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 Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 11:40 pm
  Profile: ProfileWeapon: Gravityflux (Glaive/shotgun/double axes) gaia_angelleft Action: pursuing gaia_angelright ~~~------~~~-----~~~------~~~~~~------~~~-----~~~------~~~
There was an unsure factor on whether the man called out as "Prime," would do as he was asked. Sure enough, despite the woman having been telling him otherwise, there was that spark of denial. The mere gesture of retrieving something for a stranger was understandable, more so of Sasselia making such a request. She was aware of the predicament she was in, but if she had left the other half of the weapon behind, she would for surely become into later deep waters of argument with her family. Mere factor of her having left it there to begin had it's own complete factor of danger. Such worries sunk in, now that the fight was all over for her. All earlier swept aside emotions, and after thoughts, were finally weighing the stress on her heart with a forlorn sensation, making even her bones rattle. A familiar much too close to that of her semblance drawback, which had finally settled itself away almost, by the slight movement of her toes curling within her boots. Her calves on the other hands, still possessed the staticy pain of numbing, still unable to technically be able to move on her own. "No more paralysis, but under the reassure of all that can unfold soon, I may as well have my whole body be paralyzed from the oncoming emotion that will sink." Watching these two soldiers had ensured the direness of the situation as a whole. The more aggressive man with the twitching shooting finger only made the icing on the cake. Having watched from afar within the confinements of her "cage," watching what was team MAKO taking on the angelled woman... Something sinister was only drawing into the ominous suspicious that one such as herself had no wishes of possessing. Not even the soldier known as "Ella," with attempts to reassure about her comrade was going to help with any of this at all. There was no harm in listening nonetheless, though she made no commentary on her companion.... At first. "Was "Miss perfect," a reference to the woman team MAKO was fighting with now?" Such an assumption was only leading to more questions.
Did either one of them truly have the time to be receiving and giving questions? The intention was made very clear by this point. Most of these soldiers were acting under the influence of someone much higher in stature. There could possibly be no one else, but the angelic winged woman, with the glassy doll impression. "Sh-she seems to carry quite the presence if... She is able to drive someone to such actions..." A small amount of words used, but clearly, she had no idea just how powerful they were. The woman could walk with her, and defend the man all she had wanted, but Sasselia's mind couldn't be swayed away. Despite all reasoning behind action, aiming a gun at a defenceless person, who was unable to move, was more than overboard. The only she would never be able to forgive somebody for, especially now, when it had to be the cause of impressing somebody else. Honorable, but distasteful. Having said nothing else on the matter, Sasselia had to remain with silent contemplation, the sight of the battle nearby almost behind them, save for the odd noise of weapons connecting with one another. Just how much intensity was progressing that way, for the need of weapons to be involved now? All that could be concluded... Was the fact, that there was more to the story now, than she could ever be able to truly know. Many hindrances of it screamed at her to stay out of it. A little too late now. She was deeper in it than she had expected or wished for her to be. All too obvious for her not to notice.
For now, all she could do was comply to the woman's question, looking to the soldier with an awkward gesture to her expression. With all of this thinking about, it had only finally sunk in, by the small hint of warmth still lingering off of the elastic fingers "Oh!! U-uhm... I-if you d-d-don't mind... I will take the the uhm... C-cuffs... This looks like it's uh... T-too taxing to hold for too long... I-I should be able to walk n-now as well ahm... C-cuffs I can d-deal with.. The walking a bit.. I'll just have to t-take time is all....A-actually... No... I-I have to stick with the fingers after all... I apologize.."
Entirely growing nervous by this intel upon grouping with others, Sasselia had believed she was about to be charged for something she was unsure of. With cooperation, she had followed along with Ella. Towards the line of soldiers they had went. Surely she wasn't about to be headed for the firing range? Vale certainly had no laws of death by shooting in this matter, the last she had checked, so certainly things would be alright? Among the soldiers however, their target of interest was no mere soldier. Rather yet, by the design work of their eyes, and the canisters attached to their gloves by way of tubes connected to valves, the clarity of the man being a cyborg was before them. Though taller than majority of the people around him, their presence gave no chance of comfort. No more or no less. She had however jumped a little in surprise by them speaking out of the blue, taking note of the first aid kit and attire. Neutral party perhaps? Not possible, based on their first name speaking to the woman soldier guiding her over to him. "Uhm... G-g-good day sir..." It was all she could really say, an awkward bow of her head made, which had sent a jolt of pain up and down along her spine. This had only added difficulty, as she had been supposed to lay down. If not for Ella assisting on the matter, she would have taken quite a few minutes of struggling back to the ground without collapsing to do so. What she was just informed... Had her panic button finally kick itself in.
"I did... I did what!? N-no!!! It was a nevermore I had shot at!!! What... N-no it couldn't h-have been a carrier!" THAT'S what this was all about!? THIS was why she was in so trouble, just as the rest of the team MAKO were!? Had Maria known the whole thing? No... Maria's expression, as well as Prism's remarks earlier on... There was no way either party knew of the situation. They were clearly as shocked as she was, her own red hues full of wordless shock. This had continued on, while the man known as "Geralt," had began to reach his aura out from his hand, to course into her body, replacing her cold enlightening pain... To warmth and comfort, relaxing under the sensations with a lull of her eyes narrowing.Her eyes would quickly pop open to traces of light, trailing her gaze down her body, towards her legs. To see where all the glass was still remaining was a surprise. Almost to a point she had almost missed his question about her, which she had caught the tail end of to be able to answer. To be asked out of the blue of the drawback of her semblance as the question however, she merely gulped before responding, her voice almost hesitant, as if believing a single word could get her in trouble by this point. "Ahm... I-I am Sasselia Argenia, a-and...I-I get nerve paralysis sir whenever m-my semblance wears out it's use." ... Had telling him been truly wise? Perhaps silence would have been the best answer to have given instead. His professionalism to this had made a lot of stuff easier to deal with, she had supposed. To further it down the road, it was common knowledge for those who practice medicine, or worked in healing composed jobs, to know the full details of the patient under their care. In this case, it was more of that much importance to be known, considering they were kind enough o actually do it. They could have chosen not to, given the damage she had caused. Giving in had the most intellect of options to pick from.
There was more to the cyborg man as they had spoken for sure. Something she could not deny was his own level of intellect. More so specifically with his explanation, going into description on the process he was taking for steps on fixing her up. He had the ability to boost up aura temporarily? That was fascinating to know, though the costs for doing so were bringing up that earlier amount of anxiety and confusion. There was a huge discomfort on being touched around her stomach, in order to heal any of it up, but her aura was what was adding doubt to what all was going on. How true of a factor, that aura could give off a channeling of energy at all, much more so with the lacking of her own, flaring up from it's exhaustion from within the confinements of her body. There was no other way to be dealing, and as it seems, no other way from Geralt from performing his duties correctly. "I-I understand sir..." That was the most she could truly say, having braced herself for the worst case scenario. Hooray for having that opportunity, for the moment he had begun to perform his abilities to full use, There was indeed, the aforementioned sting from the yellow, that had ran its' course within her, leaving her with a small, inaudible hiss under her breath."nnngh...." With a small groan made in reaction to the stinging, she had done her best to remain lying still nonetheless. Curling her hands in into two tight fists, they were on both sides of her, the tightness of her stress squaring her shoulders out stiff. No Pain, no gain indeed. The stinging commenced, until a point of the last glass shard exiting her body. It was only after the smallest piece had left her had she finally been able to calm, a soft thank you mentioned under her breath like a tired shout out of sorts. It was only after he had finally completed everything, had Sasselia actually tried to move a little, carefully sitting herself up. "I-I know if I would happen to step one foot back out there... I'd only be a hindrance, and only cause more conflict than what already had been transgressed." Sitting to the side to heal would be beneficial to all sides involved, but with gunshots being reveratng away from them, towards the actual fight, they were all surely going to be needed soon enough to intervene. Luck should have it though for her to safely vacate the area, to heal herself more proper away from the area. They were all surely going to need her, when she was more fit to answer.
The man from earlier known as Prime, had returned to them, with the other half of her weapon with him. Such relief to see it safe and sound had filled her eyes with tears.Despite earlier thoughts on how she thought of them to be, it was the fact that the man had listened to order had she finally been ably to feel some reason to forgive them just a little bit. "Thank you... I-I know I am under the disposition as a committer of injustice, but I can a-assure to say, that there has been one big misunderstanding. I am willing to answer e-everything to the best of my ability, should you's wish to truly know..."
Despite having said this, Prime was still on the edge of his seat with following orders, well aware of the factor of him being sent home at any given point. With the man looking to Ella, and she glancing to him in return, one thing was clear in agreement between both parties. They had one captive, and getting them out of there intact, for line of questioning... Now was the best of times to do so, while the rest were occupied with what their leading commander of the area was dealing with for that very moment. "Get her out of here Prime, and take her to get her questioning done. I am rather curious as to what exactly has happened. Geralt has classified the girls aura to giving waves of doubt and confusion to us, and if what the girl claims is correct... There must be something important we are all missing from this. One big piece of a puzzle that needs to have it's piece fit into the right spot."
