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 Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:43 pm
Not going out on a patrol when he could spare the time wasn’t an option. Not with time constraining as it was to make arrangements. It was less a patrol, even, then looking specifically to find other royals, other teams, other connections. Faust was helping, when he could. It was harder now, with school in session and courses running. There was less time for everyone, less time for patrols or helping others. More sleeping, he guessed, for most. He couldn’t sleep. Only so long as the meds continued was he able to function well during the day, and even then there were the nightmares worsening. He couldn’t tell if he should be relieved or unsettled that they changed. No longer the same, the Pillar only figured occasionally as the ash and frozen stone forms. As often the images were of bloodied leaves and raging fires, people splitting and bubbling, or entrails running over his hands slick however he tried to put them where they no longer fit. And matted fur, swollen tongue, empty eyes and silent screams and He would wake as he always did- right up and awake. Only his heart alive as a bird in his chest. Even the drugs barely kept him asleep.
Battle was unwise- unless it was a youma, a lieutenant or regular dark mirror scout. Battle if it came, if he did manage to find the warned against prince or his brother, would likely be woefully short and lacking entertainment. Better if it were just negotiations. Just talk. How anyone managed to be worth much more than that was a mystery, unless they didn’t have the dreams. Maybe it wasn’t so widespread as he and Faust thought. Maybe it was something else. There were too many branches and too many trees needing answered.
Thraen stopped along a boundary wall of one of the mall parking rises to focus and parse the auric energies around, trying to find other eternal energies. Or at least know what else was near. It was not ideal - a curious Chaos aura with notable strength was the answer. What or who it was beyond that was uncertain.
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:50 pm
Blind search proved ineffectual, as he expected, but with so much impetus to search about for another way and so much desperation lining his thoughts, Alois knew of nothing more productive to do with his time. The nightmares haunted well enough as it was, entailing portions of a life that looked back on his own as if ancient history. Bone wings matted with tar, the bite of staff and vine, announcements made by an organization that celebrated him and his peers during daylight and later renounced them for lack of progress, lack of update. The dreams spoke of a dearth of interesting phenomena, so much so that the sole focus of his life was hunting down and drowning a camp full of survivors.
And they tired him so, so greatly.
Delirium set in some time ago, mild as it was - it left Alois further unsteadied despite the newness of his form, which entailed stumbling across macadam or leaning dangerously over a parapet as he fought for balance. Youma loomed out of the corners of his vision sometimes, and he caught a glimmer of deep red and brown armor in his periphery, a chain netting seized in hand. Kairatos, he thought desperately. But it wasn’t entirely him - these dreams are starting to blend with reality. I’m losing it. I may not find someone who can legitimately purify me in time before I’m lost to madness at this rate. I just want to sleep. I just want to wake up as Alois, to the smell of chai tea filling the apartment and Faust smacking loudly at his bowl as he always does. Why does it all have to be so ******** difficult?
Desperate searching led to a lead, farfetched as it might be. He learned in recent times that royals often obscure themselves as eternals when not partaking in duties demanding that volume of power. The chances of him discovering a royal camouflaged amounted depressingly close to nil, but anyone boasting energy equal to his own harbored a chance at having a connection, or even a name to pursue. Anything. Even death, if they so wished.
Alois leapt from the parapet, aiming for a street light that loomed eternally over the sidewalk, but he missed the jump and landed hard on street blacktop. It stressed his legs further when he avoided rolling out the kinetic energy, which caused his knees to collapse beneath him and he braced both hands against the street to avoid faceplanting. Slowly he straightened himself up, assessing further damage to his uniform but finding no reason to care anymore.
Carefully Alois approached the source of the auric noise, stepping over a short barrier lined with grass and bushes as he went. Pressing through the impeccably manicured landscaping of the mall felt almost comical, and he wasn’t sure if the whole affair looked as absurd as it felt, or if it was just sleep-deprived hysteria haunting him.
