Riven: MNN/Irabus

[Irabus]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Riven[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]-------------------------------------------------------[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Magical creatures exist. They either try to blend in, or they try to escape.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Creatures are subject to tests by the government, and those of more dangerous descent are often microchipped and tattooed, so a close eye can be kept on them.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Every mythical creature is labelled:[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Safe, cautious, or hazardous.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]This label is also accompanied with a ranking from 1 to 10 in danger, 10 being the most dangerous (safe: 1-2, cautious: 3-5, hazardous: 6-10). Anything higher than a 5 is heavily supervised, and even the most petty crimes done by them will result in serious punishment and jail time. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Many are taken away from their homes, from their families, subject to gruesome tests and experiments. These creatures, even if they seem human, are treated as less, and a blind eye is turned to their mistreatment.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Many try to disguise themselves as human, in an attempt to avoid subjugation.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]A one on one roleplay between MonstarNomNom and Irabus[/BCOLOR]​

 

[Irabus]

August Elrich Fullbright
-

[BCOLOR=transparent]

[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]-[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Intro[/BCOLOR]​

[BCOLOR=transparent]A repurposed train station, brought to life with hundreds of harsh fluorescent light bars wired to the concrete ceilings. This station housed the end of the tracks, a hub for up to 24 trains; stopped for repair and cleaning. Each set of tracks sat on a lower level than the platform, the drop to the tracks about 5ft. The tracks sit side-by-side in sets of two, creating a gap of about 30ft to the next platform.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]This station stopped being an actual station at least two decades ago, and it remained abandoned for a few years until those with less… desirable ideas discovered it. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]A once quiet, eerie station was brought to life, transformed into a fighting arena, for mythical creatures. These creatures are pit against one another, sometimes of their own will… sometimes not. Most willing beasts have a sponsor; someone of high standing that will pay them a little extra on top of the winning prize money. It's the winner's decision to decide whether the fight will be to the death. These fights are nicknamed dogfights. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Every Friday night, the station is bustling with life; powered by alcohol, illicit drugs, and of course, dogfights. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Hundreds of people come to see creatures fighting one another, and to bet on who they think will win. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]This place is called "The Casket", and as one might assume, it's an incredibly dangerous, incredibly illegal establishment. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Bets are placed, lives are lost, it's all fun and games. [/BCOLOR]


[BCOLOR=transparent]-[/BCOLOR]


[BCOLOR=transparent]Tonight at The Casket was like any other, bustling with excitement, half the patrons already inebriated or high off of their minds. The only sober people there were the ones with their eyes on the prize, the sponsors and the betters. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]A dogfight had just ended, between a werewolf and a harpy. Surprisingly enough, the harpy had won. She'd gouged his eyes as soon and she had the chance, and from there on the werewolf was completely helpless. She had the option to kill him, or spare his life, she chose the former. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Several men dragged the werewolf's eviscerated corpse off of the arena, dumping it on a small pile to the side. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The crowd jeered loudly, clearly some were shocked and outraged by the outcome of the fight. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Everyone, everyone!" A voice boomed, and the masses' shouts lowered to hushed murmurs. All heads turned to a tall, heavy set man holding a microphone a little too close to his mouth.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]He wore a gaudy black and white pinstriped suit, and a hat to match. A sinister smile was pasted across his face, bearing teeth that looked like they'd never seen a toothbrush. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"The night has just begun, there are still dogfights to be won, money to bet!" He spoke in a voice worthy of show business. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Everyone get ready, because next up we have Rend," The crowd collectively gasped, now completely silent. Rend was a shapeshifter, notoriously ranking 9 on the danger scale. He had been a competitor at The Casket for years. He never lost, and he never spared his competition. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"And a dyr, going by the name… Fullbright!" This didn't garner as much of a reaction, and before seeing this "Fullbright", many were already placing their bets on Rend winning. [/BCOLOR]


-


[BCOLOR=transparent]"August Fullbright, right?" [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The grimy man said, his deep voice slick with boredom, yellow eyes not moving to look up at August.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Just Fullbright." August responded, stirring uncomfortably on the spot. He instinctively checked his watch. Only five minutes until the match. He twitched his nose, his sinuses stinging with the impenetrable smell of alcohol, cigarettes, and blood that blanketed the dark, squalid club. A heaviness had set in August's stomach; he sincerely did not want to be here. However he had no choice, he needed the money.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The man's gaze grazed over the crinkled piece of paper in his hand.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Dyr?" [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"That's me." August replied, trying his best to avoid eye contact with any of the other patrons in the establishment. One man had already winked at him, and a woman had stroked his hair as she walked past him. He shuddered thinking about it. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]An unsettling expression crossed the man's face, something between fearful and… smug?[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"You're gonna be goin' against a shifter. That's a death wish, kid." [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]August decided to ignore the comment. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The man pushed a piece of paper towards August to sign. He quickly signed it, eyes skimming over the small print. Summarised, it basically said [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"I understand that I could very possibly die tonight, and my body won't be returned to my family." [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Fine, you're all good to go. This way." The man moved, opening a half door to the side of the bar. August followed behind him, into a cold storage room. August shivered, burying his hands in the pockets of his sweater. The man moved several boxes away from the far wall, revealing a smooth door, flush against the wall. The man approached the door, grabbing a keychain on his belt and finding the appropriate key. The door opened to a narrow set of stairs, going so far down into the darkness that August couldn't even see where they ended. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"This is where I leave you, kid. They're expecting you."[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]August nodded wordlessly, stepping through the door.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Oh, and before I forget, the password is 'petrichor'". [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The door slammed behind him, and he was enveloped in complete darkness.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]He stumbled down the steps, hands splayed out in front of him. After a couple minutes, his palms found a cold steel wall… no, a door. He knocked on it with the edge of his knuckles.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Password?" A husky voice startled him.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Petrichor."[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]-[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The shifter, Rend, walked through the bustling crowd, a path parting for him as people realised [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]who[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent] it was that they were in the way of. He jumped off the platform, landing on the gravel with a heavy thud.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]As he entered the arena, he lifted his arms into the air, provoking deafening cheers from the audience. He grinned, baring a row of pointed, sharklike teeth. Rend was tall, and well muscled, he wore only a pair of tattered pants. As many would know, shifters were prone to destroying and losing their clothing as they changed, so he kept it simple.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]He had platinum blonde hair, thoroughly bleached. His irises were black, no pupil in sight, and it made him just that much more terrifying. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Unlike most other shifters, Rend didn't chose just one animal to shift into, he chose many. He would pick all of the most dangerous parts of several creatures, and mix it into a terrifying beast. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]He was like a chimera. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The crowd's voices lowered as minutes dragged on, Rend's opponent hadn't showed up.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Ehem, and I introduce to you all, Fullbright!" The commentator's voice rung out.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Shoving through the packs of people, a scrawny man stumbled to the edge of the platform, and climbed down. The silence was acute as everyone watched him walk out into the arena, everyone's breath was held.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]This couldn't be fair, could it? The boy was basically half the size of Rend, and looked as if he hadn't eaten or slept for days. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Rend didn't move his gaze away from Fullbright, and greeted him with a twisted sneer.[/BCOLOR]

