AMEN XLVII: Who's the Leader, Again?

[5a Violista]

Loading Docks

The simple fact that it‘s both clean and empty really unnerves Harley. It‘s exactly like they‘re all waiting for her, having known she would come in this way, having seen her coming and planned ahead. Like there‘s someone just waiting around the corner, just waiting for the right moment.

“Hello?“ she softly calls out. “Mister Thing in the Walls? Are you there? It‘s Harley.“

Sneaking in here after promising to not come back is a little unnerving. If you‘ve never been frightened by silence, you should try it, too.

[D_Lord]

Loading Docks

You know, I been thinking about adding some white tothis.

Leaning against the wall behind Harley, is D's hooded avatar. Its holding its hands up and looking at it's sleeves. Without turning to look at Harley it still talks in that strange voice of it.

Did you know how much evil is in this mountain. Little deeds of mischief, actions to break the will of strong, slaughter of symbols of good, betrayal stains the walls, two Elder Evils have existed in here, the walls of reality have been breached, one of the strongest blood mages ever ruled this place. ,

It finally turns its head towards Harley, let it doesn't seem like its head has really moved.

And here again, is the girl that controlled it all, for a time.

How can I Help you?

[5a Violista]

Loading Docks

Harley turns towards the avatar. That short speech - especially being called a "girl" instead of a "woman" - is an ample description that she wasn't strong enough. How she failed, again. Rather than replying to that part, she first says, "You know, white and black do go together pretty well."

With smalltalk out of the way, she answers the question. Well, first, before answering, she sets the bag on the ground. "Actually, I have two favors to ask you." She reaches into her jacket and pulls out the soul gem orb. It isn't glowing nearly as brightly now. In fact, it has dimmed to a dull throb, almost dark, full of despair.

"First, can you do anything about this? It's been getting darker over time." Then, she gives a quick explanation. "Its dimming accelerated just after I went and saw Magtok."

[D_Lord]

Loading Docks

With a blink D's avatar is no longer leaning against the wall but right in front of Harley.

Mmmm, I thoughtyou would last longer than this.

It holds a hand over the gem, and pulls something, sort of like black particles off it, it while doing so may give the feeling that something horrible, wrong, why this is happening impression oft something touching her into her very soul.

So

With a snap-twist its shadowed head looks at Harleys eye's.
What weapon did you get, my seeker of strength?

[5a Violista]

Loading Docks

Harley shivers as the black stuff is removed. It feels so...so...indescribable. Off. It‘s not something she‘s ever had to encounter before now. “It won‘t happen again,“ she promises. Since Harley thinks she knows what caused it all, she just has to avoid that from now on, right?

“Ironically, I got a sealed sword,“ she says, after shaking off the feeling she just had. Bitterness creeps into her voice, even though she laughs at the irony of it. “A sword locked away in its own scabbard, almost as if the Fates love mocking me.“

[D_Lord]

Loading Docks

Sealed?

It tilt's its head, it seems like its smiling.

Oh, very nice. I'm sure that when you finally unseal it, you'll have all the strength, you could want.

And now it's standing by the loading door.

If you really want I'll put in a word with them.

Yes this ancient thing, from beyond beyond is implying that it knows the Fates.

[5a Violista]

[Loading Docks]

"That would be a nice change of pace," Harley says. Both of those things. Strength. Luck.

So, that's it? Is she forgetting something...oh, right. She did ask for two specific favors. The second has to do with the bag that's sitting at her feet. Turns out it's filled with lots of different kinds of coins and money. "Right. I almost forgot. I borrowed some money from the Association last year, and this isn't enough to completely pay it back yet but it's a start. Could you put it somewhere? Since I can't really just walk in and deliver it myself."


Meanwhile, in a completely unrelated happenstance, in order to get more things happening here again...
Entering at the Front

A woman who was going to be introduced in another way floats up to AMEN. She floats upright with her feet pointed down, and she's not even half a cubit above the ground. Everything about her screams "gray" - her hair color, her long spiderweb-pattern dress, her ashen skin...even the fact that she's technically more American than English.

After going through the courtyard and the tunnel, she goes right on through the front door. Well, not right on through it like a ghost. More like someone who just opened the door. It squeaked and squealed as she pulled it open.

