[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

[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.]

Re: done

[eggshell]

[That takes off a good chunk of jaw and ear, and Dan Feng, well.

His eyes widen - he lifts a hand, pats at the exposed bone and teeth - and digs claws into the gore of it with a horrible wet squelch, tearing away more of the sinew to mash it into Sett's face, hoping to get his eyes.

He thus starts what might be the most traumatizing wrestling match these officers have ever seen, pouncing on the other man (creature?) with a howl.

To their credit, this is also when the IPC officers start shooting - less to take them down and more to stop them from??? Flinging bits of meat and blood at passerby? What the hell else are they supposed to do here, not when any injury seems to knit together, immediate and rapid?]

Re: done

[themightybosstone]

[ There really isn't anything to do with the horror of Sett just making eye contact and DELIBERATELY SPITTING IT OUT LIKE HE WAS FOUL- (who let this man be so delicious he's half tempted to go get it-)

And for THAT ALL HE GETS IS VISCERA IN THE EYES?? HE WAS BEING A GOOD SETT???!

Clawed hands swipe wildly, and if caught will just bend the other man backwards, nearly in half by his horns-

There's the sound of MORE footsteps- and several charges being loaded. As much as vidyadhara and borisin blood now coats the pavement- Someone has enough brains to call for stunning charges. ]

Re: done

[eggshell]

[When he's grabbed by the horns - not nearly enough force to crack them; that would take sustained force at pinpoint, like a blade - Dan Feng makes -- a sound. A sound that definitely can go either way: pain, or, well.

This is what triggers one of the officers to start using stun settings rather than kill, because, what the fuck, they're not paid enough for this.

Neither of them can be taken out by any less than half a dozen charges, but for some inexplicable reason, Dan Feng tries to squirm out of Sett's hold- to try and block the hits meant for Sett, with the suitcase, with his tail, with his arm--]

Re: done

[themightybosstone]

[ There's something in watching that, that soaks everything in gold and red. There's always something there chomping in the back of his mind, telling him its time to go on the hunt and hunt and hunt and hunt and hunt and hunt and hunt and hunt

He flings the squirming, horrible lizard off and away by those horns, letting him hit the ground, as daze, limbs twitching as the shots hit both of them full on.

He roars at the officers.]

THAT'S MY PREY!!

[But yeah that's a lot of hits-]