 

[MonstarNomNom]

Gamon Darzi

-

-

'All we have to do now is take these lies and make them true somehow'​

Music blared from the small black earbuds nestled within the shadowed figures ears, his dark form perched atop a large rusted train car. The upbeat tune was quite a contrast to the eerie atmosphere and putrid smells that hung in the air. Icy blue eyes were the only visible part of him as they scanned the rambunctious crowds scattered about the space, his face flinching as their jeering echoed about the steel walls of the station at the tragic fall of the werewolf at the claws of the harpy. The smell of death lingered toward him and if he had not already been desensitized to the harshness of this dying world, his stomach might have lurched.

To say he hated this place was an understatement, however the mission required his presence at the seedy establishment. A camera lens glistened as the dim light hit it just right as he lifted it to his eye, the shutter clicking quietly as he snapped pictures of the scene. He moved the camera to scan the quality of the pictures in the small screen from where he crouched.

'All we have to see is that I don't belong to you, and you don't belong to me
Freedom, you've gotta give for what you take'
​

Shortly after, his attention was diverted almost immediately at the familiar name that blared over the microphone, barely audible over the tempo in his ears. Rend- shape shifter with quite the reputation among the creature folk in the city. And then, another name that jostled the memories of the man as he stood and removed the earbuds to better hear.

August Fullbright.

It had been only a short period of time when the young boy had joined his small group of misfit runaways, but Gamon never forgot a name- or a face. Flashbacks from that brutal night flashed within his memory, but he forced them away with a gentle shake of his head. However, he remained hopeful that it could be a different Fullbright altogether. There was a possibility, right?

He watched on baited breath as the large shape shifter took to the stage and wasted no time in provoking the crowd. He had a penchant for changing into ghastly looking beasts, their appearances nonexistent of this world, but of his own selective choosing. Minutes passed, and there was still no sign of the opponent. Vaguely he could see where someone was pushing through the crowd, making their way toward the stage.

Gamon's heart sunk a bit as another, much smaller figure entered the stage. He was too far away to get a good look, however Gamon was almost certain it was him- there was no mistaking that messy black hair and lanky form.

He had to do something. Anything.

'Heaven knows we sure had some fun boy
What a kick just a buddy and me'​

In a swift movement, the man pulled the black fabric that hung around his neck to cover just below his nose before readying himself to make the leap down to the gravel below. Grasping the camera that dangled around his neck, he took a deep breath before taking a nimble jump, the rocks crunching beneath his heavy shoes as they made contact. Unphased by the long fall, Gamon straightened his broad shoulders with a subtle adjustment in preparation for pushing his way through the quiet crowd as the two faced each other, neither moving.

There was no way he was just going to watch from the sidelines- see another of his past comrades torn down while he sat behind the lens of a camera. He needed a closer look...just to be sure.

 

