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 Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 11:40 pm
The General King's Gauntlet was far too fast for comfort. An d effective attention grabber- Nærøyfjord brought hammer out and up in an extension to Buddingtonite's chest in a hopeful try to keep him at arm's (hammer's) length. He didn't see if he managed, didn't feel if there was a clawed gauntlet reaching much closer to face, chest or otherwise. He could feel the pain of the other hand already there. It was a rare occurrence. Excepting promotions through rank he'd never given a reason for other officers to go rummaging around for sport or punishment. As a knight, most enemies were too short to manage the height or angle of those who got close enough to try. It wasn't a sensation forgotten over five, ten, or a hundred years of life. From behind.
Me?
Can one person ever save another in souls? Who can talk to the heart to convince it to change? Answer came through grit teeth, "Hearts move by Self, or their Beloved." "He can. You-" The Royal Knights can manage it. Ida could, if she came out from the hospital. "-can." "Be ....say the truth." It was the little words that could completely destroy worlds. Or that could heal rent cloth, veins, hearts, and minds. A small word in the blackest hour could be a sword of light or the lasting darkness. Say you love him. Do you say it? Does he say it back? Not lust, love. Ask it of him, an hour as....whatever name it was he used to wear. No crystals, no starseeds, no weapons, no duty.
His name is gone from my memory, but not yours. An hour, a night, a day, and you can walk together out of this nightmare city to starlight firesides, hip close tents at night, and real laughter in the cold of morning. You could be dancing before you die instead of empty tears and dust where your voice should be. Quicksilver the Archangel
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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 1:05 pm
The blow of the hammer's hilt to his chest did more than keep the General-King back, as it had knocked the wind out of him. Even given his upgraded rank, he was still human, still susceptible to pain and all of the many inconveniences that came with it, and Buddingtonite was forced a step back to recoil from the blow. He was expecting a follow up and yet when it didn't come, he knew it to be Serpentine's efforts, and he was going to say something to his partner and bodyguard when he heard the sound of something hitting the pavement of the rooftop. It was a ping... tiny, small, fragile... and it came again, as though it was bouncing away.
He looked away at it, prying he crimson gave off of Nærøyfjord's face and watching as a small, green starseed bounce away. He often carried starseeds in his many hidden pockets, so that Gra could always have a treat, but this one... it came from his inner pockets of his chest, dislodged when Nærøyfjord struck him with the hilt.
If it were any other starseed, he might have shrugged and returned to the fight at hand. He could have easily replaced it with the knight's, and yet... it was green, it was bouncing, and it was getting away.
He released his hold on his weapon. He turned away from Nærøyfjord and Serpentine, and rushed to retreat the tiny green starseed. It would have been a comical sight, to see one of his rank and statue fleeing after it like a tiny kitten that scurried away, but what did he care for rank or prestige? The starseed was getting away! Her starseed was getting away!
"No, get back here! Now!" Buddingtonite shouted to it, reaching for it and grasping at it with trembling fingers, his back completely open and his mind focused solely on the green starseed that came dangerously close to falling off the rooftop. "Come back!"Quicksilver the Archangel Figured I'd give you two time to talk for a bit.
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Quicksilver the Archangel
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 1:52 am
Could Serpentine trust a traitor? No. Traitors had already proven themselves untrustworthy by definition. Yet, he trusted Nærøyfjord. Perhaps it was residual trust for the officer he had once been. Whatever the reason, Serpentine trusted those earnest words escaping through grit teeth, that obvious conviction, the strength which allowed his opponent to continue to plead for his enemies when the odds were against him. Should Serpentine hope? No. Hope was a fragile, mewling creature that could be crushed underfoot in an instant. He had hoped Brahma would join him. He had hoped Sekani would return his calls. He had hoped that his task would end, that he could resume his former life. All of these hopes had died. Yet, that was precisely what Nærøyfjord offered... and he found himself wanting to hope again. Did Serpentine dare to believe? Yes. He had always dared to believe. He had dared to take Chaos into his starseed when he believed it the only way to protect his livlihood and pride from further damage. He had dared to take a partner and to stand beside him, even when Buddingtonite took a rank above him, when he believed it grounded him. He had dared to fight mercilessly when he believed it mattered. And in this world? Nothing mattered more than himself and Richard. It was the sight of the green starseed that solidified his decision. It may as well have been an emerald for as precious as it was to not only the General-King that ran after it as it skittered across the roof, but to Serpentine as well. That they had felt compelled to take it to advance and to preserve their stature in the Negaverse, that his friend ran after it as though it were his own starseed at risk reminded him of how far they had fallen in the name of Chaos. 'No more. We have done enough, given enough. It has to end.'The General withdrew his hand, but without the prize he had originally sought. He stayed close to the Earth Knight's back, however, to prevent Buddingtonite from seeing his betrayal. Because Serpentine, proud and vain as he might be, could not lie to himself. He was Richard's shield, his right hand... his best friend and confidant. There was no other word for what he was doing than 'betrayal,' no matter how noble his intentions. For the same reason, he kept his voice low as he spoke to Nærøyfjord, "Tell me how, then make me bleed. That is all he will respond to now." It did not occur to him to say 'please.'
