Blood Money [JT]

[Sylvanas Liskasha]

Sylvanas had been doing much study and research about Vampires, as they considered Bounts, their people, and she had found herself recovering tremendously from her time in Karakura from the naturally rich spiritual environment. Getting stronger Getting faster. As of now, lesser Hollows that frequented the area could be dealt with, with some levels of varying difficulty by Sylvanas' standards. She lived quietly, and as of now? She had found herself no longer needing to work as a librarian here. Yes.

Instead, she had more opportunities. S2, her doll, had found it easy to become someone else. It could turn into anyone, and with contact, or absorption of their corpse, it could become them as well. Celebrities? Politicians? They were all trivial things for it. Thus. S2 was keen on gathering information in many ways. How easy it was, to isolate people, to pin them down, and probe their minds. How easy it was then to access sensitive information. Bank accounts? Dirty secrets? All for her mistress.

Sylvanas was theoretically the most dangerous woman in the world when it came down to actual political chaos. For her doll had wormed its way to various positions of influence. Where Sylvanas herself couldn't, the doll was more than able to worm its way into roles. Sylvanas was a very unique doll, as it could utilize the same abilities or techniques as the Bount itself, granted, with greater costs. Thus. It was an interesting conundrum where as Sylvanas grew stronger, learned more? The doll became even more powerful. Far more.

"..." As she closed down the library, having fueled her mind of knowledge, she was swift to begin walking home. After all. She had heard there was an increasing number of disappearances at night. People going missing. Murders so they were suspected. At first, it would make her presume it was the masked ones. Though. The masked Hollows didn't really care much for the spiritually weak. So far as she knew. Always prioritizing people like her. Like Ailene. They liked rich food. Of course.

Step. Step. Step. As she walked through, she adjusted her glasses, her emerald eyes shining as she passed through the poorer areas of town. She found herself trying to grow. Develop. Move a bit faster, as she sprinted herself through the area, her own little training. Making her eyes keen, as she observed the surroundings for disturbances. She made herself alert, honing her senses. She trusted her instincts. Frankly. She felt a chill down her spine as she made her way home. Back towards the residential district. Camila. How she wondered where she went. If she was alright.

Though...She came to stop. Slowly listening. For some reason. She didn't feel alone. 

[Talia Napolitano]

Humming a chipper tune to herself as she made her way down the sidewalk, Talia found herself almost basking in the darkness. It was something she very much grew to enjoy - not that she had much of an option otherwise, of course. The sun had been something she'd long-since needed to avoid. She'd spent her entire life in the dark, never seeing the light of the day in the two-hundred years she'd been around. Perhaps that might've changed some day? For now, though, she was out.

Having only just woken up a short while ago, she couldn't help but maintain a rather simple smile across her face. She was fully-prepared to start the day much like she'd been used to for the last two centuries; with a hunt! Nothing quite sated her thirst like a good prowl and meal right after waking up, and lord only knew that she was going to indulge herself. Though, perhaps she'd go about things a little differently this time around? Lord only knew that she needed to polish up her social skills a bit.

As she strolled down the street, it seemed that she'd have quite the opportunity to do so; a woman immediately came into view. Someone that seemed focused toward herself; almost timid, but with no discernable reason to be. Was she all right? Frankly, it mattered not to Talia; she wasn't going to need to worry about such things in about thirty minutes. With a soft smile on her face, the vampire began to make her approach toward the woman. As she stood still, almost waiting for something, Talia reached out to her shoulder before walking in front of her.

"You know," she started, continuing if Sylvanas turned around to meet her gaze, "they say that Karakura isn't exactly safe, at the moment. You've seen the news, no~? 'Dead bodies found in the streets after the sun rises'? What might someone like yourself be doing out here this late?" Maintaining her rather sly smile, Talia took a step back and crossed her arms.

Looking Sylvanas up and down, she did what she could to analyze her prey to the best of her ability. To see if there was any discernable traces of fight within the girl, and whether or not she was going to capitalize on such. Did she suspect anything? It was hard to say, in truth. Regardless of if she did or not though, Talia wasn't afraid to give a little chase. Especially considering that only made the food more enjoyable, and the blood taste all the better~!

