Welcome to Gaia! ::

“What if you had a choice?”

If he made a choice or demanded a choice or — Albite wanted to snarl for wondering if it was something that befell Senshi commonly within their agency. Except for how he’d heard similar things from Faustite, from Aqua.

Familiar notes in a different flavor — tinted with Fafnirs tones, colored like him even though he’d heard those same things from so many others. Where he found freedoms — loosed leashes and untethered dalliances — others had found shackles and chains, sometimes quite literally. How that rankled something in him, annoyed every part that would’ve fought tooth and nail to have the exact opposite of the burdens that lay heavy enough on Fafnirs shoulders to have left his features frown touched.

Though he imagined the dragon draped in blues would have even the idea of ‘lines’ ironed out and botoxed away — oh — five, ten, twenty years down the line. Looked too perfect with how it seemed like he could sweep himself into being ‘professional yet placid’, and all without belying whatever lurked beneath.

Unless they watched his eyes, such telling eyes…

Which were currently aimed at their goal — talking about — ‘*Oop*, camera camera c—‘ “Kill the blinky red light box, got-it.” stupid smile while he scanned, and was it any wonder the creature in question had gotten itself spotted?

Nothing sophisticated about motion sensory lights, bright white n black mounted just above the door. Woulda flashed on at any passing straggler, raccoon, or drunk alien that skittered by. Woulda run footage - probably inside - probably alerted anyone outside, too. Though anyone who cared enough to step down an alley and see what was up, especially in this part of town? Was probably too damn brave for their own good.

“Lash of Retribution” whispered the words and felt the ink that lived his skin flare to life. Eager flail of six feet to hang himself on, starved lash of nines that would’ve left lasting marks on anything else — that would’ve shuddered and burned over flesh, but when faced with something less than magical; shattered rain of plastic and pop of glass lights that hailed down in a halo. How he held himself tense, pulled back tense over the lip of the building. Counted heart beats too fast before he couldn’t stand to wait anymore and dropped down heavy; curled into a dark crouch up against the wall, just in case.

Found his mouth moving again the second he was sure there was nothing — no one..

“Stupid question…n’ don’t be too shocked. Alla my questions get sprinkles of ‘********’ for flavoring, but — did you chose any of this? Or, like — would Senshi-ing on the other side of the moon suite you better? They seem kinda— less? Idunno, regimented, or uh ‘dutybound’, hmm…” except that didn’t quite feel like the way to say it. Maybe it was simply that they all seemed like they were running loose, self employed freelance fighters, gorilla style and without leads - a lotta self agency and no bosses to answer to.

“Like, are you happy?”

Did he want to be — was there something that coulda been done to bring him joy, ease, anything? Though Albite wasn’t sure why he cared, only that he did, time and again found that feeling sitting centerpiece on the dinner table of his mind. Kinda hard to ignore when it was right there, and far easier to spit stupid then stay it behind sealed lips.

“First off — more people need to tell you that you’re ******** stunning, clearly, but like? Without being condescending little pricks about it —— Second —-“ spoken from where he was, arms laid easy over thighs while he held his crouch a moment more and turned over every fresh new syllable that escaped the dragons maw.

He was a bit of an outlier in all things it seemed, because when it’d been his time to join up? He’d had a conversation, made an informed choice, and was getting exactly what he wanted out of the deal.

Power, people, pleasure — revolving door of meaningless tasks; freedom. Helped that he’d come in later — after. <********, he knew that. Knew he’d gotten lucky on an off chance of a time line diverging from the Rulers that had been to the Rulers that were. Had gotten a General who initially wanted him for exactly where his obvious strengths lay, and not a damn thing more. Big boy to punch a thing hard.

Got a better General when that one bounced. And hell, he was happier for it.

Any second that he wasn’t? He did something different, or knocked on a new door, burned down an office, or bulldogged someone else into doing something outside the norm. Fafnir though? Cautionary tale layered in intrigue. Endless rows of sharp teeth hidden under steel blue scales. Driven. Angry. Thrilling!

For all that whomever had hurt him clearly deserved death - something like death? — Endless undying for lying? No, a cage full of flesh eating scarabs would’ve been a nice fit for the person that had made Fafnir feel inferior. When he clearly ******** wasn’t, by even his own half-witted observation.

Albite felt his own breathing uptick as he levied himself up to loom. Moves slow to stand shadow-cast and close enough to feel; shivered for the growl like gravel that demanded more — that was full of something other than banal passivity.

Oh, did Albite feel.

