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 Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 3:44 am
Mareshin laughed slightly.
"You have to ask? I'm sure you heard something, good chance that you heard it right too."
Nearly every rumor Mareshin had heard about himself was true, though some things where just a load of crap. Most rumors just came down that he killed people, which isn't exactly a lie, but there was so much more to do. Those human Death Dealers need a lot of help, training and structure mostly.
"Most would think that the actions of the Death Dealers are random and without meaning. That is wrong, I make sure that the majority of those actions have significance. A small group is left alone to do as they like to keep that random idea in the masses their minds. It spreads more chaos and makes protecting themselves even harder. That is what I mostly do now."
Mareshins voice nor face didn't even changed slightly as he told the three what it was he did. Giving significance to Death Dealer actions.
"So Penelope's outburst a moment ago was rather truthful. But mostly-"
He continued, just remembering something else.
"- I've been training a succesor. I have no further ambitions in the Death Dealers, this world can offer them only so much, thus they will need to be destroyed at a certain time. I an my student can keep them structured, but what happens after that? If all is gone there's nothing more to ruin..."
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Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 6:06 pm
Zion nodded. "That makes sense in a way. Randomness is seldom a means to an end. But as a cloak it is effective. I heard they wished to remake existance through their destrucion. Using the enregy of their victems to take over. But if you are a member of them then I supose you would know more then me. I only hear rumors. Most of which are false hafl truths." He shrugged. He woundered what sort of signifigance could be gotten from suich death. It was possible to harness the power from the deaths but it seemed nearly impossible to store that much energy. Which was why he doubted the rumor he heard was correct. Maybe they were trying to killl certain amounts to cause a second dark ages where evil might triumph."But I really don't care. They can do what they want and I wont interfere unless I have a reason. " No matter what happened he didn't care. Humanity was interesting but hardly worth the effort to protect it. The angels would do that. And if they failed, well then it didn't matter in the first place.
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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 11:58 am
Mareshin let his left hand pass over his left ear as he scratched his head just above it.
"In truth I, myself, don't know to much about it. It is indeed possible to harness energy from deaths of mortals, any demon can do so, but it is unlikely that an entire community would benefit from it. What I've gathered about it is that one of them, be it mortal or not, found a way to store tremendous amounts of that energy. But only he.. Or she, would benefit from it."
He went trough his memories once more as he heard himself speak, one of his mortal trustees came and told him about a small group within the Death Dealers which where interested in a higher death rate amongst the victims and an increase of victims. As Mareshin asked around a bit not much was revealed, except that there was a group which demanded exactly that and similar things as Zion said.
"But I am surprised to hear that you know something about that, Zion. Well, I suspect that the circle that knows about it exists of the master mind and trustees smart enough to keep their mouth shut and be informed of crucial plans that shouldn't be interrupted yet stupid enough not to understand what is going on. Either way, their leader can be considered as my rival.."
And a faint smile briefly crossed Mareshins face.
"But too many do not realized the danger in their own organisation nor the danger of their methods. The Death Dealers will crumble and if humanity survives, the original founder will come again. For he too, benefits from all this. Though even full blooded demons, like my father, do not know who that is. And speculation is, in this case, a waste of time."
Mareshin looked at Zion, from the three here, he had suspected him, to be the strongest. Not only that but he keeps talking and is interested.
'He might be fun to fight against, he shows promise...'
The other two where not, in any way, intimidating. But neither would he underestimate them. Human souls hold a great deal of energy when in the mortal plane, yet to get one is hard. Grim Reapers do not only show the way, they are supposed to make sure they get to the place where they need to be. Any Reaper is a tough opponent.
Mareshins gaze passed the three once more in an observing manner and, for a first, kept locked on the third, yet to be named, member of his 'guests'. What was her role in all this? Mareshin was certain she possessed at least a decent amount of power, but doubt and fear is readable in her.
