The LPA on Jun 16, 2009 17:48:27 GMT -5
Once they limp back to car, Sid and Connolly say nothing, just watch as the two get back into the car quietly. Once the engine is started up again, Connolly mentions that they are running out of time as they drive off.
It's a long, quiet drive down the dead streets, flashes of horrors streak past them, illuminated by headlights but they remain static. Oliver stares with his head cockeyed towards the window. Up head there come spot lights.
"Great..." Connolly mutters in a frustrated grunt.
Sid quickly tucks his shotgun under his coat, hand still tight around around the trigger. "Police checkpoint?" "Hoped we'd avoid them." "Vhat nov?" "Hope for the best, get your papers ready."
"W'at about us?" Oliver asks, referring to those in the backseat.
"Just don't say anything unless asked."
Connolly dims the lights and pulls up to the checkpoint, special police surround the area and in front of them is a barricade, but even if they did attempt to run, the machine gun nests lining the road would shred them and car before they got 10 meters past and if they were to make it, the entire city would be lit up upon them.
A policeman approuches the drive side window, while another two walk around the car, looking in through the windows. sub-machine guns slung over their shoulders.
"Evening." Connolly says as he reaches for his papers. "Papers?" The officer demands, before Connolly places them in his gloved hand.
Sid sits tense, something Iole has never seen from the man who is normally so calm and collected.
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Post by Iole on Jun 16, 2009 18:56:28 GMT -5
::While the officer looks over their papers, Iole leans forward to whisper to Sid::
Sid, follow my lead. Just remember, we're on our way back from a party and we're really drunk.
::She motions to Violette next, beckoning with her finger. Before Oliver has time to get any say, Iole grabs his collar and plants her lips on his. It's not the usual way she kisses him, more like the kind where you wonder if she's ever coming up for air. Violette looks confused for a second before Iole grabs her shoulder and pulls her into it with them::
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Post by Oliver on Jun 17, 2009 12:31:50 GMT -5
Sid's eyes grow wide at the sight of the three kissing in the reflection of the rear view mirror, then sighs and plants his forehead into the palm of his hand.
Outside however, the two police circling the car stop, chuckling to themselves and throwing jabs into each others ribs as they gawk at the sight through the window.
"Enough!" Commands the inspecting officer, dropping the papers to his side. "Where... are you all coming from at this hour?"
Sid looks over, leaning toward the drives side. "A party, at the Common's hall. In celebration of the Party."
"Is that... so?" The inspecting officer says slyly and drawn-out. "Then perhaps you wouldn't mind finishing your party here as I run the rest of your names? Hmm?"
Connolly chokes down a gulp, they weren't buying it, when a booming voice calls from the guard shack.
"What's going on here?" Calls the voice, followed by an older, portly man who approaches the car. "Knock that off back there." He taps the backseat with a knuckle, then glances over the three, paying particular attention to Iole and Oliver.
"Comrade, just running routine inspection. Nothing unusual."
"Routine?" Says the portly man. "Then let them pass, just some of LPA having a good time. No need to harass them. Let them through." The most familiar looking man to Iole and Oliver's recollection nods to them as the car starts up.
"Open the gate!" Yells the inspecting officer, commanding his officers to open the barricade and let the car pass.
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Post by Iole on Jun 17, 2009 12:39:24 GMT -5
::Iole watches the portly man from the corner of her eye as the car drives away until he's lost in the ranks of the other officers::
Did that guy look familiar to you at all?
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Post by Oliver on Jun 17, 2009 19:32:08 GMT -5
"I t'ink t'at was t'e constab'e." Oliver mentions as he looks out the back window, squinting to catch a final glimpse.
"Whoever it was, we're not far now to the airdocks. Just sit-tight."
It isn't long when they arrive at the air-dock port, nearly vacant this time at night and with the crackdown and blockade. The car comes to a stop infront of a barrier, preventing cars from going any further. Connolly shuts the car off, unlocks the doors and exits, follow shortly by Sid and the rest.
Before them is a long dark path, all to familiar to Oliver and Iole when they chased the Harvester to here.
((Whenever Iole))
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Post by Iole on Jun 18, 2009 15:36:33 GMT -5
::Iole takes Oliver's hand. Somehow that place still holds fear for them. Their worst nightmares had come to life and tried to destroy them in a time that seems like it happened very long ago::
Hey relax, there's nothing to be scared of down there anymore.
??: Oh that's where you're wrong.
::The familiar clacking echoes down the shadowed road in front of them as Alicia emerges from the darkness, alone this time. Iole gets in front of Oliver, but before she can raise her arms, the woman pulls a long black device from behind her, pressing the switch on it. A metal cable shoots from its tip, winding around Iole like a whip. She screams and drops to the ground, convulsing with her arms still bound to her side::
Astaroth: Good luck changing your shape with fifteen hundred volts of electricity coursing through your body.
::She looks to Oliver with venom in her stare, her cocky smile gone to give way to unadulterated rage::
Astaroth: Don't move.
