Jenniffer Ross's Story

Rita waited far too long, but Jen came, and with that, anger could be thrown away, as for it was no longer needed… no, she wants it to stay for a tiny bit longer, the fear her old friend shows through body is way too pleasant, to let it end so quickly.

“What am I doing here? Hah, funny question. I’m here, waiting, with a bit of anger, with an intent to murder…” Rita took few steps forward, and… bowed theatrically.

“Or I’m just screwing with you. I’m here out of curiosity really, so… self - proclaimed hero of the day!” She yelled, and grinned.

“What are you up to?” She asked, and glanced once more at the knife she hold onto to this moment, knife that almost cut her clothes when she bowed, knife that she used to gut a man… who happened to be the owner of it at the very beginning of things.

Of the evacuees that had arrived at Dani's manor, only one of the fourteen proved to be suitable hosts for any Aetherkind. However Red would be remiss to say they weren't a friend she'd eagerly been awaiting. Lilith, my darling! It's been, what, three centuries?

I'm afraid so ma cher, how have you been without me? Surely worlds have suffered far less due to our separation. Rolling its well muscled shoulders, the creature turned its pale, scarred face towards Dani and smiled. Out of all of Red's 'friends,' Lilith always adjusted the quickest and the exotic dancer that now served as its host had re-awoken only an hour after being induced. Looking itself over the Aether proclaimed My but this body is disgusting. I am going to the wash.

Red suppressed a giggle, and Dani couldn't help but ask with a wry grin, "So is that like... your girlfriend?" No my dear, she's more intimate than that. We are two halves of the same chaos that exists in this world. She and I have shared a body more times than I can count. Dispensed more Justice than any God I know... Dani's head lolled off her bed, the world seemingly upside down as her upper half lay barely suspended by her mattress. "That sounds pretty hot..." Her thoughts quickly drifted to sharing a body with a goddess that was her other half.

Downstairs, the refugees were being rationed breakfast, most of them seemingly grateful for the random aid by an otherwise relatively reclusive family. Dani's parents held small talk, while also taking note of their guests, using Epimetheus's ability to lead them into a very particular mindset. Slowly throughout the day, more and more asylum seekers would trickle in. Most of them were too needy to evacuate, and were forced to try and ride the storm out, much to Red's delight.

Do you play Chess, Dani? "I won the Chess tournament one year... But I havent played since." That's why I like you Dani. Now... it's almost endgame, are you ready to save your city? "Um... Yeah, but only because you're all going to be helping me out!"

Haha... Of course Dani...

---

It was almost quiet in the city, but the vermin had began to amass upon the carnage. Rats scurrying about, swarms of flies and ants, even a rogue cannibal or two. Every so often a tiger's roar may echo, or a wolf's howl drift upon the breeze. At this hour, the sound of heels clicking on pavement could be heard, as Red stalking the streets, shadowed by creatures from the Aether. The almost quiet was broken, however, by the small voice of a teenage girl proclaiming her truth to the world.

“What am I doing here?" Rita replied to Jenniffer in the same bored voice as before. "Hah, funny question. I’m here, waiting, with a bit of anger, with an intent to murder…” Suddenly, Rita took several menacing steps towards Jenniffer. The girl backed up, frightened.
But then, Rita stopped, smirked and bowed. “Or I’m just screwing with you. I’m here out of curiosity really, so… self - proclaimed hero of the day!” She yelled, and grinned. “What are you up to?”
Jenniffer had to wait to answer for a moment to get the fear out of her system. It was odd; at one moment Rita had seemed normal, in the next she'd been the most frightening thing on earth. Perhaps it was some strange, uncontrollable trait of her powers; whenever she spoke, they seemed extra-influential. Then again, Jenniffer had just woken up, wary and frightened.
"Well," Jenniffer answered once she got herself under control, "Mostly I have been looking for you. It got late, however, so I decided to turn in. Where have you been, anyways? I was looking all over for you."
Absently, Jenniffer looked up at the sun, large and bright, yet the weather was cold all the same. It sort of reminded her of something... no, someone… but no, it was just her probably. She was being silly.
As an afterthought, Jenniffer realized it was Sunday. That concert, that damned concert that had started it all, had been on a Friday. I should be at church right now, Jenniffer thought. However, she decided that today, it wouldn't really matter; wild animals and even wilder mask-forms were roaming the streets, so the church was probably packed to the gills, people praying for God to bring them Salvation. Jenniffer doubted they would let her in, considering her current state.

