wrecking_yard | Graywater Recruitment

Honestly I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. There was an interesting bird that kept going between fire escapes and bits of wall, and I was following it trying to get a better look; there wasn't a reason to mind my surroundings much until the alleyway was blocked in my peripheral vision and it clicked that I wasn't just smelling garbage reeking.

There was also some movement behind me blocking the other way out; apparently they'd been tracking me for at least a little bit.

Definitely Espers - almost overtaken by inhuman features; the one in front of me had most of their skin replaced with something black and patent leather shiny but not as smooth, jaw split open with extra pieces running down their neck, sharp teeth sticking out all over, and little blinking red eyes in spots there shouldn't be. The others behind me smelled the same kind of rank.

Someone had been driving a little too hard into the other instincts in a way that made my claws itch.

Pisaca. The instinct was clear - this was something foul to destroy and banish from this realm.

"Looks like we've got a tourist who went and got lost."

"Is it really lost when there's nowhere you're actually trying to go?" My tail is ticking even if I am being chirpy to them about it.

They're all laughing at that, and it's wet and slick and distorted. The one in front of me takes a step closer. "Don't you look good enough to eat." The leer still translates through the extra jaws and warped face. I'm almost certain it's meant literally, unlike most of the other times I've heard that line, and I'm not sure how to feel about that.

"Well, I had no intention of disturbing whatever it is you were doing here, so if you'll excuse me I'll just be on my way..." I take a step forward and to the side, and the one in front shifts to block me, of course. The Dragon in me is definitely ready to go for blood. "You know, I don't think you actually want this fight." I dip a half-bow, rocking up on the balls of my feet. "So how about we all just go about our day and... you know... not?"

Their answer is lunging at me, and I backpedal, throwing an arm up to guard my face and neck - which they sink multiple jaws into, pulling back a bloody chunk of skin, fat, and sleeve, and swallowing it.

That was the last thing I remembered clearly of the fight. Everything else was a blur of claws and sword and power and not-my-blood, fully Qing Long in a purification frenzy.

The next thing that I actually remembered was the wet thud of the last corpse hitting the ground, and catching myself in the middle of trying to swallow a large chunk of something. The stretch of crossing alleyways is filled with roots and vines, some of them expanded into entire trees; there's shimmering blue light flickering under the bark, and while the light is dimming, the plant matter itself isn't - staying solid in a way my conjurations usually don't. There's bits of dead bodies tangled in among among roots and branches, others scattered on the ground sliced or torn off; as I'm getting bearings, I shift my jaws and spit out the bloody chunk of flesh in my mouth, staring at it as it drops.

It's part of a windpipe, surrounded by ragged black skin and flesh.

And then there's applause.

My attention snaps over to the entrance of the alleyway, tail lashing to shift balance and still be ready to move, ears zeroing in on the two figures that're standing a few feet outside of the carnage. The one in front is tall, with pale lavender skin, heels and a neon green leopard print long coat with a thick fur ruff and no shirt underneath, green flames flickering around him, oh no he's hot, dark sunglasses hiding his eyes; he's the one who's clapping, grinning ear to ear. The one behind him is in black armor, a big heavy square black shield planted in the ground between us, watching me warily through a helm; there's a tail with a serpent's head tracking me and a deep sense of familiarity.

Black Tortoise.

"Bravo, Bra-vo." The clapping trails off as the one in front starts to walk forward, easily picking through the corpses and roots, shifting his coat to keep it out of the blood, and it clicks that I've at least seen pictures of him - Loki's avatar, leader of the Bounty Hunter's Guild, and the de facto leader of the city of the Graywater.

Oops.

Ears flop back, tail ticking closer, and I'm trying to brush off ... something and pick my composure back up like I'm not covered in blood and gore in the middle of a slaughter scene, laughing nervously. "Ah, I suppose I should apologize for the mess I've made of your street - I wasn't planning on any of this, and I'm usually better at avoiding fights..."

Triki just perks up in more open delight at that; as relaxed as he's acting, there's still trails of green sparks and power humming around him as he gets closer - he's not taking chances. The Black Tortoise shifts to lean on his shield, still keeping watch on me. "Oh, there's no need to apologize. In fact, I should be thanking you - we were just out here looking for these troublemakers -", he nudges a partial severed head that's had most of the multiple jaws ripped off, "And you saved us the trouble of dealing with them."

"You're welcome, then?" I try to shake some of the blood and gore off my claws, and half-bow. "I'm not usually this violent." There's woody tendrils forming out of my skin on the arm the Pisaca bit a chunk out of, covering the wound, blue lines of light along the edges of the bark and little incongruous flowers blooming in spots. That's not going to hold for long once the adrenaline drops.

"Oh psssh." He waves dismissively, then gestures at the injury. "They started it." I'm not sure when he got there and how much he saw. He's circling me slowly, looking me over and humming to himself. I've had a wide range of reactions when I've lost control before, but getting checked out is definitely a new one.

The Black Tortoise pulls his helmet off, hanging it from the side of his shield, and leans over the top of it, tired and long-suffering. Blase resignation is also not a reaction I can remember getting at a time like this.

Triki finally stops in front of me. "Now, unless I'm mistaken, you're the drifter I hear about occasionally, yes?"

He has a reputation for being frighteningly well connected.

"Possibly yes?" I know I'm not the only noticeable Esper that just wanders, but I doubt he's playing generalities.

"Have you ever considered a home base?"

It should've processed faster, but I was still disoriented, nevermind distracted by the way the conjurations weren't fading, that the Pisaca's blood tasted fouled, and that it was going to be Hell to get out of my hair.

"Because we would be more than happy to have you at the guild." The way he looks over the top of his glasses at me and the way the Tortoise slumps over his shield a little more, that recruitment attempt was definitely also making a pass at me.

I hadn't ever thought about taking up anything resembling a stable job before, and the innuendo is currently filed under 'would prefer to know what I'm getting in bed with'. "Eeeeennnhhh..."

He raises a hand. "You would be free to take on whatever jobs you want, and as long as we can reach you, you're free to spend your downtime wandering as you please." He tilts his head towards me, grinning, hands raised; he knew enough to pre-empt the reasons I'd refused job and settlement offers in other places.

Some kind of support structure would be useful, but he's not even trying to not be shady, and I"m not sure if that's a point in his favor or against him. "Would you be needing an answer immediately?" I motion at being covered in blood, but really it's more wanting time to research before making a decision.

"Of course not, take all the time you want." He shifts one hand in a bow and then is holding out a black poker chip with some metal-inlaid designs on it to me; I hadn't been watching to see if it appearing was illusions, sleight of hand, or a mix of both. "If you ever decide to join us, just take this to the front desk and ask to talk to me."

From the way the Tortoise raises an eyebrow with a quiet snort, that has to be unusual. I carefully take it out of his hand, trying to not get blood on his gloves. "I will certainly consider it."

"Now then." He claps his hands together, straightening back up. "We should get that arm taken care of - on my tab, of course, no strings attached, since it happened dealing with all of this." He nudges part of a corpse with one toe, not even looking down. "And you are welcome to the bounty payment on them as well, whether you join or not - you certainly earned it."

Still shady, but the medical attention would help, and the way he's been keeping his power raised and on guard, he doesn't seem sure of the odds in a fight - which means I'd be able to get past him if I did need to leave by force.