Devils and Angels (Dani)

It was the first time since receiving her power that Sky actually crossed over into one of the other worlds…and the feeling she felt as a result of such a small action was exhilarating. It was true she wanted to bring Phalanx with her, but until he was able to push through the strange bubble that separated those that were normal from these treasures, she would have to wait to go on quests with him in these worlds. Maybe like herself he could be awaken by something marvelous as that being that had posed as Oki in her dream, but until such miracles were showered upon her friend, she would she cross over alone for now. She knew it was dangerous, but at the same time she didn’t care.

She just wanted to peek at what was over here and see if she could find some trace of this world’s history or even better one of those strange “friends” that was mentioned on the news some time ago. They were waiting to be found no? Or perhaps waiting to be crushed. After all, this whole find the friend race and such that had been going on lately, these friends that were supposed to “help” humanity junk, was that not just some fancy words for control freaks? Sure she didn’t know all the details, but from the whispers she did hear this sounded like a battle for flat out control of the world by one of these so called "friends". And what of that lady that hit the run down island of Standasen with that strange fog stuff that had been all over the web as of late? Was she not part of this little game that was started by that announcer?

If so that would be quite sad. Another trying to pull the strings of humanity's fate. As if there weren't enough humans already in that lack luster business, but that wouldn’t matter for long. All Sky had to do was get strong enough to build an army to take down all of these control freaks and cast the world into a different light. A much more darker light that was ruled by chaos and painted in such a way that her new found inspiration (the one who gave her this power) would be proud of. All she had to do was explore the canvases, starting here. Find what she could find and then use it to her advantage.

Blue eyes scanned the area coolly as hot winds brushed grains of sand against the long pants the woman wore and tugged at the backpack full of water and other things she had brought with her. She was prepared enough to go further into this desert to see what other inspiration she could gain or what weaklings she could destroy in her path. With confidence and excitement radiating within her, Sky would begin her trek through the hot desert, her plan slowly starting to move.

Dani thought this sucks on his way back to the dorms he accidently walked into a portal. Dani hated this power of his it caused him trouble ever since he got the power it was hot out. Damn he was in a blazing hot desert. Dani took off his mantle and put it over his head as a hood to keep the sun from blaring on his face. Dani first untied his tie then unbuttoned his over shirt and under shirt to relive him from he heat a little more. Dani grinned as he pushed up his glasses might as well explore this place a little bit since he had never been in this place before after going through a portal. Dani smiled as he continually walked up and down inclines and declines in the sands dunes. Dani glared he felt like he had been walking for hours this was ridiculous maybe should have walked back from the way he should have left and came back more prepared. Dani then smiled he didn't even remember what way he came from he didn't care though if he died then he died. Dani didn't care one way or another about what would happen to the world his ideal world would be one without Angels or Persona's he just wanted to have a life that didn't involve fighting he knew a lot of people would disagree with him but those who could defend them selves without powers are truly powerful.

Dani was surprise he didn't know how long he had been walking through this desert. Dani needed to get out of here he wasn't going to die since he hadn't been on a date with a girl yet. As soon as Dani got out of here he was going to hole himself up in his room. Dani glared as he looked to the sky this place sucked hopefully he wouldn't run into anything weird. Dani then decided to go left maybe he'd hit a landmark of some sort and maybe find another portal to get out of here. Dani didn't care as he saw what looked like a landmark but when he got there it turned out to be a mirage. Dani was steaming mad as he just laid down he would just cook here in the desert and die he didn't care anymore. Dani sighed he laid there for an hour knowing there was nobody was coming. Dani got back up tired from cooking in the sun. Dani was annoyed as he continued to walk through the desert finally finding some by a rock structure for some shade he saw various weapons sticking out of the ground and skeletal corpses yeah he was only going to stay here for an hour before he left. Dani got up what a surprise an old battlefield Dani sighed he couldn't leave the skeletal  bodies like this. Dani found a spade and started digging Dani started humming a song it was to calm his nerve as he dug a hole for the bodies. One to two hours later he had dug the holes for the four skeletal bodies  he had buried each one and stuck each of their respective weapons over there grave he put the spade on the fourth grave he had assumed it was the persons weapon. Dani made a solemn prayer in his mind to the four before moving on.

