conversations: human
conversations:  PROLOGUE 
  She'd stopped playing this cursed game weeks ago. Now, somehow, she was the only one left.
  
  Other than  her .
  
  The other girls -- some of whom she'd known, some of whom were  friends  -- they were the ones who hunted down the youma. She'd helped them do it. When she dropped out of the game, she gave away her share of the Oblivion Seeds to her truest friend, the girl who wore a pale blue dress and commanded the clouds to her liking. A few days later, she got them back when that girl was speared through the stomach.
  
  Her killer hadn't fought a single youma. She ambushed each competitor when they least expected it and took the Seeds from their dead hands. The thought made her insides boil with fury. But she was not strong enough to face her. Not alone. Not at night.
  
  She had to escape the town.
  
  Every part of her screamed to transform. She could access all of her superhuman speed when she was transformed, and she wouldn't be so vulnerable, so unprotected. But despite herself, she held back. Untransformed, she was almost invisible to her pursuer. If she couldn't be found, she couldn't be harmed.
  
  That didn't stop her from running, though. Through alleys and darkened streets, she ran. Ran until her lungs burned, ran until her muscles ached. God, the human body was weak without magic. The three Oblivion Seeds, which were light as a feather when transformed, pulled her down like weights. One of the Gamemaster's dirty tricks, no doubt. Sick bastard.
  
  Her legs gave out from under her before she realized what was happening, and she plummeted to the wet concrete, scattering the black gems in front of her.  Damn,  she cursed, pushing herself onto her knees and reaching for the closest Seed.  God DAMN these stupid things. One wish is not worth- 
  
  She was dead before she could finish her thought. A thick spear jutted out of her throat, nearly severing her head from her body. The Seeds stayed exactly where they fell.
  
  The winner didn't bother to pull her weapon out. Her locket began to glow, then released each of the ten Oblivion Seeds she'd been carrying with her. They began to circle her, glowing with the dimmest purple light.
  
  An unmoving face appeared in the darkness in front of her.
  
    Congratulations. What is your wish?  
  
  The girl looked up. Opened her mouth.
  
  Screamed.
conversations: LethalWombat:
conversations: human
conversations:  "The devil is in the details, is that not what they say?"   
  
  Her name was Evangeline. It has been a scant few days since  that  time, when the life she knew and enjoyed came tumbling down around her. Before then she was a simple student at Appleton's Garfield High School, moving up with her fellow students in anticipation of finally graduating. She had her club, her sister, and the few people she considered 'friends'. Life was relaxed, if a tad boring.
  
  Now though? She has begun isolating herself from everything she cared about, both in depression and in fear. They don't understand what she does, haven't seen what she has seen.
  
    "What if I told you..there are  Monsters  among us?"  
  
  They call them Youma...or at least that's what the talking cat told her. Yes, you read that right, an unholy creature taking the guise of a friendly feline told Evangeline about even worse things that go bump in the night. It may look cute, but she knows just how cruel it can be. Its why she is in this sick game, the strings puppeteering this bizarre freakshow says that the Youma must be destroyed. They cause chaos and destruction, and the very knowledge of them would drive the populace insane. So the girl must kill them.
  
  And why should she help in this suicide mission? Well for one thing the girl was slightly afraid of what would happen if she refused. What sealed the decision, though, was the end result..the reward. For collecting the 13 'Oblivion Seeds', or hearts of the Youma, she would receive one wish. Anything she could desire, something many a person would die for.
  
  And as an added bonus? She could preform magic. MAGIC. To fight these monsters the feline creature known as the Gamemaster would give her supernatural powers, no drawbacks spoken of. After taking this deal, you would think life would be even better, a cakewalk with an easy victory yes? Of course not.
  
  Finding Youma is fairly easy. All you have to do is find the havoc they cause, and the monster should be close by. Fighting it though..that's a whole other story. Inexperience mixed with overconfidence in her newly acquired abilities brought about a swift loss to the girl, and even though she did escape the Youma the damage was heavy.
  
    "Why do I feel so...Dirty?"  
  
  Taint seeped into Evangeline's wounds as they magically closed as the night's failure pressed down on her, ripping up what little optimism she had for this quest. As her outfit darkened, and her once dusty grey wings twisted and contorted into a blackened macabre mess, she soon realized that attempting to play the hero was a mistake.
  
  Either through teamwork or through trickery success was the only option. If she couldnt defeat the Youma on her own, then she would have to gain others to suit her purposes. It was doubtful that she was the only one, the Gamemaster wouldn't settle for an 'me versus them' fight. He/She/It left her to her own devices, she would not do the same.
  
  Secrecy is key, she thought. Having others know her identity would be a unneeded risk. So Evangeline decided to separate her identities entirely. For her new form comes a new name, and why not make it full of dramatic tension and flair? For when she fights the supernatural, she would be remembered as... 
    Crimson Elegy Xi  
conversations: Muja:
conversations: human
conversations:  "Well, Laura..." a doctor sighed a little, twiddling his glasses, "Your parents' condition remains stable, so you've nothing to worry about... anyway, it's getting late, so you should go home before it gets dark..."
  
  The girl nodded, even managed a faint smile - a true performer has to keep smiling no matter what - and walked out of the hospital. Once outside, though, she let her tears out.   Condition remains stable...   that means, of course, that they aren't any better. Laura broke into a run, hoping to push the frightening thoughts out of her mind. It was already rather dark, in fact, but it didn't bother Laura - had things been normal, it would be just the time for an evening show... had things been normal, right now she'd be stretching in the backstage, already in her purple leotard... had things been normal...
  
    I need to stop thinking about that... need to clear my mind, or it would drive me crazy... need to rest tonight... tomorrow, the social service would check on me... need to look good, can't face them after two nights without sleep, or they'll get me into a care for sure...  
  
  Laura passed the local playground. In this time of year and day, it was, of course, empty, a single lamppost casting a circle of light on the swings and jungle gyms, just like a spotlight...   I need to clear my mind  , she told herself again,   and there is a way that never failed me.  
  
  A minute later, Laura's sneakers were standing on the ground next to the jungle gym, and the girl herself stood on a horizontal bar about a yard off the ground, hands outstretched to the sides for balance. She walked along the bar one way, then another, getting a feel of its cold steel through her socks.   Now, to purge all thoughts... to concentrate only on my body and my surroundings...   she took a deep breath and jumped. Bending backwards, the girl pushed away from the bar with her hands and springed back to her feet. A quick swing of the left hand, a quick step with right foot... the girl straightened and allowed herself to breath again.   One more time.  
  
  Several minutes later.   Good. Now, a somersault.   Again, a deep breath, a jump, a flip through the air, a landi...   The bar wasn't slippery a moment ago!   that thought actually only came to Laura when she was catching her breath, lying on her back under the said gym apparatus. A minute later, she stood up, checked her condition (nothing serious, a couple bruises at worst - Laura's body knew how to fall safely, even without her mind interfering, plus, her jacket proved to be quite soft) and climbed the bar again.   When Mom and Dad get better, I want them to see me in the top shape. Now, one more time!  
conversations: jamieth: