And it burns.

[notintehkitchen]

[Action//Accidental Video]

The demon behind the young woman had broken free from the bonds. What once was a girl with self-control despite suffering a mental illness, it looked like someone like her could only last so long before they snapped.

She was revealed, exposed for who she truly was.

Yes, a filthy arsonist suited her just fine. It wasn't a bad name. As her flamethrower spread flames over the shops and homes around Paradise she savored the screams and pain of those who suffered.

It was all her fault. As a Pyro, this is what she was. Who had she been before that? Who was Momo? Was Momo really her? No. Momo was someone else inside of her that tried to stop her from having fun. The life she was supposed to live, this was it. This is why she existed. When she ceased to walk on these lands, she would find herself in hell. Satan would have her as his right-hand man and she'd perform the duties of making people feel eternal suffering.

There was a human inside of her. The body she was given must of been fake. No human should of been able to have the tolerance to fire as she had, nor would they get off on it like she did. She had always been a freak, from the moment she found out she could snap her fingers and qualify as her own lighter, she knew she was different.

Her footsteps were strong and prideful. There was no reason to be ashamed. The fact she was alive was proof of that. If she had no purpose, she wouldn't be here.

Through the pops and cracks of the flames roasting on wood, she thought she could hear a voice. Someone--something was calling her.

It's okay, Pyro. It's okay.

((OOC: Phone is being held be Jell-O. Yes, he is enjoying what his mother is doing and showing everyone.))

Comments

Sob, comment limit.

[hasstandards]

It was over a week since the start of their separation when he saw the fire. It hadn't drawn his attention at first, the distant crackling easily mistakable for the wind pushing dried leaves. The smell of smoke was what caught him, his eyes turning to the town- the buildings were surrounded in a thick, black cloud, an ominous orange flickering a second telltale sign of what was happening within. He'd been told she tried to burn down the city once, but he couldn't find it in him to care to find a reason now. Probably because she was a Pyro- creating fire came naturally to her, was something she needed every now and then. It was like the hunt for him, the absolute need to get away from the caging walls of the city. She needed it, but she didn't need him, and he didn't need her. That was how things should have been from the start, he told himself. Distance. No attachment. It complicated matters.

It was with seeming disinterest that he tore his gaze from the sight, going back to his work, carefully tying vibrant green feathers to his modified rifle. He propped the gun on his knee, taking a moment to rub some of the stiffness from the joint. That simple act made him reconsider- from his knee to the hand that rubbed it, the ache pushed through him, memories brought back from the sensation. He paused, looking at his hand, once-broken fingers now back in place, injuries fading with those who knew what caused them. Not that Sniper would ever forget that masked vigilante, appearing out of nowhere, demanding his weapons and treating him like a criminal—

He was upright in an instant, gun in hand, realization hitting him as he turned to the burning city; the shadows of the trees before him reached toward his feet like tendrils, trying to pull him closer. He'd been beaten to a bloody pulp for simply aiming among civilians, despite the fact he never intended to actually fire. Someone actually lighting the town ablaze was not only going to attract attention, but would inevitably bring trouble. If the masked man was still in Paradise, there was no way he'd let her get away with what she'd done... and certainly not alive.

He'd lost track of the days since he'd last seen her, yet Sniper was tearing back toward the city as fast as his limbs could carry him. Teriyaki followed until RED called back for him, ordering the pup to remain at the camp- and stay he did. He was a good dog, one with the qualities Sniper admired, but were so lacking in his fellow man: he was loyal, obedient.

And so was his master, though his loyalty was to another. RED choked back pain from his knee as he scaled a tree with record speed, drawing his gun once he'd reached the top. Setting the scope to his eye, he scanned the burning city, skimming along the tops of buildings, trying to find anyone- namely her or him. The flames that licked the sky blocked his view; he was never going to find her that way. He holstered his gun again, sliding down the branches to the ground. That left only one option.

With his hand on his knife, he entered into the city's walls, headed straight for the chaos. He'd died by fire just before he'd been brought to Paradise; however, the flames were no longer what terrified him. Far worse was the thought of losing her, that he could have protected her and did nothing. That was something he could not let happen, for her sake and his own. The anger that had swallowed him was gone, unadulterated trepidation left in its wake. They needed each other, even if neither party would admit to it.

Loyalty, obedience. These were qualities Sniper had more than he knew.

[Text]

[prpl_assistant]

The moment the Sniper gets back within the city, there's a small beep from his 3Step. Checking it will reveal a text message for every 5 minutes since the fires started, all saying the same thing.

[Text]

Sniper, where are you?

[audio]

[hasstandards]

[RED looked at his phone, snorting as he turned a corner, heading toward the flames.]

I don't got time for this, Miss!

[Audio]

[prpl_assistant]

If you're concerned about Pyro, then it might be in your interest to listen to what I have to say.

[audio]

[hasstandards]

I don't need your help. I've got this.

[Audio]

[prpl_assistant]

And what are you going to do?

[audio]

[hasstandards]

I'll figure that out when I get to her.

[Audio]

[prpl_assistant]

I really don't think this is a good idea Sniper. She's not in her right mind at the moment; I don't think she'll hurt you, but I don't think she'll listen.

[audio]

[hasstandards]

Then I'll make her listen.

[Audio]

[prpl_assistant]

She doesn't like it if you try to force her to do something she doesn't want to do.

[audio]

[hasstandards]

You think I don't know that?

[There was coughing on his end, the air around him irritating him.]

Look, I might be the only one she'll listen to, and I'm not about to let someone attack her because she's causin' trouble. I can handle this.

[Audio]

[prpl_assistant]

...

[She sighs on the other side.]

I'm not going to be able to convince you to not go, am I?

Keep her safe Sniper, but please take care of yourself as well. Don't over-exert yourself.

[She can't exactly tell him not to do something stupid when he was already halfway there.]

If you need assistance, please call me. No one's come up to attack her yet, but she's hurt a lot of people and destroyed a lot of property. There's going to be a consequence for this, whether from the residents, or the gods.

[audio]

[hasstandards]

[Her warning was met with a moment of silence on his end of the line, displeasure at her words rising in him.]

I'll keep an eye on her. I'm not going to let anything happen to her, got it?

Not creepy.

[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

Pyro's biggest enemy was herself that night. She didn't know it yet, but by the time the sun would rise she wouldn't have the chance to.

Taking every step with ease, she didn't regard anything around her as a threat. She was stronger then everyone. What could harm her?

The only thing that didn't run away from her was her beloved pet who hopped behind her while holding up her 3step in it's little tentacles. He squeaked as happily as ever and it was enough to make her smile.

(You'll never be scared of me, will you?)

I hAvE nO REaSON tO bE. PyRO Is MoTHeR.

(That's right. I'm taking care of us. When I'm done here, everything will be for us. Nothing bad will ever happen again. There will be no worries.)

[hasstandards]

The smoke in his eyes left his vision blurring; his lungs burned from the run and the ash in the air, every breath growing more painful. Still, he ran for the center of the flames, following the trail of destruction until Pyro came into sight.

He tied his knife at his waist as he neared her, showing he meant no harm by emptying his hands. "Pyro!"

[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

There was a voice she could remember fondly calling out to her. Yes, that was her name. Not Momo. Was he realizing that now?

Turning her head over her shoulder, Pyro wore the mask that Sniper had prepared for her. The way he had suggested she used it hadn't been taken lightly. All decked out in RED with skull head and horns made her look devilish.

Without hesitation, she responded in her muffled voice.

(Go away. I'm not of your world anymore.)

[hasstandards]

"I can't understand ya with that mask. You know that."

Met with the face he'd given her, she was a fearsome sight, a being fitting of the flames that danced around her; however, Sniper didn't back down, walking toward her instead. He didn't understand what she said, but he knew one thing as he watched the buildings around them for any sign of the masked man- he was not about to let anyone touch her. He would do what he had to do to protect her from everyone, including herself.

