Except the ones who are dead (Open/Active)

[trademark_skull]

Character(s): Emizel, some nameless corpses
Content: Just picking through some of the leftovers, if there happens to be any.
Setting: Ruins of Paixao
Time: Early-late evening to night, week 42
Warnings: Death doing what Death does.
Note: This is gonna be a thing for quite a few hours and possibly over a wide surface area. Therefore I'm gonna use a 'party'-style format for once. Feel free to pick a location and time.

The bustling city had fallen so silent now. Streets that were filled with noise and words were now buried under a thick layer of rock and steel. With only a few landmarks managed to stay standing the city looked nothing more than a barren wasteland, surrounded by broken walls. So eerie, so surreal, it could give almost anyone the creeps just by stepping foot in it. But that was exactly why Emizel had to be here. After all if something isn't done too soon, this place literally will turn into a ghost town. There was little he could do for those that were still alive and kicking, and there was plenty around who could handle that better anyway. But there must be a lot fewer that can actually 'treat' those that didn't make it.

It definitely crossed his mind more than once about how death actually did work here. Did everyone just go to their respectful afterlives or something? Did the castle somehow have one of those too? Did some of the things here even have souls to begin with? Although the further Emizel went, the less sure he was. He started to grip the scythe over his shoulder tighter each time he came across a new body. Crushed, bled to death, all of them died just about the same way. And the number seemed almost endless.

And this... all of this, it all could have been so easily avoided had he not been so careless.

"... I'm sorry," he choked and stopped fidgeting with the scythe so he could tug the hood further down, and not look at the sights anymore. He was supposed to be hunting down spirits, not bodies. They're not going to rest in peace otherwise, not in a hell hole like this. "So, so sorry."

Comments

[trademark_skull]

"I know it isn't, but," Emizel was avoiding looking at the genie directly has he spoke.

"I still could have done something more to stop it. I was the only one that could have."

[gumdroppizza]

“Now don’t think that, I know for a fact you weren't the only one,” Eden said with slight firmness, as she shook her head, “Plus it’s not any good to tell yourself what you could have done. It’s more important to tell yourself what you can do now. If all of us dwell in the past, we’d be stuck there forever. Never learning what we can do here and now.” She tilted her gaze toward him in hope he would look back at her, “Please don't doubt yourself so much."

[trademark_skull]

There may have been some success in those words after all. He did glance eye to eye just enough to acknowledge her, then shut them again to look away with a huff. "... Yeah."

She was right, as embarrassing as it was to get lectured at about it. But how does someone stop thinking about it? How do they get rid of that... pain?

[gumdroppizza]

Eden gave out a sigh. It was such a wonder how much patience she had, yet again, years of dealing with all sorts of people will do that sometimes. Emizel was only a child still, regardless of being a demon. She floats down and gives a small smile as she spoke, “How about we go take a break from here. I can get us two root beer floats, they’re very delicious.”

[trademark_skull]

The mention of floats did get Emizel's attention, and even for a moment he looked intrigued and interested. But it wasn't long that he sunk back into a depression and pouted.

"But I still have so much work to do," he held the pole of the scythe a bit closer, almost as if he was worried about loosing it if he let go.

[gumdroppizza]

“Oh I’m sure a little break wouldn’t hurt,” Eden said with an encouraging smile, “We can come straight back to this after we’re done I promise.” She honestly did want to cheer him up at least a little. Perhaps taking a break from all this could do the trick.

[trademark_skull]

"... You sure? We can do that?"

The way it sounded it was more like a hopeful plea than a question. One side of Emizel really did want to get away from all of this, but this was his duty. Even if he really wasn't responsible or not.

[gumdroppizza]

Giving a solid nod, with a small smile, “Of course we can.”

Eden turned to lead the way, and look back at him gently. “Come, everything will be alright. I’m sure.”

[trademark_skull]

Emizel made one last look at the remains of the city and then back at Eden. Then at the city again and back. He really could not believe he was actually agreeing to this.

"Okay," he dismissed the scythe and ran a little ways to catch up, but being careful enough to not trip over any rubble. Surely not much will change if he left for a little while.

[graviga]

The Nobody leaned forward, his hand cupped over his ear. “What’s that?” he asked, straining to hear Emizel’s voice. “Gonna have to speak up or can you not even do that?”

Apparently he could.

Much to Xigbar’s misfortune he was greeted by the same flames he’d faced before, this time unarmed. He turned his back to them while attempting to teleport, however he could not fully avoid the spell. His coat set aflame well before he vanished from Emizel’s line of sight. The only trace left of the Nobody was the echo of his pain filled cry.

He appeared again behind the demon, dropping from midair and clumsily onto the ground. From there he went on to roll against it in an attempt to put the flames out. A string of groans followed Xigbar while he moved before finally he drew to a stop. Smoke rose from the Nobodies mangled coat as he sat up and brought his hand to his face. Between exposed fingers, Xigbar’s golden eye flashed open and stared at Emizel.

It looked as though the boy would need to learn another lesson: when to admit defeat.

Xigbar could not have looked happier to teach Emizel this, having suddenly risen to his feet with unnatural speed. A hand gripped the back of Emizel’s head – Xigbar moving too quick to track his movements. But it did not matter; Emizel would not be awake to do so for much long anyway. The last thing the demon would see was the pavement as his head was forced against it.

[trademark_skull]

Was he... gone? Emizel was a little surprised to see the Nobody disappear like that after getting hit. Sure the spell worked about as well as he hoped for but something wasn't right. The demon wished he was that strong to defeat an enemy in one attack like that, but that was way too easy. Especially after the hell he had given him prior.

Nope, Xigbar was indeed still alive. Perhaps Emizel would have tried to escape while the Nobody was still recovering but he wouldn't have gotten far. And before long it was too late anyway.

"--igrrrk!" the last thing he remembered was getting slammed, hard. The flame on his hood burst in retaliation to the impact, however since he blacked out rather quickly, it sizzled down to a slow and weak flicker in seconds. But it was still burning, which was possibly good news for everyone. The bad news though was that Emizel had stopped moving. Helpless, beaten, KO'd.

[gumdroppizza]

There was almost a glide in Eden’s walk, as she led the way. She had a calm smile on her expression, knowing that really was the best thing to do for him. As soon as they reached a nearby shop that served ice cream and drinks, she entered the establishment with Emi and took a seat in one of the nearby tables. Calling out to the waiter who came by, “Two root beer floats please.”

Eden looked over to Emizel folding her hands across each other as she gave him a sincere smile. Hopefully this will help him relax.

[trademark_skull]

That was strange, he was pretty sure this shop was never here before. And even if it was, it should had been in worse shape than this, and he was sure most native had bailed by now. Emizel had to take a good look around just to check and it really did look like not a single thing was out of place. Like a disaster had ever happened.

This must have been her doing.

".. S, so..." he was feeling a little awkward sitting and waiting for the drink, making it even more apparent as he fidgeted with a sleeve cuff. Getting gazed at like that probably wasn't making him feel much better. "What really is there to talk about?"

[gumdroppizza]

Eden looked over at him. Oh he probably noticed that she did indeed poof this up. Were the bouncing rainbow lamps the give away? Probably… Eden started to sip her root beer float as soon as it was slid over to her. Another root beer float sliding it’s way over to Emizel.

As soon as he asked the question, she blew bubbles in her drink momentarily, before giving a shrug as she looked over to him, “Well many things, for one thing I just found out a new pear and apple pie recipe that I wanted to try cooking up sometime. But I’m wondering if it’d taste better with apricot. What do you think dear?”