[Irabus]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Rend began to walk around the the arena in a circular motion, August mimicked him, making sure he stayed directly adjacent to the shifter as they circled each other.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Scared of me, [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]little boy[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]?" Rend mocked, grinning widely. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]August's expression didn't change, and he didn't stop moving. This seemed to make the shifter irritated, and he jumped a step forward in attempt to make August flinch. He didn't.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]August had been briefed on what would happen a few moments before he entered the arena. The two would be given a few minutes to asses their competition, and then another minute to get ready, and then, they would fight. The winner would decide whether his competition would live to see another day.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The realisation that August could die today made his stomach tighten, but it was too late to turn back now. Besides, he had no one to mourn him, and nothing to leave behind. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Alrighty then!" The announcer's voice rung over the crowd, through the speakers placed throughout the station. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Rend, Fullbright, get ready!" [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]With that, August watched Rend hunch over, fists clenched in front of him. Rapidly, his arms and shoulders jutted out, he fell to his knees, his back legs bending at unnatural angles. He groaned in pain, his voice dissolving to an animalistic growl. His face elongated, and his canines grew and extended out past his lips,like tusks. His platinum hair faded to dark brown fur, and grew over his back and shoulders. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Before him stood a grotesque creature, an amalgamation of a boar, a wolf, a lion, and some sort of reptile. Rend stood immobile, watching August. August could smell him from where he stood; the smell was sour and rancid, like that of rotting flesh, and it took everything for August to not heave. It was the smell of a shifter doing the wrong thing. They were only supposed to take the form of one creature. What rend had been doing was probably killing him from the inside out. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Rend had lost his human vocal cords in his shift, and instead he snarled at August, baring rows of needle sharp teeth and blackened gums, almost as if to say [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]"What are you waiting for?"[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]August's shift was far less… momentous. Before anyone could realise what had happened, August disappeared, almost as if he were torn from existence.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]A moment later, a dark creature stood in his place. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Reality seemed to bend around the edges of the creature, like how the edges warped on an old television screen. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]He stood tall, on four legs, and had a body shape similar to a wolf's, but more elongated. His coat was an inky black, and shimmered like an oil spill under the light. August's front legs looked like that of a predatory bird's, with grey scales and hooked talons splayed out on the gravel. His tail was long and thin, over half the length of his body, ending in wispy fur. His face was canid in shape, with a long, angular muzzle, and pointed triangular ears. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]The entirety of his body was black, apart from his face, which was a blanched colour. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]He stared down Rend with sharp, electric green eyes, gauging his reaction. He thought he saw surprise in the shifter's dark eyes. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The crowd had exploded with excitement. Clearly, none of them had any idea what a dyr was. Dyr's were not common, and they were incredibly elusive, and rarely let anyone see their "other half". A lot of dyr had managed to slip under the radar, and live as normal human beings. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Unlike Rend, August could still speak.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Are you ready?" His mouth didn't seem to move as he spoke, his voice just reverberated off of him.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Rend responded by opening his maw and letting out a harrowing roar, before the host could announce the start of the dogfight, Rend charged towards August.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]August sprung up, his body propelling into the air above Rend. He landed weightlessly across from Rend. The shifter spun around, black eyes bulging. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Rend charged again, August jumped, but Rend had already seen August's pattern. He jumped too. The two collided in mid air, hitting the ground, hard. Rend pinned August down by the throat with one foreleg, using his weight to his advantage.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Rend raised his free front limb, bringing his claws down and raking them across the dyr's face. August screamed, his voice mingled with desperate whines. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]The shifter bent down, grasping at August's neck in his jaw. He pulled him up, and thrust him to the side. August hit the wall of the platform with an unpleasant crack. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]He crumpled to the ground like a rag doll. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"And Fullbright is down!" The pinstriped man yelled. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Rend let out a victorious howl before stepping towards August's limp body, but before he could end his life, August did something unexpected.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]He [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]shifted. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Using Rend's confusion to his advantage, August lept to his feet, and darted past Rend. As he passed him, he shifted back into his other form. He got as far away from Rend as the arena allowed, and spun around. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Blood stained his face, deep cuts crisscrossing it. A guttural, metallic snarl tore from his chest, grasping the shifters attention. Rend slowly turned around, smiling terribly. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Rend was enjoying the challenge.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Sheer adrenaline had stopped August from feeling any pain, it had stopped him from feeling anything from the raw [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]need[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent] to live. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"I'm not going to die tonight."[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]With that, August propelled himself forward. He jumped on Rend's back, pushing himself up, landing on the edge of the platform. His body knocked a few people over, and everyone screamed and scrambled to get away from him. He lurched back off of the platform, down towards Rend, talons outstretched. He grabbed Rend's head behind the ears, and with the momentum from the jump, he pulled the shifter's body to the ground. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"I AM NOT GOING TO DIE TONIGHT." He ferociously repeated, voice ragged.[/BCOLOR]

 

[MonstarNomNom]

​

The people in the crowd had slowly begun to break the silence that had fallen over them, some placing bets among themselves while others remained fixated on the two in the pit. Once he had tucked the camera away safely in the crook of his large jacket, Gamon turned to face the rows of humans and creatures. It was an odd sight- seeing the two mingled, shoulder-to-shoulder. It was amazing what a little violence and death could do to bring warring parties together.

With a deep breath, he began to wedge his way into the masses, some voicing their disapproval as he pushed a little too hard in his hastiness. A hefty minotaur even gave him a bit of a shove right back. as he exclaimed, "hey, watch where you're going!" This caused him to stumble, only a little, but he dared not look back to avoid confrontation. The last thing he needed was the big guy picking a fight with him right in the middle of everyone, which was already a large enough stressor for him. Being such solitary creatures, unicorns and large crowds did not mix well.

'Eyes forward, feet forward.'

Gamon felt like he wasn't getting any closer when the announcer bellowed once more into the microphone in a well trained voice. It was about to start and the flock was growing restless around him as they waited for the fight to begin. Loud snaps that sounded much like the breaking of bones and involuntary stretching carried into the air, and a briskness was brought back into the man's steps as he pressed forward.

And then the crowds erupted in unison.

Finally he was able to find a break when he happened upon a pile of rickety crates where two drunk dwarves were perched in order to get a good view of the pit just below. Gamon just barely caught sight of a lithe, ebony form as it lept into the air.

"I hate to interrupt, but I need this spot," Gamon started before clattering his way onto the wooden boxes which prompted scoffs from the bearded men. Thankfully, they were much too bashed to pay much notice as their attention turned back to the bottles in their stumpy fingers and the two in the pit. Two people were no longer standing in the tracks, and before he had the chance to get a look the figure he had presumed to be August, he appeared to have been replaced by a large black beast. The two were already at each other's throats and Rend had tossed the creature into the nearby wall.

A dyr. In his entire lifetime he had only met enough to count on a single hand, and they were considered even more elusive than his own kin. Perhaps this wasn't the same person he thought them to be after all- but he couldn't be sure until he saw his face. The voices of the masses drowned from his ears as his bright eyes trained onto the two figures as the dogfight carried on- his gaze hardened and brows furrowing.