’I need information about a royall’ sounds like such a paltry and obvious opener. I am Negaverse, even if I don’t want to be - what credibility do I have with anyone of their court? “I’m not here to fight,” he started as he approached the parking structure where the aura felt stronger. “I am looking for answers.” A glance down the entry confirmed no bodies within - only echoes of dreams. However, rounding the corner produced an image both very real and very unfriendly. Immediately he ducked back behind the corner, shifting into a swift retreat.
I’m not dying tonight, he told himself.
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:50 pm
Uncertainty bred alert- Thraen prickled as soon as his focus had returned from just the auras around to everything around his perch as the other aura drew close. Were he a cat, he would have been bristle-furred and trying to feel even the movements of the very air in minutia. He heard the words that preceded the appearance of the source, shifting to no less readiness of danger if no longer fully hostile- Alois!
And the partially Youma General beat into an immediate retreat on sight. It was gifts and fruits of their furthering relationship in uniform- so many instances having centered entirely on violence and execution as some source of dance between them. Do I give chase?
He already was, shifted up and springing to life in pursuit. It is a viable test. He’s looking for help and seeking out whatever aura’s he can. And his first reaction is to run from one he thinks unhelpful. But this way I can feel him. I can check him for energy orb or starseeds and know better just how far he’s turned over new leaf. Pursue a starving beast and it will feel cornered. It will be dangerous. He will be dangerous. He won’t hesitate in wounding or killing Thraen if he feels it in his best interest.
Well. At least I am still better fed than you, Alois. How fast can you run, with no flight. Is there enough in you to teleport now? Possibly. Better you not spend it. “Then ask your questions, Bischofite.”
He called it in pursuit, stone platforms scraping bone-shuddering noises, “Follow thy drum, General, and if it does not beat for war but truce pursue that. I have questions I would trade with one of your cloth. Questions for questions for once, instead of blow for blow.”
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:51 pm
A response reached his back, sprawled over his thoughts in momentary pause. I remember when you were once so loathe to violence, Thraen. But you’ve always been extreme - I wonder what would come of you ‘questions’, and whether I would endure it. Bargaining with you sounds all the more dangerous than with Hvergelmir, or Kairatos, or even their twin bogeymen. You would have me die on any occasion of our meet. Why now, would you suddenly disregard prior transgressions in exchange for answers? What is it you’re planning?
“I don’t trust you, Sraen.” The words came in breath over shoulder while he beelined through an alley, reaching a proper makeshift climb in the form of dumpster-fire escape-parapet. The leaps came in quick succession, though Thraen himself likely managed the obstacle in one jump rather than the portioned measurements of energy that Bischofite meted out. The spared glance back afterward wasted too much time - it confirmed the inevitability that Thraen drew quickly to his lead, having the benefit of streamlining route to better match a straightaway.
The cincher came only when he reached a gap between buildings too far to jump confidently, and a drop that entailed inevitable injury - enough to cripple him for Thraen’s easy victory. He paused there, half turning with one foot poised on the parapet. I can manage a teleport if I have to. If he draws too near, it’s simple enough. Engaging him only entails disaster - I cannot take him in this condition, and it’s a waste of time. Thraen’s death only contributes to the Negaverse, not me.
Bischofite detested even conversational distance from the man, and a building’s length in distance managed little more than grit teeth and a high-strung demeanor. I know your magic, at least. Some of it.
The thought offered no comfort.
“Zen ask what you must of me, Sraen,” he finally responded. “But stay a good distance from me. No closer zan ze opposite edge of ze building. Violate zis, and I leaf’. I’m afraid I’m not in a mood to joke and goad and barter away, so forgif’ me if I am much less of a host zan in any of our prior interactions.” Afterward he drew his attentions outwards in a feel for lingering auric energies, or any signs of a potential ambush. While Bischofite led the pursuit, he knew Thraen to match or exceed his capabilities in tactic; he wouldn’t risk the chance.
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:51 pm
“The feeling is mutual, “ they had no reason to trust each other in most cases, insofar as trust went with someone trying to kill you or return the same on more than a single occasion. There had been a strange understanding though, before the sword, before the youma crawled and carved its marks from inside out in the man. Before Thraen had known what Quenton now had to live with. They’d exchanged names and had come to some mutual admiration of purposes. That was not trust, though.
