[BitPR²] Mortal World IV

[Kuroimaken]

[Izumo]
Kuzunoha Sanctuary

The only sign that Naito has awoken at all is the slow opening of their eyes. Naito just stares resolutely forward, not looking at either Katsuo or Shaya until they leave the room or directly address Naito. Whatever is going on, Naito doesn't seem upset or unstable, just lost in thought.

Would I?

((ACK!! Sorry, I completely missed this!! >.< ))

"I'm going to bring the two of you up to Izumo-Taisha right now, if you feel up to it." Shaya notes simply.

"Finding the isen-sekai entrance will be mostly up to you I'm afraid. If the original creator does not wish it to, it cannot be found. Perhaps our previous lack of purpose made finding it and exploring impossible..."

__________________________

[Eastern Russia]

Ryouma, released from Von Geister's glare, finds himself dropping smack towards the middle of his troops. He actually flattens one poor bastard on the way down, roaring as he throws himself mindlessly at their number.

Undisiciplined though his fighting "style" is, he still possesses considerable strength. The combined might of the Cult's army will have trouble subduing him, but he's far enough from the ranged line at this point.

Rei couldn't track with the blast. Geister had the mobility advantage the instant he saw him fire it.

His mask prevented anyone from seeing the horror in his expression as Von Geister puppeteered those who entrusted their lives to his leadership.

The Ghost King likely predicted the effect of his maneuver, but not the scale of said effect.

"...unforgivable.

I might've taken that option ten seconds ago.

But I'm afraid that's no longer possible, Kobayashi-kun."

Kamen Rider Rei's Reiatsu pulsed EXPLOSIVELY with rage. To those he was fighting besides, it was meant to foster hope, while desperation awaited the beating hearts of the men and women against him.

"Ghost King!!

You've made a mockery of the lives of my subordinates for the LAST TIME!

Know now that nothing but agony awaits you!!"

Kokurai skidded to a halt besides him, summoned from the depths of his soul.

Within the blink of any of his countless eyes, the armor-clad Commander-General of Soul Society covered the distance between them, a mere dozen feet away. His lance had shifted into a huge scythe, its blade crackling with power and the promised pain inching ever closer.

[strawberryman]

[Izumo, Japan]

Katsuo looks to Naito with a shrug. "...Are you ready? I'm feeling okay..." Not entirely a lie, but to say he felt completely ready would be. There was really no knowing what to expect here. As usual.

[Eastern Russia]

Momoka closes her eyes from the recon room, controlling her breathing. She couldn't allow this to sway her emotions, no matter how heartless it could seem. There was something too important. A theory, perhaps, but something that needed to be made open. Opening her eyes, she speaks in a sudden authoritative tone that is very unlike anything anyone has ever heard from her.

"Commander General Ishinomori, control yourself! This was not the purpose of the mission! You are outmatched! And even if you were capable of it..." She grits her teeth. "Destroying Erscheinung Von Geister could only make things worse!" ...huh?

"If you do not or cannot initiate a retreat, I find your judgement in error and will have no choice but to come to your aid!" She removes her hands from her pockets, mumbling the incantation for summoning a garganta and holding it.

Bass, meanwhile, could not quite move out of the way in time, impaled by two of the spines, and sent rocketing to the ground with a crunch. There's an incoherent scream from Chouko's transmission.

[Draken]

[Eastern Russia]

Ryouma makes short work of a cluster of stragglers. Their souls vanish into the ground.

"The gall of the dead to speak of mockery to life itself. The insolence of maggots festering within my sister's corpse after their lord killed her twice and our family countless times since."

A mass of blight erupts from one of Von Geister's hands and forms into a titanic ivory scythe. Koutarou and Masaru may have seen the likes of this blade before.

"It nearly angers me. As it is I am merely offended."

Von Geister swings the weapon once around himself, Ryouma had better dodge. He then vanishes midswing.

Koutarou had better dodge. The Ghost King closes in.

[KnightDisciple]

[Ikari]
[Kuzonoha Sanctuary]

Chuck sighed and slumped a bit.

"Fine. In this case, just tell me where you feel you can best use my skills, and what our hopefully large number of contingency plans are."

He seems resigned to the plan at hand without really liking it still.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Eastern Russia]

Masaru's eyes narrow at the mummies arise at the rear of his own forces. He gives calm orders over the radio network.