Making a simple nod of his head, without giving any signs of his earlier behavior, his head had swivelled to Sasselia, who at first, had squeaked in slight hesitant fear. The look in her gaze had given all thoughts out before them."Hmph..." He could admit, he had behaved rather poor, and over the top. He had to do it, and unknowing to the fact that Ella had explained his behavior earlier to the young woman, all he could do was slowly inhale a breath, and put her weapon together into the glaive form it was meant to be. "If you will come with me... We will take you in for questioning now. Do not make this any harder than it needs to be. The sooner we can get your side, the sooner we can fully decide how you are going to pay for all the damage accordingly. Let's go. If you cannot walk fully, proceed with caution."
"Y-yes sir..."
Slowly getting to her feet, Sass had first tested her legs. The pain of the glass shards were gone, but the aching discomfort of tiredness had still remained, as well as, with good intel, her paralysis had finally went away. Looking to Ella and Geralt, she had slowly bowed in respect towards both, before raising her head. "Please know that... None of us had meant any harm. We were trying to save a girls life... One who may not be here at this present moment, fighting for her life, had her team captain and I had done nothing to stop anything. Thank you for your kind personage..." With that having been said, Sasselia was on her way out from the area. That was not before she had paused to turn her head back to the scene with full on worry, the soldier Prime by her side with her weapon in his possession, a firm hand on her arm without squeezing. Without a word, he had done a simple, harmless tug, taking her mind back to them leaving. "Please be safe eam MAKO... Please win..."
[EXITS]
~~~------~~~-----~~~------~~~~~~------~~~-----~~~------~~~ §ooc: §level: 0 §Post count: 63 (+1 for activity check=) 64 §honors/missions complete: 0 §Current class/Classes Taken: /1
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Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2020 5:56 pm
 
► Little Do You Know
【 Mood ≡ Scared. 】
【 With ≡ Long Live Team MAKO 】
【 Semblance - Active ≡ 0/4 】
【 Level | Posts ≡ 0 | 54 】
【 out. of. commission. ≡ 】
XXXDarkness was inevitable and consumed her whole. The world had become darkness, falling to an eerie silence. Maria could feel her consciousness slipping away, but it felt like something more. It felt as if her body was slipping away from her grasp as if her poorly anchored soul was losing its ability to retain its form, ready to drift away into oblivion. Had she fought too hard? Had she failed to heed the doctor's warning about pushing herself too far? No, surely with Prism here it could detect such an anomaly, the presence of death. The machine was concerned, but not ready to raise alarm. She was just about to fall asleep, she was so tired. When was the last time she actually slept properly? When hadn't she stayed up throughout the night, watching Kenna's every move? So many sleepless nights was surely wearing her down, but she wasn't ready to trust Prism alone with her safety. Perhaps the only time she got a wink of sleep was when Feralis came to visit, the only other person in this world he'd trust with her safety. After all, the only person Feralis would allow to hurt his bitter rival to the end was himself, but even he wouldn't do that when she slept so helplessly. Prism thought she was being absurd and paranoid, that the kitten she cherished would be fine and wake up in due time. .. Yet, the moment she let her guard down, the moment she let herself drift away, the reaper made its presence known. In that moment of weakness alone, she almost lost everything. But now... She was awake, and she had Feralis by her side. .. Maybe.. Maybe it was time for her to sleep; to go into a coma while they watch over her. No one was after her, no one would reap a woman who barely clung to life as it was. Would they mind watching over for just a minute, so she could sleep for just a moment? ... But, was she really ready to sleep, or was she just lying to herself?
She could hear a familiar voice in the distance, one that was obnoxious as it was charming. Someone who proudly called her his alpha, a role she always thought was a bit silly, but never hesitated to flaunt with him. After all, the most fearsome predator of the animal kingdom was man, right? She who could tame lions and wolves while wrestling with sharks. It was silly, but it was something that always made her happy. What was he shouting about, again? Her... Fight... Him... He was defending someone while at the same time picking a fight. Go figure, even when trying to play peacemaker, he found a way to turn it into a tussle with whoever involved. Now... Who was who again? Reality felt unraveled, her world slown down as she felt completely disengaged with it all. As Feralis voice carried, resonating through oblivion, another voice came to join it. A voice that up until a five minutes ago had been silenced for weeks. She had almost forgotten what she sounded like. A rich and pleasant tone that was often obscured in a fit of anger and rage, cracking under the intensity with a violent hiss. This time, though, she sounded different. Her tone was less angry than remembered. Bitter, yes, but something else was present in her words. A sense of unity, of determination, against something... A.. Witch?
Pale blue lashes would slowly flutter open. Darkness still threatened to encompass her, narrowing her blurred vision with shadows. Everything felt so far away, so distant, but would slowly come into focus. There they stood before her, a dog and a cat that she cherished more than life itself. For once in their lives, they stood side by side with their back to her on the grounds of togetherness. Before them, however, stood the witch from her worst nightmares. A woman who embodied elegance, to represent the epitome of perfection. An image that had been twisted and contorted by the thing's Maria had seen, the things the woman had done. In this moment, and this moment alone, she looked the very same that the two orphaned children saw her. An image of white purity obscured with a stain of vibrant crimson against her pale skin, seeping into ivory fabric. That was how they saw her, a monster drenched in the blood of all the lives she had stolen. Blood that wasn't hers. She had missed it all. The exchange of blows as Eteria beat Kendall senseless like a ragdoll in her moment of defiance. Feralis, though just a bit too slow, seizing the opportunity to place himself as a shield between Kendall and Eteria. Instead, she merely caught the glimpse of the woman whipping her blade aside, flicking a series of crimson droplets against the asphalt. Droplets that didn't belong to her. She drew blood. An iridescent gaze would widen as her pupils shrunk to the size of pins. The skin of her forehead would crease, her gaze trembling. Maria's blood immediately began to boil, a burning need to protect forming with the toxic presence of hatred, leaving the taste in her mouth bitter. She could hear her heartbeat rattle against her eardrums, her strained breathing practically beating against her chest.
"It appears that both of you fail to grasp the gravity of the situation. This altercation would not be a fight."
Upon Eteria's necklace, a gem of lapis would shimmer in a deep, cobalt-colored aura. Abruptly, the wreckage of the nearby carrier began sparking before erupting in flames. A thick cloud of black smoke would begin plumming into the air, being carried by a raised breeze through what was once a city street. Now though, it was their battlefield. Something was odd about this cloud of smoke, though. It moved with the wind as if it was being coaxed in a direction. Rather than floating straight up, it'd move towards the engaged trio and herself, swirling in an all-consuming black mass. It moved as if it was alive, obscuring the vision of all of those around them. Everything in front of her was beginning to change. A warped perspective between illusion and reality, the very same fabrication that had trapped her and the others in an interlocked battle before. The world around them started to desync, abnormalities and variables shifting as her own grasp of reality began shifting from what Kendall and Feralis would see. For Maria, a series of claw-like cuts began to etch themselves across Eteria's porcelain skin and through her clothes, fresh blood seeping from the false wounds in the place of Kendall's sputtered blood. In the same vein, a fresh rush of crimson fluid would begin dripping from her fingertips, not unlike that from her self inflicted cuts. Around them, though, the world had darkened in the veil of smoke, as if isolating them from the view of the outside world. .. Then, a voice would echo, but not as if it was spoken. Instead, it was as if it echoed within their very skulls. Something that Prism would be unable to hear.
'It would be cleansing.'
Maria's heart rate had spiked to an alarming level out of nowhere. Even the machine could feel her blood pressure increase, her breathing becoming more taxing. It knew that it directly correlated with the actions of her teammates, the people she swore to protect at any cause. "Lady Maria, I need you to calm down. We must disengage. I'm uncertain if you can take any more strain. " The robot not only advised but warned of the dangers Maria was beginning to encounter. It, however, could feel Maria's fidgety fingers signing a series of motions. Foul words of intentions, demanding that the machine do something. It, however, refused to comply. Instead, it wanted to be a voice of reason. After all... There was no easy way out of this mess aside from surrendering, even if the machine knew the calvary were all too stubborn. Perhaps, though, if they knew the risks Maria was facing. "Kendall! Feralis! I beg you, please stand down before this gets any further out of hand. Lady Maria can't... " That robotic, authoritative voice had only gotten more insufferable over the years. Always advising them to heed with caution, always getting in the way. Not now, not anymore. Maria's fingers tightened within the vessel of the machine, her palms clenching down on the manual controls with every ounce of feeble strength she had left. In a moment of silence, the open panel of Prism that kept Maria's bloodied face revealed would click shut. The tone of the machine would change entirely, a series of purple LED's flashing over its visor. "Manual Override Detected." It would state, though its warning of Maria's acts may have fallen on deaf ears with Eteria's distraction. It's once cautious demeanor had shifted, no longer worried about what was to come of Lady Maria. Arms that were once held against its chest at the fear of Maria falling out would lax, falling still to its sides. 'I won't her do this.. I can't just.. sit back..' After another moment, the dust chamber upon its left wrist would click open. In it illuminated a small variety of both red and yellow dust vials. Contained in one larger cartridge, it would eject as metallic digits removed it. Then the right wrist panel would click open, allowing for a sudden insertion of the second cartridge of dust vials. With a loud click, a spark of iridescent aura would encompass them, causing their red and yellow hues to grow brighter. 'I'll make her pay.. for laying a finger on them...' Once purple indicators would flash red, the dust panel closing over her arm.