Dani sighed as he saw blades and corpse's everywhere looks like the last place he stopped was just a small place this was horrible some looked like children some were people his own age corpses had they forced children to fight this place was disgusting this place had definitely went through a war. Dani left in the opposite direction he was exhausted he had been through a long day this was ridiculous and he had barely explored this large area from the looks of it. Dani fell on his back after a few more miles of walking his energy was completely depleted it felt like he ran in a triathlon. Dani rolled over he needed some water ha pushed himself in a sitting position no problem but he doubted he could stand back up. Dani took his mantle off his head putting it back on his shoulder like a cape he had to re-pop the collar though that was annoying. Dani had officially been lost next time he came into this world he was bringing paper and pen so he could draw a map and not be in this situation again. Dani glared and just sat there if to conserve his energy if an enemy came he could bolt in the opposite direction of said enemy.

Sands.

Shifting, heavy, and hot.

The golden colored grains glittered under the sun that beamed upon the barren earth without mercy; however, despite the extreme conditions, Sky did not seem to mind at all. She kept walking, pulling her boots out of the sand that sought to sink and hold her in the frail ground that was easy to escape and even easier to sink back into. She worked her way across sand dunes, pausing here and there to take notes on the bones she found scattered around the area or to sketch an odd bit of landscape she saw in the distance.

She would rest at intervals, using her water supply wisely as she moved further and further into the hot sands and the swaying waves of heats. She saw mirages of buildings in the distance and even thought at one point she saw an oasis in the desert; however, going near it only revealed a strange set of bones set up in a circular pattern that suggested prisoners or maybe sacrifice of the past. It was an interesting find that she spent a few moments analyzing before moving on.  She continued her trek, moving down a sand dune and through the shadows cast by the exposed ribs of some large animal that had died.

Moving out of the strange tunnel of bone, Sky paused to scan the landscape noticing there was even more and more sand to be seen. More and more death. More and more signs of war and nothing more. She could sense there was something else to this place, but for the moment could not find the secret that unlocked that hidden mystery.

Hmmm…perhaps when she had more back up she could fully figure the mystery out, but for now the mystery would have to wait. She still had some water left over, enough to get back to the rift and then some. She had indeed prepared well, but if there was only death and sand to find, then the woman would prefer to retreat for now and come back another time with perhaps another set of eyes to help her see a new perspective in this land. Heh. She could even grab that metal detector to see what true treasures were hidden. For today, she would settle with the general scouting of the area.

After all, she had tons to still explore, so she was in no hurry to find all the information in one –

Hello what is this?

Sky raised a hand and narrowed her eyes against the glare of the sun. In the distance, she thought she could see something that resembled graves...but how could that be? Nothing was buried in that fashion here. Curious about this odd image, Sky shifted the bag on her back and headed towards the strange sight that she was for certain was a mirage; however, as she got closer, she found the odd sight quite real. Moving closer, she examined the graves noticing that they were fresh…meaning someone was here with her.

Blue eyes glowed slightly with excitement as she stood up from her kneeled position on the ground and scanned the landscape. If she were to follow the graves…then the one that was here went…

That way.

Her eyes set on a pathway as she began to walk forward wondering if she would find a corpse or something alive. She walked and walked until she spotted a figure resting in the distance. It was dressed in white and didn’t seem to be wanting to move. Had someone passed away and she had found the body? Or was this someone resting after taking a stroll through this fabulous wasteland?

Getting closer, she would slow her pace until she paused a safe distance from the figure as her blue eyes examined it. It was a guy and he was very much alive although right now he looked tired and drain.

Heh. Guess he didn’t prepare well. Sad.

Despite her cold thoughts, Sky would shift her bag and pull out one of the waters she had and unscrew the top taking a swing as she looked at the other with a curious gaze.

“You seem to be in a pickle, guy. Need some aid getting out?” she asked as she sealed the bottle again and held it loosely at her side. Watching, watching, watching.