"I have a feelin' I know what you're doin', pumpkin. With all this." He gestured to the chaos around them.

[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

Sigh. He never did understand her be it with the mask on or off. Why should she push it up to speak to him? Fine, she'd humor him.

Pushing it up so it rested on her head, her face was covered in soot and fresh burn scar going all the way over her right eye. When she blinked, she felt the way it pained her. It made her shudder with delight.

"You don't know what I'm doing.

You don't understand anything about me.

No one really does. The closest anyone ever got was Sensei."

[hasstandards]

His eyes trailed her scar, expression unflinching.

"You do it because you have to. It's a part of who you are, isn't it?"

Perhaps he understood more than even he realized until that moment.

[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

The smoke did little to make her cough. She was too used to it by now. "... I saw my mother. I saw what she did. She can do it too, better then I can--yet all these years, I've been treated so unfairly by her. I was told never to show off, that I was born unnatural. Why was I given an existence where I can't do as I please? If I can't do what I want, I don't want to be alive."

[hasstandards]

"Life's not fair sometimes," RED said, lowering his voice, eyes dropping in tandem. "If there's anyone who knows that, it's the two of us."

He took another step toward her, stifling a cough, the burning air making his throat itch more and more. "You're not unnatural. You're not crazy, and neither am I. Ya are who you are. Who you choose to be."

[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry, but it's too late now. We can't talk anymore... probably never again, Sniper. Even if I somehow miraculously survive all of this, I doubt I will be welcomed.

I've come too far. You can see that."

Motioning at the destruction she had caused, she placed a hand back on her mask. She still had to be cautious of Sniper, he could be trying to pull a fast one on her.

"My only wish now is to live alone with Jell-O. To do so, I have to kill everyone. That's the way this is going to work. That's the only way I'll be accepted as normal.

Go away now. Kill yourself. Find some way to go home. These are ny last words of advice for you. I'm already too much of demon, I might turn this flamethrower back on any second and kill you."

[hasstandards]

He was motionless as she spoke to him, threatening the deaths of everyone around them, and likely herself included... and yet, she was going to let him walk away. She was sparing his life, only to damn him to one without her. It was a lose-lose situation in his eyes.

His body tensed as he choked back another cough. "Then go on with it! Ya act like livin' without you is somethin' I wanna do! It's not, got it?"

That coughing fit finally escaped him, forcing him to catch his breath. The wind blew, spreading the fire from one building to the next, cutting off paths of escape with every passing moment.

"I came back to this godforsaken city to find you and watch your back. That's my job, and that's what I'm gonna do. If I can't do that— can't make sure nothin' happens to you— then what good am I for? I might as well be dead."

[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

She couldn't believe what she was doing. Taking the mask off the top of her head, she placed it over his own with force. She wouldn't let him deny it. "Take this and leave now. I don't need it." Perhaps this was the last bit of human kindness she had left in her. She wouldn't let Sniper die from a pathetic death such as inhalation of too much smoke.

Turning her back on him, she began to head further into the thickness of the flames. The back of her head was already missing clumps of hair from being burned off. From the looks of things, she had been self-harming herself to keep herself from going to such extremes. In the end, it had been futile.

"There's... lots of girls for you. I.. don't think I'm really suitable for you. Or practical."

[hasstandards]

Having been coughing again, Pyro caught him off-guard, forcing the mask over his head and tying it before he could fight back. Not fitted for his long face, it blocked his vision as he struggled with it, trying to get it off. While he remained trapped in it, he got it adjusted to where he could see, only to spot her heading further into the fiery madness.

Against his better judgment and her demands, he followed her, shoving down survival instinct as something else entirely drove him, compelled him. Desperation mingled with concern in his chest as he reached for her- a window shattered as he passed a building, flames lapping against his arm briefly, glass cutting him, pieces embedding themselves into his skin. He ignored the injuries, all his focus on her.

(I don't want any other girls,) he said, voice muffled from the mask. He put a hand on her shoulder. (Just you. How many times do I have to say that for you to get it?)