Alleway

@〄 Byun Wooseok ¥✔ Your body hit the ground hard.

I barely saw you fall. One moment, you were running your optics a volatile storm of crimson and blue and the next, you were collapsing into the grime of the alley. This wasn’t a simple malfunction. It was an internal war your rogue protocol battling something more fundamental, something you refused to surrender.
I ran. Fast. The Judaric were closing in, their heavy boots hammering against the cobblestones, armor clanking like a relentless war march.
"Wooseok!"

You convulsed, limbs spasming, arcs of electricity flickering along the seams of your cybernetic frame. And then, a sound, ragged, uneven. You were breathing. When had you started breathing? A glitch? No. This was fear.
I dropped to my knees, seizing your shoulders, pressing down to still you.

"Listen to me. If you don't snap out of it right now, they will take you and execute you." My voice cut through the chaos, sharper than the blade strapped to my thigh. "You are not dying here. You are not getting taken. Do you hear me?"

Your optics flickered wildly, locking onto mine for a fraction of a second. In that fleeting instant, I saw you—not the machine, not the rogue, but something grasping for autonomy.
Footsteps. Closer. The city watch was sweeping the streets.
I couldn’t take you to Bahamut’s Summit. Daniel would never allow it. No sanctuary there.
But I knew where we could go.

Gritting my teeth, I tightened my grip and hauled you up, ignoring the tremors wracking your frame. "On your feet. Now." My patience burned away in an instant, and without waiting, I lifted you like a drowned cat and slung you over my shoulders.
A shadow stretched at the alley’s entrance. I didn’t hesitate. Hood up, arms locked around your unsteady form, I melted into the underbelly of Southern Central.

The hunt had just begun. And thank the gods—I still had the key to my old apartment.

[I'm always down for chaos love. Do your worst, ;) ]

@♕❖ Bambi Naka † [] moving my reply to the alleyway~

It was as if the rogue protocol recognized the woman’s hold on Wooseok, identifying her as a threat, one that had to be eliminated the next time they crossed paths. Unlike before, it didn't need to vocalize the decision for the intent was embedded deep within its directives. Yet, even as the protocol marked her as an enemy, something within Wooseok rebelled.

She was the one who had resonated with him the most, the one who, in their brief time together, seemed to understand him in a way no one else had and treated him more as a human than a machine. Whether or not he truly had a consciousness, she had carved out a place within it. And the mere thought of harming her sent a surge of resistance through his systems.

Wooseok’s body surged forward, the rogue protocol guiding his every step and his optics burned red as he eyed the tree line. The forest would serve as cover, a labyrinth of endless paths to lose any pursuer. And yet as he neared the edge of the alley, his movements faltered.

A flicker of blue sparked within the crimson glow of his optics. Something cracked in the rogue protocol’s control, an interruption, a resistance. A force not external but internal. It fought to push forward, to reach the forest’s cover, but the internal struggle slowed him down. His foot caught the uneven ground, and in an instant, he was tumbling. The impact sent him rolling across the dirt, then his body convulsed slightly, jerking as if two opposing forces were warring for dominance. The alleyway then became a battlefield not of steel and fire, but of willpower and identity.

Wooseok’s optics flickered violently, shifting between crimson and icy blue. He was fighting back. And for the first time, the rogue protocol wasn’t winning.

[] Was tempted to proceed with wooseok fighting with himself lol but wanna see what would bambi do :p hahaha

@〄 Byun Wooseok ¥ Leaning against the brick wall, the outdated cyborg model malfunctioned, emitting erratic sparks. Even in its current state, Daesung saw that the old bot’s flesh had once been beautiful. The once smooth porcelain skin is now tarnished, revealing a polished bronze exterior with intricate gears whirring and grinding painfully. A dimming, flickering light emanates from the cyborg’s lone eye.

Daesung paused in hesitation, his breath visible in the cold night air. The silent struggle is evident as he grips his jaw, fighting off memories threatening to overwhelm him.

Trembling weakly, the cyborg reached out a hand as it continued to work. Kneeling, Daesung carefully examines the cyborg, his expression changing to one of quiet determination as he reveals tools from his coat pockets. A quick repair attempt causes sparks to fly. His eyes rose to the aged bot; its distorted voice was like a faint echo of its former self.

Overwhelmed, Daesung drops his tools, his hands shaking violently. Lifting the cyborg, he walks it into the misty night toward his shop, Mechanical Me.
[I'm dropping a starter at Mechanical me to progress the story.]

