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Why wasn't Buddingtonite answering his call?!

No matter how many times he tried to contact his partner with his crystal, he recieved no answer. Captain Serpentine could only make a guess, and the guess he made was one he did not like. Perhaps his friend was likewise being pursued this night by a spectre of himself. But without knowing where the confectioner was... the florist could neither offer assistance nor obtain any for himself!

He dodged another blow from a whip simultaneously similiar and different from his own. The thing was getting closer and keeping up with his attempts to escape. Serpentine leapt onto the top of a building -- a sports equipment store that he sometimes frequented for soccer supplies. He was trying to head for the soccer fields. An open space would be better for this battle. He would be able to see his double coming and could do better circle tactics. Assuming, of course, he could get there but he never doubted that he could. He was just getting there... more slowly than he anticipated.

Shade Serpentine was giving his colorful couterpart a bad name. First, the graywash look did absolutely no justice to either his uniform or his naturally fine features. It made the real Captain sneer all the more as he continued his evasions. The sneer shifted into a scowl when he felt a powerful Senshi nearby. He could be patient and lure one enemy to a better hunting ground... but being outnumbered as well? Were he a superstious man, he would be cursing the name of the eclipse about now.

(Note: I have permission from ChibiGingi to establish that Buddingtonite isn't answering.)

She was a lovely creature. Not as attractive as Serpentine because vanity and pride would not allow any to reach that high of a scale... but lovely. Hair like strands of white gold and bright teal eyes were particularly striking against the bolder red, black and white of her costume. Perhaps a bit tarty for his taste with the extravagent heels and hot pants and flowing bustle - poor decisions not only for looks but for battle gear as well, as far as he was concerned. Yet, the aura and the wings proclaimed her to be a top-ranking Senshi... all the more reason to sneer at the White Moon's efforts. Pointless destruction, and relying on walking porcelain dolls?

Sickening.

Yet, strangely, not as sickening as the giggling, monochrome version that followed the Eternal soon after. Perhaps because it reminded him too much of the hissing version of himself that landed on the roof right behind the other Shade. Shade Serpentine pushed the newly arrived shadow being aside, not interested in fighting it or the Senshi it mimicked. No, it apparently only had gray-scale eyes for the orginal Serpentine.

"Obviously not," the Captain finally retorted, making it clear through his clipped tone and sneer that he thought the Senshi was being absolutely asinine in her questioning. The Negaverse was not in the habit of dispensing creatures that would hurt its own members. He did not want to say anything more because it would mean doing one of the most horrible things he could think of.

Work with a Senshi? Instead of trying to destroy it? It went against everything the aloof florist believed in when it came to being a member of the Negaverse, and it made his hands curl into fists resolutely at his sides. But it was the smart strategy... and temporary alliances were just that - temporary.

He grit his teeth and did what he knew he had to do. His green whip snapped towards the washed-out version of the Senshi to hold it at bay. If the Senshi was not a twit, she would figure out to do the same with his double.

The Negaverse Captain kept his focus on the washed out version of the Senshi making snide commentary. Her words affected him more than he would care to admit. It hurt his ego to help her and hurt even more for him to consider that he needed her help. If she ended up beating his shade before he crushed hers... well, that would likely only cause their alliance to crumble faster so he could avenge the slight. She was correct. He was not sociable. At the moment, they were both engaged in battle and needed each other. Without such necessities... their meeting would have been quite different.

It was only when his temporary companion expressed squemishness that he looked her way. Serpentine flashed the Senshi a look that would peel paint. Be gentle? She did not seem serious but if she had time to joke, then she had time to do more than simply dodge around like a Mexican Jumping Bean and land a decent strike. Assuming she could, but how else did she earn her rank if not in battle? Did he truly want to know? Probably not

"Then don't look," he growled in response. Serpentine had no intention of holding back. He threw himself forward this time and aimed a punch for the black and white pouting face of the Senshi's Shade. It had nearly tumbled on its heeled boots once. Perhaps he could succeed in causing it to do so again.

Shade Serpentine was... confused about this new obstacle in his way. He did raise his hand to whip the Senshi aside, but her sudden impact with his legs made him hit the top of the building with a grunt. His monochrome whip remained tightly clutched in one hand. With the other, he tried to pull himself towards his green-and-gold twin. Apparently one of the traits he had inherited was determination.

It had seemed so promising. The punch connected beautifully with that cheap knockoff of a perfect doll. Her monochrome heels had been unstable, she had teetered... teetered... and then flickered, as though she had an ability to teleport as well. The only acknowledgement he gave to the colorful Senshi in return for her was a wordless snarl. Naturally it could use magic - if his shade had his weapon, why would hers be any different?

Serpentine turned and used an old technique he had relied heavily upon whenever all with which he had to fight was a rubber snake. He halfed the length of his whip by stretching it taut between both of his hands. Then he lunged forward and tried to wrap the the whip around Shade Ganymede's slender throat.

Shade Serpentine allowed the kick to the his whip - and as soon as the booted foot came into range he reached out to grab hold of the ankle enclosed within it. Then, as soon as she was down? He could get to his true target.

Serpentine was a man filled with desire even before the magic hit him. The magic simply drew on his innermost feelings. He desired his own apartment again, desired to move out of his flower shop once and for all. He desired to be free of this battle and free of his haphazard alliance with this blonde-haired Kewpie doll. There were other desires, to be promoted, to prove his worth, to protect his looks, and all of them burned bright. It felt like he had taken a long drink of whiskey that someone had then set on fire within his belly and veins. The fire spread to every extremity, and even the stoic Captain couldnot help but shout, his breath coming in ragged pants.

Shade Serpentine tried to take advantage of the situatiion. With the colorful woman suitably distracted, he pushed himself to his feet and--then the magic hit him. Soon he was right back to the ground, empty hands clutching at his belly.

Shade Serpentine tried, desperately, to avoid that kick, but he was too distracted by the fire in his gut. The boot cracked against his skull and sent him rolling across the roof. His colorfol counterpart seized the opportunity to grab hold of him.

"Kill. It. Now.." The burning might have hit its peak, but the pain that flowed through him had yet to fade away completely. Serpentine would not back down, would not allow this... imposter to infringe upon his life any longer. It was a petty concern, but what truly most infuriated him was that the Shade bore his face. It cheapened his looks, washed them out in monochrome, and then paraded around as though it were the original and not the copy. He used the anger to give him strength as he pinned his squirming double to the roof.

Of one fact he was absolutely sure: this clone would die tonight. Even if he had to endure more hell fire, even if he had to rely on the Senshi succubus to deliver the final blow, Shade Ganymede was not even a concern for him at the moment. No, what he needed now was more primal. He would prove once and for all that there was only one Serpentine.

The crack of his whip seemed to chase the Shade of the Senshi away. Just as well - it meant that this alliance could finally come to an end. Although it seemed that she was not willing to let him go without gleaning some information from him. Should he give his name to his enemy? Normally it would not even be a question; he did not care if she knew who he was or not. But this night had not been normal. If it had been, he would have been fighting the red-and-black clothed Senshi before him, and not a grayed out version of himself.

"Captain Serpentine," he spat at last, his golden eyes glaring at her. He gave his name for one reason: intimidation. It showed in his follow up hiss, "Next time? I will not hesitate." He needed to say no more. His dust stained hands were enough, he felt, to show what he would not hesitate to do. Beautiful a thing as she may be, she was made to be broken.

Without another word, he teleported from the scene.