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 Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 7:02 am
His own mind still scrambled for answers of his own. There was too much information, too many possibilities, and he really didn't have an answer formulating for them. It was still in that phase where one would re-read the plan over and over again just to figure out what the hell was possibly going on.
But it seemed that at least Invictus was forcing himself to regain composure - he had lost his poker-face for the time being, but his expression was slowly starting to regain that neutral expression that it wore so plainly most of the time. Nearly all of the time, even. "The hunted have become the hunters then." he said, folding his arms. It was quite a serious conversation to be having in a bathroom, but... it was how the flow of discussion had gone.
And he hadn't been able to deny that hunger that Riley had shown him.
"For now, we have no way of being harmed while we are on our own side. But we will always have to step onto the other side at some point or another. We have become aware of the situation and this is turning into a situation where both sides are scrambling for information." As he spoke these words, Invictus's lips tightened. "The better mastermind will be the mastermind that can learn the most about their enemy."
Invictus wasn't content with his level of knowledge - he wanted to know exactly how the weapons were born, what the process was, how were the candidates for such a thing chosen, how did a weapon and a human become a match, and how much did they know already? That was barely the tip of the iceburg.
"Be guarded with how much you tell strangers from this point on. Those humans might have just found a way to gather information from our side and we will need to work against supplying too much of it to them." Clearly, Invictus was sure that either the humans had a way of getting over without immediately exploding into a fleshy mass, or that they had spies.
The idea of spies was somehow worse to him, however.
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Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 2:06 pm
Information. That was their greatest weakness, wasn't it? The student body has no idea what they're working against, because they have no idea there is anything to work against. Right now, any one of us could be talking to a spy, telling them something critical. A weakness. A flaw. Any opening will do.
And as suddenly as that, Riley's helpless feelings went away. Now they were talking about strategy - now they were talking about subterfuge. They were speaking her language.
The physical representation of the return of her confidence was evident. Her back straightened, and her entire demeanor radiated poise and determination. You mentioned keeping this to ourselves to stop panic. I'm afraid I must disagree. I think the students should know there is something to be cautious about. And, I think those humans deserve a taste of their own medicine.
Her eyes slit menacingly. I suppose it wasn't that hard getting to the island, in the first place. The difficulty lies in getting back out.. without getting caught.
Was she.. seriously.. saying what it sounded like she was saying?
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Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 3:42 pm
"They do deserve to know." Invictus seemed to agree, despite his former statement, but he continued, "However, until we know how they are getting their information, do you want the possibility of the students turning on each other, or even new students who may very well be innocent when they enter the facility? We have enough of our own turning against us, we do not need a catalyst of ally turning on an ally and turning them into an enemy of our own."
He crossed his arms. "Unless you are proposing that we do not tell them the whole truth."
Riley's suggestion seemed to earn a look from Invictus - it wasn't the best look he could have had on his face either. He seemed....
"The difficulty is that if you are too strong to become a weapon, your own FEAR may be used against you to keep you from leaving the island at all." He said, his lips tightening at the edges. "Cymbeline, Aisa, Eris, and I didn't stay in that place by choice - insanity or not. Therefore if you are proposing spying, you need a group who is willing to weigh the risk of failure."
The possibility of becoming one of those cursed weapons. The horseman seemed to think over the course of their conversation, stroking his chin thoughtfully. He was trying to connect some dots together.
"There are a few things around this building and place that may be due some looking into before we move beyond our own safety net. People who have appeared and disappeared suddenly, or even figures who suddenly vanished overall after a reasonable presence here.
And this...Salvation Committee...."
Wait...what Salvation Committee? When had that been mentioned at all? Invictus's hand went to his torso, however, as though recalling a wound. That shock wave - it had not been a weak one, and the enemy in that instance had ...well... it was suspicious enough to wonder about.
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Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 5:51 pm
He had a point. It was irrefutable that telling the student body en masse would institute a state of paranoia that would turn themselves against one another. No one would be trusted - and perhaps the enemy was hoping for just such an occasion to arise, before striking. Her shoulders slumped, and she relented.
