Waiting for the party to start -open followup-

[envy]

When she released her attack, she then focused her energy in order to do a follow up move. However when she tried to attempt to start it, she couldn't feel his energy any more... ' I probably shouldn't just blast him now, I might as well wait for an opportunity.

Envy looked up, confused, when she realized that Sameal had escaped. But how did he- when did he- wait what? She had also temporarily lost feeling of his energy, until it reappeared not far from here, then disappeared and then came up behind her. 'Of course... he knows how to teleport. I sure know how to pick an employer.' She guessed he was probably right behind her, going to pull a little trick perhaps?

Against her better judgement, Envy turned around. Only to get a puff of smoke in her face, naturally anyone would be disgusted. But to Envy that was even more insulting then anything, plus her eyes were open and some of the ash could probably blind her. ' Owwww! Gah! I'm already mute, is he trying to make me blind too!' Envy forgot about her attack and instead began to rub her eyes irritably, wishing she might be able to get the stuff out of her eyes.

[samael]

Samael stopped and shook his head. He drew out his sword - a straight razor, really. Calling it a sword would be a courtesy and matter of tradition. He opened the razor slowly.

"Tsk, tsk. If smoke bothers you that much, wear lenses."

He slid the blunt, broad spine of the razor across her throat, then across her belly.

"You're dead, you're dead. If I were a wise and supportive sensei, I'd tell you to try again, to free your mind and change your tactics, but I'm just not that great of a teacher."

He considered reaching for another cigarette, but found his craving sated and decided against it.

"Instead I'll make you another offer. You've got potential, kid, but as you are right now, you're weak. I'll take you - you're better than most of the rabble - but if we're fighting the real heroes, you've got to step up your game and I have just the kind of thing you need to give you that extra push."

He brushed her hair lightly with his razor, and smirked.

"I'm not talking steroids or any of that human crap. I'm talking the real deal, raw unadulterated power - a real boost, like the kind of thing you humans are prone to when you're feeling...desperate. I'd say what I have to offer you might even put you at my level. What do you say, kiddo? If you're interested, we can talk price."

[envy]

Envy still had her eyes closed, the last she wanted was for her eyes to water. Such a sign of weakness and vulnerability would almost surely assure her downfall. She shivered slightly when the coldness of the blade slid across her skin, the feeling was far too familiar and yet it still fazed her.

"You're dead, you're dead. If I were a wise and supportive sensei, I'd tell you to try again, to free your mind and change your tactics, but I'm just not that great of a teacher. “

Envy nodded silently as she always did, yet she wasn’t bought. ’ I’d never let you be my sensei, if I had a weapon I’d use it right now since you’ve left yourself wide open.’ She smirked slightly at the thought, she slightly resented him. Yet Envy strongly respected the fact that he wasn’t going to baby her or use her as a client.

"Instead I'll make you another offer. You've got potential, kid, but as you are right now, you're weak. I'll take you - you're better than most of the rabble - but if we're fighting the real heroes, you've got to step up your game and I have just the kind of thing you need to give you that extra push."

"I'm not talking steroids or any of that human crap. I'm talking the real deal, raw unadulterated power - a real boost, like the kind of thing you humans are prone to when you're feeling...desperate. I'd say what I have to offer you might even put you at my level. What do you say, kiddo? If you're interested, we can talk price."

’ It appears I was wrong…’ Envy’s smile turned to a frown at the word offer. She backed up slightly, she didn’t own anything of interest. However the redeeming herself from failure was important to her, something he had could make her stronger. But what was he hinting towards? There was nothing he could possibly have that would be useful, then again the razor did exceed her original assumptions. Envy smiled then made the signals for “Shut the hell up and get to the important part.” It was hard enough for her to her dialect, but the confusion was starting to get to her.

[samael]

Samael chuckled and put on his sunglasses. It hadn't gotten brighter, he just wanted them on.

"Here's the deal, then. I give you power - a simple process involving a small bit of ritual and some meditation on your part..."

A lie. He could hand her the power on a platter in any way he wanted, as long as she asked and agreed to pay, but the ritual made it more believable. Go figure.

"And then you pay me in one of a couple of ways. The default payment is your soul, to be collected at a later date. You can guess what happens when I do claim it. The alternative is a favor, to be determined and called in at a time that I need it. Most people opt for the favor, and I'm happy to give them the opportunity. However, if the favor isn't fulfilled to the letter, the payment defaults to your soul."

He closed the razor and put it away.

"Simple as that. And, to sweeten the deal a bit, I'll let you know right now that the favor I ask of you won't be something you'd be averse to doing. I save nasty favors for nasty clients, and I can tell you prefer to be cooperative with me. If you accept, the only thing we need to do is shake on it and seal it with a kiss."