"Extermination Mode Engaged."
She couldn't let this go on, she couldn't let this monster keep playing with them like they were nothing. That sense of authority, of a higher power, of an entitled perfection that placed her above everyone else... It was bullshit, a sham. There she stood, letting them play right into her palm with every passing moment. Every action, every recourse, it was calculated as they dug their pit even further. ... And now, as reality unraveled at the seams, she felt something terrible was coming. Those words echoing in her mind, the desire to clean the impure... She was going to end it, here and now, and neither of them were any wiser for it. She wouldn't let them face her alone, not without her. She wasn't going to just sit back and watch a massacre unfold. .. If the Phantom was any indicator of what she could do, then they'd need all the help they could get. This needed to be ended swiftly, with all that they had. Kendall and Feralis... They had so much more to give than her right now, but that didn't mean she could sit back comfortably as they fought tooth and nail to keep her safe. .. Not when it was pointless, there was no point in keeping her alive. She needed to keep them alive. Sitting back was how she lost them to begin with. In letting herself waste away, to begin with, everyone she cared about had slipped through her feeble fingertips. And now... She barely had the strength to hold on, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to try her damn best.
Prism's left leg jerked, stepping forward against the rubble as Maria's fingers fidgeted, her feeble frame trembling within her metallic chamber. This woman... No. To call her that was to give her a sense of humanism. This.. Thing. This witch, this soulless monster... Every second that passed, every moment she 'breathed,' it was a mistake. It was her mistake. Because she didn't know what she was doing before, she didn't know just breaking her wasn't enough. They needed to obliterate her, to turn her into nothing but dust in the wind. 'For mom and dad... For Lyra and Silas..' Prism's right leg would then jerk forward. The metal on her right arm would begin to glow red hot, the presence of electricity emitting in surges across the metallic surface. 'To keep them safe... Her grip would tighten, feeble fingers digging their nails into her palm. As weak as she was, she'd put everything she had into her aura, everything she had to keep this machine going. Her teeth would clench, her chest tightening under the strain of her lungs as her heart continued to beat rapidly. Maria wouldn't take her eyes off Eteria, fixated as the avian began to take her steps away from Kendall and Feralis. Her fingers remained wrapped around the handle of her sheathed blade. Maria wouldn't hesitate anymore as metallic footsteps thudded madly against the asphalt surface. 'I'll give you everything I've got! Surely Kenna and Feralis could hear it now, the machine bulldozing their way. Vibrant red indicators would emerge from the shadows of a smokey veil as if beacons in the night sky. 'I won't fail this time! You.. You..!" The machine moved with remarkable speed, showing just how agile Prism and Maria could be when united with her aura. Aside from the Nevermore, neither Kenna nor Feralis had actually witnessed what Maria could do with her... bodily assistant. Just as Eteria was a few short feet away from the duo, she'd instead find the machine barreling down on her from the black smoke veil. "You... Soulless... b***h!" Was it really worth shitting the last of her strength into a vile insult? Absolutely. Even if it stole the very air from her lungs, even if it felt like her chest was ready to crush her fragile little heart. She couldn't help it, she had been wanting to make this woman pay for so long. She held her fist high. It radiated from the intensity of the red-hot fire dust as sporadic sparks of electricity jolted up the metal frame of her arm. She would swing down without hesitation, striking at Eteria with a smiting blow with everything she had. In a split second reaction, Eteria's attention had shifted from the wolf and the lioness, turning on her heel in order to raise her sheathed blade towards Maria's smiting fist. The woman didn't draw her blade on her, but held the handle and scabbard steady with the blade exposed. Upon contact, there would be a burst of light and heat from the chain-reacting dust, the heated air bursting outwards. It wasn't enough to blow anyone or thing over, but disperse the black smoke veil of the carrier from enshrouding them.
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Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2020 6:30 pm
  ]Eteria's pale and vacant, doll-like eyes would narrow ever so slightly. She took in every detail, every action and reaction to gauge thoroughly. It was as if every word was rehearsed to perfection. Finely detailed to strike every possible vein in the mud blood of a Lioncourt, the mistake. Her expression remained cold and calm, never once wavering when faced with alternation. For Eteria, it was a display and control of power. To bury away her emotions, to remain unmoved in the face of adversity. A strength that every Lioncourt was meant to follow, but all had failed in the end. This one, in particular, was the greatest mistake on her proud family's name. One that had to be corrected, swept under the rug never to see the light of day. Yet... She always found a way to come back she always threatened to be her undoing. To expose her, to put an end to the madness. To avenge the fallen who were just as pathetic as she was. But she didn't have the strength, the integrity, or the capability to dare to oppose her. Even now, in just an exchange of words, she found her perspective getting warped and heated. With just a few words she had dissolved into a fit of unbridled anger, ready to last out at any moment. It was exactly what she wanted, what she needed. An excuse to attack, a reason to 'defend' herself and engage. ... Then again, given the circumstance of the accused, her actions were already justified in the name of peace. 'Pathetic.' She thought, watching droplets of scarlet drip from the tightness of her clenched fist. She was too easy to play, too open to manipulation. Her actions spoke against her, her emotions laying out the groundwork for her own undoing. This stray kitten spoke words of lies and deception, of her being the most wretched monster on the face of Remnant. They were accusations of her own that seemed to waine the public perception of Eteria, causing them to turn an eye to her. What did she mean? What was she talking about? The truth? A monster? Yet, even those seeds of doubt could be washed away in an instant. A simple diagnosis, the intention to get her help once this was over. Any traction of public favor she gained, gone in an instant. Kendall's own outlast ensured that. There was no reason with her, just brash outcries of a battered girl in a hospital gown who certainly looked like she belonged in a psychiatric ward. Impressive enough, she managed to curb her anger. For the moment, at least. A moment that wouldn't last if Eteria had anything to do with it.
Eteria knew the cords that hurt the most, the unstable and painful memories that tugged at her very core. Her words were like daggers, cutting at each and every one. To blame her, to convince her that everyone she cared about would've been fine if she wasn't in the equation. That was a lie, of course, and Kendall knew that. But what she didn't know was how to respond in rationality. At first, her expression would twist with a sense of uncertainty and fear. As if questioning herself, was that really true? Would Maria, Feralis, and even Sasselia be safer if she wasn't here? Could they live with a sense of normalcy if she hadn't come back to Beacon? In reality, this kitten was still that, a kitten. A girl tossed aside by a cruel world of her making, never getting the opportunity to grow and mature. Her emotions controlled her now more than ever, especially that of anger. Anger that had brought more drama and trouble her way than help. Anger that would get the better of her, making her act before thinking. It was almost pitiful how easy this ball of anger was to bend in her favor. Kendall was vocal with her thoughts, her certainty that Eteria herself was the problem in the equation. .. But, how true was that actually? If this kitten had just died that night. If Jonathan had been more reliable, then... None of her friends would've ever stumbled across the great Lioncourt tragedy. None of this would be happening, and the last piece of the puzzle could fall into place. Not only would it be easier for the lives of her friends, Maria and Feralis, but be far easier for her. These variables, these unprecedented circumstances, they carried interference. It made Eteria have to work harder to keep her world hidden away from public eye until it was ready, it made her more diligent. If it wasn't for this pariah, she wouldn't have to keep sweeping things under the rug. ... At the very least, this pariah was making it easier to silence her. An orb of silver would flicker in her palm, catching Eteria's gaze. ... That's when something different would happen; when realities seemed to intertwine as a shimmer of amethyst sparked on one of the many gemstones of Eteria's neckpiece. For Kendall and Kendall alone, the orb would form and disappear. For every onlooker, however, the lioness would raise her arm in defiance, ready to blast away her opponent with an illustrious silver. That's when she acted, treating her as if she was nothing more than a disrespectful child. A firm backhand across would emphasis that, practically knocking the girl senseless. As the child reeled back, Eteria stood there, unamused. It took her only a moment to recollect herself with a twisted glare of silver; she was out for blood. Though it wasn't her words that got to her, as spiteful as they were. Kendall too had a silver tongue, conniving her way into logic and reason. It could tarnish her image, acting out against her very own words. It was something that Eteria had considered, as well, but that was tossed aside as she was doused in a spray of scarlet. Droplets splattered against porcelain skin, dripping down the finer details of her face and neck. Her clothes, no less than immaculate, now tarnished with stains of crimson. .. She could drag this out a little longer. After all, even she knew that there were leniencies in the government system. "Sometimes self-defense is necessary. I'm certain they'll understand from your violent tendencies at the Acadamy... After all, wasn't it your claws that forever scarred my daughter's skin?" Once again, a stab at the uncertainties within Kendall's mind... Which also showed just how much she knew about her ongoings, even within academy walls. Without hesitation from a stab of words, she'd continue her act to put her in place with a surge of force from the hilt of her blade before knocking her down from the very ground she stood. In the blink of an eye, Kendall was at her mercy with the edge of her blade kissing her throat.