@დ Kang Daesung The world blurred in and out like a damaged recording. Wooseok’s systems flickered erratically, fragments of distorted data continued flashing through his mind, faces without names, voices drowned in static, a sky that no longer looked familiar. Pain lanced through his circuits, a dull, endless hum that refused to abate. Every attempt to move sent another malfunction spiraling through his body, his limbs jerking uncontrollably before falling limp again.

The shadows were heavy here, a suffocating blanket broken only by the faintest glow of his optics, now faltering with each passing moment. The last thing Wooseok remembered was wandering through the chaos of the Black Light District, his sensors overloading in the cacophony of sounds and sights. Now, he was slumped against a wall, a forgotten relic, discarded like obsolete technology.

A faint presence intruded on the static haze. Footstep, hesitant he could tell drew closer. A human? Given his state, the instinct to get up and escape stirred weakly in Wooseok, a faint spark of alarm that fizzled as quickly as it came. He tried to speak, but his vocal unit only sputtered out a garbled whine. His optics struggled to focus, catching glimpses of a figure crouching before him. The soft click of metal on metal, a faint chirping sound which was unmistakably mechanical.

Then, warmth. Not literal warmth, but something in the way the stranger’s hands moved, careful and deliberate, touching his battered frame with a reverence Wooseok hadn’t felt in centuries. The man’s face came into focus, partially shadowed but illuminated by the soft flicker of gaslight. His expression was cautious but kind, curiosity flickering in his eyes. Wooseok’s internal diagnostics struggled to process the sudden influx of sensations, the deliberate tightening of screws, and the sharp sting as circuits were realigned. He wanted to speak, to tell this stranger to stop, to run before the chaos that surrounded him caught up. But the words refused to come. Instead, Wooseok let himself succumb to the stranger’s care, the faint hum of a mechanical bird blending with the rhythmic clicks of tools.

In the dim haze of his faltering consciousness, Wooseok wondered who this man was and why he felt a flicker of something long buried deep in his fragmented soul. Trust.

@〄 Byun Wooseok ¥ The bustling sounds of the Winter Solstice Masquerade echo faintly in the distance. The cobblestone streets glisten with recent rain, reflecting flickering gaslights that cast an eerie glow in the narrow alley. The scent of saltwater lingers in the air from the nearby seaport.

Head down, Tinker Kang Daesung, in his worn trench coat, continued his journey through the city’s busy streets. His delicate hands fiddle with a small mechanical bird perched on his shoulder, its gears clicking rhythmically. Limply dangling from his other hand is the festive mask, forgotten. A soft, melancholic smile plays on his lips as he walks past masked partygoers humming a familiar tune from his childhood. Their laughter felt the air, a reminder of the connection he felt forever out of reach.

He turns into a shadowy alleyway.

Mid-step, he freezes.

A faint spark illuminates the darkness—a CYBORG slumped against the brick wall, twitching. Self preservation urged him to flee from he scene. Daesung learned to run first and ask questions later during his earlier days as a slave in Central. So why did his feet remain rooted to the ground? He shredded as sparks leap from its exposed wires, and its once-polished bronze frame is marred by rust and grime.

Daesung’s eyes widened in surprise. He crouched cautiously, his mechanical bird chirping nervously from his shoulder. His horrified gaze fell upon your head as it jerked erratically, its glowing blue optics dimming with each movement. A low, distorted hum emanates from its vocal unit, like a plea for help.

Despite his reservations, Daesung tentatively reached out his hand towards your metal shoulder. Concern replaced his stomach-churning anxiety as the cyborg convulsed, its voice a weak, glitching mechanical sound. His face grew gentler, his courage rising as his playful manner gave way to silent resolve. Swiftly, the tinker pulled a tool kit from his coat, flipping it open to reveal an array of worn, handmade gadgets. His fingers worked deftly, tightening screws and rewiring circuits. Mimicking his motions, the bird on his shoulder clicked its tiny claws in unison.

@დ Kang Daesung The streets of Central were alive with chaos, the hiss of steam vents and the rhythmic clatter of brass gears mingling with the glow of flickering gas lamps and sputtering arc lights. Wooseok moved through the labyrinthine alleys like a ghost, his frame out of place amidst the soot-streaked walls and cobbled pathways. His steps were unsteady, his movements mechanical yet disjointed, betraying the internal malfunction that plagued him. His systems were failing, and with them, his ability to make sense of the world around him.

