<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/DLM6Wh8.jpg)</div><br/><strong>NAME:</strong>Leasick Valshanner<br/><strong>DAY:</strong>June 15th, 2021, 11:20PM<br/><strong>LOCATION:</strong>Club Zodiac [Building Interior]<br/><strong>TAGGING:</strong>Rai'Den<br/><strong>EXTRA:</strong>Flames of fury<br/><strong>WEARING:</strong>Suit (https://i.imgur.com/ndcijWY.jpg)<br/><br/><hr/><br/>On some level, Leasick had begun to become aware of what was going on around him. That did not change his situation, though, as he continued to walk right along the edge, threatening to fall over and lose all control. People would most surely die by fire if that happened, if not gravely injured at the very least. For ten years he's carried around this accursed limb and he knew full and well of the danger that lay concealed beneath the metal plating that was currently peeling off of it like the skin of a tangerine.<br/><br/>Keep breathing.<br/><br/>Push those bad memories back into the box.<br/><br/>Think of something,<em>anything</em>more peaceful!<br/><br/>But what? What was there in his head to think about that was strong enough to push past the pain and suffering? There was nothing...<em>He had nothing</em>. The playful attitude, the smiles, the jokes, the joy; all just specs of dirt in a constant whirlwind,<em>an inferno</em>of ever-present physical and lingering psychological pain. The shadow of his suffering wrapped its hands tightly around his neck and was squeezing the will to live out of him rapidly.<br/><br/>Maybe... Maybe he should just<del>   </del><br/><br/><strong>"You seem quite ill. Had one too many drinks?"</strong><br/><br/>Leasick's head snapped up immediately as he recognized that voice, his golden, glowing eyes wide with shock and a mixture of terror and hatred as they laid themselves upon the slender, well-dressed man who now sat beside him on the couch, a beacon of complete calm and composure in the storm of chaos that surrounded him. Clad in a black suit with gold trimmings and a matching gold-colored tie, he had one leg crossed calmly over the other as he raised a porcelain teacup from the matching saucer in his hand, taking a sip from his warm beverage. Wrapped around his shoulders was another coat, this one crimson, which he wore as if it were a cape or cloak.<br/><br/>Icy-blue eyes turned towards the young SOPHE agent, the bright red lines under them only serving to make his gaze even more piercing than it already was.<strong>"You look quite unrattled,"</strong>the man carried on calmly as he placed the cup and saucer on the table before them. Unfortunately, a moment later a demon came flying by, as if tossed by someone else, taking the porcelain with him. The man blinked once before shrugging it off casually.<br/><div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/KZhzJf6.jpg)</div><br/><strong>"It would be quite unfortunate if you lost control here, <em>As'h-Ein</em>."</strong><br/><br/>As'h-Ein. It was a word from a very old demon dialect. He had once asked master Azmodiel if he knew what the word meant, but it remained vague. Demon language was apparently hard to translate without context, and even more so a long-dead dialect. The best guesses for a translation thus far were along the lines of "ashen one" and "born of ash," but neither made much sense by themselves.<br/><br/><strong>"Rai'... Den...!"</strong>Leasick's voice barely managed to escape through gritted teeth as he continued to be crippled by fear and pain, feeling the anxiety nibble at his mind as the heat charred his flesh. By now the thin protective plates had all but fallen off, all fractured and splintered, bent out of shape. But the fear and pain slowly made way for unbridled hatred as he gazed up at the man whom he'd not seen since that one night seven years ago.<br/><br/>He had killed them. HE HAD KILLED THEM ALL!<br/><br/>Balling his hands into tight fists, he attempted to push himself upright, but to no avail.<strong>"You...!"</strong><br/><br/><strong>"Rather than worry about me<del>   </del>"</strong>Rai'Den interrupted him calmly as he gestured to what was happening around them.<strong>"<del>   </del>Should you not worry about those friends of yours? If you do nothing, they will die; if you lose control, <em>they will die</em>. What will you do... As'h-Ein?"</strong><br/><br/>Hate it he may, the killer demon was right and Leasick knew it. The others were in trouble and he sitting here, bent over and crippled by his own body and mind. He had to get it together and get himself under control so that he could help his friends and colleagues. Gritting his teeth again, he made another effort to push himself upright. A cry of pain and frustration escaped his lips as beads of sweat trickled down his face. Eyes squeezed shut, he poured every ounce of effort into his struggle.<br/><br/>And then he did it,<em>barely</em>. As he gasped for air, his eyes shot open and he even felt a little disorientated as his eyes darted around, looking for something to focus on. They eventually landed back on Rai'Den, just in time to see his hand right in front of his face and flick him across the forehead. You would think a simple flick like that wouldn't have much of an impact, but this was an S-rank threat demon administering it, and the artificial hybrid was sent flying backward, feeling like his neck nearly broke as he nearly tumbled over the armrest of the couch.<br/><br/>Shooting back upright, he was ready to throw a punch, but the demon had disappeared as suddenly as he had appeared. Head darting left and right, there was no trace to be found. Catching his breath, it took Leasick a moment to realize that his mind was now clear, the pain suppressed, and his body under control, even without the protection of the plates. The sleeve of shirt and jacket entirely gone, the demon arm grafted onto his human body was clearly visible, the orangey-red scales glowing thrumming with demonic fire magic.<br/><br/>Taking a deep breath, he ran a hand through his white hair, combing it back as he rose to a stand. Looking around, he attempted to assess the situation calmly. The glowing eyes in the dark did not escape him, their owners clearly enthralled by something, be it drugs or magic. Most of those showing no such symptoms fled in panic towards exits he did not recall being present in those locations before.<br/><br/><strong>"Where are the others?"</strong>he muttered to himself as he took a step forward, heading towards the bar area.<strong>"Kevin! Mallory! Anyone!"</strong>The time for code and fake names had long passed. There was no time to think about what had happened or why he was more in control now than ever before. What he had to do now was find the others and get them the hell out of this hell hole before it collapsed onto itself!