"....No thank you" I said to the woman I knew better than to take food and drink from strangers especially in the other world. "So who are ya anyways" Dani asked no embarrassment in his voice or body language when he talked to the woman. Dani had learned not to trust beautiful ladies that offered him food. "You know its pretty dangerous in other world I wouldn't recommend going alone even if you have Persona" Dani knew the woman wasn't from this world so it meant she had an ability It could be Persona or it could be an ability like Oki's. Dani didn't flinch he stood up he wobbled a bit but he shortly stopped wobbling after he stood up. This woman was definitely interesting coming in through a portal on her own. Dani examined the woman not ogling but to see if she would do anything suspicious. Dani dusted off his white clothes while looking at the woman in front of him. Dani  sighed this woman had to be someone dangerous if she came alone.

Dani then pushed up his glasses in interest they shined off the sun Dani tried not to make an super quick movements he didn't want to make her attack him over a misunderstanding. Dani looked at the sky had the sun gotten lower he hadn't been paying attention. Dani looked at the woman in front of him. "Anyways what are you doing here just exploring I've been looking for many hours nothing is here from what I saw maybe I just missed anything important this place has barely any landmarks It would probably take days to find anything in this desert" Dani said frankly to the woman. Dani then started walking again he didn't care if was towards a portal or not anything was better than waiting here. Dani then kept walking he was reinvigorated his mantle blowing as it looked like a storm was coming it looked violent he and this woman needed to find shelter now immediately even if he had to wait the rest of day for the storm to let up. Dani growled walking back towards the woman he grabbed the woman gently by the wrist "It would be the best if you followed me we are going to have to run hard" I kept holding the woman's wrist it was quite embarrassing I would keep holding until she said otherwise anyways it was no time for him to be embarrassed. "Well I hope you trust a complete stranger we have no time to get to either of the portals before that sandstorm hits we need to find shelter were we can stay at now" Dani usually wasn't this commanding plus he didn't want this woman to get stranded in a sandstorm it was to dangerous.

Dani waited for the woman's ok it felt like time was going a lot slower because of Dani's was thinking of about a million things they could do about  what was going on. "Also don't worry I don't like seeing woman hurt so I'm not here to fight we have to hurry so if you would please get moving" Dani said in a calm voice he wasn't nearly as scared at the moment as he should be. Dani still holding on to the woman's wrist his face heated a little but he took a quick breath to calm himself down. Dani looked at the sandstorm then the woman who's wrist he was holding Dani was taller than her he could drag her with him or carry her to shelter but decided against it. Dani sighed was this woman ok he started her he realized only about a minute had passed since he saw the sandstorm. "All right I know you don't trust me but I'm not going to let us split up during a sandstorm because I'm to nice" Dani explained to the woman still gently holding her wrist he had seemingly forgotten he was holding her wrist.

Dani then took off the his mantle with one arm impressively "Here put on my mantle like a scarf or hood we cant have the sand hitting you in the face" Dani said in a gentle and stern yet worried voice he didn't want this woman to get hurt he would be a good bodyguard nah that was stupid. Dani grinned at the woman while holding his mantle in one hand waiting for the woman to do as he said the other hand still gently holding her wrist. Dani waited quietly for the other woman his ears listening to the approaching sand storm.

Heh. He wasn’t the feisty type nor the trusting type either. He had not asked her why she didn’t offer water to him or scolded her for drinking it in front of him like they were spending time on the beach rather than in the sweltering desert. He said no to her aid of getting out, well at least that is what she assumed he was saying no to. Granted the no could’ve been blanketing all things. You know, no to help. No to the unspoken offer of food or drink. He and she were strangers after all, so it would be no surprise if this is what the no really meant. In any case, it didn’t matter much as Sky shrugged lightly and placed the water back into her bag.

As she finished the simple action, she looked over at the guy as he asked a question. In response to it, she smirked.

“A desert drifter and you?” she would say simply before raising an eyebrow at his next few words. He knew what a Persona was and assumed just because she was here that she had one or a power to that existent. How cute.

“Heh, what a strange assumption you have, human,” Sky said before folding her arms lightly as she closed her eyes continuing to listen to the world about her and the boy before her. He had gotten up and spoken about the area, words that she simply nodded at before opening her eyes and looking at the other once more.

“Mhmm. Sand, sand, and death. It doesn’t seem like much, but I bet if I dig enough, I could dig up treasure. After all, I found you, so I have lots of hope for striking the jackpot one day,” Sky told the other and then watched as he began to walk away. Was he trying to get away from her? Hmph. Curious prey. Maybe she would let him get a head start and then track him later.

In any case, she would turn her back on him scanning the golden landscape before her with narrowed blue eyes as hot winds began to pick up and the grains of sand began to float about more frequently. A storm was coming. Nice.

She was looking forward to greeting that storm, but it appeared the guy that had been walking away had noticed it too. As she observed the landscape, she felt a hand grasp her wrist and calmly turned cool orbs to the hand and then to the guy in white as he spoke.

Not only was he asking her to come with him, but was suggesting they hide out. Oh, how unfortunate, even if it was logical. She had much rather get lost in the storm to see where she ended up, but she had to play innocent here now, didn’t she?

So nodding at the words, the girl would open her lips and speak.

“It appears I have no choice, but to trust you, but where do you suggest we go? There were no hide away places the way I came,” she said as the winds steadily grew stronger and stronger the longer they stood in one place.

When the boy mentioned he was harmless and wouldn’t want to lose her in the storm, Sky had to admit the action was pretty cute and brave; however, outside of a gentle smile and a nod to the other she would not respond to those words. Even when he offered his mantle to her, she would stay quiet as she simply obeyed for now, easily making a make-shift hood and scarf from the material before she looked over at the guy still holding her wrist and pointed forward.

“Let’s go,” she said having to speak slightly louder now that the desert was becoming alive as wind and sand began to dance with one another.

Dani simply nodded with a frown on his face. "Also have you rather not try to kill me if you're an enemy" Dani said to the woman after she called him human. Dani walked he didn't want to die here he had a family that still needed his support otherwise he'd happily accept death. "My mind always takes curious twists and turns I wouldn't recommend trying to figure me out I'm strange and I might be crazy to who knows" Dani says when the woman said it was an assumption. Dani didn't like the idea of helping a stranger who could stab him in the back. Dani "Personally I don't care about myself I want my four sisters to have a happy lives ensured before I croak" Dani said. "Oh before I forget me I'm some random otaku who stumbled upon the Persona Powers and now I travel to other worlds" Dani said well it was the half truth at least. "Oh a treasure hunter huh I shouldn't be surprised though the dead wont be needing it anymore" Dani said in an uncaring voice as he speedily walked in the direction with the woman still holding her wrist completely forgetting about it.  Dani sighed as he looked around for a shelter.

Dani walked through the dunes as they walked looking for shelter he was hoping he an the woman would not stab him in the back. Dani glared this shit always happened to him he would definitely be locking himself in his dorm room if he survived this. "So why did you decide to trust me you could have stabbed me in the back a few minutes ago and taken everything on me and left me for dead"  Dani wondered the woman didn't seem to be the type to go with other people maybe he was just imagining things. Dani with one hand pulled a pill out of his pocket swallowing it before he forgets. Dani looked at the woman "So are you from this world one of the other worlds or my world just wondering" Dani asked the woman he couldn't believe he was making small talk while running from a sandstorm was he  felt like he was in a comedy movie. Dani saw something in the distance hopefully some shelter. "Do you see what I see or is it a mirage?" Dani asked her because he didn't want to go towards it unless it was real. Dani sped up his walking speed he walked towards it, it better be real the sandstorm was picking up even harder he was starting to struggle against the winds luckily he didn't decide to run off on his own it would sucked hard.

Dani then walked as fast as he possibly could with the woman he was holding onto he forgot about he wouldn't let her get hurt thanks to his conscience. Dani had almost gotten to said shelter it looked like a shack Dani brushed his free hand against it was real.  Dani swung the door open the dusty room Dani slammed his back against the door keeping it shut the windows the window boarded up as least that was fine he could keep the door closed with his body. Dani was still standing holding her wrist he finally noticed "oh fuck I'm sorry I was still holding your wrist" Dani's face heated a little as he let go. Dani sat down back against the to preventing it from blowing open. Dani was thinking had went quiet he was thinking about something he pulled out his wallet an looked inside good he didn't drop anything during the storm. Dani had some pictures in there that were very important to him one was of him as a young student when he was 10 giving one of his younger sisters a piggy back ride. Another one was of a very young him and his father in fishing gear. The third picture was of him and his other younger sister who was in a martial arts uniform smiling with a medal hanging around her neck while Dani was giving her a piggy back ride that was forced upon him. The fourth picture was one with both of his older sisters glaring at him while Dani had a nervous smile on his face they had messed up the picture. The last picture was his mom and four sisters at a picnic. There was another one he didn't look at he knew what it was he needed to get rid of it. Dani closed his wallet. Then he looked at the woman. "Sorry about that so what do you think is this place good enough for now?" Dani asked calmly.