Fragments of memories surfaced, flickering like faulty holograms in his mind with scenes of alchemical laboratories, faceless engineers in oil stained coats, and the deafening silence that had enveloped him for centuries. But none of it was enough to anchor him in the present. He paused in the middle of a crowded alley, his features betraying no emotion even as his eyes darted, scanning his surroundings. The noise around him was overwhelming. His sensors, once finely tuned, were now unreliable, flooding him with contradictory warnings.

A group of figures lingered at the edge of the alley, their gazes fixed on him with a mix of curiosity and predation. Wooseok’s instincts flared, urging him to retreat, but his legs refused to cooperate. Instead, he turned sharply and stumbled into a quieter side street, the faint hum of a broken electro lamp cast jagged, shifting shadows across soot stained bricks. Here, the silence was heavier, almost oppressive. Wooseok’s gaze flicked around, his mind racing to make sense of the distorted data his systems were feeding him. His hand moved to the side of his head, fingers brushing against the cool metal of his temple as if the gesture alone could realign his fractured core. But there was no clarity, no relief. Just the growing weight of disorientation and the haunting realization that he didn’t know where he was or why.

His knees gave out, sending him crashing to the cobblestones with a muted clang. For a moment, he sat motionless, his broad shoulders slumping as his head tilted back to gaze at the fractured sky above. His thoughts were a jumble, an incomprehensible mess of static and fragmented memories. Someone had to find him. Someone had to fix him. Yet as the shadows crept closer, cloaked in the grimy, soot stained tendrils of the district, Wooseok couldn’t escape the chilling thought that he might rust away here, consumed by the relentless march of time and steam.

@⚜ ♕ Emily Mei  “If it’s such a crazy idea, why did you even bring it up?” My eyes dug into you waiting to see the strength of your resolve. Victory crossed my lips once you broke down the facts, considering my proposal. “An hour,” I snorted. “I’ll only need 30mins.” The large hood concealed a portion of my features. Plunging my hands deep in the confines of my cloak, I nodded my head in the direction of the Central Circuit. “Lead the way,” I stepped as gesturing an open road that poured into the nightlife crowd. As peddlers and street merchants packed up for the day, the carriage rolled away down the busy roads. Mist powered lamps illuminated the city as one part of the city died the other was steadily coming to left. “Coachmen!” I shouted and waved down a carriage. “To Central Circuit please. They’ll be two Central Isle silver pieces in it for you if you make haste.” The man snapped the reins to the deerbit without a second thought as we were taxed away in the night.

@❦ Kim Hyo-jong ¥✔ His action took her by surprise. "Dawn..let go of me....sheesh." Her wrist start to warm up the tips of her hair turning red, yanking her hands free and rubbing them to cool them back down. "You always talk bout how nosey I was poking around in people business and yet you for---" his request quickly shut her up, shaking her head in response. "Absolutely not. We can not break into my work place. Are you crazy?" She starts pacing weighing the likelihood of worst case scenario. But what if there really is a way to find Jieun? What if it really stopped all the craziness that's been happening? What if it can heal the land. "Ahhh." She let out a frustrated groan, resulting in lighting a pile of trash on fire. " it." She looked up at him ignoring all the cons in this situation as well. "One hour only. That's the only time I can give us. We don't touch nothing else."

@⚜ ♕ Emily Mei  My freckled cheeks and the bridge of my nose were sprinkled with raindrops. The threat of a storm was no longer impending, but it was on the horizon heading straight toward us, nonetheless. Having spent countless years in Central, I had become accustomed to its ever-changing climate, particularly during late summer. Clear crystal mornings have been overshadowed by heavy gray rain clouds. However, there was a distinct coldness in the air that night. I sensed a change in the air on this night that made me feel uneasy. Brown dried leaves whizzed past us down the narrow alley. A cold wind whispered through the trees. My cloak stirred behind me like something half alive. “What did you just say? “I inquired, now fully focused on what I had assumed would be a continuation of your aimless ramblings and excuses. I eyed you with a skeptical gaze. It wasn’t until you brought up your job at the Central Circuit that I started listening again. I swiftly turned towards you, my three tails narrowly avoiding whipping your face. My hand encircled your wrist, closing the gap between us. “Did you just say you work for the papers? Once again, I inquired, studying your face and uncertain of your intentions. Nevertheless, if this were true, it might be the first major lead in discovering Jieun’s location since my last transaction with Sora for the worthless picture. “Can you take me there?”