I would rather tell them a partial truth, than leave them so open. If they knew better than to trust a face they did not recognize, perhaps.. But the threat was from within, this had already been established. The problem was in the faces they did recognize. Still, it was better than nothing.
She could tell that discussing the matter of returning to the island pained Invictus. Her eyes furrowed, but her intent was still burning bright in her gaze.
I am not too strong to become a weapon. She admitted, which in and of itself was a crime to her own sensibilities. Before she had met Invictus, she would have easily assumed herself capable and strong. But from the moment he'd changed her with his words, she knew better. But I am strong enough to fight the process. For as long as I can. Maybe.. maybe it will be enough.
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Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 6:49 pm
But what sort of partial-truth did one tell to the student body that would not have them panicking en masse? What did they say that didn't sound suspicious or beg for more questions? It was just a few of many things to be thought about, and it was expected that Invictus thought about all of these things constantly. His mind was always running through the possibilities, the risks, the weighing of what could happen.
It circulated like a made hamster in a wheel that it would never be free from.
"You are too smart to be captured, Lady Mindflayer. But if you go, you cannot go alone - but you also cannot take just anybody with you. You would have to decide who is best suited to assist you in such a task, but also steel yourself to know that in a worse case scenario, you may not be able to save your comrade."
Speaking of sacrificing another was not something that Conquest spoke of easily. It was carefully weighted. Undesired at best, even. Even he seemed to be..unsure of this course of action. However, he and the other heirs could not return to the island together. If they did, things would reignite into a disaster.
And they had not yet fully recovered from the previous time.
"You will have to speak with your Headmistress to see if your course of action is even allowable, however. It is not a place you could go without the assistance of a more experienced denizen."
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Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 10:29 pm
Riley did not like this answer. Invictus spoke with clarity and the wisdom his ancient years allowed him; such wisdom was far from Riley's grasp. Intelligence she possessed in droves. But wisdom?
The fact that she wanted to burst into that island alone without heeding the consequences was proof enough of her lack.
And to return to Hellma, as well.. the likelyhood of her idea was dimming with possibility every moment she thought on it.
She sat back on the throne, and rested her head against it. What can I do, then, Invictus? What can I do. Telling the student body everything she knew put them in danger. Taking her most trusted companions with her to the island would put them in danger. All she wanted was a path she could walk down alone.
That way, no one could get hurt.
I'm.. sorry. Her head was still resting back on the throne, but her eyes flickered to look at the horseman gently. I realize I owe you an apology. I judged you for who you were at the island. It was wrong, and I do apologize.
Her hand lifted, reaching fingers out to him, with her palm turned down. Will you forgive me?
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Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 8:26 am
"You were not wrong in judging me as a dangerous individual." Invictus replied, taking the offered hand from Riley and kissing the back of it. "I do not blame you by any means for taking such a course of action." He was strong, he was wise, yes, but he had also antagonize and gravely injured many students for what seemed like a trivial reason now. There was no use in forcing one to submit to him.
Especially when his own methods seemed to prove much more fruitful.
"At this point, there are many things you can do. If you believe they can handle it, tell those who are most important to you the entire truth of the matter - but only if you believe they can remain secret about it. Between your own grand mind, and those of your trusted, you may just find a solution as to what you can do."
The horseman released her hand at this point, but did not look away from her expression - he sensed she was..struggling to find something she could do.
"Form your army and protect your classmates from within. If your trusted know, they can be your eyes to watch for those who are suspicious to them, they can watch their fellow students to keep them safe without causing mass panic. Use them as a network. If you give them your trust, they will give you back their own and more."
After a moment this slight...change...in his expression occurred. It was as though he was debating sharing something more with her. Yes. If he was being forthright with information, he would share one last bit with her;
"Look into a group called the 'Salvation Committee', Lady Mindflayer. As of even recently at least one of them existed within the walls of this school. If they are a threat that is here, they are something we must deal with.