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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:08 pm
Danielle listened intently at this point. This conversation had suddenly turned onto a point she understood. That organized group... Danielle was certain she'd heard much about them before, though this information was what she'd attained only in the recent months, but Dani knew more.
Street demons always had it rough. They usually didn't want to side with the Dealth Dealers, simply for disagreements with some, or all of their morals, ideas, and goals. Danielle fell into such a category. Many, though, tire of this grueling life, and seek to change it by any means. Some become common criminals and steal or kill to get what they need, when they need it. Others, though, join the Dealth Dealers.
And why wouldn't they?
Living the life of a Death Dealer nearly grants one safety and an easy lifestyle, which is a more than welcome gift to a starving street urchin.
One of Dani's best friends from a few years ago was one such demon. The girl was a full-blooded demon, and she and her twin brother were never apart. They were both older than her, and they became friends when Danielle was being picked on by a Death Dealer who was bored enough to bother the tweleve-year-old half-demon. The two came to her rescue and instantly the child found herself wanting to stay in their company. They offered her protection and freindship, and for nearly a year an a half they survived together.
Life was slowly and steadily getting worse then, though, and times were getting rougher. Darka and Starra were getting fed up with that life.
"Think about it Darka!" Starra said to her brother as the trio lounged in an alleyway, rinsing their legs and arms with the tainted-looking water which poured from a faucet that jutted from the wall. "Death Dealers get anything they want! Plus, you know damn well that we're strong enough to fit right in there." She stated matter-of-factly.
"Yes, dearest sister, but what of little Dani?" He asked and looked to the girl just as she turned of the faucet and started swinging her arms around. Hearing her name drew her attention.
"I don't want to be a Death Dealer, Starra!! They're mean demons, and they hurt people, and --"
"SHUT IT! This is the best option for us all Danielle! It's ******** you toughened up anyway!" Starra interjected loudly. Danielle could feel tears welling in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall and simply sat, her head down, with her back against the wall. She didn't want to be a killer... She didn't want to be a Death Dealer...
"I understand what you're saying, Starra," Darka continued after that interlude, "but we cannot just leave Danielle to fend for herself, and it's quite obvious that she is not going to comply with this plan of yours." Darka had always known his sister had a bit of an evil streak, but most of the time, he'd been able to keep it under control. This time, though, he had a feeling he was fighting a loosing battle.
Danielle had fallen asleep not long after this arguement, and more of a similar nature followed in the days after. It didn't bother Danielle, though, as she figured Darka would calm things and it would blow over. One morning, though, that all changed when she awoke and was being carried, riding the back of Darka as he followed his sister.
"Darka... Where are we...?" She mumbled, still sleepy even after her long night of rest.
"To the Home." He said simply, using the code-word that Danielle had always assumed was the universially developed name for the place where the Death Dealers lived and operated.
"No!!" She yelped suddenly, starting to flail a little bit. "No, Darka!!! I thought you said we wouldn't do this!! I don't want to be a Death Dealer!" At this point, she'd flailed around enough to fall off Darka's back, onto the pebbled stone ground beneith his feet.
"This is the best plan for us all Danielle. Now get up and walk with us.." Darka's voice was ever-calm, and smooth as always as he spoke gently to her, trying to calm her down while his sister stood moodily behind him, impatient to get moving. Danielle skidded away from him, tears then falling from her eyes as she stood and turned all in one motion, taking off in a sprint the next second. More tears fell. She would never see her friends again.
No one had came after her that day, and until then, she'd never heard from them.
'It has to be them...' Dani thought. Only that pair could concoct [sp?] such a devious plan; with Darka's genius and Starra's evil... It was a fool-proof team! It seemed, though, that a trickle of information had been leaked by someone whom, like Darka, was to easy to trust, which would give a reason to the rumors that float about the town daily.
His eyes fell on her. Mareshin. Danielle's visage had been determined and thoughtful as memories came back, but she quickly replaced her fearful, clueless innocence, hoping she hadn't givin herself away, but equally sure he'd seen too much.