For a split second the dyr transformed again, however Gamon was unable to get a good look as his back faced him and he was gone just as quickly as he had appeared. The poor creature's face was mauled with gnarly claw marks, but determination still shown in his eyes.

And then he lunged, yelling in a ferocious voice and Gamon found himself cheering inwardly at the come back.

"Take the bastard down!" One of the stocky men jeered as he shoved his fist into the air, the other clapping his arm around his broad shoulders as they applauded with the others. Gamon only grinned as he realized perhaps his help was not needed after all, not that there was much he could do. This was their fight, and all of his money was on Fullbright.

'You've got this.'​

 

[Irabus]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Still holding onto Rend's head, August used the opportunity to lift it, and slam it into one of the steel tracks underneath him. Rend screamed out, thrashing violently. August let him go, stepping back to get out of his way. Rend got up, looking dazed as he stumbled towards August, thick sanguine dripping down the side of his misshapen head. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]This was perfect. The trauma to his head had made him disoriented. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]August finally had the upper hand. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The excitement of the audience seemed to infect August, and he began to strut around Rend, bravado in his step. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Rend blinked wildly, shaking his head. August's form danced around his eyes, he looked to be everywhere at once. Rend tried to charge August, ended up hitting thin air. Again he tried, his face meeting with the concrete platform, breaking a few teeth.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Rend was panicking, and August was finally enjoying himself. This feeling almost had him understanding why creatures like Rend enjoyed fighting against and killing others. The prize money was a bonus, too. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]August watched as Rend's shift slowly began to undo itself. His claws melted back into human hands, his face began to revert. He decided to follow suit, and within a moment, August stood before Rend as a human. His injuries showed up a lot more clearly in his human form, and it was clear he'd dislocated his left shoulder, as it hung lopsidedly. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]A smile had crept across his bloody face.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Rend had completely shifted back to a human, and he was bent forward on his hands and knees, panting heavily. He was completely naked, having torn the pants he'd been wearing before the match. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Do you give up?" August asked coldly, staring down at the shifter. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Rend shook his head, looking up. One of his eyes was bloodshot, the sclera completely stained with red. He smiled wickedly up at August, bloody drool trailing from his mouth. He stood slowly, putting concerted effort into keeping himself upright. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"You're gonna die--" Rend's voice was cut off by a fist that hit him square in the jaw. He hit the ground like a sack of bricks. He was out cold.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]August shook his now damaged hand, cursing under his breath. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The crowd exploded around him, and August couldn't help but spin around, good arm lifted; bloody, broken hand in the air. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Well," The announcer spoke breathlessly "that was new! And it looks like we have a WINNER!"[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Even the losers of the bet cheered for August, too surprised to be angry. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The announcer jumped from his small podium, walking to the edge of the platform, several other people bustled behind him. [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent][/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent][/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]"Fullbright! get up here, you lucky bastard!"[/BCOLOR]

 

[MonstarNomNom]

-

-​

And it just kept getting better.

Gamon winced slightly at the loud crack of the shapeshifter's head as it collided with the steel tracks, quickly followed by a billowing howl. It seemed that was all it took to take down one of the city's most notorious dogfighters- a good skull bashing. The crowd watched on, everyone silent aside from occasional murmurs as the previous champion stumbled about, awaiting what was to happen next as the dyr almost seemed to trot about the pit. Now, Gamon was not one to relish in the throes of violence, however this was a much different situation in the sense that Rend was a complete dick who deserved to be knocked down a few pegs. And what better way than by someone everyone had doubted and surely bet against upon first impressions. The unicorn had always been a sucker for stories where the small guys came out triumphant since he came from an often underestimated species himself.

He had to get some pictures of this.

Stealthily the man reached into his jacket to take out his trusted camera, icy eyes cautiously looking about to make sure no one would notice. You see, someone taking pictures in a highly illegal facility would surely not be appreciated.- but he had a friend that he knew would appreciate this as he held a bit of a personal grudge against the beast. Peering into the viewpoint, he set it up for the perfect shot as the two faced each other, now in their human forms. Rend began to stand, and words were exchanged. Then, the punch that would surely be heard round the world was captured right in the palm of his hand.

Pure gold.

The crowds exploded with humans and creatures alike throwing whatever they had on their person above their heads in celebration. It was mostly liquor bottles, however Gamon could have sworn he even saw a pair of lady's undergarments tumbling through the air. A few more pictures of Rend as he was being dragged from the pit as well as the triumphant winner- and with a quick zoom in- he finally had a view of his face. Bloodied and beaten, it was hard to make out any familiar features but one thing was for certain: the Fullbright he knew hadn't done any fighting like that.

"Hey! Issat a camera in yo' 'and," a gruff voice questioned a bit too close to his ear, and Gamon looked over his shoulder to see the dwarves now much closer, eyeing him suspiciously. Without a word, he tucked the tech back into his jacket and jumped from the crates before the men could question him any further, or worse. He kept his gaze fixated on the pit as the announcer and others bustled to the edge of the platform.

"Way to go, kid," he grinned as he pulled the black fabric from his face, taking a moment to pop a cigarette into his mouth and light it with a flickering glint of a match. Begrudgingly, Gamon decided it might be best to make his way over, despite his aversion to pushing through the masses once again. He just needed to get a little closer...

