Luxuria Intro Log

[cancrymods]

PROCEEDING...

With the real super power of teamwork, the Executors have successfully managed to make their way through the Gula Underside and defeat the previous Authority there. With Gerda now freed from her past regrets and given the power of an Executor, Gula and its inhabitants seem to be in safe hands... for now at least. More interesting – or concerning, perhaps – is the tentative ally you've gained in the form of Birdie, the mysterious girl who attacked some of your number in the Superbia Underside. While she seemed to be nothing but an enemy back then, a surprising connection has been formed with who you now understand to be the Authority of Purgatory itself. While she doesn't necessarily believe the Executors will be able to repair Purgatory, she is at least willing to admit that she shares their goals of wanting to see Purgatory restored... either to its former state, or to something new. But what does that mean for the Executors? And what does that mean for Rei supposedly born from the Authority's discarded heart? There are still many questions the Executors need to answer and as a blast of dry, hot air blows up from the next layer, you can only hope that Luxuria holds the key to at least some of them...

LUXURIA

♪♫ Wet & Dry – Sakuzyo After the humidity and noise of the Gula Underside, passing down to the Lust Layer of Purgatory initially seems like a relief. The air here is dry and sharp and though you hear noise drifting up to meet you and see a whole rainbow of lights clustered together in the dark, it doesn't seem as though it'll be quite as overwhelming as some of the bustling Layers you've had the pleasure of exploring before. But as you set foot down into Luxuria and feel the heat of the ground under your feet, you begin to wonder if you might just have hopped out of the frying pan and into the fire...

Comments

[discutio]

...Lion?

[Fortunately, it wasn't hard to catch the sound of that voice as he passed through. Easier still to follow it. He approached cautiously, listening for movement just in case Lion wasn't quite as present as he hoped.]

It's just me--it's Phoenix. What's happened?

[crypddyd]

Phoenix...

[the relief in his voice is palpable. There's clear tears in his throat, his already naturally raspy voice a bit more choked up]

Forgive me, I... I was hit with a memory suddenly and took myself away from the spectres. Just in case... well, you know.

[and noticeable by perhaps ONLY someone like Phoenix, who lived by his hearing... There's something different about Lion's voice. Or more specificly his cadence. For as long as they have known each other, regardless of Lion's size, he has always spoken like, well... a teenager. A polite and mature (if rather awkward and self conscious) teenager, but a teenager regardless. But a lot of that awkward over eagerness is missing now. Replaced by a soft resignation and determination. His words said softer and with more care.

As if he walked away one moment and turned a corner into adulthood while no one was looking. Finally settling into his massive form]

[discutio]

[Phoenix tilted his head slightly as Lion spoke, trying to place just why and how he sounded different—of course he had no way of knowing for certain what he had remembered, but the discrepancy did not go unnoticed.]

[At the assurance that all was about as well as it could be, he stepped a little close and held out a hand.]

There’s nothing to forgive. Is there anything I can do?

[crypddyd]

[he wipes his hands on his shirt to get rid of the blood and most of the splinters before taking the offered hand up.]

This... may seem a strange request but... can you call me what you hear around us right now?

[discutio]

[It was a little unexpected, but not a difficult question to answer. Phoenix listened for a moment, taking care to be sure there was nothing out of the ordinary or otherwise concerning to be heard.]

…Nothing unusual. It all sounds quite the same as it did when we arrived; lively and a bit loud, but I don’t hear anything that I might call dangerous.

[crypddyd]

And there is no one talking amoung us except you and I?

[discutio]

Not at all. There isn’t even anyone nearby.

[crypddyd]

[he gives a shuddering sigh of relief. And while Phoenix can't see it, his gaze flits to the side where Esme sneers at him, a line of oozing green venom dripping from where her head was poorly reattached.

'He's lying!' she hisses, but he turns away regardless, ignoring her continued bile as they talk]

Thank you. It's hard to explain but... you've eased my mind quite a bit.

[discutio]

Are you sure that you’re feeling well, Lion? [He reached out to find the other man’s shoulder with one hand.] We can go seek out Medic if you like.

[crypddyd]

[His shoulder is tense but... it always is, to some degree]

I... I suppose I am not. Not fully. Medic already knows that I have been... hearing things. And have been for quite awhile. I did not want to worry the rest of you, but it seemed prudent to at least be checked over. We suspect it is a carry over from my past, not a current malady.

[discutio]

It’s a bit of a relief you let her know, honestly. Here I was worried I might have needed to convince you.

There’s no one here but us. The closest are a handful of shades passing by some…thirty feet away, give or take a bit. And it would be difficult indeed for anyone to sneak past me undetected, don’t you think?

[crypddyd]

[A smile is evident in his voice]

Indeed. I trust your senses more than my own even on my better days.

[discutio]

Now, I wouldn’t go that far by any means. I know I can still rely on the rest of you to see what I might not.

[crypddyd]

"Might" not. I'm glad to see your "sense" of humor is as sharp as ever.

[discutio]

I find it easier that way. Others are less likely to treat me with more caution than I would like if I’m the first to make light of the matter. Rather defuses a situation if one’s caught off guard like that.

[crypddyd]

I suppose so, but.... Phoenix, I was not being hyperbolic before. I do trust your hearing and smell over my own sight more often than not. I know no man more capable than you. In this life or the last.

[discutio]

...It does mean a great deal that you would say that, I hope you realize. I have at times worried that...perhaps I was not doing quite enough, even though Chiron and Achilles alike have rather insistently said otherwise.

[crypddyd]

But them being your lovers, I suspect it is harder to take their words at face value, worrying it is just kindness.

[He knows that feeling, though less because Ruin and more his memories of being a royal.]

[discutio]

Well--I suppose that must be part of it, now that I think on the idea. I just find it...difficult to believe in a general sense.

[crypddyd]

Well, it is true. We all have our weaknesses of course- my own mental failings for example. But that is why I have all of you to aid me. It is the same for you. We have adapted, and will no matter what we come up against.

[And he just sounds so sure of this]

[discutio]

[Phoenix broke out into a small smile, laughing softly.]

We've certainly managed to drag ourselves this far. And I can name few others' strength I would trust nearly as much as yours when it comes down to an out and out fight.

[crypddyd]

I do have that going for me, I suppose.

[he grins in return]

And if it came to it I would simply pick you up and throw you into battle. Between the two of us are are only 3/4ths blind, I'm sure my aim will manage well enough!

[discutio]

We might have to keep that in mind. It would be incredibly funny if it managed to work.

[smash cut to ch14, get fucked somnus]

[crypddyd]

I have had... somewhat good outcomes doing it before. But throwing Medic and throwing a grown man are a bit different. You are quite aerodynamic though, so perhaps not.

[discutio]

Aerodynamic, really? That's certainly a description I doubt I've ever heard before.