He still didn't even know her name. This almost made her smirk. She didn't though, and carefully gaurded herself in all ways she knew possible, not letting her expression change, wishing he'd look away from her so she could properly think! She would be greatful to be underestimated by him... She had some bit of strength in her, and though she was quite innocent, and had her humane sense of good judgement, she was also half-demon, and that came with certain evil traits as well.
Danielle was smart, and to put it simply: not to be underestimated.
She has potential.
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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 6:20 pm
((ARGH! My computer has NOT been workkkkkking. AND. When I did post, it disconnected... loosing my WHOLE post. I was not in a good mood. Rawrface. BUT.. here it is, and sorry if it's not well written because I'm trying to remember what I wrote and it's not working.))
"If all is gone there's nothing more to ruin..." echoed through her. Repeating and repeating until she said something.
She remained quiet until she could not bare it any longer.
"Why must you ruin everything?" the expression of her face drained away. "Do you wish to see the middle ground between Heaven and Hell fall apart from the inside? Or do you wish to destroy humanity?"
She gawked into Mareshin's vancant eyes and realized that they reminded her of her own eyes, dead on the inside and searching for purpose. She searched for the reason of why he would do such a thing, but nothing was found. Day by day, they do their duty hoping they will find purpose but they loose themselves on the way there. They yearn to be alive but they are already gone. Can you kill something when it's already dead?
Society is crumbling from the inside and soon will no longer exist. Savagery will be embraced as humans plague the earth, burning it to the ground. Humans are struggling to survive, but now ,it's the earth that's struggling to survive. Penelope paused thinking if the human race was worth saving. Should things go back to what they were? Having humans sucked the world dry of its resources like a parasite? We are becoming the animals, and nothing more.
If the earth beneath our feet could say just a word, it would not even be a word, but a shriek of unbelievably pain.
Humanity will never survive at this rate.
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Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 6:40 pm
Zion smiled slightly. So the rumor had been correct. Or that is to say partially correct. He had only said part of what he had heard. But he had wanted some confermation on that fact. But if what Mareshin said was correct there might be a large source of power usable by only one or maybe two. He woundered if maybe he should reconsider the death dealers offer. To join such a group might be interesting. And there were other ways they could get to heaven's realm then useing an angels abilities. So the longer he waited the more likely they would aquire one such, and then he would only be useful as a grunt. And while he might be a powerful grunt he din't like the idea of following comands. He considered while the grim reaper talked. "They might simply wish to restart every thing with a new boss incharge. No god, no lucifer, no heavan, no hell. Simply the death dealers. A clean slate as it were." He interjected this queitly after she finished. He knew that mareshin would hear it, and as to the the others he didn't know. It would depend if they were paying attention or not. He shrugged. He had given the rest of what he knew.
He turned and watch the other member of their group. He felt something odd about her. He would normally try to do a more through reading of her essence to try and gather more information. But to do so with such powerful beings nearby was stupid, and if the others hadn't noticed the oddity it would give too much away. He grinned. He hadn't had such fun in ages. This end of existance was bringing more interesting things around then the last couple centuries. Powerful demons, grim reapers on secret missions, deadly groups of other worldly beings, and other such things.
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Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:19 pm
Mareshin was truly surprised by Penelope's response. And not only because she responded so firmly to someone she clearly acknowledged to be her better, or at least classified as 'not to be trifled with'.
"On the contrary, I wish to see no such things. Death and destruction serve me in their own way and I shall not stop one who seeks it. But to destroy and kill everything is not good form me. Here let me show it."
Mareshin raised his hand and it glowed red faintly before it showed a dark red circle with in it at the right side a small figure representing Mareshin and at the other side contained a mass of humans and some sort of city. Then one of the buildings caught fire and fell to it's left, hitting another building which caught flame and crumbled too. Then a red glow moved from the ruins to Mareshin. A few seconds later people in the mass started to drop dead and with each death a red glow traveled to Mareshin.
