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Post by powerkitten on Oct 28, 2018 8:58:07 GMT -8
*Wedding-Attendant!Katie begins flying up to where the Messenger is, planning to untie him.
"I don't think she was working with them willingly. She told Kusari and me to run when we ran across her, she said it was a trap and she seemed really afraid. I think something bad is happening to her."
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Post by flightlessicarus on Oct 28, 2018 20:08:45 GMT -8
Theta takes a moment to think.
"hm, that is a bit concerning... i'm afraid this messenger business may become more complicated soon however... i can't afford to let it get worse... it may be unsafe to let you go alone..."
he looks away slightly with a sense of great concern.
Meanwhile, the messenger notices earlier Katie approaching.
"about fucking time!"
Theta thinks a bit more and then resumes speaking to later Katie.
"...if you can get someone to join you, it may be a good but hazardous idea to follow them to the black bubble. kusari doesn't exactly look like he's in the condition to be going on more adventures."
Kusari sits up, still mostly tired.
"What are you saying about me?"
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Post by flightlessicarus on Nov 11, 2018 15:18:49 GMT -8
The elevator dings.
The double doors slide open...
There is nothing but darkness inside.
Muffled voices attempt to cry out, but coherency is lost.
A shadow begins to seep out along the forest floor.
Meanwhile, the messenger is assisted by earlier Katie. it seems to be going rather smoothly up there.
Kusari finally gets back up and looks around.
Something doesn't feel right.
"..."
Theta puts away his tome and awaits for earlier Katie and the messenger to get back down. It seems like things are going well but... a nagging forboding feeling... one that Theta can't quite ascertain... what could it mean...
the large shadow creeps ever closer, past the inky remains of the regret orbs, and closer to the group, just barely out of peripheral vision...
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lunarLunatic
DEATH EGG
All your moons are mine!!!!
Posts: 1,486
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Post by lunarLunatic on Nov 11, 2018 21:14:16 GMT -8
While those whose senses aren't quite in tune with the forest may not be aware of the impending shadow creeping in, the one who does most definitely could feel it.
"Interesting. More guests."
The mysterious Kat changes direction, now wordlessly walking towards the looming danger.
"...I'm sure you can handle it. If not, well...I can stitch you back together eventually. Ahahaha..."
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Post by flightlessicarus on Nov 11, 2018 23:27:20 GMT -8
Not long after, the shadow begins to reach up out of the ground, looming ominously as a shape of pure darkness. The panicked cries sealed within it are loud enough to hear now. They are incredibly familiar in range and tone.
Theta and Kusari, finally aware of something, turn around.
What they see before them is a right of pure horror.
A mass of shadow towers above them. Various seths can be seen trying to struggle their way out, a hand or an arm, occasionally a face seen for only a second. All of them consumed by this all encompassing fear.
Kusari is petrified, mouth left agape.
Theta however, knows exactly what this is. While it still instills a terror beyond reason, that slight bit of clarity gives him a moment of agency.
"...no... they've got them..."
Kusari looks to Katie for answers, too afraid to focus on his own options.
Maybe she can do something?
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Post by powerkitten on Nov 12, 2018 8:11:34 GMT -8
Both Katies stare out at the abomination. Earlier Katie decides to pick now as the time to go back to the wedding, and attempts to time travel away after getting Messenger to the ground.
Meanwhile, what will very soon be the most current Katie in the timeline begins to have flashbacks of an event that feels like it was years ago, where she was trapped in a dark void and facing an almost unstoppable force.
...
She attempts to use her Time powers to surround Theta, Kusari, Messenger, and herselves in a dome of "regular time" while slowing down the rest of the bubble drastically. All it'll do is buy them time to think of a plan, but maybe that's all they need.
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Post by flightlessicarus on Nov 12, 2018 8:45:20 GMT -8
Earlier Katie is thankfully successful. The loop is retained and she is able to go back to the wedding as predestined to do. She manages to even catch the bridal bouquet while she's there. After a call to her girlfriend, it is presumed that she arrived back here to become later Katie.
Katie's attempt to control the timefield of the bubble is just barely successful, but won't last long. An entire bubble minus the immediate area is a lot of ground to cover for a slowdown (probably would have been more efficient to just speed up the group instead), but it is pulled off.
The messenger is starting to regret being freed from that mess of strings. at least then that.... thing would have to climb.
Theta feels a slight relief when he notices the changes in timeflow.
"...the debt collector. I've... I've heard stories about it but..." Theta tries to flip through his tome nervously, but is currently too frazzled to even read.
Kusari, feeling the strain on the time field, tries to work up the courage to act. Can he?
[ diceroll result: 5/6! ]
VlzuUyyc1-6 (high rolls mean more success)
He can!
Kusari manages to push his fears aside to aid Katie in her efforts to buy them more time.
He uses his own powers over time, as an heir, to bolster and solidify her subversion.
The debt collector wobbles and stretches in very slow motion, giving the group a chance to act.
What will you do?1-6
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Post by powerkitten on Nov 12, 2018 10:06:49 GMT -8
"Debt collector..? Theta, does that mean the Seths haven't been paying their bills?"