 

[Irabus]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The announcer bent down on the platform, offering a hand to August. With hesitation, August reached up to him, letting the man grasp his wrist. He used the man's pull to sort of 'walk' up the length of the wall. He stepped up onto the platform, immediately flooded with his newfound fans. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Men and women, both creature and human, cheerfully congratulated him.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Now that the attention was at a more personal distance, he didn't appreciate it as much. Hands swept over his head, shoulders and back, and there was nothing more he wanted to just shrink away from the praise. However, he didn't act out his wishes, instead choosing to try to ignore it. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The announcer gestured for him to follow, mentioning the prize money. On the way, a meek looking woman pushed through the crowd, placing a wet cloth in his hand. Before he could thank her, she'd melted away into the writhing multitude. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]He used the cloth to wipe his face, cleaning the dried blood from his skin. They stung, but the cuts had already started to heal, now no longer bleeding. He breathed in with the cloth pressed against his nose, the crisp scent of lavender greeting his senses; a warm welcome from the fetid smells of the station. The smell nagged at him in a strange way, almost as if it were connected to something he'd forgotten. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Why was it so familiar?[/BCOLOR]


[BCOLOR=transparent]Before he could think about it any more, the man led him to what looked to originally be a train ticket booth. He stood at the door, knocking it until it came slightly ajar, and uttering a few words under his breath. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Wait there, Fullbright." He instructed, disappearing into the ticket booth.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Whilst he waited, a tall, vibrant, and lavishly dressed man approached him. Clearly a sponsor. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Impressive work out there, Fullbright." He cooed in a faint Irish lilt, stepping closer to him. August narrowed his eyes, looking up at the man. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]"Have you ever thought of coming here again? With your expertise, you could really make a business out of this-" [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"I'm gonna have to stop you right there." August intervened firmly, making some distance between him and the sponsor.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]"I got what I wanted. I have absolutely no intention on coming back here,[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent] ever[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]." [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The man's calm expression didn't seem to change, and he gave August a polite nod. "If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me, every Friday night." August flashed him one of those dry, emotionless smiles, and the man was gone.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]A couple minutes later, a blonde woman, dressed completely in black, stepped out of the ticket booth. She walked towards August, handing him a black duffel bag without a word. Holding that bag full of money, August felt a weight he hadn't even noticed lift off of him. He let out a sigh of relief. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]"Be careful with that, some people would kill for that kind of money." The woman warned in a low voice, turning and disappearing back into the booth.[/BCOLOR]​

 

[MonstarNomNom]

​

Just like that, August was out of his sights again once he had been pulled onto the platform and the masses surrounded him immediately like swarming insects. Gamon didn't envy him, but it had made his own navigation easier as everyone huddled together and made a perfect opportunity for him to slip through without feeling claustrophobic. In all of his years, he was convinced he would never get used to being in such crowded places even with the lifestyle that came with living in a broken down city.

He had been to The Casket enough to have a mental map drawn out in his mind's eye, and he had seen many escorted to the old ticket booth from his high perching spots. It could be assumed this was where they were awarded their prize money safe from the prying eyes of attendees who might have less than noble intentions. Quickly he made his way through before everyone began to space out once again in anticipation for the next fight- which would hold high expectations after that performance.

Upon arriving at the booth, it seemed a sponsor had the same idea and Gamon couldn't help from raising an amused eyebrow at the bloke's eccentric get up. The rich within this city were always of entertaining sorts with their fancy clothes and pompous personalities. Most likely an offer at sponsorship, and Fullbright's refusal brought another subtle grin to the man's face as he blew a stream of smoke from his lips. It was nice to see that there were still some that held their dignity despite the shit this world was spiraling into- it was a rare quality these days as money and jobs became harder to come by.

Talk about a big ass bag of cash.

Leaning against an old station entry, he dipped his head slightly to try at a better angle to see the man's face. Clean now, it was better to make it out and there was some familiarity. It had been over a decade, and the boy had been much younger then, but this one appeared to be how Gamon might imagine him to look at his older age. Yes, he was almost certain it was him.

"August Fullbright," he spoke out, flicking the spent cigarette onto the ground and putting the embers out with the heel of his shoe. "You are a popular guy tonight it seems," Gamon paused before striding over to close the distance between them. "It's been a long time. Need an escort?" The man was not incapable by any means, having just taking out the beast of a shapeshifter, but swarms of people in a shady ass place around big sacks of money was never a good combination.

 

[Irabus]

​

[BCOLOR=transparent]August was just about to leave, when a man approached him, with silvery blue eyes and dark hair. The man's appearance was oddly familiar, but he'd sworn he'd never met him before. Maybe he'd passed him on the street. He clutched onto the duffel as he drew closer, and took one step back, away from him. He could already sense that he wasn't human, but he had no clue [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]what[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent] he was.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"If popularity pays the rent, then sure." His voice was dry, and he stared at the man with cold, emotionless eyes.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Been a long time?" August said incredulously, lifting his eyebrows. He shook his head, frowning, "I don't know you." He spoke matter-of-factly, turning away. Just as he was about to walk away, he stopped, back to the man. He slowly turned around, an expression of irritation and confusion on his face.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"They only said my last name when they announced the dogfight." He said, narrowing his eyes. [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]They did that, right? [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]He pinched his eyes closed, his memory had become worse over the years, it felt like there was always a cloud over his thoughts. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]How do you know my name?" He tried to sound threatening, but the fact that he had to crane his neck to look up at this man wasn't helping him. August felt small and weak. He hated it. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"If you're planning on trying to mug me, know I won't go without a fight." He growled.[/BCOLOR]

 

[MonstarNomNom]

Unphased by the man's apprehensive body language and tone, Gamon was just about to follow after him and was in mid stride when Fullbright turned around. Wait, they had only said his last name? He paused as he looked back, picking his brain for the memory.

"Well...shit," Gamon couldn't help but chuckle at himself as he ran a tattooed hand over his heavily stubbled cheek, a twinge of embarrassment apparent in his eyes. "They did only say your last name, didn't they?"