[KerfuffleMach2]

Front Entrance

Standing beyond the entrance is a woman. She's leaning against the wall, her arms folded in front of her. Her hair is bright blond and cut pretty short. She wears knee high black leather boots, fishnet stockings, a plaid skirt just long enough to do its job, a white dress shirt with only one button closed, and a red tie. She also wears a belt loosely around her hips, which holds a pair of odd looking handguns.

Ivaz turns her hazel eyes to the door when she hears it open.

Hey! Somebody else alive here!

[D_Lord]

[Loading Docks]

With a wave the bag is gone.

Not a problem, I doubt they even noticed. I know Magtok hasn't noticed he still is putting money in. I think he has a program that just files, his income.

[5a Violista]

[Front Entrance]

I forgot to mention the woman's name is Maria.

"Oh, hello," she says in response to being alive. "I was doing an infinite deal of nothing, bored, when I had an idea that could be exciting and dangerous."

"So. I realized it would be impossible to do on my own. Need at least someone else. One to three other people. Sounds interesting?" Does Ivaz want her to continue explaining? "I promise it'll cause a lot of bedlam."


[Loading Docks]

"Okay. Thanks," she says. Anything else that she's forgotten.

She slips the soul gem away into her jacket. "So. Um...I think that's it." Harley edges back towards the way she came in. Every moment extra she spends here...

[KerfuffleMach2]

Front Entrance

Ivaz ponders that for a brief moment.

Well, I think bedlam would be the same as chaos, right? Or at least a mild disturbance? Cause if so, then it sounds like loads of fun. She flashes a grin.

[5a Violista]

Front Entrance

“Yes.“ Maria stops hovering and crouches down so she can draw on the floor. There‘s no doubt inches of dust, considering how long it had been since this thread was touched.

She draws circles and lines on the floor. What they mean is anyone‘s guess; they‘re just that bad of drawings.

“First, we‘ll need ropes and red paint. We go to the Hunting Grounds and capture three wild beasts. The wilder, the better. We paint the numbers 1, 3, and 4 on their sides. After hijacking a blimp, we make our way up to Skyside with the beasts in tow. From there, we ride the wild animals around the city, running over everything in our way. The heroes show up and try to contain the animals; meanwhile, we bail and watch from a distance.“

[KerfuffleMach2]

Front Entrance

Ivaz continues grinning as the plan is explained.

That sounds like a great idea. I have something to add, though.

Let's strap time bombs to the beasts. Then they can blow up while people are trying to catch them.

[5a Violista]

[Front Entrance]

"I love that. I love that. I love that, that is divine," Maria says in response. "Hickory dickory dock, the mouse went up the clock, the clock struck one, the mouse blows up. Hickory dickory dock." She laughs at her rhyme.

She also does something a little weird in response to that, starting when she started the rhyme. With one of her nails, she begins writing in big capital letters "TICK" over and over on her left forearm. The way she doesn't even look down as she does it suggests that she's doing this without even noticing it. She hasn't pierced her skin yet, but that's bound to happen sooner or later. Probably later, given how sloppy her handwriting is. She's a little weird, methinks.

"Do you have the timebombs or rope or paint? That would make it go faster if we already can find some here before leaving."

[KerfuffleMach2]

Front Entrance

Ivaz raises an eyebrow at Maria's actions. You're a strange one, ain't ya?

Then she nods a bit. Bombs and rope I have, and paint's easy enough to get.

[5a Violista]

[Front Entrance]

Maria makes no response to the first comment.

She stands up again, and returns to her levitation. “Since it‘s all planned out, let‘s not waste any time.“

Still continuing with the scratch-writing, she is.


((Train rides are far to short to get everything done...))

[KerfuffleMach2]

Front Entrance

Ivaz gestures towards the door.

Lead the way, o creepy, floating one.

[5a Violista]

Front Entrance

Ivaz gestures towards the door.

Lead the way, o creepy, floating one.

[=> Gone]

Maria leads them away into the wilderness. Here it is.

[D_Lord]

Meeting Room

Well, I'm bored with waiting. I'm off to do a plan of mine.

And the Avatar walks off.

[The Alexandrian]

[AMEN's PA System]

Holy inactivity, Batman! AMEN is deader than the dinosaurs! This sorry state of affairs is untenable!

What say we liven things up a smidge, hmm?

From AMEN's intra-base speaker system, an announcement is issued. A voice that may be all too familiar to what few AMENites still walk these unhallowed halls flows through AMEN's dark and perhaps dusty corridors like a ray of sunshine trickling down from the heavens above, warming a pile of corpses. Without further ado, Clarissa, as cheery and violent as ever, addresses her comrades!

