GM: Slinger
Players: Orpheus
Synopsis:
This is a Rating 4 astral quest for Orpheus to initiate to Grade 2. The common theme is Orpheus growing from boy to man, mentally as well as physically, and learning to make hard choices. And that sometimes killing is necessary — that it can be good as well as evil.
Date: Jan 2, 2069
Part 1: The Dweller
Slinger gently leans in to kiss Orpheus on the forehead. "It'll be fine. You've faced the demons of your past," your lover reassures you. "And now, hopefully, it will be more fun. Go on… close your eyes." He glances over his shoulder to the spirit, then takes a drag of his cigarette and crushes the butt out. Then exhales the cloud into the air. "I'm here. She'll watch over you, and I'll be here when you awaken." He smiles reassuringly, and gives the Hispanic boy's hand a squeeze.
"You ready?"
Recently, Orpheus has made some tough descisions.. Among them was willingly subjecting himself to the wiles of his mind.. and the things it mired up. Or maybe there was more to it than that? He wasn't sure.. Either way, these quests made him feel uneasy. He wondered how it was Slinger could do them so often.. Even seems to LIKE doing them..
"I guess," he admits.. "If you really think this is good for me.."
"I think it'll help you learn more about who you are. Which is the essence of what magic is, my love." He leans in to kiss you again, his breath smoky and warm. "Go." He gazes back into the other boy's eyes, gives his hand a squeeze, then gives the spirit a brief nod, waiting for Orpheus to give his offering. And adding one of his own, to match that from Orpheus…
Orpheus nods, agreeing — with some reluctance.. He offers forth his energy to the spirit, as much as it wants.. if he's going to do this, he'll do it head-on if he must. Slinger seems to think it's a good idea, and so he figures it must be true.. Slinger would know, right? Right..
Orpheus braces himself for the ordeal to come. An ordeal, in a very real sense of the word for him.
The array of images is not so dizzying this time — you have come to expect it, even if the images themselves are different than before. And this time, you appear somewhere new — in a forest. The air around you is slightly humid, but the shade from the trees makes it much more bearable. That, and the fact that you aren't wearing very much. You have no shirt, and you are wearing simple shorts on your torso, to shield your private areas and provide plenty of pockets. The shorts are bound up with a simple leather cord, tied off at the waist as a makeshift belt. Your legs are slender and lean, even though your young body shows the signs of musculature. On top of that, you're barefoot, and yet the rocky soil beneath you doesn't hurt in the slightest.
There's a grin from the boy beside you, who is about thirteen years old, maybe fourteen. Perhaps fifteen, but no more. And instantly, you know his name. Andres. "C'mon, Estevan! Unless you're scared!" he teases, but his voice is playful, not malicious.
This sudden shift is quite disorienting to him.. That, and the setting here was much different than in his last quest.. Before he was still.. himself. Here, he isn't sure sure.. It takes him a good few moments to shake off this dischord before he notices the youth besides him.. He seems strangely to know his name, and finds a few words slipping from his lips without much thought or control given:
"Pft.. Yeah, right," he responds in a characteristically flippant and juvenile way. As he adapts somewhat, Orpheus loses himself a little bit to the surroundings.. they seemed so real anyways..
They're incredibly real. Andres grins — his words were in Spanish, of course — and lightly punches your shoulder. "Then do it," he tells you, gesturing toward a hut — one you hadn't noticed, so well did it blend into the surrounding foliage. "Go in there and get whatever you can," he encourages. He crouches down in the brush, but that grin is still fully visible on his teenaged features. The hut looks slightly ominous from here, carrying with it some vague emotional attachments that seem to be part of you, instinctive, below the level of conscious thought. A forbidden place, a place you are not allowed to go.
Orpheus looks between the boy and the nearby hut.. He nods, "Right.." Fair enough.. It was his duty as a tough, takes-no-shit teenager to show no fear, or even hesitation.. ".. But if you follow me, don't get in the way. I swear I'll pound you," he adds in a somewhat gruff, but also playful way toward this person he didn't know.. yet seemed strangely familiar with. Maybe now he sort of understood how Slinger feels. Only slightly.
"Okay.. Here I go…" he says, quickly examining his surroundings before trying to edge his way in the direction of the dwelling.. Or whatever it was.
Andres is right behind you. All right, not /right/ behind you. He's staying a good three or four meters back, remaining as hidden as he can, stealthy, while you creep forward toward the hut. At any moment, the occupant of that hut could come back — or maybe is already inside! You would be caught, certainly. And yet, you are almost at the front door, and there is no sound from within — just the sounds of the forest around you, the light breeze through the trees, the movement of leaves and various small insects and creatures.
«Plot» Slinger says, "Stealth Roll, TN is 4. I'm substituting this for Willpower, so every 2 successes gets you an extra karma pool point. You have 1 point of AP as well."
«Auto-Judge» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Stealth + Astral Pool: 1 vs TN 4:
1 1 2 2 4 4 4 = 3 Successes
«OOC» Orpheus says, "I ALMOST thought 'Let me re-roll that.. Then I remember.. oh yeah, that would be REALLY stupid."
Orpheus kneels down a moment, pressing his ear to the walls of the hut, listening very carefully.. intently.. He can still hear - faintly- the footsteps of his companion, prompting him to scowl in that direction. Even though he probably wasn't any louder than he had been..
Gently, the youths finger goes up to his lips, in a 'shhh' gesture.. Then, he prepares to step inside the dwelling and get to business..
«Plot» Slinger says, "1 Extra KP point for the plot."
Part 2: Place of Knowledge
Despite however you might consciously feel, your body is running on instincts, and your heart is thudding in your chest at the risk you are taking. It makes your blood sing, makes you feel alive in a way that only this sort of thing can. No sound from within the hut; Andres remains hidden, his beautiful bronze skin outlining a face with bright green eyes, his shirtless chest rising and falling swiftly. He's as excited as you are.
You can smell the aromas from within the hut as well. The scent of tobacco smoke, manly sweat, and the faint smell of alcohol…
So far, his perky elven ears detect nothing.. Though his nose senses much.. The smell of things he had come to get. Urgently, Orpheus waves his companion to continue after him as he deftly goes to slip into the building, his body tensing a bit as he felt the rush and need to quickly perform the deed in as short a time as possible. Exciting as it might be, he still didn't want to get cought messing around in someone elses stuff..
Not to say he minded taking things that didn't belong to him, though.
The door to the hut is wooden, and it would swing open, easily, except for that pesky lock that holds it shut. Fortunately, though, you have not spent your time here on completely useless things. One of your pockets holds a few bits of metal, and it shouldn't be too hard to make this lock yield to your will. Andres watches from his hiding place, crouching in a position of relative safety, just waiting for you to succeed, or get caught, the little coward!
Even so, he's a little younger than you, you might realize, and thus might be in even more trouble than you if we are caught!
«Plot» Slinger says, "Security Systems roll, TN 4. AP has refreshed. You're effectively resisting M physical."
«Auto-Judge» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Security Systems vs TN 4:
2 2 4 4 13 = 3 Successes
«OOC» Orpheus says, "I'll let the trauma damper move the L phys to L stun"
«OOC» Slinger says, "Yes, you have it. It shows up here as 'extra toughness'."
«OOC» Slinger says, "You have, in effect, all your cyber and bioware and abilities, which simply appear as natural talents."
Part 3: Place of Magic
Orpheus deftly gets to unlocking the door.. He was no expert lockpick, but he knew his way around security systems enough to do the dirt work of getting the tumblers shifted and the lock unhinged.. A moment later and the youth is slipping inside, quickly surveying the goods.. there must be a wealth of things in here he's not suppose to have access to — all the more reason to get excited at the prospect of stealing them. Orpheus enjoyed stealing things.. it was like this inescapably intimate part of him.. the thrill of changing an objects ownership..
The interior of the place bears, before anything else, the aroma of /maleness/. Of adult male, lingering around it. There is a hardwood ashtray next to the bed, and a small table with several dishes there, though clean of all food. It is /clean/ but not tidy. There are items on the walls — various trophies that attest to the male who lives here, his prowess, his status.
Just after you slip inside, Andres finally works up the courage to slide in after you. "You're so brave," he whispers. "It's why you'll be the best of the warriors when you get older." His voice is low and tight, full of excitement, as he looks around — not even daring to touch anything.
Orpheus takes a slow moment to sample the air. Tasting the lifestyle he knew he had every right to own. A quick glance back at Andres reveals a sort of cocky acknowledgement to the other boys comment. "Yeah.. I know," he adds, then quickly snatches up the first, prize possession of the day: Tobacco. He tosses it over toward Andres in a playful gesture, "Here, catch!" he chides, then slips closer to the bed of the occupant who lives here.. He searches carefully.. Guys often hid important things in, under, or around their sleeping quarters..
