Celia was not fond of looking for things. Something she had learned about herself when she was young, and in the midst of looking for her dad’s favorite hat. But then again, she didn’t really know anyone who did like looking for things. Well, there was that one detective she had sorta bumped into at one point. Which still didn’t really count. As that was his job, and she didn’t even actually talk to him.
But that was hardly important. Really it was just the long way of saying that she was currently miserable. Miserable looking for a sword in a room that was suddenly too small. Butt bumping into shelves made of bone. Singular horn poking into the side of a bed - also made of bone. All while she checked under every crack and crevice that made sense. And there weren’t many. As the room wasn’t all that big. Too small for one person even.
Or maybe not. Maybe Celia only felt that way because of her own substantial increase in mass. She was more than twice as much woman since she was last in here. Maybe even more than that. It certainly felt that way at least. A sticking thought. One that stayed with as she checked the room again, and again.
Before she eventually gave up on her futile delusions.
The sword wasn’t in here. Which meant it was time for a very short adventure. And that brought her back to the legs. Where she found Haet sharpening his claws while occasionally glancing at his fallen friend. It was the sort of sight that hurt emotional people like her. The kind she had to somewhat numb herself to as she approached.
The idea of sharing the screen she had saw earlier approached with her. An idea strangled in its crib by Discipline. Remember. She said, and Celia did. But then came the problem of figuring out how to word her question.
Which should’ve been easy. It was a simple question, and she was a grown woman.
Unfortunately, being grown couldn’t erase the awkwardness that came with interrupting a man’s grief.
“Hey, Haet. Sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you knew where that sword you bought me was?”
“Armory. In arm.” He said without looking up from his current task. Which was sharpening his claw as much as possible. And he was doing a good job of it. His pincher of a hand looked like it could cut straight through a rock if he applied just a bit of pressure.
Granted, a bit of pressure from Haet was likely a lot of pressure by anyone else’s standards.
Either way, Celia thanked him with a wave and then went on her slightly less than merry way. Back into Sel’ci’s torso and then up into her right arm. Which she quickly discovered was not the armory she was looking for. Rather it seemed to be an area where the crew kept all their armor and more defensive oriented gear.
The left arm of Sel’ci on the other hand - no the joke was not lost on her - seemed to be what she was looking for. As it was chalk full of more… offensive implements. Everything from swords and spears and bows, to glasses full of chemicals. Chemicals that made her instincts scream danger every time she strayed too close. Her instincts also told her she wasn’t alone in the armory. There was someone, or rather something, else in there with her.
Unfortunately for it, whatever it was, it made the mistake of smelling like prey. Fully inciting the wrath of Celia’s stomach. A natural, animalistic, rage. And one born solely from greed.
Not to mention a bit of… encouragement.
Trust me “darling” my senses are telling me it’ll taste like bacon when cooked.
Celia doubted that. But not enough to ignore the natural inclination to grab herself some free grub when presented with it. So, with only a hint of shame - a very small hint - she began her hunt. Creeping about the armory, slowly and methodically in search of what her senses insisted was there.
And they weren’t wrong. As, only after a minute of searching, she had found her prey. A large brown centipede like creature with a stinger coming out of its tail. She immediately recognized it as the same sort of creature - the same parasite - that initially infected her when she arrived in the beyond in the first place.
She just stared at it for a moment. Both surprised at its apparent size, and unsure what to think. But eventually, the thoughts came.
Did eating it, make her a cannibal? Was the first. But it was not the last. There were more. Some of fear, some of wonder. Childish even, like if it was possible that she could use it to change herself back. Which, well it sounded too good to be true. Like the sort of hope fueled dream that only the desperate and hopeful clung to.
Celia wasn’t sure if she was either or not. Didn’t care to check. Instead she numbed herself to the idea. There were things she needed to do. Like finding that sword. And, apparently, killing the tyrant of this forest. Important things that would only be harder if she was thinking about finding a way to fix herself at the same time.
That was an idea for later. After she found the portal home and had no need of her claws and fangs. Which she did need right now. Mainly so she could skewer her prey through and then cook and eat it. Which she had already decided didn’t make her a cannibal.
So, with all that behind her, she approached the parasite. Slowly stalking toward it, careful not to be too loud and alert it of her presence.
A pipe dream to be sure. As, no sooner did she step into the same aisle as it, did it turn and screech at her. The twin racks of weapons to either side of it rattling about as it moved.
Celia lunged. Predator mind taking over in an instant. All four of her arms going for the kill. Pronged claws stabbing toward where it was weakest. Tongue extending out from her mouth. A hanging blade of metal and hunger.
The parasite lashed out at her with its stinger. Entire body turning with the attack. Most of its length colliding with the walls to either side of it and sending rack after rack tumbling over. And still Celia managed to bump into something with her lower end. Butt like the core of a double headed hammer, and her hips those two heads.
And dumb as that was, it gave her an idea. A very stupid one.