Katie says, as *DeusEx begins to lag out slightly searching for and adding up her spendable funds. Her built-in AI is already understanding the plan forming in her head.
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Post by flightlessicarus on Nov 12, 2018 10:26:33 GMT -8
"...there's some things i've been neglecting to tell the group..."
Theta casts his gaze away.
"in addition to the secret taxes we have to pay, i've also accumulated a high amount of student debt from my time studying to obtain my reaper's license. and the method of payment isn't with any average currency..."
"What the fuck, secret taxes? What are you talking about?" Kusari remarks, still helping Katie keep up the timefield.
"i've been paying for the tower's property taxes... with the souls of forgotten seths."
"WHAT?!" Kusari is shocked, almost losing his hold.
The messenger, despite lacking most of his memory, is able to put the pieces in front of him together.
"wait, is, is that why they want me? because you decided to be a bitch and use me?!"
"it's not like that! i was hoping i could pay off my debts by performing my duties as a licensed reaper elsewhere! i came here to rescue you!" Theta retorts.
"rescue me? from what? if it weren't for you, we wouldn't be in this fucking mess!"
Theta has nothing else to say. To be honest, the debt collector appeared because he had been hesitating to give up more of his family in a timely manner. He's too filled with shame to say that however.
The timefield is weakening. What will you do?
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Post by powerkitten on Nov 12, 2018 11:14:12 GMT -8
Katie is in full concentration mode as she tries to figure out how to solve this mess. She doesn't even react to how horrible what Theta just said is due to how much her emotions fade away when she's hyperfocused. Katie's mind flies through the mountains and mountains of laws, court rulings, treaties, and decrees she's memorized. She subconsciously shifts her clothes to a formal suit. The badge on her lapel shines in polished Prospitium.
Katyleen Kitten
President of Desertia
The surrounding area begins to shift into what feels like an almost unbearably oppressive bureaucratic office. The slowed time condenses to surround the area of the bubble Katie's Determined mind has wrangled control of, the main mass of the Debt Collector in front of them is right in the thick of it. Not only was Katie's newly refocused Time powers doing a much better job at slowing down the smaller area, but the bureaucratic atmosphere was also slowing down the perception of time of those within it.
"Theta. Did they tell you that Souls were the only acceptable payment method?"
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Post by flightlessicarus on Nov 12, 2018 11:40:10 GMT -8
The three seths not caught in the thick of the debt collector are confused at the sudden change of scenery, but thankfully the shift in time mechanics seems to be in their favor. The debt collector is practically frozen in place.
It takes a moment, but the seths regather their bearings.
Theta answers Katie's question.
"...yes. they require the energy from them to keep things running. i didn't want to do it, but it seemed like the only option."
The messenger looks at Katie confusedly, but with a slight amount of hope and respect.
"where the fuck are we now? is this the DMV or some shit?"
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Post by powerkitten on Nov 12, 2018 12:22:38 GMT -8
Katie turns towards the messenger briefly. "This is based on my office at the United Congress of the Federation of Free and Civilized Planets. The DMV is nothing compared to what those who face me here experience."
A desk begins to stretch across the area as she talks, with the Debt Collector facing it and the four Time players behind it. A comfortable office chair which fully complies to Interplanetary Standard 29010FF902 materializes at the UCofFoFaCP Guidelines' recommended distance of one and a half inches behind the desk. Katie sits down in it, and three identical chairs appear two and a half inches behind Katie's chair in a | line as recommended in section 0x4484AF, "Seating for Aides Behind Your Desk," of the Guidelines. She makes a clear "Sit" gesture to Kusari, Theta, and the Messenger.
Katie's desk is incredibly clean and organized. A brightly polished nameplate matching her badge faces the Collector. An empty "In" box, a neatly stacked "Out" box, and a small framed photo of Mei make up the rest of the items on her desk.
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Post by flightlessicarus on Nov 12, 2018 12:33:35 GMT -8
Kusari, Theta, and the messenger sit down as told.
"please tell us you know what the hell you're doing." the messenger sheepishly says to Katie.
The debt collector wiggles slowly, still held down by the intense bureaucratic atmosphere.
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Post by powerkitten on Nov 12, 2018 12:44:34 GMT -8
"Don't worry, I've trained for this over decades of timeloops." She says, before handing an empty folder back to Theta. As he takes it, he'll also be given a taste of President Katie's Bureaucratic Energy, letting him clearly recall legal documents.
"Use the bubble to materialize all the paperwork you've signed or been sent about the Clock Tower and your student loans, put it in this folder, and hand it back to me. That's where the way out of this lies."
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lunarLunatic
DEATH EGG
All your moons are mine!!!!
Posts: 1,486
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Post by lunarLunatic on Nov 12, 2018 12:48:01 GMT -8
Somehow, there's now an office building in the middle of the forest. Odd, but not out of place in a dream.
The mysterious voice slinks out from one of the trees and stands next to the odd Kat, both of them just stand there, unmoving.
"Well, I guess it wasn't any of our business, anyway. But I do wonder..."
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