Andres almost doesn't. Tobacco is forbidden for boys to even touch! And yet he does catch it — the full pouch, brimming with the forbidden, addictive leaf, along with rolling papers and all the elements needed for boys to get up to no good.
Under the bed, actually, is a good place for such things - and there you find the bottle, full of amber liquid. Rum, the stuff he keeps away from most of the others. The village often trades with outsiders for such sinful things, and the best warriors get the lion's share of these items.
This is exciting, and yet at the same time, frightening. You are just now starting to train as a warrior, far surpassing so many of the other boys with your natural talents. You have earned the right to be a warrior, to be treated as one.
It may be a little scary.. But Orpheus had never gone through life by STAYING scared.. Merely continuing on unearingly in his chosen path.. He had the will to always persue his goals, no matter what anyone else happened to think or say.
That included the man living here. His things now belonged to him.. He grabs the alcohol from under the bed and examines it, grinning to himself.. he then raises the bottle up and shakes it slightly, allowing the harsh liquid to slush around inside the glass bottle. "Look!" he whispers in a tone loud enough for Andres to hear. He quickly checks whatever is remaining in the bed before moving on to the next point of interest..
Under the bed… indeed, outside the reach of most small boys, tucked in the back, is something interesting, in its sheath. It is a sword. A real sword, made of actual metal — rare, around here, where most of the villagers use bows, or staves, a metal sword is something to be valued. And yet this one is tucked back beneath a bed.
But now it is in your possession. Andres stares at the bottle, and breathes out slowly. "Wow," he whispers, and then tilts his head. "Somebody's coming," he whispers fiercely, and glances around swiftly before he points at the window…
Orpheus is so enthralled by the blade he now held in his hands.. its shimmering mirth.. It's weight and sharpness. He almost entirely misses the warning thats given as his focus is simply not there.. His head snaps up though, as he comes around a moment later once the wonderlust has faded a bit..
"Is it him?" he asks quietly to the companion even as he shifted himself into a different part of the house.. Quickly, he tries to remember if he locked the door again behind him and, if not, considers running to lock it real quick… If the owner came back and saw the door unlocked, that could mean trouble..
The door was not locked. Meaning that you will be caught if you do not lock it behind you. You could get out the door if you were sneaky enough, perhaps, and escape with your loot. Or your young friend could take the loot with him, leaving you to hide here, or face the music. Or leave you the chance to try to escape…
Orpheus was willing to face his fate anytime.. It might mean some trouble for him, but so be it.. His friend on the other hand, probably couldn't handle the pressure. Not like him..
"Get out now if you can!" he calls out, affixing his stolen goods firmly inside his pocketspace.. He wasn't going to leave the stuff behind after all. No matter HOW dangerous it might be.. If he had to, he would distract the whomever comes in, if indeed they do.
Andres nods once, then slips forward and wraps his arms around you tightly, giving you a hug — and then he turns and flees through the open window, leaving you holding all the items. There are footsteps approaching the hut, definitely, the sound of a strong, masculine male body moving easily — and then a sharp rap on the door. One, two, three. "Pablo? You in there?" calls the voice from outside. One of the younger warriors. You might be able to hide…
«Plot» Slinger says, "This one will be rough. Magic versus 4S stun."
«Auto-Judge» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Magic + Astral Pool: 1 + 2 (Karma Pool) vs TN 4:
1 2 2 4 5 = 2 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Magic + Astral Pool: 1 + 2 (Karma Pool) - 2 vs TN 4 for "3/8":
3 3 3 = 0 Successes
Watching the other boy go, Orpheus steels himself for the coming ordeal.. It didn't really matter overmuch to him to get got. It was kind of exciting to get caught once in a while, actually.. so often he got away with his sneakiness without any reparations.. It got boring to always get away. Maybe thats why he was so willing to endanger himself needlessly..
As a shadow stalks, Orpheus quickly vanishes into some part of the room.. At least, that was the plan…
The door opens, and the warrior pokes his head in. You know him — Santo — one of the younger ones, quick and rather cocky. He pulls the door open, eyes flicking around the interior of the room. "Pablo?" he calls again, curiously, before his intelligent eyes notice something — and he looks right at you. And scowls. "Estevan!" he growls, his voice rising in accusation. "What are you doing in here?" he demands, as he strides forward and grabs you by the ear, hauling you upward painfully. "This is no place for children to play!" Somehow, though, he misses the sword that you have tucked just out of sight as he drags you by your ear toward the door, and gives you a toss out of it, then turns and fumbles with the hanging lock to re-lock the place.
That gives you just enough chance to slip away…
Slip away he does, rubbing his ear profusely and cursing under his breath(in Spanish of course). Just to make a point of it, he wiggles his backside toward the now-closed door, an act which makes the sword tucked neatly against his back jangle just so. Probably the other stuff pocketed in his pocket-filled trousers as well.. He savours this victory only moments though, quickly fleeing off in a safe direction before the man discovers several of his things are missing.
Not that he would care overmuch.. but it was more hassle than he felt like dealing with today anyway..
One thing, of course, might still sting in your ears, just as much as the injury to your tender elfin ear. No place for children. Andres is waiting for you, wide eyes staring at you from his place in the wilderness. "I thought he was gonna kill you!" the boy whispers. "Santo's really strong!" Even so, he grins broadly. "You weren't scared at all," he says, in a tone of awe, and the hero worship is evident on his face as he falls into step behind you. "What're we gonna do now?"
Orpheus ponders this a moment, drawing his sword out and examining it a moment in thought before speaking.. "Take inventory," he suggests. He looks up from the weapon and nods in a direction toward thw wilds, "C'mon," he says, before cantering off in the direction indicated. He takes the awe in stride.. It may be mostly true, but he wasn't really going to dwell on it. He was more enthralled by the idea of enjoying his spoils and reflecting upon the act itself and how to improve.. That was always the cycle of training.
"No one saw you when you crawled out of there, did they?
Andres shakes his head mutely, grinning broadly. Now that the fear has passed, it's time to reflect on what he did, indeed, and to experience that thrill — and that pride — for his daring and yours. He sticks close to you as he follows you deeper into the woods, grinning broadly as he half-skips behind you, still a boy in many ways. "I can't wait!" he crows.
The path leads deeper, toward a small cavern — a small cave with a stream running from it. Not much good for living in, it is still a good hideout for boys, well away from the paths travelled by the elders of the village.
Orpheus finds a spot that seems familiar to him and sits himself upon it.. a nice, somewhat damp rock that suits him well. Once there, he sets some of the stuff down onto the ground after removing it from his pockets.. There had managed to pilfer a fair bit, all told.Mmm yes, stolen items.. A certain gleam sparkles in the youths eyes as he marvels it just a moment.. He breaks this trance to regard his companion again..
"So, pretty good haul, huh? He won't be missing any of this stuff. It's not fair that he gets to hoard so much to himself; he's not THAT great, you know.." Orpheus remarks in a casual, yet vaguely pouty way.
"Yeah, a real good haul!" your young friend agrees. He slips into the cave and settles down beside you on the rock, the warmth of his young body palpable. "I didn't think you'd do it, but you did!" He grins impishly, then slowly reaches out for that sword, grasping it hesitantly, then lifts it upward — and manages to brush the blade against the stone of the low ceiling in the cave, making a grating metallic sound.
"Yeah, he always takes the best stuff for himself. But he /is/ the leader. That's his right. Right?" He's watching you carefully. "Whatcha gonna do with it? This stuff is bad… bad for kids, especially."
Orpheus smirks, "You doubted I would, huh?" As for him, Orpheus scowls a bit.. "Pft.. What right is that? A title shouldn't endorse entitlement on only that merit.. What does he do thats so amazing to deserve so much stuff? I mean, aside from being called 'leader', of course.. I could do any of the same stuff," he says confidently, and reaches toward the boys hand with the sword, clasping his fingers around the boys.
" .. You should be careful with that. It is, as you pointed out, 'bad'. Bad doesn't mean you can't have it though," he corrects, and lowers the boys hand - and the sword with it - away from the ceiling.
Andres grins. "Yeah. 'Cause we're not little boys anymore. Nobody gets to tell us what to do!" he whispers, thrilled by saying such a rebellious thing. "You're the best, Estevan. You're the strongest, even if some of the other guys think they're stronger, everybody knows it's you." He glances over at the pile of loot, then asks, "You gonna mess with that stuff, too? Drink and smoke like a warrior?" He's leaning against you, thrilled by the touch of your hand on his, on the sword.
