[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

[vitainmorte]

[ For every step he takes forward she takes back two, eyes trained unblinking on his form-- and heavily considers the neck, bare to her. It won't kill him, she knows. But perhaps-- if it can stun him long enough, if she can get him into small enough pieces--



But his claim startles her, and her expression shifts, brow furrowed with confusion. ]

I don't know anything of the sort.

[eggshell]

[Ma'am don't play dumb. The script just had:

1) A picture of her, 'Valencia - affil: Oak, last seen: xx'
2) Trying candied fruit at xx:xx
3) DAN FENG READ THIS: WE WANT HER ALIVE AND INTACT ENOUGH TO CONTAIN THE STELLARON. THE BRIEFCASE CAN ONLY HOLD THE STELLARON FOR 2 STANDARD HOURS. SHE CAN HOLD THE STELLARON INDEFINITELY.
4) Host must imbibe 250 ml of SoulGlad at xx to avoid IPC chase with chance of dismemberment
5) DAN FENG REMOVE ALL THE OTHER THINGS YOU PUT INSIDE THE BRIEFCASE BEFORE PUTTING THE STELLARON INSIDE IT IF NEEDED. YES EVEN THE FINGERS YOU STOLE FROM PENACONY
5) Host and you and [redacted] must be on ship out planetside within 72 system hours. Swarm will be attracted to STELLARON and blockade will be lifted

and generally speaking Stellaron containers knew what they were, on account of being the equivalent of a walking nuclear bomb.

So.]

Really? Not one whit? I am asking the easy way.

[vitainmorte]

[ I regret to inform you that nobody told Valencia that the gift bestowed upon her by God was, in fact, a nuclear warhead.

She maintains that confusion, though. ]

... I truly don't know. I came here to refuel my ship, not to hunt.

[eggshell]

[Dan Feng, vaunted interstellar criminal, looks down, back at her - and puts his hands on his hips, petulant like a preschooler who has not gotten his favorite snack.]

So you're useless, is that it.

[vitainmorte]

If you have nothing of worth to say, I suggest you leave before I kill you.

[eggshell]

[He actually pulls his phone out, squints at it, before sliding it back into a pocket.]

No, if I died here, we will not be able to get off this planet in time. Escort me instead; if you were not hunting, then there is nothing else for you to do here.

[vitainmorte]

[ She gives him a deeply offended look because of course she does, and just starts backing away from him. ]

Absolutely not. I don't know what exactly you want from me, but the moment the curtain opens I'm leaving. I have places to be and it's not with a wanted criminal.

[eggshell]

That is what I am saying. If you do not help me, that curtain will not lift. Ever.

[He looks at her contemplatively.]

If I thought otherwise, you would be dead, so it is in your best interest to cooperate.

[vitainmorte]

You could bother explaining anything at all.

[eggshell]

Why would I need to explain anything? You know what you are?

[vitainmorte]

I'm Halovian.

[ obviously? ]

What does that have to do with anything?

[eggshell]

[He drifts closer, then - closer - and then walking past her? Like he's expecting her to follow him?]

You're sure? Vessels like you are normally synthetic.

[vitainmorte]

[ Tenses, gun at the ready--

-- and then, confused, watches him go by. She lets him get quite a distance between she puts her gun away and follows, brow furrowed. ]

Vessels? I have two parents like any person. I'm human.

[eggshell]

[He seems content to let her follow him - like he knows he has her hooked, even when he stops at the little stalls dotting the way. To where? That remains to be seen.]

No human could be as good as a hunter as you, Valencia. Tell me, are you Oak by blood?

[vitainmorte]

[ She follows at a safe (to her, but not actually) distance, expression set into something intent and bordering on furious, but-- even so she keeps her manners, back straight and wings primly tucked against her neck. ]

... Of course. You seem to know a lot about me.

[ Worrying, when her branch of the Family has traditionally kept itself pretty secluded. ]

[eggshell]

[He stops at a vending machine. Fiddles with some change in a way that is too well practiced to be an actual human trait.]

Of course. I know what caliber you favor. Where you parked. Where you are checked in. I can see the way you hang your scarves. You don't close your curtains all the way, paranoid in the way all good little hunters are.

[vitainmorte]

[ It sends a miserable chill through her, hearing that, but-- she isn't terribly surprised, given... ]

You're just as much of a creep as they say, then. I don't suppose you think you aren't as obvious in your movements as well, then, even with that hacker to cover your steps.

[eggshell]

That was on purpose; I like seeing you scared. You made such a beautiful face just now.

[Out pops from the vending machine!! A bottle of SoulGlad. He wrenches it open and sniffs it.]

What does this taste like?

[vitainmorte]

[ She's sending out some toxic fucking vibes right now. Please Die. ]

It's sweet. It's soda. I don't care for the SoulGlad exported to other planets.

[eggshell]

[Basking in those vibes thanks!!! He takes a biiig sip and his face immediately scrunches up.]

Carbonated. [He mutters, before holding it out to her.] Drink this for me.

[vitainmorte]

You expect me to drink from something an Emanator of Yaoshi put in his mouth.

I would sooner end my own life.

[eggshell]

Ah, so you know.

[He nods, tips the bottle back again into his mouth.

And then he lunges for her with terrifying speed, both hands reaching out to try and catch her by the jaw.]

[vitainmorte]

[ He catches her by surprise, almost-- she jerks back at the last second, confused and alarmed, and immediately draws her dagger from its thigh sheath to slice at his arm. ]