[Sylvanas Liskasha]

When she was confronted in the darkness by a figure, one would have imagined it could have been a terrifying man. One could have imagined a gruff serial killer, perhaps a mask along their face, crazed bloodthirsty eyes. One would have imagined something horrifying. Though sometimes, when death came to face you, it could also look terribly sweet. Awfully inviting in its appearance. Beautiful. Talia came forth in the depth of darkness. asking such tantalizing words. Before Sylvanas, crossed an arm behind her back.

"I know. The killings. Very close to the area I live. I've been doing research. That, and work for me runs late hours at the library. I've been studying about my people. I suppose you could say. Patterns of things going on in this town." Slowly, looking Talia from head to toe, she gives a soft exhale. "I suppose you can say it's silly. Though. I've been studying the topic of Vampires." Though. Their eyes grow a little bit duller then, her soft English accent inflecting her voice.

"I just didn't think I'd find one today." Extending her arm to the side, she proceeds to call out a simple phrase. "Ziege Dich. Sylvanas." A burst of reiatsu from her side, she drops the chain in front of herself with a small toss as it seems to disappear. Instead, a large white mass of sticky goop would spill out onto the floor. An ooze. Before beginning to rise upwards, about the size of a human being. Formless. almost as if it were made out of clay. Until then a voice called out.

"You know...You know. You know." It calls out, its voice garbling, until getting her voice just right.  "You know. Karakura isn't exactly safe, at the moment. No?~" It would rise up, becoming taller, roughly 5'9", a hundred forty five pounds. It began to take on the shape of Talia's own body. Gaining features slowly, even the nature of her outfit, as it gained more and more human like features. It slowly closed newly formed eyelids. The eyes a crimson red. It mirrored a sly smile right back at her. It was as if she looked into a mirror.

"It absolutely is dangerous around these parts. If I say so myself." The bount stood back, allowing the duplicate Talia to stand in front of her. Stronger and more imposing in appearance. Except. Slowly, it reaches inside of its own chest, drawing forth a small rod, with which a flick of its wrist extends some six foot long, the tip clanking against the floor. Gazing out towards the strange woman.  "After all~ Monsters come in many different forms."

[Talia Napolitano]

Squinting her eyes as Sylvanas spoke, about 'her people', and studying the topic of vampires, Talia watched curiously. Just what was this woman on about? Her, a vampire? There was no way. Given she'd worked at a library of some kind, she couldn't've been one of her. After all, the sunlight would've burnt her to a crisp during the day. Sighing softly, and crossing her arms in front of her. Talia stared interested in the woman in front of her.

Though, a set of words that Talia didn't quite understand piqued her curiosity. "Ziege Dich. Sylvanas." Taking another step back, and watching as the goop that was Sylvanas Two steadily and rather disturbingly formed into a person, she couldn't help but chuckle. Such a chuckle turned into a hearty laugh as Talia's own voice sounded from the creature before her. She didn't quite know what was going on, but these spiritual phenomena had been happening left and right around her; whom was she to think this was going to be any different?

"Bravo," she spoke, gently clapping her hands together slowly, taking a moment to pause for dramatic effect, "that's really quite impressive, all things considered. What tricks have you used to do something like this~? Mirrors, smoke perhaps? Or is this more of that spiritual nonsense that's been seemingly plaguing me?" Lowering her arms as the pole found itself emerging from her duplicate, Talia sighed softly to herself. Shaking her head softly, she spoke up once more. "I just can't catch a break, can I?"

Swiping her hand in front of her, and allowing a trail of sharpened blood to leave her fingertips toward the copy of herself, Talia used her own arm motions to propel herself backward. She wanted to create as much distance between herself and the woman as possible if this was going to break out into conflict. Just what had been planned for her? She wasn't quite sure, but frankly? She wasn't sure that she wanted to see.