“Where have you been, anyways?” The only question Jen asked, before she began to stare at an old friend of humans, sun. Answer to the question...being blunt would be a bore, Rita knew it well.

“Oh, well… here and there, to blow up that, steal that, persuade him or her. You know, the typical stuff when you want to bring a surprise.” Rita smiled lightly... Jen seemed to be so tired, fact hinted by her little eyes being drained of the usual fire…

And clapped once.

“So wake up, and do tell… why were you looking for me.” Unless you don’t want to, she thought, it would be better if I had to guess, but it would be bad considering time.

"Have you heard the things Dani is saying?" Jenniffer started, then grimaced and started again. "No, of course you have. You seem to have been interacting with the humans a lot, so you've probably heard the Red Queen's propaganda against us and our plan. I'm not exactly sure what she has been telling them, but it definitely paints me in antagonistic colors, no doubt. Dani said something about how she was only doing what was best for the people, but I'm pretty sure Red was just fooling her. The whole propaganda thing just adds to the idea that Red is just trying to keep us all under her finger, playing us like puppets." There was a hint of intense anger in Jenniffer's voice as she said this last part.
"However, since you seem to have a way with people, Dani, I was hoping you might be able to help me convince them that I only want to help. Red may be able to fool them, but with your help I think we can show them the light. Saving their lives may not solve the problem of the Red Queen or her rogue's gallery of lackeys, but it will definitely make this fight easier without the threat of having the blood of innocents on our hands if we get too out of control.
"Oh, and I also found Void. She's back now, but I still mostly hold control over my body."
Hello, said Voidbringer.
Jenniffer, a little more awake now, clapped her hands together in excitement. "So. Will you help us?"

The funniest part is… that the propaganda only annoys me. – which makes the blowing up part even better. Also it’s interesting how Jenny hates the thought of being a puppet, and I can get that, after all…

“Good for you, I guess, and hello Voidy” It’s so funny that she clapped her hands, so excited only to learn…
She smiled brightly, and then coldly replied...

“Well, nope, I won’t.” That had to surprise poor Jen, well, hopefully both. I woner why they thought I’d help them, help with what exactly? Making this place seemingly better? I’m curious…

“Why would I help you? Wait, better question…” She said, raising one finger.

