Why don't you speak to your superiors with more respect? He wanted to say. However, the opportunity presented to play along, given that the miasma of dark auras contained within the small area allowed for little identification between members. Only those most astute in parsing out auric energies could tell a captain apart from a general without careful scrutiny of the uniform in these situations. And since this general lacked recognition of him... Why not act like a full youma for a time? The moment of realizing her folly promised great pleasure.
Her biting, motherly comments to the blonde offered a hint of mirth, and in good spirits, Bischofite elected to 'obey' the request spoken as one does to a full youma. In poor design choice, however, the bar chairs sported legitimate backs- ones high enough to rest against the lower bones forming the foundation for his wings. Ostensibly oblivious of this fact, Bischofite pulled out a chair not far from Opal, and took a seat without offering any recognition that the backrest soon split into the thick gouts of tar rolling down the bone fingers. It coated the frame of the chair rather thickly in its slow descent toward the floor. If nothing else, no one will steal my seat.
Bischofite himself was only dimly aware of Opal's interactions with Bazzite, and only learned of it through an offhand comment from Benitoite during talks of development between human and youma interaction. She was cited as one of the more forward-thinking officers of the discussion. With taloned fingers steepled together, claws hooked on the underside of the beak from his half-mask, Bischofite cast her a sideways glance. "Force of habit, General - while it has been years since I sported feazzers, old habits die hard."
There are still moments when I wake up to the last dregs of a piano tune fading from a dream. Things missed, familiarities brushed against senses, and for what purpose? Chaos should've crowded the lot of it out years ago when I gained this fetid rank.
Yet before he found cause to voice further interaction, Kenisite stood to present his own remarkably bland speech. The small talk composed the majority of the speech, which lent to Bischofite's general derision of the practice, though he did address vital information at some portion of his droning. While he listened, the creature indexed every portion of the speech that added to the revolted restlessness pervading his form. Pleasantries heaped on pleasantries, laughing at his own jokes, shameless buttering up of the ranks, asking for permission when he needs no such concession from the audience... I hate speeches.
I hate speeches almost as much as I hate sitting still.
With the floor open for speech, Bischofite drew a long sigh before he stood from the progressively ruined chair. A blink, and he took the stage in a gesture of teleportation. Given that Kenisite provided no introduction of himself to the new faces among the crowd, neither did Bischofite. Stooping slightly, he spoke into the microphone without adjusting it.
Announcement
"For zose who were listening to ze meat of zat message, you will recognize zat a transcendent royal knight made it to ze list - one zat I haf' dealt wis' prior. For zose of you intent on pursuing him, I can offer what I know from firsthand dealings wis' zis... sreat." While he preferred challenge or interesting endeavor, the Negaverse preferred to size up these individuals as direct threats to the organization - spurring action through fear and loathing. "Additionally, for zose focused on seeking out Avalon, I request zat you speak wis' me beforehand. Zat is all." Bischofite relinquished the stage immediately afterward, a hand pressed absently to the old, prominent scar marring his chest.
A spatial shift, and he stood just behind the backrest of the chair he so ruined moments before.
ZaiaFantasy
Sunshine Alouette
it's been so long since he ran into gany that he has nothing to give to the audience!
Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:12 am
Aquamarine's expression turned petulant at Opal's response. Indeed, his behavior was often deemed quite childish. Even he could admit that he retained some adolescent tendencies, but then twenty was not quite the matured age of one of Opal's standing. He was, however, not entirely like many of his peers—or so he liked the think. If anything, the Negaverse had devolved him in that respect. Temper tantrums he'd always thrown, but the recklessness and irresponsibility he showed these days had come only during the years he'd made his slow way up the ranks of Chaos.
Grumbling to himself, Aquamarine made no response to her comments but to glare at her and steal another macaroon from the Corrupted Senshi's plate.
The meeting soon started, in any case, and for a few moments there was no time for idle chit-chat. Aquamarine listened to Kenisite with a notable lack of interest, staring up at the stage through lowered lashes, the picture of fatigue and boredom. He tossed his arms behind his head as if at rest, the front legs of his chair still hovering over the ground. He had little interest for those that made the Most Wanted List. He knew who none of them were, though he'd heard their names tossed around over the years. If he'd encountered one of them before, he wouldn't have known. Senshi, Knight, wanted or not, they were all the same to him.