"Let's see if that duplicate of yours holds up to the real thing!" She shouted back, assuming a defensive stance, preparing for a counterattack of some kind to head her way, "You aren't scared of losing that little clone of me, are you~? I did want to ask, though; just what exactly are you? Some kind of Shinigami?"

SPOILER: Click to show

{Talia's Stats & Skills}
Type: Struggler

Stats & Skills:

Strength: 100 [150]
Speed: 165 [165]
Reiatsu Strength: 100 [130]
Spiritual Pressure: 95 [66]
Instinct: 100 [100]
Senses: 50 [37]
Energy Sensory: 50 [37]
Healing Expertise: 0 [0]

Light Aura: 0
Dark Aura: 100

----------

Strength of Will: 2
Acting: 2
Charisma: 2
Street Fighting: 2
Pain Tolerance: 2
Stealth: 2
Anti-Stealth: 2

SPOILER: Click to show

{Bloodtalons}
Technique Name: Bloodtalons

Technique Class: 4-1 - 60 TTP.

Technique Type: Bount Technique.

Usable By: Bount.

Technique Element: Blood.

Technique Cost: Varies.

Description: Weaponizing their own body in ways never before tried, the user of this technique is capable of producing close-range attacks through the expulsion and manipulation of their own blood. Utilizing the same idea as shockwaves, and by swinging about the tips of their fingers like one would with claws, the user can release sharp, slashing streams of blood that trail behind their movements. These slashes, being completely tied to the Bount's body, rely on the user's Strength in order to deal damage, and are thus treated as "Classless". These slashes can arc as tall as the Bount is capable of moving their arms, and five total slashes with each finger will be about as wide as the Bount's body is. These slashes are incapable of traveling more than five feet away from the Bount, and will dissipate after reaching those distances. At Proficient, these expulsions need not be from the fingertips, and can instead be from anywhere on the body. At Mastered, releasing these expulsions of blood have no "start-up" time, meaning the user need not take physical action to release them.

For a Reiatsu cost based on the Class the Bount would like to use the technique at, these slashes can be imbued with spiritual properties. Instead of utilizing Strength, these spiritually-charged slashes will rely on Reiatsu Strength, can travel up to fifty feet at a time, and are far more versatile. Instead of just appearing as claw-like slashes, these streams of blood can be shaped post-expulsion as the Bount sees fit, creating bladed rings of blood, thin manipulable wires, and more. Every post that these expulsions of blood are maintained cost 1/4 the reiatsu cost of utilizing a technique of the same Class (i.e. a Class 1 expulsion would cost 800 Reiatsu to create, and 200 per post to maintain).

How to Use: Release blood from the body, and optionally charge it with reiatsu.

Drawbacks: The range on these attacks are quite limited for strength-inclined fighters. For Reiatsu-focused fighters, this technique can be quite costly to use at high classes too often, and can prove taxing to one's reiatsu pool because of it. Due to the focus required in order to weaponize the body, and the strain put on releasing that much blood at once, releasing even one doll while using the physical variant of this technique is dangerous; utilization will result in the Doll turning against its user for three posts, taking advantage of that strain in an attempt to harm their user (said strain remains minuscule to the user in regards to an opponent taking advantage of this technique, however).

Incantation: N/A.

Made By: Talia Napolitano.

Reserved?: Yes.

[Sylvanas Liskasha]

It was here that a battle was soon to begin. A battle between monsters in truth. As Talia found herself wary of the duplicate in front of her, it was likely wise. She very well should have been. As Sylvanas herself, the Bount, found herself still awakening and learning her powers, she found herself surprised at the monstrous woman in front of her. As she manifested seeming blood claws.  "Please. You know exactly how good I am~" It declares rather confidently. That suave confidence.

"Good enough to make you reconsider your dinner at the very least." Sylvanas found herself leaning back, arms crossed, before she found herself slowly closing her eyes. "No. I'm no Shinigami. I'm exactly as I said. I'm like you." She declared, though, she wasn't sure quite what that meant. "Do it." She looks towards her doll. With it? She mimicked that motion, whipping her arms out, an almost bloodthirsty look in her crimson eyes.

