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 Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 9:55 pm
[ ATE: The Wheel of Fate is Turning : 3 ]
[ ??? : World That Never Was : Downtown? ] The stranger tilted their head to the side, giving a blank stare at the mechanical entity. That voice seemed familiar, but they couldn't place why it was so familiar. But that could figured out later; answering the question took priority, after all.
"I needed a place to rest, so I picked this place. Wasn't aware that it was... occupied. And I needed clothes, so I took some." They turned again, eyes darting around at the run down city and the many machinations fluttering about. They turned back to the entity, reaching a hand towards the core. Their eyes seemed to soften slightly, as if seeing an old friend suddenly. "...Ajora? That's very odd. Did you not perish at Atlantis? So how are you here? Are you... a simulation? A memory, perhaps?"
As if they had gotten bored of their own line of questioning, the stranger immediately looked away from the entity, and continued eyeing the city.
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 10:01 pm
[ ATE: The Wheel of Fate is Turning : 4 ]
[ Data-Ajora : World That Never Was : Downtown? ] The floating machine shifted away slightly in response to the stranger's reach before looking back at them. Its shell seemed to scrunch forward, as if somehow narrowing its eye. There was a moment of silence, and then a sudden jolt as the droid shifted backward in what may have been shock, its shell widening for the briefest moment.
"You're not Nicholas--you're a nobody!" he said, shocked. "But... what? How? He's still... what?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 10:10 pm
[ ATE: The Wheel of Fate is Turning : 5 ]
[ ??? : World That Never Was : Downtown? ] "That, I am afraid, I cannot tell you. Except I am not actually afraid." The Nobody spoke, taking the hat they were wearing off and just dropping it to the floor. "All I can tell you is that there was nothingness, then I woke up in ruins. Without clothing. Hence why I took some."
"Also, I cannot comprehend why you are making such a huge deal about this. We are in a world of magic and mystery; strange occurrences are not that uncommon anymore. You did not even exist a week ago and you seem utterly shocked at my existence."
"Regardless, do you have proper attire I may acquire? I feel physically cold without shoes on my feet. Or pants." The Nobody kept their head tilted, still unsure of what to make of Ajora's sudden concern but, again, had other priorities. Pants being a nice first.
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 10:21 pm
[ ATE: The Wheel of Fate is Turning : 6 ]
[ Data-Ajora ; Adam : World That Never Was : Downtown? ] "I..."
The machine hesitated, his voice trailing off in disbelief.
"Just... just give me a second. And don't use a corridor!" he said, hovering off to the side a bit, the soft blue glow of the mechanical eye seeming to move side to side.After a few moments, golden dust began to rapidly coalesce in front of the nobody, giving form to the man they might have known as Ajora once, dressed in casual pants and a white shirt.
He looked about as dismayed as the machine sounded earlier.
"You're sure?" he asked, tilting his head. Was he asking the stranger, or--?"It's the only explanation that makes sense," the little bot said, floating up above the man's shoulder."Okay, okay, so... just construct some basic slippers for him for now," the man said, rubbing the bridge of his nose momentarily while the bot let out what seemed like a rapidly scanning ray of light--except it seemed to create black, comfortable slippers out of... data? Energy?
"You said you woke up in ruins. Did you recognize them?" he asked, turning his words now finally to the nobody. "What's the last thing you remember before waking up?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 10:39 pm
[ ATE: The Wheel of Fate is Turning : 7 ]
[ ??? : World That Never Was : Downtown? ] If the appearance of Ajora in casual clothing was a surprise to the Nobody, they certainly did not show it. They ignored the banter between Ajora and... Ajora, and began answering the questions promptly.
"It was snowing... no, snow was melting. Definitely a castle. I would guess Narnia, possibly, or maybe Arendelle? Or some other castle ruined by winter's touch." The Nobody sniffed, sliding his feet into the slippers the moment they were fully materialized. Definitely soft, and their feet were getting warmer by the minute.
"As for the last thing I 'remember' before my awakening, there were... voices. They were muffled, and there was one loud voice. Most likely male. He was screaming, then sirens went off. Then... nothing." The Nobody looked at the summoned version of Ajora and said nothing more.
Just continued staring at the man.
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 10:45 pm
[ ATE: The Wheel of Fate is Turning : 8 ]
[ Data-Ajora ; Adam : World That Never Was : Downtown? ] The man lowered his chin into one hand in thought, humming in response."If he awoke back at Jadis' Castle..."The actual man raised his hand to silence the bot.