Wouldn’t stab the living beast of conflicting things he found woven into Fafnirs words. Wouldn’t point out that he rarely saw — Eternals —Youma - Any Senshi at all, in any place of power that ‘people’ didn’t occupy already.

At least, not within the negaverse itself? Ascension wasn’t for them. No, Fafnir should’ve been a dark prince, a killer king. A CEO? Would’ve looked good with a wingspan that rivaled Chernabogs, and a temper to match.

“ —-what do you want to do, Fafnir? When you’re in charge — when you have all that power? What would make you happy then?” hissed little hush of a whisper. The way the light that bled in from beyond the street-side flicked like flames in his eyes, hungry for the answer. Excited for Fafnir to say more interesting things.

To tell him he didn’t want to be caught up playing detective in a dingy alley — to tell him he wanted — ********, anything at all.

Something more.

Fafnir had power now, didn’t he? Not enough to have what the wanted, but enough to leverage for more? Had a new General to fall under, to lord over. Had a way to stay out of the messiest parts of the war if he wanted? Invaluable, lovely, PR wielding prize far too good for them to waste.

Had to be.

The bark of laughter that followed, shocked bray of surprise as Fafnir usurped his expectations entirely. Waited to hear one thing, got a complete one-eighty instead. Grinned wide enough to show it, all his teeth a razors line, reflecting the sharpest parts of his joy. Every little twitch of emotion writ across the others face, and he loved it. Heaved a sigh and seared for the mean look turned into something more - barbed in ways that didn't bite quite the same.

"What a ******** shame that is." mocked sigh and clear tease. As he laced his fingers behind his head, stared down the offered sneer like it'd invited him to breakfast in bed. Sought out those stunning, too intelligent eyes. N ******** him up a tree - but it was an absolute wonder Fafnir didn't already have an army dancing heel to toe in line. Strung like puppets ready to be played, off the tips of his too perfect acrylics.

"You can do that now, y'know? *Right now* - even. No higher power required. No papers done up in triplicate."

Dark notes whispered in an alleyway. There was a door to his left --- there was ---

An excuse. Red herring reason enough to come sniffing up Fafnir's tree. Found golden apples galore, n' temptation laid out thick enough to get called Eve for.

Could've turned n' kicked it in, let the falsehood folly of their little walkabout die there in a clarion of chaos. Could've turned streetside -- started a war -- drained passersby and dropped bodies enough to cool what felt like excess fire in his veins.

"Tell me to kick this place in and we can run it rampant, burn it down? -- Tell me to climb the nearest light-pole n' ******** off properly? Like you mean it. Cause if I'm gonna do it at all..." snorted soft sound that fell into a smile, a clenched little chuckle, because he really - truly -

Oh, how he wanted to put on the kind of spectacle that would'a drove Fafnir to say more pretty things about power.

"...then I'm gonna do it right. So long as it's what you want?"

Left the words sitting like an offer. Dog with a bone begging for - one thing or another - didn't matter so long as he got more of exactly this. Told off, told on, told to go sit in a cold shower until he could come back and ask for better things, properly. So long as he got to keep seeing the whirring cogs making intelligent, calculated thoughts, just behind the liner of Fafnir's bright blue eyes.

Fafnir was something else for sure. Lived layered in deep icy shades that hid bergs big enough to sink the titanic. Oh, how Albite wanted. Every single thing, right that second. Veritable din of ‘now’, thick backbeat noise that sat heavy on his mind. He could be patient though —- could wait for Fafnir to figure out he wasn’t ******** with him, wasn’t trying to tease him into revealing some treasonous, deep seeded thing —

Albite liked a good time. Liked having people around to have them with; that was the beginning and end of it. Simplistic thoughts the whole way through.

“Whatever you say boss man. No fires, this time…but if you ever need an arson? Me n’ our resident Fire-alive are always up for a good time.”

Fafnir wasn’t ready to leave though? Didn’t want it to be a waste? So Albite obliged, curt little nod and sidelong smile that accompanied a glance, look that lingered a little long. Let the moment fade. Until it all fell back into how it was before, an easy thing to hunt for red herrings amongst scarred brickwork and filthy alley floors.

There were marks — there was damage — simple to summon up his handy dandy orbies. Lovely soft glowrbs, kept ‘em cupped in his hands enough to shine light over the various spaces where something other than a tool had made a mark.

Held still after that - instead of kicking the door in; left Fafnir to decide on orders.

Left Fafnir to figure out what he really wanted.

Maybe next time he’d tell him better that he could get it? Have it? Put it between his teeth n taste it. Could have so ******** much— if he only asked.