"Gladly." Lashing outwards, Sylvanas would reopen her eyes, very tired looking, as S2 was capable of moving very fast. Why. Marginally even faster than the original, and as she did, she used the length of her staff to thrust outwards with her spiritually reinforced steel, towards her midsection, before abruptly cutting it short. A feint, as she instead looked to push her farther away, sliding her hands down along the length of the stave, as she closes inwards. To swing for her head.

To seemingly give an opening. Except. It wasn't. For Talia might find if she sought to lunge inwards at the opening that's opened up, from the back of the Talia duplicate, a razor sharp tail would form, segmented in interlocking plates, with a crimson red tip. It was serrated, and was a nasty assault that burst from her rear. Roughly ten feet long, as it sought to burst out and twist for Talia's legs. Assuming the surprise was successful, it would plunge deeply into her, sinking into flesh and muscle. Digging inwards, looking to cripple her right leg right away. 

Painful, as S2 sought to slow her opponent down, and assuming she was stunned from the pain, the doll would resume her motion, her momentum, of swinging the spiritual staff into the side of Talia's head. To send her flying down the street like a ball. To watch her thud and roll, perhaps into some obstacle near the way. Was it dirty? Oh. Most absolutely. Was it effective? Against most foes. Absolutely! Was it close to her maximum potential? Most absolutely not. Assuming all went well? The doll then asked.

"It's been so long. Since I've been a predator. I do wonder how long it's been since I've found myself as prey. I could use a drink." She said, somewhat exasperated. Sylvanas found herself coming closer. As to observe the battle, and so S2 could be close enough to intercept and guard for her. "A break? I suppose not. As for if I'm afraid of losing this double so you put it? She's capable of fending for herself."

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}[Hybridization Technique]

-100 Reiatsu [Turned into Talia]
-100 Reiatsu [Gains A Tail.]

Reiatsu Remaining: 50/250

Sylvanas Doll Stats:

Strength:120x1.25=150

Speed:100x1.5=150

Spiritual Pressure:50x.5=25

Reiatsu Strength:50x.5=25

Light Aura:100

Dark Aura:0

Instinct: 50

Senses: 50

Energy Sensory:0

Wound Expertise:0

Total:420 

Equipped With: 

Name: Spiritual Steel Staff

Description: A simple pole about six feet in length, the staff is meant to be used for a combination of balance and range along with swift and simple attacks.

Type of Item: Weapon

Class: 5

Item Power (IP): 300

Offense Type: Physical

Durability: 2x Base IP

Bonuses: None

Drawbacks: None

Costs: 3000 + 2000=5000

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}

Sylvanas Stats:

Stats:

Strength:50

Speed:70

Spiritual Pressure:80x1.25=100

Reiatsu Strength:80x1.25=100

Light Aura:100

Dark Aura:0

Instinct:70x.75=56

Senses:70x.75=56

Energy Sensory:0

Wound Expertise:0

Total:420

-400 Reiatsu [Summoning Doll.]

Reiasu Remaining: 600/1000

[Talia Napolitano]

Assuming her preemptive swipe found her mark, Talia was fully prepared to counter-engage if necessary. She wasn't going to just sit idly by as some fake copy of herself sought to wail on her. No, that wouldn't do at all! Assuming it bled like a normal person as the slashes presumably made contact with her body, Talia took up a defensive stance, as previously planned. Despite taking a rather noteworthy hit from the get-go however, it seemed that this body double was prepared to continue to fight.

As it presumably closed the distance, looking to ram whatever appendage it had created right through the real Talia's leg, she took the opportunity to use the distance she created in order to more accurately try to get around the incoming blow. She wasn't quite fast enough to dodge something like that, however, and regardless of her attempts, still managed to take a rather nasty graze against her leg. "Tch!" she scoffed, creating a bit more distance between the two as the incessant doll continued to approach.

