[Day 2, Night - A House South of Town]

[direstnews]

[Written into the ground alongside one of the houses to the south of town tonight are a series of strange letters, forming a rough circle near the wall. A figure of approximately Loki's build, not there during the day's exploration, leans against the wall at the corner. The door to the house is open.]

[Some hours after the sudden switch from day to night, Loki stands in front of the door, a candle before him, a kitchen knife in one hand and a spoon in the other. He checks the mirror set carefully in the darkness, nothing yet visible in its surface. Then he strikes the knife with the spoon's handle, and he holds his breath - and he waits.]

Comments

[overclocking]

[Of course it's never that easy.

Backpedals as the barrier dies and everyone else attacks, reaching for his blades.]

[12npcs]

[It's head turns towards the pair of them as Rosette fires. It moves with uncanny speed and the bulk of it flattens to the ground as the alchemized bullet rips through anything left above.]

[soul_sister]

Dammit! [She shoves her handgun into its holster at her belt and reaches back.]

Sacred! We've got to pin it somehow!

[overclocking]

[He yanks the box open, tossing it to her.]

It moves too quickly! We need to distract it, or you'll waste a round!

[soul_sister]

[... A breath, another, and then a nod.]

Be careful.

[overclocking]

[He takes two more cross barriers in hand, skirting around the side of it while Tempest distracts it with WALLS OF FIRE.

He waits until there's a good opening--eyes flicking to Rosette to see that she's ready--then throws down the barriers, holy light flaring to life in front of it.

HEY ASSFACE LOOK AT ME]

[12npcs]

[It stills and one... two... three doll faces emerge from the mass... one the child that had been hiding in the garden... all three turn to you before it rushes forward.

Fingers, dozens of fingers start to get a grip on the barrier.]

[overclocking]

[... What in the fuck!!!

He backpedals but doesn't run, letting it keep its attention trained on him.]

[soul_sister]

[The barrier begins to rip, tearing a jagged flash of holy energy when the familiar roar and white crosses pelt the form of the creature, lighting up its back in bubbles of light.]

[12npcs]

[A tattered mess is left, swiss cheese holds showing the demon Rosette's startled expression as the creature turns, schlorping forward on what little mass it has. She drops the empty revolver and moves to snap her pistol up out of its place at her belt... but the speed of it..]

[overclocking]

[... I WILL END YOU

He bolts, grenade already in hand and feet hardly skimming the ground in his haste.]

[soul_sister]

[You reach it just as the mass begins to envelop her gloved hand. Her pistol fires, the shot meant to go directly into it, wrenched up by the beast.]

[overclocking]

[Excellent. That gives him just enough time to pull the pin out of this grenade, slam it into this bastard with all the strength he can muster, and then dart forward the rest of the way to drag Rosette out of range.]

[soul_sister]

[Her glove comes off, still caught in its grip...

In the mean time, the creature stumbles backwards, clawing at its own insides as it trying to get out the small device lodged in it.

It slides back against one of the buildings... before ballooning out into a rocking explosion if ickor, fire and holy water.]

[overclocking]

[Oh no, things are blowing up, that's terri-- wait no I don't give a fuck.

Getting an elbow underneath himself so he can peer down at her.]

Rosette-! Are you okay?!

[soul_sister]

Yeah. It didn't get through the leath- [THAT SURE IS A RUMBLE of one of the fake houses coming down.]

[overclocking]

[Look, it's just like home.

He watches for a moment or two before standing, carefully, pulling her up with him.]

[soul_sister]

[There's a look on her face, as the nearby buildings crumple with it... I AM NOT PAYING FOR THIS.]