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 8:06 pm
What did he mean how? What else had he been telling them both this whole time? "I don't know him like you do. You know him. How it has ruined him from the man you love get him want to regain himself. He has to want to be free, honestly want it. The only things he honestly loved besides his own survival was you." Proving the point of how they'd both been brought low, with Buddingonite chasing a bauble in the face of an enemy- he looked every bit insane. Buddingonite was mad and Serpentine was worn thin to bone. "If you convince him, you spend the night you do at the Skylark Rest Station on rt. 1. It doesn't matter what day. I check it. You stay the night in a car of your choice and I'll see you at dawn with a royal to break the collars on you both. To give you your lives back. " It was no time or place to mention if there was a trap, that neither he, nor the royal would appear. "I have loved you both since the first, Serpentine. I will fight for you both. That has always been true." Make him bleed. Gods, why must protecting them mean beating them. He's paid so much for this already. But it had to be believable. Believable for an enemy behind them to get them to stop? Nærøyfjord back-stepped to bring boot down on the top of the General's instep- it was basic self defense. Effective, excruciating, instinctive in how it crippled attackers when it hit. It may also make it difficult for the other many to walk or run. Maybe it can work out well. Maybe Buddy will carry him here and there. It is long past time he should. Serpentine has carried buddy too long already. Quicksilver the Archangel
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Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 2:03 pm
The rest of the world might as well have not existed outside of the green starseed that bounced away, as Buddingtonite's eyes never left its form. He didn't even like the color green, for the most part. Forest green or dark green? Acceptable. The lighter hues of green, the more acidic the green, the less appealing they became, and this one borderlined that disgusting shade to him, and yet, he sought after it as if it was his entire life that tried to escape from his grasp. He needed that starseed! He needed it! He needed it!
The rooftop they were on was kind, in some manner, as the ledge didn't simply drop off. No, there was a step, and the starseed had just missed bouncing over the edge, hitting the side and flopping back down onto the floor of the roof. Had the General-King slowed down in his mad dash, he would have seen that the starseed was going no where and that there was no need for him to panic, and yet, Buddingtonite lunged for it anyways. He had made a promise to protect the starseed, at all costs, and he would not lose it! Not here! Not to anyone, or anything!
He succeeded in grabbing the starseed but the momentum kept him going, slamming against the side of the roof and rendering him senseless for a moment, though he was grateful for it. At that speed, he could have simply burst through the bricked wall and went tumbling down into the alleyway below, and yet it held somehow. It didn't matter to him, though... he opened his eyes, never once realizing they were closed, and looked down at the small, green starseed that lingered in his hands. Small, fragile, delicate... nothing at all like the woman that once harbored such a starseed in her chest.
"You're safe now..." Buddingtonite spoke to it, bringing it close to his chest and without looking, placed it back into its compartment, fastening the zipper and only feeling comfort when he felt its presence stabbing slightly at his chest, just short of the hole, its glimmer of power teasing his own starseed's briefly before settling down. He gave it one more pat, resting his clawed hand over the starseed and letting out a shaky breath, before looking at the two combatants and suddenly remembering why he was there. "Oh... right... we were fighting, weren't we?"
He watched as Nærøyfjord freed himself from Serpentine's grasp and struck at him, and twice in that evening, Buddingtonite felt his breath escape him.
He struck Serpentine!
He made him BLEED?!