As S2's strike against the vampire's head came in with the staff, Talia felt a trade here was going to be necessary. This time imbuing her slashes with her own reiatsu just before she took the hit, Talia launched another wave of blood out toward the doll, this time looking to rip into and persist on the Doll's chest. Continuing to move forward like a travelling sawblade, the only reasonable way to not take the hit was going to be avoiding following up with a strike in suit, otherwise she would've been split down the middle.

Assuming she still went through with her strike, Talia found herself rocketed across the sidewalk by a force equivalent to her own strength, tumbling over grass and turf and finding herself resting in the dirt. Collecting herself, and rushing back up, the vampire immediately made a break for it. She wasn't going to stick around in direct confrontation any longer than she needed to, especially while that clone was likely reeling from the blow she otherwise struck with.

Taking a moment to create some distance between herself and the doll, Talia made haste to run behind a nearby building. If nothing else, she'd be able to take the opportunity to shroud herself in the shadows for a time. She wasn't going to simply let herself be caught out to dry like that; she needed to take the opportunity to hide from these two. At least, until she got ample time to recover and plan an attack.

(Invoking Stealth 2 & both Sylvanas' and S2's Lack of Energy Sensory to hide.)

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu Pool}
Reiatsu: 510/560
-150 for Reiatsu-focused Bloodtalons at Class 4.

[Sylvanas Liskasha]

In truth, as the no so mafioso lashed out with her talons, it was of course a genuine surprise to Sylvanas, the doll that was. Even as it raised the spiritual staff to intercept the strike that came upon her, holding it out in front of itself, there was a momentary resistance, a small clash, before smaller lacerations and cuts lashed the body. Indeed. It seemed like as if in this form, the doll S2 did in fact bleed. Implying it was of course, mortal. It seemed to growl lightly though, aggravated, as it sought to plunge inwards.

It's tail lashed out at fast speeds from the backside, threatening Talia, by whipping out and slashing against her leg, the serrated edge digging through the skin. However, failed to quite pin her down as planned, instead being more superficial. Yet. It was there that S2 found as she rushed inwards for the staff strike, that a surprise was sent her way. Slashes of blood sent a buzz saw spiraling towards her at fast speeds. She had to think fast. Thus. She did, in order to avoid being turned into mince meat.

Her tail of which was still extended would find leverage along the crack of the sidewalk, wedging itself inwards, and as the hardened crimson came for her, the tail pulls and therefore wrenches her body out of the way, forcing her to abandon her initial strike. The blood continues to easily fly down the street, hitting against a metal sign, only for it to release sparks, grinding, as the sign is split down and ripped apart. Terrifying. No doubt. Though. As if Talia was the type to let Talia escape. She was prey after all.

After wrenching herself away, she manipulates her tail to fling her forwards with increased momentum, the doll twisting her body in a rotation as the metal tail extends and flies outwards like a spear, partially coiled around Sylvanas' torso, as the doll itself sticks the staff outwards with a single arm in her twist, delivering two strikes from opposing directions. Thus, making it more difficult, if not impossible to dodge. The tail sought to impale her on the right side, whereas the extended staff looked to slam straight for Talia's left arm or side, to crack and break bone. 

Her tail was a powerful and versatile weapon, indeed, a powerful Kagune for a ghoul such as herself, no doubt. One might say it was the versatile, and her ability to manipulate the RC cells was quite special compared to most spiritual individuals. Though, it seemed as if Talia's abilities also were quite unique in their delivery. Assuming either strike hit, or neither did, the tail did well to stick closer to S2 now, to protect her, grant her a tighter defense that'd be hard to breach with mere fangs or claws. 

"If you'd like. We don't need to fight any further. I think I've got the point across that I'm not your easy prey." 

[Talia Napolitano]

As she made haste toward escaping the doll that came her way, Talia had followed through with her plan and launched a wave of crimson back toward her assailant in an attempt to put some distance between herself and the attacker, she didn't bother turn back to see how her strike had made headway, if at all. That wasn't her priority, nor was it something that she had any vested interest in figuring out; what came first, was figuring out how to survive the situation.