“Why do you think the world will be better with your choice, with you trying to save it? After all… the little Queenie seems to be trying so hard just to make this place better.” Not that I care much about the Queenie, it would be a pleasure to see Dani in despair, or at the deaths’ door… she’s so naïve.

~~~~~~~~~~~
Kali’s father been outside of home for a while now, he left minutes after the tall woman left, woman that he observed through the window, and was quite sure… he knew from somewhere.

Streets around were rather devoid of any problems, luckily for him, he lacked gun… and even with a gun and a badge, he could barely use it, thanks to the acid. All he got now was Kevin, and the information he could get from him.

“The second is rather easy, last time I checked Red…” He nod, walking through the streets, now that he thinks about time, how long has he been out now… minutes, hours maybe? It didn’t matter. What mattered was... that he lacked anything that could help him deal with these… super humans, which left him one choice - playing it nice… and easy.

“Alright, that helps a lot, and about that woman… what’s her name?” He nod again, slowly, he knew her too well, he saw the descriptions and even sketches of her. Worse, he talked to her once, long time ago. Rita… part of life that should be long gone.

He sighed, and went towards police station, he should get there just before Red will, he should, and they will talk.

Jenniffer's jaw dropped. "You- Rita, you can't be serious! You'd rather have thousands of innocent human lives in jeopardy?! What is wrong with you?!"
Jenniffer took a few steps forward. "How could you let all of those innocent lives be kept under the finger of the Red Queen? She's playing with them! Don't you see? She feels no compassion for them. Maybe she doesn't want to kill them. Actually, I don't think she ever really would, except maybe to destroy an opponent like me! But that doesn't change the fact that she's extorting these poor souls. They think that she's their savior, but she's not. She's like- like- like that one gang boss guy from the 50's who extorted money from the people but also protected them. While some of the things she may be doing are maybe good-"
Jen, what the hell are you talking about?! Voidbringer shouted at Jenniffer, interrupting her. Nothing she is doing is good! She's a tyrant, cruel, evil and-
"Void," Jenniffer said coldly. "Let me finish speaking."
But-
"Void." It was a single word, but it was so forceful that it shut the usually outspoken Aetherkind right up.
"Now, as I was saying," Jenniffer continued, as if she hadn't been interrupted, "Some of the things that Red Queen are doing may be somewhat beneficent to the people. I'll give her that much. But I think- no, I believe that her bad deeds outweigh her good deeds by quite a bit. I don't want to kill her. I..." She paused for a moment, eyes leaden with tears. Then she looked Kali right in the eye. "Perhaps you think I am the villain, which is fair enough, considering my mask-forms often-brash activities. But I have never killed anyone. I never have and I never will. The things Red says about destroying a mask making the human-form suicidal is just an outright lie - I destroyed many masks on that one day, and none of those people went off to end their lives. I'm not a murderer. I suppose a better term would be 'rebel'. But I won't kill anyone. Ever. The Red Queen may be a cold-hearted tyrant, but I don't want to kill her. Why? Because of Dani. She's still my friend. I care about her, and... and I think, deep down, she does too. But she needs to see that the Red Queen is wrong, that what she is doing is wrong."
As Jenniffer talked, she stepped closer and closer to Rita. Now, they were face-to-face.
After a long silence, Jen spoke again. "Think what you want of me. Warn Red and her lackeys that I'm coming for her. Do what you must. But promise me one thing, Rita, just one; tell her that I don't want to kill her. Tell her I really care, and that, honestly? I just want everything to become normal again. No more gangs, no more masks, no more strife. I care about Dani and don't want to hurt her. But I have to save those people from the Red Queen's iron fist. I must.
"So promise me that you will tell her what I just told you, Rita. I may not be a hero, but... but someone has to play the part. Please." She waited for Rita's response.

(OOC: Also, I am officially debunking the whole "destroy a mask, kill a person" thing. That is a load of bull and not a thing that actually happens.)

(OOC - Yay! Great news! ^^)
Jenniffer really couldn’t believe Rita would say no, even when it was a game, even when… Rita toyed with her just like Red toys with other people. No, no, no… she could not see it, notice it, she was so blind. She kept talking, and talking, compared Red to villains with good sides, and wasted time in overall… all while Rita stretched arms in front of her. Well, stretched until Jen got to be too close to her, so close she could choke her, grab that little throat of hers, and put the lights out for good.

Would it be a sad end? Probably, would it be satisfying? Definitely, but it wouldn’t be fun, besides the other her would disagree.

You’re not a villain, you’re not a hero, you’re just an idiot, that had to become a pseudo hero.