He had gotten so caught up in the moment and the music blasting in his ears that it seemed his mind had played a trick on him-grasping onto the hope that it might actually be the Fullbright he knew and doing damn good job of it. Hoping that if it was, maybe he might have information on Belle. And it seemed he had gotten unimaginably lucky in that assumption, while also managing to make a complete ass of himself. However, this man claimed he didn't know him as he eyed him suspiciously. Was his mind continuing to paint a pretty picture of familiarities that weren't actually there? Now he was second guessing himself despite the luck of the draw with his name. Although there couldn't be many with the name 'August Fullbright'- not exactly a common one.

"I'll admit, I'm a bit sad you don't remember," he started thoughtfully, "but it was a long time ago. I suppose it would be unfair to assume you would. You were a lot younger then, if I recall. The decades tend to run together for me sometimes." The unicorn quite often forgot just how old he was.

An eyebrow lifted at the shorter man's questioning of his intentions, which drew another gentle laugh from his lungs.

"No, I don't want your damn money. And I pity anyone who tries to take it from you after seeing that display back there," he spoke as he gestured in the direction of the pit with a slight tug of his head. "Pre-tty impressive," the man smiled warmly, his attention beginning to drift. "Although, I think you'd be at a disadvantage with that arm," Gamon commented as he studied the limb dangling at his side. "Want a hand with it?" His other hand also looked pretty beaten, but it appeared he was already healing from the wounds if the gashes on his face were to judge by. "I'm known to be a bit nifty when it comes to a good mending."

 

[Irabus]

[BCOLOR=transparent]August started at the man, unblinking. "Yeah, I asked them to… Only say Fullbright. Like an alias or something." He responded blankly. August's demeanour had changed from annoyed to intrigued. His eyes seemed to be incrementally moving, taking in every detail of the man, moving over every visible tattoo and every scar. This man was more than someone he'd only met today, he could feel it. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Frowning, he tried again to remember this man, searching every corner of his memories. He was met with nothing, only that feeling of something he'd forgotten.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]He shrugged, "Sorry, still got no idea who you are. If I did know you, you mustn't of been very important. I'd remember you if you were." The truth was, he wasn't even sure of that. He hardly remembered what had happened several years back, all he had now was feelings, and certain scents, sounds, sights and words that would nudge at things buried deep in his head. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Your name is?" Maybe this man's name would stir something. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]August seemed to relax slightly with the man's assurance that he had no interest in his money, and the compliment even managed to twinge a brief, minuscule smile. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Uh, thanks." August didn't think he'd received any sort of praise, ever. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]He'd almost forgotten about his left shoulder, but as it was mentioned, he winced, suddenly quite aware of the sharp pain that resonated from it. Unlike his other wounds, his shoulder wasn't broken, so it wouldn't heal. The bone needed to be forced back into the socket. Thinking about it made August feel uneasy. Everything but the shoulder had healed over, the cuts on his face now red welts, and the broken bones in his hand had started to fuse back together, leaving only mottled purple bruises across his skin. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Usually, he would reject any sort of help from strangers, but he wasn't too fond of the thought of trying to relocate his shoulder on his own. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]He pretended to take a moment of thought, furrowing his eyebrows. [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent][/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent][/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]"Sure, but not here." [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]A few people had been watching August, whispering to one another. He didn't want to stick around to find out what they were talking about. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]He glanced around, looking for the exit. A neon sign glowed at the other end of the station, haphazardly flashing "EXIT" in bright green block letters. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Let's get out of here." He said, beginning to make his way toward the sign.[/BCOLOR]

 

[MonstarNomNom]

Gamon could sense the slight change in the other man's demeanor at his reassurance, glad that he perhaps didn't have to worry about him wandering off again. There was something here, and even if by chance he turned out to be someone else, the unicorn's offer for help still stood. He had come here in search of a certain someone who often frequented the dogfights, but unfortunately for Gamon he hadn't bothered to show his mug this week. This wild goose chase was slowly wearing on the man as he chased fruitless lead after lead.

Fullbright's lack of remembrance hurt more for this reason than the actual fact he was just that minuscule in his memories. If he didn't remember him, how would he remember Belle?

"Ouch," he sucked air through his teeth in mock grief at his blunt words. "The name's Gamon," he offered simply with a gentle nod of his head. Blue eyes watched as he seemed to consider his offer, but only after taking a quick look around and Gamon followed his line of sight to a small group who seemed to be talking among themselves as they threw occasional glances their way. Definitely the fishy type.

"Good call," he trotted over to Fullbright's side, meeting his pace as they made way for the flickering exit sign to escape prying eyes. Luckily it seemed most had been occupied enough with the announcement of the next fight that bellowed over the speakers.

"So..." he hummed, being quick to break the silence that had threatened to fall between them. "You don't remember anything at all? Not even the group? Jackie, Ren....Belle?" Gamon casually cast her name out there in hopes maybe it might strike some sort of memory within him. She was the friendly type and surely would have talked to him a lot during his short time with them before that night they were ambushed. It was branded into his memory so vividly- the struggle, the desperation to escape as he finally lost a battle he had managed to escape for so long.

"She had long white hair, blue eyes, really young looking..." his voice trailed as he threw a swift glance over his shoulder to make sure the group hadn't been following, and luckily there was no sight of them- for now at least.