Buddingtonite scrambled to his feet and ran towards them, weaponless but never once slowing down. The red liquid that he saw matched his eyes and hair, but it was such a horrible look for his companion... and Buddingtonite let out a strangled cry, swiping at Nærøyfjord but only to force distance between them so that he could grab Serpentine. "Get your filthy hands off of him! This instant!"Quicksilver the Archangel
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Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 6:41 pm
Serpentine was not a stupid man, but he could be emotionally thick. That love could be any form of salvation was a foreign concept to him. Love was simply too... abstract. Love would not chase the Chaos from their veins, love had thus far done nothing to stop the decay of Buddingtonite's mind, and love would not provide a safe location once any change was made. Still, he listened as the Knight spoke, and he knew all that he said to be true. Buddingtonite had been consistent with their friendship when all else seemed to fall away. No one knew the General-King better than he did. If any one could convince him that betrayal would, actually, give them both the freedom they deserved... it would be Serpentine. Skylark Rest Station. Route 1. Freedom at dawn. He committed the concrete details of the 'plan' to memory, although he did not know when he would be able to act upon them. Convincing Richard to do anything was difficult, and such a delicate topic could not be approached head on. Still, that was his concern. Nærøyfjord was already providing far more than his fair share. Golden eyes widened behind the mask at the man's promise to fight for them, not only for the words themselves but for the sheer affection behind them. For one as cold as himself, to hear emotion freely offered... it was hard to imagine being that open, that raw. Yet, it was also what had always made this man so endearing. For once in his life, he wished he enjoyed speaking more. As it was, there were no words he could utter for what was being offered to him. A whispered, but genuine, "Thank you," was all he could manage, and even that was cut short by the necessity of the strike he received. The cry of pain torn from his mouth was genuine as he crumpled, his leg screaming from the attack. No way to run, now... even walking seemed out of the question. He rolled as best he could, but that did not get him far. It was enough. Blood leaked from his scrapped knee and arms, fabric and skin torn from the rough ground and his He could not suggest the retreat. It was not in his nature. Instead, he took advantage of Buddingtonite's distraction to slip his mask off. It fell to the concrete with a soft thud as he hissed, looking up to his partner as though waiting instructions. Hopefully the genuine pain on his face would be enough to convince the General-King it was time to leave.
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Quicksilver the Archangel
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 9:00 pm
The return of the General King to their 'fray' was still surprising in just how. fast. the man could move. The swipe was certainly enough to make Nærøyfjord shift, trying to avoid the worst of the force of it while equally trying to take a hold of the attacking arm to force Buddingtonite's weight into a fall and bodily tangle with the other General. "Then better my grasp with your own-" And maybe it will be enough time to get away. And Serpentine has his focus. Please be there, some night from now. Please leave the black and be together, truly. By all the Earth, is it so foolish a wish...there is so much that is dark, don't let something so certain be swallowed away as well.
It pays to nothing.
It should have paid long ago to love. Quicksilver the Archangel
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Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2014 8:11 pm
His plan worked. Technically. He was able to get some well desired distance between the two and Serpentine was now in his arms, though the method of it being so wasn't quite what he had planned for. His friend, his only friend, was slammed into him and despite the power and strength he held as a General-King, he could not resist the momentum behind it and fell onto his back, with his friend resting on top of him.
Had his friend not been bleeding, had he not nearly lost the starseed that contained the essence of his other true friend, he might have cracked a joke and thrown an innuendo there for good measure, but there was no such mirth or attempt from him now. He paid no attention to whatever Nærøyfjord had said to him or about him- words had left the burly man's mouth, but they meant nothing to Buddingtonite. Serpentine did. Only Serpentine mattered.
The minute he felt him within his grasp, he wrapped both arms around his frame and drew him close to his chest, stabbing himself slightly with the starseed in his inner coat pocket but taking some kind of sick comfort in that. It was still there, safe, and now that Serpentine was, it was time to leave. Revenge, slaughter, fun, all such whispers and desires had died the moment he saw blood seep from Serpentine's wounds. All he wanted, all he needed, was to know his only living friend was alright...
He teleported out of the city and retreated the Rift, knowing that Nærøyfjord could not dream to follow, where it was safe. Where would be safer, however, was his office, and the minute his booted feet touched the ground, he hefted Serpentine into his arms, knowing that if he was conscious or awake that he would take a swing at him and demand to be set down, but any effort would be overridden by his rank. He hated to pull rank on his friend, he'd do so in a heartbeat, so long as it meant he had a friend to pull rank on.
"Krishna," he said, forgetting where they were and forsaking any pathetic attempt at maintaining their identities for now. He began walking to his office, away from prying eyes, away from those that would dare try and take advantage of their exposed weakness. He held him close, wearing a strained smile as he ferried his friend to safety. "Oh Krishna, you were not suppose to get hurt like this... what good are I if you're not here to keep my head on my shoulders? I'll protect you, I'll patch you up..."Quicksilver the Archangel Going to call it a wrap on my end.
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