Curbed Stomping Grounds [mission, closed]

It was ironic when she thought about it. The woman before her channeled the powers of fire and brimstone, but Jerusalem played the role of the devil in this contract. Should she fulfill this endeavour, the one she originally wasn’t interested in undergoing without proper incentive, she would be able to ask the redhead of anything she wanted. Now, that was setting herself up for a terrible time. Or a good time; the line between those was always blurred when it came to the redhead.

So, there they were, making their way down the paths that hardly constituted as roads anymore in search of a glorified pile of rubble. There seemed to be a small settlement nearby hosting a comedically small amount of people, but she paid that no mind. Jerusalem liked to believe she had better uses of her time, liking doing drugs and having sex. But she failed to curb a little bit of curiosity regarding the venture.

”First off, remember that ever so grateful translates to you doing what I want you to do. I promise you’ll like it, too, or at least your body will,” she started, a smirk playing along her lips. ”Second thing, the first thing that comes to mind is Robin Hood. The cautionary tale it evolved into has less impact when I’m benefiting from it anyway.”

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Morgan Laroux | Post 1

The unenthused reception was not lost on her. Jerusalem found herself smirking when she heard it, because she felt endeared whenever the redhead reacted that way. It meant that she wrested the ability to make her squirm a little, and she considered that a pleasant sight. She thought the best part was how she refrained from declining, and that meant she might end up wearing an attire even more revealing than the armour she continued to don. The purple-haired woman thought of a few other conditions she may or may not enact.

Playing up the tease, she decided to lean on her while they continued to advance. Her warmth could not be disputed. Maybe it was because of the nature of her Magic, and she shared that characteristic if there was any authenticity to her claim. While she indulged the gesture, her eyes examined the environment around them.

Jerusalem was used to seeing a lot of nothing around her. While she heard of a time where the world boasted lush forests in many places than just certain regions, her experiences were limited to the bleak and dreary. It founded her bitter and cynical outlook, and provided her with less things to set ablaze to sate her morbid desires.

The positive takeaway to her lack of investment in the conversation was she seemed to be distracted by Morgan herself. Head on her shoulder, she seemed content in using her as a makeshift pillow while they walked. When the redhead drew attention to that, she hauled her back to reality.

”Oh. Yeah, I’m paying attention. I used to eat a lot of escargot growing up, too. It reminds me of people. Disgusting.”

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Morgan Laroux | Post 2

Hollow eyes widening, she sensed the feeling of someone attempting to lace their fingers with her own. While she had no reservations against it, it surprised her that the redhead initiated the gesture. Finding it difficult to foster any aversion towards it, she accepted. Interlocking her fingers with Morgan’s, she gave her hand a small, reassuring squeeze.

Though Jerusalem became emotionally numb at least ten years ago, she understood that others did not have this characteristic. With that feeling she had left, she wanted to at least be a little useful in this situation. She could afford to take it seriously.

Hearing her speak about her home becoming what it was today, she decided to pull her closer. If Morgan wanted to use her as a beacon of support, she was fine with it. Jerusalem had no attachment to any certain place, but she understood the concept of it. To her, a place was just another abode she found sanctuary from the ill-will of other people. Four walls and a roof, nothing more. To the other woman, it was more than that. She acknowledged it without any quips.

Then came the inhuman shriek. Her eyes narrowed when she heard it, because the sound grated on her ears. Intending to cremate whatever decided to scream at her, she turned in the direction it came. Jerusalem discerned what appeared to be a chimera. The bastardization of a monkey, tiger, and sea lion presented the world with another perversion of nature. Wonderful. Residuals from its last hunt lingered on its mouth, and she wagered it was supposed to be intimidating. She sneered.

Pointing her free hand in its direction, she wreathed her arm and its extremities in flames.

”Can you shoot your fire like this yet? If we combine our attacks, we’ll have a snack for the road.”

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Morgan Laroux | Post 3

Funny girl, Jerusalem thought to herself, noticing Morgan refraining from detaching herself from her. Can’t say I’m opposed, though. Giving her hand another reassuring squeeze in response, she fixed her attention on the beast before them. It posed a great danger to most people, its predatory instincts, stature and natural weaponry spelling the end for the ill-prepared. Unfortunately for the monster, it stumbled upon a pair of magic practitioners.