"Shields, continue to provide cover. Long range specialists, provide counter-battery fire. Short range and incendiary specialists, eliminate the turned soldiers. There is no way to assist them except to provide release. Melee specialists, provide moving cover. Recon and stealth, watch for ambushes and help recover stragglers and wounded, including the androids. All forces, move to extraction points Echo and Gamma. Double Time. I will be joining you shortly with the Commander General."

Koutarou and Momoka will have no trouble picking that up, nor will any of the troops; it's broadcast on an open channel. Masaru reaches up and tweaks his headset, before muting it. He blurs away from his position at the head of the Shinigami formation, which is moving with remarkably smooth efficiency for a group facing their own horribly mutated and turned comrades. It probably helps that perhaps a couple dozen were turned, rather than scores.

The whole battlefield suddenly feels Masaru's reiatsu surge, and the Shinigami troops actually smile despite its slightly odd feeling. His voice echoes despite no radio being used, and him seemingly not raising his voice or even being anything but calm.

"Blot out the sun and drink up the stars. Crush the mountains. Burn the sky and boil the sea. Bankai. Ancalagon the Black Death, come forth."

And then he held a spear of midnight riding a dragon of darker black. His Bankai let out a roar that was downright joyful before making a quick pass over the rows of Cultists, black flames roaring down in a few quick spurts before he was suddenly there beside Koutarou, his spear extended and quivering as it attempts to hold back the Ghost King's weapon, shadows reaching up to try and momentarily slow the King.

"We are withdrawing to regroup, Commander."

That sounded a lot like an order.

Oh, and the dragon's breathing out more fire, right at Von Geister this time, in a staccato pattern of quick spurts covering a decent area, rather than 1-2 wide streams.

[Dorizzit]

Spoiler

Show

"I'm going to bring the two of you up to Izumo-Taisha right now, if you feel up to it." Shaya notes simply.

"Finding the isen-sekai entrance will be mostly up to you I'm afraid. If the original creator does not wish it to, it cannot be found. Perhaps our previous lack of purpose made finding it and exploring impossible..."

[Izumo, Japan]

Katsuo looks to Naito with a shrug. "...Are you ready? I'm feeling okay..." Not entirely a lie, but to say he felt completely ready would be. There was really no knowing what to expect here. As usual.

[Izumo]

Naito shrugs.

"It's not like it can be worse than anything else that's happened this year. Let's get this out of the way."

Naito really seems to be that confident, but who knows what's going on behind the troubled youth's calm expression.

[Selinia]

[Okinawa, Japan]
[Umeko's Apartment]

"...huh. We'll have to go look at it sometime. Maybe this weekend? And food sounds good? Do you need any hel... yeah, uh. Probably not, good idea." Naomi lets out a sigh, turning to rest against the back of the couch and whipping out her smartphone and thumbing through her emails, texts, and missed calls. Sometimes she wondered if she had too many information feeds. But... nah. "I should probably clean my accounts out anyway. Yeesh, spend a day away from the computer and you get swamped. I'm here to help though, if there's like... water that needs boiling. Um."

She was pretty sure she couldn't screw that one up, at least. Instant ramen was a staple of Naomi's diet.

[strawberryman]

[Okinawa, Japan]
(Asahi Apartment)

Umeko chuckles. "Nah, I'll be fine, Nao." With a pat on the shoulder, she makes for the kitchen, pulling the ingredients out, heating up some oil, and generally getting to work. Within a couple of minutes, the smell of cooking chicken permeates the apartment.

Naomi might note a missed call from an unknown number, just during the evening! The voice that comes up when Naomi plays the message is that of a laid-back female with a highly informal air.

"Hisakawa Naomi, this is Kimura Kiku, but most people just call me Kimura."

"I'm Von Geister's accountant, but I'm an investor, and he told me that you'd be willing to talk business for your manga career. Seeing as I've come on quite a windfall lately, I'm willing to give you a shot. I'm heading to Okinawa by jet tonight and will be staying in a hotel in your town, so just call me back at this number whenever you want to arrange a meet. No ghosts or anything, just good old business talk."

"...And it'd certainly sweeten any deals we make if you bring an autographed volleyball from your girlfriend, or something like that. Talk to you soon, anyway."

Beep! Well. That's neat.

[Kuroimaken]

[Soul Society]

A seemingly desperate researcher calls out to Momoka.