For the first time since the start of this whole ordeal, Eteria would raise a brow. Kendall's sense of defiance knew no ends, even as she pushed the skin of her neck against her own blade. Threads of running scarlet would spread across the edge of black tungsten, droplets splashing against matching asphalt. Of course, this girl had stopped fearing the presence of death after facing it countless times before, each and every time watching those around her die. She didn't fear death, but the death of others around her. She could call a bluff, that's something Eteria would give her. Eteria would be foolish to push it any further. Kendall could see it in her vacant hues. She had no intention to strike her down, not here. .. However, before she could pull the blade from kissing Kendall's throat, those same vacant hues would look past her at a new interjection. The wolf boy she had threatened with arrest moments ago now recklessly hurled himself between the two. Kendall had been thrown back from her kneeling position by a beastly looking man with fluffy white ears. It was him, the very same interloper who assaulted one of her men and threatened to fight tooth and nail to get to these troublesome huntresses. ... What first seemed like a mere bump in the road was now becoming a nuisance, drawing not only her attention but that of the public around him. He took the pariah's place and refused to stand down from that fact. Without hesitation, the same crimson-stained edged would be raised to meet his throat, the blunt edge of the blood dipped tip caressing his adam's apple. "You have lost your privilege for compromise. I order you to stand down, Feralis Alarick. I will no longer ask." It seemed, however, despite all that she threatened, it only made matters worse. This wolf... Just from the look in his eyes, she could tell he had no intention of dismissing himself from the matter. In fact, she was certain he'd try in every way possible to interfere. What made matters worse was that Kendall reaped this opportunity to rise to her feet and stand her ground. Standing side by side with a wolf, she too challenged her to a fight. ... Did both of these fail to realize just what they were getting themselves involved with? This was what happened when you let your emotions control you. When you allowed your heart to be so fickle, so driven. It forced you to act rash, act irrationally. To throw your life away.
This was a set of unforeseen circumstances that Eteria hadn't quite prepared for. The interjection of some flea-bitten mutt, one that she recognized from the Phantom's eyes since Kendall's return to Beacon. The two had always been at one another's throats, spitting words of venom only to be broken apart by some third party. They could never stand in the same room as one another for long before coming to an exchange of blows, and now... They stood there, ready to face the impossible. They stood there, representing a beacon of defiance that threatened to uproot everything she had come to build. They stood there, confident and smug. Kendall was certain that Eteria wouldn't let the scene progress any further, especially in the face of two students. Both of them, however, were vastly underestimating just what this woman was capable of. She was not amused in the slightest, that was made clear by the gentle sigh that escaped her lips. These children, as admirable as their bravery was, were acting nothing short of foolhardy. If it had just been Kendall, she would've let the circumstances go. Only because she knew she could control her as a variable, she could handle whatever this feline had to offer. As others stepped to the plate, however, like a flea-bitten wolf, she knew the circumstances were changing. That, and she knew how to once again obscure the eye of the public in her favor.
In the end, the dull edge of her blade would leave Feralis neck as she took a step back, turning away from the students. Her movement was sudden, the flick of her arm whipping the blade aside as crimson droplets splattered against the asphalt. Slowly, the sheen of sunlight on black metal would vanish as the sword was returned to its scabbard. Then, the presence of energy deep blue energy would shimmer across a gem of lapis lazuli. "It appears that both of you fail to grasp the gravity of the situation. This altercation would not be a fight." As if on cue, the wreckage of the carrier would erupt in flames. A thick black cloud of smoke would plume from the wreckage. Soldiers and civilians alike would begin moving frantically, one calling for another with a waterbased semblance to douse the flames. Others were evacuating the remaining civilians, at the fear of an explosion.
Something was clearly amiss for those she was facing, but those around her wound be none the wiser. Just as some manner of witchcraft had obscured the true ordeal that unfolded today, it would do the same in masking what nearly became a public execution. Thick clouds of smoke would begin to move unnaturally, coaxed along by a newfound breeze. This shroud of darkness would begin to enshroud those who stood in this battlefield that were once streets, circling to encompass them as if the smoke itself as alive. Under the veil of darkness, something truly obscure would begin to unfold. Skin began to separate across the porcelain skin of her face between the strikes of blood, just as threads of fabric began splitting and tearing. It was as if some invisible force was dragging razors across her. These false wounds became sharp and jagged, as if claws had been used to rip her apart. Slowly, crimson fluid would begin to ooze from the wounds, further staining her tarnished image of perfection. Notably, however, Kendall herself would feel something odd. Foreign droplets of blood dripping from her fingertips, matching her own self inflicted injury. Eteria would take slow steps, encircling the two, her left hand delicately wrapped around the handle of her sword. With each step, something would stir in the encompassing darkness. A figure would form, each of different sizes, but all with a pair of grand white wings tucked behind them. Each one was shrouded with a silver cloak, each finely detained with the embroidery of runes and symbols. One.. Two... Four... As more appeared, a noticeable difference would appear in their gems. Each one was a different color. One, in particular, matched the malachite that shimmered moments ago. As the figures came to be, Eteria's soulless gaze would turn to them one last time. 'It would be cleansing.' Her voice would echo as if an ominous presence that called into the depths of their minds. It was then that the handle would be pulled from the scabbard, the shing of metal whining softly.
What she hadn't anticipated, however, was the metallic warrior to emerge from the veil of smoke she had created. A voice called out to her, shouted in her direction. It was strained and raspy, but feminine and filled with spite and resentment. In a moment of split-second thinking, her reaction time on point, Eteria would spin on her heel with her scabbard raised high. This metal warrior's super-heated fist was bright, almost blinding in the dark. When it struck down, rather than hitting Eteria, it would strike the exposed edge of her blade before releasing a surge of heated wind. It was enough to disperse the black veil of smoke. However, with it would vanish the figures that had appeared in the darkness. The impact itself was far more than Eteria had anticipated, a surge of electricity dancing along the edge of her blade. It forced her to take a step back, to reinforce her stance as she stood her ground. The surge of fire and electricity would hiss sporadically, whining against the edge of her blade. Slowly, Eteria would pull the handle and scabbard apart. Every few inches, a circular segment would illuminate a specific color. Back and forth, each light would alternate between red and yellow. Each moment of contact, however, the surge of light that emitted from Maria's fist would begin to dim. Duller and duller, until the sixth and last light illuminated bright orange. With that final light, Maria's metallic fist wind dark, merely scorched by the presence of once superheated metal. "I have never seen someone act so careless." She spat firmly, pushing the fist back with the side of her blade. Then a shing of metal would as she drew her sword from her scabbard. Another gem on her necklace would shimmer with aura, this time a bright amber. That same aura would then dance across the edge of her blade, but didn't draw from the six dust rich segments. In a swift, spiraling motion, the drawn blade's edge would dance in a spiral around the metal arm. Following the glide of her blade, metal would separate into diced pieces, the sword cutting through the plating as if delicate skin. Prism's arms would fall to severed segments to clatter against the asphalt. Closing the distance between herself and the machine, she'd wave a single swift strike against its chest, perfectly across the panel connectors. Prism's form would drop to its knees, bracing itself with a single arm as red LED's began blue once again. However, with the fall of the machine, it's chest would split open. With it, Maria's battered and bloodied body to sprawl out onto the asphalt. The blood wasn't from Eteria's slash, but the abrupt beating she took from being jostled and knocked around. The gown she wore did have a shallow cut, showing just how close Eteria's blade came to splitting the girl in two.
