Krays's page

Lol, funny you should ask about the coffee demons….so, I had this idea stuck in my head that the quietest, shyest, most utterly timid one of Ephebe and Krays’s kids was gonna basically get picked by them to take over the crossroads since Ephebe can’t do it anymore now that she’s officially Time. And the idea of this very soft spoken little girl being in a position of power over demons and devils amused me no end. So yeah, that’s how we get the Most Unlikely Demon Lord. :P

Of course. It's always the quiet ones you need to watch closely...

Oh no...

About time.

Ok, sure, but less world breaky please.

Krays wrote:

He nods.

"So, some kind of psychic surgery, then death, or vice versa?"

"Yes. Preliminaries to psychic surgery, then death, then the actual psychic surgery after I am revived. It is necessary for me to do this so that I can properly function, both personally and professionally," she said, shuffling her feet awkwardly, partly to try and hide the growing frost pattern around her toes.

"I see, I do not wish to cause you added discomfort by continuing to talk about this, so I'll leave it at that. When you need me, I will be there, any future disasters not withstanding, of course." he says with a smile.

He throws his towel over his shoulder, and walks back towards the school.

He nods.
"So, some kind of psychic surgery, then death, or vice versa?"

He raises an eye-ridge.
"Is Phaezeriel required for this plan to work? Not to be morbid, but there is the possibility that when he emerges from his cocoon his disposition will be different."

Krays wrote:

He sighs.

"Alright. Well, I'm sure if you've come to this decision, whatever the cause, you've explored all other options. If you truly need this, I will assist."

Nala nodded. "It is....medically necessary. I have discussed the matter with Phaezeriel and this is the only real solution to my er....unique problem. Which may be time sensitive. The treatment however will have to wait until Phaezeriel is available to supervise." She sighed. "Look, I'm not trying to be mysterious. I'll probably end up telling Ephebe the whole story later. But I'm feeling awkward discussing it at all, let alone somewhere that I feel like could be easily overheard. The point is, yes, we've explored all the other options, and I have to do this."

He nods.

He sighs.
"Alright. Well, I'm sure if you've come to this decision, whatever the cause, you've explored all other options. If you truly need this, I will assist."

Krays looks back and forth between them a little puzzled.
"You are both Champions, are you not? Is it related to that? While it is a good loophole, dying will not necessarily prevent you from being chosen again."

Krays lifts his draconic head out of the water...
"Are you looking for me, Mr. Kato?"
He looks at Nala.
"Oh, hello, Miss Zamarosok. How fares the infirmary? Hopefully nothing has happened that requires my services?"

Taron did something again, didn't he...

Shakes his head.

Ephebe sighed. "Well, that was even less productive than I had hoped. The only thing that was confirmed was that even the Patrons aren't allowed to tell me what I'm supposed to do."

The data pad in her pocket beeped and she checked it briefly. "I've got a student waiting to see me. Work never ends," she said with a wry smile, pausing to kiss Krays on the cheek before leaving to go back to her office.

"Disappointing would be a word I'd use for that. He's usually so open...oh, well. I do understand adhering to rules, so there is that, I suppose."

Ephebe doesn't know yet either. She spent a lot of time in the next day, but it involves events that didn't put her into contact with anyone who knew that information. And keeping track off where she is in her personal timeline in reference to everyone else is...challenging. The joys of time travel. :P

Ephebe shook her head. "Events are changing too fast. The near future is in total flux right now. I'm looking at probabilities rather than certainties. My knowledge of the champions suggests that they're more likely to work together. It's the Patrons that worry me. They're not used to being in such close proximity all the time. It's....wait, you said that the beginning was happening in the middle," she said turning towards Death. "This...this is the beginning of the Game?"

Death nodded, but didn't elaborate beyond that simple confirmation.

He's silent for a moment, while he tries to wrap his head around this.

YES. ALL...WELL, PROBABLY. IT'S HARD TO TELL WHAT DESTRUCTION IS THINKING. HE IS, HOW DO YOU SAY IT...AN ODD GOOSE? NO, THAT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT. I AM SURE IT IS SOME SORT OF AQUATIC BIRD...AN ODD SWAN? CRANE? SEAGULL? WELL, SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. EVERYONE ELSE IS DEFINITELY ON BOARD EXCEPT FOR THE BRIEF PERIODS OF TIME WHEN THEY GET A LITTLE ....OFF. TOO MUCH TIME IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO FEAR CAN DO THAT TO ANYONE. AND I'M SURE THAT LUMOS AND ESPERANZA WILL BE VERY SORRY LATER. WELL, LUMOS WILL BE VERY SORRY LATER. THERE'S NO HELP FOR ESPERANZA. SHE IS THE SORT OF PERSON YOU NEVER INVITE TO PARTIES.