Though, it seemed that the doll had a rather interesting maneuver planned for her; as the clone caught up to Talia, looking to pincer her from both sides, there really wasn't much that the vampire could've reasonably done to make her escape. The situation in and of itself was already rather complex, and not one that she was willing to actively engage in, if she could help it. Gritting her teeth, Talia took the opportunity to lean into the pressure applied from the attack with the staff; instead of trying to actively rebel against the strike, likely resulting in significant damage to her back and shoulder, she instead opted into taking it like a boxer, leaning into the area she was forced and thus significantly lessening the impact of the strike.

As she once again found herself against the pavement, she scoffed. While she still was in no condition to keep up a high-stakes fight anymore - at least, not without taking the opportunity to fix up some of her wounds - it hadn't felt like much of anything was left broken or the like. She'd be all right, in time. For now, though, it seemed the woman had made a rather interesting comment; "If you'd like. We don't need to fight any further. I think I've got the point across that I'm not your easy prey." She didn't really have a reason to argue that point.

Standing up from the pavement, and patting herself off for a moment, Talia huffed. She hurt all over, but in truth there wasn't reason to assume that any of the damage was going to be lasting. After all, she'd suffered worse back from her time fighting Shinigami. "That's some clone you've got there," she spoke, her voice laced with malice, "what are you, anyway? You're certainly no vampire." Crossing her arms, she squinted toward the Bount that stood across from her. If nothing else, the woman before her was certainly interesting.

"Never asked for your name, by the way; what might that be? I'm Talia Napolitano; it's a pleasure to meet someone as... capable, as you two are." She hadn't been lying about a statement like that, no; quite the opposite. While the little skirmish that they had just finished felt somewhat short all things considered, she'd felt very sincerely that this woman had been powerful. So much so, that she'd felt almost outmatched. Almost.

[Sylvanas Liskasha]

The battle seemed to wind down. Perhaps come to an end as Sylvanas looked upon the wounds S2 had sustained. Though, it was something that made her conscious of the situation. The monstrous power that her opponent also held. "My name is Sylvanas. Sylvanas Liskasha." She called forth into the street, as she came forth from the alleyway. Though when mentioned of being a clone?

"And she is my partner. S2." She declared, to which the mirror of Talia stood there, nursing a wound for a momentary, curling her metallic tail inwards towards herself, coiling it around a slash. There seemed to be an understanding between the two of them, as they gazed each other forth. "And I am like you I suppose. You and me. They call us Vampires. Though in reality. We are Bounts." Having learned much about their people in her time, she remained firm.

"Thank you. For your praise." She responded, though when thinking about it, she decided to call forth a truce. Stepping one step after the other, she slowly offers her right hand out towards the Napolitano. In reality, she felt rather incapable, having done essentially none of the work in this fight, as her Doll did all of the fighting. Though in time, Sylvanas looked to change that. As she discovered her own spiritual powers and sought to make connections. 

"You're quite dangerous yourself." She responded, and with it, the emerald eyes looked into Talia's own crimson hues. "This town is dangerous." She then said, a fact that Talia was no doubt aware about. Though at this point, Sylvanas hardly cared about the affairs of murders and serial killings like the monstrous vampire before her. After all, humans persecuted and sought to kill her and her community before. Shinigami too.

"I don't know you, not very well, but I know I don't want to fight people I don't have to. So. Might I propose we become acquaintances? Friends even perhaps." A proposition. Sylvanas had never been one for dastardly deeds. Though, as she discovered herself, she knew there was a growing level of thirst and predatory nature that was beginning to spread. She didn't know why or how, but it was beginning to take root. She imagined it was simply that Talia had discovered and embraced that side first, and not the spiritual nature of their powers.

"You and I are the same, after all." To which she momentarily side glances S2, seeing her blood. Then to the blood of Talia herself. They were the same blood, the same creations. Their experiences might have been different no doubt, but it was through experience and coming together that perhaps great things could be accomplished. Especially as Sylvanas sought to make more of herself in this life. Pick up the ashes of her destroyed past and come to peace. As well as comfort. 

[Kitai Yoru]

48 paragraphs, 240 TP awarded