"So then. Do you have any... plans? I understand the general lack of desire, except perhaps to know what's going on," he said, his expression guarded, his eyes unwavering in their study.
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 11:08 pm
[ ATE: The Wheel of Fate is Turning : 9 ]
[ ??? : World That Never Was : Downtown? ] The Nobody blinked, staring at Ajora with a piercing gaze for a long moment before shrugging.
"I did not have any plans beyond taking the castle for myself. I am a Nobody, after all." They looked up to the castle and reached towards it as it to pluck it from the ground before letting out a breath.
"So... what's your offer?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 11:17 pm
[ ATE: The Wheel of Fate is Turning : 10 ]
[ Data-Ajora ; Adam : World That Never Was : Downtown? ] "Uh. Offer?" the man asked, blinking and pulling back slightly, as if judging the other poorly. "Well, not my castle, for damn sure. But I can certainly offer safe haven and the ability to protect yourself from the darkness trying to possess and consume all things, existent or otherwise, if that suits your fancy."
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 11:47 pm
[ ATE: The Wheel of Fate is Turning : 11 ]
[ ??? : World That Never Was : Downtown? ] "...I had not actually planned on asking for the castle, even though Nobodies should be in charge of it." The Nobody mused, almost seeming amused at Ajora's reaction. The Replica had always been such a drama queen so his response was not that surprising...
He turned away from Ajora, staring opposite the castle. "What kind of... abilities? I already have magic..." One hand began dripping with the black ichor, "And a weapon..." In a flash of black and purple, a very familiar whipblade appeared in the other hand. "...And I lack the emotional weaknesses so battle does not frighten me. What more can you offer?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 11:56 pm
[ ATE: The Wheel of Fate is Turning : 12 ]
[ Data-Ajora ; Adam : World That Never Was : Downtown? ] "Why do you ask what I'm offering?" he finally asked, crossing his arms, though imperceptibly he'd done so to tense and prepare; the other had just conjured magic and a weapon, after all. "What is there for me to gain? Are you offering allegiance?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 12:23 am
[ ATE: The Wheel of Fate is Turning : 13 ]
[ ??? : World That Never Was : Downtown? ] "I want to know what your offer is before I accept it. You just offered me safe haven and abilities. I'd at least like to know what sort of power you are offering before I accept. We have already seen how well that has worked for the Earthlings." The Nobody paused, then began to pace back and forth. Both the weapon and the magic seemed to vanish, and the slippers slapped against the ground as they paced.
"And your asking of my... allegiance raises concern. Obviously, you are in need of allies- no, minions, if that is the first thing you want of me. You did not ask me for friendship, not for an alliance, but straight allegiance. Servitude. The robot also asked for me to not use Corridors in this world, which means you do not want the Darkness knowing about current happenings. And your previous mention of the offer included abilities to fight the Darkness, which... Hmm."
The Nobody stopped pacing and looked at Ajora with a curious glance.
"Which means that you have broken away from the Dark Ones. You, a Replica, a being born from the Dark, now fight against them? How... interesting." The Nobody scratched his hair, the thick waves seeming to poof up as their hand ran through it. "The Darkness does not know you survived Atlantis, then? Or did you fake your demise at another point beyond that? It does not matter that much to me, but it is a curiosity, to say the least."
"Am I correct in my hypothesis?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 12:36 am
[ ATE: The Wheel of Fate is Turning : 14 ]
[ Data-Ajora ; Adam : World That Never Was : Downtown? ] There was a moment of silence. "Why does everyone think we died?"He waved his hand again, eyes scrunched as if to will away a headache.
"Look. Your memories are kind of busted, and you in particular are out of the loop. First, believe me, the darkness knows I'm alive. That is why I'm being persnickety. They tried to pull me away and turn me into a mindless vessel after that, which for your point of reference was yesterday morning," he said, running a hand through his hair.
"Second, yes, I am fighting against them, because they wish to erase or destroy or whatever everything. I'm a part of everything. Ergo," he continued, though he let the line trail off with a nonchalant motion of his hand.
"Third, allegiance was the wrong word, but I suppose in technicality only just so, by degrees. My allies and I want to keep living. That means making sure the darkness doesn't succeed. That means, yes, that anyone who works alongside us has to at least pledge not to help the enemy."
"Fourth, however, and frankly most relevant," he finally got to, sounding slightly miffed, "is once again, what made you even ask what I'm offering? You were the one who mentioned offers first. That means you think I'm here for something of yours, something worth offering for. Curiosity goes both ways."
