A need for... well, general violence, I suppose?

Griselda was on the tail of another and much more recent trinket. A very new cult among an Earthling sect called the New Blood. The pair had only been with bread crumbs up until recently when one of their members turned tail and sold one of their necklaces prematurely to some thugs in Central City. That was THEIR mistake, letting Usumidori catch wind of fledglings trying to create more of those damned things. It was about they paid the otherworld a visit to some old friends. Some devils and ogres might know of an upstart working with a cult like that!

It wasn't often Griselda got to take the initiative with creating a rip into the otherworld. The demon's sword was an easy gateway into such, and it was usually Usumi himself who drew the black blade across the fabrics of the material in order to cross paths. But today was different, and she was feeling like learning more intimately the powers bestowed upon her.

'Concentrate between the destination and sword. The way forwards will show itself.'
The guiding words of the demon in her head were encouraging enough. And considering he was usually belittling her swordsmanship she'd take it as progress as she held the cursed ebony katana in her hands. Repeating the thought process described to herself and cutting in a cross. A few times before she had failed to produce anything from her labor here. Just swishing at the air.

But eventually, this last attempt would break apart the seams. A small cross-pattern portal opened up for her. Usumi pushed her to repeat the cut again to widen it for her. To keep it accessible to her long enough to step through. It'd take her a couple more cross-sections to really get that result. Eh, it'll come with time. Believing Griselda had made a portal straight to the hell town of the demon's description, she steps on through. The ripple closed in behind the two soon after. Leaving no trace of the small human's presence in that park at such a late time.

Huh. Griselda took a look around and scratched her chin. Well, it certainly LOOKED like hell. Maybe she was more off on where she plopped that rip in space though.

'Close enough. Just... head northbound. Follow the strange curve the sparse clouds take.'
Well, the youth WOULD do that. There was something first that caught her eyes in this barren waste though. A lone woman. Having a picnic in such a place. She could hear whatever it was the purple-haired shinjin had in her hands over the subtle ambiance of lava rivers. Surely it wouldn't hurt to check this out?

"Hello! Miss?"
Phakk would see and hear Griselda before ever feeling her. At all, actually. Her strength was a muddled mess that made it impossible to really gauge. Wearing a neat little dress and adorning this black blade with one hand she waved with the other. Those beady green eyes are bright with a sort of determination. Still, she was polite.

"You wouldn't happen to know where in the Hell we are, would you?"

---

Thread PL: 13,000
Current PL: 13,000 (Antisense ACTIVE)
WC: 531

Oh! This Phakk was polite for a being down here in their lonesome. Most people who decided to remain alone even in a place with a supposedly infinite populous, she'd assume, were hermits. The big mistake she made coming up on any helpful and kind spirit down here though was approaching with the cursed blade. Thing waved around at nearly her height. Griselda let out a little gasp with another curtsy bow and flourished the blade once - A shimmer of darkness creeping over it before it'd disappear from sight. Can't go looking hostile around this place.

"Thanks, ma'am! If you'd pardon the sword that is. Didn't mean to approach with the wrong signals! If it means anything, your dress is pretty too!"
After the curtsy again, an apology, she'd dust off her skirt and hold her own hand proper in front of her. Taking some steps up to observe her new friend here. Laid out with a proper picnic and all. She was more than willing to tell of the treacherous journey to Limbo Town. The name of which made the demonic tenant chuckle a bit inside her mindscape. That was going to be some more 'personal growth' Gris would have to partake in herself. Always fun.

"Limbo Town? Perfect. I've been having a time trying to get there from... Further south."
Can't exactly spill the beans that she was breaking boundaries between Otherworld and the Material to any random schmuck. Friendly or not. Last 'friendly' ogres loved ratting out Usumidori for doing so blatantly.

"Don't worry about me any, I'm more than capable."
She assured the Shinjin, twiddling her thumbs as she just took one look at her destination. Nodding. There was something more interesting she wanted to know before setting off though.