"It's 'odd duck', Master. If anyone wanted to see the death of everything, it probably would be Destruction...but, would hint at no sense of self-preservation. I'm just curious if all the champions would actually be united on this front, or if there would still be some shenanigans. Balance's return could make that go either way, I gather..."

He looks at his wife
"Ephebe, you know something bad is supposed to happen in the very near future, without getting into any detail, does the event bring the champions into line with preventing this, or fracture us even more? Do you have any other insights?"

I don't believe Krays knows about Jim, Asche and the others yet. Besides Ephebe, I think Tamrin is the only one who knows (and Aananda)

I AM NOT TRYING TO BE DIFFICULT, BUT THE NATURE OF TIME...BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS DON'T ALWAYS HAPPEN IN THE ORDER YOU EXPECT. BOTH ARE HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE RIGHT NOW. I AM SORRY. THAT IS AS MUCH AS I AM ALLOWED TO TELL YOU. FATE HAS ASKED TO BE ALLOWED TO BE THE ONE TO EXPLAIN THE ENDING THAT IS TRYING TO HAPPEN TOO SOON. SHE IS PROBABLY WAITING FOR A MORE DRAMATIC MOMENT. SHE DOES THAT. IT IS VERY ANNOYING. AND WE ALL PROMISED NOT TO EXPLAIN THE OTHER THING. SOME THINGS YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT FOR YOURSELF. THAT IS WHAT I AM TOLD.
YOUR WIFE IS IN CHARGE OF FINDING THE SOLUTION. HELP HER, HOWEVER SHE NEEDS. THAT IS WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP ALL OF US. IT WILL MAKE SENSE ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND, BUT IT IS VERY HARD FOR LINEAR TO UNDERSTAND NON-LINEAR. SO I AM TOLD. I HAVE GOTTEN USED TO IT BY NOW, BUT I WILL ADMIT A GREAT DEAL OF IT INVOLVES NODDING AND SMILING AND PRETENDING YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON BECAUSE TIME IS VERY CONFUSING.

Krays ponders this for a second or two, then nods.

Death looked uncomfortable, insomuch as a skull could show discomfort. Which, as it turned out, was rather a great deal. AH. STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. I DON'T SUPPOSE WE COULD AT LEAST HAVE COOKIES FIRST? NO? IT'S PROBABLY FOR THE BEST. THEY DIDN'T TURN OUT ANY BETTER THAN THE TEA.

I AM LIMITED IN HOW MUCH I AM ALLOWED TO SHARE. THIS SITUATION IS EXCEPTIONALLY...DELICATE. THE EXISTENCE OF MORE THAN ONE TIME IN A SINGLE UNIVERSE CREATES COMPLICATED ALLIANCES. I HAVE MADE PROMISES. THERE WAS A LARGE GAMBLE. IF THIS GAMBLE DOES NOT PAY OFF THEN ALL WILL END IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

Krays' anger melts as he walks forward, and places his had on his master's shoulder, giving him a look of sympathy.

Heh. Sympathy for a giant robed skeleton...

narrator wrote:

Krays wrote:

narrator wrote:

Krays wrote:

After some cuddle time with each other with the children...

"Well, let's go talk to my master. Let's see if he has any insight into this madness..."

::Master, my wife and I would like to talk with you...::

OH. WELL....THIS SHOULD BE INTERESTING....I SUPPOSE IT IS ALLOWABLE. SHE IS SUBJECT TO SPECIAL RULES...

::Good. This will also allow you to observe a mortal mated couple interact socially. I know you're interested in things like this.::

"He says you may come as well."He says to Ephebe.

Ephebe stepped with him inside Death's realm. This time it looked like a comfortable living room. There were overstuffed chairs, side tables, a fireplace, a thick carpet, a vase of flowers on the mantel. Very ordinary, except for the fact that every single thing in the room was black. Even the wallpaper.

