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Post by Tokrochiru on Apr 8, 2013 17:53:08 GMT -5
Bulgrish could hardly say a word when Winter gave him back the liquor. He was so forgiving towards those necromancers. Even if they weren't associated with those cultists, they still bended the essence of life in awful ways. McKensey wasn't fond of them either when she was alive. She always hated necromancy with a passion, calling it "the Devil's Magic".
...And yet she still would have been kind to them. He still would have treated them like real living people. She was sympathetic even to people like them. She didn't agree or even tolerate what they did, but she always remembered to not judge people by their sins alone.
Bulgrish wasn't like that. That's part of the reason why he quit mercenary work. Without that sense of compassion, he feared what he was capable of. As the orc walked through town and entered the cemetery, he recalled all the times that 'Kensey kept him grounded. Kept him humane. Even after leaving the Grimlocke Corps, he relied on her to keep his chronic sociopathy in check.
That damned orcish disease called the Dark Haze. It was a semi-rare condition amongst orcish warriors where they lost the ability to care about the lives of anyone else during a fight, be it enemy, comrade, or bystander. Those afflicted with it didn't go berserk so much as they simply became cruel. Evil. Without McKensey's help, he could have killed so many of the people he cared for. Even more than he already had...
Bulgrish looked at the grave before him. "Here lies McKensey Malculn. Spirited and adventurer and loving mother." He placed the bottle of liquor next to the grave stone, and spoke one last word to her.
"This one's on me," said Bulgrish.
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Post by Greed on Apr 9, 2013 23:50:41 GMT -5
-???-
The sound of uneven footsteps sounded, as a cybernetic woman walked into the arid cemetery, her hands firmly in her pockets. Glints of metal gave away her limbs, and her eyes were clearly cybernetic, her scarred face outlined by pale pink hair. It was strange, for someone like that to be there of all places. She couldn't possibly be one of the necromancers.. Possibly audacious, as an old, worn DKS pin still remained on her zipper laden jacket. She seemed remarkably respectful however, despite her apparent background; she certainly wasn't defacing any of the makeshift graves, much less the one that the old orc was standing at.
It was odd then, that the woman stopped a few feet back from Bulgrish, bowing her head ever so slightly as if making a brief prayer, before speaking up.
"So.... I'll assume you knew this one, big guy."
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Post by Tokrochiru on Apr 10, 2013 21:15:56 GMT -5
Bulgrish was reluctant to acknowledge her presence at first. She seemed to be ex Devoidian military. When the orc saw her gesture of respect, he attempted to put aside his prejudices. It was what 'Kensey would have wanted.
"Yeah. She was a good soldier, and an even better friend. She didn't deserve the end that was given to her."
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Post by Greed on Apr 10, 2013 21:37:10 GMT -5
-???-
The woman nodded, stared around at the ruined landscape. The word soldier seemed to spark something from the Devoid woman, though what was a mystery.
"... soldier, huh. Well, I'd imagine she knew better than I did what she was fighting for." The woman nodded to herself, looking around at some of the other graves; the area had clearly been a cemetery before the attack, as most of the gravestones were more formal looking... she must have been buried afterwards. The cybernetic woman unhooked a holster from her waist, an old, worn-out laser pistol still inside of it, and laid it on grave herself. The damn thing barely worked anymore, but it was the thought that counted, right?
"No one in this city deserved to die the way they did." The woman continued to stare down at the grave as she spoke, "Its why I left Devoid, honestly. At least I was able to help some people get out of the city..." She thought for a moment, turning to Bulgrish, as though she remembered something.
"Say, this is a longshot, but did you know someone by the name of Zack Leerhart? I heard he moved here."
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Post by Tokrochiru on Apr 10, 2013 22:07:31 GMT -5
Zack Leerheart? That was Aire's father...
Of course. Ex-DKS. He knew from various subtle cues that Zack was ex-DKS as well.
"He lived here once. Doesn't anymore. Pretty sure he wants to be left alone after all that's happened. If you know what's good for you, you'll honor that wish."