Sure to prediction, the eternal senshi had the benefit of watching the general’s ascent and judging his own math on the run against it for cleaner leaps. He didn’t have to parse every iota of energy, guaranteed rest with pills and a nest on the floor of the safehouse if nothing else. Guaranteed some measure of comfort in the thrumming, nerve-relaxing sound of a purr next to or half on his face. Thraen landed on the ledge and held his position at enemy behest, still enough to be more gargoyle than man even if it was Alois that wore the wings and garish mask. “Months it draws that nightmares come to those who play in this war. Does it plague your kind as well? There have been times when Senshi, the Mirror, the Negaverse all have had to put aside this war against other foe- like the colourless copies and their guiding force. Or Wolframite’s failed night of truce between us against the Mirror. If it is so now, the time draws too long that a sizable effort could be made coherent to stand such things. “
Whether he tells the truth or not another story. Nothing asked is nothing gained. Others can be asked to corroborate.
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:52 pm
Mention of nightmares and their ilk gave him pause while he recollected visceral feverdreams culminating in flame. For a breath he chose not to answer, instead casting his gaze over the parapet and into the murky, milky penumbras spotting the street. A couple crossed under their watch, but never looked up. He wondered if they knew.
Slowly he released his breath, shoulders dropping in tow, though he never turned toward Thraen until he started speaking again. “... Yes,” he managed finally. You never thought to ask, Thraen? I suppose you were too busy killing those of my persuasion who crossed your path to bother with such arbitrary concerns. “Yes, we’f all witnessed it, as far as I can say. It started as some… Strange dreamscape, wis’ everyone frozen in varying states of horror. A black column reaches ze sky, explodes outward, and all turns to stone. Or ash. It always ends ze same. But lately… Zat’s changed.”
A brush of feathers in the lulling breeze caught his eye, drawing his attention for a moment. He fixated on it, remembering vanes of bone that stretched toward the floor, toward flesh, toward eyes. He remembered claws, and heat, and tar. “I do not know what you or your kind dream. However, for myself, zese dreams haf’ taken on a… Different turn of events. Almost… No, it is as if my dreams occur in ze future. What I see is bleak, hollow, and full of abject disdain.” He paused for a chuckle with a hand pressed to face, slowly edging up beneath the mask. “You were zere too, Sraen. Do you feel flattered? You were missing an eye, zough, from what I remember. Clawed out.” By me.
“Why do you sink zis is somesing to unite and stand against? It could be ze end to us all - we may as well die of sleep deprivation and ze war would finally come to a close. Ze world would be none ze wiser.” Finally he let his hand drop from its creeping position, and with it came a few thin strands of tar that snapped once his fingers strayed too far.
“It is my turn, now. Tell me, Sraen - what do you know of purification?”
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:53 pm
The Pillar and stone were at least not wholly isolated to the forces of Order then, unless it was a lie. There didn’t seem a great deal of reason to care to cover up some sort of magic pertaining to it, if everyone was plagued with the insomnia. Pride was the only very good reason that came to mind, not that his powers of reason were at their best because of the self same source of the inquiry. The changes fit true to personal experience as well, up until talk of ‘future’. “I’m not sure if its flattering or disappointing to still be alive in prophecy, mono-optical or otherwise.”
“It may be nothing worth uniting against. It may be there’s nothing to be done about it at all. Its impossible to tell without more data. “
“Purification requires the presence of one of the royal senshi. Or a royal knight. With the senshi, the magic is specifically related to the crystal they wield. I’ve not spoken with the only Royal Knight I’ve heard of, Camelot, on whether he performs the feat with a crystal of some sort. I’ve heard the person must be willing in order for the the chaos to be burned away from them. “ Thraen considered the toying with tar and face, Stop that. That took forever to get it all off of you and you’re smearing it all over your face all over again.
“Why the interest?”
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:53 pm
“I could say ze same for myself…” He muttered under his breath.