Maria's fragile form appeared to lay still on the asphalt, as if unconscious. At a closer look, however, Eteria could see more. The woman would stab the tip of her sword into the asphalt right in front of her eyes, the amber rich aura vanishing from the edge of the blade. "Stand up and face the results of your actions." The woman demanded, her tone stark. This one was so determined to end her own life early. Eteria wasn't even judging her on the fact that she was willing to face her as the minister of the defense. Clearly this woman cared little about that fact with these children. Rather, she was judging the reckless usage of dust that was clearly radiating from her right hand. Eteria, among most others, could recognize the reactive properties of dust. This included the point when careless usage of dust becomes unstable, capable of disastrous effects. However, Maria wouldn't respond. She wouldn't speak, she wouldn't even move more than a finger. .. Eteria could see it, the sporadic twitching of thin, glove covered fingers. The rest of her body, however, did little more than tremble. In fact, the only indicator that Maria had actually heard her was in her eyes. Taking a knee, the woman would lower her own gaze to get a better look at this light-blue haired woman, a suspicion arising in her. ... She was right, this one was still conscious. She could see iridescent hues, in them a medley of hatred and fear as her body trembled uncontrollably. "So it is you... This is what you've amounted to after all these years.." Her words seemed almost disappointed, staring into the eyes of a child that was once so troublesome. Those iridescent hues, they reminded her of the same phantom of aura that she encountered that day at the Kingsly household. ... The same aura that violently bulldozed through her porcelain frame, who left her as nothing but pieces in the ruins of a house. .. The very child who acted as a catalyst of uncertainty to her plans as a whole. Next to come was a whisper. A cold, heartless tone of a woman with a sharp tongue, aiming to cut as deep as possible. "A miserable excuse for a huntress whose amounted to nothing more than a broken vessel, begging for a justified death, and I won't give you that satisfaction." Slowly, the woman would rise to stand once more. Her gaze pulled away from this sorrowful excuse of a huntress, ready to turn towards the others. As she did, however, she'd feel a weak and feeble tug at her ankle. .. It was Maria, her arm resting against the asphalt as fingers laced around her smooth, porcelain ankle. Her eyes were brimming with unhinged hatred, her teeth clenched as gasps of air escaped her lips, as if trying to say something. Displeased, she'd tug her foot away before stepping down on it with the sole of the same foot, her fingers popping under the weight of her step. "You're pathetic."
8
Lvl. 3.0
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2020 5:48 pm
  Ɛ==3 Profile
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Feralis merely stared down the woman before him, asking him to stand down and that she would no longer ask. Invoking his name, as if her knowing it would change anything the wolf would do. Far from it, as a toothy grin crossed his face.He so wanted to say something in defiance to her, to provoke her ever more. But words were escaping him; so he hoped his expression would be enough to anger her. After all, if your threats and authority meant nothing to someone... he knew a lot of people whose egos would be hurt. "You may know my name, but you clearly don't know me Feathers." He would say, almost with a feeling of triumph in his voice as he thought of an appropriate response/ insult for the woman. No one was in control of this wolf besides Maria; especially not overgrown birds with an equally large ego. Feralis would then be surprised to hear Kendall's voice, and notice her figure stand besides him. With her state, and how much blood was on her, most would've probably have been content to be saved and remained down. 'But of course she wouldn't leave it to me. She knows I would use it against her that she can't finish her own fights.' He thought to himself with an internal smile. So, in retrospect...he probably should've expected it from the stubborn flea bag. Still, it was a welcome surprise to have for the wolf faunus. Hands held out and standing there defiantly...blade to his throat...he wasn't exactly in the best position to fight or finish one, not that it would've stopped him from trying. No matter the odds, the only way he would leave a fight is victorious or unconscious. There was rarely a between. "Glad to see you still have some fight left in you fuzzball. I was worried you'd become weak with all your beauty sleep." He would say to his feline companion, as if they weren't about to enter into a fight or at a disadvantage already. Even with a blade to his throat, the wolf did not lose any of his spirit or competitive teasing with the feline. Still ready to insult in the face of death, even if he would stand besides her to the end.
Feathers would then pull away, blade smoothly and effortlessly being flicked clean of blood as she turned away from them. Victory, and slight relief, went through the wolf. While he wasn't scared to fight tooth and claw...he knew it would be a hard fight with him disarmed versus her in that moment. Though...something still didn't feel right. She would start blabbing again, but that wasn't what caught Feralis' attention. What did was the carrier erupting in flames and a dark cloud of smoke arise from it...before heading towards them. Before Feralis could even think of something to do, it encircled them. This, even to the wolf, was unnatural. His eyes would turn back to the woman who had spoken, firmly believing she had something to do with this given her prior words. She seemed to get...cut...but it resembled that of claws. And it looked...strangely like there was no pain involved. Feralis wasn't sure how to process it; nothing was by her, but she appeared to be raked by claws and she gave no indication of pain or anything. 'Can she resist the pain or is it not real?' He wondered, not sure what to believe. Then she would begin to slowly circle them, Feralis drawing his axe as she seemed intent to fight. But...it wasn't just her. More white winged faunus would appear, shrouded in silver cloaks, strange symbols, and each having a gem. She would finally stop, and as if in his mind say it would be a cleansing. Feel disturbed she could speak in his mind, and at the sudden numbers she got, Feralis was temporarily stunned. The usually had to stop and violent wolf not sure what was happening anymore or how to react. And in that moment, even more chaos. He would briefly hear something metal moving, then before he could even turn to see, Prism appeared and punch at Feathers. Blinking for a second in shock...he would cast a glance to Kendall, hefting his axe. His sign to her, with Maria ahead of them and fighting, it was their turn. 'I ain't letting you take her on your own!' Feralis thought, a mix of protectiveness and a sense of competitiveness. He had thoughts to deal with the other figures...but the punch seemed to disperse them away. Not having time to question it, he kept his sights on the prize; feathers. With her guarding against Prism and Maria's punch, he would try to aid his alpha by going for Feather's legs. He would go for a swing with his axe to her torso, coming in from the opposite side of Prism...But that was more of a bait to have her split her focus and not see his real plan. His real goal was simple; whether she stopped the swing or not, he would drop down to a crouch (with or without his axe to make it work) and swing his leg hard into hers to try and knock her off balance. He wasn't sure what Kendall would do, but he hoped she would capitalize on him and Maria. Maybe even help him knock down the glorified chicken faunus.
Ɛ==3 Post Count: 62
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Out Of Collars: Let me know if I need to fix anything.
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Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2020 9:13 pm
These children were far more troublesome than she had initially thought. It was wrong of her to put a simple understanding of the situation past them. Each and every one of them was blind to rationality, instead focused on trivial matters. Pride. Hatred. Fear. Revenge. Protection. None of them could open their eyes to what truly mattered, none of them could see reason. That was why she was here, that was why she had to dispose of them while she had the opportunity. Only, that opportunity had managed to slip away. Vacant, soulless eyes stared through Maria's cracked and broken visor, staring into the eyes of a bitter, frightened child. The edge of her blade continued to slight against the radiating, sparking energy of dust. The fourth segment illuminated with a vibrant yellow, needing only a moment more to dispel this child's dust in its entirety. Only, these children were just as reckless as their leader. 'So be it.' As if Eteria had a second set of eyes, glimpses of both Feralis and Kendall's actions flashed across her glassy orbs. First came Feralis, moving and striking from the opposite end that Prism had. With a mighty swing of his axe, it was as if he was aiming to cleave her right in two. .. Did the wolf really expect that to work? .. Or was it a diversion? Likewise, with her claws protruding, Kendall had moved to strike. In her palm was an orb of blinding, silver aura. The very same that was used to execute the nevermore. Truth be told, the unity of Feralis and Kendall, despite being at feud with one another, was top notch. They, however, weren't synced with their leader, only because of her own irrationality, and that itself would be their undoing.
Eteria waited, only for a second, for Feralis to get closer. She wanted the momentum of the ax coming her way, she wanted him to feel like he had actually gotten the upperhand. Likewise, the outcast had leaped overhead, a brilliant ball of light sizzling in her palm. Once they were close enough, however, Eteria's eyes would dart to the side, glaring at Feralis with a piercing gaze. It was at that moment that he'd knew, he made a mistake. With a swift movement, the blade was fully drawn from its scabbard. In this motion, Eteria would sidestep, shifting the weight of Prism's forward momentum towards her right. This let the radiant fist glide down the edge of her blade, directly towards the wolf that stood behind her. Following this motion, Eteria would follow her sidestep, pushing her body around Prism and Maria's presence as a pale blue aura shimmered across her skin. In that instance, before Maria had the opportunity to pull the machine back, the amber gem would radiate in her neckless and coat the edge of her blade with a vibrant aura. Following the sliding motion up Prism's arm, Eteria would sharply twist her blade into the shoulder of the machine, separating the arm from its metal vessel. Now, without anything to control the radiant fist, what remaining dust was left would become volatile. The fist fell towards Feralis, and even if he moved, the ground on which he stood. Midfall, blinding light would erupt from the radiant fist before a powerful explosion. Kendall, Feralis, and Maria would each only have but a moment to prepare themselves and their aura. Even if they had timed their defense properly, the explosion would take a hefty toll, and blow each and every one of them away.