"Senior Researcher Kobayashi!!
These readings, they're...!"

If she heeds his call, she'll notice that Kamen Rider Rei's readings are completely off-the-scale for what is known of him.

Masaru's readings, on the other hand, are stable by comparison, even if they are quite high from his usage of Bankai.

What does it mean?

__________________________________________

[Eastern Russia]

Ryouma is very much a creature of instinct. He knows when something is deadly enough he has to get out of the way.

Kamen Rider Rei is not, and it doesn't look as though he is listening, unfortunately.

Masaru can feel the pull and push of the field surrounding him. The Commander-general advances with a thunderous cry as his own blade runs along the inside of Von Geister's massive weapon. It positively carves a hollow into the bone-like scythe as he advances, though this leaves his back completely exposed. He's using the field to increase his own attack power, his Reiatsu adding to the pressure of his attack. With Geister's swipe coming from the right, Rei strikes from the right to the left, aiming for Geister's torso, though chances are his assault will be driven off-course by the sheer weight of the attack he's meeting.

[strawberryman]

...as the researcher looks back to Momoka, she's... not there? Just the closing mouth of a garganta.

[East Russia]

A garganta yawns open on the far end of the battlefield, and through it... there's a sudden barrage of pink spheres of energy that scatter like cherry blossoms... hitting the remainder of the zombies in the head and sending them crumpling to the ground.

Through the gap in space, Momoka steps calmly out, leaving the portal open behind her and calling out to the collected troops. "Soldiers of Seireitei! Soldiers of the Combat Division! Your Captain has issued an order of withdrawal! I will leave this Garganta open as long as possible, and it would be wise of you least injured to make sure no enemy forces come through with the others!" ...well, she sure came out of nowhere, but she has the commanding presence down. It's sure a new look to anyone who's met her.

With that, she approaches the edge of the melee with Von Geister with a swift shunpo, and holds her right hand out. "Intensify. Hado 58: Tenran." A whirling orb of wind forms in front of Momoka... and blasts outward with a massive explosion of air, aiming to push Koutarou, Masaru, and Von Geister apart. Nonlethally, of course.

[Draken]

I imagine that Ancalagon's fire breath does not, in fact, fall upon Von Geister as it would mean catching Koutarou in the blast as well.

Well, it could always be aimed off-center in order to hopefully avoid the raving leader, but that would be dreadfully simple to avoid.

For his part, Vincenzo does his best to subdue to flames and help his soldiers retreat, this is no longer a fight for them, no matter how frenzied their lord's presence might drive them.

As for the center of the action.

A torso is not a thing Von Geister could be said to have. A mass of tendrils and perhaps something akin to a head in an anatomy most closely reminiscent of a cnidarian. Koutarou's blow nonetheless manages to slide past the guard of a titanic skeletal hand and reach...

A second disembodied limb. The plating cracks from the impact, but the Ghost King shows no signs of halting. A third hand calls a knife as large as a man into being, poised to deliver a blow.

When a tornado casts him away, rolling across the air before stabilizing himself once more with a spread of suddenly re-leathered wings.

"Ho, ho, ho. Aren't you just timely, miss Kobayashi."

[Kuroimaken]

For his own part, Rei is no more difficult to blow away - he was already in motion, and he doesn't have anywhere to hang on to.

He snaps back to readiness a bit slower than Von Geister does, however. Blame his bipedal sense of orientation for that.

He is also confused because apparently the enemy leader knows one of his top officers. And then there was Momoka's talk of making things worse...

"What is the MEANING of this?!"

[strawberryman]

[Tokyo, Japan]
(Moto Corp - Shipping Dock)

Vanessa Adler was irritated. Of course, this was nothing out of the ordinary, she pretty much always is at something or other. Clovis, the Princess, even her subordinate nature to Von Geister. But that was her place in life.

She stands waiting nearby several industrial shipping containers with her arms crossed, throwing occasional glares to the two nearby Moto agents. Her business suit being of a similar plain motif to the agents could almost make it easy to mistake her for an operative, but of course Kato knew differently. Satomi's right-hand woman watches over the situation from the security cameras. For safety, of course.

The elevator reaches the floor of the dock, and Satomi steps out alone, adjusting her glasses idly as she approaches. She gives a nod to the Moto agents, and then observes Vanessa. "I trust you are the extra security Severin sent."

"Indeed. Let's get this over with."