Bischofite earned a deeper frown, not for anything he said but for his very presence. Though Aquamarine attempted to remain nonchalant around him, he viewed the youmafied General King with a measure of disgust—not for anything he may have done, but for what he was. How steeped in Chaos did one have to be to reach such a state? A normal General King seemed consumed enough, and they didn't have darkness leaking out of them in globs of tar.
“Not much of a list these days, is it?” he inquired to no one in particular. “A couple of civilians, a traitor-squire, a few higher ranking Senshi and Knights pairing off and playing house. It's a sad day for the Negaverse when civilians make the list, honestly. What happened to our impeccable control over the city?”
ZaiaFantasy
Ruriska
Aeeth
Sunshine Alouette
Eternal Senshi
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Ruriska
Invisible Dabbler
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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 1:22 am
At the thoroughly withering glare the blonde gave her, Aludra only smiled back. She watched him with bright as he took a macaroon from her plate, the smile widening even further. However the Corrupt said nothing and instead grabbed one herself, nibbling neatly. She said nothing and did nothing more than that, except to blow Bischofite a kiss when he came over to their table.
Aludra watched the room as she ate her sweets, gaze moving from one person to the other in deep contemplation. Most she knew, some she didn’t, some she couldn’t care for any less. When Bischofite joined their table properly, she was quietly content, though obviously pleased. She pulled her knees up to her chest and perched herself awkwardly on the chair.
"We have to squash the silly little people," she answered Aquamarine, idly dipping her finger into the chocolate pudding and licking it clean. There was only one macaroon left on the plate and she was waiting to see if he would go for it, her other hand poised just above the table, ready to swat at him if he tried it.
Sunshine Alouette
ZaiaFantasy
Aeeth
Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 9:53 am
It was still a little startling to see an intelligent youma and hear them speak. Opal knew it happened to some of the unfortunates that allowed themselves to steep a bit too long in chaos but it was always a surprise to come across one. She hid that surprise behind an impassive mask, nodding her acceptance of his apology. Her mind whirled with trying to place his accent. French, maybe? She wasn't sure and didn't think it polite to ask.
When the meeting officially started her mask slipped into a look of boredom and she even went so far as to yawn while Kenisite was talking. All she heard was "political crap, blah blah blah, platitude, blah blah blah, awful joke, blah blah blah." Even most of the Most Wanted list sounded pathetic to her. Since when were sympathizers considered dangerous? Sure she'd heard rumors of a pathetic resistance out there somewhere and knew people were feeding such delusions but honestly how far could their little ploy go?
Her hearing seemed to zoom in at the mention of Camelot. She'd seen him before at the Carnival many years ago. He could be trouble especially if this Shalott had her panties in a twist.
"Christ! Who was stupid enough to go around intentionally pissing off the associate of a Royal Knight? I've heard of Camelot by reputation. The man has a complete hero complex and now we've got another one of his gunning for us? The White Moon is getting a little too comfortable if you ask me."
Some people, yeesh.
She shook her head, no other names jumping out at her except for that one. She nodded along with Aquamarine agreeing that it was sad that mere sympathizers made the list. If it were up to her (and thank goodness it wasn't) civilians caught with ties to the Senshi and Knights would be given an immediate choice of death or corruption.
"They're not silly. They're idealists. Never underestimate fanatics in large groups. They think we've taken something away from them and will fight back to regain control. If they actually manage to band together and gain enough civilian support they just might give us a good fight."
It was the first time she'd addressed Aludra but it was to a good point. Never at any time would Opal actually believe these lunatics would win the city back but from running a bar she knew the occasional power of stupid people in large groups with no sense of better sense.
"It is of no consequence," he stated calmly. "We play a careful game." The numbers present on both sides should mitigate any worry - if you're aware enough to consider them. For this list to read so meager, to even include civilians... We're running out of targets.
It won't be long, now.