Maria and Prism were thrown backward, the machine desperately attempting to regain its footing while holding itself up with one arm. The plate of his chest was warped and hanging loose, threatening to let Maria drop. The lights on its head had shattered, the machine itself riddled with scorch marks as its right shoulder sprayed an array of sparks. Honestly, had it not been for Prism's durable design, the explosion would've not only ripped Prism apart but kill the woman inside. Kendall, taking the high ground in approach, was thrown back into the air itself as silver aura crackled against her skin. Her aura took the brunt of the attack, but still shattered in her weakened state. This left her hair singed, her skin heavily burned, and dozens of severe of scrapes and bruises as she crashed against the ground. Feralis, despite a direct counter on him, had been in the best position to receive the brunt of the attack. With split-second reaction time at the sight of a radiating, barreling fist coming his way, he'd drop his ax and throw up his arms defensively in a cross formation. That, matched with both his vambraces and flaring aura, let him not only take the strike of the fist but the initial explosion that followed. Aura would crack across his skin as the explosion propelled him backward, scorching parts of his clothing and leaving his skin smoking. Despite that, the man endured, even if just barely. The wolf had caught himself on his feet, his face tucked back behind his cross formation as his body slouched forward and his aura crumbling away. The explosion had taken a hefty toll on his aura but held up far better than either of his teammates.
Eteria was not immune to this, even with her own preparation of aura. With the detonation of dust, Eteria would stab her blade into the asphalt to anchor herself in place, letting the flames of the explosion ravage her aura. She was stronger, more capable, and had the advantage of anticipation on her side. Not even that could protect against the explosion in its entirety, not in such close quarters. Black scorch marks which starkly contrasted the pure white porcelain of her skin littered her body, her military uniform singed and tattered. A handful of feathers had been scattered and burned, and she herself had taken a knee to hold back against the force of the explosion. .. She was the first to rise to the aftermath, the first to prove her endurance. Unlike the others, aura continued to shimmer across her skin, showing it had withheld. That unlike the others, she was still more than capable of continuing this altercation. Her vacant hues panned the battleground, skimming through the presence of scorched earth in order to find these students. .. She could see Prism, struggling to keep its footing. Kendall, appearing to indispose after being blasted away, which left only one other. ... Feralis. He still stood his ground, hiding behind his defenses. .. Being so emotional, so irrational, Eteria knew once he saw the outcome he'd lash out a second time. So... She had no choice, but to force a disengagement. Drawing her blade from the earth, she'd turn to face Feralis while grabbing at an odd set of orbs resting upon her waist. Dull in color, through her touch they'd illuminate with a purple light. Swinging her arm in a whipping motion, she'd throw the set of orbs towards Feralis. Mid-flight, the orbs would separate, revealing a cable that bound them together. One might think she'd aim for his crossed arms, but, the wolf already showed he was much more trouble with his legs. So instead, the cable would stretch to ensnare both his legs. At first, it seemed over arched, as if Eteria misjudged the velocity of her throw; that was not the case. It began around his ankles as the spheres were drawn together once more, connected by gravity dust. To fight this restraint was to fight gravity itself, bounding Feralis' wrists together. The strength of which they pulled together would draw his legs in, as if pulling the ground out from underneath him. Now, no matter how he acted, what he'd try, he too was in dispose of. Eteria would pass him one meager glance, not one of pity, but one of superiority. She was looking down on him, she wanted him to feel insignificant. After all, he was.
With her sword in hand, she recentered her focus. Once more, it was on that meddlesome machine that interfered with everything. Something about it was familiar, this feeling of interruption. It was almost like sense Deja Vu.. Closing the distance between herself and the machine, she'd stare down at the now kneeling form of Prism. Almost as if desperate, the machine would look up at the woman who struck them down, who tore its arm from its very socket. "I.. I-1i-I... bEg of-of-0f... yo-yo-you.. Do.. dO DO.. nOt-ot-0t haaAArrrRRrrm... Ma-Ma-Ma-riiiiii-a-" Her heartless gaze narrowed, piercing even the machine's core with her cruelty. "Silence. You've done enough." She said with authority, casting aside the wishes of the machine. The amber gemstone in her necklace would illuminate once again, coating the edge of her blade with a rich, amber aura. She'd wave a single swift strike against the machine's chest, perfectly across the panel connectors. Already kneeling, the machine's arm would fall limp and its chest would split open. With it, Maria's battered and bloodied body to sprawl out onto the asphalt. The blood wasn't from Eteria's slash, but the abrupt beating she took from being jostled and knocked around. The gown she wore did have a shallow cut, showing just how close Eteria's blade came to splitting the girl in two.
Maria's fragile form appeared to lay still on the asphalt, as if unconscious. At a closer look, however, Eteria could see more. The woman would stab the tip of her sword into the asphalt right in front of her eyes, the amber rich aura vanishing from the edge of the blade. "Stand up and face the results of your actions." The woman demanded, her tone stark. This one was so determined to end her own life early. Eteria wasn't even judging her on the fact that she was willing to face her as the minister of the defense. Clearly this woman cared little about that fact with these children. Rather, she was judging the reckless usage of dust that was clearly radiating from her right hand. Eteria, among most others, could recognize the reactive properties of dust. This included the point when careless usage of dust becomes unstable, capable of disastrous effects. Made very clear by the fact that even with only a third of what she attempted to use, she managed to nearly kill herself and put the rest of her team indispose. .. It even got the upper hand of the Minister, with the aid of the rest of her team. However, Maria wouldn't respond. She wouldn't speak, she wouldn't even move more than a finger. .. Eteria could see it, the sporadic twitching of thin, glove covered fingers. The rest of her body, however, did little more than tremble. In fact, the only indicator that Maria had actually heard her was in her eyes.
Taking a knee, the woman would lower her own gaze to get a better look at this light-blue haired woman, a suspicion arising in her. ... She was right, this one was still conscious. She could see iridescent hues, in them a medley of hatred and fear as her body trembled uncontrollably. "So it is you... This is what you've amounted to after all these years.." Her words seemed almost disappointed, staring into the eyes of a child that was once so troublesome. Those iridescent hues, they reminded her of the same phantom of aura that she encountered that day at the Kingsly household. ... The same aura that violently bulldozed through her porcelain frame, who left her as nothing but pieces in the ruins of a house. .. The very child who acted as a catalyst of uncertainty to her plans as a whole. Next to come was a whisper. A cold, heartless tone of a woman with a sharp tongue, aiming to cut as deep as possible. "A miserable excuse for a huntress whose amounted to nothing more than a broken vessel, begging for a justified death, and I won't give you that satisfaction. We're done here." Slowly, the woman would rise to stand once more, pulling her blade from the asphalt. Her gaze pulled away from this sorrowful excuse of a huntress, ready to turn towards the others. She pulled As she did, however, she'd feel a weak and feeble tug at her ankle. .. It was Maria, her arm resting against the asphalt as fingers laced around her smooth, porcelain ankle. Her eyes were brimming with unhinged hatred, her teeth clenched as gasps of air escaped her lips, as if trying to say something. "I.. I'm not... letting... you..." Before she could get closer to silence the child, however, a silver blur dashed from the corner of her eye followed with a gnarly, savage growl.
It wasn't a surprise of who it was, but more so, how annoying her determination was to interfere. Something that it appeared all of these children had in common. Now, when she was finally given the opportunity to judge the third and final assailant, the forsaken lioness was intent on interference. "Haven't you learned yet, pariah?"
She asked calmly, though her words were harsh in nature. This flea-bitten runt crouched over the feeble body of the machine walker defensively. Who could the lioness have cared so much for, as much as Sensui? "Those you get involved with, those you try to protect, will always succumb to unfortunate circumstances. Is that not enough?" Carefully, she drew the blade from the asphalt beside her. There it rested in her right hand, her fingers fidgeting the hilt as the blade was turned upsidedown. Her gaze becoming ever more piercing as she stared down upon her. For this moment, and this moment only, truly looking like the monster that Kendall had feared all these years. The very same woman stared down at her as she beaten and tortured, on the very brink of death after having her entire life ripped away. Only this time, there was no truck to save her. "No, I suppose that punishment isn't enough. So then..." With a sharp static of malachite, the aura would ripple across her skin as Eteria swung upwards. The motion was sharp and sudden, the tip of the blade carving through the upper part of Kendall's left cheek, through her eye, and past her eyebrow. "An eye for an eye seems fair, don't you agree?" Crimson droplets would follow the motion of her blade upwards, falling down to the ground below, splattering on Maria's cheek.
9
Lvl. 3.0
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Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2020 9:55 pm
► Little Do You Know
【 Mood ≡ Scared. 】
【 With ≡ Long Live Team MAKO 】
【 Semblance - Active ≡ 0/4 】
【 Level | Posts ≡ 0 | 56 】
【 out. of. commission. ≡ 】
XXXThe single quality that is common across every living creature on this planet... is fear.