"Very well. Allow me to walk you through the containers, to ensure nothing is missing." She puts a hand up to the Moto agents as they move to follow, walking through the containers one by one. It takes about 15 minutes each.

As they exit the third container and Vanessa closes it, she nods to the Moto agents. "Then it's all accounted for. My agents will accompany you, and are able to drive the trucks. You will be in the front haul, with a driver. Do give Von Geister my regards." With that, she's gone. Vanessa feels like giving the woman a couple of words for essentially bossing her around, but she's gone before it matters.

Some mortals have such nerve.

[East Russia]

((Will let KD respond, just needed to get this out of the way.))

Momoka observes Von Geister neutrally, not even with her usual coy smirk. As things are thrown into a temporary standstill, she then looks to Rei.

"...Simply put, before I left the Dangai Void, I came across Von Geister. Or more appropriately, his spy. You see, while Izanami has submitted to her exile, she did not sit idly by. I spent a considerable amount of time reinforcing the barriers around her, and in this time she babbled about all manner of things. I saw some truth in her insanity. Of course, I could not base theories blindly on such madness. So I confirmed with him that Soul Society was resting in her rotting carcass. That the flow of souls was simply some cosmic pact between Izanami and Izanagi. Perhaps a necessary arrangement once, but one that would only lead to stagnation. Perhaps you do not agree with his methods, but we are undeniably better off."

She allows a moment to react before continuing. "In this, I am at least passably certain in one other thing. But perhaps it is the Ghost King's place to confirm." Her gaze pierces Von Geister like an arrow. Perhaps he is not frightened of her, but it's impressive nonetheless. And she is most certainly not afraid of him.

"Erscheinung Von Geister, what is your link to Izanami-no-Mikoto?"

[Draken]

[East Russia]

"I am her hands, I am her confidant, her advisor and closest friend. Her wisdom and her strength. We are vastly lessened while we remain split into Life and Death."

Von Geister drops the scythe, its breaks down into maggots. And then he starts looking into his hand, where Koutarou struck.

"Curious..."

[KnightDisciple]

[East Russia]

"You talk too much."

And then the last dregs of the wind are swirled into a cone of black fire roaring right at Von Geister. Now that the Ghost King is separated from Koutarou, Masaru is not limited to small fireballs for Ancalagon to breathe out. The dragon himself seems almost bored. When Masaru speaks, he's clearly keeping irritation tightly reigned in.

"Less talking. More withdrawing."

He uses the cover of his mount's fire breath to snag his Commander and Momoka with shadow tendrils snaking off of his own spear, while the dragon construct flaps its wings and begins moving toward the still-open Garganta, where the troops are retreating in an orderly fashion.

The wounded are already gone, including the wounded androids; it is only the uninjured remaining, and even they are quickly moving to being completely evacuated. If nothing else, their orderly retreat and mixture of forces prevented heavy casualties, and their return fire has likely at least wounded, if not disabled or killed, some Cult forces.

[Kuroimaken]

To everyone's surprise, Kamen Rider Rei actually allows himself to be dragged away through the open Garganta...

[strawberryman]

[East Russia]

Momoka makes no attempt to fight off the tendrils, and does not comment further. However, if Masaru will allow her some more autonomy she will gladly help the retreat without a word.

After all, the whole reason she came was to assist in a retreat.

[Selinia]

[Okinawa, Japan]
(Asahi Apartment)

Umeko chuckles. "Nah, I'll be fine, Nao." With a pat on the shoulder, she makes for the kitchen, pulling the ingredients out, heating up some oil, and generally getting to work. Within a couple of minutes, the smell of cooking chicken permeates the apartment.

Naomi might note a missed call from an unknown number, just during the evening! The voice that comes up when Naomi plays the message is that of a laid-back female with a highly informal air.

Spoiler

Show

"Hisakawa Naomi, this is Kimura Kiku, but most people just call me Kimura."

"I'm Von Geister's accountant, but I'm an investor, and he told me that you'd be willing to talk business for your manga career. Seeing as I've come on quite a windfall lately, I'm willing to give you a shot. I'm heading to Okinawa by jet tonight and will be staying in a hotel in your town, so just call me back at this number whenever you want to arrange a meet. No ghosts or anything, just good old business talk."

"...And it'd certainly sweeten any deals we make if you bring an autographed volleyball from your girlfriend, or something like that. Talk to you soon, anyway."