”I’m gonna eat it,” the woman reiterated in response, assuring that Morgan knew her intentions. Her expression failed to shift while she spoke those words, deadpan and serious. Traces of humour still tinged each word, indicating the satirical, dark humour she sported. I bet it’s going to taste like shit, though.

Using electromagnetic influence derived from her secondary Magic, Jerusalem pried the iron particles from both air and the ground to create what appeared to be a mixture of dark, black grains in the air. With the flick of her wrist, she used the beast’s momentum against it. Grabbing the tail or whatever else it used to move with a tendril of amorphous black, she attempted to trip it. Her eyes narrowed, and she sneered.

Hope this gives Morgan a chance…

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Morgan Laroux | Post 4

”I don’t know. I’ve put some big, grotesque, hard things in my mouth before. This might be a better deal,” Jerusalem quipped in response, her expression as deadpan as a dry rock. Of course, she lied; it might have been obvious, too. The Godfrey woman never had intention to put anything of the sort into her beautiful mouth unless she harboured to bite down with enough force to sever whatever ungodly thing it was, or light it on fire. Or electrocute it until the obstruction smelled of overdone roast on a barbecue.

While Morgan charged forward with an awkward grace, she moved to flank the creature. She watched while the nefarious heels sank into the abomination’s side, sending it rolling across the dirt. Holstering fire in both palms now that her other hand was liberated, she narrowed her eyes.

The creature gored Morgan and sent her flying. Jerusalem flinched and send her iron sand after her, thickening it and using it as padding between her partner and the tree. It would not feel like Dr. Scoll’s, but it was better than smashing into a tree.

Wreathing flaming napalm around her body, she moulded it into the massive image of a phoenix. Flinging both hands forward, she sent the amorphous inferno towards the monkey-faced chimera with the intention to bathe it in horrific, molten flames in the colossal, blinding explosion that followed.

”Burn, insect…”

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Morgan Laroux | Post 5

”Can you describe mine like that next time, too? With the same ardour,” Jerusalem replied, but not as a quip or a jest. It seemed her interest in the prospect came from the heart, as though she wanted to hear those words from Morgan.

Speaking of factors that reminded her of the sexually charged, the peace sign stirred a warm reaction in her. It reminded her of the time she went overboard and shattered what remained of her friend’s aspirations for unbent heterosexuality. At least she seemed to enjoy it. There was even consent—how nice of Jerusalem.

Just when it seemed that the duo had the advantage and morale shifted in their direction, the beast seemed to vanish from sight. Being an entity equipped with as much guile as she had fondness for flame, the Godfrey rocketed herself into the air with propulsion. Using flames as the medium, she took to the airs and even sprouted a pair of napalm-comprised, phoenix wings while she flew.

Seeing fire bear little fruit earlier, she decided to begin charging lightning in her hands. It crackled; threads of red wreathed around her hands as she waited.

”Morgan, take cover somewhere. We don’t know what it can do.”

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Morgan Laroux | Post 6

Jerusalem possessed great control over both elements she wielded. The Godfrey woman knew she could fire lightning at the beast and ground it before the electrical current spread into Morgan, but she decided against it. She had a reliable means of attacking without fire, and without raw lightning, that would inflict great damage to the exposed creature without the possibility of friendly fire.

Taking out a single jewel coin from her pocket, she acknowledged the opportunity granted to her through the redhead’s exploits. While Jerusalem channeled more of her Magic Power, streaks of red became apparent on her violet mane of hair. She did not notice yet.

Flipping the coin, she propelled it towards the monster below. Aiming for its flank, she shot it far beyond the capabilities of a powerful sniper rifle to take out a lung. Using her lightning, she fired the metal coin akin to a railgun with enough collective force to sweep her hair back and tear a massive sunder into the ground from the sheer force it contained during flight.

No matter how big a monster was, if one shot it in the right place, it would cease to function.

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Morgan Laroux | Post 7