Maria could have never predicted the course of action to come, not when she had been so blinded. By hatred, by fear, and her need to protect those dear to her. In fact, she was over thrilled when Feralis and Kendall reaped the opportunity she granted. Both of them sprung into action at the sight of their leader taking the threat head-on. Surely, with the three of them in unison, this witch didn't stand a chance. Eteria was done for, even if she had somehow held off the initial burst of dust she had been channeling. They could do this, they could win, and they could finally put it all to an end. ... But then she blinked, and everything came crashing down. Suddenly she felt the metal casing of Prism sliding off her arm, the edge of Eteria's blade barely cutting the fabric of her sleeve. With one sharp motion of Eteria's blade, her radiant fist went sliding down the edge of her sword and directly towards Feralis who had taken the opposite approach. Maria's eyes widened in horror as she desperately tried to pull Prism's forward momentum back. At the very least, the fist that she had quite literally rigged to explode. But it was too late. With a surge of amber aura, Eteria danced around her frame as if a feather on the wind. Before Maria would even comprehend what happened, it was too late. She saw Prism's arm flying forward, even though she herself was not. "Shi-!" Then, with a surge of brilliant light that was sure to blind them and all onlookers, the dust rigged fist exploded in both frightening and glorious maelstrom of fire and energy. The explosion itself was powerful, enough to blast anyone who wasn't seemingly bolted to the ground away. That included even herself, despite all of Prism's weight. The machine would bounce and skid across the asphalt, desperately trying to regain its footing while it's sole functioning arm braced its chest. Inside the machine, Maria's body was rattled and shaken, her head bobbing back and forth as it hit the inner workings of the machine.
It’s funny then, that as common as fear is... we so easily underestimate its power.
With a very firm crash, the skin across her forehead was split open. With it, her vision blurred as black specs danced across her gaze. The intensity of whiplash was growing severe, her neck sore and stiff while her head was throbbing in pain. Her world had begun spinning out of control, her grip on reality loosening as head hung limp. She was still alive, she was still conscious, even if just barely. 'Prism.. Report... Prism... We need to... keep going...' Maria's fingers moved slowly in the machine, her gestures shaken and frail. Unfortunately, Prism was unable to respond. Aside from how she bounced around within the machine, she had no idea how drastic the damage was. .. At least, in its entirety. It only now occurred to her that she could feel the hot, smokey air flowing in from the hole near her right shoulder. Not only had Eteria taken the arm clean off, but she removed a segment of Prism in its entirety. Somehow it had left her own arm to dangle through the socket, striped of both Prism and the sleeve of her shirt. Not only that, but it didn't even occur to her that her own right hand was unresponsive. It was burned, battered, and twisted out of place. Had it not been for her overall reduced sensory, it would surely leave her in agony. Perhaps the only highlight of the situation was that her arm was still there, while Prism's was not. Despite this, despite all Prism had endured, having been battered around like a punching bag and pushed well beyond it's limits, it was still determined to hold out. For her sake. Maria's iridescent hues softened, hearing Prism's damaged and distorted plea towards the woman who stood just outside their casing. Just like she, it felt as if Prism itself was barely clinging to consciousness. That at any moment, Prism was ready to shut down. Prism didn't deserve this. It held out, for her. It spoke out, for her. And what did that get it? A missing arm and a swift strike to the chest, letting a surge of warm, smokey air flood into the chest cavity. Consumed by a bright light, Prism's chest split open as gravity took hold.
Fear of growing close to someone, a subsequent fear of loss, fear of failure.
With gravity taking hold, Maria's battered and frail form stumbled from Prism's clutches and out to the asphalt. The landing was rough, and her body laid limp against the hot asphalt, the lingering heat burning against her cheek. It was there she could see the outcome... Kenna collapsed on the ground in the distance. Feralis, though conscious, struggling against the binds around his ankles. She thought about helping with her semblance, about doing something, but wouldn't get the chance. Iridescent orbs widened as the amber edged blade was stabbed into the asphalt adjacent to her gaze, it's aura fading to nothing. It was then the woman spoke, demanding her to stand and own up to her actions. If Maria could, she would do so to solely spit in her face. But, Maria's body would never grace her with such an opportunity. Never again. Honestly, Maria wasn't even sure that if she had the ability to, that she would even manage to do it. Not with how her body trembled, uncertain if it was her fear or hatred that held more reign over her mind, her body. Both emotions surging and toxic, poisoning her mind as they kept her in their clutches like a vice. Maria tried to sign, tried to send a signal for Prism to translate, but only her left hand would move. And even that was just barely a twitch. She couldn't move, she couldn't talk... How she just laid there in silence, despite having so much she wanted to say, so much she wanted to do. It was pathetic. Something that Eteria had picked up on, a wound that she was ready to pour salt into. The witch had taken a knee in front of her, bringing her vacant gaze to her own. A gaze that up until now, Maria never got to experience first hand, not like this. No, she knew that Eteria was empty and lifeless, but that was only after shattering her body into a hundred pieces. She had never seen this soulless gaze, the very gaze that haunted Kenna's dreams every night. Maria... Was afraid, and no matter how she tried to hide it, her body trembled, her eyes betrayed her. Eteria knew she was, and who she was. That she was the same girl who bested her once, but that very girl had amounted to nothing after all this time. All due to some unforeseen circumstance, she had been rendered to a broken and frail girl. ... Something that Eteria could tell, as if she was staring directly through her. She was right. Everything she said was right, and it even left Maria on the brink of tears. She was broken, barely a huntress. The only reason she had come back to Beacon was that if she was going to die, she wanted to feel alive doing so. ... But then Feralis and Kenna came back into her life, and with them, she found something to die for. ... Each day she was getting worse, and she didn't want their pity. She didn't want to waste away, only for them to tell her to stop like before. So... She thought right here, right now, she could do something. She could end it, and make her life worth ending. At the very least she would've then died for something, something that they could've remembered her for. Eteria knew her through and through, but... She failed, and Eteria knew she failed. That was perhaps the most bitter feeling of all, and most satisfying for the witch. That's why she turned to walk away, to leave her as a miserable excuse for a huntress wallowing in self-pity. ... But, so long as Maria had a spark, she wasn't ready to let go. Not until it was beaten out of her, just like the rest of her team. With what little strength her poor, feeble body could muster, she reached with her left hand to grab Eteria's ankle. To hold her there, just a little longer. "I.. I'm not... letting... you..." She whispered, tightening her feeble grip. ... She could feel Eteria's gaze piercing her, her vacant hues staring down at her like daggers. The woman raised her foot as if she was about to step on her, but then came a fearsome snarl that she recognized from countless tussles between a cat and a dog.
And as more people depend on you, those fears can take on greater power.
Yet, despite what Eteria said.. Despite all she had done, she still didn't have to endure it alone. Even as her fingers weakly, and desperately clung to the woman's ankle on the brink of consciousness, she still wasn't alone. Iridescent orbs would look up in disbelief at the lioness that stood crouched over her, growling deep in her throat at the woman. She spat a volley of venomous words and vile insults at the woman, refusing to let the woman come any closer to Maria. As remarkable as the gesture was... Maria would wish she hadn't done it, that she hadn't thrown herself into more danger than she already had. ... The entire point of this was to save her from the Phantom, and now she was being forced to confront her greatest fears far too early. Where she should've been appreciative, she felt vile and guilty. Had it been her fault things had gotten so out of hand? And now, those she was supposed to lead, to protect, were now fighting tooth and nail against all odds to do the same for her. How could she not feel guilty? Iridescent pools would shimmer, eyes widening in horror as Kenna reeled back in pain. She watched it all happen, she heard the foul words that Eteria had said, and then crimson droplets splashed against her cheek. Kenna came to her aid, came to save her after the mess she had gotten them all into. How was this fair? How was it fair that Kenna had to pay the price for her negligence, her recklessness? She chose to fight the Phantom, she froze up in the encounter with Eteria, and now... Were they going to die by her hand? Were they going to die because of her? 'No.. no no no..' She couldn't let this happen, she wouldn't let this happen. She wouldn't let her get away with this, she wouldn't let her hurt them anymore. They were better than her, they were stronger than her. She had no right to treat them like the dirt beneath her feet, to act as if they were inferior. Not if she had anything to do about it. Even as her grip of reality tried to slip away, she could feel every fiber of her being screaming out to act against her. To stop her, to kill her. No matter the cost, it was worth it. So long as she could keep them safe, so long as she could put an end to it. That was the whole reason behind her initial attack, and she wouldn't let their sacrifice be in vain.
But fear itself isn’t worthy of concern, it is who we become while in its clutches.