Beep! Well. That's neat.

[Okinawa, Japan]
[Asahi Apartment]

"Oh, this is cool! There's a message from that investor the Baron mentioned. She's a fan of yours, apparently - asking for your autograph, at the least. Hmmm... she's apparently in town and... wants to meet? This is actually kind of refreshingly normal. Also, wow that smells good." Naomi indulges in a few sniffs at the air.

"Tomorrow afternoon might be good for this, maybe? After I get off work. I'll need to stop by here to change and freshen up a bit, but that shouldn't be a problem. Hopefully I don't screw this up. Again." A small sigh, before punching in a text and hovering her thumb over 'Send'. It's way late, after all. "...that sound all right to you? No idea how long the meeting will take, but she seems pretty to-the-point?"

[strawberryman]

[Ikari, Japan]
(Kuzunoha Compound)

((About time to move this ahead, I think.))

"...so how will you be approaching her with this? It's not like she'll just jump when there's a bunch of fake reports put out." Misaki sits back, just trying to piece out how she could improve this. "You'll need something official-looking, something you can put on a record, several records if need be."

[Okinawa, Japan]
(Asahi Apartment)

Umeko turns from the stove, looking somewhere near ecstatic. "That's great, Nao. And of course! I'd love to be with you on this. I'm going in early myself, too, and I can trade off easily enough. This is a big step for you, so... Well, I'm sure you can hold your own, but it's about time I cheer you on, yeah?" Also she's a little suspicious still, but at the least it doesn't sound that bad.

Regardless of Naomi's answer, she turns back to finish cooking, piling rice, veggies and meat with some manner of orange sauce into bowls, carrying them to the coffee table with a smile. She plops down easily, chowing down... then pausing for a moment with a muffled chuckle, swallowing. "...you know, this really doesn't feel that different. But it does. And is. We've kind of condensed a bunch of new milestones in a few days, if you think about it." She makes one of her usual exasperated but amused chuckles.

"What were we waiting for?"

[Draken]

[East Russia]

The Cult forces evacuate in full while under fire from Masaru, many lives were lost that night. Their spirits shall know reverence and magnanimity.

Literally.

Von Geister slithers off after Momoka takes the last of the shinigami into the garganta. Vanishing into a spatial rift of his own.

[Kuroimaken]

[Ikari, Japan]
(Kuzunoha Compound)

((About time to move this ahead, I think.))

"...so how will you be approaching her with this? It's not like she'll just jump when there's a bunch of fake reports put out." Misaki sits back, just trying to piece out how she could improve this. "You'll need something official-looking, something you can put on a record, several records if need be."

"We will call from the municipal morgue under the guise of the police. I know a couple of ways we can work that out. It should hold under scrutiny, even if it won't fool her into believing it's not a trap."

[Selinia]

[Okinawa, Japan]
[Asahi Apartment]

"...a ghost mad scientist, apparently?" Naomi can't help but laugh a bit at the absurdity of it as she sends off the simple confirmation text and sets the phone aside properly to better focus on the food. And the company! "I guess... we were worried that we'd lose something incredible. But what's past is past! Eyes forward and into the future, because it looks pretty amazing from where I'm sitting!"

"Seriously though, you're more than welcome to come! From the sounds of it, you'll only help my chances." The stir-fry's already respectable flavor is distinctly enhanced by Naomi's glowing mood, and she takes a few minutes to really savor the meal before continuing. "I mean, I'm not holding out too much hope here just because I can handle a bit of pattern recognition, but it'd be really cool to add my first actual manga commission to that stack of milestones."

The artist beams at the prospect, radiating that unique enthusiasm that always shines through when discussing her work.

[Kuroimaken]

[Somewhere north of Romania]

Sagarosso's face was the ultimate expression of ennui. Ever since his encounter with that not-Shinigami in the village, he kept roaming the countryside in search of more interesting prey. That particular fight went without conclusion, as he decided to leave the seer to her fate after losing a near-fatal quantity of blood.

He had been secluded for a number of centuries, so it wouldn't do to kill every medium he met. He might starve himself out of food, and he hated the taste of Hollow blood.

Something drew him northward, edging towards Russia, as he faintly sensed a curious form of spiritual energy he had never felt while on Earth. He wasn't in a hurry, however.