One she didn’t hesitate to put into action. Using one of her arms to grab onto the parasites stinger and yank it towards her. Followed by her slamming a hip into it as hard as she could. Sending all sorts of jiggles through her gradually softening body. But more importantly, it had an even more potent effect on the parasite.
And by more potent, she meant it looked like the parasite had been hit with a very personalized earthquake. One that shook through its body like gelatin. Segmented plates of armor ricocheting against itself, limbs sent flying as it’s entire body turned into a very deformed bouncy castle.
An effect mirrored by her rear. Which she ignored as she continued her assault. Rushing after the still recovering pest and grabbing one of its comparatively tiny limbs. Aka the perfect handle for slamming into the ground as hard as she could. Lifting it up and bringing it down like it was a glass mug she had every intention to break.
And break it did.
The parasites armor cracked and groaned at her assault. Bits of brown shrapnel flying off. A pained groan like sound escaping it as she continued slamming it against the ground. And like any would be predator, it lashed out in desperation. Stinger slicing toward her. Barbed tip aimed to mutilate the one good eye she had left.
She caught it with one of her arms. Crushed it, and filled her palm with teeth and green blood. The groan of agony coming from her prey evolving into a low pitched shriek of despair and pain. But Celia couldn’t bring her self to care or emphasize.
In fact she’d be lying if she said she didn’t get some form of mild catharsis out of this. Sneer rising as she looked at the broken parasite one last time. Before throwing it to the ground and preparing to end it with a stomp of her heel.
But, seconds before she committed to the act. The armory was suddenly flooded with noise. The cry of skittering legs, and insectoid hisses. And like the unveiling of a curtain, three more of its kind appeared. Staring up at her from an overturned weapon rack, the biggest of them covered in plates of stolen armor and wielding a sword in one of its wayward limbs.
And not just any sword, but her sword.
I suppose that makes our search easier. Discipline commented.
Yes, now be a dear and go get it. Vice urged.
And the three became of one mind. A sort of supernatural clarity overtaking her at that moment. Guiding her as she rushed at the three parasites. Her initial target being the biggest of them, who stood its ground, waving both stinger and blade threateningly towards her. And as she went for it, she was intercepted by one of its underlings. A parasite that was exactly like the last one she had killed in every way except for the fact that it’s body was covered in tiny hair like tentacles.
Celia made to skewer it with a tooth grown out of her fist. Only to watch as the hairs covering its body lit up with purple energy and it flew out of the way.
As she was turning to catch it however, the third member of their little group joined the fray. Launching itself at her from a platform of slightly longer and thicker legs. Stinger coming at her first. Which she dodged, only for it to land past her and launch itself again.
This time she made to cut it down midair. And she would’ve, we’re it not for the same purple glow that covered the first parasite coming upon her and slightly shifting her hand out of the way. Just enough so that she didn’t bisect it’s partner like she planned. Giving said partner full clearance to slam into her with its stinger.
Said stinger only sunk a few centimeters deep before it was stopped by the natural armor of her built in dress. A mistake it realized a second too late. One it was too slow to do anything about. As, not only was it stuck, but it was stuck to her chest, unable to get away from her no matter how hard it tried. And try it did. Thrashing about with all the energy of a child throwing a fit over candy.
And it’s partner in crime even tried to help. Using its telekinetic powers to try and help pull its buddy free. Unfortunately for them, Celia had a stronger grip and a much stronger appetite.
In service to said appetite, she let her body begin to heat up. Internal temperatures reaching a boiling point within only a few seconds. Heart shifting from her and into it like water flowing into a new vessel. The result was the parasite being cooked alive. Dead in only a few moments.
And to her surprise, it smelled exactly like bacon. Tasted like it too, she discovered upon taking a bite. A bite that very quickly turned into scarfing it down as fast as possible. Pulling the stinger out her chest as she ate.
And leaving herself completely open to any form of attack. Which came in the form of a sword straight to her back. Missing her spine, and driving straight through her front. A tip covered in jagged teeth erupting out a rib. Which should’ve been far more concerning than it was, if anything it should’ve horrified her. Alerted her brain that something was very wrong.
Instead, Celia was elated to find her sword back in her own possession. Even if she received it in a very “unconventional” method. And receive it she did. Body healing around the blade as she finished swallowing her meal. Stomach already in rapid digestion mode, and turning her defeated foe into a salve for her wound.
Which must’ve caught the lead parasite off guard. As she felt it release its grip on the blade and begin to back up. An opportunity she took to pull her weapon out of herself. Slowly, and very, very painfully. Careful not to make the cut any worse.
Well she tried not to. But quickly discovered that her sword was a thing meant for leaving disastrous wounds. Serrated teeth biting into her, snagging on skin and bone, and dealing as much damage as it possibly could. Still she pressed on, gritting her teeth as she pulled it out, and doing her best not to scream.
Then, she had it. Sword in hand, wound closing up, and two victims to test it on.
She couldn’t help but give a pained laugh as she saw them back away in horror.