She sighed, and yawned when asked to promise something, something she won’t do anyway.

“The answer is no, I don’t make promises, most of the time.”

She walked past, and wrapped arms around Jen from behind - as if making a surprise hug with a close friend, then she whispered.

“That being said, we might just happen to be… allies at best.” For you see, I really love ruining the life of those in power, she thought.

Then she backed up, waiting for dear little hero to turn around.

"By the way, since your mind is having so much trouble comprehending my actions... want me to show some cards for you?"

Jenniffer sighed. "Alright. Thank you for listening, at le-" Jen was cut off as Rita walked past and then gave her a hug from behind. Since Kali had done this before, so Jenniffer returned the hug. But then, Rita whispered to her. “That being said, we might just happen to be… allies at best.”
"Well, I'm happy to consider you an ally, if not a friend, and I hope we can keep in touch despite our differentiating beliefs," Jen said, happy. She hugged the mask(?)form again.
Then Rita pulled back. "By the way, since your mind is having so much trouble comprehending my actions... want me to show some cards for you?" She asked.
Once again, Jenniffer was puzzled by what she meant. "Huh? What do you mean by 'cards'?"

Jenniffer was confused even further, and that alone made Rita grin, before explaining what she meant.

“It’s really simple, I can literally show you two cards, that would define me, in a way. Or I can be just blunt about self, but…” She paused, wanting to make it sound dramatically.

“… It would be such a bore.” Nonetheless, I'm willing to do that at this point - seeing how you struggle, and because it may be fun after all...

Jenniffer was still a little bit puzzled about what Rita meant by "cards", but was curious as to what they were. "Alright, Rita. Show me your cards, whatever they are." She paused, then added, "So, are they like, what, tarot cards or something?"

Fine, you want cards, and you’ll have them, she thought. Rita reached to the back pocket of her jeans, and took out two cards, first only she could see what was on the cards. But soon she raised them up, and high, and slowly turned… one card was but a simple joker, while the other was a snake resting on a skull, with some substance sipping from its fangs.

"There you have em, do tell your guesses." She said.

Jenniffer studied the cards Rita had pulled out. She began to formulate ideas, but scrapped many of them before coming to one that made sense.
"You appear to be a harmless jester, making jokes and being silly, but you're dangerous... you're dangerous if you provoked? No, no... You appear harmless, but you are secretly dangerous... no..." Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Wait! I've got it!"
Recalling all those times she had that blazing fire in her eyes, how she had invoked that fear into Jenniffer, the teenage girl said, "You may appear to be a harmless jester, playing with the common folk... but on the inside, you are a dangerous beast, deadly to the touch!" She smiled proudly in her mask's weird, toothy ink smile.

“Look at that, you nailed it right.” She said, and chuckled. Then stared for a while in silence, grinning slightly, as if there were something that was… left out.

Just two, instead of three, and still you got it right, how amusing, how… entertaining. Well, guess I might be willing to help you after all... to a degree.

Her grin broadened, only to disappear quickly, for in its place came a warm smile, genuine one, that happens so rarely.
“You know what? You amused me. So… in return I will help you a lil bit. Question is… how shall I do that?” She went back to grinning, though it was more of a mischievous smile now, due to the old trickery in a form of question she applied now – because the world would be a bore, if she simply gave her what she needed.

Jenniffer smiled warmly at Rita. "Thanks, Rita. Your help would be... well... helpful right now." Jenniffer chuckled. Her brain was still a bit fuzzy from having woken up early.
Suddenly, a devious thought occurred to the young teenage girl, and a devious smile broke out on her face. "Actually, I know exactly what I'd like you to do. You know how Red Queen's been consolidating her power with her rogue's gallery of lackeys? I was wondering if you could go out on a bit of a recruitment job for me..."

(OOC: If Rita chooses to accept Jenniffer's request, then we should probably make some NPCs for them - or, at the very least, two new PCs named "Red Queen's Gang" and "Voidbringer's Gang". You guys could choose to control some of the NPCs if you wished.)

Now that idea was entertaining by all means, but terrible at the same time, if not carefully thought through, planned…

“Marvelous, but you do realize she’s able to take control of them, to change them. We do not, unless you’re telling me you can? Because I’m quite sure if we went with normal people, it wouldn’t really work well.” Not to mention the probability of them joining, though some would, and the happy murderer Crow would. The other matter was which one would…

“Secondly, you trully want me to do that? Or Kali?” Depending on who does it, it will be different - when it comes to better allies... I'd hate to tell, and definitely won’t tell… that Kali would be better.

OOC - By the way, where is... Sepokku?