[strawberryman]

[Okinawa, Japan]
(Asahi Apartment)

Umeko smiles as she continues to chow down. "...well then, to more milestones?" With that toast out of the way, she fills the evening with more casual conversation, eventually turning in for a short nap before work.

Of course, she's up and out by 6:30, heading out to the training facility. While she appreciated Naomi's company, it was quite a relief to get back to semi-normality. Of course, her trainees had some incredulous comments to get out of the way before she could return to her routine, after all Asahi Umeko calling in a sick day was like a snowy day in summer. But of course, there was little time for nonsense. She cracks the whip right into her usual drills before the entire team's given their jokes.

She's done by mid-afternoon, trading off to one of the other trainers and running back to her apartment. Given the beaches' proximity to her apartment complex and her speed, hopefully she'll make it back in time to meet Naomi. In either case, she picks out one of her nicer shirts and pants and heads out to the restaurant for the meet.

(Sunset Izakaya)

Sitting at a private dining area in a somewhat high-class beachside izakaya, Kiku Kimura waits for the scheduled meet time, calmly sipping on a beer. She's got her laptop out, perusing some of Naomi's work and other details. Her work, her social media pages, anything at all.

Based on her style (somewhat stylized, something like the more quirky popular works with lots of color), Kimura can say it's at least worth a try. And after all, she'd been in a rather good mood lately with Von Geister's contracts. If this went well, she could think about starting her own publishing company! There are certainly worse ways to make money than to exploit prop up artists looking for more creative license in an industry that sometimes takes the safe route to save money.

[Frozen_Feet]

[Somewhere in Russia]

A doctor walks into emergency care room, where two nurses are trying to stop a man from bleeding to death. The poor guy looks like he's been through a meatgrinder, the most recognizable part of him being a blood-soaked vest adorned with the emblem of local motorcycle club. The hospital staff tried to make him take it off, but he stubbornly refused. On the sight of it, the doctors rolls her eyes. <"Oh great, another biker?">

One of the nurses looks up to her. <"He's pretty badly wounded, doctor.">

<"Do I look like I care?">, comes a dry reply.

<"I think we're losing him">, the other nurse adds.

The doctor throws her hands up in the air. <"If he was someone important, we'd have people from the mob all over the place already."> The nurses give each other knowing looks. <"Let's just say there was nothing to be done and get on with the paperwork. The world will hardly be worse for his passing.>"

A man watches this scene, floating an inch above the ground, trying to get people to pay attention. <"Hey. HEY! That's me you have on the table, bitch! You can't just call it quits like that! Hey! Why can't you hear me, you dumb broad?">

<"... mostly because you're dead. Or, well, close enough that it doesn't matter.">

Annoyed, the man turns around. <"Who the f..."> The profanity dies in his throat when he sees who's speaking. It's a figure clad in black, with snakes of bone for hair and horns and way too many eyes. It smiles with its too many mouths, revealing teeth that it especially has too many of. <"Oh, hello. Don't believe we've met.>"

The soon-to-be-former biker is pale as if he's just seen a ghost, which in all honesty is exactly the case. Every instinct in his body... errr, spirit is telling him to bolt, but he doesn't. He's way too dignified for that, in his own way. So instead, he straightens his incorporeal back and faces this apparation with a stern face.

<"You must be, uh, the Grim Reaper, I guess? This must really be it, then.">

The apparition rubs its chin and nods in agreement. <"You could say that. We're sort of an amateur in this profession, don't have the official license or anything. Might've had one in our past lives, who knows.">

<"So what happens next?">

The apparition paces around, careful to not hit anyone in the room. Objects, it can pass through easily enough, but people would certainly find it uncomfortable should it brush against them. <"Well, based on what good doctor there said, it doesn't sound like you lead what could be called an honorable life."> The biker looks angry and about to object, but the apparition lifts a finger to stop him. <"Now, now, let's not argue over it. It's not like we decide the rules or anything. But if you want to delay the inevitable, there's a deal we could offer you. In exchange, we only need to borrow your mortal shell, or what's left of it. You interested?">

The biker's ghost hesitates briefly, then nods. The apparition's smile grows even wider.

<"Splendid.">

---

[Days later, beside a road heading east from Moscow]

In a forlorn gas station in the middle of nowhere, the owner is leaning on the shop counter and sipping vodka while watching news from an old TV. The reporter is waxing on about how a fight broke out between two motorcycle clubs, with several people ending up dead. The prime suspect eloped from a hospital and is now on the run.