Orpheus rolls his shoulders a bit, smiling.. "Maybe," he says.. "But you don't have to lavish all this praise on me, you know.. It's not like you are my yes-man," he says, not entirely sure if this boy will understand the reference..
"In fact, you are my accomplice.. That makes us equal shared parts of badness, you know? Though I think our skills could use some honing…" Orpheus blushes a bit faintly, scratching the back of his neck, "Maybe even mine.. Can't believe he saw me in there.. But I guess the jokes on him — he didn't see the stuff we took." He then looks at the stash a moment, thinking.. "Dunno. I might use some of it later. What about you?"
Those words, and the sin and risk they represent, makes the boy shiver beside you, his bare shoulder pressed against yours. "I'm not your yes-man!" he agrees. The phrase translates reasonably well. "I'm going to be as strong as you, when I'm a little older." But the realization that he helped you do it, that he was involved, that adds its own thrill, and you can see him swelling with visible pride. "We make a good team," he dares to say.
The mention of using those items makes him grin a little, with a sly, cocky grin that is, well, adorable. "I'm not scared. Warriors drink and smoke. You think you could teach me?" he asks, referring perhaps to skills.
Orpheus seems pleased by his acceptance of equal partnership.. Orpheus was, after all, a little uncomfortable with the idea of having people following him like a puppy. Perhaps it reminded him too much of himself..
"Sure we do. With practice, I bet we could have anything we want," he postulates, glancing again toward the loot of the day. The items themselves probably didn't interest him so much as the act of taking them had, but he was a little drawn toward having a quick smoke. Idly, in the back of his mind, he is reminded that back in his real body he hadn't had a smoke before diving.
"I'll teach you ONE thing today.. It can be anything you can think of in the world and I'll show you. Just one, though.. so make it good," he suggests, crossing his arms and looking at the youth intently.
Tobacco would taste good right now. The addiction is still present, and gnawing lightly at the back of your mind, growing slowly stronger with each passing minute. Andres stares back at his young friend, a slow grin creeping onto his features, mischievous and affectionate. "Teach me how to be as strong as you," your young friend suggests. That, to him, is the most important thing — your strength, your power. That is what he is in awe of — and wants for himself.
His hand reaches out, unabashed, to give your shoulder a gentle squeeze, feeling the muscle there. Real flesh and blood — with no cybernetic enhancements. Your real arm.
It could sometimes be jarring when one could refer to their limbs in both 'real' and 'fake' adjectives seriously.. The feeling of fleshy warmth is comforting however, and considering the proposal a moment, Orpheus ponders how to approach it. There were many things that made him 'strong'..
"Plenty of things give me strength.. My training.. My ambitions.. My fearlessness of things which do not belong to me or indeed I shouldn't be in possession of," he says, referring of course to the things they took.. ".. Even you give me some of my strength," he adds smoothly.
"You give me some of mine," Andres admits, with a grin. Even so, the pride is visible on his young features. There is a noise outside, and Andres tenses, staring out into the forest — but it was nothing. But even so, his warm body pressed lightly against yours, the tension of fear palpable from him. He grins, shaking his head. And that teasing, playful grin returns to his face. "I bet you are too frightened," he predicts. "I bet you are too frightened to actually drink and smoke and use that sword!" he says, with challenge in his voice, just like when he first goaded you into entering that hut.
Orpheus can't help but tense similarly as his companion.. Not at the noise, which he dismissed entirely, but really just because Andres tensed, so he became tense. It was a nice way to bring the boys closer together a moment.. something he finds himself liking, despite the previous mood of the moment..
"Pfft, I'm not scared.. I do this shit every day," he rebukes. He smoked, anyway.. though hes never tried alcohol before, in actuality. Wasn't allowed anything like that in the academy of course nor has he had a chance to try it with Slinger… so it was out of sight and mind.. "I guess this is where you expect me to prove it, right? Well, I can.. but if I have to prove myself — so should you."
The warm touch of boys is pleasant, and his scent comes to you — that spicy scent that seems to linger from one of your own race and ancestry, rather than the very different scent that Slinger himself carries. This is comforting in its own way.
Andres swallows, then grins. "I went with you into the hut. I'll do this with you," he promises. "You're… you're like a brother to me, 'cept, you know, not all bratty and mean and stuff." Andres has two brothers, younger than him, you know. How you know it, is impossible to say, but it simply is /true/ in your mind, suddenly.
He swallows, grinning. "So what do we gotta do?"
Orpheus feels this disquieting intrusion of knowledge creeping into his brain.. almost as though he had always known it all along, and within moments the unnerving quality of it leaves him and he merely accepts it as truth.
"Well, he's a dick anyway.. He's not out here showing you how to be independent and strong is he?" Nope! No, he wasn't.. "It's not hard.. all you gatta do is cast aside your fear and embrace the object of that fear.. Your afraid of smoking because you fear punishment. Me.. I don't give a damn, so I'm ganna smoke all I fuckin' want, yeah?"
To prove this, Orpheus gets out some of said tobacco, nicely rolled into neat little cylanders.. He gets two of them out, one for himself and one for Andres, and gets one onto his lips deftly with practiced fluidity. The provided lighter is flicked and the fire dances a moment as he holds it up, not lighting up yet.
"So what do you think?"
Part 4: Place of Combat
Andres swallows. But everything you say is true. "He doesn't want us to grow up. Doesn't want us to be men. I bet he doesn't want the competition!" he exclaims, with a grin.
Andres takes the cylinder nervously, just holding it for now, while he watches you with obvious awe and fear and excitement. "You look good with that," he observes — his breath catching as you prepare to light it. "I bet you're strong enough you won't even cough," he says with a grin, watching breathlessly, waiting for that moment…
But there is a sudden noise outside, the sound of footsteps — and something else, a tinny sound. The sound of a voice, speaking Spanish, over the low-bandwidth channel of a radio. It's sudden enough as three armed men appear in front of the opening of the cave. Your eyes recognize them instantly as Aztlan soldiers.
Orpheus grins at his companion as he watches.. He brings the lighter closer to the tip of his cigarette, watching the cute reactions of Andres, savouring them a moment.. Until it's interrupted by this sudden intrusion.. For a moment, Orpheus scowls, as he really did feel like he needed a cigarette, and even now pondered lighting up anyways.. But doesn't.
"What the fuck?" he whisperes quietly to himself, watching the men as they appear.. Was this the noise they heard earlier? Maybe he should have been paying more attention.. Qucikly, Orpheus brings a hand around in front of Andres, as if to shield the younger boy a moment, reflexively, as he watches..
"Don't do anything stupid.." he warns.
The soldiers are wearing plexiglass visors that shield their faces from view. "You two! Out! Get out of the cave," they say, in fluent Spanish. "Out on the ground!" For emphasis, he gestures with his rifle.
And then, ominously, the leader reaches down and turns off his radio, even as he flips his visor up, leering. "We'll take the littler one first," he says to his companions, in quick Spanish, spoken slowly. "He'll be much better… younger… tighter." The others chuckle, the leering look of horrifying lust on their faces.
Like hell he will, thinks Orpheus.. Besides, if anyone was going to do anything like that to Andres.. It would be him. and in a much nicer, gentler way. Who the hell did this asshole think he was dealing with? .. Then again, Orpheus realizes he didn't exactly have the benefit of his ruthenium, nor armor.. nor weapons.. So he takes a very quick survey of the soldiers, trying to judge their level of armament and protection. Could he even stand a chance? It was even possible he could instruct Andres to get away while he distracted them.. Which he would try if he needed to..
"Fuck you, dickless asshole," Orpheus says to the one who spoke. Such a comment might lead to getting shot at.. but his hope was that it would draw attention onto himself and away from Andres..
The man whirls around, clearly having mistaken you for a mere child who would not even know such words, or who would be too paralyzed with fear to react. Much like Andres is, instinctively getting behind you, trying to crawl toward the back of the dead-end cave.
The man sneers at you, holding his rifle, though he hasn't even lifted it yet — and directs a kick toward the unarmed boy. "Who will stop us? You? We are Aztlan, and we are in charge here!"
Unarmed, yes? Except, of course, for that sword…
Orpheus watches Andres slipping toward the back of the cave.. the best place for him to be.. which was not standing around in his way. This was one time he would insist Andres not try to be strong like him..
Orpheus decides to take the kick square in his stomach.. a nice shove-kick, but nothing special.. He counts on his pain-resistance to soak up the albeit minor pain, allowing him to barely feel it at all, and simply just smiles through it. Perhaps this will be enough to jar the soldiers a bit.. At the least, maybe throw them off a bit, leave them unsure.. an unsteady, shaken foe was easier to take down than a confident one.