Then the mass and the buildings moved further to the right and at the left end a shadowy figure appeared. Every building and human collapsed and a yellow glow went to the shadow and a red one to Mareshin. Then the shadowy figure made place for a pyramid of shadowy figures and took the top itself. It then drained all other shadows of their life with that yellow glow.
"You see? I have no intention of draining other demons of their lives or something, but without humans there is nothing for me to give me some extra's. And if all deaths serve him more then me he, or she, can be come more powerfull then me... But first it'll be enough to say that I have no objections should anyone safe humanity from that entity."
Mareshin looked up, the moon had traveled far already. Time always seemded to go faster when distracted.
"Well, I still have a lot to do. If you'll excuse me."
And he turned around and started walking to the place where he had appeared.
'Hmm, there's a lot of work to be done...'
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 7:54 pm
Penelope's hands were trembling with anger. Her scythe began to shake violently as well. Her eyes were still a void. but anyone could tell she was pissed. Her lips were tight; Her spine straight and with purpose.
"How dare you," she hissed at Mareshin.
The tension was so thick that you could cut it with a knife as she paused. She purposely paused so she could think of a better response; a response perfectly mastered to prove a point.
"You'd rather kill other beings than not be the most powerful. What are you afraid of, Mareshin? Is it that you are so unfufilled with your life that you are trying to make a purpose or is it that you can't stand that someone could be better, faster, stronger? Or are you so weak inside that you have to prove your strength?"
She paused again, to read his body language of his reaction.
"What's your real reason of why you are committing murder?"
Her eyes widened in realization. What was God's reason to kill him? Was it that God is frightened that he will no longer be the most dominant, most powerful being? She felt ill, a feeling she has never experienced as a grim reaper, but she looked back at Mareshin wanting to hear his reply.
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 12:59 pm
Penelope launched an attack on Mareshin he hadn't come across, not often at least. Trembling with anger, instead of fear, she hissed at him and raged.
"How dare you?"
"You'd rather kill other beings than not be the most powerful. What are you afraid of, Mareshin? Is it that you are so unfulfilled with your life that you are trying to make a purpose or is it that you can't stand that someone could be better, faster, stronger? Or are you so weak inside that you have to prove your strength?"
Mareshin had already stopped walking and now turned around to face Penelope, her eyes where still void, but her scythe dangerously rattled as her hands forced it because of the trembling. Never had he seen this before.
"What's your real reason of why you are committing murder?"
Mareshin raised his eye brow shortly.
"Real reason? It is quite simple. To step up the ladder in the demonic hierarchy, kill the demon above you. Or a kill of simular worth to the demons. Only achieving power will lift you only that much. I would still be above the one gaining power because of my father, but if that demon is more powerfull he or she would kill me and take my rank."
Mareshin paused a bit. Penelope's face was odd, some anger had slipped away and was replaced by something else..
"I don't know about you, but I have no intention of dying."
Seeing Penelope like this Mareshin, for the first time, noticed her as a possible thread. But should she attack him then the others might help her.
'Better make sure I can summon my sword in an instant...... She's something different. Never have I met someone like her...'
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 1:37 pm
Mareshin turned away from her, his attentions only held on her for a short time before the other's in the party provided perfectly timed distractions, diverting his attention away from the informed young demon, much to her relief. It seemed as though no one had noticed her little emotional play, and she made sure to keep her features as stolid as possible.
Now the previously mentioned distractions were what Danielle found to rest her eyes upon.
Penolope, whether motivated by her own fortitude in this situation, or some other unknown power, was standing up to the powerful demon before her, contradicting his ideas and motivations for his line of work. Danielle turned her blank, curious gaze on Mareshin then, waiting for his response.
"On the contrary, I wish to see no such things. Death and destruction serve me in their own way and I shall not stop one who seeks it. But to destroy and kill everything is not good form me. Here let me show it."