Day as normal, then. Bored, the owner takes another sip from his bottle and switches channels. That's when sound of the wind chime tells him someone has stepped into his station.

<"Hello. Came to pay for the gass. Ought to be enough."> A man, clad in black leather coat, lays down some bills on the counter. His face is obscured by a pair of sunglasses and bloodsoaked bandages. The owner gives him a stare, then slides the bills off the counter and into his pocket without letting his eyes off the stranger. <"Yeah. I suppose it is.">

<"I could also do with a cup of coffee. Is that allright?", the stranger asks jovially. The owner nods at an old, dirty pan to the right. <"Help yourself">, he grumbles.

The stranger pours himself a cup and turns to watch television. The owner peers at his back, trying to see which club the stranger belongs to. Emblazoned on the back is a snake-dragon-thing biting its own tail. Pretty generic, but doesn't ring any bells.

<"Nice coat, huh?">, the stranger asks. The owner raises an eyebrow. How did he notice he's looking, with his head turned away. <"It's a pretty new club. I don't think you've heard of it. We're pretty exclusive">, the stranger continues. <"Is that so">, the owner mutters in reply. Awkward silence ensues. The stranger drinks his coffee, and then leaves.

Outside, the stranger takes off his glasses and looks at his face from the side mirror of his newly stolen acquired bike. <"Now this brings back some memories, don't you think?", he asks from thin air. <"Yeah, but none of our own">, a voice inaudible to ordinary men replies from his shoulder.

Then, the stranger gets back on saddle and begins riding. His goal is still a long way off. As he goes, his presence leaves behind a trail of threads, some blue, some read, some white or black, seen only by those with a connection to the spirit world.

There ought to be a lot more people like that around than there used to, if the recent events are anything to go by.

[Kuroimaken]

Depending on his ability to sense spiritual pressures, the possessive ghost might sense himself being tailed - or at the very least, he'd have the unpleasant feeling of being watched. Stalked, even.

While riding.

Curiouser and curiouser...

[Frozen_Feet]

As he rides, the stranger glances at the mirror. Hmmm, odd. The road is empty, yet he feels like he's being followed. No carrion birds can be seen overhead either. He begins to slow down, then stops his bike at the side of the road. <"Don't know who you are, but might as well get this done and over with">, he speaks in Russian. Hey, if it's a local ghost, that's as good a guess as any. <"Though if you're just hungry, I'll note there are easier prey than me around."> The man draws out a lighter and a box of cigarettes, but after taking one ponderous breath, he dumps the cigarette and the box and the lighter too. <"Man, no matter the body, these still taste bad. Really hard to keep the cool biker pose when a bit of smoke makes you retch, what do you think?">

[Kuroimaken]

Obviously because he wants to make his 'prey' look stupid, Sagarosso makes it a point to show from the opposite side.

<"Eat you? Moi? Clearly you haven't the foggiest about how absolutely god-awful you taste. I can smell it from here.">

For his own part, he looked like a throwback to the 18th or 19th century with how he was dressed. It screamed "VAMPIRE" so loud you'd think he was going to a Castlevania fan convention.

<"I'm using you as a way to appease my curiosity. I can tell the shell you're in is still alive, and not many make 'Faustian deals' these days.">

[Frozen_Feet]

The stranger wasn't really looking anywhere in particular. He doesn't even turn to look at the "vampire", being content to talk with his back turned, leaning on his bike. <"It was pretty dead when I got into it. Still warm enough for me to kickstart it and get it back up, but it took a bit of power. Luckily, I have a lot to spare."> He digs a piece of fudge from his pockets and starts chewing. <"But yes, a contract of sorts was involved. Nice costume, by the way.">

[Kuroimaken]

<"It has also been some time since I last met someone with LITERAL eyes in the back of their head."> Sagarosso teased.

<"Then again, why bother with keeping the original soul alive? You're using it as a replacement body, no? Surely if you can possess it like that you can afford to ditch the original occupant?">

He hovered a bit closer, almost literally.

<"In fact, what DO you need a mortal body for at all?">

[Frozen_Feet]

<"The original occupant is a part of me, comrade. That was part of the deal. It'll be so untill we... sorry, I, complete my task in this world."> The stranger eats another piece of candy. <"Being invisible while at it would be a bit inconvenient.">