"Ladies, psychopaths, and evildoers of all ages, I'm, frankly, shocked and appalled by how boring our organization has seemed over the last couple of days, weeks, months, or whatever, and I've decided that I must fix this grievous fault of ours, if only temporarily. You're all cordially invited to the first annual mass murder and mayhem spree which will be held in Inside within the hour! I challenge each and every one of you to obliterate more of the city using any resources at your disposal than I can in, say, two hours. Prizes will be awarded to AMENites who claim first place in any of the following three categories: most buildings razed, highest bodycount racked up, and most stylish slugging of alleged heroes (aka goody-goody-two-shoes) right in the gabber!"

"Please report to the Main Room if you'd like to participate in this game! You don't have to Crush! Kill! Destroy! Swag! if you don't feel like it, but since there's no leader to punish me if I were to horribly murder y'all, I don't have to not eat you alive if I don't feel like it, so you might want to get or stay on my good side while you have the opportunity."

"Hope to see ya soon!"

-------
[Main Room]

Clarissa is waiting here beside her daughter Nicole and alt-verse grown-up Alexis. Clarissa lounges upon AMEN's comfy couch while she watches an episode of The Three Stooges, lazily wasting time until her fellow AMENites show up (if any of them do show up, that is).

[Arkhosia]

Entrance

Knock knock-knock knock knock!
I think someone wants to build a snowman enter AMEN!

[The Alexandrian]

[Entrance]

Clarissa leisurely traipses over to the door and opens it without much delay! She'll visually inspect the visitor/newcomer as she greets him/her!

"Password?"

[Arkhosia]

[Entrance]

Clarissa leisurely traipses over to the door and opens it without much delay! She'll visually inspect the visitor/newcomer as she greets him/her!

"Password?"

A woman of average height, her skin pale and her black hair on one side bouncy and in a wavy curl upwards, the left shaved in a too-long-to-be-a-buzzcut-but-too-short-to-be-otherwise stands here. Her right eye is covered by gauze and her left is kalaedascopic. She wears a red scarf tied in a way that resembles a butterfly in the knot in front, and under that she wears a cropped purple military jacket with yellow detailing and then an orange undershirt that shows her stomach. Her leggings are blue and many-pocketed, with her black boots bearing a knife in a case strapped to the left.
The woman looks rather slender and fragile.

Im here to join

[5a Violista]

[Main Room]

A woman who is actually not an AMEN member (but is currently doing something with another AMENite) shows up in the Main Room. She's just there.

Obviously, there was no sound of her footsteps since she floats in the air instead of walks. When she finally stops moving, she remains floating (although still in standing-up position).

"So." She doesn't say anything else.

[The Alexandrian]

[Entrance]

"I'm sorry, but that isn't the password. I guess you're just gonna have to fill out this form. Too bad. It's been so long since we tossed someone into the valcano."

Clarissa grins at the kaleidoscope eyed girl, showing off her pointy 'n pearly whites. It is not clear whether she kidding about the valcano sacrifice event or not.

"Come in and make yourself at home. And don't forget to sign the forms in blood - preferably not your own."

Clarissa will escort the mysterious slenderwoman to AMEN's couch and give her a pen or three dozen!
...
I don't know where those pens were stored either.

-------
[Main Room - Floating > Walking]

Floors are for chumps, man!

"Sooooo..."

Nicole replies from her "perch" on grown-up Alexis's lap.

"We'll roll out once some more people gather here. In the meantime, smoothie?"

Nicole offers the floating lady an organic, freshly conjured smoothie! It's orange! It doesn't taste like it's orange, but it is orange!

"Also, there's been a slight change of plans. We'll be hitting this new place between Riverside and Inside. We don't want to pit ourselves against the Empire again. Historically, that hasn't been to our advantage, and we don't need the Emperor and his cronies totaling our base so soon after we've rebuilt it."

[ThirdEmperor]

[Main Room]

"So. Ve just slaughtering people now?" Candyvamp leans against the doorway in a red bathrobe, hands cupped around a steaming mug of hot chocolate with the words 'World's Greatest Boss' written across the front in icing. He yawns, taking a moment to smooth back his hair as he idly floats over to the couch. "You know, that does sound an awful lot like fun. A little simple, maybe. Definitely barbaric. But still alright vith me." Whatever invisible force makes him float gives way, and Adel plops neatly down besides Clarissa without spilling a drop. The cushion turns to fluffy pink cotton. "I don't recognize everyvun. Vould you mind please making introductions? I am Aurel Adel Gregori, and maybe still the leader here."