 

[Irabus]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Gamon. Gamon, Gamon, Gamon… " August repeated Gamon's name, thinking about it. "Nope, nothing. Sorry…" August did actually feel a little bad for not remembering Gamon, as he was starting to believe the man was telling him the truth. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]He turned to look at Gamon again, narrowing his eyes at the mention of more names. They struck a cord inside him, and whatever resided with those names… hurt. He didn't know what they meant, but the names mentioned all meant [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]something[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent] significant to him. Belle… he'd never met a Belle, but Gamon's description painted this perfect image of a woman he didn't know. Trying to remember the other's he'd mentioned made August's head throb. He winced, pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers. "No." Rubbing his eyes with the palm of his hand, he turned away from Gamon. "Please, your voice is giving me a headache," He sighed "I mean, what you're saying." Eyes fluttering, his gaze returned to Gamon. "I do remember the group. Well, I remember being in a group, a decade ago. I assume it's the one you're going on about." [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]They arrived at the exit, a wide set of concrete stairs greeting them, colourful graffiti painted on the walls on either side. Several people stood in the way, and August wordlessly pushed through them, disregarding the several "hey watch it"'s and dirty looks that were shot his way. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]He scaled the steps, two at a time. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]They were met with a turn, which let to a narrower set of steps, and a row of turnstiles. August awkwardly stepped over one, almost tripping as his leg got caught in the mechanism. He stumbled, quickly collecting himself. The action had stirred a memory; as a kid, he always had problems with the turnstiles, they'd always jam up when he tried to go through them. He remembered missing his train for school several times because of it. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]After that, there was only one more set of stairs, only a short one. August could see the exit doors, only the metal frames remaining, the glass long shattered.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]He practically ran up the last of the steps, taking a deep breath of fresh air as he exited the old train station. He closed his eyes, a breath of cool city air tousling his hair.[/BCOLOR]

 

[MonstarNomNom]

He couldn't hold back the small, defeated sigh that had gathered in throat as Fullbright confirmed that he didn't remember anything. However, his eyes lightened when August met his gaze, recalling he did at least remember being part of a group. Perhaps he wasn't going a bit crazy after all thinking this was who he was hoping it was.

"Alright, alright. No more questions," he returned, at least for now. He would most likely pepper them back in when he felt the time was right- one of his more annoying traits.

"Piss off," Gamon retorted to the disgruntled loiterers as he passed them just behind August, beginning the hike up the stairs. He allowed the silence to settle between them, giving him space so he could sort whatever was going on in his head. He allowed his own mind to wander as he pulled another cigarette from the carton in his pocket, lighting as match with a quick swipe against the painted walls.

A steam of smoke billowed from his lips as he sighed, images of his late comrades flicking through his memories. The violent scenes as some of them fell in the fight for their lives while others, as well as himself, were subdued and shipped off to various facilities before they had even a chance to react. It turned out the government had been tracking them for a long time, and Gamon had been too foolish in his pride to notice. He would forever shoulder that guilt and since that day he vowed he would dedicate the rest of his life to making up for it. And Belle- he had to find her and he wouldn't give it up until he did. His core toiled with the sense that something was wrong with her and he was helpless.

Soon they reached the surface, Gamon joining August once against at his side as a breeze blew over them. Neon lights scattered the old buildings as the polluted air drew a perfect haze over the scenery. It was hardly a beautiful sight, but he would take it over being back down in The Casket any day.

"So...your arm," he broke the quiet with a last breath of fumes from his mouth before letting the narcotic drop from his fingers and putting it out with his shoes- a well trained habit his muscles had mindlessly memorized. His eyes watched as a car passed before looking to the other man once again. Moving to his side, he took a moment to observe his arm, however he wasn't able to see much with the large jacket engulfing him. Fullbright probably did not appreciate the close quarters and his handsy approach, but the unicorn didn't pay much mind.

"Take the jacket off," Gamon prodded, not wanting to roll it back into place with a good view of it first. The last thing he wanted to do was cause more damage.

 

[Irabus]

August fished his phone out of his jacket pocket, turning it on to check the time. It was just past 12:00am.
He looked up and down the street, and down the staircase they'd just come from, checking for people that could be watching, or following them.
Everywhere was completely empty, left abandoned to the night. It was almost completely silent tonight, only the distant hum of car engines to fill the air. His eyebrows furrowed, "Like, right here?" rolling his eyes, he gave in, "Fine."

With great trepidation, August slipped out of his jacket, good arm first. He felt vulnerable without the dirty blue jacket over his shoulders, and the cold nipped at his skin, goosebumps prickling along his bare arms. He wore a plain, tattered black t-shirt. It was clear he'd had it for years, the neck of the shirt stretched, threatening to slip down his shoulders.
Speaking of shoulders, August's was still very dislocated. Even through the shirt, the bones were clearly visible, looking mishap and disconnected. His arm hung at his side uselessly, shoulder sagging.

He wasn't particularly fond of letting anyone touch him, let alone someone he didn't know, or well, didn't remember. He briefly considered rejecting Gamon's help, and just trying to do it himself. That wasn't going to happen.

"I really hope you know what you're doing." August grumbled, moving towards Gamon. He turned his shoulder towards him. He wasn't sure what was going to happen next, he'd broken bones before, but dislocation was something new for him.

"If you make it worse than it already is, I swear I'll…' He trailed off, closing his eyes. "I just can't be damaged like this, it could get me killed."

 

[MonstarNomNom]

Gamon hummed in reply with a nod to August's question, not able to keep an amused grin from his lips at his dramatic eye roll.

"Can't have you walking around with a useless arm. Run into the wrong people, and they take notice of that as well as the big ass duffel bag," he paused with a raise of his brow. "But- if you were in The Casket I can assume you've been in this city long enough to know how that might pan out." Criminals seeped from the cracks of this city, and it was something you learned to live with over time. He could barely remember how he used to be before- before the world spiraled into absolute madness. But, he did know he wouldn't have been able to stomach the dogfights like he could now. The unicorn had been much softer back then.

Gamon watched patiently as August began to remove his jacket, periodically taking quick glances at their surroundings to make sure there weren't any suspicious characters floating about. Once the jacket was off, he wasted no time in rolling up the sleeve of the baggy shirt so he could get a better look at the damage he was dealing with.
"Damn-" he breathed, "you really did a number on this." Fingers lightly traced over the misaligned bones beneath his pale skin, blue eyes peering from beneath his thick eyebrows at August's warning. His grin spread wider to show a glistening of teeth as his hands moved along the man's slim arm as he subtly moved it into place for repositioning.