"What was that? I've seen girls do better. Why don't you get the fuck outta here before I get pissed, microdick."
Your attitude is starting to piss the soldier off. More to the point, you are not cowering and simpering properly. The other guys are looking at him — and it's suddenly very clear to him that his honor is on the line, his dominance, if he doesn't react.
And react he does, snarling fiercely. "I'm gonna kill you, you smart-mouthed little bastard!" he promises, even while he steps forward to deliver a rather impressive roundhouse punch toward your face. He's relatively short, but built solidly. And hardly attractive.
Not wanting to take this one square in the face like he had the weaker kick from before, Orpheus deftly steps to the side, narrowly dodging the strike before it lands, his hair blowing furiously as the fist passes within a centimeter of the boys head. He falls back a bit, body now tense and prepared.. Ready..
"You guys follow this loser around?" he asks of the other soldiers now watching the short, homely rapist whose continuing assaults prove fruitless. "You'll never beat me. Don't you understand that? You have no will.. Not fighting spirit. You prey on the weak because you lack the strength to face even yourself, much less the world around you," Orpheus continues, hoping to throw off the mans temper even worse. Meanwhile, Orpheus was practically making a game of it, completely within himself.
It has the desired effect. This arrogant /boy/, this /child/, is daring to rebel against him, and not simply take his punishment like a weak victim. Now, he is ready to do whatever it takes to take you down. This is when he reaches for his rifle. *Snick-snack* goes the action as he cycles it, and he snarls as he brings it up, getting ready to fire a burst at you.
«OOC» Orpheus says, "Disarming manuever."
«OOC» Slinger says, "The guy's at a +1 TN due to being flustered and angry."
«Auto-Judge» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Pentjak-Silat + Astral Pool: 1 vs TN 4 for "Need 1/2 of enemies STR in net successes to disarm":
3 4 4 5 11 = 4 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Combat Pool: 3 vs TN 4 for "Scratch that 1 AP, rather 3 CP+1 from previous roll":
4 5 5 = 3 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 5 (capoeira) + Combat Pool: 5 - 1 (enclosed area) vs TN 5 for "Defending against this little bugger with a punch.":
1 1 1 1 1 2 3 5 9 = 2 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 5 (capoeira) + Combat Pool: 5 - 1 (enclosed area) - 2 (succs) vs TN 5 for "Defending against this little bugger with a punch. KP 1":
2 2 5 5 5 5 10 = 5 Successes
The guy lashes out with a punch — which misses your face, despite the amount of force it is delivered with, as he struggles to get the gun around. You don't manage to knock it out of his hand, but now the other guys are reaching for their guns as he lifts his up into position and then raises it to point at you — and pulls the trigger.
Nothing happens.
Orpheus attempts to get the gun out of the guys hand, but he's surprised when his skills match or maybe even outclass his as he manages to avoid having his weapon knocked away.. Quite impressive considering he was holding the thing as well.. He tenses again as he sees the man aiming the gun at him and going to fire… *click*..
Orpheus suddenly laughs outloud, "Holy shit! You stupid fucker, you didn't turn the safety off. How much an idiot are you?" he wonders aloud.. Then steps in for another attack
«Auto-Judge» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Pentjak-Silat + Combat Pool: 3 vs TN 4:
1 1 2 2 2 9 9 = 2 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Pentjak-Silat + Combat Pool: 3 - 2 vs TN 4 for "?/7 I dont remember now..":
2 2 2 3 4 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 4 (quickness) + Combat Pool: 2 vs TN 9 for "Defaulting from clubs, swinging the rifle at you…":
1 3 5 5 7 9 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 4 (quickness) vs TN 9 for "Defaulting from clubs, swinging the rifle at you… sorry, no CP.":
1 1 2 5 = 0 Successes
The guy is getting flustered — and that is making him think slowly. As you come at him again, he brings the rifle around, trying to use it as a club — but he's not used to this, not accustomed to using the thing as its own kind of weapon. Easy enough to dodge.
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 4 (body) + Combat Pool: 3 vs TN 8 for "Very lightly armored, impact-wise…":
1 2 3 4 4 8 8 = 2 Successes
Orpheus quickly steps off to the side as the rifle goes to butt him in the face. It's simple enough to dodge, and leaves him a nice opening to get a quick strike into the mans side, leaving a nice bruise before Orph slides into a difference stance, readying himself to go on the offensive again now that the man is thrown off a bit..
"You are utterly useless.."
The other two have their rifles raised right now, and they are preparing to fire. "Kill him!" the leader screams, and they look prepared to do just that. There is nothing in here — nothing at all except that sword. You've swung swords before, plenty of times, in your training. But there is something /special/ about this one.
Orpheus sneers.. Low-life scum like this would just be the kind to shoot an unarmed person who was in the middle of a fight with someone else! .. Well okay, Orpheus isn't dumb enough to cling to such moral standards.. He'd gladly shoot an unarmed trog if given the chance in leiu of fighting hand to hand with one.. Which is why he's been slowly and strategically moving himself closer toward the sword he had stolen before.. He's used swords before, but only really vaguely.. He didn't have his handblades to rely o0n here, though, and so it would simply have to do..
"Fuckers!" Orpheus retorts, grabbing the sword hilt and preparing to make his last ditch effort to not get shot and die..
Just as you grab the sword, it seems to vibrate in your hand, thrumming with power. Something about it is very different from any sword you have held before. It *thrums* with power, seeming to flow into you, through you, and with you.
The guns fire, and swiftly, even as the bullets are in flight, the sword *twists* in your hand, deflecting them instantly from your body. The smell of cordite fills the air, as the bullets strike the stone walls of the cave, sending up splinters of rock. And you are left standing in front of them, with them now the terrified ones.
Orpheus is almost as frightened, for just a moment, as he feels almost possessed with the weapons abilities, allowing him to perform this rather amazing feat, which he wasn't at all expecting.. This bewilderment turns to sudden, renewed vigor on his part, and he reiterates to them:
"Like I said, You are all useless, get outta here before I make you sorry for ever stumbling accross me," he says, lifting the sword up higher, threateningly.. He REALLY did want them to simply leave.. Go and leave him in peace. His voice is urgent in it's demand..
The leader backs away as he's dismissed, and then he points a finger at Orpheus. "We'll be back! There's the whole rest of the village we can slaughter, one by one, until we get you. Until you surrender to us. You can't protect all of them," he sneers. "Not if you aren't willing to take us out. Little boy!"
They keep their rifles up, watching you as they retreat…
If such were the case, there wasn't anything Orpheus could, or would, be able to do at this point.. He watches them flee, leaving him alone with Andres again for the moment. A slight sigh escapes him and he gently lets the sword drop back to the ground, feeling a slight unease from the almost glowing warmth of it in his fingers..
"Andres? Where'd you go?" Orpheus ponders, looking around the nooks and crannies of the cavern for the younger boy.. He wondered idly what he would do now..
"Why'd you let them go?" comes a small voice from the back of the cave. "They're gonna hurt everybody, and then they'll be back!" He sounds terrified, and angry, venom dripping from his lips. "They're Aztlan. They're evil," the boy says again. "They tried to take you away with them, when you were younger. Don't you remember that?"
Orpheus had his reasons.. but he couldn't really explain them to Andres. He probably just couldn't understand.. Killing them wouldn't have accomplished anything anyways. This comment, however, draws an uneasy look for Orpheus when Adres says it..
"What? .. What are you talking about," he asks.. yet despite asking, he had a strange feeling gnawing in the back of his mind that he did, in fact, remembering exactly such a thing.. It wasn't so much a memory but felt more like a revelation.. an epiphony just inches out of reach..
"Who the hell are you to judge me?" Orpheus wants to know suddenly, feeling suddenly very uneasy, feeling more 'himself' now as part of him mires itself out of his previous immersion.
Andres shakes his head. "They'll just keep coming, more and more of them, unless you stop them, now!" he whimpers. He's terrified — the boy is clearly afraid of those men. "With that sword, you can save all of us. We can go back to the way things were. We can…" He swallows. "You can be a real warrior. They deserve to die. They're attacking us, and they're gonna /keep/ attacking us!"
Orpheus looks at Andres a long moment.. "I ca-… I can't just go around killing soldiers.. I.. What are you asking me to do? I'm not an assassin, and I'm not a damn hero either!" Orpheus protests, suddenly feeling more uneasy. Everything felt less real to him now, and he had a sudden, gnawing fear.. Like he realized he was suddenly trapped in a dream he had no escape from.. He looked at Andres a little more skeptically then, wondering if he was just some sort of puppet, controled from beyond his consciousness, trying to lead him astray or into a death trap. He suddenly felt a lot less sure about what he was here to do..