Bischofite finally shifted to fully face Thraen, no longer half-poised to retreat at the first sign of aggression. His stance remained somewhat vigilant, though more slack in presentation. “Dreams are exactly zat, regardless - zey offer no direct impact to our lives here and now, prophecy or not. I’m not certain I belief’ it to be anysing more. To see ze future in a dream sounds so… Paltry and fantastical.” And even then, I suspect that there’s something of truth in what I saw. Everything seemed too perfect to amount to some projected iteration of a future manufactured by my own mind. Or Malicious’.
“And who are ze ozzers, beyond Camelot? Do you know of any? I ask for ze express cause of pursuing it - again. Whezzer it’s possible for me remains to be seen, but… Eizer ze attempts will kill me or ze Negaverse wil, in ze advent zat I fail.” His chest tightened as senses struck high alert again, solely from relaying such information to Thraen. Strange it was that he should behave so warily around one that he assisted last they met.
“And if you decide zat it is better to kill me now zan allow me any potential benefit in purification… Try as you will, Sraen.” Folding arms outward, he invited an assault with the express intent in mind to teleport.
“Zough I will say zat part of my motivations lie in zose dreams.”
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:54 pm
“If time theories are to be believed, every moment changes what is possible.“ It depended on the theory. He’d had to put down reading about brane-universes and any hopes of listening to lectures from Stephen Hawking on the matter months ago, and none of the weeks since had provided the mental rejuvenation to consider taking a second crack at it. Or what is even possible against what is going on with the effects of magic brought into play. I hate magic. So. Much.
“Cosmos, Chronos, Polaris, Iris and Castor are the names I’ve heard.” Thraen finally shifted, stepping down from the crouch on the ledge to stand straight on the roof itself. “Pursuing...again? Why should someone who wanted the city blacked in darkness and eaten to a man by a massive Youma portal want to leave the stable of the ownership that provides him the opportunity to do so? “
The theatrics were tiring, overblown, and so in line with Bischofite of months past. “We both know you can teleport. You were already retreating, so unless you’ve decided you want to waste that magic to stay and fight, percentages favor I’d be wasting my time and you’d be some rooves over and out of reach. It is similar stalemate as finding you in that convenience store. I can’t cover the ground fast enough.”
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:55 pm
That’s a cheerful alternative to fate having its way regardless of human intervention. ”Zere’s no way to tell. Bantering seories to and fro wis’out ze ability to proof’ zem only amounts to what suits me better. It’s pointless.” As is my search, from the looks of it. The same names… Is this really just a dead end? Chaos or die?
Bischofite breathed a sigh, folding his arms across chest to hide a single hand in the tattered sleeve of his coat. “Because I was wrong. Ze life of a youma was tailored specifically for youma - not anysing of higher intelligence zan zat. Additionally… Ze chaos possessed and meted out by Metallia is not ze same as ze chaos I wanted - if what predictions held by ze dreams plaguing us provides any trus’ on ze matter. Furzermore…” He paused to cringe slightly in recognition of his own idiocy. “Entropy needs no assistance. It will come of its own, cogs in ze wheel or not. My purpose, effectively, is pointless here. Zere’s more to it, but zis is all you need to know.” You needn’t learn of Quenton, or any more accurate interests I’ve discovered in humankind.
Staring dully at Thraen given his calling of the bluff, Bischofite gave in to inclination to clap slowly. “Ultimately, I’m getting tired of all zis s**t. Eizer Iris lacks ze ability to purify anysing of challenge to her abilities, or I am lacking some component of willingness bar Malicious’ self-interests, but ze fact remains zat none of my endeavors haf’ paid off in terms of my Negaverse career nor am I terribly fond of continuing to pursue ze life of an agent wis’ a brain. Are you satisfied, Sraen?”
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:56 pm
“Iris carries a regular crystal. There are things called greater crystals, I’ve learned. What royals, if any, carry them is unknown to me. But I’ve only ever met Iris. If you are serious, finding someone who can and does wield a greater crystal might be the missing piece you need. “ I wonder if you’ve been to space. If you know already how all that works, how far. With whom. “Some are harder to track down than others. I’ve been looking to talk to Chronos as it is. As Princess of the Zodiac, who already feel a little different from regular scouts, maybe her magic is the difference that can help you. “
Thraen passed over the continuing facetiousness, paying the clap no more attention than the open-armed invitation. “Never, Bischofite. Satisfaction leads to lethargy. “
“Have you contacted any of the Zodiac or Chronos Knights already?”