@❦ Kim Hyo-jong ¥✔ Her footsteps comes to a halt in the alleyway. Her black orbs on standby around her as clouds above them roar to life out of no where. Emily remember this. She remembered the way his emotion reflect into the sky threatening the surrounding with a storm. "I thought you have found her already." She jogged to catch up to him. Being only 5'2" didn't help with trying to catch up with Dawn. "But then...we were working on missing people files at the press, that's when it dawned on me, no one had seen anyone in Heleo. Poof. Disappeared out of thin air." Not only that, Emi had also realized that no matter how hard she's been trying to heal No Man's land, the rate at its decay was faster which did not make sense to her. "Dawn, there's something seriously going on here and if that meant needing to find your sister...making sure that Jieun is alive, then it, take my money." She was getting anxious....maybe a little paranoid. With a deep exhale, Emi sighed. "Please Dawn. I want to help. You guys are literally the cloestest thing I have to family when yall found me."

@⚜ ♕ Emily Mei  The sound of your footsteps on the cobblestone caught my attention. Frustrated, I released a long breath and rolled my eyes, growing tired of this ridiculous conversation. I walked the narrow alley way driving my hands into the confines of my cloak as it would aid stifling the rage brewing within me. “Yea, yea even more concerning that you haven’t even lifted a finger to find her. A pretty piss poor way of showing her your gratitude.” The sky above was filled with dark swirling clouds, and a strong gust of wind howled through the narrow pathway, signaling the approach of a storm. My anger prevented me from acknowledging your presence, so I kept my eyes fixed ahead, letting another uncomfortable silence fill the space between us.

@დ Kang Daesung The growl to Daesung’s stomach didn’t go unnoticed. In fact she chuckled softly at it before looking around at their surroundings. “Alright,” She began and tugged him into the direction of a small diner. “This will be our first stop.” Lisa had made the decision so quickly by herself. She was used to it afterall. It’s not always easy to lead a bunch of warriors into battle. Especially if they are hard headed and drunk on ale and women. Lisa sat down near the window of the diner. Daesung sat across from her and she waited for the waiter to bring over the menus. Silver bright hues loomed over the menu, trying to decide on what sounded the best to eat. Lips pursued as nature on the deciding factor. “I’m thinking of something like lamb. What do you think?”

@დ Lalisa Manobal A mild gust of wind swept through the alleyway and the clouds began to roll over head. The first signs of an impeding rain shower. The tinker pondering a place of nearby refuge and mild entertainment wouldn't hurt. It had been a long time since he'd done something so well, spontaneous he was fumbling thinking on hiss toes, as a result his stomach answered for him. A low grumble as he placed his hand to silence it.

@დ Kang Daesung Walking out of the tavern with the man's hand in hers, Lisa adventured out in town and taking in what Central had to offer. She had let go of Daesung's hand just to drop them down to her sides. "Is there a favorite place that you go to around here, Daesung? We can probably just start there. Or if you're hungry, take me to your favorite place to eat."

[post deleted by owner]

@〄 Jeon Jungkook Her senses spiked up as she felt the other presence in the room. Even in the state that she was in, her body was ready to fight or flight, making her blood shot eye rapidly opened and her nails growing long into dagger like length. "Who......what do you want?" She can barely choked out as one of her nail pressed against the other's neck ready to dig in if needed.

@♅ Go Yoon Jung *Sighs*
Why do you want to follow me?
*turns to you and squints*
I mean, seriously...

@♆ Karina /laughes and stick her toungue out.
where are you goingg

@♅ Go Yoon Jung *Cranes my neck to look at you again*
What...?

@♆ Karina i see..
/chew on cheek
because u smell funny

@☠ Christian Yu ¥✔ As far as he can remember, the man is more with it. The man’s sanity intact and begging Seunghyun to save him from his misery or better yet give him a chance to survive. The obssessive commentary to leave carcass alone made him chuckle. “Fool. I’m not here for your lousy meal.” The demon took a step forward and levelled himself to meet the man’s gaze. Quick to draw his dagger out, the sound of souls crying for help filled the air as the clouds heavily drowned out the moonlight. His eyes glow in yellow hue in contrast with his vampire vessel. he lifted his hand and across the man’s right arm, cutting him a little deeper to convey he is there for him. “Now, do I have your attention?”

@დ Jung Nicole *by now, i was back home and I went into the room and opened the door to the other and looked at the being on the floor. Looks around the room that I left and then came back to a long-haired person in it's way. Looking around for the creature. While looking, I found a body of a female. moving closer to the female, I crouch down looking at her seeing who she was*

@〄 Jeon Jungkook Her shadow friend stayed against the wall, watching her in her most vulnerable state. Memories of her past flashed against their eyes. From the constant time she's gotten hurt to the day she bloodied her hands after the assault. Her arms hugged her bare self tighter, almost crying out both in pain and from her memories. Her hair grew longer, shielding her as she toss and turn a bit.