".. Not a hero.."
"If you aren't, then who is going to be?" Andres pleads. "Who's going to save us? We don't have guns, the soldiers do. Not all of them are going to be so stupid. We need a hero. Even if you aren't one, you gotta be! Please!"
The boy looks at you with those soulful eyes, full of fear. Full of desperation — and hope and trust. "Please!" he says again, with more urgency.
Orpheus only becomes increasingly disturbed as Andres continues.. He felt so acosted, like his life was being judged with such scrutiny, and it didn't help that he had this unusually intimate knowledge of Andres and his family.. It was an altogether hostile feeling.. "I'm not a damned hero okay, just a.. cowardly murderer, alright?! A coward who can't show his damn face.. I can't save anyone.. You wanted to know how I got strong? Well this is how.. by keeping my head down, alright? By keeping my head down while I watched my comrades die around me and survive. That's how you get to be like me, Andres.. Don't forget that. That's who I am.."
Orpheus turns away from him, not wanting to see his accusing eyes anymore.. ORpheus couldn't change who he was.. nor did he feel he should have to.. Least of all to someone who in all probability wasn't even real.. Was his own mind assaulting him? Or was it something else?
There is a hand touching your shoulder from behind, grasping your shoulder reassuringly and yet at the same time, still with that air of desperation. "Maybe that's who you've been. But you get to choose, each and every time, who you're going to be. They're almost to the village by now," Andres says, fiercely. "Please. Go. Or give me the sword and let me go. Someone has to be the hero." He swallows. And you know, just /know/, that if Andres tries, without your strength, without your advantages, he will die in an instant.
It takes a while for Orpheus to respond to this proposal.. He wrested a bit with the idea of being the kind of person Andres seemed intent to pressure him into being.. But, deep down someplace, Orpheus felt he simply wasn't that person.. Perhaps he never would be, or at least not for some time.
Turning to face Andres, Orpheus shakes his head to the boy. "No.. You will get killed," he predicts. "I'm no hero.. I probably never will be, understand? But.. That doesn't mean I want to see you run off and get killed either.. I'll face these assholes, but I'm going to do it my way.. Which does not involve standing in the middle of the village waving a sword," he insists, then sheathes the weapon in it's scabbard, resting it at his hip… He glances out the exit of the cave a moment in thought…
".. There has to be a more subtle way to do this.."
Andres nods once. "Just… whatever it is, do it fast?" he pleads. "I'll help you, do whatever you want me to do. But we gotta stop them." The boy sounds desperate. It's not pressure, as much as desperation. He doesn't want to see the whole village slaughtered, and the sword, with its abilities, seems to be the best bet of accomplishing that.
If nothing else, you saw it stop a bullet.
Even if the soldiers are moving slowly, there isn't much time before they reach the village… and start doing what they are going to do.
Orpheus nods once, and gently grabs the boys hand, squeezing it a moment, then leads him out of the cave they are in and examines his surroundings a moment.. The first and most important thing he needs to be sure of is whether the guards were going to head straight to the village themselves, or are going to go get backup first..
"Look around.. Notice any tracks or anything? Which way did they go.." he wonders aloud, kneeling by the ground and looking around a bit to try and find a sign of it.. More than anything, Orpheus wanted to get this done before anyone could see him. He simply didn't WANT the village to see his acts. He wrestled with the idea of being a hero for one person(Andres) as it is, much less to a whole village.. It was an awkward, almost terrible feeling. As thought it went against the grain of what he was and what he stood for..
Andres gives your hand a squeeze in return, staying close by you. Your suggestion, though, makes the boy release your hand as he crouches down, coming swiftly to his senses despite your fear. "That way," he decides, after barely a moment observing the tracks. "They headed that way, toward the village. But they're following the trail, the one leading to the bridge that's out." He grins, looking up at you with sudden hope on his cute boyish visage. "There might still be time!"
The bridge leads over a relatively wide stream — and there is a chance the soldiers might be vulnerable while trying to cross it. Not to mention, plenty of stuff growing on either side of it. There is another bridge, the one the villagers use, until there is time and material to replace the other one.
Orpheus nods, smirking, "Right.. Then we should have enough time to intercept before they arrive in the village.. Hopefully, no one will even have to know," he posits, and quickly heads off in that direction after briefly checking around to see if the soldiers dropped anything of use.
Once on the trail, Orpheus heads toward the downed bridge at a very quick pace, and only slows down and begins sneaking toward the location as they approach it.. Hopefully, the soldiers won't be wading in the water just yet.. Idly, though, he wondered how to handle an attack.. If he ran out into the water after them he would be just as immobile as them.. He lacked ranged weapons.. But it couldn't be helped at this point.
Nothing of use. A little brass from their guns. The tobacco, the alcohol, the sword that you stole. Andres can help you carry those if you need him to grab any of them.
These paths are familiar in that eerie way that you find yourself /knowing/ things that are proper for this time and place. This is your home, and you have explored all of them. Every twist and turn is familiar, and that makes it easy for Andres to track the soldiers.
But after a few moments, tracking becomes unnecessary. There is the sound up ahead of cursing in Spanish — and a loud *splash* as at least one of them falls into the water.
So, here at last.. Orpheus presses up against a nearby tree, peering around the corner, exposing only a tiny slit of him needed to see the soldiers. He had been nice before and almost got shot.. He wondered a moment the best way to deal with them.. He could just charge out, but really didn't want to do that.. Yet he did lack ranged weapons as well.. Though if they all had their backs turned to them, that could also allow him to sneak up behind them for a surprise attack.. Then there was Andres.. What to have him do.. Ultimately, he didn't want the boy getting hurt.
"Just stay low, okay.. Let me handle these assholes," he asks, shooting a glance over at his companion a bit away behind another tree.
Andres nods once, swallows. He's afraid. It shows in every movement, every fiber of his being. The way he looks at you, though, that mixture of hope, awe, and fear — at the very least, it might be a little intimidating — the notion that you have to live up to his expections. Or rather, that he hopes you will.
You can see the soldiers, cursing. One of them is fishing around in the water, drenched from head to toe. The other two are standing on the shore — on this side, you might notice — eyeing the water warily. "What are you waiting for? Get in here and help me find my fucking rifle!" he calls angrily.
Part 5: Place of Spirits
«OOC» Slinger says, "Lemme have a Stealth roll. Need 4 successes. TN is 4."
«Auto-Judge» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Stealth + Astral Pool: 1 vs TN 4:
1 1 2 3 5 5 5 = 3 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Stealth + Astral Pool: 1 - 3 vs TN 4 for "3/7":
4 5 16 17 = 4 Successes
This was as good a time as any, with all three being utterly distracted as they are.. Orpheus felt a bit uncomfortable trying to sneak around without his ruth cloak.. but it didn't really matter.. His special gifts made him little more than a shadow as he crept switly toward the two standing at the bank.. His footfalls make no sound, every branch and pile of leaves avoided deftly. Even the critters in the trees don't know hes there until he slowly rises from a crawl behind the two soldiers, his visage appearing behind them as he contemplated how to take them both down..
He could try to take them down as he had the other man earlier.. but he ran the same risks as before.. He wondered, standing behind the two men, if he could justify killing them. They obviously meant harm to the village, and yet.. He felt a strange bond with them too. This well could have been him standing here, simply following orders.. all it would take is one quick movement to end both of them. It would be very easy.
Saving them wouldn't..
«OOC» Orpheus says, "Wouldnt be as hard if my stun skill was worth a damn, of course."
Following orders is one thing. But these men take pleasure in the harm they inflict. They wanted to /rape/ you and your young friend, Andres. These are men for whom pain and harm to innocents is part of what they /enjoy/. You saw it in their faces, heard it in their words. These are not good men following bad orders; these are bad men, through and through.
Even Slinger might advocate killing them, especially to spare innocent lives.
The men have no idea you are there. Oblivious, vulnerable — but that will end as soon as you strike; that much is certain. The leader is without his rifle, utterly unarmed right now, though there is a good bet he has a knife somewhere on him. These two are fully armed, and you are close enough that you can smell them, smell their sweaty male bodies, from the jungle heat.
«OOC» Slinger says, "With the sword, you can use Pentjak-Silat as your weapon skill, effectively."
«OOC» Slinger says, "+4 dice on attacks."
