[StarRail PSL]

[themightybosstone]

[The world was one of a constant, strange, cyclical war.

When the night fell on the highest moon of the furthest month, a Howling Storm took the planet, cut its cities off from each other and the visitors from their homes, When the Storm's first whining, hot wind struck, the imposing gates of the iridescent metal of this world would close, folding up and over, in a wall only Qlipoth could love.

The thud of bodies, the scrape of claws, mandibles and fangs added to the cacophony that the setting of the red sun provoked. It ebbed in the morning, but never enough to be safe. Never enough for the walls to come down.

In defiance, however, in these little hubs of survival, the nightlife was something quite impressive. Loud music played, lights blared, the night market was a roar of throats - the call of sellers and the flirtation of buyers.

All to carry on like a shield wasn't holding back the certain death of nearly everyone in the spaceport.

But you're here, waiting for the tired relief of morning. For the spaceport to open back up in a week.

It should have already ended. It SHOULD have been open yesterday.

But the Storm is longer than it's ever been here...]

Comments

[eggshell]

[There's a guy, drinking something vaguely spicy and likely illegal from a swiped carafe, watching the brawl. He carries the distinct, sickly-sweet smell of the Abundance, condensed into something so pleasant it's almost disgusting.

He's also carrying a briefcase, cuffed to his wrist. It looks very shiny and metallic and secure and Mr. Foxian here will see it up close and personal as Dan Feng strolls into the fray and tries to hit him upside the head with it.]

1/2

[themightybosstone]

[ He's just looking up as the sheen of hard metal flashes and collides with his head with a resounding, RINGING THUD.

Unfortunately, the skull is about the most dense, invulnerable part of Sett's body, and he just pppppppppauses for a long moment, shaking his head to rattle the pain out of his sinuses-

(the skin that parts heals again, a spicier note of the Abundance slithering through the air, the borisin gift and curse making short work of the edges) ]

[themightybosstone]

[ There's some part of instinct that knows Dan Feng's scent for what it is. That might have connected the regal stature of the vidyadhara, the scent of scales so rare in that species, the lack of the tatters of Long about him and screamed danger.

There's all the pieces and some rational part of his brain is sitting there slamming them into place.

Unfortunately, he's never once listened to that part of his brain and isn't intending to start now.

He staggers up, one foot on the chest of the hillock formerly known as a brawler. ]

HEY FISH FACE, WANNA GO TOO?

[eggshell]

You impertinent whelp?! Who is the fish face?!

[The script only says some sort of altercation with a Foxian with an 'interesting' scent, a branching divide of 'get arrested or get kidnapped', and the finale being 'get off the fucking planet with the stellaron' within the next four system days.

There was nothing there about how absolutely rude the creature would be. Dan Feng sets the carafe down on the pavement, and runs in, swinging the briefcase again.]

[themightybosstone]

[ Elio has CLEARLY WRONGED HIM.

Because this scripted encounter is the WORST clearly. The hulk of a man just GRINS, black blood already drying on his face.

AND HE DOES NOT DODGE?! He's just going to take it wherever it's aimed.

And a huge, clawed hand is snaps in to grab Dan Feng's FACE. (that little part of his brain screaming danger doesn't even have a CHANCE at this point.) ]

NEED A MIRROR?

[eggshell]

[Interestingly enough the guy takes reinforced steel like a champ, not even staggering once seemingly he expects the blow.

That hand is as big as Dan Feng's face. Dan Feng thinks, I can take him. In any way. In all the ways? He opens his mouth and sinks fangs into the meat of that gigantic palm, foot kicking out to clip him at the knee.]

I will take great pleasure in making you crawl.

[themightybosstone]

[ DAN FENG PLEASE. BE NORM- okay no. There's a howl from the man as the fangs sink deep, and depending on how hard he's biting, Sett's reflexive yank back may take Dan Feng with him.

If he's still latched on, those fingers will be closing around his skull as his knee goes out from under him, taking the man down WITH him.

If NOT, Sett goes down- shoulder and ribs cracking unpleasantly as a rage starts to light his body a yellow- the scent of Abundance welling up around them.]

[eggshell]

[He's lucky enough to have let go just before swiping his legs from under the Foxian, but it's probably worse considering that shade of gold never bode well for anyone. Even him, who was an Emanator, because those who walked the same path as his tended to devour each other.

Luckily nothing has ever boded well in Dan Feng's life for the past seven hundred years, and when he opens his mouth in a snarl, his eyes glow the same poisonous yellow. He lifts the briefcase again - perhaps it's a bad idea to use it as a weapon, since it's handcuffed to him - brings it down, aiming straight for the crown of Sett's head.]

[themightybosstone]

[ The Foxian yelps at the hit- Sett's mind blacking out at the crunch of bones and harmonious howl of just about every nerve he has.

