[a terrible monster, janus thinks. terrible monsters are nothing new, but most of the ones that they've encountered and slewn, in their own world, were not so personal. maniacal vampires, homicidal clowns, diseased werewolves, legitimate zombies, demons that could derive no sustenance except off the flesh of thinking beings younger than eighteen. they've met all sorts, but their relationship with these creatures was always decidedly impersonal. they guard mankind, and all creatures that mean no harm to peace-loving folk, having spent their life fostering a sense of kinship for the vast worlds of innocents they'll never be a part of. but that's different.
different to seeing the substance of somebody's soul peeled back like the flesh off a skinning victim, their surprised flesh and muscle, vessels exposed and squirming to the exam table light. the biological nightmare of the anatomy of someone else's mind. the components are in and of themselves familiar to janus— they've smelled people burning, they've seen swords meet and sparks fly. they've been in the dark and hunted by neon light. they've even been to carnivals. but this is about nothing they've ever done.
this is juno's. janad had told them so.
and out of the dark, the hunter descends. or rather, they ascend, swinging their sword up, lunging to meet the chainmailed woman weapon-first. metal shrieks against metal. they're stronger than they look in reality, and it reverberates into the substance of the psylink— half a ton of strength bursting up to deflect the blade.] And a fine lady, [they tell her, because it didn't seem right not to say something when nightmare words cut juno so.]
meeeee
different to seeing the substance of somebody's soul peeled back like the flesh off a skinning victim, their surprised flesh and muscle, vessels exposed and squirming to the exam table light. the biological nightmare of the anatomy of someone else's mind. the components are in and of themselves familiar to janus— they've smelled people burning, they've seen swords meet and sparks fly. they've been in the dark and hunted by neon light. they've even been to carnivals. but this is about nothing they've ever done.
this is juno's. janad had told them so.
and out of the dark, the hunter descends. or rather, they ascend, swinging their sword up, lunging to meet the chainmailed woman weapon-first. metal shrieks against metal. they're stronger than they look in reality, and it reverberates into the substance of the psylink— half a ton of strength bursting up to deflect the blade.] And a fine lady, [they tell her, because it didn't seem right not to say something when nightmare words cut juno so.]