Sky saw the frown on his face and heard his words as she gave him a small smile.

“Don’t worry. If I wanted you dead, I would’ve killed you a long time ago,” she said in calm tones before falling silent and following the boy as he began to lead the way across the desert to find shelter. As she walked, the boy talked revealing some information that a more cautious man would not tell. Regardless, she listened to the words said without interrupting.

So he said he might be crazy and was a puzzle she should not attempt to crack? Well now that was simply begging her to do the opposite. Did he really think such words would keep the curious away? No. No. That sort of talk drew the curious in. And what was this? He had four sisters on the other side he cared for and yet gave nothing for his own life? Heh. She could relate there; however, because she was protecting her sibling from all harm, she didn’t mention him to strangers she knew nothing about. After all, what if said stranger attacked him while she was gone? She wondered if this one even thought about that before he mentioned the sisters. But wait it got better. He confirmed what sort of power he had that allowed him to travel between worlds. The Persona, huh? Well now that was interesting. She wondered if that power was aligned to anything and if so….did she need to crush it? Hmm..she would have to carefully craft such a question into a conversation, but for now she remained mostly quietly as she listened.

“You are very a peculiar human, but I wouldn’t have wanted to find the ordinary out here,” she said with a light smirk and then chuckling lightly, she nodded at his last words as she continued to follow him. “Yes. The dead doesn’t need such things at all. It’s the living who needs the items, so history can be examined, recorded, and learned from,” she said keeping up with her half truth as she continued to play innocent in this game.

She continued to follow him as he hurried along as the storm steadily grew closer and closer as they moved.

“While that may be tempting to do, I’ll have you  know that I am a hunter with a honor code. I don’t kill to get what I want, but simply take from the ones who no longer need what they once carried. The desert is harsh enough, so why cause more misery than needed?” Sky said keeping to story of simply being a treasure hunter. She would answer whatever question the boy asked, but how truthful such an answer would be was questionable.

Still she lied well enough, hiding truth behind innocent words and smile. Unless the boy was psychic he would never know her true game here. As the game continued, Sky noticed the other taking a pill and tilted her head lightly at the action as she wonder briefly what it was for; however, before she could formulate a question, the boy asked one of his own. Heh. This one was simple enough to answer.

“As I stated before, I am drifter. I do not belong to this world or to your world and yet I can exist in both,” she said her words cyptic and vague as can be, but unlike her companion she was in no mood to show her cards to him. So he would have to either accept this answers or deal with a struggle if he continued to pry. In any case, after she answered she would open her mouth again.

“So does that pill help you get here? You mentioned persona earlier? Is that and the pill connected?”  her tones curious and innocent. She would wait to see what the other had to say and if she got nothing that was fine by her. After all, she had other ways of getting the information she needed.

Well whatever came from that, Sky and the boy kept going, the sounds of the approaching storm becoming so loud that Sky almost didn’t here the boy’s question as she moved faster to keep up. She raised her hand slightly to see what he was referring to. She could see something waving in the sand, but whether it was real or not was questionable.

“If it is a mirage, then we are both hallucinating my friend. I see it too,” Sky said having to raise her voice over the sounds of heavier winds and wiping sands. From there they continued forward, Sky leaning forward against the wind as she was pulled along by the boy that she was actually happy hadn’t left her. Sure, she would love to get lost in a sandstorm, but with something to pry at she did not want to lose her treasure, so she appreciated when said treasure kept her along for the ride.

They kept traveling until they reached what seemed to be an old abandoned shack. It looked solid enough, but would they be able to get in? As soon as the question went through her brain, the kid found the door and after a nice solid push, they were able to get in. Hurrying in, Sky would end up standing within range of the boy as he leaned against the door. He still had her wrist and didn’t seem to notice until a few seconds later.

When he apologized and let go, Sky giggled lightly as the other became flustered.