Which is nice. It's fine. It's a little vacation.

The bones just knit right back up as the rest of those in his face shatter and rework, the muzzle extending, fur sprouting. It's distinctly not Foxian, what's emerging.

Dan Feng has like, half a second-]

[eggshell]

You're--!

[Hey wait what?? This isn't in the script??? That particular strain of Abundance was familiar, from centuries upon centuries ago, and he doesn't quite pull back in time to dodge whatever is forming from the man (thing?) (borisin?) (out here???).]

[themightybosstone]

[ Somewhere around them, people have screamed and scattered. A tinny siren wails-

And the not-quite-borisin launches himself at Dan Feng, pinning him to the ground. The long fangs dive into his shoulder to find the meat and bone they crave.

Sett's golden eyes are aflame with excitement, watching the Vidyadhara's face. ]

[eggshell]

[His particular flavor of the Abundance is of the flesh: every part of him is an elixir of regeneration, with the heavy price it entails - death. Immortality. An insanity so strong there is nothing of the original left.

But this is for those who did not have, or could not stand the blessing of the Plagues Author. For those already blessed, he'd been told he tasted very, very good.

He throws his head back, choking back a scream of pain (which does not exactly mean he doesn't like it); he scrabbles at Sett's chest with claws, gouging deep.]

You barbarian! [The sirens are getting closer ? ??] This is not the place! Let go!

[themightybosstone]

[ He can only imagine, for a moment, that it was what it was like. the first meal after drinking from the Redspring. His blood was like THEIR water bringing life from death, fresh and everlasting.

Even the gouges felt good, and he .. gives a little confused gnaw at the sound? And the yelling?

Excuse you all, he's having a dragonfruit slurpee here...

But he hears the clack and whine of an energy weapon and sllllllllllooowwwwly unlatches his jaw... ]

[eggshell]

[Dan Feng slides a hand into the Foxian(?)'s hair and tries to yank him away all the way. When their eyes meet he'll be able to see: Dan Feng is annoyed. Not at him, but at their audience of what seems to be IPC officers.]

You can. [He pauses. His face scrunches up into a frustrated grimace. His shoulder had already started to heal over itself even when fangs were still in it.] We can have our pound of flesh from each other later. Have you ever been arrested on this planet?

[themightybosstone]

[He gets yanked up, and he opens one eye to look around at the- oh they are VERY surrounded. The dragon's claws are covered in black blood, but the flesh below them is knitting together into fine scars.

... No one will notice if he licks the blood from his chops right?

He shifts, slowly to raise both paws.]

Nnnnnooo, first time here.

[eggshell]

[Dan Feng takes the time to drag a nail through the gouge that has healed over, greatly annoyed. It didn't even stick! This is terrible customer service! And he notices you licking!!!]

Well, congratulations. We must accept their hospitality. Your name is - Sett, correct?

[themightybosstone]

[ That draws a shudder and a growl, why can he feel THAT so clearly out of everything. ]

Yeah? Wait how-

[ "HANDS UP. BOTH OF YOU." The IPC grunt's mask was as blank as the dome above. The barrel does an impatient little flick.

Behind her, an officer straightens up with a strangled little sound as he scans both of their files-

On of them is a TEENSY bit more storied than the other. ]

[eggshell]

[They can both see the moment the IPC officers realize who Dan Feng is: suddenly there is a hell of a lot more barrels trained on them, and some of their captors step back, body language stiffening. The officer that scans their faces fumble with his helmet, hands visibly shaking.

"Boss, this says flee on sight."

"Look at this fucker's bounty! Eight billion, are you insane! We can't leave him!"]

This is your fault. [He snipes at Sett, just in time to get the insult out before they'll both feel the cold barrel of a semiautomatic at the backs of their heads.] You just had to fight back.

1/??

[themightybosstone]

It wasn't even YOUR fight why di ... did....

[themightybosstone]

[ 8 billion ]

[themightybosstone]

... did....??

[Please imagine, somewhere, Clockie style, a tiny Sett braincell lines up the rest of the braincells that exist in that thick stull of his, and rolls out a power point.

NOW THAT WE HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, you instinct addled DUMBASS

THAT'S DAN FENG.]

done

[themightybosstone]

WHAT THE SHIT?!!

[There's a lot of emotions going on. Thanks to his dad's side, he really doesn't FEEL fear much. At all. But there's OTHER things that can get close.]

Re: done

[eggshell]

What are you yelling for!

[He doesn't seem too concerned about the guns, which at this point feels less of a threat and more of a farce, considering how the officers suddenly step back. None of this would kill him anyway, but.

Dan Feng leans in. Closer. Closer still. And sniffs him.]

Dog.

1/2

[themightybosstone]

Re: done

[themightybosstone]

[BITES THAT FUCKING FACE THANKS.]