Dies Irae

[terreifying]

Characters: Rei, Hojo, Jade!Eridan, and the rest of you
Setting: Floor 27, then the rest of the tower
Format: any
Summary: Rei has finally fully embraced her Angelic side. Details here.
Warnings: Body horror, possible graphic violence

Floor 27 (locked to Hojo)

There was no warning when Rei Ayanami's body changed. The girl didn't even have time to gasp before her mind and her body finally gave out before the overwhelming energy of her core.

Her body collapses into a white, constantly shifting mass. The only thing it has in common with her form seconds ago is its mouth filled with jagged teeth and the thousands of eyes that litter whatever shape it takes. Sometimes it has wings, other times arms and legs spouting at strange angles, and other times spines and tentacles. Once, the center of the mass even turns into Rei's normal eyes and face. No matter how it shifts, the glow of its core shines from within its body. It is too bright. It seems to be something that might explode any second.

Heeee~ey. Brothers? Where are you?

The gaping maw sings in a language unfamiliar to the ears, but all too comprehensible to the mind

Come back. Come stay with me. Let us all be one.

It reaches out, trying to find its brethren. At the same time, it is listening for anyone to possibly respond to its message.

Throughout the Tower

The thing that once was Rei creeps through the tower, sometimes walking on strange limbs, other times shuffling forward because it can't hold a form. Those in the area may feel the heat radiating from its body. Every few "steps," it stops, as if it has thought of something or entered a familiar place.

Those are the only moments that "Rei" can actually think. But what remains of the girl's mind has too many questions and too few answers. What is she now. Where is she. What is she doing. And even that moment is all too brief before the Angel's songs fill her mind again, leaving her with only on urge.

She has to take her brothers back. Back to the womb of their Mother. All of humanity must be one existence again. Even if she must destroy their bodies, she will take them back.

When she encounters a human, her body will shift and lash out. If they are unfortunate enough to get too close, she will devour them with her jaws or envelop them with the ever-changing mass of her body. But her core glows. It is like what remains of Rei is giving those who would resist a chance to stop her.



[OOC: Jade!Eridan will be the one to finally kill Rei]

Comments

[warriorscribe]

"You aren't on your world, Rei. Our souls remain here, bound to bodies that won't die."

[terreifying]

Then I will make the body part of myself. They shall live inside me.

[warriorscribe]

"That's not..."

Not how it works, right...? She's killing them, right, not just absorbing them into some sort of pseudo-existence...?

[terreifying]

But that is my mission.

Like all Angels, Rei has one purpose that she will fulfill above all else. And again like the other Angels, it is hard to sway her from her purpose.

[warriorscribe]

"What does a mission mean in a world God can't see?"

It doesn't mean Enoch won't try, now that he (thinks) he has a better idea of why she's doing what she's doing.

[terreifying]

Speak not of Father. My mission comes from Mother.

Two stubborn wills were clashing, but for now, Rei hasn't given up on arguing him down.

[warriorscribe]

"If He can't see here, neither can she."

The concept of the Shekinah, the divine feminine, was something of a tricky one. She was both something that existed separately, and shorthand for God's traits that were supposedly feminine. Given that Enoch had found that gender was surprisingly a non-factor in Heaven, that was one of the first things he had to wonder when he had the free time to do so - was the Shekinah a human invention to adapt their worship the way they needed, or did she really exist?

Clearly, this angel was from a world where the latter is true, but then, given her appearance, she was certainly not from his.

[terreifying]

Father gives life. Mother gives knowledge. She will see where he cannot.

The multitude of eyes on her body should have been some indication of that. She will be all seeing and all knowing. She will connect humanity back to Lilith.

[warriorscribe]

"Are you certain she can see us here?"

If someone could see them...someone from outside...

[terreifying]

Idon'tknow

The thoughts of her human self flash by quickly.

[warriorscribe]

"Hm?" That had been different. Much faster.

Enoch stepped forward. "Rei...I know it hurts, but...what if you're only causing them more pain before they resurrect again?"

[terreifying]

I...am?

She actually sounds surprised now. Her human side is influencing her, if only by a little.

[warriorscribe]

"...Most likely, given the way this place acts." Enoch looks up at the giant blob in sympathy. Even if she's odd, she's still an angel, and for an angel to not only be unable to perform God's will but to be cut off from it...

[terreifying]

Who are you, child of man, to know so much of death and souls? Why do you possess knowledge that the Fruit of Knowledge itself does not?

[warriorscribe]

"I only know that we do not permanently die. I've experienced this, myself. So our souls must be bound here. It only makes sense."

[terreifying]

Or maybe you were not truly dead. You claim to be the child of man. Do you have a beating heart in your breast?

[warriorscribe]

His hand automatically flew to his own chest, resting over his armor. "Of course I do."

[terreifying]

Not a core? Not even the slightest hint of one?

She cocks her head, curious.

What manner of blessing were you given, child of man?

[warriorscribe]

"A 'core'? No, I don't think so. My...blessing was immortality. And I suppose incredible endurance and resilience."

And more but he has no idea how to even describe Ceta or if he really has it yet.

[terreifying]

Eternal life was not meant for the likes of man.

Maybe he was an Angel hybrid who hadn't noticed it?

[warriorscribe]

"I kn-..." His voice breaks. He resets his stance, flexes his grip on the Arch. Tries again. "I know. But I was given it anyway."

[terreifying]

It must be painful...

Once again, her human thoughts are breaking out.

Life only means something when it has an end...

[warriorscribe]

"No...life can be meaningful without one. Alongside other immortals."

He swallows, looking up at the strange angel. "But...living among mortals..."

It's hard to think of her as an angel, not only because of her appearance but because of the immediate human understanding. From a human perspective. A mortal perspective. It makes him want to keep talking, but he doesn't, not willing to force his emotions further, not when he isn't sure he's safe...

[terreifying]

Then let us all be immortal together.

In the end, the Angel side was still stronger. Hundreds of arms sprout from her body to reach for him. She intends to pick him apart until she can find which parts of him are human.

[warriorscribe]

"Wh-"

He's glad he never lowered his guard completely. Enoch spins to dodge the arms nearest him first, bringing the Arch around to try to cut at the attacker, the holy energy beam buzzing as it swept through the air.