pullmeoutalive | log > for lack of a better place to do so

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log > for lack of a better place to do so

He had to wonder how it was that, if no one save a very, very select few could leave Whitechapel, he kept ending up elsewhere. Indeed, this wasn't the steam-driven, smog-choked section of city he called home. This was somewhere else entirely - and startlingly modern in comparison to the Victorian England he was so used to.

It was unseemly of him, but he found himself staring - tall buildings all steel and glass towered over him, and over that lay the clearest sky he'd seen in his entire life. The sun was bright, brighter that it had ever been in Whitechapel, with its constant overhang of smoke. All the better, he supposed, that he was wearing his usual attire, complete with dark glasses.

Alabaster stood alone on the street, a tall figure in smoke black stark against the clean, polished world he now found himself in. There seemed to be no one around. This city, if it was indeed a city and not some ludicrous dream, appeared to be deserted.

He reached into the pocket of his coat, fishing out a pocket watch. In this alien place, was Grandfather Clock - his God, and God over Whitechapel - still watching him through the clockface? Or had the connection been severed with his sudden disappearance?

Such things would be answered in due time, he told himself. For now, there was only the question of getting back. It wouldn't do to have Grandfather Clock's elite agent up and vanish in the middle of a rebellion, now would it?

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Talking wasn't the easiest thing for someone who felt as if her head was going to split open with the slightest movement, but Saga made a valiant effort, still hunched over and grimacing.

"I-it's... here. Kind of... close, but... I need... to--"

She broke off again with another wince as the pain intensified in one big swell, waiting for it to die down again before she could manage a little more coherency.

It wasn't often that Alabaster felt totally, utterly useless, but here he was just standing there. She had to mean the rune, though why it was causing her so much pain he didn't know.

The girl remained in her cramped position, breathing shallowly through her mouth, and transferring her fingers from her head to the edge of the table.

"I'll... be right back." In one quick movement, she'd heaved herself to an upright and standing position and was now wobbling towards the front door with a resigned expression that stated she'd been through this many times before.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. If this was indeed the rune, which he guessed it was, there was no way he was just going to let her wander off by herself. Not that he thought she couldn't take care of herself - she'd been doing this sort of thing long before he was here - but if this was his ticket home where was no way in hell he was going to miss it. Snatching a jacket off the back of the couch, he followed her to the door.

She was half-aware of his presence as she slipped outside, but there were other things to worry about other than a tagalong-- like walking in a straight line, or pinpointing the location. The truth was, there was only one fact that she knew at the moment, and that was that Raidho was definitely present in this time, in this city. But she didn't know whether it was going to drop something (or someone) else here before disappearing, or whether it was willingly choosing to show itself.

He was content to keep his distance and let her do her job. He vaguely remembered his clothes and his effects still in the shopping bag at Saga's apartment, but he figured if he was indeed going to be sent home right now, he could come by more weapons easily.

"... You don't have to come." The pain was fading slowly, and Saga paused to prop herself against the side of the same store from yesterday, glancing over her shoulder at Alabaster. "Even if I can subdue it today and gain control of it, I won't be able to send you back for at least another two days. I'll probably be just a little incapacitated."

"I've come this far," he replied with a shrug. "May as well see it through. I'll take care to stay out of your way." Besides, if the stupid thing incapacitated her, how was she supposed to get home?

She'd have to hold him to that; she was trusting enough to take him at his word without having to ask him to swear to it. That, and just around the corner--

"Thurisaz!" One finger came up to draw three sharp lines into the air-- the shape she left glowed red, and the air before it exploded, almost as if whatever was attacking had just hit some sort of wall.

Alabaster hung back, tensed and ready to spring. He'd said he'd stay out of her way, and he would, so long as the rune didn't bring anyone - or anything - with it that had... less-than-friendly intentions.

He had to admit, though, Saga's magic was impressive. He'd never seen anything like it, and until yesterday, he wouldn't have thought it possible.

Well, if they made it through this little errand unscathed, he'd be sure to tell her so.

If they stayed unscathed, indeed-- a prospect that didn't seem all that likely, given the shape that remained when the smoke cleared.

Saga stared at her newest adversary with a look that could have only been labeled as exasperated. "You've got to be kidding. It could have been anything else, and it had to send me the Calydonian Boar." Granted, it had been in her notes that the boar was significant to Raidho, but why on earth did it have to drag the bloodthirsty Grecian legend here? It couldn't have just settled for the average pig, but now here she was, staring down an enraged (and gigantic) boar with narrowed eyes and dangerously pointed tusks.

This just wasn't her week.

"The what boar?" And can I kill it? He wants to add, but thinks better of it for now. Whatever it was, it wasn't supposed to be here, of that much he was certain.