«Auto-Judge» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Pentjak-Silat + Combat Pool: 4 + 4 (Weird Sword Bonus) vs TN 5 for "12S Base damage":
1 1 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 11 = 3 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Pentjak-Silat + Combat Pool: 4 + 4 (Weird Sword Bonus) - 3 vs TN 5 for "12S Base damage 4/7":
2 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 11 = 4 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 4 vs TN 5 for "Hit from behind, the first one!":
1 2 2 4 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 4 vs TN 5 for "Hit from behind, the first one! KP 1":
1 4 4 9 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 3 vs TN 5 for "Hit from behind, the first one! KP 3":
3 3 4 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 4 vs TN 5 for "Hit from behind, the second one!":
1 1 4 5 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 3 vs TN 5 for "Hit from behind, the second one! KP 1":
1 2 4 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 3 vs TN 5 for "Hit from behind, the second one! KP 3":
3 5 5 = 2 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 5 (body) + Combat Pool: 6 vs TN 10 for "3 points impact armor.":
1 1 1 2 3 3 4 4 4 9 10 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 5 (body) + Combat Pool: 6 - 1 (succs) vs TN 10 for "3 points impact armor. KP 4":
1 1 2 3 4 5 5 5 5 14 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 5 (body) + Combat Pool: 6 vs TN 9 for "3 points impact…":
1 1 1 1 2 3 3 4 5 8 9 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 5 (body) + Combat Pool: 6 - 1 (succs) vs TN 9 for "3 points impact… KP 4":
1 2 2 2 3 4 5 5 5 5 = 0 Successes
The two guys were /just/ getting ready to wade into the unknown, fast-moving water of the river, when the attack comes from behind them, sharp and swift. The one on the right is struck by the sword, which slices instantly through him, cutting him deeply. His blood fountains from his body, into the river, and he slumps over into the fast-moving water.
His partner manages to turn just enough that his armor absorbs some of the deadly blow, as the sword vibrates in your hand, sending its own power coruscating through your body.
The guy in question turns, starting to give a shout as he fumbles for his own dagger, staggers backward a few steps into the fast-moving water… and struggles to keep his balance.
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 4 (quickness) vs TN 6 for "TN 2 base, +3 wounds, +1 armor penalty quickness check.":
1 3 3 4 = 0 Successes
He staggers, barely able to get his knife out before he falls over into the water in front of Orpheus.
The leader turns around just in time to see both of his men fall over, and he curls his lips up in a snarl. "You again! You just cost your whole village their lives!" he vows, before he reaches into the water, having finally located his gun, and reaches down to grab it.
Orpheus finally decides, he has to do what he has to do.. There was no other way around it. He wasn't going to chance getting himself killed just to try and save assholes like these.. Even if he wanted to try. He wasn't, after all, a hero like.. Slinger, for example. He simply didn't have the power, nor the ability to be such a shining beacon.. a white knight. Orpheus was no knight, no saviour. He just did what he could.
A faint whirring sound pirces the air as Orpheus steps forward, drawing out the blade in one fluid motion and allows the blade to slice upwards along his backside, sending him sprawling forward as he fumbles to grab his knife, only tripping and landing in the water.. The other isn't so lucky, finding himself caught by surprise with a blade firmly sliding into his stomache and out the other end as Orpheus flips the blade inverted and inserts it into the man. He simply gurgles blood and collapses back dead from shock and soon blood loss.
".. You cost your men their lives the moment you crossed me. That is what it means to be a poor leader. You make bad choices and those under you suffer for it. You, too," he adds. Then swiftly charges forward to close the gap and end this as quickly as he can.
«OOC» Orpheus says, "Going for the third guy, leaving the seriously wounded guy alone for now"
«OOC» Slinger says, "You'll have no reach bonus with this guy, since his gun has a bayonet on it."
«Auto-Judge» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Pentjak-Silat + Combat Pool: 4 + 4 (Weapon Bonus) vs TN 4 for "10+2+1S No reach":
1 1 2 2 4 4 4 5 10 11 11 13 = 8 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Pentjak-Silat + Combat Pool: 4 + 4 (Weapon Bonus) - 8 vs TN 4 for "10+2+1S No reach 5/7":
2 5 9 10 = 3 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 5 (edged weapons) + Combat Pool: 5 vs TN 4 for "Guy, opposing you…":
1 2 2 2 3 4 5 8 9 14 = 5 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 5 (edged weapons) + Combat Pool: 5 - 5 (succs) vs TN 4 for "Guy, opposing you… KP 1":
1 1 2 2 8 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 5 (edged weapons) + Combat Pool: 5 - 6 (succs) vs TN 4 for "Guy, opposing you… KP 3":
2 3 4 8 = 2 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 6 (body) + Combat Pool: 2 vs TN 10 for "4 impact armor — he's buffed.":
1 2 4 4 5 5 8 9 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 6 (body) + Combat Pool: 2 vs TN 10 for "4 impact armor — he's buffed. KP 4":
2 2 4 4 4 5 5 5 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 6 (body) + Combat Pool: 2 vs TN 10 for "4 impact armor — he's buffed. KP 6":
2 3 3 3 5 5 7 9 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 6 (body) + Combat Pool: 2 vs TN 10 for "4 impact armor — he's buffed. KP 9":
1 1 1 1 2 4 4 10 = 1 Success
As he is charged, the leader lifts his rifle, which has a bayonet on the end of it. He's been trained in its use, and he makes a valiant effort to defend himself. Were it not for the enchantment on the sword, he might well have been able to actually dominate the fight.
But that is not what happens. What happens is that his gun is knocked aside, back into the river, leaving him vulnerable to Orpheus's strike. It plunges into his heart, and he arches back, lips parted in a soundless cry of pain and anguish.
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls 4 (rifles) + Combat Pool: 4 vs TN 5 for "Rifle, shooting Orpheus… TN 4, +3 wounds, -2 aim…":
2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 = 0 Successes
Part 6: The Citadel
Behind you is the crack of a rifle. The wounded, fallen soldier has his rifle out, levelled at your back. Trying to keep it steady against the movement of the water, in his weakened state, is nearly impossible. But the snarl of rage on his face is unmistakable, as he pulls off the shot, already chambering another round into his rifle to try again.
Orpheus gives the man no time to respond, lunging forward at a rapid pace. His weapon arcs upward, literally slicing through the mans rifle as he raises it up with one half falling into the water and him left wielding what is now essentially a club.. It helps not, because the boys sword immediately skewers him a moment later, the lengthy blade intimately planting into his heart. Orpheus slides in real close to the man, pushing the weapon in all the way to the hilt, leaning inward, very close to him now.. As he cries begint to fall silent, blood literally gushing from his wound, spurting repeatedly into Orpheus face and chest as his heart pumps the stuff through the new crevice. He just smiles at the swiftly dying man, and even leans in to kiss the mans forhead a moment(an act which requires him to stand on his tip toes). "Goodbye," he whispers.. Then grabs the body and slings it around and uses it as a shield from the incoming high calbire round being fired.. The bullet plants firmly into the other mans neck, but without the usual shower of blood this time as his heart has basically stopped by this point.
Orpheus planyts his foot against the mans back and kicks him forward and off his blade, then glares at the remaining combatant.
"Why?" he wonders aloud, and charges forward, hopefully for the last time..
The soldier's eyes are bloodshot from the wounds he has already taken. Already he has lost a lot of blood. "Diablo!" he cries, chambering another round as he tries to lift the rifle once again. But before he has any time to line up the shot, Orpheus is upon him, using his own ex-leader as a shield. He is all alone in this moment. He drops the rifle, falls to his knees, staring up at you. "Please! Spare me!" he cries again, looking terrified, fearful — but you saw that leer on his face earlier when he thought he was in control…
Orpheus stands in front of the man now, sword relaxed, by ready in his hands as he looks at the trembling man. He considers a moment.. This was one of the men who seemd so delighted at the thought of raping his young friend.. Orpehus raises the blade toward the mans neck, threateningly.. Making sure he doesnt try to move. "Andres," Orpheus calls out, signaling with his hand toward the trees where he last saw his companion.. "Come on out here.. You asked me to tell you how to be strong. Well this will be your final lesson," he says aloud, then looks back at the man, kneeling down now so they are face to face. Orpheus smiles again, blood running down his facial features like rivers of crimson. "You saw fit to bring harm to my friend.. and so it is only fair I allow him to decide your fate." He would allow Andres to play the part of mercy-giver or executioner.
There is only silence for a long few seconds — just long enough to bring the thought that perhaps something happened to your young friend. And then, there is the faint rustle of movement from the forest behind.
The soldier, for his part, has tears running down his cheeks. His body smells of sweat and filth from his time here in the jungle, tainted with the water from the rives that flows over his legs as he kneels down before you, vulnerable. "We didn't harm the boy!" the soldier babbles. But from that jolt of fear that rockets through him, it's obvious that they certainly planned to.