::Something strikes Oliver across the face, throwing him off his feet and knocking the wind out of him. Had he been more coherent after, he'd have noticed that it was a wing coming out of her back. She takes the end of the cable with her hand and starts pulling it to retract back into the staff, dragging Iole across the ground with it. As she does, the blue coloring from her eyes spreads across her skin and her hair darkens to black. Her eyes are now a dull shade of amber, like a wolf's. Her black spiked wings spread from her back and her long spiked tail swishes back and forth. Her navy blue blazer and skirt vanish as her black leather armor appears around her now completely blue body. rams horns sprout from her head as well. Once Iole is on the ground in front of her, the demoness jams the spike from her tail into the girl's shoulder, making her scream again as the nerves all along her arm react to the new wound that soaks through her top and pools beneath her::
Astaroth: I should have done this a long time ago. Now join your mother in hell.
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Post by Oliver on Jun 22, 2009 14:21:09 GMT -5
"Fire!"
A barrage of bullets explode around Astaroth as Connolly and Sid empty their guns into her, though unknowingly to them, entirely ineffectual.
"Vhat now captain?" Sid asks, flipping the bayonet out from his shotgun. "Hell if I know..."
Oliver staggers painfully back to his feet, his head pounding with pain and lungs aching. He hobbles toward Astaroth, arm stretched out. "Let 'er go!" He screams. "Just 'eave us a'one!"
Violette, left behind in the car because of her injury, hears the gun-fire and exits the car, slowly making her way towards the sounds. From her thigh, she pulls out a tiny pistol.
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Post by Iole on Jun 22, 2009 17:43:22 GMT -5
::The bullets from Sid and Connolly's gun ricochet off her wings as she uses them to shield herself. Her tail digs deeper into Iole's shoulder as Oliver screams at her::
Astaroth: Or you'll what?
::A dull snap is heard just before Iole screams, her arm popping right out of its socket. Astaroth grins at him with her strange blue lips as Iole's pain reaches his ears, taking pleasure in making him suffer through her::
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Post by Oliver on Jun 22, 2009 18:11:28 GMT -5
Oliver growls, much the way he had when she spoke ill of her mother that time in interrogation. His hair has fallen over his eye as his body shakes and quivers with building rage. The smell of Iole spilled blood intoxicating his senses with that buried primal urges inherited from his father. Memories of the treachery perpetrated by the 'mad one' stabbing into his consciousness, that night weighing strongly on his mind as Iole squirms helpless under the tail of the demon. "I'l rip t'e wings f'om ye spine."
Sid and Connolly look to each other, out of options and over their heads. Both reload their weapons, though fruitless it is, better to go down with a fight then to die with their necks outstretched.
Violette staggers up to them, raises her pistol and fires a single round from the tiny pistol at the demon. "Stay down already!" She shrieks.
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Post by Iole on Jun 22, 2009 18:16:54 GMT -5
::With a flick of her wing, Astaroth sends Violette's bullet away, watching with irritation as Sid and Connolly load their rounds. The demoness reaches down, grabbing Iole by her broken arm and pulls her up::
Astaroth:This is no concern of yours. STOP!
::She threw her hand out at Violette where a red circle appeared on the ground around her. A set of ticking hands appear in the circle. She is frozen where she stands::
Astaroth: Thundaga!
::She directs a ball of lightning on the ground in front of Connolly and Sid, throwing them both on their backs::
Astaroth: I want to see what the rat can do. Well go on, Son of the Betrayer! Save your woman! Be a "hero"! Or is there no fight left in you? I can see it in your eyes. There is nothing, not even her, that is worth fighting for. Because you know that you're the cause of all this pain. You played right into our hands and ushered a new reign of terror. You're just like me. A monster.
::She smiles again like she's feeding on both their pain as she slides her long claw along Iole's throat. The girl groans as a thin line of blood appears at the base of her neck::
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Post by Jas on Jun 22, 2009 18:22:03 GMT -5
::Had Astaroth not been to focused on the others, she would of detected another presence, watching them and waiting for the girl to get out of the way. But Iole's nose could detect the scent of a female tiger, and there was only one she knew that would be in the city at this time::
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Post by Oliver on Jun 22, 2009 18:31:56 GMT -5
Groans of pain erupt from Sid and Connolly as they recover from the attack, muttering curses to one another.
Oliver clasps his long-jacket and throws it aside, then rips off the hospital apron and then his bandages say for the right eye, till he stands before the demon naked and scarred. "Ye rig't, I am'a monster but I'm not'in 'ike ye." He crouches down, nearly prone, like a tensed spring, then explodes at Astaroth. A streak of gray flashes past her and Iole in the dim lights of the dock, Oliver's presence rushing past them both like a gust of wind. He lands behind them, stumbling to an awkward stop. He turns around to face the back of the demon, then collapses in a pain filled kneel, panting heavily from the strain.
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