The kiss also wasn't necessary, but it saved him from having to carry paper contracts. As it turns out, most mortals considered a kiss to be a somewhat sacred thing, a thing that turned a possibility into a certainty. Marriage, sex, family, all these things were confirmed with the mouth. Disgusting.

"And before you get all bothered by the kiss thing, I like it just about as much as you do."

[envy]

Envy listened contently to the deal, her soul or a favor in exchange for power? If anything she would rather give him her soul, then again she had already given her soul to Sandra in exchange for water a few years ago. ' Interestingly simple. I guess I'll have to go for the favor, and if I fail he wont be able to get my soul... Oh well. What does one do with souls? Does he eat them, turn them into a slave army, send them in eternal damnation? The process was worth more to her than the results, she was a naturally curious person.

Envy smiled up until the word kiss. One thing she had never done before, and the only thing she wouldn't do. On the other hand Envy had no choice in the matter, if she didn't accept the deal she would remain weak for the next eternity.

"And before you get all bothered by the kiss thing, I like it just about as much as you do."

Now that was a lie, if he didn't want to kiss her then why would he suggest it. Was it some kind of cultural disorder? Like cannibalism, or hugging... or maybe he was just the type who enjoyed an other's discomfort.

Envy rolled her eyes then nodded as she made the signals for "I hate you, but I will give you a favor and don't take too long with the kiss." The worse thing about being mute was not being able to tell a person off.

[samael]

"Wonderful. Now to get a bit of nastiness out of the way..."

He reached forward and pulled Envy's mask down. He made an attempt to smile, but only managed a sneer instead. Samael has never understood the concept of physical intimacy amongst mortals - it was all fluids and groping and stupid noises. Primitive and shameful. But, business was business, and a kiss made sure that she'd never forget the agreement - there was nothing magical about it, just a matter of human interaction.

He put his hand behind her head and leaned in. He kissed her fast, but hard. It was the kiss of a soldier told to do his duty, the kiss of a man who had never done it because he wanted to. His lips were cold and hard and unpleasant. The kiss of his razor would be more appealing.

When it was done with, he pulled away and wiped his lower lip with his thumb.

"Close your eyes and visualize your own power. Basic meditation, I'm sure you've done it before. Do that, and I'll let you know when to stop."

With that, he stepped behind her and looked her over. Hmmm, one hand -here-, he grasped behind her neck firmly but without force, and one hand...-here-, he placed one hand flat against the small of her back. He waited for a matter of seconds, ensuring that she had done as he asked. He closed his eyes and signed the contract, he transferred the power into her body, and for the sake of showmanship made a sudden shove with both hands - not enough to knock her to the ground, but enough to give her a jolt. He stepped back and smiled, hands in his pockets once again.

((Congrats, Envy - You've made a Crossroads Blues deal for power! This grants you a x7 transformation. I'll let Zain or soemone know asap))

[envy]

When he kissed her, she was so distant in her mind that she didn't even remember it had taken place. Envy pulled her mask back up, then closed her eyes to do the basic meditation part. It seemed almost useless, but she obeyed anyway.

She felt him grab the back of her neck, but she quickly stopped herself from freaking out. She then felt his hand on her back, that made her tense up a bit. Envy went back to focusing on her power, completely ignoring him.

However her sudden peace was short-lived when he pushed against her. Envy seemed to have tripped over her own feet, yet had caught herself before smashing against the ground. Envy looked back at him in confusion, she didn't feel any different... maybe a little more paranoid but nothing major.


{If only I knew how to use this new power}

[samael]

He looked at her and smiled.

"All should be in order. Should come as naturally as breathing to use your new gift."

He looked at his watch, and then at the sky.

"Let's give it a test drive, shall we?"

With that, he was upon her, throwing a flurry of kicks her way, his hands still in his pockets, starting with her legs and working his way up, that same self-assured smile on his face. He started to exude a slight aura, of whatever color was Envy's favorite.

[envy]

Envy twitched, then looked over to whatever he was looking at then back at him.

"Let's give it a test drive, shall we?"

Envy simply blinked then found out that he was just throwing random kicks. She dodged almost every single one of them until they started to go up towards her torso so she then lost track of them. Envy then saw him seem to have a prussian blue aura, or maybe it was just a trick of the light...

[samael]

"What, lost your taste for fighting? Come on now, not three minutes ago you were itchin to put me in my place. Get your head in the game and show me what you bought!"

He delivered a quick triple combo of kicks, a one-two with his left leg to her waist and knee, followed by a jumping wide kick from his right leg aimed at her face. He was holding back his strength, but not so much as before - he was clearly serious.