"Calydonian." The headache was returning-- without the sharp, jabbing pain this time, thankfully. "Supposedly, Artemis sent this guy to ravage Calydon when its king didn't include her in his offerings. In return, he asked for help killing the boar, turning it into some kind of sporting event. Atalanta wounded it, and Meleager killed it, but I heard it was a tough fight."

If he was going to be spending time with Saga, he was really going to have to read up on his Greek mythology. "I suppose we have our work cut out for us."

"You can say that again." Her light eyes were fixed on the air in front of her, the girl clearly concentrating on maintaining Thurisaz's barrier. "I can keep this up a little while longer, but the rune will get away if I do. This is meant to be a distraction."

"Very well then," he replied flatly, the tiny arms in his sleeves beginning to come to life. "I'll distract the distraction, and you take care of the rune."

She really hadn't convinced herself that Alabaster was just going to stand by like a good boy and let her handle things-- but oh, how she'd hoped that her doubts would prove baseless.

So much for that.

"I'm here to help you, remember?" She stated, somewhat frustrated. "That doesn't include requiring you to take on giant pigs."

"I'm more than capable, Saga. And you know as well as I do that the longer we stand here and debate the matter, the closer we get to losing the rune completely." He wasn't going to take no for an answer. As much as he had come to enjoy her company, he wanted to go home. Back to his God, and back to his life. No pig, giant or otherwise, was going to stand in the way of that.

"I have not known you long enough to be arguing like this," came the disgruntled mutter, but Saga relented with the next sigh she released. "If you somehow get yourself killed, which I doubt, or injured, there isn't much I can do. Just try to be careful, all right? The instant I drop the shield, you're good to go-- and so is he."

His only reply was a short nod as he positioned himself to attack. He didn't get to be Grandfather Clock's top agent by being a pushover, and if he could get in close to the boar's face - namely its eyes - then this fight would be over quickly.

She would just have to trust him... and she did, to her surprise. For someone she'd only known since yesterday, Saga felt no discomfort or unease at fighting alongside him. She knew he was capable of fending for himself, just as she knew he wouldn't require any further words to act.

With that in mind, she called out silently, Return. And, just like that, Thurisaz's effect vanished.

Alabaster dashed in quickly, hoping to get to the beast before it realized it could move again. Unfortunately, it was quick. Quicker than he'd hoped. Narrowly dodging those tusks, Alabaster skirted to the side, tiny claws and blades shooting from his sleeves and tearing into the boar's hide.

It didn't seem to like that much and whirled on its attacker, hooves and tusks thrashing. Mechanical limbs digging deeper into the boar's side, Alabaster hauled himself up, trying to get onto the beast's back. The damn thing was kicking up a storm, making his ascent difficult.

He'll be fine, he'll be fine was the mental reassurance she kept giving herself, as she sprinted past him, fully intent on the presence now sparking irritably in her mind. Clearly, the rune wasn't happy about their method of attack, but Saga wasn't feeling particularly charitable towards it at the moment.

"Rudh radh ridh..." The words came softly and easily, and the bracelet warmed against her wrist. She would handle the rune; she just hoped Alabaster wouldn't get himself gored before that.

Well, he wasn't doing badly, but he wasn't doing quite as well as he'd hoped. It'd bucked him off, and after a rather unpleasant meeting with the pavement, he was circling it stepping in close when he could, his extra limbs tearing at the boar's flesh with deadly efficiency.

This ridiculous dance had gone on long enough, he just had to... there! There was the opening he needed - the boar kicked, a well-aimed rear hoof headed for Alabaster's head. He ducked, feeling the sting as the boar's kick grazed his forehead, mechanical arms going for the rear leg that still supported the creature's weight, ripping into the ligaments. The leg buckled awkwardly, and while the it attempted to steady itself, he tore into it's remaining rear leg.

With his adversary half-crippled, he circled to its front, meaning to take out its remaining legs. The boar mush have grasped this as well, because it lurched, jerking its head violently, and wedged a tusk right under Alabaster's ribs.

He grunted, feeling his flesh tear as the boar jerked it's head back and tossed him clean over its body. Sky, pavement, boar, it all blurred together until he hit the cement with a dull thud.

Hermes' granddaughter actually had the easier battle with the rune, although she knew the hard (and painful) part came later. But for now, the brunette stood triumphant, one hand hovering over the small red light that pulsed slowly beneath her palm.

She was almost afraid to look over her shoulder, having only the sounds of the raging battle behind her to go by. And they didn't sound good for either fighter; of course she was worried, but she couldn't break away and run to assist Alabaster now. To do so would break her concentration and the rune would escape.

All she could do was wait.

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