4.9 KiB
| title | created | updated | public | syndicated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00071 | Thu, 09 Mar 2023 21:05:50 -0700 | Thu, 09 Mar 2023 21:05:50 -0700 | yes | yes |
00071
Neddas loves mortals. Possibly more than they love themself. It's why they've diminished their own divinity over the eons by freely giving parts of themself away---gifting tiny aspects of themself to the mortals. Part of their constant delight in doing so is that even with their divine wisdom they can never quite be sure what any mortal or mortals will actually do with a sliver of godhood, with a divine spark. Consequently they have a lot of experience with giving what they thought is a perfect gift only for it to be misused, or for it to backfire in some unexpected way.
The Sword of Y'aml is a prime example. Justice without Wisom turned out to be a cruel weapon, seeing evil everywhere and smiting it on sight. And Wisdom itself proved as impotent as Justice was overzealous: it became as cold and as cruel in its own way, locked away in ivory towers, refusing to intervene, made lame by theory and academia.
So now, in this moment, Neddas watches closely to see if they finally got it right. Does this mortal have not only the Wisdom to know what to do, but also the Courage to do it in the name of Justice?
Alex rushes to Marvelo's side and quickly begins to administer medicine to him. "Sorry old friend, it's not much considering the wound, but it should help you at least stay lucid" Alex says as he administers the medicine Inky gave him. He takes quick stock of Marvelo's wound, most of his teeth are gone, his jaw is horribly disfigured, it's doubtful if it'll heal properly. At best he'll need prostethics, potentially a full mechanical jaw. It is essentially a death knell in this kind of work, the perfect normality Marvelo had always strove for would be forever marred by his sudden abnormality. Alex shakes his head, "It's fine Marv, I'm positive we can get this fixed, no worse than at wound Agent 3 took in Cosovo, remember that one? Hell of a thing that" Alex grins grimly, casting a glance over his shoulder. "Alright, you should be set old friend, best I can do for now." Alex hands him back his blaster and sits him up against the wall, the bleeding staunched, but the magled jaw not much better.
Alex stands, reloads his pistol, and turns to face the malevolent apparition.
"I don't know who the fuck you think you are, or what the fuck you think you're doing. But nobody, and I mean nobody, messes with my agents, my friends." Alex approaches the apparition, pistol gripped in one hand, and the crystal pendant Neddas gave him held tight in the other. "Alright Neddas, you said you'd give me something I could protect my friends with. Don't think I believe in it much, but I'd of said until about 15 minutes ago that candles don't produce macabre dentists either." Alex stands before the apparition, daring it to move, come and try me if you dare.
Alex faces down the howling apparition---pistol in one hand, amulet in the other---daring and defiant.
The wind engulfs him, swirls around him, wraps him in its embrace, and presses him to its bosom.
While Master Alex faces the screaming presence overhead, Inky steps over to where Marvelo is slumped against the wall. Working quickly, they wipe the blood on the agent's face with a clean kerchief and antiseptic, then gently realign the shattered jaw, wrapping bandages around his head to hold it in place. They pull a blanket laying on the ground nearby over his body before getting to their feet again.
At the mention of Neddas, they tense minutely before turning away to stand in a corner, gloved hands in their coat pockets, a quiet witness to the ensuing confrontation.
Inky continues to patch up Marvelo and watches as the nightmare chooses its new vessel.
Flesh and bone start to materialize around Alex as the Nyxmaer tries to encase him in its ribcage and grow a new body.
The creature starts to take shape, but falters at the threshold of creation. It appears to you as though through a smoky haze, or from the bottom of a murky well. Something is holding it back from materializing.
It thrashes and redoubles its efforts, desperate to be born. Alex stands still in the eye of its storm. You see the Nyxmaer's tiny face take shape in the small cyclone. It roars as Alex lifts the amulet, and fires his pistol.
The demon's pinched face wails as the wind no longer presses in on Alex from all sides but is suddenly yanked toward him. The struggling body collapses and folds in on itself. The wind goes out of the room as the amulet inhales the Nyxmaer and all its fury.
And then all is quiet.
Marvelo looks up at Inky and whimpers.
A heavy paper envelope, disturbed by the wind, settles to the ground. It was torn open in the commotion, and two tickets spill out: "The bearer of this ticket is entitled to an all expenses paid trip to the moon." It is signed by Blavin Blandfoot and bears the seal of the Benefactor.
WHAT DO YOU DO