“It is fine,” she said and then looked around. They were in a small one room building. The place was boarded up and dusty. There was some old funtiture around mostly broken, but there was an old heavy looking chest close by the door. As Dani sat down, Sky went towards the chest.

“Hey, this may be a better blocker for the door. We can move it once the storm passes," Sky said before moving to the side of it. If Dani moved, then she would begin pushing the chest until the door was fully blocked. If the boy stayed where he was, then she would not move the chest and after a while would drift back to the boy.

She would take off his mantle and hand it back to him.

“Thanks again for the hood and helping me out back there. I really do appreciate it,” she said and then would move away once the boy took the item back. She would head to the opposite side of the shed and take off her bag. She let it fall to the floor as she sat down on the floor and leaned against the old walls. She would remain quiet looking up at the wooden ceiling for a moment as the storm outside began to catch up and cause the shelter to rattle. As this occurred, Sky remained calm as her eyes drifted to the boy who was looking at pictures, so Sky didn’t disturb him as she closed her eyes and waited the storm out.

When the boy spoke a few seconds later, Sky looked at him and smirked lightly.

“Whoever made this was smart enough to find some good wood. Despite the age, the structure is well constructed and I would think at one point the furniture here was too. Looks like something forced the old occupant out though,” she said as she looked at the dusty dining table on the  far side of the room. Bones from food lingered on crack plates. Hmph. Curious, but something she was not overly interested in exploring yet.

Blue orbs would turn to the boy across from her.

“So, kid. What is your name and what made you save me from that storm? That was awfully bold,” she said watching the other carefully as she waited to see what his answer would be.

((One person has been skipped. Only one other person can post for this turn before the Shadows go again))

The silence between them remained as the storm outside continued. With nothing to say or add onto what had already passed, Sky remained on her side of the room with her legs pulled up to her chest as she leaned her head forward and rested her cheek against the rough pants she wore as she thought. Thought about how bored she was right now…and how useless this guy just may be to her. Sure, he had saved her from the storm, but if he was of no use why bother sticking around any longer? As soon as this storm let up, she was bailing for the exit and disappearing for a bit. She would come back again to explore with more entertaining company, but for the moment she would have to deal with the silence here.

She had thought this would be a time to nap, but as the silence ticked on the air in the small shack began to swirl and turn black and from that blackness there came forms. Knocked out of her bored state, Sky stood up and was about to tell Dani to get up himself, but before she could those shadows were attacking.

Two were tossing attacks at Dani, but Sky could care less what happened to him at the moment. She had a problem of her own as one of the shadows targeted her. As it flung the icy attack at her, she tried to avoid it, but was struck in the leg by the painful blow.

Hissing in pain, blue eyes flared with rage as she glared at the shadow who had struck her as she mentally summoned Cheshire. As the cat-like being appeared, it growl lightly as it pointed a claw at the shadow that had hit its master.

As it did this sand would appear under the shadow before attempting to shoot up and strike it with a spike of solid and deadly earth.
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Status Box:

The pain went through his body really cold it really hurt he would not die here though. Dani guessed he had no choice he had to fight at least these things were not people. Dani glared at the inky monsters that look like they were made out of inky darkness. Before Dani could even hit one of the shadows he was already down on his knee then another one hit him these things hit like run away trucks damn he was going to die and there was nothing he could do about it. All it would take is for one of the shadows to hit him one to two more time and he would be dead Dani pushed himself up if he was going to die he might as well be stubborn about it. Dani glared at the shadow if he died so what, but he wouldn't die so easily he wouldn't let these monster of the satisfaction of seeing him in pain so he smiled.  

Spoiler:

Things were getting pretty bad, while Dani had gotten up, it seemed that the merciless shadow blobs were really after him for some reason. Already four attacks had smacked into him, greatly weakening him and causing him to fall to his knees.

Tsk!

Sky hated those who could not fight for themselves, but at the same time she wasn’t merciless either. She wouldn’t let some shadow take out the guy, so she guess it was time to aid him in the case. Besides, she owed him one any way right?

He- Ow!

Another icy attack smacked into Sky causing her to turn her attention back to her foe. A persistent little bastard, wasn’t it? Well then, time to return the favor. She summoned Cheshire and unleashed her fury upon her foes.
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Status Box: