At World's End {Private Group}

[Malverne]

The instant the man clamped his hand down on Malcolm's wrist, Malcolm knew two things. First of which, and most important, was that he was good and caught. No WAY Charles was going to pass this up. The man, a priest by the look of him, was surprisingly strong, and Malcolm couldn't get away fast enough to put enough distance between him and his hunters. Even if he could outrun Maxine for long enough to get out of her reach, Charles was a crack shot with that pistol, and he could easily take Malcolm down without killing the boy.

The second thing that Malcolm knew, this was interesting and frightening, was that the man could use magic. There was a vibration under Malcolm's skin that he'd felt before, in a previous life, that only meant one thing. And in Malcolm's mind, magic meant that the user was untrustworthy. He'd met a few too many mages on the streets before the world ended, and considered himself lucky to still be alive after meeting them. Throw in the condescending attitude of a priest, and you have one detestable person.

Just on principle, Malcolm shot a glare at the hillbilly. Did he really think that Malcolm PLANNED on being chased across two states by a manic old man and his rotter?
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Charles was happier than he'd been in a very long time.

"Being unhelpful is a lifestyle for him," Charles said to the southern man, "He's raised it to an art form." But now Malcolm was effectively in his grasp. Charles brushed past the girl with the bat, who still hadn't said anything, and strode over to the man who was holding Malcolm. The boy seemed to shrink in fear as Charles got closer. As well he should.

"Thanks for grabbing him sir," Charles said to the man who'd grabbed the thief, "I can take him off your hands now, if you'd like."

[Keylaleigh]

"Very well." The Reverend smiled at the other man that walked over. He let go of the boy who tried to steal from him. "Hopefully he will learn the error of his ways and come out a better person."

The Reverend looked down at the boy. He understood the reasons for theft in this time and place, but it still made him sad to see so many resort to it. If the boy would've asked him, he would've done his best to help him in any way possible. It was his job as a servant of the higher powers to help those in need.

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Shell looked at the kid who had told her to attack the Rotter, and then at the old guy that caught him. He was dumb to get caught. Then again, she would've never resorted to something so sneaky. She would've just straight up taken whatever was in his pocket after roughing him up a little bit.

She looked down at her bat, over at the rotter, and then at the group of people that she had never seen before today. What was up with this day and new people?

"So... does this mean I don't get to hit anything?"

[Malverne]

"Hit him if you want," Charles said, gesturing at Malcolm, "Although, if you could leave him able to travel, that'd be helpful. I'd rather not have to carry him all the way north." Charles was strong, and it wasn't as if Malcolm would be a load, but actually carrying him all the way up north would be way too much trouble.

Malcolm twisted out of the priests grip, and started to take off.

"Go on," Charles said to the girl, "Take him down."

[Keylaleigh]

The Reverend watched as the scrawny girl charged gleefully at the boy who almost stole whatever was in his pocket. "There is no need for any of this. It is a problem that can be solved without resorting to violent means." He smiled, looking over at the running boy.

The Reverend pulled out a simple wooden cross and bowed his head while muttering a prayer under his breath. As he did this, he was surrounded by a white light, and music could be heard from a far-off source. When he finished, his head snapped up and his eyes were glowing white. After that, he only said two words.

"Hold person."

[Malfise]

Tony muttered a string of curses as the kids ran off, then turned and raised an eyebrow at the apparently glowing priest. Well, this was just peachy. A couple a' kids bent on killing each other, the Rotter Master, and now some sort of magic weirdo. Weren't there any normal people left?

"Jesus!" Tony swore, backing away at the sudden jerk of the priest's head, completely unnerved by the supernatural aura about him. "What the hell kind of freak show did you escape from?"

[Malverne]

Charles burst out laughing as Malcolm froze in place, teetering slightly. Charles wasn't the type to be fazed by magic; he'd seen everything when he was serving.

Laughing felt good. Really good. Charles couldn't remember the last time he'd laughed out loud. He hadn't smiled since he'd had to put down his other dog, Rudy.

"So," he said to the priest, "I'm heading north, gonna take him to the police. Would you like to come with us? That spell'd be might useful in keeping him around." Charles considered the other man.

"It's just magic," he said, "White magic at that. Nothing to be scared of."
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Malcolm had bolted, trying to get away from the priest, only to feel that same damn magic freezing him in place. He couldn't do anything really, except hope that the girl wouldn't take advantage of him by repeatedly smashing his head in with her baseball bat. That would freaking suck.

Charles words reached his ears. White magic, nothing to be scared of. If Malcolm could scoff, he would. That idiot had obviously never pissed off a magically inclined priest. Inducing paralysis is one of the nicer things that a priest can do to inconvenience a person.

"Shit..." Malcolm muttered, spotting the look in the girl's eye. It promised pain.

[Keylaleigh]

When Shell saw the boy freeze in place, she laughed gleefully and tackled him to the ground. She didn't bother with the bat. She mostly used that on enemies that she needed to down quickly. This one, however, was already down.

"Take this! And this! AND THAT!" She said while punching and kicking the downed boy. She was full of pent-up frustration and boredom, and it felt really good to take it out on someone.

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The reverend looked over at the other two men. "Oh, I picked up a few things in the priesthood. I'm no the most magically inclined in my order, but I can do enough to defend myself and aid others."

"And I was actually heading northward myself. Looking to see if any of my old friends are still around." He grinned. It would be safer to travel in a group rather than alone like he had been doing for the past few months.

[Malverne]

"Really? That's convenient," Charles said, "I'm sure if your friends have ears and brains, they'd hear about the north, and head there. Th' name's Mason. Charles Mason." Charles took a moment to appreciate the sight of Malcolm getting the snot kicked out of him.

"Now," he said to the two men, "If you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to make sure that girl doesn't break any of his bones." With that, Charles jogged over, picked up the girl by the scruff of the neck, and started dragging Malcolm back over to the small group.
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'ow...ow...owww...' Malcolm's thoughts shifted from that to cursing out the priest who'd put him in this position. The only real upside was that the girl wasn't very strong, so her punches and kicks weren't breaking anything. But he'd be bruised tomorrow, no doubt.

For the first time, Malcolm was actually glad to see Charles coming toward him, and pull the girl off of him. Of course, Malcolm refused to show any gratefulness (not that he could, but still), instead shooting a glare at Charles.

Slowly (veeeery slowly) Malcolm felt his limbs start to loosen. He tested the limits of the battered appendages, and found himself very sore. He wouldn't be running anywhere today or tomorrow. Malcolm, for the slightest moment, felt the tiniest flicker of relief. He'd been running for years, even before the world ended. For the first time, he didn't have to run anymore.

The flicker of relief was squashed immediately. Malcolm didn't want to not run. He wanted to be free. THIS was the exact opposite of that. Maybe the girl would be willing to help him, or at least be a hindrance to the two adults. As soon as Malcolm could use his jaw, he'd try to talk to her.

[Keylaleigh]

The Reverend smiled a little as Charles pulled the small girl off of the boy who tried to steal his wallet. She was incredibly violent, that one. Although in an environment like this, one had to do whatever they could in order to survive. If surviving meant beating anything that moved, then it had to be done.

"Pleased to meet you, Charles. I'm Reverend Andrew Wells."

((nothing to say as Shell at the moment))

[Malverne]

So, Charles had been right. The man was a priest...er, reverend.

"Well, it'd be a pleasure to have you travel with us. Oh, by the way, this little piece of trash," Charles jabbed a thumb at the frozen thief, "Is Malcolm. You'd best put your valuables in a locked box and sleep with that box under your pillow when he's around." An offended noise came from Malcolm at that point, and Charles knew that if the boy could talk, he'd be snapping back with all the venom and wit of a dry British comedian.

[Malfise]

((I'm so sorry, you guys, for ignoring this ;___;))

Tony just shook his head at the short lived chaos. The girl was a fiesty one, alright, and whatever the guy with the Rotter--Charles?--said, he wasn't all that comfortable with anyone using magic, even if were a priest. Still, this could be the opportunity he had been procrastinating for.

"Well, I've been meaning to get out of here for quite awhile now," Tony mentioned, eying the others. "Just never really got around to it. I'd suppose I'd like to come with you, if you'll have me."

((I have this feeling that Tony's personality is about to degrade into a stereotypical southern redneck....))

[Illusion]

((I'd really like to join you guys but I still haven't seen my opening so.... xD;; ))

[Malfise]

((I dunno if the other two are still posting here...i may have taken too long between posts and they thought i was done ;__;

You can come in any time, though, and I'll RP with you. I really only come on Midorea to check this thing...))

[Malverne]

((I'm still checking in, but I was waiting for Keyla to post...))

[Keylaleigh]

The Reverend looked at the scrawny boy that he was warned about and sighed. He had his work set out for him, one being unnecessarily violent and another being a thief, there were a lot of lessons to be taught in this small group. That is, if the girl joined them on their journey. If she didn't he only had one to worry about.

He looked over at the other man. "I apologize if my... skills frighten you. Magic isn't as common as it used to be." He smiled. Most of the people he met lately were frightened by his magic, despite it being more helpful than harmful.

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As Shell smirked at the boy being carried by the officer, she overheard bits and pieces of the conversation. "North? What in the world could be up north other than more wasteland?"