They have earned our attention. They will not be a weak threat if they are one...." As he said that last line, he pressed a hand to his abdomen as though he had been previously wounded in such a place.
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Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 11:42 am
At least Invictus gave her some measure of relief in his advice. If she couldn't warn the entire school up front, she would certainly get her trusted friends informed. His last information, though.. that was the second time he'd mentioned something called the Salvation Committee. On the surface, it didn't sound like something to worry about.
But the way he spoke of it, and the way he held his abdomen whenever he thought too hard on it..
Riley stood from the chair, rose the crown that she still held in the hand that Invictus was not holding, and placed it gently, but formally, on his head.
It will be done. She promised him. It was obviously the closest she'd come to an answer, and if she could manage to find out more about the Salvation Committee, she might find a weakness.
One was all she needed.
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Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:43 pm
"I trust that you will handle it well, though should you ever require my...extra reach for anything, I will offer you that assistance." While Invictus was not a very..large figure in the scope of things, he did hold at least status and a certain way with words that were possibly even better tools than his destructive might.
If nothing else, he was an ally to be had.
"If I find out anything before you do about anything, I will be sure to let you know." An umbrella statement that reached from the information about the island and the humans upon it as far as this Salvation Committee he had mentioned. Certainly he could have been doing this all himself.
He had been looking into it, after all. However, he did have an ulterior motive. Riley had caught his eye and earned his favor in a way that only very few humans had, and possibly even less denizens of Halloween ever would. This was his first push for her.
He would turn her into a conqueror. She had the ambition, he had the means.
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Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 12:06 am
The idea of Invictus' extra reach was intoxicating. Working with the horseman quickly felt like more of an addiction than a partnership. She nodded a little too quickly, and flickered her eyes tentatively to meet his.
Good. I will do the same. Her eyes quirked into crescents, in lieu of a smile. I admit that I am thrilled to be working with you, Invictus. The future may seem bleak due to the threat upon us, but I have certainly found the silver lining in this situation today. I will do my best to make sure you feel the same way.
She took one last, long, forlorn look at the throne, brushing her fingers against it, before stepping away. I should get to work. There never seems to be enough time.. And she realized, quite suddenly, that she had taken up quite a lot of Invictus' time herself. Time certainly did fly when you were having fun.
But I promise. Her eyes lifted to his, slit thin in pleasure. I'll keep in touch.
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Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 7:45 am
Conquest's extra reach was possibly the cause of far too many bad things in the world of the humans. At least if one wasn't Eris or Aisa, at the very least. Death, hostile take overs, massive human enslavement.... the smallest push from him did have the most lovely of side effects when the devices were left in the hands of the other party.
"You have no idea how pleased I am to hear that." Invictus replied, his voice actually sounding almost like a purr for a brief moment. But that wasn't possible, was it? His voice hardly changed ever, so why would he ever sound so pleased about something? It may have been a good thing that his mind was not a place where one was free to snoop.
His own fingers brushed over the throne as well, touching it with an utmost delicacy that most would reserve for a lover or their own child - but perhaps in his mind, he was doing just that.
The slightest of smiles tugged at the corner of his lips and her again bowed his head, ever so slightly, to Riley. "If you need me, you are always welcome to knock upon my door. I may not always be there, but even late at night I would happily offer my counsel, Lady Mindflayer. Never feel as though you intrude upon me or my time."
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Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 4:10 pm
I will remember that. Thank you. The bow of his head was returned with a similar gesture, and she left the room with a feeling of accomplishment and misplaced excitement.
She shouldn't be so happy about the idea of looking to the Horseman of Conquest as her mentor, but oh, she was. And she planned to make the best use of it.
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Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:28 pm
As Riley took his leave, Invictus himself took a seat upon that throne, stroking his fingers along the armrests as a wicked grin formed across his face.
Conquest was excited to see how things turned out.
He was ever so excited.
FIN
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