"Don't you worry. I do this all the time. Now just-" and without warning and a quick jolt Gamon pushed the bone back into the socket with a pop. A subtle glow began to illuminate from the hand on Fullbright's shoulder and it seemed to seep into his skin with a comforting warmth. And it was over just as quickly as it had begun.

"You'll most likely be sore for about an hour, but your arm's fine now." Gamon released his grip and placed his hands into his pockets, but not before taking a quick glance at the watch on his wrist. "And sorry for the abrupt technique. I find it easier to take my patients by surprise- eliminates the instinct to squirm." The smile on his lips was much gentler now, and he took a moment to peer over his shoulder as another car sputtered along the road beside them. Midnight- the conjuring hour for bad shit. The sooner they could get off the streets the better.

"You have a place to stay for the night, Fullbright?"

 

[Irabus]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Yeah, I know the type of people that reside in his cesspit." He spoke bitterly, hugging the duffel closer to his chest with his good arm. He wondered to himself, was the money worth risking his life? Twenty thousand dollars, in unmarked notes. He hadn't had much of a choice, and that money was enough to get him out of the city, and back home. August wasn't even sure why he was in the city, maybe it was something to do with the group he'd been with some years back. He had no other reasons; this place was suffocating to him.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]Rend[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent], did a number on me. I should have just killed that asshole--"[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"FUCK!" August couldn't stop himself from yelling as his bone popped back into the socket, the pain briefly intense as it happened, fading to a dull ache when Gamon's hands provided a strange, unnatural warmth. August's eyes had gone completely green for a moment, and his teeth were more pointed. He blinked it away, eyes and teeth quickly returning to normal. Rubbing his sore shoulder, he turned to Gamon, "Thanks… " He lifted his arm, rolling his shoulder in an attempt to alleviate the pain.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"You could have given me a warning… y'know what, no warning was better." [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Gamon's question had caught him off guard, and he stumbled for words, "Well, I uh... yeah, yeah I do." August took a deep breath, dropping his shoulders. "That was a lie. I did, but I… got evicted." He wasn't even sure what compelled him to tell Gamon the truth, maybe it was the fatigue, but it seemed to just spill out. Almost everything August said and did was a lie, it almost felt good to just tell the truth. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"I mean, I'm basically a thousandair now," That made him laugh dryly "I can afford to stay almost anywhere I want." But that wasn't a good idea. The hotels around the city were either incredibly decrepit, or so lavish and expensive that his entire earnings would vanish in a single night. He was better off finding an abandoned building and sleeping there instead. [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent][/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent][/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]"I'm no stranger to spending my nights on the streets." He said with a yawn. Tiredness had snuck up on him; the excitement of the night had ebbed away, his entire body now felt weighed down with the need for rest. August blinked slowly, stifling another yawn.[/BCOLOR]

 

[MonstarNomNom]

Gamon returned his thanks with a gradual bow of his head as he took note of the subtle changes to August's features before he seemed to shake himself out of it.

"Don't mention it," he spoke, not bothering to touch on it too much as it was something that came second nature to him after spending thousands of years doing it. Gamon had taken to stroking his chin softly as August stumbled over a response to his question, giving an empathetic nod at the predicament.

"We've all been there at some point. Others more than some." Street living was something Gamon was all too familiar with, and something he would prefer not to ever go back to if he had the choice. In the past, there was nothing he would have wanted more than to be able to sleep under the blanket of stars- to be able to watch the moon as he drifted to sleep beneath the tree canopy. What he wouldn't give to be able to go back. Those days were long over as the forests had slowly disappeared and withered to wasteland.

He chuckled alongside August as he mused over his newfound wealth.

"Stranger or not, spending one night out here with all that cash is the worst idea I've ever heard," He grinned with a scratch against his cheek. "Lucky for you, I know a place. And I am betting I can probably even get you a free night- maybe even more. Not that you need it, all things considered." Now, this place was no Ritz but it was a hell of a lot better than any of the shady motels in this dumpish part of town- and safe.

"I'll take you there. Follow me."

Before August could question him, he turned on his heel and began to walk along the side of the brick building toward a beaten chain-link fence that enclosed the abandoned graveyard for old train cars. After a few minutes, they came upon a large piece of the fence that was cut, the metal netting curling at the edges from years of being pushed aside.

"After you," Gamon said with a cheeky expression as he urged the fence up with a hand and motioned to the entrance with the other for August to step through.

 

[Irabus]

​

[BCOLOR=transparent]The thought of spending the night outside in the cold made uneasy, and it brought up unpleasant memories. He'd hoped to never be homeless again, but here he was. He'd hoped for a lot of things, but just [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]hoping[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent] for something wasn't going to make it come true. Hope wasn't what got him out of the facility, hope wasn't what won him that dogfight. Instead, the credit went to blind, thoughtless stupidity.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"W-wait!" August fumbled to put on his jacket, and followed behind Gamon. His distrusting side was telling him to turn back and walk the other direction, not even walk actually, to [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]run,[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent] and get as far away from this man as he could. Stupidity, on the other hand, convinced him to trust in someone he didn't even remember. Maybe he was telling the truth. Maybe he would have somewhere safe to stay. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]August stopped at the broken chain link fence, giving Gamon a pointed look. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Could this be an ambush? Was Gamon playing me this entire time?[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]He peered through to the other side, and attuned his hearing. He didn't hear or see anything. Carefully, he ducked through the hole, cursing as his jacket pocket caught onto one of the curled wires, tearing it. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Everything's just coming up August today." He said sarcastically.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]He stood, waiting for Gamon to pass through the fence.[/BCOLOR]