soulping | Argus

I think we're done fighting. For now.

...I hope?

Hmm.

( thinking. )

Are you real? Or part of this place?

Oh, no, I'm totally real. I'm Chimera, from Vanara? [Tugs on his uniform to emphasize the color.] I think... um. I think we're part of the same group or something, since we're together?

Never seen you guys before. Crown. From the yellow team, Rats.

( wiping off his hands on his shirt. )

Guess so. Do you know what we're supposed to do?

We don't get out a whole lot...

Um. There's some scary guys over that way, and a window up there. [He points at these respective things.] But I don't think we should talk to the scary guys...

( don't really wanna mess with the guys either. gut feeling or something. )

Want me throw you up there?

...Uh.

Maybe... you could jump up first, and then I could climb that tree there, and you help me get in from there? Or something?

[Being thrown doesn't sound very safe. If only he could still fly.]

( thinks about that for a second before picking chimera up and THROWING HIM ANYWAY. )

[?!?!?!?!?

He successfully scrambles into the window, and maybe mutters something about children under his breath as he picks himself up off the floor.

Chimera looks around now that he's inside- is the coast clear or is he about to get stabbed without his bodyguards?]

[ You scramble ungracefully through the window, and find yourself in a library. No one is going to stab you here.

There are rows and rows of books in front of you, and a set of double doors leading out into the main hall.

On the floor, by one of the shelves, is a book laying open, spine up. ]

( laughing. THIS WAS FUN. time to jump after him. )

[Chimera will just be checking out that book on the floor while Crown gets up here. What's it say?]

[ The title reads 'TWILIGHTS: A HISTORY.'

The book features, surprise surprise, information about a fictional race of SUBHUMANS called Twilights - named such because of their unbelievably short life spans. The average Twilight lives to about their early thirties, and they are usually born with multiple mental and physical disabilities/disorders to 'COMPENSATE' for their abilities. COMPENSATION is hereditary, and more severe if inherited through a Twilight mother. All Twilights are born addicted to CELEBRE, which is not only highly addictive but also toxic, and part of what plays into their short lifespans. CELEBRE comes in two forms, UPPERS and DOWNERS, which are to be taken together.

Do you continue? ]

[...yeah sure.

He'll even read it off out loud for Crown's benefit.]

[ They are noted by the author to be extremely VIOLENT and DESTRUCTIVE, and as such are closely monitored by the government. At birth, Twilights are given a pair of dog tags - one with their basic information including name, date of birth, blood type, and who they're contracted to, the other with their current rank. The ranking system goes from D/5 (lowest) to S/0 (highest). These tags monitor vital signs and when a Twilight dies, their records are deleted from both their ranking category and family database. Because of their more violent tendencies, Twilights are regularly CONTRACTED out to mercenary guilds or gangs as hired muscle.

Twilights are also bound to three basic principles:

Article One: Twilights must not intentionally hurt humans. Destroying the overall balance by disregarding this rule is forbidden.
Article Two: Twilights must obey orders directed to them by humans. However, orders that conflict with article one are exceptions.
Article Three: If the situation does not conflict with articles one and two, a Twilight must defend oneself.

These laws are in place to PROTECT Twilights in a world where they're viewed as SUBHUMAN and HATED by society. ]

[Oookay.

Is there anything else that seems Important in this book? Or in this room?]

[ There's another book, titled 'SIGN LANGUAGE' not far away.

Otherwise no. ]

[Oh, that seems relevant. Let's just take that with us.]

[ Touching it plays a memory.

Argus is small, and sitting next to a blond boy with a black eye. They are reading the book together, and practicing together.

You feel this boy is very IMPORTANT to you.

The memory ends. ]

Oh.

Um.

Hey, could you try touching this?

[He holds the book out to one of the other two!]

[ He can choose to head through the door, if he wants. ]

[Okay, sure. Let's go through the door.]

[ There's staff, women in maid uniforms and butlers, lingering in the corridor, whispering behind hands. They take no notice to you as you pass by.

Further down is another door, a deep red liquid leaking out from underneath.

It smells like wine. ]

[Can he hear what they're whispering, if they're not paying attention to him?]

[ The owner of the house is a powerful man, with a wife and a child. He keeps a woman on the side, though, and has a bastard son from their dalliance that is troublesome.

The staff seems to believe the master wants to kill the boy, since he hired him such a defective BODYGUARD.

The staff care little for the boy, but even less for the BODYGUARD. There's speculation that he's a MONSTER, or one of those damned TAGGED. One of them says she saw him KILL a man outside not even a few days ago. ]

Re: Chimera, Lyra, Crown

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