@დ Jung Nicole *Arriving back to my 'place' of living. I watched the food, aiming through the direction that was known. My mind went to the tiny creature and i heard a bell behind me. Stopping, my ears ring along with the bell and a quick turn of my head and i looked at a male walking with the bell that jingled. my orbs following the person from where he walked until he disappeared behind a building. Watching, I looked at him and raised a brow moving towards the way. Getting to that way, I looked down the alleyway only to find the male gone. What many would call curiosity took me over and I scanned the area to have no sign of a body. my gaze went back in the direction of 'home'. Walks back home. It wasn't anything or really looked like much. But it was a place i felt 'warm'. so, i walked till i gotten to it*

@〄 Jeon Jungkook As her body heal, the bandages starts to feel a little tighter as her body starts to want to shift back into her regular self. Thankful that she was still in so much pain from healing, Nicole drifted in an out of consciousness, only barely making out when he said she was lucky. The amount of luck she did come across was truly mind boggling. No matter how much danger she puts herself into when she run through natural disasters, she always manages to come out okay. And in this moment, she's thankful for the kind stranger that took pity on her cat form. She owe it to them now. She didn't know how long her savior was gone, but all she knew was in the process of how fast her body kicked into gear from healing, she manages to break out of the bandages laying there in a fetal position, her bruises and cuts displayed better in her human form still unconscious.

@დ Jung Nicole *having addressing her wounds, I looked her over and nodded when I was done. Looking back at the male who came to take a look at you. They spoke about giving you pain medicine and keeping the antibiotics. Processing the information needed, I looked at him and a small nod of his words, You were bandage so the regeneration process was unknown. Not so much time inside, I tilted my head* You are. 'lucky' little one. *says while closing the door. hearing your stomach earlier on in the helping process, I decided to go out to get you something to eat. After all, the body needs to feed to heal and to function properly. Unknown what animals eat. I brought a steak. Something that was told to get when one was hurt. Steak. So, that's what was purchased.*

/ my lips after snacking on a yummy looking man I dragged in here from the streets
/small, cute ladies can be predators too

@〄 Jeon Jungkook Her injured limped body rested against the other as he picked her up and took her away from the scene. It'll be good for her. At least in this sense, she's not out here dying on the street. Bless this kind hearted soul who took pity over an injured animal. Thank goodness her quick thinking shifted her to this cat form. Nicole wasn't sure how long it was, but judging from the comfort of her shadow buddy, her body started to regenerate slowly as she felt safe enough in this stranger's home. The smaller wounds closes slowly and if one was to pay attention, they can see a light shadow hovering over those wounds.

@☠ Christian Yu ¥✔ It was late, possibly the early hours of the morning but Tsuki rarely paid attention to time. The only thing that told her when to go home was the drowsiness when she got too tired, and the pain in her feet from the impractical shoes that she thought looked so pretty.
Now was the time and as she stepped out of the building, she inhaled the cold night air and ran her hands through her hair, messing up the small braids in the front of her hair that some pleasant but pushy fairy had done for her. Then she bent down, unfastening her shoes and slipping them off and placing them into a bag slung lazily over her shoulder. She pulled her dark blue jacket closed, fastening the buckle of it's belt closed at her waist before checking her skirt hadn't got caught up in her jacket and smoothed it out.
Then she was more than happy to take herself home, turning down onto the alleyway humming a tune to herself as she walked down it, paying little attention to the lack of other people in the area.

(I just realised my posted this without tagging you)

It was late, possibly the early hours of the morning but Tsuki rarely paid attention to time. The only thing that told her when to go home was the drowsiness when she got too tired, and the pain in her feet from the impractical shoes that she thought looked so pretty.
Now was the time and as she stepped out of the building, she inhaled the cold night air and ran her hands through her hair, messing up the small braids in the front of her hair that some pleasant but pushy fairy had done for her. Then she bent down, unfastening her shoes and slipping them off and placing them into a bag slung lazily over her shoulder. She pulled her dark blue jacket closed, fastening the buckle of it's belt closed at her waist before checking her skirt hadn't got caught up in her jacket and smoothed it out.
Then she was more than happy to take herself home, turning down onto the alleyway humming a tune to herself as she walked down it, paying little attention to the lack of other people in the area.