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 10:03 pm
”Zat would proof’ easier if I was of your auric energy. As it is, few are willing to hand me ze answers.” And for good reason. “It may be zat one of zese ‘greater crystals’ is ze solution I need, and it may be zat zere is no hope for me yet. Ultimately only action will bring about any solution. Bantering about it… Amounts to so little.” The dregs of his sentence carried with them a solemn tone.
Satisfaction leads to lethargy. You sound like Quenton when you say things like that
“I don’t know anysing about zis Zodiac, nor ze Chronos knights. My most promising lead has been Hvergelmir, who supplied me wis’ ze initial arrangement including Iris. Later she took me to her… Wonder, is it called? As part of a separate test.” I’m so tired. Can’t I just lay down while you choke me to death? We’d get more done this way. “Secondly comes Kairatos of Mars, zough he has offered far less in terms of useful leads - only ze information zat he was once a Negaverse captain. Zat is, perhaps, my only proof of purification.” And such proof hardly addressed those of mix between human and monster.
“Why are you helping me?”
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 10:05 pm
“You speak of ‘with a brain’. Of the futility of the purpose of pursuing accelerated entropy. What you’re talking about is freedom, in a way. Our life is what our thoughts make of it- you see error in where you stood before. There is power in that, if it is truth to you. There is hope and hope for virtue. “
“You worked against the other members of your order at the fight for Vespa. You look like hell. These thing point to a lack of harvesting, which is an admirable change- not choosing the easy solution or immediate personal gain. You are rowing for the proverbial shore. If senshi are to prove their own standing, then it isn’t an option but to help you. “
“I’ll see what Chronos knows, whether I find her myself or manage the connection through one of her knights. How is best to reach you? Hvergelmir or Kairatos both can send you message by your name and their magic as knights. “
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 10:05 pm
So strange that Thraen is easily swayed. He isn’t emotionally invested in any of this - acting on principle only. Cold, but useful.
“... Actually, you can reach me by leaving a letter at a dead drop location. It proves less… Difficult. Kairatos and Hvergelmir zemselfs lack a reliable way to contact me. Go to Destiny City University, in one of ze sculpture studios zere. Room 214 to be precise. Leaf’ a note of any kind in one of ze ceiling tiles and I will retrief’ it in a few days’ time; to refrain from risking too much or wasting energy, I will only check it twice a week.” And it keeps Quenton safe enough to leave him out of this - his apartment and his locker. I’ve already ******** up enough there.
“You can also leaf’ me food, if you’re generous. I like cake.” Afterward Bischofite backstepped onto the parapet. “Cosmos is a name zat’s come up frequently regarding purification. She will be my next target, if I can manage to find her. I…” He sighed, hand curling from a pause to a wilt. “It’s difficult for me to say zis, but ze help is welcome enough.”
“Also… Tell me of your dreams. I’d like to know if zey differ any from what we experience.”
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 10:06 pm
“Those I’ve spoken with on account likewise saw the city eaten by a growing column of black energy that towered into the sky. All they knew or saw, person or beast, turned to stone or ash. Too similar between too many to be circumstantial. For myself, the dreams have changed, slowly, adding other terrors seemingly unrelated, or forgetting the first entirely to move to new imagery that hasn’t been consistent enough to make sense of. I’ve not had the chance to check back with the first few I asked if the change has come on them as well. I’ll make more of a point of it.” Having the information that it came to the Negaverse as well, even if it was ‘future’ dreams, was something. Was everyone elses of ominous futures? His hour here and there before the medication had been of suffering and destructions, never any viable future. Or non-viable future. It might be worth trying to sleep without the medication a few nights to see what came of it.
“Cake isn’t the usual diet for recovering starvation victims. Room 214, though. At the University.” No use in pretending that would be hard or easy, it gave too much impression either way. Too much information to try to judge by, if Bischofite even cared who Thraen was. I don’t expect so. He has enough to concern himself with on his own account, rather than worry much over the civilian lives of enemies.
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