PLEASE MAKE YOURSELVES COMFORTABLE. I WOULD OFFER YOU REFRESHMENTS, BUT I AM TOLD THAT I STILL HAVE NOT PROPERLY GOT THE HANG OF TEA YET. IT WOULD NOT POSSIBLY BE VERY GOOD FOR MORTALS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I HAVE NOT YET WORKED OUT IF THAT MEANS THAT IT IS POISONOUS OR THAT IT IS SIMPLY DISGUSTING. BUT SOMEHOW I DOUBT THAT YOU TWO HAVE COME HERE TO CHAT ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES OF MAKING TEA

"See? I knew it wasn't just me," Ephebe said, gingerly sitting down in one of the chairs which was not nearly as soft as it looked. "Cooking is hard! At least you didn't set the water on fire," she said, trying to be encouraging.

"No, master. Though my wife's grandmother makes an excellent tea, if you wish to ask for some advice.

Krays wrote:

After some cuddle time with each other with the children...

"Well, let's go talk to my master. Let's see if he has any insight into this madness..."

::Master, my wife and I would like to talk with you...::

OH. WELL....THIS SHOULD BE INTERESTING....I SUPPOSE IT IS ALLOWABLE. SHE IS SUBJECT TO SPECIAL RULES...

::Good. This will also allow you to observe a mortal mated couple interact socially. I know you're interested in things like this.::

"He says you may come as well."He says to Ephebe.

After some cuddle time with each other with the children...
"Well, let's go talk to my master. Let's see if he has any insight into this madness..."

::Master, my wife and I would like to talk with you...::

"Unfortunately that's how war works. You have to hit the point of unacceptable losses before negotiation will even be considered," she said, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "I expect that sort of attitude in hell, but it is just sad how often it's just the same on the prime material. I say quite ironically, considering."

"I know...just not looking forward to it."

She sighed. "Yeah. I know they are. Dangers of time travel, knowing too much. Events are in flux right now, and more and more so with every change I make, but that one just won't go away. The only thing that changes is the date that it happens. But it will happen soon."

"So many will die...it's shame." you're pretty sure he's talking about Empire forces, more than Agarthans.

"Yeah, pretty sure that he's the only one she'll listen to. Honestly, I think she's scared. I don't blame her. I am too. The Empire is probably going to find us within the next few months. And the universe is probably going to end in at most five years. Unless I can fix it. So there's a lot to be scared about. She just needs to get it through her head that she isn't responsible for single-handedly fixing it. I know, I know, so ironic coming from me."

"Very, but it's one of the things I love about you, so long as you don't let it consume you. You really believe the Empire to be that close?"

Ephebe laughed. "Of course not. Especially not with Mom being pregnant. Neither of them would risk it. But there would be a great deal of shouting, and I most people wouldn't want to get near that. Frightful presence and all that. Especially when they're upset. And I'm not certain that both of them wouldn't lash out at any bystanders unlucky enough to get too close."

"I should hope not. I don't think I've ever seen Ryleh truly angry, and I don't think I'd want to. I know how I get, I can just imagine her being much worse.

"Well, if Grandma gets her way, then Mom wouldn't be sharing the responsibility. She'd be handing it over completely. Which certainly should be an interesting fight to watch. Because Mom is something of a control freak. It's how she copes with traumatic events. And Grandma is exactly the same way. Probably best for all of us to stay out of the blast radius while they're arguing," she joked.

"It wouldn't come to blows would it?" he asked, worried a bit.

"Well, I'm not planning on working myself to death, if that's what you're asking. I can manage the administrative side of the school, no problem. Well, for now anyway. Probably for quite a while I think. It's the teaching I need to give up. But I have to find a replacement first. Hopefully one will magically appear soon. That's how it usually works I think. But I'm pretty sure my request doesn't come before finding a new head of security. It's the sort of job that really needs a whole team of people and you know how my Mom is. She's trying to do that and a few other things all by herself. Grandma was grumbling about it this afternoon when I had tea with her. She's concerned."

"That's good to hear..." he says with a bit of relief.

"Your mother strikes me as a bit of a perfectionist. I don't know how she would do with "sharing" that responsibility. I think Taron would be good for aiding her, but obviously there would be some trust issues there, I think..."

She laughed. "Well, that's the thing about time travel...you have as much time as you want. There are some truly dull moments in history that are perfectly suited for a quick nap. So, basically, it's the same. I'm just going about it slightly differently than I was. But I will admit, it's getting harder and harder to think in a strictly linear progression. Since I often live with effect and then cause instead of the other way around."