Andres steps out from the forest, slowly walking down the rocks. The boy's normally bronze skin is pale as he takes in the sight of the two dead bodies, their blood already forming streamers, rivulets in the flowing water of the river. And the third one, before you.
He stares at the man, realizing the awesome burden that has been placed upon him. "He is not a threat right now," Andres murmurs. "So we should let him live. Right?" He doesn't sound sure of that, though. That is not his final answer.
Orpheus looks up at Andres and smiles through his blood-stained features. "No, he's not a threat because I neutralized it. He WAS a threat only moments ago.. He tried to shoot me in the back, and he would have raped both of us along with his friends - who are now dead - if we let them." Orpheus considers this a moment, sighing, nodding.. "I know.. It is not an easy choice, and it's one I struggle with very often. It's not a choice I can make for you, Andres, it is one you'll have to make for yourself. I wish I could give you more guidance than that.. but this man hurt you, not physically.. but he did. His life is in your hands to do with as you please. I will support your choice either way.. Know that."
Orpheus then lifts the sword up toward Andres. "Your choice, my cute young friend.."
Orpheud doesn't take his focus off the man for even a moment though. He would kill him if he so much as twitches in a way he didn't like.
The man senses that, and he does not dare move, other than to slowly turn his head, turning his pleading eyes onto Andres. "If we let him live, he will be a threat again. There is darkness in his heart," Andres says slowly. "He will go back to his kind, go back to Aztlan. They do not like it when a province rebels against their soldiers. They will send more — and wipe us out. The result will be the same as if we had not attacked them.
He gazes at Orpheus, licking his lips. Your mention of him as cute actually draws a shy smile from him, before he squares his shoulders, and shakes his head. "No. This one cannot be allowed to live. He must die, so the rest can be spared — by his own doing. Because of what he is, and because of /who/ he is. Do it," he says, and closes his eyes, not wanting to witness what is to come…
Orpheus smirks, nodding. "I see. You are right of course.. What you say is absolutely true. But.. This is your kill to make, not mine. If you are able to pass judgement on this man, then it is you who must be his executioner." Orpheus continues offering up the sword to his friend.
Perhaps this was some kind of perverse form of corrption, in Orpheus' eyes. Though his reasons weren't particularly malicious or dark. Because this, like other things, was one of the ways a boy became a man. "I've washed myself of responsability for his life at this point. Either you kill him, or you let him go." he repeats, and stands up again, looking down at the man.
"Do not fear."
The cute boy swallows, staring at the soldier. Swallows again, the hesitation palpable. He reaches out to take the sword from Orpheus's grasp. The soldier has heard every word between the two boys; he turns his attention now to Andres. "Please! Please don't kill me!" he babbles, reaching out to try to grasp at the boy's clothing, to emphasize his point.
The sword is heavy in the bronze youth's hand. Andres visibly shakes at the weight of emotion. "I don't want to do this," he whispers, pangs of regret visible on his face. But the reasons he gave then are no less true now. He shakes his head.
"I am judge, jury, and executioner. There is no one else. I judge you… too dangerous to be allowed to live. You must die, to protect others. May the Gods have mercy upon your soul." Andres whispers a short prayer, then swings the sword around in a wide arc, toward the man's neck.
The soldier arches his head back with a sudden scream, which is cut short in a horribly gurgling noise as the sword bites into his throat, his neck, but does not cut cleanly through it. Instead, Andres has to bring it around again, twice more, three times more, before the soldier finally collapses, dying, in the river.
Andres is breathless from exhaustion, panting hard, his eyes tortured for just a moment as the blood has washed down his arm from the bloody weapon. The soldier suffered as he died, that much is clear. But in the end, it is done. Andres nudges the body with a toe… then turns and bolts toward shore. Running from what he did, perhaps, or from you…
But no. Running from his own reactions. He turns, retches, and then loses the contents of his stomache onto the beach, leaning hard against a tree, gasping for breath.
Orpheus merely watches as Andres carries out the act. The pleading of the soldier, while understandable, is vaguely sickening. Even in a situation like this, Orpheus wouldn't allow himself to be killed without a fight. A little more blood is added to the drying bits on his face once the mans neck is cleaved repeatedly..
Slowly, Orpheus looks between Andres and the fresh corpse.. He knew the act wasn't easy, but he personally felt it was the best outcome. He felt Andres deserved his own vengeance.. Even if he had to be the one to enable that vengeance, he was happy to do that for him. Orpheus joins the other youth as he leans against the tree, catching his breath.. He slips his arms around the boy and holds him a moment.. "Hey," he whispers.. "I know you probably don't feel so good right now.. but you should know that you didn't do anything wrong." he assures. Probably others wouldn't think the same way, but Orpheus was trained to kill from a very young age, and so the idea of killing was simply part of who he was, deep down.. He didn't fear it.
"If anyone finds out and asks.. We share responsability. That's what it means to be a man."
Andres nods slowly, swallows once, closes his eyes. The bronze boy leans into the embrace, his flesh warm, his arms gently sliding around Orpheus's body. "Wish it didn't have to be that way," he murmurs. His eyes slip toward the soldier's corpse — already, the water is starting to lift the corpses, carry them downstream. "But if they start coming, they'll wipe us out. Make us /subjects/ of Aztlan. Steal our children for… for whatever. For soldiers. They'd /change/ us."
He finally opens his eyes, sliding around in your embrace to face you fully, and he presses his head against your chest, your shoulder, his breath warmly caressing your shoulder. "Does that mean we're real warriors, now?" he asks. "Doin' what has to be done?" He's slowly regaining his calm, gaining some confidence now that the fear has passed. He tested himself, tested his best friend, and found more than he had dreamed of inside himself. "We gotta kill only when we have to," he murmurs. "But if we have to, we won't hesitate. Not if it means other people are gonna die."
Then, he lifts his gaze, meeting your eyes with his own dark orbs. His beautiful lips curl onto a small, sly smile. "You're still a hero," he points out. "Even if nobody sees, even if nobody knows, doesn't make you less of a hero. A hero does the right thing. One life or a million, in the dark or in the light, in full view of the world or in dirty, secret, hidden places where no one will know. It doesn't matter."
A nod, a gentle embrace.. "Yes.. We are warriors. Bein' a warrior means swiftly taking action. Showing no fear and doing what must be done.. even if we don't like it.. an' I saw that here.. You did that. You may have been afraid, but you didn't show it to the enemy. You did what had to be done, and now the village will be safe.." Orpheus lifts a finger to brush some of the other boys hair back, withdrawing away from him just a bit..
"Cus.. You should know, that I would have let that soldier go had you decided not to finish him off. I wouldn't have thought any less of you.. It was your choice to make. Now you'll have to learn to live with your choices.. Just like a real soldier." Orph ruffles the youths hair a bit then, smirking as well. Orpheus didn't feel at all guilty or reticent about how he had handled the situation.. Most importantly, they managed it out of the eyes of others..
"A hero? No.. I'm not hero," he repeats to Andres, resolute. "A hero is someone who does stand in the light.. Who many others look up to. That's not me," he adds.. "I'm not a hero, but rather something else… The night is my friend.. My identity, a secret.. My actions a rumor." He thinks back.. That was very similar to an oath he took under Atzlan special forces.. Nonsense, maybe, though apropriate..
"I am a shadow. You.. You are more a hero than I. You talked me into coming out here, remember?"
Andres's dark cheeks blush further. "That's a leader, not a hero. Somebody whom others follow. A hero is somebody who does somethin' dangerous, who risks his own life for that of others, who does it not for personal gain but just because it needs to be done. You did that. So you're a hero. Even if you work in the shadows."
Andres rubs his cheek against your bare shoulder, his warm chest rubbing against your body. "You think… you think we can go back to the cave, now? An'… and do what we set out to do? And maybe curl up together out there and fall asleep?" The boy's voice is shy, yet also eager — and carries with it a yearning, a longing to celebrate life and pleasure in contrast to what happened here, today.
A long sigh flows out of the hispanic youths lips at Andres' insistance. Rather than continue the debate though, he just shrugs. "Well.. anyway… Yeah, lets head back that way." he agrees. Slowly, Orpheus meanders over and makes sure all the bodies are in the river and well on their way to floating downstream. With any luck, no one fromt he village will ever have to even see them.. He'd prefer it that way anyway.
"Here, wanna hold onto this?" he asks, producing the sword to Andres again after having cleaned it off in the river. "Looks better with you holding it anyway," he adds wryly, running his fingers along the other youths back. "Ready to set off?"