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Post by Greed on Apr 10, 2013 22:37:57 GMT -5
--That actually drew a small chuckle from the woman, though it was one that was laced with melancholy. "Haha... don't worry. I go way back with him. He was my second in command way back when. We had a... mutual respect, and a mutual hatred of Devoid after leaving. Hell, after this, he'd probably be happy to see me." Well, she hoped he would, anyways. After all, the respect between them was there. She knew it was, even after all these years. "...well. That's all, really. I didn't expect to run into anyone here, honestly." Which was... an understandable thing to say, when the most signs of life you would see in a ruined city like this is a couple of raptors tearing into a corpse, maybe a pack of wolves fighting with them for it. They weren't interested in living prey if they had so much free food lying around. "By the way, the name is Seline Wallen." It was always a risk to throw her name around, honestly. She had garnered her own special brand of infamy back when she was still referred to as the "Reaper of Devoid", even though she had long since moved past that moniker. She was just trying to be friendly, truthfully. "So... I can't imagine you staying here. Heading back to Argenon, um...?" All she was asking was for a name, really. She had her own direction to head, but even still, it had been nice to meet someone who wasn't either charred to bits or half rotten.
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Post by Tokrochiru on Apr 15, 2013 5:10:22 GMT -5
"Bulgrish. And no, I don't plan on heading back there ever again. Not if I can help it, at least."
Bulgrish had every reason not to go back to the home-city of the orcs. The terms on which he left the place last time combined with the infighting that was occurring amongst his people made it pretty much pointless for him to return there. Not a sane person in the world wanted to visit Argenon while it was embroidered in civil war. He wondered why Seline even asked.
"If you're set on visiting Zack, then I won't stop you. But I'm telling you, he's going through some of the worst stuff of his life right now. Say whatever you want about whatever traumatic deaths he witnessed during his service. It still won't compare to what he's going through right now."
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Post by Greed on Apr 15, 2013 23:15:17 GMT -5
-Seline-
The woman's eyes widened slightly, a small smile crossing her face. Oh yeah, she'd heard about this guy. But, as far as she was concerned, both his past, and hers, her long past being relevant at this point. As for what he was saying about Zack.... well, she'd believe that when she figured out what the hell he was talking about.
"Seline Wallen. Nice to finally meet you, Bulgrish. Heard alot, though I don't suppose any of it means anything now." Seline extended her normal hand; part of her expected him to flat out not accept it, but the other, well... she didn't really know. She kinda hoped he would, honestly.
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Post by Tokrochiru on Apr 15, 2013 23:26:31 GMT -5
....Oh, why the hell not?
Bulgrish gripped her hand lightly and shook it just once. He didn't respect her quite yet, but she was making progress quickly.
"...You gonna be sticking around after visiting Zack? Or do you have some high-tech luxury in Malen to get back to?"
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Post by Greed on Apr 16, 2013 10:47:54 GMT -5
-Seline-
Well now... that was something else.
"... well, everyone has stuff they're not proud of, right? I'm going to Malen to try to fix one of those things... I... kinda have a daughter I've neglected." Seline shook her head.
"But, enough about that, what about you? You heading to the Bridge? Malen? Can't say that you look like you'd be comfortable in that theme park made city over there..."
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Post by Tokrochiru on Apr 19, 2013 22:51:01 GMT -5
"I'm relocating the bar I own to a place outside of to-"
A loud ring rudely interrupted their conversation. Bulgrish's cell phone vibrated ferociously in his pocket. He had always disliked the strength of the vibration on his phone. It dented a wooden table once.
Bulgrish gestured Seline to hold on as he pressed the green button on the obnoxious device. What followed was a short conversation that quickly turn Bulgrish's expression from mournful to worrisome. Once he hung up, it was clear that something had disturbed him deeply.
"Yeah?...No...Of course I have room you dumbass....I thought you'd be able to tell when I'm being deadpan by now. Oh well...What?...Damn it! Hold them off. I'll be there ASAP. Bulgrish out."
Without saying a word, he darted to the cemetery's exit. He didn't have time for goodbyes with this stranger. He had to get to Winter, as quickly as possible.
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Post by Greed on Apr 21, 2013 1:05:57 GMT -5
-Seline-
A small frown crossed Seline's face as she listened to the phone-call as Bulgrish responded.
"Hold them off, huh..."
It wasn't any of her business. It really wasn't. She knew all too well that some people had to fight their own battles, and handle their own problems.
"Well then, stay safe, Bulgrish." Seline turned to leave, glancing back at the grave as she did.
"... She seems like a person I would have gotten along with. What a freaking shame..."
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