A slight gasp slipped through Dani's pale lips, fear striking her for a moment as she watched with widened eyes, his hand beginning to glow a deep, bloodly shade of red and form an orb which rested gently in the space above his large, masculine hand. She gaped at the images playing inside the sphere, nearly mezmerized by the moving images, bound to them by her curiousity.
How strange he was, then, to not hope and strive to be the greatest, but to instead become second-best, a pawn, a servent, to a higher master... Is that what the Death Dealers were about? Loyalty to their master, their leader?
Curious...
Mareshin turned his gaze on the sky, and shortly after announced his leave and began to walk away. This came as a relief to Danielle, who really wanted him gone. He seemed to be planning something insideous, and Danielle wished he'd leave them be. He'd return, she knew, but a momentary lapse in presence would obviously do them all good. She held her gaze on him, until she sensed the fiery rage Penelope harbored beautifully.
This sensation became reason to move her eyes to the small reaper who stood fully erect, her hands holding her scythe so tightly that the large weapon shook viciously in her grasp, and her knuckles turned a paler shade of creamy white than normal. Her eyes were totally void of emotion, her whole presentation of herself nearly screaming with rage at the monster she held with her heated gaze.
She again began to question his motives, wanting to know what it was that could make him want to kill other living souls just to be in second place, to never truely triumph.
Thick tension settled over the immediate area as she questioned him and stopped, waiting for his answer.
"What's your real reason of why you are committing murder?"
Only a short pause passed, and Danielle quickly realized she'd been holding her breath, as if the simple act of breathing would be cause for great disruption.
"Real reason? It is quite simple. To step up the ladder in the demonic hierarchy, kill the demon above you. Or a kill of simular worth to the demons. Only achieving power will lift you only that much. I would still be above the one gaining power because of my father, but if that demon is more powerfull he or she would kill me and take my rank."
'Of course...' Danielle thought, the vision of realization twitching her visage only momentarily before she regained her stolid look. Her thoughts continued. 'It's standard code amoung demons... I can't believe I didn't realize it. He'd be the right hand man, the, dare I say, Friend, of the higher powers... Being so close to them, as well as serving said people so directly... It would be easy for him to attain secrets, trust, anything really, from them and take them down with relative ease...' Danielle assumed she'd figured him out, and could only rejoice over the fact that he wasn't a mind-reader.
She had to wonder though, how he could know about Penelope, and just what it ws exactly that he knew. Was he a mind reader?? The slightest of shivers jolted her spine at this terrible notion, but for her own sanity, Dani decided to simply void the thought completely, denying it to contain any truth.
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Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:30 pm
Zion went queit and watched the confrontation. His grin spread across his face. Two powerful beings were near the point of fighting. It was amazing, the tension, the power. He then realised that this might not be the best place to be unprotected. He began drawing on his powers again. Mareshin appeared to be the deadliest but he had never seen a grim reaper fight. He sensed she was strong but how strong he wasn't sure. His wings began growing as he let tehm draw on his power. His skin went ashen and his pupils went darker. He was prepared to defend himself at a moments notice. Attacking was secondary as survival was primary. He wondered which he would side with. He didn't know. Angels had been the hypocrats but demons were no more accepting. Grim reapers he had no real experience with. But attacking a high level death dealer might cause repercusions and he still wasn't sure if he could handel Mareshin. He shrugged. Maybe there wouldn't be a fight at all. But he hadn't survived a long as he had by letting his guard down. He then setled into a waiting state to see how things would turn. He wished to see what the grim reaper would do. And if it did come to a fight he wold learn many useful things about Mareshin's strengths, and powers. And he would finally see what a grim reaper could do. Either way he had no intention of interfering.
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Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 7:00 pm
Mareshin's response did not help the situation at all. His excuse was not good enough in the eyes of Penelope. She has a response ready for the attack.
"Why must you have power?"