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Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 12:59 am
[ ATE: The Wheel of Fate is Turning : 15 ]
[ ??? : World That Never Was : Downtown? ] "...That is fair, I suppose." The Nobody shrugged, now slowly beginning to walk around in small circles. "I guess I am rather used to people needing something from me." They paused. "Well, him, but memories, etc., etc. It is within human nature for others to want something from another, is it not? Whether it be something physical, emotional, or even just personal space, everyone always want something from someone else. Chaos wanted Nicholas for a host to return to the mortal realm. The Dark Ones want everyone to go into the void. You want an alliance with me to help rise against them."
They stopped their random pacing, rolled their neck, and continued their walking pattern once again. "Although I do not know what I could actually offer you. I am a melee fighter, but you obviously have plenty of offensive power here. I have some magical ability, but not much compared to the Earthlings or yourself, based on who you are a Replica of. I suppose as a Nobody, I can lead my... people? Sure, we'll go with people, to aid in some way, whether they will actually follow me or not is difficult since the last 'head' Nobody doesn't really exist at this point... to my knowledge. I would like to believe that I contain some form of intelligence, so I could assist in some sort of problem solving as well. That is, if you would even want any of those skills from me."
They began to widen the circles they walked in, then shifted into a figure eight pattern. "In return, I would want quite a bit from you to the point of unreasonableness. Sanctuary would be useful, for starters, which was previously mentioned. As would other abilities, such as a way to alter my features. It would be less than ideal to confuse people anymore by have two Nicholas' running around. I would also want my- I mean, Nicholas' contract with Elleon voided in some manner. Being bound by someone wasn't fun and I do not believe he would want to have to do that again. I feel there is more, but I was literally born today, so my mind is not quite at full functionality."
The Nobody finished speaking, then gently took a seat on their knees and once again stared at Ajora.
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Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 3:26 pm
[ ATE: The Wheel of Fate is Turning : 16 ]
[ Data-Ajora ; Adam : World That Never Was : Downtown? ] The man held his chin, chewing on the inside of his cheek while he thought; his gaze alternated between locked onto the nobody, and off to the side.
"A contract with Elleon, hmm...?" he repeated, the question clearly rhetorical. That... was a new ball game. Could he even do anything about that? The woman was as shrewd as he was, if not moreso. The best case scenario would be that he could provide what Nicholas could, but better--or even that the contract was no longer valid, given Elleon's... shift. Still...
"I'll be honest with you. The only thing I personally would require in getting you most of what you request is just... an oath. A promise that you wouldn't help the big bads. I... I am not in a position of such power that I can simply demand that," he said, turning his eyes to lock back onto the Nobody's. "I am capable of enforcing such an oath if it is taken willingly, but... well, I suppose a better way to say it is that... hrm.""Augh, what he means is that with his shiny new heart he's gone soft and just wants to ensure everyone can be 'free to live their own lives, weeeee'," the floating droid said, clearly intending to be mocking the man."Don't make me overwrite you.""Meh.""Anyway," he said, frustrated and rolling his eyes. "Sanctuary, shape shifting, even a couple other perks, would be... easy. Nullifying the contract is... probably impossible, though we could renegotiate, maybe get a transfer of contract... I know a guy--person?--entity that could help with that."
"Frankly, my only primary concern before I even bother is: can I trust you not to take what I offer and then immediately jump ship?" he said. "You're lacking emotion, which means for you it's about pragmatism, logic. Which raises the question, what seems more logical to you: the chaos of free will and life, or the singular end that is the darkness?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2017 4:28 am
[ ATE: The Wheel of Fate is Turning : 17 ]
[ ??? : World That Never Was : Downtown? ] "...Mmm, see, the straightforwardness of the Darkness would make things simple, would it not?" The Nobody raised a brow at Ajora, and subtly stepped into a defensive position. They didn't think that Ajora would lash before they could finish their thoughts, but they wasn't going to risk the chance.
"But, that does not seem to be in my best interest. Life is rather chaotic, but keeping my own life in order should not be difficult. And if you can guarantee everything I desire, I have no reason to leave."
They paused, raising a finger as if a thought had come to mind. "And no, that was not a subtle threat of blackmail to keep me constantly appeased or I will betray you. I am referring to the items previously mentioned. Despite being born of an Earthling, I lack most of the common nuances of conversation. Most of my intellect is based in fact, not proper social etiquette."
The Nobody then stopped speaking entirely, and just stared at Ajora. Aside from breathing, the stranger was entirely still.
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