Andres grins, slipping his arm around your warm, muscular body. "Yeah, I'm ready." He reaches out to accept the sword, carrying it carefully, with the proper reverence due a weapon of its stature. "I hope we never gotta use this thing again."
The bodies are washing downstream, soon out of sight. Out of the view of the two boys. It's not hard to find a smaller stream to wash off in, with Andres playfully splashing you, part of his boyish nature surviving this experience. Playful, with warm, loving touches, with the bond of the shared experience and hardship bringing him closer to you, at least in his own emotions.
The cave is just as you left it, and even as you enter, with Andres's arm around you, there is a sense of peace here, of calm, of warm safety…
And slowly, you can feel yourself being pulled back, pulled away, sent back to your body with the insistent tugging of the astral energies.
Part 7: Knowledge
Orpheus has to take a good while to wash all the blood off of himself. He was almost saturated in it, after that little bloodbath.. Once he gets himself clean of the stuff, he rejoins Andres as they play for the time.. enjoying what little time they have after doing what they had to.. Soldiers, yes, but still juvenile at the end of the day.. Young and without the desire to dwell on the stench of death..
"It's very peaceful here…" Orpheus states outloud, in a sort of hazy afterthought while he watches Andres stepping into the cave. He felt lightheaded almost.. Reaching a hand out in front of him, as if reaching toward Andres.. He was so close, yet suddenly seemed so far away.. He just vanished into the cave while his muscles seemed to atrophy.. Then the cave almost seemed to be moving away from him. ".. I'm not a hero.. but maybe I am to him," he wonders, his own words echoing emptily as he suddenly finds himself ripped out of this reality and back whence he originally came..
Orpheus startles from his slumber-state, taking a quick breath of air as he rises slightly from his resting position.. ".. Not a.. hero.." he murmurs groggily, blinking his weary eyes, looking around as he reaffixes himself to reality.
Slinger is there with you, gazing down at you, his hand on your shoulder. Jasmine told him you were returning to your body, your Quest completed… or herpahs he simply knows how long these things typically take. "Who isn't a hero?" the elfin mage asks, with a gentle smile, a soft rub over his lover's beautiful shoulder. "Welcome back. This one wasn't as horrible, from the look of it," the elf observes.
Already, you will feel stronger, more in tune with what magic you have. There is perhaps a part of you that might feel more at peace, the energies somehow flowing more easily. "Still proud as hell of you," Slinger adds, even if he has no idea what actually happened.
Orpheus blinks a bit more, looking at Slinger a moment.. A long, tired moment.. "Hmmm? What?" he wonders, mind groggy. He wasn't even fully aware he had murmured that after returning.. "Eh.. It was.. I dunno. These things still make me feel terrible," he says, sitting up fully in bed and rests his face into his hands as they rub into his flesh. ".. D'They gatta be so personal," he wonders aloud..
True he had been tested somewhat.. had his perceptions shaken a little. He enjoyed it partly, yet at the same time it felt threatening to him. Challenging him and questioning him.. "You know, it's not so bad having someone judge you.. like a drill sergeant.. They don't know you.. It's different when the thing that challenges your behaviour knows you so well.. So deeply."
Slinger reaches up to tenderly brush a lock of hair from his lover's beautiful face. "Yeah, they do gotta be that personal. Magic is a very personal thing. Every person's connection with it is different. Because it's about not just your brain, but your mind. Your emotions. It's about who you are, and who you want to be, and how you see things.
"Anytime you understand who you are better… it often helps you with magic. You have to face who you are — shortcomings, virtues, weaknesses, strengths, fears, desires, all of it.
He swivels himself onto the bed, to slip an arm around the other boy. "With enough experience, though, you'll learn not to fear who you are, not to be afraid of it. You'll learn it, come to accept it. When I go to the Astral, I know just about what the Dweller is gonna say. I know my flaws, my shortcomings. Might not like 'em, but I accept 'em."
He thinks for a moment, then chuckles. "Last astral quest I was on, the whole point of it was to show me that some of the people I have to work with in the Shadows… aren't very nice. Aren't very good people. That the only thing that keeps them from betraying me is the fact they utterly fear my power. That as soon as my back is turned, some of them go off and do really horrible things. It was implied that I'm enabling them, by working with them. And there's some truth to that."
The first of Slingers messages doesn't surprise him much.. He could understand the merit in that sentiment.. He had experienced it firsthand, feeling his very core challenged. "The worst thing is.. I don't know what to think about what I experienced. I felt like.. I was being attacked. Was it because I should change or.. because I should stay who I am.." He rubs his head a bit, then siezes Slinger's hand, holding it and feeling it's warmth…
The second thing Slinger says surprises him somewhat thought.. "You? .. You have friends who do bad things, huh…" Orpheus ponders a moment.. "I guess I'm probably one of them, aren't I.. Admittedly, I don't know many of your friends very well, if even at all.. Probably not even met a fraction of them. Still.. I find it hard to imagine you have so many friends who do 'terrible' things.."
Slinger chuckles. "See, that's the thing. What /should/ you do? You should follow your heart. An Astral Quest isn't orders from on high. It's not God speaking unto us through our dreams. Well, there are some who think it is, and I can't prove them wrong, but at least to me, it isn't," the elf remarks. He stretches out on the bed beside the Hispanic boy. "If you were being attacked, then there is a part of you that still has unresolved desires, emotions. That's perfectly normal — I mean, the day I meet somebody perfectly in tune with what he wants and who he is, I think I'll faint. Maybe a dragon is, but us metas? We're kinda whacked in the head."
As his hand is seized, Slinger squeezes Orpheus's in return, warmly. "You? You've done some bad things," Slinger agrees. "But… it's out of not knowing any better. You're… in some ways, you're still like a child, learning, exploring. Your training left you still a boy in many ways. You had a man's body, a man's training, a warrior's reflexes — but they never trained your heart beyond 'follow orders'. Now you're out here, where it's just a few of us, and we have to choose right or wrong on our own.
"Some people find that too fraggin' hard, so they say 'screw it' and just do it for the money. Some people decide there /is/ no right or wrong, just power. But I'll say this — there's no blanket rule, applied blindly, that'll tell you what to do."
He smiles at the last remark. "Friends? Perhaps not. But people I work with… yeah, some of them aren't the best people. I know Johnny has done some terrible stuff. There's a coldness in him that scares the frag out of me sometimes. Even Gabriel has a cruel side — he has to, to do what he does."
Orpheus replies, "Following my heart.. Thats what scares me most," he admits. ".. I worry that my heart is what told me to shoot that girl in the car.. or disembowl that ork because I wasn't sure I could take him hand to hand.." he says, thought he might not have yet told Slinger about that little Shadowrun.. Though maybe he had by now..
Orpheus can't help but blush a bit embarassed and pouty when Slinger says he has a mans body and soul. Pouty, because he probably figured Slinger was just patronizing a little bit. He's seen himself in the mirror enough times and it was definitely one of his special buttons.. "Tch, yeah.. Well.. Anyway.. S'far as Gabriel is concerned I think hes a total asshole," admits the spanish youth. Quite openly…
Johny.. Johny.. Oh yeah.. "Johny, thats the guy who did that heart surgery on me, right? I guess I can't say anything bad about him since I sorta owe him my life, in a way.. well, maybe a small part of it. He did seem a little 'off' to me, though." Orph shrugs then, and lays back in the bad, turning toward Slinger and closing his eyes as he rests against him. "If he scares you so much why do you hang around him?" he wonders aloud.
Slinger shakes his head. "Your heart isn't what led you wrong in those cases. If it even /was/ wrong. With the woman, yeah, perhaps it was. But your heart changes over time. Who you are changes. Who you were is gone with each new decision you make, and a new person is born in his place with each choice.
"Right now? You're waffling between extremes. You were trained to be a cold-blooded, merciless killing machine. Then you met me… and then you went too far the other way, trying to be merciful, to forswear killing entirely. Somewhere in the middle is what you will be. If you can guide your blades with wisdom, if you can learn to keep your fire and passion and temper it with mercy when needed, then you are going to be very, very formidible, my love," Slinger says gently, but with genuine respect in his voice. "You're already much of the way there. I can't believe how far you've come.
He laughs. "Yeah, you and Gabe didn't exactly hit it off. And yeah, he's a bit of an ass. And you haven't much liked taking orders since you left Aztlan, I've noticed. I don't like it much, either. Johnny has a lot of darkness in him, but he's a good man, down deep, as well."
The elf takes a breath, tightens his embrace around his lover. "You ought to sleep. No reason you can't. And then, we gotta talk about some stuff. Don't worry — it's all good, I think. But we might be moving," he says with a grin.
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