[Arkhosia]

And so the Woman Who Doesn't Stalk People Colecting Pages In Woods fills out and signs a form!
She looks slightly faint, like she has been neglecting eating food for a day

[FORM!]
Name: Cièlle
Age: 31
Sex: Female
Species: Spiral-Imbued Beastman
Profession: Mechaless Pilot, knife fighter, and engineer
Reason for joining AMEN: Allies to work with
Special skills/items you believe will aid/have decided to contribute to AMEN: pilot skills, mechanical prowess and combat experience
References (Victims preferred): General Cytomander
Past Experience: The Human Exterminaton Wars
Other Information:

[5a Violista]

"Also, there's been a slight change of plans. We'll be hitting this new place between Riverside and Inside. We don't want to pit ourselves against the Empire again. Historically, that hasn't been to our advantage, and we don't need the Emperor and his cronies totaling our base so soon after we've rebuilt it."

[Maining room]

Maria accepts the orange smoothie. "I owe you five farthings," she tells Nicole. "I'll pay you when I grow rich."

She drinks it in between talking. "I'd like burning a new place." She's already hit all three major cities multiple times; on-screen, too!

She looks at the candypire and takes a big long drink from the smoothie. She introduces herself, too. "I'm Anna Maria and I sat on the cat."

I'm sure that's an in-joke that only she understands. Most people probably won't get it without looking it up on Google.

[Lord Magtok]

Main Room

Hey look, it's Magtok!

...Well, not exactly Magtok. The Magtok you know wouldn't dare come back here, for fear of being shot on sight or branded as a traitor by his precious little minions back at VIGIL. This particular clone's taken to calling himself Malice, for whatever reason. He's also taken to wearing a red robe instead of a purple one, carrying a big ol' laser cannon with the number '4' painted in blue along the side, and using Ultron drones as minions. The Random Plots thread can tell you how all of this stuff came about, but it's not really important and you're under no obligation to read all of that nonsense. The important thing is that this particular clone died back in 2008, when GLoG was still new, was resurrected a few weeks ago, and is totally upset with how everything in the world is completely different from how he remembered it.

"Hello? Hey Vespe, you here? Saurous? Hey Fullbladder, you around? Moon, Haruki, Draken, Kat Sinister?"

Aww, how cute. He's looking for his friends from back when he was alive. The AMENites who are all dead and forgotten now. People who have been gone and deadtimed for years now, with absolutely no chance of coming back.

[The Alexandrian]

[Main Room - Clarissa]

Uck! Clarissa rolls her eyes as Candyvamp magically converts the formerly comfy couch cushions into clouds of candy floss. That's just dandy (or he's a dandy, at least). She stand up from the couch in mild irritation and wipes herself off. It would ruin her public image were she to commit dozens of counts of particularly heinous crimes with a patch of pink fuzz stuck to her posterior like an Easter Bunny reject!

En garde, Monsieur Gregori!

"Ugh! Put on some proper clothes, Transylvania! We're going on a two hour murder bender, not sleeping over at some bloke's house! You should at least wear a gown like Mag over there..."

Yeah! A lovely, fashionable, flowing red gown like...
What in the Fourteen Realms of the Eyeless Oracle is Magtok doing inside of the base!

Clarissa attempts to hand Cielle's membership form to Gregori before rubbing her eyes.

Nope. She's not hallucinating. She didn't eat anyone sketchy this morning either, so...

Malice may find a very angry Clarissa swiftly and silently attempting to tackle him and pin him to the ground.

[Main Room - Nicole and Alexis]

Nicole raises her eyebrow as Maria introduces herself. Curious, she asks,

"Is that a euphemism for something?"

Suddenly, Magtok. The spawn of Berissa watches Clarissa's charge attempt, both bemused and confused. Magtok would have to be suicidal to return to AMEN after what he's done! What's more, this Magtok isn't wearing his signature purple robe. Aren't Magtoks executed if they display any sign of individuality like that?

Alexis contentedly wraps her arms around Nicoles waist as Nicole spins around 180 degrees in her lap to view the ongoing Clarissa and Malice shenanigans. She glances at Cielle and, with a soft, melodious lilt, informs her of something!

"The kitchen is right over there, if you're hungry."

She turns her head in the direction of the kitchen.