But then:
"I don't know about you, but I have no intention of dying."
He knew. He knew exactly what she has been ordered to do. How did he know? Could he read what she was thinking or was it a spy that told him? A chill cut down her spine, exposing it for its worth. She is a coward and a pawn of the Lord. She has to kill him but would it be justified?
No. Not at all.
Her insides were twisting and pulling, tearing and reforming, in indecision and morality. She wanted to scream in anger but more self pity. She should not be in this situation. She was at first very complimented that God trusted her with such a duty, but then, it hit like a train that she had to kill a being prematurely. What's right? What's wrong? Following your God's order to help earth or not to kill a powerful demon that might even hurt her? She needed a simple answer to be given to her but no such thing appeared.
She noticed Zion's power growing at an alarming rate in the corner of her eye, but she did not take her eyes off of Mareshin. The stars began to fade and the pale sun began to rise slowly as if in pain. Maybe the sun pitied the earth?
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Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:29 am
Mareshin had noticed Zion's increasing strenght when he started it, but he didn't seem to take an offincive stance. More like he was preparing for when a fight would break out. Penelope was still furious at Mareshin and the third one still hadn't moved an inch from her spot. But her face showed deep thought, though se didn't say anything and didn't move Mareshin could see it, she was thinking a lot.
'What are you thinking about?..'
"Your silence lets me assume that you don't want to die either, Penelope. And that is why I can't let there be anyone be stronger then me, else I'll be killed. Especially if that person is a demon with ambition."
Mareshin looked over to Zion, he was curious, how much would his appearence change with the power he collects. So far not only did his wings grow but his skin turned ash grey and his pupils where turning black.
"Are you that certain we will start to fight Zion? I think I said this already, I am not here to fight, not today. And as much as I would have liked to hear her name."
Mareshin said, while nodding at the immobile demon girl.
"I still have much to do. Is there anything else or shall I take my leave?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:38 pm
Grim reapers are such trivial beings. Their purpose is stated and never can their purpose being something different nor do they have a choice to find their own. Penelope secretly envied every being that had a choice, any choice at all, the ability of free will. She was exhausted with jealousy and loneliness, and all she wanted, at this exact moment, is to be alive again, start over, have relationships not small talk, and for someone to want her and never want her to leave them. She yearned for something that will never be possible for a grim reaper which destroyed her even more.
She looked away from Mareshin. She, also, secretly was attracted to both Zion and Mareshin, but she didn't think they cared about how she felt toward them. She was just a grim reaper, truly dead on the inside.
"If you must leave, then go," she spoke.
She is making a choice, something no grim reaper can make, to not kill Mareshin. "No one deserves to die," she concluded.
((My character is supposed to be unpredictable though she comes out more as a bipolar teenager....))
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 7:57 am
Danielle was glad to see the action calming down, happy that the cloud of tension that had settled so firmly around them, like the densest of fog, had begun to lift.
Still though, she could not find herself at ease yet, not with Mareshin still there.
He turned to her, again, indirectly inquireing of her name, making her stiffin slightly. She was still apprehensive about sharing that information with him. Why was it so important to him? Especially since he likely had planned to kill her and her friends anyway... Her eyes glistened a little, glazed slightly with fear. She didn't like looking so weak [although she was in many senses] but she was happy in equal measures that it helped hide any signs that she was knowlegeable of his plans.
She said nothing, only swallowed a small lump in her throat and took a slight step back as if even thier great distance from eachother wasn't enough to keep her safe.
She was truely glad that he'd done nothing to them as of yet. Danielle would never be able to hold her own against a great power such as he... She'd be tossed about like a limp rag doll, no match for what he'd throw at her. She was still the same child she was those years ago when she met Starra and Darka. She'd hardly even changed in looks, and her powers had increased by only the scarcest of amounts. How pathetic she would be to them now... Even the kind-hearted Darka would likely be ashamed of her lack of growth.
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