He nods, understanding.

She smiled and scooted closer, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Me too," she said, and he could feel happiness and contentment from her. "It seems like we don't often get time just the two of us these days. I suppose it will be even more hectic once the babies hatch. So we'd better enjoy it while it lasts."

Her feelings are echoed in his own.

She stopped in mid-bite, surprised by the question. "I never even considered the possibility. I suppose you're right. I'm basically a free agent now. No reason I can't. Although I'm not sure if I would be allowed. They might have some kind of agreement between themselves to all keep their distance from me now. Or not. Guess it can't hurt to ask."

"I will ask Him, but later. I'm enjoying the "us" time."

Ephebe paused to consider as she inhaled more enchiladas. "Well, I'm not technically a demon even though I'm a demon lord, so they probably wouldn't be half-fiends, but it is possible that they might have some fiendish traits. Although there's no telling how that will interact with their Hunter abilities. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see. Or, well, I could go looking, but where's the fun in that? I'm trying to cut down on the number of times I cross my own time stream as it is. It's already a bit complicated. We'll just have to wait until after they hatch. Like normal parents."

He fake sighs

"I'm not entirely sure he won't. But he'll probably try to do it legally. He's in a pretty delicate position at the moment since he's been at the center of trying to rebuild firebird society since the Council was deposed. Hopefully justice will be served. If not....well, as I said, special place in Hell. I'll make sure of it."

He giggles

"She was safely recovered. She's back at the school now, in the infirmary. Fi took Ignace and Chara to go and see her. James was there when they found her, so Fieri was able to keep us all well informed. It was their grandparents apparently. They were trying to do some kind of magical ritual on Raelle. The kind that would give permanent mind control most likely. You can imagine how well that thought is going over with her parents. That's...even for demons, that's serious evil. I'm sure there's already a special place in Hell reserved for people who would not just do that, but even to their own grandchild."

"That's...I do not envy Sorchan his position. It would be very hard for me to not do something...permanent to my sire if I were in his shoes."

"Well, I don't think it can hurt to ask. Doesn't mean he'll tell you anything, but it's at least a chance," she said with a shrug.

"Alright. I will ask Him after dinner." he goes back to eating, the matter being solved for now. "How was the matter with Chara's sister solved? Is she ok?"

He nods.
"If it will help to ask Death, I can certainly do that. Our union may provide him an out to help, if He's so inclined."

He listens...
"I understand. I don't like it, but I do understand." he leans across a pan of enchiladas an gives her a kiss.

"So, something you did in another past is causing this cascade effect? Or, an agent is or agents are systematically destroying whole universes?"

"During lunch hour. Several months ago. Tomorrow. I'm sorry I can't be more specific yet, but some of it hasn't happened from your vantage point. I'm afraid you might try to change it if I tell you the details, and you can't. Or rather you shouldn't. It's going to save millions of lives. At a price. Someone I couldn't save. Who was there because of what I did several months ago. When Taron and Kam flipped the world right side out. The me then didn't really have control of the aschen exactly, but they weren't actually running amok. They were acting on my orders. The ones I gave today. It only looked like chaos. I tried to find another way to stop the thing that happens tomorrow, but there wasn't one. Not here. The thing doesn't happen here. This time the school is safe."

He stops eating, and looks at his wife. A few different emotions flash across the bond as she's talking. Confusion, worry, even anger. He takes a deep breath and calms down, and simply asks "Why?"

Krays wrote:

Ephebe wrote:

"Oo neefs sivverway," she said through a large mouthful of chicken enchiladas.

Krays laughs!

"Fair enough..." he eats some of the beef enchiladas, then when he's finished chewing asks "What did you want to tell me about?"

She sighed. "Which do I start with? Raelle was kidnapped this afternoon. By her own grandparents no less. She was recovered and is resting in the infirmary. Having to pull her sisters away from their friends to tell them was...not peasant. They've all been through enough already. And I'm starting to despair of Ignace ever getting better when she gets hit with another crisis every time she tries to do something normal," she said with a grimace.

"And the other thing.....I did something. Will do something. It's a two part something. It went wrong. Well, sort of. More like it went horribly right. And it's going to go wrong. Tenses are hard."

"When did you do this? What did or will you do?"

"Oo neefs sivverway," she said through a large mouthful of chicken enchiladas.

