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

[bye_to_yer_head]

*BLU watches the chaos and destruction for a moment before crawling onto his roof, putting the scope to his eye and watching what she was doing.

As long as it wasn't his house, he didn't much care what she burnt. In fact, he didn't care if she set the RED base on fire and roasted herself in it. That isn't what he was looking for.

He's looking for his rival.*

[prpl_assistant]

[She's watching quietly, before she switches off the feed. There's nothing she can do...or rather, nothing she can do that will get everyone a happy ending.

An afterthought later, and she types out a message to BLU.]

[Text]

Sniper, do you know where your RED counterpart is?

[bye_to_yer_head]

*He's gone back inside, he doesn't want the blue dot of his scope to alert Pyro to hsi presence. She can just stay over there doing whatever it is arsonists do. At least the smoke isn't too bad yet.

He glances down at his phone before responding, unsure if he should admit to having been looking for RED.*

i dont know./ he might be at the red base but hes not with pyro. i can see her from the roof.

[prpl_assistant]

[Text]

So can I.

Can you please look for him?

[bye_to_yer_head]

*He's not going to admit that he was heading out to do that anyway, Rika tucked into his vest and Tipsy waddling along beside him. Better they be with him than be at the house in case Pyro got too close.*

will do. ill check the base and let you know if i find him.

[prpl_assistant]

[She's heading out of her house too, Buttons firmly held in one arm. Carrying a backpack, she's out to try and find RED before the shiola hits the fan, but first she needs a safe place for her puppy and a special purple flower in her bag.]

Right. I'll check the park.

[Her fingers hesitated, before she eventually typed out the last sentence and sent it to him.]

Stay safe Sniper.

[hasstandards]

One hour after Pyro had left RED base, and their argument was still fresh on Sniper's mind, her accusations cutting him to the quick. Truth be told, he couldn't put his loyalty to her into words, couldn't formulate just how he felt about her. He could repeat her words to him, but they were apparently meaningless to her if they weren't his own. That didn't mean they didn't accurately portray how he felt, but she wanted more- more than he knew how to give her at that moment.

Two hours, then three, and he had still been sitting on the top step, his stewing having simmered down to nothingness as he realized she wasn't coming back. Her absence left him hollow, both himself and the house not much more than shells, the space filling with an unnerving silence without the sounds of her in the kitchen, in the bedroom, speaking to him. He'd still have been sitting there, waiting at the fourth passing hour had he been alone in the house; however, he wasn't. Teriyaki was the one who dragged him from his vigil, scratching at the door for his afternoon walk. RED had sighed, stood, and obliged. He still had a job to do for someone.

Four days after her departure, and he'd taken the dog and was staying at his townhouse, deciding he didn't want to be there when she came home. Anger had taken hold of him, bitterness festering in his chest from the wounds she'd inflicted. He'd tried his best to show her what she meant, to be a better person for her, and look at the thanks he got! She hadn't even pretended to be happy to see him, jumping right to accusing him of everything under the sun, from leaving her entirely to infidelity. He'd brought her a gift— not something he'd pulled out of someone's yard, but a real gift, one he'd put a lot of effort into— and she'd had the gall to claim he was gallivanting about.

It was a slap to the face, and one he considered a wake-up call. He didn't need her. She'd said he was trying to be something he wasn't— which admittedly he was, but he was trying to be someone better, someone who acted the same way he felt, someone capable of making her happy— and now she was the one out doing who knew what with who knew whom. Just the thought of that burned him, fires in him stoked with jealousy.

Six days after her exodus, he and Teriyaki took to the woods; embittered wrath had become a creature he could no longer control, manifesting itself in a tantrum that left his townhouse in shambles, furniture shredded, coffee table kicked on its side and bearing long marks from his knife. He'd convinced himself he didn't need her, nor did he need anybody. All he needed were his weapons and the wilderness that surrounded the city, the uncivilized forest closer to home than the tall buildings and concrete walls of Paradise. His dog went with him, always at his master's call. They would watch each other's back. That was their shared job, now.

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!

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.)

[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.

[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!"

[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.

[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.)

[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.

[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

Normally, Pyro wouldn't try to attack someone she disliked in Paradise. However, things had changed and Miss Pauling was a deliciously easy target to take her anger out on.

She had never understood why this woman always had to act like her mother. Neither of them no longer had their jobs. Why did Miss Pauling cling to such false hopes? The odds of going back were slim.

Tracking her down, she let out a deranged laughter to announce her arrival before letting her flamethrower give off a warning blast. She liked it when her prey ran, she'd give her a head start.

[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.

[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?