((By the way, for some guidelines about how to flavor the Crossroad Blues transformation, I just updated my profile wodresurrection.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=accepted&thread=663&page=1))

[envy]

[[Thank you]]

"What, lost your taste for fighting? Come on now, not three minutes ago you were itchin to put me in my place. Get your head in the game and show me what you bought!"

Envy smiled... if he wanted a fight he had one. She dodged each one of his blows with a slight ease, then noticed something she hadn't before. Envy stoped herself from fighting and jumped back at least forty feet. She made the sign for leave and turned her back on him, however she still kept a close mind on his energy.

[xanden]

Xanden was heading towards the ruins of this so-called "Central City". Beforehand, Xanden was in a nearby city, trying to figure out more on Earth. And as bystanders stared at Xanden (having white fur on his chest and all), he noticed an odd broadcast on some TVs on a storefront, about picking up the ruins of where some giant ape attacked. And out of nowhere, the the broadcast suddenly changed to a youthful man's face. The man then started to send out a message. It seemed he was trying to contact every evil being on the planet.

"I'm talking to the maniacs, the sociopaths, and the overall bastards. The villains. The monsters."

So far, Xanden seemed to fit all the requirements. He waited to hear the rest of the message.

"My name is Sam. I have a proposition for you. The heroes are gathering, why shouldn't we? If you're interested, go to any crossroads in the ruins of Central City. I hope to see you all very soon."

And so, Xanden flew off to some crossroads in the ruins of Central City.

"...THERE!"

Xanden had sensed two powerful beings below him, right where the message said to go. Xanden slowly flew down, about half a mile away, making no attempt to not be seen (or sensed). Xanden looked at the two beings, whom seemed to be currently engaged in battle. Xanden remembered one of the fighters, as he was the one that sent the message that brought Xanden here, and he currently had a powerful black Aura around himself. The second fighter Xanden had never seen before, but seemed threatening enough. Either way, they both seemed much stronger than Xanden in his normal form. Xanden grinned as he stood with his hands in his pants pockets, waiting to be noticed.

[samael]

((Hey Xanden, just so you know Samael isn't in his Demonic Aura form just now. His current boost is from being at a crossroads, and his aura would appear to be whatever Xanden's favorite color is))

Samael looked at Envy with a mixture of confusion and humor. Did she really intend on bailing on him after making the deal? She wouldn't be the first mortal to think she could outrun fate, but hopefully she was smarter than that and was either trying to trick Samael, or had somewhere else to be - maybe she left the oven on.

He walked to her, casually. She'd jumped a good distance away so far so that he was no longer close enough to the crossroads to draw power from it. His hands still in his pockets, his energy dipped down to it's normal level. His aura, which had been coming off of him like smoke, now pooled around his feet like a light fog.

"Going somewhere?" He said as he reached her, launchin another kick at her head.

[envy]

Envy looked straight at Samael and noticed the kick coming towards her. She had been charging her energy for a while now, it seemed to be the perfect opportunity to release it. However she also sensed another person’s energy only it was slightly weaker than her employer, however about three times as much as hers was.

Envy ducked in order to dodge the kick, then forced all the energy she had into the ground below them. Aiming her new attack at the stranger who just recently appeared, she jumped back a few more paces and started to charge her energy for her next move, but first she sent some smaller Ki blast towards Samael as a distraction. Her vision was mostly tagged on Samael however she kept tabs on the newcomer’s power.

[xanden]

Xanden just watched the two fighters duke it out, as his hair and jacket breathed freely thanks to the cold wind. He had noticed that when the male fighter, who looked to be in his 20s-30s, went to far away from the crossroads, his Power level dropped huge amounts.

"Odd...does he gain power from crossroads?"

It seemed as if this battle would go on forever, and was seemed to be no clear cut winner. The girl had dodged a kick and then used some ki attacks, which was surprising to Xanden since he thought humans did were not able to use energy type attacks. Bored of this battle, and wanting to talk to someone, Xanden put his hand on top the ground beneath him. Suddenly, he shot a massive ki blast that went through the ground and erupted right were the two fighters were standing. The blast came out right in the middle of the two of them, and went high into the sky. It was not powerful enough to damage anyone who made contact with the blast, but powerful enough to split the ground in two. After the blast slowly disappeared, Xanden began to talk, aiming what he said to the man whom he seemed to remember was named Samael.

"Hello. My name is Xanden. I heard you say you wanted some maniacs, sociopaths, and bastards. I am all of these things. So...is their any reason you called me here or do you just like wasting people's time?"

Xanden hope he didn't sound rude, but he knew that he most likely did. He was impatient at the moment, and wanted to blow some crap up. He had been in a space pod for over a year now. Xanden looked straight at Sameal with a sort of an annoyed face, but kept his eye on the female to, as he stood on the top of a hill that was only a bit higher then the two warriors and was only a sort distance away from the other two fighters.