Maria's grip on Eteria's ankle loosened as her eyelids fell shut, her iridescent aura shimmering across her body. A phantom of aura would slip from her fragile vessel, seeping into the ground as her ghostly presence soared towards the crashed and smoldering carrier. Prism may have been offline due to extensive damage, but this carrier was a military class ship. It had offensive capabilities, some of which were still online despite being set ablaze. Among the smoldering embers and plumbing smoke, the blazing machine would be enshrouded with a shimmering veil of iridescent aura. With this presence of aura, a wicked hum would vibrate as the smoldering vessel boomed with life from a smoldering death. Despite the melded holes, damaged wings and smoldering cockpit, this metal war machine still had a spark. A spark that Maria would use to end this once and for all. As the engine of the aircraft revved to life, the forward-mounted rotary cannon would rotate on a pivot from the tip of the aircraft, aiming itself towards Eteria. There she still stood, target locked on. But, rather than looking at Kenna and Maria, the vacant hues of a soulless witch were staring directly at her, directly at the aircraft she had possessed. She knew, but it didn't matter anymore. It was too late for her.
Will you be proud of that person? Will you forgive them? Will you understand why they felt the need to do the things they did? Will you even recognize them?
Surging with iridescent aura, the barrel of the cannon began rotating as the firing mechanism kicked. With a violent whirl, the first of many bullets would erupt from the cannon, aimed directly at Eteria. If she dodged, the bullets would soar past her onto her own troops. Truly, Maria didn't think her actions through, at least, not past the very idea of gunning Eteria down where she stood. To stop her, to save Kenna and Feralis from her wrath. But just as the gun began to whirl and the first shot was fired, the woman moved in with a surge of malachite colored aura. The first shot was repelled by her own blade, and she now stood before Maria with her blade and scabbard in hand. Maria couldn't quite make out what happened. Shots were repelled, the blade was returned to her scabbard. But... With the sheathed blade in hand, it would surge with a blinding light and an exponential boom. Whatever this light was, it consumed her in an instant. So fast that she couldn't react, couldn't see, couldn't even feel a thing. There was a distant, but a sudden surge of pain in her chest. One she couldn't quite explain, not where she was. How she was. The world had gone black, silenced around her. There was ... Nothing.
Or will the person staring back at you be the very thing you should have feared from the start?
For just a moment, Maria's eyes shot open as a surge of pain exploded in her chest. There was barely time for her to gasp, before her body fell limp again. Her iridescent aura never returned to her body, her ghost never reclaiming her vessel. Without hesitation, despite literally falling to pieces, Prism leaned forward and kneeled over both Kendall and Maria. Sparks flew from what were once lights on its head, a raw red light bleeding through as an indicator. "E-e-emerg-gen-gency protocol enGage-aged. Flat-flat line detec-ec-ected. WeeEe need-need a med-ic-ic-ic at once." Prism's voice, as distorted and broken as it was, was still panicked. As if the machine could muster fear, or at the very least urgency. With Maria's gloves, Prism was continuously linked to her vital system, something that had dropped without warning.
I suppose we all find out... sooner or later.
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Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2020 10:16 pm
As determined as Kendall was, as strong as her perseverance was, everyone had their limits. She was at hers, and a crippling blow to her vision was surely enough to push her over the edge. Yet... Despite clutching her eye, despite the intensity of the pain, she still held her ground over Maria. Gasping, spouting a slew of swears and curses as blood gust from between her fingers, staining the blue-haired girl's hair beneath her. "You still dare to disrespect me?" Her told was cold, harsh, becoming ever less patient with all these students. Eteria's free hand reached forward to grab a fist full of Kenna's hair, aiming to toss her aside and off of Maria once and for all. Eteria, however, stopped with a handful of hair at the sight of an anomaly. She felt the frail grip of Maria loosen from her ankle, the woman's eyes falling shut. With that, a surge of iridescent aura radiated from her being... Then vanished. Pale, vacant orbs began darting around immediately, looking for any glimpse of shenanigans on the broken vessel's part. She could recount the battle between her and the Phantom, how the soul of this frail girl would dislodge itself and possess a new vessel on a whim. So... What was she doing? Where had she gone? There was then a loud, mechanical hum as a smoldering machine whirled to life after being long grounded. Immediately, her pale gaze would dart towards the crashed aircraft, noting an array of sparks as the mechanical monstrosity swelled with new life. A final spark, one of which repositioned the frontal rotary cannon. "I've had enough of these games." She said cold and stern, letting Kenna free from her grasp to drop onto Maria's unconscious form. She'd turn her full attention to the rotary cannon, her gaze narrowing as the barrel began to rotate violently. If she dodged, the bullet was sure to fire upon her own men... As useless as they could be at times, she couldn't allow that. Clutching her blade tightly in her palm, pale blue aura would shimmer across her arm and down the edge of the blade. With a first step, a bullet would fire. One that would be dispatched in an instance with the swipe of her blade. Under normal circumstances, a blade wouldn't dare stop a bullet. But, as the conduit of her aura, it proved to be a far better shield than even evading. A small array of bullets were dispatched with the swift movements of her sword, only because of the resilience of her aura. That's when the malachite would spark in her necklace once again. A surge of discolored aura from her own would shimmer across her body, gifting her a brief surge of speed that she needed to close the distance. For just a moment, the rotary cannon hit a jam, an empty gap amidst the onslaught of bullets. Granting Eteria just enough time to get closer to the aircraft, away from the onlookers, and in direct line of fire with Maria herself. It was in that moment she had resheathed her blade, holding the scabbard out with her left hand, the hilt of the blade clutched by her right. "I'll make an example out of you if I must. I'll show you were your hubris got you." Suddenly, the scabbard would click, splitting down the center before sliding open. This exposed the four, dull but glowing segments of the sword, revealing the remains of the volatile dust she had stolen away from Prism but a few short moments ago. The first of these segments would ignite with radiant energy. Flames would ignite down the center of the split scabbard, then a surge of sparks radiating down the metal catalyst that contained the dust with the second. With each illuminated segment, the radiating energy would swell along the edge of her blade, becoming a vibrant beacon of light that seemed to shine brighter than the sun itself. In the charge, the rotary cannon commenced fire once again. At this point, though, it was too late. With a mighty arch, a single swing of the blade would release a powerful surge of light. An explosive wave of fire and lightening, erupting within one another's elemental poweress to amplify the other. The surge of elemental fury was quick to tear through the street, carving through the asphalt and consuming the bullets with ease. The arch of elemental energy would collide with the aircraft, an all-consuming light that would detonate on impact with a mighty explosion. Bits of metal smoldering, sparking metal were launched in all directions along with chunks of asphalt. The explosion itself was blinding but vanished in an instance to leave nothing behind more than a smoldering crater in the streets. Where Maria's dust before had the power to shatter their aura and blow them away, if she had gotten to release it all... Well, this would be the consequence.
Without hesitation, without looking back, Eteria would sheath her blade and strap her scabbard to her side once again. She would turn away from the crater, passing merely a glance towards the frantics of a machine. Who, as inaudible as it was, had been requesting a medic. ... So her theory was correct. The 'faulty' airship had been a product of Maria, and despite being in an artificial body, she was still vulnerable. ... How similar to herself, she couldn't help pondering. But, as far as it looked, Eteria had exterminated a faulty piece of machinery that threatened not only he troops but civilians in the area. As drastic as the measures were, there was no way around it. .. Subsequentially, one of her frail assailants appeared to enter cardiac arrest, but had no indication of being a byproduct of her actions. This... Was exactly what she referred to in her threat towards Kendall. That those she grew attached to, those she tried to protect, were sure to experience unfortunate circumstances. "Arrest both faunus at once." She declared. Without hesitation, Feralis would find himself under fire of two more sets of those same purple glowing orbs. One set had been thrown at his arms, another at his neck. Whether the ones missed his arms or not, the one at his throat was bound by a cable. When ensnared, it wouldn't strangle him, but hold him like a firm collar bound to a lease. That very least would be jerked to pull the wolf to the ground as soldiers approached to detain him. Likewise, though Kendall was trying desperately to get Maria to wake up, she too would find herself under a volley of these glowing purple orbs. The cables would bind her arms to her torso, and her legs together, soldiers approaching to claim her like they did Feralis. They knew neither of them would go easily or quietly, but this time they were prepared, unlike when Feralis first made his entrance. Both of them fought vigorously, calling out for Maria, demanding to be let go so they could help her. Nothing else mattered, not when they knew she was in immediate danger. "Geralt, see to the student and resuscitate her if possible. I have no intention of letting anyone die today. Then to the injuries of the others. " Truth be told, she cared not if Maria survived. She was once a thorn in her side, so to die of seemingly natural causes would only work in her favor. Not to mention, the sensation of fear and dread it would instill in her precious niece. Eteria paused, looking towards the piece of scrap metal that was Prism. "I want the machine confiscated and taken to headquarters..." Eteria's words trailed off, her attention away from Kendall, Maria, and Prism. This time, it was focused on Feralis, the only one who really still had any fight left in him. "Keep them separated. I want to hear all sides of their stories before we let them reconvene. You're all dismissed." And... That was that. Eteria had no intention of sticking around longer than she needed to. Her clothes had been burned, her skin scorched. With the power of illusion, she had a vicious swipe of claws across her skin, detailed with drying blood. She still had a meeting to attend, though, she was much worse for wear than she had ever intended.
10
Lvl. 3.0
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