"Our control is too impeccable if we'f begun listing civilians for sreats. We'f long ended all legitimate sreats saf'e for... Perhaps a handful, at best." But a few earn legitimate consideration - the Royal Knights for their power and tenacity, and a level four threat... I wonder what exactly the Information branch is good for these days. The same could be said for our surfeit of general-soverigns... Of our incessant need to constrict the life from this city.
Our victories are not up to us.
Bischofite seized a macaroon with practiced precision, the cookie carefully pinched between two elongated fingers. The confection possessed no smell to him, and likely no taste as tar so often crowded out all stimuli beyond its own. Engulfing it is, much like Chaos itself. In taking a bite, he found no surprise in its utter lack of flavor. Even the most flavorful of foods hardly managed to sway his beleaguered taste buds these days. So often now he ate solely for the texture, with all other senses long lost to him.
"Idealists find no interest in ze tangible, as belief so often provides ze impetus to advance. As we cannot seize ideas in war, we cannot rend from zem what we cannot wrap our hands around, idealists still find fuel to rouse zeir rebellions in even ze most impoverished conditions. What supplies we strangle out of zem will only affect zeir bodies, not zeir minds. Zey will stand against us until zeir hearts give out, zeir legs and tongues and eyes lay scattered from zemselfs while zey struggle to articulate ze last feverish derisions zat plague zeir minds. in short, idealists possess far more power in mind zan ze average Negaverse agent, Aludra." He finished by resting a hand atop her shoulder, gripping just hard enough for the sharp tines of fingers to press dimples into her flesh.
With all their suffering, they stand as kindred spirits to me - to what I was, so many years ago now.
"A good fight may be to our benefit, General Opal. How long has it been, now, since you fought for ze sake of your life? Too many here grow comfortable playing wis' idle stakes. Perhaps it's time we learn ze meaning of war once more."
Ruriska
ZaiaFantasy
Sunshine Alouette
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 8:08 am
“What war?” Aquamarine asked, bored of the conversation.
He kept his eyes raised upward, staring at the ceiling rather than glance around at those who joined him at the table. It was an odd assortment—a corrupted Senshi, a General, a youmafied General-King, and himself. As ragtag a bunch as any in the Negaverse, but then Aquamarine had never made a point to fit in.
He had his duty. That was what he was there for. Or so he continued to tell himself. He followed orders because it was all he had left to do; he hunted Senshi because it was the only thing that brought meaning to his life. Just another one of the Negaverse's pawns, useful only as long as he was disposing of the enemy and easily replaceable in the event that he failed. They may as well have not given him a name at all, but a number. Names individualized people. Numbers were far more impersonal.
“There hasn't been a war since we took over the city,” he continued. There was a note of bitterness in his tone. “We've practically won. All that's left is to hunt down the last of them and dispose of them. And then what?”
It was a thought that crossed his mind often these days. With every hunt. Ever kill.
Then what?
“What becomes of us when the deed's done and the Senshi and Knights are no more? Do we go back to our lives as if nothing happened? Do we rule over the Earth ourselves? Or do we meet our end when they do?”
His hand went for the last macaroon, heedless of Aludra's hand poised to thwart him.
Ruriska
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Aeeth
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Eternal Senshi
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Ruriska
Invisible Dabbler
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Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 1:11 am
Aludra slouched down in her chair and tried to shrug away Bischofite’s pointed grip. “I want them to fight,” she said in a tiny, disgruntled voice, like a child that had just been told off. “It’s more fun that way. I like it when they struggle.” Even if with their very last breath they were still struggling, still cursing and fighting, that was an idea she found pleasing. They’d all die eventually, their bright lights extinguished. It was only right that the last of them should make the biggest blast.
Aquamarine’s words sparked something inside her and she narrowed her eyes. And then what? Indeed. What would be the point to her then? Even she could see that places in the new world might be limited. Did she have a use-by date? There was no life for her to go back to. No young woman with a life, a job or friends. No family. Nothing. She was nothing but the Negaverse.
The Corrupt hissed suddenly, snatched up a fork and attempted to stab Aquamarine’s hand as he went for the last macaroon.