Krays laughs!

"So did the lasagna," she joked. "Which is why I'm glad you didn't go with that this time." She shook her head. "Actually, I barely remember the lasagna incident. I suppose that's why I have such an easy time forgiving Nala for trying to kill me. I wasn't entirely there. It was my body, but I was locked up in my own mind trying to run away from myself at the time. I can watch the memories of what happened, like a movie that happened to someone else. But they don't feel personal. And you know me. I'm happy with any food that involves large quantities of melted cheese," she said, trying to figure out which enchilada pan was which.

"Well you're both pretty different from back then, so it's like the people to forgive and be forgiven no longer exist, in a way..." seeing the quizzical look on his wife's face he introduces dinner, by removing the foil from the various pans.

Krays wrote:

Ephebe wrote:

::That sounds wonderful. It's been a tense evening. Thankfully not a tragic one. Exactly. I'll explain when I get there,:: she replied. She sounded tired.

::Very well. I've already told them I'm coming to get food for us. They didn't sound happy for some reason.:: She can easily sense his amusement.

It was hard to keep her outward expression neutral to hide her inner amusement. The cafeteria staff had been vaguely suspicious ever since Andromeda showed up. They seemed to think that the whole thing was a scam to get twice as much food.

Once Fi and the girls headed to the infirmary, cleared to visit Raelle now that she was safe, she closed her office, setting the alarm chime to alert her if anyone came looking for her, and headed for the nursery for some much needed time with the babies.

Krays will arrive later, with a food warmer bag of holding. He gives her a warm kiss, then starts laying out pans covered in foil.

::That sounds wonderful. It's been a tense evening. Thankfully not a tragic one. Exactly. I'll explain when I get there,:: she replied. She sounded tired.

::Very well. I've already told them I'm coming to get food for us. They didn't sound happy for some reason.:: She can easily sense his amusement.

Finishes up straightening out his classroom after the afternoon class, and heads to the nursery.
::Headed to spend some time with the kids...want me to grab dinner and meet me there?:: he sends to his mate over their bond. His joy is almost tangible.

Grim Jr. wrote:

Keme Tokala wrote:

Krays wrote:

the scythe didn't even come out...

Dude, we get it already...you're creepy AF! ;P

I don't get it, what's wrong?

Link to similar reaction.

I laughed WAY too hard at that.

the scythe didn't even come out...

"Yeah, go ahead and take the body, Krays. I think it's best if it's disposed of as quickly as possible."

"Very well." With a wave of his hand, the flesh falls away and burns off of the corpse into nothing as the body rises, leaving only a clean skeleton. "Follow me", he says and the skeleton does just that. After taking a few steps, he turns to Michael. "I'm sorry if you feel robbed of your vengeance, Michael. Please know that the pain that is happening to him now is far worse, and is nigh eternal, and he will be aware of every second that passes while his soul exists. I don't know if this will give you peace, but there is no hope for Repp, only eternal anguish." at the sound of his name, a small wail escapes from the staff. Krays simply smiles. Then he turns and walks the skeleton to the graveyard, and inters it in an unmarked grave.

"I don't know," Keme said, looking at Repp's body with loathing. "What are we supposed to do with the body of a monster like that? From the time he came here....he murdered an innocent girl every single day he was here. Gods only know how many he killed before he came here. The world is better without him in it. But...I never really stopped to consider what to do after."

"Well, if no one minds, I can walk him to the graveyard."

Krays drops his invisibility.
"Well done, young one." he says to Alys. He looks at the corpse, then back up to Michael and Ace and Keme.
"What do you three intend, here?"

Depending on how long it took for Tamina to get Phaez, and for Ace to then catch up to Keme n co, plus the actual combat, Ace may or may not still have True Seeing active. It lasts for 20 minutes

Doesn't matter to me, feel free to decide.

Walks up to the corpse of Repp and touches his staff to it, grabbing the soul before it can make it's journey on. The corpse almost immediately begins to look desiccated as a result.

Krays is still invisible, but anyone close enough could hear the gnome's voice screaming in agony for the briefest of moments.

::It is done.:: he sends to Ephebe.

***spoiler***

::Of course.::

Casts greater invisibility, and teleports near Keme's position but behind and out of the way, and watches the events unfold, waiting like the Reaper himself. He is also concerned about the victim at Repp's feet...and how much time they have left.