"Say... Is there any reason you're out here alone? I figured most would enjoy the company of others. Especially for a picnic."
It was a bit odd, seeing as she had no clue there was another entity inside this Shinjin. And that this woman also had her body in full. No spirit nonsense.

---

WC: 351
TWC: 882

Griselda really didn't think TOO far ahead on how she'd been able to tell what 'south' was here, but maybe this woman's relative foreigness herself could be played off on. Yes, the small woman just knew due to experience! Confidently, the woman just stepped forwards and kept her hands clasped together as she looked Phakk over.

"Just some good intuition... Think I'm not the only good navigator in the universe anyways! Some people just have a good sense of direction regardless of where they are, like a compass in their head."
Ignore the fact compasses wouldn't really work in the otherworld, the point remained as she kept looking the woman over. Honestly, the way she described her own contention with those around her and the way her 'magic' worked reminded Griselda a lot about herself. With Usumi shoved in her skull, they'd share a similar fate of being a lot more than what they appear initially. No doubt, this purple gal could pull some nasty stuff if she trusted her word. Can never really trust your senses with people like them... The proper lass just giggles at the shinjin's crass joking about Limbo town and nods.

"Oh.. oh, of course! Funny. Just some errands... Food included."
Spirits only ate for the pleasure of it, right? Regardless, Griselda pushed past the slight nervousness this woman elicited. She didn't consider herself 'evil' either, but Usumidori was an entirely separate entity that sure as hell let his ill intent be known. He might not butt his head, but if he gets irritated with small talk who knows. She can already sense him groaning at the pleasantries.

"Strange place to be if your magic acts up around evil people... Like you said."
Should she ask about the picnic? Maybe not. Seems like it'd be a bit much if she asserted herself there. Instead, she'd wait to pardon herself if the Shinjin didn't make any inquiry or offer herself.

---

WC: 328
TWC: 1210

Ahh. Should clarify! Griselda looks around a moment and, well yeah this was one of the better places to lounge around in otherworld, that's not really what she meant by being here that was strange. Usumidori would have been more callous and blunt in calling this out. No, the pretty little Earthling would instead take the proper introductions as a way to slip in her concerns. Small and in hand in a shake with her other fixing some hair. Keeping that gingerly smile about her.

"Griselda Tops, ma'am. But please, just Griselda. And like I said, errands. Mostly pertaining to information. The dead are a talkative bunch. And they might know some things lost."
Gris tried spinning her own wisdom into it without spilling her own beans to a stranger, pulling back the hand to rest both together in front of her.

"And I didn't mean to not come across clearly, nor any offensive. When I said it was strange for you to come here for the reasons described I didn't mean THIS place, specifically. I meant Hell. Evil people make their homes here, right? Aren't you putting yourself at a greater risk of that magic just 'acting up', as you put it?"
Was that too much prodding?

---

WC: 212
TWC: 1422

That was... A HELL of a name. The full name made Usumidori seemingly growl at the god's mention of it and funny pronunciation. That wasn't a thing that often happened. When it was clear who this was, the demon actually did speak his mind to interrupt the girl's train of thought.

'Careful around her, child.'
An actual caution from the prince? Griselda didn't let her mind messaging show on her face as she kept a smile, if a bit anxious around the higher power as she pulled away quickly and nodded a few times. Guess she can't really keep all of her motives secrets forever if she wanted anything from the Shinjin.

"I'll just stick with Phakk, I think. And the information is only as personal as the trinkets lay with their masters, ma'am. You see, I'm hunting lost artifacts. Typically of the demonic variant. I don't have the tightest connections back on Earth but here, I have my ways here."
When a pet was brought up as to why they were up here, eating up on negativity and such, Griselda's first thought was to look around for a physical spirit. Something like that which could ACTUALLY eat the negativity in the air. But there was nothing, and a splash of confusion spread on her face along with a slight blush on her cheeks.

"Wait, you're here with someone then?"
Oh, poor her. Well, it was only a matter of time until she eventually stumbled unto Dark.

---

WC: 251
TWC: 1673